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J-16 fighter jets take off in formation

10:46, June 04, 2025 By Li Weichao ( China Military Online

A J-16 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command taxis on the runway before taking off for a multi-subject flight training exercise in late May 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Wang Xinwei)

Two J-16 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command take off in formation during a multi-subject flight training exercise in late May 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Wang Xinwei)

A J-16 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command flies to the designated airspace during a multi-subject flight training exercise in late May 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Wang Xinwei)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A man has been arrested for allegedly trespassing in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The Duchess and Duke of Cambridge have a home on the estate

The Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police have both launched investigations after the intruder was found on the grounds of the royal residence over the weekend.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a statement: "A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs after entering restricted grounds at Windsor Castle.

"Officers in the grounds spotted the man just after 13.00hrs on Sunday, 1 June and quickly arrested him.

"He was then passed into the custody of Thames Valley Police."

It's been confirmed that the man was "quickly challenged by Met police officers and arrested" after he gained access to the grounds of the castle.

Thames Valley Police said: "At just after 1pm on Sunday 1 June a man entered restricted grounds at Windsor Castle.

"He was quickly challenged by Met police officers and arrested. He did not enter the inner grounds of Windsor Castle.

"He was arrested on suspicion of trespass on a secure site and possession of class A drugs. He has been bailed and an investigation is ongoing by Thames Valley Police."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge live in Adelaide Cottage, which is located on the Windsor estate. However, no members of the royal family were in the castle at the time of the incident, according to Sky News.

There was another security scare at Windsor Castle in October, when two masked raiders broke into farm buildings on the estate.

In a statement given to People, Thames Valley Police said at the time: "At around 11.45pm on Sunday October 13, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor. Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.

"No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing."
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From left, postdoctoral researcher Yiming Xing, Professor Wei Guo, and graduate student Yousef Alihosseini at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. The researchers injected tiny frozen particles into superfluid helium to make invisible quantum vortices visible. They then used a laser sheet and a high-speed camera to capture how these vortices moved and reconnected. Credit: Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

An international research collaboration featuring scientists from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has discovered a fundamental universal principle that governs how microscopic whirlpools interact, collide and transform within quantum fluids, which also has implications for understanding fluids that behave according to classical physics.

The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed new insights into vortex dynamics within superfluid helium, a remarkable liquid that exhibits zero-resistance flow at temperatures approaching absolute zero. The research demonstrates that when these quantum vortices intersect and reconnect, they separate faster than their initial approach velocity, creating bursts of energy that characterize turbulence in both quantum and classical fluids.

"Superfluids offer a uniquely clear perspective on turbulence," said FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Professor Wei Guo, a study co-author. "We're beginning to understand the universal physics that connects quantum and classical worlds, and that's an exciting frontier for both science and technology."

A video showing vortices connecting in superfluid helium. Credit: Wei Guo

Microscopic quantum tornadoes

Superfluid helium represents one of nature's most extraordinary states of matter. When cooled to near absolute zero temperatures, this unique substance transcends conventional fluid behavior, flowing without friction, defying gravity by climbing container walls and penetrating microscopic barriers with ease. Unlike ordinary liquids that can swirl freely, superfluid helium confines all rotational motion to quantized vortices, which are ultra-thin, hollow tubes that maintain precisely fixed circulation amounts dictated by quantum mechanical principles.

"These vortices are like microscopic tornadoes," Guo said. "Each one carries an exact amount of circulation, dictated by quantum mechanics. They are topologically protected, meaning they're remarkably stable and much easier to track than vortices in regular fluids."

This exceptional stability transforms these quantum structures into powerful investigative tools for exploring turbulence, one of the most complex and chaotic phenomena within physics, which influences everything from aircraft aerodynamics to oceanic current patterns.

Breakthrough discovery in vortex dynamics

Guo's team, together with collaborators in the UK and France, captured high-resolution imaging and conducted computational simulations that revealed the fundamental behavioral patterns of colliding quantum vortices. Their findings establish a universal physical law governing vortex interactions across multiple fluid types and temperature ranges.

The researchers injected tiny frozen particles of deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, into superfluid helium to make invisible quantum vortices visible. They then used a laser sheet and a high-speed camera to capture how these vortices moved and reconnected.

"We found that after they reconnect, the vortices always move apart faster than they came together," Guo said. "This time-asymmetry, or irreversibility, turns out to be a fundamental property of how energy moves in fluids, whether they're quantum or classical."

Each reconnection event generated sudden energy bursts that propagated throughout the surrounding fluid medium, creating ripple-like effects comparable to cardiac rhythms sending waves through water. When multiple reconnections occur simultaneously within complex vortex networks, these coordinated energy releases can trigger distinctive forms of quantum turbulence with unique characteristics not observed in classical fluids.

3D rendering of the oblique collision of superfluid vortices at an intermediate angle using FOUCAULT. The green tube represents the superfluid vortex, with the thickness greatly exaggerated for visual purposes. The red and blue volume shading represents the normalised normal fluid enstrophy. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2426064122

Engineering and technology implications

While quantum vortices exist exclusively in exotic materials like superfluid helium, their behavioral patterns mirror fundamental principles governing vortices in everyday fluids, including air and water. This similarity enables quantum superfluid research to provide insights into classical mechanisms.

"By studying these well-behaved and easily observable quantum vortices, we gain valuable insight into the fundamental nature of turbulence," explains Yiming Xing, a postdoctoral researcher in Guo's group. "This understanding could one day help us design more efficient engines, optimize energy transfer in quantum systems, or even improve weather prediction models."

This transformative research exemplifies the power of international scientific collaboration, bringing together institutions including Newcastle University and Lancaster University in the UK, Cote d'Azur University in France and the Mauro Picone Institute for Computing ApplicationsNational Research Council in Italy, alongside the research teams at FAMU-FSU.

More information: Piotr Z. Stasiak et al, Experimental and theoretical evidence of universality in superfluid vortex reconnections, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2426064122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study examining conflicting trends in official violent crime statistics reveals that the leading measure in England and Wales underestimates the level of violent crimeand the findings challenge official confidence in a downward trend.

The study's authors, from Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London, argue that too much confidence is placed in the conclusion of the Crime Survey for England and Wales, which indicates that violent crime is in decline, and that improvements in police statistics mean both datasets should be published in parallel to give a more rounded picture on violent crime.

Their paper, published today in PLOS One, examines why the two leading measures of crime, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)which is produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)and police-recorded crime data show conflicting trends in violent crime.

The CSEW is currently recommended by the Office for Statistics Regulation as the best source for violent crime statistics.

The main part of the CSEW, used by the ONS to determine trends, suggests a declining trend for violent crime in England and Wales. This dataset has been used by the ONS to conclude that violent crime is decreasing.

However, at the same time, police recorded crime statistics, which are recorded by police forces across England and Wales, show an increase in violent crime reported to the police.

The researchers investigated these two main sources of statistics on violent crime to explore why they paint very different pictures.

"The findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, which shows violent crime to be in decline, contrast sharply with the data recorded by the police, which is showing an increase," said Brian Francis, Professor of Social Statistics at Lancaster University and lead author of the study.

"It's important for a wide range of reasons that we have an accurate picture of violent crime in Britain. Our study shows why the datasets differ and why we need to question the reliance of the UK Office for Statistics Regulation on a single dataset for violent crime."

The two datasets gain their information in different ways. The police data is from those reporting crime to them, and the survey from a sample of the residential population. The two datasets also measure violence in different ways, with some violent offenses, such as stalking, excluded from the survey.

In order to make a statistically valid comparison, the researchers aligned both series to measure the same narrower set of violent crimes (assaults) in England and Wales going back to 2010 and limited the analysis in both sources to crime reported to the police.

The comparison of the aligned datasets shows that in 202223, there were nearly 1,300,000 reported assaults reported to the police, compared with just over 400,000 reported assaults estimated by the Crime Surveymore than three times as large.

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They found that the two diverging trends still existed in the aligned datasets. The recorded police crime figures show an upward trend in violent crime from 2010 to 202223, whereas the Crime Survey of England and Wales estimates a downward trend. The crossover where the police figures begin to show higher rates of violent crime occurs in 201516.

The researchers examined possible reasons the two datasets are trending in different directions.

They conclude that improvements in police accuracy in recording crime explain part of the difference. The researchers believe differences in data-collecting methods offer other explanations.

Researchers believe other key reasons for the differences in trends shown by the datasets are that the survey population is narrower than in police records, because the CSEW excludes vulnerable groups such as children, the homeless and those in temporary accommodation like hostels and refuges.

These exclusions from sampling of vulnerable groups by the CSEW, as well as the recent reduction in the survey's response rate to 42%, also concern the researchers.

Sylvia Walby, Professor of Criminology at Royal Holloway and co-author of the study, said, "Our assessment of the methodology is that the quality of the data on violent crime in police recorded crime has improved while that in the Crime Survey for England and Wales has declined."

The researchers also believe that the CSEW is significantly underestimating violent crime in Britain.

The survey shows that 40.9% of respondents who were victims of crime reported it to the police. In 2022-23, the police reported more than 2.1 million incidents of violent crime. Given the 40.9% reporting rate shown by the crime survey, the researchers estimate that the number of violent incidents of crime in Britain that year is likely to have been more than 5.1 million.

This is more than double the number of police recorded violent crimes and more than five times the number of violent crimes estimated by the CSEW.

"Based on our estimates, the CSEW seriously underestimates the volume of violent crime in England and Wales," said Professor Walby. "We believe the main part of the CSEW has always underestimated violent crime, and this has become visible now that police data has improved."

"Instead of relying on one dataset, data and trends from both the survey and the police should be presented alongside each other to provide a fuller picture of violent crime," said Professor Francis.

More information: Brian Joseph Francis et al, Conflicting trends in violent crime measured by police recorded crime and the crime survey in England and Wales since 2010, PLOS One (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324272 Journal information: PLoS ONE

Provided by Lancaster
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Aguaruna researcher Agustin Tsamajain holds a Blue-crowned Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata) captured and released as part of our study of birds in Amazonian indigenous territories. Credit: Nico Arcilla

Lands inhabited by Indigenous peoples in the tropics host much of the world's biodiversity. An estimated 60 million Indigenous people around the world directly depend on tropical forests for survival, and in turn, many Indigenous territories effectively protect tropical forests from degradation and destruction.

Many Indigenous people in the tropics also have important ecological knowledge, and many common and scientific names of birds, for example, stem from traditional knowledge and beliefs. Some bird names still used today are derived from Indigenous languages that are no longer spoken or known. Unfortunately, traditional knowledge and practices developed over thousands of years are now highly threatened, as many languages are declining in parallel with the catastrophic loss of biodiversity.

Given the concurrence of biological and linguistic diversity in many regions, conservation approaches increasingly include community engagement in local languages. For example, in New Zealand, Maori names are used for birds such as the kakapo (Strigops habroptila) and tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), and in Hawai'i, Hawai'ian names are used for birds such as the 'i'iwi (Drepanis coccinea) and the akohekohe (Palmeria dolei).

A founder of the modern field of ethnobiology, Brent Berlin, hypothesized that people in traditional societies categorize plant and animal taxa using common names that correspond to scientific species, as recognized in the taxonomic system founded by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. However, few studies have tested this hypothesis with Indigenous names in languages belonging to oral traditions that were not put into written form until recently.

Our study area in the upper Maranon River valley, Peru, comprised a total of 10 indigenous Aguaruna communities in four regions: (1) Wichim and Alto Wawas; (2) Agkais, Ugkum, and Tatankus; (3) Saasa, Tuntanain, and Yumigkus; and (4) Japaime Quebrada and Japaime Escuela. Credit: Brandon Franta

We assembled a team of Peruvian and American researchers to document bird species in Amazonian Indigenous territories where no previous bird surveys have been published. Between 2004 and 2020, we conducted 15 months of field research in the western Amazon basin of northern Peru, in the vicinity of the Maranon River, a major source of the Amazon River, near the border with Ecuador, where approximately 40,000 Indigenous residents speak Aguaruna (locally called awajun) as a native language.

The Aguaruna language existed exclusively in oral form until the 20th century, when Christian missionaries worked with native speakers to develop its written form. In this region of the Amazon, entry into Indigenous territories by non-residents is only possible by special permission, a factor that allows Aguaruna communities to be highly successful in maintaining control over their lands.

Using binoculars and mist nets, we conducted bird surveys and sampling to produce our recent study published in the journal Birds that identifies 427 bird species in 51 families in our study area. During our fieldwork, we consulted with Aguaruna experts to identify local names for bird species and evaluated the occurrence of Aguaruna bird names with reference to scientific nomenclature.

Birds documented include 419 year-round residents and eight wintering NearcticNeotropical migratory species. Past studies had suggested that unique Aguaruna names exist for 80%90% of animal species present in our study region, so we expected a majority of the 427 bird species we identified in the study area to have unique Aguaruna names.

Instead, we found that unique Aguaruna names were reported for just over one-third (38%; 161) of bird species documented, while 31% (132) shared generic names with one or more other species and the remaining 31% (134) of the species in the study area did not have any known Aguaruna name.

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We found avian family membership to be a significant predictor of whether a bird species had a unique Aguaruna name. Avian families in which a majority of the species documented had unique Aguaruna names included parrots (Psittacidae; 88%), nightjars (Caprimulgidae; 80%), and manakins (Pipridae; 78%).

Factors that appeared to influence whether bird species had Aguaruna names included conspicuous appearance (e.g., large, colorful), vocalizations (e.g., loud, distinctive), and/or behavior (e.g., lekking, ant-following), as well as habitat (e.g., occurring in open or human-dominated environments as opposed to forest interior).

Avian families in which a majority of species had no unique Aguaruna name included many small and cryptic species of forest interior, such as hummingbirds (Trochilidae), ovenbirds and woodcreepers (Furnariidae), and tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae).

The Bicolored Antbird (Gymnopithys bicolor) shares its Aguaruna name, kunchau, with its close relative and fellow "professional" army ant follower, the White-plumed Antbird (Pithys albifrons). Credit: Nico Arcilla

Our Aguaruna co-author Oscar Tsamajain poses with his son in the Amazonian indigenous territory of Alto Wawas in northern Peru. Credit: Nico Arcilla

In some oral traditions in regions with lower bird diversity, unique Indigenous names may be given to most bird species, such as in the Samoan islands of Polynesia, where the majority of ~70 known bird species have unique Samoan names.

However, in a region with such high bird diversity as western Amazonia, with an estimated ~500 bird species in our study area, it is questionable whether unique Indigenous names might exist for most species in an exclusively oral tradition, particularly as many of these species are secretive, elusive, and difficult or impossible to distinguish without tools such as binoculars or mist nets.

Nevertheless, Aguaruna culture has a close relationship with birds, whom they consider to have participated directly in the development of their culture. In addition to naming many of the bird species around them, Aguaruna residents also have names for avian behavior, such as pishak saayu, which is known to biologists as mixed-species flocking.

Aguaruna children may be named after birds, such as sugka, the Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus). Aguaruna communities may also be named after birds, such as saasa, the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), a species previously found in this area before unfortunately being hunted to local extinction. In Aguaruna cosmology, birds were people before they became birds, and serve as intermediaries between the natural and supernatural worlds.

Aguaruna men in ceremonial dress wear crowns made of toucan (Ramphastos spp.) feathers, in one of many examples of birds' contributions to traditional Aguaruna culture. Credit: Jose Lirio Yangua

Our findings on birds in Aguaruna territories, together with a first systematic list of Aguaruna bird names as they correspond to scientific names, provide a basis on which to increase engagement and collaboration between Indigenous communities, ornithologists, and conservation actors in this region. In the process of conducting this research, we also made new discoveries, such as nests and locations for birds that had not been previously described.

Continuing to document and elucidate Indigenous names and knowledge of birds, particularly those that occur in oral traditions that may otherwise disappear, promises to make valuable contributions towards understanding, valuing, and protecting the natural and cultural heritage of humanity, both in Amazonia and around the world.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.

More information: Nico Arcilla et al, What's in a Bird's Name? Bird Records and Aguaruna Names in Amazonian Indigenous Territories of Peru, Birds (2025). DOI: 10.3390/birds6010002

Nico Arcilla, PhD, directs the International Bird Conservation Partnership (IBCP), whose mission is to foster and support research, outreach, and partnerships to advance bird conservation.

Benjamin Salazar Samecash, MSc, is a biologist with degrees from Perus Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, an Aguaruna (awajun) community member, and an IBCP fellow conducting research on birds in indigenous Amazonian territories.
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South Korea has a new president.

Shortly after broadcasters made a projection on Tuesday, Liberal Party candidate Lee Jae-myung clinched victory when conservative rival, Kim Moon-soo, conceded the race early Wednesday, according to reports.

In his concession, Moon-soo told reporters he "humbly accepts the people's choice" and gave Lee his congratulations, according to CBS News.

"Let us move forward with hope and make a fresh start from this moment on," Lee said, according to CBS. "Though we may have clashed for some time, even those who did not support us are still our fellow citizens of the Republic of Korea."

South Korea's former leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, a member of the People Power's Party, was impeached by parliament in December and removed from office in April, nearly halfway into his five-year term.

This year's election was dubbed by Lee as "judgement day" against the previous administration, accusing them of condoning martial law to save Yoon's presidency, according to Reuters.

Of the nation's nearly 45 million citizens, 78% casted ballots in this year's election.

Lee is on course to officially become the commander in chief of the nation's military immediately after South Korea's National Election Commission declares the winner, likely on Wednesday.

This is a developing story.

Originally published on IBTimes
Rock Island-Milan leaders are welcoming new district leadership, saying goodbye to others and working to reshape the district's strategic vision amid a slew of recent district-wide changes and community concerns.

On Monday, the district announced its hiring of Rock Island High School's new principal, Patricia Ulrich, for the 2025-26 school year at a salary of $161,882.

She will succeed former principal Jeff Whitaker, who served in the position for seven years. He will begin a new role as assistant principal for curriculum, instruction and assessment at Moline-Coal Valley schools.

Ulrich's hiring follows months of stakeholder focus groups and surveying to create a "RIHS Principal Profile" to guide the district in its principal selection process. She comes to Rock Island from the Hazelwood School District in Florissant, Missouri, where she's served in numerous leadership positions over the last 10 years. Before Hazelwood, Ulrich was the assistant principal of Grand Center Arts Academy in St. Louis from 2014 to 2015.

"Dr. Ulrich brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for scholar success, instructional excellence and equity-centered education," the district stated in a June 2 Facebook post. "With a strong background in curriculum, professional learning, and leadership at both middle and high school levels, shes ready to lead Rock Island High into an exciting new chapter."

Education summit seeks feedback

On May 21, Rock Island-Milan schools held their first "Education Summit" to gather feedback from families and community members as district leaders map out future strategic planning.

The summit featured a student panel, large-group and breakout discussions and a live survey, facilitated by Marika Austin of engage2learn, an educational consulting firm partnering with the districts strategic planning team.

About 50 people attended the May 21 meeting at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Rock Island.

Jenny Hipskind, a parent of two Rock Island-Milan students, thought discussions went well.

Its good to be forward-thinking, she said. It was nice to see such a diverse group of people here tonight: educators, community members, parents, principals.

The districts existing strategic plan, approved in 2020, will sunset at the end of the school year.

We are spreading afresh with new goals, new ideas and ways to move forward for our scholars, Superintendent Sharon Williams said Wednesday.

Via email, Williams said she was thrilled by the summits turnout and commended student panel participants.

The district will begin its strategic planning design process in July, aiming to bring a new strategic plan to the Rock Island-Milan School Board for approval around the September timeframe, Austin said.

Rock Island-Milan leaders, parents address concerns

The summit comes following a year of district-wide leadership changes and restructuring, including Aprils school board election, new executive-level hires and staff turnover.

Amanda Randolph, a former Rock Island High School teacher said May 21 that morale is a concern.

I have many friends and former colleagues throughout the district, and staff morale is at an all-time low, she said. This is illustrated by the mass exodus of valued staff leaving the district.

Randolph said many who are leaving have served the district for their entire careers.

These are people who would have loved to stay, but felt compelled to go in order to preserve their general welfare, she said, adding she heard about a recent situation where district leaders berated educators and staff. The exodus of caring and qualified educational professionals will negatively impact our students.

Earlier in May, Rock Island-Milan Communications Director Redrick Terry submitted his resignation after about a year with the district. His resignation letter cited several reasons for his departure, including descriptions of district leaders creating a toxic workplace culture.

Asked about recent concerns regarding turnover and district leadership, Williams noted that large organizations like Rock Island-Milan undergo ebbs and flows of employee attrition.

And urban school districts are more likely to be impacted by leadership turnover. Employees leave (for) a myriad of reasons, and we have heard directly from some that are concerned about the culture of our school district, she said via email. It is critical to me that our district is a (safe, positive) workplace for all team members.

Williams said she has invited employees to have conversations with her and the district leadership team regarding workplace concerns.

Some have responded to that invitation, while others have not, she said.

Moving forward, Williams said she and her leadership team will continue listening to employees' and community members concerns and work to fill gaps in communication, engagement and shared governance.

The district also established a superintendent advisory council  made up of students, parents and staff  in April. Williams said these conversations have been rich, collaborative and focused on the future.

Newly elected school board president Jason Roessler said he understands the concerns about turnover and workplace culture and believes they come from a place of genuine passion for Rock Island-Milan schools and students.

Our community cares deeply about public education, and that level of engagement is a strength, not a weakness, he said in a May 21 email. At the same time, I also believe its important to allow new leadership the time and space needed to implement changes, build trust, and demonstrate results.

We've seen lots of change over the years, so ensuring clear, consistent, and transparent communication is essential as we move forward, Roessler said.

Results of district-wide human resources audit

At the May 13 school board meeting, Dominique Moore, assistant superintendent of human resources for Rock Island-Milan schools, and Beth Dalton of the Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators presented the findings of a district-wide HR audit.

The audit used 17 interviews with Rock Island-Milan employees and reviewed more than 200 district HR documents, culminating in recommendations and priority areas for talent acquisition, development and total rewards.

For a full list of recommendations from the audit presentation, visit the Rock Island-Milan website at www.rimsd41.org/page/datesagendasminutes, click on the link to Boardbook and select the May 13 meeting agenda.

The audit's "priority areas for improvement" included:

Reorganize the Human Resources Department, including the reassignment of duties and responsibilities.

Create processes and procedures for all major human resources functions.

Complete a full audit of all employee credentials.

The final point drew ire from some meeting attendees, as the audit found that Rock Island-Milan's HR department does not track licensure endorsements or validity for all employees. Additionally, it stated that some employees do not hold valid licensure or endorsements in their current positions or courses.

Still, some district leaders hope to use the audit as momentum moving forward.

Not that weve had this audit, we know we have challenges, board member Nicole Cisne-Durbin said at the May 13 meeting, urging community members to move forward and engage positively with the board and leaders amid change and HR improvements. She also took time to give kudos to the district and her students family engagement efforts, faculty and staff.

As the districts new strategic plan takes shape, Williams is confident Rock Island-Milan is in a good position to withstand any changes.

Our board (and) leaders have done an exceptional job managing our district, fiscally and instructionally, she said. Although we have improvements to make in several areas, our workforce is stable, we offer competitive salaries and benefits and are poised to improve our infrastructure to ensure safe and educationally enriching learning environments.

Encouraging collaboration over division

As board president, Roessler said hes committed to creating an accountable, collaborative, and respectful culture within the board, district leaders and community members.

One that stays focused on student outcomes, fiscal responsibility and equity, while promoting collaboration over division, he said.

That means ensuring each board member has a voice and stays grounded in their governance role, not personal agendas, Roessler said.

When we work together, with clear communication and mutual respect, we are much more likely to achieve the positive outcomes we all want for students," he said.

He plans to work closely with Williams to ensure district goals and initiatives are clearly communicated and measured and the district is held accountable to the families it serves.

While Hipskind believes the district is doing the best they can, she said shed like to see more freedom and flexibility for teachers in the future.

I think safety is still a big concern of a lot of parents, and theyre (district) taking good steps to address that, she said, adding parent involvement is another challenge.

For example, she said getting parents to participate in Earl Hanson Elementary Schools parent-teacher organization is hard.

Still, to Hipskind and others, Rock Island-Milans diversity, its people  and thus, its potential  are the districts biggest strength.

We have passionate educators, dedicated staff and a student body that reflects the rich diversity of our community, Roessler said. Our districts commitment to equity and inclusion, combined with the deep care our staff show students, creates a strong foundation for growth and achievement.

Josh Spaulding, whose 7-year-old attends Eugene Field Elementary School, said Rock Island-Milan schools offer an immense amount of diversity and life experiences.

So I think its super important to be an active member of the community and understand the decisions taking place, he said Wednesday.

Rather than relying on information or rumors circulated on social media, he said. Spaulding also said its important to stay involved consistently.

Not only when theres a problem, you want to be part of the ongoing discussion, he said, adding he wished Wednesday yielded more attendees.

Spaulding said the discussion about relationship-building stood out most from the planning summit.

I think everyone can draw to a time in their life where a (teacher), administrator or educator had an impact on your life  I dont think Im being dramatic by saying that can change a kids life, he said. Relationship building with students is enormous.

To support this moving forward, Roessler hopes to see the district invest further in teacher and staff retention, professional development, mentorship and competitive compensation.

Strengthening communication between the district, schools and families is also critical to sustaining trust and transparency, he said, along with staying committed to data-informed decision making.

Facility plan, community participation goals

The board tasked Williams with three major goals in her first year as superintendent: creating short- and long-term facilities management plans; increasing academic achievement/closing opportunity gaps and increasing school-community participation.

All three of these goals work (together) to improve the school experience for our scholars, she said, adding that work has begun on short-term facilities projects.

We have also begun to increase our family and school community engagement through improved (survey) responses, school events, and now, the districts planning summits," Williams said. We have made strides (to improve) our leadership skills in data collection, analysis and goal-setting to impact learning.

A critical issue for Rock Island-Milan and other local schools is post-pandemic academic recovery, why Roessler reiterates his focus on student outcomes, accountability and equity.

To him, the districts ongoing facilities management planning is its most notable new initiative, though hed also been encouraged by efforts to expand career and technical education programs, dual credit opportunities and social-emotional learning supports.

Feedback from student focus groups and Wednesdays panel showed heavy support for increased hands-on, career exploration opportunities.

I will continue to advocate for strategic investments and community-informed planning to ensure these changes serve our long-term goals, Roessler said. Most importantly, I will continue advocating for transparency, accountability and equity (so) every student in RIMSD has access to a safe, supportive and high-quality education.
Clean-up efforts continue

12:45 p.m. Clean-up and restoration efforts continued into Wednesday afternoon.

Silvis Public Works, and other communities, were working Wednesday morning to clean up trees and other debris from the storm.

Meanwhile, electricity restoration efforts also continued. In an update sent around 11:45 a.m., MidAmerican said around 4,000 customers in the Illinois Quad-Cities were still without power, with crews from across Iowa helping out.

The energy company still expects to restore most remaining customers by Wednesday evening.

Restoration continues with crews from around the state helping

9:15 a.m. MidAmerican line crews made good progress overnight restoring 15,400 customers since the start of Tuesday nights severe storms.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, approximately 4,826 customers remained without power  nearly all are on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. Crews were expected to continue their work restoring customers throughout the day with most customers expected to be restored by Wednesday evening.

A large amount of tree damage was caused by the high wind event. MidAmerican paired tree crews with line crews to aid in restoration. Together they identified more than 40 broken poles and expected to find more as the engineers are able to safely access the rear lot lines now that there is daylight.

New crews were expected to rotate in this morning to continue restoration work. Personnel dispatched from Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Waterloo and Iowa City have joined Quad-Cities crews in storm response.

Thousands still without power Wednesday morning, NWS surveying damage

6:50 a.m. The National Weather Service plans to survey damaged areas today, including in the eastern and southern portions of the Quad-Cities area.

As of Wednesday morning, no injuries had been reported, NWS said on social media. However, there was damage to buildings. The surveys will assess damage and determine if the cause was straight line winds or a tornado.

By Wednesday morning, thousands of people were still without power in the Illinois Quad-Cities.

MidAmerican's outage map showed 15 customers in the Iowa Quad-Cities without power and more than 4,600 customers in the Illinois Quad-Cities without power. A restoration time estimate was not available.

The weather service is also warning of reduced air quality on Wednesday due to low-lying smoke from Canadian wildfires.

More people see power restored, 16,800 still out

11:35 p.m. As of 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, around 16,900 customers in the Quad-Cities still did not have power, according to MidAmerican's outage map.

In the Iowa Quad-Cities, only 45 customers were out. However, there were more than 16,800 without power in the Illinois Quad-Cities. MidAmerican had not yet provided an estimated restoration time.

The National Weather Service forecast possible showers overnight and into the morning. Wednesday is expected to gradually become more sunny, with a high near 74.

Power outages continue

9:55 p.m. Power outages continued as cities assessed damage Tuesday night.

More than 18,000 customers were still without power in the Illinois Quad-Cities, according to MidAmerican's outage report. That includes almost 6,000 customers in East Moline, almost 3,300 customers in Moline and more than 3,200 in Silvis.

A reporter on scene in Silvis saw few lights on and some roads blocked off due to downed trees and powerlines.

The reporter also saw much of Coyne Center without power around 10:15 p.m. with trees down in the area.

In an email to media, the Moline Police Department said that as of 8:37 p.m. there was only light damage identified so far. Some trees and power lines were down on North Shore Drive to 52nd Avenue and 12th Street, northeast to 39th Avenue and 27th Street. Police said there was no evidence a tornado had touched down in the city, as of what had been reported at the time.

Most Iowa customers' power restored

9 p.m. Most Iowa MidAmerican customers who had lost power earlier in the evening had their power restored by 9 p.m., according to MidAmerican's outage map. Around 170 customers on the Iowa side were without power, down from more than 1,800 at some points Tuesday evening.

The Illinois Quad-Cities, more than 18,000 customers were still without power.

The Rock Island County Sheriff's Department asked people to avoid the Coyne Center area due to reports of trees being down across roadways.

The storm continued to move east, with the severe thunderstorm warning expiring for Whiteside and Bureau counties.

Storm blows over trees, signs

8:25 p.m. Trees and signs around the Illinois Quad-Cities were blown over Tuesday evening after thunderstorms rolled through.

More than 20,000 customers were without power, mostly in the Illinois Quad-Cities. MidAmerican started storm updates Tuesday evening, saying it was aware of the outages and that residents might see MidAmerican employees out assessing damage.

The storms have moved east out of the Quad-Cities area, with the National Weather Service allowing the severe thunderstorm warning for Clinton and northeastern Henry County to expire.

Thunderstorm, tornado warnings expire

8:05 p.m. The tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for the Quad-Cities area have expired as the storms moved east.

A portion of northeastern Henry County, as well as Whiteside County, are still under a severe thunderstorm warning until 8:45 p.m. Impacted areas including Sterling, Fulton, Erie and Prophetstown. Clinton, Iowa, is also still in a severe thunderstorm warning. Possible dangers include high winds and hail.

More than 18,000 customers in the Illinois Quad-Cities are without power, according to MidAmerican's outage map. That includes more than 5,500 customers in East Moline, 3,100 in Moline, 500 in Carbon Cliff, 565 in Port Byron and 487 in Rapid City.

There are about 1,800 customers without power in the Iowa Quad-Cities, mostly in Davenport.

Severe thunderstorm warning through 8 p.m.

7:50 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. for eastern Rock Island County, northeastern Mercer County, southwestern Whiteside County, and Henry County in Illinois, as well as eastern Scott County and southeastern Clinton County in Iowa.

The sole tornado warning still in effect for eastern Henry and central Bureau counties, until 8 p.m. as well. The other tornado warnings in the area have expired.

Severe weather warnings continue

7:35 p.m. Tornado warnings continued for portions of the Quad-Cities, including eastern Rock Island, Scott and Henry counties, according to the National Weather Service.

A line of storms capable of producing tornados was located over East Moline as of 7:25 p.m., and expected to pass through other cities including Bettendorf, Colona, LeClaire and Hampton.

MidAmerican's outage map showed around 1,600 customers without power in the Iowa Quad-Cities and more than 16,800 customers without power in the Illinois Quad-Cities.

The storm includes heavy rain and in social media posts the National Weather Service is warning of low visibility.

NWS issues tornado warning

7:25 p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for portions of eastern Iowa and western Illinois that includes Scott and Rock Island counties.

At 7:15 p.m. radar indicated a possible tornado was located over Fruitland, or over Rock Island, moving east at 50 mph.

The tornado was expected to move through Moline, Bettendorf, East Moline, Silvis, Colona, Coal Valley, Hampton, Riverdale, Cleveland, and Warner around 7:20 p.m. and be near Osborn and Fishermans Corner around 7:25 p.m.

The tornado warning is set to last until 7:45 p.m.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested over a dozen migrants following a raid in a stash house in Mercedes, Texas.

The operation took place following an anonymous tip. After officials went to the property, its owner said there were 16 people inside the home. All were taken into custody, while a separate person was questioned for his potential role in human smuggling.

The raid is part of several operations that have taken place across the country. On Tuesday, three men were indicted for their role in the smuggling of dozens of migrants in a mobile home in New Mexico earlier this year.

Concretely, the men have been charged with conspiracy, transportation and harboring of illegal aliens, according to Border Report.

The incident unfolded after agencies received information that migrants were inside a home in a small town in New Mexico just north of El Paso.

After reaching the home, the agents saw a man who exited the house and approached him. He identified himself as Guatemalan and said he did not have documents to be in the country.

In May, two Texans pleaded guilty to charging thousands of dollars to smuggle migrants into the U.S. through Laredo.

The men in question, Mac Quese Howard and De Richardson Miller, admitted to conspiring to transport migrants through Laredo, in South Texas, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said, according to Border Report.

The men were caught after attempting to circumvent a Border Patrol checkpoint near Laredo. After being stopped for the traffic violation, authorities found three migrants hidden in the back seat of the car.

After being detained, the men confessed they had traveled from their home outside Lubbock to Laredo to take the migrants, whose ultimate destination was San Antonio. They expected to receive $5,000 for driving the migrants. They could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and get a fine of up to $250,000.

And earlier that month, a dozen migrants were found hidden inside hollow hay bales following a traffic stop in the state.

Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek said an official stopped a pickup truck carrying a trailer loaded with the bales about 90 miles east of San Antonio.

A closer inspection of the vehicle showed that the bales had been "meticulously altered and hollowed out to create concealed compartments," the sheriff said.

After looking inside, authorities found metal frameworks and "multiple undocumented individuals being smuggled in dangerously confined spaces."

Originally published on Latin Times
Last week, Virginias prison system announced it had achieved a best-in-class recidivism rate.

Compared with 31 other states across the United States, Virginia announced the lowest rate of prisoners committing new crimes and returning into the prison system. Of the more than 12,000 individuals released from prison, 17.6% had returned to prison within three years, the Virginia Department of Corrections said.

This achievement is a collective win, not just for the dedicated public servants who are devoted to this agencys mission, but for all Virginians, said Chad Dotson, director of the agency.

However, the achievement appears to be because of the effect of COVID-19 on Virginias court system, the departments research team wrote in a note that was not mentioned in the agencys news release.

Virginias latest announcement looks at recidivism among former prisoners released between July 2020 and June 2021. The number looks only at individuals who returned to prison within three years of release, rather than individuals who were rearrested in that same time. The rearrest figure is higher  closer to 44%  but doesnt qualify as recidivism in Virginia.

The states definition of recidivism means its recidivism rate is tied to the speed with which courts can deliver verdicts, and Virginia courtrooms were under emergency orders that slowed court proceedings until June 2022.

Re-incarceration rates are lower during follow-up years impacted by COVID-19 due to court closures and sentencing delays, the research team wrote in its report where it calculated the 17.6% figure.

Another metric also runs counter to the departments rehabilitation success story: probation violations actually ticked up slightly for the same group of released individuals. Crime rates writ-large jumped nationwide in 2020 and 2021.

Still, Dotson credited the work of his agency for the low recidivism rate, saying that the agency provides effective evidence-based reentry services every single day.

I thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this best-in-class recidivism rate possible, Dotson said.

Dotson said the numbers also align with a plan announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to improve outcomes for the formerly incarcerated. That plan, outlined in an executive order, was announced in August 2024.

In a statement, prisons spokesperson Kyle Gibson acknowledged that recidivism rates dropped across the country because of the pandemic, but still carved out room for the prison systems work on reentry.

Recidivism rates were lower due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the VADOC cannot conclusively say that the pandemic was the sole cause of the lower rates, Gibson said.

The announcement was picked up by at least five news outlets in Virginia and D.C., as well as Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. In a post on X, Miyares wrote that recidivism rates support his tough-on-crime approach as the states top prosecutor.

Theres two approaches to lower recidivism rates: hold violent repeat offenders accountable or let them out early, Miyares wrote alongside a photo of the 17.6% figure.

For four years, Ive fought to put violent criminals behind bars, while leftist politicians demand leniency and reduced sentences, Miyares said. We see which approach works.

All former prisoners who made up the low recidivist group were released more than a year before Miyares took office in 2022. Miyares office declined to comment for this story.

Virginia has seen a long, downward slope in its recidivism rate, which has slowly trended down from its highest of 24% in 2014. Virginias Department of Corrections often celebrates each new benchmark.

That reflex is common, said Will Pelfrey, a professor of criminal justice at Virginia Commonwealth University.

State correctional systems rarely have good news to celebrate, Pelfrey said.

Pelfrey flagged a pullback in policing as another reason the rate might have dipped to historic lows. Fewer door knocks, fewer street stops and fewer house visits by patrol officers led to fewer arrests, Pelfrey said.

So theres a blip, and its not a huge blip, but it probably changes the recidivism rates a little bit, and I think makes them a little lower for that period of time, said Pelfrey.

Pelfrey said it would be good to announce the low recidivism rate if it was connected to some specific programming.

Kelly Orians, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Virginia School of Law, conducts that type of programming at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. Orians said she applauded Gov. Youngkins executive order last year, but said that in practice, little has changed.

On a day-to-day level, we have not experienced any changes, any better access than we had before the executive order went into place, Orians said.

She added that her clients report not having access to reentry programming at prisons across the commonwealth. Many facilities operate at critical short-staffing levels, according to an internal report conducted by consultants for the prison system. That report found that very few educational and rehabilitation programs were actually operational.

Recidivism rates become a political talking point, Orians said, while prison systems generally fail to look at whether the formerly incarcerated are actually succeeding in the real world. She said there really isnt any prison system in the United States successfully meeting that challenge.

The best laid plans are really just that, said Orians. They fall apart very quickly once people are actually out on the streets.

Shawn Weneta, who lobbies the Virginia legislature on prison policy and reform, called recidivism rates an antiquated tool.

Its simply a measure of failure, and the only sort of purpose that it serves anymore for Virginia is to be able to hold ourselves up against other states, said Weneta. We should be focused on success factors, some of which were outlined in Gov. Youngkins Executive Order 36 last year.
CFE repairs highway pole left suspended by dozing driver

Tulum, Q.R.  CFE personnel were called to the scene of an early morning accident that left one of their poles partially collapsed. The pole was knocked out of place after a dozing driver slammed into its base Wednesday morning.

The 45 year old driver of the car suffered only minor injuries. He admitted to police he dozed off while driving and woke up when he hit the pole. Personnel from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) were called in after police and National Guard attended to the single vehicle accident.

The crash happened shortly after 1:00 a.m. The impact left the power pole suspended over the highway by its own lines. National Guard personnel provided traffic support in the area while CFE crews began the pole repair.

Civil Protection personnel left the scene around 2:30 a.m. while CFE crews continued their repair work. Authorities did not say if any charges would be laid or if electricity in Tulum was interrupted due to the single vehicle accident.
Citizen report leads to rescue of tied up sea turtle off Puerto Morelos beach

Puerto Morelos, Q.R.  Municipal Police worked with environmental authorities in the rescue of a captured sea turtle. The adult turtle was seen by a resident tied up and laying overturned in the sun near Punta Brava Monday.

Whoever captured the turtle used sea rope to binds its legs and drag it into mangrove

Authorities responding to the citizen report of the overturned sea turtle found it tied up. Thick sea rope had been used to bind its legs. The rope was wrapped around a majority of the turtle and was believed used to move it.

The reptile had been dragged on its shell into the mangrove and left where it was found by a local resident. Municipal authorities confirmed that a citizen reported the sea turtle to police who stayed with the turtle until environmental personnel arrived.

A policewoman attempts to water the turtle during its rescue.

Personnel from the Secretariat of Environment Animal Welfare and Sustainable Mobility evaluated the sea turtle before cutting away the rope. Initial reports indicated that poachers may have intercepted the turtle on the beach during nesting season where they roped it and dragged it toward the mangrove, intending to return for it.

Once the rope had been cut away, a group of Puerto Morelos officers assisted in rolling the turtle back to its proper position where it was set free on the beach.

While municipal authorities noted that sea turtles are protected by environmental laws, they did not say if an investigation would be started into who was responsible for trying to remove the turtle from the beach.
Police neutralized attacker who met them with gunfire during domestic violence call

Cancun, Q.R.  Police in Cancun fired back when they were met with bullets at a domestic violence call Wednesday. A man identified as Jorge L was neutralized by a non-fatal bullet wound from police who repelled the attack.

Police were responding to a 9-1-1 call from woman inside a hotel property who reported being physically assaulted by her husband. The woman had her minor son with her at the time of the incident.

When police arrived, they were met by the man alleged reported for domestic violence. He began shooting at police as they entered the hotel property. Police fired back, wounding him. He was taken to hospital for medical attention.

The incident happened early Wednesday morning at El Pedregal hotel located along a section of highway southeast of Cancun. The woman and child were removed from the property by personnel from the Specialized Group for Attention to Domestic and Gender Violence (Geavig).

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the FGE of Quintana Roo reported starting an investigation for attempted homicide against members of the Interinstitutional Group. The events occurred at a hotel in the municipality of Benito Juarez when officers repelled gunfire from a suspect while rescuing a minor, who was then taken by Grupo Especializado en Atencion a la Violencia Familiar y de Genero (Geavig) personnel for safekeeping.

The Attorney Generals Office reaffirms its commitment to the children of Quintana Roo, ensuring a life free from violence.

According to reports, police collected spent shell casings and four weapons from the property which included two high-caliber rifles, a pistol and a shotgun.
Tour company driver sentenced to 50 years in murder of Cancun tourist

Cancun, Q.R.  A tour company driver has been sentenced to 50 years for the 2022 murder of a Cancun tourist. On Tuesday, authorities said Julio Cesar de la Fuente Hernandez was sentenced for the crime of femicide.

According to authorities, the Cancun tourist was killed by De la Fuente Hernandez in May of 2022. The tourist, a woman of Chinese nationality, was being driven from Tulum by De la Fuente Hernandez back to her hotel in Cancun in a company vehicle after a tour of the municipality.

Along the way, De la Fuente Hernandez took her to another location where he raped and killed her. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 50 years in Cancun prison and fined just over a million pesos in damages.

In a statement, police said the events for which he was sentenced occurred on May 24, 2022, when the victim, a Chinese national who was vacationing in Cancun, booked a tour to visit Tulum, Coba and the Gran Cenote.

On the way back to her hotel, the suspect, who was driving the vehicle transporting the tourist, took her to another location. Her body was found the following day on Chetumal Avenue in Supermanzana 225.

The victims body showed clear signs of physical violence, multiple injuries and rape. During the autopsy performed by forensic experts, they were able to obtain the womans genetic profile as well as biological evidence of a male, thereby establishing his genetic profile, they said.

Police said after genetics was confirmed, a judge issued a search warrant for his home where they found the womans cell phone, as well as a copy of her passport.

Video recordings from the day of the incident revealed the van belonging to the tour agency where the suspect worked was found near the location of the tourists body.
An Alabama man facing death says he should be spared because he did not rape a woman with a broomstick as prosecutors have alleged.

Gregory Hunt, 65, is scheduled to die on June 10 by inhaling nitrogen gas. Hunt was convicted of sexually assaulting and killing Karen Sanders Lane in August 1988, AL.com reported.

Hunt, acting as his own attorney, has filed an appeal arguing that he should not have been convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death because the sexual assault did not occur. Hunt states that prosecutors argued that cervical mucus was found on a broom handle near Lane's body, but in his appeal, Hunt points out that Lane's cervix had been removed in a hysterectomy, AL.com reported.

"Without sex abuse as charged," the appeal states according to AL.com. "Mr. Hunt is not guilty of capital murder, nor felony murder. The jury would have likely convicted him of the lesser including (included) offense of murder...He has served his time for murder or would likely have been released on parole."

Hunt and Lane had been dating prior to the murder. According to the Associated Press, Hunt broke into Lane's apartment and savagely beat her. She sustained over 60 injuries, including more than 20 to her head.

Hunt would be Alabama's third execution this year and fourth overall with nitrogen gas, a relatively new execution method, the AP reported.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
In 2009, the economist Tyler Cowen began a TEDx Talk in open subversion of the format, telling the audience: I was told to come here and tell you all stories, but what Id like to do is instead tell you why Im suspicious of stories. Why stories make me nervous. In fact, the more inspired a story makes me feel, very often, the more nervous I get.

Hes right to be nervous. Stories have real power, a transformative power. Power that can be used for good or for ill. Their seductive power too often seems to exist independently of their truth or falsity.

Andrew Willard Jones, professor of history and political theory at the College of St. Joseph the Worker, opens his latest book, The Church Against the State: On Subsidiarity and Sovereignty, by explaining how it arose out of an engagement with the statist, pro-sovereignty form of Catholic postliberalism that began in earnest after the election of Donald Trump in 2016. The story this emergent Catholic postliberalism tells is that behind contemporary political and economic institutions of the modern West lies an oligarchy hiding behind the fiction of the private in order to profit from the destruction of the family and community. This oligarchy can be defeated, and the future of family and community assured, by utilizing the centralized, social-engineering, late-modern administrative state. Moreover, the solution to the tyranny of politically active economics is the reassertion of economically inactive politics, one that can regulate economic actors and keep them out of politics.

Jones is highly sympathetic to the first part of this story, that our political and economic institutions have been captured by an anti-family/community oligarchy. He is critical, however, of the political program of the statist postliberals because it depends on a notion of sovereignty that is at once a bad idea and an impossible ideaa bit of sophistry that fails to describe what is really going on in any and all political relationships, past or present.

This notion of sovereignty is a reductionistic statist one: The State is the entity that decides when and how force can be used; there is no power beyond it among men and ultimately conflicts terminate with its decision followed by its action. States are sovereign. Jones argues that liberalism and various forms of authoritarianism are each versions of the modern attempt to build sovereign regimes  within a shared understanding of power: within a shared anthropology, a shared cosmology, and ultimately, a shared theologyall of which are wrong. Statist, pro-sovereignty postliberals are thus postliberal in only a superficial sense and share the same philosophical foundation that animates liberalism.

True postliberalism, according to Jones, in not built on a foundation of sovereignty but rather subsidiarity: Subsidiarity is no mere axiom or principle of governance; it is an alternative, integral social form with deep roots in the premodern Western tradition. Subsidiarity is informed by the organic and dynamic nature of the common good as explained in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which Jones cites: The common good does not consist in the simple sum of the particular goods of each subject of a social entity. Belonging to everyone and to each person, it is and remains common because it is indivisible and because only together is it possible to attain it.

If you have had difficulty following along to this point, The Church Against the State is not for you. This summary of the books overarching theme and exploration of some of its basic arguments are drawn from its first three chapters. Terms like sovereignty and subsidiarity are used well in advance and repeatedly before they are defined. Readers without background knowledge in Catholic Social Teaching, philosophy, political theory, the American conservative movement, and European history will quickly find themselves up a creek without a paddle.

Its also not a book for an academic audience. Jones notes that The Church Against the State is constructed from materials written in a variety of contexts and are sometimes repetitive and lack fully consistent terminology. While citations to primary sources are abundant and often illuminating and well chosen, secondary literature is rarely cited. Jones touches on numerous, highly contested issues in academic scholarship, ranging from the nature and origins of liberalism, capitalism, and American conservatism to the concepts of sovereignty and subsidiarity, without presenting the reader with the state of that scholarship. It is thus difficult for nonspecialists to determine how controversial, contested, original, or innovative Joness arguments are.

This begins to cause problems if the reader approaches the book with a critical spirit. When Jones argues, for instance, that liberalism and authoritarianism process a shared understanding of power: within a shared anthropology, a shared cosmology, and ultimately, a shared theology, he does so largely based on his readings of the English philosopher Thomas Hobbess and the Nazi jurist Carl Schmitts conceptions of sovereignty being essentially the same. So far, so good. But are Hobbes and Schmitts sovereignty representative of conceptions of sovereignty in liberalism and authoritarianism writ large? I have my doubts, at least in the case of liberalism. This story makes me nervous.

First off, Hobbess status in the liberal tradition is contested. The weight of the academic consensus amounts to splitting the difference, settling on the uneasy label proto-liberal. This means that, while Hobbes made conceptual innovations to political theory that were later employed and developed by figures in the liberal tradition, there are authoritarian strains in his thinking at odds with liberalism.

While this doesnt necessarily invalidate Joness argument, it does complicate it. While there is a sustained examination of the proto-liberal Hobbess doctrine of sovereignty, Jones asserts rather than argues that later figures in the liberal tradition rely upon it. The English philosopher John Locke, the Austrian economists Ludwig von Mises and Frederick Hayek, and the American philosopher John Rawls are mentioned and sometimes quoted but receive no serious, sustained engagement.

Particularly curious is the fact that, though Hayek is mentioned several times throughout the book, only his The Road to Serfdom is cited, a book written for a popular audience to address contemporary political and economic debates as the Second World War was coming to an end. Hayeks later academic works on law and political theory, The Constitution of Liberty (1960) and Law, Legislation, and Liberty (197379), are not considered at all.

This was disappointing, as Hayeks intellectual contributions, such as spontaneous order, dispersed knowledge, and his critique of scientism, all resonate with the Churchs teachings on subsidiarity and the common goodwhich Jones forcefully defends. Hayek himself was also an observant critic of certain strands of the liberal tradition.

For example, in his essay Individualism: True and False, Hayek contrasts two strands of liberalism, one congenial to human flourishing and the other an obstacle to it. False liberalism arises primarily for liberal thinkers on the European continent, and is rationalistic, atomistic, contemptuous of traditions and institutions, and ultimately hostile to human freedom. True liberalism is organic, social, deferential to traditions and institutions, and secures freedom necessary for all to contribute to the common good. It is precisely the sort of distinction that Jones himself makes in distinguishing the false statist, pro-sovereignty postliberals from the true postliberals, who embrace subsidiarity and the common good as their lodestars.

John C. Pinheiro has argued convincingly that Pope Leo XIII sought to make similar distinctions in addressing liberalism. The Council Fathers at Vatican II likewise exhibited a keen discernment, particularly in Dignitatis Humanae, when addressing religious freedom and rights of conscience. Pope St. John Paul II in Centesimus Annus does the same with economic liberalism (capitalism). When one fails to discriminate, as Jones does in his chapter Socialism and Capitalism, it is easy to read Pope Pius XIs encyclical Quadragesimo Anno as a straightforward denunciation of liberalism. But then how does one explain the self-styled liberal economist Wilhelm Ropkes deep appreciation for it?

Ropkes own explanation involved making careful distinctions as he writes at the conclusion of his essay Liberalism and Christianity:

Perhaps the average Catholic may balk at speaking in terms of a liberal world economy. It is not easy to abstract what is essential from the association of nineteenth-century ideas implied by the word liberal; there is an understandable hesitation to employ this word in its general meaningthat meaning which, nevertheless, expresses so well a social philosophy specifically Catholic. In the last analysis, it may be answered that words count for little. What matters is that we recognize our entry into the decisive phase of the battle for freedom and the dignity of man; and, or in this battle, the patrimony of Christian social philosophy which, increasingly, merges with all that is essential and enduring in liberalism.

Tyler Cowen told the TedX audience that the best stories are often the trickiest ones. The good and bad things about stories is that they are a kind of filter. They take a lot of information, and they leave some of it out, and they keep some of it in. Theres a lot of value in The Church Against the State, particularly in its positive account of Catholic Social Teaching, but only if readers keep Cowens proviso in mind.
HARRISBURG, Pa.  The explosive growth of the data centers needed to power Americas fast-rising demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing platforms has spurred states to dangle incentives in hopes of landing an economic bonanza, but its also eliciting pushback from lawmakers and communities.

Activity in state legislatures  and competition for data centers  has been brisk in recent months, amid an intensifying buildout of the energy-hungry data centers and a search for new sites that was ignited by the late 2022 debut of OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Many states are offering financial incentives worth tens of millions of dollars. In some cases, those incentives are winning approval, but only after a fight or efforts to require data centers to pay for their own electricity or meet energy efficiency standards.

Some state lawmakers have contested the incentives in places where a heavy influx of massive data centers has caused friction with neighboring communities. In large part, the fights revolve around the things that tech companies and data center developers seem to most want: large tracts of land, tax breaks and huge volumes of electricity and water.

And their needs are exploding in size: from dozens of megawatts to hundreds of megawatts and from dozens of acres up to hundreds of acres for large-scale data centers sometimes called a hyperscaler.

While critics say data centers employ relatively few people and pack little long-term job-creation punch, their advocates say they require a huge number of construction jobs to build, spend enormous sums on goods and local vendors and generate strong tax revenues for local governments.

In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are writing legislation to fast-track permitting for data centers. The state is viewed as an up-and-coming data center destination, but there is also a sense that Pennsylvania is missing out on billions of dollars in investment thats landing in other states.

Pennsylvania has companies that are interested, we have a labor force that is capable and we have a lot of water and natural gas, said state Rep. Eric Nelson. Thats the winning combination. We just have a bureaucratic process that wont open its doors.

Its been a big year for data centers

Kansas approved a new sales tax exemption on goods to build and equip data centers, while Kentucky and Arkansas expanded pre-existing exemptions so that more projects will qualify.

Michigan approved one that carries some protections, including requirements to use municipal utility water and clean energy, meet energy-efficiency measures and ensure that it pays for its own electricity.

Such tax exemptions are now so widespread  about three dozen states have some version of it  that it is viewed as a must-have for a state to compete.

Its often a nonstarter if you dont have them, for at least the hyperscalers, said Andy Cvengros, who helps lead the data center practice at commercial real estate giant JLL. Its just such a massive impact on the overall spend of the data center.

Zoning, energy fights often frustrate developers

In West Virginia, lawmakers approved a bill to create microgrid districts free from local zoning and electric rate regulations where data centers can procure power from standalone power plants.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, called the bill his landmark policy proposal for 2025 to put West Virginia in a class of its own to attract new data centers and information technology companies.

Utah and Oklahoma passed laws to make it easier for data center developers to procure their own power supply without going through the grid while Mississippi rolled out tens of millions of dollars in incentives last year to land a pair of Amazon data centers.

In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster signed legislation earlier this month that eased regulations to speed up power plant construction to meet demand from data centers, including a massive Facebook facility.

The final bill was fought by some lawmakers who say they worried about data centers using disproportionate amounts of water, taking up large tracts of land and forcing regular ratepayers to finance the cost of new power plants.

I do not like that were making customers pay for two power plants when they only need one, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told colleagues during floor debate.

Still, state Sen. Russell Ott suggested that data centers should be viewed like any other electricity customer because they reflect a society that is addicted to electricity and are filling that need and that desire of what we all want. And were all guilty of it. Were all responsible for it.

Some lawmakers are hesitant

In data center hotspots, some lawmakers are pushing back.

Lawmakers in Oregon are advancing legislation to order utility regulators to ensure data centers pay the cost of power plants and power lines necessary to serve them.

Georgia lawmakers are debating a similar bill.

In Virginia, the most heavily developed data center zone in the U.S., Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have forced more disclosures from data center developers about their sites noise pollution and water use.

In Texas, which endured a deadly winter blackout in 2021, lawmakers are wrestling with how to protect the states electric grid from fast-growing data center demand.

Lawmakers still want to attract data centers, but a bill that would speed up direct hookups between data centers and power plants has provisions that are drawing protests from business groups.

Those provisions would give utility regulators new authority to approve those agreements and order big electric users such as data centers to switch to backup generators in a power emergency.

Walt Baum, the CEO of Powering Texans, which represents competitive power plant owners, warned lawmakers that those provisions might be making data center developers hesitant to do business in Texas.

Youve seen a lot of new announcements in other states and over the last several months and not as much here in Texas, Baum told House members during a May 7 committee hearing. I think everybody right now is in a waiting pattern and I worry that we could be losing to other states while that waiting pattern is happening.
Allegations of mistreatment on the set of When Life Gives You Tangerines, a globally popular Netflix original, have surfaced online, raising concerns about working conditions during the production of the streaming giant's hit series.

A viral post shared on social media Tuesday accused the production team of maintaining an "avoided schedule" that resulted in abusive conditions for extras and background actors.

"They even forced haircuts on cast members," the anonymous whistleblower wrote, alleging that extras were treated as expendable.

"The team was hesitant to spend on anyone who wasn't a lead," the post continued, citing widespread cost-cutting practices that reportedly compromised the comfort and safety of non-lead actors.

One of the most serious claims involved elderly background actors being left outside in freezing temperatures without proper winter gear or access to food and shelter.

"Some actors were left outside during heavy snowfall," the whistleblower said, describing an instance where one cast member had to escort another to a heater to prevent a potential health crisis.

Despite the show's rave reviews and commercial success, as well as recent press coverage praising the cast and Netflix's announcement of a significant partnership with Jeju Island, the allegations have caused an uproar among fans and industry insiders.

Critics argue that such conditions contradict the polished image presented in promotional materials and interviews.

According to the post, there were no food trucks or hot beverage stations on set, with background actors allowed only 30-minute breaks at nearby restaurants.

The wardrobe department reportedly did not provide thermal clothing or other winter-appropriate attire.

The post also claimed that production staff pushed for convenience at the expense of actors' autonomy, including forcing haircuts on extras because wigs were deemed "too inconvenient" for the show.

Netflix has not issued an official statement regarding the claims, and the whistleblower's identity has not been confirmed.

However, an alarming number of netizens believe that OP was the person the production was focusing on.

The controversy has cast a shadow over the show's growing fame, as calls for accountability continue to mount.

Fans have taken to social media to demand a response from both Netflix and the production team.

"This needs to be addressed, not ignored," one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Prestige doesn't excuse mistreatment."
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Ever since Republicans budget megabill passed the GOP-controlled Houseby just one vote, mind youthe headlines about it have largely focused on its cuts to Medicaid. But one noteworthy aspect of the bill has gotten much less attention: It would massively increase the amount of taxpayer dollars going to immigration enforcement.

Though Republicans are touting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a historic tax-saving, economy-boosting piece of legislation, it sets aside a whopping $80 billion for immigration enforcement, according to an analysis by the American Immigration Council. All in all, the AIC concluded that if signed into law, the OBBBA would represent the single biggest increase in funding to immigration enforcement in the history of the United States.

Currently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it has an annual budget of approximately $8 billion, and $3.4 billion of that is spent on detention, according to the AIC. Under the OBBBA, the agency would be given $45 billion for immigration detention alone through September 2029, which amounts to about $12 billion annually. The bill also gives ICE $14 billion to spend on deportation operations and $8 billion to hire more ICE officers.

Adriel Orozco, senior policy counsel at the AIC, has been closely tracking the OBBBA as it was finalized and passed the House. If you compare the detention budget to fiscal year 2023, which is the last fiscal year we have a clear-cut number for, this is a 265 percent increase, he said.

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The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE, has already been on the front lines of much of the Trump administrations lawless activity thats being challenged in the courts: grabbing a student off the street for writing an op-ed; arresting people as they leave court hearings, and brazenly deporting people to countries they are not from, ignoring at least two different judges orders.

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The kinds of dollars were talking about would really unlock an ability for the Trump administration to level up the cruelty of their enforcement actions at taxpayer expense, said Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, in a way that Im not sure we can even envision right now.

And theres another historic change buried in the bill: It would charge asylum-seekers exorbitant fees just to submit an application to be considered to live here. Currently, when a person looks to leave their home country because of fear that theyll be persecuted over their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, they can immigrate to the U.S. and, once they are on American soil, apply for asylum. The process is free, as U.S. lawmakers up until this point have respected the fact that these folks are oftentimes fleeing life-threatening situations. The OBBBA would change that by charging individuals $1,000 a pop to submit an asylum application.

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Orozco noted that there have been attempts in the past to instate a fee for asylum applications, including during Trumps first term, but it was only around $50 and never ended up materializing. If the OBBBA becomes lawand if this provision isnt stripped out as the bill makes its way through the Senateit would be the first time in our countrys history that applying for asylum would carry a fee.

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On top of the $1,000 base fee, the bill would require asylum-seekers to cough up $100 every year that their application is pending. According to USCIS, asylum applications are resolved within 180 days after they are filed, but TRAC, a government watchdog group, estimates that DHS has a backlog of 3.6 million active immigration cases, including asylum applications. The average wait time for all immigration cases to resolve is 636 daysand TRAC notes not just that asylum cases tend to take judges more time but that the backlog of those cases has been growing. Based on that estimate, it would take roughly two years for an asylum case to be resolved.

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The bill includes a host of other immigration-related fees, including a mandatory $550 every six months in order to keep a work permit. It also increases the current fee for appealing an asylum-application decision from $110 to $900. The OBBBA does not include any pathway to waive these charges.

People who are applying for asylum the first time are not yet work-authorization eligible, so youre asking people who dont have legal permission to work in this country to somehow pull together the funds for an application, Altman said. And its also misaligned with international law and our obligations under the Refugee Convention to require people to pay, particularly that steep of a fee, for just getting access to asylum protections.

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The OBBBA is currently in the Senate, where it could undergo significant changesparticularly because of the Byrd rule, which requires that everything in a reconciliation bill be directly related to the budget.

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To Orozcos knowledge, Democrats have been mostly silent when it comes to the OBBBAs immigration policies. At the end of the day, we do recognize that its an uphill battle, that a lot of the conversation around the reconciliation bill is not about immigration, he said. We will be trying to make those arguments and are hoping that we are able to at least decrease or remove some of these fees, but we are concerned that theres a real possibility that these can be imposed.

Donald Trump has made it clear he wants this bill on his desk to sign into law by July 4, but Senate Republicans have a long road ahead of them. They can afford to lose only three votes, and so far, at least three lawmakers have indicated they would vote against the current version of the bill.
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As the Senate began its work Tuesday on Republicans One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, former special government employee Elon Musk dropped a bomb.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk, who supposedly was moving on from politics, posted on the social media platform he owns. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

He followed up with a post warning: In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.

Word spread quickly. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who has criticized the bill for not cutting spending deeply enough, told reporters that Republican senators were murmuring about it and showing it to each other on their phones during their regular closed-door Tuesday lunch. Johnsons likeminded spending-hawk compatriots, such as Rand Paul and Mike Lee, saw Musks screed as a boost in their efforts to give the bill more teeth. The Democratic opposition was similarly ecstatic; it took milliseconds for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to appear before a camera holding a posterboard of Musks printed-out posts.

Musk, by Wednesday, was directly calling on his followers to call their members and senators to KILL the BILL.

As a matter of gossip, the long-prophesied Musk-Trump split over Trumps legislative agenda was irresistible to all. Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison told NOTUS that its like mommy and daddy are fighting. Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse told me he wondered how long it would be until we got a Trump post calling Musk a druggie. (Trump, so far, hasnt said a word about Musks crusade.)

Among those, meanwhile, who were not having a good time: Mike Johnson. The House speaker told CNN on Tuesday that hed just had a good conversation with Musk the previous day about the bill, and so the sudden U-turn came as both surprising and very disappointing. Johnson, in as polite a way as he could say it, suggested that Musks reasons were business-related, given how the OBBBA repeals electric vehicle and clean-energy subsidies.

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I know that the [electric vehicle] mandate is very important to him, he told CNN. I know that has an effect on his business and I lament that. When asked whether he thought that was a motivation behind Musks sudden trashing of the bill, Johnson said he would let others draw their own conclusions about that.

Its undoubtedly exciting to have this new layer of drama inserted into the OBBBA saga. But Musks sneak attack ultimately reinforces why its a relief that hes no longer directly involved in government, and why he should continue to be pushed as far away as possible.

Theres much to criticize in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, from either the left or the right. Musk, whos never understood how the Article 1 branch works or why it needs to be consulted, criticizes it from a head-scratching perspective.

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His criticism of it as pork-filled is an especially unusual angle of approach. Pork is a catchall word used to describe wasteful spending often doled out to special interest groups. It is often, incorrectly, used interchangeably with earmark, a process through which members of Congress directly steer funding for projects in their districts. Its a vapid term that vapid people use when theyre angry that money is being spent on something they dont like, so its unsurprising that Musk would be taken with it.

But pork is not the issue with the bill. In dollars and cents, the bill (per Wednesdays fresh new Congressional Budget Office estimates) cuts taxes to the tune of $3.7 trillion over 10 years and cuts spending $1.3 trillion, increasing the deficit by $2.4 trillion. The biggest spending measures in the bill are defense upgrades and a massive boost for border security and internal immigration enforcementthings Musk should like, given how vocal he was during the campaign about how a flood of illegals is crushing the country! The roughly $150 billion in fresh defense spending over the coming years is certainly the most ripe for criticizing as pork. But its also only incidental to the cost of the bill, and more than outweighed by cuts to long-term mandatory spending programs. The bill is not really a spending bill, as Musk describes it, as most of that is dealt with in annual appropriations bills.

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What are the problems with the bill? From the right, its that the bill doesnt cut enough: It doesnt restructure Medicaid from its open-ended, matching rate model, it doesnt eliminate enough clean-energy incentives, and so on. From the left, its that its absurd to cut food and health care funding for poor people without asking for even a scintilla of sacrifice from the well-off. Democrats and the far right can agree its a disgusting abomination, but its not really a pork issue.

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If Musk is crying pork for the same reason most people doto try to kill a bill they dislike for any old reasonthen why does he want to kill it? Theres been some reporting to back up Johnsons speculation that the loss of electric vehicle tax credits has consumed Musk. Axios reported that behind the scenes, sources say, Musk also advocated for the measure in the legislation, but to no avail. And last week, Musk lamented on X that there is no change to tax incentives for oil & gas, just EV/solar. If Musk didnt recognize when he hitched his career, reputation, and public image to Trump last year that the Grand Old Party would target clean energy while protecting oil and gas, then he is beyond help.

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Even if you support electric vehicle tax incentives, its a problem that a guy who doesnt really understand whats going on has this much power. Its a problem that because of his net worth and lack of filter, he can get in a momentary snit, burp out an angry post, and send Washington scurrying.

Musks fundamental unseriousness, though, may limit the extent of the scurrying. Republican senators didnt seem scared of Musks post or its follow-up threat; they have more than enough political cover from Trump. When a reporter asked North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis on Tuesday afternoon whether Musks tweets would have any impact on how they work through the legislation in the Senate, Tillis answered before the end of the question: No.
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Last week, President Donald Trump took many in the legal world by surprise when he attacked the chief architect of his first-term judicial nomination agenda, Leonard Leo, as a sleazebag who probably hates America. The tone was distinctly Trumpian, but the target was a bit of a shock. Back in 2016, Leo gave the new president-elect a slate of 21 Supreme Court candidates, all Federalist people. Selection of the 234 judges appointed in Trumps first term was then in-sourced to the Federalist Society, according to former White House counsel Don McGahn.

Trumps outburst marks a dramatic jolt to the relationship between Trump and the Federalist Society, as well as for the conservative bench at large. It is not likely a rupture, but rather a signal that the society must bend the kneeas all others seeking federal benevolence must doto keep its prized place. Like the traditional Republican elites Trump has left in the dust, the society needs to find a place among the ornaments on the presidential mantel, or else be cast into the dust.

Founded in 1982, the Federalist Society has long exercised subtle, behind-the-scenes influence on Republican judicial picks. Its official line emphasizing originalism and textualism belies how predictably its picks track Republican views on regulation, presidential power, and religion. Such priorities reflect Leos enduring closeness to traditional Republican elites such as Sen. Mitch McConnell.

In 2016, it was Trump who benefited from the Federalist Society stamp of approval. A staggering 77 percent of Republican voters that year reported that Supreme Court appointments were very important to them. The Federalist Societys process for credentialing nominees as clearly conservative helped Trump ostentatiously meet his campaign promise to appoint judges who would please these voters.

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And the bench he built didnt disappoint. Since 2020, a Supreme Court with three Trump appointees has advanced Republican priorities on affirmative action, abortion, and religious liberties. Perhaps even more significant have been its dramatic curbs on federal regulation in the form of the major questions doctrine and end to so-called Chevron deference, not to mention its stratospheric advancement of executive power in Trump v. U.S.

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In 2025, the judicial and political terrain look different. Thanks in part to rulings like Trump v. U.S., the president is no longer the supplicant. Traditional Republican elites are now terrified of an Elon Muskfunded primary instigated by the president. He is no longer in thrall to policy and personnel choices. Sen. McConnell, for example, has voted against numerous Trump Cabinet nominationsnot, to be sure, with any effect. Other stalwarts within the party have bucked against the presidents tariffsagain to no palpable result.

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It is thus not simply that the president and Republican elites have split on policy: The brute force of Trumps political power means that, for now at least, the president has the whip hand.

This same pivot is playing out in the presidents relation to the courts. For one thing, an administration that doesnt know the meaning of basic constitutional rights such as habeas corpuseven as it violates that rightis unlikely to be one that places great weight on fidelity to originalist constitutional values. For another, a White House that treats mandatory federal spending as a cudgel against ideological foes will surely view judicial nominations in the same transactional wayjust another perk with which to punish enemies or reward friends.

Today, courts rank among the hostile. Remember that the first Trump administration received bruising losses in cases concerning Deferred Action for Child Arrivals and a census question on citizenship. Even though Trump himself had appointed a full quarter of that bench by the end of his first term, the administration has faced a stunning tally of court losses in recent weeks.

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Worse, decisions that once were Republican trophies wrought from an archconservative Supreme Court are now albatrosses weighing the Trump II project down. Take last months ruling invalidating the April 2 tariffs. This unanimous three-judge rulingjoined by one Trump appointeehinged upon the major questions doctrine that is a cornerstone of the Roberts courts deregulatory policy agenda. Trump is here being bitten by the beast he bred.

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And unlike traditional Republican elites, Trump now is not pursuing a policy agenda in which the federal courts could be useful aides. The White House has shown that it believes itself capable of redefining citizenship, geography, and even biology by fiat. It hardly needs hand-holding by black-robed jurists. Like Congress, the hope is that the courts can also be relegated to mere accoutrement.

In attacking Leo, Trump is thus simply making plain this new alignment of power. Like other parts of the Republican establishment, he is saying, Leo and the Federalist Society have a role to play only if they are unswervingly loyal not to the Constitution, but to Trumps own project.

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Moreover, the president has made it clear what he demands from judges: As his post on Leo explained, he believes that the only reason a judge would rule against his policies is bad faith. So what he wants are menlike his recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit nominee Emil Boveof dubious ethics but unswerving and uncaveated loyalty to the president.

It will now be up to the Federalist Society to decide whether they will bend the knee, following the example of other Republican elites, to say nothing of law firms and universities. While it might seem that fealty to original public meaning and to history would make this an insuperably difficult ask, it is a mistake to think that the legal conservative movement cannot adapt.

Several prominent judges appointed by Trump, for example, have already pivoted from originalism to a vague common good conservativism. (If this sounds harmless, just take a second to reflect on who is implicitly getting to define the common good.) Even those who want to keep their originalist credentials are likely to find new play of the joints of their theory. Witness, for example, the flip-flops of some judges and scholars on the long-settled question of birthright citizenship, including at least one prominent conservative appellate judge said to be auditioning for a Trump appointment to the Supreme Court.

Even on the ground, the young men (and a few women) who swell the Federalist Societys ranks in law schools are reportedly champing at the bit to embrace the Trumpian project.

So theres no reason to think the Federalist Society wont take the hint. Once, the society styled itself a guardian of the original Constitution. Tomorrow, they may serve a different master as they screen candidates to serve in the judicial Praetorian Guard that this president so keenly desires.
JinJin, leader and main rapper of the popular K-pop group ASTRO, has been officially exempted from South Korea's mandatory military service due to health-related issues, his agency announced this week.

Fantagio, ASTRO's management company, released a statement confirming that JinJin, whose real name is Park Jin-woo, will not be enlisting after a recent medical evaluation by the Military Manpower Administration. The agency explained that JinJin has been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that, while manageable in daily life, requires ongoing medical care and regular hospital visits.

"JinJin's health condition makes it difficult for him to participate in the communal and physically demanding environment required by military service," Fantagio said. "We ask for your understanding and continued support as JinJin focuses on his health and future activities."

The specific nature of JinJin's autoimmune condition was not disclosed, in accordance with privacy considerations. The agency emphasized that the idol's daily life and professional activities can continue as usual, but the unpredictable nature of his illness and the need for consistent medical supervision led to his exemption.

JinJin, 29, debuted with ASTRO in 2016 and quickly rose to prominence as the group's leader, rapper, and songwriter. News of his exemption comes as other members of ASTRO, including Cha Eun-woo, prepare for or are currently serving their own military duties.

Fans, known as AROHA, expressed mixed emotionsrelief that JinJin's health is being prioritized, but concern over the challenges he faces. Many took to social media to share messages of support, using hashtags such as #StayStrongJinJin and #ASTRO.

Fantagio concluded its announcement by thanking fans for their understanding and promising to provide updates on JinJin's activities and health as needed.

South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve in the military for approximately 18 to 21 months, with exemptions granted only for specific medical or personal circumstances.

JinJin is expected to continue his activities with ASTRO and pursue solo projects while managing his health.

The next ASTRO member to start his military service is Cha Eun-woo: Accepted into the Republic of Korea Army Military Band and will begin his mandatory military service on July 28, 2025.
The mother of KATSEYE member Daniela Avanzini has publicly addressed online controversy after fans found out she was following Donald Trump's personal Instagram account, clarifying her actions in a statement that aimed to settle things once and for all about her and her daughter's political beliefs.

The controversy started when social media users noticed that Daniela's mother followed Trump's personal Instagram handle rather than his official presidential account. The news quickly spread across social platforms, garnering more than one million views and sparking intense debate among fans. Some critics directed accusations toward Daniela herself, suggesting the 20-year-old performer shared similar political views as her mother.

Responding directly to fan comments questioning the Instagram follow, Daniela's mother provided a clear explanation for her actions, saying she followed Trump's account after she saw a touching post about the Pope, noting that it had nothing to do with politics. She added that the controversy does not reflect her or her daughter's political views.

Fans shared support for the mother's calm and thoughtful response and they called for apologies to both Daniela and her family. Many supporters defended the KATSEYE member by emphasizing that individuals should not be held accountable for their parents' social media activity or political choices. Social media users pointed out that family members often hold different political beliefs, making it unfair to assume they have shared stances.

The controversy occurred alongside other issues involving the six-member global girl group, including criticism over their association with HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun. The group, which debuted in June 2024 after forming through the reality show "The Debut: Dream Academy," includes members from the United States, Philippines, South Korea, and Switzerland.

Daniela, born in Atlanta, Georgia, is of Venezuelan-Cuban-Italian ethnicity and serves as one of the group's main performers. Her mother's background as a ballroom dance champion has influenced her daughter's own dance training and performance style.

The controversy highlighted broader discussions about accountability for family members' actions and the challenges faced by public figures navigating political discourse. Fans ultimately rallied around Daniela, with many expressing an understanding that her mother's social media activity does not reflect her personal beliefs or values.
Last season's Minnesota Harness Horse of the Year DP Freedoms Chrome continued his tear in the top class at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday afternoon, June 3 with a 1:51.3 win -- two-fifths of a second off the track record -- in the $45,025 Open Trot.

Leaving from post six, driver Marvin Luna secured the lead with DP Freedoms Chrome after a :26.4 first quarter. He slowed to a :55.3 half as the field started separating into two packs, which prompted Iwont Backdown As (Tony Hall) to push off the pegs in search of a closer seat. Luna let DP Freedoms Chrome chug up the backstretch and clicked past three-quarters in 1:22.4 with still plenty in reserve for the stretch drive. DP Freedoms Chrome coasted to a 1-3/4-length win in hand while Whiskey Lou (Marcus Miller) tried to rally off a pocket trip, but settled for second. Iwont Backdown As settled for third and Country Mamma (Andy Shetler) snagged fourth, another seven lengths behind. Double millionaire and even-money favourite Amigo Volo (David Miller) saved ground throughout in the back of the pack and settled for fifth.

A four-year-old stallion by For You Almostfree trained by Wayne Oke, DP Freedoms Chrome won his 27th race from 39 starts and has now earned $419,874 for owner Aimes Racing. He paid $5.44 to win.

Racing continues at Oak Grove on Monday, June 9. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. (CDT).

(With files from Oak Grove)
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:

Featuring a bigger screen and more processing power, the Switch 2 is an upgrade to its predecessor.

With shops planning midnight launch parties after a run on pre-orders, Nintendo releases the Switch 2 on Thursday, hoping to score record early sales for a games console.

But the Japanese company has its work cut out to match the overall success of the Switch, which became a must-have during the pandemic with hit games such as "Animal Crossing."

Featuring a bigger screen and more processing power, the Switch 2 is an upgrade to its predecessor, which has sold 152 million units since it came out in 2017making it the third best-selling console of all time.

Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he "would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months."

In Japan, Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2an "insane number the industry has never seen before," Toto told AFP.

"We are looking at some sort of mega launch, and it will be interesting to see for how long this initial momentum will continue," he added.

Challenges for Nintendo include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device.

The Switch 2 costs $449.99 in the United States, more than Switch's launch price of $299.99. Both are hybrid consoles which can connect to a TV or be played on the go.

New Switch 2 games such as "Donkey Kong Bananza" and "Mario Kart World"which allows players to go exploring off-gridare also more expensive than existing Switch titles.

Pre-order cancellations

Retailers in the United States, Europe and other major markets are also gearing up for a rush of excited fans, with some stores opening at midnight to welcome them.

"For us, this will be a record in terms of first-day sales for a games console," said Charlotte Massicault, director of multimedia and gaming at France's Fnac Darty.

Supply pressures have even forced retailers to cancel orders, with Britain's Game saying it is "working hard to reinstate as many affected pre-orders as possible."

"It seems that retailers in the US were especially confident in their ability to ship pre-orders and now need to deal with some serious backlash from customers," Toto said.

He expects "it will be hard to get a Switch 2 not only at launch but for weeks and months after, possibly through the entire year," as was the case for months with the Switch.

Nintendo forecasts it will shift 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original in the same period after its release.

The Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared to its predecessor, so it "will not be easy" to keep initial momentum going, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May.

'Super excited'

The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch, and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse.

New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers.

"People were a bit shocked by the price of 'Mario Kart World', the first $80 game that we've ever seen," said Krysta Yang of the Nintendo-focused Kit & Krysta Podcast.

But while the company is "going to have to do some work" to convince more casual gamers that it's worth upgrading, Nintendo fans are "super excited," she told AFP.

In the United States, Nintendo delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2 by two weeks as it assessed the impact from President Donald Trump's aggressive duties on trading partners around the world.

Furukawa said in May that "hardware for North America is mainly produced in Vietnam" where Trump is threatening a hefty so-called "reciprocal" levy of 46%.

But tariff uncertainty could in fact push consumers to buy a Switch 2 sooner, because they are worried that the price could go up, according to Yang.

And the stakes are high for Nintendo.

While the "Super Mario" maker is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, around 90% of its revenue still comes from the Switch business, analysts say.

 2025 AFP
Let's get something straight: if you're hurt in an accident, the clock starts tickingand depending on what U.S. state you're in, the rules around suing, deadlines, and how much money you can recover are completely different.

Sounds confusing? You're not alone. And for the Latino community, these differences can turn an already stressful moment into a legal minefield. Between language barriers, immigration worries, and unfamiliar systems, many injured Latinos never file a claimeven when they're entitled to compensation.

It's time to fix that.

Below, we break down how personal injury laws differ in Florida, Texas, and New York, and why knowing your state's rules could make or break your case.

Florida: Shorter Deadlines, Stricter Rules

If you were injured in Florida, you need to move fast.

In March 2023, lawmakers passed House Bill 837, and it cut the statute of limitations for negligence claims in halffrom four years down to just two. That means you've got 24 months from the day of your accident to file your case. Miss it? You're out of luck.

But there's more:

Florida also adopted a modified comparative negligence system.

system. If you're more than 50% at fault, you can't recover a dimeeven if someone else played a role.

And if your accident involved a government agencysay you slipped in a public buildingyou'll face strict sovereign immunity laws that limit how much you can sue for, and who you can hold accountable.

Takeaway for Florida residents: Don't wait. Review your options now and check this personal injury settlement legal guide to understand how compensation works, including what you might receive for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills.

Texas: Red Tape and Tight Windows

They say everything's bigger in Texasincluding the legal hurdles.

While the state gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (just like Florida), things get tricky if the government is involved. If your injury came from a city bus, a public school, or a county-owned building, you may need to:

Submit a formal notice of claim within six months.

File that notice before even suing.

Otherwise, your case might get tossed out before it even gets started.

In 2025, Texas legislators introduced House Bill 4806a proposal to cap "pain and suffering" damages. It didn't pass (yet), but it's a red flag. Texas may soon limit what victims can recover, especially in emotionally devastating cases.

Texas isn't the friendliest place for personal injury claims, especially if you're dealing with public institutions. Stay ahead of any future changes and talk to an attorney ASAP if you think you have a case.

New York: More Time, Fewer Limits

Here's some good news: if you're injured in New York, you've got time.

The state offers one of the most generous timelinesthree full years to file a personal injury lawsuit. That's longer than most states.

And here's what sets New York apart:

No cap on damages. A jury can award you the full amount for lost income, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering .

A jury can award you the full amount for lost income, emotional trauma, and . But if the case involves a public agency, you must still file a Notice of Claim within 90 days, so don't wait too long.

Curious about the specifics? You can read NYS Civil Practice Law & Rules 214 to see how the statute of limitations varies by claim type.

For Latino Families, the Barriers Are Real

Let's speak the truth: the legal system isn't built with Latinos in mind.

Whether it's fear of deportation, a lack of bilingual attorneys, or cultural beliefs that lawsuits are "taboo," many families stay quiet after an accidenteven when they've done nothing wrong.

And in states like Florida or Texas, staying quiet costs you. A missed deadline or misunderstood requirement could destroy your case before it begins.

What makes this worse? Many Latinos come from countries where suing isn't common or is seen as shameful. But in the U.S., it's not about revengeit's about justice. It's about covering your bills, healing your body, and rebuilding your life.

That's why legal education, Spanish-speaking outreach, and trusted local firms matter more than ever.

The Final Word: Don't Let State Laws Silence You

Here's the hard truth: your legal rights depend on your ZIP code. The same injury in Texas, Florida, or New York can lead to totally different outcomes.

So what can you do?

Know your deadlines.

Understand your rights.

Get help from a lawyer who speaks your languageand fights like hell for your future.

If you've been injured, don't wait and don't guess. Because when it comes to justice, what you don't know can hurt you.
How Jardine Matheson expands footprint in Vietnam

By Quang Minh, Minh Hue Wed, June 4, 2025 | 2:57 pm GMT+7

From a quiet financial investment in 2008, Jardine Matheson, a diversified, Asia-focused investment company based in Bermuda, has steadily expanded its influence in Vietnam, one of Southeast Asias fastest-growing economies.

Logo of Jardine Matheson. Photo courtesy of the company.

Strategic stake in Thaco

Jardine Matheson began its journey with Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) in July 2008, when its Singapore-based subsidiary Jardine Cycle & Carriage Limited (JC&C) acquired a 20% stake in the Vietnamese company for $77 million, valuing Thaco at $385 million at the time.

In 2019, JC&C raised its ownership to 26.6%, the current level, by purchasing 30.3 million additional shares at VND128,500 ($4.93) per share, totaling VND3.9 trillion ($170 million). The deal catapulted Thacos valuation to around $9 billion.

JC&C deepened the partnership further in 2023 by investing another VND8.68 trillion (about $350 million) through 60-month convertible bonds. When the bonds mature on November 14, 2028, JC&C will have the option to require Thaco to repurchase all or part of them, starting from the release of the companys audited consolidated financial statements for 2027.

While the conversion price remains undisclosed, Thaco chairman Tran Ba Duong recently revealed in a shareholder letter that the agreed valuation for conversion is 20 times Thacos 2027 consolidated earnings.

Thaco's multi-purpose mechanical complex. Photo courtesy of the group.

Thaco is one of the largest private multi-sector conglomerates in Vietnam. Its business involves automobiles, agriculture, investment-construction, commerce-service, logistics, and supporting-mechanics.

The group recently proposed to invest in a North-South high-speed railway project in Vietnam, following a similar proposal from heavyweight Vingroup.

In a proposal submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 26, Thaco said that of the $61.35 billion in investment capital, 20% will come from its equity and the remaining from foreign and domestic loans. The cost does not include compensation and resettlement expenditures, which belong to a seperate project handled by the State.

From trade in China to conglomerate powerhouse

Jardine, Matheson & Co was founded in 1832 by two Scotsmen, initially as a trading company in Guangzhou, China. The company moved its headquarters to Hong Kong in 1944 and has since evolved into one of Asias largest conglomerates.

Today, Jardine Mathesons portfolio spans multiple sectors: automotive, construction, energy, mining, finance, real estate, retail, food & beverage, and hospitality. Its core markets include China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Deepening Roots in Vietnam

In addition to its stake in Thaco, JC&C has invested in several Vietnamese listed companies like holding a 41.4% interest in Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation (REE) and 10.6% in dairy giant Vinamilk. JC&C was also a significant shareholder in Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) until it exited in late 2017.

According to JC&Cs 2024 annual report, its investments in Thaco, REE, and Vinamilk together contributed $102.8 million in underlying profit, with Thaco being the largest contributor at 38%, followed by Vinamilk (33%) and REE (29%).

Broader Southeast Asia portfolio

In Indonesia, JC&C owns stakes in Astra, a sprawling multi-industry group, and Tunas Ridean, a major vehicle distributor. It also owns Cycle & Carriage, which operates vehicle distribution networks in Singapore and Malaysia, and holds a 0.1% stake in Toyota Motor Corporation globally.

Investment portfolio of Jardine Cycle & Carriage in Southeast Asia. Source: JC&C.

By market, Indonesia contributed 87% of JC&Cs 2024 underlying profit ($1.1 billion), followed by Vietnam at 9%, with other countries accounting for the remaining 4%.

By sector, the automobile sector led the way with 35% of underlying profits, followed by industrial equipment and mining (30.4%) and financial services (20.9%). Other segments contributed between 1.3% and 5%.

In 2024, JC&C recorded $22.3 billion in revenue, unchanged from 2023, and $2.55 billion in after-tax profit, down 14.3% year-on-year.

As of March 2025, Jardine Strategic Singapore Pte Ltd - a fully owned subsidiary of Jardine Matheson Holdings - had held 84.99% of JC&Cs shares. Other institutional shareholders include Citibank Nominees Singapore Pte Ltd, HSBC (Singapore) Nominees Pte Ltd, Raffles Nominees (Pte.) Limited, and DBS Nominees (Private) Limited.

Moving beyond finance: F&B, retail, and high-end real estate

Jardine Mathesons presence in Vietnam extends far beyond financial investments.

In food & beverage, Jardine Restaurant Group (JRG) - a division of Jardine Pacific - owns 25% of KFC Vietnam, one of the countrys leading fast-food chains. JRG also operates Pizza Hut outlets under a franchise model.

The office building at 63 Ly Thai To street, Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Propertyplus.

Maxims Caterers, 50% owned by Dairy Farm (another Jardine entity), is the franchise partner for Starbucks in Vietnam. Founded in 2000 in Hong Kong, Maxims also represents Starbucks in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore.

In retail, Dairy Farm has invested in health and personal care chains Guardian and Giant. Guardian Vietnam operates 99 stores in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, offering over 500 international brands.

In the premium real estate sector, through Hongkong Land, Jardine Matheson owns two office buildings in central Hanoi: 63 Ly Thai To Building and Central Building at 31 Hai Ba Trung street.

In 2015, Hongkong Land partnered with SonKim Land to co-develop The Nassim, a luxury residential project in Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. The development features 238 upscale apartments and penthouses.

Later in 2017, Hongkong Land became the partner of local infrastructure developer CII in developing Thu Thiem River Park, a high-end project with 1,140 apartments and a planned investment of over $400 million, in the Thu Thiem new urban area. Jardine exited the project less than a year after the announcement.
A retired Orangeburg couple whose health care careers spanned more than 50 years are now giving back to prepare a new generation of leaders.

Edinger - Lott Orangeburg couple, Dr. James R. Edinger, D.O., and G. Gail Lott, M.Ed., have donated their $8 million Hilton Head home to the Edward Via Colle

Dr. James R. Edinger, D.O., and his wife, G. Gail Lott, M.Ed., are donating their $8 million beachfront home located at Port Royal Plantation on Hilton Head Island to the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Carolinas in Spartanburg.

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Their gift, which includes an extensive collection of bronze sculptures and fine art, is the largest single donation in the colleges history and is aimed at advancing education and fostering innovation within the medical community.

We want to think of ways to give back thats going to mean something to the person thats receiving it. Its not about us, but its about finding things to help others because we have been so blessed in our lives, Lott said.

A building dedication and naming ceremony will be held in the couples honor at 10 a.m. Friday, June 6, at the VCOM-Carolinas campus located at 350 Howard St. in Spartanburg.

A celebratory luncheon will follow at 11:45 a.m. at the Spartanburg Marriott located at 299 North Church St. in Spartanburg.

The couple met in 1981 at the former Orangeburg Regional Hospital, where Lott served for 40 years a supervisor of the blood bank, donor center and transfusion services. Edinger served as a diagnostic radiologist from 1981 to 1988.

Edinger also served 10 years on the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners.

Were hoping that this is going to provide scholarships, Edinger said, along with helping to create more family practitioners.

Lott said, Were really hoping this will bring physicians back to the areas that are needed in South Carolina.

The couples gift will establish the following:

 G. Gail Lott, MEd and James R. Edinger, DO, Educational Building at VCOM- Carolinas, a 70,000-square-foot building situated on a 20-acre campus in downtown Spartanburg. Amenities will include, but not be limited to, the following: lecture halls; state-of-the-art anatomy lab; physical exam and osteopathic manipulative medicine training lab; library and student study and lounge space.

 G. Gail Lott, Med and James R. Edinger, DO Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will award four need-based scholarships per year to students from South Carolina who wish to practice medicine in rural and medically underserved communities in the state.

 G. Gail Lott, MEd and James R. Edinger, DO Educational Building and Campus Beautification and Endowment Fund, which will address ongoing maintenance needs and the improvement of the aesthetic beauty of the college campus.

 G. Gail Lott, MEd and James R. Edinger, DO Nutrition Endowed Fund, which will provide annual support for nutrition education in medical education and healthcare programs at VCOM-Carolinas and support research and programs to address the widespread public health challenges such as obesity and diabetes.

Lott said she learned the value of giving and having focus in her lifes endeavors from her parents, the late Vivan Murphy Lott and Claude M. Lott Sr., while growing up in small, rural community of Blackville, South Carolina.

This colleges goal is to give scholarships for the rural areas. So I felt that this may be the first generation of students to go to school to become physicians. If that is their passion, and our scholarship could help that, then this would be a good thing, she said.

My parents always taught us to give to others and work for what you want and to set goals. I remember when I was in high school. I thought, How will I ever get a car? My mom said, Just focus, work and do your best at what youre doing, Lott said.

She said she and her husband are determined to give while were living, not after we die and hope that others will decide to give to "different organizations that mean something to them.

Edinger said, We are thrilled to support VCOM-Carolinas in its mission to educate future physicians. This investment reflects our belief in the transformative power of education and our dedication to empowering healthcare professionals to serve our community with excellence.

Dr. Matthew D. Cannon, dean of VCOM-Carolinas, said the couples gift was significant.

Together, we are celebrating a transformational gift to our medical school that will forever shape the future of medical education, research and healthcare delivery, Cannon said.

He continued, This gift is more than a financial contribution  it is a profound investment. In our medical students, in our graduates who practice medicine in South Carolina and in improving access to healthcare across the state.

Tammy E. Whaley, assistant vice president for advancement and alumni relations at VCOM-Carolinas, said, Gail and Jim feel deeply blessed and believe in giving back while theyre still living. They believe in generosity over accumulation- choosing to share their blessings rather than store them away.

She continued, Ecclesiastes teaches us the importance of being generous and sharing what we have with others because we never know what lies ahead. Gail and Jim live out this belief by sharing their blessings with others and by their frugal lifestyle grounded in faith and purpose.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - An aid convoy carrying life-saving assistance for the famine-affected area of North Darfur, Sudan, was attacked on Monday night, killing five humanitarian workers, injuring many more and damaging critical humanitarian supplies
A historic moment in Trinidad and Tobagos diplomatic history.

That is how Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal described the official visit by Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.

Modi concluded an official visit to T&T on Friday, marked by a series of bilateral agreements and symbolic ceremonies.

During a packed itinerary that Moonilal described as a whirlwind, hectic but extremely productive visit, both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) encompassing six key agreements.
The wife and five children of the Boulder attack suspect are in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials after the alleged antisemitic incident.

The individual, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is accused of conducting an antisemitic firebombing of Jewish Americans. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said they are investigating how much the family of the suspect knew of the heinous attack.

Boulder Firebombing Suspect's Family in ICE Custody

She called Soliman a terrorist and an illegal alien who will be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Noem said she is praying for the victims of the attack and their families, promising that justice will be served against those who are responsible.

The suspect is facing allegations of using a "makeshift flamethrower" and several Molotov cocktails to attack a group of people who were peacefully calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The incident injured at least 12 people, eight of whom were admitted to the hospital with burns, according to NBC News.

Read more: Missouri Teen Indicted by Grand Jury in Connection With Firebombing of Cybertrucks

The suspect was identified as an Egyptian national who, according to the DHS, entered the country legally on a B2 visa, which is typically issued to tourists. He and his family came to the United States in August 2022 and filed for asylum in September 2022. However, his visa expired on February 20,23, but he still had legal options for staying in the country.

After deliberations, Soliman was charged in Colorado with attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, first-degree assault, and possession of an incendiary device.

Held on a $10 Million Bond

In a court appearance on Monday, Soliman was ordered to be held on a $10 million bond and is scheduled to return on Thursday. He is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is found guilty of the federal hate crime charge, USA Today reported.

The attempted murder charges against Soliman alone are punishable by up to a total of 384 years in prison. Authorities added that they reserve the right to add more federal and/or state charges to the case at a later date.

The suspect allegedly said that he had been planning the attack for a year but had to wait for his daughter to graduate from high school before carrying it out. A co-leader of Run for Their Lives in Boulder, Omer Shachar, said he standing in front of the victims outside a courthouse when a man suddenly threw a Molotov cocktail, as per ABC7.
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.
Beijing restaurant replaces US beef with Australian alternatives due to impact of Washingtons tariff policy

11:49, June 04, 2025 By Tao Mingyang ( Global Times

An America-themed restaurant in Beijing told the Global Times on Tuesday that it has recently replaced American beef with more affordable Australian alternatives, citing cost pressures and declining supply stability of US imports. This offers another sign of the lingering impact of the US-provoked tariff war on the competitiveness of US products in the Chinese market.

A staff member of a branch of a restaurant famous for its American-style barbecue in Beijing said that it had stopped serving imported beef from the US starting from about one month ago due to the impact of tariffs.

In addition to cost pressures, the restaurant cannot find suppliers that currently provide beef imported from the US, and it had to switch to beef imported from Australia, the staff member told the Global Times.

While American beef had been considered slightly better in quality, it has lost the competitive edge to more affordable and good-quality Australian beef because of Washington's tariff policy, the staff member said, adding that many consumers have accepted the substitution without complaints.

Another branch of the restaurant chain in Beijing is also in the same situation, the Global Times has learned.

In addition to beef, American chicken feet have also been replaced with those from Brazil or Russia at a restaurant in Beijing due to rising prices after the US tariffs, CNBC reported. "American agricultural products have been vanishing from Chinese stores and restaurants and losing ground to other imports," the report noted.

The US government announced plans to impose an additional 10-percent tariff on products imported from China under the pretext of the fentanyl issue, effective from March 4, which followed an additional 10-percent tariff imposed by the US on products imported from China in February this year, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

In response, the Customs Tariff Commission of China's State Council said on March 4 that it would impose additional tariffs on certain products imported from the US, effective from March 10, including an additional 10 percent tariff on imported beef, per Xinhua.

The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the US undermines the multilateral trading system, increases the burden on American businesses and consumers, and erodes the foundation of China-US economic and trade cooperation, the commission said in a statement at the time.

Even though China and the US released a joint statement following economic and trade talks in Geneva and have moved to modify or remove some hefty additional tariffs on each other's products, the joint statement only covered tariffs announced on April 2 or after, which suggests that the beef tariff announced in March remains in place.

As US beef has been hit by tariffs, imports from other countries have reportedly gained extra market share in China.

For example, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported on April 12 that the tariff war halted US beef exports to China, and Australia has filled the gap, citing an industry insider who said that Australia is now the lone supplier of high-quality white fat marbled beef to China.

Meanwhile, Australian businesses are eyeing greater cooperation with China. At the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2025 held on May 22 in Beijing, Vaughn Barber, chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, reaffirmed Australia's stance on enhancing business and trade cooperation with China.

"Our trade minister recently sent a very clear message. He said, and I'm quoting, 'We don't want to do less business with China. We want to do more business with China. We'll make decisions about how we continue to engage with China based on our national interests, and not what the Americans may or may not want. And that's consistent with the attitude of Australian companies that are very committed to the Chinese market'," he said.

Since implementing its unilateral tariffs, the US has not resolved any of its own problems. "Instead, these measures have seriously disrupted the order of the international economy and trade, and severely interfered with business operations and people's consumption," a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said on May 29.

The spokesperson emphasized that the tariffs have harmed others without benefiting the US itself, and that they have triggered significant domestic opposition within the US.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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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.
DAVENPORT, Iowa  Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the Arizona Daily Star and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has disclosed that the personal information of nearly 40,000 people may have been accessed or acquired in a February cyberattack.

The hack hobbled the companys newspapers for weeks and caused it to delay several debt payments.

The company sent an email to employees Wednesday saying it had completed its investigation into the Feb. 3 breach, and that some employees may have had their personal information compromised.

It also began sending letters to state attorneys general informing them of the impact on consumers, who may have had their information stolen.

Lee employs about 3,000 people at newspapers and other publications in 70 markets, according to securities filings.

Its unclear if the 40,000 include subscribers, vendors or others.

The breadth of the impact was first reported by British technology news service The Register.

In a letter sent Tuesday to the Maine Attorney General, Lee said it discovered May 28 that personal information had been accessed and taken during the hack. It told that state that 39,779 people were affected, though only a handful in Maine itself.

The company said it had informed affected individuals in that state and was providing free credit monitoring services for a year to those people. It was unclear if they were employees or subscribers.

The company said it will send personal letters to those impacted.

The hack caused some of Lees newspapers to miss print publication for days.

While the Post-Dispatch, Lees largest paper, was able to print every day, the breach disrupted operations for weeks.

Similarly, the Star was able to maintain its daily publication schedule, but its print editions were significantly condensed for weeks.

The company disclosed the breach to federal securities regulators on Feb 18, two weeks after the hack.

Lee has delayed interest payments to its sole lender, Berkshire Hathaway Finance, in March, April and May, freeing up over $10 million in capital to recover from the breach.

Berkshire Hathaway Finance has allowed the delays and added the interest onto Lees roughly $450 million in debt, but in exchange, it amended its agreement with Lee to allow it to begin selling off some of the debt.

Lee told employees in the internal email on Wednesday that those who were affected would receive free identity theft protection services.

The companys chief legal officer, Astrid Garcia, referred comment to a spokeswoman when asked how many employees, subscribers or others were impacted. The spokeswoman did not immediately respond.
Pima County will send mobile vaccination units to schools ahead of next school year under a plan approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

Mobile units are set to be sent to schools in the county that have vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) below 95%, the accepted level for herd immunity.

Supervisors pushed for such a vaccination effort in response to recent measles outbreaks across multiple states.

The plan, approved by supervisors Tuesday, will begin with initial outreach to schools starting July 1 to see if administrators are interested in having mobile units set up for a vaccination event.

The county will follow up with schools that do not respond to its initial outreach two weeks later, Pima County Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen said.

Mobile vaccination teams will be deployed to interested schools starting in late July, aligning with the return to school and back-to-school health efforts, County Administrator Jan Lesher said in a memo.

A total of 156 schools in Pima County are below the 95%-threshold, Cullen told supervisors Tuesday. MMR vaccination rates in Pima County schools below that threshold range from as low as 41.67% to 94.87%, according to the vaccine deployment plan.

More than 1,000 cases of measles have been identified so far this year across the U.S., but there have been no confirmed measles cases in Pima County or in Arizona, Cullen said.

The total personnel cost for running 10 events would be approximately $2,100 per team, staffed with one nurse and two support staff, according to the plan.

A set number of vaccination events will be presented to the board once they are scheduled, Cullen said.

There is a possibility that multiple schools will be consolidated into one event.
Calling her claim a political charade, an attorney for Tucson is asking a judge to toss out claims by former Sen. Justine Wadsack that her civil rights were violated when she was stopped for speeding and later given a citation.

A Tucson police officer, Ryder Schrage, pulled Wadsack over on East Speedway on March 15, 2024. The officer said he had followed her and clocked her on his radar going 71 miles an hour in a 35 mph zone.

There was nothing unusual about the stop, attorney for the city Joseph Williams told U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps in a new court filing Tuesday.

This instance was a routine traffic procedure, the consequences of which most people would accept, he said.

Williams said the officers personal observation provided sufficient probable cause for the stop. That was only cemented, he said, when Wadsack told Schrage she was a legislator and was racing to get home because the battery in her all-electric Tesla was about to die.

If anything, Williams said, Wadsack did get special treatment: Because she was a legislator, the officer waited until after the end of the legislative session to issue a citation for criminal speeding  the legal classification for driving more than 20 miles over the posted speed limit  and failure to provide proof of car insurance.

That is because the Arizona Constitution says legislators shall be privileged from arrests in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace starting 15 days ahead of the legislative session and running until lawmakers adjourn for the year.

Wadsacks case was dismissed in January after she completed a defensive driving course and proved she had the legally required coverage. Then she filed an $8 million suit against the officer and various superiors, claiming the traffic stop and the decision to cite her were part of a conspiracy to silence her politically.

That conspiracy, according to Dennis Wilenchik, her attorney, also included police leaking information about the citation to the media. He said that resulted in her losing her 2024 reelection bid in the Republican primary to Vince Leach in Legislative District 17, which covers portions of eastern and northern Pima County into Pinal County. Leach then went on to win the general election.

Williams, in his filings in federal court, said Wadsacks claims contain a series of flaws. To start with, he said, Schrage had the legally required probable cause to stop her in the first place.

He cited the officers body camera footage in which Wadsack admitted to driving in a hurry.

When Wadsack denied going 70, the officer responded, Yes, you were. I was behind you. I had my radar on.

Wadsack does not allege that officer Schrage was not behind her, Williams wrote. Even if the radar reading was inaccurate, as Wadsack claimed, Williams said that would be irrelevant.

Probable cause rests on Schrages personal observation of her excessive speed from behind her, he said. The radar merely quantified the magnitude of her illegal speed.

Anyway, Williams said, even Wadsack does not challenge that she did not provide proof of legally required insurance when stopped.

Then theres Wadsacks claim that police officers were conspiring against her.

Wilenchik said it was all part of a plan of members of the Tucson Police Department to act in concert with not yet known city officials to ruin plaintiffs good reputation because she was introducing legislation these members of TPD felt were adverse to their interests.

He said this was because she was investigating Tucson police, was an outspoken critic of city government, was a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, and because she is a woman and her primary opponent was a man who TPD officials felt could be better controlled than the plaintiff.

One problem with all of that, Williams said, is that Wadsacks alleged investigation of the department occurred four months after she was stopped and right before the citation was finally issued.

Since the alleged investigation occurred after officer Schrages traffic stop, it could not have been the basis for retaliation or falsifying probable cause for the speeding ticket, Williams said.

As to her contention she was denied equal protection as a woman or as a legislator, Wadsack provides no evidence that plausibly connects any of the defendants actions to Wadsacks sex, he said. Nor, he said, has she shown that others  males or non-legislators  were treated any differently by Tucson police.

He also said anything done by the media, or the voters, was not done under color of state law that would make them liable.

Beyond that, he said police had no involvement in the Republican primary.

They did nothing to prohibit Wadsack from being on the ballot or running for election, Williams said.

TPDs alleged action of leaking information to the press did not cause Wadsack to lose the Republican primary, he said. Wadsack does not allege that TPD had control over what the press chose to write or publish.

And whatever the reaction of voters was outside the control of TPD, Williams said.

He also had a response to Wadsacks claim that she was stopped because she was engaging in constitutionally protected activity by pushing two bills she said city officials did not like.

One would have scrapped voting centers, where anyone can cast a ballot, and instead returned to a system where people could vote only at their local precincts. The other sought a constitutional amendment to wipe out the authority of cities like Tucson to have home rule through their own charters.

Neither measure was approved.

Both are irrelevant to Wadsacks claim, Williams said. He said courts have ruled that the constitutionally protected First Amendment right of free speech  grounds for a civil rights claim  does not extend to governmental actions such as promoting legislation.

No date has been set for Zipps to consider whether to let the case go to trial.
When the stories come out, they may feel isolated.

There were cuts to group meals for the elderly around Pima County and some meals-on-wheels services.

The Americorps program lost positions for people working at Arizona food pantries and summer camps.

Most recently, the Fred Acosta Job Corps Center, which has trained low-income youth in Tucson for 46 years, was suddenly scheduled to close this month.

Stories like this have dribbled out one by one, over the weeks and months, but they are not of course isolated. Broadly speaking, theyre results of the Trump administrations effort, much of it through the Department of Government Efficiency, to slash federal spending, even to programs that Congress passed and funded like the Job Corps program.

These social-spending cuts are also part of a bigger vision, something that the Big Beautiful Bill passed by the House May 22 made clear. The safety-net cuts and the proposed tax-code changes in the bill amount to a massive wealth transfer, away from poorer Americans and toward wealthier Americans.

Theres a lot in the bill  too much, actually  but bottom line, it spends less on services for the poor and moves the savings disproportionately to the wealthy.

Take for example, this key fact, reported by the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, and which I confirmed with the nonprofit Tax Policy Center: The bill passed by the U.S. House contains the equivalent of about $1.1 trillion in tax cuts for people making $500,000 per year or more, and it contains about $1.1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps funding.

It could be hardly clearer than that neat symmetry.

Cuts balance out benefits

This isnt to say there are no good things for the lower and middle classes in the bill, which the Senate is debating and asking hard questions about. Among other things, the bill:

Increases the annual child tax credit from $2,000 per child to $2,500 per child per year.

Would give an income-tax cut to the vast majority of American taxpayers

Would eliminate taxes on tips and on overtime wages

The eventual effect could be an annual income boost of $4,000 to $5,000 for a median income family, according to the presidents Council of Economic Advisers.

But those positive impacts are offset in many different ways. Most important is the impact on social spending on programs like Medicaid, Affordable Care Act insurance and food aid.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, analyzing Congressional Budget Office reports and the bill itself, estimates 354,000 Arizona residents would lose insurance through our Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.

This is largely done by establishing new work requirements and bureaucratic steps for maintaining eligibility, which the GOP has termed a way to weed out waste, fraud and abuse.

Dont believe it. These changes to the system would inevitably boot people out who simply dont fill out or submit forms correctly. Thats not a bug  its a feature. Its the way the bill will succeed at cutting spending.

Overall, the impact of the bill would be to increase the household resources provided by the government to the topmost 10 percent of earners, and reduce the resources given to the bottom tenth, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The losses in spending on services like Medicaid and SNAP would amount to 2% to 4% of income to the lowest tenth of earners by 2033, the CBO reported. By contrast, the top tenth of households would experience an increase over 2% to 4% in government resources over the same period.

The Tax Policy Center notes that the tax cuts are highly regressive.

Tax cuts would be relatively small for low- and moderate-income households but much bigger for those with higher incomes, especially those making between about $460,000 and $1.1 million (in the highest-income 95th-99th percent), the center noted in a report out Tuesday.

Benefits cut, debt grows

All of that could arguably be worth it if somehow it reduced our federal budget deficit, but of course it doesnt. Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office put the increase in the deficit over 10 years at about $3.8 trillion.

So, its reducing benefits for lower-income people to hand more money to wealthier people and sell ever more Treasury bonds to finance the debt.

Whats happening at the local level is related. It was a Department of Government Efficiency staffer who prepared the report that led to the Labor Department announcing closures of the Fred Acosta Job Corps Center and others around the country, according to the National Job Corps Association, an advocacy group.

The Labor Departments argument was that data shows the centers are underperforming. Thats a case worth making  to Congress, which funds the Job Corps centers. The department doesnt have the power to make such a unilateral and sudden decision that takes benefits from poorer people.

Besides, the department has announced no plan to reinvest the savings in similar training programs. (I asked the department spokesman for elaboration on this, but did not hear back.)

By appearances, spending less on the job corps centers is simply part of the administrations overall vision, as expressed in the Big Beautiful Bill. Its one where we spend less on poor people and give more to the wealthy and pile on more debt anyway.
PHOENIX  The activities of federal immigration officials who reportedly impersonated utility workers in their search of a Tucson neighborhood for people not here legally is being reviewed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.

I think thats very concerning, Hobbs said Wednesday.

But Hobbs said she has no immediate answers into whether existing Arizona laws that make impersonation a crime actually apply  and whether, even if they do, the state can do anything about the activities of federal law enforcement officers.

Were looking into that, she said.

Richie Taylor, press aide to Attorney General Kris Mayes, gave a similar response.

Obviously, it raises questions, he said of the activities of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

All that follows reports that ICE agents, claiming to be from Tucson Electric Power, approached a woman on Tucsons south side saying they were looking for her neighbor. Christine Carino, said the men told here were trying to find somebody that wanted a free estimate.

Only after Carino saw a badge under the shirt of one of them men did she realize they were not who they said they were and went to warn her neighbor.

All that still leaves the question of what, if anything, state officials can do about it.

There are several state laws dealing with impersonation. However, it is unclear whether they apply.

One, for example, makes it a felony to assume a false identity with intent to defraud.

It also makes it illegal to assume a false identity of a representative of some person or organization with the intent to induce another person to provide or allow access to property. But there is an exception for peace offices in the performance of their duties.

There was no immediate response from ICE.

Looking at the legality of impersonating utility workers appears to be far more than the governor believes she can do about separate incidents in Arizona and elsewhere where ICE agents have been showing up in federal court to arrest those who show up for their immigration hearings.

What we know is theyre acting in accordance with direction from higher ups in their agency, Hobbs said. And that, she said, leaves her with few legal options  other than to object.

Were making it clear (this is) the kind of activity that we are not OK with, the governor said.

Obviously, they can continue activity theyre doing, she continued. But I think its really harmful.

What it also is, said Hobbs, is wasteful.

I want ICE to go after the criminals, she said.

I want them to focus on those deportations, the governor said. Thats what President Trump ran on. And now theyre targeting people who are just trying to comply with the law.

All that comes after the Department of Homeland Security rescinded prior guidance which limited ICE activity at certain locations, including courthouses.

The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense, said Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary of Homeland Security in a recent news release. It conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be, she said. And she said it is safer for our officers and the community, given that people who are in courthouses have gone through security and have no weapons.

Posing as utility workers, however, appears to be a new tactic.

As to its legality  at least under federal law  the ACLU of California, using the Freedom of Information Act, obtained ICE memos that date back to 2005 and 2006 that appear to justify all that.

Ruses are used by virtually every law enforcement agency in the federal government, one of the memos says, saying one objective is the prevent violators from fleeing.

It also says that ruses may involve impersonating employment with other federal, state or local entities  and with private entities.

But the memo also contains guidelines.

It is still incumbent upon the arresting officer to provide prior notice to the affected entity, it says. This notice affords the affected entity the opportunity to raise concerns regarding the (effect) the rule may have on their security or public image.

A spokesman for Tucson Electric said Wednesday that, following media reports, the utility has contacted the Department of Homeland Security to request that its agents not impersonate TEP workers.

TEP does not know if that activity occurred but has made clear that it is unauthorized, the company said. And it said there is a reason TEP objects.

Any misrepresentation can create problems for TEP workers who do sometimes need access to private property to read meters, to locate and mark underground electrical facilities, to maintain or replace facilities, or for other reasons related to our service, the company said. It also said it has advised customers to look for the TEP logo on our employees clothing, safety equipment and vehicle.
AFTRS: On Country Pathways Program

AFTRS leads two workshops for emerging First Nations creators living in remote WA.

L-R in Back: Lazarus Gibson, Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat, Kaylene Bulter, Gareth Edwards, Luke Mosby

L-R in Middle: Carly Williams, Shontell Ketchell, Sara Khan

L-R in Front: Antoinette Tranby Brady, Monica Stevens, Janet Brady, Elverina Johnson, Merindi Schreiber & Jalen Sutcliffe

Following a successful pilot in the Kimberley region and recent workshops in Cairns, the Australian Film Television and Radio School has announced two On Country Pathways Program workshops in Bidyadanga community, two hours South-West of Broome.

The program aims to create pathways into film, television, radio and podcasting careers through bespoke training to emerging First Nations creators living in remote, rural and regional areas across Australia.

The OCPP was the inspiration of AFTRS Chair Rachel Perkins, and has been made possible thanks to the support of a Commonwealth Government grant as part of the National Cultural Policy.

Arts Minister Tony Burke said, On agreeing to become chair, Rachel immediately started talking to me about how to make these sorts of opportunities real. Therell be stories told and careers forged, which would have been unthinkable without this work.

Rachel Perkins said, The program has really been embraced by the First Nations communities who co-design the workshops with the skills needs and cultural context of local participants at front of mind,. And for the participants themselves the outcomes can be life changing.

Pete Noble, AFTRS Director of First Nations, Outreach & Events, said , Were excited to empower First Nations talent with tailored training and mentoring and applying for placements, where there is a genuine want and need.

AFTRS is passionate about taking our School into remote and regional areas across Australia to help create career pathways for emerging talent to thrive in the screen, radio, and audio industries.

AFTRS is partnering with ICTV and PAKAM to deliver another two workshops during FRAIM (the Festival of Remote Australian Indigenous Moving-Image) in Bidyadanga community, two hours South-West of Broome, WA, from 13 to 20 July.

As a gathering of Indigenous video-makers from around remote Australia for workshops, peer to peer sharing, showcasing of work and discussions about issues specific to the Indigenous screen sector, FRAIM is the perfect venue for AFTRS next OCPP training, with workshops on podcasting and mobile content creation.

Collaborating with communities, First Nations media organisations and industry partners, the OCPP ran a pilot program at the PAKAM Festival in Warmun, WA from 1 to 5 September 2024. More recently AFTRS took the program to Gimuy/Cairns from 14 to 17 April in partnership with Arts Queensland.

The Gimuy/Cairns program saw 40 First Nations creatives from Townsville to the Torres Strait Islands and the Cairns area come together at the Bulmba-ja arts centre to explore storytelling through podcasting and writers room workshops in a culturally grounded space.

Radio can be the lifeblood of remote communities and the surge in the popularity of podcasts in Australia and around the world is equally shared in First Nations communities. The writers room aimed to equip participants of all levels and experiences with the knowledge and tools of how to tell their stories on the screen. Participants represented over 50 Nations and brought a wealth of expertise, passion and community spirit to every session. Their unique voices and lived experiences contributed to a rich and collaborative learning environment.

In a video capturing their thoughts about the training, participants said the on-Country delivery gave them the opportunity to experience top-tier training that they would otherwise never have access to, especially those with family and work commitments. Many commented that it provided a sense of community and enabled them to learn the skills to help share their stories with the rest of Australia.

I love everything about the arts, and the course got me thinking about my career in a whole different way  it completely changed the way Im thinking about my life, said Casey Meager, while Samara Barlow commented on the benefit of regional training: People speak about us going out from the community to Sydney or Brisbane but its nothing like being in your own community. I was able to go home to my kids and also come back to AFTRS and do what I need to do, and learn what I need to learn.

In the podcasting workshop, participants will learn what makes a good podcast, how to develop the idea for a podcast or radio show, planning and producing, recording an episode, video and other visual elements, and publishing podcasts.

The mobile content creation workshop, which currently runs as a short course at AFTRS Sydney campus , will provide training in hands-on techniques for creating high-quality mobile content, photos, videos, editing on-the-go, and getting the most from mobile apps.

Planning is also in the works for future programs across Australia, including in the Northern Territory. In the final stage of the program, selected participants from each workshop will travel to AFTRS Sydney campus on Gadigal/ Bidjigal Country in early 2026 to undertake short courses, hands-on workshops and mentoring. Travel, accommodation, and per diems are covered, minimising financial barriers.

Participants will receive networking opportunities and tailored advice on next steps, such as applying for award courses or placements. Alongside the training component, AFTRS will engage with experts to conduct a sector-wide skills audit to identify current employment and training gaps for First Nations practitioners. The findings will help shape future iterations of the Program and be made available to industry partners to guide future training initiatives and support.
Australia set to showcase animation at Annecy

For the first time, Australia will have a coordinated national presence at the worlds leading global event for the animation industry.

For the first time, Australia will have a coordinated national presence at the Annecy International Animation Film Market (Mifa) this June, the worlds leading global event for the animation industry.

Ausfilm will lead a delegation of Australian animation companies and practitioners in partnership with state and territory screen agencies VicScreen, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory and Screenwest. The united front aims to showcase Australias world-class animation talent and foster international collaboration, creating opportunities for Australian animators to expand their reach and impact on the international stage.

Ausfilm CEO Kate Marks said, Were thrilled to be leading this initiative for Australias animation industry. Our national presence at Annecy will help highlight the incredible creative talent and production capabilities Australia has to offer. Its also an opportunity to promote Australias competitive 30% Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Offset, which provides significant value for international partners to collaborate with Australian studios.

Australian animation is having a moment on the world stage, with Bluey the #1 US-streamed show in 2024 and a feature film on the way, and Adam Elliots Memoir of a Snail winning Annecys top prize for Best Feature last year and nominated for an Oscar.

This year is just as promising with two Australian projects in official competition, including feature film Lesbian Space Princess (We Made A Thing Studios), which won Berlins prestigious Teddy Award, and an episode of Shaun Tans anticipated anthology Tales from Outer Suburbia (Highly Spirited, Flying Bark), alongside short film Mr Legs (Studio Showoff) which has been selected for the Midnight Specials program.

The delegation of over 40 companies includes Dave Enterprises (Bobs Burgers), Flying Bark (Netflixs Stranger Things: Tales of 85), Ludo (Bluey) and Princess Pictures/Princess Bento (Koala Man).

The delegation will fall under the banner Animation Australia and will include:

A nationally branded exhibition stand (B.05 Hall B)

An industry panel to showcase Australias capabilities: Animation Australia  Bold Stories, Global Impact

A networking function to connect with other Mifa delegates: Animation Australia Happy Hour

Annecy International Animation Film Market takes place June 10-13, Annecy, France.
The Survivors cast attend Melbourne screening

Robyn Malcolm, Damien Garvey, Martin Sacks joined Showrunner Tony Ayres at ACMI on Wednesday night.

Cast and crew of upcoming Netflix drama The Survivors attended a special screening event, last night at ACMI in Melbourne.

In attendance were cast members Robyn Malcolm, Damien Garvey, Thom Green, Miriama Smith, Martin Sacks, Julian Weeks, Shannon Berry and directors Cherie Nowlan and Ben Lucas.

Crew and creators were also in attendance including series Showrunner, Executive Producer and Writer Tony Ayres who participated in a fireside chat with journalist James Button.

Murder mystery is a form that people love, its like a rubix cube or a puzzle that the audience must figure outYou want to ask everyone at the end of episode one, who do you think did it?' said Ayres.

Jane [Harper]s social commentary is subtle. We wanted to keep this subtlety but show how these two young men that died become lionised, while a young woman is never found, and there is no story for her. She is conveniently forgotten.

Filming took place in Tasmania and Docklands Studios, Melbourne.

Landscape is such a huge part of the book. Eaglehawk Neck became central to the look and feel of the seriesThe emotional landscape matched the physical landscape.

What makes the show work is the quality of the acting. There is no weak performance. There is nothing in it that doesnt resonate with me emotionally.

The Survivors premieres Friday 6 June on Netflix.
New meaning to BRICS-Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability': PM 07 Jul 2025 | 7:58 PM Rio de Janeiro/New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave a new meaning to

BRICS saying it would mean Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability.



In his intervention on the second and concluding day of the 17th BRICS Summit at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Prime Minister said that under India's BRICS chairmanship next year, BRICS countries will continue to cooperate closely on all subjects and will work on redefining the grouping. see more..

Dr Jitendra calls for rapid adoption of agri-tech to boost Indias GDP 07 Jul 2025 | 6:40 PM New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh today called for a paradigm shift in the agriculture sector by embracing cutting-edge technology and fostering greater synergy among stakeholders. see more..

India aims for USD 300 Bn bioeconomy by 2030: Dr Jitendra Singh 07 Jul 2025 | 6:28 PM New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) Stating that every Indian is a stakeholder in the countrys bio-economy, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh today called for a wider public understanding and inclusive participation in Indias biotechnology mission. see more..

Cong blames PM Modi, Nadda for 'NMC scam'; calls it bigger than Vyapam 07 Jul 2025 | 6:23 PM New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) The Congress party today held Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda directly responsible for what it described as a massive, nationwide medical education scam.



Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress leader Dr Onika Mehrotra alleged gross negligence and systematic corruption in the functioning of the National Medical Commission (NMC). She claimed that over 40 private medical colleges had secured NMC recognition through bribery, forged records, and manipulated inspections. see more..
HA NOI  As the expansion of the traditional network of branches and transaction offices requires high costs, banks are expanding the payment agent model to get closer to customers, with the project fast becoming a race between banks to capture larger shares of the market.

VPBank has announced its cooperation with the Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) to deploy a payment agent model in Viet Nam. With this cooperation, customers can access financial services such as depositing, withdrawing and transferring money; opening payment accounts or opening online credit cards through a network of more than 3,000 retail points of MWG and its subsidiary ien May Xanh nationwide.

The payment agent model of VPBank and MWG is deployed according to Circular No. 07/2024/TT-NHNN on regulating payment agent activities. Within the legal framework specified by the management agency, the payment agent model - a part of the agent banking model - has been rekindled and is predicted to become a race of banks in the new development stage.

After the cooperation with MWG, VPBank has continued to expand its payment agent model by adding 127 payment agents at the Hoang Ha Mobile store system nationwide.

In addition to VPBank, MB has also officially announced its cooperation with Viettel Store to deploy transaction points at nearly 400 supermarkets nationwide since the end of May 2025. The scope of cooperation between Viettel Store and MB includes services such as fast depositing and transferring money, updating ID and biometric authentication, opening accounts with selected numbers and other financial services.

Another large joint stock commercial bank, Techcombank, is also not out of this game, however, its reach is somewhat more cautious and on a smaller scale than MB or VPBank.

Specifically, Techcombank has deployed an agent model in cooperation with WinCommerce, but only focusing on WinMart/WinMart+/WiN points of sale in three provinces and cities of Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Can Tho. However, with a network of nearly 4,000 supermarkets and stores in the WinCommerce system, the expansion of Techcombanks payment agent model here is only a matter of time.

According to experts, one of the core economic drivers behind the trend of payment agents is the cost advantage over traditional branch network expansion. The cost of establishing and operating a payment agent is much lower than that of a conventional bank branch.

This significant cost advantage allows banks to expand the market coverage effectively, especially in areas with low service and transaction numbers, where opening traditional branches is not yet economically feasible. This is a problem that banks need to consider, especially in the context of regulations on restricting the number of transaction branches and offices in the banking system based on the capital size of credit institutions.

Besides, the State Bank of Vietnam is also providing many incentives for banks to increase their presence in rural areas.

In addition, payment agents also help reduce the load on existing branches, which indirectly improves the productivity and operational efficiency of the entire traditional network in meeting the basic needs of users. This is especially important when the number of customers of many large banks has exceeded the 10 million mark.

In fact, the payment agent model not only benefits banks and customers but also brings positive impacts to banks' partners such as MWG, WinCommerce and Viettel Store by indirectly providing additional financial services to help diversify the products and services that these retailers provide. When users have more reasons to visit the stores, the retail chains will have more opportunities to introduce their own products and services, and cross-sell.

However, experts note, though the benefits of payment agent activities are obvious, this model also has many risks and challenges related to professional ethics and service quality control due to its scattered nature, which needs to be strictly managed.  VNS/BIZHUB
CA MAU  Ca Mau Province on the southern tip of Viet Nam is making notable progress in international integration, recently even topping the country in the 2024 Free Trade Agreement Implementation Index.

This success reflects the provincial governments dedicated efforts to improve management capacity, assign clear responsibilities and prevent gaps in governance.

The province has effectively taken advantage of opportunities brought by new-generation trade deals, converting challenges into tangible development outcomes.

In 2024 its exports topped US$1.2 billion, an increase of 5.31 per cent from the previous year and surpassing the target.

Seafood, mainly shrimp and crab, made up 88.4 per cent of exports and was shipped to over 60 markets, including the US, EU, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and Canada.

Diversifying export destinations has enhanced resilience to global market fluctuations while also boosting the international reputation of Vietnamese seafood.

Ca Mau also saw an 82 per cent in imports to $227.31 million, mostly of wind power equipment and fertilisers.

Last year the province signed 17 international agreements with partners from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan focusing on agriculture, seafood, tourism, labour, and services, laying a strong foundation for attracting resources, facilitating technology transfer and deepening integration.

It also licensed eight new foreign projects with total capital of $78.08 million.

Investors from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan (China), and Kenya have commended the provinces open investment climate and responsive governance.

It has launched various support programmes for organising trade fairs, promoting high-tech production applications, training the workforce, and disseminating trade deals related information.

A standout initiative is the weekly Saturday morning forum for providing a direct platform for provincial authorities and businesses to share ideas, resolve challenges and foster collaboration.

Local firms have been proactive in adapting to global trends by investing in advanced equipment, raising product standards and building strong ties with farmers.

One such example is the Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Services Joint Stock Company, which aims to achieve $200 million in exports this year, $30 million higher than in 2024.

We have developed detailed plans for each product line, invested in modern equipment, upgraded production processes, and expanded cooperation with farmers to secure high-quality raw materials, Hoang Huu Phung, its deputy general director, said.

This not only increases productivity and product standards but also improves farmers livelihoods and promotes the growth of the seafood industry.

Long-term vision for sustainable development

Ca Mau has established a steering committee for international integration and introduced targeted action plans that allocate responsibilities to departments and localities.

It frequently hosts conferences, regularly updates enterprises on global integration developments and provides technical consultancy, innovation support and trade promotion activities to help firms adjust to an evolving international landscape.

Events like the inaugural Ca Mau Shrimp Festival and global trade promotion conferences have bolstered its image and visibility.

Pham Thanh Ngai, chairman of the Ca Mau Peoples Committee, reaffirmed the provinces commitment to reform, competitiveness and maintaining a diversified, multi-directional market approach.

Our goal is to achieve economic growth of over 8 per cent in 2025, and double-digit rates in subsequent years.

We are determined to turn Ca Mau into a vibrant centre for innovation and sustainable development.

With decisive measures and a clear strategic direction, the province is not only pursuing economic advancement but also asserting its leadership in leveraging FTAs to enhance competitiveness, draw investment and raise its international profile.  VNS
HA NOI  As global trade faces growing uncertainties and tariff risks, particularly from the US, Vietnamese businesses are increasingly turning to the Middle East as a stable, untapped export market.

Untapped potential

According to Pham Binh An, Deputy Director of the HCM City Institute for Development Studies, the USs new tariff policies are adding pressure on countries like Viet Nam, prompting many firms to seek markets that are less exposed, such as the Middle East.

Vietnamese steel exporters alone faced 32 trade defence investigations from 12 markets in 2024, nearly double the figure in 2023. Additionally, the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which came into force in October 2023, demands strict carbon reporting from exporters.

Against this backdrop, businesses like Secoin, a leading manufacturer of premium decorative products, are diversifying away from traditional markets.

The US once accounted for over 50 per cent of the companys export revenue, but it is no longer a top priority, according to Secoin CEO Vo Thi Lien Huong. Secoin is restructuring to spread risks and avoid putting all eggs in one basket.

Secoin now sees the Middle East as a key growth market, given its strong demand for artistic, highly personalised products - an area where the company excels.

Secoin is investing in R&D to develop exclusive high-end lines for the region.

The recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Viet Nam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October 2024 is expected to further boost trade and investment opportunities in the region.

Other Vietnamese businesses are also gaining presence in the Middle East.

Dony Garment Company, for example, has maintained an annual export growth rate of 1520 per cent to the region, even without formal trade incentives.

Director of the Dony Garment Company Pham Quang Anh noted that in the current volatile climate, diversifying export markets had become essential for business resilience. He added that his company had been actively engaging with partners in the Middle East to develop tailored product designs and offer more competitive prices.

Patience and good preparations needed

Access to the Middle Eastern market yet remains challenging, especially due to Halal requirements, which cover everything from raw materials to packaging and logistics.

Nguyen Ngoc Luan, Director of Global Trading Link, a coffee exporter, highlighted challenges in meeting Halal standards, noting that Halal certification standards vary by country. Meeting one countrys requirements would not guarantee compliance in another.

Luan said his firm had faced high costs, up to 2030 per cent higher, to upgrade facilities and retrain staff since beginning preparations in 2021. Despite the investment, he estimated the company had only achieved 50 per cent of its market potential in the region.

Likewise, Director of the Dony Garment Company Pham Quang Anh underlined the impact of geopolitical factors, elaborating that during the Red Sea crisis, shipments to the Middle East were delayed by up to four months, with costs surging four to five times.

He urged more proactive market promotion and Government support to help Vietnamese exporters gain a firm foothold in the market.

While not overly demanding, the Middle East market has specific requirements rooted in culture and religion. Success requires a deep understanding of local customs and full compliance with Halal standards throughout the production process.

With the right preparations, strategic investment, and government backing, the Middle East holds strong potential as a long-term destination for Vietnamese exports.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is taking steps towards legalising the crypto asset market in a bid to protect investors from fraud, create new investment channels, unlock resources and increase tax revenues, according to To Tran Hoa, deputy head of Market Development at the State Security Commission (SSC).

Speaking at the Viet Nam Investment Forum organised by VietnamBiz on Tuesday, Hoa said that the SSC has been tasked with drafting a Government resolution on the digital asset market.

This is considered the first step for a legal crypto asset market in Viet Nam, Hoa said. With a young and tech-savvy population, Viet Nam has significant potential to become a major player in the financial market.

Legal recognition of crypto assets can also drive innovation and foster a digital economy and offer a safer investment environment, he added.

Deputy Director of OCBS Securities Joint Stock Company Nguyen Thi Trieu cited a survey finding that 18.4 per cent of Vietnamese investors currently own crypto assets, while 63 per cent are interested in investing in digital assets, demonstrating immense domestic interest and demand.

CEO of SSI Digital Mai Huy Tuan said that from the business perspective, it is necessary to have a clear and consistent regulatory framework to ensure smooth, appropriate and transparent operations as well as expansion.

SSI Digital has established US$200 million SSI Digital Ventures, which targets blockchain and AI start-ups with a preference for Vietnamese-led projects.

Tuan stressed that a legal framework could enable ventures to operate legitimately on the global stage and attract foreign capital, adding that crypto assets are great resources if legalised.

He said that global exchanges and investment funds such as Binance, OKX, Bybit, BingX and VanEck are watching the potential development of a legal framework to make decisions on entering the Vietnamese market.

Viet Nam has already signalled its intent to regulate the sector. Resolution 68 mandates the development of a legal framework and the Ministry of Finance is drafting plans to pilot a trading platform for crypto assets.  VNS
HCM CITY  Global trade fluctuations present challenges but also opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to speed up transformation of production and strengthen internal capabilities, according to the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City.

Speaking at the Global Trade and Digital Technology Trends Update seminar on June 3, Cao Thi Phi Van, ITPCs deputy director, said: In the context of increasing global economic volatility, particularly driven by the US's reciprocal tax policies, tensions in global supply chains and the growing trend of trade protectionism, the Vietnamese business community has an urgent need to swiftly adapt and reposition its development strategies.

The US remains Viet Nams largest export market, with its trade surplus steadily increasing, from approximately US$63.4 billion in 2020 to nearly $106 billion in 2024, but like many other countries, Viet Nam is at risk of facing reciprocal tariffs from the US, she said.

The Vietnamese Government is stepping up efforts to ensure a more balanced trade relationship with the US while taking other strategic measures, she said.

These include maximising the potential of the domestic market, tightening verification of product origin, supporting joint investment projects between Vietnamese and US firms, she said.

The current global uncertainties offer Viet Nam an opportunity to reassess its internal strengths, reinforce foundational capacities and adopt a more sustainable development mindset, she pointed out.

The Government and business community have been working to diversify markets, product lines, and supply chains; enhance the quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese goods and services; and responding with agility to global economic trends.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh, a professor at Indiana University in the US, said the US government's tough stance on China, especially in high-tech sectors, is accelerating a shift in global supply chains away from China.

In this context, Viet Nam has emerged as one of the top alternative destinations as multinational corporations seek to diversify production bases, he said.

Advanced technical processes that generate greater added value are showing a tendency to relocate. This offers Viet Nam a chance to escape its conventional subcontracting role and progress towards engaging in higher-tier segments of the value chain."

While acknowledging the risk of higher US tariffs on Vietnamese exports, he pointed out that they would still be lower than those imposed on Chinese goods, allowing Viet Nam to maintain a relative competitive advantage.

However, he cautioned that entering the US market is becoming increasingly complex due to stricter legal procedures.

Vietnamese enterprises should collaborate closely with industry associations and legal experts to navigate the export process more effectively, he advised.

Vu Tu Thanh, deputy regional managing director of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said most Vietnamese exports such as textiles, footwear, wood products, and agricultural goods do not compete directly with domestically made US goods or affect local jobs.

So businesses could hope that the final tariffs imposed by the US on these items would be carefully considered.

Speaking about digital transformation, Duong Hong Loan, director of the Institute for Vietnam Initiatives, said it is vital for businesses to stay resilient amid volatility and people are at the core of this transformation.

She cited alarming figures on the digital skills gap at Vietnamese enterprises: 44 per cent of workers lack basic digital skills, 37 per cent only have a level of low proficiency and 43 per cent have no advanced digital skills.

She said this means over 60 per cent of enterprises struggle to achieve digital transformation, particularly in areas such as data analytics, cybersecurity and automation.

To address this gap, she proposed a strategic roadmap focusing on establishing a digital competency framework, designing learning roadmaps tailored to different employee groups, fostering a corporate culture of continuous learning, and providing intensive training in technological skills.

The seminar was organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, the Institute for Vietnam Initiatives and the US-ASEAN Business Council.  VNS
HA NOI  The US Department of Commerce (DOC) is considering an anti-dumping investigation into Vietnamese plywood, potentially placing more than 130 businesses at risk of facing import duties.

The DOC has just received a petition requesting anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on hardwood and decorative plywood products imported from Viet Nam, China and Indonesia.

The products under investigation mainly belong to HS codes 4412 and 9403.

The proposed period for the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations is last year, while the period for assessing injury is from 2022 to 2024.

According to the plaintiff's data from the US International Trade Commission (ITC), plywood exports from Viet Nam to the US reached about US$401 million in 2022, decreased to $186 million in 2023, then increased again to $244 million last year, ranking second after Indonesia in the investigated group.

The alleged dumping margin for Viet Nam is from 112.33 per cent - 133.72 per cent, the lowest level among the three countries.

DOC can use Indonesia as a surrogate country to calculate the margin because it considers Viet Nam a non-market economy.

The DOC is expected to decide whether to initiate an investigation within 20 to 40 days from the date the petition was received, meaning a decision will be made on or before June 11 this year.

Following initiation, the ITC will have 45 days to issue a preliminary determination on whether there is a reasonable indication of injury to the domestic industry. If the ITC finds no such injury, the investigation will be terminated.  VNS
Japanese filmmaker Masako Sakata began documenting the legacy of Agent Orange in Viet Nam after the sudden death of her husband, a former American soldier, in 2003. What began as a personal search for answers has become a lifelong mission of storytelling and advocacy. She speaks with Viet Nam News reporter Thu Van about her journey.

From the very beginning, you have had a very personal reason to follow the subject of Agent Orange. Can you share a little bit with us the reason you started your first film?

Yes, my husband, who was an American soldier in Viet Nam from 1967 to 1970, died very suddenly in 2003 of liver cancer. The death came so suddenly, I was so taken by surprise.

Somebody told me that the cause of his death maybe was because of Agent Orange. He was exposed during the war. I couldn't believe it at first because 35 years after he was out of the military in Viet Nam, how can that happen? Then I wondered what Agent Orange was all about. I wanted to find out. At the same time, I wanted to have a new purpose of life after his death, and I thought of making a documentary film on the subject.

It's only after your husband's death that you started to learn to study and make films? Were there any challenges for you?

I thought documentary filmmaking was done by a big team with a cameraman, soundman and a director like Akira Kurosawa, who has the image of a very macho man with a big film crew. I didn't think I could make one, but I found a little workshop in America that taught me how to make documentaries using a video camera, a light video camera, and also doing editing on camera. I enrolled in a workshop for two weeks and I learned from the very beginning how to use the camera and how to edit on a computer.

I thought, wow, I can make a film myself. Then I came back to Japan and bought a Sony camera and decided to come to Viet Nam and look for the story.

Did you come across any challenges or difficulties in working with the families that you were filming in Viet Nam?

No, I had no idea what I could accomplish, and I had the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time. I wasn't sure how willing they were to help us to visit the victims, but they were very helpful and took us, meaning myself, and a British photographer who covered the Viet Nam War, a very well-known photographer, the late Philip Jones Griffith.

The two of us went to the Mekong Delta, around HCM City, and the Quang Tri area, and Ha Noi, all over the place. It was a very good experience for me, and I was so surprised to find victims of Agent Orange everywhere, in the cities and in the countryside.

I was new in handling the camera. I did not know even how to focus or how to adjust the light. I was very new in the techniques of handling the camera, but the subject matter was so compelling. I shot a lot of films.

During the making of the films, what has surprised you most with emotion? Was there any joy, anything really shocking, any sorrows that you came across during the making of the films?

I did not know what to expect, really, from that trip, but I was overwhelmed by the number of Agent Orange victims and the situation that they were living in. But I was so healed by looking at the people living in such difficulty, but at the same time, surrounded by love, by family.

This warmth came through to me, through a lens and it was a healing experience for me.

It was a very personal purpose for you to pursue the first film. How about the following ones?

My approach to the subject has evolved. My first film was made out of personal sorrow. Once the film was made, I thought, well, maybe I could overcome my sorrow to some extent.

But then I realised the scope of the problem is much bigger than me. I wanted to look at the situation with a wider view, so I went to the United States and did a story on children of US veterans who were affected by Agent Orange. I wanted to see the situation in a broader scope, historically and geographically. After that, I thought, well, maybe I'm done with it.

However, I then started a scholarship, Seeds of Hope, with the money donated by viewers of the earlier movies. I started a scholarship programme called Seeds of Hope. I would visit here several times, and I was taken to meet the students who had been receiving scholarships.

I was moved by the situation that they were living in. Sometimes there's a girl who has to take care of three uncles and the father, who are all born with disability. She's okay, but she's only 15 and she has to take care of the family.

Or there's a family in Quang Tri, whose four children cannot walk. Those dire situations moved me to make another one, so that was the third one. In making the third one, I encountered Ms Tran To Nga, who is suing American chemical companies for the damage of Agent Orange.

I was moved by her resilience and courage, and I'm making a story of her life. At the same time, the 50th anniversary occurred, and she thought it would be a good idea to interview NLF members who fought the war during the 50s and 60s. At the same time, Viet Nam Veterans for Peace, which is the organisation of veterans who fought in the war and who are now mobilising to establish peace, were coming here for the 50th anniversary.

At the same time, Veterans for Peace, a group of American soldiers who fought in Viet Nam, were coming on a tour to commemorate the 50th anniversary. So I thought it would be a good chance to have the full-size meet. I would like to put all this together and make probably my last film.

How do you think that the young generations, not only in Viet Nam, but also in concerned countries, have been engaged with this topic, Agent Orange?

In Japan, the Agent Orange issue is quite well known. Because in the 90s, there were Vietnamese conjoined twins, Nguyen Viet and Nguyen Duc, who had an operation in Viet Nam. But there was a lot of help from Japanese people, and the television reported on this subject many, many times.

So Agent Orange is a well-known subject in Japan, but they did not know, beyond Viet Nam, how terrible it was. So many people who have seen my film said they did not know how bad it is still. So it was an eye-opener.

Do you face any challenges in starting the project or any support that you want to mention?

No, I don't feel any challenges because it started spontaneously. My first film was shown in a prestigious theatre in Tokyo, and people said: "Oh it was very moving". We thought, maybe we would put a box and asked for donations, and we collected more than we thought. So that was the beginning. And then I thought of maybe starting a scholarship, because I was told that if you have 2,500 yen, I don't know how much it is, whether it is enough to support a student for one year at that time, 15 years ago.

So I thought, well, it's a dinner in Tokyo. Maybe we can collect some more and help the children.

And I started to call for donations at each showing of my films, and we have been able to support nearly 200 students. And every time I come here, VAVA (Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin Foundation) takes me to scholarship students. They are so appreciative and they show me how their lives have changed, and that moves me, and I keep doing it.

It's a very small help that we can offer, but to see that it makes some people happy, and some families easier to live, that is very gratifying for me.

Finally, I think it's important to remember the damage that was done by Agent Orange, which is easily hidden with other problems that surround us in the whole world. We should take this as a lesson on how important it is to take care of our environment and not to succumb to something like defoliants and nuclear damage. Let's hope we can do something for a better world.  VNS
Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW calls for restructuring the local government into a two-tier system, provincial and communal levels, and reducing commune-level units by 6070 per cent. This has raised public concerns about the capacity and qualifications of local officials, following such mergers.

Tran Anh Tuan, former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the Viet Nam Association for Administrative Sciences, spoke to Vietnam News Agency about this issue.

What qualifications should commune-level public officials meet in order to fulfil their roles effectively under the new administrative structure?

Since oi Moi (Renewal), the Party and the State have issued various regulations on the standards of ethics, qualifications and competencies for public officials, including those at the commune level.

As the country moves toward a more streamlined and efficient organisational structure, with only two levels of local government, the roles, powers organisational structure and operating mechanisms of provincial and communal authorities will be significantly redefined.

In this context, digital technology and artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in supporting and enhancing public administration.

This transformation requires the civil service system to be restructured around specific job positions and associated titles. The outdated mindset of lifetime employment must be replaced with a more flexible contract-based system. Civil servants should be appointed to roles that match their job responsibilities, eliminating the need for seniority-based promotion exams. A unified civil service regime must be established.

In tandem with these reforms, the criteria for civil servants must be redefined. It is no longer sufficient to focus only on general moral qualities or rely heavily on academic degrees.

New standards must emphasise fundamental knowledge and essential skills such as administrative management, task execution, citizen engagement, document drafting, teamwork, digital literacy and the application of AI.

As for personal qualities, public officials must embody a strong sense of duty to serve the people, demonstrate initiative and accountability, and be willing to take responsibility for the collective good, while always operating within the bounds of the law.

Can the upcoming commune mergers be seen as an opportunity to screen and standardise qualifications for local officials? Will those with sub-degree qualifications or part-time university degrees be excluded?

This is indeed a valuable opportunity to assess, screen and improve the quality of commune-level officials, but not to eliminate those with lower or non-traditional degrees. A university degree, whether full-time, part-time, distance learning or continuing education, is legally equal in value. We should not discriminate based on how the degree was obtained.

What truly matters is an officials actual capability to perform well. Policies must be well-crafted and implemented effectively, citizens and businesses needs should be resolved promptly, not delayed due to someone's educational background, but rather due to their functional competency.

Even in the digital era, with the support of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), a lack of ability to use these tools renders them ineffective. AI is a means to improve performance  it cannot replace human responsibility and judgment.

The draft amendments to the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants propose no longer distinguishing between commune-level officials and those at the provincial or central levels. What is the significance of this change?

I strongly support this proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs. In a unified country, the civil service system should also be unified. Commune-level government is an integral part of the state apparatus and the work done by commune officials is just as much public service as that at higher levels.

If approved by the National Assembly, this reform would be a major step toward building a modern, professional, unified, accountable and effective civil service. It would shift the system away from career-based administration, to a position-based approach, aligning with the new two-tier local government model being implemented.

What do you think about the proposal to assign former district and provincial-level officials to work at newly-merged communes?

In public service, the reassignment or rotation of officials across different levels of government is quite normal, especially as we move toward a two-tier local governance model. Reorganising and strengthening the workforce is essential.

After the mergers, the new communes and wards will have significantly different roles, functions, structures and operating mechanisms compared to the current ones. Therefore, it's necessary to evaluate and reassign staff accordingly.

Bringing in experienced officials from provincial or former district levels to the commune level is not only appropriate. Its essential to enhance capacity and ensure effective implementation of the new mandates at the grassroots level.

In your view, when choosing between candidates with formal qualifications and those with strong grassroots experience, who should be prioritised?

Many district-level officials have come up through grassroots roles, so its not about drawing comparisons between levels. Qualification and capability are two different things. Someone may have a high degree but lack the ability to perform effectively. Having a degree doesnt guarantee success, but those who succeed often do so because they have real capacity.

Experience is valuable. Its drawn from the real world and helps avoid mistakes and failures. But experience alone isnt everything, what truly matters is capability.

I was particularly struck by Party General Secretary To Lams closing remarks at the 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee. He emphasised that when it comes to personnel, the highest standard must be the requirements of the job and other criteria come after.

So, between formal education and experience, I would choose the person who is fully capable of meeting the demands of the role.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs attendance at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) demonstrates Viet Nams proactiveness and commitment to jointly address global challenges with the international community, said Vietnamese ambassador to France inh Toan Thang.

In an interview with The World and Vietnam Report ahead of the PMs visit, Thang underscored that this trip also aligns with the countrys sustainable maritime economic development strategy.

Within the framework of the visit, PM Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation will also participate in bilateral activities in Nice, France and the neighbouring Monaco.

Ambassador Thang noted that the PMs attendance at UNOC3 and high-level engagements represents a concrete step in Viet Nams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, while upholding international integration, multilateral diplomacy and strengthening ties with major partners.

Viet Nam has consistently proved to be an active and responsible member of the international community, complying with international law and especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The country has also taken proactive measures in the conservation and sustainable use of the seas and marine resources, and stands ready to contribute to global efforts in this field.

Thang noted that the Vietnamese delegations participation in UNOC3 is an occasion to showcase Viet Nams achievements in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), while also sharing experiences, promoting cooperation in science-technology and financing for the mission.

From the diplomatic perspective, this is PM Chinhs second visit to France in his capacity as the Vietnamese Government leader. It also carries great significance for Viet Nam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, following Party General Secretary To Lams visit to France in October 2024, and French President Emmanuel Macrons visit to Viet Nam in May 2025.

Viet Nams active participation in UNOC3 and related events also strengthens its cooperation with France and Monaco in the maritime field, said the Vietnamese ambassador.

UN Ocean Conference

At UNOC3, PM Chinh will deliver a keynote speech on Viet Nams decisive actions towards the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. The countrys key message is its commitment to being a proactive, constructive and responsible country in fostering cooperation for peaceful, stable, sustainable and prosperous oceans.

Additionally, the Vietnamese leader will co-chair a summit on global deltas, which has been of particular interest to countries vulnerable to climate change and sea-level rise. He will also speak at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, a UNOC3 special event hosted by Monaco.

Ambassador Thang noted that the overarching theme of this conference, 'Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean', reflects an urgent and comprehensive message regarding oceans across the world.

In todays context, it is essential to mobilise not only governments, but also all stakeholders, from academia and the private sector to the public, to drive real change, said Thang. He noted that the theme is not merely symbolic but a direct and urgent call to action.

This theme is particularly meaningful and practical for Viet Nam, a country with more than 3,200km of coastline, where the ocean is integral to the livelihoods of millions involved in fisheries, tourism and maritime transport.

Threats to the ocean directly impact national food security and sustainable development, Thang noted, adding that issues such as rises in sea levels, coastal erosion, declining fish stocks and plastic pollution are increasingly visible along Viet Nams coast.

The country recognises the need for systematic and timely responses as well as coordinated efforts across sectors and among the international community. Therefore, this years UNOC3 opens opportunities for Viet Nam to connect its domestic initiatives with global cooperation networks.

The conference also encourages engagement of the private sector and local communities in driving innovation in the blue economy, green investment and the use of clean technologies in marine management, said Thang.

The Vietnamese ambassador believed that UNOC3s theme is a catalyst to translate awareness into concrete action, turning commitments on documents into tangible results among the international community.

Rising ocean temperatures, acidification and biodiversity loss are no longer distant scientific warnings, they are already affecting billions of people globally, he said.

UNOC3 therefore serves as a critical platform for countries to assess the current situation, share experiences, strengthen cooperation and propose practical initiatives to restore the quality of oceans  the worlds shared resource, said Ambassador Thang.  VNS
HA NOI  Iran is seeking to bolster cooperation with Viet Nam across a broad range of fields, including politics, defence and security, economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said.

During a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Luong Ngoc in Tehran on June 3 after receiving his credentials, President Pezeshkian expressed his belief that the new ambassador would make significant contributions to boosting the friendship and cooperation between the two nations, serving the needs and interests of both peoples.

Noting the close ties between the sides over the years, the leader added that Iran is ready to share its experiences with Viet Nam in various areas.

Ngoc took the occasion to convey greetings and best wishes from Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong to his host.

Stressing the important roles of Viet Nam in Southeast Asia and Iran in the Middle East, the diplomat noted that the two countries shared aspirations for peace and substantial development potential form a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in multiple fields. He pledged to spare no effort in further promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam and State President Luong Cuong on Wednesday sent messages of congratulations to Lee Jae-myung on his election as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea (RoK).

In their messages, Party General Secretary Lam and President Cuong expressed their firm belief that with the prestige, mettle, and strategic vision of President Lee, the RoK will continue to develop strongly, achieve greater accomplishments, and affirming its international role and standing in the coming time.

They affirmed their readiness to work closely with President Lee and the RoK to further promote the substantive, effective, and comprehensive development of the bilateral relations for the benefit of their people, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The same day, Permanent member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committees Secretariat Tran Cam Tu sent a congratulatory message to Park Chan-dae, Acting Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has spotlighted the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs upcoming trip from June 5-14, which includes attendance at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) and bilateral activities in France, and official visits to Estonia and Sweden.

Hang told the press that the trip underscores Viet Nams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, diversification, proactive and effective global integration, as outlined at the 13th National Party Congress.

This will be PM Chinhs first visit to France since the two nations upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024, the first visit to Sweden by a Vietnamese PM in six years, and the first by a key Vietnamese leader to Estonia since diplomatic relations began in 1992.

According to her, the trip will convey a clear message of peace, stability, cooperation, and development. In France, the PMs meetings will concretise major orientations in the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and the joint statement made during President Macrons state visit to Viet Nam in May 2025, opening a new chapter in their all-around cooperation.

In Sweden and Estonia, PM Chinh and leaders will review progress and set new priorities to achieve breakthroughs in substantive and effective cooperation. The trip will also look toward broader ties with the EU, while contributing to bolstering ASEANEU cooperation and enhancing coordination in addressing regional and global issues, for peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development in each region and the world at large.

The trip is also an opportunity to show Viet Nams development aspirations and attract international resources for national goals in the new era. France is strong in telecommunications, aerospace, renewable energy, and high-speed rail. Estonia has led in digital transformation and e-government since joining the EU in 2004, while Sweden excels in science, technology, innovation, information and communication technology (ICT), environment, and green economy. These sectors, Hang noted, align with Viet Nams modernisation goals.

At UNOC 3 in France, themed Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean," Chinh will position Viet Nam as a reliable, active and responsible partner committed to a shared, sustainable future. His keynote speech will underline ASEANs consistent stance on upholding multilateralism and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while outlining Viet Nams drastic efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals on conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources.

The Vietnamese PM will also co-chair a summit on delta regions with the Presidents of Colombia and Iraq and engage in Monaco's ocean-related economic activities at the invitation of its government.

Reflecting on Viet Nams ties with the above countries, Hang noted that France became the first EU member to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam in October 2024. Following President Macrons visit to Viet Nam in May 2025, political trust has deepened. France is Viet Nams fifth largest trade partner, second largest investor, and top development aid provider in the EU, with bilateral trade reaching US$5.42 billion in 2024, up 42 per cent over the past decade. Over 350 French companies are operating in Viet Nam.

The two nations are expanding cooperation across aerospace, energy transition, infrastructure, satellites, and nuclear energy, alongside vibrant cultural, educational, and healthcare exchanges. They share common views on global and multilateral issues and support each other at international organisations.

Sweden, the largest Northwestern European supplier of non-refundable aid to Viet Nam, has contributed over $3 billion since 1967, focusing on healthcare, economic reform, institutional building, and administrative reform. Two-way trade has seen sustained growth, reaching $1.48 billion in 2024. Sweden currently ranks 29th out of 149 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with 111 valid projects totaling over $743 million, mainly in manufacturing, processing, and ICT.

Meanwhile, Estonia has supported Viet Nams integration into the EU through the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and was among the first to ratify the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). While two-way trade remains modest, it is growing steadily, with both sides leveraging EVFTA to expand market access, Hang added. VNS
SYDNEY  Australian Ambassador to Counter Modern Slavery, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking Lynn Bell praised her countrys comprehensive strategic partnership with Viet Nam, especially in the fight against human trafficking and transnational crimes, during a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hung Tam on Wednesday.

During the event at the Vietnamese Embassy in Canberra, Bell highlighted the effective coordination between the Australian Border Force and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security under the 2016 memorandum of understanding on the return of Vietnamese citizens. The agreement was signed between the Vietnamese ministry and the then Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Bell commended Vietnamese authorities' collaboration with the Australian side in tackling numerous cases, particularly those involving illegal entries and exits.

She underscored the importance of information sharing and joint investigations to combat human trafficking. She also stressed the need to detect and warn against fraudulent tactics, including the trafficking of victims to Australia by sea and the false promises of visas and employment in the country.

In reply, Vietnamese Ambassador Tam expressed appreciation for the close coordination in the field between the Australian Border Force, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the embassy, amid the growing bilateral tourism ties and people-to-people exchanges.

The diplomat thanked the Australian Border Force for maintaining a hotline and promptly updating Vietnamese authorities on cases involving human trafficking and illegal entries by Vietnamese citizens. He affirmed that citizen protection remains a top priority for the embassy.

He also proposed that Bell and the Border Force continue their frequent information sharing and close cooperation in these critical issues with the Vietnamese ministry and embassy.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is grappling with the spread of counterfeit dairy products and self-declared nutritional supplements, many of which have been sold with unverified medical claims and distributed widely through hospitals, pharmacies and rural markets.

Among the most concerning trends is the rise of so-called 'grass milk' (sua co), a marketing term coined by sales teams to promote obscure dairy products lacking recognised branding.

Often imported in bulk and repackaged domestically, these products bypass official testing and are circulated under a loose regulatory framework that allows self-declaration without independent quality verification.

"Allowing low-quality products into hospitals is a serious warning about weaknesses in our control system," said National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Thi Viet Nga. "Hospitals are supposed to be the most strictly regulated environments."

Hospitals and villages targeted

The Ministry of Health has responded by ordering hospitals nationwide to scrutinise their use of nutritional and dairy products. Any items deemed substandard must be removed.

Yet oversight challenges persist across the supply chain, especially with products that have been self-certified and advertised using exaggerated or misleading claims.

In rural areas, sales tactics are aggressive. In Ha Noi's Son Tay Town, resident Nguyen Thi Liem described how a sales team brought products directly to her village.

"They let each person drink a free cup, then offered promotions and gifts for those who bought it," she said, showing three tins of 'grass milk' she had purchased.

Other residents shared similar stories of purchasing these products at marketing events or promotional campaigns.

Fake products infiltrate market

Authorities say the problem extends well beyond misleading advertising. In a recent high-profile case, the Ministry of Public Security dismantled a counterfeit milk operation spanning Ha Noi and nearby provinces.

The group had manufactured and sold fake powdered milk in vast quantities, falsely advertising it as a high-quality nutritional product for malnourished children and elderly patients.

The products mimicked the branding of well-known companies and claimed to contain premium ingredients, such as colostrum, birds nest or cordyceps, all of which were later found to be absent or replaced with lower-quality additives.

Nutritional analysis revealed that many items contained less than 70 per cent of the substances claimed on their labels.

One victim, Pham Bang from Ha Noi's Hoai uc District, said she gave her child fake milk for three years without knowing.

"I cant stop thinking about it. I feel so guilty," she said, holding back tears.

The product, marketed under the name Betrice, was produced by two companies now under criminal investigation. Each tin cost VN500,000 (about US$20), and was marketed as a nutritional aid for underweight children.

Regulatory loopholes under fire

These cases have exposed serious weaknesses in Viet Nams food safety regulatory framework. Under Decree 15/2018/N-CP (Decree 15), businesses can self-declare food products after submitting basic safety test results for contaminants like bacteria or heavy metals.

However, the law does not require testing of actual nutritional content, creating what critics describe as a 'loophole for counterfeiters.'

Officials from Ha Noi's Food Safety Sub-Department have acknowledged that while companies must submit test results, the current requirements only cover basic safety indicators, not the products actual composition.

Even more concerning, officials say they rarely conduct post-market sample testing on these products. As a result, once a companys declaration is accepted, products can be legally sold without any further scrutiny, even if the nutritional claims are inaccurate or misleading.

"This is not a regulatory breach," one official noted. "We are following current law."

The consequences are far-reaching. One recently uncovered counterfeit ring was found to have produced nearly 600 fake milk brands. Many were distributed through pharmacies, online platforms and even hospitals.

Another bust in May seized more than 100 tonnes of counterfeit supplements and medical devices from an illicit factory in Hung Yen Province. The products were labelled as imports from France or Spain but had been manufactured with unknown ingredients sourced from local markets.

Authorities said the operation, led by a husband-and-wife team, had been running since 2020 and deliberately targeted infants, pregnant women and the elderly, groups most vulnerable to health misinformation.

Fragmented oversight, diffused responsibility

Critics say Viet Nams food safety oversight is hampered by fragmentation and overlapping mandates.

The Ministry of Health regulates processed foods, supplements and imports. The Ministry of Agriculture oversees production at the farming level, while the Ministry of Industry and Trade monitors distribution and packaging. Local agencies are responsible for licensing, enforcement and inspections.

This multi-agency model has led to a diffusion of responsibility, with no single body held accountable when unsafe products reach consumers. In the recent fake milk case, officials from all involved agencies cited procedural compliance to deflect blame.

Directive 17, issued by the Communist Party Secretariat in October 2022, called for a single national food safety agency. Yet nearly three years later, implementation has stalled due to resource constraints.

"We must urgently revise Decree 15 and implement a unified food safety authority, said Deputy Health Minister o Xuan Tuyen. "Oversight must be tightened so that only products meeting quality standards can enter the market."

Calls for reform and ethics education

Lawmakers and experts are proposing sweeping reforms. These include mandatory third-party testing for high-risk products such as infant formula, public disclosure of post-market inspection results, and tighter controls on advertising.

NA Deputy Nguyen Thi Viet Nga called for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties, arguing that the problem extended beyond regulatory loopholes. She pointed to greed and the erosion of business ethics as key factors, noting that some individuals knowingly put public health at risk in pursuit of profit.

She proposed making business ethics a mandatory subject in all economics and business-related university programmes, warning that without early education in integrity, such violations were likely to continue.

Lawyer Hoang Van Ha of ARC Law Firm said the current self-declaration system under Decree 15 was vulnerable to abuse without a robust post-market inspection framework.

He argued that businesses should be required to submit not only safety results, but also the analytical methods used to verify product quality, allowing authorities to detect violations through periodic testing.

Ha added that regulatory agencies should be held accountable for oversight failures, and called for more frequent inspections and stronger inter-agency coordination.

Pharmacist Nguyen Xuan Hoang, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Functional Foods, suggested that requiring declared testing methods would help distinguish legitimate manufacturers from counterfeiters, as fraudulent producers would be unable to meet methodological standards.

He also proposed that while waiting for formal amendments to Decree 15, technical regulations could be updated to tighten control over testing procedures and prevent low-quality products from entering the market.  VNS
HA NOI  Authorities launched legal proceedings on 36 cases involving 119 individuals for offenses such as smuggling, trade fraud, production and sale of counterfeit goods, and false advertising across 24 localities from May 15 to June 3, spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security Maj. Gen. Nguyen Quoc Toan told the Governments regular monthly press conference on Wednesday.

Recognising that counterfeit goods, and food safety are pressing concerns for the public, Toan stressed that the ministrys leaders have implemented drastic and focused measures. First and foremost, the ministry launched an intensive crackdown campaign targeting these kinds of crimes in these areas.

Although the Prime Minister initially set a one-month campaign, the Ministry of Public Security proactively extended it to three months, starting from May 15, he shared.

In addition, it is currently proposing amendments to the Penal Code to increase penalties for crimes related to the production and sale of counterfeit goods and violations of food safety and hygiene regulations.

The officer noted that, through recent investigative efforts, the ministry has identified several alarming issues, with criminal activities becoming increasingly complex, large-scale, and sophisticated; offenders exploiting loopholes in the law and gaps in state management to carry out their crimes. It is also noteworthy that counterfeit goods are highly diverse, ranging from food, cosmetics, and medicine to dairy products.

This is extremely dangerous, not only affecting public health and the economy but also impacting the quality of the labour force, both now and in the future, the spokesperson emphasised.

Toan went on to say that the Ministry of Public Security has identified this fight as a long-term and ongoing task that requires the active involvement of local authorities at all levels and, most importantly, the participation of the public to prevent and combat these extremely dangerous acts.

The ministry calls on citizens to remain vigilant against false advertisements, so-called miracle products, and suspiciously cheap items, and to report such cases to the authorities for timely investigation and action.

It also urges media agencies, advertising companies, and social media influencers to uphold their social responsibility by working with law enforcement forces to help build a safe and healthy consumer environment, contributing to the peace and well-being of society. VNA/VNS
SEOUL  Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea has clinched the presidency, turning the page on six months of relentless political upheaval and a leadership vacuum left by ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeols troubled legacy.

The liberal Democratic Party will take power from the conservative People Power Party after a whirlwind 22-day campaign, just three years after the 2022 presidential election. That year, Yoon defeated Lee by the narrowest margin on recordjust 0.73 percentage point.

With all ballots counted, Lee ultimately received 49.42 perc ent in Tuesdays early presidential election, while Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party garnered 41.15 per cent, according to the National Election Commission on Wednesday.

Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party secured 8.34 per cent, falling short of the 10 per cent threshold required to qualify for reimbursement of half his campaign expenses.

Lee Jae-myung collected a total of 17,287,513 votes, surpassing the previous record for the most votes received in a presidential election, set by Yoon Suk Yeol in 2022, who received 16,394,815 votes.

Lee had effectively secured victory with 48.77 per cent of the vote, while Kim trailed with 42.11 per cent, as of 2.30am Wednesday with 93.84 per cent of ballots counted. At that time, about 2.18 million votes remained uncounted.

I express my respect for the peoples great decision, Lee Jae-myung said as he left his residence for the party headquarters in Yeouido, after his win was deemed certain by the nations major broadcasters just before midnight.

I will do my utmost to fulfill the immense responsibility and mission entrusted to me, so as not to fall short of our citizens expectations.

Kim delivered his concession speech at around 1.30am Wednesday at the National Assembly, saying, I humbly accept the peoples decision. I congratulate candidate Lee Jae-myung on his election.

Lees presidency will have come on his third attempt, after he finished third in his first bid for the Democratic Partys 2017 nomination and then narrowly losing to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election.

However, Lee did not secure an outright majority  a distinction solely held by former President Park Geun-hye, who captured 51.55 per cent in the 2012 presidential election, the only candidate to do so since the 1987 constitutional amendment introducing direct presidential elections.

Rep. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the National Assembly after the exit poll results were released, If Lee secures more than half the votes, it means he has the support of over half the nation. I believe that, by overcoming discord and fostering unity, (winning a majority) will greatly help us move forward on the path to overcoming this crisis.

Lee was sworn into office at around 6.21am Wednesday, as soon as his victory was officially confirmed by the National Election Commission  a departure from the customary 60-day transition period afforded to South Korean presidents.

All constitutional powers vested in the presidency, including military command authority, will be transferred to the leader the moment their term begins.

Lee is expected to begin forming a Cabinet immediately upon taking office. On the last day of campaigning, Lee said on Monday, In general, the first appointments to be made should be the prime minister, the presidential chief of staff, and the senior secretaries.

In 2017, then-President Moon Jae-in announced his selections for prime minister, National Intelligence Service director, presidential chief of staff and chief of the Presidential Security Service on the day of his inauguration following the early presidential election.

With Lee Jae-myung as president, Korea would have a unified government, with both the executive branch and the majority in the National Assembly aligned with the liberal Democratic Party  a stark contrast to the previous era of divided government under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The Democratic Party holds 171 seats in the 300-member parliament and is expected to wield immense power.

At the same time, Lee faces ongoing criminal trials  an issue that is likely to rekindle debate over whether presidents should have immunity for alleged criminal offenses committed before taking office.

The Democratic Party has submitted a request to convene an extraordinary National Assembly session starting Thursday, a day after Lees inauguration, should he be confirmed as president. Last month, the party pushed through two key bills that are now awaiting a plenary vote: an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that would suspend the five ongoing criminal trials against Lee should he take office, and a revision to the Public Official Election Act that would remove the term act from the requirements for the crime of disseminating false information during an election.

With Lees first retrial hearing for violating election law scheduled for June 18, the party is reportedly considering passing related legislative amendments before then.

The final voter turnout stood at 79.4 per cent, surpassing the turnout recorded in the 2022 presidential election, according to the National Election Commission. This marks the fourth-highest turnout in South Koreas presidential elections since the 1987 democratisation movement.

Previous presidential election turnouts were as follows: 89.2 per cent in 1987, 81.9 per cent in 1992, 80.7 per cent in 1997, 70.8 per cent in 2002, 63 per cent in 2007, 75.8 per cent in 2012, 77.2 per cent in 2017, and 77.1 per cent in 2022.

Early voting turnout from May 29 to 30 was 34.74 per cent, the second-highest since early voting was introduced in 2014, following the record 36.9 per cent set during the 2022 presidential election.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the total number of registered voters for the presidential election stands at 44,391,871, comprising 44,133,617 domestic voters and 258,254 overseas voters, marking an increase of 194,179 from the previous presidential election in 2022.  THE KOREA HERALD/ANN
JAKARTA  In last-minute changes to a planned consumer stimulus package for June and July, the government has canceled an electricity discount but doubled wage subsidies.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed in a press conference that the wage subsidies for low-income earners would double from Rp 150,000 (US$9) per month per individual to Rp 300,000.

Eligible beneficiaries include around 17.3 million workers earning up to Rp 3.5 million a month and some 565,000 honorary teachers, a term commonly used for honorarium-based contract teachers.

Sri Mulyani explained that the subsidies would ultimately be financed by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan but that the government would set aside Rp 10.72 trillion from the state coffers to temporarily fund the programme.

The wage subsidies are a part of a series of measures aimed at boosting to consumer spending.

When it was first announced last month, the packaged was to cover six areas, one being transportation discounts for trains, airplanes and ships, another area included discounts on road tolls for some 110 million eligible drivers.

Two more areas were social aid for 18.3 million beneficiaries and a discount on work accident insurance for employees in labor-intensive industries.

The package originally also included a 50-percent electricity discount for June and July, similar to what the government had granted in January and February.

However, following a meeting at the State Palace and prior to Mondays press conference, Sri Mulyani announced that the discount was not doable.

We have held a meeting with other ministers, and, for the implementation of the electricity discount, the budgeting process turned out to be a lot slower, so if we wanted it for June and July, we have determined that it could not be executed, said Sri Mulyani.

She explained the decision to double wage subsidies with the canceled electricity discount.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued a press statement on Monday saying it had not been involved in the formulation of the stimulus initiative helmed by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

[The ministry] was never part of a team or any forum that talked about the electricity discount for June and July 2025, said the ministrys spokesperson Dwi Anggia in the statement.

Earlier, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said he was unaware of the initiative just days ahead of the implementation.

I dont know whether theres already [a discussion] on the technical [level] or not; I dont know yet. One thing is for sure, I still havent received the report until today, Bahlil said on May 26, or 10 days before the policys planned implementation.

Such a policy should require communication with the energy ministry and the Finance Ministry, Bahlil said, adding that he could only formally instruct state-owned electricity company PLN to execute it after that.

Bahlil proceeded to verify the planned policy with PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo, who happened to stand next to the minister.

Im sure PLN still hasnt received [any instruction]. Have you received any letters from the energy ministry? You havent, have you? Because, as far as Im concerned, I must sign the letters and I havent done that, Bahlil said to Darmawan. Not yet, the PLN director briefly replied.

In total, the consumer spending stimulus required some Rp 24.4 trillion, according to figures presented by Sri Mulyani.  THE JAKARTA POST/ANN
BANGKOK  Thailand must be upgraded into a sustainable and high-quality tourism destination, stated a letter from the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, calling for urgent reforms to enhance the nations global tourism competitiveness.

TCT Chairman Chai Arunanondchai emphasised that while tourism provides over 4.4 million jobs in Thailand, the industry is facing global uncertainties such as geopolitical tensions and concerns about traveler safety.

Chai urged the government to urgently address long-standing issues of tourist scams and fraud, as well as crack down on related crimes. Restoring confidence in Thailands safety requires collaboration among agencies, effective case monitoring systems, and clear zoning and cannabis-use regulations to prevent overconsumption by tourists.

To address workforce shortages, the TCT proposed establishing a regional tourism skills school focusing on languages, technology, customer service, and communication.

The council also recommended simplifying the legal process for hotel and lodging operators by replacing multiple permits with a single license to reduce bureaucratic burden.

Chai stressed the need for a new body dedicated to sustainable tourism development, operator training, and coordination with relevant stakeholders. This would align Thailands tourism sector with global trends and meet stringent EU environmental standards.

TCT has submitted proposals to the Finance and Transport Ministries. The Finance Ministry is being asked to provide low-interest loans and set up a sustainable tourism fund for small and medium-sized operators currently lacking access to financing.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry is encouraged to curb taxi and car rental scams and expand rail services to better connect major and secondary cities.  VNA/VNS
RX Tradex Vietnam, JETRO Hanoi, and VIETRADE (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade) signed a cooperation agreement to hold the 17th Vietnam Manufacturing Expo (VME) and the 11th Vietnam-Japan Supporting Industries Exhibition (SIE) in Hanoi

On June 3 in Hanoi, a signing ceremony marked the strategic cooperation between RX Tradex Vietnam, JETRO Hanoi, and VIETRADE  the Ministry of Industry and Trade's trade promotion agency  to jointly organise the two exhibitions, set to take place from August 68 at the I.C.E Hanoi Exhibition Centre. The events will bring together more than 200 businesses from over 10 countries, drawing over 10,000 visitors.

According to Vu Ba Phu, director general of VIETRADE, despite progress in key sectors like textiles, electronics, and automobile assembly, Vietnam's supporting industries are currently meeting only around 10 per cent of domestic demand for components. "This remains a major challenge, especially given the billions of USD Vietnam spends annually on imported parts to sustain domestic production," he said.

To address this, Phu stressed the importance of digitalisation and green manufacturing, highlighting government efforts to connect Vietnamese enterprises with global supply chains and improve capacity through policy incentives, technical training, and partnership-building initiatives.

As part of these efforts, SIE 2025 will directly link 20 Japanese buyers with 20 carefully selected Vietnamese suppliers in industries such as precision engineering, industrial plastics, and electronic components. Meanwhile, VME 2025 will showcase advanced solutions across smart manufacturing, automation, metrology, and materials technology, aligning with Vietnams industrial upgrade ambitions.

Japan remains one of Vietnams top foreign investors, particularly in high-tech manufacturing. Haruhiko Ozasa, chief representative of JETRO Hanoi, cited the organisation's latest survey showing that 56.1 per cent of Japanese firms in Vietnam plan to expand their investments in the next 1-2 years, while 50.9 per cent aim to increase local procurement.

Dhamcharee Varaporn, managing director of RX Tradex for Thailand and Vietnam

"This years exhibitions are designed to promote deep, targeted collaboration between global manufacturers and Vietnamese suppliers," said Dhamcharee Varaporn, managing director of RX Tradex Thailand and Vietnam. "Our goal is to support industry leaders in adapting to global trends like digitalisation and zero-emission manufacturing."

This year's exhibitions will focus on key solutions, including digital transformation, flexible automation, zero-emission manufacturing, and digital supply chains, all of which are critical to the future of Vietnam's manufacturing sector. The exhibitions will feature over 200 companies from more than 10 countries, including industrial powerhouses like Japan, South Korea, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, China, and Vietnam.

The event is expected to attract a diverse range of professional visitors from Vietnam's key sectors, including automotive, electronics, medical devices, mechanical engineering, textiles, and high technology.

In addition to the exhibition area, the event will feature a matching platform with accompanying activities, including factory visits, a zone for domestic and international buyers, a series of seminars on automation and innovative factory solutions, and an onsite matching system to help participants find suitable partners and products.
Guidelines in Circular No.05/2025/TT-BKHDT were made effective in March on the development of eco-industrial parks (eco-IPs). How do you evaluate the role of this in clarifying regulations about eco-IPs?

Nguyen Tram Anh, technical expert at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

The circular has specified the criteria for transitioning from the traditional IP model to an eco-IP and for constructing new eco-IPs.

Additionally, it provides detailed guidelines on the process of transitioning and building new eco-IPs, as well as detailed instructions for businesses to obtain certification (for example, guidance on where to submit applications, response waiting times).

Beyond these two processes, the circular also includes provisions for monitoring compliance after an IP or manufacturing facility is certified as ecological.

The entire process is formalised through reports. Circular 05 includes detailed reports on the process of establishing industrial symbiosis models, reports on cleaner production processes, reports on monitoring procedures, and more.

The detailed elaboration of legal content has made it easier for businesses to carry out these tasks, thereby facilitating a faster and smoother transition from traditional IPs to eco-IPs. These reports will provide businesses with a legal basis to implement their projects.

These guidelines in the circular do not create additional burdens for businesses, but rather simplify procedures by utilising existing reports and supplementing them with necessary information, such as reports on cleaner production processes or industrial symbiosis development.

What are the policies supporting eco-IPs issued by central agencies and localities?

The most critical step in promoting the widespread adoption of the eco-IP model is establishing a system of competent agencies within the current legal framework, with clearly defined functions and responsibilities for policy planning and implementation.

At the national level, it is essential to establish a national steering committee for the development of eco-IPs. This committee will have the authority to direct and coordinate between central ministries and provincial peoples committees. The steering committee would serve as the central body and plays a crucial role in developing and overseeing the implementation of policies for transitioning to and establishing new ones.

Additionally, there should be national support programmes for transitioning to eco-IPs, focusing on mobilising financial resources, personnel, and coordinating the allocation of resources to localities.

Peoples committees are responsible for investments in constructing, upgrading, renovating, and repairing technical and social infrastructure both within and outside the boundaries of existing IPs to connect and support businesses in implementing industrial symbiosis and transitioning to eco-IPs.

Besides that, localities will also support the construction of new eco-IPs and attract investment. They will simultaneously support science, technology, and tech transfer to help businesses in IPs improve management and operational processes, innovate production technologies, reuse raw materials, and use resources efficiently.

IP management authorities will assign a public service unit under their authority or a suitable unit to perform the function of developing and providing information and databases on efficient resource use and cleaner production. They will also lead the provision of information and data to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of eco-IPs and update relevant information into the information system on IPs and economic zones.

Factors boosting the expansion of eco-industrial parks

How has the global eco-IP initiative and the current circular economy approach in Vietnam contributed to the creation of eco-IPs?

In November 2024, the former Ministry of Planning and Investment received a budget of $3.3 million, funded by Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. This funding aims to encourage circular economy practices and mitigate the impacts of climate change in Vietnams IPs.

The grant will facilitate the nationwide replication of the eco-IP model, building on successes since 2014, boosting the circular economy in the industrial sector and IPs, reducing the environmental impact of production activities, and supporting IPs in addressing climate change.

An example relating to efforts to boost the circular economy is to complete regulations on treated wastewater for irrigation, which is one of the main concerns of businesses.

According to the regulations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issues the standards for using treated wastewater. Currently, there are standards for reusing treated wastewater in the livestock sector, but not yet for the industrial production sector. We are collaborating with the ministry to contribute to policy improvement by developing scientific reports to explain and clarify the need for such standards and the demand for using treated wastewater for irrigation.

Along with that, we would like to contribute to completing the policy for the application of rooftop solar systems at IPs, as well as green finance policies.
This marks the first vehicle delivery according to a contract signed between the two sides in April. Kim Long will supply 200 buses of different kinds annually for tour services and student support in South Korea.

The Kim Long electric bus model has a luxurious and eye-catching design, allowing the vehicle to move flexibly, safely, and effectively in crowded streets and residential areas. Despite the length of up to 7.5m, the KimLong N23-EV electric bus model is designed with a maximum capacity of 22 passengers, suitable for tours and picking up and dropping off students in major cities in South Korea.

The N23-EV bus line is equipped with Dongfeng Dana axle system, a brand that applies advanced technology from the United States. The brand is currently used on more than 90 per cent of commercial vehicles globally.

Furthermore, the vehicle is integrated with advanced safety systems, including electronic brake system, advanced emergency braking system, Auto Hold system combined with electronic handbrake and hill start assist, and electronic balance system to ensure the vehicle's stability in all public traffic conditions.

The KimLong N23-EV is also equipped with a lane departure warning system, collision sensors, anti-jamming automatic doors, and a warning feature when passengers get on/off the vehicle. The smart journey monitoring system allows parents and schools to track travel schedules, contributing to improving safety and peace of mind during vehicle operation.

In particular, the vehicle is powered by Lithium Polymer batteries from South Korea, with a capacity of 170 kW and a range of up to 310km per charge. This is an optimal solution to help save operating costs and reduce emissions, which is in line with the green transformation orientation in South Korea's transportation sector.

Dao Viet Anh, general director of Kim Long Motor said, "We are extremely proud that the first Vietnamese electric bus is available in South Korea  a market famous for its strict standards of quality and technology. This is not only an important milestone for Kim Long Motor but also a historical milestone for the Vietnamese vehicle industry. This event proves that Vietnam has completely mastered high technology and can confidently compete in the international market."

Jeong Ha Neul, general director of Daon Mobility said, "To achieve today's results, we spent a lot of time working with Kim Long Motor's team in Vietnam. My colleagues and I were completely convinced when we saw and experienced the Kim Long N23-EV electric bus model with our own eyes. The vehicle not only met our expectations in terms of design, features, and performance but also brought an impressive practical experience, fully meeting the strict standards of the South Korean market."

According to the plan, the model will officially be available in South Korea in June and put into operation in major cities such as Seoul, Incheon, and Busan.

Kim Long Motors breaks ground on $260 million factory Vietnam's Kim Long Motors Hue JSC and China's Yuchai JSC started construction of a motor engine manufacturing and assembly plant in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on August 23, with an investment of around $260 million.

Kim Long Motor signs deal with Changan Automobile to build car plant Kim Long Motor Hue JSC has tied up with Chinas Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. to construct a 5-7-seater passenger vehicle manufacturing plant.
During the OIA delegation's visit from May 27  30, deputy president Nasser bin Suliman Al Harthi had effective meetings with leaders of the government, ministries, and large enterprises to encourage trade cooperation between the two countries, while opening up opportunities to entice the engagement of other investors from the Gulf region.

In a meeting on May 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh described Oman as one of the leading potential partners in the Middle East region. Cooperation between the two countries has achieved positive results, with ample room for expansion.

The Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund (VOI) serves as testament to the pioneering and strategic relations between the two countries. Founded in 2008, this is the first intergovernmental investment fund between Vietnam and a Gulf country. The fund has two founding shareholders, the OIA and State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

After 17 years of presence in Vietnam, the fund has successfully executed over 20 investments across critical sectors including infrastructure, energy, industry, finance, education, healthcare, and real estate. The fund has deployed more than $384 million, significantly exceeding its initial $100 million commitment. The fund also adheres to three core values of sustainability, cooperation, and integrity in all activities, from governance to investment, to maintain stable and long-term growth for all parties.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives deputy president of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) Nasser bin Suliman Al Harthi. Photo: VGP

Chinh acknowledged that the fund demonstrated a long-term vision, sustainable investment thinking, and a commitment to accompanying Vietnam's socioeconomic development. The prime minister asked the OIA to expand and raise the scale of the fund to $1 billion to better support Vietnam's investment and development needs, aligned with its economys scale.

Agreeing with the prime minister, Harthi said, The figure of $1 billion is not a big barrier. The fund has poured about $400 million through the VOI fund and has just signed an MoU to establish the Vietnam New Era Growth Fund with a minimum capital of $200 million.

Nguyen Chi Thanh, chairman of SCIC's Board of Members, and Nasser bin Suliman Al Harthi, deputy president of the Oman Investment Authority, signed the MoU

The fund will give priority to investments in digital infrastructure, telecommunications, and technology; minerals and metallurgy; finance and state enterprise equitisation; and agriculture.

According to Harthy, there is ample potential for economic cooperation between Vietnam and Oman. Therefore, the establishment of the Vietnam New Era Growth Fund is considered a new step in strengthening and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. Through investments in four key sectors, the fund not only contributes to promoting economic growth but also creates long-term value towards a sustainable and prosperous future for the stakeholders.

Given that international capital flows are shifting strongly due to global fluctuations, raising the scale of the investment fund is a strategic move. It will help to attract capital from Oman and other Middle East countries to Vietnam. Through the partnership, the VOI fund can solidify its important role as a bridge to facilitate Vietnamese businesses looking to penetrate the Gulf market.

Nguyen Chi Thanh, chairman of SCIC's Board of Members, said, Through this MoU, SCIC aims to establish a new cooperation platform, mobilising capital from Omani investors specifically and inviting additional partners from the broader Gulf region to invest in Vietnam.

Harthy said, If there are any potential investment opportunities, the fund will consider and encourage other investors in the region to jointly invest in Vietnam.

After the trip, the deputy president of the OIA was upbeat about the investment climate in Vietnam, which is becoming increasingly stable and transparent. He cited the issuance of Resolution No.68-NQ/TW on private sector development and Resolution No.57-NQ/TW on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as important and necessary reforms.

This shows that Vietnamese leaders pay a lot of attention to foreign capital attraction to give investors peace of mind during investment promotion here. The governments efforts to improve macroeconomic stability, administrative reforms, and the investment environment have also had a positive impact on the stable development of the VOI fund, added Harthy.

Working with the Ministry of Finance, Harthy committed to facilitating foreign strategic investors while strongly reforming investment licensing procedures to shorten processing times to just a few days.

Minister Thang said, The VOI is a successful model of cooperation between two countries. We urge the OIA to uphold international standards of efficiency and transparency while focusing on sectors, including state enterprise equitisation, public infrastructure investment, green energy, high-tech sectors, and halal requirements from the food industry. We ask the OIA to contribute knowledge and technical expertise to the plan to develop international finance centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang.

In response to this proposal, Harthy said, "Oman is preparing to establish a new financial centre. Thus, the OIA has extensive experience in this field and is willing to share it with Vietnam. We hope to explore long-term investment opportunities in listed companies on the Vietnamese stock market, as well as key equitisation projects."

Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Oman reached $250 million last year. Of that figure, Vietnam exported $54 million and imported $196 million. Regarding foreign direct investment, Oman currently has three valid projects in Vietnam, with the total registered investment capital of almost $20.8 million, located in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

VOI drives fivefold trade growth between Vietnam and Oman Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Oman reached $250 million last year, marking a fivefold increase over the past 15 years. This remarkable growth underscores the Vietnam-Oman Investment (VOI) Fund's expanding role as a strategic investment partner and key economic bridge between the two nations.

Omans Credit Outlook Improves as OIA Reforms Bolster Financial Stability The Sultanate of Oman's recent credit rating affirmation at BBB- with a positive outlook by Standard & Poor's reflects the government's effective fiscal consolidation efforts and improved economic management.
How will the recent Resolution No.68-NQ/TW impact the industrial real estate sector, and Prodezi in particular?

Truong Khac Nguyen Minh, deputy general director of Prodezi Long An

Resolution 68 introduces a range of concrete policies to remove barriers and create stronger conditions for business development. This includes the industrial real estate sector, particularly eco-industrial parks (eco-IPs).

With its new policy provisions, the move reaffirms and clarifies the direction for developing eco-IPs, encourages green growth, and promotes linkage between industrial infrastructure, logistics, energy, and supporting services, prioritising integrated industrial complexes.

For example, the resolution requires localities to reserve a minimum of 20 hectares of land per industrial park or cluster, or 5 per cent of the total land area with developed infrastructure, for high-tech enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, and innovative startups to lease.

It also allows local budgets to support infrastructure developers in IPs, clusters, and technology incubators, provided that part of the invested land is allocated for lease to the aforementioned types of enterprises.

Clearly, Resolution 68 is improving land and infrastructure access for businesses in the industrial real estate market, thereby increasing land use efficiency.

In addition to improving land access, what additional incentives has the resolution issued for investors?

The resolution also proposes financial and tax incentives for eco-IP projects, including a minimum 30 per cent land rental reduction for the first five years from the date of the land lease contract. In addition, it encourages banks to prioritise financing for efficient industrial park projects.

It also promotes digital transformation and innovation by encouraging enterprises to invest in research and development (R&D), digital transformation, and the use of state-funded research infrastructure at reasonable costs. R&D and innovation investments are eligible for tax deductions of up to 200 per cent.

What are your recommendations for implementing this private sector vision?

To ensure effective implementation of the resolution, particularly regarding the sustainability of the industrial real estate market, some aspects should be implemented.

The first is to complete the legal framework and incentive policies for eco-IPs, including concretising credit priorities for green industrial real estate, and establishing preferential mechanisms and official recognition for eco-IPs, especially those transitioning to eco-models. This would serve as a major driver for sustainable development in Vietnams industrial real estate market.

The second aspect is to simplify administrative procedures, reviewing and streamlining all processes related to the establishment and operation of IPs, and eco-IPs in particular, to reduce time and costs for enterprises.

Thirdly, infrastructure support, transport and logistics infrastructure must be prioritised, along with policies encouraging and supporting investment in green infrastructure. This includes wastewater treatment systems, renewable energy, and green transport in eco-IPs. This is especially critical as businesses face increasing pressure to meet global emissions standards.

Last but not least, public-private partnerships must be utilised, in which the government plays a policymaking and regional coordination role, while the private sector focuses on innovation and investment in infrastructure and services. This harmonious collaboration will help form new industrial areas that are both sustainable and capable of attracting high-quality capital and maintaining long-term competitiveness.

Resolution 68 forms one of the four key pillars for the new era of Vietnams economic development. I believe that the synchronised and effective implementation of these will unlock significant opportunities for businesses and encourage the sustainable growth of the industrial real estate market and eco-IPs.

Private sector policy shifts can mean a market lift Resolution No.68-NQ/TW aims to cut red tape and unlock access to key resources like capital, land, and skilled labour for private enterprises. Vy Le, Vietnam Private Capital Agency chairwomen and general partner at Do Ventures, shared with VIRs Hazy Tran how clearer tax rules, streamlined listing procedures, and tailored insurance reforms could reshape the competitive landscape.

Private sector to benefit from new resolution Vietnam's Politburo released Resolution No.68-NQ/TW on May 4, a sweeping reform aimed at revitalising the private sector and positioning entrepreneurs as central drivers of economic growth. VIR's Bich Ngoc spoke with investors about their views.
Overview of the working session between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE)

On June 2, the delegation began its official visit to the state of Iowa, widely recognised as the heartland of American agriculture. The mission reflects Vietnams strategic objective of strengthening agricultural trade ties with the United States and accessing advanced technologies and sustainable supply chains. The trip comes amid shifting global trade dynamics and Vietnams growing demand for high-quality agricultural inputs.

In Iowa, Minister Duy was welcomed by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Deputy Secretary Grant Menke. The delegation included senior officials from the MAE, technical departments, industry associations, and major Vietnamese agribusinesses.

During the working session, Duy emphasised Vietnams commitment to expanding agricultural cooperation at both federal and state levels in the US. It is a great honour to lead this mission to Iowa, a global agricultural powerhouse. We see this as a key step in creating long-term partnerships that go beyond trade, towards joint innovation and sustainable growth, he said.

Secretary Mike Naig and Deputy Secretary Grant Menke of the Iowa Department of Agriculture delivered remarks at the meeting. Photo: MAE

The visit quickly translated into concrete outcomes. Vietnamese and Iowa-based enterprises and associations signed five MoUs worth approximately $800 million, to be implemented over the next three years. This marks a significant leap compared to Iowas historical average of $44 million in annual agricultural exports to Vietnam.

Among the major deals, Khai Anh Binh Thuan Company agreed to import one million tons of soybean meal from Ag Processing Inc. (AGP), with an estimated value of $380-390 million. The company also reached an agreement with United Grain to purchase an additional 900,000 tonnes of corn and wheat, worth around $250 million.

Meanwhile, Vietnam-Japan Nutrition Technology JSC signed a contract with US-based POET Group to import 100,000 tonnes of dried distillers grains with solubles and 100,000 tonnes of soybean meal, valued at approximately $60-70 million.

The scope of cooperation extended beyond trade transactions into the public-private domain. An MoU was signed between Vietnams Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary Services (under the MAE) and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation in technical exchange, promotion campaigns, and direct linkages between Vietnamese and Iowan pig farmers. The two sides committed to co-organising workshops, trade facilitation events, and technology sharing sessions to further integrate the two agricultural systems.

Leaders of Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Iowa Department of Agriculture witness the signing of an MoU on agricultural, forestry, and fishery trade cooperation. Photo: MAE

According to Naig, these agreements reflect the growing trust and mutual benefits in Vietnam-US agricultural relations. Vietnam is a priority partner for Iowas agriculture sector. These partnerships demonstrate how collaboration between governments and businesses can yield tangible, long-term value, he said.

Minister Duy reiterated Vietnams interest in sourcing quality raw materials and inputs from reputable US producers, while also opening new channels for investment, processing collaboration, and climate-smart agriculture. We are actively pursuing green, digital, and sustainable agriculture, he said. The experience of Iowa in precision farming and circular agriculture will provide valuable lessons for our domestic sector.

Beyond the signed MoUs, the delegation's visit also facilitated a broader platform for dialogue and networking. Multiple Vietnamese and US businesses used the opportunity to connect, exchange views, and identify new pathways to expand bilateral trade and enhance supply chain integration in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

The working sessions highlighted Vietnams increasing emphasis on adopting advanced American agricultural technologies, ranging from seed genetics and post-harvest processing to livestock feed management and carbon-reduction farming models. Vietnamese enterprises are seeking not only to import products, but also to secure know-how that will support the countrys agricultural transition towards resilience and sustainability.

As the Vietnamese delegation continues its US tour, with planned meetings in Washington, DC, and other agricultural hubs, expectations are high for further announcements related to agri-tech cooperation, policy alignment, and market access expansion. The total value of prospective agreements may exceed $2 billion, representing a major milestone in the evolving partnership between Vietnam and the US.
During the journey to promote cashless payment in Vietnam, one of the major barriers lies in the access to infrastructure rather than technology. Due to high expenses for the investment, operation, and maintenance of traditional point of sale (POS) devices, many small business households, especially in the suburban and rural areas, lack access to modern payment technology. This creates a significant digital divide between the areas with the early technology adoption and areas with limited infrastructure, especially in rural areas  where four million individual businesses operate every day.

With the emergence of the VNPAY PhonePOS solution, the landscape is changing. With an Android smartphone with NFC support, sellers can accept cards such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Napas, alongside international e-wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay  rather than investing in expensive specialised devices.

A customer makes payment via VNPAY PhonePOS

This solution opens up the possibility of flexible and cost-efficient card payments. It is suitable for the small retail models that lack the conditions to invest in technology. PhonePOS also provides a real-time transaction reporting system, helping sellers track revenue, control cash flow, and manage transaction history on their phones. For businesses without accounting software, this is a simple but effective operating tool that streamlines business activities.

According to a report by the State Bank of Vietnam, in 2024, the number of cashless transactions in Vietnam surged 53 per cent from the previous year. This is an impressive figure, but it has yet to reflect the potential of the fragmented retail market.

Tran Tri Manh, chairman of VNPAY

Tran Tri Manh, chairman of VNPAY, said, To accelerate the progress, solutions are needed to promote the adoption of technology. Solutions should be easy to deploy, low cost, highly secure, and suitable for the use of small merchants. VNPAY PhonePOS meets all of these factors while integrating into VNPAY Merchant, making it easy for users.

There is growing access to digital payment methods in rural areas, which are home to over 60 per cent of the countrys population. From rural markets to highway stops and speciality vendors, all cashless transactions can be done safely and quickly, he added.

Such payment solutions, which are popular in shopping malls, are now penetrating these localities, opening up business opportunities for millions of small business households nationwide.

At the same time, PhonePOS is also expanding its services in the tourism sector, which is on the upward trend. Many tourist hotspots like Hoi An, Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Mai Chau, Moc Chau, and Phu Quoc are welcoming increasing numbers of international tourists. Thus, the acceptance of international payment cards is no longer a difficult problem. Businesses from homestays to souvenir shops and roadside eateries can completely access new sources of revenue with just a smartphone.

Technology is only truly valuable when it reaches the masses. In that picture, VNPAY PhonePOS helps save costs while acting as a bridge between small business households and global financial flows. A future where anyone, anywhere in Vietnam, can participate in the digital economy is gradually becoming a reality.

The solution  previously called VNPAY-SoftPOS  has recently been renamed VNPAY PhonePOS, with the message "PhonePOS - Turn Phone into POS", emphasising simplicity, flexibility, and popularity. With an Android phone with NFC support, any store or business, no matter how small, can accept international cards and catch up with the digital payment trend. According to the official announcement of the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, VNPAY has become the first company in Vietnam to achieve Mobile Payments on Commercial Off-The-Shelf security certification for the VNPAY PhonePOS payment solution. To achieve certification, a payment solution must meet over 190 technical requirements related to security, monitoring, and system operations. In addition to end-to-end data encryption, the standard also requires attack detection, periodic security testing, and security throughout the entire process of installing, using, and updating software on the device.

VNPAY services attain global security certification VNPAY has achieved Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Level 1 international security certificate from ControlCase after meeting stringent information security and data management requirements.

Digital banks navigate evolving landscape Vietnam's digital banking sector continues to gain momentum in 2025, driven by rapid adoption of AI, the race to profitability, and fierce competition.
Dr. Rocky Simmons ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State University alumnus Dr. Rocky Simmons has joined his alma mater as director of corporate, foundation and community relations in the Division of University Advancement and Strategic Communications.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ed Rocky Simmons to the Division of University Advancement & Strategic communications as our new director of corporate, foundation and community relations, said Dr. John Michael Lee, Jr., SC States vice president for university advancement and strategic communications. Dr. Simmons brings a unique blend of academic insight, community and government engagement, and fundraising experience and grant writing expertise that will elevate our efforts to forge transformative partnerships.

His leadership will play a pivotal role in expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and advancing the mission of SC State University, Lee said.

Simmons is a dedicated leader in public policy, economic development, and education.

As director of corporate, foundation and community relations, he leads strategic partnerships and fundraising efforts to support the institutions mission and growth. He cultivates relationships with corporate, philanthropic, and community stakeholders to advance programs, scholarships, and community impact initiatives.

A native of Orangeburg, Simmons earned his bachelors degree in political science from SC State. He holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration, a Master of Philosophy in public policy, and a Master of Public Administration from Walden University.

He also earned professional certifications in project management from the University of South Carolina, economic development from the South Carolina Economic Development Institute, and human resource management from Walden University.

Simmons is passionate about education and community empowerment. He serves as an adjunct professor at Benedict College within the School of Criminal Justice Administration and Social Sciences, where he teaches and mentors students in subjects such as ethics and public administration. He is also the founder of the Im Possible Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports high school seniors who have lost a parent in their pursuit of higher education.

Simmons is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Leadership Columbia Alumni Association, and several professional organizations.

Before returning to SC State, Simmons served as grants manager for York County, South Carolina, from 2024-2025; community/economic development planner for the Central Midlands Council of Governments from 2022-2024; special projects coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice from 2019-2022; and a civil clerk for the Orangeburg County Clerk of Court from 2017-2019.

Simmons is happily married to Mrs. Shelby Simmons, whose love and encouragement inspire his lifelong commitment to service, excellence, and the belief that nothing is impossible.
ASHLAND- Inside of Ashland, sits a beautiful 1908 Victorian Style house. This is home to the Roost Bed and Breakfast, who are one of the official members of the 2025 Nebraska Passport. Put out by Nebraska Tourism, the passport program runs from May 1-Sept. 30.

We became a bed and breakfast in 2021, owner Mary Beth Budz said. It was at a conference out in Kearney that I heard a lot about Nebraska Tourism and the Passport. This was my third year applying. I feel very lucky and very blessed we were chosen this year. Its a great way for the state to promote small businesses that otherwise wouldnt have been noticed at all.

Since the start of the Passport program in May, the Budz have seen an increase in people coming to see their quiet and quaint property.

Most of the Roost visitors have been people stopping by to get their stamps and visit the home while in the area. They have also had around seven people stay at the Bed and Breakfast because of the Passport, including a group last weekend.

You can really tell that people like to be in the place they are visiting, owner Frank Budz said. They do like to come in and they like to see the place. There are a lot of people who like that stamp and book as a keepsake.

For the Roost, one of the hard things is they cant always answer the door with it being a bed and breakfast. When they cant answer due to guests staying in the house, Passport goers have the option to get a digital stamp which has been very helpful.

Since the beginning of the Passport in May, the Roost has embraced the fun with gift bags. You can also get an extra special gift if you stay in the house, because of the Passport.

We have given gift bags out to the Passport goers, Mary Beth said. They have information in them on Ashland, info on the Roost, Bakers Candy, and a Roost decal. For those that stay here, they get a Passport 2025 mug with our Roost logo and a sample of our house coffee, which is really good.

In the Passport booklet, you can find the Roost under the Growth Spurt section with seven other sites. This portion of the Passport was created to promote all things fresh, local and homegrown.

So far, the couple have estimated that they have given out between 100-125 stamps to people stopping because of the Passport. They have enjoyed seeing people who want to learn about the home and take an interest in it.

The history and style of the place is one of the main reasons the Budz bought it in 2021. Previously the duo had experience running a Tea Room in Bennington and wanted to give running a Bed and Breakfast a try.

When we bought it, we knew we always wanted to do something in the service industry, Frank said. We owned a Tea Room for many years in Bennington. We kind of stumbled upon this place, because of a mutual friend, who had parents who were selling this home. We came and looked and decided to buy it and try a bed and breakfast. Since then, we havent looked back, and it has been quite a journey. We have had thousands of people stay over the last four to five years.

The Roost Bed and Breakfast is located at 203 N. 15th St., in Ashland. Feel free to stop by and get a selfie, your Passport stamp, or book a stay at this one-of-a-kind beautiful and historic home.
North Wales house builder teams up with mental health charity for Three Peaks Challenge

A North Wales house builder has teamed up with a mental health charity to help raise vital funds and awareness.

Staff at Castle Green Homes, based in St Asaph, will take on the Three Peaks challenge on June 26 in aid of Chasing the Stigma.

The Liverpool-based charity is one of three that the colleagues will be raising funds for during their challenge.

I was a comedian before  I got into mental health because of my own lived experience. Id started to struggle myself and didnt seek help or support and attempted to take my own life, said Jake Mills, the charitys CEO and founder..

I started to talk publicly about my struggles and every time I did people got in touch asking for help and support.

I realised there was huge power in lived experience because people kept coming to me asking for help and many people were going through the same thing thinking they were the only ones.

Jake said he had no idea how to help people find support so started putting a list of services together.

That list grew and led to the creation of Chasing the Stigma and Hub of Hope app and website where people can put in their postcode to find nearby support.

Hub of Hope has 14,500-plus services listed and has clocked up more than 300,000 visitors a year and over a million searches.

Were trying to do what we can to survive without grant funding so fundraising like the Castle Green Homes team taking on the Three Peaks is crucial, Jake added. It will make a real difference in helping people find lifesaving support and advice.

Castle Greens charity challenge is being lead by operations director Richard Williams, who battled with his mental health and weight before taking up walking and losing more than nine stone.

With construction workers said to be four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average, the homebuilder invited Jake to share his journey at its supply chain conference.

Its important to look after your mental health. People talk about positive physical health and fitness but tend not to talk about mental fitness in the same way  they always think of mental health meaning mental illness, Jake said.

If you talk about it when its positive, it makes it easier to have conversations when its not so good.

Education and training is needed in schools and workplaces so that people have these conversations from an early age.

Its important that people look after each other and that we have systems that are fit for purpose to give people the help they need.

Jake previously completed the Three Peaks and admitted he didnt appreciate how challenging it would be.

My mental health can be massively affected by lack of sleep so doing the Three Peaks probably wasnt the best idea in the world, but the experience and achievement was well worth it, he said.

He urged the team to try and sleep in between the walks.

The other charities set to benefit from Castle Greens Three Peaks challenge are Ogwen Mountain Rescue and Prostate Cancer UK.

For more information about the challenge and to donate, visit the Castle Green Homes Gofund Me page, here.
Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (CCNN) is facing a budget shortfall projected at $1.5 million when federal cuts are enacted on June 30.

Because of this, CCNN is launching a community fundraising campaign to try to fill the budget gap.

According to Marie Baxter, CEO of CCNN, the budget shortfall represents a 20% reduction in the organization's overall funding.

CCNN says that they serve more than 40,000 people in the area each month, and if the cuts go through, there are likely no other organizations that would be able to fill the void.

"While we face a difficult road ahead, I humbly ask our community to stand with us and be a beacon of hope for those who need it most," says Baxter.

For more information and ways you can donate, call (775) 322-7073 ext. 720, or donate online at the CCNN website.
The 83rd Session of the Nevada Legislature wrapped up late last night as legislators worked to get their bills to the governor's desk.

Confusion and tension on Senate floor ahead of sine die

The "sine die" deadline of this year's Nevada Legislature will be one that will not be forgotten.

Hours before the end if the end of the session, there wasn't much activity on either of the floors.

However, the last couple of hours saw lawmakers moving very quickly to get bills passed through.

Things got especially interesting on the Senate floor.

As the clock ticked towards midnight, the Assembly floor called "sine die" and sent over members of the assembly over to the Senate floor to adjourn the session.

The senate was still in session, for about 20 minutes after midnight.

So, let's rewind the clocks on what went down on the senate floor in the final moments.

As it came down to last minutes of the session, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, SCR8, was called from the agenda for a vote.

There is no language in NELIS while writing the article to get a look at it, but Senate Republicans claim it was looking to change the Legislative Commission, a group of legislators with supervising authority.

Some of the State Senators claim it would affect them, being the minority party with less equity on the commission and partisan balance.

Senator Robin Titus, (R) Minority Leader said she found out about it moments before it was announced.

"30 minutes literally at 11:30, and clearly they had it planned," she said to press after the session.

This caused for the meeting to stall in the final minutes.

Senator Ira Hansen, (R) District 14, also took issue with this and not being able to have a discussion during the session, so he joined in the protest.

"Instead at the very last, literally the last six minutes of the session we're trying to force something through rush it through the assembly," he said.

Each minute that was spent on this was taken away from other pending legislation.

"We could have gotten a lot more bills passed there's things that didn't get sent on both sides because fortunately my caucus said no its not right," Titus said.

Some of those key pieces included the film tax credits, and Governor Joe Lombardo's crime and health care bill.

What then caused the meeting to go past midnight was after a couple of votes were had on SCR8, they then moved to SCR9 which was correlated with the previous resolution.,

More conversation was had on the legislation, and tensions grew between Hansen and Senator Nicole Cannizzaro, (D) Clark County.

Senate floor President and Lieutenant Governor, Stavros Anthony then tried to call the adjournment, and then there was some confusion on whether they had to finish the motion before sine die.

Eventually the motion was finished and the 83rd Nevada Legislative Session adjourned at 12:35 a.m.

Governor's housing bill the only one of his to pass officially

Going into the final day of the Legislature, each of the Governor's priority bills were in different stages.

During each session, the Governor is allotted five priority bills.

His Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act was one the only one to move through.

The bill is creating a Nevada Attainable Housing Account to create more housing, while also adding in a fourth tier for affordable housing.

"Weve made significant progress in our two most critical endeavors this session: combatting the rising cost of housing and improving outcomes in our K-12 education system," the Governor sent out partially in statement.

While that was the only bill to pass, there were components of some of his legislation to make into other bills.

The bipartisan bill between him and Cannizzaro was a favorable one.

"I thought we moved the needle especially on things like education," said Assem. Reuben D'Silva, (D) Clark County. "I serve as Vice Chair on the Assembly Education committee, we got some important legislation through, SB460 I think was a key piece that were able to get at the last minute."

Parts of his Nevada Accountability in Education Act were added to Cannizzaro's that's also looking to hold schools to a specific standard.

Some lawmakers were not happy with how Lombardo's health care bill was handled.

"I will say I was very disappointed to see the Governor's health care bill die tonight," said Assem. Greg Hafen II., (R) Minority Leader after the deadline passed. "I thought it was slightly disrespectable for the senate to stick in a poison pill amendment literally in the 11th hour this night. Because that had some really good policies that the state needed."

The amendment centered around limits on free standing emergency rooms.

In the Governor's press conference on the bill at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he mentioned wanting to create the Nevada Health Authority.

That passed in a separate bill.

Lombardo's tough on crime bill actually passed out of both floors, but wasn't concurred in the senate in time.

The bill was heavily changed and amended, which isn't surprising given all that it was looking to undo a lot of criminal justice reform passed by democratic lawmakers.

Some think it was a good thing it didn't make it to law.

"That's the problem when you run a piece of legislation and you don't work with anybody," said John Piro, Clark County Public Defender's Office. "Kind of like back in 2019 everyone worked together to pass good legislation and that's actually been working but crime has been going down. This was a bad, not thought out piece of legislation and frankly its good that it did fail."

Lombardo's last bill, that was barely mentioned or talked about that centered around economic development didn't move past its first hearing.

Some bills barely squeezed the deadline, while some were lost in the shuffle

"Some good ,some bad," Hafen II. said. "We did a lot of good for the state we passed a balanced budget we were able to give teacher pay raises we gave our state employees pay raises this session."

All five budget bills were passed, so the Legislature was not forced to go into a special session.

The only way they would is if the Governor decided to call one.

There are many bills awaiting his decision.

One includes AB381, also known as Reba's Law. The bill is looking to strengthen punishments for animal cruelty and is awaiting a signature from the Governor.

Another is AB375, the legislation that would allow cities or counties in Nevada to adopt an ordinance if they wanted restaurants to sell alcohol to-go and make the Picon Punch the state's official drink is on Lombardo's desk.

One bill that did not make it passed sine die was the film tax credits bill, AB238.

"Personally, I was very publicly in support of the film tax credit legislation this was a missed opportunity for us," D'Silva said. "I don't know if we're going to get another chance, I'm hoping that we do. I'm cautiously optimistic but again I'm very disappointed we didn't get to advance the legislation."

That bill was backed by Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Howard Hughes to bring two massive movies studios to southern Nevada.

Lawmakers said there were a lot of conversations behind the scenes about it.

It narrowly passed out of the Assembly last week, and never got a vote on the Senate floor.

Another bill that's on the way to the Governor is Speaker Steve Yeager's legislation to allow nonpartisans to vote in primary elections.

Vetoes already underway from Lombardo

As of Tuesday night, Governor Lombardo has vetoed 15 bills.

After the 2023 session, he vetoed a record 75 bills.

Having a democratic majority and a Republican Governor can create a lot disagreements.

One bill that may jump out to folks is SB89. It's legislation that would prevent people convicted of a hate crime from owning a gun.

It was favored by democrats, but was voted 'nay' by Senate and Assembly Republicans.

SB102, was also vetoed, the second so far surrounding elections. It was looking for harsher punishments for false documents and signatures to be guilty of a felony.

This vote in both the Senate and Assembly followed on party lines.

You may remember the Governor also vetoed Speaker Yeager's bill last month that was trying to expand access to the ballot box.

An interesting development is SB141. It would've required that a Sheriff, Chief of Police or Town Marshal would be responsible for creating a policy for transgender inmates.

All Senate Republicans voted no on it, but then it passed unanimously, however, the Governor still vetoed the bill.
The Sparks Fire Department and Washoe County HASTY team are searching the Truckee River for a possible water rescue or body recovery.

Agencies have been searching the river between Rock Park and Cottonwood Park, according to a release from the City of Sparks.

So far, no one has been found.

No further details have yet been released.
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and Visit Carson City are inviting Nevada students to take part in an art contest focused on walk and bicycle safety, with the winning submission to be featured on a mural in Carson City.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can submit original, hand-drawn artwork that promotes awareness of road safety for those walking, biking, skating, skateboarding or using wheelchairs.

Additional credit will be given for highlighting the health and safety benefits of active transportation.

Prizes will be awarded to winners in four different age groups.

The grand prize artwork will be painted on a Carson City mural during the Carson City Mural and Music Festival in September.

Students who place second through fourth will also receive a prize.

All submissions must be created by hand using mediums such as watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic oil paint, marker, pen or crayon, on an 11x17 or similar-sized piece of paper.

Entries should feature traffic safety elements, such as helmets in bicycle-related art.

To enter, students must submit their artwork along with an official entry form by Sept. 1, to Kristen Marshall, NDOT Active Transportation, 1263 South Stewart Street, Room 319, Carson City, NV 89712, or by email to Kristen.marshall@dot.nv.gov.

The goal of the contest is to encourage children and all Nevadans to safely share the road.

This contest is part of Nevadas Safe Routes to School program, which provides training, infrastructure and support to help elementary students walk and bicycle safely to school.

Safe walking and biking can reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and benefit public health.

More information on pedestrian and bicycle safety can be found at BicycleNevada.com.

NDOT - Road safety tips:

Drivers are reminded to watch for children walking and biking, and to slow down in school zones. Children can be unpredictable in their movements and may not always be aware of traffic.

Motorists are urged to treat all children as if they were their own and must stop for school buses when students are getting on or off.

Pedestrians and bicyclists should stay alert, always cross streets legally and safely, and watch for cars both before and during crossing.
11:05 P.M. UPDATE:

The Reno Police Department has confirmed that an elderly woman reported missing earlier Tuesday evening has been located.

Tessi Klikoff was found safe, according to a release from the Reno Police Department.

No further assistance is needed in this case.

---

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The Reno Police Department is asking for the public's help finding a missing elderly woman.

Tessi Klikoff was reported missing from Coronado Way at 4:15 on Tuesday.

She is a 62-year-old Filipino Hispanic woman, according to a release from the Reno Police Department.

She is described as five feet, one inch tall, weighing 145 pounds. She has black/gray curly hair and brown eyes.

She was wearing pink shoes and possibly a white puffy jacket.

Klikoff suffers from several medical conditions and needs to take her medication.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Reno Police Department's non-emergency line at (775) 334-2677.

You can also contact Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or secretwitness.com.
Sentencing has been handed down in a Medicaid fraud case involving the owners of a Las Vegas behavioral health company.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced the sentencing in a release Tuesday. In the case; Camille Funches, Rodshiekka Chester and their company Building Resilience LLC were found guilty of fraudulently billing Medicaid for services in 2020.

Each were convicted of the charge of Submitting False Claims: Medicare Fraud, which is a category "D" felony.

According to the release, Funches and Chester were sentenced to 19 to 48 months in prison, suspended, and placed on probation for a period of two years.

Another part of the convictions ordered that restitution of $1 million would be repaid to Medicaid for any money that was illegally received.

Anyone wishing to report suspicious activity regarding Medicaid may contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (702) 486-3420 in southern Nevada, or (775) 684-1100 in northern Nevada.
AUCKLAND, 4 June 2025: NZME Limited (NZX: NZM , ASX: NZM) (NZME) advises that the NZME Board has confirmed Steven Joyce as Chair, effective immediately.

Mr Joyce was appointed as an independent director at NZMEs Annual Shareholders Meeting held yesterday.

My Joyce has extensive business leadership and governance experience gained through a successful career in media and government, establishing and building RadioWorks NZ Ltd over 14 years. He then served as campaign chair for the National Party for five general elections and was a New Zealand government minister for nine years, including Minister of Finance. He is an Independent Director of Winton Land Ltd, The Icehouse Ltd, and Icehouse Ventures Ltd. He is also an independent board advisor to project management firm RCP New Zealand Ltd.

In the recent Kings Birthday Honours, Mr Joyce was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services as a Member of Parliament.

My Joyce says: I have a long history in the New Zealand media industry, and I am a firm believer in the role of the industry in sharing and celebrating New Zealand stories and experiences. As Chair Im focused on ensuring NZME continues to build shareholder value through its platforms and our audiences.

The Board and leadership of NZME have set up a solid foundation for the future and I am ready to take that opportunity forward.

Mr Joyce replaces Barbara Chapman, who resigned at the conclusion of the 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting. Ms Chapman became Chair of the NZME Board in 2020 and helped guide the business through periods of significant change. The Board would like to thank Ms Chapman for her significant contribution to NZME.

ENDS

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As of June 7, students in the Washoe County School District will be able to ride RTC buses for free with their student IDs and the Token Transit App.

If a student does not have a phone to access the app, then RTC will provide a paper pass for the student.

This initiative is supposed to help alleviate stress in the community caused by issues like student absenteeism, which was a major factor with this partnership.

We want to take a load off of working families, and we see this as less of an expense for our communities and also as creating a lot of autonomy for our kids," said Alexis Hill, chair of the County Commission and Washoe RTC. "And it will reduce chronic absenteeism, which is a major focus of our school district.

Beth Smith, the president of the Washoe County School Board, tells us, We expect this program to help with chronic absenteeism because, think about a walk when the weather is not so great outside, and imagine if you can take a bus to the bus stop that is conveniently located near your house. We know that we cannot educate kids that are not in our schools, and by providing more bus rides in partnership with the RTC, we know we can do that.

There was also the concern for how far a student has to walk because of zoning issues.

"Yes, actually, in some areas we have different levels of walk zones," said Smith. "So our elementary school students have a one mile walk zone, middle school is two miles, and high school is three miles away, and so for some students being able to ride a bus is going to take off a lot of time for their walking transit in the morning."

It's also an opportunity for students who have jobs to get to their destinations without having to worry about money for transportation.

If you are nervous about your child riding the bus, you should go over expectations with them.

RTC says the system is safe to use, but isnt staffed like a school bus, and some students may need a neighbor or older sibling to ride with them, especially if they are six or younger.
Amazon has confirmed that their fulfillment center at Lemmon Valley in north Reno will be ending operations in August 2025.
Rua Bioscience advises that it has reached a settlement with Cann Group Limited (ASX:CAN), following legal proceedings initiated by Rua in February 2024.

As part of the legal proceedings, both parties undertook mediation which had led to this settlement. Rua Bioscience and Cann Group have executed new supply agreements to support their respective operations in the New Zealand and Australian medicinal cannabis markets. The commercial terms of the settlement are confidential and take effect immediately.

ENDS

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In a staggering case of delayed justice, Maharashtras state government has finally increased the wages paid to beggars in state-run rehabilitation homes  from a shocking 5 per month to 40 per day. This is the first revision in 61 years, highlighting the long-standing neglect of the destitute in the states institutional care system.

The paltry 5 monthly wage, fixed back in 1964 under the Mumbai Prohibition of Begging Act, 1959, remained unchanged for decades. According to the law, physically fit beggars housed in these homes are required to work eight hours a day as part of their rehabilitation process. However, the outdated compensation had made the entire initiative appear more punitive than reformative.

The recent decision by the state cabinet, taken in late April, comes as a desperate attempt to inject purpose and dignity into a system that has clearly failed. Despite a total capacity of over 4,000 across 14 such beggars homes, only 350 individuals currently reside in them. The Chembur mens facility, which can house 850, holds just 86. Its adjacent womens home has 36 residents against a 550-person capacity. Similar numbers are reflected across facilities in Ahilyanagar, Satara, Solapur, and Nagpur.

A senior government official admitted that the unchanged wages were an insult to the idea of rehabilitation. The idea was to train beggars in skills to earn a livelihood after their release. But with a wage like 5 a month, its no wonder the homes are nearly empty, the official remarked.

The inmates are provided basic needs like shelter, clothing, and food, and are engaged in jobs like tailoring, farming, weaving, candle-making, carpentry, and rope production. The goal has always been to foster self-reliance, but the systems failure to revise wages for over half a century undercut its own intention.

Despite the sparse population, these homes generate a modest annual revenue of 35 lakh through vocational and agricultural activities. Interestingly, police reportedly round up about 3,000 beggars annually, yet only a third are sent to these rehabilitation homes  pointing to deeper issues in enforcement and trust in the system.

While the new 40-per-day rate may offer a sliver of hope for both dignity and participation, critics argue that its far too little, far too late. The coming months will reveal whether this long-overdue reform can bring new life to a system many had already written off.
'Operation Sindoor or Operation Smear?': Aaditya Thackeray Slams BJP, Demands Special Parliament Session 2

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing the ruling party of indulging in dirty politics under the guise of national security operations. Demanding a Special Session of Parliament to discuss the recently launched Operation Sindoor, Thackeray said that while India presents a united front internationally against Pakistan-based terrorism, BJP leaders are undermining that unity through political opportunism at home.

Yes, we are demanding this Special Session, Thackeray told reporters. On one hand, the entire country  opposition and ruling  is standing together before the world to fight terrorism. But on the other hand, BJP leaders are politicizing Operation Sindoor. We want to fight this double game.

He raised serious concerns about the recent Pahalgam terror attack, questioning whether the culprits had been apprehended. The truth must come out. Who were these terrorists? Have they been caught? Where are they? Or have they entered the BJP itself? Thackeray asked, making a provocative charge that stirred the political discourse further.

#WATCH | Mumbai: On special session of Parliament being demanded by the Opposition, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "Yes, we are demanding this. On one hand, we are united before the world; opposition and ruling side are going out as a united front before the world pic.twitter.com/HLweoluBPx  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2025

Addressing the governments role in cultural matters, Thackeray also criticized the BJPs recurring commentary around religious festivals like Eid al-Adha. Why does the government feel the need to dictate how every festival should be celebrated  save water, save color, save this, save that. Let people breathe! The governments job is not to interfere in festivals but to respond to farmers suicides and urban flooding. Focus on finding the four Pakistani terrorists, not on controlling how people celebrate, he said.

#WATCH | Mumbai: On controversial statements being made for #Bakrid, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "Why should calls be made to save this or save that in every festival? Celebrate festivals. It is always save water, save colour, save this and save that. Let people pic.twitter.com/QcnAx67COk  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2025

The comments came after a high-level INDIA bloc meeting at Delhis Constitution Club, where leaders from 16 opposition parties signed a joint letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut emphasized the urgency of their appeal, stating, This isnt just another letter. It carries the voice of the public. We want a Special Session to review everything thats happened in the country.

With tensions escalating and criticism mounting over the handling of national security and internal governance, the demand for a Special Parliament Session has intensified  one that may further polarize the political landscape in the months leading to the general elections.
Former Muscle Shoals pool contractor Gregory Kirk pleaded guilty this week in a case involving multiple property crimes.

Pursuant to a plea agreement with the state, Madison County Circuit Judge Ruth Ann Hall sentenced Kirk to a total term of 20 years imprisonment, according to a release from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.

Kirk previously worked in Madison County as a pool contractor and was accused of stealing monies paid to him by consumers, forging a contractors license issued by the General Contractors Board, using a forged building permit to defraud a customer, and fraudulently using a customers credit card, the release states.

He was charged with stealing over $600,000.

Several consumers entrusted Kirk with large sums of money, hoping to build their dream pools, Marshall said in the release.

Instead, they were met with heartbreak. He betrayed their trust, deceived them, and stole their hard-earned savings.

Kirk was first arrested in 2023 for operating with a false license and scamming dozens of clients, according to court records.

His company, Pristine Fiberglass Pools LLC filed for bankruptcy Nov. 10.

Kirk also filed for bankruptcy in 2022 while operating as Pristine Pools LLC, which left several clients with unfinished work, according to court records.

The indictment charged Kirk with 14 counts of theft of property in the first degree, one count each of theft of property in the second degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, forgery in the second degree, and fraudulent use of a debit or credit card.

Hopefully, those victims can find solace in the knowledge that he is finally being held accountable, Marshall continued.

This conviction sends a clear message: those who exploit hardworking families and betray their trust will face justice. Our office remains committed to standing up for consumers and protecting them from fraud and deception.

In his plea agreement with the state, Kirk agreed to accept sentences of 20 years imprisonment for each of the first-degree theft charges, 5 years imprisonment for the second-degree theft of property, possession of a forged instrument, and forgery charges, and 5 years imprisonment for the fraudulent use of a credit card charge, the release says.

All sentences are to be served concurrently.

The Attorney Generals Consumer Interest Division prosecuted the case.

Attorney General Marshall is grateful for the work and collaboration of the Huntsville Police Department, the Madison Police Department, and the Madison County District Attorneys Office for their invaluable assistance in this case, the release reads.
A police officer from Alabama was arrested in Florida Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping a minor.

According to Orange County jail records, David Cunningham was arrested and charged with kidnapping a minor and being a fugitive from justice.

Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight confirmed that Cunningham, 22, is an officer with the Prichard Police Department but is currently on administrative leave due to his arrest.

Knight said they were initially notified by Harrison County, Mississippi law enforcement officials that a warrant was issued for Cunningham, and he was in the area his official police vehicle.

Knight said this was against the departments policies and is being investigated internally.

This is not Cunninghams first time being investigated although it was from a different department.

The Mobile Police Department said that Cunningham was previously employed with the department but resigned in February during an administrative investigation.

Cunningham resigned from the Mobile Police Department in February 2025 under administrative investigation, the department said. However, were unable to release anything further as this was a personnel matter.
The family of Priceville teen Chloe Rose Hastings, who was killed in a crash with Kevin Jay Penich, has named a handful of Decatur restaurants in a recently filed wrongful death suit.

The complaint alleges that these restaurants served Penich a total of 18 drinks on the night of the accident.

Previous court records state that Penich, 35, smelled of alcohol and told police he had been drinking after the crash, which occurred around 9:00 p.m. on May 17.

The complaint names Buffalo Wild Wings, Logans Roadhouse, and Alfonsos in Decatur, claiming that Penich ordered four shots and two beers from each location that night.

It says that Hastings death was a direct and foreseeable result of the defendants negligence in training and hiring.

The complaint adds that the restaurants also violated a section of Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Rules and Regulations which states: No licensee or employee of a licensee shall serve or dispense alcoholic beverages to any person visibly intoxicated.

The wreck happened at the intersection of Beltline Road S.W. and Westmeade Street, according to court records.

Responding officers were told the driver was trapped inside.

When first responders arrived, they found Hastings Chevrolet Equinox engulfed in flames.

Prior to their arrival, multiple passersby stopped and tried to help, police said.

Hastings SUV exploded, seriously injuring a Good Samaritan who police labeled a hero, according to a previous report from AL.coms Carol Robinson.

Hastings, 17, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Court records state Penichs Toyota Camry had heavy front-end damage.

Charging documents allege Penich was also speeding and noted that Hastings SUV had been knocked between 80 to 100 feet from the point of impact.

During a preliminary hearing this week, investigators said Penich was driving at 111 mph when he hit Hastings car, according to a report from WAFF.

Hastings had just finished her junior year at Priceville High School.

She was described by Hartselle First Methodist Student Ministry as a ray of sunshine wherever she went with a heart of generosity and kindness.

Penich has been charged with murder and driving under the influence and is currently being held in Morgan County Jail under a $7,500 cash bond.
Madison police say a former special education teachers aide has been arrested for willful abuse of a child.

According to police, Jamie Lynn Schwab, 55, turned herself in to Madison City Police yesterday on an outstanding warrant.

The charge stems from an ongoing investigation conducted by Madison Police, with the full assistance and cooperation of Madison City Schools, according to police.

Schwab is no longer employed by Madison City Schools.

She was taken to the Madison County Jail, where she was released on $5,000 bond, according to jail records.

According to WAFF, Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Edwin Nichols said:

Madison City Schools takes the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. Madison City Schools is aware that a former paraprofessional aide was taken into custody. When an employee reported possible misconduct by the paraprofessional aide, the Districts administrative team began an internal investigation. During the course of the investigation, the paraprofessional aide resigned her employment. Thereafter, based on the investigation, Madison City Schools reported the alleged misconduct to the Madison Police Department.

Madison City Schools has followed appropriate steps, met the requirements of state and federal law, appropriately communicated with parents, and ensured the employee was removed from the school setting. Going forward, Madison City Schools will cooperate with the Madison Police Department. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, and to protect the privacy of individuals involved, Madison City Schools cannot provide any additional details. For any further information, please contact the Madison Police Department.
8-year-old Evelyn Decker (L), 9-year-old Paityn Decker (C), and 5-year-old Olivia Decker (R) were found dead on Monday after they were reported missing when their father didnt return them after a visitation. Photos courtesy of Wenatchee Police Department

A man in central Washington state is wanted on suspicion of murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead.

Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Seattle.

Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with extensive training, was armed.

On Friday the mother of the girls, ages 9, 8 and 5, reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said.

Over the weekend authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates.

Police said Deckers unoccupied truck was found Monday near a campground west of the city of Leavenworth, which is about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Wenatchee. According to an affidavit, Chelan County Sheriffs Office deputies found the girls bodies about 75 to 100 yards (68 to 91 meters) away from the truck, The Seattle Times reported. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said.

Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911.

Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker, police said.

The Wenatchee School District said the girls were students of Lincoln Elementary and that counseling services were available.

The mother told police that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. but had not returned them by 8 p.m., and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said.

The detective said she expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and  is currently experiencing some mental health issues.

What prompted her to call us was that ... he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary, Capt. Brian Chance said.

Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not meet the required criteria, Wenatchee police said. The following day Wenatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional information that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert.

The lacking criteria was suspected abduction and imminent peril of death or serious injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.

In this case, it was a parent with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But thats a rather common occurrence and not something where you just automatically assume abduction, he said, adding that there was no indication Decker, a custodial parent who had the children for a visit, would harm them.

Were people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is ... devastating, Loftis said. Everybody always looks to how we can improve.

The alert systems are constantly evolving and this could prompt further change, Loftis said: Obviously it didnt work this time. Obviously we have three children that are dead.

Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Washington Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren told The Associated Press. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time.

Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge for him, Shagren said.

This is an absolute tragedy, Shagren said. We are mourning along with the community.

The Chelan County Sheriffs Office, which found the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on potential credible information and tips regarding Deckers location, the agency said in a statement.

The agency was working with U.S. Marshals to locate and apprehend Decker and the search continued Tuesday evening. A reward of up to $20,000 was available for information leading directly to his arrest.
Brian McKnights estranged son Cole Nikolas Niko McKnight has died.

He was 32.

The younger McKnight died more than a year after revealing he was battling cancer.

It is with profound sadness that Julie McKnight and family announce the passing of her beloved son Cole Nikolas McKnight, affectionately known as Niko on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Julie McKnight, Niko McKnights mom, posted to Instagram on May 30. Nikolas was a cherished husband, son, brother, grandson, uncle, and nephew whose warmth, laughter, and love touched the lives of all who knew him.

Nikolas was a self taught artist of music and photography. His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family and all those who held him dear. Julie McKnight has asked for privacy and continued prayers as the family navigates this incredibly difficult time. Mama Bear and the entire family appreciate the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the public.

Brian McKnight took to social media about his sons death, while also taking a shot at Nico McKnights uncle.A big thanks to Claude McKnights tasteless and self-aggrandizing announcement on TikTok, that frankly was not his to make, in my opinion, McKnight posted on Instagram. He inserted himself and used Nikos death as an opportunity, instead of letting him pass with respect and dignity. It has instead turned into a circus, a mockery of a life now lost, making this tragedy into a reality show type drama.While that was unfolding my family and I flew home to Maui and had a private memorial remembering him, and all the good times. The last time he and I spoke, we offered him all the help we could provide. We had the number one oncologist on deck for him and a team of specialists on standby with private care in our home. He and his mother declined. The door of communication was open and remained open until his death. To the self proclaimed mama bear may God have mercy on your soul for not allowing him to accept that help and not allowing him to use that line of communication.Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster bar came in No. 2 in a new USA Today ranking of the nation's best beach bars. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

A legendary Gulf Coast watering hole held its own with Hawaiis best in a new USA Today ranking of the 10 best beach bars in the country.

For this USA Today 10Best list, An expert panel nominated their top beach bars across the country  places in postcard-perfect locations with diverse drink menus and great atmospheres to boot. Then, readers voted to decide which bars are most exceptional.

Hawaii claimed the No. 10, 9, 6 and 5 spots. But as nice as it would be to sip a Mauna Kea Mule at the Copper Bar, its a little easier to get to Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar for a more familiar frozen concoction. The famed roadhouse on the Alabama-Florida line landed at No. 2. (Florida only claimed three spots, but the Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach topped the list.)

RELATED: 10 things you might not know about the Flora-Bama

USA Today said the Flora-Bama earned its place with its location, its multiple stages for live music, bushwackers and oyster bar.

Two venues in California and one in Hilton Head, S.C., rounded out the list.
Two people were killed, and a third injured, in a weekend rollover crash in Marion County.

Alabama State Troopers Tuesday identified the victims as Sean N. Miller, 26, and Adam J. Silva, 21. Both men lived in Winfield.

The wreck happened at 6:35 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 22, near the 31-mile marker.

Trooper Cpl. Reginal King said Miller was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe that left the road and overturned.

Both he and his passenger, Silva, were ejected from the SUV. Neither were wearing seat belts, King said, and were pronounced dead on the scene.

Another passenger, 24-year-old Abigail Silva, was injured and airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. The extent of her injuries was not released.

The investigation is ongoing.
AshLeigh Meyer Dunham, a referee in Jefferson County Family Court, is running for the Alabama Supreme Court. (Mary Fehr) AshLeigh Dunham campaign

AshLeigh Meyer Dunham, an attorney who specializes in helping families who are seeking services for infertility, is running for the Alabama Supreme Court.

Dunham is owner of Magic City Fertility Law.

She is also a referee in Jefferson County Family Court. Court referees conduct hearings and make recommendations to a judge.

Dunham and her husband are the parents of a daughter born through in vitro fertilization.

She is running in the Democratic primary for the Supreme Court seat held by Associate Justice Greg Shaw.

In a news release announcing her candidacy, Dunham talked about the courts ruling last year that temporarily stopped IVF services in the state.

Ive spent my entire legal career standing with Alabama familiesand now Im all in, said Dunham. Our Supreme Court needs justices who understand the real challenges families face.

The court has made some anti-family rulings that are wildly out of touch with the people of Alabama.

In February 2024, the court ruled that for purposes of Alabamas Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, frozen embryos held in storage by IVF clinics had the legal status of unborn children.

Clinics put IVF services on hold because of the legal liability from the ruling.

IVF doctors and patients converged on the Alabama State House and rallied for legislation to give clinics the legal protection they said they needed to reopen.

Lawmakers quickly passed a bill intended to provide the clinics immunity, and most services resumed. The bill did not address the court ruling that frozen embryos were unborn children.

Shaw concurred in the decision and wrote a special opinion. Seven of the nine justices concurred in the result, one concurred in part and dissented in part, and one dissented.

Shaw was elected to the court in 2008 and reelected in 2014 and 2020.

Dunham and her husband struggled with infertility for years. After two rounds of unsuccessful IVF, their doctor suggested a larger clinic outside the state. That resulted in the birth of their daughter.

Dunham said the experience motivated her desire to fight for access and legal protections to fertility services in Alabama.

No family should have to leave their home state to pursue the dream of parenthood, Dunham said. I know what it means to desperately want a child, to fight for that chance, and to finally hold that miracle in your arms.

That empathy drives my career, my faith and my life, and its why Im stepping up now.

Dunham is a Huntsville native who graduated from the University of Alabama and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. She has been a lawyer for 15 years.

At Magic City Fertility Law, she helps couples navigate the legal complexities of assisted reproduction, her campaign said.

Dunham becomes the second candidate in next years elections to raise the Supreme Courts IVF ruling as an issue.

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey, who is running for attorney general, said she expects the ruling to be an issue in her race against former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jay Mitchell, who wrote the courts main opinion in the case.

Mitchell, in his court opinion, acknowledged the potential impact of the ruling on IVF providers because of the liability concerns. But he said the court was bound by the law, not the consequences.

The ruling came in lawsuits filed by three couples whose frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile.

A trial court dismissed the lawsuits, saying the embryos did not meet the definition of children under the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.

But the Supreme Court decision overturned that, ruling that under Alabama case law and under the state Constitution, the embryos were considered children.

The primary will be May 19, 2026.
Legal agreement on vape sales

An agreement between the state and plaintiffs in a lawsuit reached an agreement that will already tweak Alabamas new vape-sale regulations, reports AL.coms Heather Gann.

The law says that convenience stores are allowed to sell 34 specific tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette products that have been approved by the FDA. Other flavors could be sold only in vape shops that admit only customers who are at least 21 years old.

Supporters of the restrictions said they were intended to make the products less available to younger people.

The Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama filed a lawsuit claiming the law is unconstitutional because the 21-and-over retailers restriction is preempted by federal law.

The agreement reached allows the convenient stores and non-age-restricted establishments to sell the 34 approved products plus those on the FDAs pending list and the states Electronic Nicotine Delivery System ENDS Directory.

Air-dropped contraband

The business of sneaking contraband into prisons has always been crafty.

Yes, there were actual cases of hacksaws, files and ammunition snuck in through hollowed-out bread or even baked into cakes.

There has been body-cavity smuggling of items.

(You can keep those cigarettes, thanks.)

And now, its drone drop-offs.

AL.coms Carol Robinson reports that a man and a woman from Huntsville have been arrested and accused of using a drone to drop off two backpacks full of drugs at Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio. Theyre now in the Barbour County Jail.

From the backpacks, authorities confiscated 686 grams of meth, 166 grams of synthetic cathinones, 150 grams of suboxone, 38 grams of fentanyl and 850 grams of marijuana (or 30 lids, for those needing the metric-to-1975 conversion.)

The library is open

A library that was built in 1928 and closed during the pandemic has reopened, reports AL.coms Greg Garrison.

The historic East Lake Library is in Birmingham but not downtown, as most similar buildings are. It sits on Oporto-Madrid Boulevard in East Lake.

An effort was made to reopen the library in 2021, but the heating and air-conditioning system needed to be replaced. And that replacement required a custom-built unit.

The library is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Quoting

Its time for a governor who isnt part of the establishment, who doesnt wear $3,000 suits or have a Florida tan paid for by insider trading and living outside Alabama.

Ken McFeeters, in announcing that he is running for the Republican nomination for governor, took an early shot at opponent Tommy Tuberville.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1958, actress Julie Gholson of Birmingham. Gholsons Hollywood career was brief -- she has only one credit on IMDB -- but she was nominated for New Star of the Year by the Golden Globes for her work in Where the Lilies Bloom.

The podcast
Today anchor Craig Melvin wore a "Made in Alabama" hat on the show, and you can now order your own. Screenshot from NBC

Thanks to a bit of free, spontaneous advertising, millions of Americans are now familiar with the Made in Alabama brand popularized by the states Commerce Department.

Last Tuesday, NBCs Today show host Craig Melvin grabbed a Made in Alabama ballcap from Commerce staffer Lauren Rowland and sported the hat during the live broadcast.

Rowland was visiting the shows Manhattan set with her family.

Love the stylish hat, @craigmelvin! You rocked it this morning on the @TODAYShow! pic.twitter.com/1FAq12RWcY  Made in Alabama (@MadeinAL) May 27, 2025

Made in Alabama was launched by the Department of Commerce as a brand about 12 years ago to boost the states image in recruiting new jobs and investment. The campaign was conceived by Birmingham public relations and advertising agency Big Communications.

This week, the Commerce Department announced that it has been flooded with calls and emails requesting information on how to acquire a hat.

In response, the department is working with Montgomery-based LogoBranders to make the Made in Alabama hat available for purchase online.

The cost for the embroidered ballcap is $22. They can be ordered here.

The department says it is not earning a profit from the sale of the hats.

Weve always said that Alabama makes things the world needs, Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said. And now, thanks to Lauren and a little help from The Today Show,' the world knows that includes some pretty great hats, too.
A mansion is up for sale in south Alabama and photos demonstrate that whoever purchases the home will be living in style.

According to listing agent Jeff Jones, the mansion is located in Saraland, Alabama and is listed at $1.59 million.

Deemed the largest and most exquisite estate in Saraland, the mansion boasts over 6,000 square feet of living space along with four bedrooms, four bathrooms and two partial bathrooms.

Jones website containing information about the home describes all that offers.

The home, built in 2012, contains a spacious and comfortable living room area with a beautiful chandelier that guests can view upon entering the home. It sits on more than six serene acres of meticulously landscaped grounds.

This leads to the kitchen which Jones says holds top-of-the line appliances and custom made cabinetry.

Further amenities and spaces within the home include a game room, three bedrooms upstairs, a workout space, outdoor kitchen and a workshop/garage.

This extraordinary estate offers luxury, privacy, and space beyond compare. Truly a one-of-a-kind home for those seeking the best of Saraland living, the website says.
One man was injured during a single-vessel crash Tuesday night in Mobile County.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the crash occurred at about 8:50 p.m. when an 18-foot Center Console boat struck a rock barrier near the Dauphin Island Bridge.

The occupants on the boat were Haven Freewill Pomeroy, 36, and, Zebediah Eli Basewell, 32, both from Tennessee.

Pomeroy was ejected from the vessel during the crash and taken to USA Health University Hospital in Mobile to be treated.

The incident continues to be investigated by ALEAs Marine Patrol Division.
Fans never gave up on the Snack Wrap, inspiring the ultimate comeback McDonald's

Theres finally a return date for the McDonalds Snack Wrap. The cult favorite will return July 10, according to CNBC.

We listen to our fans, and the Snack Wraps return is a testament to that, McDonalds U.S. President Joe Erlinger told The Associated Press.

In a 2024 interview, Erlinger confirmed that Snack Wraps-- the simple snack with lettuce, cheese, chicken, and signature sauce inside a flour tortilla--would return to the menu in 2025.

Then, on April 15, McDonalds posted a clue about the Snack Wraps return on X, indicating it would return on the 14th day of yet-unnamed month.

McDonalds first launched the snack wrap in 2006, and the item became a crowd favorite, particularly for the $2 price. The Golden Arches discontinued the Snack Wrap in 2016.

The reason?

Low return on investment, the company said.

While the wraps looked simple, they were actually complicated to make in a timely fashion, compared to assembling burgers and chicken sandwiches,reports Food & Wine. While demand for the wrap was high, the time spent preparing the item wasnt worth the low price, especially since the chain was confident customers would continue to spend money at McDonalds if they cut the item, reports Eat This, Not That.

McDonalds is extending its hours

McDonalds plans to extend hours at locations across the country starting this summer.

Restaurants in non-traditional locations like airports and shopping malls will likely not extend hours, the company said. Franchise owners will decide which menu items will be available during the late-night hours.
The exterior of the Saenger Theatre in downtown Mobile, Ala., as pictured on Wednesday, June 3, 2025. John Sharp

A fatal shooting at a childs dance recital inside a crowded downtown Mobile theater has reignited fierce criticism of Alabamas permitless carry law.

City officials, a defense attorney, and even a state legislator are speaking out  some demanding change, others defending the status quo.

At the end of the day, its the State of Alabama, said Mobile City Council President C.J. Small. The state has failed the citizens of Mobile.

But Alabama lawmakers who ushered in permitless carry in 2022 over objections from county sheriffs, are not likely to make sweeping changes to a relatively new law that allows people to carry a pistol without having to pay for a permit.

I dont think someone who is willing to walk into an auditorium full of people and shoot someone in cold blood will not commit that crime because (they are required to have) a permit, said Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, who sponsored the permitless carry legislation in the Alabama House.

It was a horrible situation and I understand that, said Stringer, referring to the shooting. But we need to enforce the laws we have on the books and keep people in prison who are violent offenders.

The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. Sunday inside the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, resulting in the death of 27-year-old Carl Williams III, a father of two young girls, and created panic inside a theater with about 1,000 patrons attending a dance recital.

Arrested was Marcus Sanders, also 27, who is charged with capital murder and first-degree assault.

Blaming the state

Mobil City Council President C.J. Small speaks out in support of an annexation plan during the Mobile City Council's meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Stringer said the issue of gun permits has nothing to do with the Saenger Theatre shooting.

But in the past two days, some politicians are blasting the states lack of gun control laws for creating a situation that led to the theater shooting.

Mobile City Council President C.J. Small, during both councils preconference session and regular council meeting, put the blame directly on state government.

He accused state officials of failing the city and even requested the councils attorney to explore ways to carve out Mobile County as a special exception for reinstituting a requirement for gun owners to have a pistol permit.

When they took away the gun permits, everyone got comfortable carrying a gun, Small said. Its no ones fault but the state.

Chase Dearman, the attorney representing Sanders, said the fact that his client had carried a gun on himself and into the theater was a practice that is allowable under Alabama law.

Sanders, Dearman said, had a clean criminal record prior to Sundays shooting.

I have no idea why our laws allow people to walk around with guns in their pocket, but its not illegal, Dearman said. Everyone can carry a gun if they want.

Asked if his client should have engaged in better conflict resolution, Dearman responded by saying that state lawmakers ought to make better gun laws.

They truly should, he said, and then accused Williams of attacking Sanders before Sanders allegedly shot and killed him while the dance recital was taking place.

Dearman is arguing that Sanders acted in self-defense.

It used to be that everyone had to have a license for a gun, Dearman said. But for some reason, our legislature thinks its wise the entire public can arm itself to the teeth. What happened (inside the theater) is exactly what the legislature, in my opinion, wanted to happen. Why else would you have gunslinger laws?

The comments came one day after state Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, and a Mobile mayoral candidate, said she would like to see city leaders in Alabama take a lead to push the legislature to rescind the permitless carry law.

Mobile City Councilman Cory Penn is urging residents to call their state legislative representative to urge them to bring back the gun permits.

We need those permits back, he said. Right now, a lot of the time, we get caught up in these party issuesRepublican and Democrat. But its not that. Its about saving our community.

Alabama became the 25th state in the U.S. to approve a permitless carry law in 2022 amid a push by gun rights groups and a looming election that year.

The approval came above the objection of law enforcement officials, particularly county sheriffs who were worried about public safety and revenue losses.

Thus far, any push to reverse the permitless carry law does not appear to have much interest in the Republican-dominated Legislature.

The gun lobby will likely have pause, and the powerful National Rifle Association has pushed back on efforts to add what they view as restrictions on lawful gun ownership.

Capital offense

Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood announces a capital murder charge against the shooter in Sunday's tragedy at the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Ala. Blackwood's news conference occurred on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, inside Government Plaza in Mobile. Standing to the left is Mobile Police Chief William "Randy" Jackson. John Sharp

Despite the focus on gun permits, there could be some legislation emerging from the shooting.

Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood, during an afternoon news conference, said he believes legislation will surface next spring that would classify a homicide resulting from gun violence within a public setting as an automatic capital offense.

Capital murder is the most serious form of a homicide under Alabama state law and carries a stiff penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty.

This is the legislation that is in the talking stage right now and rising, in part, out of this event from the Saenger on Sunday, Blackwood said. Its a further tool we can use to combat violence in our community. We wont tolerate it.

Stringer, a former Mobile County sheriffs captain, said he would be willing to sponsor that kind of measure.

Im 100 percent in support of that and would be willing to carry the legislation to make that change effective, he said.
Carl Williams III and his two daughters -- left, Brooklyn, 6; and right, Cherish, 5. Photo courtesy of Andre Epps

The alleged killer of a 27-year-old Mobile man inside a crowded Saenger Theatre Sunday pleaded not guilty to a charge of capital murder during a court appearance Wednesday.

His attorney says the reason there is a capital murder charge filed against Marcus Sanders, also 27, is because of the attention the shooting has gotten this week.

Thats just my opinion, but I absolutely do, said Chase Dearman, the attorney representing Sanders, who is charged with capital murder and 1st degree assault.

The charges are related to a shooting that happened around 6:30 p.m. Sunday during a kids dance recital. More than 1,000 patrons were inside the theater at the time. The shooting sparked chaos inside the venue, and has stirred condolences and outrage among community leaders.

Dearman claims Sanders was acting in self-defense, and that the victim  Carl Williams III  was the aggressor who initially attacked Sanders over a dispute involving an ex-girlfriend.

Sanders pleaded not guilty to both charges during his brief appearance before Mobile County Circuit Judge Jay York. A preliminary hearing was set for 9 a.m. on June 18.

For the next two weeks, Sanders will remain in jail without bond.

I hate that, Dearman said about the lack of bond. I really do. However, if we are successful with a preliminary hearing and the judge doesnt believe its a capital case, he would be eligible for a bond, and well start that process all over again.

Capital murder questions

Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood answers questions from the media on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala. John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood, during a news conference Tuesday, said he decided to pursue the capital murder charge after reviewing the evidence and determining the murder occurred while Williams daughters were present inside the theater.

Blackwoods application of the charge stems from a definition under state law that applies capital murder to a defendant if it occurs in the presence of a child under the age of 14 years at the time of the offense or if the victim was the parent or legal guardian of the child.

The definition, under state law, suggests that in the presence of a child refers to the physical presence of a child or having knowledge that a child is present and may see or hear the act.

Blackwood said that Sanders had knowledge that his actions were occurring in the presence of the two children  ages 6 and 5. Its unclear if either of the girls witnessed the deadly shooting of their father.

I dont believe its a capital case, said Dearman. Nothing shocks me at this stage in my career. But the reason hes charged with this is simply because of where it occurred. Its not that Marcus chose this venue for this attack to occur. There is absolutely no question over who attacked whom.

Tara Zieman, a spokesperson with Blackwoods office, replied that Dearman has a job to do as does the State. We are confident with our case.

Political outrage

The shooting has sparked outrage among city leaders, politicians, mayoral candidates and others in recent days.

Some public officials have criticized Alabamas permitless carry law, which began in 2023, for creating an atmosphere of gun violence. State Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said this week that if shes elected mayor, she would push for cities to take the lead in urging Alabama lawmakers to consider rescinding the law.

But state officials including Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, said there is no connection between gun permits and the shooting that occurred inside the Saenger Theatre.

Other mayoral candidates in the Aug. 26 municipal election are also weighing in with comments about the shooting as public safety has surfaced to being the top issue in the race.

Former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine, in a statement to AL.com on Tuesday, said he was disappointed that our local, county, state and community leaders arent standing together in solidarity to denounce what he said was a subculture of gun violence.

Strong leadership requires strong messaging that our kids lives matter, and that those who commit such crimes will be vigorously prosecuted with the full weight of government.

Zieman, with Blackwoods office, responded by questioning whether Prine had watched Tuesdays news conference. Blackwood was present with Mobile Police Chief William Randy Jackson, Mobile police Detective Rory Graves and Mobile Assistant Police Chief Melvin Jones.
Tim Cook arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP) AP

This is an opinion column.

Tim Cook tried. He tried really hard. Tried deftly to stay on Donald Trumps good side, such as it is.

Tried to avoid the glare of a president wholl gut you if you dare disagree. Wholl sic the Department of his justice on you if you dont waltz to his whims or nod approvingly at his nuttiness.

Tried to dodge the crosshairs of Trumps tariff two-step with China, which would significantly impact the worlds most valuable companys bottom line  likely jacking up the cost of your next iToy.

In January, the soft-spoken, Alabama-born Apple CEO sat discreetly among the numerous business moguls who attended the presidents indoor inauguration. Understandably so, whether he wanted to be there or not. Indeed, Cook was occasionally captured with the expression of someone whod just gulped down a tablespoon of Castor Oil.

Back in the day, that nasty stuff cured all. At least for a time.

And for a time, Cook succeeded. During Trumps first term five years ago, he called Cook a great executive (mainly because Cook called him when many other business leaders didnt) and was persuaded to offer Apple at least a temporary exemption from any tariff against Chinese-made imports.

In February, Trump giddily praised the CEO when Apple announced it would invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. Plans included hiring people and expanding facilities in nine states, as well as building a new AI server production factory in Texas and a training academy in Detroit.

THANK YOU TIM COOK AND APPLE!!! the president all-capped on Truth Social.

One skeptical Wall Street analyst  is there any other kind?  touted Cooks delicate navigation of Trumps mindfield of tariff irrationality, yet poked the CEO just a tad, calling him 10% politician, 90% CEO.

Indeed, a day later, Cook tiptoed along the Trump tightrope after Apple shareholders overwhelmingly voted (97% overwhelmingly) to fully retain the companys policies and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion  those dirty words Trump is trying to soap-scrub from our lips.

The president fumed over the vote on Truth Social: Apple should get rid of DEI rules, not just make amendments to them. DEI was a hoax that has been very bad for our country. DEI is gone!

Cook affirmed to shareholders: Well continue to work together to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work. Yet he also acknowledged that Apple might have to tweak its policies under the weight of legal challenges.

He really tried. But he should have known.

Heck, he had to have known.

Im not just saying so because Trumps petty proclivities are as transparent as cheap tissues, but because Ive twice been able to sit down with Cook during his visits to Alabama. Been able to look him in the eye and talk about the value of education, about his appreciation of Rev. Martin Luther King, about Alabama.

Hes deep-thinking and approachable. In 2018, he told me: How do we as a state  Im not a resident any longer but an interested outsider  how do we give everyone equal access to a quality education so that everyone can realize the American Dream?

And he meant everyone.

Two years later, Cook was in Birmingham to celebrate Apples investment in transforming a historic downtown building into a coding incubator called Ed Farm. Its important that people know the art of the possible, Cook told me that day, and the way to do that is to learn to code, even if you have no desire to code

He likely knew. Knew that only a slight slight  even a perceived slight  could cause his standing with Trump to slip and land on its iTush.

Never mind that Cook may have had better things to do last month than board the presidential party plane for Trumps CashApp-me tour of the Middle East. To watch him be fawned over and open gifts like a birthday kid, including the used $400 million Boeing gift from Trumps new besties in Qatar. An aircraft at least one expert believes might be a security risk.

Possible listening devices on the plane, said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory and an aviation analyst to NPR, could compromise all of us.

Air Force One (the real one) is built for basically surviving a worst-case scenario like a nuclear war, or to avoid an aggressive pursuer, he said. [It is] more survivable and far more capable than a traditional passenger jet.

Even a $400 million one.

Cook missed the trip, and suddenly hes the bullys bullseye.

Top dogs at Nvidia, BlackRock, OpenAI, Citigroup and the semiconductor company AMD scanned their boarding passes and tagged along. They knew. Cook should have known.

At one event in Riyadh, Trump turned to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and said, I mean, Tim Cook isnt here, but you are.

It was over, right then. Cook was cooked. We all should have ordered every iThing right then because it was coming. It came.

Last week, after Apple side-stepped the China tariff by deciding to build more iPhones in India, the president slapped a 25% tariff on Apple products. Period. Not on an industry. Not on a category of products. On your next iPhone.

Between that and da plane (homage to late actor Herve Villechaize, who made the phrase famous at the start of each episode of the cult-fav TV show Fantasy Island), Cook should have known.

This may be Cooks only saving grace (beyond continued silence): Trump recently earned the moniker TACO from folks at the Wall Street Journal: Trump Always Chickens Out on tariffs. So Trump could flip on Cook, re-embrace the Apple CEO  and spare us beleaguered iPhone users.

Until then, Tim, heres another acronym: TABU  Trump Always Betrays You.

You should have seen it coming.

Lets be better tomorrow than we are today. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, Instagram @roysj and BlueSky.
Cane Ridge United Methodist Church in Lorman, Mississippi is one of 12 churches scheduled to be closed by the Mississippi Conference. Cane Ridge

The top court of the United Methodist Church has ruled against a practice in Mississippi that was allowing churches to leave the denomination with property.

The United Methodist Judicial Court backed up its previous ruling last year that closing a church cannot be used as a back door for allowing a congregation to leave the denomination and take its property with it.

The Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church had adopted a process for closing churches that wanted to leave.

The Judicial Council ordered them to stop.

The court ruled that the Mississippi Conferences board of trustees violated the denominations church closure provision in Paragraph 2549 of the Book of Discipline, the United Methodist rule book.

In addition, the Mississippi Process was enacted without disciplinary authority, the decision said. Therefore, it is null and void and has no force or effect.

The court delivered its decision on June 3, before the Mississippi Annual Conference meets June 4-7. The conference had planned to vote on a dozen church closures.

Cane Ridge, Canton, Drew, Fountainhead, Hopewell, Jones Chapel, L.L. Roberts, Lebanon, Lovely Lane, Shrock, St. James and Wesley United Methodist Churches were all on the docket to be closed.

The Mississippi Conferences trustees adopted a policy on Oct. 20, 2022, which was extended in 2024 and 2025, allowing trustees to enter into agreements with churches allowing them to withdraw in a manner similar to the disaffiliation process that expired at the end of 2023.

Under the disaffiliation rules before they expired, 386 United Methodist churches in Mississippi had disaffiliated.

Mississippi had been able to use Paragraph 2549, which allows the conference to enter into a contract with a congregation to sell the same property back to a new church formed by the members of your church.

The Judicial Council ruled that the Mississippi Process violated the intent of Paragraph 2549.

Annual conferences, trustees, and local churches cannot rewrite any part of the Discipline to force the terms of Paragraph 2553 (the disaffiliation clause) into Paragraph 2549 (for church closures) or any other paragraph of the Discipline, the church court said.

Annual conferences cannot modify the terms of the Discipline to suit their desires or what they wished, or thought would have happened if the General Conference had adopted certain language, the decision continued. Furthermore, they cannot interpret a paragraph of the Discipline to extend the provisions of another paragraph that has expired.

Paragraph 2553 offered a temporary release from the denominations trust clause, which says the denomination holds all church properties in trust.

Mississippi Bishop Sharma Lewis Logan recently said that the Mississippi process had a deadline of Sept. 30, 2024, before the United Methodist Judicial Council ruling on the use of the church closing rule.

She said 55 churches applied under the process, and 42 voted to close, while 13 voted to remain.

The conference had signed contracts with churches that were leaving, before the Judicial Council ruled that their process was against church rules.

In Alabama, numerous congregations seeking to keep their property and leave the denomination have taken their cases to state courts, which have allowed hearings as a property issue.

Since May 15, two more judges in Conecuh and Houston counties have ruled against motions by the United Methodist denomination to dismiss lawsuits by breakaway Alabama churches that want to keep their property.

In May, there were seven rulings by six different circuit court judges dismissing motions by the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, which asked the court to dismiss lawsuits by those seven churches seeking clear title to their property.
A new $20 million Level 1 trauma center at University Hospital in Mobile, Ala., was unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, December 11, 2020. The new trauma center was named after Fanny Meisler, whose family has long been benefactors for USA Health. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Gun violence continues to rip through Mobile.

Tragedy first struck Sunday when a shooting inside a crowded downtown theater killed a 27-year-old father, described as a girl dad, during a childs dance recital.

Then on Wednesday, a 2-year-old boy was shot in the face while lying in bed with his parents at a home in Prichard.

The latest high-profile incidents underscore the ongoing problem with gun violence in Mobile County. One organization is hopeful that a $1 million state grant will help kickstart a program to attack the problem among at-risk youth.

The USA Health announced Wednesday that the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities has received a $1 million grant to launch a program focused on reaching court-involved and high-risk youth utilizing an evidence-based approach that treats gun violence like a preventable disease.

The initiative is being funded as part of Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys $4 million in statewide awards through the State Crisis Intervention Program, a national effort that is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The initiative, according to USA Health, is rooted in prevention, mentorship, trauma response and community outreach.

We know that there are root causes that increase the risk of violence, just like with the chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, said USA Health trauma surgeon Dr. Ashley Williams Hogue, who is also the director of the Center for Healthy Communities. But with early intervention and prevention, we can change outcomes.

Through the program, USA Health will collaborate with other community organizations including Strickland Youth Center, Lifelines Counseling, and many other community-based groups.

The program includes a hospital-based violence intervention component directed by Joshua Jones, director of the initiative with USA Health.

Specialists will provide bedside support to gun violence victims, assess risks of retaliation, and connect individuals with vital services and mentorship.

Street outreach teams will also play a role in the program by engaging youth in conflict resolution strategies, trauma recovery, and building social capital.

We want to address these kids from a comprehensive standpoint, building a social capital, ensuring that they are connected to caring adults or individuals and involved in programs that promote pro-social activity, pro-social connection, Jones said in a statement.

Jones said comprehensive healing is a good approach toward addressing the surge of gun violence. Mental health support is one way to address healing, he said. The program will identify areas where there is a lack of resources that would potentially prevent people from seeking support," he stated.

He also urged Mobilians to be supportive of the initiative.

I want them to understand that as we push this forward, as we engage (the public), whether its through surveys, whether its through activities, whether its through community events, make sure that you are a part of this solution, Jones said.

The initiative from the University of South Alabamas academic health system is one of 11 projects across Alabama receiving funding through the State Crisis Intervention Program.

The program supports mental healthcare, law enforcement training, community safety technologies, and education efforts aimed at preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grant funds.
Birmingham police are investigating a group of water works employees who are suspected of stealing copper from a utility warehouse and reselling it.

Mac Underwood, the general manager of the Birmingham Water Works, said the utility conducted its own investigation and then reported the allegations of insider theft to law enforcement.

The initial internal investigation identified team members who colluded as a group to bypass existing internal supply verification and documentation processes for financial benefit, Underwood said. These actions were unauthorized, ignored established protocols and resulted in the theft of the BWWs property.

Birmingham police declined to elaborate on the investigation when contacted by AL.com Wednesday.

Citing the ongoing investigation, managers and board members at the utility today declined to answer questions about the magnitude of the theft, and how long it continued before it was discovered.

The total value of the theft has not been disclosed. However, sources at the utility tell AL.com that the theft may not have been a one-time incident. The ring was allegedly reported by an outside participant in the scheme who tipped the utility of the enterprise.

Underwood said the water works will recommend that the board authorize an independent review of warehouse operations to improve security.

Our management team is committed to honesty, integrity and accountability, and these are values we expect our employees, consultants and contractors to uphold, he said. Those who violate these principles and the trust of our customers will be held accountable.

The revelation comes at a crucial time for the utility. A new state law changed the makeup of the water works board, kicked out the previous members, and expanded leadership to include new members from the suburbs and surrounding counties.

The new board just this week agreed to seek a forensic audit of the utility along with asking state examiners to take a closer look at finances and operations. It is unclear whether this current investigation is part of the audit plan for the organization.

These things have just manifested themselves and we are taking them seriously and looking into it, said attorney Jim Porter, whose firm this week was named among the agencys new legal counsel.

Were starting from scratch and just looking into this, Porter told AL.com Wednesday. Were totally new to the situation and were looking at everything from the ground up.

The last major reported fraud scheme at the water works set the stage for the first state intervention at the utility more than a decade ago.

It was in 2014 that a former Birmingham Water Works supervisor was convicted of crafting an overtime rigging scheme. That scandal set off a chain of legal, political, and internal actions that continues to impact the utility.

At the time, former utility board members commissioned an audit by forensic accountant Michael Mason.

Masons conclusions were explosive. He cited poor record keeping, poor communication and substandard software that, he said, crippled the utility and made it ripe for fraud.

The Mason report and AL.com reporting about its findings were cited by state legislators who rallied for new rules regulating water board pay, membership and length of service. Those rules were later approved by the legislature and included adding new members from outside Birmingham and Jefferson County.

Legislation this year expanded on those previous changes, taking away Birminghams dominance on the utilitys board and bringing additional members from outside the city.

The city of Birmingham has filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the new law.

Republican sponsors said the changes were made to reform the utility after years of complaints including poor customer service, a lack of transparency and excessive spending.

AL.com senior reporter Carol Robinson contributed to this story.
President Donald Trumps ambitious plan for a Golden Dome missile shield has picked up a bit of tarnish in the Rocket City.

The Defense Department has canceled a Huntsville industry summit designed to help small, nontraditional contractors compete for a share of billions of dollars in expected procurement around the presidents missile defense initiative. The event had been scheduled for June 11 at the Von Braun Center.

As of Wednesday afternoon it was still listed on the VBCs upcoming events webpage.

The cancelation followed Trumps announcement last month that the first $25 billion in funding would appear in the Defense budget that is being assembled now. The president has said the project would cost up to $175 billion and be in place by the end of his term. Both claims have come under questioning.

The Huntsville summit had been promoted by the Missile Defense Agency as a chance for defense firms to gain insight into Golden Domes needs and requirements as they consider whether to chase what could be multiple lucrative contracts. The MDA has said it plans a 10-year, $151 billion multiple-award contract vehicle in support of Golden Dome.

The Huntsville summit was particularly designed to reach out to small and nontraditional contractors, according to a notice posted to a federal procurement website announcing the event.

Non-Traditional Contractors are highly encouraged to attend as MDA is extremely interested in outside the box thinking and we believe that non-traditional contractors are vital to shaping the future of missile defense, it stated.

An MDA spokesperson told AL.com they had no insight into why the event was canceled or whether nontraditional contractors remain a priority.

In an executive order issued in late January, Trump outlined a vision of a national missile defense program with a special emphasis on space-based programs.

Trumps order borrowed its name from Israels Iron Dome missile defense program, a joint U.S.-Israeli venture designed to defend against relatively short-range rockets, missiles, and large drones. The name was changed to Golden Dome shortly after the announcement.

In contrast to the Israeli model, the United States has spent decades  and billions of dollars -- developing missile defense at a larger scale: multi-layered systems designed to counter medium- and long-range ballistic missiles.

Building out new missile defense programs and expanding existing ones would likely boost Huntsville, which is home to numerous missile and space-focused firms, including most of the legacy prime contractors as well as defense-focused startups.
Nicole Wadsworth is a candidate for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Nicole Wadsworth campaign

The campaign manager for an Alabama candidate for lieutenant governor made an unusual request Tuesday, asking that the news media always include the candidates academic title in news coverage about the race.

Nicole Wadsworth, a commercial real estate developer, announced in May she is running in the Republican primary.

Her campaign manager, Hunter Weathers, sent an email to the press about their reporting on the campaign.

I want to take a moment to thank you for your coverage of this important race and for your commitment to informing the public, Weathers wrote.

With that in mind, Id like to address a matter of professional accuracy and respect:

Dr. Nicole Wadsworth has earned her academic and professional titles and should be addressed accordingly in all future correspondence and press materials. Going forward, we respectfully request that she be referred to as Dr. Nicole Wadsworth in all headlines, articles, captions, and related content.

Many news outlets, including al.com, follow Associated Press style on the use of titles.

The AP stylebook says that the Dr. title is used for medical doctors only and not for other professionals with a doctoral degree such as Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy.)

The email from Weathers caused some reaction in the press.

In a phone call Wednesday morning, Weathers talked more about why he made the request.

The purpose of the request was to highlight her credentials and her academic experience and education, Weathers said.

Weathers said Wadsworth has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Alabama, a bachelors degree from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, and a masters degree from the Florida Institute of Technologys Huntsville campus.

Wadsworth has a certification in zoning and planning from the University of North Alabama and an economic development leadership certification from Auburn University, he said.

We just want the press to address her correctly with the appropriate titles with her experience in the private sector and her education - with a title like economic developer, economist, commercial real estate developer - something like that, Weathers said. And that was the purpose of the email.

It wasnt necessarily to address her by Dr.

The issue of when the Dr. title is appropriate has come up in national politics. In 2020, the Wall Street Journal ran a column suggesting that Jill Biden stop using the Dr. title.

Biden holds an Ed.D., a doctor of education degree, from the University of Delaware.

A wise man once said that no one should call himself Dr. unless he has delivered a child, columnist Joseph Epstein wrote.

The column generated backlash from people who urged Biden to continue using the title and called on other women with doctoral degrees to do the same.

Others running in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor are Secretary of State Wes Allen, Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, and Opelika pastor Dean Odle.

The primary is May 19, 2026.
President Donald Trump put the insulting nickname he has given a Democratic senator aside while saying Wednesday he agrees with her on a pressing political issue.

I am very pleased to announce that, after all of these years, I agree with Senator Elizabeth Warren on SOMETHING, Trump posted to his Truth Social account Wenesday afternoon, referring to the Massachusetts senator.

That something is a key issue dividing Congress with focus on Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill.

The Debt Limit should be entirely scrapped to prevent an Economic catastrophe, the presidents post continued.

It is too devastating to be put in the hands of political people that may want to use it despite the horrendous effect it could have on our Country and, indirectly, even the World. As to Senator Warrens second statement on the $4 Trillion Dollars, I like that also, but it would have to be done over a period of time, as short as possible. Lets get together, Republican and Democrat, and DO THIS!

Warren has been one of Trumps frequent targets of ridicule, calling her Pocahontas over her claims of having Native American heritage.

In 2019, Warren publicly apologized after a DNA analysis showed evidence of a tribal ancestor as far as 10 generations back, but the Cherokee Nation joined some other Native Americans in rebuking the senator for attributing tribal membership to genetics. Warren later apologized privately to the Cherokee and had addressed her regret before Mondays appearance.

Trumps post included a tweet posted by Warren last week imploring Congress to scrap the debt ceiling.

Lets pass a bipartisan bill and get rid of it forever, she posted May 30.

.@realDonaldTrump and I agree: the debt limit should be scrapped to prevent an economic catastrophe.



Let's pass a bipartisan bill and get rid of it forever.



But jacking up the debt limit by $4 trillion to fund more tax breaks for billionaires is an outrage. pic.twitter.com/tMRdSsY5St  Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 30, 2025

Warrens tweet came after Trump endorsed her proposal while addressing reporters.

Ill tell you, a certain Senator -- Elizabeth Warren -- said that she would never, ever allow a default on our debt ... and she would like to get rid of the debt ceiling... Trump said.

I always agreed with her, thats always something I agreed with her on, the president said.
Harvey Milk, a gay political leader, in his camera store on Castro Street on June 28, 1977, in San Francisco. (AP Photo, file) AP

California leaders denounced reports Tuesday that the Trump administration is preparing to strip the name of slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk from a naval ship honoring his legacy, calling it a slap in the face for the LGBTQ+ community just as Pride month begins.

Milk was elected as a San Francisco supervisor in the 1970s, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the country. After he was assassinated in San Francisco City Hall in 1978, he became an icon of the gay rights movement, with images of his face becoming synonymous with the struggle for gay rights.

Milk had served in the Navy prior to becoming an activist and political figure, and LGBTQ+ advocates and service members fought for years to have his legacy formally recognized by the Navy.

The outlet Military.com first reported Tuesday afternoon that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, an oiler built in San Diego as part of a series of vessels named for civil rights leaders. It was launched in 2021.

The Pentagon would not confirm or deny that the ship would be renamed.

In a statement to The Times, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all (Department of Defense) installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chiefs priorities, our nations history, and the warrior ethos, and that any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.

The Pentagon would not say whether such a review had been launched for the USNS Harvey Milk. The Navy referred questions to the Pentagon.

The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk conducts a replenishment at sea in December in the Atlantic Ocean. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky, U.S. Navy file photo via AP)

The removal of Milks name would be in line with a broader push by Hegseth and other leaders in the Trump administration to remove formal acknowledgments of queer rights and other programs or messages promoting diversity, equity and inclusion across the federal government.

Leaders in California  where Milk is often hailed as a hero  were quick to denounce the idea of stripping his name from the vessel.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on the social media platform X that Trumps assault on veterans has hit a new low.

Trump and Hegseth have also issued a sweeping ban on transgender people serving in the military.

Harvey Milk wasnt just a civil rights icon  he was a Korean War combat veteran whose commander called him outstanding, Newsom said. Stripping his name from a Navy ship wont erase his legacy as an American icon, but it does reveal Trumps contempt for the very values our veterans fight to protect.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, echoed Newsom with her own comment on X.

Our military is the most powerful in the world  but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the warrior ethos, she wrote. It is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, who is gay and once represented the same district as Milk on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said in an interview with The Times that the move was all part of Trumps systematic campaign to eliminate LGBTQ people from public life.

They want us to go away, to go back in the closet, not to be part of public life, Wiener said. And were not going anywhere.

After graduating from college, Milk enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and was stationed in San Diego. According to the Harvey Milk Foundation, he resigned at the rank of lieutenant junior grade in 1955 after being officially questioned about his sexual orientation.

He moved to San Francisco in 1972, opened a camera shop on Castro Street, and quickly got into politics  rallying the growing local gay community to fight for rights and build strategic alliances with other groups, including organized labor and the citys large Asian and Pacific Islander community.

Milk was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1977, and helped lead efforts to defeat a 1978 ballot initiative that would have barred gay and lesbian people from teaching in public schools statewide  a major political win for the LGBTQ+ community.

That same year, Milk was assassinated alongside Mayor George Moscone at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White. His killing cemented his status as an icon of the gay rights movement.

Wiener called Milk an absolute hero who died for our community and deserves the honor of having a naval vessel named after him.

A group of LGBTQ veterans worked for years and years to achieve this goal of naming a ship for Harvey, and to have that taken away so casually, right during Pride month, is heartbreaking and painful, Wiener said.

Removing his name would mean more than scrubbing a stenciling off the side of a ship, Wiener said, especially now with the attacks on our community, and so many young LGBTQ people (seeing) so much negativity towards our community.

Milk was a very visible role model for young queer people, and he gave people hope in a way that hadnt happened before from any high-profile queer leader, and he was murdered because of his visibility and leadership for our community, Wiener said, and for young queer people today to see the name of a gay man on the side of a military vessel, its very, very powerful.

U.S. officials first announced in 2016 that a ship would be named for Milk, as well as for abolitionist Sojourner Truth, Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren, Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy, suffragist Lucy Stone and U.S. Rep. John Lewis.

At an event marking the start of construction on the ship in 2019, Milks nephew Stuart Milk said the naming of the ship after his uncle sends a global message of inclusion that did not just say the U.S. will tolerate everyone, but that we celebrate everyone.

___

2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
From Wikipedia Commons: The Old Plantation (John Rose, ca. 17851795)

Whether naive or ignorant, leaving apathy aside, modern man associates the notion of slavery with either Roman households and gladiatorial games or plantation management in the South. For the older generations, moral education found dramatic support in the TV series Roots (1977). By now, only a few have personally experienced the division of public transportation and benches, etc. by color  a shameful reminiscence of slavery and racial discrimination.

We have been taught in school that slavery is evil. As written in the U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776), all men are created equal. Of course, nobody should own another man in the same way that he owns a horse or a cow. It is fundamentally incompatible with a Christian attitude towards life. Judging human dignity based on skin color is as immoral as it is stupid. So far, so good.

In the context of a post-Soviet Marxist revival, however, dramatically reinforced by the George Floyd affair, which elevated a habitual criminal to martyrdom, white Westerners have been pressured to do penance in recent decades. As if personally responsible for decisions made by those in power centuries ago, they are expected to tolerate reciprocal discrimination presented as positive action and make reparations for sins of the past. If they stand up for themselves and protest against revisionist absurdities, they risk being accused of privilege blindness, etc. (Marxist conspiracy theorists traditionally allude to oppressive structures into which only the ideologically initiated have full insight.)

Like bestial, cruel, and undignified treatment of our fellow men in general, slavery in one form or another has been prevalent as far back as our annals go. Even today, old-style slavery is widespread in certain parts of the world. In terms of numbers, however, there have never been more slaves in the world than in the twentieth century  long after the abolition of slavery in the U.S. during the 19th century.

Nobody in their right mind would haunt modern-day Italians with accusations of having exploited neighboring peoples, such as the French, as slaves. However, none of those, who are busy accusing the West of inherited (collective) guilt in connection with the eighteenth-century slave trade, take the trouble to address the current situation in Africa where slaves are traded along the same lines as 300 years ago.

In our time, when The 1619 Project was born, American school children know practically nothing about the victims of communism. For them, Che Guevara is the epitome of a cool rebel, whose iconic silhouette they love to wear on their T-shirts, as opposed to a cold-blooded killer in the ranks of revolutionary psychopaths. And few college students can barely account for the heinous crimes of Nazism. Indeed, indoctrinated by both news and social media, many have difficulty recognizing Jews as genocide victims rather than executioners because of the long-standing conflict with Muslims in the Middle East.

Why this obsession with, not the slavery of Islamic warlords, nor that of KZ-camp Nazis or Gulag Bolsheviks, but the transatlantic slave trade of eighteenth century America which ended more than 150 years ago?

Expectedly, persistent accusations against the West are not made by anybody. They originate from its sworn enemies. Strictly speaking, these anti-Western forces are the spiritual heirs of both Marxist mass murderers and large-scale slaveholders. Forget the claims about the fight for social justice. It is all emotional manipulation on the part of Marxists. Ideological zombies by choice, marching back and forth in our streets, their real purpose is to bring the West to its knees. They criticize not to improve, but to destroy. Notably, they have nothing against slavery as such, agreed with the need to contain and neutralize reactionary forces, but everything against the West.

Slavery of the past as a moral indictment is simply another propaganda tool in political strategy. Hijacked by Marxists, the cause of the oppressed is as hypocritical as any other ingredient of totalitarian narrativism since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Apparently neglected, because it poses an ideological taboo, the twentieth century saw the rise of the most powerful slave empires the world has ever known: Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, and Communist China.

Totalitarianism has proven to be inextricably intertwined, not only with arbitrary trials and executions, but also with systematized slavery  the exploitation of men as livestock resources to be consumed at will. Altogether, playing on credulity, human perversion reaches no greater heights than in totalitarianism.

From the moment that Lenin took over the Kremlin, wholesale massacres and slavery began. The Gulag archipelago became the freezing inferno of modernity, the burial ground for untold millions of slaves, political prisoners deprived of their humanity.

Neither Soviet Russia nor Communist China is in danger of being accused of the sins of slavery, because they were not involved in the export of slaves from the coasts of Africa. Incidentally, Arab and Ottoman Muslims also go free, although they could be responsible for far greater slave trade (e.g. trans-Saharan, Crimean, and Barbary) and slaveholding than Europeans and Americans combined.

The notorious Generalplan Ost, a Nazi vision with historical roots in the nationalist Drang nach Osten, was a sickening manifestation of ideological delusion and evil. It envisaged Germanic colonization of Eastern Europe and Russia west of the Urals, based on a premise of racial superiority and natural right to Lebensraum at the expense of other peoples. Amounting to a prepared genocide, industrial-style plans, apart from Wehrbauer settlements, included enslavement, expulsion, and extermination of both Jews and Slavs.

As soon as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was broken, Nazis displayed an unbridled abuse of Russians, whom they considered Untermenschen without claim to dignity, deluded by racist dogmas of Aryanism. In contrast, Bolsheviks were literally prepared to enslave and massacre anybody without regard to ethnicity. The loyalty of the individual citizen to the party mattered less than the capricious intrigue that permeated the organization from top to bottom. As the great purges revealed, nobody could feel safe in the long run.  At the hands of anti-Christian, totalitarian ideologies, alternately Bolshevik and Nazi, Russians have suffered in the twentieth century like few others in the world.

The truth is that for decades  both before and after the fall of Nazism  Bolsheviks operated a slave system with terror as the principal weapon. Since then, Maoists have followed suit. In moral terms, Bolsheviks and Maoists have no advantage over Nazis  unless racism as an ideological, explicit motive is made the ultimate measure of evil.

In the footsteps of Young Turks, who exterminated Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians under cover of WWI, Stalin used WWII as a pretext for deportations of entire peoples (e.g. Crimean Tatars)  resulting in millions of deaths. There was no limit to his social engineering. A vengeful tyrant and untroubled killer, he was as revolutionary as anybody.

Maoists have advanced in a similar way in Tibet and Xinjiang where presently hundreds of thousands are held as forced-labor slaves in so-called education camps.

In totalitarian states, the life of the individual citizen belongs to somebody other than himself. Like Africans on antebellum plantations, he is deprived of his right to self-determination. Whatever the rhetoric of official propaganda, he remains the property of the state. Without restrictions, he is a slave proper. Everybody except the tyrant himself is in reality a slave.

If the slave resists and demands his freedom, he is punished. And when he tries to escape from slavery, the slave owners send their dogs and guns after him. In the end, his choice is between submission and death. That was also the essence of Kunta Kintes reluctant realization in Roots.

In summary, there are ideological reasons for political activists to target the West while turning a blind eye to crimes committed on a much larger scale by their own political allies in Soviet Russia and Communist China  not to mention Muslims of the caliphates. Basically, everything useful in the war against Western civilization will be weaponized. The anti-democratic enemy is opportunistic.

Whether you are a decent man never depends on your skin color, gender or age, but the thoughts and feelings that guide your actions among your fellow men. It is that simple.

In spite of its glowing talk about the welfare of the masses, Communisms methods and philosophy strip man of his dignity and worth, leaving him as little more than a depersonalized cog in the ever-turning wheel of the state.  Martin Luther King, Jr.
Xi meets Belarusian president

Xinhua) 13:09, June 04, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing, capital of China, June 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing on Wednesday. Congratulating Lukashenko again on his reelection as the president of Belarus, Xi said the two countries are true friends and good partners, treating each other with sincerity and trust.

Noting China and Belarus share enduring traditional friendship, formidable political mutual trust and growing cooperation in all fields, Xi said China has always viewed and developed China-Belarus relations from a strategic and a long-term perspective.

Xi said China is willing to work with Belarus to promote the steady development of bilateral ties and win-win cooperation.

He called on both sides to further enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly oppose hegemony and bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

Lukashenko, who is on his 15th visit to China, said that he has felt a genuine sense of friendship from China during each of his trips.

Thanking China for its long-term strong support and assistance to his country, he said Belarus has high-degree trust in China and will actively advance cooperation with China.

Lukashenko said China sets an example for the world by upholding multilateralism and opposing unilateralism and sanctions and pressure, expressing admiration for China and willingness to work with China to safeguard international fairness and justice.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
On May 17, a young man, whom no one seemed to actually know, died in the explosion of a massive bomb outside a California IVF clinic in what authorities describe as an a deliberate act of terrorism. A manifesto that he left behind suggests that he intended to take his own life, and indeed that he believed that his own life and the lives of everyone else were in some way destructive. It is logical that he would attempt to blow up a clinic that participated in the creation of new life.

This story might seem unimportant if the young man had acted on a whim or if he were insane, but the fact is that he acted quite rationally, however misguidedly, following years of ideological training and reflection. Twenty-five-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus was not insane; if anything, he was too rational, too consumed by ideas, too disconnected from society and from his physical nature. Like Dostoevskys Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment, Bartkus was apparently isolated and obsessed by ideology, in his case by pro-mortalist ideas  the belief, according to NewsNation, that its better to die than to continue existing and that its wrong to bring new sentient life into the world.

Bartkuss crime was that he was so overwhelmed by the sense that human beings in general, and himself in particular, are a damaging to existence that new birth needs to be stopped and existing humans eliminated. His punishment was the self-inflected death via an explosive device so powerful that his body parts were scattered on the street far from where the bomb was set off.

If the Bartkus case were an isolated incident, there would be little more to say. The problem is that it was not. Bartkuss female friend, Sophie Tinney, was killed, reportedly at her own request, back in April, and the death may have spurred Bartkuss plan of action. Bartkus is also said to have been in touch with and written on internet sites devoted to the same anti-life propositions.

At first blush, some readers may connect Bartkuss attack on a fertility clinic with what they view as similar attacks by pro-lifers on abortion facilities. No comparison could be more inappropriate. Bartkuss motives and those of the anti-life websites he seems to have visited are the opposite of pro-life groups, who wish to preserve life instead of destroying it.

Its important to understand just how radical todays anti-life movement has become. According to fastslang.com,

at its core, Anti Life is a rejection of life itself. Its adherents believe that existence is inherently painful and pointless, and that the only way to escape this suffering is through self-destruction. They see death not as an end, but as a release from the chains of existence, and actively seek out ways to hasten their own demise.

Anti-lifers are by nature nihilistic and often engage in violence, sabotage, or terrorism, including anti-government and anti-authority actions similar to what Bartkus engaged in. According to reports, despite its extremist views, Anti Life has attracted a growing number of followers in recent years. Some see it as a way to rebel against a society they feel has failed them, while others are drawn to its nihilistic and anarchic worldview.

Just how many hardcore adherents there are is difficult to know, but according to Victor Davis Hansen, as many as one third of Americans may be termed alienated:

The American stranger embraces a pessimistic view of this country, rather than the therapeutic view shared by most Americans. Given the nations cultural and financial profligacy, he assumes things are going to get worse. Or at least he accepts that they cannot go on as they are. The medicine (that will fall on him to administer) will be as catastrophic as the lethal disease (which he thinks was caused mostly by others).

As Hansen stresses, the anti-lifer is nihilistic, cynical, and prone to violence or sympathy with violence. Bartkuss manifesto along with his scattered online writings suggest he was engaged in a war with pro-lifers. Bartkuss website revealed a hatred of religion and of life in general. Newspaper reports quote Bartkus as writing that life can only continue as long as people hold the delusional belief that it is not a zero sum game causing senseless torture, and messes it can never, or only partially, clean up. He stated, I think we need a war against pro-lifers and added, It is clear at this point that these people arent only stupid, they simply do not care about the harm they are perpetuating by being willing agents for a DNA molecule. Bartkus also expressed his admiration for Sandy Hook Elementary School killer Adam Lanza.

The case of Guy Bartkus is shocking in and of itself, but far worse is the fact that millions of others must hold equally radical ideations and that more than one hundred million others in the USA alone share similar if not so extreme views. We live in a country filled with moral confusion and infected by radical ideology  a country filled with Raskolnikovs who deny the beauty of life and the life-giving virtue of our civilization.

The anti-life movement, in the broad sense of the word, is neither small in number nor recent. It has been a force in American life at least since the 1960s and it will continue to be so for decades to come. We cannot wave a magic wand and convert young men and women like Guy Bartkus to the pro-life position, but we can continue to live in a hopeful manner and to express our beliefs unequivocally. The Bartkus case is an indicator of how far radical ideology can drive a human being into destructive action. For that reason, we must be all the more determined in our defense of life.

Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011).

Image via Pexels.
To appreciate this inadequacy of a proportional military response consider the early days of the Pacific war. On December 7th, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, our major Pacific naval base. Eight U.S. battleships were damaged, four of which were sunk. Three cruisers and three destroyers were also sunk or destroyed along with an anti-aircraft training ship and a minelayer. Destroyed were more than 180 aircraft, along with military infrastructure such as fuel storage facilities. The U.S. suffered 2403 killed and 1178 wounded. On the other side, the Japanese lost 29 airplanes, five midget submarines, and 130 men.

Six months later from June 4th to the 7th the U.S. evened the score in the battle of Midway. Thanks to decoded secret Japanese communications, the U.S. surprised a massive Japanese fleet and virtually annihilated it. All four Japanese carriers accompanying the fleet were sunk along with a heavy cruiser. Critically, the Japanese lost 3000 men, including highly trained pilots who were never replaced. Though Midway occurred early in the war, the loss of the carriers and its pilots was a crushing blow from which Japan never fully recovered. The U.S. lost one carrier and a destroyer. Historian John Keegan called the battle "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare."

From a tit-for-tat perspective, the game was essentially even. Both nations had sustained serious damage, and a scorekeeper might have argued that both sides should end the conflict immediately. Indeed, a clairvoyant would have counseled the Japanese that far worse was to come if they persisted. For example, 100,000 were people killed during the massive fire-bombing of Tokyo on March 9th, 1945, while 214,000 Japanese killed in the two A-bomb attacks. That clairvoyant might have also told the Americans that they were about to suffer 132,000 killed and 218,000 wounded. In other words, by the proportionality standard both sides would call it quits to avoid far worse carnage. Nevertheless, no American leader called for a ceasefire on the grounds that we had achieved proportionately after the Pearl Harbor attack. Midway only energized a greater war effort.

Military victory is not settled according to the rules of cost accounting in which expenses are weighed against gains so, for example, Israel might conclude that the cost of killing yet one more Hamas terrorist rises sharply as the number of Hamas fighters shrinks, so ending the war today makes sound financial sense. Nor is victory achieved in public opinion or support in newspaper editorials. As the great military theorist Carl von Clausewitz argued, the purpose of war is to make the enemy comply with ones will. Campus protests or speeches by non-combatants are an irrelevant sideshow.

U.S. leaders in 1942 thought like todays Israelis. They knew that Midway did not set the table for a negotiated peace with Japan just as Israeli know that killing 1200 Hamas terrorists does not end the military campaign. Such accounting ignores national survival, and Israeli leaders undoubtedly know that if Hamas survives, they will never stop, and if they fail once more, they will try again and, perhaps they will eventually succeed in killing all the Jews. Next time Hamas might use biological weapons and succeed.

American leaders in 1942 understood that no matter how great the Midway victory, Japan would keep trying and perhaps due to a technological breakthrough or American ineptitude, they would finally triumph, and in war, a single great success can erase every past failure. Recall that even after the two A-bomb attacks, a few Japanese leaders rejected surrender in the hope that they might still win. Japans demonstrated tenacity is what motivated President Roosevelts 1943 demand for Unconditional Surrender since anything less would allow Japan to keep trying.

Insisting that Israel acts proportionately is likely a duplicitous way of telling Israeli to stop inciting those Muslims residing in the West. War means defeating enemies intent on destroying you even if that entails horrendous costs to ones own side, not a game in which victory comes to those who win in the court of public opinion.

Image: US Navy
On May 31, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. This is the worlds highest profile international meeting of national security officials; and certainly the most watched, because it was the debut appearance of a key cabinet member of President Donald Trumps second term. Hegseths appointment was controversial. He is a decorated combat veteran who stressed the warrior ethos against various woke notions that degraded the military profession. But as a Fox news anchor, he had expressed naive strategic views that tended toward isolationism. His message in Singapore calmed these fears.

His primary focus was on threats from China. It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. We know. It's public that Xi has ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027, he warned. Then he pledged Again, to be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. Hegseth also pointed out that Beijing has ambitions across the region, from the Philippines to Japan.

America is responding by increasing the forward deployment of forces in the region, not just the Navy which President Trump started to expand in his first term and is accelerating in his second with a trillion-dollar defense budget, but also with units from all the services. The Marines just deployed a new anti-ship missile battery in Luzon that not only protects the Philippines but would also reach a Chinese Taiwan invasion force. We must ensure that China cannot dominate us -- or our allies and partners. Maintaining the status quo requires strength. That's just a rational, common-sense goal that all should be able to live with declared Hegseth.

A major theme that addressed many concerns was that America First does not mean America alone. Indeed, early in his remarks Hegseth stated And under President Trump's leadership, the United States is committed to achieving peace through strength. That starts with deterring aggression around the world and here in the Indo-Pacific, here in our priority theater, here with you -- our allies and our partners. Strategists can still look at how operations in different theaters might play out, but Great Power rivalry drives politics worldwide. Alliances and alignments span the globe, as do the ambitions of the major players. And the preparations for security in a turbulent world must run deep.

It should be noted that on May 24, a British carrier strike group, which includes warships from Canada, Norway, and Spain to give it a NATO flavor, entered the Red Sea conflict zone on its way to the Indo-Pacific where it will hold joint exercises with a variety of local navies to demonstrate that the West has friends on a global scale that Beijing can only dream about.

Economics is the material foundation of power. The trade war between the U.S. and China is fundamentally different from the commercial disputes that have brought forth President Trumps broad use of tariffs. China has used its gains from trade (capital and tech transfers, expanded industrial capacity supported by trade surpluses) to build a peer geopolitical challenger that threatens not a trade war, but a real war to achieve its regional ambitions. There has been a broad bipartisan consensus in both the Trump and Biden administrations to rebuild strategic industries in America while denying China the means to compete in the development of new technology. As Hegseth stated, Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension. 

This is about industrial policy, not trade policy. We will build what we need. As Hegseth said, We're reviving our defense industrial base and investing in our shipyards. We're rapidly fielding emerging technologies that will help us remain the world leader for generations to come. He also talked about integrating economic capabilities with allies, especially India and Australia, which with the U.S. and Japan form The Quad of nations responding to Chinas increased capabilities. The Trump administration has also talked with South Korea and Japan about industrial cooperation, especially in shipbuilding. Decades of neglect has eroded American shipyards while China has created the largest shipbuilding industry in the world.

Addressing China as our primary threat was correct, but Hegseth could not ignore threats outside the Indo-Pacific because Beijing is involved in support of aggression across the world, in particular that of Russia and Iran. Hegseth said little about Ukraine except to blame President Biden for failing to deter Russias invasion and to declare that President Trump is seeking durable peace. But he did say It's important for this room to hear today, and all the world -- America First certainly does not mean America alone. Especially alongside so many of our allies, model allies like Poland, Israel, and the Gulf States, the Baltic States. And it does not mean ignoring the world. The named allies stand in the front line against Russia and Iran. Poland and the Baltic States are vocal in their calls for more aid for Ukraine in its valiant defense against Russia.

Hegseth echoed the Trump view that Europe should take the lead in facing down a much weaker Russia, which is logical and certainly doable given NATOs much greater economic potential. And while NATO has pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP to match the U.S., it will take time after so many years of neglect based on the false hope of perpetual peace dashed by Vladimir Putin. To bring peace through strength right now will require the application of American power to force Putin to conclude peace is his only viable option.

Again, the Russia-Chinese alignment cannot be ignored. In 2022, just before Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow and Beijing declared they were friends without limit. Last month, the leaders of both dictatorships declared a friendship of steel using the same words Hitlers Germany and Mussolinis Italy had used on the eve of World War II.

The two anti-western revisionist and revanchist powers have held numerous joint military exercises. Most recently, strategic bombers of Russia and China conducted a joint operation over the Sea of Japan on November 29, a threat to both Japan and South Korea (not to mention U.S. bases in both countries). On July 24 last year, they conducted the same kind of operation off the coast of Alaska. They held a joint naval exercise with Iran in the Gulf of Oman just after President Trump threatened Tehran if it did not dismantle its nuclear program.

In the new June issue of the U.S. Naval Institutes Proceedings journal, Dr. William Bunn, a retired naval intelligence officer now a professor at the Joint Forces College, warns that Russia could join China in a war over Taiwan. Putin has been modernizing his Pacific Fleet. While it has always been assumed that an Indo-China conflict would tempt Moscow into fresh aggression in Europe, Bunn believes U.S. forces must include a combined Russian-Chinese force in future Pacific wargames. More proof that to deter China, Russia must be defeated in Ukraine to give credence to a peace through strength American policy and posture. Actions not only speak louder than words, they are usually the only things adversaries understand.

William R. Hawkins is a former economics professor who has worked for conservative think tanks and on the Republican staff of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has written widely on international economics and national security issues for both professional and popular publications including for the Army War College, the U.S. Naval Institute, and the National Defense University, among others.

Image: DoD
The recent reports indicating that Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs, is poised to be replaced have raised significant concerns among observers of Middle Eastern diplomacy and U.S. foreign policy. Ortagus has been a key figure in Washingtons efforts to promote the disarmament of Hezbollah, a powerful armed group and political entity in Lebanon. Her potential departure risks weakening a critical American policy pillar designed to stabilize Lebanon and reduce Hezbollahs influencean outcome that would have serious repercussions for Lebanon and the broader region.

Morgan Ortagus: A Firm Voice Against Hezbollahs Arms

Morgan Ortagus has been one of the most outspoken and persistent U.S. officials demanding that Hezbollah be disarmed. The groups possession of heavy weaponry and military infrastructure outside the control of the Lebanese state has long been a source of internal and regional tension. For decades, Hezbollah has operated as a state within a statewielding significant military power, political influence, and a vast network of social services, all while maintaining a military arsenal that exceeds that of many national armies.

Ortagus has consistently underscored the importance of Lebanons sovereignty and the rule of law. She has advocated for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to take sole responsibility for security and disarmament, reflecting Washingtons goal of restoring state authority across Lebanon. This position was central to her diplomatic efforts, which included meetings with Lebanese leaders such as President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Her push for implementing ceasefire agreements aimed at disarming Hezbollah's unauthorized military positions was a concrete step toward reducing armed conflict and promoting peace.

The Stakes Are High: Hezbollahs Weapons and Regional Security

Hezbollahs armed status is a key obstacle to peace and stability in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. The groups military capabilities, which include rockets and advanced weaponry, have contributed to recurring cycles of violence, including multiple wars with Israel. Furthermore, Hezbollahs role as a proxy for Irans regional ambitions complicates Lebanons position and undermines its sovereignty.

The U.S. sees Hezbollahs disarmament as critical to Lebanons stability. If the groups military wing remains intact, it threatens not only Lebanons internal security but also the fragile balance of power in the region. Hezbollahs arsenal is a flashpoint that can ignite broader conflicts, as seen in past confrontations that devastated Lebanons southern regions and displaced thousands.

Ortaguss firm stance on Hezbollahs disarmament signaled to both Lebanon and its neighbors that Washington was committed to pushing for tangible changes, rather than mere rhetoric. Her insistence on quick and decisive action was meant to pressure Lebanese officials and Hezbollah alike to abide by ceasefire terms and disarm illegal militias.

What Losing Ortagus Could Mean

The potential replacement of Ortagus raises the question: Will the U.S. maintain the same tough stance on Hezbollah, or will it soften its approach? A new envoy could adopt a different strategyone less confrontational or less focused on immediate disarmamentwhich risks diluting U.S. leverage and emboldening Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has repeatedly justified its armed presence by citing alleged Israeli violations of ceasefire agreements and the need to defend Lebanon. This narrative resonates with many Lebanese citizens who view Hezbollah as a protector against Israeli aggression. Without strong U.S. pressure and clear diplomatic goals, Hezbollah could further entrench its military position, making disarmament even more difficult in the future.

Moreover, the Lebanese government is deeply divided and weakened by economic crisis, political dysfunction, and external interference. The LAF lacks the resources and political backing to challenge Hezbollah militarily. U.S. diplomatic leadership and international support are therefore crucial to strengthen Lebanons institutions and support efforts to bring all armed groups under state control.

Replacing Ortagus at this critical juncture could slow or stall progress. It might be perceived by Lebanese leaders and Hezbollah as a sign of wavering U.S. commitment, encouraging them to delay reforms and maintain the status quo. This would undermine the broader goal of restoring Lebanons sovereignty and security.

The Broader Context: U.S. Policy in the Middle East

Ortaguss departure should also be viewed in the broader context of evolving U.S. policy in the Middle East. The region is undergoing significant shifts, including ongoing tensions between Iran and its regional rivals, economic challenges in Lebanon, and the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Washingtons approach to these issues requires careful calibration between diplomacy, security commitments, and strategic interests.

Maintaining a clear and firm policy on Hezbollah is essential not only for Lebanons stability but also for U.S. efforts to counter Irans influence. Hezbollah serves as a key Iranian proxy, and disarming the group would deal a significant blow to Tehrans regional strategy.

Thus, a new envoy who softens the U.S. position risks weakening this broader strategic objective. Conversely, maintaining or strengthening Ortaguss policies could support U.S. goals of stabilizing Lebanon, reducing conflict, and countering malign influence.

Conclusion: Why Ortaguss Replacement Matters

Morgan Ortaguss possible replacement is more than just a personnel change. It reflects a potential shift in U.S. policy at a time when clear leadership is desperately needed. Hezbollahs disarmament is a complex and politically sensitive issue, but one that is essential for Lebanons future peace and stability.

Losing Ortaguss firm voice could embolden Hezbollah and its allies to resist disarmament efforts, further destabilizing Lebanon and the region. It could also signal a weakening of U.S. commitment to restoring Lebanons sovereignty and security.

For Lebanon to move forward, the U.S. must maintain strong diplomatic leadership committed to clear goalsespecially the disarmament of armed groups operating outside the states control. The international community, led by Washington, has a responsibility to back Lebanons institutions and support peace.

If the new envoy fails to carry forward Ortaguss firm stance, the result could be a dangerous step backward for Lebanon, the Middle East, and U.S. strategic interests.

Image: Public domain.
The TSAs controversial Quiet Skies surveillance program is under renewed fire after new whistleblower allegations surfaced on May 31 via the Air Marshal National Council (AMNC). According to two separate federal air marshals, the program may be dangerously misdirecting national security resources  targeting pilots and DHS agents. I have reported on Quiet Skies (Q.S.) since Fall 2023 and AMNCs continued efforts to expose the troubling surveillance program.

I spoke with AMNC president Dave Londo and AMNC executive director Sonya LaBosco over the weekend about their newsworthy X post referencing claims reported in May by two separate Federal Air Marshals (FAM) whistleblowers. Londo frequently receives reports from concerned air marshals about the Quiet Skies program.

Londo shared that a longtime FAM reported in early May that he had been assigned to follow a pilot allegedly on the Q.S. watchlist. The FAM stated that his team was assigned to a commercial flight of a U.S. carrier with the Q.S.-watchlisted pilot riding in the jump seat on the outbound flight and occupying the pilots seat on the return flight.

Concerned about the pilots control of the aircraft on the return leg, the FAM said he contacted Incident Coordination Section (ICS) to ask whether he and his team should continue the mission with the pilot now flying the plane. They were instructed to continue the mission without reservation.

At the end of May, another federal air marshal reported that his team had been assigned to surveil and follow a Q.S. watchlisted DHS agent. The DHS ERO employee was deporting an illegal alien on a commercial passenger flight run by a U.S. carrier, a common practice for deportation. Londo commented that TSA seemed to be more preoccupied with the agents Q.S. status than the deportation operation itself.

I asked LaBosco what she would do if she were asked to continue the mission to follow a pilot on a commercial plane. Without hesitation, she stated:

As a retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal, I can say without hesitation: I would have never allowed that plane to take off. It is unconscionable that an airline pilot flagged on TSAs Quiet Skies watchlist, a designation for individuals deemed potential threats, would be allowed to enter the cockpit, lock the door, and take full control of a commercial aircraft. This defies operational logic and undermines the core principles of aviation security. At best, this is gross incompetence. At worst, it raises an even more disturbing question: does TSA know Quiet Skies is an absolute fraud, or are they hiding something truly dangerous from the public, something that could harm American citizens? Either way, this is not risk-based security. Its reckless, performative theater. Passengers deserve transparency, not secret watchlists that result in nonsensical decisions. They deserve accountability, not bureaucratic silence. We are approaching the 24th anniversary of 9/11, a tragedy that changed aviation forever. TSA must be held accountable before its too late.

These new whistleblower concerns follow earlier revelations involving high-profile figures such as the Quiet Skies story involving Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard was confirmed to have been placed on the Q.S. watchlist in August 2024. She was allegedly surveilled as if she had been assigned the 102/DT (domestic terrorist) status.

The 102/DT designation triggers expanded surveillance. According to Londo, a 102 is not supposed to be assigned unless the target has done something to warrant it. Shockingly, Londo says Gabbard had no such official designation but was being surveilled as if she did.

This was the interesting part of the Tulsi Gabbard Quiet Skies debacle. ... When I say full surveillance, that means our FAMS watch the QS person as soon as they get to the airport, follow them and then see how they are getting out of the airport and maybe even beyond. FAMs are required to document everything for the FBI or whoever else is asking for it. ... This was confirmed when Sen. Rand Paul exposed it in a hearing, saying he had seen the reports on her surveillance. They were noting her electronics and monitoring her conversations. There should never have been extensive surveillance on Gabbard.

Quiet Skies is the same program that was weaponized against innocent Americans following the Capitol protests on January 6.

Londo says all J6 defendants were assigned both Q.S. and 102 status. LaBosco exposed the fact that not only was the wife of an active federal air marshal being surveilled in the Quiet Skies program, but her Q.S. paperwork stated that she had been given the 102 designation just because she had been in D.C. She never went to the Capitol on January 6.

In my September 27, 2024 article on the 2018 Quiet Skies program, I exposed the arguable unconstitutionality of the Q.S. program using the governments own Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA):

Thousands of innocent Americans are placed on the Quiet Skies watchlist. Quiet Skies is an illegal, unconstitutional surveillance program that captures personal identifying information and stores that information in the TSAs Transportation Information Sharing System (TISS) for 25 years, according to a 2008 Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) of TISS. The Quiet Skies list is not a No Fly watch list. The No Fly list is allegedly reserved for known or suspected terrorists who are ideally not allowed to board planes. Passengers in the Quiet Skies program are allowed to fly. Nevertheless, [some] passengers in the Quiet Skies programs are often still described as 102 suspect DTs or suspected Domestic Terrorists. The designation begs a rational questionwhy are these people being allowed on planes in the government is so worried about them?

Quiet Skies has materially changed the role of FAM, according to Londo:

We used to cover high-risk flights, not high-risk passengers. That was our original concept of operations (ConOps) because we were only tracking individuals under investigation for terrorism and related offenses. So, we would identify high risk flights, the ones that known terrorists would be on. This ConOps would produce lower special mission numbers than those produced by QS surveillance. After 9/11, we would look at terrorist incidents around the globe to determine the flights they would target and target the same. Quiet Skies turned that around and tripled the number as a result. That is why Quiet Skies has so many fake numbers.

Londo confirms that the Quiet Skies program follows individuals including children, CEOs of prominent American companies, and congressional staffers. FAM are allegedly being assigned to the wrong targets at the expense of keeping Americans safe. To support their claim, Londo and LaBosco cite a 2020 Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report exposing the Q.S. programs failure to ever thwart a terrorist threat. Both believe that critical resources are being squandered on the Q.S. program to impress Congress with elevated fake surveillance numbers as a way to justify funding.

To Londos point, a May 22, 2025 letter from from AMNC to Secretary Noem and acting TSA administrator McNeil highlights the dangers of diverting FAM resources.

The three-page letter (pictured below) identifies two major security incidents on recent U.S. commercial flights, where, in one case, a passenger made a bomb threat, and in another, a passenger had a makeshift weapon, stabbing a member of the flight crew and threatened to hijack the plane. Londo shared that had FAM been assigned to those flights, they would have been heroes because those are the flights we used to track.

Tristan Leavitt, the lead attorney representing FAM whistleblowers for Empower Oversight, also addressed Noem in a May 29, 2025 letter. Leavitt expressed continued frustration that DHS seems to be more focused on retaliating against FAM whistleblowers than addressing the ineffective and unconstitutional surveillance of innocent Americans.

Image: Fletcher via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
If you were to ask any Democrat about germ warfare in the Americas, youd almost surely hear from them about the time that Americans tried to kill Indians with smallpox-infected blankets. After all, its right there in Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States, the most read (and most Marxist) history book in American education. The fact that it was an officer in the British military, not the colonists, who did this once in 1763 is irrelevant. Our nation is tarred.

Given the Democrat obsession with this particular germ warfare (conducted at a time when germ theory didnt exist and, moreover, it was an exercise that almost certainly failed), its peculiar how some of the major Democrat-run media institutions havent been very exercised about a potentially devastating germ-warfare attack two Chinese nationals may have attempted against the United States. Instead, as always, theyre more concerned with attacking Donald Trump.

Image created using AI.

Yesterday, the DOJ issued a press release about a possible biological attack on Americas food supply:

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the Peoples Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. [snip] The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jians and Lius smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon. This noxious fungus causes head blight, a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearums toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock. According to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. The complaint also alleges that Jians electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. It is further alleged that Jians boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into Americathrough the Detroit Metropolitan Airportso that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked.

Given how disastrous the release of Fusarium could have been, one would think that Americas media, always looking for sensational headlines, might have covered the story with some enthusiasm. And yet...they didnt.

Rather than focusing attention on a possible Chinese threat to Americas food cropsand, by extension, to every Americanmany in the media went a different way: They implied that what were witnessing is Donald Trumps monomaniacal effort to drive foreign academics from Americas shores.

Thus, the New York Times offers this narrative approach, beginning at the very top of its article:

U.S. Charges 2 Chinese Students With Smuggling Fungus An arrest by the F.B.I. comes as the Trump administration has promised to crack down on Chinese academics. The Justice Department announced charges on Tuesday against two Chinese researchers accused of trying to smuggle a fungus into the United States, bringing the case as the government pushes to keep more Chinese students out of the country.

The Times was not unique. CNN went the same way, although its a bit more subtle, for it buried the Trump attack deeper in the article:

The charges come as the Trump administration is looking to revoke visas for Chinese students, especially those with alleged connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week. The State Department has zeroed in on any potential wrongdoing from academics across the country in the last several months, including a Harvard researcher accused of smuggling frog embryo remains.

USA Today did the same, ending its article with an extended discussion about the fact that

The criminal charges come amid growing tensions between the United States and China over the Trump administrations visa crackdown on Chinese international students. The Trump administration has ramped up deportations and has targeted international students as part of wide-ranging efforts to fulfill its hardline immigration agenda.

The problem isnt foreigners from hostile nations allegedly knowingly smuggling dangerous biological agents into America. Its that Trump is being mean to academia.

To their credit, not all outlets went this route (see, e.g., ABC and The WaPo). Notably, though, these and other outlets stuck to one-note reporting on a possible biological terrorist attack against the U.S. This was a striking contrast to the mainstream medias hysteria about George Floyd and January 6, when they obsessed endlessly on the subjects regardless of the facts.

Weve seen this refusal to recognize germ warfare before. Early on during the COVID years, conservatives said that China had released COVID from a lab, whether accidentally or not. That, we were told, was a conspiracy theory. Its now a truth universally acknowledged that COVID did, in fact, come from a Chinese lab.

This time around, were being told, not that what allegedly happened is a conspiracy. Instead, the media suggest that we shouldnt pay any attention at all to Chinese nationals risking our food crop, but should, instead, focus on Trump being mean to academia. Once again, our media show that they do not want to inform Americans; they want to manipulate them.
Everything is a cover-up. Nothing you hear is true. At least if it comes out of the mouths of Democrats and their mainstream media sycophants  or flows from their pens or keyboards.

Turns out the Biden administration and the CDC knew the COVID-19 vaccines were dangerous but covered up that knowledge rather than properly inform the public.

Big shock?

Not to most of us.

It also turns out the Biden administration knew cancer-causing chemicals were released into the local environment after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

And it turns out again that they covered that little bit of info up and instead proclaimed everything was A-O.K., nothing to worry about, nothing to see here.

They lied.

Knock me over with a feather.

The media lied about the Russiagate scam and then tried to cover that up.

The media also lied about not having any idea that Biden wasn't in anything but tip-top shape. They have since been covering that up and subsequently flat-out lying about their lack of knowledge and malfeasance.

Shall I go on?

Democrats and their trusted toadies in the lamestream media covered up many pertinent facts about the Jan. 6 insurrection, including the facts surrounding the murder of Ashli Babbitt and the number and reason for other deaths that occurred on that day and shortly thereafter. It now appears that we may soon learn that they have also covered up the identity of the would-be pipe bombers on that date.

Imagine that.

(And, while the Trump administration is unquestionably the most refreshingly transparent in recent memory, it seems likely that even it may be hiding something pertaining to -- and stonewalling the release of -- the Epstein Files.)

And I could go on. And on, And on.

One of the lessons this all should teach us is this: Government is not the answer, at least not to the vast majority of questions.

The following quote, once attributed to George Washington but never confirmed, seems applicable here. If George did not say it, which now seems likely, he should have, as it is indisputably true: "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master."

And those in the legacy media that is supposed to be unbiased and hold the feet of the powerful to the fire? They have long-since chosen sides. They routinely lie and cover for Democrats while sabotaging Republicans at every turn. They are as a crazed conflagration bent on burning down the White House when a Republican inhabits it -- and yet timidly douse themselves when a Democrat resides there.

Try as they might, Democrats and mainstream media types cant cover up who they really are. And, in one sense, thats a shame. Because the view isnt pretty.

Image: Pexels / Pexels License


It was a different China years ago. Ever since the 1990s, the one-party system of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had followed a constitution limiting the countrys president to serving two terms. Traditionally, the outgoing president would introduce a potential successor before that second term ended. The process had worked remarkably well, providing for smooth transitions of power.

However, in 2018, before the second term of President Xi Jinping was to end in 2023, in its annual meeting, the National Peoples CongressChinas parliamentvoted for a change. Either Xi was perceived to be good at his job or he was feared due to the power he wielded, but the parliament approved what was widely regarded as a rubber-stamp vote for the president to serve for life. The motivation for the change was undoubtedly the fear factor as Xi had amassed power not seen since the days of Chairman Mao Zedong.

To promote Xis image and authority further, his name and political ideology were enshrined in the partys constitution - elevating his status to the level of its founder, Chairman Mao. Telling was the fact that, out of 2,964 votes cast on the issue of a lifetime term, only two objections and three abstentions were recorded. Thus, two years after he should have been out of office, Xi remainedand still remains.

As president for life, Xi did fight corruption, punishing over one million party members, which increased his popularity among the people. However, that was soon accompanied by initiatives to clamp down on their personal freedoms.

With time, things can changeand 2018 China is different from 2025 China. Accordingly, the changes between these two dates appear to be impacting upon Xis reign. Three experts on Chinawith very reliable records on which direction the leadership winds in Beijing are blowingsuggest Xis current authority is now nominal and that he may well be stepping down from his lifetime term in office. If so, it sounds much like President Joe Bidens voluntary withdrawal from politics, only one made in China.

The China experts base this read on certain factors such as a resurgence of the sidelined Communist Youth League (CYL) faction, the purging of military figures close to Xi and the omission of the name of Xis father on a memorial honoring him as a communist revolutionary.

Of the above factors, the CYL faction story falls into the category of never calling a previous leader down and out.

The CYL is led by Xis predecessor, Hu Jintao. It was believed Hus political career had been shockingly ended by Xi on October 22, 2022. Xi humiliated Hu when had him unceremoniously pulled from his seat at a CCP meeting by two men who then escorted him out of the building. But on May 19, 2025, Chinese newspapers published articles promoting Hu-era governance principles, suggesting a resurgence of CYL and that Hu is now back politically.

CCP leaders reportedly can no longer tolerate Xi. While Xis wings of authority have supposedly been clipped, it is predicted the CCP will await making an official announcement until the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee. But bets are that the CCP will, like Democrat party leaders did with President Joe Bidens presidential campaign withdrawal, force Xi to make an exit for the good of the party. While a date has not been set yet, it is believed it will be scheduled in August.

It appears once again a political party in powerunwilling to admit its leader is a problem for the countryhas been working quietly behind the scenes to topple him. One would expect as much of the CCP but should not expect it of the Democrat party.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
Would anyone ever suggest naming a ship after Alfred Kinsey? Jimmy Savile? (Well we wouldnt, but leftists clearly would.) Then why Harvey Milk? Call me old-fashioned and anti-progress all you like, but naming ships after prolific pedophiles is always going to be a he** no for me.

According to a report at Military.com, the U.S. Navy will be renaming the USNS Harvey Milk, an oiler ship thats been sailing under the disgraceful name since the Obama years. Per the same report, the order is directly from Pete Hegseth, with the decision being intentional in its timing. Its a fantastic message to the perverts who are used to celebrating this month as Pride: Your sexual perversions and your icons do not deserve recognition, honor, or memorialization.

Its time to go back into the closet where you belong.

Because, outside of the closet is forcing the rest of society, which includes children, to bear witness to your sexual deviancy and degeneracy. I get it that there are fiscal conservatives who are gay, and Im all for them continuing to vote for principles of conservatismthey in no way should ever represent or lead the conservative movementbut their sexual habits are progressive and left, and if were being honest, society as a whole was better when the gays were in the closet.

Just one look at the Glenn Greenwald revelations shows you why these people are more than welcome to support conservative candidates, but they should never be in positions of leadership. Anyone who is doing that behind closed doors, without an ounce of shame, signals how deeply unhealthy and disturbed they are.

Speaking of disturbedback to Milk. Milk was a known predator and pederast who had a sexual appetite for young boys: at the age of 33, Milk was engaged in sexual relations with a young runaway teenager, who was just 16 or 17 years old at the time. If youre like me, you consider thatrape.

Heres more, from Andrea Widburg:

I remember Harvey Milk very well. He was given an other than honoroable discharge from the Navy for homosexual activity. Its important to remember that it was the activity, not the homosexuality, that would get people discharged. He also had a thing for teenage boys and was apparently abusive to them. Finally, after he and the mayor were killed, the gay community in San Francisco went on a violent rampage. It was a fitting memorial for the man.

As Widburg also noted, Milk was given the option of an other than honorable discharge in lieu of a court-martial, so it stands to reason that Milk did not want to be in a courtroom situation with evidence and facts of the allegations.

Harvey Milk was a monster, its a good thing hes gone, and Hegseth is an absolute alpha for erasing Milks name from the side of a naval ship. Bravo Mr. Hegseth!

Image: Public domain.
Donald Trumps tariff plan wasnt a trade war at its inception (or maybe it was), but as it has been rolled out, it has definitely taken on a trade war-type turn, particularly with China.

As I wrote in my opinion piece a few days ago, Donald Trump understood Chinas 100-year dream, instituted in 1948, to overtake America as the economic and military hegemony on Earth that America has been for at least a hundred years or more.

The tariff response from allied nations are skirmishes, no doubt, but they were rolled out all-at-once on Liberation Day to serve two purposes;

One: to rebalance our trade deficit. Some of our doing (overconsumption), some not (import tariffs and export trade barriers).

Two: to force allies, fringe allies, and adversaries to make a choice -- America or China.

This [trade] war with China was necessary.

Now.

War is seldom a decision one takes lightly, but there are causes that are just. Our respective economic trajectories could have very easily seen China put our supply chain for critical components that serve critical infrastructure, prescription drugs, rare earths, and other material goods into a stranglehold, while simultaneously using our money to build up their military.

Whats needed to win [this] war is leadership and resolve. I believe that Donald Trump, Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick and the rest of the Cabinet are the right leadership to manage this conflict.

The challenge for the president is Americas resolve.

Hes resolved. His team is resolved. His America First followers are resolved. The challenge for the president is whether a plurality of the American people can (or will) withstand some short-term market disruption in order to allow the tariff policies time (and resolve) to succeed.

China has been pursuing their dream for more than 76 years, and in my opinion was only a short time away from achieving the economic and military success that they had worked towards for three quarters of a century. We are three months into this fight, and while the American people are generally onboard, the Democrat left and the legacy media would [seemingly] rather China win, than for Donald Trump to claim victory. Even if it means that America and Americans would suffer by our loss.

A China win and a full-throated denunciation of President Trump by congressional Democrats and their media sycophants would be bad for America, but good [electorally] for Democrats.

We (the faithful) need to stand strong with the president and show more resolve than those who would burn it all down to rule over the ashes.

Americas future depends on us winning this [trade] war. If we lose and the trajectory of our two nations proceeds, China will achieve their long-sought dream. America will be brought to heel.

I do not want my children and grandchildren functioning as vassal serfs of a Chinese global superpower.

Our fight (if you choose to accept it) is to defeat China and the American left. Now.

Image: Screen shot from Pixabay video // Pixabay License
June 4, 2025: A new American government took power this year. The first order of business was to make good on their campaign pledge to root out inefficiency, corruption and waste. The small organization created to do this was called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Identifying the problems was easy, that had been done many times before. The problem was enacting the reforms. Organizations and their employees targeted for reassignment or dismissal resisted. While public opinion favored the reforms, those losing their job went to court. The court proceedings slowed things down but largely failed to stop DOGE.

Over the last eighty years the U.S. government has grown enormously. As it grew it became less efficient. This was another example of work expanding to fill the time allocated for it. For example, during World War II the U.S. had seven four-star generals commanding twelve million soldiers to victory. Now there are 44 four-star generals commanding less than tenth of the manpower used in World War II. Since the 1990s, with the Cold War over and military forces reduced throughout the West. The number of generals and admirals remained relatively stable. In 1989 there were eleven four-star generals. By 2025 there were 26 commanding fewer troops.

It's always been a problem deciding if there are too many generals and admirals in the American military, or are there? In 2010 the leadership in the U.S. Department of Defense sought to do something remarkable; reduce the number of flag officers, as generals and admirals were referred to collectively.

This reduction was part of a plan to deal with sharp budget cuts. American troops were pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan and much less was being spent on those conflicts. This seemed to present an opportune time to reduce the number of flag officers by about five percent. Some cuts were made but then those lost flag officer jobs slowly reappeared.

On closer examination it was discovered that there werent just more flag officers but more officers in general. And some of the reasons for that were very practical. Higher rank had become a recruiting and retention tool. The number of these senior officers was not the main problem, but how they were used. For example, during World War II, a lot more technology was adopted by the military, and that required some hard-to-get and expensive talent to supervise development, operation and maintenance. The military can't use many cash incentives, but it can offer rank and all the flattery and respect that goes with it. This works in commercial firms and politics, and it worked in the military.

But another cause for the growing number of senior officers is bureaucratic rot. This is a phenomenon in all large organizations, be they commercial or government. The United States did not have a large peacetime military until the late 1940s. This was in response to the threat posed by the Cold War with the Russian Soviet Union and its allies. While usually lean and efficient when created, organizations tend to grow bloated and less efficient as they increase in size and age. Additional layers of command make it more difficult to get anything done, even for strong willed people at the top of the command pyramid. The Department of Defense was not immune to the disease, and efforts to impose a cure have not succeeded.

Another problem was an unintended side-effect of the 1980s Goldwater-Nichols Act which dramatically reformed the Joint Chiefs of Staff system and other Defense Department organizational matters. One of its chief aims was to eliminate expensive and harmful inter-service rivalry. There are increasing complaints that the flag rank career-making and promotion system it created have resulted in few, if any, officers being promoted to flag rank if their leadership emphasis is warfighting as opposed to bureaucratic politics.

All this was ignored until 2025 when a new U.S. government got behind the DOGE effort that was applied to the military as well as other government agencies. All these organizations had become over-staffed and less efficient the larger they became. There were more procedures and more people involved in making decisions. For example, during the war in Afghanistan there was a period when airstrikes required the approval of a Department of Defense lawyer before the attack could be made. This didnt last long but it served as an example of how bad things could get.

While lawyer approval for airstrikes was eliminated, most other procedures remained and some became more complex. This required larger staffs and took more time to get anything done. There were few complaints. There was more work to do and more jobs for ambitious officers on their way to becoming generals. But with more people doing more work it was more difficult and time consuming to get things done. If war broke out this administrative bloat would fade as demands for winning battles overwhelmed any desire to have a large staff. The lean and mean survived while the bloated and sluggish were less successful.

While the United States is not currently at war, the DOGE program intends to make the military more capable of fighting and winning. This was done by trimming unneeded staffs and bloated organizations too sluggish to get the job done. Another target for DOGE was procurement and replacing more expensive equipment created just for the military with cheaper alternatives. There are often more efficient civilian software systems that can do military work faster. Moreover, the civilian software is more frequently updated, and problems are fixed in hours or days rather than weeks or months.

Defense firms that produce custom software for the military warn that civilian software is not secure or specialized enough for the military. Often the defense firms accept the reality of the situation and adopt the commercial software and add modifications required for military use. They then maintain the militarized software, especially if it now contains classified features.

The hardest task for DOGE is dealing with personnel issues. Especially the excessive number of flag officers. The historical pattern of growth in senior leadership is obvious. At the end of World War II, there were 5,400 troops for each admiral or general. By the end of the Cold War in 1991, there were 3,400 troops for every admiral or general. Despite the reduced size of the American military in the 1990s, by the 21st Century there were about 3,000 troops for each of these senior officers. This made it more difficult to get things done because more senior officers meant more layers of bureaucracy you had to go through to get a decision made.

In World War II there were fewer than ten layers of bureaucracy between most soldiers or sailors and the top military commanders. Now there are over twenty layers and the number is increasing. Much effort has been put into making decisions more quickly using better communications and powerful software. There have been some successful efforts to mitigate the damage inflicted by all those layers. One of these was the establishment of regional combatant commands where one senior general or admiral was the senior leader for all the forces in his theater and had a lot of autonomy on how to use them.

It's not just problems with too many generals and admirals. The ratio of all troops to all officers has gone from about ten to one in 1945, to six to one today. This ratio varies from service to service. In the Marines the ratio is 8.8:1, the Navy is close behind at 7:1, trailed by the army's 6.1:1, and the Air Force, with an extraordinarily low ratio of only 4.4:1, just half that of the marines. The low Air Force ratio is due to the large number of pilots and the high proportion of very technical jobs.

The enormous growth in technical jobs, and the difficulty in recruiting and keeping the needed technical personnel has led to more officer jobs, and cash bonuses for both officers and enlisted personnel in hard to fill slots. Supply and demand keep these officer jobs, or cash bonuses, in play. Many of the additional admirals and generals oversee very technical operations that require a lot of skill and experience to carry out. Sometimes the military cannot find qualified people to fill these jobs. Instead, they just assign it to an available general or admiral and hope for the best.

Another problem is that cutting positions for admirals and generals is complicated by the fact that these are the men and, increasingly, women who make the decisions about who gets cut. Any effort to cut the fat in the senior ranks faces a lot of opposition from the organizations involved as well other flag officers. Leadership and management issues aside, the bean counters know that each senior officer position eliminated will save several million dollars. The salary and benefits for the senior officer is only a small part of this. The big expense is for the staff, fringe benefits and office space required to show the proper respect. But its not just about money, it's about leadership, and sometimes less is more.
Over the last month, we've seen an attack on Governor Josh Shapiro's home, the killing of a young couple in D.C., and now a Molotov cocktail thrown at people peacefully protesting. By the way, what do these incidents have in common? The targets are all Jewish and the guy in Boulder, Colorado somehow managed to get a work permit after his visa expired.

Where else is stuff like this happening? Let's check out Brussels, once a very traditional European city that tourists loved to visit. Well, check again because Brussels may be exhibit A of Europes disintegration and where uncontrolled immigration is running wild.

This is from Drieu Godefridi:

Brussels, the self-proclaimed capital of the European Union, is no longer the beacon of a united Europe, but an advanced symptom of its disintegration. The normalization of radical Islamic and anti-Semitic discourse we are witnessing in Brussels is the result of 15 years of leaders abrogating their responsibility. Brussels, through its inability --- or unwillingness -- to make unpleasant but necessary choices, is setting itself up as the first potential locus of protracted European unrest. The Islamist Team Fouad Ahidar party embodies a new situation: a political Islam that no longer hides its identity. Instead, it advocates that a religious identity be the underpinning of national cohesion. This fragmentation reflects a profound breakdown in the social contract, between the old European society, which confines religion to the private sphere, and the "new Europeans" (Muslims), who want everything to be subject to their religious doctrine. Crime rates are rising everywhere in Brussels, particularly in an area in the spotlight for its frequent shootings: the Bruxelles-Midi Zone (Saint-Gilles, Forest, Anderlecht). Between 2022 and 2023, notes the newspaper L'Echo, robberies and extortion rose by 23%, robberies without weapons by 34%, pickpocketing by 27%, and armed robberies by a staggering 53%. Jew-hatred, often marketed in unconvincing, transparent disguises as "anti-Zionism," flourishes in many other Islamic-centered and radical left-wing circles.... in Brussels, Jew-hatred enjoys almost total impunity. As of 2023, 74% of Brussels' population is of foreign background, compared to a European average of 10%... This demographic transformation or "great replacement," far from being accompanied by an effective integration policy, has saturated Brussels -- overcrowded schools, overwhelmed hospitals, sorely inadequate housing -- and exacerbated communal tensions. In 2022, a report revealed that 35% of young people with an immigrant background in Brussels were living in households where nobody has a job -- a breeding ground for delinquency and radicalization. Brussels is not only a city in crisis, it is a city on the brink of implosion.

Jew hatred? No kidding. It's more than that. It's what happens when societies don't reproduce and eventually have to bring in people to do the work. It makes matters worse when the new kid on the block doesn't respect your culture and is committed to undermine it. Chaos is the word.

The bad news is that Brussels is no longer Brussels. The good news is that this is our "ghost of the future," the warning that it does not have to happen here. It does not have to happen here if we commit ourselves to preserving the West and what it stands for.

Yes, it is a battle of civilizations and cultures and we need to be ready for the fight.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
Something awful has happened to Britain. The nation that gave us all a hero (Winston Churchill) in democracys darkest hour, and survived the Nazi blitz of London and Coventry, and impossibly rescued its Falkland Islands from invasion by a dictator  yes, that Great Britain  has disappointingly gone woke to an extreme. Britons are literally languishing in British prisons because a neighbor disliked their conservative political postings on social media. The island is being overrun by illegal aliens who hate the West and who murder British children. Years of warnings from the likes of British patriots Nigel Farage and Konstantin Kisin seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

One might think that all is lost, that our mother country has no more Churchills to lead her out of this new darkest hour. But one could well be wrong.

There is a series of short videos on a Facebook page, The Stoic English , that I find inspiring. Even though I have not a drop of British blood in my body (full disclosure: I do have a British son-in-law), I feel an urge to salute the Union Jack, or at least its spirit. One video in particular is themed  Youve Forgotten What You Are .

It is a call to duty, an encouragement to overcome, to eschew despair, and to practice the virtues that made Great Britain great and will do so again. The upper lip remains stiff. Increasingly large numbers of people are answering that call for renewal.

One need not be British by blood to feel the sense of duty  if not to the crown, then certainly to the ideals that transformed a tiny island of feuding lords into a worldwide empire that changed the planet for the better.

Whereas woke historians decry colonialism, the videos point out that, despite its flaws, the British Empire cast out despots who were tormenting their own people and gave those people more freedom and prosperity than ever they had had before.

As an American, I take great pride in our Constitution and in the courage of our forebears while also remembering that our Founders took full advantage of their British heritage in modeling our system after theirs. The Magna Carta was an important step along the path to representative government. To this day, English law pre-Revolution remains valid precedent in American courts.

The British, by the way, are not the only people who have found themselves on the edge of a cliff. In the tragically woke European Union, there are strong movements in Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland, and elsewhere to resist the immigration of people who hate them. Being pushed too far, many are seeking to restore their governments to the role of servanthood, not taskmasters.

Vice President Vance gave a speech in Europe that was highly criticized by wokesters but applauded by many Europeans who are encouraged to have someone of his stature speak up for them.

What is at stake for Europe and the British Commonwealth (with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) is not merely some arcane policy issue, but survival itself. When any nation loses control of its borders, it loses its culture, its very soul. Once that is gone, its laws, its history, and its heritage are all forfeit. The children and grandchildren of such nations will grow up not knowing what it is to be British or Dutch or Hungarian, etc., but instead will find themselves surrounded by, and ruled over by, people whose language and customs are imposed on them by hostile actors who will despoil all that was good in their countries.

In 1776, the Redcoats came, and we fought them off. This time, as they increasingly remember who they are, they may join us, to preserve what we all fought for, and to join together with all who love freedom.

Image via Pxhere.
RealClearPolitics reports that for upper-level government employees, the Trump administration is developing an 80-hour training program on the Constitution. So now, instead of the lefts sensitivity training classes, et al., we will now have the rights classes on the Constitution.

With all due respect, to the extent that such training may address partisan issues of constitutional interpretation, this is a terrible idea.

Would there be partisan issues? Certainly with issues of constitutional interpretation, there would be. But what do upper-level federal employees need to know about constitutional interpretation? Their task is not to interpret, but to implement.

If there are partisan issues in the course, they may be found in the editing  that is, in which provisions are addressed and which are not. Is there perhaps such a conflict as that?

If the standard procedure for implementing such programs is followed, we will never know.

The only way we will know is if such standard procedure is not followed, and 40 of the 80 hours, and equivalent funding, is delegated to the congressional leadership of the Democrat party, the Democratic National Committee, or some other element of the Democratic leadership.

If such element declines, then we can conclude that there is no partisan element. If it accepts, then the federal employees will have a real education.

In such classes, on issues of dispute, each side could present its own perspective and comment on or criticize points made by the opposing side. If there is testing, then each will compose one half of the questions. The questions would not go to which side is right or not, but would simply go to the content of the arguments and counter-arguments made by each side of instructors. Which side is right should be left for the government employees to decide for themselves.

If the administration gets a choice of subject of governmental administration, and chooses the Constitution, then its opponents  if it engages in such issue  should have the option of choosing an additional subject of its own preference. If the administration chooses the Constitution, then the opponents might choose the issue of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, AKA DIE (or DEI).

If Trump really wants to increase understanding of the Constitution, or if Democrats really want to increase understanding of DIE, in either case, the best way to do this is not by monopolizing the instruction  AKA, indoctrination, regardless of the instruction in it is true or false  but by splitting the instruction between opposing instructors. As trial lawyers have long understood, the most engaging part of any trial is not the examination of the litigating parties by their respective attorneys, but the cross-examination  the examination of them by the opposing attorneys.

And since both sides believe that their own position is correct, both sides would presumably welcome such an approach, in which, through argument (or the refusal by one of the sides to participate), such correctness could be confirmed.

In such a way, Trump would transcend any charges of abuse of power. And if his position proves to be the stronger one, he will have promoted it all the more effectively. So its a win-win  unless, of course, his favored position proves to be the weaker. Then its a win-lose. (Although, for the country, it would still be a win-win.)

And it would likely be a long-term win-win, for once such an approach has been established, it would hard for any future president putting forth a partisan training program to explain why he is not using it.

The First Amendment asserts, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

The same principle applies to establishing a tax-funded government ideology, even if it is otherwise faithful to the Constitution itself. If that principle can be taught at all, it will most effectively be done so not by words, but by example. Tax-funded training classes in which only one side of a partisan subject is authorized and funded to train is not such an example. Classes in which conflicting sides are equally authorized to do so are. As ever, the medium is the message.

Bert Peterson holds a J.D.; he has a modest website currently addressing the issue of voting in a democracy at 4thofjuly.info.

Image via Pxfuel.
For four years, since Derek Chauvin was tried in a kangaroo court and convicted, I have been working with support from prominent investigative journalist, editor, and author, Jack Cashill, to right this wrong. We are committed to justice for the four officers involved in the May 25, 2020, death of felon George Floyd, who died from a cardiac arrest due to a bad heart while resisting arrest.

Floyd was not murdered. The officers on the sceneChauvin, Tou Thau, Alex Kueng, and Thomas Lane were doing their job according to Minneapolis Police Department policy, directives, and training, not committing a crime. Thankfully, the last three months have seen numerous positive developments for our position and efforts to reverse the officers convictions.

The mob surrounding the courthouse the day before jury selection in Derek Chauvins trial, by Chad Davis. CC BY 2.0.

Big deal number one: the medical examiners troubling testimony

I have written many times in American Thinker and elsewhere that Chauvin and his colleagues are innocent. They did not kill George Floyd. Floyd died from cardiac arrest while being restrained. The excitement, stimulation, and exertionnot to mention the methamphetaminesput an unbearable strain on a huge man with severe heart disease. The officers could only see his size, not his heart.

I have detailed elsewhere how Dr. Roger Mitchell, a black activist and then the DC medical examiner, put pressure on Hennepin County Medical Examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker to change his original autopsy conclusions. I recorded on video two demonstrations to emphasize that the prone restraint used by the MPD was chosen as policy because it was appropriate, not lethal or harmful. Those interested can see one of the videos here.

Judge Peter Cahill, who presided over Chauvins trial, knew about Mitchells coercion and Bakers inexplicably changed conclusions, thanks to (a) a memorandum by Hennepin County prosecutor Patrick Lofton and (b) a memorandum about Mitchells role compiled by the Minnesota state attorneys office. Lofton went on record on the same day as the autopsy. The Mitchell memorandum was recorded and dated November 5, 2020. Astonishingly, Mitchell boasted to the state attorneys how he threatened Baker into changing his diagnosis. These key memoranda are public records. If I have them, so must Judge Cahill, but he has ignored them.

Big deal number twotroubling testimony about the restraint issue

Alpha News produced the documentary Fall of Minneapolis two years ago. It was based on a 2020 book by reporter Liz Collin called, Theyre Lying. Collin implied that Police Chief Medaria Arredondo and Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell committed perjury when they testified under oath that Chauvin used a restraint not approved by the MPD. In the Fall of Minneapolis, we see Derek Chauvins frustrated mother sitting in the courtroom with a copy of the training manual that showed images of the restraint her son used.

In 2024, Ms. Blackwell sued Collin and Alpha News for defamation. That was a big mistake. In a hearing on a motion for dismissal of Blackwells suit earlier this year, attorney Chris Madel showed Judge Ed Wahl the relevant training materials. He also gathered testimony from some 33 Minnesota Police Department officers who claimed to have been trained to use the same technique Chauvin used on Floyd.

So compelling was Madels presentation that Judge Wahl granted the motion to dismiss and added a blistering critique of Blackwell. In granting Madels motion, Wahl required Blackwell to admit that her lawsuit was unwarranted, sign a declaration that Alpha and Collin had not defamed her, and pay Madels $75,000 fee.

BIIIIG deal number 3

A pardon for Chauvin, unthinkable just a year ago, has been gathering support among high-profile conservatives. Of more immediate importance is Harmeet Dhillons appointment to head up the US DOJs Civil Rights division. Dhillon and her colleagues Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Ed Martin have all set their sights on undoing the Biden-era weaponization of justice to wage a war on cops.

A federal pardon would only work for the gratuitous civil rights convictions all four officers endured, but a DoJ investigation could not ignore the prosecutorial misconduct and judicial deck-stacking prevalent in the state and federal cases against all four of the accused. A DoJ investigation will inevitably expose the perfidy and create a completely different power dynamic.

Violating these citizens civil rights under the color of law can create problems for state attorneys and judges, including criminal problems. Recent news has been encouraging, but the Trump DoJ will face a stubborn racialist infrastructure, propped up by a governor who would like nothing better than to lead the resistance. As Derek Chauvin learned the hard way, Minnesotans arent nearly as nice as they say they are.

John Dale Dunn is a 50-year emergency and corrections physician and a 40-year attorney in Brownwood, Texas.
Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thought to be launching sometime in July, according to the latest rumors, but its still unclear what the company will choose for the devices colors, at least, it was, until a new leak has shed some light on that front. This also comes after a leak about the colors for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE that appeared this morning.

Alongside the leak for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, theres now a third leak concerning the Galaxy Z Flip 7. As well as an additional leak with the actual color names of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. All four leaks come from Mystery Lupin on X, who is quite well-known for leaking details like this.

Leak says Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 7 will come in four colors

Its worth noting that Samsung could always change things, but for now, it looks like Samsung is going to be releasing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in four colors at launch, according to Mystery Lupin. Unlike the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE leak from this morning, however, these colors now have names.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be available in Coral Red, Silver Shadow, Blue Shadow, and Jetblack. The colors arent the only thing mentioned, either. The phone is rumored to come in three storage and RAM variants. This includes 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models for storage. Both the 256GB and 512GB models will come with 12GB of RAM, while the 1TB model bumps the RAM up to 16GB.

This should look pretty standard, as its what Samsung offers on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and its also whats offered on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. So, theres little reason for Samsung to change things when its been working. Color names and storage options have also been revealed for the other phones in the lineup.

The flip models seem to have fewer color options

This mornings leak revealed that Samsung would be offering black and white colors for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, but that leak didnt have names for either color. In the earlier leak, the colors were merely represented by black and white circle emojis in the tweet.

Now, however, the color names are actually listed as black and white. These are the only two colors listed, suggesting that Samsung may not offer more than these two for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. It also appears as if Samsung may offer just two colors of the normal Galaxy Z Flip 7. They are named differently, though. The post says these will be called Blue Shadow and White Black. Additionally, storage and RAM capacities are slightly different from the Fold model.

Interestingly, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE will only be offered with 128GB or 256GB of storage. Each variant will come with 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy Z Flip 7 will have the same 8GB/128GB model, but it will bump the 256GB model to 12GB of RAM, and offer a third storage variant with 512GB for those who need or want more storage space. Keep in mind that these are all still just rumors, so take them with a pinch of salt. Having said that, Mystery Lupin tends to be on the money with these kinds of details. Which means, this is probably what consumers are looking at for choices.
There isnt really a one-size-fits-all mobile plan. This is because we all have different needs. For instance, a teen might prioritize having data more than having minutes. So, if youre a senior citizen looking for a plan that caters to your needs, you might want to take a look at the new AT&T 55+ Plan.

AT&T senior citizen plan

AT&T has announced the launch of a new plan targeting senior citizens. Its called the AT&T 55+ Plan and is aimed its more senior (in age) customers.

According to Jenifer Robertson, executive vice president & GM, AT&T Mass Markets, At AT&T, we recognize the importance of addressing the unique needs of our 55 and better audiencea demographic that values simplicity and seamless connectivity in todays fast-paced digital world. Our customers remain at the center of everything we do. By listening to their needs and challenges, we recognized their growing desire for reliable and affordable connectivityall delivered with ease.

So, what can users expect from this plan? For starters, it is priced at $40 a month for one line, or $35 a month for two lines.

Alternatively, theres a bundled plan that costs $99 a month. Customers will get two wireless lines along with either AT&T Internet 300 or AT&T Internet Air. The plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Theres also 10GB of hotspot data if you need to connect devices like a laptop or tablet.

AT&T is also including its ActiveArmor service. This helps block spam and scams. Lastly, the carrier says that the plan is backed by the AT&T Guarantee.

Other competing plans

AT&T isnt alone in offering a plan specifically for seniors. In fact, the company had previously offered seniors a discounted plan at $62 a month. However, it was only available in Florida. Other carriers are offering senior plans, such as T-Mobile, whose Essential Choice 55 plan costs $60 a month.

Then theres Verizons 55+ plan, which is priced at $62 a month or $84 a month for two lines. This means that AT&Ts plans are currently the cheapest. However, we should point out that Verizon and T-Mobiles plans have more data, so thats something to consider.
The world of tech, like every big industry, is no stranger to fierce competition. But sometimes, that rivalry spills over from the market into the courtroom. The latest news sees Chinese display giant BOE taking a significant legal step by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Display in the United States. At the heart of this dispute are the innovative displays found in Samsungs popular Galaxy Z Fold series.

The main reason for the lawsuit is Samsungs under-display camera (UPC) OLED technology. This is a key component allowing for an uninterrupted main screen on the Galaxy Z Fold phones. BOE alleges that the South Korean giant infringed four of its patents by implementing said technology. This isnt just a minor squabble. It targets a cutting-edge feature that Samsung has heavily promoted in its premium foldable devices.

BOE files lawsuit against Samsung Display; Are Galaxy Z Fold phones in danger?

Now, if youre thinking this sounds like a complex web of legal maneuvering, youd be right. This lawsuit from BOE isnt happening in a vacuum. It seems to be a counter-move, or even a strategic response, to a series of previous legal actions initiated by Samsung Display against BOE. Samsung had, on multiple occasions, accused BOE of patent infringements and even trade secret misappropriation. Many of them were related to OLED technology and the alleged poaching of its employees.

Essentially, this could be BOEs way of pushing back against Samsungs legal pressure. Some industry experts suggest that this goes beyond just defending intellectual property. BOEs lawsuit might also serve to enhance its market image, especially within China. The movement could help demonstrate its assertiveness in protecting its innovations.

Dont expect immediate impact

For consumers and fans of the Galaxy Z Fold series, the immediate impact of this lawsuit is likely to be minimal. Patent infringement cases, particularly those involving complex display technologies, are notorious for dragging on for years through the legal system. This means that the production and sales of Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold devices wont face any immediate disruptions. You should still be able to get your hands on the latest foldable tech without issue.

However, this legal battle highlights the intense competition and the importance of intellectual property in the fast-evolving display industry, especially in the cutting-edge realm of foldable screens. Well be keeping an eye on this case as it unfolds, as it could have broader implications for the future of the industry.
If there is one reason why its bad to have a single chip maker dominate the Android market, it would be this: a flaw in the chip could affect millions of devices at once. Qualcomm faced this scenario, but thankfully, the company was quick with its fixes, as it issued security patches to close a zero-day exploit.

Qualcomm fixes zero-day flaw

The company claims Googles Threat Analysis Group notified it about several vulnerabilities affecting its Adreno GPUs.

There are indications from Google Threat Analysis Group that CVE-2025-21479, CVE-2025-21480, CVE-2025-27038 may be under limited, targeted exploitation. Patches for the issues affecting the Adreno Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) driver have been made available to OEMs in May together with a strong recommendation to deploy the update on affected devices as soon as possible.

The first two vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-21479 and CVE-2025-21480, were reported to Qualcomm by Google back in January. This covered incorrect authorization to the GPUs graphics framework. This vulnerability, if exploited, would have led to memory corruption. As for the third flaw, CVE-2025-27038, it is a use-after-free bug. This is another form of memory corruption. It causes an app to continue to use the devices memory even after it has been freed.

Unclear which devices are affected

Qualcomm does not mention which devices are affected. But if you use a phone with a Qualcomm chipset, make sure to update to the latest security patch when it is issued by your phones OEM. This is because of Androids open-source nature, in which device manufacturers issue the necessary patches.

As TechCrunch points out, this means that depending on your phone brand/model, you could be left out in the cold longer than others. Google also confirmed to the publication that its lineup of Pixel phones isnt affected by these vulnerabilities.

This is because Googles more recent Pixel phones are powered by the companys own Tensor chipsets. These chipsets are said to be based on Samsungs Exynos chips, not Qualcomms, so these vulnerabilities do not affect them.
Samsungs Galaxy S25 Edge is the companys thinnest phone to date, and a teardown of the device gives us a better look at how Samsung managed to squeeze all that tech into a thinner and lighter package. Samsung gave the public a look into its methods last month when it put out a blog post on the device. In this post, the company briefly explained how it was able to achieve this design that it refers to as beyond slim.

A big part of Samsungs achievement comes down to a new mounting method that allowed it to place components with precision down to 0.1mm. Samsung also likely slimmed down a few components, but overall, this really doesnt properly visualize how things were made so slim. A Galaxy S25 Edge teardown should do a good job of showing how Samsung was able to fit all the pieces together.

A teardown of the Galaxy S25 Edge reveals where Samsung slimmed down components

If youve been curious to see just where exactly Samsung made this phone thinner, the teardown done by Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything on YouTube) should shed a little bit of light on the build. While much of the inside looks similar to that of Samsungs Galaxy S25 Ultra, Nelsons teardown shows that Samsung does alter a few things.

For example, its using a thinner vibrator motor for the loudspeaker, which Nelson says is a start to slimming down the device. Obviously, this one change wouldnt help Samsung shave off those extra millimeters. There are other alterations to the design, though.

Its also mentioned that Samsung isnt using a standalone housing for the connector pins of the 25W USB-C port. Instead, it saved space by removing the housing and having the Titanium frame act as the housing for the USB-C connector pin. Again, this is a minor change. Its one part of a whole that allowed Samsung to fully realize its slimmest phone ever. Its also an interesting look into Samsungs process and into all of the steps that went into slimming down the phone.

Nelson also points out that Samsung removed a portion of the aluminum frame from the inside that would sit between the vapor chamber and the phones processors. Making this yet another section of the phone that Samsung removed to get the Galaxy S25 Edge down to its 5.8mm frame. All in all, this isnt a full, step-by-step breakdown of everything Samsung went through to slim down the phone. Then again, a video like that would likely be quite long. You can view the JerryRigEverything teardown of the phone below if you want to view the whole thing.
by Austin Bay June 3, 2025

Bravo to Ukraine for its "New Model Trojan Horse."

Homer's Greek warriors slipped from a wooden horse to open Troy's gates and start the bloodbath that ended a 10-year war.

Ukraine cleverly and stealthily shipped wooden crates deep inside Russian territory, 1,500 kilometers into Siberia. The truck-borne crates were finally positioned a short suicide drone flight from scores of Russian bombers parked on airbases -- airbases no doubt protected from long-range aircraft and missile attacks, but unprepared for a "close in" drone attack.

Reports indicate up to 40 nuclear-capable bombers were destroyed or damaged, as well as at least one airborne warning and control plane.

A fabulous and effective surprise attack that seriously degrades Russia's ability to deliver nuclear weapons, large bomb loads and long-range attack missiles not only in the Kremlin's war on Ukraine but against any adversary -- NATO, Japan, U.S. But also China. China covets Siberia.

Degrades, but doesn't stop. Russia can still bombard Ukraine, so the Trojan drones won't end this war with a quick coup de grace.

That attack, however, was a brilliant operational success dealing Russia a significant military defeat. Vladimir Putin also suffers a deep political wound.

That said, hyperbolic praise from major media calling the attack totally new and revolutionary misses the key point -- and misses badly.

Indeed, Ukraine employed relatively new technology -- inexpensive armed drones launched and guided by digital systems. Yes, Ukraine used tactical (short-range) weapons to destroy Russian strategic platforms (long-range, strategic bombers).

The tech was vital, but it wasn't the decisive factor -- like Israel's Grim Beeper operation, stealth made Ukraine's drone victory possible.

Israel's Grim Beeper attacks used 21st-century technology to conduct precision sniper attacks that killed or maimed key Hezbollah leaders with the punch of a button.

The tech was fantastic. But the stealth was excellent throughout the operations, from manufacturing the devices to placing them in Hezbollah's supply chain while convincing Hezbollah's paranoid leaders to buy the beepers. That detailed, careful covert effort set the conditions for the pinpoint tech ambush that strategically devastated the terrorist group's political and military command structure.

Grim Beeper also sent this message: Everyone can be targeted remotely -- possibly hundreds of kilometers distant, and the attacker doesn't have to place his personnel and high-end offensive delivery systems (e.g., jet aircraft) in peril. The targeting can be very precise (an individual) and collateral damage minimal, compared to an aircraft-delivered one-ton bomb.

The attacker, however, has to get the gee-whiz technology into the target area. It took the Israelis years to design and position the Grim Beepers.

Ukraine reports its intelligence service worked on Operation Spiderweb for about two years. Consider the complex mission and the absolute secrecy and operational security required: designing and testing special containers, identifying high-value targets, smuggling the containers and drones into Russia, finding Russian trucks capable of carrying the containers, and then recruiting (or duping) truck drivers to move the containers up to 2,000 kilometers by road without discovery to launch the drones and badly damage strategic bombers the Russian dictatorship thought were secure in distant Siberia or isolated northern Russia.

Big airbases and big commercial airports are vulnerable to attack. In a column published Dec. 24, 2024, I used the media's Great Drone Hysteria as a news hook to discuss terrorist or enemy adversary drone strikes inside the U.S.

Here's the December 2024 scenario:

"I'm by Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Texas. You're outside Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota. The drones pass right over us. They're both the size of a two-seat Cessna and they carry bombs with small, smart, cheap and individually targetable munitions. In the next 45 seconds, the drones fly over the air bases. Their munitions disable a half-dozen B1B Lancer strategic bombers -- six at each airbase.

"Who launched the drones? A cartelista paid $200,000? A graduate student majoring in Marxist economics?

"The Big Picture: The two short-range and inexpensive tactical drone air strikes launched from U.S. soil have severely damaged American strategic offensive air power.

"Meanwhile, Communist China launches an attack on Taiwan.

"Have I written a novel? No. I've written a first strike war scenario that utilizes already available technology."

Ukraine pulled it off -- against tyrannical Putin's Russia. Bravo.
The boss of Brent Cross and Bull Ring shopping centre owner Hammerson has revealed plans to step down in 2026 after five years in the top job.

Rita-Rose Gagne will stay in post as chief executive for the next 12 months while the group hunts for her successor and to ensure a smooth handover.

She took on the role in November 2020, joining from global real estate company Ivanhoe Cambridge, where she was president of growth markets.

Robert Noel, chairman of Hammerson, praised Ms Gagnes outstanding leadership and immense contribution to the firm.

He said: She has driven a substantial turnaround, transforming and strengthening Hammerson into the largest UK-listed, pure-play owner and manager of prime retail and leisure anchored city destinations.

Ms Gagne said now was the right time to pass on the baton and retire from the firm.

In 2026 I will have been with Hammerson for an incredible five years, during which time I have been privileged to work with our talented teams to transform our culture, balance sheet and portfolio, returning the business to growth, she said.

With the business in great shape, a strong team, and significant opportunities ahead, it is an exciting time for Hammerson and the right time for me to pass on the baton, she added.

A trained lawyer, Ms Gagnes early career saw her work as a senior partner at global law firm Fasken, covering real estate, infrastructure, corporate mergers and acquisitions.

Hammerson owns a raft of retail sites and real estate in the UK, Ireland and France, also including Cabot Circus in Bristol and Westquay in Southampton.

It saw underlying earnings fall 15% to 99 million last year after it offloaded some retail assets, including its stake in Bicester Village owner Value Retail to private equity firm L Catterton, backed by French luxury good giant LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy).

It booked a 497 million impairment in the first half of 2024 due to the sale, despite banking 595 million in cash from the deal.

The group at the time cheered a transformative year after the Bicester Village stake sale, which has allowed it to focus on its urban retail real estate and reduce debts.
Helping others stay healthy is one of the smartest ways to protect ourselves - Andrew Redington/Getty Images

This week, the Chancellor received a letter from those who know the NHS inside out with a plea to think again about international aid.

It was signed by Presidents of diaspora health associations from across the UK, representing thousands of overseas-born healthcare workers serving in our NHS. Their message was clear: if the UK retreats further from its global health commitments, we all lose.

These are not lobbyists or idealists. Theyre doctors, nurses and specialists on the front line of British healthcare. They understand the hard economics of government budgets. But they also understand something the Treasury may be in danger of missing: global health isnt charity. Its a vital investment in our own safety, economy and NHS resilience.

A smart move, not a soft one

When the UK backs health partnerships abroad, its not altruism. Helping others stay healthy is one of the smartest ways to protect ourselves. Programmes like the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardships funded by DHSCs Fleming fund, link NHS teams with hospitals in low-and middle-income countries to tackle antimicrobial resistance. So far, more than 65,000 health workers have been trained. Prescribing has improved. Infection controls are stronger.

Meanwhile, UK staff return with invaluable experience that strengthens our NHS, from leadership under pressure to a deeper understanding of infectious diseases. Its the kind of low cost, high impact intervention any sensible government should double down on.

The cuts are already hurting

Before the 2021 cuts, a programme called the UK Partnerships for Health Systems was set to train 78,000 global healthcare workers and improve care for hundreds of thousands of patients. It was abruptly slashed by 48million. Programmes were halted. Partnerships paused. Opportunities for mutual learning lost. That was the last government. We did not expect to see the same thing happen under this government, with its distinguished track-record of supporting UK Aid over many decades.

The letter from the Presidents of Diaspora Associations makes it clear what this means in real terms  not just for patients in low-income countries, but for UK health care workers whose knowledge and innovation stem from these international exchanges.

The NHS is global  lets not forget it

One in five NHS workers is a non-UK national. Their expertise connects the UK to over 200 health systems worldwide. They help make the NHS one of the most internationally engaged healthcare systems on the planet. Many trained in countries with fragile systems. Many are already playing leadership roles in linking British institutions with their counterparts overseas.

In Tanzania, a partnership led by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust helped introduce laparoscopic surgery and set up a burns unit. In Ethiopia, Nottinghams NHS trust collaborated with Jimma University to improve trauma and diabetes care. The return on investment? More skilled, confident UK staff - and stronger UK healthcare at home.

Soft power, hard results

Health partnerships do far more than train workers. They help develop curricula, fortify health systems overseas and importantly, build Britains global reputation at a time when influence is in short supply. The UK-Africa Health Summit earlier this year showed the power of collaboration, bringing together Ministers, health leaders and diaspora professionals to forge solutions on workforce mobility and pandemic preparedness.

This diplomacy is with a scalpel, not a sword  and it works.

We must protect what works

The Chancellor faces tough choices. But cutting the global health budget and not mitigating the consequences, would be a false economy. It would weaken our defences against future pandemics, shrink the NHSs talent pipeline and damage our standing in the world.

As the letter from diaspora leaders makes clear: this is not a plea for charity. Its a call for strategic investment.

Lets not wait for the next global crisis to remind us that disease doesnt respect borders. Lets act now  to protect the NHS, promote economic stability and ensure Britain remains a trusted force for health and progress worldwide.

Ben Simms is CEO of Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET)

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Erin Patterson maintains the deadly lunch she served to her in-laws was poisoned by accident - James Ross/AAP Image via AP

The children of an Australian woman accused of killing her in-laws with a poisoned beef wellington were admitted to hospital after eating the deadly leftovers, a court has heard.

Erin Patterson is charged with murdering her estranged husbands parents and aunt in 2023 by spiking their meal with lethal death cap mushrooms.

She is also accused of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, her husbands uncle, who spent seven weeks in hospital.

On Wednesday, her trial heard that her nine-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son had eaten the leftovers of the beef wellington the following day.

Ms Patterson claimed that she had removed the mushrooms from the dish, but doctors were worried the toxins may have also contaminated the meat.

She told the court she was initially reluctant to take them to hospital.

It wasnt that I didnt want them to be treated, she said.

But more the drastic step of putting them in hospital, I wanted to understand that was really necessary.

Ms Patterson maintains the lunch was poisoned by accident, pleading not guilty to all charges.

Heather Wilkinson (left) died after eating the lunch cooked by Patterson, while her husband Ian (right) was left fighting for his life

She said she decided to improve the beef and pastry dish with dried mushrooms after deciding it tasted a little bland.

While she initially believed a kitchen container held store-bought mushrooms, she said it may have been mixed with foraged fungi.

I decided to put in the dried mushrooms I brought from the grocer, she told the court.

Now I think that there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well.

A court sketch shows Erin Patterson giving evidence during her trial - Anita Lester/AAP via Reuters

She also told the court that she had misled her guests about the purpose of the family meal.

While they ate, Ms Patterson revealed she might be receiving treatment for cancer in the coming weeks.

But this was a lie, she said.

I was planning to have gastric bypass surgery, so I remember thinking I didnt want to tell anybody what I was going to have done. I was really embarrassed about it.

So letting them believe I had some serious issue that needed treatment might mean they could help me with the logistics around the kids, she told the court. I shouldnt have lied to them, she added.

The prosecution claims Ms Patterson deliberately poisoned her guests and took care that she did not consume the deadly mushrooms herself.

Her defence lawyers say she ate the same meal as the others but did not fall as sick.

Estranged husband rejected lunch invitation

Ms Patterson asked her estranged husband, Simon, to the family lunch at her secluded rural Victoria home in July 2023, but he turned down the invitation because he felt too uncomfortable, the court heard previously. The pair had been separated for several years but still legally married.

His parents, Don and Gail, were happy to attend. They died days after eating the home-cooked meal.

His aunt, Heather Wilkinson, also died, while her husband Ian fell seriously ill but later recovered.

Ms Patterson earlier told the court how she had started foraging for mushrooms during a Covid lockdown in 2020, using a dehydrator to preserve them.

She told the court her estranged husband asked her if she had poisoned his parents using the appliance.

I said of course not, Ms Patterson told the court.

Police later found the dehydrator at a nearby rubbish dump.

The trial continues.
Yunqing Jian, a scientist at the University of Michigan, is accused of smuggling the fungus called Fusarium graminearum

Two Chinese scientists have been arrested for smuggling a toxic fungus that can be used as an agroterrorism weapon into the United States.

Yunqing Jian, a 33-year-old scientist at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend, 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, are accused of smuggling a fungus called Fusarium graminearum.

The fungus can infect crops like wheat, barley and rice with head blight, and subsequently cause vomiting, liver damage and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.

Fusarium graminearum is classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon, the FBI said.

It is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year, the US attorneys office statement added.

The investigation also found that Jian had received funding from the Chinese government for similar work on this pathogen in China, according to a post on X by FBI director Kash Patel.

The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals  including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party  are of the gravest national security concerns, said US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr.

The toxic plant pathogen, called Fusarium graminearum, that students hoped to use in their research at the University of Michigan

Of particular concern was an article that authorities found on Lius phone titled, Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions.

Liu used to work at a Chinese university where he conducted research on the toxic pathogen, authorities claimed.

It is alleged he had tried to smuggle the fungus through Detroit airport in July 2024 with the aim of continuing his research alongside Jian at the University of Michigan.

However, authorities found the red plant material in his backpack and sent him back to China. Given that the US and China do not have an extradition treaty, its unlikely that Liu will face charges, unless he chooses to return to the US.

Messages between Jian and Liu in 2024 suggest that Jian was already working with Fusarium graminearum at the University of Michigan before Liu was caught in Detroit, the FBI said.

Jian appeared in court and was returned to jail as she waits for her bond hearing on Thursday. Journalists were not allowed inside the courtroom, but reports said that she was handcuffed and shackled at the waist and looked visibly scared as the charges were read.

The fungus hidden inside a textbook in 2024, the US court said

A search of Jians cellphone revealed a form in which she had pledged her support for Chinas rulers.

I adhere to the four basic principles, support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, resolutely implement the partys educational guidelines and policies, love education, care for students, unite colleagues, love the motherland, and care about national affairs, the signed statement said.

The four principles are: Upholding the socialist path, upholding the peoples democratic dictatorship, upholding the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and upholding Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, known as Maoism.

This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk, said Mr Patel.

They have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud, according to the US attorneys office for the eastern district of Michigan.

The university does not have federal permits to handle Fusarium graminearum.

In a statement, the University of Michigan said it did not receive funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals.

We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the universitys critical public mission.

Phone call with Xi Jinping

The arrests come as Donald Trump, the US president, is expected to hold a phone call with Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart this week.

The two are expected to discuss the trade war between their countries, with grain playing a central role in Mr Trumps first sweeping measures.

After the presidents April 2 liberation day announcement, tariffs on US imports from China hit an eventual peak of 145 per cent.

In response, China introduced retaliatory tariffs on around 16 billion of US goods, including agricultural exports.

As a result, US grain prices tumbled, causing concern among American farmers.

The move was designed to target traditional red states and put political pressure on Mr Trump from his base.

A 90-day pause on the frenzied trade war was announced on May 12 and is still holding despite the heated rhetoric.

Even at 2am on Wednesday, Mr Trump said on Truth Social that Xi Jinping was extremely hard to make a deal with.

US officials are concerned about Chinas land holdings on American soil. It owns about 380,000 acres of farmland. Some is near sensitive military installations, such as an air force base in North Dakota, but it also raises fears that Beijing could exert influence over the US food and energy supply.
Sir James Cleverly is challenging Kemi Badenochs approach to net zero

On the eve of a Holyrood by-election, and with the Tories in fourth in a recent Westminster opinion poll, Kemi Badenoch would dearly love to avoid talk of policy divides within her party or chatter about leadership challenges. Sir James Cleverly has delivered both.

The former home secretary will drive a wedge between himself and the Conservative Party leader on Wednesday night by directly challenging her approach to net zero, which will be met with jubilation by Labour, the SNP, and especially Reform UK.

Conservatives who have not already switched their allegiance to Nigel Farages party might be tempted to do so through sheer exasperation with the latest evidence of infighting.

Sir James, who was convinced he was on course to become Tory leader last year, before an apparent tactical voting mishap by his supporters ended his chances, has chosen to speak out hours before the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, a poll that will provide a snapshot of just how much the Tories are struggling.

Mr Farage has said he is confident his candidate will finish third or higher, which would mean the Tories - who have finished third in the last three elections for the seat - being relegated to fourth place or even lower.

That would put even more pressure on Mrs Badenoch, who is already struggling to convince some of her MPs that she should stay in the job after a terrible set of local election results last month and a series of defections by local councillors since then.

As the Conservatives scrap for every vote on Thursday, Sir Jamess disloyalty - for that is how it will be seen in Mrs Badenochs office - can only harm the cause.

Sir James, who returned to the backbenches when Mrs Badenoch became leader and has never ruled out another leadership bid, has chosen to present an alternative vision for the Conservatives green agenda in an apparent attempt to appeal to the moderate wing of the party.

Rather than backing his leaders decision to drop support for the UK reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, he will say that: Conservative environmentalism doesnt mean a choice between growth and sustainability.

Contrast that with Mrs Badenochs view that: Anyone who has done any serious analysis knows [net zero] cant be achieved without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us.

Although Sir James will not mention Mrs Badenoch by name, or refer directly to her net-zero policy, his message - that she has got it wrong - could not be clearer.

In case anyone doubted his motives, he will make the speech at the Conservative Environment Network, which has described Mrs Badenochs net-zero policy as a mistake.

On one level, Sir James has drawn attention to the deep divide between Mrs Badenoch and environmental hand-wringers in her party, who include Boris Johnson, former COP26 president Lord Sharma and Baroness May, who as prime minister adopted the net zero 2050 target.

More broadly, Sir James is presenting an alternative strategy for beating Reform UK: moving to the centre rather than trying to outflank Mr Farage.

Moderates believe Mrs Badenoch has been forced to drop support for the net-zero target in order to keep up with Mr Farage, who has called net zero lunacy. There is plenty of evidence that she is being dragged further to the Right on other matters to see off the threat of Reform.

Critics believe the Tories cant out-Farage Mr Farage and that the only way to differentiate the Conservatives from Reform is to occupy the centre ground from which elections have traditionally been won in the past.

In highlighting a difference over policy, Sir James has presented a separate view on the future direction of the Conservative Party and who should lead it.

The odds on Mrs Badenoch uniting her party before the next general election may just have lengthened a little more.
June 4, 2025: China is undergoing an unprecedented series of economic, demographic and medical disasters. In the last three years theres been a 20 percent drop in American imports from China. The Chinese economy is producing less because the population is declining and the national health system is trying to cope with continued covid19 deaths, some of it from a botched Covid vaccine that is not working and often killing people. The government denies this and threatens any Chinese reporters or health officials who speak out on what is happening.

The bird flu is back and over the last year it has devastated commercial poultry producers and has spread to humans, often with fatal results. One of the more visible aspects of this was the number of prominent Chinese who were visibly sick at a recent leadership conference. Some of the ill leaders sought to give their speeches anyway and made it very visible that they were not well.

China is where Covid came from and while the effects of the disease have diminished worldwide, Covid is still killing people in China. Those it doesnt kill is disabled for short periods, leaving a labor shortage. A major casualty of all this is the economy, which is slowing down. This can be seen by a decline in Chinese exports.

Chinese doctors are not getting much help from their government, which is trying to conceal the extent of the health crisis and forcibly suppress health-related protests in China. One key problem is that no one knows where this new bird flu came from. It has spread to humans with deadly effect and there is no news on a vaccine or if such a cure is in production or even possible.

Chinese vaccine research and production is in crisis because the latest Covid vaccine turned out to be deadly to many of those who received it. So, there is no rush to get a Bird Flu vaccine out that will debilitate or kill rather than protect. Meanwhile the new Bird Flu keeps spreading. People returning from visiting China report a lot more funerals, a development that can be confirmed by satellite photos.

It could get worse, because the government insisted that the defective Covid vaccine be distributed quickly to everyone in China. As that effort peaked it became obvious that the vaccine was hurting more than helping. Now the government has a problem with a population that is wary of any new government developed vaccines. Worse, Bird Flu infections are common among young people in their prime of good health. Hospitals cant handle all their victims and are apparently continuing to spread the Bird Flu as visitors and hospital staff become ill as well. It is unnerving to see people in their 30s and 40s getting ill and dying or unable to work for long periods.

These current health problems plus the decline in both because of decades of the one-child policy and couples unwilling to have children in the current circumstances. The population is sinking lower than the current 800 million while the government insists it is still over a billion.

Historically, Chinese leaders learned historical lessons when deciding how to rule China effectively and remain in power. One event Chinese leaders still pay close attention to is the collapse of communist governments in Europe between 1989 and1991. While China could understand why the East European communist nations rebelled against communist governments imposed on them by Russia after World War II, the Chinese are still careful to avoid the errors that brought down the mighty Soviet Union in 1991. The key Russian problem, as the Chinese see it, was the inefficiency of the Soviet economy. The Soviets never allowed a free market to develop, as China did in the 1980s. By the 1990s the Chinese market economy was growing ten percent or more a year, a rate sustained for twenty years. Thus per capita GDP went from $333 in 1991 to $7,500 now. The Russian GDP continued shrinking after 1991 and it took more than a decade for a market economy to get going. Yet Russian economic growth is still crippled by corruption and the continued existence of state-owned enterprises or SOEs.

Chinese leaders thought they had learned from these Russian mistakes, but now Chinese economists and bankers are reporting that China has many of the problems that brought down the Soviet Union and kept post-Soviet Russia weak. While China currently has the second largest economy on the planet it has many serious problems that cannot be ignored. For one thing, China still has a lot of SOEs, which employ nearly a fifth of the workforce. For political reasons the communist government cannot get rid of these SOEs even though they are a major threat to the banking system. Inefficient and often unprofitable SOEs consume about half the available bank credit while only sustaining a fifth of the GDP. The Chinese Communist Party/CCP needs the SOEs to provide jobs for many key supporters, and that means a lot more corruption is tolerated in SOEs than in free market firms.

China has made impressive efforts to deal with corruption it concentrates on, such as corruption that causes the most unrest among the general population. This includes blatantly corrupt behavior at the local level as well as in the military or companies where the bad behavior leads to tainted food or medicine. But if you are a loyal senior official and show discretion and restraint in your corrupt practices you are left alone. That form of favoritism is necessary to run what is just another Chinese dynasty.

The 1911 revolt that ended the monarchy did not replace the emperor and his bureaucracy with anything much different. After four decades of civil war and fighting Japanese invaders, the communists took control and what they established quickly evolved into a hereditary aristocracy. By 2017 China had returned to the emperor for life model as Xi Jinping persuaded the Chinese leadership to accept the restoration of lifetime tenure for the supreme leader, instead of the five-year term system adopted after the disastrous lifetime rule of the first communist emperor Mao Zedong in 1976. Mao was a better rebel leader than emperor and his 18 years of misrule killed over fifty million Chinese and made an anemic economy even weaker. After Mao, there was reorganization rather than chaos and among the many practical reforms instituted was a market economy that could thrive under the rule of a communist police state.

But then came 1989-91 and the wealthier and wiser Chinese rulers sought answers to why all those communist police states in East Europe just evaporated, replaced by various degrees of democracy and free market economies. Chinese leaders are still unsure what the most important lessons for China are to be learned from all that. Some of the lessons were obvious. For example, a communist command economy cannot compete with a free market economy. Or at least no one has figured out how to do it. But creating a market economy proved easier than repairing the damage decades of communist rule had inflicted. In addition to the corruption, the free-market economy grew in part by simply bribing disruptive communist officials to get out of the way. There was growing pollution of both water and the air. All that economic growth produced more pollution which Western democracies were quicker to clean up. Politicians who got in the way of that were unable to get re-elected. In a communist police state bad news could be kept out of the news for a while but with the capital suffering some of the worst air pollution in the world, the pollution became a major issue, is still a long way from being fixed, has fostered both bad health in general and susceptibility to lung diseases in particular (Covid and Bird Flu), and contributed to Chinas increasing population crash.

Some of the other lessons learned from the Soviet collapse are also being increasingly ignored. For example, it was noted that the Soviet economy collapsed in large part because over 20 percent of the GDP went to military spending and related foreign affairs. The Soviets recklessly spent large sums on supporting allies. The Soviet subsidies kept North Korea and Cuba economically viable and loyal. Lesser sums were wasted on arms sales financed by low-interest loans that were never paid off. Same with a lot of non-military foreign aid.

Now Chinese leaders are being reminded that they are moving towards the self-destructive Soviet practices even though in the 1990s it was agreed that arms races and bad loans to fickle allies were a bad idea. While on paper the Chinese defense budget is about a third of what the Americans spend, Chinese economists point out that the U.S. economy is better able to support that degree of spending. Meanwhile, if you calculate Chinese defense spending the same way the Americans do, the Chinese defense spending is closer to half what the Americans spend. Another expensive Chinese decision was to adopt a nationalist posture to obtain more support from Chinese who would otherwise be questioning the wisdom of communist rule because of the corruption and pollution.

That may change China's One Belt, One Road/OBOR program to establish secure sea lanes for Chinese trade and new roads, railways and pipelines throughout Eurasia, especially Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Many of the new port projects are being built in South Asia and Africa. A lot of these projects are very risky because, if they cannot trigger enough additional economic activity, China will end up holding the bad debt. China is investing over a trillion dollars in OBOR projects. Some see this as one huge make-work effort for Chinese workers and engineers who are sent overseas to build OBOR projects. This effort is financed by the Chinese banking system. The Chinese bankers are increasingly worried about too much bad debt and what that can do. Japan is a nearby example that suffered from a bad debt crisis because of a real estate bubble. Japan has yet to recover from that mess and Chinese bankers dont want to be stuck with the same mess. Now they are and there is no relief in sight. Worse, that trillion-dollar investment will be toast if China goes to war with the United States over Taiwan.

This use of nationalism has led Chinese leaders to make a lot of the expensive mistakes they belittle the American leadership for. While the United States is often accused of ignoring the cultural differences with its allies and opponents and making bad decisions based on misperceptions, other countries often do the same. While the United States has made many mistakes because American leaders believed foreigners thought like Americans but in a different language, at least the U.S. has come to acknowledge that this problem exists. Not so in China where this lack of empathy for other cultures is rampant in the government and especially in the military. This includes that part of the military that prepares plans for dealing with foreigners in crises situations that could lead to war.

While Chinese leaders are very conscious of their own history and the many lessons, they can still learn from all that, the one lesson that makes their neighbors nervous is that the Chinese believe Chinese expansion is a natural and justified policy for China. Their neighbors are very uncomfortable with China's reemerging and quite ancient attitude that China is the center of the universe and long known as the powerful Middle Kingdom that everyone should respect and pay tribute to.

The Chinese government encourages these nationalistic attitudes, and many Chinese are eager to see China become more powerful and get more respect. This is a dangerous attitude and a common prelude to war. China is run by a communist police state that sees nationalism as a useful tool to keep the communists in power. This is the sort of atmosphere that triggered the two World Wars. In 1914 Germany, long the disunited and picked apart mess in Central Europe, was united in 1870 for the first time and wanted respect to go along with its newfound economic and military power. That did not turn out well.

In contemporary China, an actual war would likely destroy the communists, who are unpopular already because of corruption, abuse of power and pollution. A major component of any future war would be economic, as China is now dependent on imports of raw materials. That is something new in Chinese history, as the Chinese have, for thousands of years, prided themselves on self-sufficiency. That is gone and can't be regained without some drastic economic and cultural changes. The Chinese communists are playing a game of bluster and bluff. This is especially true when you consider that the Chinese armed forces are also crippled by massive corruption and mismanagement. For that reason alone, the Chinese government should avoid actual war. But short of large-scale fighting, there's a lot the Chinese can do to push their neighbors around. China tries to substitute economic power, as the Russians often did with their loans, but China is finding that their cheap loans are no more effective than the Russian ones.

American planners have become aware of the lack of realistic planning by the Chinese military. Chinese wargames tend to ignore the reality of how their neighbors make military and diplomatic decisions. The Chinese military planners are particularly blind to the intricacies of politics in democracies and the influence of media, especially the Internet. While the Chinese appreciate the Internet as a tool for propaganda and espionage, they have a blind spot when it comes to how the mass media influences political and military decision making in the powerful democracies like the United States, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea they might face in a future war. The U.S. is trying to develop ways to deal with this blind spot and so far, can only conclude that China has now become a more irrational and dangerous adversary because the Middle Kingdom leaders are too busy staring at themselves in a mirror rather than paying attention to what is happening outside their borders.
Coco Gauff passed her biggest test so far at the French Open as she scrapped her way past fellow American Madison Keys to reach the semi-finals.

A scruffy match featuring a combined 101 unforced errors and 14 breaks of serve ended 6-7 (6) 6-4 6-1 in favour of the world number two.

Gauff had previously not dropped a set as she quietly made her way through the friendlier side of the draw.

But in a nervy first set on both sides of the net, Gauff overturned a 4-1 deficit to force a set point at 5-4, only to be taken to a tie-break which Keys won.

Gauff went 4-1 up in the second but found herself pegged back, before a break and a hold took the match into a decider.

The confidence had drained from Australian Open champion Keys while Gauff finally located her serve, having coughed up nine double faults over the first two sets.

A pass down the line brought up three match points and the 21-year-old roared with delight when Keys went long, giving her the victory in two hours and 11 minutes.

Maddie was playing well, shes hitting the ball so fast and so low so I was just trying to fight for each point, said Gauff, the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2022.

I knew I had to be able to run today and as soon as the ball came short, punish her for it.

It means a lot, getting through this tough match. Im very happy to get through and be in the semi-finals again. Ill savour this one today and be ready for tomorrows match.
Ask A Lawyer

Do you have a legal question to put to Gary? Email askalawyer@telegraph.co.uk or use the form at the bottom of the page.

Hello Gary,

I sponsored a Ukrainian family (granny, mum and daughter) under the original government scheme set up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

As we are empty nesters, they lived in spare bedrooms in our house for a year until they secured their own accommodation. They are wonderful, hard-working people, and we are all now friends  particularly me and the mum.

The mum now wants her husband and his dad to move to the UK and they have asked me to sponsor again. This time we are not being asked to accommodate them. However, I am worried I will have legal responsibility for their rent if I agree to sponsor and they live elsewhere.

Presumably, the family already settled in the UK will have to move to bigger place, or they will rent separate houses. Whatever they end up doing housing-wise, as the UK sponsor what would be my legal responsibilities in these circumstances?

 Angela, by email

Dear Angela,

First, I must acknowledge the act of great compassion for you to sponsor and accommodate the original trio of granny, mum and daughter in 2022.

That said, you are right to be wary of any legal implications and ongoing financial responsibility of signing up again, in circumstances which are fundamentally different in that the persons seeking sponsorship this time are not going to be living with you.

Under the original Homes for Ukraine scheme, which was launched by the UK government in March 2022, a so-called sponsor such as yourself is not legally responsible for ongoing financial or housing support beyond the initial arrangement to accommodate for at least six months upon arrival in the UK.

The exception to this is if you voluntarily enter into a private agreement that says otherwise, such as signing up to be guarantor of rent payments under a tenancy agreement, or becoming a co-tenant. In each case, my advice is do not do that, unless you have the means to pay the rent.

This means that after the original trio moved out of your home and started renting a house, you had no ongoing legal responsibility or liability for rents or other debts. In that sense it was job done  your relationship as sponsor was over and you could now simply be friends.

At its heart, the Homes for Ukraine scheme is a way for persons displaced by the war in Ukraine to enter the UK legally under a visa. Initially, visa holders were granted up to three years leave to remain. From early 2025, it has been possible to apply for an 18-month extension to allow rights to work, study and access public services.

At present, there is no direct route to permanent residency for those like your trio already here under the original scheme. The logic for this is the Government says at some point Ukraine will be a safe place to return to.

I mention this because if one or all of your original trio could become permanent residents  perhaps under the skilled worker route, if eligible  their position would be much more secure.

However, as of February 2024, only a UK national can sponsor a Ukrainian under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. So, as it stands, the existing trio from Ukraine cannot sponsor the rest of their family to come over to the UK.

Which is where you come in again. If you want to. And while I imagine you feel a moral obligation to sponsor the husband and his dad  not least because of your friendship with the trio, who have been part of your life now for three years  it is important to understand the essential requirements of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Under the scheme, you are expected to provide accommodation to the individuals you are sponsoring, such as a spare room in your house or separate self-contained accommodation rent-free for a period of at least six months.

Your question is: if the husband and his dad live elsewhere, will you be responsible for their rent? The legal answer to that question is no you will not. But the more fundamental issue is if the person you sponsor rents elsewhere instead of living in accommodation you provide, that falls outside of the scheme itself.

Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, there is a 350 to 500 monthly thank you payment, which you would forfeit if you do not provide rent-free accommodation. But, more worryingly for you and the Ukrainians concerned, the conditions of the visa would not be fulfilled.

You must give accurate information on any forms you are asked to complete as a sponsor. Therefore, you must say if you are providing accommodation or not. Providing false information on a visa application constitutes a criminal offence under UK law. Convictions can result in fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the offence.

So, while you may not be liable for the rent or other debts of the Ukrainians, there is a financial implication if you do not accommodate them for the initial six months they are in the UK.

In my view, all this means you must say to your original trio that you may only help with their other family members moving over only if you can all be totally transparent that they will be living together in a rented house, that you will not be accommodating anyone, and that you will not be guaranteeing any rent payments or otherwise taking on any responsibility for their financial responsibilities.

It will then be up to the Government whether to grant a visa or not.

Ask a Lawyer should not be taken as formal legal advice, but rather as a starting point for readers to undertake their own further research.
The US trade deal will be implemented within a very short time, the Prime Minister has said after Donald Trump exempted Britain from a hike in steel tariffs.

Sir Keir Starmer suggested to the House of Commons on Wednesday that the deal struck last month could come into effect in just a couple of weeks.

Once implemented, the agreement would effectively eliminate tariffs on British steel and aluminium exports to the US.

Those tariffs currently stand at 25% after Mr Trump said he would provide different treatment for the UK while he increased the levy to 50% for the rest of the world.

But the situation could still change again in July, when the US is set to either increase the tariffs to 50% or introduce the quotas in the US-UK agreement, effectively eradicating the tax, depending on whether the deal is implemented.

Challenged over the uncertainty during Prime Ministers Questions by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Sir Keir said: We are the only country in the world that isnt paying the 50% tax on steel and that will be coming down.

We are working on it to bring it down to zero, that is going to happen.

Responding to further questions from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, Sir Keir told MPs: We have a deal and we are implementing it and within a very short time I am confident we will get those tariffs down in accordance with the deal.

Adding that he expected MPs would be very pleased at the outcome of that, he said: Lets come back in just a couple of weeks when we have implemented it.

After Prime Ministers Questions, Downing Street said Sir Keirs confidence in finalising the deal was due to constant dialogue with the US.

But the Prime Ministers official spokesman would not guarantee that the deal would be in place by the July 9 deadline set by Mr Trump, telling reporters: Obviously our aim is to implement this deal as quickly as possible and you have just heard from the PM in the House that we are hoping to provide an update on that in weeks.

Earlier on Wednesday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC the Government would bring forward the legislation needed to implement the deal.

Meanwhile, both the steel industry and trade unions have urged the Government to finalise the agreement with Washington.

Gareth Stace, head of the industry body UK Steel, said Mr Trumps decision to keep tariffs on British steel at 25% was a welcome pause but warned that continuing uncertainty was making US customers dubious over whether they should even risk making UK orders.

Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary of the Community union, also welcomed the reprieve from the 50% rate, and added it was vital that the UK locks down the US trade deal to avoid punitive steel tariffs going forward.

But the Lib Dems urged Sir Keir to stand up to Mr Trump, saying the president had changed the terms of a deal he had already signed.

Following Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Ed called on the Government to support his partys Buy British campaign, saying: Donald Trump has taken our lunch money and is now coming back for more.

Any deal he signs is already through the Oval Office shredder.

It is time for the Government to admit that Trumps White House is not a reliable ally and get tough on ending this trade war by backing British businesses.

The Conservatives have said that Labours botched negotiations have left businesses in limbo.

Shadow business and trade secretary Andrew Griffith said: Keir Starmer stood in front of the nation and insisted to the British public that his Labour Government had achieved a trade deal with the US  and now one month later our industries face a fresh tariffs blow.

So once again it seems that Keir Starmers promise was just like the rest: hollow and broken. Labours botched negotiations have left businesses in limbo and this country simply cannot afford their continuing failure.
Joe Biden with Karine Jean-Pierre, his White House press secretary, on Oct 4 - Andrew Harnik/2024 Getty Images

Joe Bidens White House press secretary has quit the Democratic Party and written a tell-all memoir about the partys betrayal of the former president.

Karine Jean-Pierre, 50, who fiercely defended Mr Biden when reporters asked about his ailing health, has penned a book about her journey to becoming an independent after serving in both Barack Obama and Mr Bidens administrations.

Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, which will be released on Oct 21, is described as a groundbreaking, revelatory assessment of Americas broken two-party system.

According to Legacy Lit, a Hachette Book Group imprint that will publish the book, insider Ms Jean-Pierre will urge Americans to embrace life as independents in a country obsessed with blind loyalty.

Jean-Pierre didnt come to her decision to be an independent lightly, it adds.

She has served two American presidents, Obama and Biden. In 2020, she joined Bidens campaign as a senior adviser, becoming Harriss chief of staff and then, two years later, White House press secretary. She takes us through the three weeks that led to Biden abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision.

Karine Jean-Pierres book will be released on Oct 21

The book is described as a hard-hitting yet hopeful critique in which she encourages Americans to think outside of the blue-and-red box.

Jake Tapper, the CNN journalist, has been accused of cashing-in with a book about Mr Bidens decline in office while failing to report on it while he was still in office.

Tapper was accused of being a hypocrite following the release of Original Sin, which alleged aides shielded the public from the extent of Mr Bidens decline while serving as president.

According to the authors, the president at one stage forgot the name of actor George Clooney and was closely managed by his wife, Jill Biden, who allegedly protected the president from criticism and finished his thoughts for him.

Mr Biden, 82, said the allegations were wrong and theres nothing to sustain them.

Last month, he revealed he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The announcement of Ms Jean-Pierres tell-all book has incensed Democrats, with former Biden administration officials telling Politico the move is a grift.

One former staffer told the outlet Ms Jean-Pierre had joked about becoming an independent while working for Mr Biden, while another said she had started working with a New York publicist, who she had copied in on official emails while still in the administration. Other officials said Ms Jean-Pierre had been hoping for a job co-hosting The View on ABC.

She made a joke about being an independent last year and now its a book. All ideas are monetary  even the dumb ones, one former administration official said.

Ms Jean-Pierre, who was in Mr Bidens inner circle, was criticised at times for being evasive about Mr Bidens physical condition.

Ms Jean-Pierre faced criticism during her time as press secretary - Alex Wong/2024 Getty Images

Her book appears to represent a continuation of her defence of Mr Biden. Earlier this year Ms Jean-Pierre accused the Democratic leadership of attacking Mr Biden like a firing squad.

Until January 20, I was responsible for speaking on behalf of the president of the United States, Ms Jean-Pierre, the first black woman and openly gay person to hold the position of White House press secretary, said in a statement released on Wednesday.

At noon on that day, I became a private citizen who, like all Americans and many of our allies around the world, had to contend with what was to come next for our country. I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes. We need to be willing to exercise the ability to think creatively and plan strategically.

Ms Jean-Pierre succeeded Jen Psaki as press secretary in 2022 after previously serving as deputy press secretary and also working as a senior adviser during Mr Bidens 2020 campaign. During Mr Obamas first term, she was a regional political director.
Rachel Reeves has announced the winter fuel payment threshold will rise to 35,000 (Getty) (James Manning, PA Images)

Winter fuel payments will be restored for three-quarters of pensioners in England and Wales, Rachel Reeves has announced.

Around 7.5 million more pensioners who missed out on the payment of up to 300 last year will now get it, following a sustained backlash.

The decision ends weeks of deliberation from the Keir Starmer's government about a possible U-turn, with details of plans to reverse the winter fuel payment cut for pensioners originally expected to not be revealed until closer to the autumn.

But on Monday, the chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that any pensioner with an income of under 35,000 a year will get the payment automatically - around three-quarters of all pensioners.

Reeves declined to apologise for implementing the cut in the first place, telling ITV News it would have been "irresponsible... to allow the public finances to carry on on an unsustainable footing". She said Labour had "listened to people's concerns" as she announced the changes.

What is the winter fuel payment?

The winter fuel payment is a tax-free annual payment designed to help pensioners cover heating costs during colder months, traditionally ranging from 200 for households with someone aged 66-79 to 300 for those with someone over 80.

Before 2024, it was automatically paid to all pensioners, benefiting around 11 million people.

However, after Labour won the general election in July last year, it introduced means-testing, limiting eligibility to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits, reducing recipients to about 1.5 million to save an estimated 1.4-1.5bn annually, amid what the government claims is a 22bn deficit.

What has Rachel Reeves announced?

Speaking on Monday, Reeves said the winter fuel payment reversal was "a tough decision, but the right decision".

She said: "Targeting winter fuel payments was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government."

However, she has stood by still means-testing the payment.

"It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest," she continued.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced the reinstatement of the winter fuel payment for some pensioners. (AP) (Peter Byrne, Associated Press)

"But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the winter fuel payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out.

"This will mean over three-quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter."

Questioned on whether she would apologise for causing "unnecessary anxiety and hardship", Reeves fell short of saying sorry.

The chancellor told ITV News: "The irresponsible thing to have done last year was to allow the public finances to carry on on an unsustainable footing.

"That would have resulted in interest rates going up, costing families and pensioners more in mortgages and rents."

She added: "I'm always going to put stability in our economy first."

Who is eligible?

Under the previous rules, only pensioners born on or before 23 September 1958 receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits, such as universal credit or income support, qualify for the winter fuel payment, targeting those with incomes below 11,800. For pensioner couples, this figures stands at 18,023.

Pensioners must also live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Scotland has a different system.

However, under the new proposals, any pensioner earning 35,000 or less will be eligible, covering the costs of around 75% of pensioners.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "The partial U-turn on the winter fuel payment will make a huge difference to the finances of some of the lowest-earning pensioners, who had missed out by a hair's breadth by earning fractionally too much to qualify for pension credit.

"They will now be able to budget for a warmer winter and a less painful squeeze on their finances as the cold nights draw in.

"They'll also be getting a warm glow from the fact they may have a couple of small cuts in the energy price cap to look forward to between now and then, which should make for a more comfortable winter all round."

But others, such as Alex Clegg, an economist at the Resolution Foundation, have claimed the latest changes risk adding too much complexity to the system.

He said: "This U-turn doesn't represent a return to the status quo. The new means-test will create new complexity in the tax system, including a cliff-edge for those with around 35,000 of income."

He added: "The real question is why it is now a priority to pay winter fuel payments to over three-quarters of pensioners, with almost half of the new beneficiaries in the richest half of the population, when previously it was judged that only one in ten needed support."

When will the winter fuel payment be made?

Winter fuel payments are typically distributed between November and December each year to help pensioners manage heating costs during peak winter months.

The changes will now apply 2025-26 winter season, resuming support for the hardest hit households in the the coldest months, with pensioners already eligible under current rules due to receive payments at the current times.

The government has not yet said when the payments will be made or how many more pensioners will receive it. (PA) (AndreyPopov via Getty Images)

Critics, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, have warned that delays could worsen the financial strain for vulnerable households.

And Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately has demanded a Government "apology" to pensioners who lost the winter fuel payment last year.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said: "Did they think they could just try out new policies like you try a new mattress - unwrap it, see how it feels, sleep on it for a while, but if it causes a political backache, send it back?

"This rushed reversal raises as many questions as it answers."

Money saving expert Martin Lewis praised the threshold change, calling the news "a big improvement".

NEWS. Winter Fuel Payment to be reinstated for all State Pensioners this winter, but then clawed back via tax system for all who earn over 35,000 (roughly average earnings). This is a big improvement. Full instant analysis video coming with all the details in a minute.  Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 9, 2025

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said that while the Chancellor has "seen sense", the government "must focus on how it supports all households in fuel poverty".

He said: "Axing the Winter Fuel Payment for so many pensioners was a cruel cut to make.

"Millions of pensioner households faced unaffordable energy costs last winter.

"While the changes will provide some relief to these households, there will still be pensioners unable to afford the high cost of energy and living in cold damp homes.

"So now the government must focus on how it supports all households in fuel poverty and implements the long term measures needed to bring down the cost of energy for good."

How much will it cost?

When the cut to winter fuel payments was originally announced last year, ministers hoped to pocket an annual saving of up to 1.5bn.

But this figure is now set to be slashed as millions more pensioners are brought back into the fold and made eligible to claim the benefit once more.

According to officials, the cost of restoring the payments is estimated to be worth about 1.25bn.

However, they still hope to save 450m per year compared with the price tag of the original scheme covering all pensioners.
Erin Pattersons testimony continued in the murder trial involving a lunch she served at her home in regional Australia that contained deadly mushrooms and killed three people. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Erin Patterson has told a court her estranged husband asked her if she had used a dehydrator to poison his parents, and admitted resetting her phone out of fear police would discover photos she had of foraged mushrooms.

In her third day in the witness box, Patterson also said she thinks there is a possibility that foraged mushrooms were unintentionally added to her beef wellington mixture as she tried to improve its bland flavour, and admitted she lied to her lunch guests about having cancer because she was embarrassed about planned weight-loss surgery.

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to poisoning four in-laws with beef wellington served for lunch at her house in Leongatha on 29 July 2023.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering her estranged husband Simons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Simons uncle and Heathers husband.

(July 29, 2023)

Erin Patterson hosts lunch for estranged husband Simons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves beef wellington.

(July 30, 2023)

All four lunch guests are admitted to hospital with gastro-like symptoms.

(August 4, 2023)

Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital.

(August 5, 2023)

Don Patterson dies in hospital. Victoria police search Erin Pattersons home and interview her.

(September 23, 2023)

Ian Wilkinson is discharged from hospital after weeks in intensive care.

(November 2, 2023)

Police again search Erin Pattersons home, and she is arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder relating to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.

(April 28, 2025)

Jury is sworn in.

(April 29, 2025)

Murder trial begins. Jury hears that charges of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon are dropped.

Lawyers for Patterson say the death cap mushroom poisoning was a tragic and terrible accident.

Under questioning from her lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, on Wednesday, Patterson said she was at the Monash hospital in the days after the lunch when Simon asked her is that how you poisoned my parents, using that dehydrator.

I said of course not, Patterson told the court.

Patterson said Simons question made her do a lot of thinking about a lot of things.

She said she realised she had used her dehydrator frequently, including to dry foraged mushrooms, and she started to consider the possibility that dried mushrooms she foraged made their way into a container of dried mushrooms she bought from an Asian grocer.

How did that make you feel? Mandy asked her.

Scared. Responsible, Patterson replied.

Really worried, because child protection were involved, and Simon seemed to be of the mind that maybe this was intentional, and I just got really scared, yeah.

The following day, when she had been discharged from hospital, and after the children were taken to school, she dumped the dehydrator at the tip, Patterson told the court, in fear about it being seen by child protection workers due to visit later that day.

She said on 5 August, when police searched her house, that she decided to factory reset her phone, because she knew there were photos of mushrooms and the dehydrator accessible on the device.

I just panicked and didnt want them to see them, she said.

When you say them, who do you mean, Mandy asked

The detectives, she responded.

Earlier on Wednesday, Patterson said she made multiple changes to a RecipeTin Eats recipe she was using to prepare the beef wellington.

It was a dish she had never made, but she wanted to try something special for her guests, she said.

The changes were mostly due to her not being able to source a larger log of steak, as specified in the recipe, and having to instead buy individual steaks.

This meant she needed more mushrooms for a duxelles, and more pastry, Patterson said.

She said that on the morning of the lunch she started reducing the mushrooms, as she needed to remove almost all water from them to stop the pastry in the dish from becoming soggy.

But after cooking them for about 45 minutes, she tasted the mixture and found it bland.

She went to her pantry to source dried mushrooms from a container she believed only had mushrooms in it that she had bought from an Asian grocer in Melbourne several months earlier.

Related: Erin Patterson accepts beef wellington served at fatal lunch contained death cap mushrooms, triple murder trial hears

At that time, to your knowledge, what was in the Tupperware container? Mandy asked.

At that time, just mushrooms  from Melbourne, Patterson responded.

And now what do you think? Mandy asked.

Now I think that there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well.

After this answer, Patterson took a long pause, and appeared to become emotional, before dabbing her eyes and cheeks with a tissue.

She also said she lied to her guests about needing cancer treatment, after having a previous scare for ovarian cancer, because she was too embarrassed to tell them about plans for weight-loss surgery.

Not proud of this, but I led them to believe I might be needing some treatment  in regards to [ovarian cancer] in the coming weeks and months, she said.

They all showed a lot of compassion about that  Ian said, Why dont we pray for Erin, and so thats what we did.

I did lie to them.

When asked by Mandy why she didnt tell them the truth about what she was intending to do, she said: I was ashamed of the fact that I didnt have control over my body or what I ate. I was ashamed of that, I felt embarrassed.

I didnt want to tell anybody, but I shouldnt have lied to them.

The sole surviving lunch guest, Ian Wilkinson, who was in court on Wednesday, watched on impassively.

Patterson previously told the court she accepted death cap mushrooms were in the beef wellington she prepared.

Patterson said that after her lunch guests left, she felt over-full. The court heard on Tuesday that she had a habit of purging food after binge eating, dating back to her 20s.

Patterson said that this also happened in the hours after the beef wellington lunch.

I felt sick, felt over-full, so I went to the toilet and brought it back up again, she told the court.

She developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea later that evening, she said, and decided against going to church the next morning because she was still unwell.

Her son had a flying lesson later that day, and Patterson said she decided to make the almost hour drive as her symptoms had eased. But she again felt unwell on the drive, and stopped by the side of the road because of diarrhoea.

At this stage, she also knew Don and Gail were unwell after the lunch.

Patterson said her symptoms worsened, and by the following morning, 31 July, she decided she should go to hospital to receive fluids.

After dropping her kids off to catch a school bus, she went to Leongatha hospital.

She said that once she said her name to Dr Christopher Webster, he said, Weve been expecting you.

When I said my name, his reaction communicated that he knew who I was  or that name triggered something for him, and that threw me, quite a bit, she said.

Patterson said she was then asked questions about the meal, including confirming she had cooked it, and whether the beef wellingtons had been pre-made.

I think I said Why, why are you asking? And he said Theres a concern or Were concerned youve been exposed to death cap mushrooms.

I was shocked but confused as well. I was just expecting to come in for saline for gastro.

I didnt see how death cap mushrooms could be in the meal and the information that I had was that I had diarrhoea, Don and Gail had been a bit unwell, but that was all I knew. I remember feeling very puzzled.

Patterson said that when she was told soon after this that she would be admitted to hospital and then transported via ambulance to Melbourne for treatment, she felt really anxious and stressed and confused. I felt really overwhelmed.

I couldnt move my brain out of being stuck in what I thought the day was going to look like, Patterson said.

The court previously heard that Patterson discharged herself against medical advice soon after, which so worried Webster that he called local police to make her return to hospital.

Patterson told the court on Wednesday that she always planned to return, but went home to bring her dog inside, pen her lambs, and prepare a bag for a rehearsal her daughter was expected to attend after school.

It is the prosecution case that Patterson did not eat death cap mushrooms at the lunch and that she pretended she was suffering the same type of illness her guests had to cover that up.

It says that this was also why she was reluctant to receive medical treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning.

Earlier on Wednesday, she was shown a series of photos she said she had taken in 2020 of mushrooms she had foraged.

She was also shown a series of messages previously read to the court about an exchange with Gail regarding medical tests and a biopsy for a lump on her elbow.

Patterson said she had previously had elbow pain, and thought she had a lump, and when she told Gail and Don about this they had shown concern for her.

Although the pain eased, she decided to say the ailment persisted.

She admitted lying to Gail about an appointment, a needle biopsy and an MRI.

Why did you tell those lies? Mandy asked.

Some weeks prior, I had been having an issue with my elbow with pain  and Id told Don and Gail about that, Patterson responded.

They had shown quite a lot of care about that, which felt really nice.

The issues started to resolve  I didnt want their care of me to stop, so I just kept it going.

Later, Patterson admitted making another misleading statement about getting test results back for her elbow.

She said she made that statement as she hoped it could become a way of solving logistical issues that could arise with her children when she had gastric bypass surgery, which she did not want to tell anyone about.

Something Id been thinking about in the background and doing some preparation for was I had come to the conclusion that I wanted to do something once and for all about my weight and my poor eating habits, so I was planning to have gastric bypass surgery.

I remember thinking I didnt want to tell anybody what I had done, I was really embarrassed about it, so I thought letting them believe I had something that required serious treatment  [would] help me with logistics around the kids, and I wouldnt have to tell them.

Patterson said she had a pre-appointment regarding the surgery scheduled for September 2023.

Patterson also told the court there was no assigned plates or seats for the lunch, and that she did not own grey plates. Ian Wilkinson previously told the court that lunch guests were served on grey plates, while Patterson served herself on a smaller, coloured plate.

Erin Pattersons evidence continues.
Temporary protection status for Ukrainians who fled in February 2022 could be extended by a year if all member states agree. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The European Commission has said more than 4 million Ukrainians living in the EU should have their right to stay extended until March 2027, while calling for efforts to promote voluntary returns to their home country.

Temporary protection status for Ukrainians who fled after Russias full-scale invasion of February 2022 would be extended by one year until March 2027, under a European Commission proposal published on Wednesday. EU member states must approve the extension, which applies to 4.3 million Ukrainians, one-third of whom are children.

While calling for the extension, the commission urged EU governments to think beyond the temporary fix by making it easier for Ukrainians to obtain other types of residence permits, such as work and student visas. It said governments should set up programmes to promote voluntary returns to Ukraine, including by supporting exploratory visits.

Magnus Brunner, the EUs internal affairs commissioner, emphasised that all returns would be voluntary and that ending temporary protection status would be a decision taken with EU member states and Ukraine once we have a stable situation.

The proposals came as Ukraines government outlined plans for unity hubs  community centres which will offer its citizens information about returning home and integrating into their host societies. The first unity hub is due to open this summer in Berlin, with others planned in Prague and Alicante.

Ukraines deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov told reporters: We desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over. We need to develop the Ukrainian economy, we need to transform Ukraine into a prosperous economy and develop democracy.

Chernyshov said that if Ukraine were to attain the quite achievable goal of doubling the size of its economy in the decade after the war it could need an additional 4 million people in the labour market. Only the strong economy can pave the way to the future success of Ukraine and successful integration into the European Union, he added.

The proposals follow inconclusive talks in Istanbul, where Russia and Ukraine agreed only on a prisoner exchange, while Moscow refused to compromise on its maximalist war aims, which include the recognition of four Ukrainian regions it claims, but does not fully occupy.

Chernyshov said that the results we are getting with these talks are not the ones that could have been achieved. He said a voluntary returns programme being developed with the UN agencies the IOM and UNHCR, would answer questions facing every Ukrainian family in Europe: How they will return back home? What are going to be the possibilities and proposals for their job? Where are they going to live, where are their kids going to go to school? What is the healthcare system proposal  and so on.

The commission is releasing 4bn to support Ukrainians in the EU, on top of 15bn allocated to member states since 2022.

The EU activated its temporary protection directive for Ukrainians in March 2022, in an unprecedented gesture of support. That temporary status has been extended several times, but several EU governments have begun exploring other options.

In the Czech Republic, Ukrainians earning at least 440,000 Czech crowns (14,900), with two years residence, can now apply for a long-term residence permit. In Poland, Ukrainians who have had temporary protection for at least one year can apply for a three-year residence permit, although they would lose certain benefits such as free healthcare and a waiver on university tuition fees.

Norway, which is outside the EU but operates a similar temporary protection scheme, announced last year it was tightening up rules so Ukrainians from areas considered safe would be treated like any other asylum seeker and not automatically granted the right to stay.

Support for Ukrainians in the EU remains high, but has ebbed since the early days of the invasion. By February 2024, 71% of people surveyed by Eurobarometer supported Ukrainian refugees, compared with 88% immediately after of the invasion.
A very heavily pregnant Meghan, accessorising her black dress with a cannula, dances to a song called The Baby Momma Dance

When I was a week overdue with my second child (ironically named Harry), I did sort of go mad. Not Meghan-twerking-in-a-hospital-room crazy, but bonkers nonetheless.

I went into labour with my first child, a daughter, a day before her due date, and remained in denial until my husband finally persuaded me to go to the maternity ward, eight centimetres dilated.

But with my son, my due date came and went, along with my sanity. My father, a retired GP, recalls me calling him day and night, demanding to know why, in his medical opinion, the baby hadnt arrived yet. It was undoubtedly the hardest seven days of all three pregnancies  including having to be induced with my third, another daughter.

So like many mothers, I watched Meghan and Harrys latest Instagram video with a mixture of genuine empathy and gobsmacked astonishment.

Credit: Instagram/Meghan

On one hand, I understand the sheer lunacy that can accompany being overdue. On the other, Im not sure even in my wildest moments I would have chosen to twerk my way through it. I mean, Im not sure twerking would even feature on the bingo card of things you do while in labour: gas and air? Check. Epidural? Check. Lash out at husband? Check. Perform a sexy slut drop, while lip-syncing, to the camera? Probably not, no.

Whats even more mind-boggling about the 80-odd second video  in which a very heavily pregnant Meghan, accessorising her black dress with a cannula, dances to a song called The Baby Momma Dance  is the fact the privacy-obsessed couple have released it.

Designed to celebrate their daughter Lilibets fourth birthday on Wednesday, they captioned the footage, which also features the fifth in line to the throne performing Peter Crouch-esque robotics in a grey hoodie: Both of our children were a week past their due dates so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didnt work  there was only one thing left to do! (Harry only has a cameo role, natch.)

It came after Meghan also shared a series of intimate photos of Lilibet, writing: Happy birthday to our beautiful girl!

Four years ago today, she came into our lives  and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!

In one photo, mother and daughter have windswept hair with water behind them. In another, the Duchess cradles Lilibet  named after the late Queens childhood nickname  as a newborn.

To echo the thoughts of anyone watching the latest Insta-update  what on earth is going on here?

In one photo posted on Instagram, mother and daughter have windswept hair with water behind them

I appreciate the Sussexes have always had a rather nuanced interpretation of privacy with the whole Oprah-induced infamy, infamy, theyve all got it in for me thing. South Parks notorious episode celebrating their World Wide Privacy Tour of every available TV studio perfectly summed up the irony of a couple opining press intrusion while dishing every last piece of dirt on their nearest and dearest to anyone who would listen.

But the children were always supposed to be out of bounds. Lest we forget, the couple refused to tell anyone where they planned to give birth to Archie until the very last minute  forcing their PRs to scramble to inform the media hours after the event that he had, in fact, been born at that celebrity newborn haunt, The Portland.

That pregnancy, Meghan later revealed, was overshadowed by her mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts, amid the stress and isolation of being a member of the Royal family.

Now no ones quite as interested in their bodily functions, disclosure appears to be the new black  for Meghan at least.

While one can imagine Harry preferring to keep his personal space free from social media invaders (notwithstanding his propensity to constantly spill the beans about his daddy issues), the Duchess appears more than willing to let it all hang out these days.

Hence the behind-the-scenes cookery show, the endless podcasts, and the repeated public protestations about her business interests  including just this week revealing As Ever was being paused, before following up hours later with an Instagram post appearing to contradict that claim, announcing more products will arrive next month. Not to mention the bizarre briefings about Spencer surname swaps, which we now learn was allegedly because the couple feared the King was delaying the issuing of their childrens passports over the use of their HRH titles.

Mother of all two-fingered salutes to trolls

You can take the actress out of the spotlight, but you can never quite take the spotlight off the actress. It isnt only queens of England that need to be seen to be believed, you know.

Meghan has insisted that she never reads the news or checks social media. Recollections may vary, however, after she persuaded Gwyneth Paltrow, of Hollywood and vaginal egg fame, to record a kooky clip for the kind of followers who are willing to pay a tenner for a jar of Montecito jam, following claims that there was a rift between the two. (You may recall that Meghan also once claimed to have not really heard of the Royal family, despite being photographed outside Buckingham Palace, aged 15.)

Mindful, perhaps, of the conspiracy theories still swirling online that she was never actually pregnant, its hard not to see the latest video as the mother of all two-fingered salutes to those hurtful trolls. And the nasty media who continually mocked her for stroking her baby bump. An elephant never forgets.

It certainly brings new meaning to that anecdote in Spare about Kate allegedly taking great offence at Meghan discussing her hormones.

One thing we can definitely take from the most eye-popping video ever to be released by a royal is that it doesnt matter if youre a princess or a pauper: baby brain gets us all in the end.
French authorities escorting a small boat last week. Current guidelines prevent French border police intervening offshore except to rescue people. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

The French government plans to begin intercepting small boats carrying asylum seekers even if they are already at sea, a Home Office source has said.

In a move that NGOs claim will endanger lives, it was claimed that French officials agreed this week to draw up plans to begin intervening in waters close to beaches and inland canals.

A Home Office source said the plan was intended to clamp down on boats that taxi up to French beaches from nearby waterways. The French have said this week they will intervene to tackle the taxi boats which are operating inland and near to French beaches to help prevent these dangerous crossings, the source said.

Keir Starmer is attempting to fight off a growing challenge from Nigel Farages Reform UK, and Labour party officials are convinced that rising irregular immigration numbers will be a key issue in future elections.

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, expressed her concern on Monday that French officials were not intercepting boats at sea as swiftly as possible after a record 1,195 people reached the UK in 19 small boats on Saturday. It took the total number of such arrivals so far this year to 14,812, the highest on record.

It was reported that French officials stopped fewer than 200 people from making the journey, but Home Office sources said French authorities had intervened to stop nearly 500 people trying to get into small boats on that day. There was footage of a gendarmes looking on from the beach as people attempting to reach the UK ran into the water and climbed onboard small boats.

Current guidelines prevent French police from intervening offshore unless it is to rescue passengers in distress. In practice, the policy means officers can stop boats leaving the beach by puncturing them, but are restricted once they are in the water.

In February, Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister, said he wanted a change to the rules to enable officers to intervene in the water up to 300 metres from the coast. We have to review our organisation so that we can board these boats  arriving to pick up migrants, he said.

Le Figaro newspaper reported earlier this year that ministry officials were still working on what were being termed the feet in the water guidelines to implement the policy. However, the French maritime daily newspaper Le Marin said the proposed change of rules had been opposed by local police officers.

Cooper has said she wants French border police to intercept the taxi boats not only in the shallow waters as they leave the beaches but also when they make their way from rivers and inland waterways to pick up people on the beach. With heatwaves forecast this summer, there are concerns still larger numbers of people will attempt the perilous crossing.

Traffickers have circumvented rules by asking asylum seekers to wade waist-high into the Channel, where they are picked up by dinghies that were launched from inland canals.

French government sources told the Telegraph on Wednesday that ministers overseeing migration policy had given the green light to stopping boats in the water while respecting the law of the sea.

It is understood that the French authorities have said they will draw up plans to intercept boats in shallow waters within weeks.

Cooper is also planning a new law to fast-track the removal of asylum seekers who arrive from countries deemed to be safe.

A Home Office analysis released on Wednesday morning claimed that the record numbers of people arriving in the UK via small boats could be attributed to favourable weather and greater numbers being crammed into vessels. Figures show there were twice as many red days  when there are calmer conditions in the Channel, meaning crossings are more likely  in the first four months of this year as there were in the same period in 2024.

In the year to April, 47% of boats crossing the Channel had 60 or more people onboard, compared with 2% in the year to April 2022.

The Migration Observatory at Oxford University challenged the Home Office analysis, saying there was no evidence that weather was a major factor in long-term increases in arrivals.

Priti Patel, then Tory home secretary, attempted to draw up plans for UK and French officers to intervene at sea in 2021, but her French counterpart said that France would not accept any practices contrary to the law of the sea. The plans were eventually shelved.

Responding to the latest plans, Steve Smith, the chief executive of Care4Calais, said the plan would cost more lives at sea as gangs and asylum seekers took greater risks to reach the UK.

Last year saw a record number of refugees lose their lives on our border, and still our political leaders risk more deaths rather than create safe routes to claim asylum, he said.

Interceptions in the sea, like the last Tory governments failed attempt to implement pushbacks, have never been tried because they put lives at risk, and are most likely illegal. Like all the other so-called deterrents, and failed security initiatives, this is doomed to fail, but it will cost lives along the way.
Prints and the revolution  from left, Dye Lab, Ichyulu and Sevaria. Composite: Brian Siambi/Dye Lab/Ichyulu/Sevaria,/AKJP Studio

Hello and welcome to The Long Wave. This week, I look at the globalisation of African fashion, and how its popularity is part of a wider cultural takeover.

I use the phrase African fashion purely for convenience. In reality, there is no such thing that can be grouped under one name; there are only themes or regional concentrations. North Africa tends to favour a one-piece  a gallabiya, kaftan or head-to-toe swaddle of cloth. Sub-Saharan Africa is less categorisable, with bold prints and waxy or stiff material in west Africa, white linen in east Africa and intricate beadwork in the south.

But these, too, are vast generalisations because even within each country the influences differ. The category is more a vibe than a style  that is to say, you know African fashion when you see it. And then theres the distinction between fashion and everyday wear: gallabiyas, tobes, boubous, church outfits. Fashion implies a stylised attempt to channel the genre or interpret it, rather than simply elevate casual clothing. It is a genre that is rising in popularity yet hampered by commercial and stylistic limitations.

African and African-inspired fashion houses, based on the continent and abroad, have not only increased in number over the past two decades  African exports amount to more than $15bn a year  they have penetrated the luxury sector. African diaspora designers such as the Haitian-Italian Stella Novarino have become behemoths in the industry, and the Ethiopian model Liya Kebedes brand Lemlem has straddled high end and high street through a recent collaboration with H&M.

Several smaller brands have been going strong for years. Zuri, a brand from Kenya that makes a single trademark patterned dress, has a store in Soho, New York. Dye Lab ships internationally and is holding a series of pop-up stores all over the world in 2025. So numerous and dispersed are these labels that a website, Ichyulu, curates almost 40 of them. The movement reached its cultural watershed at the Met Gala last month, for which the theme was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Several African designers  including Adebayo Oke-Lawal, the Nigerian head of Orange Culture, and South Africas Thebe Magugu  were among those who dressed the stars.

The rise in popularity is partly driven by a surge in purchasing power among the African middle classes, as well as an increase in younger and more affluent consumers of African origin in the diaspora. The mainstreaming of African fashion has followed the mainstreaming of the continents music such as Afrobeats. The likes of Wizkid and Burna Boy have pioneered their own fashion collaborations and iconography, merging cultural influences in a patchwork of styles.

But the rise of African fashion also speaks to two other factors: the growing clout of Black and African-born celebrities, and their adoption of an aesthetic on their own terms, rather than defaulting to the western mainstream. Black celebs have been making more deliberate fashion choices, particularly on the red carpet for Black-led films. The Kenyan-Mexican actor Lupita Nyongo wore a cowrie-shell headpiece at the Wakanda Forever premiere in Los Angeles in 2022 and the Nigerian-born British star of Sinners, Wunmi Mosaku, frequently wears African prints at film launches and festivals. Beyonces collaboration with Tongoro took centre stage during her 2023 tour. The Senegalese brand hailed the tie-up on Instagram with the caption: Welcome to the African Renaissance.

One of the great virtues of African fashion is that it doesnt do mass-market production. Therefore, the quality is higher, the collections smaller and slower to drop, creating a much less disposable shopping experience. But its not cheap. The higher-end brands, which are sold on luxury websites such as Net-a-Porter and featured in Vogue, are inaccessible to the average consumer. Even an item from a smaller brand can cost hundreds of dollars.

There is also the matter of physical presence and logistics. Few of these brands have bricks-and-mortar shops across the continent or in western cities. For those in Africa in particular, online shopping can involve an expensive trial of customs and duties  and you can forget about returns and exchanges. It is a great irony that a fashion movement that subverts western uniform for more authentic styles can sometimes itself end up being exclusive.

That exclusivity can be self-fulfilling. As a consumer, I feel the conceptual elements of African styles can at times overlook the everyday. African prints are indeed bold  the opposite of the popular quiet luxury (and thank God for that)  but there is a middle ground that sometimes is missed. While the few pieces I have hunted down at sales and pop-ups are coveted and loved, I wish there was more that could be blended  a motif, a nod to a tradition, an emblem  that takes the style away from the event and elevates the mundane. African style is not just about statement but also colour, texture, practicality and even a bit of mischief.

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A Florida man is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, claiming he suffered severe injuries while riding a water slide at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park in 2021.

Eugene Strickland filed the lawsuit on May 29 in Orange County, seeking $50,000 in damages for what he describes as "permanent catastrophic injuries."

Strickland says the accident happened on July 31, 2021, when he was riding the Downhill Double Dipper (DDD), a high-speed water slide known for its thrilling drops, CBS News said.

According to Disney's website, riders "disappear into a black hole and plummet 50 feet downhill at exhilarating speeds" before splashing into the water.

Strickland says the ride's fast pace caused him to become airborne and fall off his inner tube, landing hard on the slide's plastic surface.

The lawsuit points out that Strickland weighed 334 pounds at the time  34 pounds over the ride's 300-pound weight limit. Despite this, it is not clear if he was warned about or aware of the weight restriction before riding.

Eugene Strickland is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for $50,000 over injuries he said he sustained after using one of the park's water slides. https://t.co/JUKJS716OQ  CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) June 2, 2025

Lawsuit Alleges Disney Negligence in Water Slide Accident

Strickland claims his fall resulted in "serious bodily injury" including "disability, scarring, disfigurement," along with "mental anguish" and "loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life."

According to NYPost, He blames Disney for not warning guests of the dangers and alleges the water slide's design created a "safety hazard" that contributed to his injuries.

"I suffered serious bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish," the complaint states.

Strickland argues that Disney failed in its "duty to warn him of dangerous conditions" on the slide.

Disney has not yet responded publicly to the lawsuit or requests for comment.

This case adds to a growing number of complaints Disney faces about its water parks this summer. Strickland's suit asks for $50,000 in damages and demands a trial by jury.

The Downhill Double Dipper is a popular attraction at Blizzard Beach, designed like a snowy ski resort but located in sunny Florida. The ride is known for its thrilling drops and fast speeds, with some slides reaching speeds up to 50 mph.

Originally published on vcpost.com
German border police have been told to turn back all undocumented migrants, but the ruling is being challenged in the courts - Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images

Germanys new government has announced plans to designate countries as safe for migrants by ministerial decree, in its latest move to clamp down on illegal immigration.

The new rules mean that the administration in Berlin will no longer require the approval of the countrys upper house before declaring a country safe.

In the past, the Green Party repeatedly used its seats in the Bundesrat, Germanys upper house, to frustrate efforts by the executive to designate North African countries as safe for migrants to be sent back to.

Friedrich Merz, the chancellor, won a national election in February by pledging to crack down on migration and turn away asylum seekers at the border.

Migration is among German voters biggest concerns and a backlash against arrivals has contributed to a rise in the popularity of the hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The new rules were announced by Alexander Dobrindt, the interior minister, on Wednesday, but they still need to pass through both houses of the German federal legislature.

Friedrich Merz has vowed to turn back asylum seekers from Germanys land borders - Reuters

Mr Dobrindt is understood to be planning to declare Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco as safe once the legal change comes into effect.

The reform would allow German authorities to process asylum applications from North African countries in a matter of weeks, thereby avoiding the drawn-out process for regular asylum claims, which typically takes up to two years.

The move would also limit applicants access to legal representation.

Filiz Polat, a senior figure in the Greens, described the move as a far-reaching encroachment on individual rights with serious consequences for refugees.

Anyone who acts in this way is shaking the foundations of our rule of law, she added.

The announcement comes in a week that Germanys new government suffered its first major setback in its efforts to deter migrants and refugees from entering the country.

Mr Dobrindt, a member of Mr Merzs conservative CDU/CSU bloc, issued a decree on his first day in office instructing border police to turn back all undocumented migrants at Germanys land borders.

Border pushback

However, a state court in Berlin sided with three Somali asylum seekers, ruling that the German government did not have the right to reject them without first hearing their asylum claims.

There is now confusion over the legality of the border pushback, but Mr Merzs government has insisted it will maintain the policy until a federal court rules on the matter.

Following a series of deadly attacks by migrants at the start of the year, Mr Merz had pledged to stop all irregular migration at Germanys land borders if elected.

Public dissatisfaction over high levels of migration has strengthened the AfD party, which has repeatedly courted controversy with its views on Islam.

The most recent incident involved a social media post addressed to all Muslims, stating that whatever you eat, your food was fertilised with pig s---. The post was later deleted, with party leadership calling it unacceptable.

After launching his chancellorship with a whirlwind of European diplomacy, Mr Merz has flown to Washington for a first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday.

Amid US threats to impose heavy sanctions on the EU  and the US presidents repeated jibes about German freeloading on American security  the visit is being closely watched in Europes largest economy.

The German press has been full of advice for the chancellor ahead of the visit.

The Suddeutsche Zeitung, Germanys leading liberal newspaper, advised him to avoid unnecessary arguments, while other outlets have reported that Mr Merz prepared meticulously for the meeting over several weeks.

Mr Merz, who speaks fluent English and previously worked for US financial giant BlackRock, has expressed confidence that he can win over Mr Trump, stating that he understands how Americans tick.
Remembering October 7: If it were not for Hamass massacre, we would not be seeing the current situation - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE

The situation in Gaza is intolerable and appalling, the Prime Minister told MPs. Whose fault is that? Sir Keir Starmer laid the blame at Israels door, whereas just a few months ago culpability would have been attached to Hamas.

The terror group has got precisely what it wanted: international opinion has turned against Israel and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu must take steps to make sure they are not aiding and abetting this. He and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) must avoid turning a just cause  the defence of their homeland from the murderous predations of its enemies  into a diplomatic coup for the perpetrators.

Hamas thinks nothing of using hospitals, schools or other civilian buildings to house its command posts, knowing they will be targeted by the IDF seeking to extirpate the groups command structure. Inevitably civilians are killed, but the terrorist group considers them expendable.

Now, Hamas is using the efforts to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians to further its media campaign against Israel. It is no longer able to control the delivery of food and other emergency supply because Jerusalem has cut the United Nations out of the loop. The reason for this is that when the UN ran the convoys they were intercepted by Hamas which then sold the goods at marked up prices. Israels attempts to stop this has led to riots at aid posts, with the IDF firing on queues.

This is reported by the BBC with little in the way of context. Of course, it is appalling to see civilians die in these circumstances and a ceasefire deal on terms set out by the US  accepted by Israel but rejected by Hamas  would be the best way forward.

But such an outcome is increasingly difficult to achieve when the BBCs narrative that Israel is always in the wrong permeates into the political discourse. The Trump administration has criticised the Corporation for accepting Hamass word at face value, something BBC chiefs deny. Israel is also furious with what it considers to be biased reporting.

The BBC invariably reports the worst of Israel, only to add the caveat that it cannot verify reports because it is denied access to Gaza. This makes it naively vulnerable to Hamas propaganda, which it seems all too ready to swallow.

There is a way around this, which is for Israel to lift its ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza independently to let them see for themselves.
Neil Gray claims he would support proposals to establish more drug consumption centres - Ken Jack

The SNPs health minister has been accused of arrogance after backing a rollout of more drug consumption rooms before a pilot scheme in Glasgow has been evaluated.

Neil Gray told members of the Scottish affairs committee that he would support proposals to establish more centres, despite concerns that the Thistle injection facility, which opened in January, is feeding, rather than tackling, drug addiction.

Appearing before the committee via video link on Wednesday, Mr Gray said: Clearly, we will be evaluating the efficacy of the drug consumption facility at Glasgow during its pilot operation.

If any other area in Scotland is looking to come forward with their own safe consumption facility, then they will need to come forward with those proposals. That does not necessitate having to wait until the end of the Glasgow pilot, that could happen before then.

Mr Gray told MPs investigating the work of the Thistle that Edinburgh was among the areas to have expressed interest in establishing drug consumption facilities.

The Scottish Conservatives accused the SNP of failing to tackle a shameful level of drug deaths and called on Mr Gray to confirm that his government would wait for a full report on the Thistle before agreeing to support more consumption rooms.

Annie Wells, the partys shadow minister for drugs, said: This is a breathtaking display of arrogance from Neil Gray.

Local people living near to the Thistle in Glasgow have recently described it as a warzone and are deeply concerned about rising criminal behaviour in their community, yet the SNPs health secretary wants to plough ahead with more of these facilities.

Rather than put all his eggs in one basket, he should finally give his backing to the Right to Recovery Bill which would guarantee access to treatment for all those who need it.

The Thistle Centre opened earlier this year after a decade-long wrangle between the UK and Scottish governments, with the latter seeking an exemption from the Misuse of Drugs Act to ensure users of the facility are not prosecuted.

Eventually, Scotlands top law officer ruled it would not be in the public interest to seek to prosecute users of the service, which allows people to inject drugs, paving the way for it to open.

John Swinney and Neil Gray on a visit to the Thistle Centre, the pilot facility for safer drug usage - Jane Barlow/Getty Images

Dame Diana Johnson, the Home Office minister, told the Scottish affairs committee that the UK Government does not support drug consumption facilities and would not be persuaded to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act if the UKs first legal drug consumption room in Glasgow is a success.

She said: We look at evidence, we have experts, we have the ACMD (advisory council on the misuse of drugs) who offer advice, we look at evidence all the time.

But I just really want to be clear with you, we do not support drug consumption facilities, its not our policy and we will not be amending the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Injection bay areas in the Using Space at The Thistle - Jane Barlow/PA

Angus MacDonald, the Liberal Democrat MP, said his jaw just dropped open at the ministers statement and told her: Youre basically condemning thousands of people to death, in my opinion.

He added: If the Thistle turns out to be a great success within a year, I would be so excited about rolling that out everywhere.

Dame Diana rejected his assertion, saying: I dont accept that, with the greatest of respect. This is not the only thing that we can do to deal with drug misuse and I think the UK Government is very clear that there are a number of measures that can be used.

Earlier this year, the Centre for Social Justice, a centre-Right think tank, warned that the consumption room is a disaster waiting to happen. It said its research suggested the plan would not work as places that brought in similar measures had not delivered the promised results in tackling addiction.
A Walgreens store. Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP

Hundreds of arrests across 28 states were made last week in what officials are saying is an unprecedented national effort to curb rising rates of organized retail theft.

The initiative, led by the Cook county regional organized crime taskforce in Illinois, brought together more than 100 law enforcement agencies and over 30 major retailers, CNBC reported Wednesday. The retailers include Target, Macys, Home Depot, Walgreens and Kroger.

The retailers also played a key role in the crackdown by supplying critical information. Ulta Beauty participated in nine states, sharing data on criminal activity with law enforcement.

Related: LGBTQ+ leaders condemn Trump plan to drop Harvey Milks name from navy ship

Marty Maloney, director of media relations at Walgreens, told CNBC that organized retail crime remains one of the most significant challenges in the retail industry. He added that during the crackdown operation, the company worked closely with law enforcement partners across nearly 20 cities and at over 40 locations to help curb this trend.

Organized retail crime involves groups of individuals stealing merchandise in coordinated operations, often reselling the goods for profit. Authorities say this form of crime has become more sophisticated and widespread in recent years.

A 2024 survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) found that, compared with 2019, retailers saw a 93% spike in shoplifting incidents and a 90% rise in the financial losses tied to those thefts. The NRF previously claimed that organized retail crime accounted for nearly half of the shopping industrys $94.5bn inventory losses in 2021, but later retracted those claims.

When you give specific focus to a crime, it reverberates, the Cook county sheriff Tom Dart told CNBC. When they see it is being prosecuted and taken seriously, it deters conduct. They dont want to get caught.

Eileen ONeill Burke, the Cook county states attorney, made combating retail theft a priority since she took office in December. She announced that felony charges would be pursued whenever the value of stolen goods exceeds $300, or when suspects have prior felony shoplifting convictions, standards that align with state law.




Hugo Aguilar delivers a speech during his election campaign for Mexico's supreme court of justice in San Agustin Tlacotepec, Oaxaca state, last month. Photograph: Jorge Luis Plata/Reuters

An Indigenous lawyer from the state of Oaxaca is set to become the president of Mexicos supreme court following the countrys unprecedented elections to appoint its entire judicial system by popular vote.

Activists hailed the election of Hugo Aguilar, a member of the Mixtec Indigenous group, as a symbolic victory  while noting that Aguilar, who topped the poll of candidates for the supreme court, had long since shifted from his own roots as an activist to a figure much more closely aligned with the state, and involved in controversial mega-projects such as the Maya Train.

[Aguilar] is a brilliant lawyer, wrote Joaquin Galvan, a defender of Indigenous rights in Oaxaca, on X. But while they say we the Indigenous are represented in him, in reality he has spent almost 20 years operating for the government, not for [Indigenous] peoples.

Sundays vote was the result of a radical reform by the governing Morena party, which said it would reduce corruption and impunity in the judicial system by making it more responsive to popular opinion.

But the concept was challenged by critics who said it would destroy the separation of powers and could flood the judicial system with unqualified candidates backed by opaque interests. Many career judges chose not to run.

Roughly 2,600 posts, from local magistrates to supreme court justices, were up for grabs. Given the sheer number of positions and candidates involved, critics had warned that a low turnout was likely. Parts of the opposition also called for a boycott.

In the event, just 13% of Mexicans voted, a record low in a federal election.

Related: Mexican president hails complete success after just 13% vote in judicial elections

The turnout was frankly meagre, said Javier Martin Reyes, a constitutional law professor at Mexicos Unam university. The government has tried to argue that voters were demanding this reform. But this has been proven false.

Sheinbaum described the process as a complete success, adding: Mexico is the most democratic country in the world.

There was evidence of illegal party interference in the elections through the distribution of cheat sheets telling people how to vote, largely with the names of the governments favoured candidates.

All nine of the new justices on the supreme court were included on such cheat sheets. Most have ties to the governing party, meaning it may no longer act as a check on Morenas executive power, as it has in the past.

Aguilar is among them, having served as a senior official at the National Institute for Indigenous Peoples during the government of Sheinbaums predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

One of Aguilars campaign promises was to promote justice for Indigenous communities and the environment  yet under Lopez Obrador he coordinated consultations for mega-projects such as the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Corridor, a train-and-port system to connect trade between the Pacific and the Atlantic, that were riddled with irregularities.

Two other candidates with previous ties to Morena are Maria Rios, who served as legal counsel to Lopez Obrador when he was president, and Irving Espinosa, who was an adviser to Morena lawmakers.

Three sitting justices who decided to run were all re-elected: Lenia Batres, Yasmin Esquivel and Loretta Ortiz. All three were initially nominated by Lopez Obrador and have largely voted in favour of Morena governments.

It is not certain how justices with past ties to Morena will vote, but if they band together they could give Sheinbaum a decisive majority on Mexicos highest court.

Even those with more independent profiles might fear to go against the executive, said Martin Reyes.

Morena and its allies have a supermajority  they can change the constitution at any moment, start political trials, remove [the justices] immunity, said Martin Reyes. These people will live under the threat of sanction.

The National Electoral Institute will continue to release results over the next week, including for the powerful new disciplinary tribune, tasked with supervising judges, and the top electoral court.

Preliminary results suggest Morena may have significant influence in the first of those, too.

These elections were a failure and a success, said Martin Reyes. A failure in terms of democratic participation  but a success in terms of political capture.
Palestinians carry provisions supplied by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on Tuesday. Photograph: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

A US-backed group operating food distribution sites in Gaza has announced that its operations would be suspended for a second day on Thursday, due to maintenance and repair work, as the Israeli army warned that roads leading to distribution centres were considered combat zones.

After Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians, killing at least 27 and injuring hundreds, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) pressed Israel to improve civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its distribution sites.

GHF initially said its operations would be suspended for a single day, but after security talks with the Israeli army on Wednesday, the group posted a message on social media, saying operations would not resume on Thursday.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is working to make the distribution of food boxes as safe as possible, despite the difficult circumstances. We strongly urge all those heading to our locations to follow the routes set by the IDF to ensure safe passage, it said. It did not give any further details.

Related: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation names US evangelical leader as new chair

The GHF had previously said it had asked the Israeli military to guide foot traffic in a way that minimises confusion or escalation risks near military perimeters, develop clearer guidance for civilians and enhance training to support civilian safety. Our top priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid, said a GHF spokesperson.

An Israeli military spokesperson warned civilians against moving in areas leading to GHF sites on Wednesday, deeming them combat zones.

The previous day, GHF announced that its distribution points would be closed on Wednesday for update, organisation and efficiency improvement work.

The killing of the 27 or more Palestinians was the third such shooting in three days, and Israel admitted on Tuesday for the first time that its forces shot at Palestinians. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops fired shots near a food distribution complex after noticing a number of suspects moving towards them.

The forces fired evasive shots, and after they did not move away, additional shots were fired near the individual suspects who were advancing towards the forces. The individuals were moving towards forces in a way that posed a threat to them, the military said, without specifying who the suspects were.

A spokesperson for the GHF, which has taken over the distribution of food in Gaza and is backed by Israel, told the Associated Press that the group was saddened to learn that a number of civilians were injured and killed after moving beyond the designated safe corridor.

The shooting occurred at the same site where on Sunday more than 30 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while they were heading to the distribution hub.

The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, said the deadly attacks on civilians around food distribution points was a war crime.

Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable, Turk said. Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.

Witnesses told the Guardian that the shooting started in the citys Flag Roundabout area, about a kilometre from the food distribution hub.

Fadi Abu Mohammad, 43, said his relative Mohammad Abu Shamala, 22, was killed near the food distribution site. When gunfire opened on the civilians, he was struck by a bullet in the back and died instantly, Fadi said.

He was supposed to get married next month. Going back to the aid distribution is a huge risk and a potential death sentence, but everyone who went had no other choice. If they arent killed by bullets or shelling, they will die of hunger.

Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies in March, claiming Hamas was seizing deliveries for its fighters. The group denies this and aid officials in Gaza have denied there is evidence of any widespread diversion of supplies at any stage of the conflict. In May a global hunger monitor said half a million people in the Strip faced starvation.

The GHF took over the handling of food relief despite objections from the UN and other humanitarian organisations, which criticised the new system for food distribution, saying it would not be able to meet the needs of Gazas 2.3 million people, and that it allowed Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population.

On Tuesday, an evangelical leader and adviser to Donald Trump on interfaith issues was appointed as the new head of the GHF. Johnnie Moore, a member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and founder of the boutique advisory firm Kairos Company, replaced Jake Wood, a former marine, who resigned saying he could not guarantee the GHFs independence from Israeli interests.

Coverage of the war in Gaza is constrained by Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists and a bar on international reporters entering the Gaza Strip to report independently on the war.

Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, unless they are under Israeli military escort. Reporters who join these trips have no control over where they go, and other restrictions include a bar on speaking to Palestinians in Gaza.

Palestinian journalists and media workers inside Gaza have paid a heavy price for their work reporting on the war, with over 160 killed since the conflict began.

The committee to protect journalists has determined that at least 19 of them were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders.

Foreign reporters based in Israel filed a legal petition seeking access to Gaza, but it was rejected by the supreme court on security grounds. Private lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli government.

To ensure accurate reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the ground; our visual teams verify photo and videos from third parties; and we use clearly sourced data from organisations that have a track record of providing accurate information in Gaza during past conflicts, or during other conflicts or humanitarian crises.

Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Middle East correspondent

Moore has been a vocal defender of the GHF and has bristled at public criticism of the rollout, telling the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, on X that reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking food supplies in Gaza were a lie  spread by terrorists.

The UN security council is expected to vote on Wednesday on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza, where malnutrition is widespread and food relief has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade in late May.

It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking  and in several instances losing  their lives just trying to get food, a UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said on Tuesday, adding that the food distribution model backed by the US and Israel was a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what is going on.

At least 48 people were killed by Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, including 14 in a single strike on a tent sheltering displaced people, the civil defence agency said.

Israels military campaign has killed more than 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gazas health ministry.

Reuters contributed to this report
Karine Jean-Pierre in the press briefing room at the White House on 30 October 2024. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as White House press secretary for Joe Biden, has left the Democratic party to become an independent, according to the publisher of her forthcoming book.

Jean-Pierre, who served two Democratic White Houses, is expected to detail the weeks that preceded Bidens monumental decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, per a preview of the book, which is set to be published this fall.

The book, titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, promises a detailed recounting of the three weeks that led to Bidens abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic party that led to his decision.

The book will be published by Legacy Lit, a Hachette Book Group imprint.

Jean-Pierres announcement comes as the party has been forced to reckon with its decision to staunchly support Bidens decision to seek a second term as the oldest serving president in American history and despite voter concerns about his age and mental acuity. Tensions between Jean-Pierre and the White House press corps grew tense last year, as reporters pressed for more access and transparency around the presidents health.

New reporting on Bidens presidency presents a scathing account of efforts by his close staff and allies to hide the extent of his deterioration. In the midst of the debate, Bidens office announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

In comments since leaving the White House, Jean-Pierre described Democrats response to Bidens disastrous June debate against Trump, in which he appeared disoriented and listless, as a firing squad.

I had never seen anything like that before, she said during a discussion hosted by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School in late February, describing the rising tide of calls demanding he abandon his re-election campaign. It was truly, truly unfortunate. And I think it hurt us more than folks realized.

Jean-Pierre did not arrive lightly at her decision to leave the Democratic party, according to the publisher. The book, billed as a hard-hitting yet hopeful critique, will make the case for why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents.

In a series of Instagram posts promoting her book, Jean-Pierre said it was time to free ourselves from boxes, joining a growing trend of Americans who do not identify as Democrats or Republicans. According to the latest Gallup poll, far more Americans  43%  consider themselves to be independents than Democrats  28%  or Republicans, also 28%.

As a history maker, veteran public servant, political analyst and independent thinker, she urges Americans to think outside of the blue-and-red box as we consider whats next to save our democracy, the publisher said.

Jean-Pierre was the first Black woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as White House press secretary, assuming the role after Jen Psaki departed the position.
Demonstrators outside the Houses of Parliament on 4 June protest against UK policy on Israel. Photograph: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Keir Starmer has called Israels recent actions in Gaza appalling, counterproductive and intolerable, as the UK government comes under mounting pressure to take stronger action after the killings of dozens of civilians at food points in recent days.

The prime minister told MPs on Wednesday the UK was considering imposing sanctions on members of the Israeli government, but is so far resisting growing calls for a complete ban on arms sales and immediate recognition of Palestine.

Starmer was speaking after several attacks at food distribution hubs in recent days left dozens of people dead and hundreds more injured.

The attacks prompted British aid charities to step up calls for urgent humanitarian and political action, and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) described conditions in Gaza as worse than hell on earth.

With protests taking place outside the Commons and growing unease from MPs inside it, Starmer said: Israels recent action is appalling and, in my view, counterproductive and intolerable.

He added: We will keep looking at further action, along with our allies, including sanctions, but let me be absolutely clear: we need to get back to a ceasefire, we need the hostages, who have been held for a very long time, to be released, and we desperately need more aid, at speed and at volume, into Gaza, because it is an appalling and intolerable situation.

The ICRC president, Mirjana Spoljaric, said what was happening in Gaza surpassed any acceptable legal, moral and humane standard that humanity was failing and that the Palestinian people had been stripped of human dignity.

Oxfam UK said conditions in Gaza had reached a level of inhumanity that is inconceivable in modern times. It said there was a massive disconnect between public despair at events in Gaza and what it called the complacency of political leaders.

Oxfam UKs chief executive, Halima Begum, said: It is beyond comprehension that aid distribution points should be turned into killing fields.

The Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said later on Wednesday that if Israel did not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in this place. He added: I will not say from the dispatch box today when that might be.

Falconer was confronted on Wednesday by angry MPs from multiple parties demanding stronger British action on sanctions, weapons sales and Palestinian recognition. Dozens of Labour and Tory MPs have recently signed letters to the prime minister calling for Palestine to be recognised immediately but have so far not received a response.

Paula Barker, a Labour backbencher, asked: What more evidence do we need to call this exactly what it is  a deliberate policy of annexation and genocide?

Kit Malthouse, a Conservative MP, said: Were all, frankly, getting a bit fed up with the theatrics in this chamber. And, if Im honest with the minister, it feels like the whole house is being played. He shows up, he mouths the words full of condemnation and being appalled, and very occasionally, the government leaks out just enough sanctions, frankly, Im afraid, to keep the Labour benches from open revolt.

Malthouses Tory colleague Jeremy Wright added: I now believe its necessary for the UK, hopefully, in conjunction with others, to recognise the state of Palestine. Why has it not yet?

The former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn successfully passed a bill calling for an independent inquiry into British involvement in Israeli military action in Gaza. The inquiry is unlikely ever to happen, however, because the government will not support a substantive vote that would enable one to be set up.

While MPs were debating in the Commons chamber, dozens of protesters gathered outside, one of whom was arrested after an altercation with a police officer at the gates of parliament.

Falconer confirmed to MPs that the government was reconsidering its position on Palestinian statehood, and that ministers were open to the idea of immediate recognition.

Government sources said one option was to make an announcement at or after a UN conference later this month being hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to talk about a two-state solution. The government is keen to secure compromises in exchange, including an agreement by Hamas to leave Gaza entirely.

On arms sales, ministers have already cancelled licences for many of the weapons Britain used to sell to Israel, saying it would only export defensive arms in the future. The Guardian revealed last month that British companies had managed to export thousands of military items to Israel, including munitions.

Meanwhile, ministers are fighting a legal case to be allowed to continue making spare parts for American-made F-35s, which are used by Israel but also by many Nato allies. They argue that stopping such sales could harm other non-Israeli partners.

The ICRC, which is in effect the guardian of the Geneva conventions governing the conduct of war, is carefully diplomatic in its dealings with warring parties and normally does not speak publicly about convention violations.

However, Spoljaric told the BBC in an interview that Israels current actions in Gaza amounted to a hollowing out of international law and not enough was being done by to end the war, stop Palestinian suffering and release Israeli hostages.

She highlighted the level of destruction and suffering in Gaza, and said the world was watching a people being entirely stripped of its dignity and this should really shock our collective conscience.

She added: State leaders are under an obligation to act. Im calling on them to do something, and to do more, and do what they can, Because it will reverberate, it will haunt them, it will reach their doorsteps.

On Tuesday the ICRC reported that its Rafah field hospital in southern Gaza, which is close to a food distribution site, had received 184 patients in what it called a mass casualty influx. It said 19 patients were dead on arrival, the majority with gunshot wounds. Eight more died from their wounds.
A wounded girl in Nasser hospital, Gaza on Tuesday after Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on Palestinians gathering to receive supplies in Rafah. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

On Sunday, at least 31 Palestinians were killed after Israeli forces opened fire at the site of a food distribution centre in Rafah, Gaza, according to witnesses. On Monday, another three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire at the same site, according to health officials and a witness. And on Tuesday, 27 people were killed after Israeli forces opened fire again, say Gaza officials.

The incidents have intensified criticism of the new system for distributing supplies in Gaza, run by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) rather than by the UN or well-established aid organisations. The UNs human rights chief, Volker Turk, said on Tuesday that Palestinians in Gaza now faced an impossible choice: Die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available. The attacks on civilians, he added, constituted a war crime.

What do we know about the incidents in recent days?

All three incidents unfolded in the same area, near the al-Alam roundabout, about 1km from the GHF distribution centre in Rafah. The Israeli military is not present on the site itself  where armed American contractors are in charge  but it controls the surrounding areas.

On Sunday, rescuers and witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire as people congregated before going to pick up food parcels. Israel denied firing near or within the site, but an Israeli military source later acknowledged that warning shots were fired towards several suspects about 1km away. The GHF denied that there were any injuries, fatalities or incidents during its operations. Gazas civil defence agency reported that 31 people were killed, with another 176 wounded.

On Monday, the Israeli military again acknowledged firing warning shots towards suspects who advanced toward the troops and posed a threat to them. Three people were killed, said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and dozens more injured.

On Tuesday, witnesses said that the shooting started at about 4am local time, as crowds started to gather in the hope of getting food before the centre ran out for the day. Mohammed al-Shaer told AFP that the Israeli army fired shots into the air, then began shooting directly at the people, with a helicopter and drones present as the crowd approached a barrier separating them from the Israeli forces.

The IDF said suspects failed to retreat after warning fire and additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects who advanced towards the troops. A statement claimed that they were not following designated access routes to the GHF site. The GHF says civilians should arrive via a single coastal road, a route that one expert told the BBC was neither safe nor effective.

Local health officials put the death toll at 27 so far, including at least three children. Mohammed Saqr, the head of nursing at Nasser hospital, which received the bodies, told the Guardian that they had shrapnel wounds which appeared consistent with being targeted by tanks or artillery.

What do these events suggest about how the GHF system is working?

Accounts from the scene suggest that besides the conduct of the Israeli forces, there are other factors exacerbating the situation.

Food is reportedly running out very early each day, adding to the chaos as people desperately try to secure supplies for themselves and their families. Even if all of the GHF sites were opened, large numbers of people needing support would be congregating in a very few places; with only one site up and running since Friday and only one access route allowed, that effect is worsened.

Then there is the sheer physical difficulty of the journey for those living further away. It takes three or four hours to reach the distribution point from here, said Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza City.

There are tens of thousands of people waiting to get a very limited amount of food parcels, and so there is a rush. There is no system; they just open the gate and tell people to go. The mechanism excludes older people, women with children, the sick, people with disabilities.

Is the amount of food being distributed adequate?

GHF says it has distributed just over 7m meals so far. It says that it will continue to increase its operations in the days ahead. But on Tuesday night it said that all of its distribution centres would be closed on Wednesday for update, organisation, and efficiency improvement work. The Israeli military said that while the sites were closed, the areas leading to them would be considered combat zones.

The fact that food is running out so early each day is testament to how badly supply is outstripped by desperate demand. As of 12 May, almost all of the population of about 2.1 million were facing acute hunger, according to Unicef; one in five were facing starvation, and about 71,000 children and 17,000 mothers needed urgent treatment for acute malnutrition.

Coverage of the war in Gaza is constrained by Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists and a bar on international reporters entering the Gaza Strip to report independently on the war.

Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, unless they are under Israeli military escort. Reporters who join these trips have no control over where they go, and other restrictions include a bar on speaking to Palestinians in Gaza.

Palestinian journalists and media workers inside Gaza have paid a heavy price for their work reporting on the war, with over 160 killed since the conflict began.

The committee to protect journalists has determined that at least 19 of them were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders.

Foreign reporters based in Israel filed a legal petition seeking access to Gaza, but it was rejected by the supreme court on security grounds. Private lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli government.

To ensure accurate reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the ground; our visual teams verify photo and videos from third parties; and we use clearly sourced data from organisations that have a track record of providing accurate information in Gaza during past conflicts, or during other conflicts or humanitarian crises.

Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Middle East correspondent

Is there any reason to hope that the process will improve?

While the GHF has sought to emphasise the amount of food it has distributed so far, there are reasons to be sceptical that it will soon be able to start running the sites in a more orderly way.

Its founding executive director, Jake Wood, quit last week, saying that it could not operate in a way that followed humanitarian principles; on Tuesday, he was replaced by the Rev Dr Johnnie Moore. Donald Trump appointed Moore as a commissioner for international religious freedom, but Moore has no apparent experience of complex aid operations. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that Boston Consulting Group, which helped design the programme, had withdrawn its team working in Tel Aviv. Sources close to the operation told the Post that it would be difficult for the foundation to continue to function without the consultants who helped create it.

As the situation worsens, Israel is facing growing diplomatic pressure from the UK, other European countries and Canada. But the Trump administration continues to offer its unflagging support, and is likely to veto a UN security council resolution demanding unfettered access for aid operations on Wednesday.

In those circumstances, it is difficult to see how the situation on the ground will improve. People have no option but to keep coming, Shawa said. They will be back tomorrow in search of food. But they will pay a price to get it, and the price is in lives.
A screengrab from footage released by Ukraine on Wednesday of its major drone strike on four Russian military airbases. Photograph: X | @DefenceU

As Vladimir Putin pledges to retaliate against Ukraine for last weekends unprecedented drone attack, Kremlin advisers and figures around Donald Trump have told the US president that the risk of a nuclear confrontation is growing, in an attempt to pressure him to further reduce US support for Ukraine.

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund and an important intermediary between the Kremlin and Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff, called the Ukrainian drone strike an attack on Russian nuclear assets, and echoed remarks from Maga-friendly figures warning of the potential for a third world war.

Clear communication is urgent  to grasp reality and the rising risks before its too late, Dmitriev wrote, adding a dove emoji.

Ukraine claimed that the strike damaged more than 40 Russian planes, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M heavy bombers that have been used to launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities throughout the war, killing thousands and damaging crucial infrastructure that delivers heat and electricity to millions more.

But those planes can also carry weapons armed with nuclear warheads, and are part of a nuclear triad along with submarine and silo-based missiles that form the basis for a system of deterrence between Russia and the United States.

After a phone call between the two leaders on Wednesday, Trump said: President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

Related: Operation Spiderweb: a visual guide to Ukraines destruction of Russian aircraft

Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994, in return for security assurances from the US, the UK and Russia.

Those skeptical of US support for Ukraine are seizing on the risks of a nuclear confrontation to argue that the conflict could possibly spin out of control.

Maga (Make America great again) influencers such as Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk have openly condemned the drone attack, with Bannon likening the strike to Japans attack on Pearl Harbor and Kirk writing: Most people arent paying attention, but were closer to nuclear war than weve been since this began in 2022.

But more centrist advisers within the Trump camp  including some who have closer links to Ukraine  are also warning that the risks of a nuclear conflict are growing as they seek to maintain Trumps interest in brokering a peace.

The risk levels are going way up, Keith Kellogg, Trumps envoy for Ukraine and Russia, told Fox News. When you attack an opponents part of their [nuclear] triad, your risk level goes up because you dont know what the other side is going to do. And thats what they did.

Kellogg also repeated rumours that Ukraine had struck the Russian nuclear fleet at Severomorsk, although reports of an explosion there have not been confirmed. He said the US was trying to avoid an escalation.

Other current and former members of the administration skeptical of US support for Ukraine have also vocally opposed the drone strikes.

It is not in Americas interest for Ukraine to be attacking Russias strategic nuclear forces the day before another round of peace talks, said Dan Caldwell, an influential foreign policy adviser who was a senior aide to Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon until he was purged amid a scandal over leaks last month.

This has the potential to be highly escalatory and raises the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and Nato, he said. US should not only distance itself from this attack but end any support that could directly or indirectly enable attacks against Russian strategic nuclear forces.

It is not the first time that concerns over Russias use of a nuclear weapon have been used to try to temper US support for Ukraine.

As Moscows forces were routed near Kharkiv and in the south at Kherson in September 2022, Russian officials sent signals that the Kremlin was considering using a battlefield nuclear weapon, senior Biden officials have said.

National security officials said they believed that if the Russian lines collapsed and left open the potential for a Ukrainian attack on Crimea, there would be a 50% chance that Russia would use a nuclear weapon as a result.

Ukrainian officials have responded by saying that Russia has embellished its threats of a nuclear attack in order to blackmail the US from giving greater support to Ukraine.
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Hajj 2025 Live: Covered in two white sheets and chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (Here I am O Allah, Here I am), over 2 million Muslims from around the world proceed to Mina Wednesday June 04, 2025 as the annual Hajj begins

Friday June 6, 2025 1:12 AM , ummid.com News Network

[Pilgrims in Arafat Thursday Dhul-Hijjah 9, 1446 AH.]

Hajj 2025 Live: After performing the key ritual of Hajj i.e. Standing in the Plains of Arafat on the Day of Arafah, the pilgrims have now started arriving in Muzdalifah.

In Muzdalifah, the pilgrims will combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers - three rakah of Maghrib and two rakah of Isah.

They will now require to spend the night in Muzadlifah before proceeding to Mina aftr Fajr prayers on Eid al Adha, Youm un Nahr on 10th of Dhul Hijjah Friday June 06, 2025.

Earlier, the essence of Islamic brotherhood was in its full display in Arafat where Muslims from all across the world - of different colors, ethnicities, and countries, stood in unison.

The General Statistics (GASTAT) Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, released the tentative figures of the pilgrims who were present in Arafat and performed Hajj on Thursday.

The GASTA said a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims  including 166,654 domestic and 1,506,576 foreign pilgrims, were in Arafat on the Day of Arafah.

Of the total 1,673,230 pilgrims who performed Hajj this year, 877,841 were male and 795,389 were female, the GASTAT said.

Majority of the pilgrims - 1,435,017 arrived by air, 66,465 arrived by road and 5,094 arrived by sea.

[Pilgrims offering Zuhr and Asr shortened prayers in Masjid Namirah, Arafat]

12:50 PM Thursday: Imam e Haram Sheikh Saleh al Humaid is now delivering the Hajj Sermon from Masjid Namirah.

In the Hajj Sermon, Sheikh Saleh explained in details about the 5 pillars of Islam. He concluded the Khutbah with prayers for all, especially the Palestinians currently facing the hardship at the hands of Israelis in Gaza.

Sheik Saleh wrapped up the Khutbah at 12:40 PM local time. After that the Mua'zzin raised the adhan for Zuhr prayers. After offering two rakah of Zuhr prayers, the Imam led two rakah of Asr.

Pilgrims offer shortened Zuhr and Asr prayers in Arafat, with a single Adhan and two Aqamah, as per the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

[Pilgrims on their way to Mount Arafat Thursday Dhul-Hijjah 9, 1446 AH.]

08:00 AM Thursday: After spending the night in Mina, pilgrims are now on their way to Arafat for the key ritual of Hajj - the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.

Arafat stands as one of the most significant sacred sites and the foremost pillar of Hajj, without which the pilgrimage is invalid. Located about 18 kilometers from the Grand Mosque in Makkah, 10 kilometers from Mina, and 6 kilometers from Muzdalifah, the Plain of Arafat spans roughly five square kilometers, accordig to Saudi Press Agency.

As Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, Hajj is Arafah", today, on the 9th of Dhu Al-Hijjah, pilgrims will gather in this sacred location in a majestic display of faith and devotion, uniting their hearts and souls in worship of Allah Almighty.

In Arafat, the pilgrims will offer shortened Zuhr and Asr along with listening to Hajj Sermon. They will then leave for Muzdalifah before the sun set. Pilgrims should note they are required to offer Maghrib prayers in Muzdalifah.

09:00 PM Wednesday: Mina, The Tent City reverberated with chants of Talbiyah  Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik as over 2 million pilgrims, including around 1.5 million from different countries in the world, camped in the Tent City on the first day of annual Hajj Wednesday Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH corresponding to June 04, 2025.

After spending the day and night at Mina the pilgrims will move to the Plains of Arafat Thursday June 05, 2025.

Standing on the Plains of Arafat is the key ritual of Hajj.

In Arafat, the pilgrims will spend the day in prayers and supplications. They will also listen to Arafat sermon delivered by Imam e Haram Sheikh Saleh al Humaid . The Hajj sermon Thursday will be streamed live in 34 languages.

03:00 PM Wednesday: Chanting Talbiyah - Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik, Pilgrims have begun arriving this morning in Mina to spend the Day of Tarwiyah, Dhu Al-Hijjah 8 1446 AH.

This holy site, surrounded by mountains and exclusively inhabited during the Hajj season, is renowned for its historical landmarks, including the three Jamarat pillars and the significant Al-Khayf Mosque, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and previous prophets prayed.

Saudi Arabia prioritizes Mina, recognizing the time pilgrims spend there. It provides extensive security, medical, food, and transportation services to ensure pilgrims' comfort and enable them to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has advised Hujjaj to remain in their camps away from direct sun between 10:00 AM and 04:00 PM today and tomorrow to avoid heat related incidents.

More than 700,000 pilgrims from different countries of the world have already arrived in the Tent City, and more are on their way.

[Aerial View of Makkah's Grand Mosque on Tuesday Dhul-Hijjah 7, 1446 AH.]

09:00 AM Wednesday: Covered in two white sheets and chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (Here I am O Allah, Here I am), over 2 million Muslims from around the world proceed to Mina Wednesday June 04, 2025 as the annual Hajj begins.

Before marching to Mina - The Tent City, the Pilgrims visited the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Qudum (Tawaf of Arrival).

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is performed annually to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hager and their noble son Prophet Ismael (May peace be upon all of them).

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah begins on 8th of Dhul Hijjah - the last month of the Islamic Calendar, when pilgrims march to Mina for a night stay.

On Thursday June 05, 2025 - Youme Arafah, after Fajr - morning prayers, pilgrims will proceed to Arafat. Standing on the Plains of Arafat is the most important ritual of Hajj.

Hajj Steps

1. Hajj begins with pilgrims wearing ahram  two plain white sheets, and chanting Talbiyah (Labbaik) proceeding to Mina  around 10 kms from Makkah on 8th day of Dhul Hjjah - the first day of Hajj called The Day of Tarwiyah.

Pilgrims march to Mina after performing Tawaf Al-Qudum (Tawaf of Arrival). The pilgrims remain in the Tent City for a day and also spend there the night, praying, praying and praying.

2. After Fajr prayers in Mina, pilgrims will proceed to the Plains of Arafat. Standing on the Plains of Arafat on 9th of Dhul Hijjah - Youme Arafah or Hajj Day, is the key ritual of Hajj. Pilgrims are required to be at Arafat till sun set.

3. At Arafat, Pilgrims combine Zuhr and Asr prayers , and also listen to the Hajj Sermon (Hajj Khutbah) from Masjid Namirah. Imam e Haram Sheikh Saleh al Humaid has been appointed as Khateeb of Hajj 1446 AH.

4. Close to sunset on 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the pilgrims will leave for Muzdalifah. Pilgrims should note that they will have to offer Maghrib prayers in Muzdalifah, and not in Arafat.

5. After spending the night in Muzdailfah, pilgrims will in the morning on 10th of Dhul Hijjah proceed to Mina again for stoning of devil and to sacrifice animals. 10th of Dhul Hijjah also marks Eid al Adha. It is also called Youm un Nahr.

Hajj 2025 Live Stream

6. After sacrificing animals, pilgrims will have to go to Makkah and perform Tawaf - circulate the Kaaba seven times (Tawaf e Ziyarat or Ziarah), and then Say between hills of Safa and Marwa. They then drink from Zam-zam well and return to Mina.

7. They will remain in Mina for the next 2 or 3 days, perform stoning of devil again and then return to Masjis Haram in Makkah for Farewell Tawaf. This makes the end of Hajj.

Mashaer Metro Train

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has announced the full operational readiness of the Mashaer Metro Train for the 1446 AH Hajj season starting from Tuesday morning, Dhul Al-Hijjah 7.

SAR has completed its preparations in coordination with various relevant entities, particularly security and service authorities.

Comprehensive operational preparation included nearly 12,000 trial trips since last January, in addition to four full-scale simulation exercises accurately replicating the conditions of the Hajj season to test the readiness of systems, trains, and stations and ensure safe and efficient operations, according to the government owned Saudi Press Agency.

The Mashaer Metro Train operates on five distinct service patterns tailored to the different Hajj rituals, making it a unique transport system globally.

During the Hajj season, the train is scheduled to carry out more than 2,000 trips, aiming to transport over two million passengers with high efficiency and precise organization within those five operational patterns, the SPA said.

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Greg Monks was described by his sisters as a real family man - A/NPZ/SM

A body has been found in the search for a Scottish man who went missing in Portugal.

Greg Monks, 38, disappeared in the coastal city of Albufeira last week, reportedly during a stag party.

Portuguese police said on Wednesday the body of a 38-year-old man had been found.

The Policia Judiciaria said it was located in the Cerro de Aguia area on the outskirts of the holiday resort.

A source said: We are sure its the missing British holidaymakers body. It was discovered at the bottom of a ravine.

Mr Monkss disappearance was reported on May 28 at about 8pm by a man who was on holiday with him.

His sisters, Jillian and Carlyn, previously told Sky News that he was a real family man.

Accident fears

Mr Monks was last seen in the early hours of last Wednesday morning after travelling to the city with a group of friends.

Jillian previously said she was worried Mr Monks may have got lost in unfamiliar surroundings and had an accident after going out drinking with his friends on the Albufeira Strip.

Speaking to Sky Newss The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee before the police announcement, she described her brother as a big part of our family.

Authorities said a post-mortem examination would take place in due course.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the chair of the Delivering on Government Efficiency subcomittee. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has assembled a rogues gallery of extremists, conspiracy theorists and C-team political operatives to promote Donald Trumps crackdown on non-government organisations (NGOs), a congressional watchdog has claimed.

The House of Representatives Delivering on Government Efficiency (Doge) subcommittee, chaired by Greene, is due to hold a hearing on Wednesday entitled Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild.

The subcommittee said in a press release that the hearing will expose the use of federal funds by NGOs to advance radical agendas such as open borders and the Green New Deal scam. It frames its work as an investigation of the alleged funneling of taxpayer dollars to politically motivated groups while lining the pockets of their friends and allies.

But a memo from the Congressional Integrity Project (CIP), obtained by the Guardian, condemns the hearing as political theater, weaponized government oversight and an exercise in hypocrisy, given the substantial federal funding received by Republican allies and rightwing groups.

While attacking civil society organisations for receiving federal grants, the memo says, their own networks have systematically benefited from government contracts, subsidies, and loans worth billions of dollars.

Wednesdays hearing on Capitol Hill will feature witnesses Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies; Daniel Turner, founder and executive director of Power the Future; and Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center.

The CIP describes Greenes lineup as rogues gallery of extremists, conspiracy theorists and C-team political operatives masquerading as government watchdogs.

It notes that the Center for Immigration Studies has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and regularly circulates content from white nationalist and antisemitic writers.

Krikorian has made statements including that Haitis problems stem from not being colonised long enough.

The memo adds that CIS received more than $700,000 in PPP loans and is now under investigation by the justice department for potentially lying to obtain at least one of them. Thats right, Republicans chose as their star witness on government waste someone who may have committed fraud to secure government money for his organization.

The CIP describes Turner as a career political operative who worked for the Charles Koch Institute before founding Power the Future, a climate-denial organisation that attacks environmental groups for receiving federal grants. Yet Turners former employer, Charles Koch, has received more than $750m in government subsidies.

The memo states: Turner, who calls climate change the slippery slope to socialism and promotes conspiracy theories about climate science, represents everything wrong with this sham hearing.

Hes a junior varsity Republican operative masquerading as an objective analyst while advancing the financial interests of the fossil fuel industry  the same interests that have systematically profited from the very government largesse he now pretends to oppose.

Walter leads the Capital Research Center, a secretive organization that wont disclose its donors while attacking others for lacking transparency, the CIP alleges.

His organizations fiscal arrangements appear designed to shield activities from public scrutiny, yet he positions himself as a watchdog exposing liberal dark money.

In 2023, according to the memo, Walter helped funnel nearly $600,000 in anonymous donations to supreme court justice Clarence Thomass wife Ginni Thomass group while his organisation had business before the supreme court, creating conflicts of interest.

Walter also has a history of making or defending offensive statements about race, gender and sexual orientation. He publicly defended a university professor accused of making racist statements, said average Americans have disgust at homosexual practice and in the 1990s mused that one good thing from the Monica Lewinsky scandal might be that feminism will die, that sexual harassment laws will fizzle.

The memo adds: This hearing represents weaponized government oversight at its worst, with Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene assembling hate group leaders, conspiracy theorists, and dark money operatives to attack civil society organizations while the very people crying about government waste have pocketed billions in federal contracts and subsidies.
Artists protest opposite parliament calling on the government to ditch plans to allow AI firms to use their work without payment. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Defiant peers have delivered an ultimatum to the government  calling on it to offer artists copyright protection against artificial intelligence companies or risk losing a key piece of legislation.

The government suffered a fifth defeat in the House of Lords over controversial plans to allow the AI companies to train their models using copyrighted material.

Peers voted by 221 to 116 on Wednesday to insist on an amendment to force AI companies to be transparent about what material they use to train their models.

We will not back down and we will not quietly go away. This is just the beginning Elton John

Speaking at an awards event after the vote, Elton John said copyright protection was an existential issue for artists and urged the government to do the right thing.

He added: We will not let the government forget their promise to support our creative industries. We will not back down and we will not quietly go away. This is just the beginning.

Wednesday nights vote prolongs a lengthy standoff between the Commons and Lords over the data bill, which has been used as a vehicle by campaigners to oppose the governments proposed copyright reforms.

Resistance to the changes in the Lords has been led by Beeban Kidron, a cross-bench peer and film director, whose amendments have been repeatedly backed by the upper chamber.

The data bill now faces the prospect of being shelved unless the Commons accepts the Kidron amendment or proposes an alternative.

Maggie Jones, the Lords minister for the digital economy and online safety, had urged peers to vote against the Kidron amendment after the government offered last-minute concessions in an attempt to stave off another defeat.

Before the vote, Jones said peers were choosing whether they want the entire bill to fall and that by voting for Kidrons amendment they would countenance the unprecedented  to try to collapse a bill that does nothing to weaken copyright law but included other important measures including to combat sexually explicit deepfake images.

Kidron told peers: This is our last chance to ask the government to provide a meaningful solution and urged ministers to set out concrete steps to subject AI companies to copyright rules.

It is not fair, not reasonable, not just, balanced or any other such word to stand in the way of the creative industries identifying those who are taking their work or their property. It is not neutral  it is aiding and abetting what we have called in the house widespread theft.

We have asked privately and repeatedly on the floor of both houses what is the government going to do to stop the work of creatives from being stolen right now? The answer is nothing.

Several peers pushed back against the suggestion that the Lords move was unprecedented and said the government was itself breaking precedent by not compromising. Tim Clement-Jones, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the digital economy, offered his partys staunch support for Kidrons amendment.

The Lords move puts the data bill in double insistence territory. This means the Commons and Lords cannot reach agreement over legislation. In this scenario, under parliamentary convention, the bill would fall unless ministers accept the rebel amendment or offer an alternative. A bill falling is extremely rare but not without precedent  it happened to the European parliamentary elections bill in the 1997-98 session.

Under parliamentary convention, the Commons has primacy as the elected house, and in rare instances where the Lords refuses to back down ministers can resort to the Parliament Act to pass the bill in the next parliamentary session. This would significantly delay the legislation.

In concessions offered to peers on Tuesday night, the government said it would commit to publishing further technical reports on the future of AI and copyright regulation and do so within nine months instead of 12.

A number of noble Lords have voiced concerns during ping-pong that the government is not listening. This is simply not the case, Jones said in her letter, reiterating that ministers regretted the way the Lords rebels had gone about the changes.

Jones stressed that the data bill was expected to generate 10bn of economic benefit by updating data protection law and that it would improve online safety, including by strengthening powers to ask social media companies to preserve data after the death of a child.

Kidron said: It is in the gift of the government to accept the amendment, or put something meaningful in its place. They have failed to listen to the Lords, they have failed to listen to the creative sector, they have failed to listen to their own backbenchers.

Under the governments proposals, AI companies would be allowed to train their models using copyrighted work without permission unless the owner opts out. The plans have been fiercely criticised by creators and publishers including high-profile artists such as Paul McCartney and Tom Stoppard.

Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, has said he regretted the decision to launch a consultation on changing copyright law with the opt-out system as the preferred option. Campaigners against the changes believe that there is resistance inside Downing Street to making more substantial concessions.
A fresh police search has begun 18 years after the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. (PA)

The surrounding areas of more abandoned buildings are being cleared near the area where Madeleine McCann was last seen before her disappearance in Portugal 18 years ago.

As the new search enters its second day, teams could be seen using hedge trimmers around more run-down buildings in the same scrubland area on the outskirts of Lagos where teams started investigations on Tuesday. A digger was seen picking up rubble from one abandoned structure in countryside a few miles from Praia da Luz, where Madeleines family was staying on holiday when she vanished in May 2007.

The search operation marks the first since 2023, when a search of the Barragem do Arade reservoir failed to provide any new leads or evidence against principal suspect Christian Brueckner.

One of the derelict and abandoned properties close to Praia De Luz, Portugal, which has been searched by teams. (PA)

Search teams have begun clearing the surrounding areas of more abandoned structures. (PA)

The searches of abandoned buildings have entered their second day. (PA)

Brueckner, who is in prison in Germany serving a seven-year term for rape in an unrelated case, has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.

The 48-year-old was acquitted in October last year of a separate set of rape and sexual assault offences in Portugal, with prosecutors awaiting the outcome of an appeal.

Millions have already been spent on the search for Madeleine  known as Operation Grange  with ministers recently approving an additional 108,000 for the probe in 2025/26.

What do we know about the new search for Madeleine McCann?

Personnel wore protective gear such as hard hats and face masks as they cleared vegetation around the structures on Wednesday.

Search teams were seen draining a well and clearing areas of dense vegetation near abandoned buildings on Tuesday, the first day of the new search.

Maps show the latest search areas in the Madeleine McCann disappearance. (PA)

German investigators along with Portuguese police officers and firefighters were working in a little-developed area of countryside a few miles from Praia da Luz.

They used strimmers, shovels and chainsaws to clear the undergrowth and debris around an abandoned building, and drained a well using a yellow hose.

Search teams look through a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz, Portugal, on Tuesday. (PA) (James Manning/PA Wire)

Search teams near a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz, Portugal. (PA) (James Manning/PA Wire)

Personnel wore safety gear such as gloves and hard hats as they worked in the dense vegetation, and firefighters and police were seen using a yellow hose to drain a well.

Around a dozen officers focused on one abandoned building where digging was taking place, while another member of the search team cleared large rocks.

The Sun reported investigators are also planning to use radar equipment that can scan beneath the ground.

Christian Brueckner has been named as the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. (AP) (Julian Stratenschulte, Associated Press)

The search is being carried out at the request of the German federal police as it looks for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Brueckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. He is due to be released from jail in Germany in September if no further charges are brought.

The search is set to last for three days, unless anything of significance is found that would justify an extension.

How much has been spent on the search for Madeleine McCann?

According to figures from the Met Police, the total amount spent since 2011 stands at 13.2m.

The force said the figure only relates to the costs incurred in Operation Grange, and does not include the costs of other national and international investigators, where payment came privately.

In April, Home Office sources said a request to provide up to 108,000 was approved for the probe for 2025/26.

Searches for Madeleine McCann continue 18 years after her disappearance, with personnel searching the Algarve pictured here in 2023. (PA) (Yui Mok, PA Images)

It is understood one detective chief inspector, one detective constable and one member of police staff are working on the investigation.

Kate and Gerry McCann said in 2023 that efforts to find their daughter continue with the same determination, commitment and vigour and will eventually yield results.

The Met said it is aware of the latest search operation but that British officers are not present.

How much has been spent on Operation Grange each year?

Since Scotland Yard launched Operation Grange in 2011, the amount of funding received in a single year has dropped from a high 2.7m in 2012 to 190,000 in the first nine months of 2022, according to the Met Police.

The full figures are:

2011: 1,914,737.27

2012: 2,746,633,32

2013: 2,601,020,52

2014: 2,470,448,28

2015: 1,147950,22

2016: 332,994.65

2017: 294,990,59

2018: 301,775,56

2019: 292,045.24

2020: 327,383,86

2021: 324,044,54

2022: 190,131.17

2023: 100,000

2024: 192,000

2025: 108,000

What happened to Madeleine McCann?

Madeleine vanished from her familys holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May, 2007. The toddler, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was on holiday with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and her twin siblings.

The McCanns left the children asleep in the unlocked ground floor apartment at the Ocean Club resort while dining 50 metres away and at 10pm, Kate McCann discovered Madeleine had vanished.

Kate and Gerry McCann continue to believe the search for their daughter will yield results. (PA) (SANG TAN, Associated Press)

The disappearance sparked global attention and a major investigation. Portuguese police closed its case in 2008, but the UKs Operation Grange continues.

In 2012, Scotland Yard suggested Madeleine could still be alive, releasing an age-progressed image of how she might look at nine years old.

In 2020, German authorities named Brueckner as the prime suspect, with phone records placing him nearby that night. However, he has denied being involved in Madeleines disappearance.
Mike Lindell speaks outside court in Denver, Colorado, on 2 June 2025. Photograph: Helen H Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post/Getty Images/DP

A trial underway in Colorado could add to the financial problems facing the pillow salesman and prominent election denier Mike Lindell and will serve as another test of whether defamation law can be effective to fight false claims about elections.

Opening statements began Tuesday in a case brought by Eric Coomer, who formerly worked in security and voting technology strategy for the voting machine company Dominion. Coomer sued Lindell and a host of others who spread unproven claims that he interfered with the 2020 election.

Companies and individuals who were targeted by the right with false stolen election claims after the 2020 election have attempted to use defamation law to hold parties including Fox News and other rightwing media outlets accountable for false claims. Several lawsuits have been settled, including a claim Coomer brought against conservative outlet Newsmax, while juries have awarded damages in others, including a major judgment against Rudy Giuliani.

The conspiracy theories about Coomer started with a rightwing podcaster in Colorado, Joe Oltmann, who claimed that someone who identified himself as Eric the Dominion guy had been on an antifa call where he said: Dont worry about the election, Trump is not gonna win. I made fucking sure of that.

Oltmann found some of Coomers social media posts, which were anti-Donald Trump. Oltmann has not produced any tape of the alleged call, nor any other proof that Coomer manipulated the election. Coomer is also suing Oltmann, who is expected to testify this week in the Lindell trial.

Lindell elevated Oltmanns claims and has fought the lawsuit, one of several he has faced over his election lies. His online TV network, LindellTV, is providing regular coverage of the case.

On Monday, the day the jury was selected, Lindell held a news conference outside the courthouse before the trial began.

He said he plans to take the stand at trial this week, telling Rolling Stone: Of course Im gonna testify at my own trial!  I have nothing to hide. I am a former crack addict; Ive always been open about that. Ive always been open about everything! Im as transparent as they come  So I have nothing to hide at this trial.

Coomer filed the lawsuit against Lindell in April 2022. Coomers attorneys have argued Lindells statements about Coomer were in part motivated by Newsmax not allowing Lindell to go on its programs after the company settled the lawsuit Coomer brought against it for spreading false claims, according to the Denver Post. Lindells attorneys said Coomers lawsuit against Lindell triggered the pillow salesman into defaming Coomer, the paper reported.

In videos shown to the jury on Tuesday, Lindell said Coomer had participated in the biggest crime this world has ever seen, reported 9 News, a local Denver news outlet. Lindells attorneys said they would not show evidence of a rigged election because it was immaterial to Lindells defense.

Its just words. All Mike Lindell did was talk, Chris Kachouroff, Lindells attorney, said. Mike believed that he was telling the truth.

According to 9News, Coomer testified in the case on Tuesday, saying he has never interfered with an election and that Lindells claims had caused intense disruption to his life. Coomer said he feared for his life, experienced death threats and had gone into hiding for a time.

Ultimately its to try to regain some semblance of my life. I didnt just lose my livelihood, I lost my life as a direct result of statements by Mr. Lindell accusing me of being a traitor, Coomer said.

Lindell is also being sued by Dominion and Smartmatic, another voting machine company. Those lawsuits have not made it to trial. Lindell has struggled to pay for his legal defense  a law firm that was representing him sought to be removed from his cases because he owed them millions of dollars and couldnt pay, the Star Tribune reported.
Jake Reeves, left, and Dylan Earl admitted taking cash from the notorious mercenary organisation - Met Police/CPS

Two men took money from the Russian-backed Wagner terrorist group to firebomb a Mayfair restaurant and nearby wine store and kidnap the owner, a court has heard.

Dylan Earl, 21, and Jake Reeves, 23, have admitted taking cash from the notorious mercenary organisation to carry out an arson attack at the Hide Restaurant in Piccadilly and Hedonism Wines in Davies Street.

They were also planning to kidnap the owner, described as a high-profile Russian dissident, in order to influence the Government for the purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause, the Old Bailey was told.

The jury was told that following an arson attack on an east London warehouse in March 2024, Earl began work on the Mayfair plot.

Duncan Penny KC, prosecuting, said: Acting at the behest of the Wagner Group, [Earl] planned a similar arson attack on two businesses  a wine shop called Hedonism and a restaurant called Hide  in West London.

Collectively, the businesses employ 200 people and are valued in excess of 30 million. There is residential accommodation above both premises.

The businesses belong to a high-profile Russian dissident and refugee who has been vocal in his criticism of president Putin and the war in Ukraine. He has, for example, driven aid trucks from the UK to Ukraine personally.

The Hide restaurant opened in 2018 offering tasting menus costing up to 610 a person - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

Details of the kidnap and bombing plot emerged as a group of men, allegedly recruited by the pair, went on trial accused of setting fire to the warehouse in east London, which had been storing and sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

The court heard the warehouse also contained a business that supplied Starlink satellite equipment to Ukraine.

Duo admit to kidnap plot and arson

Earl and Reeves have already admitted their role in the blaze at the premises in Leyton on the evening of March 24 last year, which caused an estimated 1 million worth of damage.

They have also pleaded guilty to plotting to attack the Mayfair restaurant and wine store.

The Wagner Group is a mercenary group set up by the Kremlin in 2014 to help its initial invasion of Ukraines eastern Donbas. It was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK in September 2023.

Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, deny aggravated arson in connection with the fire at the east London warehouse.

Dmitrijus Paulauskas and Ashton Evans deny two counts of failure to disclose information about terrorist acts.

The fire at the Ukrainian-linked businesses on an industrial estate in Leyton, east London, in March 2024 - London Fire Brigade

On the first day of the trial at the Old Bailey, Mr Penny said the prosecution case was that, acting under the direction of Earl, Reeves had recruited Mr Mensah and Mr Asmena to carry out the warehouse attack.

It is alleged Mr Mensah in turn recruited Mr Rose, while Mr Asmena recruited Mr English to act as a driver.

Mr Mensah filmed the arson attack on his mobile phone and livestreamed it on FaceTime, jurors were told.

Mr Penny said the fire had caused a risk to human life and destroyed 100,000 worth of goods bound for Ukraine.

He said: The reason for the selection of this building as a particular target  appears to have been its connection to Ukraine, to be more precise, the fact that the business conducted there was concerned in logistics, frequently delivering goods to Ukraine, including Starlink satellite equipment.

The businesses which operated from there were also involved in organising humanitarian aid efforts to support Ukraine.

Plotter contacted Wagner on social media

The prosecutor added: This was deliberate and calculated criminality  at the behest of foreign influence. In the case of these defendants, at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial  good old-fashioned greed.

For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.

Describing the circumstances of the warehouse attack, Mr Penny said the company targeted was called Oddisey Ltd and it specialised in receiving and delivering goods ordered by customers mainly in post-Soviet countries.

A company called Meest UK Ltd, the UK arm of a Ukrainian-based shipping company, was also based at the site.

Following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Oddisey Ltd handled, stored and delivered packages containing Starlink satellite devices and generators.

The businesses were also involved in organising humanitarian aid efforts to support Ukraine, Mr Penny explained.

Dmitrijus Paulauskas, who denies failing to disclose information about a terrorist act, and Jake Reeves sketched at Westminster magistrates court in April last year - Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

The prosecutor said in March 2024, Earl, acting at the behest of the Wagner Group, commissioned the arson attack on the warehouses.

He said: Dylan Earl contacted the Wagner Group when he joined a broadcast channel in its name on the social media application Telegram.

From there, he became connected to two handlers who acted on behalf of the Wagner Group.

It appears that Dylan Earl expressed a willingness to undertake missions of which the Leyton arson attack was the first. It is apparent that he knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian, interests.

Explaining the other plot, Mr Penny said: Dylan Earl accepted acting on behalf of the Wagner Group and taking preparatory steps towards committing arson at Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines and kidnapping their owner.

You might think that it is self-evident that these actions were designed to influence the Government and to intimidate at least a section of the public and furthermore were made for the purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause.

At least one method of attack on the Mayfair premises discussed between Earl and Evans was by way of explosion.

Mr Penny said Reeves had also admitted an offence under the recently drafted National Security Act of agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service  money from the Wagner Group that was to be provided by or on behalf of a Russian intelligence service.

Mr Penny went on: He agreed to accept the money in return for taking part in the plan to commit arson at Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines and to kidnap their owner.

The trial continues.
Christian Brueckner/ Madeleine McCann visual lead

The red dust kicks up again as police vans rattle along the narrow rural tracks east of Portugals Praia da Luz, while the global press pack strains to peer beyond the cordons. For many, the scene is painfully familiar.

Eighteen years ago, the search for three-year-old Madeleine McCann dominated news bulletins worldwide after the toddler from Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished from her bedroom at the infamous Ocean Club holiday resort.

But this time, surrounding this search  coming nearly two years after the last search in 2023, and the most extensive since 2008  a different urgency hangs in the dry air. A sense, as experts have phrased it, of a clock ticking.

The catalyst behind this three-day scramble? One man: German paedophile Christian Brueckner. More specifically, the need to keep him in the German prison from which he is set to walk free on September 17, despite his disturbing back catalogue of sadistic crimes and his status as the prime suspect in Madeleines disappearance. Chillingly, a leading German psychiatrist told a court last year that Brueckner had been tested and scored 99 per cent on a scale of dangerousness.

Some 30 German police officers, joined by forensic experts and supported by Portugals Policia Judiciaria  the national criminal investigation police agency  began fresh searches on Tuesday across a 26-mile area in pursuit of new evidence in Madeleines case. Chainsaws, hedge trimmers and pickaxes are being used to clear thick foliage and access crumbling ruins, while mounds of earth are shifted across the barren fields.

Equipped with radar capable of scanning 15ft below the surface, the team is expected to continue this extraordinary operation  scouring 20 privately owned plots and draining wells  until Friday.

Christian Brueckner, pictured in court in March 2024, for sex charges unrelated to the McCann case - Julian Stratenschulte/AFP via Getty

Currently serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American tourist near where Madeleine vanished, Brueckner has been the official suspect in the British toddlers disappearance since 2020  yet he has always protested his innocence and has never been formally charged.

Now it seems this heartbreaking British case has become the only means left for German authorities to keep the sex offender behind bars.

Its now or never, read a headline in Germanys Bild newspaper this week. Meanwhile, Brueckner has made his feelings perfectly clear in an extraordinary interview with German journalist Ulrich Oppold, in which he described looking forward to a nice steak and beer upon release. Refusing to answer any questions about Madeleine, he instead admitted he planned to flee if released from prison.

Few offenders are as instantly recognisable as Brueckner, with his ghostly complexion and pale blue-eyed stare. His chequered criminal history makes for disturbing reading.

In 1994, a teenager of 17, he was first convicted of sexual abuse of a child, attempted sexual abuse of a child, and carrying out sexual acts in front of a child. But he fled to Portugal with a girlfriend to avoid completing a youth custody sentence, and a European arrest warrant was issued.

The pair split, and drifter Brueckner became adept at odd jobs, finally settling in his run-down house on the edge of the Praia da Luz resort in the mid-1990s. He would frequently return there over the years to come, and has since been linked to the disappearances of seven-year-old Jair Soares and 16-year-old Belgian Carola Titze, both of whom went missing during this period.

During his time in Portugal, Brueckner was also linked to the disappearance of 16-year-old Belgian Carola Titze - CHP

In 1999, he was finally arrested by Portuguese police and sent home to serve his youth sentence, begging questions as to how a sex offender known to the Portuguese was not later tracked.

Over the next nearly two decades, he flitted between the two countries, often dodging criminal proceedings ranging from drug dealing and sexual offences to theft. In his later rape trial, witnesses spoke of a life of crime, stealing from tourists and climbing through open windows in one or another holiday flat.

The particularly heinous rape for which he is currently imprisoned occurred in 2005, two years before Madeleines disappearance. His 72-year-old American victim lived in an apartment half a mile from the McCanns. Late one evening, Brueckner broke into her home, where he beat her with a 30cm scimitar  a short, curved sword  before forcing himself on her.

The rape was investigated in Portugal but police eventually closed the case. Brueckner continued living in his house, returning to Germany frequently, and was staying in a camper van several miles away when Madeleine disappeared. In 2020, police said his phone placed him nearby the night she vanished.

It was only much later that a former co-conspirator of Brueckners, who had stolen diesel with him  for which Brueckner was arrested in 2006  found a video of the rape and went to police. In late 2019, Brueckner was finally sentenced.

The 48-year-old was first linked to Madeleines case in 2013 after the McCanns appealed for information on German televisions version of Crimewatch, Aktenzeichen XY.

Among some 500 calls, federal investigators received a convincing tip-off. A former colleague had linked Brueckner to a photofit of a man spotted near the site where Madeleine had gone missing.

Then a month after the McCanns television appearance, the local police force in the German town of Braunschweig  where Brueckner was living at the time  sent a letter to Brueckner inviting him to be interviewed as a witness in the missing person case of Madeleine McCann. Journalist Jon Clarke, an expert in the case, who has written the book My Search for Madeleine, explains this was a huge error.

They messed up, they sent a policeman around to his house and told him he had to appear in a police station three days later to answer questions in the case of Madeleine McCann, he explains. They actually wrote it on the letter, so he was completely warned, and in those three days who knows what happened?

Germanys Der Spiegel magazine has also highlighted the error, speaking to an officer who admitted: This should not have happened and in no way complies with common procedure in such a delicate case.

The holiday apartment in Praia da Luz from which Madeleine McCann disappeared in May 2007 - David Rose

Assessing how Brueckner has seemingly slipped through so many cracks, Clarke also believes the number of different police forces involved in Germany, combined with Brueckners moves around the country, as well as to Portugal and back, have complicated investigations. Theyve not been sharing information between different police forces, and its been very difficult therefore to piece things together, he claims.

Nevertheless, Brueckners crimes started to catch up with him. In 2017, he was convicted of sexual assault of a child in Germany in 2013, the five-year-old daughter of an ex-girlfriend, and sentenced to 15 months in prison. She was assaulted in a public park and graphic photos were later found on a digital camera when police were investigating him for a separate claim of domestic violence.

It was after his release that he is reported to have been in a bar with a friend when televisions showed 10th-anniversary coverage of Madeleines disappearance, allegedly prompting him to confide he knew all about what happened, and then revealing video of himself raping a woman. The friend is understood to have gone to the police.

The same year, another witness, Helge B, who had attended a music festival with Brueckner in 2008, told police the suspect admitted the killing while they were there, adding that Maddie did not scream, although doubts persist about the witnesss credibility.

Detectives search woodland near Praia da Luz as part of a renewed effort to find evidence linking Christian Brueckner to Madeleine McCanns disappearance - Paul Grover For The Telegraph

Brueckner was arrested the year after while in Italy and extradited to Germany, this time on a warrant for drug trafficking. He was jailed for 21 months for dealing and then convicted for rape of his American victim.

By all accounts, Brueckner is not stupid. Witnesses in that trial described him as a well-presented and intelligent man who drove a Jaguar, while in court he spoke eloquently, often reading from legal texts.

This week, Clarke spoke to Oppold about his interview with Brueckner. He said he was so calm, and knew exactly what he wanted to say. Hes very careful, he explains. If you read his prison records, his psychological records, its very difficult to analyse him because he doesnt let anyone in. He wont say anything. Hes clever and cautious.

In 2020, the German prosecutor announced Madeleine was believed to be dead and identified Brueckner as the official suspect  the first time his name had been made public.

The evidence for this announcement has never been made clear although, last month, a Channel 4 documentary, made in conjunction with The Sun, disclosed a catalogue of grim discoveries it claims were made by police in 2016 at a disused factory Brueckner owned in Neuwegersleben, east Germany.

Among hordes there are reported to have been toys, childrens clothes  including 75 girls swimsuits  chemicals and firearms, as well as an 80GB hard drive and laptop, USB sticks and memory cards, some enclosed in a Lidl bag found under the remains of his dead dog.

Some of these reportedly contain sickening exchanges with paedophiles, including the wish to capture something small and use it for days and child abuse images. It has even been claimed there is evidence of Madeleines death.

Portuguese authorities made him a suspect in 2022, and Scotland Yard has seemed supportive. The noises point to strong evidence against Brueckner, but Clarke explains the German system, without juries, often hinges on more exacting evidence than British courts.

I think if it went to trial in England on probability [a jury] would convict, he says. [In Germany] you have professional judges and a panel and it makes it very difficult to bring a case forward unless youve got DNA or a confession, or somebody that actually puts him there.

Unfortunately, although hes confessed to a couple of people, friends, the evidence may not be as good as they would have liked.

Importantly, Clarke adds: They havent got DNA yet.

He also explains that the cache of evidence reported to have been found in Brueckners factory was initially uncovered during investigations in part around another case, the assault of his ex-girlfriends five-year-old daughter, for which he was jailed in 2017. Because they had used the evidence in one case, they couldnt rely on it again for the other, claims Clarke, citing a legal quirk. They couldnt use this whole huge drop of photographic information they found in the factory again, he explains.

They are certain that hes the man who did it, says Clarke, and they do have evidence that they havent revealed. But, he explains, they need every piece in place to play a tactical game with Brueckner, who has heavyweight lawyers on his side.

Undermining his suspect status further, last October, Brueckner was acquitted of five unrelated offences in his latest trial  three counts of rape and two of indecent assault against children in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, which he denied. Accounts of videotape evidence and even a cell confession formed part of the case, but could not be validated. The prosecution is furious says Clarke, and will appeal. This may not be in time to delay Brueckners release.

Brueckner himself never gave evidence, and only spoke once. When asked if he had anything to say he reportedly simply said: No, I would not like to. The impression is of a man who feels in control.

Only last month he is reported to have smirked in court as he was convicted for verbally abusing prison guards. He received probation, but the term is still unspecified and not predicted to extend his sentence for as long as prosecutors hoped. He had later apologised in writing for the insults, but only after claiming he was being treated inhumanely.

In the UK, it is implausible to think a convicted sex offender would be able to simply disappear on release. But more implausible is that dangerous Brueckner, whatever the truth about Madeleine, should be released so soon at all.

Hes not just a dangerous rapist, explains Clarke. Hes what they call 0.1pc of the most dangerous people in the world, because hes someone who likes inflicting pain  he doesnt just get off on the power, he likes torturing people.

That the barren landscape of Praia da Luz and the disappearance of a British toddler 18 years ago should now hold the only key to his cell, is most implausible of all.
Neville Chamberlain was prime minister before being ousted in favour of Winston Churchill - Central Press/Getty

Neville Chamberlain called the German blitzkrieg a minor setback, a letter has revealed.

The former prime minister accused his critics of being defeatist in the 1940 correspondence, which has emerged for sale 85 years on.

It was in written response to an article by his friend Lord Beaverbrook, the newspaper magnate, which called for the British people to stay calm.

Just four days later, Chamberlain was ousted as prime minister in favour of Winston Churchill.

Chamberlain wrote: When so many are sounding the defeatist note over a minor setback, it is a relief to read such a courageous inspiriting summons to a saner view.

Weeks later 330,000 Allied troops were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk after being surrounded by the Germans.

The one page, two sided letter, signed Neville Chamberlain, has emerged for sale for 15,000 ($20,000) at RR Auction, of Boston, US. It is marked as Personal.

The letter is up for sale for 15,000 - RR Auction

An RR Auction spokesman said: This is a letter to influential British newspaper publisher Lord Beaverbrook thanking him for publishing a supportive article amidst the Norway crisis.

Lord Beaverbrooks article could not stem the tide of opinion.

The letter has been consigned by a private collector.

The Allies, then consisting of Britain, France and Poland, sent nearly 40,000 troops to Norway after Germany invaded in April 1940.

But the German forces, using swift amphibious assaults and paratroopers, seized key Norwegian cities and British attempts to counter at Narvik ended in defeat.

After the Norway debate in Parliament, Chamberlains government survived a no confidence vote on a drastically reduced majority.

He attempted to form a coalition war government with Labour and Liberal involvement, but was told that they would only sign up under a different Conservative prime minister.

Winston Churchill was installed as the wartime prime minister and three days later gave his famous blood, toil, tears and sweat speech.

The sale of the letter takes place on June 11.
Flaneur: Edmund White in Paris - Ken Towner/ANL/Shutterstock

Edmund White, who has died aged 85, mined fiction from his life  especially his sex life  with such candour and verve that in 1997 The Daily Telegraph dubbed him our ages foremost gay writer.

He made an international reputation with his heavily autobiographical novel A Boys Own Story (1982), which detailed the unnamed central characters inaugural sexual experiences as a 15-year-old. It was hailed by The New York Times as a successful cross between The Catcher in the Rye and Oscar Wildes De Profundis.

White went on to make an exhaustive catalogue of his priapic history in two sequels, The Beautiful Room Is Empty (1988)  described by the critic John Sutherland as remorselessly carnal  and The Farewell Symphony (1997). In the latter, the narrator calculates that he has enjoyed 3,120 partners, a turnover of three men a week for 20 years. The funny thing is that I always felt deprived, as though all the other fellows must be getting laid more often.

Such recollections of carefree promiscuity acquired an added poignancy with the advent of Aids, a crisis he addressed in other books. But he remained preoccupied with the byways of sex into old age and in 2022 declared that his latest novel, A Previous Life, would take his body of work out of the gay swamps into the terra firma of polyamory. With characteristic wit and self-deprecation, he included a portrait of himself in the book as an old, impotent, fat, feeble writer of old-fashioned metafiction with an overly inflected gay voice and a tiny penis.

White in London, 1983 - Graham Turner/Alamy

Edmund Valentine White III was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 13 1940, the son of Edmund Valentine White II and his wife Delilah. Both parents were Texans, and White saw his childhood as a battlefield on which two opposing Texas forces fought it out  the strictures of manliness and the aspirations towards culture.

This was made all the more complicated by the crudity of his father, a former cowboy who had moved north to work as a chemical engineer. Despite an apparent love of classical music, he never shook off a violent streak, and it was some relief to his children that he would sleep for most of the day, waking in the early evening to a huge breakfast.

Edmunds parents divorced when he was seven and the children were taken to live with their mother, who practised as a child psychologist, in Chicago. Edmund dreaded the obligatory visits to his father during the holidays and later recalled that, on a trip to Mexico together, I embarrassed him by being a know-it-all and by admiring the cathedrals with too much enthusiasm.

He was sternly told that a man might like a building but never love it, and, moreover, that a man should never wear a wristwatch, smoke a cigarette, or put on cologne  those are all sissy things. Men have pocket watches, smoke cigars and use witch hazel. These are principles, alas, I have failed to observe.

A Boys Own Story was inspired by Whites teenage years

It was with a certain boldness, then, that at 14 this bookishly worldly adolescent informed his father that he was homosexual so that he would pay for my psychoanalysis; I wanted, feverishly, to be cured. My father had doubted my story, thinking I simply wanted to get attention, and hired a private eye to check my story out. The detective confirmed that I was, indeed, homosexual.

Since the age of 13, White, after each day at school in Evanston, had been catching the elevated train downtown to visit a bookshop run by a slim, campy, intelligent man who was in love with a policeman, so much so that he paid for the fellows wifes many accouchements. Despite Edmunds pleas, the bookshop owner only went to bed with him once, but did introduce him to an astonishing band of characters, including a harpist whose bedroom was furnished with a massive four-poster, hung with curtains, a prie-dieu and hundreds of altar candles.

Rather more basically minded were the hustlers of Bughouse Square: I hired quite a few of those boys, many of whom were several years older than I. In those days they all pretended to be straight, spat frequently and permitted themselves to be done, nothing more.

All this must certainly have kept busy the psychoanalyst whom the young White saw three times a week for five years, although he cannot perhaps be held responsible for the analyst himself going mad; he then spent two years visiting a Viennese Freudian. In the meantime, as part of the therapy, he worked on drafts of the novel that would become A Boys Own Story more than two decades later, although these early attempts were marred by too much immersion in the works of Freud.

Co-writing The Joy of Gay Sex had a liberating effect on White

His sister did not escape family trauma; after an incestuous bout with their father, she endured a breakdown and a spell in a mental hospital. After marrying and having three children, she became a belated lesbian.

Many of Whites relations, ardent Christian Scientists and Baptists, were certain that Hell would be his ultimate destination, but in the meantime, after attending the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, he faced the more immediate purgatory of eight years on Time-Life Books. He had gone to New York in 1962 in pursuit of someone I later captured and lived with for five years.

He was to recall that coming of age and establishing a gay identity in New York in the Sixties partook of the atmosphere of a rehearsal for a Jean Anouilh fancy-dress comedy. By a certain paradox, job security and rising salaries financed our bold experiments and permitted us to sneer at the establishment. 

During his years at Time he would leave on the dot, rush home to his apartment on MacDougal Street, eat and go to bed, and then get up at 11 to dress as a hippy and go out to the bars and baths, such as the punningly named Everard, which later closed after a fire killed several customers before they had time to disentangle themselves and look for the emergency exit.

Not that it was all this which had made Whites father opposed to his sons move to New York; he thought it would be impossible to earn a living as a writer, and, in the event, was not best pleased when a published short story had homosexual overtones, as did a play produced off-Broadway (I suppose its about the usual, he said at the opening, with anticipatory disgust).

After much redrafting at the behest of prospective publishers, Whites first novel, Forgetting Elena, appeared in 1973 and was praised by Vladimir Nabokov as a marvellous book. From 1975 he made a living teaching creative writing.

Even now, life was not simple for White. He was engaged for a while, and, for a fourth time, underwent psychoanalysis. This led to his becoming co-author with his therapist, Charles Silverstein, of a volume called The Joy of Gay Sex, published in 1977.

Jean Genet: an influence on men as diverse as Jean-Paul Sartre and David Bowie

Whatever the influence of the manual (which was banned in England), it certainly had a liberating one upon its co-author. At first he had planned to publish it under a pseudonym, but, having advocated coming out in its pages, he decided this would be hypocritical: aged 36, he finally felt that I could accept myself.

The death of his father also perhaps sped the process. At the funeral, White learned from his stepmother that he had known nothing of the book, as she had torn out the advertisements in the newspapers, and no one in his circle could have begun to form the syllables making up its title. The funeral was also notable for Whites sister removing her wedding ring and putting it on to the cold finger of the man in the open casket.

Such a family life might indeed have kindled a taste for the baroque, and in the fiction which White began to publish at regular intervals it was to the fore. He had shaken off the depression which, for a while, found him sitting by a huge window overlooking the San Francisco Bay, reciting Sung landscape poetry and, finding little release in such stimuli, drinking himself to sleep on vodka stingers.

His second novel, Nocturnes for the King of Naples (1978), was followed by a non-fiction work, States of Desire: Travels in Gay America (1980), which offered a vivid picture of a sub-culture much changed since he had first arrived in New York. The book itself  which culminated with a visit to a gruesome sado-masochistic sex-club called the Mine Shaft  was soon to become a period piece, the world depicted within transformed by the onset of Aids, as was that of the two novels which followed it: A Boys Own Story and The Beautiful Room Is Empty.

The first of these was rejected in England by Whites usual publisher, Andre Deutsch. It was taken on by Picador, which, by means of a poster of a rangy youth, marketed with some flair a book told in a slightly sparer prose than his previous work. For some critics, however, it was  beneath an apparent obsession with cornholing  essentially narcissistic.

By this time, White had exchanged his homeland for Paris, a period which yielded an elaborate and widely disliked novel, Caracole (1985), and The Darker Proof (1987), a collection of stories written in collaboration with the British author Adam Mars-Jones in response to the Aids crisis.

White gave up life on the Left Bank aged 50 when he was offered a professorship with tenure at Brown University; later on, he taught at Princeton. His decision to return to the States was prompted by the uncertainties resulting from an HIV-positive diagnosis, something to which he was always willing to admit in interviews.

It worries me constantly. Every time I make plans I make them with a double-accounting system, he said in 1989. I can tell you in one breath that Im going to go teach so that I can have a retirement plan in 15 years, but the other accounting system says Ill probably be dead in four years, which is a statistical possibility, and a very strong one.

His partner Hubert Sorin, a French architect, died of Aids in 1994  White memorialised him in his novel The Married Man (2000)  but medical advances saw White survive to complete a massive and widely admired biography of a pioneering gay writer from an earlier era, Jean Genet. In 1999 he published a study of Proust.

His interest in authors lives also fed into much of his later fiction. Hotel de Dream (2007) recreated the last days of Stephen Crane as he lay dying from TB in a ramshackle mansion in Sussex; Fanny: A Fiction (2003) imagined Frances Trollope, the English travel writer and mother of the Victorian novelist Anthony, enjoying an affair with an African-American blacksmith in Cincinnati.

In 2007 his play Terre Haute, inspired by the Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, was staged at the Trafalgar Studios in London. With his usual compulsive honesty, he admitted that he wrote it because he had been enjoying a torrid affair with a young actor who told him: I look like Timothy McVeigh, why dont you write a play about him, then I can be in it?

White also wrote several volumes of literary criticism and a number of memoirs, including The Flaneur: A Stroll through the Paradoxes of Paris (2008). Earlier this year he published The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir, in which he observed that now in the cold polar heart of old age I look at all my travails in love as comical and pointless, repetitious and dishonourable, and suggested that sex is better on the page.

Edmund White is survived by his long-term partner Michael Carroll, whom he married in 2013.

Edmund White, born January 13 1940, died June 3 2025
Campaigners, including (left to right) Richard Aldwinckle, Jonathan Fowles, Victoria Freestone, Almira Mohamed and Robbie Owen, have welcomed the ruling - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph

A Labour council has been ordered to scrap an unlawful low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) after losing a High Court battle.

It comes after Mr Justice Smith ruled in May that Lambeth council had ignored residents legitimate concerns about the zone in West Dulwich, south London.

The judge has now rejected an appeal by the authority against the ruling, while ordering the scheme to be axed and the council to pay 35,000 in legal fees.

It is the first time that an LTN, a zone where traffic is restricted in residential roads and fines are issued to unauthorised vehicles that enter the area, has been shut down by the courts.

The West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), which brought the case after claiming the street closures had increased traffic and pollution on roads bordering the zone, welcomed the ruling and called for the council to repay the 1,080,580 in fines raised through the scheme.

The LTN in West Dulwich has raised more than 1m in fines - Belinda Jiao

The campaigners also said it set a powerful precedent for residents locked in similar battles nationwide.

A WDAG spokesman said: This ruling is definitive  the LTN was unlawful. The council has lost, has been denied permission to appeal, and must now face the consequences of what that means.

At the top of that list is the 1 million in fines it issued while the unlawful scheme was in place.

We now call on Lambeth Council to clarify whether it will refund those fines. This is not just about legality  its about fairness and public trust. If the law was broken, the money should be paid back.

The scheme was met with widespread opposition from residents and businesses in the area - Belinda Jiao

The group also urged the council not to squander any more public funds by pursuing the case further at the Court of Appeal.

Doing so would further waste taxpayers money and signal that its priority is protecting revenue, not engaging with the community it serves, they added.

Lets be clear: this case should never have gone to court. It could have been resolved through proper, respectful dialogue. Instead, Lambeth chose to defend litigation over listening  and the public has paid for it.

Wake-up call to councils everywhere

The WDAG statement added: Its a wake-up call to councils everywhere: to not impose blanket schemes ignoring genuine concerns and issues, and to work with your communities.

We again invite Lambeth to return to the table and help co-create fairer, smarter approaches to car use, pollution, road safety, and sustainable travel  with data, community support, and clear success measures at the heart of every decision.

In a thinly veiled criticism of town hall bosses, Mr Justice Smith said in his ruling that allowing the council to revoke the LTN rather than having it quashed by a court ruling would fail to properly reflect the reality of the battle waged by local campaigners.

He wrote: Revoking the orders after I have made a finding of unlawfulness leaves the same impression as would an attempt to resign immediately after one has been fired.

The judge also rejected the councils attempt to defer scrapping the LTN because the local authority had known of the need to instruct these works to take place since May 9 when it lost the High Court case.

He said an attempt by Lambeth to avoid paying all of WDAGs legal costs because the campaigners only won one of the three legal challenges was misconceived because the residents had been wholly successful.

Legal battle completely successful

Mr Justice Smith wrote: Here the claimant came to court seeking a quashing of the [traffic] orders. It has gone away having achieved that objective. It has therefore been completely successful.

The fact that the claimant has succeeded in only one of its three grounds of claim does not alter the fact that it has been wholly successful in its aims.

In his initial ruling in May, Mr Justice Smith found that the council was guilty of a serious failing after it ignored an impressive report which warned that the street closures could lead to increased congestion and pollution elsewhere in the borough.

The judge also found the local authority had given a masterclass in selective partial reporting after a council document failed to record how a public consultation about the West Dulwich LTN had prompted hostility from people in the area.

The court heard that council staff had been given a wellbeing day off after being left in tears because angry residents at a 2023 meeting at West Norwood Library were relentless in their opposition.

One of West Dulwichs LTN cameras, pictured in September last year - Belinda Jiao

A Lambeth council spokesman said: We implemented the West Dulwich street improvements to reduce road danger and create a safer and healthier neighbourhood.

We remain committed to delivering our programme to reduce road danger for those most at-risk and make our streets calmer, more community-friendly places.

The High Court has ordered the removal of West Dulwich street improvements. No further fines will be issued, and we are removing the scheme as soon as it can be done safely.

However, the spokesman failed to respond to the WDAGs call for the 1 million in fines to be returned.
NHS mental health hospitals are allowing male criminals to self-identify as women, NHS documents have revealed.

Trusts in London are permitting transgender women to use female-only spaces despite acknowledging their presence as a risk to a particular gender and potentially very distressing for other patients on a single-sex ward.

Campaigners have accused the NHS of endangering the welfare of the most vulnerable women by allowing transgender women, who were born male, on female wards.

A womens rights group used freedom of information (FoI) requests to obtain sex and gender policies at NHS mental health trusts in London.

The recently disclosed documents found mental health trusts raising concerns over the guidance that forensic patients should use single-sex female spaces if they identified as women.

Forensic patients are those referred to the NHS from court or prison for committing offences, or considered a potential risk to themselves or others because of a mental health disorder.

Under the current NHS guidelines published in 2019, transgender people should be accommodated according to the way they dress, their name and pronouns, which may not always accord with the physical sex appearance of the chest or genitalia.

This also applies to toilet and bathing facilities, with the exception of pre-operative transgender people sharing open shower facilities.

Policy at West London NHS Trust, which runs the high-security Broadmoor Hospital, abides by these guidelines, stating: A trans man or a trans woman must be admitted on to a ward in accordance with their presenting gender, if this is their preference.

It added: Patients should be addressed respectfully, using the pronouns of their acquired gender.

However, staff at South West London and St Georges were seen to suggest putting forensic transgender patients on a ward in line with their biological sex while they are acutely unwell on account of risk to a particular gender.

Broadmoor Hostpital abides by the NHS sex and gender guidelines - David Goddard/Getty Images

The trust cited an example of a transgender patient in a manic state getting undressed in front of women and revealing their genitals.

It said: A patient with bipolar (who happens also to be trans) who is in a manic state and who does not have capacity may be disinhibited and at risk of disrobing in public.

Depending on where they are in their transition, it may be more appropriate for them to be admitted to a ward that is in line with their birth gender  while they are acutely unwell and at risk of outing themselves.

The policy document added: Once they have recovered and have regained capacity it would be essential to have a conversation with the patient around where they would be most comfortably accommodated, and to arrange a move to a ward in accordance with their correct gender.

Both trusts note that there may be circumstances where it is lawful to exclude a patient, transgender or otherwise, from a single-sex ward if it constitutes proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim such as harm reduction.

At Central and North Western London, a policy document said that further consideration may be needed as to how best to manage a trans individual in some cases, such as when a sexually disinhibited pre-operative transsexual individual may be very distressing for other patients on a single-sex ward.

In such a rare occasion, the policy recommends the individual be transferred to a single room and consideration made to their temporary use of a disabled toilet should individual toilets not be available.

The trust said it respects an individuals right to self-identify as male or female, and made clear that transgender women could access womens lavatories.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, the equalities watchdog, has issued interim guidance advising it should be compulsory for workplaces to provide single-sex lavatories, though trans women should not be left with no facilities to use.

The NHS is currently reviewing its guidelines on same-sex accommodation in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at the human rights charity Sex Matters, said: Its deeply disturbing that the safety and welfare of some of the most vulnerable women in London  those in the care of state mental health services  are being so seriously compromised by NHS trusts.

The Supreme Court judgment was crystal-clear that single-sex services must be run on the basis of biological sex.

There is no excuse for a dangerous case-by-case approach that deems some men safe to be housed in womens accommodation.

These NHS trusts are missing the point: no male patient should ever be allowed in female accommodation under any circumstances. His claimed identity, history of sexual behaviour and whether he has had surgery to remove body parts are all irrelevant. So is the state of his mental and physical health.

Safety and dignity of women

If health care managers cannot understand why this matters so much in mental health services, then they are not fit to run NHS trusts or to have female patients in their care.

A campaigner involved in the audit told The Times that it was scary to think that the gender identity of violent criminals could override the safety and dignity of women.

They added: NHS trusts are playing Russian roulette with womens safety. The Supreme Court ruling clarified that single-sex spaces must be single sex, and it is vital that this is now enforced nationally across all hospitals.

A joint statement from Central and North West London Foundation Trust and South West London & St Georges NHS Trust said: We are confident that patients are not being put at risk in our services, and it is inaccurate to suggest otherwise. These are rare and complex cases, and decisions are always made based on clinical risk assessments, existing legal obligations and whats safest for all patients involved. Patient safety and delivering high quality care will always be our priority.

An NHS spokesman said: The NHS is working through the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, and we absolutely recognise the need for revised guidance. Its important that we wait for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish its statutory guidance before final decisions about future policy are taken.

In the meantime, we are working closely with Government to ensure we can provide updated guidance for the health service as soon as possible.
Zacariah Boulares has a string of previous convictions - Central News/Met Police

A thief who threatened to behead Aled Jones with a machete went on to steal a Bridgerton actressess phone after being released early from youth detention.

Zacariah Boulares, an Algerian national who has 12 previous convictions relating to 28 offences, has now been pictured for the first time after turning 18.

Aged just 16, he approached Jones, a BBC Songs of Praise presenter, who was walking through Chiswick in west London with his son, and threatened to cut his arm off with a machete unless he handed over his 17,000 Rolex.

Wimbledon youth court was told he later threatened to behead the 54-year-old if he continued following him after the mugging on July 7 2023.

He had also previously stolen a Rolex worth 20,000 from a 78-year-old man at Paddington station in west London.

Aled Jones was threatened with a machete by Zacariah Boulares - Andrew Crowley

After stealing Joness watch, Boulares appeared late to court hearings on several occasions before eventually pleading guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon and was detained in youth custody.

Two years later, having served 14 months of his 24-month detention and training order, he snatched the phone of Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour from a coffee shop table in Kensington, west London, in February.

Chenneour played Miss Clara Livingston in the third season of the Netflix period drama.

Boulares attacked the actress when she confronted him, leaving her with concussion and he also kicked and punched another customer who tried to stop him from escaping from Joe & The Juice.

Genevieve Chenneour was left with concussion after standing up to Boulares

Boulares admitted stealing her phone and assaulting another customer when he appeared at Westminster magistrates court last week via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

In a separate charge, he pleaded guilty to another theft after he stole a black leather bag from a customer at a pizza restaurant.

He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on June 17.
Castle Hill Hospital has a high mortality rate among patients receiving a transcatheter aortic valve implant - Alamy

Police are investigating the deaths of 11 patients who died after the same heart procedure at an NHS hospital.

Families have criticised Castle Hill Hospital, near Hull, for failing to tell them about the complications during surgeries which were found to have contributed to the deaths of their relatives despite not appearing on their death certificates.

The dead patients suffered avoidable harm after staff made errors during operations, according to documents seen by the BBC.

Humberside Police said an investigation was in the very early stages but that no arrests had been made.

The patients had been receiving a transcatheter aortic valve implant, or TAVI, in a procedure which replaces damaged heart valves between 2019 and 2023.

Patients and families were said to have been unaware of the departments TAVI mortality rate  which was three times higher than the UK average.

A review from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in 2020 was the first of three to highlight the level of concern.

Families of patients only became aware of the complications after being approached by the BBC following the publication of the reports.

Dorothy Readhead, 87, died after medics put a catheter in a blocked artery which then tore a major blood vessel.

She was on the surgery table for six hours, lost five litres of blood and had been awake throughout as only local anaesthetic is used.

However, her death certificate made no mention of the procedure. This was criticised by the RCPs second review in 2024, when they said the procedure had led to the patients death.

Christine Rymer, her daughter, told the BBC: None of that was told to us. None of it.

It just feels as if mum was a guinea pig, which is not nice to think about.

Poor clinical decision-making

Seven cardiac consultants wrote they were very concerned about the safety and transparency of the TAVI service in a letter to the hospitals chief executive in 2021, following the deaths of four of the 11 patients in less than six months.

The RCPs second review of all 11 deaths found there had been poor clinical decision-making, that crucial details were missing from some death certificates alongside a failure to include an accurate description of what happened.

Brian Hunter, from Grimsby, died in October 2021.

His daughter, Tracy Fisher, said: We were led to believe that dad had a heart attack on the table and unfortunately passed away.

To find out three years down the line that what your father actually passed from wasnt the truth is torturous.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, told the BBC: We understand families may have questions and we are happy to answer those directly.

The report offered a number of actions for improvement and we have delivered against all of those since it was shared with us.

It added that its TAVI-related mortality rates were now in line with national figures.

The Trust and Humberside Police were approached for comment.
The Queen meets Peter James on a visit to the set of Grace in Brighton - WPA/Getty

The Queen is to star in a new crime novel alongside her favourite fictional detective.

Peter Jamess latest Detective Superintendent Roy Grace thriller centres on a race to stop a killer at Buckingham Palace.

Camilla is depicted travelling aboard the royal train when it derails and a trusted aide is shot by a sniper, leading to Grace heading to the palace to investigate.

The Queen, 77, is understood to have been aware of the book which draws on Jamess extensive research inside the palace.

In the publicity for the novel, publisher Pan Macmillan describes James as the creator of Her Majesty Queen Camillas favourite fictional detective.

Outlining the plot, it says: A tragic accident or a planned attack?... Despite all the evidence, Roy Grace is not convinced the Queen was the intended target ... Failure at this level is not an option. But time is running out before a killer in the palace will strike again.

A publishing source told the Daily Mail: Opening with a cinematic derailment of the royal train, The Hawk Is Dead takes Roy Grace deep into the heart of Buckingham Palace, where he is called upon to solve a murder and what looks to be a royal assassination attempt.

Queen Camilla, a well-known book-lover and reading champion through her charity, The Queens Reading Room, has always been one of the first people to receive each Grace novel and is excited to have a starring role, alongside His Majesty King Charles, in Peters latest thriller.

The King also features in The Hawk Is Dead: A Killer In The Palace, which is due out in October.

The Queen, a voracious reader and passionate supporter of a number of literary charities, previously recommended Jamess blockbusters as part her Reading Room book club.

In 2021, she visited the set of Grace  ITVs adaptation of Jamess books starring John Simm as the troubled but methodical detective  and joked about asking for a cameo role.

She told James: I love your books. Ive read them all, cover to cover.

James said: The Queen asked me when I might set a Roy Grace novel in London  and the seed was sown. Where better in London than Buckingham Palace?

He added: I came up with an idea, which I ran by Her Majesty  and she loved it.
Farage

You can take the lad out of England but you cant really take the English nationalist out of the lad. Has that become the issue in the Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election when the polling stations open?

It is the increasingly prevalent view of Nigel Farages opponents following his demand for what he called a review  although Im sure he really meant the abolition  of the Barnett formula, which has been used for more than fifty years to calculate how much the UKs nations and regions should receive from the Treasury.

It is but the latest of the signs, say the SNP, Labour and Tories, that Mr Farage knows nothing about Scotland.

The cash Barnett produces for Scotland has become a running sore in relations between many in England and Scotland in recent years as the gap in funding between the two has grown and grown. Official figures now show that Scots now get an average 2,400 more per person than those in England  a record amount.

But to successive Labour, Tory and coalition UK governments, the Barnett largesse is regarded as the Union dividend which helps Scotland remain a key part of the United Kingdom.

Ditching what is seen as this Barnett bounty for Scotland would, say Reforms critics, be a boost for the SNP and its perpetual demand for independence.

David Mundell, the former Conservative Scottish secretary, said: This proves that Reform isnt a Unionist party, instead its a populist party that wouldnt stand up for the Union.

The Reform UK leaders view is that the system, devised by Labours Treasury chief secretary in the 1970s, is out of date and should be scrapped, throwing a massive hand grenade into the already bad tempered campaign for Thursdays by-election in Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall.

Most Scottish politicians have insisted that the difference in average spending north and south of the border, thanks to Barnett, was justified because of poor health standards in Scotland and a widely scattered population, often in remote regions, including island communities.

Mr Farages view, shared by many in English voters, is that the money paid to Scotland through the Barnett formula should be replaced by the devolved Scottish Government being able to raise more of its own revenue through increased growth  and presumably higher taxes.

But with the cash provided by the UK Treasury through Barnett, the so-called block grant, due to reach 50 billion this year he said that Scotland needed a thriving economy, instead of one heading in the wrong direction.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said the Farage demand would take a wrecking ball to Scotlands public services and bring misery to Scottish families, workers and businesses.

The main plank  indeed its only plank  of Labours campaign is to bank heavily on the voters taking an active personal dislike to Mr Farage. They constantly place a heavy emphasis on how little he knows about Scotland while ordinary voters see right through him, according to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. That and his alleged views on race which his critics say will count against him and which Mr Farage denies.

Mr Sarwar also described his Reform counterpart as a chief clown, while crashing his own campaign was the view of another leading Labour strategist over Mr Farages idea of ending Barnett as it would have serious repercussions for Scottish public services, such as education and the NHS.

But this doesnt seem to have bothered Nigel Farage overmuch, as he captured two more defectors this week  one councillor each from Labour and Conservatives.

The battle on Thursday is shaping up to be a straight fight between the SNP and Reform, with Labour struggling to stay in the race while hoping that the voters in Hamilton record their lack of fellow feeling  and then some  for the leader of Reform UK.
Northumbrian Water has agreed to pay out 15.7 million after failures in the maintenance and operations of its sewage and water network.

Water sector regulator Ofwat said the firm will pay out the enforcement package to local environmental causes and improvements to the regions water infrastructure.

Bosses at the watchdog said its failures led to excessive spills from storm overflows.

It comes a week after Thames Water was fined a record 122.7 million after it was found to have broken rules over sewage treatment and paying out dividends.

Ofwat said the enforcement package is greater than the penalty which would otherwise have been imposed if it had fined the business.

It also said the package agreed with the company means it will be spent on local improvements for customers, rather than being directed to the Treasurys consolidated fund.

Northumbrian Water chief executive Heidi Mottram said: We agree with Ofwats announcement that the financial settlement will be directed into speeding up our storm overflow reduction plans and in meaningful local initiatives via our Branch Out fund.

This investment, which will come entirely from Northumbrian Water shareholders and will not be paid for by customers bills, will enhance our ongoing efforts to support local communities and protect and improve the natural environment here in the North East.

Lynn Parker, senior director for enforcement at Ofwat, said: Our investigation has found failures in how Northumbrian Water has operated and maintained some of its sewage works and networks, which has resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows.

The contraventions we have found at some of their sites will have had an impact on the local environment and customers and it is unacceptable.

We are pleased that Northumbrian Water has agreed this package.

We now expect them to move at pace to correct the issues our investigation has identified.

We hope more companies will follow this example so that the public sees transformative change across the sector.

Northumbrian Water said in December last year that it plans to increase its average water bills by around 21% over the next five years.
There are not enough landlords in the UK to cater to population growth, student towns, and rising immigration, the boss of buy-to-let lender Paragon Bank has warned.

High demand among tenants versus a lack of available homes is pushing up rental prices, Paragons chief executive Nigel Terrington said.

The broader issue is that there is probably, in reality, not enough landlords, Mr Terrington told the PA news agency.

Demand for rented property is very high  everywhere you go you hear there are 15, 20 people for every rented property that is available and, of course, thats pushing up rents.

He said the issue was broad based with big UK cities like London being strained as well as student towns.

The potential is that it gets worse from here because the UK population is expected to grow by another four million people by 2032, and it is largely going to come from immigration, Mr Terrington told PA.

Immigrants tend to come into the UK and will rent, rather than buy.

So it puts more pressure on the rental market and therefore we need greater levels of landlord formation, rather than keeping it stable.

He said landlords, like other UK businesses, need certainty and clarity following events such as Brexit, a new government, and interest rates being hiked.

The remarks come as Paragon revealed new mortgage lending surged by a quarter over the six months to the end of March to 810 million, compared with the same period a year ago.

Activity was buoyed by buyers taking advantage of more generous stamp duty relief before the April deadline.

The Renters Rights Bill seeks to end no-fault evictions (Alamy/PA)

Mr Terrington also pointed to a wider shift from amateur landlords to professional landlords, who tend to own more than five properties, which he said was playing into our hands because of the lenders customer base.

Paragons pre-tax profit soared by nearly 27% to 140.1 million for the half-year.

Meanwhile, the bank boss called on the Government to give landlords enough time to plan for the Renters Rights Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

The proposed legislation seeks to introduce several measures including an end to no-fault evictions, stopping bidding wars for tenancies, helping tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases and preventing landlords from demanding more than a months rent in advance from a new tenant.

Mr Terrington said it would be crucial to have an appropriate implementation period for the potential new laws and that they are communicated sufficiently to both landlords and tenants.
Detectives sort through the rubble after a digger turns over the soil in the search for Madeleine McCann - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

The British former neighbour of the suspect in Madeleine McCanns disappearance said the new search operation to find her is a pile of rubbish.

Police are scouring 120 acres of scrubland in the Algarve less than a mile away from where Christian Brueckner rented a rundown apartment at around the same time the three-year-old went missing during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007.

But Goncalo Amaral, the former police chief who led the first investigation into Madeleines disappearance, said shoddy German officers were searching in too wide an area.

Ruth Maclean, a neighbour of Brueckners for around 14 years, told The Telegraph: Its a pile of rubbish, we are all so exhausted, it just goes on and on. It beggars belief.

Suspect Christian Brueckner has been made a scapegoat, says the former police chief who first investigated Madeleines disappearance - Julian Stratenschulte/AFP via Getty

She said she had filed a missing persons report to police when Brueckner left his property without a trace in 2006, unaware he was in jail at the time for petrol theft.

Its funny, she said. Everyone is trying to find out where he [Brueckner] went and where he was, he lived in several different places, and this is the first time I have heard that Atalaia is being searched.

I know the properties [being searched] because I ride up there all the time with my horses, I know exactly where they are, whether he [Brueckner] had been up there or done anything, I have no clue.

Ms Maclean, who moved to Portugal in the 1980s, described Brueckner as a volatile young man who could constantly be overheard having loud arguments with his girlfriend. Brueckner is believed to have first moved to the village of Sitio das Lajes, near Praia da Luz, in 1992.

Ms Maclean recalled seeing Brueckner almost daily while taking her horse for walks.

He was my neighbour, he was German, young, quite angry, she told The Telegraph. I would hear him having arguments with his girlfriend.

Brueckner, a convicted paedophile, is serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old American tourist in 2005 in Praia da Luz.

He has always denied any involvement in the suspected murder and abduction of Madeleine McCann on May 3 2007.

Ms Maclean said he was renting the property next door to her, and that she didnt consider him a friend  just a neighbour.

Nobody knew the implications that we have all heard about now, throughout the world, she said. He raped a lady in the town, I heard about that afterwards, just a ghastly piece of work. But I didnt know of him being a ghastly piece of work at the time.

German federal authorities, with the support of Portuguese police, are conducting a three-day-long search operation across 20 plots of land in Atalaia, a small region that borders Praia da Luz.

Detectives hope to find Madeleines remains or locate a missing piece of evidence that will let them formally charge Brueckner before he is freed from prison in September.

Goncalo Amaral was thrown off the case in 2008 after criticising UK police - Antonio Cotrim/EPA

Mr Amaral, who was thrown off the case in 2008 after publicly criticising British police, said the 26-mile stretch of land around Brueckners former cottage would overstretch investigators.

This much wasnt needed, said the former detective. A plane with geo-radar would have been enough and reduced the search area.

Mr Amaral was sued over a 2008 book in which he pointed the finger at the missing three-year-olds parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

While he won a lengthy libel battle with the McCanns over his book, The Truth of the Lie, his claims about them were dismissed years ago by Portuguese police and Scotland Yard detectives.

Speaking to Correio da Manha, the Portuguese newspaper, he said: The Germans should have had nothing to do with the investigation. This was a British police strategy with support from the Portuguese police.

Weve already searched the area thats being looked at now, theres nothing new. Were abdicating our technical competence. Were not being complacent any more, were conniving.

Mr Amaral also repeated earlier claims that Brueckner was a scapegoat. He said: Theres nothing on him. Im not trying to defend him, hes not a flower youd want to smell, but Ive never seen such shoddy work as the German polices.

Photographers watch as the German police investigations team leave the site at Atalaia on Wednesday - Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty

On the second day of the search, police deployed JCB diggers and ground-penetrating radar devices, capable of mapping underground terrains, near the ruins of abandoned buildings in Atalaia.

Teams of officers used chainsaws and hedge trimmers to clear the thick undergrowth obscuring access to potential burial sites.

Inside one crumbling building, officers in white gloves and hard hats sifted through the rubble for any possible forensic evidence.

Police at work in one of the derelict buildings in the new search area on Wednesday - Paul Grover

Police drones were seen flying above the teams at work approximately one kilometre inland from the coast.

Officers were seen using pickaxes, shovels and spades to sift soil into plastic boxes and bins, and taking it to a blue tent for further examination.

German officers from the BKA  the countrys equivalent to the FBI  have also taken samples of potential evidence from abandoned houses near where Madeleine went missing. The search was expected to last three days.

The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the operation but British officers would not be present. It is the first search in Portugal for more than two years.
The report will say those who perform physician associate roles must make clear to patients that they are assistants, not fully qualified doctors. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

Physician associates in the NHS will be renamed to stop patients mistaking them for doctors after a review found that their title caused widespread confusion.

Thousands of physician associates who work in hospitals and GP surgeries across the UK take medical histories, examine patients and diagnose illnesses but are not doctors.

However, Prof Gillian Leng, whose government-ordered review is looking into whether they pose a risk to patients safety, has concluded that they must be given a new name, so patients they treat are not misled into thinking they have seen a doctor, according to sources with knowledge of her thinking.

Doctors who fear the term has created widespread confusion among the public and risks undermining trust in the medical profession will regard ditching it as a major victory.

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is expected to accept Lengs recommendation and instigate the change, which could lead to physician associates being renamed physician assistants or doctors assistants. She will also specify in her final report, due later this month, that those who perform those roles must make clear to patients that they are assistants, not fully qualified doctors.

Physician associates have been implicated in several high-profile patient deaths. Earlier this year, a coroner found that in February 2024 a physician associate (PA) in the A&E at East Surrey hospital had misdiagnosed 77-year-old Pamela Marking as having a nosebleed when she had a small bowel obstruction and hernia that required emergency surgery. She returned to the hospital two days later but she died soon after.

In her prevention of future deaths report the coroner, Karen Henderson, warned that the term physician associate was misleading to the public and that there was a lack of public understanding of the role.

PAs have been causing alarm among doctors for years. They have prompted a number of legal challenges and calls, from the British Medical Association and several medical royal colleges, for their recruitment and rollout across the health service to be paused while their implications are assessed.

The parents of 30-year-old Emily Chesterton, who died in 2022 after a PA on two occasions failed to spot that she had a blood clot, recently began a legal action at the high court in London against the General Medical Council, which regulates doctors.

There are about 3,500 PAs and 100 anaesthesia associates  their equivalents in anaesthetics  working in the NHS in England. But NHS Englands plan to treble the number of PAs to 10,000 by the mid-2030s now looks in doubt. Ministers are due to publish an updated NHS long-term workforce plan in the summer.

Evidence collected by Leng since she began her review in November has vindicated the concern shared by many medical bodies that patients often struggle to distinguish a physician associate, who has done two years of postgraduate training, from a fully trained doctor with a medical degree.

In May, Leng said she had seen evidence showing that patients [are] likely to misconceive PAs to be a doctor. In addition, focus groups organised by the Patients Association had found that patients were unaware of what a PA was.

A third research study found patients misconceived PAs to be doctors, while a fourth cited by Leng underlined how confused the public were about the work PAs did and limits of their roles. Patients were not able to identify what or who a PA was, it said.

When Streeting appointed Leng to undertake the review he said that while many PAs provided good care there were legitimate concerns over transparency for patients, scope of practice and the substituting of doctors.

A Department of Health and Social Care source said: Its clear theres a legitimate problem of patients not knowing who they are seen by, which is their basic right. It is likely the review will make recommendations to address this problem, including changing the titles of PAs.

The secretary of state asked Prof Gillian Leng to produce an independent review into PAs and AAs that will provide certainty to patients and staff across the NHS.



We will consider its findings in full once it has been completed.
Whitechapel Market on Whitechapel High Street: one of the most diverse areas in the UK - Mike Kemp/Getty Images

A new report published by the Centre for Heterodox Social Science has underscored the reality of significant demographic change in modern Britain. Authored by Matthew Goodwin, the research projects that the white-British ethnic majority will become a minority within the next four decades and could fall as low as a third of the UKs population by the end of the century.

By 2100, the analysis predicts that three in five people will be non-white. Currently standing in the region of seven per cent, the Muslim proportion of the UKs population could increase to eleven percent by 2050 and as high as one-fifth of it by the 22nd century.

The findings confirm that the UK is undergoing major ethnic and religious transformation. There is no doubt that large-scale inward migration, which in recent times reached unprecedented levels under the last Conservative governments post-Brexit liberalisation of immigration rules, is driving much of this population change.

Along with the size of the inflows, the pattern of migration to the UK has changed in the post-Brexit context. Prominent countries of origin associated with the so-called Boriswave include India, Pakistan, and Nigeria. This brings risks from a social-cohesion perspective. India and Pakistan recently locked horns in a military escalation following the Pahalgam terror attack, which the former blamed the latter over.

While India has witnessed the fiery rise of Hindu fundamentalism under prime minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan is verging on being a failed state riddled with Islamist extremism. Nigeria is also no stranger to ethnic and religious conflict.

But it is the political and cultural dynamics within the UKs homegrown Muslim population which pose the most serious challenges in terms of integration and identity.

Research published by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) found that seven in ten British Muslims identified with their religious identity first and foremost  with around a quarter identifying most strongly with their British/English national identity.

But younger, largely UK-born British Muslims are more likely to identify as Muslim first than their predominantly foreign-born elders  peaking at 85 per cent for 18-to-24-year-olds.

What we are witnessing in the British Muslim population is the integration paradox  as socially-conservative minorities become more socially integrated over generations, they are more exposed to cultural trends and mainstream political developments which may not be to their liking.

Whether it is the rapid secularisation of the mainstream or the perceived pro-Israelism of the British political establishment, the UKs relatively youthful and increasingly confident Muslim population is becoming more faith-centric in how they view their existence in modern Britain.

Of course, all of this leads us to what is taking place in the white-British ethnic group, which is on a consistently downward trajectory as a proportion of the UKs population. While one cannot underestimate the role of large-scale immigration in demographic change, neither can we overlook that major cultural changes in the mainstream are contributing towards it.

The reality is that certain ethnic and religious groups value marriage and parenthood more than others  to the point that they tend to be more willing to take a hit to their personal freedom and financial comfort for these goals. Marriage and parenthood are ultimately civic acts of self-sacrifice  one could be forgiven for believing that much of the white-British mainstream is simply not culturally or religiously inclined to take this on.

While Englands rich traditions of personal freedom and individual liberty are to be admired, the 1960s social revolution and the rise of materialism put these values on steroids. Coupled with the considerable volume of inward migration of highly-religious kinship networks over decades, significant population change was, and is, inevitable.

Britains demographic future is a declining and de-Christianising white-British population, an ever-growing Muslim population, and becoming a majority-nonwhite society. This is unlikely to be a seamless transition. It could give rise to a resurgent racial consciousness in the white-British ethnic group; two-tier governance and the unholy trinity of diversity, equality, and inclusion will not help matters.

Meanwhile, British Muslim social and political disaffection  especially among its younger and more educated population  means the urge for Muslims to mobilise in line with group interests will only grow.

One thing for certain: significant population changes in modern Britain are testing the UKs traditional reputation of being a successful multi-ethnic, religiously-diverse democracy to the limit. And many of our mainstream politicians have buried their heads in the sand over this.
Authority for principals to expel or suspend students when behaviour outside school or online puts students or staff at serious risk brings Victoria into line with NSW and South Australia. Photograph: Lbeddoe/Alamy

Victorian school principals will soon have the power to suspend or expel students for their behaviour outside school, in a move that has been described as putting more pressure on overworked educators.

The state education minister, Ben Carroll, on Wednesday announced the expanded authority for principals to use when harmful behaviour outside school and online puts other students and staff at serious risk. It will come into effect from term three.

Carroll told reporters it was a commonsense change that principals and parents had long been calling for and would bring the state into line with New South Wales and South Australia.

Poor behaviour has consequences, whether its inside the classroom or out, Carroll said.

Ive sat down with parents, with principals and indeed with students, where inappropriate behaviour has occurred outside the school gate and its been very difficult for the perpetrator to be expelled or suspended.

The president and executive director of the Australian Secondary Principals Association (Aspa), Andy Mison, said he supported the intent of the announcement but held concerns educators only discovered the news in the media.

Related: Culture of disrespect: Australian teachers say students behaviour is driving them from profession

It would have been nice for Victorian principals to have had a bit of a heads up, he said. This is a well-intentioned policy, but its implementation could be strengthened by consulting with principals about it before it was announced.

If you want effective schools policy, it makes sense to involve those that have to implement that school policy.

Mison added that suspension and expulsion should only be used as absolutely last resort measures with the aim being to support children to learn at their best.

This is an acknowledgment that there are issues outside the school gate and that schools shouldnt be responsible for managing all of those things, he said.

It takes a village to raise a child. We just cant keep putting more and more pressure, expectation and accountability on schools to solve all the problems of society.

Lecturer in early childhood at RMIT, Dr Elise Waghorn, said while the new powers would receive significant support, prevention is better than the cure.

She said greater emphasis should be given on educating parents and young people about unsafe behaviours and online safety, instead of constantly putting more pressure on teachers.

Principals or teachers shouldnt feel they are put in a position to expel children based on their online activity. Its not enough to just expel children  there needs to be education, Waghorn said.

We need to give a really clear message that its not the school or the parents in isolation, we need to  prevent this behaviour as a community.

Carroll said harmful behaviour could include anything from physical assault to bullying to the distribution of deepfakes, where real images of a person are run through artificial intelligence to generate sexually explicit material.

The use of artificial intelligence to create pornographic deepfakes of fellow school students has been the subject of multiple police investigations in recent months, raising alarm among federal crossbenchers.

It comes amid growing concern over the behaviour of young people, with a recent survey finding instances of physical violence towards principals had increased by 82% since reporting began in 2011, while threats of violence were also at their highest rate in the same period.

Last month, the federal government launched a review into bullying and cyberbullying at schools, with the aim of developing a nationally consistent response to the issue.

The eSafety Commissioner is also in the process of drafting an industry code designed to protect children from age-inappropriate content, including pornography, high-impact violence and material relating to self-harm, suicide and disordered eating.

We want to encourage kids to be coming to school hungry, to learn, not fearful or worried about what might have occurred over the weekend or indeed, overnight online, and how that will affect the school environment, Carroll said.
Credit: Reuters

The Prince of Wales joked that families did not always want to see each other and could be a mixed bag as he made his first visit to the Army Air Corps (AAC) as their Colonel-in-Chief.

Prince William flew to and from the base in Wattisham, Suffolk, in a Wildcat helicopter, a reconnaissance aircraft in the AACs fleet.

Dressed in camouflage military uniform and the AACs iconic blue beret, he immediately got stuck into learning about life at the flying station, serving up bacon and sausage baps and pledging to raise concerns about accommodation.

Chatting to soldiers on an airfield, he asked about the pace of life and how often they saw loved ones.

Some of them might not want to see you that much, he quipped. Its a mixed bag.

The Prince is not in contact with his younger brother, Prince Harry, who served as an Apache helicopter commander and co-pilot gunner with the AAC during his second tour of Afghanistan in 2012 and until 2014.

The Prince of Wales observed a tough combat physical training session during his visit - Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace

After watching a combat PT session, William spoke to those taking part during a water break.

He told them the chat would give you a breather, adding of the training: Its good to get out and about.

The Prince, who has previously revealed that he enjoys boxing, said the training could help with frustration, adding: Its good to take it out on a punch bag.

He also showed an interest in soldiers general welfare and promised to ensure concerns about accommodation were looked at.

The Prince said: It probably hasnt been looked at for a while. There will be a big notebook on somebodys desk.

Whether they listen to me, thats another matter.

When he asked another group about accommodation and only received smiles in response, he said: Ill take that away, a lot of smiles going on, thats all you need to say.

The Prince of Wales landed at the base in Suffolk in a Wildcat helicopter - Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace

He later served bacon rolls and sausage baps during the Archers Breakfast, a weekly social event held by 664 Squadron for its personnel and their families, admitting that the food was very good-smelling, making my mouth water.

A long line of servicemen and their families quickly formed and the Prince quipped nothing worse than the smell of bacon in the room and you cannot eat it.

The ladies serving alongside him later praised his skills, which they said were spot on and had pace.

The Prince was told about the 664 Squadrons operational lessons from overseas tours and how soldiers were adapting to the new capabilities of the recently acquired Apache AH-64E.

He also met Mike and Lorna Pope, parents of Air Trooper Daniel Pope of 664 Squadron, who died of cancer in 2016.

The Prince, a former RAF helicopter search-and-rescue pilot who later spent two years flying air ambulances, presented Staff Sergeant Kenneth Robert Copeland with an award for his exceptional service in West Africa and also promoted several soldiers from corporal to sergeant, before flying himself home in a Wildcat.

Credit: Reuters

Staff Sergeant Megan Chasney said afterwards: It was fantastic. Its a privilege to be able to host our Colonel-in-Chief.

We had a nice relaxed conversation on our way from the sports pitch down to here to speak about everything, our main issues at Wattisham and how he can help aid us with those, and what its like with service personnel and our families.

She added on their accommodation: You can see this is a World War Two camp. Its ageing accommodation and its ageing infrastructure. We have new infrastructure coming but it cant come fast enough.

The Prince became the AACs Colonel-in-Chief in May 2024 when the King officially handed over the role to his elder son at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
Stephen Fry says he has "stopped thinking about" the age gap between him and his husband, Elliot Spencer. (Getty Images) (John Phillips via Getty Images)

Stephen Fry has spoken candidly about the benefits of his age-gap relationship with husband Elliott Spencer. He offered the rare insight during the debut episode of Rylan Clark's new podcast.

The 67-year-old actor and writer met Spencer, now 38, at a house party in 2012. The couple tied the knot three years later and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in January this year. Spencer, a comedian and writer, is 30 years Fry's junior.

During his appearance on Rylan: How to Be in Love, which aired on Wednesday, Fry acknowledged that there is an age gap between the couple but said he had "stopped thinking about it."

He continued: "Oscar Wilde said, 'I love the young, they have so much more experience,' and it's true, young people have more experience; they're more experienced in the world as it is than as it was. Plus, so much of what I love in music and in literature and so on is not necessarily from this century."

Fry described his relationship with Spencer as "wonderful," saying it has broadened his interests in unexpected ways. "He teaches me things I just didnt know," Fry shared, revealing that since being with Spencer, he's developed a newfound appreciation for everything from wrestling to rap music.

They're not alone in navigating love across a generation. Several celebrity couples have made age gap relationships work, including Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson (who are 34 and 58 years old  a 23-year age gap), Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas (55 and 80 years old  a 25-year age gap), and Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (57 and 38 years old  20 year age gap).

Yahoo UK spoke to three relationship experts to determine the benefits and challenges of dating someone decades older  or much younger.

Fry described his relationship with Spencer as "wonderful," explaining that his husband has helped him broaden his interests. (Getty Images) (Anthony Harvey via Getty Images)

Age gap relationship pros

Exposure to new ways of thinking

Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, says there can be something "deeply enriching" about age gap relationships. Similar to what Fry said about his marriage, Dr Goddard-Crawley explains that dating someone older or younger can open you up to new experiences.

"Being with someone from a different generation often brings exposure to new ways of thinking and unfamiliar cultural reference points  it becomes a kind of cross-generational learning," she says.

"Rather than narrowing your world, it can stretch it. You don't just get to know the person; you're also drawn into their worldview and their life, the things that shaped them. It's not unusual for these couples to say they've grown more emotionally attuned because they've had to communicate across different expectations and assumptions. That kind of intentional connection can actually deepen intimacy."

Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and director Sam Taylor-Johnson have been married since 2012. (Getty Images) (John Nacion via Getty Images)

Complementary life experiences

Rachel MacLynn, also a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, says age-gap relationships often bring together individuals with different life experiences and perspectives. As well as exposing each individual to new ways of thinking, it can bring rich personal growth.

"The older partner might offer wisdom, stability, and mentorship, while the younger partner can bring fresh energy, adaptability, and a desire for new experiences," she says.

"From a psychological standpoint, this dynamic can create a powerful balance between security and novelty, crucial elements for a thriving relationship."

Actors Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas married in 2000 and have two children together. (Getty Images) (Arnold Jerocki via Getty Images)

Age gap relationship cons

Being in different life stages

While there are various positives, Dr Goddard-Crawley says that it's important to pay attention to the challenges as well. She shares a reminder that the gap isn't just in years; it's often in life stage.

"One person might be thinking about having children, while the other is contemplating retirement. That can create a subtle (or not-so-subtle) mismatch in priorities, which plays out emotionally and practically over time," she shares.

"There can also be power imbalances, which include financial, professional, or social, and these can shape the relationship in ways the couple doesnt always spot at first."

While these dynamics don't make the relationship invalid, the psychologist says they deserve attention.

Dr Lori Beth Bisbey, an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, echoes this sentiment. She says that sometimes, there is a lack of long-term thinking.

"For example, both are prioritising travel when they meet, but a few years in one wants children and the other is not ready," she explains.

"[Sometimes there are also] differences in cultural references and understanding. This impacts the way people think, prioritise and how they view conflict. If handled well, this can turn into a pro with them learning new skills from each other.'

Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor Jason Statham met when they were approximately 22 and 42 years old, and married in 2010. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images) (Lionel Hahn via Getty Images)

Judgement from the outside world

Unfortunately, Dr Goddard-Crawley states that age-gap couples often face assumptions, especially when traditional gender roles or money are involved.

She continues: "Public perception can be intrusive, even undermining, which means the couple needs to have a strong internal sense of trust and shared purpose.

"It's also worth asking; would anyone care quite as much if Stephen Fry were talking about a younger girlfriend rather than a husband? Theres still a double standard in how we view age gaps, especially when queer relationships are involved. The scrutiny often says more about our cultural discomfort than it does about the couple themselves

"Ultimately, age is only part of the story. The real questions are: Do you communicate well? Do you understand each others needs? Can you grow in the same direction? If those are in place, then the number itself may matter far less than people think."

Long-term caregiving responsibilities

MacLynn explains that significant age gaps can also introduce future concerns around health, vitality, and caregiving.

She shares: "Discussions about future planning, including health and financial security, are essential to safeguard the relationship against unforeseen challenges. These are conversations that require maturity, empathy and foresight."

Read more about age gap relationships:
Vladimir Putin had an unexpected phone call with Donald Trump - Gavriil Grigorov/AP

Vladimir Putin is planning revenge for Ukraines drone strikes on Russias bomber fleet, Donald Trump has warned.

The US president said he had a good conversation with his Russian counterpart, after an unexpected phone call, but that it was not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social network: President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

His comments came after Putin finally broke his silence following Kyivs co-ordinated drone assaults to once again rule out a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Russian leader said that Kyiv would exploit the break in the fighting to rearm and remobilise and carry out further terrorist attacks.

In a televised government meeting on Wednesday, Putin said: Why reward them by giving them a break from the combat, which will be used to pump the regime with Western arms, to continue their forced mobilisation and to prepare different terrorist acts.

Since March, Ukraine has fully backed a US-proposed unconditional and an immediate 30-day truce, pushing for it once again at peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.

Despite Washingtons pleading, Moscow has consistently refused.

Putin had stayed quiet since Ukraine struck deep into the Russian heartland on June 1, damaging or destroying up to 20 of his prized strategic bombers, according to Western intelligence estimates.

A Russian air base was hit by Ukrainian drone strikes - Shutterstock

The White House has insisted that it was not warned in advance of the attack.

The co-ordinated drone strikes are likely to have stoked fears in the Kremlin that Ukraine can strike its most prized military assets anywhere and unnerved Putins projected image of invincibility.

Russias foreign ministry on Wednesday said all options were on the table in response to Ukraines attacks on Russian territory and accused the West of being involved in them.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russias deputy foreign minister said: We urge London and Washington to react in such a way as to stop further escalation.

Putin has not mentioned the assault, which Moscow has sought to downplay, claiming that only several planes caught fire.

Instead, the Russian leader questioned the point of peace talks as he accused Ukraine of being behind attacks on bridges in its border regions over the weekend that caused a train to derail, killing seven people.

Putin claimed that the attack, which Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for, was directed at thwarting the negotiation process.

He said: How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?

The Russian president also dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskys calls for a meeting after the Ukrainian president argued that direct top-level negotiations were the only way to end the three-year war.

Mr Zelensky told a briefing in Kyiv: My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet.

Conditions for peace are ultimatum

He also called Russias conditions for peace an ultimatum.

During the unsuccessful peace talks in Turkey, Russia presented a peace settlement that largely reflected Putins goals from the outset of the invasion and which Kyiv said was tantamount to surrender.

Moscow had listed maximalist demands including complete control over four partially occupied Ukrainian regions and that international recognition of Russian sovereignty over them and Crimea must be granted.

The sharply conflicting demands from both sides leave little hope for any quick progress in talks.

Russia instead proposed on Monday a short two-three day ceasefire, which it said was a chance to let both armies collect the bodies of dead soldiers from the battlefield.

This idea was reportedly rejected by Kyiv as Russia has previously used similar pauses to prepare for fresh assaults.

Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, on Wednesday called the rejection a gross mistake.

However, it is still expected that a large-scale prisoner exchange agreed during the talks will go ahead this weekend.

Call between Putin and Pope

Putin on Wednesday also held his first telephone call with Pope Leo, in which the pair exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

Keeping the contents of the call vague, the Kremlin claimed that Putin reiterated his interest in achieving peace but that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed first.

The new pontiff has been vocal in his demands for an end to the fighting and for a lasting peace. In a resurfaced 2022 interview, he condemned Russias aggression, calling it a true invasion, imperialism in nature.

His predecessor Pope Francis did not speak directly to Putin following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their last known call was held in December 2021, but the pair had met three times before the war.
Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the Ukraine conflict in 24 hours, but his comments on Wednesday did not involve any calls for restraint. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin for more than an hour on Wednesday, but he conceded the talks would not lead to immediate peace in Ukraine, and warned that Russia would respond to Ukraines successful attacks this week on its airfields.

The US president, who repeatedly claimed he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours during his election campaign, did not attempt to discourage the Russian leader from retaliation, according to his description of the discussion on his Truth Social platform.

He noted instead that Putin had offered to participate in US talks with Iran about its nuclear programme, which Trump claimed Tehran had been slowwalking. The programme has expanded considerably since 2018, when Trump withdrew from a multilateral agreement to constrain it in exchange for sanctions relief.

In separate remarks on Wednesday, Putin once again ruled out a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, claiming it would just give Kyiv time to regroup and rearm, while Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Moscows peace proposals presented earlier this week as nothing more than an ultimatum.

Related:Operation Spiderweb: a visual guide to Ukraines destruction of Russian aircraft

The comments from both leaders confirmed negotiations in Istanbul on Monday had made no headway towards a truce, but the two sides signalled progress on other issues, including the transfer of captives and bodies.

Russia said it was working on the return of more than 300 Ukrainian children who the Kyiv government and the international criminal court (ICC) say were abducted by invading forces.

It also confirmed there would be a prisoner exchange in the coming days, and there were continuing discussions on plans to repatriate thousands of bodies of fallen soldiers from both sides.

Zelenskyy said he expected 500 PoWs to be swapped this weekend, but he said that the broader peace proposal put forward by Russia in Istanbul amounted to an ultimatum from the Russian side to us.

Immediately after Mondays meeting, Ukrainian officials said they needed more time to study the document handed over by the Russians, but press reports at the time said that it simply restated Russias maximalist demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from four regions under partial Russian occupation.

Putin stated his position on Wednesday in the form of a televised virtual meeting with his aides.

After being informed that Ukraine had proposed an unconditional ceasefire of 30 to 60 days, Putin asked: Why reward them by giving them a break from the combat, which will be used to pump the regime with western arms, to continue their forced mobilisation and to prepare different terrorist acts?

He pointed to recent Ukrainian attacks on bridges inside Russia, one of which helped cause a train crash that killed seven people.

On Sunday, Ukraine also carried out a remote-controlled mass drone attack on four Russian airfields, which Kyiv claims knocked out more than a third of Moscows heavy bombers capable of firing cruise missiles.

Ukrainian officials said 41 Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers and other types of combat aircraft, were destroyed or damaged in Sundays operation, which they claimed had taken 18 months to plan. On Wednesday, they released additional drone footage of the attack, codenamed Operation Spiderweb.

Satellite photos analysed and published by the Associated Press showed aircraft wreckage and scorched areas at Belaya base, one of the four airfields targeted.

It said the images showed at least three Tu-95 and four Tu-22M bombers  both capable of firing cruise missiles  had been destroyed on the runway. Other aircraft at the base appeared unscathed.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said the drone attacks on Russian airfields had come up in his hour-and-15-minute conversation with Putin on Wednesday.

We discussed the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides, Trump said.

It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

Trump told Putin that Ukraine did not inform him before the drone attacks, a Kremlin spokesperson said.

Putin also spoke on Wednesday to Pope Leo XIV, in the US-born pontiffs first call to the Russian leader since he became head of the worlds Catholics last month.

The Vatican said in a statement that during the call, the pope made an appeal for Russia to make a gesture that favours peace.

Before the Istanbul talks, Russia stepped up its aerial attacks on cities, and pushed further into Ukraines northern region of Sumy, seizing more than 150 sq km (58 sq miles) of the area in less than two weeks, according to Russian claims and Ukrainian open-source mapping.

During his election campaign, Trump claimed more than 50 times he could end the Ukraine conflict within a day, but his comments on Wednesday did not involve any calls for restraint.

While Putin has ruled out a comprehensive ceasefire, Russia has suggested two- to three-day local truces on different parts of the frontline, to allow the opposing armies to collect their dead, a proposal Moscow says Kyiv has rejected.

However, both sides showed on Wednesday they were ready to continue with the exchange of PoWs, the bodies of dead soldiers, and to offer some cooperation on Kyivs priority, the return of Ukrainian children.

In the televised government meeting on Wednesday, the chief Russian negotiator in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, said Russia was working on the return of Ukrainian children, noting that Kyiv had presented a list of 339 of them.

Russia has claimed Ukrainian children were taken to Russia for their safety, while Kyiv insisted they had been abducted. The Ukrainian view was underpinned by the ICC, which issued arrest warrants in March 2023 for Putin and his commissioner for childrens rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for their role in the unlawful deportation of the Ukrainian children.

After the Istanbul meeting, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian delegation had handed the Russians a list of nearly 400 names of abducted Ukrainian children, but claimed that Russia had only offered to resolve the cases of 10 of them.

After Mondays talks, Turkeys leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced he wanted to host a Putin-Zelenskyy summit also involving Trump. Zelenskyy has been challenging his Russian counterpart to meet him face to face for some months.

We are ready for such a meeting any day, the Ukrainian leader said on Wednesday, adding it was pointless to hold further talks with the midlevel Russian delegates Putin has sent to the talks  who Zelenskyy has previously dismissed as empty heads  since they were not empowered to agree a ceasefire.

Putin maintained his opposition to a personal meeting with Zelenskyy, however, on the grounds of the recent attacks on railways in the Kursk and Bryansk border regions, which he described as terrorist acts.

How can any such [summit] meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about? Putin asked in his video call with his officials.

Since Trumps return to the White House in January, European capitals have sought to take more of a leading role in bolstering Ukraines defence, and on Wednesday, a series of military industrial support measures were announced at a meeting of the 52-country strong Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Nato headquarters in Brussels, chaired jointly by the UK and Germany.
Alix Bateman (right), 58, is a writer and venue owner, living in London with her son, 19. Her brother Rob (left), 60, is retired, but used to be a post-production manager in film. He has two daughters. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Words: Alix Bateman

Watching Brian and Melvyn  two brothers in their 60s  competing in Race Across the World, I was struck by the similarities between their childhood experiences and mine and my brothers.

While fishing on a lake in Western China, Brian and Melvyn had a poignant discussion about the fact that Brian was sent away to boarding school when he was 10 while Melvyn, who is three years older, stayed home and went to their local state secondary school.

Like Brian, my older brother Rob was sent away to boarding school at the age of 13, whereas I stayed home. For most of the next three to four years, Rob was 3,000 miles away from us, his family, whereas I went to a local day school. Our lives couldnt have been more different.

It was more than 50 years later that Melvyn and Brian first spoke frankly to each other about the impact their separation had. Similarly, its only in recent years that Rob and I have opened up about our feelings around him leaving.

Race Across The World's Brian Mole, left, was sent away to boarding school age 10 while his brother Melvyn (right) went to a local state school near home. They found being separated extremely tough. (BBC) (BBC)

Moving to America

The only difference between the Race Across The World brothers and us is that I was based in America when my brother was sent away to a British boarding school. Our family left London in 1977 to spend the next four years in Washington D.C., after the British Embassy offered my father a job.

Wildly intelligent yet emotionally unavailable, my dad had a fantastic career but not much in the way of empathy. Melvyn and Brian mention little of their father but say their mother had endured a hard upbringing which later affected how she was as a mum. They remember a strange feeling of being unwelcome in their own home.

I was based in America with my family when my brother was sent away to a British boarding school

Our mothers upbringing was also harsh. She was mistreated by the nuns who ran the orphanage where she lived for years while both her parents were ill. She was, however, loving and kind but unfortunately deferred most decisions to Dad.

Moving from a grey London childhood of strikes, power cuts and shortages, to arrive in America when I was 10 and Rob was 12 was like stepping into a bright light. The skies were a vivid blue, even in winter, the snow fell waist-high, and we landed in an affluent community of houses with swimming pools, friendly kids and relaxed teachers, referred to by their Christian names.

For over three years, Alix's brother Rob went to boarding school in the UK, 3,000 miles away from where the family lived in America at the time. Their father worked for the British embassy in Washington DC. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Opposite lives

During our first year in America, my parents sent Rob and I to two separate  but similarly local  co-ed day schools, before abruptly switching Rob to a prestigious boarding school in the UK, while I stayed on in the US. The difference for him could not have been starker. That first year in Washington was the best year of his school life. Hed always struggled in education, but was finally happy and thriving. Then suddenly his whole life was thrown up in the air.

Melvyn talks of his disbelief at his parents not even telling him his brother was going away to boarding school, springing it on him unannounced. We were told about my parents plans for Rob but didnt believe it would truly go ahead.

My brothers experience of boarding school turned out to be so grim, its little surprise that at 16 he left school, abandoning formal education altogether

Melvyn and Brian admit being puzzled why one brother was sent away but not the other. Our parents explained that Rob was at the age where in the UK he would be starting to study for his GCSEs. My father, set on the importance of education, didnt want Rob ending up a year behind when we eventually returned to England and to risk being "the biggest idiot in the class".

Being only 11, I was thankfully spared, and my brothers experience of boarding school turned out to be so grim, its little surprise that at 16 he left school, abandoning formal education altogether.

Alix, pictured age 11, says her own laid-back school in America couldn't have been more different from the toxic atmosphere her brother Rob endured at a prestigious UK boarding school. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Missing my brother

Robs schooling still fills me with guilt. While I enjoyed the free and easy atmosphere of an American school in the seventies, he struggled with the harsh, institutionalised environment typical of UK boarding schools at the time. The older boys oversaw the discipline of the younger ones, with bullying and cruel initiation ceremonies being rife. His only reprieve was occasional weekend trips to our grandparents that were often cancelled by the school as punishment.

Rather than feeling privileged for having gone to boarding school, both Brian and my brother felt their parents must have just wanted them out of the way

I pleaded with my parents to abandon their plan, even though my older brother had been my biggest tormentor before he left and we'd argued nonstop. An introvert sent to share a dormitory with 20 others  under a Victorian-style regime, thousands of miles from home  just seemed too sad.

Rather than feeling privileged for having gone to boarding school, both Brian and my brother felt their parents must have just wanted them out of the way. Rob felt utterly abandoned and certain hed brought it on himself by not being the perfect son.

The impact of his formative years on my brothers mental health have been long-lasting. By 17, Rob was heavily into drink and drugs. This advanced to a heroin addiction that came and went over the next 20 years, he also faced run-ins with police. Interspersed with periods when he was clean, Robs resilience was low, and any setback would see him back on drugs. He eventually kicked the habit once and for all after the arrival of his first child.

Rob's years at boarding school, where bullying was rife, affected him deeply. He later struggled with mental health issues and drug addiction, before having a successful career in film. (Supplied) (Supplied)

The effects of our childhood

Both Brian and Melvyn spoke of the legacy of their childhood. Melvyn says he decided not to start a family, fearful of replicating the difficult atmosphere of his own youth. He also joined the army straight from school as a form of escape. Brian, too, was determined his own two boys childhood would be different, making sure they knew they were loved.

Rob is a loving and present father to his two daughters, far more than our own father was, and Ive always strived to prioritise my sons emotional wellbeing above all else

Similarly, Rob is a loving and present father to his two daughters, far more than our own father was, and Ive always strived to prioritise my sons emotional wellbeing above all else.

Brian, a retired financial advisor, has been markedly more financially successful than Melvyn, who is now a driving instructor. Ironically for Rob and I, our financial situations didnt align with our educational achievement.

Rob left school at 16, returning only in later years to secure an English A Level via adult education, whereas I obtained three A Levels and two degrees. Yet Robs work has been more fruitful financially than my own, as Ive lurched from antique dealer to writer and owner of a venue called The Glebe House London in Clapham. It was a bumpy ride getting there for Rob, but eventually he enjoyed a long and successful career in film, earning more than I ever have.

Alix says she and her brother have enjoyed reflecting on their past together and laying ghosts to rest. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Strengthening our bond

Brian and Melvyn say their mum was hard work, but both seem to recognise that it was her difficult upbringing that made her that way. Likewise, Rob doesnt harbour resentment towards our folks  he says expecting them to recognise what was best for our mental wellbeing was like insisting someone colour-blind see blue. Asking our father if hed enjoyed his own boarding school days, Dad replied, "Oh God no, I hated it, I was bullied horrendously" which is so ironic.

Asking our father if hed enjoyed his own boarding school days, Dad replied, 'Oh God no, I hated it, I was bullied horrendously'

Like Melvyn and Brian, weve enjoyed reflecting on our past and dispelling childhood ghosts in later life. After our parents passing  Mum in 2017 and Dad 2020  we spent a year dealing with their utterly disorganised estate, consisting mainly of hoarded items from various flea markets.

It brought us almost to our knees but also cemented our bond. Like the brothers, we look forward to supporting each other through both challenges and adventures for many more years to come.

Read more about Race Across The World:
Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeves are understood to have reached an agreement in the past few days after fraught negotiations - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Ed Miliband has defeated an attempt by Rachel Reeves to raid one of his key net zero programs in next weeks spending review, The Telegraph understands.

The Treasury has for months been considering cuts to the 13.2 billion warm homes plan, which aims to insulate properties and make them more energy efficient.

But Mr Miliband, the Energy Security Secretary, and Ms Reeves, the Chancellor, are understood to have reached an agreement in the past few days after fraught negotiations and the scheme will remain largely unaffected.

The agreement is a boost for net zero supporters in government, chief among them Mr Miliband, who have warned against scaling back green plans.

It will also likely be regarded as a sign of the Chancellors waning influence as Downing Street seeks to placate backbenchers unhappy over spending cuts.

The decision is expected to please the Left wing of the party, which is threatening to rebel against Sir Keir Starmers plans to make cuts to welfare and has been emboldened by a memo sent to Ms Reeves by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, demanding tax rises.

However, it could complicate attempts, spearheaded by Number 10, to counter Nigel Farages Reform, which is surging in support on a net zero sceptic platform and could outperform Labour in a Scottish by-election seat on Thursday.

Spokesmen for the Treasury, the Energy Security Department and Number 10 all declined to comment, with announcements being unveiled at the spending review on Wednesday.

Mr Milibands victory can be disclosed hours after Ms Reeves warned that she would be tough with some Cabinet colleagues.

Delivering a speech in Rochdale on Wednesday morning, the Chancellor said that not every department will get everything that they want next week as she has had to say no to things that she would support in an ideal world.

Following a major about-turn by Sir Keir to appease backbenchers, millions of pensioners will be handed back their annual winter fuel payments of up to 300 next week, when the details of a reversal in last years cut are announced.

Some wealthy pensioners will still not receive the payment  meaning confusion continues on what the new policy will become  and it is unclear how the reversal will be funded.

Meanwhile, the Government has announced that there will be 1 billion for an extra 500,000 free school meals over the next three years, lifting an estimated 100,000 children out of deprivation.

Cabinet ministers have been locked in negotiations with the Treasury for months over the spending review, which will set out day-to-day departmental budgets for the next three years.

Mr Miliband, the former Labour leader who heads up the net zero brief in government, was one of the few remaining Cabinet ministers still battling the Treasury this week. Sources last week were forced to deny reports he stormed out of a meeting with Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, amid a row over cuts.

Ms Rayner is also said to have clashed with the Chancellor over the spending review, with sources previously claiming she had complained forcibly about proposed cuts to housing.

But The Telegraph understands Mr Miliband has now reached agreement with Ms Reeves and has seen off an attempt to raid a major net zero scheme.

The warm homes plan is an initiative to lift more than 1 million households out of fuel poverty by 2030, reducing energy bills as well as making houses more energy-efficient.

It includes investment to insulate homes  thereby making them more energy-efficient  and grants for heat pumps.

Labour promised an extra 6.6 billion for the plan in its general election manifesto last summer, taking the total to be spent on the program to 13.2 billion.

A hint that Ms Reeves had given ground came on Wednesday morning when she said publicly that manifesto promises would be kept to in the spending review.

The negotiations with ministers have been fraught because, despite a 300 billion boost to spending this parliament, some departments still face real-terms cuts in the years ahead.

It has prompted protests from a string of departments and public officials, with police chiefs warning the Prime Minister that cuts would force them to decide which crimes to investigate.

The politics of the Government have been shifting over its legal commitment to make the UK a net zero carbon emitter, complicating Labours approach.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has withdrawn her support for the target, making one of her first policy commitments of office the insistence that achieving the ambition by 2050 is impossible.

Kemi Badenoch has insisted that hitting net zero by 2050 is impossible - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

The repositioning, which comes despite it being the Conservatives under Theresa May who brought in the legal target, moves the Tories closer to Reforms position on net zero. Mr Farages party wants to scrap the policy entirely.

Opinion polls show that while the public support hitting net zero, that drops markedly when voters are asked if they are willing to take a financial hit to achieve it.

Mr Miliband has been the driving force behind the Governments net zero stance. Others in the Labour movement, including leading trade unions, oppose the new North Sea oil licence ban.

The Energy Secretarys win comes after he lost battles over the expansion of Heathrow Airport and clashed with Sir Tony Blair when the former prime minister raised doubts over whether net zero was feasible.
Patricia Krenwinkel listens to a ruling denying her parole in Corona, California, on 20 January 2011. Photograph: Reed Saxon/AP

Patricia Krenwinkel, a former Charles Manson follower who has been imprisoned for 56 years over her role in the Tate-LaBianca murders in Los Angeles, could go free after being recommended for parole last week.

The decision marked a major victory for the ageing incarcerated woman after 16 parole hearings. Krenwinkel, now 77, was 21 at the time of the 1969 killings and has been imprisoned longer than any other woman in California.

On Friday, she was found suitable for release by the states board of parole hearings (BPH) after a four-hour hearing, with commissioners recognizing her growth over more than five decades and concluding she is not a danger to society.

Krenwinkel, however, still faces an uphill battle to be freed.

Convicted of seven counts of murder in one of the most high-profile killing sprees in the US, she is up against a politicized legal process that regularly prevents people tied to notorious crimes from coming home, even when theyve spent the vast majority of their lives locked up and are recommended by state officials to be freed.

California is one of two states that gives the governor the authority to veto parole decisions, and Gavin Newsom, the current Democratic governor, has repeatedly reversed the decision to grant peoples freedom in notorious cases. That includes Sirhan Sirhan, who remains imprisoned for the assassination of Robert F Kennedy, despite his son, Robert F Kennedy Jr, calling for his release; Leslie van Houten, another former Manson follower whose release was vetoed by Newsom, but who was freed by an appeals court in 2023; and Krenwinkel herself, who was granted parole in 2022, but blocked by Newsom.

Longtime friends of Krenwinkel, along with her legal team, said in interviews this week that she had survived abuse and spent decades turning her life around and taking advantage of programs.

We have to recognize that people can and do make changes. Pat grew up in prison, and she is such a sweet, humble, kind, communicative person. What we see now is the true Pat, said Jane Dorotik, who spent nearly 20 years in prison and first met Krenwinkel in 2006 in the California Institution of Women (CIW) prison. At 19, she was sucked into this crazy world with Charles Manson, but that is not who she is and shouldnt define her. These women were living in a cult, were completely brainwashed and were so young.

Krenwinkels case has moved forward at a time of growing recognition of the impact of childhood abuse and trauma, with criminal justice reform advocates arguing these histories should be considered for people serving long sentences for serious offenses.

In California, there has been a push to free Erik and Lyle Menendez, the brothers convicted of the infamous 1989 killing of their parents, with the former district attorney of LA noting the abuse they endured as youth and arguing they demonstrated their rehabilitation and deserved an opportunity to come home. The brothers remain incarcerated as their case winds its way through the parole process.

Krenwinkel was convicted in 1971 for her role in the two nights of homicides that claimed the lives of actor Sharon Tate and her four friends, and grocery owner Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary.

She has long expressed remorse and in her 2022 hearing spoke about the physical abuse, humiliation and degradation she experienced at the hands of Manson. In her 2022 hearing, she said: I want to say is how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did  I try every day to live amends  [and] focus on being a better person.

Krenwinkel was working as a clerk in a craft department at the prison when Dorotik met her, Dorotik recalled: I didnt know who she was, I was just really struck by how friendly she was. She was so helpful to new prisoners coming in.

The two ended up living across the hall from each other, said Dorotik, who was released in 2020 after bringing a wrongful conviction case and is now a member of advocacy group California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP): I was always very touched by how committed she was to helping the community and bettering our environment. Her position was: Yes its terrible were in prison, but we can still make the best of it.

While the horrific impact of her crimes remains unchangeable, todays context calls for us to rethink Pats story with greater complexity Su Kim, UnCommon Law

Krenwinkels attorneys with UnCommon Law, an Oakland-based non-profit that represents people in parole proceedings, have noted that she has had no rules violations over five decades and has had nine evaluations by prison psychologists who have concluded she is not a risk to society. The law also requires that the board consider she was a youth during the offense and is now elderly.

It is incredibly difficult to be in the violent environment of prison and abstain from any violent behavior or rules violations, and everyone who knows her speaks to the way she has helped other women, said Su Kim, senior policy manager with UnCommon Law.

Kim noted research showing how survivors of intimate partner violence commit crimes under coercion, fear and trauma, arguing that there is growing recognition of the psychological control exerted by cults: While the horrific impact of her crimes remains unchangeable, todays context calls for us to rethink Pats story with greater complexity and appreciation for what we now know about the deep links between trauma and human behavior.

Some victims family members have vocally opposed Krenwiknels release, including Debra Tate, Sharon Tates sister, who wrote in an online petition over the weekend: Society cannot allow this serial killer who committed such horrible, gruesome, random killings back out. She did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Keith Wattley, UnCommon Laws director and Krenwinkels longtime lawyer, said state law requires the release of an incarcerated person who is eligible for parole and no longer a risk to society, arguing California cannot keep imprisoning her due to nature of her underlying crimes: Its the governors turn to show that he believes in law and order when the law requires a persons release despite public outcry.

Related: Manson family member Patricia Krenwinkel recommended for parole

Some of Krenwinkels supporters are fearful Newsom will once again reject her parole due to concerns about political backlash. In 2022, when he vetoed her release, Newsom said he agreed she was well-behaved behind bars and had demonstrated effusive remorse, but argued her efforts have not sufficiently reduced her risk for future dangerousness and she needed to better understand her triggers for antisocial thinking and conduct.

A spokesperson for Newsom declined to comment on Tuesday. The parole boards legal division has 120 days to review Krenwinkels parole grant, and then Newsom will have another month to make his decision.

Shes almost 80  she is not the same person as she was in her early 20s, said Susan Bustamante, an advocate with the CCWP, who was imprisoned alongside Krenwinkel for 30 years. I pray they let her out. Do the right thing. The crime is never going to change. And there is nothing more she can do with programs inside  shes done it all for nearly 60 years. Shes done groups, shes taught, shes mentored. She has shown us all so much.

Bustamante noted the challenges of ageing behind bars, with elderly people struggling through cold temperatures at night, facing heatwaves with no air conditioning, being forced to sleep on cramped bunkbeds, having difficulties accessing the nutrition and medical care they require, and continuing to work jobs.

It is so hard to keep hope alive and keep going forward, added Dorotik. But I do have a sense that Pat is more hopeful than Ive seen her in the past. She noted that research has demonstrated that people released after long sentences rarely reoffend: They dont get in trouble again. Their recidivism is practically zero. Many work in their community to support other people coming out of prison. Theyre an asset to society and could have done a whole lot more if we let them out sooner.
Authorities are focusing on derelict structures a few miles from the resort of Praia da Luz. Photograph: Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

Searches for Madeleine McCann have ramped up in Portugal, with police using radar technology and a digger to clear debris around an abandoned building a mile from where the British toddler was last seen in 2007.

On Wednesday, teams of Portuguese and German police officers, as well as firefighters, continued focusing on derelict structures in countryside a few miles from the resort of Praia da Luz.

The new searches for Madeleine began on Tuesday, 18 years after the three-year-old disappeared from Praia da Luz while her parents were out having dinner, leaving her sleeping in a nearby room with her toddler twin siblings.

Police with specialist hi-tech equipment faced the daunting task of hunting for evidence amid intense international media scrutiny. The sounds of chainsaws and strimmers could be heard as investigators appeared to continue clearing areas of scrubland in Atalaia, on the outskirts of Praia da Luz.

Officers later returned to a building that was initially searched on Tuesday and used a backhoe digger and ground-penetrating radar. The equipment is capable of scanning up to 33ft (10 metres) underground.

Police also used the digger to clear rubble around a building and emptied a nearby disused structure of debris. Bricks and rocks could be seen piled outside the graffitied structure.

The teams wore protective gear, including hard hats and masks, as they cleared vegetation around the structures.

Police officers stopped journalists from getting close to the search areas, which were cordoned off with tape.

Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleines parents, were not commenting during the active police investigation, staff at the Find Madeleine campaign said.

The search is being carried out at the request of the German federal police, as they look for evidence that could implicate the prime suspect, Christian Bruckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. He has repeatedly denied any involvement.

He was living in a nearby cottage at the time of Madeleines disappearance. On Wednesday, a British woman who lived next door to Bruckner described him as an angry young man who could be heard having rows with his girlfriend.

The woman, who has lived in the area since the 80s, said: I saw him just as a neighbour. He raped a lady in the town, I heard about that afterwards, he was just a ghastly piece of work.

She said his former cottage had not been searched this week. I know the properties [being searched] because I ride up there all the time with my horse, I know exactly where they are. Whether he [Bruckner] had been up there or done anything, I have no clue.

Commenting on police efforts to drain nearby wells, she said: There may have been one or two wells in the old days. Obviously they have been derelict for as long as I have been there, since the 80s  The fact they are going to dredge them seems absolutely ludicrous, but who knows.

She said Bruckner deserved to be locked away for the rest of his life because of what he has done and whats been uncovered about him is quite despicable.

Bruckner is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. In October last year, he was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

About 30 German police, including forensic experts, and Portuguese officers are taking part in the search, covering an estimated 120 acres, which is expected to last until Friday. The Metropolitan police in the UK said they were aware of the operation but British officers would not be present.

German investigators and Portuguese officers carried out searches in 2023, near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz.

Bruckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir. It was searched in 2008, when the Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to examine it, after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleines body was there.

British police were given permission in 2014 to examine scrubland near where she vanished.
Blower cartoon

Three words sum up the hollowness of Sir Keir Starmers bold pledge to make the UKs Armed Forces battle ready in the wake of the latest defence review. They have nothing to do with enhancing the defence of the realm.

Time and again the ambitious programme, set out in the 144-page report, to revitalise our military after more than a decade of woeful decline is undermined by the catch-all caveat when funding allows.

Thus, while the review concedes that the Army, which is now smaller than at any time since the Napoleonic Wars, could do with increasing its manpower, the modest uplift proposed by the review will only be implemented if the relevant funds become available.

The procurement of other equipment deemed vital to safeguarding our national defence is subjected to the same budgetary constraints.

While the review argues that the previous governments decision to cut the number of operational E-7 early warning and control aircraft from five to three needs to be reversed, this, too, will only happen when funding allows.

Boeings E-7 Wedgetail aircraft are deemed to be a vital component in controlling the battlespace during armed conflict with their advanced radar systems, and would be a vital asset in the event of war breaking out with a hostile country like Russia.

Yet, despite the review issuing a dire warning about the worsening geopolitical context, there is a distinct lack of urgency about the Governments claim to make the country an armour-clad nation.

So, when Starmer talks, as he did when announcing the conclusions of Labours Strategic Defence Review, about making Britain safer and stronger, the truth is that he is simply indulging in wishful thinking.

This is a Prime Minister who, only a few weeks ago, was talking enthusiastically about putting British boots on the ground in Ukraine as part of his coalition of the willing.

But he knew full well that the UK does not have the military resources necessary to sustain such a mission. Starmers bold plan to dispatch a European reassurance force to Ukraine has now been quietly watered down to a more realistic support mission for the Ukrainian military.

The Starmers empty rhetoric regarding his grand ambitions for the defence review is likely to suffer a similar fate. It will inevitably become clear that, despite his boast that he is overseeing the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, the actual funding being made available is negligible.

Starmers smoke and mirrors defence pledges are part of a long and undistinguished tradition of British governments making ambitious spending commitments for the Armed Forces they have absolutely no chance of fulfilling.

Former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, for example, made much political capital out of his claim that he had raised defence spending above the minimum 2 per cent of GDP level required by Nato. Closer examination of the figures showed this could only be met by efficiency savings in defence spending that were unachievable.

It was the same with Rishi Sunaks pledge last year to raise UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent. The move was immediately compromised by the qualification that such an increase would only be possible as soon as the economic conditions allow.

Starmers policy of over-promising and under-delivering on defence spending is very much in this dishonourable tradition.

But the Prime Ministers difficulty is compounded by the fact that the global-threat environment is becoming more dangerous by the day. So his hollow pledges will come under far greater scrutiny than those made by his predecessors. This is particularly the case where the UKs Nato allies are concerned.

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte has already fired the first shot, over Starmers ambivalence about when the money will be made available to fund his rearmament programme. Rutte warns that Nato will require the UK to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defence as part of his plan to equalise European defence spending with the US.

Starmer has indicated his ultimate ambition is to raise spending to 3.5 per cent by 2034, but has given no clear explanation about how to achieve this figure. As one of the main premises of his defence review is that the UK should focus on being a Nato first military force, failing to meet Ruttes ambitious target could prove to be deeply embarrassing.

Starmer will need to take care that his empty defence pledges do not further inflame the more hawkish members of the Trump administration. They already believe that the Europeans are taking the US for a ride when it comes to defence spending.

Natos European member states are likely to come under intense American scrutiny at the summit being held in The Hague later this month. If the Trump administration concludes that Starmers boasts about increasing UK defence spending do not add up, the Prime Minister could find himself in for a very tough ride indeed.
The adverts were due to run in Westminster station to coincide with the governments comprehensive spending review. Photograph: Steve Taylor/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

Transport for London (TfL) has banned adverts from the charity Save the Children calling for the two-child limit on universal credit and child tax credit to be scrapped, deeming them in breach of its bar on political advertising.

The adverts, designed to look like a train departure board, carry the message: By the time you get to work another child in the UK will be dragged into poverty.

They were due to run in Westminster underground station to coincide with the governments comprehensive spending review due on 11 June.

After the adverts were initially rejected, the charity changed a strap line from time for the UK government to scrap the two-child limit to its time to scrap the two-child limit, but this was also rejected by the transport body.

The two-child limit, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, means parents are unable to receive universal credit or child tax credit for more than two children.

Analysis by the End Child Poverty Coalition has shown that the cap is a key driver of child poverty in the UK, and the Child Poverty Action Group found that scrapping the cap would lift 350,000 children out of poverty.

According to Save the Children, an average of 109 children a day are pulled into poverty by the limit  equivalent to one every 13 minutes.

Save the Children was told the adverts had been rejected for falling foul of TfLs ban on party political advertising.

However, adverts by the housing charity Shelter, urging the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to invest in social housing, were accepted and ran earlier this spring.

Meghan Meek-OConnor, policy lead on child poverty at Save the Children UK, said: It is deeply disappointing that telling the truth about child poverty in this country should be seen as controversial or indeed political.

We understand TfL have a difficult line to tread when approving or rejecting advertising on the underground. But in our eyes this advert is far less controversial than other adverts it has approved.

We wont stop raising our voice to ensure that every child has the support they need to develop to their full potential, she added. It shouldnt be controversial to tell the public that the two-child limit keeps children in poverty, and the situation is getting worse.

Last week TfL reversed a ban on adverts from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) charity, after an intervention from the London mayor, Sadiq Khan.

The posters called on people to lobby their MP to vote in favour of decriminalisation of abortion, and were initially rejected for bringing the Metropolitan police into disrepute.

A TfL spokesperson said: The proposed advertisement did not comply with TfL advertising policy because it relates to a party political matter.
Online retail specialist THG is to be pushed out of the FTSE 250 in the latest reshuffle of Londons top stock indexes.

Meanwhile, home improvement chain Wickes will be among the beneficiaries as it climbs into the index.

FTSE Russell, the global index provider run by the London Stock Exchange Group, updates the firms listed on its FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes every three months.

On Wednesday, it confirmed which of the UKs largest firms are valued highly enough to join each index based on their share value at the close of trading on Tuesday June 3.

It announced that the FTSE 100  the index of the London Stock Exchanges highest value stocks  remained unchanged in the new update.

Home improvement chain Wickes is among those that will jump into the index (PA)

However, the FTSE 250  the index of the 250 next most valuable companies  will see a raft of changes.

It said Manchester-based online retail business THG  which was previously called The Hut Group  will be among those demoted from the FTSE 250 index.

The company has seen its shares continue a steady decline in recent months, amid continued challenges in its nutrition business, which includes the MyProtein brand.

The business, founded by Matthew Moulding, saw revenues drop by 5% last year after this weakness offset growth in its beauty operations.

THG is now valued at around 353 million, having been worth as much as 5.4 billion when it floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2021.

Elsewhere, National Express parent firm Mobico will also drop from the index after a recent fall in revenues as it undergoes a significant turnaround plan.

Bellevue Healthcare Trust, a healthcare investment firm, and mining giant Ferrexpo have also dropped from the index.

Meanwhile, home improvement chain Wickes is among those that will jump into the index.

Wickes shares have risen by more than 50% since the start of the year after reporting resilient customer demand despite pressure on big ticket spending.

It will be joined in the index by Avon Technologies, Gamma Communications and Ashoka India Equity Investment Trust.

The changes will take effect from the start of trading on Monday June 23.
BBC Radio 2 in the Park is back this summer. (Redferns/Getty Images) (Katja Ogrin via Getty Images)

Festival season is back in the UK and BBC Radio 2 in the Park is bringing some superstar acts to Essex to round off the summer.

The three-day event is set to hit Chelmsford's Hylands Park in September, with tickets on sale now  so make sure you don't miss out on the packed line-up.

How to get tickets for Radio 2 in the Park 2025

Radio 2 in the Park is set to be one of the final events on the festival schedule this summer, taking place on Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September.

However, tickets are already on sale, so you'll have to be quick to make sure that you don't miss out.

Tickets went on sale on Wednesday, 4 June from 8:30am at bbc.co.uk/radio2inthepark. You'll need a ticket for each of the days you want to attend - the Friday Park Pre-Party is on sale at 32, while Saturday and Sunday full day tickets are from 63 each, all plus a booking fee.

Essex residents have a 30% allocation of available tickets up for sale, and any left over from this allocation will go back onto general sale on Wednesday, 11 June at 8:30am.

Radio 2 in the Park 2025 line-up

Bryan Adams will headline on Saturday. (LightRocket via Getty Images) (SOPA Images via Getty Images)

BBC Radio 2 has pulled on its star connections for the line-up, bringing a huge list of stars to the stage in Hylands Park.

The weekend kicks off with a Friday night DJ party, featuring sets from Radio 2 presenters Vernon Kay, Scott Mills, Rylan, DJ Spoony and Michelle Visage before moving into the main festival schedule on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday night headliner Bryan Adams said: "This will be my first time performing in Chelmsford, and Im genuinely looking forward to bringing the show there. Theres something exciting about playing in a new place, especially somewhere thats filled with a Radio 2 crowd ready to rock. Im thrilled to be part of this event... brace yourselves, were gonna roll with the punches!"

Def Leppard are Sunday's headline act. (Getty Images) (Paras Griffin via Getty Images)

He'll be followed by Def Leppard as Sunday's headliner and a statement from the band read: "Def Leppard have never had the privilege of performing in Chelmsford before, but this will all change on September 7! We are very much looking forward to headlining on the Sunday and also having our good friend Bryan Adams on the festival the night before. Itll be a fantastic weekendthanks to the BBC and Radio 2well see you 'In The Park'!"

This year's Radio 2 in the Park line-up is as follows:

Saturday, 6 September

Bryan Adams

Belinda Carlisle

Ronan Keating

Jessie J

Kid Creole & The Coconuts

Marti Pellow

Ella Henderson

Stereophonics

Anastacia is confirmed for the festival. (Getty Images) (Debbie Hickey via Getty Images)

Sunday, 7 September

Def Leppard

Anastacia

Soul II Soul

Suede

Louise

David Gray

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Anastacia said: "Im so looking forward to performing at Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford, singing the hits, having a party on stage, sharing nostalgic memories and making new memories all at once. Its going to be a lot of fun!"

Sophie Ellis-Bextor will bring her Kitchen Disco to Chelmsford. (Redferns/Getty Images) (Kieran Frost via Getty Images)

Sunday festival-goers will see Sophie Ellis-Bextor bring her Radio 2 Kitchen Disco to a live audience. She said: "Radio 2 has a special place in my heart  from my very own weekly Kitchen Disco show, to performing in the legendary Piano Room with the BBC Concert Orchestra, its always a joy, so its wonderful to be returning to Radio 2 in the Park this year to sing for the lovely Radio 2 audience in Chelmsford.

"As everyone knows, I love to dress up and have a good time, so Ill definitely be bringing the sparkles, sequins and disco with me!"

Radio 2 in the Park will take place in Hylands Park, Chelmsford from Friday 5 September, to Sunday 7 September.
US President Donald Trump tours US Steel works in Pennsylvania. US tariffs on foreign steel rose to 50% on Wednesday. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The US has doubled tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum imports to 50%, pressing ahead in the face of criticism from key trading partners with a measure that Donald Trump says is intended to revive the American industry.

After imposing and rapidly lifting tariffs on much of the world, only to reduce them, Trump last week refocused on the global steel and aluminum markets  and the dominance of China.

Related: Trump claimed tariffs are easy  hes learning the hard way thats not the case

Trump signed an executive order formalizing the move on Tuesday. Higher tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries, the order said.

The increase applies to all trading partners except Britain, the only country so far that has struck a preliminary trade agreement with the US during a 90-day pause on a wider array of Trump tariffs. The rate for steel and aluminum imports from the UK  which does not rank among the top exporters of either metal to the US  will remain at 25% until at least 9 July.

About a quarter of all steel used in the US is imported and data shows the increased levies will hit the closest US trading partners  Canada and Mexico  especially hard. They rank first and third respectively in steel shipment volumes to the US.

The office of Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, said Canada was engaged in intensive and live negotiations to have these and other tariffs removed.

Mexicos economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, reiterated that the tariffs were unsustainable and unfair, especially given that Mexico imports more steel from the US than it exports there.

It makes no sense for the United States to levy a tariff on a product in which you have a surplus, he said, adding that Mexico would on Friday seek an exemption from the increase.

Days after announcing his approval of the controversial takeover of US Steel by Japans Nippon Steel, Trump unveiled plans for the rapid increase in tariffs on overseas steel and aluminum.

Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before, Trump posted. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers.

Senior EU officials are hoping the bloc can still win an exemption from the higher steel tariffs, with a crunch meeting between the EU trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, and US trade representative Jamieson Greer scheduled for Thursday in Paris.

While a 50% tariff is seen as unsurvivable for exporters, sources in Brussels indicate it is unlikely that the EU will retaliate immediately, given the delicacy of talks around other tariffs imposed by Trump in recent months.

The EU has the power to bring forward a 21bn package of tariffs on US exports, already agreed in April on the initial tariffs imposed by Trump on steel and aluminum.

With Trump, the EU has a common cause, with Chinese oversupply being seen as one of the biggest drivers of the crisis engulfing the European steel industry, where declining demand has forced huge jobs losses among some of the biggest producers, including Germanys ThyssenKrupp Steel.
A protest, outside BBC Broadcasting House in 2023, against the BBCs anti-Israel bias - Guy Smallman/Getty Images Europe

When BBC executives watch the criticism of their reporting on Israel by the Trump administration, their reaction is likely to be defensive and dismissive.

Senior BBC leaders will instantly discount the critique because it comes from the administration of a world leader they do not respect or take seriously. Deep-seated structural bias in the newsroom will allow them to dismiss what has been said with a shrug of the shoulders. Liberal hubris and condescension will override any deeper introspection.

What is much less likely is that director-general Tim Davie and his team will have the powers of self-scrutiny to honestly and transparently ask themselves whether this criticism might have some validity, be something they should take seriously and may even be something to learn from.

In so much of its reporting now, the BBCs modus operandi is to report first and ask questions later. A desperate desire to provide breaking news and win the reporting race on social media means that our national broadcaster consistently reports on Israel before it knows the facts or has any real idea what is going on.

This is what leads to debacles like we have seen this week, in which the story the corporation has reported on food distribution in Gaza has repeatedly changed as it has become clear that the BBC newsroom had been duped once again by Hamas propaganda.

It is truly remarkable how often we are seeing BBC journalists regurgitate the propaganda of a genocidal terrorist organisation without proper journalistic scrutiny, fact-checking or indeed any kind of due care and attention. It should be shocking to us all that our national broadcaster gives so much uncritical credence to a murderous terrorist group who build command centres under hospitals and schools  and deliberately use the civilian population as human shields.

If you are wondering why the BBC is so ready and willing to accept the words of terrorists the answer to that is simple. Too often, BBC journalists want to think the very worst of Israel. When they receive information that appears to validate their anti-Israel perspective, the desire to report it without question or proper scrutiny becomes a driving impulse.

This practice of reporting first and then asking questions later, of offering unverified opinions instead of what is actually known, is eating away at the journalistic credibility of BBC News. Whilst corrections may eventually follow, they are dangerously too little too late. By then BBC reports have spread like wildfire across the globe. Many millions see the initial, inaccurate story. A few thousand read the correction. This is why the BBC has become a fertile breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation on behalf of the Jew-killers of Hamas.

Let me leave you with one blatant example of this from the BBCs international editor Jeremy Bowen. On a flagship BBC programme this week, Mr Bowen was asked about allegations that Israeli soldiers had fired on civilians at a food collection centre. The fog of war surrounding these events is yet to clear. Israel has denied shooting at civilians. It is at this point impossible to know the facts.

But within hours of the event, Mr Bowen had made up his mind, blithely concluding that Israel is to blame because that volume of casualties is the kind of volume that the Israelis only are able to inflict. How did Mr Bowen know this? What facts were his opinions based on? Why was he so certain when so little was known or had been proven?

This is not an academic debate about journalistic accuracy. Those running the BBC still do not understand that these failures in their reporting, their report first and ask questions later approach, has become a clear and present danger to the safety of Jews in Britain and around the world.

Misleading headlines and unverified reporting is driving hate against Israel and racism against Jews. This racism is turning violent. Jews are being set alight and murdered. I do not know where it will end but it is about time BBC leaders began to listen and take responsibility.

Danny Cohen is a former Director of BBC Television
Sellafield nuclear power station in 1957 was the site of the world's worst nuclear incidents. (PA/Alamy) (STEVE ALLEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY, Science Photo Library)

The UKs largest nuclear site  once dubbed the "most hazardous building in the country"  could continue leaking radioactive water into the ground until the 2050s.

That's the damning verdict of a new MPs' report into the ongoing decommissioning of the Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria, which, nearly 70 years ago, was the site of one of the world's worst ever nuclear accidents.

In October 1957, uranium cells inside one of the site's two nuclear reactors caught fire, burning for three days solid.

The fallout remains to this day and, on Wednesday, a report by the Commons public accounts committee criticised the speed of decommissioning the site, warning that officials are in danger of losing a race against time to complete the clean-up safely.

An aerial view of the Windscale nuclear site at Sellafield with the reactors in the foreground and the Calder Hall nuclear power station top left, pictured in 1957. (Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Harold Clements via Getty Images)

Of particular concern is the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS), which was built in the 1960s and consists of 22 vertical underwater compartments, storing around 10,000 tonnes of radioactive waste.

Since 2018, the silo has been leaking enough radioactive water to fill an Olympic swimming pool every three years. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has described the situation as its "single biggest environmental issue".

What was the Sellafield nuclear disaster?

The site, initially known as Windscale, was initially built as a royal ordnance factory during the Second World War. After the war, it became the main site intended to produce plutonium for the UK's nuclear weapons programme and became home to Britains first two nuclear reactors.

During its construction, chief engineer John Cockcroft had insisted that filters were installed at the top of the chimney stacks on the two gas-cooled nuclear reactors, Windscale Pile 1 and 2.

On the morning of 10 October 1957, a planned energy release procedure in Windscale Pile 1 did not go to plan, and unintentionally heated parts of the reactor.

Scientists were expecting the reactor to eventually cool down but then spotted a fire in uranium fuel cells, producing a blaze reaching an estimated 1,300C (2,380F)  causing an incident so bad it was eventually ranked in severity at level 5 out of 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

Work on decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear power plant has been ongoing since 2005. (Associated Press) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The severity of events were minimised by the government and nuclear establishment of the time. When the incident started, men wearing radiation suits used scaffolding pipes to try and push the burning fuel rods out of the graphite reactor. High radiation levels meant they could only spend a few hours at the reactor, so they sought more volunteers from a nearby cinema.

The blaze was eventually extinguished when air to the reactor room was restricted, but tons of radioactive materials had already escaped into the atmosphere. Indeed, it was Cockcroft's filter  the pair were collectively known as 'Cockcroft follies'  on Windscale Pile 1's chimney that stopped the disaster from becoming a catastrophe as it limited the amount of radiation released into the air.

The ramifications of the accident were felt for years. It is estimated about 240 cases of cancer were caused by the radioactive leak and all milk produced within 310 square miles (800 square km) of the site was destroyed for a month after the fire.

An aerial view of the Sellafield nuclear plant in North England. (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images) (ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

The disaster proved to be a wake-up call for the nuclear industry. Windscale Pile 1 was permanently shut down, and remains sealed and not yet fully decommissioned while Windscale Pile 2, which was undamaged, was also shut down shortly afterwards.

It also to led to vast operational and technical improvements in nuclear reactor design, technology, licensing and regulation.

Nowadays, Sellafield is one of the largest nuclear sites in Europe, with more than 10,000 people cleaning it behind miles of fencing. The size of a small town, it also has its own infrastructure with facilities including a postal service, an armed police force, shops, canteen and a medical team.

Why is Sellafield the 'most hazardous building in the UK'?

The site's aging buildings plus the highly radioactive nuclear waste and unstable materials stored at the site mean it remains a significant hazard.

Despite being non-operational since 2003, the site has many years of dismantling to go, up to 2125. Indeed, Sellafield still contains hundreds of thousands of tonnes of radioactive waste, including the largest stockpile of civilian plutonium in the world, in excess of 140 tonnes.

Sellafield Ltd, the company clearing the site on behalf of the NDA, has been criticised in the report for missing most of its annual targets, including those at the MSSS.

Inside storage pool 5 at Sellafield nuclear site on 9th September 1985 (Barry Lewis/InPictures via Getty Images) (Barry Lewis via Getty Images)

The consequence of this underperformance is that the buildings are likely to remain extremely hazardous for longer", the MPs' report said.

The challenge for Sellafield Ltd, and the NDA, is not only cleaning up the site but also maintaining the ageing buildings, which were never designed to be accessed again, and contain the unknown amount of radioactive waste inside.

The site has several high-risk buildings including the Pile Fuel Storage Pond (PFSP), an open-air pond holding irradiated fuel and sludge that was built in the 1950s.

The top of one of the atomic piles at Calder Hall. (Getty Images) (Bettmann via Getty Images)

The Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS) which contains fuel casings and other highly radioactive materials and the MSSS, which holds metallic cladding waste and removed from nuclear fuel rods.

Despite an estimated decommissioning cost of 136bn, according to the report, the leakage on the MSSS is expected to persist until the oldest section of the structure is emptied in the 2050s.

Public accounts committee chairman Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: The sheer scale of the hundred-year timeframe of the decommissioning project makes it hard to grasp the immediacy of safety hazards and cost overruns that delays can have.

The Sellafield nuclear power plant, in Cumbria, was the site of one of the worlds most serious nuclear incidents in 1957, with operations underway to decommission the site.(Photo by Ashley Cooper/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images) (Ashley Cooper, Global Warming Images)

Every day at Sellafield is a race against time to complete works before buildings reach the end of their life. Our report contains too many signs that this is a race Sellafield risks losing.

The NDA acknowledged that the leak at the MSSS is its single biggest environmental issue, saying managing and retrieving waste from the silo was their highest priority.

They said: As the report says, the leak in the MSSS is contained and does not pose a risk to the public. Regulators accept that the current plan to tackle the leak is the most effective one.

What happens to our nuclear waste?

The UK has a reported volume of approximately 4.58 million cubic metres of radioactive waste stored in various facilities across the country.

Radioactive waste goes through stages of treatment, packaging, storage and disposal depending on its classification as high level waste (HLW), intermediate level waste (ILW) or low level waste (LLW).

HLW is typically found in liquid form, and is often generated as a by-product during the reprocessing of fuel from nuclear reactors, with current practice to store for at least 50 years before disposal.

An attendant monitors the operation of the precipitators in the Calder Hall nuclear power plant, circa July 1957. (Charles E. Rotkin/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) (Charles Rotkin via Getty Images)

ILW consists of mainly steels, graphite, concrete, cement, sand and sludges and is stored until a suitable disposal route becomes available, essentially an underground facility the UK government is planning on building.

LLW is building rubble, soil and steel items that may have come into contact with radioactive material and can sometimes be incinerated or recycled.

In the longer term, the UK government plans to create a geological disposal facility (GDF) to store nuclear waste underground for thousands of years.

The NDA has identified two sites in Cumbria and plans to provide a decision to government on one site after community engagement.

The current planning assumption is that a GDF will be available for intermediate level waste emplacement in the 2050s and high-level waste and spent fuel from 2075.
An Ice agent in Chicago in January. Photograph: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Senior US immigration officials over the weekend instructed rank-and-file officers to turn the creative knob up to 11 when it comes to enforcement, including by interviewing and potentially arresting people they called collaterals, according to internal agency emails viewed by the Guardian.

Officers were also urged to increase apprehensions and think up tactics to push the envelope one email said, with staff encouraged to come up with new ways of increasing arrests and suggesting them to superiors.

If it involves handcuffs on wrists, its probably worth pursuing, another message said.

Related: Family of suspect in Colorado fire attack taken into custody of US immigration

The instructions not only mark a further harshening of attitude and language by the Trump administration in its efforts to fulfill election promises of mass deportation but also indicate another escalation in efforts, by being on the lookout for undocumented people whom officials may happen to encounter  here termed collaterals  while serving arrest warrants for others.

The emails, sent by two top Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officials this past Saturday, instructed officers around the country to increase arrest numbers over the weekend. This followed the Department of Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, and the White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, pressing immigration officials last month to jack up immigration-related arrests to at least 3,000 people a day.

One of the emails, written by Marcos Charles, the acting executive associate director of Ices enforcement and removal operations, instructs Ice officials to go after people they may coincidentally encounter.

All collaterals encounters [sic] need to be interviewed and anyone that is found to be amenable to removal needs to be arrested, Charles wrote, also saying: We need to turn up the creative knob up to 11 and push the envelope.

The email later added: We complained for the last four years about not being allowed to do our job, and now the time has come for us to step up!

Experts explained that collateral arrests happen when Ice has a warrant to arrest a particular person or persons but when they arrive, they might encounter additional people, such as relatives or co-workers, and then arrest them as well. This despite not having additional warrants or necessarily any evidence of crimes. Being undocumented in the US is a civil offense, not criminal, so collateral arrests may oftentimes include people with no criminal backgrounds.

Ice is typically required to have a warrant before they arrest someone. Although not illegal, the practice of collateral arrests without a warrant has been less common, due to heightened legal requirements.

I am extremely troubled by [the emails] for a number of reasons, said Mark Fleming, associate director of litigation at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC). Fleming said the emails suggest an attempt by Ice to skirt the legal requirements for warrantless arrests.

In 2022, a court settlement put in place some rules for Ice, requiring the agency to have warrants to justify an arrest. If officers did not have a warrant during a collateral arrest, Ice had to show probable cause to justify the arrest and detention. Notably, an officer had to document that a person was likely to escape before getting the additional warrant.

The settlement terms ended in mid-May. But Fleming and the NIJC are challenging the Trump administration, claiming that the settlement should continue to protect people from warrantless arrests. They also accuse Ice of violating the settlement terms earlier this year when Ice officials unlawfully arrested a number of people without obtaining warrants, Fleming and the NIJC said, and then generating the warrant after the arrests.

The emails obtained by the Guardian, Fleming said, shows that Ice learned nothing from the litigation and the policy that resulted. It sure seems like there is an intention to once again violate both the statute but also the requirements for making warrantless arrests.

Another email reviewed by the Guardian was sent on Saturday by a senior longtime Ice official, Francisco Madrigal.

While the weekend is still young, please look at efforts to increase our arrests over these two days compared to our results from last weekend, Madrigal wrote. We know there are different dynamics to consider on Sats and Sundays, and many of you have been pushing what works and trying out new lines of effort as well.

If youd like to run something up or if we can help give a push somewhere, please reach out. If it involves handcuffs on wrists, its probably worth pursuing, Madrigal added.

The Trump administration has roped in other federal agencies and further deputized local law enforcement officials as it pushes to widen its dragnet. Charles also asked officials, on the topic of collateral arrests and increased efforts, to convey this to your local federal partners and teams.

The Department of Homeland Security responded that the Trump administration was pursuing criminal illegal aliens.

After four years of not being allowed to do their jobs, Ice officers are being empowered under President Trump and Secretary Noems leadership to enforce the law and arrest illegal aliens, the DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Although it may come as a shock to the Guardian that the Trump administration is arresting illegal aliens, this is not groundbreaking news, and it is exactly what the American people elected President Trump to do.

Michael Kagan, the director of the UNLV Immigration Clinic, said the push to arrest people without warrants was a divergence from Obama- and Biden-era policies, during which Ice prioritized arresting people with criminal backgrounds. Under the first and current Trump administrations, everyone can be a priority, he said.

Collateral arrests are an outgrowth of that, Kagan added, warning that they can open the door to abuses, including racial profiling and the arrest of US citizens. Its about immigration enforcement becoming indiscriminate and just targeting whoever they can get their hands on, rather than a more targeted approach.
The US again vetoes a UN security council resolution calling for an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire' between Israel and Hamas. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

The United States has vetoed a United Nations security council resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza while the 14 remaining countries on the council voted in favour.

The vetoed resolution also called the situation in Gaza catastrophic, and demanded the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale, including by the UN and humanitarian partners.

It was the fifth time that the US has vetoed a security council draft ceasefire resolution in order to protect Israel. Washington vetoed a similar resolution in November, under the Biden administration, on the grounds that the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

The text was co-sponsored by Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia. Russia, China, France and the UK also voted in favour.

The council was prevented from shouldering its responsibility, despite the fact that most of us seem to be converging on one view, said Frances ambassador to the UN, Jerome Bonnafont.

Today, the United States sent a strong message by vetoing a counterproductive UN Security Council resolution on Gaza targeting Israel, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said in a statement after the vote.

He said Washington would not support any text that draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, or disregards Israels right to defend itself.

The United States will continue to stand with Israel at the UN.

Israel also welcomed the US veto.

I thank @POTUS and the US administration for standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel and vetoing this one-sided resolution in the UN Security Council, wrote Gideon Saar, Israels minister of foreign affairs. The proposed resolution only strengthens Hamas and undermines American efforts to achieve a hostage deal.

The UK supported the resolution. In a statement, its ambassador, Barbara Woodward, called Israels new aid system inhumane and said that Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now.

This Israeli governments decisions to expand its military operations in Gaza and severely restrict aid are unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive, she said. And the UK completely opposes them.

Other security council members criticised the US for the veto. Pakistans ambassador to the UN said the failed resolution would remain not only a moral stain on the conscience of this council, but a fateful moment of political application that will reverberate for generations.

Related: What we know about the killing of Palestinians at a food point in Gaza

Chinas ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, said: Todays vote result once again exposes that the root cause of the councils inability to quell the conflict in Gaza is the repeated obstruction by the US.

The resolution was put up for a vote as the UN and aid agencies have warned of famine conditions in Gaza after a protracted embargo on aid and the shambolic rollout of a US- and Israeli-backed scheme called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat, said the UN relief chief, Tom Fletcher, on Wednesday.

The GHF, which has murky political backing and funding, announced that its distribution centres in Gaza would remain closed for a second day on Thursday morning. At least 27 people were killed and hundreds injured on Tuesday by Israeli fire as they waited for food at a GHF distribution point.

Woodward, the UK permanent representative to the UN, voiced support for a UN call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.

Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now: let the UN and humanitarians do their job to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity, she said.
Vietnams birthrate fell to a record low of 1.91 children per woman in 2024, which is below replacement level. Photograph: Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images

Vietnam has scrapped a longstanding policy limiting families to two children, as the communist-run country grapples with a declining birthrate.

State media announced on Wednesday that couples could make their own decisions about how many children to have, and how much time to wait between births, reversing a decades-old preference for one- or two-child families.

The promotion of two-child families dates back to the 1960s in communist North Vietnam, though this policy was further developed in the reunified Vietnam in the 1980s and 1990s, including through the countrys first decree on family planning in 1988. The two-child policy was not universally enforced, though members of the Communist party could face sanctions.

Related: Birthrates are plummeting worldwide. Can governments turn the tide?

Authorities are now searching for ways to boost families, as Vietnams birthrate fell to a record low of 1.91 children per woman in 2024, which is below replacement level.

Officials fear the trend could lead to an ageing society, creating labour shortages, putting pressure on social welfare systems and threatening the countrys economic growth plans.

Birthrates are especially low in urban centres, such as Ho Chi Minh City, where the rising cost of living was identified as barrier for young families. Its birthrate fell to 1.32 in 2023.

Local provinces are offering various rewards and subsidies to encourage couples to have children. This includes certificates of merit and a financial reward of about 1m dong (28) for women who have two children before the age of 35. Some provinces, such as Tien Giang in southern Vietnam, were also giving 30m dong to communes and wards in which 60% of couples of childbearing age had two children across three consecutive years, state media reported. Birthrates in the province are still falling, however.

The national birthrate of 1.91 children per woman recorded in 2024 was down from 2.11 children per woman in 2021, 2.01 in 2022 and 1.96 in 2023. Neighbouring countries, such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, have similar trends.

In Japan, the government released figures on Wednesday showing the number of births in 2024 had fallen below 700,000 for the first time on record.

Vietnam appeared to relax its two-child policy in 2003, but this was reversed in 2008.

Vietnam is also trying to tackle an imbalance in its sex ratio, driven by a historical preference for boys. On Tuesday the ministry of health proposed tripling a current fine to $3,800 to curb foetal gender selection, according to state media.

The gender ratio at birth, though improved, remains skewed at 112 boys for every 100 girls.



China ended its strict one-child policy in 2016 and in 2021 permitted couples to have three children, though its population fell for the third year running in 2024.
Caroline and Tom are Race Across the World series 5 winners. (BBC/Studio Lambert) (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert)

Race Across the World's series five crowns its winners Caroline and Tom but what happened to the previous winners?

Mother and son duo Caroline and Tom revealed how they are spending their 20,0000 winnings. Tom has a business idea inspired by their travels to India. And they are going to do their own Race Across the World in Kazakhstan.

Caroline tells Yahoo UK: "I can't find [Kazakhstan] on a map, neither of us can... So why not? We really want to do it like [Race Across the World] again, take night buses and maybe rough it a little bit, just get on and if something takes our eye and we're told to do that, we can go there because there's no plan and there's no staying in a fancy hotel."

Tom also says: "We have no idea why [we chose Kazakhstan] I think on Race we loved  well at the start we hated the unknown, but then we got to love it."

So where are the winners from the previous four series nowadays? And of course, the million dollar question everyone wants to know the answer to: how did they spend their winnings?

Each set of winners receive a prize of 20,000 to split after completing the incredible journey.

Cast your mind back to the past four series. Yahoo UK has been lucky enough to talk to some of the latest pairings as we take a look at what has happened to previous Race winners...

Series 1: Tony and Elaine Teasdale

Where are Race Across The World's winners now and how did they spend 20,000? (BBC) (BBC/Studio Lambert)

Tony and Elaine Teasdale won the first series of Race Across The World. (BBC) (BBC/Studio Lambert)

Married couple Tony and Elaine Teasdale won the first series of Race Across The World after they crossed 21 countries from Greenwich, London,to the finishing point at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore the quickest. They were the oldest people in the race but they didn't let their age hold them back.

Fast forward to now, the couple have been spending their retirement on the "gap year" travelling the world they always wanted. They learned a tip or two from Race as they have since incorporated the show's "rough it" tactic too into their way of holidaying.

Since the show, the retired teachers have explored new places including: Antarctic, South America, New Zealand and South Africa.

He said: "We always said we would have a gap decade once we retired, and we're trying to do that. Because we had just nicely retired when we went on Race Across the World we hadn't really settled into any pattern."

He added: "Because of Race Across the World we rough it, we stay in youth hostels, we don't do it plush. If we go somewhere, we go for two or three months and indulge ourselves in the culture, which we couldn't really do when we were racing across the world.

"You can lose confidence the older you get, but because of our experience and realising how wonderful and generous people are, you feel as if you can go anywhere."

Series 2: Emon and Jamiul Choudhury

Uncle and nephew partnership Emon and Jamiul Choudhury donated most of their winnings to charity. (BBC)

Uncle and nephew partnership Emon and Jamiul Choudhury won series two of the show by 20 seconds. It was a whirlwind adventure that unfolded over the 54-day challenge from Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina on a budget of 1,400.

Immediately the pair promised half of the 20,000 winnings to charities that look after children sleeping rough in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Having witnessed homelessness on their journey, they were determined to use their money to make a difference.

Emon told Wanderlust: "It was at that point in Sao Paulo, when we came across the street kids, that we both decided then that if we were to win, we would donate at least half the money to these kids. At the end of the day, we were on an amazing trip, and you cant put a price on that. Even if the prize was a million pounds, it wouldnt really matter, the experience we had was incredible.

"We just felt we needed to give something back to a place that had given us so much. Its made us friends for life, its given us memories for life, incredible stories to tell and the best thing about it for me was, you know when you go on holiday and you come back from holiday at the end and you tell your friends about what you did?"

It was reported the pair gave 5,000 to another charitable cause, Emon's family orphanage in Bangladesh.

Series 3: Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe

Race Across The World's Tricia and Cathie are going to revisit Canada. (BBC) (BBC)

Race Across The World's Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe come out on top for series three after racing across Canada to the final checkpoint at St Johns, Newfoundland  winning over the audiences at home. Before losing her eyesight, Tricia  who had degenerative eye condition  was determined to do the show while only having 10% of her eyesight. Since then it has deteriorated further.

In 2025, Tricia and Cathie caught up with Yahoo UK and they revealed how they spent their Race Across the World winnings.

Asked about the 20,000 prize money, Tricia joked: "I spent mine on a calendar for my husband, [to tell him] when I'm coming back off another holiday!"

Read more: How Race Across the World's winners Cathie and Trish spent 20k prize money

The adventurer also gave a more serious answer, sharing that she had splashed out on a kind-hearted present for her husband Mattie. "I bought him a decent watch," she said.

As expected, Tricia and Cathie used the money to go on more adventures together too. "Also I spent mine going up Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China," she said.

Cathie used her winnings to also fund a big milestone in her life, turning 50. She said: "It was my 50th birthday not long after [RATW] so we went away on a big family holiday. [With spending the winnings] Everything was travel related."

Series 4: Alfie Watts and Owen Wood

Alfie Watts and Owen Wood won Race Across The World 2024. (BBC) ((Studio Lambert/BBC))

Best pals Alfie Watts and Owen Wood are the youngest ever winners of Race Across the World. Contestants had to race 15,000km from northernmost Japan to the finish line in Lombok, an Indonesian island paradise.

After their trip around Eastern Asia, the best friends were spurred on to travel even more. Owen told Yahoo UK last year: "We had the travel bug before we did the race. We've been away loads together, and we love it, so we have no reason to stop especially with a bit more money. Now we can enjoy doing something we like!"

Read more: How Race Across the World winners Alfie and Owen are spending their 20k

By the time the reunion show had been filmed, Alfie had already travelled to many corners of the world. He made the journey to Sweden, Norway, Mexico, Poland, Malta, New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.

Now in 2025, Alfie has visited more than 77 countries.

Race Across the World continues at 9pm on BBC One on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/race-across-the-world-winners-prize-money-131718282.html
Deysi Vargas picks up her four-year-old daughter at a news conference in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday. Photograph: Jae C Hong/AP

The Trump administration has reversed its decision to revoke the legal status of a four-year-old girl, receiving ocontinuing life-saving treatment in the US, and her family after a national outcry.

Deysi Vargas, her husband and their daughter  whom lawyers identified by the pseudonym Sofia  had come to the US in 2023 to seek medical care for their daughter who has a rare condition that requires specialized treatment. But in April, the federal government ended their humanitarian parole, a temporary status granted to people on urgent humanitarian grounds, and ordered them to self-deport.

Sofias doctors warned that she would likely die within days if forced to return to Mexico and her family and attorneys fought the deportation order, describing it as unlawful and a cruel betrayal of our nations values.

Related: Family of four-year-old who would die within days fighting deportation from US to Mexico

Her case, which an attorney for the family said highlighted the recklessness of this administrations deportation policies, sparked outrage and a significant response from Democratic lawmakers. Dozens of representatives and both of Californias senators, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, signed a letter urging the Department of Homeland Security to extend the familys legal status.

We believe this familys situation clearly meets the need for humanitarian aid and urge you and this Administration to reconsider its decision. It is our duty to protect the sick, vulnerable, and defenseless. Without action, S.G.V. will die, the lawmakers wrote.

The Los Angeles Times first reported on Tuesday that the administration had restored legal status for the family, sending a letter on Monday that stated: This is to advise you that effective June 2, 2025, you have been granted Humanitarian Parole for a period of one year.
California high-speed rail authority crews work at the Hanford viaduct construction site in Kings county on 15 April. Photograph: Godofredo A Vasquez/AP

Californias years-long effort to construct a high-speed rail faces yet another hurdle as the Trump administration said the project had no viable path to move ahead and threatened to pull billions of dollars in federal funding.

Sean Duffy, the US transportation secretary, released a compliance review report that said the project was in default of the terms of its federal grant awards, and said it had been beset by mismanagement, waste and ever-growing costs.

Heres the cold, hard truth  theres no viable path to complete the rail project on time or on budget. California is on notice, Duffy said, adding that it could soon be time for funds to move to other projects.

High-speed rail, long available in Japan and Europe, has been a dream for decades in California with supporters hopeful it could reduce the environmental impact in a state known for its rampant car use, connect the state and drive economic development with the creation of thousands of jobs.

In 2008, California voters approved $10bn in funding for the bullet train, which was supposed to bring passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours and be completed by 2020 at a total cost of $33bn.

Seventeen years on, the projects estimated cost is expected to exceed $100bn. The state has now focused not on the original route designed to connect Californias metropolitan areas, but on a 171-mile stretch in the Central valley, which is expected to be completed by 2033 at a cost of more than $35bn. The entirety of the line received environmental clearance for construction in 2024 and the project finally began laying down track this year. Frustrations over the delays and growing costs have mounted.

In 2019, Donald Trump cancelled almost $1bn in funding for the project. The Biden administration, however, restored that funding and later allocated another $3.3bn toward the project. But California is still expected to come up with most of the budget, and it has so far. The state has supplied 82% of the $14bn already spent on the project.

No state in America is closer to launching high-speed rail than California, Gavin Newsom, the states governor, said earlier this year. Were moving into the track-laying phase, completing structures for key segments and laying the groundwork for a high-speed rail network.

But in the report published on Wednesday, Drew Feeley, the acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), said the state had no viable plan to deliver even that partial segment on time.

What started as a proposed 800-mile system was first reduced to 500 miles, then became a 171-mile segment, and is now very likely ended as a 119-mile track to nowhere, Feeley wrote.

His letter said the review revealed patterns of unattainable proposals and unrealistic assumptions on a wide range of issues as well as countless change orders for almost every contract, and cited a February 2025 report from the rail authoritys inspector general that found the agency had no credible plan to close the $7bn funding gap on the Central valley segment.

The California high-speed rail authority has 30 days to provide documentation to show its compliance. The authority said in a statement on Wednesday that it strongly disagreed with the FRAs misguided conclusions, and pointed to the governors latest budget proposal, which includes at least $1bn a year for the project for the next 20 years.

We remain firmly committed to completing the nations first true high-speed rail system connecting the major population centers in the state.
Overpopulation needs to be acknowledged as a major challenge to bringing human impacts on our world back within sustainable boundaries. Photograph: Maxiphoto/Getty/iStockphoto

Jonathan Kennedy raises the tired spectre of population control advocates to argue that we should be happy that the worlds population may be undercounted by several billion (Are there billions more people on Earth than we thought? If so, its no bad thing, 31 May).

But while acknowledging that coercive measures to reduce population are a thing of the past, he does not mention that, even historically, the majority of these measures were voluntary and based on educating, empowering and providing contraceptive access to women and girls. This works because women choose lower fertility as soon as they are able to. Yet Kennedy ignores the millennia-old history of empires, churches and the military pushing for them to have more children.

He is correct that we should not fear the prospect of immigrants populating rich countries, but wrong that we need them to perform low-wage labour to save us from dire consequences. Alarmist fears of low birthrates are most often spread by the Elon Musks of the world, who have obvious reasons for cheering the cheap labour that comes with population growth. That they are being increasingly parroted by liberal outlets shows that we have lost sight of the lowest- hanging fruit towards taking care of our citizens  taxes that make the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share rather than pressures that push women to have babies they dont want.

In a time of deepening climate change, species extinctions and pollution, and of soaring global inequality where people in high-fertility countries want, and deserve, materially secure lives, we should not be cheering the prospect of billions more humans to add to our already dire ecological and social predicaments.

Kirsten Stade

Population Balance

 An entire article about overpopulation and no mention of myriad other species that are being wiped out to accommodate us. Im not sure that any other animals will be left alive when the population peaks at about 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s, or if the planet will still be inhabitable.

Ron Bingham

Muswell Hill, London

 Jonathan Kennedy builds on Isaac Asimovs bathroom metaphor to demonstrate the dangers of populist leaders hostility to immigration. Figuratively speaking, he says they want to keep one bathroom for themselves and force everyone else to share the other one, but that this comes with risks: Perhaps the other toilet becomes blocked and the whole flat is inundated with raw sewage. Right. But this is also what inevitably happens when a limited number of bathrooms are shared with an ever-increasing number of people, even if they are shared equally.

We must absolutely become better at sharing resources, but this wont enable infinite growth on a finite planet. There is nothing alarmist about acknowledging that the Earth has limits. In fact, at our current population size, weve already breached close to seven out of nine critical planetary boundaries.

Its good to see Kennedy acknowledge that todays population movement focuses on womens empowerment: Educating women and giving them control over their lives has proved remarkably effective at reducing fertility rates. Precisely, not to mention that empowering women is morally essential in its own right. So if we can improve lives and at the same time ensure that there are enough bathrooms for everyone to be comfortable and to avoid disasters, why wouldnt we?

Small changes in fertility rates have major impacts on future population sizes. While we are on track for a peak of over 10 billion, the UNs projections also show that if every other woman had one more child than currently expected, our global population would soar to 14.4 billion by 2100, while if every other woman had one fewer child than expected, our global population would decline to 7 billion by 2100. One of these is a lot more compatible with a happy, healthy planet than the other.

Olivia Nater

Population Connection

 Jonathan Kennedy acknowledges that current concerns about overpopulation relate to climate change, resource depletion and biodiversity loss, but then bewilderingly fails to address any of these issues. An implied cornucopian perspective is taken  these issues do not need to be addressed as either humankinds ingenuity will sort them out or humankind at least will not suffer too much from their effects (with no regard paid to the non-human species that we inhabit the planet with). With humankind currently transgressing at least six of nine planetary boundaries, the cornucopian perspective is a dangerous one and needs to be challenged wherever encountered. Overpopulation needs to be acknowledged as a major challenge to bringing human impacts on our world back within sustainable boundaries.

Shane Delphine

Melbourne, Australia

 Have an opinion on anything youve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The VRU claims the overwhelming majority of 10- to 17-year-olds do not reoffend within 12 months of release from custody. Photograph: Scott Bairstow/Alamy

A scheme aiming to turn children arrested for violence away from crime has claimed staggering success, with up to nine out of 10 diverted from further offending, according to a report.

Under the scheme, which is funded by Londons Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), special youth workers are placed in police custody centres across the capital.

The VRU claims the overwhelming majority of 10- to 17-year-olds do not reoffend within 12 months of release from custody after intervention.

Lib Peck, the director of the London VRU, said the 40m-a-year cost of the unit, which runs a range of initiatives, was more than made up for by the money saved from the cost of reoffending.

She said prevention worked and deserved more money, adding: Society and government have focused a lot more on policing and enforcement than they have on prevention.

A report to mark London VRUs first five years of operating says the cost of youth violence in London alone is 1bn a year, including the cost to the police, courts system, health and victim services.

VRUs sprung up across the UK amid a growing concern over knife crime. Londons unit is the biggest, with the capital also suffering the highest rate of knife crime.

The scheme includes support based at hospital emergency departments aimed to stop retaliation from victims of violence, as well as services in police custody suites that have tried to help 800 children.

The report details what drives violent crime and how a public health approach can help reduce it.

It says: Monitoring data shows that nearly three-quarters of young people in hospital following a stabbing or violent incident reduced their risk of harm after the intervention from a youth worker.

And last year, data reported by our projects showed that almost 90% of teenagers arrested for violent offences did not reoffend over the next 12 months following intervention and help from a youth worker based in the busiest police stations in London.

The scheme is showing signs of being able to exploit the teachable moment long talked about by police and youth workers. It is the point where someone is wavering between continuing as a criminal or turning their back on violence.

Michael Gosling, one of the London youth workers based in police custody, said he tried to earn childrens trust and told them not to discuss their crimes with him, with most wanting to talk about what had led to them being under arrest.

Going into custody can be quite scary, he said. I try to appeal to them by using body language. I tell them I am there for them, I am not there to judge them. We are not wearing the get-up of a police officer. I make it clear I am not a police officer.

VRUs, and the expansion of youth work they involve, represent an attempt to counter attitudes supporting violence. Gosling said of one case: He was a product of his environment.

Some youngsters were driven by needing money to eat, others by buying trainers or just exploiting the playground of opportunities, Gosling said. Older gang members are looking for younger children who are vulnerable, to recruit them, he added.

Gosling said others saw violence as a necessary part of their attempt to make money: The thought process is: here and now. They are out to get it by any means necessary.

The report says low trust in the Metropolitan police damages the fight against crime: Trust and confidence in policing have seen sustained declines over recent years  just 46 percent of Londoners believe the police do a good job in their local area. This is 10 percent below where it was 5 years ago.

One young person mentioned reportedly described their reluctance to report a crime to the police, saying they werent sure if they would be treated as a victim or perpetrator. They described feeling powerless.

Peck said: I dont think you can get away from the fact that its a very problematic relationship at times. We just see the consequences of it.

The VRU also claims success reducing school exclusions, and says children not in education are more likely to become involved in violence. Peck said: Whatever the cost to the taxpayer [of the VRU] we are saving the same or saving more.

Since the VRU started in 2019, homicide rates are down in the capital. Its murder rate is now lower than Paris, Toronto, Manchester and Berlin, but higher than Rome and the West Midlands.

Other crime types are increasing, however, and Londons VRU, largely funded by the mayor, is seen as a long-term project for a decade or more.

Key factors driving violence remain poverty, deprivation and alienation, with drugs a key factor  56% of homicides between 2012-13 and 2017-18 in London were drug-related, according to the report.

There has also been an increase in the proportion of 10- to 14-year-olds suspected of violence.
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

P is for Pepperidge

Its been nearly 100 years since Margaret Rudkin and her family moved into Pepperidge Farm and created a legacy. With a portfolio bigger than it has any right to possess, the cookie giant is amongst the best in the biz. But with so many cookies to its name, which should you choose in a pinch? Do they hold up since your childhood?

Ive got answers. Here are 18 of Pepperidge Farms most popular cookies, ranked.

Pepperidge Farm provided samples for this review, but the ranking is based solely on the author's taste test.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

1. Dark Chocolate Brussels

I had no doubt in my mind that Milanos would win this thing. I grew up on them, and have loved them my whole life. I always liked Brussels too, but I never actually thought about which was a better cookie. The crisp texture that a Brussels cookie provides knows no equal in the Pepperidge Farm world. The size is perfect, just like the amount of chocolate used. Everything about this cookie is a hit. Do you think you like a Milano better? Youre wrong. Taste a Brussels cookie and tell me you still like a Milano better. Ill be waiting.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

2. Orange Chocolate Milanos

When I was a wee one, these were probably my favorite treat in the world. My mom would grab a bag and I would lose my mind for em. That slight hint of orange is beautiful, and I swear they make the orange-chocolate ones crunchier. Either way, a lifetime of loving these hasnt worn off. I love them now as much as I loved them 30 years ago.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

3. Mint Chocolate Milanos

And when I couldnt get my hands on Orange Chocolate? You better believe Mint Chocolate was next in line. Mint and chocolate are age-old buddies, and here in this beautiful oval of baking magic, they exist together more powerfully than almost anywhere. Ill love a Mint Milano until the day I die, and if you people really love me, youll bury me with some.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

4. Milk Chocolate Milanos

A chocolate Milano, simply put, is one of the best cookies on the planet. Its unique, delicate, and delicious. The fact that there are two flavored Milanos that rank higher is actually a testament to the power of a classic Milano itself; the orange cookie only has a hint of orange. Same with mint. The backbone of a Milk Chocolate Milano is so strong that when you add things to it, they flourish. When you take away milk chocolate and replace it with white chocolate, youll see what happens to these cookies.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

5. Gingerman Ginger Cookies

I dont normally lose my beans for a gingerbread cookie, but maybe thats because Ive never had Pepperide Farms Gingerman. First off, I love that he is one singular man. Thats hilarious to me. Secondly, this is probably the best gingerbread cookie Ive ever had. Its light and thin, snaps perfectly with each bite, and has plenty of sparkling sugar. Terrific stuff.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

6. Caramel Cafe Au Lait Milanos

I love this. Weve got notes of both caramel and coffee, but none outdo each other. Harmony, my friends. Maybe I miss the chocolate at the end of the day, but this is still very good. Its lighter than a traditional Milano, which could end up proving dangerous when I end up crushing a bag in one sitting, but well cross that bridge when we get to it.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

7. Chocolate Hazelnut Pirouettes

This has got to be the gold standard for a hazelnut pirouette. Just enough chocolate. Just enough hazelnut. The crunch is stellar. The thing is long, like a magic wand, and somehow when you bite it, it leaves no flakes behind. Two thumbs emphatically up.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

8. London Fog Milanos

This is not that much different than a chocolate Milano. Theres a hint of Earl Grey for sure, but its hard to detect. I suppose thats a good thing, because why do you want that? I see no reason to add a hint of bitterness to a cookie that weve all agreed works incredibly well how it is. No real issue though, because the flavor is so mild. I dont mind these, but I probably wouldnt pick them if there were any of the classic flavors available.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

9. Farmhouse Thin & Crispy Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everybody has their perfect chocolate chip cookie. For some people, its a crunchy bag of Famous Amos. For others, its hot and gooey or nothing. Im closer to this side, and have never really felt the love for the crunchy and the crisp. In fact, Im almost never reaching for a pre-packaged chocolate chip cookie. I like em fresh-baked, baby. Its the way they deserve to be. These are good, high-quality cookies. But theyre not fresh-baked, and for me, that will always be a problem.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

10. Ojai Lemon Sugar Cookies

Peppy Farm is nailing these soft-baked cookies. These Ojais are soft and chewy, like they just came out of an oven. Weve got crunchy sparkling sugar granules to chomp down on, too, which is one of the best parts of a sugar cookie. The only real issue is that the lemon flavor tastes sadly artificial, like they baked a delicious sugar cookie and then stuck a syringe full of lemon flavor. I wish this was dusted with lemon zest or something, if it needs to be lemon flavored.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

11. Strawberry White Chocolate Milanos

As a white chocolate hater, I tip my hat to Pepperidge Farm. Overall, I enjoyed the white chocolate in these Milanos more than I have in just about anything (except for, you know, the last-placer). If these were a strawberry and vanilla cookie, it might pin down that berries and cream vibe a little more. Unfortunately, the white chocolate ascends to the top of the flavor profile, and its all I can think about.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

12. Dublin Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies are infinitely more appealing to me than butter cookies, and these are great ones. I have nothing bad to say about these, but everything above is a far more exciting experience. Shortbread cookies are, while tasty, pretty boring at the end of the day.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

13. Santa Cruz Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

As far as oatmeal raisin cookies go, this is a banger. I can taste cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and all kinds of autumnal flavors. The texture is soft and easily chewable. The only problem is that this cookie shouldnt exist, because raisins are the worlds biggest liability. In my opinion, maybe only 1% of the time that they appear do they actually improve food. This is a well-made cookie, but it should be illegal to put raisins in food.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

14. Captiva Dark Chocolate Cookies

While I love the soft texture of this cookie, double-chocolate situations are generally too rich for little ole me. That said, its easy to see this cookies strengths: The soft, brownie-like vibe is great with the big chocolate chunks, and the size is just right.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

15. Lemon White Chocolate Milanos

P-Farm has demonstrated mastery of so many flavors throughout its vast portfolio, but one that they cant really seem to get right is lemon. Much like the lemon sugar cookies, this tastes incredibly artificial, but it does help to drown out the white chocolate flavor, so thats something.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

16. Chessmen Butter Cookies

What do you say about a butter cookie? Its probably the most boring cookie that exists, neither delicious nor disgusting. Butter cookies are like blocks of padding or something. I like the burnt colors on these but like all Danish-style butter cookies, they dont taste like much.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

17. Strawberry Veronas

Its a tough situation that Strawberry Veronas find themselves in. For starters, Im a savory guy. I dont really feel passion for desserts and sweets the way I do for savory food. Second, pastries are one of the lowest sub-sections of desserts on my list. (Ice cream is my favorite dessert, thank you for asking.) Then, underneath pastries, there are jelly-filled pastries. Thumbprint cookies are just so very not for me. No fault of the humble Verona, but this one is a skip for me.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

18. Coconut White Chocolate Milanos

Pop quiz! What are my two least favorite flavors? Correct: coconut and white chocolate. This double-whammy didnt do me any favors, starting with the explosive sun tan lotion aroma that permeated my apartment when I opened the bag. The cookie itself tastes like an Uh-Oh Oreo thats been left sitting in a bottle of Malibu. If thats for you, then power to ya. Grab a packet of these things.

For more taste tests, sign up for our free newsletters.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

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Carlos Guillermo Alonso and Edmund Richard Hartley have been charged with multiple misdemeanors for their alleged involvement in the tragedy







Two men have been charged in the death of Ella Adler, a 15-year-old ballerina who was killed in a boating accident in May 2024.

Adler was fatally struck by a boat after falling while wakeboarding on May 11 on a beach in Key Biscayne, Florida. In a statement shared on Instagram at the time, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) revealed that they were searching for the driver of the boat that allegedly hit Adler after it left the scene.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso was later identified as the owner, according to an incident report reviewed by PEOPLE in May 2024. At the time, no charges had been handed down.

After a "thorough investigation" conducted by the FWC, Alonso and Edmund Richard Hartley, who was driving the boat towing Adler, have both been charged with multiple misdemeanors, the FWC confirmed to PEOPLE.

Levitt-Weinstein Memorial Chapels & Cemeteries Ella Adler

According to a FWC statement obtained by PEOPLE, Alonso was charged with Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #2  Responsibility and Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #5  Look-out.

Hartley received four charges: Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #2  Responsibility, Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #5  Look-out, Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #7  Risk of Collision and Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #8  Action to Avoid Collision.



They have both pleaded not guilty, according to the Associated Press.

The charges were handed down in April 2025 and are all related to Careless Operation of a Vessel.

"The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ella Adler. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss," the organization said in the statement.

Lauren Field Krasnoff, a lawyer representing Alonso, spoke out about the tragedy in May 2024, saying that he "had absolutely no idea" that he allegedly struck Adler and that he was "as devastated as anybody could be," per NBC 6.

We are devastated for the Adlers, for their friends, their family, theres no question in our minds that this is a absolutely horrific thing that happened and we pray for and think of their family and friends during this time, Krasnoff said.

At the time, Krasnoff said that Alonso was working with the police on the investigation.

He has had no contact with the criminal system. He does not drink, and he was not drinking on that Saturday, she added.

Kiko Ricote/Getty Stock photo of Key Biscayne in Florida

According to the incident report PEOPLE reviewed in 2024, Alonso was only on the boat with one other person at the time of the accident. It was not clear then if he was driving the vehicle.

PEOPLE reached out to Krasnoff for additional comment on Wednesday, June 4.

In her obituary, Adler was described as "a force of nature."

"When she was near, everyone felt a gravitational pull toward her," the tribute read, adding that "she emanated love and joy."

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It continued: "She loved to dance, she loved her friends, and most of all she loved her family - her parents, Amanda and Matthew, and her younger siblings Jaden and Adalynn."

As a dancer, Adler performed in "over 100 performances" of The Nutcracker with Miami City Ballet at the Adrienne Arsht Center. She also danced in high school and had recently appeared in a school play.

"She was loyal. She was compassionate. She always believed in speaking up for what was right and she always spoke her mind, but with warmth and grace," the obituary read.



Read the original article on People
Amanda Seyfriend/Instagram Amanda Seyfriend debuts bangs on set







NEED TO KNOW

Amanda Seyfried debuts a new look!

The actress shared a carousel of behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram from her time on Peacock's Long Beach River

In March, Seyfried spoke with PEOPLE about her new role, admitting that she has "always wanted to play a cop







Amanda Seyfried is showing off her new bangs while on the set of Peacocks Long Bright River.

Seyfried, 39, showed behind-the-scenes photos taken during production of the thriller series, flaunting a new hairstyle in an Instagram carousel on Tuesday, June 3. Seyfried starred as Mickey Fitzpatrick, a Philadelphia police officer searching for her sister, in the series.

However, the actress's bangs were not here to stay. In the caption of her post, she described the photo as "a flashback idea that we cut out of the gate."

Dominik Bindl/WireImage Amanda Seyfried at "I Don't Understand You" screening on June 2

The Mean Girls actress was also seen with her signature blond locks, without bangs, at the I Don't Understand screening on Monday, June 2.

The third photo in Tuesday's carousel showed Seyfried in the makeup chair FaceTiming her youngest child, Thomas, 4, with the screen turned upward toward the ceiling.

Third is usually what you get when youre FaceTiming your youngest, Seyfried continued in the caption.

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.

She included a video of herself showing off one of her musical talents writing, sixth is some serious English horn study proof.

In the last slide, Seyfried is seen crocheting, which received many more comments than her temporary bangs because of how she sat.

Amanda Seyfriend/Instagram Amanda Seyfriend crocheting

You have some crazy flexibility Amanda.. one commenter wrote.

I think you accidentally crocheted your legs too  wrote another Instagram user.

In March, Seyfried told PEOPLE that she landed her dream part when she was cast as Mickey in Long Bright River.

I've always wanted to play a cop, Seyfried said at the time. It's like a childhood dream to play somebody that I just was always in awe of, even though it's funny [because] I'm not good with authority.

Adapted from Liz Moores 2020 novel of the same name, the limited series questions the perception of police in a community affected by the opioid crisis. Seyfrieds character works on the case of three women who were found dead in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia.

One of the facets of her character is that she's actually not that talented as a police officer. The police work does not come naturally to her, Moore told PEOPLE. In some ways, I think she was meant to do something else, but the circumstances of her life have combined to make police work what she's doing at this moment.

Seyfried added that what appealed most to her about playing Mickey was that it gave her a range of material to work with.

This is a girl that has got a lot of issues, a lot of traumas, Seyfried said. She's a cop, she has a kid, she's a single mother, and she's flexing and trying to get by, and she has all these responsibilities. It just seemed like it was chaos for her.



Long Bright River is now streaming on Peacock.

Read the original article on People
Parade goers hold Pride flags during the annual Pride Parade in San Francisco on June 29, 2024. - Minh Connors/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images

For the last several years, Pride Month was a splashy marketing event for big brands. Stores adorned windows with rainbow flags, displayed LGBTQ-themed t-shirts and coffee mugs at their entrances, changed their logos on social media accounts, and spotlighted donations to LGBTQ rights groups.

But this Pride Month, many retail chains and brands are going quiet.

Companies are treading lightly, avoiding prominent campaigns and visible public support. Thirty-nine percent say they plan to scale back public Pride Month engagements this year, according to a survey of more than 200 corporate executives by Gravity Research, a risk management advisory. That includes sponsoring Pride events, posting supportive messages of LGBTQ rights on social media and selling Pride-themed merchandise.

Consumer brands are wary of provoking right-wing customers and activists, and they fear reprisals from President Donald Trumps administration. Federal agencies have threatened to investigate companies with diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Many businesses are tightening their advertising spending due to economic uncertainty over Trumps tariffs. But businesses cited pressure from the Trump administration as the primary reason for changing their Pride Month approach, according to the survey.

Its clear that the administration and their supporters are driving the change, said Luke Hartig, the president of Gravity Research. Companies are under increasing pressure not to engage and speak out on issues.

The subdued approach marks a shift for businesses, which used to turn the annual June celebration of LGBTQ Americans into a branded holiday. Its part of a broader pivot in corporate America, with many businesses scrapping some of their programs to advance diversity in the workplace under pressure from the Trump administration and Republican activists.

Advocates for gay, lesbian and transgender Americans say the Trump administrations opposition makes it harder for businesses to compete, innovate and attract talent. They also warn that companies risk losing business by downplaying support for their growing number of gay, lesbian and transgender customers and workers. The proportion of American adults who identify as LGBTQ has risen to 9.3% of the population.

By weaponizing federal agencies like the EEOC and the Justice Department to intimidate companies that support LGBTQ+ inclusion, this administration is creating an anti-business, anti-worker atmosphere, said Eric Bloem, the vice president of corporate citizenship at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Many businesses have stopped participating in the Human Rights Campaigns scorecard on corporate policies and benefits for LGBTQ employees due to backlash.

Companies that show up only when its convenient, or backtrack the moment theres political pressure, risk losing trust and credibility, Bloem said.

Bud Light and Target

Companies are actively preparing for Pride-related backlash this year from conservative activists and consumers.

Sixty-five percent of companies in Gravity Researchs survey said they were preparing strategies to respond to blowback. A growing number of chains, including Walmart, Target, Kroger, have also been warning investors about the risks of consumer boycotts over corporate positions on social issues.

Anger from the right over Bud Light and Targets marketing efforts, in particular, has had a chilling effect on corporate strategies for Pride Month.

Pride Month apparel is seen on display at a Target store on June 6, 2023, in Austin, Texas. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Bud Light sales tanked in 2023 after the companys partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney sparked anti-trans backlash and boycotts. Bud Lights tepid response also angered LGBTQ rights advocates.

In 2023, activists and customers on the right attacked Target on social media for its LGBTQ-themed merchandise during Pride Month. Target employees faced threats over items such as bathing suits designed for transgender people, and the company removed them from stores. Misinformation spread on social media that the swimsuits were marketed to children, which they were not.

The backlash led to a drop in sales and lawsuits from Republican-aligned legal groups.

Last year, Target sold Pride products in fewer stores and offered the full merchandise collection online.

Muted displays

Target is again taking a muted approach to Pride Month this year.

In select stores, Target is selling a multi-category collection including home, pets, books, vinyl and adult apparel and accessories to celebrate Pride, the company said in an email to employees viewed by CNN. Target is selling the full Pride product selection online.

We are absolutely dedicated to fostering inclusivity for everyone  our team members, our guests, our supply partners, and the more than 2,000 communities were proud to serve, a Target spokesperson said. As we have for many years, we will continue to mark Pride Month by offering an assortment of celebratory products, hosting internal programming to support our incredible team and sponsoring local events in neighborhoods across the country.

But Targets Pride merchandise is limited and displayed less prominently in stores than in previous years, said one Target senior leader who spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Target store employee and customer excitement for Pride Month has dissipated as a result of the companys shift, according to the senior leader.

It feels like we have catered to the direction of the administration, this person said.

Other companies are also dialing back public pronouncements, donations and merchandise in support of Pride Month.

Last year, Kohls launched a Pride capsule collection of merchandise and donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth.

As we use this month to embrace love in all forms, we simultaneously create more spaces for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to live out loud, Michelle Banks, Kohls-then chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer, said in a news release. (Banks is now Kohls chief inclusion and belonging officer.)

Kohls has not announced any Pride Month plans this year and did not respond to CNNs requests for comment.

Macys last year touted that it hosted a donation campaign for The Trevor Project, spotlighted LGBTQ-owned brands, and set up displays in select Macys windows and at local Pride marches nationwide.

Macys is supporting Pride events this month in a similar way, including participating in Pride events nationwide and raising money for The Trevor Project. But unlike previous years, the company is not making official announcements about its plans.

Nordstrom, Gap and several other brands that highlighted their Pride Month efforts last year appear not to have repeated them this June. Gap did not respond to CNNs request for comment about its plans.

Nordstrom did not initially respond to CNNs requests for comment. On June 2, Nordstrom announced its plans to celebrate Pride Month, including hosting events for employees and launching a collection of Pride-themed products.

Working behind the scenes

But a quieter marketing approach to Pride Month does not necessarily mean companies are abandoning support for LGBTQ employees or customers.

I do see theres pivoting happening (for Pride Month). What I dont see is corporates walking away from the LGBTQ community, said Sarah Kate Ellis, president of advocacy group GLAAD. They dont want to be caught in the crosshairs of this presidency, and they dont want to become the headline like Target or Bud Light.

Many companies are instead working behind the scenes to engage their LGBTQ employees and strengthen employee recruitment and retention strategies.

Just 14% of companies reported plans to reduce internal engagement during Pride Month, according to Gravity Research. Corporate employees are providing counter-pressure to keep brands active on LGBTQ issues.

Companies are going deeper and wider, rather than supporting an event, Ellis said. Theyre finding better ways to thread their work supporting the LGBTQ community into their organizations.

Update: This story has been updated to reflect Nordstroms Pride Month plans.

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Lesli Colin Johnsen, right, hugs Beth Blacker before a community vigil at the Boulder Jewish Community Center, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post via AP, Pool)

BOULDER, Colo. (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the government to immediately halt deportation proceedings against the family of a man charged in the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, to ensure the protection of the family's constitutional rights.

U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher granted a request from the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who are Egyptian, to block their deportation. U.S. immigration officials took the family into custody Tuesday.

Soliman, 45, has been charged with a federal hate crime and state counts of attempted murder in Sunday's attack in downtown Boulder. Witnesses say he threw two Molotov cocktails at a group demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and authorities say he confessed to the attack in custody.

His family members have not been charged.

Federal authorities have said Soliman has been living in the U.S. illegally, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said earlier Wednesday that the family was being processed for removal. Its rare that a criminal suspect's family members are detained and threatened with deportation.

It is patently unlawful to punish individuals for the crimes of their relatives," attorneys for the family wrote in the lawsuit.

Eric Lee, one of the attorney's representing the family, said efforts to deport them should not happen in a democracy.

The punishment of a four-year-old child for something their parent allegedly did, who also has a presumption of innocence, is something that should outrage Americans regardless of their citizenship status, he said.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the plaintiffs claims as absurd and an attempt to delay justice.

Just like her criminal husband, she and her children are here illegally and are rightfully in ICE custody for removal as a result, she said in a statement.

Witnesses describe attack at vigil

Around 200 people squeezed into the local Jewish Community Center on Wednesday evening for a vigil that featured prayer, songs, a short speech by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and emotional testimony from a victim and witnesses to the attack.

Rachelle Halpern, who has been walking with the group since 2023, said she remembers thinking it was strange to see a man with a canister looking like he was going to spray pesticide on the grass. Then she heard a crash and screams and saw flames around her feet.

A woman stood one foot behind me, engulfed in flames from head to toe, lying on the ground with her husband," she said. "People immediately, three or four men immediately rushed to her to smother the flames.

Her description prompted murmurs from the audience members. One womans head dropped into her hands.

I heard a loud noise, and the back of my legs burning, and dont remember those next few moments, said a victim, who didn't want to be identified and spoke off camera, over the event's speakers. Even as I was watching it unfold before my eyes, even then, it didnt seem real.

Defendant's family investigated

Solimans wife, Hayam El Gamal, a 17-year-old daughter, two minor sons and two minor daughters all are Egyptian citizens, according to El Gamal's lawsuit. They were being held at an immigration detention center in Texas, Lee said.

We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it, Noem said in a statement.

Noem also said federal authorities would immediately crack down on people who overstay their visas, following the Boulder attack.

Soliman told authorities that no one, including his family, knew about his planned attack, according to court documents. El Gamal said she was shocked to learn her husband had been arrested in the attack, according to her lawsuit.

Victims increase to 15 people and a dog

Earlier Wednesday, authorities raised the number of people injured in the attack to 15 from 12, plus a dog.

Boulder County officials said in a news release that the victims include eight women and seven men ranging in age from 25 to 88. Details about how the victims were impacted would be explained in criminal charges set to be filed Thursday, according to Boulder County District Attorney's office spokesperson Shannon Carbone.

Soliman had planned to kill all of the roughly 20 participants in Sundays demonstration at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, but he threw just two of his 18 Molotov cocktails while yelling Free Palestine, police said. Soliman didnt carry out his full plan because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before, police wrote in an affidavit.

According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman told police he was driven by a desire to kill all Zionist people  a reference to the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel. Authorities said he expressed no remorse about the attack.

The family's immigration status

Before moving to Colorado Springs three years ago, Soliman spent 17 years in Kuwait, according to court documents.

Soliman arrived in the U.S. in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023, McLaughlin said in a post on X. She said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, but that has also expired.

Hundreds of thousands of people overstay their visas each year in the United States, according to Department of Homeland Security reports.

Soliman's wife was born in Saudi Arabia and is an Egyptian national, according to her lawsuit. She is a network engineer and has a pending EB-2 visa, which is available to professionals with advanced degrees, the suit said. She and her children all are listed as dependents on Soliman's asylum application.

The case against Soliman

Soliman told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year, the affidavit said.

Soliman is being held in a county jail on a $10 million cash bond and is scheduled to make an appearance in state court on Thursday. His attorney, Kathryn Herold, declined to comment after a state court hearing Monday. Public defenders policy prohibits speaking to the media.

The attack unfolded against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, which has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. It happened at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and barely a week after a man who also yelled Free Palestine was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington.

___

This story has been corrected to show the defendant's oldest daughter is 17, not 18, according to attorneys for the family.

___

Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington, Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City, Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
Ed Victor had just finished the Run for Their Lives walk and was with group members gathering outside the Boulder, Colorado, courthouse on Sunday afternoon when he said he heard a crash, felt heat -- and then saw a woman on fire.

My focus got extremely narrow at that time. I didnt notice anything else," Victor said at a news conference Wednesday with political and faith leaders outside the courthouse.

"I was worried about that woman," he said, "and Ill tell you, when someone is on fire, it takes too long to put them out."

Victor said he and the other walk participants frantically looked around for what they had to help extinguish the flames: flags and a banner.

Fifteen people ranging in age from 25 to 88 years old were hurt in the Molotov cocktail attack, prosecutors said.

Some victims were "very seriously burned," Rabbi Mark Soloway said at the news conference. Three victims remain in the hospital in serious condition Wednesday, sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News.

Chet Strange/Getty Images - PHOTO: Local faith leaders and members of the community conduct a prayer vigil for the victims of a fire attack outside the Boulder County Courthouse, June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo.

Naor Bitton, visiting from Israel, was walking in Boulder when he saw the demonstrators and joined them in a show of support.

Soon Bitton saw a "huge ball of flames" engulfing several people, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, he told ABC News.

Bitton said he ran back and forth between the fire and passersby to gather as much water as he could until the blaze on the 88-year-old could be extinguished, which took several minutes.

A crowd then started to gather at the scene, but "there was still active spots of fire" and "the attacker still had two bottles of gasoline in his hands," Bitton said. "I figured if someone gets too close to him, he might throw the bottles," hurting more people.

@opusobscurax/X via Reuters - PHOTO: Law enforcement officers detain a suspect, after an attack that injured multiple people, in Boulder, Colorado, June 1, 2025.

MORE: Boulder attack latest: Number of victims climbs to 15

The suspect chanted "Free Palestine" and "I did it and Ill do it again," Bitton recalled.

"I made my way to the head of the crowd, trying to create enough space between him and the crowd, pushing away people who tried to get near him and keeping my eyes on him" until police arrived, Bitton said.

The injured 88-year-old has since been released from the hospital.

The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with a federal hate crime and state charges, including 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, officials said.

Boulder Police Department - PHOTO: Booking photo of 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, the man suspected of carrying out an "act of terrorism" in Boulder, Colorado, June 1, 2025.

Soliman allegedly said he intentionally targeted Run for Their Lives, a peaceful group comprised of Jews and non-Jews who participate in weekly walks to raise awareness about the hostages in Gaza, according to court documents.

Soliman told police "he wanted to kill all Zionist people," court documents said.

He "said this had nothing to do with the Jewish community and was specific in the Zionist group supporting the killings of people on his land (Palestine)," documents said.

Political and faith leaders strongly condemned the attack at Wednesday's news conference.

"Antisemitism, violence and hate have no home in Colorado," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said. "We will not be silenced or scared. We will not let the demons of hate define us."

"The whole Jewish community is reeling, shocked that this hideous hate crime could happen right here in downtown, beautiful Boulder, Colorado," Soloway said. "And yet, we have seen this coming ... Jews here and all over America and all over the world have not been feeling safe."

David Zalubowski/AP - PHOTO: A visitor offers a tribute after leaving a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of an attack outside of the Boulder County, Colo., courthouse as a light rain falls, June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo.

The Boulder attack comes at a time of heightened violence against the Jewish community.

In April, a suspected arsonist firebombed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's official residence because of "what [the governor] wants to do to the Palestinian people," according to a search warrant signed by Pennsylvania State Police. The suspect was arrested.

On May 21, two Israeli Embassy staff members were killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. When the suspect was arrested, he began to chant, "free, free Palestine," according to police.

MORE: Colorado attack comes amid record incidents of antisemitic and Islamophic hate crimes

Two days after the D.C. attack, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a bulletin that the Israel-Hamas conflict "continues to inspire violence and could spur radicalization or mobilization to violence against targets perceived as supporting Israel."

The Anti-Defamation League has documented a dramatic rise in acts of hate targeting Jewish people in the U.S. since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. In 2024, the ADL said it recorded a record high of 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the U.S., marking a 344% increase over the past five years and a 893% increase over the past 10 years.

"I am angry," Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, said at Wednesday's news conference.

Mark Makela/Reuters - PHOTO: A woman places flowers at a memorial at the scene of an attack that injured multiple people, outside the Boulder County Courthouse, in Boulder, Colo., June 2, 2025.

Its way past time for our political leaders, community groups, media outlets, tech platforms, faith leaders to take action before more Jewish blood is spilled. And it's way past time to stop excusing antisemitic rhetoric," he said.

Greenblatt urged the public to speak out against hate, sharing small, specific actions people can take.

"Flag a hateful post, sign a petition, attend a service, make a comment in city council," he said.

Soliman appeared in court virtually on Monday. He has yet to enter a plea. He'll return to court Thursday on the state charges.

ABC News' Jeff Cook and Trevor Ault contributed to this report.
Museums emerge as major tourism destinations in Chinese cities

People's Daily Online) 13:23, June 04, 2025

The popularity of "internet-famous" museums and cultural landmarks has helped transform museums into key tourism destinations in Chinese cities in recent years.

A growing number of travelers are now planning trips specifically around museum visits. For instance, travel agencies say the National Museum of China has become a staple on the itinerary for visitors to Beijing, whether they are traveling in groups or independently.

Museums are also attracting visitors of all ages, appealing to young tourists as must-see destinations and to families looking for educational outings.

Since the start of the year, the Palace Museum, National Museum of China, Nanjing Museum, Shaanxi History Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, Henan Museum, Sanxingdui Museum, Guangdong Museum, Suzhou Museum and China Grand Canal Museum have ranked among the most visited in the country, according to the latest figures from online travel agency Tuniu.

Tourists wear virtual reality headsets to participate in a program at Hainan Museum in South China's Hainan Province. (Photo courtesy of the organizer of the event)

Data from Meituan, a life services provider, shows that museum-related searches have surged nearly 500 percent year on year since January. The China Grand Canal Museum and China National Film Museum have each seen search volume jump more than 900 percent, while the Tsingtao Beer Museum logged an increase of over 470 percent. Several featured museums have gained particular popularity among young travelers.

An executive from travel platform Mafengwo said the Hubei Provincial Museum, Nanchang Relic Museum for Haihun Principality of the Han Dynasty, Luoyang Museum, Suzhou Museum and Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum have all seen rapid growth in visitor bookings.

Figurines depicting two painted pottery females holding hands at the Luoyang Museum in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, recently went viral, drawing large groups of female visitors and driving a 91 percent increase in the museum's popularity.

Specialty museums have reported a significant increase in visitors since the beginning of the year, emerging as a new trend in "museum tourism," according to Tuniu.

Data from online travel platform Ctrip shows that a rising number of visitors are seeking out specialty museums. Last year, bookings for museums in third-tier cities and smaller locations accounted for 30 percent of total orders, up 7 percent from a year earlier.

Tourists visit the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Liang Zhiqiang)

In 2024, bookings at the World Kite Museum in Weifang jumped more than sixfold from the previous year, while the Qinghai Tibetan Cultural Museum saw bookings rise 208 percent year on year.

In recent years, the Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum and the Ancient Kiln and Folk Customs Museum in Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi Province  often called the porcelain capital of China  have attracted a substantial influx of tourists.

Both museums highlight the historical significance, artistic value and intricate craftsmanship of porcelain, while offering immersive, interactive experiences that give visitors deeper insight into ceramic culture. The sites have become key cultural tourism landmarks in Jingdezhen, spurring growth in local handicraft sales and boosting the city's B&B and restaurant industries.

Industry experts attribute the rising popularity of specialty museums to several factors, including relatable themes, innovative exhibitions, welcoming environments, strong ties to local culture, creative business models and the ability to meet visitors' personalized interests. Social media platforms have further amplified the reach and impact of these museums.

Tourists visit the China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Meng Delong)

Many museums now offer digital artifacts, robotic guides, immersive performances, DIY cultural products and role-playing experiences, bringing new life to exhibits that were once limited to static displays and helping visitors better understand the historical narratives behind cultural relics.

In addition, short videos, livestreaming and social media sharing have created new ways for museums to reach and engage visitors.

A growing number of young people are turning to livestreaming platforms to learn about cultural heritage and purchase museum merchandise. According to data from Douyin E-commerce, searches for museums' creative cultural products have risen 126 percent from a year earlier.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chris Pratt; Nick Offerman. (AP; Getty Images)

Chris Pratt and Nick Offerman paid tribute to their "Parks and Recreation" castmate Jonathan Joss following the actor's death this week.

Joss was fatally shot in front of his San Antonio, Texas, home on Sunday by one of his neighbors, police said. He was 59.

The actor had a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate in the hit NBC sitcom.

"Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude," Pratt, who had his breakthrough role as Andy Dwyer in the series, wrote on his Instagram story on Monday. "Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones."

Jonathan Joss in 2021. (Derek Storm / Everett Collection)

Offerman, who starred in "Parks and Recreation" as Ron Swanson, told People magazine on Tuesday that he and other co-stars have been in contact since Joss' death.

"The cast has been texting together about it all day and were just heartbroken," Offerman said. "Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy."

"Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon, who was not on the sitcom, also paid her respects to Joss. She shared an image of the late actor on Instagram on Tuesday.

"Was devastated to learn of the killing last night of the wonderfully talented actor and musician Jonathan Joss, who my family and I enjoyed so much in Parks and Recreation," she wrote.

Nixon also repeated claims by Joss' husband that the actor was targeted because of his sexuality.

"We will not let this stand," she said.

Amy Poehler and Jonathan Joss in a 2015 episode of "Parks and Recreation." (NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection)

The San Antonio Police Department said in a statement on Monday there was "no evidence" that Joss' killing was motivated by hate, but said the suspect would be charged accordingly "should any new evidence come to light."

Conversations with Joss' neighbors and several police reports of prior incidents between Joss and the man arrested on charges of killing him  Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja  paint a complicated picture of what led to the fatal shooting.

Joss and Ceja were in a heated back-and-forth for years that was being mediated by a police crime prevention unit, according to police records and statements shared with NBC News.

Ceja could not be reached for comment. The 56-year-old does not have a lawyer, according to the Bexar County District Clerks Office.

In addition to his role on "Parks and Recreation," Joss was known for his role as John Redcorn in Foxs animated sitcom King of the Hill. The animated series was rebooted and will premiere on Hulu in August, with Joss returning as Redcorn.
Flowers on police barricades outside the Boulder County Courthouse in Boulder, Colorado, on June 2, 2025. Credit - Chet StrangeGetty Images

The family of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at people in Boulder, Colo., advocating for the release of Israeli hostages, has been taken into ICE custody, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday.

Soliman, an undocumented immigrant, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder and a federal hate crime in connection with the Sunday attack. Twelve victims, including a Holocaust survivor, were injured, at least two of whom remained hospitalized as of Monday afternoon.

We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it, Noem wrote in a post on X. I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their families.

The White House said in a post on its official X account that Soliman's wife and five children were in ICE custody and could be deported as soon as Tuesday night under expedited removal, which allows immigration officials to remove noncitizens without appearing before a judge.

DHS did not respond to TIMEs request for more information.

FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said during a Monday afternoon press conference that investigators believed that the suspect acted alone. If we uncover evidence that others knew of this attack or supported the subject in this attack, rest assured that we will aggressively move to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, Michalek added. He said the family was cooperative when officials carried out a search warrant Sunday night.

Read more: What We Know About the Boulder, Colorado Attack

Soliman, of El Paso County, is an Egyptian national who entered the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023, according to DHS. The 45-year-old suspect filed for asylum in September 2022.

Soliman currently faces 16 counts of attempted murder in the first-degree, two counts of use of an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device on the state level, along with a federal hate crime charge. The state charges alone carry a possible maximum sentence of more than 350 years in prison.

He told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year and wanted to kill all Zionists, according to an affidavit filed on Monday. Michalek said Soliman yelled Free Palestine while he threw a Molotov cocktail towards the crowd of demonstrators.

He is being held on a $10 million bond. He is next set to appear in court on Thursday.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Director Celine Song, left, and actor Dakota Johnson, photographed at the London Hotel in West Hollywood in May. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The new film Materialists is something of a bargain: essentially two films in one. Its very much a sparkling romantic comedy in which a young woman finds herself torn between a wealthy man who can offer her a life of comfort and ease versus another much poorer man who nonetheless understands the deepest, truest parts of her inner self.

It is also filled with long, thoughtful conversations on the very nature of why love and relationships matter so much, the parts they play in peoples lives and effects on an individuals sense of identity. The movie is both a thing and spends a lot of time considering the nature of that very thing, almost an essay about itself. And it does so with a stylish, romantic sophistication and ease.

Written and directed by playwright turned filmmaker Celine Song, "Materialists" (in theaters June 13) is the follow-up to the wistfully melancholic Past Lives, her 2023 feature debut that was nominated for best picture and original screenplay Oscars. The new film is in conversation with classic rom-coms by the likes of Nora Ephron, James L. Brooks and Billy Wilder, while also grappling with of-the-moment concerns such as ambition and achievement.

We're not just showing up here to be in love and beautiful and get to be in a rom-com," says Song. "We're also going to take this opportunity to talk about something. Because that's the power of the genre. Our favorite rom-coms are the ones where we get to start a conversation about something.

Read more:The 18 summer movies we're most excited about

Song, 36, is sipping tea at a sunny corner table in the restaurant of a West Hollywood hotel along alongside the films star, Dakota Johnson. In the film Johnson plays Lucy, who works as a professional matchmaker in New York City, helping affluent clients fulfill their impossible criteria of looks, physique, occupation, education, income, background, lifestyle and anything else that might impact a prospective partners value in the marketplace of eligible singles.

When Lucy meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), a tall, handsome and very wealthy private equity manager, she initially tries to wrangle him as a possible match for any of the many female clients who would want him. But he plans to pursue Lucy instead across a series of impressively expensive dinners. Meanwhile, Lucy has also reconnected with John (Chris Evans), a former boyfriend who is still a struggling actor making ends meet as a cater waiter years after they broke up. Lucy finds herself torn between the cynicism and mathematical practicality her job has hardened in her and a yearning romanticism she wishes she could be open to.

Depending on how one finds the erotic absurdities of the young-woman-in-the-big-city storylines of the Fifty Shades films that rocketed her to stardom, Johnson has rarely done a conventional rom-com (there's only 2016s How to Be Single). Which is not to say she hasnt been offered such vehicles. Shes just declined to be in them.

They're not good, Johnson, 35, says, chuckling lightly at her own bluntness. Sorry.

I think a lot of what I read these days is void of soul and heart," she continues. "And Celine is all soul and heart. I really love a rom-com if it feels like I can connect to the people in it. And I think I've found it hard to connect to the people in some of the ones that I've been offered.

What made Materialists feel different for her?

The complexities of all of the characters," Johnson answers. "The paradox. Everyone being confused about what the f they're supposed to do with their hearts. And what's the right move? I found that very honest and I found it just so relatable."

Johnson, who is in a relationship with musician Chris Martin, continues, "For a long time we've all been so quick to judge relationships or how they should happen, how they should exist in the world. When people should get married. Divorce is bad. All these things that actually, if you think about it, why is divorce bad? Why do people have to get married or at a certain age or only once? Why? It doesn't matter.

First thoughts for the project began around 10 years ago, when Song worked for a professional matchmaking service for about six months. Its very much a client-facing job, and she found the interactions she had with people to be bracing in their candor and vulnerability, as well as the ways in which the work demanded management of peoples feelings of desirability or lovability  as well as rejection or worthlessness.

To a matchmaker, everybody's very honest about what they're looking for," says Song, herself married to "Challengers" and "Queer" screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes. "Even at that time, I always thought, I just know I'm going to write something about it.

Ever since the films first trailer dropped, people online have commented on an unusual drink order placed by Lucy. More specifically, a drink that is placed in front of her before she really even has a chance to order it, by someone who already knows that her preferred beverage was once, indeed, Coke and beer, with space left in a glass to pour the two together.

To me what was important is that this was a drink that is so strange that you can't guess, explains Song. And that only somebody who knows you very well, who knew you in college, who knew you when you were really just at your heart your pure self, [knows] your drink order. So all I did was I Googled 'weird drinks.'

Though the drink is apparently popular in Germany, as for how it actually tastes, Johnson notes, Its just very effervescent and kind of gross. Not for me.

Song and Johnson have formed an apparent bond in the time spent working together. (They met during a period when the attention around Past Lives meant that Song could get general meetings, not even for a specific project, with many top stars.) They both mention how by the time they were shooting, Song could often communicate ideas to Johnson with just a look or a gesture rather than an involved explanation.

"She'd come in and be like, 'Um ...' and I'd be like, 'Yes,'" says Johnson.

"I think a lot of what I read these days is void of soul and heart," says Johnson. "And Celine is all soul and heart." Song, left, and Johnson, photographed at the London Hotel in West Hollywood in May. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Johnson in particular has the unbothered savvy of someone who has spent their entire life in some proximity to the spotlight (her parents are actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson) and has now been steadily working since appearing in "The Social Network" in 2010. In conversation, Johnson and Song share a casual, relaxed energy between them. Yet at the mere mention of "Madame Web," the 2024 Marvel adaptation starring Johnson that was a box-office bomb and subject of intense media scrutiny, Johnson's eyes narrow and her posture tightens.

Go on, Johnson says with a feigned seriousness.

Will Johnson now stick to indie films at the scale of Materialists or the projects produced by her company TeaTime Pictures, such as 2023s Daddio or the upcoming Splitsville, which recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival?

It wasn't my fault, Johnson says, laughing slightly while maintaining her focus.

There's this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don't have a creative bone in their body. And it's really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way. And I think unfortunately with Madame Web, it started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger-budget movies fail all the time.

I don't have a Band-Aid over it, she adds. There's no part of me that's like, Oh, I'll never do that again to anything. I've done even tiny movies that didn't do well. Who cares?

Having now been an active producer on a number of projects  including one to be directed by 93-year-old comedy legend Elaine May that Johnson says she hopes could be shooting in the fall  has made it different for her when, on a film like Materialists, she is an actor only.

I think that sometimes I'm like, Oh, I know how to fix it, or I know what to do, I want to help, says Johnson. And there's some things where I have to just not say things. Sometimes I love just showing up, especially on our movie, it was just so much fun for me to only be acting. Because I was in so much of it, I felt like I was in such good hands, I could just relax into that role.

The film uses a fable-like framing story about two prehistoric cave dwellers who may very well be the first married couple. (They also pop up for sharp-eyed viewers in another scene as well.)

To me, the whole movie is in those pieces, says Song. Because all of what we are living through is also going to be ancient too. We know that certain stone tools were passed over to the other, but we do not know about the flowers that were exchanged. Because there are some things like sentiment and feeling and love that are intangible and ephemeral. There's a very real and tangible and material record of stone tools and things being traded. But what passed between them in their heart is not. It's not on record.

Leaping forward in time to depict contemporary worries and desires, Materialists attempts to capture the specifics of a cultural moment, calculating cost-benefit analysis against a perceived ticking clock while also often dodging abusive predators.

In present time, the dating world because of social media is so different  everything is aspirational," says Johnson. You want to live the life that all these other people have on your phone, thinking that that's what you're supposed to be doing. It looks good, but it's not authentic because it's manufactured, it's filtered, it's ridiculous. So everything that a woman or a man is looking for in a partner, when they get to a certain age, whenever that is, it's all material things. It's height, it's income, it's hair, body, physique. It's things that have nothing to do with a soul connection.

Unafraid to grapple with tough conversations and moments of internal crisis, "Materialists" exudes a chic glamour as it interrogates the tough choices, motivations and consequences of modern romance.

At one point in the film, Lucy and Harry go to see John perform in a way-off-Broadway production of Songs play Tom & Eliza. (Song's name appears onscreen on a poster.) At drinks after, John says something dismissive about Lucys work as a matchmaker and she sarcastically retorts that its just girl s. This line was Songs own purposeful rebuke of the dismissive attitudes toward writing about love.

I so often experience a general sentiment that love as a topic of conversation and study is dismissable as unserious, unimportant, lighter fare, girl s, writes Song in a follow-up email. People call romantic films chick flicks as a way to diminish them, which I find unspeakably sad, not just for the way it excludes chicks from the realm of serious people, but also for the way it excludes serious people from the realm of romance and love.

That line of Lucys is intended to be a sharp reproach of that dismissal, adds Song. I believe that love is the greatest mystery in everyones lives, and therefore it is one of the most important themes in cinema. Love is the one drama we all experience, and it deserves the utmost respect.



Sign up for Indie Focus, a weekly newsletter about movies and whats going on in the wild world of cinema.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Through the trees and down the road, this puppy was headed to grandmas house  and he could barely contain his excitement!

In a now-viral TikTok video posted by Skylar (@sky.q), Nosh, an Australian Cattle Dog, bursts into joyful squeaks and whimpers the moment he hears where theyre going.(Watch Video Below)

It begins with Nosh sitting calmly, but alert, in the backseat from owners Skylar and Deko as they embark on a 20-hour drive between Phoenix and Kansas City, Missouri. As far as Nosh knows, this is a simple but long car trip as the family moves house across the country. A tough ride for anyones patience, man or dog, until a surprise reveal.

Nosh, do you want to go see Savta and Boppa? Skylar innocently asks in the viral video which has over 4 million views. Savta is the Hebrew word for grandma, while Boppa is what the posters nieces call grandpa., and Nosh couldnt make it more clear they knew exactly what they meant.

Dog Loses His Mind Over Surprise Grandparent Visit

First a cocked head look or confusion, almost as if saying are you SERIOUS?. Then a paw reached tentatively forward, oh my gosh, I think theyre SERIOUS.. Finally, whines of pure joy and licks of gratitude at the realization, yes, we are going to grandma and grandpas house. And apparently that cattle dogs emotional display lasted the entire last five minutes of the drive but Skylar and Deko are familiar with it, seen grinning and laughing along in the video as Nosh whips himself into a wiggling, squeaking, and polite barking bundle of anticipation.

He always reacts like this to his grandparents Whether its been months or only a few hours since he has seen them last. Skylar explained to Newsweek.

Dog Loses His Mind Over Surprise Grandparent Visit

Australian Cattle Dogs are known for their keen intelligence but expressing excitement at seeing a human they love after a long absence is not unique to the breed. The internet is full of coming home videos from members of the military upon meeting their dog for the first time after a long deployment, with their canines reaction very similar to Noshs backseat revery. The everyday, average dog owner has experienced it as well as one comment put it:

That happy whine when a pup sees someone after a long period of timeContagious tears of joy.

We decided to record because we knew he would go wild, said Skylar. We wanted to send the video to my parents.

Theres been no update on how Noshs visit with their grandpawrents went, but experts assume the pup was spoiled rotten.

Related Headlines
Dollar store chains have seen an influx of higher-income shoppers in recent months as economic uncertainty surges and households look to save.

"Higher-income customers have been a meaningful growth driver for us," Dollar Tree (DLTR) CEO Michael Creedon told investors, specifically noting the chain saw an increase in customers with household incomes of more than $100,000. The company reported that same-store sales rose 5.4% in the first quarter, with improvement across all income levels.

Earlier this week, Dollar General (DG) told investors it "saw the highest percent of trade-in customers" in the last four years during the first quarter. Its CEO, Todd Vasos, said the company saw increased trade-in activity, or consumers who would typically shop at higher-cost competitors, from middle- and high-income consumers, who came to Dollar General instead. Its same-store sales grew 3.4% in the quarter.

Data from Placer.ai shows that foot traffic to both retailers surged in April as some tariffs went into effect.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

The rise in shoppers turning to dollar stores and other discount retailers comes as evolving trade policy has created heightened economic anxiety among both consumers and businesses.

A new report from ADP out Wednesday showed US private payrolls slowed significantly last month. "The weak numbers we're seeing now does not point to a labor market that's collapsing, but there is hiring hesitancy," ADP chief economist Nela Richardson told reporters on a call.

Consumer confidence has also waned in recent months. It rose in May for the first time all year.

PwC's Ali Furman told Yahoo Finance that while consumers showed "some resilience" month over month, they made more "discerning purchases."

Dollar General expects its momentum to continue, as Vasos told investors, "Depending on where the macro environment goes, it should be very conducive to further trade-in, possibly as we move forward."

Both dollar store chains tend to outperform when a weaker consumer and overall economy persist.

When inflation hit 40-year highs in 2022, Dollar General and Dollar Tree stocks surged. Dollar Tree shares reached a record in April of that year, while Dollar General shares topped out in November.

Year to date, Dollar General and Dollar Tree shares have handily outperformed the S&P 500 (^GSPC)  rising 49% and 26%, respectively  as well as larger rivals like Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT), with the former calling out higher-income shoppers visiting more frequently in recent quarters.

The S&P 500 is up about 1.8% this year, while Walmart stock has gained just less than 11%. Target shares are down almost 30%.

Over the past year, however, both dollar store giants remained laggards, with shares down more than 20%.

Tariffs give and tariffs take

Tariff uncertainty may be getting more customers in the door, but the story isn't all positive for Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree stock fell as much as 10% in trading on Wednesday as the company outlined a profit hit on rising costs as a result of tariffs.

The company now expects its second quarter adjusted earnings to be down as much as 50% compared to a year ago, before reaccelerating in the third and fourth quarters, due to tariffs and the sale of Family Dollar.

Overall, direct imports make up 41% to 43% of Dollar Tree's total retail value purchases, and China supplies the majority of those imports, per a company filing.

When an analyst on the company's earnings asked how important China was to the company, Creedon said, "Global sourcing is critical." In the quarter, Dollar Tree's inventory increased 10%, or $247 million, to $2.7 billion due to "higher mark-on and inventory receipts as we expanded our multi-price assortment," CFO Stewart Glendinning said.

A person shops at a Dollar General store on May 28, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson via Getty Images)

Dollar Tree does expect strong customer traffic, however, with same-store sales expected to rise "towards the higher end" of its 3%-5% full-year outlook. Dollar Tree also updated its adjusted diluted earnings outlook and now expects to end the fiscal year in the range of $5.15 to $5.65, compared to the previously projected range of $5.00 to $5.50.

Dollar General also raised its earnings forecast on Tuesday. The company now sees full-year adjusted earnings coming in between $5.20 and $5.80 per share, up from a range of $5.10 to $5.80. After a 15% rally on Tuesday, Dollar General stock was down about 1.5% in sympathy with Dollar Tree's slide on Wednesday.

Dollar General's exposure to tariffs is much lower than its rival's, as 80% of its sales are food items, most of which are nonperishable items made in the US, like canned soups, beans, and chips, Morningstar analyst Noah Rohr previously told Yahoo Finance.

Dollar General also directly imports less than 10% of what it sells, with less than 70% of that coming from China, Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joe Feldman wrote in a note to clients.

Indirectly, the company imports roughly 10%-18% of items, with less than 40% of those coming from China, Feldman added.

Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy
Protesters wave Palestinian flags and hold placards reading messages such as "Freedom Palestine" outside the Palace of Westminster. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Progressive International, a far-left activist organization, is preparing for an eight-day protest starting in Egypt on June 15, where they will attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

In its announcement of the event, the group called for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza, a total embargo on Israel, and total boycott from the  network of Israeli violence, occupation, and apartheid. Participants in the March will gather in Cairo, Egypt, and journey to Rafah across the border in the Gaza Strip, despite a strategic Israeli blockade.

Progressive International claimed in its announcement that the global response to Israels blockade of Gaza has not been strong enough. The organization said its march will help shift government perspectives on the conflict from mere condemnations of Israels brutality to the implementation of policies that respond forcefully to their violations of international humanitarian law.

The organization also called for the application of boycott, divestment, and sanction (BDS) measures against Israel. The BDS movement aims to limit aid and allies for Israel at an international level.

The March to Gaza protest follows an operation by left-wing climate activist Greta Thunberg against Israels blockade. Thunberg was joined on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) vessel Madleen by Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and other activists and celebrities in sailing from Sicily to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. (RELATED: Israel Issues Ominous Warning To Greta Thunberg As She Sails For Gaza)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joins protesters outside the InterContinental London Park Lane during the Oily Money Out demonstration on October 17, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Progressive Internationals march also closely follows a rise in antisemitic attacks across the U.S. in the last few weeks including an illegal alien wielding a flame-thrower against participants in a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration in Colorado and the murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum.

Major news networks have even had to backpedal their positions on the Gaza War in recent days, with the Washington Post forced to correct a piece claiming that Israeli troops were responsible for the deaths of 30 Gazas outside a U.S. aid site.

The ongoing war began with a surprise attack from Hamas in the Gaza Strip against Southern Israel on a Jewish holiday in October 2023.

March to Gaza describes itself as a civic, apolitical, and independent movement representing the people, in all their diversity and humanism. American groups involved in the event include Taxpayers Against Genocide, Missourians for Justice in Palestine (MJP), and Teachers against genocide.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
By Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is training and advising Syria's armed forces and helping improve its defences, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops stationed there, Defence Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters.

Turkey has emerged as a key foreign ally of Syria's new government since rebels - some of them backed for years by Ankara - ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to end his family's five-decade rule.

It has promised to help rebuild neighbouring Syria and facilitate the return of millions of Syrian civil war refugees, and played a key role last month getting U.S. and European sanctions on Syria lifted.

The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risked a standoff or worse in Syria between the regional powers.

In written answers to questions from Reuters, Guler said Turkey and Israel - which carried out its latest airstrikes on southern Syria late on Tuesday - are continuing de-confliction talks to avoid military accidents in the country.

Turkey's overall priority in Syria is preserving its territorial integrity and unity, and ridding it of terrorism, he said, adding Ankara was supporting Damascus in these efforts.

"We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defence capacity," Guler said, without elaborating on those steps.

Named to the post by President Tayyip Erdogan two years ago, Guler said it was too early to discuss possible withdrawal or relocation of the more than 20,000 Turkish troops in Syria.

Ankara controlled swathes of northern Syria and established dozens of bases there after several cross-border operations in recent years against Kurdish militants it deems terrorists.

This can "only be re-evaluated when Syria achieves peace and stability, when the threat of terrorism in the region is fully removed, when our border security is fully ensured, and when the honourable return of people who had to flee is done," he said.

NATO member Turkey has accused Israel of undermining Syrian peace and rebuilding with its military operations there in recent months and, since late 2023, has also fiercely criticised Israel's assault on Gaza.

But the two regional powers have been quietly working to establish a de-confliction mechanism in Syria.

Guler described the talks as "technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events" or direct conflict, as well as "a communication and coordination structure".

"Our efforts to form this line and make it fully operational continue. Yet it should not be forgotten that the de-confliction mechanism is not a normalisation," he told Reuters.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Toby Chopra)
Law enforcement investigate a vehicle after an explosion on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Palm Springs, Calif. (ABC7 Los Angeles via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Federal authorities arrested a man they say collaborated with the bomber of a fertility clinic in May, alleging that he supplied chemicals used to make explosives and traveled to California to experiment with them in the bombers garage months before the attack.

The two men connected in fringe online forums over their shared beliefs against human procreation, authorities told reporters Wednesday. The blast gutted the fertility clinic in Palm Springs and shattered the windows of nearby buildings, with officials calling the attack terrorism and possibly the largest bomb scene ever in Southern California. The clinic was closed, and no embryos were damaged.

Guy Edward Bartkus of California, the bomber, died in the May 17 explosion. Authorities arrested Daniel Park, 32, of Washington state on Tuesday after he was extradited from Poland, where he fled to four days after the attack. Park is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists.

Park spent years stocking up on ammonium nitrate, a chemical that can be used to make explosives, before shipping it to Bartkus and later visiting him in Twentynine Palms, California. He stayed for about two weeks earlier this year, and the two conducted bomb-making experiments in the detached garage of Bartkus family home, said Akil Davis, the FBIs assistant director in charge.

Park, 32, was taken into custody at New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli told reporters. He appeared in federal court Wednesday in Brooklyn and, through his lawyer, waived his right to a detention hearing in New York.

Judge Cheryl Pollak ordered him to remain detained, saying he posed a serious risk. He will be sent to California, and federal defender Jeffrey Dahlberg said Park reserves the right to have a hearing on probable cause there. A date for that hearing has not been set, prosecutors said.

A cache of chemicals

Authorities searched Parks home in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, and found large quantities of several chemicals and handwritten notes of chemical explosive equations, according to a federal complaint. One was for an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing, Davis said, a reference to the 1995 explosion that killed 168 people and was the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history.

Park shipped 180 pounds (about 82 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus in January and bought another 90 pounds (about 41 kilograms) and had it shipped to him days before the explosion, authorities said. Park purchased ammonium nitrate online in several transactions between October 2022 and May 2025, according to a federal complaint.

Three days before Park visited him in January, Bartkus asked an AI chat application about explosives, detonation velocity, diesel and gasoline mixtures, the complaint said. The discussion centered on how to create the most powerful blast.

In a search of Bartkus' family's home, authorities found large quantities" of explosives material. Bartkus' relatives told investigators the two were running experiments in the garage. Bartkus' family did not raise any concerns to officials, authorities said.

An analysis of the blast site showed that ammonium nitrate could have been used in the explosive mixture, though it could not be conclusively established, the complaint said.

A shared ideology

Park and Bartkus, 25, met in online forums dedicated to the anti-natalist movement, bonding over a shared belief that people shouldnt exist, Davis said.

Anti-natalism is a fringe theory that opposes childbirth and population growth and contends that people should not continue to procreate. Officials said Bartkus intentionally targeted the American Reproductive Centers, a clinic that provides services to help people get pregnant, including in vitro fertilization and fertility evaluations.

Bartkus appeared to take responsibility for the attack on a website he set up that contained audio recordings, according to the complaint.

Basically Im anti-life. And IVF is like kind of the epitome of pro-life ideology, he allegedly said in one of the recordings.

Investigators have not said whether Bartkus intended to kill himself in the attack or why he chose that specific facility.

Park appeared to be a frequent poster in an anti-natalist Reddit forum going back nearly a decade, according to court papers. In 2016 he spoke of recruiting others to the movement, which he described as hopeful. When people are lost and distraught, death is always an option, he allegedly wrote.

Relatives told federal investigators that Park made pro-mortalist statements since high school, according to the complaint.

More recently, in March, he posted in the forum to say he was seeking to find fellow anti-natalists in and around Washington to start some protests or just any in-person events, according to court papers. The post did not receive any public comments.

Park and Bartkus visited each other going back at least a year, their relatives told investigators, according to court records.

___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco, and Offenhartz from New York. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Phillip Marcelo in New York contributed.
Nvidias blockbuster quarterly earnings last week came with a big dose of negative news: A $4.5 billion write down on chips originally destined for customers in China that will ultimately go undelivered.

The company had developed the so-called H20 chips, which are less powerful than its top-of-the-line semiconductors, to comply with Biden Administration regulations against sending technology to foreign adversaries that could help their AI efforts. The Trump Administration, however, went a step further in early April and banned exports of even second-tier chips.

We are taking a multibillion dollar write off on inventory that cannot be sold or repurposed, said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on a May 28 earnings call.

The details around the decision to write the value of the chips to zerorather than sell them to other customerswasnt explained. The company added, without elaborating, that its exploring limited options for the unused inventory, a move that would apparently fall short of selling the chips.

The H20 was built specifically for the China market under the old export rules. Because of the chips design and limited capabilities, it may be difficult to use in other countries. It doesnt really fit anywhere else without a lot of expensive tweaking, says Arash Azadegan, a professor of supply chain management at Rutgers Business School.

This tweaking could involve additional costs for Nvidia. Furthermore, some of the chips may not meet the performance needs of customers in other regions or may be engineered specific to Chinese customer requests or requirements, says Chad Autry, a University of Tennessee supply chain professor.

Even if it could sell the chips by cutting their price, Nvidia would risk damaging its image as a seller of top-tier innovation. The companys new Blackwell GPUs, after all, power cutting-edge AI like OpenAIs yet-to-be-released GPT-5 model. Nvidia probably doesnt want to flood the market with discounted chipsit could mess with their pricing, confuse customers, and distract from their big push into the newer Blackwell lineup, says Azadegan, referencing Blackwells used in new products from Amazons AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle, among others.

Nvidia declined to comment beyond what its executives said during the companys earnings call last week.

After China-based DeepSeek released its ChatGPT rival in January, major Chinese firms like Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent purchased Nvidias H20 chips, Reuters reported in February. These companies have likely developed powerful AI capabilities using H20 chips, so theres little reason to believe that U.S. companies could not do the same if Nvidia sold H20 to them.

But Nvidia and U.S.-based customers probably have no interest in this, says Matthew Bryson, a Wedbush Securities managing director who covers Nvidia. The reason that these products are going to China is because everyone would choose something better. Bryson explains that the technology underpinning H20s would never have been made if not intentionally engineered to prevent Chinese firms from building models similar to U.S.-made advanced AI applications. And if Nvidia sold the chips at a big discount to reflect their U.S. market value, it could cannibalize sales of better products, he says.

Nvidia had initially expected to have to write off $5.5 billion of chip inventory from its balance sheet. But it managed to salvage about $1 billion of H20 inventory by [reusing] certain materials, reducing the realized first-quarter writeoff to $4.5 billion, chief financial officer Colette Kress said on last weeks earnings call.

Unsurprisingly, she noted that as a result of the Trump Administrations new export rule, Nvidia will take a revenue hit from Trumps China ban in the first half of the year. The company booked a $2.5 billion loss in first quarter revenue and predicted a steeper $8 billion revenue loss in the second one.

The question remains of what happens with this H20 stockpile. Supply chain experts interviewed by Fortune suspect it will be discarded. These chips will meet the cool lava lamp you got from your aunt in a landfill somewhere, Alan Amling, a professor of supply chain at the University of Tennessees Haslam College of Business, wrote to Fortune via email. With so many other growth opportunities, the opportunity cost of repurposing, retesting and requalifying these chips was obviously too high a bar.

Because of how quickly the new export rules under Trump took effect, the undeliverable H20 chips are likely sitting in U.S.-friendly places like Taiwan and Hong Kong, said University of Tennessees Autry. Taiwan-based TSMC manufactures much of Nvidias inventory meant for China-based customers, and Nvidias fulfillment partners are in nearby countries.

Writing off the H20 chips had minimal short-term impact on Nvidias otherwise booming business. Nvidia reported first quarter revenue of $44.1 billion (up 69% year-over-year) and $18.8 billion in net income, representing a healthy 42.6% net profit margin.

Writing down the full value of the chips provides an immediate tax benefit by reducing the companys taxable income. Depending on Nvidias future sales prospects and costs, this benefit could outweigh or come close to the financial benefit of selling the chips at a steep discount.

Nvidia is going to be alright; investors of Nvidia are going to be alright, says Rutgers Azadegan. The real story, he said, is that Nvidias manufacturing partners like TSMC and suppliers, including Samsung and Micron, could be most impacted by the H20 inventory writeoff because theyve built businesses by serving critical functions in Nvidias supply chain. The magnitude of the impact to these partners will be determined in the months and years ahead, notes Azadegan. Its never on a dime that we can pivot.

Nvidia analyst Harsh Kumar of Piper Sandler is hopeful that Trump eventually undoes the blockade on H20 chips to China. If so, Nvidia could finally complete the H20 sales or deliver the chips to new customers in China, assuming the company holds onto the H20 inventory. Its unclear how realistic this scenario is after the Trump administration appealed a judge-imposed block on his Liberation Day tariffs.

Still, Trumps new export ban prevents Nvidia from delivering chips to China for national security reasons, so it may have little to no correlation with his tariff agenda. To me, it almost implied that there is a pathway that Jensen [Huang] and Nvidia see for this H20 chip to be sold back into China, Kumar told Fortune, potentially helping to propel the companys already high-flying stock to greater heights in the future.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney has expressed doubt on President Donald Trump's ability to strike a deal with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.

What Happened: Mulvaney, speaking to Bloomberg TV, highlighted a fundamental distinction between both leaders' approaches to diplomacy.

"There's a fundamental disconnect here," he said. "Trump wants to talk at the very highest levels. That's not always how the Chinese want to do business." Trump, who is known to prefer direct engagement, wants to have a call with Xi. The White House said it is likely to take place this week.

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Mulvaney observed that this tactic may not be compatible with how Xi usually operates. "I do not see them being able to pull off a deal the old-fashioned way, which is going through the back channels," he explained. "And I think it'd be very difficult to do a deal going the Trump way, which is only Xi to Trump man-to-man."

Why It Matters: Trump likes to communicate directly with leaders, both in case of politics and business, according to Mulvaney, who also served as his budget director in the past. This contrasts with Xi's practice of negotiating and resolving key issues through advisers before any leader-level engagement.

Mulvaney also presented a larger critique of Beijing. "They can't steal people's intellectual property. They can't force you into bad deals in order to do business in your country. They can't hide information when they deal with pandemics, like they did with Covid-19," he said. "First-tier nations of the world don't do that. China's going to become a first-tier nation. They need to step up their game."

Mulvaney's comments come just as China refuted claims of violating agreements made in Geneva, stating that it implemented and consistently upheld the terms of the deal reached last month.

The ministry also rebuked Washington's actions, citing "discriminatory restrictive" measures imposed by the U.S., including curbs on AI chip exports, bans on chip design software, and visa revocations for Chinese students.

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Photo courtesy: Joey Sussman / Shutterstock.com

Trump's 'Man-To-Man' Diplomacy Won't Work With Xi Jinping, Warns Former White House Chief Of Staff As Tariff Deadlock Continues originally appeared on Benzinga.com.
Roads leading to Gazas aid distribution centers will be considered combat zones Wednesday, the Israeli military warned shortly after the controversial organization tasked with running the sites announced they would close for the day.

Palestinians would be prohibited from entering the centers and traveling on the roads leading to them throughout Wednesday, Avichay Adraee, the Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesman, said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding that they would be considered combat zones.

His comments came after the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  the Israel and U.S.-backed organization overseeing aid distribution in Gaza  said that all distribution centers in the enclave would be closed for update, organization and efficiency improvement work.

The closures were announced following a string of deadly incidents which saw the Israeli military accused of firing at Palestinians as they sought to collect aid. Health officials in the enclave said dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured.

With electricity and internet access limited, it is unclear how many Palestinians will have received the message about both the closures and the fact they could be targeted if they go near the centers after several attacks near the aid sites in recent days.

Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution point in Gaza City on Tuesday. (Majdi Fathi / NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Israeli forces have been accused of firing at Palestinians as they made their way toward aid distribution sites, most recently in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday when more than two dozen people were killed and scores injured as they waited to collect aid according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

Video captured by NBC News crews on the ground showed bloodied Palestinians being rushed into Nasser Hospital in Gazas southern city of Khan Younis.

I hadnt even reached the distribution point yet when the aircraft opened fire on us. I was hit in both legs, one of them, Ahmad Hassan Bashnaq, said as he lay on a hospital bed in the hospitals emergency room. I only went there to bring food for my children, and I was shot for it, he added.

In a separate interview, Dr. Ahmed Abu Sweid, an Australian emergency physician, said it was the third such event in the last few days.

Similar incidents were reported by health officials Sunday and Monday with Palestinian health officials reporting dozens killed and hundreds more injured.

More than 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to health officials in the enclave. Israel launched its offensive in the enclave following the Hamas-led attacks that day, when 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Palestinians mourn Abdul Rahman Al-Qudra, killed while heading to an aid distribution hub in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Tuesday. (Abdel Kareem Hana / AP)

GFH and the new aid distribution strategy have also been roundly condemned by leading humanitarian groups and the United Nations who have warned that Palestinians could be further displaced if they are forced to make their way to distribution sites. They have also suggested it could pose a threat to the independence of humanitarian work.

GHF said Tuesday that the Rev. Johnnie Moore, an evangelical leader who has been an adviser to President Donald Trump, had been installed as its executive chairman.

His appointment comes as GHFs momentum on the ground in Gaza accelerates, the organization said in a news release Tuesday, adding that since launching operations in the enclave May 26, its team had delivered more than 7 million meals without incident. It maintained that there had been no incidents of violence recorded at distribution sites.

But ahead of its operation in Gaza, GHFs then-executive director, Jake Wood, quit the organization saying in a statement published by Reuters that it was impossible to implement the plan while also adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

Humanitarian groups have warned that while aid has been distributed under GHF, not nearly enough food and other vital supplies are getting into the enclave, which has a population of around 2.1 million, under the new aid system.

The basic needs of the population in Gaza are enormous and are not being met, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Tuesday as he called for the unimpeded entry of humanitarian assistance at scale to be restored.
Gwyneth Paltrow/Instagram Gwyneth Paltrow







NEED TO KNOW

Gwyneth Paltrow shared a few of her favorite outfits in honor of Goop's latest sale

In the images, Paltrow showed off her bikini body and toned abs in a mirror selfie

Paltrow also went pantless in a sexy black crochet look







Gwyneth Paltrow is modeling some of her favorite Goop fashion offerings.

Paltrow, 52, took some time out from her Memorial Day celebrations to share her favorite fashion items from Goop's holiday sale via Instagram on May 26.

The carousel, which featured a whopping 20 slides featuring Paltrow in chic, laidback outfits, also featured two images of the star trying two skin-baring outfits. In one, she shows off her bikini body in a blue swimsuit, and in another, she finds the sexy side of crotchet.

In the bikini photo, Paltrow wore a navy blue, cleavage baring triangle bikini top. The Goop founder kept the rest of her look relatively simple, adding light blue drawstring shorts for coverage around her legs  the shorts were high-waisted, but allowed just enough of Paltrow's torso to show, putting her toned abs on display.

Gwyneth Paltrow/Instagram Gwyneth Paltrow in a bikini and shorts.

The businesswoman completed the look with a gold necklace, beaded bracelet, Ray Ban sunglasses and wet blonde hair.

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.

Meanwhile, Paltrow's pantless outfit was a much sexier take on her usual style. The actress appeared to attend a Goop event in Amagansett, New York, where she wore a plunging back bodysuit that extended below her chest.

For a summery touch, the Goop founder slipped a loose fitting black crochet tunic and matching skirt over the top, giving the outfit a layered look. Like the bikini photo, Paltrow kept her accessories minimal, opting only for a few rings and pointed pink mule flats for a pop of color.

Gwyneth Paltrow/Instagram Gwyneth Paltrow goes pantless in a crochet two-piece set.

"A few of my favorite looks from the @goop sale," she captioned the set of images, which also featured her in nautical stripes and denim shorts, maxi shirt dresses, cozy knit cardigans and more.

The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!

In 2016, Paltrow launched G. Label, a fashion brand nested under her Goop enterprise. The pieces from the collection are designed in collaboration with Paltrow  upon its launch, she said creating the linewas a collective effort, and I am not positioning myself as a designer, in an interview with The New York Times.

Of G. Label's inspirations, she added, I have kept an archive of my most influential fashion pieces, things that came to mean something to me ... It encompasses a lot of different time periods, lovers, countries.

Read the original article on People
A man has been found dead and his daughter remains missing while attempting to hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine, officials said Tuesday.

Tim Keiderling and Esther Keiderling, both of Ulster Park, New York, set out to hike the summit on Sunday, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - PHOTO: In this photo released by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Tim Keiderling and his daughter Esther Keiderling are shown.

They were last seen Sunday morning on the Katahdin Tablelands heading toward the summit, which is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and located in Baxter State Park.

Baxter State Park rangers began searching for them Monday morning after their vehicle was still found parked at the trailhead in the day-use parking lot, park officials said.

MORE: 2 hikers stranded in remote areas of Arizona desert rescued in separate incidents

The search on Katahdin expanded Tuesday to include the help of more than 30 Maine game wardens, including the Maine Warden Service Search and Rescue team, and the Maine Warden Service K9 team. The Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard also responded as part of an aerial search.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images - PHOTO: A large wooden sign on the summit of Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine, marking the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

The body of Tim Keiderling, 58, was found Tuesday afternoon, officials said. A Maine Warden Service K9 search team located him at approximately 2:24 p.m. on the Tablelands near the summit of Katahdin, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife said.

The search for his 28-year-old daughter is ongoing.

"We know that many of our social media followers share in our deep sadness for the family and friends of Tim Keiderling, and appreciate your support," as the search for his daughter continues, Baxter State Park said in a statement on Facebook.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images - PHOTO: A view from the Table Lands on Mount Katahdin's Hunt Trail.

Baxter State Park notes on its website that hiking Katahdin "is a very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose." The average round-trip time for a Katahdin hike is eight to 12 hours, it said.

All Katahdin trailhead trails are currently closed until further notice, the park said.
A digital fingerprint scan. - itj aks zoone // Shutterstock

A digital fingerprint scan.

itj aks zoone // Shutterstock

A digital fingerprint scan. - itj aks zoone // Shutterstock

IDs through the ages: How people have proven their identity over time

With over 8 billion people spread across the Earth's nearly 25 million square miles of habitable land, proving one's identity has become more complex than it was with smaller populations thousands of years ago. Whereas ancient Greeks could just pair their name with that of their father to confirm who they were, modern-day home sapiens need more details to find the right John Smith.

Ever since humans evolved to build geographically diffuse social networks around 130,000 years ago, the need to identify oneself and those around them has been critical. On a basic level, identification explains familial connections and preserves ancestry. In interactions with others, it builds relationships, trust, and understanding.

From a legal standpoint, identity confirmation is required for social rituals like marriage as well as for secure financial transactions like opening a bank account, selling property, or validating the recipient of an inheritance. Over the centuries, identification also began to signify belonging in a certain geographic area by establishing citizenship.

The methods used to confirm identity have changed dramatically over time. Increasingly complex government systems, social structures, and technological growth have both aided and complicated the process of verifying identity. Simple tracking based on name and appearance in the ancient world was left behind with the advent of government-issued IDs and technology like biometric scanning.

New processes continue to emerge each year as authorities worldwide seek more secure forms of identification and technology advances to meet these needs. For instance, May 7, 2025 marks the deadline for U.S. residents to obtain their Real ID. This new form of identification meets minimum security standards recommended by the 9/11 Commission and will be a requirement to fly commercially, as well as to access federal facilities and nuclear power plants.

Spokeo looked at the history of identification and its evolution throughout the centuries, from seals to biometrics. Keep reading for a deep dive into how people have identified themselves over time, including how technology continues to shape the ways we prove who we arefor better and for worse.

A pair of tattooed hands of someone from the Mentawai Tribe in Muara Siberut, West Sumatera. - Muslianshah Masrie // Shutterstock

In the beginning, identification was simple

Before the world's population grew to such large numbers, the need for identification was more local and regional, allowing individuals to prove their identity through straightforward measures like name and appearance.

Around 2,500 years ago, ancient Greeks paired their name with their father'sa naming convention that influenced the first name-last name structure still used today. Ancient Egyptians used a similar approach and when needed, a third generation's name or a description of the individual's appearance was added. These distinctions provided clarity on important documents like property declarations, sales contracts, and even a will drafted on papyrus in 242 B.C.E., which reads: "He was 65 years old, of middle height, square built, dim-sighted, with a scar on the left part of the temple and on the right side of the jaw and also below the cheek and above the upper lip."

Tattooing has been used for thousands of years, not to identify individuals, but to indicate belonging to a particular group. Certain styles of facial and body markings were adopted by pre-Columbian cultures in Peru and Chile, as well as Indigenous American tribes like the Cree and Polynesian cultures. Ancient peoples like the Scythianswarriors who lived in areas spanning from Siberia to Central Asiaand the Thracianswho lived across Russia, Serbia, and Turkeyaltered their appearance with tattoos to indicate rank and nobility. People have also used jewelry in a similar fashion throughout history, with different adornments indicating social status, group membership, and age in various cultures.

Some groups have used tattooing as a coercive measure. In ancient Greece and Rome, and even within the last few centuries in the United States, permanent brands were used to mark enslaved people. Even closer in history, individuals imprisoned in concentration camps in Nazi Germany had numbers tattooed on their bodies.

A Lower Mesopotamia cylinder seal displayed. - DEA / A. DE GREGORIO/De Agostini // Getty Images

The evolution of official written identification

Adding official seals to important documents was one of the first steps beyond using just names to verify identity. Dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, cylinder seals were rolled across clay tablets as a signature for official contracts or receipts of sale. These seals were personalized to support the identity of each owner. During the Old Babylonian period (2000-1600 B.C.E.), seals typically contained the individual's name and their father's name, along with the name of the god the person worshiped. An example found on an envelope from the city of Ur reads: "Waqrum/son of Shamash-nasir/servant of Nimintabba."

This practice continued for thousands of years around the world. Similar seals were used in ancient Egypt even earlier, beginning around 3600 B.C.E., and Chinese emperors used jade or bronze seals during the Qin and Han dynasties. Wax seals were later popularized by English kings during the 11th century and were required on legal documents throughout the U.S. colonial period.

A great leap forward occurred when these personalized means of identity verification gave way to government-issued documents. In modern times, birth certificates are one of the most common ways to prove identity. The United Kingdom became the first country to document all births nationwide in 1853, although similar data was found in the country's church records dating back to the 1500s. Similarly, U.S. states like Massachusetts and Virginia collected birth data beginning in the 1600s, but the process was not adopted across the country until 1902.

Three identity cards displayed in Berlin in 1948. - UPI/Bettmann Archive // Getty Images

The advent of photo and government-issued ID cards

Dating back to 15th-century China, calling cardssmall pieces of paper with one's name and perhaps address or a decorative designwere used to identify oneself during social visits and events. Their popularity spread through France and England, becoming a critical part of society for middle- and upper-class Europeans and Americans by the 1800s. The French took these cards one step further in the mid-1800s by replacing the text with a photograph to create cartes de visite.

These calling cards were an informal version of portable identification, later made official by governments around the world. Beginning in 1803, Napoleon aimed to streamline the bureaucracy by establishing a system of IDs for French workers. His actions inspired others, including the Ottoman Empire's Sultan Mahmud II, who rolled out a similar system of national identification cards in 1844.

However, the proliferation of national IDs didn't take hold for many countries until the World War II era. Between 1938 and 1940, countries like the United Kingdom, Greece, and Poland mandated identity cards for all residents. Germany did as well, however, with more nefarious intentionstheir IDs denoted the cardholder's religion in addition to basic identifying information. Following the war, Asian governments like Hong Kong and Taiwan jumped aboard the trend to help strengthen their authority.

Other countries developed numeric systems to identify their citizens. In 1849, the Netherlands used census data to begin developing its personal number system. Nearly 100 years later, Israel did the same following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Canada and the U.S. both developed unique 9-digit numbersthe Social Insurance Number and Social Security Number, respectivelyto identify individuals in connection with taxes and government benefits. Established in 1936, the SSN has grown far beyond its intended purpose, becoming a "universal identifier" across government agencies and financial institutions.

The front cover of a Polish passport. - Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket // Getty Images

Portable identification goes global

Passports are a commonplace necessity in the 21st century for those who want to jet to Paris for a week of Champagne tasting or check visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza off their bucket list. However, some form of global identity verification has existed for centuries.

Perhaps the first semblance of a passport was the "sauf conduit," a written permission slip of sorts from the ruler of one kingdom to another, allowing safe passage through the land. This is seen as far back as 450 B.C.E. in the Bible's book of Nehemiah, where King Artaxerxes allows a prophet to safely travel through Persia.

In 1789, the Department of State began issuing passports for Americans traveling outside the country, although they were not requiredaside from periods during the Civil War and World War Iuntil 1941. In 1920, the League of Nations made the first step toward creating globally enforceable standards for passports. The timing made sense, considering the recent end of World War I and the League's commitment to maintaining peace.

While passports provided a new means of delineating national identity and citizenship worldwide, critics claimed they heavily favored the privileged. As Atossa Araxia Abrahamian notes in her 2015 book "The Cosmopolites: The Coming of the Global Citizen," "A passport is a kind of shield: when you're a citizen of a wealthy democracy." Through the early 20th century, the passport process also favored men, as married women were tied to their husbands' passports and, therefore, unable to travel alone.

A man examining an enlarged fingerprint circa 1925. - FPG/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

Biological identifiers create new forms of ID

Long before digital technology, fingerprints impressed on clay tablets were used to seal the deal in Babylonian business negotiations. Chinese citizens during the T'ang dynasty (618-907 C.E.) inked their prints on paper for identification.

The first modern use of fingerprinting in an official capacity wasn't until 1858 by Sir William Herschel, a chief magistrate in India. What began as a way to reduce fraud by asking a local businessman to leave his handprint on the back of a contractas Herschel put it, "to frighten [him] out of all thought of repudiating his signature"evolved into the revelation that each human has a unique design to their prints.

Eugenicist Sir Francis Galton's 1892 book "Finger Prints" advanced the science, laying out a classification system based on his analysis of over 8,000 prints. A couple of decades later, Chicago police obtained the first U.S. criminal conviction based on fingerprinting in 1910.

Fingerprints were just the first step in using biological characteristics to recognize and confirm identity, a discipline called biometrics. Whereas other forms of identificationlike driver's licenses or birth certificatesmay be subject to manipulation or misuse, biometric technology makes this type more difficult.

In the business world, Apple revolutionized cell phone security in 2013 with the introduction of Touch IDdigital fingerprinting technology used to unlock iPhones. The company then one-upped itself in 2017 when it added the facial recognition feature known as Face ID to the new iPhone X. However, Apple wasn't the first to incorporate biometric scanning into cell phones. Nearly a decade earlier, in 2004, a South Korean company introduced the Pantech GI100, the world's first mobile phone with a fingerprint sensor.

Biometrics are also used worldwide in a more serious capacity. Indonesia began incorporating data from iris patterns and fingerprints into their ID systems. Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, developed a groundbreaking facial recognition system in 2016. Data from most of their 196 member countries is compiled to not only identify criminals but also to help find missing persons.

A person holding a smartphone with a mobile drivers license displayed. - George Frey // Getty Images

The digital revolution continues

In a world that is increasingly geographically dispersed and internet-oriented, digital identification systems are quickly replacing hard copies. These digital IDs are easily accessible on personal devices like cell phones and stored in digital wallets that are encrypted for security.

Governments all around the world are launching their own digital ID systems. Singapore's Singpass allows citizens to access over 2,700 services from more than 800 government entities with the aim of making this a one-stop shop for every identity document. India's mAadhaar app takes the country's old 12-digit ID numbers digital, allowing portable proof of identity, address, and more. Canada is also working to build a GC Sign in platform to provide identity verification for Government of Canada services through one simple portal.

As of January 2025, 14 U.S. states offer mobile driver's licenses, which the Transportation Security Administration accepts at airports nationwide. Individual states are also developing their own identity verification apps. The California Department of Technology is rolling out the Digital ID Framework for centralized access to state programs and benefits. Arizona has the Smart ID Verifier App, which confirms the owner is old enough to purchase alcohol, for example, without revealing details like their exact age or home address. Director of Arizona's Motor Vehicle Division Eric Jorgensen told the publication Government Technology, "At the end of the day, I think it makes for a better experience. It maintains the privacy that people expect."

Government programs are not the only ones seeking better tools for identity verification in the digital space. Online businesses and social media apps are also looking to provide a safe experience for their customers by preventing fraud. The market for identity verification is a booming business. The global technology research and advisory company Technavio expects it to grow by nearly $17 billion between 2024 and 2028.

A red and white sign outside of a building that reads, Notice Photo ID Required. - Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call // Getty Images

With technology and innovation come new challenges

Progress is never without its challengesand when it comes to identity verification, many modern-day concerns are related to privacy and the control of information. Take voter identification requirements, for example. While driver's licenses are helpful for identifying oneself in many situations, nine U.S. states now strictly require photo IDs in order to vote. This stipulation may disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous American citizens, older populations, and younger students by creating barriers to accessing the polls.

Raising similar concerns, in March 2025, the Social Security Administration announced policy changes around the verification of Social Security benefits. Many Americans who are currently allowed to verify their benefits by phone are likely to face hardship if required to confirm their identity in person or online. Such situations raise the question of how to confirm identity in the modern day without infringing upon individual rights.

As information identification becomes increasingly digitized, there are also questions about who should have access to privileged information. In early 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency generated widespread concern by seeking access to personal data in the U.S. Social Security systemsactions that federal judges temporarily blocked due to the sensitivity of the information in question.

The ongoing development of biometric technology also may present important privacy risks. In May 2023, the Federal Trade Commission issued a warning that "using biometric information technologies to identify consumers in certain locations could reveal sensitive personal information about them, such as whether they accessed particular types of healthcare, attended religious services, or attended political or union meetings." The FTC further cautions that groups seeking to misuse the information could compromise databases of these identifying details.

For thousands of years, societies worldwide have come up with unique ways to prove someone is who they say they are. These systems have evolved from documenting names with a seal to photo IDs and passports. Advancements in technology then ushered in more secure forms of ID like fingerprinting and digital identification systems. Despite modern challenges like those discussed here, methods of identity verification have and will continue to evolve. Who knows what new forms of ID will be used 100 years from now?

Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

This story was produced by Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

A previously deported illegal migrant charged with forcibly raping a child was allowed back into the U.S. by Biden administration officials, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS officials have lodged an immigration detainer for Lorenzo Lopez Alcario, a Guatemalan illegal migrant accused of forcibly raping a child in the Boston metropolitan area, the department confirmed in a Wednesday press release. Alcario had already been deported from the country during President Donald Trumps first term in office, but was able to unlawfully return several years later under President Joe Bidens watch. (RELATED: ICE Arrests Suspected Al-Qaida Operative In Philadelphia)

Lorenzo Lopez Alcario is a pedophile illegal alien from Guatemala who shouldve never been in the U.S. in the first place, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a prepared statement. He is being charged with committing a heinous crime  the rape of a child.

Despite his previous criminal charges and deportation, President Biden released this barbaric criminal into American communities in 2022, McLaughlin continued. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE lodged a detainer to ensure this criminal illegal alien will not be allowed to terrorize American citizens and will deport this child predator to prevent further victims.

Lorenzo Lopez Alcario. Image Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security.

Alcario originally entered the U.S. at an unknown date and time, according to DHS. He was arrested by police in Arlington, Virginia, on drug charges in July 2017 and transferred into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later that month.

Following a removal order from an immigration judge, Alcario was deported from the U.S. in September 2017, DHS stated. However, he illegally re-entered the country again on June 17, 2022 and  despite his criminal history and previous illegal entry  was released into the U.S.

The Guatemalan national has since been accused of heinous crimes in Massachusetts.

Police in Marlborough, Massachusetts, arrested Alcario Saturday on charges of aggravated rape of a child, exhibiting a child in a sexual manner, resisting arrest, and assault and battery, according to the Boston Herald. Prosecutors say his victim was tied, bound or gagged during the attack, which allegedly occurred in April.

The mother of the victim claims she discovered a video of the Guatemalan man and her daughter, according to MetroWest Daily News. Middlesex County prosecutor Katharine Folger stated in court that the video showed Alcario raping the girl.

Its not immediately clear how cooperative local law enforcement officials  which must operate under Massachusetts sanctuary polices  will be with their federal immigration partners. A spokesperson for the Marlborough Police referred a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation to the local district attorneys office, which did not respond to a request for comment.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A federal judge in Colorado on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting the wife and five children of the Egyptian man charged in a fire-bomb attack in Boulder, Colorado.

U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher said in an order that deporting the family members, who include children ages 4 to 17, without adequate process could cause "irreparable harm."

His ruling, which set a hearing for June 13, came in response to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the family of the Egyptian national charged with tossing gasoline bombs at a pro-Israeli rally in Colorado on Sunday.

The family's suit, filed in federal court in Colorado, sought to win their release from custody and block their deportation while they seek asylum in the U.S., according to court documents.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday that the family members were arrested and would be deported in a fast-track proceeding known as expedited removal. The family's lawsuit argued the process was not applicable because they have lived in the U.S. more than two years.

The lawsuit said Hayam El Gamal "was shocked" to learn that her husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was arrested in the Boulder attack on a gathering that commemorated Israeli hostages.

"It is patently unlawful to punish individuals for the crimes of their relatives," a filing seeking their release said. "Such methods of collective or family punishment (violate) the very foundations of a democratic justice system."

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said in an X post that Gallagher, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, was giving "extraordinary preferential treatment to illegal alien foreign terrorists."

"The Boulder terrorist is an illegal, his entire family that he imported to America are illegals, and now a Biden Judge is blocking their deportation," he said. "End the judicial coup."

Federal officials have said Soliman was in the U.S. illegally after overstaying a tourist visa and had an expired work permit. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said federal agents were "investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack  if they had any knowledge of it or if they provided any support for it."

El Gamal, 41, is an Egyptian national who was born in Saudi Arabia, according to the lawsuit. She and her children entered the U.S. on visitor visas in August 2022 and are dependents under her husband's still-pending asylum application, the suit said. El Gamal is a network engineer and had applied for a work visa, the filing said.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson; Additional reporting by Ryan Jones and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Courtesy of Le Chocolat Maxime Frederic / Louis Vuitton







Key Points

A content creator recently went viral when she shared a clip of her roommate's Louis Vuitton bag made from chocolate shattering all over the kitchen floor.

This purse is called the Chocolate Egg Bag, and its an entirely edible bag sold by Louis Vuitton.

Designed by pastry chef Maxime Frederic, the Chocolate Egg Bag can only be purchased at global Louis Vuitton chocolatier locations.







When you hear the words luxury food, you might picture ingredients that are considered extravagant, such as caviar, uni, or a generous serving of foie gras. But theres another way to interpret these two terms together: What if they describe a luxury item made from a more common ingredient we all know and love?

Content creator Ella Katz (@tallertoddlers) captured the attention of more than 50 million viewers when she shared a video last weekend that highlighted a rather stressful saga. Katz opened her refrigerator, removed a giant chocolate treat that belonged to her roommate, then promptly dropped the ornately designed piece of chocolate, causing it to shatter all over the floor.

But the accident isnt the most interesting part of this clip. Instead, its the perfect replica of a Louis Vuitton purse, molded from chocolate in intricate detail, which viewers can catch a clear glimpse of before it breaks.

Is this a purse sold by Louis Vuitton? Can people buy it? How much does it cost? These are just a few of the questions raised by the viral video, and commenters asked all of the above. Quite a few of the viewers also chimed in with incorrect information, which is often the case on the internet, so its time to clear up any confusion about this designer dessert.

What is the Louis Vuitton chocolate purse?

As the ovoid shape of this sweet accessory suggests, the accessory is called the Chocolate Egg Bag and it is, indeed, sold by Louis Vuitton  it is not a knockoff. More specifically, this bag was created by acclaimed pastry chef Maxime Frederic at Louis Vuitton. Among his numerous accolades in the world of patisserie, Frederic serves as the head pastry chef at Cheval Blanc Paris, and in 2022 he launched Cafe Maxime Frederic at Louis Vuitton, a Paris cafe and coffee shop in partnership with the designer brand.

Earlier this February, Frederic and Louis Vuitton introduced the Chocolate Egg Bag as part of a collection of Easter chocolates. The bag closely resembles a purse designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere, the artistic director of womens collections at Louis Vuitton, for the fashion houses 2019 spring-summer show.

According to a press release from the brand, This piece combines the elegance of the leather design with the excellence of Maxime Frederic's chocolate craftsmanship. The bag's shells are made from 70% dark chocolate, while the zipper pulls and handles are made from 40% milk chocolate. Inside, the centerpiece is revealed as a 40% milk chocolate bar with a generous hazelnut gianduja centre.

In addition to the purse, Louis Vuitton and Frederic introduced some more traditional, yet still refined, chocolates. These featured smaller dark or milk chocolate eggs filled with a variety of ingredients, such as raspberry caramel and pistachio praline, blue vanilla and crunchy buckwheat gianduja, or creamy caramel with Tahitian vanilla and hazelnut praline.

Related: Tiramisu Inside of a Purse Is the Fashion Trend We Didnt Ask For

This isnt the first designer to play with accessories and food

As materials intended to be temporary, edible ingredients and food serve as an unexpected and provocative art medium, and Louis Vuitton isnt the only luxury brand to take advantage of this effect.

In 2021, Hermes unveiled its collaboration with artist Ben Denzer, who designed renditions of its iconic Birkin bags crafted entirely from fruits and vegetables. Stalks of asparagus and strips of cucumber were shaped into the form of the elusive and exceedingly expensive purse.

The accessibility of these ingredients, considered affordable and common in households across the country, contrasts sharply with the Birkin  a purse that has a years-long waiting list and can easily cost thousands of dollars.

Content creator Nara Smith collaborated with Marc Jacobs in 2024 to create a video in which she pretends to bake a tote bag from scratch, ultimately revealing a full-sized, vivid pink Marc Jacobs tote that she pulls straight from the oven.

Although Hermes didnt sell its vegetable bags to the public and Marc Jacobs isnt actually cooking its accessories in an oven, you can buy and eat Louis Vuittons viral chocolate purse.

Can you buy the Louis Vuitton chocolate purse?

If Ella Katzs video or the description of a chocolate purse with a milk chocolate interior and hazelnut gianduja center has you wanting to taste this accessory yourself, then youre in luck: You can still buy the Chocolate Egg Bag, and it will be available through mid-July.

Related: 34 of Our Favorite French Desserts

The designer dessert will cost you around $250 and can only be purchased in person at a Louis Vuitton chocolatier location. In the United States, this includes just one store, located at 6 E 57th Street in Manhattan  where youll also find Le Cafe Louis Vuitton NYC.

There is, unsurprisingly, a Louis Vuitton chocolatier in Paris, as well as in Shanghai and Singapore. For chocolate lovers and dedicated fans of the French fashion house, perhaps its worth planning a trip to one of these locations before that mid-July deadline.



Read the original article on Food & Wine
Elon Musk dropped a rhetorical bomb on President Trumps plans to pass a massive budget bill on Tuesday.

Musk, the worlds richest man, excoriated legislation that Trump calls big and beautiful as a disgusting abomination.

He also called the legislation outrageous and pork-filled. Referring to members of the House who had passed the bill and sent it along to the Senate, Musk added, Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The remarks were all the more striking for coming just days after Musk departed from his role with the quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His departure was marked by a joint appearance with Trump in the Oval Office, at which they paid tribute to one another.

Musk had expressed misgivings about the spending legislation in an interview broadcast on CBS Sunday Morning this past weekend, musing that while such a bill could indeed be either big or beautiful, I dont know if it can be both.

GOP leaders on Capitol Hill thought they had been able to assuage Musks concerns. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday that he had spoken to Musk for 20 minutes the previous day.

Johnson, who had to go through arduous efforts to get the bill passed in the House, said that in his Monday conversation, I extolled all the virtues of the bill, and he seemed to understand that. We had a very friendly conversation about it.

That left Johnson blindsided by the billionaires rhetorical barrage on Tuesday. Musks latest remarks were very disappointing and terribly wrong, Johnson lamented.

But Musks characteristically combative intervention raises two bigger questions.

One is whether it will land so hard among Republican senators that it could capsize the bill itself.

The other is whether it presages a larger willingness on Musks behalf to go against the wishes of Trump, the president whom Musk spent more than $250 million getting elected  and who gave him enormous power at the heart of government.

The Trump-backed budget bill, which also includes a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling, already faced uncertain prospects in the Senate.

Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member body, but fiscal hawks and more moderate members alike have yet to signal they are willing to back the legislation.

Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Mike Lee (Utah) are all in the first category, expressing concern that the bill fails to curb the long stretch of budget deficits that have created an astronomical national debt. The debt currently stands at around $36 trillion.

At the other end of the GOP ideological spectrum, many insiders are watching Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) for signs of how hard they will resist proposed changes to Medicaid that are projected to cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance.

Musk is aligned with the first camp.

After Musks initial blast on Tuesday, Paul took to social media to write, I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. Musk, in turn, amplified Pauls message to his 220 million followers on the social platform X, which he owns.

Musk also reposted critiques of the legislation from Lee, who said the Senate must make the bill better, and from Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), one of two House Republicans to vote against the legislation in the lower chamber.

Musks alignment with Paul was especially notable on a day when Trump had lambasted the Kentucky senator for his reluctance to back the legislation.

Trump had written on social media Tuesday morning that Paul had very little understanding of what was in the spending bill, adding, He loves voting NO on everything, he thinks its good politics, but its not.

In a second post, Trump complained that Paul never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky cant stand him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to swat aside Musks criticisms during Tuesdays media briefing.

The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, Leavitt said. It doesnt change the presidents opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and hes sticking to it.

But GOP senators are not quite so nonchalant. Johnson, the Wisconsin senator and fiscal hawk, told Politico that Musks social media blasts got spread around pretty quickly within the Republican conference.

GOP senators will also not have missed the implicit threat in a later social media post from Musk.

In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people, he wrote.

Such a message raises the specter of Musk using some of his enormous wealth to finance primary challenges to incumbents  despite a recent statement that he was likely to curb his political spending.

For Trump, the danger is that Musk will grow increasingly willing to voice his discontent.

Trump, of course, has no more elections to run. But Musks enormous X megaphone and his influential position near the apex of the online right makes him a highly dangerous potential critic.

Relations between Trump and Musk have not fully degraded yet, of course.

But Tuesdays messages from Musk will disconcert the White House as much as GOP leaders on Capitol Hill.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ms Rachel on the Today show on 24 September 2024. Photograph: NBC/Nathan Congleton/Getty Images

Ms Rachel, the childrens entertainer and educator whose YouTube videos have been watched by millions of families around the world, said she is willing to risk her career to keep advocating for suffering children in Gaza.

In an interview with WBUR, a Boston-based public radio station, Ms Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, said she had received pushback for speaking out to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza, where more than 54,000 people have been killed in Israels ongoing military assault.

But Accurso said she would continue to advocate for childrens safety.

Related: Gazas youngest influencer aged 11 among children killed by Israeli strikes

I wouldnt be Ms Rachel if I didnt deeply care about all kids. And I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them. Its all about the kids for me, Accurso told WBUR.

The UN has described Gaza as the hungriest place on Earth, and warned that the Palestinian territorys entire population is at risk of famine. Accurso said she had recently met with Palestinian women whose children were suffering in Gaza.

When you sit with a mother whos FaceTiming her boys in Gaza who dont have food, and you see that anguish and you are there with her, it really moves you  Im sorry to get emotional  to do everything you can for her, she said.

And of course, you say: I need to do more. What can I do to help? I do have a big platform, and I look at it as a responsibility.

In April, a pro-Israel group urged the US attorney general to investigate Accurso over her messaging about children suffering in Gaza, and Accurso has been criticized by rightwing media and commentators.

Asked about the criticism, Accurso said: Its really painful. And I have to remind myself that people dont know my heart, and people try to tell you who you are, but you know who you are. And I know how deeply and equally I care for all children, and I do lean on my faith in that situation.

I care so deeply about every child. As a teacher, you have children from many different places, especially in New York City, and you care exactly the same about them. Thats the basis of everything for me, is that children are equal, that they all deserve everything they need to thrive.

Accurso said in May 2024 that she had faced bullying after launching a fundraiser for children in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In April of this year, Accurso donated $1m to World Food Program USA, which provides meals for starving people in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and 11 other impoverished countries, after the Trump administration said it would end funding to the program.
By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -In his first month, Pope Leo has taken a very different approach to his predecessor Francis.

Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, has led some two dozen public events since he was elected as the first U.S. pope on May 8 but not made notable appointments, nor announced plans for foreign trips, nor said where he will live at the Vatican.

It's a stark contrast to when Francis, originally from Argentina, was selected as the first pope from the Americas in March 2013.

Within a month, Francis had announced he would be the first pontiff in more than a century to live outside the Vatican's apostolic palace, appointed his successor as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and created a new formal advisory group of senior Catholic cardinals.

Two of Leo's long-time associates told Reuters they expect the 69-year-old Pope to take a deliberative approach to the challenges facing the Catholic Church and may require months before making major decisions.

"Leo is taking his time," Rev. Mark Francis, a friend of the new pontiff since the 1970s, told Reuters. "While he is going to continue in the path indicated by Pope Francis, his disposition is very different."

Leo was first appointed a bishop by Francis in 2015 and then chosen by the late pope to take up a senior Vatican role two years ago. He has frequently praised his predecessor in his first weeks.

He has also repeated some of Francis' main themes, and has echoed the Argentine pontiff's emotional appeals for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

But the two men have different temperaments, according to Rev. Francis, who attended seminary with Leo in Chicago and later knew him when they both lived in Rome in the 2000s.

"Leo is much more focused and methodical and not inclined to hasty decisions," he said.

Among the challenges facing the American pope is the Vatican's 83-million-euro ($95 million) budget shortfall, which Reuters reported in February had stirred contention among senior cardinals under his predecessor.

Other looming issues facing the 1.4 billion-member Church include declining adherence to the faith in Europe, ongoing revelations of clerical sexual abuse, and doctrinal debates over matters such as inclusion of LGBT Catholics and the possibility of women's ordination.

Francis, who sought to modernise the Church, did not formally change many doctrines but garnered criticism from conservative cardinals by opening the door to communion for divorcees and blessings for same-sex couples.

Rev. Anthony Pizzo, who has known Leo since 1974 when they attended Villanova University outside Philadelphia together, said the pope is someone who listens carefully and seeks to hear many viewpoints before making decisions.

"This is going to be his modus operandi," said Pizzo, who leads the Midwest U.S. province of the Augustinian religious order, to which Leo also belongs.

"When you first come into leadership, listen well, get to know your constituency  to make a well-informed decision," Pizzo added, describing the pope's thought process.

A 'SHY' LISTENER

Francis and Leo came to the papacy at different ages and with different career backgrounds.

Francis, elected at age 76, had been a cardinal for 12 years before ascending to the papacy. He had earlier been a leading contender in the 2005 conclave that elected his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.

Leo, seven years younger when he donned the white papal cassock, is a relative unknown on the world stage who only became a cardinal and Vatican official two years ago. He spent most of his prior career as a missionary in Peru.

Early in his tenure, Francis told journalists that, due to his age, he expected to have a brief papacy of only a few years. Leo, the youngest pontiff since John Paul II was elected at age 58 in 1978, can perhaps expect a papacy of ten or more years.

Among the challenges facing the new pope is a Vatican budget shortfall estimated at 83 million euros, two knowledgeable sources told Reuters.

The city-state also has a much larger gap in its pension fund, said to total some 631 million euros by the Vatican's finance czar in 2022 but estimated by several insiders to have since ballooned significantly.

In his first weeks, Leo has not addressed the budget issues and has made only a few new appointments to Vatican roles.

But he has held formal one-on-one meetings with many senior Vatican officials, which Pizzo suggested the pope could be using to try to learn quickly.

Rev. Jorge Martinez Vizueta, who knew Leo in Peru, said he is someone who pays close attention to what people tell him. "He listens a lot, even with a certain shyness," said Martinez, an Augustinian at a monastery where Leo previously was a spiritual advisor.

Although Leo has not announced where he will live, more than three informed sources said he is expected to move into the official papal apartments in the Vatican's apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Francis shunned the palace in favour of a Vatican hotel.

One senior source, who asked not to be identified, said the papal apartments, which have not been lived in since 2013, will require at least 2 to 3 months of renovations.

CAREFUL WITH RESPONSES

While Francis made some big decisions quickly in his first month, he also took time on other issues. He did not make his first trip abroad until late July 2013, four months into his papacy.

Leo's first foreign trip is likely to be to Turkey, to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Vatican has not announced the trip, but it was previously planned for Francis. Bartholomew told an Italian television station that he and Leo discussed the possibility of the new pope travelling to Turkey in late November.

Francis, who often spoke off the cuff, was known for giving freewheeling news conferences on flights home from his trips abroad and frequently responded to queries with an unexpected quip.

Asked during his first flight home about a Vatican official said to be gay, Francis famously responded: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?"

Rev. Francis said Leo, who in his first month has largely read from prepared texts, is likely to be more careful with his responses during news conferences.

"He won't be shooting from the hip like Francis did while speaking with journalists," said the priest.

($1 = 0.8760 euros)

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; additional reporting by Marco Aquino in Lima; editing by Daniel Flynn)
By Julia Payne and Jasper Ward

PARIS (Reuters) -Washington doubled its tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on Wednesday, the same day President Donald Trump's administration expects trading partners to make "best offers" to avoid other punishing import levies from taking effect in early July.

Maros Sefcovic, the trade negotiator for the European Union, said he "had a productive and constructive discussion" with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Paris on Wednesday morning.

"We're advancing in the right direction at pace - and staying in close contact to maintain the momentum," Sefcovic said on X, without giving any detail on the talks. He had been due to make the case for cutting or eliminating threatened tariffs on European imports.

Late on Tuesday, Trump signed an executive proclamation that activates from Wednesday a hike in the tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50% from the 25% rate introduced in March.

"We started at 25 and then after studying the data more, realized that it was a big help, but more help is needed. And so that is why the 50 is starting tomorrow," White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told a steel industry conference in Washington on Tuesday. The increase came into effect at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT).

The increase applies to all trading partners except Britain, the only country so far that has struck a preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. during a 90-day pause on a wider array of Trump tariffs. The rate for steel and aluminium imports from the UK - which does not rank among the top exporters of either metal to the U.S. - will remain at 25% until at least July 9.

The United States imports about a quarter of all its steel, and Census Bureau data shows the increased levies will hit the closest U.S. trading partners - Canada and Mexico - especially hard.

Canada will be even more exposed to the aluminium levies since it exports to the U.S. roughly twice as much as the rest of the top 10 exporters' volumes combined. The U.S. gets about half of its aluminum from foreign sources.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's office said Canada was "engaged in intensive and live negotiations to have these and other tariffs removed."

Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard reiterated that the tariffs were unsustainable and unfair, especially given that Mexico imports more steel from the U.S. than it exports there.

The increase in the levies jolted the market for both metals this week, especially for aluminium, which has seen price premiums more than double this year. With little capacity to increase domestic production, U.S. import volumes are likely to be unaffected unless the price increases undercut demand.

'BEST OFFER' DUE DATE

Wednesday is also when the White House would like trading partners to propose deals that might help them avoid Trump's hefty "reciprocal" tariffs on imports across the board from taking effect in five weeks.

U.S. officials have been in talks with a number of countries since Trump announced a pause on those tariffs on April 9, but so far only the UK deal has come to fruition. Even that pact is more of a preliminary framework for more talks.

Reuters reported on Monday that Washington was asking countries to list their best proposals in a number of key areas, including tariff and quota offers for U.S. products and plans to remedy any non-tariff barriers.

In turn, the letter promises answers "within days" with an indication of a "landing zone," including what tariff rates countries can expect after the 90-day pause ends on July 8.

At issue for most trading partners is whether they retain the current baseline rate of 10% on most exports to the U.S. after that date, or something possibly much higher.

HAVOC FOR BUSINESSES

Separately, alarm over China's hold on the critical minerals market is growing as global automakers joined U.S. counterparts to complain that its restrictions on exports of rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets could cause production delays.

China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors globally.

Uncertainty around U.S. trade policy is creating havoc for businesses around the world. On Wednesday, French spirits group Remy Cointreau abandoned its 2030 sales growth ambitions, saying tariffs, slow U.S. sales and high uncertainty could derail its plans for this financial year and beyond.

Austrian speciality steelmaker Voestalpine also warned that tariffs were likely to dent its earnings, while German engineering lobby group VDMA blamed uncertainty caused by Trump's tariffs for a 6% drop in orders its members reported in May.

Meadow, a Swedish business which reuses aluminium cans to make packaging for consumer goods, said the company was looking for ways to protect against future shocks.

"One way to do that is to move supply chains closer to home so as to become less reliant on strategically compromised countries for supply," said Meadow's head of sustainability Ross Murdoch.

(Additional reporting by Alexandra Alper in Washington, Brendan O'Boyle in Mexico City, Ismail Shakil in Ottawa, Kiyoshi Takenaka and John Geddie in Tokyo; Writing by Dan Burns, Mark John, Ingrid Melander; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Stephen Coates and Tomasz Janowski)
Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States deplane at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Friday, May 2, 2025. Credit - Ariana CubillosAP

Hundreds of thousands of migrants could be at risk of deportation after a divided Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Trump Administration canfor nowend a Biden-era program that extended humanitarian parole protections to migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

The CHNV special-parole program allowed migrants from the four countries to travel legally to the U.S. and stay and work in the country for up to two years. It was used by at least 530,000 migrants since late 2022.

The Supreme Courts ruling, the latest of several decisions the court has issued green-lighting the Trump Administrations aggressive approach to immigration, gives Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem the discretion to revoke the parole program while legal challenges to its termination move through the courts.

[The Biden Administration] allowed more than half a million poorly vetted aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members to enter the United States through these disastrous parole programs; granted them opportunities to compete for American jobs and undercut American workers, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said after the ruling came down. Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First.

Several immigration advocacy groups said the decision will have devastating consequences on immigrant communities.

This is a deeply tragic decision that penalizes half a million people for complying with our immigration laws, Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, an immigration and criminal justice reform advocacy organization, wrote in a statement emailed to TIME. This decision will have devastating and immediate consequencesThe government failed to show any harm remotely comparable to that which will come from half a million people losing their jobs and becoming subject to deportation.

Heres what to know about the program and the Supreme Courts decision.

What is the CHNV program?

The program, rolled out during the Biden Administration, allowed migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to obtain authorization to come to the United States legally, as well as to stay and work legally in the country and seek humanitarian relief or other immigration benefits, if they were eligible, during a two-year parole period.

It was initially adopted in 2022 as a response to high levels of illegal immigration, specifically for Venezuelan immigrants, says David Beir, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute. The program was predated by a similar program created in early 2022 for Ukrainian immigrants in response to the surge of Ukrainians who came to the border seeking asylum after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The program required migrants from Venezuela to obtain a sponsor in the United States who would be willing to take some measure of financial responsibility for them, as well as an airline ticket to fly directly, and legally, to the United States.

The Biden Administration rolled out the program in hopes that it would give the government control to vet incoming migrants and manage the flow of arrivals through air travel, rather than across the southern U.S. border, Beir wrote in 2023. Eligibility for the protections was later extended to people from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti, as well.

What did the Supreme Court rule?

The Supreme Courts Friday decision overruled a lower court in Massachusetts that temporarily blocked the federal government from implementing Noems March 25 order to revoke the legal status given to migrants under the program.

That order was in line with President Donald Trumps Jan. 20 Executive Order Securing Our Borders, which instructed Noem to terminate all categorical parole programs that are contrary to the policies of the United States established in my Executive Orders.

The Supreme Court ruling will allow the Administration to end the program while the case proceeds.

The decision was unsigned and not accompanied by an explanation. Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson issued an incensed dissent, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, stating that the court has plainly botched this assessment today.

What will the impact of the ruling be?

The program had been widely lauded by immigrant rights groups as a humanitarian relief program utilized to help those in unstable conditions in their own countries seek refuge.

Even within an immigration system that is decades overdue for a Congressional overhaul, the CHNV parole processes stood out as an innovative model for creating legal and orderly pathways, wrote Schulte, of FWD.us. Granting parole to people fleeing harm dramatically reduced unauthorized migration to the southern border, and it allowed people to work and contribute, bringing greater stability to families, employers, and communities across the country.

Beir, of the Cato Institute, said that terminating the program could quickly end the legal status of migrants who have been protected under the program.

The administration's already empowered its agents to arrest people who are on parole, to arrest people who are applicants for asylum, Beir told TIME. The practical upshot is that a lot of these people had parole for two years, and if they haven't applied for asylum, then there's really no basis for them to be in the country, and they start accumulating unlawful presence as soon as this decision takes effect.

According to Beir, it is unclear how many migrants will be affected and potentially deported due to the ruling.

Certainly half a million came in through the program, Beir said. But then, a lot of these people were from Haiti and Venezuela, have temporary protected status, which you know the administration is eventually going to revoke as well. And then, of course, the backstop of being an asylum applicant for many people will be another way for them to be able to keep working legally and, you know, going through the process and stay here.

Beir says an important aspect of this decision that must be highlighted is that the migrants who used the program went through legal pathways to enter the United Statespathways opened based on promises made by the United States government when the program began:

They pay for their own flights. They travel on airlines like any other visitors to the United States and the other you know, part of this is really completely unprecedented for an administration to en masse terminate the status of people who've come to the United States legally like this.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on Tuesday named as its executive chairman an American evangelical Christian leader who has publicly backed President Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to take over the Palestinian enclave.

The appointment of Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore, a former evangelical adviser to the White House during Trump's first term in office, came as health officials said at least 27 people died and more than 150 were injured trying to reach a GHF aid site.

"GHF is demonstrating that it is possible to move vast quantities of food to people who need it most  safely, efficiently, and effectively," Moore said in the foundation statement. "GHF believes that serving the people of Gaza with dignity and compassion must be the top priority."

The GHF began operations one week ago under a distribution model criticized by the United Nations as the militarization of aid. The GHF says so far it has given out seven million meals from so-called secure distribution sites. It uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to get aid into Gaza.

The U.N. and aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say it is not a neutral operation. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher has said it "makes aid conditional on political and military aims" and uses starvation as "a bargaining chip."

The appointment of Moore could fuel U.N. concerns, given his support for the controversial proposal Trump floated in February for the U.S. to take over Gaza and develop it economically. After Trump proposed the idea, Moore posted video of Trump's remarks on X and wrote: "The USA will take full responsibility for future of Gaza, giving everyone hope & a future."

'BAD GUYS'

The U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appointment of Moore, who has accused the U.N. of ignoring "bad guys" stealing aid in Gaza. The U.N. has long-blamed Israel and lawlessness in the enclave for impediments getting aid into Gaza and distributing throughout the war zone.

Israel has long accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies. In a reference to the new GHF-led aid model, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week said Israel was "taking control of food distribution" in Gaza.

"The @UN & others should clean up their act & work with America," Moore posted on May 26. "Surely, these old U.S. & E.U.-funded humanitarian orgs won't let people starve in exchange for being 'right' when they know what they have done hasn't worked & has, in fact, made a terrible war worse?"

The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an October 7 attack and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies, and Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

Moore visited Israel about three months after the 2023 Hamas attack and wrote: "Never have I seen such horror."

Just a couple of weeks later, he posted a video titled "Come visit beautiful Gaza," which sought to portray Gaza as a tourist destination if it wasn't for Hamas militants. Trump has said Gaza has the potential to be "The Riviera of the Middle East."

The United Nations has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with neighboring Arab states.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Don Durfee and Sonali Paul)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 19: Jaime R. Harrison, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jaime Harrison blasted the party for treating him like a rubber stamp rather than giving him real influence during his tenure.

The remarks came during the South Carolina Democratic Partys annual convention, where black leaders and activists gathered to process their partys loss to President Donald Trump and search for a path forward. Harrison, who opted not to seek reelection as the DNC chair, said he felt dismissed by top brass and warned that DNC officials cant just be nice ornaments in an interview with The Washington Post. (RELATED: I Am Naming Names: DNC Chair Says Hes Going Scorched Earth On Party When Term Ends, Defends Identity Politics)

I feel like, as chair, my voice was not always heard, that I was taken for granted. I was seen as somebody just to rubber-stamp and not to actually have a seat at the table to influence certain things, Harrison told the Post. And that has to change.

The former chairman expressed particular frustration over Novembers election results, suggesting party advisers ignored his strategic expertise.

We actually have to have a substantive and real role in terms of directing this party and moving this party forward, he said.

Harrisons complaints come as black Democratic leaders across the country wrestle with their partys floundering performance, particularly among black voters who didnt turn out as strongly for Harris as expected. Black men shifted toward the GOP in 2024, while Harris performed 7% worse than Biden among black voters overall, according to an analysis from left-wing data firm Catalist.

The tensions were apparent at the South Carolina convention, where attendees and leaders openly questioned the partys strategy and leadership vacuum heading into the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential race. (RELATED: DNC Moves To Void David Hoggs Election To Party Vice Chair On Technicality)

Trump took all our steam out of us and were still searching for a leader right now, Daryl Scott, a retired Army veteran who attended the convention, told the outlet. Theres none. Name one. Where are they? They feel embarrassed because they didnt deliver.

Multiple Democratic officials told the Post they felt national party leaders took black voters for granted in 2024, with some expressing disappointment in Bidens decision to run for reelection and strategic decisions made by Harris after she replaced him on the ticket.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain criticized the Harris campaign for not prioritizing black voters highly enough  instead courting centrists and moderate Republicans.

We cant lose our most dependable base because were chasing rainbows, Spain said. Youve gotta know where your bread is buttered. Invest there.

The weekend gathering also featured visits from potential 2028 presidential candidates Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was Harriss running mate. Moore implored Democrats to become the party of yes and now' while delivering real policy wins.

Neither the DNC nor the South Carolina Democratic Party responded to the Daily Caller News Foundations requests for comment.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
Nutella blends cocoa and hazelnuts for a sweet, spreadable product. (Getty Images) (AlinLyre via Getty Images)

Iconic hazelnut and cocoa spread Nutella is debuting a new flavor in spring 2026, and its ideal for peanut butter enthusiasts.

The original Nutella, which hails from Italian company Ferrero, is synonymous with the rich taste of chocolate and hazelnut. The new flavor  which marks Nutellas first since 1964  adds a twist to the original recipe. Its called Nutella Peanut, and, according to the Ferrero website, the new product blends the distinctive creaminess of Nutella cocoa hazelnut spread with the delicious taste of roasted peanuts.

Developing Nutella and Ferrero Rocher products specifically for the North American market represents a defining moment in our companys history, Michael Lindsey, Ferrero's North America president and chief business officer, said in a statement. These innovations will engage both loyal fans and new consumers, boosting our power brands and further solidifying our position as a category leader in North America.

Another bonus? Nutella Peanut is also dairy-free and, though not marketed as such, appears to be a vegan product as well. This comes on the heels of Nutellas plant-based versio, which launched in 2024 and is available only in select markets in Italy, France and Belgium.

What are people saying about Nutella Peanut?

While the new flavor wont be on the market for another year, people who have not yet tried the product are already sharing their strong opinions on social media about the vegan peanut spread.

Hazelnuts to peanuts?? one commented on a TikTok sharing the news. So theyre making peanut butter.

Why do we need peanut flavored nut butter? another questioned in a separate comments section.

Others were unhappy that the new flavor includes peanut, as it is a common allergen: Wasn't the whole point of Nutella is to be a replacement for peanut butter for those who couldn't eat it? one asked. Another noted that they only reason they choose Nutella is that they are allergic to every nut with the exception of hazelnuts.

A third wrote that they love that the new flavor is dairy-free but noted they really love the taste of the hazelnut spread. Can we have the regular flavor but just dairy free? they asked, noting that other dairy-free Nutella-like products out there are always peanut- or almond-based with no hazelnut in sight. (Its worth noting that Nutella Peanut will incorporate hazelnut as well as peanut.)

Still, others were excited: Im dairy-free so this is a win for me, one Nutella fan added. Another shared, As someone whos allergic to dairy Im very excited.

Meanwhile, people were also inspired to share their own ideas for the next Nutella flavor. Plenty of people were hoping that the next flavor would incorporate pistachio for a Dubai chocolate bar take, while others asked for white chocolate or strawberry.

And, hey, given that this is the first new Nutella flavor in more than six decades, the sky really is the limit.
Woman points to smartphone, woman points to kiosk (inset).

When Anna Hewsons daughters iPhone disappeared one weekend, she did what any parent would do  she followed the digital crumbs.

Using Apples Find My app, the KUSA 9News producer tracked the stolen device until it ended up at a Walmart in Arvada, Colorado.

Inside the store stood an EcoATM, a kiosk that pays cash for used phones. Hewson had a hunch, so she called the police. Moments later, officers unlocked the machine with help from EcoATMs customer service. Inside the bin sat a pile of locked phones, including her daughters.

Don't miss

At face value, the idea that you can walk in and turn over, sell stolen property to a machine, it seems like the perfect vehicle to further your crime, Arvada Police Department Public Information Officer Chase Amos told 9News.

What are EcoATMs?

EcoATMs are automated kiosks found at major retailers, including Walmart. They offer users instant cash in exchange for used electronics.

The machines scan a sellers ID, take a thumb print, snap a photo and send the data to live agents for verification. Devices are held for at least 30 days at a processing center in Louisville, Kentucky, which offers a short window where owners can recover stolen property.

EcoATM claims to work closely with law enforcement, logging device serial numbers in national databases and cooperating with investigations.

EcoATM happily and voluntarily cooperates with law enforcement when requested. If a missing phone does end up in one of our machines, it is returned to the rightful owner, a company spokesperson told 9News.

Still, theft victims say recovery isnt always so simple.

Despite robust security measures, the high volume of stolen phones and the anonymity offered by kiosks make investigations challenging for law enforcement.

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

Frustrating search for a stolen phone

Michael Dill, a Denver veteran, told 9News that he was mugged on St. Patricks Day in 2024. Hours later, he tracked his phone to an EcoATM in an Englewood Walmart. Though he reported it, Dill said he spent weeks in a frustrating loop trying to confirm the phones presence at EcoATMs warehouse.

Eventually, the company sent him a replacement device. But, he says his old phone later resurfaced in the hands of someone with a UK phone number who texted him and demanded he remove the device from Apples security system. When Dill refused, the texter threatened to access his data.

He contacted Apple, which assured him the phone would remain locked and his data would remain secure.

In a statement to 9News, EcoATM said Dills phone was not found among any devices in its warehouse.

Because we were unable to locate Michaels phone, we were unable to return it to him, a spokesperson said. However, we did in good faith, provide him with a complimentary replacement device.

Protecting yourself devices

On the bright side, there are several ways to help protect yourself from scams involving services like EcoATM.

Log your IMEI. Record your phones international mobile equipment identity and serial number, which can usually be found in the About section of your device settings.

Purchase phone cases with anti-theft features. Or, choose phones with built-in anti-theft features and enable tracking apps, like Apples Find My app, to locate your device in real time.

Choose smart insurance plans. Opt for plans with lower deductibles or comprehensive coverage in case of theft.

Secure your phone. Help protect your private data by using fingerprint or face recognition to unlock your phone.

Enable remote wipe. Set up remote wipe capabilities to erase your information if your phone is stolen.

If your device is stolen, report it to your local police department. If you do track it to an EcoATM kiosk, notify the company via their customer service line. But, authorities warn people should never try to go out and find the phone on their own.

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.
Reinhard Dirscherl/Getty Images Bull Sharks swimming through Beqa Lagoon in Viti Levu, Fiji.







Key Points

Beqa Lagoon was named the best place to see and dive with sharks in the world, thanks to its healthy marine environment and an abundance of shark species.

Dives are limited to five days per week and are led by local instructors.

Other locations that made the list include places like the Neptune Islands in Australia and the Fakarava Atoll in French Polynesia.







Sharks are deeply misunderstood creatures. The International Fund for Animal Welfare reports that sharks kill fewer than 10 people each year, while people kill an estimated 100 million sharks per year. Of the 500 species of sharks that live in the ocean, just a few pose any threat to humans.

Despite the facts, sharks remain a fearsome creature in most people's imaginationsand the chance to see them in the wild can be thrilling (and a little terrifying). For that reason, BoatMart, a site for buying new and used boats, recently published a list of its favorite destinations to see sharks and cage dive.

At the top of their list of must-visit destinations for shark spotting is a place thats considered a dream vacation destination for plenty of other reasons: Fiji.

According to BoatMart, Fijis Beqa Lagoon (pronounced Ben-gah in Fijian) is the No. 1 spot for shark spotting in the world, thanks in large part that it is part of the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, which protects a pristine, world-renowned dive site and shark habitat known as Shark Reef. The reef and the lagoon are known for their clear ocean waters, where visitors can experience close encounters with seven species of sharks, including bull sharks, tawny nurse sharks, grey reef sharks, and tiger sharks.

As outlined in the Shark Reef Marine Reserve fact sheet, during dive experiences here, visitors can crouch behind a small wall while sharks are hand-fed or given tuna heads dropped from a plastic bin. There are safety divers during all sessions, and dives are limited to two boats per day, five days a week.

Many of the Beqa Lagoon dives are led by locals who are certified recreational dive instructors. 100 percent of the marine reserve access fees are paid to the local community.

Considering its thriving shark population, Beqa Lagoon is also surprisingly easy to access. The lagoon is just south of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji where all international flights arrive and depart. Popular Beqa Lagoon dive operators include the conservation-minded company Beqa Adventure Divers and Aqua-Trek, who are considered Fijian pioneers of shark diving.

Here's the full list of the best shark dives in the world, according to BoatMart.

Beqa Lagoon Fakarava, French Polynesia Neptune Islands, Australia Galapagos, Ecuador Gansbaai, South Africa Guadalupe Island, Mexico Farallon Islands, California Maui, Hawaii Jupiter, Florida Tiger Beach, Bahamas Placencia, Belize San Diego, California



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
By Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A prosecutor on Wednesday told jurors in Harvey Weinstein's Manhattan retrial that the evidence clearly showed the former movie mogul raped three women, pushing back on a defense lawyer's efforts to paint the accusers as liars.

Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg picked up where she left off during closing arguments the previous day, seeking to show that Weinstein forced himself on the women despite their pleading with him to stop.

The Academy Award-winning producer and Miramax studio co-founder is accused of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and assaulting the two other women in 2006 and 2002. Weinstein, who has denied ever having non-consensual sex or assaulting anyone, has pleaded not guilty. The trial began in April.

"Members of the jury, he raped three women. They all said, 'no,'" Blumberg said.

Weinstein, 73, is on trial for a second time after a New York state appeals court threw out his conviction in April 2024. Experiencing a litany of health problems, Weinstein was present in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, wearing a dark suit and tie.

Before Blumberg's pitch to jurors Wednesday, defense lawyer Arthur Aidala twice moved for a mistrial based on the prosecutor's arguments the previous day, but the motions were swiftly denied by state Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber.

The 12 jurors are due to begin deliberations after closing arguments are completed and Farber instructs them on the law.

Blumberg on Tuesday called Weinstein a serial predator who promised career advancement in Hollywood to women, only to then coax them into private settings where he attacked them. She urged jurors Wednesday to disregard the defense's claim the Weinstein was on trial because he was famous and that prosecutors were trying to criminalize consensual sex.

"We heard a lot about 'policing the bedroom' yesterday," Blumberg said, referring to Aidala's closing argument on Tuesday. "We don't want to police bedrooms either - unless you're forcibly raping someone inside them."

Aidala on Tuesday accused the three alleged victims of lying on the witness stand out of spite after consensual sexual encounters with Weinstein failed to deliver them Hollywood stardom.

"They are lying about what happened. Not about everything, but about a small slice - just enough to turn their regret, their buyers' remorse, into criminality," Aidala said of the accusers.

The lawyer hoisted a dozen poster-sized placards showing emails from the accusers where they seek Weinstein's company after the alleged attacks, saying they showed the women were lying.

Weinstein faces a maximum sentence of up to 29 years in prison if convicted on all charges. He already will likely spend the rest of his life in prison due to a 16-year prison sentence given to him after being found guilty in December 2022 of rape in California.

He was convicted of rape by a jury in the previous trial in Manhattan in February 2020, but the New York Court of Appeals threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial, citing errors by the trial judge. Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence in a prison in upstate Rome, New York, when the conviction was overturned.

That conviction was a milestone for the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men. More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct.

Weinstein has been held at New York City's Rikers Island jail since his conviction was overturned. He has experienced several health scares while being held at Rikers, and in September was rushed to a hospital for emergency heart surgery.

(Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) conducts a replenishment at sea in the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 13, 2024. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy via AP))

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Leaders in San Francisco are blasting the Trump administration for stripping the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk from a U.S. naval ship, and especially during Pride Month, when people gather to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Milk is a revered figure in San Francisco history, a former city supervisor and gay rights advocate who was fatally shot along with Mayor George Moscone in 1978 by disgruntled former supervisor Dan White. Just last month, California marked what would have been Milk's 95th birthday with proclamations heralding his authenticity, kindness and calls for unity.

He served for four years in the Navy during the Korean War, before he was forced out for being gay. Milk later moved to San Francisco, where he became one of the first out gay politicians in the world with his election to the Board of Supervisors in 1977.

Cleve Jones, a close friend and LGBTQ+ activist, dismissed the renaming as an attempt by the Trump administration to distract the American public from far more serious concerns, including the ongoing war in Gaza and looming cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.

"Yes, this is cruel and petty and stupid, and yes, its an insult to my community," Jones said. I would be willing to wager a considerable sum that American families sitting around that proverbial kitchen table this evening are not going to be talking about how much safer they feel now that Harvey's name is going to be taken off that ship.

The Pentagon has not confirmed news of the renaming, a highly rare move, but unnamed officials say the change was laid out in an internal memo. It is in keeping with attempts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the broader Trump administration to purge all programs, policies, books and social media mentions of references to diversity, equity and inclusion. A new name has not yet been selected for the USNS Harvey Milk.

Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, said in a phone call Wednesday that he and the Harvey Milk Foundation have reached out to the Pentagon, which confirmed there is a proposed name change on the table.

And our hope is that the recommendation is put aside, but if it's not, it will be a rallying cry not just for our community but for all minority communities, said Stuart Milk, who is executive chair of the foundation, adding that his uncle always said that gay rights, and those of other marginalized communities, required constant vigilance.

So I dont think he'd be surprised," Milk said, but hed be calling on us to remain vigilant, to stay active.

Elected officials, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, called the move a shameful attempt to erase the contributions of LGBTQ+ people and an insult to fundamental American values of honoring veterans and those who worked to build a better country. Pelosi and Newsom are both San Francisco Democrats.

Newsom took aim at Hegseth, calling the attempt A cowardly act from a man desperate to distract us from his inability to lead the Pentagon" on the social platform X.

In a statement, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said Milk dedicated his life to serving the city and country, and is a role model for all Americans. He did not mention Trump or Hegseth.

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who said at the time that the John Lewis-class of oilers would be named after leaders who fought for civil and human rights.

Sean Penn portrayed Milk in an Oscar-winning 2008 movie depicting his audacious rise in politics and his death by a supervisor who cast the sole "no" vote on his legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Penn said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that hed never before seen a Secretary of Defense so aggressively demote himself to the rank of Chief PETTY Officer.

While the renaming attempt is rare, the Biden administration also changed the names of two Navy ships in 2023 as part of the effort to remove Confederate names from U.S. military installations.
Seeking a Versatile Flavor Bomb? Chef Rick Martinez Teaches Katie To Make Salsa Macha

Has your pantry been a bit lifeless lately? Have you been searching for a seasoning, sauce, or dip that can elevate even a painfully plain chicken breast into a total flavor bomb? Chef Rick Martinez has exactly what you need: Salsa macha.

But what is salsa macha, exactly? In his vibrant cookbook Salsa Daddy: Dip Your Way into Mexican Cooking, Martinez explains that its a sort of Mexican chili crisp typically made of fried chiles ground with garlic and salt, to which fried peanuts and seeds are added. (And to answer your next question, this savory concoction has nothing to do with Japanese matcha tea.)

To learn more about preparing this trendy, versatile salsa, our very own Katie Couric stepped into the kitchen with chef Martinez to observe his techniques firsthand. The end result is a bowl of smoky, tangy, spicy sauce  the pair sample it with plain tortilla chips, but dont feel pressured to do the same. Martinez suggests serving the dip with everything from pizza to dumplings.



Salsa Macha Recipe

Peanuts, guajillo, and chile de arbol

Makes: 1 cups

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup roasted peanuts (4.8 oz/135 g)

6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed (but still holding their shape)

3 chiles guajillos (0.8 oz/24 g), stemmed and seeded

10 dried chiles de arbol (0.4 oz/10 g), stemmed

1 chile morita (0.1 oz/2 g), stemmed

 cup raw sesame seeds (1.8 oz/80 g)

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (0.21 oz/6 g), plus more to taste

1 teaspoon grated piloncillo (0.14 oz/4 g) or dark brown sugar

 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine the oil, peanuts, and garlic and cook over medium heat until the garlic is golden brown and the peanuts are slightly deeper in color, 7 to 9 minutes (but not too dark! They burn quickly). Using a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic and peanuts to a heatproof bowl to cool. Add the guajillos, chiles de arbol, and morita to the pan with the hot oil and cook over medium heat until the oil is slightly reddish and the chiles are brick red, about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chiles to the peanut mixture. Let cool for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and add the sesame seeds to the hot oil and set aside. They will toast as they sit. Transfer the toasted chiles and garlic to a food processor and puree until coarsely ground (it should look like red pepper flakes). Add the peanuts and pulse 4 times to coarsely grind them but not make peanut butter. Return to the heatproof bowl and stir in the vinegar, salt, piloncillo, and toasted sesame seeds (and the oil in the pan). Stir in the olive oil, taste, and season with more salt if desired.



Do ahead: The salsa can be made up to 2 weeks ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Serving suggestions: Use anywhere youd want chile oil or chili crisp, like dumplings, roasted veggies, on pizza, soups, and stews  on anything, really.

Reprinted with permission from Salsa Daddy: Dip Your Way into Mexican Cooking by Rick Martinez, copyright  2025. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Photography copyright: Alex Lau  2025

The post Seeking a Versatile Flavor Bomb? Chef Rick Martinez Teaches Katie To Make Salsa Macha appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on Capitol Hill on May 13. (Mark Schiefelbein / AP file)

Democrats will have to win some red states if they have any hope of taking control of the Senate next year, and the senator tasked with leading that effort believes President Donald Trump has given them an opening after he won those states easily months ago.

I look at the map, and every states on the table because of this growing backlash that President Trumps decisions have created, with his cuts to Medicaid and his unwillingness to address affordability issues, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told NBC News in an interview at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters on Wednesday.

Gillibrand also said she isn't ruling out taking sides in Democratic primaries as her party looks to net four Senate seats to take control of the chamber, saying that she is definitely not ruling out anything in any state.

Were going to look at every state on a case-by-case basis and make our assessment as to whos the best candidate in that state, and then make decisions based on that, Gillibrand said.

Democrats' ripest targets in 2026 are GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, which Trump lost by nearly 7 percentage points in November, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, which Trump won by 3 points. Both incumbents are battle-tested, winning contested races in their last cycles on the ballot.

Former Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel has already launched a run in North Carolina, while former House staffer Jordan Wood is running in Maine. But Democrats are still eyeing Maine Gov. Janet Mills and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper as possible recruits.

While Cooper is weighing a run, Mills has not exactly sounded enthusiastic about challenging Collins, telling the Maine Trust for Local News in April, Im not planning to run for anything. Things change week to week, month to month, but at this moment Im not planning to run for another office.

Asked if it has been difficult to recruit against Collins, who has a record of winning tough races, including victory in 2020 even as Trump lost Maine decisively, Gillibrand said negative reaction to Trumps policies is changing the thinking of a lot of potential candidates.

So I am certain we will have formidable candidates in North Carolina and Maine because of this growing backlash that President Trump has created, Gillibrand said.

Even if Democrats win those two states, and hold on to their current seats in other battlegrounds, they would still need to flip two additional Senate seats in states Trump won by double digits last year to get to a majority. That could mean targeting ruby red states like Texas, Iowa, Alaska, South Carolina and others.

Democrats do not currently hold a single Senate seat in the 24 states that Trump carried in all three of his presidential runs, after several red-state losses in 2024. And Trump won each of those states by double digits last year.

Gillibrand said the magic formula for Democratic success involves a combination of deep Republican backlash to Trump and some of his policies, like slashing social safety net programs and imposing steep tariffs, and extraordinarily strong candidates who represent their states well, as well as boosts from the DSCC to help those candidates build up their campaigns.

Contested Democratic primaries are already taking shape in Iowa, where GOP Sen. Joni Ernst is up for re-election, as well as in competitive states where Democrats are defending open seats, including Michigan and Minnesota.

Ernst has also been in the spotlight for responding to a constituent at a town hall who suggested the House Republicans proposed Medicaid cuts could cause people to die and saying, Well, we all are going to die.

Asked if such comments give Democrats a better shot at defeating Ernst next year, Gillibrand said Ernsts remarks exemplify Trumps very callous approach towards health care, cutting seniors, cutting people with disabilities, children, pregnant women and veterans off of their Medicaid.

Gillibrand said those cuts are creating a significant backlash that certainly puts a state like Iowa in play along with many other red states around the country.

Democrats, meanwhile, are going to be focused on commonsense, kitchen table issues of affordability and public safety, Gillibrand said.

The New York Democrat argued those were winning messages for successful candidates in her home state last year, where she led a coordinated campaign with Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to boost Democratic House candidates.

Democrats flipped three GOP-held House seats in New York even as Trump made gains throughout the state. Trump ultimately lost New York but improved on his 2020 election margin by 11 points, which was the biggest swing toward Trump of any state in the country.

Republicans are looking to capitalize on Trumps gains as they target Hochul in her re-election run next year, as well as other House Democrats. (Gillibrand said she is supporting Hochul for re-election as she faces a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.)

Republicans are also looking to reprise attacks on Democrats over whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in female sports.

One Nation, a nonprofit tied to the GOP super PAC Senate Leadership Fund, already launched an attack on the issue against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in Georgia. Ossoff represents one of two states, along with Michigan, that Democrats are defending that Trump also carried last year.

Each candidate will address it as they see fit, Gillibrand said when asked how Democrats should respond to those attacks.

Gillibrand said she is very optimistic that Sen. Ossoff will not only win his race, but show rest of the country, you know, who he is and what Democrats stand for.
Courtesy of Sang Hun Lee

Nothing feels like a luxury fairytale quite like an evening filled with jewels in Kyoto. Earlier this week, Chanel celebrated the launch of its Reach for the Stars high jewelry collection among fashions most fabulous with a stunning excursion to Japan. For It girl and style icon Devon Lee Carlson, the night was a whirlwind dream. Before heading out, Carlson playfully stacked her Coco Crush bracelets and rings, which perfectly complemented the edgy vibe of her sequined leather halter dress.

The impressive collection consists of 109 pieces that deeply honor the historic legacy of Gabrielle Chanel. Signature motifs aboundlions, comets, and the debut of wings, all of which reference iconic moments throughout the designers life. Chanels star sign, Leo, is manifested through her lifelong collection of feline sculptures. Since then, the lion has become an integral symbol for the brands high jewelry collections. Meanwhile, the comet represents a direct through-line to Chanels first-ever 1932 Bijoux de Diamants line, a revolutionary idea in the diamond space amidst turmoil of that year.

Finally, and perhaps most important, are the wings. This motif is represented in pieces such as the impressive Wings of Chanel necklace, which features a boldly sculptural design and detachable pendant of star-shaped diamonds that doubles as a bracelet (also a favorite of Carlsons). The centerpiecea cushion-cut Padparadscha sapphire, never before seen in a Chanel high jewelry collection. As the house founder once famously said, If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Just arrived in Kyoto!! So excited to be here to see Chanels Reach for the Stars High Jewelry Collection.

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Hair and makeup done! Now we get dressed!

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Obsessed with this dress. Leather, lace, sequin! Done perfectly!

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Decided to stack my Coco Crush bracelets and Coco Crush rings. Wanted to go all out for the big night!

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Now were off!!

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

A room filled with new life motto inspo.

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Seeing the collection! Couldnt stop smiling.

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Ok, found one I love.

Photo credit: SANG HUN LEE

Chanel forever!!

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WASHINGTON  In mid-May, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, frustrated over what he saw as numbers of arrests and deportations of unauthorized immigrants that were too low, berated and threatened to fire senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials if they did not begin detaining 3,000 migrants a day, according to two sources who spoke to attendees.

Miller also threatened to fire leaders of field offices posting the bottom 10% of arrest numbers monthly, the two sources said.

Weeks later, ICE is launching the Trump administrations largest immigration crackdown.

Operation At Large, a nationwide, ICE-led plan already underway to ramp up arrests of unauthorized immigrants, includes more than 5,000 personnel from across federal law enforcement agencies and up to 21,000 National Guard troops, according to an operation plan described to NBC News by three sources with knowledge of the personnel allocations who detailed the previously unreported plans.

Drawing those numbers from other law enforcement agencies, though, has been a source of tension among some officials, who feel they have been taken off other core national security missions, according to three additional law enforcement and military officials. Like others interviewed for this article, they requested anonymity in order to share sensitive information.

It is the latest example of how President Donald Trumps push for mass deportations is reshaping federal law enforcement as officials shift resources toward immigration-related cases  including nonviolent administrative offenses  leaving less time and attention for other types of criminal investigations.

The plan calls for using 3,000 ICE agents, including 1,800 from Homeland Security Investigations, which generally investigates transnational crimes and is not typically involved in arresting noncriminal immigrants; 2,000 Justice Department employees from the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration; and 500 employees from Customs and Border Protection. It also includes 250 IRS agents, some of whom may be used to provide information on the whereabouts of immigrants using tax information, while others would have the authority to make arrests, according to the operation plan.

ICE and Homeland Security Investigations police make an arrest outside an immigration court in Phoenix on May 21. (Ross D. Franklin / AP)

The Department of Homeland Security has also requested the use of 21,000 National Guard members to provide support in ICE operations, according to two additional sources familiar with the request, though that number has yet to be approved by the Defense Department or by governors who would be deploying their states units, multiple sources cautioned.Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, responding to the Miller meeting, said, Keeping President Trumps promise to deport illegal aliens is something the Administration takes seriously. We are committed to aggressively and efficiently removing illegal aliens from the United States, and ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources necessary to do so. The safety of the American people depends upon it.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, Under Secretary Noem, we are delivering on President Trumps and the American peoples mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens and make America safe.

More than a dozen current and former law enforcement sources described other changes inside federal law enforcement driven by the Trump administrations focus on immigration.

At the FBI, where it was once unusual for special agents to go on immigration-related law enforcement operations, according to multiple current and former law enforcement officials, field offices around the country have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to assist with ICE operations to arrest people on administrative immigration warrants.

Misdemeanor cases for border crossings are regularly appearing in federal court, a rarity in recent years. Justice Department teams focused on other issues are being disbanded, with members being dispersed to teams focused on immigration and other administration priorities.

And prosecutors say cases without immigration components have stalled or are moving more slowly, according to documents seen by NBC News and conversations with six current and former prosecutors and a senior FBI official, who described how immigration is now a central part of discussions around whether to pursue cases.

Immigration status is now question No. 1 in terms of charging decisions, an assistant U.S. attorney said. Is this person a documented immigrant? Is this person an undocumented immigrant? Is this person a citizen? Are they somehow deportable? What is their immigration status? And the answer to that question is now largely driving our charging decisions.

At least one U.S. attorneys office abandoned a potential federal prosecution of someone who prosecutors felt was dangerous because the case against the person lacked an immigration component, an email obtained by NBC News showed. The office instead left the case to state prosecutors.

Reorganizing federal law enforcement to prioritize immigration could have sweeping long-term effects on the U.S. justice system. The Trump administration set early quotas for immigration arrests and has marshaled resources to go far beyond early statements about focusing only on deporting violent criminals, as well as invoking laws that have not previously been used for immigration enforcement, like the Alien Enemies Act.Prioritizing immigration also means shifting finite resources in ways that de-prioritize other cases. Last month, FBI field offices around the country shifted agents from other beats to immigration enforcement, according to current and former FBI officials and memos obtained by NBC News. A senior FBI official wrote in a memo to bureau managers that the Justice Department expects a significant increase in the number of agents participating in immigration enforcement operations.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement that immigration security is national security, pointing to the Egyptian national accused of launching an antisemitic attack in Colorado on Sunday. The man entered the United States on a valid visa before he filed for asylum, after which the visa expired. Jackson argued the administrations moves to prioritize immigration enforcement will not carry an opportunity cost.

Enforcing our immigration laws and removing illegal aliens is one big way President Trump is Making America Safe Again. But the president can walk and chew gum at the same time, Jackson continued. Were holding all criminals accountable, whether theyre illegal aliens or American citizens. Thats why nationwide murder rates have plummeted, fugitives from the FBIs most wanted list have been captured, and police officers are empowered to do their jobs, unlike under the Biden Administrations soft-on-crime regime.

(Falling murder rates predate the second Trump administration, with rates rising during and immediately after the Covid pandemic before dropping in each of 2022, 2023 and the first half of 2024, according to FBI data.)

How immigration is affecting other law enforcement operations

Still, federal law enforcement officials who spoke to NBC News said the increased focus on cases with an immigration angle is pulling resources from other law enforcement priorities.

There is such a priority on making immigration arrests that it takes longer to get answers on anything else. Something that used to be resolved in a matter of days now takes weeks, a law enforcement official said.

The shift in resources affects not only the type of cases taken but also the type of personnel involved in immigration raids. The FBI is almost always the agency leading the charge in joint investigations, but it has traditionally avoided getting involved in enforcement operations that involve only immigration enforcement, current and former officials confirmed.

Those operations, which are led by ICE, involve noncriminal administrative removal warrants for immigration offenses, not the type of criminal warrants the FBI typically serves, three officials said.

Since Trump took office, the FBI has routinely joined ICE operations. Some FBI employees have received guidance to minimize the actions they take during immigration-related raids and, particularly, to avoid entering into homes when they join ICE operations, four current and former law enforcement officials said.

The Trump administration is also deliberating over creating a task force led by a senior leader from the Department of Homeland Security and a senior leader from the Justice Department, according to an undated draft implementation guide reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the deliberations. It is unclear whether that version is the most current draft under consideration.

The Homeland Security Task Force would work in the FBI and ICE field offices across the country to identify and target for prosecution transnational criminal organizations engaged in diverse criminal schemes, the draft said. It continues: In addition to the prosecution of the above criminal violations, the mission of the HSTF is further to facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States.

The draft plan raises questions about which additional federal resources could be pulled in solely to focus on immigration. It says the new task force would work with the National Counterterrorism Center, the U.S. intelligence community and the Pentagon to assist with targeting and investigations.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether or when the shifting resources and reorganization will result in the Trump administrations hitting its desired deportation numbers, like the 3,000-person daily quota Miller demanded in the mid-May meeting. ICE no longer posts comprehensive daily arrest statistics, but on social media, it has posted details of at least 350 arrests since May 26.
Authorities in Washington state continue to search for Travis Decker, a father suspected killing of his three daughters, found slain by apparent suffocation in a remote campground.

Decker, 32, is wanted on charges including three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, according to the Wenatchee Police Department.

The sisters' mother reported the children missing May 30, police said, after the siblings left their central Washington home for a planned visit for their father. Wenatchee is in Chelan County, about 148 miles east of Seattle.

(L) Paityn Decker, 9, (M) Evelyn Decker, 8; (R) Olivia Decker, 5. The three sisters were found dead near Rock Island Campground in Washington state on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Washington State Patrol issued statewide alert for the girls on May 31 and following a search, a Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputy found their father's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck near Rock Island Campground, about 40 miles northwest of Wenatchee.

Police said no one was inside, but they found the girls bodies during a search near the truck June 2.

As of Wednesday, June 4, police confirmed to USA TODAY, Decker remained at on the run.

Undersheriff Dan Ozment said the Chelan County Sheriff's Office is set to hold a press conference at 6 p.m. PST on June 4 to discuss any updates in the case.

Here's what to know about the case and Travis Decker.

The hunt for Maddie McCann: Search relaunched for the 3-year-old British girl who vanished in 2007

Who is Travis Decker?

Travis Decker is a 32-year-old from the Wenatchee area who was homeless and living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup at the time the girls vanished, according to police.

Police said he is a former military member with extensive training who "may pose a significant risk, if approached."

Police could not say whether he was armed while on the run.

Travis Decker, of Washington State, is wanted by police on charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder in the deaths of his three daughters found dead on June 3, 2025

He is a native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Pewaukee High School in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, according to an online records search by USA TODAY.

One of Decker's previous addresses included an Army P.O. box. USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Army for comment.

He was a member of a standout 2010 Pewaukee wrestling team, wrestling in the state finals that year, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The suspect's brother, TJ Decker, said his brother graduated from the school in 2010, Fox 6 reported.

Travis Decker description

Police described Travis Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5'8'', and weighing 190 pounds.

He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.

Pictured is 32-year-old Travis Decker.

What happened to the three sisters?

State officials issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) for the sisters on May 31.

Washington State Patrol was originally contacted on May 30 to request an Amber Alert but the situation "did not meet the required criteria" at the time, Wenatchee police said.

The next day, Wenatchee police detectives recontacted state patrol with additional information and the EMPA was issued, police reported.

"Officers immediately began working to determine the whereabouts of the children and their father," police wrote in a news release issued June 3. Based on information provided to patrol officers, all Wenatchee motels were searched "with no results," police wrote. Police also tracked Decker's truck and learned the vehicle had traveled west on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on May 30.

The search for the three girls continued until June 2, when a a Chelan County deputy found the truck unoccupied about 3:45 p.m. near the Rock Island Campground.

Officers searched the area immediately surrounding the vehicle and found the bodies of the three missing girls about 75-100 yards past the vehicle, down a small embankment, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY.

Their father was nowhere to be found, but investigators traced Travis Decker's cell phone, which revealed he had visited the same campground a day prior to the girls' kidnapping, the court papers show.

Affidavit reveals Decker sisters' likely cause of death

The three girls likely died of asphyxiation, court filings reveal.

"Their wrists were also zipped tied or showed signs of being zip tied," according to the affidavit, and each sister was found with a plastic bag over her head.

Travis Decker had exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths, the court filings show.

Who is Whitney Decker?

Whitney Decker is the mother of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia and Travis Decker's ex-wife, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY.

The pair has been divorced for multiple years.

A 7-year-old boy died crossing a street: His parents are being charged.

What is Travis Decker wanted for?

Travis Decker is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree kidnapping and three counts of first-degree custodial interference, police said.

Authorities are asking for the community's assistance in locating him. As of June 4, a reward of up to $20,000 was being offered for information leading to his arrest, according to the sheriff's office.

Wenatchee Police Captain Brian Chance, in a phone interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, said the suspect has not been formally charged with murder or kidnapping. But according to online court filings, a court-issued warrant indicates there is probable cause on the charges for his arrest.

In addition to local and state law enforcement, U.S. Marshals are assisting in the search lead by the sheriff's office.

Police said he should not be approached.

Anyone who sees the suspect or with informatoin about his whereabouts is asked to call 911. Tipsters can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit your information online at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.

Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Decker: Police search for suspect in deaths of Washington girls
Donald Trump in West Mifflin, Pa., on Friday. (Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images)

The Trump administration says its reforming a Biden-era artificial intelligence safety institute, renaming and reformulating one of the only federal government departments dedicated to oversight of the burgeoning technology.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a news release Tuesday that the Trump administration would transform the former U.S. AI Safety Institute  which former President Joe Biden established in November 2023  into the Center for AI Standards and Innovation.

The reframing away from safety is in line with the Trump administrations statements and actions signaling its belief that oversight efforts for AI companies could unnecessarily dull the United States competitive edge in the space.

For far too long, censorship and regulations have been used under the guise of national security. Innovators will no longer be limited by these standards, Lutnick said in the release. CAISI will evaluate and enhance U.S. innovation of these rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards.

The U.S. AI Safety Institute was created to evaluate and test AI models and create standards for safety and security. It also formed a consortium on AI safety, which was made up of over 200 members, including OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic.

Although its unclear whether the transformation will mean any major changes to the institutes operations, the move appears to reflect the Trump administrations pro-innovation approach to deregulating AI technology. Unlike Bidens executive order on AI and the former institute, the reformed center is set to focus on additional aspects like evaluating potential security vulnerabilities and malign foreign influence arising from use of adversaries AI systems, including the possibility of backdoors and other covert, malicious behavior, as well as guard against burdensome and unnecessary regulation of American technologies by foreign governments.

In January, the Chinese-created AI app DeepSeek heightened national security concerns around AI with its latest release, which made waves with its advancements. President Donald Trump said the app should be a wake-up call about the prospect of international competition for American tech companies.

Lawmakers introduced a bill to ban DeepSeek from government devices, and the Navy advised its members not to use it in any capacity.

The move to reform the institute appears to have been in development for a while. Reuters reported this year that no one from the U.S. AI Safety Institutes staff would attend an AI summit in Paris in February alongside Vice President JD Vance. The institutes inaugural director, Elizabeth Kelly, also announced she would step down that month.

In his speech at the summit, Vance echoed Lutnicks sentiments, saying, We need international regulatory regimes that fosters the creation of AI technology rather than strangles it. He also spoke about how he believes AI should be free from ideological bias.

Since he returned to office, Trump has made it clear that his administration wants to embrace the expansion of AI. Within his first week, Trump announced the creation of the $500 billion Stargate initiative in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, which aims to make the United States a world leader in AI.

Trump also signed an executive order on AI in his first week in office that focuses on easing regulations on AI technology and revoking existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation. Bidens executive order on AI, which focused on safety and privacy standards for the technology, has been scrapped from the White Houses website.
Study reveals brain cells that trigger semaglutides fat loss without nausea, offering a path to safer obesity treatments. (CREDIT: Getty Images)

A popular weight-loss drug may be changing how doctors treat obesitybut scientists are just starting to uncover exactly how it works inside the brain. A group of researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden recently uncovered how a small, specific group of brain cells could explain semaglutides powerful effects on appetite and body fatwith fewer side effects like nausea and muscle loss.

This discovery not only offers fresh insight into how semaglutide helps people lose weight but also points the way to developing even better treatments. Instead of triggering both the helpful and harmful effects at once, new drugs might one day target just the neurons responsible for reducing hunger and burning fatwhile avoiding the ones tied to discomfort.

A closer look at how semaglutide works

Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These were originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes. But over time, doctors noticed that many patients lost weight while taking the medication. This led to the approval of semaglutide for treating obesity under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Graphical abstract illustrating how the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide influences brain activity. (CREDIT: Cell Metabolism)

In large clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost about 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Thats more than most other weight-loss drugs on the market. Yet many patients experience side effects, including nausea. And some studies have raised concerns about the drug reducing lean muscle mass, which could become a problem for older adults.

Scientists already knew that semaglutide lowers blood sugar by acting directly on the pancreas. But when it comes to weight loss, the brain plays the main role. Even though semaglutide doesnt easily cross the blood-brain barrier, it collects in certain brain regions that dont have oneespecially an area called the dorsal vagal complex, or DVC.

This part of the brainstem includes two key areas: the area postrema and the nucleus of the solitary tract. Both are known to influence appetite, digestion, and metabolism. When semaglutide reaches this region, it activates brain cells that reduce hunger and body weight. But the details of that process have remained unclearuntil now.

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Pinpointing the neurons that matter most

To better understand which brain cells were responsible for semaglutides effects, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy tracked how the drug affected mice. After semaglutide was injected, they looked for brain cells that became active. They found that many of these cells in the area postrema and the nucleus of the solitary tract expressed a gene called Adcyap1. This gene produces a neuropeptide called PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide), which is known to influence appetite and metabolism.

To test whether these Adcyap1-positive neurons were truly responsible for semaglutides effects, the team used advanced tools to stimulate them directlywithout using the drug. When activated, these neurons caused the mice to eat less and lose weight. Importantly, they burned fat rather than muscle, and showed only minor signs of nausea.

The researchers then went a step further. They destroyed these neurons in a group of mice and gave them semaglutide. As a result, the drugs impact on appetite and fat loss dropped significantly, while the side effects remained. This confirmed that the Adcyap1-positive neurons in the DVC were crucial for the drugs positive outcomesbut not its unwanted ones.

Targeting semaglutide-responsive DVC neurons using TRAP2 technology. (CREDIT: Cell Metabolism)

This suggests that these nerve cells control the beneficial effects of semaglutide, said Julia Teixidor-Deulofeu, the studys lead author and a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg. We have therefore identified a specific group of nerve cells that is necessary for the effects that semaglutide has on weight and appetite, but which does not appear to contribute to any significant extent to side effects such as nausea.

Separating benefits from side effects

One reason this discovery is so important is because it could help drug developers design more precise treatments. By focusing only on the nerve cells that reduce appetite and burn fat, future medications could provide weight loss benefits without the drawbacks of nausea or muscle loss.

Thats especially relevant for people who already have lower muscle mass, such as older adults. Losing more lean tissue can lead to problems like frailty or even sarcopenia, a condition marked by extreme muscle wasting.

Reactivation of DVC neurons previously activated by semaglutide mimics the effect of semaglutide on taste avoidance and energy balance. (CREDIT: Cell Metabolism)

The new study also offers insight into the wider role of the dorsal vagal complex in controlling energy balance. Even though semaglutide cant move freely through the brain, it seems to use these entry points like the DVC to activate deeper networks that affect hunger and metabolism.

Other brain areas connected to this region are also involved in feelings of fullness and hormone control. The researchers found that when the Adcyap1-positive neurons were removed, these downstream targets were much less activeeven when semaglutide was still in the system.

Yet, structures linked to nausea were still triggered, showing that the positive and negative effects of semaglutide follow different brain circuits. That opens the door to developing new drugs that could mimic semaglutide's benefits while bypassing the pathways that cause people to feel sick.

New direction for future obesity treatments

The teams findings were published in the journal Cell Metabolism. Its one of the first studies to clearly map the brain activity behind semaglutides effects and separate the benefits from the side effects at the neuron level.

Gfral+ and AP/NTS Adcyap1+ neurons are activated by semaglutide. (CREDIT: Cell Metabolism)

We are starting to understand how semaglutide works in the brain, said Linda Engstrom Ruud, a researcher at the University of Gothenburg and supervisor for the project. The better we understand this, the greater the opportunity we have to improve them.

The significance of this research goes beyond weight loss alone. Because GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide are now being tested for other usesincluding treatment for addiction and neurodegenerative diseasesits critical to know how these drugs behave in the brain.

As millions of people begin using these drugs for obesity and related conditions, understanding the basic biology behind them becomes even more essential. With this new information, scientists may soon be able to fine-tune treatments so they work faster, last longer, and produce fewer side effects.

Instead of asking patients to tolerate nausea or risk muscle loss, doctors may one day offer targeted options that speak only to the brains hunger-control circuits. And the discovery of these Adcyap1-positive neurons could be the key to making that future possible.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

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The Iowan who became part of a viral moment by recently shouting at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst that "people will die" because of proposed Medicaid cuts is a Democrat who is using the moment to launch a campaign for the Iowa House.

India May, a 33-year-old from Charles City, drove to Parkersburg on May 30 to attend Ernst's town hall. As Ernst was answering a question about Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's tax cut bill, May said she "got a little worked up."

She shouted at Ernst, "People will die!"

Ernst's response was, "People will not  well, we all are going to die. For heavens sakes, folks."

It was a moment that generated national attention and criticism for Ernst, a second-term Republican who is up for reelection in 2026.

"It wasnt the only egregious thing that she said during her town hall," May told the Register, "so I wasnt really shocked, but I was sort of disappointed."

Who is India May?

In the wake of the town hall, May capitalized on the resulting attention by launching her campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives in 2026.

India May

May is the director of the Ionia Public Library and is a registered nurse and a death investigator for Chickasaw County.

She first moved to northeast Iowa four years ago from Kansas.

She is running for Iowa House District 58, which includes Chickasaw County and parts of Floyd and Bremer counties.

The district is represented by Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, who was first elected in 2022 and is serving his second term.

What does India May want to accomplish in the Iowa House?

May said she first got involved in Iowa politics earlier this year when she attended a town hall held by the state legislators in her area, including Thomson.

In part, May said she went to oppose a bill that would deny state funding to libraries that are members of the American Library Association and Iowa Library Association, and another that would remove an exemption in Iowa's obscenity law that shields libraries and educational institutions. Neither bill ultimately passed.

"Im a nurse and a librarian, and I went to my first town hall this year to advocate for libraries and realized that there were a lot more pieces of legislation that were harmful on the Iowa level that I didnt even hear about until it was too late," she said.

A constituent holds a protest sign during a town hall at Aplington-Parkersburg High School on May 30, 2025, in Parkersburg.

As a nurse, May said she has firsthand experience with some of the states' health care problems.

"We have struggles with mental health care," she said. "We are the worst in the United States for mental health care. Only one-third of our counties in Iowa have access to a labor and delivery unit for mothers and babies, and these should be seen as crises."

She said she wants to stand up for "these programs that are just being gutted that we really need to protect."

"Thats my goal is to protect Medicaid, Medicare, the VA is a huge one, plus SNAP benefits for all of the people who need a safety net and a leg up," she said.

Will India May keep attending Iowa town halls?

Aside from Ernst's town hall this year, May has also attended a town hall for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, which she livestreamed, and she tried to attend an event held by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, but wasn't able to get in because the venue was full.

She says she plans to keep showing up.

"Absolutely," she said. "Im not afraid. Im not shy. Its OK, if you want to hurt my feelings Ill stand right back and show up. We need to be heard."

What does Sen. Joni Ernst say about Medicaid cuts?

At the Parkersburg town hall, Ernst followed up her comments by saying said the goal of the tax cut bill is to make sure that people who are not eligible for Medicaid benefits don't receive them.

"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," Ernst 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."

Later that day she blamed "hysteria that's out there coming from the left" for the response to her initial comments.

The next day, Ernst posted a sarcastic apology video on her Instagram story.

"I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she posted. "So, I apologize. 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."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet India May, whose shout sparked Joni Ernst's viral Medicaid remark
Wisconsin Rep. Jerry O'Connor, R-Fond du Lac, speaks before the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections on June 3, 2025. Wisconsin Eye

(The Center Square)  Rep. Jerry OConnor, R-Fond du Lac, said he has been confused at the polling place. He has heard others confused. He has even seen yard signs that have to resort to oversimplifying a ballot initiative or referendum, simply stating Vote no and no.

The reason they had to do that is that no one understood what was being asked, OConnor said at a Tuesday public hearing on Assembly Bill 207. Thats not fair.

OConnor and other lawmakers are working to pass legislation that would change that, in some ways.

Assembly Bill 207 would require all referenda or proposed constitutional amendments in the state to include a full explanation of the amendment or referendum, date it will be on the ballot and a plain language explanation of its impact that will be available on one page for voters on Election Day.

The content of the final three questions must fit on a 3-by-5 card or 8-by-11 sheet of paper in 12-point font that must be posted at election polling places.

The explanation will also be mailed with absentee ballots, something that Green County Clerk Arianna Voegeli told the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections could add to the cost of mailing ballots.

The bill also shifts the responsibility for an impact statement related to the amendment or referendum from the state attorney general to bill.

This is not a partisan bill, OConnor said. This is a voter benefit bill.

OConnor said that the City of Madison, American Civil Liberties Union and League of Women Voters all back the bill.

This is probably the first time I have had that trio backing a bill that I drafted, he said.

Current law continues, requiring that ballot questions may not require a negative vote to be approved or a positive vote to disapprove.

The bill was introduced by a group of 20 Republican representatives and is co-sponsored by four Republican senators.
The most remote settlement in the world is on a volcanic island in the middle of the South Atlantic. maloff/Shutterstock

The Edinburgh of the Seven Seas settlement is considered the most remote settlement in the world.

The settlement, which is on the island of Tristan da Cunha, is home to just over 200 people.

It can only be reached after a nearly week-long boat trip departing from Cape Town, South Africa.

Forget summer 2025  if you want to visit the world's most isolated settlement, it's time to start planning for summer 2026.

That's because the government of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas  one of the British Overseas Territories on the island of Tristan da Cunha, which is in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean  recommends planning at least a year ahead if you want to make the trek.

After all, you'll need to find a boat to take you, most likely from the nearest city of Cape Town, South Africa. Then you need to write to the Tristan government, seeking their approval to visit. Once permission is granted and you've shared details of any criminal history, you can begin your boat journey  which will take a week to complete.

Tristan da Cunha is an active volcanic island. The last time it erupted was in 1961, which forced islanders to evacuate to England, according to the website of the Tristan da Cunha Government and the Tristan da Cunha Association.

Now just 209 people live there, but the remoteness grants the lucky few plenty of tranquility and safety.

The economy relies on the export of crawfish, known as Tristan rock lobster, but tourism also makes up a small part. However, there are no hotels on the island, so the government has created a homestay program for visitors for 65 a night, or around $88 a night, according to the island's website.

Here is what life is like in what its residents call "the most remote settlement in the world."

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is known as the most remote settlement in the world.

All residents prefer to just call it "the Settlement." maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Smithsonian, Tristan da Cunha

It lies at the edge of an island, Tristan da Cunha, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean.

A red marker indicates the location of Tristan da Cunha, which is actually an active volcanic island. Google Maps

The island of Tristan da Cunha is more than 1,700 miles (nearly 2,800 kilometers) off the coast of Cape Town.

The volcanic island sits 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) above sea level. David Forman/Getty Images

The island is one of Britain's 14 overseas territories.

A ship leaves Portsmouth Harbour in England to patrol the waters around Britain's territories in the South Atlantic. Chris Ison/PA Images/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: Britain's Treasure Islands, BBC

The settlement was named after the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria's second son, after he visited in 1867.

The town was named for the Duke of Edinburgh. Print Collector/Contributor/Getty Images

As of May 2025, 209 islanders and visitors are living there, including descendants from original settlers and stationed researchers.

The settlement is home to full-time residents and visitors. Reuters

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Being the remotest settled island in the world is Tristan's claim to fame.

A sign in Edinburgh, Tristan da Cunha, the world's remotest settlement. maloff/Shutterstock

The island is so remote that the government actually recommends visitors start to plan their trips a year in advance.

Visiting the island is not easy. Geoff Renner/robertharding/Getty Images

Prospective visitors need to get their trip approved by the Tristan government. They need to email the Secretary to the Administrator, providing reasons for their visit.

The British governor residency in Edinburgh, Tristan da Cunha. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The island is only accessible by boat across the South Atlantic Ocean  most trips leave from Cape Town, South Africa.

Arriving to the island after a nearly week-long journey must feel incredible. Mark Hannaford/Getty Images

The trip from Cape Town takes six days, and boats leave on an inconsistent schedule  sometimes they set sail multiple times per month and sometimes they skip a month entirely.

The inconsistent shipping schedule is a big reason for needing to plan your trip way in advance. GuilhermeMesquita/Shutterstock

The settlement is known for its warm hospitality and will welcome all visitors after the long journey.

The settlement does not have hotels, and most visitors stay with local residents. maloff/Shutterstock

Of the 209 people currently living on the island, 25 are not part of the permanent group of residents. And of the permanent islanders, there are only 11 different last names.

Animals graze on communal pastures. Mark Hannaford/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

One islander told a 2016 documentary that the island is one giant family-like community  residents will share food and help each other with fixes to their homes.

Mailbox on Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

Another resident told BI it's a safe community where she doesn't have to worry about her children's safety. "There's always someone looking out for them," she said.

The community is safe, residents say. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

One native islander was asked about what it was like to grow up on Tristan. He joked, "Pretty good, as long as you can find something to do."

Boats on Edinburgh of the Seas, Tristan da Cunha. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Where's Andrew

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is a rural settlement, which sustains itself by growing mainly potatoes on patches of land about a mile away from the town.

Vegetable patches, Tristan da Cunha. Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

The farming part of life in Tristan allows islanders to grow their own food without having to import.

Potato patches, Tristan da Cunha. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

There's one road that leads to the patches ...

The main road to the agricultural area in Edinburgh of the Seas. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

... and anyone can take the bus to get there.

The bus on Edinburgh of the Seas. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

Every family living on the island has a few fields to grow potatoes and other crops. They harvest inside "walled patches" made from volcanic rock, and use hand tools rather than machinery.

Fields on Tristan da Cunha. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Each family can own livestock, but the government controls the numbers to prevent overgrazing of the limited land. Currently, each household is allowed to own one breeding cow.

Sheep on Tristan da Cunha, near Edinburgh of the Seas. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

More than 40% of the island's territory is declared a nature reserve. Animal life includes rare bird breeds and Northern Rockhopper penguins.

Rock-hopper penguin near 'Edinburgh of the Seven Seas' port, Tristan da Cunha. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Britain's Treasure Islands

There are three different species of albatross native to the island, but the albatross are threatened by mice every year.

Pictured above is the yellow-nosed albatross. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Island Conservation, Tristan da Cunha

The same boats that brought people to the island brought mice and rats as well. In killing the chicks of native birds, the rodents could be eradicating a number of species.

Tristan islanders call the penguins "pinnamins." Auscape/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: RSPB, Tristan da Cunha

In fact, it's such a problem that the islanders have an entire holiday dedicated to ridding the island of the vermin: Ratting Day.

Teams of men compete on Ratting Day to remove the troublesome rats. Courtesy of Tristan da Cunha Photo Portfolio

Source: Tristan da Cunha

On this holiday, residents team up and compete to see who can catch the most, and the biggest, rats and mice  it was an idea thought up before mice repellent existed on the island.

On Ratting Day in 2019, a gong sounded at 7 a.m. to alert the settlement that the day had begun. Courtesy of Tristan da Cunha Photo Portfolio

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Judges count the rats and measure the tails to decide which team wins. Teams then receive prizes and have a dance-filled celebration.

The Medical, Veterinary, and Agricultural Officers act as judges. Courtesy of Tristan da Cunha Photo Portfolio

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The residents also celebrate traditional Catholic holidays, including Easter.

Residents at Saint Mary's Anglican Church on Easter Sunday. Kent Kobersteen/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The church was built in 1923 and was the first on the island.

The island has four churches in total. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Before the church was created, islanders held services in people's homes.

The church is a way for islanders to come together in one communal space. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Islanders say they feel a sense of community while dealing with death just as much as they do while living and celebrating life.

If there is a death during the week, usually the workday will be cut short. Kent Kobersteen/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

"Whether family or not, a passing touches the hearts of the whole community, and this is when you see islanders not only as a community but as a family," wrote one islander, Dawn Repetto, on the community's website.

Women on the island usually collect flowers and make wreaths. Kent Kobersteen/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Scientists visit the island to gather information on the rare plant and animal species living on the island among the volcanic rock.

There are plenty of rare botanic species for scientists to study. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Smithsonian

The settlement also has all the basics you would expect from any small town, such as a supermarket, a bar, an internet cafe, and bus stops.

A small bus stop to wait in. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

There's also a school, St. Mary's, for students aged between 3 and 16. It has five classrooms, a library, a hall with a stage, a computer room, and a science room.

The school in Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Tristan da Cunha. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The local economy depends largely on the harvest of rock lobster  which they sell internationally  and fish.

Lobster boats docked along the coast of the island. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

They also sell postage stamps to collectors abroad and make a limited amount through tourism.

Collectors worldwide are interested in buying stamps. RFStock/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

While some cruise ships have added the port to their route from Africa to Latin America so tourists can have a peek into this style of remote life, it's generally not somewhere people just pass through.

Tourists get a chance to see unusual and rare birds. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Smithsonian, Lonely Planet

But for the tourists that do make it to the island, there are a few options when it comes to tourist accommodations.

A view of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Some islanders open up their homes to visitors on a homestay basis. They collect 88% of the guest fees while the other 12% goes to the government.

Homestays are a great option to immerse yourself in the island culture. Peter Schaefer/EyeEm/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

There's a museum called "Traditional Thatched House Museum" that's available as a guesthouse for one night for two people. The price includes tea, coffee, milk, sugar, candles, sleeping bags, and a "traditional Tristan cooked meal" for lunch.

Shepherds' huts on Tristan da Cunha island. The museum is not pictured. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Tourists can climb the active volcano on their visit. This peaceful, quiet settlement was almost destroyed in 1961 when the volcano erupted and sent lava spewing down the mountains.

Tristan da Cunha. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

You can see here how close the lava got to the settlement. It stopped before it reached the buildings.

Tristan da Cunha. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Islanders were forced to evacuate. Most went to England, where they got a taste of modern life.

When the islanders evacuated, the UK government assumed it was permanent. Terence Spencer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

By November of 1963, all the islanders who chose to reject the swinging sixties in the UK had returned back to their settlement to carry on their legacy.

A boat filled with islanders returning home to Tristan da Cunha in 1963. Carl Mydans/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tens of thousands were evacuated from a German city Wednesday after the discovery of three unexploded bombs in the city center left over from WWII.

The operation in Cologne, located in western Germany, is the largest evacuation in the city since the end of the fighting in Europe in 1945, city officials said. More than 20,000 people including residents, workers and hotel guests were cleared from parts of the city's old town and central Deutz district, Reuters reported, spanning a zone slightly larger than a half-mile.

The evacuation began at 8 a.m. local time, impacting morning commutes in a bustling riverfront area of the city. Three American bombs, each with impact fuses, were found Monday, June 2 during construction work in a shipyard on the bank of the Rhine River, according to a statement from city officials.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Dusseldorf District Government is expected to defuse the three unexploded bombs Wednesday, the statement said.

More: When did World War II start? The deadliest international conflict explained.

Unexploded bombs not uncommon in Germany

A person works by a cordoned off area near the Cologne Cathedral, after the discovery of World War II-era bombs during exploratory work, affecting over 20,000 people, who had to be evacuated on June 4, 2025, in Cologne, Germany, in this still image from undated video.

Unexploded bombs are often found in Germany, where many major cities sustained heavy damage during the war. Central Cologne in particular was nearly decimated in 1942 as the first target of the British Royal Airforce's "thousand bomber raids," famously leaving the city's renowned Gothic cathedral nearly unscathed.

City officials estimate 20,500 people plus a large number of workers are affected by the roughly 3,200-foot evacuation radius, which includes one hospital, two retirement homes, a train station, museums and event centers including the famous Philharmonic Hall, numerous large companies and several public transportation stops. Many restaurants, nine schools, 58 hotels and several daycare centers are also among the list of evacuated locations, the statement said.

Contributing: Reuters.

Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWII bombs found in Cologne, Germany cause evacuations
Meanwhile, Livesey said the business is seeing an increase in new customers who are comfortable interacting with AI and expect it in the products and services they use.

Organisations must rethink product design with AI in mind, catering to a new generation that demands AI-driven experiences, she said.

Livesey observed that it will be important for businesses actually expand their knowledge and start to think about and what their AI journey and transformation is going to look like.

She likened the disruption to the advent of Airbnb or Uber, which set off very different partnerships and relationships started to form, as well as creating new business models.

AI amplifies that again because its accessing data and various sources, she said. Were now seeing identification happening and AI agents operating in a broader ecosystem.

Those boundaries are becoming much wider and this presents opportunities for organisations, but trusted partnerships will be critical to delivering products and services.

Changing partnerships

Investing in those partnerships and alliances will be a critical part of what every organisation will need to amplify over this next period, she said.

When you talk about partnerships and alliances, there are the traditional partnerships with vendors and distributors, but Im also seeing partnerships between service providers as well, she said.

Some of the bigger players are working with medium and smaller companies to help with their AI or their customers AI journeys because it is such a complex situation.

Livesey said while AI is not a new technology and has been around for decades, the acceleration and pace of adoption of AI has been quite incredible, particularly in the last 18 months.

One of the most critical things is to really understand how AI is used across products, services, and business operations, which is essential to unlocking its value, she said.

Livesey noted that there was so much AI with every product embedded with it and the value will be to make sure how Cognizant can help clients. This will not only help to derive value, but also to make sure customers are using the right tooling for specific situations and purposes.

Theres an overwhelming amount of AI available, which means a lot of work goes into thinking about the right application for business cases, evaluating every stage from prototype to pilot, she said.

I think the word trust is really important in this, noted Livesey. Where does trust come from, and how do we actually [become] trusted  not only as a supplier to our customers but also in the supply of products and services to their customers?

We can see already, whether youre a large enterprise or a small enterprise, AI is disrupting business today.

Livesey observed there was a noticeable surge in productivity and a growing confidence in using AI for things like coding, content generation and gathering insights.

Thats why there is an acceleration in the way AI is being used to evolve and grow products and services, while also creating fresh, impactful experiences for customers.

We can see the access to information and the boundaries are blurring for traditional business models, she said.

Thats why strong collaborations will be essential especially with the complex layers involved in working across reseller and partner ecosystems, Livesey explained.

Those trusted partnerships will not only deliver services but also shore up the way business operates.

This will be more critical in an AI world  [more] than they have ever been, she said.

Liveseys concept of partnerships flips the idea of traditional alliance relationships or reseller relationships. It focuses on bringing together partners to innovate, collaborate,and drive transformation with value.

These flipped partnerships will become essential for businesses to stay competitive and meet the challenges of a rapid rise of new consumers, she added.
by Giorgio Licini*

A report prepared by ACT NOW and Jubilee Australia brings the issue of deforestation back to the forefront. The focus is on issues related to the application and implementation of logging licenses, which are exploited for different purposes. It is necessary to ensure better control of the timber industry and develop local employment and income.

Port Moresby (AsiaNews)  Logging in Papua New Guinea is again under the spotlight following the publication of a new report in May by community advocacy organisation ACT NOW and the Jubilee Australia Research Centre. It summarizes data and publications already available to the public but focuses on issues surrounding application and correct implementation of logging licenses.

There are three types of logging concessions in PNG under the Forestry Act 1991. The Forest Management Agreements allow for the cutting of selected timbers in a defined area where the general conditions of the rainforest are meant to be preserved. The Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs), in contrast, are concessions provided in view of agricultural activities and other land use changes to totally replace the original rainforest. The Timber Authorities allow for limited log harvesting for local and domestic processing. The report from Act Now and Jubilee Australia concentrates on the Forest Clearing Authorities concessions, which constitute 38% of the total PNG export of logs.

A moratorium on stopping the issuing of new FCAs and an audit on the existing ones had been called for since 2011 by different forestry and environmental watchdogs. It was eventually issued in January 2023 by the PNG Forest Authority, though no audit report has yet to be released. It is alleged that irregularities occur both in the application and implementation of the FCAs.

At the application stage what is questioned is sufficient evidence of the agricultural plans expected to be developed and the capacity of companies to implement them. The projected area for logging is also frequently larger than the prospective agricultural project. The local community consent, a legal requirement, is not always being properly sought; and disputes, divisions, tensions and corruption of landowners and their associations are rife.

When it comes to the implementation stage of the logging concessions, Act Now and Jubilee Australia claim that the Forest Clearing Authorities are effectively applied as Forest Management Agreements, where selective logging is actually being practiced rather than complete clearing; that way revealing a lack of interest and no real plans for future agricultural projects. It is simply large-scale logging, which contradicts the nature of the FCAs and could qualify the activity as illegal.

Government control of the logging industry in Papua New Guinea is weak (due to shortage of financial and human resources for enforcement duties) or complicit. Act Now and Jubilee Australia recommend drastic initiatives to reestablish control of the sector, beginning with the suspension of all log exports from FCAs until the legality of their applications and their actions are independently and publicly assessed. No new licenses should be issued before all the existing FCA projects have been audited and the findings published. Law enforcement agencies should verify possible breaches of criminal laws, and commercial banks identify customers connected to FCAs and conduct a thorough check on money laundering and social responsibility policies. Overseas timber buyers must also ensure that all logs originating from PNG are independently verified as legally harvested by an approved and sustainably managed source.

As countries now generally tend to verify the regularity of imported logs, there is a need to check that not only is a proper license and export permit always in place, but the legality of the process is assessed and guaranteed at all stages. Ninety per cent of PNG logs are exported to China where they are processed for the local market or again exported as finished product. China bears a great responsibility on the actions of the PNG logging industry and its application and implementation practices.

In summary, by quoting from the Act Now and Jubilee Australia report (The FCA Logging Scandal, May 2025, p. 8): Papua New Guineas forests are globally important. New Guinea island is home to the worlds third-largest contiguous rainforest and is its most botanically diverse island. The forests of PNG are an important carbon sink and an essential part of global plans to reduce global warming. They also sustain the lives, livelihoods and cultural traditions of millions of rural people. Like many other Pacific countries, PNGs population is overwhelmingly Indigenous, with as much as 95 per cent of land under traditional tenure and customary land rights are recognised in PNGs legal framework. Increasingly, there is global recognition of the sophistication of PNGs traditional ecological knowledge. However, for decades, PNGs forestry sector has made national and international headlines over a series of logging scandals. Today PNG stands as the worlds largest exporter of tropical logs. Logs harvested under a single permit type  a Forest Clearing Authority (FCA)  account for a third of PNGs total log exports. This is particularly alarming as a FCAs primary purpose is not to enable large scale or long-term logging, but to support agriculture and other land use changes by allowing any necessary forest clearing.

The need to once again investigate the logging practices in Papua New Guinea appears to be urgent and evident. In another worrying development, in January 2024, the independent monitoring of log export volumes and species declarations by the international surveillance company SGS (Society General Surveillance) was suspended due to the nonpayment of outstanding invoices by the PNGFA. This was despite the program generating an estimated K35 million a year in additional tax revenue against a cost of K7.3 million. The suspension of the log export monitoring means there is no reliable data for 2024 on the volumes of logs exported from PNG or the output from individual concession areas (The FCA Logging Scandal, May 2025, p. 12).

The fact that the issue came to the attention of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery, chaired by Oro Governor Garry Juffa, which convened on 29 May 2025 to investigate the matter, is reassuring as far as the pertinent government agencies are pressured to comply with respective duties and responsibilities. Ideally, local downstream processing and production of sawn timber are replaced by outright export of logs. It will take time and investment capitals, still likely to come from outside the country, but it would ensure better control of the logging industry and provide local employment and income.

* PIME missionary, Caritas PNG Advocacy
Today's news: Lee Jae-myung pledges to unite the people in his first speech as South Korean president; Israel launches a series of attacks on Syrian territory against weapons belonging to the Damascus regime; Philippine authorities raise the alarm over an HIV emergency; Over 200 inmates escape from a Karachi prison, taking advantage of the chaos caused by a series of earthquakes.

TAIWAN - USA - CHINA

The world will never forget and must keep alive the memory of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, carried out by the Chinese Communist government in 1989 against pro-democracy protesters. This was stated today by Taiwans President Lai Ching-te on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of an event that remains a taboo for the Chinese regime, around which strict censorship prevails. The leader of Taipei added that the island refuses to forget history because democratic societies choose to preserve the truth. Today, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised the courage of the Chinese people and the victims of the bloody repression.

SOUTH KOREA

In his first speech as South Korea's new president, Lee Jae-myung pledged to unite the people. The 61-year-old leader of the Democratic Party (DP) won 49.42% of the approximately 35 million votes cast (the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1997), while his rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) stopped at 41.15%. He promised deregulation to stimulate innovation and growth, and a willingness to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang while maintaining a strong alliance with Washington (despite tariffs).

ISRAEL - SYRIA

The Israeli army launched a series of attacks in southern Syria in response to rocket fire on the Golan Heights. Fighter jets bearing the Star of David struck weapons belonging to the Syrian regime, which is considered responsible for the current situation and which will continue to suffer the consequences as long as hostile activities from its territory continue, according to an IDF statement. Sources in the Arab country speak of violent explosions in the city of Quneitra and the Daraa region.

INDIA

Penguin chicks born at Mumbai Zoo are to be given names in the Marathi language, extending the directive that previously applied to human children to animals. The controversial proposal was launched by Byculla BJP leader Nitin Bankar, who argues that the birds, which are unable to fly, should be considered residents of Maharashtra from birth.

PHILIPPINES

Health authorities have raised the alarm over a public health emergency linked to an increase in HIV infections, which has particularly affected young men. In the first three months of 2025, an average of 57 new cases were reported per day, an increase of 50% on 2024. Ninety-five per cent of new cases were male, 33% were aged between 15 and 24, and 47% were aged between 25 and 34. Only 55% of HIV-positive people are diagnosed in the Philippines.

PAKISTAN

Over 200 inmates escaped from a prison in the southern metropolis of Karachi, taking advantage of permission to leave their cells granted by prison guards following a series of earthquakes that hit the area. The escape began around midnight and ended in the early hours of yesterday morning. The prisoners seized the guards' guns and forced them to open the gates. At least one prisoner was killed and three prison guards were wounded in the shootout.

RUSSIA

Eight OPEC+ countries, including Russia, have decided to accelerate oil production in July to 411,000 barrels per day. This decision has led to a drop in the price per barrel to below , partly due to the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump. However, the Russians are counting on the price remaining within , the level set in the budget.

TURKMENISTAN

A group of Turkmenistan human rights activists, together with the Progres fund, has published a report on the latest cotton harvest in the country, as part of the Campaign for Fair Cotton. The report highlights how, despite all the promises, state employees, students and military personnel continue to be used as forced labour for the harvest.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

From the 2026/2027 school year, the Fundamentals of Russia's moral and spiritual culture will be introduced as a new subject in Russian schools. The drafting of the textbook has been entrusted to the Metropolitan of Crimea, known as Putin's spiritual father.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - From 1 September 2026, a new subject will be taught in Russian schools, Fundamentals of the Moral and Spiritual Culture of Russia (abbreviated as Odnknr), with the aim of teaching the traditional universal human values that underpin all religions.

The specific textbook for this subject, a veritable Russian catechism, will be prepared by the Metropolitan of Crimea, Tikhon (Sevkunov), known as Vladimir Putin's spiritual father. The text will be drafted by the Moscow State Pedagogical University, which has asked the Moscow Patriarchate for guidelines, entrusted to the metropolitan-publicist, filmmaker and writer, as officially announced by the press service of the Ministry of Education.

The manual will not only be an exposition of abstract principles, but will be illustrated and explained with examples from the lives of great men of Russia. In recent years, the new subject had been included in topics concerning the Culture of the Peoples of Russia and History of Our Region depending on the location of the school, but these variations had been criticised directly by Patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev) of Moscow, who urged that specific teaching of values should not be excluded from middle school classrooms.

During the Christmas Readings in February, the patriarch announced with great satisfaction that his request had been accepted, involving all history teachers in the teaching of moral and spiritual subjects, precisely to highlight the most meritorious aspects and figures of Russian history.

Metropolitan Tikhon will not only be the main advisor and inspiration for the new textbook, but will also act on the basis of his recent appointment, decided directly by President Vladimir Putin, who has included him in the new working group on children's and youth education, which brings together representatives of all relevant state bodies.

The director of this commission is the deputy head of the presidential administration, former Prime Minister Sergei Kirienko, together with presidential adviser Andrei Fursenko, former Minister of Education, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The group is tasked with establishing the necessary measures to create a single educational environment in all organisations involved in education, reviewing and revising all school curricula from primary and secondary schools to vocational schools and higher education.

In previous versions of Culture of the Peoples, according to the reviews, a harmful interpretation of the Romanov dynasty, from the 17th to the 20th century, had been given, and in the new programme there will no longer be the expressions rule of law and civil society, considered merely Western influences on the final and degrading phase of the state of the emperors, now too closely related to Western dynasties.

This is one of Metropolitan Tikhon's most typical assessments, which he often repeats as Russia can only exist in the imperial dimension, like that of the 16th- and 17th-century monarchs starting with Ivan the Terrible.

As already announced by Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov, Russian history will be rewritten according to moral and spiritual principles dating back to the times of Kievan Rus', excluding the concept of colonisation of the Slavic tribes of the plains, the so-called Poljani, who are contrasted with the Drevljani, anticipating the division between Poles-Ukrainians and Russians, according to the description in the ancient Chronicle of Nestor.

This definition has become classic in Russian scholarly texts since the 19th century, and even more so in Soviet times, and will now be replaced by the term osvoenie, 'appropriation', to indicate a process whereby the Russians expanded into territories that were still empty or uncivilised, without therefore violating the rights of other populations, but bringing authentic values, while colonisation will be attributed only to Western kingdoms and nations.
by Lisa Bongiovanni

The visa restrictions announced by the White House particularly affect Chinese students, who now number 277,000 in the United States. However, their numbers had already been declining in recent years, with the growth of alternatives in Asian universities, particularly in Japan, South Korea and Singapore. While Chinese universities are climbing the rankings in technological disciplines, they suffer from limitations on freedom of thought in the humanities.

Milan (AsiaNews) - For days, the issue of Chinese students in American universities has been a hot topic in relations between Washington and Beijing. On 22 May, the Trump administration announced its decision to prevent foreign students from studying at Harvard. A federal judge blocked the measure the following day, but the administration responded by tightening the restrictions. And on 27 May, it suspended all new interviews for foreign students. The storm came just before the Gaokao, the extremely difficult exam that 13.3 million Chinese students will take on 7 June to gain admission to university.

Of the approximately 1 million international students currently studying in the United States, 277,000 were Chinese in 2024. The visa restrictions will undoubtedly have significant consequences, but the data show that they will only accelerate a trend that is already underway:

Academic Year Chinese Students 2015-2016 328.547 2019-2020 372.532 2023-2024 277.398

Until a few years ago, enrolment numbers had been growing steadily, peaking in 2019-2020. However, following the pandemic, the trend had already begun to change, and since 2020-2021, the number of Chinese students has fallen steadily year on year.

Why are fewer Chinese students choosing the United States?

The decline in Chinese students is due to a number of factors, including security  the United States is no longer seen in China as a safe place to live  and growing patriotism. The same political rivalries and climate of mistrust between Washington and Beijing are reflected in students, who see how much more difficult it is to obtain a visa and hope that it will be renewed. In addition, growing threats of espionage by Beijing have made it very difficult for its students to find jobs in the so-called STEM areas  science, technology, engineering and mathematics  in so-called sensitive sectors.

Where can students who can no longer study in the United States go?

The decline in the United States does not mean that fewer Chinese students want to study abroad: young Chinese people around the world are reaching record levels and have contributed to the recent boom in popularity of Asian universities. Singapore, for example, hosted 73,200 international students in 2024, about half of whom were Chinese.

According to a 2025 study by Sunrise International, the most popular destination was Japan, which welcomed about 115,000 Chinese students, followed in Asia by South Korea, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.

In Japan, Chinese students increased by 11% between 2022 and 2023 and accounted for around 40% of total students in 2024. In Thailand, the increase was 21.4% between 2022 and 2023, reaching a threshold of almost 19,000 students. In Malaysia, they increased by 25%, from 26,627 Chinese students in 2023 to 33,216 in 2024.

Is it possible that some of the students who will not go to the United States will stay in China?

In China, the higher education sector has experienced phenomenal growth, and most of the best universities in Asia are located in China. Five Chinese universities appear in the top 50 in the world rankings, whereas in the 1990s they did not even appear in the top 200. This success is part of a political priority for Beijing, where the goal has been to create high-level universities capable of rivalling the best Western institutions, both in terms of academic quality and international reputation, in order to attract and train talent that can contribute to the country's development. Peking University and Tsinghua University recently confirmed that Gerard Mourou, a French physicist and Nobel Prize winner, and Kenji Fukaya, a Japanese mathematician, would be joining their teaching staff. At the end of April, Alex Lamb, a researcher in the field of artificial intelligence, confirmed that he was leaving his laboratory at Microsoft in New York for Tsinghua's new AI college. Then there are scientists of Chinese origin who are returning to China after attending Western universities, such as mathematician Sun Song of the University of California, who has moved to Zhejiang University, home to DeepSeek.

China is investing 0 billion a year in what economists call human capital. To attract an ever-larger pool of talent, in addition to improving the international reputation of its institutions, Beijing has granted large reductions in university fees, provided substantial scholarships and introduced several courses taught entirely in English. These investments are part of a country that offers excellent job opportunities: multinationals such as IBM, DELL, General Electric, Intel and General Motors continue to hire students graduating from Chinese universities, further enhancing the prestige of these institutions.

Could historic universities such as Harvard be replaced by Chinese ones?

Despite its investments, today's China will never be able to match these institutions in all fields of study. Beijing is focusing on science and technology, sectors that reflect the country's development needs, but also the only ones in which it is possible to guarantee a high level of education in a system where academic debate is limited due to restrictions on freedom of speech. The liberal arts often involve critical thinking about politics, economics and history. At the moment, I don't think any university in China has an atmosphere comparable to that of historic Western universities such as Harvard or Oxford in terms of freedom of expression, said Lin Jianhua, former president of Peking University.
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4 June 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In a time marked by the EUs decisive move to cut energy dependence on Russia, aiming to reduce gas imports from 155 billion cubic meters to 33 billion, diversification has become not just a policy but a necessity. In this context, Azerbaijans contribution is increasingly strategic: more than 75% of its oil and over half of its gas exports were directed to Europe in 2024. This shift has been facilitated through key infrastructure such as the Southern Gas Corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines, which physically...

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4 June 2025 20:11 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The South Caucasus is once again at the centre of intense international attention. From Washington to Brussels, and from Moscow to Yerevan, foreign policy circles are ramping up efforts to influence the fate of the long-anticipated peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. While calls for peace grow louder, the fundamental issues remain unresolved, and the political backdrop in Armenia is growing increasingly turbulent.

A renewed wave of diplomatic activity has unfolded in recent weeks, marking the second such surge since Baku and Yerevan announced that they had agreed on the main text of the peace agreement. U.S. and EU officials have become more engaged, and statements about peace and regional cooperation are now more frequent, including from U.S. President Donald Trump and Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yet, conspicuously absent from these statements is any mention of one of the most critical issues: the final dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Groupa group that Azerbaijan considers obsolete and counterproductive.

Silence on the Minsk Group, vague promises on development

All parties involved in the processwhether from the West or Russiaare well aware of Azerbaijans two key expectations: the removal of any reference to the OSCE Minsk Group and constitutional amendments in Armenia that eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan. These are not ambiguous demands; they have been clearly articulated by Azerbaijani officials on numerous occasions.

Despite this clarity, none of the major actorsincluding the United States, Russia, or Francehave voiced support for dissolving the Minsk Group, a format that Azerbaijan views as undermining real peace efforts. Instead, the U.S. and EU have opted to speak in generalities, promising development and investment in the South Caucasus. But what this development entails remains vague. The EU, for example, touts the Middle Corridor project and future infrastructure investments, yet the corridor itself is still not fully operational. Then, Russia, on the other hand, aims to revive the "3+3 Format", which has been in a stalemate for a long time.

Meanwhile, one of the core assumptions underlying peacenamely, the unblocking of regional transportation routesremains outside the framework of the treaty. For Azerbaijan, the opening of communications is conditional: there must be unimpeded passage for Azerbaijani citizens and cargo through the Zangezur corridor. Without this guarantee, Baku is unlikely to proceed with opening transit links.

Steve Daines visit underscores U.S. geopolitical recalibration

Senator Steve Daines, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a key voice in the Central Asia Caucus, recently visited Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevanstopping in that particular order. The sequence itself is telling. Daines visit underscores Washingtons renewed interest in ensuring stability in the South Caucasus and positioning the region as a key gateway to Central Asia, particularly in the context of the evolving Middle Corridor.

In Baku, Daines was received by President Ilham Aliyev. The senator emphasized the growing importance of bilateral ties and praised Azerbaijans strategic role, particularly its infrastructure and logistical capabilities, which are central to the functioning of EastWest transit routes. He also highlighted Azerbaijans contribution to securing Kabul airport during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, reaffirming long-standing security cooperation between the two countries.

Daines broader message was clear: The United States sees the South Caucasus as part of Greater Central Asia, a concept gaining traction in U.S. policy circles and promoted by institutions like the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and the American Foreign Policy Council. This vision reframes the regionnot as an appendage of Europebut as an integral link in a vast geopolitical chain extending from Mongolia to the Caspian Sea and beyond.

In Georgia, Senator Daines met with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The meeting, which also touched on regional peace and U.S.-Georgia relations, reflected the new administration's America First approach. Kobakhidze emphasized the need to renew strategic ties with the United States and pushed back against attempts by what he termed the Deep State to derail cooperation. Daines also met with opposition leaders, though his focus remained on pragmatism and regional stabilitynot ideological or regime-change agendas.

In Yerevan, Senator Daines reiterated U.S. expectations for peace and investment in Armenia, while stressing the importance of real reforms. He made it clear that for Armenia to benefit from regional economic integration, it must drop territorial claims against Azerbaijan and cease revanchist policies. Only then can Yerevan hope to participate in the emerging architecture of Greater Central Asia.

Pashinyan vs. Church and the opposition

While international diplomacy continues, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan faces growing domestic unrest. His government has entered into open conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church, led by Catholicos Karekin II. The Church has accused the government of trying to silence its influence, especially as it voices concern over the states concessions in peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.

Pashinyans friction with the Church is only the latest episode in a broader political struggle. Since 2021, the prime minister has neutralized much of the oppositionfrom military generals to former presidents. However, recent local elections in Gyumri and Parakar dealt a blow to the ruling party, invigorating the opposition and triggering early signs of election campaigning, even though the next parliamentary vote is not until spring 2026.

Catholicos Karekin II, and the clergy stated that this "disgraceful" campaign was conducted with the aim of "suppressing the voice of the Church and reducing its social influence," linking it to Azerbaijan's persistent demands against Armenia.

"The Armenian Church, realising its obligations, will resolutely continue its mission of spiritual salvation and national protection, and will constantly protect the supreme interests of the state and nation, our sacred values, by resisting harmful and destructive processes," the church said in a statement following an extraordinary meeting in Echmiadzin.

The opposition, on the other hand, appears to be testing two strategies: one involving fragmented participation followed by post-election unification (as in Gyumri), and the other, backing a charismatic local figure to defeat Pashinyans party directly (as in Parakar). Pashinyan has responded with what some observers call carpet bombingintensifying anti-corruption investigations, summoning former leaders to court, and now turning up the heat on the Church.

The resignation of Armenias police chief on June 3 also fits into this pattern. A career officer not aligned with Pashinyans inner circle, his departure allows the prime minister to fully consolidate control over internal security ahead of possible unrest. The new Interior Ministry leadershipcomprising a female minister and a former NGO operativeraises questions about operational command during future protests, particularly from elite riot units like the Red Berets. One might conclude that the dispute with the Catholicos is part of the preparation for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026. The aggressive rhetoric aims to polarise society, strengthen the ruling party, and address foreign actions. Its crucial to note that the Church, as an independent political entity, will actively seek partnerships with such forces.

Consequently, Pashinyans immediate challenge is linked to the 2026 elections, while his long-term objective involves overcoming the Armenian Church's institutional power. This latter task seems to be significantly more challenging.

Despite the rise in international rhetoric about peace in the South Caucasus, the process remains fragile. True stability requires clarity and sincerity from all actors, particularly on the role of obsolete mechanisms like the OSCE Minsk Group and the specific guarantees that ensure communications will be unblocked. Vague promises about development will not suffice.

Senator Steve Daines visit signals a more strategic and regionally integrated approach from the United States, but it also highlights that peace is not a one-sided demand. Armenia must demonstrate real political will, both externally and internally, for peace to become a reality.

Meanwhile, as Pashinyan struggles to maintain his grip amid mounting internal dissent, the outcome of this political balancing act could shape not just Armenias future, but the trajectory of the entire region.
4 June 2025 11:18 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan and Brazil are working with other countries to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually to combat climate change, according to Mukhtar Babayev, the Presidents Special Representative on Climate Issues and President of COP29, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum, Babayev emphasized the growing challenges in the global climate fight. New obstacles have emerged, as some countries are now adopting divergent approaches. Notably, the United States has pulled back from certain climate negotiations, which has had a negative impact on international efforts, he said.

Despite these challenges, Babayev noted that many donor nations have already begun preparations to fulfill the commitments they made in Baku.

He also highlighted a major milestone achieved during COP29: We reached a historic agreement to raise $300 billion in climate financing. While this was a significant achievement, some countries had initially hoped for pledges in the trillions.

The announcement underscores Azerbaijans growing role in global climate diplomacy ahead of hosting COP29 later this year.
4 June 2025 16:41 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan has initiated exports of electrodes to Turkmenistan for the first time, marking a new chapter in industrial trade between the two Caspian neighbors, Azernews reports. According to the Ministry of Economy, Gedik Kaynak LLCa resident of the Neftchala Industrial Districtdispatched an initial shipment of...

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4 June 2025 16:06 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan and Guinea-Bissau have reached an agreement to develop a roadmap for cooperation in the energy sector, according to a post by Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov on his official X account, Azernews reports.

During a meeting with Viriato Luis Soares Cassama, Guinea-Bissaus Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Action, the two sides discussed Azerbaijans extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, electricity production, and energy regulation. They also explored opportunities for collaboration in human capital development.

As part of our discussions, we agreed to prepare a joint roadmap, facilitate expert-level meetings, and organize training seminars, Shahbazov noted in his post.
4 June 2025 16:14 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijans Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov met with Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACWA Power, on the sidelines of Baku Energy Week, reaffirming the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia in the renewable energy sector, Azernews reports.

The meeting underscored the rapidly growing collaboration between the two nations, particularly in advancing Azerbaijans green energy transition. Minister Jabbarov praised Saudi investment and highlighted the strategic importance of the KhiziAbsheron wind power plant - a flagship project by ACWA Power set to become the largest wind facility in the Caucasus region.

The discussions also touched on emerging opportunities in seawater desalination, a critical component of Azerbaijans water sustainability strategy. Both sides acknowledged the urgency of developing resilient and sustainable energy models amid the global push toward decarbonization.

It should be noted that Polina Lyubomirova, Director of Business Development at ACWA Power, echoed this sentiment during the Baku Energy Forum. She noted Azerbaijans transformation into a pivotal player in the regional energy transition.

We are witnessing rapid progress in Azerbaijans green energy corridors, Lyubomirova said. What began as a single subsea cable under the Black Sea has now expanded into four potential corridors, each with unique strategic and technical dimensions.

While still in the early stages of analysis and advisory assessments, Lyubomirova emphasized ACWA Powers keen interest in exploring these opportunities. Our involvement will depend on the outcome of detailed technical and economic feasibility studies, she added.

ACWA Power is currently nearing completion of the 240 MW KhiziAbsheron wind project and is actively engaged in a desalination initiative to bolster Azerbaijans water infrastructure. Beyond Azerbaijan, the company is expanding across Central Asia, including major wind, solar, and energy storage projects in Uzbekistan.

The deepening engagement between ACWA Power and Azerbaijan signals the countrys growing role as a regional hub for renewable energy and green infrastructure -and highlights Saudi Arabias commitment to supporting the global shift to sustainable energy.
4 June 2025 16:26 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

"Speaking one language paves the way for building connections with others," this sentiment was expressed by Chakib Benhafri, Director of Scientific Research at University of Algiers 2, during a lecture titled "The Continuation of Colonial Thought in the Modern International Relations System," Azernews reports.

Benhafri proposed the idea of establishing an Azerbaijani Language Center at the University of Algiers, noting the growing interest in Turkic languages:

Right now, over 2,000 students at our university are studying Turkish. While the distance between Africa and Azerbaijan is great, our hearts are closebecause our traditions are nearly identical, he said.

He emphasized the need to strengthen ties between the societies of Algeria and Azerbaijan:

We must build relationships and engage in joint initiatives. First and foremost, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a Turkic republic. That is precisely why we are interested in Azerbaijans model of a multiethnic, harmonious society, he concluded.
4 June 2025 11:02 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Representatives from the state commissions on missing persons of Azerbaijan and Armenia have held another meeting to address humanitarian concerns related to individuals who went missing during the conflict between the two countries, Azernews reports.

The discussions focused on efforts to clarify the fate of missing persons, highlighting the need for information exchange and coordination of search operations. Both sides reviewed avenues for cooperation in ongoing investigations and the sharing of relevant data that could help locate or identify missing individuals.

The meeting reaffirmed the mutual understanding of the sensitive nature of the issue. Both Azerbaijani and Armenian representatives emphasized the importance of maintaining a humanitarian dialogue and expressed their readiness to continue contacts in the interest of the families awaiting answers.

This latest step contributes to the broader effort to foster trust between the two sides, as both countries continue to address the legacies of the past while pursuing a path toward peace.
4 June 2025 10:21 (UTC+04:00)

In accordance with the Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO for 2025, a training session on Operational Planning Process is being held in cooperation with the Mobile Training Team from the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, located in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Defence.

The training, conducted at the War Games Center of the National Defense University, includes both theoretical and practical sessions on operational planning, command and control within NATO, and other related topics.
4 June 2025 12:41 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and the countrys Chief Commissioner for Expo 2025, held a meeting in Japan with Akihisa Nagashima, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, to explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation, Azernews reports.

The meeting focused on advancing joint projects between Azerbaijan and Japan across various sectors. Advisor Nagashima highlighted the strong momentum in energy, oil, and gas cooperation and noted the promising potential in the renewable energy sector. He also expressed appreciation for Azerbaijans active role in Expo 2025, commending the countrys national pavilion for showcasing its rich cultural heritage and ranking among the top 10 most beautiful pavilions.

Alakbarov underlined that President Ilham Aliyev places high importance on deepening relations with Japan, emphasizing the wide potential for cooperation in economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields. He also invited Japanese companies to take part in reconstruction and development projects in Azerbaijans liberated territories.

Both sides acknowledged the importance of cultural initiatives to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, noting that Azerbaijans National Day will be celebrated in Tokyo and Osaka as part of the ongoing collaboration.
4 June 2025 13:46 (UTC+04:00)

Under the Order, an initial allocation of 1.5 million manats will be provided to the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads for the overhaul of the road, which connects 12 residential areas with a combined population of 7,000 people.

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order on measures for the major repair of the BakuGubaRussian Federation state border (137 km)ChichiSebetlerGanidereSirt ChichiTangaalti road in the Guba district.

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4 June 2025 18:43 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijans Commissioner for Human Rights, Sabina Aliyeva, took part in the Silenced Voices event held at the Huseyn Javid House Museum, organized within the framework of Human Rights Month, Azernews reports.

In her opening remarks, the Ombudsman paid tribute to Huseyn Javid, describing him as a towering figure in Azerbaijani literature and a symbol of resilience against repression. She emphasized the historical significance of returning Javids remains to his native Nakhchivana gesture made possible by the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyevas a key act of restoring justice.

Sabina Aliyeva also highlighted the adoption of the Concept of Return, aimed at ensuring the rights of displaced Azerbaijani citizens, as a strong reflection of President Ilham Aliyevs commitment to upholding human rights. She linked this broader national effort to the legacy of Huseyn Javid, portraying him as an enduring voice for truth and justice.

At the event, the Ombudsman was presented with the book Huseyn Javids Epistolary Heritage, honoring the literary and moral contributions of the repressed writer.
4 June 2025 19:12 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan significantly ramped up its petroleum bitumen exports to Georgia in the first quarter of 2025, marking a major year-on-year increase both in volume and value, Azernews reports citing data from the State Statistical Committee. Azerbaijan exported 2,044 thousand tons of petroleum bitumen to Georgia from January through March this year, generating revenue of...

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4 June 2025 20:38 (UTC+04:00)

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The Pentagon has proposed to the U.S. Congress to redirect $500 million previously allocated for the accelerated development of the Navys sixth-generation fighter program (F/A-XX) to finance the F-47 project for the Air Force. This proposal is expected to be discussed today during a hearing involving representatives from the Navy, Azernews reports.

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The EU (European Union) ought to change its name to the EUSSR after the old Soviet Union, because it is trying to trample free speech the same way the old soviet communists used to. But unlike the USSR, the new EUSSR wants to censor the entire world by suppressing free speech on the internet, bending US Big Tech companies to their highly restrictive rules. The EU demands that US Big Tech companies censor content and modify algorithims to meet their damands, impacting Big Tech's customers worldwide.

The EU has adopted legislation, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Marketing Act, to control the internet. They have made draconian demands on Big Tech companies and threatened massive fines if they do not comply.

Looking at censorship of speech the EU is imposing on its own citizens is an indicator of where they want to take the internet. In Poland, a Catholic priest has been criminally convicted for calling the country's globalist prime minister a "traitor" in a sermon. In France, a French senator has been prosecuted for posting "immigration kills" after a brutal rape and murder of a French girl by an illegal alien. In Germany, a pensioner has been criminally convicted for a post calling the country's hapless former Finance Minister an "iditot". In FInland, a member of parliament and former Cabinet Minister has been vigorously prosecuted for posting a Bible verse online. Spain's Socialist government is cracking down on anyone objecting to mass migration of illegal aliens. In France, a woman was arrested for posting online that French Macron is "a piece of filth".

https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/eu-tech-laws-erect-digital-iron-curtain/

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken the first step in fighting back by announcing that he would be blocking visas for foreign citizens who promote censorship and want to come to the US. But most Europeans do not have to have visas to visit, and something more is obviously needed there. Rubio has an easy tool. Such persons could be declared persona non grata in the US and denied entry on that basis. That should immediately be imposed on all identified leaders of pro-censorship private organizations, with a warning that if governments go down that road, their officials will get the same treatment.

There needs to be immediate pushback on the EU's threats of fines on Big Tech, perhaps of counterfines by the US against the EU itself. Maybe we need tariff threats to counteract any such action. Perhaps we need to say we will indict foreign leaders under our federal criminal statute prohibiting conspiring against the civil rights of Americans.

The censorship monster is rearing its ugly head and a stake needs to be driven through its heart.
The Closing of S. W. Snowden  Questions and Concerns Abound

OPINION

There has been a lot of conversation and concern about the closing of the S. W. Snowden school in Aurora that was voted upon at last nights Beaufort County School Board meeting. Much of this has to do with the process in which this decision was made, the validity of the information used to make this decision as well as some ethical questions pertaining to the process and those who cast votes to determine the fate of the school.

Beaufort County has a population of approximately 45,000, but Aurora specifically has a large minority population and is economically disadvantaged. The repercussions of closing Snowden, located south of the river, are many. These include the potential loss for economic development and growth, the decline of the Town of Aurora, and making the area less attractive for people relocating to the county. I believe that we will also see a drop in the overall school scores of Chocowinity Elementary and Middle Schools, currently two of the best in the county, and the detrimental impact that plays on many people deciding about where to relocate for work, housing or retirement as well. This drop in scores is not the fault of any school, student or teacher specifically but would follow the trend we see in the scores at Southside High where all students from south of the river are consolidated to attend high school when they leave Chocowinity and Aurora middle schools.

Many of those involved in this decision-making process are supposedly conservative Republicans. On June 2nd, the Board of County Commissioners voted against a proposal to provide the school system with an additional $300,000 to keep the school open for another year to allow time for a better determination on what should be done concerning the school. They also voted against extending the approval of the 2025-2026 county budget by one week to allow the School Board an opportunity to consider the $300,000 option to keep the school open. Both of these votes were defeated by votes from Frankie Waters (R), Randy Walker (R), Ed Booth (D) and Jerry Langley (D). It is concerning that the two minority commissioners would not do more to assist their constituents south of the river and what those motives may be.

On June 3rd, the School Board voted 6-3 in favor of closing S. W. Snowden. The votes in favor of closing the school were cast by T. W. Allen (R), Daniel Hudson (R), Carolyn Walker (R), Donald Shreve (R), Gary Carlton (R), and Eltha Booth (D). There are many issues related to closing this school that were expressed by myself and the public at large over the past few months. However, there are other issues pertaining to ethics, good governance, and the manner in how this process occurred which were not in line with, if not in direct violation of, certain state statutes.

There are two husband/wife duos currently in Beaufort County government. Ed Booth and Randy Walker both serve as Commissioners while their wives, Eltha Booth and Carolyn Walker serve on the School Board. They vote together as a block on all decisions related to the school system which also happens to be in line with the wishes of the School Superintendent, Matthew Cheeseman. While this relationship and how they vote may not be illegal, it certainly brings ethical questions into consideration. None of these four have ever recused themselves from any vote on an issue pertaining to both governing bodies to my knowledge. The four vote lockstep together as they did related to closing Snowden.

I believe that closing the school as well as the process in which this decision was made did not directly follow state statute and may have actually violated it.

I am not an attorney but have reviewed several statutes that I believe are most pertinent to the Snowden issue and relate specifically to N.C. Gen. Stat.  143-318.13(c). and  115C-72. Consolidation of districts and discontinuance of schools.

N.C. Gen. Stat.  143-318.13(c) Means board members may not deliberate, vote or otherwise take action by reference to a document or other item unless copies of the document are made available to the public at the meeting. In other words, the public has a right to know and understand what the board is discussing and voting upon. I don't believe copies of any of the studies, documents, or other information the board is using have been readily made available to the public, nor were they the evening of the vote.

N. C. Gen. Stat.  115C-72. states a "thorough study of such school to be made, having in mind primarily the welfare of the students to be affected by a proposed closing or consolidation and including in such study, among other factors, geographic conditions, anticipated increase or decrease in school enrollment, the inconvenience or hardship that might result to the pupils to be affected by such closing or consolidation, the cost of providing additional school facilities in the event of such closing or consolidation, and such other factors as the board shall consider germane. Before the entry of any order of closing or consolidation, the local board of education shall provide for a public hearing in regard to such proposed closing or consolidation, at which hearing the public shall be afforded an opportunity to express their views. Upon the basis of the study so made and after such hearing, said board may, in the exercise of its discretion, approve the closing or consolidation proposed." It is my opinion that this has not been properly done.

It is my understanding that there is legal recourse that can be taken since the School Board voted to close the school. This pertains specifically to violations of the Open Meetings Law. I will provide a brief overview of that below.

Anyone can bring a case in superior court to enjoin or prevent a public body from engaging in an anticipated violation of the Open Meetings Law. N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-318.16.

Any person can sue in superior court and request a declaration that an action by the public body was taken, considered, discussed or deliberated in violation of the Open Meetings Law. N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-318.16A.

If the court finds that an action was taken in violation of the Open Meetings Law, the court may declare the action null and void upon a consideration of a list of factors centering on the adverse impact of the violation on the public trust. N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-318.16A.

Such a suit must be filed within 45 days following the initial disclosure of the disputed action. N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-318.16A.

The judge may award the prevailing party attorney fees. The court may order that all or any portion of any fee assessed be paid personally by an individual member of the public body found by the court to have knowingly or intentionally committed the violation. N.C. Gen. Stat.143-318.16B.

Furthermore, although legally elected officials cast the votes which led to the decision to close S. W. Snowden, I dont believe these officials represented their constituents. At the two public meetings held to discuss the closing of the school, not one citizen advocated for closing the school. Their voices werent heard, nor their wishes heeded as the resulting vote demonstrated.

Finally, this next point may not be of concern to all citizens, but it is important in my opinion as far as conservative Republican values are concerned. The closing of community schools and consolidation of schools may not be an explicitly expressed point of the Republican party platform but understanding the key themes Republicans feel about education would lead me to believe that closing community schools and consolidating schools goes against Republican values. These values include emphasizing parental rights, local control over education and focusing on curriculum that highlights Americas Founding Principles. Closing community schools and consolidation is a leftist approach to education that limits family involvement in a childs education and allows for less oversight into what is being taught to our students. This is what appears to be happening more frequently in Beaufort County. It is very concerning that so many of the elected officials who identify as Republican voted against these values when they made the decision to close S. W. Snowden.
Impact on local jobs uncertain as Business Insider announces cuts

Mel Chittock, former Invest NI chief, Henry Blodget, co-founder of Insider Inc, and then Economy Minister Gordon Lyons in New York in 2022

A global media giant with a base in Belfast is to slash more than a fifth of its workforce.

The announcement of the job cuts was made by Barbara Peng, chief of Business Insiders parent company.

She added: Were also proposing changes that impact our UK team, but the process is a bit different there; separate communication will follow.

We are reducing the size of our organisation, a move that will impact about 21% of our colleagues and touch every department.

This will be a difficult day, and our first priority is to provide clarity and support to those colleagues whose roles are being eliminated.

Ms Peng said only those employees impacted would receive an email that included details for a meeting with the people and culture team, who would talk them through next steps and answer any questions.

She added that the media industry is at a crossroads.

She said: Business models are under pressure, distribution is unstable, and competition for attention is fiercer than ever.

At the same time, theres a huge opportunity for companies who harness AI first.

Our strategy is strong, but we dont have the luxury of time.

The pace of change combined with the opportunity ahead demands bold, focused action  and its our chance to lead the pack.

Gordon Lyons visited Insider Incs New York headquarters in 2022 in his role as Economy Minister to announce the new Belfast base.

At the time it employed more than 1,000 people, with 10 global editions in six languages.

He said then: Insider is expanding its engineering resource and is now establishing a technology and product hub in Northern Ireland, with plans to initially recruit 50 roles by the end of June 2024.

The roles will include data engineering, project management and IT support.

This was a highly mobile project with a number of locations in the running.

As part of Invest NIs engagement with the company to help win this project, I first met the senior team in March.

I am delighted to be back with the team to make this announcement.

Invest NI has done a great job helping to secure this project, the new jobs and over 2m investment in our local economy through annual salaries.

Henry Blodget, co-founder of Insider Inc, added: Our team there will be focused on improving our data products, subscription services, content syndication and testing automation processes  all of which are so important to our business.
Europe and the United States are meeting in Paris to negotiate a settlement of a tense tariff spat with global economic ramifications between two economic powerhouses.

The European Unions top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, met on Wednesday with his American counterpart, US trade representative Jamieson Greer, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
During the course of his offending against a female, Piaras Niall McErlean had financial control over her, threatened to end their relationship if she went on a family holiday, caused her to fear violence, and sent her abusive messages, including once in which he called her "f*****g ugly".
Study finds French is still declining in schools with pupils keen to learn Italian

Spanish is now the most popular language in Northern Ireland schools

Spanish is now the most widely taught language in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland, with French and German continuing to decline in popularity.

And the latest language trends survey from The British Council shows that Irish continues to rise in popularity, with almost half (41.9%) of post-primary schools surveyed now offering pupils the chance to study the language. That figure has risen from 35% in 2023.

The number of pupils taking Irish at GCSE level is also rising, showing an increase of 14.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

But the number of primary schools in favour of making language learning mandatory has fallen to 74.3% (down from 84% in 2023). While three in four Year 9 pupils said they enjoy language classes, 89% see little relevance to their future careers and less than one third currently intend to study a language at GCSE.

Irish is now the most common language taught at Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11), ahead of Spanish and French.

For the first time the research also looked at AI technology in primary and post-primary classrooms and found that although some post-primary schools are using AI, uptake remains limited. A few schools (7.6%) use AI technology regularly and over two-fifths (41.9%) use it occasionally in a few lessons per month. However, nearly half (49.5%) do not use AI at all in language teaching. Meanwhile, in primary schools the majority (81.3%) of teachers have never used AI technology.

The research was carried out by Dr Ian Collen and Dr Jayne Duff at Queens University Belfast on behalf of British Council Northern Ireland.

Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword; its a transformative force that is shaping industries, societies, and the way we learn languages, Dr Collen said.

Our research suggests that AI is underdeveloped in local classrooms; yesterdays launch of the Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum presents an opportunity to align language pedagogy with powerful knowledge from and through AI, enriching pupils learning and fostering skills which are relevant today and in the future.

This years report reveals that home, heritage and community languages are gaining significant visibility and support. There are now more than 21,350 newcomer pupils (learners whose home language is neither English nor Irish) enrolled in Northern Ireland schools, accounting for six per cent of the school population in 2024-25.

More schools are offering support to pupils to take exams in their home languages, with 70.5% of the post-primary schools surveyed offering pupils the opportunity to sit exams in their home or community languages, either within the school or externally. The research also highlights the growing linguistic diversity in schools, with nearly 30 different ones spoken at home by pupils in post-primary education.

These include Arabic, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Portuguese and Mandarin. Some schools report offering these heritage languages as part of enrichment or extra-curricular programmes.

There has also been a shift in the popularity of the main languages taught in post-primary schools. Spanish has overtaken French for the first time as the most popular language at Key Stage 3, with 84.8% of schools now teaching Spanish, compared to 81% for French, down from 90% in 2023. Irish is also seeing growth at Key Stage 3, taught in 41.9% of schools, up from 35% in 2023.

At GCSE level, Spanish remains the most popular language, having held the top spot since overtaking French in 2021. In contrast, French continues to decline, with 11.4% of schools offering post-16 courses reporting that they have discontinued the subject.

Meanwhile, Irish is experiencing renewed growth, with entries increasing by 14.9% in 2024 compared to 2023.

German has faced a sustained long-term decline, with GCSE entries dropping by more than half since 2002  from 1,390 to just 638 in 2024. At A-level, Spanish remains the most popular language, followed by Irish and then French. German entries remain low.

The report cites several factors as barriers to uptake at post-primary with 49% of post-primary schools reporting language classes wont run without sufficient enrolment, 36.2% report that pupils may be advised by senior leadership not to take a language and a third (33.3%) of schools surveyed discourage lower-attaining pupils from taking languages.

Asked what languages theyd like to learn, pupils ranked Italian highest for the second year in a row, with 16.5% of Year 9 pupils interested, followed by Spanish at 14.9% and Irish at 8.3%.

Jonathan Stewart, director of British Council Northern Ireland, said: We understand that learning a language fosters connections, trust, and understanding between people, communities, and countries.

Language skills and international experiences are essential valuable assets for Northern Irelands future, particularly as young people face an increasingly complex and interconnected global landscape.
There are plenty of challenges beyond the normal ones faced by a school when 17 different languages can be spoken in the classroom.

Such is the diversity at Cliftonville Integrated Primary in north Belfast.

But the school has risen to the task of providing an education and integration in a changing social landscape and has now been rewarded with the British Councils International School Award 2024-2027  the only recipient in Northern Ireland.

The UK-wide award scheme celebrates schools that bring the wider world into the classroom, creating a safe and welcoming environment for all pupils, fostering a culture of inclusion and celebrating diversity.

Bill Fletcher is principal of Cliftonville Integrated Primary, which has over 400 pupils and is already a designated school of sanctuary.

He said that while the vast majority of the children are from the home nations, they do have kids from all over the world.

There are challenges in the sense that if you have children coming in who have no English, thats difficult for the teachers. Theres very little support from the Department of Education or the Education Authority. I think thats a strategy they need to look at, he said.

Students at Cliftonville Integrated Primary

Without that support, its something the school provides for itself, with a member of staff as a dedicated international coordinator. Parents and pupils with English as an additional language (EAL) can also benefit from English classes with the schools dedicated EAL teacher.

Mr Fletcher added: "We need to do more across the board to help families when they come here, maybe through something like a six-month intensive programme in English to help them integrate into society.

Its far better for their children, though the children always tend to pick up English very quickly.

We have six designated school ambassadors in the school, pupils who help to integrate new children regardless of where theyre from. We have about 16% of children in the school who would be classed as coming from an EAL background.

They may have been here for a number of years and may be fluent in English, but there are some who have arrived in the last year to 18 months who need some help with the language. Its quite a diverse group, but were absolutely delighted at the recognition for the work we do. Its something weve been doing for quite some time.

The British Council chose Cliftonville Integrated Primary as the location to launch its language trends report 2025. It showed Spanish as the most popular language studied in Northern Ireland schools, but also found a reluctance among pupils to carry language studies through to qualifications level.

North Belfast MP John Finucane recently collected the award on behalf of the school at Westminster and was delighted to present it on Wednesday morning.

Its fantastic to see that theyve been honoured for the amazing work they do, he said.

Its not just a one-off, they live this and practise this on a daily basis. Its a school that embraces all cultures and diversities. They make children not just aware of that, but increase their curiosity, increase their learning and I think increase their kindness through the exposure to lots of different cultures.

Im a big fan of bilingualism, even multilingualism in schools. Its wonderful for the development of children, their learning and their capacity to embrace different subjects as they progress their academic life.

Its not necessarily just about making them fluent in lots of different languages. Its about that exposure to different cultures, different parts of our world, and to embed that in our own curriculum is something that would be celebrated. We dont need to look any further than Cliftonville Integrated Primary School to see how that can be done really well.

Central to everything the school does, though, is the wellbeing and education of its pupils, and nine-year-old Victoria Chen is loving her role as one of its international ambassadors.

She said: We show people around the school, welcome them here, and help them to make new friends. Its nice to be able to help new pupils understand more about school life.

Many of the pupils are learning Mandarin and French as part of their daily routine.

Charlotte Ogunleye said she loves the international atmosphere.

Its helping me learn about other cultures around me. Im learning to speak Mandarin and I can see patterns in other languages. I hope that will help me learn more, she said.

Its our job to make sure anyone new to the school doesnt feel lonely and left out, said fellow ambassador Wolfie Burns (9). We want to make sure everyone feels welcome and able to join in and Im proud to be able to do that.

Author of the British Council language trends report, Dr Ian Collen, said he was delighted to see languages in action in schools.

It really is a linguist melting pot here. And its wonderful to see how it all comes together, providing all the pupils with a real taste of cultural diversity which they can all share, enjoy and learn from together.

What you see in Cliftonville Integrated Primary is something that all schools should aspire to. Its not just about learning one language, school can be about learning lots of languages in a fun, informative way.
Co Antrim woman campaigns for better recognition of deadly infection

A Co Antrim woman whose husband died from sepsis just four days after their wedding is sharing her story to raise awareness of the symptoms.

Danielle Webb is taking part in a campaign by Sepsis Research FEAT, the UK's only sepsis research charity, outlining what happened to her husband Christopher.

Sepsis is life-threatening and happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.

Just 32% of adults in Northern Ireland say they can confidently identify what sepsis is, according to a recent YouGov survey.

The figures are particularly stark among men, with only one in four demonstrating an understanding of the condition  a gap in awareness that the charity has warned could prove fatal.

Danielle and Christopher got married on December 15, 2022, but he started to develop symptoms the day before.

His illness progressed rapidly within a 56-hour period.

Danielle explained how Christopher, with whom she had a son named Adam, started to become unwell at around 6am with a sore throat and flu-like symptoms.

"It woke him from his sleep and he started complaining of a pins and needle sensation in his throat, she added.

"We bought some over-the-counter meds from the chemist to help alleviate what we thought was the start of a flu.

"Chris still wasnt feeling very well on the day of the wedding, but he pushed through as best he could and made it to the end of the evening.

However, his condition worsened overnight, and an ambulance was called the next morning. Danielle remembers that the paramedics were not initially concerned, but quickly realised he was borderline septic.

Christopher was taken to A&E at Causeway Hospital and had to be put on a breathing apparatus. He was being treated for issues with his lungs, throat and other parts of his body.

"The doctors had told Chris at his bedside in A&E that he was very sick and would need to go off to sleep for a little while to help his body rest and heal, Newtownabbey woman Danielle said.

He was always fantastic at staying calm in those situations and this was no exception. As a family, we were terrified  we were shocked and worried for Chris. We didnt know what was going to happen and it was very scary.

Christopher's condition stabilised enough on Saturday morning to allow a transfer to Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital, but his liver and kidneys then started to fail.

Early on the morning of Monday, December 19, just days after their wedding, Christopher went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated.

Christopher and Danielle dance at their wedding

According to Sepsis Research FEAT, the symptoms in adults include a very high or low temperature, uncontrollable shivering, confusion or disorientation, reduced urine output and blotchy or cold arms and legs.

The charity has urged people to be unafraid to re-present to health professionals if symptoms worsen or persist.

Dr Andrew Conway Morris, the charitys medical director, said: With only a third of people able to confidently recognise sepsis, and a general lack of understanding that sepsis can affect anyone, we are calling on families across Northern Ireland to speak up, look out for one another, and learn the signs.

Danielle hopes that sharing her experience will help save others.

I hope that awareness is created around sepsis symptoms, how they can mimic flu, which can be deceptive, and the importance of getting treatment quickly, she said.

Christopher and his son Adam

Hopefully his story will save a life and prevent another family from having to suffer the sort of tragedy that we have."

Danielle Webb, her late husband Christopher, and their son Adam

News Catch Up - Tuesday 3 June

Danielle wants Christopher to be remembered for the amazing man he was.

He was a very loving man who doted on his family. He loved life and being a daddy. His life really took on purpose when his son was born  he was an amazing father and husband to Adam and me.

Chris was a huge character and loved me deeply. I let that love live on in me and Adam and I do the best I can, honouring and remembering Chris along the way.
A spring baby boom has seen a host of new arrivals of rare and vulnerable species at Belfast Zoo in recent weeks.

Among the arrivals is a cotton-top tamarin, emu chicks, a wallaby, two-toed sloth, meerkat pups and a Colombian spider monkey.

Lara Clarke, Belfast Zoo Curator explained she was pleased to see such a fruitful spring at the zoo.

This baby boom is something truly special. Many of these species are in real danger of disappearing in the wild, she said.

"Breeding success like this isnt just adorable - its essential. It reflects the incredible care from our teams and the vital role modern zoos play in conservation, education and species survival, she said.

Cotton Top Tamarin Baby

A cotton-top tamarin infant  one of the most endangered primates on the planet  was born to experienced parents Vicky and Spencer at the zoo and is their ninth baby since arriving in Belfast.

With fewer than 2,000 mature individuals left in the wild, according to the IUCN Red List, the zoo said every birth of this critically endangered monkey is a beacon of hope.

Emu Chicks

In the zoos Animals of Australia habitat, theres double the reason to celebrate. Emu pair, Bruce and Sheila have welcomed an incredible five fluffy chicks, while a baby wallaby joey is also beginning to peek out from its mothers pouch.

Both species are new additions to Belfast Zoo and are already delighting visitors.

Wallaby Baby

Meanwhile, over in their meerkat mob - a group that only arrived a few months ago  the zoo has welcomed two new pups, their second litter this year.

Meerkat Pups

Elsewhere in the zoos Rainforest House, Linnes two-toed sloth parents Priscita and Enrique have had their second baby in under a year - what has been described as a rare and remarkable achievement for the species.

Linne's Two-toed Sloth Baby

Nearby, in the primate section, the zoo is also celebrating the birth of a Colombian spider monkey, an endangered species threatened by habitat loss and hunting.

The new Colombian spider monkey baby.

Ruairi Donaghy, senior keeper, said it has been a privilege welcoming the babies.

Its been amazing to watch Priscita become a mum again so soon - shes calm, caring and completely devoted. Seeing our young spider monkey thrive is equally rewarding.

"These births make all the long hours worth it. They remind us why we do what we do - to protect species and inspire people to care about wildlife.

Many of the zoos residents are part of coordinated European breeding programmes (EEPs), which work to safeguard healthy, genetically diverse populations of endangered species in human care.

The zoo said visitors and animal lovers can look forward to seeing all the babies out and about at the zoo this summer.
Armed police took man into custody following death of 71-year-old womanThe 31-year-old man is known to the victim

Police at the scene of a sudden death in the Shore Road area of North Belfast (Kevin Scott)

Officer at the scene on the Shore Road yesterday (Kevin Scott)

Police have been granted more time to question a man arrested as part of a murder investigation after the death of a woman in north Belfast.

On Tuesday, police confirmed they were investigating a sudden death in the Shore Road.

The victim has been named by police as 71-year-old Marie Green.

A man aged 31 from Belfast and who is known to the victim was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken into police custody.

In an update on Wednesday, a PSNI spokesperson said: Detectives investigating the murder of Marie Green in north Belfast have this morning, Wednesday 4 June, been granted a court extension of an additional 36 hours to question a 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder.

The Belfast Telegraph understands armed police were called to an address late on Monday evening after receiving a distressed 999 call from Ms Green.

Upon arriving, they could not locate a suspect, who it is believed had fled the scene.

Police returned to the property shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning.

Video footage from the arrest shows a suspect dressed in forensic style overalls being apprehended by police, arrested and placed in the back of a police vehicle.

Other emergency services including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service were also witnessed at the scene.

Cordons were later put in place with forensic officers seen entering the property and removing large plastic bags filled with various items.

Officer at the scene on the Shore Road yesterday (Kevin Scott)

Police at the scene of a sudden death in north Belfast

Several metal panels were also seen being placed into an evidence bag. Police remained at the scene on Tuesday.

One neighbour described seeing a bare-chested man being bundled into a police vehicle before being driven away.

As the news spread through the community, people spoke of their shock and sadness.

Half a dozen police officers were gathered at the scene  a terraced house in a row occupied predominantly by older residents, overlooking an empty park on the other side of the road.

Im just in complete shock, one neighbour said.

Another added: It really is shocking, I am just stunned.

Some people looked on from the other side of the road as police carried on with their work. Shock in the area? I would say there is, said one local shop worker. There is probably a rumour mill as well.

People cant believe it, just being down the road. You certainly dont expect it.

She would have been a regular at the shop. I know that someone has been arrested.

Another spoke of fear in the community, with a mix of confusion and sadness.

Everybody is shocked, there were a lot of police about. There is a bit of fear there as well. We just dont know what happened yet, they added.

Another said: We were woken by blue lights at about 1am. We went down and a police officer said, We are dealing with a very serious incident.

There is a lot of shock in the area.

They added: This is a very quiet neighbourhood. We heard police shouting at someone, then this bare-chested man was taken away by police at gunpoint.

Police at the scene of a sudden death in the Shore Road area of North Belfast (Kevin Scott)

North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett said: There is a massive shock and sadness in the Shore Road community following last nights tragic incident.

I have spoken with the police. An arrest has been made.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted.

As a cordon remained in place throughout Tuesday morning, police said their enquiries continue.

Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister said: This was a horrifying incident and I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim. The local community is in immense shock, but I have no doubt they will come together to support the family during what will be such a distressing time.

In the midst of this distressing news, police need space to investigate the situation. I will be liaising with them on this matter in the coming days.

I want to thank the PSNI for their swift and professional response, and if anyone has any information, please pass it to police immediately.
The NSFDOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory will open later this year

The Rubin team took the first on-sky engineering data with the LSST Camera on April 15th, 2025, shortly after darkness fell on Cerro Pachon. Pic: RubinObs/NSF/DOE/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/Hernan Stockebrand

A new observatory is set to detect millions of never-before-seen solar system objects, a global group of astronomers led by Queens University Belfast (QUB) has said.

The brand new facility at NSFDOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile will revolutionise the worlds knowledge of the solar systems small bodies: asteroids, comets and other minor planets.

At the heart of the Rubin Observatory is the fastest moving telescope equipped with the worlds largest digital camera.

A single image from the telescope covers a patch of sky roughly 45 times the area of the full moon.

This wide-fast-deep system will spend the next ten years observing the night sky to produce the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).

Astronomers say the system will provide unprecedented time-lapse footage of the cosmos and a powerful dataset with which to map the solar system.

New open-source software has also been created to predict what discoveries are likely to be made, with a series of papers describing the software soon to be published by The Astronomical Journal.

The group of astronomers has been led by Dr Meg Schwamb of Queens University Belfasts School of Mathematics and Physics.

Dr Schwamb said the worlds knowledge of what objects fill the Earths solar system is about to expand exponentially and rapidly.

QUB PhD student Joe Murtagh is one of the lead authors of the prediction studies and among those whose papers have been submitted to the Astronomical Journal.

He said: Its very exciting  we expect that millions of new solar system objects will be detected and most of these will be picked up in the first few years of sky survey.

"With the LSST catalogue of solar system objects, our work shows that it will be like going from black-and-white television to brilliant colour.

Dr Meg Schwamb, QUB

Beyond just finding these new small bodies, Rubin Observatory will observe them multiple times in different optical filters, revealing their surface colours. Past solar system surveys, typically observed only in a single filter.

To forecast which small bodies will be discovered, the team built Sorcha, the first end-to-end simulator that ingests Rubins planned observing schedule.

It applies assumptions on how Rubin Observatory observes and detects astronomical sources in its images with the best model of what the solar system and its small body reservoirs look like today.

The teams simulations show that Rubin will map 127,000 near-Earth objects such as asteroids and comets whose orbits cross or approach the planet.

It will also study over five million main-belt asteroids and 109,000 Jupiter Trojans, bodies which share Jupiters orbit at stable Lagrange points.

Some 37,000 trans-Neptunian objects, which are residents of the distant Kuiper Belt, will also be mapped, along with around 1,500 to 2,000 Centaurs.

The Sorcha code is open-source and freely available with the simulated catalogues, animations, and pre-prints of the papers publicly available at https://sorcha.space.

The Rubin team took the first on-sky engineering data with the LSST Camera on April 15th, 2025, shortly after darkness fell on Cerro Pachon. Pic: RubinObs/NSF/DOE/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/Hernan Stockebrand

News Catch Up - Tuesday 3 June

By making these resources available, the Sorcha team has enabled researchers worldwide to refine their tools and be ready for the flood of LSST data that Rubin will generate, advancing the understanding of the small bodies that illuminate the solar system like never before.

Rubin Observatory is scheduled to unveil its first spectacular imagery at its First Look event on June 23, offering the world an early glimpse of the surveys power. Full science operations are slated to begin later this year.
Sinn Fein has been criticised alongside the Government and a DUP Minister for failing to deliver meaningful progress on the Casement Park project.

It comes after the Belfast Telegraph revealed that former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had all the information needed to make a decision about funding as far back as May 2024.

A scheme to revamp the derelict Gaelic games venue in west Belfast  which was supposed to be part of the Euro 2028 tournament  has been stalled for years.

Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium remain mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap of around 150 million.

Sir Keir Starmers Labour government, which succeeded Mr Sunak, has failed to move the project forward  although a decision on Westminster funding could hinge on next weeks spending review.

So far, Secretary of State Hilary Benn has refused to say what the Government is willing to contribute towards regeneration of the west Belfast stadium.

Today, senior GAA officials are making an official visit at Westminster for the first time after an invitation was extended by Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood.

Alliance MLA David Honeyford said: There is seemingly endless delay from both the UK Government and the Communities Minister when it comes to Casement Park is deeply frustrating.

We should be now talking about delivery, not further blockages.

We have already lost the opportunity to host the Euros and the longer this delay goes on, the chance for Casement to be a location to host other events gets smaller.

The current UK Government needs to not repeat the mistakes of the previous one, lay its cards on the table and get Casement built.

Casement Park in west Belfast

Watch: Drone showcase of Euro 2028 venue in Belfast

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said: Its hardly a surprise that the previous Tory government could not be taken at their word and Casement Park was never likely to be a priority for them.

What we need now is full transparency on funding from all involved and the urgency to get moving on this project.

This stadium is hugely important not only to the GAA, but the local community in west Belfast.

We have heard much from Sinn Fein about their desire to progress Casement and yet we are no further along.

The blame cannot solely lie at the feet of the UK Government and the DUP Minister for failing to make meaningful progress.

In response, Sinn Fein said that, just last week, Michelle O'Neill reminded Keir Starmer of the importance of completing Casement Park and the need for the British Government to honour the commitments made to the stadiums redevelopment.

A spokesperson continued: "The British Government must clarify what funding it will provide to enable this game-changing project.

"The Communities Minister must also work alongside Executive Ministers to champion this new stadium and the incredible benefits it will bring.

"With the comprehensive spending review due next month, there is a clear duty on the Communities Minister to use every tool at his disposal to ensure delivery of this project.

"A new Casement Park is a flagship Executive project, and Sinn Fein is determined for it to be delivered."

A Government spokesperson said it is continuing to engage with all partners involved in the Casement Park redevelopment, including the Executive and the GAA, to assess the options available regarding the project.

Meanwhile, the Department for Communities said the Minister has been pressing for some time on the need for clarity on funding commitments from the UK Government and all partners.

"The Executive has allocated 62.5 million to the redevelopment of the Casement Park stadium and this commitment remains in place, a DfC spokesperson concluded.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna has challenged the Prime Minister about when the UK will hold the Israeli government to account and recognise the state of Palestine in the House of Commons.
Lorraine Howard (left), the half-sister of Tina Satchwell, and Sarah Howard, the cousin of Tina Satchwell, speaking to the media outside Central Criminal Court in Dublin, where Richard Satchwell has been found guilty of the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell, whose remains were found under the stairs of their home in Youghal, Co Cork, six years after Mr Satchwell reported her missing in 2017. Picture date: Friday May 30, 2025.

The family of Tina Satchwell, nee Dingivan, have paid tribute to their loved one, who they lost as a result of a despicable crime committed by her husband, Richard Satchwell.

Before Satchwell was handed the mandatory life sentence for murdering Tina at their Youghal home in March 2017, Tinas sister and niece gave victim impact statements at the Central Criminal Court.

Sarah Howard, who introduced herself to the court as Tina Dingivans niece, said she would always carry the emotional toll of losing her aunt.

She said she would struggle to overcome the fact that Satchwell had offered to give her a chest freezer that he had put Tinas body in, and asked the court to consider not just the crime, but the cruelty and deception that followed.

I am here today to speak about my aunt Tina who was taken from us in the most tragic and violent way, murdered by someone who claimed to love her, she said.

I cannot comprehend how someone who was supposed to love and protect her could do something so cruel.

There are no words that can truly capture the pain and heartbreak this has caused me and my family.

What happened to her has shaken me to my core, and I can never be the person I was before this happened.

The emotional toll of her loss is something I carry with me always. Tina was not just my aunt but my best friend and one of the most important people in my life and my childrens lives.

Tina Satchwell (PA)

I miss Tina everyday, it makes me so sad when I think of all the things she missed in my life. Tina should have been standing beside me on my wedding day and all the important things before, like going wedding dress shopping which I know she would have loved, and the most recent event, the birth of my baby girl, she would have been an incredible support.

Listening to all the lies in the court was very hard and knowing now all the horrible things that were done to her, such as being just wrapped in a piece of plastic and buried in such an undignified way cause me huge amounts of distress.

Richard Satchwell decided to portray Tina in a way during the trial that is not true to who she was.

Tina was not a violent person, she was caring, gentle and loyal to those she loved. Having her name tarnished during the trial was very difficult.

This trial has also ruined the last few weeks of my pregnancy with all the stress from the trial and having to leave my baby in the first few weeks of her life to give evidence and to be at the trial for Tina was something I shouldnt have had to do.

One of the things I dont think I will ever overcome is to find out that Richard Satchwell had put Tina in a chest freezer and then a few days later he text me to offer me the freezer.

To hear this just horrified me to think I could have taken it into my family home and used it. What sort of person can do that?

I ask that the court consider not just the crime but the cruelty that followed it and the deception, the stolen years and the false hope he gave us all that one day she might turn up. This has left a permanent hole in our lives.

Relatives of Tina Satchwell leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

Lorraine Howard, who introduced herself to the court as Tina Dingivans sister, said that Satchwell had stolen Tina from her family and friends  before he killed her  by isolating her from them.

She said that she still has nightmares about how her sister died and gets shivers down her spine when she thinks of how Satchwell buried her under the floor of their Youghal home.

As the court heard during the trial, myself and Tina were inseparable growing up in Fermoy as kids, she said.

We did all the usual kids things: play, went to school, got into mischief but always had each others backs.

From as long as I can remember Tina loved animals, there was always cats and dogs following Tina around. She hated seeing any animal neglected or in pain.

She was so kind-hearted, I often remember myself and Tina bringing stray animals to the vet and the vet not being able to say no to us or turn us away. That was Tina  she was gentle and had such a soft and loving soul.

Tinas love of fashion was portrayed as a negative throughout the trial, we all have our interests and likes, it just so happened Tinas was fashion.

She saved her money and spent it on clothes, she would often buy clothes for family members as presents.

Tina did not drink, go out and fashion was her escape. Fashion, in a sense, saved her.

Lorraine Howard, the half-sister of Tina Satchwell, speaks to the media (PA)

As is normal in all families, siblings fall out, and during the trial the country heard how myself and Tina fell out. I dont want to get into the reasons again, but what I do know was that myself and Tina would have made up and become best of friends again.

Richard Satchwell stole that from us and actually Richard Satchwell stole that from many people even before he murdered Tina, by isolating her and alienating her from her many friends when she was alive.

Richard Satchwell pushed a narrative for years that Tina was this violent and coercive-natured woman when in fact that couldnt be any further from the truth.

I am so thankful that the jury could see through his lies and found him guilty of this despicable crime. We will never again get to be sisters.

He stole an aunt from my kids who never got to meet poor Tina. I know she would have loved her goddaughter Clodagh so much because of their shared characteristics and likeness of animals and fashion.

When I came up to the trial five weeks ago I never thought that it would take such a physical toll on mine and Tinas mother, seeing a woman that was put through so much pain before was almost unbearable to watch.

Mary Collins, the mother of Tina Satchwell, outside Central Criminal Court in Dublin (PA)

My brothers name and suicide being brought up time and time again made an already horrendous situation worse, watching me being used to help the defence was like pouring salt into an open wound.

It was intolerable for me, my mother, my children and my extended family.

Hearing all the gruesome details and seeing photographs and many hours of media and Garda interviews was mentally draining.

It has taken a physical toll on my body as well. I cant sleep, eat and keep waking out of my sleep having nightmares over Tinas final moments and thinking about what my poor sister went through.

The appalling way my sister was buried, wrapped in plastic, buried beneath soil and concrete runs shivers down my spine every time I think about it.

I feel Tinas presence with me in every step taken around Fermoy town where there are so many happy memories, from the park to the river walks and especially the bridge, her catwalk.

I feel that no sentence could ever be enough for the monster that took Tina from us.

How could someone who claims to love and adore his wife spread the rubble from the man-made grave, that he dug and buried her in around all their most special places, even down to where he proposed to her.

He treated Tinas body with such disrespect. He showed Tinas dog in death more respect by getting the dog cremated and making a shrine.

He wanted Tina where he could still have the ultimate control, within his home under the stairs.

He put us as a family through the ultimate hell of not knowing what had happened to Tina for years. He manipulated us as the master manipulator he is into believing she would one day return.

Having taken her life he didnt even have the decency to let us have her body and mourn her death. To bury her with the dignity she deserves. I will never be able to forgive Richard Satchwell for what he has done.

I just want to thank a few people who helped get justice for Tina

To the prosecution team of Gerardine Small, Imelda Kelly, Maria Brosnan and Catherine McEleer, I cant thank you enough for presenting the evidence to the jury and for all the hard work in preparing for the trial.

Superintendent Ann Marie Twomey (left) leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (PA)

To Superintendent Ann Marie Twomey and Detective Garda David Kelleher for finding the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and fitting them together to find Tina and bringing her home to us, thank you so much.

To the judge and jury who heard and had to consider all the evidence of the case, were sorry as a family that you have had to deal with such traumatic evidence and know that it must have taken its toll on you.

We will be forever grateful for the care you took in examining the evidence and reaching your unanimous verdict.

Lastly I want to thank our family liaison officer Clar Quirke, without whom we simply wouldnt have got through this process.
The UK government must provide certainty to Troubles victims and end the state of limbo they have been left in since Labour came to power, a Sinn Fein MP has said.

John Finucane was commenting after he and party vice president Michelle ONeill met Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Belfast to discuss legacy issues.

Since taking office last year, the Labour government has pledged to repeal and replace some of the provisions of the contentious Legacy Act that was introduced by the last Conservative government, and bring forward a revised framework for dealing with cases linked to the Troubles.

The Irish government has been involved in the process, and political leaders in Dublin have said intensive engagement is ongoing to see if a landing zone can be arrived at in the coming weeks.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (Ben Whitley/PA)

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths and also offered conditional immunity to perpetrators of conflict-related crimes in exchange for their co-operation with a new investigatory and truth recovery body.

The Act was opposed by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, the Irish government and many victims representative groups.

In 2023, the Irish government initiated an interstate legal case against the UK in the European Court of Human Rights, claiming the Legacy Act breached the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The case remains active, with ministers in Dublin wanting to see how Labour resolves its concerns over the legislation before any decision is taken to withdraw the action.

Mr Benns engagement with Sinn Fein on Wednesday was part of a round of discussions with the main Stormont parties.

Alliance leader Naomi Long and deputy leader Eoin Tennyson also had a meeting at the NIO offices in Belfast city centre on Wednesday.

The UUP held an online meeting with Mr Benn while the SDLPs discussions took place on Tuesday. The DUP will hold a meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary at a later date.

After the Sinn Fein meeting, Mr Finucane said there was a need for families to have a route to seek truth and justice.

Today was an opportunity for us to reiterate and speak on behalf of those families that have been treated disgracefully by the Legacy Act and that have been left in limbo really since Labour came into government last July, he told reporters.

Those families who have had their inquests halted, those families who have uncertainty and who, after many years, still find themselves in a position where they dont know if they will receive truth and justice.

Mr Finucane said he and Ms ONeill also raised the case of murdered GAA official Sean Brown.

Mr Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on judicial rulings in Belfast that compel him to establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder by loyalist paramilitaries.

Mr Brown, 61, the then-chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Mr Finucane said: We made it very clear in the meeting that on behalf of Sean Browns family that there needs to be a full public inquiry established and announced without any further delay.

We talked about the fact that five High Court judges here have endorsed consistently the familys position and we criticised without any equivocation his (Mr Benns) decision to take this family, to take Bridie Brown (Mr Browns 87-year-old widow) and her family to London for an appeal.

Alliance leader Ms Long described her meeting with Mr Benn as constructive.

Were very conscious of the impact that the legacy process and lack of a formal and comprehensive legacy process has had on victims, and our priority in all of this is to ensure that victims families rights and needs are properly respected in that process, she said.

Were on record as having said that we dont believe that the Legacy Act as passed by the last government is fit for purpose, and the courts agreed with us in that regard.

I would have preferred if that Legacy Act had been repealed and replaced (in full) and we have said that. However, thats not the space were in, and so what we are doing now is trying to ensure that whatever the Secretary of State brings forward is a clean and fresh start in terms of how we deal with legacy and one that puts the victims at the heart of all that we do.

Ms Long, who is Stormonts Justice minister, said achieving consensus on a new framework was key.

Were not in that space yet, but I remain hopeful that there is a possibility we could be in that space, and I think that that would be the best outcome for everyone, she said.

This being a contested space where nothing progresses, where nothing moves forward, is not good for families. Its not fair on them that they are constantly at the whim of political change. What we need now is substantive progress.

Ahead of Wednesdays meetings, Mr Benn said the Government was committed to finding a system capable of delivering for all families who are seeking answers around the loss of their loved ones.

I am continuing to work with all of the Northern Ireland parties over what should be included in that legislation, he said.

It is important that new legacy arrangements are capable of commanding the confidence of families and of all communities.
Police are investigating fires at two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer. (James Manning/PA)

A fourth man who was arrested by police investigating fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer has been released on bail.

The 48-year-old was stopped at Stansted Airport on Monday and arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

On Wednesday the Metropolitan Police said he had been released on bail to a date in July.

Three men have already been charged in connection with the fires: Ukrainians Petro Pochynok, 34, and Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, who are all due to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Lavrynovych, of Sydenham, south-east London, is charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

Pochynok, of Holloway Road in Islington, north London, and Carpiuc, of Chadwell Heath, east London, are accused of conspiring to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London  one in the early hours of May 12 at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became Prime Minister and moved into Downing Street.

A car was set alight in the same street four days earlier on May 8.

The other fire took place on May 11 at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington.
Police are investigating the deaths of patients who died following heart operations at an NHS hospital.

A report by the BBC suggests patients at Castle Hill Hospital near Hull suffered avoidable harm, and alleges that in some cases, death certificates failed to disclose that the surgery contributed to deaths.

Humberside Police confirmed to the PA news agency that an investigation into the deaths is in its very early stages and no arrests have been made.

Documents seen by the BBC raise concerns about the care of 11 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation, which is known as a Tavi procedure.

It usually takes between one and two hours and is performed on older patients.

Tavi is used to replace damaged valves in the heart in people with aortic stenosis, which causes the aortic valve to narrow.

It is less invasive than open heart surgery and involves guiding a new valve to the heart through a thin, flexible tube known as a catheter through a blood vessel in the groin or shoulder.

Concerns about Castle Hill Hospitals Tavi mortality rate led to a number of reviews, none of which were made public, according to the BBC.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) was asked to assess the whole cardiology department in 2020, including two of the Tavi deaths.

The report was completed in 2021 and led to a second review by consultants IQ4U.

This recommended a third review of all 11 deaths, which was carried out by the RCP and completed last year, reports suggest.

Some 10 deaths happened between October 2019 and March 2022 while one took place in May 2023.

The final review highlighted poor clinical decision-making in one male patient, which included the incorrect positioning of the Tavi valve.

His death certificate also failed to include an accurate description of what had happened, it was reported.

There were also criticisms of death certificates issued to two other patients, claiming crucial details were missing.

A spokesperson for NHS Humber Health Care Partnership said the hospitals Tavi service retains the confidence of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the regional Integrated Care Board (ICB), the Royal College of Physicians, and the trust.

They added that the three separate external reviews have shown that mortality rates associated with Tavi are similar to national mortality rates over a four-year period.

The Royal College report concluded that the Tavi service is essential for the Humber and North Yorkshire region and needs to be expanded, they added.

It stated however that the design of the service should be reviewed and invested in. The report offered a number of actions for improvement and we have delivered against all of those since it was shared with us.

A key improvement has been the dramatic reduction in the length of time patients wait to have their Tavi procedure, which was shown in the Royal College report to have been too long, like many other T I services across England.

The spokesperson said: We would never discuss an individual patient case in the public domain but we understand families may have questions and we are happy to answer those directly.

We have previously written to families who have lost a loved one following Tavi treatment with an invitation to meet and discuss the specific circumstances of their case, and we would reiterate that offer.
Sir Keir Starmer has opened up about his late brothers struggles with school as he paid tribute to his siblings resilience and personal courage.

The Prime Minister said his younger brothers story had shaped his life as he welcomed Sir Lewis Hamilton to Downing Street for a roundtable discussion on supporting young people in education.

Nick Starmer, who had learning difficulties because of complications at birth, died aged 60 last year, after being diagnosed with cancer.

Sir Keir said he knew from his brother how much resilience and personal courage was required to deal with struggles at school.

(My brother) really struggled at school  and had difficulties learning, not because of a learning difficulty, but because then in his time he was pushed to one side and treated as someone who would never learn, he said.

He struggled a lot as a result of that. You might think someone who sits here as Prime Minister has no idea what its like to struggle at school, but I know from my own brother what it was like, and how much resilience and personal courage he had to have.

The Prime Minister made the remarks during a roundtable discussion with a group of young people and charity leader and F1 driver Sir Lewis Hamilton (Bradley Collyer/PA)

That shaped his life, and shaped my life as well.

In discussion with a group of young people and the Formula One racing driver, whose Mission 44 charity aims to make the education system more inclusive, Sir Keir said he would keep them in our minds eye when formulating policy.

As I said to some of you earlier, sometimes politics is about big decisions, policies, data analysis, and speeches, he said.

But, most of the time, its about who do you have in your minds eye when you make a decision?

The Prime Minister added: I will take away the work that Lewis is doing. The importance of your discussions  whether in this advisory or elsewhere  so that we have got you in our minds eye when we make decisions about what to do, so lets get on with it.

As part of the talks, Sir Keir said the Government would develop a best practice framework to help schools increase pupil engagement, Downing Street said.

The meeting came as the Department for Education expanded its free school meals programme to ensure all pupils in England whose families claim Universal Credit will be eligible for the scheme.

Campaigners and education leaders had argued the move was necessary to ease pressures on young people living in poverty.

Labour has also been facing pressure, including from within party ranks, to abolish the two-child benefit cap amid record highs in child poverty.

Sir Keir has indicated he is considering scrapping the limit amid the prospect of a backbench rebellion, but declined to give further details ahead of the publication of the Governments flagship child poverty strategy in the autumn.
US President Donald Trump posted on social media about his conversation with Vladimir Putin (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him very strongly in a phone call on Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraines weekend drone attack on Russian airfields.

The US president said in a social media post that it was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.

The call that lasted for an hour and 15 minutes was Mr Trumps first known with Mr Putin since May 19.

Satellite images show, from top, the Belaya Air Base before a Ukrainian drone attack in the Irkutsk region of eastern Siberia in Russia, and the damage afterwards (Maxar Technologies via AP)

Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin also discussed Irans nuclear programme.

Ukraines Security Service gave more details on Wednesday about its weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers.

The agency claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft, adding that artificial intelligence helped guide the drones thousands of kilometres from Ukraine.

It also said it set off an explosion on Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure.

But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that there was no damage.

Russias Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraines northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia.

Mr Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russias Ministry of Defence claims its forces have taken control of nine Sumy villages.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairing a Cabinet meeting via videoconference at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Trump says part of his call with Mr Putin was focused on Iran and the fact that time is running out on Irans decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!

Mr Trump said in a post on his social media site that he told Russias president that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.

He said Mr Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and could perhaps be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.

Mr Trump previously boasted that a major announcement on Iran was coming  but none has materialised.

He suggested in his latest post that Iran has been slow-walking their decision and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini at his shrine just outside Tehran on Wednesday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Irans supreme leader on Wednesday criticised an initial proposal from the US in negotiations over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, though he stopped short of entirely rejecting the idea of agreement with Washington.

The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei coloured in the red line expressed over recent days  one that says Tehran refuses to give up enriching uranium in any possible deal with the US.

That demand has been repeatedly made by American officials, including President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear just how much US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff brought it up in his initial proposal to Iran.

But what Ayatollah Khamenei did not say in his speech matters as well. He did not reject the talks, which Iran views as crucial for its economy to lift some the crushing economic sanctions it faces.

Ayatollah Khamenei also did not insist on any specific level of nuclear enrichment. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60%  a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who has led the talks with Mr Witkoff, said Tehran will soon offer its response to the US. Ayatollah Khameneis speech Wednesday at the mausoleum of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini may serve as a preview.

If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us, he said. If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the US.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday dismissed Russias ceasefire proposal as an ultimatum and renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock over the three-year war.

Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Mondays direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks.

Both sides have established red lines that make any quick deal unlikely.

Mr Zelensky said that the second round of talks in Istanbul were no different from the first meeting on May 16. He described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as a political performance and artificial diplomacy designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue.

The same ultimatums they voiced back then  now they just put them on paper  Honestly, this document looks like spam. Its spam meant to flood us and create the impression that theyre doing something, Mr Zelensky said in his first reaction to the Russian document.

He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry the same content and spirit as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war.

The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defence minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Mr Putin, headed the Russian team.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Mr Zelensky said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Mr Putin, possibly also including US President Donald Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement.

The US has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on February 24 2022.

We are proposing  a ceasefire before a leaders summit, with the US acting as a mediator, Mr Zelensky told a media briefing in Kyiv.

Why a ceasefire before the leaders meeting? Because if we meet and there is no mutual understanding, no willingness or vision on how to end this, then the ceasefire would end that same day. But if we see readiness to continue the dialogue and take real steps toward de-escalation, then the ceasefire would be extended with US mediation guarantees, he said.

Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Mr Zelensky said.

A second round of peace talks on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war. They agreed only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops.

Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Mr Zelensky said.

Also on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky also urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defence systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production.

The emphasis should be on US-made Patriot systems, he told a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Volodymyr Zelensky, via video link, delivers a statement to Nato defence ministers during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Nato headquarters in Brussels (Virginia Mayo/AP)

These are the most effective way to force Russia to stop its missile strikes and terror, he said via video link, urging representatives of around 50 countries to make good on past pledges.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend, the first time a Pentagon chief has been absent since the forum for organising Ukraines military aid was set up three years ago.

Mr Hegseths predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the group after Russia launched its all-out war on Ukraine.

His absence is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to distance itself from Ukraines efforts to repel Russia.

More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, according to UN estimates, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides.

Mr Zelensky also appealed to the participants to buy weapons direct from Ukraine.

Ukrainian industry still has significant untapped capacity, it just needs financing, he said, underlining that a funding gap for weapons procurement amounts to about 18 billion dollars (13 billion).

UK Defence Secretary John Healey, Ukraines defence minister Rustem Umerov and Germanys defence minister Boris Pistorius during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the Nato headquarters in Brussels (Virginia Mayo/AP)

The UK, which chaired the meeting along with Germany, said it plans a tenfold increase in drone production to help Ukraine. Drones have become a decisive factor in the war, now in its fourth year.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that you recognise true friends not during a party, but when you do have difficult times. So therefore, our continuation of support for Ukraine and increasing it is of utmost importance.

Since the contact group was formed, Ukraines backers have collectively provided around 126 billion dollars (93 billion) in weapons and military assistance, including more than 66.5 billion dollars (49 billion) from the US.

The US has not chaired a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group since the Trump administration took office in January.

European Nato allies are concerned that the US might withdraw troops from Europe to focus on the Indo-Pacific.

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode US credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.
Ive had police at my door to check under my car for bomb, my name was painted on wall with crosshairs

Allison Morris on the reality of being a journalist living under threat in Northern Ireland

In 2023/24 I received more threats than at any time in my career  nine in a short space of time.

Allison Morris Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 07:13

The Amnesty report is titled Occupational Hazard? and looks at threats of violence against journalists in Northern Ireland, which the authors say is the most dangerous place to work in these islands.
A new report has uncovered how NI Journalists are working in a climate of fear in the midst of death and rape threatsReporters here are faced with continuous threats from paramilitary groups and organised crime gangsTwo NI Journalists have been killed since 2000

Allison Morris was part of a new report published by Amnesty International this week

Northern Ireland is officially the most dangerous place in the UK to be a journalist.

A new report published by Amnesty International this week says that journalists here are working in a climate of fear with numerous death threats against them.

The report says that there have been over 70 incidents of threats or attacks against journalists since the start of 2019.

Threats come from a range of both loyalist and republican paramilitary groups, alongside other organised crime groups.

Intense safety precautions amid fear for their familys safety are just some of the steps that journalists living here have to take, including iron-clad home security systems.

Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent Allison Morris and Sunday Lifes Ciaran Barnes to uncover what working as a journalist under threat in Northern Ireland is really like.
Mackers grand-niece avoids prison over vicious assault that left one of her victims with a blood clot

Care worker flew into rage at two young women during night out

Atlanta Matthews

John Toner Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 14:00

A young relative of alleged East Belfast UVF leader Stephen Mackers Matthews has avoided jail for battering two young women on a night out.
BENNINGTON  The Select Board on Tuesday ratified a settlement agreement with a solar developer proposing two commercial-size facilities in the Apple Hill area.

The vote prompted protests from Apple Hill area residents in the meeting audience, who have steadfastly opposed the projects.

Im just going to say it: What you are teaching our youth is that bullies win, Wendy Lawrence said. Thats what you are teaching our community and our youth.

What about the last 10 years? 12 years? What about it? said Dianna Leazer.

Two projects

The two Allco Renewable Energy Ltd. solar projects were first proposed more than a decade ago in the scenic hillside area east of Route 7 as it climbs toward Shaftsbury.

But amid opposition from the Apple Hill neighborhood and others in town  including at some points: the town  the projects have yet to win permits from the state Public Utility Commission.

However, that could change, since the settlement agreement approved Tuesday by the board states that the town will support, rather than oppose, both 2-megawatt capacity projects before the PUC, and in any subsequent appeal cases to the Vermont Supreme Court.

In the settlement, Allco Renewable Energy and its related corporate entities, agreed to end the several lawsuits filed in state and federal courts over the years that include the town as a defendant or party.

Benn High connection

One suit in particular, which was filed last month in Chittenden Superior Court, was an appeal of the towns development agreement for the $54 million Benn High project. That apparently hastened the settlement, as the towns private development partner said delays in completing the complex financing package could scuttle the project.

The project to redevelop the former Bennington High School complex on Main Street was undertaken by the town in partnership with a private developer, Hale Resources, LLC.

According to court filings in that suit, some of the lenders for the project had paused releasing funding earmarked for the Benn High work because of the solar developers pending lawsuit.

In an affidavit filed with the court, Zak Hale, CEO of Hale Resources, said the situation threatened to delay or derail of scuttle the entire project, putting his company and the towns investment in grant funding at risk.

The settlement with Allco Renewable and its related entities will dismiss "with prejudice" suits and appeals related to the Benn High project, along with an open meeting law complaint.

Agreement provisions

One of the several provisions of the settlement agreement states: The Allco Parties, on the one hand, and the Town, on the other hand, and their respective principals, completely, unconditionally, finally and forever release and discharge the other, and their respective employees, attorneys, agents, officers and directors, affiliates and related persons of and from any and all liability, rights, demands, claims, obligations, causes of action, actions, suits, controversies, debts due, sums of money, interest, attorneys fees, and damages of every kind, nature and description whatsoever, both known and unknown, which may exist as of the effective date of this settlement agreement related to either the Chelsea Project, the Apple Hill Project and the Benn High project.

Select Board considers settlement with solar developer BENNINGTON  The Select Board is considering a settlement agreement between the town and a solar developer proposing two commercial-size proje

Hale has said a pending financial closing involving all of the numerous grant, tax credit, low-interest loans and other sources of financing for the complex redevelopment project had stalled over concerns generated among lenders because of the suit.

Other key provisions of the settlement agreement provide that:

 The Town stipulates and agrees that neither the Chelsea Project nor the Apple Hill Project (either individually or together) are located in a prominently visible location on a hillside under the Town Plan. The Town stipulates and agrees that neither the Chelsea Project nor the Apple Hill Project ... violates any provision of the defendants Town Plan or any other Town document, plan or bylaw. The Town stipulates and agrees that neither the Chelsea Project nor the Apple Hill Project ... has any adverse regional impact.

 The Select Board will direct the town planning commission to commence the process of reviewing the zoning reclassification of ... 27.04 acres owned by plaintiff PLH Vineyard Sky LLC to Rural Residential.

The 27.04 acre parcel is a location on Apple Hill where solar panels would be mounted.

The failure of the two projects to obtain permits from the PUC has been closely related to whether or not it conformed to the Town Plan and to its effects on a scenic area important to the towns tourism economy, including in-views from other areas of town.

The PUC has issued rejections regarding both projects, and appeals by the developer were subsequently rejected by the state Supreme Court.

Opponents not giving up

While discouraged, residents of Apple Hill said after the meeting that they intend to fight on against the projects before the PUC.

However, they said funding for legal expenses before the PUC and should there be appeals to the courts will be a challenge.

Prior to voting to ratify the agreement  a 6 to 1 vote with Nancy White opposed  the board declined  based on the advise of counsel, attorney Merrill Bent, not to comment specifically about the agreement before it was ratified.

In voting, the board members who voted in favor said they were doing so on the advise of counsel.

Board Chair Tom Haley said they were advised that, because the settlement involved a legal negotiation, they couldnt discuss the contents of the agreement until it has been approved.

Afterward a copy of the agreement was released to the media, and the agreement will be posted on the towns website.

Assistant Town Manager Dan Monks said the agreement involves a total of six lawsuits.

Thomas Melone, CEO of Allco Renewable Energy, could not be reached for comment on the settlement.
HOOSICK FALLS, NY  A confidential investigation commissioned by the Village of Hoosick Falls into the towns police chief notes possible credibility issues after swirling accusations on social media, claims of sexual preference bias, and suspicions from the now newly elected mayor led directly to the suspension and eventual firing of the chief and a further investigation by the New York State Comptrollers Office.

John Hudson, 40, the Officer-in-Charge of the Hoosick Falls Police Department, was, according to Hoosick Falls's recently elected Mayor, Dan Schuttig, in a released report obtained by the Banner through New Yorks Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), served with termination papers on May 22, just weeks after being suspended with pay back in April. The confidential report, obtained by the Banner through a Freedom of Information request, was issued by Nearpass and Koegel, a private investigative firm out of Rochester, New York, concluded there might be credibility issues with Hudson after several incidents surfaced.

According to the report, in November of 2024, the former Village Mayor of Hoosick Falls, Robert Allen, received an anonymous letter in the mail. The letter demanded that Hudson be removed from the position of Sergeant (his position at the time) because he does not demonstrate the ability or meet the requirement to maintain a position as a Police Supervisor, nor does he hold a credible reputation.

The letter goes on to state that Hudson had failed to complete an approved course in police supervision within twelve months of the date of his promotion as required by state rules. The letter did not elaborate on the allegations of not having a credible reputation. That same evening, a social media post appeared on the Villages Facebook page alleging the poster, David McGowan, had hundreds of pages of documents showing lies from Hudson while he worked at the North Greenbush and Coxsackie Police Departments. The posting also said, "Hudson isnt allowed to testify in any case, civil or criminal, because of misconduct over the years.

After seeing the post, according to the report, Allen contacted then Village Trustee Schuttig to ask about his possible involvement in either the letter or the social media post. According to the report, Allen knew that Schuttig had concerns about Hudsons fitness" for the position of Sergeant. During that conversation, Schuttig confirmed that he had been investigating Hudson. Schuttig told Allen that he had been making requests to multiple public agencies under New Yorks Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) regarding Hudsons prior employment.

On January 5, the Village retained Nearpass and Koegel to conduct an independent investigation. The investigation focused on several areas of concern, including an incident while Hudson was with Coxsackie PD and another with North Greenbush. Specifically, the report focused on whether Hudson had lied on any civil servant applications or documents about the circumstances under which he left both police departments and whether he misrepresented his employment history by answering no to the following question on his 2022 and 2023 civil service applications: Did you ever resign from any employment other than face dismissal?"

The investigation finally looked at the implications of a letter written by the Police Chief of North Greenbush to the then-Rensselaer County District Attorney in which he disclosed the circumstances of Hudsons separation from the department and the implications of that letter on Hudsons ability to testify in court in criminal cases in which he is involved. The issue raised in the anonymous letter of Hudson not enrolling in the police supervisor course had, by the time of the investigation, already been resolved in Hudsons favor and was not a part of the report.

In 2016, according to the report, Hudson worked as a full-time police officer with the North Greenbush Police Department. At the same time, Hudson worked part-time with the Hoosick Falls PD and the Coxsackie PD. In August 2017, Hudson submitted his voluntary resignation to Coxsackie. In May 2018, Hudson resigned from his full-time position with North Greenbush and began working full-time with HFPD as his sole employment. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2023. In connection with that promotion, Hudson completed a civil service application. Then HF Chief Timothy Colaneri resigned in 2024, and Hudson was promoted to Officer in Charge.

An incident in August of 2017, according to the report, while Hudson was working with the Coxsackie PD, involved vehicle damage on Hudsons personal vehicle, which was caused by Hudson himself and reported by Hudson to possibly be caused by another officer opening the door of his patrol car into Hudsons door. Video footage later revealed that Hudson had inadvertently caused the damage himself. Hudson resigned over the incident amid an accusation that he had committed fraud.

Hudson reported that Coxsackie Police presented him with a pre-drafted resignation letter advising him to resign because its not worth it. Hudson agreed and signed the letter. After his resignation, North Greenbushs Police Chief became aware of the situation and asked Hudson to recount the incident. When asked to speculate about what basis the Coxsackie PD had for accusing him of fraud, Hudson indicated, according to the report, that the one Sergeant is very old school, and I am gay, and my lifestyle is not so liked. Another Coxsackie Sergeant at the time shared similar speculation, telling investigators, That sergeant in question, he didnt like John anyway because of Hudsons life choices. The Sergeant told investigators he understood that Hudson resigned rather than deal with the investigation into alleged fraud because he was just sick and tired of everybody picking on him.

It should be noted that Mr. Hudson is openly gay.

The report did not reveal evidence that Coxsackie PD initiated or conducted an investigation into the alleged fraud or that Hudson was disciplined related to the incident, only that he was encouraged to resign.

A second incident, according to the report, involved the North Greenbush PD. In the spring of 2018, Hudson enrolled in a police K-9 Narcotics Detection course at the Albany Sheriffs Office. The program required a participant to be linked to a specific department in order to attend. According to the report, Hudson tried to persuade his bosses in both the North Greenbush and the HFPD to start a K-9 program, but both firmly declined to sponsor Hudson for the K-9 class, citing cost and liability issues. According to Hudson, both departments told him that he could attend and pay on his own but that they would decline approving the program if asked and that it would be on his own time. North Greenbush Chief David Keevern recalls asking Hudson to confirm that the program had nothing to do with North Greenbush. Hudson allegedly replied that Hoosick Falls had agreed to allow him to participate under its auspices.

Hudson attended the training, again according to the report, sometimes showing up straight from work in his North Greenbush police uniform and badge. Shortly after Hudson started the program, it became clear that there was confusion about which police department had sponsored him to attend. NGPD eventually received a call from a town board member after hearing that a North Greenbush officer was participating in the training. Seeking to clarify, NGPD contacted the Albany County Sheriffs Department, who told the NGPD that Hudson had informed the training program that he was with North Greenbush.

In May 2018, Hudson was placed on administrative leave for attending a training without authorization. An internal investigation soon followed. Hudson resigned the following week. Hudson later claimed that the NGPD was harassing him for several incidents. The report cited several instances of the NGPD inquiring into Hudson. NGPD accepted Hudsons resignation and ended all inquiries.

Based on Keeverns statements and the investigators review of the personnel records provided by NGPD, it appears to be undisputed that Hudson was not facing termination when he resigned.

The issue for the investigation was whether Hudson lied on an application question regarding whether he resigned rather than face dismissal.

The Giglio letter

In August 2018, then-Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove requested clarification surrounding Hudsons resignation from the NGPD. Abelove was asking for what is known as a Giglio Letter, which is a letter that discloses information about an officers behavior that may impact their credibility. Case law requires prosecutors to disclose any such information to defense lawyers. That information may be used to impeach the officers credibility if they testify at trial.

In October 2018, Chief Keevern provided such a letter to Abelove.

The report regarding Hudson concluded with several facts regarding the civil service applications and Hudsons credibility. The report found that Hudson was truthful regarding whether he lied on the civil service applications by stating that he did not resign to avoid dismissals. The report states that there is no evidence that Hudson was facing imminent dismissal, or even discipline, at the time he resigned from Coxsackie and North Greenbush Police Departments."

In regard to Hudsons credibility, given that no investigation was completed into either of the allegations of dishonesty at the time they occurred, the issue of his credibility has remained an open question. With regard to his statements relating to the K-9 program, the report says that Hudsons contention that he was doing the training program on his own is inconsistent with both departments statements and the fact that he attended the program wearing a North Greenbush uniform and told program directors that he worked for North Greenbush.

The report also found that Hudsons decision not to participate in fact-finding investigations that could have cleared his name is, as the District Attorneys office stated, an indication of culpability and/or dishonesty, a reasonable perspective and one that, going forward, is likely to be shared by judges and jurors who are presented with the question of Hudsons credibility."

Another cited issue was the damaged vehicle in Coxsackie and whether Hudson had intended fraud and his conflicting statements on the incident, which, they determined, pointed to underlying issues with his reliability.

The report concludes by saying, The above-described credibility issues with Hudson speak to the same concerns articulated by the Rensselaer District Attorneys office that Hudsons credibility remains in doubt."

The Banner reached out directly to both the Village of Hoosick Falls's current Mayor, Dan Schuttig, and Sergeant Hudson. Both declined to comment . Hudson, who was also serving as the Hoosick Falls Rescue Squad Chief, was also terminated from that position.

Sources informed us that Hudson is still a member of the police union. If a grievance were filed in the stated termination, Hudson would not be considered legally terminated until the grievance was litigated.

An ongoing investigation into issues with Hudson started by the New York State Comptrollers Office is still unresolved. According to Press Officer Nick Johnson, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli will have no comment until its conclusion. Sources tell the Banner that the investigation revolves around several file cabinets switched between the police and fire departments. The NYS Comptroller did not verify the accuracy of that information.

This is an ongoing story. The Banner will update as more information becomes available.
Diplomats, business leaders in Hong Kong tour GBA to explore tech opportunities

Xinhua) 13:49, June 04, 2025

HONG KONG, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of consular corps and business communities based in Hong Kong began a four-day tour of Chinese mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on Tuesday to explore investment opportunities in the region's burgeoning technology sector.

Addressing the launch ceremony in Hong Kong, Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Hong Kong is "not only a participant and contributor but also a beneficiary" in the GBA's development. He noted Hong Kong's unique position and pivotal role in facilitating the region's foreign trade and investment while benefiting from the area's economic opportunities.

Mojalefa Mogono, Consul General of the Republic of South Africa in the HKSAR, said that "the GBA with its unparalleled economic vitality, innovative spirit, and cultural diversity stands as a statement to the potential of regional integration," eyeing deeper collaboration with partners in trade, technology, people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

David Whitwam, chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, told Xinhua that he would focus on China's advanced technology and manufacturing sectors during the trip. He highlighted the GBA's advantages in talent, capital, technology and transport, combined with Hong Kong's professional services.

The delegation will visit Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhuhai from Tuesday to Friday, including stops at major cooperation zones like Qianhai and Hengqin. The itinerary focuses on smart driving, robotics, smart agriculture and biomedicine to assess the GBA's innovation-driven development and inspire sustainable growth.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BENNINGTON  The Select Board is considering a settlement agreement between the town and a solar developer proposing two commercial-size projects in the Apple Hill area.

During a special meeting Tuesday evening, the board was expected to consider settlements involving the long-stalled Apple Hill Solar and Chelsea Solar projects, both proposing 2-megawatt capacity arrays.

The Allco Renewable Energy, LTD, projects have unsuccessfully sought state permits over the past decade, amid consistent opposition from neighbors and other residents.

The town had been expected to comment or otherwise be involved in upcoming permitting proceedings, based largely on the issue of conformance with the Town Plan. That issue has been a key factor in permit rejections over the years by the state Public Utility Commission and in the courts on appeal.

Effect on Benn High?

The Select Board on Monday approved the release of $1.6 million of the funding that has been earmarked for the $54 million Benn High redevelopment project. The solar developer has filed a lawsuit challenging aspects of the Benn High development agreement, and has taken recent steps that could derail or slow the release of grant and other funding earmarked for the project.

Town officials and town attorney Merrill Bent have made plain in court filings that they consider lawsuits by the developer a pressure tactic designed to push the town to support, rather than oppose, the two solar projects.

The suit was filed in May against the Benn High development agreement in Chittenden Superior Court Civil Division by PLH Vineyard Sky LLC, a corporate entity associated with Allco Renewable Energy that is listed as owning property in Bennington.

Assistant Town Manager and Planning Director Dan Monks said in an affidavit filed with the court, Plaintiff [the developer] has repeatedly brought lawsuits against the Town of Bennington to pressure the town to support its projects in proceedings before the PUC.

He added, Prior suits have been found to be without merit by various state and federal courts. Plaintiff, through its legal counsel, and on more than one occasion, has stated that it will not stop targeting the Bennington High project unless and until it receives [permits] from the PUC for the Apple Hill and Chelsea Solar projects, and that if that happens with the Town's support, it would agree to drop its challenge of the Bennington High Project.

Attorney Bent, according to court filings, described the developers suit complaint against the town as utterly devoid of any merit, contending it was brought in bad faith with the purpose of pressuring the Town of Bennington to support the Plaintiffs solar projects in another venue.

The town attorney has filed motions with the court seeking an emergency ruling to dismiss the suit or an expedited hearing.

Bent added, Plaintiffs efforts to seek discovery from investors and lenders who are involved in the Bennington High School redevelopment project are intended to spook funders and prevent the closing of the project from occurring by creating a perceived underwriting risk.

The attorney said, The subpoenas improperly issued by plaintiff prior to service on the defendant have had their desired effect, and now jeopardize the financial closing on the property, placing the project at risk. Because of the nature of the property  a blighted, vacant property  there is very little likelihood that it will ever be remediated and redeveloped if this $54 million project is thwarted by the plaintiffs cynical and vindictive efforts to punish the Town of Bennington for its participation in the Public Utility Commission process.

Zak Hale, CEO of Hale Resources, LLC, the towns private developer partner in the project, said in an affidavit filed with the court, On May 21, 2025, the day we began construction, our lead investor U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation informed us that they were pausing their involvement due to having been subpoenaed by [the solar developer] in this matter. USBCDC is providing over $15 million through [tax credit] equity and has been central to our deal structure. Their withdrawal has caused all funding partners to freeze activity.

Hale added, I have personally engaged with over 100 stakeholders on a weekly basis, including state agencies, investors, nonprofits, consultants, and public officials. I have assured them of this projects security and feasibility.

He said that if the project collapses, he will default on millions in obligations and likely be forced into bankruptcy; the town will lose its $1.5 million [American Rescue Plan Act grant] investment; and professional reputations, including his, will be severely damaged across local, state, and federal circles.

The project took three years to develop, Hale said, adding that delays could erase three years of effort by hundreds of professionals, and the community itself.

He continued, I have worked approximately 7,000 hours on this project with no compensation and taken immense personal risk to make this project succeed. I am no longer able to operate in solution mode, as I am caught in the crossfire of a meritless lawsuit by a party I have never interacted with.

Suit complaint

In the suit complaint, Allco Renewable Energy CEO Thomas Melone challenges the Benn High development agreement.

The complaint states in part, This taxpayer suit case challenges the Town of Benningtons approval of, participation in, and financial support for what is called the Benn High project.

The suit alleges municipal waste, and alleges the project is injurious to plaintiff [PLH Vineyard Sky LLC ] because of (a) the spread of contaminants from the Benn High project to plaintiffs land, and (b) the failure to use funds provided by the federal government as a reimbursement for taxes collected from PLH and others or for government services as represented by the Town in order to obtain the funds ... .

The suit seeks to enjoin the town from wasting, and transferring to private entities, millions of dollars in municipal funds on the project. Plaintiff also seeks to enjoin the use of funds by the town improperly obtained, including, without limitation, $1,250,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds from the Agency of Commerce and Community.

Melone alleges that the application for which and receipt of which each require the town to have a duly enacted and current Town Plan, which it does not have, and has not had since October 7, 2023.

The last is an allegation that town officials have repeatedly denied.

Opponents react

Contacted Monday via email, Apple Hill area residents declined comment on the Select Boards consideration of a settlement with the developer, but at least some are expected to attend the meeting tonight.

Annette Smith, executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, who has worked with the residents, said in an email, It is so disturbing to see this solar developer threatening the town through the litigation. The Town of Bennington and Benn High developer would seem to have ample grounds to counter-sue for damages.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
BENNINGTON  The defendant who prompted a days-long manhunt in 2023 after an alleged attempted murder and robbery is set for trial after jury pick.

Zachary Dumas is charged with attempted murder and other charges in an alleged attack on a female at the Applegate complex in September 2023. According to an affidavit, Dumas allegedly attacked the female by punching her in the face and strangling her until, according to the victim, he almost killed me. Dumas also reportedly stole the females backpack, which contained cash, debit cards, her ID, Social Security card, and birth certificate. In a police interview, the victim told investigators that Dumas had come over for money to buy crack. When the victim told Dumas the money she had was for rent, Dumas allegedly blocked the exit to her apartment with his bicycle, put an arm around her neck from behind until she lost consciousness, and then left with the backpack.

Dumas was all set for a contested sentencing back in February after he pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and robbery in a plea deal with prosecutors before his trial was set to begin in November 2024. That sentencing never happened. Instead, the defendant was allowed to withdraw his guilty plea after unshared information surfaced that the complaining witness had admitted to using drugs right before she was scheduled to testify at his trial.

Dumas was initially charged with two felony counts  attempted murder and assault and robbery stemming from the incident with his girlfriend the previous September (2023). Prosecutors had amended the charges the week before his trial was to begin, adding a count of aggravated assault and enhancing all charges to habitual offender status, allowing the state to seek a life sentence if he was found guilty.

Before the trial got started in November, however, State Prosecutor Jared Bianchi was informed by the complaining witness, who had been scheduled to testify that very day, that she had used illegal drugs just prior to her testifying. A decision was then made to pursue a proposed plea deal instead of starting the trial with a victim who had just admitted to being under the influence of drugs as the main witness. The plea deal, initially proposed by the defense, was finalized the same day, and Dumas pleaded guilty to the single count of assault and robbery.

Unfortunately, prosecutors failed to inform the defense when they discovered this detail. That information, had it been known, had the potential to help the defense at trial, possibly during cross-examination of the complaining witness, and could have influenced Dumas as to whether to make that crucial decision to plead guilty or continue to trial.

According to Vermont law, prosecutors must divulge any information about a complaining witness that might help exonerate a defendant as soon as they become aware of that information.

That law stems from a 1963 US Supreme Court ruling called Brady vs the State of Maryland. Brady (as its commonly known) requires prosecutors to reveal any statements from witnesses, physical evidence contradicting the prosecution's witnesses  evidence that could help the defense impeach a prosecution witness or any evidence that could reduce the defendant's sentence.

Brady evidence is significant because it helps ensure that defendants have a fair trial and helps ensure that the defendant's right to due process is protected.

When Bianchi revealed that the complaining witness had been under the influence during his argument at the later sentencing hearing, Judge Jennifer Barrett, seemingly startled, asked defense attorney Kate Lamson whether she wanted to speak with Dumas about possibly withdrawing his plea due to the newly revealed information, which she referred to as a possible Brady case.

Initially, Dumas wanted to proceed with the sentencing, but after speaking with Lamson for several minutes behind closed doors, Dumas decided to withdraw the plea and face a new trial.

The revelation of the complaining witnesss drug use became an issue after the alleged victim had come to the courthouse on Thursday to turn herself in at the same time as the Dumas hearing was underway. The complaining witness was required to start a confinement sentence on an unrelated 2024 narcotics conviction from a 2023 incident.

When Judge Barrett found out the victim was at the courthouse, she asked whether the state wanted her to give a victims impact statement at the sentencing hearing. When court officers from the Sheriffs Department went to find her, they realized she had disappeared.

According to court officials, while waiting for paperwork to be completed, the complaining witness left the building before she could be taken into custody. Officers swept the area, including all bathrooms, but could not locate her. A warrant for her arrest was then issued.

After it was revealed that she had left and was not in custody, Bianchi, during his sentencing argument, mentioned some issues with the complaining witness, which had motivated the state to accept the plea deal on the day of the trial. He then noted that she had revealed and admitted she was high before she was to testify at the November trial.

Dumass plea deal in November called for a 3-to-20-year to-serve prison sentence. He initially faced a possible life sentence on all three counts. Dumas was returned to the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Center in Rutland to await a new trial. He has been in custody there since his arrest in 2023.

It should be noted that Judge Barrett stated at the hearing that she was not convinced, due to Dumass criminal history or the violent nature of the now-alleged offense, to accept the deal and the agreed-upon sentence as proposed.

Dumas will now face the charges once again, only with the knowledge of what transpired at the sentencing hearing, which can, for now, be used at a new trial in any cross-examination of the complaining witness. That information could aid the defense, creating reasonable doubt and possibly making it more difficult to convict. It also makes it more likely that a new, more favorable deal for Dumas could be reached before trial.

In September 2023, Zachary Dumas, 38, was charged with two felony counts  attempted murder and assault and robbery  stemming from an incident at the Applegate Apartments on the evening of Sept. 7. Dumas allegedly attempted to murder his then-girlfriend by strangling her from behind and then robbing her backpack containing cash, debit cards, her ID, social security card and birth certificate. Dumas fled the scene before police arrived, leading to an arrest warrant and kicking off an intense, multi-day manhunt in and around Bennington.

Dumas was eventually nabbed while hiding out in a known drug residence in Bennington. He was later charged with a third count of aggravated assault. All charges were upgraded to habitual offender status due to Dumass past conviction on several felonies.

Dumas has a lengthy criminal history in Vermont, with several dozen misdemeanors and felonies on his record, including drug possession charges, assault, violations of abuse prevention orders, unlawful trespass, retail theft, violation of conditions of release, domestic assault, obstructing justice, and petty larceny. Before the latest incident, Dumas had been put on furlough in the larceny case.

Dumas is scheduled for a two-day trial on June 17-18. He is being held without bail at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland until the case is resolved. Dumas is facing a possible life sentence on the attempted murder charge and an additional 20 years on the assault and robbery.

The Banner will follow the trial and update this story as more information becomes available.
Eagle Archives, July 2, 1957: The Marauders drum and bugle corps will be absent from the 1957 Fourth of July Parade after a split with the Pittsfield Firemens Association, which demanded the return of all instruments amid tensions over name changes and sponsorship.
With Berkshire Concrete Corp. set to apply for its annual permit in the fall, Select Board member Tony Pagliarulo says the town is better prepared to set the terms and conditions to protect the neighborhoods in our community. The creation of the Clean Air Ad Hoc Committee and the allocation of $59,000 to fund professional and technical work has put the town in a good position.
'If I make people think about what they heard ... I did my job.' Longtime classical music critic Andrew L. Pincus died Thursday Pincus spent 46 years writing about classical music for The Berkshire Eagle. He retired in 2022, having won the respect of musicians and readers with his authoritative reporting and sharp writing.

Anyone who has ever experienced a concert at the Koussevitzky Shed knows that even after a note sounds and ceases, its echo lingers. Andrew L. Pincus knew that better than anyone. By the time he retired from a 46-year career as The Eagles classical music critic, he likely had attended more classical music performances at Tanglewood than any other person on Earth.

Mr. Pincus died last week at age 94. We mourn the loss of a quietly accomplished and dedicated lover of music and writing. With a pen as sharp as his ear, he established himself as a one-man institution of thoughtful critique and thorough analysis in the pages of The Eagle and the seats of Berkshire musical venues, especially the Boston Symphony Orchestras summer home in the Berkshires. In fact, over the course of his four-and-a-half-decade career, he was one of the most consistent figures in this newspaper and at that world-renowned venue. He attended countless concerts, covered the work of iconic artists and charted the evolution of Tanglewoods output over a tenure that spanned five BSO music directors. He twice won the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for excellence in music criticism and authored five books, three of them on Tanglewood.

Like most good critics, he was tough but fair  an approach that earned him great respect from the people he covered even when he panned them. More importantly, though, he balanced a reverence for the art and high standards for the artists with a uniquely humanistic compassion rarely seen in critics columns. See, for example, his ever-honest yet heartfelt review of Leonard Bernsteins last appearance as conductor at Tanglewood  and his appropriately awe-inspired reflection on Mr. Bernsteins life and legacy mere weeks after that final performance.

Now, Mr. Pincus, a composer of a different sort, leaves his own legacy that lives on in years of work proudly published in this papers pages. It is exceptionally difficult to take in the complex forms and expressions of classical music performances and relay their content and impact in several column inches worth of words. Andrew Pincus did so dutifully and superbly for nearly half a century  many times with just a couple hours turnaround to make the next mornings edition.

Out of study and experience you can hope to enlarge peoples understanding of great music, Mr. Pincus told The Eagle upon his retirement in 2022. If I made people think about what they heard or were about to hear, I did my job.

Mission accomplished, maestro. Like all those blessed by Mr. Pincus words and wisdom, we are grateful that he not only made us think but allowed us to fully feel and appreciate the sonic artistry on offer in the Berkshires we too often take for granted. That particularly sublime echo will continue to resonate even as he rests.
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IIT Delhi and AIIMS to establish Centre of Excellence for AI in healthcare

June 04, 2025 | Wednesday | News

A new model of collaboration between healthcare and AI technology research globally

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Center of Excellence for artificial intelligence (AI) in Healthcare (AI-CoE). The MoU was signed by Prof. M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMS Delhi, and Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.

The AI-CoE will focus on developing AI-based solutions for supporting key national health programmes in the country. Last year, the two institutes were awarded a grant of Rs 330 crore by the Ministry of Education under the initiative "Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India," following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process. The proposed Centre of Excellence will be the executing vehicle for the grant.

Dr Krithika Rangarajan, Chief Project Manager, who will lead the initiative from AIIMS Delhi, said, "As we venture into this exciting new space, we look forward to guiding the marriage of healthcare with technology. We remain focused on keeping patients at the center of this effort and hope to build mechanisms that would benefit every citizen of the country."

Prof. Chetan Arora, Chief Project Manager, who will lead the AI-CoE from IIT Delhi, said, "The CoE will serve as a key research and resource center at the national and international level and aims to revolutionise the national public health system using indigenously developed AI systems and solutions. Our aim is to develop cutting-edge AI solutions to upscale health services, upskill our healthcare providers, and improve the accessibility of quality healthcare to remote and marginalised sections of our population.


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Three recent Brandeis University graduates have received Fulbright awards to teach or conduct research abroad.

Floriesha Bastien 24 won an English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea, where she will teach English and foster cultural exchange. Gauri Gajeshwar 25 was awarded a Chile Science Initiative grant to study embryogenesis in South American annual killifish. Dalya Koller 25 has been awarded a research grant to Israel, where she will conduct a cross-cultural biblical literary study, working alongside scholars specializing in biblical studies and comparative literature.

Floriesha, Gauri and Dalya each made meaningful contributions to the Brandeis community during their time here, and they will be wonderful ambassadors of the United States during their time abroad, said Meredith Monaghan, executive director of academic fellowships at Brandeis. It has been an honor to work with each of them throughout the Fulbright process.

Im excited about connecting with people whose lives and perspectives may differ from mine, said Bastien. Im especially excited to fully immerse myself in Korean society and culture, and in doing so, help cultivate a more interconnected, empathetic world.

Bastien served as a peer mentor, teaching assistant and study abroad ambassador at Brandeis. After her Fulbright year, she plans to pursue a career in global brand marketing, bringing Korean and American markets closer by creating culturally resonant marketing strategies.

Conducting research at the Universidad de Chile, Gajeshwar will use in vivo imaging in killifish to study the mechanisms behind similar phase transitions that occur in human development and cancer metastasis, with the goal of preventing developmental diseases and cancer progression. After completing her Fulbright year, Gajeshwar will begin a PhD in bioengineering at Stanford University.

I am looking forward to all the learning I will do in Chile. It is a huge opportunity for academic and personal growth, said Gajeshwar. As an Indian American, I am excited to share food, stories and dancing to promote cultural exchange and form a strong connection between myself, my communities in the United States and India and the community I will be a part of in Chile.

Kollers project explores the intertextual relationship between the Song of Songs and Walt Whitmans poem Leaves of Grass. Following her Fulbright year, Koller plans to pursue a doctorate in comparative literature, including studying Egyptian poetry and works by Milton, Keats and Shakespeare.

The Fulbrighters said Brandeis provided critical support, mentorship and feedback throughout the application process.

Brandeis fellowships office offered invaluable, hands-on guidance throughout my Fulbright journey, said Bastien.

Gajeshwar echoed that sentiment. I am truly thankful for the community at Brandeis for their support and for how involved and invested everyone always was in my future.

Koller noted how Brandeis helped her develop the skills for career success after graduation. Brandeis nurtured my intellectual curiosity and pushed me to think in interdisciplinary and nuanced ways, she said. Most importantly, Brandeis instilled in me a sense of purpose  a belief that thoughtful engagement with the world can lead to meaningful change.
Billionaire John Magnier's son-in-law has denied "low balling" the vendors of Barne Estate in an allegedly "deceptive" manner in starting bids on the Co Tipperary property before a 15 million alleged deal fell through.

At the High Court, Mr Magnier's son-in-law, David Wachman, said it was "common practice" to start bidding at a level lower than the vendor's valuation for any property and that price expectations had to be "controlled".

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Lawyers acting for Mr Magnier, founder of the world-famous Coolmore Stud, have claimed that a US-based construction magnate, Maurice Regan, the preferred buyer, engaged in a "full-frontal assault" on Mr Magnier's claimed deal to buy the 751-acre tract.

Mr Magnier's proceedings claim that Barne Estate reneged on the alleged deal, preferring to sell the land at the higher price of 22.25 million to Mr Regan, the founder of the New York building firm JT Magen.

Mr Magnier  along with his adult children  wants to enforce the alleged deal.

They say the deal was struck at an August 22nd, 2023, kitchen meeting at Mr Magniers Coolmore home. They also claim an exclusivity agreement that was in effect from August 31st to September 30th stipulated that the estate would not permit its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier.

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Barne Estate has been held for the benefit of Richard Thomson-Moore and others by a Jersey trust.

The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been "unequivocally" agreed.

The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any agreement and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to Mr Regan.

Mr Regan is not a party to the case.

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Paul Gallagher SC, for the Magnier side, was told by Mr Wachman that Mr Regan "was always of the opinion that we shouldn't bid against each other", as this would generally mean the two strongest bidders, in this case Mr Magnier and Mr Regan, would increase land prices in Tipperary.

Mr Wachman told Niall F Buckley SC, for the Barne Estate, that Coolmore was interested in Barne and by July 2023 co-ordinated a bid of 10.5 million through a third party acting on behalf of a "wealthy UK investor" without informing the Thomson-Moores, who sought 13.5 million for the estate, of Coolmore's involvement.

Another third party who did not disclose to the vendor that Coolmore was also using him had earlier pulled out of bidding and when both third parties withdrew "it left Coolmore as the only one left on the pitch".

Mr Buckley asked if Mr Wachman was aware that the third parties were already known to his clients and was told "yes".

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Mr Buckley said this strategy amounted to a "ruse" and a "backstory" by Coolmore regarding their interest in the property, which was not on the open market.

Mr Buckley said not long after the first bid that Coolmore submitted a bid of 10M in what was, he alleged, a "deceptively low bid".

Mr Wachman said the strategy was engaged to "control expectations" on the value of the estate.

Mr Buckley said the "low ball" tactic was to "dent confidence" in the value of the estate through bids from "ostensibly two different bidders".

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Regarding the claim of trying to dent the confidence of the vendors, Mr Wachman said "I am not sure I agree with you but that is a matter for interpretation".

Mr Wachman said the view of there being two bidders was correct but that he could not have known the confidence levels of the vendors.

Mr Wachman said information on the third-party bids reaching the Coolmore side from the estate agent showed the agent to be trustworthy.

"We then knew the agent was telling the truth," said Mr Wachman.

"You may have a rationale but the vendors were the casualties in that," said Mr Buckley, who added that Coolmore were using people known to his clients to "advance veiled inquiries".

Ireland Susan Magnier backs billionaire husband John over... Read More

Mr Buckley said that Mr Regan will dispute the claim that he wanted to suppress land prices in the area and that his eventual and higher preferred bid of 22.5 million was inconsistent with this claim.

Mr Wachman told counsel that it was inconsistent with the land-price suppression claim because Mr Regan "had a bee in his bonnet" after learning of the alleged agreement between Barne and the Magnier side.

Mr Buckley said the "low ball" offers from the Magnier side were more consistent with any price suppression as opposed to Mr Regan engaging in the tactic. Mr Wachman said it was "common practice" to start at a lower price and added that the eventual bid from the Magnier side was 15 million.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
An audit of the country's two paediatric critical care units, at Crumlin and Temple Street, has found that while they deliver high-quality care, the system is under strain.

The number of children admitted to adult intensive care units doubled to 148 cases in 2023.

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The National Office of Clinical Audit found high bed occupancy rates, that were above 95 per cent, and says more investment is needed.

The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said that one of her major concerns is how waiting lists are managed which was why she had called for an overall audit of how waiting lists are managed across the board in CHI.

Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Ms Carroll MacNeill said that as Minister she needed to ensure that the public system was working in the most productive way during the public hours that consultants are paid to do public work in a public hospital.

What's not acceptable and what the concern is here is that those procedures are not happening quickly enough or in a sufficiently efficient way and that they're becoming such long waiters that NTPF intervention is required.

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So my underlying issue is, how are those lists being managed? So what I've done is, Bernard Gloster and I have decided to have an overall audit of how are these waiting lists managed generally across the board in CHI in every discipline to ensure that that's not being replicated.

Ms Carroll MacNeill urged concerned parents to just sit with me and sit with the NTPF for a number of days, for a week or 10 days to allow the NTPF to do their work".

This is something where the NTPF absolutely need assurance that this is being done correctly but what they also need is to make sure that there is no mismanagement of lists such that a child is waiting so long that they are required to be on the NTPF list where there could have been an earlier surgical intervention.

And that is the bigger issue here. That is the bigger issue and that is what raises such particular concerns around the issues in this report but it also raises the broader patient safety concerns and what we need to do is make sure that that is happening in the most productive way in the public system in every discipline.

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The Minister said that in addition to the audit there would be a change to a centralised referral mechanism which would mean that if a child was referred to a consultant surgeon, they would not be referred to an individual surgeon, but into a central referral mechanism.

Which means that the hospital can assess who has the shortest list, who has capacity to do this, rather than being sort of assigned to or stuck with an individual, who then has the capacity to do things at whatever pace, and some of them are doing very efficiently, and others less so.

We need to make sure and the NTPF need to make sure, and I need to make sure, Bernard Gloucester needs to and the CHI need to make sure that there are no perverse practices or no perverse incentives from the way in which waiting lists are managed.

So I would ask parents to just sit with me just for a week or 10 days to allow the NTPF to get these assurances and to do their work. The NTPF have already assured that existing surgery scheduled will not be impacted but our concern is we need to make sure that this isn't happening anywhere else in the system.

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Ms Carroll MacNeill acknowledged that the NTPF had only recently discovered that there had not been a referral to the National Patient Safety Office.

Let's not underestimate the impact of that, nor was there a referral to the department or a notification to any of us. So that's not a satisfactory way of managing that, and I expect that to be very, very different. There is no CHI without the state. The state is the funder of all of these services, and people who work in CHI, both at executive level, but let me be very clear, consultants in CH , and everybody who is in CHI is a public servant, and it is important that they understand that.
Two men who were to take 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew and bring it to the UK were so expendable that when their ship ran aground in rough seas, their employers deleted them from a group chat and planned to complete the operation without them, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Det Superintendent Keith Halley told the three-judge court that Englishman Jamie Harbron was on the "lowest rung" in the criminal enterprise to transport the massive drugs haul across the Atlantic, into Europe.

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Harbron was hired as a deck hand on board the Castlemore, an Irish ship which was supposed to meet the MV Matthew and take the drugs to the UK, the detective said

Under cross-examination, Det Halley told Harbron's defence counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, that Harbron's jobs appeared to include "greasing things up" or tidying the ship. He did not appear to be a "competent or good deck hand," Supt Halley said.

He could not operate the radio, find the life vests or secure a tow rope thrown from a coastguard boat in an attempt to rescue the vessel. Having been on rough seas from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening, Harbron was "very sick" and told gardai he believed he was going to die.

Harbron was finally winched to safety by a coastguard helicopter and was "very, very grateful" to his rescuers, the Superintendent said.

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When the Dubai-based organisers of the criminal enterprise realised the Castlemore had run aground, they initially told the ship's captain, Vitaliy Lapa, not to call the coastguard. They then removed the Castlemore from the virtual chat room used to communicate with the vessels and told the MV Matthew they would find another boat to make the rendezvous.

Supt Halley agreed that this indicated Harbron and Lapa were "completely expendable". Harbron appeared to have become involved in the plot at the last minute and had told gardai that he was promised 10,000 would be wiped off a 20,000 drug debt.

Lapa, the detective said, speaks no English and the two men communicated using Google Translate.

The Dubai-based leadership had an "erroneous belief" that the messages they had sent to the Castlemore would automatically delete after one hour, Supt Halley said.

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However, gardai retrieved the messages, which were used as part of the evidence in the case.

Eight men have pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of 157 million worth of drugs on board the MV Matthew. Members of the Irish Army Rangers wing of the Defence Forces boarded the ship on September 26th, 2022 in a daring mission in rough seas as the MV Matthew manoeuvred to try to evade capture.

The ship had departed from Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast and sailed across the Atlantic before arriving in Irish territorial waters.

Lenient sentencing

Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (33); Iranians Soheil Jelveh (52) and Saeid Hassani (40); Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (50) pleaded guilty that between September 24th and 26th 2023, both dates inclusive, at locations outside the State, on board the vessel "MV Matthew" they possessed cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.

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Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa (62), with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK pleaded guilty that on dates between September 21st and 25th, 2023 they attempted to possess cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Lawyers for all eight asked the court to be as lenient as possible in sentencing. For mitigation, they rely on their guilty pleas and the fact that their time in prison will be spent in a foreign country away from their families.

None of those before the court were the leaders of the criminal organisation involved in transporting the drugs but were hired to perform specific roles on the two ships, lawyers said.

The only defendant with a record of offending is Jamie Harbron, whose convictions include cannabis and cocaine possession in the UK. Lawyers for the others submitted that their clients were of good character before this offence, but they "succumbed" to temptation, hoping to resolve various financial difficulties.

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Brendan Grehan SC, for Kumali Ozgen, said his client's job on board the MV Matthew was to "mind the cargo". He was, counsel said, the "eyes and ears" of those directing the operation from Dubai and had no seafaring experience.

Ozgen admitted to gardai that he loaded crates of drugs onto the ship and used paint thinners to try to burn the drugs when the Irish Navy began its pursuit. He also said he was to be paid 50,000 to 100,000 if successful, but has received nothing.

Mr Grehan said Ozgen took the job in a "misguided attempt" to provide for his family, in particular his son, who suffers from poor health.

Hugh Hartnett SC, for Gavryk, said his client was of excellent character before this offence. Michael Hourigan SC, for Estoesta, said his client had provided gardai with valuable information, including that when the drugs were loaded onto the MV Matthew, ordinary crew members were plied with alcohol to distract them.

Mark Lynam SC for Hassani, said this was the first time his client was involved in "anything of this kind". He had been a sailor of good character all his life but "succumbed to temptation", believing the money from this job would allow him to spend more time with his wife and family.

Colman Cody SC, for Lapa, said his client was a hard-working, law-abiding citizen and a loving husband and father. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lapa found himself in a "vulnerable financial position". Despite having retired as a fishing captain, he was compelled to go abroad to provide for his family. "He was vulnerable to certain pressures, and that ought to be taken into account," counsel said.

Paul O'Higgins SC, for Vlasoi, said his client was the first officer on the boat but had led a blameless life before. He had limited knowledge of the operation, counsel said.

Keivon Sotoodeh BL, for Jelveh, said his client was the captain of the MV Matthew but was acting on orders from Dubai.

The court previously heard that Jelveh became frustrated with the instructions he was receiving and called the coastguard for an emergency medical evacuation. A coastguard helicopter lifted Jelveh from the MV Matthew before the ship was engaged by Irish Naval vessel the LE William Butler Yeats.

Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, will deliver the sentences on July 4th.
Dublin and Cork airports both had their busiest ever May last month.

Passenger numbers were up 4.5 per cent in Dublin Airport, with three 120,000 passenger days in May, while Cork Airport passenger numbers were up 17 per cent.

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Cork Airport welcomed over 330,000 passengers in May, following their announcement last month of a 200 million capital investment plan.

Dublin Airport welcomed more than 3,257,700 passengers in May, and on 27 days, there were more than 100,000 passengers passing through.

The previous highest ever number of passengers in the month of May was 115,000 on May 23rd, 2024.

The May performance reflects the demand that exists to travel through Ireland's national hub airport and onwards to other destinations throughout the island, as well as people connecting from Ireland to destinations across the world, a daa press release said.

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The company added that "due to the High Court decision that the Irish Aviation Authority cannot take the passenger planning cap into account when allocating slots to airlines, the number of flights has surged in the summer period".

"However, this is a temporary relief pending the outcome of the legal process currently before the European Court of Justice, and the cap remains in place until a solution is found," they said.

"Daa continues to do all it can to remove the passenger cap through the planning system and welcomes the comments by Minister of Transport Darragh OBrien at Dublin Chamber of Commerce last month that he expects to bring forward legislative proposals to resolve the issue in the coming months, while respecting the independence of the planning process."

Daa chief executive Kenny Jacobs said that the May Bank Holiday weekend brought a brilliant start to the month at Cork Airport, with passenger numbers on that weekend up 20 per cent on the same weekend in 2024.

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"Were also celebrating new routes, including the start last Saturday of SunExpress route to Izmir in Turkiye. SunExpress is Corks ninth and newest airline, and its great to have a direct service to Turkiye on the route map," he said.

"With the peak holiday season now in full flow, the whole team at Cork Airport are well prepared for a very busy summer - quite possibly the busiest summer ever. Its great to see such healthy numbers on some of our inbound services from the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy as tourists fly to Cork  the gateway to the South of Ireland," Mr Jacob added.

He also said that summer has come early to Dublin Airport, with May 2025 "comfortably" their busiest ever, with three record-breaking 120,000+ passenger days.

"Its all hands-on-deck across the airport to make sure our passengers have a smooth and enjoyable time at the airport, and were working hard to ensure standards are even higher than they were last summer when our passenger satisfaction scores reached an all-time high," Mr Jacobs said.

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"Weve listened closely to what areas passengers want us to focus on, and we are using that feedback to introduce a whole host of improvements that aim to remove pinch points for those both arriving and departing from our terminals."

He added that May numbers at Dublin Airport were boosted by the launch of new routes, including direct Aer Lingus services to Nashville and Indianapolis.

"Of course, we would be adding even more high-demand new routes if it wasnt for the uncertainty of the passenger cap, which is still making airlines cautious about bringing increased frequencies and new direct routes to locations like India, Brazil and Singapore. That will remain the case until the cap is fully removed," he said.

"Research we commissioned from independent polling company Red C found that 86 per cent of Fingal residents support further development of Dublin Airport to allow it to grow, while 84% agree that having the airport in their community fuels economic development".
A former war zone correspondent for NBC has told a judge she feared she was going to die in raging seas when Irish Ferries vessel MV Epsilon was dramatically tossed around during Storm Imogen almost 10 years ago.

Retired journalist Susan Burt (75) said in the Circuit Civil Court on Wednesday that she, her partner Chris Sawyer and seven passengers from Co Mayo had felt they were not going to survive during what she described as a horrific nightmare over three days when the Epsilon had been unable to dock anywhere during a three-day journey from Cherbourg to Dublin.

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Barrister John Wilde Crosbie, counsel for Ms Burt told Judge Christopher Callan the vessel had been forced to sail back and forth during the storm until the weather improved and it could continue to Dublin. It had set out on February 7th, 2016 and had not docked in Dublin a day late on the 9th.

The vessel lurched so violently that people were screaming, Burt, who lives in England and Brussels, told the court. Things were flying through the air, dishes were smashing and furniture sliding up and down decks and cabin floors. As the ship would roll we had to crawl.

She said the ship would turn over so far after being hit by huge waves that passengers felt it would capsize. It seemed to go on forever.

It was a very long drawn out harrowing and awful experience, she told Mr Crosbie, who appeared with Evan ODwyer of ODwyer Solicitors, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

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I thought I was going to die. I felt this is it, she said. We were being thrown about and our car was absolutely squashed as vehicles criss-crossed the car deck.

In 2023 Noel Rowland, of Bridgemount, Belcarra, Castlebar, Co Mayo, his wife, and three children, Florence, Beau and Jude, now all resident in Brussels; Chris Sawyer, also Brussels, and two other passengers also living in Brussels but with Irish connections, settled their claims against Irish Ferries.

Ireland Man released without charge after death of woman o... Read More

At that time the court approved settlement offers of 14,500 each for the three Rowland children. Other settlements were not disclosed. Ms Burts claim was put back until today for full trial.

Cross-examined by defence barrister Roisin Haughey, who appeared with Noble shipping Law Solicitors for Irish Ferries, Ms Burt said she had not developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and had not been physically injured during the harrowing experience.

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Psychological experts for both parties put the absence of PTSD and her not having a requirement for medication down to her stoic attitude and impressive personal coping ability. Her counsel said she had nevertheless suffered psychological damage as a result of her experience.

Judge Callan reserved judgment on his assessment of damages in a case in which Irish Ferries had conceded liability.
Leona Macken, the 38-year-old woman with incurable cancer who received an apology in court on Tuesday from the HSE over the "failings" that occurred in two smear tests which led to her diagnosis, has said she would still encourage women to get a smear test and she would have her daughters vaccinated.

However, she said she felt there was something wrong with the cervical screening programme that needed to be identified and addressed.

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Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast and then RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show, Ms Macken said she had been overwhelmed by the support she has received from the community.

Ms Macken said the HSE's apology in court meant a huge amount to her.

Just the acknowledgement alone from the failures and everything, and even the words that they used, it was a really good conclusion, I suppose, to everything for us. We kind of didn't know whether we were going to get it, and there's been a lot of women in my position that didn't get that, so it is something that I don't take for granted, she told Newstalk Breakfast.

The mother of two girls, aged five and eight, told Today with Claire Byrne that she had trusted the system, but just because it had failed her did not mean that it would not work for others.

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I would never tell someone to not get a smear. It didn't work for me, it doesn't mean it's not going to work for you.

I have two little girls, they'll be definitely getting the vaccinations. I don't want people to take from this that I'm saying smears don't work, it's just they need to be checked more, like. Something isn't working somewhere, and that's what we need to find out.

Receiving the apology in court had been very important to her and her husband Alan, as she had felt that she needed to stick up for myself. She had done everything right and had even paid for smears herself, having seen the experience of Jade Goody.

I did everything I was meant to, and for them to then validate that was huge for me.

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Despite two clear smears, she knew something was wrong; she explained. Having gone through two pregnancies, she thought perhaps it was just her body changing or maybe polycystic ovaries, endometriosis or perimenopause. Blood tests and ultrasound scans were clear.

I just did not think cancer at all because I knew I'd been so careful, and I also knew it was a slow-progressing cancer, so I knew, like, that if there was something there, I would have had abnormalities at some stage.

Ms Mackens current diagnosis of stage 4 cancer means it's treatable to a certain extent, but it's not curable. When I went in first, as you can imagine, being told you have stage 4 cancer, after being through everything else, and knowing this could have been avoided, it was gut-wrenching. I felt like, so hard done by, I'd done everything I could do. How did I get to this point?

Telling her family had been horrific.

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Ms Macken is now undergoing quadruple therapy. That's like two chemotherapies, one immunotherapy, or two immunotherapies. At this point, I'm just still not giving in. I want to be the one to do it.

I have two little girls growing up now, and I'm worried about them. What's going to happen, you know? It's not good enough what's happening. I shouldn't be going through this today. I shouldn't be living this today.

Ms Macken welcomed the apology from the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and said she would love to meet with the Minister.

I'm a very open person, and I'm very open to a chat. They need to see these people in real life and see what they're going through, that they're not just a cancer, there's stories behind these people, where it's affecting my mom, my dad, we're people's daughters, mothers, you know, and we shouldn't be going through it. That's the most frustrating part is it could have been avoided.

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Ms Macken said she would not give up. I have too much to live for. It's such a beautiful life. I have two beautiful children. I have an amazing family and a huge support behind me. In every other aspect of my life, I've always said I'm so lucky. I just have the most beautiful life, and I just don't want to leave it.

But something needs to be changed. The auditing was stopped in 2018. It hasn't been picked up since. It was stopped weeks after Vicky Phelan's case. The Patient Safety Act of 2013 states that if this is even picked back up, it must remain anonymous. So the patients aren't necessarily being told the results. There's so many things in the system that need to be rectified, like it needs to be looked at. It's just not good enough. Its people's family, it people's daughters, kids are losing their mommies, she said on Newstalk Breakfast.

On Morning Ireland, the Minister for Health offered her personal apology to Ms Macken and said that women should not have to fight for access to their medical history.

There should be open disclosure, and that's very, very clear, and I want to offer my apology too in this case because what you have here is a 38-year-old woman who has been impacted in this way, and so have her family, and that is so, so important.

Ms Carroll MacNeill said that the screening programme would always have some limitations, but what had happened to Ms Macken should not have happened.

It shouldn't happen, what we want is people in medical negligence cases to have absolutely timely open disclosure, they need a resolution to their case, and they do not need additional stress going through the court process.

Obviously the state needs to manage it to a certain extent in terms of the broader liability but these are very, very clear cases and it is really important that people are treated and not provided additional stress and additional hurt through a court process when some of the issues are so very very clear and that has to change.

There is a very different way that we need to approach medical negligence cases and how they're treated, and that is one of the most important things that I will be trying to address during the period that I am Minister for Health.
Two men in their 70s have been granted leave to appeal their court-ordered extradition to the North, where they are wanted to face charges relating to the murder of an RUC officer nearly 50 years ago.

At the High Court on Wednesday, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath ruled that while authorities there have offered a detailed explanation for the delay in seeking the surrender of John Edward McNicholl (73) and Seamus Christopher O'Kane (74), this was not complete and there have been some "lengthy periods of inaction".

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He found that these were cases where an important point of law arises and it was desirable they be brought before the Court of Appeal.

Mr McNicholl, of Newmills, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and Mr O'Kane, of Scalestown, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, are wanted in the North. They face charges arising from an investigation into the murder of 25-year-old Constable Robert John McPherson in Co Derry on July 26th, 1975, and the attempted murder of a second constable.

Robert John McPherson

Mr McNicholl is charged with murdering Constable McPherson and attempted murder while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued firearm taken during the ambush on Constable McPherson.

Both men escaped from the Maze Prison in a dramatic tunnelling breakout in May 1976 before they could be put on trial.

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Mr O'Kane has been living openly in the Meath area for almost five decades while Mr McNicholl, who was deported from the United States, has been here since 2003.

In March of this year, Mr Justice McGrath said there was no evidence to suggest that Mr McNicholl and Mr O'Kane would not receive a fair trial in Northern Ireland, as he ruled that a delay in serving warrants on the respondents was not grounds for refusing their surrender to the north.

When the matter came back before the court today, Mr Justice McGrath said that the respondents were seeking leave to appeal his previous decision to order their surrender.

He said that in the case of Mr OKane, 48 years have passed since these alleged offences and the respondent had queried the absence of an explanation for inaction by the authorities in the North. Mr Justice McGrath said that Mr OKane had also raised the fact that when a previous application was made in 1977/78 for the respondents surrender, he had been charged with certain offences that were not included in this application.

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The judge said that the case of Mr McNicholl was somewhat similar, with the respondent pointing out there had been a delay of 48 years and again questioning the degree of action or inaction by the Northern Irish authorities.

Mr Justice McGrath said that the State had submitted it is well established law that a delay is not a standalone ground to refuse the surrender of an accused person. He noted that the State had outlined that the court had previously considered all the factors and decided that an abuse of process did not arise.

He said that a very long time has passed, but in both cases it was true to say that a detailed explanation had been offered by Northern Irish authorities for the passage of time.

However, Mr Justice McGrath said this was not a complete explanation and there had been some lengthy periods of inaction by the authorities.

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In both cases, the two men were living openly in the State and were available to answer an application for their surrender.

Mr Justice McGrath said that in the matter of Mr OKane, he believed that this was a case where a point of law of importance arose, so it was desirable that a case should be brought to the Court of Appeal.

The judge said that he was somewhat less certain in the case of Mr McNicholl, however he ruled that he would certify that one question in his case would go to the Court of Appeal.

Mr Justice McGrath said that he proposed the questions would be whether the lapse of time of 48 years amounted to an abuse of process, and whether the omission by the issuing state to seek the surrender for all offences which the accused was at that time charged with constituted an abuse of process.

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The legal team for each accused man was told that they would be given time to consider the wording of these questions and the matter was adjourned to Thursday, with the two remanded on continuing bail.

Warrants for the arrest of both men were issued following a request by the Northern Ireland authorities last year as part of an ongoing investigation into Constable McPherson's murder.

Constable McPherson was from Leck, outside Coleraine in Co Derry. He was shot dead in an INLA ambush in Dungiven Main Street around midday. He was hit by a single shot when he and a colleague were ambushed as they investigated a report of a suspect car. His fellow officer was hit multiple times but survived.

Both Mr McNicholl and Mr O'Kane face four charges relating to the possession of explosives and firearms on February 16th, 1976 at Garvagh, Co Derry. The court heard that an RUC-issued firearm retrieved at that location had been taken during the ambush on Constable McPherson.

Ireland Two men (70s) who escaped from Maze Prison to be e... Read More

At a previous hearing of the High Court Detective Garda Tony Keane of the Garda Extradition Unit said that following a search of the premises at Garvagh in 1976, the RUC recovered two electric detonators, two improvised pressure mat switches, two Walther pistols, one Browning pistol, a 0.22 rifle, a Remington shotgun and 104 rounds of ammunition.

Detective Keane said the warrant issued by the Northern Irish authorities states that Mr O'Kane and two other males were found hiding in an upstairs bedroom in the property and were arrested.

The warrant continues that Mr O'Kane was interviewed on February 17th, 1976, where he made a full admission to possessing the explosive substances, firearms and ammunition recovered from the property at Brockaghboy in Garvagh.

The extradition warrant relating to Mr O'Kane states that on May 5th, 1976, he and others escaped from custody at the Maze prison in Northern Ireland prior to a decision being made to prosecute him for the four offences.
In his first month, Pope Leo has taken a very different approach to his predecessor Francis.

Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, has led some two dozen public events since he was elected as the first US pope on May 8th but not made notable appointments, nor announced plans for foreign trips, nor said where he will live at the Vatican.

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It's a stark contrast to when Francis, originally from Argentina, was selected as the first pope from the Americas in March 2013. Within a month, Francis had announced he would be the first pontiff in more than a century to live outside the Vatican's apostolic palace, appointed his successor as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and created a new formal advisory group of senior Catholic cardinals.

Two of Leo's long-time associates told Reuters they expect the 69-year-old Pope to take a deliberative approach to the challenges facing the Catholic Church and may require months before making major decisions.

"Leo is taking his time," Rev Mark Francis, a friend of the new pontiff since the 1970s, told Reuters. "While he is going to continue in the path indicated by Pope Francis, his disposition is very different."

Leo was first appointed a bishop by Francis in 2015 and then chosen by the late pope to take up a senior Vatican role two years ago. He has frequently praised his predecessor in his first weeks. He has also repeated some of Francis' main themes, and has echoed the Argentine pontiff's emotional appeals for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

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But the two men have different temperaments, according to Rev Francis, who attended seminary with Leo in Chicago and later knew him when they both lived in Rome in the 2000s.

Leo is much more focused and methodical and not inclined to hasty decisions.

"Leo is much more focused and methodical and not inclined to hasty decisions," he said. Among the challenges facing the American pope is the Vatican's 83 million ($95 million) budget shortfall, which Reuters reported in February had stirred contention among senior cardinals under his predecessor.

Other looming issues facing the 1.4 billion-member Church include declining adherence to the faith in Europe, ongoing revelations of clerical sexual abuse, and doctrinal debates over matters such as inclusion of LGBT Catholics and the possibility of women's ordination.

Francis, who sought to modernise the Church, did not formally change many doctrines but garnered criticism from conservative cardinals by opening the door to communion for divorcees and blessings for same-sex couples.

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Rev Anthony Pizzo, who has known Leo since 1974 when they attended Villanova University outside Philadelphia together, said the pope is someone who listens carefully and seeks to hear many viewpoints before making decisions.

"This is going to be his modus operandi," said Pizzo, who leads the Midwest US province of the Augustinian religious order, to which Leo also belongs.

"When you first come into leadership, listen well, get to know your constituency  to make a well-informed decision," Pizzo added, describing the pope's thought process.

A 'shy' listener

Francis and Leo came to the papacy at different ages and with different career backgrounds.

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Francis, elected at age 76, had been a cardinal for 12 years before ascending to the papacy. He had earlier been a leading contender in the 2005 conclave that elected his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Leo, seven years younger when he donned the white papal cassock, is a relative unknown on the world stage who only became a cardinal and Vatican official two years ago. He spent most of his prior career as a missionary in Peru.

Early in his tenure, Francis told journalists that, due to his age, he expected to have a brief papacy of only a few years. Leo, the youngest pontiff since John Paul II was elected at age 58 in 1978, can perhaps expect a papacy of 10 or more years. Among the challenges facing the new pope is a Vatican budget shortfall estimated at 83 million, two knowledgeable sources told Reuters.

Budget issues

The city-state also has a much larger gap in its pension fund, said to total some 631 million by the Vatican's finance czar in 2022 but estimated by several insiders to have since ballooned significantly.

In his first weeks, Leo has not addressed the budget issues and has made only a few new appointments to Vatican roles.

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But he has held formal one-on-one meetings with many senior Vatican officials, which Pizzo suggested the pope could be using to try to learn quickly.

Rev Jorge Martinez Vizueta, who knew Leo in Peru, said he is someone who pays close attention to what people tell him. "He listens a lot, even with a certain shyness," said Martinez, an Augustinian at a monastery where Leo previously was a spiritual advisor.

Although Leo has not announced where he will live, more than three informed sources said he is expected to move into the official papal apartments in the Vatican's apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square.

Francis shunned the palace in favour of a Vatican hotel.

One senior source, who asked not to be identified, said the papal apartments, which have not been lived in since 2013, will require at least 2 to 3 months of renovations.

Careful with responses

While Francis made some big decisions quickly in his first month, he also took time on other issues. He did not make his first trip abroad until late July 2013, four months into his papacy.

Leo's first foreign trip is likely to be to Turkey, to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Vatican has not announced the trip, but it was previously planned for Francis. Bartholomew told an Italian television station that he and Leo discussed the possibility of the new pope travelling to Turkey in late November.

Francis, who often spoke off the cuff, was known for giving freewheeling news conferences on flights home from his trips abroad and frequently responded to queries with an unexpected quip. Asked during his first flight home about a Vatican official said to be gay, Francis famously responded: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?"

Rev Francis said Leo, who in his first month has largely read from prepared texts, is likely to be more careful with his responses during news conferences.

"He won't be shooting from the hip like Francis did while speaking with journalists," said the priest.
The 36th anniversary of a bloody crackdown that ended pro-democracy protests in China passed like any other weekday.

Security was tight on Wednesday around Beijings Tiananmen Square, where weeks of student-led protests shook the party in 1989.

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Under then-leader Deng Xiaoping, the military was sent in to end the protest on the night of June 3-4. Using live ammunition, soldiers forced their way through crowds on the streets that tried to block them from reaching the square.

Hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed, including dozens of soldiers.



A plain clothes security person stands on duty near security cameras overlooking Tiananmen Square (Ng Han Guan/AP)

The ruling Communist Party has tried, with some success, to erase what it calls the political turmoil of 1989 from the collective memory. It bans any public commemoration or mention of the June 4 crackdown, scrubbing references from the internet.

In recent years, that ban has been extended to Hong Kong, where a once-massive annual candlelight vigil is no longer permitted.

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It is only in Taiwan, the self-governing island that is claimed by China but runs its own affairs, that large June 4 gatherings can still take place.

University students occupied Tiananmen Square in the spring of 1989. Their calls for freedoms divided the party leadership. The decision to send in the troops marked a decisive turning point in the evolution of modern China, keeping the party firmly in control as it loosened economic restrictions.

Chinese officials have said the countrys rapid economic development since then proves the decisions made at the time were correct.

On the political turmoil that happened in the late 1980s, the Chinese government has already reached a clear conclusion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

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He added that China would continue along its current path of what it calls socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Tiananmen Mothers, a group formed by relatives of the victims, made an annual online appeal to the government. Signed by 108 members, it called for an independent investigation into what happened on June 4, 1989, including a list of all who died.

The group also demanded compensation for the families and a legal case against those responsible for the deaths.

The British and German Embassies in Beijing posted videos commemorating the anniversary on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, but they were later taken down. The Canadian and German Embassies displayed images of a single lit candle on large screens facing the main street.

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Police officers set up a road block in the Causeway Bay area of Hong Kong on Wednesday (Chan Long Hei/AP)

In Hong Kong, a carnival showcasing Chinese food and products was held in Victoria Park, where tens of thousands of people used to gather in the evening for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary.

Hong Kong authorities first shut down the vigil during the Covid-19 pandemic and arrested the organisers in 2021. The moves were part of a broader crackdown on dissent following monthslong anti-government protests in 2019 that turned violent and paralysed parts of the city.

Police were out in force to try to prevent any protest.

Jailed vigil organiser Chow Hang-tung said she would go on a 36-hour hunger strike to remember the events of the day.

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The British and Canadian consulates posted social media messages about not forgetting June 4. Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997. The American consulate posted a message from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on its website.

The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, Mr Rubio said, referring to Chinas Communist Party. But the world will never forget.

Taiwans President Lai Ching-te used the anniversary to position the island he leads on the frontline of defending democracy against authoritarianism. In a Facebook post, he drew a distinction between Taiwans multiparty democracy and Chinas one-party rule.

Authoritarian governments often choose to remain silent and forget about history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who have contributed to the ideals of human rights and the dreams they embrace, Mr Lai wrote.

Taiwan transitioned from authoritarianism to democracy in a process that began in the late 1980s. It relies on support principally from the US, along with other democratic partners, to deter China from an invasion.

The Communist Party says it favours peaceful reunification but does not renounce the use of force.

A commemoration and candlelight vigil remembering June 4 was planned for Wednesday evening.
The FBI arrested a man accused of providing chemicals to make explosives for last months bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, federal authorities said.

Daniel Park, 32, was taken into custody on Tuesday night at New Yorks John F Kennedy Airport upon his return from Poland, US Attorney Bill Essayli told reporters.

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Federal authorities allege Park shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, who bombed the clinic and was killed in the blast. The chemical compound is an explosive precursor that can be used to make homemade bombs, Mr Essayli said.

Park, who is from Kent, Washington, also travelled to Southern California in late January to stay with Bartkus for about two weeks, Mr Essayli said.

Authorities described Bartkus and Park as members of the anti-natalist movement, a fringe group that opposes childbirth and population growth and believes people should not continue to procreate.

Officials said Bartkus intentionally targeted the fertility clinic as an act of terrorism. He tried to livestream the explosion, but the attempt failed, the FBI says.

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Police tape near the site of the explosion in Palm Springs (Eric Thayer/AP)

The blast gutted the American Reproductive Centres fertility clinic in Palms Springs and shattered the windows of nearby buildings along a palm tree-lined street.

Witnesses described a loud boom followed by a chaotic scene, with people screaming in terror and glass strewn along the pavement and street. A body was found near a charred vehicle outside the clinic.

Investigators have not said if he intended to kill himself in the attack or why he chose the specific facility. The clinic provides services to help people get pregnant, including in vitro fertilisation and fertility evaluations.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Parks residence in Seattle and found an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing, said Akil Davis, FBI assistant director in charge, on Wednesday.

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Authorities earlier executed a search warrant in Bartkuss hometown of Twentynine Palms, a city north-east of Palm Springs with a large US Marine Corps base.

Scott Sweetow, a retired ATF explosives expert, said the amount of damage caused indicated that the suspect used a high explosive similar to dynamite and TNT rather than a low explosive such as gun powder.

Those types of explosives are normally difficult for civilians to access, but increasingly people are finding ways to concoct explosives at home, he said.

The images of the aftermath also showed that the explosion appeared to blow from the street straight through the building and to the parking lot on the other side, something that could have been intentional or pure luck, Mr Sweetow said.

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A part of the car was also blown through the building and landed at the back.

A senior FBI official called the explosion possibly the largest bombing scene that weve had in Southern California.
Reform UK have warned that their first Elon Musk-style Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) unit will take as long as it takes to provide recommendations.

On Monday, the inaugural Doge team arrived at Kent County Council (KCC) in Maidstone for their first meeting.

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Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf met leader Councillor Linden Kemkaran along with senior KCC staff accompanied by millionaire Reform-backer Aaron Banks and Nathaniel Fried, a tech entrepreneur said to be leading the Doge unit.

Reform Councillor Linden Kemkaran, leader of the Reform UK Kent County Council group, at County Hall in Maidstone, Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The party plans to use artificial intelligence, advanced data analysis tools and forensic auditing techniques to identify wasteful spending and recommend actionable solutions.

It follows the US Doge, which was launched during Donald Trumps presidency to cut federal spending which billionaire Mr Musk was spearheading before his recent departure.

A KCC spokesperson has said the council has always been committed to transparency and accountability but will work collaboratively and professionally with the Doge team.

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Reform claims that the meeting on Monday was very productive but the party had admitted it does not know how long it will take for the unit to produce recommendations.

A party spokesperson told the PA News Agency: Were crunching numbers and producing recommendations and those recommendations will then go to the leadership team at Kent County Council, so the council leader and the cabinet, to kind of make an informed decision on whether some cut backs can be made, or whether some action can be taken.

From what Ive heard it was a very productive meeting yesterday, the council were very co-operative and the team got what they needed so now its just a case of waiting for those recommendations to be made.

This is the first one weve done, obviously its the first one thats ever been done really in this manner so it will take as long as it takes, were hoping it wont take too long.

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He added: After this is done we will hopefully have a better indication of the kind of time frames for future councils as well.

Mr Fried, who is spearheading KCCs Doge project, was described by Reform as one of the countrys leading tech entrepreneurs with a specialism in data analytics who has also been a turnaround CEO.

The 28-year-old, from Surrey, co-founded TurgenSec, which developed systems to uncover data breaches for businesses.

In June 2023, he told CEO Today that after a long line of failed businesses he put every penny he had into TurgenSec, including his university maintenance loan.

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Mr Banks, who stood to be mayor of the West of England last month but failed to win, will act as an advisor for the unit.

Reform took 57 of a possible 81 seats in Kent at the local elections on May 1st, overturning Conservative control of the council for the first time.

World Musk calls Trump's tax bill 'a disgusting abominat... Read More

On Tuesday, a KCC spokesperson said: We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively and professionally with the new administration here at KCC, including the Doge team.

KCC has always been committed to transparency and accountability and has been consistently praised by external auditors for the accuracy of its accounts and the prudent management of public funds.

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Much of our information, including full budget, external contracts register, and auditors reports, is already in the public domain for anyone to scrutinise and review.
US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him very strongly in a phone call on Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraines weekend drone attack on Russian airfields.

The US president said in a social media post that it was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.

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The call that lasted for an hour and 15 minutes was Mr Trumps first known with Mr Putin since May 19.



Satellite images show, from top, the Belaya Air Base before a Ukrainian drone attack in the Irkutsk region of eastern Siberia in Russia, and the damage afterwards (Maxar Technologies via AP)

Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin also discussed Irans nuclear programme.

Ukraines Security Service gave more details on Wednesday about its weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers.

The agency claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft, adding that artificial intelligence helped guide the drones thousands of kilometres from Ukraine.

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It also said it set off an explosion on Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure.

But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that there was no damage.

Russias Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraines northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia.

Mr Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russias Ministry of Defence claims its forces have taken control of nine Sumy villages.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairing a Cabinet meeting via videoconference at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Trump says part of his call with Mr Putin was focused on Iran and the fact that time is running out on Irans decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!

Mr Trump said in a post on his social media site that he told Russias president that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.

He said Mr Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and could perhaps be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.

Mr Trump previously boasted that a major announcement on Iran was coming  but none has materialised.

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He suggested in his latest post that Iran has been slow-walking their decision and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!.



Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini at his shrine just outside Tehran on Wednesday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Irans supreme leader on Wednesday criticised an initial proposal from the US in negotiations over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, though he stopped short of entirely rejecting the idea of agreement with Washington.

The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei coloured in the red line expressed over recent days  one that says Tehran refuses to give up enriching uranium in any possible deal with the US.

That demand has been repeatedly made by American officials, including President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear just how much US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff brought it up in his initial proposal to Iran.

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But what Ayatollah Khamenei did not say in his speech matters as well. He did not reject the talks, which Iran views as crucial for its economy to lift some the crushing economic sanctions it faces.

Ayatollah Khamenei also did not insist on any specific level of nuclear enrichment. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60%  a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who has led the talks with Mr Witkoff, said Tehran will soon offer its response to the US. Ayatollah Khameneis speech Wednesday at the mausoleum of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini may serve as a preview.

If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us, he said. If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the US.
The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages.

The resolution before the UNs most powerful body also did not condemn Hamass deadly attack in Israel on October 7 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza  two other US demands.

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The 14 other members of the 15-nation council voted in favour of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.

The US vetoed the last resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration, again because the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Similarly, the current resolution demands those taken by Hamas and other groups be released, but it does not make it a condition for a truce.

President Donald Trumps administration has tried to ramp up its efforts to broker peace in Gaza after 20 months of war.

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However, Hamas has sought amendments to a US proposal that special envoy Steve Witkoff has called totally unacceptable.
An Australian woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husbands relatives with poisonous mushrooms told a court she had been trying to improve a bland recipe for them.

Before Erin Pattersons in-laws and their relatives arrived at her home for lunch, she bought expensive ingredients, consulted friends about recipes and sent her children out to see a film.

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Then she served them a dish containing poisonous death cap mushrooms  a meal that was fatal for three of her four guests.

Whether that was Pattersons plan is at the heart of a triple murder trial that has gripped Australia for nearly six weeks.

Prosecutors in the Supreme Court case in the state of Victoria say the accused lured her guests to lunch with a lie about having cancer, before deliberately feeding them toxic fungi.



Ian Wilkinson leaving the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell, Australia, on Wednesday (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

But her lawyers say the tainted beef Wellington she served was a tragic accident caused by a mushroom storage mishap. She denies murdering her estranged husbands parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and their relative, Heather Wilkinson.

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The mother of two also denies attempting to murder Heathers husband Ian Wilkinson, who survived the meal. In a rare step for a defendant charged with murder, Patterson chose to speak in her own defence at her trial this week.

On Wednesday, she spoke publicly for the first time about the fateful lunch in July 2023 and offered her explanations on how she planned the meal and did not become ill herself.

No one disputes that Patterson, 50, served death cap mushrooms to her guests for lunch in the rural town of Leongatha, but she says she did it unknowingly.

Patterson said on Wednesday she splurged on expensive ingredients and researched ideas to find something special to serve. She deviated from her chosen recipe to improve the bland flavour, she said.

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She believed she was adding dried fungi bought from an Asian supermarket from a container in her pantry, she told the court.

Now I think that there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well, she told her lawyer, Colin Mandy. Patterson had foraged wild mushrooms for years, she told the court Tuesday, and had put some in her pantry weeks before the deaths.

Patterson, who formally separated from her husband Simon Patterson in 2015, said she felt hurt when Simon told her the night before the lunch that he wasnt comfortable attending.

She earlier told his relatives that she had arranged the meal to discuss her health. Patterson admitted this week that she never had cancer  but after a health scare, she told her in-laws she did.

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In reality, Patterson said she intended to have weight loss surgery. But she was too embarrassed to tell anybody and planned to pretend to her in-laws that she was undergoing cancer treatment instead, she said.

I was ashamed of the fact that I didnt have control over my body or what I ate, a tearful Patterson said Wednesday. I didnt want to tell anybody, but I shouldnt have lied to them.

The accused said she believes she was spared the worst effects of the poisoned meal because she self-induced vomiting shortly after her lunch guests left. She had binged on most of a cake and then made herself throw up  a problem she said she had struggled with for decades.

Patterson also said she believes she had eaten enough of the meal to cause her subsequent diarrhoea. She then sought hospital treatment but unlike her lunch guests, she quickly recovered.

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At the hospital where her guests health was deteriorating, her estranged husband asked her about the dehydrator she used to dry her foraged mushrooms, she said.

Is that how you poisoned my parents? she said Simon Patterson asked her.

Growing afraid she would be blamed for the poisoning and that her children would be taken from her, Patterson said she later disposed of her dehydrator. She told investigators shed never owned one and had not foraged for mushrooms before.

While still at the hospital, she insisted shed bought all the mushrooms at stores even though she said she knew it was possible that foraged mushrooms had accidentally found their way into the meal.

She was too frightened to tell anyone, Patterson said.

Also later, Patterson said she remotely wiped her mobile phone while it sat in an evidence locker to remove pictures of mushrooms she had foraged.

Prosecutors argued in opening their case in April that she poisoned her husbands family on purpose, although they did not suggest a motive. She carefully avoided poisoning herself and faked being ill, they said.

The trial continues with Pattersons cross-examination by the prosecutors. If convicted, she faces life in prison for murder and 25 years for attempted murder.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday dismissed Russias ceasefire proposal as an ultimatum and renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock over the three-year war.

Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Mondays direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks.

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Both sides have established red lines that make any quick deal unlikely.





Mr Zelensky said that the second round of talks in Istanbul were no different from the first meeting on May 16. He described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as a political performance and artificial diplomacy designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue.

The same ultimatums they voiced back then  now they just put them on paper  Honestly, this document looks like spam. Its spam meant to flood us and create the impression that theyre doing something, Mr Zelensky said in his first reaction to the Russian document.

He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry the same content and spirit as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war.

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The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defence minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Mr Putin, headed the Russian team.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Mr Zelensky said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Mr Putin, possibly also including US President Donald Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement.

The US has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on February 24 2022.

We are proposing  a ceasefire before a leaders summit, with the US acting as a mediator, Mr Zelensky told a media briefing in Kyiv.

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Why a ceasefire before the leaders meeting? Because if we meet and there is no mutual understanding, no willingness or vision on how to end this, then the ceasefire would end that same day. But if we see readiness to continue the dialogue and take real steps toward de-escalation, then the ceasefire would be extended with US mediation guarantees, he said.

Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Mr Zelensky said.

A second round of peace talks on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war. They agreed only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops.

Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Mr Zelensky said.

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Also on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky also urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defence systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production.

The emphasis should be on US-made Patriot systems, he told a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels.



Volodymyr Zelensky, via video link, delivers a statement to Nato defence ministers during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Nato headquarters in Brussels (Virginia Mayo/AP)

These are the most effective way to force Russia to stop its missile strikes and terror, he said via video link, urging representatives of around 50 countries to make good on past pledges.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend, the first time a Pentagon chief has been absent since the forum for organising Ukraines military aid was set up three years ago.

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Mr Hegseths predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the group after Russia launched its all-out war on Ukraine.

His absence is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to distance itself from Ukraines efforts to repel Russia.

More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, according to UN estimates, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides.

Mr Zelensky also appealed to the participants to buy weapons direct from Ukraine.

Ukrainian industry still has significant untapped capacity, it just needs financing, he said, underlining that a funding gap for weapons procurement amounts to about 18 billion dollars (13 billion).



UK Defence Secretary John Healey, Ukraines defence minister Rustem Umerov and Germanys defence minister Boris Pistorius during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the Nato headquarters in Brussels (Virginia Mayo/AP)

The UK, which chaired the meeting along with Germany, said it plans a tenfold increase in drone production to help Ukraine. Drones have become a decisive factor in the war, now in its fourth year.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that you recognise true friends not during a party, but when you do have difficult times. So therefore, our continuation of support for Ukraine and increasing it is of utmost importance.

Since the contact group was formed, Ukraines backers have collectively provided around 126 billion dollars (93 billion) in weapons and military assistance, including more than 66.5 billion dollars (49 billion) from the US.

The US has not chaired a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group since the Trump administration took office in January.

European Nato allies are concerned that the US might withdraw troops from Europe to focus on the Indo-Pacific.

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode US credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.
Investors and stakeholders have greeted the terms of Virgin Australias public listing with enthusiasm as the countrys second-largest airline seeks to promote a more employee- and consumer-friendly image in the wake of rival Qantas record.

Bankers for Virgin Australia are offering shares in the airline to investors at $2.90 apiece for its much-anticipated relisting on the ASX after a four-year odyssey through administration and privatisation.

Flying higher: A Virgin Australia airliner about to land at Melbourne Airport. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Transport Workers Union assistant national secretary Emily McMillan said she was cautiously optimistic for Virgins IPO. I think overall, it is positive.

Now were dealing with a stable, growing, profitable airline, which is what Australia needs  and certainly, what its workforce needs.
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Eating outFood travel Hobart hits: Eight new restaurants, bakeries and bars in the Tassie capital Heading south for the winter? We have the low-down on Hobarts new wine bars and breakfast spots as well as a cosy ramen counter. Tomas Telegramma June 4, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This article is part of Travellers Destination Guide to Hobart. See all stories .

After a short hiatus, Australias most outlandish arts festival, Dark Mofo, is ready to once more engulf Hobart in June. Whether youre heading south for the festivities, or just planning a winter weekender in Tassie, theres been an influx of new dining and drinking destinations worth your while. From an exceptional bakery, to a nine-seat ramen bar, to an energetic diner by a chef with serious Tasmanian pride, here are eight new openings to have on your radar. Schole restaurant and wine bar has just opened in an old Hobart lolly shop. Adam Gibson Schole, CBD Chef Luke Burgess was at the cutting edge when he co-opened Garagistes in Hobart in 2010, championing natural wine and hyperlocal produce. It closed in 2015, but a decade later Burgess is back with Schole, a Japanese-influenced restaurant and wine bar in an old lolly shop. A meal at the 10-person communal table  a golden glow and timber cladding all around  feels like a sake-fuelled dinner party. The menu changes frequently, but a recent standout was skilfully sliced garfish and pike sashimi in a fermented green tomato and sansho pepper sauce. Bookings are essential, except on Tuesday nights, when it channels tachinomi  Japanese-style standing bars.

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227 Liverpool Street, Hobart, schole.com.au Ranita Ramen co-owners Zoe Erskine and Javier Garcia Tornel. Ranita Ramen, CBD Just across from Schole on Liverpool Street is Ranita, a nine-seat ramen bar where organic wheat-flour noodles are the star of the show. It was recently opened by couple Zoe Erskine and Javier Garcia Tornel, whose offer is concise but considered. There are two soups, including a shoyu ramen with braised pork jowl and a vegetarian shio ramen with pickled shiitake and greens, plus a koshihikari rice bowl with seasonal toppings. NB: its only open for lunch Tuesday to Friday, and you cant book. 206 Liverpool Street, Hobart, instagram.com/ranita.ramen

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Six Russell, Sandy Bay This sleek half-bakery, half-bistro isnt winning any awards for its outlook  the (very red) side of a Coles supermarket  but its whats on the inside that counts. By day, the bakery deals in excellent sourdough and pastries, and a sausage-and-egg muffin thats a bestseller for a reason. By night, the adjoining bistro takes over, serving the likes of abalone Rockefeller and steak au poivre. If you love Hobart fine diner Dier Makr and its sibling wine bar Lucinda, co-owner Kobi Ruzicka is also part of the Six Russell team. 6 Russell Crescent, Sandy Bay, sixrussell.com.au Oirthir restaurant owners Jillian McInnes and Bob Piechniczek. Adam Gibson

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Oirthir, Bream Creek Tasmanias regional dining scene took a hit when well-regarded fine diner Van Bone closed late last year. But the idyllic site near Marion Bay, about 45 minutes from Hobart, lives on as Oirthir (pronounced oor-heid). Its all about Scottish food, Tasmanian produce and fine-dining flourishes, helmed by Scottish chef couple Bob Piechniczek and Jillian McInnes. House-made haggis accompanies Bangor lamb, sourced nearby, and theres whisky-spiked honey ice-cream with rhubarb and oatmeal. 357 Marion Bay Road, Bream Creek, oirthir.com Golden turmeric roasted muesli at Leoht. Sophie King

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Leoht, Battery Point Among the historical homes of Battery Point  and with misty mountain views from the front terrace  Leoht is a warm, light-filled cafe with a globetrotting all-day menu. Breakfast might be buckwheat pancakes with halva caramel and a black-sesame latte, while lunch could look like mafaldine carbonara or flank steak with pepita salsa, bolstered by a locally charged wine and cocktail list (ice-cold Sheeps Whey Vodka martini, anyone?). Its currently daytime-only, but regular nights are starting in August. 46A Hampden Road, Battery Point, instagram.com/leoht__batterypoint Wunderbar, CBD

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Dont be fooled by the name: the most German thing about this suave new all-day bar and restaurant is chef and co-owner Julian Volkmer. French is the main play, and the menu du jour jumps from tartines and croque monsieurs to French-onion soup and gnocchi Parisienne, to fish with beurre blanc and ratatouille and steak frites. Rustic exposed brick is a feature in the dining room, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows. 45 Goulburn Street, Hobart, wunderbar.au The refurbished cellar door at Sullivans Cove Distillery. Adam Gibson Sullivans Cove, Cambridge Whisky distillery Sullivans Cove has garnered acclaim far from Tassie, winning many prestigious international awards. But its presence at home is now even more impressive, thanks to a $14-million refurb of its distillery and subsequent revamp of its visitor experiences, to align with its 30th anniversary. Visit the HQ just north of Hobart for guided distillery tours or myriad whisky tasting options, in luxury surrounds.

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1/10 Lamb Place, Cambridge, sullivanscove.com Lost in Asia, CBD It seems the only thing Hobart locals love more than Bar Wa Izakaya is raving about Bar Wa Izakaya, the neon-lit, late-night Japanese joint. The team behind it has zoomed out a little for their new venue, taking inspiration from across South-East Asia. You might find beef tartare with sambal mayo, chicken (or mushroom) larb, and smoky char kway teow with plenty of South-East Asian beers. 131-133 Murray Street, Hobart, lostinasia.com.au Related Article A new wave of eateries is elevating south-east Queenslands dining scene
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Exclusive Eating outRestaurant news Three former Rockpool chefs to lead new Manly wharf restaurant Including the 2025 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide young chef of the year. Scott Bolles Updated June 6, 2025 , first published June 5, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

When the Brisbane-based Artemus Group splashed out $110 million last year to buy Manly Wharf, it was just the start of a spending spree focused on acquiring and opening new venues at the wharf. Now Artemus is snapping up the citys hospitality talent, with up-and-coming chef Luke Bourke set to steer a new seafood restaurant opening at the wharf. From left: Artemus co-founder Adam Flaskas, Artemus culinary consultant Corey Costelloe, Felons brand director Dean Romeo and head chef at Felons Seafood Luke Bourke. Steven Woodburn Bourke, a Rockpool alumnus who won The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide young chef of the year for 2025, has been appointed head chef at Felons Seafood, which opens on Friday, June 20. Its a reunion of sorts for former senior Rockpool chefs Corey Costelloe, now culinary consultant with Artemus, and Graeme Hunt, who has also joined as culinary operations manager at the Felons Manly pub next door. Felons Brewing Co. opened its first venue, at Brisbanes Howard Smith Wharves, in 2018.

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Felons Seafood will have 200 seats indoors and 120 more on the boardwalk, with an interior from Acme & Co  the design shop behind Sydney restaurants Margaret and Mimis  that includes a coral-hued marble kitchen pass. Im excited to be back working alongside Corey to bring this vision to life, Bourke said. The duo will transplant the produce-driven approach of their time together at Rockpool Bar & Grill, but with more surf than turf. Felons Seafood will be serving more surf than turf. Ethan Smart Well use whole yellowbelly flounder, and some fish that people dont usually turn to, like luderick, Bourke said. Abalone sandwich will also appear on the opening menu. In December, Artemus added Hugos Manly to its growing portfolio at the wharf, in a deal reported to have cost it $20 million, having already purchased Manly Wharf Bar from publican Ben May. Felons Seafood will open in the former home of The Bavarian, which departed last year when its lease ended. Artemus also plans to build a microbrewery in a nearby former supermarket site.

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Artemus is also understood to be considering a function area for its harbourside Manly portfolio, but space is tight on the wharf, with non-Artemus restaurants Sake, El Camino and the Merivale-owned Queen Chow secure with tight leases. Felons Brewing Co. in Brisbane. Felons Brewing Co. Artemus has experience operating waterfront precincts. It took control of Brisbanes Howard Smith Wharves 12 years ago, recrafting the site as a serious food destination, with a combination of its own venues and others including Greca restaurant, which is owned by Jonathan Barthelmess, the chef and co-owner at Apollo in Potts Point. A graduate of the National Indigenous Culinary Institute, Bourke grew up in Darug Country in western Sydney. As well as Rockpool, he worked at Barangaroos Noma Australia pop-up in 2016 and regularly hosts First Nations seafood masterclasses at the Sydney Seafood School. Bourkes long-term goal has been to open a venue in Sydneys west with his twin brother Sam and sister Teagan, who are also chefs.

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The Goldstein constituent who confronted new MP Tim Wilson. Credit: Stephen Brook Proudly Zionist are you? she asks again. So you like all those children being killed in Gaza? Wilsons tanned skin turns a deeper shade. I notice our unexpected guest has a plastic loop on her mobile phone case around her middle finger, making it very easy to film us as she fires questions. Shes feisty, but her hands are trembling slightly. You want nuclear in Australia, and you are a Zionist? she asks for a third time, not waiting for an answer. And you want people killed, and you want babies killed? Wilson tells her that he is having lunch, and this is grossly inappropriate. Nevertheless, she persists  for a full five minutes.

This being Brighton, a well-do-to suburb south-east of Melbournes CBD with a strong sense of self-worth (think Mosman in Sydney), the discourse soon turns to housing. Our anti-Wilson activist is bitter that her daughter and granddaughter (who went to Brighton Primary) were forced to move two hours away because of housing affordability. She also says Wilson was invisible on the streets of Goldstein. Wilson at the Little Sister Cafe in Brighton. Credit: Eddie Jim The antagonists start to align on criticism of the Victorian state Labor governments massive underinvestment in local education. The temperature calms. Wilson masterfully suggests a visit to the local state MP, James Newbury, just down the road. But he cant help himself, slyly querying if bowling up and filming people without permission and verbally abusing them is really the best way to win friends and influence.

Loading No, no, I do need to do more letter writing, yes, is her withering rejoinder. A man at the next table decides enough is enough and in a thick European accent tells the local activist to move on. She disappears down the side street. Save my love to Zoe, is Wilsons slightly garbled postscript to break the tension. Its a joking reference to teal independent Zoe Daniel, from whom he has just regained the affluent seat with a significant Jewish community situated on Port Phillip Bay. Wilson asks his cafe neighbour for validation  he is indeed a recognised local face.

I dont know who you are, the man replies. I just dont like people bothering each other. The whole thing was excruciating. Who would be a politician? Tim Wilson, thats who. Wilson is 45, a Liberal, and a liberal, one-quarter Armenian, a happily married gay man, carrying a few extra kilos but, frankly, for someone who has just engaged in a gruelling election campaign, a man with pretty great skin. Its politics, right, Wilson says a short time later between mouthfuls of the cafes signature Abundance Bowl, an enormous pile of salad greens, sweet potato, quinoa, seeds and a poached egg, to which he has deleted the halloumi and added not just avocado but pan seared salmon. He ordered it almost every day of the campaign.

I have the similar salmon bowl. The flavour mix is terrific, the mouthfeel excellent. But wine is waved away  its a Monday  in favour of a double espresso, which sits largely untouched. Today Melbourne feels on the precipice of winter. It is allegedly going to reach 18 degrees, but locals are mistrustful. One passer-by is in a puffer jacket, the next in T-shirt and shorts. Wilson is wearing his campaign uniform: jeans, blue blazer, a crisp shirt, bright-yellow pin lapel. And to be fair, during our 90 minutes together, 14 well-wishers come up to congratulate him. The Bountiful Bowl at Little Sister Cafe. Credit: Eddie Jim Earlier in our conversation, he says going from civilian life to winning an election and straight into the shadow ministry is feeling like youre being shot out of a catapult and havent quite hit the ground yet. Still from election night there are SMS that I havent even read. It is not an unwillingness, its a simple incapacity. I want to know about winning  and losing.

I can tell you there are two winnings, Wilson says. For him, nothing beat the feeling of winning his first preselection in 2016 after Liberal veteran Andrew Robb had retired. Everybody expected me lose, but Wilson went all in, resigning from his post as human rights commissioner just to contest. Bold, I venture. Bold, but welcome to Tim Town, he agrees, opening his hands as if to demonstrate voila!  but only for a split second.

I remember that adrenaline rush, and also quite frankly shock. This time, victory was not a shock but rather a mountain to climb. Tim Wilson is the new/old MP for Goldstein. Credit: Eddie Jim At which point he turns to losing. Pretty much from the last election day I had a personal and professional purgatory. It feels violent, he says, describing the post-loss businesslike phone call from the bureaucracy to losing MPs.

Youre out, this persons in, pack up the office, sort that out  bang, bang, bang, bang. All of a sudden nothing  and you are out. A lot of people were very worried. A psychologist friend suggested a chat. He went. Part of it is just to vent and get things off your chest, he says. And somebody to listen. I found that very helpful.

Loading The morning after the loss, his husband, Ryan Bolger, a school teacher, told him: You can look at this as the moment that ends you  or you can look at this as a gift. His purpose taken away from him, the couple left Goldstein so Wilson could find his space and his place, moving back to their old apartment in South Yarra, where Wilson undertook a PhD in the carbon economy. I dont find making money something that excites me, he says. His voice quickens in summary mode: Its an awful, horrific experience. But anyone who experienced a big professional setback will know those experiences. The difference is you do it in full public glare. And of course, you are known for the last thing you did. Which in his case, was to lose.

The 2025 Goldstein campaign was controversial. The very morning of our lunch, Daniel was on ABC radio talking about dirty tricks and a personal campaign directed at her. Wilson says the campaign was intense. We both had very passionate supporters. No ones trying to pretend otherwise. Ryan Bogler and Tim Wilson during the counting of votes after the May 4 poll. Credit: Penny Stephens As to her accusations about attacks on her from groups supporting Wilson, he sits there, anger clearly rising. Im really resisting in light of the difficult circumstances she is facing and living right now  fighting back.

One political commentator describes Wilson as charming but very egotistical. I realise I have known him for a decade, back when I was media editor at The Australian and he was a member of the free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs and had a higher profile than many Liberal MPs. For Wilson, liberalism  the philosophy that promotes individual rights and freedoms  is the foundation of society. I hate the term moderate, because my liberalism doesnt come in moderation. I believe in that very strongly, he says. I think what people are used to is this kind of idea that you have these kind of moderates who dont fight, and then they have these conservatives who fight very aggressively, whereas Im somebody who fights very aggressively and not afraid to. Which included contacting The Age at 3.45am one morning to protest at one aspect of the papers coverage, which he is a little sheepish about, explaining he couldnt sleep that night.

I dont particularly enjoy a fight, but I definitely enjoy a crusade and to be able to go and achieve change, he says. Im also not afraid of failure. Wilson played a key role in defeating Labors policy to change franking credits under Bill Shorten; now he is fighting against Labors proposed tax changes on superannuation. Wilson compared the transition from civilian life to the shadow ministry to being shot out of a catapult. Credit: Eddie JIm I ask if there could ever be a gay leader of the Liberal Party (subtext  him). Its yet to be tested, he says. I dont feel anyone is sitting there thinking this is an insurmountable barrier to anybody.

Loading Theres a time where my relationship with my husband would have found me in jail, and now it finds me, frankly, barely able to tick a diversity box. How did the couple  who married in 2018  meet? We actually met at Liberal Party State Council. How romantic, I reply.

Here, Wilson looks down to apparently study his lunch and says something softly to himself. It occurs to me that Wilson might be more confident attacking Labors superannuation policy than discussing affairs of the heart. But he reasserts himself, not pretending it was the most romantic of settings. It wasnt, but nonetheless it is what it was. Ryan and he have common values, he says, brightening. As he says, at least he knew what he was getting himself in for.
A 20-year-old man has been taken into custody this morning after allegedly leading police on a car chase through Gosnells, before jumping out of the car and attempting to run away.

Police caught up with the Nissan when the 20-year-old driver crashed into a roundabout. Credit: WA Police

Around 3.45am, police attempted to stop a stolen Nissan Pathfinder after spotting the car on Dorothy Street.

The driver allegedly did not stop and instead drove in a reckless manner at excessive speed in an attempt to evade police, before losing control of the vehicle at the intersection of Fremantle Road and Corfield Street, crashing into a roundabout.

The man ran from the scene but after a short foot chase was taken into custody.

The man, from Cannington, has been charged with a string of offending including aggravated burglary and commit, stealing a motor vehicle, reckless driving to escape pursuit, and carrying or possessing a prohibited weapon and drug.

His bail was refused and he is due to appear before the Fremantle Magistrates Court today.
Australia has been spared a letter from the Trump administration demanding countries cut trade barriers to US goods as the White House prepares to reinstate its liberation day tariffs, but has not secured a UK-style exemption to increased steel and aluminium import taxes.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley pushed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to get the same reduced tariffs for Australian metal exports to the US that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won for the UK, saying the opposition would work with the government to make it happen.

Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese are set to meet this month. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

President [Donald] Trumps tariffs on our steelmakers are not in the spirit of our century-old partnership, and we urge the Americans to give Australia a fair go and remove them, Ley said.

Trade Minister Don Farrell met his US counterpart Jamieson Greer in Paris overnight as Albanese prepares to hold his first meeting with Trump later this month, either in the US or on the sidelines of the G7 meeting of the worlds largest economies in Canada.
Senator Dorinda Cox described Labor as patronising to women and people of colour and claimed the party cared more about its donors than members in her application to run for the Greens in 2020.

Cox was a Labor Party member before leaving to join the Greens, becoming a senator in September 2021. She rejoined Labor in a surprise defection from the crossbench this week that infuriated her former colleagues.

Dorinda Cox was highly critical of Labor in her application to join the Greens in 2020. Credit: Matt Absalom-Wong

When Cox applied to become a Greens senator, she filled out an online application form that asked her reasons for leaving any other political party. In her response, seen by this masthead, Cox delivered a withering verdict on the party whose values the senator said she shared on Monday.

I was a previous member of the Labor Party but left disillusioned and disappointed. I had joined in the hope that it was a party of significant influence that could create change but soon realised that they did not authentically engage with members, Cox wrote. I was let down by what I found to be a patronising attitude towards women and people of colour. Finally, leaving when it became clear that they cared more about election donors that [sic] the views of members.
On August 5, 2023, Erin Patterson said she had a discussion with a child protection worker about changing her phone number.

Patterson said she told her she was going to change her number because she was becoming concerned about Simons behaviour and allegations.

I was concerned about my security, so I wanted him to not be able to contact me any more, she said.

Patterson said she had been updating the contact information for all her accounts from her old phone number to her new phone number.

Erin and Simon Patterson.

My phone was damaged. The screen was becoming less responsive and harder to read, so I decided to ... use an undamaged phone, she said.

Patterson said she had been setting up applications for her accounts on the new phone.

Erin Pattersons defence lawyer Colin Mandy, SC, points to a record showing a series of factory resets on phone B, starting in February 2023.

Patterson said she was responsible for the last three factory resets, while her son had been responsible for the first. That had been my phone since the start of the year but in February [my son] damaged his own phone and so he needed a new phone, so I bought a new [Samsung] A23 and gave him the one Id been using, which was this phone, she said.

Patterson said her son had factory reset the phone so he could set it up as his.

She said she did a factory reset on August, 2, 2023, to get her sons information off the phone so she could add her own information. She said her son had used that phone until May, when he went on school camp and accidentally dropped it in mud. She noticed that the charging port had become a bit muddy, so she left the phone near a charging station she had set up in an ottoman in her loungeroom.

Patterson said that she reset the phone again on August 5, 2023, the day police searched her Leongatha home.

I had put all my apps on it, including my Google account, including my Google Photos, and I knew that there were photos in there of mushrooms and the dehydrator. I just panicked and I didnt want [the detectives] to see them, she said.

Patterson said that on August 6, 2023, after the search of her house and interview with the police, she decided to log onto her Google account to see if she could see where her devices were.

She said she then wondered whether they had been silly enough to leave the devices connected to the internet, and she hit factory reset. It was really stupid, she said.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On August 1, 1990, British Airways Flight 149, scheduled to fly from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur via stops in Kuwait and Madras (now Chennai), was briefly delayed before take-off. Right at the end of the boarding period, our ground controller told me that there were additional passengers who had just checked in, recalls Clive Earthy, the flights cabin services director, one of 367 passengers and 18 crew on board. The passengers turned up and boarded the flight. They were a group of young, fit-looking men. They were all seated at the back of the aircraft. The Boeing 747-136 finally took off just after 6pm. As soon as they landed in Kuwait, Earthy opened a door at the front of the plane to be greeted by a British military officer in full uniform. He said to me, Youre very late, Flight 149, Ive come to meet some people from London, and its very important I get them off quickly now. All those men were escorted off the aircraft. Instead of going down the arrivals channel into customs and immigration, the officer took them down some side steps and disappeared. Clive Earthy: I dont want money. What I do want is an apology. I thought that was most peculiar. But I didnt put two and two together for a long, long time. Flight 149 never made it out of Kuwait. While the plane was in the air, unknown to the passengers and crew, Saddam Husseins Iraqi forces had invaded Kuwait after months of build-up on the border and were making rapid progress towards the airport. For the civilians on board, their flight into a war zone was the start of a 35-year tale of mistreatment and government cover-ups, which is the subject of a gripping and beautifully made new documentary, Flight 149: Hostage of War. The story remains unresolved: more than 100 (at the time of writing) of the survivors are suing the British government and British Airways for knowingly putting them in harms way.

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Personally, I dont want money, Earthy says. What I do want is an apology. From boarding gate to battleground While the plane waited on the tarmac in Kuwait, another passenger, 12-year-old Jennifer Chappell, heading to Madras with her brother and parents, got her first inkling that something was wrong. The cleaners could not get off the plane fast enough, she recalls. I looked out of the window and saw fighter planes flying very low, with what I thought were things falling off them. Moments later, the bombs went off. Kuwaiti soldiers ordered all passengers and crew off the plane into the airport. There they watched the fighting through the large plate-glass windows of the terminal building. You could see the planes dogfighting and the tanks rolling over the horizon, Chappell says. The crew had to tell some of the adults to stand back from the windows. The Iraqis seized the airport. Chappell and her family were transferred, along with several other guests, into a series of facilities where they were held prisoner as Husseins honoured guests, during the build-up to the first Gulf War. Initial media reports portrayed their stay as a kind of extended holiday in the sun. The reality was much harsher. The captives were released after five months, apart from one Kuwaiti who was shot trying to escape, after a concerted campaign for their release by British and US officials as well as a surprising parade of celebrities including Edward Heath, Sir Richard Branson, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Muhammad Ali. But during their time as guests, the prisoners, not just those on that flight, were variously used as human shields, kept hungry, paraded on TV and subjected to mock executions.

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Possibly the most famous image of the time was of five-year-old Stuart Lockwood with Saddam Hussein. Lockwood was not on board the plane but lived in Kuwait  his father was in the oil industry. August 1990: Five-year-old hostage Stuart Lockwood appears with Saddam Hussein on Iraqi TV days after the invasion of Kuwait. Today, Lockwood says: I was shielded, completely unaware of the gravity of the events unfolding around me. However, when I stood next to him, surrounded by guards, TV cameras and everyone else who were also being held as human shields, I knew instinctively that this situation was important. This surreal chapter from my early childhood remains a profound and formative part of who I am. Meanwhile, Jennifer Chappell says, Ive never recovered. I was diagnosed with PTSD at 15. Ive suffered with depression and anxiety my whole life, emotionally unstable personality disorder, which has led to numerous suicide attempts. Ive never been able to hold anything down or settle down. Ive lived my life on benefits. At 12 years old, I was a straight-A student at boarding school. One of them, Charlie Kristiansson  a steward on the flight  says an Iraqi soldier separated him from the other hostages and raped him. I feel proud to have survived, Kristiansson says. We survived inhumane conditions. I saw a 10-year-old girl chased by Iraqi soldiers jump to her death. Having witnessed that, and after what happened to me personally, which was horrible, you have to recalibrate and reconfigure yourself. He recently switched nationality to Luxembourg, part of the process of exorcising his demons from that time. For Kristiansson and Chappell  like Earthy and the other souls aboard Flight 149  captivity marked the beginning of a nightmare that has lasted 35 years. Throughout that time their account has been repeatedly denied by British Airways and successive governments, even as new evidence has steadily corroborated their story.

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Last July it was announced that about a hundred survivors were suing British Airways and the British government, believing their civilian flight was deliberately endangered to enable a covert intelligence-gathering mission. As the infected blood and Post Office scandals have shown, such betrayals are far from history. Jennifer Chappell: Ive never recovered. Ive suffered with depression and anxiety my whole life. The controversy hinges on the extent to which British Airways and the government were aware of the rapidly developing situation on the ground in Kuwait. And if they knew about the Iraqi invasion, why was a British civilian aircraft allowed to land? Flight 149 was the only plane to land in Kuwait in the small hours of the morning on August 2. At the time, British Airways and the government claimed not to have been aware of how fast the invasion had taken place. In a now-infamous statement in parliament on September 6, 1990, Margaret Thatcher said: The British Airways flight landed, its passengers disembarked, and the crew handed over to a successor crew and went to their hotels. All that took place before the invasion; the invasion was later. Subsequent governments repeated this claim, despite testimony from passengers and crew such as Chappell, who witnessed gunfire from the plane. It also contradicted the timeline set out in Thatchers own memoir The Downing Street Years. A long road to accountability

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A major breakthrough came in 2021 when documents released under the 30-year rule (the period after which most government records are transferred to the National Archives and made available to the public) revealed that the Kuwaiti ambassador had rung the Foreign Office at midnight, when the plane was in the air, to warn that the invasion had begun. The information was passed on to Downing Street, MI6, the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defence, but not British Airways. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary in 2021, apologised for the deceit. This failure was unacceptable, Truss said in a written statement. I apologise to the House for this, and I express my deepest sympathy to those who were detained and mistreated. When it came to why British Airways was not informed, one scapegoat was Anthony Paice  the MI6 station chief in Kuwait, working undercover as aviation security at the embassy. He was accused of failing to warn the airline of the risks. Some reports even suggested that he and his service were complicit in the clandestine operation  a claim he denies. Saddam Hussein (seated, centre) with his family in 1990. Saddam was eventually toppled by a US-led invasion in 2003, and executed three years later. Credit: AP In subsequent years, there were press reports that claimed I was responsible for telling British Airways it was safe to fly through [Kuwait], where in fact I advised them exactly the opposite, he says. I had to live with this because I had signed the Official Secrets Act, so my only comment could be no comment. It was only in 2019 that his worm turned and he decided to tell the truth. In 2022, he published a book about his story, Overkill or Under-kill, which he says has never been disputed by MI6 or any other department. I thought, damn it all, were a long time after the events [of Flight 149] and Im still being blamed for something I had nothing to do with, he says. As with the captives, living in the shadow of so much deceit has taken a personal toll. It made me a difficult person to live with, he says. You are totally frustrated. But Im happy with my account. People know the truth. My only concern is to get compensation for those people who were wronged. It caused me an enormous amount of anger and it makes me feel all the more sore about other instances of governments not owning up, apologising and doing the right thing. The Post Office scandal is a good case in point. Another, much further back, is the squaddies who were exposed to radiation during our nuclear tests in the Pacific.

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Washington: Elon Musk is on a mission to block President Donald Trumps tax bill after he tried  and failed  to convince Republican lawmakers to preserve valuable tax credits for electric vehicles in the legislation, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Tesla chief executive officer personally appealed to House Speaker Mike Johnson to save the tax credit, the person said, requesting anonymity to discuss a private conversation. The House version of the tax measure calls for largely ending the $US7500 ($11,500) electric car subsidies by the end of 2025.

Elon Musk in the Oval Office last week. Credit: AP

Since losing that battle, Musk ratcheted up his offensive against the presidents signature legislation on Wednesday, urging that Americans contact their lawmakers to KILL the legislation, pinning his opposition to the bills $US2.4 trillion price tag.

Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Musk wrote in a social media post on Thursday AEST. Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL.
The pair also discussed the ongoing efforts for prisoner exchanges. Pope Leo  underlined how shared Christian values can be a light that helps to seek peace, defend life, and pursue genuine religious freedom, Bruni said. The Kremlin said: During the exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine, Putin reiterated his interest in achieving peace through political and diplomatic means and stressed that for a final, fair and comprehensive resolution of the crisis it is necessary to eliminate its root causes. The phone calls come days after Ukraine unleashed a spectacular drone attack on Russian air bases and aircraft deep inside Russian territory, destroying or damaging what Ukrainian officials said was billions of dollars worth of enemy equipment. Codenamed Spiders Web, the operation took more than a year and a half to plan and was personally overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who praised the absolutely brilliant outcome.

The apparent wreckage of a TU-22 bomber besides other intact TU-22 aircraft at Belaya air base. Credit: Maxar Reuters reported on Thursday AEST that an American assessment of the drone attack indicated as many as 20 Russian warplanes had been hit, with about 10 of them destroyed, citing two US officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. That estimate is lower than the one Zelensky initially offered when he said 41 Russian aircraft had been struck and about half were too damaged to be repaired. Reuters could not independently verify the numbers from Kyiv or the US, which was not given any notice ahead of the attack. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC show Belaya (left) on May 17 and (right) on June 4, after the drone attack. Credit: AP Still, the US officials described the attack as highly significant, with one of them cautioning that it could drive Moscow to a far more severe negotiating position in the US-brokered talks to end more than three years of war.

On Wednesday, shortly before Trump posted about his call with Putin, Zelensky said he was ready to meet Putin, as well as Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to discuss a potential memorandum  as opposed to what he characterised as a Russian ultimatum for a ceasefire issued on Monday (Tuesday AEST). Russians are behaving like thimble-riggers. They do not want deescalation or an end to the war. They pretend to be constructive, but their games are only aimed at delaying US sanctions, Zelensky said in a statement on X. He proposed a meeting starting as soon as Monday, at any workable location, and a concurrent ceasefire, and said he would be grateful if Trump supported the idea. When we meet it will become clear if there is will for de-escalation. If no, the ceasefire will end on the same day, Zelensky said.

Putin, however, showed no willingness to meet with Zelensky, expressing anger Wednesday about what he said were Ukraines recent terrorist acts on Russian rail lines in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on the countries border. How can any such meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about? Putin asked in a video call with top Russian officials. Loading Trump gave no explicit indication in the account of his phone call with Putin as to whether they had discussed such a meeting, or a similar initiative. Their conversation came as Congress grows increasingly impatient to impose additional sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on US trading partners who buy Russian oil. Legislation to that effect has the support of at least 82 members of the 100-seat US Senate.

A Ukrainian delegation was due to meet senators on Wednesday, local time, to discuss the sanctions bill. Its a pivotal moment in Ukraine and crunch time for the Senate on this bill, Democratic senator and bill co-sponsor Richard Blumenthal told Politico. Eddie Fishman, a senior research scholar at Columbia Universitys School of International Affairs, argued in a new essay for Foreign Affairs that Trumps Russia policy was at a dead end and it was time to pull the trigger on sanctions. Rather than extreme tariffs on third countries, Fishman proposed sanctions enabling them to gradually reduce imports of Russian oil and pay the money into escrow accounts that could only be used for humanitarian goods. This was based on a sanctions regime Barack Obama used against Iran.

Congress is ready. Europe is frustrated. Oil markets are well-supplied, Fishman said on X. The stars are aligned for Trump to gain real leverage over Putin. The question isnt whether oil sanctions can work. Its whether Trump will play the cards hes been dealt. Meanwhile, new Ukrainian drone attacks hit energy infrastructure in Russian-held parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in southern Ukraine on Thursday AEST, cutting power to tens of thousands of residents, Russia-installed officials said. Loading Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed governor of Kherson region, said the attacks had left 97 settlements with some 68,000 residents without power. Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russia-appointed head of adjacent Zaporizhzhia region, gave no figures but said energy sites were under attack and 10 drones had been downed.
The University of Bristol and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology [HKUST] have signed an agreement that will formalise their partnership, strengthening research and academic collaboration between the two institutions.

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol met with senior academics from HKUST recently to sign a memorandum of understanding which will see Bristol become the first UK university to be part of HKUSTs Global Knowledge Network, a joint research seed grant programme which aims to amplify the impact of international academic exchange and research partnerships.

The University of Bristol has had a long-standing relationship with HKUST for two decades, built on a student exchange with the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and undergraduate to postgraduate progression pathways in Life Sciences. In addition, academics at both institutions have co-authored 50 papers in a range of disciplines including Physics, Astronomy, Neuroscience and Medicines.

The signing of the agreement strengthens this partnership with more academics from both institutions able to spend time at the other to exchange and ignite ideas for tangible research collaborations. It is expected this will lead to more joint publications, research grants and a deeper academic relationship between Bristol and HKUST. Discussions also took place around co-creating new degree programmes, expanding student exchange agreements and initiatives to support graduate employability.

Professor Welch said: This is the first time Bristol has signed an agreement like this and represents a landmark moment for us in terms of how we engage with our partners globally. This match funded staff exchange is part of the Global Knowledge Network scheme at HKUST, which includes several world leading universities. We are delighted to be the first UK partner to join their network. We expect this agreement will deliver a step change in terms of research output between our two research intensive institutions.

Professor Yike Guo, Provost at HKUST, added: HKUST is proud to collaborate with the University of Bristol in advancing joint research through our Global Knowledge Network. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to fostering impactful academic collaboration, driving innovation, and addressing pressing international issues through interdisciplinary expertise. By connecting talent and resources across institutions, we aim to create knowledge that transcends borders and contributes to meaningful discoveries for the betterment of society.
This is it. The excise tax exemption on pickup trucks is now gone thanks to the effectivity of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotions Act ...
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Government is siding with warmongers, Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham has said, as he endorsed an opposition campaign to defend Irish neutrality.

Cunningham was speaking at the launch of a new People Before Profit pamphlet, No To War  Defend Irish Neutrality, which is published in opposition to Government plans to change the triple lock system for overseas deployments.

Under the current system, Ireland cannot deploy any more than 12 Defence Forces peacekeepers overseas without a mission being approved by the UN, as well as approval by the Government and the Dail.

As part of the draft legislation being advanced by the Government, it is proposed to remove the requirement for formal UN approval and replace it with a stipulation that the deployments are in accordance with the UN Charter.

The Government argues that this will prevent the five permanent members of the Security Council  Russia, China, the UK, the US and France  from exercising their veto against Irish peacekeeping missions.

However, Cunningham accused the Government of lying and obfuscation over the mechanics of the existing triple lock, adding that the current system allows the UN General Assembly to approve such a mission in the absence of a green light from the Security Council.

Theyre scraping the barrel, lying to people, he said.

Speaking at Buswells Hotel across the road from Leinster House, he added: The vast majority of people are disgusted with whats going on, disgusted with our neutrality being diluted.

And the people in power that we entrusted with the health of our democracy are siding with warmongers.

Thats why Im here. I do not want to see this country that I adore being sold down the swanny so the boys across the road here can have their jobs with whatever commission or whatever when theyre finally extricated from Government.

Speaking at the same event, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said: Were involved in an almighty fight to defend neutrality. We dont think its a lost fight, we dont think its guaranteed that the Government will get through their legislation to get rid of the triple lock.

The Bill also includes draft proposals to amend provisions relating to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel in non-combatant evacuation operations, and it is proposed to increase the number of troops who can be sent abroad without any lock from 12 to 50.

Critics see the moves as an effort to remove the core protections of the triple lock, erode Irish neutrality and practically align with Nato.

Mr Murphy said: There were some politicians from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael at the [defence] committee last week who said this is about trusting future governments to send troops abroad wherever they want.

Well, I dont trust Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to send troops abroad wherever they want, I think the majority of people in this country dont.

In reference to a Fine Gael policy document from 2003 which he said described the triple lock as a straitjacket, he added: I precisely want to tie their hands, I want to have a political straitjacket.

I want to know in future that they will not be able to send troops abroad unless they are genuine peacekeeping missions  and thats what triple lock guarantees, and thats what the Government is trying to get rid of.

Cunningham said the public should fight tooth and nail to retain the triple lock, arguing that the Government should put the matter to the public in a vote.

We all know what the result would be, it would be laughed out of this country that they even attempted to dilute the triple lock.

Cunningham said he had recently assisted in the launching of the sailing boat Madleen  operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition  which is en route to Gaza from Sicily.

He said the organisations previous attempt to reach Gaza saw a different boat being attacked by drones.

He said the current vessel is carrying humanitarian aid including crutches, antibiotics, baby formula and a 3D-printed prosthetic babys arm.

Cunningham described the 12 people on board  a four-person crew and eight volunteers  as remarkable.

He said: If we were doing our job properly, there should be an Irish naval vessel carrying this humanitarian aid, because that is our duty  not only morally but also under international law.

He added that there should be a European force encircling the boat to ensure it reaches its destination.

Meanwhile, the Government is proceeding with legislation to ban the trade of goods with Palestinian lands illegally occupied by Israeli settlements.

Asked for his opinion on the Governments approach, Cunningham said: If the Occupied Territories Bill comes in and services are not on it, then forget about it.

Its a waste of time, its just tinsel.

He added: We need to start the ball rolling. If we do it, other countries will follow.

Everybodys afraid to take the first step and we need to have the balls to do it.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Sinn Fein will always stand on the side of journalism, one of its MPs has said.

North Belfast MP John Finucane was speaking after his partys former president Gerry Adams won a defamation case against BBC Northern Ireland.

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 party official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement.

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams (centre) outside the High Court in Dublin on Friday. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

On Friday, a jury at the High Court found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article.

The BBC will also have to pay Mr Adamss legal costs.

However, the broadcaster has been granted a stay on paying out the full costs and damages to allow it time to consider whether to lodge an appeal.

Speaking outside court on Friday, Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, said implications of the libel victory against the broadcaster are profound, and could hinder freedom of expression.

On Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill told reporters in Belfast that Mr Adams was right to defend his good name.

But, she said, in a separate issue, journalists are entitled to do your job, to report fairly and honestly and actually scrutinise things, and to do so without any kind of intimidation or any fear.

She also pointed out that Mr Finucane, in his role as a solicitor, had defended Belfast journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey.

He added: Weve been witness to journalists being murdered for doing their job in Gaza, we have seen the arrest of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey for doing their job [to] a very high standard.

Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said there was no place in our society for intimidation or threat against journalists. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

So I think well always stand on the side of journalism to be able to do their job robustly, without anybody receiving fear or intimidation as a result of that.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International published a report revealing there has been more than 70 attacks and death threats against journalists in the North over the last six years.

It also concluded that the region is the most dangerous place across Britain and Ireland to be a reporter.

Also speaking to media in Belfast on Wednesday, Stormont Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said she condemns intimidation, threats, violence and abuse directed at anyone.

The idea that this kind of abuse, this kind of vitriol, is normalised in our society, I think, is unacceptable, and we do need a reset, she said.

It is not acceptable to threaten a journalist because you dont like what they published. It is not acceptable to threaten their family because you want to intimidate them from doing their job.

A free press is part of the accountability mechanisms in a democratic society, and a fair and free press is absolutely essential to holding those in power, whether political power or otherwise, to account, and when you try to curtail that, when you try to restrict that in terms of threats and intimidation and violence, then you are essentially attacking democracy, not just individual journalists.

She said she believes fundamentally in the freedom of the press, adding that if there is more that the PSNI can do in that regard, she would want them to do it.

I cannot direct the PSNI, as youre aware, as Justice Minister, but as leader of the Alliance Party, I am absolutely clear that there is no space in our society and no place for intimidation or threat against journalists, she said.

Some of the stories that people have expressed, some of the stories that people have told about repeated threats being brought to them by the PSNI, about their families being intimidated, their children, their partners, that is completely unacceptable, and it needs to be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated and hopefully followed up with robust prosecution.
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Cement dispatches in Colombia declined 7.4 per cent YoY to 0.996Mt in April 2025 from 1.075Mt in April 2024, according to the countrys statistics office, DANE.

Bulk cement dispatches dropped by 9.6 per cent YoY while the demand for bagged cement was down 6.4 per cent YoY.

Construction companies and contractors reduced their off-take by 15.9 per cent YoY while ready-mix concrete company purchases contracted by 13 per cent YoY. Sales to the wholesale/retail segment decreased by 2.6 per cent YoY.

Sales in Bogota slipped by 2.4 per cent YoY in April 2024 while in Antioquia and Valle del Cauca, decreases of 9.1 and 9.3 per cent, respectively were reported. The Cundinamarca market contracted by 7.1 per cent YoY. Dispatches in Atlantico saw the second-largest drop, by 15.4 per cent, while Santander dispatches were down 12.1 per cent YoY. However, in Bolivar the market expanded by 10.9 per cent YoY - one of the few to do so (the others being Narino at +7.1 per cent, and Sucre at +0.6 per cent).

Production from Colombian cement plants fell 7.4 per cent YoY to 1.062Mt in April 2025 from 1.146Mt in the equivalent period of the previous year.

January-April 2025

In the first four months of 2025 dispatches slipped by 0.9 per cent YoY to 3.906Mt from 3.943Mt in the 4M24.

Bagged cement sales increased by 1.9 per cent YoY but were insufficient to off-set the 6.6 per cent drop in demand for bulk cement.

Sales to ready-mix concrete companies fell by 8.1 per cent YoY while those to construction companies and contractors were down 7.6 per cent YoY. The wholesale/retail segment increased their off-take by 5.1 per cent YoY.

Domestic output saw a 2.7 per cent YoY decrease to 4.242Mt in the 4M25 from 4.359Mt.
I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Electric Company on PBS, where curiosity and learning were celebrated every day. Like many readers of the Chattanoogan, these programs shaped my childhood by fostering an early love of learning that prepared me for school.

Today, WTCI provides that same vital link for countless families throughout the Tennessee Valley, helping kids learn how to learn in ways that commercial broadcasts and social media simply cannot.

Unfortunately, President Trump has proposed rescinding $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, jeopardizing local PBS member stations like Chattanoogas WTCI-TV. Losing these federal funds could devastate WTCIs award-winning educational initiatives, as well as its outstanding local programming.

Critics unfairly dismiss public media as unnecessary or biased, but the data tells a different story: poll after poll indicates that PBS has been among Americas most trusted media organizations for decades. Eliminating funding for WTCI does nothing but dismantle a valued Chattanooga institution and essential public resource. The result will not be savings for taxpayers -- instead, we'll only be more polarized, less informed, and without a valuable educational resource that so many families rely on.

Chattanooga must stand up to defend this shared resource and the enduring value it provides.

Kerry Hayes

* * *

PBS/NPR have historically been insular elitist entities with audiences with the liberal proclivity for attacking ad hominem anyone who dared criticize.

Only when an insider like Senior Editor Uri Berliner echoed what we already knew have they pretended to be balanced. NPR in Berliners words offered the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population.

If PBS/NPR were as valuable to the public as claimed here they wouldnt need taxpayer support, yet their proponents assume WTCI is not valuable enough to the community to draw a supporting audience like the other self supporting 22+ self supporting licensed stations in our listening area.

Patrick Steve Campbell

* * *

I am answering Kerry Hayes call to stand up for PBS funding and I respectfully request Congressman Fleischmann to do the same.

I dont have the figures for the number of local folks who cherish the programming on WTCI (PBS) and WUTC (NPR), but nationally PBS and NPR are enjoyed by an estimated 170 million citizens, of which I am one. That number exceeds the total number of votes cast in the 2024 presidential election (155,238,302), which was won by a popular vote of less than 2.5 million. This should give pause to every member of Congress considering the Presidents request to rescind the funding for PBS and NPR that had previously been approved by Congress and signed into law.

My instinct is that the 2026 elections would bring swift retribution to members of Congress who take part in robbing the American people of these beloved educational and cultural treasures.

I only hope that it doesnt come to that.

Steve Winningham

* * *

In his letter supporting more government funding for NPR and PBS, Steve Winningham says, "I dont have the figures for the number of local folks who cherish the programming on WTCI (PBS) and WUTC (NPR), but nationally PBS and NPR are enjoyed by an estimated 170 million citizens, of which I am one. That number exceeds the total number of votes cast in the 2024 presidential election (155,238,302), which was won by a popular vote of less than 2.5 million."

That is exactly why neither NPR nor PBS should get any more taxpayers' dollars. They are both popular enough to survive and perhaps even thrive in a free market, supported voluntarily by their willing audiences.

Andy Walker

* * *

I would have to guess that Patrick "Steve Campbell does not watch public TV or listen to public radio. Because they are too biased. He probably watches FOX where everything is pure, simple, unbiased, honest and true to genuine journalistic standards. I dont think that Mr. Campbell knows that public TV and radio cannot accept advertisements like ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN.

There is no such thing as a self-supporting broadcast station, whether it be radio or TV, aside from the public stations they are supported by advertisers and I have seen newspapers that ran an editorial that most of their advertisers disagreed with and withdrew advertising all together. I have seen TV stations with the same problem.

Raleigh Perry

* * *

Trumps threat to cancel NPR funding is not based on lack of demand or fraud.

Like Trumps threats to unilaterally cancel all of Musks Federal contracts because Musk no longer aligns with him, Trumps threat to cancel NPR funding results from NPR never aligning with him, although NPR is non-partisan. NPR accepts rebuttal to broadcasts of partisan guests. It also corrects its broadcast errors and retracts its incorrect statements. Nevertheless, any entity is never perfect.

But Trump believes NPR has always been politically anti-Trump, liberally biased, propagandizing, doesnt corrects its broadcast errors nor retracts its incorrect statements; its broadcasts have little or no value. However, those are other subjects of debate; please comment about those subjects in new letter.

Interestingly, a Chattanoogan.com poll asked the question Should the federal government eliminate funding for PBS and NPR? Ill make an assumption that those answering are primarily Republicans. Many previous polls resulted in substantial majorities favoring the conservative position.

The results I read were only 53 percent in favor of eliminating funding.

While neither a scientific nor credible poll, this begs the question Should the majority always rule? Sometimes the majority is wrong.

Returning to Trumps threat, a White House Fact Sheet on NPR and PBS was posted online on May 1. It attempts to justify terminating NPR funding. The Fact Sheet states NPR and PBS have fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars, which is highly inappropriate and an improper use of taxpayers money, as President Trump has stated.

What constitutes partisanship and left-wing propaganda is also debatable.

Arent highly inappropriate and improper use of taxpayers money subjective?

Is highly inappropriate:

Political satire with which you do not agree?

Performances, music or works not to your taste?

Movies, books or art that are anti-government, contain sex or justify violence?

In 1939 Frankly, my dear, I dont give a damn was highly inappropriate.

Is improper use of taxpayers money:

Funding research to address medical issues primarily faced by a small group of racial or ethnic minorities?

Funding World Cup infrastructure for the benefit of only 11 cities?

Funding humanitarian efforts for innocent victims in war-torn areas?

I reviewed each bullet point on the Fact Sheet. The examples listed are misinformation, out of context, dislikes of programming or lies.

That Fact Sheet bases terminating funding on negative perceptions of, and disagreement with NPR programming.

Regarding Mr. Campbells response, he offers his opinion that PBS/NPR have historically been insular elitist entities with audiences with the liberal proclivity for attacking ad hominem anyone who dared criticize.

He uses the single opinion of Ari Berliner as support.

To fully believe Mr. Berliner, as Mr. Campbell does, one must totally disregard fact-based rebuttals and all credibility of NPR.

With Presidential immunity, Trump could re-mold or define what is or is not American culture. His very, very narrow and practically non-existent appreciation of culture becomes the standard; anything offending him will be branded as un-American. Censorship becomes acceptable.

Is this where we are headed? I hope not.

Is this what we want? I dont. I hope you don't either.

Joe Warren
Middle Valley Church of God, at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, Tennessee, announced that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday in the 10:30 a.m. service. His sermon title will be, "He Promised, He Came". The goal of this sermon series is to assure the listener that they have access to God through Jesus Christ in all situations of life along with His promises to help. All are welcome to participate.





Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m. the church conducts a prayer meeting which is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer.Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate.





Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an interactive, interesting, and informative Bible study will be held in the church auditorium. Craig Paul is currently leading this Bible study. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide.





Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1948 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome.





Please note that MVCOG will make public announcements about dangerous road conditions and cancellations. Postings about cancellations will be made on the church Facebook page. Please look there for information.




A man was shot and killed Tuesday night during an undercover narcotics investigation in Dalton.

Detectives from the Dalton Police Departments Drug Unit were conducting the investigation along with investigators from the Whitfield County Sheriffs Office in the area of River Road at the Whitfield County-Murray County line.

Sheriffs Office officials said that during the investigation, Johnathan Zuccarini pointed a hand gun at the detectives conducting the investigation. In response, the Whitfield County Sheriffs Office and Dalton Police Department investigators fired at Zuccarini. Zuccarini was transported to Hamilton Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

In accordance with agency policy, the investigation into the shooting has been turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Any further information regarding this investigation will be released by the GBI. The Dalton Police Department detective involved has been placed on paid administrative leave which is standard practice by department policy in any case of an officer involved shooting.




Before the ocean swallows the light and the hatch seals shut, every submariner carries one thing below the surface  their story.

For Petty Officer 3rd Class Mason France, a native of Chattanooga serving as a machinists mate (nuclear), that story began in the halls of East Hamilton High School, sparked by a family legacy and a desire to serve.

I joined the Navy to follow in my familys footsteps, France said. My grandfather was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, and my father was a submarine mechanic. After 9/11, I knew I wanted to carry on that legacy and carve out my own path.

Today, that dream is a reality aboard USS Springfield, a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine forward-deployed to Guam.

From his hometown to a submarine cruising silent and deep beneath the Pacific, Frances journey has always been grounded in grit and a sense of purpose.

Growing up in Chattanooga, I worked in construction, which taught me the value of a strong work ethic, France said. That mindset  showing up every day and giving your best  has helped me succeed in the Navy.

That same determination now fuels his work beneath the sea. Serving on Guam, France is part of what stands as a vital outpost in the Western Pacific, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific through its strategic role in undersea operations.

Known as Americas Apex Predators, the Navys submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels. These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world, in furtherance of U.S. national security.

As a machinists mate (nuclear) on Springfield, France plays a critical role in maintaining the submarines propulsion systems and supporting safe operations under pressure.

Im proud of graduating from Nuclear Power School and all the other training thats helped me grow as a machinist mate, France said. But more than that, Im proud of being able to help my shipmates every day  thats what really matters to me.

Frances story isnt only about machinery and mission  its about the people who helped him get here. From early mentors to lifelong friends, his success is built on the encouragement and belief of those who stood beside him.

Id like to thank my mom and dad for their support throughout this journey, France said. I wouldnt be where I am today without them.

Looking back, France hopes his story inspires someone else  someone who might be looking for direction, purpose, or a new beginning.

Serving in the Navy means everything to me, France added. Its given me the chance to grow, to challenge myself, and to protect the people I love back home. Thats what drives me.






Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Sylwia Bartyzel

Vermont has amended a law that pro-life pregnancy centers claimed censored their ability to advertise. Vermont lawmakers approved a measure late last week to modify language in Senate Bill 37, a law passed in May 2023 that aimed to curb misleading advertisements by pro-life pregnancy care centers.

The conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom filed a stipulated dismissal of the case of National Institute of Family and Life Advocates et al v. Clark et al last Thursday, following the laws amendment.

Anne O'Connor, vice president of legal affairs at NIFLA, stated,the state has backed away from attacking the work of pro-life pregnancy centers.

She added, Pregnancy centers are no longer under direct threat from the law and pro-abortion lobby in Vermont, and expressed that, for this, NIFLA celebrates; however, if in the future the state again decides to unconstitutionally pursue the work of pro-life pregnancy centers, NIFLA stands ready to take Vermont back to court and seek appropriate relief.

Signed by Vermonts Republican Governor Phil Scott in May 2023, S.37 defined pregnancy centers that do not offer abortions or emergency contraception as limited-services centers. It prohibited them from advertising what is untrue or clearly designed to mislead the public about the nature of services provided.

Under the law, pregnancy centers could face fines of up to $10,000 if the Vermont attorney general deemed their advertising misleading.

The lawsuit, filed in July 2023 by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, Aspire Now, and the Branches Pregnancy Resource Center, argued that the law censored the centers ability to advertise their free services and precluded centers from offering non-medical services, information, and counseling unless provided by a licensed health care provider.

It described the law as offering a vague and viewpoint-discriminatory standard for misinformation, stating it provides no guidance as to how it should be applied to advertisements including medical information on which there is no medical consensus.

Supporters of abortion claim that these centers manipulate women into choosing life and use deceptive strategies to lure women away from abortion clinics. Critics also allege that pregnancy centers lie about their services by posing as medical clinics.

However, as highlighted in a 2024 report titled Pregnancy Centers Offer Hope for a New Generation by the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, more than 2,750 pregnancy centers serve women and families nationwide.

The report noted that throughout 2022, the total value of material goods and services provided by pregnancy centers exceeded $367 million, and that 97.4% of clients reported positive experiences and satisfaction with the care they received.
Home News Christian commentators Candace Owens, Charlie Kirk defend Glenn Greenwald after sexually explicit video leaked TPUSA founder says he's a 'massive fan' of Greenwald's

Some of the most prominent Christian influencers  including the leader of the nations largest conservative youth organization  are defending the reputation of independent journalist Glenn Greenwald following the leak of a sexually explicit video of him.

Greenwald, 58, best known as a co-founding editor of The Intercept and a former Guardian columnist, said the video released May 30 on social media was done so by maliciously political actors. In a statement on X, Greenwald, calling the act criminal, said the sexually graphic videos were released online depicting behavior in my private life. Some were distorted and others were not.

According to clips shared on social media, the video shows Greenwald, who is openly gay, dressed in womens clothing and engaging in what he called fully consensual behavior with another man. The footage reportedly includes a man speaking Portuguese demanding 10,000 Brazilian Real, or roughly $2,000, which Greenwald is seen paying via PayPal.

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Defending the content, Greenwald stated: As for the content of the videos: I have no embarrassment or regret about them. The videos depict consenting adults engaged in intimate actions in their private lives. They all display fully consensual behavior, harming nobody. Undeterred by the leak, Greenwald vowed: It wont change my work. I will continue all the many prongs of my journalism, and pursue the causes most important to me, exactly as before.

Following the leak of the video, a number of Christian commentators put out statements in support of Greenwald, who was raised in a Jewish family but has said his "moral precepts aren't informed in any way by religious doctrine.

Former Daily Wire host Candace Owens wrote, I said this on my last show ahead of maternity leave but would like to reiterate here: [Greenwald] is one of the most important and honest voices of our time. Everyone should follow and support his journalism, and included a link to Greenwalds YouTube channel.

Owens has referred to same-sex marriage as a sin and last year called the LGBT-identified community a sexual plague on our society after a school shooting in Perry, Iowa.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and its Christian-focused TPUSA Faith, expressed similar support, calling himself a massive fan of Glenns work even though we dont agree on everything, all the time. Kirk added, Hes a free speech warrior, one of the most consistent journalists anywhere, and hes earned my respect. He called the video leak clearly politically motivated, criminal, and disgusting and added any slurs against him are equally disgusting.

If those who did this think they will advance their cause by trying to embarrass Glenn  if that ends up being true  they are dead wrong, Kirk wrote. The exact opposite is sadly true.

CP reached out to TPUSA Monday for comment. This article will be updated if a response is received.

Critics, however, responded to the video with questions about whether Greenwalds personal life has an impact on his role as a journalist.

Jason Whitlock, a conservative commentator, asked whether one can separate Glenn Greenwalds courageous journalism from his immoral, degenerate personal life? Is there scripture to guide us here? He later clarified: I do think taking drugs, putting on a skirt, licking the toes of another man all inside the house where kids live are immoral/degenerate behaviors. In my view, Glenn is a child of God. The behavior exposed is immoral/degenerate.

Greenwald responded to Whitlocks question by drawing a comparison to President Donald Trump, asking Whitlock, Serious thoughtful question: how have you been able to separate what you regard as Donald Trumps inspired and noble political leadership from the repeated behaviors in his private life long considered deeply immoral and degenerate under the most widespread and long-standing Christian and Western moral dogma: Overlapping affairs and marriages, serial adulteries, affairs with porn stars that he paid to cover up, closely cavorting with Jeffrey Epstein and I could go on and on.

Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, another conservative voice, weighed in by alleging that Greenwald smeared him as morally deranged for arguing that gay couples should not adopt children.

Walsh also questioned Greenwalds response to allegations of the video depicting a pipe for smoking methamphetamine  an allegation which Greenwald addressed but did not explicitly deny Monday.

Walsh wrote, Greenwald was asked specifically about the apparent meth pipe in the video and he didnt deny it. Instead he said hes proud of his personal life. How can anyone defend this? There are three children in that home. Does anyone really think that a home with hard drug use and male prostitution is an appropriate or safe place for children?

A co-founder of The Intercept, Greenwald left the outlet in 2020, alleging censorship over his coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. Known for his progressive roots, he frequently appears on conservative platforms like Fox News, defends free speech, and has also criticized U.S. military policies and Israels actions in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
Home News US Evangelical leader Johnnie Moore to lead Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

A charity organization providing aid to residents in the Gaza Strip amid the war between Israel and Hamas has appointed a United States-based Evangelical leader and well-known religious freedom advocate as its new leader.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced in a statement Tuesday that it appointed the Rev. Johnnie Moore as its executive chairman. Moore, who serves as president of the public relations firm JDA Worldwide and the Congress of Christian Leaders, has previously served on the bipartisan U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom as an appointee of President Donald Trump. As a pro-Israel advocate, Moore has also been critical of Hamas over the years.

As a nonprofit, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation "partners with local communities and international stakeholders to meet urgent needs and restore dignity to everyday life" and is "dedicated to delivering secure, large-scale humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilian population."

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"Since launching operations on 26 May 2025, GHF has delivered more than 7 million meals through its secure distribution system without incident," the charity reports.

In a statement, Moore said that GHF is "demonstrating that it is possible to move vast quantities of food to people who need it most  safely, efficiently, and effectively."

"I am honored to bring my experience to bear to help scale this vital mission and ensure the humanitarian aid community and the broader international community understand what's taking place on the ground," Moore said as he reflected on his new role.

Moore stressed that "serving the people of Gaza with dignity and compassion must be the top priority."

"We welcome others to join us and urge extreme caution against sharing unverified information from sources that have repeatedly issued demonstrably false reports," he said. "False reporting of violence at our sites has a chilling effect on the local population and we can think of no greater disservice to a community in dire need."

John Acree, the acting executive director of GHF, praised Moore's "proven record of principled leadership and hands-on humanitarian work that will strengthen GHF as we continue to expand our life-saving operations." He believes Moore's appointment is evidence of "GHF's determination to pair operational excellence with experienced, service-oriented leadership."

"Our commitment to safely delivering food to a large, hungry population is unwavering, and his insight will be invaluable as we build on our early success," Acree predicted.

Moore's appointment comes more than 18 months after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in southern Israel perpetrated by the terrorist organization Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Around 1,200 people died in the attack, and more than 240 were taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza with the stated goal of eradicating Hamas and securing the release of hostages.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claims that more than 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began. However, those figures don't differentiate between combatants and civilians. The validity of those figures has also been called into question.

Previous attempts to bring aid into Gaza have resulted in allegations that Hamas militants have stolen aid designated for civilians and sold it on the black market. In May, Trump accused Hamas of "making it impossible" to get aid into Gaza because militants are "taking everything that's brought in."

"But we're going to help the people of Gaza because they're being treated very badly by Hamas," he said while talking with the media at the White House.

After a weekslong Israeli military blockade of aid into Gaza, GHF announced last Monday that it began delivering aid supplies to distribution hubs in Gaza. Israel has backed the idea of allowing GHF to oversee the distribution of aid directly to Gaza residents as a way to minimize the risk of Hamas stealing the aid.

The operations began one day after GHF's founding CEO, Jake Wood, resigned and criticized the Israeli-led distribution plan. Wood believes the charity won't be able to operate in accordance with "humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon," reports All Israel News.

A memo outlining the GHF's purpose and mission states that "[t]raditional humanitarian channels have collapsed under the weight of ongoing combat operations, systemic aid diversion, and restricted access."

"As a result, much of aid fails to reach the people it is intended to help, fueling despair and instability," the memo added. GHF maintains that the instability in Gaza has left "millions of civilians without reliable access to food, water, and other necessary supplies."

The charity's business model involves the establishment of four secure distribution sites, each designed to serve 300,000 people by providing them with food, water, and hygiene kits on a consistent basis. As stated in the memo, the charity works to ensure that "pre-packaged rations, hygiene kits, and medical supplies move through tightly controlled corridors, monitored in real time to prevent diversion."

The GHF intends to partner with non-governmental organizations, such as the United Nations and civil society organizations, to execute its mission.

Last week, GHF said in a statement that Palestinian groups that have agreed to work with the charity have received threats from Hamas.

"It is clear that Hamas is threatened by this new operating model, and will do everything in its power to see it fail," GHF said.
Home News FDA Commissioner Marty Makary vows to launch review of abortion drug mifepristone

The head of the Food and Drug Administration has vowed to conduct a review of the abortion pill as the drug continues to be subject to scrutiny following a new report showing a much larger share of women experience adverse effects after taking it than previously believed.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., shared the contents of a letter he received from Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary in an X post Monday. Makarys letter came in response to a letter Hawley had sent Makary on April 28 expressing concern about his insistence that he had no plans to take action on mifepristone, referring to the abortion pill.

Read: 7 reactions to the death of 'father of the abortion pill'

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As the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, I am committed to conducting a review of mifepristone and working with the professional career scientists at the Agency who review this data, Makary assured Hawley. As with all drugs, FDA continues to closely monitor the postmarketing safety data on mifepristone for the medical termination of early pregnancy.

In his initial letter to Makary, Hawley cited a study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center finding that more than 10% of women who take the abortion pill experience adverse effects as an example of data that would justify action by the FDA. Examples of adverse effects experienced by women who take the abortion pill include serious complications such as hemorrhaging, infection, ectopic pregnancies, transfusion and sepsis.

The senator noted that as Makary indicated that he had no plans to change government policy when it comes to the prescribing of the abortion pill, he clarified that If the data suggests something or tells us that theres a real signal, we cant promise were not going to act on that data.

The release of the Ethics and Public Policy Center report came shortly after Makarys declaration that he was not prioritizing the abortion pill. The time to act is now, Hawley wrote as he requested that Makary answer a series of questions by May 15. He asked if the FDA would restore longstanding, critical safeguards for mifepristone use, referring to requirements that women seeking the abortion pill have an in-person visit with a doctor first, that only doctors can prescribe it and that the drug must be administered in person.

Hawley also asked what plans the FDA has to adjust the relevant drug safety label given this new information about the rate of adverse events that is 22 times higher than the 0.5% reported on the abortion pills label based on the results of clinical trials and requested additional information about the FDAs plans to appropriately evaluate the real-world effects of mifepristone on American women going forward.

Makarys letter did not specifically answer Hawleys questions, instead noting that the use of Mifepristone for the medical termination of early pregnancy is the subject of pending litigation, while stressing that the FDA generally does not comment on matters that are the subject of pending litigation and therefore is unable to provide further information at this time.

The litigation in question involves Idaho, Kansas and Missouri challenging the dispensing requirements for the abortion pill. The states filed a lawsuit after a similar challenge to the abortion pill by doctors and medical organizations was dismissed by the United States Supreme Court on procedural grounds. The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has called for the case to be dismissed, alleging that the plaintiff states lack standing, as the lawsuit was filed in Texas.

Makarys letter to Hawley comes more than two weeks after an exchange between the senator and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about the abortion pill during a hearing on Capitol Hill. Hawley brought up the Ethics and Public Policy Center study as he asked Kennedy if he was committed to undertaking a top-to-bottom review of the abortion pill.

Ive asked Marty Makary, whos the director of the FDA, to do a complete review and to report back, Kennedy responded. Kennedy described the findings of the Ethics and Public Policy Center report as alarming.

The Ethics and Public Policy Center report conducted an analysis of data from an all-payer insurance claims database that includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone-induced abortions from 2017 to 2023. The number of cases examined by the Ethics and Public Policy Center is much larger than the 30,966 participants in the clinical trials that resulted in a 0.5% adverse effects rate.
Home News Progressive groups demand records of Trump's anti-Christian bias task force

A pair of progressive advocacy groups have demanded the records of the Trump administrations task force that was created to combat alleged anti-Christian bias in the federal government.

Interfaith Alliance and Democracy Forward announced last Friday that they had filed a series of Freedom of Information Act requests related to the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias.

The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president & CEO of the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, was quoted in the announcement as saying that he was deeply concerned about government efforts to falsely suggest that American Christians face a crisis of persecution, the manufacturing of a threat of Christian persecution in the United States.

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We fear that this Task Force will in fact persecute those, including Christians, who dont align with a particular religious agenda  and circumvent anti-discrimination laws under the guise of protecting religious freedom, stated Raushenbush.

The Task Force convened by Attorney General Bondi has dangerous potential to enshrine preferential treatment for a narrow set of right-wing Christian nationalists. Nothing could be more harmful to true religious freedom in our democracy.

According to the official FOIA request letters, the two groups are seeking task force records that include meeting agendas, attendees lists, calendar entries, meeting minutes or summaries, or any other documentation that would reflect the attendees and content of such meetings.

The groups also asked for [a]ll solicitations for records of anti-Christian bias submitted to various federal government agencies, as well as subsequent resulting records of anti-Christian bias submitted by said agencies.

They also wanted electronic communications such as emails, text messages, and other correspondence on messaging platforms like Skype and WhatsApp between United States Department of Justice officials and external individuals, including Michael Farris of Patrick Henry College, Scott Hicks of Liberty University, Phil Mendes, and anyone tied to the First Liberty Institute, among others.

In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias that created a task force within the DOJ to review the activities of all executive departments and agencies in order to identify any unlawful anti-Christian policies, practices, or conduct by an agency contrary to the purpose and policy of this order.

The task force is slated to officially dissolve two years after the date that the order was issued, unless Trump decides to extend its existence.

Trump and others have argued that the task force is necessary due to various incidents that occurred during the Biden administration, such as the imprisonment of over 20 pro-life activists who were charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act when engaging in non-violent protests at abortion clinics.

Another example was a 2023 memo circulated within the Federal Bureau of Investigation that warned about connections between "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists" and "radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

Also, many conservatives believed that the Biden administration failed to sufficiently respond to the wave of vandalism attacks on churches and pro-life groups in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

They were terrible to you, and they were terrible to people of religion, all religions, Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast speech in February.

The task force will work to fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society, and to move Heaven and Earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.
Singapore, China to expand digital, sustainability cooperation, says Singapore minister

Xinhua) 14:48, June 04, 2025

SINGAPORE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Singapore and China will deepen cooperation in digitalization and sustainability, building on existing joint projects and policy innovations, Singapore's Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said during a visit to Chongqing, southwest China, according to a release from Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry on Wednesday.

Teo made the remarks as Singapore and Chongqing mark the 10th anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) this year.

She noted that Singapore and China will support their companies in seizing new opportunities in the emerging sectors of digitalization and sustainability.

"The CCI continues to be an important platform in positioning Singapore and Chongqing as twin hubs that drive deeper and broader region-to-region connectivity between Southeast Asia and Western China," Teo said during her visit from Monday to Tuesday.

Her visit kicked off a series of bilateral engagements, including a connectivity, trade and finance conference, and a Chongqing culture and heritage showcase in Singapore, as well as the "Experience Singapore Week" in Chongqing, the release said.

Launched in 2015, the CCI focuses on financial services, air transportation, logistics, and information communication. It is the third intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Singapore, following the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern China's Jiangsu Province and the Tianjin Eco-city in northern China's Tianjin Municipality.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Home News Religious Freedom Institute to posthumously honor Ken Starr with Defender of Religious Freedom Award

The late Ken Starr, a prominent lawyer and academic well known for his advocacy on behalf of religious liberty, is slated to receive an award posthumously later this year.

The Religious Freedom Institute announced in a statement on Friday that it was planning to posthumously award Starr with its 2025 Defender of Religious Freedom Award at an award ceremony and dinner scheduled to take place at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 6. Starr, who died in 2022, was best known as the former president of Baylor University, and for serving as an independent counsel investigating President Bill Clinton from 1994-98.

Shortly before his death, Starr published a book titled Religious Liberty in Crisis. Starr told The Christian Post that the goal of the book, published in 2021, was to give every American a grounding in [the] fundamental principles of religious liberty.

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From my time working with Ken during his earliest days at Baylor, I grew to have the deepest admiration for him as a jurist, tireless defender of religious freedom, man of deep faith, and winsome leader, said RFI President David Trimble. Ken became a mentor, colleague, and friend, and, most importantly, he was (and remains) my brother in Christ.

For all of these reasons, and countless others, I am overcome with joy and gratitude at this opportunity to honor Kens extraordinary legacy of defending Americas first freedom, Trimble added. Several friends and colleagues of Starr shared statements with RFI elaborating on why they viewed him as worthy of the award.

Ken Starr and I began our public service in Washington, D.C. the same year and for decades, joined together to defend the precious right of religious freedom, recalled former Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va. After I retired from Congress, I had the privilege of collaborating with him in an entirely different setting when I was named Wilson Chair in Religious Freedom at Baylor during Kens tenure as president there.

Wolf praised Starr as a man of deep principle and conviction, adding, his ardent devotion to America and to securing religious freedom for everyone flowed from his higher devotion to Jesus Christ. He described the Defender of Religious Freedom Award as a fitting tribute to my dear friend.

Alan Dershowitz, professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, echoed Wolfs sentiment, stating, Ken is as deserving of this award as anyone could be.

Dershowitz added, Of the many issues he was called upon to deal with in his vast career, none were more important to him than preserving robust constitutional safeguards for religious freedom.

One of the through lines in his remarkable career was Kens commitment to religious liberty, asserted former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement. I saw that commitment first hand in my first case with him  the Wisconsin school choice case  and in teaming up with him years later to defend the First Amendment rights of elementary school students. I am pleased to join RFI in celebrating Kens decades-long commitment to upholding Americas extraordinary free exercise tradition.

In addition to his academic and legal career, Starr served on the Supreme Court Advisory Council of the religious liberty legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom. He also served on the board of the Christian Legal Society.

The stated purpose of the Defender of Religious Freedom Award is to recognize a person who has defended religious freedom for everyone, everywhere from within his or her faith tradition. The Religious Freedom Institute has handed out the award annually since 2019. Starr will become the first person to receive the award posthumously.

Past recipients of the Defender of Religious Freedom Award are: former Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Philadelphia Charles Chaput; former head of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention Russell Moore; former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Carl Anderson; former President and founder of Alliance Defending Freedom Alan Sears; Princeton University professor Robert George; and former Religious Freedom Institute President Thomas Farr.
Home News Getting churches prepared: SBC relaunches sex abuse prevention website

The Southern Baptist Convention has relaunched a website dedicated to helping to fight abuse within member congregations of the United States largest Protestant denomination.

The SBC Executive Committee announced the relaunch of the Abuse Prevention & Response website, which now includes enhanced resources on reporting and preventing abuse.

These new resources will include an updated Essentials 2.0 curriculum and blog posts authored by anti-abuse experts, as well as providing a centralized platform for other resources from state and regional Baptist conventions.

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Jeff Dalrymple, SBC EC director of abuse prevention and response, told Baptist Press in comments published Tuesday that churches having a response plan is critical to help pastors know how to respond when theres an allegation of abuse.

We want to report it and to provide care for survivors and to work with available resources that theyve identified in advance. And so I think thats really, really important in our next level of abuse prevention and response, is getting churches prepared, said Dalrymple.

I would just emphasize that abuse response is not just internal abuse that has happened in a ministry setting, but its also external abuse that has happened in another context or environment, such as maybe a childs home.

Dalrymple added that he wanted to encourage our churches to make sure that all of their staff and volunteers are trained to identify indicators that abuse may have happened and then to report it to the appropriate authorities.

Next week, SBC member churches can register for two free webinar training events slated to begin in September, with one focused on recognizing grooming and another centered on how to properly receive convicted sex abusers into the church.

Dalrymple called such efforts a careful grace, noting that we want to make sure that we safeguard the vulnerable and that we have certain measures in place to make sure that that convicted sex offender is able to also grow in Christ, but with certain parameters around his or her involvement.

In 2022, Guidepost Solutions released a detailed report concluding that SBC leaders had mishandled some sexual abuse allegations against churches, intimidated victims and resisted efforts to make churches safer, chiefly in order to avoid legal liability.

Since the Guidepost report was released, the SBC has initiated various efforts to improve its responses to credible allegations of abuse among member congregations.

Last September, the SBC EC voted to create a department to tackle and prevent abuse, coming in response to a vote at the SBC Annual Meeting that June calling for the creation of a permanent entity to tackle abuse response and prevention.

The SBC also launched a hotline in May 2022 for individuals to report allegations of abuse. In February, SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg reported that seven member churches were disfellowshipped as a result of allegations reported via the hotline.

Sexual abuse is a serious and real problem, said Iorg. And when it happens, it is devastating for the survivors, the church, the community, and every person who is involved.

Every church must make every reasonable effort to prevent sexual abuse and respond proactively when it happens. We are committed to these standards at the Executive Committee: no tolerance for abuse, and every church a safe place for the vulnerable.

The SBCs anti-abuse efforts have not always been positively received, as the convention is currently battling a defamation lawsuit from a former worship leader who claims to have been wrongly punished over abuse allegations that stemmed from the hotline.
Home News William Barber, activists arrested again for protesting GOP-backed budget bill in Capitol Rotunda

The Rev. William Barber II and eight other progressive activists were arrested inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Monday for holding a prayer rally against the Republican-backed budget bill going through Congress.

Barber, a former NAACP leader who co-leads the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, posted a video to his X account on Monday evening documenting the event. The demonstration began outside the U.S. Supreme Court building and then continued in the Capitol Rotunda.

At issue is the Trump administration-backed budget bill before Congress. Barber and other progressive activists oppose cuts to various publicly funded welfare programs.

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After the outdoor gathering, Barber, other clergy and supporters entered the Capitol Rotunda to hold an unauthorized prayer rally, with Capitol police showing up in response to the small assembly.

"This budget does not establish justice," Barber said during his prayer. "This budget does not provide for the common defense of all. This budget does not promote the general welfare, and it surely does not ensure domestic tranquility."

Barber, who led Greenleaf Christian Church of Goldsboro, North Carolina, for decades until his recent retirement from ministry in 2023, denounced "those who legislate evil," "rob the poor of their rights," "make women and children prey" and "run roughshod on the least of these."

As Barber continued to pray, a police officer introduced himself and stated that their rally was "considered a form of demonstrating," saying it is "unlawful to demonstrate inside of the Capitol Rotunda."

After multiple warnings were given, the area was cleared, and nine people still within the perimeter the police created, including Barber, were arrested.

Among those arrested is Suvya Carroll, a disability rights advocate born with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair-bound. During the prayer rally, Carroll held a copy of the Bible.

This is not the first time that Barber, who is known for supporting abortion and other left-leaning social causes, has been arrested in the Capitol Rotunda for holding a demonstration against the GOP-backed budget bill.

In late April, Barber, preacher Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and St. Francis Springs Prayer Center Director Steve Swayne were arrested for protesting in the Capitol Rotunda.

Barber and Wilson-Hartgrove later confirmed their release in a statement, arguing that $1.5 trillion cannot be cut from the budget without "slashing Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, Head Start, Section 8" and other programs they claimed are "life-saving and life-sustaining."

"We came to the Capitol Rotunda to pray for representatives who currently support this immoral budget to see the danger of policy that kills and choose life. We came believing that God can take out a heart of stone and give anyone a heart of flesh," they stated.

"That is why we chose to pray in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday. And that is the prayer we hope to embody with a growing and expanding moral movement in this nation until 'justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.'"

Known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the proposed budget passed the House of Representatives and is being considered by the Senate, both narrowly controlled by Republicans.

The legislation has been hailed by supporters as necessary to balance the budget, improve the economy and reduce wasteful government spending.

"It revives our economy. It will deliver historic tax relief. It will make the largest investment in our border security in a generation," said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., in a floor speech last month.

"It will unleash affordable American energy again, restore common sense to government, secure generational savings and strengthen our national defense, while it also strengthens our essential programs like Medicaid for the people who need it the most."

Johnson claimed that opponents of the bill "are apparently for the largest tax increase in the history of our country" and support "waste, fraud, and abuse" while opposing "safer communities, American energy dominance and American strength on the world stage."

The Congressional Budget Office released an analysis Wednesday stating that while the bill will cut taxes by $3.75 trillion, it would also increase deficits by $2.4 trillion over the next decade. However, the CBO also forecasts that "changes in tariffs [implemented between Jan. 6 and May 13] will reduce total federal deficits by $2.8 trillion."

In a statement Wednesday, the White House maintained that forecasts projecting that the bill will increase deficits are "based on a false assumption that President Trumps 2017 tax cuts will expire."

"In reality, extending the CURRENT tax rates  which this legislation does  has zero impact on the deficit," the White House statement reads.
Home News Christian groups call for day of prayer ahead of assisted suicide vote

With a final vote on the issue of assisted suicide expected in Westminster on June 20, a number of Christian groups have united in calling for a national day of prayer in opposition to the proposals.

At present, there are two pieces of legislation aimed at legalizing assisted suicide at play, one in the Scottish Parliament for Scotland and another separate bill in Westminster for England and Wales. Both bills have made progress, although there are signs that some parliamentarians who previously voted in favor of the bills are now likely to abstain or even vote against.

The Christian Institute, Affinity, CARE, the Christian Medical Fellowship, Christian Concern and the Evangelical Alliance have banded together in calling for June 11 to be a day for British Christians to pray about the issue.

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Simon Calvert, deputy director of The Christian Institute, said, We hope Christians across the U.K. will join us in prayer against dangerous attempts to legalize assisted suicide. No so-called safeguards can make these bills 'safe.'

We must ask God to open more politicians eyes to the bitter reality that assisted dying means helping suicidal people to kill themselves. We thank God that many are already opposing these bills and we can pray that more will find the courage to speak out."

Reports suggest there could be a significant number of 'waverers' who have previously voted in favor of the assisted suicide bills in order to have out the debate, but might vote against the proposal or abstain when the final decision comes.

One such MP is the Lib Dem Brian Mathew, who said he felt the bill poses a risk to vulnerable people approaching the end of their lives.

Although he voted in favour of the bill at second reading, Mathew recently said in an email to his Melksham and Devizes constituency, I share the concerns of many constituents that individuals facing terminal illness will take the decision based on concerns that they have become a burden upon their family. This is a serious concern for me; I worry that in someones final days, this question will loom heavy when it does not need to."

This article was originally published at Christian Today
Home News Complications from abortion pills are increasingly miscoded, study shows

Emergency room visits caused by complications from taking the abortion pill are more frequently being miscoded, according to a new study, raising concerns amid the increased prevalence of chemical abortions.

The study, released last month, is based on data from 28,534 emergency room visits made by Medicaid patients within 30 days of having either a surgical abortion or having taken the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. The data was compiled by the U.S. Center for Medicaid and Medicaid Services from 2016 to 2021.

The analysis report is a collaboration between the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of the pro-life grassroots advocacy organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and researchers at the University of North Carolina, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Florida-based Elliott Institute.

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Among 16,146 emergency room visits following a surgical abortion that occurred from 2016 to 2021, 1,240 (7.7%) were miscoded, up from 1.3% between 2004 and 2015.

Meanwhile, 18% of the 12,388 emergency room visits following the ingestion of abortion pills in those six years were miscoded. By comparison, only 4.7% of emergency room visits following a chemical abortion were miscoded between 2004 and 2015.

Of the total 2,225 miscoded visits following a chemical abortion, 1,995 (89.7%) were coded as high acuity, meaning that the emergency room visits were classified as either "severe" or "critical." Similarly, 88% of the 1,240 miscoded emergency room visits following surgical abortions were coded as high acuity. The majority of correctly coded emergency room visits following both chemical (70.2%) and surgical (68.4%) abortions were coded as high acuity.

The report noted that the "vast majority" of induced abortions occurring up to 70 days of gestation are carried out with the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol.

"However, these findings indicate there is an increasing likelihood that, should the woman require treatment in the [emergency room] following the abortion, the complication or adverse event is attributed to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage and not the induced abortion," the report added. "Further, on average, these miscoded visits require more extensive treatment than [emergency room] visits which are accurately coded."

"Miscoding via concealment of the abortion could result in delay of the delivery of necessary care or otherwise influence or misdirect important decisions in the management of the patient's condition," the report added.

Miscoding "could also result from" genuine errors "rather than active concealment by the patient, with both purposeful and accidental misclassifications resulting in the underreporting of post-abortion complications."

"Studies have indicated that more than half of women who carry out a medical abortion experience severe pain," the report continues. "Very recent studies have indicated that women are not prepared for the level of pain they feel, that for some it is comparable to the pain of a delivery and not, as often described to them, 'like your period.'"

"These miscoded abortion complications remain invisible to research scientists resulting in a large underestimation of actual medical abortion complications."

In a statement reacting to the report's release, CLI Vice President and Director of Data Analytics Dr. James Studnicki asserted that whenever "abortion-related emergencies are disguised as miscarriages, it impairs a doctor's ability to make informed, evidence-based decisions." He described the phenomenon as a "public health crisis" rather than a "documentation error."

Studnicki condemned what he referred to as "the abortion industry's push for concealment" of women's abortion history in emergency rooms as "unethical and dangerous," adding that he believed women "deserve honest guidance and proper medical care, not advice that jeopardizes their health."
Home News Hegseth orders renaming of Navy ship christened for gay icon Harvey Milk

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly ordered for the USNS Harvey Milk to be renamed in time for pride month in an intentional symbolic repudiation of LGBT ideology seeping into the armed forces.

An internal memo from Navy Secretary John Phelan informed that the ship was going to be renamed later this month in "alignment with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture, according to Military.com.

While the memo came from Phelan, it was based on an order from Hegseth, according to a defense official who spoke to the military news outlet. An official confirmed that the timing during pride month was intentional.

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Other ships in the John Lewis-class oilers are also potentially slated for renaming, such as the USNS Harriet Tubman and the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to CBS News. The ships commissioned during the Obama administration were named for prominent civil rights figures. The ship named for Milk was announced in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

The move has drawn criticism from California politicians such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who represents San Franciscos district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She accused the Trump administration of renaming ships in a spirit of vindictiveness, and characterized the renaming as a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.

As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision and continue to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Harvey Milk, a Veteran himself, and all Americans who forged historic progress for our nation, Pelosi said.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., also denounced the renaming, writing, Harvey Milk was a veteran, a dedicated public servant, and an LGBTQ trailblazer. He showed courage and grit in just about everything he did. Despite Trumps best efforts, the president will never tarnish that legacy.

Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay politicians in the United States, serving as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from Jan. 8, 1978, until his assassination later that year on Nov. 27.

During his brief time in office, he sponsored a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations, housing and employment, which later became law. He was assassinated by Dan White, a former city supervisor who cast the sole vote against Milks bill.

Milk also served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, but was dishonorably discharged because of his sexual behavior, according to his biography.

Milk has faced allegations of predatory behavior and statutory rape against boys that stem primarily from his relationship with Jack Galen McKinley, who was a 16-year-old runaway when Milk met him in his 30s in New York. McKinley struggled with drug addiction and ultimately "died suddenly" at 33, according to a local obituary.

Another young man Milk had a relationship with was 25-year-old Jack Lira, who struggled with alcoholism and hanged himself from Milk's back porch in 1978, according to The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk.

The controversy over the USNS Harvey Milk comes amid a broader purge of LGBT- and DEI-related ideology from the U.S. military, which has included a ban on openly trans-identified individuals. The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction on the ban last month.

The defense secretary has come under fire for his outspoken Christianity, which led to accusations of violating the U.S. Constitution last month when he led a voluntary prayer service at the Pentagon. During his prayer, he addressed Jesus Christ as king and invoked His wisdom for guidance.
Home News Robert Morris told Gateway elders he knew Cindy Clemishire was 12 during abuse: court filings

Although he has pleaded "not guilty" to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child stemming from the alleged abuse of the now 55-year-old Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, Gateway Church's embattled founder Robert Morris admits in new court filings that he knew she was underage when the abuse began.

In court documents filed by Morris' attorneys in Tarrant County District Court Friday, he alleges that Gateway's elders were made aware more than a decade ago of his "highly inappropriate relationship" with Clemishire, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The filing includes a statement that Morris, who resigned last June, was supposed to read to Gateway members from the pulpit in 2011 after he received an email from an anonymous account. The email was also sent to all Gateway elders and media outlets, including The Dallas Morning News.

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"In my early 20's I was traveling and speaking in churches and I was staying in a home of one of the members of the church where I was speaking. Their daughter came and got in bed with me and there was kissing and petting. I have been told that it was about 2 weeks before her 13th birthday," Morris admits in the statement, which he ultimately did not share with the congregation.

"Although I knew she was underage, I was shocked to hear this because she appeared much older. My behavior was completely inexcusable and I am 100% at fault."

Counsel for Gateway Church at the time allegedly advised against making the statement public due to "invasion of privacy laws" that would "publicly embarrass" Clemishire.

A Gateway Church spokesperson told The Christian Post that "nothing in this filing is new," saying it "represents just the latest sad attempt by Robert Morris to deflect blame away from himself to others for his criminal actions."

"We have consistently and publicly said that there were Elders and employees at Gateway who knew about this issue before it became public, and either didnt take action or didnt inquire further. That was fundamentally wrong, the church Elders took decisive action, and none of those individuals are a part of Gateway Church today," a statement from the Gateway spokesperson reads.

"Worse, Robert Morris, in his own filing, continues to call his actions an inappropriate relationship instead of saying what it truly was  a terrible crime against a child. There seems to be nothing that Robert wont say or do to blame everyone else but himself.

Morris' attorney, Bill Mateja, told The Dallas Morning News while some might "second guess" Gateway leadership's "conscious decision to not publicly disclose Morris' relationship with the victim," he said it was a "deliberative process that included verifying Morris' story, consulting with lawyers who advised against disclosure in order to protect the victim's rights, and fully taking into account the victim's family's request that it not be disclosed."

"While Morris is certainly deserving of the victim's punches, Morris is tired of being the punching bag of Gateway's current leadership as it tries to play its game of blame-shifting," Mateja added.

Morris was indicted in March on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child by a multi-county grand jury in Oklahoma in connection to his actions against Clemishire, who reported that Morris began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, when she was 12, and continued with the abuse for four-and-a-half years after that.

Last November, Gateway Church removed multiple elders after a four-month investigation found that all but three church elders had some knowledge about Morris' encounter with Clemishire and "failed to inquire further." Some allegedly knew before allegations became public that Clemishire was a child when the abuse occurred.

"We now know that there were elders and employees at Gateway who knew before June 14, 2024, that Cindy was 12 at the time of the abuse," Gateway Elder Tra Willbanks said during a November service. "Both groups are fundamentally wrong and simply cannot and will not be tolerated at Gateway Church."

Morris' lawyers allege in their lawsuit that Gateway Church orally promised Morris $800,000 per year in retirement pay until he turned 70. After that, he would be paid $600,000 annually until his death. In the event that he dies before his wife, Debbie, those payments would be made to her until she dies.

Morris' attorneys have asked the court to dismiss David Middlebrook, one of Gateway's attorneys, from the lawsuit because he allegedly previously advised Morris in matters relating to Clemishire.

A spokesperson for Middlebrook told the publication that the filing by Morris "is full of factual inaccuracies."

"At no time has David's firm or David himself represented Robert Morris personally in association with his criminal actions against Cindy Clemishire," the spokesperson said.

Lawyers for Gateway Church said in a filing that Morris is also claiming that he is owed just over $1 million in accrued retirement benefits. Morris' attorneys allege that Gateway Church was required to pay Morris within 60 days of his termination if the termination was without fraud or cause.

Morris has alleged that he was forced out of his position as senior pastor at Gateway Church after the child sex abuse allegations were made public. He said Gateway Church elders told him if he did not resign, he would be fired.
Home News School districts spent over $123 million in taxpayer dollars on contracts with DEI groups: report

School districts across the country have paid over $123 million in taxpayer-funded contracts to consultants that integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into the services offered to schools and educators, according to a new report by Defending Education.

The report, which the national grassroots organization released on Monday, states that 41 consultant groups reportedly raked in millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts from 303 school districts and public education entities.

The $123 million collected by the groups came from schools in 40 different states; however, Defending Education notes that not all purchases were specifically for DEI.

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"Tinkering in the minds of other people's children is big business and countless K-12 schools across the country are active participants. They pay big bucks to enter into contracts with ideologues and activists who, in turn, gain access, directly or indirectly, to a captive audience of young minds, Erika Sanzi, Defending Educations director of outreach, said in a statement provided to The Christian Post.

It's a total racket that makes schools worse, Sanzi added.

The numbers cited in the report come from consultants that Defending Education has investigated since 2021. According to the advocacy group, it received these records by filing over 300 public records requests to school districts. The national grassroots organization warned in its report that the numbers presented are not exhaustive, however.

There are thousands of school districts throughout the country that have hired hundreds of DEI consultants not listed in this report, Defending Educations report states. This report should be taken as a small sample of how school districts spend taxpayer dollars.

According to the advocacy group, it did not consider records that were vague or unclear that would boost the total amount higher. Defending Education also states that the information in its report comes from various documents maintained by school districts, such as financial records and contracts.

In the report, Defending Education provides a list of the top 10 consultants identified by the advocacy group, such as Amplify, which received over $70.5 million. Amplify is a company founded in 2000 that provides professional development and curricula to school districts, according to the report.

A statement that has since been removed from Amplifys website said that its goal was to make education, and thereby the world, more equitable and accessible and to "help teachers support their students in constructing, questioning, expanding, and strengthening knowledge of where they come from and who they are becoming."

The Christian Post reached out to the consulting companies on the top 10 list in Defending Educations report but only received responses from Panorama and Casel.

Panorama Education is an education technology company that helps students achieve success in school and beyond, and gives schools and school districts a platform to hear what families, students, and teachers need in the classroom," a spokesperson for the company said.

"Panorama does not promote any specific education philosophy, curriculum, or DEI framework. Schools or districts use Panorama Educations tech platform to clearly see the needs at a local level and then implement the interventions, tools, or systems to address those needs," the spokesperson added. "The school or district decides what works best for their students, including what curriculum, or programming is needed to support areas of improvement.

A spokesperson for CASEL commented, "CASEL is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and a trusted field leader in social and emotional learning. Our mission is to help make evidence-based social and emotional learning an integral part of education  from preschool through high school  to enhance academic achievement, student well-being, and lifelong success."

"Our partnerships with school districts were guided by local decision-makers, responsive to community needs, and aligned with state academic standards as well as federal and state civil rights laws," the statement continued. "CASEL's work is grounded in supporting educators to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments where all students can develop the skills they need to thrive in school and in life."

Another company Defending Educations report highlights is Ajusted Equity Solutions, which earned over $1 million. Ajusted Equity Solutions is reportedly part of the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute created by political activist Muhammad Khalifa.

The Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute claims on its website that its goals are to help schools challenge Whiteness and hegemonic epistemologies in school, use equity audits to measure student inclusiveness, policy, and practice, and serve as advocate and social activist for community-based causes in both the school and neighborhood community.

The institute did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

Other companies included in the top 10 list, such as the NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, advertise that they consult school districts and education departments on racial justice in education. The groups site says that it offers training for public school parents and parent groups, especially for white parents committed to becoming antiracist.

On its website, under the Anti-racist Initiative heading, the consulting company also states that white people have internalized messages, attitudes, and beliefs about white supremacy, regardless of their intentions or awareness, and often act to perpetuate racial hierarchies in our schools and communities.
Home News Tim Allen begins reading New Testament, reveals which of Paul's letters 'specifically' amazes him

Comedian Tim Allen announced hes started reading the New Testament as part of his journey of reading through the Bible  and is already amazed by Pauls letter to the Romans.

Finished the Old Testament and it is such a gift when I get out of the way and the words and meaning flow. This week I am now in the book of the Gospel of Paul. A Roman Jew familiar with Plato, Stoicism, and other Greek schools of thought. I am amazed in seven pages! the 71-year-old Home Improvements actor wrote in a Sunday post on X.

He added in a follow-up post, Ok specifically reading Apostle Pauls letter to the Romans.

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In February, Allen announced hed read through and re-read the Old Testament  an experience he described as a "treasure."

"After nearly a year I have finished [the] entire Old Testament and the experience of re reading, dedicated focus and no drifting has made this a humbling [,] overwhelming experience. What a treasure," he wrote.

In an October post, the "Toy Story" star shared an update on his Bible reading.

"Continuing my reading of the complete Bible. Finished a rather intense Ezekiel now on to Daniel. The challenge in reading this Book is how I translate words that the Eternal expresses to the temporary. I need a Snickers," he wrote.

Though raised as an Episcopalian, Allen previously opened up about experiencing a period of skepticism following personal tragedies, including the death of his father when he was 11.

In 1978, he was arrested at a Michigan airport with over a pound of cocaine in his luggage. After he pleaded guilty to the charges, the actor spent two years in a federal prison during his mid-20s.

In a 2011 interview, the "Shifting Gears" star described himself as a "cynic" who didn't "like the idea of God," but over time, he began to view God as "The Builder," someone he consults for purpose and direction in his life.

I always do ask  The Builder, what did you want me to do? Allen said. And I do ask it. But you got to be prepared for the answer.

Allen is one of several comedians who have expressed a growing interest in Christianity in recent years.

Apologist Wes Huff recently revealed that comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan is attending a church and that has been a consistent thing.

"And so, you know, things are happening," he continued. "And he's a very inquisitive individual, and I think for the better in that he's communicating with me and other people in his life who are influences that can speak into, you know, these issues of reliability and trustworthiness and verisimilitude of something like the pages of Scripture, and where he should and shouldn't be looking for the information in regards to that."

Huff said hes very encouraged by his communications with Rogan over the last few months, adding: We're seeing what I don't think is an exaggeration to say, somewhat of a resurgence in interest in these topics that we've been talking about, even the nitty gritty.

In 2023, comedian Rob Schneider announced hed converted to Catholicism and told The Christian Post he felt called to leave behind the type of comedy he had performed in the past.

"I know I can't do the same stuff I used to do," Schneider told CP. "Not because I have anything against what I did; I did what I did, and I felt fine about it at the time. I'm not going to judge myself. But I won't do the same stuff I've done. I don't know what I'm going to do.  I want to come to it from a place of faith, a place of something good in my heart."

"I don't know if I can tell dirty jokes anymore," he added. "I don't know if I can. I don't know if I'm going to. I have an act I'm doing now; I don't know if I'll do it again next year. Just some of the bad words, I go, 'Maybe I don't want to say those words anymore.' I don't know. I also think it's important to not only talk to the converted but to bring people in, and the best form is to show by example. People talk all the time; that doesn't mean anything. So I hope that me standing up for what I believe in  God, family country  I'm OK with whatever comes my way, positive or negative. When you have faith, nothing can really rock you."

Last year, comedian Matt Rife revealed he got baptized in a pool following the death of his grandfather  and said that even though he "hates" church, he wants to believe in God.

Comedian Russell Brand also revealed that he'd converted to Christianity and was baptized in the River Thames. He has since used his social media to document his journey.

In a 2018 interview with Relevant magazine, Brand said his route to spirituality comes through addiction, so it comes from desperation and fear and this sort of defeat, destruction, annihilation of self in a very humiliating way, I suppose.

I had no choice but to embrace spiritual life, but now I am grateful for this, he said, crediting Christianity with making sense of his life.
Home News Trump rescinds Biden rule requiring emergency rooms to perform abortions

The Trump administration has rescinded a rule instituted by the Biden administration to require that hospital emergency rooms provide abortions despite any state-level restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Tuesday the rescission of a July 2022 guidance on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.

"CMS will continue to enforce EMTALA, which protects all individuals who present to a hospital emergency department seeking examination or treatment, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy," stated the Centers.

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The agency will also "rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administration's actions."

EMTALA was passed in 1986 and requires hospitals participating in Medicare to provide medical services to all people, with the goal of stabilizing the patient facing an emergency.

Weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Democratic President Joe Biden's HHS issued guidance arguing that EMTALA required hospital emergency staff to perform abortions.

The guidance came after several states enacted laws that restricted abortion in nearly all circumstances once the Supreme Court had decided that abortion was not a constitutional right.

"Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care  including abortion care," said then HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement at the time.

"Protecting both patients and providers is a top priority, particularly in this moment. Health care must be between a patient and their doctor, not a politician. We will continue to leverage all available resources at HHS to make sure women can access the life-saving care they need."

The Biden administration guidance led to federal litigation, including the U.S. Department of Justice filing a complaint against Idaho, claiming that its state law violated EMTALA.

In March, Trump's DOJ dropped the lawsuit against Idaho, with both parties agreeing to a stipulation of dismissal in which each side paid their own attorneys' fees and other costs.

In October 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration's request to appeal a lower court ruling that prohibits the federal government from forcing emergency room doctors to perform abortions in Texas.

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., commended the Trump administration for "rescinding the harmful Biden-era guidance that warped EMTALA obligations and created widespread confusion in emergency rooms nationwide."

"EMTALA is a decades-old statute that was originally designed to protect mother-patients and their unborn children in emergency situations, but the Biden administration manipulated the law's purpose by issuing guidance that forced emergency room doctors to perform abortions, regardless of their states' life-affirming laws," Hyde-Smith said in a statement.

"Restoring EMTALA to its original purpose brings much-needed clarity to our incredible emergency room doctors across the country and peace of mind to the patients they serve."
Home News Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' would prohibit states from regulating AI for 10 years Ex-Palantir employees warn Big Tech 'normalizing authoritarianism'

A signature piece of legislation for President Donald Trump that would impose a 10-year moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence (AI) regulations is facing backlash over potential privacy and data-sharing threats.

Passed last month by the U.S. House of Representatives, Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1), a wide-ranging budget reconciliation bill, bars states or their political subdivisions from enforcing laws that limit, restrict or regulate AI models, systems or automated decision systems for a decade, starting from the bill's enactment.

The only exceptions are state laws that facilitate AI deployment or align with federal requirements.

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The bill also allocates $500 million through 2034 to the Department of Commerce for AI-driven modernization of federal IT systems, emphasizing efficiency and cybersecurity. This funding could open lucrative opportunities for companies like Palantir, a data analytics and AI firm known for its work with government agencies.

Palantir's platforms, such as Gotham and Foundry, are already integral to federal operations, and its recent $480 million contract with the U.S. Army for the Maven Smart System underscores its growing role in AI-driven government projects.

Under the bill, Section 43201 states: "Except as provided in paragraph (2), no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce, during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, any law or regulation limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga, is among those calling on the Senate to remove the provision in the bill that would limit state regulations on AI.

"Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years," Greene wrote on X Tuesday. "I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there. We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years and giving it free rein and tying states hands is potentially dangerous."

Only two Republicans voted against the bill in the House last month: Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio. Those who support the bill's restriction on state regulations for AI believe that varying state laws could stand in the way of innovation on a national scale.

According to the New York Times, Trump has longtime tapped ally Peter Thiel, a founder of Palantir, to implement his March executive order, which calls on the federal agencies to integrate data-sharing practices  an order that has raised fears among civil libertarians as potentially laying the groundwork for a vast federal surveillance database.

Palantir is in talks with several federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration, on plans to purchase Palantir's technology, the Times reported. At least four other federal agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS), are currently using Palantir platform Foundry to analyze and organize data, according to the Times.

In 2025, Palantir has netted over $113 million in federal contracts, the Times reported, in addition to a $795 million contract from the Department of Defense (DOD) in May.

Since 2009, federal records show that Palantir has won $2.7 billion in federal contracts, including more than $1.3 billion in DOD contracts.

While Palantir CEO Alex Karp has publicly stated the company's commitment to ethical AI deployment, the partnership with the Trump administration has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and civil liberties groups, who warn that such a database could enable unprecedented government overreach.

Last month, 13 former Palantir employees released a public letter calling Karp to sever its ties with the White House, while others warned about potential data breaches or privacy risks. The letter described the all-seeing stones from the "Lord of the Rings" series, which inspired the company's name, warning that guardrails previously implemented "have been violated and are rapidly being dismantled at Palantir Technologies and across Silicon Valley."

"Big Tech, including Palantir, is increasingly complicit, normalizing authoritarianism under the guise of a 'revolution' led by oligarchs," the letter stated. "We must resist this trend."
Home Opinion What should President Trump do with genocidal Iran?

In the famous biblical story of Esther, the focus of the Purim holiday, a Persian ruler named King Ahasuerus faced a life-or-death crisis, one that would seem clear cut to all those with basic human morality. 2,500 years ago, tragically, mass-murder became a governmental strategy. Dishonest and hateful accusations became the fuel of bureaucratic decisions.

Persias king was initially persuaded by a smooth-talking advisor, an evil antisemite named Haman. Haman, whose hatred for one Jew named Mordechai metastasized into hatred for all Jews, convinced his boss, the nations leader, that all Jews deserved to die. Haman believed, and the king bought into the lie, that the other ethnic groups and nationalities within their empire would willingly stand by as Jews were murdered for the crime of being Jews.

Lets review a few verses from the Biblical story:

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But he [Haman] disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus (Esther 3:6). Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the kings laws, so it is not in the kings interest to let them remain. If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the kings business, to put into the kings treasuries (Esther 3:8-9).

Today, readers of the Bible are reading their newspapers and seeing history repeat itself. Centuries after Hamans genocidal antisemitism, the ruler of Iran (the modern name of ancient Persia), Ali Hosseini Khamenei, openly declares his murderous antisemitism. This modern Persian governmental leader hates Jews so much that he feels no shame in speaking publicly or posting his intentions online. Just by reading a few tweets from Khameneis official account, one understands his antisemitism is not just rhetoric, it is official governmental policy. To illustrate this point, look at his tweet from June 3, 2018: Our stance against Israel is the same stance we have always taken. #Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor in the West Asian region that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible and it will happen.

These are not the words of a diplomatic debate or the terms of a clever negotiating strategy. These are the unambiguous foundations of a death sentence, written by a maniacal ruler desperately and relentlessly seeking to possess nuclear weapons. Evil leaders will do anything to cling to power and annihilate their enemies.

For those who might claim that a seven-year-old tweet is not really a national strategy, lets remember that Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said (on May 17, 2025) U.S. President Donald Trump was lying about his intentions for the region, and once again called Israel a cancerous tumor that must be uprooted.

As people of faith read the Book of Esther, the dangers faced by the Jewish residents of a Middle Eastern world power become apparent and a number of troubling thoughts come to mind. As Hamans (and Khameneis) proudly declared murder decree becomes known to readers of the scriptures (and newspaper), people of civility and morality must begin to connect the dots from the past to the present.

Surely a national leader whose kingdom had been repeatedly blessed by Jews would not stand idly by as Jews were targeted for assassination. Surely a national leader who desired success for his constituents would not ignore the disgusting racism spouted by an antisemite whose uncontrolled hate guided his every decision. Surely a national leader with experience and wisdom would see through the lies of murderous Jew-haters and refuse to negotiate with people committed to ethnic extinction.

As President Donald Trump considers whether or how to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, history can be a guide. The American president understandably wants fewer wars, and especially in the Middle East. President Trump has long expressed a desire for a swift end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine but has learned that brutal dictators dont retreat because of strongly worded diplomatic cables. This reality is all the truer when the brutal dictators are guided by their self-professed extremist jihadism.

As the world watches Iran threaten both Israel and America, observers have seen another example of the inadequacy of diplomacy. These two national targets of Irans hatred must recognize the dangerous impotence of continued negotiations and make present-day strategic decisions that incorporate the lessons of history.

Genocidal regimes who hate Jews (and Christians) will happily sit at the negotiation table while moving forward with their evil intentions. Genocidal regimes who hate Jews (and Christians) will profess flexibility and openness diplomatically, while repeating antisemitic hatred domestically. They will lie and deceive, not just to get a better deal, but because doing so is ingrained in their psyche, especially when it comes to defeating those (Jews and Christians) they consider infidels.

As Iranian-born security analyst Farzin Nadimi writes, Iranian negotiation strategy has historically been characterized by obfuscation and procrastination, prolonging discussions without yielding substantive progress and buying time while heading towards nuclear enrichment.

What should King Ahasuerus have done when faced with a murderous desire to kill all Jews? Would the death sentence decreed against the Jewish people have been reversed if the King had merely fired Haman, or was it necessary for Haman to be hung on the gallows built to hang Mordecai, and issuing another decree that the Jews could defend themselves?

What should President Trump do when faced with another nations murderous desire to kill all Jews and deceive America? The Iranian death sentence for Jews has already been written. Whats needed now is to eviscerate those who have written it.

Making a deal with a genocidal Islamic regime wont bring peace. Especially now, as millions of Iranians exert their influence against the ayatollahs, whats needed is to undo the mistake that President Jimmy Carter made decades ago, allowing the Islamic regime to rise to power. This strategic and intentional prevention of nuclear-powered genocide must be done with any force necessary, just like a previous generation of Iranians believed President Ronald Reagan would do.

Only a blind person would not see history being played out before us, and historical opportunities in front of us. Let us not stand by in the face of these genocidal threats. We pray that President Trump will make the right decisions that bring true peace, for America and for Israel.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining security  not just by creating new threats but also by becoming a threat surface itself. As intelligent systems are integrated into core workflows, IT teams are now responsible for governing how AI accesses data, interacts with users, and introduces risk into the environment.

In the Q1 2025 IT Trends Report from JumpCloud, 67% of the surveyed IT administrators said AI is advancing faster than their ability to secure it. That gap highlights the urgent need for new frameworks that go beyond traditional security thinking.

AI-generated threats are reshaping security priorities

AI is not just a target for attack; its also a tool attackers are using. The report shows that 33% of recent security incidents were linked to AI-generated threats. These attacks often bypass traditional security measures, by using adaptive techniques, synthetic identities, or AI-crafted phishing campaigns.

As a result, IT teams are shifting from passive perimeter defenses to proactive detection and response. Tools that can spot unusual behavior, monitor AI access patterns, and detect anomalies in real time are becoming essential.

Security strategies now need to account for both the behavior of AI tools themselves and the ways those tools might be exploited.

Governing how AI systems access data

Unlike users, AI systems dont follow fixed schedules or patterns. Their access to data can be continuous, complex, and opaque  unless they are managed carefully. Thats why organizations are beginning to define access policies for AI agents, enforce least-privilege models, and log all AI activity with detailed audit trails.

Modern identity and access management (IAM) tools must evolve to support these needs. AI agents often require their own identities, application programming interface (API) level access controls, and model-specific permissions. Legacy tools such as Active Directory are often too rigid to meet these demands.

A shift to more flexible IAM platforms, which are designed to handle nonhuman identities and fine-grained authorization, is already under way in many forward-looking organizations.

Shining a light on shadow AI

Unauthorized AI use is another growing concern. With 88% of IT professionals reporting worries about shadow IT, the risk of unsanctioned AI tools slipping into the environment is real  and growing.

Discovery tools and endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms can help identify unapproved AI usage across networks and endpoints. But visibility alone isnt enough. IT teams must also define acceptable-use policies, educate departments on AI risks, and monitor integrations to ensure they comply with governance rules.

Preparing for the next wave of AI threats

Real-time readiness is becoming a critical capability. Security teams are increasingly turning to AI-powered detection systems to monitor behavior patterns and catch anomalies before damage is done. But tools alone arent enough.

Organizations also need:

Incident response plans tailored to AI attacks

Regular audits of AI access and activity

Continuous training on emerging AI security threats

Cross-functional communication between IT, security, and business stakeholders

The goal isnt just to secure AI  its also to treat it as a first-class component of the security ecosystem.



JumpClouds Q1 2025 IT Trends Report reveals how IT teams are adapting to AI across support, infrastructure, and security. Download the full report to see how your peers are navigating this transformation  and what it means for the future of IT.
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Oxfam

Oxfam GB will move its headquarters as part of plans to relocate to smaller offices next month in a drive to reduce expenditure.

The charity has been leasing 88,000 square feet of office space at its Oxfam House HQ since 2005 but plans to move to a smaller site nearby in July.

It will downsize and move to a 25,000 square feet office space within the ground floor of the former energy company Centricas office at Oxford Business Park, which is one block from Oxfam House.

The relocation announcement came after the charity recorded a 28.4m net deficit last financial year, its recent plans for redundancy and outsourcing its staff and a hiring freeze on non-business-critical roles since July 2024.

Protests were held yesterday at Oxfams offices against some of its proposed changes to staffing.

The charitys planned move also follows the relocation of Oxfam Internationals HQ to Nairobi in Kenya in 2017, as part of plans to devolve power to the southern hemisphere.

Cost savings expected

Oxfam has been leasing its current office space since moving in from another Oxford site in 2005, and it will continue to lease the new workspace.

The charity said the move to a smaller site in July would help it to reduce costs, but would not disclose how much it expects to save.

According to its accounts, Oxfams payments for non-cancellable operating leases on its land and buildings have varied in recent years.

In its latest accounts for the financial year ending March 2024, it was projected to pay 30.1m in future minimum lease payments.

This compares to 27.5m in 2022-23, 55.3m in 2021-22 and 31.3m in 2020-21.

Oxfam House was owned by Sutton council but reportedly sold to a private investor for 37.1m in April 2024.

GreyArc Investments Limited have reportedly applied to Oxford City Council for planning permission to turn the building into a life science or office facility.

Editor's note: The headline for this article was changed at 3pm on 4 June.

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The Charity Commission has banned a refugee charitys trustee and voluntary chief executive over divisive and inflammatory social media posts that she made amid wider governance failings and concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

The Palestinian Refugee Project is a UK-based charity which was registered in 2021 to provide support to the Palestinian diaspora living in refugee camps in Lebanon.

The regulator first began investigating the charity in December 2023 over concerns relating to its social media activity, which the commission said could be interpreted as downplaying acts of terrorism, and which tried to raise support for a change to Israels recognition as a state.

While investigating the Palestinian Refugee Projects social media posts, the regulator also identified that all of the charitys then trustees appeared to be related, with one  Taghrid Al-Mawed-Layton  serving as CEO. This led to concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

According to the regulator, the trustees responses to the commissions questions subsequently raised further concerns relating to the trustees lack of understanding of their legal duties and responsibilities.

The regulator also later established that, due to governance failings, Al-Mawed-Layton had sole responsibility for the charitys social media accounts, which she used to promote the divisive and inflammatory content.

After the charity failed to implement a formal social media policy and its remaining trustees lacked oversight in relation to its social media activities, the commission issued an official warning and additionally disqualified Al-Mawed-Layton from being a trustee and holding a senior management position in any charity for eight years.

The charitys accounts financial accounts for the last two years are also overdue.

Charitys only trustee failed to adhere to basic trustee duties

Joshua Farbridge, head of compliance visits and inspections at the commission said that the regulator found a number of serious failings at the charity.

He said these failings placed the charitys finances and reputation at risk, and noted that the organisation was effectively being run by a single trustee [Al-Mawed-Layton] who either did not understand, or failed to adhere to, basic trustee duties.

Fabridge added: Its important to stress that the commission does not seek to encroach on any individuals right to freedom of speech, expression, or beliefs.

And we recognise that events in the Middle East over recent months and years have been deeply emotive and distressing.

However, trustees have clear legal obligations, including to act in line with the charitys purpose and best interests, and act reasonably and prudently.

Sadly, the good aims this charity set out to achieve was seriously undermined by the conduct and failings of its trustees.

The Palestinian Refugee Project, which recorded an income of 2,420 in the year to April 2023, has been contacted for comment.

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Alarm over Chinas stranglehold on critical minerals grew on Tuesday as global automakers joined their U.S. counterparts to complain that restrictions by China on exports of rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets could cause production delays and outages without a quick solution.

German automakers became the latest to warn that Chinas export restrictions threaten to shut down production and rattle their local economies, following a similar complaint from an Indian EV maker last week.

Chinas decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.

The move underscores Chinas dominance of the critical mineral industry and is seen as leverage by China in its ongoing trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has sought to redefine the trading relationship with the U.S. top economic rival China by imposing steep tariffs on billions of dollars of imported goods in hopes of narrowing a wide trade deficit and bringing back lost manufacturing.

Trump imposed tariffs as high as 145% against China only to scale them back after stock, bond and currency markets revolted over the sweeping nature of the levies. China has responded with its own tariffs and is leveraging its dominance in key supply chains to persuade Trump to back down.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to talk this week, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday, and the export ban is expected to be high on the agenda.

I can assure you that the administration is actively monitoring Chinas compliance with the Geneva trade agreement, she said. Our administration officials continue to be engaged in correspondence with their Chinese counterparts.

Trump has previously signaled that Chinas slow pace of easing the critical mineral export ban represents a violation of the Geneva agreement.

Shipments of the magnets, essential for assembling everything from cars and drones to robots and missiles, have been halted at many Chinese ports while the Chinese government drafts a new regulatory system. Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors.

The suspension has triggered anxiety in corporate boardrooms and nations capitals  from Tokyo to Washington  as officials scrambled to identify limited alternative options amid fears that production of new automobiles and other items could grind to a halt by summers end.

If the situation is not changed quickly, production delays and even production outages can no longer be ruled out, Hildegard Mueller, head of Germanys auto lobby, told Reuters on Tuesday.

Frank Fannon, a minerals industry consultant and former U.S. assistant secretary of state for energy resources during Trumps first term, said the global disruptions are not shocking to those paying attention.

I dont think anyone should be surprised how this is playing out. We have a production challenge (in the U.S.) and we need to leverage our whole of government approach to secure resources and ramp up domestic capability as soon as possible. The time horizon to do this was yesterday, Fannon.

Diplomats, automakers and other executives from India, Japan and Europe were urgently seeking meetings with Beijing officials to push for faster approval of rare earth magnet exports, sources told Reuters, as shortages threatened to halt global supply chains.

A business delegation from Japan will visit Beijing in early June to meet the Ministry of Commerce over the curbs and European diplomats from countries with big auto industries have also sought emergency meetings with Chinese officials in recent weeks, Reuters reported.

India, where Bajaj Auto BAJA.NS warned that any further delays in securing the supply of rare earth magnets from China could seriously impact electric vehicle production, is organizing a trip for auto executives in the next two to three weeks.

In May, the head of the trade group representing General Motors GM.N, Toyota 7203.T, Volkswagen VOWG.DE, Hyundai 011760.KS and other major automakers raised similar concerns in a letter to the Trump administration.

Without reliable access to these elements and magnets, automotive suppliers will be unable to produce critical automotive components, including automatic transmissions, throttle bodies, alternators, various motors, sensors, seat belts, speakers, lights, motors, power steering, and cameras, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation wrote in the letter.

(Reporting by Renshaw; additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Washington; editing by Chris Sanders and Marguerita Choy)
The CDC is warning against using untreated tap water in nasal rinsing devices like neti pots after a rare brain infection turned deadly (MLive file photo) MLive file photo

CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Texas woman died after using tap water from her RV to rinse her sinuses, and health officials say a rare, brain-eating amoeba was to blame.

The 71-year-old developed symptoms of a severe brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, in early February 2022, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The illness is almost always fatal and is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba found in warm freshwater.

In this case, investigators believe the woman contracted the infection while using a nasal irrigation device  often called a neti pot  filled with tap water from her motor homes storage tank. She died just over a week after symptoms began.

While the amoeba wasnt detected in follow-up water tests, the CDC said the RV water tank had likely been filled three months prior and had poor water quality, with low chlorine levels and cloudiness that can allow dangerous pathogens to grow.

The case has prompted warnings from health officials, who urge people to use only distilled, sterile or previously boiled water for nasal rinsing.

This case reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards. Following recommended nasal irrigation practices, which include using distilled, sterilized, or boiled and cooled tap water for nasal irrigation, is critical to reducing the risk for illness, the CDC wrote in its report.

PAM infections are extremely rare, with just 157 reported in the U.S. between 1962 and 2022.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.
Pakistani police on Tuesday said 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf was shot dead by a man who had repeatedly contacted her online. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File) AP

Sana Yousaf, a 17-year-old TikTok star with more than a million followers across social media, was shot and killed in her home in Islamabad, Pakistan earlier this week.

Authorities arrested a 22-year-old man and said he confessed to the shooting, which reportedly stemmed from Yousaf rejecting his repeated romantic advances, CBS reported.

Yousaf was known for posting vibrant videos celebrating Pakistani culture, traditional clothing, and womens rights.

Her final post, just hours before her death, showed her smiling and celebrating her birthday last week.

Police said the suspect visited Yousafs home Monday evening, then shot her at close range before fleeing the scene.

They say he spent hours loitering outside her home.

It was a case of repeated rejections. The boy was trying to reach out to her time and again, Islamabad police chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said during a news conference. It was a gruesome and cold-blooded murder.

News of Yousafs death has sparked outrage online, with fans using the hashtag #JusticeForSanaYousaf to call for justice and draw attention to violence against women in Pakistan.

The investigation is ongoing.
While CNBC's Jim Cramer on Tuesday affirmed his confidence in Salesforce 's business and management, he detailed what's been weighing on the stock  namely worries that the cloud software outfit's agentic artificial intelligence isn't growing fast enough and skepticism about its costly new acquisition.

"This is a moment where you need to have some faith in management," Cramer said. "I have faith, but you need to decide for yourself if you're willing to trust Marc Benioff and his team, because, ultimately, that's all this comes down to, and for many I know, that's just not enough."

Last week, Salesforce reported a solid earnings and revenue beat, and it issued upbeat guidance. The company also announced it would buy data management company Informatica for $8 billion, its most expensive deal since it acquired Slack for more than $27 billion in 2021. Shares of the company slumped following the quarter, and the stock is down 20.90% year-to-date.

According to Cramer, some on Wall street aren't sold on the Informatica deal because they believe the company overpaid for Slack and don't see obvious benefits from that purchase. He said he understands why the market may be reticent about the deal, but called it a "show-me story." Cramer said he has heard CEO Marc Benioff make the case for Informatica, telling him in a recent interview that it helps enterprise customers better organize and standardize data. But Salesforce will have to prove over time that the deal is worth it, Cramer continued.

Investors are also concerned that Salesforce's agentic AI platform isn't ramping up fast enough, especially as its core sales and customer relationship management business slows, Cramer said. While he conceded that some segments are slowing, that's "simply the law of large numbers," and the same is true for a number of more mature businesses. He called Salesforce an earnings growth play, lauding its increasing profitability and the momentum of its AI arm. To Cramer, the company's agentic AI platform needs some "more bold-faced customer wins," and Salesforce needs to prove the product allows enterprises to replace workers.

"In the end, look, I'm going to stick with Salesforce because they've got an incredible track record," he said.

Salesforce did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Wells Fargo was released from a punitive, seven-year-long $1.95 trillion cap on its assets on Tuesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve lifted the regulatory measure, allowing the bank to pursue unimpeded growth.

The move handed a major victory to CEO Charlie Scharf, who has been cleaning up the bank since taking the top job in 2019, and sent the bank's shares up 2.7% in after-hours trading as investors anticipated that the bank can now expand. Wells has said it wants to grow in areas such as credit cards, wealth management and commercial banking.

"It will be a significant bump for the stock in the near term and also paves the way for long-term growth as they don't have to manage their business around the asset cap now," said Brian Mulberry, client portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management, which holds Wells Fargo stock.

The Fed imposed the unprecedented restriction in 2018 following years of high-profile missteps at the bank, including a far-ranging scandal in which employees opened millions of unauthorized accounts for customers.

But the Fed said in a statement that the bank had made "substantial progress" in addressing its deficiencies, including improving its governance and risk-management programs, and completing a third-party review of its overhaul.

The Fed board voted unanimously to lift the restriction, which was the first time the central bank had directly ordered a bank to stop growing in order to address widespread shortcomings.

"This marks the end of a painful period for Wells Fargo, and also serves as a reminder for financial institutions to be sure customer interests are always aligned with growth goals," said Stephen Biggar, banking analyst at Argus Research in New York.

The decision is a major step in the bank's longstanding efforts to repair the damage from scandals that erupted in 2016, drawing public criticism and billions of dollars in fines.

Scharf called the move a "pivotal milestone."

"We are a different and far stronger company today because of the work we've done," he said in a statement, adding that all full-time bank employees will receive a $2,000 award to commemorate the accomplishment.

JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon praised Scharf, once his protege and a former executive at the bank. "Charlie and his team deserve a lot of credit  having worked extremely hard to resolve the company's heritage issues," he said.

Major shift

While the bank still faces some additional oversight from the Fed as part of the 2018 order, the removal of the asset cap marks a major shift for the nation's fourth-largest lender, after the scandals ousted multiple executives as regulators piled fines and restrictions on the bank for its wrongdoing.

"This ... removes a major regulatory overhang," said Mac Sykes, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds in New York. "It provides them a reputational boost which is helpful, provides more and different capital allocation opportunities and allows them to grow their balance sheet."

The bank came under regulatory scrutiny for years after scandal erupted in 2016, which revealed the bank also charged unnecessary mortgage fees and forced drivers to buy car insurance they did not need, often to meet sales goals.

It paid billions in penalties and was also slapped with lawsuits from customers and shareholders. Before Scharf was hired as CEO, two former chief executives left in the wake of the controversy. The bank became a major focus of criticism in Washington as well, with numerous lawmakers calling for executives to be removed and for the bank possibly to be broken up.

The lender cleared numerous consent orders this year, and over a dozen since 2019.

Regulators impose consent orders, or public enforcement actions that are often accompanied by fines. The orders instruct banks to fix problems in a timely way.

In 2024, Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren warned the Fed not to remove the cap until the bank had fixed its risk and compliance issues.

"The Fed's decision to lift Wells Fargo's asset cap and declare victory despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary is an outrageous giveaway to one of Wall Street's most derelict banks," she said on Tuesday.

Scharf said last year the asset cap was curtailing the bank's ability to take in more corporate deposits and expand its trading business at a time when peers have grown.

The bank has been managing its wholesale deposits and markets businesses carefully to comply with the cap, and those are areas it would expect to expand when the restrictions are lifted, Scharf told analysts in October.

The assets of Wells Fargo peer JPMorgan Chase JPM.N swelled by nearly $2 trillion since the start of 2018, while those of Bank of America BAC.N and PNC Financial PNC.N added about $1 trillion and nearly $200 billion, respectively.

Some saw the Fed's action as good for the overall market.

"Whenever you have a situation where stress is reduced or taken away from the system, especially for one of the largest banks in the country, that bodes well for the market and for the economy," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of 50 Park Investments in New York.
Ten years ago, Tori Simokov says, she was "absolutely terrified" of flying, to the point that she often considered canceling trips. When Simokov entered a long-distance relationship with her now-husband, she was finally forced to confront that fear to travel from Ohio to New York City to see him. Now, she's achieved an aspiring globetrotter's ultimate dream: quitting her job to focus on travel.



Simokov, 33, started Window Seat, a travel-focused Substack newsletter, in December 2023 as a creative outlet on the side of her full-time corporate job. Since then, her newsletter has amassed a loyal readership of over 5,500 subscribers. In a May 9 post titled "I quit my job to write you this letter," she announced that she was leaving her full-time job as head of creative strategy at Complex to focus on growing Window Seat. Quitting her job was a heavy decision for Simokov: "I wanted everybody to feel that weight with me, because it was something that I had just been working on for so long," she says. Simokov describes Window Seat's content as "equal parts editorial and utility," featuring travel guides, financial hacks, product recommendations and interviews with other travel enthusiasts. Her goal, she says, is to make luxury travel "feel accessible for a new subset of travelers with taste." Here's how Simokov achieved liftoff on her dream of writing about travel.

Preparing for takeoff

Simokov, who now lives in New York City, made $225,000 yearly in her previous role at Complex, which she describes as "a very, very high-stress job." She worked 60 to 70 hours each week and rarely had time to travel. "I felt like I didn't have time to do anything else in my life besides work, which was really hard," she says. After starting Window Seat, Simokov was pleasantly surprised when readers began to pay to subscribe within the very first month. By August 2024, she reached 100 paid subscribers, qualifying her as a "Substack Bestseller." Still, concerns about financial stability held her back from focusing on Window Seat full-time. "I just kept thinking that this is what I want to be doing, but the money was what was holding me back," she recalls. After over a year of juggling Window Seat alongside her full-time job, Simokov had an epiphany: "If I spent 100% of my time working on Window Seat, then how successful could it be?" "Once that idea took root in my head, I couldn't think about anything else," she says. At the end of the day, Simokov realized that she wasn't willing to trade "being able to see the world just in order to have a paycheck," she says. In April, she gave her notice at work. Since then, she's planned two major upcoming trips: Menorca in July, and Portugal and Amsterdam in September.

Courtesy of Tori Simokov

Consistency is key

Subscriptions to Window Seat currently cost $7 per month or $60 for a full year, and Simokov makes an average of $930 each month from the newsletter. She hit the milestone of earning a cumulative $10,000 from her Substack subscriptions in April. Simokov also runs a creative consultancy, V1 Projects, that currently provides most of her income. Subscriptions to Window Seat make up just about 12% of her total income, but Simokov hopes that her numbers will continue to rise: "Eventually, I want Window Seat to be the full-time thing." In Simokov's view, one of the crucial ingredients to her success is consistency. At first, she posted new content every two weeks, but since quitting her full-time job, she has accelerated to posting twice a week. Additionally, she lists having a unique point of view and building community as her guiding principles for success on Substack. "I'm still kind of figuring it out, but I've always been a pretty organized person," she says. "Right now I'm just kind of leaning on the skills that have always made me successful in that area, keeping a tight calendar, my to-do list, things like that."

'I don't feel any fear'
In this article FNF Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

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The average 401(k) plan savings rate recently notched a record high  and the percentage is nearing a widely used rule of thumb. During the first quarter of 2025, the 401(k) savings rate, including employee and company contributions, jumped to 14.3%, according to Fidelity's quarterly analysis of 25,300 corporate plans with 24.4 million participants.

Despite economic uncertainty, "we definitely saw a lot of positive behaviors continue into Q1," said Mike Shamrell, vice president of thought leadership for Fidelity's Workplace Investing. The report found that employees deferred a milestone 9.5% into 401(k) plans during the first quarter, and companies contributed 4.8%. The combined 14.3% rate is the closest it's ever been to Fidelity's recommended 15% savings target.

Two-thirds of increased employee deferrals during the first quarter came from "auto-escalations," which automatically boost savings rates over time, usually in tandem with salary increases, Shamrell said. You should aim to save at least 15% of pretax income each year, including company deposits, to maintain your current lifestyle in retirement, according to Fidelity. This assumes you save continuously from ages 25 to 67. But the exact right percentage for each individual hinges on several things, such as your existing nest egg, planned retirement date, pensions and other factors, experts say. "There's no magic rate of savings," because everyone spends and saves differently, said certified financial planner Larry Luxenberg, founder of Lexington Avenue Capital Management in New City, New York. "That's the case before and after retirement."

There's no magic rate of savings. Larry Luxenberg Founder of Lexington Avenue Capital Management

Don't miss 'free money' from your employer If you can't reach the 15% retirement savings benchmark, Shamrell suggests deferring at least enough to get your employer's full 401(k) matching contribution. Most companies will match a percentage of your 401(k) deferrals up to a certain limit. These deposits could also be subject to a "vesting schedule," which determines your ownership based on the length of time you've been with your employer. Still, "this probably [is] the closest thing a lot of people are going to get to free money in their life," he said. The most popular 401(k) match formula  used by 48% of companies on Fidelity's platform  is 100% for the first 3% an employee contributes, and 50% for the next 2%.
Smoke rises from wildfire WE024 which has prompted a pre-evacuation notice in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025.

Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals said on Wednesday it had temporarily suspended operations in Snow Lake, Manitoba, due to wildfires in the region.

Additionally, exploration activities in the Flin Flon and Snow Lake regions have been paused as fire mitigation efforts are underway, the company added.

The company said it believes its infrastructure and facilities in Snow Lake and Flin Flon have a low risk of being damaged.

"We will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring a safe return to full operations as soon as it is advisable," said Rob Carter, Hudbay's senior vice president, Canada.

The company's actions come after local authorities issued a precautionary early evacuation notice for the town of Snow Lake on Tuesday.

Hudbay's Manitoba operations produced 7.7 million pounds of copper in the first quarter of 2025, 7.2% of the company's total production.

Last week, Manitoba declared a state of emergency and urged thousands of people in northern and eastern parts of the province to evacuate, as wildfires spread in Central and Western Canada.

The outbreak of fires across much of western Canada's north is due to unusually hot and dry conditions and flames are consuming hundreds of thousands of hectares of tinder-dry forest and bushland.

Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have also prompted the temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production, with Cenovus Energy scaling back its nonessential workers at its Foster Creek facility.
 This is the script of CNBC's financial news report for China's CCTV on June 3, 2025.

President Donald Trump has announced that, starting this Wednesday local time, the U.S. will double its tariffs on steel and aluminumfrom 25% to 50%. Following the announcement, U.S. steel and aluminum prices surged on Monday.

Let's start with aluminum. Globally, aluminum prices are typically benchmarked against those on the London Metal Exchange (LME), with regional premiums or discounts added to reflect local market conditions.

For U.S. buyers in the spot market, this means paying an additional premium on top of the LME price. This premium covers extra costs such as freight, tariffs, and storage required to deliver aluminum to the U.S. Midwest.

As of overnight trading, the U.S. Midwest duty-paid aluminum premium spiked to 58 cents per poundaround $1,280 per metric ton.

That marks a 54% increase from last Friday and the highest level since 2013. Analysts say this could push the final cost of aluminum for U.S. buyers nearly 50% above what international counterparts are paying.

Steel futures also jumped more than 8% intraday before giving back some of those gains.

The U.S. remains heavily reliant on imported steel and aluminum. Experts warn the new tariff hikes could put pressure on American consumers.

Nearly half of the aluminum used in the U.S. is imported, and the country is a net importer of steel. Analysts tell CNBC that U.S. steel prices are already among the highest globally, and these tariffs are likely to drive them even higher.

Experts warn the steel tariffs could result in price hikes for cars, housing, and major appliances. Since both metals are widely used in canned food packaging, grocery prices could also be impacted.

The impact extends beyond U.S. borders. Long-time U.S. allies in Europe are also feeling the heat.

Germany's steel association says the U.S. accounts for about 20% of Europe's steel exportsroughly 4 million metric tons. Overnight, U.S. and European steelmakers saw diverging stock performances in reaction to the tariff news.

Shares of major U.S. steel producers surgedCleveland-Cliffs rose over 20%, while Nucor and Steel Dynamics each gained more than 10%.

In contrast, European steel giants came under pressure. ArcelorMittal and Thyssenkrupp closed lower.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Germany's second-largest steelmaker, Salzgitter, warned on Monday that raising steel tariffs to 50% could deliver a severe blow to the Europeanand especially Germaneconomy.

The European Union is preparing retaliatory measures. An EU spokesperson said that unless a resolution is reached with Washington, current and additional countermeasures will automatically take effect on July 14and could be implemented sooner if necessary. CNBC will continue to monitor this closely.
Citi has downgraded Constellation Energy after the power company signed a major deal with Meta that indicates nuclear plant owners might not receive that high of a price premium for their electricity. Meta agreed to buy about 1.1 gigawatts of power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois for a 20-year period that begins in 2027. Constellation stock rose as much as 9% intraday Tuesday on the deal, before closing slightly lower at $313.03 per share. Citi now rates Constellation as neutral and high risk, setting a stock price target of $318, which implies upside of less than 2%. The company's shares were trading about 3% lower on Wednesday. CEG 1Y mountain Constellation Energy shares over the past year. Meta and Constellation did not disclose the terms of the deal, but Citi estimates the tech company will pay between $75 and $90 per megawatt-hour of electricity. Analyst Ryan Levine told clients that the price is "not a big premium for low carbon power" and is "in line with new gas plants." "This deal has broad implications on the power markets as it signals future contracting activity," Levine said. The tech sector and other customers are likely to strike deals at a similar price point for Constellation's Dresden, Nine Mile Point Unit 1 and Ginna plants, the analyst said. Citi's downgrade likely won't be the last, said Gordon Haskett analyst Don Bilson. Wall Street had been expecting tech companies to pay a significant premium for nuclear power as they seek to meet electricity demand for their data centers with reliable, zero-carbon power. Bilson said investors have likely concluded that Meta's power purchase, which will not start for a few years, will likely be priced reasonably. NRG Energy , Vistra and Talen Energy actually gained more than Constellation in Tuesday's session. They are all independent power producers that Wall Street expects to clinch future deals with tech companies to support data center demand. "While this deal will end up extending the life of a still useful nuclear plant, it will not provide CEG with some sort of above-market windfall," Bilson told clients in a Wednesday note. "We are less inclined to believe future headlines in this area will be catalytic." The Meta deal is the second agreement Constellation has struck with a tech company in less than a year. Microsoft signed an agreement with Constellation last fall to help bring Three Mile Island Unit back online in 2028.
A branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) stands on Threadneedle Street in the City of London.

This report is from this week's CNBC's UK Exchange newsletter. Each Wednesday, Ian King brings you expert insights on the most important business stories from the U.K. and the key personalities shaping the news. The newsletter will also highlight other key developments in the U.K. that you won't want to miss, plus a preview of essential events that are set to make waves. Like what you see? You can subscribe here.

In my more than 30 years in financial journalism, few memories are stronger than those of Tuesday, April 22, 2008, the day Royal Bank of Scotland  then one of the world's biggest banks  announced it was tapping shareholders for 12 billion ($16 billion).

The sum was, at the time, a record for a rights issue by a European company and followed the U.K. bank's calamitous acquisition, the previous autumn, of the Dutch lender ABN AMRO.

That deal was supposed to have been the crowning glory of Fred Goodwin, the RBS chief executive, a former accountant who, for the previous eight years, had established himself as the sector's biggest name following RBS' takeover of National Westminster Bank (NatWest) in early 2000.

As deputy to CEO George Mathewson, Goodwin had earned the nickname "Fred The Shred" for his cost-cutting prowess. He was no shrinking violet; nor was Mathewson himself, who won notoriety in 2001 when he shrugged off shareholder criticism of that year's executive bonuses by saying "they would not win bragging power in a Soho wine bar."

That confidence ran right through RBS. In March 2001, barely a year after the NatWest acquisition completed, Goodwin  in a typically laconic remark  told me he was contemplating "mercy killings" of other U.K. banks.

Those killings never came to pass but, in the subsequent six years, RBS quadrupled in size as it made a string of acquisitions including of U.K. insurers Churchill and Direct Line, the U.S. lender Charter One (for a then eye-watering $10.5 billion), a 10% stake in Bank of China and, somewhat improbably, the car dealership Dixon Motors in April 2002. That year saw him crowned Businessman of the Year by Forbes magazine.

By the time he launched the bid for ABN AMRO in April 2007, trumping a deal the latter had previously agreed with Barclays, Goodwin was top dog in U.K. banking.

All of which made that rights issue in April 2008 so dramatic. A press conference was hastily convened for midday at RBS's old London headquarters. (The global head office, opened in 2005, was a gigantic campus at Gogarburn, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, built at a cost of 350 million on a site formerly occupied by a psychiatric hospital and nicknamed "Fred's Folly" by locals).

I took my place in the presentation center on the ground floor of the building alongside Peter Thal Larsen, then banking editor of the Financial Times, as Tom McKillop, the career pharmacist who had succeeded Mathewson as RBS chairman in 2006, thanked us for coming and invited Goodwin to make his presentation.

Gone was the super-confident figure to whom we had become accustomed.

"He looks like a condemned man mounting the scaffold," I whispered to Peter.

During the press conference, McKillop had to fend off questions about whether Goodwin would be dismissed, pushing back at suggestions that the board were "patsies" who had not sufficiently challenged their CEO.

"There is no single individual responsible for these events, and to look for a sacrificial lamb just misses the whole point," McKillop said.

I wrote in my diary that night: "McKillop came close to losing it a couple of times, particularly when grilled on the board composition. Fred Goodwin looked chastened but composed."

This wasn't an investment  it was a rescue

Memories of that day came flooding back when, at the end of last week, the U.K. government finally sold its remaining shareholding in NatWest (as RBS was rechristened in July 2020).

By the time RBS got its money in 2008, its share price had fallen by a quarter, wiping more from its stock market value than it raised in the rights issue.

On Oct. 7, 2008, with corporate customers rushing to withdraw their money, McKillop was forced to ask Alistair Darling, the then Chancellor, for a bailout that eventually cost Goodwin his job.

As has been well documented, Gordon Brown's government took control of the bank, pumping in 45.5 billion in 2008 and 2009 to acquire a stake that peaked at nearly 85%. Over the years, the government has recouped some 35 billion via fees, dividends and share sales, crystallizing a loss on disposal of nearly 10.5 billion.

That figure has, naturally, featured heavily in U.K. media coverage.

However, much of the commentary has overlooked that the government concluded more than a decade ago that a loss would be made on the shareholding, as well as the fact that this was never supposed to be an investment generating a positive return for taxpayers  it was a rescue.

One commentator even suggested RBS/NatWest should have been allowed to fail, arguing that "we could have surely done something more productive with all the money that was tied up in NatWest for the last 17 years," rather overlooking the catastrophic impact the bank's failure would have had. At the time of the rescue, RBS's balance sheet was bigger than the entire U.K. economy.

That the U.K. taxpayer lost 10.5 billion over a 17-year period is, of course, depressing. But it is compounded by the fact that, during the period, RBS/NatWest was obliged to offload a number of valuable assets, including Direct Line and its U.S. banking business Citizens, as conditions of its bail-out (the U.K. was, at the time, subject to the European Commission's state aid rules).

Much money was also wasted trying to carve out a separate retail bank which was to have been demerged in the name of enhancing competition, again at the behest of Europe, under the exhumed Williams & Glyn brand.

Saddest of all was the forced sale of WorldPay, a payments processing business, to U.S. private equity firms Bain Capital and Advent International for just $3 billion in August 2010. The business was later floated on the London Stock Exchange, later still taken private and then sold in March 2019 to the U.S. fintech firm FIS for $43 billion  a considerably bigger loss of value than anything endured by the U.K. government on its RBS/NatWest shares.

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that had the U.K. not been bound by the European Commission's state aid rules, as is the case today, the destruction of value would have been far lower.

A couple of things are probably more important, longer term, than any loss incurred by taxpayers.

The first is that the lessons from the RBS collapse have been properly learned. Many people now working in senior positions in U.K. financial services were still at school or college at the time of the bailout, but institutional memory of the event remains exceptionally strong, not least among U.K. regulators.

The main reason RBS failed, exacerbated by the hubristic ABN AMRO acquisition and the procyclical U.K. financial regulations at the time, was because it was over-leveraged. Post-financial-crisis regulation has aimed at reducing procyclicality and banks have been obliged to increase their capital buffers.

The second is that under Goodwin's successors  Stephen Hester, Ross McEwan, Alison Rose and Paul Thwaite  RBS/NatWest has been reshaped into a financially robust and highly profitable lender well-placed to contribute to U.K. growth in coming years thanks, in particular, to its strong position in business banking.

Much of the profit it throws off in the coming years is likely to be handed back to shareholders in the form of dividends and share buy-backs.

On that basis, while some will celebrate the fact that a line has been drawn by the government removing itself from NatWest's shareholder register, others will question why, exactly, it could not have held onto its shareholding for a little longer.

It would be interesting to hear what readers think.

 Ian King
TOPSHOT - Dutch radical right party PVV leader Geert Wilders (C) addresses the media as he arrives for the weekly coalition talks in the Lower House in The Hague, on June 3, 2025. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Robin Van Lonkhuijsen | Afp | Getty Images

The collapse of the Dutch government sets a tricky political backdrop for the Netherlands as it prepares to host the NATO summit in just three weeks. Right-wing leader Geert Wilders' exit from government ended the already fragile Dutch coalition after a mere 11 months in power. On Tuesday, Wilders announced that his Party for Freedom (PVV) would leave the government because the three other parties in the coalition had failed to respond to his 10-point plan to implement stricter immigration policy. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof resigned shortly after Wilders' announcement, setting the stage for snap elections. Like other major economies in the European Union, the Netherlands has grown increasingly fragmented as parties struggle to reach consensus over topics such as immigration and housing. Immigration in particular has now led to the collapse of two successive administrations, also bringing about the end of Mark Rutte's coalition government in 2023. "[Wilders] ultimatum highlighted the lack of genuine cooperation between the PVV and its coalition partners, a tension that has plagued the government since its formation," Jess Middleton, senior Europe analyst at Verisk Maplecroft told CNBC by email, adding that political instability is likely to persist. But the upcoming NATO summit and expectations for the Dutch government to boost defense spending played a larger role in prompting Wilders' exit, experts say.

Leverage

NATO wants its 32 members to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defense and security-related infrastructure by 2032 and is set to push for that target when it next meets on June 24-25. No NATO member has so far reached the 5% spending objective suggested by Trump or by the Netherlands' own Rutte, who is now NATO's secretary-general. In the short term, Rutte has proposed members of the alliance increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, a goal that the Dutch have estimated will cost them an additional 16 billion to 19 billion euros ($18.2 billion to $21.6 billion) a year.

watch now

That would require "either raising taxes or cutting spending," Jan Patternote, member of the centrist Democrats 66 (D66) party, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Wednesday. "It was pretty obvious that Mr. Wilders wanted to do neither. So he wanted to have none of it, and that's why he probably got out of the coalition before those tough decisions would have to be made." The D66 politician added, "I think Mr. Wilders wants everyone to believe that it was over differences in immigration policies. But, actually, what I think happened here is that Wilders found the kitchen too hot, so he found a way to get out of that kitchen, because the Netherlands was now facing the prospect of having to massively ramp up defense spending." CNBC has reached out to the PVV for comment. As he exited the coalition, Wilders claimed he "had no choice," adding in Google-translated comments on X that he had promised supporters the "strictest asylum policy ever," but had been unable to deliver on the pledge. The firebrand leader said voters were on his side and that "millions" of Dutch people wanted the PVV's 10-point plan to halt asylum to go ahead. "Almost all points of the PVV asylum plan are supported by a large majority of voters of all coalition parties. And almost three-quarters of PVV voters say that we should leave the cabinet if our plans are not largely adopted," he said in Google-translated comments.

Wilders found the kitchen too hot, so he found a way to get out of that kitchen, because the Netherlands was now facing the prospect of having to massively ramp up defense spending. Jan Paternotte Member of the D66 party

Voters' confidence in the PVV party has more than halved from 37% last year to 13% now, according to a poll from EenVandaag that polled over 16,000 people. The data shows that just 1 in 10 voters look back positively on cabinet's performance. Wilders wanted the coalition to fall part, as support for his PVV party was dropping in the polls, according to Armida van Rij, head of the Europe program at Chatham House. "The Netherlands is hosting the NATO Summit in exactly 3 weeks. Wilders knew this and tried to use this as leverage to force his coalition partners back to negotiating table, knowing that having a caretaker government would not be a good look nor useful to advance key policy positions," Van Rij said in emailed comments. She added that, while current polls show only the center-right VVD party is expected to gain from new elections, the PVV is likely to remain the largest party in the government. According to D66's Patternote, a new coalition with the PVV is "highly unlikely" even if Wilders wins the vote because so many center-left and center parties  including his own  have said they will not work with the right-wing leader. After tendering his resignation, Schoof said he and the remaining three coalition parties will continue in a caretaker role, meaning the smaller cabinet will likely only be able to make decisions on policy that is deemed critical. This essentially puts Dutch politics at a standstill at a time of rising geopolitical and trade tensions.

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Debris is spilled onto the street after what the Mayor described as a bomb exploded near a reproductive health facility in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2025, in a still image from video.

Bartkus died in the blast, while four others were left injured by the explosion.

Law enforcement authorities in New York City on Tuesday arrested Daniel Park , a Washington man who is suspected of helping to provide large amounts of chemicals used by Bartkus in a car bomb that damaged the fertility clinic.

Officials didn't name the AI program used by Bartkus.

Records from an AI chat application show Guy Edward Bartkus, the primary suspect in the bombing, "researched how to make powerful explosions using ammonium nitrate and fuel," authorities said.

Two men suspected in last month's bombing of a Palm Springs, California fertility clinic used a generative artificial intelligence chat program to help plan the attack, federal authorities said Wednesday.

The FBI said in a criminal complaint against Park that Bartkus allegedly used his phone to look up information about "explosives, diesel, gasoline mixtures and detonation velocity," NBC News reported.

It marks the second case this year of law enforcement pointing to the use of AI in assisting with a bombing or attempted bombing. In January, officials said a soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI including ChatGPT to help plan the attack.

The soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, used ChatGPT to look for information about how he could put together an explosive, the speed at which ammunition certain rounds of ammunition would travel, among other things, according to law enforcement officials.

In response to the Las Vegas incident, OpenAI said it was saddened by the revelation its technology was used to plot the attack and that it was "committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly."

The use of generative AI has soared in recent years with the rise of chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude and Google 's Gemini. That's spurred a flurry of development around consumer-facing AI services.

But in the race to stay competitive, tech companies are taking a growing number of shortcuts around the safety testing of their AI models before they're released to the public, CNBC reported last month.

OpenAI last month unveiled a new "safety evaluations hub" to display AI models' safety results and how they perform on tests for hallucinations, jailbreaks and harmful content, such as "hateful content or illicit advice."

Anthropic last month added additional security measures to its Claude Opus 4 model to limit it from being misused for the development of weapons.

AI chatbots have faced a host of issues caused by tampering and hallucinations since they gained mass appeal.

Last month, Elon Musk's xAI chatbot Grok provided users with false claims about "white genocide" in South Africa, an error that the company later attributed to human manipulation.

In 2024, Google paused its Gemini AI image generation feature after users complained the tool generated historically inaccurate images of people of color.

WATCH: Anthropic's Mike Krieger: Claude 4 'can now work for you much longer'
President Donald Trump's pledge to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50% took effect Wednesday  the latest twist in the trade saga that has defined the stock market this year. We don't own the stocks of any steel or aluminum producers  Nucor is in our Bullpen  but we stay on top of the moves in commodity prices because they often represent material input costs for companies across sectors of economy. Therefore, it's the perfect opportunity to delve into how a tariff works, who may benefit, and determine the actual costs. We broke it all down in five charts. 1. Domestic free market supply and demand As with most things in the economy, it all starts with supply and demand. This chart represents a domestic market with the intersection of the supply and demand lines representing the equilibrium point. Think about the equilibrium point like this: If a producer makes one fewer product, they will be leaving a financially beneficial sale on the table. If they make one more of a product, they won't be able to sell it because the demand isn't there at that price point. Additionally, take note of the areas that represent consumer and producer surplus because they will be important to compare to later charts. In economics, consumer surplus represents the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and what they actually pay. It doesn't mean they have too much of something in their closet or pantry. It's a "consumer benefit," as measured by a lower price. The larger the consumer surplus area is on our chart, the more the consumer is benefiting. Producer surplus is the difference between what a producer actually receives for a good and the lowest price they would be willing to accept. It is not the same thing as a producer's profits because profit is the difference between the revenue generated by selling the good and the costs to make it. Consider: You, the reader, are willing to pay $2,000 for a smartphone  that's the value you place on that good. However, in reality that smartphone sells at a $1,500 thanks to the competition among domestic producers in a free market economy, which means the surplus to you is $500. For the producers, consider that there's a company willing to sell a smartphone for $750. However, because demand for phones is so strong, the company has an average selling price of $1,500. That $750 average differential is the producer surplus. When it comes to understanding tariffs, we need to differentiate domestic demand from global supply. So, we'll update the chart to reflect global supply and pricing dynamics alongside domestic demand. 2. Domestic demand with free market global supply This chart indicates a tariff-free world, where the world price is lower than that of the domestic producer's price. In this scenario, the consumer benefits from the ability to import more goods at lower prices and therefore fulfill more demand. Note the change in consumer and domestic producer surplus when an economy is allowed to trade freely and import from lower-cost producing countries. Domestic producer surplus is reduced because it's not financially beneficial to produce beyond the intersection of the world price and domestic supply lines. But the size of the consumer surplus is much, much larger than on our previous chart. Translation: The benefits to the consumer  a larger differential between what they would pay and would they actually do  are much, much larger. Sticking with smartphone example, we now have an economy with global imports and no trade barriers (no tariffs), which means more competition among producers across the world. As a result of this added competition, the average price of a smartphone being sold is $1,000. This takes the producer surplus down to $250, since remember they would be willing to sell it for $750. The consumer  still valuing the phone at $2,000  now experiences a surplus of $1,000, which is up from $500 before. The ability to import freely has increased the net surplus in the local economy by $250: a $500 increase for the consumer against a $250 decrease for the producer. This is an important takeaway in making the argument for the globalization. So, cleaning that chart up a bit for clarity, in a free market economy with no trade barriers, the global supply/domestic demand chart looks like the following. 3. Consumer surplus in global free market Keep in mind: This is the same chart as in the previous section, just simplified to emphasize the consumer surplus component and to clearly show the amount of goods imported. Compared to the very first chart in our exercise, consumer surplus is way up thanks to the benefit of being able to import cheaper goods. Domestic producer surplus is lower because companies are at the mercy of the world price and won't produce beyond a level at which they can make money. That means if the average price of the smartphone has fallen to $1,000, from the $1,500 that it was in a domestic-only market, it may not make financial sense for the domestic producer to build a new factory. Or, it may not make financial sense for a new domestic producer to try entering the local market, given there is no extra surplus for it to capture. The difference between the amount produced by the domestic suppliers and the amount demanded in the domestic market based on the lower world price determines the number of imported smartphones. That's highlighted in red in the chart above. Up to now, we have charted out the benefits for consumers in scenarios when goods are imported freely, without government intervention. To be sure, the ability to buy cheaper goods abroad comes at a cost to domestic producers. But as we explained in the smartphone example, the gain in consumer surplus more than offsets the loss in producer surplus, which is the argument for free market globalization. However, in some cases that cost to the domestic producers is significant  and that full cost is likely not fully reflected in these textbook charts. For example: The domestic availability of personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a very real cost to the U.S. for its inability to manufacture the needed number of masks early on in the pandemic, though that cost wouldn't have been reflected on a chart like this (we'll revisit this example shortly). And in cases like that, a government might deem it necessary to reduce that harm. Indeed, that is the key reason to implement a tariff in the first place: to protect domestic businesses, especially when foreign players operate under conditions that the domestic producers simply cannot compete with, such as more lenient safety standards and no minimum wages. In addition, many governments subsidize their domestic industries, especially steel and aluminum, which makes it harder for American producers to compete or cuts them out of the market completely. This is why the question of whether tariffs are good or bad is not exactly black and white. As a consumer, I want lower prices. I want cheap gas, cheap eggs, cheap lumber, cheap steel, cheap everything. I want to spend less and save more. Who doesn't? At the same time, we need to maintain low unemployment levels, and we need to consider the risks of exporting our manufacturing capabilities to other countries, especially those that may not be as friendly as we like in the future. That's especially true for goods related to national security, like steel or personal protective equipment. With that in mind, let's consider the impact on domestic consumer and producer surplus when a tariff is enacted. 4. Domestic surplus with tariffs In this chart, we see the higher world price resulting from the tariff: consumer surplus is reduced because consumers have to pay more for goods, and therefore will demand less goods. The domestic producer surplus increases due to businesses' ability to sell at a higher price. The amount imported is still the difference between the domestic supply and domestic demand; however, as we can see, we are importing less due to more being sold domestically and lower demand overall as a result of the higher prices. With a 25% tariff average on smartphones, the cost of buying a new model just went up in price to $1,250. For some consumers, like those who were more than willing to pay $2,000 initially, this is not a problem at all. While their surplus did go down, they still can afford the new phone. But for other consumers who could only afford a phone when it was $1,000, the tariff becomes a problem. They might decide to put off buying the new phone until next year, giving them time to save up money for the newest phone at $1,250. That means less overall demand for smartphones in the local economy, so fewer phones are imported and sold. But it's good news for the domestic producers because they can now sell phones at the average market price of $1,250, up from the $1,000 price tag when they had tariff-free foreign competition. Now we're going to relabel this chart to better focus on several key areas. 5. Loss of economic surplus with tariffs The first thing to note: consumer surplus has been reduced by the total area represented by A+B+C+D. Producer surplus increased by the amount of area A. As noted previously, the amount imported is the difference between the domestic supply with tariff and the domestic demand with tariff. Given that this amount of a good is still imported even with the tariff, area C represents the amount of revenue raised by those tariffs. So, area A went from a consumer surplus to a producer surplus, while area C was subtracted from the consumer surplus and now goes toward paying for the tariff, which is revenue to the government revenue. Areas B and D are the real areas of concern when it comes to tariffs. These were previously adding to the consumer surplus, but now they are eliminated from the equation entirely. So, while the producers and government are getting more than they did previously, the amount they gain is less than the amount of surplus lost by consumers. We refer to the area of B+D as "deadweight loss," as it represents the loss of economic surplus overall resulting from the tariffs. There is no denying that tariffs come with a net negative cost to the consumer and economic surplus overall. Again, the amount of increase we see in producer surplus and government revenue will never equal to the amount of consumer surplus lost due to a less efficient, less free market. So, if the goal is to create an economy that is as efficient as possible, trade barriers are clearly not the answer. Of course, it's not that simple, which is why we see so much debate over the tariffs. Again, as a consumer, I want lower prices everywhere. I don't want to pay more for an iPhone because Apple is forced to pay American wages to produce it. However, when thinking on a longer-term horizon, we must also acknowledge that there are costs associated with the outsourcing of manufacturing that are not represented in these charts. In 2018, for example, had we mocked up these charts for the N95 mask market, we would have most likely concluded that the clear economic move for maximum surplus would be to allow manufacturing of masks and other personal protective equipment, or PPE, to be outsourced. Forcing domestic production via a tariff would have resulted in deadweight loss. However, that chart in 2018 would have been lacking whatever the cost was that we ultimately paid during Covid-19 pandemic for not being able to source or manufacture the number of N95 masks to meet U.S. demand. In other words, there is also a cost to relying on others to meet domestic demand. In some cases, that cost is worthwhile as the risk of supply disruptions isn't that great. Americans will survive without Champagne from France. However, not getting N95 masks in 2020, or not being able to source semiconductors in the future can certainly result in a national security crisis. Our inability to manufacture missiles or warships at scale could well prove a major issue should we, heaven forbid, find ourselves in another broad-scale conflict. So, in certain industries, the risk of outsourcing may well outweigh the deadweight loss resulting from tariffs or any other form of free trade barriers. From an employment perspective, one might argue the need for tariffs. After all, what good are cheap goods and services if U.S. unemployment surges and Americans can't afford food, let alone cheap discretionary goods? Don't forget the U.S. is a consumption-based economy. If unemployment gets out of hand, there won't be much consumption of anything, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Another question is, are today's Americans even going to want some of those low-paying and low-skill jobs that we already outsourced to nations like China? Probably not, and with artificial intelligence advancing rapidly, who is to say you need a human in those positions at all by the end of the decade? Rather than demonize tariffs, we have to acknowledge that they are a tool that can be used to realize an objective. They may well be a great tool if targeted with precision and implemented with a great deal of thought. However, when implemented hastily, in a broad-based fashion that has us all wondering what the actual objective even is, that's when things get problematic. That's what Wall Street is contending with now. It's not so much that investors can't understand the need for some tariffs or that companies, the economy more broadly, or our national security status can't benefit from tariffs. It is, however, the way these policies are hitting the newswires every day. The barrage of headlines every other day about new, higher tariff rates being imposed on entire countries, rather than specific goods or industries, makes it impossible for businesses to plan. What country is safe? What will the actual price be by the time it hits U.S. shores? How is an economist supposed to even begin to understand the loss of consumer surplus, increase to producer surplus, potential tax revenue, and dead weight loss associated with a tariff if it can jump from 25% to 50% over a weekend, seemingly on a whim? That was the heart of Jim Cramer's weekly column on Sunday. Bottom line As we continue to navigate these headlines and do our best to understand what it all means for the companies in which we are invested  and, of course, refresh our thinking with every update out of Washington  what we all really need is more clarity. We aren't saying no tariffs, ever. Rather, we want to see clear, targeted tariffs on the products that really matter, with a focus on specific goods, industries, or even companies. Remember, markets can price in good news, and they can price in bad news. It's uncertainty that causes investors to throw up their hands and walk away. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang runs one of the world's largest and most successful companies, valued at nearly $3.4 trillion. Yet, he's expressed that he still worries the company he co-founded in 1993 could implode at any minute.

Huang's fear of failure is one of his biggest motivators, pushing him to become one of the world's most successful CEOs, says biographer Stephen Witt. "This is his fuel. This is his gasoline, [and it's] what makes him go is this anxiety," says Witt, who spent six hours interviewing Huang, and spoke to his colleagues and employees, for the book "The Thinking Machine," which published in January.

Huang has discussed his drive for work before: When asked about work-life balance, he remarked, "I work as much as I can," in an April 2024 fireside chat with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison. Still, Witt was caught off-guard by how much of Huang's motivation seems to stem from anxiety, fear and guilt, he says.

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"I think the most surprising thing about Jensen is that he's almost totally driven by negative emotions," says Witt. "He's really motivated by fear and guilt to a significant extent: fear of failure, paranoia about competition, and guilt about letting people down."

An Nvidia spokeswoman declined to comment when reached by CNBC Make It.

Other CEOs Witt has met and interviewed over his career are "more kind of type-A people" who fit the mold of upbeat, optimistic "go-getters," he says.

"Jensen, of course, is an obvious, huge go-getter, but it's all coming from this place of almost beating himself up for not working hard enough all the time," Witt adds. "I didn't expect to see that ... In fact, he becomes very uncomfortable and nervous when things are going well."
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Wednesday said graphics chips from artificial intelligence powerhouse Nvidia could give the U.S. leverage in the ongoing trade war with China.

"If Trump's wants to win this game, he may have to show his trump card, Nvidia. As I see it, the others just don't make for a good hand," he said. "You have to play with the cards you've been dealt, and for decades, our government did everything it could to encourage outsourcing to China. They left us with a pretty lousy darn hand, both Republicans and Democrats."

Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have been high since President Donald Trump threatened to hit Chinese imports with sky-high tariffs. While the U.S. has agreed to a 90-day pause on the new duties, relations remain tenuous. Trump wrote in a Wednesday social media post that it is "extremely hard" to make a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, days after the White House indicated the two may speak this week.

Cramer pointed to a few U.S. exports he thinks China wants  natural gas, Boeing planes, turbines for power plants and Nvidia products. He dubbed Nvidia the "one ace in our hand," but said the Trump administration doesn't want to play it. The White House announced strict regulations on Nvidia's exports to China  which CEO Jensen Huang said will cause his company to lose billions and hinder the U.S. from being a global leader in AI.

Big business across the U.S. relies heavily on Chinese manufacturers, despite efforts to diversify their supply chains, Cramer lamented. He named Apple , Target , Stanley Black & Decker , Best Buy and Walmart as some prominent names scrambling to adjust to the new trade landscape.

"President Trump better be a much tougher negotiator than President Xi, because right now we're so hooked on China it's almost hard to believe," Cramer said.

The White House did not immediately respond to request for comment.
A man reads a note placed on a memorial at the scene of an attack that injured multiple people, outside the Boulder County Courthouse, in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. June 2, 2025.

The White House's official X account tweeted about the family's detention Tuesday, writing, "THEY COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT."

The order blocking the removal of Soliman's family came a day after they were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and as the Department of Homeland Security said that ICE was processing the family for removal proceedings from the United States.

A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting the wife and five children of Mohamed Soliman , the Egyptian national accused of attacking a group of demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado , with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails.

In his order in U.S. District Court in Colorado barring their deportation, Judge Gordon Gallagher wrote, "The Court finds that deportation without process could work irreparable harm and an order must issue without notice due to the urgency this situation presents."

Gallagher scheduled a hearing in the case for June 13.

"It is patently unlawful to punish individuals for the crimes of their relatives," lawyers for the family wrote in their petition for a writ of habeas corpus earlier Wednesday, which led to Gallagher's order.

"Such methods of collective or family punishment violates the very foundations of a democratic justice system."

Habeas petitions seek to challenge the legality of a person's detention, and the right to file them are part of the U.S. Constitution.

Stephen Miller, the White House's top immigration advisor, last month said that President Donald Trump was "actively looking" at suspending the right to petition for habeas corpus for immigrants.

Soliman's wife, Hayam El Gamal, is a 41-year-old Egyptian citizen. The couple, who live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, have an 18-year-old daughter, as well as two sons and two daughters who are all under age 18. The children are all Egyptian citizens.

No other member of Soliman's family has been charged in connection with the attack.

The family entered the United States in late August 2022, and were allowed to remain in the U.S. through late February 2023. Soliman applied for asylum in September 2022, listing his family as dependents, according to DHS.

"El Gamal is a network engineer with a pending EB-2 visa, available to professionals with advanced degrees," lawyers for the family wrote in their habeas petition.

Soliman's family is being held at an immigration detention center in Texas, according to one of their attorneys.
The street side of American Reproductive Centers clinic is seen after an explosion being investigated by law enforcement as an intentional act of violence in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2025.

A Washington man is facing charges after allegedly providing large amounts of chemicals used in a car bomb outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic last month, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Daniel Park, a 32-year-old from Seattle, was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City overnight in connection with the May 17 car bombing outside the American Reproductive Centers clinic in Palm Springs, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News.

Park was charged in a federal complaint with providing and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, told reporters Wednesday.

Prosecutors allege that he supplied 270 pounds of ammonium nitrate, an explosive precursor commonly used to construct homemade bombs, to Guy Edward Bartkus, the primary suspect in the bombing. The May bomb ultimately killed 25-year-old Bartkus and injured four others.

The attack damaged the clinic building and left a 250-yard debris field. No one who worked at the center was hurt, and the clinic said the center's lab, which houses eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials, was not damaged.

Bartkus lived in Twentynine Palms and appeared to be motivated by anti-natalist ideology, two senior law enforcement officials previously told NBC News.

Park allegedly shared Bartkus' extremist beliefs and had posted about the similar ideology on Internet forums dating back to 2016, Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said Wednesday.

Park allegedly shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus, Essayli said.

"Park paid for an additional 90 pounds of ammonium nitrate that was shipped to Bartkus in the days leading up to the Palm Springs attack," Essayli said.

Davis said that six packages of ammonium nitrate were shipped from Park in Seattle to Bartkus in Twentynine Palms.

A search warrant in Seattle also found that Park had "an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing," Davis said.

"We believe that Park had knowledge of how to create an ammonium nitrate-fueled bomb," Davis said. "Social media posts indicate that he was attempting to recruit others of like-minded ideology and discuss these things on internet forums."

Investigators also learned that Park spent two weeks visiting Bartkus in Twentynine Palms in late January and early February, "running experiments in Bartkus' garage, where the FBI recovered large quantities of chemical precursors and laboratory equipment after the bombing," the prosecutor said.

Days after the bombing, prosecutors say Park fled the United States for Europe.

Park flew to Warsaw, Poland, via Denmark on May 21, where he was detained on May 30 by Polish authorities. He was deported back to the U.S. and arrested by the FBI and Port Authority police at JFK Airport.

Authorities said the investigation into the bombing is ongoing, noting Bartkus was not on their radar prior. There's no indication that there were other potential targets for bombing, Davis said.

Park is expected to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon in Brooklyn federal court. Essayli said the government will seek to detain him without bail, and the Marshal Service will transport him to the Central California District.

Davis called the attack in May "an intentional act of terrorism."
LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky speaks at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York on Sept. 20, 2021. in New York City.

Microsoft is giving LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky a bigger job, expanding his role to include oversight of Office productivity software, CNBC has learned.

Roslansky, who took over LinkedIn five years ago, is becoming executive vice president of Office, reporting to Rajesh Jha, Microsoft's executive vice president for experiences and devices, according to a person familiar with the matter. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella informed employees about the change in an email on Wednesday, said the person, who asked not to be named because the email was internal.

In his role as LinkedIn CEO, Roslansky will continue to report to Nadella, the person said.

LinkedIn, which Microsoft acquired in 2016 for $27 billion, will keep operating as a subsidiary, after generating more than $17 billion in revenue over the past year. Roslansky joined LinkedIn in 2009 and previously worked at Yahoo.

In 2022, Microsoft rebranded its Office 365 productivity software bundle, which includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, to Microsoft 365. In addition to overseeing those products, Roslansky's portfolio will also include the M365 Copilot app, which lets users edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. Jha's group released the app in 2020.

"Office is one of the most iconic product suites in history," Roslansky wrote in a LinkedIn post. "It has shaped how the world works, literally. The reach and impact of Office are unmatched. I'm coming into this role in a new, exciting era. Productivity, connection, and AI are converging at scale. Both Office and LinkedIn are used daily by professionals globally, and I'm looking forward to redefining ourselves in this new world."

As part of the organizational change, Microsoft said Charles Lamanna, corporate vice president for business and industry Copilot products, and his team will move to Jha's unit. They were previously part of Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie's cloud and artificial intelligence group.

Lamanna supervises Dynamics 365 sales and customer service products that compete with Salesforce , as well as the Copilot Studio tool for easily building artificial intelligence agents.

In December, Nadella said that AI agents might become the way that people eventually interact with software systems that were designed for use inside large organizations.

"When was the last time any of us really went to a business application?" he told investors Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley on their podcast. He said the company pays for a bunch of cloud software applications, but "we hardly use them and somebody in the org is sort of inputting data into it."

"In the AI age, the intensity goes up because all that data now is easy, right?" Nadella said.

The company's Productivity and Business Processes segment, anchored by Microsoft 365 subscriptions and LinkedIn, has turned more profitable in the past decade. The unit's operating margin in the fiscal third quarter exceeded 58%, compared with 33% in 2017. Revenue was up 10% from a year earlier.
Inspiration4 mission commander Jared Isaacman, founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments, stands for a portrait in front of the recovered first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) on February 2, 2021 in Hawthorne, California.

Days after his nomination for NASA was pulled by President Donald Trump, Jared Isaacman told investors in his payments company Shift4 that his "brief stint in politics was a thrilling experience."

Isaacman said in the letter that he was resigning as CEO of Shift4, which he founded in 1999 at age 16, and will assume the role of executive chairman. He had been planning to leave the company if his nomination was confirmed by the Senate. But it never got that far.

In a post on Truth Social over the weekend, Trump said that he was withdrawing Isaacman's nomination "after a thorough review of prior associations." The president didn't indicate what those associations were, though some reports have suggested that it was a reference to Isaacman's prior donations to Democrats.

"Even knowing the outcome, I would do it all over again," Isaacman wrote in the letter.

In an episode of the All-In podcast that went live on Wednesday, Isaacman, who has close ties to Elon Musk, indicated that his past donations weren't likely the reason for Trump's decision. He noted that his donations were public long before he was nominated, and he described himself as "right-leaning" and a supporter of the president's agenda.

"I don't want to play dumb on this," he said. "I don't think the timing was much of a coincidence."

The timing he was referencing was Musk's official exit from his government service work at the end of May.

In addition to his career in finance, Isaacman has led two private spaceflights through Musk's SpaceX, in 2021 and 2024, commanding crews on multiday trips around the Earth. Shift4 also invested $27.5 million in SpaceX, according to a 2021 filing.

Musk became one of Trump's biggest backers and, until last week, was leading the administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with slashing the size of the federal government. With Musk's official time as a "special government employee" coming to an end because of the 130-day limit, the world's richest person has quickly turned into a vocal critic of Trump's massive tax-cut bill.

On Wednesday, Musk ramped up his attacks on the bill that Trump is pushing Congress to pass, claiming it will condemn America to "debt slavery" and urging lawmakers to "KILL the BILL." A day earlier, Musk slammed what Trump has dubbed the "big, beautiful bill" as a "disgusting abomination."

Trump's decision to pull Isaacman's nomination came before Musk's latest tirade. But Musk had been distancing himself from the administration in recent weeks.

"You got one person," Isaacman said on All-In, referring to Trump as the one making the call. He said he doesn't "know what the trigger was or wasn't" and said he doesn't "fault the president for it."

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

At Shift4, Isaacman said in Wednesday's letter that he'll be succeeded as CEO by Taylor Lauber, who started at the company in 2018 and has been serving as president.

"I have been working since I was a teenager and not planning to stop now," Isaacman wrote. "I love this company, the strategy and our team. As the largest shareholder, I am eager to continue contributing where I believe my efforts will have the most impact."

 CNBC's Lora Kolodny and MacKenzie Sigalos contributed to this report.

WATCH: Elon Musk slams Trump's spending bill
Ivan Espinosa, chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Co., speaks during an interview at the company's headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa on Wednesday said the short-term focus is to fix the struggling automaker, as it undergoes major restructuring efforts to get back on a solid footing.

"I think in the short term, the focus that we have is to fix ourselves," Espinosa told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

"We are convinced that the plan is enough and robust," he added.

Espinosa, who only assumed leadership of the Japanese automaker in April, faces an uphill battle to change the tide of Nissan's whittled down fortunes.

The firm has been contending with declining sales, the transition to electric vehicles and steep global competition, particularly from Chinese rivals.

These challenges have now been exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping 50% global tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with other so-called reciprocal levies on individual countries that are briefly reduced under a reprieve set to expire in July.

Last month, Espinosa revealed the company's plans to slash 11,000 jobs and shut down seven plants, amid expectations of a 3% drop in sale volumes in the current fiscal year.

At the end of last year, the company fleetingly flirted with a possible tie-up with Japanese peer Honda in talks that could have created the world's third largest automaker by sales  but negotiations broke down in February.
Emil Barr, 22, graduated from Miami University in May 2024. Courtesy of Emil Barr

It's no secret that college in the United States is expensive  about 43 million people live with student debt and the outstanding federal student loan balance stands at about $1.8 trillion, according to the Education Data Initiative. But startup founder Emil Barr says everything is negotiable  even your college tuition. In fact, on top of successfully negotiating with his school administration to cover about $60,000 of his tuition fees, the 22-year-old startup founder made more than $140,000 over the four-year period that he was enrolled, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. By the time he graduated, Barr had been paid over $200,000 by Miami University. He said he learned the art of negotiation through his experience as an entrepreneur.

Convincing the university

During his freshman year at Miami University, Barr built his first startup, a social media marketing agency called Step Up Social. He entered university with a scholarship that covered only part of his tuition. By his sophomore year, Barr used his entrepreneurial experience as leverage and convinced his school administration to fund the rest of his tuition At the time, he said, the university was making a concerted effort to attract more donors, and as part of that, was focused on developing and strengthening its entrepreneurship program on campus. "[But] the one downside is there weren't that many student-run businesses at the college for them to talk about," he said. As a result, Barr said, he often spent time speaking with donors they brought on campus, as well as with the university press outlet. "Towards the end of my second year at Miami, that's when we really started to have these conversations, because the business had gone somewhere. We had done over a million dollars in revenue," Barr said. "So I sat down with the dean, and I was like: 'Look ... I'm spending a lot of time doing this. I feel like I'm [creating] a lot of value for the school, and yet I'm still paying for [some of] my own tuition and working side jobs to try to make that happen," Barr said. In December 2022, he negotiated a financial package that fully covered his tuition. Barr also won multiple on-campus startup pitch competitions and student grants which earned him more than $30,000 throughout his time at the university, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

What [I] learned is a lot of the things that people are scared to ask for  really, you can get them. Sometimes, you just have to ask. Emil Barr Co-founder, Flashpass

By the time his junior year rolled around, Barr had also brought on the university as a client of his business. In total, he made over $100,000 in revenue through the university's contracts with Step Up Social. But one of his "crowning accomplishments," Barr said, was not the financial payouts  but instead being the only student on campus who was given a faculty parking pass. "I fought for that for nine months ... people still joke about it, because I was so determined," he said. Step Up Social has since acquired and rebranded to Candid Network, an online marketing agency specializing in user-generated content. Barr said he's in the process of selling the business.

'Sometimes, you just have to ask'
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: CrowdStrike  The cybersecurity stock was down nearly 7% after the company's revenue forecast for the current quarter undershot analysts' estimates. CrowdStrike said it expects revenue in the range between $1.14 billion and $1.15 billion, while analysts polled by LSEG were looking for $1.16 billion. Dollar Tree  The discount retailer slid 7%. Dollar Tree said adjusted earnings per share could see a pullback of as much as 50% in the current quarter on a year-over-year basis, while analysts polled by FactSet expected a 1.8% decline. The firm cited pressure from President Donald Trump's tariffs as one of the headwinds affecting its earnings forecast. Thor Industries  Shares advanced 3% on the heels of better-than-expected third-quarter results. The recreational vehicle maker posted earnings of $2.53 per share on revenue of $2.89 billion, compared to the forecast $1.79 in earnings per share and $2.61 billion in revenue from analysts surveyed by FactSet. Tesla  Elon Musk's electric vehicle company pulled back more than 3%. May sales data reflected a continued slump in Europe, including a 67% decline in France on a year-over-year basis and a 68% tumble in Portugal. Overall, Tesla shares have languished in 2025, falling 17% as the company faces tougher competition in China and political blowback from Musk's work with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Asana  Shares plummeted more than 17% after the enterprise software company shared soft guidance. Asana sees second-quarter adjusted earnings ranging between 4 cents and 5 cents a share, and revenue ranging between $192 million and $194 million. Analysts polled by LSEG were looking for 4 cents per share in earnings on $193 million in revenue. Guidewire Software  The insurance technology provider surged 16% after its fiscal third-quarter earnings report surpassed Wall Street estimates. Guidewire reported adjusted earnings of 88 cents per share on revenue of $294 million, while analysts surveyed by LSEG anticipated 46 cents in earnings per share and $284 million in revenue. Constellation Energy  The energy stock shed 3% following a downgrade at Citigroup to neutral from buy. Constellation Energy agreed Tuesday to sell nuclear power to Meta Platforms. The bank said while the terms of the deal were not disclosed, it estimates the tech company will pay between $75 and $90 per megawatt-hour of electricity, which the firm said is "not a big premium for low carbon power." Flowserve , Chart Industries  Shares of Flowserve fell more than 4%, and Chart Industries pulled back more than 6% following news that the companies agreed to combine in an all-stock merger of equals deal . Chart provides equipment for the cryogenic liquefaction of gases, while Flowserve is a major supplier of industrial machinery, including pumps and valves.  CNBC's Alex Harring and Michelle Fox contributed reporting.
Electric vehicles outside a Tesla dealership in Melbourne on April 19, 2023. William West | AFP | Getty Images

Tesla may be facing declining sales in the U.S. and Europe, but it reported a bright spot in Australia  where its electric vehicle sales rebounded to their highest level in nearly 12 months in May. The American EV maker said Tuesday that its vehicle sales jumped to 3,897, primarily driven by record sales of its recently revamped Model Y compact sport utility vehicle. Australian sales of the Model Y soared 122.5% year over year, while sales of the company's Model 3 dropped significantly. Total deliveries in Australia were up just 9.3% year over year but surged over 675% from April when the company sold only 500 EVs, according to data from the Australian Electric Vehicle Council. The EV Council is the exclusive source of Tesla and Polestar sales data in Australia after the brands exited the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) last year. Tesla's April sales numbers for Australia had been the company's worst performance of the year there. Despite the May rebound, the EV makers' total sales in Australia remains down 48.2% year-to-date compared with the same period last year.

watch now

"Tesla's strong sales growth in Australia this May is an encouraging sign, driven almost entirely by strong demand for the updated Model Y. But globally, Tesla is still facing headwinds," Liz Lee, associate director at technology market research firm Counterpoint Research, told CNBC. According to Counterpoint EV Sales Tracker, she added, Tesla's sales were down 13% year on year in the first quarter. "Thus, while the latest Australian rebound is meaningful locally, it does not yet signal a broader global recovery."

Musk and brand damage

Tesla's global sales have suffered in recent months in light of increased competition and reputational damage related to CEO Elon Musk's political rhetoric and activities. For example, prior to May, Tesla's Australia sales struggled amid reports of vandalism and protests related to Musk's work with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and support for far-right parties in Europe. Tesla reported on Tuesday that its sales in the U.S. were down 11% in May from last year. And European industry groups on Monday noted significantly lower sales for new Tesla vehicles in Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Sweden last month. But there have been some bright spots. Tesla posted a surprise bounce back in Norway, where the Model Y helped it post 213% more vehicles in May from a year ago. Tesla also said it hit a record breaking 1,545 sales in Turkey last month.

watch now

That data comes after Trump hosted a press conference last week, where he announced that Elon Musk would be officially departing from his role within the federal government and White House. Though Trump added that Musk will stay on as an advisor, in a research note following the announcement, Wedbush's Dan Ives said he believed that Musk's days in politics are essentially over after the brand damage suffered by Tesla. The Tesla bull said Musk's pivot back to the EV maker "was the best possible news Tesla investors could have heard," with the rollout of its robotaxi launch expected later this month. Musk has said that Tesla has already been testing driverless Model Ys.

Tight competition

Musk's return comes at a time when Tesla is also facing much tighter competition, especially from Chinese EV makers. BYD, for example, has been expanding globally in the face of tight competition in its home market of China, and is increasingly going head to head with Tesla. In April, China's BYD outsold Tesla in Europe for the first time, according to JATO Dynamics. The automotive giant recently announced a slew of discounts, and other Chinese automakers are following suit. In March, it was revealed that Tesla fell behind BYD in total annual sales revenue. And according to a report from JATO Dynamics, BYD sold more pure battery EVs in Europe than Tesla for the first time ever last month in what it called a "watershed moment." In May, however, Tesla was able to regain a lead against BYD in vehicle sales in Australia, with 3,897 sales compared with BYD's 3,225, based on available data.

Its worth noting that Tesla exclusively sells battery electric vehicles, while BYD also sells hybrid cars. Battery EVs run entirely on electricity, while hybrid vehicles combine an electric battery with an internal combustion engine. According to data that Australia's FCAI sent to CNBC, sales of hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles  a type of hybrid that can be charged by being plugged into an external power source  rose by about 6% and 118%, respectively, year on year in May. "Recent sales data indicate that consumers are increasingly turning to hybrid and plug-in hybrids as many Australians want to reduce their vehicle emissions," said Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI. He added that hybrids come without the range limitations associated with battery EVs, which is a particular concern in Australia.

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The Toyota Industries Corp. logo at the company's Nagakusa plant in Obu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Shares of Toyota Industries slumped as much as 13% Wednesday, signaling investors' disappointment over Toyota Group's reported 4.7 trillion yen ($33 billion) deal to take the company private.

This deal comes at a time when Japanese firms are facing mounting pressure from both regulators and investors to unwind long-established cross-shareholding ties. Japan's Financial Services Agency has been calling for a reduction in cross-shareholding arrangements.

Toyota employed cross-shareholding back in 2005 to protect itself against acquisition threats, Satoru Aoyama, head of corporate ratings at Fitch Ratings in Japan, told CNBC.

The deal includes a tender offer of $26 billion for shares of Toyota Industries at 16,300 yen apiece, according to Reuters, sharply lower than the 18,400 yen it closed on Tuesday before the deal was announced.

Toyota Group will create a new holding company for the deal, with the group's real estate arm Toyota Fudosan investing about 180 billion yen, while Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda will invest 1 billion yen. Toyota Motor will invest about 700 billion yen in non-voting preferred shares.

Other financing will be backed by loans from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, MUFG Bank, and Mizuho Bank.

"Going forward, there will be more of these unwinding of cross shareholdings amongst the Toyota Group," said Kei Okamura, managing director and Japanese equities portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman.
A U.S. Department of Education employee leaves the building with their belonging on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

The Trump administration on Wednesday lost a bid to lift a federal judge's order temporarily blocking the U.S. Education Department from laying off about half of its more than 4,000 employees.

The administration had asked the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston to lift the preliminary injunction issued by a Massachusetts District Court judge that stayed the large "reduction in force" at the department announced by Education Secretary Linda McMahon in March.

A three-judge panel on that appeals court rejected that effort Wednesday in a 26-page decision.

The Trump administration could ask the Supreme Court to lift the order.

But if the injunction remains in place, the Education Department would be blocked from drastically cutting its workforce as lawsuits challenging the layoffs play out in the district court and appellate courts.

The lawsuits were filed by 21 states, five labor organizations, and two school districts that allege that the reduction in force violates the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it was "extremely hard" to make a deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, at a time when the White House has been suggesting the two leaders could talk this week amid rising trade tensions.

Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury secretary, said Thursday stateside that trade talks were "a bit stalled," and the two countries' leaders would likely need to weigh in. On Monday, a senior White House official told CNBC that Trump and Xi were likely to speak this week.

It remained unclear whether such a call had been arranged.

"I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Washington and Beijing have blamed each other for violating a trade agreement reached in Switzerland on May 12. The deal included a 90-day suspension of most tariffs, as well as a broad repeal of trade countermeasures by China against the U.S. imposed since early April.

China has not significantly eased restrictions on rare earths exports, contrary to Washington's expectations. Beijing has also criticized the U.S. for moving forward on efforts to limit China's access to advanced technology. Last week, the Trump administration also announced it would start revoking visas for Chinese students.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his first meeting with the new U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue on Tuesday that the recent string of "negative measures" by the Trump administration were based on "groundless reasons," and undermined China's legitimate rights and interests, according to the official readout.
An undocumented immigrant who prosecutors say was framed by a jail inmate for writing threatening letters about President Donald Trump was ordered Wednesday to remain detained by an immigration judge in Chicago to give a government lawyer more time to review evidence in the case.

But an attorney for the immigrant Ramon Morales-Reyes, said he was hopeful that the Milwaukee resident would be released on bond after another immigration court hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

The judge at the hearing will consider whether the 54-year-old Morales-Reyes is a flight risk or a danger to the community, said Cain Oulahan, his lawyer.

Oulahan said that the Mexican national is eligible for bond.

Morales-Reyes, who works as a dishwasher, has lived in the United States since 1986, has three children who are U.S. citizens and owns a home in Milwaukee, the attorney said.

Oulahan told CNBC in an interview after the hearing that Morales-Reyes' family is "worried."

'They're having a hard time," the lawyer said. "They really want to see him again, but they're trying to keep a low profile."

Oulahan said, "There were threats on social media" directed at the family after his arrest was announced in late May by the Department of Homeland Security.

Morales-Reyes, who appeared via a video link at Wednesday's hearing, has been detained in a Wisconsin jail in the immigration case since May 22, when he was arrested outside his daughter's school on suspicion of writing the letters about Trump.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem touted his arrest more than a week later.

"Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars," Noem said on May 28.
One basis point equals 0.01% or 1/100th of a percent, and yields and prices move inversely in the bond market, meaning prices are sharply higher Wednesday.

The 2-year yield dropped more than 9 basis points to 3.866%, while the 10-year Treasury yield fell more than 10 basis points to 4.357%. The 30-year long bond yield also sank more than 10 basis points to 4.881%.

U.S. Treasury yields tumbled Wednesday in response to a report that private sector job creation in May was the weakest in more than two years, prompting President Donald Trump to urge the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, and as 50% steel tariffs went into effect.

Payrolls processing firm ADP said Wednesday that private sector job creation slowed to a near standstill in May, signaling a weakening labor market. Payrolls increased just 37,000 for the month, below the downwardly revised 60,000 in April and the Dow Jones forecast for 110,000. It was the lowest monthly job total from the ADP count since March 2023.

The report comes two days before the more closely watched nonfarm payrolls count from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is expected to show a gain of 125,000 and the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%.

In reaction to the ADP number, Trump angrily urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates. Trump met Powell at the White House last week to discuss the economy, but readouts from both sides suggest the private meeting turned confrontational.

"The Fed will take notice of slower job growth, but this won't be enough to convince them to cut interest rates near term," said Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank. "Labor force growth will also be slower in 2025 due to less immigration, so less job growth is needed to hold the unemployment rate steady."

Investor fears around slowing economic growth were also heightened Wednesday after new U.S. services data showed the sector weakening. May's ISM services index reading fell to 49.9% for the month, below the expansion/contraction line and lower than the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 52.1%. The survey also noted declines in new orders, production, inventories and order backlogs.

At the same time, U.S. tariffs on imported steel and aluminum doubled to 50% effective Wednesday, threatening to slow activity and raise prices on everything from oil drilling equipment to beer and soda cans. The president has claimed steeper duties will "further secure the steel industry."

Investors also reacted to languishing trade talks between the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies. Trump on Wednesday said it is "extremely hard" to make a deal with China's President Xi Jinping, and China's foreign minister called on the U.S. to "meet China halfway." A senior White House official told CNBC earlier this week that Trump and Xi are set to speak this week.

 Additional reporting by CNBC's Jeff Cox, Anniek Bao, Evelyn Cheng and Kevin Breuninger.
Rebecca Walser, CEO of Walser Wealth Management, joined CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Wednesday to discuss Apple following a notable downgrade, as well as Netflix and Snowflake . Here's what she had to say about each technology name during the " Three-Stock Lunch " segment. Apple Walser said she agreed with Needham analyst Laura Martin, who downgraded shares of the personal technology giant to hold from buy on Wednesday. Martin said the company is facing relatively high valuation and growth competition. Walser said concerns over President Donald Trump's tariffs have weighed on the iPhone maker, with investors wondering what's next following the expiration of many of the president's delayed levies on July 9. Apple is known for its high proportion of international manufacturing. "It's not really Apple's fault," Walser said. "It's all the tariff talk and all the fact that, they have very heavily relied on supply chains to be in Asia." "This is a direct trade war between the United States and China, and it expires July 9," she added. "It's really concerning to us that we haven't seen headway." Despite the Needham downgrade, most analysts have a buy rating, according to LSEG. The average price target implies shares can rally more than 13% over the next year. That would mark a turn for Apple shares, which have fallen about 19% in 2025. Netflix Walser called Netflix "very expensive." The stock climbed to a 52-week high in Wednesday's session and has soared nearly 40% in 2025. "I would say right now, we are going to be a hold on this, potentially even a sell if we don't see that  subscriber growth and see the actual growth that they're projecting in the next quarter," Walser said. Netflix stopped reporting its quarterly subscriber figures in the first quarter of 2025, and Walser said she is concerned that she doesn't see the data going into those counts. The majority of analysts have a buy rating on the stock, according to LSEG. However, the typical price target suggests shares can slide more than 6% over the next year. Snowflake Walser also deemed data storage play Snowflake an expensive stock and said it could be a risk if the multiyear data investment cycle doesn't pan out as hoped for. Shares also hit a 52-week high on Wednesday and are now up 35% on the year. SNOW NFLX YTD mountain Snowflake and Netflix in 2025 "It's an expensive stock," she said. "And if that deal doesn't materialize, or it doesn't materialize to the extent necessary, then there is going to be a pullback, and you're going to have some unhappy people." Most analysts surveyed by LSEG have a buy rating on the stock. The average analyst foresees more than 6% in upside.
Wells Fargo is unshackled. That's according to Jim Cramer and Wall Street analysts, who are both forecasting more upside for the Club stock following the Federal Reserve's removal of the bank's $1.95 trillion asset cap Tuesday evening. The seven-year lid on Wells' balance sheet growth was precipitated by the bank's past misdeeds, such as its notorious fake accounts scandal in the 2010s. Bank of America and Morgan Stanley are among the Wall Street shops that became more optimistic on Wells Fargo shares in response to the long-awaited development. Bank of America went to $90 a share from $83, while Morgan Stanley went to $87 from $77. Piper Sandler and Evercore ISI also upped their price targets. The Club is doing the same, hiking ours to $90 a share from $80. "I think this is a watershed moment" and a "pivotal milestone," Jim said Wednesday. With the nearly $2 trillion lid on its balance sheet gone, the bank can grow its deposit base further, invest more into high-growth lines of business and can lower costs that were previously poured into compliance and remediation efforts. On Wednesday, at least, the market reaction is somewhat subdued, with Wells Fargo shares up less than 1% to roughly $76 apiece. Investors had likely been pricing some of the good news, viewing the asset-cap removal as a "when, not if" event. Entering Wednesday's session, Wells Fargo's had significantly outperformed a group of banking peers since Election Day in November, as investors bet on an easier regulatory regime under President Donald Trump's second term. Wells Fargo also had numerous other scandal-related penalties lifted earlier this year. No matter the stock move Wednesday, Jim said investors need to remember that this is "a fundamental change" for the bank and CEO Charlie Scharf. The executive has wanted to "turbocharge" its growth, but he has been "playing with shackles," Jim said. "The shackles are off." Wall Street analysts echoed similar sentiments. Bank of America, for example, described the event as a "positive catalyst, both fundamentally and for stock valuation." "We see potential for a new pool of investors who had been fatigued by the regulatory overhang to step-in given WFC's idiosyncratic growth story, room for efficiency gains in the consumer bank and potential for capital relief," the analysts, who reiterated their buy rating on the stock, wrote in a note to clients. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley said the cap's removal will "spur a multi-year period of growth at Wells." Analysts cited more loan growth and an expansion into its capital markets business. "An unconstrained Wells will put balance sheet and capital to work in markets, supporting and financing client trading activity, driving higher markets-related NII and overall trading volumes," the analysts, who reiterated their buy-equivalent rating, said. WFC YTD mountain Wells Fargo (WFC) year-to-date performance All of this aligns with CEO Scharf's comments Wednesday in an exclusive interview with CNBC. The executive, who was hired in 2019 to clean up the bank, described the cap's removal as "hugely significant." He pointed to growth in customer deposits first and foremost because now the bank can expand its balance sheet. That's because by some estimates Wells Fargo has missed out on $400 billion worth of deposits over the past seven years due to the Fed-imposed regulatory punishment. It's more than just the deposit base, though, according to Scharf. "It's the ability to provide advice, provide investment services. If it's in corporate, it's the ability to help [clients] access public markets," he continued. "With the exception of the mortgage business, all have the opportunity to grow  both in terms of returns and in terms of rate of growth." Jim said Wells Fargo can also compete better among its Wall Street peers in the long run. "Before this cap, these banks were all kind of clustered. Since this cap, Wells has fallen so far behind," he said. "I think Charlie is going to go for JPMorgan, " Jim added, arguing that Wells Fargo can grab more share in businesses like commercial banking and credit cards. Asked specifically about going after JPMorgan, the CEO told Jim that Wells now has "the ability to compete differently moving forward," but "there's no one person we're targeting." Although none of these changes can happen overnight, management has been laying the groundwork for a turnaround in its businesses for years. Case in point: Wells Fargo has made a slew of senior level hires in its corporate and investment banking division. The expansion into Wall Street dealmaking and capital markets diversifies Wells Fargo's revenues further, so that the firm doesn't rely so heavily on interest-based incomes that are at the mercy of the Fed's monetary policy moves. And although Wells will definitely save on expenses in remediation efforts, the bank still plans to invest into compliance. "Yesterday versus today, the only thing that's different is the perception of Wells Fargo, which is incredibly important because we've always been perceived as being in the penalty box," Scharf said. He continued, "This is not the kind of environment where you come out guns ablazing on anything...There's no light switch that's going to go off today versus yesterday." Still, that doesn't mean the stock can't benefit in the meantime. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long WFC. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Pakistan will chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for 2025 and will be vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the 15-nation UN body.According to a list of chairs of the subsidiary bodies of the UN Security Council, Denmark will chair the 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, while Russia and Sierra Leone will be vice-chairs for 2025.Algeria will chair the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, while France, Pakistan and Russia will be vice-chairs.Pakistan will chair the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee that imposes an assets freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo on individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan. Guyana and Russia will be vice-chairs of the Taliban sanctions committee.Pakistan will also be co-chair of the Informal Working Groups on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions and on the General UNSC Sanctions Issues.Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council for the 2025-26 term. The sanctions committees of the Council comprise all 15 members of the Security Council and make its decisions by consensus. India was Chair of the UNSC Counter-terrorism Committee for 2022 during its 2021-22 tenure in the Council as a non-permanent member.India has consistently reminded the international community that Pakistan is host to the worlds largest number of UN-proscribed terrorists and entities. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistans Abbottabad for years and was killed in an operation by the US Navy Seals in May 2011.China, France, Russia, the UK and the US are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council while Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia are currently in the Council as non-permanent members.In elections held Tuesday (June 3), five new non-permanent Members of the UN Security Council were elected by secret ballot for a 2-year term starting on January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2027. These are Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Latvia and Colombia.
So long, coal soot -- life transformed in zero-carbon village

Xinhua) 15:19, June 04, 2025

YINCHUAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Zhou Xuelin, a villager from northwest China, bid farewell to his old house, which had been blackened by coal soot, in September last year; the winter days spent choking on soot spewed from coal-heating stoves were finally behind him.

The new house Zhou moved into was constructed, under unified planning, by Xingsheng Village in Pingluo County of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is a detached, white bungalow among rows of similar abodes.

In addition to being bright and clean, the new houses feature a mouthful concept that Zhou was not very familiar with -- they were certified as near-zero carbon architectures. Little did the 62-year-old farmer expect that he could one day lead a pioneering lifestyle by living in an energy-efficient house.

Seventy-six such rural houses have been built, each equipped with a rooftop photovoltaic power panel and an air-source heat pump. Of these, 33 belonging to Phase II of the construction were reinforced with heat-trapping insulation materials. Power generated from photovoltaic installations drives the air-source heat pump that produces heat for the building.

As northwest China typically witnesses sub-zero temperatures during winter, winter heating represents a major source of pollution in rural areas.

With these buildings now complete, Xingsheng Village has become Ningxia's first near-zero carbon village with tremendous benefits.

"Living in the old house was quite a hassle when it came to heating; someone always had to worry about feeding the stove with coal and cleaning the ashes. It would get stuffy as soon as you walked in, and the place was dirty," Zhou said.

"Now, the new house is even more comfortable than living in an apartment in the city. My children and grandchildren visit more often, and they feel relaxed here."

Zhou spent around 60,000 yuan (about 8,348.5 U.S. dollars) decorating his home and bought many household appliances to maximize his electricity usage in daily life, even preparing two electric pans for cooking, as the electricity generated from the rooftop is cheaper than gas.

Saving money is a top concern for the villagers. Huang Xuejun, a resident, said that although coal prices have decreased somewhat over the past two years, heating with coal during the winter still costs over 4,000 yuan at least. In contrast, after moving into the new house, the electricity bill for an entire heating season is only about 1,500 yuan.

Moreover, the Phase II houses were built with prefabricated graphene heating wall panels that have better insulation and triple-glazed windows. An extra 20 centimeters of insulation layer was added to the walls, according to He Chao, the Party chief of Xingsheng Village, noting that the insulation is crucial to lowering overall power consumption.

Better still, the new houses can earn money for their residents. Each of the 33 households in Phase II boasts an installed photovoltaic generation capacity of 5.4 kilowatts and houses an energy storage battery of 10 kWh, which functions as a super-sized charger. The excess electricity generated during the day can be fed back into the grid.

At the end of each month, a settlement is made, and villagers are paid for the electricity output they supply to the grid. The village estimates that the power generation could earn each household approximately 1,500 yuan a year.

Xingsheng Village has a population of 1,826, over 700 of whom are permanent residents, and about 58 percent of rural houses stand empty as many villagers have migrated to cities.

Xingsheng Village began to construct new rural houses in 2021. The project was listed as a demonstration project of renewable energy construction, meaning that the village was allocated government funding. Besides, the project enlisted demolition subsidies and earthquake-resistant renovation subsidies. The rest, a small portion, is raised by the villagers themselves.

China aims to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and realize carbon neutrality by 2060. To achieve this, a green transition in the production and way of living has been promoted across the nation's vast rural regions in recent years. Many zero or near-zero carbon villages have emerged across the country.

China rolled out a five-year initiative to promote the development of zero-carbon villages and townships in January 2023. The initiative aims at leveraging renewable energies available to rural areas, energy conservation and storage technologies, to replace fossil fuels with renewables.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
French search engine Qwant has filed a formal complaint with Frances antitrust regulator alleging that Microsoft deliberately degraded the quality of search results delivered through its Bing platform.

The privacy-focused search company is seeking interim action against the US tech giant while the regulator investigates the complaint, Reuters reported, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Qwant, which relies on Microsofts Bing platform for its search services, wants the regulator to take interim action against the US tech giant while investigating its complaint.

The complaint represents the latest challenge to Microsofts search syndication business model, coming amid heightened scrutiny of Big Tech platforms across Europe. The timing appears critical for Qwant, as competition enforcers only take interim action if there is evidence that a company abuses its market power and has caused serious and immediate harm to the complainant.
Paul Downs picked the Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia star to be his DJ when he first created the character

According to Paul Downs, no other actress on television could possibly wear the shoes of Deborah DJ Vance Jr. besides Kaitlin Olson, and that's not just because theyre size 13.

On the critically beloved HBO comedy Hacks, no character has gone through more positive growth than DJ, the formerly drug addicted daughter of a legendary comedian who has spent the last four seasons finding her own identity and independence apart from her famous namesake. DJ is the heart of Hacks and Olson is the hit show's stand-out supporting star, but Olsons stellar performance isnt just the serendipitous result of the casting process that the rest of the Hacks squad went through (minus Downs, of course).

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In a recent talk with comedy veteran and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Susie Essman for Interview Magazine, Downs revealed that he hand-picked Olson to play DJ when he and his team first began writing the character. Fortunately for them, Olson accepted the part.

Downs, who plays the put-upon talent manager Jimmy LuSaque Jr. on the show he co-created with Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, says that the biggest challenge when first putting the Hacks team together was, predictably, finding the right actress to play Deborah Vance, an aging stand-up star eyeing a career resurgence. As Hacks fans know well, Jean Smart ended up being so good in the role that it almost seemed like Deborah was written with her in mind  but, no, there was a full audition process to find the perfect mother for Olson.

The only person we actually wrote for, other than me, was Kaitlin Olson as DJ, Downs told Essman of the Hacks casting process, though he understood that Olson was an ambitious get. We didnt think she would do it because its a supporting role. After all, as Downs explained, (Olson) was already the lead of The Mick, which was a network show, and Its Always Sunny for 15 seasons.

Said Downs of Olson's surprising receptiveness to the comparatively small role, Thank god she did it, because shes so brilliant.

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Downs recalled, I remember the first day we were working with her, Jean would exit her scene with Kaitlin and run around to monitor and watch the rest of the scene. Downs noted that Smart was more than impressed with her new cast mate, commenting, Game respect game. When Kaitlin is on set, everybodys a little different, Jean and Hannah in particular. They are a little funnier. They really try to rise to meet her.

Hopefully, when the jabronis at the Television Academy cast their ballots for the Emmy Awards this fall, they'll respect game, too  otherwise those snobs can rise to meet all the spit from Olson's fans.
Shortly after taking over the NBC late-night spot formerly occupied by David Letterman, Conan OBrien found himself on the precipice. Early critical reaction to Late Night With Conan OBrien was lukewarm, and the ratings werent much better. It was very raw. I was very inexperienced, Conan remembered this week on the Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend podcast. It was choppy waters for quite a while, and people thought maybe this isnt going to work out.

So it was big news when Letterman invited Conan to guest on his new CBS show. It was the big number one show at the time, Conan explained. This was a big deal to get to go on Daves show and promote the show that we were doing a couple of blocks away.

But what kind of bit could Conan do on Lettermans show? He brainstormed with his writers, throwing out funny stories that might make the audience laugh. Then, as a goof, OBrien suggested a bit he often did in the writers room. What if I just walked out there and David Letterman said, All right, well this next gentleman took over our old show that's on at 12:35 on NBC. Please welcome Conan O'Brien.

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Paul Shaffer and the band would play, Conan would shake Dave's hand, and Letterman would ask some kind of innocuous question about how the show is going. Conan would begin to respond, Well, Dave, I just got to tell you and then OBriens face would glitch as if he were some kind of comedy android that just went on the fritz. Conan would stay stiff as a statue.

After trying in vain to unfreeze OBrien, Letterman would have no choice but to cut to commercial. To ratchet up the discomfort, OBrien wouldnt tell Letterman or his producers about the bit beforehand. I wasnt serious, Conan insisted, but his writers thought the gag was perfect for Lettermans show. Robert Smigel, whos the headwriter at the time, said, You have to do it. Not only should you do it, you have to do it.

OBrien reminded his podcast crew that, at the time, his show was hanging on by a thread. In fact, it was briefly cancelled at one point before NBC realized it had no backup plan. A stunt like freezing on Lettermans show could have been the final straw.

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And yet, Smigel was insistent, comparing the bit to an Andy Kaufman gag. America would in that moment realize Conan has broken the sound barrier of comedy!

But OBrien chickened out. I was new and nervous, he confessed, revealing that he told funny stories instead. After all, who knows how Letterman would have responded? There was a chance he would have loved the bit, but I think he would have loathed it.

OBrien shuddered at the thought. In an alternative universe, he said, a Letterman show exists where he froze like this:

That Conan, said co-host Sona Movsesian, is working in accounting.
Historically  and as of fall 2024  UC enrollment data show China as the top country of origin for international students throughout the entire UC system and at UC Berkeley. (Photo by U.S. Department of State under U.S. government works)
The day before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget last October, 78-year-old South Yorkshire farmer John Charlesworth killed himself.

He knew that the Government was going to mount a punitive tax raid on family-owned farms and wanted to make sure that his son and daughter would have the means to keep the farm and look after his dementia-stricken wife.

You dont have to take my word for it, its what the inquest into his death concluded last week.

Sheffield coroner Tanyka Rawden said: He had caring responsibilities and was worried about the implementation of the new form of inheritance tax which could see the family lose 50 per cent of their farm, ultimately causing him to take his life the day before the changes were due to be announced.

The agricultural sector has long suffered more suicides than any other industry. Long hours, unpredictable weather, social isolation and financial worry take their toll. But this is the first time that a coroner has blamed a farmers death on government policy.

Yet far from addressing this issue, Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer are only making matters worse. First, they went ahead with their decision to impose inheritance tax on family farms. Then, it emerged only last week that the Chancellor is considering massive cuts to the 5 billion worth of subsidies given to encourage nature-friendly farming.

The agricultural sector has long suffered more suicides than any other industry. Long hours, unpredictable weather, social isolation and financial worry take their toll (File image)

We have lost EU subsidies, but under the terms of this Environmental Land Management (ELM) fund, farmers are paid to grow wildflower meadows for insects and birds or fence off watercourses to stop manure polluting them. Everyone benefits from birdsong and better water quality in rivers.

Crucially, as viewers of the fourth series of Amazon Primes Clarksons Farm will understand, this money is guaranteed. Much of a farmers income is at the mercy of the weather, but such income is not.

So by cutting off this money supply, life becomes a great deal less certain and the foreclosure of many more farms will surely follow. As the Conservative environment spokesman Victoria Atkins puts it: Labours lack of understanding about our rural communities is putting our nations food security at risk.

The Government cant say it hasnt been warned. Donald Trumps agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins clearly grasped something that Reeves and her Cabinet colleagues do not when she was in the UK last month. She said: You cannot have true national security without food security. My suggestion is putting your farmers first and ensuring they are the backbone of your country.

Rollins added: Anywhere youre increasing the cost of taxes, increasing the cost of the land, youre going to start closing your farms.

Speaking after the White House had negotiated greater access to the UK market for its cattle farmers as part of the UK-US trade deal, Rollins recognised that British farmers are working within an extremely unfair system.

Spiralling taxes, sky-high energy costs and the weight of red tape are crippling us. And the longer this goes on, the greater the risk of food shortages, which in turn will undermine national security to a desperate degree. We saw during the pandemic, and at the start of the Ukraine war, that Britain is vulnerable to shortages if imports of fruit, vegetables and other staples are cut off.

Today, when the world is more unstable than at any time since the Second World War, it is crucial that we maintain our farms and the chain of domestic food production.

Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are only making matters worse, says Jamie Blackett. They went ahead with imposing inheritance tax on family farms and are considering cuts to subsidies given to encourage nature-friendly farming

In recent days, the Labour Government has signalled that it is open to lifting the two-child benefit cap, and allowing more pensioners to receive the winter fuel allowance that the party scrapped last autumn for all but the poorest.

My point is that if U-turns are being countenanced in Downing Street, then a priority for Reeves must be to reconsider the inheritance tax burden on family farms, a burden that will have greater long-term implications for the country.

By restricting Agricultural Property Relief from April 2026, meaning most family farms will no longer be exempt from death duties, Reeves has left farmers like me scrambling to find a way to protect our businesses for our children  and finding it very difficult. My dairy farm in Dumfries and Galloway, on the Solway Firth, has been in our family since 1852.

But Im 60 years old and, if my son inherits a tax bill equivalent to 20 per cent of the propertys total capital value when I die, he might have no choice other than to sell up. Almost two centuries of custodianship and knowledge will be obliterated at a stroke.

If he does manage to meet the cost, his own children will one day face the same crushing tax. Every generation will have this shadow looming over them. All we can do to fend off the worst is take out gargantuan life insurance policies to help pay the tax bill when we turn up our toes. That is a huge added expense, and it also comes at a time when electricity and other inputs are more oppressive than ever before.

Reeves has left farmers like me scrambling to find a way to protect our businesses for our children  and finding it very difficult, writes Jamie Blackett, pictured on his farm in Scotland

Reeves evidently doesnt care if our family farm dies with me. Perhaps she looks at figures that put the output of British farms at just 0.58 per cent of GDP and feels this isnt worth protecting.

But farms like ours are the source of raw goods for Britains biggest manufacturing industry, the 148 billion food processing sector. I know that my dairy farm is as efficient as any in the world because it has economies of scale, using modern techniques and machinery. My business has about 1,000 head of cattle on our 1,200 acres, including 700 dairy cows.

Seven people are employed here. But dozens more rely on my farm and neighbouring properties: tanker drivers who collect the milk, hauliers who bring feed and equipment, vets, motor mechanics, builders, hedge-layers and dry stone-wallers, drainage contractors, salesmen and many more.

They are losing work now because we are having to spend money instead on lawyers and life insurance and tax.

And then there are the people I never see: the factory workers who process our milk into cheese, the abattoir workers and butchers. My business touches countless thousands of other peoples livelihoods. But taxes and bureaucracy are preventing us from investing in our farms. And without investment in them, we have no chance of competing with the rest of the world. The National Insurance hike for employees at the last Budget has also forced us to save on wages wherever possible by cutting workers hours, something no one wants.

My dairy farm has been in our family since 1852. If my son inherits a tax bill equivalent to 20 per cent of the propertys total capital value when I die, he might have to sell up (File image)

And this week it has emerged that the Chancellors inheritance tax raid on farms in the Budget will, in fact, cost the Treasury almost 2 billion. According to consultants CBI Economics, the changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief will do more harm in stagnating growth than the 1.8 billion Whitehall claims the levy will raise.

It neednt be this way.

New Zealand helps its farmers by not imposing too many regulations. For instance, theres no inheritance tax on their farms, and this has helped them compete on the world stage without any subsidies at all.

The Irish government, too, has treated its agriculture as a strategic industry and invested in its dairy processing capabilities and helped farmers to develop globally competitive grass-fed dairy products. Kerrygold butter is the best-selling premium brand in the US as a result.

British farmers want to flourish, we want to feed the nation  but we need the Government to recognise our importance to Britains food security. Because, right now, Labour has little idea of the chaos they are storing up for the future.

Jamie Blackett is the author of Red Rag To A Bull: Rural Life In An Urban Age (Quiller)
Freedom of expression is one of the pillars of British civilisation. It is the noble idea that lay at the heart of the Magna Carta, pioneered the development of parliamentary democracy and inspired the defeat of Nazi tyranny.

But I fear this essential liberty is under grave threat from an ugly alliance of Muslim extremists and supine British officials who are conspiring  in the name of multicultural sensitivity  to give Islam a special status in our society.

Dressed up as a form of trendy tolerance, this sinister strategy is already corroding public discourse and breeding a new form of two-tier justice.

That is the only conclusion I can draw from the disturbing case of Hamit Coskun, a Kurdish-Armenian protester who was convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offence on Monday after he burnt a copy of the Koran outside Turkeys consulate in London.

Attacked by a knifeman at the time (who, farcically, will not face trial until 2027), the 50-year-old has now been punished by the British state and fined almost 350.

As a progressive imam and Islamic theologian, I found Coskuns actions distasteful, offensive and utterly against the spirit of Britain where respect for peoples beliefs and faiths is a central feature of our culture.

And yet I am deeply troubled by the decision of the authorities to treat his conduct as a criminal offence. No one has been put in physical danger. The damage to property is slight. Nor is the legislation under which he has been charged being deployed as its makers intended.

The Public Order Act is meant to deal with dangerous and abusive behaviour, not hurt feelings or religious sensibilities.

Hamit Coskun leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court after he was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence when he burned a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London

This decision does not show British law operating at its majestic, impartial best. On the contrary, the depressing episode exposes the cynical drive to shut down any criticism of Islam.

The conviction of Coskun is not an isolated case. It is part of a concerted push to erect a judicial forcefield around Islam  that will only sow further division.

Anyone who thinks this is an exaggeration should consider the case of the schoolteacher in Batley, West Yorkshire, who showed his pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in 2021.

Four years on and the teacher is living in hiding, fearing for his life after being targeted by Islamists.

The drawing was presented during a classroom discussion about the Charlie Hebdo massacre in 2015, when terrorists targeted the French satirical magazine after it published drawings of the prophet.

Je Suis Charlie, Western leaders cried at the time as they expressed solidarity with the 12 victims of this horrific atrocity. But those were just empty words.

In Britain, Europe and most of the West the concern of political elites and policymakers was to avoid offending Islam rather than defending our cherished democratic principles.

That is why the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch was absolutely right to warn that, under Sir Keir Starmers government, we could be seeing a specific blasphemy law to protect Islam creeping in by the back door.

In 2008, the traditional British blasphemy laws were finally abolished. It is extraordinary that now, in the face of Muslim fundamentalists and fanatics, those laws could be resurrected to prop up a creed that barely existed in Britain before the mid-20th century.

Islam is no more part of Britains historic identity than Christianity is part of Moroccos or Pakistans. Yet now the faith is being given a uniquely privileged position above all other religions in this country.

That is a reflection not of some celestial truth but fear  given the demands and grievances of fundamentalist Muslims often come laced with the menace of violence.

Any quasi-blasphemy law is little more than a form of appeasement by a cowardly political establishment that always offers the path of least resistance to hardliners.

Little wonder that the Tories justice spokesman Robert Jenrick warned this week that the policy will create a two-tier legal system  the very opposite of equality that is meant to be Labours lodestar.

This is not the road to peace. This will lead to more oppression, violence and extremism  such as we saw with the Charlie Hebdo killings and the savage attack on the great writer Salman Rushdie in 2022. The signs of surrender are all too clear.

One glaring example of this institutional feebleness is the plan to introduce a new wide-ranging definition of Islamophobia under the 2010 Equality Act which  as its architect Harriet Harman declared  created a new social order in Britain.

Part of that new order could be the criminalisation of any criticism of Islam  a move that our forefathers would have found despicable and incomprehensible.

Some supporters of this crackdown on free speech want to widen the definition of racially aggravated crimes to include any attacks on Islam or its believers. But that just illustrates the intellectual weakness of the fundamentalists position. Islam is not a race, it is a religion, and people from all sorts of ethnic minorities are adherents.

But the greater intellectual flaw is the pretence that blasphemy rules are sanctioned by the Koran.

As a Muslim scholar, I can say categorically that this is a complete fabrication.

There is nothing scriptural about the concept of blasphemy. In truth, the Koran advocates freedom of religion and mutual coexistence by welcoming other beliefs and viewpoints. To you, is your religion, and to me, mine, says one striking verse in Islams book.

The tragedy of contemporary Islam, especially in the West, is that fundamentalists have been allowed to take charge. They have dictated the agenda, resulting in a triumph for radicalism.

I believe orthodox Muslims obsession with blasphemy stems not from Islams transcendent text but from three manufactured additions to Islamic theology.

I call them the Toxic Trio because their influence has been so malign.

First, there is the hadith, the reported sayings of Prophet Mohammed compiled centuries after his death. Second, is the sharia, a patriarchal concoction of medieval codes that justify authoritarianism and treat women as second-class citizens. Third, there are the fatwas, the risible opinions of self-important and politically motivated clerics.

Their aim is not to promote spiritual enlightenment but to enhance the rulers stranglehold on power.

While the Toxic Trio is routinely used to justify blasphemy laws in Islam, it has no place in a liberal democracy like Britain. It is wrong on so many levels.

By giving a unique status or protected standing to Islam, it contravenes the British imperative to fairness and justice. This is bound to cause resentment since other believers will not feel that they have the same protection.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine that the state would have been as tough with someone who burnt a copy of the Bible outside the Italian Embassy in London.

I am not arguing that we should widen a blasphemy law to cover every faith.

Freedom of speech has already been undermined too much in modern Britain, as shown by the spread of cancel culture and the vast diversity industry, which only encourages people to feel perpetual offence.

We should be moving in the opposite direction  towards a greater embrace of liberty, not by constricting hard-fought historic rights for free speech. That is the truly British way.
When Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street last July, he vowed to 'smash the gangs' behind the barbaric trade in human cargo across the English Channel. So far, all he has smashed are the records for the number of illegal migrants making the journey to Britain.

On Saturday alone, some 1,200 migrants arrived in small boats  the highest daily total so far this year. A staggering figure. But even more staggering is the Prime Minister's brazen attempt to pull the wool over the public's eyes.

'You have every right to be angry about small-boat crossings. I'm angry, too,' Starmer wrote on X this week, in an all-too-familiar display of hand-wringing and hollow empathy. In the same breath, he boasted that 'almost 30,000 people' had been removed from the UK  a statement clearly designed to mislead.

Because, contrary to the impression given, that figure does not refer solely to small-boat migrants. In fact, it includes foreign nationals with no permission to be here  for example, students who've overstayed visas, failed asylum seekers from years ago and foreign offenders. Many will very likely have volunteered.

The truth is that on Starmer's watch, the number of small-boat migrants removed in the 12 months to March fell 3 per cent year-on-year to 2,240. None of them was from countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan or Somalia.

It wouldn't be the first time the Prime Minister has spun the facts in such a misleading fashion to hide the truth about Labour's abysmal record on immigration.

Just last month, after new net migration figures showed a 50 per cent fall compared with 2023, the Home Office shared a flashy graphic on X that said: 'Net migration cut by nearly 50 per cent  the largest-ever drop in any 12-month period.'

Sir Keir gleefully doubled down on the claim, stating that 'we have nearly halved net migration in the last year. We're taking back control'.

All Sir Keir Starmer, pictured on Monday, has smashed are the records for the number of illegal migrants making the journey to Britain, writes Alp Mehmet

On Saturday alone, some 1,200 migrants arrived in small boats  the highest daily total so far this year (Pictured: Migrants crossing the Channel earlier this year)

In reality, this dramatic drop was almost entirely the result of visa-tightening measures brought in by the previous Conservative government  which Labour, in opposition, dismissed as 'chaotic' and a 'Tory failure'. Now they're shamelessly taking credit.

Let's be clear: Labour only took office in the latter half of 2024. Starmer cannot take ownership of improvements made before he even stepped into No 10. What he can be judged on are the figures for 2025. And they make for grim reading.

So far this year, more than 14,700 migrants have made the illegal, perilous crossing.

At this rate, the total will likely surpass 50,000 by the end of 2025, bringing the number who've crossed since 2018  when illegal boat crossings first began  to around 200,000. That's the equivalent of the population of Luton arriving in dinghies. And that's just those we know about.

Those figures are a monument to the failure of Europe's elite to take these problems seriously. Politicians on both sides of the Channel have refused to get tough.

While in Britain Labour and activist lawyers hide behind legalistic concerns about human rights and outdated treaties  intended to deal with different circumstances to justify doing nothing  Paris shrugs its shoulders with Gallic indifference while Brussels bangs on the EU drum.

Disgraceful pictures emerged over the weekend showing French gendarmes standing by while dinghies full of migrants were loaded up by, we assume, the traffickers. A crime taking place directly in front of them, yet they still refused to act.

What makes their failure to enforce the law all the more disgraceful is the huge sums of taxpayers' money that the French are accepting from Britain to patrol their coastline.

Starmer pictured with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in May. His half-hearted attempts to revive the Tories' Rwanda scheme with a 'Rwanda mark two' ended in embarassment

Since 2010, we have either handed or pledged close to 600million (around 1billion) to our neighbours to help stem the tide. Instead, we have seen numbers rise.

Why would the French intervene, when they're more than happy to wave these migrants through  many of whom have already had their asylum claims rejected in France?

We have a right to feel cheated by France. But Starmer's Government's own strategy has been woeful.

Having spent the last month cosying up to Brussels in a bid to 'reset' the UK's relationship with the EU, Starmer is too timid to ruffle French feathers or demand results for the huge sums we have handed over.

He has failed to provide any means of deterrence to the illegal migrants, having abandoned the Tories' Rwanda scheme and miserably failed to set up any alternative.

His half-hearted attempts to revive it  including a charm offensive aimed at persuading Albanian prime minister Edi Rama to host 'Rwanda mark two' holding hubs  ended in embarrassment.

Starmer can try to dress the figures up as much as he likes  but no amount of clever wording will change the truth: he has betrayed the trust of British people.
As Labour's appetite for more spending, especially on welfare, becomes ever more voracious, so its search for new tax revenues to foot the bill becomes ever more desperate. The latest wheeze is for a wealth tax, which is rapidly becoming the Labour Left's answer to any and all spending shortfalls.
A couple of weeks ago the liberal human rights lawyer Philippe Sands appeared at the Cambridge Festival to promote his book recalling the case of late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochets 1998 UK arrest. Opening his talk, Sands revealed to his audience how he had been asked to represent Pinochet, a sadistic torturer, in the impending court case.

I explained to my wife, with some excitement, and she says to me, Will you do it? he recalled. Then she says to me, You can do it if you want to do it. But if you do it, I will divorce you tomorrow.

Which left Sands with a big problem. According to the Cab Rank rule, barristers are supposed to take whichever case is offered to them without fear or favour. But he decided his marriage was more important to him. So in his own words, I was able to take advantage of an exception to the Cab Rank principle, which is the rule of professional embarrassment.

He rejected the opportunity to defend Pinochet, and instead signed up to act against him on behalf of Human Rights Watch.

This amusing anecdote took on larger political significance yesterday, following another slick video distributed by hard-charging shadow attorney general Robert Jenrick.

In the film, Jenrick takes aim at serving Attorney General  and chief Keir Starmer ally  Richard Hermer. In particular, Jenrick took issue with the number of dubious individuals Lord Hermer had represented during his time as a barrister, and the argument hed had no option but to represent them because of the Cab Rank Rule.

Lord Hermer, Attorney General for England and Wales. He has come under fire for the clients he represented as a barrister

Robert Jenrick attacks Lord Hermer by parading in front of ten easels showing controversial clients in latest stunt video

Gerry Adams. Five terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda. The mother of an ISIS Beatle. Shamima Begum.

If someone wants to spend their life defending Britains enemies, thats on them and their conscience, Jenrick raged. But that someone shouldnt be chosen to be our Attorney General.

The attack drew an immediate  and well worn  response from Hermers defenders.

Disgraceful, stormed former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve. As a lawyer, I am sure that he [Jenrick] has in his time represented the interests of clients who he either found unpleasant or disreputable. Maintaining the rule of law and our freedoms depends on lawyers shouldering that obligation.

Best-selling author and anonymous social media blogger The Secret Barrister posted: Barristers are strictly forbidden  in any case  from refusing to represent a client on the grounds that they find the client objectionable, or that the public might find a client objectionable.

But as Sands made clear in April, barristers do precisely that by using the exceptions that exist in the Code of Conduct for barristers to enable them to avoid representing clients they  or in this case their wives  find especially abhorrent. And he is not just any barrister.

He has appeared before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court. And significantly, he was a founder member of Matrix Chambers, the same chambers Lord Hermer joined in 2012 and went on to serve as Chair of its Management Committee.

Nor is Sandss use of the exceptions enshrined in the Code of Conduct an aberration.

Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands, who rejected representing Chilean dictator Pinochet

In a more extreme example, two years ago 120 lawyers, including high-profile liberal KCs Jolyon Maugham, Sir Geoffrey Bindman and Imran Khan announced they would refuse to represent clients promoting new fossil fuel projects  or prosecute peaceful climate activists.

In reality, the supposedly sacrosanct Cab Rank Rule is regularly bypassed. Indeed, its hard to see how it is really even a rule at all.

In 2013, the Legal Aid Board  the main statutory regulator of legal aid services  commissioned a report into the Cab Rank Rule. It found: The rule has not been the basis of any disciplinary finding by the Bars regulator. It is virtually unenforceable because all but the most egregious detraction from the rule will be unnoticed. It applies only in specific and limited circumstances and not to direct access clients, nor does it apply to solicitor-advocates.

The Cab Rank Rule is primarily meant to ensure barristers do not turn down cases that are publicly or politically unpopular, as occurred in the wake of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, when the Bar Council had to issue an open appeal for QCs to represent the defendants.

But as the Legal Aid Board report specifically states: No other case since then seems to have attracted such opprobrium that no counsel could be found. Indeed, the very opposite has occurred; the worse the client, the more attractive and desirable. Several respondents suggested that if Anders Breivik,the Norwegian bomber and shooter, had been on trial here in the UK, barristers would have queued around the block to represent him.

Barristers like Lord Hermer will, given the exceptions that exist in the Code of Conduct, in reality have some discretion for who they do or do not represent. Which is why the Legal Aid Board report finally concluded: We can see no justification for the continuation of the Cab Rank Rule as a rule in the modern, globalised legal services market. By all means the Bar can espouse it as a laudable principle, but it should not pretend that the rule is significant or efficacious.

The charge that Lord Hermer has only ever represented Britains enemies is not supported by the facts. He once represented the family of a young British soldier murdered by the IRA in the 1970s.

But it seems to me unlikely, given the way the rules are written, that Hermer was compelled to represent every single client that pulled up in front of him. In truth, he, like every other barrister, chose to mix his legal expertise, his professional curiosity and his personal principles and values in order to gravitate towards certain areas of law, and in doing so also the types of client that tend to feature in those areas of law.

Which was fine when he was is private practice. But those same values, principles, expertise and professional curiosity are now being used to interpret the law on behalf of the British people.

Shamima Begum, who was represented by Lord Hermer

Gerry Adams was also represented by Lord Hermer

And they deserve openness and honesty. Which in turn means acknowledging Lord Hermer is essentially what his political critics claim he is. A liberal, activist lawyer who primarily and instinctively opts to stand on the side of the opponents of the state, rather than the state itself.

And fair play to him for that. So long as people recognise the Governments most senior lawyer does honestly think his primary role is, as he told last years Bingham Lecture, to shore up the rule of law against the forces of populism. That he cannot stand by idly as rule of law principles and the human rights idea are undermined, sometimes without challenge, on television screens, the pages of newspapers and most effectively and invidiously of all, on social media. And that those who oppose Britains continued membership of, and adherence to, the ECHR are equivalent to Nazis.

Lord Hermer is not Attorney General despite working in chambers that took up cases that featured Gerry Adams, five terrorists linked Al-Qaeda, the mother of an ISIS Beatle and Shamima Begum. He was appointed by Keir Starmer because of it.

They are kindred spirits. Products of the rarefied world of the modern, elite barrister. One in which, in the words of the Legal Aid Societys report, the worse the client, the more attractive and desirable.

When he was offered the opportunity of representing Pinochet, Phillipe Sands confessed to feeling a shiver of excitement. I wonder how Lord Hermer would have felt if hed been offered the case.
Meghan Markle has shared the clearest glimpse of Princess Lilibet since 2022 as she marked her daughter's fourth birthday with an Instagram post.

The Duchess of Sussex usually only shares photographs of her daughter, who is seventh in line to the throne, pictured from behind to protect her privacy.

But in today's photo Lili's eyes and the top half of her face can be seen, with her nose and mouth covered by Meghan's arms as she hugs the princess.

The Duchess shared the black and white snap of herself cuddling Lilibet, who was sat on her lap, with the pair both sporting windswept hair.

A second image also posted today by Meghan showed her tenderly cradling newborn Lili shortly after her birth in 2021.

Posting at midight California time, she wrote: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!'

Meghan and Prince Harry have not shared an official portrait of Lilibet's face since her first birthday in June 2022 during a picnic at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Lilibet, who is named her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, was born in Santa Barbara after the couple quit royal life and moved to California.

The Duchess of Sussex shared the black and white photo of herself cuddling Princess Lilibet, who was sat on her lap, with the pair both sporting windswept hair

A second image also posted today by Meghan showed her tenderly cradling newborn Princess Lilibet as she enjoyed skin-to-skin time with the new addition to her family in 2021.

Harry and Meghan also share six-year-old Prince Archie, who was born at the Portland Hospital in London in May 2019 while the pair were working royals.

The Instagram post by the Duchess today comes just a day after she revealed she is considering going into business with Lilibet in the future.

Meghan spoke during her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder about 'building something' with her youngest child.

She made the comment while interviewing 71-year-old fashion designer Tina Knowles, who launched the haircare line Cecred with her daughter Beyonce last year.

Meghan said in the podcast: 'I wonder if one day I'll be in business with Lili and we'll be building something.' Knowles added: 'Yeah, that's the best.'

Last week, Meghan shared a video of her and Lilibet harvesting honey in matching beekeeping suits.

The Duchess took to Instagram to post the extended video set to The Archies' hit Sugar, Sugar in a sweet nod to her son Archie.

Her caption read: 'Look at all of that fresh honeycomb! Harvesting honey with my little honey. (Like mother, like daughter; she's even wearing my gloves)'

The last official portrait of Princess Lilibet's face was taken on her first birthday in June 2022

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet in December 2021

The clip began with Meghan and Lilibet walking hand-in-hand towards a beehive while wearing appropriate safety suits.

It then cut to Meghan cutting out a slice of honeycomb before storing it in a glass jar and pouring the freshly-harvested honey over it - not unlike the bottles of wildflower honey sold by her brand As Ever.

The original video included a rare glimpse of Lilibet's face after she could be seen turning towards her mother.

The pair wore matching outfits in a vast field, but Lilibet accessorised with a pair of adorable rainbow wellies.

They held hands and were filmed from the back walking towards the hive, before Meghan bent down and rubbed her daughter on the back.

Meghan posted the video days after her seven-year wedding anniversary with Harry.

She marked it by posting an image of a cork board covered in photographs of her, Harry and their children.

However, royal fans noticed that Meghan left out a crucial detail about the milestone in her caption for the post.

The Duchess wrote: 'Seven years of marriage. A lifetime of stories. Thanks to all of you (whether by our side or from afar) who have loved and supported us throughout our love story - we appreciate you. Happy anniversary!'

Meghan shared a video on May 27 of her and Lilibet harvesting honey in beekeeping suits

Meghan shared a picture with Archie and Lilibet to mark Mother's Day in the US on May 11

Fans noticed the former Suits star failed to name Harry in the post.

Despite the post containing numerous photos of Meghan and Harry together, critics took to X to discuss Meghan's caption.

The Sussexes, who stepped down as senior members of the British royal family in 2020, have strained relationships on both sides of the family, between Harry's estrangement from his brother and father and Meghan not on speaking terms with her father Thomas.

Instead, the couple have surrounded their young children with a 'chosen' Californian family to dote on them in their Montecito mansion.

Thousands of miles away from their aunt and uncle, the Prince and Princess of Wales - and grandfather King Charles - Archie and Lili are now growing up with a series of 'surrogate' relatives after their parents rejected the royals.

Archie and Lilibet also have no relationship with any of the women on Meghan's side who could be called their aunts. Meghan has one half-sister, Samantha Markle, through her father Thomas Markle Snr's side - but has cut off ties with both of them.

The Duchess's half-brother Thomas Markle Jnr has been married twice, but Meghan has also had no relationship with him since well before she wed Harry in 2018.

In a post in April, Meghan was seen smiling and showing her daughter Lilibet a large rose

But it's not only the couple's young children who have forged a second family abroad - Prince Harry himself is said to have grown close both to a 'second father' in the form of David Foster and 'second mother' after his move to the US.

Harry has also formed a close relationship with Doria Ragland - with a royal source revealing that the Duke has grown close to Doria, who has been a 'tower of strength' for the couple over the past few years.

Last August, Meghan gushed about her daughter in a speech about 'Afro women and power' talk on the final day of her tour in Colombia with Prince Harry.

She said that Lilibet 'has found her voice and we are so proud of that' in the speech the Duchess also used to pay tribute to her mother.

Meghan said: 'For me I find inspiration in so many of the strong women around me. My mother being one of them. Life is full of surprises and can be quite complex. So much of how I approach things is about less of the fight and how do we wash things over with love and kindness and generosity.

'You see something wrong and you go and fix it. As women we are multi-taskers and fixers. We all know how much representation matters.'

The Duchess also said that as her mother, she is encouraging Lilibet to not 'sit in silence'.

'At three she has found her voice and we are so proud of that, because that is how we create the conditions in which there is a ripple effect of young girls and young women knowing that if someone else is encouraging them to use their voice and be heard, that's what they are going to do,' she added.
A disgraced Norwegian royal who has been accused of crimes against multiple women - including rape and assault - partied the week away at the Cannes Film Festival last month, it has been revealed.

Marius Borg Hiby, 28, was first arrested on August 4 2024 following a domestic incident with his ex girlfriend, Rebecca Helberg Arntsen, whom he admitted to assaulting in a grovelling statement. He has since been charged with a string of sexual offences, which he denies.

In February, a fifth woman came forward and filed a police report saying that Borg Hiby allegedly raped her four months prior at a hotel in Oslo, sources told TV2, bringing forward a new case of 'rape without intercourse'.

And last week, a sixth woman was called in for questioning after cops found videos of her on Borg Hiby's phone that were said to have been both serious and degrading, according to Norwegian news outlet Se og Hr .

'He never informed me of this. All the time we have spent together over the past year,' she reportedly told the police.

But despite these allegations, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway's son jetted off to the French Riviera just weeks ago where he lived it up at the Cannes Film Festival, reported Se og Hr .

Borg Hiby joined Norwegian businessman Per Morten Hansen, who is a good friend of his father, Morten Borg.

He was also seen on board the 165-foot motor yacht 'Da Vinci', a speed marvel worth 20 million dollars owned by entrepreneur and multi-billionaire Vincent Tchenguiz.

Marius Borg Hiby partied with businessman Rehan Syed, who lives a lavish lifestyle full of attractive women, cigars, fast boats and cars, as seen on his Instagram account

After his trip at sea, the Crown Princess's son and his pals went to Ile Sainte-Marguerite, a small island off the coast of Cannes.

The spot is highly popular with celebrities such as Elton John, Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyonce and Jay Z, The Beckhams and The Kardashians.

They visited the very exclusive and private La Guerite beach club on the island, which can only be reached via boat.

Borg Hiby partied with businessman Rehan Syed, who lives a lavish lifestyle full of attractive women, cigars, fast boats and cars, as seen on his Instagram account.

He even travelled to star-studded Monaco to attend the famous Formula 1 Grand Prix on May 25, attended every year by the Monegasque royals, before quietly returning to Norway.

Borg Hiby has mostly continued his life as normal since the charges were brought to light in August last year and has since been jetting off with friends to Hemsedal, Copenhagen and Italy.

He spent one week in custody in November after he was arrested due to the risk of tampering with evidence, NRK reported at the time.

Marius Borg Hiby is pictured with a luxurious dessert on the exclusive island of Ile Sainte-Marguerite loved by the Kardashians

The Oslo police force says the investigation is ongoing and that they have not set an end date.

Last week, police attorney Andreas Kruszewski told Se og Hr: 'We can confirm that the investigation into the case complex is still ongoing. Based on this, the police do not want to go into details, and cannot confirm the information from Se og Hr.

'Regarding the use of any coercive measures, there will be an ongoing assessment. We currently have no time frame for when the case will be completed  we will have to come back to that.'

Borg Hiby's new lawyer Ellen Holager Andens also told the outlet: 'I am more worried about the gathering media pressure than anything else. Otherwise, I am still not commenting on the ongoing investigation.'

Among those who have come forward is national media personality Linni Meister, who attended a 'castle basement party' of Borg Hiby's, where the 'attack' is said to have taken place; with police reported to have a video clip.

The TV star, 39, reportedly did not remember the alleged assault and only became aware of it after she was informed by law enforcement officials. After the claims came out earlier this year, Linni stated the allegations were 'true' in a Snapchat statement.

She has now hit out at Borg Hiby's 'disrespect' in a new podcast 'Puppen og Lillemor' with friend and co-host Mia Gundersen, 63.

Despite sexual assault and rape allegations, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway's son has jetted off to the French Riviera and has been seen living it up at the Cannes Film Festival

As reported by Se og hor, Linni became emotional as she slammed the royal for 'running away and going to party' while 'victims' wait for justice.

'He has no respect for himself or his family. Not even for us victims. It's hurtful. What happened afterwards is almost worse for me,' she said tearfully in an episode.

'Instead of doing the right thing, he runs away and goes to a party. I am appalled by how things are being handled by the defendant. And why isn't more happening? It p***es me off!

'If we are going to have a monarchy, we have to be able to trust it. He is not even in a place where he takes care of his health. He travels from country to country to party!'

Linni also admitted her heartbreak at the situation, considering she had felt Borg Hiby was a friend.

Even when the police had presented her with 'evidence' of her own assault, she said she initially wondered if it had been forged by AI (artificial intelligence).

'Marius doesn't take anything seriously,' she added. 'Everything is like a game to him.'

In a statement to the podcast, Borg Hiby's new lawyer Ellen Holager Andens referred to an earlier statement made in light of Linni's earlier Snapchat 'confirmation'.

'I am unfamiliar with statements on social media, and of course I have no desire to have opinions about what is said there,' they said.

'I am concerned that Se og Hr really sees reason to refer to that type of statement and reminds me of my call to reflect on the total media pressure in this case.

The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Hiby's first arrest at the beginning of August 2024. Pictured with his mother in 2016

'I hope Se og Hr does not think of contacting me every time someone expresses themselves on social media. If so, I can only conclude that the bottom has not yet been reached.'

The assault is reported to have taken place in 2018 at a 'party among friends' in the basement of Skaugum Castle in 2018, when Borg Hiby was 21.

He dubbed these 'Skaugum Festivals' and reportedly criminal friends including members of motorcycle gangs.

After one of these parties, the home was burgled, when a motorcycle gang reportedly stole private items from the Norwegian Royal Family.

Items, including silverware, are alleged to have been taken and then attempted to be sold via an auction house.

The event is said to have gotten 'completely out of hand' and continued in the castle basement while Borg Hiby's stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, slept upstairs.

Borg Hiby is the stepson of the future king of Norway. He was four when his mother married the future King Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. His half-sister is the future Queen of Norway.

It was during the party that Borg Hiby allegedly raped Linni while she was unconscious, local media reported.

Prince Sverre Magnus, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Marius Borg Hiby (pictured far right) in 2019 in Oslo

Police became aware of the alleged crime after discovering three videos and more than 10 photos of the incident on Borg Hiby's laptop, it was reported.

Linni was informed about the alleged assault at the Oslo Police Station, where she was shown the reportedly incriminating evidence.

Borg Hiby was accused of rape by a fifth woman, which is alleged to have taken place after he was released from police custody for assaulting his girlfriend.

It was in March reported that another person had become 'involved in the case' and is said to have been questioned by police 'several times,' according to local outlet Aftenposten.

This brought forward a new case of 'rape without intercourse', which allegedly took place late last year - when Borg Hiby was already facing a series of assault charges.

'I can confirm that I have been appointed as a legal aid lawyer for a woman in her 20s,' lawyer John Christian Elden said. 'Beyond that, I have no comment on the case.'

That same week, the royal was spotted stepping out in Copenhagen looking unrecognisable, dying his hair dark from white blonde and growing it out.

The son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also spent time at rehab centres in London since his arrest.

Hiby's defence attorney Ellen Holager Andens said: 'I have no knowledge of this and therefore have no comments to give.'
It has been over a decade since Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away from a rare form of pancreatic cancer, leaving behind more than just his multi-billion-dollar fortune.

Before his death in 2011 at age 56, the tech CEO welcomed four children.

Now his youngest daughter, Eve Jobs, who he had with wife Laurene Powell Jobs, is about to be thrust into the spotlight even further with her high society wedding to British Olympic gold medalist equestrian Harry Charles.

The 26-year-old model is set to tie the knot with the Team GB jumper in August in the Cotswolds surrounded by a star-studded guest list.

Eve's older siblings, Reed Jobs, 33, and Erin Jobs, 29, are likely to attend the festivities alongside their billionaire philanthropist mother Laurene, 61.

But one Jobs sibling whose attendance at the wedding is in question is their half-sister, Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

Lisa, now 47, was rejected by her father for almost a decade. While he eventually accepted her, she went on to paint a scathing portrait of her famous dad in her 2018 memoir, Small Fry.

Both Lisa and Eve have kept a public profile over the years, while Reed and Erin have mostly maintained a private life out of the spotlight.

Steve Jobs and wife Laurene Powell Jobs in 2005. The Apple co-founder died in 2011 from pancreatic cancer aged 56

Steve's youngest daughter Eve, 26, is set to marry the British equestrian Harry Charles at a star-studded wedding in the English countryside this summer

Steve and Laurene welcomed four children together, including son Reed and daughters Erin and Eve. He was also a father to daughter Lisa (not pictured) from his relationship with Chrisann Brennan

From their careers and accomplishments to their love lives and scandals, here's where the four Jobs children are today and why they won't see a dime of their father's estimated $10.8 billion estate.

Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Lisa was born on May 17, 1978, in Portland, Oregon to high school sweethearts Chrisann Brennan and Steve.

The former couple first met when they both attended high school together in 1972. They dated on and off for five years and in 1977, they moved into a house together with their friend Daniel Kottke.

It was during that time that Chrisann became pregnant with Lisa. However, Steve wanted nothing to do with the pregnancy, which led to Chrisann ending their relationship and moving to the All One Farm commune in Oregon.

While Steve was not present for Lisa's birth, he visited Chrisann and the newborn three days later. It was reported that he then named one of the original Apple computers after her, the Apple Lisa.

He publicly denied paternity for several years, swearing he was infertile. At the time, he even claimed that the Apple Lisa was not named after her at all, stating that Lisa stood for 'Local Integrated System Architecture.'

She wrote in her 2018 memoir that her mother supplemented her welfare payments by cleaning houses and waitressing while her father was absent from their lives.

Lisa Brennan-Jobs, 47, published a memoir about her relationship with her father, titled Small Fry, in 2018

Her mother Chrisann Brennan first met Steve when they both attended high school together in 1972. He rejected his daughter's birth for nearly a decade before a DNA test revealed he was the father

After a DNA test proved Steve was her father, he was ordered to pay minimal child-support payments and medical insurance coverage for Lisa until age 18

Eventually, Chrisann pursued a legal case to prove that Steve was in fact Lisa's dad, but even after a DNA test showed that he was, he still repudiated it.

In 1980, he was required by the court to pay minimal child-support payments and medical insurance coverage for Lisa until age 18. At the time, Steve  who was already a multimillionaire after Apple went public  paid just $500 a month to Chrisann and reimbursed the state for the money she had received from welfare.

Years later, when Lisa was nine, he finally admitted that he was indeed Lisa's father and reconciled with both Lisa and her mom. After spending much of her childhood with her mother, Lisa went to live with father and stepmother in the 1990s when she was in high school.

Lisa attended Harvard University and spent one year studying overseas at King's College London, before graduating in 2000. After leaving school, she moved to Manhattan to work as a writer, and has since appeared in magazines like Vogue, and O, The Oprah Magazine.

Perhaps one of the most shocking moments from her memoir occurred when a nine-year-old Lisa asked her dad if she could have his Porsche when he was finished with it, to which Steve snapped back at her: 'You're not getting anything. You understand? Nothing. You're getting nothing.'

While she was attending Harvard University Steve refused to pay for her tuition and wealthy neighbors stepped in to pay the bill, Lisa wrote.

The moment was representative of Steve's reluctance to pass any of his fortune down to his four children.

Laurene revealed in a 2020 interview with the New York Times that both she and her late husband were firmly against the idea of 'legacy wealth building'.

Lisa (not pictured) eventually reconciled with her dad and lived with him, Laurene, and their three children in the 1990s while she was in high school

Lisa - pictured with Laurene, Eve, Erin and Steve - was the only one of Steve's children to inherit a multi-million dollar fortune after his death

She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband Bill and their son Thomas

Instead, the couple were determined that their children would learn to work for their own money, with Laurene explaining that Steve's fortune would 'end with her'.

'I inherited my wealth from my husband, who didn't care about the accumulation of wealth,' she told the publication. 'I'm not interested in legacy wealth building, and my children know that... Steve wasn't interested in that. If I live long enough, it ends with me.'

According to Fortune magazine, Steve left behind a multi-million dollar inheritance for Lisa after his death, but the majority of his $10.8 billion net worth was inherited by Laurene.

Elsewhere in her book, Lisa wrote of her father's strict household rules and his cold demeanor. She even claimed he had a sexual encounter with Laurene in front of her once when she was still a child, writing that he was 'pulling [Laurene] in to a kiss, moving his hand closer to her breasts,' while 'moaning theatrically.'

When she tried to leave, she recalled her dad saying to her, 'Stay here. We're having a family moment. It's important that you try to be part of this family.'

After its release, Laurene said in a statement: 'Lisa is part of our family, so it was with sadness that we read her book, which differs dramatically from our memories of those times.

'The portrayal of Steve is not the husband and father we knew. Steve loved Lisa, and he regretted that he was not the father he should have been during her early childhood.

'It was a great comfort to Steve to have Lisa home with all of us during the last days of his life, and we are all grateful for the years we spent together as a family.'

These days, Lisa lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband Bill, a software engineer. They share a son, Thomas, and Bill also has two daughters from a previous relationship.

Reed Jobs

Reed, the eldest child of Steve and Laurene, was born on September 22, 1991.

His parents were married in March that year, just six months before he was born, and he bears a striking resemblance to his tech entrepreneur father.

Reed, now 33 years old, was named after Reed University  the Oregon-based college Steve had attended before dropping out after just one semester in 1972.

Steve's son Reed started venture capital firm Yosemite in August 2023 to invest in new cancer treatments

In Walter Isaacson's biography, Reed was described as being the closest to his father out of his four siblings

According to Walter Isaacson's authorized 2011 biography of the Apple co-founder, Steve was closest to his only son, which came at the cost of his relationships with his three daughters.

In 2014 Reed graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in history and international security. He went on to receive his masters degree in arts from the university one year later.

After his studies, Reed began working as a managing director at Emerson Collective  an organization founded by his mom that focuses on education, immigration reform, the environment, media and journalism, and health.

At one point, it was reported that Reed was considering pursuing a political career.

However, these rumors were later shut down in 2022 by Emerson Collective, saying in a statement that Reed 'has absolutely no plans to run for Congress and is solely focused on his work here at Emerson.'

In August 2023, Reed left Emerson Collective to start a venture capital firm called Yosemite, where he continues to lead investments in cancer research.

Despite no plans to pursue a career in politics, Reed did hit out at President Trump's proposed cuts to cancer research during a panel discussion at Breakthrough Summit West in San Francisco, California, in May.

The venture capitalist called the proposed budget cuts 'a tragedy' and said they 'are absolutely disserving the American people.'

Reed and his mother Laurene attended a state dinner for French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House in December 2022. He has denied speculation he is considering a political career

Reed, pictured with his sister Eve Jobs, keeps a low profile and lives in San Francisco, California

'As someone whose direct family benefited from cutting-edge medical research, it has a huge impact in my life,' he told STAT News.

'I am personally deeply offended by the cuts that are happening.'

Reed keeps a low profile with no public social media accounts other than a LinkedIn profile. He lives in San Francisco.

Erin Siena Jobs

Erin, Steve's third child and second daughter, was born on August 19, 1995.

The 30-year-old is the most private out of Steve's four children. She hardly posts on social media and generally stays out of the spotlight.

It has been reported that she studied architecture at Tulane University.

Her Facebook account, which is listed under the name Erin Powell, her mom's maiden name, only has four pictures.

Erin, 30, is the most private of the Jobs' children and hardly posts on social media. She is pictured with a friend in 2014

According to Walter Isaacson's book, Erin once admitted to not getting as much attention from her dad when she was growing up as she would have liked

Erin was described by Isaacson as being 'quiet, introspective' and having 'a personal sensitivity more mature than her father's'

Her bio states that she lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, but it has not been updated since 2014.

Her younger sister Eve posted an Instagram tribute for Erin's 26th birthday in 2021.

'To my lifelong best friend  happy birthday!! I love you I love you I love you,' Eve wrote next to a throwback photo of the sisters smiling on a boat.

In Walter Isaacson's book, Erin was described as 'quiet, introspective' and having 'a personal sensitivity more mature than her father's.'

She told Isaacson for the biography: 'He does his best to be both a father and the CEO of Apple, and he juggles those pretty well.

'Sometimes I wish I had more of his attention, but I know the work he's doing is very important and I think it's really cool, so I'm fine. I don't really need more attention.'

Eve Jobs

Eve is the youngest of Steve's children and the most public.

The 26-year-old was born on July 9, 1998, and has since gone on to become a successful model and an accomplished equestrian.

Eve Jobs, 26, attends the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show at Paris Fashion Week in March 2024

Eve, pictured at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May, is an accomplished equestrian

She made her runway debut at the Coperni Spring 2022 show in Paris in September 2021

Eve made her modeling debut in December 2020, when she was featured in a Glossier holiday ad campaign alongside Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney and RuPaul's Drag Race runner-up Naomi Smalls.

She then walked her first runway at the Coperni Spring 2022 show in Paris in September 2021.

In 2022, Eve signed with DNA Model Management, which also represents Kaia Gerber and Emily Ratajkowski.

She's become a frequent face at fashion shows, most recently attending the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in March 2024.

She also attended the 2022 Met Gala and the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty.

In addition to her modeling career, Eve is also an experienced equestrian.

While attending Stanford University, where she studied science technology and society, Eve earned the number five spot out of the 1,000 best riders around the world under the age of 25.

She graduated from Stanford in 2021.

In 2021 she graduated from Stanford University, where she studied science technology and society

Eve attended the 2022 Met Gala celebrating 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion' in New York City

Steve told autobiographer Walter Isaacson about his daughter Eve: 'She's a pistol and has the strongest will of any kid I've ever met'

Eve has competed in show jumping competitions all around the globe, including at events in the Hamptons, Lexington, Kentucky, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Just last month, she competed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.

'It took me a long time to figure out how to balance friends, school, and riding, but through the years I figured out the best way to make it all work is to prioritize what is most important to you,' she said in a 2016 interview.

While Eve didn't inherit a penny from her father after his death, he did envision his youngest daughter running Apple someday or becoming president of the United States.

Steve told Isaacson: 'She's a pistol and has the strongest will of any kid I've ever met.'

Eve has been romantically linked to multiple famous faces, including the Mexican show jumper Eugenio Garza Perez, Chainsmokers DJ Drew Taggart, Outer Banks star Chase Stokes, and Kylie Jenner's longtime close friend Harry Hudson.

She debuted her relationship with her fiance, Harry, on Instagram in August 2024 when she congratulated her beau for winning gold at the Paris Olympics.

The video showed Harry running out of the arena and jumping over a small fence to embrace Eve with a sweet kiss and a hug.

She wrote in the caption of her post: 'TEAM GOLD!!!!! Beyond proud of you my love !!!!'

The Sun reported the couple was engaged in September 2024.
Woolworths has jumped on the pistachio bandwagon - surprising shoppers with the unexpected launch of a popular nutty spread made from the shelled nuts.

The supermarket chain announced on social media that the Pistachio Papi jars are set to hit shelves across Australia from June 16.

'We've noticed a real buzz around pistachio lately - it's popping up in everything from desserts and snacks to savoury dishes - so it's great to bring the popular Pistachio Papi spread to our customers this month,' a Woolworths spokesperson told FEMAIL.

'At Woolworths, we're always looking to introduce exciting new flavours and products that inspire our customers.'

Just like peanut butter, the spread will come in smooth and crunchy varieties.

The news has sent shoppers into a spin, with many struggling to contain their excitement over the launch.

'OMG this is HUGGGGEEEEE,' one said.

'Screaming and crying,' another revealed.

Woolworths has announced that the hugely popular Pistachio Papi jars are set to hit shelves at all stores across Australia from June 16

'OMG best day of my life,' one shared.

'BEST spread ever,' another raved.

However, some suggested the launch of the pistachio spread may lead to an addiction, with one joking: 'This kind of easy access is going to be a problem'.

Mark Abdelmalik, the Melbourne founder of Pistachio Papi, confirmed the news that his brand will finally be landing in Woolworths this month.

'It's happening. Our mission at Pistachio Papi has always been to build a brand that makes you feel something while staying accessible to everyone. A true household name,' he said on Instagram.

'Almost a year ago, we began conversations with Woolworths to bring our beloved spread to shelves across the country.

'From day one, we've been driven by the love and support of our independent community and our loyal, cult-following fan base - creating a product that speaks for itself. Made by the people, for the people.

'On behalf of the entire Pistachio Papi team: thank you. Thank you for your endless support, your trust, and most of all - your patience.

'We're so excited to officially launch nationwide in all Woolworths stores.'

The supermarket has jumped on the pistachio bandwagon - surprising shoppers with the unexpected launch of the sell-out nutty spread

It's unclear how much the pistachio spread will cost at Woolies - but they are currently selling for $19 a pop on the official website.

Pistachio Papi is made in Italy before it's shipped directly to Melbourne for bottling.

The sought-after nutty spread has sold out multiple times - with fans desperately searching high and low for the jars in recent months.

Before making its supermarket debut, the jars were only available online or through boutique stockists around the country.

Over the months, the brand has been collaborating with big names - including Krispy Kreme and Yo-Chi - to bring out desserts showcasing the tasty pistachio spread.

The Pistachio Overload Doughnuts from Krispy Kreme have been so popular that they were selling out by 10am every day at all Australian stores during their first launch back in February.
A landlord has sparked a heated feud after discovering his tenant was secretly living with her dog - despite a strict no-pet rule.

Property owner James confronted his tenant Kara via email after noticing signs of a dog in her home - including fur on the sofa and 'fresh claw marks' on the door.

The subject line of the email read: 'Dog?'

'Hi Kara, popped by this morning to look at the boiler. Found dog fur on the sofa, a bowl in the kitchen and fresh claw marks on the back door,' James said in the email.

'You signed a no-pet agreement. Can you confirm if there's a dog living in the property? James.'

However, Kara denied that a dog was hiding in her home but suggested the fur may have come from a friend who brought her puppy over during a recent visit.

'Hi. No dog here. Maybe it's from my friend's coat? She visited last week and brought her pup around for like five minutes,' she claimed.

However, the landlord suspected she wasn't telling the truth after a nearby neighbour informed him they had been hearing barking for the past fortnight.

Property owner James emailed his tenant Kara after noticing signs of a dog in her home

'Neighbour says it's been barking every morning for two weeks. My plumber nearly tripped over a dog gate. And you posted a video on Instagram of 'our first walkies'. Don't insult my intelligence,' James replied.

It didn't take long before Kara came clean, confessing: 'Alright, fine, yes, I've got a dog. But he's small, doesn't damage anything.

'I was gonna tell you once he settled in. I even put rugs down to protect the floor. It's not that deep. And for the record, my last landlord loved him,' she added.

However, James was furious, taking particular issue with her for quietly moving in with a dog after signing a no pets agreement.

'You don't get to decide what's 'deep'. You broke the terms. I've already documented everything... I suggest you start treating this property and this agreement with more respect,' the landlord fired back.

'I'll be keeping a closer eye on things moving forward. If he's not gone by Friday, expect formal notice. And if I hear barking this weekend, I'll be letting myself in with my spare key to confirm.'

It's unclear what happened next but the email exchange between the landlord and tenant was re-shared by British property strategist Jack Rooke on social media.

'Okay a couple of things to digest there,' Jack said as he weighed in on the situation.

The landlord suspected she wasn't telling the truth after a nearby neighbour informed him they had been hearing barking for the past fortnight

Read the email exchange between the landlord and tenant LANDLORD JAMES: Hi Kara, popped by this morning to look at the boiler. Found dog fur on the sofa, a bowl in the kitchen and fresh claw marks on the back door. You signed a no-pet agreement. Can you confirm if there's a dog living in the property? TENANT KARA: Hi, no dog here. Maybe it's from my friend's coat? She visited last week and brought her pup round for like five mins. LANDLORD JAMES: Kara, Neighbour says it's been barking every morning for two weeks. My plumber nearly tripped over a dog gate. And you posted a video on Instagram of 'our first walkies.' Don't insult my intelligence. TENANT KARA: Alright, fine, yes, I've got a dog. But he's small, doesn't damage anything, and I was gonna tell you once he settled in. I even put rugs down to protect the floor. It's not that deep. And for the record, my last landlord loved him. LANDLORD JAMES: Kara, You don't get to decide what's 'deep'. You broke the terms. I've already documented everything and sent it to the deposit protection scheme. I suggest you start treating this property and this agreement with more respect. I'll be keeping a closer eye on things moving forward. If he's not gone by Friday, expect formal notice. And if I hear barking this weekend, I'll be letting myself in with my spare key to confirm. Advertisement

'James can't just let himself in, even if he feels there's a breach of contract, he has to give notice.

'But she shouldn't have got a dog if she signed the agreement. If there's a specific clause stating that then I can't say if she's done anything right there.'

Jack added: 'Landlord catches tenant hiding a dog, she breaks the rules, he threatens to break in who's actually in the wrong?'

Many were torn over the dilemma - but a majority of people sided with the landlord.

'No pets is no pets,' one said.

'Never thought I'd agree with a landlord,' another suggested.

'New dog, but the last landlord loved him... Me thinks Kara lies too much,' one added, laughing.
There's a tiny loop on the back of shirts that, unbeknownst to most men and women, has a specific purpose.

Found between the shoulder blades, where the yoke (upper back) of the shirt meets the pleat, the loop is not a new design feature.

It has a long history and while its main purpose has remained the same over time, it has also had other, very novel uses.

According to several sources, including website Mental Floss, the loop's origins lie with the US Navy and specifically sailors' close quarters.

Since seafarers didn't have wardrobes on which to hang their shirts - they simply had space-saving lockers - the garments were designed with loops that could conveniently slide on to hooks on the wall.

The shirts would not only be stored neatly but also dry faster - and usually without creases.

The loop, therefore, came to be known as the 'locker loop'.

The relatively unknown 'locker loop' was invented as a space-saving device for US sailors

It meant that sailors - and then Ivy League students - could hang up their shirts without the need for wire hangers or roomy wardrobes

The locker loop was then co-opted by US fashion brand Gant, which was founded in New Haven, Connecticut - the home of Ivy League university Yale.

According to Gear Patrol, the American brand added the feature to its Oxford shirts - initially placing the loop on the collar to make life easier for Yale students.

This meant they were be able to hang up their shirts easily and without hangers.

As the official fashion brand for Yale, Gant's shirts were ubiquitous on campus and popular across the country.

By the 1960s, though, the locker loop had taken on another purpose.

It became a way to indicate romantic intent, with women tearing the loops off the shirts of the men they fancied.

Men would equally remove the loops from their shirts to signal they were off the market.

The trend quickly gathered pace, leading one mail-order company to send customers just the loops, according to Mental Floss.

Shirts were designed with loops that could conveniently slide on to hooks on the wall

Not everyone was so earnest, with some simply ripping off others' shirt loops for fun.

Worse still, an 'intact loop was used as a way to stoke homophobia and imply that not only was the wearer not in a relationship but they were gay'.

It was described as a 'fruit loop' and 'fairy tag', among other offensive names.

While locker loops on shirts are often ignored today, they can still work as a helpful space-saving hack by eliminating the need for wardrobe hangers.

When the design feature was discussed on Reddit's 'todayilearned' section, one user admitted they went down a 'rabbit hole' - suggesting they became particularly curious about the origins of the locker loop.

They wrote: 'Thank you for that rabbit hole I've now fallen into!'

Another user suggested an alternative purpose for the locker loop - though it's not difficult to see why it didn't catch on.

The person wrote: 'I put a carabiner [clip] with my keys on mine. I want everyone to know I have keys. Because my loud big keys mean Im important.'
A woman who had her lip bitten off by her ex-boyfriend after she refused to take him back has shared an update on her recovery seven years on from the harrowing incident.

In 2017, Kayla Hayes, who was just 17 at the time, was viciously attacked in Simpsonville, South Carolina, by her abusive ex-boyfriend, Seth Aaron Fleury, then 21, because she ended their relationship.

The pair had been dating for a year when Hayes decided to call it quits on their romance in September 2017, saying Fleury had become abusive. When the pair met up a few weeks later to talk, he begged her to rethink her decision but Hayes refused.

Fleury then leant in to kiss her and refused to let go, even when she pulled away, leading him to tear away 85 per cent of her lip, the attack so brutal he landed himself with a 12 year jail sentence.

Seven years on from the attack that left her with painful scarring and feeling like 'a monster', the now 26-year-old has come on leaps and bounds.

Sharing a photograph on Instagram recently, she appeared jubilant and happy as she beamed for a flash selfie, her scars from the attack barely visible.

With minimal scarring and a huge smile, Hayes looked like a different person altogether from the bloodied face she was left with by her violent ex, which left her in a puddle of blood as she was whisked to hospital.

Fans wrote left sweet comments below the picture, calling her 'beautiful' and 'admirable', with one remarking that she was 'shining bright'.

In 2017, Kayla Hayes, who was just 17 at the time, was viciously attacked in Simpsonville, South Carolina, by her abusive ex-boyfriend, Seth Aaron Fleury, then 21, because she ended their relationship. Pictured on the day of the attack

The pair had been dating for a year when Hayes decided to call it quits on their romance, saying Fleury had become abusive. But when attempting to break up with him, he leant in to kiss her and refused to let go, even when she pulled away, leading him to tear away 85 per cent of her lip. Pictured after having emergency surgery

Following the attack in 2017, Hayes underwent emergency plastic surgery - but medics were unable to re-attach her lip.

She described her horror at feeling 'completely mutilated' by the attack.

But since the incident nearly a decade ago, Hayes appears to have regained her smile, with several pictures from the last few years showing her smiling and looking happy.

With the help of lip and cheek filler, she has also been able to disguise her scarring and to rebuild her confidence.

Now an advocate, speaker and author, Hayes has also published her own book, titled She Rises, about her journey to healing both teenage domestic violence, and childhood sexual abuse.

The book, which highlights her 'decision to ruse and wear her scars as wings', scored countless glowing reviews and even won her the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in 2022.

Hayes and Fleury began dating on 21 October 2016, when she was 17 and he was 21.

But after a year of being together, things turned sour and Kayla decided to break things off, saying Fleury had come to treat her like his 'property'.

When she eventually plucked up the courage to end their relationship in September 2017, he refused to accept things were ending and after meeting up a few weeks later, went in to try and kiss her.

Hayes and Fleury began dating on 21 October 2016, when she was 17 and her then boyfriend was 21. The couple pictured before the attack

Seven years on from the attack that left her feeling like 'a monster', the now 26-year-old has come a long way. Pictured on Instagram seven weeks ago

Back in 2017, on the day of her horrendous attack, Hayes underwent emergency plastic surgery but doctors were unable to attach her lip. Pictured recently on Instagram

And as she pulled away, he bit down on her bottom lip with such force that it was ripped off.

Hayes underwent emergency plastic surgery, but doctors were unable to reattach her lip and she was left with permanent scarring and a limited range of motion with her mouth.

Fortunately in 2018, a year after the brutal attack, Hayes gained justice when Fleury was jailed for 12 years.

Judge Robin N. Stilwell sentenced Fleury to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assault and battery of high and aggravated nature at Greenville County Courthouse.

His sentence made it so that he would be forced to serve at least 85 per cent of his sentence before being made eligible for parole.

During the hearing, Hayes recalled in detail the day her life changed at the hands of someone who claimed he would always protect her in a heartbreaking victim impact statement provided to DailyMail.com.

In it, she recalled how she ended up sitting in a puddle of her own blood with her lip on her leg and wishing her injuries would take her life.

'October 21st, 2017. This was the day that a piece of me died,' she said.

Kayla Hayes said she finally has 'a bit of closure' after her ex-boyfriend Seth Aaron Fleury (left) was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday

Hayes was 17 when she began dating Fleury (pictured during their relationship) in October 2016

'No one deserves to be hurt by the ones they love, but unfortunately it is more common than we realise.

'Everyone has a story and just because you don't see their scars, as you will mine, this doesn't meant that they didn't fight the same battle.

'Even if my story only helps one single person, I will know that there was a reason for this happening to me.'

She added: 'No one truly believes that this could happen to them but it can happen in the blink of an eye.

'Someone could be the most outstanding person you have ever met, but until you are with them behind closed doors you just never know.

In her victim impact statement, she said: 'I remember every detail of this very moment, the thoughts that ran through my mind when I opened my camera, were very dark which only seemed to worsen.

'Sitting in a puddle of my own blood with the majority of my lip laying on my leg, my whole mouth on fire, confused and terrified, I didn't know how I could ever show my face again.

Hayes now runs a Facebook page called Rise Above to helps others spot the signs of abuse

'At that point, honestly wishing that those very seconds would just be my last - I wanted to give up for good.

'I kept replaying what had just happened in my head, from telling Seth that I was not there to get back together with him, however I was there for him to right his wrongs.

'To getting flowers and cards thrown at the back of my head and then quickly get in my car to seeing my leg shaking uncontrollably to finally look up at him picking everything up.

'I could not figure out how this happened so fast. I couldn't figure out how he was so mad. From putting the items in the passenger seat leading to him trying to kiss me.

'Of course, as I said before, I wasn't there to get back together with him. I refused and backed up only to feeling him latch on to me. Feeling it tear about half way.

'I then just started screaming at the top of my lungs for help and out of fear for my life. He then yanked me out of my own vehicle and slammed the door in my face so he could take off, and run away from what he had just done.'

While on the journey to the hospital, Fleury continued to blow up her phone with calls.

She detailed her horror at having 'something many women hold precious to them' be 'completely mutilated'.

Hayes is pictured in her high senior photo, taken about a month before she started dating Fleury

Hayes told DailyMail.com that Fleury (pictured with Hayes during their relationship) was manipulative and treated her like 'property'

In the ambulance, Hayes didn't have the heart to call her mother, who was on holiday at the time, by calling her. It was the first she had taken without her daughter.

When she called friends, they couldn't understand her when she tried to explain what had happened because of the severity of her injury.

'I remember being in the ambulance, being told to call my mother. I couldn't bring myself to do it.

'She was seven hours away on her first vacation she had ever taken without me, how could I ruin it.

'I then got on the phone with her friend and I remember trying to say he bit me but no one could understand me because my lips couldn't pronounce it.'

She said she was still deeply affected by the sound of an ambulance, and was often left in 'a panic' whenever she heard one.

Waking up in hospital was even more of a shock, but she was grateful for her nurse 'trying to lighten the air'.

'She chuckled and nodded then proceeded to bring me a mask to cover my face.

'That was when it hit me, this was my new reality. What I just woke up from was no joke. Never a day in my life will I ever wake up living my 'normal' life again.'

In the months following the attack, she said she found herself blaming herself for breaking up with 'someone that I knew didn't deserve me which he proved once again.'

She recalled how he 'manipulated' her to the point that she nearly lost all those dear to her, saying she had been 'naive' to the abuse that Fleury was inflicting on her as he was her first ever boyfriend.

The attack was so severe that she was left unable to drive and feeling like 'a monster and was even forced to withdraw from college, where she was studying dental hygiene, and as a result, lost her scholarship.

Having to pay for her own college fees left her and her mother out of pocket and they were forced to sell their first home as a result.

She described 'smothering' herself in makeup just to leave the house, often finding people 'staring' at her in the street.

Hayes was also left with crippling anxiety, terrifying nightmares and even struggled to eat, unable to open her mouth wide enough for even a small fork or spoon.

The horror inflicted on her at the hands of Fleury didn't go away either. As well as the nightmares, she would be woken up at all hours of the night to be told if Fleury's ankle monitor hadn't registered a signal.

'No one understands how everyday is a struggle to get up and go about my days, but if I sit down and let this defeat me then he will only get more satisfaction out of what he's done.. so I just ask that the focus today is on what he is done and not at how far I have come or what I have felt that I have had to do to overcome what he has done to me.'
Queen Mary of Denmark donned a daring outfit as she visited the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen this morning.

The Australian-born Queen, 53, put her best fashion foot forward as she arrived at the summit at DR Concert Hall.

The mother-of-four stepped out in grey Bermuda shorts and a matching blazer which was cinched at the waist with an orange belt.

She oozed confidence in the chic two piece which she completed with nude stiletto heels for the occasion.

Upon Mary's arrival, she was greeted by Federica Marchionni, CEO of Global Fashion Agenda, and Alice Roberta Taylor, Chief of Staff.

During her visit, Mary explored various stands at the fair and she was given a tour of the venue.

Mary's brunette locks were styled in soft curls and her glam makeup enhanced her sophisticated look.

The Global Fashion Summit, presented by Global Fashion Agenda, aims to foster industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion.

Queen Mary of Denmark cut a stylish figure during a visit to the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen this morning

Today marks the second day of the three-day event, which is taking place in and around Copenhagen - a city respected for its trendy street style and minimalist designs.

As she turns her attention to the world of style, the Queen has brushed off harsh criticism levelled at herself and King Frederik X for turning their backs on one of their 'main promises'.

The royal couple visited Nordre Toldbod in Copenhagen where they boarded their Royal Ship, Dannebrog, for the official launch of the 2025 sailing season.

But the decision to board the mighty ship was scolded, as the vessel said to emit 60 times more CO2 than the average Dane emits in one year.

The pair sail on board the yacht through Danish waters every year. This year they will set off on their first 'major' sail on August 25 for four days but the summer cruises often last as long as two weeks depending on the schedule.

In 2024, their sailing tour also included trips to Sweden, Norway and Greenland.

The ship's impact on climate change has been questioned by local royal and environmental experts who branded the move 'disappointing and pathetic', leaving the Royal House no choice but to respond.

In a written, translated response to the Danish Broadcast Corporation, the Palace's new head of communications wrote: 'The Royal House is aware of the dilemma associated with Dannebrog being powered by conventional fuel.

The Australian-born Queen, 53, put her best fashion foot forward as she arrived at the summit at DR Concert Hall

The mother-of-four stepped out in grey Bermuda shorts and a matching blazer which was cinched at the waist with an orange belt

Upon Mary's arrival, she was greeted by Federica Marchionni, CEO of Global Fashion Agenda, and Alice Roberta Taylor, Chief of Staff

She oozed confidence in the chic two piece which she completed with nude stiletto heels for the occasion

During her visit, Mary explored various stands at the fair and she was given a tour of the venue

Mary's brunette locks were styled in soft curls and her glam makeup enhanced her sophisticated look

Queen Mary at The Global Fashion Summit and is welcomed by Federica Marchionni, (left) CEO of Global Fashion Agenda

'[We are] currently investigating the possibility of using alternative fuels with a view to reducing emissions from the Royal Ship.

'At the same time, it is important to emphasise that Dannebrog is a historic ship with symbolic and representative significance for Denmark. It is a gathering point, no matter where in the Kingdom it is located. The royal ship is in great demand.'

Royal House expert Sebastian Olden-Jrgensen told B.T. News that it was 'only a matter of time before the climate issue hit the Royal House', especially given the King's public commitment to the environment.

'As the royal couple, we are concerned with being able to contribute to passing the planet on to the next generation in good condition, which requires that we promote the green transition,' King Frederik wrote in his book 'King's Words' at the start of his reign.

Before the drama hit, the royal pair were busy carrying out their jam-packed schedule while moving out of home and into their summer residence on the shore of Lake Esrum in Fredensborg with Queen Margrethe.

They moved residences on Monday 5 May to Fredensborg Palace, where they will be taking up residence in the eastern wing, known as Chancellery House, for the summer.

The King and Queen along with their three youngest children Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, moved into Fredensborg Palace alongside Frederik's mother, Queen Margrethe, who had already taken up residence in the main palace.

The expansive property on Zealand island in Denmark has plenty of room to accommodate the whole royal family.

The royal couple visited Nordre Toldbod in Copenhagen on Wednesday where they boarded their Royal Ship, Dannebrog, for the official launch of the 2025 sailing season

The ship's impact on climate change has been questioned by local royal and environmental experts who branded the move 'disappointing and pathetic', leaving the Royal House no choice but to respond

It is something of a homecoming for the royal couple, who lived full-time in the Chancellery from 2004-10 when he was still the Crown Prince and Amelienborg Palace in Copenhagen was being refurbished.

But royal watchers are intrigued by the fact that former monarch Queen Margrethe is staying in the main palace, while the current King and Queen's family have moved into the secondary accommodation in Chancellery House.

Royal expert and historian Lars Hovbakke Srensen explained to Danish publication B.T. that it was 'completely unproblematic' for the current King and his family to be living in the palace's secondary residence.

The expert explained that although it might seem unusual, Lars said it was an 'obvious' result of Queen Margrethe opting to abdicate the throne in 2024, rather than it passing to her son following her death.

'[W]e have a completely different situation than ever before, where we have a living, former regent,' explained Lars.

As the northern hemisphere summer approaches, the Danish royal family traditionally move their residence to Fredensborg Palace.

For most of the year, Frederik and Mary live at Amalienborg with their four children  Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Isabella, 18, and 14-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

However, Prince Christian will not be joining the royal family at Chancellery House this summer as he remains stationed in the town of Slagelse as part of his compulsory military service.
Annika, 26

Single for four years, no children.

Dating Past?

Over the last five years, Ive casually dated and had one short-lived relationship in 2021. The problem is I match with guys on the apps but then they dont follow it up - its as if they see my interest as an ego boost and nothing more.

Pre-Date Nerves?

No, Im an outgoing person and enjoy embracing the unknown in social situations - I went to an Austrian ball by myself earlier this year.

First Impressions?

Sebastian was on time, and wearing a bright green polo shirt. I wouldnt wear something in such a strong colour but it suited him. He was cuter than I expected with shoulder-length hair and a nice face. He told me I looked good (and he went on to compliment me throughout the date). While I never expected it, it was nice to hear.

Annika, 26, has been single for four years

BLIND DATE VITAL STATISTICS ANNIKA, 26 Single for four years, no children. Current Role Nanny. Would Like To Meet Confident (but not cocky), chivalrous, social guy who lives in London. Not interested in mansplainers. Advertisement

Easy To Talk To?

Yes, we were trying to work out what I could eat because I am allergic to nuts. I ended up with a salad but I hardly touched it because I lose my appetite when Im nervous. Sebastian has got an interesting job which takes him to Italy on a regular basis. I have spent time in Florence training to teach English as a foreign language, and working as an au pair in Genoa and Palermo, so I speak a little bit of Italian, too.

Embarrassing Moments?

It was my mums last day visiting me from Texas so, after shopping nearby, she texted to say she was having a coffee outside on the terrace. Sebastian suggested we go on for drinks elsewhere and when I explained Mum was outside, he persuaded me to introduce us. Needless to say, he was charming. We all got a taxi to a pub near Mums Airbnb, but I dropped her off to pack.

Did Sparks Fly?

Yes, I had a good time with Sebastian and I think I can say the same for him. He was flirting with me - he put his hand on my leg in the pub - and at one point, he leaned in to kiss me but I politely declined, with a maybe later. I didnt feel comfortable kissing in such a public setting.

See him again?

I might, to see if there was a reason we had such a good time.

What do you think he thought of you?

Hopefully that I am nice and fun to talk to. When he dropped me back at Mums Airbnb, he kissed me. It felt like a nice way to end a date. I had asked for his number earlier so I texted him an hour later. He replied saying how much he appreciated the traditional kiss and suggesting a second date.

Would your family and friends like him?

Hmm, Im not sure theyd think Sebastian is my type.

SEBASTIAN, 33

Single for 18 months, no children.

Dating Past?

I have been single for almost 12 months. Before that, Id had four significant girlfriends, with each relationship lasting over a year. My sister-in-law put me forward for this, because Im one of the few remaining single men in my social circle. Ive got three weddings to go to this year without a plus one.

Pre-Date Nerves?

Normally no, but I knew if I found my match pretty and switched-on, then Id get intimidated.

First Impressions?

Annika looked pretty in a summer dress. She had an Aperol spritz and, confusingly, a humongous pile of fried zucchini in front of her. I was surprised she had started eating without me.

I went in to say hello and it became an awkward hug and kiss on the cheek. I dont think she was expecting one because her body language was a bit Urgh! Whats happening here?

Sebastian, 33, has been single for 18 months

BLIND DATE VITAL STATISTICS SEBASTIAN, 33 Single for 12 months, no children. Current Role Head of Product Development at a start-up. Would Like To Meet A kind, fun, intelligent woman who enjoys keeping in shape, likes to read, and has an eclectic taste in music. Advertisement

Easy To Talk To?

Yes. Annika is American - her father is a former governor and the family owns a ranch. Annikas brother wants to take it over single-handedly, but shes having none of it. It all sounds very Southfork!

Annika is allergic to nuts, mango and avocados and doesnt eat red meat or seafood. It made me nervous - I didnt want my date to end up in hospital.

She had a salad to start (I noted she ate just the one slice of English heritage tomato) and barely touched her main course, but had a couple of glasses of Prosecco (Annika wasnt allergic to that).

I think she felt I asked a lot of questions. I asked her what her usual type of guy was and she refused to answer that.

Embarrassing Moments?

I got to meet Annikas mum on our first date - I was really surprised and so was she. She was beautifully dressed and I got a big hug from her. Unprompted, she said she wasnt spying on us which probably meant she was.

Did Sparks Fly?

I played it cool, but there was definitely chemistry between us. I found Annika attractive, she has beautiful eyes. It was clearly a successful date because Annika asked for my number and we shared a kiss at the end. I initiated it and, as I thought she was OK with it, we ended up having a bit of a snog. Annika is a good kisser.

See her again?

Its a 50/50 situation - we dont have that much in common. If we went on a second date, I suspect Annikas idea of heaven would be making fun TikTok videos, whereas Id rather we go on a hike.

What do you think she thought of you?

Probably that I am a bit odd. I sometimes say things out loud that should stay in my head. I think she liked me, though - after all, she did introduce me to her mum.

Would your friends like her?

Yes, up to a point. Shes a nice, kind girl.
Hugh Grant is known for some of his iconic roles in classic romcoms like Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral (and his cameo in the horror movie Heretic).

But thanks to a recently resurfaced news article, many younger fans are only just learning about a brush with the law he had 30 years ago.

One Reddit user recently shared a picture of the front page of The Sun newspaper on June 28, 1995 which featured the headline, 'HUGH AND HIS HOOKER.'

Right as he was riding the high of his rising stardom thanks to Four Weddings and a Funeral, Grant was arrested for having sex in his car with Divine Brown who happened to be a sex worker.

Grant was caught on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, where he had met Brown (whose legal name is Estella Marie Thompson) and paid $60 to have oral sex performed on him.

At the time, he faced the possibility of six months in jail for 'lewd conduct' in a public place.

Instead, he got away with just paying a $1,000 fine (which, in today's terms would be a little over $2,000) and attending an AIDs education program.

Brown, on the other hand, was sentenced to 180 days in prison, as she had violated her parole for previous prostitution charges.

Hugh Grant was arrested in 1995 for having sex in his car with a sex worker

Divine Brown, the sex worker who Grant was caught with, had to face 180 days in jail while Grant had to pay a fine and attend an AIDs education program

After making headlines, Grant - who was linked to long term girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley at the time - released a statement the day after getting arrested.

'Last night I did something completely insane,' he said.

'I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with.

'For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say.'

But even 30 years later, some Hurley fans can't believe Grant was unfaithful to her.

'He was dating Elizabeth Hurley... some people are never satisfied with what they have,' one user said.

'How could you do that to Elizabeth Hurley,' another wrote followed by a sad face.

Other Redditors seemed more concerned with the disproportionate sentences that he and Brown received.

After the incident, Grant released a statement saying he did something 'completely insane'

Other Reddit users expressed their anger over the disproportionate punishments Grant and Brown received for the act

'The double standard in that sentencing is insane,' one Redditor commented.

'The f**k, I never knew she spent time in jail for this,' another said.

'I shouldn't be surprised I guess at how unfair she was treated.'

'This is whyyyyy we need [decriminalization]. Complete insanity for her to be in prison for SIX MONTHS,' another user shared.
Disney World fans are threatening to boycott the theme park after it unveiled the first major details on its upcoming Cars land... and finally confirmed the closing date of a beloved ride.

The Happiest Place on Earth announced last year that it would be getting rid of Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland to make way for a new Lightning McQueen-themed area.

Now, the theme park has revealed when it will officially be shut down - and the news has left hoards of Disney fans across the globe outraged.

Tom Sawyer Island, as well as the Liberty Square Riverboat ride, will have its final day of operation on July 6, 2025.

That means guests only have a little more than a month left to enjoy the serene island inspired by the stories of Mark Twain.

Immediately, Disney park-goers took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their heartbreak over the announcement, and some even admitted that they no longer wanted to visit the park.

'Canceling my trip in October and sadly, will never visit that park again,' one user announced.

'This is an abomination and a real disservice to all those who booked summer trips hoping to enjoy all this one more time,' added another. 'Talk about timing. Thankful we enjoyed it recently.'

Disney World fans are threatening to boycott the theme park after it unveiled the first major details on its upcoming Cars land... and finally confirmed the closing date of a beloved ride

The Happiest Place on Earth announced that it would be getting rid of Tom Sawyer Island (seen) in Magic Kingdom to make way for a new Lightning McQueen-themed area

Tom Sawyer Island, as well as the Liberty Square Riverboat ride (seen), will have its final day of operation on July 6, 2025

The new area (seen) was described as an 'awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers'

'Never going back,' someone else wrote. 'I have a lot of happy memories there, and I'll keep them.'

'Huge mistake. Huge,' a fourth tweet read, while a fifth said, 'Largest downgrade.'

'Sorry but I'm not going to Disney World anymore. I'm staying at my home park, which is Disneyland in Anaheim, California,' a different user shared.

'I am heartbroken at the loss of Tom Sawyer island this is the WORST decision ever,' someone else penned.

'This is a travesty! Build new somewhere else. We want nostalgia,' urged another person.

Disney shared new details about the upcoming changes coming to Magic Kingdom in a press release on Tuesday.

The new Cars land will contain two dazzling attractions. One will 'be geared towards smaller guests and will be fun for the whole family,' while the second will 'invite you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains.'

The company explained that the new area will be called Piston Peak National Park and described it as an 'awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers.'

Immediately, Disney park-goers took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their heartbreak over the announcement, and some even admitted that they no longer wanted to visit the park

The Cars land will contain two attractions. One will be 'fun for the whole family,' while the other will 'invite you on a thrilling race through the mountains.' Concept art for the land is seen

'While fictional, Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the history and iconic sights of the American Frontier and its national parks,' it added.

'Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails, and more - all set within the Disney and Pixar Cars universe.

'To make sure these buildings fit naturally within the surrounding majestic landscapes, Imagineers are using a style of architecture called "Parkitecture," which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment.

'Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally.'

Disney also promised that 'imagineers are hard at work' bringing the 'first-ever land inspired by the Disney villains' to life, which will be located behind the Big Thunder Mountain ride in Magic Kingdom.

'Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall,' reads a description. A concept art for one of the Cars rides is seen

The company explained in a press release on Tuesday that the new area will be called Piston Peak National Park. A concept art for one of the Cars rides is seen

Disney also promised that 'Imagineers are hard at work' bringing the 'first-ever land inspired by the Disney villains' to life. Concept art for the villains land is seen

Over in Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters Inc. land will replace Muppets Courtyard; The Muppet*Vision 3D ride will close on June 8, 2025

That land will feature two more new rides, dining, and shopping 'all on an incredibly twisted grand scale.'

Tons of other new stuff are in the works at Disney World, including an Encanto river ride, an Indiana Jones attraction, and a Zootopia show at Animal Kingdom.

But that means guests will have to say goodbye to DinoLand and the Dinosaur ride, which is slated to close in 2026.

Over in Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters Inc. land will replace Muppets Courtyard; The Muppet*Vision 3D ride will close on June 8, 2025.

The Monsters Inc. area is set to have a suspended rollercoaster that will put riders 'right in the middle of the monster action.'
Seth Meyers has been criticized for not looking after his sick daughter while his wife Alexi Ashe gave an important speech - instead leaving her to hold their poorly child on stage.

The talk show host, 51, came under fire earlier this week when he paid a sweet tribute to his spouse, 42, in which he applauded her for taking care of their little girl Adelaide, three, while she gave a commencement address.

In his gushing post, Meyers praised Ashe for 'putting on a motherhood clinic' on her big day, also revealing that her niece had run onto the podium to join her too.

In Meyers' pictures, mom-of-three Ashe could be seen cradling a sick Adelaide in her arms while she stood in her robes on stage.

'So proud to watch @alexi crush her commencement address while also putting on a motherhood clinic without missing a beat,' he captioned the post.

'Our daughter was under the weather and not interested in being with anyone but her mom and instead of sending her home she let her join her on stage without ever losing her cool.

'And then to top it all off her niece just wandered to stage mid speech to chill behind the podium.'

Meyers' followers didn't take too kindly to the post, however, and blasted him for 'not giving' Alexi the 'moment she deserved.'

Seth Meyers has been criticized for not looking after his sick daughter while his wife Alexi Ashe gave an important speech

Ashe was seen cradling their three-year-old daughter Adelaide during her commencement address earlier this week

Meyers' post irked social media users, who pointed out that perhaps he should have stepped up to nurse their child and allow Alexi enjoy her milestone moment.

Taking to the comments, one asked: 'Am I the only one who thinks someone should have helped with the kiddo so she can focus on the task at hand?'

'And wtf were you doing?' another quizzed.

'This is just sad,' a third said. 'Jeez can she get one moment of her own?'

Agreeing, another wrote: 'Oh god! A motherhood clinic??! So now every mom who's giving a speech is supposed the let their kid come on stage if they're not feeling well.

'Nope. She's awesome and congrats to her but this really is about you not giving her the moment she deserves.'

A fifth continued: 'Her daughter and her niece couldn't be stopped from joining her on stage? Where were these children's fathers?'

'Yeahh so uhhh this is not the kind moment you think it is,' blasted another. 'You just allowed these children to take away your wife's moment she worked really hard for without stepping up to help.'

The poorly tot joined her mom on stage throughout the prestigious event

Meyers praised his wife for 'crushing' her commencement address while 'also putting on a motherhood clinic without missing a beat'

He said: 'Our daughter was under the weather and not interested in being with anyone but her mom and instead of sending her home she let her join her on stage without ever losing her cool'

Meyers' post irked social media users, who pointed out that perhaps he should have stepped up to nurse their child and allow Alexi enjoy her milestone moment

'Am I the only one who thinks someone should have helped with the kiddo so she can focus on the task at hand?' asked one social media user

A seventh said: 'How often do we see their kids in his show while he's trying to interview people?

'Such a double standard. Why are we PROUD of these sacrifices when mom makes them and silent when we NEVER see dads make them?'

Meyers and Ashe, who is a human rights attorney, wed in 2013, five years after first meeting at a wedding in 2008.

The couple welcomed their daughter Addie in 2021. They also have sons Ashe Olson, nine, and Axel Strahl, seven.

Meyers also came under fire from his Late Night viewers on Tuesday evening after he failed to ask George Clooney about the reports that Joe Biden was unable to recognize the actor at a fundraiser last year.

George, 63, was on the show to promote his Tony-nominated Broadway play 'Good Night, And Good Luck.'

Meyers and Ashe, who is a human rights attorney, got engaged in July 2013, five years after first meeting at a wedding in 2008

However, Meyers did not ask Clooney about the shocking revelations that came out about the former president in the new book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

The bombshell book by co-authors CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson claimed that Biden was reportedly so impaired that he didn't recognize Clooney at a star-studded June 2024 Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles, the book says, claiming it left the actor 'shaken to his core.'

'It was obvious to many standing there that the president did not know who George Clooney was,' the authors said.

Another Hollywood VIP guest reportedly said: 'It was like watching someone who was not alive. It was so awful.'

Critics blasted Meyers for focusing the interview on Clooney's Broadway debut and asking what his wife thought of his hair.

'AND the cover up of Joe's Dementia continues,' one person said. 'Not surprised,' said another.
Princess Leonor of Spain looked every inch a poised naval cadet as she arrived in New York on board a Spanish Navy training ship today.

The 19-year-old Crown Princess of Spain, who began her military training two summers ago, blended in with her fellow cadets in a crisp white uniform complete with black insignia.

The royal took her hat off and saluted onlookers as she stood proudly aboard the Juan Sebastian de Elcano as it arrived in the US.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her peers, the Princess appeared in great spirits as she beamed on arrival. With her long blonde hair neatly tucked back, Leonor blended seamlessly in.

According to EDATV News, Princess Leonor will not continue the return trip to Spain.

Instead, she will return by plane to board the Spanish Navy guided missile frigate Blas de Lezo, where she will complete an essential part of her naval training.

However, on July 7, she is scheduled to reunite with the ship and her classmates in Gijon, Spain.

After completing her stint at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Leonor is now gaining naval experience before moving on to air force training later this year.

Princess Leonor of Spain pictured as she arrived in New York on board the Spanish Navy's training ship, Juan Sebastian Elcano, on Wednesday

It follows heartwarming footage from last month that shows the Princess embracing her mother, Queen Letizia, after four months apart.

The Spanish royals were reunited at the Port of Fuerte Amador in Panama City, after Letizia flew more than 8,000 miles across the globe to see her daughter.

The pair had not seen each other since January, when the young royal set sail aboard the Juan Sebastian.

Moving video from the Spanish Royal Household captured the moment they were finally reunited, with Leonor running across the port to greet her mother.

She was soon embraced in an effusive hug that was so powerful that Leonor had to take her hat off, while the Queen had tears in her eyes.

They were then pictured excitedly catching up, as Leonor, who previously graduated from UWC Atlantic, her independent boarding school in South Wales, has been on a whirlwind adventure.

Letizia's visit to Panama was an unofficial trip, sources at Zarzuela Palace told Spain's Hola! Magazine.

The 19-year-old Crown Princess of Spain, who began her military training two summers ago, looked professional in her crisp white uniform complete with black insignia

The royal took her hat off and saluted onlookers as she stood proudly aboard the Juan Sebastian de Elcano as it arrived in the US today

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her fellow cadets, the Princess appeared delighted to be in the Big Apple

With her long blonde hair neatly tucked back, Leonor blended in seamlessly with her fellow cadets

After her arrival in New York, Princess Leonor will not continue the return trip to Spain with her classmates. Instead, she will return by plane to board the Spanish Navy guided missile frigate Blas de Lezo, where she will complete an essential part of her naval training

And their moving reunion was made all the more special - as it was Mother's Day in Spain.

While Leonor was smartly kitted out in her naval uniform, her mother had chosen to wear matching shades of white in casual jeans, T-shirt and white trainers.

For the Crown Princess's training cruise, she is sailing through two oceans, and visiting 10 ports and eight countries in America, according to La Vanguardia.

The Princess of Asturias, as she is also known, participated in a visit to Panama Viejo, took a short walk to the Cathedral Tower and visited several rooms of the Museum (of Panama Viejo), which has a commemorative plaque of the visit of His Majesty the King 2019.

Leonor is following in the footsteps of her father King Felipe as well as her grandfather Juan Carlos, who all attended military training with every of the three armed services in the country.

Pictured last month, Spain's Queen Letizia (L) was seen embracing her daughter Leonor during a navy stopover, for which the Queen travelled more than 8,000 miles to be there

Navy Captain Pedro Cardona Suanzes, director-commandant of the Naval Military School in Marin, previously described the daily routine of the midshipmen to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

He said that their life is 'non-stop' adding that there are constant tasks for them to do, from the minute they wake up until they go to bed in the evening.

The captain said the day starts at 6.45am. They then shower, make their beds and go and get breakfast all before 7.30am - when their white uniforms are inspected to be 'spotless'.

During the week, all students must be in bed before 10.45pm to ensure they get their full eight hours of sleep.

On weekends, pupils are allowed to wake up two hours later than usual, at 8.45am and first-years are allowed to stay up until 1.30am in the morning.

Before she started her three-year training, Leonor revealed her enthusiasm for becoming a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona last year.

She said at the time: 'I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.

'I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces... it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.'
It may have been a little bit of luck but, primarily, it was good management. I religiously took the Pill until I actually wanted to become pregnant, so I never had to face the decision of whether or not to abort an unwanted foetus.

There were, of course, occasions at university when I worried the Pill might have failed; my period would be late and I would spend the most agonising sleepless nights in a panic, longing for the sign that all was well.

I don't think any man can comprehend that fear.

I was 18 when abortion was legalised in 1968, and I instantly became a vocal advocate of a woman's right to choose. But before that, I had school friends who 'slipped up', as they used to say, and had no choice but to see the pregnancy through.

Young teenagers, they had no idea how to approach a dangerous backstreet abortionist  so were forced to endure the pregnancy in front of furious and unsupportive parents. Then they had to raise a child, their lives dedicated to full-time parenting which put pay to their ambitions of being a teacher, a doctor or an economist.

As for the men involved: one was persuaded to enter an unhappy, resentful marriage. The others wanted nothing to do with it  the women were left to struggle on as single mothers.

In the late 1960s and for many subsequent years, a young woman could suffer no greater disgrace than becoming an unmarried mother. The 'fathers' (in name only) were blithely unconcerned by the whole business  got on with their A-levels, went to university and on to good jobs. The young mothers did their best for the kids, but it was hard.

A pro-choice protester at a rally outside the US Supreme Court in March 2024

US Vice President JD Vance appears to want to extend his own fiercely anti-abortion views to our country, writes Jenni Murray

Strange how so often the men who'd taken their pleasure seemed grossly unwilling to share the pain of taking responsibility for the resulting child. And that, by and large, society still seems to legitimise this reaction; in many cases women continue to shoulder the weight of the blame and shame alone.

No woman wants to go through an abortion, but at least in the UK her right to choose is well established. Women have a right to what is a legal, deeply private, invasive medical procedure without fear of harassment. And staff who work in clinics where abortion is carried out have a right to go about their job without fear.

That would seem to be a very simple statement of fact, but at Bournemouth's British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), this doesn't seem to be the case.

Helen Barton is a treatment manager at the clinic who, three months ago, was driving her car along the motorway on her way to work when its warning lights began to flash. She quickly got to a garage and a nail was found in the rear tyre of the driver's side and the caps on two other wheels were missing.

Bear in mind how dangerous this might have been. She'd been driving in rush hour at 70mph. A blow out in the tyre with the nail could have been deadly.

She immediately suspected sabotage. Hers was one of 24 incidents recorded at the BPAS clinic in which the vehicles of staff had been keyed or targeted with handfuls of nails and screws over the past 18 months. Too frightened to drive, Helen now takes the train to work.

The Bournemouth clinic  in an area which has the lowest abortion rate in England and Wales  is the same one that attracted the attention of US Vice President JD Vance earlier this year.

Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired medical scientist from Italy, had been found guilty of breaching the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) on two days in March 2023. The anti-abortion campaigner had held a sign saying, 'Here to talk if you want'. The PSPO, often referred to as a buffer zone, is there to protect women going to these clinics from any interference or harassment.

Tossici-Bolt had clearly broken the law and was given a two-year conditional discharge and a 20,000 fine. The judge said she 'lacks insight that her presence could have a detrimental effect on the women entering the clinic, their associates, staff and members of the public'. She continued: 'Although it's accepted this defendant held pro-life views, it's important to note this case is not about the rights and wrongs about abortion but about whether the defendant was in breach of the PSPO.'

America was apparently 'concerned about freedom of expression in the UK'. How dare they? A former leading judge in the UK's Supreme Court accused the Trump administration of 'unjustifiable interference'  and quite rightly so.

For years, the US has had anti-abortionists campaigning outside clinics and frightening women heading for a termination. There's been a lot of violence. Doctors known to carry out the procedure have been shot and killed. The Trump administration has effectively banned abortion, and now it appears Vance wants to extend his own fiercely anti-abortion views to our country.

I refuse to call him pro-life. We're all pro-life and want life to be the best it can be for women and any children they may have.

We have taken steps to protect women seeking an abortion in the UK. Before the safe zones were introduced two years ago, patients suffered abuse, spitting, pictures of foetuses and activists indicating silent prayer.

It seems quite possible to me that Vance, who also attacked these buffer zones when they were introduced in Scotland last year, has emboldened anti-abortionists in this country and that they are prepared to do more than just hold a placard in an area from which they've been banned.

Livia Tossici-Bolt was found guilty of breaching the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) on two days in March 2023. The anti-abortion campaigner had held up a sign saying, 'Here to talk if you want' at a clinic in Bournemouth

What happened to Helen - and the similar incidents experienced by her colleagues - is dangerous and frightening. We do not want the influence of Vance and Donald Trump to take hold here.

There is no constitutional right to termination in the US. In 13 states the procedure is banned outright and already it is causing higher rates of maternal and infant mortality as well as greater economic insecurity.

As I said, I have not had to face the difficulty of making the decision to abort or not, but I know women who have. Some have been young and not yet ready to have a child. Others have been older with perhaps two or three children already but no desire for more. What's important for us to emphasise is that they've all had safe, legal abortions and all have expressed nothing but relief when that burden is removed.

I have no doubt that in America, women will be resorting to the dangers of illegal procedures. Women historically have always sought abortion in desperation and have died or been irreparably damaged by backstreet operators. So, JD Vance, you and your views have no place in a country such as ours  where the rights of women are still recognised. Kindly keep your opinions on your side of the Atlantic.

Taylor's right to wield her girl power

Taylor Swift now owns the masters of her greatest hits with no need to re-record them

That Taylor Swift's a clever girl. So many young performers lose their work before they have any proper understanding of how the music industry operates, how it can rob them of ownership of their own creativity. She's so powerful, she can buy back her music outright. Now she owns the masters of her greatest hits with no need to re-record them. It's all her own work and should never have belonged to anyone but her.

Thank goodness I never joined the decaf crew

At last, I learn I've got something right. Harvard University has researched the impact on women of drinking coffee in middle age. It helps us get older better  both mentally and physically. So, to all my friends who've advised green tea or decaf, I shall not be changing my habit  two large, strong, caffeinated lattes every morning. I couldn't start the day without it.

I honestly can't remember how many Covid jabs I've had. But as a believer in vaccination, I've had one every time my doctor's told me to  and had no ill effects. Until yesterday. This latest one has completely floored me.

Brave JK Rowling never gives up

JK Rowling is funding a new breastfeeding charity, MoMa, for women only

I thank JK Rowling for never giving up her determination to support women. It was trans activists' insistence for breastfeeding to be called chestfeeding that pushed me to express my views in 2018  and look at the trouble that caused. I was furious when La Leche League allowed trans women to join and get support for chestfeeding. So delighted to hear that JK is funding a new breastfeeding charity, MoMa. It's for women only, as it should be.
Meghan Markle's latest Instagram post showing her and Prince Harry dancing in a hospital room in an attempt to induce Princess Lilibet's birth has been branded 'cringy' and 'unroyal' by unimpressed royal fans.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, shared the throwback footage to mark her daughter's fourth birthday today, explaining how 'there was only one thing left to do' when the youngster was a week past her due date.

In the clip, a heavily pregnant Meghan is shown dancing to the Starrkeisha song Baby Momma, alongside the Duke of Sussex.

The release of the footage is one of the more unusual ways a member of the royal family has marked a royal birthday - and the Duchess' post has ruffled feathers amongst fans.

One person wrote on X: 'It's cringe and embarrassing but typical of Meghan', while another simply said: 'Tacky.'

A third added: 'Good grief, these people have titles. Ruining the reputation and respect of the Royal Family, one Instagram post at a time.'

Meanwhile, another individual suggested the Duke and Duchess' footage was 'very awkward and cringy'.

However, others were impressed by the couple's moves, with one person writing online: 'I'm loving Meghan's Instagram. Such a cute and funny video.'

Meghan Markle's (pictured) latest Instagram post showing her and Prince Harry dancing in a hospital room in an attempt to induce Princess Lilibet's birth has been branded 'cringy' and 'unroyal' by unimpressed royal fans

A hooded Prince Harry also joins in with the dance as he performs in front of the camera

A second fan said: 'Meghan and Harry dancing to Baby Momma in the delivery suite is the most sweetest, un-royal, cutest video.'

A third added: 'I see nothing wrong with this,' while another person insisted: 'Why is this cringe? People are so weird.'

In the clip, Harry is seen coming into view of the camera as the viral Baby Mama song begins to play.

A heavily pregnant Meghan then starts twerking in front of a hospital bed before she dances around the room.

'Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didnt work - there was only one thing left to do!,' Meghan wrote on her Instagram.

The Baby Mama dance was a social media craze in 2018 with celebs Shay Mitchell, and Chloe and Lauryn Goodman all previously posting videos of themselves taking part in the trend.

Meghan had earlier shared two previously unseen photos of Lilibet with Harry. One of the pictures showed the Duke of Sussex holding his daughter's hand as they walked along a sandy road barefoot in the sunshine, while he held his shoes and a cap.

The other image was of Harry holding Lilibet as a baby while they looked at each other. Meghan wrote in a post accompanying the pictures: 'The sweetest bond to watch unfold. Daddy's little girl and favorite adventurer. Happy birthday Lili!'

The Duchess of Sussex is seen twerking in the throwback clip in a bid to bring on labour

Reaction: The release of the footage is one of the more unusual ways a member of the royal family has marked a royal birthday - and the Duchess' post has ruffled feathers amongst fans

However, others were impressed by the couple's moves, with one person writing online: 'I'm loving Meghan's Instagram. Such a cute and funny video'

The post was made at 7.40am California time (3.40pm UK), just under eight hours after Meghan posted two other intimate family photos of her with Lilibet.

In that post, the Duchess shared a black-and-white snap of herself cuddling Lili, who was sat on her lap, with the pair both sporting windswept hair, seemingly on a boat.

The second image in the first post showed Meghan tenderly cradling newborn Lilibet as she enjoyed skin-to-skin time with the new addition to her family in 2021.

Meghan wrote in the first post: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it.

'Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!'

The duchess usually only shares photos of her daughter pictured from behind to protect her privacy.

But in the more recent photo, Lili's eyes and the top half of her face could be seen, with her nose and mouth and the rest of her face covered by Meghan's arms as she hugged the princess.

Lili - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's youngest child - was born on June 4 2021 and was named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

A new photograph of the Duke of Sussex holding Princess Lilibet's hand as they walked along a sandy road barefoot in the sunshine, while he held his shoes and a cap

The other image was of Prince Harry holding Lilibet as a baby while they looked at each other

The Duchess of Sussex shared the black and white photo of herself cuddling Princess Lilibet, who was sat on her lap, with the pair both sporting windswept hair

A second image also posted today by Meghan showed her tenderly cradling newborn Princess Lilibet as she enjoyed skin-to-skin time with the new addition to her family in 2021.

She only became entitled to be a princess when her grandfather the King acceded to the throne, because of rules set out by King George V in 1917.

Harry and Meghan started using prince and princess for Archie and Lili after the princess's christening in 2023, following correspondence with Charles about the matter.

Yesterday, On Tuesday, Meghan suggested that she might launch a future business with Lili as she chatted to Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles on her podcast.

'I wonder if one day I'll be in business with Lili and we'll be building something,' the duchess said, with Knowles adding: 'That's the best.'

Last week, the Duchess shared a clip of her and her daughter beekeeping in matching protective suits, writing: 'Harvesting honey with my little honey. (Like mother, like daughter; she's even wearing my gloves).'

Lilibet is named after her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

Princess Elizabeth had difficulty pronouncing her own name as a toddler and her grandfather George V would affectionately call her Lilibet, imitating her own attempts to say Elizabeth.

The sweet nickname stuck and she became known as Lilibet to her family from then on.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet in December 2021

The last official portrait of Princess Lilibet's face was taken on her first birthday in June 2022

In a post in April, Meghan was seen smiling and showing her daughter Lilibet a large rose

But the late Queen was reportedly 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after Harry and Meghan claimed they had her blessing to use the name for their daughter Lilibet, a royal aide said.

Royal author Robert Hardman, in his biography of the King, told how a member of staff recounted Elizabeth II's fury following Harry and Meghan's announcement in 2021 over the use of her childhood family nickname.

The BBC later reported a Palace source said the Queen was not asked by the Sussexes whether they could use Lilibet.

But the Sussexes' lawyers fired off legal letters to the broadcaster and other publishers, saying the claim was false and defamatory.

A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan insisted at the time that the duke spoke to his grandmother in advance and would not have used the name had the monarch not been supportive.

Hardman wrote however: 'One privately recalled that Elizabeth II had been 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' in 2021 after the Sussexes announced that she had given them her blessing to call their baby daughter 'Lilibet', the Queen's childhood nickname.'
Thailand has reported its first fatality from anthrax in 25 years, with four others infected by the bacteria.

All those who are sick are thought to have contracted the disease after contact with infected cattle or animal products.

Anthrax, a disease famed for its links to bioterrorism, is a life-threatening infection caused by the spores of the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.

If these spores enter cuts or scrapes, they can spread through the body and produce toxins - known as cutaneous anthrax - causing severe illness and death.

Four initial cases of this anthrax, three men and one woman all in their mid-30s to late-50s, were reported in Thailand last month.

One patient, a 53-year-old man according to local reports, was killed by the bacterial infection.

Thai health officials said the man sought medical aid for a lesion on his hand that developed almost two weeks after slaughtering a cow.

His condition rapidly deteriorated as the cut became darker - a telltale sign of the disease - with his lymph nodes swelling as he experienced dizziness and convulsions.

Thailand has reported its first fatality from anthrax in 25 years, with four others infected with bacteria. Stock photo of lesions caused by cutaneous anthrax

Health officials disinfecting a site where testing indicated the presence of anthrax spores last month

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He died just three days after initially seeking help at a local hospital.

A fifth case was then detected on May 28.

Three other patients, who needed to be admitted to hospital, have made a full recovery and been discharged.

Testing of samples taken from the patients, all from Mukdahan Province in the country's north east - bordering the Lao People's Democratic Republic - confirmed they had been infected with anthrax.

Other tests of the deceased's kitchenware and meat taken from the cattle, also confirmed the presence of anthrax.

Officials, racing to track any more cases, identified 636 others at risk of anthrax exposure either from working with the infected livestock or eating its meat.

While two more fell ill during this time with diarrhoea and fever, testing for anthrax came back negative.

Thai officials have now decontaminated 23 households at high risk of the infection.

Thai officials have now decontaminated 23 households at high risk of the deadly infection

Anthrax plays a role in the plot of the 2021 award-winning film the Power of the Dog starring Benedict Cumberbatch

They have also rolled out an animal vaccination programme in the local area in a bid to prevent any more cases.

The World Health Organisation said the risk of the outbreak spreading locally or internationally is low.

No travel advice regarding anthrax cases in Thailand has been issued by the British Government.

Anthrax, which isn't a contagious disease between people, is typically easily remedied if a patient is treated early, especially in countries like the UK.

A handful of anthrax cases are reported in Britain each year.

According to the latest NHS data three anthrax needed treatment in England in 2023-2024.

None of these were the cutaneous anthrax but instead linked to inhalation of anthrax spores or anthrax sepsis, where spores enter the blood stream directly, such as through a needle in drug use.
NBC's 'Late Night' host Seth Meyers has been blasted for failing to ask George Clooney about the reports that Joe Biden was unable to recognize the actor at a fundraiser last year.

Clooney, 63, was on the show to promote his Tony-nominated Broadway play 'Good Night, And Good Luck.'

However, Meyers did not ask Clooney about the shocking revelations that came out about the former president in the new book 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.'

The bombshell book by co-authors CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson claimed that Biden was reportedly so impaired that he didn't recognize Clooney at a star-studded June 2024 Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles, the book says, claiming it left the actor 'shaken to his core.'

'It was obvious to many standing there that the president did not know who George Clooney was,' the authors said.

Another Hollywood VIP guest reportedly said: 'It was like watching someone who was not alive. It was so awful.'

Critics blasted Meyers for focusing the interview on Clooney's Broadway debut and asking what his wife thought of his hair.

'AND the cover up of Joe's Dementia continues,' one person said. 'Not surprised,' said another.

Seth Meyers has been slammed for failing to ask George Clooney about the reports that Joe Biden was unable to recognize the actor at a fundraiser last year

Critics blasted Meyers for focusing the interview on Clooney's Broadway debut and asking what his wife thought of his hair

A new book claimed that Biden was reportedly so impaired that he didn't recognize Clooney at a star-studded June 2024 Democratic fundraiser

'OH OF COURSELOL,' a third person said. A fourth person added, 'Was not in the script.'

'I'm sure they're saving it for whatever book they are cooking up,' said a fifth person. 'Convenient,' said another.

'Cut him slack! He was so enamored with Clooneys presence that he simply forgot,' said a seventh person.

Weeks after that LA fundraiser and following Biden's disastrous TV debate against Trump, Clooney wrote a now-infamous op-ed for The New York Times calling for Biden to drop out of the race.

The tactfully worded article didn't go into details, but Clooney wrote that, in private, the president was, indeed, 'the same man we all witnessed at the debate.'

Donald Trump blasted the Oscar-winning actor for his piece, saying, 'So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act. He's turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are.'

In March, Trump slammed Clooney as a 'second-rate movie star' as he hit out at the Hollywood legend for comments he made on 60 Minutes.

Clooney spoke about his decision to drop his support for Biden - accusing the Democratic Party of 'cowardice' and covering up the ex-president's ailing health while claiming he was forced to 'tell the truth' in a bombshell op-ed calling for him to step down.

Clooney has also been under fire after a bombshell class-action lawsuit accused his tequila brand, Casamigos, of selling possibly fake tequila to 'cut corners'

The president quickly responded on Truth Social to blast Clooney and the role he played in Biden's demise.

'Why would the now highly-discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total "puff piece" on George Clooney, a second-rate movie "star" and failed political pundit,' he wrote.

Clooney has also been under fire after a bombshell class-action lawsuit accused his tequila brand, Casamigos, of selling possibly fake tequila to 'cut corners.'

Casamigos and Don Julio, both owned by spirit company Diageo, face allegations in a federal suit of using spirits other than tequila in their bottles, while the brands market themselves as 100 percent agave.

The liquor has slammed the claims, calling them 'categorically false.'
The View co-host Sara Haines was forced to apologize live on-air after a joke about Sean 'Diddy' Combs drew audible groans from the studio audience.

The segment began with a discussion about whether President Donald Trump, 78, might consider pardoning Combs, 55, who is currently facing serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, 35, noted that rapper 50 Cent - who has long criticized Combs - has taken it upon himself to try and dissuade Trump from granting a pardon, should the embattled music mogul be convicted.

'50 Cent has had a bit of a relationship with Trump He came out and said he was going to talk to Trump about why he should not pardon Diddy, because he's been all on Diddy's things for years and been calling him out for it,' Griffin explained on the show.

Haines, 47, interjected with a quip: 'Everyone's been on Diddy's things' before trailing off.

Though her incomplete remark drew a laugh from one of her co-hosts, it also sparked groans from the audience.

Recognizing the misstep, Haines quickly apologized, whispering 'sorry' under her breath so quietly it went largely unnoticed by the rest of the panel.

Going on without a hitch, the conversation then shifted to a broader discussion about Trump's controversial history of pardoning rappers.

The View co-host Sara Haines, 47, found herself issuing a live on-air apology after a joke about Sean 'Diddy' Combs drew audible groans from the studio audience

Alyssa Farah Griffin (right), 35, noted that rapper 50 Cent has taken it upon himself to try and dissuade Trump from granting a pardon, should the embattled music mogul be convicted

The segment began with a discussion about whether President Donald Trump might consider pardoning Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55 (pictured) who is currently facing serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy

Co-host Sunny Hostin, 56, chimed in criticizing the idea of pardoning Combs, calling it 'shameful' in light of the serious nature of the allegations.

'I've been in that courtroom almost every single day, and we're hearing about women who were physically abused, who were sexually abused, who were mentally and emotionally abused,' Hostin said.

'And the thought that [Trump] would just consider it - and he himself has been found civilly liable for sexual abuse - the fact that he would be so dismissive of these charges is really something that is shameful. It's just shameful.'

Joy Behar, 82, attempted to inject some levity, joking, 'Trump would pardon Jack the Ripper if he was alive.'

Haines' latest controversy adds to a string of recent criticisms the daytime talk show host has faced.

Just days earlier, during a May 28 episode, she came under fire for urging critics of Trump to 'pick your battles' during a discussion about his controversial pardons of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.

Rapper 50 Cent, 49, (pictured) has long criticized Combs

Diddy and 50 Cent have a long-standing, often antagonistic, relationship characterized by public jabs, diss tracks, and occasional periods of apparent reconciliation. Pictured: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and 50 Cent attends party at The Hard Rock on September 8, 2007 in Las Vegas

The Chrisley Knows Best couple was found guilty in 2022 of federal charges including tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud community banks. Todd was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Julie received a seven-year sentence. Both sentences have since been reduced.

On the show, co-host Ana Navarro, 53, warned against normalizing Trump's actions, saying, 'We have to not normalize this and allow it to continue to happen. There's a For Sale sign on the lawn of the White House.'

She claimed that Trump's pardons of the Chrisley's show that 'if you are a supporter, if you are a donor, then you can buy pardons.'

Haines disagreed.

'Everyone reacts to everything saying, "Don't normalize this," whenever Trump does something outrageous,' she said. 'There's a strategy to picking your battles.'

Her comments sparked backlash from some viewers, who felt she was downplaying the seriousness of Trump's behavior.

Haines' latest controversy adds to a string of recent criticisms the daytime talk show host has faced

During a May 28 episode, Haines came under fire for urging critics of Trump to 'pick your battles' during a discussion about his controversial pardons of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley

Her comments sparked backlash from some viewers, who felt she was downplaying the seriousness of Trump's behavior

To support her position, Haines referenced what she described as 'proverbs,' telling the audience: 'The man who chases two rabbits catches neither,' and 'When you yell at everything, nobody hears anything.'

'There's a strategy to not jumping every time he does something,' she argued, adding that Trump pardoning his supporters is 'not surprising.'

Still, Haines was careful to clarify that she was not excusing Trump's actions.

'I'm more upset about the Qatari jet, the January 6th pardons - which were violent criminals - the deportations without due process, the attacks on federal institutions with no cause,' she said. 'Those, to me, are fundamentally way more problematic.'

When she finished, co-host Joy Behar dryly remarked, 'That's a lot of rabbits you listed.'

Some speculate that Haines' recent tone may reflect behind-the-scenes pressure.

Reports suggest that executives at ABC News and Disney have asked the show's liberal-leaning panel to scale back their relentless criticism of the former president.
Pay and bonuses in the boardroom and the City are among the most divisive issues in corporate life.

Concern about adverse reaction to rewards for executives at failing Thames Water was among the factors behind KKR, not known for modesty in enriching its chieftains, pulling out of a bid despite completing its due diligence.

This week eyebrows were raised when it emerged M&S boss Stuart Machin was to receive a pay and bonus package of 7.1million in the year to March 29.

The handsome figure was agreed by the remuneration committee ahead of the debilitating cyber-attack.

One wonders what the late chief executive Sir Richard Greenbury, who wrote a landmark report on restraining corporate remuneration, would make of that.

Greenbury was the first M&S boss to report 1billion of profit, way back in 1997. That would be almost 2billion today, a mountain not yet scaled by Machin.

Tax grab: Labour, under Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves (pictured), threaten to drive business and talent out of the City with their assault on inheritance, pension pots and capital gains

He has been vital to M&Ss return to health and his style of leadership, including round the clock duties in the systems incursion, is much admired by colleagues and associates.

Credit for the turnaround and some brave decisions on store closures and renewals must also go to chairman Archie Norman and Machins predecessor Steve Rowe.

When it comes to boardroom rewards anything which has the number 100 in it attracts attention.

Machin is unlikely to manage that. Jeff Fairburn was driven from office at housebuilder Persimmon in 2018 after it was revealed that he was up for a 100million award for building homes later found to have safety defects.

At Reckitt Benckiser, former chief executive Bart Becht was rewarded with 100million after devising a super-brand strategy and powering the Cillit Bang maker into the FTSE 100.

Recently it was the turn of Ryanair entrepreneur Michael OLeary. His carrier may be short in charm and comfort, but has a remarkable record, air traffic control permitting, of getting passengers to destinations on time.

It is not for nothing that the Irish-based carrier has a market value of 21billion, making it the most valuable in Europe.

OLeary has contrived to earn himself an options and bonus package worth 100million (84.2million). He is not short of wealth.

The shouty chief executive is a near-billionaire, owning a 4.15 per cent personal stake in the enterprise he helped create.

Given his remarkable success, in contrast to the meltdown among cheapo carriers in the US, it is hard to argue against his rewards.

Ryanair may be no-frills but it attracts a rich variety of investors, including funds run by Baillie Gifford, Rothschild Wealth and Jupiter. If there were to be objections to OLearys pay award it would be about the way it was achieved.

He has become the recipient of the financial gusher after an earlier scheme expired and by means of big share buybacks which lifted the value of the stock to where it needed to be to hit the jackpot.

A common complaint among UK executives, used as an excuse for shifting listings to New York, is that UK governance rules preclude big awards.

As matters stand, OLearys payout is higher than that of GE Aerospace boss Larry Culp (he has just secured an enormous Qatar engine contract) who took home 66.4million.

This kind of pay is as of nothing compared to the less transparent and lightly taxed awards which go to high-voltage principals in private equity.

The OLeary payout means he is committed to staying on until 2028, which is a big plus for investors.

It is to the credit of Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Labour that, as part of her growth agenda, she chose to lift the cap on bankers bonuses, critical to keeping financiers in London.

Yet her assault on inheritance, pension pots and capital gains, with the threat of more to come, has driven some of the Citys biggest rainmakers offshore.

Recent over-generous handouts suggest that it is not pay which causes firms and executives to head elsewhere.

Punishing taxation  as was the case in the pre-Thatcher era  is the real villain.
Thames Water faces a 'very short and closing window' to ensure its survival as a private business after a key investor pulled out of a crucial rescue deal, its major creditors have warned.

Private equity giant KKR abandoned its pledge to inject 4billion of equity to stabilise Thames Water's balance sheet and ultimately return the company to the stock exchange in 10 years, it emerged on Tuesday.

KKR's exit left Britain's biggest water company once again circling the drain as it struggles to secure its future and avoid nationalisation.

The Thames Water Creditor Group said on Wednesday it would continue discussions with industry regulator Ofwat and the Government in the coming weeks, but warned there is little time to secure the 'urgent and fundamental reset' the debt-riddled utility requires.

The creditors confirmed they have the 'committed capital, capabilities and expertise needed' to 'fix the root causes of Thames Water's problems, restore its balance sheet, rebuild customer trust and fix the fundamentals of the business once and for all'.

Thames, which serves more than 16 million customers, kept the threat of nationalisation at bay in late March after judges dismissed an appeal against the company's 3billion emergency bailout package.

Thames Water became the target of public outcry over sewage and pollution in the sector

Its chair Adrian Montague described KKR's decision as to abandon the group's rescue as 'disappointing'.

Before KKR's selection as preferred investment partner, rival suitors included Hong Kong's CKI Infrastructure, UK-based Castle Water and a group of investors led by investment service Covalis.

Thames Water became the central target of public outcry over sewage and pollution in the sector, while firms also faced criticism over poor upkeep of infrastructure and bumper shareholder payouts.

It also comes as households around the country face double-digit bill increases in the coming years after a controversial funding package was approved by regulators.

A spokesperson for the Thames creditors said: 'The [rescue] plan will break from the patterns of the past by delivering customers' priorities and improved outcomes for the environment in the shortest possible timeframe.

'The comprehensive recapitalisation proposal, which is fully-funded and targets a sustainable capital structure, will deliver substantial fresh investment to drive significant change under a new, highly experienced and accountable leadership team.

'These investors have the funding and experience required to deliver a transformation of the company's performance which marks a departure from past failings, creating a "new" Thames Water that works effectively alongside Government and regulators to deliver for the environment and economic growth.

'The creditors believe that Thames Water requires an urgent and fundamental reset and there is a very short and closing window in which a market-led solution can succeed. Discussions with Ofwat and the Government will be advanced in the coming weeks to reach an agreement and turnaround for the benefit of customers and the environment.'
Londons stock market is facing a damaging exodus of some of its most promising tech firms after a series of takeover swoops by foreign predators.

The future of the cutting-edge chip designer Alphawave could be decided as early as today after its larger American rival Qualcomm was given until 5pm to table a bid or walk away  though the deadline could be extended.

Alphawave is one of five London-listed tech firms, with a combined value of over 5billion, currently in play as suitors race to cash in on their success.

The flurry of takeover activity has set alarm bells ringing in the City, as experts warn the crisis gripping the stock market is undermining Britains hopes of becoming a global technology hub.

London is reeling from an exodus of companies and a dearth of new arrivals through share listings.

Analysts said the UK is still struggling to recover from the decision by Cambridge-based chip designer Arm to list in New York in 2023.

Britain betrayed: A flurry of takeover activity has set alarm bells ringing in the City with experts warning it is undermining Britains hopes of becoming a global technology hub

Arm is now worth 100billion and would be the fifth-biggest company on the FTSE 100  and the largest tech stock in the UK  had it chosen London.

There would have been a halo effect for the UK market as it would have a heavyweight addition which would have stimulated greater activity, lamented one City source.

Ministers were last night urged to move, and move quickly to revive the stock market and turbocharge Britains tech sector.

Takeover deadlines loom for two more tech firms next week. Private equity group ICG has until June 11 to secure a deal for analytics and intelligence firm GlobalData, while US buyout giant Bain Capital has until June 13 to agree an offer for Edinburgh-based healthcare tech group Craneware.

These deadlines could also be extended, however.

Meanwhile, London fintech company Alpha Group has been targeted by US payments business Corpay.

And Northern Ireland software group FD Technologies has backed a 570million offer from Boston-based private equity giant TA Associates. The proposed deal now requires approval.

On the block: Alphawave is one of five London-listed tech companies - with a combined value of over 5bn - currently in play as foreign predators look to cash in on their success

Successful takeovers would see the companies leave the London Stock Exchange, diminishing its standing and that of the City while robbing the country of much-needed tax revenues and even jobs.

And it would follow the acquisition of nine firms in the technology, media and telecommunications sector with a combined value of 10billion last year, including cyber security giant Darktrace.

Charles Hall, head of research at Peel Hunt, said: If we are serious about the UK being a centre of excellence for tech companies, then it is essential that we have a vibrant equity market to support them and provide growth capital.

Government needs to move, and move quickly, to ensure that we retain the firms of tomorrow.

He added: It could all have been so different if Arm could have been persuaded to list in the UK. This would have fundamentally shifted the narrative around UK tech.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said a fresh round of takeovers would be another blow to Londons ambitions to retain and attract more tech firms to list.
The boss of Brent Cross and Bull Ring shopping centre owner Hammerson is leaving after five years. In a surprise update, the company said Rita-Rose Gagne will leave in 2026.

Chairman Robert Noel praised her outstanding leadership and immense contribution, saying she drove a substantial turnaround.

Gagne, 62, previously a senior partner at global law firm Fasken, said: I have been privileged to work with our talented teams to transform our culture, balance sheet and portfolio.

She added that now was the right time to pass on the baton and retire from the firm.

Hammersons underlying earnings fell 15 per cent to 99million last year after it offloaded assets, including its stake in Value Retail, owner of Bicester Village near Oxford.

It booked a 497million impairment in the first half of 2024 due to the sale, despite banking 595million from the deal.
Growing up, Mark Palm always knew he wanted to fly. It was in his blood. His grandfather was a World War II pilot, his uncles took to the skies, and his cousin served in the military as an aviator.

But while most boys with an aviation pedigree dream of fast jets and high-flying careers, Mark's path took an unexpected turn - one that would lead him deep into the jungles of Papua New Guinea, where he would build a life-saving rescue service from scratch.

Mark met villagers who had lost loved ones because they couldn't get to a hospital in time. Women died in childbirth. Children succumbed to snake bites. Malaria, tuberculosis, and infections ran rampant, but there was no way to get medical supplies to the remote settlements.

'We heard again and again about people dying just trying to reach help,' Mark told the MailOnline. 'Hospitals were two, three days away by canoe.'

That's where his dream was born.

His mission would see him ferrying desperate and sick villagers from their remote villages buried in the depths of the wilderness to the nearest hospital and cut the days-long trip down to one hour.

Mark and his team at Samaritan Aviation have now delivered more than 100,000 pounds of medical supplied to over 20 aid stations and he has been the lead pilot on over 1,500 life-saving flights in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea.

It comes as The World Health Organisation recently declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea and called for an 'immediate' vaccination campaign.

Mark Palm is the CEO of Samaritan Aviation (SA) which he founded with a friend in 2000. In 2010, Mark and his family launched full-time aviation operations for SA in Papua New Guinea

Mark introduced Samaritan Aviation seaplane flight operations in the East Sepik Province in 2010 and has routinely flown into areas along the rivers that have never had airplane operations

He has been the lead pilot on more then 1500 life-saving flights in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea

When polio first returned to Papua New Guinea a few years ago, Samaritan Aviation partnered with the World Health Organisation to distribute vaccines to children living along the Sepik River.

Without their planes, many of those children would have had no access to life-saving immunisations.

Operating seven days a week, Mark and his team have transformed emergency healthcare in the region.

'We've been able to make that dream a reality,' he says.

'We've turned three-day journeys into one-hour flights. We've flown thousands of medevac missions - pregnant mothers in distress, snakebite victims, malaria patients, children injured in tribal fights. We've delivered medical supplies to remote villages. We've stopped disease outbreaks in their tracks.'

But it all started when he was a teenager in California. His father, a minister, ran a homeless mission in Santa Cruz, and Mark would spend hours serving food to those in need.

At 16, he crossed the border into Mexico on a mission trip, where he helped build homes for impoverished families.

It was there, amid the dust and poverty, that Mark had an experience that changed his life forever.

'I just felt God speak to me,' the 50-year-old told MailOnline.

'It was like a conversation, as clear as we're talking right now. And He told me: "Mark, I want you to use your passion for people and aviation to share my love in a remote part of the world".'

Mark had always planned on following in his grandfather's footsteps and joining the military.

But after that moment, his vision shifted. Instead of war zones, he began thinking about isolated communities. Instead of combat missions, he imagined emergency rescues.

A few years later, at a flight school in Florida, fate brought him together with a kindred spirit - a fellow aviation enthusiast who had been born in Papua New Guinea, the second largest island in the world.

The two struck up a friendship, bonding over their love of flying, surfing, and adventure.

Before long, they had a plan and spent a summer in Papua New Guinea, a country where more than 80 per cent of the population lives in remote villages with little or no access to healthcare, electricity, or running water.

A woman had been in labour for three days and there was no way for her to reach the hospital. Mark loaded a stretcher into the plane and flew through rough weather, landing on the Sepik River in the rain

Running seven days a week, Palm and his team are on standby to bring people in who are in emergency medical situations, turning that three- to five-day trek to the hospital into an hour plane ride

Samaritan Aviation also responds to disasters, distributes vaccines, and holds health and community trainings

Back in the local villages, Palm and his team work on vaccination outreach for everything from whooping cough to measles, which are rapidly killing the infants in these villages

Palm's mission began in the 1990s when he followed a friend across the globe from the United States to Papua New Guinea's expansive Sepik River Basin to experience life on the world's second largest island

When Mark arrived in 1994, aged 19, he was stunned.

'It was like stepping into another world,' he says. 'People were living in bamboo huts with no electricity, no running water, no roads - just endless jungle and rivers.'

But what struck him most were the tragic stories.

The nearest hospitals were up to three days away, tribal fighting was an ongoing issue, people we rapidly giving up, and there was a scarcity of medical supplies.

Mark and his friend started asking a simple question: What if we could turn a three-day journey into a one-hour flight?

Back in the US, Mark threw himself into training. He studied aircraft mechanics, earned his pilot's license, and began forming a plan.

He had discovered that Papua New Guinea had one major hospital serving a vast, roadless expanse along the Sepik River - a 700-mile stretch of water teeming with villages but utterly lacking in medical infrastructure.

The solution seemed obvious - a seaplane. But there was just one problem, everyone told him it was impossible.

'There hadn't been a floatplane there in 40 years,' Mark says.

'People told us the river was too dangerous - crocodiles, flooding, unpredictable currents. They said we'd never survive, that we had to charge people for flights, that there was no way we could fund it.'

But Mark refused to give up.

He and his wife Kirsten launched Samaritan Aviation, a nonprofit dedicated to flying emergency medical missions - completely free of charge.

In the early days, their fundraising efforts were discouraging. They sent out letters to 330 potential donors, expecting a wave of support. They received just $330 in return.

Undeterred, they pressed on, telling their story to anyone who would listen.

Over the years, they secured partnerships with the Papua New Guinea government and health officials.

And finally, in 2010 - 10 years after first conceiving the idea - Mark, Kirsten, and their three young children boarded a plane to Papua New Guinea. Their seaplane followed in a shipping container.

'When we landed, we had nothing but a dream and a plane,' Mark says. 'We had to rebuild the aircraft from scratch, then fly it to our new base in Wewak.'

Then, on Good Friday, 2010, he got the first emergency call.

A woman had been in labor for three days and there was no way for her to reach the hospital.

Mark loaded a stretcher into the plane and flew through rough weather, landing on the Sepik River in the rain.

The outreach currently uses two specially equipped amphibious Cessna 206 Stationair single-engine aircraft modified with double doors in the cockpit that augment a large cargo entry for stretchers

Life-and-death cases include breech births, snake bites, and tribal fights

General sicknesses like cerebral malaria, tuberculosis, and other equatorial rain forest diseases are common

There is only one hospital in Papua New Guinea, and it is a three-to-five day hike for most villagers to get there. Mark's team provides medical relief and flies villagers to the hospital at no charge

As he watched a group of villagers carry the woman toward the aircraft, he quickly realised how serious the situation was - she was completely unconscious.

'I wasn't a doctor. I was a pilot, a mechanic, a musician - I had no medical background,' Mark says. 'And now I was flying my first medevac, with a dying woman just a foot away from me.'

The short flight felt like an eternity. Mark kept glancing at the woman whose head was laying just a foot away from him in the tiny aircraft - but all he could do was fly as fast as possible.

When they landed, an ambulance rushed her into surgery. Mark went home, unsure if she had survived.

The next day, he returned to the hospital with his wife and kids to find her sitting up in bed, holding a healthy baby boy.

'It's a long story, but they ended up giving him my name and so the first patient we ever flew in was Antonio - the mum who survived, and then the baby was baby Mark which is such an honour'.

Fifteen years later, that baby, Baby Mark, is almost 15 years old. His mother, Antonia, recently became a grandmother.

'That's an entire generation we've impacted,' Mark says. 'And that's just one of the thousands of lives we've touched.'

Fifteen years later, Samaritan Aviation has become a lifeline for thousands of people.

Mark flies a 1976 Cessna 206 Model F seaplane into these remote places, and getting there is no easy task

Mark started Samaritan Aviation over 20 years ago, and it took him 10 years going around the United States to raise awareness and get the funding he needed to finally go to Papa New Guinea

In 2009, three months before Mark and his team arrived there was a cholera outbreak on the river, and 3,000 people died from that one outbrea

The team has also expanded. Mark and Kirsten spent a decade in Papua New Guinea, but today, Samaritan Aviation has three seaplanes and a full-time staff of pilots, mechanics, and medical personnel who live there, raising their own financial support from friends and churches.

'They move over for two years at a time, bringing their families with them,' Mark explains.

Right now, Samaritan Aviation is building eight houses and a training center to accommodate their growing team.

But their work isn't just about flying patients from point A to point B.

'A lot of the people we pick up have never left their villages,' Mark says. 'They've never seen the ocean, electricity, cars, running water. And now, in the middle of a medical crisis, we're taking them away from everything they know'.

That's why Samaritan Aviation doesn't just drop patients at the hospital and leave.

'We have a team of Papua New Guineans who come in every day. They feed the patients we bring in, they clothe them if they need clothes, they pray with them, they love on them.'

For Mark, this is what it's all about.

'It's more than just rescue flights,' he says. 'It's about being part of their lives when they're at their lowest, showing them love, giving them hope.'

Samaritan Aviation now serves 120 villages - over 500,000 people - on the Sepik River

Mark and Kirsten spent a decade in Papua New Guinea, but today, Samaritan Aviation has three seaplanes and a full-time staff of pilots, mechanics, and medical personnel who live there, raising their own financial support from friends and churches

Samaritan Aviation now serves 120 villages - over 500,000 people - on the Sepik River. And they're not stopping there.

'We're expanding to the other side of the island,' Mark says.

'In the Gulf Province, there are hundreds of thousands of people with no roads, no medical access. Their hospitals are two, three days away. They've been forgotten.'

After years of groundwork, Samaritan Aviation has secured partnerships with the Gulf government and Gulf Christian Services, which runs hospitals in remote villages.

They've just built a floating dock in one of the region's most isolated areas, where water levels rise and fall by nine feet a day.

'We had a team out there for a month in January, dredging a landing area in the swamp,' Mark says.

'And I'm going back in May to bring a plane over and start medical flights.'

It's a major milestone.

'For me, it's incredible to see how this has grown,' he says. 'We're celebrating 25 years as an organisation this year. 15 years in Papua New Guinea. And now, we get to take everything we've learned and offer that same hope to even more people.'

When Mark first dreamed of flying, he imagined adventure, excitement, maybe even military glory.

Instead, he found a calling - one that has saved lives, transformed communities, and proven that one plane, one vision, and one unshakable belief can change the world.
Shes the British mother-of-four who married a London suicide bomber then went on to become one of the worlds most wanted terrorists - yet has evaded capture for well over a decade.

Law enforcement agencies across the globe continue to hunt Samantha Lewthwaite, nicknamed the White Widow, over her links to a catalogue of atrocities that have led to the deaths of more than 400 people.

A series of mugshots of the fugitive in various guises have been circulated by Interpol since the international law enforcement agency issued a warrant for her arrest in 2013 in the wake of a massacre at a shopping mall in Kenya.

There have been no recent sightings of Lewthwaite, 41, who was last reported to have fled to a mountain hideaway in war-torn Yemen after splitting from her fourth husband - a ruthless Somalian warlord.

Yet hopes have been raised of a fresh breakthrough in the case over a British terror suspects bid to win his release from prison.

London-born Jermaine Grant was deported to the UK last August after spending years locked up in a Kenyan jail.

Grant, 42, was held in 2011 after police stormed a flat which he shared with Lewthwaite in the Kenyan coastal resort of Mombasa.

Investigators discovered bomb-making equipment in the apartment including chemicals, switches and explosives manuals.

Samantha Lewthwaite pictured with her husband, 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay

Jermaine Grant (centre, in a plaid shirt) is led away to begin his sentence on bomb-making charges in 2019

Lewthwaite is believed to have fled minutes before the raid after Grant reportedly sent her a text message warning: The lions are inside.

On his return to the UK, Grant was arrested on suspicion of being a member of Islamist militant group al-Shabaab.

He was recalled to prison for breaching licence conditions over a 1999 rape conviction.

Grant, from Newham, east London, was up for parole last month but his release was declined with documents showing that the circumstances of his offending, progress made in custody and evidence presented in the dossier had been taken into consideration.

He could now remain behind bars until 2027 unless he is deemed fit for release.

An intelligence source told MailOnline that Grant may feel he could help win his early release by providing information that could help in the hunt for Lewthwaite.

They said: If he has any information at all that could help in the hunt for Lewthwaite, who has consistently evaded the authorities, it would be invaluable.

Lewthwaite first came to public attention when her 19-year-old husband, Germaine Lindsay, killed himself and 26 passengers on a Tube train near King's Cross station in 2005.

Samantha Lewthwaite, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, is among the world's most wanted women and has been on the run for more than a decade

Samantha Lewthwaite, originally of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, was the wife of 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay and is thought to be behind scores of suicide attacks across Africa and the Middle East

At the time she portrayed herself as another victim of the July 7 London bombings when in reality she was a dangerous extremist hell-bent on plotting her own murderous missions.

Lewthwaite - who is believed to have adopted a series of identities and altered her appearance through plastic surgery - is an unlikely jihadist mastermind after growing up as a shy schoolgirl in the Home Counties.

Her father, an English soldier called Andy Lewthwaite, met her mother, an Irish Catholic called Christine Allen, while he was serving in Northern Ireland during the 1970s.

Lewthwaite was born in Banbridge in County Down, Northern Ireland, in 1983 before the family moved to the Buckinghamshire market town of Aylesbury.

She is said to have been introduced to Islam after her parents divorced in 1994 as she sought comfort from Muslim neighbours who she considered to have a stronger family network.

As a teenager it's claimed she was seduced by the teachings of extremist cleric, Trevor Forrest, or Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal. She would go on to visit him in prison in 2006.

Lewthwaite, who changed her first name to Sherafiya after converting to Islam aged 17, enrolled in a degree course in politics and the study of religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London in 2002, although she dropped out before completing it.

Bella Ramsey, star of The Last Of Us (pictured) and Game of Thrones, is set to play the White Widow in an upcoming film Girl Next Door

Lewthwaite is the widow of 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay, who killed himself and 25 other detonating a bomb on an Underground train in London (pictured: walking wounded following the attack)

She first made contact with Lindsay, also known by his Islamic name, Jamal, in an internet chat room and they met face-to-face at a Stop The War march in London.

They married in October 2002 and had a son in April 2004. Lewthwaite was heavily pregnant with their second child when her husband blew himself up.

Shortly afterwards Lewthwaite, who had been given police protection in the aftermath of the atrocity, cradled her newborn daughter in her arms as she said: We are victims as well.

She added of her husband: I totally condemn and am horrified by the atrocities. I never predicted or imagined that he was involved in such horrific activities. He was a loving husband and father.

Just months later, Lewthwaite is thought to have first moved to Kenya before travelling to South Africa under her own name in 2008.

But she was deported to the UK the following year and returned to give birth to her third child at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury in August 2009.

Seemingly desperate to return to Africa, Lewthwaite changed her personal details and adopted the name of Asmaa Shahidah Bint-Andrews.

She used her new identity to return to South Africa with her three children where she found work in a halal pie factory.

Her nickname among intelligence agencies is the 'White Widow', and she has been linked with a string of terror atrocities in Africa that have caused the deaths of more than 400 people

While there, Lewthwaite activated a third identity - that of a British nurse called Natalie Faye Webb, whose details were stolen.

She also gave birth to a fourth child - said to be the daughter of Kenyan Naval officer turned terrorist Abdi Wahid - at a private birthing clinic in Johannesburg.

She later crossed into Tanzania in 2011 and then returned to Kenya - where she began masterminding campaigns of terror as a member of Somalia-based Islamic militant group al-Shabaab.

Her terror links first came to light in the raid where Grant was arrested in December 2011.

Kenyan police discovered the bomb-making factory in a villa in Mombasa along with an AK-47, plus a photo of Lewthwaite and her laptop.

On the computer she had written a poem praising 9/11 terror mastermind Osama Bin Laden while fingerprints found at the property were also said to be hers.

And police discovered through a forensic examination of the device that Lewthwaite had spent eight years researching bomb-making and searching for the deadly chemicals used to make improvised explosives devices.

She was believed to have been part of a British-led cell which included her latest husband, British bomb-maker Habib Ghani who also escaped but was later killed in a gun battle in Somalia.

Security services believe Lewthwaite first struck in a devastating grenade attack on Euro 2012 fans in a Mombasa bar.

Two men and a white woman wearing Islamic dress killed three and injured 25 after storming the bar packed with supporters watching a match between England and Italy.

The following year, Lewthwaite was named as a key figure in the September 2013 Nairobi terror attack that left 67 shoppers, including five Britons, dead in a shopping mall.

She is also said to have taken part in the slaughter of 148 people by gunmen at a university in Kenya in 2015.

And most recently she has been linked to the Riverside terror attack in Nairobi in January 2019 during which a member of the SAS helped save hundreds of lives when he charged into gunfire to rescue trapped civilians.

Its claimed Lewthwaite went on to become the trainer of an all-female suicide bomber squad targeting Westerners in East Africa.

She is said to have gone on to hide out with fourth husband Hassan Maalim Ibrahim also known as Sheikh Hassan in Somalia.

Sheikh Hassan is alleged to be among the top leaders of al-Shabaab.

But in 2022 it was reported Lewthwaite had escaped to Yemen in a boat after her life was put in danger when she split up with the warlord.

At the time a security source in Somalia said: She had protection from his family in a no-go area in Somalia but now she is not welcome and has gone back to al-Qaeda controlled Yemen.

She got there in a dhow sailing vessel. It is very dangerous in Yemen because of the civil war.

But she is a very dangerous woman with the blood of many on her hands.

Since then, Lewthwaite appears to have vanished once again into thin air with some long-lost relatives back home believing she may have been killed.

But Lewthwaite was at the centre of fresh controversy just months ago after it was revealed a movie is being made about her life - focusing unapologetically on the jihadists perspective.

Survivors expressed outrage over the planned movie called Girl Next Door which is to star Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey.

Director Bruce Goodison has said: This film is about a young life-affirming idealist with a broken heart. Sam turns her grief into a strength that was then exploited by men for purposes of global terror.
Europe's efforts to make ready its armed forces in anticipation of a major conflict with Moscow have broken new ground as the Russia-Ukraine war entered a new phase this weekend following a historic operation by Kyiv's security service.

Ukraine on Sunday pulled off an unprecedented attack in which swarms of kamikaze drones emerged from strategically placed trucks to demolish dozens of military aircraft at four separate airbases across the Russian Federation.

The breathtaking offensive, codenamed 'Operation Spiderweb' by Ukraine's SBU security service and personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelensky - was so devastating that Russian military bloggers termed the operation 'Russia's Pearl Harbor'.

Now, as a furious Vladimir Putin plots his response, European leaders and defence chiefs are working to ensure their militaries can meet any threat from Moscow head-on.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday vowed to make the UK 'battle-ready' while committing to building 12 new nuclear-powered submarines and at least six new munitions factories as part of the government's Strategic Defence Review.

Elsewhere, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last week declared that Berlin will finance the production of long-range missiles in Ukraine, shortly after pushing a 500 billion defence and infrastructure spending bill through parliament.

But nowhere is this drive for remilitarisation more apparent than Sweden's island of Gotland - a 1,000-square-mile tourist hotspot in the Baltic Sea undergoing a rapid transformation into a key NATO military outpost.

On a visit to Gotland late last month, Sweden's Chief of Defence Staff and Vice Supreme Commander Carl-Johan Edstrom told MailOnline about his vision for Gotland as a future NATO hub and first line of defence against Russian aggression.

He also warned that the transatlantic security alliance 'cannot take its eyes off Russia for the next 15 years' and said that Gotland must be ready to 'take a hit' from Moscow's forces and keep fighting.

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Russian bomber aircraft at the Olenya airbase on the Kola Peninsula are seen ablaze following a Ukrainian drone attack

British and US forces conducted the first ever joint firing of MLRS and HIMARS rocket systems on the island as part of NATO's Exercise Swift Response earlier this month

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment (2PARA) dropping onto Gotland for NATO Exercise Swift Response

The recognition that Europe must prepare for a clash with Moscow comes amid fears Vladimir Putin will seek revenge after the Russia-Ukraine war entered a new phase this weekend

A Swedish JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jet flies over Sweden's Gotland island in the Baltic Sea

The importance of Gotland's position is hard to overstate.

It sits just 120 miles from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - all NATO members - and only 230 miles from Russia's heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave.

With Sweden now part of the transatlantic security alliance, Gotland offers allied nations an ideal base from which to surveil and deter Russian air and naval threats over the Baltic Sea, and - in wartime - provide air cover for NATO troops engaged in Europe while striking Russian-held positions.

But after a near-total demilitarisation of the island prior to the Russia-Ukraine war, Sweden's military is in a race against time to reconstitute the island's fighting force and build the infrastructure required to support a major conflict.

'Gotland is such an important island and territory for the defence and deterrence of the whole area of responsibility for NATO,' Lieutenant General Edstrom told MailOnline.

'I see one big role as being the hub for NATO logistics from the West to the East.

'The second role is to be a platform where you can project power to actually control the sea-level communications and also the airspace over the Baltic Sea to create our own A2/AD (anti-access and area denial) bubble.

'And the third one, (Gotland) would be a perfect place also to build up offensive capabilities needed for deep strike, for example, to defend NATO allies (from a Russian attack)'.

Gotland's strategic value as both a logistics hub and a launchpad for strikes against Russian military assets in the event of an attack on Europe is not lost on other Western defence chiefs.

German General Carsten Breuer said a huge increase in production by Russia's military industrial base indicated that Moscow is preparing its stockpiles of weaponry and ammunition for a future clash with NATO, adding that Baltic states were at a particularly high risk of being attacked.

'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 told the BBC.

He recounted that Estonian defence officials had used the analogy of being close to a wildfire where they 'feel the heat, see the flames and smell the smoke', but in Western Europe 'you probably see a little bit of smoke over the horizon and not more'.

Last week, David Petraeus, a respected former US general and CIA chief, said Russia could launch an incursion into the Baltic state of Lithuania to test Western resolve, or as a precursor to a wider offensive.

Russia was left reeling after Sunday's stunning drone attack on several airbases

Ukraine's SBU was in charge of the major operation that saw 117 drones attack Russian airbases this weekend

Zelensky claimed that this attack was one for the 'history books'

From de-militarisation to re-militarisation

During the Cold War, Gotland was home to thousands of soldiers as Stockholm took precautions in the face of a potential Soviet attack, despite Sweden's two-century-long policy of military neutrality.

Defence analysts termed the island Sweden's 'unsinkable aircraft carrier', such was its strategic value. But in the post-Soviet era, with geopolitical tensions easing and defence budgets tightening, Stockholm began a gradual wind-down.

By 2005, the island was almost entirely demilitarised - its garrisons decommissioned, equipment sold off and personnel withdrawn, save for a skeletal presence of Home Guard troops.

Russia's annexation of Crimea and the eruption of war in Eastern Ukraine came as a wake-up call for Swedish defence planners.

The idea of conventional war in Europe no longer seemed far-fetched, and Gotland - adrift in the Baltic Sea within striking distance of Kaliningrad - looked dangerously exposed.

In response, Stockholm performed an abrupt about-face. A 2015 defence bill called for a new mechanised battalion to be re-established on the island, and by 2018, the Gotland Regiment had been formally reactivated.

In 2020, the regiment assumed command over a scaled-down unit known as the 181st Armoured Battalion, and new conscripts began training on the island for the first time since the Cold War.

But Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent the remilitarisation process into overdrive - and prompted Sweden to break with its long held policy of neutrality by applying to join NATO.

Now, a full brigade combat team is in development.

By 2027, Sweden wants the capacity to station around 4,500 troops on the island to not only oversee its air defence and reconnaissance operations, but to hold off invaders in the event of an attack.

Sweden's Defence Forces spokesman Tomas Angshammer told MailOnline this force will include a mechanised battalion, an infantry battalion and a Home Guard battalion, backed by specialised units including signal, engineering, air defence, artillery and medical support.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) platoon and a combat logistics hub are also planned, ensuring that Gotland can both defend itself and receive and sustain reinforcements in the event of a conflict with full operational capacity by 2030.

US and UK troops launch MLRS and HIMARS rockets in Gotland NATO drills

Sweden's Chief of Defence Staff and Vice Supreme Commander Carl-Johan Edstrom told MailOnline about his vision for Gotland as a future hub for NATO joint operations

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment (2PARA) are seen dropping onto Gotland for NATO Exercise Swift Response

A soldier of the P18 Gotland Regiment of the Swedish Army camouflages an armoured vehicle during a field exercise near Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland

A 2015 defence bill called for a new mechanised battalion to be re-established on the island, and by 2018, the Gotland Regiment had been formally reactivated

To support this force, Sweden's Fortification Agency has launched a sweeping infrastructure programme.

New barracks and a medical facility were completed last year along with a mess hall, exercise and maintenance areas to support permanent troops and the training of new conscripts, whose number is increasing year on year.

Maintenance facilities for tanks and armoured vehicles are almost complete, and construction has begun on a state-of-the-art logistics centre and agency office, set for completion next year.

These developments will enable Gotland to function not just as a standalone garrison, but as a fully fledged forward operating base capable of hosting allied forces and acting as a central hub for the defence of the Baltics and NATO's Eastern flank.

Lt. Gen. Edstrom acknowledged that a huge amount of work remains before Gotland can field a fully operable fighting force while also hosting allied troops, but said the island's regiment had been 'doing a really great job' in preparations thus far.

'I really love this regiment because the infrastructure is brand new, but it takes time... It takes time to build a new infrastructure.

'From that perspective, we have some constraints when it comes to how many soldiers we can take and host at one step,' he said.

'But I would say Gotland as an island has been used to host big international exercises for years - all the units that are working here are comfortable working together with allies already.'

Russian designs on Gotland

Moscow is well aware of Gotland's strategic importance.

If the Kremlin were also to gain control of the island, it would leave Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sandwiched between the Russian mainland to the East, Kaliningrad to the West and yet another strategic location to the North.

Not only would this isolate the Baltic States from the rest of their NATO allies, it would dramatically enhance Russia's air and maritime capabilities in the Baltic Sea to threaten the Nordics and Western Europe.

A Russian annexation of Gotland would also allow Moscow to reinforce and provide air cover to its forces should Putin decide to launch an attack on the Suwalki Gap.

This 40-mile stretch of sparsely populated land along the borders of Poland and Lithuania has long been seen as one of NATO's strategic vulnerabilities and the only thing preventing Moscow from connecting Kaliningrad with satellite state Belarus.

Prior to the launch of Gotland's remilitarisation programme, Russia conducted a widely condemned military drill which saw two Tu-22M3 nuclear bombers, along with an escort of Su-27 fighter jets, perform dummy bombing manoeuvres that brought their wings within just 24 miles of the island.

Gotland is increasing the number of conscripts it trains each year as the country ramps up militarisation. MailOnline's Chief Foreign Reporter David Averre is pictured speaking with a conscript named Ivar

A British A400 aircraft deploys paratroopers over Gotland

NATO forces take part in armoured manoeuvres on the island of Gotland

Sweden's accession to NATO last year prompted alarm bells to ring in Moscow, with officials and analysts warning that Russia's forces could not allow a full remilitarisation of Gotland.

Russia's Strategic Culture Foundation - a platform for defence and geopolitical analysis - last year claimed that Gotland would be the 'number one target' of Russian nuclear weapons in the event of a full-scale European war.

'Experts from the Russian Analytical Center for Strategic Nuclear Forces indicate that at the very beginning of such a conflict, Russian armed forces would launch a nuclear strike on Sweden in order to prevent NATO cruise missile strikes on ships of the Baltic and Northern Fleets,' the publication read.

'It would be better for Sweden to remain a neutral country and for the island of Gotland to remain a tourist mecca than to become the number one target for Russian nuclear missiles.'

Russian military analyst and retired Navy Captain Vasily Dandykin also told Russian newswire Sputnik: 'The size of this island makes it possible to put aviation, airfields, and naval bases... (to serve) the dream of both NATO bloc and the Americans to turn the Baltic Sea into a NATO sea. We understand what kind of threat this is.

'In any case, more intensive [Russian] exercises will take place in the Baltic. We have to understand that Finland too is already a NATO member. Therefore, our actions will be adequate  both from Kaliningrad, where the Baltic Fleet is based, and from the rest of Russia.'

Lt. Gen. Edstrom told reporters in Gotland: 'It's very important to understand that, although Russia is engaged in special operations that were war against Ukraine, they see themselves in a long-term conflict with the West.

'Even if the war in Ukraine - which I hope really soon will have a ceasefire or even a peace agreement - comes to an end, that doesn't mean that Russia will change their mind, they will stay in conflict with the West.

'That means that we can't take our eyes off Russia, for the foreseeable 10 or 15 years to come.'

Sweden's total defence concept

The rapid militarisation of Gotland is symptomatic of a wider push to prepare Sweden's armed forces and civil society for war.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in January that Sweden was 'not at war... but there is not peace either', and urged Swedes to prepare themselves for every eventuality.

This effort, known as 'Total Defence Duty', is laid out in stark terms by the government.

'From the year you turn 16 until the end of the year you turn 70, you are part of Sweden's total defence and required to serve in the event of war or the threat of war,' a statement on the Swedish government's crisis information portal reads.

Sweden's civil defence organisation shows some of the underground shelters in Stockholm

A Cold War bunker in the remote Swedish village of Ljungby

Sweden's Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin presents the new version of the booklet 'If Crisis or War Comes' in Stockholm, Sweden

Lt. Gen. Edstrom told MailOnline that Sweden's military is already working closely with various public sector agencies and private companies to provide training and instruction to civilians.

'We are doing that all the time - that's ongoing work. We have divided Sweden into four military regions, plus Gotland as a fifth. These regions are working very closely with civil agencies, authorities, entities, and companies to strengthen the total defence concept.

'That means also sometimes to share plans between military and civilian units and do joint exercises. This is something we're working on closely at the moment - these are active efforts with real training, cooperation plans, and integration.'

He later told reporters: 'We are building a resilient island that can take a hit and continue to work on the civilian as well as on the military side.

'That is our goal: to continue to grow the resilience of the Swedish society and the total defence concept, but also specifically for Gotland's capability to take a hit and continue to work.'

As part of the total defence concept, the government has created the post of minister for civil defence to work alongside the armed forces minister, so civilians can be mobilised as well as the military.

In November, Sweden's Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) distributed five million pamphlets to residents urging them to prepare for the possibility of war.

The booklet named 'If Crisis or War Comes' contained information about how to prepare for emergencies such as war, natural disasters, cyber attacks and terrorism.

The government is investing in improving the emergency services' capacity to operate during conflicts, strengthening cybersecurity and replenishing medicine stocks.

And the MSB said last month it had begun a huge project to modernise the nation's nuclear shelters - a task it expected to take 'two to three years' - which includes efforts to upgrade filters which help protect occupants from chemical and radiological weapons.

With 64,000 bunkers sites spread across the country, Sweden already has more shelters than almost every other nation with space for around seven million people - more than two-thirds of its population.

The bunkers are designed to provide protection against shockwaves and bomb fragments, the blast and heatwaves from a nuclear weapon, radioactive fallout, gas from chemical weapons and biological weapons.
The historian who led the discovery of the remains of Richard III has claimed she has been blocked from presenting new evidence that the Princes in the Tower survived their imprisonment.

The 12-year-old King Edward V and his younger brother vanished in 1483, and their uncle Richard III has long been suspected of ordering their murders at the Tower of London.

But Philippa Langley, who was portrayed by Sally Hawkins in 2022 film The Lost King, has evidence that she believes proves the princes lived into adulthood.

The findings of her 'Missing Princes Project' - which involved hundreds of researchers - were first presented in 2023. They have been laid out in full in an updated version of her latest book.

However, Ms Langley has claimed Historic Royal Palaces - the body which cares for the Tower of London - have repeatedly turned down an approach by her to present her research.

The refusal was allegedly because the evidence would contravene their 'universal line' that links the princes' disappearance in the Tower to Richard III.

Speaking of their organisation's position, a staff member at HRP told Ms Langley: 'In essence, they have a universal line that they have to stick by for the public facing staff.'

Reacting, Ms Langley insisted that her research proves the princes did not die soon after being imprisoned in the Tower, but her offers to present her evidence were 'politely declined'.

The historian who led the discovery of the remains of Richard III has claimed she has been blocked from presenting new evidence that the Princes in the Tower survived their imprisonment

For centuries, the dominant belief has been that King Richard III had the boys murdered

She told MailOnline: 'The Tower of London is at the centre of the centuries-old story about the Princes in the Tower.

'The story it has delivered to the public has been one of murder most foul.

'With the final results of the ten-year forensic investigation into this mystery by The Missing Princes Project research initiative now published, it has revealed the Princes lived on during the reign of Richard III and into the reign of Henry VII (Henry Tudor), becoming the two Yorkist claimants to the Tudor throne.

'I contacted the Tower of London to present the project's findings to its staff and Yeoman Warders.

'After four failed attempts my offer was politely declined.'

She added: 'The story of the Princes continued lives is a remarkable one. It gives the Tower and its Yeoman Warders a whole new story to tell.

'Very much hoping they will pick up the gauntlet!'

An HRP spokesman insisted that they do not have a 'universal line' on the mystery.

Philippa Langley, the amateur-turned-professional historian who played a key role in the discovery of Richard III's remains beneath a Leicester car park in 2012 claimed the evidence is 'conjecture at best'. Above: Ms Langley poses with a reconstruction of Richard's face, 2013

They said: 'We believe that our job is to present the evidence and let people make up their own minds rather than to take a position ourselves on what happened to the "Princes in the Tower".

'We are very clear in our onsite signage and on our website that there are multiple theories about what may have happened to these young children.

'Our aim is to present the history of all of our sites in a transparent and balanced way, informed by rigorous research conducted by our curatorial team.'

Ms Langley came to national attention in 2012, when her years of research culminated in the discovery of Richard III's remains beneath a car park in Leicester.

King Edward V - who was never crowned - and his brother were the sons of Edward IV, who died in 1483.

After being declared illegitimate heirs by Richard III, then the Duke of Gloucester, the two princes were taken to the Tower of London and then vanished from the historical record.

The mainstream view has long been that Richard - who reigned for just two years before being killed in his forces' defeat against Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth - had them killed to remove any threats to his claim to the throne.

But it is accepted there is no definitive evidence to back up this claim.

Edward V - who was never crowned - and his brother were the sons of Edward IV, who died in 1483. Above: A 19th century depiction of the murder of the princes

Documents unearthed by Ms Langley's team suggested that Edward and his brother Richard, the Duke of York, escaped the Tower and then became Yorkist claimants to the throne - respectively Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck.

Both are known to have launched failed attempts to depose Henry VII.

Edward was said to be Simnel, who was the central figure in the 1487 Yorkist invasion of England.

Warbeck, who had initially claimed to be Richard, failed in a bid to claim the throne and then signed a confession in 1497 admitting he was a boatman's son.

Ms Langley and others insist this was a false confession.

She says her evidence proves that Edward and Richard were lumbered with the identities of Simnel and Warbeck by Henry VII to discredit them.

Her team unearthed a 1493 witness statement said to have been written by Richard that stated he and his brother were separated in the Tower before two men 'swore by honour and oath to hide me secretly until certain years were past.'

Written in the first person in Middle Dutch, the statement described how Richard was smuggled from the Tower of London by brothers Henry and Thomas Percy.

A witness statement from 1493 said to be by Prince Richard, Duke of York, who was nine when he disappeared with his brother in 1483. It tells how they were separated in the Tower before two men 'swore by honour and oath to hide me secretly until certain years were past'. The document was unearthed by Philippa Langley's Missing Princes Project

His hair was allegedly shaved and he was given a 'drab' shirt before being taken by boat to France and then on to Portugal.

Another unearthed document, dated to 1493, is written by a scribe in French from King Maximilian's court.

It outlines why Maximilian, the leader of the Holy Roman Empire, believes the young man in the witness statement is Prince Richard.

It describes three distinctive birthmarks on the young man's body.

A third document is from Holland, dated 1483, which appears to bear a royal seal and a signature of a 'Richard, Duke of York'.

It promises that Richard will pay 30,000 florins to Duke Albert of Saxony after gaining the English throne.

A man claiming to be Richard landed in England with a small army in the hope of gaining the throne.

When an initial attempt failed, he fled to Scotland and then launched another bid in 1497.

Another document is from Holland, dated 1483, which appears to bear a royal seal and a signature of a 'Richard, Duke of York'. It promises that Richard will pay 30,000 florins to Duke Albert of Saxony after gaining the English throne

Having been captured, he signed a confession where he declared that he was really Warbeck.

Another piece of evidence identified by Ms Langley is a receipt for weapons for the 'son of King Edward IV' for the 1487 Yorkist invasion of England, of which Simnel was the figurehead.

Simnel was crowned as 'Edward VI' in Dublin as part of the uprising.

Ms Langley believes the evidence of the Missing Princes Project suggests he actually was Edward.

The update to Ms Langley's book, The Princes in the Tower: How History's Greatest Cold Case Was Solved, comes after a separate team found evidence that supported the most popular narrative - that Edward and Richard were killed.

In Channel 5 programme The Princes in the Tower: A Damning Discovery, which aired last December, historian Tracy Borman was seen examining a will that featured what was believed to be the young Edward's chain of office among its bequests.

Lady Margaret Capell - the sister-in-law of one of the princes' alleged murderers - gave what she said was Edward's gold chain to her son.

According to Thomas More - the Lord Chancellor of King Henry VIII - her brother-in-law Sir James Tyrell played a key role in the deaths of the princes.

In Shakespeare's play Richard III, the Machiavellian royal sends for his two nephews to be killed in the Tower of London (pictured) to get closer to the throne

Professor Borman described the mention of the chain of office as a 'smoking gun'.

The will, which dates back to 1522, was found at the National Archives by academic historian Professor Tim Thornton.

It read: 'Also, I bequeath to my son, Sir Giles, his father's chain which was young King Edward the V's.'

Professor Thornton presented his findings in a research paper published in the journal History, but critics remain unconvinced.

It remains unclear how Lady Margaret, who was the widow of Sir William Capell, the two-time lord mayor of London, came into possession of Edward's chain.

Tyrell was one of three brothers-in-law of Sir William. And the latter man's own will refers to business dealings with the Tyrells. They are know to have exchanged jewellery.

Sir James was a member of Richard III's royal household.

At the time Channel 5's programme aired, Ms Langley said the findings were 'conjecture at best'.
At the turn of the 2010s, Stephen Yarrow decided he'd had enough of London. In fact, he'd had enough of Britain altogether.

Growing up in Willesden, Finchley and Edgware in the 1960s, the north London the one-time Thames TV film editor called home was no longer one he recognised.

As a Jewish man living in an area with one of the highest concentrations of Jews in the capital, he felt rising hatred towards his kin would only get worse.

'I was seeing more and more antisemitism, more and more Jewish schools being attacked, more and more synagogues being attacked,' he said.

Despairing at the cost of his mortgage in Edgware and unhappy at the state of Britain, he began plotting his life abroad in retirement and with Barbara made a move popular with an increasing number of Brits, to the furthest reaches of Europe: Bulgaria.

The pair, both 67, snapped up a three-bed, two-bathroom bungalow with air conditioning and a swimming pool for 54,000, paying 5,000 to a professional moving company to shift the furniture from each of their homes.

Moving to a village near the city of Dobrich in north-east Bulgaria was 'frightening' at first, he tells MailOnline - with huge cultural differences, occasional power cuts and sweeping changes to everyday life to digest in the former Communist state.

But watching crime rates spiral and antisemitism ferment in his home city from 1,400 miles away, and with the beach just a few miles away, the Jewish retiree says he couldn't be happier - and says he will never live in the UK again.

Have YOU left the UK to buy a home abroad? Email jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk

Stephen Yarrow and his wife Barbara, both aged 67, ditched Britain for a life in Bulgaria and say they will never live in the UK again

The pair moved to a village near the city of Dobrich in north-east Bulgaria, with a sandy beach right on their doorstep

They snapped up a three-bed, two-bathroom bungalow with air conditioning and a swimming pool for 54,000

'It's so much better here', he says, speaking from his home on a video call, wearing a red t-shirt that reads 'Keep Calm and Move To Bulgaria'.

'It's quieter, there's hardly any traffic, there's no light pollution at night. I can sit by my pool in the afternoon, have a gin and tonic, and not worry about anything.

'I very rarely go to synagogue (in Bulgaria), only on the high days and holidays.

'But when we do go, outside the synagogue there's a police car with two police officers with firearms. British police don't supply that kind of service.

'It's like it was when I grew up in the 60s, when there were policemen pounding the beat morning, noon and night, and it was safe. I feel very, very safe.

'I would never come back. If I won 20million on the lottery, I would not come back to the UK.'

The couple plan to spend the rest of their days enjoying everything the Black Sea has to offer, from its sprawling beaches and dirt-cheap restaurants to the comforts of their own swimming pool, complete with poolside bar.

These days, if Stephen heads into the city of Varna - a seaside resort with a population equivalent to Nottingham - he isn't even afraid to walk the streets at night.

Stephen and Barbara's move to Bulgaria came about following extensive research into the country's infrastructure, lifestyle and cost of living - trumping France, Germany, Italy, Spain and even neighbouring Romania.

They eventually settled on their spot close to the Black Sea coast for its quiet location and convenience after driving around the region for two weeks in a hire car with an estate agent in tow.

They're far enough out from the major city of Varna - where several direct flights to London are available should they ever fancy a trip home - to enjoy their enviable surroundings without feeling completely removed.

A major supermarket is only a short drive away, where a 12-pack of beer is 11.99 Bulgarian lev - around 5 - and a loaf of bread is 99 stotinki, Bulgaria's answer to pennies, or about 40p.

For those brave enough, chilled rabbit meat - still eaten in the country - is available for 6.50 a kilogram.

'We eat it in the winter,' he says. 'I like rabbit - we cook it in Guinness.'

And even now, more than 13 years later, his bills remain almost insultingly low in comparison to typical British living costs.

'My council tax is around 30 a year, which is less than I was paying for a week when I lived in London,' he says. He's not wrong: council tax on a Band C property in Edgware is 1,809.34 a year as of April - or just under 35 a week.

Stephen says it is quieter in Bulgaria, 'there's hardly any traffic, there's no light pollution at night. I can sit by my pool in the afternoon, have a gin and tonic'

Stephen and Barbara's move to Bulgaria came about following extensive research into the country's infrastructure, lifestyle and cost of living

He runs off a list of more, barely believable prices: 13 a month for water, 98 pence a litre for petrol, 40 a year in car tax, 100 a year for car insurance, 100 a year for 90Mb internet, 45 a month for mobile phones, landlines and a 5G internet backup.

Healthcare is subsidised via National Insurance contributions he paid as a working man in Britain - with appointments and blood tests costing a pound or two at a time.

Stephen's tips for Brits retiring in Bulgaria Work out a budget. It is likely to be much easier to buy a house in cash than it is to get a mortgage, especially if you are just arriving

Make sure you have your DWP state pension and NI contributions up to date to keep you in good stead

Visit the country first to ensure you like it - do you want to be by the sea, in a city, in a village?

Spend a weekend in the area you're thinking of moving to - will it be noisy on Fridays and Saturdays?

Consider the risks of buying an isolated property - will you feel safe? Advertisement

A 20-pack of cigarettes that would cost 14 in Britain is just 2.50.

Living with COPD, Stephen says smoking isn't for him. A cheeky tipple is another matter.

A litre of vodka? 10. Gordon's Gin? 11. And if they run out of that, there's always rakia, the potent fruit brandy that sits at the heart of many a Bulgarian social.

Home brewing of rakia is common but for those without the means, it's easy to find a still in which to make your own for, in Stephen's words, 'a couple of quid'.

'It's quite normal to walk around sometimes and see men quite drunk at 11 o'clock in the morning. As long as they don't cause any problems, don't come up and say "hey, give me some money", I'm not bothered.'

The only bigger bill to worry about is electricity: 45 a month in the summer, and 130 for heating in the winter after they gave up burning wood on a stove.

Life, then, is laidback, and it is cheap. But not without its pitfalls.

'The roads,' Stephen says, frankly, 'are crap.'

He's even less kind about the drivers, and not without cause: the country has the second-highest road fatality rate in the EU, just behind neighbouring Romania.

Many Romanians earn less than 1,000 Euros a month, and some still use donkeys and carts to get around. Road signs warning of animal-drawn carriages are common close to where he lives.

These days, if Stephen heads into the city of Varna - a seaside resort with a population equivalent to Nottingham - he isn't even afraid to walk the streets at night

As for those who drive, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office even warns Brits to beware of 'aggressive' driving, particularly on motorways - where the speed limit is 140kmh (87mph).

It doesn't help that minor speeding fines incur a fine of just 20 Bulgarian lev - or about 9 - though penalties get tougher depending on how much a driver exceeds the limit.

Driving is even more hazardous in winter, when the already dilapidated roads become death traps and businesses choose to close for months, deprived of the dependable trade of summer tourists.

'They (Bulgarians) drive like idiots. I've driven in the snow, driven in the fog - and they'll overtake you on blind bends. They're crazy,' he says.

His preference in the winter? Stay off the roads, and shut yourself away.

'You just pull the shutters down and stick a DVD on,' he says, adding with a grin: 'A decent bottle of French rose wine is three pounds.'

The water and electricity might be cheap - but that is offset by reliability issues with supplies because the infrastructure is 'crumbling', he says. There's also the matter of drainage, or rather the lack of it: a septic tank is a must.

But some things have changed since he moved there. Relocating isn't easy post-Brexit. Beforehand, Brits could live, work and study there without a visa - but no longer.

And property costs have spiralled: his 54,000 home is now likely worth almost four times that.

Some Brits are now snapping up the most dilapidated of homes and apartments to do-up as a long-term investment, as the Mail has explored.

And for those hoping to find a Spanish-style little Britain, a home from home where everyone speaks English and the comforts of Britain are at hand, think again: refusing to integrate into the community is a no-no.

The couple plan to spend the rest of their days enjoying everything the Black Sea has to offer, from its sprawling beaches and dirt-cheap restaurants

Stephen admits he has struggled with learning Bulgarian as he has neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic condition that affects his ability to learn the language - and means he will never be able to apply for citizenship.

However, he and Barbara mix with their neighbours - among them native Bulgarians, Russians, Ukrainians, Norwegians and Swedes, so help with translation when visiting the tax office or the mechanic is never far away.

'The problems people have are with the Brits that don't integrate,' he adds.

'They all go to the same bar every week, they only drink with Brits, they only socialise with Brits, and they get nowhere pleasant.'

The one thing he finds is lacking in his corner of Europe's furthest reaches is children - not that he's bothered.

'I'm not very keen on small children, to be honest. And I certainly wouldn't have them in my pool, because they tend to wee in it,' he says.

Speaking from experience? 'Unfortunately.'

On the subject of squabbling children, he finds himself watching helplessly as the main Bulgarian parties fail to agree how to govern after no less than three elections in the last year.

Plans to abandon the lev and join the Euro - potentially without a referendum - have sparked fury among nationalist parties.

Despite supporting the centre-right GERB party, one of three currently in charge of the country, he is voiceless amidst the chaos, deprived of the right to vote in Bulgaria post-Brexit following a court ruling that may yet be reversed.

While unable to vote, he successfully supported his neighbours in convincing the local mayor to cancel plans to permit the construction of a German wind farm close to his home.

As a whole, he still insists he'd rather be in Dobrich than London.

'I was very upset when Labour got in, because I think they're just going to tax everything to the hilt, and people will just get more and more poor,' he says.

'If I'm ever in the UK now, I tend to use Ubers. Black taxis are just ridiculously expensive and I wouldn't go on the Tube now. No, too dangerous. I do not feel safe.'

A Jewish memorial which is inscribed with a menorah which reads: 'To all who helped save us on March 10, 1943. From the grateful Jewish community of Plovdiv'

Safety remains a consideration in Bulgaria, and one of Stephen's less desirable monthly outgoings is the 30 he forks out for private, armed on-call security to protect the house from what he deemed more 'jealous' locals.

'Without being rude, the cheaper villages are full of gypsies, and that can be a problem,' he says.

Around 10 per cent of the country's population are Romani travellers, who largely live in poor quality housing.

Local authorities have been demolishing Roma settlements, sparking international condemnation, while the EU and the Council of Europe spend millions on ROMACT, a programme meant to support their integration into Bulgarian and Romanian society.

Nevertheless, Stephen claims they can be opportunistic: 'If you've got money and a nice car, and they haven't, they might turn you over if you're away for a long time.

'It's quite common for people to have that level of security. Most Brits have it, we've got shutters as well and CCTV, and an alarm.'

He's also wary of stray dogs who 'get hungry, and if they get hungry they get aggressive'.

He carries pepper spray - legal in Bulgaria under the country's vague weapon laws - just in case he meets a particularly peckish one, but says he has never had to use it.

The issue of safety also occasionally extends to what he says remains a 'male-dominated' culture still remains from the country's Communist era.

He tells of a friend who was followed home by a drunk Bulgarian man who tried to molest her, the situation ultimately defused by a neighbour.

But he insists: 'It can happen absolutely anywhere. Even in Mayfair, even in Beverly Hills. It's relatively safe here.'

Stephen and Barbara were among part of what might considered a second wave of Brit expats to have relocated to Bulgaria.

Road signs warning of animal-drawn carriages are common close to where he lives

In 2011, there were 2,605 British citizens living there while retaining their UK citizenship. That shot up to 4,484 in the space of a decade - at an average rate of four a week.

Some estimates run far higher, but he reckons some left in the wake of Brexit, or when their other halves died. He, of course, has no plans to leave at all.

'It is a gamble, it is a huge gamble,' he says of moving out there.

'It was frightening because it could have not worked out. One of my friends said to me, "You'll be back in three months, you'll be bored."

'Am I? Not a chance.'
Sexual predator Mohamed Al Fayed spied on customers using the changing rooms at Harrods for decades, according to claims made by his former bodyguard.

Speaking in an explosive new book, the security man said there was a 'good chance' that shoppers using the facilities at the Knightsbridge store during his reign were being 'watched' by the serial rapist.

In the Monster of Harrods due to be released on Thursday, the bodyguard known only as Biggie said the store was awash with cameras which also recorded inside the female staff toilets and locker rooms.

'People don't talk about this - there were cameras right up to the entrance and slightly inside the changing rooms used by Harrods customers, which meant if you were in a Harrods changing room during the Fayed era, there was a good chance that he was watching you,' Biggie revealed.

The installation of cameras, as well as bugging telephones, was said to have been ordered by the head of security ex-detective John Macnamara so Al Fayed could keep tabs on and seek out potential victims.

'The guys looked at the screens as if their lives depended on it. But they also realised that many of the questions Macnamara asked were about females who had caught Fayed's eye, so there was also a lot of sniggering as they watched women in changing rooms and toilets,' said Biggie.

Biggie, who was described as 6ft 4in and 20st, was employed as one of the very first 'generals' in Al Fayed's security detail after he purchased the iconic store in 1985.

Harrods, which was owned by Al Fayed for 25 years before he sold it in 2010, said last night: 'Nothing in our records suggest cameras existed in any staff or customer areas where personal privacy would have been compromised.

The disgraced tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed is said to have spied on staff and customers during his 25 year reign of terror at Harrods

Mohamed Al Fayed was said to have ordered his security team to flood the iconic store in Knightsbridge with video cameras and listening devices

A former bodyguard claims that shoppers using the changing rooms during Al Fayed's ownership were likely to have been spied on by the disgraced tycoon

Alison Kervin, author of the book who interviewed 60 witnesses, survivors and former employees, claimed that around forty screens transmitted information from every inch of the store 24/7.

She said the cameras were 'everywhere' and meant that 'working at Harrods was like living in the Truman Show'.

Another member of staff, known as 'the Engineer' because of his role in phone bugging, said there were 'recording devices everywhere' and everything that was transmitted was filed away.

'I'd have to make sure they were working and we were picking up everything clearly...it was important that we did the recordings and kept everything properly filed,' he is quoted as saying.

He said Al Fayed would sometimes demand to see a particular recording or listen in to what was said in a meeting room.

The man said that no one was 'off limits' and that he bugged everyone from financial directors and board members to chauffeurs and body guards.

Al Fayed, who died without facing justice aged 94 in 2023, was exposed as a prolific sex offender last year and more than 500 victims and witnesses have since come forward.

Emma Jones, a human rights lawyer for Leigh Day which represents a number of the victims, said the latest revelations highlighted the need for a public inquiry into how his offending was allowed to continue undeterred for decades.

'The fact that there could be covert surveillance, CCTV or any kind of recording in areas such as toilets and changing rooms beggars' belief and is truly shocking.

'If true this would have serious and far-reaching ramifications in terms of breaching people's right to privacy,' she added.

The revelations are made in the explosive new book The Monster of Harrods (pictured) by Alison Kervin

Al Fayed, who died without facing justice aged 94 in 2023, was exposed as a prolific sex offender last year

Last week survivors handed a letter to Downing Street calling for an inquiry to examine claims of a cover up and allegations that the serial rapist was enabled by the iconic store and the police.

Scotland Yard previously revealed that it is investigating the role of at least five potential enablers who are alleged to have aided Al Fayed.

Harrods, which was sold to wealth fund Qatar Holdings, has previously said it is 'appalled' by allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed and have been investigating whether any current members of staff were involved.

The Monster of Harrods: Al-Fayed and the secret, shameful history of a British institution published by HarperCollins goes sale on Thursday here.
Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of sexual assault - an outcome he recently told the Daily Mail puts his failing health 'in jeopardy.'

After a retrial on rape and sexual assault charges before a New York Supreme Criminal Court jury in Manhattan, which lasted over a month, he was convicted Wednesday afternoon.

The disgraced Hollywood producer was found guilty of sexually assaulting his former assistant but not guilty of forcing oral sex on a teenage model - jurors have not yet reached a verdict on a third charge.

Weinstein, 73, now faces at least 10 years longer in jail - though, the vengeful movie mogul is not going quietly.

He remains incarcerated in a special unit of a New York City hospital, cancer-stricken and desperate to clear his name before the disease claims his life.

Once convicted and now trying to overturn that judgement, Weinstein maintains his innocence, insistent that he was the #MeToo movement's sacrificial lamb.

Riddled with leukemia and subsisting on rancid cereal and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, he is not sure how long he has left.

And during a rare interview with the Daily Mail in early June, he revealed his dying wish: to get revenge on the Hollywood elites he believes wronged him.

Harvey Weinstein hopes he can live long enough to emerge from jail and take revenge on the long list of accusers he feels have wronged him

He admits that he 'hurt his family' and 'cheated' on ex-wife Georgina Chapman, who found new love with Hollywood actor Adrien Brody.

But Weinstein maintains that he's not a monster or a criminal, and is hellbent on taking down the people he says turned him into a pariah.

Among those in his sights are Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and The New York Times journalists who set off his downfall.

'I've been festering lately about this,' he said of the famous October 2017 report that triggered his fall from grace, admitting being locked up gave him too much time to dwell on the events of seven years ago.

Weinstein has long denied he did anything illegal and disputes the sexual harassment claims of dozens of women included in the report.

The article opened with claims by actress Ashley Judd that Weinstein sexually harassed her in a hotel room, including asking for a massage and to watch him shower.

'I never touched her, I never asked for a massage, I never did any of that,' Weinstein told the Daily Mail of Judd's claims specifically.

Weinstein now wants the Pulitzer Prize Board to strip reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey of the awards they won for the story.

'They're not Woodward and Bernstein, they're Thelma and Louise!' he fumed.

The Times, on Kantor and Twohey's behalf, said the story was was rigorously reported over many months.

'It was based on on-the-record interviews with multiple women, backed up by people they told at the time, as well legal settlements paid to accusers, internal human resources documents, and other records,' the newspaper said.

'Mr. Weinstein acknowledged misconduct in a 2017 statement that was published in full in The Times, saying "the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain" and that he regretted what happened.

'In the seven years since, there have been no significant challenges to our reporting.

'Dozens of other allegations of sexual harassment have been made against him. He also has been convicted of rape and sexual assault in California.'

Weinstein reserved particular ire for Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the New York Times reporters whose October 2017 article began his downfall

Also in Weinstein's crosshairs was Jackson, who worked with him on the Lord of the Rings films before New Line took over production.

In December 2017, Jackson claimed Miramax and Weinstein warned him against casting Judd and fellow actress Mira Sorvino in the films.

Both women accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct in the first wave of allegations, two months before Jackson entered the fray.

'I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998,' Jackson said.

'At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us - but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing.

'I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women - and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list.'

He admits that he 'hurt his family' and 'cheated' on ex-wife Georgina Chapman , who has found new love with Hollywood actor Adrien Brody

Weinstein reignited the two-decade feud with the celebrated director, calling him 'jealous' and denying he tried to damage anyone's career, challenging Jackson to revive his claim so the pair could 'debate'.

'Peter Jackson was the original guy who said that I blackballed Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd,' he raged.

'I would like Peter Jackson to restate his claim so that he and I can debate what he said, because I realized that so many women use that as an excuse.

'"He was going to blackball me, he was going to take away my job, he was going to do this" - that all came from one jealous Peter Jackson.

'What he said had such volcanic effect on every accuser of mine, and I'd like him to restate it so that I can debate with him fully if he has the courage to do it.

'You'll probably hear nothing but a whimper from him.'

Weinstein claimed Jackson was just 'jealous' of him and bitter about other conflicts they had during the massively successful fantasy trilogy's development.

He explained that his Miramax studio bought the rights to the JRR Tolkien classic and financed the scripts, but it became clear they needed more cash.

The two butted heads because he wanted to make major changes so Disney, which owned Miramax, would pony up the extra $180 million needed.

'I think that bothered him in because at one time I had to say to him tough stuff like, look, if you're not going to agree with what we're going to do and Disney's not going to give me any money, I have to maybe consider another director,' he said.

'Obviously that's a terrible thing to say. I feel horrible about it and thank God it didn't happen.'

Kantor and Twohey were portrayed by Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan in the movie She Said

Disney eventually pulled out and New Line stepped in, letting Jackson do the trilogy as he wanted, grossing almost $3 billion - but Weinstein still profited.

'I think he was jealous that I got a piece of the action of Lord of the Rings. It just hurt him, and I mean New Line did such a great job, but I still was an executive producer and still had a percentage,' he said.

Throughout the interview with the Daily Mail, Weinstein also lashed out at his accusers with the vigor and conviction of a man convinced he would be vindicated.

At the time of the interview, his New York retrial, in which three women accuse him of sexual assault, was in closing arguments, and his appeal of a 16-year rape sentence in Los Angeles was pending.

Weinstein believed he would win both.

'I think the #MeToo movement is getting weak, I think that people now are listening to men and women, and I think there's a definite movement in this country to just say, we're not [just] going to listen to one side,' he said.

'I think the results [of the trials] are gonna be fine I think there's a real movement now to telling the truth and proving that these girls were in it for the money.

'But if the reverse happens, my health is in jeopardy.'

Weinstein is struggling with cancer, diabetes, spinal stenosis and a possible immune system problem that he claims are not competently treated in jail.

His mobility is so bad he is pushed in and out of the courtroom in a wheelchair by court officers, scrambling pathetically with his legs as he goes.

'I turn 73 next Wednesday and I'm in a place where I don't think I'll get to 74,' he told the Daily Mail earlier this year from Rikers Island jail.

Among those in his sights are Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, and the New York Times journalists who set off his downfall

With such a litany of ailments and grim prognosis, he admitted there was a real possibility he wouldn't live to be released even if he won both his legal battles. Weinstein is shown in wheelchair in November 2024

With such a litany of ailments and grim prognosis, he admitted there was a real possibility he wouldn't live to be released, even if he won both his legal battles.

'The answer to that question is, I don't know,' he said when asked this week.

Weinstein is usually locked up at Rikers, but was staying at Bellevue Hospital for the duration of the retrial. He desperately doesn't want to return to Rikers.

'I'm afraid to go back to Rikers under any situation,' he said.

'I've had four emergency episodes there, and I don't want a fifth at my age and in my condition... it would just be disastrous.

'Rikers is a medieval place that needs tearing down, and they promise every year they'll tear it down.'

But he had plenty of complaints about the holding cell at the courthouse he was being kept in two hours before and after proceedings and during breaks.

'My lunch break is peanut butter and jelly sandwich from 1947, or Cheerios from 1948, that's it,' he said.

Incarceration, of any kind, also gives him time to reflect on how far he rose in the movie world, and how much further he fell.

Ashley Judd in 1999, around the time Peter Jackson claimed Harvey Weinstein told him she was too difficult to work with and he shouldn't hire her

He tells a story of how he was broke and starving while hitchhiking across the US as a young man, and an Indian man gave him $1.10 to get by.

'Well, it's worse than where I started, prison is the most inhumane thing. You're automatically humbled and they take away all your privileges,' he said.

Weinstein said if he ever got out, and lived long enough, he would establish a halfway house to help felons transition back into society.

'We can't be just imprisoning people, have to be rehabilitated,' he said.

'I felt that way before I went in and now that I'm in, meeting some of these kids who made mistakes, who made early mistakes, but they need a life - and I'm here to any way that I can to help.'

Not that Weinstein believes he needs rehabilitating, at least not in any criminal fashion.

'I cheated on my wife, which was immoral, I hurt my family, I had a bad temper at work I might have been immoral in my actions with other women, but I certainly did nothing illegal,' he insisted.

Kaja Sokola (left) and Jessica Mann (right) along with production assistant Mimi Haley are the three alleged victims in Weinstein's ongoing retrial in New York

Weinstein's retrial is wrapping up.

He was convicted of sexually assaulting aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and raping production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006.

But last year, the New York Court of Appeals astonishingly ruled that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial - and tossed out his 23-year sentence.

Mann and Haley restated their cases during the trial, and Polish ex-model Kaja Sokola was added to the mix, alleging Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006 when she was just 19.

His lawyers told the court the women consented to sex acts with Weinstein as a 'quid pro quo' to further their careers.

Weinstein was also jailed in Los Angeles for 16 years for rape, forced oral copulation and third-degree sexual misconduct in 2022 - he was acquitted of four other charges.

His lawyers filed an appeal weeks after the verdict, which is being considered by the California Court of Appeal.
An elephant has run rampant in a Thai supermarket, but somehow caused just 22.70 in damages.

Footage from the store in the north-eastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday afternoon showed the 25-year-old elephant named Plai Biang Lek tucking into rice cakes and chicken eggs.

The enormous mammal spent around 10 minutes meandering through the store, before getting wedged in the ceiling.

Somehow, shopkeeper Khamploy Gakaew managed to convince the animal to leave the store.

And after totting up the total damage caused, the final bill came to just 1,000 baht (22.70).

Gakaew said: 'This was the first time an elephant had visited the store. I hope he doesn't come back. I was worried about the damage he could cause.

'He ate sweet, crispy rice cakes and chicken eggs before walking out. I was surprised to see him eating sweet food, as elephants usually search for something salty.

'We see elephants occasionally, and they will bother street food vendors for food. But this was unusual.'

Footage from the store in the north-eastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday afternoon showed the 25-year-old elephant named Plai Biang Lek tucking into rice cakes and chicken eggs after wandering in

The enormous mammal spent around 10 minutes meandering through the store, before getting wedged in the ceiling

Following his impromptu shopping trip, Plai Biang Lek was escorted back to woodland, away from any danger, by wildlife rangers who said they were monitoring him to make sure he didn't come back.

The size of the meal he consumed was remarkable, given that elephants need to eat up to 150kg of food per day  the equivalent of 375 tins of baked beans - to stay alive.

Thai conservationists said that wild elephants have started to develop a taste for human food, and are starting to rummage through homes and vehicles for high-calorie snacks instead of the bland leaves they normally eat in woodland.

Though this docile creature left the store having caused little harm, the same cannot be said for all elephants.

Earlier this year, a Spanish tourist died after an elephant forcefully knocked her over with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary in Thailand.

Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, from Valladolid, was bathing an elephant in January at the Koh Yao sanctuary on the Thai island of Yao Yai when the animal suddenly caused her the fatal blow.

Garcia, a Law and International Relations student, was rushed to a nearby hospital where she later died.

According to Spanish national paper El Pais the incident was confirmed by local police and the elephant care centre.

Somehow, shopkeeper Khamploy Gakaew managed to convince the animal to leave the store

Following his impromptu shopping trip, Plai Biang Lek was escorted back to woodland, away from any danger, by wildlife rangers

Reports had previously claimed the university student had been gored by the elephant, but trusted Spanish news agency EFE verified that this was not the case.

The incident was confirmed by local police and the sanctuary, which is currently closed as a result of the tragic accident.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that there were around 18 people present at the time of the incident, including Garcia's boyfriend.

No one else was reportedly injured.
It was late on a summer night when 21-year-old model Ava Roosevelt found herself driving to the Cielo Drive home of her close friend Sharon Tate.

She had planned to join the actress and a group of friends for a nightcap. But as she was traveling uphill, a short distance from Tates home, the fuel light suddenly started flickering on the dashboard of her aging and increasingly unreliable 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn. Her gas tank was almost empty.

Roosevelt looked down at her watch. It was 11.30pm. Fearful her car would break down any minute and with no gas station around for several miles she decided to turn around and head back home.

That split-second decision may well have saved her life.

Just 15 minutes later, a group of devoted followers of cult leader Charles Manson would break into Tates home and slaughter the heavily pregnant star along with four others in a horrifying display of ritualistic savagery. Two more victims would be claimed the following night.

The August 1969 killings, which became known as the Helter Skelter murders, were orchestrated at the direction of Manson with the intention of triggering an apocalyptic race war.

Among those to carry out the maniacs bidding was Patricia Krenwinkel, who, almost 56 years later, at age 77, is now on the cusp of freedom after she was recommended for parole by prison officials in California last week.

Krenwinkels release still needs to be approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom. But Roosevelt told the Daily Mail she believes the killer still poses a grave threat to society. She is urging Newsom to ensure she dies behind bars.

Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, has been recommended for parole by officials in California after serving 55 years of a life sentence

Ava Roosevelt (pictured left in the 1960s, right in 2012) was friends with Tate and narrowly avoided becoming a Manson victim thanks to a remarkable twist of fate

Sharon wouldve lived to be 82 now had she not been brutally murdered. So, ultimately, my question is: why is this woman even still alive? Let alone potentially being free again why is she not on death row? fumed Roosevelt.

What message would that be sending to society? That its okay to commit multiple murders, serve some time, and now youre allowed the freedom to live your life again?

I can see no benefit of prolonging this womans life in society and I dont think she deserves a second chance.

Krenwinkel was 21 when she participated in the Manson murders.

Sharon Tate, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, was slaughtered in a frenzy of stabbing, shooting, and torture alongside four others: hairstylist Jay Sebring, screenwriter Voytek Frykowski, coffee fortune heir Abigail Folger, and 18-year-old Stephen Parent. The murders took place at the mansion she shared with her director husband, Roman Polanski, on August 8, 1969.

The following night, Mansons acolytes struck again, this time at the Los Feliz home of wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, who were tied up, stabbed, and mutilated in a similarly depraved fashion.

Krenwinkel would later admit to stabbing Folger 28 times and assisting in the deaths of the LaBiancas, writing Death To Pigs and Rise on the walls of their home in the couples blood.

She was sentenced to death in April 1971 after being found guilty on seven counts of first-degree murder. However, the sentence was commuted to life in prison when the states death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in 1972.

Krenwinkel has remained incarcerated at the California Institute for Women ever since. She is the state's longest-serving prisoner.

She was recommended for parole for the first time in May 2022, but Newsom blocked her release five months later over concerns regarding her risk for future dangerousness.'

Krenwinkel had been denied parole on 14 other occasions before then.

Sharon Tate was more than eight months pregnant at the time of her death. She was butchered along with six others during two nights of brutal violence across LA in August 1969

Krenwinkel met Manson when she was 19 and left her job as a secretary to run off into the California wilderness and pursue a romantic relationship with him

Tate and four others were killed at the Cielo Drive home she shared with husband Roman Polanski on August 8

After her hearing last week Keith Wattley, Krenwinkels attorney, said in a statement that his client has squeaky clean prison record, has experienced a substantial change in who she is, and said that nine psychological evaluations over the past four decades have found she is no longer a risk to society.

Its time to make the possibility of parole a reality, said Wattley, urging Newsom to support the recommendation.

But Roosevelt says she is completely unconvinced by Wattleys remarks, and issued a direct appeal to Newsom of her own, urging him to condemn Krenwinkel to a death behind bars.

It suits her to insist shes wonderful now and that shes a new person, but I dont think a person thats capable of committing that many premeditated murders can ever be rehabilitated, because that kind of evil is embedded in your DNA, said Roosevelt.

There needs to be some consistency in the legal system so that when youre given life in prison, you serve life in prison.

I urge the governor not to parole her, she added. Not allowing her to be free would send a message that law and order still exist in this country.'

Roosevelt also rejected any notion that Krenwinkel no longer poses a danger to society.

She continued: I think she poses a financial danger because she will ultimately end up being on some form of welfare and taking benefits away from people who need it and who havent committed horrific crimes like she has.

And secondly, theres no gauging how dangerous it could be for her to be placed in an environment where she has access to younger people she could influence She was very proud of her crimes and she has a history of bragging about them.

Roosevelt said she believes Krenwinkel lacks remorse and her freedom will serve no wider benefit to society.

She has the look of someone who is still full of hate, claimed Roosevelt.

I think its outrageous were even having this conversation.

Charles Manson directed his followers to carry out the 'Helter Skelter' murders in the hope of triggering an apocalyptic race war that would reset society

Roosevelt, pictured with Roman Polanski (left), called Krenwinkel's bid for parole 'outrageous'

Tate was a rising star in Hollywood at the time. Roosevelt described her as an 'angel' off screen

Roosevelt could have been the sixth person to have been murdered by the Manson clan inside Tates home had it not been for that remarkable twist involving her fuel gauge, which turned out to be faulty.

Roosevelt had befriended Tate and her husband, Roman Polanski, a few years earlier after moving to LA from her native Poland in 1962 to pursue a career as an actress.

Tate took Roosevelt under her wing, and the pair quickly forged a close bond.

Earlier that evening, Roosevelt said Tate called her, inviting her to dinner with Sebring, Folger, and Frykowski.

Roosevelt declined because she had other dinner plans, but Tate urged her to swing by Cielo Drive for a drink any time after 10.30pm.

Ill try, Roosevelt remembers telling Tate, to which the actress responded: Do that darling, I love you.

Unbeknownst to Roosevelt at the time, those would be the last words she ever heard Tate utter.

It was the faulty fuel gauge and the knowledge that she had a 5.30am call time for a modelling shoot the next day that may very well have been all that saved Roosevelt from meeting the same fate.

Krenwinkel, pictured in 2020, has previously been denied parole 15 times

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 the pregnant actress Sharon Tate, in Los Angeles on August 20, 1970

The next day, Roosevelt had just wrapped up on set when her manager pulled into the parking lot and approached her with an ashen face.

She intercepted me as I was walking and just said, sit down. So I did and she said, You know they're all dead, right? Roosevelt recounts.

And I asked who is dead, and she told me, They're all dead: Sharon, all of them.

I just couldn't believe it.

Roosevelt would later learn that Tate had been stabbed 16 times and was found lying on her living room floor with a rope wound around her neck.

Her unborn baby, a little boy, was also killed in the attack.

Found next to her was the bloodied corpse of Jay Sebring, who also had a rope around his neck and had been slaughtered in a similarly brutal fashion.

Abigail Folger and Wojciech Frykowski were found dead in the yard, having both tried and failed to escape from the home.

Folger fled out of a bedroom door to the pool area, where Patricia Krenwinkel tackled her and stabbed her 28 times.

In court, Krenwinkel recounted how Folger pleaded with her to stop her brutal assault, crying: Im already dead.

Frykowski suffered 51 stabs and numerous gunshot wounds.

Charles Manson, pictured in a prison photo taken August 14, 2017, 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 in 2017 while serving nine life sentences

Roosevelt fled LA shortly after the murders, with the Manson family's brutality irrevocably shattering the idyllic view she had once held of tinsel town

Also killed in the rampage was Stephen Parent, a man visiting the property caretaker, who happened to be driving by the Tate-Polanski home at the time of the massacre.

The following night, the LaBiancas were brutally killed in their home, a short distance away in Los Feliz.

The sickening killings would later become collectively known as the Helter Skelter murders, getting their name from a song by The Beatles that Manson believed contained hidden messages about an impending race war that would bring an end to civilization.

Roosevelt fled LA after the LaBiancas were killed, terrified she could be next.

Today, Roosevelt still misses Tate terribly and mourns the memories they were robbed of making together over the past five-and-a-half decades.

She was an angel in every respect, not speaking only about her looks, her eyes, her hair, but her kindness too. She was just an incredibly kind human being, said Roosevelt.

This was a life cut so short, completely needlessly.

Manson is one of the the most infamous cult leaders in history. The Helter Skelter murders live on in infamy as one of America's most shocking crimes

Krenwinkle (seen left) previously claimed her complicated family dynamics and low sense of self-esteem made her vulnerable to Manson's manipulation

As she nervously awaits the outcome of Krenwinkels parole recommendation, Roosevelt envisioned what she would say to her friends killer if they ever came face-to-face.

Id ask her why she is still alive when Sharon isnt, said Roosevelt. And Id ask her how she has been able to live with herself.

Krenwinkel is one of three Manson family members still incarcerated.

Manson died in 2017 while serving nine life sentences.

One of his followers, Leslie Van Houten, walked free in July 2023 after spending more than five decades locked up.

Krenwinkel did not speak during her hearing last Friday. But in earlier remarks, she has claimed her complicated upbringing and low self-esteem made her vulnerable to Manson's manipulation when she met him as a teen.

It is countless how many lives were shattered by the path of destruction that I was a part of, and it all comes from just a simple thing as just wanting to be loved, she told the New York Times in 2014.

Family members of the victims strongly oppose her release.

Debra Tate, Sharon's younger sister, has launched an online petition asking Newsom to reverse her parole, garnering more than 116,000 signatures.

For years this woman laughed about the murders in court and showed absolutely no remorse at all, Tate wrote.

Society cannot allow this serial killer who committed such horrible, gruesome, random killings back out.

An attorney for Krenwinkel has not yet returned a request for comment.
The sisters of a missing man who vanished just hours into a five-day stag do in Portugal have launched a fresh plea for information as the search enters its second week.

Greg Monks, a 38-year-old plant mechanic from Glasgow, was last seen in the early hours of May 28 during the first night out of a five-day stag do he was on with friends in the resort town of Albufeira.

Mr Monks, who is due to be a groomsman at the wedding of his friend, told pals he was heading back to his holiday apartment but has not been seen since.

Since then, his family have flown out to search for clues as to where he may have gone.

His sisters, Jillian and Carlyn Monks, are working to spread the word to get any information that might assist Portuguese cops in their search.

Carlyn told Sky News: 'As a family we're worried sick. It's so unlike him, but myself and Jillian are just trying to hold each other up back home.'

Jillian added: 'He deserves to be home. We need him home. He need to be back with his family, and it's unimaginable if he's just lying somewhere that we can't find him.

'[Greg] is quiet, works hard, he's happy in his relationship with his girlfriend. He's a great uncle and godfather to our kids. He's a real family man, really family oriented.'

Greg Monks, a 38-year-old plant mechanic from Glasgow, (pictured) was last seen in the early hours of May 28 during the first night out of a five-day stag do

His sisters, Jillian and Carlyn Monks (both pictured), are working to spread the word to get any information that might assist Portuguese cops in their search

Greg Monks with girlfriend Nicole Ashleigh Kelso

The sisters said police have told them that their brother was last spotted on CCTV in the quieter residential area of Cerro de Aguia  which is around four miles from the Novochoro Apartments he had checked into.

The hill with residential properties is also more than an hours walk west of the Albufeira Strip, where Monks is thought to have left his friends.

'He's been spotted twice walking alone there on CCTV, the area's residential, it's rural - there's really a lot of trees and rocks, it's got quite rough terrain', Jillian said.

The sisters pleaded with people in their area to get in contact with local cops if they have any information about their brother's disappearance.

'If you see his picture, and you know anything, get in touch. If you live in the area, or the surrounding area, and you have home security please check it and get in touch', said Jillian.

She added that she was heartened by people who have already begun searching in their spare time.

'We're getting lots of support online, especially even people over there who are using the last days of their holidays to go up to this area and look for them. People are risking themselves to look in areas they shouldn't have to look', she said.

The sisters said they were looking for information as to whether he took a taxi from his night out, or whether he walked over to the affluent area, as that would determine whether the search effort needed to be moved.

'We want to know if he got a taxi there, if he used his card. He only had his card with him. We want to know if he got a taxi there or are we wasting time searching this area', Jillian said.

'[Local police] told us it would be going to national police, but we won't have a meeting with them or an update for a day or two, and time is not what we have'. she added.

Greg - pictured with his girlfriend who his sisters say he is in a 'happy relationship with'

The 38-year-old had been reported missing and police were looking for him

The Glaswegian was last seen in the party resort of Albufeira (pictured)

The family fear Mr Monks became lost in the unfamiliar surroundings and may have had an accident.

Hospitals have been checked without success but police are not thought to have yet carried out an exhaustive search of medical centres.

This would involve officers going round wards to check on patients admitted without proper identification.

Ms Monks has described her brother as a really hard worker and a quiet guy, whose disappearance immediately threw up a red flag.

She said he has a Thor-type Viking unfinished tattoo at the top of his right arm which would be visible if he was wearing a vest top or had no shirt on.

Ms Kelso is said to have checked through Mr Monks case to see what was missing. As such, the family believe he was wearing a navy blue Nike shorts and top set when he disappeared.

A GoFundMe appeal set up on behalf of the family to help support the search had reached more than 21,550 on Wednesday morning.

Mr Monks other sister, Carlyn, also pleaded with people online as she shared the familys appeal for help.

She wrote: Please keep sharing and help get my brother home.
The Trump administration has hit out at the BBC, accusing the corporation of interpreting the word of 'Hamas as the total truth'.

Yesterday, 21 Palestinians were killed by IDF troops as they tried to collect aid near a distribution site in Rafah, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Previously, the Hamas-run health ministry said at least 31 people had been killed while waiting for food, laying blame on 'Israeli gunfire'.

When asked about these reports, Karoline Leavitt, the US President's secretary, said the Oval Office was attempting to confirm what had transpired before speaking publicly.

But in a bizarre turn of events, she blasted the BBC for its coverage on the matter, accusing them of taking 'the word of Hamas with total truth.'

Waving a printout of stories on the BBC website, she described how headlines had changed from accusations an Israeli tank had killed 26 people, to 21, and then again to 31 fatalities.

'Unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we don't take the word of Hamas with total truth,' she said in a press conference: 'We like to look into it when they speak unlike the BBC'

'And then, oh, wait, they had to correct and take down their entire story, saying we reviewed the footage and couldn't find any evidence of anything,' she said.

In a bizarre turn of events, Karoline Leavitt, the US President's secretary, blasted the BBC for its coverage on the matter, accusing them of taking 'the word of Hamas with total truth'

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

'So we're going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium or before we take action.

Taking another swipe at the broadcaster, she added: 'And I suggest that journalists who actually care about truth do the same to reduce the amount of misinformation that's going around the globe.'

A BBC spokesperson said: 'The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism.

'Our news stories and headlines about Sunday's aid distribution centre incident were updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources.

'These were always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of "at least 21" at their field hospital.

'This is totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story.'

Completely separately, a BBC Verify online report on Monday reported a viral video posted on social media was not linked to the aid distribution centre it claimed to show. This video did not run on BBC news channels and had not informed our reporting. Conflating these two stories is simply misleading.

It is vital to bring people the truth about what is happening in Gaza. International journalists are not currently allowed into Gaza and we would welcome the support of the White House in our call for immediate access.

Waving a printout of stories on the BBC website, she described how headlines had changed from accusations an Israeli tank had killed 26 people, to 21, and then again to 31 fatalities

Last week, thousands of Palestinians overran an aid distribution site in Gaza, established by a US and Israeli-backed group.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said they had to retreat due to the insurmontable numbers of people seeking aid

Earlier today, 27 were killed and several were injured by IDF troops near a food site in Gaza, according to local officials.

The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of people they viewed as a threat after they left a designated access route near the distribution centre in Rafah and approached their positions.

It added it was still investigating what had happened.

The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid much of the enclave to waste.

Palestinians, most of them children, queue in front of a food distribution truck in Gaza on May 22, 2025

The reports in northern and southern Gaza could not be independently verified.

An International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson said its field hospital in Rafah had received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.

Video showed injured people, including at least one woman, being rushed to a medical centre on carts drawn by donkeys.

Health officials said at least 18 more Palestinians were killed in other military strikes in the territory on Tuesday.

The United Nations human rights office in Geneva said on Tuesday the impediment of access to food relief for civilians in Gaza might constitute a war crime and described attacks on people trying to access food aid as 'unconscionable'.

The head of the U.N. agency, Volker Turk, urged a prompt and impartial investigation into the killings.

Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer denied that civilians had been targeted.

'The IDF is doing everything in its power to allow Gazans to get to the humanitarian aid. The IDF is not preventing the arrival of Gazans at humanitarian aid sites. Indeed, we are encouraging it,' Mencer said.
The mayor of Newark, New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Trump prosecutor Alina Habba following a dramatic arrest last month at an immigration detention facility.

Democrat Ras Baraka, who is running to be New Jersey's next governor, filed the federal lawsuit on Tuesday against Habba, the interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

The suit accuses her of false arrest, malicious prosecution and defaming him in an effort to advance her political career, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The MAGA prosecutor had charged Baraka with trespassing when he arrived at Delaney Hall in the outskirts of Newark, which is now being used as a migrant detention center, on May 9.

But less than two weeks later, Habba - who once served as Trump's personal attorney - announced her office was dropping the charges against Baraka without offering any explanation.

The mayor is seeking an unspecified amount of 'compensatory damages for pain, suffering, stress, humiliation' and other purported consequences of the incident, as well as punitive damages.

However, Baraka argued his lawsuit 'is not about revenge'

'Ultimately, I think this is about them taking accountability for what has happened to me,' he said at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Newark.

'Somebody should be responsible for what happened,' he continued, according to the New York Times. 'To handcuff me, to drag me away, to take my fingerprints and mugshots for a misdemeanor, it's egregious and malicious.'

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka has filed a federal lawsuit against the top prosecutor in his state

Interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, who once served as a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, charged Baraka last month with trespassing - but later announced her office was dropping the charges

'The reality is I didn't do anything. I went down there for a press conference. I was invited to the gate, people approached me and were very loud and abusive to me,' he continued.

The mayor has maintained that he was invited to the property to conduct oversight along with members of New Jersey's congressional delegation - Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

But when Baraka arrived, he claims Ricky Patel, the supervising agent with Homeland Security Investigations who is also named as a defendant in the case, denied him entry into the facility and asked him to leave the premises.

Patel even threatened to arrest him and allegedly egged his fellow agents to 'take him down, at which point Baraka says Homeland Security agents violently pulled his arms, handcuffed him and took him into custody, Politico reports.

Dramatic footage from the scene then shows the mayor walking from the facility side of the incident showed Baraka walking from the facility side of the fence to the street side, where residents were protesting the ICE facility.

Soon, uniformed officials could be seen coming to arrest him.

As they did, people could be heard urging the group to protect the mayor. The video shows a crowd forming and pushing as officials led off a handcuffed Baraka.

Baraka was apprehended by ICE and Homeland Security officers at a protest on May 9

The mayor's lawsuit now claims Habba authorized his 'false arrest' in violation of the Fourth Amendment despite 'clear evidence that Mayor Baraka had not committed the petty offense of' defiant trespass.

It argues she instead was acting as a 'political operative' in bringing the trespassing charge against him.

The federal suit also contends that race played a role in the episode, alleging that Habba and Patel sought 'to assure that the evening news included videos of the black mayor of Newark, New Jersey being led away in handcuffs by federal officials.'

Additionally, it accuses Habba of making defamatory statements in media interviews and on social media, wrongfully accusing Baraka of grandstanding and saying he willingly chose to disobey the law.

Much of the lawsuit leans on remarks US Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa made as he hit out at Habba and her office when he threw away the charges.

'The hasty arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, followed swiftly by the dismissal of these trespassing charges a mere 13 days later, suggests a worrisome misstep by your Office,' the judge wrote in his ruling.

The fact that the trespassing charge was withdrawn, Baraka said, meant he had to defend himself in the media and argue his case when he had done nothing wrong.

'I want somebody to apologize, write a letter, say this was wrong, come out and say, "We shouldnt have done this,"' the mayor said at his press conference.

The federal lawsuit accuses Habba o acting as a 'political operative' in bringing the trespassing charge against the mayor

Aides to the Newark mayor have further claimed that Patel received several calls just before Baraka was taken into custody, according to the Times.

His lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, said the lawsuit will now enable her to subpoena the supervising agent's phone records to determine who he may have been speaking to.

The lawsuit also serves as a response to another suit the Justice Department filed against Newark and three other New Jersey cities over their sanctuary policies, Baraka said.

But it comes on the first day of early voting in the Democratic primary for governor to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

The Newark mayor has portrayed himself in the election as the most aggressive Democrat to fight the Trump administration.

Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, who is facing her own charges in relation to the May 9 protest, shared her support for the lawsuit

At his press conference on Tuesday, though, Baraka described the arrest and fallout as a distraction from his campaign.

'But I also think that us not responding is consent,' he said.

He is being supported in his lawsuit by Congresswoman McIver, who is facing two assault charges relating to the May 9 protest.

She has denied the charges, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month.

'The way Mayor Baraka was treated at Delaney Hall was outrageous,' she told NorthJersey.com. 'It is beyond clear that there were never any legal or factual basis to arrest or charge him.

'The [Trump] administration's playing politics with our justice system is disgraceful,' McIver added.

Habba shared her thoughts on the matter in a post on X Monday night

In fact Smith said she expects to sue Trump's administration, but is required to wait six months.

'It's really important for all of us to stand up for democracy,' the lawyer said.

'Mayor Baraka files this lawsuit not just to vindicate himself, but for all of us, for our freedom, for all our constitutional rights.'

Neither Habba nor Patel have responded to the lawsuit, and DailyMail.com has reached out to the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

But in a post on X Monday night, Habba wrote: 'My advice to the mayor - feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey.'

Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told DailyMail.com: 'Mayor Baraka is trying to rewrite history with this frivolous lawsuit.

'Its too late: The American people saw with their own eyes his actions that put the safety of our law enforcement agents and the staff at Delaney Hall at risk  all for the sake of the dangerous criminals housed there.'
A judge has ruled the federal Bureau of Prisons must provide hormone therapy to transgender inmates after Donald Trump signed an executive order halting all treatments.

Trump issued the order within hours of his inauguration in January forcing the federal government to only recognize two genders - male and female - as well as, house transgender women in men's prisons and not fund gender-affirming care.

Several transgender prisoners sued the administration to have their treatments resumed.

US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled on Tuesday that federal law prohibits prison officials from arbitrarily depriving inmates of medications and other lifestyle accommodations that the bureau's medical staff has deemed appropriate.

The judge said the transgender inmates who sued to block Trump's executive order are trying to lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria, the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity dont match.

'In light of the plaintiffs' largely personal motives for undergoing gender-affirming care, neither the BOP nor the Executive Order provides any serious explanation as to why the treatment modalities covered by the Executive Order or implementing memoranda should be handled differently than any other mental health intervention,' Lamberth said.

Trump's order required the bureau to revise its medical care policies so that federal funds aren't spent 'for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.'

There are approximately 1,500 federal prisoners who are transgender women and 750 transgender men, The New York Times reported.

A judge ordered the federal Bureau of Prisons to resume gender-affirming treatments for transgender inmates

Donald Trump signed an executive order in January banning federal funds from being spent on gender-affirming care

One of the plaintiffs, Alishea Kingdom, is a transgender woman who was prescribed hormone therapy injections and approved to receive social accommodations, including women's undergarments and cosmetics.

Kingdom was denied her hormone shot three times after Trump signed his order, but she had it restored roughly a week after she sued. Her access to feminine undergarments hasn't been restored, according to the judge's ruling.

'In Ms. Kingdom's case, there is no indication at all that the BOP means to leave her hormone therapy in place long-term; indeed, as noted above, she was informed by BOP personnel that the decision to resume her treatment was a consequence of this litigation itself, raising the specter that her treatments might be discontinued as soon as the litigation has concluded,' Lamberth said.

Trump's order also directed the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that 'males are not detained in women's prisons,' but Lamberth blocked prison officials from transferring three incarcerated transgender women to men's facilities in February.

The judge said there's no evidence Trump or prison officials considered the harm the new policies could do to transgender inmates.

'The defendants argue that the plaintiffs have not alleged irreparable harm because they are all currently receiving hormone medications. But it suffices to say that all three plaintiffs' access to hormone therapy is, as best the Court can tell, tenuous,' Lamberth said.

Trump signed several orders rolling back protections for transgender people, ruling that the two 'immutable sexes' are 'not changeable.'

The orders directed federal prisons along with shelters for migrants and rape victims to be segregated by sex. He also directed federal money to be no longer be used to fund 'transition services.'

US District Judge Royce Lamberth (pictured) said the transgender inmates who sued are trying to lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria

Transgender inmates were federally protected under the Barack Obama Administration, before Trump appealed the policy during his first term.

Obama's policy was later reenacted under the Joe Biden Administration and Trump once again appealing it.

The president also demanded officials use the term 'sex' rather than 'gender.' Federal agencies were urged to end funding to promote 'gender ideology' and protect against 'gender extremism.'

DailyMail.com contacted the Justice Department for comment. The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment.

Transgender Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union, who represent the transgender inmates, did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Elon Musk escalated his war on Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' spending bill, by promising to 'fire' any politician who votes for the massive spending package.

The former 'First Buddy' has been raging against the bill which the GOP leadership want approved and on Trump's desk in time for the fourth of July.

Musk has publicly said that the enormous price tag 'undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing' and referred to it as 'a disgusting abomination.'

On Tuesday, he promised that anyone who votes for the bill will face consequences in the 2026 midterm elections.

'In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,' he said ominously.

Musk notoriously dumped hundreds of millions of his own dollars into the 2024 election and has suggested he'll continue to spend in the future, though he recently downplayed his future political activities.

The 'Big Beautiful Bill' is intended to be an encompassing piece of legislation to allow Trump to move forward with much of his agenda, with policies ranging from tax cuts to immigration.

The legislation brings large spending increases that the GOP has fought against in recent years, including raising the debt limit by more than $4 trillion over the next two years.

Elon Musk escalated his war on Donald Trump 's 'big, beautiful' spending bill, promising to 'fire' any politician who votes for it in the 2026 midterm elections

The former 'First Buddy' has been raging against the bill which the GOP leadership want approved and on Trump's desk in time for the fourth of July

Within the package is about $5 trillion in tax cuts, to be partially funded by repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden's presidency.

Earlier Tuesday, Musk blasted the bill for massively increasing 'the already gigantic budget deficit.'

'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore,' Musk wrote in a post on X.

'This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,' the SpaceX boss wrote.

He added: 'It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.'

Musk notably did not use Trump's moniker for the federal spending bill - the president refers to it as the 'big, beautiful bill'  but his meaning was clear.

It was by far Musk's strongest attack so far and could put the nail in the coffin of his bromance with the president.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed Elon Musk's comments

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed Musk's tweets when asked about it during a televised press briefing.

'Look the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, and it hasn't changed the president's opinion,' she said. 'This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it.'

When DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment on the new tweet, they directed us to Leavitt's statement earlier today.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Musk was 'wrong' about the bill.

'With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big, beautiful bill,' Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Musk left his job as a special government employee only five days ago. He and President Trump appeared to part on good terms, with Trump gifting him a golden key to the White House.

It wasn't immediately clear how Musk's tirade will affect their relationship given that Trump typically has a low tolerance for criticism.

Musk has previously indicated he was against the bill, which funds the federal government.

He said he was concerned it would undo the work of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

But his comments on Tuesday were his harshest to date and come as the bill is being debated in the Senate.

It also came five days after he formally left the Trump administration.

The legislation will add about $3.8 trillion to the federal government's $36.2 trillion in debt over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, it will boost the nation's debt by $3.1 trillion.

But Trump has defended his signature legislation, arguing it will lower taxes.

'We will take a massive step to balancing our Budget by enacting the largest mandatory Spending Cut, EVER, and Americans will get to keep more of their money with the largest Tax Cut, EVER, and no longer taxing Tips, Overtime, or Social Security for Seniors  Something 80 Million Voters supported in November,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.

Democrats, meanwhile, had a field day with Musk's tweets.

'I agree with Elon Musk,' Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, holding up a print out of Musk's tweets. 'Republicans should listen to him.'

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries took it to another level on Tuesday.

Elon Musk went nuclear on President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

'Breaking news: Elon Musk and I agree with each other. The GOP tax scam is a disgusting abomination,' Jeffries said.

And, notably, Trump didn't criticize Musk during a joint press conference with him in the Oval Office on Friday.

The president defended his signature legislation but didn't mention Musk. In the past, Trump has attacked others who have criticized him. Musk, the world's richest man, spent $290 million in the last election cycle to help get Trump and Republican candidates elected.

Instead Trump said he would negotiate parts of the bill as it makes its way through the legislative process.

'We will be negotiating that bill, and I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it,' Trump told reporters, without directly addressing Musk's concerns.

Other administration officials have stood up for the legislation.

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has been vocal in his defense of the spending plan, a fact that got a lot of attention after his wife Katie Miller left DOGE to work for Elon Musk.

'The Big Beautiful Bill decreases total spending over the budget window by nearly $2 trillion,' Miller wrote on X Sunday.

Elon Musk says most of the savings made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will be wiped out within a year by President Donald Trump 's freshly unveiled 'Big Beautiful Bill.'

House Republicans passed the legislation last month by a mere one vote.

The Senate is expected to amend what the House sent them but those negotiations are ongoing. .

Trump has said he wants a final version of the legislation on his desk for signature by July 4.

Musk, meanwhile, formally left the Trump administration on Friday, holding court with the president in an Oval Office press conference. It was his last day as a special government employee.

The Tesla founder sported a black eye during the event, which he said was the result of his son X punching him.

But even before he departed the White House Musk made clear his disagreement with the 'big beautiful bill,' which is Trump's signature legislation that funds the government.

Musk said he was 'disappointed to see the massive spending bill' because it increases the budget deficit and undermines DOGE.

'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,' he told CBS News.

I said, 'I actually thought that, when this 'big, beautiful bill' came along, it'd be like, everything he's done on DOGE gets wiped out in the first year.'

'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful,' Musk added with a laugh. 'But I don't know if it could be both. My personal opinion.'

Musk has claimed to save the federal government billions through his DOGE efforts.
A young female drug mule suspect has been detained and arrested in Germany for allegedly smuggling cannabis from Thailand.

Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth in Hertfordshire was stopped at Munich Airport on April 21 while she tried to collect her luggage.

Sources told The Sun she served a red flag to authorities after changing her flight last minute as she was originally meant to fly via Singapore to London Heathrow.

It is thought Ms Bradford could now face at least four months in a German prison while authorities probe where the drugs came from.

The mum's arrest is the latest in a series of cases involving suspected young British female drug mules.

Ms Bradford, who has a young son, triggered alarm from her family when she didn't return home on her Heathrow bound flight as expected.

They filed a missing person report but were alerted the next day to the 21-year-old's whereabouts in Germany.

Chief prosecutor Anne Leiding of the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office said: 'We can confirm that we are conducting proceedings in this matter.

Cameron Bradford (pictured), 21, from Knebworth in Hertfordshire was stopped at Munich Airport on April 21 while she tried to collect her luggage

It is thought Ms Bradford could now face at least four months in a German prison while authorities probe where the drugs came from

The young mum's arrest is the latest in a series of cases involving suspected British female drug mules

Ms Bradford, who has a young son, triggered alarm from her family when she didn't return home on her Heathrow bound flight as expected

'The defendant is still in custody.'

Charges and a trial date are yet to be be provided by the prosecution, amid an ongoing investigation.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting a British woman who is detained in Germany and are in contact with her family and the local authorities.'

Germany legalised cannabis for recreational use by adults aged 18 and over in 2024 - but did not extend this change to tourists or non-residents.

There are also differing interpretations of the law across all of Germany's 16 federal states.

And the unauthorised import of cannabis, even for personal use, remains strictly illegal, carrying a five years prison sentence.

Recently, 36-year-old Clara Wilson was allegedly found trying to smuggle around 200,000 of Thai cannabis into Spain.

The mother-of-four, prominent on OnlyFans and from Huthwaite in Nottinghamshire was held by the Civil Guard on January 20 after departing a Qatar Airways flight from Doha.

Clara Wilson, 36, (pictured) has been charged with drug offences after '60 vacuum-packed packages' of cannabis were allegedly found in her two suitcases at El Prat airport in Barcelona

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

It is believed she jetted to the Mediterranean capital from Bangkok with stops in both India and Qatar.

The unemployed parent now faces four years behind bars and potential fines of over 750,000 if she is found guilty.

A 23-year-old British woman in Ghana was also 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.

And 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.
The military is quietly considering a plan to rename a handful of American Navy ships that honored the legacy of icons in the gay rights and civil rights movements.

A Defense officials said the renaming was an attempt by MAGA to 'reestablish warrior culture' and the timing of the announcement - during Pride Month - was intentional.

Liberal critics, however, called the move a weak attempt to replace US history with empty machismo.

Democratic congressman Jim Himes said the renaming displayed a deep insecurity among those in President Trump's administration.

'At the core of MAGA is a deep insecurity about ones own manhood and sexuality,' Himes said on X. 'Thats why all the muscle displays, military cosplaying and school yard bullying.'

Another critic called it 'another attempt to erase the LGBTQ+ community by a small minded self-serving administration.'

The USNS Harvey Milk, named after a gay rights activist and Navy veteran, is one of the ships in which a change of name is being discussed.

Internal US Navy documents seen by CBS News exposed the plans, which have been described as 'shameful and vindictive' by Democrat Nancy Pelosi.

'To change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream,' she said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos'

The USNS Harvey Milk, named after a gay rights activist and Navy veteran, is one of the ships in which a change of name is being discussed

The USNS Thurgood Marshall, named after tthe Supreme Court's first African-American justice, is on the list

'Our military is the most powerful in the world  but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the 'warrior' ethos.

'Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.'

While the USNS Harvey Milk is the ship most at risk, several others have been placed on a 'recommended list' of name changes, the documents reveal.

The USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which is currently under construction and named after the iconic late Supreme Court justice, has also been flagged.

The USNS Thurgood Marshall, named after the Supreme Court's first African-American justice, is on the list, as is the USNS Dolores Huerta, honoring the late labor movement leader.

USNS Cesar Chavez, named after Huerta's close associate and fellow labor leader, and the USNS Medgar Evers, for the African American civil rights activist, are also on the list.

Rounding out the recommendations are USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Lucy Stone, named in honor of the slave-turned-activist Tubman, and suffragist Stone, who was the first woman in Massachusetts to earn a college degree.

The USNS Medgar Evers, for the African American civil rights activist, is also on the list

The USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which is currently under construction and named after the iconic late Supreme Court justice, has also been flagged

USNS Lucy Stone, named in honor of the suffragist, who was the first woman in Massachusetts to earn a college degree

The documents describing these proposed changes were marked with a 'CAUTION' note suggesting they would be publicly sensitive.

They asked Navy Secretary John Phelan to choose a new name for the USNS Harvey Milk on Tuesday, with a memo to be sent to other senior Navy officials later in the week following a legal review.

The reasoning for the change was listed as realigning the US military with the Trump administration's priority of 'reestablishing warrior culture.'

Ships named after Cesar Chavez (left) and Dolores Huerta (right) are also being considered for a change of name

Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman, told CBS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos.'

The decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk coincides with Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

Harvey Milk was one of America's first openly gay elected officials, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors after years of activism in the LGBTQ sphere.

He was assassinated one year into his term, alongside Mayor George Moscone.

Milk had served in the Navy from 1952 to 1954, but was ordered to face a court martial for participating in a 'homosexual act.'

In January 1954, he resigned and was handed an 'Other Than Honorable' discharge. In 2021, the USNS Harvey Milk was christened in his honor.
Mayor said he had no idea flyer was made

A Victorian council has sparked backlash after printing a flyer with three flags emblazoned it but not the Australian flag.

Mornington Peninsula Shire issued the kindergarten flyer with the Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag and LGBTQ+ flag below the council logo, but omitted the national symbol.

The omission on the flyer, which encourages parents to enrol their children for kindergarten in 2026, was picked up on by angry residents.

One resident shared a picture of the flyer and wrote: 'Apparently the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council no longer consider us Australian.'

She said she was 'disgusted' the council 'thought it was representative'.

Another commented: 'Wow! A new low! We should call and ask about our responsibility for rates as Australians!'

'We are all represented by one flag. Only a very small percentage of people are represented by the other three,' another person said.

Someone else questioned: 'Why the need for any flags on a flyer?'

Mornington Peninsula Shire printed the kindergarten flyer with Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQ + Progress Pride flags below the council logo, but omitted Australia's national flag

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council mayor Anthony Marsh said he wasn't aware of the flyer until the social media backlash

Local councillor for Tootgarook ward Cam Williams addressed the criticism on the post and said the council 'didn't know it went out like that, we are trying to rectify it'.

Despite the backlash, some residents felt the issue was overblown.

'Council shouldnt be co opted (or allow themselves to be co opted) by the politicisation of a minority of annoyed voices who read far more into this than needed,' one commented.

'This should have been addressed by email, not a vote.'

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council mayor Anthony Marsh told Daily Mail Australia: 'All children are welcome at our kindergartens.

'The flyer in question was produced before Council clarified its position on the use of flags. Going forward, where flags are flown or appear in Council publications or materials, the Australian Flag will be included.

'Council will ensure this is applied consistently.'
A TikTok food reviewer has faced a barrage of backlash after he unleashed a tirade on a newly-opened cafe for running out of food before he could try it.

Lifestyle blogger John-Ray Boukarim visited a newly-opened cafe located in Sydney's inner-west.

It was the second time Mr Boukarim went to the cafe and to his disappointment he was unable to review the food as the eatery had run out of bread for sandwiches.

Mr Boukarim explained he had planned his whole day around reviewing the food for 'no gain other than boosting their business'.

In an expletive-laden rant shared on TikTok with his 14,000 followers, Mr Boukarim slammed the owners for not knowing how to run a business.

'Listen, tell me how the f*** you open up a business,' he said.

'You think you would have your operation under control knowing what stock levels you would need in order to keep up with the demand, yet you still finish and run out of food an hour or two before you shut.

'This is the second time I've come here to do a food review and you've run out of food.

In a rant shared to his TikTok account nillasjourney, Mr Boukarim slammed the owners of a newly-opened cafe for running out of bread before he could review their sandwiches

'F*** off, and stop wasting my time. Don't open up a business unless you know how to run it. Like seriously.

'These idiots, "Oh we sold out." How do you sell out bro!'

Mr Boukarim added in the caption that about 10 other customers also missed out on ordering food.

He suggested the owners 'up' their bread quantities and if they do not sell out by the end of the day, they should donate the excess to charity.

'I guarantee ya selling an extra 15 sandwiches (and keeping customers happy) vs giving away 15 to 25 pieces of bread (if you didn't sell them) completely outweighs the stand alone bread cost,' Mr Boukarim wrote.

Social media users disagreed with Mr Boukarim's rant, with many claiming he should have just visited the cafe earlier.

'If you want good fresh food, rule of thumb never show up 2 hours before closing. people need to wash/ clean / prep and go home to their families too just like you and I,' one wrote.

'That's just not how it works cuzzy. If they sold out that means they're doing something right. You have the right to be upset but maybe go earlier next time,' a second person commented.

A third person chimed: 'Youd think you'd learn your lesson and go earlier the second time.'

Mr Boukarim suggested the owners buy more bread and if they do not sell enough sandwiches to donate the leftovers to charity (stock image)

Others slammed the food reviewer for claiming the owner did not know how to run a business, claiming he was the one who lacked understanding of a cafe's logistics.

'I understand that frustration however, sometimes they can physically order as much as their establishments can store/make in their kitchen,' one commented.

'At my business because Im a one woman show, once I'm completely out, I'm out. No stock left. Plus I have no storage to keep excess amount of food. I prefer my customers to eat fresh food daily,' a second person added.

A third person wrote: 'They have only been open for four weeks and you think they should have it down pact exactly how much stock they need?

'Even a business that is 15 years old might have weeks they weren't expecting and can be sold out.

'If you've ever run a food business you would know to prevent wastage, you prepare for expected sales only.'

Mr Boukarim replied to some of the comments claiming the video was a way for him to express himself and that 'for the most part' he was 'just taking the p***'.

Mr Boukarim told Daily Mail Australia he was hesitant to visit the cafe a third time due to his past experiences.

Social media users slammed Mr Boukarim for his rant, claiming that the cafe's business model was successful if it was selling out during the day

He told Daily Mail Australia the video was not intended to tarnish or target a specific business but to provide some constructive criticism on the cafe could improve for the customers

He explained his intention for making the video was not to tarnish or 'specifically target' the business but to provide some 'tough love' from a place of genuine care.

'My hope was to offer constructive criticism that could potentially benefit the business in the long run,' Mr Boukarim told Daily Mail Australia.

'I personally feel it's better for businesses to slightly over-prepare and then donate any surplus, or utilise it the next day if feasible.

'This approach, in my opinion, better serves the customer experience than consistently selling out prematurely.

'Learning to manage stock effectively to meet customer demand within advertised hours is crucial for growth and potential expansion.'

Mr Boukarim noted it was 'uncommon' for successful and established restaurants to frequently sell out of core items during their advertised hours.

He added: 'Imagine Maccas ran out of burger buns'.

'While I get that unexpected things happen, it's those repeated issues  especially on a busy Saturday  that can really bother consumers.

Mr Boukarim started his lifestyle and food blog in 2024 and has shared reviews of sandwiches from around the world

'Imagine planning a nice Saturday lunch with the family, waiting in line for x amount of time, only to be told you've sold out. That's incredibly annoying, especially for families with kids.'

He explained whether not he was perceived as a food reviewer, from the standpoint of a consumer his experience had been disappointing.

Mr Boukarim added he made a conscious decision not to name the business as his video was to highlight certain business practices seen in many cafe's across Sydney.

The sandwich-enthusiast started his food and travel blog nillasjourney on Instagram and TikTok in early 2024 and has shared reviews from restaurants and cafes in Bali, Lebanon, Italy, Portugal and Turkey.
Biggest vote turner at present? Small boats. That explains the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform. Yesterday Yvette Cooper arrived at the home affairs select committee for what was expected to be a showdown.

She was set to be interrogated about 'the work of the Home Office'. MPs were bound to go big on the small boats crisis. Weren't they?

Not this lot. It was an hour and a half before the matter was raised and it received just ten minutes. Questions during that low-energy period were reserved for Starmerites. Owing to the result of the General Election, select committees are heavily dominated by Labour.

The MP given most of the questions was Chris Murray (Lab, Edinburgh East & Musselburgh).

In addition to being as damp as a frogman's jockstrap he happens to be the son of Margaret Curran, a sometime Labour MP who is now minister for Net Zero in the House of Lords.

You will not be amazed to learn that wee Murray displayed all the feral aggression of a Portobello tea-shop waitress.

He marvelled at Ms Cooper's command of the crisis. She could not have been handling it better, Mr Murray plainly felt.

'And will ye be taking another pink dainty cake, madam?' he did not quite ask the Home Secretary.

Yesterday Yvette Cooper arrived at the home affairs select committee for what was expected to be a showdown

Owing to the result of the General Election, select committees are heavily dominated by Labour

Yvette Cooper arrives in Downing Street to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting in London on June 3

Mr Murray's cosy family connections were trumped by those of another Labour MP. Jake Richards (Rother Valley) disclosed that his sister is Ms Cooper's chief of staff.

Their father is Steve Richards, a Blairite columnist and BBC type. Nor does it stop there. Jake's sister is married to another Labour MP, the implausibly tanned Gregor Poynton (Livingston), who himself was previously married to an ex-Labour MP, Gemma Doyle.

The People's Party outdoes the Borgias for nepotism. It makes the Pakenhams look grindingly meritocratic.

All this helped Ms Cooper. She could jabber away without significant interruption, wobbling her head and affecting artful concern about the Liverpool parade crash, youth terrorism and other matters.

Sitting some three yards to her left, at shoulder level, one was offered an unusual angle of the Home Secretary.

Watching her side-on, I could see a stillness in her pupils and sense the cogs of her brain engaging before screeds of policy exposition were squirted past two primly drawn lips. She is an efficient, prating machine.

The brow corrugates. The hands chop and push imaginary obstacles on the desk in front of her. The larynx aims for a low, almost masculine note. There are many emphatic nods.

It all feels so formulaic that it conveys... nothing. No novelty or spontaneity. No flashes of humanity. Just a programmed product. Although in some ways impressive, it has a bleakness to it.

Watching her side-on, I could see a stillness in her pupils and sense the cogs of her brain engaging before screeds of policy exposition were squirted past two primly drawn lips

She wore no wristwatch. Two of her tiny fingertips were smudged by ink. Beside her sat her new permanent secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo.

In previous positions, Dame Antonia has been a flashy customer, all Jackie O glasses and shaken tresses, bringing a whiff of ocean air and Roger et Gallet scent to any room.

Now that she is working for Ms Cooper, Dame Antonia has gone conventual. She has abjured glamour. Said not a single word. She just gazed at her ministerial mistress with ostensible interest. Can the unquenchable Romeo really have been tamed?

Shaun Davies (Lab, Telford), a blowy sort, apologetically asked if we might have more success in discouraging small-boat arrivals if we diluted European human-rights conventions.

Ms Cooper shrugged that one off without effort. We did not want to upset the French and Germans.

The committee's chairman, Dame Karen Bradley (Con, Staffordshire Moorlands) caught a few midges in her sagging jaw.

Robbie Moore (Con, Keighley & Ilkley) scored a few runs by pestering Ms Cooper about grooming gangs. Paul Kohler (Lib Dem, Wimbledon) blew his nose in a vast red hanky and admired his long fingers. Peculiar.

And in the Commons chamber there was discussion about drinking water being tainted by sewage, and one of the questions came from an MP called Mr Swallow.
Voters were warned last night to brace for further tax rises after Nato spending demands blew a 40billion hole in Labours plans.

Nato chief Mark Rutte has told Keir Starmer and other leaders that the alliance later this month will raise its minimum spending target from 2 per cent of GDP to 3.5 per cent by 2035 to deter Russias Vladimir Putin and placate US President Donald Trump.

Military sources said it would be unthinkable for Britain to refuse the demand given its leading role in Nato.

But experts claimed the bill could eventually run to 40billion a year  the same amount raised by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her controversial Budget last year and equal to 5p on the basic rate of income tax.

Defence Secretary John Healey refused to rule out tax increases to help fund the push to move Britain to a position of war-fighting readiness but said ministers would set out how well pay for future increases in the future.

The Prime Minister has committed to raising defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2027. And he has said the Government will move to 3 per cent at some point in the early 2030s subject to economic and fiscal conditions.

But he repeatedly refused to set an arbitrary date for meeting it or set out how it would be funded.

Sir Keir was holding emergency talks with advisers in Downing Street about how to respond to the demand. He said this week there were discussions about what the contribution should be going into the Nato conference.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Defence Secretary John Healey (centre right) walk with soldiers and staff at the Stanford Training Area on October 20, 2024 near Thetford, England

Secretary General Mark Rutte attends a press conference before a meeting of the leaders of the Bucharest Nine and the Nordic countries in Vilnius, Lithuania, 2 June 2025

Soldiers demonstrate the EXO Insight glasses which are an eye tracking virtual behaviour monitoring system on October 14, 2021 in Salisbury, England

This weeks Strategic Defence Review said Britain must be ready to step up, to lead in Nato and take greater responsibility for our collective self-defence.

Whitehall sources cautioned the Nato target may not have to be met in full for a decade, although intermediate goals could be set along the way.

The increased spending demand comes at a time when Ms Reeves is already struggling to meet her own fiscal rules and ministers are in retreat over welfare cuts.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned chunky tax rises would be needed even to hit 3 per cent spending on defence.

Professor Malcolm Chalmers, of the Royal United Services Institute, claimed meeting 3.5 per cent by 2035 would cost an extra 40billion a year and said this was equivalent to raising overall income tax receipts by 10 per cent.

Former Army chief Lord Dannatt said: I would make the case that we have got to tighten our belt. And if we cant borrow more, which we cant, if we cant grow the economy, which were struggling to, then weve got to put some taxes up.

Official figures show Labours current plans would see spending on sickness benefits rise faster than that on defence. Despite planned cuts to disability benefits, spending on sickness and disability is forecast to rise from 2.4 per cent of GDP to 3.1 per cent by the end of the decade, reaching almost 100billion a year by 2030.

Former Tory chancellor Jeremy Hunt said yesterday that welfare reform was the only way to square the circle.

Rachel Reeves and Defence Secretary John Healey speak with soldiers and staff at the Stanford Training Area on October 20, 2024 near Thetford, England

Romania's President Nicusor Dan (left) speaks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky next to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the Vilnius Summit of B9 (Bucharest Nine) and Nordic countries in Vilnius, Lithuania, 2 June 2025

Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain Training Area on 3 July, 2020 in Salisbury, England

Mr Rutte is expected to set the minimum defence spending target when Nato leaders gather in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24.

The target will be supplemented with an additional goal of spending 1.5 per cent on security- related activity, taking the total to the five per cent demanded by Mr Trump.

But former Nato chief Lord Robertson warned that many countries would struggle if the aims are set too high.

The Labour peer, who led the Governments review, said: I can see why Nato is giving targets but whether they are realisable is a different question altogether.
An artificial intelligence trial at Hungry Jack's could mark the beginning of the end for a key fast food job.

Hungry Jack's is using AI drive-thru assistantce at its St Peters restaurant in Sydney's inner west, and customers wanting a meal will experience a digital voice-activated customer ordering system.

The trial will be rolled out to other restaurants in the coming months, and many customers are wondering how many workers will lose their jobs as a result.

AI expert Niusha Shafiabady told Yahoo Finance that retail jobs were 'very likely' to change soon as AI begins to take over.

'At this stage, people are preparing our food, in the future robots will be preparing our food,' Ms Shafiabady said.

'I would anticipate with the work that Elon Musk is doing in developing humanoid robots that even within the next 10 years people wouldn't be preparing our food.'

Fast-rood chains around the world including KFC, Wendy's, McDonald's, Chipotle, Domino's, and Taco Bell, have trialled AI software.

Ms Shafiabady said AI would ultimately save businesses money but also reduce wait times.

AI technology is being trialled at Hungry Jack's to see if it improves the chain

He said it would also take human error out of the equation, meaning orders would be more accurate and Aussies wouldn't have to turn their cars around and go back to claim a missing hamburger or chips.

A Hungry Jack's spokesperson told Yahoo Finance the trial was put in place to see how effective AI technology was in helping 'service improvements'.

Some customers were worried about the new 'scary' AI technology and some even threatened to boycott Hungry Jack's over the trial.

'Goodbye to teenagers who need casual jobs,' one person said.

'How will kids get job experience with these jobs being replaced?' another said.

'You can't convince me all this investment in AI is cheaper than paying real wages,' a third said.

Ms Shafiabady said the public would eventually accept AI's role in society.

'Even if they (Hungry Jack's) lose some of their customers in the beginning, people would get used to the technology,' she said.

Customers at some Hungry Jack's drive throughs will experience a digital voice-activated customer ordering system in the coming months

Having a person take your order at fast food restaurants might soon be a thing of the past

'If you recall the first time that generative AI tools came to the market, like ChatGPT, people were not really comfortable using it. But now everybody's using them.'

Other jobs that are expected to be replaced by AI in the next five years are bank tellers, cashiers, postal workers and administrative assistants, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report.

The report predicted about 170million new jobs would be created this decade while 92million would be lost.

Ms Shafiabady said the jobs involving repetitive tasks were the ones that would be most likely to be taken over by AI.

She also said that while there would be fewer entry-level jobs in the future, AI would open up new job opportunities, with roles in automation, cybersecurity experts and people needed to analyse data.

'That's the reality. The types of jobs of the future will be different from the types of jobs that we have had now, and we have had before,' she said.

'If you look back hundreds of years ago, the types of jobs were different, so we are evolving and the types of jobs will be changing.'

Hungry Jack's and McDonalds were contacted for comment.
A Florida weatherman issued a grim warning over the quality of weather forecasts as the Trump Administration's cuts to federal weather agencies could impact meteorologists' abilities to accurately predict hurricanes.

NBC 6 hurricane specialist John Morales used his segment on Tuesday to warn about cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS).

Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency cuts gutted NWS and NOAA  which provide daily weather forecasts, up-to-the-minute severe storm warnings, climate monitoring and extreme weather tracking  earlier this year.

Hundreds of weather forecasters were fired and other federal NOAA employees were put on probationary status in February, followed by a later round of more than 1,000 cuts at the agency. By April, nearly half of NWS forecast offices had 20 percent vacancy rates.

With the Atlantic hurricane season kicking off on Sunday, Morales warned the budget cuts will impact his ability to predict and track storms.

'As you've grown accustomed to my presentations over my 34 years in South Florida newscast, confidently, I went on TV and told you, "It's going to turn. You don't need to worry,"' he said.

'I'm here to tell you I'm not sure I can do that this year, Because of the cutsthe gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general.'

Morales claimed the Trump Administration's cuts will have a 'multi-generation impact on science in this country' and advised his viewers to call their representatives.

NBC 6 hurricane specialist John Morales (pictured) warned that the Trump Administration's cuts to federal weather agencies will impact meteorologists' abilities to accurately forecast

DOGE cuts gutted NWS and NOAA  which provide daily weather forecasts, up-to-the-minute severe storm warnings, climate monitoring and extreme weather tracking

'What we're starting to see is that the quality of the forecasts is becoming degraded,' he said.

'There's also a chance because of some of these cuts that NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft will not be able to fly this year and with less reconnaissance missions may be flying blind. And we may not exactly know how strong a hurricane is before it reaches the coastline.'

In 2024, four separate hurricanes killed at least 370 Americans during hurricane season.

The most deadly was Hurricane Helene, which tore through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas in late September and killed 241 people.

Hurricane Milton came shortly after and was expected to be even worse than Helene, but locals who were still picking up the pieces avoided the catastrophic damage which was expected. Still, 44 people across Florida died in Milton.

Hurricane Beryl killed at least 40 people in Texas, while nine people in South Carolina and Florida died in Hurricane Debby.

Trump's new head of the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency told staff he was not aware that the United States had a 'hurricane season.'

David Richardson, who has been in charge of FEMA since early May, made the astounding revelation during a briefing recently, four sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

In 2024, four separate hurricanes killed at least 370 Americans during hurricane season

The context behind his remarks - and whether he meant them to be a joke - was not immediately clear.

But a spokesperson for FEMA's parent agency, Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security, maintained the comments were a joke and not to be taken literally.

'FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens,' the spokesperson said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted last week that this year's season is expected to bring as many as 10 hurricanes.
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?'

The search for Pheobe goes on.
Luigi Mangione has asked the judge to allow him to appear in court without handcuffs or a bulletproof vest as his lawyers insist he has been a 'model prisoner.'

The 27-year-old is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of a New York City hotel in December.

He has attracted a significant fan following and recently became a millionaire after his crowdfunding campaign exceeded $1 million in May.

Mangione's lawyers filed a motion on Tuesday requesting he be allowed to sit at the defense table unshackled and in 'court appropriate clothing without a bulletproof vest' at his June 26 hearing, Fox News reported.

His defense team claimed forcing the Maryland native to wear the garb contributes to a prejudice campaign against him.

'The authorities - both state and federal - have already prejudiced Mr. Mangione in the media more than virtually any defendant in recent memory,' filing said.

'These same authorities should not use Your Honor's courtroom and Mr. Mangione's court appearances to perpetuate a false narrative that Mr. Mangione is an unusual danger requiring extraordinary security measures.'

Mangione's legal team argued forcing him to wearing handcuffs and a bulletproof vest impedes his right to effectively defend himself.

The 27-year-old has asked to be allowed to sit at the defense table unshackled and in 'court appropriate clothing without a bulletproof vest' at his June 26 hearing

His defense team claimed forcing the Maryland native to wear the garb contributes to a prejudice campaign against him

'There is no disputing that he has been a model prisoner, a model defendant in court, and has treated everyone in the court and prison system with cooperation and respect,' the lawyers said.

'These deeply prejudicial security measures, which are invariably photographed and circulated to the public, including potential jurors, are unnecessary and should not continue as they are damaging to Mr. Mangione's right to a fair trial.'

His lawyers claim authorities have been trying to paint Mangione as a violent criminal starting with his Mayor-led perp walk when he was extradited back to New York.

Mangione is facing charges in New York and at the federal level where prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.

The murder suspect pleaded not guilty to all federal stalking and murder charges brought against him on April 25 in Manhattan federal court.

Mangione walked into court in leg shackles with his hands cuffed behind his back. He was not wearing the loafers he sported at his previous state court hearing  which he wore without socks and a preppy sweater.

Instead, he wore socks, prison issue sneakers and a tan colored prison-issued top and pants.

Before he entered a plea for the federal charges, Mangione pleaded not guilty the New York state murder and terror charges.

At his April 25 federal hearing, Mangione was handcuffed and wore socks, prison issue sneakers and a tan colored prison-issued top and pants

In May, Mangione's lawyers urged a judge to throw out his state murder charges, arguing that the New York case and a parallel federal death penalty prosecution amount to double jeopardy.

If that doesn't happen, they want terrorism charges dismissed and prosecutors barred from using evidence collected during Mangione's arrest last December, including a 9 mm handgun, ammunition and a notebook in which authorities say he described his intent to 'wack' an insurance executive.

Mangione's lawyers also want to exclude statements he made to police officers who took him into custody at a McDonalds restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Her mother found unresponsive in her cell on May 30

Prison authorities are vowing to conduct a thorough review of how a mother accused of killing her three-year-old daughter was found with fatal injuries in a cell despite being under supposedly close supervision.

As authorities began the review, locals around Bundaberg in southern Queensland have bid an emotional farewell to three-year-old Sophia Rose, who was stabbed to death in the front garden of the family home.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Monday said 'some explanations' were needed over the Brisbane death in custody of the girl's mother Lauren Ingrid Flanigan.

After being charged with the May 26 murder of her daughter, Flanigan was found unresponsive in her cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on May 30.

The 32-year-old was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane where she died two days later on Sunday.

Mr Crisafulli said questions needed to be answered in a 'full and thorough' investigation to ensure the incident was not brushed 'under the carpet'.

'This incident proves that there are some explanations that are needed,' he told reporters on Monday.

'We owe it to everyone involved, people who work in the facility, families of people who have tragically lost their life, to get to the bottom of it.'

A community is reeling after a mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter died in custody, sparking a corrective services review (Sophia Ruane is pictured)

After being charged with her daughter's murder, Lauren Flanigan (pictured) was found unresponsive in her cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on May 30

Forensics are seen at the house at Moore Park Beach in Queensland on May 27

He said the corrective services system must be held to a high standard.

'For those who do need to be held in custody, we have a duty to provide safe facilities,' he said.

The Moore Park Beach community came together to celebrate Sophia on Sunday, before news of Flanigan's death came through.

Hundreds came dressed in pink and with sparkles, Sophia's favourite things, at the gathering organised by Bundaberg local Trish Mears.

Sophia was remembered for her love of dance and a child who had an 'absolute love of life'.

The Moore Park Beach community is grieving after coming together to celebrate Sophia

MMA fighter dad and mine worker Jai Ruane is pictured on Sophia's first birthday

'She was just a beautiful little girl who was just full of life and lit up a room when she walked into it,' Ms Mears told AAP.

Friends, family and supporters blew bubbles and wrote messages in the sand while Sophia's favourite song, 'Sky Full of Stars' by Coldplay, played.

'It was absolutely beautiful and I could certainly feel her spirit there,' Ms Mears said.

The vigil was part of the healing process for the community with many strangers sharing hugs and kind words, Ms Mears said.

But the news of Flanigan's death ensured Sunday ended on a 'tragic' note, she said.

Ms Mears, the president of Moore Park Beach Arts Inc, said the community would also honour Sophia at their local festival in August.

A GoFundMe set up for Sophia's father and siblings has so far raised $55,000.

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Aussies who shopped at Reddy Express urged to check bank

Furious Aussies have been shocked to discover they have been overcharged thousands of dollars for purchases at a popular petrol station chain.

Multiple visitors to Reddy Express (formerly known as Coles Express) noticed their transaction had been repeated, sometimes over more than 100 times, on Saturday.

A Sydney man named Steve told Radio 2GB he was charged 134 times for a payment of around $106.

The total of his transactions came to an eye-watering $14,204.

Another man, Angelo, said his daughter had spent $6 on a drink and a chocolate at a Reddy Express and was charged for the transaction 104 times.

Aussies impacted by the glitch were given a phone number to contact which led to an automated voice message.

The voice message said Reddy Express was aware of the issue, and that customers would be reimbursed within two to seven days.

Angelo said that his daughter would soon be travelling overseas, and was concerned over whether she would be refunded before she left.

Furious Aussies have been shocked to discover they have been charged over 100 times for their purchases at a popular chain of petrol stations (stock)

Reddy Express has since issued a public apology about the glitch.

'On Saturday (31/5) a technical issue led to intermittent EFTPOS errors affecting some guests paying by credit or debit card at Reddy Express stores,' a statement said.

'In some cases, this has resulted in guests being charged more than once for their transaction.

'We are working to reverse any duplicate transactions as quickly as possible.

'In most cases, people should have seen the refund appear in their debit or credit card accounts by now.

'If you have not yet received a refund or have not yet contacted us, please contact us now via our customer service office contactus-retail@vivaenergy.com.au or call 1800 656-055.

'Reddy Express sincerely apologises to any impacted guests.'

Anyone who made a purchase at a store is urged to check their transaction history.

Reddy Express (pictured) says the transactions happened due to an EFTPOS issue on May 31

More than 700 Coles Express servos across Australia were rebranded to Reddy after they were sold to petrol and diesel supplier Viva Energy in 2023.

In 2024, a similar 'duplicate payments' glitch hit Commonwealth Bank, with furious customers demanding answers after money 'disappeared' from their accounts.

Hundreds of customers reported seeing multiple payments on their accounts on Saturday morning, with some experiencing overdrawn accounts, while others were left stranded with no money to travel.

Reddy Express was contacted by Daily Mail Australia for comment.
Another key staffer has departed John Fetterman's office amid the Pennsylvania Senator's reported mental health issues.

A blockbuster New York Magazine feature last month painted the Pennsylvania Senator as not well and behaving erratically since being treated for depression.

Further tales have been published since, including an old video of Fetterman behaving poorly on a plane and driving a staffer to tears with an outburst during a meeting with union representatives.

Fetterman has consistently lashed out at the story as a 'one source hit piece' but in its wake, several staffers have left him.

That continued Tuesday as Fetterman's Chief of Staff, Krysta Sinclair Juris, announced her departure.

Juris replaced Adam Jentleson, who Fetterman has identified as the 'one source' who went on the record about his alleged experiences with the Senator in the magazine piece.

The Senator painted her departure as amicable in a statement.

'I'm grateful for Krysta's work. She's been an invaluable member of the team for over two years and I wish her all the best.'

Fetterman's Chief of Staff, Krysta Sinclair Juris, announced her departure

Another key staffer has departed John Fetterman amid the Pennsylvania Senator's reported mental health issues

Cabelle St. John, Fetterman's former deputy chief of staff, senior adviser and scheduling director, is taking over the job from Juris.

'Cabelle St. John has been a trusted advisor since day 1 in the office. I'm lucky to have her taking over as my Chief of Staff and I'm confident she'll do a great job,' he said.

The news comes after the latest criticism of Fetterman was published this past weekend, suggesting he is an absentee Senator during a debate with Republican Dave McCormick.

The Philadelphia Inquirer - one of Pennsylvania's more prominent home state newspapers - told him to step aside.

In an opinion piece published by the paper's editorial board Sunday, Fetterman was told 'to serve Pennsylvanians, or step away' due to what the board believes is a neglect of his duties as a U.S. Senator.

Fetterman was bashed for missing votes, and for his lack of travel around the Commonwealth.

Fetterman responded that the votes he has missed have been 'procedural' in nature, adding: 'At this point I'm hearing I'm doing that job, I'm defending on all those things and all of those important votes, I've always been there.'

'We all know those votes that I've missed were on Monday. Those are travel days, and I have three young kids and I, those are throwaway procedural votes that there were never determinative. They were important. That's a choice that I made,' Fetterman concluded.

The news comes after the latest criticism of Fetterman (pictured left) was published this past weekend, suggesting he is an absentee Senator during a debate with Republican Dave McCormick (pictured right)

The bombshell story in New York Magazine features several concerning accusations about Fetterman's behavior, including not taking medicine prescribed after he spent time in a mental health facility in 2023.

Only one staffer would go public with the claims and Fetterman has personally denied them. Some of the anonymous staffers shared marital strife and political disagreements with his wife Gisele.

Former Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson is the most public face of the story, titled 'The Hidden Struggle of John Fetterman.'

One year after Fetterman's release from the traumatic-brain-injury and neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed Hospital, Jentleson wrote a letter the division's director who treated Fetterman there.

'I think John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him,' Jentleson wrote in the 1,600-word email with the subject line: 'Concerns.'

He added that the senator 'won't be with us for much longer' if he doesn't change his behavior, with Jentleson claiming these are 'the things you said to flag, so I am flagging.'

One of the things he was told to flag: that Fetterman purchased a gun, though Jentleson admits the senator 'takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does I understand the desire for personal protection.'

Jentleson is referring to the hard-scrabble small town of Braddock where Fetterman served as mayor and still lives.

Juris replaced Adam Jentleson (pictured), who Fetterman has identified as the 'one source' who went on the record about his alleged experiences with the Senator in the magazine piece

Ailing Senator John Fetterman continues to hemorrhage staffers as two more top aides bailed just before the recent series of reports alleging his health is deteriorating

Fetterman is accused of everything from the physical - 'not taking his meds' to eating fast food multiple times a day - to the mental - lying, 'self-centered monologues,' 'conspiratorial thinking; megalomania' - among his issues.

The senator is also allegedly obsessed with social media despite admitting it was an 'accelerant' of his depression and driving 'recklessly' to the point that staffers refused to ride with him and a police officer said it was 'a miracle no one died' after one accident last June.

Jentleson also argued that 'every person who was supposed to help him stay on his recovery plan has been pushed out.'

The former chief of staff later said in an interview a year after writing the letter that he's telling his side of the story because he believes Fetterman's trajectory has taken him out of consideration to lead the Democrats going forward.

'Part of the tragedy here is that this is a man who could be leading Democrats out of the wilderness but I also think he's struggling in a way that shouldn't be hidden from the public.'

Quite the opposite, as The Intercept recently reported that Fetterman's campaign is bleeding money and losing small-dollar donors ever since his meeting with Trump.

The author, Ben Terris, spoke to Fetterman ahead of publication and got a text message from him asking: 'Why is this a story?

He added that the number of staffers leaving is typical for Washington and he is the 'best version' of himself right now.

One of the things Jentleson was told to flag: that Fetterman purchased a gun, though Jentleson admits the senator 'takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does I understand the desire for personal protection'

The author, Ben Terris, had a tense interview with the senator

Fetterman also denied claims that towards the beginning of his first term, he had to be spoken with for 'an hour' with staffers 'trying to trying to convince him, to talk him out of some crazy fantasy' that he wouldn't be allowed in the Senate.

He also said there is no truth to accusations that he began to 'sour' on his own party after bipartisan efforts to prevent him from wearing his trademark hoodie and shorts to the Senate floor.

Things became somewhat more complicated when asked about arguments over Gaza and meeting with Donald Trump with his wife Gisele, herself having come to the U.S. as an illegal migrant.

Fetterman called their disagreements 'very common in political marriage' and said Gisele 'has her own voice.

Gisele, for her part, told New York Magazine that Jentleson is trying to harm her husband and lied to her about his health.
Dan Andrews' Labor government invested millions in the Yes campaign at the eleventh hour of the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.

In September 2023, three weeks before Australians' cast their vote, funds budgeted to support Victoria's pathway to Indigenous Treaty were reassigned.

Briefing files, revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, found the state government approved the reallocation of $6.5million to boost the 'Yes' campaign - as part of a movement from governments in all Australian states and territories.

In February 2023, each committed to the National Cabinet's Statement of Intent, supporting a national, constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.

Former Victorian assistant treasurer Danny Pearson approved the 'reprioritisation' of funds which was signed off by then-minister for treaty and First Peoples of Australia, Gabrielle Williams, on September 25.

In the fortnight leading up to the referendum on October 14, support for the Voice plummeted to 34 per cent, reaching its lowest ebb.

But the funding was not used and was re-allocated back to the Treaty process.

'The Victorian Government did not spend any money on the Commonwealth Voice referendum,' a state government spokesperson said.

Under former Premier Dan Andrews (pictured), the Victorian Government reprioritised $6.5million under a national scheme to support an enshrined Voice to Parliament

In that crucial period, a Newspoll conducted by The Australian found the 'No' vote outnumbered the 'Yes' case in every demographic category.

Warren Mundine, who strongly advocated for the No campaign, told the Herald Sun the approval of the funding was a 'disgrace'.

'It was quite definite that the Voice was going to be thrown away,' he said.

'The Victorian government are happy to just leak money.'

The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

The revelation comes as discussion of The Voice was reinvigorated this year.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong claimed in April, during her first podcast interview, that there will one day be a Voice.

'I think we'll look back on it in 10 years' time and it'll be a bit like marriage equality,' Senator Wong told the Betoota Talks podcast.

The funding was allegedly approved only weeks before the referendum, at which time support for the 'Yes' campaign was at an all-time low

'I always used to say, marriage equality, which took us such a bloody fight to get that done, and I thought, all this fuss.

'It'll become something, it'll be like, people go "did we even have an argument about that?"'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly dismissed the notion of holding another referendum.
Relatives of a fishing-loving British pensioner allegedly found with 200,000 of meth in Chile have claimed the 79-year-old lost his life savings after being scammed.

William 'Billy Boy' Eastment faces dying behind bars after police intercepted him at Santiago Airport on May 18 - claiming he was carrying the class A drug.

He arrived on a flight from Cancun and was booked to travel to Sydney in Australia the following day having been allegedly promised 4,000 by a Mexican gang to smuggle the suitcase.

But now, Eastment's younger sister, Jennifer, 78, has spoken out saying the OAP is 'just so gullible' and 'he's not a bad person'.

It comes as it was revealed he was known by neighbours in his home village of Milborne Port, Somerset, as quiet and 'just a simple pensioner'.

Speaking to The Mirror at her home in Cwmbran, South Wales, Jennifer said the fact her younger brother had informed police he was unaware the suitcase contained drugs was 'him to a T'.

She told of how the retired goods and bus fitter was left scrambling for cash after handing over thousands to Nigerian scammers.

Jennifer said of Eastment's arrest: 'He is just so gullible. If someone gave him a story like that about needing something delivered and he would get paid for it, he wouldn't think about drugs or anything like that.

William 'Billy Boy' Eastment was said to have been found with 200,000 meth in Chile

Eastment was known by neighbours in his home village of Milborne Port, Somerset as a quiet OAP and 'just a simple pensioner' who liked fishing

Chilean customs intercepted the suitcase allegedly carried by the British OAP, which contained the Class A drugs

'You would not believe that someone so intelligent and top of the class growing up could be so stupid and have so little common sense.'

The concerned sister added that while she was always on alert for 'con men', a lot of older people often fall victim to financial scams.

She said her brother was scammed 'about four years ago' and lost 20,000 after a woman called Jennifer, the same age as herself, messaged to say she was in trouble following her arrest in Istanbul and needed money for a lawyer.

The pensioner's sister said he was now left 'in all sorts of financial difficulties' and that she had to lend him 'a couple of hundred here and there' which she could not afford.

Jennifer said Eastment had recently spent time in Brazil and insisted she had no idea what he was doing in Mexico.

She added that two years ago her brother had journeyed to Brazil with a friend and she was unsure why he was there. She recalled suspecting it could have been to do with drugs and explained Eastment had gone but 'hated it'.

Jennifer also spoke of her brother previously appearing in court accused of assaulting his now ex-partner.

She admitted he had a 'fierce temper' but insisted he was 'not a bad person' and simply 'loves his bowls and his fishing'.

The neighbour questioned 'what on earth is someone like that doing mixed up drugs' and said 'he's just a simply pensioner, I thought...he's hardly living the high life there'

The pensioner was arrested in Chile after a Mexican gang allegedly promised him 4000 to smuggle a suitcase of crystal meth

A judge has ruled Eastment can be held for up to 120 days while prosecutors gather evidence and consider formal charges, The Mirror reports.

If convicted, the OAP could face up to 15 years in prison, though legal experts have said a five-year sentence is more likely in the event Eastment co-operates through a plea deal.

It comes after authorities said they discovered the drugs hidden in a false bottom of Eastment's suitcase, which officials said was packed to capacity.

The bag was flagged by an x-ray scanner and special detection system as the pensioner passed through customs.

Messages on Eastment's phone have led investigators to believe he received instructions from contacts in Brazil and the US.

Chilean police say the 79-year-old is behind bars in Santiago 1 Penitentiary - a place far removed from the humble set of bungalows he previously inhabited.

Police previously said the drugs he was caught with would have been worth around 200,000 on the streets of the south American country.

The British traveller was asked to open his suitcase in front of officers when police discovered a secret compartment where 5kg of the drugs had been packed.

One neighbour recalled seeing Eastman just days before his arrest, saying he had mentioned going to Mexico but 'missed his flight' meaning he 'had to get a later one'

Airport police chief Sergio Paredes said it was the first time the arrested man had entered Chile.

One neighbour recalled seeing Eastman just days before his arrest, saying he had mentioned going to Mexico but 'missed his flight' meaning he 'had to get a later one'.

They questioned 'what on earth is someone like that doing mixed up drugs' and said 'he's just a simply pensioner, I thought...he's hardly living the high life there'.

The drugs arrest comes as a number of Brits around the world have been arrested on drug charges - although most have been far younger than Eastman.

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 added police were still investigating whether the drugs were due to remain in Chile or be taken to Australia.

Earlier this week it emerged a British couple aged 33 and 34 had been held at Valencia airport after police discovered 33kg of cannabis in their luggage.

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

The pair claimed they were tourists coming from Thailand after they were intercepted as they got off a flight from France.

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.
White British people will become a minority in the UK population in less than 40 years, a report has predicted.

The population of white British people will fall from 73 per cent to 57 per cent by 2050, before becoming a minority by 2063, the research suggests.

Professor Matt Goodwin of Buckingham University analysed migration, birth and death rates, and calculated that by the end of the century, the white British share of the population  those who do not have an immigrant parent  could have dropped to a third.

His report predicts a sharp rise in the proportion of the UK population made up of foreign-born and second-generation immigrants, increasing from below 20 per cent to 33.5 per cent within the next 25 years.

It also forecasts a near three-times increase in the number of Muslims living in the UK, suggesting that almost one in five people living in Britain will be followers of Islam by the end of the century.

By the year 2100, the report expects 60 per cent of people living in the UK to have at least one immigrant parent.

Professor Goodwin, a political commentator, said his research, which was based on Office for National Statistics and census data, will 'spark anxiety, concern and political opposition' among voters who wish to 'maintain the culture of the traditional majority'.

Research conducted by Professor Matt Goodwin of Buckingham University (above) claims that white Brits will become the minority race in the UK population within the next 40 years

The study into birth rates and migration levels has predicted that white British people will make up only 33.7 per cent of the UK population by the end of the century (Stock Image)

The report predicts a near three-times increase in the number of Muslims living in the UK, suggesting that almost one in five people living in Britain will be followers of Islam by the end of the century (Pictured: a general view of a mosque in Bradford)

He added: 'By the end of the current century, most of the people on these islands will not be able to trace their roots in this country back more than one or two generations.

'This raises enormous questions about the capacity of our country and leaders to unify people around a shared sense of identity, values, ways of life, and culture, and avoid the very real risk of us becoming what Sir Keir Starmer referred to in May as 'an island of strangers'.'

In the report titled 'Demographic Change and the Future of the United Kingdom', Professor Goodwin also warned of the UK's ability to 'absorb and manage this scale of demographic change'.

He said: 'What these projections show is that the UK is currently on course to experience enormous and historically unprecedented changes in the composition of its population.'

Professor Goodwin's projections were based on non-white ethnic groups having a higher fertility rate until the end of the century.

The fertility rate used was 1.39 for those born in the UK, 1.97 for foreign-born people. For Muslims it was 2.35, and for non-Muslims it was 1.54.

Official figures showed net long-term inflows were 431,000 in the year to December.

While this is less than 2023, when it stood at 860,000, it is still at historic highs.

Emigration rose by around 11 per cent to an estimated 517,000 for the year to December, up from 466,000 in the previous year.

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People leaving the UK has returned to a similar level to the year ending June 2017.

There was a 49 per cent decrease in 2024 in the number of non-EU+ nationals arriving in the UK as the main applicant on a work visa, along with a 35 per cent fall in those coming as work dependants.

The number of non-EU+ nationals arriving as main applicants on a study visa dropped by 17 per cent, while there was a much larger fall of 86% in study dependants.

The drop is likely to reflect changes in migration rules introduced in early 2024 by the previous Conservative government, which included restricting the ability of most international students to bring family members.

Meanwhile, the government is failing to control the flow of migrants crossing the Channel, with 1,200 arriving on Saturday in what was labelled 'a day of shame'.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer even faced criticism from one of his own ministers who said control of Britain's borders had been lost as a surge in dinghy crossings overwhelmed French and UK border patrol vessels.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer even faced criticism from one of his own ministers who said control of Britain's borders had been lost 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.

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 stood by and watched as migrants waded into the sea and scrambled on to an inflatable boat. French authorities said they rescued 184 people.

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People hoping to reach the UK to claim asylum wade into the Channel to catch a dinghy piloted by several men

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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 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.'

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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'

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 on Sunday, June 1, carrying more than 1,000 people - exceeding the previous daily record for 2025 of 825, set earlier last month.

Mr Healey added: 'Pretty shocking, those scenes [on Sunday]. 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 it tells us a really big problem which is that you've got French police unable 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.'
A Pittsburgh daughter was left horrified when she discovered the woman in her mother's hospital bed was in fact a stranger.

Gloria Corrado was scheduled to be transferred to University of Pittsburgh's Medical Center (UPMC) Mercy Rehab from UPMC Presbyterian on Friday.

When her daughter Rae Corrado arrived to see her, she was directed to a room where she was told her mom was.

'At the nurse's station, they told me, "Your mother's here,"' Corrado told Action News 4.

Corrado was then shocked to find a mystery woman wearing a wristband with her mom's name on it.

'I ran back and I said, "That's not my mom,"' she explained.

But the staff were insistent that the patient was in fact Corrado's mother, because of the name on her wristband.

'I said, "I don't care what you did, it's not my mom,"' she continued.

Corrado told the outlet that the woman wearing the wristband was potentially suffering from dementia, and was confused by the situation. Corrado, also stressed, was left in a state of panic looking for her mother.

On Friday, Rae Corrado waited hours for her mother, Gloria Corrado, at UPMC Mercy Rehab only to find a mystery woman wearing a wristband with her mom's name on it

'I was velcroed to a stretcher. I couldn't move. I could hardly move my feet, let alone my body, for hours. And I kept thinking, "This can't be legal,"' Gloria said through tears. 'I don't know how you lose a patient for hours'

'At the nurse's station, they told me, "Your mother's here." And I ran back and I said, "That's not my mom,"' Corrado said

She contacted hospital staff at UPMC Presbyterian after praying in the chapel and was told Gloria was still awaiting her transfer at 7pm.

Gloria didn't arrive to the hospital for another four hours.

'They wheel my mother in, and she says, "I've been looking for you, were you lost?" And I'm like, "No mom, you were lost. I've been looking for you,"' Corrado said.

Gloria then told the harrowing recollection of waiting for her transfer to the outlet.

'I was velcroed to a stretcher. I couldn't move. I could hardly move my feet, let alone my body, for hours. And I kept thinking, "This can't be legal,"' she said through tears.

'I don't know how you lose a patient for hours,' Gloria added, recalling she was told that there had been multiple accidents accounting for the confusion and wait time.

Now, Corrado is worried about the mystery woman who had been given her mother's name and in her hospital bed.

'I'm done with UPMC,' Gloria said.

UPMC did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
READ MORE: Plans for bigger version of retired cable car divides locals

Other locals have accused them of overreacting

A proposed $77million upgrade of Taronga Zoo has sparked controversy among neighbouring residents on Sydney's ritzy lower North Shore.

The world-famous zoo has unveiled plans for a new cable car following the closure of its original Sky Safari in February 2023.

First launched in 1987 and last upgraded 25 years ago in 2000, the iconic Sky Safari transported more than 20million passengers during its lifetime, including locals, tourists, celebrities, and even royalty.

The zoo is now planning to remodel what it describes as an 'ageing asset' that has 'reached the end of its workable life' with modern features.

The gondolas will transport guests on an extended route and offer improved access to the zoo for visitors of all ages and abilities.

The larger cars would fit 10 people each, compared with the previous system's six, and have flip-back seats to allow larger wheelchairs and prams.

However, the plans have drawn criticism from some community groups and residents.

The Headland Preservation Group (HPG) argues the visual impact of the Sky Safari will be 'enormous' at its proposed height of 36.5metres and there is concern over excessive lighting from the gondolas.

The proposed design for the $77millon cable car upgrade at Taronga Zoo is pictured

An artists impression of the improved queuing capacity at the new cable car stations

An artists impression (right) shows the proposed 36.5metre cable car above Taronga Zoo

The group is also against the removal of 13 trees to make way for the new cable cars.

While Taronga Zoo has committed to planting new trees, the HPG argues that the mature trees slated for removal are irreplaceable.

The community group said they plan to meet with representatives from Taronga Zoo to voice their concerns over the proposal.

The HPG is also encouraging residents to write to their state MP and the Mosman Council to urge them to oppose the project.

However, not all locals share the group's concerns.

Some residents have spoken in support of the $77million redevelopment, accusing the community group of overreacting.

'View from the top would be great. Looking forward to it. Stop NIMBYing everything. We have a world-class zoo only getting better,' one person wrote online.

'The care they've taken in their landscape architecture and preserving biodiversity gives them a track history of excellence. Push forward please.'

The iconic Sky Safari was closed in November 2023 and was last upgraded in 2000 (pictured)

Others said that the negative attention had actually encouraged them to support the project more actively.

'Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I have made a submission in full support of the proposal  what a wonderful addition to our city,' wrote another.

'I take particular issue with your point around traffic  given the entire point of the skyway is to move people out of cars and onto ferries.

'Talk about grasping at straws.'

Mosman Council has also weighed in, submitting its response supporting the project.

In the submission, the council noted that the previous Sky Safari and the waiting area had not been compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

The council also highlighted capacity issues, stating that the previous system failed to meet demand during peak visiting hours, causing long queues.

The proposal remains under review by planning authorities, with the timeline for public submissions to close on June 10.

Taronga Zoo says the new cable car is expected to open in 2027 or 2028.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mosman Council for comment.
Renters in Tasmania will no longer need to pay to get their carpets professionally cleaned when vacating a rental following a court battle over a 'small yellow stain'.

A 'blanket' clause requiring tenants to get their carpets cleaned at the end of a lease was previously commonplace in contracts for rentals in Tasmania.

It had not been legally tested but was protected by the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT) until a court dispute saw the clause recently overruled.

The Residential Tenancy Commission (RTC) ruled carpets would only have to be professionally cleaned at the expense of the exiting tenant if they were found to be in a worse condition than they were at the start of the lease.

The ruling came after the Tenants Union of Tasmania (TUT) represented a renter from Burnie, on the island's north coast, after part of their bond was withheld in order to pay for all the carpets in their rental to be professionally cleaned.

It came after their landlord found a 'small yellow stain' on the bedroom carpet.

The stain had not been recorded in the condition report and no other photos were supplied of any damage to the other carpets in the home.

The RTC found the tenant was only responsible for the cost of cleaning the single stain and awarded their landlord $25 for cleaning.

Millions of Aussie renters will no longer be required to get their carpets professionally cleaned at the end of their lease (stock)

A clause requiring tenants to have their carpets professionally cleaned at the end of the lease was previously commonplace in contracts for rentals in Tasmania

'I will award an amount I consider reasonable given the stain in question is very small, even when photographed close up,' the ruling stated.

'The owner is awarded $25 for carpet cleaning.'

The RTC went even further, declaring tenants will no longer have to pay for professional carpet cleaning at the end of a residential tenancy.

'A tenant is not responsible for carpet cleaning performed as a matter of general practice as opposed to any real need or genuine failure of the tenant, in accordance with their obligations,' the commission ruled.

Tenants Union senior solicitor Andrew Smith told the ABC the ruling made the 'blanket clause' requiring carpets to be professionally cleaned 'invalid'.

'A tenant has the right not to do it, if they've left it in the same condition as when they moved in and there's proof of that,' he said.

'So as always, tenants should take their own photos when moving in and carefully make any notes in any condition reports they (are) provided.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania for comment.
A North Carolina mother has been accused of choking a superintendent after being called to a meeting over concerns about her daughter's fighting.

Mariah Hector, 33, was arrested and charged with trespassing and two counts of assault on a school employee after she allegedly became aggressive with three staff members at Randolph Middle School on May 5.

Hector had been called to the school after her daughter had allegedly been involved in a fight, but Hector became 'argumentative.'

School staff member Michael Smalls had told Hector she needed to leave the premises before she allegedly pushed past Smalls and slammed the school's principal, Jennifer Schroeder, into the wall.

Hector then 'grabbed Area Superintendent Jennifer Dean with both hands around her neck and attempted to choke her.'

According to the arrest affidavit, Hector was pulled off of Dean by other staff members but not before being left with 'visible signs of injury around her neck.'

Dean, while having remained conscious, had reportedly experienced a difficult time breathing.

Hector was arrested before she was released on a $5,000 bond, according to online records.

Mariah Hector, 33, was arrested and charged with trespassing and two counts of assault on a school employee after she became aggressive with three staff members at Randolph Middle School on May 5

Hector 'grabbed Area Superintendent Jennifer Dean with both hands around her neck and attempted to choke her'

Yet, Hector said that her angry outburst was far from the full story.

She told WSOC-TV that her daughter had been bullied by other students several times since September.

'I was angry because I have been trying to prevent this from happening all year,' Hector said.

'My daughter was jumped and her hair was pulled out of her scalp, it was by a number of girls and a boy and also they threw a trash can on her.'

'I came to speak to the administration [and] I felt like they just brushed it off and didn't take it serious.'

Before Hector's alleged outburst, a no contact order between her daughter and a group of students was issued as well as a change in her class schedule.

But despite the efforts, her daughter was again allegedly attacked on the day of Hector's arrest.

'I felt like nothing was gonna happen, like it was just basically catty, you know, teenage behavior,' Hector said.

The same day of Hector's alleged attack, 20-year-old Trinity Nixon appeared at the school and was charged with second-degree trespassing after yelling and cursing on school grounds

The alleged physical and verbal attacks were only weeks before Principal Jennifer Schroeder was suspended with pay

The school was placed on lockdown during the incident, WBTV reported.

Later that same day, 20-year-old Trinity Nixon appeared at the school and was charged with second-degree trespassing.

Nixon had allegedly entered the school, after employees informed her not to, and began yelling and cursing.

The alleged physical and verbal attacks were only weeks before Principal Schroeder was suspended with pay.

In a message to parents, Dean said that Schroeder was 'away from campus' during end-of-year testing, WCNC reported.

It remains unclear why Schroeder was suspended with effect on May 20.

Dean said in the message to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school community: 'At Randolph Middle School, we remain focus and committed to our shared goals and students.

'We have strong systems and dedicated people in place to ensure continuity and support for our staff, students, and families.'

Randolph Middle School did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Three young sisters found dead at a Washington campsite are believed to have been suffocated to death by their father.

Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, vanished after a three-hour visit with their father Travis Decker, sparking a days-long manhunt before their bodies were located on Monday. Decker is still at-large.

Police had swarmed around Rock Island Campground in Leavenworth, blocking traffic and sending drivers in the other direction after they found the father's truck at around 3.45pm on Monday.

The bodies were found just about 75 to 100 yards from the truck, and each girl had a plastic bag over her head with zip ties around their wrists, the Seattle Times reports.

The tailgate of Decker's vehicle also had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console.

The campground also showed signs of recent activity, with a tent and a cooler located a short distance away, but Decker was nowhere to be found, Fox 13 reports.

A report filed with the Chelan County Superior Court indicates the girls' likely cause of death was asphyxiation, according to Fox 13.

Decker, 32, is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, and police say the veteran could 'pose a significant risk if approached' as he has extensive combat training. It is unclear if he is armed.

Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia Decker, five, were found dead on Monday after police swarmed around Rock Island Campground

Their father, Travis Decker - who they were last seen with - is at large as police continue their hunt

Authorities found Decker's truck around 3:45pm near Rock Island Campground off Icicle Road. While searching the area, the girls' bodies were found, but Decker was nowhere to be seen.

He does not have permanent housing and is known to stay at hotels and campgrounds, police said.

His ex-wife, the girls' mother, had been particularly worried because he has 'really struggled since he left the military.'

'His mental health can be hard sometimes,' the girls' mother, Whitney, told KIRO 7.

She also told law enforcement officials that Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which she believes he did not take medication for, according to court documents.

The father-of-three was supposed to seek mental health treatments and anger management counseling as part of a parenting plan, but there has been no sign he has followed through with the plan - which he refused to sign, the court documents say.

Still, Whitney told police she did not believe he ex was dangerous and said he loved his daughters.

She said the girls had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never failed to return the girls before, according to a police affidavit.

But she said when Decker went to pick up the girls for a scheduled three-hour visit on Friday, he was said to be 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him.

He had also allegedly been talking about getting rid of his dog due to housing and financial struggles.

Decker is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping

Authorities found Decker's truck around 3:45pm near Rock Island Campground. While searching the area, the girls' bodies were found

When Decker failed to return with the girls that night, Whitney reported them missing.

Calls to schedule the girls' return went straight to voicemail, she said.

The Washington State Patrol was also contacted about issuing an AMBER Alert, but none was given as it did not meet criteria, Wenatchee Police Department said.

The Endangered and Missing Persons Alert (EMPA) was issued on Saturday after 'additional information' was provided, the police department said.

There were apparently signs that Decker was struggling to care for his three girls.

In a September declaration filed during divorce proceedings, his ex-wife wrote that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' since they were were separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.

She said that at times he would have the girls sleep at the armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times.

The girls were last seen alive at their mother's house, where Decker picked them up for a scheduled three-hour visit. His ex-wife had been particularly worried because he has 'really struggled since he left the military.' 'His mental health can be hard sometimes,' she said

The girls' mother, Whitney, reported the girls missing at 9:45pm on Friday and police began working to determine where the father and the children were

She also said Decker was prone to 'outbursts' and would come in to her house yelling for the girls, whom he would sometimes fail to pick up after promising to do so.

In one instance, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her crying during a visit with Decker and saying she could not find her father - before Evelyn came home with welts between her legs.

'I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship.

'But I cannot have our girls staying in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with dozens of strange men or staying in a tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperatures and unknown areas for their safety.'

The girls' maternal grandmother similarly wrote that Decker would drop off the girls at inconsistent times and they would sometimes be upset or crying when they returned home.

'They are all happy, smart, well-adjusted girls with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she wrote, according to the Seattle Times.

Law enforcement is asking the public for help to find the father-of-three, but advised locals not to approach him

On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail.

Yet law enforcement is still searching for Decker and asked the public for help - though officials advised locals not to approach him.

Decker is described as 5'8" and 190 pounds, with black hair worn in a ponytail and brown eyes.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe for the mother-of-three raised over $251,000 by Tuesday night.

'These girls were true light in this world and and it is a darker place without them. I will miss seeing their sweet little faces,' the fundraiser read.

'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and support. Take some time to today to tell someone you love them.'
Teal Nicolette Boele has won the recount for the Sydney seat of Bradfield by just 27 votes.

The battle for the seat on Sydney's north shore has been a rollercoaster ride with Boele at one stage looking like she had claimed it before Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian then pulled ahead.

A recount was ordered with Boele beginning the painstaking process of checking the 112,000-odd ballots eight votes behind.

But she has now pulled ahead by 27, with Sky News chief election analyst Tom Connell calling the seat for the Climate200-backed independent.

Sussan Ley had named Kapterian as Shadow Minister for Technology and the Digital Economy in the recently-unveiled shadow cabinet.

But the Opposition Leader will need to find a replacement if Boele is officially declared the winner in the wealthy electorate stretching from North Turramurra and Wahroonga to Northbridge.

The ultra-tight battle is one of the closest in more than 100 years.

In 1919, the race for the seat of Ballarat was decided by just one vote, prompting a legal challenge and a subsequent by-election.

Teal Nicolette Boele (right) has reportedly won the recount for the Sydney seat of Bradfield by just 27 votes

The battle for the seat in Sydney's north has been a rollercoaster ride with Boele at one stage looking like she had claimed it before Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian (pictured) then pulled ahead

It is understood that the Liberal Party are mulling over a similar legal challenge given the razor-thin margin of victory.

It is the second attempt Boele has made for the seat, after running in 2022 and then styling herself as the Shadow Member for Bradfield over the last three years.

Kapterian stood for the Liberal Party after long-standing Liberal MP Paul Fletcher announced his retirement.

Neither candidates are yet to comment, as of 12.30pm on Wednesday.

The loss of Bradfield, for the first time since the seat was created in 1949, would leave the Liberal Party with no seats on Sydney's north shore east of the Lane Cove River for the first time ever.

Bradfield was also the seat of former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson.

The federal electorate also overlaps with the state seats of former Liberal premiers Nick Greiner, Barry O'Farrell and Gladys Berejiklian.

Labor is now the only major party with a seat on Sydney's north shore, with Jerome Laxale comfortably retaining Bennelong with 59.3 per cent of the two-party vote.

The Liberal Party kept just five seats in greater Sydney - Mitchell, Berowra, Cook, Lindsay and leadership contender Angus Taylor's redrawn electorate of Hume.

It lost all its wealthy Sydney northern beaches seats at the 2022 election, along with Wentworth in the eastern suburbs.
A haunting detail that emerged during the search for missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop was the discovery of dead dogs at the home of Tanika Bromley and James Wood where she was living.

This week, the truth behind the animals' deaths came to light when Pheobe's housemate James Wood admitted to a friend that the dogs were actually puppies that died of natural causes.

In a text leaked to Daily Mail Australia, a friend bluntly asked him 'Why did the dogs get killed?'

Wood responded: 'They didn't get killed. There was 5 puppies out of a litter of 13 that contracted hookworm and passed before the treatment could work,' he wrote.

Puppies are particularly susceptible to hookworm, a intestinal parasite that affects dogs as well as humans. It's commonly inked to warmer climates and poor sanitation.

Pheobe's neighbour said living next to Mr Wood had become 'horrible' because the property became 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 actually been found at the property during a police search.

One local told Daily Mail Australia that they had been forced to close their windows and doors to block the smell of the rotting dogs as temperatures soared past 28C.

Since Pheobe's disappearance, Wood has been said to be living in a Hyundai ix35 with one of his dogs.

Days after the teenager went missing, he shared a Facebook post which mentioned 'One very lost sad little chonker puppa at home missing [Pheobe] like crazy'.

Mr Wood claims the reported dead dogs found at his home had died from hookworm

Pheobe Bishop's flatmate told a friend the deceased pets were puppies

Questions remain over why Pheobe was living with Wood and Bromley, but final posts she made to social media before she disappeared suggested the troubled teen had fallen out with her mother and would not return home.

Pheobe, 17, was last seen on May 15, leaving the rundown home in Gin Gin.

The pair drove Pheobe the 40 minutes to Bundaberg Airport, where she was supposed to board an 8.30am flight to Brisbane and then onto Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend.

The 17-year-old did not check into her flight and her high school sweetheart was left waiting in vain at Perth Airport as flights arrived without her on board.

New police developments in search for Pheobe

Wood was taken into custody at 11.40am on Wednesday in Bolewski Street, Bundaberg but no charges were immediately laid.

That came shortly after police announced they were calling off the search for Pheobe.

He spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the tense and emotional morning that ended with Pheobe getting out of the car adjacent to the airport - and never being seen again.

The derelict Milden Street home was declared a crime scene, but it has since been closed

Forensics reportedly found the dead animals when they descended on the property

Pheobe has been missing since May 15, but the search for her has been 'scaled back'

The morning Pheobe vanished

Wood claimed that at their home at Gin Gin that morning, Pheobe was stressing about what to pack, what to wear and making the flight on time.

'She wanted to get up at 5am but I said I wasn't waking up that early, it's not that far.

'Then she slept through her alarm and when she got up she was furious.

'She gets like that sometimes and usually we can calm her down but she was escalating and then she smashed the TV,' Wood claimed.

'After that she started shouting about not having anything to wear and she was so worked up about seeing her boyfriend for the first time and she wanted to look good.

'And I get it, she is a teenager and she thinks he may be the love of her life, so I understand.

'I grabbed some grey brand new trackies I had and I threw them to her and said wear these and first she said she didn't want to take them as they were mine but then she said "OK" and put them on.'

James Wood - the flatmate of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has revealed explosive new details about the her car ride to the airport on the day she disappeared

James Wood has been living out of his car after Pheobe went missing

Wood claimed emotional outbursts were not unusual for the 17-year-old, but they had become more frequent in the weeks leading up to her trip.

'She does have a temper but she is not a bad kid, she is actually a great kid, she is kind and smart and has good manners but she was living with us because she couldn't live at home anymore,' he said.

'There were too many fights, too much had gone on and she is just a kid.

'If I had a little sister and all she had was her car to live in then I would want someone to help her.

'I had known her for almost a year when she moved in with us four months ago and Tanika worked with her as a carer so they knew each other well.'

The car ride to the airport

Despite the tardy start to the morning of her planned departure, Wood said there was still plenty of time to make her flight from Bundaberg, which was around 10am.

He quickly ran to the local IGA to grab energy drinks and returned to the house around 8am.

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, with Bromley driving and Pheobe in the back seat.

Minutes later, about 8.30am, before theyd left Gin Gin for Bundaberg, Pheobe called her boyfriend to let him know she was on the way.

Daily Mail Australia previously reported the boyfriend claimed he heard shouting during the call.

The boyfriend later told a friend: 'They were both yelling at her and I couldn't really hear her.'

Wood doesn't dispute the claim and said that Phoebe was still complaining she didn't have time to do her make up and was worried she was going to miss the flight.

'We just wanted to get her checked in and thought if we can just get there she will calm down.

'Tanika grabbed her makeup bag next to her and passed it back and told her to take anything she needed.

'Her plane was stopping in Brisbane and we told her that the airport had everything she needed and she can take her time and do the makeup in the toilets.

'But she wanted to look nice for the flight first and wouldn't let it go.'

The last time Pheobe was seen

Wood said he told Tanika Bromley (pictured) to pull over so they could give Pheobe some space to cool off. After stepping away for a few minutes, he claimed he returned to find her and her large duffle bag gone

By the time they reached airport drive, less then 1km from their destination Wood says the arguing hadnt subsided so he told Bromley to pull over into a layby

As they approached Airport Drive, less than a kilometre from the terminal, the argument continued, Wood said.

Wood told Bromley to pull the car over and they got out and walked a distance away to give Pheobe some space to collect herself.

'We wanted to give her five minutes - give her her own space to do what she needed to do,' he said.

'We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that's about how long we were gone.'

Wood said when he returned to the car, Pheobe and her bag were gone.

He assumed that she had walked the short remaining distance to the terminal. The couple then drove toward the airport to check, he said, but they didnt see her along the way.

'You wouldn't miss her carrying that thing, if you drove past her and saw her, you'd notice,' he said.

Wood claims the pair then waited outside the small terminal for some time but did not go inside.

'I said to Tanika if I go in it will just escalate things again but she said if she went in it would look like we were parenting her.'

They then decided to check surrounding roads in case she had walked off in another direction.

'We drove around and as far as we thought she could have made it and then drove a bit further in case.'

Wood claimed this would have been the moment when CCTV footage picked up his car heading towards the Good Night Scrub National Park.

Wood insisted that he did not hurt Pheobe and assumed she had boarded the flight.

He said it was not until the following afternoon when he received a text message from Pheobe's sister that he realised she was missing.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Wood was involved in Pheobes disappearance, and likewise does not suggest Ms Bromley played any role in Pheobe going missing.
A veteran ABC cameraman has been charged with over 40 child abuse and assault charges for alleged offences spanning over three decades.

South Australian man Trevor James Scroop was arrested and remanded in custody in March 2023.

The 65-year-old allegedly abused multiple children over a 34-year period between 1989 and 2023, The Advertiser reports.

He was still employed at the ABC when his alleged offending began. He's understood to have ceased working for the broadcaster in 2011.

A suppression order detailing the alleged offending and his identity was revoked in a District Court on Wednesday following a request from prosecutors.

Scroop, from Hillcrest in Adelaide's north, has pleaded not guilty.

The court previously heard Scroop had access to Indigenous children in the Northern Territory as a result of an 'arrangement' with the Department for Child Protection.

During a 2023 court hearing, prosecutor Leah O'Donnell revealed that Scroop had an arrangement with South Australia's Department for Child Protection (DCP) to house young Aboriginal boys who had travelled to Adelaide to attend school.

ABC cameraman Trevor James Scroop (pictured) has been behind bars since March last year

Scroop (pictured) also had a stint with the Department for Child Protection

'It was formal in the sense that DCP had been involved,' she told the court.

'There are records that support a number of these children being in the care of the respondent and his wife.

'I don't know if all of the arrangements were formal, some may have been informal.'

Scroop has been charged with 12 counts of sexual abuse of a child, eight counts of indecent assault, three counts of aggravated indecent assault, one count of gross indecency, six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, four counts of assault and two counts of aggravated assault.

He is further charged with one count of attempted aggravated inciting or procuring a child to commit an indecent act, one count of aggravated inciting or procuring a child to commit an indecent act, one count of aggravated compelled sexual manipulation, one count of aggravated procuring a child for sexual activity, one count of attempted indecent assault, and three counts of possessing child exploitation material.

The 65-year-old was granted bail in October 2023, but was taken back into custody the following March, where he has remained ever since.

A date for a trial is yet to be set, with prosecutors considering applying for the trial to be heard in a multiple interstate locations.

South Australian Police Commission Grant Stevens described the charges as 'vile'.

Scroop (pictured) allegedly abused multiple children over a 34-year period

'This is a very troubling investigation which has had a devastating impact on a particular community in the Northern Territory,' he said.

The matter will return to court in August.
She wants better airline policies on handling mobility aids

A disability advocate has slammed Qantas for damaging her wheelchair for the third time while flying with the airline.

Melbourne woman Zoe Simmons lives with fibromyalgia - a chronic pain condition characterised by widespread muscle pain and tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive dysfunction.

Some individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia use mobility aids, such as a wheelchair, to help manage their symptoms like pain and balance issues.

Ms Simmons had booked a round-trip from Australia to Japan and flew with Qantas from Melbourne to Tokyo along with her wheelchair.

However, when she returned home and was handed back her wheelchair, she noticed it had sustained substantial damage.

She noticed parts were broken, some of the metal warped and there were scratches that impacted its usability and safety.

Ms Simmons noted it was the third time her wheelchair had been damaged, with a more severe incident occurring in 2024 and 2021 - both while travelling with Qantas.

Qantas did arrange for Ms Simmons' wheelchair to be repaired through a partnered repair service following her recent trip.

Zoe Simmons (pictured), who suffers from fibromyalgia, has slammed Qantas after her wheelchair was damaged for a third time while travelling on a round-trip to Japan

Ms Simmons said it was unfair for disabled passengers to accept they have to repair their mobility aids themselves if damaged by the airline.

'I just hate that it's so common, like what are they doing to our wheelchairs that causes metal to warp and break,' she told Yahoo.

'Last time I flew with them, they broke my wheelchair controller off. And it was just laughed off! I didn't have the energy to fight for such a small thing then.'

Ms Simmons added she had to explain the damage to her wheelchair to several of the airport staff who she said responded with 'dismissive sympathy'.

When speaking to a manager, Ms Simmons said people with disabilities always had to advocate for themselves.

The manager denied the claim that the burden fell on people with disabilities, claiming there were procedures and policies in place to help them.

Ms Simmons criticised airlines on how mobility aids are treated, saying carriers need to stop treating chairs as baggage and start handling them as valuable items.

She has called for airlines to implement better staff training, stronger policies and public reporting on wheelchair damage during travel.

Ms Zimmons has called for Australian airlines to have stronger policies and better staff training for handling mobility aids on flights and for ones that have been damaged during travel

From December 2018, airlines in the United States were required to report any damage sustained to wheelchairs and scooters during travel.

Monthly reports consistently show between 25 and 30 wheelchairs are damaged during domestic travel every day in the US.

Ms Simmons said airlines in Australia lack transparency and do not record or report incidents where mobility aids are damaged.

Qantas reached out to Ms Simmons and advised her that their designated repairer did not service her type of wheelchair.

Ms Simmons then provided them with the details of a repairer who could fix it.

'I am not that angry about my chair. What I'm angry about is that this is what we are expected to put up with  and much, much worse  every time we fly,' Ms Simmons said.

In a statement, Qantas said the airline 'sincerely apologised' for Ms Simmons' ordeal.

'We know how critically important mobility aids are, and we are investigating how this damage occurred,' the airline said.

'We are working closely with Ms Simmons to ensure the repairs are facilitated as soon as possible.'
An eight-year-old boy has died five weeks after suffering devastating injuries when a car plowed into a building used as an after-school camp.

Bradley Lund died on Monday morning after being struck by a car which veered into the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, Illinois, on April 28.

Lund had been in intensive care since the horrific incident which killed four other children, including Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both aged seven, eight-year-old Ainsley Johnson and 18-year-old Rylee Britton.

The second-grader has been remembered for his 'bright smile, contagious laughter, and kind spirit.'

'From the very beginning, Bradley was a gentle, joyful soul - quiet and observant in new places, but endlessly sweet, silly and full of laughter at home and among those he loved most,' his obituary reads.

'His family and friends will always remember his playful spirit, his curiosity and the quiet joy he radiated.

'Bradley's time with us was heartbreakingly short, but his legacy of love, laughter, and creativity will live on forever in the hearts of all who knew him.'

Lund's exact cause of death has not yet been released but he suffered multiple blunt-force injuries from the impact of the crash.

Marianne Akers' Jeep then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and a fence. She was transported to a local hospital but was uninjured and released. She crashed her car into the east side of the facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later

The driver, 44-year-old Marianne Akers, had been driving her black Jeep home from work before the tragic moment it crashed into the building.

Akers' attorney, W. Scott Hanken, said that Akers had left work at 3pm and was travelling westbound when she suffered a seizure 'of some type of degree.'

'It rendered her completely and utterly incapacitated at the time, and as a result of that seizure, she has no recollection of what occurred,' he said.

'No one contemplated this happening. She surely didnt. It was a perfect storm of events that, if she could take back she would, just like anyone else,' Hanken told WICS.

Hanken has said since the incident, Akers has undergone medical testing and been seen by a neurologist to determine the cause of the seizure.

'We have met numerous times with law enforcement,' Hanken told Fox News. 'She has provided them with everything they've needed. She immediately provided them with her phone.'

Hanken added that the Illinois State Police performed a forensic download of her phone. He told the outlet that no clear findings have been made regarding the cause of any seizure.

Akers is also undergoing counselling to cope with the tragedy of the incident, Fox reported.

Akers, 44, was driving a Jeep when the car veered off the road into the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School camp in Chatham, Illinois, on Monday, April 28, around 3:20 pm

Charges are yet to be brought against Akers while the investigation remains ongoing. Police said that an initial toxicology report showed that Akers was not under the influence of any substances

Police said that Akers' car left the road at around 3:20 pm and traveled through a field before crashing into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors.

Akers' Jeep then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and a fence. She was transported to a local hospital but was uninjured and released.

She crashed her car into the east side of the facility with such force that it burst out the other side seconds later.

Five other children were injured in the devastating crash, including seven-year-old Ella Orsi who is still recovering after suffering facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding.

A GoFundMe for Orsi said she is 'an absolute joy to be around' and 'loves to have fun, make jokes, and laugh.'

Three of the victims were hit by the Jeep as they stood outside the building, while a fourth person who died was inside the building, police said.

Six injured children, including Bradley, were rushed to hospital, including one with injuries so severe they had to be airlifted for treatment.

Ella Orsi, 7, was hospitalized after enduring severe injuries. She suffered facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling, and brain bleeding from the crash

The teenage victim, Rylee Britton, was a high school student who helped run the after-school program and was planning on studying English and secondary education at Iowa University.

Her classmates described her as 'super intelligent' and 'unconditionally nice,' adding that she 'always made people laugh.'

Rylee's father, Zachary Britton, told the crowd at a vigil for the teen that seeing the support for his daughter made him smile.

'Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit,' USA Today reported.

Eight-year-old Ainsley Johnson danced at Studio M Dance Centre. Her dance instructor, Mariah Clark, said she always 'brought so much light and joy into my class.'

'Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart,' Clark added.

Kathryn Corley went by the nickname Kit Kat and was described in her obituary as 'brightening the lives of everyone she encountered with her loving nature and unforgettable personality.'

Alma Buhnerkempe was remembered for 'coming into this world exactly how she lived  in a burst of activity.'

'From that point on, she never stopped. She lit up our world with an infectious energy, a goofy sense of humor, and a sense of compassion that was boundless.'

Rylee Britton, 18, was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She was planning on studying English and secondary education at Iowa University

Ainsley Johnson, 8, lost her life in the crash. She was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre. Her dance instructor said she always 'brought so much light and joy into my class'

Illinois Governor JB Prtizker shared a heartfelt message in the aftermath of the tragedy.

'Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time.

'Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them. Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation.'

Devastated locals recalled the moment their neighbors, friends, and loved ones learned of the tragedy and rushed to the scene.

'Watching people you know sprint past your house, not knowing if their children are safe, is a gut-wrenching experience. My heart aches for everyone,' one wrote.

Illinois Senator Doris Turner said she was 'heartbroken' by the tragedy.

'When we drop our kids off in the morning, we should always have the utmost belief that they will come home safely at the end of the day,' she wrote.

'For some families, that belief was shaken today following the tragedy at YNOT in Chatham.

Two girls, both 7, were killed in the crash while attending the after-school program in Illinois

Britton's father told the crowd at a vigil for the teen that seeing the support for his daughter made him smile. 'Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit'

Akers' attorney, W. Scott Hanken, said that Akers had left work at 3pm and was travelling westbound as she suffered a seizure 'of some type of degree.' 'It rendered her completely and utterly incapacitated at the time, and as a result of that seizure, she has no recollection of what occurred,' he said

'I am heartbroken - there truly are no words to explain what the Chatham community is feeling and will feel for days, weeks and months to come. I want to thank the first responders, law enforcement and volunteers.'

Police said that an initial toxicology report showed that Akers was not under the influence of any substances.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said following the crash that there was 'no evidence that would indicate that this was something intended as some type of mass violence, or a terrorist attack,' CBS News reported.

It was confirmed that Akers was the only one in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Akers is a former employee of the Illinois State Police and the local high school, the outlet reported. She now works as an office assistant at the Illinois Department of Transportation.

State police said Akers has been cooperative in the investigation.

Kelly added that the data recorder from the vehicle is being used in the investigation.

'It is a lot, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to tell you everything,' Kelly said last month.

'It's not a magic tool that will solve every crime, but it is circumstantial evidence that, along with other things, can be considered.'
A father-daughter hike up Maine's tallest mountain ended in tragedy when the father was found dead on Tuesday.

Tim Keiderling, 58, and Esther Keiderling, 28, of Ulster Park, New York, set off Sunday morning to hike Mount Katahdin - with Esther writing on her personal Substack that they had planed to start their voyage to the summit between 6am and 7am, WMTW reports.

'I'm a little nervous after everything I've read about the Abol trail, but I'm going to do it if weather permits!' she wrote of the trail which Baxter State Park describes as a 'very strenuous climb.'

'If you don't see me back on Substack notes again, that's where I am,' wrote Esther, whose bio says she is a customer service representative for Rifton Equipment - a New York-based company that makes adaptive medical equipment.

The father-and-daughter team were last seen at around 10.15am in the Trailheads region of the mountain, but their family became concerned when they still had not heard from them Sunday night, Bangor Daily News reports.

Family members noted that they were both experienced hikers, and had previously hiked the Adirondacks.

Park Rangers then started searching for the duo on Monday, when they found Tim and Esther's car parked in a lot for daily use.

Search efforts then widened on Tuesday, leading to a K9 team discovering Tim's body near the summit at around 2.45pm, park rangers announced on social media.

Tim Keiderling, 58, and Esther Keiderling, 28, of Ulster Park, New York, went missing on Sunday after they went hiking on Mount Katahdan in Maine

The mountain is Maine's highest peak, and Baxter State Park describes its trails as a 'very strenuous climb'

'We know that many of our social media followers share in our deep sadness for the family and friends of Tim Keiderling and appreciate your support as teams continue the search for Esther,' park rangers wrote.

Tim is now being remembered on social media as a loving father and grandfather, who shared great stories and taught others how to be beekeeper.

'No one has a brother like mine,' his brother Joe said in a statement to Maine's Total Coverage.

'Tim lived exuberantly. He loved life, loved people, loved God. He was a storyteller like no one I've known with a rich sense of humor.

'He left us far too soon,' Joe continued. 'My heart is broken for his wife and children.'

He further told Bangor Daily News that Tim 'was a father, brother, husband [and] grandfather who loved life, loved people, loved God.'

'Our family is so grateful to the park rangers, state police, all the interagency first responders who searched for my brother,' Joe continued.

'They have our prayers as they continue to search for Esther.'

Family members said Tim and Esther were experienced hikers, who previously climbed the Adirondacks

A tribute on social media from Bruderhof Communities, a communal Anabaptist Christian movement, also said Tim 'loved Jesus and is now in eternity with Him.

'We continue to pray for Esther and hope she is found soon,' it added.

One person who commented on the post said Tim and his wife, Annemarie, were her teachers, and their other daughter, Katherine, was her best friend.

'I have many great memories with them,' she wrote.

'Back when Tim was the community bee keeper at Woodcrest - I got to put on the beekeeper suite myself and work alongside him; it was one of the greatest honors.

I'm so sorry and praying for their family and the community. He was a great person, father and teacher.'

Search efforts are now continuing for Esther, with more than 30 wardens, along with tracking dogs and helicopters from Maine Forest Service and Maine Army National Guard assisting in the effort.
German sinologist amazed by splendid Dunhuang culture

Xinhua) 16:21, June 04, 2025

LANZHOU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Known for his deep engagement with Chinese literature, German sinologist Martin Woesler recently made his first visit to the ancient Silk Road hub of Dunhuang in northwest China's Gansu Province, where he was captivated by the city's unique cultural charm.

Starting from Hunan Normal University in central China, where he currently teaches, Woesler traveled northwest to attend the fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations, held in Dunhuang from May 29 to 31. During his brief stay in Gansu, he joined scholars from Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Thailand and other countries in sharing insights regarding the theme of cross-cultural dialogue.

Before going to Dunhuang, Woesler had done his homework. From books, he gathered vivid impressions of Dunhuang -- an oasis city encircled by desert, a treasure trove of art and heritage, and a cultural crossroads shaped by centuries of Silk Road exchanges.

However, when the words and images contained in the books were confirmed by his own eyes, Woesler found himself deeply moved. A lifelong enthusiast of Chinese culture and literature, he has lived, worked and studied in China for over 30 years, and yet despite his lengthy stay in the country, Dunhuang ended up providing him with a cultural experience unlike any other.

During his short trip, Woesler visited several of the city's most iconic sites he had long looked forward to seeing for himself. Standing in front of the Mogao Grottoes for the first time, he was profoundly impressed by an unexpected sense of cultural connection -- one that bridged both time and geography.

In Cave 285, often referred to as a "pantheon of diverse cultures," the frescoes feature an extraordinary blend of figures -- Apollo and Diana from Greek mythology, Fuxi and Nuwa from Chinese legends, flying apsaras from Indian Buddhism and feathered immortals from Daoism.

It is the fusion of civilizations that gave rise to the magnificent, millennia-old cultural miracle embodied in Dunhuang, where diverse traditions coexist harmoniously within the confines of a single cave, noted Woesler.

"Dunhuang is truly an amazing place. Few places have such deep cultural influence in the world," said Woesler, who believes that even today, across thousands of years, people from different countries can still draw wisdom and strength from Dunhuang's spirit of inclusiveness and mutual learning.

Woesler's connection with China began 38 years ago at a poetry reading in his hometown of Munster, in Germany, where he was captivated by a Chinese poem. That moment sparked his interest in Chinese culture and eventually led him to study at Peking University in Beijing, thus embarking on a lifelong journey into Chinese literature.

For decades, Woesler has worked to bridge the gap between cultures. His career has frequently taken him between Germany and China, and he remains committed to helping the world better understand Chinese literature and culture.

Woesler sees translation as a key tool for fostering cultural exchange. While many foreign works are available in Chinese, far fewer Chinese literary works have been translated into German. To address this shortage, Woesler launched a translation workshop to engage young German sinologists and promote Chinese literature abroad.

His journey to Dunhuang has now sparked new reflections on cultural dialogue in the digital age. Woesler believes that modern technologies like digital preservation and virtual exhibitions can make ancient heritage more accessible, offering fresh ways to deepen mutual understanding between civilizations.

"People today must embrace differences with greater openness to advance civilizational exchange and dialogue amid digital-era challenges. Only by working together can we realize mutual benefit and win-win progress," said Woesler.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Chinese researcher accused of plotting with her boyfriend to smuggle a weapon of 'agroterrorism' into the United States may have successfully hidden pathogens in her shoe on a previous trip.

University of Michigan postdoctoral fellow Yunqing Jian, 33, has been charged alongside Zunyong Liu, 34, for the sinister plot allegedly tied to the Chinese Communist Party.

Liu arrived in the United States from China in July 2024 carrying four small baggies of Fusarium graminearum - a product responsible for causing billions of dollars worth of damage to livestock, wheat, barley, maize and rice globally each year.

FBI boss Kash Patel issued a chilling warning after the first pictures emerged of Jian on Tuesday evening.

'This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP[Chinese Communist Party] is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply,' he said.

If successful, the plot 'would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.'

The duo have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud.

In a horrifying twist, the criminal complaint reveals that Jian may have been successful in smuggling pathogens into the United States years earlier.

University of Michigan postdoctoral fellow Yunqing Jian (pictured), 33, has been charged alongside Zunyong Liu, 34, for the sinister plot

A pair of Chinese researchers have been charged in Michigan for allegedly smuggling a biological pathogen (pictured) into the US to study at the University of Michigan

The research student, who reportedly had pledged her loyalty to the CCP, had indicated in messages to Liu that she previously carried a pathogen her shoe on a trip to America in 2022.

'Electronic evidence also shows that Jian has been involved in smuggling packages of biological material into the United States on prior occasions,' the complaint stated.

Separately, messages revealed she had arranged for another associate from China to mail her a book with a plastic baggie of the substance hidden inside in early 2024.

The horrifying revelations raise questions about what Jian and Liu were hoping to achieve with the pathogen.

The complaint also revealed that Jian had received funding from the Chinese government to conduct similar work on the same pathogen while she lived in China.

Her boyfriend is employed at a Chinese university where he also studies Fusarium graminearum.

The pair had 'discussed the shipping of biological materials and research being done in the laboratory' before he arrived in the United States.

Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock if consumed.

'The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party, are of the gravest national security concerns,' US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said.

In July 2024, Liu was turned away at the Detroit airport and sent back to China after changing his story during an interrogation about the red plant material discovered in his backpack, per the FBI.

Messages revealed she had arranged for another associate from China to mail her a book with a plastic baggie of a substance hidden inside in early 2024

He initially claimed he knew nothing about the samples but later admitted he was planning to use the material for research at the lab, the complaint detailed.

The FBI said authorities found a scientific article on Liu's phone that was titled, 'Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions.'

A week before he arrived in the US, Liu exchanged messages with his partner, who said: 'Its a pity that I still have to work for you,' according to investigators.

FBI agents visited Jian at the campus lab in February, as she told them: '100% no,' when asked if she had been assisting Liu with the pathogen at the lab.

But her text messages suggested she was in fact studying the product prior to her boyfriend's arrival in the country.

The agency said it found a signed statement on her phone expressing her support for the Communist Party of China.

The university does not have federal permits to handle Fusarium graminearum.

In a statement, the University of Michigan said it did not receive 'funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals.'

'We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission.'

Liu attempted to smuggle the pathogen through Detroit airport so he could study it at the University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Jian, worked, the complaint said

Gorgon Jr. described the allegations against the 'two aliens' as the 'gravest national security concerns.'

Jian appeared in court Tuesday and was returned to jail to await a bond hearing set for Thursday.

An attorney who was assigned only for her initial appearance declined to comment, the Associated Press reported.

The US does not have an extradition treaty with China, meaning Liu's arrest is unlikely unless he returns.

The charges come as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on international students on US campuses, vowing last week to begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students, including those studying in 'critical fields.'

China is the second-largest country of origin for international students in the United States, behind only India. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 270,000 international students were from China, making up roughly a quarter of all foreign students in the United States.

'Under President Trump's leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
An Australian man could spend the rest of his life in jail after he was allegedly caught smuggling 104g of marijuana into Bali.

The 40-year-old was arrested in Denpasar last Thursday after a tip-off from an Indian national who was allegedly found with 600g of marijuana at Bali's international airport.

Police allegedly found the drugs as they raided his room while a Kazakhstan and US national were also arrested.

In Indonesia, Marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic which is the same category as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA.

If the Aussie man is charged and convicted with drug trafficking he could be sent to jail for life and if he's charged with possession, he could face 12 years in prison.

The police haven't yet named the Aussie but he was the second Australian to be arrested in Bali for alleged drug possession within a week.

On May 22, Lamar Ahchee was arrested in Canggu for allegedly trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine, worth $1.1million, into Indonesia.

Police alleged the Cairns man, who is the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, picked up two parcels with cocaine concealed in chocolate boxes.

An Aussie man was arrested in Denpasar after he was allegedly caught smuggling marijuana into Bali

The Australian could be sent to jail for life if he's charged and convicted with drug trafficking

In Indonesia marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic, like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA.

He was allegedly offered 50m Indonesian rupiah, the equivalent of $A4,700, from a unknown person in England known only as 'Boss', to collect and supply the drugs.

Ahchee admitted he was a drug addict but rejected being a dealer and claimed he was 'framed'.

Ahchee allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody.

His lawyer Edward Pangkahila said Ahchee denied any involvement in drug trafficking.

'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside. We're still looking for that somebody who tell him to take this package,' Pangkahila said.

'The police have to find this guy.'

He has not been charged but has been in custody since he was arrested and if he's found guilty, he could get the death penalty.

Police will host a press conference regarding the most recent arrest on Thursday, July 5.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was contacted for comment.
The 'crazy plane lady' who went viral for her meltdown on an American Airlines flight has launched a new career move nearly two years after her infamous plane rant.

Tiffany Gomas, 40, went viral for screaming 'that motherf***er back there is not real' before being escorted off the flight from Fort Worth to Orlando, Florida, in July 2023.

She previously explained the background to the incident and said she became embroiled in a 'little bit of an altercation' with another passenger and 'it spiraled out of control.'

On Tuesday, Gomas announced on X that she is relaunching her Passes account - a platform where creators can build a community and directly connect with their fans, offering them things like live streams, one-on-one messaging, and exclusive podcasts.

'I told y'all that mf wasn't real but this is,' she said. 'Come chat with me here and I'll answer all your questions!!'

She offers three tiers of memberships and customers can purchase the 'Passport to Tiff' for $9.99 per month, the 'Private Flight' for $20 and 'First Class' for $69.99.

Her profile description states, '[Behind the scenes] of my chaos: work, workouts, pups, sports, shoes, & fits. Thanks for flying with me.'

In her viral moment, Gomas was flying to join her family on a vacation when she lost it on the flight due to an 'altercation,' which she described as 'the worst moment' of her entire life.

'Crazy plane lady' Tiffany Gomas who when viral for her meltdown nearly two years ago launched a Passes account

Gomas, 40, went viral for screaming 'that motherf***er back there is not real' before being escorted off the flight from Fort Worth to Orlando, Florida , in July 2023

Gomas was filmed pointing to the back of the cabin and shouting: 'I'm getting the f*** off and there's a reason why I'm getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it.

'I don't give two f***s, but I am telling you right now  that motherf***er back there is not real,' she continued.

'You can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I'm not going to.'

But in a later interview with Inside Edition, she revealed that when she said the other passenger was 'not real' - she meant it as a figure of speech, meaning 'he's not being real'.

'It was not my best moment  it was actually a horrible moment. Absolutely mortifying. How horribly mortifying,' she told the Pardon My Take podcast.

Explaining her unwillingness to talk about the issue previously she said: 'The reason I probably haven't come out yet is that it's so cringe.'

When asked why she uttered the now-infamous words, which viewers took to suggest she had seen a ghost or an alien, she said, simply: 'I literally did not see anything  It was an expression of speech.'

Instead the comment was aimed at the man with whom she was arguing with.

She previously explained the background to the incident and said she became embroiled in a 'little bit of an altercation' with another passenger

In December, she posted wearing the same outfit from the the plane meltdown and joked about an impending alien invasion.

Gomas posted on X, 'Sooo, who's ready for the alien invasion that's supposed to go down today?'

She then changed back into the same ripped jeans and black tank top that she wore aboard the infamous United Airlines flight and posed for a mirror selfie.

'Officially ready for the invasion. Bring it on mf'ers,' she captioned the image.

Responding to the post, a fan wrote, 'Are those the same jeans from the famous airplane flight?'

Gomas fired back, 'Yup and top, bag, hat.'
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?'

The search for Pheobe goes on.

Wednesday June 4

Wood is taken into custody and is being questioned in connection with her disappearance.

Detectives revealed they will no longer be conducting any 'physical searches' for Pheobe and would only restart them 'as needed and as information provided'.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has reportedly demanded ICE agents raid Home Depots and 7-Elevens as part of his lofty new target for arrests of illegal migrants.

Miller, one of Trump's biggest hawks on immigration, said last week that Trump wants the agency to conduct 3,000 arrests every single day in an ambitious effort to ramp up his deportation agenda.

He and 'border czar' Tom Homan have both suggested that the numbers are not currently where they want them.

Now, reports have come out that lay out just how unhappy Miller has been with the relatively low numbers of arrests.

ICE confirmed that Miller held a meeting with dozens of top directors and officials on May 20, where he reportedly 'came in there and eviscerated everyone.'

According to the Washington Examiner, Miller allegedly told them: 'You guys aren't doing a good job. You're horrible leaders.'

He then reportedly gave them an open challenge and asked: 'Why aren't you at Home Depot? Why aren't you at 7-Eleven?'

Miller further pushed, getting into what an official called a 'p***ing contest,' saying: 'What do you mean youre going after criminals?

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has reportedly demanded ICE agents raid Home Depots and 7-Elevens as part of his lofty new target for arrests of illegal migrants

He reportedly gave the agents an open challenge and asked: 'Why aren't you at Home Depot? Why aren't you at 7-Eleven?'

They were later confronted by Homeland Security Secretary and 'ICE Barbie' Kristi Noem, who reiterated that the numbers weren't good enough.

In a statement to the Examiner, ICE deputy assistant director of media affairs Laszlo Baksay said the descriptions were 'inaccurate.'

'Stephen Miller did not say many of the things you state,' Baksay said.

However, the outlet cited field office directors, homeland security investigators and enforcement removal operations who said Miller's words were intensely negative.

'He had nothing positive to say about anybody, shot morale down,' said an official.

Another added that it comes at what is already a difficult time for ICE agents.

'They've been threatened, told they're watching their emails and texts and Signals. That's what is horrible about things right now. It's a fearful environment. Everybody in leadership is afraid. There's no morale. Everybody is demoralized.'

Miller said the new goal is only temporary and the number of daily arrests expected under the Trump administration will continue to rise.

'Under President Trump's leadership, we are looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day,' Miller told Fox News' Sean Hannity.

ICE confirmed that Miller held a meeting with dozens of top directors and officials on May 20, where he reportedly 'came in there and eviscerated everyone.' However, a spokesman described the recounting of the meeting as 'inaccurate'

During Trump's first 100 days back in office, ICE officials arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants

Trump's border czar Tom Homan backed the ambitious new benchmark on Thursday morning, insisting: 'We've gotta' increase these arrests and removals.'

'The numbers are good, but I'm not satisfied. I haven't been satisfied all year long.'

During Trump's first 100 days back in office, ICE officials arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants.

More than 65,000 illegal immigrants were deported.

Some 17,000 deportees had criminal convictions or charges ranging from driving under the influence to assault or weapons offenses.

ICE has boasted removing gang members, murderers and child rapists.

But the administration has faced significant pushback and legal hurdles with challenges to the legality of some of the deportation schemes, particularly those which saw foreign aliens sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison under the wartime Illegal Aliens Act.

Other migrants have been banished to third party nations with little to no legal pathway to challenge their deportations.

Trump's border czar Tom Homan backed the lofty new target last week, insisting: 'We've gotta increase these arrests and removals.'

ICE deported 17,200 people in April alone - roughly 4,000 more than the number conducted in April 2024, under former president Joe Biden.

Even if the lofty new target of 3,000 people a day is reached, it is still a far cry from Trump's campaign promise to rid America of up to 20million illegal immigrants.

He vowed to carry out 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.'

There have been reports for months that Trump has been unsatisfied with the progress of agents on the ground, who have discovered that tracking down illegal migrants - particularly criminals - is more difficult and a slower process than they initially expected.

Across the United States in immigration courts from New York to Seattle in recent weeks, Homeland Security officials began ramping up enforcement actions and carrying out mass arrests in an effort to boost their numbers.

Three US immigration officials said government attorneys were given the order to start dismissing cases when they showed up for work in late May, knowing full well that federal agents would then have a free hand to arrest those same individuals as soon as they stepped out of the courtroom.

All spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared losing their jobs.

This meant that when migrants arrived in court to plead their immigration cases, prosecutors would instead dismiss the case and a judge would rule the client was free to leave.

Once exiting the courtroom, ICE agents would be outside, waiting to arrest them.

The latest effort includes people who have no criminal records, migrants with no legal representation and people who are seeking asylum, according to reports received by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
A senior Metropolitan Police officer has been sacked for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test when accused of smoking cannabis.

Commander Julian Bennett, who wrote the Met's official drugs strategy, was dismissed after a disciplinary panel found his refusal to provide a urine sample in July 2020 amounted to gross misconduct.

However, this dismissal was later overturned by the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) in October 2023.

Before a fresh hearing was called in September 2024, which for the second time found Bennett guilty of gross misconduct.

Bennett, who joined the force in 1976 and rose to one of its most senior ranks, had been suspended on full pay, between 120,000-135,000, since 2021.

The case is estimated to have cost the taxpayer around 1.5 million. And Bennett will retain his pension despite the dismissal.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: 'I am enormously concerned that almost five years since this incident happened we have only now been able to dismiss Commander Bennett.

'This should have been a simple matter. Commander Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order to take a drugs test.

Commander Julian Bennett (above) was dismissed after a disciplinary panel found his refusal to provide a urine sample in July 2020 amounted to gross misconduct

It marks the second time Bennett has been sacked by the force, after his first dismissal in October 2023 was overturned by the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) last summer

'As a senior officer who had chaired misconduct hearings, Commander Bennett was highly experienced and knew full well what was required of him, yet he made a choice not to co-operate.

'He has been suspended on full pay for an extraordinary length of time. I am sure Londoners will be as outraged as we are at the utter waste of public funds spent paying a senior officer to sit at home suspended and not work.'

Bennett was asked to provide a urine sample on July 21 2020, after being reported by a former flatmate, but refused in the presence of an assistant commissioner.

Instead, he offered to resign immediately and requested a meeting with then-Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick.

He later claimed he had been taking cannabidiol (CBD) for facial palsy and feared a positive test result might wrongly suggest drug misuse.

The panel concluded that his refusal breached standards relating to honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, and orders and instructions.

Bennett's dismissal means he will now be added to the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from holding any policing role in the future.

He had previously faced allegations of cannabis use made by his former flatmate, Sheila Gomes, who claimed he had used the drug daily before leaving for work at Scotland Yard.

However, a three-person panel rejected that claim, as well as an allegation that Bennett gave an untruthful explanation for refusing the test.

During tribunal proceedings, Mark Ley-Morgan KC, representing the Metropolitan Police, said it would have 'smacked of organised corruption at the highest level' if Bennett had been allowed to resign and avoid the disciplinary process.

Bennett's barrister, John Beggs KC, dismissed the allegations by Ms Gomes, calling her a 'liar' and a 'fantasist' who he claimed wanted to write a book and profit from her accusations.

The tribunal heard she had a history of litigation, including in her native Portugal.

Mr Bennett wrote the force's drugs strategy for 2017-21 as a commander for territorial policing (Pictured: Scotland Yard)

Despite being cleared of using cannabis, Bennett's refusal to take the test was considered serious enough to warrant dismissal

Despite being cleared of using cannabis, Bennett's refusal to take the test was considered serious enough to warrant dismissal.

At the time of the request, he was still a serving officer and had played a central role in shaping the Met's anti-drug policies.

His own 20172021 strategy document, Dealing With The Impact Of Drugs On Communities, aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of drug misuse.

Between 2010 and 2012, Bennett chaired 74 misconduct hearings involving 90 officers, resulting in 56 dismissals.

Twist added: 'While the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett's matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy.

'I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett's prolonged case would not happen again.'
Twelve drug dealers who sprayed Dom Perignon from a white Rolls-Royce in a drill rap video to boast about their weapons and wealth have been jailed for 130 years.

The Nottingham-based gang used the lyrics and images in their music videos to recruit children into their 'industrial' heroin and crack cocaine ring, a court heard.

The video in the hired Rolls-Royce shows 20 balaclava-clad young men posing at locations around the St Ann's area of the city.

Godpraise Bouwen, 22, who has previous convictions for robbery and knife offences, can be seen rapping about 'junkies asking for testers' and defending his turf.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that the gangsters flooded towns across the East Midlands and Aberdeen with Class A drugs.

They used children to move and sell their stash to reduce their risk of getting caught - and protected their turf with knives and a loaded pistol.

The group also targeted drug addicts with 'marketing texts' and even set up distribution hubs at users' homes.

Speaking about the rap videos, PC Ryan Millington from Nottinghamshire Police, said they were intended to recruit young drug dealers.

Twelve drug dealers who sprayed Dom Perignon from a white Rolls-Royce in a drill rap video to boast about their weapons and wealth have been jailed for 130 years

Cash and watches as seen in the gang's Rolls-Royce rap video

He said according to the BBC: 'Stacks of cash. Rolex watches. It makes it very easy for young people to become indoctrinated in that lifestyle.'

PC Millington said the gang recruited one 15-year-old who went to sell the gang's drugs in a nearby town.

He explained: 'He would stay at a drug user's house to deal from.

'That boy would be armed with a knife. They would do this because the young people have no criminal connection back to them.'

The gang's leaders were Jephte Fikula and Sipho Ncube - who was seen spraying the Dom Perignon in front of white Rolls-Royce.

At Ncube's home, police found a Rolex watch worth more than 10,000 and notes where he claimed he could make up to 20,000 a week through illegal drug dealing.

He sparked the initial investigation after he was caught by police running away from a car crash in September 2022.

In total, Nottingham police's probe focused on 13 separate county lines that supplied drugs to Long Eaton, Ilkeston, Ripley, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Hucknall, Grantham and Spalding.

From left to right: Jephte Fikula, Ramone Campbell, Sipho Ncube and Godpraise Bouwen

Left to right, from top: Kamel Mantock, Jaysaniel Grant, Aiden Farah, Bayleigh Reid, Gaiel Landu, Tarelle Comrie-Patterson, Laquarne Fogo and Amang Kanyi

Prosecutor Jonathan Cox said it was an 'industrial scale' operation that also sought to target Leicester.

They found 33,000 'bulk marketing' messages and more than 1,400 customer numbers.

The group were sentenced to a total of 130 years for their role in the drugs gang, including Fikula, 29, who received 21 years.

Ncube, 29, was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Bouwen, 22, and Ramone Campbell, 28, also received sentences of 15 years and 16 years respectively.

Eight other members also were handed lengthy custodial jail terms for their role in the gang.
The flatmate of missing teen Pheobe Bishop has claimed that she stole money from him before she went missing.

The 17-year-old was last seen on May 15, leaving the rundown house she shared with James Wood and Tanika Bromley in Gin Gin, near Bundaberg.

She had planned to flee the living arrangements she had called a 'hell hole,' to be with her high school sweetheart in Western Australia.

She never made her flight and her social media, bank account and mobile phone haven't been used since.

But in a string of leaked texts obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, Wood alleged that Pheobe stole thousands of dollars from him and had enough cash to go on the run.

'These f***ing coppers are in a witch hunt to see me and Tee (Tanika Bromley) burn at the stake all because we were the last to see her but turns out four f***ing days ago people came out stating they'd seen her with her luggage,' Wood said.

'Cops don't seem to really care that when she left she took nearly $5K out of mine and Tee's room but still harass us, like "well how could she have just gone, how hasn't she popped up on her bank statements"? Because she has $5K f***ing cash.'

Wood said he is furious with authorities for putting his life in danger and wasting time and money when Pheobe had confided in him and his girlfriend about her fractured relationship with her family.

Pheobe Bishop's flatmate James Wood claims she stole $5,000 from him before she went missing

Bishop has not been seen since May 15 after leaving the house she shared with James Wood and Tanika Bromley near Bundaberg

Now living in his car while the Gin Gin rental property remains a crime scene covered in police tape, Wood said in the leaked texts that the police were after him and Tanika.

'Me and T have been hung out to dry. Been f***g witch hunted for Phee's disappearance and now (they) want to charge inus with f***ing homicide,' he said.

'If the cops have their way they'll save some money on court fees because neither me or T will live to see court. We've been hunted for the last week and the cops don't give a f***.

'They just keep pulling s*** in broad daylight, stirring it up. It's like they're hellbent to blame someone and they have nothing so they just decided, "well you two drove her to Bundaberg so you two will do, we'll just keep stirring it up until it doesn't matter", guilty or not in court, in the press's eyes and the public, they've got the win and achieved something.'

The friend said that if police had suspected them, their phones would have been tapped.

'Yeah, probably and good luck to them because they're wasting time and money because we didn't do anything wrong and we've cooperated at every turn and even though at every turn things seem to get more f***ed for me and Tee directly after dealing with them,' he wrote.

The friend texts back to Wood saying they hope 'she turns up so all of this can be over'.

'Yeah, trust me so do we. Hell, we wouldn't even be angry about the money and jewellery she took,' Wood said.

'We couldn't give a f***. Just want to know she's safe and would like not to be lynched in the streets for something we didn't do.'

Leaked messages expose what James Wood said to a friend after Pheobe Bishop vanished

The person then texts back: 'Only time will tell. With everything that's been said, shared and done, regardless of the outcome, they've already made you both to be guilty.'

'Yeps, basically unless she comes strolling into town whistling dixie, me and Tee are f***ing dead men walking,' Wood said.

The friend also bluntly asked him 'Why did the dogs get killed?'

During a search of the Gin Gin property after Pheobe went missing, several dead dogs were discovered.

Wood responded: 'They didn't get killed. There was 5 puppies out of a litter of 13 that contracted hookworm and passed before the treatment could work,' he wrote.

Since Pheobe's disappearance, Wood has been said to be living in a Hyundai ix35 with one of his dogs.

Questions remain over why Pheobe was living with Wood and Bromley, but final posts she made to social media before she disappeared suggested the troubled teen had fallen out with her mother and would not return home.

Wood was taken into custody at 11.40am on Wednesday in Bolewski Street, Bundaberg but no charges were immediately laid.

He remains holed up in the Bundaberg police station, with his parents arriving to pick up his dog.

James Wood's parents were seen leaving Bundaberg police station after collecting his dog

That came shortly after police announced they were calling off the search for Pheobe.

Prior to being taken into custody, he spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the tense and emotional morning that ended with Pheobe getting out of the car adjacent to the airport - and never being seen again.

The morning Pheobe vanished

Wood claimed that at their home at Gin Gin that morning, Pheobe was stressing about what to pack, what to wear and making the flight on time.

'She wanted to get up at 5am but I said I wasn't waking up that early, it's not that far.

'Then she slept through her alarm and when she got up she was furious.

'She gets like that sometimes and usually we can calm her down but she was escalating and then she smashed the TV,' Wood claimed.

James Wood - the flatmate of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has revealed explosive new details about the her car ride to the airport on the day she disappeared

The Gin Gin property where Pheobe was living before she vanished without a trace

James Wood has been living out of his car after Pheobe went missing

'After that she started shouting about not having anything to wear and she was so worked up about seeing her boyfriend for the first time and she wanted to look good.

'And I get it, she is a teenager and she thinks he may be the love of her life, so I understand.

'I grabbed some grey brand new trackies I had and I threw them to her and said wear these and first she said she didn't want to take them as they were mine but then she said "OK" and put them on.'

Wood claimed emotional outbursts were not unusual for the 17-year-old, but they had become more frequent in the weeks leading up to her trip.

'She does have a temper but she is not a bad kid, she is actually a great kid, she is kind and smart and has good manners but she was living with us because she couldn't live at home anymore,' he said.

'There were too many fights, too much had gone on and she is just a kid.

'If I had a little sister and all she had was her car to live in then I would want someone to help her.

'I had known her for almost a year when she moved in with us four months ago and Tanika worked with her as a carer so they knew each other well.'

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, Wood claims

The car ride to the airport

Despite the tardy start to the morning of her planned departure, Wood said there was still plenty of time to make her flight from Bundaberg, which was around 10am.

He quickly ran to the local IGA to grab energy drinks and returned to the house around 8am.

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, with Bromley driving and Pheobe in the back seat.

Minutes later, about 8.30am, before theyd left Gin Gin for Bundaberg, Pheobe called her boyfriend to let him know she was on the way.

Daily Mail Australia previously reported the boyfriend claimed he heard shouting during the call.

The boyfriend later told a friend: 'They were both yelling at her and I couldn't really hear her.'

Wood doesn't dispute the claim and said that Pheobe was still complaining she didn't have time to do her make up and was worried she was going to miss the flight.

Wood said he told Tanika Bromley (pictured) to pull over so they could give Pheobe some space to cool off. After stepping away for a few minutes, he claimed he returned to find her and her large duffle bag gone

By the time they reached airport drive, less then 1km from their destination Wood says the arguing hadnt subsided so he told Bromley to pull over into a layby

'We just wanted to get her checked in and thought if we can just get there she will calm down.

'Tanika grabbed her makeup bag next to her and passed it back and told her to take anything she needed.

'Her plane was stopping in Brisbane and we told her that the airport had everything she needed and she can take her time and do the makeup in the toilets.

'But she wanted to look nice for the flight first and wouldn't let it go.'

The last time Pheobe was seen

As they approached Airport Drive, less than a kilometre from the terminal, the argument continued, Wood said.

Wood told Bromley to pull the car over and they got out and walked a distance away to give Pheobe some space to collect herself.

'We wanted to give her five minutes - give her her own space to do what she needed to do,' he said.

'We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that's about how long we were gone.'

Wood said when he returned to the car, Pheobe and her bag were gone.

He assumed that she had walked the short remaining distance to the terminal. The couple then drove toward the airport to check, he said, but they didnt see her along the way.

'You wouldn't miss her carrying that thing, if you drove past her and saw her, you'd notice,' he said.

Wood claims the pair then waited outside the small terminal for some time but did not go inside.

'I said to Tanika if I go in it will just escalate things again but she said if she went in it would look like we were parenting her.'

They then decided to check surrounding roads in case she had walked off in another direction.

'We drove around and as far as we thought she could have made it and then drove a bit further in case.'

Wood claimed this would have been the moment when CCTV footage picked up his car heading towards the Good Night Scrub National Park.

Wood insisted that he did not hurt Pheobe and assumed she had boarded the flight.

He said it was not until the following afternoon when he received a text message from Pheobe's sister that he realised she was missing.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Wood was involved in Pheobes disappearance, and likewise does not suggest Ms Bromley played any role in Pheobe going missing.
Country Road Group chief executive Raju Vuppalapati has announced his resignation following a downturn in sales and a lingering scandal over complaints handling by executives.

Mr Vuppalapati announced on Wednesday he will depart at the end of August to pursue personal interests after four years in the top job.

He said his time at the helm of Country Road Group had been an 'honour and a privilege', adding he was optimistic about its future prospects.

He added that the decision to leave was difficult but the right one.

'It has been a privilege to lead our passionate team and iconic brands. I know that I am leaving Country Road Group well positioned to pursue its next chapter with compelling strategies, a strengthened culture and clear pathway to reignite profitable growth,' Mr Vuppalapati said in a statement.

'While these decisions are never easy, I take great comfort in knowing that I leave CRG well positioned to enter this next chapter with compelling strategies, a clear pathway to improving profitability, and talented teams committed to executing our plans

Mr Vuppalapati's successor is yet to be announced.

His exit caps off a turbulent year for the Woolworths Holdings-owned retailer, which includes the Country Road, Mimco, Witchery, Trenery and POLITIX brands.

Country Road Group chief executive Raju Vuppalapati (pictured) will step down in August

Country Road Group owns leading retail brands including Country Road, Mimco, Trenery, Witchery and POLITIX

Sales across the brands plummeted by 6.2 per cent in first half of the 2024-25 financial year, citing economic and operational headwinds.

In October, Mr Vuppalapati warned staff that the the group was facing a 'perfect storm' of challenges after recording its worst financial year on record.

The downturn followed an external investigation launched in May 2023 after complaints were made against former chief supply chain officer Rachid Maliki.

Mr Vuppalapati had appointed Maliki to the role in 2022 after previously working with him at RM Williams.

A number of staff members threatened to leave the company in protest, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Staff expressed their relief at Mr Vuppalapati's departure.

'About f***ing time. This should have happened a year ago,' one told the Herald Sun.

'It's disappointing that there has been no accountability'.

Mr Vuppalapati's exit caps off a turbulent year for the Country Road Group

Mr Vuppalapati oversaw a companywide transformation after its South African parent sold off department store David Jones for $100m to private equity firm Anchorage.

Having purchased the store for $2.1billion in 2014, the sale marked a significant loss and forced Country Road Group to absorb extra costs as a result.

Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini said the outgoing chief executive had helped to reshape the group's structure and culture.

'The business transformation has been one of the most pivotal strategic initiatives undertaken by the group, positioning the business strongly to resume its profitable growth trajectory,' he said on Wednesday.

'Raju and I have had ongoing discussions regarding his intent to leave CRG to pursue his personal interests.

'After thoughtful consideration, Raju has decided that now is the right time for him to do that.'
Furious British tourists who called out a Moroccan taxi driver for ripping them off have exposed a national scandal in the country by sharing a video of the audacious con.

Two women who were travelling in the popular coastal city of Agadir filmed the moment the cabbie challenged them over how much they paid him after dropping them off at their hotel.

The man accuses the holidaymakers of not handing over the full fare for their trip, repeatedly counting and showing them the cash they gave him.

However footage shows how he has hidden a 200 dirham (15) note beneath his vehicle, seemingly hoping the women wouldn't notice.

He repeatedly demands the women give him more cash, getting more irate as they refuse and insist he has already charged them too much.

'Do not come near me! Give me the money,' one woman says as she demands he give back some of the cash.

'We're going to tell the police that you're robbing us, you're stealing money,' the other then says repeatedly.

He starts trying to convince them to hand him another bank note, at which point the woman points out he has hidden some of their cash beneath the car.

Two women who were travelling in the popular coastal city of Agadir filmed the moment the cabbie challenged them over how much they paid him

The taxi driver has since been arrested on suspicion of fraud and a breach of trust, according to Moroccan media

'F***ing weirdo,' one of the disgusted women calls the man as he continues to berate them from the driver's seat, pointing and yelling

The woman's friend tries to give him a smaller note in exchange for some of their money back, but she warns her that he will drive off with all the cash if she does.

Grabbing the note off the floor, the driver then jumps into his car to drive away as the women continue to hurl insults at him.

'F***ing weirdo,' one of the disgusted women calls the man as he continues to berate them from the driver's seat, pointing and yelling.

The taxi driver has since been arrested on suspicion of fraud and a breach of trust, according to Moroccan media.

Authorities in the country are said to have reviewed the video and taken complaints from the two women, who reportedly said he charged them more than the set fare.

The clip has made TV news headlines in Morocco, triggering a debate about the safety and regulation around private hire cabs.

Similar incidents of cab drivers overcharging travellers have led to prosecutions in recent years as authorities seek to crack down on drivers taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists.

In 2023, Welsh YouTuber Simon Wilson documented his journey from Marrakech airport to watch the World Cup quarter-finals in Jemaa el Fnaa square in the city centre.

Despite the taxi fare for such a trip being set at 70 dirhams, the driver told him that the journey would cost 325 dirhams and added: 'If you give me 350 dirhams that would be generous of you.'

On arrival at his destination, Wilson hands over 400 euros before expressing his doubts out loud: "It was only a 20-minute drive, and what's that, about 35 euros?'

The driver tries to keep the remaining 50 dirhams change, telling Wilson again: "350 dirhams, if you give me 400 it will be very generous.'

At the end of the exchange, the driver reluctantly hands over the change, muttering 'no tip, never tip' to the customer.

The video garnered more than three million views and elicited a furious response from authorities.

Footage shows how he has hidden a 200 dirham (15) note beneath his vehicle, seemingly hoping the women wouldn't notice

Grabbing the note off the floor, the driver then jumps into his car to drive away as the women continue to hurl insults at him

The driver's commercial licence was withdrawn and he was remanded into custody soon after on suspicion of 'swindling, extortion, contempt of the judicial police and false declarations.'

He denied the allegations, justifying the price by claiming Wilson had asked for a tour of the city before arriving at the central square.

But police refuted the claims, stating that CCTV footage showed the trip was direct, France24 reported at the time.

The latest clip of a taxi scam appeared after footage of a separate incident involving a taxi driver caused outrage in Agadir last week.

Video shared widely on social media shows the unnamed driver attacking two women in the street in the early hours of Friday morning.

In 2023, Welsh YouTuber Simon Wilson documented his journey from Marrakech airport to watch the World Cup quarter-finals in Jemaa el Fnaa square in the city centre

Despite the taxi fare for such a trip being set at 70 dirhams, the driver told him that the journey would cost 325 dirhams

The man, reported to be in his 40s, was arrested that evening as he attempted to flee the city.

Locals are reported to have reacted furiously to both videos, with many claiming that it damages Morocco's image as a global tourist destination and demanding tighter regulation.

There have been calls in Morocco for more ride-hailing apps instead of private taxi firms to help reduce assaults and scams carried out by unscrupulous drivers.

It comes after two British tourists died last month when their vehicle overturned on a busy road in Agadir.

File photo shows the Marina harbour in Agadir, a major city on Morocco's Atlantic coast

Two British tourists died last month when their vehicle overturned on a busy road in Agadir

The driver and two other British tourists with them were hurt during the incident in the port city of Agadir, sustaining injuries of 'varying severity', according to local media.

Emergency services, as well as security and civil defence personnel, arrived at the scene on Resistance Street to provide first aid.

The casualties were taken to a nearby hospital in the city on Sunday. Their condition was unclear this morning.

Security services have now launched a full investigation to understand what caused the car to roll onto its roof.

Agadir is a major city and popular tourist destination on the southern Atlantic coast, south west of Marrakech and Casablanca.

The former Portuguese trade hub today flourishes as a destination for tourists, welcoming visitors to its pristine beaches and local history. The 1934 film Le Grand Jeu was filmed there.
Apple and Google are under fire from furious MPs who accuse them of deliberately stalling a vital anti-theft measure - all to protect their bottom line.

The world's biggest tech firms were told 18 months ago by the Metropolitan Police to make a change that could make stolen smartphones worthless to criminals.

But despite soaring phone theft  a staggering 80,000 devices were stolen in London last year alone  neither company has acted.

Now MPs have slammed the delay, warning that criminal gangs are cashing in while tech giants rake in billions.

'It feels to a lot of people like you're dragging your feet  and actually sitting behind this is a very strong commercial incentive,' said Conservative MP and former Home Office minister Kit Malthouse.

'The fact that 50 million of mobile phones are stolen in London every year means that if that stopped, that would be 50 million in sales that were depressed.'

According to Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, the Met's lead on mobile phone crime, two thirds of thefts in the capital now involve phones, costing customers and insurers an eye-watering 50 million a year.

Apple and Google are under fire from furious MPs who accuse them of deliberately stalling a vital anti-theft measure - all to protect their bottom line

But despite soaring phone theft  a staggering 80,000 devices were stolen in London last year alone  neither company has acted

James Conway, the Met Police's lead on phone theft, said the scale of phone theft in London last year had a street value of around 20million and a replacement value of 50million

And the scale of international trafficking is staggering  75 percent of stolen devices are shipped overseas, mostly to Algeria, China and Hong Kong.

Because UK mobile carriers block phones using IMEI numbers, rendering them useless here but overseas, the rules are often lax, making the phones a goldmine.

Police say it's simple: stop stolen phones accessing Apple's iCloud or Google's cloud services, even abroad. That would make them useless to thieves.

'We're asking the cloud providers specifically to prevent a lost or stolen device from connecting to their cloud services,' said Darren Scates, the Met's chief digital and data tech officer.

'This doesn't even need to involve the police.'

When grilled by MPs on the Commons science, innovation and technology committee, Apple and Google execs refused to commit to implementing the change.

'You could tomorrow stop phones that are on the IMEI blacklist connecting back to your services, if you so wish, both of you. But you won't do it, why?' demanded Lib Dem MP Martin Wrigley, a former tech industry professional.

Apple's Gary Davis, global senior director of privacy and law enforcement, pushed back, claiming concerns over fraud and insisting Apple was still considering the request.

'I deny a suggestion that we must somehow benefit from our users suffering the traumatic event of having their phones and being disconnected from their lives,' he said.

Darren Scates - the Met Police's chief digital, data and technology officer - told MPs about 80,000 smartphones were reported as stolen in London last year

Davis added that Apple had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-theft features, but failed to explain why the simple cloud-blocking request hadn't been met.

'Apple and Google continue to make profit and continue to sell more phones because these phones are not removed from the system,' Wrigley shot back.

'You owe it to the customers around the world to implement this immediately. No ifs, no buts, just do it.'

Google's Simon Wingrove echoed concerns, saying the company needed to decide as an industry whether the move was 'safe and sensible'  but stopped short of any commitment.

He added that Google was 'open to have that discussion' with the Home Office.

The committee's chair, Chi Onwurah, summed up the mood: 'It is clear from the mood of the committee we don't feel that either Google or Apple have a road plan to effective phone protection that doesn't involve IMEI.

'The lack of urgency about the subject given the suffering it entails is also coming across to us.'
Brittany Higgins now has a job - four years after she was awarded $2.4million from the federal government after claiming she was 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment'.

The former Liberal staffer made a compensation claim for damages in March 2022 after alleging she was raped in parliament by her former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann.

He has always denied the claims but was found to have raped Ms Higgins on the balance of probabilities by Justice Michael Lee in April last year - a decision Lehrmann is currently appealing.

In Ms Higgins' draft statement of claim, first reported by The Australian newspaper, it was stated that she had a 'reasonable expectation of being promoted regularly and to eventually pursue her own political career, before suffering from the injuries and disabilities'.

She had been 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment, and has been given a very poor prognosis for future employment'.

The claim suggested she was therefore due over $2.5 million in economic loss for 40 years' of missed earnings.

These claims were untested in court given Ms Higgins was awarded the $2.4 million by payout after one day of mediation talks.

Over half of the sum was in respect of her loss of earnings, while the rest was made up of medical expenses, legal costs and '$400,000 for hurt, distress and humiliation'.

Brittany Higgins (pictured) was awarded $2.4 million from the federal government after she claimed she would never be able to work again - but now has a job four years later

Despite once claiming not to be able to work again, Ms Higgins this week revealed she is returning to the workforce, joining the same company where her husband is employed.

The 30-year-old is now the director of public affairs at the public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review first reported.

Her appointment came soon after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the agency.

The pair are working from home as they juggle their roles with looking after their son Freddie who was born on March 2.

It is the first full-time job for Ms Higgins since she was a ministerial media adviser and was thrust into the limelight when she made rape claims against colleague Bruce Lehrmann.

Following the trials, Ms Higgins became an advocate for survivors of sexual assault.

Ms Higgins explained her move to Third Hemisphere came after fostering a connection with the firm's founder and CEO Hannah Moreno.

Ms Moreno was also a rape and domestic violence survivor who campaigns for gender equality and fights against sexual harassment.

Brittany Higgins has revealed she is returning to the workforce and joining the same company her husband is employed at

Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment on Instagram with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!'

'There was this general feeling of "how long do I have to be the story for?" At what point do I get to put it to rest... and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,' Ms Higgins said.

'I also have a brand reputation and I don't want to align myself in a corporate sense with someone that could be doing something untoward.

'I had to join a team that I fundamentally believe in and which believes in the same things that I do.'

Ms Higgins said the role would be her first step in following her role models, including Governor-General Samantha Mostyn, Indigenous social activist and business executive Tanya Hosch and business executive Christine Holgate.

In her new position, Ms Higgins will work with clients on reputation management and strategic advocacy.

She will also handle stakeholder engagement, media relations and public affairs initiatives which create public discussion.

Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment to Instagram on Wednesday with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!'

In August 2021, Mr Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.

Ms Higgins explained her decision to join Third Hemisphere was cemented after fostering a connection with the firm's founder and CEO Hannah Moreno

Her appointment comes just months after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the independent PR agency

Ms Higgins shared her alleged sexual assault ordeal 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.

Another criminal trial did not happen, with prosecutors citing concern 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.

The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann's reputation in ruins 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.

After quitting her role as Liberal Party media adviser, Ms Higgins worked on short-term contracts at the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

She also signed a book deal with Penguin Random House in 2021 for a tell-all memoir about her time in Parliament and the moment Lehrmann allegedly raped her.

The final 90,000-word autobiography was meant to hit shelves in 2022, but publishers placed it on indefinite hold due to legal issues - namely, because the trial against Mr Lehrmann fell over and he was never convicted.

It emerged this week that Mr Lehrmann is working unpaid as a live-in nanny to the children of a close friend as he awaits further trials.
Erin Patterson dumped her dehydrator amid fears her children would be taken from her after she served lunch guests deadly beef Wellingtons.

Patterson entered the witness box for the second day on Wednesday at Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell, in Victoria's east.

The 50-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson.

They died after consuming death cap mushrooms served in beef Wellingtons during lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.

Patterson told the court she dumped the dehydrator at the local tip after dropping her children off at school days after the deadly lunch.

'Shortly after that, I took the dehydrator to the tip, she told the jury.

The court heard child protection workers had been on their way to interview Patterson after becoming aware death cap mushrooms were suspected of being served at the lunch.

'Child Protection were coming to my house that afternoon and I was - I was scared of the conversation that might flow about the meal and the dehydrator and I just was - I was scared that - that they would blame me for it,' she said.

Erin Patterson told the court on Wednesday that she dumped her dehydrator amid fears her children would be taken from her

Simon Patterson denied ever asking his wife if she'd used her dehydrator to kill his parents

'For making everyone sick, and I was scared they'd remove the children.'

Patterson claimed she became worried she might be blamed for deliberately poisoning her in-laws after a conversation with her estranged husband Simon at the hospital on August 2.

Under questioning by her own barrister Colin Mandy SC, Patterson said she had a conversation with the kids about why they were in hospital and why everyone else was unwell.

Patterson said there was concern her lunch had made people unwell.

When the children left the room to visit the vending machine, Patterson claimed she spoke to Simon about her dehydrator.

The conversation centred about Patterson hiding dried mushrooms in her daughter's muffins, which she seemed to enjoy better than the ordinary muffins. she said.

It was then that Simon hit her with an unexpected question.

He said to me is that how you poisoned my parents using that dehydrator,' Patterson claimed.

Erin Patterson broke down in tears while in the witness box on Wednesday

'I said of course not.'

The exchange saw Patterson break down in tears as she recalled what happened next.

Patterson claimed the comment got her thinking about all the times she had used the dehydrator and she recalled using it to dry foraged mushrooms just weeks earlier.

What if they got in the container with the Chinese mushrooms. Maybe that had happened, she said.

Patterson had previously told the jury foraged mushrooms may have been added to a jar she had that contained bought dried mushrooms and mushrooms from the local supermarket she had dehydrated herself.

The jury heard Patterson said she felt responsible for what was happening to her lunch guests.

I just felt really scared, she said

When she finally returned home, Patterson claimed she started to panic.

Erin Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC (pictured) guided his client through a series of questions on Wednesday

I was frantic,' she said.

'Because I had made the meal and served it, and people had got sick.'

Patterson told the court she told no-one she feared foraged mushrooms might have been put into the beef Wellingtons by accident.

'You had been told that the suspicion was that death cap mushrooms had been in the meal?' Mr Mandy asked Patterson

'Yes,' she replied.

'What did that make you think about whether - or what might be in the dehydrator?' Mr Mandy asked.

'Well, I thought there might be evidence of that, evidence of any foraged mushrooms in there,' Patterson answered.

Simon Patterson has denied accusing his wife of poisoning his parents in the days after the deadly lunch.

Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers and top cop Stephen Eppingstall enter the court on Tuesday. Ms Rogers will get her turn to question Patterson in the coming days

In the first days of the trial he was asked about the conversation he had with her at Monash Medical Centre after the deadly lunch.

'Is that what you used to poison them?' Mr Mandy claimed he remarked.

'I did not say that to Erin,' Simon responded.

The jury further heard Patterson claimed to have vomited-up the portion of beef Wellington she ate at the deadly lunch after binge eating the cake Gail Patterson had bought for dessert.

'She encouraged me to keep it for us to eat, so that was left over and quite - quite a lot of the cake that Gail had brought was left over as well, she left that,' Patterson said.

Patterson, who has told the jury about her life-long struggles with her body image and weight, said she took a slice of cake while cleaning up after the lunch.

'I had a piece of cake and then another piece of cake and then another,' she said.

'How many pieces of cake did you have?' Mr Mandy asked.

An early bird member of the public rugged-up waiting to enter the law courts in Morwell on Wednesday

Large lines of people now gather to enter the trial of Erin Patterson

'All of it,' she replied.

Patterson claimed 'a good two thirds' of the cake had been left.

'I felt sick. I felt over-full, so I went to the toilets and brought it back up again,' she said.

The trial before Justice Christopher Beale, sitting in the Supreme Court of Victoria, continues.
Up to 20,000 people have been evacuated in the German city of Cologne after three unexploded WWII bombs were discovered.

A large part of the city centre has been cordoned off as experts prepared to defuse the explosives on Wednesday morning.

The US-manufactured weapons, which have gone unnoticed for 80 years, are two 90kg bombs and one 45 kg bomb, which were discovered in the borough of Deutz in central Cologne on Monday.

The size of the explosives means that a 1,000 metre danger zone has had to be sealed off, with residents and business owners instructed to leave the area from 8am local time today.

The city's evacuation zone includes the entire old part of Cologne, 58 hotels, three bridges, the townhall, the train station, as well as several museums, a hospital and two care homes.

German broadcaster RTL was also evacuated this morning mid-air.

A TV presenter told viewers: 'Excuse me if we're a bit rushed. We're already on the go,' before the programme 'Punkt 8' was cancelled.

Officials and volunteers have been going from door to door across the evacuated area to ensure businesses and homes are empty.

In the Deutzer Ufer, emergency services from the public order office stand guard in the area where three unexploded bombs from the Second World War were found

A large part of Cologne's city centre has been cordoned off

On Deutzer Ufer, one of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens

Two shelters have been set up for those affected as the operation continues, while sports halls and churches outside the city centre have been turned into support centres for those evacuated.

Local transport has also been affected as rail and bus networks were brought to a halt.

It is not clear when residents will be able to return to their homes, but authorities hope that bomb disposal experts will be able to defuse the explosives by Wednesday night.

The operation is understood to be the biggest ever post-war bomb detonation.

At least 1.5 million bombs were dropped on the German city during WWII.

In May 1942, the city was the target of the RAF's first 'thousand-bomber raid', in which more than 1,000 aircraft were dispatched.

On this night alone, 1,455 tons of bombs were dropped on the city.

Experts believe around 20% did not fully detonate, and to this day, explosives are still lying undetonated beneath Cologne's streets, prompting several evacuations throughout the years.

Employees of the public order office explain the road closures due to a bomb disposal operation to passers-by

The size of the bombs means that a 1,000 metre danger has had to be cordoned off

Officials have been going from door to door across the evacuated area to ensure businesses and homes have been evacuated

Two shelters have been set up for those affected as the operation continues

In 2024, 31 undetonated bombs were discovered in the German city, prompting 17 evacuations.

The evacuation in Germany comes several months after WWII bomb was found near Tesla's factory in Gruenheide, just outside Berlin.

Local authorities reported that the 250-kg bomb had been discovered in the forest next to the US electric vehicle manufacturer's plant.

This is a breaking story, more to follow.
Keir Starmer admitted finalising the US trade deal could take weeks today after the steel industry was spared from Donald Trump's latest trade war salvo.

The US president is offering 'different treatment' to Britain after doubling tariffs on imports from other countries to 50 per cent.

However, levies on UK steel and aluminium will remain at 25 per cent, as a Transatlantic trade agreement heralded by the PM last month has still not been finalised. That is meant to create quotas to exempt most of the exports altogether.

The White House has threatened that charges could still be ramped up to 50 per cent if it deems Sir Keir has not 'complied' with the broad terms of the pact.

At PMQs this lunchtime, the premier insisted he is 'working on' implementing the deal - which was announced on May 9 - but suggested it could take a 'couple of weeks'.

'We have a deal and we are implementing it. Within a very short period of time I am confident we will get those tariffs down,' he said, arguing that the UK was in a better position than many other countries.

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met US officials in Paris last night amid a scramble to establish whether the UK would be covered.

The Government said it was 'pleased' the steel industry 'will not be subject to these additional tariffs'.

Gareth Stace, the director general of UK Steel, said that Mr Trump's decision is a 'welcome pause'.

Donald Trump is offering 'different treatment' to Britain after doubling tariffs on imports from other countries to 50 per cent

Levies on UK steel and aluminium will remain at 25 per cent, as a Transatlantic trade agreement heralded by Keir Starmer last month has still not been finalised

The White House has threatened that charges could still be ramped up to 50 per cent if it deems the PM has not 'complied' with the broad terms of the pact

He added: 'Continued 25 per cent tariffs will benefit shipments already on the water that we were concerned would fall under a tax hike.

'However, uncertainty remains over timings and final tariff rates, and now US customers will be dubious over whether they should even risk making UK orders.

'The US and UK must urgently turn the May deal into reality to remove the tariffs completely.'

The eye-watering tariff on steel and aluminium from other nations came into force at 12.01am Washington DC time, shortly after 5am UK time.

The order published by the White House said Mr Trump has 'further determined that it is necessary and appropriate to allow for the implementation of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal of May 8, 2025 (EPD), and to accordingly provide different treatment, as described below, for imports of steel and aluminium articles, and their derivatives, from the United Kingdom'.

The document said the rate will stay at 25 per cent for now, but added ominously: 'On or after July 9, 2025, the Secretary may adjust the applicable rates of duty and construct import quotas for steel and aluminium consistent with the terms of the EPD, or he may increase the applicable rates of duty to 50 percent if he determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD.'

The Government has pledged to keep working with the US to get the agreement up and running, and the 25 per cent tariff rate 'removed'.

A spokesman said: 'The UK was the first country to secure a trade deal with the US earlier this month and we remain committed to protecting British business and jobs across key sectors, including steel as part of our Plan for Change.

'We're pleased that as a result of our agreement with the US, UK steel will not be subject to these additional tariffs. We will continue to work with the US to implement our agreement, which will see the 25% US tariffs on steel removed.'

There is uncertainty about the future of Mr Trump's tariffs after a US court last week ruled many of them unlawful, before an appeals court reinstated the levies pending a further hearing.

Tata Steel director Russell Codling told MPs yesterday it was extraordinarily difficult' to plan at a time when there was so much uncertainty.

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met US officials in Paris last night amid a scramble to establish whether the UK would be covered

The US hailed the trade deal with the UK saying it had secured better terms

'The 25 per cent tariff as it was applied earlier in the year was a big shock to us  then the shock over the weekend of seeing 50 per cent applied was really quite devastating to be able to plan where do we go next, what is the future for our business, the future for our customers,' he told MPs on the Business and Trade Committee.

'We have longstanding arrangements with our customers in the US, there are not customers we just obtain on a spot basis  they rely on us for their business.'

Asked if the deal that Sir Keir agreed with Trump afforded them any protection, he replied: 'Not at this moment, no.
Disgraced former Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral has branded the new Madeleine McCann searches over the top and wheeled out a sick theory about her disappearance.

The ex-detective, who was sued over a 2008 book about the 18-year-old mystery in which he wrongly pointed the finger at the missing youngster's parents, also accused his own former police force of 'connivance' with 'shoddy' German cops in a foul-mouthed blast 24 hours after the start of a fresh operation to find Maddie's body.

Amaral, thrown off the Madeleine investigation in 2008 after publicly criticising British police involved in the case, revealed his theory to Portuguese daily Correio da Manha.

He claimed of the fresh searches that are taking place near suspect Christian Brueckner's old cottage close to the Algarve holiday resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007 as her parents Kate and Gerry ate tapas: 'This much wasn't needed.

'A plane with geo-radar would have been enough and reduced the search area.'

He added: 'The Germans should have had nothing to do with the investigation. This was a British police strategy with support from the Portuguese police.'

Fresh police searches are under way near the spot where Madeleine McCann was last seen near Praia da Luz, Portugal

Firefighters and search teams check a well at a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz, Portugal, where searches are being carried out by officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday flat in Portugal in 2007

Search teams clear branches at a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz

Amaral repeated earlier claims convicted paedophile Brueckner was a scapegoat.

He told Correio da Manha: 'There's nothing on him. I'm not trying to defend him, he's not a flower you'd want to smell, but I've never seen such shoddy work as the German police's.

'We've already searched the area that's being looked at now, there's nothing new.

'We're abdicating our technical competence. We're not being complacent anymore, we're conniving.'

He added: 'This show came in handy for the British to divert attention from the principal focus.

'Normal suspects in child disappearances are people with a duty of care towards them.'

Amaral went on to put another bizarre theory into the mix with an allegation he has made before and investigators have ruled out, focusing on a coffin 'incineration' in the municipality of Ferreira do Alentejo a near-two-hour drive north-east of Praia da Luz.

Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007 while on holiday with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and her twin siblings Sean and Amelie

Portuguese officers during a search operation in a vast area between the cities of Lagos and Praia da Luz for Madeleine McCann, in Lagos, Portugal, 03 June 2025

Search teams near to a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz, Portugal, where searches are being carried out by officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann

Emergency services vehicles are pictured amid new search operations amid the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann at Atalaia, Lagos in Algarve on June 3, 2025

He spouted: 'There are strong indications Madeleine's body was placed under another in a coffin in Praia da Luz that was incinerated in Ferreira do Alentejo.'

Amaral has continued to make hurt claims about Madeleine's parents since his 2008 book in which he accused them of covering up her 'accidental' death in their holiday apartment.

The ex-cop's claims about them were dismissed years ago by Portuguese police and Scotland Yard detectives.

Amaral described the last German police searches in Portugal two years ago, at the Arade Dam a 40-minute drive away from Praia da Luz, as another attempt to 'frame' Brueckner after being given a previous platform to air his controversial opinions.

He told Portuguese media outlet Sabado at the time: 'In a simple analysis, I see there is no new investigation and what is occurring is more a case of constructing a profile and a scapegoat.'
A British woman has plunged to her death in a fall from a 25ft high Phuket hotel walkway in the second tourist horror to rock Thailand in just days.

The 58-year-old was returning to her room after a night out with her partner on the holiday island in the early hours of June 4 before disaster struck.

The tragedy comes as a fellow UK tourist found dead on a beach in another area of the country - the party island of Koh Phangan - earlier this week has been named as Alison Stuart.

In the most recent tragedy, the unidentified hotel guest was said to have downed several drinks before walking up the outdoor stairway to her room.

However, she was said to have lost her balance and tumbled off the edge of the walkway.

The holidaymaker fell onto a corridor some 25ft below. She was still breathing when found by hotel staff, who called emergency services for help.

Medics said the woman suffered fractures on her neck and limbs, as well as severe facial bruising.

A British woman has plunged to her death in a fall from a 25ft high Phuket hotel walkway. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene

The unidentified guest was said to have downed several drinks before trudging up the outdoor stairway to her room. However, she was said to have lost her balance and tumbled off the edge of the unprotected walkway. Pictured: Police walking down some steps at the hotel

The tragedy comes as a fellow UK tourist found dead on a beach in another area of the country has been named as Alison Stuart

Ms Stuart, from Waltham Abbey, Essex, washed ashore on a beach on Koh Phangan, southern Thailand: Cops at the scene on Koh Phangan

She was strapped onto a rescue board to be taken to the Patong Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police Lieutenant Chittawan Phengkaew, deputy chief of investigation at the Patong Police Station, said the woman had dinner with her spouse before the incident.

He said: 'There was no one present at the scene. We learned that she was returning after having a meal with her partner at a restaurant and may have had a few drinks.

'They arrived at the hotel and she went up to the room while the man went elsewhere. When she was walking up the stairway, the security camera captured her going up alone, but it did not record the moment she fell.

'That stairway did not have a railing, and she plunged from the fifth floor to the second floor.

When a hotel employee found her, they informed her partner and rescue workers. The rescue team then informed the police.

'As for the cause, she might have fallen due to being drunk. We do not have the blood alcohol test result, so we cannot confirm yet.

'We have already contacted the embassy.'

Police said a search of Brit's room found all of her belongings still intact

Ms Stuart had been staying at a nearby bungalow for nearly a month but was set to check out next week, a day after the island's infamous Full Moon Party

The Thai Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party on the island of Koh Phangan which takes place on the night of every full moon (stock image)

It comes after a British tourist was found dead on the notorious 'Full Moon Party' island on June 3.

The 54-year-old, identified as Alison Stuart, from Waltham Abbey, Essex, washed ashore on a beach on Koh Phangan, southern Thailand.

When police arrived, they found Ms Stuart face-down.

Officers said there were no signs of assault on her body and she was taken to the Koh Phangan Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police Lieutenant Pongnaphat Somboon of the Koh Phangan Police Station said: 'An X-ray of the victim's body found a large amount of sand and water in her lungs.

'We believe the cause of death was drowning. We will call the British Embassy to notify her relatives.'

The woman's body had been discovered by local villager Theerapong while walking at 6.30am.

Authorities said the woman had been staying at a nearby bungalow for around a month.

She was due to check out on June 11, a day after the island's infamous Full Moon Party.

Staff claimed she was often seen drinking alcohol during her stay.

On June 2, she reportedly struck her head after tripping outside a convenience store.

Good Samaritans helped her walk back to her room when she refused to seek medical attention.

She was reportedly last seen swimming at the beach on Monday evening before her body was found.
A mother of two has been convicted after being caught on CCTV slapping her boyfriend in the face outside a bar in an argument described by a magistrate as 'silly'.

Victoria Woodward, 38, and Connor Thompson had been feuding in the street at pub closing time when she suddenly struck him in Warrington, Cheshire.

As the couple then carried on walking through town centre, she was unaware that CCTV operators had contacted police and provided footage of the attack.

Officers traced the couple four minutes later and questioned Woodward who was subsequently charged with assault when she admitted slapping Mr Thompson.

He declined to be co-operate with the investigation.

Woodward has now admitted assault by beating at Warrington Magistrates' Court, where she was conditionally discharged for 18 months and ordered to pay 111 in costs and surcharge.

The penalty for what was Woodward's first offence was said to have been 'uplifted' due to the 'domestic context' of the incident.

Magistrates were told Mr Thompson, who is in his 30s and works for an electrical firm, did not support the prosecution and police were unable to record any injury.

Victoria Woodward, 38, and Connor Thompson had been feuding in the street at pub closing time when she suddenly struck him in Warrington, Cheshire

Mother of two Victoria Woodward (pictured) has been convicted after being caught on CCTV slapping her boyfriend in the face outside a bar

The maximum sentence for assault by beating is six months behind bars.

Robert Earl, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant and the victim were in a relationship. They were out on the town at 11.20pm on April 19 this year.

'There had been a verbal argument of some description and it ended up with the defendant slapping her boyfriend across the face.

'The officers stopped her and she admitted assaulting her partner. She was interviewed under caution. '

Mr Earl added: 'The defendant has no previous convictions. She has been of good character.

'As to the assault, there is no evidence of injury. The victim has not supported the prosecution.

'But this offence is aggravated because of the domestic context and also because the offence was committed in drink.'

Representing herself, Warrington resident Woodward told the court: 'I know it was completely unacceptable. I could not be more sorry.'

Victoria Woodward (pictured) has admitted assault by beating at Warrington Magistrates' Court, where she was conditionally discharged for 18 months

She was also ordered to pay 111 in costs and surcharge by magistrates at her trial

Woodward told the court: 'I know it was completely unacceptable. I could not be more sorry'

Magistrates heard how Victoria Woodward (pictured) was unaware while walking through Warrington town centre that CCTV operators had contacted police with footage of the slap

Sentencing her, JP Brian Gallagher told Woodward: 'Obviously today you have lost your good character and there will be a criminal conviction.

'All of it was silly. It was in drink but you have shown remorse which is important. You have held your hands up and you have not prevaricated.

'Normally, a conditional discharge would have been for 12 months but because of the domestic context it is uplifted. Learn your lesson from this. Do not come back.'

Most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics last November suggested an estimated 1.6million women and 712,000 men suffered domestic abuse over the previous 12 months.

This was described by officials as a 'prevalence rate of approximately 6.6 per cent of women and three per cent of men'.
An American trans woman who volunteered for Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces (TDF) as a combat medic and briefly served as their spokesperson has been sentenced to a 20-year prison term by Russian authorities.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, 47, was yesterday found guilty by the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic in occupied Ukraine of being a mercenary for Kyiv's forces and spreading fake news about the Russian military.

A former journalist and author, US citizen Ashton-Cirillo travelled to Ukraine shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 to cover the conflict as a war correspondent for the US publication LGBTQ Nation.

Within a matter of months, she resigned her post and volunteered to join the Ukrainian army, fighting as part of Kharkiv's 113th Territorial Defence Brigade, and was made a junior sergeant.

In 2023 she withdrew from the frontline, having suffered injuries amid a Russian artillery attack on her unit's position, and was appointed as an English-language spokesperson for the TDF.

In this role, she launched a YouTube show entitled 'Russia Hates the Truth' which she reviewed and debunked Moscow's disinformation campaigns, catching the eye of Russian media controllers.

Russian authorities added Ashton-Cirillo to a 'register of extremists and terrorists' and opened a criminal case against her in 2024, months after she said Russian journalists affiliated with state media would be 'hunted down'.

She was sentenced yesterday in absentia by the court in Donetsk, meaning that she would be liable to face the full jail term if captured by Russian forces.

Portrait of Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, first transgender servicewoman of the 113th Kharkiv Defence Brigade

Ashton-Cirillo joined Volodymyr Zelensky's war effort shortly after its outset in February 2022. She was engaged in frontline fighting before suffering injuries due to an artillery attack

The former journalist was injured on the frontlines and subsequently became an English-language spokesperson for Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces

Ashton-Cirillo courted controversy in August 2023 after her work with the Ukrainian TDF was brought to the attention of US Vice President JD Vance, who at the time was a Republican senator.

Vance penned a letter to then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines in which he accused the junior sergeant of threatening 'physical violence to anyone who circulates Russian propaganda' during a video message she had made while in post.

He also wanted to know whether Ashton-Cirillo was being 'compensated using American resources' and questioned whether US officials had 'reason to believe Ukrainian forces or intelligence services are planning to commit acts of violence against those who engage in 'Russian propaganda'.'

But Ashton-Cirillo went on to release a follow-up video amid Vance's speculation in which she told viewers that 'Russian devils' would 'pay for their crimes', with Ukrainian TDF branding in the background.

The release of the clip coincided with a visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and was not approved by the Ukrainian TDF, leading to her suspension.

Speaking to DailyMail.com in 2023, Ashton-Cirillo admitted she had not sought approval from her superiors before posting her response to Vance.

'Russia Hates The Truth doesn't require anything to be vetted - I and the TDF team have editorial control over that. It's meant to be as over the top as possible.

'It was my response to Senator Vance in uniform in front of the TDF logo without approval which was the reason for my suspension.

'I told my team that I was going to do it, but given that it was something as sensitive as a response to a US Senator in a public setting, it needed to be approved.

'I couldn't believe it that there was a US Senator trying to unmask me. It wasn't my message to him that was a problem, it was that President Zelensky was on a trip to the US at the time and I probably should have held back in responding.'

She was later cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated, but quickly moved into another unspecified role in Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Ashton-Cirillo remains in Ukraine as of May 2025 and is engaged in promoting fundraising and crowdfunding campaigns to help Ukrainian soldiers wounded on the frontlines.

Ashton-Cirillo courted controversy in August 2023 after her work with the Ukrainian TDF was brought to the attention of US Vice President JD Vance, who at the time was a Republican senator

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo said her first battle resembled 'something straight out of World War I'

Ashton-Cirillo first arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 to work as a reporter before enlisting in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic

The Russian-controlled court took umbrage with Ashton-Cirillo's vow to 'hunt down' Russian state-affiliated journalists and allegations that Russian forces had used biological weapons in operations in Ukraine and Syria.

A court statement on the ruling against Ashton-Cirillo was published yesterday.

It reads: 'The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic has issued a verdict in absentia in the criminal case against 47-year-old US citizen Sarah Ashton-Cirillo.

'She was found guilty under paragraph 'd' of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation), Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict).

'The court established that... the mercenary arrived in Ukraine, voluntarily joined the International Legion, and was then assigned to the 113th Territorial Defense Brigade of Ukraine. She underwent military training at training bases and was provided with firearms, ammunition, uniforms, and special equipment. Ashton-Cirillo took part in combat operations on the side of the Ukrainian security forces against servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

'In August 2023, she prepared a video story, which she posted on the Internet, about the alleged stockpiles of biological weapons created in Russia and the use of chemical weapons by the Russian Armed Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as on the territory of Ukraine during a special military operation.

'The mercenary has been placed on an international wanted list, and the court has chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention in absentia against her.

'Taking into account the position of the state prosecutor, the court sentenced Ashton-Cirillo in absentia to 20 years of imprisonment to be served in a general regime penal colony.'
A superyacht worker has admitted to abducting his ex-girlfriend and pulling a knife on her after she broke up with him.

Ethan Davis, 24, appeared in the NSW District Court on Wednesday flanked by his family to plead guilty to domestic violence offences committed after the breakdown of his relationship two years ago.

He and his family became aggressive as they left court, shoving and grabbing media while wielding umbrellas.

The superyacht worker was shepherded by his father and sister while his mother called the media pack 'vermin'.

Earlier, the court heard how Davis was unable to accept it when his co-worker broke up with him in August 2023, according to the agreed facts.

He called the woman more than 200 times on various applications and bombarded her with messages, telling his former partner there would be consequences if she didn't respond and saying he would break into her house to get to her.

When Davis threatened to release a naked video of the woman if she didn't answer her phone, she warned him she would go to police with screenshots of his messages if he persisted.

The next night, he dressed in all black and wore black latex gloves as he lay in wait for her to finish work in Sydney about 9pm.

Ethan Davis, 24, is pictured outside court in Sydney on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to domestic violence offences against his ex-girlfriend

Davis and family members became involved in an altercation with media while leaving court

Davis was captured on CCTV abducting his ex-girlfriend in September 2023 after she broke up with him

'You're going to get in the car,' Davis said as he grabbed her while she resisted and screamed for help.

The woman broke free, but he chased her down and covered her mouth as he shoved her, kicking and panicking, into the car.

While driving, Davis pulled a multi-tool from his pocket with the knife blade extended and told her: 'Co-operate, it doesn't have to be this bad'.

He told his ex-girlfriend he was wearing gloves because he didn't want to 'leave fingerprints' and forced her to delete all the messages he sent her on various platforms, as well as the screenshots.

The woman was crying and shaking throughout the ordeal of more than 40 minutes.

'It's very serious domestic violence offending and it represents a very significant escalation,' the prosecutor said when advocating for Davis to be taken into police custody.

'It was an attempt to cover up previous crimes committed by the offender in circumstances where he clearly didn't accept that the victim wanted the relationship to end.'

But his barrister David Carroll argued it was not a 'typical' domestic violence situation because Davis had acted 'reprehensibly' out of fear of losing his job.

Several members of the media were shoved by family members during the altercation

Pictured are text messages sent by Davis to his ex-girlfriend in which he threatened to break into her house. 'You do not understand, this is not going to stop,' he wrote

Mr Carroll disagreed with the prosecutor's conclusion his client would inevitably face prison time for the offences, pointing to his clean record and attempts to rehabilitate himself.

Judge Stephen Hanley said he was 'concerned' about the offences but allowed bail to continue before sentencing later in 2025.

The court heard that Davis' family will provide 'powerful' statements when he returns to court for a sentencing hearing on August 29.

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A woman who took her sisters to court in a bid to keep their late mother's 420,000 home for herself and her two 'emotional support dogs' has lost her case.

Sharon Duggan took the legal fight against her sisters Brenda, 55 and Ann, 60, after their mother Agnes died in 2018 to block them from the inheritance.

Despite being entitled to a third of the estate, Sharon sued for a larger share under the Inheritance Act, claiming her medical conditions made it impossible for her to live in a flat and that she needed to stay in the family home for life.

The 49-year-old cited a wide range of health problems, including PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and long Covid, and told the court her two rescue dogs 'help with her mental and emotional well-being.'

The judge accepted that 'hyper-vigilant and sound sensitive' Sharon has 'particular issues,' but ultimately ruled that a flat could not be ruled out as 'suitable' accommodation for her.

Although Ann remained neutral in the dispute, therapist Brenda fought back and has now won, after Judge Alan Johns threw out Sharon's claim at Central London County Court.

The court heard most of the estate was tied up in the property in Crawley, Sussex, where Sharon had cared for Agnes during her final years with dementia.

After Agnes died aged 78, the three sisters ended up in court when Sharon refused to move out, citing her acute physical and emotional needs and the plight of her two rescue dogs.

Sharon Duggan took her sisters to court after their mother Agnes died in 2018 to block them from the inheritance.

The court heard most of the estate was tied up in the Crawley, Sussex property, where Sharon had cared for Agnes during her final years with dementia

She insisted that her needs outweighed her sisters' right to get the inheritance they are due, also arguing that it would be hard to find alternative accommodation for both her and her two therapeutic dogs, which 'help with her mental and emotional well-being'.

Sharon argued she had 'sacrificed' her career to become a full-time carer and claimed her mother intended to change her will in her favour.

She also said she had spent 30,000 of her own money on vet bills for her mothers dog, a Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross, called Lady.

In her written arguments to the court, Sharon insisted that 'psychologically she could not cope with living in a flat again'.

'She is anxious that neighbours may cause disturbances and impact upon her ability to sleep.

'She now has two rescue dogs, which help with her mental and emotional well-being, but which make finding a suitable alternative accommodation difficult.

'The claimant maintains that moving from the property would affect her mental health greatly and that having to move into rented or temporary accommodation would further affect her health negatively,' she said.

In the witness box, she insisted that downsizing to a flat would be too much for her, telling the court: 'I have two dogs to consider and I am hyper-vigilant and sound-sensitive.

One of the sisters, Ann Duggan seen outside Central London County Court

One of the sisters, Ann Duggan seen outside Central London County Court

'A flat would not be suitable due to the noise levels. I would be better off living in a car, I couldn't cope with it.'

Sharon wanted the house transferred to her outright or the right to a life interest, or alternatively an order allowing her to buy her mother's old property for a small sum to be raised with a mortgage.

But Brenda, who formerly ran a bioresonance therapy company and a business providing gluten-free altar bread to food-intolerant Catholics, defended the claim, insisting Sharon and her pets will be fine in a flat.

Ruling against Sharon, Judge Johns said: 'It's my judgement that there has been no failure to make reasonable financial provision for her.

'I am not satisfied there was any promise that the property would be Sharon's - and certainly not a promise that Sharon was confident would be carried out.'

He said Sharon had moved into her mother's house while in an 'excellent' financial position, although her finances are now badly depleted.

She also lived with Agnes rent free and, although she had spent time caring for her mother while in declining health, the court's role wasn't simply to 'reward meritorious conduct'.

He said: 'Given the circumstances in which Sharon occupied the property with Agnes, there's no moral claim strong enough to deprive her sisters of their share of this modest estate.

'I don't rule out flats as suitable accommodation,' he added, also noting that Sharon should be able to work once the court case is behind her.

'As to her ability to work I don't accept that she is unable to work at all - or at least she will be after this litigation is dealt with,' he told the court, adding that Sharon herself had accepted in court that she hopes eventually to work again.

He also rejected her claim that Brenda was estranged from their mother towards the end of her life.

'Brenda told me that she tried to see her mother and call her, but that that wasn't permitted by Sharon,' he said.

'That evidence included that her telephone calls were blocked and I accept all that evidence.'

'This is a modest estate and Agnes had two other daughters to think of,' he noted, adding that the money Sharon claimed to have spent on Lady's vet bills was an overestimate.

'Essentially, provision was made for Sharon by giving her one third of the estate.'

The decision means the three sisters are each due a third of their mother's estate, although Sharon's share could be wiped out by the court bills for the trial.
Labour's U-turn on fuel payments will happen in time for more pensioners to benefit this winter, it was revealed today - but not all retirees will have the handouts restored.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves this morning said planned changes to the means-testing of winter fuel payments would be in place ahead of the colder months.

'More people will get winter fuel payment this winter,' she said, as she was quizzed about Labour's plans to partially reverse its previous cuts.

But, despite expectations she will provide more details at her spending review next week, Ms Reeves added she could not yet say how the U-turn will be funded.

'We will set out how everything will be paid for at the Budget in the autumn,' the Chancellor said, when asked about potential further tax rises.

Ms Reeves spoke shortly after pensions minister Torsten Bell had admitted there was no prospect of returning to a universal winter fuel payment in England and Wales.

He told MPs that 'most people agree... it's not a good idea that we have a system paying a few hundreds of pounds to millionaires'.

The payments - worth up to 300 - had previously been available to all pensioners prior to Ms Reeves' controversial announcement, made last July, that they were being means-tested.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said planned changes to the means-testing of winter fuel payments would be in place ahead of the colder months

But pensions minister Torsten Bell ruled out winter fuel payments being returned to all pensioners in England and Wales

Sir Keir Starmer last month announced a partial U-turn and said he wants to ensure 'more pensioners are eligible' for the payments 'as the economy improves'

Last July - as she blamed a 22bilion 'black hole' in the public finances - the Chancellor said the handouts would be restricted to only those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

Her decision to axe fuel payments for around 10 million pensioners - saving an estimated 1.5billion per year - sparked outrage and dire warnings from charities about the impact of the cut.

Following the fierce backlash, the Prime Minister last month pledged to partially undo the controversial cuts.

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs on 21 May he wants to ensure 'more pensioners are eligible' for the payments 'as the economy improves'.

His announcement of a partial U-turn came after Labour lost the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform UK and suffered a poor set of local election results.

Labour activists said the decision to drastically pare back winter fuel payments came up repeatedly on the doorstep during those contests.

Speaking in Rochdale this morning, Ms Reeves confirmed she would alter the level of means-testing in time for more pensioners to get payments this coming winter.

But Ms Reeves dodged on whether she would announce the full details of Labour's U-turn at her spending review on 11 June.

'I had to make decisions last year to restore sound public finances,' the Chancellor said, as she defended her intitial cut.

'And that involved a number of difficult decisions around welfare, taxation and also public spending.

'Including the decision to means-test winter fuel payments so only the poorest pensioners - those on pension credit - got it.

'We have now put our public finances on a firmer footing, the economy is in a better shape, but we have also listened to the concerns people had about the level of the means-test.

'And so we will be making changes to that, they will be in place so pensioners are paid this coming winter.

'We'll announce the detail of that and the level of that as soon as we possibly can.

'But people should be in no doubt the means-test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter.'

Asked if she would tell the public if she planned to fund her commitments by raising taxes or cutting spending in other parts of Whitehall, the Chancellor said: 'As we have been clear, on winter fuel we will set out how we will fund that at the next fiscal event.

'We will set out how everything will be paid for at the Budget in the autumn but it's important that everything that we do is funded, because that's how people know that we can afford it.'

Earlier, speaking to the House of Commons' Work and Pensions Committee, Mr Bell said the Government was still deciding how to make more pensioners eligible for the cash.

But he ruled out winter fuel payments being returned to all retirees.

'Directly on your question of is there any prospect of a universal winter fuel payment, the answer is no,' he said.

'The principle I think most people, 95 per cent of people agree, that it's not a good idea that we have a system paying a few hundreds of pounds to millionaires.

'And so we're not going to be continuing with that. But we will be looking at making more pensioners eligible.'

Asked what work had been done with HMRC to assess the practicality of recouping payments from higher rate taxpayers, as happens with child benefit, Mr Bell said: 'We're looking at all of the policy options for how this eligibility can be extended, and when I've got more to tell you about that I absolutely will.'

The pensions minister also insisted there was 'no differential effects on their health outcomes' last winter for those particularly affected by the changes to winter fuel payments.

'First of all, we saw negative excess deaths, so fewer deaths than normal, that's obviously due to a wide range of factors,' he told MPs.

'But if we look at the cohorts particularly affected by changes in the winter fuel payments, we see no differential effects on their health outcomes over the course of last winter. That's obviously partly because there's lots of wider support.

'No one is asking people to wait for changes to the policy on winter fuel payment for help with energy bills.

'We've already been getting on with making sure we're extending the household support fund, raising the state pension significantly above inflation, getting on with the longer term answers in terms of a warm homes programme.

'Help is happening all over the Government's policy agenda but in this particular area we do want to help more pensioners in future.'

Reform leader Nigel Farage recently vowed to fully reverse the winter fuel payment cuts made by Labour.

But, despite campaigning against Labour's cuts to winter fuel payments, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has not promised to return it to every retiree.

'I've always said millionaires should not get the winter fuel payment,' she said last month.

'That is not right. But we shouldn't be taking it away from people who end up below the breadline after it's gone.

'So what we need is a system that can make sure that all of those people who do need it get it.'

Responding to Ms Reeves' comments this morning, Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper - her party's Treasury spokesperson - said: 'This whole debacle has caused needless misery for millions of pensioners.

'We will look at the details of the changes at the spending review next week.

'In the mean time the Chancellor should apologise to all those pensioners who had to freeze this winter because of this senseless policy.'
An unholy row has torn apart a previously blissful church congregation in a small town in Cheshire after the appointment of a controversial rector who has allegedly caused so much division some parishioners get a nosebleed talking about it.

Rev Dr Janine Arnott was appointed to her role in Malpas, near the Welsh border, in June 2022, and presided over her congregation at 14th-century church St Oswald's as it dwindled from 60 to just ten.

Now the feud between the reverend and the town has become so heated an entire choir has been sacked, a bishop left furious, poison pen letters have littered the town and the chief bell ringer removed from their post.

The row escalated so severely that Right Reverend Bishop Mark Tanner has sent a letter warning of the 'devastating' effects to upset parishioners - and police have even become involved.

The last straw for locals is said to have come in May when, during VE Day celebrations, Rev Arnott was accused of refusing to allow a village choir to sing a rendition of I Vow to Thee My Country in the churchyard.

The discontent began during a meeting with the church choir in 2023, in which Rev Arnott told members they could no longer sing the Agnus Dei, which is a prayer that often precedes Communion, in Latin due to canon rules.

Resident Diana Webber resigned her position over the disagreement, and reported Rev Arnott 'appeared to have taken a dislike to the choir.'

A PCC meeting held soon afterwards on Palm Sunday resulted in a vote of no confidence in Rev Arnott, which she lost by a landslide, led by disgruntled parishioner Liane Smith, 65.

Rev Dr Janine Arnott was appointed to her role in Malpas, near the Welsh border, in June 2022

Now the feud between the reverend and the town has become so heated an entire choir has been sacked, a bishop left furious, poison pen letters have littered the town and the chief bell ringer removed from their post

Following the meeting, Ms Smith was accused of attempting to publish minutes from the meeting in the parish newsletter, but this was vetoed by Rev Arnott.

Ms Smith told the Times: 'They were shortened minutes, but they had the salient facts in. Just to fit on an A5 page in the back of the parish news. And that was considered 'vexatious'.'

Rev Arnott reportedly then asked Ms Smith to step back from her roles related to the church and as editor of the parish newsletter - although is said to have made clear she was still welcome to attend church.

'I thought that was quite excessive and had nothing to do with the fact that I had published, or attempted to publish the minutes,' she said.

'I left the church at that point [ ] My husband and I have been married for 45 years and have been churchgoers for that whole time. Now we no longer go to any church.'

Ms Smith's departure prompted a flood of church laypersons to leave their positions, leaving Rev Arnott ever more isolated.

Malpas residents have reported being distressed by the feud that has taken over their once-peaceful town, with one telling journalists they couldn't talk about it without getting a nosebleed.

Since her appointment, the rector has been accused of banning individuals from the church choir - which has since been disbanded - removing chief bellringer Ben Kellett and barring access to the bell tower with broomsticks.

Local Dr Gregory Williams, 60, said: 'Within a short period of time, the director of music resigned and the choir left. A while later, the tower captain was locked out of the bell tower with no explanation given and the bell tower door was barricaded.

'The bells fell silent. The congregation numbers soon collapsed, and at the current time, very little money is coming into the church.'

The row escalated so severely that Right Reverend Bishop Mark Tanner (right) has sent a letter warning of the 'devastating' effects to upset parishioners - and police have even become involved

Then this Easter, anonymous poison pen letters and flyers bearing the seal of the Diocese of Chester appeared on cars and were stuck to the walls of the Cathedral of Cheshire.

They read: 'Dear Bishop Mark. Please do your moral duty and protect your flock. We shouldn't have to keep toeing the line only to get demonised by you. It's disgusting.

'You wasted our time and kept your hands clean for three years now at our expense. You know it, as do we.'

Bishop Tanner was left so angry by the move he issued a letter to Malpas residents slamming them as 'anonymous, factually incorrect, libellous, and sought by forgery to impersonate a bishop.'

He added: 'The impact on any future recruitment of clergy to serve in Malpas is devastating.

'We who have a long-term concern for the life and work of St Oswald's Church need to realise how this behaviour will appear to any candidates in the future who are considering moving to serve the village.

'If we wish to present a different image, we must take action to express the kind of community we believe ourselves to be. I am, of course, aware that there are other issues of concern in the church and village, and am fully engaged with every valid concern that is raised.'

The Church's legal team also wrote to the PCC and accused critics of misogynism.

'Of particular alarm is the misogynist tone of the letter - it is difficult not to comprehend the inference that your lawfully appointed incumbent is akin to a witch with a broomstick and the village should attend an 'Open Forum' on the matter,' it read.

'This isn't childish or petty, it is unlawful and inexcusable harassment.'

The Diocese of Chester said: 'We are concerned and deeply saddened by the ongoing tensions within parts of the Malpas church community which have presented significant challenges within the parish. The Bishop of Chester has been fully involved in responding to these matters and actively seeking a resolution.

'It is entirely appropriate for parishioners to raise concerns or seek clarification on leadership and pastoral matters, however there appears to be an intention by some to cause damage, disruption, and division.

'The police and other authorities are now involved due to the nature and content of these activities. The Rector is receiving appropriate support and will not be commenting publicly.

'We continue to pray for healing and understanding within the parish and ask all involved to engage respectfully and constructively.'

A spokesperson for Cheshire Constabulary has asked anyone with information about the case to contact them.

A spokesperson for the Force said: 'We can confirm that we have received reports of harassment related to the Church in Malpas.

'The allegations were reported on Sunday April 20 and enquiries are in the early stages at this time.

'Anyone with any information is asked to contact www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us quoting IML 2066815.'
The disappearance of 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop three weeks ago continues to grip Australia, with the teenager's housemate arrested hours after he broke his silence to reveal details about the last time he saw her.

James Wood, 34, is being questioned by police in connection with the 17-year-old's disappearance after she decided to move out of the house they shared in rural Queensland.

Wood and his partner Tanika Bromley, who had taken the teenager into their home in the weeks before her disappearance, drove the youngster to Bundaberg Airport on May 15.

The teen, who lived with the couple after claiming she was kicked out by her mother, was due to travel to visit her boyfriend in Western Australia after texting her aunt in late April that she wanted to 'get out of this hell hole'.

But she never made it to the plane, with no trace of the teenager or her luggage and no activity on her phone or bank accounts since she left Wood and Bromley's car.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia just hours before his arrest, Wood described a tense and emotional morning before Pheobe got out of his car in an area adjacent to the airport.

Wood was taken into custody on Wednesday, with no charges initially brought against him. His arrest came shortly after police announced they were calling off the search for Pheobe.

MailOnline is not suggesting Wood was involved in Pheobe's disappearance, and likewise does not suggest Ms Bromley played any role in it either.

Pheobe Bishop disappeared without a trace after she failed to board a flight from Bundaberg to Western Australia, via Brisbane, on May 15

James Wood has been living out of his car after Pheobe went missing

Wood is understood to have been living out of his car when he was arrested, with the Hyundai he drove Pheobe to the airport in seized by police before being returned a few days later.

His proprty in the town of Gin Gin was sealed off and combed by detectives after Pheobe's disappearance, with forensics teams reportedly finding 11 dead dogs among the piles of rubbish.

Speaking to the Mail from his car just hours before his arrest, Wood described how Pheobe had been excited for days about visiting her boyfriend, but teenage nerves and 'heightened emotions' turned the morning into chaos.

Wood claimed that at their home in the rural Gin Gin that morning, Pheobe was stressing about what to pack, what to wear and making the flight on time.

'She wanted to get up at 5am but I said I wasn't waking up that early, it's not that far.

'Then she slept through her alarm and when she got up she was furious.

'She gets like that sometimes and usually we can calm her down but she was escalating and then she smashed the TV,' Wood claimed.

'After that she started shouting about not having anything to wear and she was so worked up about seeing her boyfriend for the first time and she wanted to look good.

'And I get it, she is a teenager and she thinks he may be the love of her life, so I understand.

'I grabbed some grey brand new trackies I had and I threw them to her and said wear these and first she said she didn't want to take them as they were mine but then she said 'OK' and put them on.'

Wood claimed emotional outbursts were not unusual for the 17-year-old, but they had become more frequent in the weeks leading up to her trip.

'She does have a temper but she is not a bad kid, she is actually a great kid, she is kind and smart and has good manners but she was living with us because she couldn't live at home anymore,' he said.

The Gin Gin property where Pheobe was living before she vanished without a trace

'There were too many fights, too much had gone on and she is just a kid.

'If I had a little sister and all she had was her car to live in then I would want someone to help her.

'I had known her for almost a year when she moved in with us four months ago and Tanika worked with her as a carer so they knew each other well.'

While Pheobe is said to have been worried about the their departure being late, Wood said there was still plenty of time to make her flight from Bundaberg, which was around 10am.

He quickly ran to the local IGA to grab energy drinks and returned to the house around 8am.

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, with Bromley driving and Pheobe in the back seat.

Minutes later, about 8.30am, before theyd left Gin Gin for Bundaberg, Pheobe called her boyfriend to let him know she was on the way.

Daily Mail Australia previously reported the boyfriend claimed he heard shouting during the call.

The boyfriend later told a friend: 'They were both yelling at her and I couldn't really hear her.'

Wood doesn't dispute the claim and said that Phoebe was still complaining she didn't have time to do her make up and was worried she was going to miss the flight.

'We just wanted to get her checked in and thought if we can just get there she will calm down.

'Tanika grabbed her makeup bag next to her and passed it back and told her to take anything she needed.

'Her plane was stopping in Brisbane and we told her that the airport had everything she needed and she can take her time and do the makeup in the toilets.

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, Wood claims

'But she wanted to look nice for the flight first and wouldn't let it go.'

As they approached Airport Drive, less than a kilometre from the terminal, the argument continued, Wood said.

Wood told Bromley to pull the car over and they got out and walked a distance away to give Pheobe some space to collect herself.

'We wanted to give her five minutes - give her her own space to do what she needed to do,' he said.

'We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that's about how long we were gone.'

Wood said when he returned to the car, Pheobe and her bag were gone.

He assumed that she had walked the short remaining distance to the terminal. The couple then drove toward the airport to check, he said, but they didnt see her along the way.

Wood said he told Tanika Bromley (pictured) to pull over so they could give Pheobe some space to cool off. After stepping away for a few minutes, he claimed he returned to find her and her large duffle bag gone

By the time they reached airport drive, less then 1km from their destination Wood says the arguing hadnt subsided so he told Bromley to pull over into a layby

'You wouldn't miss her carrying that thing, if you drove past her and saw her, you'd notice,' he said.

Wood claims the pair then waited outside the small terminal for some time but did not go inside.

'I said to Tanika if I go in it will just escalate things again but she said if she went in it would look like we were parenting her.'

They then decided to check surrounding roads in case she had walked off in another direction.

'We drove around and as far as we thought she could have made it and then drove a bit further in case.'

Wood claimed this would have been the moment when CCTV footage picked up his car heading towards the Good Night Scrub National Park.

Wood insisted that he did not hurt Pheobe and assumed she had boarded the flight.

He said it was not until the following afternoon when he received a text message from Pheobe's sister that he realised she was missing.
Keir Starmer has lined up the 'defence bureaucrat' head of the Royal Air Force as the new professional head of Britain's Armed Forces as he seeks to make the country 'war ready'.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, an RAF engineer, is reportedly in line to be the next Chief of Defence Staff.

He is said to be be known as the 'money man' because of his ability to keep an eye on military finances.

It comes as the Prime Minister launches a major investment in the UK's defences amid a growing threat from Russia and China.

This week he committed to spend 2.5 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3 per cent over the next parliament, a timetable which could stretch to 2034.

However, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte is thought to be pushing for allies to commit to spending 3.5 per cent on the military, with a further 1.5 per cent on defence-related measures, as the alliance responds to Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine.

The Times reported that an official announcement is expected shortly.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, an RAF engineer, is reportedly in line to be the next Chief of Defence Staff.

Sir Richard (with Sir Keir this week) is said to be be known as the 'money man' because of his ability to keep an eye on military finances.

The Strategic Defence Review published earlier this week recommended a greater focus on new technology, including drones and artificial intelligence.

The Ministry of Defence announced a 5 billion investment in the 'kit of the future', after the publication of the review on Monday.

The funding includes 4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra 1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers.

In addition to investment in drones and AI, the Government has announced an additional 1 billion for the development of 'directed energy weapons' (DEWs) during the current Parliament.

This includes the DragonFire laser scheduled to be fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from 2027, with a similar system provided for the Army by the end of the decade.

DragonFire and other DEWs are intended to provide a lower-cost form of air defence against targets including drones, costing just 10 per shot compared with the thousands of pounds it costs to fire existing weapons.

The current CDS is Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who has been in the role since 2021.

According to his biography on the Government website, Sir Richard joined the RAF in 1989 as a university cadet, and served as deputy chief of the defence staff from 2019 to 2022.

The Ministry of Defence said: 'This is speculation. The appointment process is ongoing and any announcement will be made in the usual way.'

The current CDS is Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who has been in the role since 2021.
This is the terrifying moment a buzzard swoops down and attacks a woman in her dressing gown and slippers, as the bird continues to terrorise a village.

The bird has terrorised villagers in Havering-atte-Bower for months and has forced one local primary school to temporarily ban pupils from going outside during break time.

The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children is believed to be part of a mating pair.

Local resident and parent Louise Whittle, narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, while in her dressing gown and slippers.

Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mum's head.

She quickly ducks and manages to run away from the bird, which landed on a fence nearby.

Louise said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people.'

Children at Dame Tipping Primary School 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.

Louise Whittle had a near miss encounter with the dive-bombing buzzard

A video shows Louise, still in her dressing gown and slippers, as the birds swoops down on her

The divebombing buzzard has been nicknamed 'Brenda' by schoolchildren

But, as buzzards are protected, the school says 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban.

Louise said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly'.

She added: '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.'

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 Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside 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 has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds.

Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for Louise Whittle's head

Warning notice placed in the woodland in Havering-atte-Bower warning people against the bird

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 bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park.

Ms Dix 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.

'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 been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue.

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.

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.
Police say they have found the body of missing British tourist Greg Monks a week after he vanished during a stag do holiday in Portugal.

Mr Monks, a plant mechanic from Glasgow, was last seen in the early hours of May 28 during the first night out of a five-day stag do he was on with friends in the resort town of Albufeira.

The 38-year-old, who was due to be a groomsman at his friend's wedding, told pals he was heading back to his holiday apartment but was not seen or heard from again.

After a week-long search, a body was discovered in a ravine in the Cerro da Aguia area west of the town, near where he was last seen.

The body was being removed from the 'steep wasteland' area this afternoon by firefighters and will be taken for an autopsy.

Portugal's Policia Judiciaria police force confirmed in an official statement this afternoon: 'The PJ has located the body of the missing Scottish tourist in Albufeira.

'The disappearance of the 38-year-old UK citizen was reported to the Albufeira GNR at 8pm on May 28 by another man who was accompanying him on holiday in the area.

'After carrying out various enquiries and establishing the presumed route taken in the early hours of that day since the last sighting, the body was located on steep wasteland.

'After the appropriate judicial inspection, the body will be removed and taken to the nearest Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy.'

Mr Monks's family launched an appeal to find him last week and flew out to help in the search in recent days.

Portuguese police did not say in its statement whether his family had been informed but relatives are understood to have been asked to attend an Algarve police station before the PJ went public with the discovery of the body.

A body has been found in the bottom of a ravine as Portuguese police search for missing Brit Greg Monks, a 38-year-old plant mechanic from Glasgow (pictured)

Mr Monks was last seen in the early hours of May 28 during the first night out of a five-day stag do (pictured with girlfriend Nicole Ashleigh Kelso)

The Glaswegian was last seen in the party resort of Albufeira (pictured)

The force has not yet said how he died. More information is expected to be released after the autopsy takes place but while the hunt was still on for Greg, police said there was nothing pointing to his disappearance being a crime.

Mr Monks's sisters had said police told them that their brother was last spotted on CCTV in the quieter residential area of Cerro de Aguia  around four miles from the Novochoro Apartments he had checked into.

The hill with residential properties is also more than an hour's walk west of the Albufeira Strip, where Mr Monks is thought to have left his friends.

His family had been requesting information, CCTV and doorbell camera footage from homeowners in that area.

Correio da Manha reported that 'all scenarios are open and the possibility of an accident has not been ruled out'.

Rutherglen's MP Michael Shanks tweeted: 'Awful news from Portugal on the tragic death of my constituent Greg Monks.

'My thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

'The FCDO and Embassy are continuing to offer whatever support they can to the family as they bring him home.'

His family and police are yet to comment but the sisters appeared on Sky News yesterday launching a fresh plea for information as the search enters its second week.

Carolyn said: 'As a family we're worried sick. It's so unlike him, but myself and Jillian are just trying to hold each other up back home.'

Jillian added: 'He deserves to be home. We need him home. He need to be back with his family, and it's unimaginable if he's just lying somewhere that we can't find him.

'[Greg] is quiet, works hard, he's happy in his relationship with his girlfriend. He's a great uncle and godfather to our kids. He's a real family man, really family oriented.'

The sisters pleaded with people in their area to get in contact with local cops if they have any information about their brother's disappearance.

'If you see his picture, and you know anything, get in touch. If you live in the area, or the surrounding area, and you have home security please check it and get in touch', said Jillian.

She added that she was heartened by people who have already begun searching in their spare time.

'We're getting lots of support online, especially even people over there who are using the last days of their holidays to go up to this area and look for them. People are risking themselves to look in areas they shouldn't have to look', she said.

The sisters said they were looking for information as to whether he took a taxi from his night out, or whether he walked over to the affluent area, as that would determine whether the search effort needed to be moved.

'We want to know if he got a taxi there, if he used his card. He only had his card with him. We want to know if he got a taxi there or are we wasting time searching this area', Jillian said.

'[Local police] told us it would be going to national police, but we won't have a meeting with them or an update for a day or two, and time is not what we have'. she added.

The 38-year-old had been reported missing and police were looking for him

Greg - pictured with his girlfriend who his sisters say he is in a 'happy relationship with'

The family feared Mr Monks became lost in the unfamiliar surroundings and may have had an accident.

As of yesterday, hospitals have been checked without success but police were not thought to have yet carried out an exhaustive search of medical centres.

This would involve officers going round wards to check on patients admitted without proper identification.

Ms Monks has described her brother as a 'really hard worker' and a 'quiet guy', whose disappearance immediately 'threw up a red flag'.

She said he has a Thor-type Viking unfinished tattoo at the top of his right arm which would be visible if he was wearing a vest top or had no shirt on.

Ms Kelso is said to have checked through Mr Monks' case to see what was missing. As such, the family believe he was wearing a navy blue Nike shorts and top set when he disappeared.

A GoFundMe appeal set up on behalf of the family to help support the search had reached more than 21,550 on Wednesday morning.

Mr Monks' other sister, Carlyn, also pleaded with people online as she shared the family's appeal for help.

She wrote: 'Please keep sharing and help get my brother home.'

This is a breaking story, more to follow.
They are relied upon by fitness fanatics to record their heart rate, pace and even changes in elevation during a jog.

But smartwatches shouldn't be relied on to count calories while exercising, scientists claim.

The devices are not accurate at calculating how many units of energy have been lost during a workout, academics believe.

Researcher Dr Cailbhe Doherty claims there is a 'high degree of error' in the methods used.

This means that watches may tell users they have burnt 1,000 calories when they have actually only burnt 300.

The UK accounted for 4.4 per cent of the global smartwatch market in 2022, according to data from business consultancy Grand View Research, and is projected to lead the European market in terms of revenue in 2030.

But Dr Doherty said the devices aren't all bad - and are accurate at measuring heart rates and GPS.

The academic, who investigates the accuracy of wearable consumer devices at University College Dublin, was asked on the CrowdScience podcast if smartwatches were accurate at counting calories.

Dr Cailbhe Doherty said a recent systematic review of smartwatches found the margin of error can be between 30 per cent and 150 per cent (file picture)

Dr Doherty added that while smartwatches could accurately measure heart rate or GPS, they were not as good at recording 'energy expenditure', such as sleep patterns (file picture)

The lecturer and assistant professor at the university's School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sport Science said: 'The evidence would suggest that they're not.

'And that's likely because the way they estimate, the way most smartwatches would estimate calories, is using accelerometry by itself, or accelerometry and photoplethysmography.

'So measuring heart rate and some variation of physical activity through movement.

'Now that's very different to actually measuring someone's inspired and expired gas, which is what you would use to measure calories in the first place.

'Essentially, the signal is so far removed from the original biometric rhythm that there's such a high degree of error that can be introduced that way.'

Smartwatches measure your heart rate and step count and use that to come up with a guess of how many calories have been burn.

This estimate can depend on different assumptions made by the algorithm of the device.

Dr Doherty said a recent systematic review of smartwatches found that the margin of error can be between 30 per cent and 150 per cent.

As an example, he agreed that a watch may tell users that the burnt 1,000 calories when they have only burnt 300.

The academic continued: 'When it comes to something like heart rate or GPS, yeah, accuracy can be really good.

'But energy expenditure, the number of calories you burn, your sleep, smartwatches aren't as good at that stuff.

'If you think about the number of signals that a smartwatch has to measure to measure sleep, any error in those individual signals, any error in your heart rate, your respiratory rate, the amount you're moving, all of those compound up.

Smartwatches have become an important part of a runners' kit

'That's probably why smartwatches aren't as good at measuring your sleep, because the separation from the original signal being sleep and the output, your sleep score, the time you spend sleeping, it's much larger.'

Walking 10,000 steps a day has traditionally been seen as the holy grail for staying fit and healthy. But a study led by the University of Granada reported in 2023 that the number has 'no scientific basis'.

This research instead concludes that 8,000 was 'the optimal number of (daily) steps at which most people obtain the greatest benefits', and suggested that walking faster could provide additional health benefits.

According to Grand View Research, the US-based consultancy, the UK smartwatch market generated a revenue of 1.24bn in 2022 and is expected to reach 2.16bn by 2030, with the market expected to grow annually by 7.2 per cent.
A husband has been jailed for life for murdering his wife and hiding her body under the stairs of their home.

Richard Satchwell, 58, denied murdering Tina Satchwell between March 19 and March 20, 2017.

But last Friday, the jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin delivered a unanimous guilty verdict after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberation.

At the sentencing hearing today, the victim's family described her as a kind and gentle woman who loved animals.

Tina's cousin, Sarah Howard, said she was murdered 'by someone who claimed to love her.'

'The emotional toll of her loss is something I will carry with me always,' she added.

Tina's half-sister Lorraine Howard, spoke about how Tina's body was buried in plastic in their own home, saying it 'sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it.'

Adding: 'I will never be able to forgive Richard Satchwell for what he has done.'

Richard Satchwell, 58, (centre) was convicted of murdering his wife Tina at the home they shared in County Cork, Ireland

Tina Satchwell's remains were found buried beneath a concrete floor under a set of stairs in the family home in October 2023

Over the years which followed, he made a dozen media appearances in which he spoke about the morning which Tina left and never returned. Pictured: Satchwell being interviewed by Paul on TV3 News

Tina's half-sister Lorraine Howard, pictured, said: 'I will never be able to forgive Richard Satchwell for what he has done'

Satchwell appeared in court wearing a light blue shirt.

The court heard the couple married in the UK on Tinas 20th birthday before settling in Co Cork, first in Fermoy and later moving to Youghal in 2016.

During the trial, it was heard that on March 24, 2017, Satchwell went to gardai claiming Tina had left their Youghal home four days earlier due to their deteriorating relationship.

He also claimed Tina had taken 26,000 in cash from savings kept in the attic, savings the court was told they did not have.

Satchwell formally reported Tina missing in May 2017 and said she was sometimes violent towards him.

Over the years which followed, he made a dozen media appearances in which he spoke about the morning which Tina left and never returned.

When her body was found buried under a concrete floor beneath the stairs in October 2023, the 58-year-old claimed Tina 'flew' at him with a chisel.

He said he held a dressing gown belt to her neck to protect himself before she went limp.

The jury rejected his denial and found him guilty of murder.

Representing him, Brendan Grehan SC told the court Satchwell intends to appeal and that he 'never intended to kill Tina.'
Israel has threatened to block Greta Thunberg's 'freedom flotilla' from delivering aid to Gaza.

The climate activist and 11 pro-Palestine campaigners set sail on Sunday on a ship aimed at 'breaking Israel's siege' of the territory.

The boat Madleen, operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Catania, Italy, and is carrying a 'symbolic' amount of aid.

Videos posted to TikTok show the young activists smiling, swimming and filming social media content as the vessel makes its journey across the Mediterranean.

But the Israeli Army says it is 'prepared' to raid the ship, as it has done with previous freedom flotilla efforts.

'For this case as well, we are prepared,' IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said. 'We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly.'

It is unclear if the Israeli military will strike, but an activist on board the Madleen has issued a 'new alert', claiming they are being followed by a drone.

A separate Freedom Flotilla ship was attacked in May by two alleged drones while sailing in international waters off the coast of Malta.

Israel has threatened to block Greta Thunberg's Freedom Flotilla from delivering aid to Gaza . The young activist is seen on board the ship, flying the Palestinian flag

The sailing boat Madleen, operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is carrying what the campaigners described as a 'symbolic' amount of aid

An activist on board the Madleen has issued a 'new alert', claiming that the vessel is being followed by a drone, according to footage shared on social media

The Madleen is trying to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to bring in some aid and raise 'international awareness' over the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

But an alert video shared by one of Thunberg's shipmates has sparked concern that the ship and its crew may be in danger.

'We can clearly see a drone to our left. It's gaining on us a little bit. Please share this alert,' an life-vest wearing activist said in the worrying video.

The clip, which is starkly different to the TikToks shared of the activists seemingly having the time of their lives on board the vessels, was the 'second alert' of the night.

Thunberg's shipmate issued the alert on the 'third day of our journey to Gaza to break the siege'.

'Please share our location, I'll send you the exact coordinates,' he urged.

Ahead of their departure Sunday, Thunberg - who burst into tears - said '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. 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 anti-Semitic 'blood libel'.

'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,' echoed activist Thiago Avila.

Avila cited the upcoming Global March to Gaza - an international initiative also open to doctors, lawyers and media - which is set to leave Egypt and reach the Rafah crossing in mid-June to stage a protest there, asking Israel to stop the Gaza offensive and reopen the border.

The Madleen departed from the Sicilian port of Catania on Sunday. The activists expect it will take seven days to get to their destination, if they are not stopped

Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1 to travel to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid

The Madleen is trying to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to bring in some aid and raise 'international awareness' over the ongoing humanitarian crisis

The Israeli Army says it is 'prepared' to raid the Madleen ship, as it has done with previous Freedom Flotilla efforts. Pictured: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 21

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 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 Gaza's roughly 2 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.

Hassan has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

The activists expect to take seven days to get to their destination, if they are not stopped.

Thunberg had been due to board a different Freedom Flotilla ship last month, but that attempt to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked near 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.

Greta Thunberg had been due to board a different Freedom Flotilla ship last month, but that attempt to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked near Malta. She is pictured speaking at a press conference before the Madleen departed Catania, Italy on Sunday

The bow of the Madleen ship, featuring an illustration inspired by the Palestinian flag, ready to set off from the port of San Giovanni Li Cuti on June 1, 2025 in Catania, Italy

The Israeli government says the ongoing blockade in Gaza is an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict.

Hamas terrorists 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 over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Hamas-led Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.

Israel's bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless.

The Flotilla group was only the latest among a growing number of critics to accuse Israel of genocidal acts in its war in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegations, saying its war is directed at Hamas, not Gaza's civilians.
Investigators are continuing to scour scrubland and abandoned buildings in the second day of the latest search for Madeleine McCann, with detectives bringing in an excavator as they dig for evidence.

Teams of German and Portuguese cops, as well as firefighters, face the daunting task of hunting for clues 18 years on from the disappearance of the British three-year-old in 2007.

This week's operation is focusing on a sparsely developed area of land around 3.5 miles from Praia da Luz, where Madeleine was last seen while on holiday with her parents and siblings.

Madeleine vanished after she was left sleeping in a room with her toddler twin brother and sister while her parents went for dinner with friends in a nearby restaurant.

Parents Kate and Gerry McCann are not commenting during the 'active police investigation', staff at the Find Madeleine Campaign said.

The area where they are working is an area of fields and scrubland between a main road and the sea, with a few derelict buildings including a vineyard.

On Wednesday, officers were seen clearing vegetation around abandoned buildings, wearing protective gear such as hard hats and face masks, and a digger was used to move rubble.

It has been reported that teams will look where trenches were dug near the resort at the time of Madeleine's disappearance, at wells, ruins and water tanks, and that there are plans to examine 21 pieces of land.

Search teams use a backhoe close to Praia De Luz, Portugal, where searches are being carried out by officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCan

Investigators are continuing to scour scrubland and abandoned buildings in the second day of the latest search for Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday flat in Portugal aged three in 2007

Ground penetrating radar equipment arrived in vans from Germany on Wednesday and it is expected to be deployed this afternoon as the search around the area continues.

Sources said the equipment would not be used to 'find a body' but instead to see if the ground has been disturbed and any evidence buried.

Beforehand, police were seen using pickaxes, shovels and spades to sift soil into plastic boxes and bins and taking it to a blue tent for further examination.

The search is being carried out at the request of the German federal police, as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005.

He is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought.

In October last year, Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

About 30 German police, including forensic experts, are said to be taking part in the search alongside Portuguese officers.

The operation is expected to last until Friday unless anything relevant emerges.

The Metropolitan Police said they were aware of the operation but that British officers will not be present.

It is the first search in Portugal for more than two years.

It is not clear if detectives are now acting on a new tip-off about where Madeleine's body could be.

The search is being carried out at the request of the German federal police, as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner

The operation is expected to last until Friday unless anything relevant emerges

The Metropolitan Police said they were aware of the operation but that British officers will not be present

It is not clear if detectives are now acting on a new tip-off about where Madeleine's body could be

German investigators and Portuguese officers last carried out searches in 2023, near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz.

They were the first major searches in Portugal for Madeleine McCann in nine years following an earlier June 2014 operation when British police were given permission to carry out digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar.

Those digs were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in and burglars hid her body nearby.

They also failed to produce any evidence pointing to the missing youngster's whereabouts.

It was previously searched in 2008, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it, after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleine's body was there.

Brueckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir.

The 48-year-old convicted paedophile faces having his hopes of being released from jail in September scuppered after reportedly being accused of new offences against prison guards behind bars.

He is under investigation on suspicion of abduction and murder in the McCann case but has denied any involvement in the girl's 2007 disappearance.

Gerry, left, and Kate McCann, parents of four-year old Madeleine McCann, present a picture of their daughter during a press conference in Berlin, Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Pictured: Prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine, Christian Brueckner, who was in Praia da Luz when she went missing

Parents Kate and Gerry McCann are not commenting during the 'active police investigation'

While German investigators made the unusual move of naming the convicted paedophile as a suspect in the case, he has not been charged.

Brueckner's prison term is set to end with his release this September - much earlier than prosecutors had hoped for after he was acquitted of unrelated sexual offences in court last October following a trial.

The convicted rapist is no longer being held in solitary confinement as he nears the end of his sentence.
A young chef who was sacked from a luxury hotel after a foul-mouthed rant at her 'cheating' boyfriend in front of shocked guests has been awarded more than 13,000 by an employment tribunal.

Abbie Garner, 21, triggered a slew of complaints when she accused colleague Dylan Bolt of sleeping with one of her friends, screaming: You f****** made me love you, then you cheated on me, you c***.

She was dismissed following a surly appearance at a disciplinary hearing where she turned up late and snapped: I have apologised. What else do you want?

But she has won a claim for disability discrimination against The Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, after arguing her inability to control her anger was because she was suffering from anxiety and depression at the time.

The commis chef was told she would receive 13,455 in damages due to her unfavourable treatment.

The four-star 12-acre resort, which promises guests a world of complete serenity in our adults-only oasis and charges up to 269 for an exclusive spa day, declined to comment when approached by the Mail.

A spokeswoman said: 'This is a personnel-related matter and our company policy means we will not comment on an employee, either current or previous.'

Ms Garners father, David, 51, said: You cant see all disabilities.

Im not trying to say that the hotel are bad people. They made a common mistake and they have to realise that this is now unacceptable to treat staff or anyone in that manner. There needs to be more understanding.

Abbie Garner shocked guests at The Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, with a string of expletives aimed at her 'cheating' boyfriend, who also worked there

The four-star resort received complaints from guests about the foul-mouthed rant and launched an investigation which resulted in Ms Garner being sacked

He added: It was a horrible break-up, unfortunately, but as they worked and lived together we tried to support them. But at work we couldnt do anything.

Shes doing well in herself [now]. Shes got a new job, totally changed career because she could not handle the stress in a kitchen and the way it was handled.

Shes now working in care, so shes away from the one room hot stress scenario.

The money wont change anything. She wants to work.

The peace and quiet at the hotel was shattered on August 9, 2023, when Ms Garner, who worked in the hotels two AA Rosette restaurant, got into an argument with her then-boyfriend at the start of her shift.

Several of the staff heard [Miss Garners] voice loudly swearing', the tribunal heard.

She was arguing with Dylan Bolt, who she had been in a relationship with at the time. Mr Bolt had apparently slept with one of her friends.

The argument started in a corridor outside the laundry room near the kitchen. This corridor connects to both the spa reception and an outdoor sunbathing area, both of which are used by guests.

The 21-year-old commis chef worked in the hotel's two AA Rosette restaurant until she lost her job

Ms Garner now works in the care industry. Her father said: 'You can't see all disabilities.'

This corridor is open plan, with hard walls and floor  we accept that the sound echoes  and the door to the spa reception is open during the summer months.

[Miss Garner] was heard shouting f*** and c*** at Mr Bolt by numerous staff and guests, including in the spa reception.

The argument continued into the outdoor loading bay area next to a sunbathing area used by guests.

A staff member told the hotel's investigation: I could hear shouting and swearing. The swearing from the female could be heard in the spa reception areas.

The female member of staff was saying You fucking made me love you, then you cheated on me, you c***.

The male member of staff was saying I'm not f****** doing this now and she replied F*** off then.

She was obviously angry and screaming and shouting but the language used and the shouting was not acceptable.

The argument continued until a restaurant manager, Jean Mercure, intervened, the hearing was told.

The hotel sits in 12 acres and has 89 guestrooms, charging up to 269 for an exclusive spa day

Facilities at the hotel include a pool for guests to relax in

He took Miss Garner into reception, while the head chef led Mr Bolt into the changing rooms.

The next day Sarah Tester, the hotels finance and operations director, received several complaints about the shouting, with one guest giving negative remarks upon checking out.

After the investigation, Miss Garner was asked to attend to a disciplinary hearing on August 15, 2023.

But she failed to apologise when she turned up late, admitted she had not fully read her invitation letter and was not accompanied by a representative.

She admitted to the shouting and swearing and that it was unacceptable in the workplace but blamed Mr Bolt for her behaviour.

At the end of the meeting, she told Ms Tester: I have apologised. What else do you want?

Ms Tester concluded that Miss Garner had committed serious misconduct and decided to fire her.

The decision was then appealed, with Miss Garner stating that her irritability, anger and mood swings arose from her disabilities of depression, anxiety and polycystic ovary syndrome - a condition that affects fertility, metabolism and overall health - which she had previously made the hotel aware of.

Guests can 'rejuvenate your body and calm your mind', according to the hotel's website

When her appeal was turned down, she took the hotel's owners, Thorpe Hall Leisure Limited, to the tribunal in east London where she won claims for disability discrimination and a failure to make reasonable adjustments.

Employment Judge Catrin Lewis accepted Ms Garner's 'continued employment posed a risk to the respondent's reputation' but added this didn't justify filing to consider whether her conduct was linked to mental health.

She said: We have found that [Miss Garner's] inability to control her anger and her abruptness in the disciplinary meeting both arose in consequence of her disability.

It was not disputed that being dismissed amounted to unfavourable treatment.

We are satisfied that Ms Tester was aware that [her] behaviour was unusual and she was also aware that [she] had recently returned to work after a period of poor mental health and was on anti-depressant medication.

The hotel, which has treatment rooms, a gym, pool, spa and 89 guestrooms, was dubbed the UKs first dementia spa in 2019 after it started offering treatments for people with the condition.
The head of Nato piled pressure on Keir Starmer today as he suggested Europe and Canada should 'equalise' contributions with the US.

Secretary-general Mark Rutte warned that the current target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence is no longer sustainable after very public criticism from Donald Trump.

Members are expected to be asked to agree to commit 3.5 per cent by the 2030s at a summit later this month, with a further 1.5 per cent on defence-related measures.

And Mr Rutte said at a press conference in Brussels this morning that contributions need to be 'equalised' between the US and the 31 other states.

He did not elaborate on what he meant. America spent 3.4 per cent of GDP on defence last year, but its cash contributions are massively higher due to the scale of its economy.

According to the alliance's figures, the US pumped $755billion into defence in 2024. In contrast, Europe and Canada spent just $430billion.

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte warned that the current target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence is no longer sustainable after very public criticism from Donald Trump

According to the alliance's figures, the US pumped $755billion into defence in 2024. In contrast, Europe and Canada spent just $430billion

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Sir Keir has committed to allocating 2.5 per cent of GDP to defence from April 2027, with an 'ambition' of increasing that to 3 per cent in the next parliament - likely to run to 2034.

However, he and the Defence Secretary have already come under pressure to explain how the 3 per cent target could be met.

Mr Rutte said today: 'The expectation is that on the European side of Nato and the Canadian side of Nato, if we think that we can keep ourselves safe sticking with the 2 per cent, forget it.

'Yes, the next three to five years, but then we are in great difficulty. And the US rightly expects us to spend much more to defend ourselves with their help, but also to equalise, which is only fair with what the US is spending on defence.'

Leaders from Nato will meet in The Hague later this month, and Mr Rutte said a new 'investment plan' will be 'at the heart' of the summit.

Defence Secretary John Healey said yesterday that the UK already 'makes a huge contribution to Nato' amid speculation about what the body will call for.

'Britain already makes a huge contribution to Nato,' he told reporters.

Keir Starmer has committed to allocating 2.5 per cent of GDP to defence from April 2027, with an 'ambition' of increasing that to 3 per cent in the next parliament - likely to run to 2034

'We've published a defence review that has Nato at its heart and I'm announcing today the new spending in this Parliament, 4 billion, doubling the amount that we'll put into drones.

'We'll make a bigger contribution to Nato through that, and 1 billion over this Parliament to develop laser weapons, the first European nation in Nato to have laser weapons on our destroyers and then with our land forces.

'This is Britain leading in Nato, contributing more to Nato, just as we do, for instance, with our nuclear deterrent, the only country with a nuclear deterrent that commits it in full to other Nato nations.'
Elon Musk has escalated his war with President Donald Trump over his massive spending plans.

The billionaire tech titan and former 'first buddy' - once glued to Trump's side - bombastically claimed that the president is plunging the U.S. into financial ruin.

In a post on X at 2am on Wednesday, Musk wrote: 'This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery!'

Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed the House last month but is now held up in the Senate where some Republicans agree with Musk's outrage.

The SpaceX boss began criticizing Trump's bill earlier this month, then really began tearing into his former best friend with a series of posts on X Tuesday and Wednesday.

Musk is highly influential in MAGA world because of his billions and his control over one of the most popular social media platforms in the U.S.

With 220 million followers on X, and control over the algorithm, Musk could easily turn the tide against Trump.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is fed up with President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and is going public with his war against his former best friend

Musk said Trump's bill, which cleared the House last month, will 'drive America into debt slavery'

Musk has slammed pro-MAGA lawmakers in Congress who voted for the bill.

'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore,' he wrote on X on Tuesday. 'This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.'

'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.'

The MAGA civil war intensified when Trump loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) sided with Musk.

Greene is a longtime ally of Trump in the House  but she said Tuesday she voted to pass the bill without reading a section that would have reversed that decision.

'Full transparency, I did not know about this section... that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years,' she admitted. 'I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there.'

She promised she would change her vote if the bill retained that section when it returned to the House of Representatives for reconciliation following any changed made by the Senate.

Musk said enough was enough in another Tuesday post where he claimed: 'Mammoth spending bills are bankrupting America!'

Around 2am on Wednesday morning, Musk continued his tirade on his social media platform.

He also reposted a series of tweets where Musk aligned himself with Republican Sen. Ran Paul of Kentucky, who has been vocal about his opposition to the Big Beautiful Bill.

'I've been pretty consistent in my time in the Senate: I oppose deficit spendingno matter which party is in charge. If we don't get serious about reigning in the debt, the next generation will pay the price,' Paul wrote in an X post that Musk reposted to his page.

'Fiscal responsibility isn't a campaign slogan,' Paul continued. 'It's a duty which I take very seriously.'

Musk began his tirade on Tuesday, where he called the Trump-backed bill a 'disgusting abomination'

Musk was glued to Trump's side since his election win and through the first months of his second term  but things seemed to turn sour last month when he departed his DOGE role and became critical of the president's spending proposal

Experts predict the bill's passage would be dire for the U.S. economy and claim the interest on America's debt alone would be crippling.

'Interest payments already consume 25% of all government revenue,' Musk wrote on X around 2:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday.

The Tesla and SpaceX boss continued: If the massive deficit spending continues, there will only be money for interest payments and nothing else! No social security, no medical, no defense  nothing.'

It became clear that the bromance between Musk and Trump was over earlier this year as reports emerged regarding clashes the billionaire had with hose in the president's inner circle.

Additionally, last month Musk left his role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), laying the ground work for him to break with Trump after his job within government was done.
An Australian man accused of smuggling drugs into Bali and potentially faces life behind bars has been identified.

Queensland man Puridas Robinson, 40, was arrested at a villa in West Denpasar last Thursday following an alleged tip-off from a co-accused accomplice.

Authorities arrested Indian national Harsh Nowlahka, 31, earlier in the day when he was allegedly found in possession of 600g of marijuana at Denpasar International Airport.

Bali National Narcotic Agency conducted further inquiries and has alleged that it was Robinson who ordered the narcotics.

Nowlahka allegedly told authorities he was supposed to deliver the drugs to Robinson's home, sources told Daily Telegraph.

Authorities followed Nowlahka to Robinson's villa, where officers allegedly uncovered a 104g stash of marijuana during a search of the property.

Robinson hasn't yet been formally charged and has denied the allegations against him. He remains in custody.

He and Nowlakha were among five foreigners arrested as part of last week's investigation.

Australian man Puridas Robinson was arrested in West Denpasar last Thursday accused of attempting to smuggle marijuana into Indonesia (stock image)

Robinson could face life behind bars in Bali (pictured) if he's found guilty of drug trafficking

BNN spokesperson Made Dwi Saputra was tight-tipped regarding the allegations against Robinson, who is accused of drug trafficking and drug possession.

Mr Saputra told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday night that more details would be revealed on Thursday.

'We will hold (a) press conference of some cases, including the Australian, tomorrow morning at 10am,' he said.

Robinson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is found guilty of drug trafficking.

A drug possession conviction attracts a jail term of up to 12 years.

In Indonesia, marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic along with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA.

Robinson's arrest came days after a fellow Queenslander was arrested for alleged cocaine trafficking.

Lamar Ahchee, 43, was arrested in Canggu, a coastal village on the south-west coast of Bali, on May 22 accused of trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine worth $1.1m onto the tourist sland.

Robinson's arrest came within days of another Australian man Lamar Achee being arrested in Canggu, Bali on suspicion of trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine

Police allege the Cairns man, who is the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, collected two parcels of cocaine concealed in chocolate boxes, each containing 54 individual packets of the drug.

Ahchee has denied being a drug dealer and claimed that he was 'framed'.

Ahchee, a confessed drug addict, allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody.

His lawyer Edward Pangkahila said Ahchee denied any involvement in drug trafficking.

'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside,'Mr Pangkahila said.

'We're still looking for that somebody who tell him to take this package.

'The police have to find this guy.'

Robinson was arrested in Bali a week after fellow Aussie Lamar Ahchee (pictured) was detained over alleged cocaine trafficking

Ahchee (pictured on Monday) is accused of trying to smuggle cocaine onto the island

Ahchee has not been charged but remained in custody since his arrest.

He faces the death penalty if convicted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.
Squatters have taken over a former Michelin-starred restaurant and club, frequented by A-listers such as Pippa Middleton and Lindsay Lohan.

Originally built as the private home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1820s, Morton's was a private member's club which hosted VIP events attended by celebrities and socialites.

Pippa Middleton was a regular visitor to the club and model Jodie Kidd was pictured at the club in the past.

During the pandemic, the club went into administration and the Grade II listed building has remained vacant ever since.

However, the historic building at 28 Berkeley Square now has new occupants - squatters.

It has been described as a magnet for cannabis-smoking yobs who are using the basement as a refuge to hide various items.

A security guard for a neighbouring business told Metro: Its been a nightmare. There were squatters actually in the building but now they were forced to leave. But what they are doing now is using the basement area as their refuge. There are piles of stuff down there its becoming like a slum. Its a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

There are people smoking weed and the place is an eyesore. The police came recently but said there was nothing they could do. When the club was there it was very high end but now its just bringing down the square.

The building at 28 Berkeley Square, once the home of the Morton's private member's club

Rubbish had been seen piling up in the basement area of the building

Pippa Middleton was a regular visitor to the private member's club in Mayfair

Next door is the world-renowned auction house Phillips, which is currently putting the works of Damien Hirst under the hammer.

One inhabitant of the property said they had 'nowhere else' to go and asked, 'what can I do?'

Police have been called to the property in the past month, but were unable to act as the squatters were not inside the building when they arrived.

Removing squatters from non-residential buildings is more challenging for officials as it often requires a civil court order.

It is not the only well-known London building which has been targeted by unwanted inhabitants.

Last year, a group of squatters recently moved in to Gordon Ramsays York and Albany pub near Regents Park in 2024 before they were forced to leave by a court order.

A raid was also conducted on Marco Pierre White's former steak and pizza restaurant to remove a group last year.

Jodie Kidd pictured at a Mothers 2 Mothers event at Morton's in 2015

Lindsay Lohan pictured leaving the private member's club in 2015

Courts also ordered uninvited occupants who were living inside Princess Diana's former favourite restaurant, San Lorenzo, to vacate the premises.

RSM UK, administrators for Mortons, said they sold the lease in August 2021. CF Commercial is currently marketing it as a business premises.

A statement from Westminster Council said: Our city inspectors visited the site last night. They found no evidence of people sleeping rough in the basement but there are a number of items belonging to rough sleepers being stored there.

This is ultimately a matter for the landlord to secure the property and the council will notify them urgently about the issue.
Fare evasion is becoming 'normalised', train staff have told an inquiry which found they are struggling to cope with 'aggressive' passengers who refuse to buy tickets.

Travellers are using 'a range of techniques to persistently' underpay or avoid paying and see it as a 'victimless crime', according to the Office of Road and Rail (ORR).

Staff enduring abusive behaviour when asking fare-dodgers to present their tickets are warning that evasion is becoming 'increasingly more challenging to tackle'.

The report had been commissioned to look at concerns some passengers were being unfairly prosecuted by train operators over genuine mistakes when buying tickets.

But it found fare evasion is a mounting problem now costing taxpayers 400million a year which is resulting in higher fares and less investment cash to improve services.

It said: 'Rail staff we spoke to described how fare evasion is becoming normalised among certain passenger groups and increasingly more challenging to tackle.

'As well as occasional opportunistic fare evaders, there are some individuals who use a range of techniques to persistently underpay and avoid their fares.

'Added to this, some fare evaders consider that it is a victimless crime and are either not aware of or are undeterred by the consequences of being caught.'

The reference to 'certain passenger groups' relates to intentional evaders identified as 'opportunistic', 'calculated' and 'chronic' - rather than specific societal groups.

The report comes after MailOnline highlighted some of the worst cases of evasion in exclusive clips from the new Channel 5 series Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law.

And shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick tweeted a video last week in which he confronted people pushing through the barriers at Stratford station in London.

Robert Jenrick confronts people pushing through the barriers at Stratford station in London

A passenger pushes through the gates at Kingston station in South West London without touching out before attacking British Transport Police officers while they try to apprehend him

The ORR report found rail staff are facing 'challenges in dealing with aggressive and abusive behaviour when undertaking revenue protection duties'.

It added that employees believe 'passengers making genuine mistakes should be treated fairly and proportionately', but 'establishing this intent can be difficult'.

Five steps for how the fare evasion system could be improved The Office of Road and Rail report on fare evasion has identified areas for improvement and has made the following five recommendations: Make buying the right ticket simpler and easier: Give passengers clearer information about conditions or restrictions when they are buying a ticket, for example, permitted routes, time restrictions or the use of railcards. This will help reduce confusion and unintentional mistakes.

Strengthen consistency in how passengers are treated when ticket issues arise: Passengers should be treated fairly and consistently when they are found without a valid ticket, with industry focusing on targeting intentional fare evasion, as opposed to genuine mistakes, and responding proportionately.

Introduce greater consistency and fairness in the use of prosecutions : Establish a consistent test for prosecution across all operators, ensuring cases only proceed when clearly justified and in the public interest.

Make information on revenue protection easy to access and understand : Information should clearly set out passengers' rights and how penalties, prosecutions, out-of-court settlements and appeals work

Greater coordination, oversight and transparency of revenue protection activity : Establish an appropriate forum or body tasked with identifying and promoting best practice across all aspects of revenue protection policy and enforcement Advertisement

The ORR said official estimates from the rail industry and Department for Transport indicate that 'fare evasion and ticket fraud accounts for at least 350-400million of lost revenue each year'.

It also said: 'Anecdotally, some industry stakeholders have told us that they believe the actual level of fare evasion is somewhat higher.'

However, the inquiry also found operators are taking 'disproportionate action' against passengers who do not hold a valid ticket.

The ORR said travellers face 'inconsistent treatment and outcomes' for similar ticketing issues across the railway - and criticised Britain's 'complex' fares system.

The review was commissioned by then-transport secretary Louise Haigh in November last year to review how the industry handles revenue protection and fare evasion, after cases where passengers were being prosecuted over small amounts of money were highlighted in the media.

The ORR's report noted one case where a passenger was threatened with prosecution for accidentally selecting a 16-25 Railcard discount when they held a 26-30 Railcard, which provides the same discount.

The case was eventually dropped after their MP became involved.

A second incident saw a passenger's printed e-ticket damaged by water to the extent where it could not be scanned by a member of rail staff.

Despite subsequently providing proof of a valid ticket for the journey, they were threatened with prosecution and in the end agreed to settle out of court for 81 to avoid the risk of conviction.

A third case saw a passenger successfully appeal a penalty fare but discover four years later - after a criminal records check for a job - that they had been convicted for fare evasion without knowing about it.

They claimed they had never received any documentation or court material.

Another incident highlighted in the media last year involved engineering graduate Sam Williamson who said he feared getting a criminal record and being fined hundreds of pounds.

He was told he was being prosecuted by Government-owned operator Northern because he unknowingly used a railcard at the wrong time, resulting in a 1.90 underpayment.

Northern dropped its action against him following media coverage.

A passenger is spoken to by investigators at London Waterloo station after only buying a ticket from Vauxhall, as he is finally caught after evading nearly 20,000 in ticket costs

The Department for Transport also instructed Northern to review its ticketing policy, which resulted in the operator withdrawing all similar live prosecutions and a pledge to analyse historical cases.

In the latest ORR report, it found there are 'a range of circumstances' in which passengers may innocently travel without a valid ticket, such as forgetting their railcard or simply making a mistake.

But the regulator warned the same reasons can be used by passengers who 'deliberately choose' to underpay or avoid their fare, and it can to difficult for rail staff to determine their intent and decide how to handle the situation.

The report stated: 'Making this more challenging is the railway's complex fares and ticketing framework. This has grown more complicated over time.'

The ORR noted that under railway byelaws, it is an offence not to be able to present a valid ticket for a journey, regardless of the passenger's intent, which means 'disproportionate action can end up being taken against some passengers'.

The inquiry made a series of recommendations to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and the Department for Transport, such as ensuring passengers have 'clearer information' about tickets, and creating consistency in how passengers are treated when ticket issues arise, particularly in relation to prosecutions.

A passenger is caught without a ticket by revenue protection officers at the gates at Waterloo

ORR director of strategy, policy and reform Stephanie Tobyn said today: 'Effective revenue protection is essential for a sustainable railway, but it must be fair and proportionate for passengers.

'Our recommendations aim to protect both industry revenue and support passenger confidence.

'Our evidence shows a system that has evolved over time where the legal framework and enforcement processes are increasingly complex and appear weighted towards industry, leaving some passengers who make innocent errors vulnerable to disproportionate outcomes.

'But meanwhile, fare evasion remains a significant problem, and rigorous action should be taken against those who intentionally seek to defraud the railway.'

Train operators use the Penalty Fares system, which is a 100 penalty plus the price of the full single fare applicable for the intended journey.

If paid within 21 days, the Penalty Fare is reduced to 50 plus the price of the single fare.

Rail minister Lord Hendy said: 'This report shows that decades of failed privatisation have created a mess of deep-rooted issues across our railways, which have been left unchallenged and are now causing chaos and frustration for passengers.

A fare dodger is finally caught at Preston Road station in North West London after he avoided paying for more than 200 journeys using a concession card registered to a female relative

'Through the creation of Great British Railways, we're bringing operators together to establish oversight and better standardise practices, putting an end to inconsistent prosecutions and making sure passengers are treated fairly.

'Deliberate fare-dodging costs the taxpayer up to 400million annually - money which could be better spent on improving passenger experience - and must be dealt with, but ham-fisted prosecutions that punish people who have made an innocent mistake is not the way to do this.

'We will look at this report in detail and set out what we'll be doing to address the issues raised in due course.'

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said it welcomed the ORR's 'sensible recommendations'.

She continued: 'The rail industry will work on implementing the recommendations in line with our plans to create a simpler, better-value fares system.

'We need to strike the right balance addressing genuine, honest mistakes made by customers and taking firm action against those who deliberately and persistently seek to exploit the system.'

In January, the watchdog Transport Focus suggested passengers caught without a ticket should be let off with a warning for a first offence. It urged operators to introduce a so-called yellow card system to 'make things fairer for everyone'.

'Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law' is on Channel 5 on Monday evenings at 9pm
A Washington father suspected of fatally suffocating his three little girls has an extensive military background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has learned - as police warned the public not to approach him during their ongoing manhunt.

Travis Decker, 32, is accused of killing his daughters, Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia Decker, five, whose bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth, after he failed to return them to their mother in Wenatchee following a scheduled three-hour visit.

As authorities search for Decker, who is believed to be mentally unstable, they warned locals that he could be dangerous due to his military background.

Decker joined the Army in 2013, according to the Associated Press. He served in Afghanistan before transferring to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Karina Shagren, communications director for the the Washington Military Department, confirmed to the Daily Mail.

He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time.

Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge.

He likely has advanced combat training and was an airborne paratrooper who earned the elite rank of 'Ranger,' indicating he would have excellent wilderness and survival skills, Fox 13 Seattle reported, citing social media posts.

It is unknown if the veteran is currently armed, but local law enforcement cautioned people from approaching him.

Travis Decker, 32, is accused of killing his daughters, Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia Decker, five , after he failed to return them back to their mother following a scheduled three-hour visit in Washington on Friday

Chelan County Sheriffs Office deputies found the girls bodies about 75 to 100 yards from Decker's truck at a campsite. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said

'Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' police said.

'This is an absolute tragedy,' the military spokeswoman told AP. 'We are mourning along with the community.'

Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after finding Decker's truck.

Chelan County Sheriffs Office deputies found the girls bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said.

Decker's truck also had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console.

The campground also showed signs of recent activity, with a tent and a cooler located a short distance away, but Decker was nowhere to be found.

The girls' mother, Whitney Decker, who is divorced from the veteran, told police that he had picked the girls up around 5pm but had not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said.

Detectives said she 'expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and  is currently experiencing some mental health issues.'

The girls' bodies were found approximately 38 miles from their mother's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities warn locals that he could be dangerous due to his military training

Decker's truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console

She also told law enforcement officials that Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and believes he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents.

The father-of-three was supposed to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a parenting plan, but there was no sign he has followed through with the plan - which he refused to sign, the court documents show.

Still, Whitney told police she did not believe her ex was dangerous and said he loved his daughters.

She said the girls had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never failed to return the girls before, according to a police affidavit.

She said when Decker went to pick up the girls for a scheduled three-hour visit on Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him.

He had also allegedly been talking about getting rid of his dog due to housing and financial struggles.

When Decker failed to return with the girls that night, Whitney reported them missing.

'What prompted her to call us was that... he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary,' Captain Brian Chance said.

Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge

Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not meet the required criteria, Wenatchee Police said.

The lacking criteria was suspected abduction and imminent peril of death or serious injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.

'In this case, it was a parent with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But thats a rather common occurrence and not something where you just automatically assume abduction,' he said.

He added that there was no indication Decker would harm them.

'Were people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is... devastating,' Loftis said. 'Everybody always looks to how we can improve.'

The following day, Wenatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional information that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA).

State police later dropped the EMPA on Monday evening without releasing a public reason. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department announced the girls' deaths.

Whitney also stated in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' since they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.

The girls' mother said that at times he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections

The girls' mother said they had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never failed to return the girls before

Whitney said when Decker went to pick up the girls for a scheduled three-hour visit on Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him

When Decker failed to return with the girls that night, Whitney reported them missing

She said that at times he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times.

She also said Decker was prone to 'outbursts' and would come into her house yelling for the girls, whom he would sometimes fail to pick up after promising to do so.

In one instance, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her crying during a visit with Decker and said she could not find her father - before Evelyn came home with welts between her legs.

'I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship.

'But I cannot have our girls staying in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with dozens of strange men or staying in a tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperatures and unknown areas for their safety.'

The girls' maternal grandmother similarly wrote that Decker would drop off the girls at inconsistent times and they would sometimes be upset or crying when they returned home.

'They are all happy, smart, well-adjusted girls with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she wrote, according to the Seattle Times.

On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail.

Whitney also stated in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' since they were separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters

Whitney told police she did not believe her ex was dangerous and said he loved his daughters

Law enforcement is asking the public for help to find the father-of-three, but advised locals not to approach him

Decker is described as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair worn in a ponytail and brown eyes.

He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe set up for Whitney had raised nearly $366,000 as of Wednesday morning.

'These girls were true light in this world and it is a darker place without them. I will miss seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.

'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and support. Take some time to today to tell someone you love them.'
Chilling police bodycam footage showed the moment an Arizona teen was found by the side of a road on one of the times she fled her group home before she was brutally murdered earlier this year.

Emily Pike, 14, was seen in the newly-released video running away in September 2023, one of at least four instances she went AWOL as she 'hated' her foster home.

The clip showed her being approached by a cop as she walked along the street, and she initially denied being the missing girl before telling the cop: 'I just want to see my mom.'

The then-13-year-old cried as she told the officer her group home is 'not her home', and repeatedly said she wanted to speak to her family.

'I'm not going to go to that f***ing group home,' she said in the footage from ABC15. 'I hate it there.'

The teenager eventually got into the car with the officer, and authorities said on each of the times she left her home officers either took her back to the group home or to a behavioral health center.

Emily ran away for the final time on January 27, 2025, when she broke a door to her group home and walked out on foot, before her dismembered body was found almost three weeks later.

No arrests have been made and no suspects named in her case, with authorities releasing the new bodycam footage as Arizona lawmakers opened an investigation into her murder and alleged issues in the foster group home.

Chilling police bodycam footage showed the moment Arizona teen Emily Pike was found by the side of a road in September 2023, on one of the many times she fled her group home before she was murdered earlier this year

Emily's dismembered remains were found in trash bags by the side of a highway three weeks after she ran away from the group home for the last time in January 2025, with investigators making no arrests so far

Although Emily lived at the group home due to mental health issues, her family lived nearby on the San Carlos Apache reservation.

She had run away from the home on at least four occasions, with the final time coming in January when she was brutally murdered by an at-large killer.

Authorities are offering a reward of $175,000 for information leading to her killer, with the FBI and the San Carlos Apache Tribe contributing to the fund.

What exactly happened to Emily when she left for the final time remains a mystery, with her dismembered body found three weeks later almost 100 miles from the group home.

Her remains were hidden in a forest off US 60 near Globe, Arizona, and investigators said her body parts were stuffed in several contractor garbage bags.

Her head and torso were in one bag and her legs in another, with the teenager's arms and hands still missing.

Emily lived at the group home due to mental health issues, but her family lived nearby on the San Carlos Apache reservation. She had run away from the home on at least four occasions, with the final time coming in January when she was brutally murdered by an at-large killer

Authorities are offering a reward of $175,000 for information leading to Emily's killer. A tribute to the teen near to where her remains were found is pictured

Alongside the release of the footage from September 2023, authorities also revealed footage from when she was reported missing for the final time.

The bodycam footage showed an officer asking a staffer at her group home, operated by Sacred Journey Inc., if Emily had run away before.

'Yeah, she had a while back,' the staffer said.

'She's got a pink and gray striped long-sleeved shirt,' they continued. 'That's what one of the girls here at the group home said she had.

'I looked outside. The gate was open. The screen door, the screen window was kicked out.'

The bodycams were shown as a legislative hearing last month opened an investigation into Emily's murder and protocols at Sacred Journey Inc.

The group home does not have a contract with the state, but the Department of Child Safety told lawmakers Emily was in the care of Tribal Social Services as her native tribe placed her in the care of the home.

What exactly happened to Emily when she left for the final time remains a mystery, with her dismembered body found three weeks later almost 100 miles from the group home

The teen's family say they are told investigators are looking at three potential suspects, as her mother Steff Dosela described her as a 'very happy and kind person'

San Carlos Apache Attorney General Alex Richie defended the home as he said Emily's repeat attempts to run away from the home led them to not be 'convinced based on what they were saying that the child was actually missing.'

The teen's family say they are told investigators are looking at three potential suspects, but no names have been released and Emily's murder remains a mystery.

'She was just an innocent she was a baby,' her mother Steff Dosela told WCJB. 'She was a very happy and kind person.'
Authorities made a chilling discovery beneath a grandmother's home in Texas, uncovering a hidden trapdoor that led to the capture of a fugitive wanted for capital murder.

Trevor McEuen, 33, had been on the run since May 5, when he removed his court-ordered ankle monitor and failed to appear for his trial in the 2023 shooting death of his neighbor, Aaron Martinez.

In the wake of his disappearance, McEuen was added to Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a $30,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest.

After weeks of searching, authorities received a tip that led them to a residence about 65 mils east of Dallas in Van Zandt County - McEuen's grandmother's house.

More than 30 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, coordinated by the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, converged on the property on Sunday evening around 11 pm.

'We got our team together to execute. It took us a little longer than what we wanted. He didn't want to come out,' Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers told Fox4.

'So we talked and talked, surrounded and talked, then finally used a little tear gas. And we couldn't find him. Then we went boots on the ground inside the house.'

Authorities made a chilling discovery beneath a grandmother's home in Texas, uncovering a hidden trapdoor (pictured) that led to the capture of a fugitive wanted for capital murder

McEuen resisted arrest, refusing to leave the makeshift hideout, forcing authorities to take further action. 'We found a scuttle hole that he'd cut into the floor,' Beavers said. 'Then we got a little negotiating with him, a little more tear gas, and he decided to come out'

They found McEuen barefoot and covered in mud, hiding in a crawl space. He now faces multiple charges, including capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and arson

After hours of searching the Grand Saline home, officers discovered a hidden trapdoor beneath the floorboards. When they opened it, they found McEuen barefoot and covered in mud, hiding in a crawl space.

Still, McEuen resisted arrest, refusing to leave the makeshift hideout, forcing authorities to take further action.

'We found a scuttle hole that he'd cut into the floor,' Beavers said. 'Then we got a little negotiating with him, a little more tear gas, and he decided to come out.'

McEuen now faces multiple charges, including capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and arson.

He is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Aaron Martinez in Forney, Texas, in May 2023 - allegedly firing between 15 and 30 shots execution-style into Martinez's head.

'This person has done some very heinous things and needs to be put in jail,' Beavers said. 'And the Martinez family needs justice finally. We've got him in custody. I think he's gonna get to see justice.'

The discovery of the hidden trapdoor and McEuen's capture brought a wave of relief to the Martinez family and the surrounding community.

Trevor McEuen (left), 33, had been on the run since May 5. Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers (right) smoked him out 'with a little tear gas'

More than 30 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, coordinated by the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, converged on the Grand Saline property (pictured) on Sunday evening

'I am happy,' Salvador Martinez, the victim's father, said in an interview with CBS News. 'This time, the sheriff, the city of Kaufman did their job. Don't let him out again. He's not supposed to get another chance at bond.'

The Martinez family had previously raised concerns about McEuen's potential to flee, citing a history of bond violations and alleged threats against the victim.

'We hope he gets zero bond. We hope the trial is expeditious and that a jury finds him guilty,' Carlos Quintanilla, a family representative, said.

McEuen was originally arrested in May 2023, released on bond, and later indicted for capital murder in November of that year. In September 2024, he was released on a $1 million bond. He reportedly violated his bond conditions by posting photos of Martinez and his relatives on Instagram.

He is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Aaron Martinez (pictured) in Forney, Texas, in May 2023 - allegedly firing between 15 and 30 shots execution-style into Martinez's head

Given the publicity surrounding the case, McEuen's defense attorney has since signaled a possible move to request a change of venue.

'We'll probably be filing for a change of venue just because this has been such a hot-button topic in Kaufman County,' McEuen's attorney, Abigail Spain, said. 'We just want to make sure that our client gets an unbiased jury.'

The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office has stated it remains committed to securing justice for the Martinez family and is currently investigating whether McEuen received assistance during his time as a fugitive.

In light of the ongoing legal challenges, the Martinez family has also urged officials to consider transferring the case to another jurisdiction if Kaufman County is unable to prosecute it effectively.
JPMorgan Chase is making moves behind the scenes to eventually replace its longtime CEO Jamie Dimon, who is expected to retire within five years.

Dimon, 69, indicated in a Monday interview with Fox Business that he intends to step away from America's largest consumer bank in 'several years,' adding that he loves the job.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that JPMorgan put Marianne Lake in charge of strategic growth and the firm's international consumer bank.

Lake, 56, is one of the leading contenders to replace Dimon when the time comes, and her promotion suggests that she may be first in line.

Lake took over from Sanoke Viswanathan, 50, who left to become the CEO of data company FactSet.

She's now the head of JPMorgan's consumer and community banking division, which serves 84 million customers in the US.

Doug Petno and Troy Rohrbaugh, who together lead JPMorgan's commercial and investment banking operations, are also vying for the top job.

What Petno has going for him is his length of service. He's been at the bank for 35 years and has held numerous roles at the company.

JPMorgan Chase's board has an active shortlist of internal candidates they feel would be suitable replacements for Jamie Dimon, who has been the chief executive since December 2005

Marianne Lake, 56, is considered to be one of the top picks to helm America's largest consumer bank by assets. Just this week, she was promoted to head of strategic growth

Doug Petno and Troy Rohrbaugh, who together lead JPMorgan's commercial and investment banking operations, are also vying for the top job

By comparison, Lake has been at JPMorgan for 25 years, while Rohrbaugh has been there for 20 years.

Jenn Piepszak was a real possibility to become CEO several months ago. She effectively took herself out of the running when she accepted the COO job in January.

Piepszak replaced former COO Daniel Pinto, who will serve as the company's president until he retires in 2026.

Pinto, too, was once considered someone who could step into the CEO role, as he previously assumed those responsibilities when Dimon had to undergo emergency heart surgery in 2020.

Mary Erdoes, CEO of asset and wealth management, is considered a dark horse in the leadership race. She has been at the firm for nearly 30 years.

JPMorgan could surprise everyone and go with an outside hire, but that is very unlikely. Daily Mail reached out to the bank for comment.

In April, the bank's Board of Directors identified potential successors to Dimon and all of them were internal candidates.

Dimon himself was an internal hire. In 2000, he became the CEO of Bank One, overseeing that firm's operations until it merged with JPMorgan in 2004. He was first selected to be COO at JPMorgan before being hired as CEO in December 2005.

Pictured: Dimon appears last Friday at the inaugural Regan National Economic Forum, where he talked with his usual brash candor about today's hot-button political issues

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management, now believes Dimon has the potential to be a dynamic presidential candidate

All this jockeying at JPMorgan comes as Dimon made a headline-grabbing appearance Friday at the inaugural Regan National Economic Forum, where he talked with his usual brash candor about today's hot-button political issues.

On a panel with CNBC's Morgan Brennan, he sounded the alarm about the ballooning national debt and warned that if the United States doesn't take its role as the world's sole superpower seriously, the US dollar could cease being the world reserve currency.

He also advanced the idea that leaders at every level of government are bungling the country's future.

'The amount of mismanagement is extraordinary - by state, by city, for pensions, and that stuff is going to kill us,' he said.

All these statements and more got Brennan to ask Dimon whether he'd consider running for office, a question that got many in the audience to gasp.

'What would be the scenario that you would entertain to consider public service?' she asked.

Dimon paused for a beat, then said, 'Alright, ready? I'll tell you. If I thought I could really win, which I don't think I could.'

That response apparently caught the eye of Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management, who wrote a lengthy article about why Dimon could be a dynamic choice to be the next president.

Anthony Scaramucci, a financier who served as White House communications director for 10 days in 2017 before being fired by Trump, posted about Sonnenfeld's Tuesday piece in Fortune Magazine, calling it 'spot on'

Anthony Scaramucci, a financier who served as White House communications director for 10 days in 2017 before being fired by Trump, posted about Sonnenfeld's Tuesday piece in Fortune Magazine, calling it 'spot on.'

Sonnenfeld argued that Dimon is a commanding presence and a sensible moderate who could, if he decided to run as a Democrat, unite a party that is in complete disarray.

The conventional wisdom is that the Democrats are largely without a true leader after Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in November.

A CNN/Gallup poll released on Sunday seems to bear that out, with just 16 percent of Americans believing the Democratic party has strong leaders.

Sonnenfeld also cast Dimon as an unapologetic truth-teller even when it doesn't suit him, writing that this is a 'rare quality found only in the best leaders.'

As an example, he pointed to a leaked recording of Dimon at a company town hall, where he launched into a foul-mouthed rant against employees who wanted to continue working from home.

Dimon also has a realistic claim to the centrist label, Sonnenfeld wrote, as he criticized both Democrats and Republicans.

Although Dimon, a registered Democrat, continues to praise Trump for growing the economy in his first term, he hasn't been shy to slam the president for his Liberation Day tariffs and his decision to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve.

In January 2024, he was far more conciliatory, saying, 'Take a step back, be honest. He was kind of right about NATO, kind of right on immigration. He grew the economy quite well. Trade tax reform worked. He was right about some of China.'

Back then, he was warning that Democrats' incendiary rhetoric about Trump and MAGA could cost them the upcoming election.

Whether or not the Democrats' approach to Trump supporters was the main factor in them losing, the fact is, Trump cruised to a second term relatively handily.

Sonnenfeld wrote that Dimon could be the antidote to Trumpism, essentially saying that while Trump plays the role of a titan of industry, Dimon is the real deal.

He pointed to Trump's multiple business bankruptcies, despite inheriting nearly half a billion from his father, Fred Trump.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan stock has risen nearly 1,100 percent since Dimon became CEO.

Adding to Dimon's potential as a leading political figure, he is not accustomed to having someone telling him what to do, very much like Trump.

When speculation bubbled up last year that both the Harris and Trump campaigns were considering Dimon as Treasury Secretary, he had this to say: 'Ive not had a boss in 25 years and I am not ready to start now.'
An American teen suspended for using the term 'illegal alien' in class has finally received justice after his school was forced to apologize and pay out a massive $20,000 settlement.

The year-long free speech saga came to an end after a North Carolina district school board agreed to wipe the suspension off the record of Christian McGhee, who was a 16-year-old when his case was first thrust into the national spotlight by President Donald Trump.

The then-sophomore at Central Davidson High School in Lexington, a suburb north of Charlotte, asked his English teacher whether she was referring to 'space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards' during a vocabulary lesson on April 9, 2024.

He was suspended from school for three days for 'making a racially insensitive remark that caused a class disturbance,' according to the lawsuit filed by his parents.

Under the settlement, the school will be required to make a virtual apology to McGhee for the punishment. If the settlement is approved by the court, both parties have agreed not to record or publicly discuss the confidential apology.

'Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final,' Dean McGee, (no relation) who represents the family and serves as Senior Counsel for Educational Freedom at the Liberty Justice Center, told DailyMail.com.

'Well have more to say after that hearing, but were pleased to take this important step toward clearing our clients name.'

The update marks the potential end of a long battle that started when Christian asked his teacher for a clarification on what she meant by 'aliens,' prompting a Hispanic classmate to reply that he was going to 'kick his a**.'

Christian McGhee (left), a high school student, was suspended last year for asking his teacher whether she was referring to 'space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards' during a vocabulary lesson. (Pictured with his mom Leah McGhee)

A teacher and an assistant principal at Central Davidson High School in Lexington, North Carolina (pictured) suspended Christian for three days

Christian was called down to the assistant principal's office where he was told his remarks were 'racially insensitive' and was suspended

The moment then escalated when both students were called down to the office of Assistant Principal Eric Anderson.

Anderson was accused of telling Christian that his words were a 'big deal' and that the other student should be offended, according to the lawsuit filed by the family's attorneys at the Liberty Justice Center.

The lawsuit also alleged that Anderson told Christian it would've been more respectful to use the label of 'those people' who 'need a green card,' rather than use the term 'aliens.'

Christian's attorneys noted that the student had a 'good relationship' with Christian and later told him that he wasn't offended by the comment.

The parties in the case released a joint statement after reaching a settlement that said even though the board maintained that the disciplinary action was appropriate because Christian disrupted the class, the allegations of racial bias was a 'mischaracterization,' according to the Carolina Journal.

'The McGhees are grateful for the steps taken by the Board to correct Christians school record, ensuring that he can continue his education without this incident hanging over him, the statement concluded.

Christian's mother, Leah McGhee, spoke at a school board meeting shortly after her son's suspension in defense of his actions.

The lawsuit generated national attention, and Christian's family was invited to attend a rally for Donald Trump's presidential campaign last year. (Pictured: Leah (middle) at the rally)

Leah shared a letter addressed to Christian from Donald Trump, endorsing her son's achievements and character

She said that she attempted to appeal the suspension and emailed Davidson County School Board members Alan Beck and Nick Jarvis, but didn't hear an immediate response.

Leah also claimed that two school board members attempted to 'slander' her name by spreading her arrest record from 14 years ago for possession of pain medication.

Ashley Carroll (pictured), a member of the school board, resigned in April after she was charged with a DWI

The incident sparked outrage among the local community and Beck didn't run for re-election last fall, The Center Square reported.

Leah also accused another school board member, Ashley Carroll, of slander, writing on Facebook in April, 'Ashley took it upon herself to share my past last year in an attempt to discredit my family. #hypocrisy

'The weaponization of government will stop in this community because God is bringing ALL darkness to light in Davidson County, and we will be much safer because of it. We are Grateful for a praying county!'

Carroll resigned from her position earlier this year when she faced driving while impaired charges for a car crash, local CBS affiliate WFMY-TV reported.

The case gained national attention for it's impact on free speech in the classroom amid a timely debate on undocumented migration.

Leah even shared on Facebook that her son garnered the attention of President Donald Trump, who sent Christian a letter thanking him for 'defending out America-First values.'

Christian's mom, Leah (left), claimed that two school board members attempted to 'slander' her at a school board meeting last year. The board has since acknowledged the behavior by a member in a joint statement on the settlement

The letter added, 'do not be discouraged by the radical leftists who will stop at nothing to decimate the freedoms we have worked tirelessly to achieve.'

The family is represented by the Liberty Justice Center, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public interest firm focusing on free speech issues and educational freedom.

The Davidson County School District Board of Education is represented by the law firm, Cranfill Sumner.

DailyMail.com reached out to the school district's representation for comment but didn't immediately hear back.
A five-year-old girl and her mother have died after a motorist who had allegedly been drinking straight vodka ploughed into their vehicle in Massachusetts.

Minaben Patel, 38, and her daughter, Krisha, succumbed to their injuries after police say drunk driver James Blanchard, 21, struck their Honda Accord with his pickup truck on Memorial Day weekend.

They were flung from their car due to the impact, prosecutors said. Patel's son, Kunj, and her husband, Atulkumar, were also in the vehicle but survived.

The horror unfolded just after 6.20pm on May 24, which was part of the federal holiday weekend, and Kunj's fourteenth birthday.

Prosecutors said Blanchard opened a 1.75 liter bottle of Titos vodka and began drinking straight out of the bottle shortly before the crash.

Investigators also found a second 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's vodka in his vehicle.

Blanchard, a landscaper and mechanic, told police he had two beers while at a job in Plainville that morning, and said the vodka bottles were 'from the night before'.

He appeared in court on May 27 handcuffed while sporting long hair and a beard. Blanchard watched intently from the defendant's box as lawyers outlined the case.

Minaben Patel, 38, and her daughter, Krisha, died after police say drunk driver James N Blanchard, 21, struck their Honda Accord with his pickup truck on Memorial Day weekend

Five-year-old Krisha Patel (pictured) was killed in the crash. 'Krishna's kind spirit, big smile and loving heart will be deeply missed,' a flyer for her memorial service reads

Blanchard appeared in court on May 27 handcuffed while sporting long hair and a beard. He watched intently from the defendant's box (shown above) as lawyers outlined the case

Prosecutor Christopher Meade described the scene of the crash, which unfolded on Grove Street in Franklin, around 30 miles south-west of Boston.

He said police officers who were called to the street saw a pickup truck in the middle of the road, and the Patel family's Honda 'off to the side of the road'.

Meade said Minaben and Krisha were on the ground suffering horrific injuries after appearing to have been flung from their vehicle. Officers performed CPR.

Atulkumar, who had been driving, was trapped inside the car with his son Kung.

The Patel family were rushed to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment. Krisha died that night.

Blanchard was found 'with a small amount of blood on his nose', Meade said. 'His eyes were bloodshot and glassy,' he added.

Officers noted that he 'didn't remember much' and 'had slurred speech', while attempting to direct his face away from officers so they could not smell the alcohol.

His blood alcohol level came back .19, Meade said, more than twice the legal limit for driving in Massachusetts.

Prosecutor Christopher Meade described the scene of the crash (pictured), which unfolded on Grove Street in Franklin. He said police officers who were called to the street saw a pickup truck in the middle of the road, and the Patel family's Honda 'off to the side of the road'

Blanchard said he tried to swerve to avoid the Honda during interviews with police the day after the collision.

Horrific images from the scene show the front of his pickup truck was crumpled by the impact, while the Patel family's car was smashed in on one side.

Blanchard has been charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol, three counts of operating under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury.

He is also accused of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol, and a marked lanes violation.

'Krishna's kind spirit, big smile and loving heart will be deeply missed,' a flyer for her memorial service reads.
Tom Hanks has broken his silence on his daughter's new bombshell memoir detailing her troubled childhood.

The actor, 68, opened up about the book, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, written by his only daughter E.A. Hanks, during a red carpet premiere for his new film 'The Phoenician Scheme' on Thursday.

E.A.'s book goes into details on the troubles of Hanks and her mother, the late actress Samantha Lewes, who died in 2002 after a battle with cancer.

Hanks praised her for being so candid about a dark time in her life and also noted he was not at all shocked that she had the strength to do so.

'I'm not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal as well as the curiosity... in order to examine this thing that I think she was incredibly honest about,' the Toy Story star told Access Hollywood.

He went on to say that his daughter has been 'very open about what the process is' in regard to the book.

The popular memoir was released in April and examines the 42-year-old writer's life growing up with two Hollywood icons, Hanks and Samantha Lewes.

E.A. spent the first five years of her life living in Los Angeles with both her mom and dad until they divorced in 1987.

Tom Hanks broke his silence on his daughter's new bombshell memoir detailing her troubled childhood

Hanks praised his daughter E.A. (pictured) for being so candid about a dark time in her life and also noted he was not at all shocked that she had the strength to do so

In the book, she recalled how her mother chose to move her older brother Colin, now 47, and her from Los Angeles to Sacramento without warning.

She also revealed how Samantha's 'emotional and physical violence' brought her back to live with her father.

In an excerpt shared with People, she recalled: 'I was born in Burbank, but after my parents split up, my mother took my older brother and me to live in Sacramento. I have few memories of the early years in Los Angeles.

'Eventually a divorce agreement was settled, and I would visit my dad and stepmother (and soon enough my younger half brothers) on the weekends and during summers, but from 5 to 14, years filled with confusion, violence, deprivation, and love, I was a Sacramento girl.

'I lived in a white house with columns, a backyard with a pool, and a bedroom with pictures of horses plastered on every wall.

'As the years went on, the backyard became so full of dog s*** that you couldn't walk around it, the house stank of smoke.

'The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not, and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed, poring over the Bible.'

E.A. then went on to detail the extent of her mother's actions toward her, adding: 'One night, her emotional violence became physical violence, and in the aftermath I moved to Los Angeles, right smack in the middle of the seventh grade.

'My custody arrangement basically switched  now I lived in L.A. and visited Sacramento on the weekends and in the summer.

The popular memoir was released in April and examines the 42-year-old writer's life growing up with two Hollywood icons, Hanks and her mother, the late actress Samantha Lewes. (Pictured: Hanks and Lewes in 1983)

In the book, she recalled her how her mother chose to move her older brother Colin, now 47, and her from Los Angeles to Sacramento without warning and how Samantha's 'emotional and physical violence' brought her back to live with her father

'When I was 14, my mother and I drove across America along Interstate 10 to Florida, in a Winnebago that lumbered along the asphalt with a rolling gait that felt nautical.'

In the memoir, E.A. shared that she believes her mother, who was never diagnosed, struggled with bipolar disorder with episodes of 'extreme paranoia and delusion.'

'My senior year of high school, she called to say she was dying,' she continued.

Samantha, who was known for her role in the 1984 movie Mr. Success, died in 2002 from bone cancer at age of 50.

In the wake of her passing, E.A. set out on a six-month road trip to try to piece together a portrait of her mother.

Crucial to the mystery was one of her mother's journal entries in which she claimed she saw E.A.'s late grandfather, John Raymond Dillingham, 'rape, murder, and cannibalize a little girl.'

'It wasn't a journal with dates,' she told People, 'but more stream of consciousness, spurts of what would occur to her.'

The Forrest Gump actor met his first wife - who was four years his senior - when they were both studying theater at California State University in Sacramento. (Pictured: Hanks, his second wife Rita Wilson and his two children, E.A. and Truman)

'And then I read her description of her father committing this horrible crime. The crime she describes is witnessing her father rape, murder and cannibalize a little girl.'

If any of what Samantha was describing was true, E.A. added, her mother 'never stood a chance' - referring to the mental anguish she suffered toward the end of her life.

She wrote that she doesn't have too many memories of her parents - who wed in 1979.

The Forrest Gump actor met his first wife - who was four years his senior - when they were both studying theater at California State University in Sacramento.

They formed a friendship that quickly turned into more, as Tom and Samantha embarked on a whirlwind romance that led to the birth of their first child together - son Colin - out of wedlock in 1977.

Tom, 22 at the time, was struggling to get his acting career off the ground when he, Samantha, and Colin moved into a cockroach-infested apartment in Manhattan in 1978.

Samantha and Tom finally tied the knot the following year and Elizabeth was born in 1982.

By then, their marriage had already begun crumbling as Tom's career was taking off and he began booking acting jobs that kept him away from his wife and children for longer and longer periods of time.

Tom legally separated from his first wife in 1985 before their seven-year marriage ended in divorce two years later. (Pictured: Hanks with his daughter in 2007)

He was still married to Samantha when Rita guest-starred in one episode of Tom's cross-dressing ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies back in 1981.

When they reconnected while filming the 1985 film Volunteers, neither Tom nor Rita could deny their feelings for each other.

'Rita and I just looked at each other and - kaboing - that was that,' the 68-year-old actor said during an appearance on the BBC's Desert Island Discs in 2016. 'I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and it just couldn't be denied.'

Hanks legally separated from his first wife in 1985 before their seven-year marriage ended in divorce two years later.

He then married Wilson, 68, in 1988. The couple of 36 years share two children together, Chet, 34, and Truman, 29.
The ex-girlfriend of a fitness instructor who was killed in a brutal acid attack has pleaded not guilty to his murder.

Paris Wilson, 34, is charged with murdering Danny Cahalane, 38, at the home they once shared in Plymouth, Devon.

Mr Cahalane had acid thrown in his face after answering the door to his home in Lipson Road, at 3.55am on Friday 21 February. He died in hospital ten weeks later, on May 3.

Former probation officer Wilson wept as she appeared in the dock at Plymouth Crown Court on Wednesday wearing a navy blue dress with her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.

She answered 'not guilty' as each of the four charges were read out, including participating in an organised crime gang that supplied drugs and enforcement of drug debts, conspiracy to murder Danny, conspiracy to commit GBH against Mr Cahalane and murder.

Wilson, of The Quay, Plymouth, was remanded in custody until her trial early next year at Winchester Crown Court.

Judge Robert Linford warned her: 'Your case is adjourned for trial... If you do not attend it will proceed in your absence. Thank you for coming today.'

As she was led back to the cells, family and friends in the public gallery shouted, 'Love you, Paris'.

Paris Wilson was supported by family and friends in the public gallery at Plymouth Crown Court today

Mr Cahalane was described as 'an outstanding father and son' by his family in a statement released following his death

Three other men from London and one woman, mother-of-three Jenna Said, also known as Jenna O'Grady, all pleaded not guilty to offences in connection with Mr Cahalane's murder.

Appearing separately in the dock, Israel Augustus, 25, of Pulford Road in London, laughed and smirked as he pleaded not guilty to eight charges.

They included being part of an organised crime group, aggravated burglary at Mr Cahalane's home in Lipson Road, Plymouth, having a kitchen knife in a street near the house on the day of the acid attack, murdering Mr Cahalane, selling drugs including crack cocaine, cannabis and C2, a mixture of MDMA and ketamine.

During the hearing Augusts - wearing a thick Canada Goose coat with his hair in dreadlocks - also denied carrying a zombie knife in Tottenham on March 4.

Said, aged 39 and from Plymouth, denied participating in organised crime and was released on bail.

Isanah Sungum, 21 of Sterling Way, Edmonton, London, denied participating in organised crime and murder and was remanded in custody.

Jean Mukuna, 23, and Arrone Mukuna, 24, pleaded not guilty to participating in organised crime, conspiracy to murder Mr Cahalane and conspiracy to cause him grievous bodily harm.

Three other defendants Brian Kalemba, 22, Abdul-Rasheed Adedoja, 22, Ramarnee Bakas-Sithole, 22, were not arraigned during the hearing while their defence prepares possible dismissal applications.

The court previously heard Mr Cahalane, pictured with ex-girlfriend Paris Wilson, suffered horrific facial injuries after sulphuric acid was thrown at him

Mother-of-three Jenna Said was released on bail after pleading not guilty to participating in organised crime

Plymouth Magistrates' Court previously heard Mr Cahalane suffered horrific facial injuries after sulphuric acid was thrown at him.

In a statement issued through police following his death, Mr Cahalane's family said: 'We are struggling to come to terms with Danny's passing. Danny was an outstanding father and son.

'Danny and his mum had so much love for each other. He is well loved by his family and friends and as a family we cherish his love and memories.

'We ask the family are please given privacy and respect during this time.'

Wilson's LinkedIn page suggests she has previously worked in business development and holds a masters degree in public administration.
This is the shocking moment a group of teens attacked a man on a train platform after witnesses said he 'asked them to stop vaping'.

Philia Pragma, 54, witnessed a group of up to five young men assault a man who repeatedly asked them to stop vaping on a busy train, she said.

The boys, estimated to be around 15 or 16 years old, boarded the train at London King's Cross on May 24 and began using the nicotine devices almost immediately.

A middle-aged man standing nearby asked them several times to stop, Ms Pragma said, noting that there were children present and that the carriage was tightly packed.

The boys ignored his requests and continued vaping, she said.

When the man got off the train at Hitchin in Hertfordshire they followed him onto the platform and began beating him, she claimed.

The horrifying video shows several of the hooded young thugs get into a fight with a member of the public on the platform, as some tried to pull them away and others looked on from the train in disbelief.

The actress from Cambridgeshire, said: 'It was truly shocking to see this behaviour.

This is the shocking moment a group of teens attacked a man on a train platform after witnesses said he 'asked them to stop vaping'

The horrifying video shows several of the hooded young thugs get into a fight with a member of the public on the platform, as some tried to pull them away and others looked on from the train in disbelief

When the man got off the train at Hitchin in Hertfordshire they followed him onto the platform and began beating him, a witness claimed

'I could see the boys follow the man off the train specifically to attack him. About five of them all jumped on top of him and pinned him to the ground.

'The middle-aged gentleman was with his own group so luckily they were there to help break it up and a member of the station's staff came quickly over as well.

'The fight ended as quickly as it started and I assume the boys got back on the train.

'I didn't see them get back on, but they weren't on the platform when we were pulling out and they had no where else to go.'

She noticed the vapers as soon as the train set off from London's King's Cross station.

As the train was very busy, many passengers were either standing or sitting in close proximity to one another.

The woman watched as a man got into a heated argument with the group over their vaping, she said.

She said: 'The man asked them in a calm but firm way if they could stop vaping.

'It was really disturbing some of the people sat closer, especially because it was such a busy train and no one had anywhere else to move to.

'The boys refused and argued that because they are 16 they should be able to vape.

'The man then made the point that there were young families on the carriage and that vaping around them could be harmful.

'The boys clearly didn't care and kept on as if nothing was happening.'

The boys, estimated to be around 15 or 16 years old, boarded the train at London King's Cross on May 24 and began using the nicotine devices almost immediately

The argument continued for about 45 minutes, until the train reached Hitchin station, where the man was getting off, Ms Pragma said.

The boys followed him off the train even though she had overheard them earlier saying their stop was Peterborough.

She said: 'I almost couldn't believe it. They had been going on about how they were going to be on the train a while, that they were going all the way to Peterborough, so that's why they "needed" to vape.

'So when they got off at Hitchin, everyone was confused until we saw the fight break out.

'Then I realised they only got off briefly to beat on this poor man before, I'm assuming, jumping right back on the train to finish their journey.'

The train pulled out of the station before she could see more.

She added: 'I know that the barriers for that station aren't far from where the fight broke out so a member of staff came over pretty quickly.

'As we were leaving the station, I saw another arrive, but at this point the boys were already gone.

'I did see the middle-aged gentleman after the fight and he seemed relatively uninjured, but I imagine he must have been shaken up.'

British Transport Police said: 'Officers were called to Hitchin railway station at 8.25pm on 24 May to reports of a fight on the platform.

'Officers attended, and two teenage boys and a 22-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of affray.

'Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 with the reference 746 of 24 May 2025.'
A British father has been cleared of raping an American teenager outside the bar he worked at in Greece in a six-year-long legal battle that lost him his marriage.

The 35-year-old DJ had been clashing with a 19-year-old teen in court since 2019 after she said he assaulted her while she was 'blind' drunk in Crete.

The father-of-six insisted they had consensual sex - which a court in Heraklion believed today due to doubt over the girl's statement.

The young woman was noticeably absent from court as well as any legal representation on her behalf, which the defendant's lawyer, Costas Papamastorakis, speculated was due to her realising her travel insurance did not cover the fallout from sexual assault.

When she was first questioned by Hersonissos Police Department, she allegedly told them that she was insured for rape.

But it later became clear that the woman's travel insurance would not cover the rape case, it was reported in Law&Order.

Mr Papamastorakis reportedly said 'the insurance company's lack of coverage was likely the reason why the complainant did not appear'.

The young woman claimed at the time she had been raped and forcibly dragged out of a bar in Malia to an uncovered area by a burly, dark-skinned man.

A British DJ has been cleared of raping an American teenager outside the bar he worked at in Greece (stock image)

The father-of-six had been battling with the 19-year-old in court since 2019 after she said he assaulted her while she was 'blind' drunk on a night out in Malia (pictured)

The Brit, who had been working as a DJ at the same bar, said they had consensual sex inside after he met the young woman who was partying with her friends.

When they then went outside, the girl vomited from being drunk and he suggested she drink some water or to sit on a sidewalk before going back into the bar, he claimed.

Later that night, he heard while eating food with friends that a young woman had been raped at the bar.

The Brit, then 29, handed himself over to the police, believing they would inevitably question him.

The court's decision to spare the British father was a huge win, Mr Papamastorakis said, whose client's life fell apart since the allegation, including the mother of his six children divorcing him.

It comes only months after another Brit was facing a nightmare court battle over assault in Greece.

A young woman who was gang raped by two men while on holiday in Crete was forced to return to Greece for a second trial in March, despite her two attackers previously receiving life sentences for their horrific crimes.

The woman, who had just turned 18 at the time of the assault in June 2022, had been holidaying with friends in the city of Rethymno after finishing her A-Levels.

The two men, aged 27 and 24, raped the Briton, who has not been named, on a beach in Rethymno (pictured in a file image), a city on the north coast of Crete, in July 2022

As she was sitting on a sunbed following a night out, she was grabbed and dragged away by two strangers, who then took it in turns to rape her.

The men, understood to have been Pakistani nationals who were in their 20s at the time, were apprehended by Greek authorities a few hours after the horrific attack.

They confessed to the gang-rape at the time of their arrest but then reportedly said the woman consented in their court appearance a year later.

The young woman is said to have been forced to stand just metres away from her attackers as she gave evidence.

The harrowing case ended with the men being jailed for life - or so the woman's family thought, as they looked forward to moving on from the ordeal.

But shockingly, the men took advantage of a Greek law which allows defendants to lodge an appeal within a certain time frame, giving them an automatic right to a full retrial with a fresh examination of witnesses and evidence.

The young woman had no choice but to return to Greece to be put through the horrific trial process all over again, with her mother saying the experience will likely re-traumatise her.
The White House has recommended that Congress take up action on a DOGE-inspired bill that could cut billions in waste, fraud and abuse identified by Elon Musk and his 'nerd army.'

President Donald Trump's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought has sent to Capitol Hill a plan to slash funding for global projects including '$3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.'

Called a rescission bill, it allows Congress to take back money that has been appropriated but not yet spent.

It is the first push in Congress to reform the many eye-popping spending programs uncovered by DOGE this year.

And it comes just as the former DOGE leader has loudly condemned Congress for not doing enough to cut spending.

Leaving DOGE after his status as a special government employee ended last week, Trump awarded Musk a key to the White House and lauded the world's richest man for helping the federal government uncover $180 billion in waste.

But this week Musk has gone scorched earth on his GOP allies, calling Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' an abomination that 'will drive America into debt slavery!'

The package the White House is urging Congress to pass, however, would cut spending like the Tesla owner has demanded.

The plan calls for cutting up to $9.4 billion in approved funding, much of that coming from projects at the State Department, USAID, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees NPR and PBS.

Speaker Mike Johnson has recieved a proposal from the Trump administration to cut congressional spending by up to $9.4 billion. Much of the spending would come from slashing fund meant for USAID

Ex-DOGE leader Elon Musk went on a social media tirade Tuesday ripping the White House for not cutting government spending

The plan was put forward by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, who will testify before Congress about the measure at a hearing Wednesday afternoon

Much of the funding on the chopping block comes from pro-DEI and LGBT initiatives USAID funded for other countries, which were identified by DOGE.

According to OMB, the package will rescind '$643,000 for LGBTQI+ programs in the Western Balkans' and '$567,000 for LBGTQI+ programs in Uganda.'

OMB also announced it cut millions meant for condoms and vasectomies and over $830,000 for 'transgender people, sex workers and their clients and sexual networks' in Nepal.'

Over $5 million for 'resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans gender, intersex, and queer global movements,' will be undone, as will '$3 million for circumcision, vasectomies, and condoms in Zambia.'

In total, the measure calls for $8.3 billion in cuts to USAID, an agency Trump pushed to shut down earlier this year.

Having Congress cut the agency's funding is another meaningful step taken by the administration to wind down the embattled USAID, which the administration aims to end completely.

The OMB-backed bill also slashes $135 million for the World Health Organization, which has been widely derided by GOP lawmakers since the COVID-19 pandemic.

'$67,000 for testing insect powder nutrition on children in Madagascar,' will also be cut, according to OMB's X account.

Republicans in the House exposed how USAID funded a Serbian LGBT activism group called Group EXIT earlier this year, among many other pro-LGBT groups

DOGE and lawmakers have also taken issue with HIV an

'Today, the House has officially received the rescissions request from the White House to eliminate $9.4 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending at the State Department and USAID and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS,' GOP House leadership said in a joint statement Tuesday.

'Now that this wasteful spending by the federal government has been identified by DOGE, quantified by the Administration, and sent to Congress, House Republicans will fulfill our mandate and continue codifying into law a more efficient federal government.'

Speaker Mike Johnson, who led the letter, has said that he hopes the rescission package will get a vote on the floor as soon as next week.
A city council in Montana voted to establish the Pride flag as the city's only official pennant - which the Republican governor slammed as a 'divisive, far-left' move.

Missoula city Councilmember Jennifer Savage introduced the resolution, which designates the colorful Pride flag as an official municipal flag within city limits.

During council discussions, dozens of locals offered their support - and the motion passed 9-2 on June 2.

This measure came into place as a direct response to a bill signed on May 13 by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte - which prohibited the display of 'flags or banners regarding a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender, or political ideology' on government buildings.

House Bill 819 stipulates that only 'official historical flags' of the US such as the Gadsden flag and municipal flags can be displayed on government property. This includes Montana court houses, city departments and public schools.

Seemingly as an act of rebellion against the law enforced by the Republican governor, the city council voted to make the rainbow-colored flag their official banner.

Gianforte expressed his ire following the council's brazen decision.

He wrote: 'Missoula City Council should be ashamed for imposing a pride flag on schools and dividing their community.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte released a statement saying that councilmembers in Missoula should be 'ashamed' of themselves

A city council in Montana voted to establish the Pride flag as the city's only official pennant. Pictured: Missoula

'Last night, nine members of the Missoula City Council made clear their top priority is flying a divisive pride flag over government buildings and schools.

'Missoulians deserve better, and fortunately, two council members voted against imposing this divisive, far-left agenda on their community.'

The council was sure to make the distinction that the Pride flag is now 'a' city flag not 'the' city flag. Although the city has no other official flags.

Democratic Representative Melody Cunningham opposed Gianforte's initial bill: 'This bill was heard before our Judiciary Committee in the House session.

'We argued vociferously that the Pride flag was certainly a historical flag and that it was very important.'

Councilmembers in Missoula echo her concern.

Another councilmember, Mike Nugent, addressed the room stating: 'I think that the message that we keep hearing over and over is that people are passionate about it because they just want to make sure that there's safe space for everybody and that when they do something like fly a flag or something like that, it kind of lets people know that it's a safe space for people to come.'

Missoula city Councilmember Jennifer Savage (pictured) introduced the resolution, which designates the colorful Pride flag as an official municipal flag within city limits

During council discussions, dozens of Missoulians offered their support

Missoula city Councilmember Jennifer Savage introduced the resolution, which designates the pride flag as an official municipal flag within city limits

The council was sure to make the distinction that the Pride flag (stock image) is now 'a' city flag not 'the' city flag. Although the city has no other official flags

'It's important to be able to come forward and stand up for this community. It's always urgent to me as the mother of a gay daughter. So that's why I'm bringing this forward now,' said Councilmember Savage.

During the meeting, citizens addressed the council in support of the motion.

'I didn't get to grow up in a place where things like queer people were talked about, or pride flags were allowed. I almost was not here at this point in my life, so I want you to consider how many lives you can save through simple actions,' one person stated.

Others expressed their support via social media, 'Good Job, Missoula! Proud of my hometown!,' wrote one Facebook user.

Despite many community members speaking out in support of the movement, council members, citizens and even the Governor himself expressed opposition.

'Individuals can express what matters to them without it becoming an official government stance. True inclusivity as a government entity means staying neutral, and we need to uphold public trust by not taking sides,' Councilwoman Sandra Vasecka told Daily Mail.

She also expressed concern over the speed at which the motion was passed stating that 'rather than having about a week to let the public know and gather information, we had one weekend. I am unsure why such a controversial item was rushed through.'

'I absolutely stand by my decision to vote no.'

Councilmember Bob Campbell also voted against the motion - but opposes HB 819 as well calling it 'a very poorly crafted piece of legislation. It should have never have happened.'

However, he told the council that he doesn't believe in making the kind of exclusions that Savage's motion creates, according to Longview News-Journal.

Many Missoulians agree with Gov. Gianforte, several shamed city council calling the city an 'embarrassment'

The response on among locals on social media was overwhelmingly negative. Many Missoulians agree with Gov. Gianforte, several shamed city council calling the city an 'embarrassment.'

While the motion does not require any government entities to fly the flag, it allows those to choose to to display it proudly without violating HB 819.

Regardless, many taxpayers agree they would rather councilmembers give their attention to other Missoula matters.

Daily Mail reached out to Missoula city council for comment.
A top surgeon flicked a female colleague's nipple after spotting her piercing through the bodysuit she was wearing, a court heard today.

On another occasion Dr Amal Bose, 55, allegedly squeezed the administrative worker's breasts and said 'I'm just looking for a pen' when she handed him a leaving card to sign, a jury was told.

The 'creepy' NHS consultant also responded by seeing her eating a lollipop by saying 'I've got something better for you to suck on', it was alleged.

She claimed that when he later stuck his hand inside a wrap dress she was wearing and asked why she was wearing shorts underneath it, she retorted that it was to 'protect from you'.

Dr Bose is accused of groping the breasts and bottoms of six female colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire.

Medical staff felt unable to challenge the 'toxic and sexualised' culture he created due to his 'position and authority as a senior consultant', according to the prosecution.

Instead hospital workers would attempt to dismiss his behaviour by saying 'That's just Amal', Preston Crown Court has heard.

Today jurors were played a recording of a police interview with the administrative worker who is the alleged victim in nine of the 14 counts of sexual assault he faces.

Dr Amal Bose arriving at Preston Crown Court where he faces 14 counts of sexual assault on female colleagues

Respected surgeon Dr Amal Bose allegedly groped the breasts and bottoms of female colleagues including a doctor and several nurses

She said on one occasion while at work she was eating a lollipop when she encountered Dr Bose, who said: 'I've got something better for you to suck on.'

Asked by the detective what she took that to mean, the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - replied: 'A bl*w job.'

The woman said Dr Bose's behaviour when she first started working with him was comparatively 'tame'.

When new staff joined the department 'we'd always warn them about Amal', she said.

But when he was promoted to a more senior role in 2021 it was like someone had 'flicked a switch,' she said, and it got 'progressively worse'.

On one occasion she said she was in another consultant's office when Dr Bose came in and began 'looking me up and down, looking at my chest'.

'I had nipple piercings,' she said.

'They were obviously visible, I didn't realise.

'So he flicked my nipple through my bodysuit and then left.'

Surgeon Dr Amal Bose, 55, allegedly told one nurse that his fantasy was to tie her up and tried to persuade her to go back to a hotel room to 'show her a good time'

Colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital (pictured) were advised to dismiss the surgeon's alleged behaviour by saying 'That's just Amal', a court heard

Saying she felt 'mortified' and 'sick', she said she told the other consultant what had happened but he 'wasn't listening'.

The incident was a 'green light' to Dr Bose, she said, apparently making him feel: 'What else can I get away with?'

But she didn't confront him or complain as he 'would have carried on' anyway, she added.

'On a weekly basis he would smack my bum, he'd grab my boobs,' she said.

Later she was in the cramped ward kitchen making her lunch when Dr Bose came in and stuck his hand inside her wrap dress, she said, commenting: 'What have you got shorts on for?'

She replied that it was to 'Protect from you,' she told police.

The woman said she hadn't worn the 'expensive' dress since then.

On another occasion, she said she approached him with a leaving card to sign, only for him to grab her breasts and say: 'I'm just looking for a pen.'

She said she replied: 'I don't keep my pens down there Amal.'

The witness said she felt 'sick' as she believed other colleagues had seen what he did.

Dr Amal Bose allegedly created a 'toxic and sexualised environment' by groping and slapping colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Dr Bose had a leading reputation in his field which made it harder for colleagues to make a complaint against him, Preston Crown Court (pictured) heard today

'If someone saw something they'd never admit to it and never challenge it,' she said.

But later she said one female colleague walked in on them both in the kitchen while Dr Bose was groping her and asked the consultant: 'What the f*** are you doing?'

The doctor allegedly replied: 'I'm just checking her groin.'

He then 'smirked' and walked away, she said.

The woman said Dr Bose would tug at the waistband of her pants and try to put his hand inside when he found her alone, to which she would tell him to 'pack it in' and 'behave'.

She began wearing high-waisted Spanx underwear in order to combat his unwanted advances, she added.

Saying there was always 'banter' between medical and administrative staff, she said with other doctors it was 'consensual' and 'we know what lines we can't cross'.

But Dr Bose 'would always cross those lines' and 'get a kick out of it,' she said.

The 'creepy' consultant allegedly told one nurse that his fantasy was to tie her up and tried to persuade her to go back to a hotel room to 'show her a good time'.

However medical staff felt unable to challenge the 'toxic and sexualised' culture he created due to his 'position and authority as a senior consultant', according to the prosecution.

Instead hospital workers would attempt to dismiss his behaviour by saying 'That's just Amal', the trial heard.

When he was arrested on March 21, 2023, Dr Bose was recorded on police video telling the officer: 'It was only flirting.'

Dr Bose is charged with 14 counts of sexual assault on six female colleagues between 2017 and 2022.

He denies all the charges.

The trial continues.
A man who murdered a teenager he met on a bus and then had sex with her corpse on the flip of a coin has been sentenced to life in prison.

Car shop repair man Mateusz Hepa was on his way home from a night shift in the Polish city of Katowice in August 2023 when he bumped into Wiktoria Kozielska who was returning from a party.

Luring her back to his flat where she fell asleep, he then tossed a coin to decide whether to kill her.

In a chilling monologue reminiscent of bestselling book The Dice Man in which the main character makes decisions based on the roll of a die, the 20-year-old killer later told police: 'I tossed a coin, it came up heads so I killed her.

'If it had been tails she would probably still be alive.'

He then decided to beat and strangle the 18-year-old girl to death with a rope, before wrapping her body in plastic and calling the police.

He was arrested just hours after the brutal murder, reportedly telling police: 'I felt the need to kill.'

During his trial Hepa's defence argued that he had been sexually abused as a child and that this had led to his behaviour.

Mateusz Hepa has been sentenced to life in prison after murdering Wiktoria Kozielska and having sex with her corpse

The killer told police that he decided to kill Kozielska after flipping a coin

Hepa reportedly confessed to police after killing Wiktoria and having sex with her corpse

Defending lawyer Marcin Runowski said: 'Mateusz Hepa was a victim of psychological and physical violence.

'He changed places of residence throughout his life. He was afraid of people, avoided contact, and could not even eat in their presence.

'His disorders result from a traumatic childhood.

'Mateusz needs help, not just punishment. If he is not treated properly, he may commit a similar act again.'

Hepa's grandmother who appeared for his defence said: 'Mateusz was afraid of people, he always wore a hoodie, covered his eyes with dark glasses.

'During the day, he also closed the curtains in his room. He never wanted to eat in front of strangers, neither in a restaurant nor when we had guests.

'He only went out in the evenings. He had low self-esteem, his father never loved him, he left when Mateusz was two, and he had some hidden grudge against his mother.'

But the victim's family lawyer Waldemar Bogdan told a court on Wednesday: 'Wiktoria had the right to dance, have fun and live.

He was arrested just hours after the brutal murder

'Meanwhile, fate decided that she met this man on her path. Mateusz Hepa tossed a coin that decided the life of a young girl.

'This trial is to be a lesson for the entire society. I am asking for a life sentence without the possibility of parole.'

Prosecutor Barbara Wilmowicz said: 'An expert sexologist was consulted who diagnosed the suspect with paraphilic disorders of the sexual sadism syndrome type and severe personality disorders.'

She added that there was a high probability that he could commit another sex crime.

Sentencing Hepa to life in jail with the possibility of parole denied for 40 years, Judge Agata Dybek-Zydn said that Hepa, who was not in court, deserved 'special condemnation as he had murdered a random person and [had] shown no mercy.'

Appearing in court in the town of Gliwice earlier this year, he said that prior to Kozielska's murder he had been thinking about killing someone and had walked around town looking for a victim.

As Kozielska's devastated parents listened on, he said: 'I gave her the choice of going home or to me. She decided to go to me.

'We sat there, talked about nothing, then she fell asleep.

'I walked around the room, tried to wake her up, but I couldn't.

'Then I tossed a coin, it landed heads so I killed her.

'I don't know why I did it. Certain things happen, but I have no influence on them.

'Sometimes I toss a coin when I have a difficult choice.

'I sat on her chest and started to strangle her. I chose strangulation because then there is no blood.

'She was trying to breathe. She had no strength to fight. She tried to resist but it was too late.

'After I killed her, I took her clothes off her and then I had sex with her,' he admitted.

'Then I got dressed and tried to hide the body. I wasn't thinking rationally.

'I put Wiktoria's body in a bag and wrapped it in a blanket. I planned to burn it.

'I thought I would feel better if I committed murder.'

As he was led out of court, the victims distraught friends shouted 'You should f***ing die'.

Local media reports Hepa had thought about taking his own life but ultimately changed his mind and called the police.

He has been held in custody since last year.
Jeff Jones flew into Austin last year for what he assumed would be a wild bachelor party.

The Boston native went to dinner with his friends before moving onto bars on the notoriously rowdy West 6th Street.

At 1am, the 38-year-old somehow got separated from his friends.

Two weeks later he woke up in hospital with metal rods supporting his back and he didn't remember a thing.

Doctors found the date-rape drug Rohypnol in his system and told him he had been found in water after falling 25ft off a bridge.

A terrified Jones thought he had been drugged and pushed by a potential serial killer that many believed was roaming the streets of the Texas city.

Police have insisted a mass murderer is not on the loose, but grim discoveries in a waterway that runs through the center of Austin means these rumors haven't gone away.

More than three dozens bodies have been found in or in the area near Lady Bird Lake in the last three years, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Nineteen have been pulled from the water, the rest have been discovered on land.

While police say only one case was a homicide - and have shut down suggestions of a hunt for a suspect called the 'Rainy Street Ripper' - half a dozen causes of death remain unknown.

Even though many of the fatalities are shrouded in mystery, cops do have a theory.

At least 38 bodies have been pulled from Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas since 2022, according to local station Fox 7

They believe the party scene in downtown Austin - a favorite destination for bachelorette and bachelor parties - as exacerbated the problem.

Many of those who have ended up in Lady Bird Lake had been partying hard at Rainey Street, a popular bar scene, just feet away from the river.

Officials have increased safety measures, including lighting and fencing around the lake.

Ambulances are also parked at the end of Rainey Street, to treat those who have either had too much fun, or turn those walking towards the water away.

The latest remains were found on Tuesday. Law enforcement believe they belong to a teen who went missing on Sunday.

A 17-year-old black male who was paddle boarding with his family went missing around 7pm.

Tuesday, a body with clothes matching the description of the unidentified youngster was pulled from the water, however, local cops are still awaiting a positive identification from the medical examiner's office.

There are no signs of foul play in this case, which has been classified as a drowning, investigators shared.

'The teenager got off his kayak to stand in shallow water. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time. Investigators have determined that he was unknowingly standing near an underwater shelf, which is a sudden drop-off in the lake, when he stepped or slipped off and did not resurface', the Austin Police Department explained.

Jeff Jones (pictured in hospital with his sister Amy) after he plummeted 25 feet off a bridge in Austin, and believes he could have been pushed by the 'Rainey Street ripper'

Four bodies were found in Austin's Lady Bird Lake in 2023 including 33-year-old Jonathan Honey (pictured), who was found dead on April 1

The death of dad Christopher Hays-Clark, 30, (pictured with son) was not deemed to be suspicious. He was found dead on April 15, 2023

The teen's backpack and life jacket have also been recovered alongside the kayak.

Since 2022, 38 bodies have been recovered from Lady Bird Lake and the area around the lake, according to Fox 7.

Since January 2022, 19 bodies have been pulled from the water. Another 19 have been found near the lake in apartments or homeless encampments nearby, the Austin Police Department told DailyMail.com.

Drowning has been the top cause of death, followed by suicide, drug overdoses and natural causes.

But the case still unresolved have lead to the wild serial killer speculation, which the Austin Police Department has shot down multiple times.

One debunked theory was that gay men were being targeted.

Like Jeff Jones, most of people who have been found dead in the water are men- 30 out of 38.

The majority, 60 percent, were between the ages of 30 and 49.

Two were teenagers, including the person found Tuesday.

'The things that lead to it being a serial killer is that it's a very specific type of victim, which I fit, they don't have anything stolen from them, they drown in the water, and they disappear in the middle of the night,' Jones told Daily Mail last year.

The popular bar district, Rainey Street, is located just next to Lady Bird Lake, where dozens have drown since 2022

'I match all of this, I just luckily didn't end up dead.'

However, police have chalked up the growing number of fatalities to a growing party scene near the water.

Former Austin Police Department forensic director Mark Gillespie previously stressed in an interview with KVUE that the public should believe the police when they say that there is no foul play.

'They're looking for foul play, and so when APD comes out with the statement that at the current time, they don't suspect foul play, I promise you they were looking for it, and they were looking very hard for it, so I respect that,' he said.
Vice President JD Vance joked that he was offended after being described as an 'intellectual' who previously wrote for the anti-Trump conservative magazine National Review.

The vice president made his remarks during a black-tie gala sponsored by the conservative think tank American Compass as he sat down with founder Oren Cass.

'I am thrilled to have this opportunity to talk with you and so grateful that the work youre doing and, in a sense, so in awe of it because there are politicians out there who are, theyve just been politicians,' Cass began.

'But you are someone who was an intellectual first. Some people dont like the word "intellectual." But I mean it in the good sense of the term. You were writing for National Review. You were at the bar late at night arguing about and helping shape these ideas that you are now.'

'I come here for free and you insult me,' Vance joked. 'And you call me an intellectual, remind me that I wrote for National Review. What an a**hole this guy is!'

The audience laughed and applauded as Cass replied, 'Thats fair. I will admit that I, too, wrote for National Review.'

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during the American Compass New World Gala at the National Building Museum

Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Oren Cass, at the American Compass fifth anniversary gala

The National Review was a widely respected conservative magazine that vociferously opposed Trump in the 2016 election.

The vice president previously took shots at National Review during an interview with CBS' Face the Nation where host Margaret Brennan cited an article critical of one of the president's nominees for his cabinet.

'These are publications that attacked Donald J. Trump obsessively, but those publications don't determine who the president is, the American people do and Donald J. Trump is the person who determines who his cabinet is, not these publications that I think, frankly, have lost relevance,' Vance said.

Vance was involved in the founding discussions of the American Compass group, an attempt to put an intellectual and policy framework behind some of Trump's 'America First' agenda.

During the gala, Vance said that when he got to the White House, he asked for analysis on supply chains in America, eager to identify key industries to bring back to the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during the American Compass Fifth Anniversary Gala

Vice President JD Vance greets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at the American Compass gala

'What is so crazy about the hyper globalized era is that you had these basic questions about the brittleness of our supply chains that were completely un-investigated by the very people who supported globalizing those supply chains,' he said to applause from the audience.

'We were actually governed by complete morons and we didn't even realize it until the Trump administration started getting under the hood of our government.'

The organization, founded in 2020, is working for Republicans to think differently on policy questions, including by grabbing the third rail of sacrosanct political principles that have traditionally been the core ideals of the conservative movement.

The organization credits Vance and his policies for lifting up their status in Washington.

'No figure in American politics has more effectively advocated for American families and workers than Vice President JD Vance,' American Compass communications director Theresa Braid said to the Daily Mail.

She cited Vance's work in the Senate and the White House as well as his book Hillbilly Elegy, which chronicles the struggles that working class voters in America face.

'Vice President Vance has led the charge to speak for the Americans that our elites have forgotten,' she continued. 'It is an honor to have him join our celebration of the movement that he has helped build.'

Other prominent Republicans on the right who are connected with the group include Secretary of State Marco Rubio who spoke at the event, and Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Todd Young and Jim Banks from Indiana, and Bernie Moreno from Ohio.
A female law firm supervisor sued for victimisation after complaining about a male colleague discussing 'pretty privilege' - where better looking women are more likely to succeed.

Catherine Guinee reported Aaron Hodges to bosses for claiming that attractive women are more likely to secure contracts, an employment tribunal heard.

The 49-year-old also complained that he had said 'good girl' to her and his remarks led to him receiving a warning about the 'need to be careful about his use of language in the workplace'.

However, after Miss Guinee lost her job shortly afterwards she launched legal proceedings claiming the firm had failed to investigate her allegations properly.

Her claims were dismissed after the tribunal ruled that her employers had not ignored her complaint.

The hearing in central London was told Miss Guinee started working at Pogust Goodhead, a London-based law firm with over 500 staff members, in March 2023.

The firm set up a call centre for people to make claims relating to the diesel emissions scandal, with Miss Guinee - who suffers from multiple sclerosis - hired as a client services supervisor.

The hearing was told that shortly after she started she made the complaint to boss Urika Shrestha about colleague Mr Hodges.

Miss Guinee lost her job shortly afterwards she launched legal proceedings claiming Pogust Goodhead had failed to investigate her allegations properly

Employment Judge Anthony Snelson said: 'We find that, probably very early on [Miss Guinee] did complain privately to her colleague about an exchange with Mr Hodges in which he had said 'good girl' to her and another in which the two had discussed 'pretty privilege', the notion that female candidates regarded as good-looking were more likely to secure training contracts than others seen as less attractive.

'We accept [Ms Shrestha's] evidence evidence that she spoke with Mr Hodges and reminded him of the need to be careful about his use of language in the workplace.'

The tribunal did find that Ms Shrestha did not tell Miss Guinee that she had had this conversation, however,

The tribunal heard that on April 11 - ahead of a meeting - she sent a message to her boss complaining about competition within the team.

She sent another message to the head of HR, saying: 'I have relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. I do not need mind games, being messed around, being pulled one way and another.'

She then approached another line manager, clearly agitated, and started shouting that things were 'bullshit' and that she was being denied her access to certain reports because she was a woman.

When the meeting started, when a colleague was speaking, Miss Guinee started pointing and shouting at her, the hearing was told.

She again complained of 'bullshit' and called her a 'little girl', which shocked the other members of the team. She then called Mr Hodges 'adopted', 'scummy' and a 'money-grabber' and claimed Ms Shrestha was treating staff like 'slaves'.

Ms Guinee was then asked to go home and it was later agreed by colleagues that she should be fired as 'she did not meet the standards required for her role'.

She then sued for disability and sex discrimination as well as victimisation.

Regarding Mr Hodges' remarks, the tribunal said: 'We find that there was no 'failure' to follow up the complaint' and also ruled that her gender and MS had nothing to do with her being fired as no one involved knew of her illness.

EJ Snelson said: 'If, as we find, the decision to dismiss was taken at a time when the decision maker had no knowledge of the relevant medical condition, it follows that that condition cannot have been the reason, or a material reason, for the dismissal.

'It was common ground that at the time of dismissal [Miss Guinee] had taken no sick leave. She exhibited no symptoms in the workplace.

'The person who dismissed her was the very person who had interviewed and appointed her only a month earlier. The notion that he was disposed to discriminate against on her grounds of sex is entirely unsubstantiated.

'[Miss Guinee] was dismissed in accordance with her contract, under which [Pogust Goodhead] was at liberty to terminate on notice.'
Dramatic new footage recorded by Ukrainian attack drones has laid bare the devastation they inflicted on Russian airbases during Operation Spiderweb.

The covert mission - overseen in secret by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hailed as one of Kyiv's biggest wartime achievements - used hundreds of first-person view (FPV) drones to strike at the heart of Moscow's air force.

The state-of-the-art weapons were smuggled into Russia in wooden containers on the back of lorries, with the deadly cargo disguised as modular homes and transported by unsuspecting Russian drivers.

The vehicles were parked near strategic airbases before their roofs opened remotely, unleashing swarms of drones that targeted and destroyed bombers on the ground.

The strikes took place on Sunday, with footage released today showing flames engulfing aircraft at four military airfields - Olenya in the Arctic region of Murmansk; Dyagilevo in western Russia; Ivanovo, northeast of Moscow; and Podmoskovye in Moscow.

Sources inside Ukraine's SBU security service claimed the operation crippled 34 per cent of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, including the nuclear-capable Tu-95s and Tu-22s, often used to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine.

Other aircraft which were hit included the nuclear-capable Tu-160 bomber, the An-12 transport plane and the Il-78 tanker, according to the SBU.

The footage was released as new satellite images of Belaya airbase have shown severe damage to at least three Tu-95s, according to analysts.

A column of flames and black smoke rises over a targeted plane during Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb

Smoke billows in multiple locations across a Russian airfield following the extensive drone strikes

The close-up footage from various drones shows the moment of impact as they slammed into their targets

The footage was released as new satellite images of Belaya airbase have shown severe damage to at least three Tu-95s, according to analysts

The strikes took place on Sunday, with footage released today showing flames engulfing aircraft at four military airfields (pictured Belaya Airbase)

In total Ukraine says 41 aircraft were damaged or destroyed with damage valued at around 1.5 billion.

A share of the successfully targeted aircraft were destroyed completely while others will take a long time to repair, the SBU said.

Some of the drones carried the mission out using AI, according to reports, and flew via a route that was programmed into them before the attack was launched.

The new footage was shown as Putin held a video conference with senior officials.

It was the first time he had been seen publicly since the humiliating Sunday strikes.

His security officials reported that two train crashes on the same day were caused by Ukrainian saboteurs blowing up rail bridges.

At least some of the trucks belonged to former DJ Artem Timofeev, suspected by Russian law enforcement off being a Ukrainian agent.

A huge manhunt has been launched for his and his wife Ekaterina 'Katya' Timofeeva, 34, who is suspected to have aided him. The pair have gone missing, say reports.

Putin-backing Readovka media outlet reported: 'Artem is now wanted in connection with a terrorist attack in Irkutsk region.

'Four lorries were registered in his name, and one of them was the source of the drones that launched [in an attack on a Putin airbase].'

His wife 'has not been online for two weeks, and she has scrubbed all her active social media accounts.'

Relatives of the couple declined to comment, according to Readovka.

A satellite image shows Tupolev Tu-95 aircrafts destroyed following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes at the Belaya Airbase in Russia

New satellite imagery shows destroyed Russian bombers at the Belaya Air Base in the Irkutsk region of eastern Siberia

The new pictures show severely damaged aircraft at the base after Sunday's operation

The videos show drones hovering over aircraft before striking

Flames erupt after a plane was struck by a Ukrainian attack drone on Sunday

A flat in Chelyabinsk has been linked to Timofeev where he was reportedly seen a week ago.

Reports are divided as to whether he was born in Zhytomyr Ukraine, or occupied Donetsk region.

Both he and his wife were reportedly supporters in Kyiv of the Ukrainian revolution in 2014, which toppled pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Later they moved to Russia, where she also worked as a stylist and tattoo artist.

He set up a haulage sole proprietorship in December 2024, and ran several lorries.

In his marriage certificate, Timofeev's patronymic - middle name - is listed as Igorevich, while in a Russian wanted notice he is referred to as Valeryevich. It is unclear if he had sought to alter his name.

The new footage was shown as Putin held a video conference with senior officials. It was the first time he had been seen publicly since the humiliating Sunday strikes

Ukraine took out an estimated 1.5billion worth of Russian military equipment, including several Tu-95s (pictured)

Also destroyed were several Tu-22Ms (pictured), of which less than 500 were manufactured

Ukraine managed to destroy an A-50 Mainstay (pictured), which is used as an aerial command and radar centre

Satellite image of the Belaya airfield, after a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Russian military airfields

Head of the Ukraine's Security Service Vasyl Maliuk looks at a map of an airfield, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an unknown location in Ukraine

He is specifically wanted over the strike against a Russian airbase in Irkutsk region.

In 20142015, he lived in Kyiv, and mingled with local musicians, frequently attending parties.

Reports say he co-owned a local clothing brand, posting photos from the Euromaidan protests, and mocking ex-president Yanukovych.

Ukraine's SBU secret service said its main agents in the audacious strikes on the air bases had already left Russia.

Zelensky today urged Kyiv's military backers to ramp up support in a bid to pressure Russia towards peace.

'We must not allow Russia to blur reality or mislead the world. Moscow must be forced into diplomacy,' Zelensky said in a video address to defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

And after Sunday's devastating blow to Moscow, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said today that military success by Russia in its war in Ukraine was neither imminent nor to be expected.
President Donald Trump's demand to strip $1.1 billion in federal funding from National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service came one step closer to reality.

Tuesday night House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he had officially received the rescissions request from the White House to extinguish a total of $9.4 billion in funding from NPR, PBS, the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development, the latter of which the administration has disassembled.

The $1.1 billion was Congressional funding for the public broadcasters for the next two years. Only about 1 percent of NPR's budget comes from the federal government, but the heads of NPR and PBS have both warned that local TV and radio stations could be impacted by this move.

Johnson said he would put the rescission bill on the floor next week.

'Now that this wasteful spending by the federal government has been identified by DOGE, quantified by the Administration, and sent to Congress, House Republicans will fulfill our mandate and continue codifying into law a more efficient federal government,' Johnson said. 'This is exactly what the American people deserve.'

For months Trump has demanded that NPR and PBS lose their federal dollars.

'REPUBLICANS MUST DEFUND AND TOTALLY DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM NPR & PBS, THE RADICAL LEFT "MONSTERS" THAT SO BADLY HURT OUR COUNTRY!' the president wrote in an April Fool's Day Truth Social post.

But he wasn't joking.

President Donald Trump's demand to strip $1.1 billion in federal funding from National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service came one step closer to reality

For months Trump has demanded that NPR and PBS lose their federal funding. He sent out this Truth Social post on April Fool's Day but the president wasn't joking

On May 1, Trump signed an executive order to strip the two taxpayer subsidized entities of their federal dollars.

The White House claimed that NPR and PBS 'spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as "news."'

A press release listed a number of stories the administration found objectionable.

Among them - a 2015 report on the annual 'furry' festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a 2017 report on a book about cannibalism, and a 2024 Valentine's Day report on 'queer animals.'

PBS should be defunded, the White House argued, because it produced a documentary that argued the case for reparations - payments made to descendents of enslaved Americans.

The White House also expressed dissatisfaction that PBS had aired a documentary of a transgender teenage boy and that Sesame Street had partnered with CNN and held a town hall amid the 'Black Lives Matter' protests in June 2020 to address racism.

The administration complained that the program showcased a 'one-sided narrative.'

The White House also blasted NPR and PBS for liberal bias and for having 'zero tolerance for non-leftist viewpoints.'

The logos of National Public Radio (left) and the Public Broadcasting Service (right). President Donald Trump's demand to have NPR and PBS stripped of federal funding has become one step closer to reality

In late May, NPR and three Colorado NPR stations sued the administration over Trump's executive order claiming that it 'violates the expressed will of Congress.'

That could change, however, if the rescission request goes through.

It only needs a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass - and Republicans have a narrow majority in both chambers.

There has been some GOP resistance on this vote because the broader package also includes funding for PEPFAR, the successful HIV/AIDs prevention started under the White House of Republican President George W. Bush.

'I will not support a cut in PEPFAR, which is a program that has saved literally millions of lives and has been extremely effective and well run,' Republican Sen. Susan Collins told reporters, according to NPR.

Collins then sidestepped a question about cutting NPR and PBS' funding.

Spokespeople for NPR and PBS did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's requests for comment.
TV presenter Daisy McAndrew has escaped a driving ban after she told the judge that losing her licence would leave her unable to care for her elderly mother.

She was caught driving her Toyota Yaris at 24mph in a 20mph zone on the school run in Finchley Road, St John's Wood, northwest London, in January 20 by a speed camera

The offence added three points to her driving licence, bringing her total to 12, the threshold that usually results in a six-month ban.

But McAndrew, 53, appeared at Willesden Magistrates' Court to argue exceptional hardship, saying she relied on her car to look after her mother and could not afford regular taxi fares.

The former BBC journalist told the court: 'We would have to get taxis or something like that. I am concerned about the middle of the night moments when she falls. I have to pick her up from the floor. It has been happening increasingly.'

McAndrew added that her sister was unable to help as she works two jobs.

Magistrates accepted her plea and allowed her to keep her licence, but warned she must be 'incredibly careful' going forward.

Magistrate Roger King said: 'We have listened carefully to your exceptional hardship argument.

McAndrew, 53, appeared at Willesden Magistrates' Court to argue exceptional hardship, saying she relied on her car to look after her mother and could not afford regular taxi fares

She was caught driving her Toyota Yaris at 24mph in a 20mph zone on the school run in Finchley Road, St John's Wood, northwest London , in January 20 by a speed camera

'We do believe that if you are not able to drive it would impact on your elderly mother. We do find that the exceptional hardship bar is met.'

'You will not be banned from driving today. But you will now be driving around with twelve points on your licence. You need to be incredibly careful with your driving.'

McAndrew, of Brent, admitted the offence and was fined 423, with an additional 169 victim surcharge and 110 in prosecution costs.

She has previous points for speeding and using a mobile phone while driving.

McAndrew began her career in political journalism and co-hosted the BBC's Daily Politics from 2003.

She went on to become ITV News's Chief Political Correspondent and later its Economics Editor.

In 2006 she was dubbed 'the blonde assassin' after being linked to a story that forced Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy to admit he was a recovering alcoholic.

McAndrew had previously worked for Kennedy as a press secretary.
A teenage mean girl watched her friend eat a poisoned cupcake she laced with arsenic before having a birthday sleepover, the victim's grieving father revealed.

The 17-year-old frenemie, whose named has not been released, confessed to Brazilian authorities that she targeted her classmate Ana Neves out of 'jealousy' in an attempt to 'scare' her.

Neves, who had just turned 17 last week, fell sick and fell to the bathroom floor and yet her so-called friend watched silently as the girl was rushed to hospital, according to father Silvio das Neves.

'After my daughter died, she still greeted me and hugged me,' Neves said.

The alleged teen killer had sent two notes with the cupcake purporting to be from a secret admirer on Saturday.

After finding the deadly care package, a curious Neves sent an audio message to her friends' group chat on WhatsApp asking who sent the cupcake and with the touching message that read, 'A treat for the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.'

'I don't know if it was a friend of mine. Hey, I'm going to read the card to you. Man, I want to know who it was, I'm angry,' Neves said in the audio message that was obtained by Brazilian news outlet G1.

'A gift for the sweetest girl with the most incredible personality I know'. There are a bunch of stickers and on the back there is a post-it that says, 'Lulu is beautiful'. Guys, I swear to God, I want to thank whoever gave me this',' she added.

Ana Neves died Sunday in Itapecerica, Brazil, a day after she ate a poisoned cupcake that was delivered to her home by a classmate

Silvio das Neves told reporters that the 17 year-old girl who confessed to poisoning the cupcake that led to the death of his daughter, Ana Neves, actually saw her eat it and even slept at their home Saturday night. Das Neves said the suspect 'hugged' him after his learning of Ana's death

Ana Neves received two notes with the poisoned cupcake. One note (left) read, 'A treat for the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.' The second note (right) read, 'A treat for the sweetest girl with the most incredible personality I know'

None of her friends responded and she fell ill after eating the cake moments later. The tragedy occurred in the city of Itapecerica - about 310 miles north of Sao Paulo.

She fell sick around an hour after eating the cake at 6pm on Saturday but was initially discharged from hospital that night.

Neves returned home for a sleepover with the suspect, not knowing that she had tried to kill her.

Her condition took a turn for the worse on Sunday when she became ill and fell in her bathroom.

Neves' father told reporters that she was dead by the time she had arrived at the hospital, where doctors failed to revive her from a cardiac arrest.

'This girl went to sleep at my house and was there for the whole thing,' Neves said after his daughter's burial service.

'She saw [Ana] feeling sick, she saw when I took her to the hospital and, the next day, she also saw my daughter falling in the bathroom and she didn't show any reaction.'

Ana Neves died Sunday, a day after she ate a poisoned cupcake that was purchased by one of her classmates - who has since confessed and is in police custody

Ana Neves took a photo of the love note that accompanied the poisoned cupcake. It read: 'A treat for the most beautiful girl I've ever seen'

Sao Paulo Civil Police investigators analyzed surveillance cameras near Ana Neves' home and were able to identify the license plate number of the motorcycle courier who delivered the poisoned cupcake.

The deliveryman was able to share the address to the suspect's home.

The suspect was accompanied by her mother to the Itapecerica Police Station, where she was grilled and denied her involvement.

She came clean after several hours of dodging questions and said she purchased the arsenic online for about $11.50 (65 Brazilian reals) and bought the cupcake at Menina Trufa, a bakery near her home.

While at home, she added the toxic chemical on the cupcake and then requested the courier service, paying around 88 cents (5 reals) for the delivery.

The teen also admitted to poisoning another classmate, 17-year-old Kamilly da Silva, on May 15 because she just wanted to frighten her.

She said she targeted da Silva because she had not gotten over her breakup with her two previous boyfriends, according to a statement that was obtained by CNN Brasil.

She told investigators that she 'did not intend for any greater harm to happen' to both of the victims and that she just wanted both girls to 'experience bad symptoms, such as vomiting.'

Da Silva was rushed to a medical facility and made a full recovery, but never filed a police report.

Silvio das Neves could not understand why his daughter's classmate wanted to cause harm.

'My daughter didn't deserve this,' he said. 'She was a good person, she had no vices, she didn't mess with anyone, she was a hard worker.'
The Duchess of Sussex has posted two further photographs of Princess Lilibet with her husband Prince Harry to mark their daughter's fourth birthday.

One of the pictures showed the Duke of Sussex holding Lilibet's hand as they walked along a sandy road barefoot in the sunshine, while he held his shoes and a cap.

The other image was of Harry holding Lilibet as a baby while they looked at each other. Meghan wrote in a post accompanying the pictures: 'The sweetest bond to watch unfold. Daddy's little girl and favorite adventurer. Happy birthday Lili!'

The post was made at 7.40am California time (3.40pm UK), just under eight hours after Meghan earlier posted two other intimate family photos of her with Lilibet.

In that post, the Duchess shared a black-and-white snap of herself cuddling Lili, who was sat on her lap, with the pair both sporting windswept hair, seemingly on a boat.

The second image in the first post showed Meghan tenderly cradling newborn Lilibet as she enjoyed skin-to-skin time with the new addition to her family in 2021.

Meghan wrote in the first post: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it.

A new photograph of the Duke of Sussex holding Princess Lilibet's hand as they walked along a sandy road barefoot in the sunshine, while he held his shoes and a cap

The other image was of Prince Harry holding Lilibet as a baby while they looked at each other

'Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!'

The duchess usually only shares photos of her daughter pictured from behind to protect her privacy.

But in the more recent photo, Lili's eyes and the top half of her face could be seen, with her nose and mouth and the rest of her face covered by Meghan's arms as she hugged the princess.

Lili - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's youngest child - was born on June 4 2021 and was named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

She only became entitled to be a princess when her grandfather the King acceded to the throne, because of rules set out by King George V in 1917.

Harry and Meghan started using prince and princess for Archie and Lili after the princess's christening in 2023, following correspondence with Charles about the matter.

Yesterday, Meghan suggested that she might launch a future business with Lili as she chatted to Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles on her podcast.

'I wonder if one day I'll be in business with Lili and we'll be building something,' the duchess said, with Knowles adding: 'That's the best.'

The Duchess of Sussex shared the black and white photo of herself cuddling Princess Lilibet, who was sat on her lap, with the pair both sporting windswept hair

A second image also posted today by Meghan showed her tenderly cradling newborn Princess Lilibet as she enjoyed skin-to-skin time with the new addition to her family in 2021.

Last week, the Duchess shared a clip of her and her daughter beekeeping in matching protective suits, writing: 'Harvesting honey with my little honey. (Like mother, like daughter; she's even wearing my gloves).'

Lilibet is named after her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

Princess Elizabeth had difficultly pronouncing her own name as a toddler and her grandfather George V would affectionately call her Lilibet, imitating her own attempts to say Elizabeth.

The sweet nickname stuck and she became known as Lilibet to her family from then on.

But the late Queen was reportedly 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after Harry and Meghan claimed they had her blessing to use the name for their daughter Lilibet, a royal aide said.

Royal author Robert Hardman, in his biography of the King, told how a member of staff recounted Elizabeth II's fury following Harry and Meghan's announcement in 2021 over the use of her childhood family nickname.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet in December 2021

The last official portrait of Princess Lilibet's face was taken on her first birthday in June 2022

Meghan shared a video on May 27 of her and Lilibet harvesting honey in beekeeping suits

Meghan shared a picture with Archie and Lilibet to mark Mother's Day in the US on May 11

In a post in April, Meghan was seen smiling and showing her daughter Lilibet a large rose

The BBC later reported a Palace source said the Queen was not asked by the Sussexes whether they could use Lilibet.

But the Sussexes' lawyers fired off legal letters to the broadcaster and other publishers, saying the claim was false and defamatory.

A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan insisted at the time that the duke spoke to his grandmother in advance and would not have used the name had the monarch not been supportive.

Hardman wrote however: 'One privately recalled that Elizabeth II had been 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' in 2021 after the Sussexes announced that she had given them her blessing to call their baby daughter 'Lilibet', the Queen's childhood nickname.'
The Department of Homeland Security crashed a 'cartel party' in South Carolina, arresting 72 illegal migrants, including one high-profile suspect.

Officials swarmed The Alamo, an illegal underground nightclub near Charleston, early Sunday morning after a source tipped them off, the federal agency said in a statement.

The Kristi Noem-led department said the nightclub was run by a suspected member of the Los Zetas Cartel, formerly known as the Cartel del Noreste, which was deemed a terrorist organization by the Trump Administration in February 2025.

At least one high-profile arrest was made during the raid, with authorities saying they captured Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, a Honduran fugitive who is wanted for homicide in his native country and has a 'red notice' issued for him from the international police organization Interpol.

The agency said 71 others were also arrested, including individuals with 'serious prior offenses.'

Of those arrested, 66 were in the US illegally and five had criminal warrants, Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant told ABC News 4.

According to the federal agency, six juveniles were also recovered and turned over to social services.

Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie told ABC News 4 that the youngest was 13 and one of the juveniles had been reported missing. Some of the minors are also suspected of being victims of human trafficking, he said.

Officials swarmed The Alamo, an underground illegal nightclub, near Charleston early Sunday morning after a source tipped them off

At least one high-profile arrest was made during the raid, with authorities claiming to have captured Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, a Honduran fugitive who is wanted for homicide in his native country and has an Interpol Red Notice against him

Seventy-one others were also arrested at the nightclub (pictured), including individuals with 'serious prior offenses,' the agency said. Sixty-six of those arrested were in the US illegally and five had criminal warrants

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the raid not only dismantled the illegal nightclub, but also uncovered drugs, weapons, and human trafficking that was taking place.

'Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, fugitives and lawbreakers are on notice: Leave now or ICE will find you and deport you,' she said in a statement.

More than 200 people were at the club on Sunday night.

'Put your hands up, put your f***ing hands up,' an agent can be heard yelling in a video posted to social media.

Armed officers were seen moving through the nightclub as partygoers frightfully put their hands up.

'The leftover adrenaline hasnt let me sleep,' Destiny Tinoco, who posted the videos, wrote on Facebook.

'The rush of fear, panic, anxiety, and terror was palpable throughout. The huge mob of people, including myself and some friends, holding hands, running for our lives and having no idea of what was happening or what was going to happen to us was horrible.'

Tinoco claimed Homeland Security agents were complaining their computers were backlogged and immigration status couldn't be checked properly.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the raid not only dismantled the illegal nightclub, but also uncovered drugs, weapons, and human trafficking that was taking place

The Kristi Noem-led organization claimed the nightclub was run by a suspected member of the Los Zetas Cartel, formerly known as the Cartel del Noreste, which was deemed a terrorist organization by the Trump Administration in February 2025

The Alamo's owner, Benjamin Reyna-Flores, a suspect gang member, was also arrested and is currently in the custody of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and ICE

'Citizenship statuses not being able to be verified resulting in people being arrested straight away. With no verification of status,' she claimed. 'I was immediately at a loss for words. The lack of patience and empathy left me speechless.'

Tinoco was able to leave the nightclub with her friends unharmed, and she claimed she - and many others - had no idea the establishment was illegal.

Another witness, David Herrera, told Live 5 News that partygoers were held for up to two hours.

'I saw dancing, I saw people smiling, having a good time. And then boom. It all went to chaos,' he told the outlet. 'People were coming up to them, saying: "I have kids at home."'

Herrera also felt the tension while ICE and other agencies gathered information from attendees.

'No one was leaving until they got exactly what they wanted, which was as much information on anyone as possible. I almost felt like I had to prove I wasnt committing a crime and that I wasnt illegal to be let out,' he said.

The Daily Mail reached out to Tinoco and Herrera for comment.

The Alamo's owner, suspected gang member Benjamin Reyna-Flores, was also arrested and is currently in the custody of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and ICE, ABC News 4 reported.

Armed officers were seen moving through the nightclub as partygoers frightfully put their hands up

More than 200 people were at the club on Sunday night. Agents rolled up to the party with 116 arrest warrants and the majority of them were served

Partygoers said agents were checking ID and held attendees for up to two hours

Authorities began investigating The Alamo back in November after the established received noise complaints and had 'other illegal activity' happening in the parking lot

Governor Henry McMaster criticized the open borders and said the state will continue to investigate in order to 'rid South Carolina of these criminals'

He now faces state and federal charges.

Authorities began investigating The Alamo back in November after the establishment received noise complaints and had 'other illegal activity' happening in the parking lot, Sheriff Ritchie said.

Agents rolled up to the party with 116 arrest warrants and the majority of them were served.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster criticized open borders and said the state will continue to investigate in order to 'rid South Carolina of these criminals.'
The family of Sarah Milgrim, one of the Israeli embassy staffers shot to death outside the Capital Jewish Museum, held back tears as they described how strong she was.

Sarah's parents, Robert and Nancy, and her older brother, Jacob, granted CBS News their first interview since last month's gruesome terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., which also took the life of Sarah's boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky.

'Usually, a parent tries to mold their child. Sarah molded us,' Robert Milgrim said. 'She was a stronger person than I ever was.'

'I told Nancy after this happened that I'm a different person now than before this happened, from learning so much about what Sarah did and her courage and her striving for peace,' he said.

Sarah, 26, and Lischinsky, 30, were shot and killed while leaving a diplomatic event focused on how to get more aid into Gaza, the Palestinian region Israel invaded after Hamas killed nearly 1,200 Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.

'She wasn't against the Palestinians. She wasn't against the people in Gaza. She was in all her heart working towards finding a way for everyone to live together peacefully,' her mother, Nancy Milgrim, revealed to CBS News.

The suspected shooter, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, allegedly fired 21 shots at the couple, who was due to be engaged the following week.

During his arrest, Rodriguez was hauled away while shouting: 'Free, free Palestine,' as he squirmed against the officers' grip.

Robert Milgrim, Sarah Milgrim's father, held back tears as he described his daughter and the life she lived

Sarah Milgrim was just 26 years old when she was gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the shooting, which was described by law enforcement as 'targeted.'

Rodriguez, who has been shown to have negative feelings toward Israel in leaked texts, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

The Milgrim family sat down with CBS two weeks after the May 21 attack to tell the world her story.

Robert Milgrim described Sarah as the 'perfect child,' adding that they never argued about anything.

'She loved the environment, loved mother earth. She loved people. She loved family. She loved her community,' Robert said.

Sarah made several trips to Israel in her life. The first was for her bat mitzvah in Jerusalem, and she would return again while she was in college.

She went back a third time after she joined Tech2Peace, a work-study program for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Sarah began working for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. in November 2023 after she graduated with a master's degree in International Affairs from nearby American University.

Sarah met Yaron Lischinsky (pictured), who was also killed in the shooting, at American University and fell in love with him there

Elias Rodriguez, the man accused of shooting the couple outside the museum, was shown to have negative feelings toward Israel in leaked texts

She met Lischinsky while studying at the private university, known for its focus on politically-focused degrees.

'We saw their love blossom for each other. And we knew how strong it was,' Sarah's father said.

The Milgrims weren't aware Lischinsky was set to propose to Sarah until after they heard so from the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter.

'The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing next week in Jerusalem,' Leiter said shortly after the shooting.

Sarah's mother also later learned from a friend that her daughter had gone ring shopping to give Lischinsky tips on what she wanted.

The Milgrim family also commented on the rising tide of antisemitism in the US following the October 7 attacks.

On Sunday, a man threw Molotov cocktails at peaceful pro-Israel protestors who were marching at the outdoor Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, to honor the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.

Twelve people were injured in the attack allegedly perpetrated by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, who was arrested and charged with a federal hate crime.

Police said Mohamed Sabry Soliman (pictured), 45, attacked demonstrators as they gathered at the Colorado mall to remember the October 7 victims who are still being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza

Milgrim's older brother, Jacob (right) called this type of violence senseless

Milgrim's older brother, Jacob, called this type of violence senseless.

'There is nothing more important in Judaism than life and the sanctity of life  and to what end is this fighting and sacrifice...what does it accomplish?' he said in the interview.

'Taking my sister ... it's not going to accomplish anything.'

The Milgrims are now left grieving and unsure how to cope with Sarah's death.

'Right now, I'm hurt. I'm too hurt to say it's anger or frustration. I don't know what I'm going to feel later on, to be honest with you,' her father said.

The Milgrim family plans to visit Israel in the fall to meet with Lischinsky's family and visit his grave.
A jiu-jitsu student has been awarded a staggering $56million payout after an in-class accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.

White belt Jack Greener, 30, was sparring with second-degree black belt teacher Francisco Iturralde when his cervical vertebrae was crushed in a terrifying move in 2018.

Greener sued the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in San Diego, California, owned by Michael Phelps, on the grounds that the club was responsible for fractured neck and spinal cord injury that he says forever altered his life.

He underwent surgery and was diagnosed as an incomplete quadriplegic, meaning he suffered partial loss of motor and sensory function in his limbs.

Now, he is a mountain climber and motivational speaker. In 2023, an appellate district court awarded Greener $46million in damages.

The jiu-jitsu studio appealed the decision to the California Supreme Court - but it declined to overturn the judgement.

Now, with interest, the studio has been ordered to pay a total of $56million.

Jack Greener, 30, suffered injuries to his spinal cord and neck when his black belt jiu-jitsu instructor performed a move that crushed him

Greener's instructor, Francisco Iturralde (pictured), was a second-degree black belt at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club

He had attended classes at a different dojo but stopped because it was too far from his home before the accident, according to the court judgement.

Greener then started classes at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in early November 2018. Later that month, he sparred with his instructor at the end of a class.

He was in the 'turtle position' with his elbows and knees on the floor when, he claimed, Iturralde 'lost control and injured Greener.'

Iturralde testified that Greener seemed highly experienced for a white belt and had expressed a desire to be competitive.

He admitted that the move was 'dangerous' and he wouldn't execute it if he 'could not safely' do so.

'While sparring with Greener during a BJJ class, Iturralde gave no demonstration or active instruction,' the court judgement read.

'Instead, he acted more like a student coparticipant than an instructor when he immobilized and executed a series of maneuvers on Greener.

'But as an instructor with superior knowledge and skill of BJJ, Iturralde was differently situated from other students, and thus he canand we conclude shouldbe held to a different standard.'

The court concluded that there was evidence Iturralde 'knew he had created a situation posing a heightened risk to Greener's safety' and argued that the risk of immobilizing a student is not inherent in jiu jitsu sparring.

The incident happened on November 29, 2018, at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in San Diego, California (students pictured practicing at the club)

Greener was left with paralysis and suffered multiple strokes after the incident

Greener (pictured on his Instagram on August 9, 2024) has become an inspiration for paralyzed athletes, documenting his journey online after the accident

Greener (pictured climbing a mountain on his Instagram on April 13) has now taken up climbing and was one of only two people with his disability to ascend 14,000 feet on foot

Phelps and Iturralde pushed back.

They said students should assume risk when participating in combat sports, but the court maintained that the black-belt instructors should be held to a higher standard than their student counterparts.

They appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, which declined to review the case.

Michael Phelps (pictured), the owner of the club

Greener has since used his story to motivate others and documented his journey to become one of only two people with his disability to go above 14,000 feet on foot when he climbed Mount Bross in Colorado, according to his website.

In January 2019, he started to regain movement and could walk with the help of a cane.

He then set out to be the first with his condition to ascend Mount Whitney in California, which has an elevation of 14,505 feet.

Last November, he posted a reflection on his Instagram about the six years since he was paralyzed.

'6 years to infinity. The PTSD of the actual situation has all but healed.

'Having spent April 23 to now mending the prior four years. Which tbh is pretty cool. And Im left to mend the remaining pieces as it pertains to courtrooms, suits and ties.

'Honestly, Ive not achieved much of anything in 2024 and have seemingly regressed in career, finances, etc. Much of it out of my control. But thats ok, progress and growth isnt linear.

'The good news is I have a few doors in front of me And relatively speaking, Im happy and secure. So heres to hoping the right doors open.'
Joe Biden's former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has penned a tell-all book taking on his political rivals and revealed she is leaving the Democratic Party.

Her new book, titled Independent, has a cover featuring shattered glass, and a PR release describes its substance as 'a look inside a broken White House, outside the party lines.'

Her publisher Hachette describes an 'urgent, timely analysis' and urges Americans to 'vote their values and maintain individuality within party lines.'

The news sent slack-jawed former colleagues huddling into online group chats to vent about the longtime operative some accused of being a 'grifter' for cashing in with the book.

'I laughed reading her book announcement that claims she presents clear arguments and provocative evidence when our party failed to make a compelling argument for Democrats with her as one of our most visible messenger for three years,' one steaming former Biden administration official told DailyMail.com.

'Probably best to purge the party of our most delusional and self-serving personalities,' the former official added.

One operative told Politico it was 'the most grift-y thing Ive seen in a long time, and thats saying something in Washington.'

'A lot of group chats were revived today,' posted former White House official Symone Sanders-Townsend, a former advisor to VP Kamala Harris, on X, adding a smiling / crying emoji.

'Counting 13 on my end,' chimed in former Biden State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.

'Lol,' wrote former White House assistant press secretary Jeremy Edwads, reposting an article about Jean-Pierre penning the book and leaving the party.

Former officials contacted by DailyMail.com said they didn't know what kind of advance Jean-Pierre was coming in, after failing to land a high-profile TV gig as did her predecessor Jen Psaki, now an MSNBC host.

Jean-Pierre spent years defending Biden from the White House podium on both substance and questions about his age, health, and mental fitness.

It comes as her former boss has been hit by a round of tough press coverage with the release of Axios reporter Alex Thompson and CNN anchor Jake Tapper's new book, 'Original Sin,' which rakes the Biden White House for covering up signs of his decline.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was the ultimate Biden loyalist while serving as his press secretary

'In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary to the Biden-Harris administration, shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents,' according to an online release for the book.

'Jean-Pierre didnt come to her decision to be an Independent lightly,' it says  indicating she has leaving the party, after working in the Biden administration.

She worked as a political director for Obama. She also worked for liberal outside group MoveOn. Jean-Pierre didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on her new project.

The write-up for her forthcoming book indicates she'll take on people within the party who tried to force Biden to end his reelection campaign after his debate disaster.

'She takes us through the three weeks that led to Bidens abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision,' according to the release.

The book jacket says it will reveal a 'broken White House'

It calls it a 'hard-hitting yet hopeful critique.'

The tome runs 256 pages, and goes on sale October 21.

Although she has been largely quiet since Biden left office following former Vice President Kamala Harris's defeat, Jean-Pierre referenced some of the scores she plans to settle during an interview in February at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

She said the 'toughest thing to see' was a 'firing squad' during the weeks after Biden's debate, when a series of party stalwarts pushed him to get out of the race, arguing he couldn't defeat Donald Trump with his lousy approval ratings.

'I had never seen anything like it before,' she intoned. 'I had never seen a party do that in the way that they did. And it was hurtful and sad to see that happening  a firing squad around a person who I believe was a true patriot.'

Harris' loss to Trump in all seven heavily contested battleground states has led to a round of soul-searching among Democrats while Trump seeks to transform the country and takes on institutions from the Ivy League to the legal establishment to arts institutions like the Kennedy Center.

Prominent figures inside and outside Biden's inner circle are getting quizzed on whether they themselves saw evidence of mental decline in the 82-year-old Democrat.

The White House last year was forced to deny a report of an internal plot to entice Jean-Pierre to leave her post, amid complaints about some of her stumbles her reliance on a binder of prepared information.
Two British men were recruited by Russia's Wagner Group to firebomb a Mayfair restaurant and kidnap its owner after carrying out a 1million arson attack on a warehouse with equipment bound for Ukraine, a court has heard.

The terrorist group conducting a sabotage campaign on behalf of Russian intelligence is said to have recruited two men to set fire to a warehouse in Leyton, East London, destroying over 100,000 worth of equipment, including generators and vital Starlink satellite equipment destined for Ukraine.

The Old Bailey heard that the blaze at 11.40pm on March 20 last year was livestreamed on Facetime to the 'architect' of the plot who then reported back to the Russians on the success of the 'mission'.

The attack was orchestrated by Jake Reeves, 23, and Dylan Earl, 20, from Leicestershire who went on to plan an arson attack on a restaurant and wine business in Mayfair by kidnapping the owner of the businesses.

The owner of the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines, which were valued at over 30million and employed 200 people, was described as a 'high profile dissident' and 'refugee' who was open about his criticism of Putin, the court heard.

The duo planned to kidnap him in a bid to 'influence the Government' to further 'a political and ideological cause', jurors were told.

Their kidnapping and arson plot was unearthed after a group of men, who were supposedly enlisted by Reeves and Earl, stood trial on allegations of setting a east London warehouse storing Ukrainian bound equipment alight.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, said: 'Acting at the behest of the Wagner Group, [Earl] planned a similar arson attack on two businesses  a wine shop called Hedonism and a restaurant called Hide  in West London.

Jake Reeves (pictured left) and Dylan Earl orchestrated an attack on satellite equipment bound for Ukraine before planning an arson on a restaurant in Mayfair, a court heard

Inside Hide Restaurant Mayfair. Reeves and Earl planned to set fire to the firm and kidnap its owner

The blaze at the warehouse was live streamed on Facetime to the 'architect' of the plot, the court was told

'The businesses belong to a high-profile Russian dissident and refugee who has been vocal in his criticism of president Putin and the war in Ukraine. He has, for example, driven aid trucks from the UK to Ukraine personally.'

Mr Penny added: 'You might think that it is self-evident that these actions were designed to influence the government and to intimidate at least a section of the public and furthermore were made for the purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause.'

Both have also already admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and an offence under the National Security Act, jurors heard.

They also have admitted the separate plot to set fire to the firms in west London, as well as to kidnapping their owner on behalf of the Wagner Group.

On Wednesday the four men who were allegedly recruited to carry out the attack, Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, Nii Mensah, 23 and Paul English, 61, went on trial accused of aggravated arson.

Mr Penny told jurors: 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality - at the behest of foreign influence.

'In the case of these defendants at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial - good old-fashioned greed.

'For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.'

Mr Penny said the warehouse was targeted because of its connection to Ukraine, with the premises also being used to store humanitarian aid bound for the war zone.

A court sketch of Jake Reeves appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London on April 26, 2024

The fire started by a jerry can of petrol caused more than 1million in damage to the buildings, with eight fire crews battling to bring it under control.

The driver of a lorry parked nearby tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire which was started within 10metres of houses, but no one was hurt in the attack.

Earl, described as the 'architect' of the plot, was said to have knowingly acted at the behest of the Wagner Group, a proscribed terrorist organisation 'under the direct command of the Russian government'.

The Briton contacted the Wagner Group on the encrypted social media application Telegram expressing a willingness to undertake 'missions' of which the Leyton arson attack was the first, Mr Penny said.

'It is apparent that Dylan Earl knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian, interests,' he told jurors.

'The reason for the selection of this building as a particular target in East London in March of last year appears to have been its connection to Ukraine.'

The warehouse housed a logistics company which was frequently delivering goods to Ukraine, including StarLink satellite equipment.

Reeves only discovered afterwards the motive for the attack but was 'still prepared to agree to accept money from a foreign intelligence service in respect of further planned offences,' the court was told.

Mr Penny said the four alleged arsonists 'may have been ignorant of that influence', but acted out of 'old-fashioned greed'.

Both have already admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and an offence under the National Security Act, jurors heard

The group were captured on CCTV with Rose seen pouring a jerry can of petrol onto the doors of the warehouse units and setting them alight, jurors heard.

Mensah is alleged to have filmed the blaze with a mobile telephone, livestreaming it to Earl.

The court heard that there is 'overwhelming evidence' against the defendants, including a knife with Rose's DNA dropped at the scene.

Following the attack, Mensah allegedly messaged Earl saying: 'Bro there was bare smoke... You saw it on Face Time.

He added: 'Bro lol it's on the news... we dun damagees (sic).'

Rose, of Croydon, Asmena, of no fixed address, Mensah, of Thornton Heath and English, of Roehampton, have denied aggravated arson.

The case continues.
A Labour run-council has been ordered by the High Court to scrap a hated LTN which earned 1million in fines.

An 'unlawful' low-traffic neighbourhood in West Dulwich, south London will become the first in the UK to be axed after a judge rejected an appeal from Lambeth council.

The council will now have to pay out 35,000 in legal fees to the West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), which brought the case, but campaigners are calling for this to be increased to include the 1,080,580 taken in penalties.

Nonetheless, the body celebrated the victory in their bitter fightback against the LTN which they argued had increased pollution and traffic on bordering roads.

A spokesman for WDAG said: 'This ruling is definitive  the LTN was unlawful. The council has lost, has been denied permission to appeal, and must now face the consequences of what that means.

'At the top of that list is the 1 million in fines it issued while the unlawful scheme was in place.

'We now call on Lambeth Council to clarify whether it will refund those fines. This is not just about legality  it's about fairness and public trust. If the law was broken, the money should be paid back.'

The group has also pleaded with the council to avoid taking the case any further via another appeal, adding that it would waste yet more public funds.

A Labour run-council has been ordered by the High Court to scrap a hated LTN which earned 1million in fines (pictured: campaigners outside the court)

The 'unlawful' low-traffic neighbourhood, pictured, in West Dulwich, south London will become the first in the UK to be axed

They said: 'Doing so would further waste taxpayers' money and signal that its priority is protecting revenue, not engaging with the community it serves.

'Let's be clear: this case should never have gone to court. It could have been resolved through proper, respectful dialogue. Instead, chose to defend litigation over listening  and the public has paid for it.

'It's a wake-up call to councils everywhere: to not impose blanket schemes ignoring genuine concerns and issues, and to work with your communities.

'We again invite Lambeth to return to the table and help co-create fairer, smarter approaches to car use, pollution, road safety, and sustainable travel  with data, community support, and clear success measures at the heart of every decision.'

Mr Justice Smith warned council bosses not to 'revoke' the LTN, which was introduced last year, instead of it being 'quashed' by a court ruling.

He wrote: 'Revoking the orders after I have made a finding of unlawfulness leaves the same impression as would an attempt to resign immediately after one has been fired.'

The judge also ordered the council to implement the ruling immediately, calling on them not to defer removing the LTN, as it had 'known of the need to instruct these works to take place since May 9' when it initially lost the High Court case.

He rejected the local authority's bid to avoid paying WDAG's legal costs on the grounds that they had won only one of three legal challenges, branding the attempt 'misconceived' due to the fact that residents had been 'wholly successful'.

The council will now pay 35,000 in legal fees to West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), which brought the case, but campaigners are calling for this to be increased to include the 1m taken in fines

Nonetheless, the body welcomed the decision to close the LTN which they argued had increased pollution and traffic on bordering roads (pictured: bollards marking the LTN)

The hated LTN in West Dulwich. WDAG has also pleaded with the council to avoid taking the case any further via another appeal and waste any more public funds

Mr Justice Smith added: 'Here the claimant came to court seeking a quashing of the [traffic] orders. It has gone away having achieved that objective. It has therefore been completely successful.

'The fact that the claimant has succeeded in only one of its three grounds of claim does not alter the fact that it has been wholly successful in its aims.'

In his May ruling, he found Lambeth council guilty of a 'serious falling' following its deicision to ignore an 'impressive' report suggesting street closures could cause a spike in pollution and congestion in the surrounding area.

Mr Justice Smith also described a council document ignoring 'hostility' expressed towards the LTN in a public consultation as a 'masterclass in selective partial reporting'.

It emerged in February that staff working for the local authority had been handed a 'wellbeing day' off having been 'left in tears' in the wake of residents making their 'anger' known at a 2023 meeting at West Norwood Library.

The barrister for Lambeth Council, Heather Sargeant, wrote that the meeting brought councillors to tears and forced council staff to take a lunch break to 'get away' from the hostility from angry residents.

She wrote: 'The experience of officers attending the event for the council (on a Saturday) was so negative that the then head of transport strategy and programmes offered them a day of wellbeing leave.'

The opponents to the LTN criticised the council for a lack of public consultation and argued this made the proposal unlawful.

Cameras marking a Lambeth council LTN at Streatham Wells

Members of the WDAG outside the High Court in February. A council spokesman did not acknowledge WDAG's demands for more than 1m in fines to be reimbursed

Lambeth council spokesman said: 'We implemented the West Dulwich street improvements to reduce road danger and create a safer and healthier neighbourhood.

'We remain committed to delivering our programme to reduce road danger for those most at-risk and make our streets calmer, more community-friendly places.

'The High Court has ordered the removal of West Dulwich street improvements. No further fines will be issued, and we are removing the scheme as soon as it can be done safely.'

The spokesman did not acknowledge WDAG's demands for more than 1m in fines to be reimbursed.
Reform UK MPs today called for a ban on burqas in Britain - but there was confusion as officials insisted prohibiting the garment is not the party's policy.

Sarah Pochin, who won last month's Runcorn and Helsby by-election for Reform, threw her support behind a ban during Prime Minister's Questions.

As she quizzed Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons, Ms Pochin asked the PM if he would support outlawing the burqa, which is worn by some Muslim women.

'Given the PM's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?,' she said.

Ms Pochin's question triggered disquiet in the Commons and cries of 'shame' from other MPs.

Sir Keir did not answer Ms Pochin's question but instead took the opportunity to attack Reform's economic plans - as set out by party leader Nigel Farage last week.

After PMQs, Lee Anderson, one of Ms Pochin's fellow Reform MPs, also gave his public backing to a burqa ban.

Yet, despite two out of the five Reform MPs supporting a ban, a party spokesman said it was 'not party policy' - although they added it was an issue that 'needs a national debate'.

Sarah Pochin, who won last month's Runcorn and Helsby by-election for Reform UK, threw her support behind a ban on burqas during Prime Minister's Questions

After PMQs, Lee Anderson, one of Ms Pochin's fellow Reform MPs, also gave his public backing to a burqa ban

At the 2010 general election, Reform leader Farage stood for UKIP - his former party - on a manifesto that called for a ban on both the burqa and niqab

At the 2010 general election, Mr Farage stood for UKIP - his former party - on a manifesto that called for a ban on both the burqa and niqab.

But he later disowned UKIP's 2010 manifesto as 'drivel' when he returned as the party's leader after the contest.

In his reply to Ms Pochin in the Commons on Wednesday, Sir Keir told the recently-elected MP: 'Can I welcome her to her place, but I'm not going to follow her down that line.

'But now she is here and safely in her place, perhaps she could tell her new party leader [Mr Farage] that his latest plan to bet 80billion of unfunded tax cuts, with no idea how he's going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again.

'Although considering I think (Ms Pochin) was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won't.'

Sir Keir's response drew criticism from Tory former foreign secretary James Cleverly, who posted on social media afterwards: 'After failing to answer any of Kemi's (Badenoch) questions, he basically said to Sarah Pochin that he didn't like her question, so 'wasn't going to engage with it'.

'Refusing to answer MPs' questions isn't an option as a government minister.'

Mr Anderson later shared a social media video of Ms Pochin speaking at PMQs, adding: 'Ban the burqa? Yes we should. No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public.'

Tory MP Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said he did not support a ban on burqas in Britain.

'Fundamentally I do believe in freedom and I believe that people should have the choice to to wear whatever they want,' he told GB News.

'I wouldn't like to tell you what to wear. But I do also think it's important to make sure that women are not in any way coerced into doing something that they don't want to do.

'So I think it is very important to make sure that women are not being coerced and are able to make their own free choices.'

Then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy introduced a ban on burqas in France in 2010.

Anyone found wearing the covering in a public space can face a fine of 150 euros (125). It has since been unsuccessfully challenged in the European courts.

Belgium brought in a similar ban a year later, and other countries including Denmark and Austria have got similar laws.

Switzerland was the latest European country to introduce a prohibition, which started on January 1 this year.
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but acknowledged peace with Ukraine is not on the immediate horizon.

On the call that lasted about one hour and 15 minutes, Trump disclosed they discussed the recent drone attacks by Ukraine on Russia's air bases.

Kyiv delivered a devastating blow to the Russian air force on Sunday and Putin is now plotting revenge.

'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,' admitted Trump.

The president also stated that Putin told him he plans to retaliate against Ukraine after the recent attacks.

'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,' Trump disclosed, without details about whether he pushed back on the Russian leader.

Trump has been vocal about wanting to end all fighting and bombing between the two nations immediately as the death toll continues to rise in the now years-long conflict.

'We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly! I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.'

'President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slow-walking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!'

On the call that lasted about one hour and 15 minutes, Trump disclosed they discussed the recent drone attack by Ukraine on Russia's planes

'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,' Trump disclosed

The Russian tyrant has stayed out of sight since the attacks on multiple air bases in Ukraine's audacious Operation Spiderweb - a top-secret mission some 18 months in the making, showing off Ukraine's capability to stagger the Russian invasion.

But an insider warned that Putin 'will hit back at Ukraine' while also 'avenging his underlings who allowed this humiliation to happen.'

Putin's revenge reportedly includes stockpiling a massive contingent of battle tanks and ammunition.

The call between the two leaders came the day after the White House announced Trump will attend the annual NATO meeting at the end of June.

The president will also travel to Canada in the next few weeks to attend the G7.

The Russian-Ukraine war is expected to be a heavy topic of conversation at both events.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to attend the G7 meeting.

Trump's post did mention any possibility of a meeting to discuss the peace process. He has sought to bring Zelensky and Putin together.

But, on Tuesday, the Kremlin dismissed the likelihood of a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky taking place in the near future.

'Well, frankly speaking, unlikely [that it will happen] in the near future,' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations met for the second time in person on Monday in Turkey.

There was no breakthrough on peace talks but the two sides did agree to more prisoner exchanges.

Zelensky has pushed for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Putin has not agreed to.

A satellite image shows destroyed aircrafts in the aftermath of a drone strike at the Olenya air base, Murmansk region, Russia

The two sides are far apart in their asks for a peace deal.

The Kremlin wants Ukraine to vow not to be a part of any military alliance (such as NATO); restrictions on the size of its military; wants to keep their occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; and wants Russian to be Ukraine's official language.

The Ukraine wants no restrictions on the size of its military; war reparations and that the international community to refuse to recognize Russia's occupation of parts of Ukraine.

Trump and Putin spoke two days after Ukraine launched a massive drone strike on Russia.

It was severe hit for the Kremlin with as many as 20 Russian strategic aircraft destroyed or severely damaged, limiting Putin's ability to conduct long-range attacks.

One U.S. defense official told the New York Times the attack showed Ukraine's ability to strike nearly anywhere in Russia, and to destroy warplanes costing $100 million or more with drones with price tags as low as $600.
Mental health hospitals in charge of violent criminals allow biologically male patients who self identify as women to be placed on female wards.

An audit of NHS mental health trusts in London found that they have policies which allow transgender people in single-sex spaces, according to The Times.

Campaigners have hit out at the findings and warned that NHS trusts are playing Russian roulette with womens safety.

Sex and gender policies at mental health trusts in the capital were obtained by a womens rights group using freedom of information laws.

Those audited cover hospitals including Broadmoor, a specialist psychiatric all-male hospital which houses forensic patients, who are people detained in a mental health facility instead of prison.

Mental health hospitals in charge of violent criminals allow biologically male patients who self identify as women to be placed on female wards

An audit of NHS mental health trusts in London found that they have policies which allow transgender people in single-sex spaces

Those audited cover hospitals including Broadmoor, a specialist psychiatric all-male hospital which houses forensic patients, who are people detained in a mental health facility instead of prison

The research found that the trusts have policies which allow biological men to be placed in female spaces and wards if they identify as a woman.

And hospitals acknowledged that some trans patients could pose a risk to a particular gender or be sexually disinhibited and very distressing for other patients on a single-sex ward.

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust indicated that sometimes it may be appropriate to put transgender forensic patients on a ward in line with their biological sex while they are acutely unwell.

Once they have recovered and have regained capacity it would be essential to reassess the risk  and if safe and appropriate, to arrange a move to a ward in accordance with their correct gender, its policy states.

It also provided an illustrative example of a trans patient getting undressed in front of the opposite sex and revealing their genitals.

Depending on where they are in their transition, it may be more appropriate for them to be admitted to a ward that is in line with their birth gender  while they are acutely unwell and at risk of outing themselves, the policy continues.

Central and North Western London NHS Foundation Trust said it respects an individuals right to self-identify as male or female.

It added that trans women can access womens support groups and toilets but that in some cases further consideration may be needed as to how best to manage a trans individual.

A sexually disinhibited pre-operative transsexual individual may be very distressing for other patients on a single sex ward, the trust said.

And West London NHS Trust, in charge of Broadmoor Hospital which housed serial killers including the Yorkshire ripper Peter Sutcliffe, said: Staff must use names, titles and hospital accommodation that the service user regards as appropriate.

Following the Supreme Court ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equality laws, the NHS is reviewing guidance on same sex accommodation.

Its current guidelines, which were written in 2019, state that trans people should be accommodated based on how they identify.

We have found examples of NHS trusts allowing forensic patients who were born male to self-identify as women, a womens rights campaigner involved in the audit said.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at womens rights charity Sex Matters said the findings were 'deeply disturbing'

Forensic patients are those referred to the NHS from court or prison. They have been deemed a risk to themselves and others.

They often have violent offending profiles. It is scary to think that their gender identity would override the safety and dignity of women.

NHS Trusts are playing Russian roulette with womens safety. The Supreme Court ruling clarified that single-sex spaces must be single sex, and it is vital that this is now enforced nationally across all hospitals.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at womens rights charity Sex Matters, said: Its deeply disturbing that the safety and welfare of some of the most vulnerable women in London  those in the care of state mental health services  are being so seriously compromised by NHS trusts.

The Supreme Court judgment was crystal-clear that single-sex services must be run on the basis of biological sex. There is no excuse for a dangerous case-by-case approach that deems some men safe to be housed in womens accommodation.

These NHS trusts are missing the point: no male patient should ever be allowed in female accommodation under any circumstances.

An NHS spokesman said: The NHS is working through the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, and we absolutely recognise the need for revised guidance.

Its important that we wait for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish its statutory guidance before final decisions about future policy are taken.

In the meantime, we are working closely with government to ensure we can provide updated guidance for the health service as soon as possible.
Speaker Mike Johnson shared that the president is unhappy with Elon's remarks

Donald Trump is privately fuming at Elon Musk over the ex-DOGE leader's attack on his 'disgusting' spending plans.

The Tesla boss rampaged this week on social media over the 'big, beautiful bill' that Trump and his Republican allies in Congress have been crafting for months.

Musk derided the effort and claimed it would increase the national debt by trillions of dollars over the next decade.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released an update Wednesday morning showing that, if passed, the Trump-backed spending bill will add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over ten years. Currently, the national debt is $37 trillion and rising.

Republicans argue the CBO number is too high, claiming it is not accurately calculating the benefits of the bill's tax cuts, and the budget deficit will actually shrink.

Musk likened the bill to a 'disgusting abomination' of 'pork-filled Congressional spending' that 'will drive America into debt slavery' in a frenzy of posts he wrote on X around 2am Wednesday mornng.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson ridiculed the former DOGE leader's claims during a Wednesday press conference, adding the president isn't happy either.

'We've talked about this,' Johnson said of his discussion with Trump about Musk's public criticism. 'You know, he's not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that.'

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has gone scorched earth on Trump and Republican lawmaker's Big Beautiful Bill Act. The president has yet to respond to his 'first buddy,' who has ripped the Trump-backed bill on social media this week, but House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the 78-year-old was upset by Musk's social media tirade

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that when he tried to call Musk recently that the billionaire didn't answer. Musk posted on X the same day calling for an entirely new bill despite the months of work put into the current one

Johnson told members of his conference Wednesday in a closed door meeting that the president is 'p***ed off' that Musk is airing his frustrations publicly, NOTUS reported.

The president, meanwhile, has remained publicly silent on his 'first buddy' sounding off on the Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is Trump's signature policy package.

Just days ago the president held a ceremony for the outgoing DOGE leader in the Oval Office, where the pair thanked each other.

'I'm not upset about this,' Johnson told reporters during the press conference, noting that he had spoken to Musk about the spending bill on Monday.

'Elon was encouraged by that conversation,' the speaker said. 'We left on a great note. We were texting one another, you know, happy texts, you know, Monday.'

But when Johnson tried to reach the SpaceX owner after his most recent barrage against the spending bill, the billionaire didn't pick up.

'He didn't answer,' the speaker said. 'I hope to talk to him today.'

Responding to a clip on X showing Johnson talking about his missed call, Musk responded with a terse message.

'We need a new bill that doesnt grow the deficit,' the X owner wrote in response to the Republican's comments.

Musk departed DOGE last week after his time as a special government employee expired

The billionaire joined Trump for a ceremony in the Oval Office just last week touting DOGE's efforts in identifying waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government

The president is reportedly 'pissed off' at Musk due to the billionaire's criticism of the Big Beautiful Bill Act

The new broadside calling for an entirely new package, despite the months of work put into the current version, is a major blow to the GOP congressional leadership who have for months been courting Musk as an ally.

;We dont have time for a brand new bill,' Johnson told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. 'And what I want Elon and all my friends to recognize is the complexity of what we accomplished here.'

But Musk has not been understanding, and seemingly is bent on taking down the GOP-backed bill.

'Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is not ok! Kill the bill,' Musk posted in another flurry of opposition on Wednesday afternoon.

The billionaire wrote on X on Tuesday: 'This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.'

'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.'

Call your Senator,

Call your Congressman,



Bankrupting America is NOT ok!



KILL the BILL  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 4, 2025

Musk was the largest political donor in the 2024 cycle, spending hundreds of millions to prop up Trump's campaign.

This week, he vowed to fund primary challenges against Republican lawmakers who support Trump's spending bill.

'In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,' Musk wrote on Tuesday.

The bill is now being considered by the Senate after being passed out of the House in late May.

Dueling GOP factions in the Senate are mulling how to proceed with the measure.

Some conservatives are wanting deeper cuts to social programs like Medicaid.

Moderates are demanding that spending on social programs remain untouched.

The Senate is hoping to pass a version of the Trump-backed package before July 4th.
Mount Etna erupted this week. Kemi Badenoch did something similar at PMQs. Blew her top. Pop!

Who could blame her? Sir Keir Starmer has become idly, sarcastically evasive. On his weekly trip to the Commons  how little this tiresome place merits a statesman of his hair-gelled importance  he has swapped tight dialectic for ironic vituperation.

Who does he think he is? A sketch writer?

Mrs Badenoch had opened with short questions about the winter fuel allowance and the two-child benefit cap. The latter could be fruitful territory for Conservatives now that Nigel Farage has switched to supporting high benefits. Sir Keir, in response to Mrs Badenoch, puckered his superior lips. He said she was struggling to catch up with political events.

He leaned an elbow on the despatch box and twisted his neck, throwing his witticism towards his backbenchers so that they can savour its cleverness. He then resumed his seat with a satisfied moue and examined his notes for the next precooked slander.

Smoke started to seep from Mt Kemis vents and fumaroles. Vulcanologists in Geneva may have picked up a blip on their seismographs. Warning rumbles rent the early-summer afternoon. Mind you, they may have come from Pamela Nash (Lab, Motherwell). Wee Pammy, gaunt behind the PM, was looking peckish.

Sir Keir absorbed the usual bellows of support from his backbenches. He luxuriated in his pomp. Never, in all those years of grey opposition, did he imagine how dang sexy all this power would make him feel. The liberation from having to tell the truth! Now prime minister, he can tell as many fibs as he wishes, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him.

He claimed that the economy was doing splendidly under Labour. Ha! He insisted he was much gripped by child poverty. As for the two-child benefit cap, well, the Conservatives were pro-Russia.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had a feisty exchange with Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs

That last one was a bit of a leap. Mrs Badenoch looked perplexed. Tories said eh? Hansard twitched. Speaker Hoyle, who had a rugby league magazine beside him on his chair, wondered if he had just drifted off for a minute and missed a few connecting sentences.

Sir Keir was referring to some allegedly dreadful remark Mrs Badenoch made about Ukraine. It did not seem particularly dreadful to much of the House when Sir Keir elaborated on it at greater length. Yet Sir Keirs acolytes reacted to this unsensational remark with theatrical astonishment. David Lammy might just have been mooned by Priti Patel. Lucy Powell, dimwit Leader of the Commons, sucked her lower deck of teeth.

This was when Mt Kemi blew. She sauntered back to the despatch box and exploded at Sir Keirs pettiness. Magma and ash flew everywhere as she denounced the chaos, chaos, chaos of the Starmer government. A press-gallery colleague afterwards felt Mrs Badenoch made herself look silly. But I rather liked it. Her anger was extempore, eloquent and it showed us some character under her usual self-control. It won a moo of approval from the Tory benches, depleted as they are these days.

Sir Keir was equally half-hearted and derisive  anything to change the subject and jeer  in his answers to the SNPs Brendan OHara, who asked about Gaza. Reforms Sara Pochin asked if, like some countries, we should ban the burqa. Sir Keir answered that with a jocular insult about Liz Truss.

The other event of the day was a speech by Rachel Reeves at a bus factory in Rochdale, Lancs. Workers stood behind her as political stage-dressing but this backfired worse than an old charabanc. The workers found Ms Reeves unscintillating. A chap in a blue sweatshirt struggled to keep his eyes open. Another, grey-topped, rubbed his stubble, sighed, eased his neck, scratched his head, flared his nostrils, did a tunnel stare, ground his jaw, and laughed at a mate. Ms Reeves, for her part, spoke of her friscal famework.

What a clunker. But at least shes less cocky than her boss.
Customers at H&M stores across the UK have been unable to purchase products for several hours today, following an apparent failure in the company's payments system.

A worker at one store in London told MailOnline that their location had been unable sell items for around two hours.

It is not currently known if online customers have been affected by the issue, and the cause of the outage has not yet been revealed.

A spokesperson for H&M told MailOnline: 'We are aware of the problem and are looking into resolving it as quickly as possible.

'We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience.'

The incident comes after British retail institutions like M&S and Co-op were hit with severe cyber attacks that crippled them.

In late April, Co-op was forced to shut down parts of its IT systems after hackers tried to illegally access them, and that it only had a 'small impact' on its operations

The firm later admitted that despite this, hackers 'accessed data relating to a significant number of our current and past members.

Meanwhile, M&S stores up and down the country were left with empty shelves after it faced an Easter weekend cyber attack.

Customers at H&M stores across the UK have been unable to purchase any products for several hours today, following an apparent failure in the company's payments system (File image)

It is not currently known if online customers have been affected by the issue (FIle image)

The company admitted that personal information of customers, which could include telephone numbers, home addresses and dates of birth, were taken.

M&S said that the data thieves did not take usable payment or card information from their servers.

Luxury jewellery firm Cartier and outdoor retailer The North Face then became the latest retailers to report customer data being stolen in cyber attacks.

What is 'credential stuffing' and how can you protect yourself against it online? The North Face confirmed hackers used the 'credential stuffing' method during a cyber attack on the company. This is where criminals take advantage of people who use the same username and password on multiple accounts. If one set of credentials is stolen during a hack, the attackers may then try using those details again in a new attack - with the hope customers have reused them on different accounts. By fraudulently gaining valid credentials on one site, and using them successfully on other sites, an attacker can then access more accounts. The primary motivation is financial, but it can also lead to identity theft. Anyone caught up in such an attack is urged to change their passwords immediately - especially if they match vital accounts like email or banking. They should be on alert for scam emails, texts or even fake calls. Experts also advise people to avoid using the same password on different sites, to become better protected. Advertisement

Watchmaker Cartier told customers in an email that 'an unauthorised party gained temporary access' to its system and 'obtained limited client information'.

The firm - whose items have been worn by Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama - revealed names, email addresses and countries had been obtained.

But Cartier, which is owned by Swiss-based Richemont, said the 'affected information did not include any passwords, credit card details or other banking information'.

The company said it further enhanced the protection of its systems and data, told the relevant authorities and was working with 'leading external cyber security experts'.

Separately, fashion brand The North Face, owned by VF Corporation, emailed some of its customers to tell them it discovered a 'small scale' attack in April this year.

The brand said names and email addresses were taken, but financial details were not - with the company revealing hackers used 'credential stuffing', reported BBC News.

This involves trying usernames and passwords stolen from another data breach in the hope customers have reused the credentials across multiple accounts.

North Face said attackers may have got hold of some customers' postal addresses and purchase histories.

A North Face spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'The cyber incident you are referring to is a small-scale cyber incident occurred on April 23, 2025, affecting our The North Face e-commerce website in the US only.

'The incident was contained very quickly on the same day it occurred. There was no impact on our systems and/or our consumer data in Europe whatsoever, including in the UK.'

Cyber security expert Julius Cerniauskas, chief executive of web intelligence firm Oxylabs, told MailOnline that the latest breaches 'send a clear message that no brand is safe from cybercrime, not even the biggest names with the deepest pockets'.

He added: 'Attackers are becoming more opportunistic and sophisticated, targeting brands that hold valuable customer data, not just credit card numbers.

The North Face (pictured on Regent Street in London) has also suffered a recent cyber attack

Cartier (pictured on Bond Street in London) has seen customer data stolen in a cyber attack

'In the case of The North Face, credential stuffing shows how recycled passwords from past breaches continue to fuel new attacks.

'Cartier's incident demonstrates how even well-defended systems can be compromised. Whether it's luxury retail or everyday consumer brands, hackers are finding weak spots and exploiting them fast.'

Mr Cerniauskas urged retailers to 'respond with more than apologies', encouraging them to enforce multi-factor authentication, tighten access controls and constantly monitor for threats.

Speaking further about 'credential stuffing', Joe Jones, chief executive and founder of Pistachio, a cybersecurity attack simulation company, said consumers reusing passwords across multiple sites were a 'sitting duck' for breaches of this type.

He told MailOnline: 'Credential stuffing, the method used here, only works because people reuse the same login details.

'If you've been caught in this breach, change your passwords immediately - especially if they match accounts like email or banking.

'Enable app-based two-factor authentication, not SMS, and remain hyper alert to scam emails, texts or even fake calls.'
President Donald Trump has found common ground with a longtime political foe.

The president announced Wednesday that he agrees with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on the issue of raising the debt limit, which is the maximum amount of debt that the federal government is allowed to borrow.

'I am very pleased to announce that, after all of these years, I agree with Senator Elizabeth Warren on SOMETHING,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'The Debt Limit should be entirely scrapped to prevent an Economic catastrophe.'

'It is too devastating to be put in the hands of political people that may want to use it despite the horrendous effect it could have on our Country and, indirectly, even the World.'

'As to Senator Warrens second statement on the $4 Trillion Dollars, I like that also, but it would have to be done over a period of time, as short as possible. Lets get together, Republican and Democrat, and DO THIS!' the president posted on Truth Social.

Last month, Warren called upon her congressional colleagues to scrap the debt limit to prevent an 'economic catastrophe.'

'@realDonaldTrump and I agree: the debt limit should be scrapped to prevent an economic catastrophe. Let's pass a bipartisan bill and get rid of it forever. But jacking up the debt limit by $4 trillion to fund more tax breaks for billionaires is an outrage,' Warren posted on May 30th.

.@realDonaldTrump and I agree: the debt limit should be scrapped to prevent an economic catastrophe.



Let's pass a bipartisan bill and get rid of it forever.



But jacking up the debt limit by $4 trillion to fund more tax breaks for billionaires is an outrage. pic.twitter.com/tMRdSsY5St  Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 30, 2025

Trump's comment came as the president is aiming to steer his spending package through the Senate, after the bill passed the House of Representatives before the Memorial Day recess.

Still, Trump and Warren's relationship is far from being all rainbows and butterflies.

Trump and Warren have a storied history, much of which revolves around Trump calling Warren 'Pocahontas.'

Warren self-identified that she had Native American heritage on applications to Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

But after being called out by Trump, Warren later released a DNA test in 2018 which revealed that she was only 1/512th Native American.

The White House separately is directly trying to slash another top Warren priority in the bill that is snaking its way through the Senate.

The Trump administration put out a '50 Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill' on Tuesday which included reining in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a 'brainchild' of Senator Warren.

'This brainchild of Sen. Elizabeth Warren has long functioned as another woke, weaponized arm of the bureaucracy  with minimal accountability or oversight  that leverages its power against certain industries and individuals disfavored by the so-called elites.' the White House wrote.

Trump's comments also came hours before his Wednesday meeting with members of the Senate Finance Committee, which includes Warren in its ranks.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) during a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol on May 05, 2025 in Washington, DC

President Donald Trump on Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pa

The push to raise the debt ceiling in the president's 'big, beautiful bill' has rubbed some Republicans the wrong way, including Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.)

Earlier this week, Paul told reporters that the proposed debt ceiling increase was a key reason for his opposition to the bill.

"We have never raised the debt ceiling without actually meeting that target," Paul noted on Monday.

"So you can say it doesn't directly add to the debt, but if you increase the ceiling $5 trillion, you'll meet that. And what it does is it puts it off the back-burner. And then we won't discuss it for a year or two," Paul concluded.

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin in Washington, DC, on January 14th, 2025

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is opposed to the reconciliation package because of the debt-limit increase, does a TV news interview at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a member of the Appropriations Committee who is a vocal MAGA ally on Capitol Hill, told Fox News host Will Cain Wednesday afternoon that Warren only wants to raise the debt limit 'because she doesn't believe in it, you cannot spend enough, you got to spend like a drunken sailor.'
A bogus shrink has been ordered to pay back the NHS more than 400,000 or face two-and-a-half more years in prison.

Zholia Alemi, 62, was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a string of fraud offences.

Having forged her qualifications, she worked as psychiatrist on both sides of the Border earning up to 1.3million before she was caught.

Alemi claimed to have a degree from the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995.

She moved around the country to different posts for more than 20 years to ensure the finger of suspicion did not point at her, the court heard.

Alemi, from Burnley, Lancashire, worked more or less continuously for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This week a judge ordered her to pay 406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody.

Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order.

Zholia Alemi, 62, forged her qualifications, she worked as psychiatrist in England and Scotland

Alemi forged documents from the University of Auckland

Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years.

In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk.

Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits more than 1million, to which she was not entitled. She cheated the public purse and 406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.

Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient.

Following her conviction, a journalist made inquiries into Alemis background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told.

His inquiries led to Cumbria Police further probing Alemis background.

Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, but never completed her medical degree.
Charges have been filed against two men in connection to the tragic death of a beautiful 15-year-old ballerina who was fatally struck by a boat while wakeboarding.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 79, was charged with two misdemeanors for careless operation of a vessel and Edmund Richard Hartley, 31, has been charged with four misdemeanors for careless operation of a vessel, in relation to the death of Ella Adler.

On May 11, 2024, Adler and another girl were wakeboarding behind a 42-foot Hanse Fjord walk-around near Key Biscayne, just south of Miami, before falling off at different spots, officials said. A dozen people had been on the boat pulling her.

Before the vessel, operated by Hartley, could return to collect her, Adler was hit by another boat, allegedly driven by Alonso, which immediately sped away, officials said.

After several witnesses described the hit-and-run vessel and what they saw, including mentions of 'a lot of blood in the water,' investigators eventually found the boat, a Boston whaler, docked behind Alonso's Coral Gables home.

Alonso, who also goes by Bill, said he didn't realize he had struck Adler, according to his attorneys.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said both men were charged following a 'thorough investigation' into her tragic death.

Both are accused of violating the U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules on responsibility and look-out while on the water, and Hartley has additionally been charged with violating rules regarding risk of collision and action to avoid it, per the FWC.

Ella Adler, 15, was tragically she was struck by a boat while wakeboarding near Key Biscayne, just south of Miami, on May 11, 2024

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the charges against Carlos Guillermo Alonso (pictured), 79, and Edmund Richard Hartley, 31, Tuesday in relation to incident

After several witness descriptions of the hit-and-run vessel and what they saw, including mention of 'a lot of blood in the water,' investigators eventually found the boat, a Boston whaler, docked behind Alonso's Coral Gables home

Alonso and Hartley have pleaded not guilty. They are set to appear in court on June 30 for a trial hearing.

'The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ella Adler. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss,' the organization said in the statement.

Alonso's lawyer, Lauren Field Krasnoff, previously told reporters her client was an avid boater for over 50 years and that he was by himself on his vessel on the day Ella was killed.

'If he was the person that was involved in this accident, and I want to be clear, we don't know that yet. If he was he had absolutely no idea of his involvement,' she said.

'When the police came knocking, he did not know why. We're not sure if he was involved. But if he was he absolutely did not know what had happened.'

According to a maritime attorney who spoke to NBC6 Miami, there's no chance that the person who hit Adler was unaware of the impact.

'I find that extremely hard to believe because hitting a person is a large object, you would definitely feel that especially if you are going at any type of a rate of speed,' Michael Winkleman said.

Krasnoff pointed out that Alonso tied his boat up in plain sight after returning home and that he was cooperating with the investigation.

The late teen has been remembered as a 'force of nature' who performed over 100 times with the Miami City Ballet

The lawyer said that Alonso does not drink alcohol and that he was not drinking when he was out boating on Saturday, where conditions were described as 'choppy.'

Eerie surveillance footage captured the moment Alonso left a dock shortly after Adler was hit.

His attorneys chose to release the footage because they said it bolstered his claim that he had no idea about the tragic accident before speeding away from the scene.

In the footage from Fox6, he was seen unmooring his vessel shortly after 3pm that day before returning around 4:30pm in a calm manner.

The late teen has been remembered as a 'force of nature' who performed over 100 times with the Miami City Ballet.

'Her magnetism radiated on the stage, where she belonged and thrived,' her obituary read.

Family, friends and classmates from Ransom Everglades School attended her funeral as heartbreaking images showed their emotional reaction laying the young girl to rest.

Family, friends and classmates from Ransom Everglades School attended her funeral as heartbreaking images showed their emotional reaction laying the young girl to rest

The teenager was a high achiever, involved in many different organizations and clubs, including her school's Jewish Student Association, the debate team and the Miami City Ballet.

After hearing of the charges filed against Alonso and Hartley, her family said in a statement: 'We are deeply grateful to the State Attorneys Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for their diligence, professionalism, and commitment throughout this unimaginable process.

'Their efforts have brought a measure of accountability and clarity during the most painful time in our lives.'

Although they are grateful for justice for Adler, her family is also determined to spread awareness about water safety and conditions, NBC6 reported.

They also established a foundation in her name.

'Through the newly established Ella Riley Adler Foundation, we are committed to advancing causes that reflect her passions and values, including Jewish community and continuity, education, and the arts, especially dance,' they said.

The teenager was a high achiever, involved in many different organizations and clubs, including her school's Jewish Student Association, the debate team and the Miami City Ballet

Alonso's attorney told DailyMail.com what happened to the teenager 'was an absolute tragedy,' but it was not her client's fault.

'What happened last year was an absolute tragedy. But it was not Bills fault. Bill is an experienced and cautious boater and that is how he acted that day,' Krasnoff said.

'FWC explicitly told us that they did not find Bills actions caused the accident. Because of that, we were very surprised to learn about the citations.

'We understand that FWC is under a lot of pressure from recent events. But now, after telling us that Bill was not to blame, we will need to get to the bottom of this charging decision a year later.'
The new Dallas police chief Daniel Comeaux issued a blunt three-word warning to illegal immigrants as its 'sanctuary city' status came to an abrupt end.

Comeaux delivered a clear message as he took the Texas city's top police job this week, telling potential migrants: 'You're not welcome.'

'Pick another city, don't come to Dallas,' he added.

The lawman was named as the city's new police chief in April following a 33-year career including time as a DEA special agent.

He beat out interim chief Michael Igo to the top job, after Igo was slammed by Texas officials for allegedly failing to follow President Trump's immigration crackdown.

Comeaux issued the message days after Homeland Security didn't include Dallas on its list of jurisdictions that it recognizes as 'sanctuary cities.'

A sanctuary city is seen as one that refuses to cooperate with federal immigration laws, and provides legal protections for illegal aliens to stop them being deported.

Dallas was previously seen as a haven for illegal migrants in the red state, however the Trump administration has threatened to pull federal funding from cities that refuse to comply with his orders.

'President Trump and (DHS) Secretary Noem have been clear: sanctuary jurisdictions should immediately cease violation of Federal law and cooperate with law enforcement,' a DHS spokesperson told KXAN as Dallas dropped off the list.

The new Dallas police chief Daniel Comeaux issued a blunt three-word warning to illegal immigrants as its 'sanctuary city' status came to an abrupt end - 'you're not welcome'

Comeaux issued the message days after Homeland Security didn't include Dallas on its list of jurisdictions that it recognizes as 'sanctuary cities', as President Trump ramps up his immigration crackdown

Comeaux beat out interim chief Michael Igo (pictured) to the top Dallas job, after Igo was slammed by Texas officials for failing to follow President Trump's immigration crackdown

The shift in Dallas comes as sanctuary city policies were effectively outlawed in Texas in 2017 as the state legislature prohibited any interference with state or federal immigration enforcement.

Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Dallas and the city's police department over possible non-compliance with the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Paxton named Igo in an open letter released at the time, accusing the former interim Dallas police chief of telling his police department not to assist in detaining illegal immigrants.

'The law is not optional,' Paxton said at the time.

'Local governments do not have the authority to disregard state and federal immigration laws.

'The people of Texas expect law enforcement agencies to uphold public safety, not to implement sanctuary policies that put our communities at risk.'

Igo said at the time that his department would not stop anyone for the sole reason of checking their immigration status, but denied refusing to work with federal law enforcement, per KERA News.

Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Dallas and the city's police department over possible non-compliance with the Trump administration's immigration policies (pictured together in 2020)

It comes as Trump stepped up his deportations targets this week by telling immigration officials to conduct 3,000 arrests every day in an ambitious effort to ramp up his deportation agenda.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the new goal is only temporary and the number of daily arrests expected under the Trump administration will continue to rise.

'Under President Trump's leadership, we are looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day,' Miller told Fox News' Sean Hannity.

Trump's border czar Tom Homan backed the ambitious new benchmark on Thursday morning, insisting: 'We've gotta increase these arrests and removals.'

'The numbers are good, but I'm not satisfied. I haven't been satisfied all year long.'

During Trump's first 100 days back in office, ICE officials arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants.

More than 65,000 illegal immigrants were deported.

Some 17,000 deportees had criminal convictions or charges ranging from driving under the influence to assault or weapons offenses.
Politicians have expressed their outrage after the speaker's chaplain inserted a prayer for Gaza' in the morning parliamentary religious service.

On Wednesday MPs and Lords voiced their protests - with one accusing him the chaplain of lacking balance and another of sucking up to left-wing Labour MPs following his unprecedented intervention during daily prayers.

The chaplain's controversial reference came in the Commons' daily private session of Christian prayers before the start of proceedings today, held in private with Press and public excluded.

But MPs told the Daily Mail that Reverend Mark Birch took them by surprise after telling an almost two-thirds full Commons Chamber we pray for the United Kingdom and Gaza shortly before the start of PMQs.

Sources say the Chaplain has now privately apologised to some of the MPs who were in attendance.

Meanwhile a spokesperson for the House of Common has insisted that the Chaplain would never want to cause any offence but that sometimes international issues are referenced during services.

The controversial prayer came on the day that former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn demanded a full-scale inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israel's ongoing military offensive in Gaza.

Outside the Palace of Westminster that same day, protesters had formed a human chain while demanding immediate sanctions against Israel and a complete halt to arms exports.

Protesters wave Palestinian flags and chant slogans outside the Palace of Westminster

Politicians have expressed their outrage after the speaker's chaplain inserted a prayer for Gaza' in the morning parliamentary religious service

A protester shows a satirical drawing of Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer reading the message "Let them eat bombs" as he poses on Westminster Bridge in front of the Elizabeth Tower, commonly known by the name of the clock's bell "Big Ben", at the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament

One Labour MP privately voiced surprise at the 'lack of balance' in the plea, saying: 'There was a reference to Gaza by the Speaker's Chaplain but not to Israel and the hostages.'

Meanwhile one Conservative MP accused the Chaplain of 'sucking up to Left-wing Labour MPs.'

Another veteran Tory MP added: 'I cannot remember any time in the past when this has happened.

The reaction on both sides of the Chamber was - hang on a minute - what about the poor people of Ukraine?

'What about the 600,000 people in Darfur who are dying of famine?'

Another MP said: 'Of course, the position in Gaza is pretty ghastly.

'But the general view across the Chamber was that it was most unwise to single out Gaza in that way and smacks of sucking up to Left-wing Labour MPs.'

Pro Palestine and Israel supporters wave flags as they face each other in in Parliament square during an Emergency demonstration for Palestine calling on the UK government to stop arming Israel

The chaplain's controversial reference came in the Commons' daily private session of Christian prayers before the start of proceedings on Wednesday, held in private with Press and public excluded.

On Wednesday night, one Commons insider said the Chaplain's words were 'not vetted' before he delivered them and suggested he had gone 'off script'.

Lord Stuart Polack described the intervention as deeply inappropriate, considering the neutrality of the Speakers office.

Labour peer Lord Mann, the Government's independent advisor on anti-Semitism, added: 'We should be praying for everyone at parliamentary prayers.'

A spokesperson for the House of Commons said: The Speaker does not in any way determine the content of prayers.

'Chaplains have on occasion referred to a range of significant international issues during prayers in the words they choose to use, however, the Chaplain would never want to cause any offence during prayers.'
John Swinney is not fit to lead our country, Anas Sarwar said yesterday, as he savaged the First Ministers stupid and dangerous defence jobs snub.

The Scottish Labour leader laid into Mr Swinney over his refusal to support Scottish firms involved in munitions despite growing global instability.

Keir Starmer also said it was staggering the SNP had denied 2.5million towards an 11million Rolls-Royce welding centre on the Clyde as it was linked to an attack submarine.

The Conservatives said the Nationalist ideology endangers national security.

But Mr Swinney insisted the policy, which predates Russias invasion of Ukraine and a surge in NATO defence spending, was still justified.

He also defended rejecting a high-level security briefing this week to pose with toddlers at a soft play centre for the SNP campaign in the Hamilton byelection.

The row followed jobs quango Scottish Enterprise refusing to put public money into creating a specialist welding centre for Royal Navy submarines because of a policy barring public funding for munitions.

First Minister John Swinney on the campaign trail ahead of the Hamilton by-election

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar branded John Swinney 'unfit to lead'

However the state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde is currently helping build the Navys new T26 frigates, which will be armed to the teeth.

Speaking in Hamilton yesterday, Mr Sarwar said Mr Swinney had to decide whether to live in the real world or in a university student debating chamber.

He said: If he says theres no public money going towards munitions, are we going to Uber the missiles in? Are we going to Deliveroo the equipment If someone tries to attack us?

Its completely and utterly incoherent, frankly stupid and dangerous, and it demonstrates why hes not fit to lead our country.

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr added: John Swinney is more interested in virtue signalling than the security of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

He needs to call a halt to his usual brand of petty politics and accept reality.

The Nationalists need to ditch their ideological position which endangers national security.

Launching the Strategic Defence Review in Glasgow on Monday, Sir Keir said the UK had to be battle-ready because of rising global threats and said thousands of new jobs would come from a defence dividend as the UK ramped up security spending.

Asked by Dunfermline Labour MP Graeme Downie about the Rolls-Royce row at Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Keir said: At a time of global conflict, it is staggering that the SNP policy is to block an 11million investment for a new national welding centre on the Clyde. I was there earlier this week and saw the huge potential for apprenticeships, for job opportunities, and for young people. I support it - the SNP blocks it.

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill also told MPs she was appalled that Mr Swinney snubbed a confidential briefing on the Review to campaign.

But Mr Swinney stood by the munitions policy and the decision to let SNP veterans minister Graeme Dey take the security briefing from UK veterans minister Alistair Carns.

The Scottish Government has a long-standing policy that we dont use public expenditure to support the manufacture of munitions. Its been applied in this case in the proper fashion.

Asked if that was an ivory tower position given rising global security threats, he said: No. It feels like a long-standing policy position thats been applied consistently.

On the security briefing, he said: There was an offer of a phone call from the UK Government Minister, and it was taken by the relevant minister in the Scottish Government. Thats how we operate normally.
A killer bird flu outbreak has hit multiple farms in Arizona - and the variant has wiped out millions of birds from one of the United States's largest egg producers.

Chickens at Hickman Farms in Buckeye, Arizona began showing symptoms at the end of May.

The initial loss was estimated at 1.1 million birds, but just two weeks after the flock got sick, 6 million have died. That accounted for about 95 percent of Hickman Farms' bird population.

CEO Glenn Hickman held a press conference on May 30 to address the situation. To him, the loss was entirely preventable.

'If our pullets had been vaccinated when we started lobbying the federal government in January, our pullets would have been saved by now,' he said.

Hickman and Hickman Family farms have been advocating for access to avian flu vaccines since January. According to the company's website, which addresses the situation, the U.S. government makes a vaccine, but only uses it as an export.

'European countries have now been vaccinating their flocks for a couple of years and are gaining the upper hand on controlling this disease. That vaccine is actually made here in the U.S., but we export to other countries while our flocks go unprotected.'

The site encourages customers to contact their representatives in a continued push for access to vaccination.

CEO Glenn Hickman said that the tragic loss of millions of his chickens was preventable

Pictured: Hickman's Family Farms plant, one of the biggest egg producers in the country

'The quicker we can start vaccinating our nation's poultry flock, the quicker we can get back to normalized operations,' said Hickman.

Hickman Farms is just the largest of several that have been affected in Arizona.

On June 2, the Arizona Department of Agriculture confirmed that another farm in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area was placed under quarantine. The farm still remains unnamed, but per their press release, poultry began showing symptoms on May and tested positive on May 30.

Hickman farms took similar measures to prevent spread, but now is focused on repopulating their farm. According to Hickman, the process of de-populating, cleaning and re-populating will take almost two years. They process will begin in just a few weeks.

In the mean time, Hickman Farms has stopped operations. Hundreds of their 850 employees are out of the job - many of whom are contract workers and inmates. Fortunately, some employees will still be needed during the cleaning process.

Customers of Hickman farms and other affected farms in Arizona do not need to be worried about contracting bird flu through consumption. The AZDA wrote in a press release on May 20 that eggs from chickens who tested positive have not entered food supply.

'There have been no signs of illness in humans,' they wrote.

'Consumers in Arizona and around the nation can remain confident in the safety and quality of eggs and egg products.'

Pictured: Chickens inside Hickman's Family Farms

According to CDC numbers, only 70 human cases of bird flu have been reported in the past 14 months, including one death. The AZDA and the CDC said that humans at highest risk are those who have worked directly with affected poultry.

Because of the outbreak, Arizona's Family reports that for the first time in 81 Hickman Farms will be unable to satisfy all of their customer demand. The company is looking for alternative ways to meet their needs.

Not everyone is upset about the decline in operations. 12 News reports that nearby residents are happy to be rid of the stench that comes with operating a chicken farm. According to Fox 10, locals and environmental activists sued Hickman Farms in 2018 for polluting the area.

Daily Mail reached out to Hickman Family Farms and the Arizona Department of Agriculture for comment.
A heroin shooting gallery may be extended to allow drug users to inhale crack cocaine without prosecution after the controversial move was yesterday backed by Scotlands Health Secretary.

Neil Gray told MPs that the existing Glasgow drug consumption room pilot has limitations because it only allows addicts to inject.

He said there is international evidence to support extending it to include an inhalation room, and the Scottish Government and Lord Advocate would consider the issue if there is an application by the operator of The Thistle.

He also indicated support for considering further drug consumption rooms before the pilot scheme is evaluated.

At Westminsters Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday, Mr Gray said: I understand because of the changing nature of substance dependency that the current establishment of the facility on an injection facility basis may provide limitations, and there is international evidence to point to the relative success of inhalation facilities.

Bosses of the 2.3million safer consumption centre in Glasgow first outlined proposals to set up an inhalation room for smoking crack cocaine within the facility in March.

They hoped this would attract more addicts to the Scottish Government-financed clinic, which is run by the Glasgow City Council and NHS bosses.

Laura Zeballos, deputy director of the Scottish Governments drugs policy division, yesterday said: There is international evidence that inhalation rooms are standard components of safer consumption facilities, we see that in many of the facilities in Germany, in Denmark and France, where their role in preventing respiratory harm is noted in the evidence base as a result.

Health secretary Neil Gray has backed plans to allow drug users to inhale crack cocaine without prosecution at Glasgow's contentious 'safer consumption' centre

Injection bay areas at The Thistle drugs consumption room

Annemarie Ward, chief executive of Faces and Voices of Recovery, said: Im deeply concerned. What Neil Gray is now floating is a further normalisation of drug use, this time by providing a publicly sanctioned space for people to inhale crack cocaine. Lets call this what it is: state-enabled self-destruction.

The fact that this expansion is even being discussed before theres been any independent analysis of the Glasgow facilitys impact should worry everyone.

'We are sprinting ahead with a radical public health experiment while bypassing basic evidence, democratic accountability, and common sense.

The original injection facility was sold as a tightly controlled pilot  now were talking about rolling out more sites, even as the drug death toll continues to mount and treatment access remains abysmal.

Were giving out crack pipes, but we wont fund real rehab. 

Mr Gray said there is interest from other parts of Scotland for drug consumption rooms and they need to come forward with proposals.

He said: That does not necessitate having to wait until the end of the pilot; that could happen before then.

Scottish Conservative drugs spokesman Annie Wells said: Neil Gray needs to drop this reckless plan and urgently confirm that his government will wait for a full report on their flagship facility before agreeing to support any more consumption rooms.

A Home Office minister yesterday said the Labour Government will not support drug consumption rooms and wont change laws to allow more to operate.
A British backpacker allegedly killed a father after ploughing into him while riding drunk on an e-scooter, an Australian court has heard.

Alicia Kemp, 24, potentially faces up to 20 years in prison after she was arrested and charged for allegedly riding the hired e-scooter on a footpath and knocking down 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan, 51.

He tragically died of brain injuries following the May 31 tragedy.

Kemp was told by Perth Magistrates Court that she could not be bailed out as she posed too great a flight risk.

The court was told that she was in Australia with her partner on a four-month tourist visa and that she had been working at Durty Nelly's Irish pub since arriving.

She had been out drinking on Saturday afternoon from 2.30pm with a friend, who was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk.

Later that evening, she hired an e-scooter at around 8.30pm. Police told the court that she was the main driver, while her friend was a passenger.

Prosecutors said that Kemp was driving in an 'inexplicably dangerous' manner, which as caught on CCTV, and that pedestrians were forced to 'take evasive action' as she rode down Murray Street in Perth's Central Business District.

She had a blood alcohol level of 0.158 as she was riding. Western Australian law states that electric vehicle drivers must have a level lower than 0.05 to legally drive.

Prosecutors said that Kemp was driving in an 'inexplicably dangerous' manner, which as caught on CCTV, and that pedestrians were forced to 'take evasive action' as she rode down Murray Street in Perth's Central Business District (File image)

Alicia Kemp, 24, potentially faces up to 20 years in prison after she was arrested and charged for allegedly riding the hired e-scooter on a footpath and knocking down 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan (pictured)

She was also travelling at 15mph as 'she careered into his back', prosecutors said, adding that this caused Phan to fall forward and hit his head.

Tragically, he suffered 'a significant brain bleed', while Kemp's friend, a 26-year-old who had not yet been identified, was thrown from the scooter and suffered a fractured skull and broken nose.

Phan was taken to the Royal Perth Hospital for surgery, where he died on Tuesday.

His family said in a statement following his death: 'On Saturday night, Thanh Phan  a beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend  was struck by an electric scooter and critically injured.

'We received the heartbreaking news that Thanh passed away as a result of his injuries.

'We ask that the media respect the privacy of Thanh's family as they grieve their loss.

'The family has no other comment to make on the issue at this time.'

The magistrate in charge of Alicia's case said that remanding the British backpacker in custody was a 'very difficult decision for the court to make.

The court was told that she was in Australia with her partner on a four-month tourist visa and that she had been working at Durty Nelly's Irish pub in Perth (pictured) since arriving

Phan was taken to the Royal Perth Hospital for surgery, where he died on Tuesday

He said that the prosecution's strong case and the prospect of a long prison sentence if convicted meant that there was a risk of '[Kemp] not returning to court to answer the charges', adding: 'The temptation might be that [she] won't return. I can't manage that risk.'

Kemp remains in custody and will appear before the court again on July 15.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at Israel for the recent actions of Netanyahu's government in Gaza describing it as counterproductive, 'intolerable' and appalling.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Labour leader, 62, called yet again for a ceasefire between the two countries, whilst also revisiting the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel.

Claire Hanna, the leader of Northern Irelands Social Democratic and Labour Party, highlighted the matter during PMQs describing them as very dark days.

She added: Gaza is a stain on the soul of humanity.

The Prime Minister said Hanna was absolutely right in her description of recent days on the Gaza strip.

Israels recent action is appalling and, in my view, counterproductive and intolerable and we have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence and the blocking of humanitarian aid, he told the Commons

Sir Keir Starmer also said they would keep looking at further action along with our allies, including sanctions, whilst asserting a ceasefire between both sides was the main goal.

We need the hostages whove been held for a very long time to be released, he added.

And we desperately need more aid at speed and at volume into Gaza because its an appalling and intolerable situation.

Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at Israel's recent actions in Gaza, denouncing Netanyahu's government as 'counterproductive' and 'intolerable'

The Prime Minister has raised the possibility of hitting Israel with sanctions following recent events (Pictured: Benjamin Netanyahu)

Palestinians, most of them children, queue in front of a food distribution truck in Gaza on May 22, 2025

The Prime Ministers strong words comes shortly after an Israel and US-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, stopped delivering food to three centres in Gaza.

It comes after 27 Palestinians were killed and several were injured by IDF troops near a food site in Rafah, according to local officials.

The IDF said its forces opened fire on a group of people they viewed as a threat after they left a designated access route near the distribution centre and approached their positions.

An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spokesperson said a Rafah field hospital received 184 casualties, with 19 of those dead upon arrival.

A further eight people died from their wounds shortly after.

Video showed injured people, including at least one woman, being rushed to a medical centre on carts drawn by donkeys.

However, Sir Starmers recent remarks could re-spark a clash with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed he as well as other world leaders were siding with Hamas

Last May, the UK, France and Canada released a joint statement where they denounced Israel for its growing ground operation in Gaza as well as stopping aid from reaching the war-ravaged strip.

Smoke billows above buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on May 19, 2025

Palestinians displaced from their homes light a fire during a power outage, on May 19, 2025

'Israels recent action is appalling and, in my view, counterproductive and intolerable and we have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence and the blocking of humanitarian aid, Sir Starmer told the Commons

Satellite photos show buildings and roads in central Gaza before Israel's invasion of the enclave (top) on October 6, 2023 and after (bottom), on August 20, 2024

An internally displaced Palestinian girl carries pots to her family shelter after receiving food from a charity kitchen, in Jabalia, May 2, 2025

The statement said that although Israel had suffered a heinous attack on October 7 and had a right to defend itself against terrorism, it described the countrys escalation as wholly disproportionate.

We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions, it read.

If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.

Following the joint message, an incensed Netanyahu said in a post via X: I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others.

I say to President Macron, prime minister Carney and prime minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice.

Israel has decimated huge parts of Palestine ever since October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas, killing more than 53,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

On Tuesday, health officials said at least 18 more Palestinians were killed in other military strikes in the territory.

In May, Canada, the UK and France released a joint statement condemning Israel's 'egregious actions' after the country escalated its ground offensive and blocked humanitarian aid

Following the joint message, an incensed Netanyahu said in a post via X: 'When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice.

The United Nations human rights office in Geneva said the impediment of access to food relief for civilians in Gaza might constitute a war crime and described attacks on people trying to access food aid as 'unconscionable'.

The head of the U.N. agency, Volker Turk, urged a prompt and impartial investigation into the killings.

Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer denied that civilians had been targeted.

'The IDF is doing everything in its power to allow Gazans to get to the humanitarian aid. The IDF is not preventing the arrival of Gazans at humanitarian aid sites. Indeed, we are encouraging it,' Mencer said.
Rising gangland violence is being fuelled by dangerously complacent SNP ministers - leading to a reign of narco terror, it was claimed yesterday.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay spoke out after two Scottish gangsters were gunned down in a Spanish pub.

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were fatally shot last Saturday in Fuengirola, a city on the Costa del Sol.

The killings prompted speculation that the killings are linked to a gangland feud that has raged across the Central Belt since March  something which Police Scotland tried to play down earlier this week.

Last night Mr Findlay said: Whether these gangland assassinations were ordered from Scotland or directly linked to the ongoing drugs war in Scotland should be established by the Spanish police along with their UK colleagues.

What is beyond doubt is that both of these individuals were active participants in the deadly turf war that has been raging across Scotland since 2001 and has caused untold misery to innocent people.

The police know the identity of the millionaire crime bosses, their violent foot soldiers and their white collar enablers.

Dangerously complacent SNP ministers need to give officers the tools they need to end this reign of narco terror being inflicted on Scottish communities.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay urged SNP ministers to equip Police Scotland to deal with a rising tide of violence linked to organised crime

Police Scotland estimated last year that there were 68 known organised crime groups in Scotland - and 13 of these are in Glasgow.

On Tuesday, Police Scotland said there is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police.

Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested, however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain.

There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge.

Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country.

There is also nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland.

Holidaymakers looked on in horror as a masked hitman stormed into a Costa Del Sol pub to shoot Monaghan, 43, and Lyons Jnr, 46, at point-blank range.

Ross Monaghan, right, and Eddie Lyons Jnr were fatally shot last Saturday in Fuengirola, Spain

The ambush is said to have happened as the senior members of the Lyons crime clan watched the Champions League Final on TV.

Sources claim gangsters from the rival Daniels crime group had devised a plot to target the two men at a summit just days earlier.

It followed weeks of attacks on their associates, including a 12-year-old boy and pensioners.

One insider told the Scottish Sun: The hitman got his orders after the meeting to take them both out.

They knew that Monaghan and Lyons were a bit complacent and could be got at.

Meanwhile, Ana Mula, mayor of Fuengirola, said she wants to reinforce collaboration between local and national police forces following the shootings.

She revealed the Spanish resort is ill-equipped to tackle serious crime and demanded more resources and police specialised in organised crime to improve the response to the growing phenomenon of gang fights related to drug trafficking on the Costa del Sol.

She said: We live in a world and at a time when crime knows no borders.

And in places like the Costa del Sol, phenomena are occurring which, by expansion, affect us irremediably.

That is why our determination is to tackle it without hot air, to put all possible threats on the table and to prepare ourselves to face this new context, with the means at our disposal, with the best guarantees.

The mayor pointed out that the main police unions have been calling for more material and human resources to combat criminal activity.

She announced that a plan to reinforce the local police is being studied in order to increase their presence and effectiveness.

These measures will form part of the special operation that the police force sets up every summer in the city for the high tourist season.
I recently enjoyed some holiday with my mother in her new Glasgow pad, barely half an hours walk from where we lived through the Seventies.

And, walking hither and yon, I visited many old haunts. Schools. The Jordanhill woods. Victoria Park and  just in time, as it sadly proved  the Renfrew ferry.

Which often saw me stumping along Anniesland Road. Even the name sets me a little on edge, for I remember my parents horror back in 1973.

Solemn warnings. Talk of kerb-drill and the Green Cross Code. After an 11 year-old boy with a very famous father, dashing joyously  as boys do  from his school bus, by the Glasgow Academy playing-fields, was struck by a vehicle.

Sigursteinn Magnusson died three days later. His mother Mamie, for ages after, would retreat to her room and howl. Jamming the door shut with her leg, so that her other children should not see.

The other day Sally Magnusson starred on Songs of Praise, the programme she had presented for decades. If being, on this occasion, the guest, she betrayed no unease on being the other side of the microphone.

Against the backdrop of the Campsie Fells  and still adjusting to a new chapter in her life; she quit Reporting Scotland early in April  she reflected on deep things.

Its a messy sort of affair, my faith, she told Sean Fletcher. Its full of questions

Broadcaster Sally Magnusson turned down career opportunities to care for her dementia-stricken mother

Sally Magnusson  journalist, broadcaster, author, campaigner  has been in the public eye since the late Seventies. An ongoing career astonishing, too, for her versatility.

It was my privilege one morning in January 2017 to work with her when Songs of Praise came to Lewis. My job was to talk about the Iolaire disaster, when over 200 men drowned at the mouth of Stornoway harbour, at New Year 1919 on their return from the Great War.

Sally, over breakfast, was delightful  but focussed. She pushed me hard on one detail. I assured her that, yes, it was still Britains biggest peacetime disaster at sea since the Titanic; but those precise words must be used.

I did not say, even in jest, Ive started, so Ill finish. Magnus Magnussons daughter  she owns the Mastermind chair  gets that a lot, I suspect, and I doubt it was ever funny.

The death of Siggy, five years her junior, would have been horror enough for one lifetime. At 51, Sally Magnusson found herself facing into others. Her father, still alert and vital, was wasting away to cancer  and there was something far wrong with her mother.

Mamie Baird, born in Rutherglen in 1925, was far more than Mrs Magnus Magnusson, mother of five. She was a brilliant writer in her own right - one of the finest journalists of her day, mused the late Jack Webster  and did much of the research for her husbands books.

And, as far as her health went, Mamie did all the right things. Ate healthily, kept trim, went for great long walks, read constantly, learned lifelong. A striking beauty, with a smile that could eclipse lighthouses.

Yet, by the last weeks of her husbands life  Magnus died in January 2007  she could not safely be left in charge of his medicines. Though still at the fey, giggly stage, Mamie Magnusson had dementia.

Sally and her siblings had a big decision to make. They could consign their mother to some institution  they had ample means  or they could care for her, in her own home and familiar environment, themselves.

They settled unhesitatingly on the latter. And through the years that followed, as children and grandchildren pulled together, Sally had to turn down big career opportunities, fulfil the duties she had and carry, too, her man (Norman Stone is an esteemed TV director) and her five maturing children.

From protracted, sometimes nightmarish years, and in the spirit of beauty for ashes, came perhaps Scotlands best memoir this century, Where Memories Go.

With, even at that time, scant professional support, Sally came to grips with what was happening to her mother. I know of no other book that captures, with such searing honesty, what it is like to care for a frightened, failing parent.

Around 44 million people on the planet live with dementia. Most are in the developed world: after all, we live longer. 7.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year. You can support, you can mitigate, you can carry  but there is no cure.

Dementia is not actually a disease, but a condition, born from a host of pathologies and of which Alzheimers is just the most infamous.

But they all mean the same thing  changes to the way electrical charges work in the brain, and the activity of our neurotransmitters. And there is nothing you can do to prevent dementia  save, perhaps, choose the right parents.

Were not talking about the sort of senior moment forgetfulness that at times startles us all. (The other day, for the life of me, I could not remember who had played the tenth Doctor Who.)

Dementia, as has been bleakly said, is not forgetting where the key is: it is forgetting what the key is for.

There is not even the comfort that dementia shields the sufferer from reality and self-awareness. Mamie Magnusson knew something was far wrong; my late father, in the last months of his life, was in no doubt that something terrible was happening to him.

Someone with dementia will try desperately to make sense of things from assorted, disparate fragments of memory. Sometimes to hilarious consequence: Mamie once announced to her family that, when she was sixteen, she had worked with Attila the Hun.

But, sometimes, too, in ways that are not the least funny. The godly old matron who becomes foul-mouthed. Frightening personality changes. Aggression, tantrums and venom.

And the desperate isolation of the carer. I was hungry for other peoples experience, Sally has recalled. Its a tremendously lonely thing to be in the middle of  extraordinarily so when you think that so many people are on the same journey, and yet each one feels so alone.

To their great surprise, the family found music a mercy. It calmed and cheered their mother. She still knew hundreds of songs by heart. Could harmonise beautifully.

Sally Magnusson has since launched Playlist for Life, after studies in New York demonstrated how much familiar music helps a disintegrating personality.

Like her Mum, devastated by the way her mind was pouring from her cells like water through a sieve.

But there are still the swipes of its claws. Dont touch me, hissed Mamie when Sally tried to embrace her one Christmas. And how dreadfully, exhausted and harried and scared, you can sometimes behave yourself.

I am aghast at how quickly my temper frays, Sally would write, when nothing I say or do seems to help.

Mamie Magnusson died on 12 April 2012. Once, near the end, Sally brought up her late brother. Her mother smiled quizzically. Bent forward, determined to be polite. Now remind me. Who is Siggy?

Where Memories Go: Why Dementia Changes Everything. By Sally Magnusson. John Murray Press. 10.99
Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security granted an adorable Mexican migrant girl, 4, humanitarian parole so she could continue to receive life-saving care in California.

The department has cracked down on undocumented migration and dismantled a Biden-era policy that allowed migrants to request humanitarian parole on a mobile app.

Deysi Vargas and her daughter, who was identified only by her initials, received legal immigration status in 2023 so that the girl could receive care for short bowel syndrome.

The family's attorneys at Public Counsel said in a statement that they received parole on June 2 and will expire in one year.

'While we celebrate this victory, we cannot ignore the systemic challenges that brought Sofia to the brink,' the family's attorneys said in a statement, referring to the girl using a pseudonym.

'Her parole was terminated without warning, and for weeks there was no functional avenue to alert USCIS that a childs life was in danger. It took an international outcry and pressure from elected officials to get a responsesomething that used to take a single phone call.'

The statement added that there are many stories similar to the girl, 'but the danger they face is every bit as real' and that the immigration system 'must protect everyone facing life-threatening harm.'

Vargas' daughter, who was identified by the initials, SGV, receives daily treatment to get her nutrition using a portable backpack.

A Mexican migrant girl was granted humanitarian parole to continue receiving life saving treatment

Trump has come under fire for his administration's aggressive mass deportations

She receives her care through a process called Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), which feeds her using an IV.

Only a few countries including the US can administer the treatment and the equipment cannot travel outside of the country.

The family flew into a panic in April when they received a letter from DHS notifying them that their parole had been revoked, according to Vargas' attorneys at Public Counsel.

Brown said in a statement at the time that SGV was receiving specialized care at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

'To suddenly yank away that welcome mat, take away her life-saving medical care, and force her back to a place where she could die within days is a cruel betrayal of our nations word and an affront to our shared humanity,' Brown continued.

Vargas shared her story at a news conference in May, telling reporters, 'If they deport us and take away my daughter's access to her specialized care, she will die.'

'Now, with the help my daughter receives in the United States, my daughter has the opportunity to leave the hospital, see the world, and live like a child her age,' she added.

The family's attorneys said their humanitarian parole was set to expire at the end of July but Vargas had been working to get it extended.

The girl's mother previously said her life would be at risk if she was deported and stopped receiving the care

Doctors warned that she couldn't travel outside of the country without the equipment and her condition could become fatal

The girl was diagnosed with short bowel syndrome and was receiving treatment through an IV using a backpack

Public Counsel said in a statement to the Associated Press that while they were grateful the family received humanitarian parole, the case demonstrated a lack of communication with officials.

'We cannot ignore the systemic challenges that brought Sofia to the brink,' the statement read, referring to the girl as 'Sofia' using a pseudonym.

'Her parole was terminated without warning ... It took an international outcry and pressure from elected officials to get a responsesomething that used to take a single phone call.'

SGV requires the treatment with her for 14 hours a day, but can leave the hospital with the backpack.

The girl's physician, Dr. John Arsenault, who sees her every six weeks wrote a letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times that said SGV's condition could be fatal 'within a matter of days' if she lost her treatment.

'As such, patients on home TPN are not allowed to leave the country because the infrastructure to provide TPN or provide immediate intervention if there is a problem with IV access depends on our programs utilization of U.S.-based healthcare resources and does not transfer across borders,' Arsenault added.

While she was in Mexico, SGV experienced repeated blood infections and underwent six surgeries.

The family can stay in the country on humanitarian parole until June 2.

'Early reporting that Vargas and her family were actively being deported was COMPLETELY FALSE,' a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

"Once again, the mainstream media lied to the American people, this time about a young girl who was not in danger of being deported.'

"The family applied with USCIS for humanitarian parole on May 14, 2025. Vargas and her family have been approved to stay in the United States as their daughter receives medical attention.'
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988

A New York City family is desperately searching for a teenage boy who jumped from a ferry after posting a haunting final message.

Brandon Pino, 17, had taken to Instagram to write a farewell message to his followers and sent worrying texts to his friends before he jumped off the Staten Island Ferry around 9:45am on Saturday.

He was last seen swimming near Governor's Island by a witness, who reported his fall to the ferry crew as it docked at Manhattan's Whitehall Terminal.

Police search-and-rescue crews descended on the gray waters between Staten Island and the heart of the city, ultimately unable to find the high school senior. The search was called off around 6pm.

But the Pino family hasn't, his sister told the Daily Mail.

'We're all taking turns,' said Cathleen Pino before criticizing the New York Police Department, which she said is just 'waiting for a body to resurface.'

'They're not giving it the importance [it deserves],' the mother-of-two told said.

An NYPD spokesperson told the Daily Mail that its Harbor Unit continues to search for Brandon daily. The department said it also deployed a scuba team, Emergency Services Unit, and aviation unit after the call came in.

Brandon Pino had taken to Instagram to write a farewell message to his followers and sent worrying texts to his friends before he jumped off the Staten Island Ferry around 9:45am on Saturday. Pictured: Brandon (center) with his sister Kierra and brother-in-law Rashad

He was last seen swimming near Governor's Island by a witness who reported to his fall to the ferry crew as it docked at Manhattan's Whitehall Terminal. His body has not been found

Police search and rescue crews descended on the gray waters between Staten Island and the heart of the city for a few hours. Eventually, the search was called off around 6pm. But the Pino family hasn't, said his sister, Cathleen

'The search and investigation remains ongoing,' the spokesperson said.

The Pino family is on foot, on boat, and in cars searching high and low for the teen, desperate for any sign of him as they hold out on hope he survived, Cathleen explained.

So far, they've spent at least $400 on EZ-Pass tolls, as well as on ferry tickets. They've even been looking into chartering a boat to search the waters.

Cathleen insisted that the largest police force in the US isn't giving Brandon's case the 'attention he deserves.'

'He's a person, he's a teen,' said the sister, who lived with Brandon.

'For my brother, it was just a few hours... In the important times, they didn't do what they needed to do.

'We're doing what they should be.'

On Saturday, the Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School senior had visited his uncle around 7am before taking the 9:30am ferry from St. George Ferry Terminal to Manhattan, his sister said.

Leading up to the fall, Cathleen said there were no signs her brother was in distress. The last time she had seen her Brandon was when she picked him up from school. They talked about graduation plans and summer outing they were planning to take. Nothing was abnormal

Brandon's jump came after he posted on Instagram, announcing to his followers that it was 'my last day on earth' and made a post about mental health awareness.

The young teen was also texting a group of friends prior to jumping, worrying them.

Leading up to the leap, Cathleen said there were no signs her brother was in distress.

The last time she had seen Brandon was when she picked him up from school. She had offered to buy him food, but he opted to make some at home as he preferred eating healthy.

They talked about graduation plans and summer outings they were planning to take.

Nothing seemed abnormal.

Now, her house feels empty and her two young children keep asking about their uncle.

Cathleen has opted to not tell them about what happened, but they're beginning to ask questions, she revealed.

Cathleen called her brother a very caring and patient person who had dreams of being a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and planned on going to nursing school

'We holding back tears,' she said. 'It's very hard to hold back tears. We don't have peace.'

The family does not plan to hold a funeral for the young boy until his body is found, per his mother's request.

As for if they believe the teen survived the fall, Cathleen said the tight-knit family is praying he did.

'We have hope,' she said.

The family has started a GoFundMe to help continue their search.

Cathleen called her brother as a very caring and patient person who had dreams of being a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and planned on going to nursing school.

'He was always very caring,' she said. 'He was a very smart, caring person with an amazing future ahead of him.

'He was loved, so loved.'

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988.
Stunned Democratic operatives retreated into group chats to vent at Karine Jean-Pierre's decision to snag a book deal with apparent plans to torch those who sought to push Biden to end his reelection bid.

The shock announcement by Jean-Pierre's publisher about her forthcoming book Independent, resurfaced complaints about her own capabilities and officials who insulated the former president from criticism that could have helped right the ship.

'I laughed reading her book announcement that claims she presents clear arguments and provocative evidence when our party failed to make a compelling argument for Democrats with her as one of our most visible messenger[s] for three years,' one steaming former Biden administration official told the Daily Mail.

'She lost whatever media cachet she had after the White House, and The View isnt taking her call anymore so she has to resort to a selfish stunt to sell books and get any attention,' said the former official.

That last comment was a reference to Jean-Pierre's decision to go on ABC's 'The View' while serving as Biden's White House press secretary, in a move some took as a bid to line up a post-White House gig for herself on the program.

However, it didn't pan out for the former spokesperson.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was the ultimate Biden loyalist while serving as his press secretary. Now she is writing a book where she is expected to slam Democrats who tried to steer the 82 year-old out of his reelection bid after his debate disaster

Another Democrat, former Commerce Department spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki told Politico: 'The only reason we stand a chance to reduce the harm inflicted is the Democratic Party did the right thing here. Its completely nuts to be more upset that the Party didnt prioritize Joe Bidens ego and keep him on the ticket than to thank god we averted complete and total disaster.'

Former Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who launched a brief primary challenge citing his age long before he dropped out, took a shot a Jean-Pierre without naming her direction. 'I havent written a book or been paid for a speech and will never become a lobbyist. I just share my perspective and advocate for common sense without charging anyone for it,' he wrote.

Many of those urging Biden to get out after his debate disaster argued it was the only way to avoid an electoral wipeout. As it turned out, Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in at the 11th Hour and lost to Donald Trump anyway.

Most surprising to many is that Jean-Pierre announced she is leaving the Democratic Party, after a long career as an operative, at a time when Democrats are soul-searching to try to find a way to combat Donald Trump. Her new book, titled Independent, has a cover featuring shattered glass, and a PR release describes its substance as 'a look inside a broken White House, outside the party lines.'

Her publisher Hachette describes an 'urgent, timely analysis' and urges Americans to 'vote their values and maintain individuality within party lines.'

One operative called it 'the most grift-y thing Ive seen in a long time, and thats saying something in Washington.'

Fellow Democrats were dunking on Jean-Pierre Wednesday for her shock announcement

Karine Jean-Pierre speaks with Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig during a conversation to discuss "So Gay For You" at 92NY on June 03, 2025 in New York City. She is the first LGBTQ person to hold the post and the first black women to serve as White House press secretary

'A lot of group chats were revived today,' posted former White House official Symone Sanders-Townsend, a former advisor to VP Kamala Harris, on X, adding a smiling / crying emoji.

'Counting 13 on my end,' chimed in former Biden State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.

'Lol,' wrote former White House assistant press secretary Jeremy Edwads, reposting an article about Jean-Pierre penning the book and leaving the party.

Former officials contacted by DailyMail.com said they didn't know what kind of advance Jean-Pierre was coming in, after failing to land a high-profile TV gig as did her predecessor Jen Psaki, now an MSNBC host.

'Probably best to purge the party of our most delusional and self-serving personalities,' the former official added.

The slack-jawed responses came after news broke that Jean-Pierre, who spent years defending Biden from the White House podium on both substance and questions about his age, health, and mental fitness was writing the book.

It comes as her former boss has been hit by a round of tough press coverage with the release of Axios reporter Alex Thompson and CNN anchor Jake Tapper's new book, 'Original Sin,' which rakes the Biden White House for covering up signs of his decline.

'In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary to the Biden-Harris administration, shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents,' according to an online release for the book.

'Jean-Pierre didnt come to her decision to be an Independent lightly,' it says  indicating she has leaving the party, after working in the Biden administration.

She worked as a political director for Obama. She also worked for liberal outside group MoveOn. Jean-Pierre didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on her new project.

The write-up for her forthcoming book indicates she'll take on people within the party who tried to force Biden to end his reelection campaign after his debate disaster.

'She takes us through the three weeks that led to Bidens abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision,' according to the release.

The book jacket says it will reveal a 'broken White House'

It calls it a 'hard-hitting yet hopeful critique.'

The tome runs 256 pages, and goes on sale October 21.

Although she has been largely quiet since Biden left office following former Vice President Kamala Harris's defeat, Jean-Pierre referenced some of the scores she plans to settle during an interview in February at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

She said the 'toughest thing to see' was a 'firing squad' during the weeks after Biden's debate, when a series of party stalwarts pushed him to get out of the race, arguing he couldn't defeat Donald Trump with his lousy approval ratings.

'I had never seen anything like it before,' she intoned. 'I had never seen a party do that in the way that they did. And it was hurtful and sad to see that happening  a firing squad around a person who I believe was a true patriot.'

Harris' loss to Trump in all seven heavily contested battleground states has led to a round of soul-searching among Democrats while Trump seeks to transform the country and takes on institutions from the Ivy League to the legal establishment to arts institutions like the Kennedy Center.

Prominent figures inside and outside Biden's inner circle are getting quizzed on whether they themselves saw evidence of mental decline in the 82-year-old Democrat.

The White House last year was forced to deny a report of an internal plot to entice Jean-Pierre to leave her post, amid complaints about some of her stumbles her reliance on a binder of prepared information.
The housemate of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has been released without charge after hours of police questioning.

Pheobe was last seen on May 15 leaving a rundown home in Gin Gin, near Bundaberg, where she had been living with couple Tanika Kristan Bromley and James Wood.

Queensland Police say the pair told detectives they drove Pheobe to Bundaberg Airport for an 8.30am flight to Brisbane and then on to Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend.

Pheobe failed to board and neither she nor her luggage have been seen since, with police revealing her neither her phone or bank accounts have been accessed.

Wood was taken into custody in Bundaberg on Wednesday after police secured his car on Bolewski Street.

Wood had been living in the car since the Gin Gin property was declared a crime scene, while Bromley has been staying with family on the outskirts of town.

Police questioned the 34-year-old in connection with Pheobe's disappearance.

Pheobe Bishop, 17, went missing after she failed to board a flight from Bundaberg Airport to Western Australia, via Brisbane, on May 15

Pheobe's housemate, 35-year-old James Wood was taken into police custody and questioned in connection to the teen's disappearance

Queensland Police confirmed on Thursday he has been released without charge.

'Detectives are continuing to run through several lines of enquiry as investigations continue, and will conduct physical searches when required,' a spokesperson said.

'Police are continuing to appeal for any information about Pheobe's whereabouts.'

James Wood's leaked text messages

His release follows a string of leaked text messages, obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, in which Wood alleged that Pheobe stole thousands of dollars from him and had enough money to go on the run.

'These f***ing coppers are in a witch hunt to see me and Tee (Tanika Bromley) burn at the stake all because we were the last to see her but turns out four f***ing days ago people came out stating they'd seen her with her luggage,' Wood said.

'Cops don't seem to really care that when she left she took nearly $5K out of mine and Tee's room but still harass us, like "well how could she have just gone, how hasn't she popped up on her bank statements"? Because she has $5K f***ing cash.'

Wood said he is furious with authorities for putting his life in danger and wasting time and money when Pheobe had confided in him and his girlfriend about her fractured relationship with her family.

What James Wood said happened

Prior to being taken into custody, Wood spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the tense and emotional morning that ended with Pheobe getting out of the car adjacent to the airport - and never being seen again.

Leaked messages expose what James Wood said to a friend after Pheobe Bishop vanished

Wood claimed that at their home at Gin Gin that morning, Pheobe was stressing about what to pack, what to wear and making the flight on time.

'She wanted to get up at 5am but I said I wasn't waking up that early, it's not that far,' Wood claimed.

'Then she slept through her alarm and when she got up she was furious.

'She gets like that sometimes and usually we can calm her down but she was escalating and then she smashed the TV.

'After that she started shouting about not having anything to wear and she was so worked up about seeing her boyfriend for the first time and she wanted to look good.

'And I get it, she is a teenager and she thinks he may be the love of her life, so I understand.

'I grabbed some grey brand new trackies I had and I threw them to her and said wear these and first she said she didn't want to take them as they were mine but then she said "OK" and put them on.'

Wood claimed emotional outbursts were not unusual for the 17-year-old, but they had become more frequent in the weeks leading up to her trip.

James Wood - the flatmate of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has revealed explosive new details about the her car ride to the airport on the day she disappeared

The Gin Gin property where Pheobe was living before she vanished without a trace

James Wood has been living out of his car after Pheobe went missing

'She does have a temper but she is not a bad kid, she is actually a great kid, she is kind and smart and has good manners but she was living with us because she couldn't live at home anymore,' he said.

'There were too many fights, too much had gone on and she is just a kid.

'If I had a little sister and all she had was her car to live in then I would want someone to help her.

'I had known her for almost a year when she moved in with us four months ago and Tanika worked with her as a carer so they knew each other well.'

The car ride to the airport

Despite the tardy start to the morning of her planned departure, Wood said there was still plenty of time to make her flight from Bundaberg, which was around 10am.

He quickly ran to the local IGA to grab energy drinks and returned to the house around 8am.

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, with Bromley driving and Pheobe in the back seat.

Minutes later, about 8.30am, before theyd left Gin Gin for Bundaberg, Pheobe called her boyfriend to let him know she was on the way.

After loading a large duffle bag - 'almost the size of her' - into the car alongside his dog, they set off for the airport, Wood claims

Daily Mail Australia previously reported the boyfriend claimed he heard shouting during the call.

The boyfriend later told a friend: 'They were both yelling at her and I couldn't really hear her.'

Wood doesn't dispute the claim and said that Pheobe was still complaining she didn't have time to do her make up and was worried she was going to miss the flight.

'We just wanted to get her checked in and thought if we can just get there she will calm down,' Wood said.

'Tanika grabbed her makeup bag next to her and passed it back and told her to take anything she needed.

'Her plane was stopping in Brisbane and we told her that the airport had everything she needed and she can take her time and do the makeup in the toilets.

'But she wanted to look nice for the flight first and wouldn't let it go.'

The last time Pheobe was seen

As they approached Airport Drive, less than a kilometre from the terminal, the argument continued, Wood said.

By the time they reached airport drive, less then 1km from their destination Wood says the arguing hadnt subsided so he told Bromley to pull over into a layby

Wood said he told Tanika Bromley (pictured) to pull over so they could give Pheobe some space to cool off. After stepping away for a few minutes, he claimed he returned to find her and her large duffle bag gone

Wood told Bromley to pull the car over and they got out and walked a distance away to give Pheobe some space to collect herself.

'We wanted to give her five minutes - give her her own space to do what she needed to do,' he said.

'We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that's about how long we were gone.'

Wood said when he returned to the car, Pheobe and her bag were gone.

He assumed that she had walked the short remaining distance to the terminal. The couple then drove toward the airport to check, he said, but they didnt see her along the way.

'You wouldn't miss her carrying that thing, if you drove past her and saw her, you'd notice,' he said.

Wood claims the pair then waited outside the small terminal for some time but did not go inside.

'I said to Tanika if I go in it will just escalate things again but she said if she went in it would look like we were parenting her,' he said.

They then decided to check surrounding roads in case she had walked off in another direction.

'We drove around and as far as we thought she could have made it and then drove a bit further in case.'

Wood claimed this would have been the moment when CCTV footage picked up his car heading towards the Good Night Scrub National Park.

Wood insisted that he did not hurt Pheobe and assumed she had boarded the flight.

He said it was not until the following afternoon when he received a text message from Pheobe's sister that he realised she was missing.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Wood was involved in Pheobes disappearance, and likewise does not suggest Ms Bromley played any role in Pheobe going missing.
Playwright David Mamet revealed that President Donald Trump called him and complained that he 'wussed out' over those 2020 stolen election claims.

Mamet was the guest on this week's episode of comedian Bill Maher's Club Random podcast.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, screenwriter and author - known for Glengarry Glen Ross, Wag the Dog and The Untouchables - ditched liberalism in 2008 and is a supporter of Trump.

Maher, a liberal who's taken swipes at the left for being too 'woke,' commented to Mamet that 'man, each book you get more right-wing,' and recalled how Mamet had come on his HBO show Real Time to publicize the last one.

The comedian said that at the time, he thought Mamet was 'hedging' on the so-called 'big lie,' Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

'You know, you don't know what happened to me the next morning,' Mamet said.

Mamet recalled that on Maher's show, he was 'kind of iffy on it, right?'

'Next morning, eight o'clock, the phone rings. Woman on the phone says, "Mr. Mamet, will you hold for the president?"' Mamet recalled. 'I said wait a second, is Biden calling?'

Comedian Bill Maher (left) sat down with playwright, screenwriter and author David Mamet (right) for this week's episode of his Club Random podcast. Mamet revealed that during the Biden years, President Donald Trump called and chewed him out for not repeating the 'big lie'

'Is Trump! During the Biden administration. He says, "David, it's Donald Trump." I say, "Oh, Mr. President, thank you for calling to what do I owe the honor?"' the author described.

'He said, "I saw you on Bill Maher yesterday, you were great." He said, "But you wussed out on the question of the stolen election,"' Mamet said. 'And then he talked to me for like 20 minutes about how the election was stolen.'

Maher interjected, 'It wasn't!'

But this time Mamet took Trump's side.

'Well, I think it was,' the playwright pushed.

Maher pointed out that 'they've adjudicated this.'

'They've looked at this. Republicans have looked at it,' Maher said. 'It was tested in court like 60 times. It was thrown out every time. Trump's own commission appointed by his own commissioners to look at the election ...They all said the same thing. It was the most fair, honest election we've ever had.'

Christopher Krebs, who served as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, had called the 2020 election 'the most secure in American history.'

President Donald Trump, photographed on the South Lawn last week, called playwright David Mamet and confronted him for not saying the 2020 election was stolen when Mamet appeared on Bill Maher's HBO show during the Biden years

In April, Trump revoked Krebs' security clearance via a presidential memorandum and directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to review Krebs' activities during his time working in government.

'I'm not talking about the votes. I'm not talking about counting the votes,' Mamet pressed.

'That the Hunter Biden laptop was suppressed, the COVID information was suppressed. Zuckerberg said himself that the White House pressured him not to bring forward the information on the laptop,' Mamet argued.

'And Rasmussen said, had that come out, there would have been a 17 point spread,' the playwright added.

The New York Post broke the Hunter Biden laptop story on October 14, 2020, just weeks before the presidential election.

The Biden campaign had officials in the intelligence community sign a letter saying that the information in the laptop being shopped by Trump allies had marks of a Russian disinformation campaign.

Since then the Daily Mail and other outlets have authenticated the laptop.

Maher wasn't buying Mamet's explanation.

'Oh, please. Those - that's so ridiculous,' the comedian said.
A Biden-era judge in Colorado has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting the wife and five children of the Boulder fire-bomb suspect.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, allegedly injured 12 people aged between 52 and 88 at a demonstration honoring the October 7 victims who are still being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza.

The horror unfolded during an event organized by Run For Their Lives on Pearl Street Mall in the Colorado city's downtown just before 1.30pm local time on Sunday, the first day of the Jewish holiday Shavuot.

Soliman's wife and five children were arrested and taken into custody by agents with ICE and Homeland Security on Tuesday.

The suspect had allegedly been planning the attack for a year but wanted to wait until his daughter Habiba finished high school, in an apparent effort to shield his family from any repercussions.

The promising young student had won awards in school and dreamed of studying medicine, revealing in an essay that her life in the United States since arriving from Kuwait had 'fundamentally changed' her.

But she was arrested alongside her four siblings and her mother Hayam El Gamal in the aftermath of the alleged terror attack as the Trump administration sought expedited removal, which would allow authorities to rapidly deport them without a hearing in an immigration court.

The family earned a temporary reprieve on Wednesday when Biden-appointed US District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher said deporting them without adequate process could cause 'irreparable harm.'

The wife and five children of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at pro-Israeli protestors in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday, were arrested by authorities

At least 12 people were injured in a 'targeted terror attack' involving Molotov cocktails in Boulder, Colorado

Blocking the request, the judge wrote: 'The court finds that deportation without process could work irreparable harm and an order must issue without notice due to the urgency this situation presents.'

The decision has sparked fury among MAGA loyalists who argue the left-wing judge is joining a long list of other legal minds standing in the way of the Trump administration's efforts to make America safer.

Gallagher was appointed to the District Court by then-president Joe Biden in 2022 after a career dedicated to criminal defense and working with tribal communities.

But lawyers representing Soliman's family sued the US government, seeking to win the family members' release from custody and block their deportation.

Their lawsuit, filed in federal court in Colorado, said that Hayam 'was shocked to learn that her husband was arrested for having committed a violent act against a peaceful gathering of individuals commemorating Israeli hostages.'

The suit called for the family to be released while they seek asylum in the US.

'It is patently unlawful to punish individuals for the crimes of their relatives,' the filing said.

'Such methods of collective or family punishment violates the very foundations of a democratic justice system.'

Daughter Habiba had shared intimate details of the family's struggles in an essay for The Denver Gazette as she sought a scholarship.

Habiba Soliman, the daughter of 45-year-old terror suspect Mohamed Soliman, was an award-winning student hoping to study medicine in college

Soliman's home pictured after the attack where toys seeming to belong to small children could be seen outside

'I learned to adapt to new things even if it was hard. I learned to work under pressure and improve rapidly in a very short amount of time,' she wrote, revealing she learned English as a sophomore at the Thomas MacLaren School in Colorado Springs.

In the years since the family settled in Colorado, Habiba organized events to build school spirit by starting an Arabic club. She also participated in Big Brothers, Big Sisters to help middle schoolers feel more comfortable transitioning to high school.

She even learned how to play basketball, and received the Highlander Award for Leadership Involvement for her efforts.

Habiba's favorite activity, though, was volunteering at UC Health, which she said 'will help me in my future medical career.'

She explained that when she was younger, her father underwent a difficult surgery that restored his ability to walk.

The high school senior said she considered the procedure nothing short of 'magic' and realized she then wanted to pursue a career in medicine.

'Most importantly, I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support,' she wrote.

But her dreams were put on pause earlier this when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video sensationally revealing the administration was going after Soliman's family in the wake of his alleged crimes.

Gallagher was appointed to the District Court by then-president Joe Biden in 2022 after a career dedicated to criminal defense and working with tribal communities

She said they would be deported, adding that his 'despicable actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.'

'We are also investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack. If they had any knowledge of it or if they provided any support to it.

'I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and for all of their families. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to all of them. And I want them to know, justice will be served.'

The terror suspect is now facing 16 counts of attempted murder and federal hate crime charges after allegedly launching the makeshift flamethrowers on Sunday, wounding at least 12 people.

Soliman reportedly yelled 'Free Palestine' during the attack, and authorities said they found 16 unused Molotov cocktails when they arrested him, adding that he only threw two of the devices because he was 'scared and had never hurt anyone before.'

The suspect has lived with his wife and five children in Colorado Springs, a city about 100 miles south of Boulder, for the past three years. The Egyptian national previously spent 17 years living in Kuwait.

While the White House said the family would be deported through a fast-track process known as expedited removal, the lawsuit argued the family should not be subject to that process because they have resided in the US for more than two years.

Soliman worked as an Uber driver and had passed the company's eligibility requirements, which included a criminal background check, according to a spokesperson for Uber.

An online resume under Soliman's name says he was employed by a Denver-area health care company working in accounting and inventory control, with prior employers listed as companies in Egypt.

Soliman is an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa after entering the US during the Biden administration

Soliman appeared to taunt the victims while brandishing bottles of alcohol for the Molotov cocktails in each hand as smoke rose from the scene

Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall Sunday, June 1, 2025, in downtown Boulder, Colorado

Police and the FBI said the horror unfolded at Pearl Street Mall on Sunday afternoon

Soliman listed Al-Azhar University, a historic center for Islamic and Arabic learning located in Cairo, on the resume.

When he was arrested, Soliman reportedly told investigators that he left messages for his family on his iPhone, which his wife then turned over to authorities.

According to an affidavit on his arrest, agents also recovered a journal from Soliman's home in which he detailed his plans for the attack, and said he wanted to 'kill all Zionists.'

He first entered the US in Los Angeles on August 27, 2022, and was allowed to stay through February 2, 2023, on a non-immigrant visa but never left.

He was granted a work authorization permit on March 29, 2023, which was valid through March 2024, with the Trump administration slamming the previous White House for granting the permit while Soliman was an illegal immigrant.

'(Soliman) 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. Suicidal migration must be fully reversed,' Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller previously wrote on X.

The Trump administration has been making inroads in conducting the largest ever mass deportation scheme in American history, but 'activist judges' have stood in its way at every turn.

Earlier on Wednesday, Obama appointee Judge James Boasberg ordered the White House to give migrants sent to an El Salvador prison a chance to challenge their removals.

The judge wrote that 'significant evidence' has surfaced indicating that many of the migrants imprisoned in El Salvador are not connected to the gang 'and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations.'

The administration is now expected to use the next seven days to come up with a manner in which the 'at least 137' people can make those claims, even while they're formally in the custody of El Salvador.

His decision has enraged the White House, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson telling DailyMail.com Boasberg is overstepping.

'Judge Boasberg has no authority to intervene with immigration or national security  authority that rests squarely with President Trump and the Executive Branch.'
A federal judge has ruled that the White House must give migrants sent to an El Salvador prison a chance to challenge their removals.

Judge James Boasberg did not specifically outline the steps the Trump administration needs to take, but said one week would be given for the government to outline how it intends to comply.

He said that people who were sent to the prison under an 18th-century wartime law havent been able to formally contest the removals or allegations that they are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Boasberg ordered the administration to work toward giving them a way to file those challenges.

The judge wrote that 'significant evidence' has surfaced indicating that many of the migrants imprisoned in El Salvador are not connected to the gang 'and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations.'

The administration is now expected to use the next seven days to come up with a manner in which the 'at least 137' people can make those claims, even while they're formally in the custody of El Salvador.

His decision has enraged the White House, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson telling DailyMail.com Boasberg is overstepping.

'Judge Boasberg has no authority to intervene with immigration or national security  authority that rests squarely with President Trump and the Executive Branch.'

A federal judge Donald Trump has called a Barack Obama-appointed radical ruled Wednesday that the White House must give migrants sent to an El Salvador prison a chance to challenge their removals

U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg said that people who were sent to the prison in March under an 18th-century wartime law havent been able to formally contest the removals or allegations that they are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua

Boasberg has quickly become an enemy of the president after ruling in mid-March to block Trump's deportation flights of illegal immigrant gang members.

Trump has called Boasberg a 'radical' appointee of Barack Obama and accused him of trying to 'usurp the power of the presidency' while Republicans have argued for the judge to be impeached - leading Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to defend Boasberg.

'His current and previous attempts to prevent President Trump from deporting criminal illegal aliens poses a direct threat to the safety of the American people. Fortunately for the American people, Judge Boasberg does not have the last word,' Jackson added.

Skye Perryman, the President and CEO of Democracy Forward representing the plaintiffs, celebrated the decision.

'Today's ruling affirms what every American knows: in the United States, people are entitled to due process and no one should be removed from the country without it,' Perryman told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'What has long separated the United States from autocratic regimes is the recognition of this process. We will continue to oppose this administration's attempts to re-write the protections afforded under the Constitution.'

It's the latest milestone in the months-long legal saga over the fate of deportees imprisoned at El Salvadors notorious Terrorism Confinement Center.

After Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in March and prepared to fly planeloads of accused gang members to El Salvador and out of the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, Boasberg ordered them to turn the planes around.

This demand was ignored. Boasberg has found probably cause that the administration committed contempt of court after the flight landed.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele posted a taunting message on social media - reposted by some of Trump's top aides - that read 'Oopsie, too late.'

Trump has criticized Boasberg's rulings in the past

Prisoners look out of their cell as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tours the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador

The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that anyone targeted under the AEA has the right to appeal to a judge to contest their designation as an enemy of the state.

Boasberg said he was simply applying that principle to those who'd been removed.

The judge said the administration 'plainly deprived' the immigrants of a chance to challenge their removals before they were put on flights.

Therefore, he says the government must handle the migrants cases now as if they 'would have been if the Government had not provided constitutionally inadequate process.'

In a remarkable passage, Boasberg wrote that he accepted the administration's declaration, filed under seal, providing details of the government's deal with El Salvador to house deportees and how that means the Venezuelans are technically under the legal control of El Salvador and not the United States.

But, he said, believing those representations was 'rendered more difficult given the Governments troubling conduct throughout this case.'

He noted the Supreme Court had to act again in the saga, to halt an apparent effort to get around that requirement with a late-night flight from Texas in April.

Boasberg also noted parallels with another case where the Trump administration admitted it mistakenly deported a Maryland man to El Salvador and has been ordered by a judge, appellate judges and the U.S. Supreme Court to 'facilitate' his return.

Trump has been criticizing Boasberg (pictured right) for almost the entirety of his presidency, even calling for his impeachment

In his previous attacks on Boasberg, Trump called the judge a 'publicity hound' after the judge halted his massive deportation of migrants with a temporary restraining order.

'Judge James Boasberg is doing everything in his power to usurp the Power of the Presidency,' he warned.

'The danger is unparalleled!'

Boasberg had issued the temporary order after the administration flew more than 200 alleged gangsters to El Salvador.

Trump mocked Boasberg as 'a local, unknown Judge' and added that he's a 'grandstander, looking for publicity.'

In a separate post, he demanded that nationwide injunctions be stopped permanently and called on the Supreme Court to help.

'Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country!' he wrote.

'If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!'

Roberts, however, issued a stunning rebuke after Trump called for the impeachment of Boasberg.

But Trump insisted that liberal judges are trying to assume the powers of the presidency 'without getting 80 million votes,' saying that the 'danger' they could cause is 'unparalleled.'

'A President has to be allowed to act quickly and decisively about such matters as returning murderers, drug lords, rapists, and other such type criminals back to their Homeland, or to other locations that will allow our Country to be SAFE,' he added.

The ruling that set off the fury came when Boasberg issued the temporary ruling that blocked the deportations of more than 200 people after the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Boasberg's ruling came after a fiery hearing where he demanded the government declare when it thinks his own orders on the deportations took effect  after the administration said the deportation flights were underway and over international waters when it learned of the order.
Patterson has admitted lying about a story she concocted that she had to go to hospital to have a lump on her elbow checked out.

Dr Rogers suggested Patterson had no appointment at St Vincent's Hospital and no appointment for a needle biopsy.

Patterson agreed she had no medical issues to discuss with Gail at the lunch.

'I didn't have a legitimate medical reason, so, that's true,' Patterson said.

'You had nothing to tell the kids about medical issues,' Dr Rogers asked.

'No,' Patterson said.

Dr Rogers previously suggested Patterson told Gail about the elbow lump to 'plant a seed of a serious health issue'.

'No, I don't think that's right, no,' Patterson said.

'Why did you say it?' Dr Rogers asked.

'So I think I gave this in evidence a couple days ago, I initially thought I had an issue with my elbow' Patterson said.

'I had told Don and Gail what I was worried about, it started to resolve.
High taxes and travel fees are putting tourists off visiting Britain, an industry expert has warned.

The UK is 'taking travel and tourism for granted' but will miss out on visitors due to the extra levies being charged, according to Julia Simpson.

The chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council added that the abolition of duty-free shopping for visitors  the so-called tourist tax  means travellers are flocking to rival destinations.

An increase in air passenger duty, new visa fees and the National Insurance hike for employers also threatened to undermine the sector, Ms Simpson warned.

She said: 'The UK is absolutely taking travel and tourism for granted. The Treasury is imposing layer upon layer of taxes on a sector that is bringing money into the UK and is not at all a burden.

'We're definitely going to miss out. It's not just about money, it's about sending a signal that the UK is really a great place to visit.

'If the Chancellor is looking for growth, and growth that isn't in the public sector and is outside London, you've got to sell the UK.'

Britain axed VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors following Brexit  hammering demand for expensive goods among affluent tourists.

High taxes and travel fees are putting tourists off visiting Britain, the chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council has warned

Julia Simpson, chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said the Treasury is imposing layer upon layer of taxes on a sector that is bringing money into the UK

Britain axed VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors following Brexit - and Chancellor Rachel Reeves has upheld the decision

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has upheld the decision and argued that reinstating duty-free shopping would cost 2billion.

But analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research found that it could be costing the public finances 11billion a year as it deters two million tourists a year from choosing to visit the UK.

Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Heathrow are among more than 400 businesses to back the Mail's campaign calling for the Government to Scrap The Tourist Tax.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Ms Simpson told a tourism event in New Delhi: 'If it is so bad, why does France, which receives more visitors than anywhere else, have tax-free shopping?'
With half a million people packed into The Mall and millions more watching from home, Buckingham Palace became the dazzling backdrop to a historic concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

As pop legends took the stage to mark her remarkable 60-year reign, the palace was illuminated with stunning projections.

The concert, which honoured each decade of the Queen's reign through music, featured a star-studded lineup, including Sir Cliff Richard, Elton John, Shirley Bassey and Kylie Minogue.

Arriving partway through the event to cheers from the crowd, Elizabeth made a striking appearance in a gold lame cocktail dress, designed by her long-time senior dresser, Angela Kelly.

The look was inspired by the gilded figure of Victory that sits atop the Queen Victoria Memorial just outside Buckingham Palace.

As Kelly explains in her book Dressing the Queen: 'The fact that the Queen was appearing on stage at a concert suggested a theatrical mood.

'For those of us working in Buckingham Palace the Queen Victoria Memorial is a familiar friend and it was the golden figure on top of the monument that gave me the idea for the colour of the Queen's dress.'

The iconic monument was reimagined as a circular stage, setting the scene for a night of music that spanned Elizabeth's six-decade reign.

With half a million people packed into The Mall, Buckingham Palace became the dazzling backdrop to a historic concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Her dress - a period piece in itself - was crafted from fabric originally purchased overseas in 1961.

It was richly trimmed with antique gold lace and embellished with Swarovski crystals to catch the light under the stage spotlights.

In place of traditional jewellery, which was deemed too formal for the concert setting, an elaborate embroidered applique provided decorative flourish.

Originally designed to drape down the left side of the gown, it was later moved to the right - at Elizabeth's request.

Kelly recounts: 'At an earlier stage we had put it on the opposite shoulder; it was the Queen's decision to change it around, and absolutely right that we did.'

Arriving partway through the event to cheers from the crowd, Elizabeth made a striking appearance in a gold lame cocktail dress, designed by her long-time senior dresser, Angela Kelly

Elizabeth's outfit was inspired by the gilded figure of Victory that sits atop the Queen Victoria Memorial just outside Buckingham Palace

Her dress - a period piece in itself - was crafted from fabric originally purchased overseas in 1961

Several members of the Royal Family were in attendance. L-R: Lady Sarah Chatto, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Zara Tindall, Prince Harry

Elizabeth's dress was richly trimmed with antique gold lace and embellished with Swarovski crystals to catch the light under the stage spotlights

William and Catherine joined in the lively performances, singing along and waving Union flags in rhythm with the music

Queen Elizabeth appeared visibly moved as Prince Charles delivered a heartfelt and humorous speech honouring his mother

The evening culminated in a dramatic moment when Her Late Majesty lit the final beacon on The Mall by plunging the Diamond Jubilee crystal into a ceremonial tube - triggering a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the London skyline

The three dresses worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, designed by Angela Kelly

While Prince Philip was hospitalised with a bladder infection, other members of the Royal Family - including Prince William, Catherine and Prince Harry - joined in the lively performances, singing along and waving Union flags in rhythm with the music.

Queen Elizabeth appeared visibly moved as Prince Charles delivered a heartfelt and humorous speech honouring his mother, joking that if the crowd cheered loudly enough, the Duke of Edinburgh might be able to hear it from his hospital bed.

The evening culminated in a dramatic moment when Her Late Majesty lit the final beacon on The Mall by plunging the Diamond Jubilee crystal into a ceremonial tube - triggering a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the London skyline.

The next day, the Royal Family attended a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, where the Queen addressed her family and the nation through a speech she had recorded in advance from her private chambers.
It was one of the most iconic images of the late Queen Elizabeth's final years when she sat down for a picture with her ten great-grandchildren.

She had a look every proud grandmother would recognise as she smiled for the camera, surrounded on all sides by her family.

Sadly, it is a picture King Charles III might never have the opportunity to recreate, with two of his five grandchildren estranged on the other side of the Atlantic after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood down as working royals in 2020.

In fact, this month marks three years since Charles met his granddaughter Lilibet in-person for the first and only time.

Lilibet - who turns four today - travelled to the UK along with her parents and brother in June 2022 for the late Queen's platinum jubilee.

Royal sources at the time said that the meeting was 'very emotional' for the then-Prince of Wales, but Charles and Camilla were 'absolutely thrilled' to have spent some time with both Archie and Lilibet.

However, despite the King's cancer diagnosis and Harry's suggestion that his father's health battle could lead to a reconciliation, a reunion between grandfather and grandchildren looks ever more unlikely.

In fact, the rift between Charles and Harry only appears to be widening.

Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter Lilibet turns four today. It is now three years since King Charles's one and only in-person meeting with his granddaughter

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with other royals at the christening of Archie. Since 'Megxit' King Charles has had very little contact with his grandchildren across the pond

Queen Elizabeth with her great-grandchildren in a photo released to mark her 97th birthday

Just last month, in a bombshell interview with the BBC, Harry claimed the Royal Family have 'zero trust' in him, his father 'won't speak to him' and that he doesn't 'know how much longer he [King Charles] has left'.

Harry also revealed he will not bring his wife or children back to the UK, indicating that Charles will be deprived of another meeting with Archie and Lilibet for the foreseeable future.

Just last year, a royal source claimed that Charles wanted to see the Sussexes' children more than just on the occasional video call.

Royal commentator Michael Cole told MailOnline in June 2024 that Charles feels the 'lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely', given his own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive tours of the Commonwealth.

The former BBC royal correspondent said the King 'looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him' but his 'only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet'.

He added that the two 'innocent young children' are growing up without any 'real contact' with the Royal Family.

Charles's almost complete lack of a relationship with Archie and Lilibet is in stark contrast to the one he shares with the Prince and Princess of Wales's three children.

The King's close and intimate relationship with George, Charlotte and Louis has been displayed to the world on multiple occasions.

During Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee, Charles stepped up to perform grandfather duties, keeping Louis entertained during the celebrations.

Charlotte chatting with her grandfather during Trooping the Colour. According to royal author Ingrid Seward, Charles has a 'very nice relationship with his granddaughter'

During Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee, Charles stepped up to perform grandfather duties, keeping Prince Louis entertained during the celebrations

Harry and Meghan have said they will not bring their children back to the UK, indicating that Charles will be deprived of another meeting with Archie and Lilibet for the foreseeable future

The young prince was seen sat on his doting grandfather's lap with a large grin on his face.

From the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour last year, Charles was seen chatting away to Princess Charlotte.

According to royal author Ingrid Seward, Charles has a 'very nice relationship with his granddaughter'.

Their close relationship was apparently put on show when the King wore what appeared to be a 'friendship bracelet', similar to one worn by Charlotte, on official engagements in 2023.

Charles has an equally good relationship with his eldest grandson, the future king, Prince George. According to Daily Mail columnist Robert Hardman, George calls Charles 'Grandpa Wales', similar to how the late Queen used to call her grandfather, George V, 'Grandpa England'.

It has previously been suggested that as George gets older, Charles could become a mentor to the young prince, preparing him to one day become king - echoing Elizabeth's own relationship with William.

Charles's lack of a relationship with his grandchildren across the pond will be felt acutely after his own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive Commonwealth tours - some lasting as long as six months.

In contrast to his own relationship with the late Prince Philip, which was reportedly somewhat distant during his childhood, the late Duke of Edinburgh was known to have had a very close relationship with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After the death of Princess Diana, Philip took the young Prince William and Prince Harry under his wing to help them grieve the sudden loss of their mother

A touching picture of Prince Philip with his great-granddaughter Mia Tindall

After the death of Princess Diana, Philip took the young Prince William and Prince Harry under his wing to help them grieve the sudden loss of their mother.

Royal author Tina Brown wrote in her book The Diana Chronicles: 'A member of the Balmoral staff noted that Prince Philip, who had effectively lost his own mother at the age of ten when she was committed for three years to an asylum in Switzerland, was brilliantly effective with his grandsons, offering them gruff tenderness and outdoor activities like stalking and hiking to tire them out.'

Even in later life, Philip enjoyed warm relationships with much younger members of the Royal Family. In one particularly heartwarming picture, Philip could be seen chatting to Mike and Zara Tindall's daughter Mia outside a log cabin.

In his book The Good, The Bad & The Rugby - Unleashed, written with his podcast co-hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne, Mike revealed how the image perfectly encapsulated the Royal Family's annual getaways to Scotland.

He wrote: 'Lunch would often be heading out into the open space of the Scottish Highlands for a picnic.

'There's a great picture of my daughter Mia sitting with the Duke of Edinburgh that captures exactly what those afternoons were like: members of a very close family who loved each other dearly spending precious time together.'

Unfortunately for Charles, he is going to be deprived of such tender moments with Archie and Lilibet until his relationship with Harry radically improves.

And currently, that appears to be very far away for the 76-year-old King.
Americans are abandoning Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City for an affordable Southern city alive with music.

Nashville, TN, is seeing an influx of transplants moving in from more expensive cities where they have been unable to afford a home or the lifestyle they want.

Known as Music City, Nashville has a wide open job market, a booming housing scene, and no state income tax. And for Swifties, it has the added pull of being where Taylor Swift launched her career.

Nashville realtor Josh Anderson, founder of The Anderson Group, has had a front-row seat to the surge of out-of-state buyers.

'There's about 75 to 100 people per day moving to Nashville,' he told the Daily Mail.

After Nissan moved its US headquarters from California to Nashville's suburb of Franklin in 2005, tech companies like Amazon and Oracle have followed.

Unemployment in Nashville is just 2.8 percent, compared with 3.5 percent in New York City and 5.8 percent in Los Angeles, Realtor.com reported.

The economic boom is bringing workers who are feeding the housing market.

Nashville, TN, is seeing an influx of transplants moving in from more expensive cities

Known as Music City, Nashville has a wide open job market and no income tax for residents

Nashville realtor Josh Anderson

In April, over 18 percent of Nashville listings were priced above $1 million, up from just under 8 percent in 2018.

The median price for a large luxury home is now $2.5 million, which is 85.7 percent higher than it was in 2019, Realtor.com reported.

Despite the price tag, Anderson points out that the city's cost of living is still manageable compared to other major metros.

'Cost of living is certainly more expensive than it was seven or 10 years ago, but it's still a lot less than the bigger metro markets like New York City, LA, San Francisco,' he told the Daily Mail.

'Probably also Dallas, parts of Atlanta. It's still less expensive than a lot of those areas.'

The median home value in Nashville is currently $448,000. The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Nashville is around $1,900 a month.

The reasons people relocate tends to vary by city, he added.

'If you're in Chicago, your reasons for moving are typically that property taxes are just insane, there is a lack of job creation, and then the political climate. That's the three that I hear the most,' Anderson said.

There is about 75 to 100 people per day moving to Nashville, says one local realtor

Nashville has seen an influx of new residents from major coastal cities

Anderson's clients from California tend to be high-income earners.

'A lot of people from LA are moving here because of the high cost of homes, cost-of-living, additional taxes where they are.

'A lot either work in sales or they are executives or they are business owners and they just feel like it's impossible to make money and live,' he said.

Nashville isn't just offering low taxes.

The city has great schools, restaurants, and parks, including Centennial Park, a reference used twice in Taylor Swift's song Invisible String.

In 2023, Nashville even dedicated a bench inside the park to the pop star, with a plaque reading: 'For Taylor Swift, A bench for you to read on at Centennial Park. Welcome home, Nashville.'

Swift moved to the city when she was 13 to kickstart her music career, and still owns two properties in the area.

It's not just country music that's popular in town now, said Anderson.

Taylor Swift moved to the city when she was 13 to kickstart her music career

A bench inside Centennial Park dedicated to Taylor Swift and the lyrics of her song Invisible String

The city has great schools, restaurants, and parks scattered in each neighborhood

For young professionals, downtown condos under $1 million offer proximity to live music and top-tier dining

For young professionals, downtown condos under $1 million offer proximity to live music and top-tier dining.

'The lineup over the last 30 days for concerts was Metallica, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, that was just a two-and-a-half week period,' he said.

'Everybody thinks it's just country music, it's not. It's hip-hop, it's everything. It's pretty incredible.'

Foodies are also drawn to the city, known for it's Southern fried chicken, BBQ, and Mac and Cheese.

'Our restaurants and our nightlife are better than most bigger metro markets and it's much smaller,' Anderson said.

'We've got all these James Beard and Michelin restaurants now.'

Nashville's suburbs are also filling up, due to great area schools and charming main streets.

'There's a good mix of ages,' Anderson said.

A two-bedroom two bathroom home Anderson has listed in Nashville for $295,000

Anderson says while downtown is still associated with honky-tonks that once people explore the city they find so much more

Downtown Franklin, just outside of Nashville, has a charming, quaint, Americana Main Street filled with shops

'We work with a lot of people that have younger families, and then we have a lot of people that have kids going into high school.

'All the schools in the outlying areas are really great. The schools in Williamson County are the best schools in the state of Tennessee.'

Anderson says while downtown is still associated with honky-tonks, once people explore the city and its surrounding areas they find so much more.

'Downtown Franklin is like the most charming, quaint, Americana downtown you can get. It's like small-town America that people love,' he said, of the suburban city just 30 minutes drive from Nashville.

'You come for a weekend and people are like, OK, I get it. It's not hollow. There's actual charming character and history.'

The downside of the population boom is that towering condo blocks are being built at a frantic pace for the flood of new arrivals, but that very prosperity is forcing others to slip through the net and on to the streets.

An estimated 86 people a day moved to the Nashville metro area in 2023, boosting the population to 2.1 million according to United States Census Bureau figures.
Modular home builders are targeting Los Angeles fire victims with offers of cheaper and quicker rebuilding options.

Large swathes of Los Angeles were destroyed in devastating wildfires earlier this year, which destroyed more than 16,000 structures.

Many homeowners who saw their properties burned to the ground were then met with the compounding heartbreak of home insurance payouts that will only cover a fraction of the rebuilding costs.

Now businesses such as ICON and Hapi Homes see an opening to mass market their tiny homes, built off-site with the help of 3-D printers and then transported to their final location.

Such pre-fabricated homes have long had a reputation for poor quality and unattractive design which the companies hope to dispel.

'Disasters are actually going to be the turning point' for wider adoption of modular housing, Vikas Enti, CEO of Reframe Systems, told the Wall Street Journal.

'That's what we're betting on,' he said of the company's push into disaster zone aftermaths.

'Homeowners in a moment of crisis want to try something different,' Jason Ballard, CEO of ICON, agreed.

Modular homes can be built off-site and transported upon completion

Ballard told the Journal that his business, which uses technology such as 3-D printers to layer concrete, was inundated with calls following the LA fires.

The Texas-based company is now focusing its expansion on areas frequently hit by natural disasters, such as California and Florida.

Williams Rebuild, another modular home construction company, is planning to build up to 150 homes a year for fire victims in LA.

The Los Angeles Mayor's office is also in discussions with a series of modular builders, the Journal reported.

SoLa Impact, an affordable-housing developer based in the city, is supporting proposed legislation in California that would speed up approval for such housing.

'Never let a crisis go to waste,' the company's CEO Martin Muoto told the Journal.

Building new homes off-site is often much cheaper because materials can be purchased in bulk and fewer workers are required for less time.

For disaster areas, building away from a crowded construction market means businesses can access less busy supply chains.

Jason Ballard, CEO of ICON, says after a disaster homeowners are willing to try something new

More than 16,000 structures were destroyed in the LA fires earlier this year

3-D printers can be used to layer concrete for the house construction

After wildfires devastated Maui, Hawaii, in 2023 more than 100 modular companies flooded the building market.

Five of those companies were commissioned by the state and nonprofit HomeAid Hawaii to build 450 temporary units for those who had lost their homes.

It served as a pivotal moment for the modular housing industry which has struggled to gain such contracts in the past.

'As a public official, I'm now saying, "Hey, we do have alternatives to typical construction,"' Joseph Campos II, deputy director at Hawaii's Department of Human Services said.

'There can be a partnership with traditional construction trades.'
Nearly every single freshwater fish in Southern California may be riddled with parasites that could cause serious health issues in humans.

However, the scientists who found the parasites said the threat could endanger millions throughout the US, after finding dozens of popular YouTube videos that were promoting misinformation about raw fish.

Researchers from the University of California-San Diego revealed that a staggering 93 percent of the 84 freshwater game fish they examined carried two species of trematodes - parasitic worms that infect people who eat raw or undercooked fish.

These freshwater species included bluegills, largemouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill-green sunfish hybrids, redear sunfish, black crappies, and the common carp.

The two species of flatworms discovered (Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus) typically cause stomach problems, weight loss, and fatigue in people.

However, the research team warned that particularly severe infections can lead to heart attacks of strokes.

The researchers added that Americans don't often think about freshwater fish having parasites, but the outbreak has already been found in Texas, Florida, and Utah as well.

Ryan Hechinger, an ecologist at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography said: 'These parasites are here in the US, and they're infecting fish that people are eating.'

Researchers found 93 percent of the freshwater game fish they examined carried two species of trematodes which can infect people and cause serious illness. These freshwater species included bluegills (pictured)

One bluegill (pictured) collected during the study contained 133 infectious larval stages of the Haplorchis pumilio trematode parasite

Overall, 78 of the 84 fish analyzed contained parasites that can infect people who eat improperly cooked or frozen fish

The study authors fear that millions of people could be at risk of contamination, based on the amount of interest in eating raw fish on social media and platforms like YouTube.

During their study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Hechinger's team also looked at 125 popular YouTube videos which featured people eating raw freshwater fish.

Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) did not mention the proper cooking or freezing methods for these fish, which the team believes is promoting bad habits and will likely lead to the spread of dangerous parasites among seafood lovers.

According to the study authors, many videos also spread false information, like claiming that marinating fish in citrus juice or choosing 'healthy-looking' fish eliminates the risk of parasites, which isn't true.

The fish are typically found in warm, shallow waters with vegetation nearby. However, this has also become a thriving habitat for the invasive snail Melanoides tuberculata, which carries the trematodes spreading to local fish.

Freshwater game fish include multiple species that live in lakes, rivers, or reservoirs. They're popular targets for recreational fishing, often because anglers consider them fun to catch or good to eat.

Fully cooking any fish caught in these locations will eliminate the parasites, according to guidelines from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For those who eat raw fish, in items like sushi, they need to freeze their catch for at least a week to kill the trematodes.

The parasites were mostly in the fins and gills, though H. pumilio was often found in the muscle tissue near fin bases, which could end up in fish fillets.

The freshwater species found to carry the parasites included bluegills, largemouth bass (pictured), green sunfish, bluegill-green sunfish hybrids, redear sunfish, black crappies, and the common carp

Overall, researchers found 78 of the 84 fish they examined are carrying the parasitic worms.

Other popular freshwater game fish that could be at risk from the snail's parasites include catfish, trout, salmon, and perch.

While there hasn't been widespread outbreak of trematode infections reported in California or elsewhere, Hechinger said that doesn't mean many people aren't getting sick.

'Nobody is looking for cases and doctors aren't required to report them,' he explained.

Hechinger added that his team believes fish-borne trematode infections should be added to the list of diseases doctors have to report to public health officials.

The FDA explains that improper cooking of fish means it hasn't reached an internal temperature of at least 145F.

For those freezing their fish to eat it raw, it needs to reach a temperature of -4F for seven days or be flash-frozen at -31F for at least 15 hours.

When fish is improperly cooked or frozen, the trematodes can survive and then infect the human body when eaten.

When fish is improperly cooked or frozen, the trematodes can survive and then infect the human body when eaten

After eating infected fish, most symptoms of H. pumilio or C. formosanus typically start within 1 to 2 weeks. For severe infections, it could take 1 to 3 months before major symptoms appear

Once swallowed, these parasites enter your stomach and not even the stomach's acids can kill the larvae, which are protected by a cyst-like covering.

In the small intestine, digestive enzymes break down this covering and release the young worms into the gastrointestinal tract.

Over the next few days to weeks, the juvenile worms grow into adults, which are about one to two millimeters long.

As the worms multiply and attach themselves to the small intestine, they irritate the intestinal lining, leading to symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and indigestion.

After eating infected fish, most symptoms of H. pumilio or C. formosanus typically start within one to two weeks. If left untreated, the more severe symptoms of a chronic infection could start to show one to three months after eating the fish.

Once doctors diagnose someone with an infection, the standard treatment is an anti-parasitic medication called Praziquantel. The infections typically clear up within days after taking the drug.
Officials in New York City have issued an air quality alert, advising more than 10 million residents to stay indoors if possible.

The alert is due to ground-level ozone, which forms when air pollution combines with warm temperatures. Temperatures are expected to surpass 80F on Wednesday.

Ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant that can irritate the lungs, causing coughing, throat irritation, and chest pain.

Officials warned that people with respiratory issues, young children, and the elderly should limit outdoor activities.

An Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect from 11 am to 11 pm ET for New York City, the Bronx, Kings, Queens, Rockland, and Westchester counties, as well as the Lower Hudson Valley, which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.

'When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce exposure,' the alert reads.

'Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing should consider consulting their personal physician.'

The alert comes as the Midwest is also facing air quality emergencies due to wildfire smoke crossing the border from Canada.

An Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect from 11 am to 11 pm ET for New York City, the Bronx, Kings, Queens, Rockland, and Westchester counties, as well as the Lower Hudson Valley (stock)

Smoke forecast Canada and the US. Wildfire smoke wafts across the US as horrifying map reveals where hazed air quality may turn deadly

The National Weather Service reported Air Quality Index (AQI) levels will exceed 100 today, a range classified as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups.'

The AQI measures the amount of pollutants and particulates in the air on a scale of zero (good) to 500 (hazardous).

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued the warning this week, explaining that ground-level ozone forms when sunlight hits pollution from cars, trucks, and industrial facilities.

This isn't the 'good ozone' high up in the atmosphere that protects us from the sun's rays, this is a harmful gas that hangs close to the ground, contributing to hazy skies and breathing problems.

'People think of air pollution as smoke or smog you can see,' the DEC said.

'But ozone is different, it's a clear gas that you can't see, but you can definitely feel it when you're outside on a hot, muggy day.'

Ozone pollution is most dangerous in the afternoon and early evening when the sun is strongest.

In the New York metro area, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, millions are at risk during these high ozone days, when ground-level ozone reaches unhealthy levels that can harm people's health and the environment.

The alert comes as the Midwest is also facing air quality emergencies due to wildfire smoke crossing the border from Canada. Smoke rises from Edith Lake wildfire, which forced the evacuation of the nearby town of Swan Hills, Alberta, Canada in an aerial photograph

Officials are urging residents to take simple steps to cut back on pollution and save energy.

These include using public transit, combining car trips, setting the air conditioner to 78 degrees, and limiting appliance use to after 7 pm The DEC also recommends turning off unused lights and avoiding outdoor burning.

'It doesn't take a science degree to help clear the air,' the agency said. 'Drive less, cool smart, and give your lungs and your neighbors a break.'

New Yorkers can check daily air quality updates through the state's online resources and are encouraged to make small changes that add up to cleaner air and safer summers for everyone.

Officials warned that alerts like this should be expected as the summer begins.

The health alert in New York comes as Canadian wildfire smoke is blowing over into the US, triggering air quality emergencies in several states.

As of Wednesday, parts of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin are facing unhealthy air.

More than 200 fires are burning in Canada, with over 100 considered out of control.

While officials urge Americans to stay prepared, they note the current situation is less hazardous than in 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned skies across the Northeast a hazy orange.

Huge swaths of the US , from the north east to the Great Lakes, were blanked in smog for several days as a result.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged millions of residents to remain indoors as a sheet of smoke from the wildfires left hose in Manhattan unable to see the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River.

Similar air quality alerts were also issued in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and the Carolinas.
A massive plume of dust the size of the US is set to drop buckets of mud from the sky on the entire Southeast.

The approaching dust cloud is coming from the Sahara Desert and was formed by strong winds sweeping tiny sand and mineral particles off the surface.

By Thursday, meteorologists are warning that the rain in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas could combine with the dust to create showers of 'dirty rain' throughout the region.

Officials in Puerto Rico have already warned residents of poor air quality as the dust swept over the Caribbean earlier this week. The Saharan cloud made landfall in Florida on Wednesday.

The AccuWeather team noted that most of the Saharan dust will likely remain thousands of feet high in the atmosphere, meaning it will have little impact on air quality at ground level.

However, experts warn that as some dust travels lower in the air, it can make breathing difficult, especially for people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues, because it carries fine particles that can irritate the lungs.

While these dust plumes sweeping across the Atlantic from Africa are common, especially in June and July, this one is much larger than usual.

AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said: 'This is the biggest Saharan dust plume that we've seen so far this year.'

A massive dust cloud from the Sahara Desert moved through the Caribbean this week on its way to the Southeastern US

The Saharan dust is now colliding with wildfire smoke coming from Canada that has been hazy skies and air quality concerns in the northern half of the US

This year's plume is different as it's earlier, denser, and more concentrated, with higher levels of fine particles.

As a result, health officials and meteorologists are keeping a close eye on its impact.

The size and intensity of these clouds vary from year to year, but scientists believe shifting wind patterns and climate change may be contributing to more frequent and powerful plumes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has estimated that over 180 million tons of dust leaves Africa every year.

It results in extremely dry air that local reduces thunderstorm activity in the US and cuts down on the formation of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic.

If the forecasted storms in the Southeast this week overcome that dry air, it will likely mean several days of a 'muddy mix' falling from the sky.

Meteorologists said that flash flooding and thunderstorms are expected throughout Florida all night on Wednesday.

A slow-moving storm system will collide with the dust cloud Thursday as it moves beyond Florida, potentially bringing dust-filled showers to millions along the East Coast.

Satellite photos from NOAA revealed the 2 systems moving into the US at the same time, creating an air quality emergency for more than half the country

Officials in Puerto Rico already warned residents of poor air quality as the dust swept over the Caribbean in early June. Pictured is Puerto Rico blanketed in dust in 2020

At the same time, another massive plume is making its way down from Canada, filling most of the Eastern and Central US with dangerous wildfire smoke.

AccuWeather has warned that air quality has already reached hazardous to dangerous levels in parts of the Dakotas, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Forecasters are also warning that New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and most of New England will experience reduced air quality as the haze from the wildfires moves east.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said many Americans will only see the smoke cause dimmer sunsets and hazy skies, but there will still be cases where it travels closer to the ground and triggers serious breathing issues.

'There will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality,' Buckingham explained.

'That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues,' he added.

The smoke is traveling east from massive forest fires in western Canadian provinces like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

The scenes playing out this week in the northern US are similar to the apocalyptic sight across the East Coast in 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned the sky orange and shrouded entire city skylines.

In the South, the effect of the Saharan dust cloud will have a similar impact on local skies, creating hazy skies and colorful sunrises and sunsets.

People in Florida will start to see these sights starting Wednesday, with millions across the Southeast and Gulf seeing the dust-filled skies by Friday.

As for the wildfire smoke in the northern half of the country, rain moving into the Upper Midwest will likely bring the smell of smoke right to people's noses, especially in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Saharan dust cloud will move into several Southeastern and Gulf states by Friday, dimming the sun and potentially affecting air quality in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas

Experts have said that most of the wildfire smoke and Saharan dust will stay in the upper atmosphere and only create a hazy sky. However, those with respiratory issues may still face an increased risk of breathing problems on low air quality days

AccuWeather explained that rainfall can bring the smell of wildfire smoke down to ground level, so people standing outside when it rains will notice the odor more.

However, the rainfall will also help to cleanse the air of the smoky particles and improve overall air quality in the region.

Throughout the rest of summer 2025, meteorologists are expecting northern states like Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to experience the worst air quality due to the ongoing Canadian wildfires.
READ MORE: The 7 most astonishing pieces of evidence that Jesus left behind

The Dead Sea Scrolls are surely among the most historically and biblically important objects known to humankind.

Found in caves near the Dead Sea nearly 100 years ago, these ancient manuscripts have transformed understanding of Jewish and Christian origins.

Penned upon the 1,000 scrolls were profound religious texts, hymns, prayers, legal codes, commentaries and more.

Until now, the scrolls have been assumed to date somewhere between the third century BC and the first century AD.

But according to a new AI analysis, some of the scrolls date back as far as the fourth century BC  nearly 2,500 years ago.

While the experts only analysed about a tenth of all the Dead Sea Scrolls, they hope AI could continue to reveal more about their history.

'Often individual manuscript dates are older than previously thought,' lead study author Professor Mladen Popovic at the University of Groningen told MailOnline.

'The strength and significance of the AI tool that we have developed is that it makes it possible to provide much more accurate date estimates.'

Discovered between 1946 and 1956, the Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient manuscripts dating back to 2,000 years ago - or more. The texts include tends of thousands of parchment and papyrus fragments and in rare cases entire manuscripts

Since their discovery, the historically and biblically hugely important Dead Sea Scrolls have transformed our understanding of Jewish and Christian origins. Pictured, one of the oldest Dead Sea Scrolls

First found in 1946 in the Qumran Caves of the Judaean Desert, near the Dead Sea, the scrolls comprise around 1,000 ancient manuscripts in thousands of fragments.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were made of parchment from processed animal hide known as vellum, but also plant matter called papyrus and sheets of metal.

The text upon them was penned in four languages  Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Nabataean (language of the ancient Arab Nabatean people).

But their religious significance is largely because the scrolls include some early Hebrew texts that would go on to form part of the Old Testament of the Bible.

Little has been known about the scribe or scribes who laboured to produce the individual scrolls  as the works were not signed.

It is sometimes possible to determine the approximate age of undated manuscripts by evaluating handwriting  but to use this method, there needs to be enough manuscripts with accurate dates to create a reliable timeline of handwriting styles.

For the study, researchers used radiocarbon dating to work out the age of historic manuscripts from various sites in modern-day Israel and the West Bank.

They then then used a previously-developed AI neural network called BiNet to study the handwriting styles of each document, right down to the ink-trace patterns.

The AI analysis of ancient handwriting provides new age estimates for Dead Sea Scrolls - and they're probably older than previously thought

Pictured, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls on display at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on March 6, 2018 in Denver, Colorado

How old are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Until now, the scrolls have been assumed to date somewhere between the third century BC and the first century AD. But according to the study, some of the scrolls date back as far as the fourth century BC - nearly 2,500 years ago. The ancient manuscripts that were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves near Khirbet Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea. Advertisement

By pairing those two datasets together, the team could create an AI program called 'Enoch' that could use the handwriting style of other manuscripts from the region to objectively determine an approximate age range  including the Dead Sea Scrolls.

To test the program, ancient handwriting experts evaluated Enoch's age estimates for 135 of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The experts determined that 79 per cent of the AI's estimates were 'realistic', while the remaining 21 per cent were determined too old, too young or indecisive.

Crucially, both the AI and radiocarbon dating methods estimated older ages for many of the Dead Sea Scrolls than did traditional handwriting analysis.

'In general, the date predictions by Enoch for individual manuscripts moves within the timeframe of late fourth century BC until second century AD,' Professor Popovic told MailOnline.

'But within that time frame more manuscripts are now older, being dated to the first half of the second century BC, the third century BC and in two cases even into the late fourth century BC.'

Professor Popovic said his team 'have not yet dated all manuscripts', so potentially more is to be learned about the overall age of the scrolls.

'There are more than 1,000 Dead Sea Scrolls so our study is a first but significant step, opening a door unto history with new possibilities for research,' he said.

The texts were mainly written on animal skins and include parts of the Hebrew Bible as well as an assortment of extra-biblical documents

The scrolls were first found in 1946 in the Qumran Caves (pictured) in the Judaean Desert, near the Dead Sea

Until now, the dating of individual manuscripts was mostly based on 'palaeography'  the study of ancient handwriting alone.

But the new study, published in the journal PLOS One, combines palaeography with AI and radiocarbon dating to get a fuller picture.

Enoch also gives researchers a powerful new tool that can refine estimates for specific manuscripts, often to an accuracy of only plus or minus 50 years.

The authors say: 'With the Enoch tool we have opened a new door into the ancient world, like a time machine, that allows us to study the hands that wrote the Bible.

'It is very exciting to set a significant step into solving the dating problem of the Dead Sea Scrolls and also creating a new tool that could be used to study other partially dated manuscript collections from history.'
Inner Mongolia: Where nature, culture and fresh flavors meet

16:28, June 04, 2025 By Shariful Islam ( People's Daily Online

Expert commentator explains the cutting-edge technology behind Yili's latest health product to visiting journalists, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 12, 2025. (Photo/Courtesy of Travelogue of China)

As a journalist from Bangladesh, my recent journey to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the first provincial-level autonomous region established in China, has been nothing short of transformative.

Arriving on May 12, I was immediately captivated by the stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and warmth of the residents of Hohhot, the capital city of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

One of the first impressions that struck me upon landing was the purity of the air. In a world still grappling with pollution and environmental challenges, the region's strides toward clean air are evident.

Walking through the streets, I found myself taking deep breaths, relishing in the freshness of the environment. The government's commitment to environmental policies is apparent, with numerous green initiatives promoting cleaner air and sustainable living. These efforts have created an atmosphere where residents and visitors alike can thrive in a healthier, more invigorating climate.

Photo shows a homestay town located north of the Ulanhada volcano scenic area, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. (Photo/Courtesy of Travelogue of China)

Replying to a question about how Inner Mongolia achieved significant environmental progress, Wu Hailong, president of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), said that the central government places great importance on improving the environment.

The government has invested heavily in environmental improvements, especially in northern China, over the past 20 years.

In collaboration with local authorities, the central government has focused on raising people's living standards.

Alongside financial support, public awareness is key to achieving overall development, added the CPDA president.

He further emphasized that public awareness is very, very important. Progress becomes much easier if people, including children, develop an ecological mindset.

"Protect the environment, protect the ecosystem. Gradually, I believe the entire ecosystem and environment will improve," he added.

Wu Hailong, president of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), addresses journalists during the closing ceremony of the Travelogue of China visit to north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 16, 2025. (Photo/Courtesy of Travelogue of China)

The beauty of Inner Mongolia is reflected not only in its air quality but also in the meticulously maintained roads adorned with vibrant flowers and greenery.

The picturesque landscapes of both urban and rural areas offer a striking contrast to the busy lives people lead.

Parks, lakes and huge grassland located in Inner Mongolia's Hohhot and Ulanqab showcase the country's dedication to maintaining serene spaces amid urban development.

These places, filled with the fragrance of blossoms and the sound of birds, provide a welcome retreat for city dwellers and visitors alike.

Visitors examine innovative health products at Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 12, 2025. (Photo/Courtesy of Travelogue of China)

Moreover, the foods in this region are truly a feast for the senses. Eating fruits and vegetables here has been a revelation; their authentic taste and flavor amazed me.

During the visit, I visited the Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley and Fresh Milk Station, where I encountered an astonishing array of around 1,000 products. The opportunity to taste a selection of these items was a highlight of my journey.

Freshly cultivated tomatoes ready for harvest at Qahar Right Wing Front Banner Plant Factory, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 15, 2025. (Photo/Courtesy of Travelogue of China)

With each bite, I felt the purity and freshness of Chinese agriculture.

The vibrant flavors of the fruits and vegetables showcase the essence of nature, offering an enjoyable and nourishing culinary experience.

My colleagues and I had the opportunity to visit the Qahar Right Wing Front Banner Plant Factory Complex. The project spans approximately 1.57 hectares and features 18 cultivation modules  17 dedicated to strawberry cultivation and one for leafy greens. We were fortunate to taste red and white strawberries, which were truly amazing  delicious and mouthwatering.

Photo shows lush strawberry plants at Qahar Right Wing Front Banner Plant Factory, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 15, 2025. (Photo/Courtesy of Travelogue of China)

The warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people have made my stay even more special. Everywhere I turn, I am greeted with smiles and kindness that transcend cultural barriers.

Conversations with locals, filled with laughter and mutual curiosity, have opened my eyes to the depth of cultural exchange and understanding. Whether it's a simple nod from a passerby or an invitation to join a family meal, the welcoming spirit of China creates an atmosphere of unity and connection.

As my journey continues, I am reminded that my experience in China is not just a visit but an enriching chapter that highlights the beauty of global cultures and the pursuit of purity  be it in air, nature, food or human connections.

Thanks to Global Times Online and the CPDA for hosting such an incredible visit as part of the "Travelogue of China" initiative.

In a world that often seems divided, my time in China has been a refreshing reaffirmation of the potential for harmony and respect between different cultures.

It is a vivid reminder that purity can exist in many forms and that travel can be a powerful avenue for understanding and celebrating our shared humanity.

The author is a journalist from United News of Bangladesh.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
Tourists have been urged to take care when ordering ice cream in Italy this summer as they could be being duped.

Italian gelato is world famous for its creamy texture with tourists often flocking to purchase iconic flavours such as pistachio and stracciatella.

But they might not be getting the real thing.

The Express reports that many tourists are actually buying a cheap copy of gelato with the cheeky scam particularly prevalent in Rome.

Foodies at TheKitchn.com explain that classic gelato is 'churned at a much slower rate, incorporating less air and leaving the gelato denser than ice cream'.

And there's also an easier way for tourists to spot inauthentic gelato.

If the ice cream colours are particularly bright, it's generally a sign that you're not buying a real gelato.

Classic gelato is usually pale in colour as makers don't use artificial food colouring during the process.

Tourists have been urged to take care when ordering ice cream in Italy this summer as they could be being duped

Classic gelato is usually pale in colour as makers don't use artificial food colouring during the process

Tourists can also check reviews on Google and Tripadvisor to find gelato cafes with particularly high ratings.

One popular spot is Vivoli, a historic ice cream shop in Florence which is home to an iconic new treat.

A 6 coffee dessert has become the latest Tuscan viral sensation, drawing crowds of tourists and creating hour-long lines outside the city's oldest gelateria.

The creamy drink, called the Gran Crema Caffe Vivoli, is a twist on the classic Italian affogato - a shot of hot espresso served in a pre-chilled cappuccino cup with four strips of smooth vanilla gelato lining the edges.
A low-cost rail operator is set to launch a new train service between London and Stirling from next spring with passengers hoping to benefit from cheaper fares.

Lumo will operate the trains from Euston, calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.

Four daily return services will run on the full route from Monday to Saturday and three on Sundays, with an extra daily return service between Euston and Preston.

The route will also provide first-ever direct services to London for three stations - Whifflet, serving Coatbridge; Greenfaulds, serving Cumbernauld; and Larbert.

Transport giant FirstGroup said the planned new route can now go ahead after it secured a deal with rolling stock company Eversholt Rail for the use of five trains.

Stirling currently only has two direct daily trains serving London - one on London North Eastern Railway (LNER) in the day and another on Caledonian Sleeper at night.

The new Lumo trains will also provide competition for Avanti West Coast which runs trains between Euston and other Scottish cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.

FirstGroup's Lumo brand currently runs only on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh, calling at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth.

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An artist's impression of a new Lumo train service running from Stirling to London Euston

This route launched in 2021 with the aim of being a challenger to LNER, offering cheaper fares and an alternative to low-cost air travel between London and Scotland.

Zoe Adjey, senior lecturer in tourism and hospitality at the University of East London, said fares on the route will 'certainly be cheaper' when Lumo starts running.

Route for Lumo trains from London to Stirling LONDON EUSTON

Milton Keynes

Nuneaton

Crewe

Preston

Carlisle

Lockerbie

Motherwell

Whifflet

Greenfaulds

Larbert

STIRLING Advertisement

As it stands, travelling from London to Stirling on the daily LNER service at 12pm - which takes five hours and 15 minutes - costs 97.50 for a super-off-peak single. Advance singles start at 34.40.

Ms Adjey told Metro: 'The service enhancement will significantly improve the passenger experience, especially compared to air travel.'

She added: 'Passengers will get city centre to city centre connectivity, eliminating lengthy airport transfers and security procedures.

'It's like choosing between Eurostar and flying when traveling to Paris or Brussels. The train offers greater convenience despite the longer journey time.'

She also said that the higher frequency of services will provide 'greater scheduling flexibility and reduced waiting times', and will help give those living in London and Scotland easier access for tourism.

The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder wrote: 'Experience on the East Coast Main Line, where Lumo competes with LNER between London and Edinburgh, suggests fares will fall and some airline passengers will switch to rail as the market expands.'

He added: 'Besides serving passengers living or working on the line of route, the new link will increase journey possibilities to and from Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness, connecting with ScotRail services at Stirling.

'The portion of the journey linking London with Crewe, Preston and Carlisle could lead to lower fares on these core Avanti West Coast routes.'

The trains will provide direct links between London and Stirling, known for its castle (pictured)

Aberdeen-based FirstGroup holds track access rights from regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for the route on the West Coast Main Line until 2030.

Trains will be operated under FirstGroup's Lumo brand, which currently runs only on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, calling at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth.

The existing daily LNER service between King's Cross and Stirling calls at York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh Waverley, Edinburgh Haymarket and Falkirk Grahamston.

The new West Coast services were initially planned to start this year, but FirstGroup said they are 'currently expected to commence mid-2026 following the delivery of the trains and staff training'.

The company said the agreement with Eversholt Rail is for five Class 222 diesel trains, each with a capacity for about 340 standard-class seats.

It expects the services will achieve annual sales of about 50million and a 'low double-digit' operating profit margin.

The trains set to be used on the route are Class 222 Meridian units which were previously operated by East Midlands Railway and are being refurbished in a 50million deal with Alstom.

The contract includes a 10million fleet modernisation programme with Eversholt Rail, which will be carried out at Alstom's facility in Widnes, Cheshire.

Four Lumo trains will run to Stirling from London Euston station (pictured)

Lumo is also awaiting regulatory approval from the ORR to further extend services to Glasgow.

The Government started the process of renationalising all remaining franchised train services last month when it brought South Western Railway into public ownership.

Lumo runs on a separate open access basis, meaning it sets its own fares, takes on all revenue risk and receives no taxpayer-funded subsidies.

In January, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to ORR chairman Declan Collier expressing concerns that the open access model can cause 'potential congestion' and result in taxpayers being 'left to fill shortfalls' in maintenance costs.

She stated it is her 'expectation' that 'the impacts on the taxpayer and on overall performance' are 'given primacy' by the regulator when it analyses proposals.

Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Lumo, added: 'Today's announcement underscores Lumo's commitment to growing Scotland's rail network, providing passengers with more affordable, fast, and convenient travel options.

'Our new service between Stirling and London has the potential to unlock significant economic opportunities for communities along the route, and we're proud to deliver this direct rail connectivity to towns previously overlooked by traditional rail services.

A Lumo train at London King's Cross, from where the operator currently runs to Edinburgh

'We are focused on further expanding our services in Scotland to ensure even greater connectivity across the country and the whole UK.'

FirstGroup chief executive Graham Sutherland said: 'The mobilisation of our new service between London and Stirling is another important step towards rolling out Lumo as a nationwide operator and growing our open access capacity, a key priority for the group.

'Our investment and capabilities in open access rail have delivered reliable, value-for-money services, grown rail demand and helped to spur economic growth and connect communities. We look forward to doing the same on our new services.'

And Sue Webber MSP, Conservative transport spokesperson, said: 'Lumo is actively investing in our capital city  not only bringing in tourists but also supporting our vibrant hospitality and events sector. And this isn't just talk: we're looking at 740million in economic benefits from Lumo by 2032.

'Crucially, this is being delivered not by government mandate, but through private sector innovation and open access investment. That's why I believe this model is one we should be championing. Lumo is not replacing existing services  it's adding capacity, increasing choice, and growing the market for everyone.'

Stirling Council leader Gerry McGarvey added: 'We have been consistent in supporting this proposal so it's fantastic news that Lumo has confirmed it will be operating this route, which will boost Stirling's already excellent rail and transport connections to cities across the UK.

'Having four daily rail journeys between Stirling and London will support greater inward investment and business growth, including in key economic sectors such as tourism, as well as increasing travel opportunities for residents.'
Airbnb describes the town as having Ibiza's 'bohemian charm' without the prices

Known for its breathtaking beaches and wild parties, Ibiza is one of Europe's leading holiday destinations.

The Spanish Balearic island welcomes more than three million tourists every year.

But its popularity has also led to protests from locals, a ban on driving and soaring prices.

There's luckily a cheaper alternative to Spain's 'White Isle' and Britons won't have to travel far to find it.

A coastal town in Montenegro is the ideal spot to enjoy Ibiza-like luxury for less, according to research by Airbnb.

A spokesman says: 'Britons are increasingly seeking vibrant fun-filled settings that offer the same bohemian charm and buzzing nightlife as Ibiza's White Isle - but without the hefty price tag.

'A picturesque coastal town with a Monaco-meets-Ibiza allure, Tivat offers luxury for less.

'The multimillion-dollar makeover that saw its pier turned into a chic marina could be causing its growth in popularity.'

According to research by Airbnb, a coastal town in Montenegro is the ideal spot to enjoy Ibiza-like luxury for less

Airbnb says: 'The multimillion-dollar makeover that saw Tivat's pier turned into a chic marina could be causing its growth in popularity'

Tivat's marina, Porto Montenegro, is a tourist hub with chic restaurants, bars and plenty of superyachts.

Once a naval base, the marina was transformed into one of Europe's glitziest destinations as part of a huge development project.

A reviewer on Tripadvisor describes the port as 'Little Monaco' while another praises its 'beautiful promenade'.

Away from the marina, tourists can explore the town's Maritime Heritage Museum to learn more about the area's coastal history.

When it comes to beaches, Plaza Ponta is one of Tivat's best-rated spots for a sunbathe.

A tourist writes on Google Reviews: 'Wonderful public beach. No umbrellas, sunbeds, music and other annoying amenities. Just the clear sea, wonderful views and outgoing people.'

And holidaymakers will also be ideally placed to explore Montenegro's other hotspots.

Tourists will find Kotor, a seaside town with a beautiful bay, just a half hour's drive away from Tivat.

A reviewer on Tripadvisor describes the port as 'Little Monaco' while another praises its 'beautiful promenade'

And a trip to Tivat won't break the bank. A local beer costs around 2.50/2.10 with a cappuccino also coming in at under 3, according to Numbeo

Perast, a gorgeous historic town that's drawn comparisons to Venice due to its architecture, is around 45 minutes away by car.

And a trip to Tivat won't break the bank. A local beer costs around 2.50/2.10 with a cappuccino also coming in at under 3, according to Numbeo.

Temperatures can soar as high as 30C in Tivat in July and August while it's generally sunny from April to October.

Both easyJet and Jet2 offer direct flights to Tivat from the UK while tourists can also fly to Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, and then take a transfer. The flight lasts around three hours.
TUI has announced that it is set to relaunch direct flights from East Midlands Airport to a leading African beach destination.

The carrier will offer flights to Sharm El Sheikh on Mondays and Thursdays from March 2026.

The direct route to Egypt from the East Midlands was last offered in 2023 but will be brought back due to 'strong customer demand'.

TUI's UK and Ireland commercial director Chris Logan, said: 'Due to strong customer demand, we are thrilled to once again connect the East Midlands with the stunning Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

'With hundreds of amazing hotels to choose from and guaranteed sunshine, Sharm El Sheikh is the perfect destination for a summer holiday.

'We have plenty of amazing all-inclusive deals with flexible flying options, and some of the best splash parks to entertain the kids.'

Sharm El Sheikh is one of Egypt's best-loved holiday destinations, famed for its expansive sandy beaches.

With 35km of Red Sea shoreline, tourists are sure to find a favourite beach along the coast.

The carrier will offer flights to Sharm El Sheikh on Mondays and Thursdays from March 2026

Sharm El Sheikh is one of Egypt's best-loved holiday destinations, famed for its expansive sandy beaches

The direct route to Egypt from the East Midlands was last offered in 2023 but will be brought back due to 'strong customer demand'

It's also one of the world's leading destinations for scuba diving with more than 250 coral reefs to explore.

Scuba divers will be in with a chance of spotting parrotfish, tuna, hammerhead sharks and dolphins.

Away from the beach, tourists can head on a Sinai desert safari by jeep, quad bike or camel to explore some of the area's unique landscapes.

It's also a haven for shopping with the Old Market the ideal place to pick up spices, perfume or clothes.

After dark, Sharm El Sheikh has a busy nightlife scene with live music, clubs and cocktail bars.

The Egyptian resort is a year-round destination with temperatures averaging 37 degrees in June and remaining at 22 degrees in January.

It's considered an affordable destination with the price of a domestic beer just 2.23 while a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs under 6 according to Numbeo.

Due to its coastal location, seafood is particularly tasty in Sharm El Sheikh but the region also has a reputation for grilled meats.

Away from the beach, tourists can head on a Sinai desert safari by jeep, quad bike or camel to explore some of the area's unique landscapes

It's also a haven for shopping with the Old Market the ideal place to pick up spices, perfume or clothes

Steve Griffiths, the managing director of East Midlands Airport, said: 'We're always pleased to be able to offer our customers a greater choice of destinations, so we're delighted that TUI is resuming flights to Sharm El Sheikh which is growing in popularity.

'Customers can expect an effortless and enjoyable start to their trip in Egypt at East Midlands Airport.'

The news comes as TUI also launched new flights from Southampton Airport to Palma in Majorca.

The first of the company's flights took off on May 27 with the service set to operate through the summer until September.
A travel expert has explained how tourists can bag a cheap long-haul flight but the hack does come with a few catches.

Chelsea Dickenson, the Cheap Holiday Expert, explained how skiplagging works on her podcast, @passportspleasepod.

She reveals: 'Skiplagging is when a passenger books a flight with a layover but intentionally gets off at the layover city instead of continuing to the final destination.

'And that is because the layover city is usually cheaper to fly to as part of a longer route.'

As an example, Chelsea explains that a passenger could fly from London to New York.

Instead of opting for a 'super expensive' direct route, travellers could find a flight that's London to Chicago with a change in New York.

Chelsea says that the passenger would then get off in New York and exit the airport, instead of waiting for the flight to Chicago.

But while the hack could be a way to score a cheaper flight, Chelsea warns that it's not always better value than booking a direct route.

Chelsea Dickenson, the Cheap Holiday Expert, explained how skiplagging works on her podcast, @passportspleasepod

Instead of opting for a 'super expensive' direct route, travellers could find a flight that's London to Chicago with a change in New York. Chelsea says that the passenger would then get off in New York and exit the airport, instead of waiting for the flight to Chicago

And there's another downside.

She adds: 'The main con is that airlines absolutely hate it cause you're wasting a seat on one of their flights.'

Airline staff may also be looking for the missing passenger when they don't board the second flight.

Chelsea says: 'It's admin to them. They hate it. And you can get blacklisted by doing it. Some people have been totally told they cannot book with airlines if they've done it repeatedly.'

Although Chelsea's tip picked up more than 265,000 likes on TikTok, a commenter issued another warning for travellers that are keen to try skiplagging.

'Nayla Kana' says: 'My first thought is, this would only work for passengers with hand luggage only. Because your luggage will be in Chicago now!'

Another commenter said the tip would surely be unlikely to work for a return journey, and Chelsea agreed, saying: 'It wouldn't [work]! If you did it on the flight out, they'd probably cancel your return flight.'
The Jackal Speaks (BBC4)

Rating:

As romantic gestures go, none could be more dramatic.

When Carlos the Jackal's girlfriend, terrorist Magdalena Kopp, was jailed, he threatened to blow up nuclear power stations until she was released.

To convince the French authorities this was no hoax, he sent a letter signed with his own fingerprint. At the time, in 1982, he was the world's most wanted man, with a rocket attack at Orly Airport in Paris among his long tally of crimes.

At first, the French refused to negotiate, even after Carlos bombed a train and a newspaper office.

But when they realised that his private terror network  funded by huge paydays from Libya's Colonel Gaddafi and other Arab dictators  really could destroy an atomic reactor, they caved in.

Kopp, a former member of the Baader-Meinhof gang, was freed. Shortly after that, she married Carlos in Lebanon.

'I could have killed 100,000 people, irradiated half the country,' he boasted, in The Jackal Speaks. It's the sort of fantastical coup that Eddie Redmayne, as an international hitman in Sky Atlantic's thriller The Day Of The Jackal, might pull off.

When Carlos the Jackal's (pictured) girlfriend, terrorist Magdalena Kopp, was jailed, he threatened to blow up nuclear power stations until she was released

To convince the French authorities this was no hoax, he sent a letter signed with his own fingerprint

This documentary, produced by an Israeli company, set out to debunk the myths around the Jackal, now 75 and a prisoner in a French jail for the past 30 years

This documentary, produced by an Israeli company, set out to debunk the myths around the Jackal, now 75 and a prisoner in a French jail for the past 30 years.

It made much of his vanity, his alcoholism and his slow slide into irrelevance as the fad for Communist revolutions died out.

But it forgot that Carlos  whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez  is still a global hero and a revered freedom fighter . . . in his own mind.

This 90-minute film was based around phone interviews taped with the assassin from his cell in solitary confinement.

Experts including Carlos's biographer Dr Daniela Richterova and his former controller in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Bassam Abu Sharif, gave their analysis of his personality: narcissistic, reckless, pleasure-loving, needy for praise and attention.

The problem is, if you allow a man like that to tell his own life story, he will talk about all the wrong bits.

Carlos isn't interested in discussing how he planned his kills: the logistics seem to bore him.

And he certainly doesn't care about the dozens of people he killed  their lives are meaningless to him.

Instead, there was a lot of boasting: 'I was the best shot, I shot better than anybody else.' And he spent a long time reminiscing about his parents and his childhood in Caracas, Venezuela.

It was half an hour before we heard about the first assassination attempt, when he walked into a house in St John's Wood, London, and shot the chairman of M&S, Joseph Sieff, in the face.

Incredibly, Sieff  who was also vice president of the British Zionist Federation, survived. The bullet was deflected by his teeth. 'Good advert for the Milk Marketing Board,' he joked. Now there's a line that belongs in a thriller.
The latest episode of MasterChef Australia has thrilled fans of the long-running cooking show.

The Back To Win series has seen previous contestants from seasons one to 16 recalled to the kitchen for a second chance at culinary glory.

Channel 10 shook up the format of the tentpole reality TV program in an obvious bid to reel back old fans of the franchise back in for a dose of nostalgia.

On Monday night, longtime viewers were left surprised at the surprise choice of celebrity guest judges.

In previous years, MasterChef Australia has seen the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Nigella Lawson, Katy Perry, King (then Prince) Charles, and even the Dalai Lama lend their star power to the judging panel.

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.

The latest episode of MasterChef Australia has thrilled fans of the long-running cooking show thanks to the surprise addition of Melbourne comedy troupe Sooshi Mango as 2025 celebrity guest judges

In a refreshing move, the all-star line up of MasterChef contestants in 2025 were served up Melbourne comedy trio Sooshi Mango instead

Brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and their friend Andrew Manfre have built a social media following of 4.3million for their hilarious skits about growing up in an Italian-Australian family and appeared on MasterChef as their famous 'Nonna' characters

But in a refreshing move, the all-star line up of MasterChef contestants in 2025 were served up Melbourne comedy trio Sooshi Mango instead.

Brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and their friend Andrew Manfre have built a social media following of 4.3million for their hilarious skits about growing up in an Italian-Australian family.

The comedy troupe has gone from strength-to-strength, launching a successful podcast, selling out live comedy tours around Australia, and using their 'gimmick' to charm Melbourne with a traditional Italian restaurant of their own, which they opened in 2023.

Sooshi Mango appeared on MasterChef on Monday night as their 'Nonna' alter egos, to the surprise and delight of viewers at home.

Fans said the Nonnas made 'the best episode so far' and were 'hilarious'.

Sooshi Mango introduced 'Viral Week', where contestants were each delivered a 'Mystery Box' and challenged to put their own spin on a traditional Italian dish.

The nonnas did not hold back.

'Bring the world together. Sometimes the worlds collide and it blow up. I love my Greek brothers and sisters. And I love Ravioli. But together? No way!' one contestant was told.

Sooshi Mango spent some time educating the contestants to 'open their mouths' to correctly pronounce Osso Buco

The nonnas did not hold back in their hearty praise - and criticism - of the contestants' Italian-inspired dishes

'It's called Tiramisu. I think this one's called Tira-mi-stupid,' came another harsh dessert assessment.

'I'm very proud of you because you're Skippy and you make a cannoli like that.'

"Skippy" is a slang term of endearment often used by immigrants to describe Australians of Anglo-descent.

There was plenty of praise for the skit, with many viewers saying they thoroughly enjoyed the lighthearted judging.

'We as an Italian family sat down to watch this episode. We laughed so much as it reminds us of our mother/nonna. Thank you Masterchef for having them on,' one fan said.

'Loved this so much, laughed all the way through,' another added, calling it their 'favourite episode of all time.'
Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda Owen admitted 'things aren't going to plan' after a farm was 'wrecked' and an exasperated star of her son Reuben's show 'reached for his P45 to quit'.

The second series of Reuben's show Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales, about his attempt to grow a machinery business with friends, is currently airing on Channel 5.

It is a spin-off from Our Yorkshire Farm, the beloved reality show that introduced us to the Owen family and followed their life on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales from 2018 to 2022.

And it comes hot on the heels of Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, after parents Amanda and Clive split in 2022, and subsequently attempt to renovate a nearby farmhouse while co-parenting their nine children.

However their second eldest child, 21-year-old Reuben, hit a major roadblock on last night's episode of his own programme.

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The second series of Reuben's show Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales, about his attempt to grow a machinery business with friends, is currently airing on Channel 5

It is a spin-off from Our Yorkshire Farm, the beloved reality show that introduced us to the Owen family and followed their life on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales from 2018 to 2022

But their second eldest child, 21-year-old Reuben, hit a major roadblock on last night's episode of his own programme (pictured)

The instalment followed Reuben and his gang as they filled in some potholes on a private road to Amanda and Clive's Ravenseat Farm in the Swaledale valley of Yorkshire.

Reuben said: 'It's quite nice to be doing jobs for your family. You tend to put your own jobs off and I have been putting this job off for ages.

'But mum has finally given me enough stick that today, we are going to tackle it.'

The crew started the work, using Reuben's brand-new, 26-tonne loading shovel, which his farmhand pal Capper took for a spin on some grassy ground.

But trouble soon started when Capper got the equipment stuck in the mud.

'It's just bad, isn't it?', Reuben said, as his friend explained how the error happened: 'I do apologise Reuben. So, yeah, I parked it there [on the grass], thinking [the ground] was hard.

'It looked hard. But then it sunk and got more stuck and more stuck and more stuck. I'm just going to fill in my P45 now, while I'm on it. Today is not my day.'

As Capper anxiously rubbed his face, the gang tried to come up with ideas as to how to resolve it.

The instalment followed Reuben and his gang as they filled in some potholes on a private road to Amanda and Clive's Ravenseat Farm in the Swaledale valley of Yorkshire

Reuben said sharply: 'What did I say before you parked it there?'

His friend replied: 'Not on the grass. I'm a k***head. Employee of the month it is. I don't know whether to laugh or cry or both.'

As his crew looked on in apprehension, Reuben tried to get the machinery unstuck - but to no avail.

To make matters worse, Amanda soon arrived, with her other two sons Miles and Sid - so there was no concealing the stuck machine and churned-up ground.

'Does this alter the timeframe for me getting my road mended?', she joked.

She continued: 'Well, I've just come down to see how Reuben is coming on with mending my road but he seems to have not mended the road and he also seems to be wrecking the field.

'And even better, it's not my field, it's my next door neighbour's, so it looks like things aren't going to plan and actually looks like a bit of a disaster at the moment.

'Look at Reuben's little face - even he is completely stumped as to what to do.'

Trouble soon started when Capper got some brand-new equipment stuck in the mud

His co-worker Sonny agreed: 'I've never seen Reuben so disappointed. He's a bit upset but we'll get it out.'

Leaping into action, Reuben soon came up with a plan to resolve the issue - while Capper headed down to talk to the neighbours.

Soon able to make jokes about it, Reuben laughed: 'You know when you just feel like you shouldn't have got out of bed this morning?'

Amanda replied: 'I'll tell you something - your dad's going to kill you.'

But things started looking up when Reuben decided to use a two-tonne, 60-year-old tractor, known as the Major, to dislodge the machinery.

Though the strain on the tractor was visible, the shovel soon started to come unstuck.

Pleasantly surprised, Amanda said: 'I'm impressed. I didn't think it'd do that.

'I'm proud of them. And to be quite honest with you, Reuben does seem to enjoy a bit of a challenge.

To make matters worse, Amanda soon arrived, with her other two sons Miles and Sid - so there was no concealing the stuck machine and churned-up ground

'He likes problem solving and anything that involves him getting the old tractor out and making bad things go good.'

She finished: 'I'm not thrilled about it and it looks like I'm going to have to wait a little bit longer to get my road mended but good old Reuben.'

And later in the episode, Reuben, Capper and Sonny brought things back from the brink, enlisting Sid, Miles and Reuben's dad Clive to finally get the tarmac down.

It comes after Reuben faced controversy last month over a 'disgusting and disturbing' video of him shared online by his mother Amanda.

Earlier this month, the 50-year-old shepherdess took to Instagram to share a clip of Reuben, 21, helping her out on the farm.

In the clip, mum-of-nine Amanda can be heard saying: 'Well, this is what you've been getting up to in lambing fields,' while Reuben is laying across an ewe and lamb.

He then picks up the ewe by the horns and she tells her son: 'You did great there! And you got the lamb at the same time.'

Amanda captioned the post: 'Caught ewe. Reuben downs tools and springs into action.

Earlier this month, the 50-year-old shepherdess took to Instagram to share a clip (pictured) of Reuben, 21, helping her out on the farm

In the clip, mum-of-nine Amanda can be heard saying: 'Well, this is what you've been getting up to in lambing fields,' while Reuben is laying across an ewe and lamb'

'*Everyone lends a hand, there is no one exempt from lambing time tasks*.'

But many fans were confused by the post and did not like seeing Reuben handle the ewe as they did not know what he was actually doing.

Some took to leaving comments including, 'Why are you treating the ewe like that? Absolutely disgusting and Im disappointed as I thought you were better than that.'

Or, 'I didn't like how you held the sheep! Absolutely disturbing! Animals are treated with respect and not like trash!'

In an interview with The Telegraph, Reuben responded to the online furore and said: 'I don't have the time or the inclination to scroll through social media.'

The young farmer added: 'If you do ever see me on my phone, Ill be searching for machinery sales.'

Some did jump to the 21-year-old's defence however and penned: 'Please ignore comments from any animal activist if we all listened to them nothing would ever get done and wed all be starving by now . Carry on farming.'

Another said: 'Kindness is a gift, if you cannot say anything nice please say nothing at all.'

Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales is available to watch on Channel 5.
Lorraine viewers were seriously distracted by EastEnders star Shona McGarty's appearance as she promoted her new show on the sofa this morning.

Today's episode of the ITV chat show saw the actress, 33 - best known as Whitney Dean on the BBC soap - discuss her latest gig with presenter Ranvir Singh.

After playing the character for 16 years, before her departure from Walford in 2024, she is now set to star in Bettie Page Queen of Pin-Ups: The Musical.

The new show will see Shona play the iconic American pin-up girl for one night only at London's Lyric Theatre on June 9.

But Lorraine viewers today were more focussed on Shona's appearance - taking to X to say that with her fringe and bobbed hair, she looked uncannily like Lorraine Kelly.

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Lorraine viewers were seriously distracted by EastEnders star Shona McGarty's appearance (pictured) as she promoted her new show on the sofa this morning

Viewers said the actress, 33, looked uncannily similar to Lorraine Kelly, 65, the presenter of the self-titled chat show (pictured)

Today's episode of the ITV chat show saw Shona - best known as Whitney Dean on the BBC soap - discuss her latest gig with presenter Ranvir Singh

One fan said, comparing Shona to the Scottish host, 65, of the self-titled chat show: 'Lorraine is looking a bit younger from her days off.'

Another user responded: 'Great minds.'

They also made their own separate post on the social media platform: 'Shona's morphed into Lorraine.'

Someone else said they agreed wholeheartedly: 'I couldn't think who she reminded me of but yes that's it!'

At one point in the programme, Ranvir asked Shona if she found it hard to escape being associated with Whitney, having played her continuously since she was a teenager.

Shona responded: 'Yeah, I mean, I've got a fringe now so I think people sort of go, "Is it...?"

'Or you know, I've had quite a few elderly ladies come up to me and they think I'm their hairdresser or they don't quite know why they know.'

Ranvir agreed: 'They know you from somewhere, so familiar!'

After playing the character for 16 years, before her departure from Walford in 2024, she is now set to star in Bettie Page Queen of Pin-Ups: The Musical

One fan said: 'Lorraine is looking a bit younger from her days off'. Pictured: Lorraine presenting GMTV in 1993

Lorraine viewers today were more focussed on Shona's appearance - taking to X to say that with her fringe and bobbed hair, she looked uncannily like Lorraine Kelly

At one point in the programme, Ranvir asked Shona if she found it hard to escape being associated with Whitney (pictured), having played her continuously since she was a teenager

Laughing, Shona continued: 'And I haven't got the heart to say, "No, it's EastEnders", so I say, "Yeah, book another appointment in and I'll give you a quick snip off the ends".

'But yeah, I think the Whitney thing is still there, which is nice, I mean, I was in it for a long time.'

Elsewhere in the interview, the soap actress brought up advice her EastEnders co-stars had given her over the years about both her career and life in general.

She said the late June Brown - who passed away in 2022 aged 95, after playing Dot Cotton on the soap for 35 years - gave her a very cheeky tidbit of advice years ago: 'I'm never quite sure what she meant.

'I said: "What's your secret to getting to 93?". And she said: "A handful of nuts a day." I don't know what she meant...'

Ranvir laughed, 'She might have been...', with Shona finishing her sentence, chuckling: 'Being cheeky.'

The presenter continued: 'A double entendre there.'

Shona agreed, amused: 'Absolutely. I'll have a few almonds every now and then.'

The actress reminded viewers of Lorraine just after the chat show presenter disappeared from screens again on Monday, ditching her ITV programme this week

She took to Instagram on Sunday (pictured) to share an exciting new project she is working on - meaning she would not be presenting her daily self-named programme for a week

The actress reminded viewers of Lorraine just after the chat show presenter disappeared from screens again on Monday, ditching her ITV programme this week.

She took to Instagram on Sunday to share an exciting new project she is working on - meaning she would not be presenting her daily self-named programme for a week.

Lorraine said: 'Hi there! I'm in the land of the midnight sun. It's absolutely glorious.

'It's a project that I have wanted to do for years and years and finally it is actually happening.

'I'm heading really, really far North. It is going to be amazing and I will tell you all about it when I am back.

'I'm back a week tomorrow (Monday) and I will see you then. Wish me luck.'

But some couldn't contain themselves in the comments section, with one asking the telly star: 'So more time off work then Lorraine!?'

'Any excuse to not work.'

Lorraine is available to watch on weekdays at 9am on ITV1 and to stream on ITVX.
A young woman has spoken out about her stepmother's violent killing of her father - which saw her wake up to her childhood home full of police and covered in blood.

Sarah Corbett Lynch, 18, appeared on This Morning today, sitting down with presenters Ben Shepherd, 50, and Cat Deeley, 48, to tell all about her experience.

It came after a documentary about her ordeal, titled A Deadly American Marriage, was released on Netflix last month, which she features in.

She has also written a memoir, called A Time For Truth, about her experience, which came out earlier this year.

Her appearance on the ITV chat show saw her recall the night of her father Jason Corbett's death in August 2015, at the hands of his wife Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens.

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Sarah Corbett Lynch (pictured), 18, appeared on This Morning today, sitting down with presenters Ben Shepherd, 50, and Cat Deeley, 48, to tell all about her experience

Her appearance on the ITV chat show saw her recall the night of her father Jason Corbett's death in August 2015, at the hands of his wife Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens

It came after a documentary about her ordeal, titled A Deadly American Marriage, was released on Netflix last month, which she features in

Sarah explained to Ben and Cat: 'I remember everything from that night.'

She recalled being woken up by a kind police officer, who gave her two options: 'I could walk down the stairs backwards with my eyes closed or he could carry me down the stairs with my eyes closed.'

The house was full with the sound of police officers - which fell suddenly silent when they reached the bottom of the stairs: 'There were dozens of people inside the house...

'As he carried me down the stairs, he covered my face with his hand and put my head in the nape of his neck.'

He was shielding her from the grisly, violent scene that lay below - Jason, then 39, had been beaten to death by Molly and her former FBI agent father.

Sarah said: 'I'm extremely lucky for the fact that he did that and I couldn't have asked for a better officer to have been there with me.'

Originally from Ireland, Sarah was born to businessman Jason and his first wife Margaret Fitzpatrick, known as Mags - who sadly died when Sarah was just twelve weeks old.

The widower, then 32, hired American 24-year-old Molly as a live-in nanny two years later to take care of Sarah and her older brother Jack, then aged one and three.

Sarah explained to Ben and Cat: 'I remember everything from that night'

Jason and Molly (pictured, in an old picture shown in the Netflix documentary) soon fell in love, marrying in 2011, with the whole family relocating from Limerick, Ireland, to North Carolina in the US when Sarah was just four

Jason and Molly soon fell in love, marrying in 2011, with the whole family relocating from Limerick, Ireland, to North Carolina in the US when Sarah was just four.

Sarah said the move was 'really exciting at the beginning... The weather was great, the houses were huge and I remember running around my new bedroom, really excited.

'And Molly and my dad hand in hand picking out furniture and pointing where they were going to put it, so at the beginning, it was like a new beginning.

'She cooked us dinner, my dad would take us to school and she'd collect us.'

But things soon turned sour: 'Most of my memories looking back on it now, it probably wasn't a healthy relationship.

'Molly was very manipulative and would pit me and Jack against each other.'

She explained: 'If Jack did good at a swim meet, he was the favourite child and she would give him all of the glory and then I would be "the little shrimp", as she used to call me, when I didn't do well in swimming.'

Sarah added: 'Molly started telling me that my dad killed my birth mum when I was six years old. She told me my dad was a bad man.

She said: 'Most of my memories looking back on it now, it probably wasn't a healthy relationship'

She continued: 'Molly also taught me that vomiting was OK to keep myself skinny for swimming when I was six and that shoplifting was OK'. Pictured: Sarah in the Netflix documentary

'Molly also taught me that vomiting was OK to keep myself skinny for swimming when I was six and that shoplifting was OK.'

The atmosphere at home 'was always tense', with Sarah always feeling 'a ball of anxiety': 'But it was our normal.'

She emphasised: 'My dad was always extremely loving to me and Jack and he did try his best with Molly, bringing her flowers home.

'It was really difficult to keep Molly happy and if you didn't, you knew about it.'

Following their father's death, Sarah and Jack were soon called in for interviews.

But Molly told them beforehand: 'We had to say dad was a bad man and he hit her and if we didn't say those things, we would be separated and we'd never see each other again.

'So, we were really scared and we lied - I told social workers that Molly told me my dad hit her and Molly told me my dad was a bad man.'

The siblings recanted those statements just weeks later - but they were nevertheless brought up in court, which saw Molly and her father Tom have their charges dropped from second-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter.

Following their father's death, Sarah and Jack were soon called in for interviews. Pictured: An old picture of Sarah and Jack with their father Jason in the Netflix documentary

They were both released from prison in June 2024.

Molly, now 41, and Thomas, 75, still say they killed in self-defence, amid a pattern of abusive, threatening behaviour from Jason towards Molly.

Sarah said: 'We have to live with the fact that words we said are part of the reason why the Martens are walking free today.'

And her memoir was a chance to tell the truth: 'We didn't have a voice. I wasn't allowed to give evidence. I wasn't allowed to be a character witness.

'I was under a gag order so I couldn't even talk to my friends or family or media.

'And it was extremely difficult because you can't defame the dead so the Martens could say anything about my dad.'

It was difficult to hear this 'completely fabricated narrative about my dad's personality': 'That really shows the character of the people that the Martens are.'

After their father's death, Sarah and Jack moved back to Ireland to live with their aunt and uncle Tracey and David, who she now calls her parents.

Molly, now 41, and Thomas, 75, still say they killed in self-defence, amid a pattern of abusive, threatening behaviour from Jason towards Molly. Pictured: An old picture of Sarah, Jack, Jason and Molly in the Netflix documentary

Sarah described it as 'the best thing that happened to me... I was put into a safe family environment and I was extremely lucky.

'Tracey and David took us in like we were their own kids. They have never treated us differently. They have two of their own sons who I now call my brothers.

'And another thing was they never said a bad thing about the Martens.'

It was to the extent that several years ago, Sarah said: 'I was begging Tracey to say something negative about Molly and she said, "I don't like that woman, she killed my brother", and that was it.'

Molly and Thomas's initial convictions, for second-degree murder, in 2017 - for which they were sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison - were overturned in 2020, over errors in and omission of evidence.

The Martens reached a plea deal in October 2023 to drop the second-degree murder charges, with Molly pleading no contest and Thomas guilty to voluntary manslaughter - getting a minimum of 51 months in prison and credit for time served.

Sarah and Jack had had no contact with them up to this point - 'other than Molly trying to fly planes over our school and going on social media, trying to contact friends of mine I sat next to in school'.

But it was then Sarah was finally able to contribute to the evidence process, reading out a victim impact statement.

Sarah finished: 'People who are going through similar, really difficult situations, know that: you will be able to find the light at the end of the tunnel and have a normal life'

She said: 'I wasn't afraid of them anymore. They had taken up so much space in my life and I didn't want to give them the power over me anymore.

'I've cried a lot less since writing the book because I took all of my childhood trauma and everything bad that happened to me and put it into it.'

She finished: 'People who are going through similar, really difficult situations, know that: you will be able to find the light at the end of the tunnel and have a normal life.

'Everybody has good and bad days, whether they've been through traumatic experiences or not.'

This Morning is available to watch on weekdays on ITV1 from 10am and to stream on ITVX.
An Antiques Roadshow expert sent a guest away after spotting a 'crucial' detail missing from their diamond bracelet, which was linked to a Hollywood star.

A resurfaced episode of the BBC show, which sees specialist appraisers value heirlooms and heritage items, went to the Baddesley Clinton manor in Warwickshire.

Expert Geoffrey Munn was asked to assess a stunning diamond bracelet, said to have once belonged to iconic Hollywood actress Rita Hayworth.

He admired the beautiful jewellery: 'Diamonds sparkling in the sunshine here. This is almost Hollywood sunshine, isn't it?'

The owner replied, revealing the item's Tinseltown origins: 'It is indeed and that is exactly where this was bought.'

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An Antiques Roadshow expert sent a guest away after spotting a 'crucial' detail missing from their diamond bracelet, which was linked to a Hollywood star

Expert Geoffrey Munn was asked to assess a stunning diamond bracelet, said to have once belonged to iconic Hollywood actress Rita Hayworth

He admired the beautiful jewellery: 'Diamonds sparkling in the sunshine here. This is almost Hollywood sunshine, isn't it?'

She purchased the bracelet from an antique and jewellery store on Hollywood.

The woman was introduced to the owner and they soon developed a close friendship, which lasted 24 years until the shopkeeper passed away.

She added: 'It's always nice to have a jeweller as a friend.

'And I had inheritance so I thought I would put it into something tangible and also pretty and also probably a better investment than the bank.'

With this origin story about diamonds and best friends, Geoffrey could not resist a couple of obvious jokes: 'Your best friend, a girl's best friend, all these cliches are tumbling out onto the table!'

The owner said she bought the bracelet for $23,000, which is around 13,500 - but it was her mention of its previous owner that got Geoffrey really excited.

'But in fact it had belonged to Rita Hayworth', she said, to which the expert responded enthusiastically: 'Oh, how marvelous! That's very good to know.'

The jewellery was a gift to the actress and pin-up girl, who was one of the top stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, best known for her turn in 1946 noir film Gilda.

The owner said she bought the bracelet for $23,000, which is around 13,500 - but it was her mention of its previous owner that got Geoffrey really excited

It was given to her by her third husband of a total five - Aly Khan (right, with Rita, leaving the Ritz Hotel in London for Ascot in 1949), whose father was the former President of the Assembly of the League of Nations

It was given to her by her third husband of a total five - Aly Khan, whose father was the former President of the Assembly of the League of Nations.

The current owner of the bracelet, which she described as '1940s, American, fabulous Hollywood glitz', was clearly a big fan of Rita: 'She was an amazing star and a real Hollywood A-lister.

'She acted with absolutely everybody in Hollywood at the time - Glenn Ford, Frank Sinatra, Orson Welles.'

Geoffrey agreed, pointing to her many fans: 'She was much adored and much loved.'

But the owner, despite her best efforts, had not been able to find a picture of Rita wearing the bracelet so far.

The specialist recommended she go away and keep trying to find such an image: 'Well, I will send you home to look for those photographs and maybe even her will would be interesting too, wouldn't it?

'And you've got to go in for a bit of open cast archaeology here because the provenance of these pieces have to be crucial in every sense of the word.'

'Because they're heirlooms, they're talismans and when you can associate them with somebody famous, someone utterly glamorous in lifestyle and in looks, then this adds hugely to your investment in some regard.'

Geoffrey said: 'Maybe if you go home and do your Rita Hayworth thing, find a photograph of her wearing it under the most spectacular circumstances with somebody famous, well, then 80,000'

The owner was absolutely delighted by this estimate: 'That's good! That was really quite a buy!'

His recommendation informed his eventual estimate of how much the jewellery would go under the hammer for.

Geoffrey said: 'Maybe if you go home and do your Rita Hayworth thing, find a photograph of her wearing it under the most spectacular circumstances with somebody famous, well, then 80,000.'

The owner was absolutely delighted by this estimate: 'That's good! That was really quite a buy!'

But the expert was quick to add: 'But if we can't find that and never do, then it's not so much fun. It might only be a mere 45,000.'

The woman was not at all put off by that: 'It's still good! It's still lovely! I'm delighted!'

It comes after guests on another more recent episode of Antiques Roadshow were stunned into silence after learning the eye-watering value of a watch purchased for just 21.

Sunday's instalment of the popular BBC show saw expert Ben Wright presented with a pair of Rolex watches.

One of them, the watch that cost only 21 originally, belonged to the guest's great-great-grandfather and was identified as the Rolex Prince.

It comes after guests on another more recent episode of Antiques Roadshow (pictured) were stunned into silence after learning the eye-watering value of a watch purchased for just 21

Sunday's instalment of the popular BBC show saw expert Ben Wright (pictured) presented with a pair of Rolex watches

One of them, the watch that cost only 21 originally, belonged to the guest's great-great-grandfather and was identified as the Rolex Prince (pictured)

The other, more recent one, meanwhile, was his father's, who had accompanied the guest to appear on the programme.

Of the older watch, Ben said, also looking at the paperwork accompanying it: 'I notice there's a little bit of wear and tear on the dial and we've got a later winder on the case.'

Ben then went on to comment on the Rolex Submariner, which belongs to the father.

'I was a merchant navy cadet in 1976 and I saved up my pittance to buy that in Singapore. It was 250 I think,' he revealed.

The specialist then revealed his valuation: 'At auction the Rolex Prince is going to be between 3,000 and 4,000.

'The Submariner, it's in great condition, all in all, the full ensemble at auction easily 8,000 to 12,000.'

The father and son duo smiled and nodded silently at the whopping values, utterly stunned, before thanking Ben.

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and to stream on iPlayer.
Despite the show being jam packed with drama, the talk of the town is always what Maya Jama wears when she hosts Love Island.

But usually this year the fan-favourite presenter will be renting all of her outfits in a bid to be greener and more sustainable.

Speaking to the Mail ahead of presenting the show on Monday, she said: 'I rent, I don't buy my Island clothes. Today I'm wearing Versace vintage. All my outfits are going to be from the 90s.'

Maya, 30, has just landed in Mallorca ahead of the new season of Love Island, which begins on June 9.

She landed earlier this week by private jet after having just come off a very lavish holiday with her boyfriend Ruben Dias, 27.

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Despite the show being jam packed with drama, the talk of the town is always what Maya Jama wears when she hosts Love Island

But usually this year the fan-favourite presenter will be renting all of her outfits in a bid to be greener and more sustainable

Herself and the Manchester City star are thought to have been dating for several months and has been keeping fans updated with the duo's lavish holiday via her Instagram, which included her soaking up the sun on the deck of a lavish yacht.

She shared her first ever snap with Ruben as she gave an insight into their romantic trip.

The couple are believed to have met after she caught the Portuguese player's eye when they met at the European Music Awards (EMAs) in November.

Their romance was finally confirmed after they were seen packing on the PDA at KSI's Baller League event in April.

As well as being the Love Island presenter, Maya is also a budding actress and has recently been confirmed for a role in the second series of Guy Ritchie's gangster drama The Gentlemen.

Speaking to the Mail, she said she fears this Love Island series will be her most hectic season yet as she travels between Spain and the UK to film.

'I'm back and forth for the whole series,' she said.

She confirmed her role in the hit series last week where she said on her Instagram: 'Told you I've been on some side quests'.

As well as being the Love Island presenter, Maya is also a budding actress and has recently been confirmed for a role in the second series of Guy Ritchie's gangster drama The Gentlemen

Maya, 30, has just landed in Mallorca ahead of the new season of Love Island, which begins on June 9, after a romantic trip away with her boyfriend Ruben Dias

She landed earlier this week by private jet after having just come off a very lavish holiday with her boyfriend Ruben, 27

'Gassed is an understatement.

'Only gone and got a little role in one of my favourite series.

'To work alongside such amazing & accomplished actors who I admire, incredible production and with a legendary director Guy Ritchie is honestly a dream come true.

'So so grateful for the opportunity & I cant wait for you all to meet my character, she's a G'.

Production is currently underway in the UK on hit show, which stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario as the masterminds behind a drug empire.
When Sutton Foster stepped out at a Broadway awards show on Sunday her new boyfriend, Hugh Jackman, was perhaps wisely absent.

After all, it was the first time the actress had been seen since Deborra-Lee Furness issued a scathing public statement in which she took aim at Jackman and, by implication, his new squeeze.

Just four days earlier Jackman's soon-to-be ex-wife, Furness, 69, told the Daily Mail, 'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal, it's a profound wound that cuts deep.'

Her words marked an abrupt departure from the cordial tone which has so far characterized the end of her 27-year marriage.

In fact, one source told the Daily Mail, Jackman, 56, was 'extremely disappointed' by Furness's public comments, calling it a breach of their 'unwritten understanding' not to speak negatively about one another.

But now a top divorce lawyer tells the Daily Mail that the sudden outbreak in hostilities, in what was long- billed as an amicable divorce, is no surprise.

When Sutton Foster stepped out at a Broadway awards show on Sunday (pictured), her new boyfriend, Hugh Jackman , was perhaps wisely absent.

Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, told the Daily Mail, 'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal, it's a profound wound that cuts deep.' (Pictured: Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness at the Met Gala in 2023).

'I represent celebrities, athletes and high-net worth people, and just like everyone else, they're all equally terrible at relationships and keeping their s**t together while they're getting divorced,' said James Sexton.

It's even more difficult when there's another woman involved.

Sources told the Mail previously that Jackman and Furness's marriage started to fall apart during Covid, around the same time that Jackman struck up a friendship with Foster, 50.

Dating rumors dogged Jackman and Foster for months, but they finally confirmed their relationship in January of this year, three months after Foster's October 2024, filing for divorce from her screenwriter husband Ted Griffin.

'While he didn't physically cheat on her with Sutton, Deborra-Lee believes they were having an emotional affair and she feels he betrayed her,' a source told the Daily Mail in March.

Sexton has no doubt that this added to the strain on divorce proceedings. He told the Daily Mail that one party starting a new relationship before a settlement has been inked always spells trouble.

He said, 'I always tell my clients, it's like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Anytime I hear that someone is dating a new person, and it's become public, I know it's going to exacerbate the conflict between people - unless both people are in new relationships.'

It doesn't help, Sexton pointed out, when unwelcome information emerges during divorce proceedings. For example, lawyers always conduct a forensic audit of each partner's finances, a process that can see uncomfortable truths surface.

Sources told the Mail previously that Jackman and Furness's marriage started to fall apart during Covid, around the same time that Jackman struck up a friendship with Foster, 50. (Pictured: Jackman and Foster in 2022).

'While he didn't physically cheat on her with Sutton, Deborra-Lee believes they were having an emotional affair and she feels he betrayed her,' a source told the Daily Mail in March. (Pictured: Foster and Jackman in May 2025).

He said, 'What happens in divorces is there's a mandatory exchange of certain financial information. So sometimes in that process, you look at it and you go, 'What was this charge? When were you staying at that hotel? We used to go to that restaurant. When did you go?

'That's a romantic restaurant.' Sometimes people even see airfares. They're like, 'Why were you in Paris for the weekend? I thought you were away shooting on this set.' And so sometimes that will blow up otherwise amicable situations.'

The truth is that no-one is immune from the onset of disdain and resentment that all too often accompanies the march to divorce.

Sexton said, 'This is a breakup at the end of the day. It's a financial autopsy of a couple, but it's also just a breakup. And when people break up, things happen, feelings get hurt.'

And in Jackman and Furness's case, it was made even more complicated by the fact they reportedly didn't have a prenup.

While their finances may not have been much to look at when they met, in the years of marriage since, Jackman has amassed an eye-watering fortune - estimated to be around $380 million - thanks in large part to his turn as Wolverine in Marvel's blockbuster comic book franchise.

Earlier this year, a source told the Daily Mail that Furness and Jackman had been contemplating initiating divorce proceedings for a while, but had stalled because, without a prenup they were 'struggling to reach an agreement on how to divide their assets.'

Sexton says without a prenup, the legal battle is likely to be far more protracted and bitter. 'Prenups make divorces very, very clean and very easy to deal with,' he said, 'it defines very clearly what's marital property and what isn't, and it lays out mechanisms on how they'll be divided.'

Without one, relations can quickly sour.

In Jackman and Furness's case, their breakup was made even more complicated by the fact they reportedly didn't have a prenup. (Pictured: Jackman and Furness on their wedding day in 1996).

Sexton said, 'No one has ever come into my office for a consultation and said to me, 'I'd like this to be expensive, protracted, terrible, emotional and vicious, and I would like this to scar me for the rest of my life, emotionally and financially.''

'Everyone comes in and says the same thing, 'I want to be fair.''

'The problem is, their spouse is in a different lawyer's office also saying, 'I want to be fair.' And their definitions of fair are completely different. That's where the challenge really is.'

And that's where the rot sets in.

He added, 'These are two people who previously had a tremendous amount of intimacy between them. It's sort of weaponized.'

Despite it all, sources told the Daily Mail last week that, after two years of bitter back and forth since they announced their separation in 2023, Jackman and Furness have finally reached a settlement - and that all that is left now is for a judge to sign on the dotted line.

If Sexton has one piece of advice for Furness and Jackman, it's to avoid any further mudslinging and unpleasantness.

He said, 'Using the divorce process to get revenge for cheating or for lying is like reaching into a pile of hot coals to throw them at your spouse: You may or may not hit them, but you're going to burn yourself.'
Hugh Jackman's new lover Sutton Foster attempted to befriend his wife in the run up to their shock divorce by going on double dates with the couple.

Deborra-Lee Furness suspected that Foster was having an emotional affair with her husband and was left 'disturbed' by her attempts to befriend her, the Daily Mail can reveal.

But the Australian actress is taking comfort that the pair's actions, will 'all come back around to them', according to an insider.

Furness, 69, and Jackman, 56, announced their split in a statement in September 2023, telling fans that they were 'shifting' and as a result had decided to 'separate to pursue our individual growth'.

Rumors soon followed of a romance between Jackman and Foster, with the Music Man co-stars later confirming they were an item in January, with what fans deemed a staged picture of them leaving a Los Angeles restaurant hand-in-hand.

Furness is said to be livid at Foster for trying to get close to her, and believes she should take accountability for the break down of her marriage to the Wolverine star, with whom she has adopted children Oscar, 25, and daughter Ava, 19.

Deborra-Lee Furness was left 'disturbed' by Sutton Foster's attempts to befriend her in the months leading up to her shock split from Hugh Jackman (pictured together in 2023)

Rumors of a romance between Jackman and his Music Man costar Sutton Foster, 50, followed shortly after their split

Furness is said to be livid at Foster for trying to befriend her and believes she should take accountability for the break down of her marriage to the Wolverine star

'The fact that Sutton used to go on double dates and tried so hard to befriend Deb is extremely disturbing to her,' an insider exclusively told the Daily Mail.

'She will never have anything to do with Sutton.

'Deb is friends with Sutton's ex and they both share a deep sense of betrayal.'

Foster was married to screenwriter Ted Griffin from 2014 until 2024. They are parents to adopted daughter Emily, seven.

Furness 'cannot forgive' Foster, who starred in Younger and Bunheads, because she feels she 'played a role in the breakdown of her marriage' and believes the Broadway star 'should take accountability for this.'

'Deb released her statement and is now focusing on moving forward with her life,' our insider said. 'She has done the work that she needs to not allow this to hold her back from living or falling in love again. Deb knows that one day this will all come back around to the both of them.

Furness previously opened up about her feelings of 'betrayal' in a blistering statement to Daily Mail, which read: 'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal.

'It's a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.'

Furness 'cannot forgive' Foster because she feels she 'played a role in the breakdown of her marriage' and believes the Broadway star 'should take accountability for this' . Pictured: Jackman and Foster in New York in May

Furness, 69, and Jackman, 56, announced the end of their 27-year marriage in a shock statement in September 2023, telling fans that they were 'shifting'

Jackman has yet to release his own statement on the split, but a source previously told Daily Mail he had been left 'extremely disappointed' by the her words, as he believed they had an 'understanding' they would not publicly trash one another.

Foster has also remained silent, and desperately avoided questions about her love life as she flew solo at the annual Drama Desk Awards in New York on Sunday night.

But that didn't stop actor Michael Urie, who played Foster's on-stage lover in Broadway production Once Upon a Mattress, from lifting the lid on the new relationship.

'I mean, she's my colleague and my friend, and I love her and I know that she's a really great person and she surrounds herself with really good people, like, all the time,' 44-year-old Urie said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.

Directly addressing Foster's romance with Jackman, he added: 'I believe in her and I believe that she's happy.'

But their happy union could be tested as rumors abound that Furness is preparing to drop a tell-all book about her relationship with Jackman.

Last week the Daily Mail revealed the actress 'has been flooded with very tempting book offers' and offered 'huge amounts' to blow the lid off their marriage and spill intimate details about their time together, including weathering persistent rumors about his sexuality.

The Daily Mail has approached Furness, Jackman and Sutton's representatives for comment.
Doting parents Michelle Keegan and her husband Mark Wright were spotted out with their newborn daughter Palma while holidaying in Marbella on Monday.

The actress, who turned 38 that day, enjoyed a celebratory dinner with her partner, also 38, in the Spanish city.

Michelle was cradling her little girl, three months, in her arms as they strolled along together - looking every inch the picture perfect family.

The couple welcomed their first child together on March 6 and then announced the news on their respective Instagram pages a week later.

Just months after Palma's arrival, they were seen enjoying what could be their first getaway together in the celebrity hotspot.

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Michelle Keegan cradled baby daughter Palma as she celebrated her 38th birthday with husband Mark Wright in Marbella on Tuesday three months after giving birth

The actress enjoyed a celebratory dinner with her partner, 38, in the Spanish city where they are currently holidaying as a family

Michelle was cradling her little girl, three months, in her arms as they strolled along together - looking every inch the picture perfect family

Michelle looked lovely in a white lace co-ord from her Very collection, which included a white applique shirt and a pair of matching shorts.

She boosted her frame with flip flop style heels and accessorised with gold hoop earrings, wearing her brunette hair in a low ponytail.

Her daughter was wearing a sweet pale yellow two-piece.

Meanwhile, former TOWIE star Mark was dressed in all black for their evening out, sporting a short-sleeved shirt with linen trousers.

He completed the ensemble with black Birkenstock sandals and a chain necklace.

The outing came as Michelle shared a rare sneak peek of her baby daughter Palma on Tuesday.

She uploaded an adorable black and white photo of Palma's feet, she wrote: 'Yep... my toes.'

Michelle and Mark have been enjoying their time as parents and have been sharing small glimpses of Palma on their social media accounts.

The outing came as Michelle shared a rare sneak peek of her baby daughter Palma on Tuesday

The couple welcomed their first child together on March 6 and they announced the news on their respective Instagram pages a week later

Michelle looked lovely in a white lace co-ord from her Very collection, which included a white applique shirt and a pair of matching shorts

It's believed the couple chose the name Palma because of their strong links to Mallorca, which has been their go-to holiday destination for years and the setting for their pregnancy reveal photoshoot.

Michelle married Mark in May 2015 and the couple live together in a 3.5 million Essex mansion they built from scratch.

Chatting with his best friend and fellow dad Olly Murs on his Heart Breakfast show, TOWIE star Mark recalled the moment he first held his newborn daughter in his arms.

Mark fought back emotions as he said: 'Mate, it's actually hard to put into words.

'It's the biggest achievement of my life it's all I think about but obviously, hats go off to my wife she is an absolute superhuman, a superhero for bringing this baby into the world.'

Sharing his appreciation for Michelle, he added: 'It makes you realise what our mums did for us and makes me have so much more respect than I already had and what women had to go through.

'It's the best feeling in the world. I wake up every morning just so excited to see her face.'

Recalling the first moment he held Palma, he continued: 'That moment when I held her in my arms, it gets me emotional now thinking about it.'

Meanwhile, former TOWIE star Mark was dressed in all black for their evening out, sporting a short-sleeved shirt with linen trousers

Her daughter was wearing a sweet pale yellow two-piece

Michelle and Mark have been enjoying their time as parents and have been sharing small glimpses of Palma on their social media accounts

Mark added: 'I suppose everything else goes out the window and its made me realise what life is all about and my little baby Palma I love you so much and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

'It's a very special feeling. I can't really put it into words. We've waited a little bit of time, we've chased our dreams and our careers and now we're here. We've got a baby.'

Before Cannes, Michelle showed her support for high street brands as she hit her local town on Wednesday to stock up on some family essentials.

The new mum, who welcomed baby daughter Palma in March, teamed a pinstripe blue shirt with a pair of cream drawstring trousers and sandals.

Michelle was joined by her mum Jacqueline as they stocked up at the Essex branch of Marks & Spencer before stopping by Boots.

The actress juggled two huge bags as she had a low-key stroll around town, going unnoticed by fellow shoppers.

It's no wonder Michelle is a fan of M&S, seeing as her husband Mark Wright is a brand ambassador for the British institution, which is still dealing with the aftermath of a massive cyber-attack.
Kathie Lee Gifford was overcome with emotion as she claimed her time is running out, weeks after opening up about enduring a 'really, really tough three years.'

The 71-year-old talked about her mortality at City of Hope's Spirit of Life Luncheon on Tuesday where she presented an award to her former Today show costar, Jill Martin.

Gifford, who had a hip replacement last year, was helped on stage at NYC's Plaza Hotel by Martin, 49, at the behest of her 'personal therapist's orders.'

Gifford paid tribute to her close friend, who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, describing her as 'one of my favorite people on the entire planet' - and the only person who could make her return to New York from her home in Tennessee.

'Over the years, our friendship has deepened us,' she said. 'Many do, if you are blessed. And honestly, I think about Jill and I smile even when she was going through her journey and she still is. We would get on the phone together and we pray and we'd laugh. I thank her for what she was doing for others.'

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Kathie Lee Gifford was overcome with emotion as she claimed her time is running out, weeks after opening up about enduring a 'really, really tough three years.'

Gifford, 71, has been open about her recent health struggles, including needing hip replacement surgery and fracturing her pelvis in two places (pictured in November 2024)

Gifford urged the people inside the ballroom to 'be there for people' and 'whatever their journey is because it might change the next day.'

Her voice then trembled and she fought back tears as she addressed her own life.

'So when I say that Jill will be my friend for life, I mean it,' she said. 'She will be there for me and I will be there for her.

'I'll probably go a lot sooner. In fact, tick-tock, I better get off the stage.'

Gifford then laughed as she wrapped up her speech and let Martin take the stage.

As the entrepreneur accepted the Spirit of Life Award, Gifford was assisted down the stairs.

The former host of Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee has faced a number of health challenges in recent years.

In June 2024, she underwent a 'serious' and 'total' hip replacement surgery that left her in 'agonizing pain.'

Gifford talked about her mortality as she presented an award to Jill Martin at City of Hope's Spirit of Life Luncheon in New York City on Tuesday

'Jill will be my friend for life, I mean it. She will be there for me and I will be there for her,' she said, adding: 'I'll probably go a lot sooner. In fact, tick-tock, I better get off the stage'

During her recovery, she fractured her pelvis in two places after a freak fall at her home which left her hospitalized for over a week.

Speaking recently to OK! magazine, about her health setbacks she said: 'I've had a really, really tough last three years with parts of my body that have just worn out because I did so much in my life.

'I had my hip replaced, I had my shoulder done - that was from an old injury that finally got so bad, I couldn't ignore it anymore. Yet my health is perfect! I am crumbling!'

Meanwhile, 'friend for life' Martin is embracing being 'cancer free,' two years after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Martin said: 'I'm cancer free. I am on two [chemotherapy] safety net pills, which I call my best friends and I thank them every day because they're an important part of my treatment.

'But life is different. Life will be calendarized before and after. There's a lot of beautiful things that came out of it and magical things and things I learned about myself and then devastation.

'Kathie is one of the people who taught me about being able to hold opposing things at the same time and so you can be super happy and super sad, and so that's how I feel today.'

Gifford added: 'You can mourn and rejoice at the same time. That's what happened when I found my husband after his massive heart attack. I knew he saw Jesus and Jesus took his breath away so I knew exactly where he was.

Gifford recently revealed she's had a 'really tough last three years' with parts of her body,' and confessed to recently having her 'shoulder done' (pictured in 2022)

'People can say, you know, you can look at something as a loss or you can look at what you still have and rejoice. It's the glimmers [in life].'

Gifford's husband, Frank Gifford, died in August 2015 at his Connecticut home. He was 84. His family later disclosed that he had been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a progressive, degenerative brain disease.

Martin said she hopes to 'save at least one life today' by urging people to get their regular exams and informing guests that 'one in 400 of the general population test positive for the BRCA mutation, which gives you a 60 to 90 percent chance of getting breast cancer.'

Tuesday's luncheon was attended by other socialites including Howard Stern's wife Beth Stern and Fox 5's Good Day New York anchor Rosanna Scotto.
An 1980s bombshell who became an iconic 1990s film villain was unrecognizable when she surfaced in Los Angeles this week.

She shot to stardom in one of Tom Cruise's early beloved hits, striking up a real life romance with him behind the scenes of the picture.

In the following decade, she delivered an unforgettable performance as a sinister nanny hatching a secret scheme of revenge.

Her storied love life included not just Tom, but also the beloved musician Leonard Cohen, the actor Harry Dean Stanton and the writer Bruce Wagner.

Now 65 years old, she was spotted with a gal pal at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art (LACMA) this week cutting a stylish figure in a black leather jacket.

Can you guess who she is?

An 1980s bombshell who became an iconic 1990s film villain was unrecognizable when she surfaced in Los Angeles this week

She is none other than Rebecca De Mornay, Tom Cruise's Risky Business co-star and the chilling antagonist of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.

When she was glimpsed at LACMA this week, Rebecca sported a black leather jacket over a matching fabric blouse and leggings set.

Bringing the look together with a gleaming set of blue sunglasses, she wore her trademark strawberry blonde locks down with a fringe.

Her latest sighting comes more than 40 years after she became a movie star with the release of the 1983 teen comedy Risky Business.

Rebecca featured as an escort called Lana, whom Tom Cruise's teenage character Joel calls for her services while his parents are out of town.

The chemistry between them onscreen was mirrored by the affair they had offscreen - allegedly bringing an end to her romance with Harry Dean Stanton, whom she had acted with in her film debut, Francis Ford Coppola's 1981 picture One From The Heart.

Rebecca and Tom ultimately remained together for two and a half years, dating from 1982 - while making Risky Business - until 1985.

That decade, her memorable movies include The Trip To Bountiful with Geraldine Page and John Heard, plus Runaway Train with Jon Voight and Eric Roberts.

She is none other than Rebecca De Mornay, Tom Cruise's Risky Business co-star who also carried on a real romance with him from 1982 to 1985

In 1992, she delivered an unforgettable performance in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle as a sinister nanny hatching a secret scheme of revenge

Now 65 years old, she was spotted with a gal pal at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art (LACMA) this week cutting a stylish figure in a black leather jacket

When she was glimpsed at LACMA this week, Rebecca sported a black leather jacket over a matching fabric blouse and leggings set

She now has two grown daughters, Sophia, 27, and Veronica, 24, from her past relationship with the sportscaster Patrick O'Neal, son of film star Ryan O'Neal

On the personal front, her love life included a marriage to writer Bruce Wagner from 1986 to 1990 and a subsequent romance with Leonard Cohen

Seen in the Warner Bros adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, released in 1987

Then in 1992 came the release of one of her biggest hit movies, and one of those that remains best-remembered by her fans to this day.

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle stars Rebecca as Mrs. Mott, the widow of an OBGYN who commits suicide amid a flood of sexual abuse allegations from patients.

Shattered by her husband's loss, Mrs. Mott miscarries the child she was pregnant with at the time that he fell under scandal and killed himself.

She becomes bent on revenge and assumes a new identity as a nanny called Peyton Flanders - in the home of Annabella Sciorra's character Claire, one of the women whose claims brought down Dr. Mott.

Her unfolding vengeance plot is the main storyline of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, a smash hit that drew praise for Rebecca's scenery-chewing work.

Rebecca's more recent work includes the 2005 comedy classic Wedding Crashers and a role on the Marvel series Jessica Jones.

On the personal front, her love life included a marriage to writer Bruce Wagner from 1986 to 1990 and a subsequent romance with Leonard Cohen, who dedicated his 1992 album The Future to her - a few years before he became a Buddhist monk and retreated from fame into a monastery.

She now has two grown daughters, Sophia, 27, and Veronica, 24, from her past relationship with the sportscaster Patrick O'Neal, son of film star Ryan O'Neal.
Timm Hanly has undergone surgery after his septum completely collapsed.

The Bachelorette star, 33, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a picture showing the right nostril of his nose completely closed.

While it is not yet known how his nostril collapsed, there are several ways it can occur, including a deviated septum weakening the valve, structurally weak nasal cartilages or direct trauma to the nose.

Timm underwent a septoplasty - a surgery that straightens the nasal septum - to reconstruct the nostril.

The reality star, who was a fan favourite on Angie Kent's season of the dating show, posted a follow-up video to show his nose post-surgery.

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Timm Hanly (pictured) has undergone surgery after his septum completely collapsed

The Bachelorette star, 33, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a picture showing the right nostril of his nose completely closed

In the clip, Timm was seen squirting saline solution up his nose, a common practice after septoplasties to keep the nasal passages moist.

'POV: Day 1 septoplasty,' he captioned the post, which showed the shirtless star teary-eyed as he attempted the uncomfortable recovery measure.

Timm made headlines last year after he was an unexpected hit in the US, charming his way into American hearts during a holiday in West Hollywood.

In June 2024, the Aussie star went viral after doing a vox pop TikTok interview with American content creator Chris Stanley as he attended a gay pride parade.

Having just 'stumbled across' the festival with his wife Briana De La Motte and their nine-month-old daughter Harper, Timm made quite the impression on viewers.

'We're just here from Australia. It's our second day here. Second day in America and we just stumbled across [the parade] and I'm just here for the vibes,' Timm said.

'We love it. We absolutely love it,' he added, before Chris asked: 'Do you think the gays can throw a good party?'

Timm promptly responded: 'F**ken' oath. One hundred per cent. No one does it better really.'

The Aussie star recently made headlines after he was an unexpected hit in the US, charming his way into American hearts during a holiday in West Hollywood

Chris then asked: 'How does it feel if a gay guy is hitting on you?'

'Oh, I love this. Let's say I'm walking down the street and a gay guy is, like, looking at me [checking me out]. That's as good as a girl looking at me,' Timm said.

'That counts. That's as good for my ego as a hot chick looking at me,' he added.

Newfound fans from the US flocked to the comments of the video to swoon over the hunky father-of-one.

'More men like him please,' Chris wrote in the caption of the clip.

Another person said: 'That's a healthy, secure and proud masculinity', while another said Timm had the 'biggest, fattest, longest d**k energy!'

'Australians are so cool and friendly,' a third added.

Meanwhile, Timm and wife Briana welcomed their daughter Harper on August 31 2023, announcing the news to Instagram alongside footage of their bundle of joy.

Timm and wife Briana welcomed their daughter Harper on August 31 2023, announcing the news to Instagram alongside footage of their bundle of joy

Timm and Briana went public with their newly rekindled romance soon after Bachelor in Paradise's finale aired on TV

The couple dated on and off for six years before his stint on Angie Kent's season of The Bachelorette in 2019, where he placed runner-up to Carlin Sterritt.

He went on to appear in Bachelor in Paradise in 2020, where he struck up a romance with Brittany Hockley in Fiji.

The pair left the show as a couple after just a few episodes but broke up not long after returning to Australia.

Timm and Briana went public with their newly rekindled romance soon after Bachelor in Paradise's finale aired on TV.
Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit after she claimed she discovered that doctors left a catheter inside her following spinal surgery in 2020.

The reality TV star, 59, 'suffered for years' with doctors unable to 'diagnose the source of her pain,' her attorney, Nadine Lewis, exclusively told DailyMail.com in a statement on Tuesday.

Four years after her spinal surgery in September of 2020, the dance instructor claims she discovered that a catheter had been left inside her abdomen, according to the lawsuit.

In her lawsuit, Miller  who was recently snubbed by an A-list pop star  shared a graphic photo of what she alleges in the complaint is 'the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue.'

She also included a photo of the 'retained catheter' after it was removed following 'an emergency procedure.'

Miller is suing Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital, Dr. Hooman Melamed, M.D., and. Dr. Paul Dwan, M.D. for medical malpractice, professional negligence and medical battery. She is seeking damages in the amount of at least $1.4 million.

A spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'Cedars-Sinai cannot comment on pending legal matters. Also, due to federal and state privacy laws, Cedars-Sinai cannot discuss any patients medical treatment.'

Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller, 59, has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit after she claimed she discovered that doctors left a catheter inside her following spinal surgery in 2020

'However, the care and safety of our patients, staff and visitors are always Cedars-Sinais top priorities. We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve.'

As per the lawsuit, Miller suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2018 due to Burkitt Lymphoma, an aggressive and fast-growing cancer, which rendered her paraplegic with a neurogenic bladder.

In 2020 she underwent spinal surgery at Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital to treat a condition known as Spondylolisthesis.

Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition where one of the vertebrae slips out of its proper position.

She claims in the lawsuit that the surgery was performed by both Dr. Melamed and Dr. Dwan.

She then underwent a second surgery, performed by the same surgical team, in November 2020, as part of her ongoing treatment, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit states that in the months and years that followed, 'Miller repeatedly reported ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort to multiple physicians, including defendants.'

Miller claims various physicians 'systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years.'

Miller claims in the complaint that 'Dr. Melamed, in particular, attributed her symptoms to post-surgical scar tissue and offered no further investigation, no imaging was ordered, including a failure to examine the site of the pain.'

The reality TV star 'suffered for years' with doctors unable to 'diagnose the source of her pain,' her attorney, Nadine Lewis, exclusively told DailyMail.com in a statement on Tuesday; She is pictured in the hospital in 2018

In her lawsuit, Miller shared a graphic photo of what she alleges in the complaint is 'the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue' (L). She also included a photo of the 'retained catheter' after it was removed (R)

Miller claims in the complaint that various physicians 'systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years'; Miller seen in a still from Dance Moms

Miller is suing Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital and two surgeons for medical malpractice, professional negligence, and medical battery. She is seeking damages in the amount of at least $1.4 million; Pictured in 2022

Miller 'repeatedly reported ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort to multiple physicians,' according to her complaint. 'Despite her consistent and persistent complaints, her concerns were dismissed.'

'As a paraplegic woman with a life sentence in a wheelchair, Abby lives with daily pain in the aftermath of her Burkitt Lymphoma diagnosis.'

Despite her complaints to 'various physicians', not one of them ordered imaging to locate and diagnose the source of her pain, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that by 2024, Miller's 'abdominal discomfort had escalated into persistent and debilitating pain, impacting her quality of life on a daily basis.'

In June 2024, while seeking care for an unrelated issue at St. Johns Hospital, a doctor applied pressure to Miller's abdomen causing her to 'scream very loudly in pain' according to her complaint.

'The affected area of the skin immediately became red, inflamed, and visibly irritated,' as per the lawsuit.

Four years after her spinal surgery, Abby discovered that her 'surgeons had left a bright blue catheter inside her abdomen,' according to her complaint.

After a dermatologist examined the inflamed area and took a photograph, it 'revealed the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue' states her complaint.

In 2020 she underwent spinal surgery to treat a condition known as Spondylolisthesis - where one of the vertebrae slips out of its proper position

Abby is wheelchair-bound after surviving a battle with Burkitt Lymphoma - a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma (seen promoting one of her causes, Dancers Against Cancer)

Her attorney said in a statement that the 'systemic minimization of womens suffering has had fatal consequences in our society.'

'Abbys case is a chilling reminder: even when women are vocal and visibly in distress, their pain is still not believed.'

'As a paraplegic woman, Abby is advocating for herself and others in a medical system that has repeatedly failed them,' Lewis added.

Miller remains in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in 2018.

Last year she bravely opened up about the terrifying moment she nearly died after contracting sepsis from a UTI.

The star was left screaming in excruciating pain when her catheter dislodged just days after she wrapped her Abby Lee Spills the Tea tour in the UK in July 2024.

It was one of many health battles that Miller, who was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after being convicted of fraud in May 2017, has faced in recent years.

One week after being released in May 2018, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma and subsequently underwent life-saving surgery to remove a tumor from her spine.

Abby rose to fame on Lifetime's Dance Moms (pictured with young dancers on Dance Moms)

Although she is now cancer-free, she was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down and has been confined to a motorized wheelchair for the past six years.

When asked by DailyMail.com why she feels she has bounced back from multiple ailments, she choked back tears and said: I think that I have a lot to do, and I hope when it is my time to go, it will matter that I was.'

I have a lot more choreography. I have a lot more kids to teach. I have a lot more social awareness about being in a chair.'

Abby rose to fame on Lifetimes long-running reality show Dance Moms, which followed an elite youth dance troupe at the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which made stars out of Jojo Siwa and Maddie Ziegler.
Kate Moss and DJ Fat Tony risked an awkward run in on Tuesday evening as they both attended Sam McKnight's 70th birthday.

The supermodel, 51, reportedly chose to skip her best pal Fat Tony's star-studded wedding on Saturday, after learning her former friend Fran Cutler was on the guestlist.

And Tuesday night marked the first event the pair had attended since the DJ's big day when he tied the knot with husband Stavros Agapiou.

Celebrating Sam's birthday at La Mome, The Berkeley in London, Kate posed with the stylist for snaps as she opted for a black sequin party dress.

Meanwhile Fat Tony, 58, was seen commanding the DJ decks as he kept it stylish in a navy jacket and matching trousers.

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Kate Moss risked a run in with Fat Tony after supermodel 'snubbed' the DJ's star-studded wedding as they both attended Sam McKnight's 70th birthday in London on Tuesday evening

The DJ, 58, was joined at the party by his new husband Stavros, 32, who opted for a quirky ensemble, pairing denim shorts with a checked shirt, striped tie and grey blazer jacket

He was joined by Stavros, 32, who opted for a quirky ensemble, pairing denim shorts with a checked shirt, striped tie and grey blazer jacket.

The couple tied the knot in front of family and friends in a lavish ceremony at the Welsh Chapel on Saturday, followed by a fun-filled reception bash at the Londoner Hotel.

Also attending the Sam's birthday celebrations was Patsy Palmer, Jaime Winstone and Davina McCall who were also all guests at Fat Tony's wedding.

Patsy, 53, looked effortlessly chic as she opted for a satin light green suit jacket with matching shirt and trousers.

Meanwhile Davina, 57, looked sensational in a black leather mini dress as she made sure to put on a very leggy display in her outfit.

It comes after a huge array of famous faces were in attendance for the couple's special day including TOWIE's Gemma Collins, Coronation Street's Claire Sweeney, Patsy Kensit, and Boy George.

However, missing from the action was Tony's pal of over three decades, Kate who was thought to be set to be a bridesmaid at the ceremony.

According to reports, the supermodel snubbed the nuptials after discovering former Primrose Hill bestie, Fran, 62, was going to attend.

Celebrating Sam's birthday at La Mome, The Berkeley in London, Kate posed with the stylist for snaps as she opted for a black sequin party dress

Fat Tony was seen commanding the DJ decks as he kept it stylish in a navy jacket and matching trousers

Also attending the Sam's birthday celebrations was Patsy Palmer (L), Jaime Winstone (R) and Davina McCall who were also all guests at Fat Tony's wedding

Fat Tony - whose real name is Tony Marnach - has been best pals with Kate since 1993, previously lauding her as 'incredible'

Davina, 57, looked sensational in a black leather mini dress as she made sure to put on a very leggy display in her outfit (pictured with Azzi Glasser and Yasmin Mills)

The couple tied the knot in front of family and friends in a lavish ceremony at the Welsh Chapel on Saturday, followed by a fun-filled reception bash at the Londoner Hotel

Patsy, 53, looked effortlessly chic as she opted for a satin light green suit jacket with matching shirt and trousers

Kate looked in great spirits as she partied with her pal, but she was not pictured with Fat Tony

In another shot Sam was seen kissing her on the cheek

Tom Ford and Stella McCartney kept it simple but striking in their black suits

Model Rosemary Ferguson wowed as she went braless beneath a white lace camisole top

Patsy also posed for a snap with the DJ after attending his wedding on Saturday night

Charlotte Tilbury was also in attendance as she opted for a simple black dress

Davina and Patsy embraced in a sweet hug

Jaime showcased her incredible figure in a dark blue navy dress with black sequin pattern

DJ Fat Tony planted a kiss on Sam's cheek as he celebrated the big 70

Davina posed with Jasmine Guinness

The newly wed couple took a pictured with Jaime who was also at their wedding on Saturday

Fat Tony - whose real name is Tony Marnach - has been best pals with Kate since 1993, previously lauding her as 'incredible'.

Speaking to MailOnline in 2022, the DJ praised the stunner for turning her life around from her notorious party girl youth, saying: 'It's about finding that inner happiness, and she's found it. What Kate's done with that is brilliant.

'Even the fact that she's bringing out a wellness range just show's you where she's at in life and how well she's done.'

The hitmaker then sweetly gushed: 'She'll always be one of my best friends, she's an incredible person'.

Ahead of his nuptials, it had been reported that Kate would be one of Tony's bridesmaids alongside reality star Gemma, 44, and soap star Claire, 54, while Tony previously revealed that he wanted Boy George as his best man.

MailOnline have contacted representatives for both Fat Tony and Kate for comment.
Luann de Lesseps has left fans skeptical over rumors of an engagement after she was seen with a huge ring on her left hand in Sag Harbor, New York on Monday.

Amid feverish speculation that the Real Housewives of New York City alum, 60, may be ready to walk down the aisle again, some Bravo fans took to social media to express their doubts.

Several suggested it may have been all a ploy to plug her dating show, Love Hotel, with one joking she may have indeed met someone on the series.

'The marketing budget for the Love Hotel is wild,' one wrote.

'LOVE HOTEL GUY??' another asked with several laughing-crying emojis.

One Instagram user joked de Lessops may have been attempting to one-up fellow RHONY alum Bethenny Frankel.

Luann de Lesseps has left fans skeptical over rumors of an engagement after she was seen with a huge ring on her left hand in Sag Harbor, New York on Monday

'Bethany is getting too much attention for her liking,' they mused, nodding to Frankel's recent runway walk for Sports Illustrated in Miami.

At this time, The Daily Mail has not received a response to its request for comment.

Regardless of whether she is engaged, the mother-of-two does appear to be in a relationship with a hunky mystery man.

While in the Hamptons with her lover on Friday, the lovebirds were seen sharing a passionate kiss as they picked up their mail.

Although his identify remains unknown, the good-looking and tall guy appeared smitten as he grabbed his arms around her.

It is unknown who de Lesseps is dating at this time, or if she simply bought the ring for herself and it is not an engagement ring at all.

In February, de Lesseps revealed to reporter Derek Zagami that she went on a date with a 62-year-old model.

'He continues to model to this day, does very well, is the salt-and-pepper gray,' de Lesseps said.

Regardless of whether she is engaged, the mother-of-two does appear to be in a relationship with a hunky mystery man (pictured kissing on Friday)

Although his identify remains unknown, the good-looking and tall guy appeared smitten as he grabbed his arms around her

It is unknown who de Lesseps is dating at this time, or if she simply bought the ring for herself and it is not an engagement ring at all

The reality star described the man who she went out as a 'husband commercial type of guy, but very nice.'

Before that date, the Berlin, Connecticut-born celebrity was linked with Southern Hospitality personality Bradley, 28.

In January, an insider told Us Weekly that the pair appeared to be cozy while spending time with one another at New York City's Dream Hotel.

The two were 'all over each other,' a source said, after a January 24 Watch What Happens Live taping.

The next month, she addressed the night out with her fellow Bravolebrity while speaking to TMZ.

'We definitely had great chemistry and we went out to have drinks - what's wrong with that?' she told the outlet.

Amid feverish speculation that the Real Housewives of New York City alum, 60, may be ready to walk down the aisle again, some Bravo fans took to social media to express their doubts

de Lesseps then acknowledged that Bradley had 'a girlfriend' but would date him if they broke up.

'Hell yeah! Are you kidding me? Well, I'm a little bit of a cougar, let's put it that way,' she admitted.

Bradley addressed his relationship with de Lesseps during the Southern Hospitality reunion episode for season two, saying that there was chemistry between them, but no physical intimacy.

'This is the truth - me and Luann got a drink, and we hit it off,' Bradley said. 'I did cross a line at the hotel, but I did not kiss her. We did not hook up.'

Bradley conceded he 'probably was too flirtatious' with the Big Apple socialite.

Previously, de Lesseps was married to Count Alexandre de Lesseps.

During their marriage they welcomed their two children, Noel and Victoria.

She was also briefly married to Tom DAgostino Jr. between 2016 to 2017.
A nepo baby looked the spitting image of her A-list mother as she attended the How To Train Your Dragon Immersive Experience screening at Frameless in London on Tuesday.

The British actress, 20, looked every inch the budding star as she graced the red carpet in a stunning semi-sheer cream gown embroidered with delicate florals.

Her chic floor-length ensemble featured a high neckline, long flared sleeves, and a dusky pink drape detail cinched at the waist.

She added inches to her frame with pointed nude court heels and styled her brunette locks in voluminous waves, posing up a storm for the cameras.

But can you guess who the nepo baby and her mother are?

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A nepo baby looked the spitting image of her A-list mother as she attended the How To Train Your Dragon Immersive Experience screening at Frameless in London on Tuesday

The British actress, 20, looked every inch the budding star as she graced the red carpet in a stunning semi-sheer cream gown embroidered with delicate florals - but can you guess who the nepo baby and her mother are?

That's right! it's Nico Parker, the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and screenwriter Ol Parker.

In addition to Nico, the showbiz couple also share a 24-year-old daughter, Ripley, and nine-year-old son, Booker.

Nico shot to fame at just 14 with her Hollywood debut in Tim Burton's 2019 live-action remake of Dumbo.

Since then, she has delivered a series of standout performances, from HBO's The Third Day to the hit series The Last Of Us.

In 2025, she took on her biggest roles yet, starring as Astrid in the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon, and as Chloe, Bridget Jones's highly organised nanny, in Mad About the Boy, the long-awaited fourth instalment in the franchise.

Mad About the Boy, which was released earlier this year, marked a fresh chapter for the beloved rom-com series, with Nico's character bringing new heart and humour to Bridget's chaotic life.

Her portrayal of Astrid in How To Train The Dragon was equally well-received. The new movie, directed by Dean DeBlois, reimagines the 2010 animated classic with a fresh cast and breathtaking visuals.

Alongside Mason Thames as Hiccup and Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, Nico helped bring the emotional and action-packed story to life.

That's right! it's Nico Parker, the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and screenwriter Ol Parker (Nico and Thandiwe pictured 2021)

In addition to Nico, the showbiz couple also share a 24-year-old daughter, Ripley, and nine-year-old son, Booker (L-R Ripley, Thandiwe, and Nico in 2024)

Nico shot to fame at just 14 with her Hollywood debut in Tim Burton's 2019 live-action remake of Dumbo

A film synopsis reads: 'Set on the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, the story follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), the inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler).

'Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon.

'Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

'With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (Nico) and the village's quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.

'As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future.

'Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.'

Since then, she has delivered a series of standout performances, from HBO's The Third Day to the hit series The Last Of Us (pictured in The Last Of Us)

In 2025, she took on her biggest roles yet, starring as Astrid in the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon, and as Chloe, Bridget Jones's highly organised nanny, in Mad About the Boy (pictured in Bridget Jones)

How To Train Your Dragon 2025, which is directed by Dean DeBlois, reimagines the 2010 animated classic with a fresh cast and breathtaking visuals (L-R Dean DeBlois, Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico, Cressida Cowell, and Nick Frost)

Alongside Mason Thames as Hiccup and Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, Nico helped bring the emotional and action-packed story to life

The movie is scheduled for release on June 13, 2025, and will be available in various formats, including RealD 3D, IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX, and D-Box.

Reflecting on raising daughters in the spotlight, Thandiwe told Hollywood Life in a 2010 interview: 'I want my girls to feel empowered. Thats the most important thing.'

She mused about parenthood: 'Its amazing how you start again and you re-live your childhood. The universe has given me girls because I needed to live that girlhood again in a fresh way.

'Motherhood has taught me how exquisite human beings are and how tender, fragile and powerful we are.'
Terri Irwin has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband Steve to mark what would have been their 33rd wedding anniversary  and fans are all saying the same thing.

The Irwin matriarch, 60, posted a precious throwback photo to social media on Wednesday, which captured her and Steve at their wedding ceremony in 1992.

She looked radiant in a classic, long-sleeved ivory gown with lace detailing and a crown of flowers in her curled hair.

Meanwhile, Steve looked dashing in a black tailored tuxedo paired with a white shirt and black bow tie.

Terri captioned the photo with some heartfelt words: 'Today, 33 years ago, Steve and I were married in my grandmothers church in Oregon.

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Terri Irwin has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband Steve to mark what would have been their 33rd wedding anniversary. She posted a precious throwback photo to social media on Wednesday, which captured her and Steve at their wedding ceremony in 1992

'It was the first day of my happily ever after. Every day I wake up with beautiful memories, so much love in my heart and the promise of continuing his incredible legacy. I am truly blessed.'

Fans went wild over the adorable photo and took to the comment section to point out one glaring detail - just how much Steve's son Robert looks like him.

The I'm A Celebrity co-host is the spitting image of his late father, with his strapping physique, upbeat demeanour, beach blonde hair and cheeky grin.

'My god doesn't Robert look just like him!! Happy anniversary!' one person wrote.

'For a split second I thought Steve was Robert. They're twins! Happy Anniversary!' a second added.

'It's seeing young Steve and realising how much Robert really looks like his dad!' a third chipped in and a fourth added: 'I thought this was Robert for a moment! What a beautiful couple.'

Robert was born in December 2003 and was just two years old when his father Steve tragically died in September 2006, after being struck by a stingray while filming on the Great Barrier Reef.

It was Steve's father, Bob, who built the iconic Australia Zoo from the ground up in 1970 and passed it on to his late son and his wife Terri in 1992.

Steve and Terri's son Robert was born in December 2003 and was just two years old when his father tragically died in September 2006

Fans went wild over the adorable photo and took to the comment section to point out one glaring detail - just how much Steve's son Robert looks like him

Robert is the spitting image of his late father, with his strapping physique, upbeat demeanour, beach blonde hair and cheeky grin. Pictured with Terri in May

Last month, Terri opened up about her life together with her late husband.

In a recent interview, an emotional Terri shared details about her 14-year marriage to the famed conservationist and admitted she wishes he was still here.

'I think the best part [of our marriage] was just the fun and the adventure,' Terri told Us Weekly magazine.

'Steve was probably the most spontaneous person. Everyone says live every day to its fullest, but we never quite do that every day.

'And Steve really, really did. I think there really isnt a word in our language for the opposite of a procrastinator, but that was Steve. He was such a "do it now guy".'

Elsewhere in the chat, the grandmother celebrated her children Bindi, 26, and Robert, 21, as well as her four-year-old granddaughter Grace Warrior.

'My life is very full and very rich,' she said, adding sadly, 'and every day, I wish Steve was here, but I'm so lucky.'
Australian reality TV bad boy Harry Jowsey has all but confirmed his relationship with Lucy Hale.

The Too Hot To Handle star, 28, was reported to be in a 'super casual relationship' with the glamorous US actress, 35, by People and Us Weekly back in March.

And on Wednesday, Harry let slip how his romance with the Pretty Little Liars alum began thanks to an AI-generated Instagram message.

The unlikely pairing have kept their romance under wraps and it was not known how they met  until the reality TV star told the story live on-air during 2DayFM's Jimmy & Nath Show with Emma.

Harry explained how he uses an AI tool to respond to direct messages sent from his 4.3million followers on the social media app.

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Australian reality TV bad boy Harry Jowsey (left) has all but confirmed his relationship with Lucy Hale (right)

'I've got this AI thing that replies to my DMs. Meta has this thing you can turn on and it says the craziest stories,' he said.

'I DM'd this one girl and she responded. It replied right away. She was like "Oh, didn't realise I was talking to AI. I thought this was you".

'I said, "No, it is me! If you want me to respond just text me here's my number." And it worked!'

Harry was caught off guard by a slippery question from Jimmy Smith: 'But you and Lucy Hale are good now. Thats how you met, yeah?'

Harry went dead silent after the 'gotcha' moment.

His face turned an unmistakable bright red from embarrassment as the Queensland-born star struggled for words.

'Harry's not responding,' co-host Emma said to fill in the silence.

'That was very smooth, Jimmy.'

Harry's face went bright red from embarrassment when 2Dayfm radio host Jimmy Smith asked if the unnamed woman he messaged was Lucy Hale

'Uh...' Harry trailed off, as all three hosts giggled at his awkwardness.

He cleared his throat and laughed uncomfortably.

'You can blame the camera, but you going that red is a definitely yes,' Nath declared, with Emma chiming in, 'Aw he's literally covering his face.'

Harry's candid reaction confirmed that insider reports about how the relationship started were on the money, or at least close to it.

One anonymous source told Us Weekly the romance began after Harry messaged Lucy on social media.

'They are spending time together in [New York City], its very new,' they said.

The source added they 'hit it off' after bonding through their mutual commitment to sobriety.

'They are having fun, Harry is very into Lucy. Friends around them think they are very cute and a good, surprising match,' they revealed.

One anonymous source told Us Weekly the romance began after Harry messaged Lucy on social media

Jimmy then eased off the question to let Harry off the hook.

'It doesn't matter what you say Harry because we'll use AI to agree,' he joked, with the Aussie Netflix star gulping and saying, 'Yeah, perfect.'

Although the pair are yet to be publicly spotted together, Harry does follow Lucy on social media.

Lucy recently marked three years of sobriety after previously admitting starring in Pretty Little Liars 'fuelled' her alcohol addiction.

Meanwhile, In January Harry made a firm commitment to sobriety after revealing he used to get so drunk he would wet the bed.

In January, the upbeat reality star shared a clip to Instagram in which he revealed he was switching to non-alcoholic drinks because he was sick of having accidents.

In the past, he has been marred with controversy and was labelled a f*** boy while appearing on season two of Netflix's Perfect Match.

Viewers expressed their outrage online and even petitioned for Harry to be banned from appearing in other dating shows, after he was busted in a scandalous lie about not kissing co-star Melinda Melrose while romantically linked with Jessica Vestal.

Although the pair are yet to be publicly spotted together, Harry does follow Lucy on social media

Fans condemned Harry's use of emotional manipulation, especially involving Jessica's daughter, Autumn, whom he frequently mentioned wanting to be a role model for.

Harry has also been linked to several other reality stars and influencers including ex-fiance Francesca Farago and Georgia Hassarati.

In an October 2021 episode of the BFFs podcast with Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards, Jowsey also said he had been romantically involved with transgender YouTuber Nikita Dragun and pledged his support for transgender women.

He first rose to reality TV fame after starring in the inaugural season of Too Hot to Handle in 2020.

Since then, he has started his own podcast titled Boyfriend Material, competed on Dancing With the Stars and even ventured onto OnlyFans.
Married At First Sight's Alana Lister made an unexpected return to social media after a long absence on Wednesday.

The school teacher-turned-reality TV-star took to Instagram to post an image of herself for the first time in three years.

Alana showed off her figure in an orange crop top, white mini skirt and long boots as she posed along a beach shore.

Fans flocked to the comments to express their excitement over her return, with one writing: 'So nice to see you Alana hope things are going well.'

'She's back,' another commented, while a third said: 'Finally'.

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Married At First Sight's Alana Lister made an unexpected return to social media on Wednesday with a rare selfie

Her social media absence comes after she posted an array of concerning posts about being the victim of 'narcissistic abuse' and dealing with death threats several months ago.

In the posts, she detailed allegations of shocking abuse against her in a series of Instagram slides.

In the disturbing posts, Alana claimed she had been the victim of 'coercive control' and 'narcissistic abuse' which she likened to 'psychological warfare'.

Though it is not known what exactly she was referring to, she detailed how a man who she became friends with ended up taking control of her life with his 'possessive and controlling' actions, including tracking her on social media.

'It's so difficult to explain this to those who have not experienced this level of trauma or witnessed the abuse by a narcissist,' one post read.

In the concerning posts, Alana cryptically alleged that she had 'smear campaigns' launched against her and suffered death threats over the space of a year.

She claimed that many of her friends and family 'turned against her' when she needed help as she detailed the very difficult period of her life.

'I had multiple smear campaigns launched against me targeting any person I could go to for support,' she wrote.

Her social media absence comes after she posted an array of concerning posts about being the victim of 'narcissistic abuse' and dealing with death threats several months ago

'This is why I have cut off so many friends and family from my life who turned against me when I needed help.'

She detailed the alleged threats made against her in another slide, writing: 'Threats to kill my family, give me cancer, poison me with ricin, have my brakes cut, get a disease through spiked mosquitoes, bribe my niece's orthodontist, have a car accident, shot in the head, go missing, get raped, kill my sibling's pets, slit my throat, kill any child I have.'

'I can't remember them all there was so much I try to block out but this was over the period of a year,' she added.

Responding to a fan who asked her why she had been the subject of such threats, Alana added: 'To keep my mouth shut about the hacking, stalking, harassment and abuse.'

She went on to claim she was forced to move house twice because her property was broken into and trashed multiple times, while dead animals were also left outside her home.

Alana also claimed her social media accounts were hacked and she was repeatedly 'bombarded with anonymous threats' online.

'I can't even mention some of the things as they are too disturbing and would honestly seem unbelievable,' she added.

Alana claimed she is now 'healing' after the alleged abuse as she concluded her series of lengthy Instagram slides.

In the disturbing posts, Alana claimed she has been the victim of 'coercive control' and 'narcissistic abuse' which she likened to 'psychological warfare'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Alana for an additional comment.

It is not the first time Alana has shared abuse allegations as she previously also revealed shocking threats involving advanced sonic and electromagnetic devices.

The distressing posts, shared back in May last year, left fans and followers deeply concerned about her wellbeing.

In a lengthy and harrowing account, Alana described the horrific experiences she allegedly endured due to what she believes were targeted attacks using energy devices.

'Some particularly horrific abuse I was subjected to was by the use of emf (Electric and magnetic fields), sonic or energy devices. At this stage, I couldn't even leave my house any more and had to completely self-isolate for safety, but this was no escape,' she wrote.

She claimed devices were used on her while she was sleeping, causing her to wake up in the middle of the night with her skin burning, a severe headache, and a need to vomit.

The severity of the situation forced Alana to flee her home, seeking refuge in various hotels, but the torment followed her.

'Once this happened, I had to flee my home... but this only continued to each hotel I went to. Now the sounds were constant and being used for sleep deprivation too. I still to this day have faint ringing in my ears at night as a result of this,' she claimed.

Alana was working as a school teacher when her big TV break came in the form of a role on season eight of Nine's Married At First Sight and she went on to become an OnlyFans star

Adding to her distress, Alana claimed her phone was bombarded with disturbing images and memes.

'It was terrifying and I had no clue about this advanced tech so I couldn't report it for risk of coming across as crazy,' she added.

Alana was born Sinead Chong and went by this name throughout primary and high school, a source told Daily Mail Australia in 2021.

She was working as a school teacher when her big TV break came in the form of a role on season eight of Nine's hit dating show Married At First Sight.

Alana exchanged vows with construction estimator Jason Engler during the experiment, and brazenly praised his prowess in the bedroom on live TV.

Alana and Jason made it all the way to Final Vows, but split before the reunion when a vile video surfaced of him making homophobic comments about bisexual groom Liam Cooper.

After her reality TV debut, for which she underwent a breast augmentation, Alana joined adult subscription-based website OnlyFans.

She became one of the website's biggest stars, at one point raking in a rumoured $30,000 per month from her racy content.
Kourtney Kardashian took to Instagram on Tuesday to share an emotional post with her 218 million followers.

The 46-year-old reality television star  who recently enjoyed a trip to San Diego  uploaded a photo showing her in cheetah print pajamas with her hands over her eyes via the app's Stories feature.

She wrote, 'me crying bc my baby girl is done with 6th grade (she's taking pic of me),' adding tearful and crying laughing emojis.

The blurry, low-lit capture was taken by her only daughter, 12-year-old Penelope, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick.

In addition to the tween, Kardashian shares sons Mason, 15, and Reign, 10, with 42-year-old Scott.

And in November 2023 Kourtney welcomed son Rocky with husband Travis Barker, whom she wed in 2022.

Kourtney Kardashian took to Instagram on Tuesday to share an emotional post with her 218 million followers. The 47-year-old reality television star uploaded a photo showing her in cheetah print pajamas with her hands over her eyes

Penelope is just over one month away from her 13th birthday  another moment that is sure to make her mom sentimental.

Last year the youngster celebrated the special occasion by going on a three-day getaway bash with her friends.

Taking to Instagram afterward, Kourtney posted photos from the soiree and wrote in the caption, '9 girls (and a baby), 2 moms (shoutout @natalie5382), 3 days of casual, perfectly slowed down beach days to celebrate my little lady.

'Toe rings, sound baths, night swims, painting bikini boxes, frozen bananas, mamma mia and lots of frank ocean forever.'

In April Kourtney celebrated her birthday with sunset beach snaps taken by Penelope, whose nickname is P.

The comments section was filled with birthday wishes for Kourtney  in addition to praise for Penelope's photography, with one person comparing her to renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Kardashian and her ex are currently at odds over co-parenting their three children.

Kardashian wrote in her social media post, 'me crying bc my baby girl is done with 6th grade (she's taking pic of me)'

In addition to the tween, Kardashian shares sons Mason, 15, and Reign, 10, with 42-year-old ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. The former flames are currently at odds over co-parenting their children; pictured in 2018

At the center of their disagreement is the kids' education, as the POOSH founder wants them homeschooled while the real estate mogul does not.

Kardashian recently appeared on sister Khloe Kardashian's Khloe in Wonder Land podcast, during which she discussed her approach to parenting.

She opened up about not conforming and claimed her children want to be homeschooled.

The comments infuriated Disick, 42, who found them 'irresponsible,' according to sources who spoke with DailyMail.com.

'Scott strongly disagrees with Kourtney's parenting style and finds her comments irresponsible,' one insider dished, adding that the New York native 'values hard work and sees school as essential and would never allow his kids to not attend.'

Kourtney started her bachelor's degree at Southern Methodist University in Texas before transferring and graduating from University of Arizona.

Scott, who 'feels Kourtney has changed,' will have his children homeschooled 'over his dead body.'

The father-of-three is also said to have issues with the influence of Kourtney's stepchildren.

Kourtney, husband Travis Barker, and daughter Penelope during Christmas 2022

L-R Alabama Barker, Reign Disick, Kourtney, Travis, Landon Barker, and Atiana De La Hoya pictured in April 2022

Since tying the knot with Travis in 2022, Kourtney made drastic updates to her home to accommodate her and husband's blended family.

The Blink-182 drummer is dad to son Landon, 21, and daughter Alabama, 19, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler, 50. He is also stepdad to Moakler's daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 25.

On a season six episode of The Kardashians, Kourtney said that blending her and Travis' homes took 'a lot of adjusting.'

Kardashian had previously shared that she finally moved in with Barker in a June 2024 episode of her family's TV series.

'Travis and I have really been taking our time with figuring out where it makes sense for us to live together because the kids are all so comfortable in their spaces,' the reality star explained at the time. 'It feels like we kind of figured out a plan for now.'
Bindi Irwin was suffering from 'intense pain' just hours before she suffered a ruptured appendix and was rushed to hospital in the US last month.

The mother-of-one, 26, underwent emergency surgery after touching down in Las Vegas for a gala honouring her late father Steve.

Adil Cader, the founder of Talking Foreign Affairs, said Bindi was in a lot of pain when he interviewed her prior to her flight to Vegas.

'Just hours before flying out for emergency surgery and missing a gala honouring her father's legacy, Bindi showed up for an awareness raising interview with us,' he wrote in a LinkedIn post this week.

'She was in intense pain. Yet not once did she ask to wrap early. Not once did her words feel anything but thoughtful and present. Not once did she let on that she was suffering.

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Bindi Irwin was suffering from 'intense pain' just hours before she suffered a ruptured appendix and was rushed to hospital in the US last month

'She had every reason to cancel. Most would have. She did it because she wanted to offer hope to others going through silent struggles.'

Adil praised Bindi for completing the interview despite suffering from pain.

'That's what real character looks like. That's what true leadership is. This is what true grit is like,' he said.

'Battling through the biggest pain, yet smiling, just to give others hope. Thank you Bindi.'

Last month, Bindi was rushed to hospital just hours after touching down in Las Vegas for a gala honouring her late father Steve Irwin.

She suffered a ruptured appendix and was raced into surgery, missing the prestigious event that she was due to attend alongside brother Robert Irwin and mother Terri Irwin.

Robert told People magazine at the time that Bindi was recovering and her mother was at her bedside.

'She's going to be okay, but surgery - out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,' Robert explained.

Adil Cader, the founder of Talking Foreign Affairs, said Bindi was in a lot of pain when he interviewed her prior to her flight to Vegas

Adil Cader, the founder of Talking Foreign Affairs, said Bindi was in a lot of pain when he interviewed her prior to her flight to Vegas

Terri also missed the event while accompanying her daughter to hospital and staying by her side through surgery.

Robert explained that Bindi had been suffering some pain in the lead-up to the gala but had tried to soldier on.

'She came to Las Vegas and was ready to put on a brave face. She said, "I'm just going to tough it out".

'But the surgeon told her, "Your appendix is going. It's got to come out".'

In an Instagram post, Bindi revealed that while her appendix was removed, doctors discovered another 14 lesions from her endometriosis. These were also successfully removed.

She also had a large hernia repaired which had developed after giving birth to daughter Grace in 2021.
Fashion mogul Effie Kats has jokingly threatened to sell her dog after the pooch destroyed one of her handbags.

The 34-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to share a video of the damage, revealing a large hole chewed into her $495 clutch from The Concept.

Clearly unimpressed, Kats joked in the caption: 'Anyone after a one-year-old Samoyed?'

Effie also shared a photo of her dog looking at the camera, along with the caption: 'The look of guilt'.

Effie is a popular Melbourne designer who dresses the likes of Nadia Bartel, Carrie Bickmore and Rebecca Judd.

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Fashion mogul Effie Kats has jokingly threatened to sell her dog after the pooch destroyed one of her handbags

In November 2023, she walked down the aisle with her finance broker fiance James Cerolini in Melbourne.

The pair married in a lavish ceremony at St Patrick's Cathedral and held her opulent reception at State Library Victoria.

She stunned in an elaborate, semi-sheer lace gown by Zuhair Murad, which she acquired after making trips to Paris for fittings.

Effie later changed into a second dress for her reception, this time from local designer Alin Le'kal.

It was no small affair, with 260 in attendance on the star-studded guest list, including Nadia, Bec , Khanh Ong, Jessie Murphy and Lana Wilkinson.

Women were asked to wear black or gold to what was described as an elegant affair.

The founder of the Effie Kats and Bayse brands said the wedding,'exceeded every expectation I had'.

She told the Herald Sun: 'Every part of it just blew my mind. It was great. I had a wedding planner, Valentina, I could not have done it without her.

'There were small hiccups along the way, but it was the perfect day.'

The 34-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to share a video of the damage, revealing a large hole chewed into her $495 clutch from The Concept

Effie also shared a photo of her dog looking at the camera, along with the caption: 'The look of guilt'.

The society couple became engaged in 2021 during lockdown, giving Effie lots of time to plan her big day.

'I've attended so many events and we want to create something spectacular for our guests,' she told Confidential.

'It's on Stakes Day and Remembrance Day so it'll add to an already insane schedule.'

Effie had at first decided to organise the event herself without the help of a wedding planner, but later changed her mind.

Around the time of their engagement, Effie and James purchased a home in Melbourne's Malvern.

The 'rundown' three bedroom property, which cost $1.65 million, is a fixer-upper project for the pair.

'We wanted a house in the right location with some character, that needed a lot of love' Effie told news.com.au.

Effie is a beloved Australian designer whose clothing has been seen on A-list clients like Dannii Minogue, Kelly Rowland, Carrie Bickmore and DJ Havana Brown.
Kyle Sandilands shocked his listeners on Wednesday when he revealed he once slept with seven women from his former workplace.

The radio personality, 53, made the admission when he welcomed listener Kylie on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Kylie confronted her husband's mistress live on air and probed her for answers regarding their office affair.

Kyle admitted the moment was 'triggering' and reflected on his own past experience with infidelity in the workplace.

'I've been the guy in this situation before and, in all honesty, I probably never dealt with it or never had the proper emotions when it happened to me,' he confessed on the KIIS FM show.

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Kyle Sandilands shocked his listeners on Wednesday when he revealed he once slept with seven women from his former workplace

'I was sleeping with seven girls at the radio station in Perth and they all confronted me one afternoon in my office.'

He went on to reveal that he 'didn't deal' with the messy situation and instead 'moved cities' to avoid sorting it out.

'I did what every real man would do: I turned around and ran away,' he explained.

'Real deash*t I was,' he added of his not-so-proud moment, which he said happened around 30 years ago.

Despite his seemingly rowdy time working in Perth, Kyle's radio rival and former colleague Jase Hawkins painted a very different picture of the shock jock during their younger years.

When Kyle moved from Brisbane's Triple M to Sydney's 2Day FM in 1999 to host its Hot30 Countdown, Hawkins followed, with the pair even living together for a time.

Speaking on the Dos and D podcast, Hawkins gave a rare insight into their former living arrangement - and it's not as glamorous as you might think.

'I was 18. Kyle never went out,' Hawkins admitted.

'His idea of the weekend was I'd go down to the servo and get us Paddle Pops and watch copious amounts of Law and Order in a cloud of smoke'.

He went on to reveal that he 'didn't deal' with the messy situation and instead 'moved cities' to avoid sorting it out. 'I did what every real man would do: I turned around and ran away,' he explained

Despite his seemingly rowdy time working in Perth, Kyle's radio rival and former colleague Jase Hawkins painted a very different picture of the shock jock during their younger years

Hawkins added that a 'big night out' for the pair was a rare trip to the local video shop.

'Every now and then he would be like: "let's go to the video shop" and I'd be like: "I'm putting on my best outfit." I'm 18 I haven't gone out anywhere,' he recalled.

'I'd be decked out like I'm going to the club just to go to Video Ezy. I did that for a number of years. It was interesting.'

Jase added that the pair would waste hours chatting about their consuming passion - radio.

'Then when I moved out and eventually dated my wife Lou, Kyle and I would go to the same cafe every Saturday, every Sunday,' he said.

'His partner at the time and my partner Lou would just be like "oh have we got to keep doing this?"'
Armie Hammer had a rare reunion with his ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers to celebrate an important milestone with their eight-year-old son Ford.

The 38-year-old actor and his 42-year-old ex Chambers share two children together, Ford and 10-year-old daughter Harper.

The Social Network star and his entrepreneur/TV personality wife were married from 2010 until their split in 2020, with their divorce finalized in 2023, amid his cannibalism scandal.

The exes have been co-parenting their children since the split, and they came together to celebrate Ford completing the second grade.

Chambers shared a joyful snap of the exes and their kids, with Chambers sharing his second grade completion certificate.

'Happy 2nd Grade Step-Up Fordy Boy!' the doting mom said in the snap, with her son holding on to the family's dog.

Armie Hammer had a rare reunion with his ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers to celebrate an important milestone with their eight-year-old son Ford

The 38-year-old actor and his 42-year-old ex Chambers share two children together, Ford and 10-year-old daughter Harper

Armie was seen smiling in the snap with his arm around Harper, donning a black t-shirt, black pants and holding a black coat.

Chambers donned a stylish black and white striped dress along with gold bracelets and gold earrings for the outing.

Hammer shot to fame after playing the Winklevoss Twins in 2010's The Social Network, that was instrumental in launching his career.

That rising career quickly came crashing down in 2021 when multiple accusations of sexual assault, rape and even cannibalism surfaced.

While the LAPD launched an investigation, no charges were filed against the actor, who has admitted to consensual BDSM and emotional abuse, but denies all sexual assault and cannibalism charges, which stemmed from a woman named Courtney Vucekovich who alleged he said he wanted to cook and eat one of her ribs.

Chambers recently promoted her upcoming show Toxic on The Today Show, where she admitted that things were great with her ex and children.

'They're amazing. We're amazing. I think we've never been stronger as a family,' Chambers said.

'This show touches on domestic violence, it touches on really unhealthy patterns. For me, I just experienced betrayal,' she said of her relationship with Hammer.

Hammer shot to fame after playing the Winklevoss Twins in 2010's The Social Network, that was instrumental in launching his career.

Chambers recently promoted her upcoming show Toxic on The Today Show, where she admitted that things were great with her ex and children

'But in that process, I really learned so much about patterns and how parenting, really it comes down to parenting,' Chambers added.

'It comes down to humanity and psychology and all of those interesting things,' she said, while admitting she's not a fan of the term 'co-parenting.'

'I dont love that word co-parenting, right? I think were just parents and everyone is just parenting as well as they can with what they have,' Chambers said.

'Our family is, again, so strong and better than ever. But for me, divorce in itself is just trauma, Chambers admitted.
Joanne Froggatt looked chic as she joined Ranvir Singh at the Fiddler On The Roof musical press night on Tuesday.

Attending the event the Barbican Centre, London, the actress, 44, opted for an elegant black dress, with a deep V-neckline.

Joanne cinched her outfit in with a belt, added a pair of heels and topped off her look with a classic Chanel handbag.

Meanwhile, Ranvir, 47, wore a dark blue jumpsuit with cropped bottoms and a belted waist.

The TV presenter added a quirky pair of suede shoes and styled her hair into loose waves to complete her look.

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Joanne Froggatt looked chic as she attended the Fiddler On The Roof musical press night on Tuesday

The actress was joined by Ranvir Singh on the red carpet

Joanne was joined on the red carpet by Amy Nuttall, who looked stylish in a white shirt and bright red trousers.

The outing comes after she opened up on how she believes travel unveils a feeling of insignificance that can really shift your perspective on life.

The Mobland star revealed that after the collapse of her marriage five years ago, she checked into a 1,500 transcendental meditation retreat in Australia.

Joanne was married to James Cannon for nearly eight years until their split in February 2020, which she has said threw her life 'in flux'.

She said she was inspired to take a solo visit to Soma Byron Bay just after the split, by watching the TV series Nine Perfect Strangers starring Nicole Kidman.

Speaking to travel industry expert Tanya Rose on Travel Secrets The Podcast, she recalled: 'I booked this retreat and it was an introduction to Ayurvedic meditation - some people call it transcendental meditation.

'Oh my goodness, it blew my mind. It was incredible. I went on my own.

'Byron Bay is just the most stunning place anyway, it's so beautiful. The beaches are amazing, it's a very lush, tropical landscape. It's just gorgeous.'

Joanne cinched her outfit in with a belt, added a pair of heels and topped off her look with a classic Chanel handbag

Meanwhile, Ranvir, 47, wore a dark blue jumpsuit with cropped bottoms and a belted waist

Jane was joined on the red carpet by Amy Nuttall, who looked stylish in a white shirt and bright red trousers

Alison Steadman wore a blue floral top with a matching jacket

Brian Cox was also in attendance for the press night

Sir Lenny Henry and Lisa Makin smiled for a photo together on the red carpet

Adrian Dunbar wore a pink shirt with jeans and a blazer

The boutique 'wellness' getaway boasts a geodesic dome, an outdoor cinema, a swimming pool and a fire pit and was used for the filming of Nine Perfect Strangers in 2020.

Joanne said she booked a transcendental meditation retreat that coincided with a job she had booked in Australia in 2022 after becoming 'obsessed' with the location when watching the show.

The Liar star, who now has a nine-month-old daughter with her new partner, Mark Turner, gushed over the unique retreat and how she bonded with the other travellers.

She explained: 'You rock up and there's a group of people there and there's Ayurvedic food for you. It was either couples of single people and you don't know anyone. You just spend this very intense but calm two and a half days together.

'It was such an incredible experience - not only learning the meditation technique, because I found that really powerful.

'Did I keep it up? No. I did for a while and it's a great tool to go back to and I wish I kept it up more.

'But what was so incredible about it was the setting was stunning, all of that just completely lived up to expectation - and some.'

She went on: 'But it was just having that experience of being a solo traveller with a group of people that you didn't know and how we bonded and shared stories and went through this experience together and shared so much of our lives in conversation.

'And that to me is the magic of travelling anywhere. You could be on a bus in wherever it may be, you could be in a lovely meditation retreat in Byron Bay, but really what makes it is the people you meet and the people you're thrown in with and that you have these experiences with.

'It really brought it home. It was just such a magical couple of days away from the world. We saw a koala that lives in the forestry around there and there were just these really special quiet moments that felt really magical.'

Mobland star Anson Boon joined Joanne and Amy at the party

Violinist Linzi Stoppard stunned in a white mini dress that featured bow detail
Peru Two's Michaella McCollum looked sensational in a purple bikini as she soaked up the sun on the beach in Benidorm on Wednesday.

As one of the notorious Peru Two, Michaella, 31, served three years in a hardcore prison near Lima when she was convicted of drug smuggling.

But she has now turned her life around, becoming mother of two, a public speaker and influencer - who this week warned of the hell that could await Brits accused of drug trafficking abroad.

It comes as the arrests of Bella May Culley, 18, and Charlotte May Lee, 21, have made global headlines in recent weeks as they face drug smuggling charges that could see them locked up for up to 20 years.

As she hit the beach, Michaella showed off her toned figure in the Louis Vuitton two piece as she cooled off in the sea.

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Peru Two's Michaella McCollum looked sensational in a purple bikini as she soaked up the sun on the beach in Benidorm on Wednesday

As she hit the beach, Michaella showed off her toned figure in the Louis Vuitton two piece as she cooled off in the sea

As one of the notorious Peru Two, Michaella, 31, served three years in a hardcore prison near Lima when she was convicted of drug smuggling (seen with Melissa Reid)

Michaella - who had a boob job at the end of last year - wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a bronzed makeup look.

Just this week she opened up about her time in prison as the two young women face time behind bars.

She has vivid memories of prison paella, and the maggots lurking within.

'I remember how I'd lay all the rice out, to see which grains I could eat and which were maggots. Back home, it was reported that I'd gone on hunger strike, but I hadn't.'

She also remembers her poor mum arriving, braving corrupt prison guards and six-hour waits in the blazing Peruvian heat, with bags of food, which Michaella would fall upon.

'She'd bring a whole chicken, which I'd eat with my fingers, and there would be cockroaches climbing up onto the table and I'd just flick them away. I mean, they didn't even bother me, by then.

'You become so used to it. And I suppose there is a level of guilt and shame that you feel it's acceptable, even though it isn't.' The cockroaches bother her now, though.

She raises her forearm. 'I've got goosebumps, just talking about them. But then... normal. It's astonishing what you adapt to, and how resilient you can be.'

She has now turned her life around, becoming mother of two, a public speaker and influencer - who this week warned of the hell that could await Brits accused of drug trafficking abroad

Michaella - who had a boob job at the end of last year - wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a bronzed makeup look

The arrests of Bella May Culley, 18, and Charlotte May Lee, 21, have made headlines in recent weeks as they face drug smuggling charges that could see them locked up for up to 20 years

Just this week she opened up about her time in prison as the two young women face time behind bars

'I could not do 20 years in a prison like that,' she said. 'I just couldn't. And that's what those girls are facing'

Even her resilience has limits, though. As one of the notorious Peru Two, Michaella served three years in a hardcore prison near Lima when she was convicted of drug smuggling.

She does not quibble with the sentence, acknowledging she deserved it, but reckons today that three years was her 'top limit'.

'I could not do 20 years in a prison like that,' she said. 'I just couldn't. And that's what those girls are facing.'

By 'those girls' she means the two young British women facing similar drug smuggling charges, currently locked up in prisons that must feel as far from home as hers did.

The arrests of Bella May Culley, 18, and Charlotte May Lee, 21, have made global headlines in recent weeks.

The cases are unrelated: Bella, from Teesside, is charged with trying to smuggle 14kg of cannabis into Georgia; while Charlotte, from Coulsdon in south London, faces similar charges in Sri Lanka relating to 46kg of synthetic drug kush  which can be 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl.

Michaella was arrested with 20-year-old Scot Melissa Reid, whom she had never met before their fateful trip from Ibiza to Peru

Michaella had been offered 5,000 to smuggle those drugs  a pitiful figure, she now admits

A few years ago, Michaella wrote a book about her ordeal, which brought understandable criticism from those who feel she should not have been allowed to capitalise on her notoriety

She recently spoke about her time in prison

She has turned her life around since spending time in prison

She looked great in the purple bikini

Her account of her three years in Lima's notorious Ancon 2 prison is grim

Michaella shared a 'bedroom' with hundreds of other female inmates, sleeping on concrete bunks 'like a zoo'

In 2022, McCollum celebrated the release of her five-part documentary series, produced in collaboration between Netflix and the BBC

Bella May Culley, 18, from Billingham, County Durham, seen in court in Tbilisi after she was detained at at the city's airport ion suspicion of carrying 14kg of cannabis

Charlotte May Lee, 21, from Coulsdon in south London, faces similar charges in Sri Lanka relating to 46kg of synthetic drug kush  which can be 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl

Charlotte appeared in court yesterday, handcuffed and tearful. If found guilty, both will be looking at up to 20 years behind bars.

Michaella was arrested with 20-year-old Scot Melissa Reid, whom she had never met before their fateful trip from Ibiza to Peru.

The pictures of the Peru Two as they came to be known, standing forlornly by mismatching suitcases  Michaella with her then black hair, scraped into a high, 'doughnut' bun  went round the world.

And now history appears to be repeating itself. Michaella says it was her mother who first heard about the arrest of Bella Culley and called her.

'The situation was almost exactly the same. Her mum had reported her missing, then it emerged that she'd been arrested. There were such parallels with my case  except it was just in a different country.'

Her heart immediately went out to Bella, then to Charlotte, a former TUI air stewardess whose story emerged days later. Both women have denied the charges against them.

'I couldn't help but feel bad for them,' Michaella says. 'They are 19 and 21. Whatever they have done, it's so young to be caught up in something like this, and I know what they are going to go through. And their families. It's the worst thing anybody can have to face.'

Bella's situation seems even more precarious. She told the court in Tbilisi that she was pregnant which, if true, adds a layer of horror.

'As a mum, I can't 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,' says Michaella. 'That adds a whole new, terrifying, dimension. It's just incredibly sad.'

In some quarters there has been scant public sympathy for these two, which Michaella understands. She challenges it, though. 'It's 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 don't 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, who 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.

'And the men at the top rarely get caught. The men who pulled all the strings in my case were never held to account.'

Ironically, it wasn't until Michaella cooperated with a 2022 Netflix documentary about her case that she started to regard herself as a 'victim'.

'It was when I was watching an actress do some of the re-enactments of my story that I realised there had been exploitation and coercion going on here.

'At the time I was so high (on cocaine) that I could barely walk. Yet the men around me were all sober. I thought they were my friends, but actually they didn't give a s*** about me.

'When you are 19 and 20 you are so hopelessly naive. You don't even know that there are such bad things in the world, never mind that it could happen to you.'

Michaella had been offered 5,000 to smuggle those drugs  a pitiful figure, she admits. 'But in a lot of cases like mine the money isn't life changing, which makes me think even more that there is an element of being tricked into it.

'I mean who would risk spending 20 years of your life in prison for 3,000 or 4,000 or even 10,000. Even 50,000 isn't enough. No amount of money is worth your freedom.'

A few years ago, Michaella wrote a book about her ordeal, which brought understandable criticism from those who feel she should not have been allowed to capitalise on her notoriety.

She denies it was a money-spinner ('the financial return was very small, and I wasn't paid for the Netflix documentary either').

Her account of her three years in Lima's notorious Ancon 2 prison is grim. Michaella shared a 'bedroom' with hundreds of other female inmates, sleeping on concrete bunks 'like a zoo'.

In 2018, Michaella welcomed her twin boys, Rafael and Rio, and takes them around the world on holiday

The prisoners included a woman who had killed her own child and served the baby up as food for her unfaithful husband, and another who had murdered and dismembered her mother-in-law. Corruption was rife, with guards routinely taking 'food, magazines, books, chocolates' from visitors' bags.

Also prevalent was the trading of sexual favours for basics like water. One of the first Spanish phrases Michaella learned was 'don't touch me'.

There were specific challenges that came with being white and British. 'That made it worse for us. Some of the guards thought we were princesses. They just see white skin, blue eyes.'

She says she was also 'scammed' by legal professionals. 'People see foreigners as money magnets and charge a lot more to help them. I remember looking back and thinking 'we have been robbed'.'

Both girls were eventually sentenced to six years and eight months, after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

They ended up serving three years, and were released back home, on parole, in 2016. Michaella knows they were lucky  at one point they were facing 15 years.
Stu Laundy is flashing a brand new smile - weeks after narrowly surviving a devastating motorbike crash in Vietnam.

The millionaire publican and former Bachelorette winner, 52, took to Instagram on Wednesday to unveil his dental transformation, posing alongside cosmetic dentist Dr Dan at Dental Implants on Miller in Sydney.

'Best veneers even if you haven't just smashed them up on a moped in Vietnam,' he joked in the caption. 'Plus he's my best mate.'

Wearing a navy sweatshirt and sporting an arm sling, Laundy looked to be in good spirits as he posed next to the popular cosmetic dentist, clearly chuffed with his new pearly whites.

The dental upgrade comes after Laundy admitted that he was lucky to be alive following a horror motorbike crash while holidaying in Vietnam last month.

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Stu Laundy (right) is flashing a brand new smile - weeks after narrowly surviving a devastating motorbike crash in Vietnam

The millionaire publican and former Bachelorette winner, 52, took to Instagram on Wednesday to unveil his dental transformation, posing alongside cosmetic dentist Dr Dan at Dental Implants on Miller in Sydney

The pub baron, who was travelling with family, was struck by a truck and thrown from his bike in a terrifying accident that left him hospitalised with a long list of injuries.

'I was in and out of consciousness for a while. I got a busted knee, sternum, shoulder, ribs, clots in my lungs and infections,' he told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

'Vietnam hospitals are not that crash hot so Dad organised to have me flown home. I'm very lucky.'

Stu's billionaire father Arthur Laundy reportedly organised a private medical evacuation for his son, arranging for him to be flown back to Australia on a specially fitted medical jet, complete with a doctor and two nurses.

After arriving home, Laundy was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney where he underwent two surgeries. He is still in recovery and slowly regaining his strength.

Laundy also credited his ex-wife Rachel, a nurse, for being by his side throughout the ordeal.

'Rachel never left my side,' he said.

'Lucky she was there. The accident just happened from nothing. I was riding along and a truck pulled out of its lane and I ran straight into it. At 52, I probably shouldn't be riding a motorbike but the truck driver has accepted the blame.'

The 52-year-old reality TV star and millionaire publican was struck by a truck and thrown from his bike during the terrifying accident, which left him with multiple serious injuries and clinging to life (pictured on The Bachelorette in 2017)

Laundy became a household name when he won Sophie Monk's (right) season of The Bachelorette in 2017

Known for his extensive hospitality empire and high-profile connections, Laundy is a familiar face in Sydney's social scene and was instrumental in helping the Canterbury Bulldogs land Phil Gould in 2021.

He rose to national fame in 2017 after winning Sophie Monk's season of The Bachelorette, although the pair split just months after the finale aired.

'I went into this experience looking to settle down and start a family. I gave it the best shot I could,' Sophie wrote at the time, announcing the end of their relationship.

'But unfortunately it just didn't work out.'
Hugh Jackman was in high spirits as he was mobbed by fans outside Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City on Tuesday.

The actor, 55, was all smiles despite recent reports that his ex Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, is 'planning to release a divorce tell-all.'

The revelations come weeks after Deb filed official divorce papers, ending her 27-year marriage to Hugh and issuing a powerful public statement where she spoke of her 'traumatic journey of betrayal'.

Brushing off the drama, Hugh was noticeably upbeat as he departed the theatre during his stint in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes.

He waved to the crowd and singed autographs outside before riding away on a bicycle.

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Hugh Jackman was in high spirits as he was mobbed by fans outside Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City on Tuesday

The actor, 55, was all smiles despite recent reports that his ex Deborra-Lee Furness is 'planning to release a divorce tell-all'

Deborra-Lee is reportedly planning to release a no-holds-barred 'divorce diary' detailing her painful split from Hugh and the heartbreak that followed.

The Australian actress is currently documenting her emotional roller-coaster journey, with plans to publish the memoir once her divorce from the Wolverine star is legally finalised, according to New Idea.

'Deb's been desperate to have her side of the story out there,' an alleged source told the outlet.

'She's been writing down all her thoughts, the good and the bad, and logging every detail of this ugly roller-coaster divorce. As soon as her lawyers allow it, she will be talking to publishers about a deal.'

Hugh and Deborra-Lee's split appeared to turn bitter when she spoke about her 'traumatic journey of betrayal' in the wake of her divorce filing last month.

'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,' she said.

'It's a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.'

'This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage.'

The revelations come weeks after Deb (picture in 2023) filed official divorce papers, ending her marriage and issuing a statement where she spoke of her 'traumatic journey of betrayal'

Brushing off the drama, Hugh was noticeably upbeat as he departed the theatre during his stint in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes

He waved to the crowd and singed autographs outside before riding away on a bicycle

Hugh dressed smartly in a navy shirt which he teamed with a pair of linen trousers

A huge crowed waited for him outside

He is currently in the middle of a two-month stint in the show which ends June 18

She continued: 'I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.

'It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.'

She concluded her statement with the 'one thing' she has learned, which is 'that none of this is personal.'

Deb's emotional declaration signalled a turning point in what had largely been a quiet and dignified separation - until now.

Sources claim that while Deb is remaining composed publicly, behind closed doors she's preparing to reclaim her narrative with a raw and honest memoir that could shine a spotlight on Jackman's new romance with Broadway star Sutton Foster.

The New Idea insider added that the actress won't be holding back: 'She won't be silenced. This is her truth.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Deborra-Lee Furness for comment.

Meanwhile, tensions are said to be rising between Jackman and Foster, 50, as he pushes to integrate his new partner into the family unit he once shared with Deb.

The Aussie actor is reportedly eager for Sutton to form a bond with his and Deborra-Lee's adopted children - Oscar, 25, and Ava, 19 - but the process hasn't been smooth.

'Sutton begged Hugh to stop forcing the situation,' a source claimed to New Idea, adding that the Broadway star is keen to delay any introductions until the divorce is officially settled.

'It was Oscar's birthday recently and Ava's is coming up in July and Hugh couldn't see an issue with wanting to include his other half,' the insider explained. 'But Sutton's anxious about rushing things and believes it's too soon.'

Meanwhile Debs is currently documenting her emotional roller-coaster journey, with plans to publish the memoir once her divorce from the Wolverine star is legally finalised

'Deb's been desperate to have her side of the story out there,' an alleged source told New Idea (pictured in March 2024)

Foster, who also shares an adopted daughter, Emily, 7, with ex-husband Ted Griffin, is said to be treading carefully, especially with the shadow of Deb's scathing comments still lingering.

If Deborra-Lee's book plans go ahead, it's likely to be one of the most anticipated celebrity memoirs in years - and with decades of Hollywood secrets, personal struggles, and a headline-grabbing split to unpack, publishers will no doubt be lining up.

Hugh has yet to release his own statement on the split, but a source told the Daily Mail he had been left 'extremely disappointed' by Deborra-Lee's words as he believed they had an 'understanding' they would not publicly trash one another.

'There was no stipulation that she could not address this but there was an unwritten understanding that she would not trash him to the press,' an insider said.

'She got around this by not naming him - instead focusing on how she felt.'
Sutton Foster has taken a stand when it comes to her public image.

The girlfriend of Hugh Jackman has opted to turn off some of her Instagram comments as interest in her romance grows to fever pitch.

The Broadway actress, 50, headed to the Drama Desk Awards in New York this week and shared some images from the event to her social media.

But fans keen to compliment her slinky outfit were out of luck, as the performer has turned off the ability to add comments underneath her social media posts.

As of Wednesday evening, comments are switched off altogether on her latest post from the Drama Desk Awards.

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Sutton Foster has taken a stand when it comes to her public image. The girlfriend of Hugh Jackman has opted to turn off some of her Instagram comments as interest in her romance grows to fever pitch. Pictured with friend Michael Urie in her latest Instagram post

Attempts to add new comments on another recent post, made a week ago, are met with the warning 'Comments on this post have been limited.'

Comments remain active on other posts, including one from May which is inundated with abusive messages from trolls regarding Sutton's relationship with Jackman.

It comes after reports that tensions have reportedly risen between Jackman and n Foster as the Aussie actor attempts to integrate his new partner into the family.

The 56-year-old Wolverine star is eager for the actress to develop a relationship with his adopted children  Oscar, 25, and Ava, 19  who he shares with ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness, according to Woman's Day.

However, Sutton, who also shares adopted daughter Emily, seven, with ex-husband Ted Griffin, is said to have 'begged Hugh to stop forcing the situation' while in the midst of his divorce with Deborra-Lee, 69, the magazine reported.

'It was Oscar's birthday recently and Ava's is coming up in July and Hugh couldn't see an issue with wanting to include 'his other half',' the insider told the outlet.

They went on to say Sutton is more anxious about the meeting and believes it should wait until the divorce has been finalised and everything has settled down.

'Although she's open to it eventually, she knows they all need a little more time,' the source added.

The Broadway actress, 50, headed to the Drama Desk Awards in New York this week and shared some images from the event to her social media.

Fans keen to compliment her slinky outfit were out of luck, as the performer has turned off the ability to add comments underneath her social media posts. As of Wednesday evening, comments are switched off altogether on her latest post from the Drama Desk Awards

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hugh and Sutton's representatives for comment.

Hugh was recently spotted in public for the first time since Deborra-Lee opened up about her feelings of 'betrayal' in a blistering statement to the Daily Mail.

Hugh and Deborra-Lee's split appeared to turn bitter when she spoke about her 'traumatic journey of betrayal' in the wake of her divorce filing last month.

'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,' she said.

'It's a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.'

She continued: 'This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage.

'I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.

'It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.'

Comments remain active on other posts, including one from May which is inundated with abusive messages from trolls regarding Sutton's relationship with Jackman (left)

She concluded her statement with the 'one thing' she has learned, which is 'that none of this is personal.'

Hugh has yet to release his own statement on the split, but a source told the Daily Mail he had been left 'extremely disappointed' by Deborra-Lee's words as he believed they had an 'understanding' they would not publicly trash one another.

'There was no stipulation that she could not address this but there was an unwritten understanding that she would not trash him to the press,' an insider said.

'She got around this by not naming him - instead focusing on how she felt.'
Lena Dunham has candidly reflected on her 'last affair' ahead of her semi-autobiographical Netflix series Too Much.

In a story for British Vogues July issue, the writer and producer, 39, admitted to 'wrecking herself on male attention' before finding love with her husband Luis Felber.

The 10-part rom-com follows a New Yorker (Megan Slater) who heads to London in the wake of a breakup - much like she did herself - and is co-produced by Luis.

Lena and Luis, 38, met in January 2021 on a blind date - after being set up by friends - and tied the knot in September 2021.

But before meeting her husband and finally getting her 'happy ending,' the actress recalled her 'boy craziness' that led her to 'stop trusting herself.'

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Lena Dunham has candidly reflected on her 'last affair' ahead of her semi-autobiographical Netflix series Too Much (pictured in August 2023)

The 10-part rom-com follows a New Yorker who heads to London in the wake of a breakup - much like she did herself (Too Much cast pictured)

She explained: 'Even now, I cant be sure. Its not that I dont trust my husband or our life  I do, very much.

'Its that at some point along the way, wrecking myself again and again on the rocky shores of male attention, I stopped trusting myself.'

Lena revealed how two weeks before she left for London, she met a man with 'Brad Pitt facial features' in a yard in Los Angeles, named Craig.

She and Craig went on throw away her 'hard-earned peace' after vowing to stop with her 'boy craziness', in favour of a steamy two week affair.

Arriving in London, Lena admitted she was left in tears over the man she 'had sex with fives times a day' after his messages dried up.

She continued: 'Two weeks after quarantine ended a friend would encourage me to get back on the horse and send my number to a man who he swore was not your husband or anything, just a fun times guy. I didnt know that man would, in fact, be my husband.

'Craigs immaturity made me feel less old and his beauty made me feel more beautiful. I wanted, too badly, to be both of those things  and so I saw very little.

'It took longer than Id like to admit to realise he hadnt awoken me  I was waking and he walked by.'

In a story for British Vogue s July issue, the writer and producer, 39, admitted to 'wrecking herself on male attention' before finding love with her husband Luis Felber (pictured in 2022)

Megan Slater will play main character Jessica in the series while Will Sharpe will play Felix - the man she meets in London

Before meeting her husband and finally getting her 'happy ending,' the actress recalled her 'boy craziness' that led her to 'stop trusting herself' (pictured in 2024)

Emily Ratajkowski will play Polly in the series - a friend to the main character Jessica

Adwoa Aboah will also star as Will's ex Linnea

Lena previously explained why she cast Megan Stalter instead of herself in her semi-autobiographical series Too Much.

'I was not willing to have another experience like what I'd experienced around [my HBO series Girls] at this point in my life,' the producer-star explained to the New Yorker.

'Physically, I was just not up for having my body dissected again. It was a hard choice, not to cast Meg  because I knew I wanted Meg  but to admit that to myself. I used to think that winning meant you just keep doing it and you don't care what anybody thinks. I forgot that winning is actually just protecting yourself and doing what you need to do to keep making work.'

Lena continued: 'I remember looking at Meg and being, like, "You are my muse. You inspire me every single day to go home and tap out pages upon pages." I definitely don't want to be my own muse.'

She gushed over how 'inspiring and unbelievably talented' the Hacks star is as her thinly-veiled character Jessica, who falls in love with a British musician called Felix (Will Sharpe) after moving from New York to North London.

See the full feature in the July issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 17th June.
Kate Mosss half-sister, Lottie, has revealed she was ready to end it all this week during an ADHD crash out.

Dressed in a white nightgown in her home with no makeup on she filmed a video titled ADHD girlies Public Service Announcement.

The 27-year-old said: If you are having a crash out right now, its going to end soon because I just had the biggest crash out of my life. I truly wanted to end it all.

I was like no one loves me, no one's ever loved me, I hate my life, Im disorganised, Im lazy.

Its like my brain is at war with me. I completely understand, honestly, if you're feeling the same as me right now, just know Im feeling it too.

I know how hard it can be for ADHD girls and I think we minimise ADHD as a mental health disorder, even though it's so prominent.

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Lottie revealed she was 'ready to end it all' after a severe ADHD 'crash out' this week

Lottie put on an edgy display as she attended Stormzy's house party in Soho, London the week before the 'crash out'

Lottie and Kate Moss revealed their three-year feud was over in September when they posed for sweet snaps together at their father's birthday bash alongside Kate's daughter Lila (centre)

With women, the emotions are just so up and down up and down. I remember when I was first diagnosed I thought I had bipolar. It was that bad.

'Crash outs' are when a person is feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained, often occurring when ADHD medications wear off or when the individual is under a lot of pressure or stress.

Underneath the TikTok video, the Celebrity Bear Hunt star penned: Also any advice on good medication?

She opened up about her previous struggles with addiction on the Netflix show, which was axed this week, and said: Drugs and depression. You become quite numb. I didnt feel anything. I didnt care if I lived or died.

I would have run it into the ground, to be honest and my mum said, "You need to go into rehab.

Lottie did a stint in rehab in February 2022 for substance abuse issues, specifically with cocaine, at an unspecified facility in the U.S.

Lottie broke down in tears on Celebrity Bear Hunt as she opened up on her failed rehab stint that 'didn't work'

Lottie pictured in 2022 - the same year she attended rehab in America

Lottie at the Celebrity Bear Hunt premiere in Leicester Square in February

The model says she never touched drugs or alcohol before becoming a catwalk star but later became hooked.

And the London-born socialite reveals she never felt able to confide in half-sister Kate Moss about her troubles, admitting the endless comparison with the supermodel was a constant burden during her career.

Previously speaking in depth about her drug woes, Lottie said: 'I started quite early on with using drugs and alcohol as a crutch, as a coping mechanism, which there is not a lack of in the fashion industry.

'There were people in positions of power that were giving me drugs and alcohol when I was very young and so it didn't seem bad to me.'

She continued: 'When you have people around you who are enabling you, I am talking at high fashion events and people are in a penthouse suite, and people that are working for a brand that is very well known and they're sat there doing drugs with you as a 19-year-old.

'That is so weird to me now that should never happen in any industry.'

'The fact that no one said, "maybe we shouldn't be enabling a young woman to do drugs. We should want her to be on her A game and doing her best, wake up in the morning and do a gym class, instead, it was lots of alcohol", and it goes hand in hand.'

In September 2024, Lottie was rushed to hospital after she took high doses of Ozempic given to her by a friend who bought it under the counter from a doctor.

The model was violently ill, suffering a seizure and severe dehydration after taking the drug when she weighed around 60kg - just 9stone.

The model had a seizure during an emergency trip to the hospital after she took a high dosage of the weight loss drug for two weeks, causing her to be violently ill

The model recently revealed that she's going back to her natural look and had her jaw and lip filler dissolved, as well as a tattoo removed just under her eye [pictured in September before the filler reversal]

She said she would rather 'die' than use Ozempic again, which is meant to treat the obese or diabetics and has suffered global shortages.

Lottie recalled having the seizure, which was caused by severe dehydration and said her face and hands clenching up was one of the 'scariest' experiences she has ever endured.

She said there were, 'small things I wish I'd known before taking it' and revealed her weight plummeted to around 53kg in a few weeks.

After being seen by medical professionals, Lottie learned the dosage of Ozempic she was injecting into her leg should be prescribed to someone weighing at least 100 kilos - nearly double her size.
Gal Gadot has been left 'scarred' and 'reluctant to ever film in London again' following a wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic protests that have dogged the production of her latest film.

The Wonder Woman star, 40, is currently in the UK shooting The Runner, a political thriller, but has faced persistent demonstrations from pro-Palestinian activists who accuse her of 'normalising war criminals' because of her past support for Israel and mandatory service in the Israeli Defence Forces.

According to a source close to the production, Ms Gadot has told friends she is 'reluctant to ever film in London again' and has found the experience 'scarring'.

The source added that those working on the film had become increasingly exasperated by the scale of the disruption, which began earlier this month, and by what they perceived as a lack of firm action by police.

But last week the Metropolitan Police finally took action.

They confirmed that five people were arrested at a filming site in Westminster for attempting to disrupt the production. Two of the arrests were for offences committed at previous protests, while three were for action on the day.

Gal Gadot has been left 'scarred' and 'reluctant to ever film in London again' following a wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic protests that have dogged the production of her latest film, The Runner

The Wonder Woman star, 40, is currently in the UK shooting The Runner, a political thriller, but has faced persistent demonstrations from pro-Palestinian activists who accuse her of 'normalising war criminals' because of her past support for Israel and mandatory service in the Israeli Defence Forces

'While we absolutely acknowledge the importance of peaceful protest, we have a duty to intervene where it crosses the line into serious disruption or criminality,' said Superintendent Neil Holyoak.

'I hope today's operation shows we will not tolerate the harassment of or unlawful interference with those trying to go about their legitimate professional work in London.'

Protests have taken place over at least 20 days, with activists sharing filming locations on social media and attempting to block access.

One poster, circulated ahead of filming at YY London earlier this month, read: 'Last time her filming location was circulated, filming was successfully interrupted and activists made the point loud and clear. No to IDF soldiers in our city. No normalising war criminals!! Free Palestine.'

Last month, protesters targeted Ms Gadot while she was filming on Waterloo Bridge, waving Palestinian flags and placards, banging saucepan lids, and blaring sirens.

Chants included 'Gal Gadot, you can't hide,' while signs read 'Trash Gadot not welcome in London' and 'Stop starving Gaza.'

Officers from Scotland Yard dispersed the group, but no arrests were made at that time.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the recent operation followed weeks of similar disruption 'solely because an actress involved in the production is Israeli.'

According to a source close to the production, Ms Gadot has told friends she is 'reluctant to ever film in London again' and has found the experience 'scarring'

The source added that those working on the film had become increasingly exasperated by the scale of the disruption, which began earlier this month, and by what they perceived as a lack of firm action by police

Demonstrators disrupted her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in May, chanting 'Shame on Gal Gadot' and waving Palestinian flags. Days later, her star on the Walk of Fame was defaced, with vandals scrawling 'Baby killer' and altering her surname to 'Greestien'a misspelling of her family's original Jewish name, Greenstein.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism told the Mail: 'Here is an example of a foreign Jew being made to feel unwelcome. We have all learned the hard way that 'Free Palestine' activism does not end with mere rhetoric. The time has come to clamp down once and for all'

Ms Gadot has not commented publicly on the protests, but her treatment has sparked widespread condemnation.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism has condemned the sustained targeting of Ms Gadot, a mother-of-four, warning it reflects a wider climate of hostility toward Jewish people in the UK.

A spokesperson told the Mail: 'We welcome the arrests of individuals who have allegedly been harassing Gal Gadot and her colleagues during filming. At least the financial cost of allowing the mob unfettered freedom to spew their bile is motivating the authorities to act, even if the social cost has yet to be acknowledged.

'With Ms Gadot reportedly reconsidering her business in the UK, it remains to be seen whether this is too little too late. Our polling shows that less than half of British Jews feel welcome in the UK.

'Here is an example of a foreign Jew being made to feel unwelcome. We have all learned the hard way that 'Free Palestine' activism does not end with mere rhetoric. The time has come to clamp down once and for all.'

The experience stands in stark contrast to her previous time filming in the UK, including work on Wonder Woman 1984, which shot scenes in London in 2018 without incident.

Her latest visit has unfolded against a backdrop of growing concern over antisemitism in Britain, with the UK increasingly viewed as a hotbed of hostility toward Jewish figures in public life.

Ms Gadot has also faced similar protests in the US.

Demonstrators disrupted her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in May, chanting 'Shame on Gal Gadot' and waving Palestinian flags. Days later, her star on the Walk of Fame was defaced, with vandals scrawling 'Baby killer' and altering her surname to 'Greestien'a misspelling of her family's original Jewish name, Greenstein.

Stickers with inflammatory messages like 'Israeli snipers target children' were also found.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism called the graffiti 'a modern manifestation of medieval antisemitic tropes,' likening it to the blood libel.

Ms Gadot's representatives have been contacted for comment.
Fern Britton displayed her impressive five stone weight loss as she left Global Radio on Wednesday.

The TV presenter, 67, has long been open about her weight struggles, having fluctuated between a size 22 and a size 12 over the years.

And she showed off her trim figure as she strolled through London, sporting a white frilly blouse and ripped straight leg cropped jeans.

Fern had been a guest at Global Radio promoting her upcoming novel A Cornish Legacy - which comes out on Thursday and centres on Wilderhoo - a fictional 1,000-year-old Cornish house that has gone to rack and ruin.

She recently revealed the turning point behind her dramatic weight loss in an interview with Woman&Home magazine.

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Fern Britton displayed her impressive five stone weight loss as she left Global Radio on Wednesday

She showed off her trim figure as she strolled through London, sporting a white frilly blouse and ripped straight leg cropped jeans

Fern reflected on the powerful moment she decided to take back control of her health.

She told the publication: 'People often wonder when you lose lots of weight whether you've done it naturally.

'And I can look at you and say, "Yes, I have".'

'I had my shoulder replacement 18 months ago, and two-and-a-half years ago, when I saw the surgeon, he said, "I'm going to totally replace your shoulder, I'll see you in a year."

'I thought, "I need to get my life back on track. I need to stop smoking, stop drinking, get eating under control and stop lying in bed feeling sorry for myself".

'So I started the Couch to 5k, took about 80 per cent of the sugar out of my life and started to think about what I was eating, which I had never done before.'

Five years ago, the presenter moved permanently into her Cornish holiday home before renovating it 'bit by bit'.

A Cornish Legacy, which is Ferns 11th novel, took the star two years to write  twice longer than normal.

The TV presenter, 67, has long been open about her weight struggles, having fluctuated between a size 22 and a size 12 over the years

Fern had been a guest at Global Radio promoting her upcoming novel A Cornish Legacy - which comes out on Thursday

A Cornish Legacy centres on Wilderhoo - a fictional 1,000-year-old Cornish house that has gone to rack and ruin

Fern has long enjoyed storytelling, releasing her first novel New Beginnings 2011, two years after leaving This Morning.

But since Covid she has been prolific in her writing, penning Daughters Of Cornwall in 2020 and The Good Servant two years later, with the hotly-anticipated A Cornish Legacy set for release in June.

The Sunday Times bestselling author recently took to Instagram to reveal the cover of her new book, which promises another historical adventure on the south-west coastline.

In a caption, Fern excitedly announced: 'Hello everyone! I'm delighted to share the cover of my new novel, A Cornish Legacy, out in hardback, eBook and audio in June.

'Enter Wilder Hoo House and discover its secrets!

Nestled against the rugged Atlantic coast of Cornwall comes a heart-warming story of new beginnings and finding home where you least expect it

'You can pre-order A Cornish Legacy with the link in my bio! Love, Fern. x #ACornishLegacy.'

Fern has twin sons Harry and Jack, 31, and daughter Grace, 27, from her first marriage, to Clive Jones, and daughter Winnie, 23, with Phil Vickery.

Fern has kept her private life out of the spotlight since calling it a off with TV chef, Phil, 63, in 2020, after 20 years.

She recently admitted that while she does get 'lonely', she is still not looking for love five years on from her split.

The couple's 20-year marriage came to an end in 2020 following the deaths of Fern's parents, which reportedly caused the pair to realise that they had to 'follow their own paths'.

The former This Morning presenter, split from the TV chef, Phil, in 2020 after 22 years of marriage (pictured 2007)

Fern's move into authoring came shortly after her departure from This Morning where she became a household name alongside Philip Schofield from 1999 to 2009, when she was replaced by Holly Willoughby (Seen in 2005)

She told Woman & Home: 'I'm not looking for love - I'm still a bit too wary of losing my liberty.

'There's nobody to run something past but, on the other hand, I think back to running things past people and it never really worked out, so why dont I just make my own decision? Then Im the only person who can go, I f***ed up there.'

Fern's move into authoring came shortly after her departure from This Morning where she became a household name alongside Philip Schofield from 1999 to 2009, when she was replaced by Holly Willoughby.

She reportedly blames Phil for her This Morning exit and isn't afraid to speak out in the CBB house.

It was claimed at the time of Fern's This Morning exit she felt 'undervalued by ITV' and that she was 'living in Phil's shadow'.

It was also reported she was being paid 250,000 a year less than Phil and that he was earning three times her salary when they were fronting Mr and Mrs together from 2008 to 2010.

Phil is said to have banked 45,000 an hour while Fern earned just 15,000.

However, Fern denied she left ITV because of her salary and upon her departure she mentioned the whole This Morning team rather than just Phillip.

Four years after her departure, Phillip admitted he and Fern no longer spoke.
Blake Lively is focusing on her booze line this week.

On Wednesday, the 37-year-old blonde Hollywood pinup announced that Betty Booze is coming out with two vodka iced teas in time for the hot months.

The flavors are Meyer Lemonade and Passion Fruit.

'I come from a Southern family, so iced tea, especially in the summertime is a staple,' the actress told People.

'Sweet tea, passionfruit tea, tea with fresh lemonade  it all feels like relaxation and peaceful times. Enjoying an iced tea is a feeling as much as an experience to me.'

The wife of Ryan Reynolds kicked off her Betty Buzz brand in 2021 with sparkling mixers. In 2023 came Betty Booze with tequila and bourbon.

This comes after news that Blake has lost her friendship with Taylor Swift over her Justin Baldoni lawsuit.

Blake Lively is focusing on her booze line this week after her friendship with Taylor Swift reportedly fell apart. On Wednesday, the Hollywood pinup announced that Betty Booze is coming out with two vodka iced teas in time for the hot months

'Vodka felt like the perfect next addition to our 'bar' lineup because of its subtle and popular flavor,' she added, calling the spirit 'an ideal backdrop to both of our yummy new teas.'

And she suggested how fans should drink the beverages.

'I usually think of a barbecue or summer hang outside, even if it's just with one family member,' she said.

'Any time you'd have iced tea or an Arnold Palmer with alcohol is the time you'd have this,' she continued. 'At a party, dinner at home, at a restaurant, wherever is natural to you. I like seeing friends try both and swapping with each other back and forth as they drink. That's how you know they're close.'

Lively then mentioned her Emily Nelson character from the Simple Favor movies.

'Emily had a fabulous wedding in Capri, which is all things lemon,' she said.

'Lemons have a sweet spot for all us Capri superfans. Though I think Emily would spike our [ready-to-drink teas] with much more vodka because ours are nice and subtle, and she is neither nice or subtle. Well sometimes she's nice. But never subtle.'

'These are the recipes I've been making for loved ones for years. But I have 4 kids now. And I'm tired. So here they are in a can. Enjoy. Responsiblyish,' she said.

Lively allegedly asked Taylor Swift to delete their text messages as part of her ongoing legal battle with actor and director Baldoni.

The actress has been locked in a legal battle for months with 41-year-old filmmaker Justin after accusing him of harassment on the set of their film 'It Ends With Us', and her and Taylor's relationship became entangled in the lawsuit earlier this year.

The flavors are Meyer Lemonade and Passion Fruit. 'I come from a Southern family, so iced tea, especially in the summertime is a staple,' the actress told People . 'Sweet tea, passionfruit tea, tea with fresh lemonade  it all feels like relaxation and peaceful times. Enjoying an iced tea is a feeling as much as an experience to me'

She said her Simple Favor character would like the drinks with lemon

According to newly filed court documents revealed by Page Six, lawyers representing Justin and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, cite an anonymous source 'who is highly likely to have reliable information', alleging that Blake made the text deletion request to Taylor, 35  though the exact timing of the apparent conversation was not disclosed.

According to the filing, Justin's legal team further alleged Blake's lead attorney, Michael Gottlieb, had approached Taylor's law firm, Venable, to request a 'statement of support' from the pop star.

The court document claims the request carried an implied threat: 'If Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature in Ms Lively's possession would be released.'

Justin's lawyers said a representative for Taylor responded to the alleged threat in a written communication sent directly to Michael.

'It is those communications that the Wayfarer parties seek to obtain by way of subpoena,' the filing reads, referencing an ongoing legal battle over access to Venable's internal correspondence.

The documents allege the communications 'would evidence an attempt to intimidate and coerce a percipient witness in this litigation.'

Taylor has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but she has been subpoenaed as a potential witness in the case.

Michael responded to the allegations by calling them 'categorically false' and 'completely untethered from reality' in a statement to Page Six, adding he 'unequivocally' denied them.

Taylor's publicist also stated the Grammy winner 'was not involved' in the production of the film at the centre of the dispute between Justin and Blake, and had been 'traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.'

Baldoni arrives at the It Ends With Us premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 6, 2024 in New York City

Blake and Taylor have been close friends since 2015.

In January, Justin filed a countersuit against Blake, accusing her of defamation and extortion.

In the countersuit, he alleged Blake had invoked Taylor and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as protectors in creative disputes.

'The message could not have been clearer,' Justin's lawyers wrote in the filing.

They added: 'Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Lively's 'dragons,' two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him.'
Tina Knowles looked as glamorous as ever for an appearance on BBC'S The One Show on Tuesday night.

The businesswoman, 71, crossed the pond for a few days in London to promote her new memoir Matriarch, which gives an insight into her life of 'grief, tragedy, love and heartbreak'.

Ahead of the show, Tina - who is Beyonce's mother - posed for some photos outside the BBC's central London studios in the eye-catching outfit she wore for the evening.

Letting her brown locks flow past her shoulders, the designer looked predictably fashionable in a fuchsia blazer which she matched with some pink lipstick.

While holding an over-the-shoulder bag in her right hand, Tina slipped into some stylish black trousers that she teamed with a pair of coordinated smart shoes.

Tina Knowles, 71, looked as glamorous as ever for an appearance on BBC's The One Show on Tuesday night

Letting her brown locks flow past her shoulders, the designer looked predictably fashionable in a fuchsia blazer which she matched with some pink lipstick

Tina became the latest celebrity - after the likes of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Prince Harry - to release a memoir giving an insight into her life on April 22.

At over 400 pages, the book spares few details as Tina talks raising Beyonce, what Jay-Z's like as a son-in-law and more serious issues such as her breast cancer diagnosis last year.

During her appearance on The One Show on Wednesday, the Miss Tina designer said writing the new book has been a 'great healing journey' for her.

'I have just been behind the scenes for pretty much my whole career, so this was a big step for me to come out,' she said.

'It's been a wonderful journey, I've learned so much from writing this book. It was very necessary to look all the things, the good and the bad, that have happened in my life, and to tell it in my own words.

'We're in a time where there are so many rumours, and I just wanted to set the record straight on so many things. It's been a great healing journey for me.'

Tina only revealed she had been battling cancer in April having been diagnosed in 2024.

She learned she was suffering with Stage 1 breast cancer after doctors discovered two tumors during a mammogram appointment.

The businesswoman crossed the pond for a few days in London to promote her new memoir Matriarch, which gives an insight into her life of 'grief, tragedy, love and heartbreak'

In the book, Tina talks raising Beyonce, what Jay-Z's like as a son-in-law and more serious issues such as her breast cancer diagnosis last year

Knowles has however since been given the all-clear after undergoing surgery to remove the cancer last summer.

She told Gayle King on CBS Mornings that her daughters Beyonce, 43, and Solange, 38, who she shares with ex-husband Matthew Knowles, 72, supported her throughout the difficult ordeal.

'I was nervous,' she said, ' and so they just started joking with me.'

Knowles said Solange also played a viral video about the word 'demure' to cheer her up at one point.

'I start laughing. I get out of my head... Then I said, "I'm just so happy that y'all are here",' she said about the touching moment.

Tina added that her superstar daughter Beyonce gave her a rendition of the Destiny's Child song Walk With Me after her diagnosis.

'It's about God walking with you into something and protecting you,' Tina said through tears. 'And I went in there feeling just like God has got me.'

Tina's interview on The One Show came days after she appeared on Meghan Markle's Lemonada Media podcast.

Tina appeared on Meghan Markle's podcast earlier in the week where the pair talked business endeavours - with the Duchess of Sussex revealing she may want to start a business with her daughter Lilibet

The pair spoke about business endeavours, with the Duchess of Sussex talking about the possibility of running a business with her daughter Lilibet in the future.

Meghan said: 'I wonder if one day I'll be in business with Lili and we'll be building something.' Knowles added: 'Yeah, that's the best.'

Tina went on to talk about working with her daughter: 'You know you have disagreements, and you have to - I'm the one to always cave. If my kids are mad at me, I can't take it. I'll cave. If we have a disagreement, it's her business, so she gets the win.'

Tina and Beyonce entered into business together last year after starting the haircare brand Cecred.
Bikini-clad Georgia Toffolo turned heads as she took to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday with a glimpse inside her lavish riad with her husband, James Watt.

The Made In Chelsea star, 30, married her husband James, 42, in March, and they have jetted off to Morocco.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the beauty told her followers that she was heading into the lift in their riad to grab a snack on the ground floor.

Filming herself in the elevator mirror, Georgia wowed as she showed off her sensational figure in a black bikini.

The sizzling two-piece featured a halter neck top adorned with a gold pendant and tie-at-the waist bottoms.

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Georgia Toffolo turned heads as she took to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, sharing a glimpse into her lavish riad with her husband, James Watt

The Made In Chelsea star, 30, married her husband James, 42, in March, and they have jetted off to Morocco for their first trip as husband and wife (both pictured on their wedding day)

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the beauty told her followers that she was heading into the lift in their riad to grab a snack on the ground floor

Addressing her followers, she said: ''The snack was secured. Back up to the bedroom.'

She then flipped the camera to face the lift doors opening before sharing a glimpse of her lavish riad.

As she walked to the end of the corridor, she made James jump with a sudden scream, causing him to drop a pack of cards onto the floor in a fright.

The trip comes just days after Georgia wowed in an array of bikinis while on a girls' work trip to Greece.

The reality star revealed last month she had taken her team of staff at The Visionary Talent Agency on holiday to Greece for a work trip.

And after returning home, and feeling the holiday blues, Georgia took to Instagram on Sunday to share a final carousel of snaps.

Featured were several pictures of Georgia sporting bikinis, with the star showing off her toned torso in a blue diamante halterneck number featuring a starfish design.

Another two-piece Georgia was spotted wearing was a cute black and white polka dot wired bra with a flower applique.

She then flipped the camera to face the lift doors opening before sharing a glimpse of her lavish riad

As she walked to the end of the corridor, she made James jump with a sudden scream, causing him to drop a pack of cards onto the floor in a fright

Among the snaps included Georgia in a skintight grey playsuit for a day out at the beach, and another saw her wearing a cute white cardigan and polka dot midi skirt.

She also sported a bright red plunging swimsuit as she rode a jeep through the beach with one of her pals.

Georgia shared another snap as she posed with her team as they basked in the sun during their trip.

She captioned the snaps: 'Can't believe I'm saying this but the Greece spam is officially over. One last dump because this trip deserves it xx

'We had slightly chaotic boat rides, UNO matches that got weirdly intense, and sunsets that made us all go a bit soft.

'Whisked the gang away as a little thank you for being the most hardworking, hilarious, brilliant bunch Best decision ever. Heart = full.

'Already dreaming up the next escape Where should we go next? Hit me with recs pls!! .'

During the trip, Georgia shared a hilarious video on Instagram of her nightmare boat trip in Greece.

The trip comes just days after Georgia wowed in an array of bikinis while on a girls' work trip to Greece

One two-piece Georgia was spotted wearing was a cute black and white polka dot wired bra with a flower applique

Georgia shared another snap as she posed with her team as they basked in the sun during their trip

The former Made In Chelsea star began the ride with perfect blow dried hair, dressed in her stylish beach attire, but was soon left completely windswept after a very hectic boat trip.

She was left in hysterics as she held onto the boat for her life during the 'gale-force journey' around the gorgeous Greek seas.

In the clip, Georgia could be heard shouting 'Make it stop!' while holding onto her beach hat to stop it blowing away.

She captioned the post: 'When we said boat day this is not what we had in mind

'BUT swimming off the boat in the most crystal clear water, surrounded by fish was just magic. So calm SO PERFECT it almost made us forget the gale-force journey.

'This trip just keeps surprising us in the best (and most hilarious) ways. Although we are very glad to be back on dry land lol. Never felt more grateful what a team xxx'

Her trip comes after her new husband James Watt revealed how he lost 150,000 while gaining a wife in Georgia, as the couple opened up on their need to keep adding to their already eye-watering multimillion pound fortune.

The BrewDog co-founder and Georgia began dating in 2023, before tying the knot in a low key ceremony in March this year.

Previously, Georgia flashed her abs in a skimpy blue bikini as she shared a hilarious video on Instagram of her nightmare boat trip in Greece

Last month it was revealed that the newlyweds are worth a staggering 425million, according to The Sunday Times, overtaking the likes of Ed Sheeran, Lord Sainsburys, Harry Styles and Lewis Hamilton.

Following their placing at 304 on the publication's Rich List, the couple opened up to the The Sunday Times on their relationship, where they both insisted that they couldn't rest on their fortune and needed to keep making money.

Reflecting on how they came to fall for each other, James revealed that their first date came about as a result of one of his 'worst-ever investments' that cost him 150,000.

He recalled: 'Georgia is the outcome of one of my worst-ever investments. I have a portfolio of about 20 small businesses and one of them fell by the wayside, but the founder of that business knew Georgia and set us up.

'So I may have lost 150,000 but I gained a wife. Maybe it was my best investment ever?'

Explaining her attraction to James, Georgia said that her type is 'powerful, successful men' and while giving an insight into their marriage, she admitted the couple 'talk about work constantly'.
Friends alum Jane Sibbett is best known for portraying David Schwimmer's onscreen ex-wife Carol Willick in 15 episodes of the NBC sitcom spanning 1994-2001.

But the 62-year-old grandmother-of-two left her native California for Hawaii a decade ago in favor of a surprising new career as an energy healer.

Jane received no formal training as her 'dancing hands' technique was inspired by healer Abdy Electriciteh after she hosted informal 'goddess circles' for women back in Topanga.

'I wouldn't call it Reiki,' Sibbett explained to People on Wednesday.

'[My hands] just started dancing because I was never trained in Reiki, so I wouldn't even know what that is. I believe in it, I trust it [but] it's just not what I do. This wasn't trained. This just came in fully fleshed, immediately.'

The Jane's Dancing Hands founder continued: 'I started to feel the way that source energy or God energy was moving through me. Then somebody said, "Hey, you were so good at that. I know somebody else who needs your help," and so I went to one person, and then I did the next person, and I did the next.'

Friends alum Jane Sibbett is best known for portraying David Schwimmer's onscreen ex-wife Carol Willick in 15 episodes of the NBC sitcom spanning 1994-2001

But the 62-year-old retired actress left her native California for Hawaii a decade ago in favor of a surprising new career as an energy healer (pictured April 22)

Back in 1994, Jane was nearly cast as Rachel Green in Friends but she got pregnant with her second child, so she eventually replaced Anita Barone as the sixth grade teacher who divorces Ross Geller before the birth of their son Ben.

'I have not [watched the entire series]. I confess,' Sibbett told the New York Post last September.

'Obviously, when I was shooting the show, I watched what we were doing, but generally I didn't watch because I was so busy raising my children...I'm that girl who just doesn't watch what she's already done. It's really terrible.'

The former Wild Aloha Studios co-founder received equal parts praise and hate for portraying a woman who comes out as a lesbian and weds her mistress Susan Bunch (Jessica Hecht).

The faux nuptials made history as the first lesbian wedding on network television, which deeply upset Jane's conservative Christian father.

'Given the fact that people have been watching Friends now for 30 years  isn't that incredible  I think [the lesbian storyline] would be wholly embraced,' Jane told the Post.

'Obviously, we know that the diversity wasn't existent and it should have been and there would be definitely some expansion. But we are clearly hungry for a show that is uplifting and funny and reflects our friend groups, how they become our family.'

Sibbett memorably portrayed gold digger Clarice Kensington in Andy Tennant's 1995 rom-com It Takes Two alongside the Olsen Twins, Kirstie Alley, and Steve Guttenberg.

The UCLA grad is also remembered for her roles in The WB sitcom Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Fox sitcom Herman's Head, CBS sitcom The Famous Teddy Z, and NBC soap opera Santa Barbara.

Jane received no formal training as her 'dancing hands' technique was inspired by healer Abdy Electriciteh after she hosted informal 'goddess circles' for women back in Topanga (pictured February 2)

Sibbett explained to People on Wednesday: '[My hands] just started dancing because I was never trained in Reiki, so I wouldn't even know what that is. I believe in it, I trust it [but] it's just not what I do. This wasn't trained. This just came in fully fleshed, immediately'

The Jane's Dancing Hands founder continued: 'I started to feel the way that source energy or God energy was moving through me. Then somebody said, "Hey, you were so good at that. I know somebody else who needs your help," and so I went to one person, and then I did the next person, and I did the next'

Back in 1994, Jane was nearly cast as Rachel Green (L) in Friends but she got pregnant with her second child, so she eventually replaced Anita Barone as the sixth grade teacher who divorces Ross Geller before the birth of their son Ben

Sibbett received equal parts praise and hate for portraying a woman who comes out as a lesbian and weds her mistress Susan Bunch (L, Jessica Hecht)

The former Wild Aloha Studios co-founder memorably portrayed gold digger Clarice Kensington in Andy Tennant's 1995 rom-com It Takes Two alongside the Olsen Twins (R), Kirstie Alley (M), and Steve Guttenberg

Jane is also remembered for her roles in The WB sitcom Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Fox sitcom Herman's Head (pictured), CBS sitcom The Famous Teddy Z, and NBC soap opera Santa Barbara

Sibbett - who's currently penning a memoir - is next scheduled to host a $160 virtual Expanded Quanta Circle session between July 1-3

Jane's last acting gig was portraying Dr. Elisabeth Boyer in Roxy Shih's 2021 breast cancer drama List of a Lifetime alongside the late Shannen Doherty.

Sibbett has three children - daughter Ruby, nearly 33; son Kai, 30; and daughter Violet, 24 - from her 24-year marriage to Karl Fink, which ended in 2016.

The avid equestrian - who's currently penning a memoir - is next scheduled to host a $160 virtual Expanded Quanta Circle session between July 1-3.
Carys Douglas was showered with love and support from her famous parents as she graduated from Brown University in Rhode Island.

The 22-year-old graduate took to Instagram on Tuesday to share more snaps from her big day, which featured an emotional moment with her mother Catherine Zeta-Jones, 55, and a sweet shot with father Michael Douglas, 80.

Carys looked radiant as she posed in her cap and gown layered over a chic white dress.

In one adorable photograph, she was seen with tears of joy as she embraced her mother. Reposting the image, Catherine shared: 'Says it all really. Love you Carys.'

Catherine also reposted a fun snap of Carys sat in the boot of their car as she quipped: 'graduate on board'.

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Catherine Zeta-Jones, 55, shared an emotional moment with Carys in more sweet snaps taken from her daughter's graduation ceremony last month

The 22-year-old graduate took to Instagram on Tuesday to share more snaps from her big day, which featured a sweet shot with father Michael Douglas, 80

Carys' carousel of snaps was captioned: 'Thank you thank you thank you @brownu @watsoninstitute'.

Catherine was quick to comment, posting: 'So proud of you. What a milestone. Congratulations sweetheart '.

Last week, the Wednesday actress shared her own photographs from the ceremony, including a sweet one of herself and Douglas kissing Carys on both cheeks.

Catherine captioned the picture: 'The night before graduation!!!! We are both such proud parents right now!! Its only just begun!!'

The proud actress mum went on to share several Instagram stories on Sunday, including footage of their daughter in her graduation robes.

Catherine and Carys also held hands for a sweet moment where they kissed each other again on the cheek.

The occasion, which saw Carys obtain a degree in Film and International Relations from the prestigious Ivy League school, was also celebrated with a carrot cake.

Last October, Michael shared snaps with his daughter Carys as he visited her at college.

Carys looked radiant in a chic white summer dress as she celebrated her graduation

Catherine also reposted a fun snap of Carys sat in the boot of their car as she quipped: 'graduate on board'

Proud Michael posted a heartwarming picture on Instagram at the time, posing with his daughter against a beautiful autumn backdrop on campus.

He captioned the post: 'Visiting my daughter Carys at school on a fall Sunday!,' alongside a heart emoji.

Carys was quick to comment as she penned: 'I had the best time with you Dadda.'

Catherine and Michael share two children together, Carys, and her brother Dylan, 24, and they are both following in the acting footsteps of their famous parents.

Acting is a prominent part of Michael's family background; he is the son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas and actress Diana Dill.

While Dylan has a short resume on IMDb, he still remains in the spotlight - he hosts Young American with Dylan Douglas, a 'Gen Z powered political talk show.'

Cary's IMDb only has four credits thus far but her work includes the short film Shell and working as a second assistant director on the short August.

Last week, the Wednesday actress shared her own photographs from the ceremony, including a sweet one of herself and Douglas kissing Carys on both cheeks

The proud actress mum went on to share several Instagram stories on Sunday, including footage of their daughter in her graduation robes

Catherine and Michael share two children together, Carys, and her brother Dylan, 24, and they are both following in the acting footsteps of their famous parents

Catherine and Carys also held hands for a sweet moment where they kissed each other again on the cheek

The occasion, which saw Carys obtain a degree in Film and International Relations from the prestigious an Ivy League school, was also celebrated with a carrot cake

Michael shares Carys and her brother Dylan with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones

The now-graduate's latest film, another short called F*ck That Guy, headed to the PROOF Film Festival in Los Angeles and saw Spike Lee serve as an executive producer.

In 2021, Catherine revealed both Carys and Dylan are determined to get into acting.

Catherine said on The Drew Barrymore Show: 'Their love of the craft of acting is so strong that even when their brains are doing politics and history in school, their passion is acting.

'And they've never done anything professional, but they would like to go into acting.'

Carys has even been warned by her father that if she pursues a career in Hollywood she will always be referred to as 'the daughter of.'

The mother-of-two said: 'In fact one has to prove oneself more, so even with that deterrent my kids are like, 'No, sorry we still want to do it.''
Miquita Oliver turned up the heat with her latest Instagram post on Tuesday.

The TV personality, 40, decided to give her followers a treat as she posed up a storm in a sheer beige knitted mini dress.

The sizzle dress left little to the imagination as she flashed her nipples and showed off her sensational figure.

She covered her modesty with a black pair of underwear and finished the look with black pumps.

Miquita captioned the sexy snaps: 'Making it work at mum's house.'

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Miquita Oliver turned up the heat with her latest Instagram post on Tuesday

The TV personality, 40, decided to give her followers a treat as she posed up a storm in a sheer beige knitted mini dress

It comes after Miquita revealed she had a secret abortion at the age of 24 after being 'too scared and embarrassed' to tell her ex.

The TV star, who co-hosts Miss Me? podcast with her best friend Lily Allen, confessed she got the termination just a day before going back to work.

At the time Miquita was presenting the Fashion Rocks event on T4 on Channel 4, according to The Sun.

In an episode on their Miss Me? podcast, she said: 'I remember I worked at Fashion Rocks, at the Royal Albert Hall, for T4, Lily was there performing.

'All these popstars would come and sing with a brand, but I'd had an abortion the day before. It was really quite serious, and I was only 24.

'And I thought "you can't do that to Fashion Rocks, who is going to host the T4 coverage?" That was some next level type of cramps walking around the Royal Albert Hall.

'It was a very weird day. I was really quite heavily pregnant with my ex and I was just so embarrassed and so scared he wouldn't want to go out with me anymore. So I kept it to myself until now.'

Last year, Miquita revealed she was 'attending therapy sessions drunk' at the height of her alcoholism as she candidly discussed her struggle.

It comes after Miquita revealed she had a secret abortion at the age of 24 after being 'too scared and embarrassed' to tell her ex (pictured in 2024)

The TV star, who co-hosts Miss Me? podcast with her best friend Lily Allen, confessed she got the termination just a day before going back to work

The presenter previously admitted to 'losing everything' to bankruptcy and booze when she was unable to pay a 174,000 tax bill back in 2012.

Speaking her Miss Me? podcast, she opened up about their experiences with therapy.

One listener called in to asked if there was a particular event that made them start therapy.

Miquita admitted: 'I started going to a therapist when I was deep in my alcoholism in my early thirties and it didn't work because I was going to my sessions drunk.

'That is a whole different level of performative therapy. I was trying to pretend that I hadn't been drinking.'

She continued: 'That really did feel pointless and because of how awful I realised that going to therapy drunk was that led me to stop drinking for a little bit.

'But then I found a really good therapist who did help me change my life, and continue to change my life.'

Addressing her bankruptcy on BBC Three programme Young, British & Broke in 2013, she said she was so ashamed about her financial troubles that she didn't tell anybody for two years.

In an episode on their Miss Me? podcast, she said: 'It was a very weird day. I was really quite heavily pregnant with my ex and I was just so embarrassed and so scared he wouldn't want to go out with me anymore. So I kept it to myself until now'

She said: 'At 17 I was earning money I didnt know how to handle and before I knew it I owed thousands to the taxman.

'I just felt like I couldnt breathe and that I was sinking. I was so scared about my future and I didnt tell anyone for 2 years.

'When I was declared bankrupt it felt like I was in a financial mess I would never get out of.'

Lily and Miquita grew up in the limelight, and spent their younger years partying incessantly, something which they have openly discussed on their podcast.

They have been there for each other through many tough times but one area where they haven't been so loyal is men.

On their podcast Miquita spoke of a particularly sticky time, which came before Lily's music fame, when the presenter had a crush.

Taking listeners back to the early noughties when she was hosting Popworld, Channel 4's Sunday morning music show, Miquita said: 'There was a pop star.

'I found out that he fancied me. I told Lily that I liked him. Cue, Lily gets herself to a festival in Japan and seduces him.'

Lily hadn't broken through as an artist yet so instead got a job in artist relations to get backstage for the gig.

The conversation on their podcast got tense as Lily questioned whether Miquita had ever made her feelings clear for the man.

Lily admitted she flew to Japan to 'lock that one in', adding: 'I fancied him, so I was getting mine. By the way, I think pop stars are fair game, like, I don't care.'

The pair laughed as they recalled the incident, however Miquita revealed that she didn't speak to Lily for six months after it happened.

Miquita said: 'If I didn't hate you so much for it, I would have applauded you. It was admirable.'
Kim Zolciak's daughter Ariana Biermann dropped a bombshell on the premiere episode of her new reality show Next Gen NYC, claiming her mother and stepfather Kroy Biermann spent all of her hard-earned money.

The 23-year-old influencer revealed she started making significant income from brand deals and sponsored social media posts as early as age 14but alleges her parents wiped it out.

'I was doing like three posts a week and you get paid astronomical [sic] to do a story or to do an Instagram post, and I made quite a bit of money,' she said. 'But, unfortunately, my parents took my money.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Kim and Kroy for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Since filing to end their nearly 12-year marriage in May 2023, Kim and Kroy have been embroiled in a nasty legal battle over their Georgia mansion, custody of their four minor children, and financial supportwith Kroy previously accusing Kim of gambling away $1.5 million.

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Kim Zolciak 's daughter Ariana Biermann dropped a bombshell on the premiere episode of her new reality show Next Gen NYC , claiming her mother and stepfather Kroy Biermann spent all of her hard-earned money

The 23-year-old influencer revealed she started making significant income from brand deals and sponsored social media posts as early as age 14but alleges her parents wiped it out; (Kroy Bieramann, Kim Zolciak and Ariana's sister Brielle Zolciak in 2020)

Now Ariana is adding fuel to the fire, saying she discovered her money was 'gone two years ago.'

'I dont even know how much money I made over the time period,' the reality star admitted. 'Nobody was honest, there was no transparency and I have no idea where it actually went.'

She added that she 'cant say exactly' what her parents spent it on.

Ariana also revealed that the ongoing family drama has taken a toll on her relationship with boyfriend Hudson McLeroyparticularly when her mom reaches out for financial help.

'Sometimes I dont tell Hudson when she's asking me for something because she' going through this crazy divorce and living with four kids,' she admitted in a confessional.

'I get it and I never want money to destroy the relationship with my family,' she added.

Money woes have loomed large over Kim and Kroy's unraveling marriage.

After filing for divorce, Kroy accused the reality star of a severe gambling problem that he claimed left their family in financial ruin.

Ariana is adding fuel to the fire, saying she discovered her money was 'gone two years ago' (seen on Next Gen NYC)

'I was doing like three posts a week and you get paid astronomical [sic] to do a story or to do an Instagram post, and I made quite a bit of money,' Ariana said., adding, 'But, unfortunately, my parents took my money' (Ariana, Kim and Brielle)

'I dont even know how much money I made over the time period,' the reality star admitted

According to court filings, he alleged Kim blew through more than $600,000 on luxury shopping sprees over a seven-year span, frequenting high-end retailers like Neiman Marcus, Chanel, and Saks.

The financial pressure only escalated when their Georgia mansiononce listed at a far higher pricelingered on the market for over 18 months.

In February, the troubled property finally sold, but at a steep $3 million discount, following months of foreclosure threats.

Ariana's claim comes almost a week after Kim faced fresh backlash after promoting an online casino  despite ongoing claims that her gambling habit helped tank her family's finances.

The accusations about Kim's gambling losses were seen in a 2023 Milton Police Department bodycam video after officers responded to the home after Kim reported a domestic dispute.

During the police visit, Kroy told police that the Don't Be Tardy alum 'has decimated everything' with her penchant for gambling; he added that some of her gaming activity was illegal.

Zolciak and Biermann's four kids - Kroy Jr., 15, Kash, 14, and twins Kane and Kaia, 12 - were at home at the time of the altercation.

(Biermann had adopted Zolciak's older children from previous relationships - Brielle, 28, and Ariana - when they were minors in the couple's earlier years.)

'Nobody was honest, there was no transparency and I have no idea where it actually went'; (Kroy and Kim in 2020)

Ariana's bombshell financial claim also comes after she finally received her sentencing following her 2022 DUI arrest.

The media personality was involved in a 'minor fender bender' at the time - but denied that she had been drinking leading up to the incident. However, she admitted to using a marijuana vape the night before.

A hearing recently took place on May 23 amid her criminal case and she entered a plea deal - with charges officially being dropped, per InTouch Weekly - which was first to report the news.

She pleaded guilty to both reckless driving as well as possession and use of a drug-related object.

However, the star will have to serve 24 months on probation and if she commits any violations, Ariana could possibly serve time in jail.
Teddi Mellencamp is getting candid about her dating life, amid her cancer battle and divorce from Edwin Arroyave.

The 43-year-old former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star spoke openly about the new man in her life during the Tuesday's episode of her Two Ts In a Pod podcast, which she co-hosts cohosted with Tamra Judge.

In the latest show, she confirmed her budding romance after DailyMail exclusively cozy photos of her and her beau.

'Im dating somebody,' she shared with listeners. 'Hes very kind to me, hes taking good care of me. Hes nice, hes not married, he doesnt have any kids. But hes also a private person.'

The mother-of-three opted to keep her new suitor's name private, explaining, 'I asked him, like, "Do I even say your name?" and hes, like, its really whatever you want to do, like, "I know youre a public person."'

Teddi Mellencamp is getting candid about her dating life amid her cancer battle; pictured May 20

Teddi initially revealed that she was seeing a special someone back in March. It's unclear if the man she spoke about on Tuesday is that same person.

Speaking with fellow Bravo celebrity Erika Jayne on her Diamonds in the Rough podcast, she teased, 'I went on a second date.'

She added, 'So I went on a first date, pre-the [cancer] thing, and then I went on a second date yesterday actually. He's really cute and nice.'

Erika asked Teddi if her doctors gave her the okay to date as she pointed out, 'I know that they told you that you could ride horses.'

Mellencamp enthusiastically replied, 'Yes!' before showing the Chicago actress photos of her love interest.

Taking on a protective tone, Jayne then said, 'Wait a second, okay. What are his intentions? Do I need to get on the phone with this fool?'

Mellencamp then noted that the guy didn't know about her time on Real Housewives ahead of their meeting.

'He doesn't know s***,' she laughed, adding, 'But it's weird. He's like, so nice then I get panicked. But I have been on two dates.'

She shared with podcast listeners that the two dates went 'really well' and noted that the person is 35 and 'works in events.'

The 43-year-old former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has been battling brain cancer since February

The 43-year-old former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star addressed the new man in her life during the Tuesday's episode of her Two Ts In a Pod podcast

Teddi announced her split from her husband of 13 years, Edwin Arroyave, in November; pictured with daughters Slate, 12, Dove, five, and son Cruz, 10

Teddi initially revealed that she was seeing a special someone back in March while appearing with fellow Bravo celebrity Erika Jayne on her Diamonds in the Rough podcast

Teddi announced her split from her husband of 13 years, Edwin, in November.

The exes share daughters Slate, 12, Dove, five, and son Cruz, 10.

While Arroyave stepped up to help care for and support her amid her health crisis, the couple have maintained their intention to move forward with their divorce.

Their divorce was on hold as Edwin was taking care of Teddi, a source close to the couple told DailyMail.com in May.

It was added, She was staying at the home that they share together past several months. While Edwin is dedicated to continuing to help Teddi however he can in her recovery, they have decided to progress with their divorce.

Their marriage is over and they want to put an end to this and finalize it amicably and with much respect.
Katherine Ryan has revealed her fourth child will most probably be her last as she admitted it would be 'irresponsible' to have more children.

The comedian, 41, announced on her podcast on Wednesday that she is expecting her fourth baby and third child with her husband Bobby Kootstra.

The pair are already parents to Fred, three daughter Fenna, two, and the star also has 15-year-old Violet from a previous relationship.

And both Katherine and Bobby have admitted this will be the last child as they opened up about the pregnancy.

Speaking on her podcast Telling Everybody Everything, Katherine explained: 'I do love making people and I love making them with you, it's always what I've wanted since prom.

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Katherine Ryan, 41, has admitted having more kids would be 'irresponsible' as she revealed her fourth child will be her last and joked she wants to 'get hot' after this pregnancy

The comedian joked she has her sights on 'getting hot' after this pregnancy as she teased she will be giving the Kardashian's surgeons a call

'But at this point, we need to see how it goes, but I think it would be almost irresponsible to the children that we have and to ourselves.'

Katherine also joked she has her sights on 'getting hot' after this pregnancy as she teased she will be giving the Kardashian's surgeons a call.

'Now that the Kardashians are being really transparent about who their surgeons are, I've got sights to get hot. 45 whooo!

'There's Ozempic around the corner for me, there's the facelift.'

She continued: 'I'm gonna have a baby, hopefully it's a girl we never find out but if it's a boy fine.

'The boys are yours [Bobby's] and the girls are mine. Fred wouldn't want to share you.

'And then have the baby and then we feel really overwhelmed, we nearly break up, we have a comeback story, we go to Italy, have a facelift.'

'Get a revenge body,' added Bobby.

The star confessed: 'But at this point, we need to see how it goes, but I think it would be almost irresponsible to the children that we have and to ourselves' (pictured with her husband Bobby Kootstra and children Fred, three daughter Fenna, two, and Violet, 15)

Katherine has been open about her fertility struggles in recent years, revealing in 2024 that she had had three miscarriages in five years (pictured on Monday)

Katherine also joked that the timing of her pregnancy had coincidentally lined up with that of Sophie Habboo's.

The former Made In Chelsea star and her husband Jamie Laing announced they were expecting their first child together on Tuesday.

And commenting on the news Katherine teased: 'Sophie Habboo also announced her pregnancy, which is a nightmare for me, she is like 20, a supermodel.

'I feel like we are the same gestation and I'm like "oh great" that girl is going to look hot, hot, hot.

'I will be 42 year old this week, I am very blessed that I am still ovulating. I'm not complaining but it is going to be a fat girl summer for me.'

Bobby also joked that Katherine wanted to have another child to defy the biological clock.

He explained: 'Well you do not like being told what to do. So when you're getting to an age where women... when it's getting harder to have a baby. You go "I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll have one!"

'And so after the miscarriage you were more keen than ever to get it done because of the biological age and just the feeling of someone telling you that you can't do this, you're like "I will do this".

'I respect that about you. That's where we are, but I think we can say this might be the last one.'

Katherine has been open about her fertility struggles in recent years, revealing in 2024 that she had had three miscarriages in five years.

Katherine also joked that the timing of her pregnancy had coincidentally lined up with that of Sophie Habboo's (pictured with husband Jamie Laing) as she joked it was a 'nightmare'

Speaking in November, Katherine admitted she would love to have more kids  but was worried about her age.

'I'm old. I used to think I was going to be the babies' dad because I'm working but actually I'm like their grandmother,' she quipped at the time. 'My back hurts, sometimes I give them treats. I'm like a fun grandma.'

The couple revealed in the latest series of the family's reality show that they 'wanted the option of having a fourth [child].'

The series saw the couple exploring their marriage through therapy before visiting a fertility clinic.

Katherine admitted in the scenes which aired in February that she knew conceiving a fourth child would be challenging thanks to both her and Bobby's age.

'It's not that surprising that over-40 women have fewer follicles than we once did,' said Katherine. 'But we talk a lot about male fertility as well, which is on a steep decline. But I would still like a fourth baby.

'We are so blessed to have the kids that we do have. Having children is not for everyone, but I personally really like making people. I think it's a superpower, if you can do it.'

She explained at the time how she and her husband had never previously struggled with getting pregnant but had suffered multiple losses.

'We've always gotten pregnant with the babies quite quickly. I've been pregnant five times in five years, but that also means I've had three miscarriages in five years and the likelihood of that increases as you get older,' she explained.

'You have to find a balance between what you can personally stand and risks you're willing to take. I'm working a lot and I don't know if I could have a medical emergency like that while I'm in Lisbon on Thursday.'

The comedian also revealed in March 2025 that she was battling melanoma for the second time.

She made the revelation in her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, explaining she paid to have mole removed from her arm and learned it was cancerous. She added that she required more surgery to ensure the entire mass has been removed.

Katherine and her husband Bobby have been together since 2018, but have known each other since they were children as they grew up together in Canada .

Childhood sweethearts, the two parted ways initially before rekindling their romance this side of the Atlantic.
Sydney Sweeney was the epitome of chic while arriving to Good Morning America to promote her new psychological thriller, Echo Valley, with Julianne Moore.

As she appeared on ABC's morning talk show, the Euphoria star, 27, radiated beauty in a sleeveless black vest, white miniskirt and knee-high black leather boots.

During Wednesday's segment, she and Moore, 64, discussed their new movie, which was delayed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

When asked what it was like playing Moore's on-screen daughter, Sweeney gushed it was 'a dream come true.'

'I feel terrible though because my character Claire's not the best daughter and she puts her mom through a lot,' the two-time Emmy nominee added.

The hosts then shared a trailer of the movie, which began with Sweeney showing up to her estranged mother's home in the pouring rain covered in someone else's blood.

Sydney Sweeney was the epitome of chic while arriving to Good Morning America on Wednesday to promote her upcoming thriller, Echo Valley, with Julianne Moore

Later in the episode Moore revealed she was 'thrilled' to be able to work with the Anyone but You actress, who she first saw in The White Lotus and thought was 'fantastic.'

When asked about the plot, Sweeney kept the details vague as she teased it is about 'how far a mother would go for their own child.'

After the anchors pressed her for an Euphoria update, the performer assured fans their 'favorite version' of her beloved character Cassie was 'coming back.'

Sweeney smiled as she reflected on the privilege of returning to her breakout role for season three.

'It's such a dream being able to play a very emotionally raw and chaotic character; it's so much fun,' the Fifty-Fifty Films co-founder said.

Sweeney's latest appearance comes after recently breaking her silence on her split from Jonathan Davino.

When asked by The Times if she was still planning a wedding, she confirmed she was no longer engaged.

'Im learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And Im loving it,' she said of the single life.

As she appeared on ABC's morning talk show, the Euphoria star, 27, radiated beauty in a sleeveless black vest, white miniskirt and knee-high black leather boots

During Wednesday's segment, she and Moore, 64, discussed their new movie, which was delayed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike

When asked what it was like playing Moore's on-screen daughter, Sweeney gushed it was ' a dream come'

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 wandered 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.'

'I feel terrible though because my character Claire's not the best daughter and she puts her mom through a lot,' the two-time Emmy nominee added

The hosts then shared a trailer of the movie, which began with Sweeney showing up to her estranged mother's home in the pouring rain covered in someone else's blood.

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 Zillow,' she explained.

'Right now Im looking at New York, looking at Montana. Maine. Rhode Island. Texas, Italy, London  everywhere.'
The Love Island 2025 villa has been revealed as this year's contestants get ready to enter the villa on Monday.

Featuring a supersized hideaway, walk-in wardrobes, glam stations and even green exercise equipment that the stars will use to generate power as production takes another eco-conscience moves.

The famous hideaway is back once again but it has been given a makeover for the 10th year anniversary and is bigger than ever.

Decked in gold furnishings and a king-size bed the private room has been accessorised out with plush furnishings as well as a cabinet of champagne glasses for the loved up couples.

The all important glam stations have also been given a fresh purple makeover ready for this year's islanders.

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Inside the plush Love Island 2025 villa with supersized hideaway, walk-in wardrobes, glam stations and even green exercise equipment that stars will use to generate power

Decked in gold furnishings and a king-size bed the private room has been accessorised out with plush furnishings as well as a cabinet of champagne glasses for the loved up couples

The purple theme has been extended to the fire pit as well as the kitchen, with the counter reading 'Eat, Sleep, Crack On, Repeat'.

Meanwhile ITV bosses have introduced an exercise bike for Love Island contestants to pedal on in a bid to create sustainable energy and fuel their phones.

The whole villa this year, which powers 72 cameras and thousands of lightbulbs, will also be completely run purely on solar power.

Show boss Mike Spencer-Hayler told the Mail: Weve done some big changes with sustainability. We want to be greener and better.

Our entire build and de-rig are now run purely on solar power.

Were trying to make the most steps to being a proactive production.

And theres a gym bike now where the islanders can ride it to charge all the phones in the villa.

The more you ride the more you charge. New water bottles that are bigger too.

The hot tub is back again, where couples can escape for a romantic moment

The all important glam stations have also been given a fresh purple makeover ready for this year's islanders

ITV bosses have introduced an exercise bike for Love Island contestants to pedal on in a bid to create sustainable energy and fuel their phones

Lines of sunbeds surround the pool ready for the bikini clad cast

The purple theme has been extended to the fire pit as well, ready for those tense recouplings

Once again the hideaway is operating on a 'No Invite Needed' policy

Our solar panels fuel the entire pre-production. We only intend to make that better as we go too.

In 2022 bosses revealed the show had partnered with second-hand clothing website eBay, a sponsor they are continuing to work with this year.

The decision came as they hoped to inspire viewers to shop more sustainably.

But last year the winter series came under fire after host Maya Jama and her 'glam squad' made a 12,000-mile round trip to host just ten minutes of the show.

While the journey was made on a commercial flight, insiders at Love Island said they were dismayed that such an eco-unfriendly journey was made when ITV released a mandate which is headlined with the slogan: 'The Biggest Shows with the Smallest Footprint'.

This year Maya Jama has also revealed she will be again traveling back and forth between Spain and the UK as she is set to film for a role in Netflixs The Gentleman.

However she did say she is going greener by renting her outfits this year, as opposed to buying them.

Speaking to the Mail ahead of presenting the show on Monday, she said: I rent, I dont buy my Island clothes. Today Im wearing Versace vintage. All my outfits are going to be from the 90s.

ITV publicly says it wants to be net zero by 2030, adding on its website: 'We all have a part to play in tackling the climate crisis, at ITV we're focusing on the little changes that make a big impact.'

The kitchen has been painted in bright purple, orange and blue with the counter reading 'Eat, Sleep, Crack On, Repeat'

The bedroom looked spotless as it awaits this year's cast

The day beds have been covered in peach and beige striped pillows

The beach hut is all back for those all important chats to camera

In 2022 bosses revealed the show had partnered with second-hand clothing website eBay, and a sign above the wardrobe reads 'We love Pre-loved'

It goes on: 'Little changes you can make, here are some actions that we are taking at ITV that we can all do at home too.'

It then tells viewers to walk, bike or bus - rather than use a car - eat more vegetables, repair and reuse items such as clothes, switch to renewable energy, and cut food waste.

The iconic villa has undergone many changes throughout the years and has always been based in Mallorca.

The original Love Island villa, which was used for the first two series was situated in Santanyi, Mallorca.

And the five-bedroom villa was snapped up by a mystery buyer in March 2022.

The subsequent villa which is still now used for shows is located in Mallorca, in Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, which is on the east coast of the island.

The villa underwent huge renovations after filming concluded for the 2022 series and last year a secret new Hideaway was revealed which requires no invite.

It also boasts a 20m swimming pool, plush sun loungers, brand new day beds and the famous firepit.

A stunning white arch entrance decorated with a Love sign and tropical plants is ready for the awaiting bombshells to walk through

Wonder who will be 'making everyone coffee in the morning?'

There are plenty of seating areas around the villa so the islanders can spread out

The cast also have an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor shower, a shared bedroom, a ladies glam room and shared bathrooms.

There is also the famous terrace where secret chats usually take place, although this year the fencing around it has been made shorter and smaller making it easier for the other islanders to spot whats going on up there.

Fans of the show can even book their very own stay at the villa - but it will not come in cheap.

A one-week holiday would set you back around 5,000, but anyone booking the property will have access to six bedrooms.
Kendall Jenner is one of the highest-paid supermodels in the world due in part to her killer figure.

And now the 29-year-old leggy wonder from Calabasas has revealed the very low calorie breakfast she eats to stay so thin.

The reality TV star shared a picture of her healthy morning meal to Instagram on Wednesday.

'The whole plate is about 200 calories, and it's full of healthy fats that help keep her thin,' functional nutritionist Monica Partier tells DailyMail.com as she broke down what the ingredients were.

'The meal consists of fresh berries like raspberries, strawberries and blackberries that have fiber and vitamins in them. It looks like Kendall added Matcha green tea powder, which is an antioxidant and contains vitamin C, chromium, magnesium, selenium and zinc,' added Partier.

'There are also a few small nuts, which contain healthy fats, and a splash of Greek yogurt which is high in calcium and protein, and supports gut health, and also is a healthy fat.'

On the side was a Golden Milk Latte - a turmeric coffee beverage that gives the drink its famous golden color. 'Turmeric is rich in phytonutrients that may protect the body by neutralizing free radicals and it also has anti-inflammatory properties,' added Partier.

Jenner, who stands at 5ft11in, accidentally revealed on her Kardashian Kloset page that she is a size two as she was forced to list the sizes of her old clothing to potential buyers.

Kendall Jenner is one of the highest-paid supermodels in the world due in part to her killer figure. And now the 29-year-old leggy wonder from Calabasas has revealed the very low calorie breakfast she eats to stay so thin

The reality TV star shared a picture of her healthy morning meal to Instagram on Wednesday. The whole plate is about 200 calories

The meal consisted of fresh berries, that included raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. She added Matcha green tea powder, a few small nuts and a splash of Greek yogurt

She has used her hot body to land a contract with Italian swimwear brand Calzedonia.

Jenner looked her very best in a shoot last year by a swimming pool from photographer Cameron Hammond.

'Across the full collection, shoppers can discover bikini tops and bottoms in a range of styles, including triangle, balconette, Brazilian, and full coverage, as well as swimsuits,' a press release shared.

'Other lines which are part of the Limited Edition collection include: the Black Crystals and White Pearls sub-collections.'

The older sister of Kylie Jenner was modeling the summer line for Calzedonia, an Italian fashion group founded in Verona by Sandro Veronesi in 1986, with over 5,000 shops worldwide as of 2021.

The company called Jenner their 'summer muse' as she made the most of the suit they described as 'shiny satin.'

The cover girl was seen near the ocean as she wore her light brown hair down over her bare shoulders. And in two photos, she had on no top as she used her hand to cover her chest slightly.

She has used her hot body to land a contract with Italian swimwear brand Calzedonia. Jenner looked her very best in a shoot last year by a swimming pool from photographer Cameron Hammond

'Across the full collection, shoppers can discover bikini tops and bottoms in a range of styles, including triangle, balconette, Brazilian, and full coverage, as well as swimsuits,' a press release shared

Other lines which are part of the Limited Edition collection include: the Black Crystals and White Pearls sub-collections'

The suit is from Calzedonia's Limited Edition collection and costs $50 for the top and $35 for the bottoms. Together that is $85

In 2023 Kendall insisted that she wants a traditional marriage and three kids, though she admitted she's not ready to settle in an episode of The Kardashians.

While her mother Kris kept not so subtly hinting that she wants Kendall to have a kid, the supermodel insisted that she has 'got this.' Kris tells Kendall that she had a dream about her having a baby, as Kendall asks, With who?

It wasnt clear who it was with, it was just you had a baby, Kris says, asking if shell ever want to have a baby one day.

Of course. Three max. Im cool with two, though. I just want my kid to for sure have a sibling, I know that, Kendall says to Kris.

The company called Jenner their 'summer muse' as she made the most of the suit they described as 'shiny satin'; seen earlier this month in green and red

Kris adds in confession, I know were all different, but me personally, I would love to see Kendall have a baby, and shed be such a good mommy.

Kendall responds in confession, I swear I got this, and I will give you a grandkid when the time is right and when it all makes sense perfectly.

Kendall shared, I just think about my life and the freedom that I have right now and like the ease in just picking up and going somewhere, I just like that right now.

She clarified that after having a baby 'Your whole life changes. But Im also like not gonna do it with just anybody.

She says she wants a wedding and adds, Im traditional in that sense.
She has been the girlfriend stood loyally at Romeo Beckhams side throughout his fathers milestone birthday celebrations.

But the Mail can reveal that the model has split from Kim Turnbull after seven months together, with friends saying that the romance fizzled out three weeks after Davids 50th birthday.

Friends say that things remain amicable between the pair, and that their parting is nothing to do with Kim being blamed by Nicola Peltz for being the catalyst for the feud that has ripped the Beckham family apart.

One said: Romeo and Kim are both young and they had a lovely time together but at that age things dont always last forever and they decided to split up.

They have been friendly since and have even been at the same venues. Its a huge shame, particularly as David and Victoria really adored her and thought she made Romeo happy but it wasnt to be.

It happened a couple of weeks ago and relations have remained friendly between them.

The Mail can reveal that Romeo Beckham, 22, has split from Kim Turnbull, 26, after seven months together, with friends saying the romance fizzled out weeks after Davids birthday

She has been the girlfriend stood loyally at Romeo's side throughout his fathers milestone birthday celebrations (pictured together in Paris in March)

Romeo and Kim were spotted at the trendy C restaurant in Londons Mayfair last Friday night (pictured) but they had already split. They both turned up at the venue separately, with their friends, and even left together

'David and Victoria would hate for the view to be that they split because of Nicola and Brooklyn because that simply isnt the case.

The fact is that Kim has got a really busy career as a DJ and Romeo has a busy work life too, there is lots of travelling for both of them at having a relationship at this time isnt all that conducive to their lives.

Romeo and Kim were spotted at the trendy C restaurant in Londons Mayfair last Friday night but they had already split.

They both turned up at the venue separately, with their friends, and even left together.

Kim attended several of Davids birthday celebrations. She was present at the former England captains party at the end of March at Cipriani restaurant in Miami.

She also joined David, Victoria, and Romeos younger brother Cruz, his girlfriend Jackie Apostel and sister Harper on their trip to France where they visited a vineyard in Bordeaux and a restaurant in Paris.

Kim, 26, was also at the big dinner at Core restaurant in Notting Hill, West London.

She has been at the centre of the rift after Nicola, 30, claimed that she felt uncomfortable around her, with sources close to the US heiress saying that Kim had dated Brooklyn when they were teenagers.

Friends say that their parting is nothing to do with Kim being blamed by Nicola Peltz (pictured) for being the catalyst for the feud that has ripped the Beckham family apart

'David and Victoria would hate for the view to be that they split because of Nicola and Brooklyn because that simply isnt the case', a friend said

Kim attended several of Davids birthday celebrations

That was the reason the couple gave for not attending any of Davids celebrations.

However, in fact she enjoyed a romance with his close friend Rocco Ritchie, the son of Guy Ritchie and Madonna.

Kim, is the well-heeled granddaughter of renowned post-war sculptor and painter William Turnbull, while her father Alex Turnbull and uncle Johnny were part of the post-punk band 23 Skidoo, formed in 1979.

Kim and Brooklyn were undeniably close for a brief period  as photographs of them together at the time show - but suggestions that they were ever an item are wide of the mark, according to well-informed sources.

That Kim has now been 'thrown to the wolves' as the reason behind the family row is 'deeply upsetting' to Brooklyn's parents and brothers.

In fact, younger brother Cruz, 20, personally shut down the gossip recently when he responded to an Instagram post showing a picture of Romeo and Kim together.

In a now-deleted message, one user commented: 'It's appropriate to date your brother's ex too? Cool.'

Cruz replied: 'Brooklyn and Kim never dated.'

Some conspiracy theories around the absence have centred on Romeo's girlfriend, DJ and entrepreneur Kim Turnbull, 25, who was previously close with Brooklyn (both pictured in 2016)

However, their younger brother Cruz, 20, personally shut down the gossip recently when he responded to an Instagram post showing a picture of Romeo and Kim together

One friend told the Mail's Katie Hind in May: 'This is nothing to do with Kim and is all about Nicola.

'All David and Victoria want is their son back  and they will be there to welcome him any time.'

Family friends claim Brooklyn's wife has a pattern of 'starting an argument' before family events and then preventing her husband from attending.

Some believe that friends of Nicola have been behind the briefings about Kim being the cause of Brooklyn's rift with his family, some of which went so far to claim that he had told them he refused to come to any event at which Kim was present.

A source close to the family told MailOnline: 'Brooklyn was close to Kim because she was dating Rocco and they all hung out in a tightknit friendship group. But that was years ago. Brooklyn and Kim were close, but there was never any romance.

'It seems Nicola doesn't like Brooklyn spending any time with the Beckhams full stop and is using his previous closeness to Kim and her getting in with the family as a reason to not be around them. She denies it, but Nicola has been controlling him since the wedding. The family - including the brothers - have had enough of it.

'This is the narrative that's been put out to other news outlets, that Romeo is dating his brother's ex-girlfriend - and that's really weird, so that's why they wouldn't want to be around the family when she is there.

'But none of this is true. And it's really upset Romeo and his parents because Kim is seemingly being used by Nicola as a reason to start the rift. Romeo is furious at the suggestion that he would bring an ex-girlfriend of Brooklyn into the family when there never was any romance.'

Kim, who made it Instagram official with Romeo in November of last year, is an aspiring DJ who has performed at venues like Fabric and KOKO in London

Kim, from north London, works as a model and DJ, which forms a link to her uncle Johnny beyond his youthful punk days, as he's also the founder of UK hip hop label Ronin Records and boasts plenty of connections in the music industry.

Like Romeo, Kim has collaborated with several fashion brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, and is often spotted at exclusive events with other stars.

Kim spent her teen years partying with Brooklyn and Rocco Ritchie, whom she befriended after he moved to London.

Romeo first publicly launched his relationship with Kim last November after weeks of exchanging flirty 'likes' on Instagram and she has since been warmly welcomed into the family.

Around this time, Nicola and Brooklyn, who have always been loyal 'likes' of his social media posts, stopped showing any appreciation for his content.

David and Victoria were furious that Nicola had blamed the fall out on Kim, also pointing out that she wasnt present for the boys fishing trip to the Scottish Highlands which Brooklyn didnt attend, or the big family party at the Beckhams countryside home in the Cotswolds.

Romeo, who is no longer on speaking terms with Brooklyn, previously dated model Mia Regan  who also endured a strained relationship with Nicola.
Khloe Kardashian made a very casual display when heading out for a big family nigh ton Tuesday.

The Lemme founder had on a very long belted robe with a floral design on it as she stepped out of a black SUV to dine at swanky Nobu in Malibu.

With her raven hair worn down over her shoulders and her makeup dramatic with a pink pout, the POOSH editor seemed to want to make a glamorous statement.

The star - whose sister Kendall Jenner shared her breakfast meal - was joined by two of the kids she has with ex-partner Scott Disick: son Reign, 10, and daughter Penelope, 12, who is almost her famous mother's height.

High school student son Mason, 15, was not spied.

And also present was son Rocky, who is almost two, whom she had with husband Travis Barker.

Kourtney and Travis took turns holding the little guy whom his parents prefer to keep private as they don't post his face on social media.

Khloe Kardashian made a very casual display when heading out for a big family nigh ton Tuesday. The Lemme founder had on a very long belted robe with a floral design on it as she stepped out of a black SUV to dine at swanky Nobu in Malibu

She was joined by two of the kids she has with ex-partner Scott Disic : son Reign, 10, and daughter Penelope, 12, who is almost her famous mother's height

Tween Penelope was dressed in a black outfit as she held onto a brown jacket. Her brown hair parted in the middle and down.

Reign was also in dark clothing and chunky sneakers as he flashed a smile to photographers.

Also seen was baby Rocky who was held in his mother's arms as he was bundled up in a sweatshirt with slacks.

This comes after Kourtney was slammed for saying the school system is not for all.

The comments were made during a sit down interview on her sister Khloe's podcast, Khloe in Wonder Land.

Kourtney, 46, said she also talks about living authentically, and not conforming to what's expected of a family - bringing up the school system.

The reality star talked about her kids and how they wanted to do homeschooled - versus going to a school - which fans slammed on social media, calling her 'out of touch.'

'Why do kids f*****g go to school?' Kourtney said, adding that it is 'dated.'

Kourtney also revealed that she only works once a week - something she decided on after giving birth to son Rocky, one: 'I had a strong desire to not work and stay home and be with the kids, which is... I would say probably like once a week I'll work.'

Travis has two children from his past marriage to Shanna Moakler: Landon, 21, and Alabama, 19 - as well as his former stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya, 26, whom he helped raise.

Atiana is the daughter of Shanna and Oscar De La Hoya.

With her raven hair worn down over her shoulders and her makeup dramatic with a pink pout, the POOSH editor seemed to want to make a glamorous statement

High school student son Mason, 15, was not spied

And also present was son Rocky, who is almost two, whom she had with husband Travis Barker

Kourtney and Travis took turns holding the little guy whom his parents prefer to keep private as they don't post his face on social media

'Living authentically is not conforming to whatever it is and whether for me- there's so many ways. There's ways we function as a family. Like if someone does the same thing every day. I do it with everything. It's not about our family. Let's say the school system. I'll think, why do kids f*****g go to school? Truly. It's so dated,' Kourtney said in the podcast.

'I'm such a home school person so don't even get me going,' Khloe added.

Kourtney explained: 'So then I'll start thinking... and then like my kids will start sending me videos why do kids to school. It will be like really successful people and they'll be like my kids never go to school and they're never going to. And I'm like, what's the goal here. You want to do homeschool? Ok let's do it.

Kourtney was slammed on social media for her comments about school, specifically when she called going to school as 'dated.'

'Because normal kids need an education to eventually work. Not everybody can leech off their parents,' once wrote on X - formerly Twitter - while another said that 'some people can't afford nanny's.

'She needs to home school her kids. The question is will she do it or go hire a teacher. These out of touch ppl,' one person wrote on X.

Baby Rocky who was held in his mother's arms as he was bundled up in a sweatshirt with slacks

Kourtney had a black necklace on as well

Travis was super casual in a sleeveless black tank top with a skull and bones in front in white

'Kids should go to school so they don't end up like her and the rest of the Kardashians,' a X user tweeted.

'Out of touch celebrity says something that's out of touch,' a fan wrote.

'Clearly her brain is outdated,' another said.

Khloe, 40, and Kourtney also covered a number of topics, including how often Kourtney works.

When talking about being a mom again to Rocky, she said: 'Becoming a mom again really ignited, like intensely ignited my motherly role, my motherly instinct, sometimes I feel like my feminine energy. I feel like it intensely ignited that feeling inside me of just I am a mom.'

Kourtney continued: 'I had a strong desire to not work and stay home and be with the kids, which is... I would say probably like once a week I'll work.'

It's not like the whole day, its a couple hours of my day. the rest of the time I'm truly at home and I'm being a mom,' the reality star added.

Kourtney, who also added she doesn't use Botox, had Rocky nine years after giving birth to her third child - Reign.

Reign was also in dark clothing as he flashed a smile to photographers

Tween Penelope was dressed in a black outfit as she held onto a brown jacket. Her brown hair parted in the middle and down

Little Rocky had some cool black-and-white high-top sneakers on

She said that this time around, she keeps things pretty simple.

When asked what she does different, Kourtney said: 'Maybe the stuff. I would want to have the best lotion or the best oil. Now I just use organic coconut oil. I keep it pretty simple.'

She said with her older kids - Mason, Penelope and Reign - she always shared a bed with them, but with Rocky she shares a room.

Noting that it was probably more due to a space issue in the house with her older kids, she said her attachment-style parenting to her means 'not separating for as much as possible for the first definitely three years,' adding that it 'nurtures their secure attachment.'

Kourtney said she leans to her motherly instincts and that its been telling her.

She said she's 'go with the flow' with her kids' schedules and doesn't have set times for nap.

Kourtney revealed she holds Rocky the whole time he naps.

The reality star says he weighs 23 pounds, and the longest he's napped was five hours and she was holding him while seated in a chair.

Adding that she uses an EMF blanket for him to prevent radiation from her phone.

Kourtney, who welcomed Rocky with husband Travis, says she does extended breastfeeding in addition to the co-sleeping, not leaving for extended periods of time.

In regards to her IVF journey, Kourtney tried it but quit and got pregnant naturally with Rocky a year later after stopping IVF.

'We conceived naturally on Valentine's Day,' Kourtney revealed, adding that he was born on midnight on Halloween - making his birthdate November 1.

When talking about her IVF journey before conceiving Rocky naturally, Kourtney said: 'My lesson from IVF was that it really felt like it was going against me, against physically, spiritually, mentally - everything that I believed and felt. It just felt like it was going against what my body wanted. So it didn't work for me at all. We never made an embryo through IVF.'

Adding: 'It also felt like a monthly negative rejection every time it would be like 'it didn't work' or "this isn't happening" and "your body is doing this"... someone negatively talking about my body every month after month, and then you almost start to feel that way about your body. "I can't do this" or whatever.'

'So once I let go of all of that... it's almost like certain fear based doctors kind of are like "ah you need to do this" I don't know, that's kind of what was happening. So once I was able to let go of all of that, and just trust in God, it happened.'

Kourtney pictured with her four children, husband Travis Barker and his three kids

Khloe Kardashian invited her sister Kourtney for a sit down interview on her podcast, Khloe in Wonder Land

Talking about raising kids, she also said she would 'nurse the fever versus giving Tylenol or Ibuprofen' as something she does.

On the topic of their former stepdad Caitlyn Jenner, Kourtney said she had a different experience than Khloe.

Khloe started the conversation saying that 'Bruce [Caitlyn] never tried to dad' and that she always 'appreciated' that.

Kourtney said that wasn't her experience, saying that 'he tried to be controlling and bossy, and friends can't come over.'

Kourtney speculated that it was because Khloe was younger than her.

She recalled that she told Caitlyn: 'I want to call my dad [Robert Kardashian Sr], and then he would like hang up the phone. We would have yelling wars,' which appeared to shock Khloe.

Khloe said: 'That is not my experience at all. That's crazy. See you can live in the same house, being raised by the same parents and not even know - and have totally different experiences. Well I'm sorry you went through that.'

'Thank you, it was fine. That's why i moved into Dad's,' Kourtney said.

'I had no clue,' Khloe added.
Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood finally addressed the feud rumors between them, which hit an all-time high after they unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Months after feverish speculation that the White Lotus costars had a strained relationship, the actor, 53, got emotional as he insisted they were on good terms.

'There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman madly, and she is so important to me,' he insisted during a joint interview for Variety.

The father-of-one, who has been married to Nadia Conners since 2011, proceeded to sing Wood's praises as he raved: 'This is Goldie Hawn. This is Meg Ryan. She can do anything, and she will.'

'You watch what the next 20 years of her experience will be. Ill be on an island, I think Greece. But shes special. There is no feud. She is love and I know that I am that to her. We care about each other very deeply,' he continued.

Wood proceeded to address the outrage over headlines that Goggins unfollowed her on social media, which fans perceived as a sign they did not get along.

Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood finally addressed the feud rumors between them, which hit an all time high after they unfollowed each other on Instagram

'I think its such a comment on where were at culturally,' she said over the online fury. 'Why is everyone obsessing over Instagram? That is irrelevant. We dont give a s**t about Instagram.'

Wood explained she wished more people were having 'conversations about the story' of their White Lotus characters, Rick and Chelsea, and simply enjoying the show.

As rumors swirled about them, Wood revealed she initially wanted to correct people, but feared her words would get twisted.

'Eventually I just started to sit back and watch these people making something out of absolutely nothing,' she said of why she stayed silent.

Goggins chimed in to say: 'If I may add, just to put this to bed? The following or unfollowing. Im a grown-a** man.'

The star went on to confess that he has historically struggled with goodbyes.

For example, Goggins recalled hugging his former Justified costar Tim Olyphant and telling him: 'I love you, and I hope I see you in rooms for the rest of my life.'

'I didnt talk to him for almost two years. Ive done that with every single thing that Ive done,' he admitted.

Months after feverish speculation that the White Lotus costars had a strained relationship, the actor, 53, got emotional as he insisted they were on good terms

'There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman madly, and she is so important to me,' he insisted during a joint interview for Variety's Actors on Actors series

The father-of-one, who has been married to Nadia Conners since 2011, proceeded to sing Wood's praises as he raved: 'This is Goldie Hawn . This is Meg Ryan . She can do anything, and she will'

Goggins then claimed had he been following Olyphant or his The Shield co-star Michael Chiklis that he would have unfollowed them too.

Seeing the humor in the situation, Goggins declared: 'You know what? Ill follow you right now!'

'Its all so ridiculous,' he quipped. 'Its just a part of me just saying goodbye to this character so that now Aimee and I will be friends for f**king ever.'

In response, Wood gave him a hug and says: 'I completely understand.'

'I love you,' he declares, before tearfully explaining he is 'emotional' because they 'havent been in the same city to ever talk about any of this.'

Wood proceeded to address the outrage over headlines that Goggins unfollowed her on social media, which fans perceived as a sign they did not get along

'I think its such a comment on where were at culturally,' he said over the outrage. 'Why is everyone obsessing over Instagram? That is irrelevant. We dont give a s**t about Instagram'

'Hopefully that answers everybodys questions,' he concludes. 'What else? Do you guys want to talk about astrology?'

Wrapping production on The White Lotus, which was filmed in Thailand over a period of seven months, was a particularly painful experience for him.

Following the death of his first wife Leanne Goggins, who died by suicide in 2004, Goggins searched for peace through traveling.

This led him to Thailand, then to Bangkok, in the same location as The White Lotus.

The pair's on-screen chemistry and appearing on each other's social media pages sparked up questions about their relationship off-camera earlier this year

'My catharsis in this experience was different than other peoples, because of my history in this place. I knew what we had gone through, and I knew how close that we had gotten, and I needed to begin to process saying goodbye to Rick and Chelsea,' Goggins explained through tears.

He continued: 'And I knew that that was going to take a while for me, so I let her know, this is what Ive gotta do. And she was extremely supportive about that.'

Mike White flew his cast to the Four Seasons Resort on Koh Samui, where they both stayed and filmed the third season.

Jason Isaacs who plays troubled family patriarch Tim Ratliff, summed up the shoot as 'a cross between summer camp and Lord of the Flies but in a gilded cage', sparking reports of tension on set.

'Some people got very close, there were friendships that were made and friendships that were lost,' Jason told Vulture. 'They say in the show, "What happens in Thailand stays in Thailand," but there's an off-screen White Lotus as well, with fewer deaths but just as much drama.'

The actor seemed to find closure with his joint interview with Aimee, posting on Instagram a clip of the two playing Rick and Chelsea as the piece was released

Walton responded to the division rumours, explaining he consciously isolated himslef during the shoot: 'I needed to just back away from everyone,' he said. 'I havent spoken to anyone. I couldnt handle it. Judge me or dont. I dont give a f**k what you think. This is my process. Rick means everything to me, and Chelsea means everything to me.'

Whilst he put to bed rumours of a falling out, Walton does have one regret about his time with Aimee, telling her during the interview that he wishes he had attended the cast's watch party for the finale to experience the 'cathartic and so painful' episode with his co-star.

The actor seemed to find closure with his joint interview with Aimee though, posting on Instagram a clip of the two playing Rick and Chelsea as the piece was released, and writing the caption: 'friends for f**king ever'.
Adolescence star Owen Cooper shocked Jimmy Fallon as he revealed what he hates about being in America during his appearance on The Tonight Show on Tuesday.

The rising star, 15, who is currently in the US, absolutely slated American candy and food when asked if he is enjoying his time across the pond.

Owen - from Cheshire, England - even bought a basket of British sweets to prove they are much better than US candy.

He said: 'One thing I hate about America - the chocolate and the sweets, everything is just terrible.

'It's just Cheetos and all that nonsense. Honestly, I hate it.'

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Adolescence star Owen Cooper, 15, shocked Jimmy Fallon as he revealed what he hates about being in America during his appearance on The Tonight Show on Tuesday

The rising star, who is currently in the US, absolutely slated American candy and food when asked if he is enjoying his time across the pond

Jimmy replied: 'But what do you have in England?'

'Have you ever had a maltesers? Right - I'll bring the whole basket up. So this is what I brought [monster munch, maltesers and fruit pastels]', Owen said.

Later in the interview, Owen also revealed the huge Hollywood star that has praised his work recently.

The actor said Leonardo DiCaprio left him a video message when he was with his onscreen dad Stephen Graham.

He said: 'Stephen Graham sent me a video yesterday and it's Leonardo DiCaprio sat next to him and he was saying "Hey Owen, I'm such a big fan of Adolescene".

'And I was like "What!"'

Fans were left stunned after spotting Owen's drastic growth spurt in the two months since Adolescence hit our television screens.

Owen now towers over the show's writer and onscreen dad Stephen despite being noticeably smaller than his co-star at a premiere in London in March.

Owen - from Cheshire, England - even bought a basket of British sweets to prove they are much better than US candy

Owen made his debut appearance on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show on Tuesday night

Fans were left stunned by Owen Cooper's drastic growth spurt after the cast of Adolescence jetted off to Los Angeles last week

The 15-year-old acting sensation looks year older than he did after the show's release in March

Owen, who hails from a proudly working class estate in central Warrington, was chosen from 500 candidates for the role of Jamie.

It was his first-ever acting job and no one in his family has a background in the industry.

He is being supported on his meteoric rise by dad Andy, an IT worker, and mum Noreen, a carer.

Speaking about the change in their lives, Noreen said: 'It's such a shock, but we're getting on with it.'

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede predicted Owen could follow in Timothee Chalamet's footsteps and become 'the toast of Hollywood'.

He told MailOnline: 'The phenomenal success of Adolescence has taken the TV world by storm and critics have been raving about Owen's stand-out performance.

'The Hollywood elite love a rags-to-riches story and, at 15 and his first ever role, this young actor who was brought up in humble surroundings could soon become Hollywood's hottest property and follow the path of many other child stars who have become household names, like Millie Bobby Brown or Timothee Chalamet.

'I'm sure writers will already be presenting his agents with scripts and synopsis that will feature him.

Owen's performance in Adolescence captured the attention of the world

The 15-year-old has been described as a 'shoe-in' for the Best Supporting Actor award at this years Emmys

'As he's so young I am sure he will be looked after and not thrust into the limelight without any support.

'Being a star in the UK is very different from being an international phenomenon. I am sure the offers will be rolling in from feature films to brand deals and beyond.

'He will probably feel a lot of pressure, but also feel a massive sense of achievement from where he has come from to where he is now.'

The Emmy awards ceremony will take place in LA in September.
Lorraine Kelly has revealed her determination to keep her long-running show going in the wake of ITV's brutal cutbacks, as she pointedly declared, she was 'not done yet'.

The TV veteran, 65, saw her show Lorraine face the brunt of the cuts, with the series to only air 30 weeks a year, and Good Morning Britain taking her 9-10am slot for the other 22.

While the show's previous one hour runtime has also been slashed in half, now running for just 30 minutes from 9:30am to 10am.

In her first interview since the news, Lorraine appeared to hit back at ITV, as she emphasised her four decade-long career.

Speaking to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she also poured water on reports that her show could be cut for good, by stating she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

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Lorraine Kelly has revealed her determination to keep her long-running show going in the wake of ITV's brutal cutbacks , as she pointedly declared, she was 'not done yet'

In her first interview since the news, Lorraine appeared to hit back at ITV, as she emphasised her four decade-long career (pictured in 2000)

Subtly alluding to her determination to keep her show going, she then added: '40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. "Here's a BAFTA for being alive." I thought, "Hang on a minute, I'm not done yet"'

Reflecting on how long she'd been on screens, Lorraine said: 'I've been doing telly for over 40 years. It's mad isn't it? It's absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I'm still getting away with it. Extraordinarily.'

Subtly alluding to her determination to keep her show going, she then added: '40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. "Here's a BAFTA for being alive." I thought, "Hang on a minute, I'm not done yet".'

While she also voiced her willingness to 'be unleashed' and hold less of herself back, saying: 'I think now I can be a lot cheekier. Because I've always been a bit naughty.

'Not so much in the morning, but if I do a wee show on Channel 4, or The Last Leg, or something like that. You can be unleashed. And I quite like that.

'You do have to have a self-edit button, and I'm finding mine is not operating as much as it should.

'So, when I'm sitting there and I look at something and I think, "Gosh, what an absolute k**b that person is," or how silly they are, I say it and I don't realise I've said it. So I have to watch.'

But Lorraine admitted that even after all these years, she still feels some nerves when presenting her show, though not as bad as when she first started.

She recalled: 'I remember being so scared about doing a piece to camera and just being unbelievably nervous.

Speaking to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she also poured water on reports that her show could be cut for good, by stating she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon

Speaking to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she also poured water on reports that her show could be cut for good, by stating she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon

'And that doesn't go away for a long time. It doesn't ever completely go away I don't think. I don't think it should.'

It comes after MailOnline revealed Lorraine was given the chance by ITV bosses to merge her daytime show with GMB to present the last 30 minutes of their broadcast, but she declined.

Last month, she was pulled into a meeting prior to the channel's budget cuts announcement where she was offered the new proposal, which was considered an 'easy fix' after the same format was adopted during the pandemic.

Sources have revealed that Lorraine was 'insulted' by the suggestion and told bigwigs it wasn't a possibility, resulting in the reduced runtime of her show from an hour to 30 minutes.

MailOnline understands that Lorraine, who has presented her show for the past 14 years, was prepared to 'walk away' but agreed to continue hosting the series until the end of 2026.

The star is predicted to quit for good next year after a new role titled 'Head of Lorraine' was created to oversee the changes, but the contract is only for a 12-month period.

Last month, ITV confirmed that ITN is taking over the output of Good Morning Britain while Lorraine and Loose Women will only air 30 weeks per year and are moving from Television Centre to a central London studio.

A show insider revealed: 'Lorraine was pulled into a meeting with bosses where she was told about Good Morning Britain being taken over by ITN ahead of the public announcement.

It comes after MailOnline revealed Lorraine was given the chance by ITV bosses to merge her daytime show with GMB to present the last 30 minutes of their broadcast, but she declined (Susanna Reid on GMB pictured)

'It was proposed that her show would merge with GMB so that she presented the last 30 minutes of the broadcast, which is what happened when a reduced team were working during lockdown.

'But she told them no and said it wasn't even a possibility... fast-forwarded two weeks and the channel announced her show would be cut from an hour to 30 minutes...

'The entire thing has been an insult and she's certain to leave when the year-long contract ends.'

Staff now fear the presenter may decide to throw in the towel with a source telling The Mirror: 'There are genuine fears among staff that Lorraine may decide to walk if the quality of the show they are putting out declines.

'It's hard to see how standards won't fall.and there are questions over whether Lorraine will want to be associated with that. Lorraine and her team are perfectionists - it's why the show is loved by so many.'

A second source said morale is now low among employees, adding: 'Staff are beside themselves, and have been in tears constantly. It doesn't make any sense given the trajectory the show is on.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for ITV and Lorraine Kelly for comment.

Lorraine presented fewer than 60 per cent of the editions of her show broadcast in 2024, with Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard often filling in for her.

Lorraine presented fewer than 60 per cent of the editions of her show broadcast in 2024, with Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard (seen) often filling in for her

The presenter said her absences were initially due to caring for her sick mother but then also became about her desire to do other things.

She told The Guardian: 'It's really hurtful actually. It really is. I've not spoken about it before. I'm a grafter and I work really hard and I've had to take Fridays off for the past year. I just thought it was weird to care so much.

'Initially, it was for my mum who has been ill. And it sort of brings you into line with everyone else because if you look at This Morning, everybody else does four days.

'And as I'm getting older, I want to do other things, more writing, all of that. Mate, I've been doing this for 40 years, working my a**e off.'

ITV sources told MailOnline that they have decided to cut resources on their daytime schedule so that the network can invest in more drama programmes.

One said: 'There is a need to cost save but also so that the right money can go to the right shows and with everything getting more expensive these things have to be looked at.'

The source added: 'Christine and Ranvir remain part of the ITV daytime family.'
Ana de Armas shared her honest reaction to Tom Cruise gushing over her upcoming thriller, Ballerina, which hits theaters on Friday.

As rumors continue to swirl that the pair are dating, the actress, 37, shared how much his sweet review of her latest performance meant to her.

'It makes me really happy and proud,' she told told E! News at the films Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday.

The actress continued: 'Its surreal that someone like him is liking the movie and supporting the film and celebrating other peoples films.'

De Armas went on to emphasize how 'amazing' his support has been and told Variety that it is 'unbelievable' he used his platform to publicly support the John Wick spinoff.

'You know what, he supports every movie,' she added. 'He really wants the industry and cinema to do well and [wants] people going to the theaters.'

Ana de Armas shared her honest reaction to Tom Cruise gushing over her upcoming thriller, Ballerina, which hits theaters on Friday; seen on May 26, 2025

'It is very special that someone like him is supporting [Ballerina],' she said.

De Armas also confirmed Cruise 'really liked it' and is a fan of the John Wick franchise, starring Keanu Reeves.

During his press tour for Mission: Impossible  The Final Reckoning, Cruise called Ballerina 'outstanding' in an interview with AP.

Cruise also praised De Armas' 'experience in action' during a chat with E! News.

'Shes really good,' he marveled while speaking about her role as Eve Macarro, a ballerina who is trained as an assassin, in the film.

Last month, the Oscar nominee gave some insight into her decision to keep tight-lipped on her new romance with Cruise during an interview with ELLE Spain.

During the interview, the star hinted at the speculation surrounding her and Cruise as she got candid about how she copes with the public's interest into her personal life.

As her stardom has risen, the Ballerina star's love life has often wrought as much buzz as her career successes, with previous headline-hitting romances with movie star Ben Affleck and Tinder VP Paul Boukadakis.

Ana and Tom first sparked dating rumors after being spotted out to dinner just before Valentines Day (seen in March 2025)

When quizzed about the scrutiny into her private life, De Armas admitted that she's grown more accustomed to dealing with it and accepted it came as part of the price of fame.

Alluding to her apparent determination not to confirm her and Cruise's relationship status, she explained she's learned how important it is for her to have a separation between her 'public persona' and private life.

She said: 'Over the years, you get more used to it. You learn to find your corners, your privacy, your way of doing things, your lifestyle... I'm one of those who think there should be external boundaries, a barrier that's quite visible to others and to oneself.

'Making it clear, "This is as far as I go with my work, my public persona, what's expected of me, and what I want to share with viewers and fans." That's wonderful, and I want to do it.

'You can't let the negative side of fame upset you, because then you won't enjoy the beautiful aspects, but it's essential to separate. We're all people and we need that privacy, consideration, and space.

In May, Cruise raved to Extra that de Armas is a 'very talented, great dramatic actress [with] comedic, tremendous ability, [who] learns quickly' (seen last month)

'It seems incredible to have to say it, but we've forgotten that minimum of respect for others. Sometimes we have to make an abrupt stop so others are aware of your reality, but, well, I find my way. When I want to disappear from the map, I do'.

However, Ana also admitted that the public criticism she's received over some of her past relationships has 'hurt me at times'.

In November, she was hit by massive backlash after being linked to the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez - who was handpicked by Raul Castro and 'chosen' in an election in which there were no opposition challengers allowed and has been accused of overseeing massive human rights abuses.

After being pictured on a romantic stroll in Madrid hand-in-hand with 26-year-old Manuel Anido Cuesta, the Cuban star was savaged by fans for appearing to be dating the stepson of a dictatorship that she fled from at the age of 18 to live in Spain.

Ana confessed that she had become very good at 'filtering' negative comments, knowing which ones to listen to and learn from and which to 'block' that were 'made to intentionally cause you pain.'

Last month, the Oscar nominee gave some insight into her decision to keep tight-lipped on her new romance with Cruise during an interview with ELLE Spain

The Knives Out star claimed that criticisms have 'gotten out of hand' now and become 'damaging and toxic', but insisted: 'I do have control over that, knowing what I let touch me and what I don't.'

Ana and Tom first sparked dating rumors after being spotted out to dinner just before Valentines Day.

The speculation reached a fever pitch when exclusive DailyMail photos showed her being flown into London by the action star in his private helicopter last month, just days before her birthday.

While neither has confirmed their relationship, the last week has seen both stars speaking about each other, while on the promotional trail at the same time.

In May, Cruise raved to Extra that De Armas is a 'very talented, great dramatic actress [with] comedic, tremendous ability, [who] learns quickly.'

Ben dated de Armas from March 2020 to January 2021 and the pair were not shy to flaunt their romance - in contrast to her low-key relationship with Cruise

DailyMail.com previously learned that the couple have been getting serious in recent weeks, with one of Tom's A-list exes even giving their approval.

It is understood Spanish actress Penelope Cruz - who dated Tom from 2001 to 2004 - is 'happy' that her ex-boyfriend has found new love with her pal, who she starred opposite in the 2019 movie WASP Network.

An insider told the Daily Mail: 'Ana has said that Penelope is happy for her, she approves. They know each other from the movie and also they have friends in common in Madrid from when Ana lived there for a while.'

They added: 'Tom makes Ana feel safe and that is very important to her. She was flipped out by the fans and stalkers when living in Venice Beach [Los Angeles] so she moved to a remote part of Vermont.

It is understood Spanish actress Penelope Cruz - who dated Tom from 2001 to 2004 - is 'happy' that her ex-boyfriend has found new love with her pal, who she starred opposite in the 2019 movie WASP Network (pictured with Tom in 2001)

'She loves being away from the crazy. She has been traveling with Tom to busy cities like London, but he always makes her feel safe because he is thoughtful and he has a ton of security.

'He never puts her at risk, she is completely taken care of when she is in his company.'

Friends believe the relationship could last, with our insider pointing to the fact that Ana does 'not like to party', preferring quiet nights at home like her decades-older boyfriend.

Though another source stressed that the pair are 'taking it day by day' and that the stunner 'does not give her heart away easy.'

They said: 'Ana has a thing for older men and Tom fits the bill of her type. The proof is in the pudding. Being affectionate with someone is not something that Ana would do for a role.'
Rite Aid is closing another slate of stores after filing for bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years.

The company, which operates 1,200 stores across 15 states, filed court paperwork on Friday detailing plans to permanently shutter 111 stores across the US.

California and New York will see the largest cuts, with 39 locations each on the chopping block.

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington State will also see service cuts from the retailer.

This is the second mass closure event Rite Aid has filed since it declared its second bankruptcy in May.

In one of its first Chapter 11 filings, the company said it was closing 361 stores across the US. That brings the total of stores closing to 472.

The quick store closures have left gaps in some communities, with residents expressing their worries on social media.

'This is going to cause a pharmacy desert in my neighborhood and prescription nightmare,' one Rite Aid customer wrote on Reddit.

Rite Aid shoppers have expressed concerns as their pharmacies start to close

Thousands of shoppers who relied on Rite Aid will likely turn to the brand's former competitors.

CVS and Walgreens recently purchased prescription files from hundreds of Rite Aid stores to help soften the blow.

'We're well-positioned to serve our existing customers and patients, as well as those who may be transitioning to us from Rite Aid,' a CVS spokesperson previously told DailyMail.com.

The brand purchased the files from 625 Rite Aid pharmacies across 15 states.

'These agreements ensure our pharmacy customers will experience a smooth transition while preserving jobs for some of our valued team members,' Matt Schroeder, Rite Aid's CEO, said in a statement about the deals.

Despite the recent purchase, America's pharmacy chain model has been under stress.

Online competitors  like upstarts Capsule, Blink Health, and even Amazon  have been eating at the brick-and-mortar giants because of their delivery methods and convenience.

Meanwhile, front-store retail sales, where customers grabbed toothpaste and Tylenol while raking in millions for pharmacies, have cooled as shoppers look for better deals.

The retailer just announced in court filings that it is planning another batch of 111 store closures

Rite Aid's CEO, Matt Schroeder, said he is working to 'ensure our pharmacy customers will experience a smooth transition'

Hundreds of pharmacies have shut down across the US as the business model encounters rough headwinds and increased competition

CVS has gone through a series of strategic store closures, including 270 closures this year.

Walgreens is also reportedly considering a $10 billion deal to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

But Rite Aid has been the hardest hit from these shifts.

For years, the company racked up billions of dollars of debt, forcing executives to declare its first bankruptcy in September 2023.

On top of Rite Aid's financial woes, it faced a series of lawsuits after being accused of overprescribing opioids.

After eliminating $2 billion in debt in its first restructuring in 2023, the company failed to regain financial stability during its latest round of business.

Rite Aid executives have reportedly told staffers to expect their stores to close this year.

The company didn't respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Ice cream enthusiasts are rejoicing over the return of Blue Bell Creameries' Cookie Cake Ice Cream.

The fan-favorite treat returned to stores last week, one year after being named runner-up in the brand's Great Scoop Revival Flavor Tournament.

'The flavor is a sweet cream ice cream loaded with chocolate chip cookie cake pieces and swirls of chocolate and vanilla icing,' an Instagram post read.

Fans, including well-known food blogger Snackolator, were thrilled to learn the 'amazing' treat is back in freezers.

Unfortunately, they were disappointed to learn the flavor is only available for a limited time.

'I'm literally begging you to reconsider this "limited time" thing,' an Instagram user wrote.

'Thank you bluebell - now let's make it a flavor available year round,' another fan responded.

Others have already stocked up on the item and have requested the brand bring back peach cobbler or confetti cake ice cream next.

Blue Bell Creameries released its fan-favorite Cookie Cake Ice Cream last week at various retailers nationwide

Blue Bell's Cookie Cake Ice Cream debuted in stores six years ago and was removed in 2020.

The sweet treat, featuring chocolate chip cookie cake pieces and swirls of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, instantly became a must-have flavor.

While the flavor was the brand's contest runner-up, it was a close race, leading to Blue Bell's decision to rerelease it this year.

Instagrammers also gave a shoutout to that year's winner, Groom's Cake Ice Cream.

Groom's Cake was returned to stores on May 1 and remains available for purchase at retailers nationwide.

Unfortunately, like Cookie Cake, this flavored ice cream is only available for a limited time.

Both ice creams were selected from a bracket of 16 Blue Bell brand flavors.

Other flavors that had the chance to win a store return include Blueberry Cheesecake, Lemon Bliss, and Tiramisu.

Blue Bell's Cookie Cake Ice Cream debuted in stores six years ago and was removed in 2020

Blue Bell's ice cream is not the only cookie-themed treat to hit shelves this year.

Post Malone partnered with Oreo and released limited-edition salted caramel and shortbread-flavored cookies in February.

A-list star Selena Gomez, with a little help from fiance Benny Blanco, released a signature Oreo last month to celebrate her Mexican-American heritage.

The cookie features chocolate-cinnamon flavored wafers and chocolate-cinnamon cream.

Other cookies that made headlines for debuts and returns include Jimmy John's Lemon Sunshine Cookie and Costco's new cookie variety.
Customers have slammed Walmart for its use of a robot security guard.

A shopper known as Goldpinemusic on TikTok recently posted a video of the machine roaming around a Walmart parking lot.

The TikToker joked about the security robot keeping the rough Walmart streets safe and asked the guard what its name was.

The machine answered her question by stating it did not have a name yet.

Walmart's robot security guards began appearing at select stores in 2018. This led a commenter on the video to accuse the retailer of 'doing everything but paying workers.'

'Yeah they laid off the human security guy,' another commenter responded.

'Waste of money. They need more cashiers and less self checkout,' another person wrote.

Walmart has implemented various technological measures to modernize its stores, including secret codes on select products and new AI technology in Sam's Club.

The customer known as Goldpinemusic on TikTok recently posted a video of a robot security guard at a Walmart parking lot

Multiple customers believed the robot security guards were a 'waste of money'

Walmart began using robots deployed by Bossa Nova Robotics in 2015 to make sure shelves were fully stocked, accurately priced, and labeled.

The robots were tested in a handful of stores in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and California.

The tests proved to be a success, and by 2017, the robots were used in 50 stores.

The shelf-scanning robots made their way to at least 1,000 locations in 2020, and by then, Walmart had begun adding security robots to select stores.

Multiple states began implementing what's known as 'Lot Cops' in parking lots.

The robot security guards are mobile, solar-powered security systems used to film illegal actions.

'Well, I thought it's the police, you know? Now they really can see what you're doing out here, really,' Hawaii resident Lynn Tavares told KHON2 in 2018.

Alabama residents expressed their support for the security guard robots while speaking with FOX 54, because of higher chances of crime crackdowns.

Walmart tested a handful of robots used to make sure shelves are fully stocked, accurately priced, and labeled in 2015

Besides robot security guards, some Walmart stores have implemented self-checkout tools to decrease the chances of card skimming.

The company has also found unique ways to lower Walmart crime rates, which includes anti-theft packaging in meat aisles.

Walmart is also busy working on its $9 billion makeover for 1,400 stores.

About $1.6 billion of the investment was used for 650 US locations, which is all part of the chain's 'Stores of the Future' initiative.

But the retailer is also facing some backlash for raising its prices as a result of tariffs.

Current workers have leaked photos showing the cost of select items had risen 80 percent.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Walmart for comment about its robot parking lot security guards.
Snack giant Mondelez is suing Aldi for too closely resembling the packaging of its much-loved treats.

Mondelez, the maker of Oreo, Chips Ahoy and Triscuit, alleges in the suit that Aldi's packaging for its own-brand alternatives 'blatantly copies' its own.

Mondelez says the similar packaging is 'likely to deceive and confuse' consumers looking to buy its products.

The main items concerned in the lawsuit are Aldi's peanut butter creme-filled cookies, chocolate chip cookies and Thin Wheat crackers that Mondelez alleges have packaging too similar to its own Nutter Butter, Chips Ahoy and Wheat Thins.

Mondelez's filing at the the federal court for the Northern District of Illinois on May 27 asks the court to order Aldi to stop selling such products and to award the snack maker monetary damages.

German supermarket Aldi has become the fastest-growing grocery chain in the US, with a business model that revolves around selling mostly own-brand products cheaper than popular name brands.

'You want to fly close enough to the sun because you want the benefit of something,' but not get too close, trademark lawyer Josh Gerben told CNN of Aldi's strategy.

Gerben said the law is designed to protect consumers.

Mondelez claim's Aldi's peanut butter creme-filled cookies, chocolate chip cookies (below) are too similar to its own snacks (above)

'I can go to the store and reasonably assume that I recognize the name, and that's who I'm buying from,' he told the outlet.

But some customers 'think that they might be buying something from the Oreo brand or Wheat Thins, but they're actually getting a substitute.'

Gerben added that lawsuits such as the one brought by Mondelez are taken on a case-by-case basis, and there's no 'bright line test' that would determine if a copycat brand has gone too far.

Mondelez said in its filings that it had already had to pull up Aldi on copycat products of its other snacks including Oreo cookies, Teddy Grahams, Belvita biscuits and Triscuit crackers.

In response Aldi eventually 'discontinued' and 'changed certain of these infringing products,' Mondelez said.

Now however, the snack giant says Aldi must be stopped with the force of the law or it will 'irreparably harm' its brands.

Aldi has faced legal action in the past for its own brand products too closely mimicking other brands.

In December an Australian federal court said Aldi had violated copyright law by too closely copying the packaging of Hampden Holdings' Baby Bellies puffs on its alternative children's snacks.

The brand also claim's Aldi's Thin Wheat crackers (right) are a blatant copy of its own packaging (left)

Aldi is currently in the midst of an aggressive expansion push in the US

Aldi's CEO, Jason Hart, has led the company plans to open hundreds of new stores

'Aldi sought to use for its own commercial advantage the designs that had been developed by a trade rival,' according to the judge.

Adding: 'I consider Aldi's conduct to be flagrant.'

Aldi is continuing its rapid expansion in the US, recently announcing plans to open a further 225 stores this year, adding to its already 2,400 locations across the country.

Its most recent openings include two new locations in Las Vegas in April.

'We've built our reputation on delivering real value without cutting corners,' Aldi's CEO, Jason Hart said.

'We're growing rapidly from coast-to-coast. Opening stores in Las Vegas gives us the opportunity for continued growth in this exciting market and allows us to bring an affordable and fun grocery experience to shoppers nationwide.'

DailyMail.com reached out to Aldi for comment on the lawsuit.
PPP chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that cooperation between Pakistan and India's intelligence agencies could significantly reduce terrorism in South Asia.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, who is currently leading a high-powered delegation to the US as part of a global diplomatic push to seek support following its recent conflict with India, was speaking at a press conference at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, the Dawn newspaper reported.

aI am completely confident that if ISI and RAW were ready to sit down and work together to fight these forces, we would see a significant decrease in terrorism in both India and Pakistan,a Bhutto-Zardari was quoted as saying by the newspaper on Wednesday.

He also urged the global community to remain engaged in South Asia, warning that the risk of conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours had grown, not diminished, after the recent ceasefire.

aWith the intervention of the international community a and I would like to mention particularly the role played by the US President Donald Trump and his team led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio a we did manage to achieve a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. This is a welcome first step, but it's only a first step,a Bhutto-Zardari said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 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.

Trump claims that the US has stopped India and Pakistan from fighting.

However, India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.

Bhutto-Zardari emphasised that diplomacy and dialogue were the only aviable path to peace,a and reiterated Pakistan's willingness to engage in a broad dialogue with India a including cooperation on counterterrorism.

aPakistan would still like to cooperate with India to combat terrorism. We can't leave the fate of 1.5 billion, 1.7 billion people in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists... For them to decide, at a whim, that (when these) two nuclear-armed powers will go to war,a he said.

Referring to India, the PPP leader said "linking any terrorist attack in the region to the threat of war with Pakistan" is "untenable". aYou can't have no dispute resolution mechanisms between two nuclear-armed countries,a he said.

He proposed the establishment of a mutually agreed platform where both sides could raise complaints, investigate terrorist incidents jointly, and work together to ensure accountability.

Reiterating Pakistan's stance on India's move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Bhutto-Zardari said it is an attempt to aweaponise watera.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, New Delhi, among other punitive actions, announced the suspension of the 1960 IWT accord, which governs water sharing between India and Pakistan.

aThe mere threat to cut off the water supply of 200 million people is a violation of the UN Charter. Acting on this threat will be seen as an act of war by Pakistan,a Bhutto-Zardari said.

Earlier, the Pakistani delegation met with UN Secretary-General AntAonio Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, AmbaAssador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, in New York, the Dawn reported.
An all-party Indian delegation has concluded its three-day visit to Spain after conducting a series of meetings with Government officials and civil society representatives to highlight Indiaas azero-tolerancea stance against terrorism and rally global support.

The group, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, is one of the seven multi-party delegations India had tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistanas links to terrorism.

aThe delegation concluded its visit having effectively communicated Indiaas strategic approach and firm message of zero tolerance towards terrorism to Spanish Government leaders, lawmakers, civil society and the Indian diaspora, strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding,a the Indian embassy in Madrid said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Monday, the delegation met members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee led by Vice President Antonio Gutierrez Limones. It also held a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

In engagements with the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, the delegation stressed that as the worldas fourth-largest economy, aIndia remains committed to peace, but not at the cost of its sovereignty,a read the statement.

It said the meeting aimed to reinforce Indiaas call to adismantle cross-border terror infrastructure and end the distinction between terrorists and their enablersa.

In a call on Albares, the delegation provided a comprehensive overview of Indiaas approach to countering terrorism.

aAlbares conveyed his understanding and conveyed his understanding and the unequivocal support of Spain for Indiaas efforts to combat terrorism and reaffirmed the importance of global peace,a the statement said, adding that he emphasised that aterrorism will never prevail and that Spain stood with India in this issue.a

The delegation, also comprising MPs Rajeev Rai, Captain Brijesh Chowta, Premchand Gupta and Ashok Kumar Mittal, visited the Association of Victims of Terrorism, an organisation that supports over 4,800 victims of terrorism.

They reaffirmed Indiaas unwavering determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms.

aThe delegation also emphasised Indiaas diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting a principled, consistent and coordinated global response to terrorism,a the statement said.

The group also engaged in dialogue with intellectuals, think tanks and representatives from civil society at a discussion hosted by the Spain-India Council Foundation.

Delegation members stressed Indiaas astaunch resolve to combat terrorism and commitment to peacea.

They also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora.

aThe visit of All-Party Parliamentary Delegation to Spain was successful in effectively conveying Indiaas zero-tolerance approach to terrorism to government leaders, lawmakers, civil society and the Indian diaspora- strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding,a the embassy said in a separate X post.

Its visit was part of Indiaas broader outreach with key international partners to build an international alliance for cooperation in addressing terrorism.
The problem in holding talks with Pakistan is not the language but finding a common vision for decency and peace, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday, stressing that New Delhi can engage in dialogue with Islamabad if it takes significant action against the infrastructure of terrorism that is visible everywhere in the country.

Tharoor, who is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to Brazil, also said his team successfully conveyed Indiaas message against terrorism to the Latin American countries, including to those who may have had some

misunderstandings.

aThis is what we keep telling our interlocutors. If Pakistan is as innocent as they claim to be, why do they give safe haven to wanted terrorists? Why are they able to live peacefully, to conduct training camps, and radicalise further people, to equip arms and get people to practice their arms and Kalashnikovs,a Tharoor said.

He said the problem in talking to Pakistan is not the language but finding a common vision for decency and peace.

aYou crack down on this infrastructure of terrorism that is visible everywhere in your country. Then, of course, we can talk,a he said.

aWe can talk to them in Hindustani. We can talk to them in Punjabi. We can talk to them in English. There is no problem in finding common ground with Pakistan. The problem is finding a common vision for decency, for peace. We want to be left in peace, to grow and develop. They donat want to leave us alone. They want to harass us. They want to undermine us,a he said.

aThey want to cut us this whole bleeding to death India by 1,000 cuts. Theyare not going to bleed to death so easily. Better forget that idea,a he added.

On another question, whether India hopes that Brazil, which is hosting the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, may issue a statement on terrorism against Indian citizens, Tharoor said, aI think, honestly, BRICS has a different agenda. Iam not saying that they may not want to express solidarity. I mean, thatas really not my brief, I donat know, and I donat even know if itas in the draft that theyare working on alreadya.

aAs far as the other issues youare concerned, you know, international forums are not our preoccupation. Our preoccupation is honestly our bilateral relation to Pakistan and Pakistanas complete failure to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism in their country,a he said.

On a question whether nations have been recognising Indiaas stance against terrorism, Tharoor said his delegation has been to four nations --Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil- so far and athis has been very clear in all the countries weave been toa. aAnd I would say in all four countries, weave had a very, clear success, if thatas the word, I donat like to boast of success. Thatas for others to judge. But we have got our message through very clearly, including to those who may have had some misunderstandings,a he said, referring to Colombia.

Earlier, Tharoor had said Colombia withdrew a statement offering condolences to Pakistan for the loss of lives following Indiaas military strikes in response to the Pahalgam attack after his delegation explained Islamabadas relentless support to cross-border terrorism.

aAnd as a result of getting our message through, we have certainly been able, in my view, to come back feeling that these countries understand our situation better and express full solidarity with our struggle against terrorism, which is the main purpose of our trip,a Tharoor said.

The Tharoor-led delegation will head to Washington DC from Brazil.

On a question on the delegationas expectations from the Washington DC visit, Tharoor said, aMy expectations are that itas going to be a challenging visit. We have a lot of different kinds of audiences,a he said.

aJudging by some of the information floating around, flying around, we get some interesting and perhaps challenging questions, which we will be very happy to answer,a he added.

Tharoor in a post on X said the delegation had an intense day of meetings in Brazil that agave us much to be pleased about a affirmations of solidarity and goodwill for India across the board, both from the highest echelons of government and from the legislature.a

The delegation held an excellent and highly productive meeting with Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the India-Brazil Friendship Front and President of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

aDeeply appreciate his insightful understanding & strong endorsement of Indiaas perspective on recent events. Such solidarity strengthens the bonds between our democracies! Brazil and India,a Tharoor said.

The delegation also met the new Indian Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia. aAt the Ambassadoras lunch, had the great pleasure of meeting two venerable academic couples who have each held Indiaas flag aloft in the Brazilian capital for more than half a century: Prof Vijayendra Kumar and his wife Devi, who herself taught Hindi to Brazilians; and Prof Haridas and his wide Padmaja, who hail from Palakkad district and have seen my ancestral home on a visit to Kollengode!a Tharoor said.

aProf Kumar explained that aside from the diplomats, there are only five Indian families in Brasiliaas 4 million population, something I find impossible to believe!a, he said.

The delegation also called on Amb Celso Amorim, Head Adviser of the Special Advisory to the President of Brazil, and discussed Indiaas position of zero tolerance to terrorism.
Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Credicorp (NYSE:BAP  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Sunday.

Credicorp Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of BAP opened at $216.83 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $194.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $189.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.02. The company has a market capitalization of $17.25 billion, a PE ratio of 11.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.00. Credicorp has a fifty-two week low of $153.27 and a fifty-two week high of $217.36.

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Credicorp Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be paid a dividend of $10.9577 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. This is a boost from Credicorps previous annual dividend of $2.91. This represents a dividend yield of 4.5%. Credicorps payout ratio is currently 58.95%.

Institutional Trading of Credicorp

About Credicorp

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Credicorp by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,642,818 shares of the banks stock valued at $667,801,000 after buying an additional 196,197 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in shares of Credicorp by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,032,656 shares of the banks stock valued at $564,559,000 after buying an additional 7,692 shares during the period. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. grew its stake in shares of Credicorp by 243.8% during the 4th quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 1,716,777 shares of the banks stock valued at $290,920,000 after buying an additional 1,217,368 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of Credicorp by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,695,980 shares of the banks stock valued at $315,724,000 after buying an additional 14,852 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in shares of Credicorp by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,343,531 shares of the banks stock valued at $250,112,000 after buying an additional 13,592 shares during the period. 89.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

Credicorp Ltd. provides various financial, insurance, and health services and products primarily in Peru and internationally. It operates through Universal Banking, Insurance and Pensions, Microfinance, and Investment Banking and Equity Management segments. The Universal Banking segment grants various credits and financial instruments to individuals and legal entities; and various deposits and current accounts.

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Agricultural Bank of China (OTCMKTS:ACGBY  Get Free Report) and Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Agricultural Bank of China and Orion Oyjs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Agricultural Bank of China 19.68% 9.11% 0.66% Orion Oyj 23.01% 39.49% 21.75%

Volatility and Risk

Agricultural Bank of China has a beta of 0.01, meaning that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Orion Oyj has a beta of 0.17, meaning that its stock price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Agricultural Bank of China 0 0 0 0 0.00 Orion Oyj 0 1 0 0 2.00

Valuation and Earnings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Agricultural Bank of China and Orion Oyj, as provided by MarketBeat.

This table compares Agricultural Bank of China and Orion Oyjs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Agricultural Bank of China $190.65 billion 1.20 $38.11 billion $2.59 6.32 Orion Oyj $1.29 billion 7.70 $234.64 million $1.31 26.81

Agricultural Bank of China has higher revenue and earnings than Orion Oyj. Agricultural Bank of China is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Orion Oyj, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Agricultural Bank of China pays an annual dividend of $0.62 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. Orion Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Agricultural Bank of China pays out 23.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Orion Oyj pays out 24.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Agricultural Bank of China is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

Orion Oyj beats Agricultural Bank of China on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Agricultural Bank of China

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Agricultural Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, and Treasury Operations segments. It offers demand, personal call, foreign currency call, time or demand optional, foreign exchange call, foreign exchange time, savings, agreed term, and negotiated deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and loans, including housing, consumer, business, fixed asset, working capital, real estate, and entrusted syndicated loans, as well as trade finances, guarantees and commitments, and loans with custody of export rebates accounts. The company provides credit card, debit card, payment and settlement, private banking, cash management, investment banking, custody, financial market, and financial institution services, as well as trading and wealth management services; and personal fund collection and automatic transfer services. In addition, it offers agro-related personal and corporate banking products and services; telephone, mobile, self-service, television, and SMS banking services; financial leasing services; fund management services; asset custodian services; and insurance and reinsurance related products and services. The company operates domestic branches, including specialized institutions, training institutes, tier-1 branches, tier-2 branches, tier-1 sub-branches, foundation-level branch outlets and other establishments; overseas branches in Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York, Dubai International Financial Centre, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Sydney, Luxemburg, Dubai, London, Macao, and Hanoi; and overseas representative offices in Vancouver, Taipei, Sao Paulo, and Dushanbe. The company was founded in 1951 and is based in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

About Orion Oyj

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Orion Oyj develops, manufactures, and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Finland, Scandinavia, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company provides prescription drugs and self-care products, which includes Nubeqa for the treatment of prostate cancer; Precedex, Dexdor, and Precedex for human use; Burana for inflammatory pain; Divina series for menopausal symptoms; Trexan for rheumatoid arthritis and cancer; Stalevo, Entacapone, and Comtess/Comtan for Parkinsons disease; Biosimilars for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases; and Simdax for acute decompensated heart failure, as well as Fareston for breast cancer. It also offers Salmeterol/fluticasone Easyhaler, Budesonide/formoterol Easyhaler, Formoterol Easyhaler, Budesonide Easyhaler, Beclomet Easyhaler, and Buventol Easyhaler drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition, the company provides veterinary drugs comprising Bonqat, Clevor, Domosedan, Domitor, Antisedan, Dexdomitor, Domosedan Gel, Sileo, and Tessie; APIs for generic compounds and proprietary products, as well as contract manufacturing services; and markets and sells veterinary drugs manufactured by other international companies. Further, the company has partnership with Propeller Health to connect the Easyhaler(R) product portfolio; and a research collaboration and license agreement with Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to commercialize Amneals generic products. Orion Oyj was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The technology company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.05, RTT News reports. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a return on equity of 8.94% and a net margin of 8.56%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.42 EPS. Hewlett Packard Enterprises revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Hewlett Packard Enterprise updated its FY 2025 guidance to 1.780-1.900 EPS and its Q3 2025 guidance to 0.400-0.450 EPS.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Trading Up 2.0%

HPE stock traded up $0.35 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $17.69. The company had a trading volume of 26,944,993 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,242,356. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 52 week low of $11.97 and a 52 week high of $24.66. The business has a 50 day moving average of $16.01 and a 200 day moving average of $19.10. The company has a market cap of $23.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.31, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.29.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 21st were given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 21st. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is 25.37%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on HPE shares. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered Hewlett Packard Enterprise from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $16.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, March 12th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $27.00 to $20.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $15.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $22.00 to $17.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Daiwa America lowered shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hewlett Packard Enterprise has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $21.13.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on HPE

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, Director Bethany Mayer sold 6,409 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.19, for a total value of $84,534.71. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.36% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hewlett Packard Enterprise

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Free Report) by 44.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,456 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 1,377 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $69,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 80.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Profile

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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Brave Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 1.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,743 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Brave Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $955,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Navigoe LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on MA shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $633.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup upped their price target on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Evercore ISI began coverage on Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set an in-line rating and a $550.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $610.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $569.45, for a total transaction of $85,417.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 3,555 shares in the company, valued at $2,024,394.75. This represents a 4.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Michael Miebach sold 15,775 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.16, for a total value of $8,678,774.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 84,871 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,692,629.36. This represents a 15.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 23,207 shares of company stock valued at $12,664,529. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $582.27 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $545.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $540.50. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $428.86 and a 1-year high of $588.45. The firm has a market cap of $530.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.57 by $0.16. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. The business had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.31 earnings per share. Mastercards revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Profile

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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.

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Gradient Investments LLC reduced its stake in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C  Free Report) by 16.7% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,605 shares of the companys stock after selling 926 shares during the period. Gradient Investments LLCs holdings in Citigroup were worth $327,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Core Alternative Capital grew its stake in Citigroup by 83.4% during the 4th quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 376 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. American National Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

C has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America reduced their price target on Citigroup from $90.00 to $89.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Citigroup from $85.00 to $78.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Citigroup in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. They set a hold rating and a $83.00 price target for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an outperform rating and set a $92.00 price target (down previously from $96.00) on shares of Citigroup in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating and issued a $77.00 price objective (down previously from $83.00) on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $83.97.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director John Cunningham Dugan sold 4,417 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.26, for a total transaction of $301,504.42. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 13,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $890,656.48. The trade was a 25.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Citigroup Trading Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE C opened at $76.54 on Wednesday. Citigroup Inc. has a 12 month low of $53.51 and a 12 month high of $84.74. The company has a market cap of $142.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $72.58.

Citigroup (NYSE:C  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.84 by $0.12. Citigroup had a return on equity of 6.62% and a net margin of 7.43%. The business had revenue of $21.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.34 billion. Sell-side analysts predict that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 EPS for the current year.

Citigroup Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 5th were issued a dividend of $0.56 per share. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 5th. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is 35.39%.

About Citigroup

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Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions.

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Citigroup began coverage on shares of Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN  Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. The firm set a buy rating on the banks stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of Banco Santander from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Banco Santander from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy.

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Banco Santander Trading Down 1.4%

Shares of SAN opened at $7.91 on Wednesday. Banco Santander has a twelve month low of $4.27 and a twelve month high of $8.08. The company has a current ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.83. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $7.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.00. The company has a market cap of $119.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.00.

Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The bank reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.22. Banco Santander had a return on equity of 11.90% and a net margin of 15.88%. The business had revenue of $17.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.94 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Banco Santander will post 0.83 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. grew its position in shares of Banco Santander by 197.0% during the 4th quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 557,390 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,542,000 after buying an additional 369,700 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Banco Santander by 62.2% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 105,415 shares of the banks stock valued at $479,000 after purchasing an additional 40,438 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Santander during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,319,000. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Banco Santander by 284.9% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 670,513 shares of the banks stock worth $3,057,000 after purchasing an additional 496,309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Summit Global Investments grew its stake in Banco Santander by 69.1% during the 4th quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 227,478 shares of the banks stock worth $1,037,000 after buying an additional 92,987 shares during the last quarter. 9.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Banco Santander

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Banco Santander, SA provides various financial services worldwide. The company operates through Retail Banking, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Insurance, and PagoNxt segments. It offers demand and time deposits, mutual funds, and current and savings accounts; mortgages, consumer finance, loans, and various financing solutions; and project finance, debt capital markets, global transaction banking, and corporate finance services.

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White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX:WCN  Get Free Report) insider Daniel Smith acquired 10,000,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 30th. The stock was bought at an average cost of A$0.03 ($0.02) per share, for a total transaction of A$280,000.00 ($180,645.16).

White Cliff Minerals Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $36.01 million, a P/E ratio of -2.11 and a beta of -0.04.

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White Cliff Minerals Company Profile

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Further Reading

White Cliff Minerals Limited engages in the exploration of mineral properties in Australia. It explores for lithium, rare earth elements (REE), gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt deposits. The company holds 100% interests in the Hines Hill REE project consists of two adjoining tenements covering an area of 576 square kilometers, located in the wheatbelt region, near east of Perth along the Great Eastern Highway; the Diemals Li/REE project consists of 6 tenements covering an area of 2,427 square kilometers, located near east of Paynes Find; the Preston River Lithium project located near the north of the Greenbushes; and the Reedy South Gold project covers an area of 272 square kilometers, located within the Meekatharra-Wydgee greenstone belt.

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Ivanhoe Mines (OTCMKTS:IVPAF  Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at TD Securities to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Separately, Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating on shares of Ivanhoe Mines in a report on Thursday, May 15th.

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Ivanhoe Mines Stock Performance

IVPAF opened at $7.81 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $9.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.69. Ivanhoe Mines has a twelve month low of $6.92 and a twelve month high of $15.53. The firm has a market cap of $10.56 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.79.

Ivanhoe Mines (OTCMKTS:IVPAF  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $77.02 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $108.71 million.

About Ivanhoe Mines

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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. engages in the mining, development, and exploration of minerals and precious metals primarily in Africa. It explores for platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold, rhodium, zinc, silver, germanium, and lead deposits. The company's projects include the Platreef project located in the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; the Kipushi project located in Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Kamoa-Kakula project located within the Central African Copperbelt.

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Peak Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,998 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $2,962,000. W.W. Grainger comprises about 1.5% of Peak Financial Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of GWW. Unigestion Holding SA increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 1,743.8% during the 1st quarter. Unigestion Holding SA now owns 15,359 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $15,154,000 after buying an additional 14,526 shares in the last quarter. Spring Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 2.6% in the first quarter. Spring Capital Management LLC now owns 8,245 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $8,145,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 124.3% during the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 848 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $838,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in W.W. Grainger in the 1st quarter valued at $454,000. Finally, Czech National Bank raised its stake in W.W. Grainger by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 10,178 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $10,054,000 after purchasing an additional 569 shares during the last quarter. 80.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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W.W. Grainger Price Performance

W.W. Grainger stock opened at $1,088.75 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $1,026.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,058.22. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 12-month low of $874.98 and a 12-month high of $1,227.66. The stock has a market cap of $52.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.13, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.24.

W.W. Grainger Increases Dividend

W.W. Grainger ( NYSE:GWW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $9.51 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.31 billion. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 11.12% and a return on equity of 52.43%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $9.62 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 12th were given a $2.26 dividend. This represents a $9.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. This is a positive change from W.W. Graingers previous quarterly dividend of $2.05. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 12th. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio is presently 23.21%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Deidra C. Merriwether sold 1,164 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $997.12, for a total value of $1,160,647.68. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,235 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,205,523.20. This represents a 10.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Krantz Nancy L. Berardinelli sold 280 shares of W.W. Grainger stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,075.20, for a total transaction of $301,056.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 3,369 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,622,348.80. This trade represents a 7.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 2,205 shares of company stock valued at $2,255,320 over the last quarter. 6.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GWW has been the topic of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,097.00 to $1,144.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. William Blair upgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,100.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered shares of W.W. Grainger from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $966.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,123.13.

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W.W. Grainger Profile

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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.

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Radiopharm Theranostics Limited (ASX:RAD  Get Free Report) insider Ian Turner bought 3,000,000 shares of Radiopharm Theranostics stock in a transaction on Friday, May 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of A$0.03 ($0.02) per share, for a total transaction of A$87,000.00 ($56,129.03).

Radiopharm Theranostics Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $60.78 million, a PE ratio of -0.19 and a beta of 0.82.

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About Radiopharm Theranostics

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Further Reading

Radiopharm Theranostics Limited engages in the research and development of radiopharmaceutical products for diagnostic and therapeutic uses in areas of high unmet medical needs. It is developing its lead products comprising Nano-mAbs and AVB6 Integrin. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is based in Carlton, Australia.

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Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX:SIG  Get Free Report) insider Danielle Di Pilla sold 14,764,652 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of A$3.16 ($2.04), for a total value of A$46,612,006.36 ($30,072,262.17).

Danielle Di Pilla also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, May 26th, Danielle Di Pilla sold 235,348 shares of Sigma Healthcare stock. The stock was sold at an average price of A$3.15 ($2.03), for a total value of A$741,346.20 ($478,287.87).

On Wednesday, May 28th, Danielle Di Pilla sold 7,500,000 shares of Sigma Healthcare stock. The shares were sold at an average price of A$3.20 ($2.06), for a total value of A$24,000,000.00 ($15,483,870.97).

On Thursday, May 29th, Danielle Di Pilla sold 7,342,150 shares of Sigma Healthcare stock. The shares were sold at an average price of A$3.18 ($2.05), for a total value of A$23,311,326.25 ($15,039,565.32).

Sigma Healthcare Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $4.57 billion, a PE ratio of -1,799.86, a P/E/G ratio of 6.91 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.82.

About Sigma Healthcare

Sigma Healthcare Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale distribution of pharmaceutical goods and medical consumables to community pharmacies primarily in Australia. The company operates various aligned pharmacies, including branded pharmacies under the Amcal, Discount Drug Stores, Guardian, and PharmaSave brands.

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Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Get Free Report) updated its first quarter 2025 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 0.090-0.090 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 0.040. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.4 billion-$1.4 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.3 billion.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on VSCO. Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an underweight rating and issued a $15.00 target price (up previously from $12.00) on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. UBS Group set a $24.00 target price on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from $17.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $26.18.

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Victorias Secret & Co. Stock Performance

Shares of VSCO opened at $20.25 on Wednesday. Victorias Secret & Co. has a 12 month low of $13.76 and a 12 month high of $48.73. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $29.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.49, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 2.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.12.

Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 5th. The company reported $2.60 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.10 billion. Victorias Secret & Co. had a net margin of 2.47% and a return on equity of 44.74%. Research analysts forecast that Victorias Secret & Co. will post 2.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Victorias Secret & Co.

In related news, major shareholder International Pte Ltd Bbrc acquired 80,328 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $16.78 per share, with a total value of $1,347,903.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 9,255,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $155,304,722.66. This trade represents a 0.88% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders bought a total of 1,503,973 shares of company stock worth $26,617,312 over the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Victorias Secret & Co.

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 2.9% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 62,949 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,170,000 after purchasing an additional 1,797 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in Victorias Secret & Co. by 279.1% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 47,839 shares of the companys stock worth $888,000 after acquiring an additional 35,220 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Victorias Secret & Co. during the first quarter worth about $233,000. 90.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Victorias Secret & Co. Company Profile

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What makes China 'cool'

09:55, June 04, 2025 By He Juan ( People's Daily

A "flying car" is exhibited at the booth of Chinese auto manufacturer GAC Group at the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2025), April 23, 2025. (Photo by Long Wei/People's Daily Online)

At the second Wuyi Forum, a platform for international academic exchanges, Robert Chard, a sinologist and emeritus professor from the University of Oxford, said that he hopes the West can come to see that China is very cool, very interesting, and very much worth learning from.

"Cool" is a term rooted in youth culture, typically associated with what is fashionable, innovative and avant-garde. For decades, the term has been dominated by Western cultural expressions. Yet this perception is gradually shifting, as global attention increasingly turns eastward.

Consider the case of a foreign social media influencer who, after experiencing a Chinese new energy vehicle, remarked that it resembled a nanny van from the future.

"When China waters, we bloom," said an executive of a multinational corporation, referring to the country's fair, open, and vast market. Today, for many foreign investors, China represents a land of certainty and opportunity.

In the video game "Black Myth: Wukong," the protagonist - long translated as the "Monkey King" for international audiences - is now introduced simply as "Wukong." This linguistic choice, subtle yet deliberate, exemplifies a growing cultural confidence.

What makes China "cool" is not only its embrace of modernity, but also the depth of its ancient civilization. It is this blend of heritage and progress that is helping to expand and redefine the global understanding of cultural dynamism.

The introduction of visa-free policies has led to a significant increase in foreign travel to China. Online engagement echoes this trend: videos tagged "learning Chinese" have racked up billions of views on platforms such as TikTok. The desire to understand and experience China is rising markedly. But overcoming long-standing prejudices and outdated stereotypes continues to obstruct more nuanced perceptions, and dismantling these will require sustained effort.

In cross-cultural communication, the notion of "cultural discount" persists. Take the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" for example. Its central theme - defiance of fate and self-realization - possesses universal resonance, while the film's culturally specific cultural symbols, such as iconic mythological weapons like the Wind and Fire Wheels and the Jingu Bang, may prove elusive to international audiences unfamiliar with the mythology. This highlights the inherent complexity of bridging cultural divides.

Several women pose for a picture in front of a mural depicting scenes from the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" in Huimin county, Binzhou, east China's Shandong province. (Photo by Wang Jun/People's Daily Online)

Nonetheless, even entrenched prejudices are not insurmountable.

In January, an American father posted a photo of himself and his daughter on Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote abroad, accompanied by a simple greeting. The post received over 10,000 comments and sparked a genuine friendship with a family in Shanghai. The two families ultimately met in person in March and spent meaningful time together. Their experience - an authentic cross-cultural exchange rooted in sincerity - offered a small yet profound illustration of what global understanding might look like when empathy transcends distance.

Such moments are becoming more visible. American YouTuber iShowSpeed livestreamed his journey in China this year, drawing millions of viewers. Unedited and spontaneous, his broadcasts offered an unvarnished view of contemporary Chinese life, allowing global audiences to witness China's rapid development and everyday charm in real time.

Public perception is the sunlight that dispels prejudice, and human connection bridges even the most entrenched divides. And it is authentic experience that makes for the most compelling stories and vibrant narratives.

Today, China is confidently embracing the world with openness. As more of its warm, powerful, and relatable stories resonate across borders, they will foster empathy, deepen connections, and write new chapters in cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.

Tourists pose for a picture at a shopping center in southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo by Wang Jiaxi/People's Daily Online)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The U.S. Army recently concluded Arcane Thunder 25, a sprawling live-fire exercise designed to test and refine its deep sensing and multi-domain operational capabilities. The event, which spanned locations in Poland, Germany, and Arizona from May 11 to 27, showcased the integration of uncrewed systems, advanced data sharing, and international allied cooperation.

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Multi-Domain Operations on Display

Led by the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force under the 56th Artillery Command, Arcane Thunder 25 served as a critical proving ground for the Armys evolving warfighting doctrine. Maj. Gen. John Rafferty, commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command, described the exercise as a premier training event. He emphasized its role in testing the task forces ability to operate across all domains, identify targets at significant distances, and engage them with both kinetic (munitions) and non-kinetic (electronic warfare, cyber) effects.

A key focus was empowering soldiers, sergeants, and lieutenants to experiment with cutting-edge equipment and develop best practices for its employment. Our soldiers, our sergeants and our lieutenants are the ones who have their hands on this equipment, who are determining the best way to employ it, Rafferty stated, highlighting that their feedback is directly influencing capability development and operational tactics. The insights gained are also shaping the transformation of Raffertys command into a multi-domain command in Europe over the coming months.

Uncrewed Systems Take Center Stage

A diverse array of uncrewed systems played a pivotal role in Arcane Thunder 25, demonstrating the Armys commitment to leveraging technology for large-scale combat scenarios. Unmanned surface vessels (USVs), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), high-altitude balloons (HAB), and unattended ground sensors were all integral to the exercise.

Collaboration with the Navy saw the deployment of USVs to test multi-domain concepts, aligning with the Pentagons broader Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) strategy. This initiative aims to seamlessly connect the sensors, shooters, and information networks of all U.S. military branches and their international partners.

Col. Patrick Moffett, commander of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, explained the significance of the USV integration. Its really trying to perfect the ability to transition from the littoral domain to the land domain, he said. He detailed how Navy vessels identified targets, passed the information to the 2nd MDTFs all-domain operations center, which then relayed it to Polish partners for engagement. This exercise not only tested the joint kill chain but also enhanced the Armys understanding of maritime operations. Furthermore, the robo-boats were utilized in contested logistics scenarios, moving equipment to potentially isolated units.

Data-Driven Kill Chains and Interoperability

A major theme of Arcane Thunder 25 was the ability to fight with live data. Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, commander of the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, noted how sensor data, including information from micro HABs, informed the use of launched effects like loitering munitions. This data allowed for rapid decision-making at the battalion and company levels to close the kill chain.

Rafferty underscored the critical achievement of transmitting live data through mission command systems across continents  from Europe to Arizona and back. He described a scenario where data from a micro HAB, refined by other platforms, was analyzed by teams in Poland and Arizona, then sent to Germany for further analysis and shooter assignment in mere minutes, a process that previously took hours. That live data part is probably the biggest breakthrough for us, from my standpoint, Rafferty commented.

Despite the successes, Ritzema acknowledged that integrating the various technologies and ensuring interoperability between different platforms and payloads presented significant challenges that the Army actively worked to overcome during the exercise. The lessons learned from Arcane Thunder 25 are expected to continue to shape the Armys approach to future warfare.
Members of the Mid Ulster Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign have protested Moyola Engineering in Castledawson and leafleted workers about the complicity of the factory.

The protest took place this morning (Wednesday), which is also UN International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

Participants have demanded 'an immediate end to the manufacture of F35 parts for planes which are raining bombs down on Gaza'.

Directly on their website, Moyola Engineering states: Moyola manufactures a wide range of components, for various defence applications. This includes airframe parts for F35, Gripen A400M and performance critical precision components for missiles, optical and sonar equipment and launch and guidance platforms.

Recently the MUIPSC held a protest in Toome, where hundreds of people marched to demand an end to the slaughter of Palestinians and for InvestNI to come clean on money being spent on Moyola Engineering.

Later they held a film screening in Bellaghy in solidarity with the Filton18 activists currently being persecuted for standing up to genocide and dismantling weapons of genocide in Israeli weapons company Elbit systems factory.

MUIPSC chair Padraig Mac Niocaill said: On our doorstep in South Derry is a factory which boasts about its part in the creation of F-35 warplanes, death machines complicit in the genocide of Palestinians and murdering of innocents the world over. Over 20,000 children have been murdered in just 2 years of this genocide. The vast majority of people in Mid Ulster will be abhorred to know that there is a factory on their doorstep creating parts for the same warplanes that bomb children in Gaza. We demand an immediate ceasing of the manufacture of these parts, a stringent investigation into where these parts are ending up, and for a total divestment from companies complicit in genocide.

Invest NI, part of the Department for the Economy run by Sinn Fein Minister Caoimhe Archibald, has given over 19 million pounds of public money to companies based in Belfast, Crumlin, Newtownabbey, Dunmurry and Castledawson who make parts for F-35 warplanes. Currently in Gaza 2.2 million people are being deliberately starved to death by Israel and slaughtered by the unrelenting bombing with arms supplied by the US, EU and UK.

The MUIPSC calls on all of our local politicians, councillors and MLAs to investigate the full component pipeline and immediately take action against this factory.
Mid Ulster-based building firm Setanta Construction has been awarded the Sustainable Building Award at the 2025 Northern Ireland Master Builder Awards, hosted by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

The awards honour excellence in craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainable practices among FMB members across the UK.

Setanta Construction received the accolade for an exemplary two-storey residential project on the scenic North Antrim coast. It was the companys first fully electric home using sophisticated PARIS Green technologies, marking a bold leap forward in sustainable construction. Designed with energy efficiency and environmental responsibility at its core, the home reflects Setantas commitment to pushing the boundaries of modern building while meeting the evolving needs of homeowners.

Mark Gribbin, Director of Setanta Construction, commented: Weve spent many years working closely with clients to identify the most effective approaches to energy efficiency and sustainable building. This project, our first fully electric home using specialised PARIS Greentech innovation, marks a significant milestone for us and were incredibly proud to receive this recognition from the FMB. Its a clear demonstration of whats possible when forward-thinking design is combined with a genuine commitment to sustainability.

He continued: Every aspect of the build, from high-performance insulation and glazing to modern heating systems and energy-efficient appliances was carefully selected to reduce environmental impact without compromising comfort or quality. In particular the use of ground-breaking Green technology; which analyses usage, predicts future consumption and even stores energy for future use has resulted in a low-carbon, future-ready home that not only meets but exceeds todays environmental standards.

Niall Gribbin, Joint Director, added: Strong client partnership and effective stakeholder collaboration were key to the success of this project. Having established a great relationship with our client through previous work, we were able to collaborate seamlessly on this new build. A shared vision including a focus on green technologies and renewable energy enabled us to deliver full electrification within budget and without sacrificing quality.

Eddie McGoldrick, client and Co-Founder/Chairman of Joulen, praised Setantas work, saying: A well-deserved win, Setanta has a proven track record in sustainable and innovative construction, along with a deep understanding of modern electrical systems. Not only did they successfully deliver the technical aspects of a fully electric home, but their expertise was also critical in selecting the right materials, integrating cutting-edge PARIS Green technologies, and ensuring full regulatory compliance.

Throughout the project, we felt completely confident in their decision-making; always grounded in a commitment to excellence, consistency, and environmental responsibility and I have no doubt that this award will further solidify their reputation as leaders in the field."

According to Gavin McGuire, FMB Director in Northern Ireland: Setanta Constructions achievement at the 2025 Northern Ireland Master Builder Awards is a shining example of the innovation and dedication we see among our members. Their commitment to sustainability, demonstrated through the delivery of a fully electric, PARIS Green-powered home, sets a new benchmark for environmentally responsible building in the region.

"At the FMB, we are proud to champion builders who not only deliver exceptional craftsmanship but also embrace the challenge of creating homes fit for the future. Setantas project on the North Antrim coast is a testament to what can be achieved when forward-thinking design, advanced technology, and a genuine passion for sustainability come together.

"We congratulate Setanta Construction on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to seeing them represent Northern Ireland at the National Master Builder Awards later this year.

As a regional winner, Setanta Construction will go on to represent Northern Ireland at the FMB National Master Builder Awards, to be held in September 2025.
A Derry woman has been sentenced to community service after being convicted of assault on police, criminal damage and possession of drugs.

Kirsty Temple, of Claremont House, Richmond Avenue, was charged with committing the offences on March 19.

Limavady Magistrates Court heard that police were called to the Jet Centre in Coleraine following a third party report in relation to an alleged domestic incident in the car park.

The court heard that police also received a second report from Temple who claimed that she had been assaulted.

When police spoke to Temple and the other occupant of the vehicle, they both denied the physical assault however they stated that there had been an argument.

Temple was subsequently escorted from the scene in a police vehicle and during the journey she produced a bag containing class B drugs and handed it over to officers.

A short time later she became irate and began spitting in the vehicle.

The court heard that some spit landed on the neck of the police officer who was driving the vehicle.

District Judge Peter King sentenced Temple to 100 hours community service and ordered her to pay compensation of 200 to the police officer.
Back in 2017 Grainne McLaughlin's life changed when she suffered from a debilitating flu that led to her developing a long-term chronic illness.

The Derry woman shared how her daily life is majorly impacted by her health struggles and how embracing her creative side has managed to provide her with some relief from her struggles.

Grainne spoke about her diagnosis with chronic illness saying: I had a really bad flu and I never came around from it. I was pregnant with my daughter at the time and it made the pregnancy really hard. From that moment on I battled with severe fatigue.

I ended up developing further into some neurological conditions. I was diagnosed with a condition called functional neurological disorder (FND) as well as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Most people are diagnosed with these conditions after experiencing a psychological trauma however we determined mine wasnt triggered by that instead it was attributed to post viral infection after having the flu. I have a hyper awareness of my whole body.

When Im really unwell I would feel a hair move, I cant wear tight clothing, if someone touched me I would feel real pain. It is an overactive nervous system, its like being stuck in flight mode.

A lot of the medical professionals are sceptical of chronic conditions. It is mostly because some dont really fully understand those areas. There isnt a lot of support out there.

Whenever my doctor diagnosed me with FND the treatment and recommended pathways were to be directed to a website to learn more about it.

There is only one specialist in the whole of the UK dealing in FND. You have to do a lot of the work yourself in order to heal. A lot of the treatments that they were directing me to werent working for me. I was sent to occupational therapy and physiotherapy and they were trying to get me to exercise more but that would only make me feel worse.

It was frustrating. Prior to this I was a healthy person, I was in the gym three or four times a week. I used to process stress through movement and being active.



According to the NHS, chronic conditions FND and CFS are described as follows: Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), formerly known as conversion disorder or hysteria, is a condition where neurological symptoms, such as weakness, seizures, or sensory problems, are not caused by a physical disease or injury. The symptoms are real but are not explained by a structural abnormality in the nervous system. Instead, they are thought to be caused by a problem with how the brain processes information or sends signals to the body.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), is a complex, long-term illness characterized by severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and can be exacerbated by physical or mental exertion. It also often involves cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms.

Grainne continued explaining saying: I would have symptoms similar to that of a person that has suffered a stroke but the doctors dont believe I have the lasting damage or effects of a stroke.

How many people describe the feeling is like if I was a computer all the hardware works but there is a glitch in the software. Another way that I describe it to people is that my body and mind dont speak to each other in the right way.

Sometimes the connection between my brain and body breaks. I have issues where my mobility is affected. Its almost as if my brain forgets that my legs work. This often means I cant walk for a few days.

Whats very important for my condition is when I recognise that the fatigue is setting in, I notice little triggers and warning signs when I need to take the time to slow down and reconnect with the body. This is where mindfulness comes in for me.

Rather than lying down and being defeated by it I decided to find alternative ways to deal with it. I tried all the alternative medicines, clean eating, cleanses, detoxes, you name it I tried everything to try and improve wellness. What I discovered along the way was that my body was more relaxed when I was doing crafting.

The Derry woman explained how embracing her creative side allowed her to relax from the pain and the everyday stresses of life saying: Ive always been a person who makes things and does bits and pieces of crafting. It got to a point where I wasnt working and housebound.

When I was able to sit up I started making little metal sculptures or doing a bit of embroidery.

I started to notice those were the times where my body calmed down a lot. I never got a good nights sleep but doing this made me start to feel rested. I decided to look into it and figure out if anyone else felt the same way.

It turns out there is real science behind it. When I found this out I thought I would like to share this with other people so I started a blog and a tik tok page surrounding my findings. I wanted to show people there are ways to deal with this.

When you are suffering from a chronic illness that significantly impacts your life it is so easy to slip into depression and give up hope. It is great to have something that you can do to make yourself feel a little better. Even if you are just making something small for yourself or family it can give you a sense of achievement and you arent wallowing.

People say find a distraction, it can be easy to fall into a hole of watching tv, scrolling on our phones which isnt a form of positive distraction. When I open tik tok know I dont want to be mindlessly scrolling I want to see educational information so that is what I want to use my platform to do.

Its been proven that if we are participating in a craft like embroidery or knitting then you are distracting yourself while regulating your nervous system.

When your hands are moving in rhythm you can enter what is called active meditation. This can slow down your heart rate and shift your body into a rest and repair state. Rest doesnt have to mean taking to your bed and lying down; you can be productive, creative and still be resting. For me thats the kind of rest I tend to need more often.

ABOVE: Grainne's handmade jewellery



Offering advice to others on crafting and meditation Grainne emphasises not to put pressure on yourself.

Dont put pressure on yourself to create something good just think this is just something to be doing and when I have it done I am going to feel good.

Even if you feel like you cant complete, just think this is something that will hopefully allow me to connect and slow down. I wouldnt say this only applies to people with chronic illness if you are someone who has a stressful lifestyle and you are feeling burnt out.

The nature of how we live today is so fast paced. Even if you can set aside 20 minutes a day, that is great. Pick up a sketch book, a colouring book or an embroidery pack. Just allow yourself to enjoy the process.

ABOVE: More of Grainne's handmade jewellery

ABOVE: Some of Grainne's flower arranging



For more information visit Grainnes blog here: craftingacure.substack.com

If you are struggling from FMD and need support, Grainne recommends a group you can attend. For more information see FND Northwest Facebook Page.
Culmore Community Partnership has successfully completed the conversion of Culmore Fort for community use following a major funding boost of 265,000.

This follows over three years of planning, community engagement and work on site to see the project delivered. It will now accommodate much needed mental health support for youth in the area in addition to hosting meetings for a variety of sports, heritage and cultural organisations.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons welcomed the work, stating: This project will provide a vital community resource for Culmore and surrounding areas. We are seeing more and more communities applying to Village Catalyst and I am pleased that my Department is able to support projects where at-risk heritage properties are being revitalised and restored for the benefit of the local community.

We have seen a range of properties conserved and modernised through Village Catalyst, delivering greater economic sustainability and positive social outcomes for local people and businesses. I very much look forward to visiting the finished project.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir added: Culmore Fort was identified for support through the Village Catalyst Programme, part-funded through my Departments Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRSPI) Programme. The Programme tackles rural poverty and social isolation by refurbishing neglected community owned historic buildings for locally identified uses which provide access to services and address core community needs. The provision of a multi-functional community facility in the Culmore area is a significant development and Im delighted that this project will help support the local rural community for many years to come.

Neil Doherty MBE, Chair of Culmore Community Partnership (CCP), said: We are deeply grateful to our generous funders whose support has made our ambitious vision for Culmore Fort a reality. This project has been made possible through the Village Catalyst grant scheme  a collaborative initiative between the Department for Communities (DfC), the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

Additional support has also come from The Honourable The Irish Society, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the Pilgrim Trust. Their combined investment has enabled us to develop much-needed community space in Culmore, a vital asset for local residents.

Historically, the Fort at Culmore was held by the Crown until 1840, when it and its surrounding lands were sold to The Honourable The Irish Society, who remain its owners to this day. For the past 50 years, the Fort has been leased by Lough Foyle Yacht Club. We are pleased to share that Culmore Community Partnership (CCP) has now assumed the lease to facilitate the restoration of this historic building and to open it up for wider community use.

We extend our sincere thanks to Lough Foyle Yacht Club for their cooperation and support throughout the development phase. We look forward to continuing this positive partnership as we move into the next stage of the project.

Una Cooper, Strategic Manager, Culmore Community Partnership, stated: Now that the conservation of the Fort is complete, we look ahead with excitement and purpose. This historic space is no longer just a reminder of the past  it is now a cornerstone for the future of Culmore. Were preparing to launch vital mental health and emotional wellbeing programmes for children and young people, offering them a safe and supportive environment to thrive. The Fort will also become a place for cultural and heritage events that celebrate our communitys identity.

The work at the Fort was carried out by dedicated professionals whose craftsmanship and care brought this conservation project to life. We would like to extend our thanks to We Build Ireland for their tireless commitment, precision, and ability to bring out the best in every stone, beam, and brick. Their work has preserved the soul of this Fort for generations to come.

Our Architect, Mark Hacketts vision and sensitivity to the Fort's historic character ensured that every decision respected the past while making room for the future. His attention to detail has been nothing short of extraordinary. Culmore Fort has been transformed into a vibrant community space a place where history meets hope!

Duane Farrell, Secretary & Chief Executive of The Honourable The Irish Society added: The Honourable The Irish Society is delighted to see the Fort being restored and, as importantly, being brought back into community use in a way that meets community needs. Culmore Fort is an iconic building with a long history and we look forward to seeing the building being used by the community in a way that it hasnt been for many years. Thanks to the hard work of Culmore Community Partnership together with the local community, this historic building will continue to have an important role to play in the local area for years to come.

Matthew McKeague, Chief Executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund, added: Culmore Fort is a fabulous example of the potential of a Village Catalyst scheme: regenerating a redundant historic asset to serve the needs of the local community. In this case, young people living in and around Culmore will have the opportunity to access a range of activities and services, in a beautifully restored and unique part of the village's history. We have been delighted to help Culmore Community Partnership test and develop their ideas and help bring this inspirational project to fruition.
A man who admitted having 197 indecent images of children has been given three years probation and ordered to sign the Sex Offender's Register for seven years.

William Putt (27) of Brandywell Road in Derry had admitted three courts of possessing the category A, B and C images on dates between May 29 2020 and August 1, 2020.

The court heard that on August 26, 2020 Putt told staff at Gransha Hospital that he had access to child images.

Police went to Putt's address on September 21, 2020 and the defendant voluntarily handed over all his electronic devices and the images were found.

He told police he had first been exposed to images while at secondary school.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that there was 'a difficult background' to this case as the defendant himself had been sexually groomed as a child.

He said Putt was currently in custody as he was homeless 'because addresses became unavailable to him due to the nature of the charges'.

The judge said the defendant was currently on mental health medication and had made admissions to medical staff in the knowledge this would be passed on to police.

Judge Rafferty said he 'understood' the public concern about this type of offending but felt that a probation order was more appropriate than a short prison sentence.

He said this would enable Putt to undertake the intense sexual offenders course that 'historically and statistically' had been shown to reduce offending.

Putt was sentenced to three years probation on condition he participates in the course, ordered to sign the Sex Offender's Register for seven years and had a Sexual Offences Prevention Order imposed also for seven years.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has described homophobic abuse that one of party colleagues was subjected to as despicable.

Earlier this week Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said he had experienced vile homophobic comments and spoke out about misogynistic remarks directed at some of his officials, as well as racism against workers in the agri-food sector recently on social media.

It comes during heated opposition from the farming community to Mr Muirs proposed Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 which is currently out for consultation.

Mr Muir has been urged to scrap the proposals which are aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources.

Opponents say the proposals could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security.

Speaking to media in Belfast on Wednesday, Ms Long urged constructive engagement around policy.

I think its despicable that any politician in any role is subjected to the kind of abuse, threat, intimidation that we see commonplace now being directed at politicians, and what Andrew has been subjected to in particular is appalling and unacceptable, she said.

People have a right to disagree with Andrews policy, they have a right to disagree with his direction of travel as minister, they do not have a right to harass, intimidate, threaten and abuse him, and there needs to be a clear line drawn between the two.

A constructive engagement around policy, around practice, is entirely reasonable. Abuse is unacceptable.

Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Muir contended there is a lot of misinformation around the proposals, adding that social media commentary has been disgraceful.

Theres been misogynistic comments against officials in my department, he said.

Theres been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector.

And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself.

I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.

Disappointment was expressed at the social media comments referred to across the chamber, including from Opposition leader Matthew OToole, Sinn Fein MLA Aoife Finnegan, UUP MLA Robbie Butler and DUP MLA Trevor Clarke, who said opposition to the programme should not be personalised against anyone.
Apple has launched its second India-specific Mac campaign for students, titled Lessons, following the 2023 film *Work Is Worth It. The new campaign focuses on self-guided learning and highlights how Mac devices are used in creative and academic tasks beyond standard coursework.

The Lessons campaign features the MacBook Air with Apples M4 chip, shown running applications such as AutoCAD and Xcode. The scenes reflect use cases where students rely on the device for multitasking and academic work involving resource-heavy software.

Alongside the campaign, Apple begins rolling out Apple Intelligence, a set of on-device AI features available across supported iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The tools include system-integrated writing aids, a photo editing function called Clean Up, and an updated Siri with improved contextual understanding.

Apple Intelligence is available on devices equipped with Apple silicon, including iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, iPads with A17 Pro or M1 and later, and Macs with M1 and later.

Lessons follows Apples previous student-focused campaign Work Is Worth It, maintaining a focus on technology use in academic settings. While the company has not introduced any new student offers tied to the campaign, standard education pricing remains available through the Apple India Education Store for eligible students and educators.

Also read: Apple MacBook Air M4 (2025) Review: The Default Laptop For Everyone?
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"Revenge Seekers" team develops AI-powered emergency assistant to improve disaster response efficiency.

As climate change escalates and significant disasters arise more frequently, Taiwan's public safety concerns continue to grow. The gas explosion at the department store in Taichung in 2025 underscored the critical issue that the "golden rescue time" prior to the arrival of trained rescuers is frequently underutilized. During the second "2025 AI Wave: Taiwan Generative AI Applications Hackathon," the "Revenge Seekers" team identified a significant social issue and provided a unique AI-driven solution, ultimately securing victory in the "Resilient Future" category of Chunghwa Telecom.

"Revenge Seekers" wins Chunghwa Telecom's Resilient Future award with an AI-powered emergency assistant that helps save lives in disaster zones. Credit: Company

In response to the frequent occurrence of significant disasters in recent years, the "Revenge Seekers" team has developed an intelligent system that is designed to aid non-medical individuals during emergencies. The purpose of this system is to improve the disaster response capabilities of the entire population by leveraging technological advancements. The team conducted a comprehensive analysis of significant accidents, including the 2015 New Taipei water park dust explosion and the department store gas explosion in Taichung earlier this year, and identified three urgent issues at the disaster sites that required immediate attention.

First, the general public lacks basic first aid knowledge, preventing them from effectively using the "golden rescue time" before medical personnel arrive. Secondly, the inability to record and classify casualty information on-site in real time leads to the inefficient deployment of following medical resources. Thirdly, the prompt distribution of casualties is challenging to understand, significantly affecting the overall decision-making and resource allocation of governmental agencies during rescue operations. These problems become even more severe in mass casualty events.

The team developed "First Aid Master - Public Edition v2.0" to resolve the aforementioned pain points. This first aid assistance system integrates generative AI technology. It is capable of assisting individuals without a medical background in conducting preliminary triage of the injured and providing situational basic first aid guidance through an intuitive interface. The system will categorize the injured into four categories based on the current condition of the injured as entered by the user: red (immediate treatment), yellow (treatment can be postponed), green (minor injuries), and black (extremely low chance of survival). It will then provide corresponding first aid suggestions for each category in real time, such as stopping bleeding, maintaining airway patency, and performing CPR.

Furthermore, the rescue efficiency and resource allocation accuracy can be significantly enhanced by the system's ability to autonomously generate injury records and zoning information for the reference of professional medical teams that arrive later.

"First Aid Master" is built on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure and leverages multiple innovative technologies to enhance the stability and responsiveness of system operations. The team utilized AWS PartyRock, a no-code, generative AI application builder, in conjunction with large language models such as Amazon Nova Pro and Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet v2 as the primary AI engine. To enhance the professionalism and precision of answers, the team independently structured the emergency documents and developed a compact retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system.

Amazon CloudFront delivers content with low latency through its content delivery network with secure HTTPS connections; Amazon Route 53 ensures reliable and efficient DNS routing, while Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) provides scalable compute capacity for the website and backend services. The open-source search engine OpenSearch retrieves first aid knowledge base information, and AWS WAF helps protect web applications and APIs from attacks. The system incorporates an AED map feature to help individuals quickly locate the nearest automatic external defibrillator, significantly improving rescue response timecritical for patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

"Revenge Seekers" distinguished itself within the Chunghwa Telecom "Resilient Future" group. The judges determined that this technology has the potential to provide immediate assistance at disaster sites and to function as an emergency education instrument during peacetime to disseminate first aid knowledge to the public. The system has substantial practical utility and can help Taiwan establish a robust civilian emergency network. Moreover, the system's real-time summary of patient information provides public departments with valuable insights for decision-making, which are expected to enhance the allocation of medical resources.

Article edited by Sherri Wang
Google cuts trust in Chunghwa Telecom's certificates: What's at stake for internet security chain?

Google's decision to remove default trust for digital certificates issued by Chunghwa Telecom starting July 31, 2025, has ignited global debate over certificate authority (CA) governance and digital trust mechanisms. The move places Taiwan's CA ecosystem under heightened international scrutiny.

Chunghwa Telecom claims it has "completed procedural adjustments" and that its certificates remain technically sound. However, Google cited "longstanding patterns of compliance failures," "unmet improvement commitments," and "absence of tangible, measurable progress," exposing a fundamental divide between the two parties' interpretation of trust and accountability.

Chunghwa Telecom first came under fire in 2024 when Mozilla Firefox considered delisting it as a trusted CA. With Chrome now officially revoking default trust, the company faces renewed international attention. This article explores how digital certificates function, why browsers can unilaterally delist a CA, and how Chunghwa Telecom's compliance record fits into the broader trust ecosystem.

Digital certificates: The foundation of online trust

Digital certificates are used to verify identity online. They encrypt and bind a public key to the verified identity of a website, person, or organization, and are issued by a trusted CA. When users see a padlock icon in their browser, it signals a valid certificate and a secure, encrypted connection.

CAs like Chunghwa Telecom issue digital certificates that browsers trust by defaultbut only if the CA complies with the Baseline Requirements (BR) set by the CA/Browser Forum. Meeting these standards allows inclusion in the browser's root certificate store. If removed, all certificates from that CA are distrusted, triggering "Not Secure" warnings in browsers, disrupting website access, and exposing users to potential risks. For businesses, the fallout may include reputational damage, SEO decline, and operational disruption.

Credit: DIGITIMES

Chrome's strict policy: Lessons from fallen certificate authorities

Chrome, the world's most-used browser, maintains strict policies for CAs in its root store. If a CA exhibits recurring issueslike procedural lapses or delayed responses to compliance violationsChrome may revoke default trust, even in the absence of direct technical vulnerabilities.

Several major CAs have previously been delisted. Symantec lost its certificate business after Chrome revoked trust over widespread misissuance, ultimately selling its CA operations to DigiCert. Chinese CAs like WoSign and StartCom, along with CNNIC, were also removed for repeated violations, demonstrating that even prominent CAs can be excluded if they fail to uphold industry standards.

Chunghwa's damage control efforts

Chunghwa Telecom issued a four-point statement claiming its certificates remain legally valid, technically sound, and certified under WebTrust and ISO standards. However, Chrome's delisting reflects ongoing compliance failures and unmet remediation promises, signaling a deeper breakdown in trust.

TechJury, citing StatCounter, reports Chrome held over 66% global market share in 2025, with Taiwan nearing 60%. Chunghwa noted that only Chrome users are affected, as Edge and Safari still trust its certificates, but this holds little weight given Chrome's market dominance.

Experts warn that inconsistent browser trust undermines user confidence and fragments the certificate ecosystem. Chunghwa's focus on non-Chrome trust offers little reassurance when Chrome remains critical to user experience and web access.

Chunghwa claimed government, finance, and legal sectors are unaffected. Yet many rely on Chrome-based platforms, where repeated warnings could erode trust, harm brand reputation, and disrupt user workflowsissues the company did not address.

On June 3, 2025, Chunghwa further clarified that the delisting was due to missed policy deadlines, not certificate flaws or key leaks. It will suspend TLS certificate issuance from August 1, 2025, with existing certificates remaining valid for one year. The company has promised free renewals and client outreach, moves unlikely to shift perception in the browser ecosystem.

Chunghwa reaffirmed its goal to regain Chrome's default trust for TLS certificates by March 2026 and pledged continued improvements in certificate operations.

Warning fatigue and emerging security risks

Security experts warn that Chrome's distrust may desensitize users to browser alerts. As warning fatigue builds, users could start ignoring genuine security warnings, making them more vulnerable to threats like man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, where attackers intercept or manipulate communications.

Inconsistent trust decisions across browsers create confusion for users. When one browser blocks a site while others don't, it undermines clarity around digital safety, per Economic Daily News. This ambiguity weakens the certificate's role as a trust anchor and may inadvertently open the door to more sophisticated attacks.

A pattern of compliance troubles

This is not Chunghwa Telecom's first compliance issue. In 2024, Mozilla considered delisting the company after an incident involving its Government TLS Certification Authority (GTLSCA), which Chunghwa operates. A misconfiguration of Extended Key Usage (EKU) affected more than 6,450 certificates, according to Bugzilla entry 1887096.

The problem stemmed from a misinterpretation of BR v2.0.0. Since the issue involved multiple government agencies, GTLSCA was unable to revoke all affected certificates within the five-day window required by CA/B Forum rules, raising concerns within the Mozilla community. Although remediation was completed by late April 2024, the delay highlighted serious process shortcomings.

Chunghwa now says it aims to regain Chrome's default trust by March 2026. But this incident is not isolatedit highlights deeper trust challenges in the global CA landscape. As cyber threats intensify, browsers are demanding higher accountability from CAs. Chunghwa's path back to trust will hinge on transparency and its ability to regain credibility in the international security community.

Article edited by Jerry Chen
In the immediate aftermath of Sunday's shooting incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town, there were calls for Irelands bail laws to be urgently reviewed and changed.

The calls came less than a week after the Government announced it's to appoint a senior counsel to examine the conditions under which a repeat offender can be granted bail while awaiting trial.

That announcement was made as part of a public apology to the family of cyclist Shane O'Farrell who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Monaghan almost 14 years ago by a man who should have been in prison at the time.

In a statement issued on Monday evening - just over 24 hours after the shooting incident in Carlow - Independent Ireland TD Ken OFlynn called for sweeping reform of our bail laws. Effectively we have a bail law system that is a threat to life and security, he wrote.

In a separate statement, Sinn Fein TD Matt Carty said: Our laws must ensure that the most dangerous criminals are behind bars.

READ ALSO: New photograph of Carlow shooter released as gardai vow to keep investigating

While Im sure there are thousands of people across the country who agree with the sentiments of both statements, others will argue against any knee-jerk reaction and I, for one, would agree.

Any reform of the bail laws will be complex and our elected legislators must exercise caution given the potential of there being unintended consequences which could cause havoc within the criminal justice system.

The suggestion, in some quarters, that anyone suspected of carrying out a serious criminal offence should be locked up as soon as they are arrested by gardai is non-sensical and unworkable, particularly given the current delays in hearing some cases and the overcrowding crisis in our prisons.

What about due process and the presumption of innocence that every citizen is entitled to?

What about Article 40 of the Constitution which states: "No citizen shall be deprived of his personal liberty save in accordance with law"?

Currently, there is robust legislation and strong case law relating to bail and the grounds on which an individual can be refused bail and remanded in custody.

As it stands, every person who is brought before a court has an entitlement to bail unless the State objects and, even then, only if the objection reaches the required threshold to satisfy a judge otherwise.

In some cases, such as murder, only a High Court judge can make such a determination but in most cases, issues relating to bail are heard by district court judges up and down the country.

Bail is not an issue in the vast majority of cases before the courts but bail hearings do take place every day of the week - some are reported in the media, others are not.

From my experience covering the courts, the implementation of the existing bail laws can vary depending on where you are in the country and, perhaps, a review of the current system is warranted rather than sweeping reform as Deputy O'Flynn puts it.

Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997 outlines six factors which a judge must consider before deciding to refuse bail if there is an objection.

These include the nature and degree of seriousness of the offence, the nature and strength of the evidence and any previous convictions which the accused person may have. Case law allows for the likelihood of an individual fleeing or failing to appear in court to also be considered.

Occasionally, senior gardai will give opinion evidence in the context of a bail hearing but this can be challenged and it is up to the presiding judge to determine how much weight to give to such evidence.

Refusing bail and depriving someone of their liberty is a serious decision for any judge to make and it is right that a high burden of proof is placed on the State in cases where bail is opposed.

Every citizen has an entitlement to their liberty so it is not something that should be done lightly or in response to public pressure.

While the current bail system may not be perfect its certainly not broken.
Gardai have launched an investigation after a cyclist was killed in a road traffic collision in East Cork.

In an update, they say the fatal incident occurred on the N25 at Carrigtwohill at around 5pm this Wednesday.

"Gardai and emergency services attended the scene following reports of the collision, involving a van and a pedal cyclist, which occurred eastbound on the N25," said a spokesperson.

The pedal cyclist, a man aged in his 60s, was pronounced deceased at the scene and his body has since been removed to the mortuary at University Cork Hospital where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The male driver of the van, aged in his 60s received treatment at the scene.

READ ALSO: LIVE: Man (50s) injured after his truck crashes into house in Roscommon

Motorists are being advised the road is currently closed for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and will remain closed overnight as the examination of the scene will take place on Thursday morning.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward and any road users who may have camera footage and who were travelling in the area between 4.30pm and 5pm on Wednesday are asked to make this footage available.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Midleton garda station on 021 462 1550, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Investigations are ongoing.
Dundalk Chamber members continued their series of business visits with a trip to the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE)  a national, state-of-the-art facility located in Dundalk and operated by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB).

The AMTCE provides cutting-edge training in areas such as data analytics, Industry 4.0, robotics, 3D printing, alternative construction, welding, and more. During the visit, members were given a comprehensive overview of the facilitys advanced equipment and its training programs, all designed to support Irish businesses in embracing technological innovation.

Gerard Smith, Aoife McDaid, and Anne Gallagher, extended a warm welcome. Members were particularly impressed by the knowledge and clarity of the various presenters, who shared insights into their specialised fields.

Read Next: Dundalk Lions Club presents cheque for over 36,000 to Irish Cancer Society

Gerard Smith summed up the AMTCEs mission with a clear and simple message: Please ask us if we can help  thats our core philosophy.

On behalf of the Chamber, Paddy Malone PRO expressed sincere thanks to the AMTCE team. He emphasised the strong and ongoing relationship between the Chamber and LMETB, referencing his own involvement with the LMETB Finance Board. Mr Malone praised Gerard and his team for consistently going the extra mile to support the regions businesses. He encouraged any business interested in embracing technology to connect with the AMTCE.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has welcomed that the mother of Dundalk soldier Sean Rooney killed in Lebanon in 2022 has been given permission to sue the UN.

Sean Rooney, 24 was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14 2022.

The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah.

Pte Rooney, from the 121st Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed.

On Tuesday, his mother Natasha was granted permission by the High Court in Dublin to sue the UN.

Asked about the granting of permission to sue the UN, the Taoiseach welcomed developments.

Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Sean and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon, Mr Martin said.

We have been very unhappy at the pace in which that trial has taken place, its been slow, and were looking for full accountability.

We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Sean, but of course full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.

Natasha Rooney said in a statement that she intends to use all legal avenues available to her to hold those responsible for her sons death to account.

Seans case has never been about compensation or money  it is about the truth and accountability, she said.

Sean was failed by those who should have protected him. Despite numerous requests, I have still not been provided with the very basic documents from the United Nations from their investigations.

I intend on using every court procedure available to me to ensure that the truth is told about Seans death, and that those who failed him are held accountable for their actions and omissions.

Solicitor for Ms Rooney Darragh Mackin said: Our client has been failed time and time again by the very institutions that ought to have protected her son.

Read Next: Pupils of St Joseph's N.S Dundalk win All-Ireland Drama Award

We make no apologies for pursuing every available legal avenue to seek the truth and justice for Private Sean Rooney.

Pte Rooneys family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the soldiers death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District Senior Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane.

The court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report.

The hearing was told there had also been a report 10 months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved.

However, they were originally told there were issues around disclosing these reports.
There was great excitement in St Joseph's N.S in Dundalk last week as they celebrated an incredible All-Ireland success.

Last Thursday the families and friends of pupils from 6th class gathered to watch a performance of their show 'Fear Draiochta Oz'.

On the night there was a formal presentation of the awards they picked up recently at the Feilie Naisiunta held in Mullingar.

On April 4th this year they travelled to the Feilie Naisiunta of 'An Cumann Scoildramaiochta'.

This is an annual school drama competition for schools at primary and post-primary level. The dramas are performed through the medium of Irish.

READ NEXT: Pupils from both sides of Louth border take part in The Big Bridge

St Joseph's were crowned winners of 'Comortas 3' which is for non-Gaeltacht or Gaelsoil schools at primary level.

The students had qualified for the national finals having progressed through regional, and Leinster competitions held in Dundalk and Mullingar in early March.

The drama itself had humour, singing, dancing and some fantastic acting which really impressed the judge on the day.

There were 40 pupils involved in the drama in various roles and they were supported by teachers, SNAs and the entire school community.

This is a momentous occasion for St. Joseph's and parents and friends of all the pupils had a tremendous evening when they gathered to celebrate the success.
Plans are underway to redevelop the former Windmill Bar & Restaurant at Seatown Place in Dundalk, into a residential development of 14 apartments, with a planning application lodged with Louth County Council.

Flood Francis Developments Limited has applied for planning permission for change of use of the site to residential use and alterations to the current structure to provide three two-bed apartments and 11 one-bed apartments.

The proposed development includes the retention and conservation of the historic elements of the facade of the Windmill Bar.

The planning application also provides for items including landscaped communal open space, secure bicycle storage, bin storage, boundary treatments and all associated site strip and excavation works above and below ground. The application also indicates that a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is required for the proposed development and has been prepared by the applicant.

A decision is due on the application, which is at a pre-validation stage, by 24 July, with submissions due by 3 July.

Read also: New plans for 502 homes at Haggardstown in north Louth

The former Windmill Bar was once home to the Watters family, whose sons Patrick and John were murdered in the War of Independence.

It is understood the two young men were taken from their home at around 2am on 18 June 1921 by members of the locally based Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and shot dead just yards from their home.
Sadness has been expressed after former US death row inmate turned campaigner Sunny Jacobs died following a fire in Ireland.

The 77-year-old yoga teacher who was originally from New York was found dead following the blaze at the Sunny Healing Centre in rural Co Galway.

She spent 17 years in prison in the US, a number of them on death row, following a conviction for murder.

Ms Jacobs was released in 1992 after her sentence and imprisonment were quashed.

Irish police said emergency services were alerted to the incident at Gleann Mhic Mhuireann in Casla at around 6.20am on Tuesday.

Gardai said the bodies of a woman aged in her 70s and a man in his 30s were recovered from inside the home after the blaze was brought under control by firefighters.

They have also appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Both bodies were taken to the mortuary at University Hospital Galway for post-mortem examinations, while the scene was preserved for a technical probe, they said.

The results of the post-mortem examinations will inform the direction of garda inquiries.

A statement on Ms Jacobs campaign website confirmed she had died in the incident, along with her caretaker.

We dont have many details at this time, but investigation is ongoing and our contacts in Galway are providing us with information as it comes in, they said.

Sunny was a fierce advocate for justice and a guiding light for many.

As someone who survived wrongful conviction  including five years in solitary confinement under a sentence of death, and 17 years of imprisonment total  she knew the difficulties of incarceration and the struggle to regain ones footing after being exonerated and released.

They said that Ms Jacobs, along with her late husband Peter Pringle, established The Sunny Centre to help other exonerees through the difficult process of building new lives after being released from prison.

Together, they brought many exonerees to the centre in Ireland to help them process their trauma and move forward to the next steps of their healing, they said.

During and after the pandemic, they continued to support and counsel exonerees remotely by video and phone.

After Peters passing in 2022, Sunny continued the work of The Sunny Centre. She hosted exonerees and started a training programme for those who wanted to carry forward her vision to establish similar centres for exonerees within their communities.

The statement concluded: Fair winds and full sails on your crossing, Sunny. Your memory is a blessing to us.
Richard Satchwell has been given a life sentence for the murder of his wife Tina at their home in Co Cork.

Tinas family said the trial had taken a physical toll on them and it was difficult to hear her name tarnished in court during the trial.

The British truck driver, 58, had denied murdering his wife between March 19 and March 20 2017.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin reached the unanimous verdict last Friday after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberations.

On Wednesday at the sentencing, Tinas sister and niece paid tribute to her as a kind and gentle woman who loved animals.

Referring to her using her maiden name Dingivan, they described the distress of having Tinas name tarnished during the trial and the appalling manner in which she was buried.

In her victim impact statement, Tinas sister Lorraine Howard said thinking about the way Satchwell buried her sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it.

He treated Tinas body with such disrespect. He showed Tinas dog in death more respect by getting the dog cremated and making a shrine.

She said she and Tina had been inseparable growing up, and although they had a falling out, she said that they would have made up and become best of friends again if Satchwell had not stole that from us.

Richard Satchwell stole that from many people even before he murdered Tina, by isolating her and alienating her from many friends when she was alive, she told the court.

She said she has nightmares about Tinas final moments and what she went through.

He wanted Tina where he could still have the ultimate control  within his home under the stairs.

She said that the narrative from Satchwell that Tina had been violent couldnt be further from the truth and said the trial had taken a physical toll on her, her mother and their family.

She said the trial was already unbearable but the mention of her brothers suicide made an already horrendous situation worse and was intolerable for the family.

I will never be able to forgive Richard Satchwell for what he has done, she added.

Tinas niece Sarah Howard said that her aunt was murdered by someone who claimed to love her and that she could not understand how someone who was supposed to love and protect her could do something so cruel.

She said that listening to Tinas name being tarnished during the trial was difficult and said the undignified way in which Tina was buried caused her huge amounts of distress.

She said that Tina would have loved to go wedding dress shopping with her and would have been an incredible support when her baby was born.

She said she had to leave her newborn baby girl to give evidence in the trial.

She also said she was horrified to discover that the chest freezer Satchwell had offered her was used to put Tinas body in.

To hear this just horrified me  to think I could have taken it into my family home and used it. What sort of person (could) do that?

I ask the court  consider not just the crime but the cruelty that followed it and the deception, the stolen years and the false hope he gave us all that one day she might turn up.

Satchwell appeared in court on Wednesday in a light blue shirt.

His barrister Brendan Grehan SC told the court that Satchwell intends to appeal, and that he insists he never intended to kill Tina.

Mr Grehan also said that Satchwell said despite anything he said in the trial, Tina was a lovely person.

Before the sentencing hearing, Tinas mother Mary Collins was seen carrying a brightly coloured bouquet into the courthouse.

The court heard previously that the couple married in the UK on Tinas 20th birthday, and later settled in Co Cork, first in Fermoy before moving to Youghal in 2016.

The trial heard that on March 24 2017, Richard Satchwell went to gardai and claimed his wife had left their Youghal home four days ago because their relationship had deteriorated.

Satchwell also claimed Tina had taken 26,000 euros in cash from savings they kept in the attic, which the court later heard they did not have the capacity to save.

He formally reported his wife missing in May 2017 and claimed to investigators that his wife was sometimes violent towards him.

In the following years, he made over a dozen media appearances in which he spoke extensively about the morning he claimed Tina left the house and never returned.

After her remains were found buried under a concrete floor under the stairs in their home in October 2023, Satchwell claimed to gardai that Tina flew at him with a chisel.

He further claimed that to protect himself, he held a dressing gown belt to her neck before she went limp.

His denial of the charge was ultimately rejected by the jury who found him guilty of murder.

Outside the Criminal Courts of Justice after sentencing, Superintendent Ann Marie Twomey said that the investigation team were happy that justice has been served for Tina.

We are thankful that this investigation has provided answers and a sense of justice for Tinas family and the wider community, she said.

While no resolution can erase the pain of loss, we sincerely hope that the conclusion of this case brings some measure of comfort to Tinas family.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the witnesses in this case and all of those who assisted us throughout the investigation. Your assistance formed an essential part of the journey.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the wider community, especially those in Fermoy and Youghal.

Finally, we the investigation team, are happy that justice has been served for Tina.
The Government has announced a reformed scheme to support more disabled people into employment.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme gives employers financial support to encourage them to hire people with disabilities.

Employers can get a subsidy of between 6.30-9.45 euros per hour, depending on the number of workers employed under the scheme.

The support can help cover the cost of adapting a role for the employee.

Under measures announced by Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary, the scheme is to be extended to the community and voluntary sector as well as the commercial state-sponsored sector.

In addition, there will be a reduction in the minimum required hours to avail of the subsidy  down from 21 to 15 hours.

The scheme has also been expanded beyond recruitment to include retention of people returning to work on Partial Capacity Benefit.

The subsidy rate is to be reviewed at least every three years.

Disability Minister Norma Foley and junior minister Hildegarde Naughton also addressed a launch event at Chartered Accountants House in Dublin on Wednesday.

Mr Martin said: Supports like this play not only a critical role in closing the employment gap for people with disabilities, reducing poverty and supporting families and communities, but also for employers in bringing new ideas, skills and knowledge to their businesses.

I am committed to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities including through removing barriers to employment.

Supports such as this revised Wage Subsidy Scheme recognise that the perspective, talents, and contributions of people with disabilities across society add immeasurably to the quality, the richness and the diversity of all our lives.
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When the biggest city in Metro Manila reached its 75th birthday as a city, it should be welcomed with a bang! That said a stunning fireworks greeted the official date of the declaration of Quezon City which so ended the nights grand celebration.

This weekend, a field trip of the city with select bloggers from Metro Manila transpired. A Mardigras with city dancers from all over the Philippines danced on the streets of Tomas Morato followed by a Grand parade of lights showcasing 10 of QCs landmarks. To cap of the celebration a #QCRocks75 Concert featuring the countrys top rock bbs performed like Parokya no Edgar ,Rocksteady and Barbie Woman is.

Quezon City is a Great, Green, and Growing metropolis and it deserves all the lavish celebration .







Happy Quezpn City anniversary as a city #QCRocks75
We all know that Avon is the number 1 direct selling beauty company in the world. While I am sure most of us grew up in finding a neighbor or a friend who is an Avon Lady, sometimes there are areas that does not have one. Because of that, Avon came up with an amazing innovation to be able to reach out to more women in the country. Presenting the Avon Beauty Bus, a.k.a. Avon Beauty on Wheels, is a roving beauty store that will feature Avon makeup, skincare, personal care and fragrance product.

Marian Rivera-Dantes unveiled the Avon Beauty on Wheels, after she was introduced as the lates brand ambassador for the Avon Indulgence Lipstick, the rich, creamy color with intense hydration lipstick that everyone will surely love. Marian Rivera for one loves the Petal Pink shade.

The Avon Beauty Bus allows customers to see and try Avon products first-hand . There are makeup artist inside to give them free makeovers and answer all their Avon beauty related questions and concerns and there will be an Avon Representative on standy to take their orders so they can purchase the items they want on-site!

Opening this September 10, 2016 at the Bonifacio Global City, just behind the BGC Central you can enjoy this Avon Beauty on Wheels, the bus is airconditioned and can fit a few people at a time so hurry be the first in line! I love the bus so pretty!

Aside from BGC , the Avon Beauty Bus will be in Manila on September 13 (somewhere in the University Belt!) , in Araneta Cuba on September 17 and will be in Cebu on September 24 and 25 and Davao in October 6-7! For the exact location you may follow Avon Philippines on Facebook.

Meanwhile, Marian expressed her excitement being a part of the Avon Philippines family. As a representative of the Avon Indulgence lipstick Marian also shared which shade of lipstick she uses at home or when on a hot-date with husband Dingdong Dantes.



Kapag nagpapadede ako kay baby , gusto shempre isuot yung Red (Tulip) para tititigan ako nung anak ko at sasabihin, ayan, ayan ang nanay ko ang ganda! Gusto kong maging ganyan! Kapag date naman kay Dingdong gusto ko pademure ng konti , I love the Petal Pink talaga! Feeling ko girl na girl at bagay na bagay sha saken, she said.

Of course, Avon Philippines is one of the beaut brands that never fails to make their guests bloggers and media the best of beauty , by allowing everyone to try out the Avon Ultra Color Indulgence Lipstick in a makeup buffet with a standby makeup artist to determine the shade best for us.

Heres the entire 8 shades available to match every skin tone. Corals and Reds : Royal Peony, Peach Petunia, Daffodil Petal and Red Tulip. Plums and wines Spring Lilac and Purple Hyacinth. Pinks and Mauves Pink Petal and Rose Bouquet.

Avon Ultra Color Indulgence Lipstick is available exclusively throgh Avon Representative (Regular Price of Php399.00 each) but from September 1 to 30, 2016 you can get one for Php199.00 or 2 pcs for Php389.00! Hurry grab this sale!

And at the end of the event, held at Mango Tree in BGC Taguig, we were all surprised when Marian Rivera-Dantes announced Avons gift to their guest, our very own Makeup Kit! I die! I always wanted to have a makeup kit like this! I am super happy! Thank you Avon! This event is part of Avons 130 years celebration of Beauty for a Purpose.

Aside from making women feel beautiful physically, they also empower women with the earning opportunity they provide with their Avon representatives.

If you want to see more of the Avon products and purchase it you can download Avon Brochure app on Google Play or Apple Store . Visit www.avon.ph on how you can get in touch with a representative.

You may watch what happened at the event in the video below:

Stay gorgeous everyone!
Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Rochestown, Cork, and absolutely loved it. I was really involved with Donnas Dance Studio growing up and have fond memories of performing in the pantos at the Cork Opera House.

I think all those dance classes taught me discipline, stamina, and resilience; skills that have stood to me in the career I have today.

I went to secondary school in Scoil Mhuire, bang in the centre of town, which I loved. I always knew I wanted to work in fashion and tried to get involved in the industry in any way I could from a young age. For my Transition Year work experience, I managed to land a week at Kiss magazine, where I got to assist on my first photoshoot with Corina Gaffey in Phoenix Park. It gave me a real taste of what the industry was like, and I wanted more.

I studied English and Philosophy at UCC. While at UCC, I was very active in the Fashion Society and wrote fashion articles for Motley magazine. I also secured a work placement at Image magazine, which gave me even more experience and confirmed that this was the path I wanted to follow.

I currently live in London.

How did you end up in London?

I moved to London in February, 2023. Before that, I had done a Graduate Visa in New York, which is where I first got involved in celebrity stylist assisting, working with Sarah Slutsky Tooley who has been an amazing mentor to me over the years. After New York, I returned to Cork where I finally put my English degree to use, working as a Technical Writer at Johnson Controls.

Lorna Lane with her parents. Lorna said she was grateful to spend time with her parents during lockdown.

I didnt plan on staying in Cork again as long as I did, but the pandemic made it difficult to make another move. Once things started to open again, job opportunities began to pop up in London. I was going back and forth between Cork and London for a while before eventually deciding to make the move full-time.

Looking back, Im grateful for that time in Cork during the lockdown. It gave me the chance to spend quality time with my parents, the kind of time we might never have had otherwise, and I really cherish those memories.

How is life in your new home?

Life in London is busy, and every day is different. Theres always something happening every night of the week if you want there to be.

I live in Stoke Newington, which is surprisingly relaxed compared to the rest of London. It has a lovely, village-like feel with independent shops, cafes, and parks. Its a great place to come home to and unwind after a busy day.

What has been the biggest challenge? And how have you tackled it?

It goes without saying that the cost of living in London is crazy. I know its not exactly cheap back home either! Being freelance adds another layer of stress, especially making sure I have enough work lined up each month to keep things ticking over. Striking a good work-life balance in my industry is tough too. Its not your typical Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 gig, so I must be mindful of carving out downtime.

Its also challenging to stay in touch with friends and family, but I try my best with voice notes, calls, and quick trips home whenever I can.

How might you spend your weekends?

My weeks are usually hectic, so I really look forward to chilling out on the weekends. I love a stroll around Broadway Market, its got such a great vibe and loads of tasty food. You can even get a chicken roll from Emerald Eats if youre really missing home!

Lorna is assisting on a photoshoot

Lately, Ive been going for swims at London Fields Lido, which is such a nice way to relax.

I also like catching up with friends at a wine bar or pub. Theres a brilliant Irish pub on my doorstep called The Auld Shillelagh that does the best Guinness in London!

Tell us a bit about the culture of where you live?

There arent too many big culture shocks, to be honest. I miss having proper delis, as cliche as it might sound, nothing beats a good chicken roll or jambon from Centra! The corner shops here just arent the same. One thing that did surprise me is how long it takes to get to the airport from the city. Sometimes it feels like the journey to the airport is longer than the flight to Cork itself. Were so lucky to have Cork Airport only 15 minutes down the road.

Tell us about your line of work/career?

I work as a freelance celebrity stylist assistant, helping style celebrities for major events, photo shoots, and performances. Ive been fortunate to work on some of the biggest red carpets like the Met Gala, Oscars, Brits, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and SAG Awards.

Beyond red carpets, Ive also worked on music videos and artists performances and tours, which brings a whole new level of excitement and creativity to the job.

Lorna Lane grew up in Rochestown and has lived in London since 2023.

Ive assisted on shoots for top fashion magazines such as British Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, and Grazia.

Recently, Ive taken on the role of fashion coordinator for a new fashion magazine called Imagine, which is a fantastic opportunity to broaden my experience and explore different facets of the fashion industry.

Im incredibly grateful for all the people who have helped me along the way - mentors, colleagues, and friends.

Tell us about your thoughts on opportunity - and how a different part of the world might offer more opportunities?

There are so many talented creatives in Ireland who are doing incredible things in the fashion sphere, and Im always in awe of the innovation and passion that comes from home.

That said, the sheer number of events and productions happening in London makes it a place where you can really push yourself and grow. The scale of the city means theres always something happening, and being surrounded by so many inspiring people has helped me develop my own skills and confidence.

For such a tiny island, Irelands presence is felt globally, and Im always so proud to fly the flag for Ireland abroad, especially Cork!

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

One of my most memorable moments so far was assisting Justin Hamilton on the Sugababes UK and EU tour. I got to go to see them perform at the O2 London and see all our hard work come to life on stage. Growing up I was a huge Sugababes fan, so it was a full circle moment for sure! It was even more special because my best friend from Cork, Lauren, was visiting at the time, so she got to see first-hand what I do here in London.

Lorna says one of her most memorable moments so far gas been assisting Justin Hamilton on the Sugababes UK and Ireland tour. Lorna and her best friend Lauren went to see the band perform in London.

Ive also been fortunate to go backstage at The Graham Norton Show a few times for various clients. Knowing that Graham is a fellow Corkonian makes it feel like a special connection to home.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

Absolutely! My Mom and Dad have been my biggest supporters, always encouraging me to chase my dreams. I wouldnt be where I am today without them. And to my friends who keep me laughing with voice notes and keep me up to date on whats happening in Cork, Im so grateful for you all.

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would be the ideal day for you?

My parents have moved to Ballintemple in recent years, and I love going for a walk along the Marina when Im home. The newly developed Cork Marina Promenade is impressive and makes it such a nice place to be.

Food is always something I look forward to when I come home, no trip home is complete without getting a KCs or Chinese! If the weather is good, Id head to the beach. I love that Cork is so close to so many beautiful beaches.

The restaurant scene in Cork is amazing too, and some of my favourite spots are Goldie, Elbow Lane, or Moody, and I love going to Authur Maynes or Cask or for cocktails and tapas. Its always great to soak up the atmosphere and see whats new.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

Im going to see Beyonce perform in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which is only 10 minutes away from where I live on the Overground, so Im really excited for that.

Im also going back to Cork soon for two weddings. My friends Aine and Donal and my cousin Kieran and his fiancee Laura. Im really looking forward to catching up with family and friends then.

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

The accent! I think the Cork accent is so unique, and it always makes me smile to hear it when Im on a flight home from London.

I also miss the sense of humour, people in Cork dont take themselves too seriously and are always up for a laugh. Other than that, its my family and friends. As close as London is, I dont get home as often as Id like to.

See https://www.instagram.com/lornalane__/
Tell us about yourself:

Im Jen Morley, Im 23 and Ive just finished my bachelors degree in Marketing. For most of my life, I thought Id end up being a nurse, that was always the plan. Then covid hit, my Leaving Cert got cancelled, and like a lot of people, I suddenly had to rethink my options.

I was actually delighted it was cancelled, but I knew predicted grades wouldnt really work in my favour. Ive never been someone who was good at studying or memorising things, and I genuinely feel the school system is only suited to a certain type of person.

I took a year out and got a part-time job. I looked at my options, I could do a PLC to get into nursing, move to another county or even country, or explore something different altogether. After speaking to family and friends, I decided to take the leap and pursue a career in Marketing, which my dad had actually studied when he was my age. I ended up really enjoying it.

After I had just started college, I met my now-boyfriend, and one random day I made protein balls for his mum. He tried them, loved them, and said: We could actually do something with these. Thats when we literally took a leap and started pitching ourselves to cafes. My boyfriend already had a full-time job though, so I decided to take operations into my own hands.

I had absolutely no clue how to run a business, but completely threw myself into it, working as much as I could to grow it, creating new flavours, and creating things I would genuinely enjoy as a consumer (which I think is super-important).

"Its mad how much you learn that way. I genuinely cant believe how far its come. I now have over 80 stockists and five flavours, and I finished college last month. Im so excited to see where I can take the business next.

Where were you born and where do you live now?

I was born in Cork and I am currently living in Ballincollig.

Family?

I am the youngest. I have three older siblings: Laura, who is 33 and living in Manchester; Conor, who is 30 and living in Dublin; and Caroline, who is almost 27 and also living in Cork.

Best friend?

I have five extremely close friends, Hannah Falvey and Lillian Murphy, who I met in college and have seen almost every day for the last four years, and also Kate Barrett (who runs a business called Fitpak), Molly OMahony, and Megan Waters.

Earliest childhood memory?

When I was three, my mum bought me new Peppa Pig slippers that were slightly too big. I was running up the stairs to get nail varnish from my sisters room so my mum could paint my nails, and I slipped and hit my head on the door frame. I ended up having to get my forehead glued, and I still have the scar!

Person you most admire?

I genuinely look up to my parents a crazy amount. Im extremely similar to my dad in terms of our career path. He was like me when it came to school, went on to do his marketing degree, and now runs a really successful business (which I also work part-time for) called Corporate Care Relocation. Hes always supported me in whatever Ive wanted to do, and I really appreciate that. I also call him most days thinking he has the answer to everything, from problems with my car to questions about my business. Hes basically my personal Google.

My mum is the kindest person I know and has encouraged me in so many ways. Shes the first person I ring if something doesnt go right, and instantly makes me feel better.

Her empathy has definitely taught me to be the same way with others, its something I really value and try to carry with me in both my personal life and in business.

Who irritates you?

Honestly, no one person, but I hate when people act a certain way on social media and are not their authentic self.

Most memorable holiday?

When I was young, my family and I used to go to America every year. And even though I was probably constantly arguing with my siblings, we made the best memories.

Favourite TV show?

Gossip Girl is my all-time favourite. The fashion, the drama, and the Upper East Side setting just never get old.

Favourite radio show?

I dont tend to listen to the radio much, but when I do it would be RedFM.

Signature dish if cooking?

Anything Mexican, probably fajitas and tacos.

Favourite restaurant?

The Glass Curtain on MacCurtain Street. I love their tasting menu and wine pairing.

Last book you read?

I dont tend to read much, Im definitely more of a listener and I love podcasts, but the last book I read was probably Eat That Frog.

Best book you read?

Think And Grow Rich, probably because its such a classic when it comes to mindset, success, and staying focused on your goals.

Last downloaded album?

Comfort In Chaos  John Summit.

Favourite song?

Either Charlie Brown by Coldplay or Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. My current favourite is Come With Me, by Major Lazor, Jorja Smith

One person youd like to see in concert?

Definitely John Summit.

Do you have a pet?

Ye, a British Shorthair cat called Ralph and hes honestly my absolute favourite ever.

Morning or night person?

To be honest, not really either but I would say more of a morning person.

Proudest moment?

Winning Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 at the Cork Business Awards.

Spender or saver?

I absolutely love shopping, but am currently saving to buy a house, so Id have to go with saver (for now).

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Definitely a wine and tapas bar in Ballincollig!

What makes you happy?

Genuinely, friends and family. I especially love when mine and my boyfriends families all spend time together, like going out for dinner on special occasions. Also, watching my business grow and seeing all the support I have around me. And of course the sun, and going to Palma, Mallorca.

How do you want to be remembered?

As someone who brings out the best in people and always supports the people close to them. And maybe also as someone who gave things a go, worked hard, and stayed grounded along the way.

Whats next for you?

Ive just finished my degree and am working full-time for my own company, as well as part-time as marketing manager for my dads business. With Two More Power Balls, we will be exhibiting at Taste of Dublin in Merrion Square from June 12-15, which is a really exciting opportunity. Im saving to buy a house with my boyfriend in the new year, and in between all that, trying to squeeze in a holiday. Im also starting the process of becoming a volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I really admire their work and would love to be a part of it.
Safety concerns led Iarnrod Eireann to turn down a request by Cork City Council to take its controversial robot trees, which cost more than 444,000 and were removed at short notice last month.

The five 4m-tall CityTrees, which were installed on Patrick Street and the Grand Parade in August 2021, contained moss walls designed to filter pollutants from the air, and were removed early on Sunday, May 18.

According to correspondence released by Cork City Council following a freedom of information request by Thomas Gould, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Iarnrod Eireann was asked in February to take the CityTrees at the end of that month.

Wrote

On February 4, an official from Cork City Council wrote to an Iarnrod Eireann staff member, saying: We are currently preparing a press release for that week, are you happy for us to say the walls are being transported to Irish Rail where they will be trialled in a train station platform setting?

Also, are you working with any university/college on this that we could refer to as well as part of this pilot study?

The Iarnrod Eireann staff member replied within the hour, saying its building and maintenance department had not approved the installation due to safety concerns.

Specifically, they must not contain flammable elements, such as the wooden slats on the exterior, and there is also a risk of them being used for climbing, they said.

They added that while the devices manufacturer had suggested fire extinguishers or fire-retardant paint as mitigation measures, these do not reach fire safety regulations.

Additionally, there is a strict prohibition on wooden elements in high-traffic railway stations.

As a result, we cannot proceed with the installation of these moss walls in our train stations.

Just stumps remain of the robot trees which have been removed from Cork city. Picture: Larry Cummins.

According to the Freedom of Information request released to Mr Gould, the devices cost 366,114.29 to install, and a total of 78,248.73 in repairs and maintenance, with the final bill coming to 444,363.02, leaving the local authority 34,618.08 short after it received a grant of 409,744.94 from the National Transport Authority for the purchase.

Describing the devices as a failed science experiment, Mr Gould noted that the council had promised in 2023 an extensive scientific study on the CityTrees  a report that has never been published.

These ineffective robot trees have now been placed into indefinite storage to rot away, said Mr Gould.

That is because nobody wants these expensive gimmicks. The council tried to transfer them to Irish Rail but were refused.

There should be no more gimmicks in Cork City  we need safe footpaths, accessible benches, and sufficient rubbish bins to prevent dog fouling.

These may not be glamorous initiatives, but they will make a huge, real difference in the lives of ordinary people in our city.

Cork City Council was asked for comment.
A 450m Government scheme aimed at delivering 5,000 apartments by next year has only delivered 870 units nationally, or 17% of its target  with 372 of them in Cork.

Seamus McGrath, Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central, said the Croi Conaithe city scheme is not working and is in need of revision.

The scheme was announced in 2021 by then housing minister Darragh OBrien as part of the Housing for All strategy, and went live in 2022.

It was devised to subsidise the construction of apartments and make this more viable by bridging the gap between high development costs and lower sale prices.

Under the scheme, drawdown of funding occurs on completion of projects and following the sale of apartments to owner occupiers.

Ambitious

When it was launched, officials hoped the subsidy would help deliver 5,000 units by 2026, but it was suggested at the time by some developers that the scheme was extremely ambitious.

According to figures released to Mr McGrath, the Fianna Fail housing spokesperson, 870 units in total have been delivered nationally under the Croi Conaithe scheme.

In 2023, a total of 425 units were delivered  with 372 of them in Cork and 53 in Dublin  while in 2024, some 445 units were delivered, all of them in Dublin.

The figures were contained in a reply from housing minister James Browne to a parliamentary question by Mr McGrath.

In his written reply, Mr Browne said there had, to date, been three calls for expressions of interest under the scheme.

Mr Browne said: Three applications were approved for the Housing Agency entering into designation and development agreements in respect of 445 apartments in 2024.

With regard to 2025, there are several proposals at final contract stage, and I will be formally releasing details of the associated approvals shortly.

Revised

Speaking to The Echo, Mr McGrath said the scheme was clearly not working, and needed to be revised.

Mr McGrath said: In terms of achieving a high housing output, we do have to prioritise high-density housing in cities, such as apartment blocks.

The Croi Conaithe city scheme was designed to try and incentivise development, but unfortunately the take-up has been quite poor, and we have to look at revising the scheme, or devising other incentives to try and stimulate activity.

We have to recognise that this scheme isnt working, and we need to come up with new ways to try and activate that end of the housing market, because to achieve our overall targets or to come close to achieving our targets  as well as building our traditional house-type development  you have to build high density in cities, and you have to build apartment blocks.

It simply wont be possible to achieve our output otherwise."

Mr McGrath said the Governments Housing For All strategy was currently being revised, with an updated version due to be published in July.

Mr McGrath said: I have no doubt that there will be measures in that to stimulate apartment building, because unfortunately apartment building has reduced significantly in the last one to two years.

He added that, without pre-empting the revised strategy, he was aware that the Department of Housing was currently examining a number of options.

Its obvious from the current figures that Croi Conaithe isnt working, and updated and refreshed measures have to be put in place, Mr McGrath said.
A tattoo artist has been found guilty of murdering 33-year-old chef Ian Baitson in Cobh by slashing his leg with a sword.

The accused said he only wanted to scare the deceased but the prosecution said this was a cock and bull story.

The six men and six women of the jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork returned to Courtroom 6 at Anglesea Street courthouse in Cork, at 3.23 p.m. today with a unanimous verdict of guilty.

They deliberated for four hours and five minutes. Members of the deceaseds family quietly wept and embraced after the verdict was delivered.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury, excused them from further jury service for five years and said she understood how difficult such cases are.

31-year-old Dylan Scannell of ORahilly Street, Cobh, County Cork, denied murdering 33-year-old chef, Ian Baitson, in Eurospar car park, Newtown Road, Cobh, on March 19 2024 but admitted his manslaughter.

Sentencing will take place at a Cork sitting of the Central Criminal Court on July 11. While the only sentence is the mandatory life term for murder the sentencing hearing will be an opportunity for the family of Mr Baitson to describe the impact that his murder has had on their family.

While sentencing might have taken place in Dublin, Ms Justice Creedon said she was keen to have sentencing in Cork and realised that there was a large family of the deceased who would wish to be present. Up to 20 or so members of the wider Baitson family attended court every day throughout this trial.

In murder trials it is not unusual for the accused to give no evidence but yesterday Dylan Scannell got into the witness box and said he was sorry for killing Ian Baitson  a man he described as his friend since they were teenagers - but claimed that his only intention was to scare him and not hurt anyone.

The prosecution said he was lying and that he almost amputated the left leg of the deceased, even cutting through bone with the sword.

During their deliberations today the jury asked to see the sword which was an exhibit in the case. Dylan Scannell drove to the outskirts of Cobh at Connolly Street and threw the sword into the harbour after slashing Mr Baitson with it. Gardai recovered it in an extensive follow-up search.

In his closing speech, Donal OSullivan senior counsel for the DPP said of the accused, He lies and he lies repeatedly. And his lies are targeted. His lies are aimed at the things that might put him in the frame. What does that indicate to you?

People can lie for any reasons. But often they lie because they know full well what they have done. Now that he realises, he tells you a cock and bull story  entirely contradicted by the WhatsApp messages (between defendant and deceased).

He is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. It is plain as day that the man went up to harm and harm badly Ian Baitson. That is effectively what he did. You are quite entitled to return a verdict of guilty of murder in those circumstances.

Defence senior counsel Tom Creed said in his closing speech, The case is about intent. And that really is the only issue that you have to contend with because Mr Scannell has admitted to the unlawful killing of Ian Baitson.

Notwithstanding that Dylan Scannell has pleaded guilty to unlawful killing of Ian Baitson there remains a presumption that he is innocent of the charge of murder.

You have to decide what is the intent at the time of the unlawful killing, not two days before, not two days later.

Even the prosecution dont tell you forcibly that his intention was to kill Mr Baitson. They want you to believe he went there and intended to cause serious injury. That is sufficient to ground a charge of murder. But what you need to do is look into the mind of Mr Scannell on the evening in question.

Mr Creed reminded the jury of Mr Scannells evidence that he intended to frighten the deceased and did not hit him in the head or neck but hit him about the leg. He also reminded them of the defendants evidence that he was under pressure from others to collect on the debt he (the defendant) owed to them.

Why would he kill him if he wanted to collect the money from him? It does not make any logical sense, Mr Creed said.

Mr OSullivan addressed the same matter in different terms when he cross-examined Dylan Scannell: The first thing you did was not to put your hand out and say, Ian, where is the money? The first thing you do is to take a swipe at him with a sword.

Dylan Scannell replied, Yes.

The DPP senior counsel said that after Mr Baitson had been slain, untouched in his pocket was the 185 cash that the deceased had brought to the Eurospar car park around the corner from his home on March 15 2024.
A farmer who was accused, along with his son, of assaulting his two other sons during an alleged dispute over land will not face prosecution.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court the DPP had directed two charges of assault causing harm and one of possession of a knife against Jerry Brennan Sr, aged 77, of Ballyhalwick, Longbridge, Dunmanway be dropped and it was the States application to withdraw the charges.

Addressing the court, Mr Brennan said he had been tried by the media and television.

Judge Treasa Kelly said such matters were for another time and Mr Brennan should consult with his solicitor if he wished to pursue them.

She said that, in regard to the assault charges, its over and Mr Brennan was free to go.

William Brennan, 32, of the same address, also appeared before the court.

Sgt Mulcahy said in his case, the DPP had directed he be returned for trial. He said the case could also proceed on a signed guilty plea should it arise.

The case was adjourned until July 17 at Bandon District Court.

William Brennan is charged with the assault causing harm of his two brothers, John and Jerry Jnr, on August 17, 2024.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Children throughout Ireland are being asked to support vulnerable young people around the world by hosting a tea party in their final weeks of school.

The new initiative is marking 15 years of the charity Team Hope, which works to transform childrens lives by tackling poverty and inequality in African and eastern European countries.

Best known for its Christmas Shoebox Appeal, the not-for-profit organisation has revealed that people in Ireland have donated 2 million in life-changing aid since 2010.

The Team Hope Tea Party campaign runs from June 14th-22nd (Conor McCabe Photograph/Mediaconsult/PA)

The Team Hope Tea Party has a 240,000 target to fund vital projects such as clean water, education and income-generation opportunities in countries including Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, and Rwanda, where many live on less than two US dollars a day.

The campaign, running from June 14th-22nd, is not confined to schools.

Sports clubs, businesses and individuals across the country are all invited to take part.

Team Hope chief executive Deborah Lowry said: Over the past 15 years, weve not only delivered millions of Christmas Shoebox gifts but have also helped provide access to clean water, healthcare and support for communities that need it most.

In June, wed love if people can think beyond the box and host a tea party to help raise vital funds to support that work.

In the five years to the end of this year, we will have improved the lives of 10,000 children in our sustainable development projects.

The locally-based water projects in Kenya not only provide clean water to communities but also mean that girls, who previously spent hours collecting water every day, can go to school. There are multiple layers to the improvements our work makes to peoples lives.

Some of Team Hopes other projects include the creation of pineapple farms in Rwanda, an income generator allowing parents to support their families and send their children to school.

Corduff NS pupils were urging children across Ireland to host a Team Hope Tea Party this month (Conor McCabe Photography/Mediaconsult/PA)

We know that we are impacting hundreds of people in their own communities and thousands of children as a result of this work, Ms Lowry said.

While the shoebox appeal opens the door so we can help the poorest communities create their own future, we want to tell a different story; that these children are well loved, that they are full of hope. We are only the little seeds that helps them build a better future.

Participants in the Team Hope Tea Party can access a digital pack of downloads, including recipes and party ideas, as well as a donation page for their individual event through teamhope.ie.
Tom Tuite

A tourist tore out and devoured the biometric data page of his passport after assaulting a Dublin Airport official verifying his identity, a court was told.

Palestinian national Hasan Alshaer (27), with no stated address, was charged with assaulting a customs official at Terminal 1 and an offence under the Immigration Act for failing to produce a passport or document establishing his identity.

He appeared at Dublin District Court on Wednesday following his arrest at 5pm on Tuesday.

Court Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy told Judge John King that the allegation was Mr Alshaer presented to an immigration control officer.

He tried to run away from her taking his passport with him; when she chased after him, judge, it is alleged he struck at her, causing her to fall, he tore out a page of the travel document he was carrying and then ate the page with the biometric data on it.

The sergeant contended that the accused was a flight risk and objected to his bail.

Defence barrister Paddy Flynn said his client had money and could stay in a hotel. Mr Flynn said the accused came to Ireland as a tourist and gardai had his Palestinian passport.

The sergeant countered that the passport was no use because it cannot be verified properly now.

The defence said the man had a second Greek passport, but the State contended that compounded his problem because gardai could not verify who he was.

The defence said Mr Alsher had lived in Germany and Greece for five years.

Judge King said: There is a serious problem here. He arrives in this country, sees immigration, runs, and then tears a page out of his passport, and this page has his biometric data on it, it is alleged. That is a huge problem for him.

Mr Flynn said he was instructed that the man had a residential permit. However, the judge suggested a fingerprint check with Interpol could assist but noted that it could take some time.

Sergeant Murphy said that would not be resolved that day, and it was unlikely that the State would now accept any documentary evidence provided by the accused.

He added that he did not present a visa or any authority to enter the country on top of allegedly destroying the travel document he initially presented to customs officers.

Mr Alsher, who has yet to enter a plea, listened to the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter and remained silent during the hearing,

He postponed his bail application. Judge King remanded him in custody to appear again on Friday.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

In a new study, scientists have found a way to turn industrial waste, such as recycled glass and construction waste, into a soil solidifier that is cement-free. By cutting out the cement, the material serves as a lower-carbon material for green construction.

According to the UN Environment Programme, the built environment and construction sectors make up 37% of total global emissions. Cement, in particular, is one of the highest-emitting materials, making up 8% of global emissions, the World Economic Forum reported.

Cement is the most commonly used material for soil solidification. Soil solidifiers are often used in construction, such as for building roadbeds or building foundations. The solidifiers are added to soil for better binding, compaction, water-resistance and strength.

But a team of scientists in Japan have found an alternative soil solidifier using Earth Silica, which is an alkaline stimulant sourced from recycled glass, and Siding Cut Powder (SCP), a waste product from construction. They published their findings in the journal Cleaner Engineering and Technology.

The resulting material was so effective that it surpassed the construction-grade threshold for soil compressive strength, 160 kilonewtons per square meter.

This research represents a significant breakthrough in sustainable construction materials, Shinya Inazumi, lead author of the study and a professor at the College of Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), said in a statement. By using two industrial waste products, we developed a soil solidifier that not only meets industry standards but also helps address the dual challenges of construction waste and carbon emissions.

According to the study, there is a potentially vast supply of SCP from siding production. Siding panel manufacturing produces a powdered dust byproduct, of which 94.1% is wasted. This resource, combined with the reduced lifecycle costs from the durable, cement-free soil solidifier, could lead to major cost savings in construction, although the scientists noted more research is necessary on the full lifecycle and cost analysis of this material.

By developing a geopolymer solidifier from readily available waste streams, we are not only offering a sustainable engineering solution but redefining how we value industrial byproducts in a resource-constrained world, Inazumi said.

During the research, the scientists did detect some arsenic leaching from the recycled glass, but they were also able to address this concern and improve the environmental safety of the material. As Inazumi explained, the team added calcium hydroxide, which stabilized the calcium arsenate compounds in the soil solidifier.

Sustainability cannot come at the expense of environmental safety, Inazumi said.

The team has determined a wide variety of use cases for the material, including for stabilizing soil around bridges, roads and building foundations. According to Inazumi, this cement-free soil solidifier could be particularly useful on clay soils.

The material could also be used for developing solid, durable soil blocks as an alternative to concrete or brick for buildings. Because the material works quickly and efficiently as a soil solidifier, it could also be deployed in emergency situations.

By utilizing industrial byproducts such as SCP and ES, this approach not only reduces carbon emissions but also addresses waste management challenges in the construction industry, the authors concluded. The scalability and adaptability of these materials make them a promising solution for diverse geotechnical applications.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Human-caused climate change added an extra 30 days of extreme heat for more than four billion people worldwide over the course of a year, a new report has found.

The report, a joint effort by the World Weather Attribution, Climate Central and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center, assessed the human impact on global heatwaves over the past 12 months. It was released ahead of the Red Cross Heat Action Day on June 2, meant to raise awareness of extreme heat events. This years theme is centered on recognizing and responding to heat stroke.

The report found that in 195 countries and territories, climate change has at least doubled the number of extreme heat days compared to a world without climate change. The Caribbean country of Aruba saw the highest number of extreme heat days at 187, compared to an estimated 45 days without climate change. Out of the 12 countries and territories that were most impacted by extreme heat  which saw an average of more than 137 extreme heat days above zero-emission scenarios  11 were in the Caribbean, and one, Micronesia, is in Oceania.

Climate change added an extra month of extreme heat for 4 billion people  attribution analysis by @wwattribution.bsky.social, Climate Central and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre finds   ow.ly/Gg6Y50W1tjJ #ClimateChange #HeatActionDay



[image or embed]  Grantham Institute  Climate Change and the Environment (@granthamicl.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 7:50 AM

2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing even 2023 which was the hottest before that, and when we came into 2025, we started with the hottest January ever on record and there was record breaking low sea ice in the northern hemisphere in winter, Mariam Zachariah, World Weather Attribution researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, told reporters at an online press conference.

This is no surprise, she added. As we all know, this is a direct consequence of continued fossil fuel use and increasing emissions in the atmosphere. As a consequence, we are seeing many heatwaves which are now very frequent. They are becoming stronger, and theyre also persistent.

The report analyzed extreme heat days globally over the past 12 months, from May 1, 2024 until May 1, 2025. These days were defined as having seen temperatures hotter than 90% of observational temperatures recorded in a given area between 1991 and 2020. They then simulated how many of these extreme heat days would have occurred in a world with zero carbon emissions.

Were able to compare this world we have actually lived in over the last 12 months with the world that would have been without climate change to get a sense of how many additional days above this 90th percentile temperature climate change has caused, Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at Climate Central, told reporters.

The study determined that more than four billion people, or roughly half of the worlds population, saw at least 30 additional days of extreme heat since this time last year.

If you look at this map, which shows the number of days above that 90th percentile temperature added by climate change, you can see that the scale goes up to 120 days, and many of these countries, particularly around the tropics, have seen somewhere between 100 to 120 days of additional extreme heat due to climate change, Dahl said.

In addition to the extreme heat days, the researchers analyzed 67 specific significant extreme heat events, which needed to have either record-breaking or unreasonably high temperatures, or result in at least 10 deaths or significant disruptions to essential services such as transportation, manufacturing and energy.

Additionally, the event also had to satisfy one of the following three conditions:

The heat identified is occurring during the first 3-6 weeks of the hot season (due to heightened vulnerability of early season extreme temperatures). Heat occurring in a densely populated area (200 people/km^2). Heat occurring in a highly vulnerable area and/or one with a high lack of coping capacity.

Each of the 67 events monitored was determined to have been influenced by climate change, and was found to have impacted 232 different countries and territories across all inhabited continents, according to the report.

Out of these 67 events, the team studied four in depth: the extreme heatwave that hit Central Asia in March 2025, the heatwave in South Sudan in February 2025, the deadly heatwave that hit the Mediterranean in July 2024 and the June 2024 heatwave in Mexico and surrounding regions, including the American Southwest and Central America. Of these, the researchers found the Central Asian, South Sudanese and Mediterranean heatwaves would have been impossible without climate change.

The impacts are often not reported immediately after the heatwave. So it is a silent killer, and even though something happens as a result of heat waves, it can exasperate underlying conditions, and consequently the numbers can be misreported, or it can be underreported, Zachariah said.

Extreme heat can have devastating effects on human health, according to Lisa Patel, executive director of the Medical Consortium on Climate and Health and clinical associate professor of Pediatrics at Stanford School of Medicine.

There have been many studies that have been done on what are the limits? We, as humans, were adopted for a certain climate down to the molecular level in terms of our proteins and how our body operates, Patel told reporters.

Some of those studies show that we can handle up to 115 degrees with minimal humidity at rest, drinking water continuously, if you were otherwise healthy, and we are topping those temperatures all over the world. And consider how many of those factors have to be in place, and how often most of those factors are not in place in terms of what human beings can handle, she said.

Patel noted that we humans have one physiological response to heat: sweating.

When it gets very hot outside, our blood starts to get hotter inside, she explained. We start pumping that blood out to the periphery. And thats essentially for evaporative cooling It does not work as well if its very humid outside, because if theres already a lot of moisture in the air, you cant sweat because theres nowhere for that water to go. But also, if it gets so hot outside that at some point your bodys lost its moisture, you cant sweat anymore, or theres just no way for your body to gain any additional cooling, that heated blood goes back internally that starts to set off a cascade of different problems.

Because all your body knows to do is to pump that blood to the periphery, you start losing blood to places like your brain, your liver, your lungs. Thats why you, for example, get dizzy. People start to get confused, for example. If this goes on and on, you can end up with organ damage and heat stroke, and death can ultimately result.

This is why heat stroke is a minutes emergency, and why its crucial to recognize signs of heat exhaustion before that happens, she said.

A precise death toll from extreme heat events is hard to estimate because, as the study points out, Many heat-related deaths are misattributed to comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, or renal failure, obscuring the role of elevated temperatures as an aggravating factor.

These events also harm ecological health significantly, Karina Izquierdo, urban advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Red Cross, Red Crescent Climate Center told reporters.

Environmentally, extreme heat increases wildfire risks, worsens air pollution and disrupts ecosystems, causing biodiversity loss and soil degradation, she said.

In addition, extreme heat events can put enormous strain on systems and infrastructure, including healthcare, energy, housing, governance, transportation and much more.

Health services are strained by increased illness and mortality, and mental health issues may be exacerbated as well, Izquierdo added. These challenges are often made worse by infrastructure failures like blackouts and transport disruptions, which limit access to essential services when it comes to workers, especially those that are outdoors or in poorly ventilated environments or without cooling devices.

Heat also drives up demand for services like water and electricity, increasing the risk of shortages. Meanwhile, indoor environments shaped by construction materials, limited cooling access and vulnerable urban areas like informal settlements can intensify the exposure and add to the challenges that different groups face during a heatwave, Izquierdo said.

She added that simple and low-cost solutions are available to reduce these risks, like shared cooling spaces or keeping key locations like hospitals, schools, homes and public transportation cool. Using wet towels, taking cool showers, keeping properly hydrated and not over-exerting during the day can also help, she said, along with adaptation efforts like reflective painting on roofs, which can reduce heat in homes by several degrees Celsius, or if scaled up, can make an even larger city-wide impact and reduce urban heat island effects. But these efforts need to be paired with carbon mitigation strategies as well, she said.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced on Monday that the federal government had proposed the reversal of a Biden-era order banning oil and gas drilling on the 23-million acre National Petroleum Reserve on Alaskas North Slope. The remote area is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including threatened polar bears, caribou and migratory birds.

A press release from the Interior Department said that, following a thorough legal and policy review, officials from the department and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concluded that a 2024 BLM rule restricting oil and gas development in the reserve exceeded agency authority.

It cited conflicts with the purpose of the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, saying the regulation imposed unnecessary barriers to responsible energy development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

Burgum, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to Alaska this week to attend a series of events that included an annual sustainable energy conference hosted by Governor Mike Dunleavy, which began Tuesday in Anchorage, reported the Alaska Beacon.

Dan Sullivan, Republican senator from Alaska, called efforts to restrict oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) the most egregious effort of the Biden administration.

Congress was clear: the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska was set aside to support Americas energy security through responsible development, Burgum said in the press release. The 2024 rule ignored that mandate, prioritizing obstruction over production and undermining our ability to harness domestic resources at a time when American energy independence has never been more critical.

Environmental groups reacted to the announcement with anger and concern.

The Trump administrations move to roll back protections in the most ecologically important areas of the Western Arctic threatens wildlife, local communities, and our climate, all to appease extractive industries, said Kristen Miller, executive director of Alaska Wilderness League, in a press release from the conservation organization. These lands are home to caribou, migratory birds, and vital subsistence resources that Indigenous communities have relied on for generations. The public fought hard for these protections, and we wont stay silent while theyre dismantled.

Grandmothers Growing Goodness, an Inupiat group that supports Arctic Indigenous communities, said repealing protections would substantially impact the Teshekpuk Lake area, an important habitat of the Teshekpuk caribou herd.

The area is also integral to Indigenous subsistence practices, supporting hunting, fishing, and gathering, the group said in a statement, as the Alaska Beacon reported.

Located roughly 600 miles from Anchorage, the NPR-A is bordered on the north by the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea on the west. It is the countrys largest remaining single tract of public land.

Created at the start of the last century as an emergency military fuel reserve, the NPR-A was opened by Congress to commercial development in 1976. However, lawmakers specified that importance should be placed on wildlife protections and land conservation measures, reported The Guardian.

Caribou in the Kokolik River in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alasda. Prisma Bildagentur / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Its hard to overstate the havoc this could wreak on the Western Arctics undisturbed habitat for caribou, polars bears and belugas, said Marlee Goska, Alaska attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, as the Alaska Beacon reported. Trumps fixation on plundering Alaskas ecosystems for short-term gain is matched only by the stupidity of turning this precious place into a fossil fuel extraction site. Alaskas vast expanses of wild lands are a big part of what makes our state so special, and well do everything possible to protect these places.

Fossil fuel emissions are the biggest contributor to the climate crisis. Alaska is warming two to three times faster than the global average, reported The New York Times, causing the melting of sea ice and thawing permafrost, which releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

From day one of his second term, President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency with executive orders supporting the fossil fuel industry and his campaign mantra of drill, baby, drill.

However, Trumps efforts to push drilling in Alaska have not been very popular. A proposed lease auction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in January brought no bidders, The Guardian reported.

This move will accelerate the climate crisis at a time when the ground beneath Alaska communities is literally melting away and subsistence foods are in decline, said Matt Jackson, Alaska State senior manager with The Wilderness Society, as reported by The New York Times.
(Photo: www.whitehouse.gov/gallery/)U.S. President Donald Trump

An American archbishop says that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a budget reconciliation bill, which is contrary to Catholic social teaching.

The bill is now waiting to be debated in the U.S. Senate.

An American archbishop says that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a budget reconciliation bill, which is contrary to Catholic social teaching.

The bill is now waiting to be debated in the U.S. Senate.

Rev. John C. Wester, the archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, said the bill should be strongly opposed.

"Moreover, the church and the bishops of the United States should lead the way in speaking against this bill and calling on Catholics to work for its defeat," said Archbishop Webster, writing in America, the Jesuit Review on June 3.

"Because of its overall effects on those who are most in need, passing this budget would be a moral failure for American society as a whole."

He said that unless the church opposes the bill "in the clearest possible terms," it will squander the credibility of "our witness to the Gospel and Christ's command to care for the 'least of these'."

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has named the proposed law as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.

Webster, noted, however, "The legislation is anything but beautiful, at least from the perspective of Catholic teaching.

"It basically steals from the poor to give to the rich, and it will leave millions of low-income U.S. citizens struggling to survive.."

He said ,"It also funds a mass deportation campaign that will separate immigrant families and profoundly harm children, including U.S.-citizen children. And that is just the tip of the iceberg."

The archbishop says that it is estimated that the legislation would cut $700 billion over 10 years in Medicaid spending, leaving 7.6 million American families without health-care coverage.

It also reduces spending for food assistance to the nation's poorest by an estimated $300 billion over 10 years, adversely impacting 40 million low-income persons, including 16 million children.

He said as many as 5.4 million people each year could lose food assistance from the cuts.

"According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill transfers wealth from citizens with the lowest tenth of income to those with the highest tenth of income, the largest transfer in U.S. history," explained Webster.

"On immigration," the archbishop said the bill "appropriates $75 billion for a mass deportation campaign, which includes funding for detention centers and a substantial increase in border and interior enforcement personnel.

In addition, the bill allows the gents to remove people based on the suspicion of illegal activity, without judicial review.

"And it increases fees for such benefits as temporary protected status (T.P.S.), humanitarian parole and work permits for asylum applicants, leaving these important protection mechanisms out of the reach of qualifying families," says the Santa Fe archbishop.

"To make matters worse, the bill undermines other important church teachings, such as the need for a progressive tax structure based on the ability to pay and measures to combat climate change, as it raises taxes on the working poor and repeals clean energy tax credits."

Webster notes the list goes on, and the cruelty of the bill "is historic."

He says the bill violates several principles of Catholic social teaching.

The first of these is the preferential option for the poor, which teaches that the most vulnerable should claim the attention and assistance of the rest of society.

The second is the principle of solidarity, in which all people are interconnected and the powerful should be advocates for the marginalized of society.

"And perhaps the most important principle is the advancement of the common good, so that all members of society are given a chance to thrive and become full members of the community."

"As passed by the House of Representatives, this bill forsakes the most vulnerable among us, widens both the economic and human gap between the rich and poor, and ignores the common good to benefit only the wealthiest in our country."

Webster said under the human costs of this bill it was likely that millions will fall into poverty, leaving them to rely on churches and private charities, such as Catholic Charities, to survive.

"More people will go without health care, at least until they arrive at the emergency room, when their condition becomes critical. Immigrant families, many of whom sit in the pews at Mass every Sunday, will be separated, traumatizing children."

, the archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, said the bill should be strongly opposed.

"Moreover, the church and the bishops of the United States should lead the way in speaking against this bill and calling on Catholics to work for its defeat," said Archbishop Webster, writing in America, the Jesuit Review on June 3.

"Because of its overall effects on those who are most in need, passing this budget would be a moral failure for American society as a whole."

He said that unless the church opposes the bill "in the clearest possible terms," it will squander the credibility of "our witness to the Gospel and Christ's command to care for the 'least of these'."

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has named the proposed law as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.

Webster, noted, however, "The legislation is anything but beautiful, at least from the perspective of Catholic teaching.

"It basically steals from the poor to give to the rich, and it will leave millions of low-income U.S. citizens struggling to survive.."

He said ,"It also funds a mass deportation campaign that will separate immigrant families and profoundly harm children, including U.S.-citizen children. And that is just the tip of the iceberg."

The archbishop says that it is estimated that the legislation would cut $700 billion over 10 years in Medicaid spending, leaving 7.6 million American families without health-care coverage.

It also reduces spending for food assistance to the nation's poorest by an estimated $300 billion over 10 years, adversely impacting 40 million low-income persons, including 16 million children.

He said as many as 5.4 million people each year could lose food assistance from the cuts.

"According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill transfers wealth from citizens with the lowest tenth of income to those with the highest tenth of income, the largest transfer in U.S. history," explained Webster.

"On immigration," the archbishop said the bill "appropriates $75 billion for a mass deportation campaign, which includes funding for detention centers and a substantial increase in border and interior enforcement personnel.

In addition, the bill allows the gents to remove people based on the suspicion of illegal activity, without judicial review.

"And it increases fees for such benefits as temporary protected status (T.P.S.), humanitarian parole and work permits for asylum applicants, leaving these important protection mechanisms out of the reach of qualifying families," says the Santa Fe archbishop.

"To make matters worse, the bill undermines other important church teachings, such as the need for a progressive tax structure based on the ability to pay and measures to combat climate change, as it raises taxes on the working poor and repeals clean energy tax credits."

Webster notes the list goes on, and the cruelty of the bill "is historic."

He says the bill violates several principles of Catholic social teaching.

The first of these is the preferential option for the poor, which teaches that the most vulnerable should claim the attention and assistance of the rest of society.

The second is the principle of solidarity, in which all people are interconnected and the powerful should be advocates for the marginalized of society.

"And perhaps the most important principle is the advancement of the common good, so that all members of society are given a chance to thrive and become full members of the community."

"As passed by the House of Representatives, this bill forsakes the most vulnerable among us, widens both the economic and human gap between the rich and poor, and ignores the common good to benefit only the wealthiest in our country."

Webster said that under the human costs of the bill, it was likely that millions would fall into poverty, leaving them to rely on churches and private charities, such as Catholic Charities, to survive.

"More people will go without health care, at least until they arrive at the emergency room, when their condition becomes critical. Immigrant families, many of whom sit in the pews at Mass every Sunday, will be separated, traumatizing children."
Marketing teams and pre-visualization artists working with AMC Networks might need to be on their toes. The company has reached an agreement to generate marketing images and pre-visualize projects before they enter production using Runways AI tech.

Some other Hollywood companies  such as Lionsgate and Harmony Korines unfortunately named EDGELRD  have agreed deals with Runway. Other studios are said to be testing models from various gen AI companies. According to The Hollywood Reporter , however, AMC is the first cable company to agree a deal with Runway.

The publication notes that AMCs profits dropped by nearly half to $63 million in its most recent earnings report. Its been suggested that the company is looking to reduce the costs of producing and marketing projects without letting quality drop.

At least for the time being, AMC is not planning to include AI-generated imagery in its shows. However, the company that brought the likes of Mad Men and Breaking Bad to the world thinks itll be able to sell viewers on shows and films using AI-generated images. This is seen as a way for the companys networks to "trot out a range of promotional material without the need to spend added time and money trying to capture images with a physical shoot," per THR. AI imagery will also be used in pre-production, ostensibly to help showrunners determine what may or may not work in their projects before filming starts.
Reddit had filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging that the AI company behind the Claude chatbot has been using its data for years without permission. The lawsuit comes after Reedit has increasingly taken a hardline stance against scrapers and companies that use its data to train AI models.

In their filing, Reddit alleges that Anthropic was training its Claude chatbot on Reddit data as early as December 2021. The lawsuit also includes a screenshot in which Claude seems to acknowledge it was trained on Reddit data. In a statement to Engadget, a Reddit spokesperson said the lawsuit was the company's "final option to force Anthropic to stop its unlawful practices" after repeated warnings.

"We believe in the Open Internetthat does not give Anthropic the right to scrape Reddit content unlawfully, exploit it for billions of dollars in profit, and disregard the rights and privacy of our users," the spokesperson said. "In clear violation of Reddits terms and despite repeated requests to stop, Anthropic has been caught accessing or attempting to access Reddit content via automated bots at least 100,000 times. This isnt a misunderstanding, its a sustained effort to extract value from Reddit while ignoring legal and ethical boundaries."

Reddit's vast archive of online discussions has become a particularly valuable commodity for the company as generative AI companies race to train new models. The company has struck lucrative licensing deals with companies like Google and OpenAI for access to its data. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has previously called out Anthropic (along with other AI firms) for scraping Reddit. Last year, the company took steps to limit automated scraping and warned AI companies that they would need to pay up.

In their lawsuit, Reddit says that "Anthropic refused to engage" in discussions about licensing. "Unlike its competitors, Anthropic has refused to agree to respect Reddit users basic privacy rights, including removing deleted posts from its systems," it says. "This case is about the two faces of Anthropic: the public face that attempts to ingratiate itself into the consumers consciousness with claims of righteousness and respect for boundaries and the law, and the private face that ignores any rules that interfere with its attempts to further line its pockets."

In a statement, a spokesperson for Anthropic said, we disagree with Reddit's claims and will defend ourselves vigorously."

Update, June 4, 2025 12:03 PM ET: This post was updated to include a statement from Anthropic.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Florida's new law that bans some children from using social media and requires parental consent for others, according to court documents. Judge Mark Walker ruled in favor of two tech organizations (NetChoice and the CCIA) representing social media organizations like Meta, Snap and X, saying that the state's bill HB3 signed into law in March this year is "likely unconstitutional."

The law requires parent or guardian consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to make an account or use a pre-existing account on a social media platform, while children under 14 are banned altogether. Platforms must abide by requests to delete these accounts within five business days and each violation could result in a $10,000 fine. That increases to $50,000 per instance if it is ruled that the company participated in a knowing or reckless violation of the law.

"Floridians have the right to access lawful speech without the government controlling what they say, share or see online, said NetChoice Director of Litigation, Chris Marchese.

The state of Florida tried to bypass normal first amendment free speech protections by employing the "narrowly tailored" rules, saying the law is designed to protect children from five addictive features of social media: push notifications, auto-play videos, live streaming, infinite scrolling and personal metrics. However, the judge ruled that the application is too broad in ways that have been shot down before by the Supreme Court.

"As applied to Plaintiffs' members alone, the law likely bans all youth under 14 from holding accounts on, at a minimum, four websites that provide forums for all manner of protected speech: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat," Judge Walker wrote. "It also bans 14- and 15-year-olds from holding accounts on those four websites absent a parent's affirmative consent, a requirement that the Supreme Court has clearly explained the First Amendment does not countenance."

Children could also be banned from social media even if the platforms created youth accounts without any of the five addictive features  as long as they were available for adults. The judge also called out the law's specificities about the ability of a child to access a platform based on how much time all children spend on the app.

The ruling does leave one provision in place. Social media companies are still required to "terminate any account held by a youth under 16 in the state upon the request of a parent or guardian," as required by the bill.

Yahoo, the parent company of Engadget, is a member of NetChoice.
Federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for Lil Durk in his headline-grabbing murder-for-hire case, new court documents filed Monday reveal.

Durk, whose real name is Durk Devontay Bank, is charged with multiple felonies, including using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime that caused death.

However, he faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The US Attorney General has ordered that the Central District of California should no longer pursue the death penalty for the 32-year-old rapper.

Durk was arrested in October 2024 and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Savannah "Lul Pab" Robinson, the cousin of rapper Quando Rondo, at a gas station in Beverly Hills in 2022.

Authorities allege Durk orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot by paying five individuals to travel across state lines to kill Quando Rondo. While the rapper reportedly was the intended target, Robinson was fatally shot instead.

Durk has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. His request for a bond has been denied multiple times. In his most recent attempt, the rapper's legal team offered a $4.5 million bail package, including $3 million in cash, home detention, and 24/7 private security.

In response, prosecutors argued the amount was insufficient, claiming Durk's wealth enables him to promote violence. The most recent bond motion is pending the court's decision. The trial, originally scheduled to commence on January 7, 2025, has been rescheduled for October 14, 2025.

Defense Challenges Informant Credibility

Meanwhile, Durk's legal team is contesting the reliability of a key FBI informant central to the government's case. Attorney Drew Findling criticized the prosecution's reliance on a cooperating human source described as "CHS 1" in the affidavit.

"The government repeatedly cites to allegations from a federal case out of Illinois where Mr. Banks has never been charged and never will be charged, despite the passage of over three years since the underlying incident," Findling stated, per Complex.

"The government's own exhibit reveals that the allegations pertaining to Mr. Banks are based primarily on information from a cooperating human source, 'CHS 1,' described in the affidavit as a paid FBI informant and former gang member with a criminal history."

Durk's team argues that the government has failed to establish that he is a danger to the community or a flight risk.

Originally published on Music Times
Telemundo is raising the stakes in the world of pageantry with the launch of its groundbreaking reality competition, Miss Universe Latina, El Reality, where for the first time ever, the U.S. Latina representative for Miss Universe 2025 will be chosen on live television. The show brings together two iconic Miss Universe winnersAlicia Machado (Venezuela, 1996) and Zuleyka Rivera (Puerto Rico, 2006)alongside beloved telenovela superstar Aracely Arambula, to mentor and judge a new generation of Latina queens.

A Star-Studded Panel: Beauty, Brains, and Drama

Hosted by the ever-charming Jacqueline Bracamontes, the show features Machado and Rivera as team captains, each guiding a group of contestants through the intense world of pageantry.

Arambula, joined by designer David Salomon and actor Fabian Rios, completes the panel of judges who, along with the public's vote, will decide who advances and who leaves the mansion each week.

In an exclusive interview with The Latin Times, Alicia Machado shared her excitement:

"It's an honor to guide these young Latinas. I know firsthand what it's like to chase a dream far from home. My goal is to help them stay true to themselves and shine with their own light."

Zuleyka Rivera echoed the sentiment, saying:

"Winning Miss Universe changed my life. We're not just looking for beauty here, but for women with purpose and vision. I can't wait to see which Latina will conquer the world next."

Aracely Arambula, who brings her signature warmth and candor to the judging panel, told us:

"I've played many roles of women overcoming adversity in telenovelas, but nothing compares to the real stories of these contestants. There's passion, pride, and resilience in every challenge."

Thirty Latinas, One Crown

The show features 30 contestants from across the U.S., each representing the diversity, strength, and beauty of Latina women. Living together in a Miami mansion, the contestants will face weekly challenges in runway, public speaking, leadership, and cultural knowledge. The competition promises high drama, emotional moments, and plenty of surprises, with social media star Sebastian Villalobos offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access.

Host Jacqueline Bracamontes told The Latin Times:

"This show is a celebration of our roots and the new generation of Latinas ready to make their mark. I'm thrilled to be part of this historic moment for our community."

A Crown Like No Other

At a glitzy Miami launch event, Telemundo unveiled the winner's crowna dazzling piece adorned with emeralds and rubies, symbolizing the teams led by Machado and Rivera, as well as the richness and diversity of the U.S. Latina community.

A Cultural Milestone

Miss Universe Latina, El Reality marks a major step forward for Latina representation on U.S. television and the international stage. "We want the world to see the intelligence, strength, and beauty of U.S. Latinas," Machado affirmed.

As the competition heats up, one thing is clear: the journey will be filled with inspiration, empowerment, and plenty of Latin flavor. Who will become the first Miss Universe Latina? America will be watchingand votingevery step of the way.

Originally published on Latin Times
Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, the 56-year-old man charged with murdering "King of the Hill" voice actor Jonathan Joss, has posted a $200,000 bond and is set for release from the Bexar County Jail.

The suspect is required to remain under full house arrest, submit to random drug testing, and is prohibited from possessing any firearms as the conditions of his release.

San Antonio police noted that their investigation has found no evidence that Joss's murder was motivated by his sexual orientation, despite claims circulating online. The police department released a statement saying that investigators take allegations of hate crime very seriously and thoroughly review available information on all cases.

Joss, 59, was shot and killed on Sunday evening outside his former home on Dorsey Drive in south San Antonio. The actor was known for voicing John Redcorn in the animated series "King of the Hill" and for playing Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation." He also appeared in films including "True Grit" and "The Magnificent Seven."

When officers arrived at the scene around 7:00 p.m., they found Joss lying near the roadway with a gunshot wound, based on police reports. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but Joss was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities arrested Alvarez after he fled the scene in a vehicle and reportedly told officers "I shot him" when he was taken into custody.

Joss's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claimed the shooting was a hate crime motivated by homophobia. He said that the gunman approached them while they were checking their mail and started shouting violent homophobic slurs before opening fire. He added his husband pushed him out of the way and saved his life and that "he was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other."

Police records showed that officers were called to the address dozens of times due to ongoing disputes between Joss and his neighbors. The couple had experienced "both verbal and physical fights in the past" with "tensions between the two men building for years." The actor's home had burned down in January, and he was reportedly at the property to collect mail when the shooting occurred, according to TMZ.
Timothee Chalamet may be teaming up with Kim Kardashian's billion-dollar shapewear brand, Skims, in a deal that Kylie Jenner is reportedly pushing for the brand to sign the actor for multiple years.

The 29-year-old "Dune" actor is reportedly in talks over a $1.2 million deal to serve as a global brand ambassador for Skims, according to a source who claimed to The US Sun.

Chalamet has reportedly been speaking with Kardashian about the brand's direction and long-term strategy, with Jenner playing a key role in encouraging the collaboration.

"Kylie is also fully encouraging him to accept the offer, as she believes the partnership between Timothee and Skims is a match made in heaven," the insider told the outlet.

The partnership would place Chalamet at the center of Kardashian's soon-to-be-launched drop, which is slated for release later this summer.

Kardashian is believed to be eager to capitalize on Chalamet's burgeoning stardom in the US and Europe. Chalamet is a dual citizen with French-American roots, and his increased popularity outside the US represents a strategic move toward a more international fan base.

"Kim loves Timothee," the source said. "She thinks he has great style, and his popularity will only increase."

The "A Complete Unknown" actor assumed Kardashian was joking when she made the suggestion earlier this year. However, sources say she's serious and even considers him a "fashion icon in the making."

"Timothee loves Skims and the pieces Kim creates, so he is definitely interested. He has been talking with Kim a lot lately, wanting to know everything about the brand, its plans, and its future," the source added.

Having been approached by other fashion houses in recent months, Chalamet is said to have become close to the mom of four since dating Jenner.

He is said to be impressed with Kardashian's entrepreneurial success, despite rumors of friction between their families, particularly with Chalamet's sister, Pauline.

"[Chalamet] loves the Kardashian family and believes Kim is one of the best entrepreneurs and businesswomen in the world," the insider said.

PARENTS  pic.twitter.com/fbQACFfsIM  best of kylie & timothee (@archivekymothee) May 30, 2025

Power Couple in the Making

Jenner is said to be helping Chalamet navigate the perception of him and his career, pushing him to seek out high-profile brand partnerships.

"Kylie keeps telling him they need to become a power couple," the source said. "She helps him see things differently, work on his image, and secure more deals."

Kardashian is said to have given Chalamet a few weeks to make a decision.
Brooklyn Beckham is reportedly considering discussing his very public falling out with his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, after becoming close friends with Prince Harry, whom he views as a mentor.

The Beckham family's eldest child has reportedly been receiving advice and inspiration from Harry and Meghan Markle, particularly in light of the Duke of Sussex's tumultuous relationship with the British Royal Family.

The 26-year-old Beckham and his wife, the actress Nicola Peltz, recently shared a meal with the Sussexes in Montecito, adding to questions about their growing bond.

"Brooklyn is seeing Harry as something of a mentor. He really admires the way he's stood up for himself and his wife  and that's got him fired up to do the same," an insider revealed to the National Enquirer via Daily Mail.

Sources say the two couples  both based in Southern California  bonded over shared experiences of strained family dynamics. The meeting between them reportedly took place at a dinner hosted by Paramount Pictures CEO Brian Robbins.

"Brooklyn and Nicola had a wonderful time and found Harry and Meghan to be particularly kind, caring and generous," one insider shared.

"There was shared common ground," the source added, pointing out that both Markle and Peltz have faced public criticism for allegedly straining family ties.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, reportedly connected with Peltz, 30, over the way the media have characterized both.

The way Harry looks at Meghan, you can see that shes the best thing that ever happened to him. When Meghan  at Harry, you can see the deep love and admiration for him in her eyes. Their souls were meant to meet, and nothing could prevent it. Im so happy for H&M pic.twitter.com/ao4exI2Q6m  Nanibu (@NanibuLioness) June 1, 2025

"Nicola and Meghan also had a bit of a 'deep n' meaningful,' as obviously both women have been positioned in the media as homewreckers  the women to tear apart their husbands' families," the source continued.

"Harry and Meghan were very empathetic and very kind to them both," they went on. "Harry was fully aware of the situation and offered Brooklyn his unwavering support as someone who has been through similar."

According to insiders, the two couples exchanged phone numbers after the dinner and have remained in contact.

Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham are officially married. Nicola wore a custom Valentino gown. pic.twitter.com/2QVWuGLhgC   (@eliesaaabs) April 11, 2022

Rising Tensions with the Beckhams

Tensions among the Beckhams had been brewing in the months leading up to Brooklyn and Nicola's extravagant wedding, which took place in Palm Beach in April 2022, and matters came to a head at David Beckham's private 50th birthday party earlier this year.

Although in London, Brooklyn and Nicola were noticeably missing from a number of the family's gatherings, including a private bash at the Beckhams' Cotswolds pad, a trip to France, and the Michelin-starred Core in Notting Hill for dinner.

Brooklyn also allegedly missed out on going fishing with his dad and brothers  Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20  as well as a pre-birthday bash at Cipriani in Miami.

"Brooklyn feels very misunderstood," a source told National Enquirer. "So following the same path as Harry and sharing his truth is incredibly appealing. He just wants to get his side of the story on the record."

In a notable move, Brooklyn and Nicola have hired attorney Jenny Afia of Schillings  the same lawyer who has represented the Sussexes  to handle what has been described as "reputation management."

"Nicola likes to control everything and they have taken this rather drastic action," a source familiar with the legal appointment told the Mail.

"For the Beckhams the irony isn't lost," the insider added. "They fell out with Meghan and Harry after they accused them of leaking stories  they were furious and Brooklyn knows that."
The ESRF is proud to be a key partner in GATES (Grenoble ATtractiveness and ExcellenceS), an ambitious initiative led by Universite Grenoble Alpes (UGA) and supported by the French government through the France 2030 plan. Funded under the national Excellence in All Its Forms programme (PIA4), GATES aims to strengthen the international visibility of UGA and position Grenoble as a world-class scientific and innovation hub. Six students have already started their doctoral contracts at the ESRF within this partnership.

The GATES project focuses on three major goals: attracting top international talent, supporting research in the humanities and social sciences through data services, and innovation in undergraduate education.

One of its central pillars is the development of high-level research through co-supervised PhD projects involving Grenobles major research infrastructures. Within this framework, the ESRF is actively contributing to GATES through its collaboration on more than 24 planned PhD theses, six of which are already underway.

These co-supervised doctoral projects provide students with a unique opportunity to work at the interface of academia and large-scale facilities. They benefit from dual supervision, access to state-of-the-art synchrotron techniques, and strong exposure to international research networks.

The current GATES PhD projects at the ESRF cover the fields of planetary sciences (the evolution of terrestrial planets), cultural heritage (degradation of ancient Egyptian pigments), additive manufacturing (how microstructure design influences performance in alloys), food safety (detoxification of cadmium in cacao plants) and sustainability solutions (improve CO2 reduction catalysts and engineering of enzymes to enhance CO conversion.

These interdisciplinary projects illustrate the strength of the Grenoble ecosystem in combining academic expertise with cutting-edge infrastructure. GATES is not only a platform for scientific innovation but also a stepping stone for early-career researchers working at the frontiers of knowledge.

The ESRFs participation in GATES reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in research and training. Together with UGA and its partners, the ESRF continues to provide outstanding opportunities for young scientists and contributes to positioning Grenoble as a leading global centre for research and innovation.

This project is funded by the French State and managed by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) under the Investissements davenir programme, reference ANR-22-EXES-0001.
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The White House said FEMA is taking severe storms "seriously," following a Reuters report that the head of the agency, David Richardson, said he was not aware the country has a hurricane season.
US President Donald Trump said in a Fox News interview broadcast that he had found a buyer for the TikTok short-video app, whom he described...
Canada's wildfires, which have already forced evacuations of more than 26,000 people, continued their stubborn spread Tuesday, with heavy smoke choking millions of Canadians and Americans and reaching as far away as Europe.

Alerts were issued for parts of Canada and the neighboring United States warning of hazardous air quality.

A water tanker air base was consumed by flames in Saskatchewan province, oil production has been disrupted in Alberta, and officials warned of worse to come with more communities threatened each day.

"We have some challenging days ahead of us," Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told a news conference, adding that the number of evacuees could rise quickly.

Every summer, Canada grapples with forest fires, but an early start to the wildfire season this year and the scale of the blazes -- over two million hectares (494,000 acres) burned -- is worrying.

The provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been hardest hit. Both declared wildfire emergencies in recent days.

"This has been a very difficult time for many Canadians," federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski told reporters in Ottawa.

"This wildfire season has started off more quickly, and it's stronger, more intense," she said, adding that the Canadian military has deployed aircraft to evacuate remote towns in Manitoba and was ready to also assist Saskatchewan and Alberta with firefighting.

Climate change has increased the impact of extreme weather events in Canada, which is still recovering from the apocalyptic summer of 2023 when 15 million hectares of forests were scorched.

As of Tuesday, there were 208 active fires across Canada. Half of them were listed as out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

Many of the affected populations are Indigenous, and some small communities have burned to the ground.

- 'Very intense few weeks' -

Heavy smoke from the fires, meanwhile, has engulfed part of the continent, forcing residents of four Canadian provinces and the US states of Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin to limit outdoor activities.

"Smoke is causing very poor air quality and reduced visibility," Environment Canada said in a statement.

Wildfire smoke is comprised of gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, along with water vapor and particle pollution, which can be particularly hazardous to health.

Some of the worst smoke was in Alberta where three major oil sands producers -- Canadian Natural Resources, MEG Energy Corp, and Cenovus Energy -- this week evacuated workers and temporarily shut down hundreds of thousands of barrels of production per day.

Huge plumes of smoke even reached Europe, the European Union's climate monitoring service said Tuesday.

Due to their very high altitude, they do not pose an immediate health risk, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), but are likely to result in hazy skies and reddish-orange sunsets.

Additional plumes are expected to shade both continents in the coming days.

"Central regions of Canada have experienced a very intense few weeks in terms of wildfire emissions," noted Mark Parrington, scientific director at CAMS.

Canadian authorities have forecast a more intense fire season than usual in central and western Canada, due in particular to severe or extreme drought.

"The significant reduction in snowpack in the spring led to early exposure of soil and vegetation, accelerating surface drying," explained University of Ottawa professor Hossein Bonakdari.

"This early exposure acted as a silent amplifier, subtly setting the stage for extreme fires long before the first flame ignited," he said.

Elsewhere, extensive forest fires have been raging in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District since early April, particularly east of Lake Baikal, generating carbon emissions of around 35 million tons, Copernicus reported.

bur-amc/mlm
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square. He welcomes your comments. Contact Dan at dmccaleb@thecentersquare.com.
Italy's Giorgia Meloni and France's Emmanuel Macron met on Tuesday in Rome, reconciling their differences to put forward a "common commitment" as they confront shared challenges, notably US tariffs and the Ukraine war.

The far-right prime minister welcomed the centrist French president to her Palazzo Chigi office, where they held three hours of talks followed by dinner.

They are not natural political allies, but as the leaders of the EU's second- and third-largest economies, they are both grappling with the fall-out from the war in Ukraine, as well as US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs against the bloc.

"Italy and France, dedicated to their role as founding states of the European structure, aim to strengthen their common commitment for a more sovereign, stronger and more prosperous Europe, above all for peace," the countries said in a joint statement following the talks.

"The meeting highlighted strong convergences on the European competitiveness agenda," it added, announcing a bilateral summit in France in early 2026.

Ahead of the meeting, Meloni on Friday acknowledged "divergences" with Macron but denied she had any "personal problems" with him, and said she was "very happy" with the visit.

Macron's office, meanwhile, had said that Italy was "an important partner" with "a crucial role to play in European decisions", particularly in the Ukrainian conflict.

The two leaders were showing they were "capable of moving forwards together on the essentials", the French presidency said.

- 'Undeniable rivalry' -

Their cooperation has been sorely tested by Trump, with the pair disagreeing over how to deal with the US president on both tariffs and Ukraine.

Meloni and Macron have an "undeniable rivalry", said Marc Lazar, a professor at Sciences Po university in Paris.

He said the pair were following different strategies with Meloni seeking "mediation and compromise" with the US president and Macron favouring "unwavering firmness".

Rome "believes that because it is ideologically close to the US administration... it will be able to force it to back down on trade tariffs", he told AFP.

But while Paris says it has "respect" for those who can "maintain the best possible relationship with President Trump", it insists that trade negotiations are the responsibility of the European Commission -- effectively sidelining Meloni as a would-be mediator.

On Ukraine, Macron presents himself as the EU's go-to man on the issue, speaking to Trump regularly and invoking the relationship developed during the billionaire's first term.

And he has seriously ruffled feathers in Rome with his attempts to put together a "coalition of the willing" ready to provide "security guarantees" to Ukraine.

In recent weeks, the French president's meetings on the Russian invasion with the British, German and Polish leaders -- but without Meloni -- have ratcheted up tensions.

Paris says that "between Europeans, the issue of formats must be arranged to achieve the best impact we can under the circumstances".

It says that Italy has always insisted the US take part.

But the two countries on Tuesday in their joint statement reaffirmed the "continued unwavering support of France and Italy for Ukraine is even more necessary to achieve a just and lasting solution".

France and Italy also agreed "to coordinate their efforts in European mobilisation and action" as well as seek complementarity in their relationship with the Trump administration

ff/ide/ar/giv/bc
WENATCHEE, Wash.  The Wenatchee Police Department reported the discovery of three missing sisters, found dead near Rock Island Campground in Chelan County.

Olivia Decker, 5, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Paityn Decker, 9 were last seen with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker, during a planned visitation.

The situation began on Friday, May 30, when the girls' mother reported them missing after Decker failed to return them. Authorities immediately began searching, identifying Decker as living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup.

The girl's mother, Whitney Decker, issued an emailed statement on Monday afternoon saying "I just want the girls back home safe and sound  that is the most important thing to me. I am concerned about the safety and wellbeing of my girls and their dad. This is an unimaginable situation. I am pleading for everyone to look out for them."

Washington State Patrol was contacted on Friday with a request for an AMBER Alert and said the situation did not 'meet the required criteria'.

Wenatchee Police contacted WSP again on Saturday with more information and an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) was issued.

Despite initial efforts, including motel checks and database searches, the vehicle was not located until June 2.

On June 2, Chelan County deputies found Deckers vehicle unoccupied near Icicle Road.

A subsequent search led to the discovery of the girls' bodies. Decker remains at large, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest on multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder.

The Wenatchee Police Department is urging the community to assist in locating Decker, who is considered dangerous due to his military background. They caution against approaching him and advise calling 911 with any information on his whereabouts.

Decker is reported to be 190 lbs, black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.

Anyone who might have seen Decker or has information is asked to contact authorities immediately.
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Loren Johnson passed away on the afternoon of May 23, 2025, in Great Falls, Montana.

He was born on October 13th, 1939, in the tiny town of Brocket, North Dakota, to Ernest Johnson and Etta Moilanen. His father was a lumberjack, so Loren spent most of his early years in and around the forests of Northern Minnesota. He and his mother and brother Darryl moved back to Brocket, where his mother remarried Julius Nelson. They then moved to Lakota, North Dakota.

Loren liked music. He played tuba in quite a few all-state bands in high school and later went to Valley City State Teachers College, where he majored in Elementary Education and took many music courses.

In the meantime, Loren met the love of his life, Shirley Johnson. They married and had two wonderful children, Craig and Cyndra. Loren and Shirley married in 1960 and have spent the last 64 years together.

Loren taught elementary school for 25 years, mostly in Montana, apart from three years in North Dakota. He loved his students. He also directed a band for 22 years, mainly the elementary band at Greenfield on the Greenfield Bench near Fairfield. He was very proud of his elementary band. He also drove a school bus and was active in St. Pauls Lutheran Church.

In the summers, Loren loved to go to Yellowstone Park and work as a bus driver/commentator. Loren liked to tell jokes and entertained his bus passengers with witty stories. He did this for 14 summers.

After retiring from teaching, he went into bus driving, working for such companies as Intermountain, Karst Stage, and Great Falls Transit. Loren had a particular passion (hatred) for Bluebird buses. He even wrote a song about them! At the age of 62, Loren called it a day and fully retired.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; one daughter, Cyndra (Michael Kunz) of Pocatello, Idaho; and his son, Craig (Jami) of Great Falls, Montana; two brothers, Michael and Jay Nelson; two granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ernest and Etta; his stepfather, Julius; two brothers, Darryl and Randall; and his sister, Crystal. Loren wants to be remembered with joy and no sorrow. It was a pretty good life.

Funeral Service will be on June 6th At 2:00pm at Croxford Funeral Home with a viewing an hour prior.
Sheep farmers across the UK are being urged to take immediate preventative action as the blowfly strike risk level has been raised to red.

Producers in the north of England, the west of Scotland and Northern Ireland are now on red alert following an update to Blowfly Watch.

The service, a free resource run by Elanco and NADIS, uses data such as soil temperature and humidity to assess and predict strike risk in 40km zones.

The red warning signifies a high threat level for blowfly activity, particularly dangerous as blowfly strike can occur rapidly  in as little as 36 hours after eggs are laid.

Blowfly strike is a serious disease thought to affect over 80% of farms in the UK.

Matt Colston, ruminant technical consultant at Elanco, notes that prevention is better than waiting to see a struck lamb before treating the whole flock.

He said: Damage happens fast  it can take as little as 36 hours from an egg being laid on a sheep to maggots eating its flesh."

Elanco and NADIS recommend several best practices for applying preventative treatments effectively.

Farmers should use an appropriate applicator gun fitted with a fan spray nozzle and ensure it is properly calibrated before use.

The product should be applied to a clean fleece, so any dirty animals should be clipped or dagged beforehand.

It is important to apply the product in a band approximately 10cm wide, holding the applicator about 45cm from the sheep.

The total dose should be delivered in four strokes: from the mid-shoulder to the middle of the back, from the middle of the back to the top of the tail, then from one side of the tail to the crutch, and finally from the other side of the tail to the crutch.

Worm management plays a valuable role in preventing strike, because scouring, due to worms, can cause dirty backends and encourage flies, Mr Colston added.

Regular faecal egg counts will help identify worm burdens early and prompt treatment before lambs scour.

Farmers can monitor strike risk closely by signing up for free alerts through Blowfly Watch.
Scottish farmers have welcomed long-awaited clarity on new Enhanced Greening rules, set to reshape farm support payments from 2026 as part of the Scottish governments push for sustainable agriculture.

The Enhanced Greening payment, which will form a supplementary part of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), is intended to reward climate and environment friendly practices.

Farmers now have clarity [PDF] on what they will need to do for next years greening payments as Scotland transitions to the full implementation of its post-Brexit Tier system.

The Enhanced Greening element will remain at around 30% of the full BPS value and will be assessed at the business level through Single Application Form submissions.

Although inspections will be introduced to ensure compliance, the policy aims to encourage practical actions that align with climate and environmental objectives.

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), which represents rural businesses in Scotland, said the confirmation gives farms a much-needed direction for planning.

Eleanor Kay, senior policy adviser at the group, emphasised that government must ensure future farming tiers remain flexible and inclusive, especially as Tiers 2 and 3 are developed ahead of the 2027 rollout.

We strongly urge that these policies remain flexible and accessible  particularly for farmers already adopting innovative approaches that dont always align with rigid requirements, she said.

That includes farmers using fence-less collars for adaptive grazing, those monitoring bird activity in hedgerows to adjust management practices, and others using breed selection to outwinter livestock in harmony with nature.

"These approaches often deliver outcomes that match or exceed expectations, and farmers using them must not be left behind.

SLE has also called for the early release of further scheme details so farmers have time to prepare for changes post-2026.

The body noted that farmers will need advance information to make the most of planning tools such as the Future Farming Investment Fund, the Whole Farm Plan, and advice available from the Farm Advisory Service.
The UK faces a serious threat from animal disease outbreaks that could overwhelm current government capabilities, according to a stark new report from the National Audit Office (NAO).

While Defra and the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) have worked hard to manage a series of outbreaks in recent years, the report finds they would likely struggle to cope with a more severe incident.

It criticises the absence of a long-term plan to reduce risks and build resilience, even as outbreaks become more frequent due to global pressures such as climate change and antimicrobial resistance.

The report highlights several weaknesses in the current system. It finds that contingency plans for managing animal disease outbreaks contain significant gaps, leaving the UK vulnerable in the event of a large-scale incident.

Many of the operational processes used by APHA are described by the watchdog as outdated and inefficient, which could hamper an effective response.

In addition, key infrastructure is not fit for purpose, as the governments primary animal science facility at Weybridge is in need of major redevelopment.

Although a long-overdue programme to modernise the site is now underway, it is not expected to be completed for another ten years.

Another long-standing issue is the lack of a comprehensive system to trace livestock movements. Despite multiple attempts to implement such a system since 2013, one has yet to be successfully established.

The report also highlights a shortage of skilled personnel. As of April 2025, APHA was operating with a 20% vacancy rate for veterinary staff, which raises further concerns about the agencys ability to respond to a major outbreak.

Despite some promising initiativessuch as the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which supports on-farm disease prevention and researchprogress is being held back by vaccine shortages and weaknesses in biosecurity at the UK border.

Currently, only around 5% of live animal imports from the EU and other countries are subject to physical checks, far below the government's 100% target for border inspections by the end of 2024.

The NAO, which scrutinises public spending for parliament, also warns that frequent outbreaks are draining resources and staff attention away from longer-term resilience work.

With teams regularly diverted from routine duties to respond to new threats, the current reactive approach is no longer sustainable.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: Defra has assessed that the risk of an outbreak to which it would be unable to respond effectively is above the level it considers tolerable, but it has not determined a way to reduce this risk.

"A long-term strategy and action plan are urgently needed, to protect national economic resilience as well as food security, human health and rural communities.
A bill to regulate the influx of environment-unfriendly, low-quality clothes into France, primarily from China, was recently debated by the countrys Senate, the upper house of parliament.

The National Assembly, the lower house, adopted a version of the so-called fast fashion bill in March last year, but a commission in the Senate sought some changes to better target Chinese clothing brands.

A bill to regulate the influx of environment-unfriendly, low-quality clothes into France, primarily from China, was recently debated by the country's Senate. The National Assembly adopted a version of the 'fast fashion' bill in March 2024, but a Senate commission sought changes to better target Chinese brands. The bill will introduce sanctions on firms based on their clothes' environmental impact.

The bill will introduce sanctions on companies based on the environmental impact of their clothes. National Assembly members approved pegging these sanctions to so-called eco-labelling, but senators, in agreement with the government, scrapped that measure in a commission reading, as per global media reports.

Senators instead want to calculate punitive measures according to the sustainability and commercial practices of e-commerce platforms, arguing this would enable more regulations for e-commerce websites, and reduce adverse effects for French and other European businesses.

The proposed law would define fast fashion according to production rates, collection turnover, the lifespan of clothes and poor incentives to repair them.

It would be mandatory for firms producing such throwaway items to inform customers about the environmental cost of buying their products.

Thirty five apparel items are thrown away in the country every second, according to the French environment agency.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Yangtze River policy helps former fishing family launch new business in E China's Anhui

People's Daily Online) 14:17, June 04, 2025

Ahead of this year's May Day holiday travel rush, Chen Lanxiang, head of a labor service company in Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui Province, organized a group tour to Yangzhou in neighboring Jiangsu Province for a number of former fishermen.

A photo shows Chen Lanxiang and her husband Zhang Zhouhua six years ago in Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

"This was the first group trip for our former fishermen in decades, and everyone had a wonderful time," Chen said.

She reflected on the dramatic changes since she gave up fishing in 2019 as part of a government program to protect the Yangtze River.

"Without the government's support for transitioning fishermen, we wouldnt be able to travel  just making a living would have been difficult," she said.

Xuejiawa, on the eastern shore of the Yangtze River in Ma'anshan, once had more than 200 fishing boats and over 50 fishing families. The ecological environment suffered as domestic sewage was discharged directly into the river and garbage littered the area.

After marrying fisherman Zhang Zhouhua in 1995, Chen spent more than 20 years living on boats, relying solely on fishing for income. However, fish stocks dwindled each year, and earnings steadily declined.

The turning point came in 2019, when Ma'anshan was chosen as a pilot site for a national program to relocate fishermen from the Yangtze River and its tributaries and help them find alternative livelihoods.

Chen's family gave up five fishing boats on May 20, 2019. In less than three months, 10,757 fishermen in Ma'anshan had relinquished their nets and transitioned to new opportunities, completing the process a year and a half ahead of the national timeline.

Benefiting from the withdrawal policies, Chen's family received more than 200,000 yuan ($28,000) in subsidies and moved into a 100-square-meter, two-bedroom apartment. The government also purchased basic pension insurance for them. Her husband soon joined the local waterway patrol team, earning more than 3,000 yuan per month.

Chen Lanxiang, center, talks with employees at her labor service company in Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

After moving ashore and giving up fishing, Chen stayed active. She took part in job training, during which she came up with the idea of starting a labor service company. Although her family initially doubted the plan, she was determined to make it work.

On Dec. 20, 2020, with support from the local government, Chen launched her labor service company, bringing in eight former fishermen as shareholders.

Chen recalls her first contract in January 2021  a cleaning job for a local market. "At the time, I didn't even know how to draft a contract or handle budgeting, but I was determined to succeed. There are always more solutions than problems," she said. Chen sought advice from professionals and gradually learned how to run a business.

Thanks to her efforts, the company steadily grew, earned a strong reputation and became profitable in its second year.

The company has grown from six employees at the start to 75 today. Its business volume has steadily increased, with revenue doubling from 1.6 million yuan in 2021 to 3.2 million yuan in 2024.

A view of the Yangtze River at the Cihu high-tech industrial development zone in Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Zhang Mingwei)

Since 2022, Chen has distributed annual dividends, totaling 680,000 yuan for all shareholders as of this year.

Chen joined the Party in 2023. As a Party member and former fisherwoman, she actively promotes the benefits of the Yangtze River environmental protection initiative, sharing her own story to encourage others to support and protect the river.

As a result, she was elected as a deputy to the Ma'anshan Municipal People's Congress and made her first proposal on environmental protection.

Chen's husband, a former skilled fisherman, has worked with the local waterway patrol team for more than five years. He patrols more than 10 kilometers of river each day, cleaning the riverside and monitoring enforcement of the fishing ban.

Beyond employing former fishermen, Chen also established a "Fishermen's Home," dedicating 9 percent of her company's annual profits to a reserve fund helping former fishermen overcome major life challenges.

"We former fishermen are witnesses to the Yangtze River environmental protection initiative and beneficiaries of the withdrawal policies. We should also be active participants in protecting the Yangtze River," Chen said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a global leader in digital cross-border payments, today announced that it has been granted a Class B license by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). This development marks a pivotal step in TerraPay's expansion across Southeast Asia, reinforcing its commitment to enabling secure, real-time, and compliant cross-border payment solutions in one of the region's most dynamic financial hubs.

Malaysia stands as one of the largest cross-border remittance and trade corridors in the Asia-Pacific region. With the new license, TerraPay is now well-positioned to support the country's growing demand for efficient and transparent cross-border financial services. The license enables TerraPay to directly partner with Malaysian banks, licensed payment institutions, and enterprises to facilitate seamless inbound and outbound remittances, B2B payments, and wallet payouts. It also empowers TerraPay to deepen its collaboration with local financial institutions and fintechs, offering them access to its robust, interoperable, and API-driven payment infrastructure. This will enable partners to scale their cross-border offerings with confidence, while ensuring compliance with Malaysia's regulatory standards.

"This license reinforces TerraPay's commitment to building a seamless and compliant payments ecosystem across APAC. Malaysia is a key market, and we are excited to deepen partnerships that drive financial inclusion and innovation," said Ambar Sur, Founder & CEO of TerraPay.

Sukesh Malliah, Vice President (APAC) at TerraPay, said, "Securing the Class B license from Bank Negara Malaysia is a proud milestone in TerraPay's APAC journey. Malaysia is a strategic market with immense potential for cross-border remittances and trade. This license empowers us to directly collaborate with local banks and financial institutions, delivering real-time, secure, and compliant payment solutions. We remain committed to driving financial inclusion and innovation across the region, while enabling our partners to scale confidently across borders."

Aligned with Malaysia's digital financial inclusion goals, TerraPay's infrastructure is designed to be future-ready, supporting real-time transactions, enhancing customer experience, and promoting financial access for underserved communities. The company's technology-first approach ensures that partners can integrate quickly and scale efficiently.

As a licensed entity under BNM, TerraPay reaffirms its dedication to upholding the highest standards of compliance, customer protection, and innovation. This milestone further strengthens TerraPay's global regulatory footprint and underscores its mission to simplify global payments for everyone, everywhere.

About TerraPay

TerraPay simplifies global money movement, providing a single connection to one of the most expansive cross-border payment networks regulated in over 30 global markets. The platform enables payments to 150+ receiving countries, 210+ sending countries, over 3.7 billion mobile wallets, 7.5 billion bank accounts, and more than 12 billion cards. TerraPay is on a mission to create a borderless financial world, making money transfers instant, reliable, transparent, and fully compliant.

Founded in 2014, TerraPay has built the global digital wallet interoperable network, driving financial inclusion even in the most remote markets. TerraPay is headquartered in London, with offices in cities like Bangalore, Dubai, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, and Singapore. Backed by leading investors including the IFC (World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa, and Visa, TerraPay continues its rapid global expansion.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/5348185/TerraPay_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/terrapay-secures-class-b-license-from-bank-negara-malaysia-to-strengthen-cross-border-payments-in-apac-302470596.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 3, 2025) - Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) (FSE: D4E) (WKN: A1JQW5) ("Defiance" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that through its subsidiary, Geologix Mexico S.A. de C.V., it has successfully secured a long-term surface access agreement (the "Agreement") for its 100%-owned Tepal Gold-Copper Project, located in Michoacan, Mexico.

Surface Rights Agreement Highlights

Under the terms of the six-year agreement, the Company has secured the right to conduct surface exploration, drilling, and engineering studies at the Tepal Gold-Copper project.

Chris Wright, Executive Chairman & CEO of Defiance Silver, commented:

"Securing long-term surface access to the Tepal Project represents a key milestone event for Defiance. This is the first formal agreement with the surface landowner, and it provides the certainty we need to advance our exploration and development work, such as: detailed mapping, sampling, and drilling across the North, South, and Tizate zones, while also evaluating new targets within the broader project area."

Restructured Option to Acquire Royalty at the Tepal Project

Defiance is pleased to announce that it has successfully restructured the option agreement (See News Release dated January 16th, 2023) to acquire the 2.5% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty associated with its Tepal Gold-Copper project with the project vendor, Minera Tepal S.A. de C.V. The revised payment schedule for the NSR option agreement is USD$75,000/month starting July 1, 2025 through February 1, 2026, and then USD $150,000/month from July 1, 2026 through September 1, 2027.

Extension of San Acacio Option Payment

Additionally, the Company has secured an extension for the final payment of the option agreement on the San Acacio land package at its Zacatecas Silver-Polymetallic project. Defiance through its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Santa Remy S.A., has, at the Vendor's request, agreed to extend the term of its option to acquire 100% of the San Acacio property in the Zacatecas district. As a result of this amendment, the scheduled payment due March 31, 2025, has now been changed to June 30, 2026 (See October 31st and December 20th, 2024 news for more details). The amendment was signed by both parties and is pending ratification in the presence of a notary public in Mexico City. There were no changes to the economic terms of the option agreement.

On behalf of Defiance Silver Corp.

"Chris Wright"

Chairman and CEO

Suite 2900-550 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC

Canada

V6C 0A3

Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Company's ability to complete certain payments in relation to its Tepal and Zacatecas projects.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Defiance, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things and without limitation: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Mexico; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances; failure to establish estimated mineral resources; the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis for its financial year ended June 30, 2024 available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known, and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Defiance, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

About Defiance Silver Corp.

Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) (OTCQX: DNCVF) (FSE: D4E) is an exploration and development company advancing the district-scale Zacatecas project, located in the historic Zacatecas Silver District and the Tepal Gold/Copper Project in Michoacan state, Mexico. Defiance is managed by a team of proven mine developers with a track record of exploring, advancing, and developing several operating mines and advanced resource projects. Defiance's corporate mandate is to advance its projects through capital-efficient exploration, focused on resource growth and new mineral discoveries.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254398

SOURCE: Defiance Silver Corp.
Rheinmetall, Renk und Hensoldt haben den Rustungsboom der letzten Jahre dominiert, doch inzwischen sind diese Titel fundamental heillos uberbewertet. KGVs jenseits der 60, KUVs uber 4, und das in einem politisch fragilen Umfeld mit wackelnder Haushaltsdisziplin. Fur spateinsteigende Anleger kann das teuer werden.



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Accelerating new ventures by collaborating with startups to address diverse social challenges

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has invested as an anchor limited partner (LP) in the AT PARTNERS III L.P. fund, which employs a fund-of-funds approach to make diversified investments in leading overseas venture capital (VC) firms. Through this investment, Mitsubishi Electric aims to strengthen its open innovation with startups and accelerate the creation of new businesses in response to rapidly evolving market conditions and technological advancements.

Tokyo-based AT PARTNERS Inc. invests in venture capital funds across the United States, Europe, and Israel. Leveraging its proprietary corporate analysis data platform, the company efficiently gathers and analyzes information on high-potential overseas startups, offering Japanese corporate investors valuable opportunities for strategic collaboration. AT PARTNERS III L.P. is the third fund managed by AT PARTNERS.

Mitsubishi Electric expects to strengthen its business-creation initiatives by leveraging AT PARTNERS' global startup ecosystem network and also its expertise and knowhow in open innovation. Mitsubishi Electric will also continue to collaborate with startups in its existing business domains to further expand and advance its businesses through open innovation.

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250603924941/en/

Contacts:

Customer Inquiries

Business Innovation Group

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Tel: +81-3-3218-4885

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/

Media Inquiries

Takeyoshi Komatsu

Public Relations Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Tel: +81-3-3218-2332

prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/








LANGKAWI, June 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - The curtain has closed on the 17th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA'25), which concluded on a high note with RM11 billion in transactions signed over five dynamic days. Co-organised by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Global Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd (GEC), LIMA'25 lived up to its theme, "Innovate Today, Thrive Tomorrow", by setting new benchmarks in participation, innovation, and impact.Hosted at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) and Resorts World Langkawi from 20 to 24 May, this year's event welcomed more than 860 companies from 24 countries, featured 15 country pavilions, and hosted dignitaries from 64 nations, making it the most internationally represented edition in LIMA's history. With 43 aircrafts and 31 ships from both local and foreign countries, alongside an expanded programme across four exhibition halls and interactive themed zones, the exhibition drew tens of thousands of trade and public visitors.The event was officially launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who underscored the importance of innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships in shaping the region's future. It concluded with a grand closing ceremony officiated by the Minister of Defence, YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, who reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to regional security and industrial growth.Reflecting on the exhibition's success, GEC Managing Director Abd Hafiz bin Abu Bakar stated: "Success is built on strong pillars - hard work, innovation, learning, and unity. By bringing these elements together at LIMA'25, we have created a platform where progress is possible, and opportunities are open to all."Kedah State Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman, Yang Berhormat Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin, also lauded the event's socioeconomic impact:"I wish to congratulate the Ministry of Defence and Global Exhibitions and Conferences, being the organisers of a successful event. LIMA'25 has delivered far-reaching economic and social benefits for Langkawi and the greater Kedah, contributing positively to our goals for Visit Kedah Year 2025. It has brought the world to our doorstep, creating invaluable exposure and business opportunities for our local SMEs. The spillover effects extend across key sectors - tourism, hospitality, logistics and services - enabling us to unlock the full potential of Kedah's vibrant economy. I am happy to say that restaurants and eateries were always full on a daily basis, and almost all establishments in Langkawi benefitted from LIMA'25, directly or indirectly."He added: "I am confident that events of this calibre will continue to position Kedah as a globally competitive destination, while driving sustainable growth and inclusive development for our people. I hope to see the next edition of LIMA continue to catalyse opportunities for growth, innovation, and global engagement for Kedah and beyond."Highlights included:- Defence and Commercial Sectors: Naval ships and cutting-edge aircraft highlighted Malaysia's commitment to regional security and economic resilience, while local SMEs gained global exposure through dedicated showcases and business matching platforms.- Space and Voyage Segments: ASEAN's growing space ambitions took centre stage, while advanced maritime technologies celebrated Malaysia's pivotal geographic role in global shipping.- Innovation & Sustainability: The Innovation Pavilion spotlighted electric and hybrid aircraft, while the LIMA Green Initiative reinforced ESG principles with a focus on cleaner technology and a net-zero future.- Education Pavilion: Bridging academia and industry, the pavilion prepared the next generation of aerospace and maritime talent through direct industry engagement.- Women, Peace & Security Conference: Promoted inclusive leadership and diversity in the traditionally male-dominated defence and tech sectors.- A.T.M.O.S Sphere: Under LIMA's expanded Space and Innovation pillar, the dome showcased how space technology is driving progress in climate science, telecommunications, navigation, agriculture, and national security.Strategic Outcomes and Economic ImpactOver the course of the event:- Numerous strategic collaborations were forged between local and international players through MoUs, LOIs and contracts, contributing to a total transaction value of RM11 billion- 1400 B2B and 920 B2G meetings were facilitated.- Nine conferences and two industrial competitions were organised.These outcomes affirm LIMA's status as a catalyst for innovation, cross-border collaboration, and inclusive industrial development.Looking Ahead"I extend my heartfelt thanks to every visitor, partner, exhibitor, and the government for the trust and support in making LIMA 2025 a resounding success. Let us keep this spirit of collaboration and innovation alive as we look forward to the next edition," added Hafiz.The 18th edition of LIMA is tentatively scheduled for 2027, with MINDEF and GEC calling on all stakeholders to continue building on the momentum of this landmark event. As LIMA'25 draws to a close, its legacy as a global platform for maritime and aerospace innovation, sustainability, and strategic cooperation is firmly cemented.About LIMAThe Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) is Asia-Pacific's leading showcase for the maritime and aerospace industries. Since its inception, LIMA has provided a dynamic platform for industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to connect, collaborate, and drive progress in defence, security, and commercial sectors. For updates and participation details, please visit LIMA 2025 | The 17th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, or follow LIMA'25 on social media.About Global Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd (GEC)Global Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd is a leading event management company specialising in organising and managing high-profile exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows across diverse industries. Established in 2007, the company is renowned for its expertise in creating impactful and innovative events that connect businesses, foster industry growth, and drive global networking opportunities.Corporate Sponsors of LIMA'25- Telekom Malaysia Berhad - Strategic Technology Partner- Bufori - Official Executive Car Provider for DYMM YDPA- Revelot Sdn Bhd - Official Timekeeper- Mercedes Benz (M) Sdn Bhd - Royalties and Government Fleet Provider- Affin Bank Berhad - Official Bank- PETRONAS - Official Fuel Provider- Malaysia Aviation Group (MAB,Firefly & Aerodarat) - Official Airline & Ground Handler- Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad - Official Airport- Airasia - Supporting Airline- MyCar Asia - E-Hailing Provider- Blueshark Ecosystem Sdn Bhd - ESG Partner- FAMA & FamaCo - Local Partner- Spritzer - Official Mineral Water- Zuspresso - Official BrewerISSUED BY MNAIR PR CONSULTANCY SDN BHDON BEHALF OFGLOBAL EXHIBITIONS & CONFERENCES SDN BHDContacts for Media Enquiries:MNAIR PR Consultancy Sdn BhdSashikala NairDirector, Public Relations+6012 566 9095sashi@mnairpr.comAmeera HaniAssociate Director, Public Relations+6014 224 3296ameera@mnairpr.comGlobal Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd (GEC)Norul Wajidah Mohamad SaffiruddinExecutive, Corporate Communication and Sponsorship+6013 3811352wajidah@lima2025.comSource: Global Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn BhdLIMACopyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 3, 2025) - Blockchain Venture Capital Inc. (CSE: BVCI) is pleased to announce significant corporate developments, including the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire a controlling interest in LuminusFX Corporation, the settlement of a material debt, and the appointment of one new member to its Board of Directors.

Strategic Acquisition of Controlling Interest in LuminusFX Corporation

BVCI has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the "LuminusFX Agreement") dated Jun 01, 2025, to acquire 51% of the issued and outstanding Class A Common Shares of LuminusFX Corporation ("LuminusFX") from Telemetry Inc. and Big Bang Capital Ltd. (the "Vendors").

Under the terms of the LuminusFX Agreement, BVCI will acquire a total of 1,530,000 Class A Common Shares, representing a 51% controlling interest in LuminusFX, BVCI will initially issue 765,000 common shares, with the balance of 765,000 common shares subject to an earn-out provision where LuminusFX must generate at least CAD 120,000 in net profit for BVCI in the next 6 months. This acquisition represents a strategic move by BVCI to expand its presence in global financial services, including the Forex and virtual currency sectors. By acquiring a controlling interest, BVCI expects to unlock significant growth opportunities, drive substantial revenue, and integrate its digital solutions into the traditional financial services industry.

Debt Settlement with Generation IACP Inc.

BVCI has also entered into a Debt Settlement Agreement (the "Debt Agreement") dated May 16, 2025, with Generation IACP Inc. (the "Creditor"). This agreement resolves an aggregate debt of $134,618.79 owed by BVCI to the Creditor, arising from a prior issuer trading services agreement dated June 30, 2022.

Pursuant to the Debt Agreement, BVCI will issue 1,495,764 units (the "Settlement Units") to Generation IACP Inc. at a deemed price of CDN $0.09 per Settlement Unit. Each Settlement Unit comprises one common share of BVCI and one common share purchase warrant, entitling the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of CDN $0.12 for a period of twenty-four months. The issuance of the Settlement Units will constitute full and final satisfaction of the Debt. The Settlement Units will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day resale restriction legend.

Related Party Disclosure:

Xueru Bao, who is being appointed as a new board director of BVCI and is also a founding director of LuminusFX Corporation and Big Bang Capital Ltd. (one of the Vendors in the LuminusFX acquisition), previously served as a Marketing Director for BVCI (CSE: BVCI) from September 2020 to August, 2022, and consultant to BVCI from August 2022 to July 2024. She earned salaries of $5000 per month during her terms working for BVCI. Additionally, certain family members of Xueru Bao, including her mother, father, sister hold around 600,000 shares in BVCI. The Board of Directors of BVCI has reviewed these relationships and is satisfied that both the LuminusFX acquisition and the debt settlement transaction were negotiated and concluded on an arm's length basis.

New Board Appointment

BVCI is pleased to announce the appointment of Xueru Bao to its Board of Director, effective immediately. The appointment brings valuable expertise and experience to the Board as the Company continues to execute its growth strategy.

Xueru Bao - Biography: Xueru Bao (also known as Lucy Bao) is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with a strong global presence in fintech, blockchain, and venture capital. She is currently the founder of LuminusFX and a Director of Big Bang Capital Since 2019, Lucy has served as an advisor at Blockchain Venture Capital Inc. Her leadership has earned her several accolades, including the 2022 HuaCai Industry Leadership Award, WeWorkingWomen's Most Influential Woman Award, 2023 Hurun North America U30, and Canada's Business Elite U40. She holds a BA undergraduate education from the University of Toronto, as well as extended executive education from Harvard Business School.

Conditions to Closing:

The closing of the LuminusFX acquisition is anticipated to occur in mid-June 2025. Both the LuminusFX acquisition and the debt settlement are subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), and the finalization of internal corporate and legal documentation. There can be no assurance that these transactions will be completed as proposed or at all, or within the anticipated timeframe.

Further details regarding these transactions will be provided as they become available.

About the Company

BVCI is an Ontario incorporated company and is registered as a money service business with the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). It is a provider of an innovative technology infrastructure to participants in the emerging blockchain and distributed ledger technology industry. Instrumental to BVCI's business and growth strategy is BVC Chain, a proprietary blockchain platform and distributed ledger technology, which can operate as a centralized or decentralized ledger. BVC Chain was designed to be a turnkey solution, which can be customized and implemented by organizations wishing to deploy blockchain platform based solutions, products or services. BVC Chain will also serve as the platform and infrastructure for BvcPay and CADT. BvcPay is a cloud based mobile application that is intended to have the capability to function as a Digital Currency wallet and which can facilitate point of sale and online transactions using Bitcoin, Ethereum and CADT. CADT is the native Digital Currency of the BVC Chain, and it is intended to be a stablecoin. BVCI's CADT business division is expected to issue CADT, a cryptographic stablecoin supported on a 1:1 basis with an equivalent amount of Canadian dollar held in a custodial account. CADT is expected to support real time pricing, payment, settlement, digital asset issuance and ledger capabilities.

Unless and until BVCI obtains the necessary regulatory approvals or unless it can rely on an exemption from the prospectus and registration requirements in furtherance of the issuance and trading of CADT, there is no assurance BVCI will be able to pursue its proposed CADT business or any related BvcPay business that relies on CADT.

Although the term "stablecoin" is commonly used, there is no guarantee that the asset will maintain a stable value in relation to the value of the reference asset if and when traded on secondary markets or that the reserve of assets will be adequate to satisfy all redemptions.

About LuminusFX Corporation: LuminusFX Corporation is a financial services company based in Toronto that provides fast, secure, and reliable financial services and consultation globally. Its primary business activities include financial services and consultation, with a service breakdown showing 60% in Crypto & Fiat, 20% in Investment, and 20% in other services. The company aims to achieve a proposal transaction volume of $50 Million Annually with a target revenue of $500,000.

About Generation IACP Inc.: Generation IACP Inc., established in 1998, is a Toronto-based independent financial services firm. It operates as a team of portfolio managers and capital partners, dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals. The firm provides discretionary managed accounts for high-net-worth individuals and institutions through its Investment Advisory services. Additionally, its Capital Partners team offers a range of financing and advisory services to corporate clients, including issuer trading services and investment banking solutions. Generation IACP is committed to investment excellence and client satisfaction, focusing on world-class alternative, equity, and income investment strategies.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the industry in which it operates to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "pursue", "proposed", "plan", "may", "would", "should", "will", the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to statements related to: the Company's business plans and strategies; and Mr. Griffin's contributions to the Company. Such statements reflect the current expectations of the management of the Company with respect to future events based on currently available information and are based on certain assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including assumptions and risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals and to carry on its proposed CADT business or any related BvcPay businesses. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time, including, without limitation, under the heading "Risk Factors", in the Company's listing statement, which is available on www.sedarplus.ca., and in other continuous disclosure documents that are filed by the Company from time to time and which are available at www.sedarplus.ca and to which readers of this news release are referred for additional information concerning the Company, its prospects and the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its prospects. New risk factors may arise from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of those risk factors or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results, performance and achievements of the Company to be materially different from those contained in forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent and investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is current only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake or assume any obligation, except as required by law, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. No securities commission or regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release nor have they approved or disapproved of the content hereof.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254427

SOURCE: Blockchain Venture Capital Inc.
TAIPEI, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The "AI with Purpose Global Summit Taipei 2025," co-hosted by Taiwan Mobile, the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), and the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA), successfully wrapped up today. The two-day summit brought together nearly 1,000 experts from industry, government, and academia, focusing on The Enabling Role and Promise of AI in Sustainability, Digital Infrastructure, and Setting a Global Stage. A highlight of the summit's conclusion was the Digital with Purpose Awards, where Taiwan Mobile's "AI Ocean" won the prestigious Biodiversity Award. Selected from over 24 global contenders, this marks the second consecutive year Taiwan Mobile has earned this international recognition, following its "MyCharge" service's Smart City Award in 2024. The win underscores Taiwan's leadership in leveraging AI for ecological conservation and sustainable practices.

Today's (June 29th) proceedings kicked off with Dr. Tzi-cker Chiueh (General Director, Delta Research Center) emphasizing smart matching for green electricity as key to sustainable AI expansion. Following him, Dr. Yi-Chin Lin (Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs) discussed establishing a global governance platform, detailing Taiwan's five core strategies for AI development: computing power, data sharing, talent, industry promotion, and capital investment.

Taiwan Mobile's award-winning "AI Ocean Project" stands out for its innovative integration of AI image recognition, generative AI chatbots, and citizen participation to create the first comprehensive marine species knowledge base in Traditional Chinese. Over 9,000 citizens have contributed more than 19,000 images, helping the AI system identify over 150 common Taiwanese marine species.

Iris Liu, VP of Sustainable Brand & PR at Taiwan Mobile and GeSI Board Member, highlighted the "AI Ocean Project" as a testament to Taiwan Mobile's commitment to the Digital with Purpose, which it has championed since 2020. "This award isn't just about technological innovation; it's about the value of using digital power for sustainable transformation," said Liu.

Luis Neves, CEO of GeSI, expressed the summit's profound significance in Taiwan, emphasizing the "AI with Purpose" philosophy: "This is not a competition to control the planet, but a shared effort to build a peaceful, sustainable future for all." He confirmed GeSI's commitment to return to Taipei next year.

Richard Lee, Chairman of TEEMA, reinforced this vision, stating, "AI must become a force for social good and environmental sustainability." He affirmed Taiwan's dedication to sustainable AI development and global collaboration.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2702880/IMG_6641.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/taiwan-mobiles-ai-ocean-project-wins-international-biodiversity-award-as-ai-with-purpose-global-summit-concludes-in-taipei-302472766.html
Evolva Holding SA / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Evolva Holding SA Takes Note of GZO Shareholder Communities' Announcementv



04-Jun-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





PRESS RELEASE | AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR



Evolva Holding SA Takes Note of GZO Shareholder Communities' Announcement

Reinach, Switzerland, 4 June 2025 - Evolva Holding SA (SIX: EVE) ("Evolva") has taken note of the public statement issued by the shareholder communities of GZO AG Spital Wetzikon ("GZO") on 3 June 2025 regarding Evolva's offer to acquire 100% of GZO's share capital as announced by Evolva on 27 May 2025.

Evolva remains confident that its proposal represents a compelling and value-preserving solution for all stakeholders. The offer eliminates the need for further municipal contributions, ensures the continued operation of the hospital, and provides a transparent and market-based path to restructuring via a listed company with access to capital markets.

Following completion of the transaction, control of Evolva would transition to GZO's current creditors - primarily Swiss pension funds and institutional investors - ensuring strong domestic oversight, governance and alignment with the long-term interests of the region.

With the offer valid until 4 July, Evolva reiterates its openness to engage in constructive dialogue with GZO, its shareholder communities, and other stakeholders, with the goal of achieving a consensual solution that protects jobs, safeguards medical care in the region, and creates long-term value.

At the same time, Evolva will continue to pursue alternative strategic options.

Documentation

Documentation outlining the details of the transaction, key rationale and restructuring proposal is available on the company website via this link .



Contact Evolva

investors@evolvaholding.com

About GZO

GZO Spital Wetzikon is a regional center of excellence with a university teaching mandate. It has 150 beds and, with around 900 employees, provides extended basic medical care for over 100,000 outpatients and around 10,000 inpatients per year, primarily from the Zurich Oberland region. In 2024, GZO generated revenue of CHF 152.5 million.



About Evolva

Evolva Holding SA is a SIX Swiss Exchange-listed company (SIX: EVE) that has been actively seeking a reverse take-over candidate since April 2024 when shareholders revoked the liquidation and delisting of the company at the AGM 2024.



Disclaimer

This announcement is not an offer of securities into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws.

This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.
TATU CITY, Kenya, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emirates Logistics, a leading supply chain and logistics provider in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, has announced its expansion into Kenya, where it will construct a state-of-the-art facility at Tatu City SEZ, Africa's leading new city, located just 30 minutes from Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The facility will support the growth of Emirates Logistics' world-renowned clients across Sub-Saharan Africa.

"We are proud to strengthen our presence in Kenya with our expansion to Tatu City, reinforcing Emirates Logistics' global footprint of comprehensive logistics capabilities," said Steven van der Vliet, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Logistics. "This new strategic facility is part of our broader commitment to offering world-class infrastructure in key growth markets. Being located at the heart of Kenya's economic engine allows us to deliver flexible, seamless, and tailor-made logistics solutions that empower both our existing and new customers to thrive."

Construction of the facility is set to begin this year, adding to Emirates Logistics' global presence spanning 15 countries and a worldwide network of agents. With over 20 years of experience in international markets, the company operates owned warehousing, offices, and transport fleets in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.

"Tatu City warmly welcomes Emirates Logistics to its new home in Kenya, where it will thrive in a conducive business environment," said George Kapanadze, Group CFO at Rendeavour, the owner and developer of Tatu City SEZ. "As a mixed-use Special Economic Zone, we specialize in attracting foreign direct investment to Kenya in an infrastructure-ready location that offers the services and amenities global investors like Emirates Logistics demand, including housing, retail, schools, parks, and recreation."

Rendeavour, Africa's largest new city builder, creates secure, predictable, and proven environments for individuals and businesses, with developments valued at over $5 billion across the continent. The company's urban developments in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo host over 200 businesses, accommodate more than 6,000 students, and encompass 10,000 mixed-income homes, either completed or under construction.

Tatu City, Rendeavour's flagship development in Kenya, welcomes 25,000 people daily, who live, work, and study within its thriving community. The city hosts over 100 businesses. Companies based at Tatu City include Heineken, Cold Solutions, CCI Global, Dormans, FullCare, Karcher, CKL, Naivas, NCBA, Grit Real Estate Income Group, Hewatele, Freight Forwarders Solutions, Tamarind Group, ADvTECH, Friendship Group, Bakels, Novis, and Davis & Shirtliff.

Firms setting up operations in the Tatu City SEZ benefit from a range of incentives, including a 10% corporate tax rate for the first 10 years and 15% for the following 10 years, compared to the standard 30%. Businesses also enjoy VAT zero-rating on goods and services and exemptions on import duty and stamp duty.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2702593/Tatu_City.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/emirates-logistics-embarks-on-kenya-expansion-at-tatu-city-sez-302472834.html
DUBAI, UAE, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Spain's Tourist Office (Turespana) to launch an exciting summer campaign aimed at showcasing the best of Spain's diverse and captivating summer experiences.

With regional interest in authentic, culture-rich and sun-drenched destinations at an all-time high, this collaboration introduces travelers from the MENA region to the full spectrum of Spanish summer experiences from legendary cities and coastal escapes to its rich gastronomy and vibrant festivals.

Travelers will discover the architectural marvels of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona, the passionate flamenco performances in Seville, the golden beaches of Costa del Sol, and the serene beauty of the Balearic Islands. Beyond the classics, the campaign also uncovers hidden gems such as sustainable tourism trails, digital nomad-friendly towns, and off-the-beaten-path culinary experiences in regions like Galicia and Basque Country.

Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: "We are excited to partner with the Spain Tourist Office (Turespana) to showcase the very best of Spain during the summer season. This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering enriching travel experiences to our users. Spain's vibrant summer charm from its culture and coastlines to its cuisine offers unforgettable moments, and we are proud to bring these to life for travelers across the MENA region."

As part of the campaign, travelers will enjoy access to exclusive itineraries, influencer-led content, and curated recommendations focused on local gastronomy, cultural heritage, and unique stays ranging from boutique hotels to traditional Spanish villas. From tapas trails in Madrid to private yacht experiences around Ibiza, every detail is designed to reflect the essence of Spanish hospitality.

Carlos Ruiz Gonzalez, Director of Spain's Tourist Office (Turespana) for the GCC, added: "Summer in Spain is a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and cultural immersion. Through our partnership with Wego, we are excited to showcase the very best of what Spain has to offer to travelers from the Middle East. With Wego's extensive reach and expertise, we are confident that more travelers will discover not only sun-soaked escapes and luxurious getaways but also a profound connection with Spain's rich heritage, making every journey unforgettable."

The initiative also sheds light on Spain's ongoing innovations in tourism, including eco-friendly travel routes, inclusive travel experiences, and digital travel services that ensure smooth and enriching journeys. Whether you're savoring paella in Valencia or walking the ancient streets of Granada, the campaign promises to deliver a dynamic view of a country where every moment tells a story.

As global travel continues to surge, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to making Spain a top choice for summer adventures and meaningful exploration.

About Wego

Wego is the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

It provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

The company was founded in 2005 and is dual headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Riyadh, Cairo, Lahore, and Kuala Lumpur.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2699117/Wego_Spain_Tourism.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wego-and-spain-tourist-office-turespana-partner-to-highlight-the-best-of-spanish-summer-experiences-for-mena-travelers-302468458.html
Simplified storage and administration of new tablet formulation may provide greater freedom and independence for people with SMA

Evrysdi offers the same efficacy and safety demonstrated in available oral solution

Evrysdi is the only non-invasive disease-modifying SMA treatment, with more than 18,000 people with SMA treated globally to date

Basel, 04 June 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the European Commission (EC) has approved a label extension for Evrysdi (risdiplam) to include a new, room-temperature stable tablet for people living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The 5mg tablet (approx. 6.5mm), which can either be swallowed whole or dispersed in water, can be taken with or without food and does not require refrigeration, when stored at room temperature. Administered at home, Evrysdi is the only non-invasive disease modifying treatment available for people living with SMA.

"The new Evrysdi tablet with its flexible administration represents progress toward more versatile SMA disease management," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development, Roche. "With over 18,000 people treated to date, Evrysdi's proven efficacy, safety and convenience has significantly improved the course of disease for people living with SMA."

Evrysdi is designed to treat SMA by increasing and sustaining the production of SMN protein throughout the entire central nervous system (CNS) and in peripheral tissues. Together with this innovative mode of action, the new tablet formulation offers additional portability and convenience benefits for the thousands of people living with SMA, their families and caregivers.

"We welcome the development of new treatment formulations that have the potential to further simplify disease management and care for people living with SMA," Nicole Gusset, Chief Executive Officer, SMA Europe commented. "This is a disease requiring daily management, and it is paramount that people living with SMA, and those who care for them, are given options to optimise treatment administration."

The approval is based on data from a bioequivalence study) evaluating the 5mg tablet formulation of Evrysdi, which can either be swallowed whole or dispersed in water. Results presented at SMA Europe's 4th Scientific International Congress in 2024 demonstrated that the tablet formulation and original oral solution provided bioequivalence to Evrysdi, meaning individuals taking the tablet can expect the same established efficacy and safety as the oral solution.

The 5mg tablet formulation is suitable for people two years of age or older, who weigh 20kg (44 lbs) or more and are able to swallow without the use of a feeding tube. The original oral solution will remain available for those on other doses of Evrysdi and for those who may prefer the oral solution.

Roche leads the clinical development of Evrysdi as part of a collaboration with the SMA Foundation and PTC Therapeutics.

About Evrysdi (risdiplam)

Evrysdi is a survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) splicing modifier designed to treat SMA caused by mutations in chromosome 5q that lead to survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency. Evrysdi is administered daily at home or on the go, either in liquid form (by feeding tube or by mouth) or in the form of a tablet, which can either be swallowed whole or dispersed in water.

Evrysdi is designed to treat SMA by increasing and sustaining the production of SMN protein in the CNS and peripheral tissues. SMN protein is found throughout the body and is critical for maintaining healthy motor neurons and core functions.

Evrysdi was granted PRIME designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2018 and Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017. In 2021, Evrysdi was awarded Drug Discovery of the Year by the British Pharmacological Society as well as the Society for Medicines Research Award for Drug Discovery. Evrysdi is currently approved in more than 100 countries, with more than 18,000 people with SMA treated globally.

Evrysdi is currently being, or has been, evaluated in numerous global multicenter trials in people with SMA:

FIREFISH (NCT02913482) - an open-label, two-part pivotal clinical trial in infants with Type 1 SMA. Infants were approximately 5.5 months of age (median) at the time of enrollment and of the 58 infants that completed the first year of treatment, 52 entered the open-label extension study. The study met its primary endpoint and has concluded after 5 years of follow up.

SUNFISH (NCT02908685) - a two-part, double-blind, placebo-controlled pivotal study in people aged 2-25 years with Types 2 or 3 SMA. The study met its primary endpoint and has concluded after five years of follow up.

JEWELFISH (NCT03032172) - an open-label exploratory trial designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in people with SMA aged 6 months to 60 years who received other investigational or approved SMA therapies prior to receiving Evrysdi. The study has completed recruitment (n=174).

RAINBOWFISH (NCT03779334) - an open-label, single-arm, multicenter study, investigating the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of Evrysdi in babies (n=26), from birth to 6 weeks of age (at first dose) with genetically diagnosed SMA who are not yet presenting with symptoms. The study met its primary endpoint.

MANATEE (NCT05115110) - a Phase II/III clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GYM329 (RG6237), an anti-myostatin molecule targeting muscle growth, in combination with Evrysdi for the treatment of SMA in patients 2-10 years of age. The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development granted GYM329 Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of patients with SMA in December 2021. The study is currently recruiting.

HINALEA 1 (NCT05861986) and HINALEA 2 (NCT05861999) - Phase IV clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Evrysdi in patients under 2 years of age at enrollment, who received onasemnogene abeparvovec gene therapy either pre-symptomatically or post-symptomatically, following a genetically confirmed diagnosis of 5q-autosomal recessive SMA. The studies are currently recruiting.

PUPFISH (NCT05808764) - a Phase II, open-label study to investigate the pharmacokinetics and safety of Evrysdi in babies with SMA who are under 20 days of age (at first dose). The study is currently recruiting.

About SMA

SMA is a severe, progressive neuromuscular disease that can be fatal. It affects approximately one in 10,000 babies and is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA is caused by a mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, which leads to a deficiency of SMN protein. This protein is found throughout the body and is essential to the function of nerves that control muscles and movement. Without it, nerve cells cannot function correctly, leading to muscle weakness over time. Depending on the type of SMA, an individual's physical strength and their ability to walk, eat or breathe can be significantly diminished or lost.

About Roche in Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a major focus of research and development at Roche. Our goal is to pursue groundbreaking science to develop new treatments that help improve the lives of people with chronic and potentially devastating diseases.

Roche is investigating more than a dozen medicines for neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Together with our partners, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding to solve some of the most difficult challenges in neuroscience today.

About Roche

Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice.

For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roche's business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

Roche Global Media Relations

Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com

Hans Trees, PhD

Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech

Phone: +41 79 935 81 48



Nathalie Altermatt

Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas

Phone: +41 79 568 24 95



Simon Goldsborough

Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine

Phone: +41 79 461 86 83



Nina Mahlitz

Phone: +41 79 327 54 74 Kirti Pandey

Phone: +49 172 6367262



Yvette Petillon

Phone: +41 79 961 92 50 Dr Rebekka Schnell

Phone: +41 79 205 27 03

Attachment
Extended range means much earlier interception of intruders and significant cost savings for border security forces as fewer radars are needed

Blighter's new export-friendly B422LR surveillance system, with its 'person at 15km' detection range, can monitor three times the area compared with a radar with a 'person at 8km' range

Blighter's B422LR integrates with the BlighterNexus AI-assisted Hub to ease integration of the remote radars with command and control (C2) systems to provide border authorities with a common operating picture (COP)

CAMBRIDGE, England, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blighter (www.blighter.com), a pioneering designer and manufacturer of electronic-scanning ground movement radars, has unveiled its longest-range smart border surveillance radar system which can detect a person 15km or 9.3 miles away with just 4 Watts of power - that's the same as what is needed to power a mobile phone or a modern LED light bulb.

According to Blighter, this extended range means earlier interception of intruders and significant cost savings for border security operators. With its 'person at 15km' detection range, the Blighter B422LR (long-range) border surveillance system can now monitor an area of 707km compared with 201km for a radar with a 'person at 8km' range.

Blighter's export-friendly B422LR border surveillance system provides up to 360-degrees of pure electronic scanning coverage with no mechanical rotation using static, low power, solid-state transmitters. This low power, low bandwidth system can be operated using solar panels and has no need for additional forced air cooling making it ideal for remote operation along national borders.

Mark Radford, co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) at Blighter, says, "This new ultra-reliable long-range e-scan radar enhances our leadership position in the global border surveillance market. Our radar's ability to detect a person 15km away, or a crawler 6.4km away, in all weathers and in complex terrains, and with just 4 Watts of transmission power, makes the case for adopting our solution even more compelling.

"As our recent record order book shows, governments and border forces are increasingly adopting our e-scan radars as the primary detection sensors for their long-range remote surveillance systems. With the extended range, customers will not only be able to detect and intercept targets earlier but with larger area covered by each radar system, the number of radars and towers and the supporting infrastructure will be reduced."

Blighter's B422LR border surveillance radar system uses frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) transmission technology, combined with sensitive micro-Doppler target detection. This means the radar has a small communications bandwidth requirement and therefore needs only a fraction of the transmitter power used by traditional security radar systems and dramatically less than classic radar systems.

"Our radar's low size, weight and power (SWaP) profile coupled with the extended range is a huge benefit to border authorities," adds Mark Radford. "But it is also vital that the radars are easy to integrate with our customers' command and control (C2) systems. We achieve this using our BlighterNexus AI-assisted Hub."

Blighter's B422LR works with BlighterNexus to ease integration of the remote radars with command and control (C2) systems to provide border authorities with a common operating picture (COP), a real-time, unified view of the border environment. BlighterNexus also optimises target detection capabilities while reducing training and operational costs as the AI-assisted software automates setup, configuration and adjustment of multiple radars to deliver optimum performance even in changing weather conditions.

Blighter's radar products are export-friendly and not subject to U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) neither are they governed by the European Union's dual-use export control regulations. Mark Radford says, "Our ITAR-free status and the licensing of our products for commercial and military applications give us a strategic advantage in the global border security market, making us easy to do business with while reducing considerably the licensing requirements for our customers when buying and deploying our technology."

For more information about the Blighter B422LR border surveillance radar, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email hello@blighter.com.

Media Photos:

https://www.blighter.com/wp-content/uploads/b422-lr-border-surveillance-system.jpg

https://www.blighter.com/wp-content/uploads/Blighter-B400-Series-Smart-Radar-for-Border-Surveillance-scaled.jpg

https://www.blighter.com/wp-content/uploads/Blighter-B400-smart-radar-for-border-surveillance-scaled.jpg

Photo caption:

The Blighter B422 long-range smart border surveillance e-scan radar system can detect a person 15km or 9.3 miles away with just 4 Watts of power.

Datasheet:

blighter-b422-lr-border-surveillance-system-datasheet-1.pdf

About Blighter (www.blighter.com)

Blighter, Cambridge UK, is a pioneering designer and manufacturer of ground-based electronic-scanning radars for surveillance of moving objects on the ground, along coastlines and in the air. Blighter radars use patented ultra-reliable, low SWaP - size, weight, and power (4 Watts) - electronic-scanning antenna technology and advanced AI (artificial intelligence) assisted software to detect, track and classify small and slow-moving threats in complex environments. Blighter radars are also used as part of short-range air defence (SHORAD) systems to detect drones and FPVs (first person view). Blighter radars are trusted by the UK Ministry of Defence for forward operating base (FOB) protection, the South Korean Army for border surveillance along the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), by the United States Air Force for drone detection, and the UK's major airports for perimeter protection.

Blighter's commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product portfolio includes ITAR-free 2D, 3D and 4D radars and a range of software applications to simplify the integration, configuration, control and viewing of multiple networked radars. Pattern of life analysis is used to enhance situational analysis and the speed and efficiency of threat detection. Blighter radars feature Low-Probability-of-Intercept (LPI) waveforms and are designed for rugged operation at fixed and mobile locations and on the move. Blighter supports the local assembly of certain products to enable indigenous manufacture and works in partnership with international systems integrators to create layered multi-sensor surveillance systems for asset and area protection. Blighter is located in Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, UK.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/blighters-new-long-range-border-surveillance-radar-detects-a-person-at-15km-with-just-4-watts-of-power-302472242.html
Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie.



Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht.



In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



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ESW Enhances and Localizes the Checkout Experience for Italian-Based Luxury Retailer

Julian Fashion, the Italian-based multi-brand luxury retailer with physical and online channels, today announced its partnership with worldwide ecommerce leader ESW to accelerate global expansion as well as to optimize and localize its checkout experience. Julian Fashion operates 8 physical retail locations in Italy. Through the partnership Julian will leverage ESW's end-to-end solutions including checkout, logistics, and fulfillment, as well as duty and tax management in additional markets, including Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"Our strategic partnership with ESW allows us to reinforce our global presence across multiple markets with minimal operational effort or added cost," said Giulia Tondini, Chief Commercial Officer, Julian Fashion. "ESW's solution also improves conversion overall by providing our shoppers with a better and more customer-friendly checkout experience."

ESW reduces the complexities involved in cross-border commerce and its international expertise gives retailers a powerful ally to quickly scale operations across multiple and diverse markets-typically in a matter of weeks. Julian Fashion will have access to ESW's retailer and customer service portals, allowing the brand to manage and modify orders independently and improve the post-purchase experience for shoppers.

"Julian Fashion has a clear vision for international growth and ESW's tailored solutions cater to their very specific needs," said Eric Petitfils, VP of Client Success of ESW. "Julian Fashions places a high value on providing a localized customer experience, and through this partnership, we're not only enhancing the customer journey but also driving improved conversion rates."

About Julian Fashion

Founded in 1959, Julian has gradually established its position of prominence thanks to the tireless efforts of Sabina Zabberoni, who, heir to the founder Giuliano, has transformed the company into a renowned multi-brand reality. Currently, it boasts as many as eight multi-brand boutiques distributed in Emilia-Romagna and the Republic of San Marino, characterized by a sharp and well-defined image that fully reflects the aesthetics and service offered. In addition, the company makes use of a highly relevant and customer centric e-commerce, which enables online sales both nationally and internationally. From its opening in 2014 to the present, e-commerce has grown exponentially. Today, the entire process related to e-commerce is totally internalized: creativity, art direction, shooting, garment description and customer care are all activities that are carried out internally.

In terms of values, since its founding, Julian Fashion has embraced a corporate culture that places great emphasis on quality, carefully selecting the brands and partners with which it collaborates. This commitment is also reflected in the people who are part of the company, which currently has 125 employees, 70 percent of whom are women. In addition, the company is distinguished by its ability to adopt innovative approaches to transcend national borders.

All these activities are carried out with full respect for the needs and expectations of different local cultures, with an ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and inclusiveness.

About ESW

ESW makes worldwide ecommerce powerful and simple. We offer the world's best-loved brands solutions that reduce cross-border complexity and create moments that matter between them and their shoppers. We focus on localizing the online shopping experience to increase conversions and loyalty while also taking on the complications of doing business in international markets. We do it through frictionless checkouts, fast, reliable shipping and returns and by reducing compliance and regulatory risk. All while coming alongside our clients with market insights and strategies designed for long-term growth and profitability. ESW is the only cross-border commerce solution that is MACH certified.

With offices in New York, Dublin, Madrid and Singapore, ESW helps the world's premier and most ambitious brands achieve growth and profitability in more than 200 global markets. That's worldwide ecommerce made powerful, made simple.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604479851/en/

Contacts:

Media

For Julian Fashion

Alice Montanari

alice.montanari@julian-fashion.com



For ESW

Berns Communications Group

Danielle Poggi

dpoggi@bcg-pr.com
The British Council has established itself as a key facilitator of international educational improvement by supporting Action Research as a platform that has delivered tangible progress in schools worldwide.

Innovative educator-led research projects have improved teaching and learning in countries such as Pakistan, Egypt and Colombia, delivering measurable results in schools.

An AI-based maths project enhanced students' understanding and performance. 80% reported that using digital platforms strengthened their problem-solving skills through active learning and critical thinking.

LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Through the Action Research programme, the British Council supports educational improvement worldwide. As the UK's organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, it plays a key role in facilitating global progress in education.

This initiative not only provides educators with funding, mentoring, and resources to implement research findings directly in their classrooms but also fosters the exchange of best practices among schools and teaching communities. Its impact cascades through local forums and Partner School events, reaching school leaders, teachers, and ultimately students. The programme has already resulted in tangible improvements in participating schools and underscores the British Council's commitment to evidence-based, forward-looking education.

The British Council Partner Schools' Action Research programme supported twelve researchers from nine countries-Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Peru, and Colombia-on projects focused on leadership, continuous professional development (CPD), and technology, addressing shared global challenges in education.

The projects revealed key insights into technology, teacher development, and leadership as drivers of educational improvement. Many focused on digital learning, AI, and online platforms, reflecting a keen global interest in technology to support education. In Colombia, 80% of students reported that digital tools improved their skills, especially in problem-solving and critical thinking. Research on CPD shows that group reflection on individually completed training leads to greater gains in teaching quality and student outcomes than isolated professional development.

Leadership was also key: in Pakistan, one of the four projects, empowered female students through academic achievement, extracurricular engagement, and leadership roles that challenge gender norms and drive community change. Across all projects, inclusive participation-from students to families and school leaders-proved essential to identifying needs and co-creating effective, lasting solutions.

"Twelve educators, empowered by the British Council, turned research into real-world impact-driving change in their schools and inspiring progress across the global education community," explains Thomas Evans, Education Support Manager for British Council Partner Schools.

The new publication Action Research for Schools: Global Stories of School Improvement presents these findings and practical solutions to help schools worldwide address similar challenges.

Building on its success, the British Council has launched the second year of the programme, awarding grants to thirteen new researchers. Visit our website to learn more.

About British Council Partner Schools

British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people.

Contact

mggarcia@atrevia.com | +34 667 632 738

jcascante@atrevia.com| +34 673 339 815

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3e31f50-1c32-4c26-99ee-f2d6c19bf502

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b029dc9-8a29-473b-8b13-7893e980b7d9
Bitwise Accelerates European Expansion with Addition of Melissa De Sanctis and Fabio Massellani

De Sanctis joins the marketing team as Product Marketing Manager, while Massellani joins the sales team as Senior Regional Consultant - Southern Europe

June 4, 2025, Bitwise , a leading global digital asset management firm, announces the addition of two new professionals to its team: Melissa De Sanctis as Product Marketing Manager and Fabio Massellani as Senior Regional Consultant - Southern Europe.

Melissa De Sanctis brings over 20 years of experience in the financial sector, including 17 years at Borsa Italiana. She has held roles such as Business Development Manager for retail investors and later served as Senior Marketing Manager, leading commercial and marketing activities for the group's secondary markets. She oversaw the development and launch of new instruments for IDEM, the derivatives segment of Borsa Italiana. Most recently, she was Head of Marketing and Communication at Spectrum Markets, a pan-European regulated venue for trading securitized derivatives.

In her new role at Bitwise, Melissa - based in Milan - joins the marketing team led by Maximilian Monteleone, Head of Marketing for Europe at Bitwise. While based in Italy, her strategic focus will also support the Spanish market.

Fabio Massellani developed his career at BPER Banca Group, where he held various roles with increasing responsibility. He worked as a fund selector and equity strategist at Optima SIM, with a specific focus on passive and indexed strategies. In recent years, he served as Sales Associate at HANetf, contributing to business development and product positioning - including in Spain.

At Bitwise, Fabio joins the sales team and reports directly to Bradley Duke, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Bitwise. He will support the company's growth across Southern Europe, with a particular focus on Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

These additions strengthen Bitwise's presence in the region, following the recent appointment of Flavio Rossetti as Regional Consultant for Southern Europe, and are part of a broader European expansion plan initiated in August 2024 with the acquisition of ETC Group.

Bradley Duke, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Bitwise, commented:"We're excited to welcome Melissa and Fabio to Bitwise. As institutional and professional investors increasingly recognize the potential of digital assets to enhance portfolio performance, our role is to be a trusted partner in that journey. Southern Europe - including Spain - is a key market for us, and the addition of Melissa and Fabio, with their deep expertise and local insight, will help us serve investors even better."

Melissa De Sanctis said:"I'm thrilled to join an innovative and forward-thinking firm like Bitwise. The crypto sector is evolving rapidly, and I strongly believe that providing secure, regulated instruments like ETPs is essential to making this space more accessible. It's a real opportunity to engage more institutional and retail participants in the world of digital assets and blockchain technology."

Fabio Massellani added:"I'm delighted to join a dynamic and fast-growing company like Bitwise. I look forward to applying my experience in the Southern European market to support our company's mission. I'm confident my contribution will help strengthen Bitwise's footprint and support its commitment to innovation in the fast-moving world of crypto investing."

About Bitwise

Bitwise is one of the world's leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence, managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies - spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, for the past five years Bitwise (formerly ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europe's most traded bitcoin ETP, or the first diversified Crypto Basket ETP replicating an MSCI digital assets index.

This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and issued under a base prospectus approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe. Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com/eu



Media contacts:



JEA Associates

John McLeod

00 44 7886 920436

john@jeaassociates.com

Important information

This press release does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This press release is issued by Bitwise Europe GmbH ("BEU"), a limited company domiciled in Germany, for information only and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BEU gives no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.

Before investing in crypto Exchange Traded Products ("ETPs"), potential investors should consider the following:

Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors. ETPs issued by BEU are suitable only for persons experienced in investing in cryptocurrencies and risks of investing can be found in the prospectus and final terms available on www.bitwiseinvestments.com./eu. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. ETPs backed by cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and performance is unpredictable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The market price of ETPs will vary and they do not offer a fixed income or match precisely the performance of the underlying cryptocurrency. Investing in ETPs involves numerous risks including general market risks relating to underlying, adverse price movements, currency, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks.
A Scalable, API-First Email QA & Accessibility Solution to Power Martech and Enterprise Compliance Ahead of the EAA

STOCKHOLM, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinch (Sinch AB (publ)) (XSTO: SINCH), which is pioneering the way the world communicates through its Customer Communications Cloud, today announced the launch of Mailgun Inspect, a powerful new API-first solution that empowers Martech and Enterprise platforms to embed robust email testing and quality assurance tools directly into their products as a white-label offering.

For global Martech platforms, Mailgun Inspect offers a powerful, white-label-ready solution that can be deeply embedded into their own products, enabling them to deliver robust email testing capabilities under their own brand, at global scale. For enterprise teams, it provides an intuitive, high-performance toolset to catch rendering issues, ensure accessibility, and optimize inbox experiences, all backed by Mailgun's reliability, performance, and developer-first design.

"We built Mailgun Inspect for the platforms powering modern marketing," said Daniel Morris, Senior Vice President of Product at Sinch. "By embedding proven email QA tools through flexible APIs, Martech and Enterprise providers can offer their customers built-in, branded tools that speed up review cycles, improve deliverability, and ensure accessibility, without reinventing the wheel."

Built for integration, scale, and performance, Mailgun Inspect brings the trusted capabilities of Sinch Email on Acid into Mailgun's infrastructure, delivering enterprise-grade reliability with developer-first experience. Mailgun Inspect offers advanced features including:

Over 100+ client rendering previews, including dark mode and mobile clients

Accessibility testing aligned with WCAG 2.2 and EAA standards

Content validation (image and link checks) helping detect issues before impacting customer experience

White-label APIs and sub user management

Usage-based pricing-eliminating restrictive user-seat models

The launch comes ahead of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which takes effect in June of 2025, setting new standards for inclusive digital communication. Mailgun Inspect helps organizations meet these requirements by offering integrated accessibility testing and actionable guidance to create compliance-ready workflows.

"Email quality today is about more than design, its about trust, accessibility, and performance," Morris added. With Mailgun Inspect, we're making it easier for platforms and teams to deliver exceptional experiences while staying ahead of changing regulatory demands."

With Mailgun Inspect, Sinch continues to lead the charge in email innovation by expanding its portfolio of developer-friendly, enterprise-ready tools, empowering brands and platforms to deliver high-performing, compliant, and accessible email experiences that strengthen customer connections.

Learn more at www.sinch.com

For more information please contact:

Janet Lennon, Director of Global PR & Communications

janet.lennon@sinch.com |1.206.914.6175

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/sinch-ab/r/sinch-unveils-mailgun-inspect,c4158772

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Triumph Gold Corp. (TSXV: TIG) (OTC Pink: TIGCF) (FSE: 8N6) ("Triumph Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Coyote Knoll Silver (Ag) - Gold (Au) Property, located in central Utah, approximately 40 km southwest of the prolific Tintic Mining District (Figure 1).

Triumph Gold has entered into an agreement to purchase the Coyote Knoll Silver-Gold property for the sum of $150,000USD and the issuance of one million common shares of the Company. Prior to one year from the date of purchase, one million common shares shall be issued to the seller; prior to two years from the date of purchase one million common shares will be issued; prior to three years from the date of purchase one million common shares shall be issued to the seller. Before four years from the date of purchase a three million dollar payment in cash or shares will be made to the seller.

Highlights:

Approximately 2,600 metres of RC drilling have been completed, highlighted by 1,350.36 g/t Ag and 3.86 g/t Au over 3.00 metres in ATC-C6 (Table 1 & 2 and Figure 2) NI 43-101 Disclosure 1 .

have been completed, highlighted by and over in ATC-C6 (Table 1 & 2 and Figure 2) . Historical rock samples returned silver and gold values, up to 6,730.00 g/t Ag and 23.30 g/t Au (Table 2) NI 43-101 Disclosure 2 .

returned silver and gold values, up to and (Table 2) . Two east-west parallel veins were identified through reverse circulation (RC) drilling and exposed during mining.

were identified through reverse circulation (RC) drilling and exposed during mining. Recent surface sampling confirmed silver and gold mineralization, with grab samples returning up to 795 g/t Ag and 1.58 g/t Au (Table 4) NI 43-101 Disclosure 2 .

and (Table 4) . In 2012, a 12-ton representative bulk sample returned an average grade of 43.60 oz/ton silver and 0.13 oz/ton gold NI 43-101 Disclosure 3 .

returned an average grade of and . In 1998 Phoenix Gold Resources shipped Coyote Knoll ore to Clifton Mining's mill at Gold Hill where a 1,000 ounces of silver dore was produced NI 43-101 Disclosure 4 .

. A second mineralized structure, trending northwest-southeast, has been identified through surface sampling and RC drilling.

John Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Triumph Gold, stated:

"The Coyote Knoll acquisition represents an exciting addition to our portfolio. Located in a mining-friendly and historically significant region, the property demonstrates high-grade silver mineralization and favorable geological features, similar to those found in the Tintic Mining District. With the confirmation of epithermal silver-gold mineralization and the potential for further discovery, we look forward to advancing exploration at Coyote Knoll."

Figure 1. Coyote Knoll property location map.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 2. Coyote Knoll drill and sample highlights.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Location and Geological Overview:

Coyote Knoll is located in central Utah, approximately 85 km south of Bingham Canyon Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry deposit and 40 km southwest of the city of Eureka. Eureka is historically associated with the Tintic Mining District, which has been a major producer of gold, silver, lead, and zinc from both epithermal and Carbonate Replacement Deposits (CRD). The Tintic District is known for its productive mining history and the potential for undiscovered porphyry systems.

Coyote Knoll was discovered in 1988, with subsequent exploration activities including mapping, trenching, rock sampling, and induced polarization and magnetic geophysical surveys. Follow-up work also included near-surface Reverse Circulation RC-drilling, totaling 2,606.96 metres across 33 drill holes. Highlights from historical drilling are summarized in Table 1 & 2, and surface samples are highlighted in Table 3. A 12-ton representative bulk sample was also mined from a shallow open pit, centered over the east-west (70) trending mineralized structure. Silver and gold epithermal mineralization was exposed over approximately 60 metres within the open pit and has been delineated for 1.5 km through surface trenching, sampling, and shallow RC drilling (Figure 2).

Table 1. Historic RC drilling composite highlights

Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ag g/t Au g/t AT1-C6 54.10 57.10 3.00 1350.36 3.86 CK-10 68.60 74.70 6.10 114.84 0.12 AT1-C5 49.80 54.30 4.50 99.37 0.40 CK-1 27.40 32.00 4.60 68.89 0.09 CK-10 51.80 54.90 3.10 67.81 0.38 CK-10 61.00 64.00 3.00 38.50 0.08 CK-2 36.60 39.60 3.00 60.00 0.18 CK-2 53.30 57.90 4.60 39.04 0.09 CK-15 21.30 24.40 3.10 40.39 0.07

NI 43-101 Disclosure 1.

*Composites grades were calculated using Datashed software with >25 g/t Ag cutoff and <1.0m of internal dilution.

Table 2. Historical drill attributes for Table 1 highlights.

Hole-ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Depth (m) Azimuth Dip AT1-C5 367,889 4,408,432 1,622 76 - -90 AT1-C6 367,897 4,408,436 1,621 75 - -90 CK-1 367,904 4,408,411 1,613 80 170 -60 CK-2 367,910 4,408,421 1,616 87 - -90 CK-10 367,951 4,408,442 1,624 110 - -90

NI 43-101 Disclosure 1.

Two additional historical drill holes (CK-141. and CK-232.) have previously been reported to contain high gold values and are in proximity to the open pit. CK-14 has an intercept of 8.19g/t Au and 1,060g/t Ag over 1.52 m from 9.14 m downhole. CK-23 has an intercept of 2g/t Au and 814g/t Ag over 1.52 m from 45.72 m downhole.

Freeport-McMoRan Gold Company, 1989-1990; Reverse Circulation Drill Hole CK-14; from NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Coyote Mine Project Juab County, Utah, USA, Arthur J. Mendenhall. Freeport-McMoRan Gold Company, 1989-1990; Reverse Circulation Drill Hole CK-23; from NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Coyote Mine Project Juab County, Utah, USA, Arthur J. Mendenhall.

Table 3. Historic rock sample highlights

Sample-ID Easting Northing Ag g/t Au g/t CK-5 367,870 4,408,430 6730.00 23.30 54359 367,924 4,408,270 6687.08 26.37 CK-6 367,870 4,408,430 6490.00 13.10 CKRX-0001 367,928 4,408,377 5570.00 12.25 CK-3 367,870 4,408,430 2270.00 9.63 48396 367,884 4,408,389 1673.83 7.30 48395 367,933 4,408,423 1638.86 0.51 48382 367,927 4,408,360 1086.86 6.03 CK-4 367,870 4,408,430 979.00 14.05 48380 367,911 4,408,333 600.69 1.03 54354 367,858 4,408,379 370.97 0.31 56251 367,411 4,408,309 172.00 173.14 CKRX-0027 368,645 4,408,585 3.38 0.02

NI 43-101 Disclosure 2.

While Coyote Knoll is approximately 40 km southwest of the Tintic District the geological setting at Coyote Knoll exhibits similarities to the Tintic Mining District. Where precious metal epithermal veins at the Trixie Mine are formed within faulted quartzites and the Burgin and Tintic Standard mines are hosted in carbonate-rich stratigraphy forming CRD. During the March site visit, the Company also toured the high-grade Trixie Gold Mine to gain further insight into the regional geological setting of the Tintic Mining District. At Coyote Knoll, epithermal mineralization is located along the margin a large volcanic caldera hosting a granitic center. Veining crosscuts quartzite, carbonate-rich stratigraphy and volcanic flows. This provides an encouraging framework for the exploration of both epithermal veins and potential carbonate replacement mineralization at Coyote Knoll.

Fieldwork conducted during a March 2025 site visit confirmed the presence of epithermal-style mineralization with key geological features including:

Silica-flooded pebble clastic fault breccia ( pebble dyke ), jasperoid , and chalcedony vein infill hosted within faulted quartzite.

), , and vein infill hosted within faulted quartzite. Mineralization consisted of native silver and silver sulphide "sulfosalt" minerals.

and minerals. Secondary northwest-trending epithermal veining represented by quartz-carbonate and jasperoid infill. This trend contains anomalous silver and elevated pathfinder elements such as arsenic (As), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and zinc (Zn) (Table 4).

Table 4. Coyote Knoll grab sample results (March 2025 site visit)

Sample-ID Easting Northing Ag

g/t Au

g/t As

ppm Cu

ppm Pb

ppm Sb

ppm Zn

ppm A001051 367,537 4,408,331 1.23 <0.05 25.40 8.90 11.80 0.85 4.00 A001052 367,905 4,408,383 0.22 <0.05 364.00 9.60 4.50 2.27 47.00 A001053 367,874 4,408,395 0.31 <0.05 207.00 21.50 11.50 2.61 147.00 A001054 367,839 4,408,395 795.00 1.58 61.40 68.40 177.50 67.60 24.00 A001055 367,787 4,408,386 20.70 0.06 431.00 45.30 31.70 7.98 122.00 A001056 368,438 4,408,853 1.23 <0.05 29.70 6.60 9.60 2.85 8.00 A001057 368,424 4,408,894 0.25 <0.05 11.40 19.40 1.80 0.31 12.00 A001061 367,891 4,408,372 1.86 <0.05 381.00 82.80 38.70 19.65 36.00 A001062 367,898 4,408,367 1.87 <0.05 66.30 27.40 22.40 1.00 7.00

NI 43-101 Disclosure 2.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Triumph Gold's Principal Geologist Marty Henning, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"). He verified the data collected during the March 2025 site visit, including sampling, analytical and test data, and the underlying technical information in this news release.

The historical data presented in this release has not been verified for accuracy and reliability with the use of current quality assurance, quality control, or chain of custody standards current with NI 43-101 best practices. See the following disclaimers for additional details.

The Company has not done sufficient work to classify the historical drilling information as current to NI 43-101 and is not treating the historical drilling disclosure as a current mineral estimate. Historical drilling database has not been verified for accuracy or quality. The reported historical values in this release require verification through additional exploration drilling, twinned holes will be used to verify style, grade and widths of mineralization. Grab samples are from select surface material and may not represent true underlying mineralization and drilling is required to confirm mineralization width and grade continuity below surface. Additional sampling is required to verify historical rock sample database. The 12-ton bulk sample reported in 2012 has not been verified for accuracy or quality control and therefore the reported tonnage and grades are not considered a 43-101 mineral resource estimate or a pre-feasibility study. Additional exploration drilling and metallurgical studies are required to verify tonnage and concentrations of silver and gold contained beneath the mined-out area. The bulk sample values are provided to illustrate the presence of surface mineralization. The 1,000 ounces of silver dore, produced in 1998 reported by Phoenix Gold Resources has not been verified. This information is not considered a mineral resource estimate as there were no reported head grades or tonnage provided. Additional drilling and metallurgical studies are required to verify width, strike and plunge of the surface mineralization reported from the open pit operation at Coyote Knoll. This bulk sample information is provided to illustrate the presence of surface mineralization.

Rock samples collected during the site were located using a handheld GPS, material was sealed in heavy poly ore sample bags with a representative sample retained for future inspection. Samples were placed into a 5-gal pail and shipped to ALS Vancouver for analyses. Samples were crushed, split and pulverized using PREP-31 specifications and analyses was completed using ME-GRA22 for Ag and Au as well as ME-MS41 for a multielement output utilizing an aqua regia digest, over limit elements (Ag, Cu and Pb) were analyzed using OG46.

About Triumph Gold Corp.

Triumph Gold is a Canadian based, growth-oriented exploration and development company with a district scale land package in mining friendly Yukon. Led by an experienced management and technical team, The Company is focused on actively advancing their flagship Freegold Mountain Project using multidiscipline exploration and evaluation techniques. The Company acknowledges the Freegold Mountain, Tad Toro and Big Creek properties are situated within the traditional territory of the Little Salmon Carmack and Selkirk Nations. Triumph Gold is committed to ongoing engagement with local communities through communication, environmental stewardship, and local employment.

The road-accessible Freegold Mountain Project, located in the Dawson Range Au-Cu Belt, is host to three NI 43-101 Mineral Deposits (Nucleus, Revenue, and Tinta Hill). The Project is 200 square kilometers and covers an extensive section of the Big Creek Fault Zone, a structure directly related to epithermal gold and silver mineralization as well as gold-rich porphyry copper mineralization.

The Company owns 100% of the Big Creek and Tad/Toro gold-silver-copper properties situated along strike of the Freegold Mountain Project within the Dawson Range.

The Company also owns 100% of the Andalusite Peak copper-gold property, situated 36 km southeast of Dease Lake within the Stikine Range in British Columbia. The Company acknowledges the Andalusite Peak property project is situated within the traditional territory of the Tahltan Nation. Triumph Gold is committed to ongoing engagement with local communities through communication, environmental stewardship, and local employment.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Signed "John Anderson"

John Anderson, Executive Chairman

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities - that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR+ (see www.sedarplus.ca). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254408

SOURCE: Triumph Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Provenance Gold Corp. (CSE: PAU) (OTCQB: PVGDF) (the "Company" or "Provenance") is pleased to provide an update from recent field work completed at Eldorado East where the Company recently staked 285 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mineral claims covering 4330.85 acres (17.53 km2) known as Eldorado East, approximately 5 km east of the core Eldorado property.

Eldorado East Highlights

Provenance's geologists verified that the host rock for the historical high-grade deposits at Sunday Hill is a mixture of the highly altered and fractured Burnt River Schist black shale and diorite similar to that seen mineralized at Eldorado West (Figures 1-3).

13 initial samples were collected at several locations along the Sunday Hill ridge where mineralization was evident. These samples included 3-meter-long stretches of surface material and selected rock samples to begin to determine the gold content of different types of altered rock. Results will be announced when received.

Black carbonaceous shale likely triggered rapid precipitation of the gold from thermal solutions emanating from the large body of diorite centered a short distance to the north. The thermal solutions would have used the abundantly fractured contact area between the black shale and the diorite as a very favorable "dumping" area to deposit the precipitated gold in high-grade deposits. As a result, the unexplored contact area between the diorite and black shale at Eldorado West will continue to focus future work.

Company geologists confirmed historical lode prospects and mines dot the newly staked landscape, and that the valley bottom and many upland areas in the Mormon Basin have been placer mined, and re-placer mined, perhaps more than twice. Given the ground topography, there are likely multiple sources for the placer gold including sources under the placer deposits.

Provenance Chairman Rauno Perttu states "Over all the many years and the countless projects I have looked at, I have seen very few if any that were as impressive on initial review as this new expansion. We are anxious to tackle it. With the combination of our Eldorado West area that is currently being drilled and this new addition, I'm excited for Provenance's future."

Figure 1 - View of Mormon Basin from Sunday Hill looking southeast. The ridge in the background is formed by an ancient underthrust fault that forms the southern boundary of the zone that hosts the gold-bearing diorite bodies at both Eldorado and Eldorado East. Much of the area shown, including under the distant trees, has been placer mined. The trees subsequently grew on the tailings.

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Figure 2 - Sampling prospect on Sunday Hill. Note the extensive alteration of all the rock and soil.

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Figure 3 - The intensity of the alteration at Mormon Basin is shown in this rock. This rock near the Kendall Mine at the south end of Sunday Hill was originally a black shale, which has been altered and shattered to where it is difficult to recognize. The rock is likely to have strong gold mineralization associated with it

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Eldorado East Project Summary

The historical Sunday Hill Mine located within the Sunday Hill Property, was drilled and re-evaluated by Capri Resources in the 1980's. Capri reported a near-surface gold-bearing zone averaging 23.15 g/t gold with a historical resource of 231,000 tons. The zone was reported to be within 10.7 meters of the surface, 7.6 meters thick, widening to 18.3 meters at its deepest underground exposure, 61 meters down dip (Hogg, 1927). The gold horizon remains open in all directions (Castleon Summary Report., 1993)1.

In 1926, 21 weighted samples across an 1190 meter by 150-meter zone averaged 5.75 g/t gold. A 1994 gold in soils map by Capris Resources showed four extensive side by side gold-enriched soil zones that cover a significant area. Provenance believes the westernmost of these soil anomalies is the gold zone reported in 1926.

1The above referenced resource estimate for the Sunday Hill Project is considered historical in nature, is based on prior data prepared by a previous property owner and does not conform to current CIM categories. While the Company considers the estimate to be reliable, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current resource in accordance with current CIM categories and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current resource. Significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the historical estimate can be classified as a current resource. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resource, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The company is not aware of any more recent estimate prepared for the Sunday Hill Project.

2025 Exploration Plans

Comprehensive data compilation and validation of the available historical data.

A drone magnetic survey to "peek" under the placer layers for key geological features.

Geological mapping of the basin.

Permitting: 17 initial drill pad locations have been selected at Sunday Hill and its surroundings. Permit applications of these select locations are being prepared and will be submitted to BLM and DOGAMI once complete.

Following successful permitting, Provenance plans to conduct initial drilling, with a target startup date for later this fall.

Qualified Person

The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Jo Price, P.Geo., M.Sc., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Provenance Gold Corp.

Provenance Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company with a focus on gold and silver mineralization within North America. The Company currently holds interests in Nevada, and eastern Oregon, USA.

Provenance is also active on social media and invites investors to follow us on X to stay up to date with our latest news and developments:

https://x.com/ProvenanceGold

For further information please visit the Company's website at https://provenancegold.com or contact:

On behalf of the Board,

Provenance Gold Corp.

Rauno Perttu, Chief Executive Officer

Safe Harbor Statement: Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange, nor its regulation services provider, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254413

SOURCE: Provenance Gold Corp.
GlobalSign also announces partnership with Valimail to improve DMARC certificate issuance

GMO GlobalSign, Inc. a global Certificate Authority (CA) and leading provider of identity security, digital signing and IoT solutions, today launched its line of Verified Mark Certificates. GMO GlobalSign's Verified Mark Certificates (VMC) provide authentication and verification for email senders, ensuring that email recipients readily recognize trusted brands, fostering confidence in opening their emails. As part of the launch, GlobalSign is also announcing a partnership with Valimail, the leading automated email authentication solutions provider. GlobalSign is partnering with Valimail to enable their customers to achieve automated DMARC enforcement, a requirement for implementing Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), thereby protecting email domains from unauthorized use.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604046964/en/

Introducing GMO GlobalSign's Verified Mark Certificate solution. Verified Mark Certificates from GlobalSign ensure seamless authentication, enhanced trustworthiness, and improved deliverability for email communications.

According to a November 19, 2024, report by Statista, 240 million emails are exchanged every minute worldwide and SoPro's The State of Prospecting 2024 report found that 67% of B2B buyers prefer to be contacted via email. In parallel, a new report by pen testing company Astra says that 3.4 billion emails are malicious. Much of this activity is fueled by the growth of Artificial Intelligence tools. Clearly, enterprises have a need to ensure their messages have, in fact, securely reached their customers, and that bad actors are not spoofing them. GMO GlobalSign's new VMC solution helps solve this problem by ensuring that with seamless authentication, enhanced trustworthiness, and improved deliverability email communications will have a much higher rate of success of reaching intended recipients.

"Valimail ensures only authorized email displays a GlobalSign customer's logo, letting recipients know the email is authentic," said Kevin Dunne, COO of Valimail. "Through this partnership, GlobalSign's clients protect their email and brand, while increasing brand visibility, trust, and customer engagement. This partnership ensures a streamlined path to robust email authentication and brand protection."

"While email spam is not new, businesses today must still combat it in addition to serious email-based attacks. With our new offering, companies now have a better way to protect their brands by using this product," said Ashish Dhiman, Product Manager, GMO GlobalSign. "The introduction of VMC adds another product to our portfolio by providing certified and trusted email messages for any organization."

Dhiman added: "Our newly established partnership with Valimail is an important part of the story due to DMARC being a critical part of the Verified Mark Certificate solution. By working closely with them, GlobalSign customers using our Verified Mark solution will better protect their emails from attacks such as spoofing."

Once an organization's identity is verified, a Verified Mark Certificate is issued for their domain and logo, serving as proof of authenticity. Emails sent by verified senders are signed using cryptographic methods. Recipients' email clients then verify the sender's identity against the VMC, displaying their logo as a visual indicator to signify that the email is from a trusted source. To use a Verified Mark Certificate a company must possess a registered logo.

The Benefits of GMO GlobalSign's new Verified Mark Certificates are numerous.

Enhanced Trust: VMCs instill confidence in recipients by verifying the authenticity of email senders, reducing the risk of falling victim to phishing attacks.

VMCs instill confidence in recipients by verifying the authenticity of email senders, reducing the risk of falling victim to phishing attacks. Improved Deliverability: Emails bearing VMCs are more likely to reach recipients' inboxes instead of being filtered out as spam, ensuring better deliverability rates. To make sure that their email messages are delivered and not tagged as junk or spam, and better chances of their message being read and delivered.

Emails bearing VMCs are more likely to reach recipients' inboxes instead of being filtered out as spam, ensuring better deliverability rates. To make sure that their email messages are delivered and not tagged as junk or spam, and better chances of their message being read and delivered. Brand Protection: VMCs safeguard your brand reputation by demonstrating a commitment to security and authenticity in email communications.

VMCs safeguard your brand reputation by demonstrating a commitment to security and authenticity in email communications. Compliance Assurance : VMCs help organizations meet security standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with industry regulations such as DMARC.

: VMCs help organizations meet security standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with industry regulations such as DMARC. Positive User Experience: By fostering trust and security in email interactions, VMCs contribute to a positive user experience, enhancing overall satisfaction and engagement.

To learn more about GMO GlobalSign's new Verified Mark Certificates, visit https://www.globalsign.com/en/verified-mark-certificate

About GMO GlobalSign

As one of the world's most deeply-rooted certificate authorities, GMO GlobalSign is the leading provider of trusted identity and security solutions enabling businesses, large enterprises, cloud-based service providers, and IoT innovators worldwide to conduct secure online communications, manage millions of verified digital identities and automate authentication and encryption. Its high-scale Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and identity solutions support the billions of services, devices, people, and things comprising the IoT. GMO GlobalSign is a subsidiary of GMO GlobalSign Holdings, K.K. a member of the Japan-based GMO Internet Group, has offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit https://www.globalsign.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604046964/en/

Contacts:

Media Relations

Amy Krigman

Director of Public Relations West Region

amy.krigman@globalsign.com
Proven track record of discovery, resource and production expansion

Demonstrated success in both the Deseado Massif and the Iberian Pyrite Belt

TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSXV:CERT)(OTCQX:CRDOF)(FRA:BAI0) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alonso Lujan to the position of Vice President Exploration effective June 1, 2025. Mr. Lujan has over 34 years of international experience in mineral exploration with a proven track record for discovery, resource and production expansion. After joining Cerrado as a consultant in February 2025, Mr. Lujan has now been appointed Vice President of Exploration.

Most recently Mr. Lujan spent eight years with Sierra Metals ("Sierra") as Vice President Exploration where he led the significant expansion of the mineral resources across their mines by 25 million ounces of silver and 300 million pounds of copper. As the General Manager for Sierra's Mexican operations, he successfully expanded production and lowered the All-In-Sustaining-Cost ("AISC"). Prior to Sierra, he spent six years with Matsa-Trafigura as the General Manager where he led the discovery of 50 million tonnes of additional mineral resources in less than two years, and doubled production from 2.2 to 4.6 million tonnes per year, which led to the growth in value of the operation from US$300 million to US$1.6 billion. Prior to that, he worked with Hochschild Mining and Minas de Bacis SA de CV, in the Deseado Massiff, where his exploration and operational expertise led to increased production.

Mark Brennan, Executive Chairman, commented: "On behalf of the Board and Management teams, I would like to welcome Alonso to the team. He is a proven professional with a strong history of finding and expanding mineral resources and increasing production output. His experience in the Deseado Massif has provided a new perspective for a well planned and solid exploration program for the current 20,000 metre drill program about to begin at Minera Don Nicolas. The primary objective of the drill program is to add additional resources to extend the mine life at MDN. Additionally, his strong experience and record while working in the Iberian Pyrite Bet, will benefit the Company by potentially assisting in increasing the resource base and improving output as we continue to advance and develop the Lagoa Salgada VMS project."

About Cerrado

Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company. The Company is the 100% owner of the gold producing Minera Don Nicolas and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Portugal, the Company holds an 80% interest in the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier high purity Iron oreb project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec.

In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing the asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas operation through continued operational optimization, cost reductions and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias heap leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff.

In Portugal, Cerrado is focused on the development of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade - low cost, polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant exploration and development opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential.

In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier Iron project, which has the potential to produce a high quality premium iron concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com.

Mark Brennan

CEO and Chairman

Mike McAllister

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1-647-805-5662

mmcallister@cerradogold.com

Disclaimer

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. There is no assurance that the exploratory drill program will be successful or that any additional resources exist or will be discovered.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado.

SOURCE: Cerrado Gold Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/cerrado-gold-appoints-alonso-lujan-as-vice-president-exploration-1035034
Bold U.S. entry underscores Thunes' strategic investment and ambition to build the world's most trusted and comprehensive global payments network.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, today announced it has secured the 50 licenses it requires to operate in the United States. This marks a major milestone following its recent Series D funding round and reinforces Thunes' unwavering commitment to scale at pace and deliver on its strategic roadmap.

The acquisition of the licenses by the newly formed Thunes Financial Services LLC entity, is a strategic differentiator in allowing Thunes to deliver its comprehensive Pay and Accept suite of services directly to corporates, merchants and digital platforms across the U.S. By leveraging the new regulatory approvals, Thunes gains the ability to contract directly with American businesses for real-time cross-border payments, via its Direct Global Network, connecting to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts as well as 15 billion cards in over 130 countries and 80 currencies. In addition, American Members of the Network will now be able to fund Thunes locally.

Thunes' U.S. entry also opens new opportunities for Members of its Direct Global Network all around the world, who will now gain direct access to the vast U.S. market through a single, seamless integration.

Securing U.S. licenses reinforces Thunes' commitment to building a resilient and compliant global payments infrastructure. It represents a significant investment in strengthening its Fortress Compliance platform, ensuring rigorous adherence to some of the world's most demanding regulatory standards. Combined with Thunes' SmartX Treasury system, U.S.-based Members of the Thunes Direct Global Network will enjoy unmatched speed, transparency, protection, control, and cost efficiency in executing real-time payments in and out of the U.S., globally.

Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, said: "At Thunes, we're proud to have built a world-leading payments Network. Securing our U.S. licenses marks a significant milestone in our global growth. It's a reflection of the momentum we've created and the trust we continue to earn. We're scaling with purpose and delivering limitless, tangible value to every Member of the Thunes Direct Global Network in the process."

Chloe Mayenobe, President & Chief Operating Officer at Thunes, commented: "With our newly obtained U.S. licenses, Thunes is now uniquely positioned to empower businesses across sectors - from travel and social media to digital assets, insurance, and gig economies - to join the world's most robust and reliable cross-border payments network. As Members of the Thunes Direct Global Network, they gain access to real-time payments and unlock new revenue opportunities in the fastest-growing markets worldwide."

Ruwan De Soyza, General Counsel at Thunes, concluded: "Our successful license acquisition in the United States is a pivotal moment for Thunes. It allows us to extend our global footprint while upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance and transparency. It also reinforces our commitment to managing risk with precision. By enhancing our robust legal and operational foundation, we are further equipping Thunes to responsibly drive innovation in cross-border payments and empower businesses worldwide. I am proud to lead a team dedicated to ensuring every step we take is both legally sound and aligned with our mission for global financial inclusion."

About Thunes:

Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes' proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes' Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay, WeChat Pay and many more. Thunes' Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally. Members of Thunes' Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 13 locations, including Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thunes-secures-money-transmission-licenses-to-operate-in-the-united-states-302470718.html
3DBioFibR Inc., a leading manufacturer of advanced biopolymer fibers, today announced the successful close of a $3 million equity financing round. The raise follows a string of recently signed paid partnerships and collaborations across key sectors-including tissue engineering, medical devices, defense, cosmetics, and apparel, with several multinational corporations. The round drew participation from both new and existing investors, including AoA Innovation Fund, Build Ventures, Invest Nova Scotia, and Concrete Ventures.

This financing represents an important milestone for 3DBioFibR as it improves operational scale and deepens its role as a critical supplier of next-generation biomaterials. The funds will support increased manufacturing capacity, operational growth, and implementation of ISO 13485 certification, including the construction of a clean room manufacturing facility-essential for producing medical-grade materials.

"This investment fuels the next phase of our growth," said Kevin Sullivan, CEO of 3DBioFibR. "It enables us to meet growing demand from our commercial partners and to become a qualified supplier for regulated medical and therapeutic applications. ISO 13485 certification is a key step in delivering clinical-grade fibers at the scale and consistency our partners require. We're excited to expand our impact across industries that urgently need stronger, more sustainable biomaterials."

Over the past two years, 3DBioFibR has secured paid development agreements with a growing roster of global and regional companies developing products in tissue engineering, medical devices, defense, cosmetics, and apparel. These partnerships focus on integrating 3DBioFibR's best-in-class fibers into existing and developing product pipelines. The new capital ensures the company can continue to deliver high-performance materials at commercial scale, while laying the groundwork for expanded clinical partnerships.

"3DBioFibR has accomplished something rare, translating cutting-edge biomaterials science into real commercial traction," said Patrick Keefe, General Partner at Build Ventures. "They've partnered with serious players in global industries and built a manufacturing platform that can deliver fibers at a scale and quality the market hasn't seen before. This team is setting the benchmark in biopolymer fiber manufacturing, and we're proud to support their journey."

"As an early investor in 3DBioFibR, Invest Nova Scotia has been active with the company throughout its growth into a unique business that offers novel and unparalleled manufacturing potential for biopolymer applications, representing multibillion-dollar market opportunities," said Lidija Marusic, Invest Nova Scotia. "With this latest investment, Invest Nova Scotia looks forward to seeing 3DBioFibR achieve their objectives."

3DBioFibR's proprietary dry-spinning platform enables the production of fibers from a wide range of biopolymers, currently over six, with performance metrics that meet or exceed natural tissue strength by two to three times. Compared to conventional techniques like wet spinning and electrospinning, 3DBioFibR's process delivers material at over 3,600 times the scale, with vastly improved uniformity and cost-efficiency. These properties position the company's fibers for use in applications where strength, biocompatibility, or scale have previously been limiting factors.

About 3DBioFibR Inc.

3DBioFibR is driving the adoption of biomaterials in regenerative medicine, medical devices, defense, cosmetics, and sustainable textiles. It's patented dry-spinning technology enables scalable, high-precision manufacturing of advanced biopolymer fibers-delivering superior performance at industrial scales. By collaborating with industry leaders, 3DBioFibR is unlocking transformative applications for strong, lightweight, and biocompatible materials across some of the world's most demanding sectors.

For more information, visit www.3dbiofibr.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604640372/en/

Contacts:

60-1344 Summer Street

Halifax, NS, B3H 0A8

info@3dbiofibr.com

www.3dbiofibr.com
Keep important documents such as wills, family trusts, insurance policies and records of asset ownership in one easy-to-use platform

LONDON, June 04, 2025announces the launch of its new legacy building platform, allowing users to safely organise, store and share their most important digital assets. This helps family members and business partners easily navigate paperwork, access important records and feel connected to their loved ones through the memory, photo and video-sharing capability.

IQ121 stores essential items, including:

Legal documents (powers of attorney, trusts, vehicle documentation)

Finances (bank account details, investments, pension documentation)

Insurance policies covering life, property, high value items

Property deeds of title, jewelry collections, any other high value items

Health records

Passwords, security Q&As and account recovery steps

Wills and medical directives

Videos and photos

Memories and personal documents (family birth certificates, marriage certificates)





The idea for IQ121 was generated by Hollywood actor Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role in "The Big Bang Theory," during the COVID-19 pandemic. While organising his parents' trip from India to the U.S., struggling to gather flight numbers, passport details and hotel confirmations, the frustration led him to question: "Why isn't there an easier way to share this information?" With the pandemic causing many family members to experience sudden, unprecedented loss, the idea progressed into addressing other vital records people accumulate throughout life. Motivated by both a personal loss and a desire to ease others' suffering, Nayyar created IQ121 to help people prepare for life's hardest moments.

"Navigating grief is already unbearable; the last thing families need is to feel confused or unprepared. IQ121 brings comfort, structure and lasting peace of mind during times of unimaginable difficulty," Nayyar said. "We wanted to create a way to guide anyone facing loss through those times, with humanity and dignity, so they could focus on what truly matters most: honouring loved ones and coping with grief. IQ121 empowers people to take control of their legacy, because everyone's story deserves to be honoured, shared and remembered."

IQ121 is not just for seniors; people of all ages can become members to store and protect their digital records accumulated over time. Plans will automatically pass down through trusted successors, ensuring a family's legacy lives on.

"IQ121 goes beyond file storage. It is a place to preserve what makes a person's life meaningful," said Tim Ashley Sparks, spokesperson for IQ121. "Members can create video messages for future birthdays or tell a story to a grandchild. The app is designed not just for estate planning, but for fostering connection and ensuring memories live on."

Backed by military-grade AES-256 encryption - the same technology trusted by banks and governments - IQ121 is a secure end-of-life planning app. It also offers a flexible subscription model to fit every member's particular goals, allowing for added storage as needed.

Available on iOS and Android, IQ121 is the only end-of-life planning app that supports six major languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian), making it globally accessible for multilingual users.

A media kit of photos, videos, logos and headshots is available here . To learn more, visit www.iq121.com .

About IQ121

IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital platform designed to help individuals, families and professionals organise, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. With the growing need for secure and easily accessible digital solutions, IQ121 offers an encryption-backed, all-in-one platform that simplifies estate planning, digital asset management and legacy preservation.
Barta Ferenc announces a new program designed to help individuals and businesses build authentic personal brands online.

BUDAPEST, HU / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Barta Ferenc, a recognized figure in digital entrepreneurship, has announced the launch of a new initiative focused on personal brand development. This program aims to provide individuals and organizations with the tools and strategies necessary to establish a credible and influential presence in the digital marketplace.

With a growing demand for authentic online representation, the initiative addresses the challenges faced by professionals and businesses seeking to differentiate themselves. The program offers guidance on brand positioning, content strategy, and audience engagement, leveraging Barta Ferenc's expertise and proven track record in the field.

"Building a personal brand is no longer optional in today's digital economy. It is essential for career growth and business success," said a spokesperson for the initiative. "This program is designed to equip participants with practical skills and insights to stand out in a crowded online environment."

Barta Ferenc's approach emphasizes authenticity, strategic communication, and long-term value creation. The initiative is open to entrepreneurs, professionals, and organizations interested in enhancing their digital footprint.

About the Company

Barta Ferenc is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to build authentic personal brands in the digital age. The company offers strategic guidance and practical solutions for brand development and online presence.

For more information, visit https://www.instagram.com/barta_ferenc2?igsh=MXJyNTUwZHN2OWtqbg==

Media Contact

Organization: Barta Ferenc

Contact Person Name: Barta Ferenc

Website: https://bartaferenc.com

Email: bartaferenc3@gmail.com

City: Budapest

State: Pest

Country: Hungary

SOURCE: Barta Ferenc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/hungarian-entrepreneur-launches-initiative-to-empower-personal-br-1035328
NEW YORK and STOCKHOLM, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management ("Brookfield") today announced up to SEK 95 billion ($10 billion) of investment to support the development of artificial intelligence ("AI") infrastructure in Sweden. This investment represents one of Brookfield's largest AI investments in Europe and extends the partnership with the Swedish government, its public authorities, academia and businesses in the region.

The Brookfield investment will be centered on a new large AI center in Strangnas, Sweden, creating a strategic infrastructure asset to support the country's national AI strategy. Brookfield will sign a land allocation agreement for c.350,000 sqm of additional land, enabling the data center site to more than double its capacity from 300MW to 750MW. The new site will create over 1,000 new permanent jobs and add another 2,000 jobs to support the 10-15 year construction process. The facility will be the first of its kind in Sweden and one of the first in Europe.

Sikander Rashid, Head of Europe, Brookfield, added, "We are pleased to extend our partnership with Sweden and support their ambitions to become a leading AI hub in Europe. To compete in the development of AI and realize its economic productivity, it is important to invest at scale in the infrastructure underpinning this technology. This extends beyond data centers and into data transfer, chip storage and energy generation - today marks another important step for boosting sovereign compute capabilities for both public services and private enterprises in Europe."

Brookfield is one of the world's largest investors in the AI value chain, with more than 100 billion invested across digital infrastructure, renewable power and semiconductor manufacturing worldwide. Earlier this year, Brookfield announced a 20 billion infrastructure investment program in France, which includes a 10 billion investment into the first AI factory in the country. This site will create 1GW of new capacity, making it Europe's largest AI infrastructure cluster.

Brookfield has been actively investing in Sweden since 2018 and has extensive operations across the country, including investments in telecom towers, renewable power, social infrastructure and logistics assets.

About Brook?eld Asset Management

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

For more information, please visit our website at www.bam.brookfield.com.

Media:

Brookfield:

Simon Maine

Tel: +44 739 890 9278

Email: simon.maine@brookfield.com

Sweden:

Maria Grimberg

Tel: +46-708 96 12 88

Email: maria.grimberg@lumoadvice.com

Notice to Readers

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management's current estimates, beliefs and assumptions, and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of Brookfield are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "strive", "will", "may" and "should" and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the expected impacts and timing of Brookfield's investment in Sweden's AI infrastructure.

Although Brookfield believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States, not presently known to Brookfield or that Brookfield currently believes are not material, could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Mustang Washrooms, a leader in comprehensive washroom and hygiene solutions, has set a new standard in the industry with its innovative barcode monitoring system. Designed to ensure flawless execution of every service, this pioneering technology gives businesses unmatched confidence in their washroom maintenance.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The system guarantees that every service, from replenishing soap dispensers to replacing air freshener units, is performed on time and to exacting standards. Each serviced item is scanned using a unique barcode, creating a real-time log and delivering email notifications with proof of completion. This commitment to transparency and reliability has positioned Mustang Washrooms as a trusted partner for businesses across Essex, Kent, London, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and surrounding areas.

A Game-Changer for Washroom Hygiene

Mustang Washrooms' barcode monitoring system represents a bold step forward in washroom servicing. Key features of the system include:

Real-Time Tracking: Operators scan each serviced item, ensuring no task is overlooked.

Proof of Completion: Clients receive email notifications, including live updates and a signature confirming the work is done.

Proactive Communication: Clients are notified in advance of scheduled services, complete with engineer details for added security.

Issue Resolution: Engineers address any missing or damaged items immediately, ensuring washroom functionality is never compromised.

This Service, Scan, and Sign Off process ensures that every washroom item is accounted for and properly maintained, delivering an unparalleled level of confidence to clients.

Industry Leader in Hygiene Solutions

Mustang Washrooms has earned a reputation for exceptional service and offers a range of products that include sanitary disposal units, air fresheners, and sanitisers. The company's environmentally responsible practices, as it operates as a Carbon Neutral Washroom Services provider, further enhance its appeal.

About Mustang Washrooms

Mustang Washrooms is a trusted provider of washroom and hygiene services, offering tailored solutions to businesses across Essex, Kent, London, Surrey, East Sussex, and West Sussex. Founded on a commitment to reliability, innovation, and environmental sustainability, Mustang Washrooms delivers comprehensive service packages that include sanitary disposal, air fresheners, vending systems, and sanitisers. The company's cutting-edge barcode monitoring system ensures clients receive unmatched service quality and transparency. For more information, visit www.mustangwashrooms.co.uk

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254183

SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Rektron Group Incorporated ("Rektron" or the "Company"), (CSE: REK.U)(FRA: F75) a global leader in energy and infrastructure, in a strategic alliance with Afritel Ghana Limited ("Afritel"), has announced plans to acquire a sixty percent (60%) majority equity stake in AT Ghana Limited (formerly Airtel Tigo), one of Ghana's premier telecommunications providers (the "Acquisition"). Afritel, a respected telecommunications firm in Ghana, is founded by Nana Richmond Aggrey ("Mr. Aggrey") Mr. Aggrey is a pioneering figure in Ghana's telecommunication industry, co-founding Scancom Ghana Limited (Areeba), the first GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) provider in Ghana, later acquired by MTN Ghana. The Acquisition signifies Rektron's diversification into the telecommunications sector and highlights its dedication to propelling infrastructure development, broadening connectivity and catalysing digital advancement across Africa.

AT Ghana is a telecommunication company, wholly owned by the Government of Ghana, that provides a broad spectrum of dynamic telecommunication services including voice, data, mobile financial services, and business connectivity solutions. Guided by its core vision of "A better life for our customers", AT Ghana strives to foster a more sustainable future by delivering next generation products and services that enable economic and social progress for its customers and stakeholders.

The Acquisition of a majority interest in AT Ghana will align seamlessly with Rektron's overarching infrastructure strategy of building resilient, connection-driven ecosystems across critical sectors. With AT Ghana's proven capability and its position as a leading mobile network operator in the country, serving over 2.3 million users, this investment will accentuate the Company's ability to generate stable cash flows and deliver long-term value. Moreover, the rapidly expanding digital landscape in Ghana presents significant growth opportunities for advanced telecommunications services, financial inclusion, and digital connectivity solutions. By leveraging Rektron's strategic vision and operational expertise, this partnership is poised to accelerate AT Ghana's trajectory of sustainable growth, further strengthening its market leadership and contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Ghana.

The Government of Ghana has expressed strong support for the Acquisition, recognizing its potential to bolster the country's telecommunications infrastructure and digital economy.

"We are excited to take a significant stake in AT Ghana and appreciate the support of the Government of Ghana as we take a significant stake in AT Ghana. This aligns with our global vision to advance major infrastructure initiatives, foster innovation, and deliver value to consumers throughout the region," said Atanas Kolarov, Chief Executive Officer of Rektron.

"This partnership marks a major milestone in our mission to advance telecommunication services in Ghana. Through our strategic collaboration with Rektron bringing global best practices, strategic investment, and next-generation infrastructure - we will strengthen our mobile network, expand nationwide coverage, and modernize service delivery. These improvements will enable us to drive down the cost of mobile data while increasing speed, reliability, and access. By making affordable, high-quality connectivity available to customers across all regions - including remote areas - we will be empowering every Ghanaian to fully participate in the digital economy and benefit from the opportunities it brings," said Nana Richmond Aggrey, the Founder and Chairman of Afritel Ghana.

The Company, Afritel and the Government of Ghana entered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 21, 2025, in respect of the Acquisition, which is expected to accelerate AT Ghana's growth by leveraging Rektron's financial strength and Afritel's deep local expertise, ultimately benefiting millions of Ghanaian consumers and business.

Conclusion of the Acquisition remains subject to certain conditions, including the completion of satisfactory due diligence, the finalization of financial terms and conditions, execution of definitive documentation in respect of the Acquisition and the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. While the parties are working collaboratively to a successful close, there can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be consummated. The Company will provide frequent updates with regards to the Acquisition.

About Rektron Group Inc.

Rektron Group Inc. (CSE: REK.U | FRA: F75) is a diversified leading multinational corporation dedicated to investing in innovative projects worldwide. Focused on emerging markets, Rektron aims to deliver sustainable growth and impactful solutions. Through its subsidiaries Rektron continues to serve global markets as a physical commodities trading and infrastructure company.

Rektron is committed to driving long-term value through innovation, responsible resource management, and a strategic focus on circular economy principles and communication.

Please visit www.rektrongroup.com for further information.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rektron's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements in respect of the terms and completion of the Acquisition and the Company's diversification into the telecommunications sector. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rektron's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, other factors set forth under "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended July 31, 2024 and dated November 25, 2024, and other continuous disclosure documents available on the Company's profile SEDAR+. Rektron undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rektron to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martyna Jovaisaite

Rektron Group Inc.

investorrelations@rektrongroup.com

(604) 359-5412

Chris Santa Cruz

Alliance Advisors IR

604-787-0563

csantacruz@allianceadvisors.com

SOURCE: Rektron Group Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/rektron-group-incorporated-announces-proposed-strategic-acquisit-1034530
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Kootenay Resources Inc. (TSXV:KTRI) (the "Company" or "Kootenay") is pleased to provide an update on The Moyie Anticline Project, an early-stage exploration project south of Cranbrook B.C. Part of the Company's objective for the discovery of Tier One deposits, Moyie Anticline represents one of the most compelling district-scale exploration plays in the Belt-Purcell Basin with a combined total area of 33,932.29 hectares.

The consolidated land package covers a major portion of the Moyie Anticline structural corridor - a fertile setting for multiple deposit types including Sullivan-style SEDEX, Revett-type sediment-hosted copper-silver, and Coeur d'Alene-style silver-rich vein systems. Historic and modern data sets, including recently acquired MT and ZTEM geophysics, support the presence of several large-scale mineralizing systems. This is the first time these targets are being systematically evaluated under a unified exploration model, creating a rare opportunity for multiple discoveries.

The project benefits from exceptional infrastructure: all-season roads, power access, and proximity to processing facilities. With $1.7M+ in historical work and a pipeline of clearly defined and geophysically supported targets, the Moyie Anticline contains;

Exploration Target Styles

Sullivan-Type SEDEX: Stratiform Ag-Zn-Pb targets in tourmalinite-rich, vent-proximal settings along the Sullivan Horizon

Revett-Type Cu: Disseminated and vein-hosted copper in altered Creston-equivalent sediments

Sheep Creek / Mt Isa-Style Cu-Co: Structural Cu systems in gabbroic rocks with Cu-Ni enrichment and high-temp alteration

Coeur d'Alene-Style Ag-Zn-Pb-Cu Veins: Steep, fault-hosted polymetallic veins in Creston Formation with local bonanza grades

Target Areas

Sweet Spot (Can-Am): 100+ m thick mineralized horizon; historic hole returned 0.3% Zn+Pb over 105 m. (hole C-91-01, (1991) ;Anderson, D. "CanAm Property Year End Report" - Confidential Cominco document, referenced in Thompson, R.I. (2022) Technical Report on the Sweet Spot Property, British Columbia, pp22 ).

Huckleberry: MT/ZTEM anomaly tied to hydrothermal breccia and structural intersection with elevated Pb-Mo in prospecting samples.( BC Assessment Report #41626, (2023) Cook, F.A. and Brittliffe, D.A., "Ground Based Magnetotelluric Data on The Moyie Anticline Project", refers to areas on Spikes MT grid, Anomaly #2)

Stoney Creek: SEDEX-style venting, alteration, and geophysical basin geometry beneath known mineralization. (BC Minfile number #082GSW075 )

Mt Mahon: Tourmaline-altered vent system with historical drilling and surface Pb-Zn-Cu showings ( BC Minefile number #082FSE128 )

SBA-Rise: 4 km-long vent trend; Zn-bearing breccia, never drilled to Sullivan Horizon. ( BCAssessment Report #38387 (2019) T Kennedy "Prospecting and Geochemistry for the SBA Property )

Sunrise Copper: >2 km Cu-in-soil anomaly over gabbro, aligned with ZTEM conductor ( BC Assessment Report #28523 (1999) C. Kennedy "Assessment Report Prospecting Program Cruz Property ).

Down Dip: Stratabound alteration and Pb-Zn mineralization in Middle Aldridge ( BC Minfile number#082GSW125 ).

Lady Slipper: Tourmaline and albite alteration; structurally complex zone with soil and rock geochem. ( BC Assessment Report 36269 (2015) C. Kennedy "Assessment Report Rock Geochemistry Lady Slipper Property "

Kennco: 800+ m Pb-Zn soil anomaly ( BC Assessment Report (1979) Stevenson, R.W. and Staargaard, C.F. "Report on Geochemical Survey - Yahk Group " historic EM and drill results at prospective marker unit ( BC Assessment Report 20827 (1990) Stephenson, L "Report on Diamond Drill Holes E90-1 and 2, Eng Property ").

Society Girl: Along historical St. Eugene vein trend and breccias in Upper Aldridge / Lower Creston ( BC Minfile number #082GSW030 ).

KRL: High-grade Ag-Zn-Pb veins with broad intercepts and structural intersections in Creston Formation (BC Assessment Report #31658 (2010) S.Kennedy "KRL Project Rock Geochemistry Report" pp4 - included 1m trench sample of 22% Pb and 73.9 ppm Ag ) .

Ward Area: Broad alteration system with disseminated Cu+Pb sulphides in Creston Formation; Revett analogue ( BC Assessment Report #33261, (2012), C Kennedy "Assessment Report Prospecting Program Silver Fox Property" pp7-8).

Significant - 10km by 10 km area of elevated conductance with positive structural and geochemical features. May reflect large sulfide rich sub basin similar to the sub basin defining the Sullivan corridor. Area includes Huckleberry, Sunrise, Lady Slipper (BC Assessment Report #42639 (2025) Brittliffe D.A. off confidential October 2025)

Next Steps

Over 12 documented targets defined through historical drilling, mapping, and geophysics

MT and ZTEM surveys completed, with additional MT data to be processed to refine target geometry (Sweet Spot, Mt Mahon, Down Dip)

Phase I: Structural mapping, MT integration, drill permitting

Phase II: First-pass drilling of conductor-hosted and alteration-defined targets

Background

Kootenay Resources Inc's stated mission is the discovery of a Tier One deposit and as such focuses on those areas with demonstrated geologic potential for such deposits. The Company is exploring its flagship Moyie Anticline property in southern British Columbia and on its generative program including several promising gold-silver-copper properties in the Nechako plateau of central British Columbia. Kootenay Resources Inc. welcomes partners for exploration projects and currently has one mineral property under option to Centerra Gold (KB) Inc., and three projects under option to fellow junior exploration company Rokmaster Resources Corp.

Qualified Persons

The Company's technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) and reviewed and approved on behalf of Kootenay by Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo, V.P. Exploration for Kootenay, a Qualified Person.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Kootenay Resources Inc.

Kootenay is an exploration company actively engaged in the exploration and discovery mineral projects in British Columbia, Canada. The Company was formed as a spin-out of Kootenay Silver Inc in which prospective Canadian assets were transferred to Kootenay Resources Inc. The transaction was completed in October of 2021, Kootenay Silver currently holds 5.4 million common shares of Kootenay.

On behalf of the board of directors of the Company:

James McDonald,

Director

For additional information, please contact:

James McDonald, Director at 403-880-6016

Raj Kang, Director at 604-601-5650

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

The information in this news release has been prepared as at June 3, 2025. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kootenay as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, Kootenay expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Kootenay's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE: Kootenay Resources Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/kootenay-resources-reports-project-update-for-moyie-project-1035285
HIGHLIGHTS

The 2025 Angilak Exploration Program will comprise ~10,000 m of diamond drilling with two objectives:

Lac 50 Deposit - expansion of the footprint of uranium mineralization. Stepping out along strike and at depth from the 2024 Exploration Target (as defined below), which remains open and unconstrained. Regional Exploration - focusing along the 31 km long Rib-Nine Iron Trend, which transects the Angikuni Basin extending under cover. Two high-priority target areas are anticipated to be Rib and KU Discoveries.

The Company will build upon the success of its 2024 maiden exploration campaign, which culminated in the release of an Exploration Target for Lac 50 Deposit, comprised of the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 Trends (the "Exploration Target").

In May 2025, ATHA completed a ground gravity and electromagnetic (EM) survey, designed to vector in on priority targets along the highly prospective 31 km Rib-Nine Iron Trend, under cover of the Angikuni Basin - a direct analog to the Athabasca Basin. Two high-priority target areas were tested, representing ~5% of the currently identified trend: KU Discovery - located within the basin along the northern margin, historical trench sampling has returned grades up to 30.7% U3O8 4,5,6 - KU remains untested with diamond drilling. The survey identified a large gravity anomaly, measuring 2 km long by 500 m wide, coincident with a conductive corridor and numerous cross-cutting structures, where historic sampling has encountered high-grade uranium mineralization at surface. Rib Discovery - located along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin where historic drilling by prior operators intersected shallow mineralization (<25m depth) with grades up to 5.6% U3O8 1,2,3 Two distinct areas were surveyed: Rib East , where a large gravity anomaly - measuring 2 km long by 500 m wide and coincident with a northeast-to-southwest conductive trend - was identified; and Rib West , which is highlighted by two large gravity anomalies. The first measures 900 m long by 250 m wide and is coincident with a highly conductive corridor that hosts the historic Rib Discovery. The second is 1.1 km long by 300 m wide, extending from the margin under the cover of the Angikuni Basin, and has yet to be drill tested.

At both Rib and KU Discoveries the density lows, corresponding to gravity anomalies, along with the intensity of the conductive response and volumes are consistent with alteration characteristics associated with high-grade basement and unconformity style uranium mineralization, similar to the Athabasca Basin. The Rib and KU Discoveries are both high-priority targets that have been de-risked with modern geophysics, surficial geochemistry, and are associated with historic discoveries of high-grade uranium mineralization.

BACKGROUND

During the 2024 Angilak Exploration Program, the Company completed 25 diamond drill holes totalling ~10,051 m, with a 100% hit rate for intersection of uranium mineralization. Assay results were consistent with the grade profile of the Exploration Target and are highlighted by grades of up to 5.85% U3O8 over 0.5 m (See News Release).

Beyond Lac 50, at Mushroom Lake, an extensive bedrock outcrop with radioactivity up to >60,000 counts per second (cps) (>10,000 cps is indicative of high-grade uranium mineralization), which corresponds to historic outcrop samples that returned grades up to 47.8% U3O85, was identified over a 3-kilometre strike length.

The new discovery is located between the Mushroom Lake zone on the Lac 52 trend and the Hot zone on the Lac 54 trend and has not been drill tested, nor was it included in the 2024 Exploration Target.

SRK Consulting completed a regional scale Structural Interpretation and Targeting Assessment that identifies the major primary and secondary structural controls (conduits, traps, and the overall plumbing system for uranium mineralization) hosting the high-grade mineralized discoveries across the Angilak Project including the Lac 50 Deposit.

Troy Boisjoli, CEO commented: "Our 2025 drill program represents the next major step in advancing the Angilak Project into, in our view, one of the most exciting uranium projects globally. Building on the success of last year's campaign where we hit mineralization in 100% of our drill holes, we're now positioned to test some of the most exciting targets identified to date - both along strike of the Lac 50 Deposit and across the underexplored, high-potential Rib-Nine Iron Trend. With modern geophysics, historic high-grade surface showings, and a proven ability to intersect uranium mineralization, we believe this program has the potential to unlock the broader Angikuni Basin as Canada's next premier uranium jurisdiction."

Cliff Revering, VP Exploration added: "We are very excited to begin our 2025 drilling campaign, building on the success of our 2024 exploration program. Our strategy for 2025 is to continue to expand the mineralization footprint of the Lac 50 deposit, as well as to test very prospective high-priority targets along the Rib-Nine Iron structural corridor, which transects the Angikuni Basin. The stacked structural, geochemical, and geophysical signatures recently defined in the Rib and KU target areas (located within the Rib-Nine Iron corridor), suggest significant potential for discovery of high-grade unconformity-style uranium mineralization within the Angikuni Basin."

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / ATHA Energy Corp. (TSXV:SASK)(FRA:X5U)(OTCQB:SASKF) ("ATHA" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2025 Angilak diamond drill exploration program of 10,000 m at its 100%-owned Angilak Uranium Project in Nunavut. The 2025 program has two primary objectives: first, building upon the success of the Company's 2024 maiden drill campaign, exploring the footprint of mineralization at the Lac 50 Deposit. Second, testing high-priority, derisked regional targets, located within the 31 km long Rib-Nine Iron Trend (the "Rib-Nine Iron Trend"). Specifically, the KU and Rib Discoveries, where a ground gravity and EM survey was completed in May 2025 and identified large linear gravity lows, coincident with EM conductors, interpreted structures and host historic high-grade uranium mineralization.

Figure 1: Angilak Project Area - 2025 Exploration Target Area (Black Rectangles) & Mapped Historic

*Notes:

IPrevious operators of the Angilak Project completed 24 diamond drill holes in the Dipole Showing and intersected grades of up to 5.53% U3O8 over 0.5 m3

IIAlong the western margin, historic drilling at the Rib Discovery intersected shallow (<25 m depth) mineralization with grades of up to 5.6% U3O81, hosted within graphitic pelitic rocks with Athabasca style alteration

III Mushroom Lake surface outcrop spans an area of 3 km on surface with historical outcrops samples grading up to 47.8% U3O84 & 6

IV Nine-Iron showing with 5 historical diamond drill holes. Intersections of shallow uranium mineralization, grades up to 1.25% U3O8 and historical outcrops with grades up to 30.3% U3O83

Disclaimer for Historical Drilling and Outcrop Samples

Certain noted technical information provided herein has been derived exclusively and without independent verification from the following reports. Such information is historical in nature and is not considered by the Company to be current. In each case, the reliability of the historical information is considered reasonable by the Company. The historical information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the properties but may not be representative of expected results. Readers should read the entirety of such noted reports to fully understand the nature of the information referenced herein. Samples, including, without limitation, outcrop samples, by their nature, are selective in nature and significant variations may be seen from sample to sample. Accordingly, sample information may not be representative of the true underlying mineralization.

References for Historic Diamond Drilling Results

1. Papish, N.Z. 1978. 1978 Diamond Drill Report, Keewatin District N.W.T. Yathkyed Lake Area. Noranda Exploration company Assessment Report. March 6, 1979. A copy of such report is available on the website of the Government of Nunavut at https://nunavutgeoscience.ca/en/.

2. Dufresne, M.B., Sim, R. and Davis B., (2013). Technical report And Resource Update for the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of Kivalliq Energy Corporation, March 1st, 2013. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of Kivalliq Energy Corporation at www.sedarplus.com.

3. Dufresne, M.B. and Schoeman, P. (2023). Technical report on the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of ATHA Energy Corp. and Labrador Uranium Inc., January 31st, 2024. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of the Company at www.sedarplus.com.

References for Historic Surficial Sampling

4. Ward, j., Maynes, A., McNie, E., Forbes, A. and Stacey, J. 2012. Report on 2010 and 2011 Exploration Activity on Kivalliq Corporation's Angilak IOCG-Uranium Property, Keewatin District, Nunavut. Kivalliq Energy Corporation Assessment Report. A copy of such report is available on the website of the Government of Nunavut at https://nunavutgeoscience.ca/en/.

5. Dufresne, M.B., Sim, R. and Davis B., (2013). Technical report And Resource Update for the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of Kivalliq Energy Corporation, March 1st, 2013. Copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of Kivalliq Energy Corporation at www.sedarplus.com

6. Dufresne, M.B. and Schoeman, P. (2023). Technical report on the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of ATHA Energy Corp. and Labrador Uranium Inc., January 31, 2024. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of the Company at www.sedarplus.com.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Cliff Revering, P.Eng., Vice President, Exploration of ATHA, who is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Corporate Update

On June 2, 2025, ATHA Energy Corp. granted of an aggregate of 9,448,750 incentive stock options ("Options") and 1,175,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain eligible participants, including certain directors of the Company, under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). One-third of the Options shall vested on the date of issuance thereof, one-third of the Options shall vest on the six-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof, and the remaining one-third of the Options shall vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof. Upon vesting, each Option shall be exercisable to acquire one common share for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.47. Each RSU, which shall vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof, shall entitle the holder thereof to the issuance of one common share of the Company upon redemption thereof.

ATHA's last issuance of Options or RSUs, granted under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, was on December 6th, 2023. As part of the Latitude Uranium acquisition, completed in March of 2024, each Latitude's stock options were converted to ATHA Energy stock options. Specifically, each Latitude stock option was exchanged for an ATHA stock option on a one-for-one basis, utilizing an exchange ratio of 0.2769 ATHA shares for each Latitude share, as outlined in the acquisition arrangement.

Pursuant to the Plan, the aggregate number of common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") issuable under the Plan in respect of all awards granted by the Company may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time of any grant hereunder, being 29,813,656 Common Shares at the date of the aforementioned grants.

A copy of the Plan is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About ATHA

ATHA is a Canadian mineral company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium assets in the pursuit of a clean energy future. With a strategically balanced portfolio including three 100%-owned post discovery uranium projects (the Angilak Project located in Nunavut, and CMB Discoveries in Labrador, and the newly discovered basement hosted GMZ high-grade uranium discovery located in the Athabasca Basin). In addition, the Company holds the largest cumulative prospective exploration land package (>7 million acres) in two of the world's most prominent basins for uranium discoveries - ATHA is well positioned to drive value. ATHA also holds a 10% carried interest in key Athabasca Basin exploration projects operated by NexGen Energy Ltd. and IsoEnergy Ltd. For more information visit www.athaenergy.com .

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Troy Boisjoli, CEO, ATHA Energy Corp

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Troy Boisjoli

Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@athaenergy.com

www.athaenergy.com

1-236-521-0526

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". These forward-looking statements or information may relate to ATHA's proposed exploration program, including statements with respect to the expected benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from ATHA's proposed exploration program, the timing, scope, nature, breadth and other information related to ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from the diversification of ATHA's portfolio, the prospects of ATHA's projects, including mineral resources estimates and mineralization of each project, the prospects of ATHA's business plans and any expectations with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on any of ATHA's projects, and any expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions that the anticipated benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program will be realized, that no additional permit or licenses will be required in connection with ATHA's exploration programs, the ability of ATHA to complete its exploration activities as currently expected and on the current anticipated timelines, including ATHA's proposed exploration program, that ATHA will be able to execute on its current plans, that ATHA's proposed explorations will yield results as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although ATHA has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Such statements represent the current view of ATHA with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by ATHA, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: inability of ATHA to realize the benefits anticipated from the exploration and drilling targets described herein or elsewhere; in ability of ATHA to complete current exploration plans as presently anticipated or at all; inability for ATHA to economically realize on the benefits, if any, derived from the exploration program; failure to complete business plans as it currently anticipated; overdiversification of ATHA's portfolio; failure to realize on benefits, if any, of a diversified portfolio; unanticipated changes in market price for ATHA shares; changes to ATHA's current and future business and exploration plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of the business of ATHA; and the ability to advance the Company projects and its proposed exploration program; risks inherent in mineral exploration including risks related worker safety, weather and other natural occurrences, accidents, availability of personnel and equipment, and other factors; aboriginal title; failure to obtain regulatory and permitting approvals; no known mineral resources/reserves; reliance on key management and other personnel; competition; changes in laws and regulations; uninsurable risks; delays in governmental and other approvals, community relations; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions where ATHA conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the filings of ATHA with the Canadian securities regulators which are available on ATHA's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. ATHA does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: ATHA Energy Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/atha-completes-ground-geophysics-and-commences-2025-angilak-diamond-drill-explora-1035309
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) ("SPMC" or "South Pacific Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Timo Jauristo as a Strategic Advisor to the Company.

Mr. Jauristo brings over 40 years of mining industry leadership to South Pacific Metals, with a distinguished track record spanning global exploration, project development, and corporate strategy. He formerly served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Goldcorp Inc., where he played a pivotal role in the company's international growth through strategic acquisitions and project evaluation. Prior to that, Timo held senior executive roles at Placer Dome and other major mining companies, contributing to the advancement of several world-class gold and copper projects across the Americas and Asia-Pacific. He is currently an independent director of Integra Resources Corp. and previously served as a Senior Advisor to the Investment Banking division of Canaccord Genuity Corp.'s Metals and Mining Group.

"As South Pacific Metals embarks on a pivotal exploration phase of drilling, we are fortunate to welcome Timo Jauristo as Strategic Advisor," said Michael Murphy, SPMC Executive Chair. "Timo's connections, coupled with his extensive board and advisory experience, has made him a trusted figure in the global mining community. As the Company advances toward its maiden drill program, Timo's direct involvement with our Osena and Anga Gold-Copper Projects underscores the significant untapped potential of these assets and reinforces our commitment to unlocking value in PNG's prolific Kainantu Gold Region."

Mr. Jauristo has been granted 500,000 share options of the Company in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Compensation Plan. The share options are exercisable at a price of C$0.50 per share for a period of five years from June 3, 2025 (the "Grant Date") and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, the share options are subject to vesting provisions, pursuant to which 1/3 of the share options vest on the Grant Date, a further 1/3 will vest on the one-year anniversary of the Grant Date, and the remaining 1/3 will vest on the two-year anniversary of the Grant Date.

Figure 1. Regional image showing location of Osena and Anga Projects

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/254404_a9c5cc707462d813_001full.jpg

About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River.

Immediately flanking K92 Mining's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District - each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainties affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's upcoming exploration program. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory, or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254404

SOURCE: South Pacific Metals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Military Metals Corp. (CSE: MILI) (OTCQB: MILIF) (FSE: QN90) (the "Company" or "MILI"), a company focused on antimony, is pleased to announce it has signed an Access Agreement (the "Agreement") with the surface rights owners (the "Surface Holders") holding the majority of the surface rights on which the Company's West Gore Antimony Project ("West Gore" or the "Project") is situated. This Agreement allows the Company access to the surface, required to carry out its exploration activities including drilling, once drill targets are delineated. The Agreement provides for joint access of the Surface Holders and the Company for specified activities, establishes a plan for coordination of use related to the property, and endures for an initial term of one year, with renewal rights granted to the Company for three successive one-year terms. West Gore was an important antimony producer during World War One, making significant contributions to the allied war effort having produced 7,000 tonnes of antimony concentrate grading 46% antimony.(1)

"The Premier of Nova Scotia, Mr. Houston has been actively promoting the province as a hub for critical mineral development. His public message has been very direct, aiming to attract investment and position Nova Scotia as a reliable and sustainable source of these materials. His provincial government has lifted bans and streamlined regulations to encourage mining and resource development, at a much-needed time," stated Scott Eldridge, CEO of Military Metals.

"Critical minerals, especially antimony continue to capture the headlines with supply disruptions now becoming a normal theme. Western countries are pressed to find domestic solutions to take control of the supply of antimony as traditional sources are no longer available and stockpiles are non-existent. We are excited to commence exploration activities at the past producing West Gore Antimony Project. The Project has a significant history, as one of Canada's largest antimony producers during WWI. The mine ceased production, when its then final shipment of antimony concentrate headed for the UK was sunk by a U-boat. The historical ore body remains open along strike and open at depth within a now consolidated land package with potential for further discoveries. Post-production diamond drilling has identified high-grade antimony and gold and requires further follow up with an opportunity to establish the mineral resource potential."

Exploration Plans

Compilation and review of all historical records

High resolution drone magnetic survey

Delineation of drill targets

(1) Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report: May 25, 2021 by Battery Elements Corp

All historical data have been compiled and are undergoing detailed review. The Company's 2025 field program is scheduled to include a high-resolution drone-based aeromagnetic survey the results of which will assist in the delineation of drill targets to test for additional mineralized zones associated with the historical West Gore antimony mine. The West Gore project lies in the Meguma gold camp and consists of a past-producing underground mine and stockpiles of antimony and gold mineralized material which are yet to be quantified or qualified. Mineralization occurs as stibnite, native antimony, aurostibnite, and antimony-gold alloys and oxides. Aside from minor exploration work in the 1960s and the 1980s, the West Gore system remains essentially unexplored.

Historical accounts detail that mining at West Gore was suspended during the first world war when a ship load of antimony ore enroute to Wales for processing was torpedoed and sunk. The loss of this revenue bankrupted the mining company and operations were suspended.

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Avrom E. Howard, MSc, PGeo, VP of Exploration for Military Metals and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

For more information about Military Metals Corp. and its critical minerals initiatives, please visit

www.militarymetalscorp.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/military-metals/

X: https://x.com/militarymetals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564717587797

About Military Metals Corp.

The Company is a British Columbia-based mineral exploration company that is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties with a focus on antimony.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of DIRECTORS

This news release contains "forward-looking information". Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-Looking information in this news release includes statements related to the Company's exploration plans in relation to the West Gore Antimony Project, future ability of the Company to access the West Gore Antimony Project in connection with the Agreement, and future conditions related to Nova Scotia's critical minerals development.. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release. Known risks include risks related to future demand for antimony, alterations of supply chains in a manner that deprioritizes domestic exploration, development and production of antimony or critical minerals in Canada, or risks related to the Agreement, including disputes, assertion of rights of Surface Holders in a manner that limits the activities of the Company. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-Looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates, or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254438

SOURCE: Military Metals Corp.
MARION, NC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Greene Concepts Inc. (OTC PINK:INKW), the manufacturer of the premium artesian spring water brand BE WATER, is excited to announce the launch of its newly redesigned corporate website. This upgraded platform reflects the Company's continued growth, refined brand identity, and commitment to delivering transparency, accessibility, and value to both investors and consumers.

The enhanced website offers a fresh, modern design with improved navigation, faster load times, and mobile optimization-making it easier for all audiences to explore Greene Concepts' offerings, stay informed, and engage with the brand. Whether visiting to shop, learn about the company's mission, or track strategic progress, users now enjoy a more intuitive and informative experience.

Website Enhancements Include:

Investor Engagement Hub: A newly designed investor section provides quick access to financial reports, corporate updates, SEC filings, key accomplishments, and strategic insights-supporting transparency and informed decision-making.

Stronger Brand Storytelling: A revitalized presentation of BE WATER highlights the brand's premium quality, natural origins, and alignment with health and wellness trends in the growing bottled water market.

Improved User Experience: Streamlined design and enhanced performance make it easier for consumers, retailers, and partners to browse, learn, and shop across all devices.

Boosted Online Visibility: Upgraded SEO and content structure improve searchability and expand the reach to new audiences, including health-conscious consumers and potential partners.

Resource Center: Visitors can now access product information, company videos, water source test results, and industry data-enhancing transparency and building trust across all stakeholder groups.

Sustainability & Community Focus: Dedicated sections spotlight Greene Concepts' environmental stewardship, charitable initiatives, and commitment to social responsibility.

Lenny Greene, CEO of Greene Concepts, shares, "This website redesign is a major milestone for us-not only as a growing public company, but as a mission-driven brand that puts people first. It offers a clean, engaging experience that better serves our customers, partners, and investors alike."

Mr. Greene continues, "By merging our previous brand and corporate pages into one unified platform, we're able to clearly communicate who we are, what we stand for, and the value we bring to the $372.7 billion bottled water industry. We invite everyone-whether you're an investor, a retail partner, or a first-time customer-to visit the new site and be part of our story."

The upgraded website is now live at: www.greeneconcepts.com which automatically redirects to https://www.bewaterbeyou.com/ for premium branding.

Follow Greene Concepts, Inc. on Social Media (X) at: @GreeneConcepts

About Greene Concepts, Inc.

Greene Concepts, Inc. (https://www.greeneconcepts.com) is a publicly traded company whose purpose is to provide the world with high-quality, healthy and enhanced beverage choices that meet the nutritional needs of its consumers while refreshing their mind, body and spirit. The Company's flagship product, BE WATER, is a premium artesian bottled water that supports total body health and wellness. Greene Concepts' beverage and bottling plant is located in Marion, North Carolina, and their water is ethically sourced from spring and artesian wells that are fed from a natural aquifer located deep beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. Greene Concepts continues to develop and market premium beverage brands designed to enhance the daily lives of consumers.

Safe Harbor: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a few uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:

Greene Concepts, Inc.

Investor Relations

IR@greeneconcepts.com

SOURCE: Greene Concepts Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/greene-concepts-launches-new-corporate-website-to-strengthen-inv-1034845
State-of-the-Art Actuators Play Key Role In Autonomous Rotorcraft Safety

COATESVILLE, PA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Piasecki Aircraft Corporation, a pioneer in vertical flight, today announced that it has entered into a key partnership with Volz Servos, a German manufacturer of high-reliability, redundant electromagnetic actuators. Volz will supply its advanced actuator systems for Piasecki's Adaptive Digital Automated Pilotage Technology (ADAPT) program, supporting the next generation of autonomous rotorcraft.

Volz Servos DA 30-HT-D-MCCS OPV actuator

Volz Servos DA 30-HT-D-MCCS OPV actuator, designed for dual-channel redundancy and featuring an electromagnetic clutch for manual override.

Launched in 2016 in response to a Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office (JASPO) study documenting high rotorcraft losses in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2013, ADAPT is an advanced research initiative designed to reduce mishap rates through intelligent flight controls and autonomous capability. ADAPT's core technologies - including Return-to-Base, Leader-Follower, and Safe Landing Area Determination (SLAD) - enable aircraft to continue flying after suffering significant damage or pilot incapacitation. The system automatically optimizes control allocation, lift, and thrust to improve survivability, reduce costs, and enhance maneuverability across a range of mission profiles.

Volz's DA 30-HT-D-MCCS OPV actuators, designed for dual-channel redundancy and featuring an electromagnetic clutch for manual override, will control flight surfaces on Piasecki's CoAX 2D demonstrator, an optionally-piloted EDM Aerotec helicopter platform integrated with ADAPT's digital flight control system.

"Volz's actuators provide the perfect mix of capability, reliability, and redundancy needed for our optionally piloted aircraft," said Chris DiMarco, ADAPT Program Manager at Piasecki. "Their partnership has been instrumental in advancing the ADAPT program and enabling its next phase. Our work not only supports military applications but also lays the foundation for next-gen commercial rotorcraft."

The ADAPT program has already demonstrated key capabilities in simulation, including Fly-to-Optimal maneuvering, Vehicle Maneuvering Optimization, and Damage-Tolerant Control. The CoAX 2D is slated for flight testing this year, followed by continued development of advanced autonomous features to further expand operational safety and flexibility.

"We are proud to support the ADAPT program with our advanced actuator technology," said Phillipp Volz, CEO of Volz Servos. "This collaboration marks a major step forward in rotorcraft safety and performance, and we look forward to a long-term partnership with Piasecki."

About Piasecki Aircraft Corporation

For more than 80 years, Piasecki has been a leader in vertical lift aircraft. It specializes in the design, fabrication, and flight testing of experimental rotorcraft and unmanned air vehicles and has developed and flown more than 25 advanced VTOL and UAV aircraft to date. Customers include the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and AFWERX; the U.S. Army Futures Command Aviation and Missile Center and Medical R&D Command; NAVAIR; DARPA; and SOCOM; as well as leading OEMs such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Piasecki is a recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential National Medal of Technology, Smithsonian Air & Space Achievement Award, and the prestigious Tibbitts Award for small business innovation from the U.S. Department of Defense. Piasecki has been a proud member of the Vertical Flight Society for more than 50 years. For more information, please visit piasecki.com and follow Piasecki on LinkedIn.

About Volz Servos

With over 40 years' experience in developing, manufacturing and delivering actuators for a wide range of applications, from medical to robotics to UAV, Volz Servos has earned the reputation that customers around the world rely on today. As an EN/AS 9100-certified supplier to the aerospace industry, Volz ensures the highest levels of reliability in its servos, as well as in the development, production and distribution of actuators for the aviation market. For more information, please visit volz-servos.com and follow Volz on LinkedIn.



Contact Information

Aaron Endre

piasecki@endrecommunications.com

Angela Stahlhacke

a.stahlhacke@psv-neo.de

SOURCE: Piasecki Aircraft Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/aerospace-and-defense/piasecki-aircraft-partners-with-volz-servos-for-advanced-rotorcraft-autonomy-1031766
PISCATAWAY, N.J. and SAN MATEO, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueMomentum, a leading services and solutions provider exclusively focused on supporting property and casualty (P&C) insurers, and Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE) congratulate Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho on the successful upgrade of Guidewire InsuranceSuite to Guidewire Cloud Platform. ValueMomentum, a Guidewire PartnerConnect Consulting partner at the Select level, was the lead partner in the implementation project.

The migration from an on-premises deployment to Guidewire Cloud Platform was stewarded by Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho's Information Systems department and was completed in under 12 months. Leveraging InsuranceSuite on Guidewire Cloud Platform allows the company to provide a modern user experience to customers, partners, and employees; accelerate speed to market; and enable the business agility needed to navigate future market changes.

"The successful Guidewire Cloud project has modernized our systems and infrastructure," said Todd Argall, President and CEO of Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho. "It provides a strong foundation for delivering best-in-class products and services to our customers and leveraging Guidewire's latest innovations. This important milestone was achieved in a timely manner through the skillful and collaborative work of both the Farm Bureau team and ValueMomentum."

"Bringing new products to market quickly is critical for us, and completing this project is a major achievement," said Shilynn Francisco, Vice President of Information Systems at Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho. "We're excited to leverage the innovative tools of the cloud platform. ValueMomentum was a trusted partner throughout the process - bringing creative solutions to complex challenges and helping us deliver our Guidewire Cloud migration with confidence."

"We admire Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho's 78 years of service in providing financial peace of mind to Idaho and Washington families, farms, and businesses by protecting what matters most," commented Guidewire Head of Professional Services Michael Mahoney. "We are honored that Guidewire Cloud Platform is serving as the technology foundation for the company's continued growth and success."

ValueMomentum President Abhijeet Jhaveri stated, "We congratulate Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho for the successful migration of Guidewire InsuranceSuite to Guidewire Cloud Platform. We look forward to our continued collaboration and leveraging new functionality from Guidewire and its ecosystem to provide enhanced protection and services to policyholders."

About Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho

Since its founding by Idaho farmers and ranchers in 1947, Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho has helped provide peace of mind to Idaho families, farms, and businesses by protecting what matters most.

Staying true to this mission for more than 78 years, the company has grown into the largest property-casualty insurer headquartered in Idaho and ranks in the top three in overall premium among property-casualty insurers in the state. In 2023, Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho expanded into Washington state under the name Western Community Insurance to bring its decades of experience to the broader Northwest community.

In 2025, the company was ranked #3 statewide and #5 in East Idaho on the prestigious list of the Best Places to Work in Idaho. Additionally, AM Best cited Farm Bureau Insurance's improved underwriting and operating performance as the reason behind its 2023 Financial Strength Rating upgrade from A- (Excellent) to A (Excellent).

For more information, visit www.idahofarmbureauinsurance.com.

About Guidewire Software

Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. More than 570 insurers in 42 countries, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, rely on Guidewire products. With core systems leveraging data and analytics, digital, and artificial intelligence, Guidewire defines cloud platform excellence for P&C insurers.

We are proud of our unparalleled implementation record, with 1,700+ successful projects supported by the industry's largest R&D team and SI partner ecosystem. Our marketplace represents the largest solution partner community in P&C, where customers can access hundreds of applications to accelerate integration, localization, and innovation.

For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.

About ValueMomentum

ValueMomentum is a leading solutions provider for the global property and casualty insurance industry. The company helps insurers stay ahead with sustained growth and high performance, enhancing stakeholder value and fostering resilient societies. Having served over 100 insurers, ValueMomentum is one of the largest services providers exclusively focused on the insurance industry. For more information, visit https://www.valuemomentum.com.

Media Contact

Joe King

Chief Marketing Officer, ValueMomentum, Inc.

Email: joseph.king@valuemomentum.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/farm-bureau-insurance-company-of-idaho-enables-business-agility-with-successful-guidewire-cloud-platform-migration-302473168.html
PLANO, Texas, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , a global leader in digital upskilling, today announced the appointment of Jitendra Kumar as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). A seasoned entrepreneur and technology leader, Jitendra returns to Simplilearn with a proven track record of driving large-scale tech innovation. In his earlier tenure with the firm, he led the development of high-performance web and mobile platforms that were instrumental in Simplilearn's rapid scale-up. In his new mandate, Jitendra will spearhead Simplilearn's AI-first transformation, embedding AI technologies from generative to predictive to personalize learning and scale global impact.

Speaking on this appointment, Mr. Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn, said, "We are delighted to welcome Jitendra back as part of our executive team. His reappointment comes at a pivotal moment as we sharpen our global AI strategy internally and as a market-facing solution. Jitendra's leadership will be critical in advancing our AI-readiness, scaling capabilities, and strengthening our position as a leading digital upskilling platform. His diverse industry experience will be invaluable as we strengthen our presence across global markets."

Prior to rejoining Simplilearn, Jitendra was the Co-founder and CEO of HappyCredit, a fintech startup backed by Kunal Shah and Goodwater Capital. He also built ReelOn, an AI-powered video content creation platform for creators, agencies, and brands. Jitendra holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kanpur.

Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Jitendra said, "I am excited to return to Simplilearn during such a transformative time for the company and the edtech industry at large. As we accelerate our AI journey, we must adopt a holistic approach, embedding AI across our tech and learning ecosystem to create smarter, more personalized, and scalable upskilling solutions. Our goal is to bridge the gap between AI ambition and real-world readiness, empowering talent and businesses to lead confidently in the AI-first era."

Jitendra joins Simplilearn at an exciting time as the company accelerates its innovation and global growth strategy. With over 8 million careers advanced globally and market leadership, the momentum is further validated by its recent win at the 2025 Stevie Awards, where Simplilearn bagged Gold for Sales and Customer Service, reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class digital upskilling experiences.

About Simplilearn

Founded in 2010 and based in Plano, Texas and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a global leader in digital upskilling, enabling learners across the globe. Simplilearn offers individuals and businesses worldwide access to world-class work-ready training. Simplilearn offers 1,500+ live online classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting over 8 million learners globally. The programmes are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognised, and globally relevant training programmes are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/simplilearn-appoints-jitendra-kumar-as-chief-technology-officer-to-lead-the-ai-first-strategy-302473153.html
TotalEnergies EP Brasil has signed an agreement with Shell Brasil, aiming to:

increase its interest in the operated Lapa offshore field to 48% by acquiring an additional 3% stake from Shell

divest its 20% stake in Gato do Mato

TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) announces the signature of an agreement with Shell Brasil Petroleo Ltda to exchange its 20% non-operated interest in the Gato do Mato project for an additional 3% interest in Lapa, a producing offshore oil field. Upon closing, TotalEnergies will increase its stake in Lapa to 48% (Operator), alongside Shell (27%) and Repsol Sinopec (25%).

Located in the Santos Basin, 270 kilometers off the coast of Brazil, Lapa is a deep-offshore field operated by TotalEnergies. The Lapa South-West tie-back development, approved in 2023, will increase production by 25,000 barrels per day upon start-up by year-end, bringing total output of the field to 60,000 barrels per day.

"This transaction is aligned with our strategy to focus on low-cost, low-emission projects, such as Atapu 2 and Sepia 2 in Brazil, sanctioned in 2024. In addition, it further strengthens our operated position in the Lapa field, in the pre-salt Santos Basin," said Javier Rielo, Senior Vice President Americas, Exploration Production at TotalEnergies

This agreement is subject to customary conditions precedent, notably regulatory approvals.

AboutTotalEnergies in Brazil

TotalEnergies has been operating in Brazil for 50 years and employs close to 4 000 people in the country. Its presence encompasses Exploration Production, gas, renewable electricity (wind, solar, batteries), lubricants and elastomer processing.

TotalEnergies' Exploration Production portfolio currently includes 11 licenses, of which four are operated. In 2024, the Company's average production in the country was 153,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

TotalEnergies is investing in the growth of the renewable energy segment in Brazil: in October 2022, it entered a partnership with Casa dos Ventos, Brazil's leading renewable energy player, to jointly develop a 12 GW renewable energy portfolio, including onshore wind, photovoltaic and battery storage.

AboutTotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to providing as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

X @TotalEnergiesLinkedIn TotalEnergiesFacebook TotalEnergiesInstagram TotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250603443177/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
Qatar Airways Group has agreed a new loan facility of QAR 4.5bn with local Qatari banks

This innovative transaction underscores the commitment of Qatar Airways to Qatar National Vision 2030

DOHA, Qatar, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in 28 years, Qatar Airways signs a landmark agreement with leading local Qatari Banks led by QNB to provide QAR 4.5 billion in strategic financing.

The financing will be provided by domestic banks in Qatar. The syndication was fully underwritten and led by QNB Group as the sole and exclusive Book Runner, Global Coordinator, Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Structuring Bank, while the lending banks include Ahlibank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Dukhan Bank, QIB, and QIIB.

This new agreement will see an innovative approach taken whereby local banks lend in Qatari Riyals in both conventional and Islamic tranches and commercial terms in line with international benchmarks for a strategic financing transaction of this nature.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: "Qatar Airways' latest purpose-driven partnership demonstrates our trust in the operational excellence of the Qatari banking sector. We are honoured to collaborate with the leading banks of Qatar as we continue to further our commitment to fulfilling the Qatar National Vision 2030. We thank the financial institutions that have played a vital role in shaping our journey, offering support that has helped us reach new millstones. We believe such strong and resilient partnerships remain essential for driving industry innovation and expanding global connectivity."

QNB Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, said: "We are pleased to have been selected by Qatar Airways for this prominent role. This appointment underscores QNB's expertise in structuring complex financing solutions and its commitment to supporting the growth objectives of our clients and supporting Qatar National Vision 2030."

As Qatar Airways continues its ambitious fleet and network growth strategy, it remains firmly committed to supporting local institutions, enhancing economic development, and contributing to national prosperity. With this agreement, the national carrier also aims to stimulate greater collaboration between the aviation and the banking sector, paving the way for innovative financial structures tailored to the airline's evolving needs while promoting national economic resilience.

About Qatar Airways

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the 'World's Best Airline' for the unprecedented eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been the World's Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, 'World's Best Business Class', 'World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge', and 'Best Airline in the Middle East'. As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was also recently voted the 'World's Best Airline Website' by World Travel Tech Awards in 2024.

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the 'Best Airport in the Middle East' for 11 consecutive years, as well as 'World's Best Airport Shopping' for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the 'World's Best Airport' by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA's Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.

About QNB Group

QNB Group is one of the leading financial institutions in the MEA region and among the most valuable banking brands in the regional market. Present in over 28 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, it offers tailored products and services supported by innovation and backed by a team of over 31,000 professionals dedicated to driving banking excellence worldwide.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/qatar-airways-signs-landmark-agreement-with-qnb-group-and-leading-qatari-banks-for-new-era-of-strategic-financing-302473190.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / by Elysabeth Alfano, VegTech Invest

Where there is inefficiency in the market, there is innovation. Thus, I saw a massive investment opportunity in food system transformation, a total addressable market estimated at $9 trillion to $14 trillion. Investing in companies pioneering sustainable food solutions isn't just ethical - it is financially sound. The U.S. DoD is now allocating significant funds to food innovation as a matter of national security, a strong market indicator that more global investment is to come and that de-risking these innovations from government is highly likely.

Further, the World Bank projects that $450 billion to $650 billion will need to be invested annually in food system transformation over the next decade, a massive opportunity for investors. As far as impact, The Boston Consulting Group found that investing in diversified proteins was up to 40 times more effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than investments in other green technologies.

I want to invest in the companies large enough to drive real impact, with the supply chain infrastructure to transform the global food system. Since no ETF met these criteria, I considered building one myself. This became a reality when I met my VegTech Invest business partner and Chief Investment Officer, Dr. Sasha Goodman who, for the same business reasons, had also been on a path to investing in food system transformation in the public markets. This serendipity is how our food innovation ETF was born. Today, our ETF is the first US thematic to focus on sustainable food system transformation, investing in companies leading the way toward a resilient food future.

Read Elysabeth's full article here - https://greenmoney.com/why-i-started-a-food-innovation-etf-a-journey-from-personal-conviction-to-growth-investing

====

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GreenMoney Journal on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GreenMoney Journal

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/greenmoney-journal

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: GreenMoney Journal

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/publishing-and-media/why-i-started-a-food-innovation-etf-from-personal-conviction-to-growth-investi-1035374
Move Comes Considering several High-Profile Government Officials Hacks in the United States and a Global Need for Secure and Private Communication Solutions

MIAMI, FL AND VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SKUR)(FRA:GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss-hosted cybersecurity and private communications platform, is pleased to announce that it has launched its Government and Diplomatic Corps division, based in Washington D.C., as cyberattacks targeting government officials and diplomats have increased exponentially due to present geopolitical tensions.

In the last six months alone, several high-profile hacks targeting high value diplomats and government officials have taken place, including:

Top secret US battle plans in Yemen were revealed on a widely used open-source free chat application

Over 4,000 Washington DC staffers were compromised on ProtonMail's open-source email

Recently the White House Chief of Staff phone hack where hackers used her contacts file to reach out to other top officials and impersonate her and asked the discussions to be continued on Telegram, according to several media reports.

Sekur's Communications Suite offers countermeasures to these scenarios through its proprietary privacy platform for encrypted email, messaging and VPN for VIPs and high value clients, such as diplomats, government officials and global leaders. The platform is proprietary and hosted in Switzerland for optimal security and privacy compliance. It offers multiple privacy advantages, such as no contact or data mining, no location mining and secure and private communication within and outside of the Sekur network, offering privacy and security for both sender and recipient without divulging either phone number or identity, using its SekurSend and Chat by Invite features. The package is sold for US$90/month or US$990/yr per user. A light version is priced at $50/month/user or US$550/user/yr, depending on the needs of the organization. Sekur has setup a section on its site and email contact for diplomats and government officials by going directly to www.sekur.com/diplomats or contacting Sekur at diplomats@sekur.com .

To inaugurate its diplomatic services, Sekur has engaged the Washington Diplomat for a full-page advertisement in the Embassy Directory and an ad on its website. This publication is distributed to over 17,000 people in the diplomatic corps in Washington DC.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur stated, "We are very pleased to offer this critical communications protection suite to the diplomatic corps and government sectors. We have already engaged discussions with several countries, and the feedback has been excellent. This solution is meant to protect high value targets against phishing, Email Compromise attacks, AI hacks, and chat and SMS hacks. These incidents are happening daily and are often the work of rogue governments and entities, to inflict maximum damage to individuals and the nations they represent. Neither Big Tech email platforms nor open source chat platforms are appropriate for any serious business or any government officials, and we expect this service to grow exponentially in the coming months and years, and plan to offer more features to the offering in the coming months, such as voice and video conferencing protection."

As global demand for secure mobile communications accelerates-projected to reach $88.8 billion by 2032-Sekur is strategically positioned within a $14.5 billion market growing at a 19.8% CAGR. The global cybersecurity market is projected to reach $578.2 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2024 to 2033. The market was valued at $219.0 billion in 2023. Swiss Privacy Protection

Sekur's solutions are hosted exclusively in Switzerland, ensuring user data remains secure from external data access requests. Switzerland's robust Federal Act on Data Protection, in place since 1993, upholds strict privacy standards, prohibiting unauthorized data processing and protecting against the publication of information based on leaked "secret official discussions." This regulatory framework provides a unique level of data privacy protection, reinforcing Sekur's commitment to safeguarding user information.

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Swiss-hosted cybersecurity and privacy communications provider. offering a secure suite of tools to protect governments, businesses and individuals from unauthorized access and cyber threats. With solutions such as SekurMail, SekurMessenger, and SekurVPN, Sekur provides an accessible and reliable means of digital communication and data storage, grounded in Swiss privacy standards. Sekur sells its solutions through its website www.sekur.com , approved distributors and telecommunications companies globally. Sekur serves governments, businesses and consumers worldwide.

CONTACT

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.

Email: connect@sekur.com

www.sekurprivatedata.com

Tel: +1.305.347.5114

Follow Sekur on:

X

LinkedIn

YouTube

For sales brochure on our enterprise security solutions, or partnership opportunities, contact: partners@sekur.com.

To find out more about Sekur's privacy communications solutions visit: https://sekur.com

For more company information, please visit: https://sekurprivatedata.com



Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they do not guarantee future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019, filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Sekur Private Data Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/sekur-private-data-ltd.-launches-diplomatic-corps.-and-government-1035229
Company Conducting Capital Raise via Rule 506(c) Regulation D Offering in Conjunction with Webinar Series

Management to Provide Update on Growth, Product Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships in $480B Creator Economy

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Amaze Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American:AMZE) ("Amaze" or the "Company"), a global leader in creator-powered commerce, today announced that it will be participating in an upcoming webinar series hosted by Clout Hero. In conjunction with the webinar series, Amaze will be conducting a capital raise via a Rule 506(c) Regulation D offering for up to $25 million. Additional details can be found on the webinar landing page and in the Company's filings with the SEC.

During the webinars, Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze Software, will present the Company's growth strategy and key initiatives, including product innovation, platform expansion, and new strategic partnerships.

The first event will take place virtually on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. PDT. To register for the webinar, please visit Amaze.co/invest. The webinar series will continue every Tuesday and Thursday throughout June, with the exception of the Juneteenth market holiday.

"Amaze's momentum comes at a defining moment for the creator economy," said Bob Olejar, Founder of Clout Hero, organizer of the webinar series. "They're eliminating barriers to entry and enabling creators of all sizes to monetize with ease - no minimum follower count, no operational hurdles. We're excited to help share that story with investors and the broader market."

With the creator economy projected to reach $480 billion by 2027, Amaze is scaling to meet global demand. Its platform simplifies the process for creators to launch products, monetize their content, and grow their businesses - all while integrating directly with the social platforms where creators already engage their audiences.

Interested parties are encouraged to register now to attend the first webinar and learn more about Amaze's business at Amaze.co/invest.

For investor information, please contact IR@amaze.co

For press inquiries, please contact PR@amaze.co

About Amaze:

Amaze Holdings, Inc. is an end-to-end, creator-powered commerce platform offering tools for seamless product creation, advanced e-commerce solutions, and scalable managed services. By empowering anyone to "sell anything, anywhere," Amaze enables creators to tell their stories, cultivate deeper audience connections, and generate sustainable income through shoppable, authentic experiences. Discover more at www.amaze.co.

About Clout Hero:

Clout Hero stands out as the leading persuasive marketing company in the Regulation A and Regulation D fundraising marketplace. A spinoff of the pioneering marketing firm Placement Directory, Clout Hero brings over 20 years of marketing excellence into the finance industry. For the past three years, they have focused exclusively on supporting raises of $20 million or more, consistently delivering bold and results-driven strategies. Their expertise helps businesses engage investors and achieve their financial goals with confidence.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These statements relate to future events and developments or to our future operating or financial performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based estimates and assumptions. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our market opportunity and potential growth of that market, strategies, initiatives, growth, revenues, expenditures, our plans and objectives for future operations, and future financial and business performance. These statements can be identified by words such as such as "may," "might," "should," "would," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and are based our current expectations and views concerning future events and developments and their potential effects on us.

These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statement. These risks include: our ability to execute our plans and strategies; our limited operating history and history of losses; our financial position and need for additional capital; our ability to attract and retain our creator base and expand the range of products available for sale; we may experience difficulties in managing our growth and expenses; we may not keep pace with technological advances; there may be undetected errors or defects in our software or issues related to data computing, processing or storage; our reliance on third parties to provide key services for our business, including cloud hosting, marketing platforms, payment providers and network providers; failure to maintain or enhance our brand; our ability to protect our intellectual property; significant interruptions, delays or outages in services from our platform; significant data breach or disruption of the information technology systems or networks and cyberattacks; risks associated with international operations; general economic and competitive factors affecting our business generally; changes in laws and regulations, including those related to privacy, online liability, consumer protection, and financial services; our dependence on senior management and other key personnel; and our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel and senior management.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other future filings and reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the press release. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or developments.

SOURCE: Amaze Holdings, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/amaze-to-participate-in-webinar-series-beginning-june-5-2025-1035258
STUTTGART, Germany, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yuwell PRIMEDIC successfully held its 2025 Global Partners Conference in Stuttgart, Germany, bringing together leadership and international distributors. The event spotlighted an expanded strategic alliance with Safe Life Group, embracing "The Next Wave" in first-aid solutions globally.

Setting New Benchmarks in Emergency Solutions

Yuwell Chairman, Mr. Alex WU, highlighted PRIMEDIC's 52-year mission of "Saves life. Everywhere." He emphasized Yuwell's commitment to further invest in PRIMEDIC to advice its position as a global leader in first-aid solutions and protect more lives worldwide.

The conference also showcased a portfolio of first-aid products designed for public, EMS & clinical, and home use - jointly developed and manufactured in China and Germany.

Emphasized products

HeartSave myPAD, which is portable and handy size The HeartSave Y/YA series, which features both of blood oxygen and blood pressure monitoring

These smart devices enable remote emergency assistance and one-touch alerts, delivering efficient solutions for complex scenarios. All products are EU MDR-certified, paving the way for further expansion across the European market.

PRIMEDIC Global CEO, Dr. Jack JING announced plans to increase investment in AI-powered emergency response and remote medical connectivity. PRIMEDIC will launch over 10 strategic products to enhance integrated emergency solutions spanning EMS to clinical care, creating end-to-end health solutions from prevention through emergency response to recovery.

Strengthening Global Reach Through Strategic Partnership with Safe Life

While advancing product innovation, PRIMEDIC is also accelerating its global expansion. Financial reports show its emergency solutions segment generated 239 million ($33M USD) in 2024 revenue, a 34.05% year-on-year-driven by localized overseas operations and global supply chain partnerships.

At the conference, PRIMEDIC signed a letter of intent with Safe Life Group. This expanded partnership builds on a 15-year relationship, combining shared values, complementary strengths, and integrated resources to accelerate PRIMEDIC's presence across Europe and the United States while raising public awareness for emergency preparedness and response.

As emergency scenarios diversify and IoT technology advances, the AED market is rapidly evolving toward smart, accessible solutions. PRIMEDIC will leverage its technical expertise and strategic vision to accelerate product innovations and international certifications, promoting global growth and delivering next-level emergency care worldwide.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/yuwell-primedic-global-partners-conference-held-in-germany---signs-strategic-agreement-with-safe-life-to-expand-global-first-aid-market-302473216.html


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Euro area private sector expanded for the fifth straight month in May, but the upturn was only fractional and the slowest in three months, final results of the purchasing managers' survey by S&P Global showed on Wednesday.



The final HCOB composite output index fell to 50.2 in May from 50.4 in April. However, the score was above the threshold 50-mark and also the flash estimate of 49.5.



The survey showed that manufacturing was the primary engine for growth as services activity contracted for the first time since last November.



The HCOB services Purchasing Managers' Index dropped to 49.7 in May from 50.1 in April. Nonetheless, the PMI reading was above the flash estimate of 48.9.



New business intakes extended its decline that began in June 2024. New work from non-domestic customers declined for the thirty-ninth successive month.



Companies made additional inroads to backlogged orders to compensate for lower volumes of incoming new work. Employment across the private sector increased but only fractionally.



There was a pick-up in business confidence for the first time since January. Stronger confidence was registered at both manufacturers and service providers.



Regarding prices, the PMI survey revealed that input costs grew at the weakest pace in six months, and selling prices grew only moderately and at the slowest pace since last October.



The major four economies of the currency bloc diverged in their performance. While Italy and Spain registered growth in private sector output, France moved closer to stabilization and Germany reported the first decline in five months.



'If the southern European countries can maintain their momentum to some extent, while German service providers begin to benefit from expansionary fiscal policy, a recovery in this sector is quite possible this year,' Hamburg Commercial Bank Chief Economist Cyrus de la Rubia said.



Germany's private sector slipped back into contraction in May. The final composite output index posted 48.5 in May compared to 50.1 in April. The flash reading was 48.6.



The final services PMI dropped to 47.1 in May from 49.0 in the previous month. The flash score was 47.2.



France's private sector came closer to stabilization in May and registered its slowest fall in the nine-month period of contraction. The final composite output index rose to 49.3 in May from 47.8 in the previous month. The flash score was 48.0.



The final services PMI advanced to 48.9 from 47.3 in April. The reading was initially estimated at 47.4.



Italy's private sector growth hit a 13-month high in May. The composite output index rose to 52.5 from 52.1 in April. This was the fourth consecutive month of growth.



The services PMI registered 53.2 in May compared to 52.9 in the prior month. The reading marked the sixth successive monthly growth and also signaled the fastest expansion in nearly a year.



Spain's private sector economy continued to expand in May but the pace of growth eased to the weakest since December 2023. The composite index fell to 51.4 from 52.5 in April.



Both manufacturers and service providers signaled moderate rises in output. The services PMI recorded 51.3 in May compared to April's 53.4.



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Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

 2025 AFX News
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Omega Pacific Resources Ltd. (CSE: OMGA) ("Omega Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its 2025 exploration strategy for the Williams Property, located in British Columbia's Toodoggone District. The Toodoggone is re-emerging as an important gold and copper-gold district, where several exciting mineral discoveries have recently been made, including Omega Pacific's 2024 gold discovery. In 2025, the District is experiencing a surge of exploration. Over $50 million in exploration and development programs are expected, driven by strategic investments from major mining companies and capital markets participants. Omega Pacific's 2025 exploration program will build on the success of its 2024 gold discovery on the GIC Target at Williams. The program is expected to include drilling, mapping & sampling to extend GIC both east and west, growing the prospective target over 12 km including recently staked and acquired claims.

2024 EXPLORATION HIGHLIGHTS

The 2024 Williams exploration program delivered encouraging results. Two of the four drill holes returned bulk tonnage gold intercepts and high-grade intervals such as:

1.69 g/t Au over 104 m including 6.22 g/t Au over 18.98 m (WM24-01); and,

2.16 g/t Au over 96.9 m including 4.16 g/t Au over 10.5 m (WM22-02 ext.).

The combined dataset of recent and historical exploration supports the thesis that GIC hosts a robust, bulk tonnage epithermal gold system with associated high-grade gold zones. All four 2024 drill holes intersected gold mineralization in multiple zones and mineralization is open in all directions, including to surface.





Figure 1. GIC Prospect showing select 2022 and 2024 drill holes on the 12 km long geophysical target. The area of focus in 2025 extends 1,400 m east to west. Gold mineralization at GIC remains open in all directions.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11671/254429_46f1f81d8441d896_001full.jpg

2025 EXPLORATION PLANS

Within the broad 12 km wide GIC Target, Omega Pacific will focus on expanding mineralization on an immediate east-west target area measuring approximately 1,400 x 400 m (Figure 1). This target is bordered by known mineralization in both directions - 600 metres east of the 2024 drilling, historical hole WM22-03 interested 4.64 g/t Au over 8 m. Up to 800 metres to the west of the 2024 drill locations, historical surface soil sampling returned 4-12 g/t Au (see October 16, 2024 news release). The 2025 drilling will also seek to extend mineralization north and to surface, where historical mechanical trenching samples returned up to 5 g/t Au, upslope and 300 metres north of 2024's drill locations (Figure 2).

"We are excited to launch the most impactful exploration program at GIC to date," said Jason Leikam, CEO of Omega Pacific. "We intend to advance the high potential gold target at GIC as rapidly as possible. The next step will be to expand known gold mineralization with the intention of validating the multi-million-ounce potential at GIC, where we have a long list of priority targets. We are well-positioned to build on our 2024 discovery and create lasting value for our shareholders."

2025 Exploration Program Objectives:

Initial 2,500 metres diamond core drilling at GIC;

Priority objective to expand mineralization along strike and to surface, with shallower holes than executed in 2024;

Pending results, the Company will expand the drilling to +/-5,000 metres, subject to financing; and

Surface mapping and sampling on claims acquired and staked in 2024. These new claims are contained within the GIC 12 km long geophysical target.





Figure 2. GIC Prospect cross-section showing select 2024 drill holes, high-grade surface samples, and an Induced-Polarization chargeability anomaly. *Pseudo-section showing multiple holes on one plane.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11671/254429_46f1f81d8441d896_002full.jpg

The Company will provide further exploration program details as it commences work.

About the GIC Target

The GIC Prospect represents a 12 km long target with overlapping gold-copper rock and soil anomalism, magnetic trends and chargeability/resistivity anomalies from induced-polarization (IP) geophysical surveys. This area is highlighted by the "Park Gossan" and occurs proximal to the contact between volcanic and intrusive rocks, and large-scale faults all of which are critical to mineralization elsewhere in the Toodoggone District.

Qualified Person

Robert L'Heureux (P.Geol.), Director of Omega Pacific Resources, is the "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed, validated and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. L'Heureux oversees exploration planning and execution at the Williams Property.

About Omega Pacific Resources

Omega Pacific Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of precious metal projects in British Columbia. The Company also continues to evaluate prospective assets domestically and internationally. With a talented technical team, Omega Pacific is commitment to best practices in responsible exploration with judicious use of capital. Omega Pacific is dedicated to delivering long-term value to its shareholders and stakeholders.

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under the provisions of Canadian securities laws including statements about the Company's plans. Such statements are necessarily based upon several beliefs, assumptions, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change, except as required by law.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254429

SOURCE: Omega Pacific Resources Inc.
Momentum builds around Lobito Corridor as new $1B platform accelerates strategic U.S.-Africa investment

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / With geopolitical dynamics rapidly evolving and global powers racing to secure critical infrastructure and supply chains, a high-level African delegation visited Washington and New York to deepen cooperation with the United States. At the center of these talks: the Lobito Corridor - a $4 billion infrastructure initiative connecting Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo - and a new $1 billion private development platform aimed at transforming the region.

The delegation was led by global entrepreneur and President of Menomadin and Mitrelli Group, Haim Taib, along with Dr. Armando Manuel, Chairman of Angola's Sovereign Wealth Fund (FSDEA), and Mr. Muyangwa Muyangwa, Director General of Zambia's National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA). Together, they are advancing the Lobito Corridor Impact Development (LCID) Platform, a bold initiative to drive strategic, long-term investments in agriculture, energy, industrial zones and human development along the corridor.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity," said Haim Taib. "If the U.S. wants resilient supply chains, new markets, and strong alliances, it must invest in infrastructure and development-not just diplomacy. The Lobito Corridor is the blueprint: a gateway for trade, a catalyst for local industry, and a model for partnership that delivers mutual returns."

The weeklong visit reflected growing American interest in African-led investment frameworks. Highlights included: meeting with the Angola Minister of Transportation to align priorities for implementation; policy and investment dialogues with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); A session with the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) for the upcoming U.S.-Africa Business Summit, where Mitrelli will serve as a strategic partner; A meeting with Senator Ted Cruz, discussed the need for viable alternatives to Chinese infrastructure dominance; and an exclusive world doco premiere organized by Foreign Affairs magazine and Africell, showcasing the corridor's economic and human potential.

"Financial cooperation is now more essential than ever," said Mr. Muyangwa. "With the right partners, we can ensure the Lobito Corridor delivers inclusive growth, long-term jobs, and infrastructure that unlocks regional trade. The momentum is here-we must act on it."

"What we need are bankable projects and credible partners," he added during his visit. "Africa doesn't lack vision. It lacks execution capacity and aligned capital. The Lobito Corridor offers a new way to structure collaboration-where public institutions, sovereign funds, and the private sector build together."

The LCID Platform, launched by Haim Taib and the FSDEA, is mobilizing $1 billion in private capital to scale bankable, impact-driven projects in the Lobito Corridor region. The platform is now engaging American and global investors to co-invest in industrial, logistical, and community infrastructure that unlocks growth across multiple sectors.

"Sovereign wealth funds are playing an increasingly important role in Africa's transformation and their involvement will be essential to completing the Lobito Corridor," said Dr. Armando Manuel. "Acting as global investors, these funds are driving sustainable development through strategic partnerships like the LCID Platform, channelling long-term capital while delivering lasting value to our citizens. With rich minerals, arable land, and a young, growing population, the Lobito Corridor can become a hub for agro-industrialization, digital connectivity, and regional integration". Added Dr. Armando Manuel.

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) now connecting a $1.3 trillion market of 1.4 billion people, the Lobito Corridor offers the U.S. a tangible path to deepen economic ties, strengthen regional stability, and secure strategic resources.

"This is more than a railway, it's one of the most strategic projects in Africa today, with a strong global impact," said Haim Taib.

About Haim Taib

Haim Taib is a global entrepreneur and impact investor who has led and financed projects exceeding $10 billion across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. As founder of Mitrelli Group, Menomadin Group, JETA, Luminar Impact Capital, and the Menomadin Foundation, he drives a powerful value chain focused on strengthening and developing nations. His work spans over 100 national-scale projects in infrastructure, energy, healthcare, food and water security, education, technology, and urbanization. With a clear vision and decades of experience, Taib is a trusted partner to governments and a driving force behind some of the most ambitious public-private initiatives in the Global South.

About FSDEA

The Fundo Soberano de Angola (FSDEA) is Angola's sovereign wealth fund, established to promote long-term economic growth and diversification and offers trusted entry points for global capital in Africa. Specializing in Strategic Investments, encompassing both Financial Markets and Alternative Assets, it is tasked with establishing a sustainable mechanism that ensures the maximization of long-term returns, the preservation of capital, and the support of sustainable socioeconomic growth in Angola and the region. This is achieved through investments in strategic sectors, both domestically and internationally, aimed at optimizing capital and facilitating the generational transfer of wealth.

About NAPSA

The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) is Zambia's public pension fund and one of the country's largest institutional investors. It plays a crucial role in national development through strategic investments in infrastructure, real estate, and capital markets-ensuring financial security for citizens and sustainable growth for future generations.

Contact Information

Bridget Lewis

Senior Account Executive

bridget@javelindc.com

7027732111





SOURCE: Mitrelli

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/investors-in-africas-lobito-corridor-visit-washington-and-nyc-to-deepe-1035383
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Spetz Inc. (the "Company" or "Spetz") (CSE:SPTZ)(OTC PINK:DBKSF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement, signed on June 3, 2025, for the sale of its legacy operating business, the Spetz app platform, along with all associated liabilities and subsidiaries, including its holdings in Spetz Tech Ltd. (Israel), to Mr. Josepf Nevo.

This divestiture marks a strategic shift for the Company as it pivots fully toward its blockchain infrastructure subsidiary, SonicStrategy Inc., now positioned as the primary business focus of Spetz. The transaction will remove legacy liabilities from the Company's balance sheet and allow Spetz to redeploy its resources toward expanding its presence within the Sonic blockchain ecosystem through validator infrastructure, staking, and DeFi strategy deployment.

"This transaction allows us to cleanly exit a business that no longer aligns with our strategic direction," said Mitchell Demeter, CEO and Director of Spetz. "By removing the operational and financial burden of the legacy Spetz app, we can now dedicate our full attention to scaling SonicStrategy into a premier public-market vehicle for blockchain infrastructure and innovation."

The consideration for the transfer of all shares and interests in the aforementioned subsidiaries to Mr. Nevo is CDN$1.00 since, by acquiring the shares of the subsidiaries, Mr. Nevo acquired, indirectly, the associated assets and liabilities of the legacy Spetz operating entities. No further liabilities related to the divested entities will remain on Spetz's balance sheet.

In addition, and concurrently with the divestiture, Mr. Nevo and Mr. Ofir Friedman agreed to release the Company from all outstanding debts, liabilities and obligations owing by the Company to Messrs. Nevo and Friedman, including those owing or arising under any existing convertible debenture or any severance entitlement pursuant to any contract of any of them entered into with the Company. The aggregate value of the release of such obligations is approximately $476,400 USD.

Mr. Nevo is not an officer or director of the Company, however he is an officer and director of the legacy Spetz operating entities and therefore may be considered a "related party" of the Company for the purposes of applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules. Accordingly, the divestiture of the legacy Spetz operating entities to Mr. Nevo constitutes a related party transaction, but is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the Company's securities are not listed on any stock exchange identified in Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the fair market value of the legacy Spetz operating entities sold to Mr. Nevo under the agreement does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days before the divestiture as the parties just completed the negotiations of the terms of the agreement.

No finder's fees were paid in connection with this transaction.

Further updates will be provided as Spetz continues to execute on its new strategic vision.

About Spetz Inc.

Spetz Inc. (CSE:SPTZ)(OTC PINK:DBKSF) is the parent company of SonicStrategy Inc., a public-market gateway to the Sonic blockchain ecosystem. Spetz provides institutional investors with compliant exposure to staking infrastructure and DeFi strategies across the Sonic network.

Spetz Website: www.spetz.app

Sonic Strategy Website: www.sonicstrategy.io

Company Contacts:

Investor Relations

Email: Investors@sonicstrategy.io

Mitchell Demeter

Email: mitchell@sonicstrategy.io

Phone: +1-345-936-9555

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE, NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

Certain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities laws, reflecting management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, strategies, future growth, results of operations, and business prospects of the Company. Words such as "may", "plans," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are subject to business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected outcomes. Factors influencing these outcomes include economic conditions, regulatory developments, competition, capital availability, and business execution risks. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, including, the closing of additional tranches of the Private Placement, how the Company will use of the net proceeds of the Private Placement or if any Warrants or Finder's Warrants will ever be exercised.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents Spetz's expectations as of the date of this release and is subject to change. Spetz does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction. None of the securities issued in the Private Placement will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

We seek Safe Harbor.

SOURCE: Spetz Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/spetz-inc.-announces-divestiture-of-legacy-spetz-app-business-to-str-1035390
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) -AISIX Solutions Inc., (TSXV: AISX) (FSE: QT7) ("AISIX" or "the Company"), a wildfire data and analytics solutions provider, announces that its wildfire modeling has been validated by the wildfire activity across Canada in 2025. The company's Top 10 Canadian Small Population Centres at Risk of Wildfires and Top Ten Small Ontario Municipalities at Risk of Wildfires reports, both published in Q1 2025, had identified several small population centers at heightened risk, some of which are now experiencing severe wildfire impacts.

The 2025 wildfire season is tragically validating the accuracy and importance of AISIX's wildfire data. So far in 2025, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, over 2 million hectares have burned across Canada, and according to the Associated Press, more than 25,000 residents have been evacuated from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Our wildfire risk assessments identified 3 of the very regions now experiencing devastating fires including Fort Smith, Swan Hills, and Kenora.

"The fires we are currently seeing in communities highlighted in AISIX's reports underscore the urgent need for proactive risk management and the value that wildfire intelligence can deliver to governments, industry, and communities alike.", said Mihalis Belantis, Chief Executive Officer, AISIX Solutions Inc.

AISIX's wildfire modeling, developed using an enhanced BurnP3+ framework, integrates machine learning, physical-based modeling, and climate projections to simulate wildfire behavior across Canada. This approach has enabled the identification of high-risk areas, under current and future climate conditions.

In February 2025, AISIX secured a contract with the Climate Risk division of an S&P 500 company to provide wildfire modeling data, focusing initially on Alberta before expanding nationally. The company's Wildfire 3.0 data continues to support stakeholders in understanding wildfire behaviour across Canada.

AISIX Solutions' Wildfire 3.0 data is delivering actionable intelligence when it is needed most. As wildfire seasons grow in length and intensity, organizations can no longer rely on historical data alone. Governments, insurers, industry partners, and infrastructure operators are invited to request a demo today to learn how to integrate Wildfire 3.0's predictive modeling into their risk mitigation, emergency response, and climate resilience strategies.

For more information about AISIX Solutions Inc. and how we can support your wildfire risk management objectives, please visit www.aisix.ca or follow the Company on X (formerly Twitter) at @AISIXSolutions or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/aisixsolutionsinc.

About AISIX Solutions Inc.

AISIX Solutions Inc., is a climate risk and data-analytics solutions provider trusted by organizations seeking a more predictive future. Leveraging the advancements of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and risk assessment, AISIX Solutions Inc. is on a mission to provide auditable, explainable, and defensible assessments to help businesses and communities protect their property, assets, and infrastructure from wildfire-related risks. By empowering organizations with wildfire risk insights, AISIX Solutions Inc. aims to foster resilience and sustainability in the face of climate change.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, and is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, many of which are beyond the Company's control. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, information with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions. The words "may", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "target" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information, including the Company's expected product offerings, the functionalities of the AI Climate Risk Consumer Interface and the Company's expected growth opportunities. The forward-looking information in this news release describes the Company's expectations as of the date of this news release.

The results or events anticipated or predicted in such forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events. Material factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, among others, the Company's ability to engage and retain qualified key personnel, employees and affiliates, the Company's ability to obtain capital and credit on reasonable terms, the Company's ability to compete and the Company's ability protect its intellectual property rights.

The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also been assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.

Media Contact

media@aisix.ca

Investor Relations

investors@aisix.ca

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254456

SOURCE: Aisix Solutions Inc.
Cantech Media announces the 2025 Cantech Letter Conference taking place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto, ON.

taking place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto, ON. Cantech Media is proud to collaborate with co-title sponsors of the event, Toronto Stock Exchange and Angad Capital Inc.

Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Cantech Media (the "Company" or "Cantech"), a Canadian online publication of technology focused news, analysis, and insights, is pleased to announce the 2025 Cantech Letter Conference will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto, Ontario. The event provides up and coming technology companies with the unique opportunity to showcase their innovations and growth strategies and participate in individual 1-on-1 meetings with potential investors and capital markets professionals.

Cantech is proud to continue its collaboration with Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), who will once again join the conference as title sponsor and host the market closing ceremony at the TSX Cantech Welcome Reception on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Cantech is also excited to welcome a co-title sponsor Angad Capital Inc. ("Angad Capital").

2025 Cantech Letter Conference

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025

Time: 8am to 5pm

Location: Arcadian Loft, 8th floor, 401 Bay Street, Toronto, ON

The Cantech Letter Conference, recognized as Canada's foremost technology investment event, is an annual gathering that brings together the country's most promising tech companies, innovative startups, influential investors, and capital markets professionals. The conference places a strong emphasis on publicly listed companies, providing them with a premier platform to showcase their achievements and future prospects. This dynamic conference serves as a hub for networking, knowledge exchange, and investment opportunities, featuring cutting-edge product demonstrations and direct engagement with industry leaders. The conference will also feature engaging panel discussions with industry experts, offering insights into current trends, challenges, and opportunities within the tech sector.

Presenting companies at this year's conference currently include: Avante Corp., Baylin Technologies Inc., BIGG Digital Assets, DATA Communications Management Corp., Electrovaya Inc., EMERGE Commerce Ltd., EnWave Corporation, Equinix, Inc., Firan Technology Group Corporation, HEALWELL AI Inc., Reklaim Ltd., Sabio Holdings Inc., Simply Better Brands Corp., Tantalus Systems Holding Inc., Treatment.com AI Inc., Tribe Property Technologies Inc., VitalHub Corp., Volatus Aerospace Inc., WELL Health Technologies Corp., Wishpond Technologies Ltd., and Xtract One Technologies Inc. Additional presenting companies will be announced in the coming weeks.

Nick Waddell, President of Cantech Media, commented, "Following the success of last year's return after the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are excited to once again host the Cantech Letter Conference. The event has proven to be an essential gathering for innovation-driven companies and investors, providing a platform for meaningful connections and showcasing the potential of Canada's tech sector. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from last year's conference only strengthens our commitment to supporting the growth and success of both the companies and investors who participate."

Dani Lipkin, Managing Director of the Global Innovation Sector at TSX and TSX Venture Exchange, commented: "Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange are aligned with the Cantech Letter Conference in our shared mission to support the expansion of Canada's technology sector. We are delighted to return as the title sponsor for Canada's premier technology conference, which includes hosting the TSX Welcome Reception and the market close ceremony."

Pardeep Sangha, President and Founder of Angad Capital, commented, "We are proud to partner with Cantech and Toronto Stock Exchange for this exceptional event. The Cantech Letter Conference offers a unique opportunity for companies and investors to engage, fostering impactful relationships that drive growth within the innovation sector. This event promises valuable, direct interactions between high-growth technology companies and investors, offering a clear path for future collaboration."

This year's Cantech Letter Investment Conference is sponsored by:

Title Sponsors : TSX, Angad Capital

: TSX, Angad Capital Platinum Sponsors : Cozen O' Connor, Wining Media

: Cozen O' Connor, Wining Media Gold sponsors : ATB Financial, Haywood Securities, Roth Canada, Ventum Financial

: ATB Financial, Haywood Securities, Roth Canada, Ventum Financial Silver Sponsors : Origin Merchant Partners, Newsfile, Atrium Research

This one-day conference is anticipated to sell out quickly. Public companies are encouraged to reserve their spots today to ensure participation. Presenting companies and sponsors should contact our sales manager, Tara Whittet at tara@cantechletter.com For more information, visit: www.cantechletter.com/conference.

About Cantech Media

For fifteen years, Cantech Media, the parent company of Cantech Letter, has been committed to the innovation sectors in the Canadian public markets. Cantech Letter gathers research from Canada's leading investment banks to provide individual investors with timely, expert voices in the space.

For more information, visit: www.cantechletter.com.

About Angad Capital

Angad Capital is a Vancouver based Capital Markets Advisory and Investor Relations Firm. Angad Capital was founded by Pardeep Sangha in 2019 after a successful career as a technology sector analyst focused on small cap technology companies trading on the TSX and TSX-Venture exchanges. Pardeep has over 20+ years of investing and advising experience with private and public tech companies. Angad Capital offers specialized capital markets advisory services tailored for early-stage technology companies. Some of the Angad Capital's clients include WELL Health Technologies Corp., HEALWELL AI Inc., DCM Data Communications Management, Wishpond Technologies Ltd., Tribe Property Technologies and Avante Corp.

Cautionary & Forward-Looking Statements

All information presented in all forms at the Cantech Letter Conference or in press releases, videos, emails, or otherwise posted on our website, and the Cantech Letter Conference or YouTube channel (the "Media") is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. Cantech Media, Angad Capital Inc. and the Cantech Letter Conference, and their representatives ("our," "us," and "we") are not licensed brokers, broker/dealers, market makers, investment bankers, investment advisers, analysts, or underwriters.

Any presentation on or at any of our Media is for informational purposes only and we do not recommend any company that may appear or present in any capacity on or at any of our Media. A company's actual results could differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements or presentation on or at any of our Media. Information within presentations or communications may contain "forward looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ materially from those anticipated.

We receive cash compensation from presenters, sponsors, and participants who utilize our Media. We do not receive compensation for, and do not engage in, providing advice, making recommendations, issuing reports, or furnishing analyses on any of the companies, securities, strategies, or information presented.



We may buy and sell securities in any company mentioned and may profit in the event those securities rise in value. There are risks involved in any investment. We are not analysts and investing in securities is for individuals with high risk tolerance and not for the general public. We recommend you consult with a professional investment adviser, broker, or legal counsel before purchasing or selling any securities referenced on or at any of our Media.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254389

SOURCE: Cantech Letter
Money20/20the world's leading fintech show, and the place where money does business, hosted its Policy Exchange on June 3rd at Money20/20 Europe at the RAI in Amsterdam. Money20/20 Europe's Policy Exchange convened senior leaders from central banks, regulatory bodies, and industry to address three critical areas: post-MiCA crypto regulation, financial data access through Open Finance, and cross-border policy in collaboration with BIS.

The exclusive closed-door event featured keynote addresses from Suzy Pallett, Executive Vice President of Money20/20 Europe and Gijs Boudewijn, incoming Chair Elect of the European Payments Council, followed by specialized roundtables that highlighted the need for harmonized regulations supporting innovation, security, and global cooperation.

"Money20/20 Europe serves as an essential platform where regulators can gather for productive and future-focused discussions in a neutral environment," explained Suzy Pallett, Executive Vice President at, Money20/20. "We understand that harmonization across European markets doesn't mean imposing identical solutions everywhere, but rather acknowledging the distinct requirements of each country while collaborating on common goals to effectively tackle regional financial challenges. "This Policy Exchange represents the beginning of a collaborative journey built on confidence, shared vision, and dedication to developing a more integrated, protected, and accessible fintech landscape throughout Europe," she added.

Alexandre Kech, GLEIF CEO, comments: "As digital asset markets grow more complex from tokenized financial instruments to DeFi and retail crypto the need for scalable and privacy-preserving compliance mechanisms has never been greater. This roundtable convened leaders across the public and private sectors to explore how verifiable credentials (VCs) and decentralized identifiers (DIDs) can transform compliance practices. It marks a crucial step in building consensus among industry leaders, regulators, and technology innovators. With a focus on interoperability, user privacy, and practical deployment, the discussion will address critical questions around governance, regulatory alignment, and the implementation of next-generation identity standards such as the vLEI protocol."

Key Takeaways from the Crypto and Digital Assets Roundtable

The Crypto and Digital Assets Roundtable identified blockchain's transformative potential across industries, particularly finance, while emphasizing the urgent need for harmonized, technology-informed regulation. Current regulatory systems are fragmented and lack technical rigor. The roundtable called for global cooperation, improved governance, and education of policymakers to ensure blockchain's responsible growth.

Global Regulatory Alignment Is Critical

Fragmented frameworks hinder blockchain adoption; coordinated international standards and policies are essential. Technical Standards Must Match Blockchain Complexity

Existing regulations (e.g., MiCA) lack the technological depth to assure trust and interoperability in blockchain systems. Education and Public-Private Partnerships Are Key Enablers

Targeted education of policymakers and collaboration with global standard bodies (like IOSCO, FSB) will drive meaningful progress.

Next Steps

Participants from the roundtable wanted to engage with global standard-setting bodies to co-design governance and technical standards that ensure both security and interoperability.

Advocate for inclusion of blockchain regulation in G20 and Global Forum of MPs agendas to elevate the urgency and scope of action.

Key Takeaways from the Cross-Border Payments Roundtable in collaboration with the BIS

Cross-border payments remain a complex and evolving landscape involving banks, fintechs, and public entities. Fragmented regulations, regional disparities, and limited interoperability hinder progress, though innovations like real-time payment systems and stablecoins show promise. Collaboration and clear regulation are essential to unlock scalable, inclusive solutions.

Interoperability Is the Key Challenge

Despite real-time payment advances, lack of cross-border interoperability and unified licensing limits scale and efficiency. Regulatory Clarity Will Unlock Innovation

Fragmented oversight deters innovation, while fintech players are actively calling for clearer, harmonized frameworks. Emerging Markets Need Tailored Solutions

Regions like Africa face unique hurdles, from currency diversity to fragmented infrastructure, demanding customized, cooperative solutions.

Next Steps

For some members of the group to target regulatory alignment and interoperability initiatives, especially in emerging markets.

Strengthen public-private collaboration to accelerate scalable, inclusive cross-border payment solutions.

Key Takeaways from the Open Finance Roundtable

The Open Finance Roundtable emphasized the urgent need for affordability use cases, especially for individuals and SMEs, while noting that trust and regulatory fragmentation remain key hurdles. Despite challenges, there is strong optimism that collaboration, pilot programs, and a clear regulatory path can push Open Finance into the mainstream. Chair of the roundtable Luke Charters MP commented that he wanted to see more common user adoption such as takeaways and pizzas being ordered through A2A (account to account) solutions.

Affordability and Verification Use Cases Are Politically Urgent

Immediate focus is needed on affordability tools for consumers and SMEs, particularly in areas like lending and debt management. Trust Is the Critical Enabler

Consumer trust remains a barrier to adoption; proposals include trust marks and stronger safeguards to build confidence. Lack of Unified Regulation Slows Progress

Unlike open banking, Open Finance lacks a coherent framework and so fragmented regulatory approaches are stalling scale and innovation.

Next Steps

To look towards the creation of a unified taxonomy to guide development.

Potentially to establish a public-private advisory forum to shape standards and inform policymakers.

Key participants in alphabetical order:

ANIPE Bank of England Bank of Finland Banque de France Binance BIS Innovation Hub BIS CLS Citi De Nederlandsche Bank Experian FCA GLEIF Gemini Latvijas Banka Landsdkkende Banker Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) MoneyGram Online NatWest Netherlands Financial Markets Directorate Open Banking Limited Open Finance Association Plaid SWIFT Tink Thunes Truelayer VISA UK Government

The complete list of all attendees can be found here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604530345/en/

Contacts:

Tina Loncaric

Global Head of Public Relations

tina@money2020.com

M: +1 469 288 5556
GREER, SC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / MSI Viking, a premier provider of precision measurement technologies and services, is proud to announce a commercial agreement to be an official channel partner of Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business and global leader in nondestructive testing (NDT) solutions for industrial inspection. Under the agreement, MSI Viking will be an official channel partner of Waygate Technologies for industrial computed tomography (CT) systems in the US market enabling it to offer leading solutions for both dimensional metrology and NDT, addressing a wide range of industrial needs like lightweight casting inspection, composite material analysis, battery cell defect detection, and high-precision medical component validation, among others.

Leveraging a Shared Vision for Precision

MSI Viking and Waygate Technologies share a commitment to advancing precision and quality in manufacturing. As an exclusively metrology-focused provider, MSI Viking is uniquely positioned to integrate Waygate Technologies' industrial X-ray and CT systems into comprehensive solutions that enhance process control and product integrity.

"The channel partner agreement with Waygate Technologies is a significant milestone for MSI Viking as we continue to expand our portfolio of advanced measurement solutions," said Eric Luzier, Senior Director of Engineering and Solution Strategy at MSI Viking. "Our exclusive focus on metrology, combined with Waygate Technologies' cutting-edge industrial CT systems, positions us to deliver unmatched value to our customers. While dimensional control is at the core of this partnership, we will also leverage the breadth of NDT product offerings for other critical applications, such as defect analysis and material integrity assessment."

A Growing Role for X-Ray CT in Metrology

With over 125 years of expertise in advanced imaging and a focus on X-ray and CT technologies, Waygate Technologies and its leading Phoenix and Seifert product lines are revolutionizing dimensional control in the metrology space. X-ray CT has emerged as a transformative tool for dimensional metrology, providing unparalleled capabilities for measuring complex geometries, verifying tolerances, and performing comprehensive quality control. This technology complements traditional metrology by enabling manufacturers to inspect internal and external features of components with exceptional accuracy, often in a single scan.

X-ray CT technology is increasingly recognized as a game-changer in the metrology industry. By capturing high-resolution 3D images, CT systems provide complete and non-destructive insights into a part's dimensions and internal structures. Unlike traditional tactile or optical methods, X-ray CT enables precise measurement of hidden or hard-to-access features, making it an indispensable tool for industries like aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and energy.

Key benefits include:

Enhanced Dimensional Control : High-precision measurements of internal and external geometries to ensure compliance with GD&T standards.

Improved Efficiency : Non-destructive inspection in a single scan, reducing time and cost for complex quality assurance tasks.

Comprehensive Analysis: Simultaneous defect detection and dimensional verification, enabling manufacturers to optimize both product quality and process efficiency.

About MSI Viking

MSI Viking is a leading provider of precision measurement equipment and services, dedicated to helping manufacturers achieve superior production outcomes with less variability. Serving industries such as automotive, aerospace, defense, medical devices, and general manufacturing, MSI Viking offers solutions that improve quality, productivity, and efficiency. For more information, visit https://www.msi-viking.com.

About Waygate Technologies

Waygate Technologies is part of the Inspection portfolio within the Baker Hughes Industrial & Energy Technology business segment. As an industrial inspection solutions provider and world leader in nondestructive testing (NDT), we ensure safety, quality and productivity. We combine more than 125 years of experience and a collection of heritage product brands including Krautkramer, Phoenix, Seifert, Everest and Agfa NDT. Today, hundreds of brands in the automotive, aviation, space exploration, electronics, energy, battery and additive industries trust our technologies. We drive digital transformation through a broad portfolio of award-winning solutions in industrial radiography and computed tomography (CT), remote visual inspection (RVI), ultrasound (UT), and robotic inspection. Visit: bakerhughes.com/waygate-technologies.

Contact Information:

Steven Rosso

VP Product Management

srosso@msi-viking.com

SOURCE: MSI Viking

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/msi-viking-signs-channel-partner-agreement-with-baker-hughes-waygate-t-1035371
LONDON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Development Bank (SDB), a leading bank, has been recognised as the "Best AI Transformation Banking Initiative, Saudi Arabia, 2025", by Global Brands Magazine (GBM) at the Global Brand Awards. This recognition reflects SDB' s commitment to providing innovative features and enhanced customer experience.

The Global Brand Awards recognise outstanding achievements across various industries worldwide. Social Development Bank received this award for its continued efforts in delivering innovative banking features, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering workforce development and adoption of advanced technologies.

Jay Reddy, CEO of Global Brands Magazine, commented, "We are delighted to present the Social Development Bank with the Best AI Transformation Banking Initiative award. SDB's innovative application of AI to advance financial inclusion and empower communities sets a remarkable standard for the banking industry. Congratulations to SDB for this outstanding accomplishment! "

Sultan Al-Hamidi, CEO of Social Development Bank, said, "At the Social Development Bank, our mission is to empower every segment of society through inclusive financial and non-financial services. Our journey is guided by core values: earning trust, enabling growth, embracing responsibility, and driving innovation. Being recognised for our AI transformation is a proud moment that reflects the strategic path we have chosen. This award highlights our commitment to digital transformation and adopting bold, technology-driven solutions. As we continue to accelerate digitisation across our services, we aim to maximise impact, improve efficiency, and better serve our communities."

ABOUT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BANK

The Social Development Bank (SDB) is one of the largest development banks in the region. Since its establishment in 1971, it has played a pivotal and enduring role in the social and economic development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a key enabler of the National Transformation Program and the Financial Sector Development Program, the bank began with an initial capital of SAR 5 million and has since grown into a cornerstone of the Kingdom's development finance ecosystem. Today, it manages a capital base exceeding SAR 45 billion.

Over more than 53 years, SDB has disbursed upwards of SAR 162 billion, supporting over 10 million citizens through innovative, sustainable, and Sharia-compliant financing models. With a network of 26 branches and nationwide digital platforms, the bank offers a wide range of financial and non-financial services to individuals, freelancers, and micro and small enterprises.

ABOUT GLOBAL BRANDS MAGAZINE (ENGLAND)

Global Brands Magazine (GBM) is one of the largest brands publications in the world, leading the way in delivering insights, news, and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industries. Based in the UK, the magazine keeps readers informed about 'best-in-class' brands worldwide. Each year, GBM recognizes companies that demonstrate innovation, exceptional service, and consumer-focused solutions in their respective industries.

With over 8.4 million annual visitors, and 14 million page views, GBM is the world's premier Brand magazine. The magazine also boasts a robust social media presence, engagement including 35k+ Facebook followers, 20k+ Instagram followers, 25k+ X followers, and 4k+ LinkedIn followers.

ABOUT THE GLOBAL BRAND AWARDS

The Global Brand Awards celebrate excellence in brand performance, recognising companies and organisations that excel in quality, innovation, and customer-centric services across various sectors, including finance, education, hospitality, technology, and more. More than 10,000 companies were evaluated in 2024 for the Global Brand Awards.

The Global Brand Awards events were held at some of the most iconic properties in the world, including The Address Downtown, Waldorf Astoria, Emperors Palace, JW Marriott Marquis, Galaxy Macau, The Athenee Hotel, to name a few. The next awards ceremony will take place on the 13th of June 2025 at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

For a complete list of the winners of the Global Brand Awards, please visit: https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/brand-awards-winners/.

To nominate your company or leader for the Global Brand Awards 2025, visit:

https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/nomination-form/

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Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - The American Marketing Association Chicago (AMA Chicago) announces the opening of nominations for its fourth annual "Marketer of the Year" award. The award recognizes a top Chicagoland marketer who is leading a brand forward. Chicago is a hub for marketing's creative minds, promoting brands of all sizes. The Marketer of the Year award honors the most outstanding professional in a competitive field.

"The Marketer of the Year Award showcases the exceptional talent that makes Chicago a vibrant marketing center," said Josh Blacksmith, president of AMA Chicago. "We're seeking professionals who demonstrate not only marketing excellence but also the vision and adaptability needed to navigate today's complex brand landscape. This award celebrates those who blend strategic insight with creative execution to drive meaningful business impact."

The 2025 Marketer of the Year honoree will be recognized for their strategic approach, outstanding results, visionary leadership, and exceptional marketing contributions. Examples include marketers who have evolved a brand and changed how consumers view them; marketers who made headlines and built engagement and awareness of their brand; marketers who led a successful brand or product pivot; and marketers whose specific campaigns yielded remarkable results.

Nominees must be based in the greater Chicago area; their employer does not need to be located in the area. A nominee's current responsibilities must focus on branding, marketing, and communications for their company's or client's brand. In-house marketers, agencies, and service providers are eligible to enter on their own behalf or on behalf of others who deserve this recognition. Self-nominations are always welcome and expected. Reference/s may be requested by AMA Chicago.

Christine Buck was named the 2024 "Marketer of the Year." Buck is Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a non-profit organization that promotes the use of information technology and management systems in healthcare. The annual award, now in its fourth year, recognizes an outstanding marketer in the Chicagoland area who has made notable contributions to the field.

AMA Chicago encourages people to nominate their colleagues, direct reports, and managers. Agency employees are encouraged to nominate members of their clients' marketing department or campaign leaders. For guidance on submissions, visit the AMA Chicago website to read "Marketing Awards: Build a Culture of Recognition by Rewarding High-Achieving Team Members." The article outlines the benefits of marketing awards and steps for creating a knock-out application.

Entries are $125 each and must be submitted by July 31, 2025. The award will be presented to the winner at AMA Chicago's CMO Forum on October 7, 2025. For more information about the award or to become a member of the AMA Chicago chapter, visit AMAChicago.org.

About American Marketing Association Chicago

AMA Chicago, the largest professional chapter in the American Marketing Association's North American network. AMA Chicago provides ongoing development opportunities for Chicagoland marketers to expand knowledge, improve skills, and grow careers through access to innovative marketing thought leaders and cutting-edge programming. Marketers from agencies, brands, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and consultancies are invited to join AMA Chicago to connect with marketers from every industry and skill set. Visit amachicago.org to learn more and become a member.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254343

SOURCE: American Marketing Association Chicago
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Coagulation Analyzer Market, valued at US$3,516.0 million in 2024 stood at US$3,770.9 million in 2025 and is projected to advance at a resilient CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2030, culminating in a forecasted valuation of US$5,335.9 million by the end of the period. The market is experiencing steady growth, primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of blood clotting disorders such as hemophilia and deep vein thrombosis. As the global population ages and chronic illnesses become more common, the demand for quick and accurate diagnostic tools continues to rise.

Hospitals and laboratories are increasingly adopting automated analyzers to improve efficiency and reduce turnaround times. Additionally, the rise of point-of-care testing is significant, as it enables faster decision-making in critical care situations. Furthermore, the ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure in emerging nations, along with the incorporation of technologies like artificial intelligence, are creating new opportunities for companies within this sector.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Coagulation Analyzer Market"

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By Based on product, The coagulation analyzers market is divided based on product type into clinical laboratory analyzers and point-of-care testing analyzers. In 2024, the clinical laboratory analyzers segment held the largest market share. This growth can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of conditions such as thrombosis and other bleeding disorders. Additionally, investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in emerging markets, along with the rise of both centralized and decentralized laboratories in developing countries, are driving greater investments in fully automated, high-throughput coagulation analyzers to accommodate large sample volumes. Clinical laboratory analyzers are further categorized into consumables and systems.

By Based on technology, The coagulation analyzers market is categorized into four segments based on technology: optical technology, mechanical technology, electrochemical technology, and other technologies. Among these, the electrochemical technology segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the faster measurement of clotting time achieved by electrochemical systems compared to optical or mechanical systems, which enhances clinical decision-making in time-critical situations such as trauma or surgery. Additionally, electrochemical devices typically require smaller blood samples and fewer reagents, leading to lower costs and enabling their use in critical care settings.

By geography, the coagulation analyzers market is divided into five major regional segments: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2024, the Asia Pacific region accounted for the largest share of the coagulation analyzers market. Several factors are contributing to the growth of this market in Asia Pacific, including the rising incidence and prevalence of blood-related disorders, increasing government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure, a growing number of general surgeries, and enhanced research activities.

Additionally, the rapidly growing geriatric population is leading to an increase in conditions such as thalassemia, sickle-cell anemia, and leukemia. Countries like Japan, China, and Australia are experiencing improvements in their healthcare infrastructures, which are expected to further drive the demand for coagulation analyzers in the coming years.

According to a 2023 report from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and the China National Committee on Ageing, the country's aging population is expanding rapidly. There are currently 216.76 million people aged 65 and older, accounting for 15.4% of the total population, and nearly 297 million individuals aged 60 and above, representing 21.1% of the population. Older adults are at higher risk for developing conditions like cardiovascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, and other coagulopathies, making regular coagulation testing essential for effective management.

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Some of the prominent players operating in the market include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany), Sysmex Corporation (Japan), Diagnostica Stago, Inc. (France), Werfen (Spain), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan), Helena Laboratories Corporation (US), Danaher (US), HORIBA, Ltd. (Japan), and Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (China), among others.

Werfen (Spain):

Werfen is a global healthcare company focused on developing, producing, and distributing diagnostic products for clinical laboratories. The company has a strong presence in the coagulation analyzers market, supported by a focused strategy, a robust global footprint, and continuous innovation. In 2024, Werfen reported a 6% growth in revenue and improved operating income, driven by strong performances across all regions and core business segments, particularly in hemostasis. The company's leadership is bolstered by a dedicated team of approximately 1,800 professionals working in its Hemostasis and Acute Care technology centers, driving both innovation and product development. With over 13,081 ACL TOP systems (across all models) installed worldwide, Werfen has established a significant installed base, showcasing extensive clinical confidence and high customer acceptance.

Sysmex Corporation (Japan)

Sysmex Corporation has firmly established itself as a leader in the coagulation analyzers market, largely due to its ability to produce reagents on a massive scale across 14 locations worldwide. Additionally, the company collaborates with approximately 250 trusted top-tier suppliers, which helps ensure a smooth and efficient supply chain. Sysmex's Hemostasis segment has been consistently growing at around 4%, and the company is dedicated to meeting this demand by continuously innovating and upgrading its offerings. Its impressive investment of USD 630 million in research and development from 2021 to 2023 demonstrates its commitment to advancing technology and maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

Diagnostic Stago, Inc. (France)

Diagnostic Stago, Inc. (France) boasts a diverse and specialized product range, a robust international distribution network, and a strong commitment to innovation in the field of coagulation. With over 350 coagulation products and an efficient commercial network of subsidiaries and distributors, Stago has established itself as the market leader in hemostasis diagnostics. The company's impressive manufacturing capability, producing more than 2,800 analyzers annually-including various coagulation systems-demonstrates its operational scale and viability. Notably, more than 750 coagulation tests are performed per minute on Stago systems worldwide, highlighting the widespread trust in and popularity of its technology. Furthermore, dedicating 20% of its workforce to research and development underscores Stago's strategic focus on continuous innovation, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of diagnostic advancements in coagulation testing.

Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany)

Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany) operates through four segments: Imaging, Diagnostics, Varian, and Advanced Therapies. The Diagnostics segment focuses on coagulation products. It sells its products to healthcare providers in over 180 countries. The company invests significantly in research and development (R&D) to introduce innovative and technologically advanced products. In 2024, it invested USD 2,107.7 million of its revenue in R&D activities. The company has major R&D facilities in Germany, the US, China, and India.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland)

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland) offers a variety of coagulation analyzers, including the cobas t 711, renowned for their high throughput and seamless integration with advanced software, enhancing the efficiency of lab operations. With a global presence that spans North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Roche effectively serves a diverse range of customers. The company is committed to substantial investments in research and development; last year, R&D expenditures increased by 2% as it continued to focus on high-value medical assays, driving ongoing innovation in diagnostic technology, particularly in coagulation testing.

For more information, Inquire Now!

Related Reports:

Plasma Fractionation Market

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market

Point of Care Diagnostics Market

Clinical Chemistry Analyzers Market

In Vitro Diagnostics Market

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / PPX Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "PPX", including its Peruvian subsidiaries) is pleased to announce that yesterday it closed the third tranche of the construction facility provided by its major shareholder, receiving US$1,800,000.

The creditor of the Loan is a control person of the Company. Accordingly, the Loan constitutes a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the requirement to obtain minority shareholder approval in connection with the Loan in reliance on the exemption contained in section 5.7(1)(f) of MI 61-101, as the Company has determined that the Loan contains reasonable commercial terms that are not less advantageous to the Company than if the Loan was obtained from an arm's length party, and the Loan is not convertible or repayable as to principal or interest, directly or indirectly, in equity or voting securities of the Company or its subsidiaries. The formal valuation requirements are not applicable to the Loan pursuant to section 5.4(1) of MI 61-101. The board of directors of the Company approved the Loan and no materially contrary view or abstention was expressed or made by any director of the Company in relation thereto.

Construction Update

The Company is also pleased to inform that major equipment ordered to Xinhai Mineral Processing PLC arrived this week to the Port of Callao. This includes all crushing units (jaw and cone crusher, vibrating screen and conveyors), two complete ball mills with liners and motors, six flotation cells, three thickeners and a filter press for flotation concentrate, as well as various pumps and other small components.

Customs clearance is expected to be completed in the coming days. Following inspection, the majority of the equipment will be transported to the construction site, with select components undergoing precision measurement in Lima to facilitate local manufacturing of maintenance parts.

Following the end of the raining season, the EPC contractor is currently focused on civil works to soon received the equipment on site.

As previously disclosed, PPX is constructing a 350 tonnes-per-day (tpd) Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) and flotation plant at the Igor Project. The plant is designed to process gold and silver-bearing ore from the Callanquitas Mine. Construction is being carried out by a third-party contractor and remains on schedule for completion by December 2025.

Pictures of construction activities, equipment and a 3D video of the plant can be seen at the following link: https://ppxmining.com/on-the-hill_/plant-construction/

About PPX Mining Corp:

PPX Mining Corp. (TSXV:PPX.V)(BVL:PPX) is a Canadian-based mining company with assets in northern Peru. Igor, the Company's 100%-owned flagship gold and silver project, is located in the prolific Northern Peru gold belt in eastern La Libertad Department.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

John Thomas, CEO

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Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1

Canada

416-361-0737

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.

Cautionary Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") as such terms are defined by applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding future plans on the Igor Project, statements regarding the terms and completion of the remaining tranches of the Loan and entering into an agreement regarding plant construction. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business plans and financial performance and often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," and "intend,", statements that an action or event "may," "might," "could," "should," "would" or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company's control, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to many various factors. Such uncertainties and risks include, among others, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals; actual development plans and costs differing materially from the Company's estimates; and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. The timing of events and circumstances and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of today's date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.

SOURCE: PPX Mining Corp.

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DELAND, FL / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / In March, Roof Maxx welcomed TV personality, narrator, and trades advocate Mike Rowe to DeLand, Florida for a special day of filming centered on the rapidly growing roof rejuvenation industry. The shoot spotlighted Roof Maxx - the company that pioneered roof rejuvenation - and its innovative, sustainable approach to extending the life of aging asphalt roofs with a USDA-certified, soybean-based treatment.

Mike Rowe, Dealer and Roof Maxx CEO

Mike Rowe preparing to apply Roof Maxx to a customer's home with the help of James Canata, DeLand Florida Dealer and Roof Maxx CEO, Mike Feazel.

Throughout the day, Rowe explored Roof Maxx's signature product alongside Roof Maxx CEO and co-founder Mike Feazel, taking a close look at how asphalt shingles have changed over time-specifically how today's shingles often lack the durability of those made even a decade ago. Rowe also spoke directly with Roof Maxx dealers and customers, capturing real-world stories that demonstrate how roof rejuvenation is changing the way homeowners and roofing professionals think about maintenance, sustainability, and value.

"It's a great American story-opportunity meets ambition with a little frustration, and suddenly, here you are." said Mike Rowe after hearing Mike Feazel tell the story about how he co-founded Roof Maxx with his brother after seeing the quality of asphalt shingles rapidly decline after spending decades in the roofing industry.

Mike Rowe is best known as the host of Dirty Jobs and the voice behind Deadliest Catch, but his passion for the skilled trades extends far beyond television. Through his foundation, mikeroweWORKS, Rowe has helped provide millions of dollars in work ethic scholarships to individuals pursuing careers in the trades-encouraging a return to practical, hands-on education and opportunity.

The content captured during this filming day is currently being released in a series of short videos, available at https://roofmaxx.us/mike-rowe and across Roof Maxx's social media platforms. These videos offer a behind-the-scenes look at how roof rejuvenation is reshaping the roofing industry - and why more and more contractors, homeowners, and communities are getting on board.

About Roof Maxx

Roof Maxx is the world's first sustainable roofing solution, offering a revolutionary, plant-based treatment that extends the life of asphalt roofs by 5 years per application - up to 15 years total. With thousands of treatments applied nationwide, Roof Maxx is helping homeowners save money while reducing roofing waste and supporting eco-friendly home maintenance.

SOURCE: Roof Maxx Technologies, LLC

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Metalens Market is Segmented by Type (Visible Light Metalens, Infrared Metalens), by Application (Consumer Electronics, Automotive Electronics, Industrial, Medical).

BANGALORE, India, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Market for Metalens was valued at USD 41.8 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 2402 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 79.5% during the forecast period.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of Metalens Market:

The metalens market is transitioning from experimental research to mainstream commercialization, fueled by innovations in nanophotonics and a wide array of applications. Metalenses offer compelling advantages over traditional optics, including ultra-thin design, multifunctionality, and compatibility with electronic integration.

As industries seek performance-driven, miniaturized, and cost-efficient optical solutions, metalenses are becoming integral to the future of imaging, sensing, and communication technologies. Backed by strong demand across sectors such as medical, consumer electronics, defense, and AR/VR, the market is poised for rapid growth, supported by advancements in fabrication and cross-sector collaborations.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE METALENS MARKET:

Infrared metalenses are significantly driving the growth of the metalens market due to their ability to manipulate light at nanoscales with high efficiency in the infrared spectrum. These lenses are particularly valuable in military, surveillance, autonomous vehicles, and medical imaging applications, where thermal vision and night vision are crucial. Unlike traditional bulky optics, infrared metalenses offer a compact, lightweight alternative with improved resolution and wavelength control. Their compatibility with flat-panel devices makes them ideal for integration into modern compact systems. The growing demand for thermal cameras, LiDAR, and other IR-based sensing technologies further accelerates adoption. As industries move toward miniaturization and performance enhancement, infrared metalenses are becoming a central innovation in optical engineering.

Visible light metalenses are propelling the metalens market by revolutionizing how conventional optics are designed and applied in imaging, augmented reality (AR), consumer electronics, and microscopy. These lenses manipulate light at the subwavelength level to focus it with precision, reducing chromatic aberration and enhancing color fidelity. Their flat and ultrathin design allows for seamless integration into smartphones, wearable devices, and advanced optical instruments. As the demand for compact high-resolution lenses grows, visible light metalenses provide a scalable, lightweight, and more efficient solution. They also pave the way for reducing lens complexity in multi-component systems, positioning themselves as the future of optics in both consumer and industrial domains.

The medical sector is emerging as a strong contributor to the growth of the metalens market, particularly in non-invasive diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, and biosensing. Metalenses allow for compact and lightweight imaging tools with enhanced optical performance, making them ideal for wearable diagnostic devices and portable scanners. Their ability to provide high-resolution imaging in both visible and infrared wavelengths improves the accuracy of diagnostics and surgical precision. Additionally, the ongoing trend toward miniaturized and flexible medical devices aligns perfectly with the physical advantages of metalenses. As healthcare technologies evolve towards patient-centric and remote solutions, metalenses offer a transformative leap in optical biomedical engineering.

The demand for smaller, lighter, and more efficient optical components is a key factor propelling the metalens market. Traditional glass lenses are bulky and add significant weight and volume to electronic devices. Metalenses, being ultrathin and flat, offer a solution that aligns with miniaturization trends in smartphones, AR glasses, drones, and other compact systems. Their ability to perform complex focusing and filtering functions on a microscopic scale allows designers to create sleeker products without sacrificing optical performance. As consumer and industrial markets demand portable and wearable technologies, metalens adoption continues to accelerate across applications requiring spatial efficiency.

The proliferation of augmented and virtual reality devices is boosting demand for advanced optics that support immersive experiences. Metalenses can correct chromatic aberrations and focus multiple wavelengths of light without the need for multiple lens elements. This simplifies the optical assembly of AR/VR headsets, reducing their weight and size while enhancing image clarity. The seamless integration of metalenses into curved or flexible surfaces also allows for more ergonomic headset designs. With companies investing heavily in the metaverse and immersive content delivery, metalenses are becoming essential to advancing next-generation display and optical tracking systems in AR/VR platforms.

Breakthroughs in nanofabrication and lithography have enabled the large-scale production of metalenses with precise control over nanoscale structures. These technological advances reduce manufacturing costs and improve yield, making metalenses commercially viable across multiple sectors. The development of cost-effective production techniques, such as nanoimprint lithography and deep ultraviolet (DUV) patterning, allows manufacturers to produce customized lenses for specialized applications. These advances also improve consistency and optical performance across production batches. As fabrication barriers decrease, a wider range of industries are adopting metalens technology, driving broader commercialization and application diversity in the optics market.

Consumer electronics, especially smartphones and wearable devices, are increasingly demanding high-resolution optics within limited form factors. Metalenses fulfill this requirement by providing superior imaging quality with minimal thickness. Their adaptability for wide-angle and telephoto lens designs enables manufacturers to push the boundaries of smartphone camera technology. Additionally, metalenses can be fabricated directly on CMOS sensors, further simplifying the optical stack. With growing competition in the smartphone and smart wearable market, companies are investing in metalens innovation to differentiate their products. This commercial interest is helping to scale the technology from lab to mainstream usage, expanding its market footprint.

The aerospace and defense sectors are leveraging metalens technology for advanced sensing, navigation, and surveillance systems. The ultralight and compact nature of metalenses makes them suitable for weight-sensitive environments like satellites, drones, and missile systems. Their ability to focus across a wide spectral range enhances multispectral imaging and target detection capabilities. Moreover, metalenses exhibit greater resistance to harsh environmental conditions compared to traditional optics, adding durability and reliability. Governments and defense contractors are increasingly adopting metalenses in next-generation optical modules, contributing to sustained demand and driving innovation in this strategic market segment.

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METALENS MARKET SHARE:

Global key players of Metalens include Metalenz, Inc., NIL Technology (NILT), MetaLenX, etc. The top three players hold a share of about 75%.

North America is the largest market, and has a share of about 46%, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific with a share of 31% and 24%, separately. North America leads in metalens adoption, driven by strong R&D infrastructure, presence of key photonics companies, and demand in defense, medical, and consumer electronics sectors. Europe follows closely with robust investments in quantum technologies and optoelectronics. The Asia-Pacific region is emerging rapidly, with countries like China, Japan, and South Korea focusing on electronics miniaturization and innovation in semiconductor optics.

In terms of product type, Infrared Metalens is the largest segment, accounting for a share of 70%. In terms of application, Consumer Electronics is the largest field with a share of about 38 percent.

Key Companies:

Metalenz

MetaLenX

Hangzhou Najing Technology

Shphotonics

NIL Technology (NILT)

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- The global market for Metalens Solutions was valued at USD 29 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 2925 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 79.6% during the forecast period.

- The global Visible Light Metalens market was valued at USD 5.2 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 240 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 68.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/metalens-market-to-hit-usd-2402-million-by-2031--rising-at-79-5-cagr-on-surge-in-arvr-and-medical-use--valuates-reports-302473409.html
TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: ERE.UN) ("ERES") announced today that, at its Annual Meeting of Unitholders held today, each of the items of business referred to in its management information circular dated April 10, 2025 (the "Circular") were passed by a vote held by ballot.

A total of 190,046,727 units and special voting units of ERES (collectively, "Units") representing 81.07% of ERES's issued and outstanding Units were voted in connection with the meeting. The voting results for each item of business are as follows:

Election of Trustees :

Nominee Votes

For % Votes

For Votes

Withheld % Votes

Withheld Gina Parvaneh Cody 189,612,547 99.82% 341,826 0.18% Ira Gluskin 189,600,098 99.81% 354,275 0.19% Mark Kenney 183,619,750 96.67% 6,334,623 3.34% Gervais Levasseur 189,602,333 99.82% 352,040 0.19% Lisa Russell 189,613,658 99.82% 340,715 0.18%

All nominees proposed in the Circular were elected as trustees.

Re-Appointment of Auditors

Votes

For % Votes

For Votes

Withheld % Votes

Withheld Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants 189,712,920 99.82% 333,807 0.18%

About ERES

ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERES's REIT Units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canada's only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current portfolio of high-quality, multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands. As at March 31, 2025, ERES owned 2,594 residential suites and ancillary retail space located in the Netherlands, and owned one commercial property in Germany and one commercial property in Belgium, with a total fair value of approximately 729.1 million.

ERES's registered and principal business office is located at 11 Church Street, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W1.

For more information, please visit our website at www.eresreit.com.

For further information:
Bordeaux, June 4, 2025 - During the official visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Vietnam, HDF Energy (Hydrogene de France) signed a major memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC) in Hanoi on May 27. This agreement highlights the international reach of an innovative French technology and reflects the confidence of the French government in the hydrogen solutions developed by HDF Energy.

HDF Energy participated, alongside four leading energy companies in the country, in a closed-door breakfast meeting organized by President Macron. The meeting included Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and the Ministers of Energy of both France and Vietnam to discuss energy projects in Vietnam.

On this occasion, Damien Havard, CEO of HDF Energy, presented the company's green hydrogen-based Renewstable power plants and high-power fuel cells that support Vietnam's energy transition. These discussions led to the signing of a strategic MoU with Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC), a subsidiary of the national electricity operator Vietnam Electricity (EVN), at the French Embassy in Hanoi.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Damien Havard, CEO of HDF Energy (Hydrogene de France), and Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc, CEO of EVNSPC, in the presence of: Mr. Mathieu Geze, APAC Director of HDF Energy, Mr. Eric Lombard, French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Ms. Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Mr. Dang Hoang An, Chairman of EVN, and Mr. Tran Khanh Viet Dung, Business Development Manager at HDF Energy Vietnam.

This partnership aims to develop five Renewstable power plants, with a total investment of 500 million, in off-grid and isolated island communities in the South China Sea, in southern Vietnam, which still heavily rely on polluting diesel generators.

These innovative power plants combine intermittent renewable energy sources with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen and high-power fuel cells, to generate clean, renewable, stable, and baseload power 24/7. This solution offers a decarbonized, reliable, and competitive alternative for areas not connected to the national grid. The high-power fuel cells, designed and manufactured in France at HDF Energy's plant in Blanquefort (near Bordeaux), are supported by the French government under the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI).

Damien Havard, CEO of HDF Energy, stated: "This agreement marks a key milestone in our deployment strategy in Vietnam. With our green hydrogen-based solutions, we offer a concrete, integrated, and sustainable response to the country's energy transition challenges. Its signing during President Emmanuel Macron's state visit, in the presence of Vietnam's highest authorities, sends a strong signal of industrial cooperation and demonstrates trust in HDF Energy and French technology."

Nguyen Phuoc Duc, CEO of EVNSPC, emphasized: "This collaboration will contribute to accelerating the energy transition in Vietnam, particularly on off-grid islands managed by EVNSPC, by ensuring stable 24/7 electricity supply at a lower cost compared to diesel-generated power. We deeply value this partnership and extend our sincere thanks to the French Embassy, relevant authorities, and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) for their continued support throughout our development journey. We believe this initiative is a meaningful testament to the strength of the France-Vietnam partnership in advancing sustainable energy development. "

ABOUT HYDROGENE DE FRANCE (HDF Energy)

HDF Energy is a leading global player in the hydrogen industry, dedicated to developing large-scale hydrogen infrastructure and advanced multi-megawatt fuel cell technology.

These fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen, driving the decarbonization efforts across the power generation, heavy maritime and rail mobility sectors. Set to commence production in 2025 at HDF Energy's facility near Bordeaux (France), these fuel cells serve as the cornerstone of the power plants and heavy mobility decarbonization solutions developed by HDF Energy.

HDF Energy's Renewstable power plants deliver non-intermittent renewable, stable and baseload power by seamlessly integrating intermittent renewable energy sources with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen. HDF Energy is also developing extensive infrastructure for the mass production of carbon-free hydrogen.

Backed by a team of over 150 hydrogen experts boasting more than a decade of operational experience across the value chain, HDF Energy is currently developing a portfolio of advanced projects valued at over 3 billion.

Headquartered in France, HDF Energy has regional offices in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region with 35+ nationalities among its staff. Since 2021, the Group has been listed on the Euronext Paris stock market.

More information, visit: www.hdf-energy.com

Contact

Investor relations Media relations Helene de WATTEVILLE

+ 33 (0)1 53 67 36 33

hdf-energy@actus.fr Serena BONI

+33 (0)4 72 18 04 92

sboni@actus.fr

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Rungis, 04 June 2025 - Omer-Decugis & Cie (ISIN Code: FR0014003T71; symbol: ALODC), an international group specializing in fresh and exotic fruits and vegetables, announces the expansion of its ripening capacity by nearly 30,000 tons (+21%) through two major projects in France.

Increasing ripening capacity at the Sorgues site

The Group has decided to significantly expand the ripening capacity of its facility in Sorgues, located in the south of France. This expansion will increase the number of ripening rooms from 12 to 19. The additional capacity will be achieved by transferring the ripening rooms currently installed within our secondary site in Rungis (C5) to Sorgues. The available space at this site will be repurposed as a dedicated storage and packaging facility while Sorgues will be dedicated to tropical fruit ripening. The transfer is scheduled to take place over the summer, with operations in Sorgues expected to begin in early September. Upon completion, the site will have a total ripening capacity increased from 17,000 to 28,000 tons. The site extension possibility remains intact with an expansion capacity for an additional building of 2,500 m2 and a doubled capacity.

Acquisition of 16 new ripening rooms in Rungis

The Group has acquired 16 ripening rooms installed in the DE1 building of the Euro Delta Zone at Rungis International Market, on a site operated by Primever. This strategic acquisition of technical installations provides the Group with an additional 36,000 tons of ripening capacity in Rungis and further strengthens its collaboration with Primever, a French's leading company in temperature-controlled fruit and vegetables transport. Once adapted to meet the Group's operational standards, the rooms are expected to be fully operational by mid-July.

Following these two operations, aimed at ensuring bridging capacities pending delivery of the Dunkirk platform, the Group will operate three ripening sites in France (I1, DE1 and Sorgues) with a total capacity increased from 144,000 tons to 174,000 tons.

"This operation, carried out in collaboration with Primever, a family-owned company like ours and a long-standing partner, was undertaken to support our Group's growth and to prepare for the upcoming opening of our new logistics platform at Dunkirk Port. It was necessary given that our facilities are already operating at full capacity, requiring us to expand our ripening capacities now to sustain the pace of our development. I am delighted with this positive step forward for both our Groups", says Vincent OMER-DECUGIS, Chairman and CEO of Omer-Decugis & Cie.

"For 60 years, our Group's DNA has always been to provide concrete solutions to support our customers' development in France and around the world. This operation, which follows a series of joint projects, is a perfect illustration of that commitment. Our two family-owned groups share strong ties, and this acquisition sends a clear and positive signal for future developments", says Samy KCHOK, Deputy CEO of Primever in charge of diversification and international development.



Forthcoming communication: H1 2024/25 results and Q3 2024/25 revenue, 21 July 2025 (after close of trading)

For more information: www.omerdecugis.com

About Omer-Decugis & Cie

Omer-Decugis & Cie is a family-run group founded in 1850, specialising in fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly exotic produce, for European consumers. With expertise in the entire value chain, from production to import, as well as specific know-how in ripening, the Group markets its fruit, mainly from Latin America, Africa and Europe, through all distribution networks (supermarkets and hypermarkets, out-of-home catering, specialised distribution and fresh-cut). Committed to sustainable agriculture that respects the local environment and people, the Group achieved a rating of 81/100 in the EthiFinance ESG Ratings 2024 campaign, underlining the maturity of its ESG approach. Based at Rungis Market, Omer-Decugis & Cie had sales of 247 million at 30 September 2024, representing more than 160,000 tons distributed.

Contacts

Omer-Decugis & Cie

Emeline Pasquier

epasquier@omerdecugis.com

www.omerdecugis.com ACTUS finance & communication

Corinne Puissant - Investor Relations

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 77 - omerdecugis@actus.fr

Fatou-Kine N'DIAYE - Presse Relations

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 34 - fndiaye@actus.fr

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LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / MCGlobalHub, a multi-asset access provider specializing in online trading services, today announced the launch of a new investor-focused program designed to enhance portfolio flexibility and expand access to global financial markets. This initiative is part of the firm's broader strategy to deliver responsive tools and resources tailored to the evolving needs of modern traders.

The newly unveiled program introduces customizable trading features and account options that aim to support a more agile investment experience. With growing demand for greater control and reach, the initiative reflects MCGlobalHub's ongoing commitment to user-centric development and operational transparency. Investors will be able to navigate diverse market conditions while leveraging tools designed to improve efficiency and accessibility.

A Step Forward in Investor-Centered Innovation

The latest program is built on months of research and engagement with clients seeking a more personalized approach to trading. Among the enhancements are adjustable margin settings, expanded instrument categories, and adaptive account structures. Users may adjust their trading parameters according to market movements, risk tolerance, and investment objectives thanks to these features.

"Traders expect platforms to adapt in real time as market environments become more dynamic," an MCGlobalHub analyst stated. "This program reflects that expectation by giving investors more flexibility without compromising the platform's core emphasis on security and functionality."

In addition to platform-level improvements, the program introduces outreach channels designed to support broader market participation. These include access to selected emerging markets and updated onboarding pathways aimed at streamlining account setup for international clients. By extending coverage and usability, MCGlobalHub is positioned to meet the needs of a more diverse investor base.

Strengthening Global Access While Upholding Operational Integrity

The rollout also reinforces the firm's strategic direction: aligning technical infrastructure with the requirements of both retail and professional traders. The platform's core architecture remains focused on execution speed and account protection, ensuring that new features do not affect system reliability or user safety.

"Building improvements that complement the stability of our platform is our top priority," the expert continued. "The objective is to make those features function flawlessly in a safe and controlled environment, not just to provide more features."

Future enhancements to MCGlobalHub's web-based platform, such as improved analytics capabilities and multi-device synchronization, were also announced as part of the launch. These improvements are expected to complement the new investor flexibility program by enabling deeper insight and smoother trade execution.

Ensuring Compliance as a Cornerstone of Scalable Innovation

With this launch, MCGlobalHub also reaffirms its commitment to regulatory alignment and ethical growth practices. As part of the rollout, internal teams have collaborated with legal and compliance advisors to ensure the program adheres to regional regulations and risk management protocols.

The company views compliance not as an obligation, but as a foundation for sustainable innovation in a high-speed digital economy.

Looking Ahead: Responsive Development for a Dynamic Market

The introduction of the flexibility program marks a milestone in MCGlobalHub's ongoing mission to serve a rapidly evolving global market. As investors seek more tailored solutions, the firm's approach remains grounded in responsible innovation, focused development, and a clear understanding of user needs.

Rather than making broad promises, the company emphasizes that its strategy is to listen, adapt, and improve through structured rollouts and feedback integration. Future developments will continue to follow this model, balancing usability with reliability as the firm scales its offering.

About MCGlobalHub

MCGlobalHub is a multi-asset access provider offering a range of trading instruments, including commodities, equities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. The company provides a web-based trading platform accessible on desktop and mobile devices, with standard functionality and security measures, including encryption and account verification. MCGlobalHub prioritizes fast trade execution, offers various deposit and withdrawal methods, and provides customer support through multiple channels.

Media details:

Name: Charles Simpson

Email: Charles.Simpson@MCglobalHub.com

Website: www.MCglobalHub.com

SOURCE: MCGlobalHub

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/mcglobalhub-launches-new-program-to-boost-investor-flexibility-a-1035495
Global eClinical Connect events kick off this week, leading up to annual ENGAGE conference in the fall, as company continues to build innovative avenues to empower life sciences leaders

eClinical Solutions LLC, a global provider of digital clinical software and services, today announced its participation in several June events, including the DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting, a leading life sciences event that brings together industry professionals to drive large-scale collaboration and transformation in the sector. With the company's commitment to supporting biopharma researchers in driving tomorrow's breakthroughs, eClinical is also hosting the eClinical Connect event series, including two events in Europe, creating additional global forums for industry experts to share insights and actionable strategies to tackle today's most pressing issues in the life sciences.

DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting

Following years of industry and regulatory efforts to ensure inclusive and representative trials, including Diversity Action Plans, leaders are collaborating to make tangible progress on initiatives promoting clinical trial diversity. To support these efforts, eClinical Solutions will host a panel at DIA (June 15-19 in Washington, DC) titled "Techquity in Digital Trials: Tech, Data, and Operationalizing Equity in Clinical Research," which will explore how biopharma can leverage data foundations and technological advancements including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve access and representation in clinical trials.

eClinical Solutions' Katrina Rice, Chief Delivery Officer of Biometrics Services, will chair the panel and be joined by industry authorities including Patrick Gee, Patient Advocate, Founder and Chief Executive Hope Dealer at iAdvocate, Inc., Nicole Ward, Senior Product Manager, Business Insights and Technology at Bristol Myers Squibb, and Del Smith, CEO and Co-founder at Acclinate. The discussion will focus on critical areas where technology and analytics can help facilitate health equity advancement, outline concrete use cases where technology and data can support equitable clinical research, and detail non-technical success factors needed to wholly support data-driven technology. The conversation will take place June 18 between 1:45 pm 2:45 pm ET.

eClinical Connect

In addition to its presence at this premier industry conference, the company will host three complimentary, global eClinical Connect events this month, which feature timely and informative panel discussions:

eClinical Connect in Newton, Massachusetts, USA (June 4): The first event will focus on considerations for adopting risk-based approaches, which continue to be top of mind as regulatory demands increase and clinical trials become more complex.

eClinical Connect in Mainz, Germany (June 10): The first European installment will include half-day presentations, providing attendees with insight on future-ready data strategies, elluminate Clinical Data Cloud adoption case studies presented by prominent Top 50 biopharma, and the eClinical Solutions vision and elluminate roadmap including use cases for enabling clinical teams with robust data transformation tools.

adoption case studies presented by prominent Top 50 biopharma, and the eClinical Solutions vision and elluminate roadmap including use cases for enabling clinical teams with robust data transformation tools. eClinical Connect in Paris, France (June 12): Later the same week in Europe, the Paris Connect's sessions and speakers will cover AI strategies, holistic approaches to risk-based quality management (RBQM), expanding clinical data platform use cases across an organization, and a CRO's experience streamlining data cleaning with a centralized data workbench.

"With a massive technology reinvention upon us thanks to the growing power and priority level of AI, it was important for us to supplement distinguished industry events like DIA with additional forums for collaboration with our clients and other life sciences stakeholders to discuss the most effective clinical trial strategies and approaches," said Raj Indupuri, Co-founder and CEO at eClinical Solutions. "During this unprecedented time, we must carefully examine how to most effectively harness AI tools safely with trust to improve key industry pain points. We are proud to convene top minds in life sciences at our eClinical Connect events to not only discuss unlocking AI's potential across the clinical data lifecycle, but also dive into other pertinent topics including holistic RBQM and risk-based approaches to optimize cycle times and future-proof trials, ultimately delivering innovative therapies to patients faster."

eClinical Solutions has also revealed details into this year's ENGAGE Annual Conference, which will be held October 29-30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event will provide executives the opportunity to explore the latest advancements in AI-driven innovation, insight into risk-based strategies to optimize decision-making, and tactical ways teams can reduce cycle times and improve efficiency.

To learn more about these events, including how you can register to attend, visit the eClinical Solutions website: https://www.eclinicalsol.com/events/.

About eClinical Solutions

eClinical Solutions' industry-leading data analytics platform, elluminate, and biometrics services experts help biopharma researchers at large, mid-size, and emerging life sciences organizations manage trial complexity in less time and with fewer resources. Clients get accurate and timely data insights for better decision-making enabling them to reduce cycle times, improve productivity, easily scale, and develop tomorrow's breakthroughs with today's resources. eClinical is a privately-held, purpose-driven company with a global workforce and winner of the 2025 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award, 2024 Top Workplaces USA Award, and Great Place To Work India Certification. Learn more at www.eclinicalsol.com and follow eClinical Solutions on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604870245/en/

Contacts:

Olivia Mannion

eClinical@pancomm.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Edgemont Gold Corp. (CSE: EDGM) (the "Company" or "Edgemont") announces that, further to its news releases dated February 20, 2025, March 21, 2025 and April 15, 2025, it has entered into a merger agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") dated June 4, 2025, with Laiva Gold Inc. ("Laiva"), and 2717194 Alberta Ltd. ("SubCo"), a newly incorporated, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Laiva (the "Laiva Shares") in exchange for an equivalent number of common shares of the Company (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will constitute a reverse takeover transaction of the Company by Laiva and will be a "Fundamental Change" of the Company under Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") Policy 8 - Fundamental Changes and Changes of Business ("Policy 8"). Completion of the Transaction will require approval from the CSE, as well as shareholders of Laiva ("Laiva Shareholders") will also be required to approve the Transaction prior to its closing ("Closing") along with shareholders of the Company ("Edgemont Shareholders") will also need to approve the Transaction as a "Fundamental Change" as a condition to Closing, as discussed further below.

Summary of the Transaction

The Definitive Agreement structures the Transaction as a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") with Laiva amalgamating with SubCo under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), with the amalgamated entity becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company following the Closing (the "Resulting Issuer"). Following Closing, the Resulting Issuer will continue the business of Laiva as a company listed on the CSE as a Mining Issuer under the name "Laiva Gold Corporation" (the "Name Change") or such name as agreed to by the parties.

In addition, prior to the Closing, it is expected that the Company and Laiva will complete two private placement offerings (together, the "Concurrent Financings") as follows:

(1) a private placement offering of units of Laiva at a price of $0.80 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $7,500,000 (the "Laiva Private Placement") with each unit consisting of one Laiva Share and one half of one Laiva Share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at a price of $1.20 per Laiva Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance; and

(2) a private placement offering of subscription receipts of the Company at a price per subscription receipt to be determined in the context of the market for aggregate gross proceeds up to $7,500,000 (the "SR Financing"), with each subscription receipt expected to convert into one post-Consolidation Edgemont Share prior to the Closing.

Finder's fees may be paid in connection with the Concurrent Financings and will disclosed in due course and as confirmed. In addition, prior to the Closing, the Company will effect a consolidation of its common shares (the "Edgemont Shares") on a 3:1 basis (the "Consolidation"), whereby each holder of Edgemont Shares will receive one post-Consolidation Edgemont Share for each 3 Edgemont Shares held at the time of Consolidation.

Certain common shares of the Resulting Issuer to be issued pursuant to the Transaction are expected to be subject to restrictions on resale or escrow under the policies of the CSE, including the securities to be issued to Related Persons (as defined under the CSE policies), which will be subject to the escrow requirements of the CSE.

Pursuant to voting support agreements agreed to by the parties, the directors and officers of Laiva, as well as certain key shareholders of Laiva, have agreed to vote in support of the Transaction and related matters.

The Definitive Agreement includes a number of conditions precedent to Closing, including but not limited to, receipt of the requisite shareholder approvals from both Edgemont (approving the Transaction as a "Fundamental Change") and Laiva (approving the Amalgamation), completion of the Concurrent Financings, completion of the Consolidation, the Name Change being effected, approvals of all regulatory bodies having jurisdiction in connection with the Transaction, approval of the CSE, including the satisfaction of its listing requirements, the settlement of certain outstanding liabilities of Laiva, the receipt by Laiva of certain environmental permits and the satisfaction of other closing conditions customary to the transactions of this nature. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Following completion of the Transaction, Laiva will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer. The foregoing is a summary of the Definitive Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the Definitive Agreement, a copy of which will be available under Edgemont's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Transaction is not a "related party transaction" (as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions).

The Definitive Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including non-solicitation provisions. In addition, the Definitive Agreement provides that a termination fee of $500,000 is payable by Laiva should the Transaction be terminated in certain circumstances. In addition, in the event of termination of the Definitive Agreement, Laiva will repay to Edgemont the amount owing under the bridge loan advance by Edgemont to Laiva (see news release dated February 20, 2025), as well as reimburse Edgemont for certain expenses and fees incurred in connection with the Transaction.

Directors and Officers of the Resulting Issuer

In conjunction with and upon Closing, the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer is expected to consist of five (5) directors. Certain of the existing directors and officers of the Company will resign at or prior to Closing. Laiva and the Company will make further announcements regarding the expected officers and directors of the Resulting Issuer.

Listing Statement

In connection with the Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the CSE, the Company intends on filing a CSE Form 2A listing statement on its issuer profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on its CSE issuer profile on the CSE website (www.thecse.com), which will contain relevant details regarding the Transaction, Laiva and the Resulting Issuer.

Additional Information

Additional terms regarding the Transaction were previously disclosed in news releases of the Company dated February 20, 2025, March 21, 2025 and April 15, 2025, which are available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent referred to in this news release and in the Definitive Agreement, the Company and Laiva anticipate that the Transaction will be completed no later than September 30, 2025. There is no assurance that the Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed herein or at all. Trading in the common shares of the Company has been halted and will remain halted, pending the satisfaction of applicable requirements of CSE Policy 8 and permission to resume trading has been obtained from the CSE.

All information contained in this news release with respect to Laiva was supplied by Laiva, and the Company and its directors and officers have relied on Laiva for such information.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, CSE acceptance. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the CSE Form 2A listing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

The securities of the Company to be issued in connection with the Transaction have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Laiva

Laiva is a Canadian mining company, incorporated under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, and through a subsidiary company owns its flagship operation, the Laiva mine ("Laiva Gold Project") in Finland.

The Laiva Gold Project is situated in the North Ostrobothnia region of Finland, along the Gulf of Bothnia coast. It lies approximately 20 kilometres (km) southeast of Raahe, 80 km southwest of Oulu, and 550 km north of Helsinki. The Laiva Gold Project comprises 2 applications for exploration permits and 1 active mining permit covering a total of approximately 22.46 square kilometres (km2).





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The Laiva Gold Project is a historical open-pit mining operation that consists of two open pits. Mineralized material produced from the Laiva Gold Project has historically been processed at the Laiva Gold Mine Process facilities (the "Laiva processing plant"), located within the Laiva Gold Project. The Laiva processing plant was constructed in 2011. Nordic Mines operated the plant from the commission date to the end of March 2014. The mill production rate during this period averaged approximately 210 metric tonnes per hour (mtph) verses the design rate of 250 mtph. The ground mineralized material particle size ranged from P80 110 micrometer (m) to 130 m versus a design particle size of P80 75 m.

The mineral processing plant is located approximately 1 km northeast from the South and North open pits on the Property site. The Laiva Gold Project is currently on care and maintenance and is a former gold producing mining operation.

The processing plant comprises a single stage crushing circuit, grinding mills, a 3-megawatt (Mw) installed power mill, flash flotation, gravity and regrind circuits, high grade and low grade carbon-in-leach circuits, carbon stripping, and a gold room. Spent mud is sent to either a high grade or low grade dam. The low grade dam is situated approximately 7.5 km from the plant where it is processed through a thickener.

A geochemical laboratory is situated within the Property, previously managed by an independent contractor. Geochemical samples were processed and analyzed using a pulverize and leach machine (PAL1000) with 52 steel pots and an Atomic Absorption spectrometer with a capacity of 8,000 samples per week. This laboratory has historically been used to process and analyze grade control samples.

Most of the power used to source the Laiva Gold Project operations is from a high-voltage grid in the area. It is located to the east of the Laiva Gold Project and supplies 110 kilovolts (kV) of power. A secondary 20 kV power grid is available from the village of Mattilanpera.

About Edgemont

Edgemont holds a 100% interest in the Dungate copper/gold porphyry project located just 6 km south of Houston, BC, in a region with a history of successful mining projects including the Equity Silver Mine and Imperial Metals' Huckleberry Mine. The Dungate project is comprised of five mineral tenures covering 1,582.2 hectares that can be explored year-round by all-season roads. For more information, please visit our website at www.edgemontgold.com.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by John Williamson, P.Geol. a director of Edgemont, who is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the terms and completion of the Transaction, the receipt of corporate, regulatory and stock exchange approval in respect of the Transaction, the terms and completion of the Concurrent Financings, the technical, financial, and business prospects of the Company and Laiva, their respective assets and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking information or statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information or statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking information or statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, the ability to achieve its goals, expected costs and timelines to achieve the Company's goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, and that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information or statements reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties included in in documents filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information or statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete the Offering on the terms described herein, including obtaining the requisite regulatory and stock exchange approvals, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to compete effectively with competitors, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to comply with applicable laws, including environmental laws, risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for

dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254484

SOURCE: Edgemont Gold Corp.
The third and final result, based on the last three years of data, is in perfect agreement with the experiment's previous results, further solidifying the experimental world average. This long-awaited value will be the world's most precise measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly for many years to come.

Batavia, Ill., June 04, 2025, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, have released their third and final measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly. This value is related to g-2, the experiment's namesake measurement. The final result agrees with their published results from 2021 and 2023 but with a much better precision of 127 parts-per-billion, surpassing the original experimental design goal of 140 parts-per-billion.

"The anomalous magnetic moment, or g-2, of the muon is important because it provides a sensitive test of the Standard Model of particle physics. This is an exciting result and it is great to see an experiment come to a definitive end with a precision measurement," said Regina Rameika, the U.S. Department of Energy's Associate Director for the Office of High Energy Physics.

This long-awaited result is a tremendous achievement of precision and will remain the world's most precise measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly for many years to come. Despite recent challenges with the theoretical predictions that reduce evidence of new physics from muon g-2, this result provides a stringent benchmark for proposed extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics.

"This is a very exciting moment because we not only achieved our goals but exceeded them, which is not very easy for these precision measurements," said Peter Winter, a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory and co-spokesperson for the Muon g-2 collaboration. "With the support of the funding agencies and the host lab, Fermilab, it has been very successful overall, as we reached or surpassed pretty much all the items that we were aiming for."

"For over a century, g-2 has been teaching us a lot about the nature of nature," said Lawrence Gibbons, professor at Cornell University and analysis co-coordinator for this result. "It's exciting to add a precise measurement that I think will stand for a long time."

The Muon g-2. Muons are similar to electrons but about 200 times more massive; like electrons, muons have a quantum mechanical property called spin that can be interpreted as a tiny internal magnet. In the presence of an external magnetic field, the internal magnet will wobble - or precess - like the axis of a spinning top.

The precession speed in a magnetic field depends on properties of the muon described by a number called the g-factor. Theoretical physicists calculate the g-factor based on the current knowledge of how the universe works at a fundamental level, which is contained in the Standard Modelof particle physics.

Nearly 100 years ago, the value of g was predicted to be 2. But experimental measurements soon showed g to be slightly different from 2 by a quantity known as the magnetic anomaly of the muon, a, calculated with (g-2)/2. The Muon g-2 experiment gets its name from this relation.

The muon magnetic anomaly encodes the effects of all Standard Model particles, and theoretical physicists can calculate these contributions to an incredible precision. But previous measurements taken at Brookhaven National Laboratoryin the late 1990s and early 2000s showed a possible discrepancy with the theoretical calculation at that time.

When experiment doesn't align with theory, it could indicate new physics. Specifically, physicists wondered if this discrepancy could be caused by as-yet undiscovered particles pulling at the muon's precession.

So physicists decided to upgrade the Muon g-2 experiment to make a more precise measurement. In 2013, Brookhaven's magnetic storage ring was transportedfrom Long Island, New York, to Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois. After years of significant upgrades and improvements, the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment started up on May 31, 2017.

In parallel, an international collaboration of theorists formed the Muon g-2 Theory Initiativeto improve the theoretical calculation. In 2020, the Theory Initiative publishedan updated, more precise Standard Model value based on a technique that uses input data from other experiments.

The discrepancy with the result from that technique continued to grow in 2021 when Fermilab announced its first experimental result, confirming the Brookhaven result with a slightly improved precision. At the same time, a new theoretical predictioncame out based on a second technique that heavily relies on computational power. This new number was closer to the experimental measurement, narrowing the discrepancy.

Recently, the Theory Initiative publisheda new prediction combining the results of several groups that used the new computational technique. This result remains closer to the experimental measurement, dampening the possibility of new physics. However, the theoretical effort will continue to work to understand the discrepancy between the data-driven and computational approaches.

The latest experimental value of the magnetic moment of the muon from the Fermilab experiment is:

a = (g-2)/2 (muon, experiment) = 0.001 165 920 705 +- 0.000 000 000 114(stat.)

+- 0.000 000 000 091(syst.)

This final measurement is based on the analysis of the last three years of data, taken between 2021 and 2023, combined with the previously published datasets. This more than tripled the size of the dataset used for their second resultin 2023, and it enabled the collaboration to finally achieve their precision goal proposed in 2012.

It also represents an analysis of the experiment's best-quality data. Toward the end of their second data-taking run, the Muon g-2 collaboration finished tweaks and enhancements to the experiment that improved the quality of the muon beam and reduced uncertainties.

The Muon g-2 collaboration describes the result in a paper that they submittedtoday to Physical Review Letters.

"As it has been for decades, the magnetic moment of the muon continues to be a stringent benchmark of the Standard Model," said Simon Corrodi, assistant physicist at Argonne National Laboratory and analysis co-coordinator. "The new experimental result sheds new light on this fundamental theory and will set the benchmark for any new theoretical calculation to come."

A future experimentat the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex will likely make another measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly in the early 2030s, but, initially, they won't achieve the same precision as Fermilab.

Meanwhile, the Theory Initiative will continue working to resolve the inconsistency between their two theoretical predictions.

The Muon g-2collaborationis made up of nearly 176 scientists from 34 institutions in seven countries. Marco Incagli, a physicist with the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics at Pisa and co-spokesperson for Muon g-2, emphasized that the internationality of the collaboration was key to the success of the experiment.

Unusually, the scientists also represent a variety of physics areas. "This experiment is quite peculiar because it has very different ingredients in it," said Incagli. "It is really done by a collaboration among communities that normally work on different experiments."

Unlike other high-energy physics experiments, Muon g-2 needed more than just high-energy physicists; the collaboration is also composed of accelerator physicists, atomic physicists and nuclear physicists. "It was very valuable to see that, when we had all these different experts come together, we could solve items that probably one group could not have done alone," said Incagli.

While the experiment's main analysis has come to an end, there is more to be mined from the six years of Muon g-2 data. In the future, the collaboration will produce measurements of a property of the muon called the electric dipole moment as well as tests of a fundamental property of physical laws known as charge, parity, and time-reversal symmetry.

"It's a really beautiful experiment," said Gibbons. "The data that comes out is really exquisite. It's been a privilege to have access to this data and analyze it."

"Of course, it's sad to end such an endeavor because it's been a large part of many of our collaborators' lives," said Winter, who has been part of the collaboration since 2011. "But we also want to move to the next physics that's out there, to do our best to advance the field in other areas.

"I think it will be a textbook experiment that will be a long-lasting reference for many future decades to come," Winter added.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America's premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab's website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.

Attachments

Muon g-2 ring (https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/217c6f4b-1d08-4c30-8159-c4709443f5c3)

Results plot graph (https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/bb38949e-849c-4911-87ea-2beac29bd408)

Tracy Marc Fermilab 2242907803 TRACYM@FNAL.GOV
Amsterdam, June 4, 2025

SBM Offshore announces it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement for the full divestment of SBM Offshore's equity interest in the lease and operating entities of the FPSO Aseng to GEPetrol. The Company's exit from Equatorial Guinea will take place following an operational transition phase lasting up to 12 months.

SBM Offshore's sale of its participation in the unit in Equatorial Guinea is in line with its strategy to rationalize its Lease & Operate portfolio, as per other recent transactions.

The agreement remains subject to several conditions precedent and approvals.



Corporate Profile

SBM Offshore is the world's deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy.

More than 7,800 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.

For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

Financial Calendar Date Year Half Year 2025 Earnings August 7 2025 Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update November 13 2025 Full Year 2025 Earnings February 26 2026 Annual General Meeting April 15 2026 First Quarter 2026 Trading Update May 7 2026

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Wouter Holties

Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

Phone: +31 (0)20 236 32 36 E-mail: wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com (mailto:wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com) Website: www.sbmoffshore.com (http://www.sbmoffshore.com)

Media Relations

Giampaolo Arghittu

Head of External Relations

Phone: +31 (0)6 212 62 333 / +39 33 494 79 584 E-mail: giampaolo.arghittu@sbmoffshore.com (mailto:giampaolo.arghittu@sbmoffshore.com) Website: www.sbmoffshore.com (http://www.sbmoffshore.com)

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as 'expect', 'should', 'could', 'shall' and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the 'Impacts, Risks and Opportunities' section of the 2024 Annual Report.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company's business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

This release contains certain alternative performance measures.

Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release "SBM Offshore" and "SBM" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

"SBM Offshore", the SBM logomark, "Fast4Ward", "emissionZERO" and "F4W" are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

Attachment
Quantico, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Nate Woodard, a veteran-owned small business known for its commitment to craftsmanship and service, is proud to announce the acquisition of Abbott Military Tailors, a historic provider of premium uniforms for military and uniformed service personnel since 1940. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Woodard's business portfolio and signals an ambitious market expansion for the established uniform retailer.

Where service meets craftsmanship: Nate Woodard continues the Abbott Uniform's legacy for our navy, military, and airline professionals

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This acquisition marks a new chapter for Abbott's, one rooted in the same values that built its legacy-now carried forward by the next generation of veterans. Founded and operated by U.S. Army and Navy veterans, Nate Woodard brings fresh energy and operational capability to the iconic Abbotts brand while maintaining its dedication to quality, U.S.-made products, and exceptional customer service.

Located in "Q Town" surrounded by Marine Corps Base Quantico - 25 minutes south of Washington, D.C.- Nate Woodard's new brick-and-mortar presence offers greater accessibility for uniformed service members, including those serving in the armed forces and the airline industry. This location reflects the company's mission to serve those who serve, making it easier than ever to outfit our nation's protectors with the highest quality uniforms available.

"This is more than a business decision - it's a shared commitment to excellence, pride in service, and belief in American manufacturing," said Nate Woodard, the founder of Nate Woodard. "We're honored to carry the Abbott's name forward while expanding its reach to meet the evolving needs of today's uniformed professionals."

As part of the transition, customers can expect:

Continued emphasis on U.S.-manufactured materials and suppliers

Personalized service by veterans who understand the importance of fit, function, and tradition

Expanded accessibility through both in-store and modernized online offerings

With this acquisition, Nate Woodard reinforces its passion for service, quality, and commitment - hallmarks that have defined Abbott's for 85 years and will continue to guide its future.

"Our customers can expect the same level of quality and service they've always received from Abbott's, with additional benefits as we grow," Woodard explained. "We're committed to being the premier provider of uniforms for all who serve, from military personnel to airline pilots and beyond."

About Abbotts Uniforms

Abbotts Uniforms has been a trusted provider of military and service uniforms for 85 years, delivering quality apparel and accessories to those who serve our communities and country. With a commitment to excellence and attention to detail, Abbott's ensures that uniformed professionals look their best while performing their vital duties.

About Nate Woodard LLC

Nate Woodard LLC delivers high-quality military uniforms and accessories tailored for service members and officers. Founded by veteran Nate Woodard, the company blends tradition with craftsmanship and premium materials to ensure a professional fit and lasting quality. With a hands-on approach and a growing national presence, Nate Woodard LLC is dedicated to serving those who serve.

For more information, visit www.natewoodard.com or contact abbotts@natewoodard.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253651

SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GDP) is pleased to announce the commencement of work on its 2025 exploration program at its Myrt Lake, Murray Lake, and DAF properties located in the high-grade Gordon Lake gold mining district of Canada's Northwest Territories.

This press release is effective immediately and replaces the press release issued on June 03, 2025. This revised version contains material changes, including the disclaimer of the use of historical information and the approval by a Qualified Person in accordance with NI-43 guidelines.

Highlights

Litho-Structural Mapping and Sampling: Detailed litho-structural mapping and additional rock and till sampling will be carried out at three of our properties: Myrt Lake, Murray Lake and DAF. Detailed mapping data, structural measurements and rock sampling aim to increase the extent of near-surface high-grade mineralization surrounding known workings and mineralization showings. More extensive reconnaissance mapping and soil/till sampling will be conducted to identify new exploration targets. Channel sampling may also be added to better understand gold distribution and grade continuity along mineralized veins, wall and host rocks.

Photogrammetry and Magnetics Drone Survey: A property-scale photogrammetry and magnetics survey will be performed across the entire project. This will provide high-resolution (up to 3 cm spatial resolution) imagery for interpretation to build 3D wireframe mesh data for our geological modeling and project planning. The photogrammetry and magnetics data will be combined with mapping, geophysical, and any other data to be integrated into our geological model. Since the images will be acquired in the summer with good outcrop exposure, the photogrammetry mapping can be done remotely all year round.

Assay and Multi-Element Geochemical Analyses: Rock samples will be sent to the ALS laboratory in Yellowknife for assay and geochemical analyses. Results are expected for October 2025.





Figure 0. Gordon Lake Project and 2025 Exploration Properties.

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Exploration History

The Gordon Lake Project has an extensive exploration history dating back to the late 1930's. There are multiple gold showings within the Project boundary that have had varying degrees of exploration and underground development. The last period of sustained exploration activity in the Kidney Pond and Lynk areas was in the 1980's. Recently in 2020, Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. acquired and consolidated all the properties in the Gordon Lake Project. Exploration permits for the Company's properties are approved through 2030, including First Nations approvals and permits. The Company looks forward to the construction of an all-weather road connecting Gordon Lake to Tibbit Lake, approximately 30 km long, which will dramatically reduce the Company's exploration and drilling costs.

The historical assay results (Christensen, 1985) and resource estimates (Knutsen, 1987) referenced in this press release were calculated prior to NI-43 guidelines and therefore do not conform to current estimates and are not being used as estimates. A resource estimate needs to be validated by a QP and that is not the purpose of this release. The historical information is relevant because it demonstrates the consistency of exploration at these formerly producing mines over decades. These are the most recent reports for both areas. Golden Pursuit Resources has compiled all historical data for Gordon Lake as well as recently acquired new data (2020-2024). The Company issued NI-43 reports in 2021 and 2022.

Golden Pursuit has undertaken several significant exploration programs in the area including LiDAR surveying, geological mapping and sampling, IP surveying, ground magnetic surveying, and 3D litho-structural modelling. The proposed 2025 program will build on both the historic and recent exploration results.

The exploration history is summarized in Table 1 (which summarizes work in the DAF area) and Table 2 (which summarizes work in the Lake Murray and Myrt Lake areas). The 2025 exploration program will focus on detailed mapping and sampling in the DAF area to further refine geological modeling, as well as preliminary geological mapping and sampling on the Lake Murray and Myrt Lake properties to inform geological modeling of these two properties.

Table 1. Exploration history of significant mineral occurrences in the southern Gordon Lake area. Part 1. Occurrences within the DAF property.

DAF VEIN (WEST BAY) 1946 (Zolata Yellowknife Mines): Woolgar and Wonnacott staked the property. Zolata Yellowknife Mines optioned the property, performed trenching and 6700 feet of drilling. 1947 (McAvoy): Woolgar and Wonnacott along with J. McAvoy installed a small mill and hand cobbed vein material to produce 50 ounces of gold from 18 tons (2.77 oz/ton). 1948 (West-Bay Yellowknife Mines Ltd.): Acquired the property and a larger mill was installed. Further trenching, drilling, and milling produced 221 oz of gold, and 29 oz of silver from 289 tons of rock. 1958 (Consolidated Northland Mines Limited): Sampling program 1967 (Precambrian Mining Services Limited.): Evaluation Report 1977 (Reed and Doucette): Hand cobbed and milled ore, recovering 27 fine ounces of gold. 1981-1982 (Black Ridge Gold Ltd.): Black Ridge drills 21 holes totaling 420 meters. Several holes hit very high values: 82-03 (4.536 oz over 3 feet), 82-04 (3.192 oz over 3 feet), and 82-05 (9.876 oz over 3 feet). Estimated that to a down dip depth of 64 feet there is a total of 814 tons of ore at 4.21 oz/ton (3400 oz). 1984 (Cruiser Minerals): Drill program under an option agreement, with 44 drillholes totaling 1635m. Calculated an ore shoot 60 feet long by 5 feet wide, averaging 0.888 oz/ton to a depth of 300 feet. (5000 tons at 30.4 g/ton). 1987 (Blackridge and Cruiser Minerals): 400 meters drilled. 1989-1990 (New Era Development and Cameron Mining): 5,540 tonnes bulk sampling. Reported grade of 19 g/t. Over half was processed by Discovery Mine. 2020 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Acquired the property. 2021 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): LiDAR survey, prospecting, and rock sampling (Vivian and Bocking, 2022). 2023 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Compilation of historic work and geological mapping (Prior et al., 2023; Prior and Schmidt, 2023).

Table 2. Exploration history highlights of significant mineral occurrences outside the southern Gordon Lake area. Part 2. Occurrences within the Murray Lake and Myrt Lake properties.

MURRAY LAKE 1937-1940 (Cominco Limited): Extensive exploration work on the "Pan" claims, including more than 110 trenches, shallow diamond drilling, and two small shafts (8'X6' and 6'X5') completed, with gold showings of 310.9 g/t over 0.91 m and channel samples of 15.55 g/t Au (with veins up to 298.56 g/t Au). 1957-1960 (Alex Mitchell): Staked the "Bairn" claims and reported favorable horizons intersected by 5 drillholes. 1972 (North Star Mines Ltd.): Report on the MSSL claims, which cover the Pan and Bairn claims. The host rock bordering the trenches was found to be auriferous. 1981 (Five Star Resources Ltd): Detailed mapping and sampling immediately south and southeast of the Murray Claim, with the intent to estimate the size and number of gold-bearing veins and determine the structural setting of the veins. 1982 (Hidden Lake Gold Mines Ltd): Limited geological mapping, sampling and prospecting. A quartz vein zone was shown to contain high grades of gold mineralization with gold values up to 3.6 ounces of gold/ton across 1.5 feet width in a vein with a length of about 30 feet. 1981 (Dale Christensen): 26 shallow drillholes. The best result was 1.308 oz/ton gold (Christensen, 1985). 1985 (Henderson): Mapped the Yellowknife-Hearne Lake Area at a scale of 1:250,000. *Reported RC assay results in Figure 3 presented here are historical, non-compliant with NI-43 guidelines, and are not being used as current. 1994 (Brophy): Described the structure and geochemistry of vein-hosted gold in Burwash turbidites in the area. 2003 (Dahrouge Consulting): Staked the "Murray" claim and optioned to Evolving Gold Corp. 2008 (Triple Dragon): Dahrouge Consulting, on behalf of Triple Dragon, completed geologic mapping and prospecting within the Murray claim. A total of six trench areas were outlined and chip sampled, and 198 samples were collected and analyzed. The most promising result is from a quartz vein sample in Area A that assayed 187.71 g/T Au over 0.25 m. 2020 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Acquired the property. 2021 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): LiDAR survey, prospecting, and rock sampling (Vivian and Bocking, 2022). 2024 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Initial assessment, preliminary structural mapping and rock sampling (Field report, 2024). MYRT LAKE 1938-1939 (Dome Mines Limited): Extensive work included trenching, diamond drilling, and bulk sampling. 1959 (Sam Otto): Staked the "Myrt" claims. 1959 (Walter Temawski): Staked the "WT" claim group. 1938-1974 (Precambrian Mining Services): Surface rock trenching (736 feet in 33 trenches), surface diamond drilling (8226 feet in 65 holes), surface geological mapping. 1974 (Cameron Holdings Limited): Decline of 466 feet, and 405 feet of drifting and crosscutting along the #1 vein. 3,650 feet of underground drilling in 15 drillholes. A total of 3,000 tons of ore grading 0.11oz/t was mined and stockpiled. Ore reserves were estimated to be 25,275 tons grading 0.22 oz Au/ton down to 125'. 1984 (Ryan Energy): 10 drillholes (5,585 feet) verified that the #1 and #3 veins continue to the northwest and at depth below 500 feet. 1987-1989 (William Knutsen): Acquired the property and reported rehabilitation of the decline. Knutsen (1987) calculated a minable resource to a depth of 110' of 17,510 tons grading 0.35 oz Au/ton, containing 6,132 oz Au. *Reported resources presented here are historical, non-compliant with NI-43 guidelines, and are not being used as current. 1992 (William Knutsen): Processed 2,152 tons of gold at Yellowknife Giant Mine, with 732 oz Au recovered at a grade of 0.36 oz/t and 86% recovery rate. 2020 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Acquired the property. 2021 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): LiDAR survey, prospecting, and rock sampling (Vivian and Bocking, 2022).

2025 Exploration Program

The 2025 exploration program on the Gordon Lake Project (Figure 1) was designed to build on historical high-grade results and mine operations, where sampling and drilling intersected significant gold mineralization. Planned detailed litho-structural mapping and rock, soil, and till sampling will help to better understand the structural-geochemical relationship to gold mineralization. Recent targeted exploration efforts have focused on delineating targets, refining the geological model, and planning drillholes for the next drilling campaigns. Further drilling will focus on both confirmation and step-out drilling to enhance geological understanding and to test new targets identified through geophysical and geochemical surveys.

The 2025 exploration program will be divided into two phases: one that includes initial geological mapping and sampling for modeling purposes at Myrt Lake (Figure 2) and Murray Lake (Figure 3) properties, and a second phase focusing on refined mapping and modeling on the DAF (Figure 4) property for further drillhole planning.

Litho-structural mapping and extension of known mineralized zones: Initial litho-structural mapping, rock and till sampling on Murray Lake and Myrt Lake to understand controls on mineralization and start to build a geological model for these deposits, including historic data. Detailed litho-structural mapping, rock and till sampling to be integrated to geophysical surveys and geological models at DAF property to expand on historic work, update and refine the geological model, and drillhole planning. Photogrammetry and magnetics survey: Golden Pursuit contracted Drone North, a drone-survey company based in Yukon, to perform an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping and image analysis including property-scale photogrammetry and magnetic survey over three Areas of Interest (AOI's) to complement ground-based exploration efforts. The high-resolution imagery obtained with photogrammetry provides photography, detailed topographic data and terrain models processed into 3D wireframes meshes. Drone North also partners with AeroPhysX to provide very high quality and high-resolution magnetic surveys. The magnetic data can be quite helpful to identify large-scale structures, as well as geophysical anomalies, including sulfides (pyrrhotite) and iron oxides. These data will assist in geological interpretation and structure delineation, and used for geological 3D modeling, drillhole planning, and project management.

Litho-Structural Mapping and Sampling Program

Detailed litho-structural mapping, as well as extensive surface rock and till sampling will be conducted over the entire three properties. The objective is to understand the structural-geochemical controls on mineralization. Rock and till sampling were designed to fill gaps in historical data and provide a more detailed geochemical understanding of gold distribution near high-grade zones to refine future drillhole planning.





Figure 2. Myrt Lake Property Exploration Plan.

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Figure 3. Murray Lake Property Exploration Plan.

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Figure 4. DAF Property Exploration Plan.

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Photogrammetry and Magnetics Drone Survey

Golden Pursuit has hired Drone North, a drone-survey company based in Yukon, to conduct a property-scale photogrammetry and magnetic survey to complement ground-based exploration work. The high-resolution imagery obtained with photogrammetry provides photography, detailed topographic data and terrain models processed into 3D wireframes meshes. The magnetic data can be quite helpful to identify large-scale structures, as well as geophysical anomalies, including sulfides (pyrrhotite) and iron oxides. These data will support 2025 exploration activities (Figures 2-4) and further assist in geological interpretation and structure delineation, and will be used for geological 3D modeling, drillhole planning, and project management.

The photogrammetry and magnetic surveys will be carried out over three Areas of Interest (AOI's): Myrt Lake, Murray Lake and DAF properties. The proposed survey areas cover approximately 10 km2 and consist of acquiring high resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data, at approximately 40 meters high and with 50 meters line spacing, with lines being oriented perpendicular to the geological fabric (Figure 5). Ground control point data will be acquired during UAV surveying to carry out a camera calibration and to determine final photogrammetric model errors. A magnetic base station will record diurnal variation in magnetic field.

The photogrammetry products will include colour orthomosaic imagery, digital elevation models including both digital surface models and digital terrain models, 3d georeferenced cloud points (LAS), and final report. All photogrammetry data will be acquired to be compatible with 3D mapping applications such as HiveMapTM.

For the magnetic survey, a very high-resolution elevation model will be generated from UAV photogrammetry flights and then followed with the UAV magnetic sensor. A total of 270 line-km of magnetic survey is estimated. Final deliverables will include total magnetic intensity, phasemap, vertical derivative, horizontal gradient, reduction to the pole, and final report.





Figure 5. Magnetic survey design at Myrt Lake, Murray Lake, and DAF properties.

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Community Engagement

Golden Pursuit collaborates with First Nations organizations on whose traditional territories its projects are located as well as with the Government of the Northwest Territories to advance their strategic interests, as well as to discuss opportunities to support community initiatives. The Company looks forward to continuing to work with local and regional First Nations in all its future exploration programs.

References

Christensen, D, 1985. Rotary Drilling and Sampling, Murray Lake, Assessment Report at NTGS #081941. 4 p.

Knutsen, W. G., 1987. Summary Report and Ore Reserve on the 'WT' Gold Property, Myrt Lake, NWT. Prepared for Westfort Petroleums Ltd. Precambrian Mining Service Ltd.

Prior, G.; Schmidt, N., 2023. Field Report. Exploration on the Gordon Lake Property. Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd.

Prior, G.; Schmidt, N.; Gorham, J., 2023. Summary Report on the Gordon Lake Property. Including: Burnt Island, Camlaren, H Vein, 31 Vein, May Island, Kidney Pond, Lynk, Murray Lake, Myrt Lake, Storm, Goodrock, and Vaydik mineral occurrences. Northwest Territories, Canada. Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd.

Vivian, G; Bocking, N., 2022. Technical Report. South Gordon Lake Property, Northwest Territories, Canada. Prepared for Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. Aurora Geosciences.

Vivian, G, 2021. Technical Report. South Gordon Lake Property, Northwest Territories, Canada. Prepared for Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. Aurora Geosciences.

About the Gordon Lake Project

The Gordon Lake Project is located approximately 80-90km northeast of Yellowknife, NWT, and it hosts numerous gold showings with several having seen varying degrees of exploration work, including drilling, underground development and mining from 1937 to the late 1980's.

The Gordon Lake Project ("Property") consists of 18 territorial and 13 federal claims, as well as 4 historical mining leases, totaling just over 6850 hectares. All claims and leases are 100% owned by Golden Pursuit.

The Gordon Lake Project is located on the Slave Structural Province in the northwestern portion of the Canadian Shield which comprises an Archean granite-greenstone craton. The Slave Province is comprised of granite-gneiss basement, supracrustal metavolcanic-metasedimentary rocks of the Yellowknife Supergroup and younger granitoid complexes. The Yellowknife Supergroup consists predominantly of the Burwash Formation metaturbidite deposits with flanking, older metavolcanics along basinal edges. Many gold quartz veins are within the Burwash metaturbidite formation and occur as single veins or vein-swarm systems. In addition to the veins found at Gordon Lake, metre-scale zones of quartz breccia occur.

About Golden Pursuit Resources

Golden Pursuit Resources is a company focused on gold exploration. The company owns deposits and prospects located in the Northwest Territories (Canada) and Nevada (United States). All projects are owned 100% with no encumbrances or third-party obligations except for royalties on purchased claim groups in the NWT.

Both land and water use permits are in place on the Gordon Lake, NWT project, allowing for exploration and development until 2030. The company owns 11 distinct properties that have undergone exploration, development and mining since the 1930's. Five of the deposits have been classified as "former producers" by the NWT government. Golden Pursuit has conducted extensive exploration since 2021, and there will be an announcement about this year's exploration as results are received.

Further details are available at www.goldenpursuitresources.ca.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Pavel Dubchak, an independent consultant commissioned by the Company. Pavel Dubchak is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC) and a "Qualified Person" with respect to NI 43-101. The QP has not visited the property and has not performed sufficient work to update the resource. The Issuer is not treating the historic estimated as current.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that the forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include, but are not limited to, potential mineralization, exploration plans, and engagement with First Nations communities. They contain risks inherent in exploration activities; the impact of exploration competition; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. The information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, Golden Pursuit disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254499

SOURCE: Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Sranan Gold Corp. (CSE: SRAN) (FSE: P84) (Tradegate: P84) ("Sranan" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated May 30, 2025, Sranan has increased its Offering to up to 20,000,000 shares (the "Shares") at a price of C$0.40 per Share for proceeds of up to C$8 million (the "Offering"). The net proceeds will be used for general working capital and the Company's expanded drilling program of up to 10,000 meters at the Tapanahony Gold Project in Suriname.

All securities issued will be subject to a four-month and a day hold period from any closing date. Sranan may pay finder's fees to arm's length finders (each a "Finder") on the Shares sold by such Finder. The Offering is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and any finder's fees payable will be issued in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws.

About Sranan Gold

Sranan Gold Corp. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Suriname. The highly prospective Tapanahony Project is located in the heart of Suriname's modern-day gold rush. Tapanahony covers 29,000 hectares in one of the oldest and largest small-scale mining areas in Suriname. There is significant production from saprolite by local miners along a 4.5-kilometre trend, where several areas of mining have been opened.

Sranan Gold is also exploring its Aida Property consisting of five mineral claims covering an area of 2,335.42 hectares on the Shuswap Highland within the Kamloops Mining Division.

For more information, visit sranangold.com.

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation, the timing, nature, scope and details regarding the Company's exploration plans and results. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements in this release but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, and no objection from the CSE in respect of the Offering. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include the CSE objecting to the Offering; the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this release; Sranan may be unable to satisfy all of the conditions to the closing required by the CSE. Sranan does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254501

SOURCE: Sranan Gold Corp.
New strategic alliances bring capital, leadership, and alignment as Parvis

scales a modern marketplace for real estate and alternative investing

Highlights

Bluestar Equity, the investment office of the Murad Family, via its Bluestar Flagship Fund LP, and Lankin Investments Inc., make a strategic investment in Parvis providing significant growth capital as part of a long-term and comprehensive strategic alliance.

Roy Murad, Chairman of Bluestar and Kyle Pulis, Founder and CEO of Lankin will join Parvis' Board of Directors.

With Bluestar and Lankin's support, Parvis plans to accelerate its expansion of innovative financial services products and accelerate its growth through acquisitions.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Parvis Invest Inc. (TSXV: PVIS) ("Parvis" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled platform redefining access to real estate and alternative private market investments, today announced the expansion of its strategic partnerships (the "Strategic Alliances") through equity investments by the Bluestar Flagship Fund ("Bluestar"), the investment office of the Murad Family, and Lankin Investments Inc. ("Lankin"), a leading Ontario-based real estate investment firm.

Together these strategic investments, and corresponding alliance agreements, represent a pivotal step in advancing Parvis's mission to build a modern, scaled marketplace for private investing.

As part of the alliances:

Bluestar has made a strategic equity investment via its Bluestar Flagship Fund LP and will collaborate with Parvis across capital markets, M&A advisory, and legal and wealth services. Roy Murad, Chairman of Bluestar, will be appointed to Parvis' Board of Directors.

Lankin has entered into an exclusive engagement to use Parvis as its exempt market dealer (EMD) and technology and compliance platform of record for capital raising across Canada and abroad. The partnership includes access to Parvis' distribution network and global and domestic fund architecture. Kyle Pulis, Founder and CEO of Lankin, will also join the Parvis Board.

"These partnerships represent a powerful vote of confidence in our long-term strategy," said David Michaud, Founder & CEO of Parvis. "Bluestar brings institutional strength in capital markets and advisory. Lankin brings extensive expertise in real estate management. Together, we're building the infrastructure for a more connected and transparent private market."

A Coordinated Investment Ecosystem

The alliances reflect a shared vision for creating a more efficient and scalable capital flow between issuers and investors. Both Bluestar and Lankin will leverage Parvis's compliance infrastructure, KYC/AML systems, and fund technology to support their respective offerings.

Bluestar will continue to provide M&A advisory and client referral services through its regulated entities, while Parvis will promote Bluestar's flagship funds and refer private wealth clients across its platform. Lankin, which has over $2B in assets under management in private real estate, will collaborate with Parvis to support joint lead generation, investor education, marketing, and operational services aimed at maximizing capital raise effectiveness and investor onboarding.

"Parvis is executing at a high level," said Noah Murad, CEO and Managing Partner of Bluestar Equity. "We've seen firsthand the Company's ability to drive innovation and operational discipline in a traditionally fragmented market. This partnership allows us to support their continued scale, while aligning with a platform built for long-term success."

"For us, this isn't just an investment, it's a strategic alignment," added Kyle Pulis, CEO of Lankin. "We're building something enduring, and we're excited to partner with Parvis to help shape the future of private market access in Canada and beyond."

These dual investments accelerate Parvis's evolution into a central hub in Canada's private investment landscape - driven by alignment, not just capital. With Bluestar and Lankin as strategic partners, Parvis is solidifying its leadership in Canada's evolving private investment landscape.

"At Parvis, we've always believed that the future of private markets will be shaped by collaboration," added Drew Green, Chairman of Parvis. "With Bluestar and Lankin aligned with our mission, we're accelerating that future - building a trusted ecosystem that connects capital with opportunity through innovation, access, and scale."

Convertible Debenture Private Placement

In connection with the Strategic Alliances, Parvis is pleased to announce its intention to complete a proposed non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") to Bluestar and Lankin, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$800,000, to be completed in three tranches, consisting of C$300,000 in each of the first two tranches and C$200,000 in the final tranche (the "Offering"). The Company intends to proceed with the closing of the first tranche of C$300,000 in principal amount in the near term. The Company's entry into the Strategic Alliances, including the appointments to the Board of Directors and execution of related agreements, is expected to occur following the closing of the Offering.

The Debentures will be issued pursuant to separate subscription agreements and will bear interest at 10% per annum, maturing 24 months from the date of issuance, unless earlier converted in accordance with their terms. Each tranche of Debentures will be convertible into common shares of the Company at the option of the holder at a fixed conversion price of C$0.06 per share during the first 12 months following issuance of the first tranche, and C$0.10 per share thereafter. The second and third tranches will have fixed conversion prices of C$0.20 and C$0.35 per share, respectively. All conversions are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the applicable Debenture certificates and to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), including compliance with its minimum pricing and price reservation requirements.

The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including the conditional and final approvals of the TSXV. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering, including any common shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures, will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance of the Debentures, in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSXV policies. No finders' fees or commissions will be paid in connection with the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes.

The Offering is being completed in connection with the Company's Strategic Alliances with Bluestar and Lankin. As part of these arrangements, Roy Murad (Chairman of Bluestar) and Kyle Pulis (CEO of Lankin) will be appointed to the Company's Board of Directors and, upon appointment, will become insiders of the Company. Other than these board appointments, the Offering will not result in the creation of any new control persons or involve participation by existing insiders of the Company.

About Parvis

Parvis is a technology-driven investment platform delivering streamlined access to institutional-quality real estate and alternative investments. Headquartered in Vancouver with licenses and presence across Canada, Parvis combines regulatory infrastructure, marketing expertise, and end-to-end technology to simplify private investing for individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.parvisinvest.com.

About Bluestar Equity

Bluestar Equity is the investment office of the Murad Family, investing across private equity, real estate, and financial services through its flagship fund and regulated advisory entities. For more information, visit www.bluestar-equity.com.

About Lankin Investments

Lankin Investments Inc. is a real estate management and development firm focused on acquiring, managing and operating multi-family real estate assets. Lankin provides its investors with innovative investment strategies tailored to long-term capital growth. For more information, visit www.lankin.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the completion of the first tranche of the Offering; the potential completion of the second and third tranches of the Offering; the use of proceeds from the Offering, the execution and integration of the strategic alliance agreements; and the Company's business plans and role in the investment industry. To develop the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the Offering, or any tranche thereof, may not be completed on the terms described or at all; the risk that TSX Venture Exchange approval may not be obtained; adverse market conditions; changes in general economic, business and political conditions; changes in applicable laws and regulations; compliance with extensive government regulation; reliance on key and qualified personnel; risks associated with the real estate, investment, and technology industries in general. The foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @ParvisInvest

Facebook: ParvisInvest

LinkedIn: Parvis

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254503

SOURCE: Parvis Invest Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) (FSE: PQW) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") raising a total of $3,064,988.91.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for a follow up drill program at the Company's 100% owned RDP copper-gold project ("RDP") and for general working capital. Drill hole RDP 22-005 returned 107.2 m of 1.39% copper equivalent* ("CuEq") or 2.06 g/t gold equivalent**("AuEq") (0.63% copper, 1.10 g/t gold, and 2.91 g/t silver) within 497.2 m of 0.66% CuEq* or 0.97 g/t AuEq** (0.37% copper, 0.40 g/t gold, and 1.60 g/t silver)(see news release dated October 25, 2022). RDP is located at the southern end of the Toodoggone District in northcentral British Columbia, approximately 40 km west of the Company's flagship Kliyul copper-gold project (see Figure 1).

"We would like to thank everyone that participated in the Offering," said Blaine Monaghan, President & CEO of Pacific Ridge. "We are excited to go back to RDP and follow up on drill hole RDP 22-005, which returned one of B.C.'s highest-grade porphyry copper-gold intervals in 2022."

Figure 1

Location of RDP and Pacific Ridge's Other Copper-Gold Porphyry Projects





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In this second tranche, the Company issued 15,184,494 units ("Units") at a price of $0.14 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,125,829.16 and 3,561,292 critical mineral flow-through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.17 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $605,419.64. In the first tranche (see news release dated March 28, 2025), the Company issued 1,632,430 Units for gross proceeds of $228,540.20 and 618,823 FT Units for gross proceeds of $105,199.91.

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each FT Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one Warrant. Proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used for "Canadian critical minerals exploration expenses" at Pacific Ridge's B.C. projects. These expenditures will qualify as "critical mineral flow-through mining expenditures" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

In this second tranche of the Offering, each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one additional non-flow-through common share at an exercise price of $0.20 on or before June 4, 2028. The securities are subject to a hold period ending on October 5, 2025. The Company paid finder's fees totalling $55,572.26 and issued 373,872 finder warrants in connection with the second tranche of the Offering. Each finder warrant is exercisable to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.20 on or before June 4, 2028. The Offering and payment of finder's fees are subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.

An insider of the Company subscribed for an aggregate 100,000 FT Units in this tranche of the Offering. Such participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by the insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Pacific Ridge

Our goal is to become B.C.'s leading copper exploration company. Pacific Ridge's flagship asset is its 100% owned Kliyul copper-gold project, located in the Quesnel terrane close to existing infrastructure. In addition to Kliyul, the Company's project portfolio includes the RDP copper-gold project, the Chuchi copper-gold project, the Onjo copper-gold project, and the Redton copper-gold project, all located in British Columbia. Pacific Ridge would like to acknowledge that its B.C. projects are located in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Gitxsan Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Nak'azdli Whut'en, Takla Nation, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blaine Monaghan"

Blaine Monaghan

President & CEO

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

*CuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x AuR/CuR x $Au x 0.032151) + (Ag(g/t) x AgR/CuR x $Ag x 0.032151)) / ($Cu x 22.0462).

**AuEq = ((Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151) + ((Cu%) x CuR/AuR x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Ag(g/t) x AgR/CuR x $Ag x 0.032151)) / ($Au x 0.032151).

Commodity prices: $Cu = US$3.25/lb, $Au = US$1,800/oz., and Ag = US$20.00/oz.

There has been no metallurgical testing on RDP mineralization.

The Company estimates copper recoveries (CuR) of 84%, gold recoveries (AuR) of 70%, and silver recoveries (AgR) of 65% based on average recoveries from Kemess Underground, Mount Milligan, and Red Chris.

Factors: 22.0462 = Cu% to lbs per tonne, 0.032151 = Au g/t to troy oz per tonne, and 0.032151 = Ag g/t to troy oz per tonne.

The technical information contained within this News Release has been prepared under the supervision of, and reviewed and approved by. Danette Schwab, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this news release include plans to drill RDP. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions; that at least one of the options will be exercised; that Pacific Ridge and other parties will be able to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner; that TSXV approval will be granted in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; that all conditions precedent to the Agreements will be satisfied in a timely manner; the availability of financing for Pacific Ridge's proposed programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254521

SOURCE: Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Tony G Co-Investment Holdings Ltd. (CSE: TONY) (the "Company") announces that, effective June 2, 2025, Mr. Ron Akram has resigned as a director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Akram for his valuable contribution to the Company and wishes him every success in his future endeavors.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254529

SOURCE: Tony G Co-Investment Holdings Ltd.
SYDNEY, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian-based FinTech platform Complii Fintech Solutions has announced the launch of its Capital Raising solution in the UK.

Complii is Australia's first fully integrated Corporate and Adviser management platform, supporting equity capital markets participants with their capital raising, operational risk and regulatory compliance needs.

The Complii platform is pitched to stockbrokers and advisors, from bulge-bracket to boutique firms, providing a specialised Deal Flow and Capital Raising management platform.

The platform provides the ability for stockbrokers and advisors to offer access to large capital raising deals for retail clients, which traditionally were limited to a select few dealers. In 2024 Complii's clients raised over AU$13bn for their clients using the platform, across over 2,600 deals.

"We are pleased to be able to bring this innovative solution into the UK market. We believe advisors and stockbrokers will be able to use it not only to help their clients but also to generate higher funds through broader corporate deal flows and liquidity. This is good for the market overall," Chief Executive Officer of Complii, Alison Sarich, said.

The platform allows advisors and stockbrokers to manage deals more efficiently with full transparency of broker and issuer visibility. It also facilitates the creation of an audit trail that minimises risks of error or deliberate non-compliance.

The built-in compliance assurance component is continually maintained to reflect investor status, as well as changing rules and regulations about corporate offers and bid acceptance.

"Our platform is laser-focussed on providing advisors and stockbrokers with wider access to corporate deals and to give their clients access to trading of unlisted assets that is cost effective and fully compliant," Sarich said.

"This is our second launch into an international market, after Canada, and we are excited to be offering this in UK, which is very similar to the Australian market. We are confident our solution will be helpful to UK brokers, advisors and their clients, as it has done for our Australia clients" she added.

Complii is an integrated Corporate and Advisor management platform helping to navigate through the ever-changing regulatory landscapes and operational boundaries.

More information: Raise Capital with Complii's Advisor Bid - now available in the UK

Media queries:

Simrita Virk

Email: simrita@capitaloutcomes.co

Phone: +61 2 434 531 172

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/complii-launches-capital-raising-management-solution-for-uk-stockbrokers-and-advisors-302471066.html
CHANDLER, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Helpany is thrilled to announce it has received the Innovation of the Year award from LeadingAge Arizona, recognizing its groundbreaking impact on fall prevention and resident safety in senior living communities. This award honors an organization that has created an innovative program or service on their campus, and Helpany's AI and radar-based solution, Paul, has proven to be just that.

By analyzing residents' unique motion patterns and notifying caregivers in real time when a resident gets up, Paul acts as a 24/7 virtual caregiver assistant. Designed with dignity in mind, the system collects essential data through radar and AI-without the use of invasive tools like cameras or microphones. The result is a safer, more respectful, and proactive approach to care that empowers staff while preserving residents' privacy. The result is a safer, more proactive approach to care.

The impact has been felt across multiple communities:

Fellowship Square Mesa reported a 70% reduction in falls in just two months and eliminated nighttime falls entirely.

Westminster Village in Scottsdale and all Park Senior Villas locations experienced similar results, reinforcing the system's effectiveness at scale.

Helpany is Driving Real Results in Senior Living Communities

Communities using Helpany are seeing powerful outcomes: an average fall reduction of 70%, significantly fewer severe incidents, and fall-related ER visits consistently below industry norms. In some communities, ambulance lift-assist calls have been eliminated entirely, month after month. Even more encouraging, residents are spending more days in the community-thanks to proactive care interventions powered by Helpany that identify early signs of health issues, such as UTIs, before they become serious.

AI That Empowers Caregivers

Helpany supports caregivers by sensing human motion 24/7 and generating reports that detect subtle changes in residents' mobility-often before the residents themselves are aware. These insights allow staff to engage proactively and address issues early. Real-time preventive alerts further enhance safety, notifying caregivers the moment a resident starts to move, especially during nighttime hours. With remote monitoring, caregivers can monitor resident presence and activity across units, increasing efficiency.

"We are deeply honored by this recognition," said Sandro Cilurzo, Co-Founder and CEO of Helpany. "We're especially proud of the significant reduction in falls achieved in senior living communities-an accomplishment made possible by the dedication and care of frontline caregivers. This award affirms our mission, but above all, it reinforces our commitment to support caregivers and residents with technology that fosters safety, respects dignity, and empowers proactive, compassionate care." Concludes Cilurzo.

About Arizona LeadingAge:

Arizona LeadingAge is THE TRUSTED VOICE for organizations dedicated to providing quality housing, healthcare and community-based services for Arizona's seniors. Arizona LeadingAge members share a deep sense of mission and a commitment to enhancing the lives of older adults and others with special needs. The association serves its members by providing leadership, education, advocacy, and opportunities for collaboration to help them achieve their respective missions. The national partner, LeadingAge, is an association of 6,000 organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. Together, they advance policies, promote practices and conduct research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age. https://www.arizonaleadingage.org/

About Helpany

Based in San Francisco and Switzerland, Helpany Inc. is transforming resident care and fall prevention in long-term care facilities with its AI-based motion monitoring radar device "Paul." Each year, there are 4 million falls in long-term care facilities, with 1 million of these being preventable. Paul monitors residents' well-being and helps detect potential fall risks and health issues without compromising privacy or dignity. This can significantly reduce falls and associated costs while improving overall well-being. Helpany is available immediately for senior communities throughout the U.S. For more information on Helpany, see: www.helpany.com

Media Contact Information

Sandro Cilurzo

sandro.cilurzo@helpany.com

888987346162

http://www.helpany.com/

SOURCE: Helpany

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/helpany-wins-%22innovation-of-the-year%22-award-from-leadingage-arizo-1035800
Palliser believes full Board culpable but six Board nominees, including President Kobayashi and the outside members of the Nomination Compensation Committee, should be immediately opposed by shareholders

Calls for accountability after egregious governance failings, including the cross-shareholding with Aeon, and an indefensible D2 Plan displaying contempt for shareholder concerns and a disregard of TSE guidelines

Removal of these directors lays the foundation for overdue governance reform and to restore management accountability

Palliser Capital ("Palliser"), one of the largest shareholders of Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (9009 JT) ("Keisei" or the "Company") with a shareholding over 4.5%, today published an open letter and detailed presentation criticising Keisei's superficial D2 Plan and ineffectual Board changes for its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") scheduled for June 27, 2025.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604964256/en/

Palliser's materials detail the dereliction of responsibility for which the full Board is culpable but which has been led by President Kobayashi and the other members of the Nomination Compensation Committee resulting in:

Keisei's chronic long-term underperformance and governance failings; A dire D2 Plan that displays an arrogant disregard for shareholders and TSE guidelines; Ongoing management entrenchment reinforced by a new Aeon cross-shareholding, retention of the oversized OLC stake and a market outlying 100% fixed compensation structure for Management; and The rejection of Palliser-identified outside director candidates following a choreographed, superficial and pre-determined "interview" process instead, retaining a bloated Board dominated by insiders and lacking effective management oversight.

As a result, at the AGM, Palliser will vote AGAINST

The re-election of President and Chair-designate Toshiya Kobayashi;

The re-election of outside directors Shotaro Tochigi, Misao Kikuchi, and Takako Amitani (each of whom serves on the Nomination Compensation Committee); and

The election of new inside directors Kunihiko Yoshikawa and Takeshi Hashimoto.

Palliser believes these changes resulting in a 9-member Board with continuity in management and a more appropriate market-aligned number of inside directors are essential to remove the roadblocks to reform at Keisei and lay the foundation for further Board reconfiguration at a future meeting to restore accountability and unlock long-term value for all stakeholders. Palliser encourages other shareholders to carefully consider their own voting position at the AGM given the vital objectives at stake.

Full details relating to Palliser's ongoing engagement are available at KEISEI100.com

The full text of Palliser's letter follows:

5 June 2025

3-3-1 Yawata, Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture 272-8510

Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. ("Keisei" or the "Company")

Dear Kobayashi-san and the Members of the Keisei Board of Directors ("Board

A missed opportunity and failure of leadership at Keisei1

Introduction

We write to you following the recent publication of Keisei's D2 Plan ("D2 Plan") and Notice of Keisei's 2025 AGM, which is scheduled for 27 June 2025 ("AGM

For reasons we explained at length in our open letter to the Board on 24 April (see link), investors expected the Company to take three critical immediate steps: (1) announce a credible D2 Plan to address persistent underperformance and ongoing chronic undervaluation, thereby signalling a convincing shift in direction for the Company; (2) reconfigure the Board as part of a long-overdue governance overhaul; and (3) undertake a thorough and transparent evaluation of best-in-class independent outside Board candidates we identified following a comprehensive search.

The Board has chosen to do none of this and, in so doing, has dismissed or ignored well-established serious concerns held by numerous stakeholders, including large shareholders such as Palliser. In particular:

The D2 Plan was a huge disappointment representing nothing short of a dereliction of responsibility by the Board . Judging by the precipitous fall in the Company's share price wiping out JPY 85 billion (c. US$590 million) in Keisei's market value and widespread negative sentiment following publication, investors felt seriously let down. This was inevitable for an MTP which failed to deliver on any of the critical areas we highlighted as a bare minimum to help stem ongoing value destruction at Keisei, including a robust capital allocation policy sidelined completely for an inappropriately vague cash allocation framework without any reference (throughout the D2 Plan) to the OLC stake, despite accounting for more than around 80% of Keisei's capital. The Company's proposed Board changes do nothing to address the existing bloated Board, excessive number of inside directors and shortfall of genuinely independent outside directors with the skills and experience necessary to ensure effective oversight and accountability of management. It is also now apparent that the Company had no genuine intention of considering the appointment of the Palliser-identified outside director candidates . There was simply no appropriate process for this. Candidates were "interviewed" for around 20 minutes, on average, with the same five scripted questions as part of what appears to have been a choreographed and superficial window-dressing exercise to justify a decision to reject them.

Whilst culpability for the Company's failings including chronic long-term underperformance, an ongoing disregard of stakeholder interests, the new Aeon cross-shareholding, 100% fixed executive pay and a wholly inadequate D2 Plan sits with the full Board, responsibility ultimately rests with President Kobayashi-san. He has taken zero accountability. In fact, having hand-selected a successor as CEO while transitioning to a new Chair role and maintaining a seat on a Board which is unable to hold the inside directors accountable, Kobayashi is set to maintain a dominating influence over the management of Keisei.

Significant blame also falls on the other members of the Nomination/Compensation Committee ("N&C Committee"). Not only have these directors propped up Keisei's shocking fully fixed executive pay structure a practice rendering Keisei an outlier among TSE companies they bear responsibility too for token and ineffective Board changes, including a leadership transition in name but not substance. This is not to mention a superficial and insincere sham appraisal of standout Palliser Board candidates who could have helped transform Keisei governance but were all rejected without justification. The result is a serious catalogue of failings as N&C Committee members that harms all Keisei stakeholders by reinforcing Board unaccountability and perpetrating a cycle of unresponsiveness and inaction at the Company.

Such dismal scorecards for Kobayashi and the outside members of the N&C Committee - Shotaro Tochigi, Misao Kikuchi and Takako Amitani, both in their capacity on the N&C Committee, as well as on the Board, approving the hugely disappointing D2 strategy - warrant their immediate removal from the Board. This is why Palliser intends to vote AGAINST the re-election of these four directors at the AGM and encourages other shareholders to consider their own voting position carefully.

In addition, Palliser will vote AGAINST the election of Kunihiko Yoshikawa and Takeshi Hashimoto as new directors whose appointment as inside directors would be unnecessary and add to a bloated and unbalanced Board, as well as being the product of a flawed director nomination process. We likewise encourage other shareholders to consider their own voting position carefully.

Absent these directors post-AGM, a Board of nine, including President-designate Takao Amano for continuity, will enable Keisei to break the destructive cycle of inaction and management entrenchment and lay the foundation for the appointment of additional best-in-class outside directors with the requisite skills and independence needed to revitalise Keisei with a peer-aligned Board.

An indefensibly inadequate D2 Plan

The long-awaited D2 Plan was a pivotal moment for Keisei given the chronic undervaluation and underperformance we discussed at length in our open letter of 24 April (link). It represented a decisive opportunity for the current Board under Kobayashi's leadership to demonstrate, through market-leading initiatives, a willingness to take appropriate remedial action to address these long-term problems.

It is highly regrettable therefore that the Board has intentionally rejected this opportunity to showcase a new direction for Keisei through an evident refusal to include even the most basic, but vital, peer-aligned measures in the D2 Plan in conformity with fundamental TSE guidelines. Specifically, we see:

A vague cash allocation policy rather than a robust capital allocation framework , with no disclosures on source of funds and capex returns;

, with no disclosures on source of funds and capex returns; No reference to the OLC stake anywhere in the D2 Plan despite a groundswell of support from shareholders for significant trapped value constituting around 80% of Keisei's capital to be unlocked by right-sizing the stake to below 15%. The absence of a credible plan means a continuation of the current cycle of management entrenchment and value destructive reckless approach to disposals (noting that the value of Keisei's OLC stake declined by around JPY 500 billion (c. US$3.5 billion) between Palliser's call last year for a right-sizing and a subsequent 1% sale around eight months later to fund the Aeon cross-shareholding);

despite a groundswell of support from shareholders for significant trapped value constituting around 80% of Keisei's capital to be unlocked by right-sizing the stake to below 15%. The absence of a credible plan means a (noting that the value of Keisei's OLC stake declined by around JPY 500 billion (c. US$3.5 billion) between Palliser's call last year for a right-sizing and a subsequent 1% sale around eight months later to fund the Aeon cross-shareholding); A minimal increase in the dividend payout ratio which remains at an unacceptable level with a forecasted drop in the dividend for FY26;

with a forecasted drop in the dividend for FY26; No share buyback programme or detailed total shareholder return policy for shareholder returns;

or detailed total shareholder return policy for shareholder returns; A continuation of 100% fixed executive pay and therefore no performance-linked compensation, leaving Keisei out of step with peers and an outlier across Japanese and global markets

and therefore no performance-linked compensation, A failure to address fundamental shareholder concerns about the inexplicable Aeon cross-shareholding brazenly disregarding deep-rooted shareholder concerns and failing to explain what is achieved with a governance- and capital-damaging cross-shareholding versus a business alliance alone; and

brazenly disregarding deep-rooted shareholder concerns and failing to explain what is achieved with a governance- and capital-damaging cross-shareholding versus a business alliance alone; and No alignment with TSE guidance or attempt to correct course on misleading performance metrics an ROE target of 8% through to 2027 actually equates to Keisei maintaining true ROE of less than 1% for the next 3 years, albeit this is masked (and associated voting pressure against the directors is alleviated) by the deliberate decision to maintain an over-sized OLC stake.

The upshot is a D2 Plan withall the hallmarks of thelack of accountability, misaligned interests and management entrenchment we discussed in our 24 April open letter. In practical terms, it is simply ill-equipped to meet the acute challenges of the Company, including chronic underperformance and systemically inadequate corporate governance, the root cause of which is a Board that is inappropriately constituted and unaccountable to the Company's stakeholders.

Company-proposed Board changes represent a step backwards for Keisei governance

Keisei requires a level of governance reform that is both robust and holistic, including a comprehensive reconfiguration of the Keisei Board as a key first step. As things currently stand, the Board suffers from a lack of proper checks and balances and mix of skills and experience a combination of shortcomings that promotes a dangerously undisciplined approach to capital allocation, a disregard of TSE guidance and reforms and a failure to make even the most basic changes required to reverse the Company's underperformance and undervaluation. All of this is acutely apparent in the woeful D2 Plan. It is unsurprising therefore that sensible Board reform is something that, according to our own market outreach efforts, a vast number of Keisei shareholders both domestic and international, retail and institutional, large and small wish to see.

This is why we called on the Board to announce a concrete plan of action to make the changes needed to reduce the Board in size to a much more appropriate, dynamic and market-aligned 11 members, including at least 6 truly independent outside directors and no more than 5 inside directors.

However, rather than recognise and act on the strong market sentiment surrounding this issue by taking easily achievable steps towards appropriate Board re-dimensioning, Kobayashi and the other N&C Committee members, in particular, stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the problem:

Instead of reducing the size of the Board and aligning it with peers and the market, Kobayashi and the N&C Committee are clearly intent on perpetuating a bloated Board of 15 directors;

While Masako Tomizuka as the one new outside director appointment may be cited as evidence of strengthening Board independence, this token change keeps outside directors in the minority and does nothing to address the significant independence concerns we have highlighted which impact the legacy outside director cohort; and

No attempt has been made to optimize the balance of skills and experience among the outside directors, including with respect to capital allocation, capital markets, business management and strategy.

These changes therefore represent a step backwards in our view a wasted opportunity to foster the creation of a new and revitalised Board benefitting from a truly independent and robust set of outside directors who are able to provide effective oversight and support the Keisei executive team.

Disingenuous evaluation of Palliser-identified Board candidates

We attempted multiple times ahead of sending our open letter on 24 April to secure a preliminary discussion with the Board about the independent outside director candidates Palliser had identified through an extensive search using a leading Japan-based international executive search firm. As we said, our objective was to obtain more information about the nomination process, Keisei's perspectives on Board composition and the prospects of a Company-led consensual process to appoint new directors and streamline the Board.

Although we gave the N&C Committee the benefit of the doubt after the Company finally agreed to "interview" the candidates, assuming they would at least be given a fair hearing, we were wrong. The N&C Committee seemingly conducted a sham process. For instance, the candidates were invited to attend the Company's offices at the same time, on the same day, and were each given 20 minutes on average to answer the same pre-configured set of questions, with reports that Kobayashi "spent most of the meeting scrolling on his iPhone" and with meetings being brought to close with a Company bell.

This superficial interaction was the extent of the evaluation by the N&C Committee and something we were concerned about from the outset. It is the reason we made repeated requests in the first place to meet with the N&C Committee to discuss the process, raised several questions in writing with the N&C Committee (which were ignored) and later sought transparency on progress following the candidate "interviews" (a request which was also ignored).

While our lack of faith in the Board's nomination processes makes it unsurprising the Company has ultimately rejected our proposed candidates, it is no less disappointing given the transformational impact these candidates could make as truly independent stalwarts of the Japanese business community.

Kobayashi's continuing domination of the Board and a broken N&C Committee represent fundamental barriers to change

We called previously for constructive agreement on key go-forward governance initiatives and an optimal slate of director candidates for the AGM, noting the importance of Keisei regaining market trust through a process of constructive self-help rather than by shareholder intervention at an EGM.

We were ignored. Led by Kobayashi, the Board approved an indefensible D2 Plan knowing only too well it would never come close to meeting market expectations, thereby demonstrating a complete disregard for the basic governance enhancements and TSE- and peer-aligned measures needed to resolve Keisei's persistent undervaluation.

Notwithstanding this failure of leadership, Kobayashi is set to retain significant influence over the management of the Company as "Kaicho" (Chair) and as an inside director. As Kobayashi himself has said, he will "support and advise" President-designate Amano as his hand-picked successor guided by a deeply underwhelming strategy underpinned by a flawed D2 Plan for which Kobayashi himself is ultimately responsible.

This is therefore a leadership "transition" that will result in unclear roles, blurred accountability and continued management entrenchment with President-designate Amano's ability to effect meaningful change as CEO constrained from the outset by a Board and executive team that remain dominated in practice by Kobayashi.

Moreover, Kobayashi has, until now, led the N&C Committee, which also shoulders responsibility for the governance crisis at Board level and ongoing governance failures, such as the inexplicable 100% fixed pay structure for Management which feeds directly into the culture of unaccountability at Keisei. By failing to conduct a proper process to evaluate the standout outside director candidates proposed by Palliser, the N&C Committee also demonstrated an arrogant disregard of stakeholders in favour of a carefully choreographed exercise designed to perpetuate management entrenchment.

These directors have pitted themselves against critically important change at Keisei that would re-pivot the Company onto a better path forward. If the Company stands any chance of implementing a self-help strategy without being forced to do so through shareholder intervention, Kobayashi and the outside members of the N&C Committee must stand down and relinquish their roles at Keisei.

Using the AGM to create a foundation for a market-aligned Board to break the destructive cycle of inaction and unaccountability at Keisei

Whilst culpability for Keisei's failings rests with all of the directors, the removal from the Board of Kobayashi and the outside members on the N&C Committee, and averting the appointment of two new inside directors, is the essential first step to address Keisei's systemic undervaluation and governance failings.

These immediate Board changes will mean accountabilityfor:

Keisei's chronic long-term underperformance and governance failings;

a dire D2 Plan that displays an arrogant disregard for shareholders and TSE guidelines; and

ongoing management entrenchment reinforced by a new Aeon cross-shareholding, retention of the oversized OLC stake and a market outlying 100% fixed compensation structure for Management.

Such Board changes would also cure the damaging influence of a former President on future strategic and governance decision-making at Keisei without risking continuity withAmano a director since 2016 as President-designate.

Palliser will therefore exercise one of the most important rights afforded to it as a shareholder of the Company by voting at the AGM AGAINST:

the re-election to the Board of President and Chair-designate Toshiya Kobayashi; the re-election to the Board of Shotaro Tochigi, Misao Kikuchi and Takako Amitani, all current outside members of the N&C Committee; and the election to the Board as new inside directors of Kunihiko Yoshikawa and Takeshi Hashimoto.

This would leave a Board of nine post-AGM, including President-designate Takao Amano for continuity, as a foundation for further Board reconfiguration at an EGM or other appropriate juncture, to include the appointment of new best-in-class outside directors with the requisite skills and independence needed to revitalise Keisei in the interest of all stakeholders.

We likewise encourage other shareholders to carefully consider their own voting position at the AGM given the vital objectives at stake.

Sincerely,

For and on behalf of

Palliser Capital (UK) Ltd

___________________________

James Smith

Chief Investment Officer

___________________________ 1 This letter is sent to you on behalf of Palliser Capital (UK) Ltd (together with its affiliates, "Palliser", "we", "us" or "our

About Palliser Capital

Palliser Capital is a global multi-strategy fund. Our value-oriented investment philosophy is applied to a broad range of opportunities across the capital structure with a focus on situations where positive change and value enhancement can be achieved through thoughtful, constructive and long-term engagement with companies and across a range of different stakeholder groups. Palliser Capital is one of the largest Keisei shareholders with a stake in excess of 4.5%.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604964256/en/

Contacts:

Media

Prosek Partners

Brian Schaffer Kiki Tarkhan Forrest Gitlin

Pro-Palliser@Prosek.com
Donald Trumps 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports in the United States will come into effect today. Meanwhile, the Hajj pilgrimage will begin in Saudi Arabia. In India, PM Modi is set to chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, while Elon Musks father, Errol Musk, is scheduled to visit the revered Ram Mandir in Ayodhya during his five-day visit to the country read more

It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on the imports of steel and aluminium will come into effect from today. The annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin after the observatories confirm the sighting of the crescent moon.

Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is set to give a speech during commemorations of Ayatollah Khomeinis death anniversary. In India, PM Modi will chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Elon Musks father Errol Musk is scheduled to visit the revered Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

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Here is all that is likely to take place across the world today.

Trumps steel-aluminum tariffs to come into effect

US prices of steel and aluminium will spike even further as President Donald Trumps decision to double tariffs on these metals will come into effect from today. Trump announced on Friday (May 30) the new steel and aluminium levies , intensifying a global trade war. This came just hours after he accused China of violating an agreement with the US to mutually roll back tariffs and trade restrictions for critical minerals.

According to the Department of Commerce, the US is the worlds largest steel importer, excluding the European Union, with a total of 26.2 million tons of steel imported in 2024. Higher prices are also likely to weigh further on US steel demand from the manufacturing sector, which we already expect to contract this year, analyst Eoin Dinsmore at Goldman Sachs told news agency Reuters.

Hajj 2025 to begin today

The annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin today. The announcement was made on May 27 by Saudi Arabias Supreme Court in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia put a temporary halt on issuing visas to citizens from 14 countries, including India. Some of the other countries impacted by this decision are Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.

The annual pilgrimage is performed between the eighth and thirteenth days of Dhul-Hijjah. File image/AP

The Hajj constitutes one of the five essential pillars of Islam, mandating its observance at least once by all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of ability. This annual pilgrimage is performed between the eighth and thirteenth days of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and conclusive month within the Islamic lunar calendar.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to give speech

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is scheduled to deliver a speech commemorating the 36th death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The event will take place in southern Tehran. This annual ceremony honours Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

In previous years, Ayatollah Khameneis speeches at this event have addressed various topics, including Irans political stance, regional issues, and reflections on Khomeinis legacy. The Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini, where the ceremony is held, is a significant site for many Iranians and visitors, symbolising the enduring impact of Khomeinis leadership on the nations identity and political framework.

PM to chair council of ministers meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers today. This will be the first meeting since India launched Operation Sindoor, Indias response to the Pahalgam terror attack .

According to sources, ministers are likely to be briefed on key aspects of the operation, which is also expected to figure in the ruling BJPs programmes starting next week to mark the first anniversary of the Modi government in its third term, reported news site India TV. It further said that ministers are likely to be briefed on key aspects of the operation.

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PM Modi is set to hold a meeting with Union Cabinet Ministers in the national capital. File image/PTI

Key government policies are discussed in detail by the Council of Ministers in the presence of top bureaucrats. This council typically meets every few months, a less frequent and less fixed schedule than that of the Union Cabinet.

Elon Musks father to visit Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Errol Musk, the father of tech magnate Elon Musk, will visit the revered Ram Mandir in Ayodhya today. According to officials, visiting the Ayodhya temple is a scheduled part of his India itinerary.

Senior officials in Ayodhya are working in close coordination with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to ensure that Errol Musks darshan at the Ram temple is smooth and well-managed, reported Moneycontrol. Interestingly, Musks visit is scheduled around the same time as the consecration ceremony of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple complex. This sacred event is expected to attract thousands of devotees and VIPs, adding spiritual significance to the timing of his visit.

Errol Musk is currently on a five-day tour of India , where he is set to attend multiple meetings with Indian entrepreneurs and industrialists. His visit is both personal and professional, reflecting the growing global interest in Indias cultural and economic landscape.

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With inputs from agencies
Two Chinese nationals  Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34)  have been accused of trying to smuggle a deadly fungus into the United States, with the FBI stating that it was a potential agroterrorism weapon. Now, there is curiosity about the pathogen, identified as Fusarium graminearum. Experts note that it infects crops like wheat, barley, oats, and corn, causing head blight. It is also extremely harmful to humans, with the capability of causing liver damage read more

The toxic plant pathogens that a Chinese scientist allegedly tried to smuggle into the US last year. AP

We have often come across terms such as cyberterrorism and ecoterrorism. However, on Tuesday (June 3), a rare case of possible agroterrorism emerged from the United States when authorities charged two Chinese nationals for allegedly smuggling a fungus with authorities saying that the pathogen could be used as a biological weapon.

This incident has got people curious about agroterrorism  what exactly is it  and the dangerous fungus  Fusarium graminearum  that they are alleged to have smuggled from China into the United States.

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Heres what we have found out so far.

Why have 2 Chinese nationals been charged?

On Tuesday, the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced that it has charged two Chinese nationals  Yunqing Jian (33), and Zunyong Liu (34) with conspiracy, smuggling goods, false statements, and visa fraud.

In their complaint, the justice department said that the duo were conspiring to smuggle a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the United States that causes head blight, a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice.

The University of Michigan said the work being done by the accused at the lab was not funded by the Chinese government. File image/AFP

The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party, are of the gravest national security concerns, US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr said.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Liu was turned away at the Detroit airport and sent back to China last July after changing his story during an interrogation about red plant material discovered in his backpack.

At first, he claimed ignorance about the samples but later admitted to a plan of using them for research at a University of Michigan lab where Jian worked.

The complaint further adds that both of them had worked on the fungus in China. Moreover, they found an article on Lius phone that was titled, Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions.

Even messages between the two indicate that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the campus lab before Liu was caught at the Detroit airport, the FBI said.

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In a statement, the University of Michigan said it received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals and that it has and will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.

We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the universitys critical public mission, the university said.

How deadly is this fungus?

US authorities have stated that the fungus  Fusarium graminearum  is a potential agroterrorism weapon according to scientific studies and is capable of causing billions of dollars in losses.

Scientific studies reveal that Fusarium graminearum, also known as gibberella zeae, is a harmful fungus that infects cereal crops like wheat, barley, oats, and corn. In fact, it is ranked among the five most destructive fungal pathogens that affect agroecosystems.

Experts note that it causes a disease known as Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab, damaging grain quality and reducing crop yields. According to research, the fungus causes shifts in the amino acid composition of wheat, resulting in shrivelled kernels and contaminating the remaining grain.

In case of this fungus affecting wheat, brown, dark purple-black necrotic lesions will form on the outer surface of the spikelets  which is what the wheat ear breaks up into. In rice, it can turn affected seeds red and cause brown discolouration in certain areas on the seed or the entire seed surface. The surface of husks develop white spots that later become yellow. Infected grains are light, shrunken and brittle.

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Research has revealed that Fusarium graminearum infects plants by entering through natural openings like stomata. After breaching the cuticle, the fungus spreads throughout the plant systemically.

One scientific paper reveals that Fusarium head blight reached epidemic levels in the US in the 1990s, hurting yields, price and seed quality. The disease is difficult to control with fungicides or resistant plant varieties, its authors had then written.

The fungus is also particularly dangerous for livestock and humans. It produces toxins that cause vomiting, liver damage and reproductive issues in people and animals that eat infected grains. Pigs are especially susceptible.

Agroterrorism is the act of inserting diseases or pests or other harmful biological agents into agricultural systems with the intention of causing widespread harm. Representational image/AFP

But what exactly is agroterrorism?

The FBI and the Department of Justice have said that the fungus has the potential of being a weapon of agroterrorism. But what does this mean?

In simple terms, it is the act of inserting diseases or pests or other harmful biological agents into agricultural systems with the intention of causing widespread harm. The sole intention of such an act is to target the food chain, which, in turn, can destabilise an economy and a government in power.

Agroterrorism has far-reaching implications, especially for countries whose economy is dependent on agriculture. It is also considered very effective as it can go unnoticed. Interestingly, this form of terrorism isnt new or unique.

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During World War II, Germany targeted potato crops in Britain with Colorado potato beetles. These beetles were found in England in 1943, indicating that a small-scale attack might have occurred. The beetles were apparently released from the aircraft.

A University of Mostaganem research paper also states that Japan had considered agroterrorism with grain rust spores if World War II continued.

Theres also the infamous instance of 1984 when a religious cult in Americas Oregon contaminated salad bars with salmonella to influence local elections. This instance resulted in 750 people getting sick.

With inputs from agencies
A US- and Israel-backed aid system in Gaza, meant to ease starvation, has become a new source of horror. At least 80 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured near aid hubs, with witnesses blaming Israeli gunfire read more

Recent aid distribution operations in southern Gaza have been marred by near-daily shootings that have claimed the lives of at least 80 Palestinians and left hundreds injured, according to officials at multiple hospitals in the enclave.

The violence is unfolding around new humanitarian aid centres established by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by the United States and Israel and made up largely of American contractors.

Eyewitnesses say that in multiple incidents, crowds walking toward the aid centres were met with gunfire from nearby Israeli troops.

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These shootings have occurred as large groups of Palestinians, facing dire food shortages and near-famine conditions, travel on foot in the predawn hours to access food distributions.

GHF began operating on May 26, after a nearly three-month Israeli blockade had brought aid delivery to a near halt.

With traditional humanitarian corridors shut down or restricted, the population of over two million has increasingly been forced into high-risk zones to obtain basic food supplies.

Hospital sources, including those at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah and the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirm that the overwhelming majority of injuries are from gunshot wounds.

Many victims have been children and women, and hospital staff report overflowing morgues and patients filling not only every bed, but also the floors.

In one facility, an aid worker described numerous patients with wounds to their legs and buttocks, noting that the scale of the carnage has pushed the hospital beyond capacity, reported AP.

The most lethal incidents have been concentrated around a traffic circle known as the Flag Roundabout in Rafah, roughly one kilometre northwest of GHFs Tel al-Sultan aid hub. The distribution centre is located within proximity of an Israeli military base.

Witnesses recount that on Sunday and again on Tuesday of the same week, Israeli troops began shooting into the crowd around 3 to 4 am.

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Thousands had gathered in the darkness to secure food when, according to three individuals present, gunfire erupted from tanks, drones and ground forces.

Mohammed Ahmed, a Palestinian who had arrived early in the hope of collecting aid, told AP, They may have opened fire because they felt threatened by the thousands of people in the area. He and other witnesses noted that there were no visible provocations or attacks from the crowd before the Israeli forces fired.

How Gaza Humanitarian Foundations aid model works

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was launched as an alternative to the United Nations-led system that had previously handled aid distribution in Gaza.

According to the Israeli government, the change was needed due to alleged diversions of supplies by Hamas. However, international aid organisations and the UN itself have firmly denied significant interference by Hamas, arguing that the prior system functioned with far greater efficiency and neutrality.

GHFs approach centralises aid into fixed distribution sites, each located within military zones and secured by armed contractors.

At present, three such hubs are operational: one in central Gaza and two near the deserted outskirts of Rafah in the far south. Not all hubs operate daily, and access routes to them are tightly controlled.

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Palestinians seeking food must walk several kilometers to reach these sites, using a single designated road patrolled by Israeli forces.

GHF has publicly warned civilians to remain on this route, cautioning that straying from it represents a great danger. Food boxes are typically distributed starting at 5 am, but many Palestinians set out hours earlier to avoid being turned away empty-handed.

This results in thousands of people converging in darkness, passing through military checkpoints and near troop encampments.

When aid sites open, food parcels are left on pallets within fenced-off enclosures. A video shared by GHF shows a frenzied rush, with crowds sprinting toward the supplies.

Witnesses say that individuals often take multiple boxes, leading to shortages and chaos, with many people leaving empty-handed.

Tess Ingram of UNICEF remarked that our team on the ground reports these boxes are woefully insufficient for ensuring childrens well-being, adding that the scale of aid does not meet the growing needs.

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The contents of each parcel  usually flour, sugar, canned tuna, cooking oil, and pasta  are meant to last a family of five for three to four days.

On Wednesday, following the spike in violence and criticism from aid agencies, GHF paused its food distribution efforts. The group confirmed it was in discussions with the Israeli military regarding ways to improve civilian safety.

In particular, GHF requested the development of more precise guidance for foot traffic, enhanced training for Israeli troops, and revisions to military protocols in order to minimise the risk of escalation near aid routes.

A spokesperson for the organisation stated that GHF was saddened to learn that a number of civilians were injured and killed after moving beyond the designated safe corridor, referring to areas that extend beyond the controlled aid zones and into declared military regions.

What the Israeli military has said

The Israeli military has responded by saying that its troops only fired warning shots in several cases, and in others, targeted what it described as suspects who approached military positions despite repeated alerts.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson said Israeli forces fired to drive away suspects, while pointing out that the full details are under review.

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Army spokesman Effie Defrin said, The numbers of casualties published by Hamas were exaggerated, though the military acknowledged that it was investigating the matter. Israeli officials have accused Hamas of attempting to interfere with aid delivery efforts.

As part of that narrative, the Israeli military released drone footage claiming to show armed individuals firing at civilians attempting to collect aid in Khan Younis  an area without a GHF distribution centre.

However, this footage has not been independently verified by journalists, and its context remains unclear. Notably, in its descriptions of the incidents near the GHF hubs, the Israeli military has not confirmed the presence of armed Hamas members.

Meanwhile, GHF has maintained that no violence has taken place within its secured aid sites and that its staff have not been involved in any use of force.

This weeks incidents are not without precedent. In February 2024, more than 100 Palestinians were killed in a separate episode in which Israeli forces fired on civilians surrounding an aid convoy in northern Gaza.

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At that time, Israel said its troops had responded to a group of individuals who ignored warning shots and charged at their position. International officials, including those from the UN and the European Union, asserted that most of the deaths in that episode were caused by direct Israeli gunfire.

What the UN has said

The growing death toll from these aid-related shootings has sparked renewed international outrage. The United Nations has reiterated its longstanding concerns about the new distribution system, calling it dangerous and counterproductive.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking  and in several instances losing  their lives just trying to get food.

He criticised the current system, supported by Israel and the US, as a recipe for disaster, warning that it is failing to provide safe, effective humanitarian relief.

The United Nations Security Council is now preparing to vote on a draft resolution that demands an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The proposal also calls for the lifting of all restrictions on aid entry and its unrestricted distribution, including through UN agencies. Additionally, the draft includes a demand for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas or other groups.

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Ten of the fifteen Council members have brought forward the motion, with Slovenias Ambassador to the UN, Samuel Zbogar, stating, It is our historical responsibility not to remain silent.

Whether the resolution will pass remains uncertain, particularly as the United States has often vetoed motions perceived as unfavourable to Israel.

The conflict which began after the October 7, 2023, attack in which Hamas killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took approximately 250 hostages.

Israels subsequent military campaign has resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths, according to health authorities in Gaza. These figures include civilians and combatants alike, with thousands more believed to be buried under collapsed buildings.

GHF reports that it has distributed over seven million meals since its launch.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Over the coming days, millions of Muslim pilgrims will gather in Saudi Arabias Mecca to take part in rituals and prayers observed for over 1,400 years as part of the Hajj this year. At the same time, Saudi authorities have reportedly blocked more than 2,69,000 people from entering the city for the annual pilgrimage. Officials said the move is meant to reduce overcrowding and ensure the safety of those taking part read more

Muslims from across the globe have gathered in Saudi Arabias Mecca for Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Over the next few days, they will take part in rituals and prayers that have been followed for more than 1,400 years.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have reportedly stopped over 2,69,000 people from entering Mecca for the annual pilgrimage.

ALSO READ | What is Hajj? What is its significance to Muslims?

This was part of a broader effort to stop unauthorised travel to the holy city.

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So, why were so many people turned away from Mecca?

We answer this question and explain the new Hajj rules in this explainer.

Why 2.7 lakh Muslims were stopped from entering Mecca for Hajj

Saudi authorities have blocked nearly 2.7 lakh people from entering Mecca for Hajj this year, as part of a large-scale crackdown on unauthorised pilgrims, according to an Associated Press report released on Sunday.

Officials said that the action is aimed at easing overcrowding and ensuring the safety of those attending the pilgrimage.

The government has blamed last years deaths during Hajj, many of which occurred during intense summer heat, on those who did not have official permits.

This was part of a broader effort to stop unauthorised travel to the holy city. Reuters

The figure of 2,69,678 people stopped shows just how many attempt the pilgrimage without permission.

Currently, around 1.4 million officially registered pilgrims are in Mecca, and more are expected in the coming days, the report said.

Speaking at a press conference in Mecca, officials clarified that only pilgrims with valid permits are allowed to take part in Hajj, even if they are local residents.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Omari said, The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands.

The strict measures come in the wake of last years tragedy , when over 1,300 people died during the Hajj. Saudi authorities said many of them were unauthorised pilgrims who had walked long distances under extreme heat to complete the rituals.

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Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel stated that 83% of the 1,301 deaths were among those without permits.

$5,000 fine for violators, no children under 12: What are the new rules for Hajj 2025?

As pilgrims prepare to face the intense heat and large crowds of the Hajj, Saudi authorities have introduced several new rules this year, including a ban on children under 12 and tighter restrictions on unauthorised entry.

ALSO READ | Why Hajj has become unaffordable for Muslims

Last year, temperatures soared to 47 degrees Celsius, making conditions extremely harsh. Many pilgrims struggled under the burning sun. This year, officials have advised avoiding direct sunlight during the day and keeping heads covered unless performing specific rituals.

One of the major changes for 2025 is the ban on children under 12 from attending the Hajj. Saudi authorities say this is a safety precaution, given the dense crowds and challenging environment.

The strict measures come in the wake of last years tragedy, when over 1,300 people died during the Hajj. Reuters

With limited Hajj slots available, many still try to find alternate routes into Mecca. In April, Saudi Arabia suspended short-term visa issuance for 14 countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt, to curb unauthorised travel during Hajj.

Previously, many entered Mecca on tourist or short-term visas without official Hajj approval. Authorities say most of those who died in last years extreme heat were unregistered and had no access to air-conditioned facilities reserved for permitted pilgrims.

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In May, the Interior Ministry announced a penalty of up to 20,000 riyals (around $5,330) for anyone trying to enter Mecca without the correct visa during the Hajj period.

To improve safety, the civil defence department has also deployed drones to monitor crowds, conduct surveillance, and support firefighting efforts during this years pilgrimage.

How many Indians will miss Hajj this year?

Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is a key religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it.

This year, more than 42,000 Indian pilgrims are expected to miss the pilgrimage after Saudi Arabia cancelled over 52,000 slots originally allocated for Indians, according to reports.

Following intervention by the Indian government, Saudi Arabia allowed private operators to send 10,000 pilgrims, a number which is much lower than the total allocation.

With limited Hajj slots available, many still try to find alternate routes into Mecca. Reuters

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) said on April 15 that Indias quota has grown over the years, from 1,36,020 in 2014 to 1,75,025 in 2025.

Of the 1,75,025 slots for 2025, 1,22,518 were assigned to the Haj Committee of India, which operates under the Minority Affairs Ministry. The rest were given to private tour operators.

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Over 800 of these operators were merged into 26 Consolidated Hajj Group Organisers (CHGOs) by the ministry.

With inputs from agencies
Ukraines Operation Spider Web  a coordinated series of drone strikes  lays bare the gaps in airspace which can be used by any party with enough planning and the right technology. What Ukraine did was to combine the cheap drones in a way that existing systems could not prevent the attack, or maybe even see it coming read more

Plumes of smoke are seen rising over the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia after a Ukrainian drone attack in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine. AP

Ukrainians are celebrating the success of one of the most audacious coups of the war against Russia  a coordinated drone strike on June 1 on five airbases deep inside Russian territory. Known as Operation Spider Web, it was the result of 18 months of planning and involved the smuggling of drones into Russia, synchronised launch timings and improvised control centres hidden inside freight vehicles.

Ukrainian sources claim more than 40 Russian aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Commercial satellite imagery confirms significant fire damage, cratered runways, and blast patterns across multiple sites, although the full extent of losses remains disputed.

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The targets were strategic bomber aircraft and surveillance planes, including Tu-95s and A-50 airborne early warning systems. The drones were launched from inside Russia and navigated at treetop level using line-of-sight piloting and GPS pre-programming.

Each was controlled from a mobile ground station parked within striking distance of the target. It is reported that a total of 117 drones were deployed across five locations. While many were likely intercepted, or fell short, enough reached their targets to signal a dramatic breach in Russias rear-area defence.

The drone platforms themselves were familiar. These were adapted first-person-view (FPV) multirotor drones. These are ones where the operator gets a first-person perspective from the drones onboard camera.

These are already used in huge numbers along the front lines in Ukraine by both sides. But Operation Spider Web extended their impact through logistical infiltration and timing.

Operation Spider Web exposes vulnerabilities

Nations treat their airspace as sovereign, a controlled environment: mapped, regulated and watched over. Air defence systems are built on the assumption that threats come from above and from beyond national borders. Detection and response also reflect that logic. It is focused on mid and high-altitude surveillance and approach paths from beyond national borders.

But Operation Spider Web exposed what happens when states are attacked from below and from within. In low-level airspace, visibility drops, responsibility fragments, and detection tools lose their edge. Drones arrive unannounced, response times lag, coordination breaks.

Spider Web worked not because of what each drone could do individually, but because of how the operation was designed. It was secret and carefully planned of course, but also mobile, flexible and loosely coordinated.

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A satellite image shows damage to aircraft at an airfield in Irkutsk, following Ukrainian drones attack targeting Russian military airfields, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Stepnoy, Irkutsk region, Russia. Reuters

The cost of each drone was low but the overall effect was high. This isnt just asymmetric warfare, its a different kind of offensive capability  and any defence needs to adapt accordingly.

On Ukraines front lines, where drone threats are constant, both sides have adapted by deploying layers of detection tools, short range air defences and jamming systems. In turn, drone operators have turned to alternatives. One option is drones that use spools of shielded fibre optic cable. The cable is attached to the drone at one end and to the controller held by the operator at the other. Another option involves drones with preloaded flight paths to avoid detection.

Fibre links, when used for control or coordination, emit no radio signal and so bypass radio frequency (RF) -based surveillance entirely. There is nothing to intercept or jam. Preloaded paths remove the need for live communication altogether. Once launched, the drone follows a pre-programmed route without broadcasting its position or receiving commands.

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As a result, airspace is never assumed to be secure but is instead understood to be actively contested and requiring continuous management. By contrast, Operation Spider Web targeted rear area airbases where more limited adaptive systems existed. The drones flew low, through unmonitored gaps, exploiting assumptions about what kind of threat was faced and from where.

Lessons to be learnt from Operation Spider Web

Spider Web is not the first long-range drone operation of this war, nor the first to exploit gaps in Russian defences. What Spider Web confirms is that the gaps in airspace can be used by any party with enough planning and the right technology. They can be exploited not just by states and not just in war. The technology is not rare and the tactics are not complicated. What Ukraine did was to combine them in a way that existing systems could not prevent the attack or maybe even see it coming.

This is far from a uniquely Russian vulnerability  it is the defining governance challenge of drones in low level airspace. Civil and military airspace management relies on the idea that flight paths are knowable and can be secured. In our work on UK drone regulation, we have described low level airspace as acting like a common pool resource.

This means that airspace is widely accessible. It is also difficult to keep out drones with unpredictable flightpaths. Under this vision of airspace, it can only be meaningfully governed by more agile and distributed decision making. Operation Spider Web confirms that military airspace behaves in a similar way. Centralised systems to govern airspace can struggle to cope with what happens at the scale of the Ukrainian attacks  and the cost of failure can be strategic.

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Improving low-level airspace governance will require better technologies, better detection and faster responses. New sensor technologies such as passive radio frequency detectors, thermal imaging, and acoustic (sound-based) arrays can help close current visibility gaps, especially when combined. But detection alone is not enough. Interceptors including capture drones (drones that hunt and disable other drones), nets to ensnare drones, and directed energy weapons such as high powered lasers are being developed and trialled. However, most of these are limited by range, cost, or legal constraints.

Nevertheless, airspace is being reshaped by new forms of access, use and improvisation. Institutions built around centralised ideas of control; air corridors, zones, and licensing are being outpaced. Security responses are struggling to adapt to the fact that airspace with drones is different. It is no longer passively governed by altitude and authority. It must be actively and differently managed.

Operation Spider Web didnt just reveal how Ukraine could strike deep into Russian territory. It showed how little margin for error there is in a world where cheap systems can be used quietly and precisely. That is not just a military challenge. It is a problem where airspace management depends less on central control and more on distributed coordination, shared monitoring and responsive intervention. The absence of these conditions is what Spider Web exploited.

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Michael A. Lewis, Professor of Operations and Supply Management, University of Bath

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Sonam and her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, reached a homestay in Nongriat village in Meghalayas East Khasi Hills district on May 22. They checked out the next day and went missing since. On Monday, Rajas body was recovered from a gorge near Sohra (also known as Cherrapunji). The wife is still missing, as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joins the search teams looking for her read more

The couple, originally from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, reached Mawlakhiat village on May 22. Image: News18

Sonam and her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, arrived at a homestay in Nongriat village, located in Meghalayas East Khasi Hills district, on May 22.

They left the following morning.

What was meant to be their honeymoon took a dark and puzzling turn from the day they checked out.

The couple had not been seen since May 23. On Monday, Rajas body was found in a gorge near Sohra, also known as Cherrapunji.

ALSO READ | Ankita Bhandaris killers get life term: How Uttarakhand receptionist was killed for refusing to serve VIPs

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Sonam is still missing. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has now joined the efforts to locate her.

Police said Raja appeared to have been killed with a machete, which has shocked people across Meghalaya and beyond.

In this explainer, we look at what happened to the couple, how the husband was murdered and later found, where the wife is, and everything we know about the case so far.

Lets break it down:

Husband murdered, wife missing: The shocking case in Meghalaya

The couple, originally from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, reached Mawlakhiat village on May 22, travelling on a rented scooter.

They left the vehicle and walked down nearly 3,000 steps to Nongriat village to see the well-known Living Root Bridge.

They spent the night at a homestay and left the next morning.

On May 24, their scooter was found abandoned near a cafe on the Shillong-Sohra route. Police were alerted, and a search was organised with the help of local residents, officials said.

The couple had not been seen since May 23. Image: News18

Eight days after they went missing, Raja Raghuvanshis semi-decomposed body was found in a deep gorge close to a waterfall in Sohra.

Police confirmed the body was that of 30-year-old Raja. His wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, 27, is yet to be found, and efforts to trace her continue.

Rajas brother identified him through a tattoo on his right hand that read Raja, according to the police.

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Investigators also recovered a womans white shirt, a strip of medicine, part of a mobile phones LCD screen, and a smartwatch from the site. A murder case has been registered.

Notably, Raja came from a family involved in the transport business in Indore. He had married Sonam on May 11, and the two had travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 20.

ALSO READ | Teen Pakistani influencer shot dead inside her home: Who was Sana Yousaf?

How did the husband die? Who does the family suspect?

Police on Wednesday said a bloodstained machete, believed to have been used in the killing of Raja Raghuvanshi, was recovered from near the site where his body was found.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Meghalaya Police, which is probing the case, said the murder weapon, a traditional machete known locally as a dao, and the victims mobile phone were both found close to the gorge in Sohra.

We have recovered the victims phone and also the weapon that was used to carry out the crime. The weapon was a dao, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem was quoted as saying by NDTV.

It is a clear case of homicide. The person was murdered, there is no doubt about that.

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Investigators believe a raincoat recovered from the area could help further the probe. The search teams are currently using drones, sniffer dogs and professional mountaineers to trace the missing woman, Sonam.

The search for Sonam Raghuvanshi continues, nearly two weeks after she and her husband went missing in Meghalaya. Image: News18

Meanwhile, Raja Raghuvanshis family is pressing for a CBI investigation. They believe the murder may be linked to a robbery.

We demand a CBI probe in this. We suspect murder due to robbery  his purse and diamond bracelet are missing. It seems Sonam Raghuvanshi has been kidnapped, said Rajas brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, while speaking to reporters.

His elder brother, Sachin Raghuvanshi, added, This is a case of murder of my brother I have lost my brother, but I do not want to lose my sister-in-law Sonam. The government should find my sister-in-law at any cost.

Sachin also alleged that local hotel and restaurant staff, guides, and those who rent out two-wheelers in Meghalaya should be investigated, and urged police to question them thoroughly.

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ALSO READ | Wedding bomb, professional rivalry: How English professors revenge that killed 2 in Odisha ended in life term for him

Where is Sonam Raghuvanshi?

The search for Sonam Raghuvanshi continues, nearly two weeks after she and her husband went missing in Meghalaya.

A team of 17 rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined the search and rescue operations at Sohra today, district Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem told PTI.

#WATCH | Shillong: On the incident of the missing Indore couple in Meghalaya, Vivek Syiem, SP of East Khasi hills, says, "The postmortem of the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was done today. The case has been registered, and a special investigation team has been formed, headed by the pic.twitter.com/XlcJIYpG7x  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

He said the addition of the NDRF team is expected to speed up the operation, which already involves drones, trained mountaineers, and special police units.

Meanwhile, an undated audio recording, believed to be Sonams last known communication, has surfaced, where she is heard speaking to her mother-in-law while trekking in a dense forest.

Were in a dense forest, nothing is available here. The climb is steep. I had told him (Raja) not to go, but he never listens. Im exhausted. The food here isnt good either. Its hard to breathe while walking, Sonam said in the audio clip, as per a report by India Today.

Notably, bad weather has also posed serious challenges during the search operation. Heavy rainfall and poor visibility had stalled the operation on May 30.

Landslides and flash floods were reported across the East Khasi and Jaintia Hills, killing six and injuring more than ten people.

The couples family had earlier announced a reward of Rs five lakh for anyone who could help trace them.

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VIDEO | Indore couple goes missing in Meghalaya. Here's what Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on this:



"In the recent few days, an unfortunate incident had happened where a newly-wed couple from the state of Madhya Pradesh had come to Meghalaya to Sohra Cherrapunji pic.twitter.com/Y5n1rMDCQe  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 29, 2025

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has assured support to the family. He said he is personally monitoring the search operation and added that not just officials, but the entire local community is involved in the efforts.

Apart from the police, the NDRF, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and a Special Operations Team are also involved in the ongoing search.

With inputs from agencies
With liberal leader Lee Jae-myung securing a thumping victory in the snap presidential election, his spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, now steps into the role of First Lady. The position carries both ceremonial weight and constant public scrutiny in South Korean politics. However, Kim was not always in favour of politics. In 2006, when Lee said he wanted to run for Seongnam mayor, Kim told him that he should file for divorce before entering the race read more

With Lee Jae-myung's win, his spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, now steps into the role of First Ladya position that carries both ceremonial weight and constant public scrutiny in South Korean politics. AFP

As South Koreans delivered a decisive verdict in Wednesdays snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung secured a thumping victory.

With Lees win, his spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, now steps into the role of First Ladya position that carries both ceremonial weight and constant public scrutiny in South Korean politics.

Over the years, Kim, 58, has mostly stayed behind the spotlight, carrying out her acts of support privately and separately from her husbands political journey. But now, as the Asian nation looks ahead, shes once again part of the conversation.

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So, who is Kim Hye-kyung? What has her journey looked like so far? And what might her new role look like? Heres a closer look at South Koreas First Lady.

From music to marriage: Her life with Lee Jae-myung

Born in 1966, Kim Hye-kyung comes from a background quite different from that of her husband.

While Lee Jae-myung grew up in poverty, Kim was raised in a middle-class family in Seoul. She graduated with a degree in piano from the Department of Piano at Sookmyung Womens University, as reported by The Korea Herald.

She worked as a piano instructor and was preparing to pursue graduate studies in Austria. But her plans changed in August 1990, when she met Lee, then a practicing lawyer, through his sister-in-law.

In a 2017 interview, Kim candidly recalled her first impression of Lee, He wasnt particularly handsome, and he looked older than his age.

Lee Jae-myung, right, and his wife Kim Hye-kyung pose for a commemorative photo holding their son early in their marriage. Image courtesy: Lee Jae-myung

Their connection deepened quickly. They began meeting almost every day. Lee later revealed that he proposed to her just four days after their first meeting, saying: I fell in love with you at first sight.

Instead of a diamond ring, he gave her six volumes of diaries he had kept since the age of 13, according to Maiel Business newspaper.

Kim initially turned down the proposal. But those diaries changed her mind.

Touched by the warmth and sincerity in his writing, she eventually said yes. The couple tied the knot in March 1991 and moved into their newlywed home in an apartment in Seongnam seven months later.

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Kim set aside her dream of studying music abroad to focus on raising their family. The couple has two sons: Dong-ho, 33, and Yoon-ho, 32.

She once described their home life as deeply bookish and engaged, saying, There are many books everywhere in the house, and father-to-son discussions take place on social issues or books at every meal.

Politics wasnt part of Kims plan

It might come as a surprise, but Kim wasnt always supportive of her husbands political ambitions.

When Lee first told her he wanted to run for Seongnam mayor back in 2006, her response was blunt. According to local media reports, Kim told him he should file for divorce before entering the race.

But over time, her stance softened. As reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, Kim eventually began to feel that participating in public service with her husband was rewarding.

South Koreas President Lee Jae-myung (L) and his wife Kim Hye-kyung arrive for his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 4, 2025. AFP

Lees political journey took off soon after. He was elected mayor of Seongnam in 2010, then went on to serve as governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021. Along the way, Kim slowly took on a more visible role, shaping her image as an active partner in Lees political life.

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She gained public attention by appearing on television alongside him and releasing a cookbook in 2018 titled Lets Make Meals;, which portrayed her as a warm, hands-on homemaker. The book later became a bestseller at Kyobo Book Centre.

A shadow cast by controversy

Kims public presence hasnt been without bumps along the way.

On May 12, she was fined 1.5 million won (around $1,100) by an appellate court for misusing a Gyeonggi provincial government corporate card.

The court found that a dinner she hosted in August 2021paid for with the cardwas used in a way that supported Lees bid in the Democratic Partys primary for the 2022 presidential election. As a result, it was deemed a violation of the Public Official Election Act.

Kim has appealed the ruling to South Koreas Supreme Court. Now, even if the verdict is upheld, its unlikely to affect her current position as First Lady, which is not an elected office.

Becoming the First Lady

During Lees presidential campaign, Kim stayed mostly behind the scenes. She chose not to give speeches or join major rallies. Instead, she focused her efforts on visiting religious groups and marginalised communities, away from the political limelight.

Kim refrained from making public speeches and focused on quiet, behind-the-scenes support for Lee. Rather, the first lady visited religious organisations and marginalised communities, steering clear of political events.

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Kim refrained from making public speeches and focused on quiet, behind-the-scenes support for Lee. Rather, the first lady visited religious organisations and marginalised communities. Reuters

A Democratic Party campaign official explained that these visits were about promoting national unity.

Just as the goal of politics is to bring people together, religion also plays a role in fostering reconciliation and harmony, the official said, according to local reports.

One reason why Kim has kept a low profile could also be because of how previous First Ladies have come under intense public scrutiny, including former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who was mired in corruption and stock manipulation scandals. Given the controversial past, many expect Kim Hye-kyung to take a more reserved approach.

Also read: South Koreas First Lady faces allegations of plagiarising masters thesis, university waits for her reply

Considering that the public moves of the former presidents wives were controversial, she is likely to maintain a quiet internal support stance even after the presidential election, a senior Democratic Party official said.

However, those who know her well suggest she may grow into the public role in her own way.

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Sometimes shes even more resolute and firm than her husband, one longtime aide told Korea JooAng Daily. She will inevitably become active in public life.

Kim has kept a low profile could also be because of how previous First Ladies have come under intense public scrutiny. However, those who know her well suggest she may grow into the public role in her own way. AFP

Kim herself has spoken about how she views the role of First Lady, not as a political figure, but as someone who can help shift social attitudes.

She said she believes the First Lady can make a positive impact through campaigns to change public awareness and cultural norms when the president manages policies in the political sphere.

As she steps into this new chapter, it remains to be seen how Kim Hye-kyung manages her new role.

With input from agencies
An Indian delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha reached Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to hold 10 diplomatic outreach events following the launch of Operation Sindoor. Before the briefing, Pakistan reportedly asked Malaysian authorities to cancel all Operation Sindoor events by Indian delegations, citing Islamic solidarity and the Kashmir issue. However, the Malaysian government turned down the request and approved all programmes planned by the nine-member Indian team read more

An Indian delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha reached Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to hold 10 diplomatic outreach events following the launch of Operation Sindoor.

This was the last leg of the delegations tour , which also included visits to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Now, reports suggest that Pakistan asked Malaysian authorities to call off all Operation Sindoor events planned by the Indian delegation. Islamabad is said to have raised the Kashmir issue and brought in a religious angle to back its demand.

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ALSO READ | Why Shashi Tharoor is disappointed with Colombias take on Operation Sindoor

However, Malaysia is reported to have rejected the request, which is being viewed as a strong diplomatic setback for Islamabad.

What exactly did Pakistan say in its appeal to Malaysia? How did Kuala Lumpur respond? And what message did the Indian delegation share about Operation Sindoor during their visit?

Lets get you the answers to these questions and more.

How Pakistan tried to block Indian outreach in Malaysia and failed

Pakistan requested Malaysian authorities to call off all Operation Sindoor outreach events by Indian delegations, citing Islamic unity. But Kuala Lumpur turned down the request, sources told NDTV and India Today TV.

The Indian delegation was led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha and included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah and Hemang Joshi, Trinamools Abhishek Banerjee , CPMs John Brittas, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, and former diplomat Mohan Kumar.

This was the last leg of the delegations tour, which also included visits to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia. PTI

Reports said Pakistan tried to derail the visit by bringing up the Kashmir issue. But the effort failed to make an impact.

In a bid to appeal on religious grounds, the Pakistani embassy urged Malaysian officials to stop the delegations 10 scheduled programmes.

According to India Today, the request was: We are an Islamic country, you are an Islamic country dont listen to the Indian delegation, cancel all their programmes in Malaysia.

All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Honble MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha visited Torana Gate in Little India, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.



The Torana Gate, a gift from people of India to the people of Malaysia inaugurated during the visit of Honble Prime Minister @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/I5OWcP6yey  India in Malaysia (@hcikl) June 1, 2025

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Despite the push, the Malaysian government declined the request and cleared all 10 events planned by the nine-member Indian team.

Indias Operation Sindoor outreach in Malaysia

On Monday, Indias all-party parliamentary team in Malaysia shared the countrys firm stance against terrorism, indicating what it called the new normal of responding strongly to any attack on Indian soil.

The group met leaders of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), including its President Tan Sri Dato Sri SA Vigneswaran and Deputy President YB Datuk Seri M Saravanan.

Highlighted Indias unwavering stand against terrorism as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor. Conveyed Indias new normal of responding firmly against any act of terror on Indian soil. @MIC_Malaysia expressed solidarity with Indias position on the fight against cross-border terrorism, the High Commission of India in Malaysia said in a post on X.

The delegation also briefed major Malaysian think tanks and academic bodies such as the Asia Europe Institute, Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur, and Institute of Strategic and International Studies, focusing on the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.

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On Tuesday, the Malaysian government thanked the Indian parliamentary delegation. PTI

They described Operation Sindoor as a precise, calibrated and non-escalatory response, in line with Indias zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism.

The mission said, India will no longer make a distinction between terrorists and the states that support them.

The delegation had earlier met members of Malaysias Democratic Action Party, led by YB M. Kula Segaran, Deputy Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Law and Institutional Reform), as well as members of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Honble MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, paid a solemn tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a towering figure in Indias struggle for independence at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Indian Culture Centre (NSCBICC) at Brickfields.



The pic.twitter.com/8ndbmUPqve  India in Malaysia (@hcikl) June 1, 2025

Discussions centred on Indias resolute response to terrorism under Operation Sindoor. There was emphasis on Indias zero tolerance to terrorism, and the view that Water and blood cannot flow together, the High Commission posted.

The remarks referred to Indias suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam attack. Notably, New Delhi has said the treaty will remain on hold unless Pakistan stops backing terror groups.

Malaysia thanks Indian delegation

On Tuesday, the Malaysian government thanked the Indian parliamentary delegation and reaffirmed its commitment to peace.

The delegations visit is part of a broader outreach under which India is sending multi-party teams to 33 capitals around the world to reveal Pakistans terror links.

What the Indian delegation told Malaysian leaders

Speaking to news agency IANS, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said the all-party team conveyed four key points to Malaysian officials during their visit.

Firstly, the all-party delegation sent by the government delivered a strong message that the entire country stands united on this issue against terrorism. Secondly, countries across the world unequivocally condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and offered condolences to all 26 victims who died in the massacre. Thirdly, India only targeted terrorist centres and camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir with restraint and precision strikes. Fourth, flights have resumed in Jammu and Kashmir, apart from the Cabinet meeting being held in Pahalgam to review the situation on the ground, Jha said.

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Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee made a strong statement and said that India should now engage with Pakistan solely on the issue of reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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 said.

CPMs John Brittas said, Our mission was to sensitise other countries and convey the message that they must support India in its fight against terrorism.

With inputs from agencies
Lee Jae-myung has secured a thumping victory in South Koreas presidential election, securing nearly 50 per cent of the votes compared to his rival Kim Moon-soo. But the new president has little time to celebrate. He has a mountain of tasks that await him  from a deepening economic slump, a global tariff war initiated by Donald Trump, to security concerns owing to North Korea read more

South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung, left, and his wife Kim Hea Kyung greet supporters outside of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. AP

Its a momentous occasion for South Koreas Lee Jae-myung  hes gone from being a child labourer to becoming president. But this isnt the time for the 61-year-old to sit back and enjoy his win.

Following his momentous victory in the South Korean elections  he has garnered more than 49 per cent of the total votes  Lee has to hit the ground running. He is expected to soon name his prime minister, chief of staff and Cabinet members to address quickly mounting tasks. Koreas once-exemplary democracy needs fixing, the sharpness of political divisions has to be dulled and also deal with one of the worlds lowest birth rates. Notably, he has to do all of this while he deals with his own legal baggage in the form of five different criminal trials.

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Lee scores an emphatic win

After a frenetic 60-day election campaign, South Koreans on Tuesday (June 3) voted in large numbers for centre-left Lee Jae-myung . He won a thumping victory over conservative Kim Moon-soo, of disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeols former party  Lee secured 49.4 per cent of the vote, far ahead of Kim on 41.2 per cent.

Shortly after his win, Lee said in his celebratory speech, I will not forget for one moment the mission you expect from me and have entrusted me, and will definitely, absolutely carry it out without ever straying from it.

He also promised to pursue dialogue, communication, and cooperation with North Korea, with whom the South remains technically at war, to find a path toward peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.

But theres no time for Lee to sit back and enjoy his win. As Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Washington Post, This is really a story of going from the frying pan into the fire. Yes, we will close the book on the martial law chapter, but what comes next is daunting.

Lee Jae-myung scored a thumping victory over conservative Kim Moon-soo  he secured 49.4 per cent of the vote, far ahead of Kim on 41.2 per cent. AP

Restoring faith in democracy  Lees first big task

As challenges go, the biggest one now facing the new South Korean president would be to assuage the anger that exists amid the public towards politics and politicians.

He has promised to restore stability, rejecting his predecessor and arch-rival Yoons martial law as an aberration in South Koreas nearly four-decade democratic history. But its a tall task, given the nations deep polarisation, experts say.

Darcie Draudt-Vejares, South Korean politics expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told the Washington Post, The election will help with a collective sense of turning the page  [but] that does not mean the next president can automatically solve deep political divides.

Others also noted that Lee will have to maintain a balancing act with the conservatives in the country. If he goes too aggressively after the conservatives, it will only galvanise the far-rightists, ultimately undermining efforts to reduce political polarisation, Gi-Wook Shin, a sociology professor at Stanford University, told AFP.

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A Trump-sized crisis awaits Lee

Outside of soothing internal tensions, perhaps dealing with US President Donald Trump and his trade war will be the biggest task for Lee.

Trumps 25 per cent tariffs on all South Korean imports will hit the countrys already slowing economy and it is up to Lee to negotiate with the US president. Already in the first quarter of the year, South Koreas economy grew less than expected.

But Lee has made it clear that while he seeks to negotiate with Trump, hes not an easy man to deal with either. He previously said that Seoul does not need to rush tariff talks, adding that he first wants to know what leverage Seoul has. Before we talk about our cards, we need to see what President Trumps real cards are, he said in a YouTube interview last month.

People watch a television screen showing a live broadcast of South Koreas President Lee Jae-myung speaking during his inauguration ceremony, at a train station in Seoul. AFP

But theres much more than just South Koreas economy at stake when it comes to the US. The US currently guarantees South Koreas security  it has vowed to come to the Asian nations defence with conventional and nuclear weapons in case of an attack by North Korea.

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And Lee is a firm supporter of it, calling it the foundation of South Koreas diplomacy. But Trump in April said that he had discussed payment for the big time military protection we provide, calling it beautiful and efficient one-stop shopping.

And Evans Revere, a former senior US diplomat based in Seoul, told BBC that he fears a crisis is coming. For the first time in our lifetime we have a US president who does not feel a moral and strategic obligation towards Korea.

A balancing act with China

As South Koreas president, Lee will also have to contend with China, the countrys largest trading partner by far. While Lee wants to improve ties with Beijing, the countrys public in a recent poll has revealed that they are more wary of the Dragon.

Moreover, as US-China ties deteriorate even further, it will be Lee who will have to maintain a balance between the two  which as many known will be no easy task. Speaking on this Sungmin Cho, a Korea-China expert at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, was quoted telling the Washington Post, South Koreas position is becoming more difficult, to stand on this tightrope. So he will be more serious about hedging.

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Moreover, China and Russia have been growing closer  a development that Lee has mentioned on the campaign trail, suggesting that Seoul should be paying closer attention to its near neighbours.

Supporters of South Koreas Lee Jae-myung, react outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. AP

Dealing with nuclear-capable North Korea

Lee will also have to look to his north to his nuclear-capable neighbour, North Korea. Pyongyangs nuclear and missile capabilities continue to improve, and it has forged a military alliance with Russia, even sending thousands of troops to fight in Moscows war against Ukraine.

This poses a threat to Seoul that Lee has recognised and he has mentioned that he supports restarting dialogue with North Korea. In February, he said he would like to see a breakthrough in talks to limit the neighbours nuclear ambitions.

However, it seems hard to do so as Kim Jong Un has shown no signs of coming to the table and, in fact, has been emboldened by his growing ties with Russia. Mason Richey, international politics professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, explained the situation perfectly  how do you talk to North Korea when North Korea doesnt want to talk to you? What policy do you support?

Lees own legal woes

But if these issues werent enough for the new South Korean president, he also has to deal with his own legal baggage. Lee faces five criminal trials violating election law, allegations of corruption, sending money to North Korea and perjury. In fact, some of his legal battles threatened his bid for presidency.

These trials will likely stop as South Koreas constitution prevents a sitting president from being charged with most crimes. But his rivals will take issue with it, because the constitution doesnt clearly state whether a president can be convicted for crimes in which indictments came before taking up office.

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With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trumps pledge to increase tariffs to 50 per cent on all steel and aluminium imports by the country come into effect from today (June 4). While it will impact businesses and manufacturers, it will be the consumers who are likely to face the brunt of it with inflated prices read more

US President Donald Trumps promise of a 50 per cent tariff hike on steel and aluminium imports comes into effect from today (June 4). While Trump hails the move as an attempt to revive the American steel and aluminium industry, this measure will severely impact businesses, from automotive manufacturers to home construction firms and especially, consumers.

Earlier, Trump justified the hike by citing national security concerns and the need to protect domestic steel and aluminium industries from what he terms foreign dumping and excess production that undercuts American competitiveness. He has stated that the 25 per cent tariff was not enough to prevent foreign products from getting over the fence and stealing American industry.

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Economists and industry leaders are warning of wide-ranging impacts across supply chains. Industries heavily reliant on these metals, such as automakers, home builders, and even can manufacturers, are expected to face elevated input costs, which will likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for a vast spectrum of products, from cars and appliances to canned goods and construction materials.

Whats the tariff rate on imported steel and aluminium now?

Steel and aluminium imports are currently taxed at 25 per cent, a rate that both metals have faced across the board since March 12 when Trumps order to remove steel exemptions and raise aluminiums levy from his previously-imposed 2018 import taxes went into effect.

Thats about to double. In a proclamation issued Tuesday (June 3), Trump confirmed that the US will begin taxing nearly all steel and aluminium imports at 50 per cent after the clock strikes midnight Wednesday. Steel and aluminium from the UK, meanwhile, will continue to be levied at 25 per cent due to a recent trade deal.

Why is Trump raising these tariffs?

Trump says its all about protecting US industries. He reiterated that argument last Friday, when he first announced the 50 per cent tariff during a visit with steelworkers in Pennsylvania, where he also discussed a planned partnership between US Steel and Japans Nippon Steel.

President Donald Trump talks to workers as he tours US teel Corporations Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant. File image/AP

In his speech at US Steels Mon Valley WorksIrvin Plant in suburban Pittsburgh, Trump said that the tariff hike would further secure the steel industry in the US. Shortly after, he took the same tone when sharing plans to also raise tariffs on imported aluminium.

In Tuesdays proclamation, Trump also said that the higher tariffs would ensure that imported steel and aluminium would not threaten to impair the national security.

In my judgement, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminium in the United States, he said in the proclamation.

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How is the industry responding?

While some analysts have credited the tariffs Trump imposed during his first term with strengthening domestic production of steel and aluminium, many others have warned that stark new levies can make it difficult for the industry to adjust.

Some organisations representing metal workers also note that tariffs arent the only solution needed to boost US manufacturing.

While tariffs, used strategically, serve as a valuable tool in balancing the scales, its essential that we also pursue wider reforms of our global trading system, David McCall, international president of the United Steelworkers union said in a statement, noting that work must be done in collaboration with trusted allies like Canada, the top exporter of steel and aluminium to the US, to help contain the bad actors.

Matt Meenan, vice president of external affairs at the Aluminum Association, added that the trade group appreciates President Trumps continued focus on strengthening the US aluminium industry, but that tariffs alone will not increase US primary aluminium production.

We also need consistent, predictable trade and tariff policy to plan for current and future investment, Meenan said.

What kinds of products could be impacted by inflated tariffs?

A range of businesses that rely on foreign-made steel and aluminium have already begun feeling the impacts of Trumps previously imposed levies. But the latest anticipated hikes could drive up costs even more.

Steel and aluminium are used in a range of products like washing machines, consumer electronics and cars. Much of the auto industry relies on a global supply chain. And even if you arent in the market to buy a new vehicle, repairs could involve parts that use imports of either metal, driving up overall maintenance and ownership costs.

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In the grocery aisle, steel and aluminium are ubiquitous in the packaging for many foods, including canned tuna, soup and nuts. Experts warn that hiking import taxes on these materials could lead to higher grocery prices overall, further straining consumers wallets.

Jeff Ware, president of Resurgence Brewing Company, poses near a stockpile of aluminium cans that are sourced from Canada. File image/AP

The aluminium and metal tariffs also carry wider implications for construction and transportation as a whole, as many key building parts and materials are made with these metals. Economists further warn of spillover impacts. Even if a product isnt directly packaged in steel or aluminium, there could be higher costs to build the shelf its sold on, for example, or a truck used to transport it to the store. And all of that could trickle down to the consumer down the road.

If foreign competition becomes priced out due to these new tariffs, US steel and aluminium producers may also find room to raise their own prices. As a result, even companies that dont buy these foreign metals could end up paying more.

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Steel prices have already climbed 16 per cent since Trump became president in mid-January, according to the governments Producer Price Index. And as of March 2025, steel costs $984 a metric ton in the US, significantly higher than in Europe ($690) or China ($392) , per the US Commerce Department.

Will there be any exceptions?

The new 50 per cent tariff rate will apply to nearly all steel and aluminium coming into the US from other countries. But the United Kingdom, which recently reached a sweeping trade agreement with the US, will see an exception.

As part of a trade deal reached between the two nations on May 8, the UK said that the US had agreed to eliminate its current 25 per cent duties on British steel and aluminium down to zero. That exemption had yet to go into effect in the weeks following, but in his proclamation issued Tuesday, Trump acknowledged that it was necessary and appropriate to implement the deal, and would accordingly provide different treatment for these metals coming from the UK.

Per Trumps proclamation, the duty on British steel and aluminium will now stay 25 per cent. But that rate could be adjusted starting on July 9 if the US government determines that Britain has not complied with the framework.

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Trumps planned hikes for steel and aluminium tariffs for the rest of the world could spark retaliation from other trading partners. In response to levies imposed on these metals earlier in the year, for example, the European Union previously outlined countermeasures.

The 27-nation bloc later delayed those actions until July 14 in an effort to ease negotiations but said on Monday that was preparing a list of measures to enact if a trade deal with the US crumbles.

With inputs from AP
Artem Tymofieiev, a former DJ born in Ukraine, has come under Russias radar. He is suspected of having orchestrated Ukraines Operation Spiders Web, under which Kyiv targeted four Russian air bases with explosive-laden drones. His tattoo artist wife, who moonlighted as an erotic writer, is believed to have helped him read more

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 Russia's territory. Ukrainian Security Service source via AP

Russia has launched a manhunt for the couple behind Ukraines surprise drone attack on targets deep inside Russian territory. A former Ukrainian DJ is reportedly suspected of having orchestrated Ukraines audacious Operation Spiders Web with the help of his wife, a tattoo artist.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the Sunday drone strikes one for the history books. The assault, which Kyiv claims caused damages estimated at $7 billion, has stunned Russia. All eyes are now on Moscows response to Ukraines drone attack.

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As Russia looks for the perpetrators of the attack, heres what we know about the couple believed to be involved.

Ex-DJ, wife likely behind Ukraines drone attack

A former Ukrainian DJ, identified as Artem Tymofieiev, is the Ukrainian secret agent who helped carry out Ukraines Sunday drone strikes on four Russian air bases, as per a Daily Mail report.

Ukraine has said its operation, dubbed Spiders Web, damaged or destroyed 41 Russian aircraft, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic bombers.

Russia has now begun a hunt for Tymofieiev for allegedly orchestrating Ukraines drone attack, reported Metro.co.uk.

The 37-year-old was born in the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr and lived in Kyiv, where he reportedly owned a clothing brand with his wife  Ekaterina Katya Timofeeva.

Tymofieiev shifted to the Russian city of Chelyabinsk several years ago, Russian sources told Daily Mail.

There, he ran a haulage firm and his 34-year-old wife worked as a stylist and tattoo artist. She also moonlighted as an erotic writer and is believed to have aided her husband in Operation Spiders Web, as per Russian media outlets.

The Ukrainian Secret Service smuggled 117 drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds, which were loaded onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the Russian air bases.

At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers, a Ukrainian military source told Associated Press (AP).

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Russia has reportedly alleged that Tymofieiev owned the truck company in Chelyabinsk. His business was a perfect cover as it is not rare for Russian lorry drivers to cover long distances. Tymofieievs trucks were driven to Olenya airbase in Murmansk, Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, and Diaghilev and Ivanov bases  all thousands of kilometres away from Chelyabinsk.

According to Daily Mail, Artem hired four heavy goods drivers to transport what they thought were just wooden framed houses to various locations across Russia.

Two of the drivers reportedly told investigators that a man called Artem told them to transport frame houses, one went to the Murmansk region and another to Irkutsk.

When the drivers were close to the four Russian air bases, they received calls from an unknown number  using Russian SIM cards and Russian telecommunications networks. They were told where to stop the trucks, reported Metro.co.uk.

The hero of Ukraine  Artyom (or Artem) Timofeev who executed the Operation Spider's Web (or Operation Spiderweb). pic.twitter.com/PphONvKthq  Humanist Uzbek  (@HumanistUzbek) June 2, 2025

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And then began Operation Spiders Web. Hundreds of explosive-laden drones simultaneously flew out of the trucks to hit Russian warplanes and destroyed 34 per cent of Russias strategic cruise missile carriers, Kyiv says.

As per the Ukrainian president, it took more than a year and a half to prepare for the complex operation that pro-Russian bloggers have dubbed Russias Pearl Harbor .

Hunt on for the couple

Russia is searching for the Ukrainian couple. Artem is now wanted in connection with a terrorist attack in the Irkutsk region, Russian online news source Readovka reported. Four lorries were registered in his name, and one of them was the source of the drones that launched [in an attack on a Russian air base].

Reports say Ekaterina has not been online in two weeks and has since scrubbed her usually active social media accounts.

Her husband was last seen at the couples apartment in Chelyabinsk nearly a week ago.

So, where is the couple now? It remains uncertain. However, if the Ukrainian Secret Service is to be believed, everyone behind Operation Spiders Web has been in Ukraine for a long time.

With inputs from agencies
All is not well between billionaire Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump. The Tesla CEO has blasted the One, Big, Beautiful Bill as a disgusting abomination, days after his muted criticism of the legislation. Is this a signal of a growing rift between him and the president? read more

US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 30, 2025. Reuters

Billionaire Elon Musk is not hiding his ire at United States President Donald Trumps tax-and-spending bill anymore. A fierce supporter and adviser of the Republican leader, the Tesla CEO has berated One, Big, Beautiful Bill, passed by the House of Representatives last month, as a disgusting abomination".

This public rebuke is a far cry from his restrained reaction to Trumps bill in May when Musk said he was disappointed by the spending bill. It also comes in the wake of the tech billionaires recent departure from the US administration.

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Lets take a closer look at whats going on.

Elon Musk blasts Trumps big, beautiful bill

Elon Musk has castigated Trumps centrepiece bill  the One, Big, Beautiful Bill of tax and spending cuts.

Taking to X, he wrote on Tuesday (June 3), Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore.

This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.

Musk further added, Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The billionaire backed his scathing criticism, saying the bill would highly increase the US budget deficit  when the governments expenditure is more than its revenues.

It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America[n] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt, he added.

It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt https://t.co/dHCj3pprJO  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

In another post, Musk went on to threaten Republicans. In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people, he wrote later on Tuesday.

The big, beautiful bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and is currently under debate in the Senate.

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The legislation includes multi-trillion dollar tax breaks and allows the US government to borrow more money.

Musks sharp censure of the bill reflects the widening rift between him and President Trump since the tech billionaire left the US administration last week.

In an interview with CBS News in May, Musk said he was disappointed to see the massive spending bill. He said it frankly  increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the Doge [Department of Government Efficiency] team is doing."

I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I dont know if it can be both. My personal opinion, Musk added.

As per BBC, in its current version, Trumps signature tax breaks and spending cuts bill is projected to swell the budget deficit by about $600 billion in the next fiscal year.

Why Musk dislikes Trumps big, beautiful bill

Elon Musk s disapproval of the bill stems from various reasons.

Trumps legislation would cut funding for electric vehicles and related technologies, which would hurt Musks businesses. The bill slashes the electric vehicle tax credit that would impact the billionaires Tesla, Americas largest electric vehicle manufacturer.

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Musks company spent at least $240,000 lobbying for the credit and other issues, as of April, the US news outlet Axios reported. Sources said he tried to promote the measure for the bill, but in vain.

Elon Musk left the Trump administration last week. File Photo/Reuters

The Tesla CEO, who spearheaded Doge, left the Trump administration after 129 days working to cut costs.

The US president, who gave Musk a celebratory Oval Office farewell, said that he will, always, be with us, helping all the way.

As per the Axios report, Musk, who was working as a special government employee, wanted to continue in the role beyond the 130-day deadline set for the unpaid advisory position. However, White House officials rejected this idea.

The Tesla CEO was also pushing for the use of his Starlink satellite system by the Federal Aviation Administration for national air traffic control, sources told the outlet. However, the Trump administration dismissed the proposal due to it being perceived as a conflict of interest and for technological reasons.

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Musks disagreement with Trump also came to the limelight last week when the US president abruptly announced he is withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman, an ally of the Tesla CEO, to lead Nasa.

According to Axios, buzz in the White House was that Sergio Gor, the director of the Office of Presidential Personnel who had clashed with Musk over nominees, was responsible for Trumps decision.

However, two administration insiders disagreed that Gor was behind it. They said that Senators had objected to Isaacman for being a Democratic donor, and the White House was seeking a Republican loyalist.

Perception is reality, though, and Im pretty sure Elon thought the Nasa situation was a last insult, the White House official told the news outlet. So here we are.

Is the Trump-Musk friendship over?

The question has gained significance amid Musks latest outburst against Trumps big, beautiful bill.

However, the White House has attempted to downplay Musks criticism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, adding that Musks post doesnt change the presidents opinion.

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The Trump and Musk relationship remains generally amicable, as per Vox.

Two people in frequent communication with the president and Musk told Axios that the duo is still friends and allies. However, they said that Trump was a bit annoyed by Musks social media sabotage.

Musks criticism could be a signal of increasing tensions between him and the US president.

The Tesla CEO previously said he plans to spend a lot less on political campaigns. His recent comments suggest otherwise  he may not be done with politics, just yet.

With inputs from agencies
From black to green: how Ordos is turning coal lands into a clean energy frontier

15:27, June 04, 2025 By Zhang Cheng ( People's Daily

Smart devices are deployed at the Shendong Mine operated by China Energy Investment Corporation in Ejin Horo banner, Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

On the sun-drenched plateaus of Ejin Horo banner, Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the glare bouncing off more than a million silver-blue photovoltaic panels is dazzling. The panels stretch across 42,000 mu (2,800 hectares) of terrain once ravaged by coal mining. Today, the view is unexpectedly softened by the emergence of fresh vegetation and rows of fruit trees.

Mines occupy 87 percent of Ejin Horo banner's total area. With proven coal reserves of 56 billion tons and more than 3 billion tons already extracted, the region currently produces around 210 million tons of coal annually.

While coal continues to underpin the local economy, the environmental consequences of mining are stark: over 700,000 mu of subsidence zones have formed, with an additional 30,000 mu being added each year. These lands cannot be allowed to deteriorate indefinitely. A transition toward sustainable development is no longer optional; it is essential.

The imperative of transformation prompts a critical question: should the region pursue a wholly new direction, or should it build upon its existing industrial foundations? Ejin Horo banner chose the latter. By leveraging its well-established coal chemical industry, abundant wind and solar resources, and extensive tracts of subsidence-affected land, the region is advancing a proactive agenda for sustainable development.

Rather than abandoning its industrial base, the region is upgrading it through technological innovation to extend and deepen the industrial chain.

At the Ordos coal-to-liquid (CTL) branch of China Energy Investment Corporation, the world's first million-ton direct CTL facility converts coal into refined products like naphtha, diesel, and gasoline. Besides, Inner Mongolia Huineng Coal Chemical Co., Ltd. processes 5.5 million tons of coal into liquefied natural gas each year. The former "dig-and-sell" model is being supplanted by a complex value chain of coal-based chemical industry.

At the heart of China's energy transformation lies the objective of building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.

In Ordos Mengsu Economic Development Zone, solar panels and large wind turbines power a zero-carbon industrial park. Within the park, production lines energized by green electricity employ robotic arms to assemble battery cells. From photovoltaic modules to energy storage batteries, from hydrogen fuel cells to new energy heavy trucks, an integrated industrial ecosystem encompassing wind, solar, thermal, hydrogen and storage is steadily taking shape.

This interconnection between green energy and green production fosters the development of emerging sectors, contributing to a more advanced and efficient economic structure.

Photo shows a 500,000 kW ecological restoration and photovoltaic power generation demonstration project in Ejin Horo banner, Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Ultimately, the overarching aim of this green transition is not solely industrial upgrading, but also to deliver shared prosperity.

In recent years, Ejin Horo banner has carried out relevant initiatives to promote ecological restoration with preliminary ecological balance achieved.

To date, 47 green mines have been established. Of the 17 open-pit coal mines undergoing reclamation, 96.85 percent have been restored, and 94.51 percent of the land has been returned to productive use. Some former subsidence zones have been repurposed into solar farms, where crops like medick and mulberry grow beneath solar panels. The surrounding areas now support apple trees, sea buckthorns, and apricot orchards, simultaneously rehabilitating the environment and generating economic returns.

Relocated villagers are increasingly able to return to their hometowns and work in the photovoltaic industry. Through coordinated efforts in ecological restoration, mining redevelopment, and solar sector growth, these previously abandoned mines are being transformed into valuable assets, unlocking comprehensive benefits.

As the local economy transitions from black to green, the industrial footprint is shifting from subterranean extraction to surface-based innovation. Former subsidence zones are being reimagined as productive and scenic landscapes. A comprehensive blueprint for high-quality green development is steadily unfolding across this once coal-dependent region.

(Photos from the WeChat official account of the energy bureau of Ejin Horo banner)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
After Jyoti Malhotras arrest, the Punjab Police have nabbed another YouTuber, Jasbir Singh, for allegedly spying for Pakistan. Singh, whose channel goes by the name Jaan Mahal and has over 1.1 million subscribers, was close to Malhotra and had contacts with a Pakistani intelligence operatives read more

According to Punjab Police, Jasbir Singh was associated with Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a Pakistani intelligence operative suspected to be linked to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Image courtesy: X

Just weeks after the arrest of YouTuber spy Jyoti Malhotra, the Punjab Police have cracked open yet another suspected Pakistan-backed espionage ringthis time involving another YouTuber, Jasbir Singh.

Singh was picked up by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Punjabs Mohali on Wednesday, based on intelligence inputs.

Investigators say the YouTuber, whose channel goes by the name JaanMahal video with over a million subscribers, was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative. Not only this, he was also in touch with Haryana-based YouTuber fellow Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan.

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So, who is Jasbir Singh? And what has the investigation revealed so far? Heres what we know.

Jasbir Singh, who hails from Mahlan village in Punjabs Ropar district, has gained a large following through his YouTube channel. However, police say his online activity hid deeper connections.

According to officials, Singh was in close contact with multiple Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) believed to be working under Pakistani handlers.

According to Punjab Police, he was associated with Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a Pakistani intelligence operative suspected to be linked to Pakistans spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Investigators further allege that Singh stayed in regular contact with Jyoti Malhotra and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a former official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi who was expelled by India last month on charges of espionage.

Investigators further allege that Singh stayed in regular contact with Jyoti Malhotra and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a former official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi who was expelled by India. Image courtesy: X

Singh is said to have attended the Pakistan National Day celebrations in Delhi at Danishs invitation, where he met with several Pakistani Army officers and vloggers, raising serious security concerns. Authorities also revealed that Singh travelled to Pakistan three timesin 2020, 2021, and again in 2024.

Earlier, Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the YouTube channel Travel with Jo, was also seen at a similar event at the Pakistan High Commission. She was spotted interacting with Danish, his wife, and several other officials.

As per The Times of India, it was Danish who allegedly introduced Malhotra to Pakistani handlers, including two individuals named Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. She allegedly disclosed that she was in touch with Pakistani intelligence agents through encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram.

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Malhotra is currently under a 14-day judicial custody, and is being interrogated by NIA, IB and Haryana Police for her alleged espionage links with Pakistan.

Electronic devices seized from Jasbir Singh revealed multiple contact numbers traced to Pakistan, which are now being analysed by forensic teams.

Officials say that after the arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, Singh attempted to wipe out all records of his communication with PIOs. Despite his efforts, investigators recovered key data that links him to suspected terror-backed intelligence networks.

Electronic devices seized from Jasbir Singh revealed multiple contact numbers traced to Pakistan, which are now being analysed by forensic teams. Image courtesy: X

A case has been registered at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali, and the police say investigations are ongoing to dismantle the larger espionage network and identify others involved.

Series of espionage arrests in Punjab

Singhs arrest comes amid a wider crackdown on alleged Pakistan-linked spy activities across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Just a day before, Punjab Police arrested a man named Gagandeep Singh from Tarn Taran for allegedly sharing sensitive details about army movements during Operation Sindoor. He had reportedly received payments from foreign handlers. A mobile phone recovered from him contained intelligence and details of over 20 ISI-linked contacts.

Last month, two men from Ajnala in Amritsar, Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih, were also arrested for leaking sensitive information, including photos of army cantonments and air bases in border areas, to ISI operatives.

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In a separate case, a woman named Guzala and her associate Yameen Mohamad from Malerkotla were arrested on May 11 for allegedly spying for Pakistan. According to police, they were in contact with Danish, the expelled official from the Pakistan High Commission, and received money via online transfers in exchange for sharing classified army-related information.

During questioning, Guzala reportedly confessed to sending updates about Indian Army activities to the Pakistani official in Delhi.

Two more individuals, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh from Gurdaspur, were also arrested for sharing sensitive military details with the ISI.

These arrests are part of a broader investigation launched across the country amid heightened surveillance in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India-Pakistan tensions.

With input from agencies
Ten people were killed and at least 31 others were injured at the event organised by the Karnataka State Government. Poor planning and crowd mismanagement have been blamed. CM Siddaramaiah has called for an emergency meeting at 7:30 pm regarding the tragedy read more

A stampede at Gate no 3, 10, and 21 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru happened when thousands of fans gathered to celebrate the long-awaited victory of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025.

Eleven people were reportedly killed at the event organised by the Karnataka state government, CNN-News18 reported, citing sources. Seven deaths happened at the Bowering and Lady Curzon Hospital, while four more reportedly breathed their last at the Vaidehi hospital.

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At least 31 others were reported injured. Injured persons have been admitted to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital.

While all the injured persons have been rushed to hospitals, the Cubbon Park metro station entry and exit gates have been closed temporarily. The metro station is located right next to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Poor planning, crowd mismanagement

Poor planning and crowd mismanagement have been blamed for the tragedy. Karnatakas Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has apologised for the incident and urged groups to stay calm.

In a statement to reporters on site, he said, I think this is not a controllable crowd. I apologise to all the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka, we wanted to take a procession, but the crowd is uncontrollable.

Over 5,000 security personnel were deployed at the stadium.

Later, Shivakumar said that he had spoken to the Karnataka Police Commissioner regarding the incident and that he planned to go to the hospital where the injured were admitted.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to pic.twitter.com/yo5cLfHYfX  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, had headed straight to the hospital to take stock of the situation early on, according to a News18 report.

BJP blames Congress govt

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which sits in the opposition in the Southern Indian state, took a shot at the ruling Congress government via a social media post.

7 dead. Many are battling for life after a stampede due to the irresponsibility of Congress govt.



No crowd control measures. No basic arrangements. Just chaos.



While innocent people died, @siddaramaiah & @DKShivakumar were busy shooting reels & hogging limelight with pic.twitter.com/IVPuQjXxcq  BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) June 4, 2025

The partys local leaders, Tejasvi Surya, in a post on X, said While the state government & leadership were busy hogging their undeserving share of limelight in RCBs victory with the CM himself making an open invitation for the celebration, no arrangements were made on the ground.

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Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy also took to X to hit out at Congress. The primary reason for this massive tragedy is the lack of proper planning and complete failure to take precautionary measures. The state government, led by @INCKarnataka, must take full responsibility for this disaster.

Along with ensuring the injured receive the best possible treatment, the government must immediately reach out to support the families of the deceased," he wrote.
The era of running a short war and finishing with a scratch or two is over read more

Once the war was over and the fog had cleared, the ruins emerged from behind an ebbing curtain of smoke. The picture revealed was different from the one accompanying the noise during the skirmish. It unravelled the context behind the conflict and explained the dismantling of Rahim Yar Khan, Noor Khan airbases and the megalomania of Pakistani generals. Outside the warzone, the fog of war is known to claim the uninitiated and the fantasists. There is another ready victim: the eternally complexed. An affliction so rooted in wars with India over the years, this inadequacy had refused to leave the imagination of Pakistani generals who remain hopelessly obsessed with their neighbour. And for that reason alone, they embraced short wars that increased their whimsies of dabbling in false claims. This time, the Rawalpindi generals once again hoped to fight a war and claim victory, which they did. But they were not quite prepared for Indias military and political response.

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Provocation and Response

Lets begin with Pakistans historic lack of appetite for sustaining a conflict once begun. In 1965, Ayub Khan and Zulfiqar Bhutto asked the Chinese if a short war was possible with India. When Zhou Enlai told them to be prepared to lose cities in a war, they balked at the thought. Eventually, they fought a short war, and stopped when Indian forces were a few miles away from Lahore. Pakistan argued that though it did not lose Lahore, it kept India from winning outright.

In 1971, they could have again fought a war short of ruin, with the US ready to intervene. However, Indias lightning campaign in East Pakistan put paid to those plans and thus, Pakistan lost its eastern part. For a long time thereafter, General Zia-ul Haq found a way forward: he thought up a devious but effective plan of engaging vulnerable Indian states through low intensity conflicts and stayed under the radar.

The approach served Pakistan well in Punjab and later, in Kashmir. During the cold war era, insurgency in Punjab kept India domestically occupied. In fact, when Indias army chief Gen Sundarji launched Exercise Brasstacks in the 1980s, a rattled Zia, worried about Pakistan being severed, flew to Jaipur to discuss peace with Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi. Zia understood the benefits Pakistan could accrue through a low intensity war. Pakistan was not nuclear-ready then.

Zias thousand cuts policy for India was predicated on the assumption that a low intensity conflict could continue without escalating into a full-blown war. There was a notion that persevering with continued attacks would elicit a similar response from India: a counter militancy campaign and a strong diplomatic rebuttal. The nuclearisation of Pakistan helped Rawalpindi to browbeat the world into submission through the threat of the bomb.

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Each time the ISI worked with terrorist organisations using them as a proxy, the Pakistani army got away with an excuse, and often, an indifference built on arrogance. Over two decades, India sent to Pakistan 20 letters, dossiers, DNA samples of terrorists involved in 26/11, Pathankot, Pulwama, and Nagrota. After the Pathankot attacks in 2016, a Pakistani team arrived in India, conducted interviews with 16 witnesses and were given DNA samples of four terrorists. However, Islamabad chose to discard the evidence and mocked Indias claims.

A Uniqueness of Op Sindoor

A rogue government thrives on being unpredictable. Each time, the Pakistani generals flaunted their first mover unpredictability, India responded like a reasonable but firm neighbour. Each time, India responded diplomatically. And then, followed the quick military strikes in the last few years. This time when terrorists struck Pahalgam, Pakistan expected the Indian government to respond similarly, albeit with an aggression they sensed this government could muster.

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What Pakistan did not quite expect was the scale of response alongside the speed and the precision with which India struck to raze the terrorist bases with its first round of strikes. By taking out Abdul Rauf Azhar, Jaish e Mohammed associates of Masood Azhar and hitting army bases deep inside Pakistan, India achieved five things.

One, it had taken out a terrorist who had killed a high-profile Western journalist of a global media house: Daniel Pearl. The parallels were unambiguous: Osama bin Laden was once a guest in Pakistan till the US took him out. Similarly, Azhar was a guest in Pakistan till India eliminated him. Two, more importantly, Pakistan as the guarantor failed to protect its protege, the underwriter crashed its credibility and the confidence of Rawalpindi, that once stood on the construct of a nuclear bulwark, appeared shaken.

The arrogance, an unwilling accomplice, sought to test the Indian appetite for escalation. Three, India showed the ability to strike American assets, nuclear gateways and Chinese HQ9s that presented a worrying proposition for Pakistans sponsors. India struck ammunition dumps and bases in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, and Sialkot that upset American calculations.

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Fourthly, in a controlled manner, India became a rare nuclear state to wage a successful war short of the nuclear threshold. Fifthly, India showed that while Americans deployed yesterdays weapon systems  expensive and large  in todays wars, India was using todays weapons for battlefields of tomorrow. SCALP, Harop, Schilka, loitering kamikaze drones ran Pakistani defences ragged and disembowelled any pretences. India showed how much its weapons technology had progressed. The Akash missile system, a DRDO product, neutralized aerial threats up to 25-30 km and created a dome that intercepted Pakistani missiles. Then, there was the D4 Anti-Drone detection system, Dhanush Howitzer, a modern version of Bofors, and the ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System).

These five outcomes were too much to swallow for stakeholders in the west that believed in setting the rules and controlling their outcomes.

Reactions to Indian Response

We all know what happened next. Initially, the Pakistani social media assault blinded the western media into publishing incorrect versions indicating a favourable performance of the air defences. A few mischievous media platforms even published salivating inaccurate stories, their writing led by insincere journalism and a compromised conscience. With that, it was quickly assumed that India had lost the information war. Then, the fog lifted and satellite pictures of damages to the Pakistani military bases, AWACs, hangars, air bases emerged.

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Global analysts such as Tom Cooper, John Spencer and Bruce Reidel called out the destruction of Pakistani assets as evidence of how deep India could strike into Pakistan, and the whole picture changed. Tom Cooper said that Indias retaliation to Pakistani aggression following Operation Sindoor was a clear-cut victory. Jennifer Zeng, member of the international press association, wrote how India carried out a series of precise strikes that destroyed Pakistans air defence systems and military bases. John Spencer said Operation Sindoor exceeded its strategic aims and showcased Indias military dominance. Japanese strategic expert Satoru Nagao from the Hudson Institute described Indias response as a responsible and proper one against Pakistans state-sponsored terrorism.

On the other hand, a well-known New York publication tried to downplay the Pakistani damage, but to no avail. Satellite pictures from neutral agencies lifted the veneer of hypocrisy hiding a biased western media, long cultivated by a cohort of manipulative deep state agencies, the American arms industry and others. These news agencies were cleverly staffed by Pakistani reporters and cunningly positioned as the brand of truth. Pakistan has spoken about the downing of Indias Rafales but could never produce proof whereas India produced satellite images of dismantled sites, extracted from Maxar Technologies. Though Indias Chief of Defence Staff, in a recent interview, did allude to India losing aircraft but that statement doesnt deviate from the final outcome, reflected in the images of neutralised Pakistani targets. In fact, the Pakistani Prime Minister admitted to Indian strikes hitting inside Pakistan. Reality has edged closer to the truth, and so has the narrative.

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Discovering a Field Marshal

Realising that the ground was slipping away from beneath their feet, Pakistan decided to play the domestic card (remember that the Pakistani army is likely to have initiated the entire mess to keep itself in power and deny Imran Khan domestic leverage). A victory was declared to prevent national embarrassment due to the revealed pictures of wrecked assets and army bases. The Pakistani air force had also wrested the centre of gravity (reassigning PAF Air Vice Marshal and spokesperson Aurangzeb Ahmeds frivolous expression) from the all-powerful Pakistani army in this conflict.

Air Chief Marshal Babar Siddhu and the PAF spokesman garnered limelight, which sidelined General Asim Munir. A knee jerk response followed: Munir was catapulted into a manufactured phenomenon bigger than either Zia or Musharraf, despite the more illustrious records of the two generals. Munir was promoted to the rank of a Field Marshal, spawning memes aplenty. The eternally complexed Pakistani army now had a new arch rival  the Pakistani air force. By their own admission, the Pakistanis believed the air force did well, while the army had a minor role.

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The Long Game: Mind and Matter

In the aftermath of the conflict, Indian defence stocks surged up to 39 per cent. Indias indigenous systems such as drones, electronic warfare systems showed that private manufacturers can play a big role in national security, and indigenously-developed platforms showcased their central utility in an operation, significantly boosting investor sentiment.

The BrahMos supersonic missile witnessed an increase in orders from Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have shown an interest in BrahMos. Chengdu Aircraft also gained 36 per cent as Chinese military platforms received increased orders from Pakistan. On the other hand, Lockheed Martins stock (LM) has been experiencing a downturn, partly due to concerns about the future of Americas F-35 programme. These are material indicators of the performances of weapons. That also has explained President Donald Trumps exaggerated and somewhat comical haste to appropriate Americas role in defusing the conflict. Aside from Pakistan, the other loser was America as its weapon systems did not perform to expectations.

India, on the other hand, has traditionally had issues of disagreement as a democracy. This time, a team of politicians cutting across parties jointly presented Indias case to the world. In Op Sindoor, a jointness among Indias military forces showed the way in the war. After the war, a well thought out political jointness in its outreach to the world has shown the way forward.

Messrs Jay Panda, Ravishankar Prasad, Shashi Tharoor, Shrikant Shinde from Indias global outreach team have footslogged their way across countries to articulate Indias case. The impact is telling: despite India taking the initiative to strike military targets inside Pakistan, none of the nation states, barring the usual supporters of the Pakistani government, have criticised Indias action. Colombia, which sided with Pakistan on its comments on the conflict, reversed its decision soon.

The era of running a short war and finishing with a scratch or two is over. According to Tom Cooper, Pakistans nuclear warheads were rendered undeployable after India struck the nuclear storage facility at Kirana Hills. Using compellence as a strategy, the information war is underway, the red line of Indias patience altered and the costs of waging future conflict imposed on Pakistan. It is a war intended to render undeployable Pakistans capacity to continue a long war  economically and militarily.

The writer is the author of Watershed 1967: Indias Forgotten Victory over China and Camouflaged: Forgotten Stories From Battlefields. His fortnightly column for Firstpost  Beyond the Lines  covers military history, strategic issues, international affairs and policy-business challenges. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Tweets @iProbal.
Until recently, China always rejected the idea that lower riparian countries have any rights on a river. Now to defend Pakistan, China is saying the opposite read more

About a possible diversion of the Indus, Delhi should closely monitor the issue. Representational image. File image/PTI

After Pakistan-backed terrorists cowardly attacked innocent civilians, asking them their religion before killing them on April 22 in Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir), India decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and stop the flow of water to Pakistan. Since then, Pakistan has been nervous.

Later, Delhi announced its plans to build ten new hydropower projects in Ladakh; Islamabad immediately objected, as, for Pakistan, it raises serious concerns about violations of the Indus Waters Treaty and potential reduction of water flow into Pakistan.

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The Indus

Spanning approximately 3,180 kilometres, the Indus originates from the Senge Khabab (the Mouth of the Lion) glacier at an altitude of 5,500 metres, near Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. The river flows through Western Tibet into Ladakh (crossing the border near Demchok in India). Later it meets tributaries like the Zanskar and Shyok before entering Pakistan and reaching the Arabian Sea. For India, while it is important for agriculture and hydroelectric power production, the Indus also symbolises the cradle of the ancient Indus-Saraswati civilisation.

The fact is that Islamabad calls Ladakh a disputed territory under UN resolution.

Pakistani water expert Irshad H Abbasi in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres twisted further the issue: The real aim behind these projects may be to provide heat and energy to Indian troops stationed in the glacial region of Siachen, while the deprived and marginalised local population in Ladakh continues to suffer in freezing conditions, he said.

This shows the depth of Pakistans dishonesty.

The Sutlej

But there is more. Take the Sutlej, stretching along some 1,450 kilometre it has its source from the Longchen Khabab (the Mouth of the Elephant) glacier, near Rakshas Tal Lake, at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres.

On the Tibetan plateau, the Sutlej merges with streams like the Spiti River before flowing through Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Later it continues into Punjab, where it is a vital part of the Bhakra Dam hydroelectric and irrigation project. Finally, the Sutlej joins the Indus River in Pakistan.

Now, according to a report published in Business Today, geospatial researcher and former NASA station manager V Nityananda who conducted research using satellite data on the flow of the Sutlej River, data indicates a significant decline in the Sutlej Rivers water volume within India. The volume of water flowing into India from the Sutlej River has dropped by over 75 per cent.  The amount of water coming to India through the Sutlej has dipped from 8,000 gigalitres to just 2,000 gigalitres.

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Nityananda believes that China is discreetly obstructing the flow of the Sutlej River into Indian territory.

The two major reasons behind this conclusion are, first, the decline could indicate that China has altered the rivers course, and second, the decrease could be due to natural causes, such as climatic change. So far, there is no satellite proof of the first possibility; regarding the second with glaciers in the Himalayas rapidly melting, the rivers flow should increase, not decrease.

However, the fact that China controls Tibet, from where major rivers such as the Indus and/or Sutlej originate, renders more complex the in-abeyance status of the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan, of course, will bear long-term consequences, but concerns have started growing in India about the possibility of China deciding to obstruct the flow of the rivers originating in Tibet, though only a small percentage of the water in the Indus (10-15 per cent) and Sutlej (20 per cent) have their origin on the Tibetan plateau.

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Of course, technically, Beijing can stop the water flow of these rivers originating in Tibet. China has built small hydroelectric plants, particularly on the Senge Tsangpo (near Tashigang), in Gar (Shiquanhe) town, or a barrage on the Tsamda Gorge on the Sutlej. Through these structures, China could potentially control the water flow, reduce it, stop it or alter the course of the rivers.

There have been instances where China has used water as a geopolitical tool. In 2004, China would have created an artificial lake on the Pareechu River, a tributary of the Sutlej, raising fears in India of a potential water bomb. Later, China accepted to share data on the flow of the river, reducing the tensions  for some time.

India and China currently have hydrological data-sharing agreements for the Sutlej and Brahmaputra rivers, signed between 2002 and 2018. These agreements cover data exchange during the flood season (JuneOctober) and have moreover expired in 2022. However, there is no formal water-sharing treaty between the two nations, giving China the possibility to change the status quo of the rivers flow.

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During the 23rd Meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China on December 18, 2024, in Beijing, the SRs provided positive directions for cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, data sharing on trans-border rivers and border trade.

But no data has yet been shared since 2022.

The Indus Diversion

In 2015 the BBC reported: China inaugurated one of the biggest engineering projects of all time: the South-North Water Diversion, a 48 billion, 2,400 km network of canals and tunnels, designed to divert 44.8 billion cubic metres of water annually from Chinas humid south to its parched, industrialised north.

Around that same time, some researchers in China thought of something else, a smaller pilot project: to divert the Indus River towards Xinjiang.

The details were posted on a Chinese blog, ScienceNet.cn (Chinese: ). According to Wikipedia: ScienceNet.cn is a science virtual community and science blog. It is launched by Science Times Media Group (STMG) and supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. In 2015, it had a total of 5,553 users (scientists and graduate students).

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A blogger quoted Chinese researchers who argued that other planned diversions required extremely complicated construction plans, large investments, long building periods and faced a lot of engineering problems due to the complexity of the issues involved. It makes these projects difficult to undertake, while a small-scale, low-investment and quickly realisable scheme could be an ideal pilot project.

They proposed an easy one: it would involve the diversion by gravity of the waters from the Indus River in Western Tibet towards the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang; they called it the South Western section of the Western Route Project.

The text described the preliminary survey of the south-western part of the Western Route Project and the size of the diversion scheme; it is followed by a brief depiction of Chinas northwest after the transfer of the Indus water.

The main conclusion was that the diversion would help maintain long-term political stability in Xinjiang. The paper suggested deepening the research before an early implementation of the South Western section.

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One of the benefits would be that a new oasis could in turn curb global warming [sic]. If the global warming argument is indeed correct, say the scientists, the South Western section could increase the rainfall in China; this countermeasure could help curb global warming for the entire humanity. China could then get a substantial increase in the local precipitation; the desert in northwest [Xinjiang] would disappear; the desert would become an oasis which would be able to grow food and have power plants; humans would be able to reduce the need for fossil fuels; after additional diversion, the oasis would absorb large amounts of greenhouse gases each year; thus, it would achieve the goal of curbing global warming.

What an argument! But that is not all: Chinas population distribution is unbalanced; the development gap between China and western regions and other regions is too large; it has been extremely detrimental to the countrys development.

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And now the cherry on the cake: The diversion could strengthen Chinas actual control of Aksai Chin and help to resolve the territorial dispute. The Sino-Indian border has not been formally delimited in the Aksai Chin and Pangong Lake areas; there are some territorial disputes [with India]. The water diversion project, through Aksai Chin, could help the actual control of this region; the implementation of the project could also help to resolve the territorial dispute [with India].

The Chinese social media are already abuzz with threats from China that it could use its upstream location (vis-a-vis India) to help Pakistan, its all-weather friend.

It is an interesting development because, until recently, China always rejected the idea that lower riparian countries have any rights on a river. Now in order to defend Pakistan, China is saying the opposite: India cant change the status of the Indus Water Treaty without facing consequences.

About a possible diversion of the Indus, Delhi should closely monitor the issue.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
In a region already plagued by decades of militarisation, enforced disappearances, and economic marginalisation, the insertion of an extremist element like Islamic State Khorasan Province could lead to widespread civilian casualties and further radicalisation read more

Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people through political dialogue, the state appears to be repeating the failed tactics of proxy warfare. The image shows Baloch people protesting against the enforced disappearance of their family members: X/@MahrangBaloch_

In a striking development, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) recently released a 36-minute propaganda video declaring war on Baloch armed groups, particularly the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). The group accused these Baloch organisations of killing its members and dismantling an ISKP terror camp in Mastung, Balochistan, during March 2025. More alarmingly, ISKP threatened to target unarmed Baloch civilians, marking a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.

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This declaration of hostility by ISKP has not received a response from Baloch armed groups yet, but it has raised serious concerns about the involvement of state-aligned forces in deploying religious extremism as a counter-insurgency tool against Baloch nationalist movements.

Understanding ISKP: Origins and Evolution

ISKP emerged in late 2014 in eastern Afghanistan as a regional offshoot of ISIS at a time when the latter was at its peak in Syria and Iraq. Composed of former members of the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban as well as recruits from Central and South Asia, ISKP quickly gained notoriety for its indiscriminate violence and anti-civilian operations. After a brief period of decline, the group resurfaced with new force after the Talibans takeover of Kabul in August 2021.

One of ISKPs deadliest attacks occurred on August 26, 2021, during the US withdrawal from Kabul, killing 13 US servicemen and over 100 civilians at the airport. Since then, it has targeted Taliban officials, foreign diplomats, and religious minorities, using social media for recruitment and propaganda. Its ideological stance rejects the Talibans vision of Sharia governance, accusing it of betraying Islamic law.

Balochistan as a Strategic Ground: The Proxy Element

The presence of ISKP in Balochistan has been reported multiple times over the years. Some sources allege that senior ISKP operatives have held meetings with remnants of ISIS leadership from Syria and Iraq in this region, indicating efforts to establish a strategic hub in Balochistan to expand its terror activities into South Asia.

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Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government, recently stated that ISKP militants were trained in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces under the supervision of Pakistani intelligence agencies and were used for cross-border attacks. Although both Islamabad and Kabul have traded accusations of supporting terrorism, neither side has presented concrete evidence. However, recurring ISKP activity in Balochistan lends weight to suspicions of covert facilitation.

The timing of ISKPs video, closely following a press conference by Pakistans military spokesperson (DG ISPR), who explicitly declared war against Baloch armed groups and BYC leadership, suggests a coordinated psychological and ideological campaign.

State Strategy: Religious Extremism Against Nationalist Movements

The use of extremist proxies is not unprecedented in Pakistans counterinsurgency doctrine. In the past, groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Musallah Defa Tanzeem, and Jaish al-Adl were reportedly used to suppress Baloch nationalist sentiment. These outfits often targeted intellectuals, professors, students, and common citizens under the guise of religious orthodoxy, particularly in regions such as Awaran during the Zikri-Muslim tension.

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Such tactics aimed to divide Baloch society along sectarian lines and delegitimise the secular-nationalist leadership. However, these efforts largely failed and instead generated further alienation, resistance, and political awareness among Baloch youth.

BYC Under Siege: Targeting Nonviolent Resistance

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a peaceful political organisation advocating for the rights of Baloch people, has become the face of civilian resistance. Led by figures like Mahrang Baloch, BYC has mobilised mass protests demanding the return of forcibly disappeared persons, accountability for state violence, and an end to resource exploitation in Balochistan.

Despite its peaceful nature, BYC is now facing a harsh crackdown. Since late March, key leaders have been arrested under draconian laws such as the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO), while the military has accused BYC of being an Indian proxywithout presenting any credible evidence.

Connecting the dots between the DG ISPRs statements, the ISKP video, and threats to target BYC rallies, many analysts argue this reflects the old religious card being played through a new proxy. The fear is that BYCs unarmed members, especially women and students participating in rallies, may become easy targets for both state-backed repression and extremist attacks.

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Resilience of Baloch Armed Groups and Civil Society

The Baloch armed resistance today is at its most advanced phase in decades. Compared to previous insurgencies, groups like the BLA and BLF have developed a more structured command, modern weaponry, and guerrilla capabilities suited to Balochistans rugged terrain. Reports suggest that Baloch fighters dismantled an ISKP camp in Mastung, allegedly killing up to 30 militantsthough no group has formally claimed responsibility. This not only shows their operational strength but also sends a message: Balochistan will not be allowed to become a haven for religious terrorism.

Historically, Baloch nationalist groups have rejected religious extremism, advocating for a secular and democratic political future. They have consistently accused the Pakistani state of creating and manipulating extremist outfits to undermine their cause.

A Dangerous Escalation with Regional Implications

The ISKP video declaring war on Baloch insurgents, coupled with threats to civilian movements like BYC, marks a troubling turn. It reflects a broader strategy to criminalise both armed and peaceful resistance by invoking religious extremism as a counterforce.

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In a region already plagued by decades of militarisation, enforced disappearances, and economic marginalisation, the insertion of an extremist element like ISKP could lead to widespread civilian casualties and further radicalisation.

Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people through political dialogue, the state appears to be repeating the failed tactics of proxy warfare. This not only threatens Baloch society but could destabilise the region further, drawing in regional powers and worsening cross-border tensions.

If history is any guide, such strategies are unlikely to succeed in crushing the Baloch movementbut they may succeed in deepening the tragedy of Balochistan.

Amir Naeem (X: @AmirNaeem800124) is a student of International Relations, International University Islamabad, hailing from Balochistan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Washington must finally walk away from the fantasy that Pakistan can be charmed, coaxed, or reasoned with. It is not an ally. It is a state that uses terrorism as a tool of foreign policy read more

Pakistan, the so-called front-line ally in the US-led Global War on Terror, never laid down its fangs. It played both sides. Representational image: REUTERS

For two decades, Washington has acted as the dutiful snake charmerflute in hand, eyes fixed on a writhing cobra, pretending that if the music continues, the serpent will stay docile. But the charade has gone on too long.

Pakistan, the so-called front-line ally in the US-led Global War on Terror, never laid down its fangs. It played both sides. It gave shelter to Osama bin Laden. It protected the Taliban. It nourished Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)a group originally built with the support of Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzamunder the pretext of strategic necessity. And all the while, it looked Washington in the eye and called itself a partner in peace.

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This was not a strategic misstepit was a betrayal with global consequences.

Nowhere is this duplicity more evident than in Pakistans handling of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks was not just a regional irritant. It was, and remains, a transnational jihadist organisation forged in the crucible of the Afghan war, funded and armed with the blessing of al-Qaedas founding fathers.

Today, LeT operates in plain sight, under new banners like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat, with its top leadership given state protection and its charity wings treated as legitimate civil society actors. When India dropped bombs on Muridke, the headquarters of Lashkar, Pakistani police and military figures attended the funerals.

What has the US done in response? Token sanctions. Tactical warnings. And continued aid.

The contrast with how the US treated the United Kingdom during the HSBC scandal is tellingand damning. After it was discovered that HSBC had allowed money laundering tied to terrorist groups and drug cartels, Washington didnt hesitate. It sent FBI agents across the Atlantic. It dictated terms. It made the UKs Serious Fraud Office (SFO) toe the line. Lisa Osofsky, a former FBI counsel, was catapulted to the top of the SFO after impressing British officials during that very compliance campaign. America treated its closest ally with no ambiguity. It demanded resultsand it got them.

Why wasnt Pakistan treated the same way?

The HSBC scandal was not some isolated banking mishap. It was intrinsically linked to what the Americans found in the aftermath of the Abbottabad raid. Osama bin Laden was not living in isolation. He was in contact with operatives tied to British-registered charities operating in Pakistan. This wasnt conjectureit was evidence-based. The financial trails exposed during the HSBC investigation led straight back to the same ecosystem that allowed bin Laden to flourish in Pakistan for years. Yet somehow, the same rigour, the same accountability, and the same coercive diplomacy never made their way to Islamabad.

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At the centre of exposing this global scandal stood Senator Carl Levina rare voice of moral clarity in a landscape increasingly defined by compromise and cognitive dissonance. As chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Levin oversaw a 2012 report that accused HSBC of facilitating money laundering for drug cartels, sanctioned regimes, and terrorist organisations. One of his most damning findings was that HSBCs affiliates in Pakistan and the Gulf were funnelling money linked to organisations with ties to al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

HSBC wasnt just sloppy. It had actively circumvented anti-money laundering rules. It stripped identifying data from transactions. It ignored internal compliance warnings. It operated correspondent banking relationships with entities flagged by intelligence agencies. And when caught, it escaped criminal prosecution with a $1.9 billion deferred prosecution agreementa punishment Levin rightly condemned as toothless.

Levin understood what the US intelligence community, the State Department, and Wall Street preferred to ignore: the War on Terror was being lost not just in Kabul or Benghazi but in boardrooms and compliance departments. He warned that allowing banks to operate above the law sent a terrible messageand he was right. Despite the gravity of his findings, no HSBC executive went to prison. The institution was declared too big to fail.

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This indulgence has continuedboth financially and diplomatically.

Pakistans military was allowed to stage a theatre of indignation over the Abbottabad raid. No senior figure in the ISI was arrested. No structural reform followed. Hafiz Saeed made more public appearances than Pakistan made actual arrests. And the so-called civilian leadership continued to play the role of hapless spectatorswhen in reality, they were co-authors of the script.

Even more troubling is how this pattern has now crept into Washingtons Indo-Pacific calculations. Many Indians had hoped that their growing partnership with the United Statesespecially under the Quad frameworkwould translate into a more principled stance on terrorism and national security. Yet Donald Trumps behaviour during Operation Sindoor has left a bitter taste.

At a moment of national trauma, when Indian forces were routing terror infrastructure across the Line of Control, Trump chose to turn the crisis into a bargaining chip. He offered mediation. He floated backroom deals. He played the crisis for leverage with both sides. The result? Indian policymakers and citizens alike feel short-changed. The promise of shared values has been replaced by transactional manoeuvring. Washington cannot credibly claim to support India against terrorism while giving oxygen to the very state that engineers cross-border attacks.

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The fear that pushing Pakistan too hard will destabilise a nuclear power or drive it into Chinas arms is no longer valid. Pakistan is already in Chinas grippolitically, economically, and militarily. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not a development projectits a dependency pact. Beijing holds the leash. Washington should stop pretending it holds influence in Islamabad when the decisions are being made in Rawalpindi and approved by Beijing.

Washington must finally walk away from the fantasy that Pakistan can be charmed, coaxed, or reasoned with. It is not an ally. It is a state that uses terrorism as a tool of foreign policy. A state that shields the architects of global jihad. A state that has lied, manipulated, and deflected while its own people suffer under the boot of military rule and its neighbours burn from the flames of its proxy wars.

It is time for the US to abandon the role of the snake charmer.

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Let the serpent face the consequences of its own venom.

The author is a strategist in international relations and economic development. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Diplomats and executives from India, Japan and the EU have sought meetings with their Chinese counterparts to reach a solution after China imposed restrictions on the export of rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a toast at the beginning of the welcoming banquet at the Great Hall of the People during the first day of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China on May 14, 2017. (Source: Reuters)

Global capitals and automakers are fretting over restrictions placed by China on exports of critical minerals, leading to plant shutdowns and production delays.

On Tuesday (June 3), global automakers sounded the alarm over Beijings restrictions on rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets, leaving them to fend for themselves and scrambling for alternative sources, with no immediate relief in sight.

China announced these restrictions in April amid an escalating trade conflict with the US, disrupting critical supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors.

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Concerns raised by automakers

In India, Bajaj Auto recently warned that any further delay in securing rare earth magnet supply from China would cause production delays. It added that it was organising a trip for its executives to China to escalate the matter further.

On Wednesday, German carmaker BMW said that part of its supplier network was affected by the shortage in rare earths. Europes auto supplier association CLEPA also said several production lines have been shut down due to rare earths shortages.

In May, a group representing General Motors, Hyundai, Toyota and Volkswagen, among others, wrote a letter to the Donald Trump administration of the US expressing similar concerns.

Without reliable access to these elements and magnets, automotive suppliers will be unable to produce critical automotive components, including automatic transmissions, throttle bodies, alternators, various motors, sensors, seat belts, speakers, lights, motors, power steering, and cameras, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation wrote in the letter.

Hildegard Mueller, head of Germanys auto lobby, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the problem needs to be solved urgently.

If the situation is not changed quickly, production delays and even production outages can no longer be ruled out, he warned.

Nations seeking urgent diplomatic talks

Chinas rare earth move has left nations in shock, with many seeing no other option than to reach out to Beijing directly and secure concessions.

According to Reuters, diplomats and executives from India, Japan, and the EU have sought meetings with their Chinese counterparts to reach a solution.

No one should be surprised

Meanwhile, experts are saying no one should be surprised by Beijings assertive approach with rare earth supplies.

Frank Fannon, a minerals industry consultant and former US assistant secretary of state for energy resources during Trumps first term, said, I dont think anyone should be surprised how this is playing out. We have a production challenge (in the US) and we need to leverage our whole of government approach to secure resources and ramp up domestic capability as soon as possible. The time horizon to do this was yesterday.

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Chinas dominance

The crisis highlights Chinas undisputed dominance in the rare earth sector, which produces 90 per cent of the global output.

Chinas slow pace in easing its export controls on critical minerals has drawn criticism from Trump. He claims China has breached the agreement made last month to reduce tariffs and trade restrictions.

Trump has aimed to reshape the trade relationship with China by imposing high tariffs on billions of dollars worth of imports, hoping to reduce the trade deficit and revive manufacturing jobs.

However, after imposing tariffs as high as 145 per cent, he had to reduce them due to market reactions.

In response, China has introduced its own tariffs and is using its control over key supply chains to pressure Trump. This week, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss these issues, with the export controls likely being a major topic.
The three men had reportedly arrived in Iran and were on their way to Australia after they were promised new jobs by a travel agency. The trio were kidnapped on May 1 and was rescued from the southern Tehran town of Varamin read more

Iranian flag flutters in the wind. Image used for representative purpose/AFP

Three Indian nationals who went missing in Iran last month have been rescued, the Iranian embassy in India said on Tuesday, quoting media reports in Tehran.

Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was in touch with the Iranian authorities over the missing Indians.

Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police, the Iranian embassy said in a post on X.

Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran, it said.

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Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police

Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran.https://t.co/YAkirkKRHg  Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) June 3, 2025

The three men had reportedly arrived in Iran and were on their way to Australia after they were promised new jobs by a travel agency. The trio were kidnapped on May 1 and was rescued from the southern Tehran town of Varamin.

According to media reports, the missing men who have now been located have been identified as Hushanpreet Singh from Sangrur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar, and Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, all from Punjab.

An India Today report, citing the family of one of the men, stated that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom for their release. Hushanpreets mother, a resident of Sangrur, alleged that travel agents took money from the family with the promise of sending him to Australia, but instead routed him illegally to Iran via the Dunki route.

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With inputs from PTI
The ADB package comes just days after Islamabad secured a $1 billion package from the IMF despite New Delhis objections read more

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday (June 4) approved a $800 million bailout package for Pakistan despite Indias vehement objections. New Delhi was opposed to any financial assistance to Pakistan over its role in terror financing in the region.

The ADB package comes just days after Islamabad secured a $1 billion package from the IMF . India had criticised the IMFs decision, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying the money would be used to finance terrorism.

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The new ADB package is aimed at improving public financial management, at least on paper. Out of the $800 million package, $300 million is a policy-based loan, while the rest is programme-based guarantee.

India registered its strong objection

According to sources, the Indian government had strongly objected to ADBs financial aid to Pakistan, citing concerns of misuse.

India highlighted how Pakistan was rapidly ramping up its defence budget despite economic fragility and tax revenue dropping from 13 per cent of GDP in 2018 to just 9.2 per cent in 2023.

New Delhi fears that Pakistan could channel money meant for growth to boost defence spending.

India argues that this misuse of funds is the reason why Pakistan has failed to overcome economic challenges even after securing multiple loans from the ADB and the IMF.

India unhappy over Pak militarys role in economy

India also pointed out Pakistans poor governance and the large role its military plays in the economy. It noted that the militarys influence is strong, particularly through the Special Investment Facilitation Council.

This council was established in June 2023 to encourage and support investment, especially foreign direct investment.

India also expressed serious concerns about Pakistans support for cross-border terrorism and its failure to comply with important mandates of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), such as freezing the assets of UN-designated terrorist groups.

India emphasised that these issues not only threaten regional peace but also increase the risk for the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

India is likely to push the FATF to put Pakistan back on its grey list, which would increase scrutiny on its financial transactions.
Rahman, former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas father, who is known as Bangabandhu, will no longer be identified as a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, despite his efforts in the creation and founding of the country read more

In October 1961, Mujibur Rahman and his family shifted to the house at Dhanmondi 32. It served as his house until the day he died -- in 1975. File image/AFP

The interim government in Bangladesh has revoked the Bir Muktijoddha (freedom fighter) status of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus moves to strip the country of Awami Leagues legacy.

Rahman, former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas father, who is known as Bangabandhu, will no longer be identified as a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, despite his efforts in the creation and founding of the country.

Several other key leaders who played a role in the Bangladesh Liberation War have lost their Bir Muktijoddha status. These include Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M. Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamaruzzaman.

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Who is a Bir Muktijoddha?

A Bir Muktijoddha is recognised as an individual who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, either underwent training within villages across Bangladesh or crossed into India to join training camps, to fight in the Liberation War. These individuals actively participated in the struggle against the occupying Pakistani forces to secure Bangladeshs independence.

Recognised freedom fighters must be civilians who met the minimum age requirement set by the government at the time of the war. In addition, members of the armed forces who participated in the conflict are also to be acknowledged as freedom fighters.

400 others lose status

Meanwhile, the Yunus-led government has also revoked the freedom fighter status of 400 elected politicians from the 1970 general elections.

According to the ordinance, published by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law under the authority of the President, these leaders will now be classified as associates of the Liberation War rather than as freedom fighters.

Rahmans picture removed from notes

Last weekend, Bangladesh introduced new banknotes without the picture of Rahman. The new design of the currency notes will portray natural landscapes and traditional landmarks.

Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arif Hossain Khana, told AFP, Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks.
A mass shooting in Torontos Lawrence Heights area has left one person dead and several others injured. Toronto Police say at least five people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. read more

One person was killed and several others were injured in a mass shooting in Torontos Lawrence Heights area, local media reported.

Toronto Police said at least five people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Disturbed by news of the shootings in the Lawrence Heights area this evening. My office is in contact with Toronto Police, who are on scene now and investigating, and the local councillor Deputy Mayor Mike Colle, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said in a social media post.

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I want to thank the first responders - Toronto Police, Fire and Paramedic services for your work on a very busy and challenging scene. Toronto Police are working to provide an update soon, she added.

This is a developing story.
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the US for allegedly smuggling a dangerous crop-damaging fungus into the country, FBI Director Kash Patel said. The pathogen, which affects key grains like wheat and rice, poses a serious threat to food security. read more

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the US for allegedly smuggling a highly dangerous agricultural pathogen into the country.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, both Chinese citizens, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud, according to the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

New I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X.

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New... I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.



The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called "Fusarium graminearum," which is an  FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025

Patel said, The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which is an agroterrorism agent, into the US to research at the University of Michigan, where she works. This fungus can cause a disease called head blight, a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing significant health issues in both humans and livestock. It is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.

Federal prosecutors said Jian and Liu illegally brought in Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that causes head blight, a harmful disease that damages crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and rice.

This case involves a fungus that poses a serious risk to global food security and public health, said Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The alleged smuggling of this biological agent into an American research institution by foreign nationals is a matter of grave national security concern.

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At least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food at an aid centre in Gaza, officials said Tuesday. Israel has since warned residents to avoid roads near such sites, calling them combat zones, as it admitted its troops had opened fire during the incident. read more

Nearly 30 killed as Palestinians heading for aid in Gaza come under fire for third straight day. Image: AFP

Israels military has warned Gaza residents to avoid roads leading to aid distribution centres, calling them combat zones, after at least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food at US-backed relief points.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said its aid centres would remain closed on Wednesday for updates and improvements, and that it was in talks with the Israeli military to strengthen security around the sites. Operations are expected to resume on Thursday.

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Gazas health ministry said 27 people were killed early Tuesday while waiting for food at a GHF distribution centre. It was the third similar incident in three days.

For the first time, Israel admitted that its forces had opened fire on Palestinians approaching them. The Israeli military said troops fired near the food centre after spotting a number of suspects moving towards them.

The forces fired evasive shots, and after they did not move away, additional shots were fired near the individual suspects who were advancing towards the forces.

The individuals were moving towards forces in a way that posed a threat to them, the military said.

The Israeli military said its troops fired near a few individual suspects who strayed from the designated path and came close to its forces, ignoring warning shots. This happened about half a kilometre from the GHF aid centre. The IDF said the individuals appeared to pose a threat.

Later, IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin denied claims that Israeli forces shot at civilians at the aid site, calling the accusations completely unfounded and false. He said the incident was being investigated.

Meanwhile, Gazas Hamas-run media office accused Israel of turning aid centres into death traps, claiming 102 people were killed and 490 injured in just eight days since the centres opened on 27 May.

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It said the centres were attracting desperate civilians due to famine and called for aid to be distributed by UN and neutral international agencies instead of the GHF.
A survey published Wednesday found that 73 per cent of Germans favor tighter controls on arms exports to Israel, with nearly a third supporting a complete ban. But Berlin says it will continue sending arms to Israel read more

Germany will continue sending arms to Israel despite recent concerns over Israeli military actions in Gaza, the countrys foreign minister said Wednesday (June 4), reversing earlier signals that the government might reconsider exports.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told a contentious session in parliament that Israel faces threats from Yemens Houthi rebels, Lebanons Hezbollah militia and Iran, adding: Germany will continue to support Israel, including with weapons deliveries.

The comments followed Wadephuls own remarks last week, when he suggested Germany was assessing whether Israels military actions in Gaza comply with international law, a statement that drew criticism from lawmakers within his own CDU/CSU conservative bloc.

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Wednesdays parliamentary session was temporarily halted when a protester shouted slogans including Free Palestine and No to genocide from the spectator gallery. Security officers quickly escorted the protester out.

More from World Pressure mounts on Netanyahu as key coalition party threatens to back opposition motion to dissolve parliament

Wadephul is set to meet Thursday in Berlin with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar.

Public opinion favours stricter arms controls

The decision to maintain arms shipments comes despite significant public opposition in Germany. A survey published Wednesday found that 73 per cent of Germans favor tighter controls on arms exports to Israel, with nearly a third supporting a complete ban.

Since Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Germany has approved military equipment exports worth 485 million euros ($553.7 million), becoming Israels second-largest arms supplier after the United States.

Exports included firearms, ammunition, military components, special armored vehicles, electronic equipment, and specialized gear for Israels army and navy, according to figures from the German government published Tuesday.

Chancellor Merzs criticism marks policy shift

The arms-export debate intensified last week when Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticized Israels escalating airstrikes on Gaza, calling them neither justified nor comprehensible.

Merzs statement and Wadephuls earlier warnings prompted speculation of a potential shift in German arms-export policy, particularly toward possible sanctions against Israel. However, Wednesdays announcement appeared aimed at dispelling uncertainty over Germanys continuing military support.

Growing German discomfort over Gaza

According to a poll by German public broadcaster ARD, about three-quarters of Germans support Merzs critical stance on Israeli military actions in Gaza. The poll, conducted June 2-3 among 1,292 respondents, also showed that 55 per cent reject the view that Germany holds a special historical responsibility toward protecting Israel due to the legacy of the Holocaust.

Just 13 per cent said Germany should unconditionally stand with Israel in Middle East conflicts, while 74 per cent opposed such unconditional support. Additionally, 63 per cent said they believe Israels military response in Gaza has gone too far, up six percentage points since a similar survey in August.

No legal challenges against Germanys arms exports to Israel have succeeded, including a recent case brought by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice.

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While recent regional crises have kept India-Gulf ties subdued, the depth of the relations, combined with recent momentum behind these partnerships, creates a strong foundation for increased integration over the coming decades read more

Despite escalating regional crises, from the recent India-Pakistan tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Indias strategic ties with the Gulf are growing stronger.

On April 22, the same day a Pakistan-backed militant group attacked tourists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Jeddah meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It marked his third visit to Saudi Arabia as prime minister, underscoring a relationship that has steadily expanded in recent years.

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According to an Atlantic Council report, PM Modis visits in 2016 and 2019 laid the groundwork for the bilateral Strategic Partnership Council, which has since enabled around 50 cooperation agreements in areas such as construction, telecommunications, and technology.

A joint committee is also working toward facilitating $100 billion in Saudi investment into India, added the report.

While current regional tensions have overshadowed discussions about India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ties, the depth of the relations, combined with recent momentum behind these partnerships, creates a strong foundation for increased India-Gulf integration over the coming decades.

Strategic partnerships expand beyond oil

Indias GDP reached $3.56 trillion in 2023, up from $2.68 trillion in 2020, with projected growth of 6.5% in 2024. This rapid economic expansion has driven a sharp rise in energy demand, making India the worlds third-largest oil consumer, after China and the United States.

As India seeks to meet this growing demand while transitioning to cleaner energy sources, its partnerships with Gulf countries have become increasingly strategic.

Reflecting this shift, recent deals include Saudi Arabias commitment of $12 billion to Indias renewable energy and infrastructure sectors, along with new joint ventures in green hydrogen, solar power, and battery storage.

The India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council now functions on two parallel tracks political/security and economic/investment  highlighting a deepening, institutionalised partnership at the highest levels.

India deepens defence ties across the Gulf

Indias defence ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman have grown, with regular joint exercises, defence dialogues, and agreements on intelligence sharing and counterterrorism.

India and Saudi Arabia signed a defence cooperation agreement in 2014, enabling the exchange of military information, joint training, and collaboration in areas like logistics, hydrography, and security.

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Since then, the two countries have conducted regular joint exercises across all military branches, and their Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation has met six times. Most recently, the Indian Army and Royal Saudi Land Forces held their first Army-to-Army Staff Talks on April 2324 to further boost ties.

Indias security partnership with Oman is even older and deeper. A military protocol was signed in 1972, followed by a 2005 defence cooperation MoU. In 2018, Prime Minister Modi secured access for the Indian Navy to use Omans Duqm port for logistics and maintenance.

The UAE is also expanding its defence ties with India. During his official visit to India in May, Defence Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum formalised cooperation between the two countries coast guards and defence industries. A joint statement emphasised the need to scale up defence collaboration to match the rapid growth in trade and business.

Free trade on the horizon

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional bloc of six countries, plans to launch free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India in 2025, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

This initiative aims to reduce trade barriers, increase economic integration, and foster collaboration across digital, industrial, and service sectors.

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India and the GCC share a robust relationship, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, and investment. The GCC has emerged as one of Indias key trading partners, with bilateral trade steadily increasing in recent years.

Ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are part of New Delhis broader push to expand economic ties with regional and global blocs. India has been actively pursuing FTAs with multiple countries and regions to boost trade, attract investment, and support long-term economic growth.

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), unveiled at the G20 Summit in September 2023, is a key symbol of Indias expanding engagement with the Gulf and beyond. Designed to connect India to Europe via the Arabian Peninsula and Israel, IMEC focuses on three main areas: transport, digital infrastructure, and energy.

Seen as a strategic counter to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, IMEC builds on existing infrastructure to boost regional connectivity. For Gulf countries, it aligns with long-term development goals aimed at diversifying their economies beyond oil.

India is a strong supporter of the project, which promises to deepen trade and investment links. However, tensions in the Middle East, especially over potential links between Saudi Arabia and Israel, pose short-term obstacles.

Despite this, key elements of IMEC remain viable, and broader India-Gulf cooperation is expected to grow through focused projects in areas like energy, food security, and technology.

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India remains a key player in the Gulf. As of 2024, nine million non-resident Indians live in GCC countries, making up 25% of Indias global expatriate population.

Remittances, cultural, and family ties remain a vital pillar of the relationship, supporting both economies and fostering mutual trust.

Indias ability to maintain and strengthen its Gulf partnerships amid regional instability, global tensions, and evolving US policies highlights the growing maturity and strategic independence of its foreign policy.

Unlike Chinas largely transactional approach, India is increasingly seen as a long-term partner, with deepening institutional ties in defense, trade, and diaspora engagement that anchor it firmly within the regions social and economic landscape.

With inputs from agencies
Foreign ministers of the Quad nations are expected to meet in Washington in early July amid rising tensions in South Asia. The meet will set the stage for a major Quad summit which will be hosted in India later this year. read more

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washington DC. (Photo: X/S Jaishankar)

Foreign ministers of the Quad nations  a group comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States  are expected to meet in early July in Washington. The meeting comes against the backdrop of rising tensions in South Asia and Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting is likely to set the stage for a larger summit to be held later this year in India, amid a renewed push by the United States to strengthen the Quad as a counter to Chinese influence.

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World leaders of the Quad, including US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, are expected to attend the summit in India.

The upcoming foreign ministers meeting will help shape the summits agenda, which is expected to focus on maritime security and disaster management. Maritime security remains a key priority for India, particularly as China intensifies its activities in the Indo-Pacific.

The United States is already engaged in a trade war with China, with President Trump threatening massive tariffs and adopting a hardline stance against Beijing.

Even after his second inauguration, a Quad meeting of foreign ministers was held on 21 January, which was also attended by Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The Quad was formed in 2007 and revitalised under Trumps first presidency in 2017. The group serves as a strategic partnership committed to promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. While its initiatives span critical and emerging technologies, health security, climate change, infrastructure, and cybersecurity, many analysts see the Quad as a platform to counterbalance China and its growing regional influence.

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The grouping gained further prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic through its vaccine initiative and has since evolved to include regular summits, foreign ministers meetings, and joint naval exercises such as the Malabar drills.

The Quad continues to serve as a platform for these four major democracies to align their strategic interests, uphold the international rules-based order, and provide transparent alternatives to initiatives such as Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was in need of tough decisions for the development and prosperity of the country, while urging provinces to increase the water storage capacity read more

A child stands near Chenab River with the Baglihar hydroelectric project in the background, about 155 km northwest of Jammu. File photo/Reuters

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (June 3) urged provinces to increase the water storage capacity in the country in the wake of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by New Delhi.

India had put the 1960 treaty in abeyance in April following a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. Indian intelligence agencies signalled the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly Hindus.

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PM Sharif has also directed authorities to speed up the construction of the Bhasha Dam.

While speaking at the Corps Headquarters Peshawar, the PM said Pakistan was in the need of tough decisions for the development and prosperity of the country.

We will invite provinces to discuss how to increase the countrys water storage capacity to defeat Indias nefarious designs, he said.

PM Sharif convenes meeting on Diamer-Bhasha Dam

In another meeting about the Bhasha dam, the prime minister urged authorities to resolve issues hindering the Diamer-Bhasha Dams completion, emphasising that affordable electricity and agriculture are key to the countrys self-reliance.

The PM further stressed the importance of completing projects like the Diamer-Bhasha Dam to create a reliable system for energy generation and ample water storage.

Its important to note that the energy and water sectors will experience significant budget cuts, with the government planning to reduce the energy sectors budget from Rs169bn to Rs144bn PKR this year, and the water sectors budget from Rs135bn to Rs109bn this year.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that the dams estimated construction cost was Rs 479 bn PKR until 2018, with Rs 120 bn already spent on land acquisition.

However, the cost has risen significantly due to delays and unnecessary postponements by the previous government.

Indias move to put IWT in abeyance

India paused the Indus Waters Treaty a day after the Pahalgam terror attack. It was one of the many punitive measures New Delhi took against Islamabad for its continued support to terrorists on its soil.

This was a significant move as the Indus Waters Treaty , signed in 1960, has endured tenuous ties between the two countries.

According to the treaty, all the water of the Eastern Rivers of the Indus system  Sutlej, Beas and Ravi  shall be available for the unrestricted use of India. Pakistan shall receive water from the Western Rivers  Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

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The treaty also states that India is allowed limited use of the western rivers for domestic purposes, agriculture, and hydroelectric power generation. However, it can not alter the natural flow of these rivers into Pakistan.

Many experts note that the Indus Waters Treaty is highly generous agreement by India. This is because around 70 per cent of the total water flow from the Indus system  mostly from the three western rivers  is allocated to Pakistan.
Analysts said the slump likely resulted from a broad crackdown on migration in the U.S. since President Donald Trump came to power in January, as authorities revoke some Biden-era protections and increase raids across the country read more

Vehicles wait in line to cross border into the US at San Ysidro Port of Entry, Mexico. AP

Remittances sent to Mexico slumped 12.1% in April compared to a year earlier, according to central bank data published on Monday, marking the steepest drop in over a decade as U.S. lawmakers mull a tax on such payments sent abroad.

The worlds second-largest recipient of remittances, Mexico receives these payments chiefly from migrants working in the neighboring United States. In April, Mexicans abroad sent fewer transactions and smaller payments, totaling $4.76 billion.

Analysts said the slump likely resulted from a broad crackdown on migration in the U.S. since President Donald Trump came to power in January, as authorities revoke some Biden-era protections and increase raids across the country.

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The latest data marks the steepest year-on-year drop since September 2012, according to central bank data.

Banco Base economic analysis director Gabriela Siller said Aprils drop was likely due to a weaker U.S. job market and migrants fear of losing their jobs or being deported.

The April remittance data is terrible, she said in a post on X, attributing the drop to the deterioration of the labor market in the U.S. and U.S. migrants fear of going out to work and sending their remittances, for fear of being deported.

Some 12.3 million Mexicans live abroad and 97% of them live in the United States, according to estimates last year from BBVA Research, which said 2024 marked Mexican remittances 11th straight year of growth.

The central bank said April, however, saw 8.1% fewer transactions than a year earlier - down to 12.4 million - while payment amounts were down 4.4% to average $385.

U.S. senators are evaluating a bill that includes a proposed 3.5% tax on remittances. Analysts at Banorte predicted short-term disruptions if the measure is passed.

If approved, we anticipate an increase in flows before it goes into effect, with the effect after that still very uncertain, Banorte said in a note.

Mexican officials have argued that taxing remittances could violate the countries treaty to avoid double taxation, as migrants income is already subject to local taxes.

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In 2024, Mexicans living abroad sent a record $64.75 billion home in remittances - largely from Texas and California to states in central and western Mexico.

Through the first four months of 2025, the central bank recorded remittances of $19.02 billion, down 2.5% from last year.
The Pakistani government has slashed the budget for the PoK by 16 per cent, from 75 billion Pakistani rupees to 63 billion ($222 million), which would leave the region handicapped read more

The Pakistani federal government has significantly reduced the developmental budget for Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which includes Gilgit-Baltistan; and raised money for Chinese projects in the country in its national development programme worth a record Rs 4.083 trillion ($14.4 billion).

Islamabad cited tight control of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its controversial move.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal admitted the country faced some limitations with the IMF programme and thus the challenge ahead was to leverage the limited resources to achieve maximum returns from each project.

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PoK budget slashed by 16%

The Pakistani government has slashed the budget for the PoK by 16 per cent, from 75 billion Pakistani rupees to 63 billion ($222 million).

Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the region would be handicapped by lower allocations.

Ahsan Iqbal said that the majority [of allocation] is for water, power and highway sector, with most of the projects being operated by the Chinese.

Budget raised for Chinese projects

Islamabad has raised allocation for Diamer-Bhasha Dam as well as the HyderabadSukkur Motorway, both are being developed by the Chinese.

In May 2020, the Pakistani government had signed a 442 billion PKR contract with a joint venture of China Power and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), an engineering arm of the Pakistani Army, for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam.

Meanwhile, The M-6 Motorway or the Karachi port-SukkurHyderabad Motorway is being built as a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Interestingly, Islamabad has allocated Rs1 trillion development budget for the upgradation of the N-25 Highway in Balochistan, which runs from Chaman to Karachi through Quetta.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that Rs120 billion ($426.7 million) be allocated for N25 Chaman-Quetta-Karachi Expressway, Iqbal said at a press conference in Islamabad.

This upgradation too is happening under the ambit of the CPEC. However, the Pakistani government earlier claimed its upgradation was being financed by savings from reduced global oil prices.

The 202526 budget is expected to be presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Pakistans lower house of parliament on June 10, following the Eid Al-Adha holidays.

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Bilawal Bhuttos comments come after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated discussions with India following the military combat between the two countries, which was triggered by the Pahalgam attack of April 22 read more

Pakistans former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto has sought dialogue with India to combat terrorism together. Bhutto is in the US with a Pakistani delegation to hold meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, General Assembly President Philemon Yang, and Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

Pakistan would still like to cooperate with India to combat terrorism we cant leave the fate of 1.5 or 1.7 billion people in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists for them to decide at a whim that two nuclear armed powers will go to war and this is the new normal of the new abnormal that the Indian government is trying to impose on the region, Bhutto said.

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The Pakistan Peoples Party leaders comments come after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated discussions with India following the military combat between the two countries, which was triggered by the Pahalgam attack of April 22.

During his trip to Iran last month, Sharif said, We want to resolve all disputes, including the Kashmir issue and the water issue, through negotiations and are also ready to talk to our neighbour on trade and counter-terrorism.

Meanwhile, Bhutto, on Tuesday, admitted that Pakistans efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN have faced significant setbacks.

As far as the hurdles we face within the UN and in general, as far as the Kashmir cause is concerned, that still exists, he said during a press conference.

The Pakistani leader was left red-faced after a foreign journalist disputed his claim that Muslims in India are being demonised after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
A scorching irony unfolds in New York  Pakistan, often labelled the global exporter of terror, is set to chair UN Security Councils Taliban Sanctions Committee and serve as vice-chair of counter-terrorism committee. read more

A strange irony has unfolded in New York, Pakistan  often referred to as the global exporter of terror  is set to chair the United Nations Security Councils Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025. It will also serve as vice-chair of the Councils Counter-Terrorism Committee.

The Taliban Sanctions Committee , also known as the 1988 Committee, is responsible for measures such as freezing assets, imposing travel bans, and enforcing arms embargoes on individuals and groups linked to the Taliban that pose a threat to peace and security in Afghanistan.

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Guyana and Russia are set serve as vice-chairs of this committee, which will be headed by Pakistan.

Pakistan to vice-chair counter-terror committee

Algeria will chair the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, with France, Pakistan, and Russia acting as vice-chairs. According to the official UN list, Denmark will lead the 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in 2025, with Russia and Sierra Leone as vice-chairs.

A non-permanent member

Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the 202526 term, will also co-chair two informal working groups  one focused on documentation and procedural matters, and the other on general sanctions issues.

India previously chaired the UN Security Councils Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022 during its 202122 term as a non-permanent member.

India has repeatedly highlighted that Pakistan harbours the highest number of UN-designated terrorists and terror outfits.

Osama-bin Laden was killed in Paks Abbottabad

Al Qaeda leader Osama-bin Laden, for instance, was found hiding in Pakistans Abbottabad and was killed in a US Navy SEAL operation in 2011.

The Security Council comprises five permanent members  China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. Apart from Pakistan, the current non-permanent members are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.

Pahalgam terrorists were backed by Pakistan

Recently, Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in Pahalgam on 22 April, triggering a fierce response from New Delhi. India alleged  cross-border terror links  and took strong diplomatic measures against Islamabad, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and expelling Pakistani diplomats.

Indias Operation Sindoor

India responded with precision strikes targeting nine terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that nearly 100 terrorists were neutralised in these strikes.

Pakistan, global exporter of terror

Experts have long labelled Pakistan a global exporter of terror due to its continued support for extremist groups. This support includes providing safe havens, funding, and training to organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have carried out attacks across South Asia and beyond.

Terrorism is means of survival for Rawalpindi-based Pak army

These groups often operate with backing from Pakistans military and intelligence services, who use them as tools for strategic influence. In return, these outfits serve to justify the militarys dominance within Pakistans power structure.

Pakistan uses these groups to spread terror and target civilians. When India retaliates in self-defence, the Pakistani military  headquartered in Rawalpindi and effectively the real power centre  uses Indian action to stoke fear among the public, thereby consolidating its authority.

Pak militarys same tactics in Kargil war

Similar tactics were seen during the Kargil War, when Pakistani forces occupied Indian positions and falsely portrayed it as a local insurgency. After a strong Indian counter-offensive, Pakistani forces were forced to withdraw.

Harbouring terror since birth

India, Afghanistan, Iran, and Western nations have consistently criticised Pakistan for harbouring terrorists and using them as instruments of foreign policy. Incidents like the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the discovery of bin Laden on Pakistani soil have only reinforced these concerns.

Despite international pressure  including scrutiny from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)  Pakistans military and intelligence networks continue to face serious allegations of supporting terrorism, jeopardising both regional and global stability.
Polls suggest widespread public dissatisfaction with Netanyahus handling of the conflict sparked by Hamas October 2023 attack. read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is under tremendous pressure with a motion to dissolve the Knesset fast approaching and a key coalition partner threatening to switch sides on it. AFP Photo

A key ultra-Orthodox party in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition threatened Wednesday (June 4) to quit the government and support an opposition-led vote next week to dissolve parliament, intensifying pressure on the embattled leader.

The United Torah Judaism party, one of two ultra-Orthodox factions supporting Netanyahu, said it would leave the coalition unless the government quickly approves legislation granting formal military service exemptions to ultra-Orthodox men .

The opposition Yesh Atid party, led by former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, submitted a parliamentary motion scheduled for next week that would dissolve Israels parliament, known as the Knesset, and trigger early elections. Netanyahus coalition currently holds an eight-seat majority in the 120-member parliament.

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This Knesset (parliament) is finished. It has nowhere to go, Lapid said, predicting the governments imminent collapse.

Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister, has not publicly responded to the escalating crisis.

Negotiations continue amid coalition tensions

Reuters cited United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopfs spokesperson as saying that unless the exemption law passes, his party will vote to dissolve parliament.

Negotiations within Netanyahus coalition were ongoing, according to a source close to the government.

The coalition, composed of secular right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, controls 64 seats, including 7 from United Torah Judaism and 11 from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.

Military service exemptions fuel internal divisions

The debate centers on whether young ultra-Orthodox men studying full-time in religious seminaries should be exempt from mandatory military service. Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers insist on maintaining or expanding exemptions, while secular and nationalist parties argue that universal conscription should apply equally.

Ohad Tal, a lawmaker from the Religious Zionism party within the coalition, sharply criticized Goldknopfs threats and called for him to resign rather than push for new elections. Tal said a blanket military exemption is no longer viable.

Former lawmaker Ofer Shelah suggested Netanyahu might be counting on ultra-Orthodox parties to back down, noting polls indicate they would lose seats if elections were held soon.

Political instability amid ongoing Gaza conflict

Netanyahus coalition faces additional turmoil as Israel continues its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Polls suggest widespread public dissatisfaction with Netanyahus handling of the conflict sparked by Hamas October 2023 attack, which killed roughly 1,200 Israelis.

Families of hostages still held in Gaza, along with growing numbers of protesters, have called for an end to the conflict, but some coalition hardliners demand military operations continue until Hamas is destroyed.

Political analysts noted the ultra-Orthodox parties could withdraw from the coalition in protest without necessarily toppling the government, preserving some political stability amid Israels broader challenges.

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Netanyahus government, elected in late 2022, is not mandated to face voters again until 2026. However, Israeli governments rarely serve full terms due to frequent internal divisions and political crises.
Baerbock is a German politician and diplomat, born on December 15, 1980, in Hanover. A member of the Alliance 90/The Greens party, she has held several significant positions in German politics read more

Germanys former minister Annalena Baerbock has been elected as the president of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, despite strong opposition from Russia.

Baerbock took over the mantle from Helga Schmid after stepping down from Germanys foreign minister role post-February elections. The diplomat won 167 votes, nearly double the number required to get a majority.

A new president is chosen for the largely ceremonial role every year in an uncontested election, in which countries rotate to nominate a candidate. The vote usually takes place by acclamation, but this year, Russia, which opposed Baerbocks candidacy, had called for a secret ballot, diplomatic sources told AFP.

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Russias deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, criticised Baerbock as incompetent and biased, unsuccessfully pushing for a secret ballot to block her election.

Who is Annalena Baerbock?

Baerbock is a German politician and diplomat, born on December 15, 1980, in Hanover. A member of the Alliance 90/The Greens party, she has held several significant positions in German politics.

Baerbock served as Germanys first female foreign minister from December 2021 until May 2025. During her tenure, she gained recognition for her firm stance on international issues, notably her vocal opposition to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

At 44, she becomes the fifth woman to hold this esteemed position. Baerbocks election reflects a generational and gender shift in UN leadership, highlighting increasing diversity in global diplomacy.

How is her election important?

Baerbock emerged as a candidate only in March as she was about to step down as foreign minister following February parliamentary elections in Germany, replacing diplomat Helga Schmid, whose candidacy for the UN role had been announced last year.

As the President of the General Assembly, I will engage in a trust-based dialogue with all Member States, Baerbrock said after the election. My door will always be open for everyone.

The strong mandate may empower her to address longstanding Security Council deadlocks, potentially reshaping multilateral diplomacy.

With inputs from agencies
Russia has suffered 1 million troop casualties and lost a third of its Black Sea fleet and a third of its long-range bombers and surveillance aircrafts fleets to capture just 12% of Ukraines territory in the full-scale war since February 2022. read more

Russia has paid a disproportionately high cost in the ongoing war on Ukraine, according to publicly available data and a study published this week.

Since February 2022, when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the orders of President Vladimir Putin, the countrys forces have just captured around 12 per cent of Ukrainian territories. But the costs have been huge.

In a study published this week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) assessed that Russia has suffered around 1 million troop casualties since it launched the full-scale invasion in 2022.

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Out of these casualties, around 250,000 soldiers were killed and the rest were injured, according to the study.

Do Russian costs outweigh benefits in Ukraine war?

Besides the soldiers, Russias material costs have been huge as well.

In the ongoing war, Russia has lost nearly a third of its Black Sea fleet, including the flagship Moskva and at least one submarine, and Ukraine has killed some of the top Russian generals. In an audacious drone attack over the weekend , Ukraine also destroyed nearly a third of Russias long-range, nuclear-capable bombers fleet and also struck two of the six surveillance aircraft.

Moreover, Russia has lost strategic autonomy to China. After Western sanctions threatened to cripple the Russian economy, China came to Russias aid and bought its energy exports and provided it with supplies needed to sustain the war and consumer goods as well. Far from being mutually-beneficial, the partnership is so lopsided that scholars say that China has become a subservient partner of China.

ALSO READ: Russia now economically dependent on China, has little strategic leverage since Ukraine War, finds study

With such losses to manpower, equipment, and strategic autonomy, Russia has just captured 12 per cent of Ukrainian territory. Since January 2024, the pace of Russias advance has been such that it has captured just 1 per cent of Ukrainian territory, as per the CSIS study.

Overall, Russia currently controls around 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

However, Russia has captured just 12 per cent of Ukrainian territory since 2022 and the rest 7 per cent territory was captured between 2014 and 2022.

In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraines Crimea region, captured it, and annexed it after a sham referendum.

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During 2014-22, pro-Russia insurgents captured nearly a third of eastern Ukraines Donbas region, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.

Together, Crimea (around 4-5 per cent) and Donbas (2-3 per cent) contributed to around 7 per cent of Ukrainian territory that Russia captured during 2014-22.
In a statement on Telegram, the former president said that the purpose of the negotiation talks in Turkey was not to strike a peace deal on delusional terms but to secure swift victory and ensure the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv read more

Plumes of smoke are seen rising over the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia after a Ukrainian drone attack in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine. AP

Russian key security official Dmitry Medvedev has said that Moscow will blow up everything that needs to be blown up after Ukraine intensified its strikes deep in the country. He also suggested that Russia is no longer interested in making compromises to reach a deal with Kyiv.

In a statement on Telegram, the former president said that the purpose of the negotiation talks in Turkey was not to strike a peace deal on delusional terms but to secure swift victory and ensure the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv.

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Medvedev referred to a set of Russian demands presented to Ukraine at talks in Istanbul on Monday.

They included handing over more territory, becoming a neutral country, accepting limits on the size of the Ukrainian army and holding new parliamentary and presidential elections.

Retribution is inevitable

The top official threatened that Russia would respond to Ukraines drone attack, saying, retribution is inevitable.

Our Army is pushing forward and will continue to advance. Everything that needs to be blown up will be blown up, and those who must be eliminated will be, he said.

Kyiv used inexpensive drones at the weekend to destroy Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars in an operation carried out after months of planning.

Spiders Web dealt a blow to Russia more than three years after it invaded Ukraine, and the operation will now be studied closely by militaries around the world as a new strategy in asymmetric warfare.

Ukraine hits Crimean bridge

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Ukraine detonated a bomb under the strategic Crimean bridge that connects the annexed peninsula to Russia.

Kyivs SBU secret service said it had conducted a new unique special operation and hit the Crimean Bridge for the third time  this time underwater.

It published footage showing a blast coming out of the water and debris flying, along with a photo of some damage to the side of the bridge.

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With inputs from agencies
The world marked 36 years since the Tiananmen Square massacre, with leaders from the US and Taiwan vowing never to forget the brutal crackdown. China continues to censor the 1989 events, in which hundreds or possibly thousands were killed by the military. read more

Hundreds of thousands of people fill Peking's central Tiananmen Square, May 17, 1989 in front of the Monument to People's Heroes and Mao's mausoleum in the biggest popular upheaval in China since the Cultural Revolution of the 1960's. File Image/Reuters

The Tiananmen Square massacre will never be forgotten, the US secretary of state and Taiwans president said on its 36th anniversary .

China still tries to erase the 1989 crackdown from public memory. Theres no official death toll, but activists say hundreds, possibly thousands, were killed by the Chinese army near Beijings Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989, said Marco Rubio. The [Chinese Communist party] actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget.

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Taiwans president, Lai Ching-te, while emphasising on e bravery of the protesters said Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who gave their lives  and their dreams  to the idea of human rights, Lai said.

The Tiananmen Square massacre refers to the violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing, China, on June 34, 1989.

Following weeks of peaceful protests led by students and supported by workers and intellectuals, the Chinese government declared martial law and deployed the military to forcibly clear the square.

Troops and tanks opened fire on unarmed civilians, resulting in a significant number of deaths.

The exact death toll remains uncertain. Official Chinese sources reported around 200300 fatalities, while other estimates suggest that thousands may have died during the crackdown.

The Chinese government has never released a full accounting of the events and continues to censor discussions about the massacre.

Despite efforts to suppress information, the Tiananmen Square massacre remains a symbol of the struggle for democratic reform and human rights in China. Iconic images, such as the lone protester standing in front of a line of tanks, have become emblematic of peaceful resistance against oppression.
US President Donald Trump has approved Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaas plan to recruit foreign jihadists in Syrias reconstituted military, according to Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy to Syria. read more

Syrian anti-regime forces celebrate as they pour into the captured central-west city of Hama on December 6, 2024, in the offensive against then-Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. (Photo: AFP)

US President Donald Trump has approved Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaas plan to recruit foreign jihadists in the countrys reconstituted military.

For over a decade, as a civil war raged in Syria, thousands of jihadists from West Asia, Central Asia, and elsewhere flocked to Syria where they joined a host of groups. Many of them joined groups fighting against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads regime  including Al-Shaaras Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Al-Shaara himself has jihadist roots and was previously part of Isis before joining HTS when it functioned as the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. He announced HTS separation from Al-Qaeda in 2016 and has since pitched the group as a political movement opposed to the Assad dynasty instead of a jihadist outfit.

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ALSO READ: Beyond Pakistan: Trumps open embrace of jihadist forces across Asia a new headache for India

Even as there are concerns among Western governments about Al-Shaaras governments jihadist character, Trump has announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria and has now approved the recruitment of foreign jihadists in the countrys military.

Thousands of foreign jihadists to join Syrian military

Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy to Syria, has told Reuters that the Trump administration has reached an understanding with Al-Sharaa about the recruitment of foreign jihadists in the countrys military.

Barrack said, I would say there is an understanding, with transparency.

Barrack further said that it was better to keep these jihadists, many of whom are very loyal to Al-Sharaas government, within Syrias new structures than excluding them.

ALSO READ: Syrias rebel-in-chief wants to be a politician, not a rebel

Three Syrian defence officials have told the news agency that there are around 3,500 foreign jihadists in Syria affiliated with the HTS. They comprise mainly Uyghurs from China and neighbouring countries.

Official said that these jihadists would join a newly-formed unit, the 84th Syrian Army Division. The formation would also include Syrians.

The news agency reported that Barrack has echoed the same reasoning as that of Al-Sharaas government.

Two sources close to the Syrian defence ministry told the news agency that Al-Sharaa and his circle believe that bringing foreign jihadists into the reconstituted military would be less of a security risk than abandoning them which could drive them into joining groups like Al-Qaeda or Isis.
It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields, said Trump read more

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he had a good conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but warned that a ceasefire in Ukraine remains out of reach as Putin has vowed to respond to Ukraines recent strikes on Russian strategic bombers.

Taking to Truth Social network, Trump said, I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

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The call came three days after Ukraine conducted a massive, daring drone attack against Russian military airbases, saying it had destroyed several Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars.

Trump did not say whether he had cautioned Putin against retaliating, even as the U.S. continues to provide substantial military and financial support to Ukraine.

The call between Trump and Putin did however show that Washington and Moscow may be eying cooperation on Iran.

Trump said Putin agreed with him that Tehran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Irans decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly! I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement, added Trump.

Trump said that Putin expressed willingness to engage in discussions with Iran to help accelerate a resolution.

President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time! Trump added.

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With inputs from agencies
Russias ongoing war on Ukraine has led to around 1.4 million troop casualties on both the sides, according to a study by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). While Russia has suffered 1 million casualties, Ukraine has suffered around 400,000 casualties. read more

Ukrainian servicemen carry a bag containing the body of a Ukrainian soldier as one of them, right, carries the remains of a body of a Russian soldier in a retaken area near the border with Russia in the Kharkiv region if Ukraine. (Photo: AP)

Russias ongoing war on Ukraine has led to around 1.4 million military casualties, according to a study by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion came eight years after Russia invaded and annexed Ukraines Crimea region.

While Russian leader Vladimir Putin had thought his forces would overrun Ukraine within weeks if not days and he would install a puppet ruler in Kyiv after overthrowing the administration of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the war is now in its fourth year and Putin is nowhere near achieving the goals he set out with.

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The CSIS study has assessed that Russia has suffered around 1 million military casualties and Ukraine has suffered 400,000  the worst toll on either country since the World War II.

ALSO READ: Ukraine and beyond: 25 years on, Putin is still fighting Cold War  and hes finally winning

Actual casualties of both sides are difficult to assess as Russian often undercounts its death to portray a false sense of victory and Ukraine does not release its casualty figures. The study is based on figures from US and British government estimates among other sources.

Russia pays heavy toll for war of attrition

Despite being stronger in every aspect, Russia has paid a heavy toll for the war on Ukraine  and it appears to be in a better place at least for now.

Out of around 1 million Russian casualties, around 250,000 soldiers have been killed, according to the study.

As for Ukraine, around 60-100,000 soldiers have been killed out of total 250,000 casualties.

While Russia lost more soldiers overall, Ukraines share is higher. As Russia has a much larger population, and has foreign sources like North Korea providing several thousands of soldiers , it is in a much better position to absorb its losses.

Ukrainians are also outnumbered on the frontline as independent analysts have said that 400,000 Russian soldiers are facing around 250,000 Ukrainians.

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Russia achieves little at high cost  But is it high enough?

The CSIS study found that Russian progress has halted for more than a year and its forces have progressed at some place at a pace of just around 165 feet a day.

Since January 2024, Russia has seized less than 1 per cent of Ukrainian territory, according to the study.

Overall, Russia controls around 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory, as per the Russia Matters project of the Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Out of this 19 per cent territory, Russia had occupied around 7 per cent with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the pro-Russia insurgency in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2022.

This means that Russia has suffered 1 million casualties, including 250,000 deaths, to capture just around 12 per cent territory in more than three years.

ALSO READ: With Russias terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender  not a peace deal

In addition to 1 million troop casualties, Russia has also lost nearly a third of its Black Sea fleet and a third of its long-range bomber and surveillance fleets, and some of its top generals.

Seth G Jones, a co-author of the CSIS study, told The New York Times, that the Russian campaign is among the slowest in modern history and Russia can only win if US President Donald Trump decides to end the support to Ukraine.

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They have suffered upwards of 1 million casualties. They have taken a tiny amount of territory and they have lost massive amounts of equipmentThe Russians would hold the long-term balance of power if President Trump walks away. If the US doesnt walk, Putin is in serious trouble, said Jones.
The US has informed Israel that it will later on Wednesday veto a United Nations Security Council demand for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to a report read more

The United States has informed Israel that it will later on Wednesday veto a United Nations Security Council demand for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The 15-nation council will vote on a text - put forward by 10 members - that also demands aid access across the Palestinian enclave, where experts say famine looms and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on May 19.

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According to a Times of Israel report, citing an Israeli official, the US believes the resolution fails to sufficiently hold Hamas accountable for the ongoing conflict and does not align with the Trump administrations current efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages in Gaza.

The US also argues that the resolutions call for the UN to resume aid distribution could undermine the work of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which Washington supports to ensure aid reaches civilians without being diverted by Hamas, added the report.

The vote marks the first time the UN Security Council will consider a substantive resolution on the Gaza war since US President Donald Trump took office, reported Times of Israel, citing the office of Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.

Danon is expected to tell the Council that anyone who supports a one-sided and biased resolution is effectively providing aid to Hamas, his office said.

Instead of pressuring Hamas to accept the framework currently on the table, there are those who believe international pressure will stop Israel. Our message is clear: No discussion or resolution will cause us to leave the hostages behind, he added in the statement.

The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an October 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Many of those killed or captured were civilians.

Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

They do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants but say civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks and that thousands more bodies have been lost under rubble.

With inputs from agencies
Ukraines security service on Wednesday released new drone footage of its operation Spiderweb, showing how exactly Kyiv struck 41 Russian heavy military bombers read more

Ukraines security service on Wednesday released new drone footage of its operation Spiderweb, showing how exactly Kyiv struck 41 Russian heavy military bombers.

During the operation, modern UAV control technology was used, which combines autonomous artificial intelligence algorithms and manual operator intervention, Politico quoted the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, the countrys main counterintelligence agency, as saying.

     ,     41     



 https://t.co/OSxqEsI9CD pic.twitter.com/aGSZNEsoX3    (@ServiceSsu) June 4, 2025

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During the flight, some drones lost signal and switched to performing a mission using artificial intelligence along a preplanned route. After approaching and contacting a specifically designated target, the warhead was automatically activated, the SBU added.

The SBU released new video evidence showing Ukrainian drones striking engines, antennas, wings, and other components of Russian strategic and reconnaissance aircraft at four military airfields deep inside Russia.

These bases are regularly used by Moscow to launch ballistic and cruise missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Among the hit aircraft were A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, as well as An-12 and Il-78, the SBU said, claiming that its clandestine operation caused more than $7 billion worth of financial damage to Russia.

According to the report, open-source intelligence analysts and journalists have verified, through newly released satellite imagery, the destruction of at least 11 strategic bombers.

The bold Spider Web drone strikes drew global attention  hailed by some as a breakthrough in modern warfare tactics, while others, including US Special Envoy on Ukraine Keith Kellogg, voiced concern over the escalation.

When you attack an opponents part of the national survival system, which is their triad, their nuclear triad  that means your risk level goes up because you dont know what the other is going to do  Its a very emboldened act. And when you do that, its very clear that the risk levels will go up. That is what we try to avoid, Fox News quoted Kellogg as saying on Tuesday.

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The Spider Web strikes lifted Ukrainian morale as Russian forces advanced in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and now Sumy.

Russias Defence Ministry downplayed the drone attacks, admitting hits only in Irkutsk and Murmansk, and claiming others were repelled. It said no casualties occurred and labeled the incident an act of terrorism.

President Zelenskyy said the strikes could have been avoided if Moscow had accepted Ukraines unconditional ceasefire proposal.

Today, I awarded our Security Service warriors for the important operation to destroy 41 Russian aircraft, half of which is beyond repair, and another part will be repairing for years, if at all. Absolutely legitimate military target. Such operations help counter Russian terror, Zelenskyy said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Had there been a ceasefire before our operation, thered be no operation. Wanting a ceasefire doesnt mean we do nothing in the meantime, he added.

With inputs from agencies
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome to mend their uneasy relationship for the greater good of their countries and Europe. While France and Italy are broadly aligned on key issues, the two leaders have often bickered publicly over differences in their approaches. read more

France's President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as she arrives for a summit for 'coalition of the willing' at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, on March 27, 2025. (Photo: AFP)

In what has been described as an attempt to mend their uneasy relationship, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Rome on Tuesday and held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Even as France and Italy are broadly aligned on supporting Ukraine, the approach of leaders of Europes third- and fourth-largest economies for key issues, such as the war in Ukraine, US tariffs, and the place of the European Union (EU), has been at odds.

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These differences have often led to public bickering where the two leaders have taken swipes at each other. In the interest of the greater, officials said that Macron has reached out to Meloni for the meeting to mend their differences.

How Macron & Meloni stand poles apart

Macron is a centrist head of state who is a suave, liberal internationalist and a champion of the EU.

On the other hand, Meloni is right-wing nationalist who comes from an anti-immigrant, working-class background. To her, Macron, who went on elite schools and worked as an investment banker before entering politics, is the epitome of elites in whose opposition she has built her political career.

While Macron is a champion of strategic autonomy of France and Europe, and, while Meloni has not spewed anti-EU rhetoric since assuming the high office, she has still continued to criticise what she deems overreach into national affairs by the EY.

On the issue of tariffs, while Meloni has preferred to engage directly with US President Donald Trump and has adopted a softer stance in negotiations, Macron has adopted a firmer stance and wants engagement under the aegis of the EU. On Europe, while both the leaders are united in supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia, Macron is open to deploying boots on the ground and Meloni is opposed to such deployment.

Macron seeks a reset with Meloni

The meeting on Monday was the initiative of Macron to mend the relationship for the greater good. Officials told Reuters that Macron sought to show respect and friendship with his visit  his first since Meloni became the Prime Minister of Italy in 2022.

Separately, officials told RFI that Macron sought the meeting as he considers it his role to bring Europeans together and he is also keen to work with her.

In their talks in Rome, Macron and Meloni sought to iron out the wrinkles in the relationship and find common ground at a time when both of their countries and Europe at large are facing common challenges from Russia, Trump, and spillover of developments in West Asia.

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In a joint statement, Macron and Meloni said that they intend to strengthen their common commitment to a more sovereign Europe and coordinate their positions on transatlantic relations, as well as on the economic and commercial security of the European Union.

As both France and Italy are concerned about Russias increasing presence in eastern Libya and getting a foothold in the Mediterranean after Bashar al-Assads ouster, they said in the statement that the the meeting also provided an opportunity to address other significant security issues for Europe, particularly in the Middle East and Libya.

The French and Italian leaders also said that the the meeting highlighted strong convergences on the European agenda for competitiveness and prosperity, to be implemented ambitiously and swiftly and they agreed on the necessary conditions for European companies to compete on an equal footing.

The statement further read, This also applies to sectors in transition, such as the automotive and steel industries, which require strong European commitment, as well as to more advanced sectors like artificial intelligence, decarbonised renewable energy sources such as nuclear, and space.

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Macron and Meloni also reiterated that unwavering and unhesitating support for Ukraine was needed more than ever to arrive to a fair and lasting end to the war and called for an ambitious change in scale for European defence capabilities.
The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear programme. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment? said Khamenei read more

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday firmly rejected a key U.S. demand to end uranium enrichment, declaring it 100% against the countrys interests and dismissing Washingtons push for a new nuclear agreement.

The proposal that the Americans have presented is 100% against our interests  The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear programme. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?, Reuters quoted Khamenei as saying during a televised speech marking the anniversary of the death of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

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His remarks come in response to a new US proposal presented to Tehran via Oman on Saturday, part of ongoing talks involving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Donald Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

After five rounds of negotiations, the talks remain deadlocked over core issueschiefly, Irans insistence on continuing uranium enrichment on its own soil and its refusal to ship out its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Western powers see as a potential path to nuclear weapons.

Khamenei, who holds final authority over state matters, did not call off the negotiations but strongly criticised the American stance. He said the US proposal contradicts Irans belief in self-reliance and the principle of We Can.

Uranium enrichment is the key to our nuclear programme, and the enemies have focused on the enrichment, he said.

Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Maximum pressure

Reuters reported on Monday that Tehran was poised to reject the US proposal as a non-starter that failed to soften Washingtons stance on uranium enrichment or to address Tehrans interests.

Trump has revived his maximum pressure campaign against Tehran since his return to the White House in January, which included tightening sanctions and threatening to bomb Iran if the negotiations yield no deal.

Trump wants to curtail Tehrans potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. Irans clerical establishment, for its part, wants to be rid of devastating sanctions.

During his first term, Trump ditched Tehrans 2015 nuclear pact with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Irans economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond the pacts limits.

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Irans clerical establishment is grappling with multiple crises  energy and water shortages, a plunging currency, losses among regional militia proxies in conflicts with Israel, and rising fears of an Israeli strike on its nuclear sites  all intensified by Trumps hardline stance.

Irans arch-foe Israel, which sees Tehrans nuclear programme as an existential threat, has repeatedly threatened to bomb the Islamic Republics nuclear facilities to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Tehran has vowed a harsh response.

With inputs from agencies
With the terms that Russia presented this week, Vladimir Putin made it clear that he seeks Ukraines surrender  not a peace deal. If Putins terms are implemented, the Ukrainian nation would cease to exist and no Ukrainian leader, and certainly not Volodymyr Zelenskyy, could accept that. read more

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on April 26, 2025. AP Photo

The Russian terms presented in talks in Turkey made it clear that Vladimir Putin seeks Ukraines capitulation and not peace.

While Ukraine made some concessions in terms presented in the second round of talks in Istanbul, Russian leader Putin stuck to his maximalist demands and ruled out any possibility of arriving at middle ground to make peace.

Putin has not just sought the recognition of Ukrainian territories that Russia has occupied since 2014, but has also sought Ukraines surrender of all territories it claims but not occupies at the moment. In provisions similar to those imposed on Germany after the World War I in the Treaty of Versailles, Putin has also sought restrictions on the size, deployment, and equipment of Ukrainian military after the end of the war.

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In addition to complete occupation of five provinces of Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia), Putin has also sought the creation of a buffer zone of an unspecified length on the Ukrainian side of the new border that would essentially further reduce Ukraines territory.

ALSO READ: Ukraine and beyond: 25 years on, Putin is still fighting Cold War  and hes finally winning

Besides ruling out , Putin has also sought to restrict Ukraines military partnerships and ban hosting foreign troops on its soil.

With such terms, it is clear that Putin is prolonging the negotiations so that he could continue his massive attacks as long as possible to pressure Ukraine into acceptance, says Kseniya Kirillova, a Russia analyst at Washington DC-based Jamestown Foundation.

Kirillova tells Firstpost, Such conditions are unacceptable for Ukraine. Putin is deliberately setting impossible conditions to prolong the negotiations. He is hoping for a summer offensive to break the will of Ukrainian society. Ukraine can only hope that President Trump will lose patience with Putin sooner than that.

Zelenskyy offers concessions, Putin doubles down on maximalist terms

In a sharp deviation from the initial phase of the war, Zelenskyy has not pressed for the return of territories under Russian occupation. He has only demanded that the international community should not recognise the occupation.

Previously, Zelenskyy has also implied that Ukraine would be okay with Russia keeping control of whatever territory is under its control without any international recognition. However, Putin has doubled down on maximalist territorial demands .

Russia occupies around 19 per cent of Ukraines territories across five provinces  12 per cent of which was occupied in 2014 when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea.

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Putin has not just demanded the recognition of all territories under its control but has also sought the surrender of additional territories it claims but does not control. With the buffer zone, Putin has sought around at least 25 per cent of Ukrainian territory in total  nearly a third more than it currently controls.

ALSO READ: From security guarantees to territorial control, these differences led to failure of Ukraine-Russia peace talks in 2022

Putin has also sought to change the character of Ukraine as a nation. He has sought to insert the Russian language into formal business, restore the pro-Russia Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and ban what he calls nationalist formations in Ukraine.

While Ukraine has sought a ceasefire monitoring by the United States and other countries, Putin has sought to make any ceasefire agreement controlled by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). That would mean that Russia would call shots as Russia and its principal ally China hold veto at the UNSC.

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A day after Russia formally submitted these demands, Andriy Yermak, the Chief of Staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that the Russian position remains unconstructive and Putin was stalling and manipulating the negotiation process.

Yermak further said that Russia has no genuine intention of ceasing hostilities and only strong sanctions can compel Russia to engage in serious negotiations.

All eyes on Trump  and perhaps Ukrainian drones

As Ukraine-Russia talks are expectedly making no substantial progress, all eyes are on US President Donald Trump  and on perhaps Ukrainian drones.

The talks in Istanbul were held a day after Ukraine launched an audacious drone attack inside Russia in which it struck five Russian airbases and destroyed a third of Russian long-range bomber and surveillance fleet. The attack shortly after the destruction of two railway bridges. A day after the talks were held, Ukraine attacked the Kerch bridge that connects occupied Crimea with Russia.

With such attacks, Ukraine has sought relative position of strength in ongoing talks and has shown it does hold cards, says Swasti Rao, a scholar of European affairs at the Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), Sonipat.

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While the final outcome is unlikely to change with such attacks, which means that Ukraine would not get the occupied land back, such strikes allow Ukraine to have a firm place at the negotiating table and ensure that Trump and Putin do not cut a deal about the war without Ukraine and Europes final say. Such strikes also send a message to Moscow and Washington DC that Ukraine can also deliver blows and the war is not as one sided as one would have thought, says Rao, an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Global Initiatives at JSIA.

Even though Trump is under pressure from all sides to toughen up his stance on Putin, he has not shown any indication that he is about to do that. Instead, it is his actions that enabled Putin to double down on his maximalist positions in ongoing peace talks. Last month, even as Putin defied all ceasefire proposals that Ukraine accepted and defied Trumps direct public appeals to not attack civilians, Trump rewarded Putin by dropping his longstanding demand of an immediate ceasefire and endorsing Putins demand of direct talks.

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Kirillova, the Russia analyst at Jamestown Foundation, says that Trump wants the war to end in Ukraine irrespective of the way it ends.

The root causes of the war or its moral dimensions appear to be of secondary importance to him. He is focused on delivering results and, in doing so, he is exerting pressure on the weaker party  Ukraine. Consequently, he is offering certain concessions to Putin while pressuring Zelensky, says Kirillova.

Whether Putins continued defiance and Ukraines stunning comeback in the conflict changes Trumps stance remains to be seen.
At a time when the United States and China are trading accusations of violations of the trade truce, President Donald Trump has criticised Chinese leader Xi Jinping for being extremely hard to make a deal with'. read more

Amid stalled trade talks, US President Donald Trump has said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is extremely hard to deal with.

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! (sic) said Trump on social media on Wednesday.

While Trump did not give any context for his post, the fact that it comes at a time when the United States and China have exchanged accusations of violating the trade truce suggests negotiations are not progressing well.

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On May 12, the United States and China reached a truce in their trade war. The two countries agreed to reduce tariffs by 115 per cent for 90 days so that talks could continue for a deal. This meant that US tariffs on Chinese products came down to 30 per cent from 145 per cent and Chinese tariffs on US products came down to 10 per cent from 125 per cent. However, last week, Trump accused China of totally violating the truce.

While Trump did not give any reasons, Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump has been frustrated by China not easing the ban on export of rare earth minerals fast enough.

China lashed out at Trump and said it was the United States that had violated the truce.

Trump & China exchange allegations of truces violations

In its rebuttal, China said that the United States had violated the truce with three actions.

China said that restrictions on chips sale to China, halting the sale of chip design software to China, and announcing revocations of Chinese student visas severely violated the common understandings reached in Geneva.

China firmly opposed this and made strong protests. Let me stress once again that this pressuring and coercion is not the right way to engage with China, Chinese Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Lin Jian further said.

Lin further urged the Trump administration to respect the facts, stop peddling misinformation, correct relevant wrongdoings, and take concrete moves to uphold the common understandings reached by the two sides.

Shortage of rare earths rattles manufacturers

On his part, Trump is reportedly frustrated at slow resumption of supplies of rare earths.

Michael Hart, the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told Bloomberg that while China has started approving the sale of rare earths, the pace is certainly slower than industry would like.

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As China produces up 90 per cent of worlds rare earths and magnets, export restrictions have rattled industries that rely heavily on these supplies, such as automakers, with Hildegard Muller, the President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, saying that if the situation is not changed quickly, production delays and even production outages can no longer be ruled out.

Alarm is not sounding in the United States, but the situation is such that diplomats, automakers, and other executives from India, Japan, and Europe have been urgently seeking meetings with Chinese officials to seek faster approval of rare earths, sources told Reuters.
At a time when electrified vehicles and stationary energy storage play key roles in the climate-neutral future of the energy sector, sustainable production of lithium-ion batteries is essential. A team of researchers headed by Benjamin Schumm, Holger Althues and Stefan Kaskel has developed DRYtraec (dry transfer electrode coating), a novel method of battery cell production that uses none of the toxic solvents that are otherwise typical and eliminates the energy-intensive and costly drying of the electrode layers.

The challenge of battery production and the innovative DRYtraec solution

A key component of any battery, electrodes normally consist of a metal foil with a thin coating. This coating contains the active components that are responsible for storing energy. The conventional coating process uses a wet chemical method that applies what is known as slurry, explains Schumm, the head of the Particle Technology department at Fraunhofer IWS. DRYtraec technology makes it possible to produce an electrode layer directly from a dry mixture consisting of active material, conductive carbon black and binders. Unlike in the conventional slurry method, no solvents are used for this. A special calender unit generates shear forces in a roller gap called a nip, thereby mechanically anchoring particles of the active material and conductive carbon black by causing the binder to form fibrils, a process known as fibrillation. Supported by the calender rollers, the result is a completely dry electrode layer, eliminating the energy-intensive drying stage, which also takes up a lot of space. Double-sided coating is also possible in a single step through direct transfer of both sides to the current collector foil. The DRYtraec electrodes produced with no solvents display outstanding performance and stability without any drawbacks compared to slurry-based electrodes.

DRYtraec  patented technology with vast potential for the future

The unique scientific method and approach represented by the roller-based dry film transfer process minimizes production risks while making it easier to scale up to larger coating widths and higher process speeds. The worlds first prototype system was designed and constructed back in 2013, and the technology has been steadily evolving ever since. The system enables continuous process control and production of high-quality electrodes in a roll-to-roll process. For DRYtraec, we realized an R&D platform that offers industry customers a broad range of options, from testing to transfer to commercial use, all along the value chain. Now that we have licensed the technology to a leading company in the European automotive industry, this is paving the way for further scaling all the way up to mass production, explains Althues, head of the Battery Materials department at Fraunhofer IWS.

The DRYtraec method is also suitable for the important battery technologies of the future, such as sodium-ion and solid-state batteries. Drop-in capability for electrode production has been demonstrated for these cell systems. Kaskel, Technology Field Manager Battery Technology at Fraunhofer IWS, explains: We first realized this process for electrodes in lithium-ion batteries and have now adjusted it for lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries as well. These will be increasingly important in the future, but the materials performance suffers with wet chemical processing. With DRYtraec, we offer a promising approach with twice the advantages.

The patented DRYtraec technology, now established as a standard method of dry coating, solidifies the role of Fraunhofer IWS as a leading R&D provider in this field. In this way, Fraunhofer is making a crucial contribution to safeguarding Germanys status as a hub of automotive production and underscoring the significance of production technology as a key to value creation in the transformation of mobility.
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.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife

A gray wolf looks over its shoulder after being released into an area filled with sage brush. The director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday defended the agencys handling of a wolf pack in the Roaring Fork Valley after criticism was leveled by an agency commissioner who also is a rancher there.
Mon Monday

98 /66

Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s and lows in the mid 60s.
Mon Monday

98 /67

Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 90s and lows in the upper 60s.
SSU detains enemy agent preparing series of terrorist attacks in Kyiv

Security Service of Ukraine

11:00, 2 June 2025

The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented a series of new terrorist attacks in Kyiv. As a result of a special operation, an enemy agent who was preparing to blow up cars belonging to servicemen of the Defense Forces has been detained.

On russia's orders, the traitor was planning to destroy three cars belonging to Ukrainian defenders using homemade explosive devices.

The terrorist was supposed to plant explosives under the cars, and russian special services would remotely detonate them along with the military personnel.

The individual in question is an unemployed Kyiv resident, whom the aggressor recruited through a Telegram channel offering 'easy money'.

The occupiers first tested the agent by having him commit several arson attacks in the capital.

After that, the perpetrator received instructions from his handler on how to make IEDs and orders to blow up the cars. He then began looking for the 'right' vehicles.

The SSU documented the agent's crimes and detained him in a rented apartment. At the time of the arrest, the terrorist was setting up remote access for the russians to two phones with IEDs, through which the enemy planned to activate the bombs.

He intended to install another device near the planned attack site to record the crime in real time.

SSU investigators notified the detainee of suspicion under Article 14.1, 258.2 of the CCU (preparation of a terrorist act, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy).

He is in custody and faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The suspect is currently cooperating with the investigation and providing incriminating testimony about his russian handlers.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

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Contracts

Contracts For June 3, 2025

NAVY

DPR-RQ Construction LLC, Carlsbad, California, is awarded a $227,628,900 fixed-price award fee construction contract for P9837 Ambulatory Care Center and Dental Clinic at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by September 2029. The contract is incrementally funded. The first increment of fiscal 2024 defense-wide military construction funds in the amount of $48,646,788 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Remaining increments will be awarded as they are funded. The contract contains eight unexercised options which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $237,057,888. This contract was competitively procured on the SAM.gov website via the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment Solicitation Module, with one offer received. Once a single offer was received, the remainder of the procurement was completed as a negotiation. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-25-C-0038).

Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC, Lockport, Louisiana, is awarded a $60,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-2207) for additional pre- and post-delivery requirements including industrial services, shipyard support, and extended post-delivery availabilities for the Navajo-class towing salvage and rescue ships. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (88%); and Houma, Louisiana (12%), and is expected to be completed by January 2030. Fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $60,000,000 (100%) will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-2207).

Harrell Contracting Inc.,* Worthington, Indiana (N0016425D1013); McIntyre Brothers LLC,* Bedford, Indiana (N0016425D1014); Maven Construction & Environmental LLC,* Odon, Indiana (N0016425D1015); Krempp Construction Inc.,* Jasper, Indiana (N0016425D1016); RWE Clean Energy Solutions Inc., Valhalla, New York (N0016425D1017); Paragon Force, Inc.,* Bloomfield, Indiana (N0016425D1018); and T&T Construction Enterprise LLC, Leitchfield, Kentucky (N0016425D1019), are awarded a combined $48,700,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for construction projects located at Naval Support Activity Crane, Indiana, inclusive of Lake Glendora Test Facility. Each awardee will be awarded $500 (minimum contract guarantee) at contract award. These contracts are for a cumulative value of $48,700,000 over a five-year period to the seven vendors combined. Work will be performed in Crane, Indiana; and Sullivan, Indiana, and is expected to continue through May 2030. Fiscal 2025 working capital funding in the amount of $3,500 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. All other funding will be made available at the task order level as contracting actions occur. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website and Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment Solicitation Module, with eight offers received. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity.

Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $20,945,962 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost only modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-22-C-5231) to exercise options for integrated logistic support, fleet maintenance support, and lifecycle sustainment of the Navy's AN/SQQ-89 surface ship undersea warfare combat systems. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia (51%); San Diego, California (37%); Yokosuka, Japan (3%); Bath, Maine (3%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (3%); Mayport, Florida (2%); and Seattle, Washington (1%), and is expected to be completed by May 2026. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,919,000 (56%); fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $687,642 (20%); Foreign Military Sales (FMS) (Australia) funding in the amount of $486,579 (14%); and FMS (Japan) case funding in the amount of $334,332 (10%), will be obligated at the time of award and $1,919,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded on May 29, 2025)

Alabama Shipyard LLC,* Mobile, Alabama, is awarded an $18,734,274 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220525C4014) for a 153-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability with a dry-docking requirement of Military Sealift Command's hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). This contract includes a base work package and three unexercised options for additional work and time which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $18,959,447. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama, beginning July 15, 2025, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 14, 2025. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $18,734,274 are obligated for fiscal 2025 and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was a small business set-aside solicited via the Governmentwide Point of Entry website and two offers received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220525C4014).

Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded a $16,587,477 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001925F0087) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001924G0017). This order provides software sustainment support and cyber security lifecycle support for the E-6B aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas (95%); Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma (3%); and Patuxent River, Maryland (2%), and is expected to be completed in June 2026. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,288,092 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The Survice Engineering Co. LLC,* Belcamp, Maryland, is awarded a $9,833,548 modification (P00043) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N0001923C0033). This modification exercises options to provide for the production and delivery of 31 TRV-150C Tactical Resupply Unmanned Air Systems, and to procure one inspection and evaluation of a system in support of the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Work will be performed in Harford County, Maryland (100%), and is expected to be completed in April 2026. Fiscal 2025 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $9,830,462; and fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $3,087 will be obligated at the time of award, $3,087 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Owego, New York, is awarded a $9,500,001 firm-fixed-price modification (P00004) to an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001924D0106). This modification adds scope to procure the efforts necessary to support all H-60 Naval Hawk repairs in support of the Navy and the governments of Australia, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Greece, India, and Spain. Work will be performed in Owego, New York (100%), and is expected to be completed in March 2029. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This modification was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Regan Technologies Corp., Middletown, Connecticut, was awarded an $89,114,024 firm-fixed-price task order for Microsoft Unified support services. This contract provides for proactive and reactive services for all Microsoft products written against NASA solutions for enterprise-wide procurement indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicles. This contract was a competitive acquisition where 128 offerors were solicited for a fair opportunity proposal request and four proposals were received. Work will be performed throughout the Air Force service-wide and is expected to be completed by June 1, 2026, under the one 12 month base period; and June 1, 2028, under the two 12 month option period. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance appropriations funds in the amount of $26,701,191 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, is the contracting activity (FA8772-25-F-0011).

Rapid Offset Technologies LLC, Toano, Virginia, was awarded a $7,633,600 firm-fixed-price contract for Air Combat Command Scientific Advisor to the Commander support services. This contract provides for services including, but not limited to, technical consulting, program management, systems engineering, analysis, development, integration, testing, and evaluation for the F-35 advanced sensor open system architecture tactical radio architecture program. Work will be performed on Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2028. This contract was a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,152,800 are being obligated at time of contract award. The 633rd Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4800-25-F-0096).

ARMY

Loukus Technologies Inc.,* Calumet, Michigan, was awarded a $45,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for advanced materials systems and manufacturing for property enhancements. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 3, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-25-D-A005).

Avon Protection Systems, Cadillac, Michigan, was awarded a $18,396,699 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the M50 Joint Service General Purpose mask system and spare parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 2, 2026. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W912CH-25-F-0253).

Conrad Shipyard LLC,* Morgan City, Louisiana, was awarded an $8,418,100 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of a steel-hulled deck barge. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Memphis, Tennessee, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 10, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912EQ-25-C-A001).

Turner Construction Co., New York, New York, was awarded a $7,700,000 modification (P00015) to contract W91278-18-C-0009 for design and construction of a new bed tower at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital. Work will be performed in Tampa, Florida, with an estimated completion date of June. 27, 2025. Fiscal 2025 civil construction funds in the amount of $7,700,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

UPDATE: Era Health LLC,* Fort Worth, Texas (SPE2DE-25-D-0012, $80,000,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for medical and surgical supplies and equipment for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog, issued against solicitation SPE2DE-22-R-0017 and awarded Sept. 28, 2023. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4205264/

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Acting Chief of Naval Operations Attends BAE Systems Shiplift & Land Level Facility Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

US Navy - Press Release

02 June 2025

Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2 at the BAE Systems newly expanded Shiplift and Land Level Repair Facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

The visit underscores the Navy's commitment to revitalizing the shipbuilding industrial basean essential step in restoring and sustaining fleet readiness. Jacksonville Ship Repair is a major supplier of surface fleet maintenance and operates the only Navy-certified docking facility of its kind, playing a critical role in the Navy's ability to maintain and modernize its ships.

Adm. Kilby delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, highlighting how the facility's expansion enhances the Navy's capability to rapidly repair and upgrade vessels, directly contributing to restoring operational readiness and ensuring mission success.

"We as a nation are waking up to the reality that a strong maritime industrial base is a matter of national security," said Kilby. "We are focused on building the readiness and lethality needed to prevail in a future conflict by January 1, 2027."

Kilby emphasized that expanding repair capacity fosters greater flexibility to meet the demands of both government and commercial clients, reinforcing the industrial base needed for sustained naval power.

"BAE's new Shiplift and Land Level Repair Facility is a significant investment that will pay dividends for both our Navy and our commercial partners for years to come," said Kilby. "This means greater lethality. It means warfighting effectiveness. It's what our Navy needs for the future fight."

The more than $200 million expansion significantly increases the shipyard's capacitytripling its repair capabilitiesallowing for faster and more efficient service. This investment not only strengthens national defense but also drives regional economic growth by revitalizing vital industrial infrastructure.

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Tactical Medical Convoy : "The 99" Complete 1,900-Kilometer Trek from Germany to Lithuania for DEFENDER 25

By Staff Sgt. Daniel Yeadon June 3, 2025

Story by Maj. Christopher Lee

VEPRIU ROCKET BASE, Lithuania -- Ninety-nine U.S. Army medical personnel from the 519th Hospital Center and 421st Multi-Functional Medical Battalion completed a 1,900-kilometer convoy from Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Germany, to Vepriu Rocket Base, Lithuania, on May 5 in support of DEFENDER 25 and a hospital field exercise known as HOSPEX.

The mission tested Army medical readiness and aimed to certify the 519th Hospital Center as Europe's only NATO Role 2 Enhanced (2E) forward-deployed field hospital. In addition, the Hospital Center tested Army Doctrine, supporting a movement of 35 percent (one-third) of the Field Hospital's organic equipment and personnel. This vital tactical ability allows Army Medicine to support combatant commanders through the principles of mobility, proximity, and flexibility.

"This type of movement hasn't been done by a medical formation in recent history," said Col. Avery Carney, commander of the 519th Hospital Center. "What seemed impossible six months ago not only became achievable but became routine."

The convoy included 29 tactical vehicles, 11 trailers, and 99 Soldiers, later dubbed "The 99." The team transported 35% of the field hospital's capability, moving through Germany and Poland before arriving in Lithuania.

Maj. Christopher Lee, the convoy commander, emphasized the importance of early planning, effective leadership, and vehicle readiness as keys to success. "Many of our Soldiers come from a hospital environment, not the field," Lee said. "But with a clear plan and team buy-in, we proved we could execute at scale."

Support came from across the 30th Medical Brigade, including the 512th Field Hospital, the 8th Medical Logistics Company, the 557th Medical Company (Area Support), the 7384th Blood Support Detachment, and the 160th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment. Leadership designated five vehicle serials with specific responsibilities and embedded medical and maintenance support.

Capt. Kristina Bean, a nurse and vehicle operator, described the effort as "a great opportunity to test the operational side of Army Medicine." The team encountered mechanical issues, logistical challenges, and international movement restrictions, but overcame them through rehearsed battle drills and adaptive leadership.

The unit spent March conducting convoy rehearsals and vehicle maintenance, a period dubbed "March Madness and Maintenance." Each serial was led by a designated officer and supported by experienced non-commissioned officers, such as Staff Sgt. Ruzzel Dimal, the convoy NCOIC.

"We had doubters at the beginning," Dimal said. "But with defined goals and a corps-level mindset, we brought this together."

The team was tested early when a critical generator trailer broke down. Using established drills, maintenance assets recovered the trailer without delaying the formation. Additional complications, including a lost wheel, required rapid recovery operations.

"Without our maintainers, we wouldn't be here," said Warrant Officer Kevin Taylor. "They're the glue holding this mission together."

Fuel shortages and delayed diplomatic clearances for Polish border crossings forced the team to split and improvise. Thanks to onboard fuel reserves and last-minute approvals, the formation reassembled at the Polish border.

Along the route, Soldiers rested at staging areas such as Camp Aachen and Bemowo Piskie Training Area. At times, they slept in tents and ate MREs, but morale remained high.

On May 5, the convoy crossed into Lithuania and arrived at Vepriu Rocket Base. There, leaders lauded the team's discipline and adaptability.

"The real value was in the preparation, the culture shift, and the leader development," said Carney. "This was a transformational experience."

The nickname "The 99" emerged organically and stuck. By the mission's end, the Soldiers had proven their ability to execute strategic movement under combat-simulated conditions. "We are 'The 99,'" they chanted at the final stop. "And we did it."

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Joint press release by the Nordic-Baltic countries and Armenia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

3.6.2025 19:32:23 CEST | News from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark | Pressemeddelelse

On 3 June, during a regional visit to the South Caucasus, the Nordic-Baltic Political Directors and representatives held meetings with the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia.

The Nordic-Baltic countries reiterated their joint commitment to strengthening relations and expanding political dialogue and economic cooperation with Armenia. The Nordic-Baltic countries also expressed their full support for Armenia's ambition to further deepen partnership with the European Union and its European partners. While tangible results have already been achieved in this path, the importance of meeting the expectations of the citizens with further concrete deliverables such as in Visa Liberalization Dialogue was underscored.

Armenia shares commitments to democracy, human rights and rule of law. The Nordic-Baltic countries recognize and support Armenia's significant progress in these areas and will continue to support the reform efforts which are commendable despite continuous challenges.

The Nordic-Baltic countries support efforts to achieve regional peace and stability as well as cooperation and development, and welcome the agreement on the text of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and hope the parties will sign it in the near future. The importance of the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative for the regional stability, connectivity and prosperity has been emphasised.

During the visit, the parties agreed to continue exchanges of views and positions on regional, multilateral, and international issues.

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Swedish government increasing pressure on Israel

Government Offices of Sweden

Opinion piece from Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 03 June 2025

Opinion piece by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch and Minister for Education Johan Pehrson, Svenska Dagbladet, 23 May 2025.

Let us not forget how the war in Gaza started. On 7 October 2023, Hamas carried out the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history - a massacre that claimed the lives of around 1 200 people. A further 251 were taken hostage and taken into Gaza.

Those who carelessly compare Israel's war with Russia's invasion of Ukraine are ignoring one fundamental difference: it was Israel that was attacked by the terrorist organisation Hamas, which gives Israel a far-reaching right to defend itself. Israel also has legitimate goals - to get all the hostages back and eliminate the threat posed by Hamas, whose ultimate aim is to wipe out the State of Israel.

But the manner in which Israel is now conducting this war is unacceptable. After 19 months of bloodshed and conflict in Gaza, the humanitarian suffering is enormous, with tens of thousands of deaths and widespread malnutrition amongst the population. Not least the children of Gaza who are living in a nightmare.

Israel blocked emergency deliveries from getting into Gaza for more than two months. In recent days a limited amount of humanitarian support has resumed but it is nowhere near enough. Blocking the delivery of food and other humanitarian aid to civilians is completely indefensible. In talks with the Israeli Government, the Swedish Government has repeatedly demanded unrestricted humanitarian access and that aid organisations be allowed to operate freely throughout Gaza.

Israel has now launched an expanded military offensive in Gaza, with plans for large-scale forced displacement of civilians. The stated goal is to take control of the entire Gaza strip. The Swedish Government views this development with great concern and has made it clear that Gaza's territory must not be altered, reduced or annexed. Any such steps would violate international law and will be condemned by Sweden. The same applies if all, or parts of the civilian population, are driven out of Gaza.



The Swedish Government is also deeply concerned about the increasing settler violence on the West Bank. According to witnesses, in several of these attacks, Israeli soldiers have protected those attacking the settlers - not the Palestinians being attacked. The widespread lawlessness around the illegal settlements on the West Bank threatens not only the formation of a Palestinian state but also in the long run, the rule of law in Israel. Israel must begin to confront its own extremists. This is ultimately an existential issue for the Middle East's leading democracy.

The Swedish Government has taken a clear stance, demanding an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We have doubled Swedish humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the region. Sweden has supported demands for a ceasefire, for the unconditional and immediate release of all the Israeli hostages, and that Hamas cannot be part of the future governance of Gaza. Sweden has also pushed for EU sanctions against extremist settlers.

But recent developments require Sweden to take an even tougher line. We are now taking two initiatives to increase pressure on the Israeli Government:

Sanctions against individual Israeli ministers. Sweden will push to introduce sanctions against extremist ministers who promote illegal settlement policies and actively counteract a future two-state solution. Sweden will also continue to advocate for additional EU sanctions against extremist settlers who commit acts of violence against civilians.

Sweden will push to introduce sanctions against extremist ministers who promote illegal settlement policies and actively counteract a future two-state solution. Sweden will also continue to advocate for additional EU sanctions against extremist settlers who commit acts of violence against civilians. Review of Israel's compliance with the EU Association Agreement. The Government supports the European Commission reviewing whether Israel is meeting the human rights obligations outlined in the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

These measures are well-balanced and targeted. Israel clearly has a right to exist and defend itself. But protests are growing even amongst the Israeli population over the nature of the war. Pressure needs to increase on the Israeli Government, not least its extremist ministers. Sweden is doing this together with our EU partners in line with established EU policy.

At the same time, a united Arab world must exert maximum pressure on Hamas to hand over governance of Gaza to the Palestinian National Authority. We are now seeing people in Gaza openly protesting against Hamas, even though in doing so, they are putting their own lives at risk. Their courage is worthy of respect and admiration.

When you look at the broader picture in the Middle East it is not as gloomy as you may think. There are several openings that could sow the seeds for a whole new Middle East. The brutal regime in Syria has been overthrown after its half a century reign of terror. Lebanon is showing signs of renewal. Talks with Iran over a possible nuclear power agreement are underway. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have resumed.

With the right engagement from the US and an Arab world willing to shoulder greater responsibility, the region could be transformed in a positive way. A Gaza not governed by Hamas is not an impossibility, it is a necessity. Resuming the process towards a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians does not have to be as far off as one may think. In June, France and Saudi Arabia are hosting a high-level conference on the two-state solution.

The world must mobilise to make this possible. Pressure for progress needs to increase. Sweden wants to play a proactive role in this process.

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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin-June 3, 2025

IDF Press Release

June 3, 2025

03.06.25

IDF

Good evening,

IDF troops have been operating over the past month as a part of Operation "Gideon's Chariots".

Today, we mourn three combat soldiers from the Givati Brigad who fell in combat: Staff Sergeant Lior Steinberg, Staff Sergeant Ofek Barhana, and Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder, may their memory be a blessing.

The three soldiers fell in battle yesterday in the Jabaliya area in the northern Gaza Strip.

May their memory be a blessing.

We share in the families' grief during these difficult times and will continue to support them.

During operational activity in the Kfar Jabalia area last night, troops traveling in a Hummer vehicle were hit by an explosive device planted by terrorists.

The terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft within a building and planted an explosive device setup.

The tunnel shaft shown on screen served as the terrorists' exit point. They used it to plant the explosive and carry out the attack.

This is an active tunnel used for terrorism.

The opening to the tunnel is located inside a destroyed building near the route, and therefore it's important to clarify  this building is a military target, like tens of thousands of other structures in the Gaza Strip that are used for terrorist purposes.

Our troops are operating and clearing the area. Nearly every other house is booby-trapped or contains a tunnel shaft.

We are dismantling these buildings not for the sake of destruction  every such structure poses an operational threat and could harm our troops.

Over the holiday of Shavuot, IDF troops in the Southern Command expanded the operation in Gaza to additional areas.

We are holding territory and clearing it of terrorist infrastructure and operatives.

We are in the midst of a wide-scale operation, both above and below ground.

Since the renewal of the operation and throughout Operation "Gideon's Chariots," we have eliminated hundreds of terrorists and struck numerous terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip.

I want to emphasize once again  we are operating according to a structured plan aimed at bringing home the hostages and dismantling Hamas's governing and military capabilities.

As can be seen in the map currently displayed, five divisions continue to operate in the Gaza Strip  including both mandatory and reserve brigades  all are on the ground, all are operating, and all are fighting.

The fighting is progressing in accordance with the current phase of the operation.

The troops are focused on thoroughly clearing the area, holding it, and preventing Hamas from reestablishing itself in locations that have already been cleared.

Last week, we confirmed the elimination of the mass-murderer, Mohammad Sinwar and additional terrorists.

The blood of thousands of Israeli civilians is on his hands.

Like other Hamas leaders, Sinwar was eliminated while deliberately hiding beneath a hospital in the heart of the civilian population.

We will continue to pursue Hamas leaders wherever they areinside Gaza and beyond.

Alongside the ongoing military pressure we are exerting on Hamas, its grip on governance is steadily cracking and deteriorating.

This week, dedicated sites were opened in southern Gaza for the distribution of humanitarian aid.

This method of food distribution severely undermines Hamas, separates the population from Hamas, and weakens its control.

Tens of thousands of food packages are distributed daily by an American civilian company directly to residents.

In addition, over 400 trucks have been waiting this past week on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, ready for collection and distribution.

The IDF and the State of Israel are doing what is required. From here, the responsibility for distribution lies with the UN.

We are operating near the new distribution areas and doing everything necessary to ensure food is distributed in an orderly manner and does not reach the hands of Hamas.

The initiative is proving itself and succeeding. Gaza residents are coming to the distribution centers. They understand that Hamas is not the one who cares for themon the contrary, Hamas is trying to prevent them from receiving aid. Hamas recognizes the threat and is responding with violence.

They are attempting to disrupt the arrival of aid to Gaza residents, and in recent days, armed operatives have been seen firing at civilians on their way to collect humanitarian assistance.

In southern Khan Yunis, masked gunmen opened direct and deliberate fire at close range and threw stones at civilians attempting to collect aid.

Hamas is losing control over the population. They continue their familiar pattern of oppression against their own people through terror, violence, and killing.

Hamas spreads false information, which is unfortunately echoed by parts of the international media without any verification.

This week, it was claimed that the IDF fired at civilians in the vicinity of the aid distribution area.

This is a completely false claim that amplifies the propaganda of the Hamas terrorist organization.

The Chief of the General Staff personally examined the incident with the commanders on the ground to uncover the truth.

Earlier today, IDF troops fired warning shots approximately half a kilometer from the distribution area toward suspects who were approaching in a manner that endangered the troops' safety.

That incident is also being examined, and we will get to the bottom of it.

We do not prevent Gaza residents from reaching the aid distribution centers.

On the contrary, we are enabling access.

Hamas is the one preventing it.

I am aware of the criticism regarding the amount of time it takes to examine incidents, but we will not report information or details that are untrue.

Credibility is criticaleven when it takes time.

I will not report half-truths.

We owe the truth in our reports, first and foremost to our soldiers.

In this case, it's the troops of the 179th Reservist Brigade, who have once again answered the call of duty and whom I met on the ground.

The brigade commander, COL Y., is leading his troops on the front linewhile his wife is currently in labor as I speak.

This is the spirit our reservists have been embodying since the beginning of the warshowing up despite all the hardships.

Hamas will pay a price for its refusal.

As instructed by the Chief of the General Staff, we are continuing and expanding the operation. We will expand the operation into additional areasboth in the south and in the north of the Gaza Strip. We will continue to operate until the conditions are met for the return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.

The IDF is prepared and active on all fronts,

on the defense and the offense,

thwarting terrorist activities, eliminating terrorists,

and operating relentlessly to ensure the security of the civilians of the State of Israel.

That's all for now,

questions?

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English Video Announcement by IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin - June 3, 2025

IDF Press Release

June 3, 2025

03.06.25

IDF

Good evening,

Over the past week, the IDF has launched precise activities throughout the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots, targeting Hamas infrastructure both above and below ground  hidden deliberately in civilian areas.

Efforts are constantly being made to avoid harm to Gazan civilians, while dozens of terrorists are being successfully eliminated.

Our operations are fully aligned with our objectives: the return of our hostages, and the decisive defeat of Hamas.

We are delivering major setbacks to Hamas and pushing the terrorist organization closer to collapse.

As a result of our military operations and the pressure we're applying, Hamas is losing its grip on the population in Gaza and its control over humanitarian aid.

Over the past week, designated distribution centers were opened in southern Gaza to provide aid directly to the civilian population.

Tens of thousands of food packages are being distributed daily by a U.S.-based civilian company.

This initiative is proving effective. Gazan residents are coming to the distribution centers to receive the aid.

The civilian population of Gaza understands that Hamas is not taking care of them  on the contrary, Hamas is actively trying to prevent them from receiving the aid.

Hamas has responded to this aid initiative with violence. It attempts to sabotage the delivery of aid and even send gunmen to fire at civilians in the aid distribution centers.

We operate nearby and do whatever is necessary to ensure that the aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas.

In addition, dozens of humanitarian aid trucks have been entering daily through the Kerem Shalom crossing

But this aid is NOT being collected or distributed.

Over 450 trucks are waiting in the area of the Kerem Shalom crossing, ready for collection and distribution.

The aid is waiting. The residents of the Gaza Strip are waiting. The organization responsible for distribution  is not acting.

According to initial findings, the IDF did not fire at civilians within the aid distribution centers. Any claims to the contrary are entirely false, harm our forces, and serve Hamas propaganda.

Hamas is spreading false information, which is unfortunately being echoed by the international media without any verification.

Earlier today, IDF forces carried out warning fire approximately half a kilometer from the aid distribution center, targeting a few individuals who were approaching in a way that posed a security threat. We are not preventing Gaza residents from accessing the aid distribution sites.

The IDF is committed to uncovering the truth and will examine any incident that requires review.

The humanitarian aid initiative will continue and will expand in the near future.

We will continue to operate to achieve the war's objectives in Gaza.

The hostages are always on our minds. Returning all the hostages to their families  the living and the deceased, including civilians and IDF soldiers  is a priority.

We will not rest until the last hostage is home.

We maintain high readiness across all fronts  in both defense and offense  operating against terrorist activity, and constantly working to ensure the security of Israel's civilians.

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Iranian firms are ready to assist with Lebanon's reconstruction: Araqchi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Iranian companies are prepared to take part in Lebanon's reconstruction operations, adding that Tehran and Beirut remain committed to strengthening political and economic ties.

During a press conference in Beirut on Tuesday, Araqchi reiterated Iran's strong backing for Lebanon's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, highlighting Iran's commitment to fostering relations built on mutual respect, common interests, non-interference in domestic affairs, and regional stability.

The top Iranian diplomat condemned the Israeli occupation of parts of Lebanon's territory, expressing Iran's support for all efforts by Lebanon's government and people to end the occupation through diplomatic or other means.

Referring to the readiness of Iranian companies to engage in Lebanon's reconstruction, Araqchi said, "Iranian companies are ready to engage in this reconstruction effort, and if the Lebanese administration wishes, it will be conducted through its government."

He also said Iran supports dialogue, national unity, and consensus-building in Lebanon, emphasizing that Tehran respects any decisions reached collectively by Lebanon's diverse political and religious groups.

Araqchi emphasized that these discussions are a purely internal matter for Lebanon and that no external powers should interfere in the process.

Following his arrival in Beirut on Tuesday morning, Araqchi met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss regional and bilateral developments. He also met with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji.

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U.N. calls for probe as Israeli troops kill Gaza civilians in another mass shooting

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 27 Palestinian civilians were killed and dozens more wounded after Israel forces opened fire on people waiting for aid in the southern city of Rafah.

Health officials said that troops began shooting at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the early hours of Tuesday.

The media office of the government in Gaza has denounced the shootings at or near aid distribution centers "horrific, intentionally repeated crimes."

In a statement, the Israeli military acknowledged the incident, claiming that its forces opened fire after the people strayed from a designated route and did not respond to warning shots.

The statement called the victims "suspects" who "posed a threat" to soldiers, without specifying the nature of the perceived threat, a usual pretext the regime cites in the aftermath of massacre of civilians in Gaza.

Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded an independent investigation into the mass shooting of Gaza's aid seekers that have been reported every day since May 27, when the GHF started its operations.

Separately, the U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday the impediment of access to food and relief for civilians in Gaza may constitute a war crime, describing attacks as unconscionable.

"For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,'" Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN high commissioner for Human Rights told the media in Geneva.

Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, since October 2023, has killed at least 54,418 Palestinians and wounded more than 124,000, according to the Health Ministry.

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Global outcry against Israeli 'war crimes,' 'brutality' in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Various officials, including former spokesperson for U.S. Department of State Matthew Miller, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric, and U.N. Security Council President for June Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, have denounced the Israeli regime's atrocities in Gaza and called for addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the besieged strip.

Miller has said that it is "without a doubt true that Israel has committed war crimes." However, he emphasized that Israeli forces are not being "held accountable."

Sanchez highlighted the widespread destruction of humanitarian infrastructure and hospitals in Gaza by the Israeli military, urging an end to the savagery in the war-torn area. He referenced Pope Leo XIV, saying that for the sake of humanity, virtue and justice, this barbarity must stop.

Dujarric said that the Israeli regime has obstructed the distribution of U.N.-sponsored drinking water to refugee camps in Jabalia. He also said that regime officials rejected the United Nations' request to deliver humanitarian aid via Karem Abu Salem crossing to Gaza.

Rodrigues-Birkett called for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, expressing disappointment with the United Nation's inaction in response to Israel's bombardment.

Despite these condemnations, U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, who represents New York's 21st congressional district, supported the Israeli regime's atrocities in Gaza, and criticized U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres for calling for investigation into the massacre of Gaza residents, labelling him as anti-Semitist.

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Iran reaffirms strong support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Lebanon's independence and territorial integrity are of great importance to Iran and the region as a whole.

Araqchi made the remarks while talking to reporters upon his arrival at Beirut's Rafik Hariri Airport on Tuesday morning.

He said that the purpose of his trip is to meet with Lebanese officials and people to exchange views on issues of common interest.

Explaining the foreign policy priorities, Araqchi said that the Islamic Republic's first priority is its neighbors as well as friends in the West Asia region.

The top diplomat also hailed the long-standing friendly ties between Iran and Lebanon, saying that the two sides remain determined to continue these relations based on mutual respect and mutual benefits.

"We have always supported Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will continue to support it against the occupation of the Israeli regime," he said, adding that such support, in no way, means interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Araqchi landed in Beirut after his two-day visit to Egypt and is scheduled to meet Lebanon's president, prime minister, speaker of parliament, and foreign minister.

He has expressed hope that new conditions in Lebanon and the region will help open a new chapter in relations between the two countries.

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Iran rejects Persian Gulf Cooperation Council's renewed claims on three islands

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Tehran has strongly rejected the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council's ([P]GCC) "unfounded" and "meddlesome" claims over the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement on Tuesday that the islands are "an inseparable part of Iranian territory" and condemned the final statement of the [P]GCC's 64th foreign ministers' meeting for repeating their baseless claims.

"We expect the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council to adopt a more constructive approach based on the commonalities of regional nations rather than making baseless claims against Iran's territorial integrity," Baqaei said.

He also dismissed references in the [P]GCC statement to Iranian decisions and actions concerning the islands, saying that the Islamic Republic considers such remarks "interference in its sovereign affairs."

Any measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran in these islands, including visits by civilian or military officials and holding military drills, are entirely consistent with Iran's sovereign rights, he said.

Baqaei further said that the repeated claims by [P]GCC members ignore historical and geographical facts.

"These statements have no impact on Iran's effective and absolute sovereignty over the three islands," he said, adding that such positions are "contrary to international law principles of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

On the Arash gas field, Baqaei reiterated Iran's commitment to "constructive cooperation" with Kuwait and stressed that "joint utilization of hydrocarbon resources" based on mutual interest can promote stronger regional ties.

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Ministry of Defence signs contract for additional "Spike" anti-tank missile systems

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence

06/03/2025 - 11:19

Capabilities

Information prepared by Media Relations Section

On Tuesday, June 3, the Ministry of Defence and the German company "EuroSpike" signed a contract worth 81 million euros for the purchase of "Spike" anti-tank missile systems, ammunition and other equipment.

"The "Spike" anti-tank missile systems have proven their effectiveness and fully meet the operational requirements of the National Armed Forces. In order to strengthen the combat capabilities of the regular units of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard, we will purchase additional systems to complement the existing stock of this weaponry," said Minister of Defence Andris Spruds.

The "Spike" anti-tank missile systems are scheduled to be delivered to Latvia starting from 2028.

The contract also includes 30% local industry involvement in the completion of the purchase. According to the Defence Industry and Innovation Support Strategy, the inclusion of a security of supply requirement for local industry involvement of up to 30% in large capability defence procurement contracts is one of the key instruments for the development of the local defence industry.

The Israeli-made "Spike" anti-tank missile system is one of the most advanced of its kind in the world. "Spike" systems consist of fourth and fifth generation electro-optical missile systems, which provide high hit accuracy and are capable of destroying various types of armoured vehicles, including battle tanks.

The "Spike" system's built-in data link between the missile and the launcher allows operators to remain invisible and out of reach of the enemy while maintaining full control over the missiles fired.

Previously in 2018, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with "Eurospike" for the purchase of "Spike" anti-missile systems, which has already led to cooperation between the company and local industry.

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The President: The friendship between Lithuania and Poland extends beyond terms of office

President of the Republic of Lithuania

June 03, 2025

On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nauseda met with outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Lithuanian seaside. The leaders discussed the outcomes of bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Poland, the regional security situation, support for Ukraine, preparations for the NATO Summit in The Hague, and shared interests within the European Union.

The Lithuanian leader emphasized that over the past six years, relations between Lithuania and Poland have reached their highest point. Meetings between the two Presidents have been frequent and consistent, occurring around 60 times in various formats. According to President Gitanas Nauseda, this reflects not only the excellent dynamics of bilateral relations, but also the trust and shared values between the leaders of both countries.

Gitanas Nauseda noted that this period has been marked by significant joint achievements: strengthening NATO's eastern flank, securing Lithuania's synchronization with continental Europe, providing steadfast support for Ukraine, and preserving historical memory.

President Gitanas Nauseda expressed his appreciation for Poland's role as Lithuania's most important economic and trading partner. He highlighted particularly close cooperation in the high-tech sector, including life sciences, renewable energy, telecommunications, financial technologies, and cyber security.

The two leaders also discussed further measures to enhance defense, such the East Shield and Baltic Defense Line projects, as well as NATO's rotational air defense model in the Baltic states. The President underlined that Lithuania and Poland remain responsible allies, and ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague, their stance on defense spending remains clear: member states need to allocate at least 5% of GDP to defense.

President Gitanas Nauseda stressed that both Lithuania and Poland are among the largest and most consistent supporters of Ukraine. According to the Head of State, this support is a long-term investment in European security and in a rules-based international order. He emphasized that a just peace must rest on the aggressor's accountabilitynot on territorial compromises.

The meeting also addressed the need to tighten sanctions against Russia, enhance EU support for the protection of the Union's eastern borders, and reinforce resilience to disinformation and falsification of history. The President noted that safeguarding historical memory will be one of Lithuania's key priorities during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027.

The Lithuanian leader expressed gratitude to Polish President Andrzej Duda for a constructive and close partnership, as well as for his personal dedication over the years of collaboration. Gitanas Nauseda underlined that Andrzej Duda has been a reliable ally and a sincere friend, with whom agreements extended well beyond formal bilateral relations.

"I have no doubt that the friendship between our nations goes beyond terms of office and will continue to grow stronger," said the Lithuanian leader.

The President's Communication Group

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Gitanas Nauseda spoke by telephone with Poland's President-elect Karol Nawrocki

President of the Republic of Lithuania

June 03, 2025

President Gitanas Nauseda spoke by telephone with Karol Nawrocki, the newly elected President of the Republic of Poland.

Gitanas Nauseda once again congratulated Karol Nawrocki on his victory in the Polish presidential election and expressed hope that bilateral relations between Lithuania and Poland would continue to grow stronger.

"I hope we will remain steadfast allies in NATO and the European Union, continue contributing to the security of Europe as a whole, and maintain our support for Ukraine as it faces Russian aggression," said the Lithuanian leader.

The President extended an invitation to Karol Nawrockiwho will assume office as President of Poland in Augustto visit Lithuania, emphasizing that such a visit would offer an opportunity not only to address current issues of bilateral cooperation but also to further strengthen the friendship between the two nations.

The Lithuanian leader wished the newly elected Polish President endurance and strength in fulfilling his important duties and responsibilities ahead.

The President's Communication Group

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Israelis Commit 3,024 Crimes in 7 Days, Including 91 "Settlement" Attacks -----Flour Massacres: Israel Kills 75 Starving Palestinians in Gaza

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

03-06-2025

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians reported that Israel, the occupying power, has repeated the "flour massacres" scenario in the Gaza Strip, which occurred previously in early 2024. Early last week, Israeli forces opened fire on 200 Palestinians, killing 75 of them while they were on their way to receive aid from an American center in the Gaza Strip.

It's worth noting that this massacre came within the context of the policy of starvation and deliberate killing that the Israeli occupation forces had previously enacted on January 25 and February 29, 2024, through the Kuwait and Nabulsi roundabout massacres, which claimed the lives of approximately 150 murdered Palestinians, in the north and west of Gaza City.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an investigation into the Rafah massacre, particularly given the overcrowding that occurred at the centre to obtain aid under the Israeli occupation's terms, the absence of internationally recognized organizations, and the fact that the occupation army carried out arrests among Palestinians and opened indiscriminate fire on hungry people.

In the same context, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) confirmed that the occupation forces executed one of its employees on the ground in Gaza, while the World Food Programme announced that unidentified individuals in the Gaza Strip seized 77 trucks on their way to distribute aid.

The OIC Media Observatory documented that, throughout the past week, the occupation forces deliberately targeted civilian homes, displaced people's tents, and streets crowded with displaced people in various areas of the Gaza Strip. The OIC Observatory also documented the fall of 398 murdered Palestinians in seven days, and a total of 55,800 Palestinians between October 7, 2023, and June 2, 2025. Meanwhile, 1,757 Palestinians were injured between May 27 and June 2, 2025, in addition to 132,647 injured since the beginning of the Israeli aggression. The occupation forces murdered journalist Hassan Abu Warda in northern Gaza, bringing the number of journalists murdered since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip to 223. This aggression came at a time when the occupation forces displaced 250,000 Palestinians from Jabalia camp, in addition to evacuating the neighborhoods of Jabalia Al-Balad, Al-Atatra, Shujaiya, Al-Daraj, and Al-Zeitoun in Gaza City, and demolishing homes in northern Gaza.

In the West Bank, the number of raids carried out by Israeli occupation forces in one week reached 317, during which 142 Palestinians were arrested, including 9 children, in addition to injuring five children. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces raided the Al-Mustaqbal National School in the Shuafat refugee camp in Al-Quds, in search of students.

During the aforementioned weekly monitored period, the occupation forces demolished 8 homes, in addition to several residential barns and tents, a parking lot near the Qalandia checkpoint, a commercial facility in the Jabal al-Mukaber neighborhood in Al-Quds, and part of a public park in the village of al-Mughayyir in Ramallah. They confiscated 14,917 dunums of land in the Nablus and Qalqilya governorates. They razed agricultural lands in the town of Bruqin, as well as streets and water lines, and uprooted trees in the village of Duma in Nablus, in addition to lands in the village of Turmus Ayya in Ramallah, and in the village of Deir Ballut in Salfit. They also stormed the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque and raised the occupation flag over its dome in the Nur Shams camp in Tulkarm.

In continuation of the Israeli robbery policy, the occupation forces targeted Palestinian exchange companies and savings, including branches of the Palestinian Gulf Exchange Company in Tubas, Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilya and Nablus, in addition to Fakhr al-Din Exchange shops, and confiscated sums of money and gold jewelry from Palestinians in Jenin, Tulkarm, Jericho and Hebron, and sums of money from a cafe. They also confiscated a quantity of gold and money from Al-Ashqar Jewelry shops in Qalqilya and Nablus, and a sum of money from a pottery company in Hebron.

The number of recorded settler attacks and activities in the West Bank reached 91, including 77 attacks, one of which targeted the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, where Israeli Knesset member Julia Malinowski stormed. In addition, Palestinian vehicles were attacked at Bab al-Sahira in the Old City of Al-Quds.

Settlers also seized a cave belonging to a Palestinian family in the Masafer area of Yatta town in Hebron, stealing its contents and placing their livestock inside. They also stole a water tank from the village of Bardala in Tubas, and an agricultural tractor from the village of Yasuf in Salfit.

Settlers burned agricultural lands in Sinjil, Marj Sa'i plain, Kafr Malik village, and Al-Mughayyir village in Ramallah, as well as lands in Haris village in Salfit, and two vehicles in Rammun village in Ramallah. They also burned 15 vehicles, smashed windows of homes, and caused material damage to four homes in Qaryut village in Nablus. They grazed their livestock in several villages. They cut off electricity lines supplying homes in Al-Auja town in Jericho, and the occupation forces destroyed a water line supplying homes in Sebastia town, which is approximately one kilometer long.

The number of recorded settlement activities reached 14. Meanwhile, settlers placed mobile homes in the village of Birin in Hebron, in the Ein al-Haramiyeh area in Ramallah, and in the Umm al-Quba plain in Tubas, in addition to placing a mobile home and a tent north of the town of Bruqin in Salfit. Settlers continued work on establishing a new settlement outpost in the al-Qala' area near the village of al-Mughayyir and in front of the entrance to the village of Duma in Nablus, in the town of al-Auja in Jericho, and in the Masafer Bani Na'im area east of the "Bnei Hefer" settlement. Settlers rehabilitated a road linking the "Na'ran" settlement to the "Auja" waterfall in Jericho. Others bulldozed land under the protection of occupation forces in the village of Sarta in Salfit, and land in the village of Urif in Nablus. Settlers placed ground markers on land belonging to the village of Mikhmas in Al-Quds and removed the fence surrounding the land with the aim of seizing it. Settlers also paved a new settlement road north of the town of Al-Auja in Jericho, and fenced off land owned by the Latin Patriarchate in the northern Jordan Valley. This brings the total number of Israeli crimes recorded over the period of seven days to approximately 3,024 committed across various Palestinian areas.

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PBBM retains key Cabinet execs, names new SEC chief

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

June 3, 2025, 5:27 pm

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. retained a significant number of Cabinet officials following his administration's ongoing recalibration process.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the third phase of the "bold reset" in the administration's ongoing performance evaluation in a press briefing in Malacanang Tuesday.

Among those whose resignations were declined and will remain in their posts are:

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara

TESDA Director-General Jose Francisco Benitez

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac

Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile

Presidential Management Staff Secretary Elaine Masukat

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes

Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Leo Tereso Magno

Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Concerns Secretary Antonio Cerilles

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio

National Treasurer Sharon Almanza

Bersamin emphasized that the performance evaluation process is still ongoing, including for officials below Cabinet rank.

"If you are asking for blood, there will still be blood," Bersamin said.

"We are still undertaking continuing performance evaluations... I assure you that this is a very sweeping and thorough evaluation being made by the President and the panel of his choice."

Meanwhile, Bersamin also announced that the President has accepted the courtesy resignations of Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maynardo Sabili; Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Terrence Calatrava; and Presidential Assistant on Muslim Affairs Almarim Tillah.

New SEC chief

The Palace official also announced the appointment of Francis Lim as the incoming chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He will replace Emilio Aquino, whose term ends on June 5, 2025.

Lim previously served as President and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange and is a senior partner at ACCRALAW.

Likewise, Bersamin clarified that Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will remain in his post until his confirmation as the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a designation effective Aug. 1 pending the Commission on Appointments' approval.

"Secretary Manalo's courtesy resignation was declined. He continues to be the Secretary of Foreign Affairs," Bersamin said.

Veteran diplomat Ma. Theresa Lazaro has been designated to replace Manalo, effective July 31.

Marcos earlier asked all his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations following the 2025 midterm elections to recalibrate his administration's priorities and services.

Marcos has so far retained Bersamin and his economic team  Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs Frederick Go.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, his brother Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. have also been retained.

Meanwhile, Secretary Raphael Lotilla has been transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from the DOE, after Marcos accepted the courtesy resignation of Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar was also named as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development, with a rank of Secretary. He was replaced by engineer Ramon Aliling, a former Housing undersecretary who previously led the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program and Pasig Bigyan Muli Buhay Project.

Last week, Menardo Guevarra and Popoy De Vera were replaced as Solicitor General and Commission on Higher Education Chairperson, respectively. (PNA)

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Yemen hails writing 'new page in modern warfare' as hypersonic missile targets key Israeli airport

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 9:51 PM

Yemen has boasted about its military achievements against the United States and continued burgeoning capability to strike sensitive Israeli targets on the same day it fired yet another missile towards the Israeli regime's key airport.

Remarking on Tuesday, Defense Minister Major General Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi noted how the country had "foiled the American aggression, and ended the dominance of aircraft carriers."

The official was referring to Sana'a's forcing the United States into ending its acts of deadly military aggression against the country by incessantly targeting American naval assets in key waterways -- something that forced successive US aircraft carriers to leave.

Succumbing to Yemen's determined defensive maneuvers, Washington entered a ceasefire with Sana'a early last month, thus ending the American aggression that had sought, unsuccessfully though, to stop the Yemeni Armed Forces' strikes against the Israeli regime.

Atifi hailed the achievements in the face of the United States as the Yemeni nation's "writing a new page in modern warfare."

He also warned that the country was fully prepared to further escalate its strikes against strategic Israeli targets, which have been underway since October 2023, when Tel Aviv began bringing the Gaza Strip under a genocidal war.

The pro-Palestinian operations have, among other things, featured Yemen's imposing a naval blockade on Israeli ships and the vessels heading towards the occupied Palestinian territories as well as its enforcing an aerial blockade against the regime that took effect on May 4.

"We are ready for further escalation against the [Zionist] entity, which will lead to tightening of the [naval and aerial] siege and inflicting further losses on the enemy," the Yemeni minister said.

'We can fire missiles, drones around the clock'

Additionally, Atifi noted that Yemen "possesses the initiative and strategic deterrence capability to launch missiles and drones around the clock, targeting the enemy's depth."

He, meanwhile, reminded how the overall struggle against the country's enemies had led to further development of its military capabilities.

The enhancement has witnessed Yemen produce missiles with longer ranges and greater accuracy and impact, besides letting the country lay its hands on other instances of modern defensive technology, the official said.

Also on Tuesday, pro-Palestinian media outlets reported that missile sirens had gone off throughout the occupied territories, including in Tel Aviv.

Later, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for Yemen's Armed Forces, announced that the servicemen had targeted the Ben Gurion airport, the Israeli regime's most important air terminal, with a "hypersonic ballistic missile," codenamed Palestine-2.

"The operation successfully achieved its goal," he stated.

According to the official, the strike caused millions of the regime's illegal settlers to flee towards shelters.

It also halted airport operations, and prevented a US military cargo plane from landing at the facility "for the second consecutive day."

The airport has turned into a regular target of Yemen's pro-Palestinian strikes, prompting many international airlines to suspend directing flights towards the facility.

"The criminal enemy will find nothing from dear, steadfast, and struggling Yemen, but more missiles and drones in rejection of the crime of genocide."

He finally repeated Sana'a's warning that such operations would continue as long as the regime sustained the war and a simultaneous near-total siege on Gaza.

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Jordan censures Israeli settlers forcefully entering Al-Aqsa

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 6:42 PM

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs has denounced the Israeli settlers' storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry stressed that Jordan's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs is the sole authority responsible for managing and regulating Al-Aqsa's affairs.

On Monday and Tuesday, hundreds of Israeli settlers forcefully went to the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in occupied al-Quds to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks.

According to the eyewitnesses, they performed provocative Talmudic rituals at the Mosque's gates to mark Shavuot.

The Ministry described the setters' behavior as "inflammatory acts that aim to impose new temporal and spatial divisions at the mosque."

"[The Settlers' incursion] would not be possible without the protection and facilitation of the Israeli police," said Sufian Qudah, the Ministry spokesperson, and demanded that the Israeli authorities "halt their irresponsible and dangerous practices."

Qudah said the 144,000 square meter area of Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound is a place of worship that is exclusively reserved for Muslims.

He highlighted that the Jerusalem Endowments Council, which operates under Jordan's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, is the only organization responsible for managing the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Certain Jewish sects call the area the "Temple Mount," and claim it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East al-Quds, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

It occupied the entire city in 1980 in a move that has never been recognized by the international community.

While the issue of settlers entering the area of the Mosque is not new, since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime began its genocidal war against Gaza, very large groups of settlers alongside far-right Israeli ministers, especially Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Knesset members have been entering the area.

Before the events of Monday and Tuesday, on May 26, during the so-called "flag March," Ben-Gvir, Knesset members, and a very large group of settlers entered the area of the Mosque.

"These acts are not only provocative but also recklessly escalate tensions, especially as Israel expands its war on Gaza and intensifies its operations in the occupied West Bank," said Qudah at the time.

According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime began its genocidal war in Gaza, the regime has killed 54,510 and injured 124,901, most of whom are children and women.

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Hamas says US-backed GHF using aid to displace Gaza residents

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 3:46 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the newly established aid distribution sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the besieged Gaza Strip have become "death traps" for starving civilians and a displacement tool.

In a statement released on Tuesday, labeling the aid distribution operation as the "Israeli-American mechanism", Hamas said the process had become "a trap of death and humiliation."

"Targeting the hungry while they are searching for sustenance reveals the nature of this fascist enemy, which uses hunger and bombing as weapons of killing and displacement, as part of a systematic plan to empty Gaza of its population," the statement read.

The group said its goal was not to provide relief to the residents of the besieged Palestinian region.

"Its goal is not relief, but rather to break the dignity of our people and turn the lives of those under siege into hell, serving the purposes of forced displacement," it said.

Elsewhere in the statement, Hamas called on the United Nations, the Security Council, and international relief organizations "to take immediate action to halt this deadly mechanism and save what remains of our besieged people."

Separately in a statement posted on Telegram, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement condemned what it calls a "Zionist-American crime" following the killing of Palestinians attempting to collect aid in Gaza.

The Palestinian group accused Israel and its US backers of carrying out a deliberate campaign of persecution.

"The attack reflects "a systematic policy of persecuting our people and practising the most heinous forms of oppression and injustice against them."

The group also blasted international silence over Israel's ongoing siege and starvation tactics in Gaza.

It said global powers are complicit in "genocide and ethnic cleansing". It also pointed to what it called the latest atrocity  "the heinous Zionist massacre of starving and besieged people as they were heading to receive aid in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah".

The comments come as outrage grows over repeated Israeli attacks on civilians seeking food and water, with little international accountability.

Early on Sunday morning, Israeli forces opened fire on a GHF site in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, killing at least 40 people and injuring 150 others.

Soon after, a Palestinian was reported killed in a shooting at the GHF's distribution point, in Gaza City, south of the so-called Netzarim Corridor.

Gaza's Government Media Office says in less than a week, the Israeli regime has killed 50 people and wounded hundreds at GHF sites.

The US-backed aid plan has been widely criticized for its unfair and inadequate distribution system.

Analysts, activists, and aid agencies have described the US-Israeli plan for aid relief in Gaza as a "mockery" of humanitarian law.

International aid agencies have already warned that Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza, including the US-backed proposal, will only add to the suffering in the devastated Palestinian territory.

The UNRWA chief, Philippe Lazzarini, recently called on Israel to lift the siege on Gaza and allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid in the besieged enclave, stressing that this is the only way to avert mass starvation, including among 1 million children.

Israel's far-right ruling coalition, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has embraced Donald Trump's proposals on Gaza to displace Palestinians permanently outside the territory and turn it into a seaside real-estate development.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated dramatically since March 18, when the Israeli regime violated its ceasefire agreement with the resistance group Hamas.

According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Gaza suffers from phase 5 famine, and nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition.

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Iran FM urges dialogue among Lebanese factions to resolve Lebanon problems

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 3:15 PM

Iran's foreign minister has urged unity among the Lebanese people to address the country's problems, calling for national dialogue among all sects and political groups to build consensus and resolve the country's issues.

Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut, his second diplomatic destination after a visit to Egypt.

The minister emphasized Iran's readiness to expand relations with Lebanon in areas of mutual interest, based on reciprocal respect and shared benefits.

The minister also announced that Iranian companies stand ready to assist the Lebanese government in reconstruction efforts.

President Aoun, in turn, pointed to his government's approach to developing relations with all countries and affirmed Lebanon's readiness to deepen friendly ties with Iran across various fields.

He stressed that ending the occupation of parts of Lebanon and rebuilding damage caused by Israeli aggression were top priorities for Lebanon's new government.

Araghchi also held a meeting with Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in which they exchanged views on developing bilateral relations between Iran and Lebanon, as well as on regional developments.

Araghchi described his visit as part of the Iranian government's policy to strengthen ties with neighboring and regional countries, including Lebanon.

Referring to the long-standing, friendly relations between the two nations, the minister stressed Iran's determination to expand these ties, especially in economic and trade spheres, by activating the Iran-Lebanon Joint Cooperation Commission.

The Lebanese PM emphasized his cabinet's readiness to develop relations with Iran based on mutual respect and common interests.

'Iran ready for new phase of cooperation'

In a separate meeting with Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Araghchi commended his pivotal role and initiatives in fostering political understanding among Lebanese factions during the presidential election and government-formation stages.

Araghchi reaffirmed Iran's resolve to embark on a new phase of friendly relations with the Lebanese government and to deepen bilateral ties across political and economic domains.

Berri, for his part, lamented Israel's blatant violations of the ceasefire deal despite Lebanon's full compliance over the past eight months.

He declared the liberation of occupied Lebanese territories and subsequent reconstruction as the country's two foremost priorities.

Araghchi also held talks with Youssef Raji, his Lebanese counterpart, in which they exchanged views on bilateral relations and significant regional developments.

Araghchi, recalling the long and positive history of Iran-Lebanon relations, stressed Iran's readiness to expand cooperation across political, economic, and commercial fields.

He reiterated Iran's continued support for Lebanon's independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and lauded the Lebanese government and people for their efforts to confront Israeli aggression, end occupation, and liberate the country's southern districts.

Raji, noting the high esteem in which the Lebanese people hold Iran and its millennia-old culture and civilization, affirmed his government's readiness to broaden bilateral ties with Iran in all spheres.

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Israeli forces kill 27 starving Palestinians in latest massacre at Gaza aid site

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 2:44 PM

Israeli forces have killed at least 27 Palestinians as they waited for food at a distribution point set up by a US-led organization in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

Gaza's Government Media Office has said Israeli forces committed "a horrific, intentionally repeated crime" by having lured starving Palestinians to aid centers run by Tel Aviv-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and killed 102 of them in the past eight days.

On Tuesday, Gaza's Civil Defense agency said, "Twenty-seven people were killed and more than 90 injured in the massacre targeting civilians who were waiting for American aid in the Al-Alam area of Rafah."

"Israeli forces opened fire with tanks and drones on thousands of civilians who had gathered since dawn near al-Alam roundabout in the al-Mawasi area, north-west of Rafah," civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

The director of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Atef Al-Hout, described 24 dead and 37 wounded arriving with gunshot injuries.

He confirmed that Israeli forces had opened fire on "crowds of civilians waiting for aid in western Rafah."

A foreign medic described the scene as "total carnage," with overwhelmed doctors struggling to treat the flood of casualties.

For more than three months, Gaza has been under a total Israeli blockade, with all border crossings shut and humanitarian aid, food, and fuel severely restricted.

International aid groups and the United Nations have rejected the Israeli-controlled aid plan led by the GHF, warning it is being used as a tool to "weaponize" humanitarian relief.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged an independent investigation into Israel's killing of Palestinians at aid distribution sites, saying it's "unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food."

"Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime," Guterres has said.

The aid scheme, managed by the GHF, currently operates with significantly fewer distribution pointsonly four compared to hundreds previously under the UN-coordinated system.

Most of these sites are reportedly not operational on any given day.

The United Nations has expressed strong opposition to the new system, arguing that it puts civilians at risk by requiring them to travel long distances through Israeli military zones to access food.

Critics also fear that the new aid plan has been devised to contribute to displacement in northern Gaza, as all aid distribution sites are now located in the south.

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US envoy 'fully agreed' to Gaza ceasefire proposal, but caved to Israeli demands: Hamas official

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 11:21 AM

A senior Hamas official says US special envoy Steve Witkoff initially agreed to a recent Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by the Palestinian resistance movement, but later yielded to demands from the occupying Israeli regime.

Witkoff "fully agreed" to the framework of a ceasefire agreement that Hamas had proposed, but later yielded to Israeli demands, Mahmoud Mardawi said on Tuesday.

He emphasized that Hamas would not have moved forward with the proposal if Witkoff had raised any objections, while his group was drafting the document.

Mardawi pointed out that the Hamas proposal aimed for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, unrestricted entry of aid, and guarantees of implementation of the ceasefire deal from the Trump administration.

In return, Israel immediately rejected the demands, with Witkoff describing them as "unacceptable."

Hamas maintains that 10 living Israeli captives and the bodies of 18 others would be released in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners.

"The Israeli occupation wants to receive the captives on the first day of the truce without guarantees of implementation of the deal. We will not hand over the ten occupation captives without sufficient guarantees for a ceasefire," Mardawi stated.

The senior Hamas official further argued that the Tel Aviv regime circumvented the ceasefire proposal agreed by the resistance group and the US envoy, in order to solve its internal political problems.

Additionally, another senior Hamas official Bassem Naim took a swipe at Israel over disagreeing with agreed-upon provisions, and criticized a "complete bias toward the other side" that he said violates the fairness of mediation.

The latest friction in negotiations comes as the Gaza conflict nears 20 months of war, and the nearly three-month blockade on the Palestinian coastal sliver has pushed the population of over 2 million to the brink of famine.

While Israel allowed some aid to enter in recent days, aid organizations say far from enough is getting in.

At least 54,510 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 124,901 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.

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Persian Gulf trio islands 'inseparable' part of Iranian territory: Foreign Ministry spokesman

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 9:38 AM

The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has dismissed the hackneyed claims about three Iranian islands in the final statement of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stressing the islands are an "integral" part of the Iranian territory.

In a statement on Tuesday, Esmaeil Baghaei roundly dismissed the allegations brought up in the final communique of the 164th Ministerial Council meeting of the GCC countries, hosted by Kuwait, regarding the three Iranian islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb, and Abu Mu

The Iranian diplomat also dismissed as interventionist the remarks made in the statement regarding the decisions and actions by Iranian officials with respect to the aforementioned islands.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, in line with exercising its sovereign rights, will take any essential action that deems necessary to ensure the security and interests of the country within the three islands, including their land, water, and airspace," Baghaei emphasized.

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry added, "What the Islamic Republic of Iran is doing in relation to its three islands is completely consistent with its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in exercising national sovereignty over the territory of Iran."

"Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the comments made in the aforementioned statement regarding residential development, the visit of Iranian state and military officials to the Iranian islands, and military exercises within its territorial borders as interference in its sovereign affairs, and rejects them."

Baghaei lamented that the GCC member states have once again repeated their baseless claims about the three islands without considering the historical and geographical realities.

Although such actions do not undermine Iran's absolute and effective sovereignty over the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, they are in contradiction to the principles of international law on respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the world states, he said.

The three islands "are an integral part of Iran's territory, and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to adopt a more constructive approach, and rely on the commonalities of regional nations than to make baseless claims against Iran's territorial integrity," Baghaei stated.

The Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.

The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was restored.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the spokesman responded to claims about the Arash offshore gas field in the Persian Gulf and emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran, having engaged in mutual negotiations with the Kuwaiti government, has always underlined constructive cooperation in the field of energy, including in the natural gas field and joint exploitation of its hydrocarbon resources.

"Doubtlessly, the measures that would be based on consideration of common interests and concerns can provide suitable grounds for strengthening regional cooperation," the Iranian Foreign Ministry highlighted.

The dispute over the Arash gas field, which Kuwaitis call al-Durra, dates back to the 1960s when Iran and Kuwait were awarded overlapping offshore concessions for the field following its discovery.

The dispute has seen several cycles of claims and counter-claims by the parties involved, becoming a key sticking point in relations between the Persian Gulf neighbors.

The field is estimated to hold 20 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, which could produce one billion cubic feet per day. Nearly 40% of the Arash gas field is located in Iranian waters.

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Iran's FM arrives in Beirut, reaffirms support for Lebanon amid Israeli assaults

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 8:20 AM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has underlined Iran's continued support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid continued Israeli violations.

The top diplomat made the remarks after deplaning at the city's Rafic Hariri International Airport on Tuesday, where he arrived following a visit to Egypt.

"Today, I will meet with senior Lebanese officials," he told reporters, adding that Iran was "determined to keep up these [bilateral] relations based on mutual respect and the mutual interests between the two countries."

The official underscored that Lebanon's independence and sovereignty continued to bear much significance for the Islamic Republic and the broader West Asia region by extension.

"We have supported Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity at every stage," he said, pledging continued backing on the part of Tehran for such imperatives "in the face of the Zionist regime [of Israel]'s occupation."

Iran's continued adherence to non-interference principle

Araghchi, however, clarified that the Islamic Republic's support for Lebanon should not be misconstrued as a means of political interference.

"This, of course, means the support of a friendly country for its friends in Lebanon," he stated. "It, by no means, constitutes interference in Lebanon's internal affairs."

"No country in the region has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other regional countries," he further underlined, backing up his assertion.

Iran's reaffirmation of support for Lebanon follows a recent escalation in Israeli military aggression against the nation.

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes on a residential building in Beirut's southern suburbs killed several civilians, including an official with the country's Hezbollah resistance movement and his son.

Iranian officials swiftly condemned the attack as a grave violation of international law.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denounced the Israeli regime for breaching a November 2024 ceasefire deal "over 2,000 times" and denounced the inaction of international guarantors.

"This proves their (the international players') promises lack credibility," he said, also criticizing the United Nations Security Council for remaining silent on the "heinous crimes" being committed against Lebanon.

Baghaei further said the United States and its Western allies were complicit in the Israeli aggression, referring to the countries' ongoing robust military, political, and intelligence backing for the regime that had significantly enabled it to subject regional nations to its atrocities.

In the face of international inertia and the regime's empowerment by its allies, the spokesman urged regional states to adopt firmer stances against Tel Aviv's no-holds-barred policies.

The Israeli violations take place while the regime and Hezbollah reached the ceasefire in late November 2024 in the hope of ending Tel Aviv's intensified deadly attacks against the country.

The attacks had begun the previous year, simultaneously with the onset of the regime's genocidal war on Gaza.

The intensified strikes claimed the lives of around 4,000 people in Lebanon, including senior members of Hezbollah that have been defending the country in the face of the regime's acts of military adventurism.

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Hamas slams Israeli destruction of dialysis center as 'systematic' attack on Gaza health sector

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 5:22 AM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned the destruction of a dialysis center in northern Gaza, calling it part of Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians and a deliberate assault on Gaza's collapsing health infrastructure.

Hamas on Monday denounced the "fascist occupation army's" destruction of the Noura Al-Kaabi Dialysis Center in northern Gaza, saying it was Israel's "new crime in the systematic targeting and destruction of Gaza's health sector."

"The fascist occupation government continues its policy of targeting all aspects of life in Gaza, including hospitals and medical centers, as part of the genocide its criminal army has been waging against our people for over 19 months," it said.

Director General of Gaza's Health Ministry Muneer al-Boursh said on Sunday that the Israeli military had completely demolished the Noura al-Kaabi dialysis center.

He said the healthcare facility had been providing vital care to more than 160 kidney failure patients despite severe shortages of fuel and medical supplies.

The center, which is part of the Indonesian hospital, had been renovated and reopened just weeks ago after a previous Israeli assault.

Hamas said that due to the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel, tens of thousands of patients - women, children, and the elderly - now find themselves without medical care or specialized centers to treat chronic and critical illnesses, particularly kidney failure, cancer, and other diseases.

It also pointed out that such savage crimes against innocent civilians in Gaza are carried out with political and military cover from the US administration, amid shameful international silence and complicity.

"We, the Hamas Movement, call upon the international community, the UN, and its institutions - particularly the Security Council - to restore respect for humanitarian values and international law, take decisive action to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and hold the occupation's war criminals accountable for their atrocities," the movement added.

Israel launched its Gaza genocide on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas resistance movement carried out a military operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 124,00 others, in the besieged territory.

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UN chief demands probe as Israeli forces kill 75 starving Palestinians in 6days

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 3:14 AM

Israeli forces have opened fire again on Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid from a distribution site in Gaza, raising the number of those killed whilst trying to obtain food to more than 75 people in less than six days.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded an independent investigation into the repeated mass shootings of aid seekers in Gaza.

"It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food," he said. "I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable."

The Israeli military has shamefully denied targeting civilians, claiming its soldiers fired "warning shots" at individuals who "posed a threat".

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, three Palestinians were killed and at least 35 wounded when Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution site in Rafah operated by the US and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which Israel and the United States back.

The ministry reported that at least 75 Palestinians had been killed and more than 400 wounded whilst queuing for food since May 27 at aid distribution sites run by GHF.

"The Israeli military opened fire on civilians trying to get their hands on any kind of food aid without any kind of warning," Al Jazeera reported from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

"This is a pattern that's been widely condemned by international aid organizations because it enhances the breakdown of civil order without ensuring humanitarian relief can be received by those desperately in need."

According to reports, Israeli snipers and quadcopter drones routinely monitor aid sites run by GHF.

Monday's killings came hours after Israeli forces shot dead at least 35 Palestinians at two US-Israeli food distribution points in Rafah and central Gaza.

Eyewitnesses and local officials said that Israeli troops opened fire directly at civilians, shooting them in their head or chest.

On Sunday, the Commissioner General of the UN's Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said the newly established aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip have become "death traps" for starving civilians in the blockaded territory.

Philippe Lazzarini further condemned the aid delivery and distribution model introduced by the Israeli regime and the US, saying, "This humiliating system has forced thousands of hungry and desperate people to walk for tens of miles to an area that's all but pulverized due to heavy bombardment" by the Israeli military.

He also noted that aid deliveries and distribution must be at scale and safe, emphasizing that this can only be done through the United Nations, including UNRWA.

Munir al-Barsh, Director General of the Health Ministry in Gaza, condemned "the international silence regarding the massacres being committed against the starving residents of the Gaza Strip," adding that severe shortages of medical supplies in the territory are producing "dire conditions" at hospitals.

He went on to say that 3000 trucks carrying badly needed medical supplies are currently stalled at the border, accusing Israel of "deliberately spreading infectious diseases and epidemics" by the blockade.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated dramatically since March 18, when the Israeli regime violated its ceasefire agreement with the resistance group Hamas.

According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Gaza suffers from phase 5 famine, and nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition.

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What To Expect From NATO's New Defense Spending Targets And The EU's Latest Russia Sanctions

By Rikard Jozwiak June 03, 2025

Briefing #1: NATO's New Targets

What You Need To Know: NATO defense ministers meet on June 5 in a last ministerial meeting before the big annual NATO summit on June 24-25, when the military alliance's 32 heads of state and government, including US President Donald Trump, gather at The Hague.

The meeting is about one thing only: cash. This is when officials are set to agree on the next NATO spending target.

As most alliance members now spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, the next goal is 3.5 percent in so-called hard spending, meaning military capabilities such as tanks, rockets, and ammunition.

According to NATO officials who spoke to RFE/RL, only Spain seems to have problems with the 3.5 percent headline, but it's expected to relent at the ministerial.

Spain is one of only a few countries still not clearing the 2 percent baseline, having only reached 1.28 percent last year; the budgeted military spending increase it was hoping for appears to be stuck for now.

The issue in Madrid is related to the center-left government's long-held promise to coalition partners to get Catalan, Basque, and Galician to become official EU languages -- something that requires unanimity among EU member states, which Spain failed to secure when it came up on the agenda in Brussels on May 27.

While the issue hasn't been entirely dismissed yet, no date has been set for a potential decision on the issue.

Deep Background: The 3.5 percent target is not the only thing that needs deciding. There should also be a 1.5 percent of GDP spending goal on what could be called soft targets, bringing total defense spending up to 5 percent of GDP.

One of the big issues now, with negotiations likely to continue right up till the summit, is what can be included in that 1.5 percent. It would certainly include boosting civil preparedness and cyberdefense, but allies are lobbying to put pretty much anything in there -- rumor has it Germany wants to include financing for its Deutsche Welle media broadcasting.

There are two more questions that may not be resolved anytime soon: the timeline for reaching the target and how exactly to do so. The year 2032 has been mentioned, but that may well be pushed back to 2035, with officials saying it's unrealistic for every country to boost defense spending before then as there are low growth and considerable budget deficits to contend with.

There is a real discussion on the method of how to reach the target with NATO officials pushing for a 0.2 percent spending increase every year. Most countries, however, don't want such a detailed plan and prefer spending in spurts when money is available. This would mean their defense spending could jump considerably during a year when they place a major order of tanks or airplanes, for example -- and ideally this would come nearer the 3.5 percent target deadline.

Drilling Down:

So where does the United States stand in all of this? It's been Trump, after all, who's hammered home to European NATO allies that they need to spend more. European diplomats I have spoken to say Washington simply wants the 3.5 percent in writing in The Hague and doesn't really care what the other 1.5 percent involves.

But there's also a grand transatlantic bargain to be had. The United States would like for a potential European defense splurge to benefit American weapon manufacturers. But with supply chains stretched in North America, it could make sense to set up more American production in Europe. In other words: buy American, in Europe. Think of the Patriot systems that will be made in Germany or F-35 aircraft production in Italy.

So what about Ukraine? There will at least be a session of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the defense ministerial on June 5, something that seems unlikely at the Hague summit with the presence of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy still unconfirmed.

at the defense ministerial on June 5, something that seems unlikely at the Hague summit with the presence of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy still unconfirmed. The day before the ministerial meeting, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein group), an alliance of 57 countries, will meet to coordinate military aid for Kyiv. With the United States no longer in the lead, Germany and the United Kingdom are now co-chairing the group with more announcements of military aid expected.

NATO allies provided 50 billion euros to Ukraine in 2024, and the goal is to provide another 40 billion this year. More than 20 billion euros have been pledged so far, but there is still a fear that target won't be reached as countries will be prioritizing their own defenses and the United States signaled it might not send more arms to Kyiv as it seeks a negotiated end to the fighting.





Briefing #2: The EU's Next Sanctions On Russia. What's Next And When Can They Be Expected?

What You Need To Know: When the European Commission started briefing EU states last month on the next sanctions package expected to be imposed on Russia, the 27 member nations expected concrete written proposals to follow.

They're still waiting.

Normally these sorts of documents -- in this case the potential 18th round of restrictive measures since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched more three years ago -- are provided only a few days after the briefings, or "confessionals" as they are known in Brussels.

The documents outline details of what the commission is considering about targeting. In turn, EU members provide red lines as to what they are willing to agree on since all sanctions require unanimity.

Deep Background: So what's the holdup? Two things. The first is that some EU member states -- including larger ones such as Germany and France -- wanted to wait and see how June 2 peace talks in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine proceeded.

Several EU officials told RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity that they don't believe Moscow is serious about making progress in negotiations with Kyiv and wanted to wait and see the results.

Aside from agreeing to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops, the two sides made no progress toward ending Europe's longest and deadliest conflict since World War II.

Then there is the United States. So far, President Donald Trump has refrained from targeting Moscow with sanctions even though he has threatened to do so on numerous occasions.

The reason given is the same as the Europeans: he wants to give the Russia-Ukraine negotiations every chance possible to succeed.

Brussels is desperate to have Washington onboard on for any new sanctions. European diplomats say they are relieved the US hasn't, at least so far, accepted "a rushed, bad peace deal," or that the Americans simply haven't walked away from the issue despite threatening to. And while they admit that sanctions are no longer synchronized like they were during the Biden administration, they are still keen to coordinate any coming round of measures to maximize their impact and message.

Sanctions from Washington may also help coax some EU countries such as Hungary -- run by Trump ally Viktor Orban -- to go along with another wave of measures despite voicing concerns over their effectiveness.

Drilling Down:

So, what would the 18th package contain? EU diplomats familiar with the file note that one particular item would require American consent: lowering the G7 Russian oil price cap to $45.The cap has held at $60 for years even though oil prices have traded below that level.

The idea is that the leaders formally will agree to decrease the price cap to at least $50 when they meet at the G7 Summit in Canada on June 15-17. The group's finance ministers couldn't reach an agreement in May as Washington resisted the move. Some EU officials told RFE/RL that they believe there could be movement on the issue soon.

Much like the EU's 17th package that was adopted on May 20, the new measures include blacklisting more individuals and targeting the Russian shadow fleet. On the latter, the EU has targeted more than 300 vessels that the bloc believes Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions, notably the export of oil.

With an additional 600 boats believed to be part of the fleet, the goal of the upcoming measures is to add as many as those as possible even if European diplomats admit it is a challenge to find evidence that stands up in court proving that the Kremlin is financing the ships.

More visa bans and asset freezes are also expected, with the EU looking to add another 100 individuals and companies to a sprawling list of those sanctioned that exceeds 2,400 entries.

The European Commission also could propose reintroducing those previously removed from the blacklist. Another move could be to hit Russian diplomats who have been posted in various European countries and are suspected of spying on behalf of Moscow.

The proposal also includes sanctions on the Nordstream pipelines connecting Russia with Germany. No gas is flowing through them at the moment, but Berlin has indicated that it wants formal measures to apply as some talks have resurfaced in the country about using them again in case relations with Moscow improve.

There is also an idea to cut more than 20 Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system, even though most of the country's big banks already have been targeted.

The Russian foreign direct investment fund could also be hit, and the bloc is planning to introduce trade restrictions that would prevent European companies from exporting various industrial components that Russia may use to fuel its war machine.





Looking Ahead

On June 4, the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) are set to give the green light to Bulgaria to introduce the euro on January 1, 2026. Bulgaria is then set to become the 21st EU member state out of 27 to adopt the common currency. You can read more about what Sofia still needs to do and why not everyone in the country is happy about this move here.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jozwiak-nato- defense-spending/33432679.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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NATO Asks European Members to Increase Ground-Based Air Defenses Fivefold - Reports

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO is asking European member states to increase their ground-based air defense forces fivefold, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

By building up its air defense forces, the alliance seeks to fill a key gap in its response to the threat of alleged "Russian aggression," the sources said, adding that this issue will be discussed at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday.

The plans come against the backdrop of a broader, decade plus-long NATO military buildup, which began in the aftermath of the Euromaidan coup in Ukraine, and has seen defense spending jump from about $850 billion in 2014 to $1.47 trillion in 2024. In that time, US absolute spending has jumped by $317 billion, but fell as a percentage of the total from 76% to 66%, while European members' spending surged by 72%.

Hit by economic malaise, economic crises and loss of export competitiveness stemming partly from the rejection of Russian energy resources, European allied majors including Britain and Germany have made cuts to social programs to fuel the military buildup.

 Sputnik

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India's Top General Warns Operation Sindoor Not Over, Urges Military to 'Keep Guard Up'

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Indian Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Anil Chauhan has called on the country's armed forces to remain vigilant, saying the campaign against Pakistan is not over yet.

"Operation Sindoor is not over as yet. It continues. It is a temporary cessation of hostilities. There is a need to keep our guard up," Chauhan said during an event held at the University of Pune in the state of Maharashtra in western India on Tuesday.

At the same time, India is not interested in having a protracted conflict with Pakistan, as it requires large expenses, the general said.

"Operation Sindoor, as per the government is concerned, is not about retribution. I think it was about drawing these limits of tolerance...This state-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan had to stop, and Pakistan should not be able to hold India hostage to terror activities. India is not going to live under the shadow of terror and nuclear blackmail," Chauhan said.

Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also indicated that Operation Sindoor was not yet finished.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated in the wake of an April 22 terrorist attack near the town of Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. The terrorist-linked Resistance Front insurgent group claimed responsibility for the attack. India blamed the terrorist attack on Pakistan, claiming evidence of ties between Islamabad and the terrorists.

On May 7, India launched missile strikes on Pakistan in an operation codenamed Sindoor. The Indian Defense Ministry said that the operation targeted only terrorist infrastructure and not Pakistani military facilities. Pakistani authorities said that Indian strikes resulted in at least 31 fatalities. Military escalation and cross-border attacks followed.

The two countries announced a ceasefire on May 10 but have since traded accusations of violations. Both sides have claimed victory.

 Sputnik

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Dutch Prime Minister Announces Resignation of Cabinet

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced on Tuesday that the Cabinet is resigning after the decision of Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), to withdraw from the ruling coalition.

"With the departure of the Party for Freedom, there is not enough support in the House of Representatives [lower house of parliament] for this government," Schoof announced after a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Schoof said that he was going to ask King Willem-Alexander for the resignation of the PVV ministers.

"The rest of the government will continue to serve as interim," Schoof added.

Earlier in the day, the PVV withdrew from the Dutch ruling coalition, after failing to gain support for the party's plan on tightening migration policy. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract party (NSC) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement party (BBB) opposed the initiative, citing the necessity to implement the measures previously agreed on in the coalition agreement.

PVV's decision triggered criticism of other parties' leaders. The NSC's leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven suggested considering the option of forming a minority coalition.

"This is not undesirable. Though it is not the easiest way to do politics, but it is a way to guarantee that the entire parliament will be involved in work," the politician said.

Another right-wing party, Forum for Democracy (FvD) said it was disappointed with Wilders' decision as he had a chance to improve the situation with migrants in the Netherlands, but missed this opportunity.

Leader of the opposition Labor Party, Frans Timmermans, in his turn, called for snap parliamentary elections.

"The Netherlands have been in stagnation for a year, while a war is ongoing in Europe, and people are really concerned about their future. ... The Netherlands deserves a government that would unite people and works shoulder to shoulder on real solutions. The time for elections has come, we are ready for them," Timmermans said on X.

On May 26, Wilders presented his ten-point migration plan which suggests tightening migration rules, including complete closure of borders for asylum seekers, using the armed forces to ensure control on border, suspension of refugee families' reunions and speeding up the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

In mid-May 2024, the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB finally reached an agreement on forming a new government and chose Dick Schoof, who does not belong to any party, as Dutch Prime Minister. The elections took place in the Netherlands in November 2023. PVV won 37 out of 150 seats, but failed to secure the majority, which meant that a coalition government had to be formed.

 Sputnik

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

3 June 2025

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Briefings

Alright, we will have a guest today, Lola Castro, the Regional Director for the World Food Programme (WFP). She will be here on the Internet to speak to you on Haiti. Then at 1:15 p.m. or thereafter, we will have a hybrid briefing by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, who's accompanied by a high-level parliamentary delegation. They will brief on the recent developments in South Asia.

** Sudan

Alright, I will get to the situation in Gaza in a bit, but I am still waiting for some updates. But, I will start with the horrific situation and developments in Sudan. As you will have seen or heard, five members of a UN humanitarian convoy were killed last night and several more were injured during an attack near Al Koma in North Darfur. I can tell you that we, of course, condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrendous act of violence against humanitarian personnel who literally put their lives at risk in an attempt to reach vulnerable children and families in the famine-impacted areas of Sudan.

This joint WFP-UNICEF [World Food Programme-United Nations Children's Fund] convoy was made up of 15 trucks, and they had travelled over 1,800 kilometres from Port Sudan, and they were carrying nutrition supplies and food. The agencies were negotiating access to complete the journey to El Fasher when it was attacked. The route that the convoy was going to take was shared in advance, and parties on the ground were notified and aware of the location of the trucks.

Multiple of our trucks were burned in the attack, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged. This is devastating that the supplies have not reached the civilians in need. This was the first UN humanitarian convoy that was going to make it to El Fasher in over one year. All attacks on humanitarian personnel, their facilities and vehicles must stop. These are violations under international humanitarian law. And we call for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held to account.

We call for safe, secure and the best possible operating conditions and for international humanitarian law to be respected by all parties, and not just in Sudan, but in all conflict-impacted countries. Under international humanitarian law, aid convoys must be protected, and parties have an obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need. And for those who were killed in the line of duty in Sudan, we, of course, extend our condolences to their families and loved ones, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were wounded in the attack.

** Guatemala

I have some comments on the situation regarding the International Commission Against Impunity that was, if you will recall, being active in Guatemala. The Secretary-General is concerned about the announcement by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Guatemala regarding the issuance of arrest warrants against former Commissioner of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), Ivan Velasquez, and the former CICIG Head of Investigations Luz Adriana Camargo - who is now Colombia's Attorney General; they are along with 24 other former CICIG national staff and independent justice officials who collaborated with CICIG.

The Secretary-General reiterates that the Commission's international personnel, under the terms of the agreement between the UN and the Government of Guatemala regarding the establishment of the Commission, enjoys immunity from legal process with respect to acts done in the performance of their mission, which continues even after the completion of their employment with the Commission. The Secretary-General recalls that under this agreement, the Government of Guatemala agreed to protect the personnel of CICIG  whether international or national  from abuse, threats, reprisals or acts of intimidation in virtue of their work with the Commission.

The Secretary-General reiterates his concern at the numerous reports that criminal prosecution is being carried out against those who sought to shed light on cases of corruption and worked to strengthen rule of law and the justice system in Guatemala.

** Ninth Austrian World Summit

Today, the Secretary-General addressed the ninth Austrian World Summit via a video message. He pointed out that we face a triple-whammy of woe, with pollution clogging rivers, contaminating land and poisoning our ocean, the biodiversity being destroyed at record pace and record levels of greenhouse gases catastrophically disrupting our climate. The Secretary-General warned that no country, whether rich or poor, can escape these crises, and no country can solve them alone. But, together, he said, we can reap the rewards of action, from cheap, secure power, to better health. His message is available online.

** Human Rights/Climate

And also on climate, our High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, will deliver a lecture at Oxford University calling for a new approach to politics, in response to the climate emergency. Mr. Turk is expected to say that humanity is in denial about the fundamental fact that our well-being and survival are inseparable from the health of our planet and our environment. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will call for a global movement for change, guided by human rights and the rights of nature, with bold action to deliver climate justice and transform governance for the common good. His remarks will be online on the website of the UN human rights office as soon as they are delivered.

** Deputy Secretary-General's Travels

Meanwhile, our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is in Geneva, Switzerland, for the eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. At the opening of the meeting, she stressed that disaster risk reduction is essential to protect lives and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and must go hand in hand with climate action. The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the recent glacier collapse in Blatten, Switzerland, as a stark reminder of the growing climate-related risks we face, and the power of early warning in sparing lives. She called for bold investment to make these life-saving systems accessible to all, especially the most vulnerable.

While in Geneva, she held meetings with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Kamal Kishore, as well as other senior UN officials, representatives of the Swiss Government, and heads of delegation attending the meeting. We expect her back here tomorrow.

** Gaza

And just to bring up Gaza, as I said I would: I can tell you that once again, we are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza. The Secretary-General condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza. It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking  and in several instances losing  their lives just trying to get food. Palestinian have the fundamental right to adequate food and to be free from hunger.

The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held to account. The basic needs of the population in Gaza are enormous and are not being met. Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian relief for all civilians who need it.

The unimpeded entry of humanitarian assistance at scale must be restored immediately. The UN must be allowed to work in safety and in security under conditions of full respect for humanitarian principles. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate permanent, sustainable ceasefire.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Meanwhile on the ground, our colleagues tell us that there is a sharp rise in child labour, in early marriage and family separation. This is all driven by hunger, displacement and economic turmoil. Children are increasingly exposed to violence and exploitation during chaotic distributions of basic supplies  including in crowds, when people take flour directly from trucks. And children with disabilities are often the worst affected.

In Khan Younis, a safe space for women and girls had to suspend its services in recent days after the area was placed under a displacement order. Our partners tell us that, as a result, about 1,000 women and girls have lost access to essential support  including services for survivors of gender-based violence, psychosocial care and help with referrals. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, just yesterday, Israeli authorities issued another displacement order, this time covering four neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, where about 45,000 people were thought to be staying.

Meanwhile, we and our humanitarian partners are making the most of the limited opening that began last month, after nearly 80 days of complete blockade. But, as we've said before, what's coming in  and if it does come in  is still just a trickle and does not meet the immense needs on the ground. We have enough supplies lined up and ready, close to Gaza. But, only limited amounts are actually reaching the people who need them, and that's because of conditions on the ground.

Specifically, OCHA warns of bottlenecks in the Kerem Shalom crossing  which you will recall is the only crossing point Israeli authorities are allowing for aid into Gaza. Since 17 May, only half of the pre-cleared supplies submitted for a second and final Israeli clearance has made it through to the Palestinian side. In total, the UN and our partners submitted over 1,200 pre-cleared truckloads for final Israeli clearance  a process often referred to as manifesting.

Fewer than 80 per cent of those were approved and sent from warehouses in Israel  that's just over 940 truckloads. After undergoing scanning, offloading, reloading and being shuttled forward, just over 620 truckloads have made it to the Palestinian side.

You will recall that we don't have visibility over that part of the pipeline. This is because Israeli authorities have not allowed us to deploy monitors at the crossing. Of the supplies scanned in Kerem Shalom, our teams have managed to collect about 370 truckloads and bring them closer to where people need them  that is inside Gaza. That includes food  mainly flour  as well as medical and nutrition items.

OCHA reminds us that the access to both sides of Kerem Shalom is tightly controlled by the Israeli authorities. Inside Gaza, any movement to or from the crossing requires driving through militarized zones where bombing is continuing. Teams must remain flexible to avoid areas where looting is likely  but they have so far been expected to only follow routes that are approved by the Israeli authorities.

Our humanitarian movements that require coordination with Israeli authorities continue to be denied across the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, 10 of 13 attempts to coordinate such movements were rejected. And those included the collection of supplies from Kerem Shalom, but also other life-saving operations such as trucking water to North Gaza or relocating fuel stocks to where they are needed.

** Syria

Moving to Syria, it's been a while since we've updated you on the situation there: I can tell you that we and our partners continue to deliver aid across the country despite a severe funding environment, reaching nearly 2.5 million people per month. Since the beginning of the year, 1,185 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies have crossed from Turkiye to Syria  this is six times higher than the number during the same period last year. In May, this assistance benefitted more than 1 million people in Syria.

Meanwhile, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that nearly 16 million people need urgent humanitarian health support, Syria's health system remains under severe strain. Essential medicines are limited, treatment costs are out of reach for many families and overcrowded shelters increase the risk of disease outbreaks.

Furthermore, our colleagues at OCHA report that explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance continues to threaten the safety of civilians across Syria. Since 8 December of last year, over 1,000 casualties have been reported  this includes more than 400 deaths and nearly 600 injuries. Children represent over one third of these casualties. The humanitarian community is calling for urgent support to expand risk education, professional clearance operations and assistance for survivors.

And just a reminder that the Syria humanitarian response plan requires $2 billion until the end of June to support 8 million people in need but to date, [it has received less than 12 per cent of that, with $236 million received].

** Ukraine

Turning to Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that air strikes and hostilities over the past 24 hours caused several civilian casualties across the country, including children, as well as extensive damage to homes and civilian infrastructure. That's what local authorities are telling our colleagues on the ground. The regions of Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kherson were impacted by the attacks. Humanitarian organizations are mobilized and providing support including hot meals, construction materials and psychological support. In the town of Izium in the Kharkiv region, a strike damaged an international NGO [non-governmental organization] warehouse storing food kits from the World Food Programme. No aid workers were injured, but the strike destroyed humanitarian supplies and damaged vehicles.

** South Sudan

And I can tell you that our colleagues at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) are deeply concerned about escalating intercommunal violence in Tonj East, in Warrap State, and urged the Government to intervene and deploy security services to address the situation. The violence over the past few days, driven by attempts to recover stolen cattle and revenge for the previous loss of lives, resulted in more than 80 casualties, although the numbers are yet to be verified.

The Mission is intensively engaging with state and local authorities to calm the situation and has increased its peacekeeping patrols. However, peacekeepers are experiencing significant challenges reaching some of the impacted areas due to a proliferation of checkpoints manned by armed youth. South Sudan cannot afford yet another crisis on top of the crisis that it is already facing. The country remains one of the largest displacement crises in the world.

** Photo Exhibition

If you don't have plans this weekend, a recommendation for you: a photo exhibit entitled Through Her Lens, Women Rising for Peace. The exhibit opens Saturday, at the Photoville Festival, in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and features artworks by local women photographers in places like Abyei, Central African Republic, Haiti, Lebanon, Mozambique, Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan and Sudan. The exhibition spotlights women peacebuilders, human rights defenders, UN peacekeepers and grass-roots activists in portraits and environments that reflect the challenges of conflict and the possibilities that emerge when women lead.

It also commemorates the twenty-fifth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), the women, peace and security agenda, and it is organized by our colleagues at the Departments of Peace Operations, Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, UN-Women and the Elsie Initiative Fund, with support from Member States.

** World Bicycle Day

A very important international day for me. Today is World Bicycle Day. A simple, effective, clean and environmentally way of getting to and from work, and a little dangerous if you were in New York.

** Financial Contribution

A quiz for you today. This country is the smallest country in mainland Africa at just over 12,000 square kilometres and its national drink is called the bissap and is made from the flowers of hibiscus plant. [Responses from the crowd] no. Benno has got it, I know he's got it. The Gambia, yes, the Gambia. We thank our friends in Banjul. In all seriousness, we'll take your questions. Edie?

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Steph. A couple of follow ups. First on the Sudan killings. Were the five members killed, were they nationals?

Spokesman : They were Sudanese staff. They were Sudanese contractors working for WFP and UNICEF.

Question : Right. And secondly, how many drivers, how many UN contractors were part of this convoy? Twenty, at some sense.

Spokesman : There were 15 trucks. I think each truck has at least two people, exact numbers, but there's usually a driver, driver's assistant and there were probably some support vehicles. So, I would say more than 30. You know, not that there's anything beyond the tragedy, but they were 80 kilometres from El Fasher after having travelled 1,800 kilometres for days in incredibly difficult terrain, in incredibly dangerous terrain. They were parked on the side of the road waiting for clearances, and they were attacked.

Question : Did they have any idea who they were attacked by? We know that the RSF [Rapid Support Forces] has been trying to take El Fasher.

Spokesman : It was an air attack, most likely drones, but we do not know who the perpetrators were.

Question : And just one other thing. How many of the trucks survived or did any of them?

Spokesman : I don't have that number.

Question : And could I also ask a follow-up on this Secretary-General statement on Guatemala? He's concerned, but what action is he asking the authorities in Guatemala to take?

Spokesman : To drop all efforts to criminally charge people who had worked for the Commission, whether they're international or especially for those who are more at risk, which are the Guatemalan nationals who had worked for the Commission, who continue to be covered by the immunity even after their work has done. Any other questions left now that we've answered quite a bit? Linda.

Question : Thank you, Steph. This is in regard to Yemen and the statement you made yesterday by the Secretary-General calling for the release of the 23 UN staff and all others who are who are being held by the Houthis. In the statement, the SG, you know, asks the international community. He asked NGOs. He asks Member States to use their advocacy to get the release of these UN personnel. I was just wondering, has the Security Council ever asked for the release of UN personnel being held by Houthis? And has he asked them recently?

Spokesman : I mean, I think, if I'm not mistaken, and I may my colleagues will double check, but I do believe the Security Council has expressed itself on that. Abdelhamid?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. When the SG says that these attacks on civilians should be investigated, freely, independently investigated, who's he addressing? Where's this call going to? Who will receive that call and do the independent investigation?

Spokesman : Look. Investigations can take multiple forms. National investigations, I mean, the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli Government has admitted that they shot people today. They've claimed that it was in self-defence. The Israelis could do an investigation and hold people to account. There are international mechanisms, with which the parties should cooperate. And yet again, we call on Israel to allow journalists to enter Gaza. Your next question?

Question : You're getting used to saying Kerem Shalom, Kerem Shalom only, robbing the Arabic real, original name of Kerem Abu Salem. Maybe do we expect in the future, the Spokesman, not you, to say it?

Spokesman : We will continue to talk using approved terms.

Correspondent : This is not approved. Show me that document that instructs you as an official to say only Kerem Shalom.

Spokesman : We've also talked about Kerem Abu Salem. I've done it in the past. I mean, you can... Abdelhamid, I understand, where you're coming from, but I think our sentiments, our expressions of anger, our condemnations are very clear. Do you have another question? Okay. Thank you. Yvonne?

Question : Thanks, Steph. Can you just clarify? I'm just trying to get some clarification on the attacks at the GHF [Gaza Humanitarian Foundation]. There's one on Sunday, clearly, also yesterday and today. So, three days in a row. Is that correct?

Spokesman : I mean, you know as well as I do. That's the press reports we've seen. We're not there. But, yes, that's my understanding.

Question : Okay. So, what are the latest figures for the number of people who've been killed in each of those attacks?

Spokesman : Those numbers, I think, have been... I've seen numbers issued by the Gaza Health Ministry of around 27, but I think they may have risen.

Question : And is it your understanding that the Israeli forces opened fire three days in a row?

Spokesman : We have seen the statements by the Israeli forces today, right, where they admitted to opening fire. Yesterday, we saw competing narratives. The point is that this system, as Philippe Lazzarini called it, is a death trap, right? The system of funnelling people between barbed wires, forcing them to walk to get the food, with armed contractors who know where, with what kind of accountability. Right? They're not accountable to national authorities. It is all a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what is going on. And that's why we call again on the Israeli authorities to help restart the UN system, the distribution of not just the UN, but all the partners that we've used that have the community buy-in. No one is saying that it was perfect, but the point is the way we operate under humanitarian principles of impartiality, of independence, of getting food to the people instead of forcing them to march to a place where food is distributed and where it increases their risk.

Question : So, just finally, are you then advising local Palestinian civilians not to approach the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?

Spokesman : The short answer is no. Who are we to tell people who are hungry not to try to get food? It's a human thing. Our message is to the Israelis, let us restart our system, alright? We'll go to RIA Novosti.

Question : Thanks so much, Steph. Happy International Bicycle Day to you. Got a couple questions. First of all, Elon Musk has just posted "defund the UN"; any comments on that?

Spokesman : Fund the UN.

Question : Cool. Secondly, on Russia-Ukraine. Russia has stated that Ukraine was behind the railway blasts in its border region, which caused a passenger train to derail, killing 7 people, and injured more than 100 civilians. Does the Secretary-General condemn this attack?

Spokesman : You know, we mourn the loss of all civilian lives in this conflict.

Question : I have one more on different topic  presidential elections in Poland, any comments on that?

Spokesman : I mean, we look forward to working with the next Polish President, and we congratulate him on his election.

Question : No phone calls so far?

Spokesman : Not that I'm aware of. Okay. Biesan and then Fetoush.

Question : So, the consulting firm that works with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation apparently has withdrawn the contract and we already have seen so many issues surrounding the GHF and the killing of Palestinian civilians. Do you have any comment on that?

Spokesman : No. I mean, we're not involved with the GHF, and you know, their dealings with Boston Consulting Group, as reported by the Washington Post, is their business. I mean, it's not for us to comment.

Question : And one more. So, there's a flotilla sailing towards Gaza with activists on it, and there has been some sort of incitement against them online, even from a sitting US Senator and a Spokesman for the Israeli army just said that they are ready to face this flotilla. Do you have any comment? And because we've seen some of these flotillas being attacked in the past.

Spokesman : I mean, we hope that everyone on board is kept safe. Fetoush?

Question : I was wondering if you could, giving the GHF, have you guys at all been told by Israeli counterparts that your time, given that GHF is talking about expanding their operations, that your time, the limited access you have  is there a deadline on it?

Spokesman : No. I'm not aware of a deadline being given to us on our ability to deliver teaspoon by teaspoon of aid into Gaza. Benno, and then I'll come back.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Just for the record about Gaza, do you have any doubt to question numbers of the Gaza health authorities, given the influence of Hamas?

Spokesman : Look. we have relied on those figures. We have found throughout the years that they are usually in the right ballpark. Yes, sir. Azim, please?

Question : The Secretary-General has been showing a lot of concern about India-Pakistan war and offering mediation and all that. Does he plan any action after today's meeting? Any practical action beyond mediation offer, in that dispute?

Spokesman : As you know, the Secretary-General, in any dispute, his good offices are available should both parties want them. Yes, sir?

Question : It's a follow-up question, which I mean, as I've asked, actually, the main issue which Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is discussing with the United Nations Secretary-General is the Indus Water Treaty; the unilateral stoppage of Pakistani water flowing towards Pakistan by the Indians. This is a main concern for the post-war for Pakistan right now. So, any comments on that, sir?

Spokesman : We hope that international treaties that were agreed upon are respected. Okay. Michelle Nichols, I think she's online.

Question : She is. Of the 304 trucks that you said made it into Gaza, how many got looted?

Spokesman : I don't have exact numbers on that, but a number of trucks were looted. Notably, if you'll recall, while the trucks themselves were not looted, the medical supplies that were delivered to a hospital were promptly looted after delivery by armed gangs. We have also had a number of incidents of people, as I've mentioned, called it self-distributing of flour that was on trucks, because we are required to use open-bed trucks. But I don't have a hard number for you.

Question : And then also, I guess, the WFP warehouse  that will be included?

Spokesman : I will leave you with our guest. If we can put Lola on the screen, and Stephanie [Tremblay] will walk you through that.

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Escalating conflict in South Sudan forces many thousands to flee just as aid dwindles

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Press releases

3 June 2025

GENEVA -- Over 165,000 people have fled increasing tensions and conflict in South Sudan in the past three months, seeking safety both within the country and across borders and deepening an already dire humanitarian situation across the region, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned on Tuesday.

Since late February, political instability and rising hostilities between armed groups have led to fresh clashes, particularly in Upper Nile state, but also other hot spots, devastating lives and damaging essential services, forcing many people already grappling with displacement, disease and food insecurity to move yet again.

Some 100,000 people seeking safety in the neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda cited insecurity, inter-communal violence, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions as the main reasons for flight.

"South Sudan cannot afford yet another crisis. The world's youngest country has received more than 1 million people who fled the ongoing war in Sudan, while millions of its citizens continue to recover from years of conflict and crisis at home," said Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR's Regional Director for the East, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region.

As a result of fighting and movement restrictions in Upper Nile state and other areas, humanitarian access to an estimated 65,000 newly internally displaced people in affected communities remains significantly constrained. Desperately needed aid, including medicine and health care to tackle an increase in cholera cases, has ground to a halt. Looming rains are likely to exacerbate the situation, with flooding making transport problematic and expensive.

As they continue to welcome new arrivals, neighbouring countries are struggling to cope as resources such as food, water, sanitation, shelter and health care run dry.

Around 41,000 people have crossed into Sudan's White Nile, Blue Nile, Kordofan and Darfur states. This includes over 26,000 into White Nile state alone, which already hosts some 410,000 South Sudanese refugees, including those displaced for a second time due to the ongoing war in their host country. The influx has increased the need for additional space to accommodate new arrivals, while essential services remain severely strained amid cholera outbreaks and a fragile security situation.

In Ethiopia, new arrivals had been staying in precarious conditions in makeshift shelters along riverbanks in the border town of Burbiey, Gambella, but are now receiving assistance away from the border in Matar and Moun. UNHCR, WFP and partners have already assisted some 21,000 new arrivals with food and relief items, with thousands more in need. Infrastructure and services in the Gambella region are already overstretched amid a cholera outbreak.

Uganda hosts the largest population of South Sudanese refugees in Africa, at one 1 million. It has received nearly 18,000 South Sudanese since March, a year-on-year increase of 135 per cent. Nearly 70 per cent of those arriving are children. This group of young refugees are taking increasingly long and dangerous routes to reach safety.

The DRC has received an estimated 23,000 new arrivals from South Sudan due to recent violence and tension, despite the country grappling with its own ongoing conflict and a major displacement crisis.

Across countries of asylum, UNHCR and partners are delivering critical relief items to new arrivals, such as sleeping material, buckets and soap. We are also providing refugees with documentation and specialized support to survivors of gender-based violence. Border monitoring and engagement with local communities are ongoing.

To deliver initial life-saving protection and assistance and enhance preparedness, UNHCR requires $36 million to support up to 343,000 internally displaced people in South Sudan and refugees arriving in neighbouring countries over the next six months. This funding will allow UNHCR and partners to upgrade and establish reception and transit centres, and provide shelter, water, health and nutrition screening, and cash assistance to new arrivals.

"This emergency could not have come at a worse time. Many of the refugees are seeking safety in countries which have challenges of their own or are already dealing with emergencies amidst ongoing brutal funding cuts, straining our ability to provide even basic life-saving assistance," Balde added. "We reiterate calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urge all parties to spare civilians more suffering and find a peaceful solution."

South Sudan remains one of the largest displacement crises in the region with more than 2.3 million South Sudanese living as refugees in the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan.

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WFP/UNICEF humanitarian aid convoy carrying life-saving supplies attacked in Sudan's North Darfur

UNICEF

Statement

Joint Statement

03 June 2025

ROME/NEW YORK, 3 June 2025 - "The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF condemn an attack on a joint humanitarian convoy near Al Koma, North Darfur, last night. Five members of the convoy were killed, and several more people were injured. Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged.

"The convoy, made up of 15 trucks, was attempting to reach children and families in famine-affected Al Fasher with life-saving food and nutrition supplies. Following months of escalating violence, hundreds of thousands of people in Al Fasher - many of them children - are at high risk of malnutrition and starvation if supplies do not urgently reach them.

"As is standard with our humanitarian convoys, the route was shared in advance, and parties on the ground were notified and aware of the location of the trucks. Under international humanitarian law, aid convoys must be protected, and parties have the obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.

"Both agencies demand an immediate end to attacks on humanitarian personnel, their facilities and vehicles - a violation under international humanitarian law.

"We call for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held to account.

"We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and our heartfelt sympathy and support to all those injured. It is devastating that the supplies have not reached the vulnerable children and families they were intended to. The convoy had travelled over 1,800km from Port Sudan, and we were negotiating access to complete the journey to El Fasher when it was attacked.

"This latest incident follows a series of attacks on humanitarian operations over the past two years, including last week's bombardment of WFP's premises in Al Fasher which damaged a workshop, office building and clinic.

"Attacks on humanitarian staff, aid, operations, as well as civilians and civilian infrastructure in Sudan have continued for far too long with impunity. WFP and UNICEF colleagues remain on the ground despite the insecurity, but call for safe, secure operating conditions and for international humanitarian law to be respected by all parties. The lives of millions in Sudan, including in locations like El Fasher in Darfur, depend on it."

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UNICEF Mozambique statement on increasing violence against and abduction of children in Cabo Delgado

UNICEF

Statement

03 June 2025

MAPUTO/NEW YORK, 3 June 2025 -- UNICEF Mozambique is deeply concerned by credible reports of violent attacks and abductions targeting children in Cabo Delgado province. A recent attack on Magaia village, in the District of Muidumbe, on 11 May, in which it is reported that three girls aged 17, 14 and 12 were killed and eight others, including six girls and two boys, were abducted, is a tragic reminder of the dangers children face in conflict-affected areas.

UNICEF is also concerned by the rising trend in reports of abduction, recruitment, and use of children by non-state armed groups, which are grave violations of children's rights.

UNICEF continues to work with partners to support affected children and their families, facilitate the safe return and reintegration into communities of children abducted by non-state armed groups, and ensure access to essential services.

Every child has the right to live in safety, free from violence and fear.

#####

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Gaza: UN rights chief condemns new killings around private aid hub

3 June 2025 - UN human rights chief Volker Turk has condemned new reports that dozens more Gazans were killed early Tuesday "trying to access paltry amounts of food" around a private aid hub in the south of the enclave run by the US and Israel.

"Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime," the High Commissioner said in a statement, issued after Palestinians were reportedly killed seeking assistance for a third day running.

Mr. Turk also urged Israel to respect "binding orders" issued by the International Court of Justice to fully cooperate with the UN and ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza "without delay" and "at scale".

"There is no justification for failing to comply with these obligations," he said.

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid, which are "unacceptable," and continues to call for an independent investigation into the incidents.

"Once again, we are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza," he told journalists in New York. "Civilians are risking - and in several instances losing - their lives to get food."

Access calls denied

The controversial new aid initiative run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation bypasses the work of UN aid agencies which have repeatedly appealed for unimpeded access to Gaza in order to bring in thousands of tonnes of supplies. To date, the little aid that has been allowed into the enclave has fallen far short of what is needed.

In an update, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) insisted that it still had "teams on the ground" in Gaza ready to distribute supplies where they are needed across the war-torn enclave, if only they could be allowed to move.

"We have right now 51 trucks waiting loaded with medical supplies to go to those few hospitals that are still functional," said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. "We need access so that we can bring in supplies within Gaza to health facilities so they can function. Unfortunately, what is happening is just the opposite. There is no hospital in north Gaza functional anymore."

On Monday, Mr. Jasarevic said that a WHO team went to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza "and basically evacuated all remaining patients and medical staff...now that hospital is completely empty". In Jabalia, also in northern Gaza, three Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed on Monday when their vehicle struck an explosive device.

Most vulnerable miss out

Critics of the US-Israeli scheme - which include the UN - have warned that it prevents children, the elderly and those with disabilities from receiving aid, since recipients often have to walk long distances to retrieve boxes of supplies distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

"The wilful impediment of access to food and other life-sustaining relief supplies for civilians may constitute a war crime," Mr. Turk said.

His lengthy statement also condemned "the threat of starvation" faced by Gazans today, the "20 months of killing of civilians and destruction on a massive scale".

Gazans have also been repeatedly displaced by evacuation orders from the Israeli military and faced "intolerable, dehumanizing rhetoric and threats by Israel's leadership to empty the Strip", the UN rights chief noted. All of these facts constitute elements of the most serious crimes under international law, he insisted.

'Am I going to get shot?'

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, highlighted the High Commissioner's call for a prompt, independent investigation into the dozens of reported killings in Gaza since the new aid hub opened on 27 May.

"I think there's so much which has happened in the past three days apart from the tragic circumstances of human beings trying to gather food to survive and then being killed in the process," he told journalists in Geneva. "[Gazans] are being forced to walk to these centres and now they're terrified. Probably they go there and they're thinking, 'Am I going to get food or am I going to get shot?'"

Mr. Laurence noted multiple media reports on killings around the southern Gaza aid hub in recent days indicating engagement by helicopters, naval vessels, tanks and ground troops.

"We are aware of those reports," he said, noting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had also published an account on X of what had happened on Tuesday.

"My colleagues who are working on the ground have conducted interviews with witnesses and they do report fire from the IDF on those trying to access the food distribution centres. We've received reports from other organizations on the ground to a similar effect."

He added: "We've gathered our own information; we've spoken to witnesses on the ground who have shared what they have seen, heard and felt themselves."

Asked to explain what the High Commissioner meant when he expressed concerns that the "most serious crimes under international law" may have been committed, Mr. Laurence explained that this referred to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Young lives in danger

Meanwhile, humanitarians report a sharp rise in child labour and early marriage in Gaza, as well as family separation - all driven by hunger, displacement and economic turmoil.

"Children are increasingly exposed to violence and exploitation during chaotic distributions of basic supplies - including in crowds, when people take flour directly from trucks," said Mr. Dujarric, the UN Spokesperson, noting that children with disabilities are often the worst affected.

Israel also issued another displacement order on Monday covering four neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, affecting some 45,000 people.

Aid 'still just a trickle'

Mr. Dujarric said the UN and partners continue to make the most of the limited opening for aid delivery which began last month following nearly 80 days of blockade.

"But as we've said before, what's coming in - and if it does come in - is still just a trickle and does not meet the immense needs on the ground," he remarked.

"We have enough supplies lined up and ready, close to Gaza. But only limited amounts are actually reaching the people who need them, and that's because of conditions on the ground."

In particular, the UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA warns of bottlenecks in the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the only one Israel allows for aid into Gaza.

He said that since 17 May, only half of the pre-cleared supplies submitted for a second and final clearance by Israel has made it through to the Palestinian side of the crossing.

"In total, the UN and our partners submitted over 1,200 pre-cleared truckloads for final Israeli clearance," he said. Just over 920 truckloads were approved and some 620 have made it to the Palestinian side.

Of the supplies scanned in Kerem Shalom - which include flour as well as medical and nutrition items - UN teams have managed to collect about 370 truckloads and bring them inside Gaza.

Mr. Dujarric explained that access to the crossing "requires driving through militarized zones where bombings are continuing" and UN teams have to follow routes that are approved by the Israeli authorities.

"Yesterday, 10 of 13 attempts to coordinate such movements were rejected. And those included the collection of supplies from Kerem Shalom, but also other life-saving operations such as trucking water to North Gaza or relocating fuel stocks to where they are needed," he said.

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Sudan: Rise in people fleeing to Chad as violence surges

3 June 2025 - The number of Sudanese refugees in Chad has more than tripled in just over two years amid the ongoing war in their homeland, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said in an alert on Tuesday.

Overall, some 1.2 million Sudanese have found shelter in eastern Chad, mostly after fleeing intensifying violence in their country.

More than 844,000 crossed the border after war broke out in Sudan in April 2023. Prior to this, Chad was hosting roughly 409,000 Sudanese refugees who had fled earlier conflict in Darfur.

'A crisis of humanity'

The situation is "a crisis of humanity", said UNHCR's Principal Situation Coordinator in Chad, Dossou Patrice Ahouansou.

The latest wave of displacement began in April following attacks by armed groups in North Darfur. Violence has surged since war erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Camps for people uprooted by the most recent violence have been attacked including Zamzam and Abu Shouk, along with the town of El Fasher, killing more than 300 civilians.

Last Thursday, the UN World Food Programme's facility in El Fasher was repeatedly shelled, according to a report from UN aid coordination office OCHA.

A day later, Eldaman International Hospital in Al Obeid was struck by a drone attack, killing at least six health workers and injuring more than 15 others.

Both attacks were reportedly carried out by the RSF.

Exodus and arrival

In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have crossed into Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, at an average of 1,400 new arrivals per day.

More than seven in 10 "report serious human rights violations  physical and sexual violence, arbitrary detention, forced recruitment", said Mr. Ahouansou.

Based on interviews with 6,810 newly arrived refugees, he said that six out of 10 reported being separated from their family members.

Horrendous testimonies

Mr. Ahouansou spoke of seven-year-old Hawa, whose family home in Zamzam was bombed. After her mother was killed, she fled to the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people.

"There again had been bombing" and this time it killed Hawa's father and two brothers, he said.

With only her 18-year-old sister remaining, Hawa escaped to Chad. She was severely injured and had to have a leg amputated.

"It's difficult to hear, but this is the reality," said Mr. Ahouansou, emphasizing that there were thousands facing similar situations.

The UNHCR official also recounted chilling testimonies of forced labour along the perilous journeys, where many reportedly die because of the heat and lack of water.

"When armed groups see you leaving, they decide to let the donkey or the horse go. And you, as a human being, as a man... they will use you as a horse and ask you now to draw all your family members," he said.

Funding shortfalls

Despite efforts by humanitarian actors and local authorities, the emergency response remains severely underfunded.

Just 14 per cent of shelter needs have been met and refugees receive only five litres of water per person per day  far below the 15-20 litre international standard. Around 239,000 refugees remain stranded at the border.

"The lives and futures of millions of innocent civilians hang in the balance," said UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun, who stressed that this was also a "crisis of women and children" as they make up to nine out of 10 refugees crossing the border.

"Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and at the speed that is required," Mr. Ahouansou said.

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As displacement surges in South Sudan, regional humanitarian crisis deepens

3 June 2025 - Since a sharp escalation in fighting in South Sudan in late February, 165,000 people have fled their homes, seeking safety either within the country or across borders, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday.

Violence between armed groups in Upper Nile state and other flashpoints has crippled essential services, triggered food insecurity and worsened disease outbreaks, including cholera - forcing some to be displaced repeatedly.

Roughly 65,000 have been internally displaced in Upper Nile state alone.

Access to aid in conflict hotspots is limited, with fighting and movement restrictions cutting off assistance.

Lifesaving supplies, including medicine and healthcare to curb rising cholera cases, have halted, while rains threaten to worsen the crisis, flooding roads and driving up transport costs.

South Sudan has also absorbed over a million people fleeing conflict in Sudan.

Regional crisis

Another 103,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, pushing the total number of South Sudanese refugees to 2.3 million.

"This emergency could not have come at a worse time," said Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR's Regional Director for the East, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region.

"Many of the refugees are seeking safety in countries which have challenges of their own or are already dealing with emergencies amidst ongoing brutal funding cuts, straining our ability to provide even basic life-saving assistance."

Despite the conflict in Sudan, 41,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge there - 26,000 in White Nile state, where over 410,000 South Sudanese already live, many repeatedly displaced due to ongoing violence in their host country.

The surge in arrivals in Sudan has created an urgent need for additional space, while essential services are overwhelmed due to cholera outbreaks and ongoing security challenges.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 23,000 have arrived amid the country's own insecurity.

Some 21,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in Ethiopia. Previously living in makeshift shelters along riverbanks near the border, new arrivals are now receiving UNHCR aid further from the border; however, infrastructure and services in the area remain severely overstretched, worsened by a cholera outbreak.

Uganda, which hosts one million South Sudanese refugees, has taken in 18,000 since March - a 135 per cent year-on-year increase. Nearly 70 per cent are children; many forced to take longer and more hazardous routes to safety.

Call for support

UNHCR is providing refugees with critical relief items, documentation and specialised support to survivors of gender-based violence.

But to provide necessary support for the next six months - including shelter, water, health and nutrition screening, as well as cash assistance - the agency requires $36 million.

Calling for an immediate end to hostilities, UNHCR urged all parties to spare civilians further suffering.

Unrest in Warrap state

In related developments, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) voiced deep concern over escalating intercommunal violence in Tonj East county, Warrap state, urging the Government to intervene and deploy security services to address the situation.

The violence has been driven by attempts to recover stolen cattle and revenge for the previous loss of lives, resulting in more than 80 casualties, although the numbers are yet to be verified.

UNMISS is intensively engaging with state and local authorities to calm the situation, in addition to increasing patrols, however peacekeepers are experiencing significant challenges reaching some of the impacted areas due to a proliferation of checkpoints manned by armed youth.

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World News in Brief: Aid for Syria, children under attack in Mozambique, rights-based climate action

3 June 2025 - Nearly 16 million people in Syria need urgent humanitarian health support, the UN warned on Tuesday, as aid deliveries continue amid escalating needs, deadly explosive hazards and a severe funding shortfall.

Despite limited resources, the UN and partners are reaching some 2.5 million people each month across the country. In May alone, more than one million people received assistance, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Cross-border aid has significantly increased this year. Since January, 1,185 humanitarian trucks have crossed from Turkiye into Syria - six times the number recorded during the same period last year. The uptick reflects growing needs and intensified delivery efforts.

Syria's health system, however, remains under severe strain. Fewer than 60 per cent of hospitals and less than half of primary health centres are fully functional. Essential medicines are in short supply, treatment costs are beyond the reach of many families and overcrowded shelters continue to heighten the risk of disease outbreaks.

Meanwhile, explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance pose a deadly and ongoing threat to civilians. Since 8 December, 2024, more than 1,000 casualties have been reported - over 400 of them fatal and nearly 600 resulting in injuries - children accounting for over a third of the victims.

"The humanitarian community is calling for urgent support to expand risk education, professional clearance operations and assistance for survivors," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.

Funding shortfalls are compounding the crisis. The Syria Humanitarian Response Plan requires $2 billion by the end of June to support 8 million of the most vulnerable people. To date, it has received just $236 million - less than 12 per cent of the total needed.

Children targeted by armed groups in northern Mozambique

Children also continue to bear the brunt of a worsening crisis in Mozambique, where over 1.3 million people have been displaced by violence, extreme weather shocks and post-electoral unrest.

These crises have also left 5.2 million in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The situation is particularly dire in the northern Cabo Delgado province, which has witnessed a spike in reports of abduction, forced recruitment and use of children by non-state armed groups.

According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), at least three girls aged 12, 14 and 17 were killed in an attack last month, and eight other children abducted - highlighting the grave risks facing children in the conflict.

The agency expressed deep concern over such gross violations of children's rights, stressing that "every child has the right to live in safety, free from violence and fear."

UNICEF is working with partner agencies to assist impacted children and their families, support the safe return and reintegration of children abducted by non-state armed groups, and provide access to vital services such as health, protection, and education.

UN rights chief calls for bold climate action grounded in human rights

The UN's top rights official warned on Tuesday that humanity's survival is inseparable from the health of the planet.

Speaking at Oxford University, Volker Turk highlighted the need for a new kind of politics to tackle the climate crisis and rising global inequality, urging strong leadership to push for urgent, just and rights-based solutions.

"Not only have we created a false separation from nature, we are deluded enough to believe we can make nature bend to our will," Mr. Turk said, criticizing the continued exploitation of fragile ecosystems.

The High Commissioner linked environmental degradation with systemic injustice, stating that the world's richest one per cent are responsible for more carbon emissions than the poorest two-thirds. He stressed that those least responsible for the climate crisis are often the ones suffering its worst impacts.

He also expressed concern over the lack of adequate climate finance and called for reforms to international financial systems, noting growing support for a proposed fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty that would aim to end the expansion of new oil, coal and gas projects.

"Our rights call for all people, now and in the future, to live in safety, security and opportunity, on a healthy planet," he said.

Mr. Turk concluded by urging governments, institutions and individuals to join a global movement for change, grounded in human rights, to address the climate emergency and build a more sustainable and equitable future.

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HNRO 2025: Almost 29 million Sahelians need lifesaving assistance and protection services

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Lives are at stake if humanitarians are not given the funds needed, warns UN

Dakar, 3 June 2025 -- Across theSahel, 28.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection services - people who have been forced to flee their homes, who cannot provide their families with food or clean water, who have lost their loved ones and their livelihoods, and who lack access to the most basic protection and social services.[1]

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has today published the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Requirements Overview (HNRO) for the Sahel, and warns that lives will be put at risk if humanitarians are not given the resources needed to support those in need across the region.

The humanitarian needs caused by this complex web of interlinked crises, which is exacerbated by instability, increasing violence, conflict and insecurity, and the impact of climate change, are concentrated around the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. The HNRO provides an analysis of the crises faced, how this impacts people's lives, and the nature of the humanitarian response. Humanitarians are appealing for US$4.3 billion to meet the urgent needs of 18.4 million people in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.

Last year more than 16,800 people were killed in violent security incidents in the Sahel. This widespread violence has also led to the closure of more than 9,900 schools and 922 health centres, limiting people's access to critical health and education services. Meanwhile between June and August this year, 12.8 million people in the region are projected to face food insecurity, and 2.6 million children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year. These crises are driving increased displacement, with the Sahel home to 2.1 million refugees and asylum seekers and 5.9 million internally displaced persons - figures that have increased by 6 per cent and 20 per cent respectively since the beginning of 2024. Many have faced multiple displacements.

Moreover, the crisis in the Sahel is spilling beyond the region, with an estimated 159,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the northern regions of Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo and more than 169,000 refugees registered in south-east Mauritania. All too often, it is the most vulnerable - including women, children, the elderly, and those with specific needs - who bear the brunt of the suffering.

"Across the Sahel, millions of vulnerable women, children and men are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian workers are saving lives and reducing suffering day in, day out across the Sahel, often in complex and challenging circumstances, thanks to donors' generous contributions. Yet without the funds needed to continue to support this work, those in need will pay a high price. Amidst a growing funding crisis, we must remember that we are talking not about balancing an accounting ledger, but about saving human lives," warned Charles Bernimolin, the Regional Head of OCHA. "Our failure to act now will put lives at stake, exacerbate vulnerabilities, erode resilience, and risk the spread of the crises. The region needs a properly funded humanitarian response complemented by durable solutions for the long-term. I urge all donors to give generously."

In 2024 humanitarian partners provided vital assistance and protection services to 12.4 million people. However, due to a funding shortfall, millions were left without assistance. As of 26 May 2025, 8 per cent of the humanitarian funding requirements of the 2025 country response plans have so far been met.

[1] The figures used in this press release exclude Niger, for which figures are not currently available.

3 June 2025

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USS Tripoli forward deploys to Japan

US Navy

03 June 2025

From Courtesy Story

SAN DIEGO -- The America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) departed Naval Base San Diego May 19 to forward deploy to Sasebo, Japan, as part of a scheduled rotation of forces in the Pacific.

The Tripoli will replace the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), which will depart Sasebo and move to San Diego.

"The Tripoli is ready to defend U.S. interests abroad and strengthen our long-standing partnership with Japan," said Capt. Eddie Park, commanding officer of the Tripoli. "I am extremely proud to lead this hard-working and motivated team of Sailors and Marines overseas to support security, stability and prosperity in this vital region."

The forward presence of the Tripoli supports the United States' commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests. The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires the most capable ships to enable rapid response times for maritime and joint forces.

"The U.S. has a vital relationship with Japan, and their hospitality and professionalism are unmatched," said the Tripoli's executive officer (XO), Capt. Patrick Sullivan, whose previous assignment was deputy commander of Naval Surface Group Western Pacific in Sasebo. "I'm honored and excited to return as the XO of such a highly capable warship to honor our nation's security commitment to Japan."

San Diego has been the Tripoli's homeport since September 2020. Since then, the Tripoli supported multiple exercises including Valiant Shield, Iron Storm, Kamandag, Steel Knight, and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Patrol 22.2. The ship also completed numerous maintenance availabilities and earned various fleet and type commander excellence awards.

"This crew has been diligently preparing to forward deploy since last year," said Park. "I am fully confident in the crew's abilities to execute any mission assigned to us."

The Tripoli was commissioned July 15, 2020, and is the second America-class amphibious assault ship built for the United States Navy. The ship is named after the U.S. Marine Corps victory against Tripoli at the Battle of Derna during the First Barbary War in 1805.

The mission of Commander, Naval Surface Force, Pacific Fleet is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

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U.S. Navy completes Integrated Battle Problem 25.5

US Navy

03 June 2025

From Lt.Cmdr. John Mike

SASEBO, Japan -- Navy units assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet concluded Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 25.5, May 23, after spending nearly a week off the coast of Sasebo conducting a tactical warfighting rehearsal event that tests and develops fleet-centric concepts and capabilities.

A component of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76, Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7 led IBP 25.5, which featured MCM and subsea seabed (SSW) warfare equipment that demonstrated integrated, unmanned, semiautonomous capabilities to clear a path through a simulated minefield during the exercise.

"Our forces conducted a range of unmanned vehicle operations on, above and below the sea during IBP 25.5," said Capt. Antonio L. Hyde, commodore, MCMRON-7. "Our ability to demonstrate unmanned system capabilities in a realistic scenario advances MCM capabilities for the Navy that will help maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region."

The mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM 10), the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 Detachment 3A, and personnel from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 participated in IBP 25.5. Additionally, members from the Japanese Self Defense Force attended as observers during IBP 25.5.

As a team, the units facilitated integration of deployed systems from their platforms and assessed their performance to make recommendations on future improvements.

For the first time, the MCM community integrated Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD)'s Threat Tracker system. It provides situational awareness to surface ships by detecting unmanned aircraft systems, uncrewed surface vessels, and other aerial targets, while conducting other operations.

Additionally, the Disposable Reusable Expeditionary Warfare Underwater Vehicle (DREWUV), developed by NSWC PCD, was also tested during the exercise. The DREWUV provides MCM forces with an accessible, attritable and cost-effective platform for unmanned underwater vehicle mission sets for mine neutralization.

Unmanned systems involved in IBP 25.5 contribute to a stronger naval force, further driving capabilities in the Indo-Pacific to contest adversaries. Through analysis, simulation, prototyping, and demonstration, the Navy will systematically field and operate systems that possess the endurance and resilience to operate with infrequent human interaction.

IBP 25.5 took place in U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, which routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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KAMANDAG 9 | 3d MLR Conducts Simulated Maritime Strikes with NMESIS

US Navy

03 June 2025

From 1st Lt. Anne Pentaleri, 3d Marine Division

BATANES ISLANDS, Philippines -- Strategically positioned on an island in the Luzon Strait, U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, established a Fires Expeditionary Advanced Base (EAB) with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and conducted simulated maritime interdiction as a part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9, June 1, 2025.

The event was tied to a larger Maritime Key Terrain Security Operation (MKTSO), during which U.S. Marines with 3d LCT and Philippine Marines with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 rehearsed securing and defending key maritime terrain in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines' defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries.

In preparation for the KAMANDAG 9 MKTSO, 3d LCT's Medium Range Missile (MMSL) Battery rapidly inserted the NMESIS into the Batanes Islands via KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352. Once inserted, the MMSL Battery remotely operated the NMESIS from the airfield into a concealed position, minimizing its signature. In short order, the Fires EAB established its capability to interdict maritime targets from key terrain in support of maintaining open sea lines of communication.

Back on Luzon, 3d MLR's Fires and Air Direction Element (FADE) initiated the dynamic maritime targeting process, calling on the capabilities of numerous maritime patrol and reconnaissance (MPRA) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to find, fix, and track maritime targets for notional engagement in coordination with Joint, Allied, and Partnered naval forces. The supporting assets, which were coordinated by 3d MLR's cross-functional fires and effects planning cell, formed critical nodes in the kill web required to execute complex maritime strikes on the modern battlefield.

The functional depth of Joint kill webs provides redundancy and flexibility in 3d MLR's ability to generate kill chain options. National overhead systems and organic maritime radars generate maritime domain awareness. In one instance, a P-8A Poseidon sourced by the U.S. Navy's Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72 provided the FADE with identification and targeting data. The FADE, by means of its delegated targeting authorities, then provided technical fire direction to the MMSL Battery, and other participating firing units, to notionally engage vessels of interest transiting the Luzon Strait.

Although no live-fire was conducted during the execution of the MKTSO, each fire support rehearsal allowed the 3d MLR Fires Center to exercise its proficiency in maritime strike planning, execution of maritime dynamic targeting and air direction authorities, coordination and synchronization of munitions employment, integration of aviation operations, and management of tactical data links to enhance the Combined and Joint Force's common tactical picture.

"The constructive kills executed during the KAMANDAG 9 MKTSO are yet another example of the 3d MLR's proven value proposition to the Combined and Joint Force," said Lt. Col. Patrick Schrafft, 3d MLR's Fire Support Coordinator. "3d MLR's Fires Center - to include the FADE and the Cross-Functional Fires and Effects Planning Cell - outpaces like entities by leveraging the subject matter expertise of our highly trained and driven fires, targeting, and air direction professionals. This, when combined with persistent maritime domain awareness, delegated authorities, and a resilient communications architecture, allows us to action the targeting objectives of the Task Force or Joint Task Force Commander within an assigned area of operations and associated airspace."

3d MLR's Tactical Air Control Element (TACE) conducted air control and deconfliction for MKTSO fire support rehearsals. Using the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), the TACE integrated friendly aircraft while the NMESIS and other participating firing units notionally fired their munitions.

While the MMSL Battery was focused on neutralizing the MKTSO scenario's seaborne threats, U.S. and Philippine Marines with 3d LCT and MBLT-10 provided security. Spreading their combined forces across the island's key maritime terrain, the U.S. and Philippine Marines rehearsed patrolling, seizing, and defending strategic airfields, ports, and access corridors against the scenario's ground-based threats.

3d LCT's Littoral Reconnaissance Team (LRT) - a low-signature, multi-disciplinary sensor team - supported the operation by providing increased maritime domain awareness and enabling multi-domain fires through the employment of various sensors and collection assets from the island's high ground.

3d Littoral Logistics Battalion's Damage Control and Resuscitation Team (DCRT) - a team of Naval medical personnel uniquely equipped to provide enroute care, trauma resuscitation, and stabilization of patients - also supported the exercise from various islands.

The synchronization of U.S.-Philippine forces during the KAMANDAG 9 MKTSO showcased the increased ability of the partnered militaries to coordinate complex, all-domain operations and further demonstrated the ironclad U.S.-Philippine alliance.

3d Marine Littoral Regiment is a dedicated U.S. Marine Corps unit specializing in amphibious and littoral warfare operations. Stationed on Oahu, Hawaii, and deployed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, 3d MLR is committed to promoting regional security and stability through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts with Allies and partner nations.

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BALTOPS 25 Begins in the Baltic Sea Region

US Navy

03 June 2025

From U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO Public Affairs

ROSTOCK, Germany -- Sixteen NATO allies, more than 40 ships, 25 aircraft and approximately 9,000 personnel began the 54th iteration of Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS 25, with the start of the pre-sail conference, June 3, in the Baltic Sea region.

The exercise, which starts June 5, is the premier annual maritime-focused military exercise in the Baltic region. BALTOPS provides NATO allies a unique opportunity to train together, strengthen interoperability and demonstrate collective readiness to defend the Alliance and preserve freedom of navigation in the region.

"This year's BALTOPS is more than just an exercise. It's a visible demonstration of our Alliance's resolve, adaptability and maritime strength," said Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO. "As we mark NATO's 75th anniversary, BALTOPS 25 showcases our ability to operate together as one unified force across the spectrum of maritime operations."

Participating nations include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

BALTOPS includes training in a wide range of capabilities, including amphibious operations, gunnery, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, and medical response. It will also incorporate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into various scenarios.

It is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet and command-and-controlled by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal. The STRIKFORNATO headquarters will host liaison officers and planners from each participating country, working together in a multinational coordination center.

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WFP acts early in Bangladesh to respond to worsening floods, calling for urgent support to reach millions more

World Food Programme

3 June 2025

DHAKA -- As relentless rains batter southeastern Bangladesh, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is on the ground responding to rising needs in some of the country's most vulnerable communities.

On 29 May, at the request of the Government, WFP activated its emergency response in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar District, just hours after flood warnings were triggered. Through its anticipatory action mechanism, 6,500 people received BDT 5,000 (US$43) per family, transferred directly to their mobile wallets. This early support allowed families to buy food and essentials, protect their homes and livelihoods, and brace for the floods ahead.

"As always, climate shocks hit hardest in communities already living in poverty and facing high food insecurity," said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh. "Because we acted early, families had a chance to prepare and face the storm with greater resilience."

To respond to climate shocks this year, WFP has developed a four-phase emergency preparedness and response plan. It includes anticipatory action before the emergency to help people prepare, emergency food rations immediately after, financial support for affected people to access food as markets begin to reopen, and cash-for-work and income-generating activities to help communities recover quickly.

"Anticipatory action gives families a chance to prepare - to buy food, secure their homes and stay safe. But this window is narrow, and resources are limited. We are calling on partners to act with us - early, fast and at scale - to protect lives before the next wave of flooding hits," added Scalpelli.

WFP aims to reach over 6 million people at risk but faces a funding gap of US$55 million.

WFP's latest response is part of a growing national effort to strengthen early action in Bangladesh. In 2024, over 15 anticipatory action frameworks were activated by UN agencies and INGOs. In 2025, 46 agencies are expected to implement anticipatory action, with increasing national leadership and expanded coverage of hazards like heatwaves, landslides and droughts.

WFP's anticipatory action is supported by partners including the European Union and donors contributing to our Global Anticipatory Action Trust Fund such as Germany and Ireland. We also acknowledge pooled funding and multilateral support, including from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and donors like Belgium, whose contribution enabled our recent response in Teknaf.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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As Hurricane season begins WFP raises the alarm on Haiti

World Food Programme

3 June 2025

This is a summary of what was said by WFP Regional Coordinator in Latin America and the Caribbean, Lola Castro, to whom quoted text may be attributed - at the UN Noon Briefing in New York today



NEW YORK/ PANAMA CITY: As the United Nations World Food Programme Regional Coordinator in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2021, I have frequently visited Haiti over the past four years.

Our WFP team and partners on the ground have seen this crisis slowly unfolding and we've been sounding the alarm about the ever-deteriorating humanitarian situation for far too long. Immense humanitarian efforts are already underway, but the situation continues to degrade.

Food security update

Hunger in Haiti has never been worse: 5.7 million people - more than half of the country's population - don't have enough to eat. This includes more than two million people who are facing emergency levels of hunger (IPC 4) and 8,400 people living in temporary sites for displaced people who are experiencing extreme hunger, severe acute malnutrition and the risk of starvation (IPC5).

Haitiis one of five countries in the world where people are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. It's really dramatic to have this in the Western hemisphere. We cannot imagine the situation in the sites housing displaced people.

Last week I visited the suburban commune of Petionville, in the southeast of Port-au-Prince, where WFP was providing emergency food assistance to thousands of people displaced by violence by armed groups in Kenscoff, a rural mountainside community. These are people who used to come and sell their food in the city. Their story bears testimony of food systems and supply chains breaking down as a result of the expansion of armed groups. Not only were these families forced to flee when criminals took control over their farmland, they now rely on WFP to survive. Conflict has also disrupted agricultural activities and commercial flow of food.

As a woman of course I am watching the situation for women and girls. We're also extremely worried about the widespread violence that women and girls face in Haiti. With more than 6,000 cases of gender-based violence reported so far this year, Port-au-Prince is one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and girls. Food assistance lessens their vulnerability to abuse.

Running out of resources for emergency response and school meals

Violence, displacement and economic collapse are driving Haiti to the verge of total collapse. We are extremely concerned that growing humanitarian needs are outpacing resources to respond to this crisis.

WFP has significantly scaled up operations in Haiti, reaching over 1.35 million people until March 2025 and we continue providing support. But now we only have stocks and cash to support crisis-affected populations until July. This includes assistance to displaced people as well as to those living in areas facing IPC 4, emergency levels of hunger. Severe funding gaps are threatening the continuity of essential programmes that help anchor communities and prevent further deterioration. Among these, WFP's flagship school meals programmea key stabilizing force in the countryis at immediate risk.

This academic year, we've managed to provide daily meals to 550,000 schoolchildren, 70 percent of which were sourced from Haitian farmers. Without urgent funding, up to 50 percent of these schoolchildren will not receive meals in the next academic year. What is important is that this food is purchased mostly locally, from smallholder farmers, women and men still producing in areas of rural Haiti. We really need to ensure these children can continue going to school and we can continue to support these farmers to have normal livelihoods.

The Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti in 2025 is only 8 percent funded and we're halfway through the year. WFP alone needs US$ 46.4 million over the next six months, to sustain its emergency response and address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition.

Lack of preparedness for hurricane season

On top of the dire situation I have already described, we have now officially entered the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June to November.

This year, for the first time ever, WFP has no prepositioned food stocks in Haiti, nor the cash liquidity to mount a swift humanitarian response in the case of a hurricane or extreme weather event. In previous years, we've always had in-country resources to be able to support between 250,000 and 500,000 people in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Unless resources are made available, WFP will have no capacity to respondthere are no contingency supplies, no logistical buffer, and no lifeline for the most vulnerable.

At this moment when half of all Haitians are already going hungry, a single storm could push millions into a humanitarian catastrophe.

WFP expanding operational capacity

Against all these odds, I want to stress that WFP remains fully operational in Haiti.

During my visit last week, I went to our logistics hub in Cap Haitien and witnessed first-hand that, despite the extremely challenging context, WFP's operational capacity has grown. We have more warehousing space and are receiving food through the port.

Also, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) remains a vital lifeline for the humanitarian community, ensuring the delivery of critical assistance and enabling the continuity of operations across the country. UNHAS continues to be the only safe and cost-effective option for humanitarian workers and the diplomatic community to get in and out of Port-au-Prince.

Our priority in Haiti is to continue providing first-line emergency food assistance to save lives, while also addressing the root causes of hunger. To hold the line on hunger, we're calling on the international community to provide urgent support - and above all, the country needs peace.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Joint Statement on Sudan convoy attack

World Food Programme

3 June 2025

ROME/NEW YORK, 3 June 2025 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF condemn an attack on a joint humanitarian convoy near Al Koma, North Darfur last night. Five members of the convoy were killed and several more people were injured. Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged.

The convoy, made up of 15 trucks, was attempting to reach children and families in famine-affected El Fasher with life-saving food and nutrition supplies. Following months of escalating violence, hundreds of thousands of people in El Fasher - many of them children - are at high risk of malnutrition and starvation if supplies do not urgently reach them.

As is standard with our humanitarian convoys, the route was shared in advance, and parties on the ground were notified and aware of the location of the trucks. Under international humanitarian law, aid convoys must be protected, and parties have the obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.

Both agencies demand an immediate end to attacks on humanitarian personnel, their facilities and vehicles - a violation under international humanitarian law.

We call for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held to account.

We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and our heartfelt sympathy and support to all those injured. It is devastating the supplies have not reached the vulnerable children and families they were intended to. The convoy had travelled over 1,800km from Port Sudan and we were negotiating access to complete the journey to El Fasher when it was attacked.

This latest incident follows a series of attacks on humanitarian operations over the past two years, including last week's bombardment of WFP's premises in El Fasher which damaged a workshop, office building and clinic.

Attacks on humanitarian staff, aid, operations, as well as civilians and civilian infrastructure in Sudan have continued for far too long with impunity. WFP and UNICEF colleagues remain on the ground despite the insecurity, but call for safe, secure operating conditions, and for international humanitarian law to be respected by all parties. The lives of millions in Sudan, including in locations like El Fasher in Darfur, depend on it.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

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NATO Set To Agree On New Defense Budget Targets

By Rikard Jozwiak June 04, 2025

NATO defense ministers meet on June 5 in a last ministerial meeting before the big annual NATO summit on June 24-25, when the military alliance's 32 heads of state and government, including US President Donald Trump, gather at The Hague.

The meeting is about one thing only: cash. This is when officials are set to agree on the next NATO spending target.

As most alliance members now spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, the next goal is 3.5 percent in so-called hard spending, meaning military capabilities such as tanks, rockets, and ammunition.

According to NATO officials who spoke to RFE/RL, only Spain seems to have problems with the 3.5 percent target, but it's expected to relent at the ministerial.

Spain is one of only a few countries still not clearing the 2 percent baseline, having only reached 1.28 percent last year; the budgeted military spending increase it was hoping for appears to be stuck for now.

The issue in Madrid is related to the center-left government's long-held promise to coalition partners to get Catalan, Basque, and Galician to become official EU languages -- something that requires unanimity among EU member states, which Spain failed to secure when it came up on the agenda in Brussels on May 27.

While the language issue hasn't been entirely dismissed yet, no date has been set for a potential decision on the question.

NATO 'Soft' Target Spending

The 3.5 percent target is not the only thing awaiting a decision. There should also be a 1.5 percent of GDP spending goal on what could be called soft targets, bringing total defense spending up to 5 percent of GDP.

One of the big issues now, with negotiations likely to continue right up till the summit, is what kind of expenditure can be included in that 1.5 percent. It would certainly include boosting civil preparedness and cyberdefense, but allies are lobbying to put pretty much anything in there -- rumor has it Germany wants to include financing for its Deutsche Welle media broadcasting.

There are two more questions that may not be resolved anytime soon: the timeline for reaching the target and how exactly to do so. The year 2032 has been mentioned, but that may well be pushed back to 2035, with officials saying it's unrealistic for every country to boost defense spending before then as there are low growth and considerable budget deficits to contend with.

There is a real discussion on the method of how to reach the target with NATO officials pushing for a 0.2 percent spending increase every year. Most countries, however, don't want such a detailed plan and prefer spending in spurts when money is available. This would mean their defense spending could jump considerably during a year when they place a major order of tanks or airplanes, for example -- and ideally this would come nearer the 3.5 percent target.

Where Does The US Stand On NATO Defense Spending?

It's been Trump, after all, who's hammered home to European NATO allies that they need to spend more. European diplomats I have spoken to say Washington simply wants the 3.5 percent in writing at The Hague meeting and doesn't really care what the other 1.5 percent involves.

But there's also a grand transatlantic bargain to be had. The United States would like a potential European defense splurge to benefit American weapon manufacturers. But with supply chains stretched in North America, it could make sense to set up more American production in Europe. In other words: buy American in Europe. Think of the Patriot systems that will be made in Germany or F-35 aircraft production in Italy.

So what about Ukraine? There will at least be a session of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the defense ministerial on June 5. But that is something that seems unlikely at the summit in The Hague with the presence of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy still unconfirmed.

The day before the ministerial meeting, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein group), an alliance of 57 countries, will meet to coordinate military aid for Kyiv. For the first time since the group was created three years ago, the US defense secretary will not be in attendance.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will not arrive in Brussels until after the Ukraine Defense Contact Group's meeting is over. With the United States no longer in the lead, Germany and the United Kingdom are now co-chairing the group with more announcements of military aid expected.

NATO allies provided 50 billion euros to Ukraine in 2024, and the goal is to provide another 40 billion this year. More than 20 billion euros have been pledged so far, but there is still a fear that target won't be reached as countries will be prioritizing their own defenses and the United States signaled it might not send more arms to Kyiv as it seeks a negotiated end to the fighting.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-defense-budget- targets-ministers/33432748.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 03 June 2025 - Day 1196

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 134 combat clashes, the Russian enemy launched three missiles and 59 air strikes, using four missiles and dropping 74 guided bombs, 1334 kamikaze drone strikes, carried out 4421 shelling of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Defense Forces repelled three Russian assaults in the districts of Vovchansk and Vovchanskih farms.

Russian forces attacked four times Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupyans komu direction in the areas of Zagrizovoye, Pi any, Nova Kruglyakivka and towards Stepova Novoselivka. There is currently one confrontation in progress.

In the Lyman direction today, Russian troops twelve times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Kolodyaziv, Green Valley, Torsky and in the direction of Chernistan, Karpivka, the New Peace. Three clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Sivers komu direction Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian attacks towards the settlement of Grigorivka.

Ukrainian troops repelled three attacks in the area of Chasovoye Yar and towards the White Mountain in the Kramators komu direction. One confrontation is ongoing so far.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers have stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders fifteen times today in the areas of Crimea, Rusiny Yar, Friendship, Toretsk and towards Jablunivka. There's still one battle going on.

In the Pokrovsky direction throughout the day, Russian forces committed 37 assault and offensive actions. The activity of Russian occupiers was observed in the areas of Nova Poltavka, Pokrovsk, Kotlyarivki, Novoukrainka, Andriyivka, Novooelenivki, Zvirovogo, Malinivka, Elizabethtivka, Mirnoy, Lisivka, Lucky, Novosergiivka and towards Mirolyubivka and Novomykolaivka. The fights have not subsided so far in four locations. The Russian enemy's aviation struck controlled air bombs on koptevom.

According to preliminary calculations, Ukrainian warriors killed 81 and wounded 52 Russian invaders in this direction, destroying one mortar, six motorcycles and seventeen BPLAs of different types. In addition, a tank, four cars, two howlers and four Russian cars were significantly damaged.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, Russian forces carried out 24 attacks on the position of Ukrainian troops, Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of Konstantinopol, Novosilka, Rivnopol, Vilny Pol, Zaporizhia and in the direction of Green Field, Novopol, Shevchenko, Komar and Bagatir. Three clashes are currently underway. Air strikes were suffered by novodarivka, olgivs .ke, novomihajlivka, mirne, mosquito and fedorivka.

In the direction of Gulyaipil s komu, the Russian opponent used unkekorovani aviation missiles across Gulyaipol.

In the orihiv direction, there were three clashes near stepovoye and scherbakiv. The battle is still going on.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions.

Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk direction today repelled twenty attacks of the Russian zagarbnytsky army. Russian forces made eleven aviation strikes, dropping thirteen KABs, also carried out 157 shells.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.





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Joint press release following the EU-U.S. Ministerial on Justice and Home Affairs, 2-3 June 2025 (Warsaw, Poland)

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

3 June 2025 14:33

On 2-3 June 2025, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted the EU-U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs in Warsaw, Poland.

The United States was represented by Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Senior Counselor to the Secretary for Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Rob Law. The European Union was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath, as well as the Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak and the Polish Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar.

The meeting provided the opportunity to reaffirm the value of sustained EU-U.S. cooperation in addressing shared challenges and their joint commitment to ongoing dialogue and close cooperation on Justice and Home Affairs matters.

The European Union and the United States reviewed recent joint achievements and identified concrete joint actions in areas of common interests and priorities, such as fighting transnational organised crime and drug trafficking, counterterrorism, illegal migration, and cyber-related criminal activity.

Organised crime and drug trafficking: Both sides underscored their commitment to transatlantic cooperation in addressing the global threat posed by organised crime and drug trafficking. Discussions highlighted ongoing efforts to deepen bi-regional international law enforcement and judicial cooperation, including on combatting cocaine and synthetic drugs trafficking, particularly fentanyl. They welcomed the role of bodies such as Eurojust in facilitating international criminal justice cooperation and coordination.

Terrorism: The European Union and the United States discussed their common efforts to counter terrorism, including the importance of information sharing and the excellent ongoing operational cooperation between Europol and U.S. competent authorities.

Illegal migration: The European Union and the United States also noted the importance of stopping illegal migration to Europe and to the United States, with a view to countering migrant smuggling and fighting trafficking networks. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of secure borders and emphasised the need for swift returns.

Cyber-related crimes: The European Union and the United States discussed the importance of fighting cybercrime and tackling increasing threats, such as ransomware and online scams and other fraud, as well as in preventing and combating child sexual abuse.

Finally, both sides reiterated their commitment to transatlantic visa free travel for all citizens of the European Union and the United States.

The European Union and the United States look forward to meeting again in Washington D.C in the second half of 2025.

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Russia Plans to Deploy Over 100 Satellites for Drone Control

Sputnik News

20250603

NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Sputnik) - Roscosmos has plans to deploy more than 100 satellites to control drones as part of the national space project, agency director general Dmitry Bakanov has announced.

"Deployment of a satellite network in the interests of controlling UAS [unmanned aerial systems], 102 + 1 spacecraft," Bakanov said, presenting the national space project at the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia conference in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday.

The national project also includes the launch of:

886 Rassvet broadband internet satellites;

114 remote Earth sensing satellites.

According to Bakanov, Russia's GLONASS navigation system could increase accuracy by tens of centimeters by 2030-2031 with the help of new satellites from Bureau 1140, the private aerospace company developing low-earth orbit satellites for broadband data transmission. The company launched experimental Rassvet-1 and 2 in 2023 and 2024, and plans to start commercial operations by 2027, when global coverage is achieved.

Bakanov says the presidential strategic council will consider the national space project on June 10.

 Sputnik

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ADF assists Pacific partners in locating explosive remnants of war

Issued by Defence Media

3 June 2025

Six nations are set to join Papua New Guinea to conduct a technical reconnaissance operation in East New Britain Province under Operation Render Safe from 3 to 14 June, 2025.

The contingent, led by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), will work alongside partner nations to locate, assess and record World War II-era explosive remnants of war for subsequent disposal.

The ADF has conducted explosive ordnance disposal operations under Render Safe throughout the Pacific for over 20 years.

This year, the ADF will contribute around 45 personnel, supported by 18 personnel from France, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States. Additional personnel will be provided by Papua New Guinea.

The Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said Render Safe was a key ADF commitment in the Pacific region.

"Papua New Guinea is one of our closest defence partners and we are pleased to work alongside their forces on their home soil," Vice Admiral Jones said.

"Render Safe contributes to a prosperous and resilient Pacific region and upholds Australia's place as partner of choice in the region."

The Commander of the Contingent, Australian Army Major Joseph Gurung, said he was proud to support the safety of locals in Papua New Guinean communities as part of the multinational effort, which includes the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

"Personnel from contributing forces will work together throughout Render Safe, in combined teams, to share ideas and techniques while strengthening our interoperability," Australian Army Major Joseph Gurung said.

"We look forward to engaging with locals in East New Britain while deployed, continuing to build on our strong relationship."

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Chinese aircraft carrier's training normal, expert says as media claims Liaoning moves to furthest recorded distance

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Jun 03, 2025 06:24 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning reportedly moved into the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, with a US media outlet claiming it marks the furthest distance the Chinese carrier has sailed in the Western Pacific on deployment. A Chinese military affairs expert said on Tuesday that the Liaoning's training is routine and such long-distance voyages are expected to become increasingly regular.

Following operations from May 25 to 26, multiple PLA Navy warships including the aircraft carrier Liaoning continued to sail in the Pacific Ocean from about 340 kilometers to the south of Miyako Island to about 1,030 kilometers to the southeast of Miyako Island from May 27 to 29, according to a press release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff on Monday.

From May 25 to 29, the aircraft carrier Liaoning conducted about 260 aircraft takeoff and landing sorties, the Japanese release said, noting that the PLA Navy carrier group then sailed further south into the Pacific Ocean on May 30.

Citing a map attached to the Japanese release showing the locations of Chinese warships over several days, USNI News, the news website of the US Naval Institute, noted that the Liaoning's position on May 30 is to the east of the Philippines and west of Guam.

USNI News claimed that this marks one of the furthest points the Liaoning has reached on deployment from China, with past deployments being only as far as the South China Sea and Philippine Sea.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the aircraft carrier Liaoning is conducting normal training activities. The vessel has previously operated in the Western Pacific, so even if this mission extends farther than past voyages, it is not unusual.

Aircraft carriers are not meant to stay near home ports, they are designed for long-range operations, Wang said, noting that Chinese aircraft carriers are expected to go even deeper into blue water zones in the future.

If the Japanese data are accurate, which said the Liaoning hosted about 260 aircraft sorties over five days, then this reflects a high level of training intensity and indicates that the carrier's air wing is fully combat-ready, Wang said.

Responding to an earlier release by the Japanese Defense Ministry claiming that the aircraft carrier Liaoning had conducted aircraft takeoff and landing exercises when it sailed in the East China Sea at the time, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular press conference on May 29 that the Liaoning aircraft carrier group's training activity in relevant waters was not directed at any specific country or target, and complies with international law and international practices.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on June 3, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: June 03, 2025 19:23

CGTN: Recently, the U.S. has repeatedly claimed that China violated the common understandings reached at the China-U.S. economic and trade meeting in Geneva and took a series of negative moves. What's China's response?

Lin Jian: The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce has made clear China's position on that. The Geneva consensus was reached in line with the principle of mutual respect and equal-footed consultation. China has been responsibly and faithfully implementing the consensus. Without any factual ground, the U.S. falsely accuses China of violating the Geneva consensus, and has issued harmful extreme measures against China such as new chip export controls, blocking EDA sales, and pledging to revoke Chinese students' visas. Those actions have seriously disrupted the Geneva consensus and hurt China's legitimate rights and interests. China firmly opposes them and has strongly protested to the U.S.

Let us stress once again that pressuring and coercion are not the right way to engage China. We call on the U.S. to respect the facts, stop spreading disinformation, reverse the wrongdoings, and act to uphold the consensus.

AFP: The White House has said that President Donald Trump will likely hold a call with President Xi Jinping this week. Can the Chinese side confirm whether that will happen?

Lin Jian: I have no information to share on that.

Kyodo News: It was reported that the public security department of China's Liaoning Province notified the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang that two Japanese nationals had been killed in Dalian and a suspect of Chinese nationality had been arrested. Can you share more details?

Lin Jian: On May 23, public security authorities in Dalian received a report on a criminal case involving two deaths. Preliminary investigation shows that the victims were Japanese nationals who were business partners of the suspect, and that the case was caused by a dispute in their business cooperation. The case is undergoing further investigation. Chinese authorities will handle the case in accordance with the law.

CCTV: China recently announced visa facilitation policy for Southeast Asian countries at the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit. Could you share more information with us?

Lin Jian: In recent years, China and ASEAN have advanced the building of a community with a shared future and made important progress in building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home. Visits between the people of China and Southeast Asian countries have been frequent. There is a mutual hope to further ease travel between the two sides.

To further facilitate cross-border travels in the region, on top of the visa-free arrangement between China and countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia and China's "Lancang-Mekong visas" program for Mekong countries, China has rolled out an "ASEAN visa" for ASEAN's 10 member states and observer Timor-Leste. This new program offers five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible applicants visiting China for business purpose and their spouses and children, granting a maximum stay of 180 days. For anyone with more specific questions on visas to China, they are welcome to contact our diplomatic and consular missions in their countries.

EFE: What is China's reaction to the ousting of Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai amid corruption allegations and public protests?

Lin Jian: This is Mongolia's internal affair and I have no comment on that.

China Review News: The spokesperson just introduced the "ASEAN visa" policy that China has offered for Southeast Asian countries. We also noticed that, beginning from June 1, China has provided visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay on a trial basis. China also announced that it "has given visa-free status to all GCC countries." This is warmly received in relevant countries. What are the effects for China's frequent launch of visa-free policies in recent years? And will China provide more of such policies in the future?

Lin Jian: As you rightly said, starting on June 1, China's unilateral visa-free program is for the first time extended to Latin American and Caribbean countries, raising the number of countries given unilateral visa-free entry to China to 43. The growing "visa-free list" shows China's firm resolve in expanding high-level opening up. The various measures China has taken to ease cross-border travel are all part of China's concrete action to create an open global economy. Adding to the proof, in the first quarter of this year, China received over 9 million visits by foreigners, up by over 40 percent year-on-year. And in the first four months, more than 18 thousand foreign-invested companies were established in China, up by 12.1 percent year-on-year.

China will continue to improve entry policies and add more countries to the visa-free list. We welcome more foreign friends to visit China for excellent purchase experience, diverse consumption scenarios and more convenient services. China is committed to greater openness and deeper cooperation for shared prosperity with the rest of the world.

AFP: According to the TASS news agency, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is in China for a three-day visit. Is the Chinese side able to confirm that and give any details of his visit?

Lin Jian: China and Belarus are all-weather comprehensive strategic partners. The two sides maintain close exchanges at various levels. As for your specific question, China will release relevant information in due course.

CCTV: It's reported that on May 31, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, meetings were held between the defense ministers of the U.S., Japan and Australia and between them and the Philippines. They issued joint statements, expressing "continued serious concern" about China's "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion" in the East China Sea and the South China Sea and vowing to continue to enhance maritime defense cooperation targeting China. What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: The U.S., together with Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, brazenly spread the false accusation of "China threat" at the Shangri-La Dialogue and sought to use the East China Sea issue and the South China Sea issue to sow discord and incite confrontation between regional countries. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it, and has made serious protests.

Bloc politics and confrontation are products of the Cold War mentality. They are incompatible with the trend of the times, and not welcomed by regional countries. Bloc politics and confrontation will not solve any problem, still less intimidate China. We will not flinch in defending China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We call on the U.S. and its allies to stop the smears and vilification, stop distorting facts and shifting blames on maritime issues, stop patching together exclusive mini-groups, and stop disrupting the effort of relevant parties to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultation and defend regional peace and stability.

AFP: The European Union has voted to use something called the International Procurement Instrument, a piece of legislation, to exclude Chinese companies from selling medical devices in the EU. This is apparently in response to China discriminating against EU medical devices in its own public procurement in China. What is the Foreign Ministry's response to this move by the EU?

Lin Jian: I'd refer you to competent authorities for specifics. What I would like to point out is that China is committed to high-level opening-up, the principles of market economy and WTO rules, and solving trade disputes through dialogue and consultation. The EU claims to be one of the most open markets in the world, but in reality has been inching towards protectionism, frequently resorting to unilateral trade tools, and competing unfairly in the name of fair competition. This is typical double standard.

We hope the EU will observe its commitment to an open market and WTO rules, provide Chinese companies with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment, and work for sound and steady China-EU trade ties. China will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Reuters: Executives and representatives of the car industry in Europe, the U.S. and India say that China's rare earth export controls are creating the risk of shortages that could lead to the stoppages in production soon. Does China plan to ease its curbs or speed up the processing of applications?

Lin Jian: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific.

NHK: To follow up on the case concerning Japanese nationals. Can you clarify the nationality of the suspect?

Lin Jian: I just noticed the press release issued by Dalian's public security authorities, which says that the suspect is a Chinese national and the case is undergoing further investigation.

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U.S. proposal contains 'many ambiguities': Foreign Minister Araqchi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says a recent U.S. proposal for a nuclear agreement contains "many ambiguities," yet Tehran will respond to it in line with national interests in the coming days.

Araqchi made the remarks on Tuesday in Beirut, Lebanon, during the signing ceremony of the Arabic edition of his book, "The Power of Negotiation."

"We received a letter from the United States, but it contains many ambiguities and raises several questions. Many of the issues are unclear," Araqchi said.

"We will provide an appropriate response in the coming days, guided by our principled stance and the interests of the Iranian people," he added.

His comments came three days after Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi delivered the U.S. proposal to the Iranian government during a brief visit to Tehran.

Araqchi reiterated Iran's right to enrich uranium on its soil as part of its peaceful nuclear energy program, calling it "a red line."

"Today, uranium enrichment is a matter of national pride and a source of honor for the Iranian people. It represents a scientific achievement attained through the hard work and expertise of Iranian scientists," the foreign minister said.

He further stressed that Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment, as the country has endured over 20 years of heavy U.S. sanctions to protect this national interest.

The issue of enrichment has been a key point of contention in the ongoing indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which began in mid-April. The two sides have so far held five rounds of talks, mediated by Oman.

Iran maintains that any agreement must guarantee the removal of sanctions while upholding its right to enrich uranium.

U.S. President Donald Trump said again on Monday that Iran would not be allowed to enrich uranium under any deal on its nuclear program. Tehran insists that there would be no deal if "zero enrichment" remains on the table.

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Araqchi discusses bilateral relations with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has met with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut to discuss key bilateral issues and regional developments.

On the final stop of his regional tour, which included a visit to Cairo on Monday, Araqchi arrived in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday morning.

During a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the top diplomat reaffirmed Iran's commitment to enhancing relations with Lebanon, particularly in the economic and trade sectors.

He emphasized the need to activate the Iran-Lebanon Joint Cooperation Commission to further expand bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Salam welcomed Araqchi's visit, saying Beirut was ready to strengthen relations with the Islamic Republic.

The two officials also reviewed the latest regional developments, reinforcing their countries' shared commitment to cooperation and stability.

In a separate meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the foreign minister said that Iran is resolved to open a "new chapter of friendly ties" with Lebanon in different political and economic spheres.

Berri, for his part, criticized Israel's violation of a late November ceasefire agreement with his country, which he said happens despite Lebanon's full compliance with the agreement.

Liberating the occupied territories of Lebanon and the reconstruction of the war-stricken areas are two main priorities of Beirut, Berri said.

Araqchi had earlier today met with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, and President Joseph Aoun.

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Iran refuses to negotiate under pressure, says President Pezeshkian

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated that Iran is open to negotiations regarding its nuclear program but refuses to engage in talks under pressure or bullying.

"We have welcomed negotiations and continue to do so, but the foundation of any discussion must be mutual respect, without one side imposing its will on the other," President Pezeshkian said on Tuesday while receiving the credentials of New Zealand's new ambassador to Tehran, Bethany Madden.

His remarks were in response to the envoy expressing hope that ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States would yield positive results.

Pezeshkian criticized a double-standard approach by major powers regarding Iran and Israel, accusing them of obstructing the progress of other nations through intimidation.

"It is completely unacceptable for a regime to commit crimes in the region with the support of powerful countries, while efforts are made to portray others as threats to regional peace and securitycreating an excuse to impose their demands," the president said.

He underscored Iran's long-standing position that it does not seek to develop a nuclear weapon, adding that the Islamic Republic remains fully prepared to cooperate in proving the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

The world needs constructive relations

On Tuesday, President Pezeshkian also received the credentials of Vietnam's new ambassador to Tehran, Nguyen Luong Ngoc.

Pezeshkian emphasized the growing need for international relations based on mutual respect for rights and interests, saying that ambassadors play a key role in promoting friendly ties between nations. He wished the new ambassador success and said Iran is ready to exchange experiences and achievements with Vietnam in various sectors.

Expansion of foreign cooperation strengthens Iran

In another meeting on Tuesday, President Pezeshkian welcomed Iran's newly appointed ambassadors to China, Azerbaijan, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Cuba, and Uruguay.

He highlighted that expanding cooperation with other countries strengthens Iran against external pressures and praised Iranian diplomats for their efforts in developing international partnerships.

Pezeshkian expressed optimism about Iran's growing relations with the six nations. "Iran and China have numerous opportunities to enhance cooperation, while Tehran's relations with Azerbaijan have significantly improved following my recent visit to the country."

He added that Iran is actively working to strengthen ties with African and Latin American nations.

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Trump contradicts U.S. negotiating team's nuclear proposal to Iran

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:45, June 03, 2025

SACRAMENTO, United States, June 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump publicly contradicted his own administration's nuclear proposal to Iran on Monday, saying that he would not allow any uranium enrichment just hours after reports revealed his negotiators had offered Tehran limited enrichment rights.

"Under our potential Agreement -- WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Monday evening.

The statement directly undercut Axios' Monday report, confirmed by two U.S. officials, that a detailed proposal delivered Saturday by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to Iranian officials via Omani intermediaries would allow Iran to maintain low-level uranium enrichment for civilian purposes, including nuclear medicine and commercial power generation.

Following Trump's latest remarks, Axios updated its report, saying the story on Witkoff's proposal "sparked immediate alarm among Iran hawks in Washington and in Israel, before Trump himself weighed in."

"The question is whether Trump will stick to that red line or show more flexibility to secure a deal than his statement suggests," it said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the proposal on Monday as "very tough" but refused to clarify the discrepancy.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials had repeatedly said that any nuclear agreement would require Iran to dismantle its enrichment capabilities completely.

Iran has consistently said it won't sign any deal that doesn't allow enrichment for civilian purposes.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Tehran would not respond positively to a U.S. draft nuclear proposal containing "radical and maximum" demands.

He made the remarks during a weekly press conference in Tehran while commenting on a U.S. proposal for a potential nuclear deal, which was presented to Iran on Saturday by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.

Baghaei said both Iran and the United States were aware of each other's red lines, noting that Iran insists on continuing its uranium enrichment and securing the effective removal of what it calls "cruel" sanctions -- two issues he said must be included in any potential agreement with Washington.

He noted that the United States had not provided clarification on the removal of the sanctions, adding that Iran needed a clear understanding of the mechanisms for lifting them and assurances it would see tangible effects, particularly in sectors such as foreign trade, economy and banking.

Trump and Witkoff "have repeatedly offered inconsistent public messages about whether Iran would be allowed to retain the capacity to enrich uranium to lower levels for civilian purposes," AP News reported.

Since April, Iran and the United States have held five rounds of Omani-mediated indirect talks, three in the Omani capital Muscat and two in Rome, over Tehran's nuclear program and the possible lifting of U.S. sanctions.

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Iran warns IAEA Board of Governors against any politically motivated move

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 6:06 PM

Iran has warned members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors that any politically motivated move against the country could derail Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Deputy Foreign Minister for legal and international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks in a post on his X account on Tuesday, following a politically-motivated report by the IAEA about the nation's peaceful nuclear program.

"Any politically motivated action by some governments in the Board of Governors regarding two unproven alleged issues related to more than two decades ago could, despite Iran's principled policy, pose serious problems for the full continuation of the path of cooperation between Iran and the Agency regarding Iran's current activities," Gharibabadi said.

"So far, Iran has not made any changes in the agency's access based on safeguards obligations following the suspension of commitments of other parties under the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," he said, adding, "but this situation cannot continue."

Gharibabadi further noted that he has held separate meetings with the ambassadors of the 17 member states of IAEA's Board of Governors, and then with the ambassadors of Russia and China, and subsequently with the ambassadors of Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, and has answered the questions raised by them.

"In these meetings, I emphasized that Iran is a committed member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), implements the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and has extensive cooperation with the agency in order to fulfill its obligations under this agreement," he said.

Gharibabadi further expressed hope that members of the IAEA's Board of Governors adopt a constructive approach and oppose any political action that could disrupt the maintenance and expansion of cooperation between Iran and the agency.

On Sunday, the IAEA claimed in a confidential report to member states that Iran has failed to report its nuclear activities at three undeclared locations and raised concerns about the country's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity.

Gharibabadi rejected the report, saying it is based on "a series of fabricated data provided by the Zionist regime" dating back more than two decades.

All accusations about Iran's past nuclear activities were terminated under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which formally endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he added.

Gharibabadi also noted that the report by the UN's nuclear watchdog is once again raising old "unsubstantiated issues" intended for "new political exploitation against Iran."

He further emphasized that the IAEA, under political pressure from certain states, has turned into a tool of pressure against the Islamic Republic.

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Iran will respond to 'ambiguous' US nuclear proposal in days: Araghchi

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 4:59 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran will respond in the coming days to the recent US proposal in indirect nuclear talks, which he said contains "many ambiguities."

Araghchi made the remarks at a signing ceremony for his book in Beirut, addressing the nuclear talks, which have stalled over the past weeks over the US insistence on depriving Iran of the right to enrich uranium.

"We will provide an appropriate and considered response in the coming days, based on our principled positions and with the interests of the Iranian people in mind," he said.

The minister reiterated that uranium enrichment is "a red line" for Iran and that Iran does not seek anyone's permission to continue uranium enrichment.

"Continuing enrichment on Iranian soil is our red line, and this is an undeniable fact that now seems to be accepted by all countries. Enrichment has become a matter of national pride and a source of honor for Iranians. This is a scientific achievement that Iranian scientists have attained through their efforts and knowledge; it is not an imported thing that can be easily ignored."

The minister stressed that Iranians have made many sacrifices to achieve this national pride and have endured more than 20 years of severe US sanctions because of this achievement by their scientists.

"Some of our nuclear scientists were assassinated by foreign agents and became martyrs. The blood of these scientists has been shed for this enrichment industry," he said, referring to the assassination of several Iranian scientists in the early 2010s by the Israeli regime.

The minister also said that more than one million Iranians need medicines produced by the Tehran research reactor, so continuing enrichment in Iran is a necessity.

Nevertheless, he said, Iran is ready to take steps toward building confidence that this enrichment does not lead to the production of nuclear weapons.

Iran and the US have held five rounds of such diplomatic process with Omani mediation since April.

A previous deal involving the Islamic Republic and other countries set out a 3.6-percent enrichment cap.

The US, however, left the agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, and restored all the illegal and unilateral sanctions that it had lifted. The Islamic Republic exercised "strategic patience" for a year, but eventually began taking a series of countermeasures that increased the country's enrichment levels.

Senior American officials such as regional envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have insisted on "zero-level" enrichment on the part of the Islamic Republic.

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Iran has 'right' to peaceful nuclear program: Russia

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 3:30 PM

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has reiterated Russia's support for efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear issue, saying the Islamic Republic has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Peskov made the remarks at a press conference on Tuesday, a day after US President Donald Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social network that Washington will not allow Iran to enrich uranium under any potential nuclear deal.

"We know that countries are entitled to peaceful energy, the use of peaceful nuclear energy. [This] is happening and should happen exclusively under the strict control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the global community. It happens everywhere - in all countries around the world. Of course, we believe that nations should retain this right," Peskov said when asked about Trump's comments.

The Kremlin spokesman further noted that Russia believes official statements from Iran that the country has no plans to possess nuclear weapons.

"As for the accusations [against] the Iranian side that they are going to develop nuclear weapons, we primarily rely on Iran's official statements that the republic has no wish or plans to possess nuclear weapons. This is what we primarily proceed from in this regard," he said.

Peskov further stated that Moscow fully supports "a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear problem" amid ongoing indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.

The US has submitted a proposal to Iran via Oman to resolve the disagreement over Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.

American news website Axios published a report earlier in the day that Washington's proposal to Tehran includes uranium enrichment on Iran's soil, contradicting Trump's public assertions that the Islamic Republic must abandon its enrichment activities altogether.

Iran and the US have held five rounds of such diplomatic process with Omani mediation since April.

A previous deal involving the Islamic Republic and other countries set out a 3.6-percent enrichment cap.

The US, however, left the agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, and restored all the illegal and unilateral sanctions that it had lifted. The Islamic Republic exercised "strategic patience" for a year, but eventually began taking a series of countermeasures that increased the country's enrichment levels.

Senior American officials such as regional envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have insisted on "zero-level" enrichment on the part of the Islamic Republic.

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US proposal includes enrichment in Iran despite Trump's insistence on zero level: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 7:26 AM

Washington's proposal to Tehran includes uranium enrichment on Iran's soil, a report says, contradicting US President Donald Trump's public assertions that the Islamic Republic must abandon its enrichment activities altogether.

American news website Axios published the report on Tuesday, citing "two sources with direct knowledge" of the details of the plan.

The US says it submitted the proposal to Iran via Oman on Saturday. The same day saw Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirm that the country had received "elements of" an American proposal via his Omani counterpart, and note that the Islamic Republic would respond keeping in mind the nation's rights and principles.

'Three-percent enrichment cap'

Citing one of the sources as detailing the proposal, Axios said it would let the Islamic Republic enrich uranium up to a "three-percent" purity level for a period, whose length would be determined later.

A standing deal involving the Islamic Republic and other countries sets out a 3.6-percent enrichment cap.

The US, however, left the agreement, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, returning all the illegal and unilateral sanctions that it had lifted, and levying even more economic bans on Iran. The Islamic Republic did not retaliate for two years, observing a period of "strategic patience," but was eventually forced to resort to a raft of countermeasures that increased the country's enrichment levels.

Observers, meanwhile, note the discrepancy between the purported details of the proposal and the public and widely-advertised remarks that have been made by American officials.

Senior American officials such as regional envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have insisted on "zero-level" enrichment on the part of the Islamic Republic.

The US has, on multiple occasions, also called for the total dismantlement of the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites, with none other than President Donald Trump, himself, even threatening to completely destroy the facilities.

Iranian officials have responded to the rhetoric by categorically ruling out either prospect and underlining the imperative nature of recognition of the country's rights.

Most recently, nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami identified enrichment as the "basis and foundation" of any civilian nuclear energy program, including that of Iran.

"[The isotope separation and enrichment processes] have to be there [in the first place] so you can develop [your required] products, and render an extensive spectrum of services to your society," he said during a televised interview on Monday.

Also on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Bagahaei vowed that the country would continue enriching uranium, echoing remarks by Araghchi, who has underlined that the Islamic Republic would keep up its peaceful enrichment activities with or without a deal with the US.

Officials, including Araghchi, have also asserted that "none of" the country's nuclear facilities would face deconstruction, no matter Western states' and their allies' insistence.

'Downsizing of nuclear infrastructures, rollback of developmental efforts'

Axios' report further pointed out that, while permitting limited enrichment, the American proposal prohibits Iran from "building any new enrichment facilities," and even mandates "non-operation" of the Islamic Republic's underground enrichment sites for "a period of time agreed by the parties."

It also goes as far as obliging Tehran to "dismantle critical infrastructure for conversion and processing of uranium."

The proposal, meanwhile, says Iran would have to halt new research and development on centrifuges.

'Regional consortium'

Additionally, the plan envisages the formation of a "regional consortium" hosting enrichment activities.

Also on Monday, Eslami noted that the Americans had been coming up with the same demands from Iran, including the development of such a consortium, even before the victory of the country's Islamic Revolution in 1979.

One such association was even formed prior to the Revolution's victory, but Iran was denied its membership due to the body's being a European one, the official said. Even following Iran's eventual membership of the consortium through an Iranian-French enterprise, the country was faced with prohibitions concerning the development of its nuclear industry that have lasted to date, Eslami added.

'IAEA's Additional Protocol'

Furthermore, the report said the proposal mandates Iran's adherence to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Additional Protocol that enables the agency to carry out "short-notice" inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities.

Iran signed the protocol in 2003, but the document has not been ratified by the Iranian Parliament yet.

The Islamic Republic began submitting to it on a voluntary basis as a goodwill gesture, but was forced to suspend its implementation amid the US's sabotage of the nuclear deal.

'Conditioned sanction relief'

Meanwhile, the proposal conditions the termination of the US's illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran on its "demonstrating real commitment."

Such commitment has to be met with Washington and the IAEA's "satisfaction," Axios wrote.

Observers note that the proposal's reported insistence on the United States' "satisfaction" with Iran's commitment comes while the Islamic Republic's verifiable and satisfactory commitment to the JCPOA was met with the US's withdrawal and violation of the deal.

Nor could the country's two-year-long period of "strategic patience" -- during which it would refrain from resorting to retaliatory nuclear measures in the hope of Washington's return to the JCPOA -- guarantee American cooperation.

Also on Monday, Baghaei noted that, so far during five rounds of Omani-mediated indirect talks, the United States had failed to provide sufficient assurances in terms of when and how sanctions would be lifted.

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Spain halts Israeli missile contract, moves to cut military ties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 3, 2025

Spain's Defense Ministry has suspended an Israeli missile manufacturing license, effectively cancelling a 285 million ($310 million) contract for 168 Spike LR2 anti-tank systems intended for the Spanish Army and Marine Corps, government sources told local news agency EFE on Tuesday.

The move is part of a broader plan by Madrid to "reduce to zero" its technological reliance on Israel amid ongoing concerns over Israel's military atrocities in Gaza.

The Defense Ministry confirmed that the contract, initially awarded in October 2023 to Pap Tecnos - the Spanish subsidiary of Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systemshas been revoked. The agreement had included the delivery of 168 launch units, 1,680 Spike LR2 missiles, and full logistical support.

An alternative procurement plan is now under review, with Spain considering the U.S.-made FGM-148F Javelin system, jointly developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

Although the ministry had previously defended the agreement based on the "obsolescence" of Spain's existing missile systems and Rafael's status as the sole qualified provider, it has since shifted position.

The Spike LR2 is believed to have been used by Israel in its military offensive in Gaza.

The suspension comes just six weeks after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ordered the Interior Ministry to unilaterally cancel a separate deal involving more than 15 million worth of Israeli-made bullets.

Last week, Secretary of State for Defense Amparo Valcarce said Spain was formulating "disconnection plans" aimed at ensuring no future dependence on Israeli technology.

While emphasizing that no active arms sales with Israel were in place, Valcarce noted that several existing programs still involved Israeli firms and that Madrid was working on "exit strategies."

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Top pro-Israel officials sacked amid Trump-Netanyahu spat over Gaza war, Iran: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 8:42 AM

Israeli media have revealed that the reason behind the recent dismissal of three senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump is that they were "widely seen as strongly supportive of Israel."

Citing informed sources, Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth said the Trump administration recently sacked three senior officials from the White House and the National Security Council due to their pro-Israel stances.

Merav Ceren, a dual US-Israeli citizen in charge of the Iran and Israel portfolio at the National Security Council, and Eric Trager, who oversees West Asia and North Africa, were two American officials who were recently removed from their posts.

Both had been appointed by former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, a staunch supporter of Israel, who was himself dismissed by Trump.

Morgan Ortagus, deputy to special envoy Steve Witkoff and the official handling the Lebanon portfolio, was another high-profile figure expected to depart as she is considered to be one of the strongest supporters of Israel within the US administration.

Ortagus played a key role in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Lebanon and in persuading the Lebanese government to take a firm stance against the Hezbollah resistance movement and disarm Palestinian refugee camps.

The 42-year-old diplomat is said not to be promoted or assigned to any foreign missions, and is expected to be reassigned to internal tasks within the State Department and will have no further role in Witkoff's team.

The Israeli regime voiced growing concern over the three dismissals within the US administration, not ruling out the possibility that more pro-Israel officials may be removed over escalating tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over Iran and the Gaza war.

"The reshuffling comes amid rising tensions between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a potential strike on Iran and the ongoing war in Gaza," the Hebrew-language paper said.

"In the Trump administration, decisions often come abruptly," it added. "These removals are not occurring in a vacuum, but rather reflect a broader distancing" between Israel and the Trump administration, "which appears to be pursuing its own strategic calculus."

Citing unnamed Israeli officials, Yedioth Ahronoth said that Netanyahu is "deeply" troubled by new developments in Washington, particularly the growing influence of figures like political commentator Tucker Carlson.

"These are dangerous people influencing President Trump," one senior official said. "They are sowing suspicion toward Israel and telling Trump that Israel is trying to drag the US into war. This is the new America, and it's deeply concerning to Netanyahu."

Enjoying unrelenting support from the United States in the fields of intelligence, logistics and finance, the Israeli regime launched its Gaza genocide on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas resistance movement carried out a military operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 124,00 others, in the besieged territory.

Tel Aviv has also time and again threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities if the ongoing Tehran-Washington talks, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, hit a dead end.

Last year, the Islamic Republic launched hundreds of missiles towards the Israeli-occupied territories as part of Operation True Promise l and II in response to the illegal regime's aggression on its embassy in Syria as well as assassinations of senior leaders of the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance and a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

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Meeting of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister / Minister of State with the Foreign Minister of Russian Federation

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At the beginning of his visit to the Russian Federation, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM), Syed Tariq Fatemi, called on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this afternoon.

The SAPM conveyed the Prime Minister's warm greetings and reiterated the Pakistani leadership's commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Russia across various sectors, including energy, connectivity, and trade. He also provided a detailed briefing on recent developments in South Asia, outlining Pakistan's concerns regarding regional escalation risks. In particular, he highlighted the serious implications of India's threat to disrupt the flow of the Indus Waters Treaty by declaring it in so-called "abeyance."

Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed satisfaction with the steady growth in bilateral cooperation, underscoring key collaborative projects such as the establishment of new Steel Mills and critical connectivity initiatives. He reaffirmed Russia's eagerness to strengthen ties with Pakistan within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), particularly in the area of counter-terrorism.

Regarding Pakistan-India relations, Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasized Russia's support for the normalization of ties between the two countries, noting its positive impact on regional stability.

Before concluding the meeting, the SAPM hand-delivered a letter from Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to President Vladimir Putin.

Islamabad

3 June 2025

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Taiwan eyeing new INGO center to promote track-two diplomacy: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

06/03/2025 03:25 PM

Taipei, June 3 (CNA) Taiwan's foreign ministry is looking for a location to establish a new international nongovernmental organization (INGO) center to attract more INGOs to Taiwan and promote unofficial diplomacy, a senior diplomat said Tuesday.

Charlie Chiang (), head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Department of NGO International Affairs, said the ministry has been trying to get more INGOs to open offices in Taiwan since 2020.

Over the past five years, the ministry has helped 13 INGOs do so, and another 37 are in contact with MOFA to explore the idea, he said during MOFA's weekly news briefing.

Taiwan's government previously announced the opening of an INGO center in Wufeng District in Taichung in March 2018, but according to Chiang, the center is no longer functional due to a lack of funding.

The renovated building now rents out office space to whoever needs it.

Chiang said the ministry currently is eyeing several potential locations for the new INGO center, which has to be spacious enough to serve as home to multiple INGO offices should they decide to come to Taiwan.

Once the ministry has finalized the location, it will allocate funds in the fiscal year 2026 budget for its construction and opening, Chiang said.

Helping INGOs build a presence in Taiwan is important for the country in promoting track-two, or unofficial, diplomacy, according to the official.

MOFA is also planning to offer one-year rent subsidies to INGOs that set up shop in Taiwan and has been streamlining regulations to make the process easier, Chiang said.

For instance, an INGO's head, usually a foreign national, used to have to be granted residency by the government first before he could apply to establish an INGO office in Taiwan.

After a recent revision of related regulations, they can now apply to open an INGO office in Taiwan before being granted residency as long as they have MOFA's endorsement, Chiang said.

Rules have also been revised to lower the financial threshold for a foreign foundation to open an office in Taiwan, reducing the minimum assets required from the previous NT$30 million (US$1 million) to the current NT$15 million.

MOFA has also set up a bilingual website https://www.taiwanngo.tw to offer one-stop service to help INGOs apply to open an office in Taiwan, he said.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/06/03

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Date

6 a.m. Jun. 2 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 3 (Tue.) (UTC+8)

PLA activities

3 sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN ships, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140603_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.jpg [Open a new window]

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UK defence review slammed as misrepresenting China's defense policy; Labour's 'military Keynesianism' faces scrutiny

Global Times

By Liu Caiyu and Chen Qingqing Published: Jun 03, 2025 11:28 PM

The Chinese Embassy in the UK on Tuesday slammed the UK government's Strategic Defence Review 2025 as "steeped in Cold War mentality and ideological bias," after the report's China-related contents claimed China to be a "sophisticated and persistent challenge," made unwarranted comments on China's defence policy and military development, and made irresponsible remarks on issues concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea, according to the embassy's official website.

The 140-page Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published late on Monday afternoon, claims that Britain faces "multiple, direct threats" to its own security for the first time since the end of the cold war - and that to deter conflict the UK must be "ready to fight and win."

The SDR, carried out by former Labour Defence Sectary Lord Robertson, claimed that "China is a sophisticated and persistent challenge", and "likely to continue seeking advantage through espionage and cyber attacks."

Commenting on the SDR, an opinion piece published in the Guardian was headlined "Labour pushes 'military Keynesianism' to win support for defense spending."

The Guardian said the UK government wants to win support for this increased militarization by arguing that investment in defense helps create skilled jobs, particularly outside London, such as at shipyards in Barrow, Devonport, Glasgow and Rosyth. This "military Keynesianism" was emphasized 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 Defense said, per the report.

"While the concept of the Labour government to promote the UK's defense strategy through 'military Keynesianism,' framing increased military spending as a defense dividend appears ambitious in scope, it faces significant misunderstandings and practical implementation challenges," Li Guanjie, a research fellow with the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies under the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

The review continues the overall thinking of the previous government in dealing with changes in the world pattern in the past, that is, hyping external threats, attempting to seek hostile forces in the UK, and alleging to enhance military strength to ensure the security of the UK, Li said.

This type of rhetoric against China is also a move to align with US strategic interests, Gao said, adding that frequently using China as a talking point and stirring up confrontation will not solve the UK's own problems.

The Guardian report has also doubted how the government will fund Starmer's "ambition" to spend 3 percent of gross domestic product on defense in the next parliament. The prime minister argued defense had to be prioritized above other public services.

A BBC report raised the question that the Strategic Defence Review states it will make defense "an engine for growth across the UK." But is that feasible? It wrote.

The outcome of Starmer's massive investment in defense may simply lead to more arms exports. Military equipment are consumables, so how can they genuinely stimulate the economy? This reveals the inherent contradiction of military Keynesianism, Li told the Global Times.

The Chinese embassy in UK said on Tuesday it must be pointed out that the China-related contents in this document distort facts, deliberately misrepresent China's defence policy, and are nothing but an excuse for the UK to expand its own military.

China is firmly committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, to the path of peaceful development, and to a defence policy that is defensive in nature. In international affairs, China has never been the party creating problems; rather, it has always advocated for the political resolution of international disputes and has consistently worked to promote peace and dialogue, the spokesperson said.

While distorting China as a challenge, some politicians in the UK clearly understand that it is not beneficial to the UK itself to engage in any extreme confrontation with China, Gao Jian, director of the Center for British Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

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UK's New Defense Strategy Calls Russia 'Immediate, Pressing Threat'

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK's new Strategic Defense Review released on Monday has called Russia an "immediate and pressing threat" and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer claimed that "Russian aggression" was growing in British waters and skies, as well as cyberspace. The Russian Embassy in London dismissed the claims.

"Russia: an immediate and pressing threat ... the overall modernisation and expansion of its armed forces means it will pose an enduring threat in key areas such as space, cyberspace, information operations, undersea warfare, and chemical and biological weapons. Russia's war economy, if sustained, will enable it to rebuild its land capabilities more quickly in the event of a ceasefire in Ukraine," the review said.

China was called a "sophisticated and persistent challenge" due to its rapidly developing technologies and aspirations to become a more influential player in the international arena.

It also claimed that China "is likely to continue seeking advantage through espionage and cyber-attacks, and through securing cutting-edge Intellectual Property through legitimate and illegitimate means."

The review also confirmed UK's plans to further provide military aid to Ukraine which will cost the country about 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) a year "for as long as it takes."

The review also suggested establishing new joint enterprises with Ukraine and giving Kiev access to new markets.

The UK Defense Ministry also has to learn lessons form the conflict in Ukraine, in particular in using UAVs and waging a hybrid conflict in order to develop its own approach to warfare, the document said.

Along with that, the UK will also allocate about 6 billion pounds to construction of munitions factories.

"We will ensure Defence is an engine for growth across the UK, by investing 6bn in munitions this Parliament, including 1.5bn in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions and building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK," the review stated.

In addition, the UK is planning to build up to 7,000 new long-range weapons "to provide greater European deterrence and support around 800 jobs," the review added.

The UK government has published a strategic defense review amid plans to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. The document includes recommendations on defense policy. The previous review was published in 2021 and was revised after the start of the Ukraine conflict.

In 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that Moscow would not attack NATO countries. Putin said that Western politicians inflated the Russian threat to distract the public from problems at home.

Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about the buildup of NATO's forces near its western borders. The Kremlin noted that Russia did not threaten anyone, but would not ignore actions that are potentially dangerous to its interests.

 Sputnik

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Forging the Future of Ukraine's Combat Power: OFDeF Conference Strengthens NATO-Ukraine Integration

NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU)

Jun 2 2025

In a powerful show of unity and purpose, over 300 military and civilian leaders from NATO, the European Union, Ukraine, and partner nations gathered in Poland for the third Operational Force Development Framework (OFDeF) Conference.

Spearheaded by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and backed by the NATO Security Assistance and Training Mission to Ukraine (NSATU) and other partners, this high-impact event marked a critical step in aligning NSATU coordination support to enhance Ukraine's combat capabilities.

Launched in 2024 and refined in early 2025, the OFDeF initiative is more than a frameworkit's a strategic roadmap for transforming Ukraine's armed forces into a modern, NATO-interoperable military force. This latest iteration of the conference prioritized synchronization, sustainability, and structurethree pillars vital to enhance Ukraine's front-line resilience and long-term military readiness.

From Battlefield Lessons to NATO Standard

Held in a three-phase format, the conference began with specialized Working Groups tackling urgent and complex domains such as cyber defense, unmanned systems, electronic warfare, logistics, medical support, and training synchronization. These were led by empowered subject matter experts and representatives from Ukraine and across the Alliance.

The involvement of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC) added depth to operational knowledge-sharing, transforming real-time battlefield lessons from Ukraine into adaptable solutions that fit NATO standards. The result: more tailored, effective, and mission-relevant support flowing to Ukrainian troops at the tactical edge.

Coordinated Action, Global Commitment

The second phase enabled high-level bilateral and multilateral engagements, reinforcing the shared strategic goals between Ukraine and its partners. This phase was pivotal for aligning national support plans with Ukraine's operational priorities, ensuring that no resource is misaligned or duplicated. The final plenary session unified these diverse efforts into a cohesive vision for the future. Discussions emphasized not only immediate battlefield requirements but also the enduring mission of embedding NATO interoperability across Ukraine's force structure.

Voices of Leadership

First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Serhiy Boyev underscored Ukraine's strategic direction: "Ukraine has transformed its defense industry. However, to prevail in this war of industries, we need consolidated solutions and the development of a joint defense ecosystem. The future of the democratic world is being decided in Ukraine, and it is our shared duty to act systematically, at scale, and without delay. I thank you for your support over the past 11 years  but today, it is needed more than ever."

Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard, Commander of NSATU and SAG-U, highlighted NATO's enduring commitment: "NSATU is here not just to help coordinate the training and donations, but to transform. Together, we are helping Ukraine creating a force that wins not only today's battles but also secures peace for the next generation while ensuring that Ukraine is postured to fight through 2025 and beyond."

A Milestone for NATO's Strategic Assistance

This OFDeF Conference reaffirmed the success of NSATU as a cornerstone of NATO's security assistance to Ukraine. It demonstrated how structured collaboration, battlefield-informed development, and aligned training initiatives are accelerating Ukraine's path toward a better NATO interoperability.

Additionally, Minister Sergiy Boyev emphasized the importance of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine Mission (NSATU) and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC), which play key roles in strengthening frontline capabilities and turning Ukraine's unique combat experience into tangible outcomes and innovative solutions.

As Russia's aggression continues, this mission is more than militaryit's a strategic imperative. The unity and focus seen at OFDeF signal a clear message: Ukraine is not alone, and NATO is not standing still.

Story by J10 NSATU

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SSU carries out historic special operation in russia's rear, hitting 41 enemy strategic aircraft - Vasyl Maliuk

Security Service of Ukraine

12:15, 2 June 2025

The Security Service of Ukraine carried out an unprecedented and unique special operation to simultaneously strike four military airfields in russia's rear, where enemy aircraft are stationed.

41 aircraft were hit as a result of the drone strikes, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22 M3 and Tu-160.

This was reported by the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk.

'The destruction of enemy bombers is a task set before us by the President of Ukraine, Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Volodymyr Zelenskyi. He personally supervised the special operation prepared by the Security Service. The adversary bombed our country almost every night from these aircraft, and today they have felt that retribution is inevitable. The SSU is doing and will do everything possible to protect Ukraine and stop russian strikes,' Vasyl Maliuk said.

The Head of the SSU led the team that prepared the special operation Web for over a year and a half.

As a result, SSU drones targeted four russian military airfields at once - Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo. Due to this plan, it was possible to strike the largest number of enemy aircraft simultaneously.

'In total, 34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main russian airfields were hit. This was not just a devastating blow to russian aviation, but a serious slap in the face to the power and terrorist nature of the russian federation,' Vasyl Maliuk emphasized.

The estimated cost of russia's strategic aircraft that was hit is over USD 7 billion.

According to Vasyl Maliuk, Operation Web took place simultaneously in three time zones and was extremely complex logistically.

First, the SSU transported FPV-drones to russia, followed by mobile wooden cabins. Once in russia, the drones were hidden under the roofs of these cabins, which were placed on trucks. At the right moment, the cabins' roofs were opened remotely, and the drones took off to strike their targets - the russian bombers.

'In accordance with the laws and customs of war, we have struck completely legitimate targets - military airfields and aircraft that are bombing our peaceful cities. So, on our part, this is a real demilitarization of russia, because we are destroying military targets. Our strikes will continue for as long as russia terrorizes Ukrainians with missiles and shahed drones,' Vasyl Maliuk remarked.

He thanked the SSU personnel who were involved in this historic special operation, stressing that they all returned to Ukraine a while ago.

'The enemy thought it could bomb Ukraine and kill Ukrainians endlessly and with impunity. This is not the case. We will respond to russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere - at sea, in the air and on land. And if necessary, we will get them out from under the ground,' the SSU Head noted.

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France to allocate EUR 200 million to support Ukraine's reconstruction and European integration projects: Denys Shmyhal

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 03 June 2025 21:34

France will provide an additional EUR 200 million to support projects aimed at Ukraine's reconstruction and integration with the European market. This was agreed during a meeting between the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and France, Denys Shmyhal and Francois Bayrou.

According to Denys Shmyhal, the French Government confirmed the provision of guarantees in the form of export credit insurance amounting to EUR 1.5 billion.

The parties also agreed to hold a joint meeting of the governments of both countries.

"We are preparing important agreements on cooperation in the defence-industrial sector, critical raw materials, and strategic industries. We are keen to develop our defence partnership and establish joint ventures," the Prime Minister of Ukraine noted.

The meeting also focused on trade issues and support for Ukraine.

"France remains our reliable strategic partner. In particular, since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine has received EUR 2 billion in direct budget support alone," Denys Shmyhal emphasised, adding that Ukraine had also received significant humanitarian, energy, and military assistance from France, including air defence systems, missile systems, artillery, and armoured vehicles.

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French Development Agency has provided Ukraine with EUR 400 million in aid and supports 19 joint projects: Denys Shmyhal

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 03 June 2025 20:13

On 3 June in Paris, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Remy Rioux, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), held a meeting to discuss infrastructure restoration and support for Ukrainian communities.

"We are grateful to AFD for initiatives to modernise energy facilities, water supply, transport networks, hospitals, and schools, which will help restore comfortable living conditions for citizens. We also appreciate the urban development projects already funded by AFD, particularly those focused on restoring municipal infrastructure, utilities, and improving housing conditions," Denys Shmyhal emphasised.

The Head of the Ukrainian Government noted that at the start of the full-scale invasion, AFD provided Ukraine with EUR 400 million in aid.

"We currently have 19 joint projects and look forward to further developing our cooperation. This enables French companies to invest in Ukraine, establish joint ventures, and implement restoration projects," the Prime Minister stated.

The parties also focused on investment in security and defence.

"This is a key priority for us," Denys Shmyhal stressed.

Additionally, the parties discussed support for the private sector, which will be the foundation for future reconstruction.

"We highly value AFD's active support and engagement in restoration projects," Denys Shmyhal concluded.

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Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and French Secretary General for European Affairs sign cooperation programme between secretariats

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 03 June 2025 19:16

On 3 June, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleh Nemchinov participated in the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2025 under the theme "Leading the Way Towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Prosperity Through Rules-Based Trade, Investment and Innovation." The event took place in Paris.

During the visit, a Cooperation Programme was signed between the General Secretariat for European Affairs of the French Government and the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The signatories were Emmanuel Puisais-Jauvin, General Secretary for European Affairs of the French Government, and Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

"Given the successful cooperation between our Secretariats in strengthening institutional capacity, sharing experience, and providing expert assistance in the field of European integration, we reached an agreement on the need to sign this Cooperation Programme to further enhance collaboration in this direction," Oleh Nemchinov stated.

The purpose of the Programme is to establish a framework and directions for further mutual cooperation and exchange of experience and information in the field of European integration. This aims to support Ukraine during the negotiation process for EU membership, including providing knowledge and expert assistance regarding the analysis of Ukraine's national legislation compliance with EU law.

The signing of the Cooperation Programme will create additional conditions for leveraging relevant European expertise to ensure an effective negotiation process for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

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Prime Minister of Ukraine and Norwegian Finance Minister discuss energy security and military aid

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 03 June 2025 17:29

On the sidelines of the OECD in Paris, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg. The parties discussed several issues regarding support for Ukraine.

In particular, they addressed the provision of gas supplies for Ukraine for the upcoming heating season. They also considered matters of military assistance and the situation on the frontline, including the recent successful operations by Ukrainian defenders.

"It is crucial to ensure uninterrupted support to protect both Ukraine and Europe," Denys Shmyhal emphasised.

He expressed gratitude to Norway for the assistance provided to Ukraine.

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Prime Minister: We aim to join the OECD next year

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 03 June 2025 14:13

Ukraine is striving to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) next year. Despite the ongoing war, the country is implementing structural reforms, aligning regulatory mechanisms with international standards, creating favourable conditions for investors, and harmonising legislation with European norms.

This was emphasised by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a meeting of the OECD Council at the ministerial level. He noted that two years ago, the OECD Programme for Ukraine was launched, with 23 joint initiatives implemented and Ukraine acceding to eight legal instruments.

"We have achieved significant results in combating corruption. We have established and operationalised an anti-corruption infrastructure and have practically implemented the State Anti-Corruption Programme, which aligns with OECD criteria by 80%," Denys Shmyhal stated.

He highlighted that the digitalisation of state processes eliminated opportunities for corruption, with tools such as the Unified State Open Data Web Portal, the Prozorro electronic procurement system, and the DREAM digital ecosystem for accountable recovery already showing positive results.

"We are undertaking comprehensive deregulation. In particular, we have abolished up to 2,000 regulatory instruments across various economic sectors, removed bureaucratic barriers for businesses, and aligned numerous legal acts with European standards," Denys Shmyhal stressed.

The Prime Minister also noted progress in implementing OECD standards in privatisation and corporatisation. Last year, open privatisation auctions increased asset values by an average of 1.5 times, with privatisation revenues exceeding planned figures by 2.5 times. A triage of state-owned enterprises was conducted, identifying companies for independent supervisory boards and improving transparent procurement processes.

"As a result of our reforms, the experience of everyday corruption among Ukrainians has dropped from 70% to 15% in recent years. This is a transformative indicator, shifting the paradigm of state development from post-soviet to European. We know that the changes happening today are the foundation for Ukraine's recovery, growth, and prosperity for generations to come," Denys Shmyhal concluded.

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German Galushchenko holds meeting with IAEA delegation led by Director General Rafael Grossi

Ukraine Government

Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 03 June 2025 15:48

Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko met with a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), headed by Director General Rafael Grossi. The parties discussed cooperation on ensuring nuclear and radiation safety in Ukraine amid ongoing russian military aggression, as well as the potential for further development of Ukraine's nuclear energy sector.

German Galushchenko thanked the IAEA for its efforts in monitoring the safety situation at Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

"The IAEA's presence at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and its efforts to ensure nuclear and radiation safety at the facility are crucial. We also greatly value the permanent IAEA missions at Ukraine's other nuclear power plants. A very positive development in our cooperation has been the establishment of IAEA missions at the transmission system operator's substations, which are critical for nuclear power generation," the Minister noted.

Rafael Grossi emphasised the IAEA's unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine during this challenging time, marking his 12th personal visit since the start of 2022.

The parties addressed the threats posed by russia's occupation of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine's ZNPP. Galushchenko stressed that only a licensed Ukrainian operator can ensure compliance with safety standards and the safe operation of the facility, underscoring that the ZNPP must be returned to Ukraine's full and sovereign control.

The discussion also focused on cooperation in developing Ukraine's nuclear energy potential.

Rafael Grossi stated that nuclear energy had been a vital pillar for Ukraine during challenging times, ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply amid a major crisis. He noted that Ukraine was among the countries with the highest expertise and experience in nuclear technologies worldwide, which provided it with a significant competitive and technological advantage. He expressed the view that further investment in nuclear energy was clearly the smartest path, both technologically and economically, and that few countries had such an opportunity, which Ukraine should fully embrace.

German Galushchenko highlighted Ukraine's strong human resource potential for advancing nuclear energy and its unique experience in operating nuclear units under wartime conditions.

"Despite constant attacks by the occupiers, Ukraine remains a global leader in the nuclear energy sector. Our specialists possess unique, invaluable skills in operating under attack conditions. With the support of international partners, I am confident we will continue to develop this sector," the Minister emphasised.

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After Round Two Of Russia-Ukraine Talks, Peace Seems Even More Elusive

By Mike Eckel June 03, 2025

Even before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators faced off across the conference room at Istanbul's famed Ciragan Palace on June 2, there was scant optimism for substantive progress toward peace.

After just about an hour of talks, it was clear even that was an overly rosy expectation.

And if that wasn't clear enough, Russia's pugilistic former president hammered home the point a day later.

"The Istanbul talks are not for striking a compromise peace on someone else's delusional terms but for ensuring our swift victory and the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime," Dmitry Medvedev, who is now a top official on the Russian Security Council, said in a post on Telegram.

The second round of negotiations to resolve Europe's largest land war since World War II ended with even less of an outcome than the first round.

Last month's initial talks were the first time Kyiv and Moscow had sat down face-to-face since the weeks just after Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022. Ukraine sent a high-level group of officials; Russia sent a delegation headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a blunt, former culture minister with a penchant for historical revisionism.

That they agreed to exchange up to 1,000 prisoners of war was seen as a success.

Proposals For Peace

In the run-up to the June 2 talks, the two sides were expected to exchange their specific proposals for a framework deal for peace.

Ukraine, which said it had transmitted its plan ahead of time to the Kremlin, called for, among other things, an unconditional, 30-day cease-fire, plus the exchange of all prisoners of war, as well as the return of Ukrainian children that Kyiv said have been abducted by Russia. As before, Ukraine sent Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Russia refused to share its plan ahead of time, which was seen as a bad sign. More ominous was that Medinsky was again the delegation's head.

"It would be wrong to expect any immediate breakthroughs at the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 3.

When the Russian document was finally released, to the state news agency TASS, it confirmed observers' worst fears about Moscow's conditions for peace.

Among other things, the Russian proposal calls for the international recognition of Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014, as well as the four Ukrainian regions that are partially occupied by Russian forces.

Russian And Ukrainian Peace Talk Positions Russia and Ukraine have published their roadmaps for a cease-fire agreement and peace talks to end the war, but their positions on key issues remain far apart, with Russia unwilling to budge so far on territory it claims to have annexed -- some of which remains under Ukrainian military control. Ukraine Russia Ceasefire Full and unconditional cease-fire on land, at sea, and in the sky for at least 30 days, with the possibility of rolling extensions, as a precondition for peace negotiations. Cease-fire after preconditions including either a full withdrawal from territories Russia claims to have annexed, or a ban on Ukrainian troop movements except to withdraw them from those territories, plus other conditions. Territorial concessions Territorial issues to be discussed once a full cease-fire is in effect; discussions start from the line of control. Territorial gains made by Russia since February 2014 are not recognized by the international community. International recognition of Russian control over Crimea and Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions. Withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from these regions. Ukrainian military No restrictions on the Ukrainian military's size or armaments. Restrictions on the size of Ukraine's military, the quantities and types of weaponry it fields, and the disbandment of "nationalist" units. Security guarantees and neutrality Ukraine must receive robust security guarantees and is not forced to be neutral. It can pursue EU and NATO membership. Ukraine must be neutral and cannot join any alliances or coalitions. Foreign troops in Ukraine No restrictions on foreign troops in Ukraine. A total ban on foreign military activity in Ukraine. Sanctions Some sanctions may be gradually lifted from Russia, with a mechanism in place to resume them if necessary. Staged rebuilding of economic ties, including gas transit, with Ukraine and other countries. Reparations Frozen Russian sovereign funds are used for reconstruction or remain frozen until reparations are paid. Both sides waive demands for reparations. Table: RFE/RL Graphics Source: Ukrainian positions: Reuters, Russian positions: text of Russian memorandum

The text even refers to the regions collectively as "Novorossiya" -- or "New Russia" -- which is a historical term used during the Russian Empire to describe lands that are now Ukrainian.

The Russian text calls for Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the territories claimed by Russia within 30 days of the cease-fire. It also calls for Ukraine to forego joining NATO and demobilize its armed forces, and a halving of foreign military aid to Kyiv.

"Talking about the meaning of this memorandum would only matter if we believed that the Russian delegation as a whole had some sincere intentions regarding these negotiations...that they also want to put an end to this war," said Kirill Martynov, editor in chief of the exiled Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europa.

"But everything we see so far is...connected to the fact that the Russian side is confident it is winning the war -- that they just need to wait a little longer, press harder, finish it off, as Putin said, and Ukraine will fall," he told Current Time.

On the battlefield itself, Russia is ramping up its tempo of operations, with a full offensive expected soon. Russia maintains the upper hand, with more men and more weaponry at its disposal, and its forces are grinding forward in several locations. Ukrainian officials have warned the northeast region of Sumy could be a priority in any coming offensive.

Kyiv also made sure its approach was abundantly clear on the eve of the talks, when it pulled off an audacious surprise drone attack on multiple Russian airfields housing dozens of Russian strategic bombers that have been used to pummel Ukraine with cruise missiles.

But while Ukraine has been praised for ingenuity, particularly with drone warfare, it has struggled with recruiting and keeping its frontline trenches and foxholes fully manned against Russian infantry assaults -- not to mention Russia's own vast drone fleet.

The Wild Card White House

The other wild card is the White House. President Donald Trump has said he is impatient with the pace of negotiations and threatened to pull the United States out entirely from the effort.

But Trump and his advisers have also signaled frustration with Putin, who has been eager to rebuild relations with Washington after a decade of acrimony.

"It looks like the Russians are again stalling for time, trying to create a 'picture of diplomacy' for the United States without real action," Umerov wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

Trump's Senate Republican allies, with Democratic support, are pushing forward with legislation that would impose major new sanctions on Moscow.

That's an effort officials in Washington said is quietly being coordinated with the White House, though Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal were vocal about their stance during a tour of Europe -- which included a stop in Ukraine -- over the past week.

"What I learned on this trip was he's preparing for more war," Graham said of Putin said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in the legislation "bone-crushing" and said they would place Russia's economy "on a trade island."

"It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive," he said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-peace- talks-istanbul/33432953.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Deliberately Targeting Civilians In Deadly Sumy Air Strikes

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 03, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has again accused Russia of "deliberately" targeting civilian infrastructure after a wave of air strikes early on June 3 killed four people and injured at least 20 others in the Sumy region that is next to the Russian border.

"The Russians launched a savage strike on Sumy -- directly targeting the city and its ordinary streets with rocket artillery. It was a fully deliberate attack on civilians," Zelenskyy said in a post on social media.

The Kremlin did not react immediately to Zelenskyy's accusation, but have repeatedly denied Russian troops purposely target Ukrainian civilian installations.

Russian troops have waged an intense campaign in the Sumy region in recent weeks after President Vladimir Putin ordered the creation of a "buffer zone" on Ukrainian territory to shield Russian borders regions from attack.

Russia says it has captured several villages in the region, and on June 3 said it was now in control of Andriyivka. Ukrainian officials, who have said they expect Russia is preparing for a summer offensive, have not confirmed the fall of Andriyivka.

Local authorities in Sumy said the strikes hit an apartment building, three private homes, a warehouse, a garage, and a hospital building.

"Among the injured is a 17-year-old child. There are also people in serious condition," Oleh Hryhorov, the regional governor, said.

Explosions were also heard in the port city of Odesa, local media reported, though details were not immediately available.

The June 3 strikes come a day after Ukraine and Russia agreed to another large-scale prisoner swap but little else during a second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul that lasted just over an hour.

Expectations, low to begin with, were tempered further after Ukraine said a day earlier that it had hit 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 to put a halt to Europe's largest and deadliest conflict since World War II.

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.

But on a cease-fire, neither side reported any progress.

Russian media published the text of Moscow's memorandum, which included harsh demands such as giving up territory, halting military mobilization, and a timetable for holding elections, that both Kyiv and the West have already rejected.

"It is obvious: without global pressure - without decisive actions from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who has the power - Putin will not agree even to a ceasefire," Zelenskyy said in his social media post.

"Not a single day goes by without Russia striking Ukrainian cities and villages. Every day, we lose our people to Russian terror. Every day, Russia gives new reasons for tougher sanctions and stronger support for our defense."

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, said he arrived in Washington together with the first deputy prime minister and other government officials on June 3, to "actively promote issues that are important for Ukraine."

"We plan to talk about defense support and the situation on the battlefield, strengthening sanctions against Russia," Yermak said, adding discussions on the bilateral minerals deal that gives the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian mineral projects would be held.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-accuses-russia- targeting-civilians-deadly-attack-sumy/33432780.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia Investigators Calls Blasts on Railroads in Bryansk, Kursk Regions as Terrorist Acts

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The explosions on the railway infrastructure in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk regions has been classified by the investigation as terrorist attacks, Russian Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said on Tuesday.

On Saturday night, an overpass collapsed on a Moscow-bound passenger train near the city of Bryansk, leaving seven people dead. Russian train operator Moscow Railways said the locomotive and carriages were derailed by the falling bridge. On Sunday, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said that the bridge was blown up while the train was moving. On the night of June 1, acting Governor of Kursk Region Alexander Khinshtein said that a bridge collapsed in the region while a freight locomotive was moving across it.

"The main investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Russia has classified the bombings of railway sections and bridge structures in the Bryansk and Kursk regions from May 31 to June 1 this year, which led to the derailing of passenger, freight and diagnostic trains, as terrorist attacks," Petrenko said.

The terrorists, acting on instructions from Kiev, planned all their actions in such a way that hundreds of civilians get under attack in the two Russian regions, the spokeswoman said.

"As a result of the terrorist attacks, a total of seven people were killed, and 113 victims, including children, are receiving medical care," Petrenko said.

 Sputnik

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Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Radio-Electronics Facility

Sputnik News

20250603

The Russian military has targeted a Ukrainian radio-electronics industry enterprise, the Defense Ministry reported.

"Operational-tactical aviation, attack UAVs, missile forces and artillery of Russian Armed Forces groupings have struck a radio-electronics industry facility," the ministry said.

Other targets hit include:

Workshops producing attack drones

Launch and storage sites for UAVs

Ammunition and military equipment depots

Temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries in 142 locations

In response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure, Russian forces regularly conduct precision strikes on Ukrainian personnel and equipment concentrations, as well as infrastructure sitesspecifically targeting energy facilities, defense industry sites, military command centers and communications hubs.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly stressed that the Russian armed forces do not target residential buildings or civilian institutions.

 Sputnik

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Russian Forces Liberate Andreyevka in Sumy Region

Sputnik News

20250603

Russian troops have taken control of the village of Andreyevka in Ukraine's Sumy region, the Defense Ministry reported.

"Units of the Sever Battlegroup of forces have liberated the settlement of Andreyevka in Sumy region through active operations," the briefing said.

Strikes on Ukrainian Brigades

Forces from the same group struck personnel and equipment of five Ukrainian brigades near the settlements of Novaya Sech, Yunakovka, Korchakovka, Sadki and Iskriskovshchina in Sumy.

Ukrainian losses in the Sever Battlegroup's area of responsibility totaled:

Over 230 personnel

eight armored combat vehicles

six vehicles

four field artillery guns

two ammunition depots

Buffer Zone Operations

The Russian army launched a large-scale offensive in the border areas of Kursk region in early March. Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin on April 26 that the operation to clear the area of Ukrainian militants was complete.

On May 22, Putin announced that Russian forces were now working to establish a security buffer zone along the border with Ukraine.

Gains in Sumy Region

The Sever Battlegroup has also recently liberated the settlements of Vladimirovka, Belovody, Konstantinovka, Maryino, Loknya, Vodolagi and Alekseyevka in the Sumy region.

 Sputnik

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Kremlin on 2nd Round of Russia-Ukraine Talks: Settlement Topic is Very Complex

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The issue of settlement in Ukraine is very complex, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, commenting on the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

"We have repeatedly said that the issue of settlement is extremely complex and consists of a large number of nuances," Peskov told reporters.

During the second round of negotiations, Russia and Ukraine have reached certain agreements, the official said, adding that they are important and will be implemented.

"Of course, it would be wrong to expect any immediate solutions or breakthroughs here. But the work is underway," Peskov said.

Commenting on the issue of compromises on the part of Russia, he said that this is a topic for negotiations with Ukraine, which cannot be public.

Russia Waiting for Reaction to Its Draft Memorandum

Russia is awaiting a reaction to its draft memorandum on the Ukrainian settlement.

"You saw yesterday the published text of the draft memorandum that we handed over to the Ukrainian side. It contains a lot of provisions, and there are multiple variants. Everything is aimed at getting rid of the root causes of this conflict and entering the trajectory of sustainable regulation... We are waiting for a reaction to the memorandum that was submitted," Peskov told reporters.

The decision to publish the Russian draft memorandum on Ukraine was made by Russian presidential aide and head of the Russian delegation to the talks with Ukraine Vladimir Medinsky after the document was discussed with the Ukrainian side, the spokesman added.

"It was transmitted strictly behind closed doors. And before that, as you know, there were no leaks," Peskov said.

Putin, Trump, Zelenskyy Unlikely to Meet in Near Future

Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are unlikely to meet in the near future, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"It [the trilateral meeting] is unlikely in the near future, because president Putin has repeatedly emphasized his readiness for contacts at the highest level, emphasizing that these contacts should be the result of those agreements that will already be developed at the technical level, at the expert level. Therefore, president Putin supports these contacts, but believes that they should be well prepared," Peskov told reporters.

The statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the second round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul was awkward and unfortunate, Peskov said.

On Monday, Zelensky criticized Russia's proposal for a two-three day ceasefire at some areas of the front line for the commanders to claim the bodies of their soldiers. The Ukrainian president referred to the Russian side as "idiots," adding that "a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead."

"This is an awkward statement, an unfortunate statement, obviously, let me just say taht it does not correspond to the negotiating spirit. This can be said without a doubt," Peskov said, commenting on the statements of the Ukrainian leader after the conclusion of the second round of negotiations.

 Sputnik

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Russian Forces Advancing, Retribution Inevitable - Ex-Prez Medvedev Issues Stark Warning to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20250603

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces are actively advancing and will continue to advance, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

"To everyone who is worried and waiting for retribution. It's right to worry - that's what normal people do. Retribution is inevitable. But keep in mind: 1. Our Army is pushing forward and will continue to advance. Everything that needs to be blown up will be blown up, and those who must be eliminated will be," Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

Negotiations in Istanbul are needed not for "a compromise peace on someone else's delusional terms but for ensuring our swift victory and the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime," the official said.

"That's what the Russian Memorandum published yesterday is about," he added.

On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Kiev had carried out a terrorist attack using FPV drones at airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. All of the attacks on airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions were repelled. According to the ministry, the fires that occurred as a result of Ukraine's attacks on airfields in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions were extinguished, and there were no casualties among the personnel.

 Sputnik

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President Meets with IAEA Director General

President of Ukraine

3 June 2025 - 21:47

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who is visiting Ukraine for the twelfth time already since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Head of State thanked the IAEA for the work of its missions at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

The main focus of the meeting was the situation at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which requires not just monitoring but concrete action.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that it is essential for the IAEA to be present at the Zaporizhzhia NPP in full compliance with international law.

The President also stressed that any potential attempt by Russia to restart the reactors at the plant is unacceptable.

For his part, the IAEA Director General noted that, at present, not even the minimum safety conditions exist for such a restart.

The meeting also covered the safety of all nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, whose protective structure was damaged by a Russian attack drone strike.

In addition, the parties discussed specific cooperation projects between Ukraine and the IAEA aimed at developing nuclear energy in our state. These projects may be presented at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will take place on July 10-11 in Rome.

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Russia Remains Fully Committed to War - And They Prove This Commitment of Theirs With Both Their Strikes and Their Statements - All of This Is the Argument for New Sanctions Against Russia - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

3 June 2025 - 21:14

Dear Ukrainians!

Right now, in the Sumy region, doctors are providing all necessary assistance to those wounded by a Russian strike. Rocket artillery against an ordinary city - the Russians struck right on the street, hitting ordinary residential buildings. Sleazebags. Tragically, four people were killed by this particular strike. My condolences to their families. Nearly 30 people were wounded, including three children. Throughout the day, there were air raid alerts, and there were strikes across almost the entire territory of our state. There have been virtually no days without killings during this whole time, while the United States, Europe, and other global actors have been urging Russia to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war. Russia remains fully committed to war - and they prove this commitment of theirs with both their strikes and their statements - all of this is the argument for new sanctions against Russia, tough sanctions. I want to thank all Americans, all Europeans who support this approach - the approach of pressuring Russia into peace - and it is extremely important. Putin does not change his behavior when he does not fear the consequences of his actions. Russia must feel what war truly means. Russia must bear the losses from the war. They must really feel that continuing the war will have devastating consequences for them.

Today, I had various meetings regarding our international communications - we are constantly working with our partners to ensure that the killings are stopped and that Ukraine is protected in the future. I gave some instructions today to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Currently, the Ukrainian delegation, led by Yuliia Svyrydenko, the First Deputy Prime Minister, is already working in Washington. Alongside her are Head of my Office Yermak and the teams of the Government and the Office. There are many meetings scheduled for this week. Our goal is to implement as quickly as possible everything agreed upon with President Trump. The cessation of killings, real peace, and economic cooperation with America. We are offering the United States very concrete and mutually beneficial agreements. I thank everyone who is helping.

Today, I held a detailed meeting with our military officials: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Andrii Hnatov, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov. Mykhailo Drapatyi will focus exclusively on combat issues and has been appointed Commander of the Joint Forces - so that he can concentrate on the front one hundred percent. As for the Land Forces system, especially tasks like training, preparation, changes in the Territorial Centers of Recruitment, and everything related to this - another person will handle that. Today, we also approved the appointment of Oleh Apostol as Commander of the Air Assault Forces, and Robert Brovdi as Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces. This also means a greater focus on combat issues. The successful experience of the best brigades must be scaled across the entire army. Vadym Sukharevskyi was appointed Deputy Commander of the Operational Command East, and his primary task is the modernization of this command. Ihor Skybiuk was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff.

And a few more things.

Today, I met with Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA. We talked about the obvious security challenges created by the Russian occupation - specifically the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. We are doing everything possible to prevent any radiation or other incidents. Unfortunately, the Russian occupation has created problems the world had never faced before. I thank everyone in the world who, despite everything, is helping us keep this situation within safety limits. And no matter how difficult it is, we must restore normal Ukrainian control over the plant. We also discussed Ukraine's energy sector, particularly our nuclear generation. I am grateful for the willingness to assist with completing our Khmelnytskyi NPP and developing uranium extraction in Ukraine.

Also today, together with Olena, we met with wonderful Ukrainian children and presented them our new award - the state award "Future of Ukraine." It is specifically intended for children - children who saved someone else's life, who help defend Ukraine, who have shown such personal strength and determination that it's hard to believe they are just children. Today, the first 20 awards were given. And may this become our national tradition. We are doing everything for Ukraine. We are proud of our people. We thank everyone who is helping.

And it is always a pleasure to give special thanks to the Security Service of Ukraine - well done!

Glory to Ukraine!

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IAEA Chief Warns Of Persistent Nuclear Safety Risks In Ukraine Amid Air Raids

By RFE/RL June 04, 2025

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned about the ongoing risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine, saying the "dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present."

The presence of IAEA officials at nuclear facilities in Ukraine remains essential to help prevent a nuclear incident, Raphael Grossi said on June 3 after his 12th visit to Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The IAEA has played a role in safeguarding the condition of Ukraine's nuclear power plants since then.

It regularly sends expert teams to the operating reactor sites in Rivne and Khmelnytskiy and has a permanent presence at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been shut down for safety reasons.

The IAEA experts at Rivne and Khmelnytskiy had to take shelter up to three times during Grossi's visit because of an unusually high number of air raid warnings.

"My teams report that this was the most intense day of air raid alarms they had experienced since late last year," Grossi said in a news release.

Grossi said he met with Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and other senior officials in the basement of the Energy Ministry because of an active air alarm in Kyiv.

He also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and discussed the IAEA's plans to support the country in restoring and expanding its nuclear power infrastructure.

Grossi also commented on a report that Russia is taking steps to connect the power plant to its electricity grid, telling Reuters in an interview that the Russians had never hidden the fact they want to restart the plant but added they would not be able to do so soon.

He said the plant is not in a condition to be restarted at present due to a lack of water for cooling and the absence of a stable power supply. Water would have to be pumped from the Dnipro River for the plant to restart, Grossi said.

Greenpeace issued a report last week saying Russia was building a 90-kilometer high-voltage power line to connect the power plant to Russia's grid.

Grossi said the IAEA did not agree with that report's conclusions.

"There are some areas where there has been some work, but we do not have any concrete evidence that this is part of a concerted, orchestrated plan to connect the power plant in one sense or the other," he said.

"We are not in a situation of imminent restart of the plant. Far from that, it would take quite some time before that can be done."

Zelenskyy said on X that any Russian efforts to restart the Zaporizhzhya power plant without Ukraine's involvement would be "absurd and dangerous," adding that is the reason IAEA officials "must be at the plant without artificial obstacles to their work or staff rotation." The experts at the plant "are showing the real situation to the world," he said.

The facility is Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Before the war it generated a fifth of Ukraine's electricity. The last of its six reactors stopped generating electricity in September 2022. It has been occupied by Russia since shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Areas near the plant regularly come under artillery and drone bombardment, which has damaged the two remaining power lines supplying the electricity needed for the plant to cool itself.

Both sides accuse each other of being responsible for the attacks.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-nuclear-power- plant-zaporizhzhya-iaea-grossi/33433500.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Tenfold increase in UK drone deliveries for Ukraine at 50-nation Ukraine summit

The UK is investing a record 350m this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025

From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP

Published 4 June 2025

The UK is ramping up its support for Ukraine with a target to achieve a tenfold increase in production and procurement of drones to deliver to Ukraine this year.

With more than 10,000 drones delivered to Ukraine last year by the UK, tens of thousands more have already been delivered towards an ambitious new target of 100,000 drones for the current financial year. The record 350m investment in drones for Ukraine is part of the UK's 4.5bn military support this year.

As Ukraine's Armed Forces have demonstrated the effectiveness of drone warfare in defending against Putin's illegal invasion, the UK has been doubling down on investment in drones with British defence companies, including small to medium sized enterprises, supporting the UK economy and jobs, as part of the government's Plan for Change.

Convening a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) with his German counterpart, the Defence Secretary will also announce that the UK will spend a further 247m this year on training the Armed Forces of Ukraine, supporting its highly successful programme of training for Ukrainian recruits on British soil, Operation Interflex, which has provided more than 55,000 Ukrainian recruits with basic combat training since 2022 - with contributions from 13 partner nations.

Ukrainian units have confirmed that UK-provided drones have helped stabilise parts of the frontline by driving back Russian attacks and protecting Ukrainian lives, and Defence Intelligence has confirmed that drones currently kill more people than artillery on the frontline in Ukraine.

As well as this, the Defence Secretary will confirm the completed delivery of 140,000 artillery munitions by the UK for Ukraine since the start of 2025, in a vital boost for Ukraine's frontline troops.

As part of the Strategic Defence Review - published on Monday - the government announced more than 4bn for autonomous systems and drones for the UK Armed Forces, to help learn the lessons from Ukraine. This follows the government's historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of UK GDP by April 2027.

The Defence Secretary is set to join the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, to host Ukrainian Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, at the latest meeting of the 50-nation strong UDCG at NATO headquarters today (Wednesday).

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year and completing a major milestone in the delivery of critical artillery ammunition. We are learning lessons every day from the battlefield in Ukraine, which British companies are using to develop advanced new drones to help protect Ukraine's civilians and also strengthen our own national security. Defence is an engine for growth, delivering on this government's Plan for Change, and this investment will help keep us secure at home and strong abroad, while ensuring the UK is a world leader in rapidly developing drone technology.

To provide further training and equipment supplies for Ukraine's forces, the UK will also invest 40m in the trust fund for NATO's NSATU mission for Ukraine, for which the UK is the framework nation, which is prioritising rapid procurement of spare parts and fuel for vehicles, training, and consumables to support troops in combat.

Artillery is critical to Ukraine's war effort, holding back Putin's forces from making significant gains on the frontline. With supply chains around the world under unprecedented strain, securing reliable sources for artillery ammunition is vital for Ukraine's defence.

Many of the drones built in the UK harness new cutting-edge technology, from highly manoeuvrable first-person view (FPV) drones to precisely attack Russian targets, to interceptor drones designed to boost Ukraine's air defence by destroying Russian missiles and drones, to new fibre-optic drones which are tethered via a cable which safeguards against jamming from Russian electronic warfare systems.

The UK has also been providing low-cost drones which can drop explosives on Russian positions. Between this type of drone and FPV systems, these two types of drone are reported to be responsible for 60-70% of damage currently caused to Russian equipment.

The UK is fully committed to working with allies to step up support to ensure Ukraine remains in the strongest possible position, which is why 4.5 billion of military support will be provided this year - more than ever before.

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TORONTO, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:CAR.UN) (CAPREIT) announced today that, at its Annual and Special Meeting of Unitholders held today (the Meeting), each of the items of business referred to in its management information circular dated April 10, 2025 (the Circular) were passed by a vote held by ballot.

A total of 112,872,207 units and special voting units of CAPREIT (collectively, Units), in the aggregate, representing 69.81% of CAPREITs issued and outstanding Units were voted in connection with the Meeting. The voting results for each item of business are as follows:

Election of Trustees :

All nominees proposed in the Circular were elected as trustees.

Nominee Votes

For % Votes

For Votes

Withheld % Votes

Withheld Lori-Ann Beausoleil 112,171,872 99.80% 220,024 0.20% Gina Parvaneh Cody 108,717,949 96.73% 3,673,947 3.27% Mark Kenney 106,907,142 95.12% 5,484,754 4.88% Gervais Levasseur 110,115,731 97.97% 2,276,165 2.03% Ken Silver 110,107,465 97.97% 2,284,431 2.03% Jennifer Stoddart 110,036,969 97.90% 2,354,927 2.10% Elaine Todres 106,412,821 94.68% 5,979,075 5.32% Rene Tremblay 110,190,230 98.04% 2,201,666 1.96% David Wesik 110,211,572 98.06% 2,180,324 1.94%

Appointment of Auditors

Votes

For % Votes

For Votes

Withheld % Votes

Withheld Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants

112,800,122 99.94% 71,960 0.06%

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

A non-binding advisory vote to accept CAPREITs approach to executive compensation was approved.

Votes

For % Votes

For Votes

Against % Votes

Against 102,898,491 91.55% 9,493,279 8.45%

Reconfirmation of the Unitholders Rights Plan Agreement

CAPREITs unitholders rights plan agreement was reconfirmed.

Votes

For % Votes

For Votes

Against % Votes

Against 109,111,480 97.08% 3,280,291 2.92%

About CAPREIT

CAPREIT is Canada's largest publicly traded provider of quality rental housing. As at March 31, 2025, CAPREIT owns approximately 46,800 residential apartment suites and townhomes that are well-located across Canada and the Netherlands, with a total fair value of approximately $14.9 billion. For more information about CAPREIT, its business and its investment highlights, please visit our website at www.capreit.ca and our public disclosures which can be found under our profile at www.sedarplus.ca .

For more information, please contact:
Dallas, TX, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to recent industry-wide challenges, Dickeys Barbecue Pit addresses concerns regarding franchisee satisfaction. Amidst macroeconomic pressures, geopolitical instability, and shifting consumer spending, Dickeys acknowledges the complexities of the current restaurant franchise landscape and outlines strategies for continued success.

Despite unprecedented obstacles, Dickeys emphasizes the importance of analyzing empirical evidence and understanding franchise system intricacies. Consistency and brand integrity remain paramount, with all locations upholding the same great taste. Concerns about supplier costs are mitigated by collective purchasing power and proprietary products, ensuring both quality and favorable pricing. Strategic partnerships with national distributors further guarantee product integrity, food safety, and efficient recall procedures.

Using specific suppliers ensures product consistency and integrity, which is fundamental to the Dickeys brand, says Dickeys CEO Laura Dickey. By leveraging group purchasing power, we are able to secure prices that are generally better than market, providing significant savings for our owner-operators and ensuring built-in food safety mechanisms concerning recalls and liability issues

Key to franchisee success is active participation and adherence to the established business model. Dickeys highlights that franchisees who engage fully in operational management, reinvest in their business and community, and comply with model requirements experience long-term profitability. Successful franchisees typically have 25-year agreements with profitable sales transactions.

At Dickeys, we are committed to evolving and adapting, as evidenced during the pandemic when additional revenue streams were created for our owner-operators through new concepts, said Ms. Dickey. Responsiveness and flexibility are key to our partnerships with owner-operators and their success.

Instances of franchisee non-compliance leading to business failure are addressed, with the emphasis placed on adherence to proven models. Dickeys acknowledges that deviating from successful practices can result in operational difficulties, and business failure, underscoring the importance of partnership and mutual respect.

Surround yourself with great people, save for a rainy day, and take ownership of your success. As a franchisee, you control your own destiny. Success or failure is up to you, said Josh Wise, Dickeys multi-unit franchisee from Newark, Ohio. Dickeys has given me the opportunity to follow my dream, create something unique, and make a lasting impact in my community. For anyone looking to be their own boss, franchising is the way to do it.

Looking to the future, Dickeys sees promising recovery trends, including sales growth, increased customer transactions, and robust franchise sales. Evidence-based optimism and demonstrated resilience during challenging periods, such as the recent pandemic, highlight the strength of the business model and digital infrastructure. A commitment to continuous evolution and adaptation, including strategic pivots and development of supplementary revenue streams, ensures the longevity and success of the partnership with owner-operators.

At Dickeys, we are committed to evolving and adapting, as evidenced during the pandemic when additional revenue streams were created for our owner-operators through new concepts, said Ms. Dickey. Responsiveness and flexibility are key to our partnerships with owner-operators and their success.

Dickeys felt like the perfect fita family-owned franchise with a rich legacy and delicious barbecue, said Nidhi Bhatt, Dickeys Franchisee in Brooksville, Florida. The training I received from Dickeys was transformative. It gave me the tools and confidence to run the business independently, Having my husbands support has been invaluable, but Im proud to say I now run the business independently. Its rewarding to show my kids whats possible with hard work and determination.

More than one hundred Dickeys Franchisees share their personal experiences with the brand in their own words in articles and video testimonials here.

About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Founded in 1941 by the Dickey family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the worlds largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For more than 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue. Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickeys barbecued meats are paired with a variety of Southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickeys never takes shortcuts  because real barbecue cant be rushed.

With more than 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickeys Barbecue Franchise and Dickeys Restaurant Brands continue to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickeys Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickeys has been recognized on Newsweeks 2022 "Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nations Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Todays 2021 Readers Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneurs Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine.

For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. For franchise opportunities, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com.
LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI), recently launched by TMF Group, analyses the business environment of 79 jurisdictions, accounting for 94% of the world's GDP. It also ranks them based on over 250 indicators of business complexity, with the jurisdiction ranked 1st as the most complex and the jurisdiction ranked 79th, the least.

Among the worlds 10 least complex jurisdictions for doing business, Hong Kong, SAR remains the 4rth easiest jurisdiction for the second year in a row. The jurisdiction offers a favourable business environment, characterised by a straightforward and low tax regime that appeals to international businesses.

New Zealand, also included in the 10 easiest jurisdictions worldwide, maintains its reputation as a straightforward place for business operations. This is largely due to the government's proactive approach in welcoming foreign investments and streamlined administrative processes.

Meanwhile, business complexity in India (18th) is mainly driven by recent regulatory changes, according to this years GBCI report. Over the past year, India has introduced numerous regulatory amendments aimed at boosting transparency and accountability. Although these are expected to bring benefits in the long term, they have added layers of complexity for businesses operating in the country, requiring constant adaptation to new compliance needs.

Japan is ranked 43rd in this years GBCI, showing a decrease in complexity from last years position (38th). This decrease in complexity is partly due to recent simplifications and governmental initiatives to provide English-language support to international financial service companies. These measures facilitate easier operations and reduce barriers for foreign businesses, improving investment attractiveness.

Singapore, ranking 48th, continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in its trade corridors. This jurisdiction invests heavily in technology and infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing its status as a regional hub.

Chinas Mainland (10th) enters the top 10 most complex jurisdictions for businesses in 2025. According to the report, the complexity is driven by its frequent regulatory changes and regional disparities. Despite these challenges, the government continues to offer incentives to attract investment and to promote infrastructure development to enhance trade logistics.

TMF Groups Head of APAC, Shagun Kumar, commented: Were seeing a growing effort by decision-makers and businesses across APAC to reduce unnecessary burdens for doing business in the region  these have in the past delayed development, leading to complex evaluations for investment. Such efforts contribute to unlocking the regions drive towards economic growth, and we expect businesses to adapt and continue to leverage the potential of APAC as a key contributor for their global strategies.

Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex) 1. Greece 79. Cayman Islands 2. France 78. Denmark 3. Mexico 77. New Zealand 4. Turkey 76. Hong Kong, SAR 5. Colombia 75. Jersey 6. Brazil 74. Netherlands 7. Italy 73. Jamaica 8. Bolivia 72. British Virgin Islands 9. Kazakhstan 71. Curacao 10. Chinas Mainland 70. Czech Republic

Media Contacts

Marina Llibre Martin

marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com
HONG KONG, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Orthodontics Foundation (IOF), in collaboration with the ADA Forsyth Institute (AFI) and the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), will host the 2025 IOF-ADA Forsyth International Orthodontic Symposium on June 2728, 2025, at UCM in Madrid, Spain. As the fourth edition in a continuing series, the symposium reflects IOFs enduring commitment to assembling global leaders in orthodontics. While this event brings together more than 30 speakers from over 20 global institutions, it represents more than a two-day academic gatheringit is the latest milestone in IOFs long-term commitment to advancing orthodontics through innovation, global dialogue, and clinical impact.





Established in 2022, IOF believes that innovation is the cornerstone of the future of orthodontics. Its mission is to foster the emergence and application of transformative ideas that can address real-world challenges. As a global platform, IOF brings together early-career and seasoned researchers and clinicians, along with thought leaders across continents to catalyze meaningful progress in orthodontic science and care.

Innovation in Focus: A Snapshot of the 2025 Symposium

The upcoming symposium will explore how emerging technologies are transforming interdisciplinary care. Four key sessions will spotlight advances in 3D biomechanics, aligner systems, the biology of tooth movement, and collaboration across dental specialties. Topics include digital workflow integration, the use of AI in treatment planning, and innovations in orthodontic biomechanics.

Unlike traditional conferences, the International Orthodontic Symposium curates its speaker lineup independently, based on scientific merit and clinical relevance. The event also features the New Innovator Session, where IOF Research Grants recipients present their research-in-progress and discuss how novel concepts can translate into practice.

As Prof. Conchita Martin, organizing committee member and Professor of Orthodontics and Research Methodology at UCM, states: In designing and planning the symposium, our goal was to create an engaging balance between cutting-edge research, practical application, and interactive discussion. This symposium is not only about learning but, in accordance with the IOF mission, providing a platform for researchers and professionals to exchange knowledge and explore new ideas.

Bridging Borders: A Global Stage for Orthodontic Innovation

Beyond the symposium, IOF is steadily building a multi-channel platform for knowledge exchange and professional development. Through initiatives such as the IOF Talk, the Clinical Showcase series, IOF supports orthodontic professionals in more than 130 countries and regions, making top-tier orthodontic education more equitable, inclusive, and accessible worldwide.

Committed to advancing orthodontic innovation and clinical translation, IOF launched its annual Research Grant program since its inception, attracting 140 applications from across continents and funding 39 outstanding proposals to date. This program prioritizes forward-looking research in fields such as digital orthodontics, biomechanics, gene therapy, and AI applications.

By empowering both emerging and established voices in the profession, IOF accelerates the real-world impact of promising ideas  particularly in underserved or rapidly evolving healthcare systems.

As one of the fields leading voices, Prof. Theodore Eliades, IOF Science Committee member and Professor and Director of the Orthodontic and Paediatric Dentistry clinics at the University of Zurich, notes: What IOF programs offer is an excellent panel of speakers and reviewers, typically made up of scientists, academics, and cliniciansnot just users of innovations, but those who generate clinical data and establish validated clinical processes. This list is independently curated by IOF, with the sole objective of pushing the field forward  to explore what orthodontics could look like in the next decade.

Whats Next: IOFs Vision for Global Orthodontic Innovation

Committed to strengthening its role as a global hub for orthodontic innovation, IOF will further optimize its initiatives in education, research and collaboration in orthodontics.

A major upgrade to IOFs Research Grant program will be unveiled at this years Symposium, marking a renewed commitment to supporting projects with high application potential and strategic relevance to the profession. In the realm of education, IOF is exploring academic collaborations with leading universities to provide more accessible learning resources for students and young professionals. In parallel, IOF is working to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI into training and development, with initiatives like VR/AR-powered learning experiences. Meanwhile, the foundation is also committed to supporting scientific dialogue around complex or controversial topics in orthodonticssuch as early treatmentby providing evidence-based guidance and theoretical support for clinical practice.

By supporting diverse talent and fostering global exchange, IOF aims to shape a more innovative, inclusive, and patient-centered future for orthodontics.

Company: International Orthodontics Foundation Limited

Contact Person: Brandon Kan

Email: brandon.kan@iofglobal.org

Website: https://www.iofglobal.org

City: Hong Kong

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c027494-55e8-48a4-a932-6465a7368d9c
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. (TSX-V: DMGI) (OTCQB: DMGGF) (FRANKFURT: 6AX) ("DMG" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated blockchain and data center technology company, today announces its preliminary operational results for May 2025:

Bitcoin mined: 31 BTC (vs 30 BTC in Apr 2025)

31 BTC (vs 30 BTC in Apr 2025) Hashrate: 1.89 EH/s (vs 1.93 EH/s in Apr 2025)

1.89 EH/s (vs 1.93 EH/s in Apr 2025) Bitcoin balance: 350 BTC (vs 351 BTC in Apr 2025)



During May 2025, DMGs realized hashrate was 1.89 EH/s, approximately flat compared to Aprils reported 1.93 EH/s. The Company reached its 2.1 EH/s hashrate target in early May, supported by the deployment of additional Bitmain S21+ Hydro miners. Throughout May, DMG reduced the hashrate of a portion of its fleetparticularly its Bitmain T21 minersin response to rising ambient temperatures. The Company also continued to experience hydro infrastructure challenges, although its hydro-cooled miners continued to perform well.

DMGs bitcoin balance of 350 BTC at the end of May was similar to the prior month end. The Company sold bitcoin during the month to fund operating expenses and further reduce its loan balance with Sygnum Bank, in line with prior guidance.

DMGs CEO, Sheldon Bennett, commented, "In May, we mined 31 bitcoin on a hashrate of 1.89 EH/s, even as we incurred seasonal headwinds and infrastructure-related challenges. Our bitcoin balance remained stable as we continued to allocate proceeds toward paying operational costs and reducing debt. While we strive to remain competitive in Bitcoin mining to ensure sustained cash generation, we continue to be encouraged by our progress to secure colocation and off-take agreements for artificial intelligence infrastructure as well as new clients for our Systemic Trust digital asset custody subsidiary."

About DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc.

DMG is a publicly traded and vertically integrated blockchain and data center technology company that manages, operates and develops end-to-end digital solutions to monetize the digital asset and artificial intelligence compute ecosystems. Systemic Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of DMG, is an integral component of DMGs carbon-neutral Bitcoin ecosystem, which enables financial institutions to move Bitcoin in a sustainable and regulatory-compliant manner.

For additional information about DMG Blockchain Solutions and its initiatives, please visit www.dmgblockchain.com. Follow @dmgblockchain on X, LinkedIn and Facebook, and subscribe to the DMG YouTube channel to stay updated with the latest developments and insights.

For further information, please contact:

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Sheldon Bennett, CEO & Director

Tel: +1 (778) 300-5406

Email: investors@dmgblockchain.com

Web: www.dmgblockchain.com

For Investor Relations:

investors@dmgblockchain.com

For Media Inquiries:

Chantelle Borrelli

Head of Communications

chantelle@dmgblockchain.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information or statements based on current expectations. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements regarding DMGs strategies and plans, executing on DMGs broader strategy to shift its data center capacity towards AI, securing high-value AI off-take and colocation agreements, securing new clients for the Systemic Trust digital asset custody subsidiary, the opportunity and plans to monetize bitcoin transactions and provide additional products and services to customers and users, the continued investment in Bitcoin network software infrastructure and applications, the expected allocation of capital, developing and executing on the Companys products and services, increasing self-mining, increasing hashrate, efforts to improve the operation of its mining fleet, the potential trimming of self-mining due to higher ambient temperature environment, the launch of products and services, events, courses of action, and the potential of the Companys technology and operations, among others, are all forward-looking information.

Future changes in the Bitcoin network-wide mining difficulty rate or Bitcoin hashrate may materially affect the future performance of DMGs production of bitcoin, and future operating results could also be materially affected by the price of bitcoin and an increase in hashrate mining difficulty.

Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, market and other conditions, volatility in the trading price of the common shares of the Company, business, economic and capital market conditions; the ability to manage operating expenses, which may adversely affect the Company's financial condition; the ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; regulatory uncertainties; access to equipment; market conditions and the demand and pricing for products; the demand and pricing of bitcoin; the demand and pricing of AI data centers and usage; security threats, including a loss/theft of DMG's bitcoin; DMG's relationships with its customers, distributors and business partners; the inability to add more power to DMG's facilities; DMG's ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet customers' needs; the ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; competition in the industry; the impact of technology changes on the products and industry; failure to develop new and innovative products; the ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; the impact of intellectual property litigation that could materially and adversely affect the business; the ability to manage working capital; and the dependence on key personnel. DMG may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, the ability to successfully develop software, that there will be no regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business, anticipated costs, the ability to secure sufficient capital to complete its business plans, the ability to achieve goals and the price of bitcoin. Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The securities of DMG are considered highly speculative due to the nature of DMG's business. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Companys filings on www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, DMGs past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, equipment failures, lack of supply of equipment, power and infrastructure, failure to obtain any permits required to operate the business, the impact of technology changes on the industry, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, secure equipment, and hire personnel, competition, security threats including stolen bitcoin from DMG or its customers, consumer sentiment towards DMG's products, services and blockchain and AI technology generally, failure to develop new and innovative products, litigation, adverse weather or climate events, increase in operating costs, increase in equipment and labor costs, equipment failures, decrease in the price of Bitcoin, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of or statements made by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.
Dallas, TX, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Lynn, Pinker, Hurst & Schwegmann has filed a motion to disqualify the Zarco law firm from acting as counsel in a matter involving Dickeys Restaurants, Inc in the United States District Court Northern District Of Illinois Eastern Division. The challenge cites alleged egregious and intentional violations of Rules 4.2, 8.4, and 3.7 of the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

The motion centers around the Zarco firm leading a coordinated and unwarranted attack on Dickeys Restaurants to the firms financial benefit. Allegations include Zarco coordinating and funding baseless litigation by disgruntled franchisees, driving negative publicity, and encouraging franchisees to violate their agreements. Based on information, it is believed that the firm has spent money to attempt to induce franchisees to hire the firm to file unfounded claims.

The federal court motion to disqualify Zarco includes accusations that Zarco sued a former Dickeys employee to attempt to force the former employee to testify against Dickeys to get out of the lawsuit. On April 11, 2025, Zarco attorneys reportedly encouraged a client to contact the individual directly, demanding he contact the firm and work with us. This contact is alleged to be a violation of ethical rules and tantamount to witness tampering.

Click here to listen to the audio file from filed motion transcript.

The complaint further states that the firm subpoenaed the individual for an arbitration trial but then refused to call them to testify, aiming instead to coerce them into changing their testimony privately. These actions are described as professional misconduct aimed at gaining an unfair advantage and threatening the integrity of the legal process.

The motion case is: 1:25-cv-02166 Document #: 30.

Lynn, Pinker, Hurst, & Schwegmann

Lynnllp.com

Media Contact:

Monica Cordova
Press Release

CSC, SURF and Nokia Achieve 1.2 Tbit/s Data Transfer to prepare long haul network for new LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factories

Trial helps researchers prepare network for high performance computing (HPC) clusters and AI Factories handling massive datasets and high-intensity workloads.

Results confirm that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready.

4 June 2025

Espoo, Finland  Nokia, CSC  IT Center for Science and SURF have successfully tested a high-capacity, quantum-safe fibre-optic connection exceeding 1.2 terabit per second (Tbit/s) between Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Kajaani, Finland with data traversing over 3500 kilometers. The trial, which was conducted in May 2025, demonstrated the potential of ultra-fast, cross-border connectivity for research.

Tests were carried out along several routes, including the longest which spanned 4,700 km through Norway at a capacity of 1Tbit/s. To put this in perspective, 1 Tbit/s is enough to stream 200,000 full HD movies (at 5 Mbit/s each) simultaneously.

These results are particularly promising as the research community prepares for supercomputers and AI Factories to come online  where reliable, scalable, and secure connections will be critical to supporting some of the world's largest datasets and most demanding workloads.

The test used a combination of real research data and synthetic data, transferred directly from disk to disk  from SURFs facility in Amsterdam to CSCs data center in Kajaani, across five production research and education networks: SURF (the Netherlands), NORDUnet (Nordic backbone), Sunet (Sweden), SIKT (Norway) and Funet (CSCs network in Finland).

The network solution was based on Nokias IP/MPLS routing and quantum-safe optical networking gear. Nokias IP technology successfully demonstrated Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) to accommodate elephant flows, or very large continuous flows of data, and its high-capacity optical transport technology showed the ability to handle massive data sets generated by HPCs over long distances.

With the exponential growth of research data, especially for training large-scale AI models, the need for resilient, high-throughput and secure connectivity is more critical than ever. This test confirms that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready. Testing an operational network connection over long distances provides unique insights into data transport and storage of large data volumes. The tests are crucial for improving the infrastructure for data-intensive research.

We design research networks with future needs in mind. CSCs data center in Kajaani already hosts the pan-European LUMI supercomputer and with the upcoming LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factory coming online, reliable and scalable data connections throughout Europe are essential. Even though the geographical distance is significant, it poses no obstacle to data traffic, said Jani Myyry, Senior Network Specialist, CSC.

As SURF we are ready to take the next step in aligning the European supercomputers. These efforts offer future perspectives to train GPT-nl on LUMI or for a researcher to compute on LUMI with very large datasets hosted at SURF, such as the KNMI (The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) datasets. We are very grateful to our Nordic partners for their help setting up this trial connection. This is again an example of the continued good cooperation between NRENs to create the best possible international infrastructure for research and education, said Arno Bakker, Senior Network Specialist, SURF.

Groundbreaking trials like this highlight how advanced networks are foundational to unlocking the full potential of AI and high-performance computing. This successful collaboration with CSC and SURF is a testament to the innovation and leadership of the scientific community, and to whats possible when we work together. As the network prepares for the next wave of supercomputers and AI Factories, we are proud to deliver the quantum-safe, high-capacity, and resilient IP/MPLS and optical infrastructure that makes these systems viable. We look forward to continuing our support for global research and education networks, helping them scale with confidence and drive the next generation of discovery and innovation, said Mikhail Lenko, Customer Solutions Architect, Nokia.

Resources and additional information

Product Page: 7750 Service Router

Product Page: 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS)

Product Page: 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect  Modular (PSI-M)

Web Page: Quantum-safe networks

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

About CSC  IT Center for Science

CSC is a Finnish center of expertise in ICT that provides world-class services for research, education, culture, public administration and enterprises, to help them thrive and benefit society at large. csc.fi

About SURF

SURF is the ICT cooperative of Dutch education and research institutions. The members, the owners of SURF, join forces to develop or procure the best possible digital services, work together on complex innovation issues and develop and share knowledge with each other.

SURF actively collaborates with other European NRENs united in GEANT and participates in global consortia like the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) and Asia Pacific Europe Ring (AER).

NetherLight, SURFs Global Exchange Point (GXP) dedicated to research and education data in Amsterdam connects similar GXPs and advanced high-capacity networks for scientific and educational collaboration. The NetherLight GXP plays a major and vital role in the federation of research and education networks worldwide, also known as the Global Research and Education Network (GREN). www.surf.nl

Media inquiries

Nokia Press Office

Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

Nokia Media Relations

Sarah Miller

Phone: +1 613-720-9716

Email: sarah.miller@nokia.com

CSC Media Relations

Sanna Kostiainen

Phone: +358 40 0712072

Email: viestinta@csc.fi

SURF Spokesperson

Tom Hoven

Phone: +31 641 439 398

Email: tom.hoven@surf.nl

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Tonner Drones encourages shareholders to vote at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting on Thursday, June 19, 2025

Schiltigheim, June 4, 2025 at 8:00 a.m., Tonner Drones (the Company) announces the meeting of its ordinary and extraordinary general meeting to approve the 2024 accounts.

The shareholders of Tonner Drones are invited to attend the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., at the offices of the Lexelians law firm, located at 11 avenue de l'Opera, 75001 Paris.

A notice convening shareholders for the Combined General Meeting on Thursday, June 19, 2025, was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. This notice can be viewed on the Tonner Drones website.

The preparatory documents for this General Meeting have been made available on the company's website in accordance with the legal terms and deadlines. Tonner Drones encourages its shareholders to get involved in the company and to vote on the various resolutions. Shareholder participation would be appreciated by the company to meet the quorum. Shareholders wishing to be informed can send an email to AG@tonnerdrones.com.

End of Press-Release.

About Tonner Drones : Tonner Drones develops technologies for the logistics sector. Tonner Drones holds valuable stakes in some promising French drone manufacturers like Elistair and Donecle. Tonner Drones strategy is to increase the value of its shareholdings in these companies through active asset management. Additional revenues can be achieved through royalties from patents held by Tonner Drones. Tonner Drones does not plan on owning a factory; however, it is determined to retain R&D for its products and systems in France. Tonner Drones uses an active strategy to manage its treasury.

Tonner Drones shares are listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN code: FR001400H2X4).

More information at www.tonnerdrones.com / contact@tonnerdrones.com

Warning

Regarding the merits of any transaction or the making of any investment decision. It does not constitute or include any confirmation or commitment by Tonner Drones (or any other person) regarding the present or future value of Tonner Drones ' business, its securities, its subsidiaries or any other assets of Tonner Drones .

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current beliefs and expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and/or expectations regarding future financial results, events, operations and services. and product development, as well as statements regarding performance or events. These statements are generally identified by the terms "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "project", "may", "should" or the negative form of these and other similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions regarding Tonner Drones and its subsidiaries and investments, trends in their businesses, future capital expenditures and acquisitions, developments relating to contingent liabilities, changes in global economic conditions or Tonner Drones ' principal markets, competitive market conditions and regulatory factors. The realization of these events is uncertain; their outcome could turn out to be different from that envisaged today, which is likely to significantly affect the expected results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, Tonner Drones undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, taking into account new information or future events.

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EPSO-G (company code: 302826889, registered office address Laisves pr. 10, Vilnius, Lithuania) (hereinafter - the Group) announces the 2024 Sustainability Performance Report (the Performance Report), including an Independent Limited Assurance Report. The Independent Limited Assurance of the Performance Report has been carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

EPSO-G issued a EUR 75 million sustainability-linked bond ISIN LT0000406530 (hereinafter - the Bond prospectus) on 7 June 2022 (EUR 75,000,000 3.117 per cent. Senior Unsecured Sustainability-Linked Notes due 2027). Under the terms of the Bond, EPSO-G committed to achieving sustainability performance target (SPT1) to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (tCO 2 e) by 30% by 2026, compared to the 2019 baseline and SPT2 - ensure that the amount of energy not supplied (hereinafter - ENS) does not exceed 136.255 MWh in the period 2022-2026.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has assessed the calculation and disclosure of Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions, and ENS indicator. The audit firm confirmed in an independent limited assurance report that the EPSO-G Group has calculated the two key performance indicators for 2024 in compliance with the criteria for disclosure of the sustainability indicators.

The Performance Report provides the latest information on the progress of the Group's key sustainability-linked performance targets and its indicators in the implementation of both the 2022 EPSO-G Sustainability-linked Finance Framework and the commitments made by EPSO-G under the Bond prospectus.

This Performance Report should be read in conjunction with the EPSO-G 2024 consolidated management report (hereinafter - Management Report), which contains information relating to sustainability and other significant events affecting the Group. The Management Report is presented together with the independent auditor's report on the audit of the separate and consolidated financial statements and the independent practitioner's limited assurance report on the EPSO-G consolidated sustainability statement for the year ended December 31, 2024.

The EPSO-G group of companies consists of the holding company EPSO-G and its five direct subsidiaries Amber Grid, Baltpool, Energy Cells, Litgrid and Tetas. EPSO-G and its Group companies also hold shares in Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva, GET Baltic, Baltic RCC OU and TSO Holding AS. The rights and obligations of the sole shareholder of EPSO-G are exercised by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.

For more information

Gediminas Petrauskas, Communications Partner at EPSO-G

Tel. +370 610 63306, e-mail gediminas.petrauskas@epsog.lt

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NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO ANY U.S. PERSON (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1993, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT)) OR ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS), ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

NANTERRE (FRANCE)

JUNE 4, 2025

FORVIA SUCCESSFULLY PRICES AN ADDITIONAL EUR 250 MILLION OF SENIOR NOTES DUE 2030

FORVIA has successfully priced its offering of EUR 250 million in aggregate principal amount of additional senior notes due 2030 (the New Notes). FORVIA priced the New Notes at par, or a yield of 5.625%, on the back of a strongly oversubscribed book.

The New Notes obtained a credit rating BB+ by Fitch Ratings, B1 by Moodys and BB- by Standard & Poors.

FORVIA intends to use the proceeds of the offering of the New Notes to fund the repurchase of FORVIAs outstanding 2.750% Sustainability-Linked Notes due February 2027 (the 2027 Sustainability-Linked Notes) in a cash tender offer (the Tender Offer) and pay fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including net premiums and accrued and unpaid interest on the 2027 Sustainability-Linked Notes, and fees and expenses incurred in connection with the offering of the New Notes.

The Tender Offer launched today and remains subject to conditions, such as the completion of the offering of the New Notes. FORVIA plans to repurchase the 2027 Sustainability-Linked Notes in an amount expected to be equal to the principal amount of the New Notes. The final amount of 2027 Sustainability-Linked Notes accepted in the Tender Offer will be subject to the final amounts of tenders received.

An application has been made to list the New Notes on the Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin. The settlements of the New Notes and the Tender Offer are expected to occur on 12 June 2025.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This document is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes being offered by Forvia (the New Notes") may not be sold in the United States unless they are registered under the Securities Act or are exempt from registration. The offering of New Notes described in this announcement has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, and accordingly any offer or sale of New Notes may be made only in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Nothing herein shall be construed as an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell or buy any notes, including the 2027 Sustainability-Linked Notes. Nothing herein constitutes a notice of redemption for the 2027 Sustainability-Linked Notes.

It may be unlawful to distribute this document in certain jurisdictions. This document is not for distribution in Canada, Japan or Australia. The information in this document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in Canada, Japan or Australia.

Promotion of the New Notes in the United Kingdom is restricted by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA), and accordingly, the New Notes are not being promoted to the general public in the United Kingdom. This announcement is directed solely at (i) persons located outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons with professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the Order), (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order and (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities of the Issuer or any member of its group may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons in (i)  (iv) above being relevant persons). Any investment activity to which this announcement relates will only be available to and will only be engaged with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement.

The offer and sale of the New Notes will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of the Regulation EU 2017/1129, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation") or an offer to the public.

The offer and sale of the New Notes will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the UK Prospectus Regulation) or an offer to the public.

MiFID II professionals/ECPs-only/No PRIIPs KID  Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the New Notes are not available to retail investors in EEA.

MiFIR professionals/ECPs-only/No UK PRIIPs KID  Manufacturer target market (UK MIFIR product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No UK PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the New Notes are not available to retail investors in the UK.

Neither the content of Forvias website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on Forvias

website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement. The distribution of this

announcement into any jurisdiction may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions.

Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

No money, securities or other consideration is being solicited, and, if sent in response to the information contained herein, no money, securities or other consideration will be accepted.

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Toronto, ON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are advised by Ashley Madison that journalists and other readers should disregard the news release, "Ashley Madison, Leading Hookup Site and Casual Dating Platform, Launches New Discreet View Mode for Privacy" issued June 03, 2025, over GlobeNewswire.
The British Council has established itself as a key facilitator of international educational improvement by supporting Action Research as a platform that has delivered tangible progress in schools worldwide.

Innovative educator-led research projects have improved teaching and learning in countries such as Pakistan, Egypt and Colombia, delivering measurable results in schools.

An AI-based maths project enhanced students understanding and performance. 80% reported that using digital platforms strengthened their problem-solving skills through active learning and critical thinking.

LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Through the Action Research programme, the British Council supports educational improvement worldwide. As the UKs organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, it plays a key role in facilitating global progress in education.

This initiative not only provides educators with funding, mentoring, and resources to implement research findings directly in their classrooms but also fosters the exchange of best practices among schools and teaching communities. Its impact cascades through local forums and Partner School events, reaching school leaders, teachers, and ultimately students. The programme has already resulted in tangible improvements in participating schools and underscores the British Councils commitment to evidence-based, forward-looking education.

The British Council Partner Schools Action Research programme supported twelve researchers from nine countriesPakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Peru, and Colombiaon projects focused on leadership, continuous professional development (CPD), and technology, addressing shared global challenges in education.

The projects revealed key insights into technology, teacher development, and leadership as drivers of educational improvement. Many focused on digital learning, AI, and online platforms, reflecting a keen global interest in technology to support education. In Colombia, 80% of students reported that digital tools improved their skills, especially in problem-solving and critical thinking. Research on CPD shows that group reflection on individually completed training leads to greater gains in teaching quality and student outcomes than isolated professional development.

Leadership was also key: in Pakistan, one of the four projects, empowered female students through academic achievement, extracurricular engagement, and leadership roles that challenge gender norms and drive community change. Across all projects, inclusive participationfrom students to families and school leadersproved essential to identifying needs and co-creating effective, lasting solutions.

"Twelve educators, empowered by the British Council, turned research into real-world impactdriving change in their schools and inspiring progress across the global education community," explains Thomas Evans, Education Support Manager for British Council Partner Schools.

The new publication Action Research for Schools: Global Stories of School Improvement presents these findings and practical solutions to help schools worldwide address similar challenges.

Building on its success, the British Council has launched the second year of the programme, awarding grants to thirteen new researchers. Visit our website to learn more.

About British Council Partner Schools

British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people.

Contact

mggarcia@atrevia.com | +34 667 632 738

jcascante@atrevia.com| +34 673 339 815

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3e31f50-1c32-4c26-99ee-f2d6c19bf502

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b029dc9-8a29-473b-8b13-7893e980b7d9
The British Council has established itself as a key facilitator of international educational improvement by supporting Action Research as a platform that has delivered tangible progress in schools worldwide.

Innovative educator-led research projects have improved teaching and learning in countries such as Pakistan, Egypt and Colombia, delivering measurable results in schools.

An AI-based maths project enhanced students understanding and performance. 80% reported that using digital platforms strengthened their problem-solving skills through active learning and critical thinking.

HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Through the Action Research programme, the British Council supports educational improvement worldwide. As the UKs organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, it plays a key role in facilitating global progress in education.

This initiative not only provides educators with funding, mentoring, and resources to implement research findings directly in their classrooms but also fosters the exchange of best practices among schools and teaching communities. Its impact cascades through local forums and Partner School events, reaching school leaders, teachers, and ultimately students. The programme has already resulted in tangible improvements in participating schools and underscores the British Councils commitment to evidence-based, forward-looking education.

The British Council Partner Schools Action Research programme supported twelve researchers from nine countries: Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Peru, and Colombia on projects focused on leadership, continuous professional development (CPD), and technology, addressing shared global challenges in education.

The projects revealed key insights into technology, teacher development, and leadership as drivers of educational improvement. Many focused on digital learning, AI, and online platforms, reflecting a keen global interest in technology to support education. In Colombia, 80% of students reported that digital tools improved their skills, especially in problem-solving and critical thinking. Research on CPD shows that group reflection on individually completed training leads to greater gains in teaching quality and student outcomes than isolated professional development.

Leadership was also key: in Pakistan, one of the four projects, empowered female students through academic achievement, extracurricular engagement, leadership roles that challenge gender norms and drive community change. Across all projects, inclusive participation, from students to families and school leaders, proved essential to identifying needs and co-creating effective, lasting solutions.

The new publication Action Research for Schools: Global Stories of School Improvement presents these findings and practical solutions to help schools worldwide address similar challenges.

"Backed by the British Councils support, the researcher in Zimbabwe went above and beyond, showing how a minimal STEM investment, guided by strategic insight, can significantly improve learner outcomes," said Medha Boolauky, Exams Director, Southern Cluster, British Council.

Building on its success, the British Council has launched the second year of the programme, awarding grants to thirteen new researchers. Visit our website to learn more.

About British Council Partner Schools

British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications such as International GCSEs, O Levels, and A Levels. We help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2023-24 we reached 600 million people.

Contact

chengetai.mujakachi@britishcouncil.org

Regional Head of Communications SSA

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ba44fe6-14aa-4bcf-8742-574e88372322

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36ad0046-5e6f-41d2-95e9-bd70e7e31926
Bitwise Accelerates European Expansion with Addition of Melissa De Sanctis and Fabio Massellani

De Sanctis joins the marketing team as Product Marketing Manager, while Massellani joins the sales team as Senior Regional Consultant  Southern Europe

June 4, 2025, Bitwise , a leading global digital asset management firm, announces the addition of two new professionals to its team: Melissa De Sanctis as Product Marketing Manager and Fabio Massellani as Senior Regional Consultant  Southern Europe.

Melissa De Sanctis brings over 20 years of experience in the financial sector, including 17 years at Borsa Italiana. She has held roles such as Business Development Manager for retail investors and later served as Senior Marketing Manager, leading commercial and marketing activities for the groups secondary markets. She oversaw the development and launch of new instruments for IDEM, the derivatives segment of Borsa Italiana. Most recently, she was Head of Marketing and Communication at Spectrum Markets, a pan-European regulated venue for trading securitized derivatives.

In her new role at Bitwise, Melissa  based in Milan  joins the marketing team led by Maximilian Monteleone, Head of Marketing for Europe at Bitwise. While based in Italy, her strategic focus will also support the Spanish market.

Fabio Massellani developed his career at BPER Banca Group, where he held various roles with increasing responsibility. He worked as a fund selector and equity strategist at Optima SIM, with a specific focus on passive and indexed strategies. In recent years, he served as Sales Associate at HANetf, contributing to business development and product positioning  including in Spain.

At Bitwise, Fabio joins the sales team and reports directly to Bradley Duke, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Bitwise. He will support the companys growth across Southern Europe, with a particular focus on Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

These additions strengthen Bitwises presence in the region, following the recent appointment of Flavio Rossetti as Regional Consultant for Southern Europe, and are part of a broader European expansion plan initiated in August 2024 with the acquisition of ETC Group.

Bradley Duke, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Bitwise, commented: Were excited to welcome Melissa and Fabio to Bitwise. As institutional and professional investors increasingly recognize the potential of digital assets to enhance portfolio performance, our role is to be a trusted partner in that journey. Southern Europe  including Spain  is a key market for us, and the addition of Melissa and Fabio, with their deep expertise and local insight, will help us serve investors even better.

Melissa De Sanctis said: Im thrilled to join an innovative and forward-thinking firm like Bitwise. The crypto sector is evolving rapidly, and I strongly believe that providing secure, regulated instruments like ETPs is essential to making this space more accessible. Its a real opportunity to engage more institutional and retail participants in the world of digital assets and blockchain technology.

Fabio Massellani added: Im delighted to join a dynamic and fast-growing company like Bitwise. I look forward to applying my experience in the Southern European market to support our companys mission. Im confident my contribution will help strengthen Bitwises footprint and support its commitment to innovation in the fast-moving world of crypto investing.

About Bitwise

Bitwise is one of the worlds leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence, managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies  spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, for the past five years Bitwise (formerly ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europes most traded bitcoin ETP, or the first diversified Crypto Basket ETP replicating an MSCI digital assets index.

This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and issued under a base prospectus approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe. Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com/eu



Media contacts:



JEA Associates

John McLeod

00 44 7886 920436

john@jeaassociates.com

Important information

This press release does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This press release is issued by Bitwise Europe GmbH (BEU), a limited company domiciled in Germany, for information only and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BEU gives no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.

Before investing in crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs), potential investors should consider the following:

Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors. ETPs issued by BEU are suitable only for persons experienced in investing in cryptocurrencies and risks of investing can be found in the prospectus and final terms available on www.bitwiseinvestments.com./eu. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. ETPs backed by cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and performance is unpredictable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The market price of ETPs will vary and they do not offer a fixed income or match precisely the performance of the underlying cryptocurrency. Investing in ETPs involves numerous risks including general market risks relating to underlying, adverse price movements, currency, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks.
The British Council has established itself as a key facilitator of international educational improvement by supporting Action Research as a platform that has delivered tangible progress in schools worldwide.

Innovative educator-led research projects have improved teaching and learning in countries such as Pakistan, Egypt and Peru, delivering measurable results in schools.

An AI-based maths project enhanced students understanding and performance. 80% reported that using digital platforms strengthened their problem-solving skills through active learning and critical thinking.



LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Through the Action Research programme, the British Council supports educational improvement worldwide. As the UKs organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, it plays a key role in facilitating global progress in education.

This initiative not only provides educators with funding, mentoring, and resources to implement research findings directly in their classrooms but also fosters the exchange of best practices among schools and teaching communities. Its impact cascades through local forums and Partner Schools events, reaching school leaders, teachers, and ultimately students and has already resulted in tangible improvements in participating schools.

The British Council Partner Schools Action Research programme supported twelve researchers from nine countriesPakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Peru, and Colombiaon projects focused on leadership, continuous professional development (CPD), and technology, addressing shared global challenges in education.

The projects revealed key insights into technology, teacher development, and leadership as drivers of educational improvement. Many focused on digital learning, AI, and online platforms, reflecting a keen global interest in technology to support education. In Colombia, 80% of students reported that digital tools improved their skills, especially in problem-solving and critical thinking. Research on CPD shows that group reflection on individually completed training leads to greater gains in teaching quality and student outcomes than isolated professional development.

Leadership was also key: in Pakistan, one of the four projects, empowered female students through academic achievement, extracurricular engagement, and leadership roles that challenge gender norms and drive community change. Across all projects, inclusive participation, from students to families and school leadersproved essential to identifying needs and co-creating effective, lasting solutions.

The new publication Action Research for Schools: Global Stories of School Improvement presents practical solutions to help schools worldwide address similar challenges.

At the British Council, we believe in the power of teacher-led research. That's why we support schools in the Action Research programme with guidance, training, and ongoing support to drive impactful projects in classrooms and communities. We're proud to have supported Colegio San Andres in Peru, Saint George's School in Colombia, and many more in the years ahead.

Building on its success, the British Council has launched the second year of the programme. Visit our website to learn more.

About British Council Partner Schools

British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people.

Contact

mggarcia@atrevia.com | +34 667 632 738

jcascante@atrevia.com | +34 673 339 815

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3eea837c-376d-46e8-9592-7c058521f3d8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9733af8-af2d-4ac6-86c3-154fecc43ba4
LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greece, France, Italy and Turkey are the most complex jurisdictions to do business in the region, according to the 2025 Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI) recently launched by TMF Group.

The GBCI studies over 250 indicators of complexity in 79 jurisdictions that represent 94% of the world's GDP. The report has consistently shown that countries in Southern Europe and Latin America are the most complex for doing business, and that continues to be true in 2025. At the other end of the scale, the least complex places to do business tend to be in Northern Europe and several of the offshore investment hubs.

The report notes that complexity is relatively straightforward to navigate, at least for larger multinationals able to absorb the cost of complying with local rules. What is much harder to deal with is uncertainty. US-led sanctions, lockdowns in China and the Suez blockage had already begun a shift towards more diversified supply chains, with companies seeking to reduce their reliance on single countries for sourcing, building or selling their products. A part of that solution noted in last years report was the rise of connector economies like Mexico and Vietnam, bridging trade between China and the US in the so-called China plus one strategy. That strategy has now fallen foul of US tariffs, set to reflect a countrys trade surplus in goods with the US and so punishing countries with connector status.

Even if tariffs abate, their launch and rapid shifts point to an underlying risk for companies trading from countries with a high US trade surplus. The report notes a drop in confidence in stability, with the majority of jurisdictions (55%) reporting prioritisation of trade corridor diversity. It identifies a number of countries that might now emerge as the new connectors  with low levels of complexity pointing to business-friendly rules, a low US trade surplus pointing to less likely retaliatory action, a reasonable size and sophistication of economy to support a variety of activity at scale and absorb investment without tipping heavily into US trade surplus, and a multipolar stance that should allow them to trade across different blocs. Those countries include the UK and the Netherlands in Europe, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, and Australia and Hong Kong in Asia Pacific.

TMF Groups CEO Mark Weil, said:

The real challenge for businesses today isnt complexity, its uncertainty. With rising trade tensions, a shifting geopolitical landscape and economic unpredictability, companies are forced to make decisions in an environment that can change overnight. Tariffs are just the latest signal of the risks of supply chain concentration. Diversification is a necessity in this context. The good news is that businesses can offset some of the complexities of diversification by reducing their own internal intricacies. Our benchmarking reveals stark differences in structural complexity among similar firms. We see an opportunity here: by simplifying their structures and support models  for example, by having fewer legal entities and a few trusted global partners  businesses can gain flexibility.

Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex) 1. Greece 79. Cayman Islands 2. France 78. Denmark 3. Mexico 77. New Zealand 4. Turkey 76. Hong Kong, SAR 5. Colombia 75. Jersey 6. Brazil 74. Netherlands 7. Italy 73. Jamaica 8. Bolivia 72. British Virgin Islands 9. Kazakhstan 71. Curacao 10. China 70. Czech Republic

Media Contacts

Marina Llibre Martin

marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com
The British Council has established itself as a key facilitator of international educational improvement by supporting Action Research as a platform that has delivered tangible progress in schools worldwide.

Innovative educator-led research projects have improved teaching and learning in countries such as Pakistan, Egypt and Colombia, delivering measurable results in schools.

An AI-based maths project enhanced students understanding and performance. 80% reported that using digital platforms strengthened their problem-solving skills through active learning and critical thinking.



HANOI, Vietnam, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Through the Action Research programme, the British Council supports educational improvement worldwide. As the UKs organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, it plays a key role in facilitating global progress in education.

This initiative not only provides educators with funding, mentoring, and resources to implement research findings directly in their classrooms but also fosters the exchange of best practices among schools and teaching communities. Its impact cascades through local forums and Partner School events, reaching school leaders, teachers, and ultimately students. The programme has already resulted in tangible improvements in participating schools and underscores the British Councils commitment to evidence-based, forward-looking education.

The British Council Partner Schools Action Research programme supported twelve researchers from nine countriesPakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Peru, and Colombiaon projects focused on leadership, continuous professional development (CPD), and technology, addressing shared global challenges in education.

The projects revealed key insights into technology, teacher development, and leadership as drivers of educational improvement. Many focused on digital learning, AI, and online platforms, reflecting a keen global interest in technology to support education. In Colombia, 80% of students reported that digital tools improved their skills, especially in problem-solving and critical thinking. Research on CPD shows that group reflection on individually completed training leads to greater gains in teaching quality and student outcomes than isolated professional development.

Leadership was also key: in Pakistan, one of the four projects, empowered female students through academic achievement, extracurricular engagement, and leadership roles that challenge gender norms and drive community change. Across all projects, inclusive participationfrom students to families and school leadersproved essential to identifying needs and co-creating effective, lasting solutions.

"Twelve educators, empowered by the British Council, turned research into real-world impactdriving change in their schools and inspiring progress across the global education community," explains Thomas Evans, Education Support Manager for British Council Partner Schools.

The new publication Action Research for Schools: Global Stories of School Improvement presents these findings and practical solutions to help schools worldwide address similar challenges.

Building on its success, the British Council has launched the second year of the programme, awarding grants to thirteen new researchers. Visit our website to learn more.

About British Council Partner Schools

British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people.

Contact

mggarcia@atrevia.com | +34 667 632 738

jcascante@atrevia.com| +34 673 339 815

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77b76311-aebd-475e-94a8-6caa0fdc016a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8b9222c5-814e-41f8-962e-9e688ea6a80b
NEW YORK, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Creative, labeled as non-working media, is responsible for driving 40-70% of an advertising campaigns performance, yet it has been deprioritized and undervalued. Global advertising spend is projected to reach $1.12 trillion by 2026, so investment in creative and content is expected to surpass $140 billion. Winterberry Group , a strategic growth consultancy, today released the findings of a new report that details how to collapse the artificial siloes of working and non-working media and achieve marketing effectiveness with media, audience and creative intelligence.

The report defines creative intelligence as the ability to collect, structure and analyze creative decisions against performance data to continuously optimize assets for effectiveness and engagement.

It is time to overhaul outdated thinking that the billions spent on creative production is non-working, said Bruce Biegel, senior managing partner of Winterberry Group. To truly unlock the full potential of modern marketing effectiveness with greater financial discipline, media, audience and creative data have to converge into a full-funnel, personalized and measurable experience at scale.

Brands and agencies can connect every stage of the creative and campaign process to outcomes. Creative intelligence empowers smarter briefings, pre-flight analysis, real-time activation and optimization as well as creative lifetime value (Creative LTV).

With the pace of AI advancements and budgets under pressure, Winterberry predicts creative intelligence will be widely adopted by leading marketers in the next 24-36 months. Starting in channels with the most accessible creative data  social, email and mobile messaging, and then expand into programmatic digital formats such as display, video, audio, and connected TV (CTV).

Other key findings from the report include:

Nearly half of marketers (49%) still equate creative intelligence with ideation alone, rather than recognizing it as a system for measurement and optimization.

Nearly all marketers (99%) view measuring creative LTV as important  with 72% calling it very important. However, only 54% say their organization measures creative LTV very effectively.

Creative intelligence is most impactful for understanding brand awareness (41%) and performance outcomes (38%).

Creative quality is universally valued as the most important metric for understanding creative intelligence followed by brand lift by both brands (49%) and agencies (38%). Brands then are more interested in measuring conversions (33%), while agencies lean into audience relevance (31%) and engagement (28%).

Overall, brands and agencies expect creative intelligence to be led by marketing strategy and operations (but agencies favor external advisory roles more than brands).

Brands prioritize agencies for executional support in the evolving creative intelligence ecosystem, while agencies see themselves having more of a focus on technology and strategic integration.

Intelligent creative isnt an emerging trend, its the new standard, said Laura Desmond, CEO of Smartly. With audience data in place, AI accelerating, and content demands at an all-time high, brands that harness creative intelligence are turning what was once marketing guesswork into a performance engine. The shift isnt coming, its already here, and its redefining how we drive growth with speed, precision, and impact.

Winterberry Group's research powerfully validates what we see every day: for too long, creative has been under-leveraged as a driver of marketing effectiveness, said Wesley ter Haar, Chief AI and Revenue Officer at Monks. At Monks, we're focused on building the AI-powered connective tissue that unifies creative, media and audience data, enabling brands to drive measurable and scalable marketing effectiveness everywhere they show up.

Creative Intelligence isnt a theoryits a system, said Rob Rakowitz, head of marketing at VidMob . What makes this whitepaper so valuable is its attention to the mechanics: the inputs, outputs and feedback loops that turn creative into a measurable asset across the entire marketing lifecycle.

This valuable research aligns with over two decades of Analytic Partners' ROI Genome findings: Creative is the #2 driver of marketing effectivenessright after spend, said Nancy Smith, President and CEO of Analytic Partners. Advertisers must incorporate creative within their optimization and measurement programs to maximize commercial impact.

For this research report, Winterberry Group surveyed over 200 senior brand marketing and agencies executives, data, analytics and technology thought leaders across the United States and United Kingdom, conducting in-depth interviews with over 50 industry experts and influencers from customers and users of creative intelligence solutions.

This is the first research report in the Winterberry Group series on creative intelligence   Demystifying Creative Intelligence: Enhancing Marketing Effectiveness at the Intersection of Media, Audience and Creative. 

This report was made possible with the support of IAA North America , Analytic Partners , Smartly.io , VidMob , Monks , APR and ContinuumGlobal .

The full research report is available for download: https://winterberrygroup.com/demystifying-creative-intelligence-enhancing-marketing-effectiveness-at-the-intersection-of-media-audience-and-creative .

About Winterberry Group

Winterberry Group is a growth consultancy specializing in the intersecting disciplines of marketing, advertising, technology, data and analytics. We collaborate with stakeholders across those ecosystemsagencies, service providers, technology developers, brands, publishers and investor groupsleveraging deep industry expertise to build actionable strategies that spur growth and drive the creation of real and lasting stakeholder value. Learn more at winterberrygroup.com .

Media Contact

Lacy Talton

Evergreen & Oak on behalf of Winterberry Group

lacy@evergreenandoak.com

252.467.5220
VANCOUVER, B.C., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BGX - Black Gold Exploration Corp. (the Company or BGX) (CSE: BGX) (OTCQB: BGXCF) (FRA: BLGX) is proud to announce that production has officially commenced at its flagship Fritz 2-30 well in Clay County, Indiana. This significant milestone marks BGXs evolution from an ambitious exploration company to a full-fledged oil and gas producer  a pivot the Company achieved on schedule and on strategy.

Today, BGX ceases to be just an exploration story. We are now a production company in the heart of the Illinois Basin said Francisco Gulisano, CEO of BGX.

From Concept to Commercialization  On Time, On Target

Through its joint venture with LGX Energy Corp. (LGX), BGX rapidly advanced the Fritz 2-30 well from seismic, to permitting, to drilling to production at a pace that is rare for junior oil and gas companies. In the coming weeks the coming will release detailed data on production figures and reserves.

This is just the beginning. We are now positioned to scale methodically one formation at a time with real production, real data, and real returns, commented Mr. Gulisano.

Our teams are proving whats possible when you combine legacy geology with modern execution, said Howard Crosby, CEO of LGX.

Growth Chapter Begins

In the Companys view, the Fritz 2-30 well is just the first chapter of a broader story. The Company has now proven it can take a well from seismic analysis to production in under four months. BGX now plans to work with its JV partner LGX to bring several other wells online in an expedited fashion to fuel growth in the Company for all its stakeholders.

Marketing Awareness

To further fuel this growth, the Company has entered into a marketing and distribution service agreement with an arm's-length marketing firm, Hillside Consulting and Media Inc. ("Hillside") of Penticton B.C., to provide digital marketing services, including SEO, PPC, email, YouTube and social media channels to increase corporate awareness for a term of three months commencing June 4, 2025. The media disseminated will be generated using only publicly available information. The Company will pay Hillside a cash fee of $25,000 CAD plus applicable taxes. Hillside does not currently own any shares of the Company.

On behalf of the Company,

Francisco Gulisano

236-266-5174

CEO

About BGX

BGX  Black Gold Exploration Corp. is an oil and gas exploration and production company dedicated to creating shareholder value in the Illinois Basin. With an experienced technical team and a growing asset base, BGX is unlocking value using modern drilling and completion technologies. For more information visit https://www.bgxcorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements



The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about managements view of future events, expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. It should be noted that there are inherent risks and uncertainties in oil and gas exploration. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to statements respecting: (i) test data confirming strong deliverability and positioning the Fritz 2-30 well for meaningful near-term revenues; (ii) the Company being positioned to scale methodically one formation at a time with real production, real data and real returns; (iii) the Fritz 2-30 well being the first chapter of a broader story for the Company; (iv) BGXs plan to work with LGX to bring several other wells online in an expedited fashion to fuel growth in the Company for all its stakeholders; and (v) the Companys agreement with Hillside and the timing and scope of the services to be provided by Hillside thereunder. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements, or otherwise. For a comprehensive overview of all risks that may impact the Company, please see the Companys continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+.

Neither the CSE nor the CSEs Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accept responsibility for the accuracy of this release.
LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A loved one's passing brings both emotional pain and the heavy weight of complex legal and administrative tasks, leaving families with more to manage than just grief during their time of loss. Today, IQ121 announces the launch of its new legacy building platform, allowing users to safely organise, store and share their most important digital assets. This helps family members and business partners easily navigate paperwork, access important records and feel connected to their loved ones through the memory, photo and video-sharing capability.

IQ121 stores essential items, including:

Legal documents (powers of attorney, trusts, vehicle documentation)

Finances (bank account details, investments, pension documentation)

Insurance policies covering life, property, high value items

Property deeds of title, jewelry collections, any other high value items

Health records

Passwords, security Q&As and account recovery steps

Wills and medical directives

Videos and photos

Memories and personal documents (family birth certificates, marriage certificates)





The idea for IQ121 was generated by Hollywood actor Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role in The Big Bang Theory, during the COVID-19 pandemic. While organising his parents trip from India to the U.S., struggling to gather flight numbers, passport details and hotel confirmations, the frustration led him to question: Why isnt there an easier way to share this information? With the pandemic causing many family members to experience sudden, unprecedented loss, the idea progressed into addressing other vital records people accumulate throughout life. Motivated by both a personal loss and a desire to ease others suffering, Nayyar created IQ121 to help people prepare for lifes hardest moments.

"Navigating grief is already unbearable; the last thing families need is to feel confused or unprepared. IQ121 brings comfort, structure and lasting peace of mind during times of unimaginable difficulty, Nayyar said. We wanted to create a way to guide anyone facing loss through those times, with humanity and dignity, so they could focus on what truly matters most: honouring loved ones and coping with grief. IQ121 empowers people to take control of their legacy, because everyones story deserves to be honoured, shared and remembered.

IQ121 is not just for seniors; people of all ages can become members to store and protect their digital records accumulated over time. Plans will automatically pass down through trusted successors, ensuring a familys legacy lives on.

IQ121 goes beyond file storage. It is a place to preserve what makes a persons life meaningful, said Tim Ashley Sparks, spokesperson for IQ121. Members can create video messages for future birthdays or tell a story to a grandchild. The app is designed not just for estate planning, but for fostering connection and ensuring memories live on.

Backed by military-grade AES-256 encryption  the same technology trusted by banks and governments  IQ121 is a secure end-of-life planning app. It also offers a flexible subscription model to fit every members particular goals, allowing for added storage as needed.

Available on iOS and Android, IQ121 is the only end-of-life planning app that supports six major languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian), making it globally accessible for multilingual users.

A media kit of photos, videos, logos and headshots is available here . To learn more, visit www.iq121.com .

About IQ121

IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital platform designed to help individuals, families and professionals organise, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. With the growing need for secure and easily accessible digital solutions, IQ121 offers an encryption-backed, all-in-one platform that simplifies estate planning, digital asset management and legacy preservation.
NEW YORK and STOCKHOLM, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management (Brookfield) today announced up to SEK 95 billion ($10 billion) of investment to support the development of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Sweden. This investment represents one of Brookfields largest AI investments in Europe and extends the partnership with the Swedish government, its public authorities, academia and businesses in the region.

The Brookfield investment will be centered on a new large AI center in Strangnas, Sweden, creating a strategic infrastructure asset to support the countrys national AI strategy. Brookfield will sign a land allocation agreement for c.350,000 sqm of additional land, enabling the data center site to more than double its capacity from 300MW to 750MW. The new site will create over 1,000 new permanent jobs and add another 2,000 jobs to support the 10-15 year construction process. The facility will be the first of its kind in Sweden and one of the first in Europe.

Sikander Rashid, Head of Europe, Brookfield, added, We are pleased to extend our partnership with Sweden and support their ambitions to become a leading AI hub in Europe. To compete in the development of AI and realize its economic productivity, it is important to invest at scale in the infrastructure underpinning this technology. This extends beyond data centers and into data transfer, chip storage and energy generation  today marks another important step for boosting sovereign compute capabilities for both public services and private enterprises in Europe.

Brookfield is one of the worlds largest investors in the AI value chain, with more than 100 billion invested across digital infrastructure, renewable power and semiconductor manufacturing worldwide. Earlier this year, Brookfield announced a 20 billion infrastructure investment program in France, which includes a 10 billion investment into the first AI factory in the country. This site will create 1GW of new capacity, making it Europes largest AI infrastructure cluster.

Brookfield has been actively investing in Sweden since 2018 and has extensive operations across the country, including investments in telecom towers, renewable power, social infrastructure and logistics assets.

About Brookeld Asset Management

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world  including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfields heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

For more information, please visit our website at www.bam.brookfield.com.

Media:

Brookfield:

Simon Maine

Tel: +44 739 890 9278

Email: simon.maine@brookfield.com

Sweden:

Maria Grimberg

Tel: +46-708 96 12 88

Email: maria.grimberg@lumoadvice.com

Notice to Readers

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect managements current estimates, beliefs and assumptions, and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of Brookfield are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as expect, anticipate, believe, foresee, could, estimate, goal, intend, plan, seek, strive, will, may and should and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the expected impacts and timing of Brookfields investment in Swedens AI infrastructure.

Although Brookfield believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States, not presently known to Brookfield or that Brookfield currently believes are not material, could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
TALLINN, Estonia, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S) has announced the launch the Beta version of their new mobile-first mining solution designed to make cryptocurrency mining accessible to a global audience for a selected group of users. By leveraging the power of smartphones, BTC-S enables users to participate in mining without the need for expensive hardware or specialized technical knowledge.

A True Shift in Wealth-Building

Bitcoin Solaris isnt just promising a revolution in miningits delivering one. This project is built to empower ordinary users with tools that were once reserved for tech-savvy miners and institutional whales. At the heart of it all is the upcoming Solaris Nova App, a sleek cross-platform tool that allows users to mine BTC-S directly from smartphones , browsers, and desktops.

With intuitive one-click mining, adaptive algorithms, and in-app wallets, even beginners can participate in wealth generation. What used to require thousands of dollars in hardware is now possible from your pocket. This is where Web3 meets true decentralizationthrough effort, not privilege.

How Bitcoin Solaris Makes Mobile Mining Real

Thanks to its robust architecture, BTC-S delivers mobile mining with speed, efficiency, and inclusivity. The platform is designed to remove barriersno costly rigs, no complex setups, and no middlemen.

Technical Innovations Powering BTC-S:

Dual-layer structure: The Base Layer uses PoW and PoC for decentralization and validator fairness, while the Application Layer leverages PoT and PoH for near-instant transaction finality.



Solaris Nova App (through the exciting release): Offers plug-and-play mining on mobile and desktop. Integrated tutorials and wallets make onboarding frictionless.



Mining Power Marketplace: Users can rent or sell computational power through smart contracts and performance-based payouts.



Device adaptability: Whether youre using a GPU, ASIC, laptop, or smartphone, the system optimizes mining load to fit your hardware.

Energy efficiency: The system uses 99.95% less energy than traditional PoW blockchains, ensuring green scalability.



Advanced security: From biometric logins to remote wipe and encrypted mining protocols, safety is built in.



These innovations dont just improve accessibilitythey create the foundation for consistent long-term earnings. Bitcoin Solaris transforms mining into something anyone can understand, join, and profit from.

The Future of Decentralization Is Already MiningStart with BTC-S

Why the Presale Is Exploding

The Bitcoin Solaris presale is now in Phase 6, and momentum is building fast. With only around 8 weeks left, over 11,000 users have already joined, and $1.8M+ has been raised. Its being called one of the shortest and most explosive presales in the crypto space. Investors know whats coming$6 today could become $20 at launch.

Current Price: $6



Next Phase: $7



Launch Price: $20



Bonus: 10%



Launch Date: July 31, 2025



Early adopters are betting big not just on pricebut on usability, infrastructure, and a mining revolution.

A Community Backed by Experts and Influencers

BTC-S isnt flying under the radar anymore. A wave of interest has hit the crypto scene, with influencers and analysts digging into the tech and economics of Bitcoin Solaris. One of the standout reviews came from Crypto Nitro , who broke down why the projects mining capabilities are catching serious attention. With decentralization at its core and innovation at every layer, its becoming the go-to altcoin for forward-thinking investors.

A Glimpse Into the Future: The BTC-S Roadmap

Bitcoin Solaris isnt a short-term play. Its long-term roadmap is designed to evolve the ecosystem far beyond launch.

Q2Q4 2025: Core development, smart contracts, community building



Q1 2026: Wallets, testnet, dual-layer architecture optimization



Q2 2026: Mainnet readiness, exchange listings



Q3 2026: Solaris Nova full release, governance systems



20272028: Layer-2 scaling, cross-chain bridges, and real-world partnerships with enterprises and governments



From accessibility to adoption, Bitcoin Solaris is engineered for growth.

Conclusion: The Wealth Revolution Starts in Your Pocket

While the crypto world gets distracted by meme cycles and flashy headlines, a quiet revolution is brewing. Bitcoin Solaris isnt just building a coinits building a participatory ecosystem where your phone becomes your mining rig, and your effort becomes your equity.

The upcoming Solaris Nova App and the dual-consensus engine are just the beginning. With utility, transparency, and powerful scalability at its core, BTC-S is turning smartphones into income enginesand early adopters into potential millionaires.

The opportunity to mine your way to millions is no longer a fantasy. Its a reality, and it starts with Bitcoin Solaris.

For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:



Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/

Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris

X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris



Media Contact

Xander Levine

press@bitcoinsolaris.com

Press Kit: Available upon request

Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Bitcoin Solaris. 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. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. 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.

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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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Dublin, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Dental Services Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Vietnam Dental Services Market was valued at USD 4.21 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.50 Billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 4.75%. The Vietnam Dental Services Market is driven by several key factors contributing to its growth. Increasing awareness and emphasis on oral hygiene among the population have spurred demand for dental services. This trend is bolstered by rising disposable incomes, enabling more individuals to afford dental care beyond basic treatments.

Advancements in technology and techniques in dentistry have attracted both patients seeking higher-quality care and professionals looking to upgrade their practices. Government initiatives and investments in healthcare infrastructure play a crucial role in expanding dental services accessibility across urban and rural areas. As the market continues to evolve, dental tourism also contributes significantly, with Vietnam becoming a preferred destination for affordable yet high-standard dental treatments. These factors collectively propel the Vietnam Dental Services Market forward, promising continued expansion and innovation in the sector.

Key Market Drivers

Increasing Dental Awareness and Oral Hygiene

Rising Disposable Incomes

Technological Advancements in Dentistry

Government Support and Healthcare Infrastructure

Key Market Challenges

Access Disparities Between Urban and Rural Areas

Affordability and Financial Accessibility

Shortage of Skilled Dental Professionals

Key Market Trends

Rising Demand for Cosmetic Dentistry: In Vietnam, the surge in demand for cosmetic dentistry reflects a broader societal shift towards valuing personal appearance and aesthetics. As economic prosperity grows, so does the desire among Vietnamese individuals to improve their smiles and facial aesthetics. Procedures like teeth whitening, veneers, and orthodontic treatments have become increasingly popular as they offer tangible enhancements that contribute to a person's self-confidence and social standing.

The embrace of cosmetic dentistry is not merely about vanity but also about cultural norms that emphasize the importance of a pleasing appearance. In Vietnamese society, a healthy and attractive smile is often seen as a reflection of one's overall well-being and success. As a result, specialized cosmetic dental services have expanded to meet this demand, with clinics offering a range of innovative treatments tailored to enhance dental aesthetics. The accessibility of these treatments has improved as technology advances and dental professionals receive specialized training. This combination of factors has made cosmetic dentistry more appealing and accessible to a broader consumer base in Vietnam. Consequently, the market for cosmetic dental services continues to grow robustly, driven by the aspirations of individuals to achieve not only dental health but also a smile that reflects their personal and cultural ideals of beauty and success.

Increasing Dental Tourism: Vietnam has positioned itself prominently on the global map as a favored destination for dental tourism, primarily due to its dual appeal of affordability and exceptional quality in dental services. This Southeast Asian nation attracts a steady stream of foreign patients, hailing not only from neighboring countries but also from Western nations seeking cost-effective yet high-standard dental treatments.

Over the past decade, Vietnam has elevated its dental care services to meet world-class standards, drawing patients from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Currently, more than 100,000 medical tourists from these regions travel to Vietnam annually for advanced dental treatments, generating over USD 150 million in revenue for the country's dental industry. This growth highlights the country's rising prominence as a destination for dental tourism.

The allure of Vietnam lies in its ability to offer dental care that meets international standards at a fraction of the cost compared to many developed countries. This affordability factor is especially appealing to patients from Western nations where dental care costs can be prohibitively high. Vietnam's reputation for skilled dental professionals trained in cutting-edge techniques and equipped with modern facilities further bolsters its attractiveness as a dental tourism hub. The influx of international patients significantly contributes to the revenue of Vietnam's dental services sector. This revenue influx, in turn, fuels the growth and diversification of the dental tourism infrastructure across the country. Dental clinics and hospitals in popular tourist destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang have adapted to cater specifically to international patients, offering services in multiple languages, comfortable accommodation options, and seamless treatment experiences.

Regional Insights

Based on Region, Southern Vietnam emerged as the dominant region in the Vietnam Dental Services market in 2024. Southern Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, is home to a significant concentration of high-quality dental clinics that adhere to international standards. These clinics are equipped with cutting-edge technology and offer a broad array of specialized treatments, attracting both local and international patients. Ho Chi Minh City has experienced strong economic growth, with an average annual growth rate of 8.3% in 2019. The service sector is the largest contributor to the city's GDP, accounting for 57.8%, followed by industrial production and construction.

The city is home to nearly 150,000 enterprises, ranging from startups and SMEs to large multinational corporations, employing approximately 2.5 million people. The region also boasts a large pool of highly skilled dental professionals, many of whom have received education and certifications from globally recognized institutions. This expertise ensures high-quality care, which plays a crucial role in the region's dominance in the market. Southern Vietnam stands out for its advanced infrastructure, including modern transportation networks, international airports, and diverse accommodation options, making it easy for both local and international patients to access dental services.

The city's strategic location and proximity to key international markets, including those in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the United States, make it an ideal destination for dental tourism. Ho Chi Minh City's connectivity to the global market further enhances its status as a leading regional hub for dental services. The region's economic growth has also led to increased investments in healthcare, particularly in the dental sector, driving continuous improvements in dental facilities and services, reinforcing its competitive advantage. These factors, along with strong government support for dental tourism and healthcare, solidify southern Vietnam's position as the dominant force in the country's dental services market.

Key Players Profiled in Vietnam's Dental Services Market

Kim Dental Company Limited

Sai Gon Dental Maxillofacial Specialist Hospital Corporation

DKSH Vietnam Co., Ltd.

Starlight Dental Clinic

Worldwide Dental & Cosmetic Surgery Hospital

I-Dent Dental Implant Center

IDC Dental Company

Far East Dental

Picasso Dental Clinic

Westcoast International Dental Clinic

Report Scope

In this report, the Vietnam Dental Services Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Vietnam Dental Services Market, By Service Type:

Prosthodontics {Porcelain Veneers, Crowns, Fixing Bridges, Others}

Endodontics {Treatment of Dental Pulp, Root Canal Treatment}

Cosmetic Dentistry {Cosmetic Teeth Whitening, Cosmetic Teeth Shaping & Teeth Bonding, Carbon Post, Others}

Periodontics {Gum Graft Surgery, Laser Treatment, Others}

Others

Vietnam Dental Services Market, By End User:

Hospitals

Dental Clinics

Vietnam Dental Services Market, By Patient Type:

Inbound

Outbound

Vietnam Dental Services Market, By Region:

Southern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam

Central Vietnam

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 82 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $4.21 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $5.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.7% Regions Covered Vietnam

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/h8tmfb

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Leipzig, June 4, 2025  From June 1112, Leipzig will welcome leading voices from biotech, pharma, academia, and investment to the inaugural European Biopharma Obesity Innovation Forum (EBOIF). The event brings together key stakeholders to explore cutting-edge developments, challenges, and opportunities in the treatment of obesity. The internationally oriented event is expected to welcome around 150 participants from Asia, Europe, and North America.

Agenda Highlights

Keynote Presentations: Insights into the evolving landscape of GLP-1-based therapies and their impact on the future of metabolic care.

Insights into the evolving landscape of GLP-1-based therapies and their impact on the future of metabolic care. Panel Discussions: Topics include Potential Magnitude of Market & Impact on the Healthcare System BioPharma Dealmaking: Building the Pipeline Unmet Needs & NextGen Therapeutics

Topics include Investor Panel: Analysis of funding and partnership opportunities in next-generation biotech companies focused on obesity and metabolic disease.

Leipzig's role as a research and innovation hub

Leipzig has increasingly established itself as a center of life sciences research in Europe. With institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) and the BioCity Campus, the city offers a strong infrastructure for biotech R&D. Accelerator programs like Medical Forge further support the translation of medical innovation into real-world impact, explains conference initiator Leonard Sachs, describing the decision to choose the vibrant city in Saxon as the venue for this first-of-its-kind conference in Europe.

The city is home to a dense network of research institutions, including three Max Planck Institutes, two Fraunhofer Institutes, and several universities, all contributing to cutting-edge work in biomedicine. This makes Leipzig an ideal host for a forum focused on innovation and collaboration in the field of obesity.

Presence and online format for international reach

The European Biopharma Obesity Innovation Forum provides a platform for thought leaders across sectors to share insights, forge new partnerships, and drive forward innovation in obesity treatment. With the global burden of obesity rising, EBOIF aims to catalyze meaningful solutions through science, strategy, and investment.

The event will take place as a two-day face-to-face conference in Leipzig. It will be supplemented by virtual sessions on June 18 and 19 to enable international participation.

Further information, the full program and registration at: www.sachsforum.com/1eboif-about.htm



Media contact:

SCHWARZ Financial Communication

Frank Schwarz

+49 611 580 29290

schwarz@schwarzfinancial.com
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOXO Technologies Inc. (NYSE American: FOXO) (FOXO or the Company) today announced that it has executed an agreement to issue 1,650 of its Series A Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred Stock) for net proceeds of $1,500,000.

On June 3, 2025, FOXO) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain existing institutional investors of the Company. The Securities Purchase Agreement provides for the issuance of up to 1,650 shares of Series A Preferred Stock at three closings of 550 shares each. If all such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued, the Company will receive gross proceeds of $1,650,000 and has agreed to pay certain investor costs of $150,000. The first closing will occur on June 4, 2025. The second closing is expected to occur within two business days of the effective date of a registration statement filed by the Company and the third closing is expected to occur within 10 days of the effective date of the registration statement.

Seamus Lagan, Chief Executive Officer of FOXO, made the following comments, We are pleased to secure this equity investment into FOXO at this time. We hope to close one of our recently announced acquisition targets in the coming weeks and continue our efforts to increase our revenues and improve our balance sheet. We are delighted with our continued progress and efforts to transform FOXO into a successful revenue-generating Company and were pleased to report in excess of $3M in net revenues and an approximate $4.4M improvement in stockholders equity for the first quarter of 2025. To report having $9.7M of stockholders equity at March 31, 2025, compared to the negative $17.5M reported for at September 30, 2024 demonstrates a significant transformation in six months that we believe will create opportunity and value for our shareholders.

About FOXO Technologies Inc. (FOXO)

FOXO owns and operates three subsidiaries.

Rennova Community Health, Inc., owns and operates Scott County Community Hospital, Inc. (d/b/a Big South Fork Medical), a critical access designated (CAH) hospital in East Tennessee.

Myrtle Recovery Centers, Inc., a 30-bed behavioral health facility in East Tennessee. Myrtle provides inpatient services for detox and residential treatment and outpatient services for MAT and OBOT Programs.

FOXO Labs, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving human health and life span through the development of cutting-edge technology and product solutions for various industries.

For more information about FOXO, visit www.foxotechnologies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the FOXOs beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to the risk of changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which FOXO operates; variations in operating performance across competitors or changes in laws and regulations affecting FOXOs business; the ability to implement FOXOs business plans, forecasts, and other expectations; the ability to obtain financing; the risk that FOXO has a history of losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future; potential inability of FOXO to establish or maintain relationships required to advance its goals or to achieve its commercialization and development plans; the enforceability of FOXOs intellectual property, including its patents and the potential infringement on the intellectual property rights of others; and the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive biotechnology industry or in the markets or industries in which FOXO operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in FOXOs most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the Risk Factors sections of those reports, and in other documents FOXO has filed, or will file, with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and FOXO assumes no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact:

Sebastien Sainsbury

ssainsbury@foxotechnologies.com

(561) 485-0151
TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polymath Research Inc., based in Toronto is a fintech company pioneering the infrastructure for compliant tokenization of real-world assets on the blockchain. Today it was announced that Vince Kadar, CEO, will present live at the Blockchain and Digital Assets Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on June 5th, 2025

DATE: June 5th

TIME: 10am EST

LINK: REGISTER HERE

Available for 1x1 meetings: June 5, 6, 9, 10

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .

Recent Company Highlights

Amalgamation Agreement relating to Reverse Takeover (RTO)



On May 13th, AnalytixInsight Inc. (TSXV: ALY) (OTC Pink: ATIXF) announced an amended and restated amalgamation agreement (original amalgamation agreement was dated March 3rd, 2025) relating to the upcoming Reverse Takeover (RTO) transaction. This transaction involves a three-cornered amalgamation where Polymath and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AnalytixInsight will merge to form a new entity, resulting in Polymath becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of AnalytixInsight. Following the RTO, AnalytixInsight plans to change its name to "Polymath Network Inc." and consolidate its shares on a 25:1 basis. The exchange ratio for Polymath shareholders has been adjusted from 4.292 to 6.25427 AnalytixInsight shares per Polymath share, reflecting Polymath's increased valuation after acquiring assets from Polymesh Association, including the Polymesh blockchain and POLYX tokens. The transaction's completion is contingent upon shareholder and regulatory approvals, as well as the successful closing of a concurrent financing round aiming to raise at least $18.75 million through the issuance of subscription receipts. The annual general and special meeting of AnalytixInsight shareholders to approve the transaction has been rescheduled to August 25, 2025.

Acquisition of Polymesh Assets by Polymath



On May 13, 2025, pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Polymath, indirectly through Polymesh Labs, agreed to acquire certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Polymesh Switzerland, including POLYX tokens held by Polymesh Switzerland (the "Polymesh Labs Acquisition"). Polymesh Switzerland is a not for profit association formed under the laws of Switzerland and is an Arm's Length Party (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV). The Polymesh Labs Acquisition is subject to certain conditions, and is expected to close prior to the Transaction.

The Polymesh Labs Acquisition will enable Polymesh Labs' principal business to include the oversight of the Polymesh blockchain, including POLYX tokens associated with the Polymesh blockchain, and the development of TokenStudio, the Polymesh wallet, other software application, and further investment in developing the Polymesh ecosystem. The Polymesh blockchain is a Layer-1 public-permissioned blockchain using Polkadot's modular tool substrate framework that is designed for tokenizing real-world assets. It builds on the ERC1400 standard and layers in additional capabilities around governance, identity, compliance and confidentiality. POLYX tokens are the native tokens of the Polymesh blockchain and are used as a utility tokens to provide holders access to the Polymesh blockchain. POLYX tokens are only created when block rewards are minted to reward those that participate in the proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms that validates transactions and produces new blocks on the blockchain. These participants are referred to as "validators" and "nominators", collectively referred to as "stakers".

About Polymath Research Inc.

Polymath's principal business is the creation of its flagship white label SaaS technology solution, referred to as Polymath's Capital Platform, which includes the Polymath dApps and enables customers to create platforms to tokenize real-world assets. Polymath's Capital Platform technology solution is available for license by third parties. Under this licensing arrangement, Polymath may provide technology services to its customers for the setup, maintenance, and support of their use of Polymath's Capital Platform technology solution. In each case, Polymath works with, or will work with, the customer to tailor the technology to the particular requirements of the customer and the assets to be tokenized. Polymath as a technology services provider is not registered with any Canadian or foreign securities regulatory authority and its services do not include acting as a broker or the promotion or marketing of securities.

Polymath also generates revenue by staking proprietary POLYX token that is held in its treasury. Staking is not a service offered to third parties, but it is a revenue stream that monetizes treasury assets. Crypto staking is an important aspect of the nominated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which defines which blocks get written to the blockchain, as well as the blockchain network's roles, rules, and incentives. Polymath stakes 100% of the POLYX tokens held in its treasury, with 50% of the staking rebonded on the Polymesh blockchain and the other 50% converted to fiat and bitcoin reserves.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

CONTACTS:

Polymath Research Inc.

Vince Kadar

CEO

Vince@polymath.network

+1-613-276-0695

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com
Announcement No. 9-2025

4 June 2025



Chairman of the Board of Directors Ole Borch has today, in agreement with the companys major shareholder, Baunegard ApS, decided to step down as Chairman of North Media during the second half of 2025. This change will take place in connection with Ole Borch at that time taking on the role as Chairman of a new foundation, to be established and expected, in the long term, to take over the majority shareholding in North Media currently owned by Baunegard ApS, which in turn is owned by Richard Bunck. Reference is made to Company Announcement No. 2-2021, issued by North Media on 10 February 2021.



North Medias Board of Directors will now consider and subsequently announce who will become the new Chairman of the Board. Ole Borch will continue as Chairman until this transition takes effect.



For further information, please contact:

Chairman of the Board of Directors Ole Borch, tel. +45 2518 3555

This document is an unofficial translation of the Danish original. In the event of any

inconsistencies, the Danish version shall apply.

North Media develops and operates platforms for transactions that bring businesses and

consumers together. These platforms help consumers find the right products, whether they

are looking for groceries, rental housing or digital access management solutions. North

Media has two core business areas: Last Mile: FK Distribution and SDR Svensk Direktreklam

are among the leading distributors of leaflets and local newspapers in Denmark and Sweden,

respectively. Digital Services: Three businesses with the potential for growth, rising earnings

and scalability: BoligPortal is Denmarks leading home rentals platform, offering services to

both landlords and tenants. Dayli (MineTilbud) is a leading digital offer platform and Bekey

provides digital access solutions for secured stairwells and private homes for the use of

homecare services and companies delivering parcels, groceries, meal services, etc.
PHILADELPHIA, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berger Montague PC advises investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BigBear or the Company) (NYSE: BBAI) on behalf of purchasers of BigBear securities between March 31, 2022 through March 25, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period).

Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired BigBear securities during the Class Period may, no later than JUNE 10, 2025 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE .

BigBear, headquartered in McLean, VA, is an AI-driven technology company offering national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. In June 2021, BigBear.ai Holdings entered into a business combination with GigCapital4, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company. After the business combination was consummated on December 7, 2021, BigBear issued $200 million of convertible notes with a maturity date of December 15, 2026.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that: (i) BigBear maintained deficient accounting review policies; (ii) the Company incorrectly determined that the conversion option within the 2026 Notes qualified for the derivative scope exception under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815-40 and failed to bifurcate the conversion option as required by ASC 815-15; (iii) thus, BigBear had improperly accounted for the 2026 Notes.

On March 18, 2025, BigBear disclosed that certain financial statements since fiscal year 2021 should no longer be relied upon and would be restated, in particular with respect to the accounting treatment of the Company's 2026 Notes.

On this news, BigBear's stock price fell $0.52 per share, or 14.9%, to close at $2.97 per share on March 18, 2025.

Then, on March 25, 2025, BigBear filed its 2024 10-K, disclosing that a conversion option embedded within the 2026 Notes was incorrectly deemed to be eligible for a scope exception from the bifurcation requirements of ASC 815-15. As a result, the Companys financial statements were restated. The Company further disclosed that it had identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting  specifically, that BigBear had not consistently executed [its] technical accounting review policies with respect to certain non-routine, unusual, or complex transactions.

On this news, BigBear's stock price fell $0.32 per share, or 9.11%, to close at $3.19 per share on March 26, 2025.

To learn your rights or for more information, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at phamner@bm.net .

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member.

Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contact:

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

aabramowitz@bm.net
MINNEAPOLIS, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forvis Mazars LLP, one of the largest public accounting and consulting firms in the United States, is expanding its Upper Midwest footprint with the launch of a new office in Minneapolis. This move is a strategic investment in a market long recognized by the firm for its strong alignment with Forvis Mazars culture, client base, and service model.

The decision to open a Minnesota office follows years of consideration and a desire to deepen the firms presence in a market with a vibrant middle-market ecosystem, multinational business activity, and international connectivityparticularly in industries such as manufacturing, construction, financial services, insurance, healthcare, medical technology, and private equity. Forvis Mazars has long served clients in the region across consulting, tax, and audit service lines, generating substantial revenue across a wide range of industries. Establishing a local office will enhance the firms ability to provide an Unmatched Client Experience and deliver services tailored to the specific needs of Minnesota-based companies.

Minnesota represents a phenomenal opportunity to expand our impact in a dynamic and growing region with an incredible business climate, said Jeff Ronsse, northwest regional managing partner at Forvis Mazars. This new office reflects our belief in investing in people and places where we can deliver meaningful impact and unlock potential for clients and the community for many years to come.

The launch of the Minnesota office will be spearheaded by Tyler Aldridge, an audit director with more than 10 years of experience serving clients. The new office will serve as a collaborative hub for a growing number of team members from multiple service lines, providing flexibility and convenience for clients.

Forvis Mazars is a firm that prioritizes strong culture, long-term success, and an unwavering commitment to client serviceand Im proud to help expand that vision in Minnesota, Aldridge said. This market aligns with how we work, and Im excited to build a strong team and deepen relationships with existing and future clients across the region.

The firm is actively recruiting both experienced professionals and new graduates, with several team members already committed to joining the Minnesota office in the near future.

For more information about Forvis Mazars visit forvismazars.us/about-us. To learn more about joining the team in Minnesota, visit jobs.forvismazars.us.

About Forvis Mazars

Forvis Mazars, LLP is an independent member of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, the firms 7,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience through the delivery of assurance, tax, and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally through the global network. Visit forvismazars.us/about-us to learn more.



Contact: Mike Brothers, PR Manager

mike.brothers@us.forvismazars.com
Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market Overview

The global cloud data warehouse market is on a strong growth trajectory, driven by the accelerating adoption of cloud-based data management solutions across industries. Valued at approximately USD 18 billion in 2024, the market is projected to reach nearly USD 58 billion by 2034, registering a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12.5% over the forecast period. Cloud data warehouses are becoming critical components in enterprise IT ecosystems, enabling real-time data analytics, flexible storage, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for data-driven decision-making.

Download PDF Brochure: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/65817/cloud-data-warehouse-market#request-a-sample

Several factors are fueling the growth of this market. The surge in big data analytics, the expansion of hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and increasing reliance on AI/ML are reshaping how organizations handle vast amounts of information. Cloud data warehouses offer scalable infrastructure that supports real-time business intelligence, allowing companies to enhance operational efficiency and strategic planning. However, despite their advantages, these solutions also face hurdles such as data privacy concerns and regulatory complexities that may slightly temper market expansion.

Market Segmentation

The cloud data warehouse market is segmented based on deployment type, service model, end-user industry, organization size, and geography.

Deployment Type

The deployment type segment includes public, private, and hybrid clouds. Public cloud dominates the market with an approximate 60% share due to its affordability, scalability, and ease of implementation. It appeals especially to SMEs and startups looking to minimize upfront infrastructure investments. Private clouds account for 20% of the market, largely preferred by industries such as banking and healthcare that require stringent data security. Hybrid cloud solutions, also holding about 20% market share, offer the best of both worldscombining the flexibility of public cloud with the security of private cloudmaking them ideal for enterprises with dynamic workloads.

Service Model

The service model is divided into Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). IaaS leads with 40% market share, providing foundational cloud infrastructure services for businesses seeking flexible and rapid scalability. PaaS follows with a 30% share, facilitating faster development and deployment of applications. SaaS, also at 30%, continues to grow due to its user-friendly nature and subscription-based pricing, making it an attractive option for companies focusing on fast implementation and cost efficiency.

End-User Industry

The banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector holds the largest share at 25%, as financial institutions increasingly utilize cloud data warehousing for risk management, compliance, and customer analytics. Healthcare follows with a 20% share, driven by the need to manage massive volumes of patient data while adhering to regulatory standards. Retail accounts for 15%, leveraging data to enhance customer experience and inventory management. Government, telecom, manufacturing, education, and other sectors share the remaining 40%, with varying degrees of adoption based on infrastructure readiness and compliance needs.

Organization Size

By organization size, large enterprises dominate with a 60% share, owing to their substantial IT budgets and complex data needs. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent a fast-growing segment with 40% of the market. SMEs are increasingly adopting cloud data warehousing to gain competitive advantage through data analytics without incurring high capital expenditure.

Regional Analysis

Geographically, North America is the leading region, accounting for approximately 45% of the market share in 2024. The presence of major players like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, coupled with a mature IT infrastructure, drives regional dominance. Europe follows with a 30% share and a CAGR of around 12%, propelled by strong data protection laws like GDPR and widespread adoption among SMEs.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with an expected CAGR of 15% through 2034 and a projected 20% market share. Rapid digitization, large-scale investments in cloud infrastructure, and a growing base of tech-savvy consumers are key growth drivers. Countries such as China and India are at the forefront of cloud adoption in this region. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa offer emerging opportunities, with Latin America showing a promising CAGR of 14% and MEA benefiting from government-backed digital transformation initiatives.

Market Segmentation

Deployment Type

Public Cloud

Private Cloud

Hybrid Cloud

Service Model

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS)

End-User Industry

Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

Healthcare

Retail

Government

Telecommunications

Manufacturing

Education

Others (Media, Energy, etc.)

Organization Size

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Large Enterprises

Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa

Browse full Report - https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/65817/cloud-data-warehouse-market

Market Dynamics

Growth Drivers

The cloud data warehouse market benefits from several growth-enhancing trends. The proliferation of big data analytics tools is compelling organizations to adopt robust and scalable data platforms. As businesses strive for competitive differentiation, the ability to process and analyze real-time data is becoming essential. Additionally, integration with AI and ML technologies empowers cloud data warehouses to deliver smarter, faster insights.

Hybrid and multi-cloud strategies are gaining traction, offering businesses more flexibility and resilience. The growing trend toward digital transformation across sectorsparticularly in retail, healthcare, and financealso supports market growth. Increased investments in cloud infrastructure, driven by rising awareness of the strategic value of data, further amplify demand.

Challenges and Restraints

Despite strong growth prospects, the market faces notable challenges. Data security remains a significant concern, especially in sectors dealing with sensitive information. Regulatory and compliance complexities, such as GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the U.S., can slow adoption or necessitate additional investments.

Pricing also poses a challenge. While cloud solutions generally offer lower upfront costs compared to on-premises alternatives, ongoing subscription fees and hidden costs may raise total cost of ownership. Moreover, disruptions in global supply chains and concerns around data sovereignty in various regions may act as further constraints.

Opportunities and Emerging Trends

The market presents vast opportunities, especially through the adoption of serverless architectures, which eliminate the need for infrastructure management. This trend reduces costs and enhances operational focus. Additionally, SMEs stand to gain from cost-effective, scalable storage and analytics solutions tailored to their needs.

E-commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), and real-time customer personalization are reshaping business models, creating new opportunities for cloud data warehouse solutions. Strategic partnerships, customized industry offerings, and continual investment in R&D are expected to drive further innovation and competitive differentiation.

Key Competitors

Amazon Web Services Microsoft Azure Google Cloud Snowflake Teradata Oracle Cloud IBM Cloud SAP Cloudera Alteryx Databricks Yellowbrick Data Dremio Vertica Hitachi Vantara

Buy Now : https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/purchase/?currency=USD&type=single_user_license&report_id=65817

Recent Developments

Company Name: Snowflake

Month & Year: September 2023

Type of Development: Product Launch

Detailed Analysis:

In September 2023, Snowflake launched new features aimed at enhancing its cloud data platform capabilities. Primarily, this includes advancements in data sharing and collaborative analytical processes, allowing organizations to leverage data across different clouds seamlessly. The significance of this launch lies in Snowflake's commitment to fostering a more integrated ecosystem that enables users to collaborate while maintaining data governance. This development positions Snowflake strongly against its competitors by enhancing user engagement through improved functionalities. The deeper collaboration capabilities are likely to shift user preferences towards Snowflake, further influencing data strategies among businesses that rely heavily on multi-cloud strategies, creating a ripple effect in how organizations perceive and utilize cloud data warehouses.

Company Name: Google Cloud

Month & Year: August 2023

Type of Development: Partnership

Detailed Analysis:

Google Cloud announced a strategic partnership with a leading financial services firm in August 2023 to deliver tailored data analytics solutions. This collaboration aims to leverage Google Clouds advanced machine learning capabilities to provide real-time analytics and dashboards customized for the financial sector. The significance of this partnership is twofold; it not only showcases Google Clouds capabilities in providing sector-specific solutions but also demonstrates its strategy to penetrate highly regulated industries further. The impact on the market is noteworthy, as this type of partnership could set a precedent for competitive collaborations across sectors, pushing other cloud providers to develop specialized offerings. This could lead to a trend where cloud services become increasingly customized to meet specific industry demands, thus altering the competitive landscape.

Company Name: Microsoft Azure

Month & Year: July 2023

Type of Development: Expansion

Detailed Analysis:

In July 2023, Microsoft Azure expanded its data center regions in India, aiming to enhance its cloud services availability and compliance with local data sovereignty laws. This expansion not only boosts Microsofts infrastructure but also represents a strategic approach to capturing the growing demand for cloud services in the Indian market. The significance of this is profound, as it underlines Azures dedication to catering to local businesses and supporting their digital transformation journeys. This event is likely to intensify competition with local and other global players, as enhanced local presence may resonate strongly with businesses seeking data residency and compliance solutions. The Indian market increasingly prioritizes localized solutions, and Azure's initiative is poised to reshape competitive dynamics significantly.

Company Name: Oracle Cloud

Month & Year: June 2023

Type of Development: Merger

Detailed Analysis:

Oracle Cloud completed a strategic merger with a data integration software provider in June 2023. This merger allows Oracle to enhance its data analytics capabilities, effectively integrating the acquired technology into its existing cloud infrastructure. The significance of this development is that it bolsters Oracle's position in the cloud data warehouse market while offering customers more comprehensive solutions for data management and analytics. The enhancement of Oracle's product suite could shift competitive pressures, as other players may need to explore similar strategic options to maintain their market positions. Ultimately, this has the potential to influence industry trends towards consolidation, encouraging smaller players to seek partnerships or mergers to compete effectively.

Company Name: Snowflake

Month & Year: April 2023

Type of Development: Technological Advancement

Detailed Analysis:

In April 2023, Snowflake introduced a major upgrade to its platform focusing on enhanced performance and scalability features that enable organizations to handle growing data volumes and complex queries more efficiently. This technological advancement is significant because it directly addresses concerns around data throughput and processing speed, which are increasingly critical in the age of big data. The impact on the market is substantial, as standardizing around high-performance metrics sets new industry benchmarks, compelling competitors to innovate faster or risk obsolescence. This move reinforces Snowflakes competitive position and could lead to a shift in customer loyalty as organizations prioritize performance in their cloud data strategies, potentially reshaping the overall market dynamics.

This report is also available in the following languages : Japanese (), Korean (  ), Chinese (), French (Marche des entrepots de donnees cloud), German (Markt fur Cloud-Data-Warehouses), and Italian (Mercato del data warehouse cloud), etc.

Request Sample Pages : https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/65817/cloud-data-warehouse-market#request-a-sample

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Data Center Cooling Equipment Market

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Cloud Logistics Market

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https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/65349/global-saas-based-scm-market

Warehouse Management System WMS Market

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https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/64898/global-warehouse-management-system-wms-market

Temperature Controlled Logistics TCL Market

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Order Picker Machines Market

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https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/63266/global-totes-and-bins-in-warehouses-market

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https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/60619/global-pallet-and-box-shuttle-market

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https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/58528/global-line-marking-tape-market
Photo: Ekol Hospitals via FL Communications

IZMIR, Turkiye, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As health-travel numbers continue to climb, people are crossing borders for faster appointments, personalised treatment, and more affordable surgical options. Yet every journey has one unbreakable rule: surgery is only the beginning. Recovery is not complete when a flight takes off but when the body has fully healed.

Why the message matters now

Several news stories in the United Kingdom this week have described patients who developed hard-to-treat infections after returning home just days after cosmetic or bariatric procedures performed abroad. Ekol Hospitals , a multidisciplinary medical center in Izmir that has treated more than 5,000 international surgical patients over the past eighteen years, views these reports not as cause for panic but as a necessary reminder of shared responsibility and the importance of informed post-operative decisions.

A perfect operation can still be compromised if travel plans are prioritized over medical advice or if symptoms such as fever go unreported, says Dr Arif Aydn, Chief of Surgery at Ekol Hospitals.

A care pathway designed for safety

Photo: Ekol Hospitals via FL Communications

Ekols post-operative infection rate remains below one percent, significantly under international averages, thanks to accredited hygiene standards, single-use sterile instruments, and round-the-clock nurse monitoring. Still, the hospital emphasizes that the most vulnerable period often begins after discharge. Patients are strongly advised to remain in Izmir until they have been fever-free for at least two full days, are walking comfortably without assistance, have fully sealed incisions, and show no signs of clotting or systemic infection. These key indicators are typically achieved around the fifth day after surgery, which is when the majority of complications tend to arise according to internal data and global trends.

According to the World Health Organization , surgical site infections account for roughly twenty percent of all healthcare-associated infections worldwide. Yet up to sixty percent of these are considered preventable with proper post-operative care. In fields such as cosmetic and weight-loss surgery, the risks are particularly tied to wound healing progress and patient adherence to discharge protocols. At Ekol Hospitals, continuous support systems such as follow-up calls, mobile check-ins, and secure data-sharing with home physicians have resulted in less than 0.5 percent of patients requiring further intervention after returning to their home countries within the past year.

Remaining under clinical supervision for just a few extra days also allows medical teams to detect early warning signs that may otherwise go unnoticed. One such concern is venous thromboembolism, which remains one of the most underdiagnosed complications among post-surgical travelers. Research published by the American College of Surgeons shows that patients who take long-haul flights within 72 hours after major abdominal surgery are more than twice as likely to experience serious blood clots compared to those who wait until clinical clearance is given. These are the kinds of risks that can develop silently and be detected too late if not managed proactively. Ekols advisory serves as a call for both vigilance and patience.

Practical guidance for travellers

Ekol recommends five clear and simple habits to help reduce risk. First, wait for written clearance from your surgical team before booking your flight home. Second, follow the full recovery plan provided by your doctor, including prescriptions, nutrition, and light mobility. Third, stay in contact with your care team via Ekols twenty-four-hour WhatsApp and phone support services. Fourth, request that your operative record be shared with a designated physician in your home country to ensure smooth follow-up care. Lastly, complete the brief online recovery survey on day thirty to provide valuable feedback that helps enhance safety for future patients.

People choose Turkiye for speed, quality, and value, but a clinics reputation depends on what happens when things do not go as expected, says Elif Guner, Director of International Patient Services. Surgery is not a vacation. We remain by our patients side from the first consultation to full recovery, whether that takes a week or a month.

About Ekol Hospitals

Founded in 2007, Ekol Hospitals offers bariatric, aesthetic, ENT, robotic, oncological and cardiac surgery to patients from more than forty countries. The hospital holds ISO 9001 and ISO 15189 certifications and operates under the Turkish Ministry of Healths international-health-care framework, providing end-to-end coordination from airport arrival to long-term follow-up.

https://www.ekolhospitals.com/en/

Media Contact:

FL PR and Communications

+905330202554

asset@flcommunications.co.uk

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6b33a4b-792f-4240-a044-af0479b945eb

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SUNDERLAND, England, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berghaus, the renowned British outdoor brand with nearly six decades of mountaineering heritage, proudly announced its official entry into the U.S. market at this past weekends Outside Festival in Denver. The launch event, titled THIS IS BERGHAUS, took place on Saturday, May 31, at 2:30 p.m. in Civic Center Park, marking a significant milestone for the brand as it brings its legacy of adventure and innovation to North American outdoor enthusiasts.

As a presenting sponsor of the Outside Festival, Berghaus joined a dynamic lineup of global outdoor leaders, including REI Co-op, The North Face, and Brooks Running. The festival, now in its second year, continues to attract thousands of outdoor and music enthusiasts, for a weekend of live music, wellness sessions, film screenings, and gear showcases.

Launching Berghaus in the U.S. at the Outside Festival is a pivotal moment for us, says Charlie Pym, global senior vice president at Berghaus. As we look to strengthen our global presence as a trusted outdoor brand, we know that the U.S. presents a large opportunity, not only because of the growing interest in outdoor participation but also the cultural relevance outdoor brands play in the lifestyle and active communities throughout the country.

Festival-goers experienced the latest collections from Berghaus, including the reissued Meru and Trango jackets from the new Concert Collection, inspired by the brands 1990s designs. These pieces blend technical performance with retro style, resonating with seasoned adventurers, and street style enthusiasts alike.

The Berghaus booth also featured appearances by brand ambassadors, interactive product demonstrations, and provided participants with insights into the brands initiatives focused on accessibility and sustainability in outdoor exploration.

"The connection of Berghaus to the Denver outdoor community was natural and seamless. It felt as if we had always been a part of this rich, active outdoor community," says Shane Wallace, North American vice president of portfolio brands at Pentland Brands.

Berghaus U.S. debut aligns with its mission to make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible, reflecting the broader goals of the Outside Festival. The brands presence in Denver signifies its commitment to engaging with the vibrant American outdoor community and expanding its global footprint.

Berghaus will continue its introduction to the U.S. market by attending upcoming trade events including the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance in Reno, NV, and the Switchback Event in Nashville, TN.

To learn more about Berghaus and purchase gear from its range of technical outdoor gear collections, please visit www.berghaus.com.

Please direct all Berghaus media inquiries to Berghaus@OutsidePR.com.

###

About Berghaus: Founded in 1966 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Berghaus has been at the forefront of outdoor gear innovation for nearly 60 years. Known for pioneering technologies and a dedication to quality, the brand offers a wide range of clothing and equipment designed for outdoor adventures. Berghaus is a subsidiary of Pentland Group and continues to inspire explorers worldwide.

Attachment
Dublin, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Switzerland Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q2 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The social commerce market in Switzerland is expected to grow by 13.2% on annual basis to reach US$3.24 billion in 2025. The social commerce market in the country experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 16.4%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% during 2025-2030. By the end of 2030, the social commerce sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 2.86 billion to approximately USD 5.10 billion.



This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the social commerce sector in Switzerland, covering market opportunities and risks across a range of retail categories. With over 50+ KPIs at the country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



Switzerland's social commerce sector is poised for significant growth, driven by integrating e-commerce features into social media platforms, the rise of influencer partnerships, and the adoption of integrated payment solutions. These trends are reshaping retail, offering consumers more convenient and personalized shopping experiences. Over the next 2-4 years, businesses that effectively leverage these trends will likely see increased consumer engagement and sales. However, staying attuned to evolving consumer preferences and technological advancements will be crucial for sustained success in this dynamic market.

Integration of E-commerce Features into Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms in Switzerland are increasingly transforming into full-fledged e-commerce channels, allowing users to purchase products directly within the apps. With approximately 35% of Swiss online shoppers making purchasing decisions through social media, businesses are capitalizing on this shift to enhance their digital sales strategies. The seamless integration of shopping features on platforms like Facebook and Instagram makes it easier for consumers to discover and buy products without leaving their preferred social networks.

The strong digital infrastructure in Switzerland, with 99.3% of the population actively online, has created an ideal environment for social commerce to thrive. The widespread use of social media across different demographics has enabled businesses to expand their market reach beyond traditional e-commerce platforms. By leveraging influencer marketing, targeted advertising, and interactive shopping tools, companies enhance consumer engagement and drive higher conversion rates.

Over the next 2-4 years, the role of social commerce in Switzerland is expected to grow significantly. More businesses will integrate in-app purchasing and AI-driven product recommendations to personalize the shopping experience. As consumer behavior shifts toward digital-first transactions, brands that effectively leverage social media as a direct sales channel will strengthen their competitive position in the Swiss e-commerce landscape.

Growth of Influencer Partnerships

Influencer partnerships are becoming a key component of social commerce in Switzerland, with brands increasingly collaborating with social media personalities to promote their products. These influencers use their established credibility and loyal follower base to create trust-driven marketing campaigns that resonate with Swiss consumers. This trend is particularly prominent in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries, where personalized recommendations significantly influence purchasing decisions.

The rise of influencer marketing is driven by Swiss consumers' trust in content creators they follow. Unlike traditional advertisements, influencer endorsements feel more personal and authentic, making them more effective in driving consumer engagement. Brands recognize this impact and invest heavily in partnerships with macro- and micro-influencers on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to reach highly engaged audiences.

Over the next 2-4 years, influencer marketing in Switzerland is expected to become more data-driven and performance-focused. Micro-influencer growth will allow brands to target niche audiences with more personalized campaigns while optimizing costs. Additionally, brands will integrate influencer collaborations with live commerce and AI-powered analytics to measure impact and drive higher conversion rates through strategic social media engagement.

Adoption of Integrated Payment Solutions

The integration of seamless payment solutions within social media platforms enhances the social commerce experience in Switzerland by streamlining the purchasing process. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram now offer in-app payment systems, allowing consumers to complete transactions without being redirected to external websites. This frictionless checkout process reduces abandonment rates and makes social media a more effective direct sales channel for businesses.

The demand for secure and convenient payment options is a key driver of this trend, as Swiss consumers increasingly prefer digital transactions over traditional payment methods. Integrated payment solutions simplify the buying experience by offering one-click purchases, mobile wallet compatibility, and encrypted transactions. Businesses adopting these systems can provide a more seamless user experience, leading to higher conversion rates and greater consumer trust in social commerce.

Over the next 2-4 years, integrated payment solutions will become Switzerland's standard social commerce feature. Consumers expect quick, secure, and hassle-free transactions, prompting more businesses to integrate these systems into their sales channels. As digital payments evolve, companies that invest in seamless payment infrastructures will likely see increased customer retention and stronger brand loyalty.

Key Players and New Entrants

Established e-commerce platforms such as Digitec Galaxus and Brack.ch have a strong presence in the Swiss market. In addition, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have emerged as significant players in social commerce, offering integrated shopping features that allow users to purchase products directly within the apps.

New entrants are also making their mark by introducing innovative solutions tailored to the Swiss market. For instance, local startups are developing niche social commerce platforms catering to specific consumer segments, enriching the competitive landscape.

Recent Launches, Mergers, and Acquisitions

The Swiss mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape has been active, focusing on technology and consumer sectors. According to a report by Lexology, there has been a notable increase in M&A activities in Switzerland, particularly in the technology sector.

While specific partnerships or acquisitions in the social commerce segment have not been prominently reported in the past year, the overall M&A environment remains dynamic. Companies are exploring strategic alliances to enhance their competitive positions and expand their reach in this evolving sector.

Outlook

The competitive landscape of social commerce in Switzerland is anticipated to become more intense in the coming years. Established players are expected to enhance their platforms with advanced features such as augmented reality shopping and personalized recommendations to retain and grow their user bases.

New entrants will likely continue to emerge, bringing innovative solutions and targeting specific consumer segments. Additionally, strategic partnerships and potential mergers or acquisitions may reshape the market structure as companies seek to consolidate resources and expand their capabilities to stay competitive.

Regulatory Changes

In the past year, Switzerland has seen discussions around stricter merger control regulations, particularly concerning big tech companies. The Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) has been advocating for a call-in power to review mergers that do not meet the traditional turnover thresholds, aiming to scrutinize acquisitions by major technology firms more effectively.

Additionally, there is a growing movement to regulate social media usage among younger populations, reflecting concerns over data privacy and national security. If enacted, such regulations could significantly impact businesses that rely on these platforms for social commerce activities, necessitating adjustments in marketing strategies and platform utilization.

Scope



Switzerland Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2021-2030

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2021-2030

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2021-2030

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2021-2030

B2B

B2C

C2C

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2021-2030

Mobile

Desktop

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2021-2030

Domestic

Cross Border

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2021-2030

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2021-2030

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Switzerland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour, 2024

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

Switzerland Social Commerce Market Share by Key Players, 2024



Companies Featured

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

ImmoScout24

Inyova

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w53irj

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Washington, District Of Columbia , June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) convened its Leadership Summit 2025 in Washington, D.C., bringing together a distinguished group of senior government and business leaders, policy makers and thought leaders to celebrate and advance the U.S.-India-Japan partnership.





(L-R): John Chambers (Chairman, USISPF), Dr. Mukesh Aghi (President & CEO, USISPF), Arvind Krishna (Chairman & CEO, IBM), Secretary Howard Lutick (US Commerce), Toshiaki Higashihara (Chairman, Hitachi), Kumar Mangalam Birla (Chairman, Aditya Birla).





USISPF was proud to host the Second Lady of the United States, Ms. Usha Vance, in a conversation with John Chambers, Chairman, USISPF.

Second Lady Usha Vance described the US-India relationship as very personal to her, highlighting a moment of great opportunity in the evolving bilateral ties. When we were visiting India recently, I was struck by the number of people who came up to me and said how much they loved our country, how they visited family, how they visited just for pleasure, and how they were hoping for a close relationship going forward. I think these personal ties have something to do with it. said Ms. Usha Vance while reminiscing about her visit to India along with her family.

She continued, speaking on her upcoming priorities, "Literacy is going to be a big focus of my efforts. Its a natural fit, given that I have small children and my own personal interests."

Following her remarks, Mr. John Chambers, Chairman of USISPF, delivered opening comments emphasizing the role of innovation and public-private partnerships in strengthening bilateral ties.

The Summit featured engaging discussions with Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States, Congressman Rich McCormick, Co-Chairman of the India and Indian-American Caucus and Senator Steve Daines.

The keynote address was delivered by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, who outlined strategic priorities for deepening economic collaboration between the U.S. and India. I am a great fan of India, and even the people in the government know its true. Secretary Lutnick stated, underscoring his long-standing admiration for the country.

Drawing from his experience and understanding of Indias growth, he added, "From what I know about India, the core population of India has that drive and ambition, and thats why the Indian economy will always continue to grow and thrive. It has that underpinning, and you can do things in India that, in many other countries, you just cant get done."

Emphasizing the positive trajectory of ongoing trade negotiations, he stated, You should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future, because I think we have found a place that really works for both countries.

Lastly, touching upon U.S. foreign policy under current leadership, he emphasized, The President thinks 'America First,' but he does not think 'America only' or 'America exclusively.' He will first take care of home - so that we are big and strong - but then he is going to take care of his allies. He is going to make sure that he takes care of India - whom he deeply, deeply admires and respects - and we are going to have a great, great relationship together.

The evening culminated in the presentation of the USISPF Global Leadership Awards 2025, to Mr. Arvind Krishna, Chairman, President & CEO, IBM; Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group and Mr. Toshiaki Higashihara, Executive Chairman, Hitachi, Ltd. These leaders were recognized for their outstanding contributions in strengthening the U.S.IndiaJapan economic corridor.

Under the leadership of Kumar Mangalam Birla, Aditya Birla Group, is the largest Indian greenfield investor in the United States, with investments exceeding $15 billion. Mr. Birla said, "It is a great honor to receive the 2025 USISPF Global Leadership Award. This recognition is a testament to Aditya Birla Groups deep commitment to the U.S., and belief in the potential to further deepen the U.S.-India partnership. We are proud to have started our journey in the U.S. over 18 years ago, and to place big bets here. We continue to choose America because we believe in the strength, stability, and promise of this nation, and our commitment goes beyond capital  we are investing in people, in communities, and in long-term impact to create mutual prosperity."

Mr. Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, was honored for his leadership in redefining the future of technology especially in AI, hybrid cloud, and quantum computing. Arvind has ensured that India continues to play a central role in the company's global expansion plan and has been passionate about championing US-India deep tech ties. Under Arvinds leadership, IBM will continue to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years to fuel the economy and accelerate its role as the global leader in computing. "Im honored to receive this award and grateful for the support of USISPF and its allies in strengthening the U.S.-India-Japan relations, said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM. IBM has built partnerships and made sustained technology investments in each country, and I believe these collaborations provide the right foundation for powerful innovation and growth."

Mr. Toshiaki Higashihara, Executive Chairman and CEO of Hitachi, was honored for leading Hitachi's transformation into a leader in Energy, Mobility, Industrial Automation, and Digital Technology, driving growth through sustainable development and benefits for society. Reflecting upon Hitachi's long-standing legacy in India, and accepting the award, he remarked, Having first established a presence in India in 1933, Hitachi has enjoyed a rich and enduring relationship with the country. India offers Hitachi a tremendous wealth of deep technical talent, and Hitachi brings a broad spectrum of solutions to India, from Mobility to Energy Infrastructure, to Software and Services. As we continue to serve our clients globally, our collaboration with USISPF, along with strong partnerships across the public and private sectors in both the United States and India, will be pivotal in fulfilling our commitment to delivering innovations that benefit society and the planet."





Second Lady of the United States, Ms. Usha Vance in conversation at the USISPF Leadership Summit.





About USISPF



The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C., and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.







Press inquiries

USISPF

https://usispf.org

Ankit Jain

ajain@usispf.org

2244607900

2550 M St NW

Washington, DC 20037, USA

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DOVER, N.H., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What does a benefit consultant really doand how can they help businesses confront rising healthcare expenses? Krystal Small of Small Strides Benefits Group in Dover, New Hampshire, answers this critical question in her feature for HelloNation Magazine , where she explains how benefit consultants are reshaping the way companies approach employee healthcare.

Rather than simply selecting insurance plans, Small describes the modern benefit consultant as a strategic partner who identifies inefficiencies and designs cost-effective employee benefits that better serve both employers and employees. At the heart of the healthcare cost crisis is a widespread disconnect: many employees underutilize their major medical coverage, despite it being a major expense for businesses.

Small outlines a solution that adds a layer of high-impact health benefitssuch as prescription medicationson top of traditional insurance, often at no additional net cost to the employer. These plans prioritize what employees use most, creating more value and improving satisfaction. Through customized health benefit plans and targeted analysis, benefit consultants help employers reduce waste, improve return on investment, and ensure their workforce feels supported.

In the article, What Is a Benefit ConsultantAnd How to Solve the Healthcare Cost Crisis , Small emphasizes that confronting healthcare costs successfully requires more than compliance. It requires insight, innovation, and the ability to align coverage with real-world employee needs.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative edvertising approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.



Staff Writer

info@hellonation.com

www.hellonation.com





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85f6ecdd-258f-464b-a535-3415ffe38d53
WACO, Texas, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Is it ever safe to consider buying a house without inspection? In a competitive market, some buyers are waiving inspections to gain an edgebut Brook Ashley Dowd of Brook Ashley Realtors in Waco, Texas, urges caution. In a feature published by HelloNation Magazine , Dowd explains what buyers need to know before proceeding without this critical step.

Choosing to waive the home inspection may seem like a strategic move, especially when bidding on an as-is property or foreclosure, but it comes with serious risks. Dowd highlights that professional inspections often uncover problems hidden to the untrained eye, such as foundation cracks, signs of water damage, or outdated electrical systems. Without an inspection, buyers accept full responsibility for these issues, even if they appear after closing. Furthermore, certain loan typesincluding VA, FHA, and USDAmay require a property to meet minimum condition standards, potentially complicating financing when inspections are skipped.

For buyers who still opt to proceed without an inspection, Dowd recommends slowing down during walk-throughs and paying close attention to indicators like musty smells, ceiling stains, or uneven floors. These subtle signs could point to larger underlying problems. If possible, bring a knowledgeable real estate agent or contractor to provide a second opinion. In the absence of a pre-purchase inspection, buyers should consider additional protections such as a home service contract or a post-closing inspection to prepare for potential repairs.

While buying a house without inspection isnt always a mistake, Dowd emphasizes that informed decision-making is key. A careful approach, supported by expert guidance, can help mitigate risks and ensure buyers arent caught off guard. To learn more, read the full article, Buying a Home Without an Inspection? What You Need to Know First , in HelloNation Magazine.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative edvertising approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Staff Writer

info@hellonation.com

www.hellonation.com





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/601a8a4c-c473-4c4c-bfc7-5039dcc581bb
Dublin, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Military & Simulation Training Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Military & Simulation Training Market was valued at USD 13.39 Billion in 2024, and is projected to reach USD 21.08 Billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 7.86%.

The global military simulation and training market is highly competitive, with several global players offering advanced virtual training solutions for defense forces. Key companies in the defense simulation and training market include Rheinmetall AG, CAE Inc., THALES, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Saab AB, and BAE Systems. These companies focus on technological advancements in simulation-based training, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) training environments.



Strategic collaborations and partnerships play a crucial role in expanding market presence and enhancing service offerings. For instance, in January 2025, Rheinmetall AG and Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) announced a strategic partnership to enhance defense simulation technologies. Furthermore, companies in the military simulation and training market are increasingly investing in research and development to improve the realism, effectiveness, and interoperability of their training solutions. The demand for high-fidelity simulators, AI-driven training programs, and cybersecurity simulation platforms is driving innovation in the sector.



Market leaders are adopting acquisition and joint venture strategies to strengthen their position in emerging markets. The growing emphasis on cost-effective and scalable training solutions, along with rising defense budgets and modernization programs, is intensifying competition. As military forces worldwide prioritize operational readiness and mission effectiveness, the military simulation and training market is expected to witness continued advancements in synthetic training environments and networked simulation systems.







Recent Contracts in the Global Military Simulation and Training Market

In December 2024, Raytheon secured a $191.1 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency to provide modeling and simulation services for U.S. Army and Navy missile defense systems, enhancing training and operational preparedness. The contract runs through October 2027, with work conducted in Huntsville, Alabama; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Woburn, Massachusetts.

In November 2024, Combat Robotics India, supported by DRDO, developed the "Astra" simulator for unmanned vehicles. This advanced simulator captures extensive operational data, enabling researchers to refine the design and functionality of unmanned vehicles to meet the evolving needs of the armed forces.

In July 2024, Lockheed Martin was awarded a USD 4.6 million contract by DARPA to develop AI tools for dynamic, airborne missions. The project, part of DARPA's Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program, focuses on advanced modeling and simulation (M&S) approaches to support multi-ship, beyond visual range (BVR) missions, enhancing real-time decision-making in combat scenarios.

In February 2025, BAE Systems secures a USD 251 million contract to support the U.S. Navy's AEGIS Combat System. Under this contract, BAE Systems will provide high-quality services in systems engineering, test and evaluation, logistics, system acquisitions, and cybersecurity.

GLOBAL DEFENSE SIMULATION AND TRAINING MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES

Technological Advancements (In AR, VR & AI)



Technological innovations in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing the global military simulation and training market. These technologies are improving operational readiness, situational awareness, and combat readiness while decreasing training expenses and risks. The combination of these technologies has become vital to contemporary defense strategies, especially with militaries confronting ever-more complex and unpredictable combat environments.



For instance, the adoption of these technologies is evident in the military forces of countries such as India and the UK. In the Indian military, the use of technology in the Indian Army's training process has transformed the conventional approach that has been followed for decades. Among the key changes is the application of VR and AR. These two technologies enable soldiers to be exposed to varied combat situations and landscapes, hence being better equipped for actual combat. For example, virtual simulations assist in parachute training, where soldiers go through the different phases of airborne operations in a simulated manner. Such training is risk-free and economical. Similarly, in the UK military, VR is utilized to enhance the effectiveness of training while minimizing the risks and costs associated with traditional methods.



The military must also address the potential security risks and ethical concerns associated with AI applications. In 2023, a recent policy update from the Pentagon technology highlights the Department of Defense's commitment to ensuring that AI advancements benefit military objectives while maintaining ethical standards. The continued evolution of AI-driven military training and operational strategies is essential to ensuring that military forces remain effective and adaptable in a rapidly changing technological landscape.



Increasing Defense Budgets



There is growing instability driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, and countries worldwide are enhancing their military capabilities. For instance, according to SIPRI in 2024 World military expenditure rose for the ninth consecutive year to an all-time high of USD 2.44 trillion in 2023, an increase of 6.8% in real terms from 2022. The increasing defense budgets globally are directly tied to the growing emphasis on advanced military technologies and enhanced training methodologies, particularly in the realm of military and simulation training. As defense expenditures rise, nations are investing heavily in simulators, that replicate real-world combat environments and support the military simulation and training market growth.



The prolonged war in Ukraine, as well as rising geopolitical tensions in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, are propelling global military spending, with countries allocating more of their budgets to defense and security. Furthermore, The USA and China are the top two biggest military spenders in the world in 2024, with the U.S. spending about USD 916 billion, while the Chinese estimated USD 296 billion, both accounting for around half of the global military spending in 2023-24. All these factors collectively are projected to support market growth.



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Challenge of Skill Retention



In the military world, retaining skills and keeping individuals engaged is essential for success. Just as companies implement strategies to retain skilled employees and reduce turnover, the military must create an environment that supports personnel in maintaining proficiency in their technical roles. This requires continuous training programs, opportunities for upskilling, and a culture that values ongoing education to ensure personnel remain capable and mission-ready. Balancing operational duties with structured training can help reduce skill degradation and maintain a motivated workforce.



Skill retention poses a particular challenge in the military simulation and training market, especially for roles that require lifesaving and technical expertise. Military personnel often face frequent rotations through assignments that may not align with their primary specializations. While these rotations promote adaptability, they also create gaps in critical skills. When these skills are not regularly practiced or reinforced, they tend to degrade over time, which can directly impact mission readiness and overall operational effectiveness. For instance, technical specialists, such as non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in fields like communications, maintenance, or medical services, are especially vulnerable to skill degradation when assigned to non-technical or administrative roles.

GLOBAL MILITARY SIMULATION AND TRAINING MARKET GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS



North America dominated the global military simulation and training market in 2024, accounting for more than 34% of total revenue, driven by significant defense spending, strong adoption of simulation-based training, and advancements in virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies. The US defense training & simulation market leads the North America region, with continuous investments in modernizing military training infrastructure and integrating AI in simulation systems. For instance, according to the Cascadia Aerospace and Defense Industry Report in 2024, the U.S. DoD has earmarked approximately USD 1.8 billion for artificial intelligence projects, reflecting a substantial 63.6% increase compared to the fiscal year 2023 allocation. The presence of major defense contractors and simulation technology providers further supports defense simulation and training market growth. Furthermore, Europe followed North America and holds a significant share of the military simulation and training market, supported by rising defense expenditures and strategic investments in military training programs. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France are key players, focusing on enhancing operational readiness through advanced training solutions. The European market is also driven by joint military exercises, NATO-led training programs, and the adoption of synthetic training environments to reduce costs and improve training efficiency.



APAC is witnessing rapid growth in the military simulation and training market due to increasing defense budgets in China, India, Japan, South Korea, and other regions. Governments in the region are prioritizing next-generation simulation technologies to improve combat readiness and reduce training costs. For instance, according to NT News in February 2025, the Open Plan Weapons Training Simulation System at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Australia, exemplifies the region's investment in next-generation military simulation technologies. This facility, valued at USD 17 million, enhances combat readiness by providing realistic training environments while reducing training costs through simulation-based exercises. The growing adoption of unmanned systems and cybersecurity training further contributes to military simulation and training market expansion.



Middle East & Africa and Latin America are experiencing steady growth in the military simulation and training market, driven by military modernization programs and regional security challenges. In Latin America, countries like Brazil and Mexico are investing in simulation-based training to enhance defense preparedness. Meanwhile, in the MEA, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading investments in high-tech simulation systems, particularly in aerial and combat training, to strengthen their defense capabilities. The demand for cost-effective and scalable training solutions remains a key factor in these regions' market growth.

DEFENSE MILITARY SIMULATION AND TRAINING MARKET SHARE & VENDOR LANDSCAPE



Key Company Profiles

BAE Systems

CAE Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Rheinmetall AG

Saab AB

Thales

Other Prominent Vendors

Airbus

Atos SE

Barco

Boeing

Bohemia Interactive Simulations

Collins Aerospace

Cubic Corporation

Elbit Systems Ltd.

Exail

Fidelity Technologies Corporation

FlightSafety International

General Dynamics Corporation

Groupe Gorge

HAVELSAN Inc.

InVeris Training Solutions

KONGSBERG

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

Leonardo S.p.A.

MVRsimulation Inc

Northrop Grumman

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP

Simthetiq

ST Engineering

Textron Inc.

VSTEP B.V.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 293 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $13.39 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $21.08 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.8% Regions Covered Global



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS



Segmentation by Application

Combat Training

MRO

Leadership

Others

Segmentation by Platform

Aerial

Navel

Land

Segmentation by Region

Military Simulation and Training Market in APAC China India South Korea Indonesia Taiwan Japan Australia

North America The U.S. Canada

Europe France Germany Italy The U.K. Poland Spain Netherlands

Middle East & Africa Egypt Turkey Saudi Arabia UAE

Latin America Brazil Colombia Argentina



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/npe1zb

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Smithtown, New York, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK, June 04, 2025  Americas VetDogs, a national nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans and first responders free of charge, is excited to announce a partnership with KLENR Soaps & Sundries, a personal care brand that specializes in high-quality, natural soaps and hygiene products. As part of the collaboration, KLENR donated two-years worth of all-natural, handcrafted bar soap to Americas VetDogs student residences for students to use during their 2-week stay at the facility.

KLENR was founded in 2022 by Chris Thompson, a decorated Green Beret and active-duty contractor supporting Special Operations. With seven combat deployments under his belt, Thompson founded KLENR on his own experience and dedication for resilience, quality, and service. Chris is also a graduate of the Americas VetDogs service dog program where he received his yellow labrador retriever service dog named Major.

After facing a difficult transition to civilian life with chronic stress, PTSD, and night terrors, Chris began searching for a service dog. In the fall of 2023, he was matched with Major, a partnership that, in his words, changed my life in ways I couldnt have anticipated.

Americas VetDogs has given so much to me and my family, said Chris Thompson, founder of KLENR Soaps and Sundries. Not only in the form of paring me with my service dog, Major, but also in the form of their professionalism, kindness, and continued support. Its my honor to provide soap to the veterans and first responders who come through their program as my small way to saying thank you to them and everyone at Americas VetDogs.

KLENR uses natural, organic elements in all their products that are naturally scented, using only scent with essential oils or other plant extracts. Any colorants in the soaps are herbs, herbal extracts, clays, and or mineral compounds. No man-made harmful chemicals.

Every veteran and first responder accepted into the service dog program joins Americas VetDogs at their campus in Smithtown, NY where they learn to bond with and train with their new service dog. Now, KLENR soap is an essential part of that experience and can be found in all 20 student rooms, ensuring each participant enjoys quality self-care during their stay.

It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one service dog with a veteran or first responder but there is never a charge to the individual. Americas VetDogs depends on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and in-kind donations to support its mission of providing service dogs to those in need. Learn more about Americas VetDogs or the Guide Dog Foundation by visiting VetDogs.org or GuideDog.org.

About Americas VetDogs

Since 2003, Americas VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. Americas VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but Americas VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. Americas VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

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TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtus Capital Corporation, the asset manager of Virtus Diversified REIT (VREIT) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Nickel District Apartments, a 114-unit apartment building located in Sudbury, Ontario. This strategic move significantly enhances the multi-family residential segment of the REIT's portfolio and reinforces its commitment to quality diversified real estate investments.

Nickel District Apartments, at 323 Second Avenue, is a wide walk-up style building offering a diverse mix of units to cater to various tenant needs. The property features 1 bachelor unit, 22 one-bedroom apartments, 87 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom suites.

"We are thrilled to add Nickel District Apartments to our growing portfolio," said Aurelio Baglione, CEO of Virtus. "This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy of identifying properties with strong fundamentals and potential for value appreciation. The current Net Operating Income aligns with our target yield for investors, while the 21% gap-to-rent presents an excellent opportunity for revenue upside, which we aim to capitalize on responsibly."

The property boasts several attractive features such as varied suite styles, including townhouse-style units with separate entrances, terraces, balconies, high ceilings, and some units with two bathrooms. It also features a prime location near major national retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, and Home Depot, enhancing its appeal to tenants.

According to Zumper.com, as of April 2025, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Greater Sudbury is $1,899, reflecting a significant increase of 19% over the previous year. This upward trend in rental prices underscores the strong demand for quality housing in the area.

Virtus Diversified REIT acquired Nickel District Apartments for $24.35 million. Additionally, the financing for this acquisition will be secured through CMHC-insured mortgages, allowing for favorable mortgage rates that enhance cash flow and overall returns.

"Nickel District Apartments is an excellent addition to our multi-family portfolio," commented Josh Will, President of Virtus. "Its strategic location in Sudbury, combined with the potential for increased occupancy, makes it an attractive long-term investment for our unitholders. Our path to growth is not finished yet. We have made it our goal to acquire strong properties from weak hands, and we expect to make some more exciting announcements in the coming months."

Virtus Diversified REIT remains committed to building a resilient and diversified portfolio of quality real estate assets across Canada. This acquisition reinforces the REIT's position as a reliable asset manager in the multi-family residential sector and highlights its focus on properties with sound fundamentals and growth potential.

For more information about Virtus Diversified REIT and its investment opportunities, please visit www.vreit.ca.

About Virtus Diversified REIT

Virtus Diversified REIT is focused on acquiring quality properties in strong secondary and tertiary markets across Canada and the United States. The companys goal is to build a strong and stable commercial, industrial, retail, and multi-unit residential portfolio, enhancing overall portfolio incomes by diversifying the tenant base and geographic diversity. The long-term goal is to maximize the unit value with ongoing management through future acquisitions, repositioning, and competitive financing.

Some of Virtus Diversified REITs anchor tenants include companies such as Crown Corporation, BJs Wholesale Club, The Brick, No Frills, Walmart and Dollarama.

Contact Information

Josh Will

info@vreit.ca

www.vreit.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f14c9f0c-e9bb-45dd-9134-dc7277b00b1b
London, United Kingdom, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 5, 2025, World Environment Day arrived as scheduled. This day is no longer just an echo of environmental protection slogans, but a mirror for all walks of life to re-examine ecological responsibility and sustainable development. On World Environment Day hosted by South Korea this year, the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution" proposed by the United Nations Environment Program has aroused global heated discussions, and green transformation is becoming an era proposition that companies must respond to.

In the blockchain mining industry where traditional energy is still the mainstream, this "green awakening" is particularly urgent. At this moment, BlockchainCloudMining took advantage of the trend and announced the launch of a series of cloud mining contracts that focus on both environmental protection and income-providing low thresholds and stable income for individual users, while also striving to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency, setting an example of sustainable development for the blockchain industry.





Starting from environmental responsibility: the green revolution of crypto mining is brewing

In the past few years, while the cryptocurrency industry has been growing explosively, it has also been controversial because of the label of "high energy consumption and high carbon emissions". In particular, Bitcoin mining, due to its large consumption of electricity resources, was once criticized by environmental organizations as the "culprit of carbon emissions". However, the industry itself is not obsessed with pollution sources. Many cutting-edge projects have realized the importance of clean energy and sustainable mining and have taken action.

In such an industry transformation, Blockchain Cloud Mining stands out. The platform uses a highly optimized data center operation and maintenance system and deploys cloud mining nodes using clean energy in multiple countries to minimize carbon footprint. During this World Environment Day, the platform specially launched the "Green Contract Exclusive Benefit", which empowers green mining through technology, allowing investors to achieve stable digital asset appreciation while also contributing to environmental protection.

New opportunities for green contracts: "environmental investment" that everyone can participate in

Different from the traditional "mining machine is investment" model, Blockchain Cloud Mining allows users to participate in mining and obtain crypto income every day without having to purchase and maintain mining machines, worry about high electricity bills and complex management. Just register a platform account and choose a suitable contract to participate in mining and obtain crypto income every day.

Blockchain Cloud Mining platform today launched a limited-time event of giving away $50 to $1,500 for World Environment Day contracts:

These contracts have transparent income and no hidden fees. Users can check the income details at any time to ensure the safe and open operation of funds. At the same time, Blockchain Cloud Mining has also established a platform operation "green index" disclosure mechanism to publish its energy consumption and carbon emission ratio in different data centers to create a credible sustainable mining brand.

The logic behind stable income: low-risk, highly transparent crypto participation method

In today's volatile crypto market, currency speculation is no longer the best choice for all investors. More and more users are turning their attention to "controllable income and quantifiable risks" methods, such as cloud mining. Compared with transactions that rely on market price games, cloud mining pays more attention to the underlying logic of blockchain, obtains systematic rewards by supporting network computing, and has a more robust profit model.

BlockchainCloudMining is based on this logic, aggregating global computing resources through cloud computing to provide users with a stable asset appreciation path.





The BlockchainCloudMining platform also provides the following advantages to further enhance the user experience:

Register and receive a $12 reward, which can immediately start a risk-free mining experience;

Alliance recommendation mechanism, invite friends to receive up to $50,000 in promotion rewards;

Full support for encrypted assets, including mainstream cryptocurrencies such as USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, and XRP;

All-weather technical support to ensure 100% system operation time and stable user income.

Environmental protection and wealth go hand in hand, and the times are choosing "green participants"

2025 is one of the key nodes for the transformation of the global energy structure. Policies of various countries are gradually leaning towards clean energy, and corporate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) responsibilities have become the focus of global capital assessment. In the field of cryptocurrency, environmental protection is no longer an additional option, but a core proposition related to the survival and development of the industry.

At this important time, BlockchainCloudMining responded to the call of the times through action. Its "green contract" not only provides investors with considerable returns, but also sets a green example for the blockchain industry. The platform believes that between financial benefits and ecological responsibility, it is not either this or that, but a win-win situation.

Summary: Let every income come from a responsibility

The World Environment Day in 2025 is no longer just a propaganda about reducing plastic, but a collective mobilization of the whole society for a green future. On such a meaningful day, the environmentally friendly cloud mining contract released by BlockchainCloudMining not only allows more people to participate in the growth of the digital economy with a low threshold, but also drives the entire industry towards a cleaner, more transparent and more sustainable direction.

If you also want to contribute to the green earth while accumulating digital assets, you may wish to visit www.BlockchainCloudMining.com and start your green mining journey. Let us build a sustainable future together in the digital world, starting with this green investment.

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.
Amsterdam, June 4, 2025

SBM Offshore announces it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement for the full divestment of SBM Offshores equity interest in the lease and operating entities of the FPSO Aseng to GEPetrol. The Companys exit from Equatorial Guinea will take place following an operational transition phase lasting up to 12 months.

SBM Offshores sale of its participation in the unit in Equatorial Guinea is in line with its strategy to rationalize its Lease & Operate portfolio, as per other recent transactions.

The agreement remains subject to several conditions precedent and approvals.



Corporate Profile

SBM Offshore is the worlds deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy.

More than 7,800 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.

For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

Financial Calendar Date Year Half Year 2025 Earnings August 7 2025 Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update November 13 2025 Full Year 2025 Earnings February 26 2026 Annual General Meeting April 15 2026 First Quarter 2026 Trading Update May 7 2026

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Wouter Holties

Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

Phone: +31 (0)20 236 32 36 E-mail: wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com Website: www.sbmoffshore.com

Media Relations

Giampaolo Arghittu

Head of External Relations

Phone: +31 (0)6 212 62 333 / +39 33 494 79 584 E-mail: giampaolo.arghittu@sbmoffshore.com Website: www.sbmoffshore.com

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on managements current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as expect, should, could, shall and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the Impacts, Risks and Opportunities section of the 2024 Annual Report.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Companys business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the 2024 Annual Report, available on our website Annual Reports - SBM Offshore.

Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release SBM Offshore and SBM are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

"SBM Offshore", the SBM logomark, Fast4Ward, emissionZERO and F4W are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

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Vancouver, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spirit Blockchain Capital (SBC or the Company) (CSE: SPIR), is pleased to announce that it seeks to settle an aggregate of $50,000 owing to an arms length consultant of the Company for services rendered pursuant to an advisory agreement (the Settlement) by the issuance of an aggregate of 810,417 common shares in the capital of the Company (each a Common Share) . An aggregate of 291,667 Common Shares will be issued at a deemed price of $0.06 per Common Share, 218,750 Common Shares will be issued at a deemed price of $0.08 per Common Share and 300,000 Common Shares will be issued at adeemed price of $0.05 per Common Share. The Common Shares will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day following the date of issuance. The Settlement remains subject to there being no objection from the Canadian Securities Exchange and compliance with applicable securities laws.

None of the securities to be issued in connection with the Settlement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), and none may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

About Spirit Blockchain Capital

Spirit Blockchain Capital is a leading investment company at the forefront of the blockchain industry. Through our operational business line and asset management business, we provide investors with a range of opportunities for capital appreciation. With a strong focus on innovation, strategic investments, and operational excellence, Spirit Blockchain is poised to unlock the potential of the digital economy.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lewis Bateman

Chief Executive Officer

info@spiritblockchain.com



Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words expect, anticipate, continue, estimate, objective, may, will, project, should, believe, plans, intends and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements in this news release include the Companys expected of completion of the Settlement. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Factors that could materially affect such forward-looking information are described under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys long form prospectus dated August 8, 2022, that is available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almadex Minerals Ltd. ("Almadex" or the "Company") (TSX-V: DEX) is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 100% interest in the Ruby Hill early-stage exploration project by staking. The project is located in central Nevada and was identified as part of Almadexs ongoing regional exploration program in the western USA.

The Ruby Hill epithermal gold-silver project covers a large area of argillic alteration and silicification hosted in rhyolite volcanics. Zones of silicification and clay alteration have been identified within which outcrops hosting quartz veinlets occur. Limited outcrop make it difficult to map any potential widths or orientation to the zone of veining and the sporadic outcrops of veined rock occur over a broad area. Some historic mine workings have also been identified which appear very old. These trenches and shafts clearly targeted zones of veining and silicification. To date 59 grab rock samples have been taken from outcrop and float of veining and silicified rhyolite (grab samples are selected samples and may not represent true underlying mineralisation). These preliminary results are very encouraging as 12 of these samples returned over 25 g/t silver with 7 returning more than 100 g/t silver (up to 992 g/t silver and averaging 45 g/t silver for all 59). Important gold values were also returned as 17 of these samples returned over 0.1 g/t gold (up to 0.94 g/t gold and averaging 0.10 g/t gold for all 59).

A one-line IP geophysical survey was carried out across the area of alteration. This survey identified a significant chargeability anomaly associated with a resistivity low. This feature is interpreted to represent a potential zone of alteration and sulphide development extending to depth. Almadex plans follow-up prospecting, sampling and geological mapping on the project, focussing on the area above the high IP chargeability, in order to provide targeting for a future drill program.

J Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almadex commented, Our regional exploration program continues to identify new targets for acquisition. This preliminary work at Ruby Slope has returned exciting silver and gold results in the earliest stages of sampling which is very encouraging. We will continue to move our early-stage projects forward this year along with our plans for drilling our more advanced properties. We fully expect 2025 to be an important year for our Company.

Qualified Persons and Technical Details

Morgan J Poliquin, PhD, PEng, the President and CEO of Almadex and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical contents of this news release.

The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Chemex Laboratories of Reno, Tucson, and North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. Silver is first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Samples that return values greater than 100 g/t silver by ICP-AES are then re analysed by HF-HNO3-HCLO4 digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Of these samples those that return silver values greater than 1,500 g/t are further analysed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish.

The IP line was surveyed using the Companys highly experienced in-house team and equipment (GDD transmitter and Iris Elrec-6 receivers using a 100 m dipole in a pole-dipole array). Pseudo sections were prepared, and the data was inverted using RES2DINV software. Geophysical surveys are not definitive, and the results are still at an early stage of interpretation, with no guarantee of a mineral discovery.

About Almadex

Almadex Minerals Ltd. is an exploration company that holds a large mineral portfolio consisting of projects and NSR royalties in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. This portfolio is the direct result of many years of prospecting and deal-making by Almadex's management team. The Company owns several portable diamond drill rigs, enabling it to conduct cost effective first pass exploration drilling in house. The Almadex team have significant porphyry lithocap exploration experience and have made three discoveries of mineral deposits under advanced argillic alteration. Our success comes from our audacity, in house exploration capacity and most importantly our ability to drill with our company owned drilling unit. We have assembled a portfolio of lithocap targets that have the potential to be concealing large porphyry systems at depth as well as high sulphidation epithermal gold-silver systems in the best jurisdiction we know: the United States of America. We have the cash and drills to advance and test these targets and will begin to do so in 2025.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng.

President and CEO

Almadex Minerals Ltd.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within it, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among other things, any further work to advance exploration targets at the Ruby Hill project. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, permitting, continued availability of capital and financing, equipment availability and general economic, market or business conditions. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. There can be no assurances that forward-looking statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws.

Contact Information:

Almadex Minerals Ltd.

Tel. 604.689.7644

Email: info@almadexminerals.com

http://www.almadexminerals.com/
BERKELEY, Calif., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PromptQL , a platform for reliable AI, today announced a strategic research collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley to develop the first comprehensive data agent benchmark for enterprise reliability specifically designed to evaluate general-purpose AI data agents in enterprise environments.

A recent McKinsey study revealed that 78% of organizations use AI in at least one business function, however, more than 80% say their organization hasnt seen a tangible impact on enterprise-level Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT). The partnership  led by Aditya Parameswaran, Professor and Co-Director of UC Berkeley's EPIC Data Lab , along with his students  addresses this fundamental challenge organizations face when deploying AI systems in business-critical environments.

While existing agentic data benchmarks like GAIA, Spider, and FRAMES test specific AI tasks, they overlook the complexity, reliability demands, and messy, siloed data that define real business environments. The forthcoming data agent benchmark aims to offer a solution by creating a framework that reflects real-world complexities.

"Our customer conversations reveal a clear patterntheyre ready to move from proof-of-concepts to production AI, yet they lack the evaluation tools to make confident deployment decisions, said Tanmai Gopal, CEO of PromptQL. The data agent benchmark changes that by using representative datasets from our work in telecom, healthcare, finance, retail, and anti-money laundering to reflect the real complexity of enterprise AI.

UC Berkeley's EPIC Data Lab brings expertise to this collaboration. Professor Parameswaran is a leading authority on the use of AI for next-gen usable data analysis tools and has received numerous prestigious awards. His research group has created widely-adopted data tools with tens of millions of downloads.

"Current benchmarks suffer from what I call the 1% problemtheyre built for tech giants and ignore the 99% of organizations grappling with real-world data complexity, Parameswaran said. The data agent benchmark marks a shift toward evaluating AI based on the reliability, transparency, and practical value enterprises actually need. This collaboration bridges academic rigor with the production insights PromptQL brings from real deployments.

The data agent benchmark beta will be revealed later this year. Organizations interested in early access or contributing use-cases or datasets can reach out to the research team at epic-support@eecs.berkeley.edu .

PromptQL will be at AI Engineer Worlds Fair , June 3-6 in San Francisco. Tanmai Gopal, PromptQLs co-founder and CEO, will present a session, Al Automation that Actually Works: $100M Impact on Messy Data with Zero Surprises, on June 4 at 11:15 a.m. PT. To learn more or schedule a demo at the PromptQL booth, visit https://hasura.io/events/ai-engineer-worlds-fair-2025 .

About PromptQL

PromptQL is a next-generation AI platform from the makers of Hasura, the company behind the pioneering GraphQL Engine. Built for enterprise-grade reliability, PromptQL enables natural language analysis and automation on internal business data  with an industry-first accuracy SLA. By learning the unique language of your business and planning tasks before executing them deterministically, PromptQL brings human-level precision to AI agents.

About UC Berkeley EPIC Data Lab

The EPIC Data Lab at UC Berkeley develops low-code and no-code interfaces for data work, powered by Gen AI. Co-Led by Professor Aditya Parameswaran, the lab follows Berkeley's tradition of multidisciplinary systems research with emphasis on real-world impact and practical deployment. The lab's tools, including DocETL and other widely-adopted systems, demonstrate Berkeley's leadership in democratizing data science capabilities.

Media Contact:

Erica Anderson

Offleash for PromptQL

promptql@offleashpr.com
WATERLOO, Ontario, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of Innovation Week, Shad Canada is proud to release its 45 Years of Impact report, a milestone reflection on the national programs legacy of empowering the next generation of Canadian innovators. Since 1980, Shad has transformed the lives of over 24,000 high school students through immersive, hands-on STEAM and entrepreneurship programs delivered across 30 post-secondary campuses and online.

The report launch comes at a pivotal time. This weeks OECD Economic Survey issued a stark warning: Canadas productivity is faltering, with GDP growth projected to slow to just 1% in 2025, and long-standing issues like weak investment, internal trade barriers, and labour market frictions must be addressed urgently. As the OECD notes, future prosperity hinges on policies that boost innovation and workforce readinessexactly the kind of skills Shad is cultivating in the next generation. In a moment of economic uncertainty, investing in youth talent isnt just the right thing to doits essential to Canadas long-term competitiveness.

For 45 years, Shad has proven that early investment in young people yields long-term impact, says Tim Jackson, President and CEO of Shad Canada. The students who walk through our doors become the engineers, researchers, founders, and changemakers who strengthen Canadas economy and solve real-world problems. As the demands of the workforce continue to shift, Shad is not just keeping pacewere preparing youth to lead.

With 93% of participants recommending the program, and 91% saying it improved their critical thinking, Shad is building a generation thats equipped with the soft and technical skills employers value most. From AI and cybersecurity to clean tech and sustainable agriculture, Shad alumni are emerging as leaders in high-impact fields.

Crucially, Shad is committed to building inclusive learning environments where students from all backgroundsespecially those underrepresented in STEMcan succeed. Through partnerships with organizations such as Pathways to Education and dedicated Black and Indigenous student outreach strategies, Shad ensures that excellence is accessible to all.

If Canada wants to compete globally, we need to invest in the kind of leadership that doesnt just fill jobs but drives innovation, adds Jackson. Shad is not just preparing students for post-secondaryits preparing them to lead our communities, our companies, and our country into the future.

Alongside this Impact Report Shad will launch a national awareness campaign spotlighting alumni stories, partnerships, and community impact, underscoring how bold investments in youth today are shaping Canadas economy tomorrow.

For 45 years, Shad Canada has equipped thousands of high school studentsmany from underrepresented and rural communitieswith the skills, confidence, and networks to lead in STEAM, entrepreneurship, and innovation. With over 24,000 alumni, the program continues to deliver what Canada needs most: adaptable, collaborative, creative problem-solvers ready to shape the future.

For more information contact
Denver, CO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YES Communities, a Denver-based operator of manufactured housing, has named Agustin R., a student at Arrupe Jesuit High School, as one of the 2025 recipients of its Building Futures Scholarship. As a recipient, Agustin will receive a $5,000 scholarship to help support his college education.

We are excited to provide our fifth scholarship to another talented Arrupe Jesuit student, said Julie Elkins, CFO of YES Communities. At YES, were dedicated to creating opportunities for growth. Assisting these outstanding students in furthering their education reflects our ongoing commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow.

Agustin is a senior at Arrupe and will attend Santa Clara University this fall to pursue his dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. "At Santa Clara University, Im committed to building a supportive community through leadership, dedication, and hard work, not just to improve my own future, but to help others succeed too. By studying mechanical engineering and connecting with fellow first-generation students, I hope to create a community where we lift each other up, both academically and personally." said Agustin.

Arrupe Jesuit deeply appreciates the continued support YES Communities provides to our students, said Michael J. OHagan, President of Arrupe Jesuit. We are thankful for the scholarship awarded to Agustin and the opportunities it creates for his future. Our partnership with YES Communities has a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of our students.

Since the inception of the partnership with Arrupe Jesuit High School in 2010, YES Communities has provided 64 Corporate Work Study opportunities and 5 Building Futures Scholarships to students.

About Arrupe Jesuit High School:

Arrupe Jesuit High School is a Catholic, college preparatory school offering students with limited economic resources a premier educational experience through rigorous academics, formation in faith and discernment, and a unique work study program  fostering community, leadership, personal growth, and opportunity for all. To learn more, visit www.arrupejesuit.com.

About YES Communities:

YES Communities is a nationwide leader in the manufactured housing industry, offering high-quality, attainable housing solutions across the United States. Through meeting the unique needs of residents, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for everyone who calls a YES community home. For more information, visit www.yescommunities.com.

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Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

PERTH, Australia, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM, TSX: FFM) (the Company or FireFly) has announced today that it has entered into an agreement with BMO Capital Markets, pursuant to which BMO Capital Markets has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 30,000,000 ordinary shares of the Company (the Ordinary Shares) at a price of C$0.86 (A$0.96) per Ordinary Share for gross proceeds of C$25.8 (approximately A$28.8)1 million (the Canadian Offering). The Company has also granted BMO Capital Markets an option, exercisable at the offering price for a period of 30 days following the closing of the Canadian Offering, to purchase up to an additional 10% of the Canadian Offering to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.

The Ordinary Shares under the Canadian Offering will be offered in Canada by way of a short form prospectus in all of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and may also be offered by way of private placement in the United States and offshore jurisdictions in accordance with applicable laws. The Canadian Offering is expected to close on or about June 20, 2025 and is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals.

Separately, the Company has also entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity to raise total gross proceeds of approximately A$46.0 million in respect of ordinary shares of the Company (the Australian Offering) concurrently with the Canadian Offering. The Australian Offering is presently intended to consist of a charity flow-through placement of A$11.2 million (Flow-Through) and an institutional placement (Placement) of A$29.9 million. FireFly will also separately undertake a retail share purchase plan (SPP) of up to A$5 million (with the ability to accept oversubscriptions, at the discretion of the Company). The Flow-Through and Placement are expected to close on or about June 13, 2025 with the SPP to be completed subsequently.

The net proceeds of the Canadian Offering and the Australian Offering will be primarily used for expenditure at the Green Bay Copper-Gold Project including underground development, Resource extension and infill drilling, regional and near mine exploration and drill testing, pre-construction and study works. The net proceeds will also be used for transaction costs and working capital.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

_______________

1 Based on an implied AUD.CAD exchange rate of 0.8958





ABOUT FIREFLY METALS

FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX, TSX: FFM) is an emerging copper-gold company focused on advancing the high-grade Green Bay Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, which is comprised of multiple assets, including the Ming underground mine and Little Deer exploration project. The Green Bay Copper-Gold Project currently hosts a Mineral Resource prepared in accordance with the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code 2012) and Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) of 24.4Mt of Measured and Indicated Resources at 1.9% for 460Kt CuEq and 34.5Mt of Inferred Resources at 2% for 690Kt CuEq. The Company has a clear strategy to rapidly grow the copper-gold Mineral Resource to demonstrate a globally significant copper-gold asset. FireFly has commenced a 130,000m diamond drilling program.

FireFly holds a 70% interest in the high-grade Pickle Crow Gold Project in Ontario. The current Inferred Resource stands at 11.9Mt at 7.2g/t for 2.8Moz gold, with exceptional discovery potential on the 500km2 tenement holding.

The Company also holds a 90% interest in the Limestone Well Vanadium-Titanium Project in Western Australia.

For further information regarding FireFly Metals Ltd please visit the ASX platform (ASX:FFM) or the Company's website www.fireflymetals.com.au or SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Contact Information:

Michael Naylor

Executive Director

Email: mnaylor@fireflymetals.com.au

COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS

Mineral Resources Estimate  Green Bay Project

The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Green Bay Project referred to in this announcement and set out at Appendix A was first reported in the Companys ASX announcement dated 29 October 2024, titled Resource increases 42% to 1.2Mt of contained metal at 2% Copper Eq and is also set out in the Technical Reports for the Ming Copper Gold Mine, titled National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, FireFly Metals Ltd., Ming Copper-Gold Project, Newfoundland with an effective date of November 29, 2024 and the Little Deer Copper Project, titled Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Little Deer Complex Copper Deposits, Newfoundland, Canada with an effective date of June 26, 2024, each of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource Estimate in the original announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Metal equivalents for the Mineral Resource Estimate mineralisation have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,500/oz and silver price of US$25/oz. Individual Mineral Resource grades for the metals are set out at Appendix A of this announcement. Copper equivalent was calculated based on the formula CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (Au(g/t) x 0.82190) + (Ag(g/t) x 0.00822).

Metallurgical factors have been applied to the metal equivalent calculation. Copper recovery used was 95%. Historical production at the Ming Mine has a documented copper recovery of ~96%. Precious metal metallurgical recovery was assumed at 85% on the basis of historical recoveries achieved at the Ming Mine in addition to historical metallurgical test work to increase precious metal recoveries.

In the opinion of the Company, all elements included in the metal equivalent calculations have a reasonable potential to be sold and recovered based on current market conditions, metallurgical test work, and historical performance achieved at the Green Bay project whilst in operation.

Mineral Resources Estimate  Pickle Crow Project

The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Pickle Crow Project referred to in this announcement was first reported in the Companys ASX announcement dated 4 May 2023, titled High-Grade Inferred Gold Resource Grows to 2.8Moz at 7.2g/t and is also set out in the Technical Report for the Pickle Crow Project, titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimate Pickle Crow Gold Project, Ontario, Canada with an effective date of November 29, 2024 available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource Estimate in the original announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

COMPETENT PERSON / QUALIFIED PERSON

All technical and scientific information in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Group Chief Geologist, Mr Juan Gutierrez BSc, Geology (Masters), Geostatistics (Postgraduate Diploma), who is a Member and Chartered Professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Gutierrez is a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements and projections, including statements regarding the Canadian Offering, the Australian Offering, and FireFly's plans, forecasts and projections with respect to its mineral properties and programs, including the use of proceeds of the Canadian Offering and Australian Offering and the completion and expected closings of the Canadian Offering and Australian Offering. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "may", "might", "could", "would", "will", "expect", "intend", "believe", "forecast", "milestone", "objective", "predict", "plan", "scheduled", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding plans, strategies and objectives.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements and projections are estimates only and should not be relied upon. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may include changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations, economic, social and political conditions, and changes to applicable regulation, and those risks outlined in the Companys public disclosures.

The forward-looking statements and projections are inherently uncertain and may therefore differ materially from results ultimately achieved. For example, there can be no assurance that FireFly will be able to confirm the presence of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, that FireFly's plans for development of its mineral properties will proceed, that any mineralisation will prove to be economic, or that a mine will be successfully developed on any of FireFly's mineral properties. The performance of FireFly may be influenced by a number of factors which are outside of the control of the Company, its directors, officers, employees and contractors. The Company does not make any representations and provides no warranties concerning the accuracy of any forward-looking statements or projections, and disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or projections based on new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable laws.

APPENDIX A



Green Bay Copper-Gold Project Mineral Resources

Ming Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate

TONNES COPPER GOLD SILVER CuEq (Mt) Grade

(%) Metal

(000 t) Grade

(g/t) Metal

(000 oz) Grade

(g/t) Metal

(000 oz) Grade

(%) Measured 4.7 1.7 80 0.3 40 2.3 340 1.9 Indicated 16.8 1.6 270 0.3 150 2.4 1,300 1.8 TOTAL M&I 21.5 1.6 340 0.3 190 2.4 1,600 1.8 Inferred 28.4 1.7 480 0.4 340 3.3 3,000 2.0



Little Deer Mineral Resource Estimate

TONNES COPPER GOLD SILVER CuEq (Mt) Grade

(%) Metal

(000 t) Grade

(g/t) Metal

(000 oz) Grade

(g/t) Metal

(000 oz) Grade

(%) Measured - - - - - - - - Indicated 2.9 2.1 62 0.1 9 3.4 320 2.3 TOTAL M&I 2.9 2.1 62 0.1 9 3.4 320 2.3 Inferred 6.2 1.8 110 0.1 10 2.2 430 1.8



GREEN BAY TOTAL MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

TONNES COPPER GOLD SILVER CuEq (Mt) Grade

(%) Metal

(000 t) Grade

(g/t) Metal

(000 oz) Grade

(g/t) Metal

(000 oz) Grade

(%) Measured 4.7 1.7 80 0.3 45 2.3 340 1.9 Indicated 19.7 1.7 330 0.2 154 2.6 1,600 1.9 TOTAL M&I 24.4 1.7 400 0.3 199 2.5 2,000 1.9 Inferred 34.6 1.7 600 0.3 348 3.1 3,400 2.0




SAN FRANCISCO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), the nations largest health insurer, fell sharply on May 21, after a British newspaper reported that the company had made undisclosed payments to nursing homes in an effort to reduce hospital transfers, intensifying the scrutiny facing the healthcare conglomerate.

The allegations add to UnitedHealths woes, as the company had to grapple with the filing of a securities fraud class action, the abrupt departure of its CEO, and reports of criminal and civil probes on company's practices.

Hagens Berman is investigating the securities fraud claims alleged in the pending suit and urges UnitedHealth investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Class Period: Dec. 3, 2024  Apr. 16, 2025

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 7, 2025

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/unh

Contact the Firm Now: UNH@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Allegations of Secret Payments and Patient Harm

On May 21, The Guardian reported that UnitedHealth deployed medical teams to nursing facilities across the United States and offered bonuses to limit hospitalizations among Medicare Advantage enrollees, as part of a wider cost-cutting initiative. According to internal documents and whistleblower accounts cited by the newspaper, these financial incentives sometimes resulted in delayed or averted transfers for patients who might have benefited from immediate hospital care. In one case, a patient reportedly suffered permanent brain damage after a delayed transfer for a suspected stroke.

The Guardians reporting has added to a series of setbacks for the company, which is already contending with regulatory investigations and legal challenges.

Pending Securities Class Action

The company is the subject of a securities class action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, brought on behalf of investors who purchased UnitedHealth securities. The complaint alleges that the company engaged in a strategy of improperly denying health coverage to boost profits, drawing regulatory scrutiny and public criticism. The suit, captioned Faller v. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, asserts violations of federal securities laws.

The complaint alleges that the truth emerged on April 17, 2025, when UnitedHealth significantly reduced its full year 2025 financial guidance which it attributed, in part, to [h]eightened care activity indications within UnitedHealthcares Medicare Advantage business, . . . far above the planned 2025 increase that was most notable within physician and outpatient services. On this news, the price of UnitedHealth stock declined more than 22%, from $585.04 per share on April 16, 2025, to $454.11 per share on April 17, 2025.

CEO Departure and Regulatory Scrutiny

Since the filing of the suit, turmoil has only deepened. On May 13, UnitedHealth announced the abrupt departure of its chief executive, Andrew Witty, and suspended its 2025 fiscal guidance, sending shares down more than 10 percent that day.

The Wall Street Journal has also reported that federal authorities are investigating whether UnitedHealth pressured clinicians to record diagnoses that would make Medicare Advantage patients appear sicker than they were, a practice known as upcoding, which can result in higher federal payments.

Hagens Bermans Investigation

Shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is actively investigating the securities fraud claims alleged in the pending suit against UnitedHealth. Reed Kathrein, the partner leading the investigation, commented on the mounting scrutiny:

The Guardians reporting raises new and troubling questions about UnitedHealths commitment to patient care and transparency. Investors deserve clear answers about whether cost-cutting measures came at the expense of patient well-being.

If you invested in UnitedHealth and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now 

If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the UnitedHealth Group case and our investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding UnitedHealth should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email UNH@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Bermans team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses

LOS ANGELES, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. ("BigBear " or the "Company") (NYSE: BBAI) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between March 31, 2022 and March 25, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). BigBear investors have until June 10, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

BigBear.ai provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. According to the complaint, in June 2021, BigBear.ai entered into a merger agreement with GigCapital4, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), along with GigCapital4 Merger Sub Corporation and BBAI Ultimate Holdings. Upon completion of the merger, BigBear.ai issued $200 million in unsecured convertible notesdebt instruments that may be converted into equity at a future dateset to mature on December 15, 2026 (2026 Convertible Notes).

The class action lawsuit alleges that, during the Class Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material information. BigBear.ai allegedly maintained inadequate accounting review policies related to the reporting and disclosure of non-routine, unusual, or complex transactions. As a result, the company incorrectly concluded that the conversion option embedded in the 2026 Convertible Notes qualified for a derivative scope exception under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815-40, and failed to bifurcate the conversion option as required by ASC 815-15. This led to improper accounting treatment of the 2026 Convertible Notes and misstatements in several of the companys previously issued financial statements. These statements were inaccurate and would likely require restatement. In addition, correcting the errors would require significant time and expense, increasing the likelihood of delayed financial filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

On March 18, 2025, BigBear.ai disclosed that certain financial statements dating back to fiscal year 2021 should no longer be relied upon and would be restated. The company identified a material error related to its accounting for the 2026 Convertible Notes. Following this announcement, the price of BigBear.ai stock fell nearly 15%, according to the complaint.

On March 25, 2025, BigBear.ai filed its 2024 Form 10-K, revealing that the conversion option within the 2026 Notes had been incorrectly deemed eligible for a scope exception from bifurcation under ASC 815-15. The company further disclosed that the 2026 Notes contained adjustments to the conversion rate that violated the fixed-for-fixed criteria described in ASC 815-40. As a result, the financial statements were restated to reflect the issuance of the conversion option at fair value as of December 7, 2021, and subsequent remeasurement at each reporting date.

The company also acknowledged a material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting, specifically its failure to consistently apply its technical accounting review policies. This included misapplication of interpretations requiring significant judgment or subject to differing interpretations, particularly with respect to complex or non-routine transactions. On this news, BigBear.ais stock price declined more than 9%, according to the complaint.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AGF Management Limited (TSX: AGF.B) will release its financial results for Q2 2025 on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET. AGF will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss these results at 11:00 a.m. ET.

The discussion will feature remarks by Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, and Ken Tsang, Chief Financial Officer. Judy G. Goldring, President and Head of Global Distribution, and Ash Lawrence, Head of AGF Capital Partners, will also be available for the question-and-answer period with investment analysts following the presentation.

The live audio webcast with supporting materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of AGFs website at www.agf.com or at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/m4th2gij. Alternatively, the call can be accessed over the phone by registering here or in the Investor Relations section of AGFs website at www.agf.com, to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN.

A complete archive of this discussion along with supporting materials will be available at the same webcast address within 24 hours of the end of the conference call.

About AGF Management Limited

Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firms collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $53 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

AGF MANAGEMENT LIMITED SHAREHOLDERS, ANALYSTS AND MEDIA, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nick Smerek

VP, Financial Planning & Analysis

(416) 865-4337, InvestorRelations@agf.com
Des Moines, Iowa, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) has awarded $20 million to 174 financial institution members to be distributed alongside their own grant contributions to hundreds of eligible not-for-profit and government organizations in Minnesota.

Funding was made possible through the Member Impact Fund, a matching grant program designed to amplify FHLB Des Moines member financial institutions donations that provide critical financial support for affordable housing and community development initiatives in targeted areas of the FHLB Des Moines district.

With 798 applications awarded, FHLB Des Moines matched $3 for every $1 contributed by a member institution. These combined grants range from $10,000 to $1,000,000.

Since its launch in 2023, the Member Impact Fund has supported affordable housing and community development with more than $70 million in grants from FHLB Des Moines, resulting in combined grants of over $95 million. Every eligible grant application has been awarded funds.

The Member Impact Fund enables our members to directly support local organizations who matter to them, creating value and a profound impact in their own communities, said Kris Williams, president and CEO of FHLB Des Moines. The commitment of our members to champion their local organizations inspires us all.

FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions to more than 1,200 members to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities they serve. Member Impact Fund awards are given in partnership with FHLB Des Moines member financial institutions to strengthen the ability of not-for-profits or government entities to serve the affordable housing or community development needs of their communities.

###

About Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) is deeply committed to strengthening communities, serving 13 states and three U.S Pacific territories as a member-owned cooperative. We work together with over 1,200 member financial institutions to support affordable housing, economic development and community improvement.

FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com.
CALGARY, Alberta , June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (Gran Tierra or the Company) (NYSE American:GTE) (TSX:GTE) (LSE:GTE) today announced that a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company has signed an agreement to sell its wholly owned subsidiary, Gran Tierra North Sea Limited (GTNSL), to NEO Energy for total consideration of US$7.5 Million. NEO Energy is a private upstream company and a leading independent operator in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

GTNSL holds a 100% equity interest in UKCS licence P2358 which includes the Serenity Discovery.

Completion of the transaction is subject to certain customary conditions precedent, including consent from the North Sea Transition Authority in respect of the change of control of GTNSL. The transaction is expected to close sometime in the third quarter of 2025.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is an independent international energy company currently focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is currently developing its existing portfolio of assets in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador and will continue to pursue additional new growth opportunities that would further strengthen the Companys portfolio. The Companys common stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra is available at www.grantierra.com. Except to the extent expressly stated otherwise, information on the Companys website or accessible from our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into and should not be considered part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221.

Gran Tierras filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) are available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. The Companys Canadian securities regulatory filings are available on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca and UK regulatory filings are available on the National Storage Mechanism website at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

Contact Information

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Gary Guidry

President & Chief Executive Officer

Ryan Ellson

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

+1-403-265-3221

info@grantierra.com

Forward Looking Statements and Legal Advisories:

This press release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and financial outlook and forward looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, forward-looking statements). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including those statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words expect, plan, can, will, should, and believes, derivations thereof and similar terms identify forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to the risk factors detailed from time to time in Gran Tierras periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under the caption Risk Factors in Gran Tierras Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed February 24, 2025 and its other filings with the SEC. These filings are available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the fact that this press release remains available does not constitute a representation by Gran Tierra that Gran Tierra believes these forward-looking statements continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Gran Tierra disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sutter Health today broke ground on the new Sutter Advanced Neuroscience Complex at Mission Bernal  a major milestone in expanding access to high-quality neurological and neurosurgical care in Northern California. The five-story, 129,000-square-foot facility will be located at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Valencia streets (3555 Cesar Chavez Street) in San Francisco and is expected to open in 2028. Designed as a regional destination for brain health, the complex will unite care delivery, advanced diagnostics and research in one location.

Sutter Health has a bold vision for brain health, and that vision includes building a state-of-the-art advanced neuroscience complex in San Francisco, said Sutter Health President and CEO Warner Thomas. CPMC has cared for this community since the 1850s, and were proud to continue that legacy by investing in a destination for neurological care that will serve patients and families locally and across the region. Our mission drives us to deliver accessible, high-quality care that fuels innovation and expands access so that more people can benefit from the highest standards of neurological health closer to home.

San Francisco is leading the nation in providing cutting-edge health care, and this project will bring exceptional neurological care to the heart of our city and better health outcomes for our residents, said Mayor Daniel Lurie. Thank you to Sutter Health for their commitment to our city, to our residents, and to the Mission District. Together, were building stronger, healthier communities and strengthening San Francisco's comeback.

High-Tech Hub for Brain Health

This $442 million investment underscores Sutter Healths long-term commitment to expanding access to specialized, high-acuity care in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area. When complete, the Sutter Advanced Neuroscience Complex at Mission Bernal will bring together approximately 80 physicians and clinicians across range of neurological specialties  including Alzheimers disease and dementia, ALS, headache, neurosurgery, neurology, epilepsy, neuro-oncology and movement disorders  to deliver seamless, integrated care in one location.

The new complex will house a full spectrum of services, including neurology, neurosurgery, imaging, lab, infusion, rehabilitation and an on-site ambulatory surgery center. Patients will also benefit from direct access to leading research and clinical trials, further supporting advancements in diagnosis and treatment.

Two of Sutters nationally recognized programs  the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center and the Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research and Treatment Center  will relocate to the new complex, enabling greater capacity and deeper collaboration among specialists.

The site will also include underground parking to improve convenience for patients and visitors. In a related investment, Sutter plans to add two neurological intervention suites to the adjacent CPMC Mission Bernal campus hospital by 2027. These suites will offer advanced imaging and enable rapid detection and minimally invasive treatment of life-threatening neurological conditions.

Our goal is to provide coordinated, comprehensive access to integrated care that merges the expertise of neurologists and neurosurgeons, said Dr. Lewis Leng, a neurosurgeon with Sutter West Bay Medical Group. The new Sutter Advanced Neuroscience Complex at Mission Bernal will create more access to care for patients with neurological conditions and provide them the opportunity to take advantage of Sutters award-winning neuroscience treatment and clinical research.

Christina Oh, president of Sutters Greater San Francisco Division, added, Patients will be able to come to this location and visit their specialist, receive diagnostic lab and imaging, as well as outpatient procedures all in one complex. Having all these services under one roof will create a more convenient, coordinated experience.

The Sutter Advanced Neuroscience Complex is part of Sutter Healths broader strategy to invest nearly $1 billion in healthcare infrastructure across San Francisco over the next five years. This initiative aims to significantly expand access to specialized medical care, such as Sutters new Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery program, and enhance the overall patient experience.

A Vision for Advanced Care and Clinical Training

The Mission Bernal Care Complex is part of a larger effort by Sutter Health to address the growing healthcare needs of Northern California, with more than two dozen new facilities currently in development. Beyond expanding access, this complex reflects Sutters strong commitment to education and workforce development, with plans to train over 1,000 medical residents and fellows by 2030. Sutter CPMC plays a key role in this effort, currently training residents and fellows in nationally accredited Graduate Medical Education programs across a wide range of specialties, including advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, gastroenterology, hand surgery, hematology-oncology, ophthalmology, pulmonary and critical care medicine, psychiatry and transplant hepatology. CPMC also offers additional training in neurocritical care, among other areas.

This groundbreaking represents a pivotal moment in advancing Sutter Healths mission to provide high-quality, compassionate and innovative care, said Ken McNeely, chair of the Sutter Health Board of Directors. It reflects our dedication to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of our community while preparing the next generation of physicians and care teams to carry that mission forward.

For more information about the Sutter Advanced Neuroscience Complex at Mission Bernal and Sutter Healths ongoing commitment to healthcare excellence, please visit www.sutterhealth.org.

About Sutter Health

Sutter Health is a not-for-profit health care system dedicated to providing comprehensive care throughout California. Committed to community partnerships and innovative, high-quality patient care, Sutter Health is pursuing a bold new plan to reach more people and make excellent health care more connected and accessible. Sutter Health currently serves nearly 3.5 million patients, thanks to a dedicated team of more than 57,000 employees and clinicians and 12,000+ affiliated physicians, with a unified focus on expanding care to serve more patients.

Sutter delivers exceptional and affordable care through its hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care clinics, telehealth, home health, and hospice services. Dedicated to transforming health care, at Sutter Health, getting better never stops.

Learn more about how Sutter Health is transforming health care at sutterhealth.org and vitals.sutterhealth.org.

Attachments
VANCOUVER, June 03, 2025 - Endeavour Silver Corp. ("Endeavour" or the "Company") (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) is pleased to announce that shareholders voted in favour of all items of business at the Company's 2025 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held on June 3, 2025 in Vancouver. A total of 137,600,042 votes were cast or represented by proxy at the AGM, representing 50.23% of the outstanding common shares as of the record date. The following is a tabulation of the votes submitted by proxy:

DIRECTORS NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENTAGE OF VOTES

CAST FOR WITHHELD/

ABSTAIN FOR WITHHELD Rex J. McLennan 78,925,775 16,641,936 82.59% 17.41% Margaret M. Beck 94,445,855 1,121,856 98.83% 1.17% Daniel Dickson 94,821,211 746,500 99.22% 0.78% Amy Jacobsen 94,670,510 897,202 99.06% 0.94% Angela Johnson 93,733,044 1,834,668 98.08% 1.92% Kenneth Pickering 80,323,860 15,243,851 84.05% 15.95% Mario D. Szotlender 93,983,060 1,584,651 98.34% 1.66%

All director nominees were re?elected.

Shareholders voted 98.50% in favour of setting the number of directors at seven. In addition, shareholders also voted 86.58% in favour of re?appointing KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company and authorized the Board to fix the auditor's remuneration for the ensuing year.

Retirement of Ricardo Campoy

The Company would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Ricardo Campoy for his 14 years of commitment to the Board.

"On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Ricardo for his steadfast leadership and many contributions over the years," said Rex McLennan, Chairman of the Board. "His experience and guidance have been instrumental to the Company's progress, and we wish him the best as he moves into this next chapter of retirement."

About Endeavour Silver

Endeavour is a mid-tier precious metals company with a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices. With operations in Mexico and Peru, and the development of the new cornerstone mine in Jalisco state, the company aims to contribute positively to the mining industry and the communities in which it operates. In addition, Endeavour has a portfolio of exploration projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.

Contact Information



Allison Pettit

Director, Investor Relations

Email: apettit@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com
Vancouver, June 3, 2025 - Edison Lithium Corp. (TSXV: EDDY) (OTC Pink: EDDYF) (FSE: VV0) ("Edison" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the previously announced proposed sale of its Argentina subsidiary, Resource Ventures S.A. ("ReVe"), to Mava Gasoil LLC ("Mava") (the "Proposed Transaction").

To facilitate the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company has granted Mava an extension, and the parties now anticipate the completion of the closing on or before June 30, 2025.

In consideration for the extension, Mava has agreed to pay an advance payment of US$100,000, which will be credited against the total purchase price of US$3,500,000 upon closing. The Company previously received an initial deposit of USD$100,000 from Mava and further payments of USD$3,100,000, USD$100,000 and USD$100,000 are payable by Mava to the Company and the two other shareholders of ReVe, respectively, upon closing. As previously disclosed, the proposed transaction contemplates Mava acquiring all of the issued and outstanding shares of ReVe for total consideration of USD$3,500,000.

The completion of the Proposed Transaction remains subject to, among other conditions, TSX Venture Exchange final acceptance, and receipt of the balance of the purchase price.

About Edison Lithium Corp.

Edison Lithium Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mining exploration company focused on the procurement, exploration and development of cobalt, lithium, alkali and other energy metal properties. The Company's acquisition strategy is based on acquiring affordable, cost-effective, and highly regarded mineral properties in areas with proven geological potential. Edison is building a portfolio of quality assets capable of supplying critical materials to the battery industry and intends to capitalize on and have its shareholders benefit from the renewed interest in the battery metals space.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

"Nathan Rotstein"

Nathan Rotstein

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Disclaimer: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Edison's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "will be", "expected," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue,", "proposes", "contemplates", "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. All information provided in this news release is as of the date of this news, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: the proposed sale of ReVe, the anticipated timing and completion of the Proposed Transaction, the receipt of final TSX Venture Exchange approval for the disposition, the closing of the Proposed Transaction, and the receipt of the purchase price. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of management on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: receipt of final TSXV approval required for the Proposed Transaction, and receipt of the purchase price. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254396
Vancouver - June 3rd, 2025, Generation Uranium Inc. (the "Company" or "Generation"), (TSXV: GEN) (OTCQB: GENRF) (FSE: W85) announces the resignation of CEO and Director, Mr. Anthony Zelen, and is pleased to announce that Mr. Chris Huggins will take over as Interim CEO, and Mr. Christoph Bruening is joining the board of directors.

Chris Huggins is a proven leader with over 30 years of success in mineral exploration, capital markets, and business development. Born and raised in Timmins, Ontario-Canada's richest goldfield-he brings a career-long focus on creating value and identifying growth opportunities for clients and shareholders.

Mr. Huggins began his career as an exploration geologist with Homestake Mining, contributing to key projects around Eskay Creek, Snip Mine, Stewart, BC, and Copiapo, Chile. He later transitioned to the emerging technology sector, achieving a decade of success in sales and corporate development roles. Returning to the mining and construction industries, Chris held senior positions at Atlas Copco and Finning, where he delivered capital equipment solutions to industry leaders such as De Beers, BHP, Acciona, and Heidelberg. He also managed global and national Caterpillar accounts, bringing a strategic edge to complex operational environments.

Currently, Mr. Huggins serves as CEO and Director of Auric Minerals Corp (CSE: AUMC) and Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT) where he leads with a focus on strategic growth, operational excellence, and long-term shareholder value.

Mr. Bruening is the founder and managing partner of Value Relations GmbH, a full-service investor relations and public relations agency in Frankfurt with over 25 years of excellence, focusing on mining, exploration, biotech and healthcare. Since 1998 he has organized and operated over 500 conferences and over 200 road shows in Germany and throughout Europe. In addition, he has listed over 600 companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Mr. Bruening graduated in Chemistry from Technische Universitat (TU) Darmstadt, in 1995. He is the author of several publications, including on rare earths, uranium, and has an upcoming book on energy and future challenges. He has presented at all the leading resource conferences including the PDAC, Mines and Money, Deutsche Rohstoff Messe Frankfurt, Edelmetall- und Rohstoffmessse Munich, and the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference. He has previously been a director of multiple public companies in Canada, the United States and Germany.

The Company would like to thank Mr. Zelen for his years of excellence at the helm of the Company and wish him the best in all of his future endeavours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Chris Huggins

Interim Chief Executive Officer

admin@generationuranium.com

About Generation Uranium

The Company is a natural resource company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Yath Uranium Project, located in the Territory of Nunavut.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
ABU DHABI, UAE, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - International Resources Holding ("IRH") and Tremont Master Holdings ("Tremont") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement for IRH to acquire Tremont's majority interest in Alphamin Resources Corp. (TSXV: AFM) (JSE: APH) ("Alphamin") (the "Transaction").

Under the terms of the Transaction, IRH will, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquire 718,990,967 common shares (the "Acquired Shares") of Alphamin (the "Common Shares") owned by Tremont, representing approximately 56% of the outstanding Common Shares, at a price of C$0.70 per share, for a total consideration of C$503,293,677 (US$367,001,749), subject to completion adjustments which may decrease total consideration in certain circumstances set out in the definitive agreement, including as a result of distributions, dividends and payments made to Tremont by Alphamin in Tremont's capacity as a shareholder of Alphamin or otherwise, or related to the Transaction which arise from September 30, 2024 to the date of closing of the Transaction, other than the dividend paid by Alphamin on November 4, 2024.

IRH Strategic Rationale for the Acquisition

This acquisition strengthens IRH's position in the global industrial metals sector, adding a majority interest in a highly productive and strategically important tin asset to its portfolio. Alphamin is one of the world's largest and highest-grade tin producers, playing a key role in supplying a critical raw material used in electronics, manufacturing, and industrial applications.

Ali Alrashdi - CEO of IRH, stated:

"Alphamin's strong production profile aligns with our strategy of securing interests in high-quality mining assets with long-term growth potential."

Rob Still, Chairman of Tremont Master Holdings, commented:

"Following Tremont's 12-year history in exploring, evaluating and then building and operating the Bisie mine, we are now pleased to transfer our ownership stake to another long-term investor who shares our vision for the operation and our commitment to the region."

Closing of the Transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including, among others, the receipt of all regulatory and internal corporate approvals.

Required Early Warning Disclosure

Immediately prior to entering into the definitive agreement regarding the Transaction, IRH did not own any Common Shares and, upon completion of the Transaction, IRH will own 718,990,967 Common Shares, representing approximately 56% of the outstanding Common Shares.

Tremont currently owns 729,124,559 Common Shares, representing approximately 57% of the outstanding Common Shares, and upon completion of the Transaction will continue to hold 10,133,592 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.8% of the outstanding Common Shares.

IRH entered into the definitive agreement to acquire the Common Shares for investment purposes. IRH intends to review its investment in Alphamin on a continuing basis and depending upon various factors, including without limitation, the price and availability of Alphamin's securities, subsequent developments affecting Alphamin, its business and prospects, other investment and business opportunities available to IRH, general industry and economic conditions, the securities markets in general, tax considerations and other factors deemed relevant by IRH, IRH may (i) change its beneficial ownership of the Common Shares, whether through transactions effected in the open market, by privately negotiated agreements, or otherwise, or (ii) consider or propose, develop plans or take action which relate to or would result in, one or more of the actions described in subparagraphs (a) - (k) of Item 5 of Form 62-103F1 - Required Disclosure Under the Early Warning Requirements. Among other things, IRH may in the future consider the appropriateness of exploring one or more transactions to acquire the balance of the outstanding Common Shares after discussion with Alphamin's shareholders, board of directors and/or other stakeholders.

Tremont holds its Common Shares for investment purposes. The disposition of Common Shares is being undertaken in the ordinary course of business for investment purposes.

IRH and Tremont intend to complete the Transaction by way of a block trade over a stock exchange. The acquisition of the Common Shares is being made by way of private agreement with five or fewer third parties at a price per share not exceeding 115% of the market price of the Common Shares and in compliance with the "private agreement exemption" under section 4.2(1) of National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids.

Copies of the Early Warning Reports of both IRH and Tremont with respect to the Transaction will be filed under Alphamin's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and may also be obtained by contacting the respective IRH and Tremont contacts listed below.

The head office of Alphamin is located c/o ADANSONIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LIMITED, Perrieri Office Suites, C2-302, Level 3, Office Block C, La Croisette, Grand Baie, 30517, Mauritius.

About International Resources Holding (IRH)

International Resources Holding (IRH) is an Abu Dhabi-based global mining company, focused on securing and optimizing industrial metals supply chains. IRH invests in high-quality upstream and midstream assets to enhance the stability and efficiency of global raw material markets.

For more information, visit www.irh.ae

IRH's head office is located at:

International Resources Holding RSC Ltd

Ground floor, Building C12

Al Halawi St, Al Muntazah,

Ministries Complex, Abu Dhabi

About Tremont Master Holdings (Tremont)

Tremont is an investment holding company incorporated under the laws of Mauritius.

Tremont's head office is located at:

Tremont Master Holdings

C/o Adansonia Management Services Limited

Suite 1, Perrieri Office Suites, Office Block C, La Croisette

30517

Grand Baie

Mauritius

SOURCE International Resources Holding and Tremont Master Holdings
Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) is continuing its operations at its northern Saskatchewan sites amidst wildfires that are impacting parts of the province.

Currently, there are no fires in the vicinity of Cameco's operations at Cigar Lake, Key Lake, McArthur River and Rabbit Lake. There is no risk to our sites, and they remain safe for staff. Orano's McClean Lake mill remains operational.

We are managing some temporary disruptions due to wildfires impacting power and communication services to our operations. Road closures have also impeded some deliveries to sites.

Most importantly, Cameco has many employees who are from northern communities threatened by wildfires or under evacuation orders. We are accommodating their requests to leave site to tend to family and provide aid to their home communities.

As our sites continue to operate, the safety of our staff is our top priority. We are taking measures to minimize the impact of the disruptions, including making operational adjustments as we manage the availability of employees. At this time, our annual production target remains unchanged.

Caution about forward-looking information

This news release includes statements and information about our expectations for the future, which we refer to as forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on our current views, which can change significantly, and actual results and events may be significantly different from what we currently expect. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include: the proximity of wildfires to Cameco's operations; risks of wildfires to our sites and the safety of our staff; temporary disruptions to power, communications systems and roads due to wildfires; accommodation of employee requests to leave site to tend to family and provide aid to their home communities; operational adjustments; and annual production targets. Material risks that could lead to different results include: spread of wildfires to the vicinity of our operations; increased disruptions to power, communication services and road access due to wildfires; increased employee requests to leave site due to wildfires; the risk that we may not be able to achieve planned production levels within the expected timeframes, or that the costs involved in doing so exceed our expectations; risks related to JV Inkai's development or production, including the risk that JV Inkai is unable to transport and deliver its production; and the risks to our business associated with potential production disruptions, including those related to wildfires, global supply chain disruptions, global economic uncertainty, political volatility, labour relations issues, and operating risks. In presenting the forward-looking information, we have made material assumptions which may prove incorrect about; the spread of wildfires; our production, purchases, sales, deliveries and costs; the market conditions and other factors upon which we have based our future plans and forecasts; Inkai production and, our allocation of planned production and timing of deliveries; the success of our plans and strategies, including planned production; the absence of new and adverse government regulations, policies or decisions; that there will not be any significant adverse consequences to our business resulting from production disruptions, including those relating to wildfires, supply disruptions, economic or political uncertainty and volatility, labour relation issues, aging infrastructure, and operating risks. Please also review the discussion in our 2024 annual MD&A and most recent annual information form for other material risks that could cause actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations, and other material assumptions we have made. Forward-looking information is designed to help you understand management's current views of our near-term and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. We will not necessarily update this information unless we are required to by securities laws.

Profile

Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to power a secure energy future. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world's largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations, as well as significant investments across the nuclear fuel cycle, including ownership interests in Westinghouse Electric Company and Global Laser Enrichment. Utilities around the world rely on Cameco to provide global nuclear fuel solutions for the generation of safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

As used in this news release, the terms we, us, our, the Company and Cameco mean Cameco Corp. and its subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250603762429/en/

Contact

Investor inquiries

Cory Kos

306-716-6782

cory_kos@cameco.com

Media inquiries

Veronica Baker

306-385-5541

veronica_baker@cameco.com
Bolt Metals Corp. ("Bolt" or the "Company") (TSXV: BOLT) (OTCQB: PCRCF) (FSE: A3D8AK), announces it has entered into a debt settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") to settle an outstanding debt owed to an arm's length creditor (the "Creditor") totaling CAD $33,500.00 (the "Debt Settlement"). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreements, the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 3,722,222 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") at a deemed price of CAD $0.009 per Share. The Shares issued pursuant to the Settlement Agreement will be subject to a four month and one day hold period, pursuant to National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions.

The board of directors of the Company determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to complete the Debt Settlement in order to preserve the Company's cash for working capital.

About Bolt Metals Corp.

Bolt Metals Corp. is a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality precious and base metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Based in Vancouver, BC, Bolt's portfolio of strategic properties provides target-rich diversification and also include Soap Gulch, a copper SEDEX project in Montana, and Switchback, a copper-silver project located in British Columbia. Bolt trades on the CSE Exchange under the symbol BOLT, the OTCQB Exchange under the symbol PCRFC and in Germany under the WKN A3D8AK.

Bolt Metals Corp.

Branden Haynes - Director and CEO

604-922-8272

info@boltmetals.com

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward?looking information". The words "may", "potential", "should", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward?looking statements. Such statements include but is not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Debt Settlement, the issuance of Shares in connection with the Settlement Agreement, and the Company's intention to preserve cash for working capital purposes. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions that management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including, but not limited to, the timely receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks include, without limitation: the risk that the Debt Settlement may not be completed as contemplated or at all; regulatory or other approvals not being obtained in a timely manner, if at all; and general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved or disapproved this news release.


VANCOUVER, June 04, 2025 - Cornish Metals Inc. (AIM/TSX-V: CUSN) ("Cornish Metals" or the "Company"), a mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its 100% owned and permitted South Crofty tin project in Cornwall, United Kingdom, is pleased to provide a project update. The Company has placed long lead item orders for two winders and has engaged Technical Management Group Ltd ("TMG") to provide project management consulting services for the development of South Crofty.

Winder Orders

Orders have been placed with Qualter Hall & Company Limited ("Qualter Hall") for the design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of the production and service winders to be used at South Crofty's New Cook's Kitchen ("NCK") shaft. The two winders are long-lead items and constitute an important use of proceeds from the recently completed fundraise.

Qualter Hall is a UK-based company with a history spanning over 160 years, specialising in engineering solutions, particularly in the fields of bridges, water and flood control, mining, and shipbuilding. They provide comprehensive engineering services, including design, manufacture and installation and have a longstanding relationship with South Crofty.

The 3.2 metre ("m") single drum 1,200 kilowatt ("kW") service winder has a maximum hoisting capacity of 12,500kg gross at a speed of up to 7.3 metres per second ("m/s") and will be used for production personnel and equipment. This winder will replace the existing 2.3m single drum 132 kW winder currently in-place and used for pre-production access and shaft refurbishment activities that will be relocated to the Roskear shaft.

The 3.2m single clutch, double drum 1,200kW production winder will be used to hoist rock from depth to near-surface. With a maximum hoisting capacity of 11,500kg gross at a speed of up to 7.9 m/s, it is designed to handle the hoisting demands required for the proposed production rates as detailed in the South Crofty Preliminary Economic Assessment.

TMG Appointment

TMG has been engaged to provide project management consulting services to Cornish Metals to further the development of South Crofty by supplementing the Company's owner's team resources through the construction phase and ramp-up to full production with experienced project management, project controls, procurement and engineering professionals. TMG is the best suited partner for the Company and will integrate with the existing Cornish Metals team.

TMG specialises in project management for the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, serving clients around the world and providing comprehensive services for projects across their various lifecycles. TMG unites consultants, suppliers, contractors, and executive teams, ensuring the right expertise is applied at the right time to drive project success, while helping to optimise resources and mitigate risks.

Don Turvey, CEO and Director of Cornish Metals, stated: "Placing the orders with Qualter Hall for the winders to be used at South Crofty's NCK shaft is a vital step to maintaining the momentum on-site, actioning one of the project's critical path projects which will allow for the planned commencement of pre-production underground development in H2 2026. The engagement of TMG provides an immediate bolstering of our project development owner's team through the addition of experienced professionals who will work alongside the existing Cornish Metals team, ensuring that we are project ready and setup for project success to bring South Crofty back to production."

Gifford Brown, Managing Director of Qualter Hall, stated: "Qualter Hall has been supporting activities at South Crofty for over 50 years. We are therefore immensely proud to maintain this relationship with Cornish Metals by taking a key role in this important project. The full turnkey scope of work incorporates complete in-house capability, from initial design and manufacturing right through to final installation and commissioning, all delivered by our dedicated team here in Barnsley. This collaboration underscores Qualter Hall's continued expertise and leadership in the design and delivery of critical mining and hoisting infrastructure and we look forward to working with the South Crofty team again."

Kenny MacEwen, President of TMG, stated: "South Crofty represents more than just a return to production-it's a statement of what's possible when the right team is assembled with clarity of purpose. TMG is here to bring structure, discipline, and momentum to the project alongside Cornish Metals. Our mandate is clear: support a successful build and help position South Crofty as a modern mining operation ready to thrive."

ABOUT CORNISH METALS

Cornish Metals is a dual-listed mineral exploration and development company (AIM and TSX-V: CUSN) that is advancing the South Crofty tin project towards production. South Crofty:

is a historical, high-grade, underground tin mine located in Cornwall, United Kingdom and benefits from existing mine infrastructure including multiple shafts that can be used for future operations;

is permitted to commence underground mining (valid to 2071), construct a new processing facility and for all necessary site infrastructure;

has a 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment that validates the Project's potential (see news release dated April 30, 2024 and the Technical Report entitled "South Crofty PEA");

would be the only primary producer of tin in Europe or North America. Tin is a Critical Mineral as defined by the UK, American, and Canadian governments as it is used in almost all electronic devices and electrical infrastructure. Approximately two-thirds of the tin mined today comes from China, Myanmar and Indonesia;

benefits from strong local community, regional and national government support with a growing team of skilled people, local to Cornwall, and could generate up to 320 direct jobs.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Don Turvey"

Don Turvey

CEO and Director

Engage with us directly at our investor hub. Sign up at: https://investors.cornishmetals.com/link/XyOLde.

For additional information please contact:

Cornish Metals



Fawzi Hanano

Irene Dorsman investors@cornishmetals.com

info@cornishmetals.com Tel: +1 (604) 200 6664



SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

(Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) Richard Morrison

Charlie Bouverat

Grant Barker Tel: +44 203 470 0470



Hannam & Partners

(Joint Broker) Matthew Hasson

Andrew Chubb

Jay Ashfield cornish@hannam.partners

Tel: +44 207 907 8500



BlytheRay

(Financial PR) Tim Blythe

Megan Ray cornishmetals@blytheray.com

Tel: +44 207 138 3204

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution regarding forward looking statements

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, outlook, guidance, estimates and forecasts and other statements regarding future plans, the realisation, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource or mineral reserve estimates, estimation of commodity prices, currency exchange rate fluctuations, estimated future exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, requirements for additional capital and the Company's ability to obtain financing when required and on terms acceptable to the Company, future or estimated mine life and other activities or achievements of Cornish Metals. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals, risks related to general economic and market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programmes; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in Mineral Resources or grade; projected dates to commence mining operations; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Cornish's forward-looking statements.

Cornish Metals' forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward- looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Cornish Metals does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information pursuant to Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended.
June 4 - Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (AVU:TSXV) reports that the change in control of its subsidiary in Kosovo, AVU Kosova ("AVUK"), previously described in the Company news release of April 3, 2025 (NR-03 -- Progress at Slivova), has been officially registered with the Kosovo Business Registration Agency and the Kosovo Mining Bureau ("ICMM"). AVUK is now held 49% by Avrupa Minerals and 51% by JV partner Western Tethyan Resources ("WTR"), a UK-registered entity physically based in Kosovo. AIM-listed Ariana Resources holds 76% of WTR.

While the ownership change in AVUK was registered properly, in accordance with Mining Law regulations, and in a timely manner at ICMM, unforeseen delays in the approval of this formal registration resulted in the lapse of the Slivova exploration license at the end of business on May 16, 2025. To cover the expiration of the license, ICMM legal department informally indicated that AVUK should re-apply for the exact same Slivova area at the start of business on May 19, 2025. On behalf of AVUK, WTR legal representation agreed to the informal recommendation, and the application for the new Slivova license was successfully completed and registered in the ICMM system. Application for exploration areas is registered at ICMM on a "first come-first served" basis, thus continuity of tenure was secured for the Slivova Project. Full processing of the application is expected in the coming 3-5 months, according to the Mining Law regulations.

In the meantime, according to principals of Ariana and Western Tethyan Resources, WTR will continue to plan for "the next stage of technical work on the Slivova Project to advance it to the feasibility stage". Further information about WTR and Ariana Resources and the Slivova license tenure may be found in their news releases, issued simultaneously with AVU's news release.

Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, commented:

"We are pleased with the seemingly positive outcome of the Slivova change of ownership proceedings, and look forward to a speedy re-start of the Project. Security of land tenure is important for our programs in Europe and is a basic tenet of mineral exploration."

Dr. Kerim ?ener, Managing Director of Arian Resources, said:

"We look forward to the approval of the change of control and the corresponding re-application for the Slivova license being processed by the ICMM in due course. In the meantime, WTR is planning for the next stage of technical work on the Slivova Project to advance it to the feasibility stage."

Mentor Demi, CEO of Western Tethyan Resources, added:

"The Slivova project is an exciting near-term opportunity for WTR. While we await final ICMM confirmation of our position, this application safeguards our interest and enables us to remain on track for exploration and potential development."

Western Tethyan Resources (WTR) is a UK-registered, mineral exploration and development company focused on South East Europe. The company has a strategic alliance with Newmont Corp. and Ariana Resources and is currently focused on exploration for major copper-gold deposits in the Lecce Magmatic Complex and Vardar Belt. The company is assessing several other exploration project opportunities across Eastern Europe, targeting copper-gold deposits across the porphyry-epithermal transition.

Ariana Resources is an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with an exceptional track-record of creating value for its shareholders through its interests in active mining projects and investments in exploration companies. Its current interests include gold production in Turkey and copper-gold exploration and development projects in Cyprus and Kosovo.

Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybrid prospect generator business model. Avrupa holds one 100%-owned license in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, and holds 49% of the JV company, AVU Kosova, that operates the Slivova Gold Project in Kosovo. The Company is actively advancing six prospects in central Finland through its partnership with Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its project generation work in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, presently including Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues to seek and develop other opportunities around Europe.

For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board,

"Paul W. Kuhn"

Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director

This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver - Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: JUGR) (OTCQB: JUGRF) (FSE: 4JE) (the "Company" or "Juggernaut"), is pleased to announce a fully subscribed $1,100,000 hard dollar financing further confirming the quality of the newly discovered 11 km Highway of Gold surrounding the Eldorado porphyry system on the Big One property. The discovery is in an area of glacial and snowpack abatement next door to the gold-rich porphyry systems at Newmont Mining's Galore Creek. The Big One Property is a discovery previously announced Jan 20th (Click Link) with assays up to 79.01 g/t gold (2.54 oz/t gold) and 3157.89 g/t silver (101.5 oz/t silver) from over 200 gold-silver-copper rich polymetallic veins up to 8 m wide and striking for up to 500 m that all remain open at surface. The Big One Project covers 33,693 hectares in a globally ranked tier 1 jurisdiction with tremendous additional discovery potential in the heart of the Golden Triangle, British Columbia.

View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here.

Juggernaut is raising up to 1,718,750 hard dollar units priced at $0.64 each for gross proceeds of up to $1,100,000. Each hard dollar unit will consist of one common share plus one warrant at $0.84 for a sixty-month period, with a forced accelerated conversion after 10 consecutive trading days at or above $1.84, callable at management's discretion. The fully subscribed placement is scheduled to close on June 13th, 2025. The proceeds will be used for general working capital.

Mr. Dan Stuart, Director, President, and CEO of Juggernaut, states:

This investment, coupled with the ongoing support and interest from other globally recognized Institutions and senior miners, is a strong endorsement that clearly demonstrates the significant near-term discovery potential of our 100% controlled properties. Post financing, Juggernaut will have an extremely tight capital structure of just 29,422,689 shares, no debt, and a strong cash position of ~ $11,000,000. As such, we are well-positioned to move forward with our plans of drilling The Big One Discovery. With much anticipation, we look forward to executing the inaugural exploration program and reporting results."

The Company may pay finder's fees of the gross proceeds from the financing in cash, and compensation options on units being sold. This non-brokered private placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. All shares issued pursuant to this offering and any shares issued pursuant to the exercise of warrants will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date.

About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is an explorer and generator of precious metals projects in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. Its projects are in world-class geological settings and geopolitical safe jurisdictions amenable to Tier 1 mining in Canada. Juggernaut is a member and active supporter of CASERM, an organization representing a collaborative venture between the Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. Juggernaut's key strategic cornerstone shareholder is Crescat Capital.

For more information, please contact

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Dan Stuart

President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer

604-559-8028

info@juggernautexploration.com

www.juggernautexploration.com

Qualified Person

Rein Turna P. Geo is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Juggernaut Exploration projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release.

Grab samples are selected samples and may not represent true underlying mineralization.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain disclosures in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernaut's operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Show 240.73 meters of Critical Metal Mineralization, Iron, Titanium, Vanadium, Scandium and Gallium

VANCOUVER, June 4, 2025 - Troy Minerals Inc. ("Troy" or the "Company") (CSE:TROY)(OTCQB:TROYF)(FSE:VJ3) is pleased to announce that complete results from Hole LO24-01 show strong critical metal mineralization over continuous 240.73 meters (from 10.67 meters to 251.40 meters) from its maiden drilling program on its 100% owned Lake Owen Project (the "Project"), located 50 km southwest of Laramie, Wyoming, USA (see Figures 1,2).

The Project is a Proterozoic layered mafic intrusion complex historically explored for Platinum Group Elements (PGE). Similar to the Stillwater Complex in the USA and the Merensky Reef of South Africa, the Lake Owen Complex shows strong potential for vanadium, titanium, PGE, and associated metals.

In late 2024, the Company drilled two diamond holes totaling 607.77 meters near the southwestern claims' boundary (see Figure 3), marking Troy Minerals' first drill holes on the Project. These holes targeted titanium (TiO 2 ) and vanadium (V 2 O 5 ) mineralization linked with magnetite in gabbro, as well as reef-style PGE mineralization (see Company News Release dated February 28, 2025).

A first pass of selective sampling of the drill holes had been carried out and demonstrated presence of anomalous titanium and vanadium mineralization. Elevated values of vanadium are correlative with the titanium. Sampling was selected to assess various lithological units and all zones with magnetite content up to 15-20% and/or visible sulfide mineralization. Magnetite content in the gabbro in hole LO24-01 is consistently about 5-10%. In LO24-01, the initially limited sampling suggested a large zone of titanium and vanadium-enrichment and higher relative values correlate well with the green gabbro. Associated with these anomalous zones have been elevated concentrations of scandium.

Based on these initial results, additional infill sampling through all prospective lithologies was carried out by Company personnel in January, 2025. Results exhibit robust critical metal mineralization over 240.73 meters in hole LO24-01, including:

1.53% TiO 2

0.10% V 2 O 3

16.0% Fe (total Iron, mainly in Fe Oxides)

69.7 ppm (or g/t) Sc 2 O 3

26.2 ppm (or g/t) Ga 2 O 3

Concurrent with Company infill sampling, geologists from the USGS and Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) collected samples for Whole Rock, Major Oxides, and thin section analyses. Results of the USGS and WSGS work are pending.

Figure 1 - Location Map, Lake Owen Project, Wyoming, USA

Figure 2 - Claim Map, Lake Owen Project

"Our recent geological and geophysical findings, coupled with promising initial drilling results, are significantly enhancing our confidence in the Lake Owen Project. Each new insight reinforces our belief that this project deserves a robust exploration budget in the near future." Said Yannis Tsitos, President of Troy. "Beyond the historically recognized high grades of iron, titanium, and vanadium, the recent discovery of scandium and gallium-critical metals essential for applications in metal alloys, military and civil aviation, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and solar panels-underscores the project's immense potential for both our Company and the State of Wyoming in USA. We are committed to maximizing shareholder value through strategic development plans for Lake Owen, alongside our silica and rare earth element (REE) initiatives."

Figure 3 - Drill Hole Locations

Table 1: Drill hole specifications

Hole ID Location (UTM Zone 13 North, NAD83) Total Depth (m) Orientation () Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip LO24-01 402871 4553588 2731 281.33 210 -45 LO24-02 403004 4553382 2732 326.44 210 -45

Drill hole LO24-01 was designed to test the extent of the Lower Mag Gabbro down to the basement contact. Drilling revealed a series of interlayered magnetic gabbro and a distinctive coarse-grained green gabbro. The green coloration is imparted by pyroxenes altering to chlorite. These layers are generally constrained to widths of less than 4 metres.

Table 2: Drill hole LO24-01 intersections

Hole ID Interval (m) 1 Results 2 From To Length TiO 2 (%) V 2 O 5 (%) FeO (%) Sc 2 O 3 (ppm) Ga 2 O 3 (ppm) LO24-01 10.67 251.40 240.73 1.53 0.10 15.95 69.7 26.2 incl 29.93 55.78 25.85 1.98 0.12 19.00 82.7 28.8 and 96.93 103.02 6.09 1.87 0.12 19.07 80.1 27.5 and 115.61 131.98 16.37 1.74 0.11 18.44 82.4 24.5 and 188.06 234.09 46.03 1.63 0.10 16.26 69.9 26.6

1: All intersections lengths are drill indicated thicknesses; insufficient work has been completed to reliably determine true thicknesses.

2: Elemental geochemical analyses were converted to oxides using following conversion factors

Titanium - 1.6681, Vanadium - 1.7852, Iron - 1.2865, Scandium - 1.5338, Gallium - 1.3442

Figure 4 - DDH Cross Section, LO24-01

Drill hole LO24-02 intersected gabbroic units that are weakly magnetic and contain no anomalous values of titanium, vanadium, or scandium. This drill hole was collared deeper in the sequence than hole LO24-01; further down dip and stratigraphically lower in the Lower Mag Unit.

Drill core was detail logged and sampled by Company staff. Core was split by saw with samples sent to ALS Global's laboratory in Reno, NV for preparation and analysis. Samples were analyzed for multi-elements (ME-MS61). The Company's quality control monitoring consisted of inserting certified reference and blank material in the sample stream. No quality control issues were identified.

Only a very small portion of the Lake Owen Complex and therefore our Claims has been drill-tested to date. As currently mapped, the prospective Lower Mag Gabbro unit continues along strike to the west. The Company has yet to drill test the stratigraphically higher Upper Mag Gabbro. Surface mapping and sampling in 2023 identified two massive magnetite rock samples that returned 8.812% TiO 2 and 0.548% V 2 O 5, and 15.505% TiO 2 and 0.586% V 2 O 5 respectively (Figure 5). These represent priority drill targets for 2025. An historical drill hole was completed here not by Troy, but there was no assessment of titanium, vanadium, or scandium.

Figure 5 - Surface Rock Sampling - Titanium Values (part of the Project)

Troy Minerals is planning its summer fieldwork for the Lake Owen Project. After analyzing airborne geophysical data, as reported in the May 21, 2025 news release, Troy will collect soil samples and conduct geological mapping and sampling. The aim is to refine drill targets for the 2026 season, including a relevant drilling pads application.

Qualified Person

The information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ted Vander Wart, P.Geo., a consultant to the Company, who is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Troy Minerals

Troy Minerals is a Canadian based publicly listed mining company focused on building shareholder value through acquisition, exploration, and development of strategically located "critical" mineral assets. Troy is aggressively advancing its projects within the silica (silicon), vanadium, and rare earths industries within regions that exhibit high and growing demand for such commodities, in both North America and Central-East Asia. The Company's primary objective is the near-term prospect of production with a vision of becoming a cash-flowing mining company to deliver tangible monetary value to shareholders, state, and local communities.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Rana Vig | CEO & Director

Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: rana@ranavig.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Troy Resources Inc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of commodity prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Troy Minerals Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
HIGHLIGHTS

The 2025 Angilak Exploration Program will comprise ~10,000 m of diamond drilling with two objectives:

Lac 50 Deposit - expansion of the footprint of uranium mineralization. Stepping out along strike and at depth from the 2024 Exploration Target (as defined below), which remains open and unconstrained. Regional Exploration - focusing along the 31 km long Rib-Nine Iron Trend, which transects the Angikuni Basin extending under cover. Two high-priority target areas are anticipated to be Rib and KU Discoveries.

The Company will build upon the success of its 2024 maiden exploration campaign, which culminated in the release of an Exploration Target for Lac 50 Deposit, comprised of the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 Trends (the "Exploration Target").

In May 2025, ATHA completed a ground gravity and electromagnetic (EM) survey, designed to vector in on priority targets along the highly prospective 31 km Rib-Nine Iron Trend, under cover of the Angikuni Basin - a direct analog to the Athabasca Basin. Two high-priority target areas were tested, representing ~5% of the currently identified trend: KU Discovery - located within the basin along the northern margin, historical trench sampling has returned grades up to 30.7% U 3 O 8 4,5,6 - KU remains untested with diamond drilling. The survey identified a large gravity anomaly, measuring 2 km long by 500 m wide, coincident with a conductive corridor and numerous cross-cutting structures, where historic sampling has encountered high-grade uranium mineralization at surface. Rib Discovery - located along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin where historic drilling by prior operators intersected shallow mineralization (<25m depth) with grades up to 5.6% U 3 O 8 1,2,3 Two distinct areas were surveyed: Rib East, where a large gravity anomaly - measuring 2 km long by 500 m wide and coincident with a northeast-to-southwest conductive trend - was identified; and Rib West, which is highlighted by two large gravity anomalies. The first measures 900 m long by 250 m wide and is coincident with a highly conductive corridor that hosts the historic Rib Discovery. The second is 1.1 km long by 300 m wide, extending from the margin under the cover of the Angikuni Basin, and has yet to be drill tested.

At both Rib and KU Discoveries the density lows, corresponding to gravity anomalies, along with the intensity of the conductive response and volumes are consistent with alteration characteristics associated with high-grade basement and unconformity style uranium mineralization, similar to the Athabasca Basin. The Rib and KU Discoveries are both high-priority targets that have been de-risked with modern geophysics, surficial geochemistry, and are associated with historic discoveries of high-grade uranium mineralization.

BACKGROUND

During the 2024 Angilak Exploration Program, the Company completed 25 diamond drill holes totalling ~10,051 m, with a 100% hit rate for intersection of uranium mineralization. Assay results were consistent with the grade profile of the Exploration Target and are highlighted by grades of up to 5.85% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m (See News Release).

Beyond Lac 50, at Mushroom Lake, an extensive bedrock outcrop with radioactivity up to >60,000 counts per second (cps) (>10,000 cps is indicative of high-grade uranium mineralization), which corresponds to historic outcrop samples that returned grades up to 47.8% U 3 O 8 5, was identified over a 3-kilometre strike length.

The new discovery is located between the Mushroom Lake zone on the Lac 52 trend and the Hot zone on the Lac 54 trend and has not been drill tested, nor was it included in the 2024 Exploration Target.

SRK Consulting completed a regional scale Structural Interpretation and Targeting Assessment that identifies the major primary and secondary structural controls (conduits, traps, and the overall plumbing system for uranium mineralization) hosting the high-grade mineralized discoveries across the Angilak Project including the Lac 50 Deposit.

Troy Boisjoli, CEO commented: "Our 2025 drill program represents the next major step in advancing the Angilak Project into, in our view, one of the most exciting uranium projects globally. Building on the success of last year's campaign where we hit mineralization in 100% of our drill holes, we're now positioned to test some of the most exciting targets identified to date - both along strike of the Lac 50 Deposit and across the underexplored, high-potential Rib-Nine Iron Trend. With modern geophysics, historic high-grade surface showings, and a proven ability to intersect uranium mineralization, we believe this program has the potential to unlock the broader Angikuni Basin as Canada's next premier uranium jurisdiction."

Cliff Revering, VP Exploration added: "We are very excited to begin our 2025 drilling campaign, building on the success of our 2024 exploration program. Our strategy for 2025 is to continue to expand the mineralization footprint of the Lac 50 deposit, as well as to test very prospective high-priority targets along the Rib-Nine Iron structural corridor, which transects the Angikuni Basin. The stacked structural, geochemical, and geophysical signatures recently defined in the Rib and KU target areas (located within the Rib-Nine Iron corridor), suggest significant potential for discovery of high-grade unconformity-style uranium mineralization within the Angikuni Basin."

VANCOUVER, June 4, 2025 - ATHA Energy Corp. (TSXV:SASK)(FRA:X5U)(OTCQB:SASKF) ("ATHA" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2025 Angilak diamond drill exploration program of 10,000 m at its 100%-owned Angilak Uranium Project in Nunavut. The 2025 program has two primary objectives: first, building upon the success of the Company's 2024 maiden drill campaign, exploring the footprint of mineralization at the Lac 50 Deposit. Second, testing high-priority, derisked regional targets, located within the 31 km long Rib-Nine Iron Trend (the "Rib-Nine Iron Trend"). Specifically, the KU and Rib Discoveries, where a ground gravity and EM survey was completed in May 2025 and identified large linear gravity lows, coincident with EM conductors, interpreted structures and host historic high-grade uranium mineralization.

Figure 1: Angilak Project Area - 2025 Exploration Target Area (Black Rectangles) & Mapped Historic

*Notes:

IPrevious operators of the Angilak Project completed 24 diamond drill holes in the Dipole Showing and intersected grades of up to 5.53% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m3

IIAlong the western margin, historic drilling at the Rib Discovery intersected shallow (<25 m depth) mineralization with grades of up to 5.6% U 3 O 8 1, hosted within graphitic pelitic rocks with Athabasca style alteration

III Mushroom Lake surface outcrop spans an area of 3 km on surface with historical outcrops samples grading up to 47.8% U 3 O 8 4 & 6

IV Nine-Iron showing with 5 historical diamond drill holes. Intersections of shallow uranium mineralization, grades up to 1.25% U 3 O 8 and historical outcrops with grades up to 30.3% U 3 O 8 3

Disclaimer for Historical Drilling and Outcrop Samples

Certain noted technical information provided herein has been derived exclusively and without independent verification from the following reports. Such information is historical in nature and is not considered by the Company to be current. In each case, the reliability of the historical information is considered reasonable by the Company. The historical information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the properties but may not be representative of expected results. Readers should read the entirety of such noted reports to fully understand the nature of the information referenced herein. Samples, including, without limitation, outcrop samples, by their nature, are selective in nature and significant variations may be seen from sample to sample. Accordingly, sample information may not be representative of the true underlying mineralization.

References for Historic Diamond Drilling Results

1. Papish, N.Z. 1978. 1978 Diamond Drill Report, Keewatin District N.W.T. Yathkyed Lake Area. Noranda Exploration company Assessment Report. March 6, 1979. A copy of such report is available on the website of the Government of Nunavut at https://nunavutgeoscience.ca/en/.

2. Dufresne, M.B., Sim, R. and Davis B., (2013). Technical report And Resource Update for the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of Kivalliq Energy Corporation, March 1st, 2013. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of Kivalliq Energy Corporation at www.sedarplus.com.

3. Dufresne, M.B. and Schoeman, P. (2023). Technical report on the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of ATHA Energy Corp. and Labrador Uranium Inc., January 31st, 2024. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of the Company at www.sedarplus.com.

References for Historic Surficial Sampling

4. Ward, j., Maynes, A., McNie, E., Forbes, A. and Stacey, J. 2012. Report on 2010 and 2011 Exploration Activity on Kivalliq Corporation's Angilak IOCG-Uranium Property, Keewatin District, Nunavut. Kivalliq Energy Corporation Assessment Report. A copy of such report is available on the website of the Government of Nunavut at https://nunavutgeoscience.ca/en/.

5. Dufresne, M.B., Sim, R. and Davis B., (2013). Technical report And Resource Update for the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of Kivalliq Energy Corporation, March 1st, 2013. Copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of Kivalliq Energy Corporation at www.sedarplus.com

6. Dufresne, M.B. and Schoeman, P. (2023). Technical report on the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of ATHA Energy Corp. and Labrador Uranium Inc., January 31, 2024. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of the Company at www.sedarplus.com.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Cliff Revering, P.Eng., Vice President, Exploration of ATHA, who is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Corporate Update

On June 2, 2025, ATHA Energy Corp. granted of an aggregate of 9,448,750 incentive stock options ("Options") and 1,175,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain eligible participants, including certain directors of the Company, under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). One-third of the Options shall vested on the date of issuance thereof, one-third of the Options shall vest on the six-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof, and the remaining one-third of the Options shall vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof. Upon vesting, each Option shall be exercisable to acquire one common share for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.47. Each RSU, which shall vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof, shall entitle the holder thereof to the issuance of one common share of the Company upon redemption thereof.

ATHA's last issuance of Options or RSUs, granted under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, was on December 6th, 2023. As part of the Latitude Uranium acquisition, completed in March of 2024, each Latitude's stock options were converted to ATHA Energy stock options. Specifically, each Latitude stock option was exchanged for an ATHA stock option on a one-for-one basis, utilizing an exchange ratio of 0.2769 ATHA shares for each Latitude share, as outlined in the acquisition arrangement.

Pursuant to the Plan, the aggregate number of common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") issuable under the Plan in respect of all awards granted by the Company may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time of any grant hereunder, being 29,813,656 Common Shares at the date of the aforementioned grants.

A copy of the Plan is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About ATHA

ATHA is a Canadian mineral company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium assets in the pursuit of a clean energy future. With a strategically balanced portfolio including three 100%-owned post discovery uranium projects (the Angilak Project located in Nunavut, and CMB Discoveries in Labrador, and the newly discovered basement hosted GMZ high-grade uranium discovery located in the Athabasca Basin). In addition, the Company holds the largest cumulative prospective exploration land package (>7 million acres) in two of the world's most prominent basins for uranium discoveries - ATHA is well positioned to drive value. ATHA also holds a 10% carried interest in key Athabasca Basin exploration projects operated by NexGen Energy Ltd. and IsoEnergy Ltd. For more information visit www.athaenergy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Troy Boisjoli, CEO, ATHA Energy Corp

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Troy Boisjoli

Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@athaenergy.com

www.athaenergy.com

1-236-521-0526

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". These forward-looking statements or information may relate to ATHA's proposed exploration program, including statements with respect to the expected benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from ATHA's proposed exploration program, the timing, scope, nature, breadth and other information related to ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from the diversification of ATHA's portfolio, the prospects of ATHA's projects, including mineral resources estimates and mineralization of each project, the prospects of ATHA's business plans and any expectations with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on any of ATHA's projects, and any expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions that the anticipated benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program will be realized, that no additional permit or licenses will be required in connection with ATHA's exploration programs, the ability of ATHA to complete its exploration activities as currently expected and on the current anticipated timelines, including ATHA's proposed exploration program, that ATHA will be able to execute on its current plans, that ATHA's proposed explorations will yield results as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although ATHA has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Such statements represent the current view of ATHA with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by ATHA, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: inability of ATHA to realize the benefits anticipated from the exploration and drilling targets described herein or elsewhere; in ability of ATHA to complete current exploration plans as presently anticipated or at all; inability for ATHA to economically realize on the benefits, if any, derived from the exploration program; failure to complete business plans as it currently anticipated; overdiversification of ATHA's portfolio; failure to realize on benefits, if any, of a diversified portfolio; unanticipated changes in market price for ATHA shares; changes to ATHA's current and future business and exploration plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of the business of ATHA; and the ability to advance the Company projects and its proposed exploration program; risks inherent in mineral exploration including risks related worker safety, weather and other natural occurrences, accidents, availability of personnel and equipment, and other factors; aboriginal title; failure to obtain regulatory and permitting approvals; no known mineral resources/reserves; reliance on key management and other personnel; competition; changes in laws and regulations; uninsurable risks; delays in governmental and other approvals, community relations; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions where ATHA conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the filings of ATHA with the Canadian securities regulators which are available on ATHA's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. ATHA does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: ATHA Energy Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
CALGARY, June 4, 2025 - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE:FNI)(FSE:6Q5)(OTCQB:FNICF) (the " Company " or " Fathom ") is pleased to announce that it has engaged and is in discussions with Geotech Ltd. to plan a VTEM Plus (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) airborne geophysical survey over the southwest corner of the Albert Lake Property (the "South Albert Lake Property Area") in north-central Saskatchewan (Figures 1 & 2).

About South Albert Lake Property Area:

South Albert Lake refers to the southern most portion of Fathom's 100% owned, 90,460-hectare Albert Lake Property.

South Albert Lake is immediately adjacent to, and along strike of Ramp Metals Inc.'s ("Ramp") Rottenstone SW property. Ramp's "Ranger-01" gold discovery: 73.55 g/t Au / 7.5m is located approximately 7.0km from the South Albert Lake boundary (Ramp news release June 17, 2024). Ramp's "Rush" copper-zinc mineralization is located approximately 2.5km from the South Albert Lake boundary (Ramp News Release April 29, 2025).

Fathom's summer-2024 prospecting at South Albert Lake uncovered a gold zone (insert map Figure 2) with grab samples returning up to 2.68 g/t Au, approximately 15.0km along strike of the "Ranger-01" discovery (Fathom News Release September 25, 2024).

About VTEM Plus:

The VTEM Plus is a heli-borne system that provides high-resolution, superior depth penetration, industry-leading high signal to noise ratio, and exceptional conductor discrimination particularly in areas of complex geology where traditional airborne EM systems may fall short.

The VTEM Plus system has successfully identified numerous Magmatic Nickel Sulphide deposits as well as numerous Orogenic Shear-Hosted Lode Gold deposits in Canada and internationally.

The VTEM Plus system will enable Fathom to precisely map subsurface conductors potentially associated with sulphide mineralization and assist in refining the ongoing structural interpretation and developing gold model occurring within the South Albert Lake area.

The area highlighted in Figures 1 & 2 will consist of between 1,100 - 1,600 total flight line-kilometers.

Ian Fraser, Fathom CEO and VP Exploration stated, "Ramp's exploration activity has re-energized exploration interest in the broader Rottenstone Domain. By leveraging the VTEM Plus advanced capabilities, we aim to identify and prioritize new conductor trends at South Albert Lake and enhance our interpretation of the gold mineralization occurring at South Albert Lake. We look forward to working with the new VTEM Plus data set over the South Albert Lake property area".

Fathom's Strategic Advantage:

Fathom is the largest landholder in the region and ideally positioned to benefit from the emerging exploration interest in the Rottenstone Domain.

A heli-borne Gradient MAG survey covering the entire Albert Lake property disposition, inclusive of South Albert Lake, was flown by Fathom in 2021.

The Total Magnetic Intensity ("TMI") portrayed in Figure 2 and derived from the 2021 Gradient MAG survey, highlights an area of complex northeast trending geology. North-south and northwest-southeast trending, and offsetting structures. Multiple well defined fold structures and multiple apparent fold noses and fold hinges. Multiple areas of contrasting magnetic gradient.

The proposed VTEM Plus survey (Figure 2) will cover this area of complex geology.

Fathom has had success with the VTEM system. Re-interpretation of the historic 2008 VTEM survey covering the Rottenstone Mine area (Figure 1) was integral in the discovery of the Rottenstone-like, 300+ meter Bay-Island Trend, 500m W-NW of the historic Rottenstone Mine, which was drilled in 2021/2022. Fathom drilling highlights include: AL22052 [1.09% Ni, 0.42% Cu, 0.07% Co, 0.75 g/t 3E (Pd+Pt+Au) / 3.54m within 8.14m of 0.87% Ni, 0.41% Cu, 0.05% Co, 0.85 g/t 3E]. Numerous untested 2008 VTEM conductors prospective for magmatic nickel, VMS-style and gold mineralization continues to be interpreted/evaluated by Fathom.

To this day, the Rottenstone Mine production of 28,724 tons; 3.3% Ni, 1.8% Cu and very high-grade 9.3 g/t (3E) 1 remains among the highest magmatic nickel sulphide production grades recorded in Canadian mining history. Fathom drillhole AL21024 collared south of the historic Rottenstone open pit intersected: 1.71% Ni, 1.21% Cu, 0.05% Co, 20.04 g/t 3E / 0.96m within 4.00m at 1.46% Ni, 1.39% Cu, 0.05% Co, and 6.91 g/t 3E.

Fathom is the first exploration company to successfully demonstrate that the historic Rottenstone deposit is not an isolated occurrence but the "tip of the iceberg" of a dynamic, large and wide-open magmatic nickel sulphide system capable of hosting "world class" grades - historic Rottenstone-type Ni-Cu+3E grades.

About Fathom Nickel Inc.

Fathom is an exploration company that is targeting magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries to support the energy transition and to secure the supply of North American critical minerals.

The Company now has a portfolio of three high-quality exploration projects located in the prolific Trans Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan: 1) the Albert Lake Project, a 90,000+ hectare project that was host to the historic and past producing Rottenstone Mine [1] (produced 28,724 tons @3.3% Ni, 1.8% Cu, 9.63 g/t 3E (Pd-Pt+Au) 1965-1969), and 2) the 23,000+ hectare Gochager Lake Project that is host to a historic NI 43-101 non-compliant open pit resource consisting of 4.3M tons at 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu [2] , and 3) the 10,000+ hectare Friesen Lake Project located 40km southwest of the historic Rottenstone Mine and 30km northwest of the historic Gochager Lake deposit.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ian Fraser"

CEO, VP Exploration, Director

For further information, please contact:

Ian Fraser, CEO, and VP Exploration -403-650-9760

ifraser@fathomnickel.com

or

Doug Porter, President and CFO

1-403-870-4349

dporter@fathomnickel.com

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding payment of terms under the Option Agreement, permitting for the Property, receipt of an exploration permit, timing of the exploration program on the Property and the Company achieving the earn-in thresholds under the Option Agreement. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

[1] The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI #0958) reports the production grades noted above from a small open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the production numbers nor a historic resource estimate that may have been in place ahead of production. The historic pit exists, and the Company trusts the production, as noted in SMDI #0958, to be accurate. The Company has performed test assaying of Rottenstone-type mineralization and results are consistent with production grades.

[2] The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI #0880) reports drill indicated reserves at the historic Gochager Lake Deposit of 4,262,400 tons grading 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu mineable by open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the resource estimate, nor the parameters and methods used to prepare the reserve estimate. The estimate is not considered NI43-101 compliant and further work is required to verify this historical drill indicated reserve.

SOURCE: Fathom Nickel Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Angry taxi drivers hit back at Toto Wolff

Italian taxi drivers have amusingly returned fire at Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

Toto Wolff, Saudi Arabian GP 2025

 Mercedes

When asked to comment on Max Verstappen's move on George Russell in Barcelona, which Lando Norris said reminded him of Mario Kart, Wolff told Sky Italia: It was like certain taxi drivers in Rome or Naples, who go crazy in traffic.

Demonstrating that no quip in the Formula 1 world goes unnoticed, the comment has drawn sharp criticism - from none other than the aforementioned taxi drivers.

We're better than the Formula 1 drivers, who wouldn't even survive an hour in Rome's city traffic, said Loreno Bittarelli, president of the Roman taxi association Cooperativa Radiotaxi 3570.

He continued to Corriere della Sera: We drive between construction sites, motorcycles, e-scooters, tourist buses. Rome is a jungle - much worse than a Formula 1 track.

Some may suspect his comments are tongue-in-cheek, but Bittarelli insists Wolff should be careful with false stereotypes .

We're the first ones who don't want to have accidents, because otherwise we'd lose the day's work, he said.

The Roman taxi union's view was echoed by Filt-Cgil, the Italian federation of transport workers. We drive as slowly as Mercedes here in Rome, joked boss Nicola di Giacobbe.

We are the most skilled drivers of all. But the traffic situation in this city is catastrophic. It now takes 30 minutes to cover two kilometres.

(GMM)
Briatore never spoke with Piquet Jr about crashgate

Flavio Briatore has reiterated his innocence some decade and a half after Formula 1's infamous "crashgate" scandal.

Flavio Briatore (center), Spanish GP 2025

 Red Bull

The 75-year-old recently credited F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali for allowing him to return to the paddock as Alpine's executive advisor, having been banned for life in 2009 for ordering Nelson Piquet to crash on purpose during the 2008 Singapore GP.

Felipe Massa, who narrowly lost the 2008 title to Lewis Hamilton, is currently in the midst of legal action, insisting the deliberate crash cost him points that would otherwise have crowned him champion.

Briatore, however, now suggests to Corriere della Sera that he, in fact, is the real victim of the crashgate conspiracy.

When asked by the newspaper if he ever speaks with former Renault driver Piquet jr, the Italian responded: "No, I don't care.

I didn't even hear from him when he was driving for me.

Piquet jr, now 39, brought the crashgate affair to light by claiming his then bosses Briatore and Pat Symonds asked him to crash on purpose to trigger a safety car that enabled Fernando Alonso to win the Singapore GP.

He and I never spoke, Briatore insists, "and in fact the French court annulled the ban ordered by the FIA and asked for a symbolic refund for me.

Coincidentally, the president who banned me, (Max) Mosley, is the same one who had banned (Michael) Schumacher.

Briatore insists he was happy to walk away from F1 in the wake of the scandal.

When I left I was tired, he said. "I had won everything, discovered drivers, and it was no longer a business in which to put my heart. It was a job like any other.

And my son Falco was about to arrive and I wanted to be close to my wife.

As for those who argue that Briatore should still be banned from Formula 1, Briatore replied: "I'm like a rubber wall.

I always think that whoever criticises me is worse off than I am. Money gives you great freedom, and not everyone has it.

(GMM)
Benso Oil Palm Plantation declares GH2.13 dividend per share in 2024

GraphicOnline Business News Jun - 04 - 2025 , 07:11

Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) PLC has announced a total dividend of GH2.1364 per share for the 2024 financial year, rewarding shareholders with nearly 80 per cent of the companys profit after tax.

The declaration was made by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Alfred Mahamadu Braimah, during the companys Annual General Meeting.

The total dividend comprises a final dividend of GH0.9085 per share and an earlier interim dividend of GH1.2270 per share, reflecting strong returns despite a marginal drop in production levels. This brings the total dividend pay-out for 2024 to GH2.1364 per share, representing 79.96 per cent of the companys profit after tax, Dr Braimah stated. He noted that this also constituted 91.61 per cent of the dividend payout achieved in 2023.

Addressing shareholders, Dr Braimah commended the companys resilient performance in the face of both local and global headwinds. In 2024, BOPP processed 121,787 metric tonnes of palm fruit, a slight decrease from the previous year due to seasonal changes and ongoing replanting efforts. The company also acquired 46,085 metric tonnes of fresh palm bunches from outgrowers in the Western and Central Regions, costing GH65 million.

A major development during the year was the replanting and development of 3,064 hectares of oil palm, valued at GH59 million. Of this, 883 hectares have already reached maturity. The success achieved in executing such smallholder projects under sustainable practices makes your company more attractive to potential investors, Dr Braimah remarked.

BOPPs commitment to sustainable operations and corporate governance earned it several accolades, including second-best agribusiness at the 2024 AGI awards and second runner-up for best CSR company. It was also ranked 23rd in the Ghana Club 100 rankings and continues to maintain its RSPO certification, a globally recognised standard for sustainable palm oil.

The companys emphasis on workplace safety yielded significant results, recording no serious injuries and maintaining a lost time injury rate of 0.65. Dr Braimah attributed this to BOPPs strong commitment to safety, health, environment, and quality.

On the corporate social responsibility front, BOPP invested GHC1.6 million in projects spanning education, health, sanitation, security, infrastructure, and economic empowerment.

However, the Board Chairman expressed concern over the influx of illegal and grey edible oil imports into Ghana. Government must pay attention to how this negatively impacts local industries, jobs, and government tax revenues, he urged.

Echoing this sentiment, the companys General Manager, Mr Samuel Avaala Awonnea, called for decisive government action against illegal imports and illegal mining. These practices threaten the existence of businesses, jobs, and long-term business sustainability, he warned.

Mr Awonnea also highlighted BOPPs drive for environmental sustainability, stating that the company now generates more than 80 per cent of its palm oil mills energy requirements using biomass. We use steam from biomass to drive our steam turbine-driven generators, he said.

During the meeting, shareholders called for increased investment in information technology and proposed that the company consider expanding its shareholding base to allow more Ghanaians to invest.

The Board pledged its unwavering support to management in pursuing yield improvement strategies and operational efficiency to secure continued growth and value for shareholders.
Canada-based Rektron Group to acquire major stake in Ghana's AT Ghana

Kweku Zurek Business News Jun - 04 - 2025 , 16:03

Canadian multinational conglomerate Rektron Group Incorporated has announced plans to acquire a controlling 60 per cent equity stake in AT Ghana Limited, the telecommunications company currently owned by the government of Ghana.

The move marks Rektrons strategic entry into the countrys telecoms sector, in partnership with local firm Afritel Ghana Limited.

The acquisition, which is still subject to regulatory approval and completion of due diligence, was unveiled on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) in a statement issued from Vancouver by Rektron. The company described the planned deal as part of a broader effort to diversify its global infrastructure portfolio and deepen its presence in emerging markets, particularly in Africa.

We are excited to take a significant stake in AT Ghana and appreciate the support of the Government of Ghana as we take a significant stake in AT Ghana, said Atanas Kolarov, Chief Executive Officer of Rektron. This aligns with our global vision to advance major infrastructure initiatives, foster innovation, and deliver value to consumers throughout the region.

AT Ghana, formerly AirtelTigo, serves over 2.3 million customers nationwide and provides voice, data, mobile financial services, and enterprise connectivity solutions. It was nationalised in 2021 following the exit of its previous shareholders, Bharti Airtel and Millicom International Cellular, and has since operated under full government ownership.

Rektron will be working closely with Afritel Ghana, a locally owned telecommunications firm founded by Nana Richmond Aggrey, a pioneer of Ghanas mobile sector and co-founder of Scancom Ghana (Areeba), which later became MTN Ghana. The Rektron-Afritel alliance is expected to combine global capital and expertise with deep local knowledge and experience.

This partnership marks a major milestone in our mission to advance telecommunication services in Ghana, said Nana Richmond Aggrey. Through our strategic collaboration with Rektron bringing global best practices, strategic investment, and next-generation infrastructurewe will strengthen our mobile network, expand nationwide coverage, and modernise service delivery. These improvements will enable us to drive down the cost of mobile data while increasing speed, reliability, and access. By making affordable, high-quality connectivity available to customers across all regionsincluding remote areaswe will be empowering every Ghanaian to fully participate in the digital economy and benefit from the opportunities it brings.

According to Rektron, the acquisition will support its vision of building "resilient, connection-driven ecosystems across critical sectors." The company said AT Ghanas operational track record and established market presence provide a stable foundation for long-term value creation and cash flow growth. The investment will also enable AT Ghana to tap into Rektrons financial strength and scale up infrastructure development.

The Government of Ghana, which currently holds 100 percent of AT Ghana, has expressed its full support for the deal. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the government, Afritel, and Rektron on May 21, 2025, setting out a framework for the transaction.

In the official statement, Rektron highlighted the rapidly expanding digital landscape in Ghana as a key growth driver, noting that the countrys increasing demand for data services, digital inclusion, and fintech solutions made the telecoms sector a critical investment frontier.

The proposed acquisition, however, is still subject to a number of conditions, including the completion of satisfactory due diligence, finalisation of financial terms, signing of definitive agreements, and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. Rektron has indicated that while the parties are working towards a successful close, there can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be consummated.

Rektron Group, listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, is traditionally known for its investments in energy and infrastructure projects across emerging markets.
Ghana signs $2billion oil licence extension deal with Tullow, Kosmos, PetroSA & GNPC

Kweku Zurek Business News Jun - 04 - 2025 , 06:45

Ghana has taken a major step towards reinforcing its position as a leading oil and gas producer in West Africa, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and key energy partners to extend the production licences for the Jubilee and TEN oil fields to 2040.

The agreement,announced in a statement issued June 4, 2025, brings together Tullow Oil plc, Kosmos Energy, PetroSA, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and Explorco, and will see the West Cape Three Points (WCTP) and Deep Water Tano (DWT) licenceshome to the Jubilee and TEN fieldsextended by 15 years.

Under the terms of the MoU, the partners have committed to drilling up to 20 additional wells in the Jubilee field, with investments totalling up to $2 billion over the life of the licences. The partners expect a material increase in gross 2P (proven and probable) reserves, while new measures will also aim to boost gas supply and reduce costs to consumers.

Speaking after the signing, Ghanas Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, hailed the agreement as a turning point for the countrys energy future.

This Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Ghana and the DWT and WCTP partners marks a significant step forward in our nation's energy sector. Extending the licenses to 2040 demonstrates our commitment to fostering a stable and attractive investment climate, he said.

This MOU will not only ensure the continued production of oil, supporting our economic growth, but also allow us to further develop our infrastructure and create more job opportunities for our citizens. We are dedicated to responsible resource management and look forward to a prosperous future fuelled by sustainable energy practices, the Minister added.

The MoU outlines key principles to support the long-term development of the Jubilee and TEN fields. These include an increase in gas supply to approximately 130 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d), a reduced gas price for Jubilee-associated gas, and the introduction of a guaranteed reimbursement mechanism for gas sales. Capacity-building for GNPC and the Petroleum Commission is also a priority, with a particular focus on the use of advanced technology.

Tullow Oils Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Richard Miller, described the deal as a valuable step forward that underscores the collaborative and constructive relationship between the government and joint venture partners. This extension and the fiscal stability of our contracts emphasizes the opportunity Ghana represents to deliver additional value through production and reserves additions, he said.

Kosmos Energy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew G. Inglis, welcomed the MoU as a signal of renewed confidence in Ghanas investment climate. This memorandum of understanding recognises the importance of oil and gas in Ghana and the desire of the new administration to create an attractive environment for new investment in the sector. Extending the Ghana production licenses is highly accretive, adding material reserves and enabling the partnership to continue investing in the country for the long-term, he noted.

This investment is expected to maximise the value of the fields for the benefit of the countrys economic development and Kosmos shareholders. We look forward to working with President Mahama and his government to invest in and advance Ghanas energy sector, Inglis added.

The MoU maintains all existing terms of the current WCTP and DWT petroleum agreements. Next steps include submitting a Jubilee Plan of Development addendum, finalising gas sales agreements, and seeking parliamentary approval for the payment security mechanism and licence extensions by the end of the third quarter of 2025.
Take advantage of digital media  Victoria Bohyeba urges gospel artistes

Delali Sika Showbiz News Jun - 04 - 2025 , 08:00 2 minutes read

Gospel artiste Bohyeba Victoria has urged her colleagues in the gospel industry not to treat digital media as a trend but as a lifeline, saying it is a critical tool for survival and success today.

She explained that digital media is no longer a luxury but the backbone of modern music promotion.

In a chat with Graphic Showbiz, Victoria, who recently released a new song, Your Mercy Reigns expressed disappointment at how gospel artistes were still relying on traditional media such as radio, TV among others to promote their songs.

Secular artistes are owning the digital space on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other streaming platforms. They are constantly engaging audiences, pushing content, collaborating with influencers but you cant say same for my brothers and sisters in the gospel fraternity.

The Internet has levelled the playing field. You dont have to be a big name to be heard anymore. What you need is consistency, strategy, and understanding how the platforms work, she stated.

She urged her fellow gospel artistes to think beyond Sunday performances at church and begin to take strategic decisions to push their music as their secular counterparts are doing.

If youre waiting for someone to push you, youll be waiting forever. Start where you are, use your phone, post regularly, build your brand. The digital space gives you the power to be your own media house, she said.

Bohyeba Victoria, who is also the Treasurer for Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Greater Accra is, currently promoting her new song, Your Mercy Reigns, which is available on all major streaming platforms.

This song was written from my personal experience with Gods mercy. There were moments in my life when I felt hopeless, but God showed me mercy and helped me through. I wanted to share that story through music, to let others know that Gods mercy is real and it never runs out, she shared.

Your Mercy Reigns speaks to the unfailing love and faithfulness of God. The lyrics give thanks for the mercy that shows up in moments of weakness, failure, and unworthiness.
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Man arrested for allegedly killing sister, burying her in shallow grave

Timeslive.co.za International News Jun - 04 - 2025 , 15:29 1 minute read

A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Kabokweni, outside White River, South Africa, in connection with the alleged murder of his elder sister, whose body he allegedly buried in a shallow grave at his residence nearly a year ago.

According to police, the suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday after he allegedly confessed to burying his sister, aged 44, in the yard at his home in Mpumalanga.

Police spokesperson Brig Donald Mdhluli said the man claimed a heated argument between him and his sister escalated on May 29 2024, leading to him fatally assaulting her.

After the alleged killing, the man is said to have concealed the incident for a year, only recently revealing the information to others, which ultimately led to police being alerted.

Mdhluli said the body of the woman has not yet been exhumed but he confirmed relevant stakeholders, including police forensic services and the K9 unit, were notified about the incident and processes will follow.
OSP secures conviction for Wontumi's aide in galamsey bribery case

Graphic.com.gh Jun - 04 - 2025 , 14:01 1 minute read

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has secured a conviction for Thomas Andy Owusu, an aide to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a corruption case tied to illegal mining licensing.

The High Court in Accra on Tuesday convicted Owusu, the second accused person in the case of The Republic v. Charles Bissue and another person.

He was convicted on his own plea after the court accepted a plea agreement entered under section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

The charge was based on Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting Bribe to Influence a Public Officer.

The case stems from the 2019 "Galamsey Fraud Part One" investigation by Tiger Eye PI, which implicated Owusu and then-presidential staffer Charles Bissue in facilitating illegal mining licences for bribes, bypassing official processes.

According to the agreement, Owusu will pay a fine of 500 penalty units (equivalent to GH6,000), and Restitution of GH200,000 to the state for bribing a public officer with GH15,000.

Following his conviction, the court struck out two additional charges  Corruption of a Public Officer and accepting bribe to Influence a public officer.

Owusus conviction narrows the case to focus solely on the first accused, Charles Bissue, accused of Using Public Office for Profit, contrary to section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

His trial will continue on 10 June 2025 with a scheduled Case Management Conference.
Court orders destruction of $350 million cocaine intercepted in Ghana

Justice Agbenorsi Jun - 04 - 2025 , 20:00 3 minutes read

The massive 3319.66 kilogrammes of substance, which had been concealed in sacks, bags, and cleverly hidden in heaps of sand in a tipper truck to evade detection while being transported to Accra but was intercepted at Pedu junction in Cape Coast by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) have tested positive and confirmed to be cocaine.

The NIB in March 2025 intercepted the cocaine, with a street value of approximately $350 million.

They were hidden in a tipper truck loaded with sand.

The cocaine is currently at the centre of a trial at the High Court in Accra.

A presumptive test from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) on Wednesday [June 4] confirmed it to be cocaine.

The interception of the substance is the largest cocaine seizure in Ghanas history.

It was tested by personnel of the GSA by taking samples randomly from three slabs of the 2,970 slabs of substance.

The cobalt thiocyanate test was conducted in the presence of the trial judge, Justice Ruby Aryeetey, both state and defence attorneys, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Narcotic Control Commission (NCC) on Wednesday (June 4).

The exercise followed an order for inspection, testing and destruction which was granted by the High Court where three persons are currently standing trial on charges of allegedly importing drugs without lawful authority and engaging in prohibited narcotic business.

With confirmation out of the way, the NIB can go ahead and destroy the exhibits following the court order.

Following the test, the state attorney had sought to tender the laboratory result covering several samples conducted at the GSA through one of the lab personnel but counsel for the accused persons, Victor Adawudu, objected to the tendering of same.

He argued that since both parties had not completed Case Management Conference (CMC), it was premature for the state to tender that document.

This argument was upheld by the trial judge.

The case has been adjourned to June 24, 2025 with samples taken in the presence of the parties for trial.

The remaining exhibit is set to be destroyed on June 20, 2024.

Read also: NIB smashes $350 million cocaine haul

Background

In March this year, the NIB intercepted a staggering 3,319.66 kilogrammes (3.3 tonnes) of substances suspected to be cocaine, with a street value of approximately $350 million.

The massive haul was concealed in sacks and bags cleverly hidden in heaps of sand in a tipper truck to evade detection.

However, the vigilant NIB operatives were able to uncover the illicit cargo, marking a significant milestone in the country's fight against narcotics

The tipper truck was arrested at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast in the Central Region en route to Accra.

The interception of the over 3,300kg of cocaine is a significant achievement, marking about the largest cocaine seizures in the countrys history.

The driver of the tipper truck, 39-year-old Isaac Quaicoo, and his mate, Kenneth Cobbinah, a 25-year-old tertiary level student were arrested for investigation.

Also in the dock with them is Mawuku Kudufia.

Kelian Julien Mensah, Jefflean Kwadjo Ntow and Charles Hagan, who the state consider as prime suspects are still on the run.
Eastern Region: Fire Service rescues dog from well

GraphicOnline Jun - 04 - 2025 , 17:18 2 minutes read

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS)successfully rescued a dog that had fallen into a dry well measuring 10.5 metres deep in the Koradaso area of Begoro.

The swift response by personnel from the Begoro Fire Station drew attention on social media and sparked discussion about the broader roles played by the fire service beyond extinguishing fires.

The rescue operation was executed by a six-member team led by Station Officer II Emmanuel Bechim.

According to a statement issued by the Eastern Regional Public Relations Office of the GNFS, the team deployed a ladder and rope system to retrieve the animal from the well without causing it harm.

However, the operation was not without incident. One firefighter sustained a dog bite during the rescue and was immediately taken to a medical facility. He was later treated and discharged, with officials confirming his condition as stable.

In response to a public comment on Facebook describing the event as an unusual occurrence for the fire service, the GNFS clarified that such operations were not uncommon. It has happened on many occasions. We do sometimes rescue goats too from deep pits. Thank you, the Service stated.

The incident underscores the expanding scope of work carried out by the GNFS, including animal rescues and other forms of public safety operations that fall outside traditional firefighting.

While the rescued dog was unharmed and reunited with its owners, the operation also served as a reminder of the resourcefulness and readiness of local fire crews to respond to emergencies of varied nature.
GAYO launches period health empowerment guide to promote menstrual dignity and climate awareness

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Jun - 04 - 2025 , 17:36 3 minutes read

The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) has launched the Period Health Empowerment Guide (PHEG)a bold new resource aimed at equipping young people, families, and communities across Ghana and beyond with practical knowledge on menstruation, sexual and reproductive health, dignity, and self-care.

The launch, which took place at GNAT Hall in Bolgatanga last Thursday, formed part of this years Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations.

The event was co-organised by GAYO and SHARE Project partnersWaterAid Ghana, FAWE, Right To Play, and FHI360under the theme: Menstrual Health and Climate Action: Making the Pad Policy Work for Every Girl. It brought together key regional stakeholders, including the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Department of Gender, traditional leaders, district assemblies, educators, students, and youth from various communities.

Speaking on behalf of GAYOs Executive Director, Richard Matey, GAYOs Project Coordinator, Benedict Fosu Arthur, described the guide as a portable revolution that gives every young person the clarity and confidence to understand their body and manage menstruation with dignity.

We launch not just a guide, but a declaration that every girl, whether in Bolga or Bongo, Tamale or Tumu, has the right to know her body, understand her cycle, and walk in dignity, he said.

Developed by GAYO in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, and with input from the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights, the PHEG offers a compact, user-friendly reference adaptable for diverse communities. It addresses the physical, emotional, and hygienic aspects of menstrual and sexual health. The guide also includes information on climate change, its relationship with menstruation, and environmentally responsible disposal practices.

Expanding MHM Education in schools

In partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES), GAYO has expanded its Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) education initiative from three schools to nine junior high schools in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. The initiative, focused on MHM and climate education, has reached over 1,000 studentsincluding boysthrough youth-led peer education sessions.

These sessions were facilitated by trained community youth under GAYOs Adaptation and Resilience Project, ensuring both sustainability and local relevance. The approach promotes openness, reduces stigma, and fosters collective responsibility for menstrual dignity in schoolsall in alignment with GES-approved educational content.

The Menstrual Hygiene Day event also served as a platform for critical discussions on the need for equitable and transparent implementation of Ghanas Free Sanitary Pad Initiative. Participants raised concerns about the environmental impact of single-use menstrual products and called for greater investment in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure in schools.

Through its integrated approach combining menstrual health education, water access solutions, and climate-smart livelihoods, GAYO continues to bridge the gap between policy and practiceensuring that no girl is left behind due to menstruation or climate vulnerability.

The Period Health Empowerment Guide will be made widely available and is intended for use in homes, schools, clinics, and safe spaces where young people and caregivers seek support and guidance.

Pads without knowledge are like roads without direction, Benedict added. Let this guide be that compassnot just for Ghana, but for anyone, anywhere, who believes in menstrual justice and youth empowerment.

As Ghana moves to implement its Free Sanitary Pad Policy, the PHEG stands out as a timely and essential complement, offering the education and community dialogue necessary to make the policy meaningful at the grassroots level.

GAYOs Executive Director has urged all stakeholders to adopt the guide and integrate it into homes, schools, and communities to ignite constructive discussions on menstrual equity and reproductive rights. He further encouraged those intending to implement the guide in Ghanaian schools to consult the GES to ensure appropriate alignment with the school curriculum.
$2.5bn Industrial hub stalls - Squatters swarm site

Suleiman Mustapha Jun - 04 - 2025 , 12:01 3 minutes read

A massive $2.5 billion project by Sentuo Building Materials Complex, an initiative under the government's Big Push programme, has stalled due to a dispute with squatters on the site.

The company has faced significant setbacks in its bid to develop the proposed site it acquired seven years ago, which is located at Ashaiman along the Tema-Accra Motorway.

The complex is for the manufacture of a tall list of building materials as well as training fabricators and companies in the built environment.

The Sentuo Building Materials Complex aims to leverage China's industrial and technical expertise in building materials to create a cutting-edge industrial model designed to create over 25,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Already, the companys parent, Sentuo Group, has invested massively in the country, with projects, including the Sentuo Steel, Sentuo Ceramics and Sentuo Petroleum Refinery, all located in Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

The latest project, proposed to occupy 390,000 square metres, approximately two kilometres, features five key platforms: a trading platform, grade evaluation platform, logistics platform, a manufacturer storage platform, and management and after-sales platform.

Additionally, it will have a central hub where manufacturers, merchants and consumers can interact.

There will also be recreational and play areas.

The Technical and Group Corporate Affairs Director of Sentuo Building Materials Complex, Benjamin Gomado-Cobblah, told the Daily Graphic that the company had made several attempts to evict the squatters through the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, but without success.

"We have made several attempts to evict them through the TDC and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly since we acquired the land seven years ago, but without success," Mr Gomado-Cobblah said.

"In fact, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly had offered them a land near the Zoomlion's treatment plant after the TDC had initially offered them a stretch of land near the Tema Motorway," he added.

Mr Gomado-Cobblah explained that the project was not only expected to cater for the countrys industrial needs, but also be a major export hub to other West African countries.

This giant manufacturing hub will attract many manufacturing companies to the country, providing a much-needed boost to the country's development agenda.

"Because of this project, many manufacturing companies are going to come to Ghana," Mr Gomado-Cobblah said.

"Indeed, it is going to be a catalyst to attract many manufacturing companies to Ghana, which is what is needed at this point in time in Ghana's development agenda," he added.

Job opportunities

The squatters, mostly scrap dealers, have rejected all offers, delaying the project's take-off. With over 25,000 potential direct and indirect jobs hanging in the balance, the project's progress remains uncertain.

Its promoters believe the project will be a game-changer for the economy. Its strategic location near Tema Port makes it an ideal hub for the distribution of building materials in Africa.

As part of the initiative, Sentuo plans to build Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across Ghana, providing a conducive business environment for investors.

The SEZs will offer state-of-the-art infrastructure and leverage the states tax incentives and streamlined regulatory processes to attract both local and foreign investors.

Industrial transformation

The Sentuo Building Materials Complex will feature a range of facilities, including a building materials mall, brand shops, warehousing and logistics centres, headquarters buildings and residential facilities.

Upon completion, the complex will provide comprehensive after-sales services and whole-process supervision from manufacturer to user.

Supporting initiatives

Beyond its industrial ambitions, Mr Gomado-Cobblah said the project promised to significantly contribute to national development initiatives.

It will support the National Apprenticeship Scheme and the 24-hour Economy by establishing a state-of-the-art technical university.

This institution will offer long and short-term Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills tailored to the needs of the 21st century, he added.
Court remands 11 over online recruitment fraud

Justice Agbenorsi Jun - 04 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded 11 persons accused of defrauding people on social media under the pretext of securing them jobs in various government institutions.

They are said to have posed as high-profile government officials on various social media platforms to allegedly defraud unsuspecting victims.

The accused persons are Noble Kudzo Konku; Godwin Zakor; Prince Ayisi; Jonathan Ekwoodzen; Richmond Agbenyega and Michael Adorborse.

The rest are Osborn Awake Tetteh, Deborah Dwarkie, Rita Brodrich and Jennifer Sobey.

Henrus Nyaleke has been accused of masterminding the alleged recruitment scam.

They have been charged with two counts of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretence.

They were arrested by personnel from the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in a joint operation with the Ghana Police Service.

The case has been adjourned to June 20 this year.

Prosecutions facts

Per the facts of the case on May 29 this year, following intelligence gathered on suspected fraudulent activities of some group of persons within Sogakope and its environs, personnel from the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), in a joint operation with the Ghana Police Service, proceeded to a house at Sogakope and met a group of young men and women suspected to be involved in cyber related crimes.

Ten of the accused persons were arrested but the rest escaped.

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, the CSA, in collaboration with the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department ( CID) Headquarters, intensified surveillance in the area and arrested Nyaleke from his hideout at Sege.

According to the prosecution, Nyabek, who is believed to be the leader of the group, admitted in his caution statement to be involved in recruitment scams by using pictures and names of some high level personalities and government officials as his profile picture to communicate with unsuspecting victims and subsequently part with their money.

The other 10 suspects denied involvement in any cyber-related crimes and stated in their caution statement that they only attended a birthday party of a friend and got arrested, the prosecution said.

It added that mobile phones and laptops suspected of being used for the cyber-related crimes were retrieved.

Suspects denied involvement in any cyber-related crimes and stated in their caution statement that they only attended a birthday party of a friend and got arrested.

Investigation is currently ongoing and suspects are in police custody.

Electronic devices of the suspects have been retained for forensic examination to assist in the investigation, the prosecution added.

Meanwhile, the CSA has asked anyone who has fallen victim to cybercrime to report to the authority or the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

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Ghana to end raw gold exports by 2026 in push for refined bullion trade

Mohammed Ali Jun - 04 - 2025 , 17:52 3 minutes read

Ghana will stop exporting raw gold by 2026 as part of a government drive to add more value to its mineral resources and improve earnings from the gold sector.

On Tuesday, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) announced that it is working with local refineries to shift from exporting doresemi-processed goldto fully refined bullion. This marks a major change in the way the country earns from its position as Africas top gold producer.

Acting Chief Executive of GoldBod, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, told participants at the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra that an international-standard assay laboratory would be operational by 2026. The lab will meet ISO certification and comply with London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) standards. He said land for the facility had already been secured.

We will soon move Ghana away from the export of dore to bullion in the short to medium term, Mr Gyamfi said during his speech on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. This international standard assay lab will make sure that all gold exported from Ghana is subjected to fire assay for accurate purity determination and valuation.

The shift is expected to increase Ghanas earnings from gold exports, as refined bullion sells at higher prices on the global market compared to semi-processed gold.

Ghanas small-scale mining sector has emerged as the countrys leading gold producer. Between January and May 2025, GoldBod purchased and exported 41.5 tonnes of gold worth around $4 billion, overtaking large-scale mining firms for the first time.

In May alone, small-scale miners sold 11 tonnes of gold to GoldBod, valued at $1.172 billion, according to figures presented at the summit.

The state agency, which replaced the Precious Minerals Marketing Company earlier this year, has introduced tighter regulations that now account for over 90 per cent of artisanal gold output. This has helped strengthen the cedi and improve Ghanas foreign exchange reserves.

Under the new structure, all players in the gold tradefrom aggregators to exportersmust be licensed. Foreign nationals are no longer allowed to buy gold directly from local markets. Instead, international buyers must go through GoldBod or partner with licensed Ghanaian dealers.

GoldBod also plans to roll out digital traceability systems by the end of the year. This will allow every gram of purchased gold to be traced back to its source, ensuring that only gold from legal and licensed operations is accepted.

Starting in September, GoldBod will partner with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to train small-scale miners in modern recovery techniques and environmentally safe practices.

The training will address longstanding issues linked to illegal mining and land degradation.

The days of illegal gold trading and uncontrolled gold smuggling have come to an end, Mr Gyamfi said, adding that a permanent anti-smuggling task force would be established with the National Security Secretariat.

He also said GoldBod supports President John Dramani Mahamas plan to set up a Gold Village, aimed at making Ghana a centre for jewellery and ornamental gold production on the continent.

GoldBod will invest part of its trading surplus in projects to reclaim degraded lands, conduct geological surveys, and provide education and health services in mining areas. These efforts will align with broader government plans to restore lands affected by mining.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Mr Gyamfi encouraged international groups, including the LBMA, World Gold Council, and the OECD, to work with Ghana on responsible mining practices.

Between February and May 2025, GoldBods purchases amounted to over GH40 billion, helping to support the national currency and improve liquidity in the foreign exchange market.
Government cannot raise GH10bn for power generation without sacrificing GETFund  Jinapor defends fuel levy

Mohammed Ali Jun - 04 - 2025 , 15:44 3 minutes read

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Jinapor, has defended Parliament's approval of a new GH1 levy on every litre of fuel purchased.

He argued that without the levy, the Ministry of Finance would be compelled to allocate GH10 billion from the national budget to fund power generation  a move that would significantly undermine statutory obligations, including allocations to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).

Speaking on Joy FM on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Mr Jinapor warned that diverting such a substantial amount of resources would cripple essential public services relied upon by ordinary Ghanaians.

He described the controversial fuel levy as the lesser of two evils in safeguarding the country's fiscal stability.

Weve modelled that without this levy, the Finance Minister would need to allocate GH10 billion, which would affect statutory payments like GETFund, Mr Jinapor said while defending the measure, which has sparked fierce political opposition.

His remarks came a day after Parliament passed the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, under a certificate of urgency on Tuesday.

The Minority staged a walkout during the approval process, describing the levy as an unjustified burden on Ghanaians.

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson had earlier cautioned Parliament that the energy sector posed the greatest economic and fiscal threat to the country, revealing that total indebtedness stood at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.

Mr Jinapor highlighted a structural flaw in Ghanas electricity pricing model. He noted that liquid fuels  costing over US$1 billion annually  are not covered under the current electricity tariff regime.

Even if ECG collected 100 per cent of tariffs, none of it would go towards procuring liquid fuels, he stated.

He further disclosed that peak electricity demand has reached 4,300 megawatts, forcing the country to rely heavily on costly liquid fuels, as major gas infrastructure projects remain between 18 months and two years away from completion.

Justifying the timing of the levy, Mr Jinapor said fuel prices have dropped from GH16 per litre when the current government assumed office to approximately GH13, making room for the new charge.

Even with the GH1 levy, the net effect is a GH3 reduction per litre compared to when we took office, he explained.

The minister also criticised the energy policies of previous administrations. He pointed out that several power plants  including Aksell, Sunon Asogli, and KTPP  currently operate on liquid fuel, contrary to projections in the Energy Commissions 2025 outlook, which anticipated a shift to gas.

He revealed that government payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have increased by 70 per cent to stabilise power supply, and that efforts are ongoing to restructure the sectors US$3.1 billion debt through negotiations.

The newly introduced levy is expected to raise GH5.7 billion annually, covering approximately 60 per cent of the countrys liquid fuel costs for electricity generation.

Mr Jinapor added that the government aims to scale up gas supply partnerships with companies such as Jubilee and ENI by the end of the year.

He also criticised the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for inefficient spending, citing examples such as the procurement of cables without matching transformers. He pledged to enforce value-for-money principles across all energy sector procurement processes.

Dr Forson had earlier assured Parliament that the impact of the levy would be mitigated by gains from the Ghana cedis recent strong performance, suggesting that consumers would not see an immediate rise in pump prices.
Government nears Italian funding deal to boost TVET  Education Minister

Graphic.com.gh Jun - 04 - 2025 , 18:34 2 minutes read

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has disclosed that the Government of Ghana is close to finalizing a funding agreement with the Italian government aimed at strengthening the countrys Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 2025 TVET Committee in Accra, the Minister stated that the deal is expected to be concluded within the next 10 to 14 days.

I just returned from an international engagement, and I have received assurances from state parties and bilateral partners who are eager to support technical and vocational education in Ghana, Mr. Iddrisu said.

I believe that in the coming days, we will receive some good news from the government and people of Italy regarding support for one or two key TVET initiatives, he added.

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the Government of Ghana is in the final stages of securing funding from the Italian government to support and enhance the countrys TVET sector.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 2025 TVET Committee in Accra, the Minister revealed that the agreement with Italy is expected to be finalized within the next 10 to 14 days.

I just returned from an international engagement, and I have received assurances from state parties and bilateral partners who are eager to support technical and vocational education in Ghana, Mr. Iddrisu said.

I believe that in the coming days, we will receive some good news from the government and people of Italy regarding support for one or two key TVET initiatives, he added.

Mr Iddrisu emphasized the vital role TVET plays in Ghanas development and job creation, stating that investing in technical and vocational training is essential for addressing unemployment, especially among the youth.

The Minister further announced that President John Mahama has given the green light for the continuation of TVET-related infrastructure projects through government-backed partnerships and funding arrangements.

I am convinced that the only sustainable way Ghana can tackle the issue of employability is by committing to robust investments in technical and vocational education, he said.

He urged the newly inaugurated committee and its leadership to adopt innovative, forward-looking policies that elevate TVET as a premier educational option for the youth.

Ghanaians need to move past the notion that TVET is only for those who struggle academically, he said. Even high-performing students may lack practical, hands-on skills. Your mandate should be to cultivate those competencies that lead to quicker and more stable employment.
Interior Ministry warns public against fake security services recruitment

GraphicOnline Jun - 04 - 2025 , 10:29 2 minutes read

The Ministry of the Interior has issued a strong warning to the public against a fraudulent recruitment message circulating on social media, which falsely claims to offer opportunities to join the Ghana Security Services through an online Data Gathering Form.

In a press release dated June 3, 2025, the Ministry stated that the message, which includes a Google Form link with a submission deadline of 10 June, is false and unauthorised.

The Ministry said it had not sanctioned any recruitment process via a Google Form and warned the public against engaging with the link provided in the scam message.

The Ministry of the Interior has not authorised any individual, group, or third-party platform or provided Google Form link to conduct recruitment or collect data on its behalf, the statement emphasised.

The Ministry reiterated that all official recruitment exercises for Ghanas Security Services are announced only through the national dailies, and not via third-party digital forms. It cautioned the public that interacting with the link or providing personal information could expose individuals to cybercrimes such as identity theft or financial fraud.

No recruitment is conducted via Google Forms or similar platforms, the release stressed, urging the public to treat the circulating message with the utmost suspicion.

To curb the spread of such disinformation and protect unsuspecting citizens, the Ministry encouraged Ghanaians to report any suspicious activities through its official channels, including its website, social media handles, and the Public Affairs and Communications Unit.

The statement concluded by assuring the public of the Ministry's continued commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring internal security across the country.
Next article: Ghana to end raw gold exports by 2026 in push for refined bullion trade

Minister urges science-led innovation to tackle land degradation and build climate resilience

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Jun - 04 - 2025 , 18:03 4 minutes read

The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has emphasised the need for science-driven solutions and innovation in combating land degradation and building climate resilience.

Speaking at the INTERFACES Status Seminar in Accra last Tuesday (2 June), Dr Muhammed highlighted the pressing issue of sustainable land and natural resource management, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where soil erosion, erratic rainfall and diminishing soil fertility threaten ecosystems and livelihoods.

The Minister stressed that science and innovation must drive efforts to address land degradation and promote sustainable development. He also affirmed the need for scientific research to inform decision-making, implementation and empowerment, rather than remaining confined to academic circles.

Commitment

Dr Muhammed reaffirmed the governments commitment to strengthening research and development, citing initiatives that support sustainable enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He called on government agencies to enhance communication and collaborative partnerships to unlock private capital and advance the scientific community.

He commended the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) for its continental leadership in agricultural innovation and policy support and assured the governments commitment to creating an enabling environment for FARAs work.

I commend the five projects that have come together here today for their transdisciplinary approaches that bring together science, policy and community action. By integrating local knowledge with advanced tools such as drone technology, and engaging all stakeholdersfrom traditional authorities to academiathese projects set a benchmark in participatory land governance, the Minister said.

Seminar

The seminar, funded by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, was attended by over 120 leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners.

It aimed to foster transdisciplinary exchange on sustainable land management, climate resilience and agricultural innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It highlighted four major research projectsCOINS, DecLaRe, Minodu and InfoRangeas well as the INTERFACES initiative, which fosters collaboration between institutions in Germany and several African countries.

The seminar also offered a platform to showcase research outcomes and foster dialogue among diverse stakeholders, from scientists to traditional authorities, youth representatives and development partners.

Participants explored how collaborative knowledge development and innovation can bridge the gap between research and real-world impact, building stronger connections between Africa and Europe.

Government plans

Speaking at the event, the Social Sector Policy Advisor to the Vice President, Dr Miriam R. Iddrisu, said the government had outlined a holistic strategy to enhance agriculture and encourage sustainable land use.

She indicated that, aligning with national development priorities and international climate responsibilities, the governments efforts focus on empowerment, resilience and inclusive economic growth.

Dr Iddrisu noted that the government was dedicated to making agriculture appealing to young people and women through skills training, financial access and technology-driven opportunities.

Government is instituting Women in Agriculture, a dedicated initiative aimed at improving womens access to land, finance and business development opportunities, advancing gender equity and structural inclusion, she said.

She emphasised that the government had also placed strong emphasis on empowering small-scale and vulnerable farmers through inclusive planning and targeted assistance, such as the Nkoko Nkitinkiti poultry project under the Feed Ghana Programme, to boost local poultry production and reduce import dependence, with a focus on supporting smallholder and youth farmers.

INTERFACES Project and leadership

For his part, the Executive Director of FARA, Dr Aggrey Agumya, highlighted the significant progress made by the INTERFACES project in promoting sustainable land management and addressing critical issues related to land degradation, soil health and inclusivity.

Dr Agumya explained that the project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, aims to connect individual projects focusing on specific aspects of sustainable land management.

He stressed the importance of bringing issues of soil health, land degradation and erosion to the attention of policymakers and the general public.

Highlighting Ghana-specific initiatives, Dr Agumya said, The project is mainly based in Ghanas Northern Region, focusing on outreach, knowledge management and capacity development.

The project addresses issues of soil fertility management, inclusivity and land tenure, particularly regarding womens access to land. It also focuses on youth engagement and gender issues related to land management, he said.

Dr Agumya added that the projects engagement with traditional leadership was a novel aspect, particularly in the context of land governance. He said the project also partners with local institutions, universities and traditional authorities, recognising the crucial role traditional leaders play in land management.
KNUST final-year students develop device for newborn jaundice

KNUST.edu.gh Health Jun - 04 - 2025 , 10:49 3 minutes read

Two final-year students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have developed an innovative, low-cost phototherapy device to treat neonatal jaundice in newborns, offering a potential lifeline to resource-constrained health facilities across Ghana and beyond.

Ebenezer Sarpong and Beatrix Afua Korang Asiamah, both from the Department of Computer Engineering, designed the device to emit safe blue light that helps break down excess bilirubin in the blooda key cause of jaundice in infants. Their work addresses a pressing health challenge with a cost-effective solution that could expand access to life-saving treatment.

Neonatal jaundice is a common condition characterised by yellowing of the skin and eyes, caused by high levels of bilirubin in a newborns blood. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including brain damage or death. While phototherapy is the standard treatment, existing devices are often expensive and inaccessible to many hospitals, particularly in low-income or rural settings.

Speaking about the motivation behind the project, the students explained that they aimed to develop an effective device that hospitals could afford. Their design took into consideration key clinical needs, including the correct type of blue light, efficient delivery to the babys skin, and controls to monitor and regulate the devices operation.

The result is a working prototype that emits the required blue light intensity, incorporates user-friendly controls, and significantly reduces cost when compared to conventional commercial models. The prototype meets the basic therapeutic requirements for standard phototherapy and is considered safe for clinical use, pending further validation.

Their academic supervisor, Dr. Prince Odame, provided mentorship and oversight throughout the design and testing stages. He praised the students efforts, noting that their work exemplifies how engineering education at KNUST continues to yield practical solutions to real-world problems.

This is just one of many examples of how student innovation can directly impact public health, Dr. Odame said. With proper support and regulatory clearance, this device could be deployed in many of our health facilities, where there is an urgent need for affordable medical technology.

Health experts have long warned that the lack of accessible phototherapy devices is a significant barrier to effective neonatal care in Ghana. Many hospitals are forced to improvise or refer jaundiced infants to distant facilities, risking treatment delays that can prove fatal.

The students device, completed as part of their final-year project, has already generated interest from clinicians and medical technologists. It stands as a strong example of how university research, when aligned with national health priorities, can offer cost-effective innovations with the potential to save lives.

The next steps for the project include further testing, clinical trials, and pursuing regulatory approval from the Ghana Health Service and the Food and Drugs Authority. Should the prototype pass these hurdles, the device could soon become a critical tool in newborn care across the country.
Next article: Parliament passes new tax on fuel; Consumers to pay GH1 per every litre purchased

Goosie Tanoh calls for radical reset of NDC and the countrys governance

Diana Mensah Politics Jun - 04 - 2025 , 13:44 5 minutes read

To mark the 46th anniversary of the June 4, 1979, a founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Goosie Tanoh has called for a radical reset of the NDC party to restore the core values of probity, justice, accountability, and participatory democracy.

He stressed the need for a radical transformation of the party and a structural overhaul of the countrys political and economic governance.

In a solidarity message to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the June 4th Uprising, Mr Tanoh expressed his solidarity and unwavering commitment to the cause he joined 46 years ago.

We are at a critical juncture in our nations journeya moment that calls for sober reflection, honest appraisal, and decisive action, Mr Tanoh said.

Our party, too, needs a radical reset if we are to provide Ghanaians with the leadership they deserve and desire, and not degenerate into what our friends the NPP have become, he added.

This years commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the June 4th Uprising will be held in Agormenya.

It drew a crowd of cadres, party faithful, and sympathizers who had gathered to reflect on the significance of the historic uprising that reshaped the countrys political trajectory.

Mr Tanoh warned that the overwhelming rejection of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 2024 elections was not just a rebuke to the ruling party but a cautionary signal to the NDC and all who aspire to govern.

He said the landslide defeat of the NPP must be understood not merely as a political shift, but as a profound rejection of arrogance, elitism, and governance that prioritizes private gain over public good.

The decisive rejection of the erstwhile regime of the NPP is pregnant with lessons about how not to govern, Tanoh said .

We, as a party, must learn from this in the governance of our affairs. The state is not to be governed for private gain but for collective upliftment, he added.

Mr Tanoh who is also the presidential advisor on the 24 hour economy and Accelerated Export Development also called for a rejection of state capture and patronage politics, saying,The state is not there to finance political parties through spurious and inflated contract sums. It is there to finance development and opportunity for all.

Rebuild

Mr Tanoh called for the NDC party to reclaim its revolutionary roots and avoid the mistakes of its political opponents.

He called for a structural overhaul of the NDC, describing the party as having become an electoral machine with power concentrated at the top.

Branches are the foundation. And ours are mostly dead or shells mobilised only for elections but not to serve communities, he said.

Mr Tanoh proposed the launch of an 18-month national conversation within the party, leading to a national ideological and constitutional reset convention.

This, he said, would restore the NDCs credibility and effectiveness as a genuine mass political movement capable of building a better Ghana.

We can train a cadre to help rebuild our branches as powerful activist bodies that represent the Party to the community and the community to the Party, he said.

He praised President John Mahama for his reset agenda and challenged the NDC to match that vision at the party level with structural reforms that restore trust, dignity, and grassroots power.

Recall

Recalling the historical roots of the June 4th Uprising, Mr Tanoh paid homage to the courage of young soldiers and other ranks who risked their lives in 1979 to challenge the entrenched rot in the countrys governance.

June 4 was more than a mutiny. It was the re-entry of ordinary citizens into national politics by other means. It was a revolutionary rejection of the Ghanaian elite and a demand for radicaland even sometimes deadlyaccountability by the young and the marginalised, he said.

He drew a direct line from the ideals of the uprising to Kwame Nkrumahs vision of a united, industrial Ghana, rooted in dignity and self-reliance.

But that vision, Mr Tanoh said, was hijacked after Nkrumah's overthrow in 1966, replaced with elite entitlement and foreign exploitation.

Elite special interests were promoted above the collective interests of working Ghanaians merit, competence and capacity were thrown out of the window.

Mr Tanoh warned against complacency, reminding leaders that power ultimately belongs to the people.

He said that citizens would not hesitate to withdraw that power if betrayed adding that,Power belongs to the people; we are merely stewards.

Referencing recent instability in the Sahel, he said ,Neither the might of imperial powers nor the arms of the most sophisticated military can withstand the force of a people united against oppression.

Mr Tanoh reminded leaders within the NDC and beyond that the power they hold is on loan from the people.

June 4 is not evidence of our righteousness or entitlement to rule as children of the revolution., he said.

It is rather a sacred charge to us to uphold revolutionary standards of accountability, democracy and social justice. But it is also a stark warning to ruling elites  including ours today  about the dangers of betrayal and the retribution of the masses, he added.

Mr Tanoh stressed that neither constitutions, nor control of state instruments of power, nor sycophantic party followers can insulate leaders from the anger of a betrayed populace.

Tribute

Mr Tanoh also paid glowing tribute to Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, whose leadership during the June 4th Uprising prevented the country from tipping into civil war.

He called on the NDC to honour the legacy of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and other fallen revolutionaries, not through nostalgia or entitlement, but by embodying the values they stood for.

There is a way forward back to our roots. Let us, in this moment, recall Jerry John Rawlings and all of our fallen heroes whose heroic example and efforts inspire us to greater acts of sacrifice and service, he said.
NAPO confirms NIB interrogation over tenure as Education Minister

GraphicOnline Politics Jun - 04 - 2025 , 07:44 3 minutes read

Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, has confirmed that he was invited by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in relation to his time as Minister of Education under the erstwhile Nana Akufo-Addo administration.

According to the former cabinet minister and 2024 Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he has already honoured the invitation and provided the requested information to the states investigative agency.

Speaking in an interview with 1957 News, which has since circulated widely on social media, Dr Opoku-Prempeh explained that he submitted himself willingly to the investigation as a responsible citizen and former public official. As for accountability, nobody can escape it, he stated.

People dont know that Ive been invited by the NIB to assist in investigations into some issues during my time at the Ministry of Education. I couldnt have declined that invitation.

He added that he had appeared before the Bureau on two occasions, and despite not recalling every detail from his time in office, he cooperated fully with investigators. Ive forgotten some of the issues; I cant remember everything that happened while I was in office. That is why we have technocrats and others who assist in running the ministry and keep records. For the issues I clearly remember, I spoke to them during the invitation, he explained.

Dr Opoku-Prempeh underscored the importance of transparency and humility in public service, advising current political leaders to act with integrity while in office. I always say that those of us in politics should know that no condition is permanent. Today, you can be in power; the next day, you could be in opposition. So politicians in power should always be mindful of what they do with the authority entrusted to them, so that if they are asked to account for their stewardship tomorrow, they can easily do so.

The former education minister, who contested as running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the last general election, said he spent an entire day at the NIB and might be called again for further engagements. I have spent my whole day today at the NIB, and I may go there again tomorrow, he said.

Dr Opoku-Prempeh's comments come at a time when the NIB is reportedly intensifying investigations into activities of key officials from the previous administration. Other prominent individuals, including Professor Ameyaw Ekumfi and former National Service Authority Deputy Director of Operations Kwaku Ohene Gyan, have also been invited for questioning.

The NIB has not released a formal statement on the ongoing investigations, but sources indicate that the probes focus on administrative decisions and expenditures during the tenure of former government appointees.
Apple was hit with a 500 million fine by the European Commission (EC) back in April over breaches to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Cupertino has since appealed the decision. John Gruber from Daring Fireball shared Apples full official statement, which could signal a potential turning point for Apple users in the EU.

At Apple, we design our technology to work seamlessly together, so it can deliver the unique experience our users love and expect from our products. The EUs interoperability requirements threaten that foundation, while creating a process that is unreasonable, costly, and stifles innovation. These requirements will also hand data-hungry companies sensitive information, which poses massive privacy and security risks to our EU users. Companies have already requested our users most sensitive data  from the content of their notifications, to a full history of every stored WiFi network on their device  giving them the ability to access personal information that even Apple doesnt see. In the end, these deeply flawed rules that only target Apple  and no other company  will severely limit our ability to deliver innovative products and features to Europe, leading to an inferior user experience for our European customers. We are appealing these decisions on their behalf, and in order to preserve the high-quality experience our European customers expect.

The last paragraph in particular is the one with the most significance for Apple users in the EU. The fact that Apple may severely limit its ability to deliver innovative products and features to Europe which would lead to an inferior user experience for our European customers could be interpreted in several ways.

For one, Apple could simply comply with the ECs interoperability requirements, which include granting full access to iOS notifications, background execution privileges and system feature access to third-party competitors. Apple would also have to allow AirDrop to be replaced as the default wireless file sharing utility on Apple devices. This approach would naturally raise privacy concerns as third parties would be granted system-level privileges, which goes against Apples ethos.

According to Jon Gruber, a more realistic scenario would see Apple dropping AirDrop support for its users in the EU. He also goes on to mention that Apple could stop offering its Apple Watch and AirPods in EU markets due to the EUs interoperability demands. This situation seems less likely as wearables are a big profit maker for Cupertino. As it stands, well just have to wait and see how this legal battle unfolds.

Source
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Samsung launched the Galaxy A16 back in October, and it's now working on its successor, the Galaxy A17. While we're most likely still a few months away from this model's introduction, a new rumor out of Korea today has some good news for those looking forward to its release.

Apparently, the Galaxy A17's main camera will have optical image stabilization (OIS). Once a feature exclusive to flagships, this has trickled down Samsung's Galaxy A series of mid-rangers in the past few years, and now it seems like it's ready to make it to one of its entry-level devices as well. To keep costs down, Samsung is considering using an OIS system that uses springs, which is allegedly 20% cheaper compared to existing OIS implementations.

Samsung Galaxy A16

So far, OIS has made it as low as the Galaxy A2x series with the A26 most recently featuring the tech. Obviously, Samsung wants to use the addition of OIS to the Galaxy A17 as a key differentiator compared to its competitors, and thus increase sales. Whether that works remains to be seen, but we are glad to see such features that used to be flagship-only not so many years ago making their way to even low-end handsets like this one.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G

Samsung Galaxy A26

Source (in Korean)
A 27-year-old man is facing life in prison for allegedly fatally shooting another man late Tuesday night in the Guam Premier Outlets parking lot in Tamuning, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court.

Attorney General Douglas Moylans office is requesting $1 million bail and pretrial confinement for the suspect, Gregory Arthur Romero.

The victim is Keo Resse Cruz Taianao, who had about 10 gunshot wounds, according to the magistrates complaint.

Romero is charged with aggravated murder as a first-degree felony, and aggravated assault as a second-degree felony, court documents stated.

Both charges carry special allegations for the possession or use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.

Social media pages connected to the suspect and to Marine Corps Camp Blaz indicate Romero is in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The shooting occurred around 10 p.m. near the former Forever 21 building at GPO.

According to the magistrate complaint, Guam Police Department officers responded to an anonymous 911 call reporting about four gunshots in the area. While en route, police were informed that an off-duty GPD officer had already arrived on scene.

When an officer reached the location, he found Taianao lying face-up near a blue pickup truck. The victim was unresponsive, wearing a white shirt soaked in red liquid suspected to be blood, visibly streaming across the pavement, documents stated.

Romero was performing CPR on Taianao. He then stopped, raised his hands, and approached the officers.

It was me sir, I was the one who shot him, Romero said, according to the magistrates complaint.

When asked what happened, Romero pointed to a black handgun near the victims body and said, It is mine, sir, I shot him.

Security footage

As officers placed Romero in hand restraints, a woman screamed, oh my God, why did you have to shoot him! court documents stated.

One witness reported hearing more than five gunshots. Officers reviewed security footage from the outlet mall, which allegedly showed Romero arriving in a vehicle, walking around as if he was looking for someone, then approaching the blue pickup where the victim and another witness were located.

Medics from the Guam Fire Department arrived and transported the victim to Guam Memorial Hospital.

At the scene, a medic informed the officer that Taianao had three gunshot wounds to the chest.

Emergency room staff later reported that he had approximately 10 gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at 10:43 p.m. Tuesday.

Romero was arrested at 11:09 p.m.

GPD: Autopsy results

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kenny Su conducted an autopsy on the victim, GPD said in a Wednesday afternoon release from acting spokesperson Sgt. Paul Tapao.

Preliminary findings revealed the cause of death was gunshot wounds, and the manner of death, homicide, GPD said.

Although an arrest has been made, and Mr. Romero confined at the Department of Corrections, this case is ongoing. The GPDS Criminal Investigation Division has been in conference with the Office of the Attorney General, as the case investigation has been reclassified to a Homicide, as additional charges will be forthcoming, GPD said.

Public help needed

Detectives are aware of numerous videos depicting the incident circulating on social media, GPD said, and it is asking the public for any information or witnesses that can aid in this investigation.

Reader-submitted photos show GPD officers placing evidence markers and speaking with witnesses late Tuesday night.

We are also asking anyone who may have witnessed this homicide to pls come forward to GPD Criminal Investigation Section or the AGs Office, Moylan said. We are aware of social media video and request the persons who took video to pls contact us. Thank you.

GPO: Thoughts and prayers

The management of GPO, meanwhile, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon.

We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred in our parking lot last evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected, the shopping center stated.

GPO said it is cooperating fully with local law enforcement as they conduct their investigation.

Please know that the safety and well-being of our patrons and staff remain our highest priority, the statement added.
Sen. William Parkinsons bill seeking to punish parents for their childrens crimes drew support but also concerns from government officials whose agencies deal with kids, during Wednesdays public hearing on the measure.

Under Bill 107-38, parents who permit or encourage their minor children to commit a crime would face misdemeanor charges, up to a year in jail, and fines up to $2,500.

It would mandate that a parent or guardian exercise reasonable care, supervision, protection, and control over their minor children.

The bill would make it a misdemeanor for parents to either allow or encourage their kid to commit a felony or misdemeanor. Parents who do so would face a fine, jail sentence, or both, under the bill.

Department of Youth Affairs Director Melanie Brennan said she was always interested in ways to prevent crime, but was worried about unintended consequences, if the bill becomes law.

She said it wasnt always true that a parent could control their kids behavior, especially once those kids reach adolescence.

Brennan raised the example of a single parent: Maybe a mother whos on her own, doing her best, working full time, and her adolescents on goes outfirst offender, steals a car.

That mother would already have to spend time taking off of work, going to hearings, and getting her son to counseling, she said.

Our concern is that she should not have to face criminal charges because of her sons behavior, a situation that would only make things worse for an already struggling family, Brennan said.

Department of Public Health and Social Services Deputy Director Amanda Shelton said her agency supported the bill, which could deter parental neglect.

But the agency requests a number of changes.

I think whats concerning to us is that this can be a very steep fine, up to $2,500, Shelton said.

Imprisoning a parent could further break down the family structure, and, you know, weaken families and put them more at risk for harmful behavior she added.

Shelton said the agency wanted it made clear that it was a parents gross negligence in the lead up to a childs crime that was punished.

Public Health made several suggestions for the bill:

Include affirmative defenses for parents who demonstrate they are reasonably guiding and supervising their child

Allow documentation showing steps to prevent delinquent behavior

A clear definition of reasonable care

Discretion for prosecutors and judges

Allowing for parenting support classes, family counseling, community service, instead of jail time or fines

Parkinson told Brennan and Shelton that he was willing to accept any suggestions that would help differentiate between parents who were doing their best, and those who were willfully neglecting their kids.

There is a wide, wide gulf between a single mother whos having a little trouble watching all of her kids and the kids get into trouble, versus a parent who is actively having their kids go out there and sell crystal methamphetamine to their classmates, Parkinson said.

Parkinson on Wednesday said some 42 states already have laws holding parents accountable for serious failures of supervision that lead to juvenile crime.

He pointed to a Michigan case where two parents were convicted after their 16-year-old son committed seven separate burglaries.

Holding parents accountable for the actions of their kids would encourage positive behavior, Parkinson said.

Bill 107-38 is not aimed at criminalizing everyday parenting struggles or poverty related hardships, he said. Its only intentional and willful parental neglect that directly enables criminal activity by minors.
Cancer patients and survivors living on Guam and members of their support team, including family and friends, are invited to participate in the Pay-Less Community Foundation's Circle of Care program.

The program provides cancer support and psycho-oncology services to the island community.

The Pay-Less Community Foundation established the program through a grant from the Guam Cancer Trust Fund. All services are provided free of charge.

Online cancer support group

Circle of Cares weekly online cancer support group is held every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The group is facilitated by community educator Marie Benito, clinical psychology associate Camarin Meno, PhD, and licensed clinical psychologist Iain Twaddle, PhD.

In the first half of each group session, guest speakers will give presentations on cancer support services available on Guam.

The online support group Zoom link: Zoom Meeting ID: 893 8497 7616; Passcode: 590035

June sessions

June 3 guest speaker: Jim Brandt, cancer survivor, Survivor Spotlight

June 10 guest speaker: Rynette D. Perez, assistant coordinator, University of Guam Nutrition Education Program

June 17 guest speaker: Dr. Paul Muna Aguon, MD, gastroenterologist, Guam Memorial Hospital

June 24 guest speaker: Dr. John Reinier Narvaez, MD, general and trauma surgeon, Guam Regional Medical City

In-person support, wellness services

Circle of Cares in-person cancer support group is held every first and third Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pay-Less Corporate Office, HR Training Room (Building B), 116 W Chalan Santo Papa, Hagatna (across from Calvos Insurance).

The group is facilitated by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Iain Twaddle and community educator Marie Benito, as well as cancer care specialists from the community. A nutritional light lunch and snacks will be provided.

June sessions

June 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Support group  Camarin Meno and Marie Benito

Restorative yoga  Linda Frank, yoga for cancer certified instructor

Art for healing  Arlene Diaz, PhD, in education and art therapy

June 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Support group  Camarin Meno and Marie Benito

Restorative yoga  Linda Frank, yoga for cancer certified instructor

Oncology nutrition  Rosae Calvo Shandor, PhD, nutrition

Psycho-oncology counseling, patient navigation

Cancer patients and members of their support team can meet with licensed clinical psychologist Iain Twaddle, clinical psychology associate Camarin Meno, or one of the associate or assistant facilitators for individualized support as they go through their cancer journey.

To schedule psycho-oncology counseling or patient navigation services, contact Twaddle by email at circleofcareguam@gmail.com.

Tai chi, qi gong

Circle of Care offers tai chi and qi gong for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers with instructor Tina Cruz every Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. at Synergy Studio II (436 Marine Corps Drive, next to Dial Rent-to-Own in East Hagatna).

Sessions for this month will be held June 4, 11, 18, and 25.

To register for the program or for more information, contact Marie Benito at (671) 687-5723 or mariebenit@yahoo.com, or Iain Twaddle at circleofcareguam@gmail.com.
Guam's Department of Public Health and Social Services on June 7 will join the observance of World Food Safety Day, a global reminder that safe food is a shared rightand a shared responsibility.

"Food safety isnt just about what happens in a lab or a kitchen; its about trust. Its about making sure the food on our platesat home, at fiestas, and in our favorite restaurantsis safe, Public Health said in a release. And that takes all of us working together.

This years global theme, Food Safety: Science in Action, highlights how science helps protect families and the islandfrom detecting harmful bacteria to monitoring safe temperatures and improving how we label and handle food.

What one can do:

Follow food safety basics. Wash hands, separate raw and cooked food, cook thoroughly, and chill properly.

Stay alert. Keep up with food recalls and health alerts.

Be emergency ready. Know how to handle food during typhoons and power outages.

Check temperatures. Keep cold foods cold (below 41F) and hot foods hot (above 140F).

Support safe vendors. Choose food establishments who follow food safety standards and regulations.

"When we follow science-backed practices and support each other, we keep our island strongone safe meal at a time," Public Health said.

For further information, contact Public Health's Food Safety Program at (671) 300-9579, visit the webpage at www.dphss.guam.gov or follow their social media pages.
The fact that Bill 14-38 exists is a clear indictment of the status quo. When agency directors are paid six-figure salaries to serve the people of Guam, the bare minimum we should expect is that they follow the law.

Yet, year after year, basic financial reporting requirements are ignored, delayed or outright neglectedwith no accountability for those in charge. Thats unacceptable.

After three veto override attempts failed in the 37th Guam Legislature, I reintroduced this bill because the problems did not go away. And on Tuesday night, the 38th Guam Legislature finally overrode the governors fourth veto, sending a clear message: government accountability is not optional.

In response to a recent letter to the editor stating, Better to keep up than to catch up, I want to be very clearthis bill is not about punishing agencies. Its about holding leaders accountable when they fail to do the jobs they were entrusted to perform.

The letter suggests that cooperation is preferable to punishment, but cooperation without consequences has already failed us. For years, weve asked, reminded, and even pleaded with agency directors to meet their financial obligations and the result has been continued delays, audit backlogs, and noncompliance.

This bill is the necessary consequences of that failure. It sets clear expectations and attaches real accountability because anything less continues the cycle of neglect.

It is unfortunate, but this is what happens when politically appointed directors are chosen over qualified, merit-based hires. Too many are not held to the same standard they demand of their staff.

When an agency fails to submit its financial reports, its not the employees who should bear the blame. The responsibility lies squarely with the director.

Weve seen that targeted fines work. Theyve worked with the Bureau of Budget and Management Research to get the consolidated revenue/expenditure report, CRER, out in time.

Theyve worked with the Office of the Attorney General in issuing legal opinions in a timely manner. And I believe they will work with agency heads, too. History has shown us that when directors know there will be consequences for noncompliance, they are far more likely to act.

Lets ask the real question: Should an entire agency be penalized because of one persons failure? No. The intent of this bill is not to cut funding or cripple operations. It is to apply pressure where it belongson those who were given the authority and responsibility to lead.

And if the fines arent strong enough? Theres nothing stopping a senator from increasing them through future legislation. But doing nothingagainis not an option.

Bill 14-38 isnt about politicsits about performance, transparency, and the publics right to a government that functions responsibly and with integrity. Bill 14-38 is a direct response to years of excuses and inaction.

If directors cant meet the most basic legal responsibilities of their job, they should not be protected from the consequences. Guam deserves leaders who are competent, accountable, and serious about public service.

This legislation sets that standard and I will not apologize for demanding better from those entrusted to lead.




Haiti - FLASH : Launch of the Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence (C3I) Center





The Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) reaffirms its commitment to international assistance and celebrates the launch of the Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Center in Port-au-Prince.



As part of efforts to restore the security conditions necessary for economic, political, and social development in Haiti, Mexico collaborated on this technical and scientific project aimed at strengthening the country's security communications and intelligence capabilities.



It should be noted that in January 2024, as part of the collaborative project to strengthen the capacities of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Haitian security authorities received technical training in Mexico at the Command, Control, Informatics, Communications, and Citizen Contact Center in Mexico City (C2 Center, C2 Historic Center, C2 North, and C5). Thanks to this training, Haiti was recently able to launch its own Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Center in Port-au-Prince.



This center is designed for tactical decision-making and rapid response to the security crisis facing the country; it aims to strengthen the PNH's surveillance, intervention, and operational control capabilities.



To this end, it benefited from resources from the Common Justice Support Fund, combined with financial contributions from donor countries such as Canada, the United States, and France, and managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).



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Haiti - Humanitarian : Haiti's vulnerability and hurricane season worry the United Nations





On Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, speaking via videoconference to reporters in New York after a visit to Haiti last week, Lola Castro, Regional Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) for Latin America and the Caribbean, indicated that in previous years, the UN agency had always had resources on the ground "to assist between 250,000 and 500,000 people" immediately after a disaster.



This year, the WFP has neither pre-positioned food stocks in Haiti nor the cash needed to organize a rapid humanitarian response in the event of a hurricane or extreme weather event, she emphasized.



Funding remains a major obstacle. The $908 million Humanitarian Action Plan for Haiti is only 8% funded, of which $72 million has been received.



Ms. Castro noted that 5.7 million Haitians, more than half the country's population, do not have enough to eat. Haiti is one of five countries in the world where the population faces catastrophic levels of hunger.



A report published by Haiti's National Food Security Coordination (CNSA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the WFP reveals that of this number, two million people are facing Emergency Food Insecurity (IPC Phase 4), facing production problems, extreme food shortages, acute malnutrition, and high levels of illness caused by insufficient nutritional intake. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, more than 5,600 displaced people (IDPs) living in temporary shelters in Port-au-Prince after fleeing their homes are now facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 5, the highest). This means they are facing hunger and extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition, which could lead to their death in the short term. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43344-haiti-flash-more-than-5-600-haitians-at-risk-of-dying-of-hunger-in-the-short-term.html



The WFP has significantly scaled up its operations in Haiti, Ms. Castro emphasized, "but currently, we only have stocks and liquidity to support crisis-affected populations until July."



She noted that severe funding gaps threaten the continuity of essential programs, such as the school meals program.



With half of Haitians already suffering from hunger, a single storm could plunge millions of people into a humanitarian catastrophe.



More than one million people are currently displaced in Haiti due to armed violence, including 200,000 living in camps, a number that nearly doubled between March and April.



Most of these camps are located in flood-prone areas and lack adequate shelter, drainage, and sanitation, leaving families extremely vulnerable to storms and hurricanes.



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Haiti - Politic : Report on the Minister of Culture's important mission to France





On June 3rd, 2025, during the 11th edition of Tuesdays for the Nation, Patrick Delatour, Minister of Culture, presented a report on his recent official mission to France.



This mission, of vital diplomatic importance, aimed in particular to initiate discussions with UNESCO regarding Haiti's accession to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The Minister also provided an update on the progress of issues related to the implementation of international conventions ratified by Haiti. He also explored prospects for cooperation with various institutional and cultural partners, as well as members of the Haitian diaspora in France.



Welcomed by the Permanent Delegation of Haiti to UNESCO and Louino Volcy, Haitian Ambassador to France, Minister Delatour addressed crucial issues facing the nation with clarity and responsibility, including the security situation, the constitutional process, and the upcoming elections.



The Minister, accompanied by Dwoling Achille, Technical Director of the National Heritage Preservation Institute (ISPAN), sounded the alarm about the continued destruction of the nation's built heritage. He denounced the arson attack on the Milot chapel, the vandalism of the historic Bel-Air district, and the alarming degradation of the Belot and Furcy sites in Kenscoff. These acts, he affirmed, constitute intolerable attacks on national identity, perpetrated by forces hostile to the Republic of Haiti.



High-level discussions also took place with representatives from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the UNESCO World Heritage Center. These discussions focused on the reassessment of the ISPAN report on the National Historical Park and the issue of National Route 3.



In a resolutely forward-looking approach, Minister Delatour held a strategic meeting with Gerard Larcher, President of the French Senate. This meeting laid the groundwork for the creation of a Franco-Haitian Joint Commission, whose work will begin in July 2025. This commission will aim to revitalize bilateral cooperation in key areas such as military training, maritime and coastguard capacity building, heritage protection, and cultural diplomacy.



Through this mission, the Haitian government reaffirms its commitment to defending, promoting, and restoring the cultural heritage of the Haitian people. It also commits to strengthening its strategic partnerships in the service of peace, sovereignty, and national reconstruction.



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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Russia rejects any idea of interference in Haiti

On Monday, June 2nd, 2025, in an interview broadcast on RTVD, Alexei Seredine, the Russian Ambassador accredited to the Dominican Republic, reaffirmed his country's position on the Haitian crisis, stating that "it is the Haitians themselves who must seek and find solutions to the problems affecting them." He affirmed that Russia was closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti and advocated for a solution that respects the self-determination of the Haitian people, rejecting any idea of external interference that could aggravate the crisis.



EU : Donation of motorized tricycles

Handover of motorized tricycles for waste management to the Beaumont City Hall by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union Stefano Gatto as part of the "Urbayiti" Program.



The Minister of Labor in Switzerland

The Communications Office of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor informs the public that Minister Georges Wilbert Franck left the country on Saturday, May 31, 2025, for Geneva (Switzerland), leading a tripartite delegation composed of government, employer, and employee representatives, to participate in the 113th Session of the International Labor Conference, which will take place from June 2nd to 13, 2025.



Venezuela-Haiti Cooperation

During the 10th Summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil held a bilateral meeting with Transitional Presidential Advisor Leslie Voltaire. The two men agreed to promote a common agenda based on four pillars: technical cooperation, regional solidarity, respect for sovereignty, and a coordinated solution to common challenges.

Relocation of Displaced Persons

The Government reaffirms its commitment to supporting internally displaced persons and Haitians repatriated from the Dominican Republic. A resettlement program for internally displaced persons is currently being implemented, with a budget of 300 million gourdes.



31st Edition of Livres en Folie

On June 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the 31st edition of Livres en Folie will return to Petion-ville, 31 years after the launch of the first edition of this event at the Complexe Promenade. This major celebration of books will be held this year at the premises of the Brothers of Christian Instruction. From June 16 to 22, the public will also be able to purchase books online : www.livresenfolie.com



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The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI), Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, has imposed two fines on Vodafone in the amount of 15 and 30 million euros respectively for two different cases. This is the highest fine imposed by the BfDI to date since the General Data Protection Regulation came into force. The company has accepted the fines and has already paid them.

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The Bonn-based supervisory authority had been investigating the telecommunications company for years. In 2021, employees of the Federal Data Protection Authority responsible for telecommunications became aware for the first time that customer data was being used improperly by so-called partner agencies, i.e., agents who are supposed to acquire customers for Vodafone and usually work on a commission basis.

Read also Wenn der Glasfaser-Anbieter die Kundigung nicht annimmt

Among other things, customers are said to have suffered damages as a result of unauthorized changes to contracts. The breach of the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation has now been penalized with 15 million euros and is independent of other proceedings by injured parties, such as fraud.

The second fine is based on an even more blatant case: Vodafone had operated a self-service portal where registration was possible even without a customer relationship. After registering there, fraudsters were able to illegally register eSIM cards of regular users to these accounts with an easily guessable password from customer service without having to identify themselves as such. This procedure is particularly problematic when it comes to the use of mobile phone numbers for third-party services, such as transaction confirmation text messages. Many providers still use SMS as an authentication feature for legitimate transactions.

Data protection law is not toothless

For the Federal Data Protection Commissioner, this is the first completed fine proceedings. Data protection law is not toothless, and we are proving the opposite here today, said Specht-Riemenschneider about the fine proceedings. We take action against violations of data protection law through  and with all the means at our disposal. The authority is always ready to provide advice, and if a company actively helps to clarify possible data protection violations, this is to be welcomed, said the Federal Data Protection Commissioner, who was elected by the Bundestag a year ago. To date, her authority has been responsible for federal authorities and the postal and telecommunications sectors, but the black-red coalition is currently considering assigning the BfDI further responsibilities in the area of business supervision.

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According to Specht-Riemenschneider, the company cooperated extensively in the case of Vodafone  which had also been assessed in the amount of the fine in accordance with the agreements between the European data protection supervisory authorities for fines. She appealed to companies to take data protection seriously. She wanted to ensure that no fines were imposed in the first place.

For the telecommunications provider, the economic damage incurred by the company and possible future claims for damages from customers under the GDPR could potentially exceed the fine imposed by the BfDI.

(mki)

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.
In a plenary vote on 4 June, 168 members of Parliament supported the extension, with 29 voting against and two absent. The vote mirrored party divisions seen during the original approval of the law in summer 2023.

Finlands Parliament has voted to extend the temporary pushback law, allowing border authorities to block asylum applications at the eastern frontier under exceptional circumstances. The law will now remain in force until the end of 2026.

The legislation grants Finnish authorities the power to temporarily suspend the reception of asylum claims at the border, primarily in response to attempts at instrumentalised migration. Under the law, border agents may turn back individuals attempting to cross into Finland from Russia, without accepting asylum applications or allowing appeal.

Proponents argue the law strengthens national security and responds to potential hybrid threats. Critics say it undermines international obligations and the right to seek asylum.

The ruling coalition parties, the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset), Christian Democrats, and Swedish Peoples Party (RKP), largely backed the measure. Only Eva Biaudet of the RKP voted against it.

Opposition came mostly from the Greens and Left Alliance, with both parties voting unanimously against the extension. Six members of the Social Democratic Party also broke ranks and voted against: Matias Makynen, Johan Kvarnstrom, Nasima Razmyar, Krista Kiuru, Timo Harakka, and Elisa Gebhard.

The Centre Party (Keskusta) supported the extension without dissent. The single representative from Liike Nyt, Harry Harkimo, and independent MP Timo Vornanen also voted in favour.

While the law has drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights organisations, the government maintains it is a necessary tool in protecting Finlands external borders.

HT
An investigation by the Ombudsmans sanctions board found that the pharmacy chain used website tracking tools that passed prescription and over-the-counter medication data to Google and Meta. The breach occurred through cookies and other embedded technologies on its online store.

The Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman has imposed a 1.1 million fine on Yliopiston Apteekki for violating data privacy laws by sharing sensitive customer data with external technology companies.

According to the findings, data on customer behaviour, such as adding medicines to a shopping cart or clicking purchase, was collected and shared. In some cases, this included users' IP addresses and other identifiers that could link individuals to their online activity, particularly if they were logged into Google or Facebook at the time.

The breach affected transactions processed on Yliopiston Apteekkis digital platform between May 2018 and September 2022.

The probe began after a doctoral researcher from the University of Turku alerted the authority to possible data protection violations.

Yliopiston Apteekki, which is owned by the University of Helsinki, stated that it stopped using Google and Meta tracking tools in September 2022.

While the pharmacy has acknowledged the timeline, it disputes the conclusions of the authority and intends to challenge the ruling in administrative court. The fine is not yet final and will be subject to judicial review.

HT
Of the 3,218 individuals promoted, more than 1,000 were reserve officers and special officers. The remaining promotions were granted to non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

More than 3,200 reservists in Finland received military promotions on the Finnish Defence Forces Flag Day, which took place on 4 June. The list includes both officers and enlisted personnel, with the majority of promotions going to non-commissioned ranks.

One individual, Risto Maatta, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. This is a rare appointment in the reserve, typically requiring significant prior service within the defence administration.

A total of 83 reservists were promoted to the rank of major or, in the case of the Navy, commander. Major is the highest rank that can generally be awarded to a reservist under normal circumstances.

The Flag Day promotions also included active-duty personnel. Several officers were promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel:

Marko Hirsimaki and Mikko Kurko from the Defence Command

Jussi Annala from the Guard Jaeger Regiment

Tapio Huhtamella from the National Defence University

Tero Koljonen from the Armoured Brigade

Janne Rautiainen from the Logistics Command

Mikko Saarelainen from the Karelia Brigade

In addition, Vesa Ek, a lieutenant colonel of engineering from the Air Force Command, was promoted to colonel of engineering. Ilkka Laaksi, a medical lieutenant colonel from the Centre for Military Medicine, was promoted to colonel in the medical service.

Two officers were promoted to commodore: Timo Lehtimaki, commander of the Defence Command, and Mika Makilevo, commander of the Navy Command.

Flag Day is one of the Finnish Defence Forces key annual occasions, during which promotions, honours, and awards are formally issued.

HT
The renewed focus on basic skills is a response to lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine, where electronic warfare has disrupted both Russian and Ukrainian operations. According to Colonel Matti Honko , commander of Finlands Guard Jaeger Regiment, GPS spoofing and jamming are no longer hypothetical threats.

Finnish soldiers are retraining in manual navigation methods, including the use of paper maps and compasses, in preparation for combat scenarios where satellite-based systems like GPS are no longer reliable.

"Everyone has recognised the fact that GPS can be spoofed, and you might not be able to rely on it," Honko said during a recent military exercise in southern Finland. He spoke on the sidelines of Lively Sabre 25, a large-scale training event held in late May.

The training shift doesnt mean Finland is abandoning GPS. Instead, the military is building redundancy into its battlefield operations. Soldiers are taught to confirm digital coordinates against traditional maps and to question whether satellite-derived locations make sense in the field.

If spoofed data sends you somewhere inaccurate, it could compromise an entire operation, Honko said.

Electronic warfare has become a dominant element in modern conflicts, not only in Ukraine but also in other regions. In the Middle East, Israel and its adversaries have routinely interfered with satellite signals. Naval forces in the Red Sea have faced months of GPS disruption as they work to secure maritime traffic from attacks by Houthi rebels.

Finlands geographic location adds urgency to the issue. Its long eastern border with Russia places it within range of potential electronic interference, particularly from St. Petersburgs air defence systems. GPS jamming has already been reported in the region.

"This is real," said Honko. "You can see for yourself that, yes, my GPS isn't working."

The broader Finnish Defence Forces are adapting to the same reality. While exact methods vary, the Army, Navy, and Air Force are all reviewing their exposure to satellite vulnerabilities. The aim is to ensure that if digital systems fail, operations can still proceed.

Defence industry players are also reacting. Companies like Saildrone in the United States are designing drones and vessels that can operate autonomously in spoofed or jammed conditions. According to CEO Richard Jenkins, some Saildrone units used by the US Navy have been navigating in compromised zones for extended periods.

"In a real conflict, satellites will be the first thing to go," Jenkins said. "Everyone needs to work out how to survive without them."

For Finland, the takeaway is clear. As digital threats expand, so must the militarys ability to operate without them. That starts, once again, with a paper map and a compass.

HT
The invitation confirms Ukraines participation, though Rutte did not say whether President Volodymyr Zelensky would attend. Questions over Zelenskys involvement have circulated in recent weeks amid reports of hesitations within the new US administration. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied any such opposition.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine has been officially invited to the alliances upcoming summit in The Hague, scheduled for late June. Rutte made the announcement during a press briefing in Brussels ahead of Thursdays defence ministers meeting.

Rutte declined to address Zelenskys presence directly, saying only that the summit programme would be published soon. Zelensky has participated prominently in previous summits.

The summit in The Hague will focus on future defence spending and military capabilities across the alliance. NATO defence ministers will meet in Brussels on Thursday to finalise key targets, particularly amid expectations of reduced US military presence in Europe and persistent tensions with Russia.

The discussion will cover capability targets  military assets each member is expected to provide under NATOs operational plans. These targets are central to maintaining the alliances defence readiness. Though specific details remain classified, Rutte confirmed that expectations are tightening, with an increase of roughly one-third compared to previous levels.

Among the priorities are air and missile defence, long-range strike capabilities, logistics, and expanded ground forces. NATO members are also discussing a proposed two-tier funding model that could push collective defence spending to 5 percent of GDP. This figure reflects a long-standing aim of US President Donald Trump.

Rutte addressed concerns over the US role in NATO, especially after it was revealed that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth would not attend Wednesdays Ukraine support meeting. The group, formerly led by the United States, is now coordinated by Germany and the United Kingdom.

Despite Hegseths absence, Rutte said the US remains engaged. Not everyone attends every meeting, he said. Hegseth is expected to join Thursdays defence ministers discussions.

On the issue of Ukraines long-term relationship with NATO, Rutte reiterated the alliances position. Last summer in Washington, we agreed that Ukraines path to NATO is irreversible, he said. He also dismissed speculation that NATO membership would be offered as part of a future ceasefire or peace deal.

Ukraines membership remains sensitive. Russia has included NATO neutrality as a condition in its own ceasefire proposals. Several member states, including the United States, have shown reluctance toward fast-tracking Ukraines entry.

Finland will be represented at this weeks meetings by Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen.

HT
The deal was signed by Haluk Gorgun , head of Turkeys Presidency of the Defence Industry, and Olli Ruutu , Finlands national armaments director. The agreement covers co-production, capability development, and technology sharing between the two NATO members.

Finland and Turkey have signed a defence industry cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening ties in military technology and joint production. The memorandum of understanding, signed on 2 June in Ankara, marks a formal shift in Finnish defence strategy as the country deepens its NATO integration amid mounting concerns over Russian activity along its eastern border.

This memorandum opens the door to a new era in areas such as co-production, technology sharing and capability enhancement, Gorgun said in a post on X. He added that the agreement would support NATO deterrence and advance defence industry integration in Europe.

The agreement comes after Finlands accession to NATO in 2023, a process in which Turkey played a key gatekeeping role. Turkey ratified Finlands NATO membership months before approving Swedens, amid political manoeuvring and disputes over arms restrictions.

Finlands interest in Turkish defence technology has grown since 2022, when then-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto publicly referenced the potential purchase of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. The drones, developed by Turkish firm Baykar, have seen extensive use in recent conflicts and are closely associated with Turkeys growing military export ambitions.

While Finland did not confirm any procurement plans at the time, the new memorandum could pave the way for acquisitions, particularly as Helsinki accelerates efforts to modernise its armed forces.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland has significantly increased its defence spending. In 2023, military expenditure rose by 18 percent to 6 billion, one of the highest growth rates in Europe. The country has reintroduced large-scale exercises and expanded its presence in NATOs command and planning systems.

Finnish defence officials remain wary of Russian movements. Recent satellite images show growing infrastructure activity near the Finnish-Russian border, including military vehicle deployments, construction of jet shelters, and the reactivation of a disused helicopter base. According to Maj. Gen. Sami Nurmi, these developments suggest preparations for long-term military positioning.

They are changing their structures... once the war in Ukraine ends, they will likely begin redeploying ground forces, Nurmi said.

Turkeys defence industry is increasingly present in Northern Europe. In February, Turkish firms such as Aselsan and STM participated in Navy Tech 2025 in Helsinki, signalling Ankaras interest in regional partnerships.

Bilateral economic ties are also expanding. A meeting of the Turkey-Finland Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) took place in Helsinki in February. Discussions focused on sustainable textile production, low-emission steel, and infrastructure cooperation across emerging markets.

Trade between the two countries reached $1.7 billion in 2024, with Finland ranked as Turkeys 22nd largest EU export destination.

The defence agreement is likely to attract scrutiny from Russia, which has long opposed NATO expansion. Moscow has voiced particular concern over Finlands accession, given the 1,340-kilometre shared border.

As Finland builds up its defences and Turkey expands its influence within NATO, the agreement positions both countries to benefit strategically  but also raises the stakes in an already tense regional security environment.

HT
AVL hires new chief financial officer

Amy Harris

Amy Harris, an aviation industry professional with more than 13 years of airport leadership experience, has been named chief financial officer, at Asheville Regional Airport.

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Harris financial career spans 25 years in both public and private sectors and several industries. During her aviation career Harris has managed the financial aspects of large capital programs and capital funding sources, all of which support the mission, vision, and values of the organizations she has served.

Harris currently serves as the financial planning and analysis manager for Charlotte Douglas International Airport. During her tenure she has been a financial subject matter expert on interdepartmental teams and a speaker at various airport industry conferences and is a founding member of the Charlotte airport's Women in Aviation organization.

Harris has an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Colorado State University and is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives.

I am thrilled to join the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority in the role of CFO and to be part of the team serving the vibrant region of Asheville and Western North Carolina," she said. "Asheville Regional Airport has provided a lifeline to the community and remains a strong driver of continued economic growth in the region. Having the opportunity to play a role in encouraging this growth, while being committed to thoughtful stewardship of the airport's resources, is a career-defining opportunity. I am excited to join such a talented and dedicated group of aviation professionals at AVL and I am looking forward to this next chapter.
Edwards announces debris removal accountability agreement

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In response to growing concerns from property owners, environmental groups and local stakeholders, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards announced a new agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve accountability and transparency in ongoing debris removal operations around rivers.

Over the past week, Edwards and his staff held in-person meetings with more than 30 local advocates and residents, including representatives from the Southern Environmental Law Firm and regional conservation groups. During the meeting, stakeholders raised concerns about the removal of more debris than necessary, inadequate protection of wildlife habitat and insufficient communication with landowners.

As local and federal partners work to restore our waterways after flooding from Helene, its essential that we balance public safety with private property rights and environmental integrity, Edwards said. After seeing firsthand how improper debris removal is impacting private property and unnecessarily disturbing wildlife habitats, my office has worked with FEMA and USACE to come up with an action plan to improve this process moving forward.

Key outcomes of the agreement include:

County leadership will provide immediate, active oversight of all debris removal operations occurring within their jurisdictions. Property owners are encouraged to mark debris areas of concern with a red flag.

Flagged areas will not be disturbed until the property owner, the county, and USACE engage in a consultation.

Counties will make final decisions based on the need to protect downstream infrastructure while respecting private property.

The USACE and their subcontractors have worked diligently to restore our rivers and surrounding areas, and my team will continue to assess the debris removal process and listen to the concerns of community members to improve precision on what is being removed, Edwards said.

Information on upcoming debris removal efforts of FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be available on Thursday, June 5, at edwards.house.gov/debrisremoval. In the meantime, constituents can call George Minges, USACE lead debris subject matter expert, at 502-443-5335 for information on when and where debris is being removed.
On June 3, 2025, the Anhui Day, China Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, themed "Green and Smart, Wonderful Life with Anhui," grandly opened at the China Pavilion. Approximately 120 representatives from the political, business, cultural, and tourism sectors of China and Japan gathered to celebrate the occasion. The event was packed with highlights. In the intangible cultural heritage exhibition area, the representative projects of Anhui, such as Huizhou ink sticks, bamboo carvings, and iron paintings, were vividly presented through images, physical displays, demonstrations, and interactive experiences. This comprehensive showcase interpreted the inheritance, development, and unique charm of Anhui's intangible cultural heritage skills, attracting numerous visitors to stop and participate. The sci-tech interactive exhibition area highlighted Anhui's innovative achievements in fields like deep-space exploration and artificial intelligence, demonstrating the vigorous momentum of Anhui's high-quality development. The cultural and intangible heritage performance segments were a continuous highlight. Selections from the classic Huangmei operas "Marriage of the Fairy Princess" and "Female Consort Prince" were followed by the "Orchid Drum Rhythm" dance of the Flower Drum Lantern, with intangible cultural heritage inheritors interpreting the millennia-old charm of Huizhou culture through their melodious singing and dancing. A master of Keemun Black Tea's intangible cultural heritage demonstrated the traditional tea ceremony of "Keemun Aroma," whose philosophical essence resonated with the Japanese tea ceremony's principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility, using tea as a medium to build a bridge of cultural exchange between China and Japan, crafted with great care. The Anhui Day showcased the province's profound historical and cultural heritage, cutting-edge green ecological practices, and dynamic frontier technological innovation through diverse formats such as thematic exhibitions, intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, sci-tech interactions, and industrial promotions. This multidimensional presentation successfully conveyed the unique charm of Anhui, where the "elegance of Hui culture" harmoniously blends with "intelligent manufacturing for the future."

Source: anhuinews.com
Tesla CEO and former government employee Elon Musk took to his platform X to slam Republicans who voted for what he called the "pork-filled" budget bill supported by President Donald Trump.

Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" passed the House by a narrow vote in late May, sending it to the Senate and expected to be voted on in July.

Despite the Trump administration's promise earlier this year to cut back on government spending, the bill includes plans to raise the debt ceiling by about $4 trillion. This part of the bill Musk has taken particular interest in, causing him to post a series of tweets scorning the lawmakers who passed the bill.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore.



This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.



Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination," Musk wrote in a tweet Tuesday afternoon. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

The tweet quickly amassed millions of views and thousands of comments as supporters of the world's richest man, who became a very vocal supporter of Trump during his 2024 campaign, tuned in to hear what the former Trump adviser had to say.

It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt https://t.co/dHCj3pprJO  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

"It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt," Musk continued in another tweet.

At the start of Trump's second-term, he named Musk a temporary government employee to help lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force dedicated to reducing federal spending and waste. However, he believes that by increasing the debt ceiling and allowing Congress to spend more money, the bill goes against the work of his team.

"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 previously told "CBS Sunday Morning." "I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both."

Congress is making America bankrupt https://t.co/cMP8XWO6dc  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

Musk remarked, "Congress is making America bankrupt," in one final tweet as a part of the rant. The billionaire also pushed Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie's tweet, which said Musk was "right" about the bill. Massie was one of just two Republicans to vote "no" on the spending bill.

The spending bill has continued to dominate conversations in political spaces across the country, not only about the debt ceiling but also as the bill would add restrictions to Medicaid. Protestors and constituents across the country have been seen hounding their lawmakers on the subject, urging them to protect their healthcare.

Originally published on Latin Times
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has accelerated its growth in Vietnam by signing a hotel management agreement with Nha Trang Bay JSC, a member of the GreenSpark Group.

The spectacular voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang - By IHG will sit at the heart of the coastal city of Nha Trang when it opens near the end of this year. The 250-key property will offer panoramic sea views across its 28 floors once it is completed and will meet the increasing demand for great stay experiences in the city best known for its pristine white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and fresh seafood.

voco hotels is IHG's fastest-growing premium brand, offering a hotel experience that is consistently thoughtful and distinct. Each property is characterised by its individual charm, providing guests with something different while ensuring the reliability of a global brand.

Less than an hour's drive from Cam Ranh International Airport, voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang - By IHG will be located within Nha Trang JSC's largest real estate construction, part of an up-and-coming tourism masterplan development designed to unlock the area's strong growth potential. It will enjoy direct access to the coastline and it has many popular nearby attractions such as Nha Trang Beach, Ponagar Temple, Vinh Hai Market, marinas and well-known mud-spa parks.

Facilities at voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang - by IHG include a swimming pool, restaurant and bars and meeting facilities. It will be IHG's fourth hotel in the region, joining InterContinental Nha Trang, InterContinental Residences Nha Trang and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay.

Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa Province, is growing in popularity. In 2024, it recorded 80% year-on-year tourism growth, with the Khanh Hoa Province welcoming 10.8 million visitors, including 4.8 million international arrivals attracted to Nha Trang's stunning beaches, diving sites and fresh seafood.

Vietnam continues to be a strong growth market for IHG, with 20 hotels across eight brands - Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, voco hotels and Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts - and 22 properties in its pipeline. With presence in 10 destinations - Phu Quoc, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Tram, Con Dao, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Quang Binh - the company aims to grow its estate across all brands in the country.

Hotel website
Dusit Princess Melaka, Dusit International's debut property in Malaysia, celebrated its official grand opening on 29 May 2025  marking an exciting milestone in Melaka's evolving hospitality landscape and introducing a new standard of upscale Thai-inspired hospitality to the state. The hotel also unveiled one of the largest meeting and event spaces in Melaka, further enhancing the city's appeal as a regional MICE destination.

The grand opening comes at a pivotal moment for Melaka, which continues to experience strong tourism growth. In 2024, the city welcomed over 15 million visitors  a 74% increase year-on-year  reinforcing its emergence as one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic travel destinations. The Melaka State Government has extended its Visit Melaka Year campaign through 2026, aligning with the national Visit Malaysia 2026 initiative, which aims to attract 35.6 million tourist arrivals.

Strategically located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage City, the 296-room upscale Dusit Princess Melaka blends modern elegance with rich local heritage, offering guests unobstructed views of the city and the Straits of Melaka. With five-star facilities, contemporary comforts, and Dusit's signature brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, the property brings a fresh and distinctive offering to the local hotel landscape  catering to the needs of today's business and leisure travellers while celebrating the cultural soul of Melaka.

Among its lifestyle facilities are the deepest swimming pool in the state, a fully equipped 24-hour gym, and distinctive dining venues, including Zest Restaurant, Long Feng Chinese Restaurant, and the vibrant Famosa Lounge.

Spanning 774 sq m and featuring full LED screen capabilities and versatile room configurations, the hotel's meeting and event space is tailored to meet the demands of high-profile conferences, weddings, and private events.

Guests also have access to a range of curated local experiences that offer an immersive journey through the city's sights, flavours, and culture.

Hotel website
Moxy Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, brings its signature bold and playful energy to Turkiye with the opening of Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu. Nestled in the heart of Istanbul's iconic Beyoglu district, the hotel marks an exciting debut for the brand, showcasing its unique style in the bustling city.

Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President, Brand Management, Premium, Select & Midscale Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International said: "For over a decade, Moxy has offered a stylish hospitality experience for the next generation of travellers with its industrial design, buzzing social spaces and bold programming. Istanbul is full of energy, culture and diversity, making it the perfect destination for the brand.

Designed by Designist Architecture, Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu blends neoclassical elements with fresh, youthful energy. Bold colours, playful details and locally inspired artwork, specifically from Turkish cinema, bring the hotel's vibrant character to life. A dynamic mix of materials from rich wood to sleek leather adds warmth and texture, ensuring guests feel energized, inspired and right at home. The hotel is housed within the historic Afrika Han building, seamlessly blending the city's storied past with contemporary design, offering travellers an exciting new way to experience Istanbul.

With 167 guest rooms and suites, Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu provides stylish accommodations with views of the vibrant city or serene atrium. Each room is thoughtfully designed to cater to young-at-heart travellers, blending modern comfort with playful touches. Each guest room features smart amenities such as USB ports, smart TVs and free Wi-Fi, ensuring that guests are always connected and ready to explore.

True to Moxy's thoughtful and fun spirit, the hotel is designed to bring people together. Guests can grab a drink at Bar Moxy, featuring handcrafted cocktails, local beers, and small bites in a buzzing, music-infused setting. The 24/7 Grab & Go Delights station offers snacks and drinks for travellers on the move, while Moxy's B reakfast Bar reinvents the traditional morning spread with a fun and casual twist, perfect for fuelling guests' urban adventures.

Active travellers can re-energise at the hotel's 24/7 fitness centre decked out with a full range of equipment. Additionally, Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu offers meeting rooms for business needs, equipped with modern technology to facilitate productive sessions.

Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu is ideally located just steps away from Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue, placing guests at the centre of Istanbul's cultural, historical and modern attractions such as Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Moxy's design philosophy reflects the eclectic spirit of Beyoglu, blending modern trends with local culture to create a lively atmosphere that appeals to both locals and visitors alike.

Hotel website
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is pleased to announce Oscar Postma as the newly appointed General Manager for the property. With more than 25 years of global experience in luxury hospitality and corporate leadership across Asia, Europe, and the United States, Oscar brings a wealth of operational expertise, strategic insight, and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.

A dynamic leader known for driving performance through innovation and collaboration, Oscar has a distinguished career managing world-renowned properties and guiding them through pivotal transitions, renovations, and brand transformations. Most recently, Oscar served as Cluster Operations General Manager for Conrad Singapore Orchard and Conrad Centennial Singapore, where he oversaw strategic operations for both hotels. Prior to this, Oscar held the role of General Manager at Regent Singapore, where he navigated the property through a major brand transition, achieving a record-breaking F&B performance.

Oscar also brings with him a deep familiarity with the Marriott luxury portfolio, having previously served as Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms at both The St. Regis Singapore and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. His return to the Ritz-Carlton brand marks a meaningful homecoming to a legacy of refined service and exceptional hospitality.

In his new role at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands Oscar will oversee all aspects of the resort's operations, ensuring the delivery of unparalleled guest experiences that align with The Ritz-Carlton's renowned luxury standards. He will lead a diverse and passionate team, nurturing a culture rooted in excellence, innovation, and intuitive, personalized service. Oscar brings a proven track record of fostering strong owner partnerships, developing high-performing teams, and enhancing the guest journey through strategic operational leadership.
David is an established hospitality, travel and technology leader, supporting a variety of media and technology companies in a partner, advisory & board capacity following his exit from SnapShot in Summer 2018. Having been involved with revenue management, distribution and hotel analytics for more than 20 years, David has worked to develop from grassroots some of the most forward thinking hotels and hotel companies such as designhotels, citizenM and 25hours to name a few.

In addition to speaking at events around the world, Davids passion for education has led him to work with various universities including ESSEC, University of Surrey and Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL) as well as take an active role with industry associations including HEDNA (Co-Chair Hotel Analytics Workgroup) and HSMAI (Revenue Management Advisory Board).

Originally from Glasgow, David was delighted in October 2018 to be appointed as a Global Scot, in co-ordination with Scotands newly launched investment & innovation hub in Berlin where he is based, contributing to a worldwide network of entrepreneurial and inspirational business leaders, dedicated to supporting Scotlands most ambitious companies.
Sunnyvale, CA  LodgIQ, a leading provider of AI-powered revenue management technology for hotels, has announced its sponsorship of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Commercial Strategy Week 2025. This sponsorship reflects LodgIQs ongoing support for advancing revenue management towards commercial strategy and underscores its role as a trusted technology partner for hospitality revenue leaders.

Held June 16-18, 2025, in Indianapolis and co-located with HITEC, HSMAIs Commercial Strategy events serve as a focused gathering point for commercial executives in sales, marketing, and revenue optimization. LodgIQs sponsorship supports HSMAI's mission to elevate the practice of hospitality revenue management through education, certification, and industry collaboration.

HSMAI continues to raise the bar for commercial strategy in our industry, and were proud to stand behind that mission, said Vincent Ramelli, CEO of LodgIQ.  Their conferences offer an essential platform for revenue, marketing, and commercial leaders to deepen their expertise, share best practices, and engage in high-value networking.

LodgIQs revenue optimization platform leverages advanced machine learning to provide dynamic, real-time pricing recommendations tailored to each hotels market conditions, competitive set, and booking patterns. Its intuitive design and automated workflows allow revenue managers to streamline their day-to-day processes and focus on strategic decision-making.

The industrys most forward-thinking technology conversations will happen in Indianapolis this June, and our presence there, through our support of HSMAI, is a commitment to innovation and education, added Ramelli. Were not just providing a tool; were building a way to elevate revenue management into commercial strategy.

During this 2025 edition of the HSMAI Commercial Strategy Week, the LodgIQ expert team stands ready to welcome the many attendees who want to learn more about the latest advancements in hotel revenue intelligence and explore partnership opportunities.

LodgIQ is a leading AI-enabled revenue management platform for the hospitality industry, transforming data integration and decision-making for hotel commercial teams. Our platform consolidates Revenue, Sales, and Marketing data, providing insights into market trends and consumer behaviors for strategic, data-driven decisions. LodgIQ offers a real-time, comprehensive view of key metrics, enhancing room rate adjustments, marketing campaigns, and sales strategies. Committed to optimizing operations and maximizing revenue, LodgIQ is the essential tool for unified commercial strategies in hospitality. Currently working with over 550 hotels, LodgIQ's products combine sophisticated machine learning with an intuitive and powerful user interface, delivering advanced recommendations and actionable analytics. LodgIQ is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with offices in New York City, and Bangalore. For more information visit https://lodgiq.com/

Alex Woolsey

Vice President of Business Development

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Why do customers go back to the companies they love doing business with? Thats what we asked more than 1,000 customers in our annual customer experience research, and here are some of the top reasons:

Employees who are helpful and knowledgeable

A friendly experience (thanks to employees)

A convenient and easy experience

A personalized experience

Employees who show empathy

Customers can decide to return based on any one or a combination of these experiences, or anything else they deem to be positive. And as good as these experiences are, are they good enough to get customers to return?

Recently, I read a MarTech article about creating emotional connections through CX memories and how B2B and B2C brands are winning over customers with memory-driven CX. The point of the article was that, more than just creating a good experience, it is the memory of the experience that drives repeat business and potential loyalty.

Some companies understand this better than others. Consider Netflix, which once a year sends its subscribers a What We Watched summary of the shows and movies they watched. Or Starbucks, which sends its members a free drink or food item for their birthday. These companies (and many others) have engineered a follow-up experience that recalls the experience, creating a Remember When Moment. This moment triggers a memory and hopefully creates an emotional reaction that gets the customer to want to repeat the experience.

You dont need to be a big brand like Netflix or Starbucks to do this. Heres a simple five-step process to get you thinking about how to create the Remember When experience:

Create an Experience Worth Remembering: If you dont have that, stop here and start working on your overall customer experience. Identify Key Touchpoints: Your journey map will help you identify your main interactions with your customers. (If you havent created your customer journey maps, stop here and do so!) Enhance the Key Touchpoints You Want the Customer to Remember: Not all touchpoints need to be memorable. Sometimes its just a few  maybe even just one. Identify these key interactions and engineer them to be memorable. For example, a restaurant might bring a small plate of chocolate with the bill, capping off a wonderful dining experience. Last impressions leave lasting impressions. Design a Follow-Up Campaign: Similar to Netflix, remind customers why they love doing business with you. Dont combine this with a sales pitch; this is meant to create the Remember When experience. Measure the Impact: Be sure to find out if the customer agrees with your memorable moments. Furthermore, determine if the follow-up campaign is working.

Ive written about the Ill Be Back experience. If you want your customers to come back, create the experience that gets them to do so. Then remind them about the experience. That will help get customers who say, Ill be back, to actually come back.

(Note: This is a shorter version of a similar article I wrote for my week Forbes.com column. CLICK HERE to read the original article.)

Shep Hyken is a customer service/CX expert, award-winning keynote speaker, and New York Times bestselling author. Learn more about Sheps customer service and customer experience keynote speeches and his customer service training workshops at www.Hyken.com. Connect with Shep on LinkedIn.

Shep Hyken

Shepard Presentations, LLC.

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The Surprising Ways Your Company Can Be Liable for Human Trafficking - Image Credit Pexels

The phrase alone  human trafficking  is enough to stir outrage, discomfort, or disbelief. What many employers may not realize, however, is that you do not have to be a trafficker to be held liable for trafficking. Companies across industries, from hospitality to agriculture to technology, are facing civil lawsuits and criminal investigations related to sex trafficking activities. If you think this cant happen to your business, think again. Here is what you need to know to protect your organization, and four steps you can take to minimize danger in your workplace.

What is Human Trafficking?

Public understanding of human trafficking is often clouded by misleading images: migrants packed into shipping containers, smuggled across borders, or hidden in trucks. In reality, human trafficking does not require smuggling, movement, or transportation. Instead, it is a crime of exploitation committed against an individual, with no movement necessary. Human trafficking is generally divided into two categories: sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

Sex Trafficking: This happens when someone is forced, tricked, or pressured into commercial sex acts. If the person is under 18, its considered trafficking even if no force or coercion is involved.

This happens when someone is forced, tricked, or pressured into commercial sex acts. If the person is under 18, its considered trafficking even if no force or coercion is involved. Labor Trafficking: This involves forcing or pressuring someone to work or provide services against their will  often through lies, threats, or manipulation. Victims may feel trapped because of debt, immigration status, or fear of harm.

The Main Federal Law Protecting Victims

The Trafficking Victim Protection and Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) is the key federal law addressing human trafficking. Two provisions are especially important for employers:

There are two criminal offenses related to sex trafficking: when adults are victims, prosecutors must show proof of force, fraud, or coercion; no such proof is required if minors are victims. Both require the prosecution to prove that the defendant knowingly recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, advertises, maintains, patronizes, or solicits a person  or benefits financially or by receiving anything of value, from participating in such a venture.

There is also a civil cause of action where victims can sue not only the traffickers themselves but also anyone who knowingly benefits from participation in the venture that the person knew or should have known was trafficking.

Corporations Can Face Criminal Liability

One of the most striking developments in the anti-trafficking enforcement is the growing use of corporate criminal liability to hold businesses accountable. In United States v. Bhimani, federal prosecutors did not just go after individual wrongdoers, they charged the corporation that owned and operated a Pennsylvania motel where sex trafficking occurred over several years.

The evidence at trial established that employees and managers, including the general manager and a part owner, knowingly rented rooms to traffickers, provided them with favorable terms, and took steps to shield these activities from public view.

As the court explained, a company may be vicariously liable for criminal conduct if the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the criminal act was done by a corporate agent or employee acting within the scope of his authority and with the intent to benefit the corporation.

How Can Your Corporation Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit

Critically, a corporation does not need to have committed the underlying criminal trafficking offense to be held liable for damages and attorneys fees in a civil matter. Under the benefits theory, most courts note that a trafficking victim must prove three things:

The defendant knowingly received money or something of value

or something of value From participating in a venture

in a venture That it knew of should have known was engaged in trafficking

Knowingly Benefit

Generally, courts have interpreted knowingly benefit broadly. Victims are not required to prove a direct link between a defendants affirmative conduct and the act of trafficking. It is enough to show that the defendant knowingly received a financial benefit from participating in a venture  even without actual knowledge of trafficking activities.

Participation in a Venture

Participation does not necessarily require actual knowledge of trafficking crimes, but it does require some connection  typically a continuous business relationship with the trafficker that shows a pattern of conduct or at least a tacit agreement. A pattern of turning a blind eye or failing to intervene when red flags emerge can meet this standard.

For example, courts have found that a global hotel franchisor may be said to have participated in a venture under the TVPRA when:

It profited from rooms rented by trafficker while failing to implement trafficking prevention training programs;

Collected payments, identification, and data from traffickers using hotel Wi-Fi; and

Exercised board control over franchisee operations but failed to intervene to stop trafficking.

However, in analyzing similar facts, the 11thCircuit Court of Appeals held that a hotel franchisor did not participate in a sex trafficking venture when plaintiffs framed the venture too narrowly  as participation in a sex trafficking enterprise rather than the franchising business relationship itself.

Knew or Should Have Known

Finally, victims must show that the defendant knew or should have known about the venture they benefited from was engaged in sex trafficking. The focus here is often on what a defendant should have known based on red flags that a reasonable person would have recognized as evidence of something suspicious. In hotel cases, common indicators include:

Paying for stays in cash;

Renting rooms day-to-day for extended periods;

Frequent requests for linen changes;

Large quantities of condoms found in trash bins; and

Unusually large numbers of male visitors coming in and out of rooms.

Several courts have concluded that given the widespread nature of sex trafficking at hotels, a franchisors failure to implement training or preventative measures can meet the should have known standard. However, one federal court in New York drew a critical distinction between hotel operators and franchisors, rejecting the proposition that franchisors could be liable for abstract awareness of sex trafficking at their branded properties.

Here Are Four Steps Employers Can Take to Minimize Liability

Now that you have a better understanding of the ways in which your organization can get caught up in a trafficking situation, here are some steps you can take to minimize liability and reduce dangers in your workplace.

1. Implement Comprehensive Policies and Training

Develop clear anti-trafficking policies and require training for employees on how to spot and report trafficking activities. Some states, in fact, mandate that certain industries provide human trafficking training to their workforce (such as California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and others). Your policies should:

Define what trafficking is and clarify zero tolerance

Identify industry-specific red flags and indicators

Detail reporting procedures and non-retaliation protections

Be incorporated into your broader Code of Conduct

Training should be tailored by role. For example, front-desk workers may need different guidance than warehouse supervisors or procurement officers. Use real-world scenarios, update training annually, and document attendance.

2. Establish Robust Reporting Mechanisms

Create accessible reporting channels for employees and their parties to report suspected trafficking and act promptly when concerns are raised. Merely posting a hotline isnt enough. To be effective, your reporting process should:

Offer anonymous and confidential reporting options (e.g., third-party hotline, app, or web portal)

and reporting options (e.g., third-party hotline, app, or web portal) Be accessible in multiple languages

Be accompanied by whistleblower protections to encourage use

to encourage use Include a defined triage and escalation process to ensure reports are evaluated and addressed

Train managers and HR to know how to respond sensitively and appropriately to trafficking-related concerns.

3. Monitor Business Practices and Third-Party Relationships

Risk doesnt end at your front door. Companies are increasingly held responsible for trafficking that occurs in their supply chains or vendor relationships. Key practices include:

Conduct due diligence when selecting contractors, suppliers, and business partners

when selecting contractors, suppliers, and business partners Include anti-trafficking clauses in contracts that require compliance, training, and audits

in contracts that require compliance, training, and audits Regularly audit for indicators of forced labor , such as withholding of passports, excessive recruitment fees, or poor living conditions

, such as withholding of passports, excessive recruitment fees, or poor living conditions Designate a compliance officer or team responsible for overseeing anti-trafficking efforts, empowered to investigate and enforce corrective measures when necessary.

4. Conduct a Risk Assessment and Document Your Efforts

While not required by law, conducting a trafficking risk assessment can significantly reduce liability. Steps include:

Mapping out where your operations and workforce are most vulnerable (e.g., use of temp labor, franchising, overseas sourcing)

Identifying past complaints, lawsuits, or audit failures

Documenting all training, investigations, and remedial actions  paper trails matter in litigation and agency investigations

Showing a good faith effort to prevent trafficking is often a companys strongest defense.

Conclusion

While the risks associated with sex trafficking liability are serious, they are manageable for employers who act thoroughly and decisively. If you have any questions, contact your Fisher Phillips attorney, the author of this Insight, or any attorneys in our Hospitality Team, Agriculture Team, or Technology Industry Team.

Lawrence Hilton is an associate in the Fisher Phillips' Charlotte office and has over ten years of legal experience. Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Lawrence served as an Assistant United States Attorney in The United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Indiana. While at the U.S. Attorneys Office, he managed a case load, which included the prosecution of multinational drug organizations, complex fraud, death penalty, and human trafficking cases. Prior to leaving the U.S. Attorneys Office he served as the Human Trafficking Coordinator for the Southern District of Indiana. Lawrence has extensive trial experience, having tried over 60 felony jury trials.

This article originally appeared on HospitalityLawyer.com.
Miraval The Red Sea Residences - Image Credit Hyatt



Miraval Resorts & Spas, in collaboration with Red Sea Global, will introduce Miraval The Red Sea Residences, featuring twenty beach villas in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for late 2025.

Miraval Resorts & Spas has announced the upcoming launch of Miraval The Red Sea Residences in Saudi Arabia. This new development, set to open in late 2025, will feature twenty exclusive beach villas on Shura Island, located on the Red Sea Coast. This marks the brand's first venture into residential offerings outside the United States.

The residences will be part of the larger Miraval The Red Sea resort, the brands first international adults-only resort. The resort will include 160 suites and guestrooms and is part of The Red Sea Project, a significant tourism development initiative by Saudi Arabia to create a premier leisure destination while enhancing the natural environment.

Each villa at Miraval The Red Sea Residences will offer one to four bedrooms, with sizes up to over 5,000 square feet. These homes are designed to integrate holistic living with a focus on well-being, featuring private swimming pools, spacious living areas, and expansive terraces. Foster + Partners leads the architectural design, while the Rockwell Group crafts the interiors, emphasizing a connection to the natural surroundings through their design and materials.

Residents of these villas will have access to dedicated services to provide comfort and privacy. This includes personalized itineraries and wellbeing activities that incorporate local culture and heritage. The broader resort will also feature a Life in Balance Spa, the largest on the island, spanning 40,000 square feet with 39 treatment rooms.

The Red Sea Residences are part of a broader effort under The Red Sea Project to promote regenerative tourism. The project spans 10,800 square miles and includes a diverse natural landscape of coastline, islands, and ecological reserves. The development is strategically positioned to attract international visitors, facilitated by access through the dedicated Red Sea International Airport.
Peggy's Cove, N.S. - Image Credit Unsplash

The Conference Board of Canada predicts a potential $8.8 billion boost to Canada's domestic tourism due to decreased travel to the U.S. amid trade tensions.

Political and economic conflicts, including a tariff dispute initiated by the U.S., have spurred a "Buy Canadian" movement, influencing travel decisions within Canada.

Craig Lord of The Canadian Press reports that in light of recent U.S. trade policies and the ensuing tariff disputes initiated in early March by President Donald Trump, Canada's tourism sector may see a significant shift. A report from the Conference Board of Canada, released on May 29, 2025, suggests that the domestic tourism industry could benefit by as much as $8.8 billion due to a decrease in Canadians' travel to the United States. This projection is based on a survey indicating that only 27% of Canadians are considering U.S. travel in the coming years, a sharp decline from over 50% in previous surveys.

The report highlights a notable decrease in Canadians traveling to the U.S. by car, with a 35.2% year-over-year drop recorded in April. This marks the fourth consecutive month of decline, a trend that Kiefer Van Mulligen, a senior economist at the Conference Board and author of the report, attributes to the current political and economic conflicts. This shift is further evidenced by an increase in Canadians planning trips to other international destinations, though many opt to redirect their travel plans domestically.

The weakening Canadian dollar, affected by the tariff dispute, is expected to discourage travel to the U.S. further and encourage domestic tourism. Van Mulligen suggests that redirecting even a portion of what they would typically spend on U.S. travel to domestic tourism could significantly bolster the Canadian economy. This could involve Canadians spending more on longer and farther domestic trips.

However, the report also cautions that an economic slowdown prompted by the trade dispute could lead Canadians to curb their spending, potentially opting for more affordable "staycations." For instance, an Ontario family might choose a local camping trip over a more expensive U.S. vacation. This conservative spending could mitigate the overall positive impact on Canadian tourism.

Additionally, the report notes a decline in American visitors to Canada, which is traditionally the largest source of inbound travelers. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada has expressed concern over the prolonged reduction of U.S. visitors, highlighting the potential threats to the viability of tourism operators and the livelihoods of over two million Canadians employed in the sector.

In response to these challenges, the tourism industry has called for increased international marketing of Canada as a travel destination and streamlined entry processes for international visitors. Despite the tensions, Canada aims to maintain a welcoming stance towards American tourists, focusing criticism on U.S. administration policies rather than the American people.
Crowne Plaza Katowice Hotel - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts



IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the upcoming opening of Crowne Plaza Katowice in Poland, set for 2026.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its presence in Poland with the addition of a new hotel, Crowne Plaza Katowice, slated to open in 2026. This development is in collaboration with DL Invest (Landlord) and Hotel & More (Tenant and Franchisee).

The new property will be located on Katowice Central Highway, adjacent to Silesia City, the largest shopping mall in the region. This location is strategically chosen for its proximity to major transportation links and local attractions, including the Katowice International Congress Centre and Spodek Arena. The site is also well-served by public transport, enhancing accessibility for international and domestic visitors.

Crowne Plaza Katowice will feature 178 guest rooms distributed across six floors. The hotel will offer a variety of amenities, including a restaurant, a lobby cafe, and extensive meeting and event spaces. These facilities are designed to cater to both large business conferences and smaller, more private gatherings.

This new addition will join Crowne Plaza Warsaw - The HUB as the second Crowne Plaza property in Poland. It is part of a broader expansion within Europe, where Crowne Plaza currently operates 90 hotels and has an additional 17 properties under development.
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Berkshire Green Drinks to Discuss Rat Poison Hazards and Proposed Legislation

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Green Drinks will host a discussion on the potential hazards of rat poison to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, along with information regarding pending legislation in Massachusetts aimed at restricting its use.

The event, titled "Rescue Raptors: Regulate Rat Poison," will feature local activists Peggy White and Richard Clapper.

The free event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, and will be accessible both online via Zoom and in person at Hot Plate Brewing Co., located at 1 School St. An in-person social gathering is planned to begin around 5:15 PM, with the presentation and Zoom meeting commencing at 6:00 PM.

White and Clapper will discuss their involvement in efforts to protect birds of prey and other predators in Massachusetts from rodenticides. They are reportedly working with Mass Audubon to advocate for restrictions on anticoagulant rodenticides, which they state are not only lethal to rodents but also to animals that consume them.

According to the announcement, predators such as raptors and coyotes play a role in maintaining ecological balance. The speakers contend that these animals are being poisoned after feeding on poisoned rodents, leading to internal bleeding and death.

Anticoagulant Rodenticides (ARs) are described as toxins intended for rodent control, but their effects can extend to non-target species, including household pets like dogs and cats, as well as various wildlife and potentially humans. The announcement states that ARs can remain in a rodent's system for several days, posing a risk to any animal that comes into contact with them.

Massachusetts lawmakers are currently considering S. 644 / H. 965: An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment. Supporters believe this legislation could significantly aid in the protection of wildlife, pets, and people, but its passage is contingent on public support.

The event is organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and co-sponsored by Hot Plate Brewing Co. It is part of the monthly Berkshire Green Drinks series, which features speakers on environmentally related topics followed by discussion and a question-and-answer session.
Free Wild Edible Plant Hike in Great Barrington

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Join Russ Cohen, author of the book "Wild Plants I Have Knownand Eaten," and Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for a 3-hour hike in the BNRC's Alford Springs Reserve on Sunday, June 8, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM.

Participants will learn about at least two dozen species of edible wild plants. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as general guidelines for safe, ethical, and environmentally-responsible foraging.

This walk has a participant limit. Registration is required. Learn more and register at this link: https://BEAT-wild-edible-plant-hike.eventbrite.com

Be Advised: The planned loop for the hike is somewhat strenuous, with substantial elevation gain and loss, so this walk is recommended only for fit participants with the proper hiking gear.
State Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle visited three dairy farms in Western Massachusetts on Monday to recognize National Dairy Month, including Maple Shade Farm in Sheffield. Morven Allen tells Randle about the farm. The commissioner grew up on a dairy farm. The Allens give a tour of the dairy barn. Students from the Massachusetts Agriculture Youth Council also toured the farms. PreviousNext

MDAR Commissioner Visits Berkshire Dairy Farms



Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle presented father and son farmers Morven and Ian Allen with National Dairy Month proclamation. The Allen farm was the third she'd visited on Monday morning.

SHEFFIELD, Mass.  State Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle visited three dairy farms in Western Massachusetts on Monday to recognize National Dairy Month.

"It's an opportunity to learn about dairies, how they're diversifying ways that we can support them at the state level, and also to highlight the impacts of our investments at the state level," Randle said.

Randle visited three farms, Pine Island Farm and Maple Shade Farm in Sheffield, and Luther Belden Farm in Hatfield.

"So many of these farms have gone through the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program and have protected their land in perpetuity," Randle said. "In the Berkshires, the land cost being so high, it's a way for dairies to remain viable and to protect the land that they're farming on. The dairy tax credit is another program that has really helped to sustain the overall viability of the dairy sector in Massachusetts, and so we heard from farms about the impacts of that program, and then our other grant programs that provide for infrastructure improvements on the farm, climate related, soil health related.

"It's been a great opportunity to hear directly from the farmers."

At Maple Shade Farm, also known as the Allen farm, father and son duo Morven and Ian Allen, hosted the Department of Agricultural Resources officials as well as some students as a part of the Massachusetts Agriculture Youth Council.

"For the students that came out today, it's an opportunity for them to see different styles of dairy farms. Certainly, from our first farm to this farm, there's different ways that they manage their land," said Randle. "The first farm had an anaerobic digester, which was unique for the youth to see, but it's also a way to position them to be more knowledgeable as they go through their careers and to help with their career exploration."

Randle said she loves to connect with dairy farmers as she grew up on a dairy farm, and it helps to know what her office can do to help them.

"I grew up on a fifth-generation dairy farm in Western Massachusetts, so for me to be able to connect with the dairy farmers is always really special. And every time we have an opportunity to visit the dairy farms and hear what's happening, it's a great opportunity for me to connect and learn about what challenges they're anticipating for the year ahead, how we can either adapt our programs or provide technical assistance to the farms, if it's weather related challenges or whatever it may be that they're experiencing," she said.

At Maple Shade Farm, the Allens showed everyone around and talked to the students about what they do.

Olivia Silvernail of Adams, a student at Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire, is in the school's environmental science pathway. She loves animals and wildlife and said she is still figuring out what exactly she wants to do. Her tour of the farms are helping her to figure that out.

"Adams isn't a very big farming town, well it used to be but it's not really anymore, so I don't get to go around and see a lot of farms. This is a really good experience learning about how cows get milked, the processes for that and everything like that, and it's kind of just fun and I can get a smile on my face because I get to see cows," she said.

She also said she was thinking about doing more conservation but Monday's event has made her think she may want to go more into an agriculture program or if she could mix the two.

Natalie Minster, a student from Bristol County Agricultural High School, would like to work in the dairy industry. She said it was great to see and learn about the different ways farmers work.

"It's cool to see different ways that people arrange their farms, like these people have their pens for their fresh cows and then they sort them based on production and just the mentality that different farmers have for how they arrange their farm making things economical and just being able to get different perspectives is really cool and interesting," she said.

The Allens have owned the farm for 20 years, starting out with only two cows.

The farm now has about 500 milking cows, and about 1,200 animals in total. They grow their own soy beans, corn, and hay. The farm is a part of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program and has received an APR Improvement Program of $75,000 in 2011 to construct a feed and equipment storage building, a Climate Smart Agricultural program of $50,000 for manure management, and $3,209 through the Energy Grant Program for a variable speed pump to become more energy efficient.

Ian Allen says he feels grateful to be a farmer in Massachusetts where you can get so much help.

"It's really nice. It shows support, which is great. It's challenging times right now to be a farmer, and I think that it shows support. And we're always super, super excited to host people and talk to them about what we're doing," he said. "I think if we didn't have as much support as we do in Massachusetts, I think we'd be very, very hard pressed to have any farms left in Massachusetts, whether they be vegetable farms, dairy farms, whatever kind of farms they are, our climate ...

"I mean, everything is kind of stacked against us, so the support from the people that live in Massachusetts and also the legislation, so like, Ashley, and it's fantastic. It's the only reason why we're still here."

Ian said farmers are facing challenges, one of them being the climate change as well as tariffs on goods.

"The trade agreements that right now are kind of getting talked about and getting happening and not happening are really negatively affecting us," he said. "So just an example, Mexico is a huge importer of dairy products, and they're one of our largest and then Canada is a huge exporter to the United States of grain, so a lot of the farms in the Northeast, especially dairy farms, the grain we feed is from Canada.

"So the negative impacts we've had on that side and the negative impacts we've had on the other side, south have both kind of correlated together, and it has made it very difficult financially for us."

The price of Canadian grain has jumped up about 15 percent, Ian said, so one of their future goals is to be able to produce their own. They are also planning to retrofit one of their barns to add 100 more cows.

Randle gave Ian and Morven Allen a governor's proclamation recognizing June as dairy month.
NEW YORK, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. Titled "Encounters in the Milky Way," the immersive show will open to the public on June 9. As the 7th space show from the museum's Hayden Planetarium, it has been developed by a team of astronomers, scientific visualization experts, and artists, and designed to explore the dynamic movements of the universe, tracing the Milky Way's past over billions of years and projecting its future across millions more. The space show is presented in a theater equipped with a high-resolution projection system and immersive sound, giving the audience the sensation of traveling through space and experiencing the galaxy up close. The show has been particularly supported by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, also called the "billion-star survey," a project aimed at mapping the precise positions, distances, and motions of nearly 2 billion stars in the Milky Way, according to Jackie Faherty, curator of the show. "Gaia dropped a map that all humans should be proud of," said Faherty at a media preview event on Tuesday. "We mapped the cosmos in a way, and the Milky Way really is the star of it, in a way we had never been able to do before," she added. The vast amount of detailed star movement data provides an unparalleled visual experience, including some brand-new experiences, such as the first visualization of the dramatic and ongoing merger of the Milky Way with smaller satellite galaxies. The production team spent approximately one and a half years creating this 25-minute show. Six months were primarily spent searching for data sets, developing outlines and methods, recruiting staff, and developing technical processes, followed by a year or more of production, according to Vivian Trakinski, producer of the show and the director of science visualization of the museum. "This show has more simulation data than our past shows. We have a new sound system in the dome, which is composed of 34 speakers, which was a great opportunity to specialize the motion that we present in the show. So in that way, it's much richer and more sophisticated. So it's definitely a continuation of our tradition, but there are things that make it unique," Trakinski told Xinhua. The program is expected to be screened at the museum for about three years. Faherty expressed the hope that the space show as an introduction to the globe and the map of the cosmos would lead people to explore the data available to everybody, make discoveries and walk away wanting to be scientists. To date, the museum's space shows have been seen by more than 15 million visitors and have been distributed to 160 institutions across 40 countries worldwide, according to a release by the American Museum of Natural History, which is one of the world's most distinguished scientific and cultural institutions, with a history of more than 120 years.


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South Koreas new president said he would seek dialogue with rival North Korea to build lasting peace while bolstering a trilateral partnership with allies US and Japan.

In his inaugural address, delivered just hours after his election victory, Lee Jae Myung emphasised that his administration would respond to any potential provocation from the North, relying on strong deterrence rooted in the South Korea-US military alliance.

He added, however, that Seoul would open channels of communication and pursue dialogue and cooperation with the North to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Mr Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Koreas leading liberal politician, vowing to fight inequality and corruption, won a snap election on Tuesday that was caused by the removal of Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year.

According to the National Election Commissions final tally on Wednesday, Mr won the presidency with 49.42 per cent of the vote, defeating People Power Partys Kim Moon Soo, who received 41.15 per cent. Reform Partys candidate Lee Jun Seok garnered 8.34 per cent, falling short of the 10 per cent threshold required for campaign reimbursement. Democratic Labor Partys Kwon Young Gook received just 0.98 per cent.

The snap election saw a voter turnout of 79.4 per cent, the highest for a presidential election since 1997.

Given that his Democratic Party commands a dominant majority in the National Assembly, Mr Lee has the political backing to be South Koreas most powerful leader since its democratic transition in 1987. Mr Lees term began immediately without the usual two-month transition period after the National Election Commission formally confirmed his victory on Wednesday morning.

Referring to the global trade chaos triggered by US president Donald Trumps tariffs, Mr Lee warned in his speech that such economic shifts threatened his countrys survival.

The rapid changes in the global order such as rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose a threat to our very survival, he said.

open image in gallery People watch the inauguration ceremony of South Korea's president Lee Jae Myung outside the National Assembly in Seoul on 4 June 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

Mr Lee vowed to heal a nation deeply divided by former leader Yoon Suk Yeols imposition of martial law, his impeachment and eventual removal from office.

It is time to restore security and peace, which have been reduced to tools of political strife; to rebuild livelihoods and the economy damaged by indifference, incompetence and irresponsibility; and to revive democracy undermined by armoured vehicles and automatic rifles, he said. No matter whom you supported in this election, I will serve as a president for all to embrace and serve every citizen.

The new president promised to take a pragmatic and market-oriented economic approach focused on boosting growth and advancing technologies like AI and semiconductors.

He also pledged to make a government that supports and encourages, not one that controls.

open image in gallery South Korea's newly elected president Lee Jae Myung waves from his car as he departs to the presidential office from the National Assembly following his inauguration in Seoul on 4 June 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

He said he would pursue pragmatic diplomacy and boost a trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation based on the South Korea-US alliance. We will strengthen South Korea-US-Japan cooperation based on a solid Korea-US alliance and approach relations with neighbouring countries from the perspective of practicality and national interest, he said.

In a phone call with Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung Soo, Mr Lee asked the military to keep a track of North Korean moves and maintain readiness, according to local media.

He later visited the national cemetery in Seoul to pay respects to late Korean leaders, patriots, and war dead buried there.

open image in gallery People cheer as they watch the inauguration ceremony of South Korea's president Lee Jae Myung outside the National Assembly in Seoul on 4 June 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

At about 1.14am local time, as soon as it became clear that he had clinched victory, Mr Lee spoke in front of the National Assembly.

Fellow Koreans, your first mission for me is to bring the insurrection to a definitive end and ensure the military never uses your own weapons against you in a coup, he said.

I pledge to restore our democracy and build a world in which your sovereignty is respected inside the community of our democratic republic, a world in which we tolerate and cooperate with each other.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio welcomed Mr Lees election, reaffirming Washingtons commitment to its alliance with South Korea.

We congratulate Lee Jae Myung on his election as the next president of the Republic of Korea. The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values and deep economic ties, he said in a statement.

Were also modernising the alliance to meet the demands of todays strategic environment and address new economic challenges. We will also continue to deepen US-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles.

open image in gallery People cheer as they watch the inauguration ceremony of South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung outside the National Assembly in Seoul on 4 June 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

Japans prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, emphasised continued cooperation with the neighbouring nation. The importance of Japan-South Korea relations remains unchanged under the current strategic environment, he said. The cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States is also important.

Mr Ishiba also said the two countries should hold a bilateral summit as soon as possible.

European Council president Antonio Costa expressed hope of deepening ties with Seoul, praising South Koreas global role and shared democratic values. Looking forward to deepening our strategic partnership as key allies in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, he said.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was showing visible signs of stress, including greying hair, following the embarrassing warship launch failure on 21 May, South Korean media claimed.

According to Korea Now, Mr Kims greying strands were drawing widespread attention, even overshadowing his decision to demote a top military official and detain others involved in what he called a criminal act that had damaged national dignity.

The outlet claimed that Mr Kims first public appearance since the botched launch had prompted speculation that the stress from the incident could be taking a visible toll.

The warship, a Choe Hyon-class destroyer, capsized as it was being launched in the presence of Mr Kim. However, satellite imagery from 2 June showed it had been brought upright, though still damaged and stuck at the bow, North Korea monitor 38 North programme, said in a report.

Workers were seen manually pulling tethers and possibly using barrage balloons to upright the vessel, according to the report. The images showed the ships bow still grounded, with potential damage to its sonar system, Reuters reported.

To repair this, the ship will need to be moved out of the water to either a large floating drydock or graving dock once afloat, 38 North said. However, Chongjins shipyard does not offer this infrastructure.

It noted, however, that the commercial satellite imagery shows workers at the port in Chongjin have taken a significant step towards that goal.

The vessels current position  upright but with the bow on the launch mechanism  suggests they may intend to repair the bow first.

open image in gallery An aerial view of a ceremony for launching a new multipurpose destroyer in Nampo, North Korea, on 26 April 2025 ( REUTERS )

Mr Kim unveiled the Choe Hyon in April as the countrys first new destroyer in decades and announced plans to expand its naval fleet with more destroyers, cruisers and frigates. The capsized ship was Pyongyangs second known destroyer.

Its botched launch remains an embarrassment for Mr Kim, who is keen to strengthen his navy to counter what he describes as US-led military threats.

State media KCNA called the launch failure a serious accident that had happened due to inexperienced command and operational carelessness.

In the wake of the accident, North Korea detained several officials, including the shipyards chief engineer.

open image in gallery North Korean destroyer lying on its side ( Airbus )

Mr Kim described the incident as a criminal act caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which should never occur and could not be tolerated, according to KCNA, and ordered the ship to be restored.

Shipyard workers reportedly used large white balloons around the partially submerged 5,000-tonne warship to prevent it from sinking.

Satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed the vessel tipped on its side and covered under blue tarps. Although the exact purpose of the balloons was uncertain, experts suggested they were likely being used to aid in the rapid repair of the destroyer, according to CNN.

It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship but to prevent it from further flooding, Yu Yong Weon, a South Korean National Assembly lawmaker and military analyst, told the outlet.
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On this small island in rural Nagasaki, Japan, a community of Hidden Christians gathers to worship what they call the Closet God.

In a special room, barely larger than a tatami mat, hangs a scroll painting of a kimono-clad Asian woman. She may resemble a Buddhist Bodhisattva holding a baby, but for the faithful, this is a concealed version of Mary and the baby Jesus. Another scroll shows a man wearing a kimono covered with camellias, an allusion to John the Baptists beheading and martyrdom.

Among the other objects of worship are relics from an era when Christians in Japan were forced to conceal their faith to avoid vicious persecution, including a ceramic bottle of holy water from Nakaenoshima, an island where Hidden Christians were martyred in the 1620s.

Little about the icons in the tiny, easy-to-miss room can be linked directly to Christianity - and thats the point.

After emerging from cloistered isolation in 1865, following more than 200 years of violent harassment by Japans insular warlord rulers, many of the formerly underground Christians converted to mainstream Catholicism.

Some, however, continued to practice not the religion that 16th-century foreign missionaries originally taught them, but the idiosyncratic, difficult to detect version theyd nurtured during centuries of clandestine cat-and-mouse with a brutal regime.

On Ikitsuki and other remote sections of Nagasaki prefecture, Hidden Christians still pray to these disguised objects. They still chant in a Latin that hasnt been widely used in centuries. And they still cherish a religion that directly links them to a time of samurai, shoguns and martyred missionaries and believers.

open image in gallery A scroll of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, once secretly worshipped, hangs at a home ( AP )

Now, though, the Hidden Christians are dying out, and there is growing certainty that their unique version of Christianity will die with them.

Almost all are now elderly, and as the young move away to cities or turn their backs on the faith, those remaining are desperate to preserve evidence of this offshoot of Christianity - and convey to the world what its loss will mean.

At this point, Im afraid we are going to be the last ones, said Masatsugu Tanimoto, 68, one of the few who can still recite the Latin chants that his ancestors learned 400 years ago. It is sad to see this tradition end with our generation.

Hidden Christians cling to a unique version of the religion

Christianity spread rapidly in 16th century Japan when Jesuit priests had spectacular success converting warlords and peasants alike, most especially on the southern main island of Kyushu, where the foreigners established trading ports in Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands, by some estimates, embraced the religion.

That changed after the shoguns began to see Christianity as a threat. The crackdown that followed in the early 17th century was fierce, with thousands killed and the remaining believers chased underground.

As Japan opened up to foreign influence, a dozen Hidden Christians clad in kimonos cautiously declared their faith and their remarkable perseverance to a French Catholic priest in March 1865 in Nagasaki city.

Many became Catholics after Japan formally lifted the ban on Christianity in 1873.

But others chose to stay Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians), continuing to practice what their ancestors preserved during their days underground.

Their rituals provide a direct link to a vanished Japan

In new interviews, Hidden Christians spoke of a deep communal bond stemming from a time when a lapse could doom a practitioner or their neighbours.

Hidden Christians were forced to hide all visible signs of their religion after the 1614 ban on Christianity and the expulsion of foreign missionaries. Households took turns hiding precious ritual objects and hosting the secret services that celebrated both faith and persistence.

open image in gallery Masatsugu Tanimoto, from left, Yoshitaka Oishi and Yoshinori Yamamoto chant Orasho, recitation of Latin chants, in the Ikitsuki Island Museum Shima no Yakata ( AP )

This still happens today, with the observance of rituals unchanged since the 16th century.

The group leader in the Ikitsuki area is called Oji, which means father or elderly man in Japanese. Members take turns in the role, presiding over baptisms, funerals and ceremonies for New Year, Christmas and local festivals.

Different communities worship different icons and have different ways of performing the rituals.

In Sotome, for instance, people prayed to a statue of what they called Maria Kannon, a genderless Bodhisattva of mercy, as a substitute for Mary.

In Ibaragi, where about 18,000 residents embraced Christianity in the 1580s, a lacquer bowl with a cross painted on it, a statue of the crucified Christ and an ivory statue of Mary were found hidden in what was called a box not to be opened.

Their worship revolves around reverence for ancestors

Many Hidden Christians rejected Catholicism after the persecution ended because Catholic priests refused to recognise them as real Christians unless they agreed to be rebaptised and abandon the Buddhist altars that their ancestors used.

They are very proud of what they and their ancestors have believed in for hundreds of years, even at the risk of their lives, said Emi Mase-Hasegawa, a religion studies professor at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo.

open image in gallery Masatsugu Tanimoto, a farmer and a community leader who is one of only hundreds of so-called hidden Christians on the island of Ikitsuki ( AP )

Tanimoto believes his ancestors continued the Hidden Christian traditions because becoming Catholic meant rejecting Buddhism and Shintoism, which had become a strong part of their daily lives underground.

Im not a Christian, Tanimoto said. Even though some of their Latin chants focus on the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, their prayers are also meant to ask our ancestors to protect us, to protect our daily lives, he said. We are not doing this to worship Jesus or Mary.  Our responsibility is to faithfully carry on the way our ancestors had practised.

Archaic Latin chants are an important part of the religion

Hidden Christians ceremonies often include the recitation of Latin chants, called Orasho.

The Orasho comes from the original Latin or Portuguese prayers brought to Japan by 16th-century missionaries.

Recently, on Ikitsuki, three men performed a rare Orasho. All wore dark formal kimonos and solemnly made the sign of the cross in front of their faces before starting their prayers - a mix of archaic Japanese and Latin.

Tanimoto, a farmer, is the youngest of only four men who can recite Orasho in his community. As a child, he regularly saw men performing Orasho on tatami mats before an altar when neighbours gathered for funerals and memorials.

open image in gallery A notebook of handwritten orasho prayers passed down orally for generations ( AP )

About 40 years ago, in his mid-20s, he took Orasho lessons from his uncle so he could pray to the Closet God that his family has kept for generations.

Tanimoto still has a weathered copy of a prayer his grandfather wrote with a brush and ink, like the ones his ancestors had diligently copied from older generations.

As he carefully turned the pages of the Orasho book, Tanimoto said he mostly understands the Japanese but not the Latin. Its difficult, he said, but we just memorise the whole thing.

Today, because funerals are no longer held at homes and younger people are leaving the island, Orasho is only performed two or three times a year.

Researchers and believers acknowledge that the tradition is dying

There are few studies of Hidden Christians, so its not clear how many still exist.

There were an estimated 30,000 in Nagasaki, including about 10,000 in Ikitsuki, in the 1940s, according to government figures. But the last confirmed baptism ritual was in 1994, and some estimates say there are fewer than 100 Hidden Christians left on Ikitsuki.

Hidden Christianity is linked to the communal ties that formed when Japan was a largely agricultural society. Those ties crumbled as the country modernised after WWII, with recent developments revolutionising peoples lives, even in rural Japan.

The accompanying decline in the population of farmers and young people, along with women increasingly working outside of the home, has made it difficult to maintain the tight networks that nurtured Hidden Christianity.

In a society of growing individualism, it is difficult to keep Hidden Christianity as it is, said Shigeo Nakazono, the head of a local folklore museum who has researched and interviewed Hidden Christians for 30 years. Hidden Christianity has a structural weakness, he said, because there are no professional religious leaders tasked with teaching doctrine and adapting the religion to environmental changes.

Nakazono has started collecting artefacts and archiving video interviews hes done with Hidden Christians since the 1990s, seeking to preserve a record of the endangered religion.

Mase-Hasegawa agreed that Hidden Christianity is on its way to extinction. As a researcher, it will be a huge loss, she said.

Masashi Funabara, 63, a retired town hall official, said most of the nearby groups have disbanded over the last two decades. His group, which now has only two families, is the only one left, down from nine in his district. They meet only a few times a year.

open image in gallery Masashi Funabara, a retired city hall employee and a hidden Christian ( AP )

The amount of time we are responsible for these holy icons is only about 20 to 30 years, compared to the long history when our ancestors kept their faith in fear of persecution. When I imagined their suffering, I felt that I should not easily give up, Funabara said.

Just as his father did when memorising the Orasho, Funabara has written down passages in notebooks; he hopes his son, who works for the local government, will one day agree to be his successor.

Tanimoto also wants his son to keep the tradition alive. Hidden Christianity itself will go extinct sooner or later, and that is inevitable, but I hope it will go on at least in my family, he said. Thats my tiny glimmer of hope.
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An Indonesian man convicted for his role in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings has started a coffee business following his release on parole.

Umar Patek , who was a member of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, has pledged to donate a portion of the business's earnings to support survivors of the attacks.

Patek was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2012 after being found guilty of constructing the bombs that devastated two Bali nightclubs, resulting in the deaths of 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians.

He was granted parole in 2022 and has since issued an apology to the victims. His release triggered outrage in both Australia and Indonesia .

The launch of Patek's coffee business was marked by a banner displaying his face at a cafe in Surabaya, Java. The cafe is owned by dentist David Andreasmito, who will be using coffee beans supplied and roasted by Patek.

"I was still shell-shocked by the outside world," Patek said, adding he had trouble finding work after his release and was worried his image would affect the business.

"The stigma of a former terrorism convict made it hard for me to find work," he said.

The wreckage of the Sari night club in Bali after the bomb attack in 2002 ( AP2002 )

Patek said he understood that many people were still angry with him but pleaded to them "not to let that doubt stick", adding he would give portions of his earnings to survivors.

David said he went into business with Patek because he had apologised and wanted people to give him a second chance.

Since Patek's release, Indonesian authorities have highlighted him as an example of the deradicalisation efforts launched by the world's most populous Muslim-majority country to counter a resurgence in Islamic militancy.

Chusnul Chotimah, a survivor of the Bali attacks who is covered in burn scars and says she struggles to pay for life-saving treatments, jostled in front of the crowd to speak to Patek at the launch.

"I used to have grudges against you," she said. I forgive you for what you did. I know youve changed for the better."

Chusnul later said she hoped Patek could help out the survivors. "Don't just say sorry," she said.

Tumini, another survivor, said in Bali's capital Denpasar that she is still struggling to pay for her treatment and that government aid should be prioritised for victims still in recovery.
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Three British nationals accused of smuggling over two pounds of cocaine into Indonesia are facing the death penalty under the countrys strict drug laws.

Jonathan Christopher Collyer, 28, and Lisa Ellen Stocker, 29, were arrested on 1 February after customs officers found suspicious items, disguised as food packages, in their luggage, according to prosecutor I Made Dipa Umbara.

On Tuesday, Mr Umbara told the district court in Denpasar, Bali, that a lab test result confirmed that 10 sachets of Angel Delight powdered dessert mix in Collyers luggage, combined with seven similar sachets in his partners suitcase, contained 993.56 grams (2.19 pounds) of cocaine.

The drugs were worth an estimated 6 billion rupiah (272,212), Mr Umbara said.

Two days later, authorities arrested Phineas Ambrose Float, 31, after a controlled delivery set up by police in which the other two suspects allegedly handed the drug to him in the parking area of a hotel in Denpasar. He is being tried separately.

The drugs were brought from England to Indonesia with a transit in the Doha international airport in Qatar, Umbara said.

The trio could face the death penalty in Indonesia ( AP )

The group successfully smuggled cocaine into Bali on two previous occasions before being caught on their third attempt, said Ponco Indriyo, the Deputy Director of the Bali Police Narcotics Unit, during a news conference in Denpasar on 7 February.

After the charges against the group of three were read on Tuesday, the panel of three judges adjourned the trial until 10 June, when the court will hear witness testimony.

Both the defendants and their lawyers declined to comment to media after the trial.

Death row prisoners in Indonesia are sometimes executed by firing squad.

About 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections data showed. Indonesias last executions, of an Indonesian and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016.

A British woman, Lindsay Sandiford, now 69, has been on death row in Indonesia for more than a decade. She was arrested in 2012 when 3.8 kilograms (8.4 pounds) of cocaine was discovered stuffed inside the lining of her luggage at Balis airport. Indonesias highest court upheld the death sentence for Sandiford in 2013.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population.
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A British woman has been found dead on a beach in Thailand famous for hosting full moon parties.

Thai Police said the woman, 54, washed ashore on a beach on Koh Phangan in southern Thailand on Tuesday morning. Officers said there were no signs of assault on her body.

Police Lieutenant Pongnaphat Somboon of the Koh Phangan Police Station said: An X-ray of the victim's body found a large amount of sand and water in her lungs.

We believe the cause of death was drowning. We will call the British Embassy to notify her relatives.

We do not believe there is anything suspicious but CCTV images will be checked to ensure that the death was accidental.

The woman was taken to Koh Phangan hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Local media said the woman had been drinking on Monday night and went swimming at a beach near her bungalow.

Thai newspaper Maticon reported that the woman had been due to check out of her accommodation on June 11 - one day after the islands full moon party.

She was discovered by a local villager Theerapong while he was out walking in the area at 6.30am on Tuesday morning.

Officers inspected her room and found her passport and belongings still there, according to the newspaper.

Full moon party are all-night beach gatherings that take place every month on the Haad Rin Beach on the night of, before or after every full moon. Thousands of backpackers attend the event.

The Independent has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
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Vietnam is changing its population law to remove the two-child limit in an attempt to reverse a plummeting birth rate.

The country has one of the lowest birth rates in Southeast Asia and, like several other Asian nations, has grown concerned about the long-term impact of a falling birth rate.

In March, to address sharp regional differences in birth rates, the health ministry proposed giving couples full autonomy over how many children they wanted to have and when.

On Wednesday, local media reported that the national assembly had approved new regulation to allow families greater freedom in how many children they wanted to have and when.

The previous law encouraged families to have no more than two children, with some exceptions.

According to the health ministry, Vietnam maintained a stable fertility rate of 2.1 from 1999 to 2022. In the past few years, however, the rate has dropped sharply from 1.96 children per woman in 2023 to 1.91 in 2024, the lowest ever recorded.

In fact, 2024 marked the third straight year of falling fertility in Vietnam.

The trend is most evident in economically advanced urban areas, particularly major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where rising costs of living play a significant role.

Experts say Vietnams declining birth rate is driven by work stress, financial pressures, career ambitions, and shifting social norms.

The two-child limit was introduced in 1988 when the birth rate was high but was rarely enforced for non-Communist Party members. For party members, penalties included warnings, reduced bonuses or dismissal.

Vietnam continues to face a gender imbalance as well, driven by a long-standing cultural preference for sons. On Tuesday, the health ministry proposed tripling the fine to curb foetal gender selection to about $3,800, AFP reported, citing state media.

Although there has been some improvement, the birth gender ratio remains skewed, with 112 boys born for every 100 girls.

Many Asian nations like South Korea, Japan and China are struggling with plummeting birth and marriage rates. In South Korea, women cite the burden of childcare, financial strain, and lost career prospects as reasons for not having children.

Japan saw its lowest births in over a century in 2024 while China recorded a 20 per cent drop in marriages despite state efforts to reverse the trend.
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Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum has unveiled a unique addition to its collection: a condom dating back almost 200 years, adorned with erotic art that reflects the city's Red Light District history.

The Rijksmuseum described the condom, thought to be crafted around 1830 from a sheep's appendix, as a depiction of "both the playful and the serious side of sexual health."

The unusual artefact is showcased in the "Safe Sex?" exhibition, which opened on Tuesday and explores the realities of 19th-century sex work. The condom, potentially a souvenir from a brothel, features an erotic image of a nun and three clergymen.

open image in gallery The condom, potentially a souvenir from a brothel, features an erotic image of a nun and three clergymen. ( Rijksmuseum )

The phrase This is my choice is written along the sheath in French. According to the museum, this is a reference to The Judgment of Paris, a story from Greek mythology where the Trojan prince Paris judges a beauty contest between three goddesses.

The museum said: Acquiring the condom has enabled us to focus on 19th-century sexuality and prostitution, a subject that is underrepresented in our collection.

It embodies both the lighter and darker sides of sexual health, in an era when the quest for sensual pleasure was fraught with fears of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases  especially syphilis.

The condom is on display until the end of November.
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Physicists are always searching for new theories to improve our understanding of the universe and resolve big unanswered questions.

But theres a problem. How do you search for undiscovered forces or particles when you dont know what they look like?

Take dark matter. We see signs of this mysterious cosmic phenomenon throughout the universe, but what could it possibly be made of?

Whatever it is, were going to need new physics to understand whats going on.

Thanks to a new experimental result published today, and the new theoretical calculations that accompany it, we may now have an idea what this new physics should look like  and maybe even some clues about dark matter.

Meet the muon

For 20 years, one of the most promising signs of new physics has been a tiny inconsistency in the magnetism of a particle called the muon. The muon is a lot like an electron but is much heavier.

Muons are produced when cosmic rays  high-energy particles from space  hit Earths atmosphere. Roughly 50 of these muons pass through your body every second.

Muons travel through solid objects much better than x-rays, so they are useful for finding out what is inside large structures. For example, they have been used to look for hidden chambers in Egyptian and Mexican pyramids; to study magma chambers inside volcanoes to predict volcanic eruptions; and to safely see inside the Fukushima nuclear reactor after it melted down.

open image in gallery Muons have been used to look for hidden chambers inside pyramids ( AFP via Getty Images )

A tiny crack in physics?

In 2006, researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States measured the strength of the muons magnetism incredibly precisely.

Their measurement was accurate to roughly six parts in 10 billion. This is equivalent to measuring the mass of a loaded freight train to ten grams. This was compared to a similarly impressive theoretical calculation.

When researchers compared the two numbers, they found a tiny but significant difference, indicating a mismatch between theory and experiment. Had they finally found the new physics theyd been looking for?

A better experiment

To find a definitive answer, the international scientific community started a 20-year programme to increase the precision of both results.

The huge electromagnet from the original experiment was loaded onto a barge and shipped down the east coast of the US and then up the Mississippi River to Chicago. There, it was installed at Fermilab for a completely overhauled experiment.

Just this morning, researchers announced they had finished that experiment. Their final result for the strength of the muons magnetism is 4.4 times more precise, at one-and-a-half parts in 10 billion.

open image in gallery Professor Peter Higgs proposed the existence of the Higgs Boson ( AFP via Getty Images )

And better calculations

To keep up, theorists had to make sweeping improvements too. They formed the Muon g-2 Theory Initiative, an international collaboration of more than 100 scientists, dedicated to making an accurate theoretical prediction.

They computed the contributions to the muons magnetism from more than 10,000 factors. They even included a particle called the Higgs boson, which was only discovered in 2012.

But there was one last sticking point: the strong nuclear force, one of the universes four fundamental forces. In particular, computing the largest contribution to the result from the strong nuclear force was no easy feat.

Antimatter vs supercomputers

It was not possible to compute this contribution in the same way as the others, so we needed a different approach.

In 2020, the Theory Initiative turned to collisions between electrons and their antimatter counterparts: positrons. Measurements of these electronpositron collisions provided the missing values we needed.

Put together with all the other parts, this gave a result that strongly disagreed with the latest experimental measurement. The disagreement was almost strong enough to announce the discovery of new physics.

At the same time, I was exploring a different approach. Along with my colleagues in the Budapest-Marseille-Wuppertal collaboration, we performed a supercomputer simulation of this strong contribution.

Our result eliminated the tension between theory and experiment. However, now we had a new tension: between our simulation and the electronpositron results which had withstood 20 years of scrutiny. How could those 20-year-old results be wrong?

open image in gallery Supercomputer simulations were run to explore different approaches

Hints of new physics disappear

Since then, two other groups have produced full simulations that agree with ours, and many more have validated parts of our result. We have also produced a new, overhauled simulation that almost doubles our precision (released as a preprint, which has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal).

To ensure these new simulations werent affected by any preconceptions, they were performed blind. The simulation data was multiplied by an unknown number before being analysed, so we didnt know what a good or bad result would be.

We then held a nerve-wracking and exciting meeting. The blinding factor was revealed, and we found out the results of years of work all at once. After all this, our latest result agrees even better with the experimental measurement of the muons magnetism.

But others emerge

The Muon g-2 Theory Initiative has moved to using the simulation results instead of the electron-positron data in its official prediction, and the hint of new physics seems to be gone.

Except  why does the electronpositron data disagree? Physicists around the globe have studied this question extensively, and one exciting suggestion is a hypothetical particle called a dark photon.

Not only could the dark photon explain the difference between the latest muon results and the electronpositron experiments, but (if it exists) it could also explain how dark matter relates to ordinary matter.

Finn Stokes is a Ramsay Fellow in Physics at the University of Adelaide

This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article
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A British truck driver who murdered his wife and buried her under the stairs at their home has been jailed for life.

Richard Satchwell, 58, had denied the murder of Tina Satchwell at their home in County Cork between March 19 and March 20, 2017.

Yet after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberations, the jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin reached a unanimous guilty verdict last Friday.

On Wednesday at the sentencing, the family of Tina Satchwell, nee Dingivan, described her as a kind and gentle woman who loved animals.

Tinas cousin, Sarah Howard said that Tina was murdered by someone who claimed to love her.

The emotional toll of her loss is something I will carry with me always, she said.

Tinas half-sister Lorraine Howard said the way Tina was buried in plastic in her own home sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it.

I will never be able to forgive Richard Satchwell for what he has done.

open image in gallery Tina Satchwell, who was 45 when she went missing, was last seen alive in her home in Youghal, Co Cork, on March 20, 2017 ( Family Handout/PA )

Satchwell appeared in court on Wednesday in a light blue shirt.

His barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, told the court that Satchwell intends to appeal, and that he never intended to kill Tina.

Mr Grehan also said that Satchwell said despite anything he said in the trial, Tina was a lovely person.

The court was told the couple married in the UK on Tinas 20th birthday, and later settled in Co Cork, first in Fermoy before moving to Youghal in 2016.

The trial heard that on March 24, 2017, Richard Satchwell went to gardai and claimed his wife had left their Youghal home four days ago because their relationship had deteriorated.

Satchwell had also claimed Tina had taken 26,000 euros in cash from savings they kept in the attic, which the court later heard they did not have the capacity to save.

open image in gallery Members of Tina Satchwells family, including Lorraine Howard (left) and Sarah Howard, outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin ( (Brian Lawless/PA) )

He formally reported his wife missing in May 2017 and claimed to investigators that his wife was sometimes violent towards him.

In the following years, he made more than a dozen media appearances in which he spoke extensively about the morning he claimed Tina left the house and never returned.

After her remains were found buried under a concrete floor under the stairs in their home in October 2023, Satchwell claimed that Tina flew at him with a chisel.

He further claimed that to protect himself, he held a dressing gown belt to her neck before she went limp.

His denial of the charge was ultimately rejected by the jury who found him guilty of murder.
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Arsonists were livestreamed as they set fire to a business supplying StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine after being recruited by agents for the terrorist Wagner Group, a court has heard.

Around 1 million of damage was caused by the blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March 20, the Old Bailey was told.

The attack was orchestrated by Dylan Earl, 20 and Jake Reeves, 23, who have admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group and an offence under the National Security Act, jurors heard.

Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, Nii Mensah, 23 and Paul English, 61, were allegedly recruited to set fire to the warehouse.

Opening their trial on Wednesday, Duncan Penny KC said the evidence against them was overwhelming.

He said that CCTV, traffic cameras and phone evidence tracked their journey in Englishs Kia Picanto through south London to the scene of the fire.

open image in gallery Dylan Earl ( Metropolitan Police )

More footage captured Rose and Mensah getting out of the vehicle, climbing over a wall and approaching the warehouses, jurors heard.

Having filled a jerry can en route at a petrol station, Rose poured the contents onto warehouse unit doors and set them alight, it was alleged.

Meanwhile, Mensah filmed the arson attack on his mobile phone and livestreamed it on FaceTime, jurors were told.

Eight fire crews tackled the significant fire on the Cromwell Industrial Estate after it broke out shortly before midnight.

It caused extensive damage to the property and risked the lives of those nearby, he said.

Mr Penny told jurors: This was deliberate and calculated criminality  at the behest of foreign influence.

In the case of these defendants at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial  good old-fashioned greed.

For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.

The prosecutor said the warehouse was targeted for its connection to Ukraine and the fact that the business there was concerned in logistics.

The firm frequently delivered goods to Ukraine, including StarLink satellite equipment, and was involved in organising humanitarian aid, the court was told.

open image in gallery Servicemen of the 68th Oleksa Dovbush Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine set up Starlink satellite internet system, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine April 10, 2025 ( Reuters )

Earl was said to be the architect of the warehouse attack.

He had come into contact with the Wagner Group via a channel on Telegram, the court was told.

Mr Penny said: It appears that Dylan Earl expressed a willingness to undertake missions of which the Leyton arson attack was the first.

It is apparent that Dylan Earl knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian, interests.

Once Reeves discovered the motivation behind it, he was prepared to agree to accept money from a foreign intelligence service to target an individual and businesses in the capital, the jury was told.

Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, and Reeves, of Croydon, have admitted plots to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping their owner on behalf of the Wagner Group, the court heard.

Mr Penny said: You might think that it is self-evident that these actions were designed to influence the government and to intimidate at least a section of the public and furthermore were made for the purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause.

It is also relevant that at least one method of attack on the Mayfair premises discussed between Earl and Evans was by way of explosion.

Rose, of Croydon, Asmena, of no fixed address, Mensah, of Thornton Heath and English, of Roehampton, have denied aggravated arson.

Two other defendants, Ashton Evans, 20, from Newport, Gwent, and Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, from Croydon, are each charged with two counts of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts, which they deny.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
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The BBC has defended its coverage of the war in Gaza following criticism from the White House regarding its reporting of a recent incident in the region which left several dead.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the BBC had to correct and take down its story about fatalities and injuries near an aid distribution centre in Rafah, after updating an articles headline with new information.

In response, the BBC stated that it has not removed its story. The corporation explained that its headlines about the incident were updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources, adding that this is totally normal practice.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Ms Leavitt addressed the incident, saying: The administration is aware of those reports and we are currently looking into the veracity of them because, unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we dont take the word of Hamas with total truth.

open image in gallery White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds up BBC headlines during a briefing at the White House ( AP )

We like to look into it when they speak, unlike the BBC, who had multiple headlines, they wrote, Israeli tank kills 26, Israeli tank kills 21, Israeli gunfire kills 31, Red Cross says, 21 people were killed in an aid incident.

And then, oh, wait, they had to correct and take down their entire story, saying: We reviewed the footage and couldnt find any evidence of anything.

While she was speaking, Ms Leavitt held up a document that appeared to show a social media post from X (Twitter), with the different headlines.

The person who posted the headlines also posted a screenshot from a BBC live blog and wrote: The admission that it was all a lie.

The headline from the blog post read: Claim graphic video is linked to aid distribution site in Gaza is incorrect.

A BBC spokesperson said this came from a BBC Verify online report, and not the corporations story about the killings in Rafah, saying that a viral video posted on social media was not linked to the aid distribution centre it claimed to show.

Ms Leavitt added: Were going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium or before we take action, and I suggest that journalists who actually care about truth do the same to reduce the amount of misinformation thats going around the globe on this front.

A BBC spokesperson said: The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism.

open image in gallery A BBC spokesperson said: The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong ( PA )

Our news stories and headlines about Sundays aid distribution centre incident were updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources.

These were always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of at least 21 at their field hospital.

This is totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story.

Completely separately, a BBC Verify online report on Monday reported a viral video posted on social media was not linked to the aid distribution centre it claimed to show.

This video did not run on BBC news channels and had not informed our reporting. Conflating these two stories is simply misleading.

It is vital to bring people the truth about what is happening in Gaza. International journalists are not currently allowed into Gaza and we would welcome the support of the White House in our call for immediate access.

The corporation has faced a backlash over its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict and it emerged earlier in the year that a documentary it aired about Gaza featured the son of a senior Hamas figure.

Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was removed from BBC iPlayer after it emerged that the child narrator, Abdullah, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamass deputy minister of agriculture.
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A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the Government is not adequately prepared for the increasing risk of animal diseases, and would struggle to manage a major outbreak.

Animal diseases such as bird flu, bluetongue, and African swine fever pose significant threats to England's farming sector, food security, human health, and wildlife. The costs associated with an outbreak can escalate into billions of pounds, the report said.

The 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth cost an estimated 13.8 billion in todays prices, devastating farming businesses and leading to the slaughter of thousands of animals. The countryside was shut to recreation and tourism.

Since 2020, 7.2 million birds have been culled in avian flu outbreaks, which have devastated wild seabird colonies across the UK.

The NAO acknowledged that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have worked hard to tackle recent outbreaks.

However, the watchdog said that these public bodies would likely struggle with a more severe outbreak or concurrent serious outbreaks.

open image in gallery A National Trust ranger clears deceased birds from Staple Island, one of the Outer Group of the Farne Islands, amid an outbreak of avian influenza ( PA )

A report from the NAO warned that long-term resilience to disease in livestock is being undermined by officials having to focus on increasingly frequent outbreaks  and there is no long-term strategy for improving the situation.

There are significant gaps in contingency plans for outbreaks, and plans for specific diseases have not been updated with the latest findings, with its strategy for coping with foot and mouth disease not updated since 2011.

Just 5 per cent of live animal imports are undergoing physical checks, all taking place at the final customer destination, against a target of 100 per cent checks at border control, raising the risk of exotic diseases arriving from abroad.

A fifth of vet roles are vacant at the APHA, and there is a very high risk of site failure at the Governments key animal science lab at Weybridge, the report said.

The report said that while a 2.8 billion redevelopment programme at Weybridge is now on track, the main new laboratory facilities will not be delivered for another 10 years.

open image in gallery A metal fence is constructed on the border between Germany and Poland in 2020 to guard against African swine fever ( EPA )

The report found Defra thought there was a very high risk of an outbreak to which it would be unable to respond effectively, but it lacks a long-term strategy and action plan for improving resilience to animal disease, and many of its activities are reactive rather than part of a coherent plan.

A comprehensive livestock movement tracing system  crucial once infection is detected  is lacking, with the costs of an upgraded scheme now estimated at 563 million amid concerns over delivering it in the face of rising costs and funding constraints, while there are also issues with vaccine supplies.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: Defra has assessed that the risk of an outbreak to which it would be unable to respond effectively is above the level it considers tolerable, but it has not determined a way to reduce this risk.

A long-term strategy and action plan are urgently needed, to protect national economic resilience as well as food security, human health and rural communities.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts, said: Despite some good work to identify new threats, Governments preparations for a future major outbreak are being hampered by a lack of capacity, skills and long-term strategy.

Governments failure to carry out checks on animal imports is also threatening biosecurity at the border.

Resilience to a severe outbreak has not been tested in recent years, but the threat remains ever increasing as our livestock become more susceptible to disease.

Without changes to the current operating system, there is a very real risk that Government would not be able to respond effectively.

Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said: This Governments commitment to maintaining the countrys biosecurity in the face of the mounting risks of disease is unwavering  we will do whatever it takes to protect our farmers and economy.

We took immediate action to ban personal imports of meat and dairy from Europe after a wave of foot and mouth cases on the continent and, after years of underinvestment, we are investing 200 million into a new National Biosecurity Centre.
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The Blackwall Tunnel on the A102 has been closed for more than five hours following a crash.

The road is closed northbound and only one lane southbound is open due to a collision at 1.30am on Wednesday, however, no further information on the incident has been confirmed.

Drivers have been warned of long delays and told to use an alternative route.

Transport for London (TfL) said: Northbound traffic is tailing back to Falconwood and southbound is down to one lane with tailbacks to Woolwich flyover.

The tunnel is closed from the A2, Sun In The Sands Roundabout, Blackheath, to the A206, Woolwich Road Flyover, Greenwich.

London bus routes 132 and SL4 are being diverted, with TfL stating route SL4 is on diversion in both directions while the 132 is being diverted northbound.

Passengers are being urged to allow extra time for their journeys.
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New product safety proposals have moved closer to becoming law, sparking claims they could enable ministers to "sabotage" Brexit.

MPs voted 264 to 99, a majority of 165, to approve the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill at its third reading. The bill provides the government with new powers to regulate the marketing and use of goods in the UK post-Brexit.

However, TUV leader Jim Allister voiced concerns about specific references to "EU law" within the bill. He questioned whether this could allow ministers to act against the 2016 referendum result.

Critics fear the legislation would force UK regulations to automatically align with changes in European Union law, granting ministers "inappropriately wide" powers to rewrite regulations.

Mr Allister, the MP for North Antrim, told the Commons: There are aspects of this Bill which I think are democratically dangerous.

Because this Bill gifts to government unbridled capacity to make regulations, with virtually no oversight from this elected House, on matters which touch not just upon the sanctity of our product production, but the sovereignty of this nation.

This Bill, with little attempt at subtlety, is a vehicle which enables a Government, if so minded  and this one, I fear, might be  to sabotage Brexit in many ways.

I stand to be corrected, but I dont think a single member of this Government voted for Brexit, and yet that is the settled and declared will of the people, greatest number of people who ever participated in a democratic vote in this nation.

Yet in the Bill, we have the capacity, particularly through clause 2(7), to dynamically align all our regulations with those of the EU, and to do that without recourse to this House, at the whim of the executive. Whatever the subject matter, that surely is a most unhealthy situation.

open image in gallery TUV leader Jim Allister speaking during a public meeting at Moygashel Orange Hall (Liam McBurney/PA) ( PA Archive )

Shadow business minister Dame Harriett Baldwin also said: As an independent nation, the UK we believe should set its own product regulations to foster innovation, support domestic industry, and not automatically align with EU rules which we no longer have any influence or help to shape.

Responding, business minister Justin Madders told the Commons: The powers in this Bill give the UK the flexibility to manage its own product regulatory framework.

Part of this is of course making sure that the UK can respond to relevant developments in EU law, and this does not mean that the UK is beholden to EU changes, and all regulations will be subject to Parliament oversight.

He added that the reason why the Bill explicitly references the EU rather than other jurisdictions is because most of our product regulation is of course inherited from EU law.
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Britain is facing cuts after Rachel Reeves doubled down on her manifesto pledge not to raise taxes to fund Labours spending plans.

In a speech in Manchester on Wednesday morning, the chancellor insisted Labours spending plans  set to be outlined next week  were fully costed and fully funded and that she would not need to raise income tax, VAT or employee national insurance contributions.

But a major think tank has joined critics from within government to warn that the chancellor would have no choice but to make cuts to other public services.

The Resolution Foundation said the government has increased departmental spending by almost 400bn since it came to power but pressures to increase health and defence spending will make it hard to avoid cuts to other public services.

Reacting to Reevess speech, a senior Labour source added: I suspect that means a lot of cuts.

open image in gallery An audience member looks unimpressed by Reevess speech ( X/@Conservatives )

It comes days after the government committed to a major boost in defence funding, having also pledged to reinstate the winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners this winter. Sir Keir Starmer is also under pressure to abolish the two-child benefit cap.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: By the end of this parliament, the level of departmental spending will be back to pre-austerity levels, but growing pressure to spend all this increase on health and defence could lead to continued public service cuts elsewhere.

Whether or not the government can chart a course through health that leans on capital but restrains growth in day-to-day spending will be crucial to the outcomes for everyone else.

Ben Caswell, senior economist at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), told The Independent that cuts had to be considered without tax rises.

It is unlikely that the chancellor will be able to afford significant movement on policy without some form of tax rises in the autumn Budget, he said.

He added that if she did not increase taxes, the chancellor cannot borrow any more, and not for day-to-day spending anyway, so yes, it has to be cuts from elsewhere.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director Paul Johnson has also this week warned that tax rises will be needed to meet Labours spending commitments, especially in light of this weeks long-awaited strategic defence review, which outlined how the armed forces will be funded.

open image in gallery The chancellor said the rules governing her stewardship of the public finances were non-negotiable ( Simon Walker/HM Treasury )

With the spending review setting the next three years of departmental budgets just a week away, the chancellor insisted her plans were fully costed.

But, inside the government, senior Labour figures have been warning Ms Reeves that Labour will end up having to ditch manifesto pledges on spending.

It has prompted a civil war within the cabinet over her plans for departmental spending, with Yvette Coopers Home Office and Angela Rayners Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities still reportedly holding out.

The issue is now becoming the focus of an awkward by-election in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, where Labour is in danger of coming third to the SNP and Reform UK as support continues to rapidly ebb away from the government. Reform beating Labour in a part of the UK easily won by Sir Keirs party last year would be seen as a political earthquake.

As well as increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027 and ringfencing health spending, Ms Reeves will be looking for an estimated 5bn to fund a reversal of her decision to remove winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners and end the two-child benefit cap.

Top of the list of areas under threat are local government finance, warm homes insulation packages, the future homes deal, border control, and policing.

During the speech in Manchester, where she announced the biggest ever investment in transport, Ms Reeves was pressed repeatedly by journalists on the manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, VAT or national insurance, but insisted she would stick to her promises.

She was asked: Are manifesto commitments on policing, housing and energy at risk?

Ms Reeves responded: We made those commitments in our manifesto and we stick to them. All of the manifesto commitments that we made were fully costed and fully funded.

She highlighted the small taxes which Labour said it would raise in the manifesto to pay for extra investment  VAT on private school fees, cracking down on non-doms and introducing the energy levy.

open image in gallery Angela Rayner is arguing with the Treasury ( Getty )

She went on: Those promises were fully funded. We have raised those taxes to put that money into our public services, which is why we can deliver on our manifesto commitments, including not increasing the key taxes working people pay  income tax, national insurance and VAT.

There is a push by many Labour MPs and trade unions for the chancellor to agree to more spending and instead raise the cash through wealth taxes.

Spearheading this has been Ms Rayner, who, according to a leaked memo, wants eight wealth taxes.

An ally of Ms Rayner told The Independent that the spending review has now become a proxy war over the future direction of the party and current Labour government, with both Ms Reeves and Sir Keir potentially in the firing line.

The senior party source warned: I think this spending review will realistically see the ending of a number of manifesto pledges as actually being deliverable.

The row dominated PMQs, during which Sir Keir avoided answering detailed questions on the spending review, winter fuel and the two-child benefit cap.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the government was in chaos, chaos, chaos.
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Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs on Wednesday (4 June), days after unveiling the UK's defence strategy for the next decade.

On Monday (2 May), the prime minister announced his Strategic Defence Review with the aim to move the UK to warfighting readiness.

The government said that it will increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from April 2027.

Sir Keir also announced plans to build up to 12 new attack submarines which will replace the current fleet from the late 2030s onwards, and also confirmed that 15billion will be spent on its nuclear warhead programme.

As the Labour government hikes up defence spending, opposition leaders will likely challenge the Prime Minister over what funding areas will have to be slashed in order to compensate.

He will face questions in the Commons at noon, the majority from the Conservative leader who trivialised the plans as just an announcement as a lot of the things theyve announced in this strategic defence review require money.

Badenoch could also press the prime minister on the increasing numbers of small boat crossings.

On Saturday (31 May), more than 1,100 migrants arrived in the UK, the highest number recorded on a single day so far in 2025.
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A Labour MP has suggested that new powers allowing town halls to establish bus routes could alleviate new issues facing TikTok-famous "honeypot villages".

Jon Pearce commended the Government for proposing new powers that would enable councils to manage their own bus routes and prevent companies from discontinuing essential services.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which recently passed its second reading, would streamline the franchising process for authorities seeking to establish London-style networks and better protect vital routes.

Mr Pearce highlighted the parking problems in High Peak communities, exacerbated by a TikTok trend of photographing sunset and sunrise over Mam Tor.

The 517-metre-high hill in Derbyshire has gained popularity on social media, with videos filmed at the location receiving over 100,000 likes on TikTok.

open image in gallery Mam Tor, in the Peak District, Derbyshire (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Archive )

Mr Pearce continued: Im co-ordinating a response to these issues with local stakeholders like the Peak park, police and councils, and a key tranche of what we need to do is deliver better bus services that are integrated with local train services.

This Bill will transfer powers away from Westminster and empower local communities to take decisions necessary for our commuters to get to work, our students to get to college, our vulnerable to access the healthcare they need, and our honeypot villages to manage tourism sustainably.

Gritting crews were unable to reach a Peak District road near the hill earlier this year after more than 200 cars were double parked on it, according to Derbyshire County Council, and Mr Pearce previously wrote to authorities, when he warned that emergency services had been obstructed.

The Bill would give councils the power to set up franchised bus networks to regulate routes, timetables, fares and vehicle standards, without the need for ministers permission.

Ms Alexander said the Government is fixing the broken franchising process and told MPs: Proposed schemes need to jump through a myriad of hoops and they still require my consent to proceed, which is odd to say the least.

The idea that I understand more what passengers in Leicestershire or Cornwall need than their local leaders is for the birds. In December, we opened up franchising to every local authority and now through this Bill we will further streamline the process making it simpler for franchise schemes to be granted and assessed.

Ms Alexander said the franchising model wont work everywhere, and added: Thats why this Bill also strengthens enhanced partnerships and removes the ideological ban on establishing new local authority bus companies.

open image in gallery Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Furthermore, by giving local authorities the power to design and pay bus operator grants in their areas, this Bill gives greater protections for socially necessary local services  securing those lifeline routes that keep communities connected.

Pressed about funding to local authorities for the 3 bus fare cap, Ms Alexander said: There is a spending review under way but I can confirm that I fully appreciate the importance of an affordable and accessible bus route.

Ms Alexander also said the Government will press pause on so-called floating bus stops perceived to be poorly designed, amid concerns over accessibility issues and potential hazards for visually impaired people and others.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Paul Kohler said the Bill rightly lifts the outdated, ideologically driven ban on municipally owned bus companies, empowering local authorities who wish to use it, rather than infantilising them and added that it is not and must not become a one-size-fits-all approach.

He added: Empowering local authorities in law is one thing. Enabling them in practice is quite another.

Whilst this Bill hands councils a set of keys to a new bus network, it doesnt ensure theres fuel in the tank.

Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon earlier said improvements for passengers simply wont happen without more Treasury money.

He said: The Bill does not prioritise passengers and there is nothing in it that guarantees an improvement in service standards.

The truth is that this Bill appears to be driven by political nostalgia. It is in many ways a thinly veiled attempt to recreate the municipal model of the pre-1986 era without fully considering the financial and operational realities of today.

The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Commons at a later date.
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UK beachgoers have been warned to watch where they stand as venomous fish could be lurking in the shallows.

Weevers are one of the only venomous fish in UK waters. Spending much of their lives buried under the sand, they shoot up their black dorsal fin in defence when disturbed, which injects painful venom into unsuspecting victims.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is in the process of putting up warning signs, urging bathers not to walk barefoot on the sands during weever season, which starts in June when the weather becomes warmer.

A spokesperson said: We are currently putting up posters on noticeboards and sending out social media messages to warn people about the possible risks of stings from weever fish on our beaches.

We are urging people to please not walk barefoot on the sands during the weever fish season, just in case.

Weevers can be found near any coastline around the UK, according to the Wildlife Trust.

The Trust says on its website that to avoid being stung: You should always wear beach shoes when paddling in sandy waters! Always follow the Seashore Code when rockpooling, be careful to leave everything as you found it - replace any rocks you turn over, put back any crabs or fish and ensure not to scrape anything off its rocky home.

British Marine Life Study Society said the pain is usually described as excruciating as the spines embed into the human flesh and discharge their venom, according to its website.

The pain is at its most intense for the first two hours after contact, when the area can get red and swollen, the society added.

The Wildlife Trust advises people who are stung to place the affected body part in as hot water as you can bear, as quickly as possible. After 15 minutes or so, the pain should ease.

NHS advice says victims should pour salt water over the affected area, rather than fresh water, and remove any visible tentacles by pulling them out, using tweezers or the edge of a bank card.

It also said painkillers and antihistamines can reduce the pain and itching if necessary, and warned sting victims to ensure their tetanus injection is up to date.
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Its late evening, and your phone vibrates with some banter from colleagues. You join the conversation and go to bed feeling part of the work community. You then wake up and have a feeling of apprehension as to how the messages will be perceived.

WhatsApp might have started as a casual messaging app for friends, but it has now firmly become embedded in workplace communication  and increasingly in workplace conflicts, too.

WhatsApp chats have also been used to corroborate or refute claims in employment tribunals. An employee might claim they were promised a pay rise or flexible hours via WhatsApp, for example. But on the other hand, employers have also used WhatsApp logs to prove misconduct. This evidence has included sharing confidential information.

In the workplace, WhatsApp chats have replaced many casual real-life conversations. Colleagues create groups to coordinate work, message each other after hours and vent their frustrations in private messages. Although this feels informal, it can leave employees vulnerable.

But when disputes escalate to legal action, these messages can help judges understand what really happened. Tribunals treat WhatsApp messages like any other document.

open image in gallery WhatsApp conversations have increasingly played a crucial role in misconduct and discrimination disputes ( Getty )

We examined more than 2,000 cases brought to UK employment tribunals since 2019 that involved WhatsApp. The findings reveal a surprising range of ways in which these casual chats became evidence.

WhatsApp conversations have increasingly played a crucial role in misconduct and discrimination disputes, being used as evidence of harassment or inappropriate behaviour. The messages are also cited in unfair dismissal and contract claims, especially where informal work communications and digital records were seen as central to the case.

In 2018, 48 cases brought to employment tribunals involved WhatsApp messages. By 2024, that had climbed to 562. The cases span a wide range of jurisdictions, but unfair dismissal, contract breaches, harassment and discrimination were dominant. From the cases we examined, several themes were clear.

1. Removal or exclusion from a WhatsApp group

In the case of Ms B Djagbo v Womens Health Dulwich Ltd, the claimant successfully brought a claim for unfavourable treatment due to pregnancy and maternity. This followed a series of incidents that took place after she informed her employer of her pregnancy.

Several actions made her feel as though her employment was being prematurely ended, including being removed from the workplace WhatsApp group chat. The tribunal awarded her almost 20,000.

2. Discriminatory messages or harassment via WhatsApp

In the Mr D Robson v NGP Utilities Ltd case, the claimant is a gay man and brought a complaint of harassment. This included a series of inappropriate and offensive incidents at work, notably, a WhatsApp group message from a colleague.

The message was part of a wider pattern of jokes targeting gay colleagues. The employment tribunal awarded him more than 36,000.

3. Termination of employment via WhatsApp

The case of Miss J Hodkinson v B&R Care Ltd highlights a pregnant care worker who was awarded more than 40,000 in compensation after being unfairly dismissed via WhatsApp. The fact that the dismissal was carried out informally and insensitively supported the tribunals findings of procedural and substantive unfairness.

4. WhatsApp communications submitted as evidence

The Mr M D Black v Alain Charles Publishing Ltd tribunal noted that the claimants evidence was consistent with WhatsApp message screenshots included in the evidence bundle. As a result, compensation of almost 100,000 was awarded.

WhatsApp groups can also offer a window into workplace culture. Tribunals have seen examples of co-workers using WhatsApp to share sexist and racist jokes or to gossip about colleagues.

With remote and flexible working, these chats illustrate a growing tension between constant connectivity and work burnout.

The tribunal cases show just how deeply WhatsApp has become part of working life, blurring the line between personal and professional. Colleagues chat the way friends do.

open image in gallery WhatsApp has blurred the line between personal and professional ( Getty Images )

But when working relationships sour or rules are broken, each of these informal chats carries legal weight. What someone thought was a single throwaway remark in a private conversation can later be dissected as part of a wider body of evidence.

There have been cases where an employer was ordered to hand over work-related WhatsApp exchanges, and others where an employees own messages were used against them.

Its a clear lesson. Privacy in digital communication is never guaranteed. Even encrypted messages can become public in a courtroom.

WhatsApp dos and don'ts

The volume of references to WhatsApp in tribunal cases frames some key lessons for both employees and employers. In a nutshell, if you wouldnt write it in a company email or say it in a meeting, dont put it into WhatsApp.

Jokes can be misinterpreted, and offensive remarks dont just go away. Many have learned this the hard way.

Using WhatsApp to share instructions and decisions might seem convenient, but it shouldnt replace a formal process.

And for employers, its time to update communication policies, including guidelines on after-hours messaging, the use of group chats and respecting expectations of inclusivity.

Banning WhatsApp might not be practical, but setting out expectations is important. Even a policy stating that any work-related communication on personal messaging apps should adhere to the companys expected code of conduct is a start.

Many people are unaware that a private chat can reappear as evidence. Knowing that a tasteless joke on WhatsApp could support a harassment claim potentially costing an unlimited fine, or that ignoring a late-night work message might be used as evidence of poor performance, will harden most people to conduct more mindful communication.

Jonathan Lord is a Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Employment Law at the University of Salford. Gordon Fletcher is an Associate Dean, Research and Innovation at the University of Salford. Saad Baset is an Associate Lecturer & Researcher, Salford Business School at the University of Salford.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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France has finally agreed to draw up a plan to stop small boats at sea by the summer, after police were criticised for standing by as people smugglers picked up migrants.

The French government is understood to be enlarging its navy with new patrol boats that could intercept so-called taxi boats before they leave for the UK.

The strategy is designed to be ready before French president Emmanuel Macron travels to London for a Franco-British summit on 8 July.

It comes after a furious row erupted over the lack of action as more than 1,000 people crossed the English Channel on Saturday.

open image in gallery Migrants scramble on board a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines ( PA Wire )

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.

Defence secretary John Healey hit out at their failure to act, saying at the weekend that Britain had lost control of its borders.

Ministers have been pressing the French government to put into operation new rules, agreed months ago with the Labour government after it came into power, that would allow police to intervene.

On Sunday, Mr Healey said: Theyre not doing it, but for the first time for years, weve got the level of cooperation needed  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 migrants board a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, northern France ( PA Wire )

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has also demanded that the French start intercepting migrant boats at sea as swiftly as possible after it emerged that a record 1,195 migrants reached the UK in 19 dinghies on Saturday. The figures brought the total so far this year to 14,812  the highest on record.

A French interior ministry source told The Telegraph: We are aware of the high stakes involved in interventions at sea and of the need to adapt our doctrine of action.

Today, our intervention can only take place to rescue a boat already at sea, in particular because of the criminal liability issues associated with any interception carried out for any other reason.

We would like to change this framework so that we can operate in shallow waters, up to 300 metres from the coast, and thus intercept taxi boats, while respecting the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, known as the Montego Bay Convention.

The Interministerial Committee for Immigration Control (CiCI) has mandated the General Secretariat for the Sea (SGMer), which coordinates the states action at sea, to draw up a proposal by the summer to change this.

The source said the governments objective was to have shared guidelines ready for the July summit.

The UK has a 480m deal with France designed to stop Channel crossings.
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Rachel Reeves is facing a cabinet revolt over her spending review amid fears departmental cuts will lead to key manifesto spending promises being ditched.

In what is being described as a proxy war, the chancellor is facing a push to consider taxes on the wealthy instead of cuts before she outlines her government spending plans next week.

Room for manoeuvre is further restricted by an expectation that the government will U-turn on cancelling winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, as well as ending the two-child benefit cap, which could cost Ms Reeves as much as 5bn.

The row follows reports that major departments, including Yvette Coopers Home Office and Angela Rayners Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, have still not settled on an agreement for the spending review due to be unveiled on Wednesday 11 June.

There was some good news with reports that education secretary Bridget Phillipson had agreed her departments spending envelope with a week to go. But the holdouts come despite the Treasury setting an unofficial deadline of last weekend to agree.

open image in gallery Reeves and Rayner have been struggling to agree over the spending review ( AFP/Getty )

The mounting pressure on the chancellor comes as former Treasury adviser Jim ONeill told Ms Reeves that she needs to borrow more for major projects to kickstart growth, as the latest forecasts have seen another downgrade for the UK economy, leaving the chancellor with less wiggle room.

And there are fears that a further squeeze on public finances will open the door for Nigel Farages populist Reform party to seize power. On Tuesday night, The Times reported on a letter sent by police chiefs to Sir Keir, warning of far-reaching consequences of cuts to forces.

The OECD on Tuesday downgraded its estimate for the UKs economic growth this year to 1.3 per cent, from 1.4 per cent, and to 1 per cent, from 1.2 per cent, in 2026.

Meanwhile, the governments pledge to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP has been complicated by Natos decision to tell member states, including the UK, to hike it even further to 3.5 per cent.

A senior Labour source told The Independent that the chancellor's decisions over the next week will see the ending of a number of manifesto pledges as actually being deliverable.

With Ms Reeves already being accused by critics of trying to bring in austerity 2.0, it is understood that a growing number of Labour MPs and trade unions are now pushing for her to introduce wealth taxes instead.

The idea featured in a leaked memo from Ms Rayner, in which the deputy prime minister proposed eight different wealth taxes, including increasing dividend tax rates for higher earners and targeting property traders who use corporate structures to avoid stamp duty.

A senior Labour source told The Independent: I think the spending review is becoming a proxy war to desperately try and stop Labour facing an existential crisis  the breathtaking collapse in support continues, and [the plan for the party is to] just try and deliver some of its manifesto so that ordinary voters can see and feel that they have.

They added: I cannot see how Rachel Reeves lasts.

With fears that cuts will mean having to row back on promises on border control, policing, housing and social care, the source warned: I think this spending review will realistically see the ending of a number of manifesto pledges as actually being deliverable.

open image in gallery Senior figures in Labour fear that the spending review will further aid Farages push for power ( PA )

Ms Reevess strict rules on borrowing and her refusal to increase income tax, VAT or employee national insurance, there are concerns within Labour that the fiscal rules are destroying Labour politically and on delivery of their agenda".

But the biggest fear is that a new wave of austerity will hand Nigel Farage and Reform UK power.

The senior source noted: People are starting to get real and get vocal. People are realising the Reform threat is not just a crazy blip. It could be the legacy of this Labour government that they usher in the first far-right government in Britains history. That cannot be allowed to happen.

Meanwhile, Lord ONeill has warned that she will have to borrow more to kickstart growth.

The economist urged her to invest in major projects he dubs big positive multipliers, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail or small modular nuclear reactors.

The investment is expected to be the subject of a major speech by the chancellor tomorrow as she tries to regain the initiative.

However, the government is still struggling to explain how it plans to pay for defence pledges made in its strategic review on Monday.

The 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2034 pledge has been downgraded to an ambition, but now Natos new general secretary Mark Rutte is set to put up a proposal for the next summit of the defence bloc for all members to pay 3.5 per cent.

open image in gallery Mark Rutte wants Nato member states to pay 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence ( AP )

One senior insider said Britain would without a doubt sign up, but was unable to say where the money would come from.

On Tuesday, defence secretary John Healey failed to rule out tax rises to make Britain battle-ready.

He said the government would set out how well pay for future increases in the future when quizzed over how Britain can afford to boost its military funding to 3 per cent.

Mr Healey said he is 100 per cent confident the target would be met  but he struggled to say how it would be paid for after economists warned that significant tax rises would be needed.
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Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to personally intervene in the unspeakable tragedy developing in Myanmar and to meet the British son of political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi.

The call comes in a new report which highlights the plight of Ms Suu Kyi and 22,000 other political prisoners, after a coup which overthrew her democratically elected government four years ago.

It also shines a spotlight on the armys airstrikes and ground attacks against civilians and details atrocities including massacres, beheadings, executions, rapes and tortures.

open image in gallery Aung San Suu Kyi is one of 22,000 political prisoners in Myanmar ( Getty )

Nobel Peace Prize winner Ms Suu Kyi, who is facing 27 years in jail, became a deeply divisive and controversial figure after refusing to speak out on her countrys extreme violence against its Rohingya Muslim minority.

In an Independent TV documentary about her fall from grace, entitled Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, William Hague, who welcomed her to London in 2012 said it was possible to be critical of the countrys former leader, but also say we should be campaigning for her release.

Earlier this year David Lammy issued a historic and impassioned plea for her freedom in this newspaper. In a major intervention, the foreign secretary for the first time made a direct appeal to the military to let her go and give the countrys people the peace and democracy they deserve.

Tim Loughton, a former Tory minister and the chair of the Conservative Partys Human Rights Commission, which compiled the report, said its findings were an urgent wake-up call for action to address the egregious human rights crisis in Myanmar, which has been compounded over the past two months by the devastating earthquake which hit the country on 28 March.

He said: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described the situation as an unspeakable tragedy, hence the title of the report.

He has also called it a never-ending nightmare which has seen inhumanity in its vilest form leading to unbearable levels of suffering and cruelty. It is high time the international community, led by the United Kingdom, steps up its efforts to bring this nightmare to an end and hold the perpetrators of such inhumanity, cruelty, barbarity and criminality to account.

Among those who testified to the commission were Ms Suu Kyis son, Kim Aris, her former economic policy adviser, Professor Sean Turnell, who spent 650 days in jail in Myanmar and the UNs special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews.

open image in gallery Kim Aris, the son of Aung San Suu Kyi ( The Independent )

The report calls on the government to stand more vociferously and proactively by the people of Myanmar at a time where the country experiences an unspeakable tragedy.

It also calls for international action to enforce a global arms embargo and cut financial support to the military dictatorship.

The commission called on the UK to urgently convene a UN Security Council session on Myanmar.

Mr Lammy joined three former British foreign secretaries in calling for Ms Suu Kyis release, including Lord Hague, who also described her as a political prisoner on trumped-up charges imprisoned because she was a force for democracy.

Ms Suu Kyi raised two children, Kim and his brother Alexander, in the UK after studying at Oxford and marrying a British academic, Michael Aris.

She returned to Myanmar in 1988, initially to nurse her sick mother before becoming swept up in the pro-democracy movement in the country. Between 1989 to 2010 she became famous around the world as she spent nearly 15 years under house arrest.

But after elections in 2015, the junta allowed her to become the countrys de facto leader, although only if they kept control of key ministries, including home affairs, defence and border control, as well as the military budget.
When on 8 May Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer with their respective teams made an enormous show of signing a big and beautiful trade deal it was meant to show the rest of the world what could be done.

For Sir Keir there was the personal victory. Here was the UK  previously consigned to the back of the queue over Brexit by Barack Obama  now at the front of the line in getting a deal to deal with Trumps tariffs.

In turn the US president wanted to show other countries what happens when a partner seriously engages in trade talks.

But roll on almost a month and the much vaunted deal has not come into effect. A question in the White House on Tuesday by The Independents Andrew Feinberg also emphasised that no MPs and not many other people have even seen the text of that famous deal.

US president Donald Trump and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer hold a joint press conference at the White House after their meeting in the Oval Office. Picture date: Thursday February 27, 2025 ( PA )

The White House spokesman answered somewhat opaquely: There's most definitely text with this deal. There is language that this side has seen.

But the lack of a public text does raise questions about whether anything substantive was agreed  and if it was only a convenient piece of theatre for two politicians who needed a boost for their falling ratings.

Instead, the UK was not about to get the zero per cent tariffs promised on steel but, along with the rest of the world, seeing those tariffs rise from a painful 25 per cent to a crushing 50 per cent.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was back on Tuesday night for intense talks to sort them out. And by all accounts the talks were intense.

There was a great deal at stake. Not least the UK jobs linked with steel production and the precarious future of British Steel, recently taken into public control by the Labour government.

But politically there was something even bigger going on here  the issue was whether a deal signed by Trump has any meaning at all.

In some ways the US president had to give the UK a concession last night if only to underline that good actors who engage in honest talks and supposedly get a deal will be rewarded for their efforts.

With the EU, China, Canada and others all engaging in talks it would have said a lot that the first and only deal to be struck had proven not to be worth the paper it was written on (assuming there is some text somewhere).

Meanwhile, Sir Keir has to deal with the Tory line: Every time Labour negotiates, Britain loses.

There is a sense that the deals he is striking are not as good as they might be. Yet for a government which has had a dramatic slide in the polls the trade agreements with India, the US and EU are the most significant achievements Starmer can point to.

For both Starmer and Trump it is essential that they get their so-called deal to work. They now apparently have five weeks to sort it out. The clocking is ticking for British businesses  but also on the credibility of the two politicians.
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Arizonas largest egg producer has lost 95 percent of its chickens due to the bird flu, signaling a potential price increase for eggs.

On Monday, the Arizona Department of Agriculture announced a third commercial farm had tested positive for bird flu in Maricopa County.

At the same time, Hickman's Egg Ranch, which is Arizona's largest egg producer and one of the nation's top 20 producers, has had to destroy the chickens at three of its four farms due to the bird flu.

"All of our layer flocks have been on the west side of town, have been determined to be positive. We're in the act of depopulating those farms and removing the chickens and trying to start the cleanup process," Glenn Hickman, the president and CEO of Hickman's Egg Ranch, told Fox 10 Phoenix.

Hickman expressed his frustration at the three-year-long flu forcing him to destroy egg-laying chickens.

Egg prices may increase in Arizona after Hickman Farms  the states largest egg producers and one of the largest producers of eggs nationally  had to close three of its four farms due to bird flu contamination ( Getty Images )

"You know, since this outbreak started in February of 2022, we've lost 170 million birds and that's just got to stop," he said.

According to Hickman, it will take 20 months to fully repopulate his farms. The company is trying to get by in the meantime with help from other farms.

"Thankfully, we have some other farmers that we are cooperative with, and some of those have had some extra eggs. So we've been able to kind of reshift and reprioritize where those eggs are going," he said.

While egg prices have been lowering around the country since they spiked earlier this year, a supply chain expert told Fox 10 Phoenix that there is a chance that egg prices in Arizona will increase.

"Hickman's supplies about 80 percent of Arizona's egg production. You are reducing about 80 percent of Arizona's supply chain from about 2.2 billion to 450 million eggs," Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Arizona State University Professor of Practice for the department of supply chain management told the broadcaster.

Hickman disagreed, and said the impact of losing his chickens on the market will be "pretty nominal."

Arizona's egg struggles are playing out as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is singing President Donald Trump's praises for a reduction in egg prices. She blamed the spike in egg prices on former President Joe Biden's administration.

"I remember my very first briefing, I was asked about the cost of eggs, the reporter tried to insinuate this administration was at fault, even though he had only been here for a few days or weeks," Leavitt said. "It was a result of the previous administration's terrible polices and in record time, this president has fixed that problem he inherited from Joe Biden, and prices have dropped 61 percent since this president took office."

According to Trading Economics data, white, large shell eggs are around $2.52 per dozen nationally. On January 21, the same carton would have cost approximately $6.49, nationally.

According to analysts at Clarify Capital, the price drop is partially a result of Americans buying fewer eggs due to their spike in prices  thus creating more supply  and a lull in new bird flu cases.

Reuters also reported in April that the U.S. has increased its egg imports from Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea to help bolster supply and bring down prices.

Since the outbreak began in 2022, the bird flu has affects more than 166 million birds, including 127 million egg laying birds.
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Things are getting saucy in the Big Apple over pizza.

Connecticut has waged a war against New York for the title of Pizza Capital of the United States  with a series of aggressive billboards around New York City claiming The Nutmeg States slice reigns supreme.

Billboards from Connecticuts Office of Statewide Marketing and Tourism claiming The Nations Best Pizza  Not you, New York have recently started popping up across parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The signs urge New Yorkers to tell us why CT pizzas #1 by calling 1-844-CTPIZZA or visiting betterpizzainct.com to give a pizza their mind.

Some of the bold billboards were even positioned above New York City slice shops  including one positioned behind 2 Bros Pizza by Port Authority Bus Terminal, a likely strategic move to ensure commuters catch the message.

open image in gallery Connecticut has waged a war against New York, claiming the state is actually the Pizza Capital of the United States in a series of billboards plastered around New York City. ( Isabel Keane/The Independent )

Billboards were also stationed in high-traffic areas such as Times Square and Mott Street to egg on the rivalry between neighboring states. While New York is known for its thin crust or Sicilian slice, Connecticut has its own version of the thin crust that is more well-done than the New York version.

Social media posts from Connecticuts tourism department packed more punch  with one reading Hey New York Pizza, Theres No Shame in 2nd Place, while others called out other cities and states with their own distinct pizza styles including New Jersey, Chicago and Detroit.

While the signs were largely lighthearted, New Yorkers werent taking the bait, with some taking to the Internet to call out Connecticut for being cheesy.

Sounds like someone has an inferiority complex, one Facebook user wrote underneath a photo of one of the billboards.

They really do live in their own little bubble, another added.

One commentator chimed in: CT Pizza is garbage.

A commentator from Connecticut said the state should target lesser rivals, writing, I think New Haven pizza is the best, but we shouldnt be fighting with New York and New Jersey. Were all in the pizza belt. We should be fighting with Detroit and Chicago.

open image in gallery Billboards have popped up in several popular spots across Manhattan and Brooklyn over the rivarly. ( Isabel Keane - The Independent )

While some Connecticut residents lauded the claim, others were left flabbergasted.

That is BS!! We are NOT the pizza capital of the world!! one Facebook user said.

The bold advertising strategy comes less than a year after Connecticut implemented several Welcome to Connecticut: Home of the Pizza Capital of the United States signs throughout the state.

Connecticut tourism officials said they also hope to implement the marketing move in other pizza hubs in hopes to get more visitors coming to the state.
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Europe and the United States are meeting in Paris to negotiate a settlement of a tense tariff spat with global economic ramifications between two global economic powerhouses.

The European Unions top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, met Wednesday with his American counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Were advancing in the right direction at pace  and staying in close contact to maintain the momentum, Sefcovic posted on social media platform X alongside a photo of him shaking hands with Greer.

Brussels and Washington are unlikely to reach a substantive trade agreement in Paris. The issues dividing them are too difficult to resolve quickly.

President Donald Trump regularly fumes about Americas persistent trade deficit with the European Union, which was a record $161 billion last year, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

Trump blames the gap between what the U.S. sells and what it buys from Europe on unfair trade practices and often singles out for criticism the EUs 10% tax on imported cars. Americas was 2.5% until Trump raised it to 25% in April. The EU has argued its purchases of U.S. services, especially in the technology sector, all but overcome the deficit.

After the Trump administrations surprise tariffs last week on steel rattled global markets and complicated the ongoing, wider tariff negotiations between Brussels and Washington, the EU on Monday said it is preparing countermeasures against the U.S.

The EU has offered the U.S. a zero for zero deal in which both sides end tariffs on industrial goods, including autos. Trump has rejected that idea, but EU officials say its still on the table.

The EU could buy more liquefied natural gas and defense items from the U.S., and lower duties on cars, but it isnt likely to budge on calls to scrap the value added tax, which is akin to a sales tax, or open up the EU to American beef.

We still have a few weeks to have this discussion and negotiation," French trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin said in Paris on Wednesday ahead of the OECD meeting. If the discussion and negotiation do not succeed, Europe is capable of having countermeasures on American products and services as well."

Greta Peisch, who was general counsel for the U.S. trade representative in the Biden administration, said the zero-for-zero proposal could provide a way to make progress if the Trump administration is looking for a reason not to impose tariffs on the EU.

But Peisch, now a partner at the Wiley Rein law firm, wondered: How motivated is the U.S. to come to a deal with the EU? Trump, after all, has longstanding grievances complaints about EU trade practices.

One target of his ire is the value-added tax, similar to U.S. state sales taxes.

Trump and his advisers consider VATs unfair protectionism because they are levied on U.S. products. But VATs are set at a national level, not by the EU, and apply to domestic and imported products alike, so they have not traditionally been considered a trade barrier. There is little chance governments will overhaul their tax systems to appease Trump.

Likewise, the Europeans are likely to balk at U.S. demands to scrap food and safety regulations that Washington views as trade barriers. These include bans on hormone-raised beef, chlorinated chicken and genetically modified foods.

When you start talking about chickens or GMOs or automobile safety standards, youre talking about the ways countries choose to regulate their economies, Reinsch said. We think thats protectionist. They think its keeping their citizens healthy ... Its been a sore point for 60 years.

___

McNeil reported from Barcelona and Wiseman reported from Washington, D.C.
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In the moments after King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation actor Jonathan Joss was fatally gunned down Sunday night, his husband claims the accused killer cackled as the 59-year-old lay dying.

"Everything was really close range. It was in the head," Tristan Kern de Gonzales told The Independent. "I held his face together while I told him how much I loved him. He could still hear me, he looked up at me and he wasn't able to talk because of the extent [of his injuries], but I could tell he was trying to say, 'I love you.'"

Suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez was arrested a block away from the scene of the shooting and is now facing first-degree murder charges. Kern de Gonzales said Joss' death was the result of anti-LGBT+ sentiment aimed at the doomed couple. However, police in San Antonio, Texas, say there is "no evidence" the killing was motivated by bigotry.

"While I'm holding him, he has the gun pointed over me, and he's laughing, saying, 'Oh, you love him? Joto,'" Kern de Gonzales alleged. "'Joto' is Spanish for f****t. I never knew the word until I came to Texas, and then I heard it a lot.

Joss was pronounced dead at the scene. Ceja, according to an incident report obtained from the San Antonio Police Department, immediately confessed to the murder, telling officers, "I shot him."

open image in gallery Tristan Kern de Gonzales (right) married actor Jonathan Joss this past Valentine's Day ( Facebook/Tristan Kern de Gonzales )

The SAPD quickly dismissed the shooting as a potential hate crime, issuing a statement on Monday that claimed investigators had found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.

We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information, the statement said. Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly.

The deadly incident followed years of feuding between Joss, Kern de Gonzales, and the suspect, according to Kern de Gonzales, who grew up in South Carolina. He said they came home to find the skull of one of their dogs, which had been killed when their house burned down this winter, on display near their mailbox, deeply upsetting the two of them. (There is no mention of this incident in the SAPD incident report.)

Joss began screaming, and this led to the eventual confrontation with the suspect, said Kern de Gonzales. In a Facebook post announcing Joss death, Kern de Gonzales alleged the shooter shouted violent homophobic slurs at the two of them before opening fire.

Kern de Gonzales, who described himself as a transgender man, pushed back forcefully against the SAPDs assertion that their background didnt play a part in the killing.

They ignored us, refused to file police reports for about two years [over the couples complaints of harassment], and now theyre trying to say it wasn't a hate crime, Kern de Gonzales told The Independent. Its like when the police investigate themselves and find they did nothing wrong.

open image in gallery Suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez immediately confessed to the shooting of Joss, according to police. He faces a murder charge. ( Getty Images )

Over the past 36 hours, local residents have recounted tales of Joss having been, alternately, really sweet, then at times wandering down the street ranting and raving. One called Joss erratic, and claimed he told people that he was God. Another neighbor shared a video with local CBS affiliate KENS, purportedly showing Joss walking back and forth with a pitchfork, screaming.

The SAPD said it responded to more than 40 calls involving Joss in 2024, ranging from welfare checks, mental health issues, and dust-ups with neighbors. However, according to Kern de Gonzales, who married Joss this past Valentines Day, the actor may have been loud but he was never violent.

I don't care if me and my husband were walking around with one pitchfork in our hand and another pitchfork up our a**, we didn't point any weapons at anybody, Kern de Gonzales told The Independent. When the man rolled up with the gun, we were checking the mail.

He said he found it really sad how people treat other people when they're having a mental health crisis or going through trauma, and that no one wants to consider what led to that point.

It's OK to be a little sad, but if youre in a state where youre yelling or whatever, that doesn't get the same grace, Kern de Gonzales said.

open image in gallery Jonathan Joss never threatened anyone, even if he sometimes suffered mental health episodes, husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales told The Independent ( Facebook )

According to Kern de Gonzales, Joss, who has Native American heritage, had long been subjected to racist verbal attacks.

I had never seen someone be accosted for being Native American, Kern de Gonzales said. He would be playing the drum a lot outside, singing, chanting, praying People would drive by and yell out the window, F***ng Indian, and its just like, what kind of point are you trying to make?

Then, when Kern de Gonzales moved in, he said the homophobia started.

Jonathan would be harassed for just being in his yard wearing a dress, Kern de Gonzales went on. When people would ask why he wore a dress, he would say, Because I have nice legs. And he did. He looked beautiful in a dress. And I think a lot of people were threatened by that, because Jonathan could wear a dress and still be masculine and confident.

The two coped using humor, and always found something at the end of the day to laugh about, Kern de Gonzales explained. As he now prepares his husbands funeral, people have inquired about his plans for the body, whether Joss wanted to be buried or cremated.

I do take joy in quoting Jonathan, which is actually paraphrasing a line from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Kern de Gonzales said. He used to love to tell people, When I die, I dont care what you do with me. Cut me up and make a soup out of me, I dont care. It makes me laugh now because I know Jonathans laughing too.
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The suspect accused of fatally gunning down Jonathan Joss, an actor best known for TV roles on King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation, is out of jail after posting $200,000 bond and will await trial at home  less than 75 yards from the scene of the crime.

Police arrested Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, on first-degree murder charges shortly after Joss was shot dead Sunday evening in front of his San Antonio home. He made bail a day later, and was released Tuesday afternoon, court records show. Ceja is now under full house arrest, with a slew of conditions that include GPS monitoring, random drug and alcohol testing and a ban on firearms possession.

Following his release, Joss husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales told The Independent that he is not surprised that Ceja was set free, and doubled down on his assertion that the killing qualifies as a hate crime.

That gentleman was probably the worst one when it came to threats and harassment, Kern de Gonzales said on Wednesday.

Murdering the 59-year-old Joss was a very grave mistake, he went on.

He thought he would silence him and get rid of him, but all he did was make him more powerful, Kern de Gonzales asserted. Now, he maintained, Joss will be remembered as a martyr and a legend to many in the LGBT+ and Native American communities.

Joss was of Comanche and White Mountain Apache descent.

open image in gallery A makeshift memorial stands near the spot where Jonathan Joss was killed ( AP )

People may have deemed Joss eccentric, at best, according to Kern de Gonzales. But, he continued, they also declined to consider how much he was hurting.

Ive been in mental health crisis and acted just as Jonathan did, even worse, Kern de Gonzales said. The difference was, I was given medical attention and was treated as someone who needed help instead of being seen as a violent threat. Jonathan was never violent, he never went after anybody or threatened anybodys person.

Although police say they have no evidence Joss killing was a hate crime, Kern de Gonzales claimed Ceja, who lives two doors down from the couple, directed homophobic slurs at the two as Joss lay dying.

Everything was really close range. It was in the head, Kern de Gonzales told The Independent in a previous interview. I held his face together while I told him how much I loved him. He could still hear me, he looked up at me and he wasn't able to talk because of the extent [of his injuries], but I could tell he was trying to say, I love you.

At the same time, Ceja, who had reportedly been engaged in a long-running feud with Joss, laughed coldly and sneered, Oh, you love him? Joto, according to Kern de Gonzales, a South Carolina native.

Joto is Spanish for f****t, he said. I never knew the word until I came to Texas, and then I heard it a lot.

open image in gallery Tristan Kern de Gonzales (right) and actor Jonathan Joss were married this past Valentine's Day ( Facebook/Tristan Kern de Gonzales )

The deadly clash occurred after Joss and Kern de Gonzales showed up at their home, which burned down in January, to collect their mail. The two had been living in Austin, about 90 miles away, following the blaze. Kern de Gonzalez said he is certain the blaze was arson. Authorities, on the other hand, have said the cause remains undetermined.

Joss clashed frequently with others on the block, who Kern de Gonzales claimed had subjected the pair to ongoing anti-LGBT harassment over the past two years. One neighbor shared a video with local CBS affiliate KENS, purportedly showing Joss walking back and forth with a pitchfork, screaming. However, while Joss may have at times annoyed people by ranting and raving in public, Kern de Gonzales said insisted he was not a threat.

I don't care if me and my husband were walking around with one pitchfork in our hand and another pitchfork up our a**, we didn't point any weapons at anybody, Kern de Gonzales told The Independent. When the man rolled up with the gun, we were checking the mail.

A police log shared with The Independent by the San Antonio police lists more than 50 calls between January 26, 2024, and February 9, 2025, to the house Joss and Kern de Gonzales shared.

Officers showed up at the address in response to disturbance reports, to conduct mental health and welfare checks, complaints of theft and criminal mischief, and one incident last year allegedly involving a knife. (Further details were not immediately available on the episode, or exactly who was involved, but Kern de Gonzales related an anecdote on Wednesday about once having driven their Hummer in circles in their yard while Joss threw knives at trees from the window.)

The final entry is for a shooting in progress at 7:02 p.m. on June 1, the incident that ended Joss life.

Kern de Gonzalez said finds it really sad how people treat other people when they're having a mental health crisis or going through trauma, and that no one wants to consider what led to that point.

It's OK to be a little sad, but if youre in a state where youre yelling or whatever, that doesn't get the same grace, Kern de Gonzales said.

Ceja is due back in court on August 19. His court-appointed lawyer, Alfonso Otero, did not respond to a request for comment.
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The board that oversees Floridas state university system voted against hiring Dr. Santa Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, after he seemingly switched his stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion to appease President Donald Trump.

The State University System Board of Governors 6-10 vote against Ono came after hours of contentious debate and grilling of the academic over his previous position on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Ono, who received unanimous approval from the University of Florida Board of Trustees, was mainly questioned Tuesday about his recently changed stance on DEI, and how he would uphold Floridas agenda against DEI.

The longtime academics proposed contract included ideological requirements. In the role, he would be forced to cooperate with Gov. Ron DeSantis Office of Government Efficiency and appoint other university officials who are firmly aligned with Floridas approach.

Ono was the sole finalist for the job, which would have paid him a $3 million annual package that included a $1.5 million base salary, the Florida Phoenix reported.

open image in gallery Santa Ono (center) was rejected to become the University of Floridas next president because of his DEI stance ( Getty Images for Anti-Defamation )

However, on Tuesday, members of the board of governors were fixated on Onos suddenly different stance on DEI, with some calling into question whether he switched sides to appease Trump or simply to get the gig.

Its insidious that it feels like pushing a rope uphill when we establish these policies, if a president doesnt really believe in those policies, Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine said during the meeting in Orlando. And its a powerful position  you can be an inhibitor, or you can help advance. And so I guess so much of your record reflects your deeply held beliefs, that you have been an advocate of DEI up until recently.

Ono had supported DEI initiatives at the University of Michigan until shuttering some of its programs earlier this year  a move some thought had to do with Trumps stripping of federal funding from universities.

It looks to me like you got rid of the program because you needed to do what you had to do with the presidents orders and the funding issues. But you didnt really push to get rid of DEI, Levine said.

Ono repeatedly told the board that he began looking at DEI when he took office at Michigan, instead of after Trumps executive order against it. He claimed he developed a new stance in the last year and a half after talking with students, and said that before, he was not an expert on the subject.

Even still, his record left many conservative politicians unimpressed, including Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who wrote on X that it seemed Ono is willing to appease and prioritize far-left activists over ensuring students are protected and receive a quality education.

Other members of the GOP raising objections to Onos hiring included Donald Trump Jr., Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, Greg Steube and Jimmy Patronis.

open image in gallery Students at the University of Michigan protested Onos rollback of DEI initiatives following Trumps orders ( Getty Images )

Ono was also questioned Tuesday by former Republican state House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva, who wondered whether Ono changed his stance just to secure the Florida job.

Now we are told to believe you are now abandoning an entire ideological architecture, Oliva said. We are asking someone to lead our flagship university. I dont understand how it becomes unfair.

The intense degree of questioning from governors was not standard procedure, and it was the first time they had rejected a president, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Ono previously defended his change of heart in Inside Higher Ed, writing that he supported DEI at first because he thought the aim was equal opportunity and fairness for every student.

But over time, I saw how DEI became something else  more about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success, Ono wrote. I believe in Floridas vision for higher education.

Now, the months-long search will have to restart. The University of Florida remains without a permanent president, with former UF President Kent Fuchs holding the role in the interim.

With reporting from the Associated Press
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Jewish Democratic senators are fearing for their safety after a rash of ultra-violent antisemitic attacks in the past month.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst, said her synagogue, Temple Beth-El has faced increased threats.

They are antisemitic to their core, and it's domestic terrorism, and it needs to treated appropriately, she told The Independent.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that ICE agents had taken the wife and children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman into custody. This came after police in Boulder, Colorado arrested Soliman for allegedly throwing molotov cocktails at a peaceful demonstration for Israeli hostages on Sunday.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said that Soliman allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device and chanted Free Palestine. The attack left six victims, ranging from 67 to 88, including one Holocaust survivor.

open image in gallery A woman places a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of the flamethrower attack outside the Boulder County, Colo., courthouse. ( AP )

The Boulder attack came only days after a shooting at a Jewish museum left two staffers at the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC dead. Elias Rodriguez later told police, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.

And in April, police arrested and charged a man with murder and terrorism after he allgedly firebombed the mansion of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish. The man accused of arson allegedly did so because of Shapiros views about Israels war in Gaza after the attack on October 7, 2023.

I think as a senator and as a Jewish senator, I've always lived with a heightened threat perception, and we've had people convicted of threatening me so but certainly we watch for that special category of anti semitic hate, since there's lots of people who like to use that as another reason to threaten, Slotkin said.

California Sen. Adam Schiff, a felloww Democrat, said that as a Jewish politician with a high level of visibility during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, he had a heightened sense of the need for security.

I think probably all the Jewish legislators are thinking about our personal safety, Schiff told The Independent. Sadly for for me, that has always been pretty high, so thats not a new phenomenon.

open image in gallery Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he and other Jewish politicians on Capitol Hill are on edge. ( Getty )

For some, the attacks conjure painful memories. The father of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), escaped Nazi Germany for the United States in the 1930s.

Those are horrifying examples, got to draw clear a line, not acceptable, he told The Independent. Certainly I remember hearing my folks about anti semitism.

Jewish voters historically tend to vote Democratic, though divisions exist within the party on Israel. Some progressive Democratic lawmakers in the House have said that Israels assault on Gaza after October 7 that has led to more than 50,000 deaths amounts to a genocide or war crimes.

At the same time, some Jewish senators have loudly criticized Israels government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even while condemning Hamas for the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel that saw some 250 people taken hostage and 1,200 people brutally murdered.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who spent some of his youth on a kibbutz in Israel, has regularly criticized the Netanyahu government and has sponsored legislation to block the sale of weapons to the Israeli government.

But Sanders also had family who died in the Holocaust in Poland and criticized antisemitic attacks.

Antisemitism is a disgusting ideology and weve got to do everything we can to combat it, he told The Independent.
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Parents and teachers in southern California are urgently asking for support for a fourth grader who is being held captive by immigration authorities in Texas.

Torrance Elementary School student Martir Garcia Lara, age 9, attended an immigration court appointment with his father in Houston on May 29 when suddenly they were detained and separated from each other, according to a message from the schools Parent Teacher Association.

The boy and his father are in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, pending removal to Honduras, an ICE spokesperson told The Independent.

Martir Garcia-Banegas entered the United States without legal permission in 2021 with his son Martir.

An immigration judge ordered the family removed to Honduras in 2022. Garcia appealed the decision, which was dismissed. They exhausted due process and has no legal remedies left to pursue, ICE told The Independent.

They were taken into custody at an ICE field office and will remain in custody pending removal to Honduras, according to ICE.

Hes alone and hes not able to return home, PTA president Jasmin King told KTLA.

We have not received any information on why they were detained, she said. All we know is that Martir is just a fourth grader whos by himself, without his dad, without a parent, and just in a place that he probably doesnt know, so we can only imagine what he might be feeling.

A spokesperson for the Torrance Unified School District told The Independent that officials are unable to confirm details of the familys case and are actively working with the family and authorities to understand the facts of the situation.

We remain committed to the safety and well-being of all our students and will continue to follow proper protocols as more information becomes available, the statement added.

Federal authorities have taken roughly 500 children into government custody since President Donald Trump took office, according to CNN.

Those children were either in homes considered to be unsafe or because the government arrested their family members or placed them in removal proceedings.

The boys alleged arrest follows a wave of immigration enforcement actions inside courthouses across the country in recent weeks, with masked officers from as many as 20 different law enforcement agencies patrolling entrances, lobbies and hallways to arrest immigrants moments after their scheduled hearings and appointments.

Courthouse operations and arrests at other immigration offices have been reported in more than a dozen cities, which advocacy groups and immigration attorneys have labelled a dragnet operation sweeping up immigrants who are following the law.

In New York City, protests erupted after ICE arrested a high school student seeking asylum during his court appearance and after federal agents swarmed a Manhattan immigration office, where officers also arrested a congressional staffer.

Similar operations have been reported across the country, from Seattle and Los Angeles to Phoenix and Miami.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has deployed federal officers across the country to arrest immigrants moments after their immigration court hearings and appointments ( Reuters )

After taking office, the president issued an executive order that greenlights fast-track deportation proceedings for immigrants who cannot prove that they have continuously lived in the United States for more than two years.

That expedited removal process  historically used at the U.S.-Mexico border  is now being expanded across the country. The American Civil Liberties Union sued to block the measure, arguing people seeking asylum would get less due process contesting their deportation than they would contesting a traffic ticket.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association says courthouse arrests are a flagrant betrayal of basic fairness and due process for people who are simply following the rules.

Immigration courts are being weaponized, judges are coordinating with ICE to dismiss cases and immediately funnel individuals into the fast-track deportation pipeline known as expedited removal, the group said in a statement. These are not fugitives. They are individuals, many who are seeking protection from torture in their countries, complying with the law.

open image in gallery Immigration attorneys argue the arrests of immigrants by masked federal agents undermines due process for people who are simply following the rules ( AP )

The group has collected dozens of reports from immigration attorneys whose clients were immediately arrested after their court appearances only to be placed into expedited removal proceedings where they can be rapidly deported without an opportunity to appear before a judge.

Detainees include immigrants of all ages, including families with young children and toddlers as young as two and three years old, according to the groups analysis of recent arrests.

In at least one case, ICE agents detained children who were in court with their parents and attempted to arrest a mother with a nursing infant, the report found.

These arrests appear not to be based on a need to detain individuals due to concerns over them being a flight or public safety risk, according to the group. This raises serious due process concerns as these chaotic detentions will likely make people, who are otherwise trying to comply with the law, scared to appear for their court hearings.
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American men are turning away from the Democratic party because they believe their issues are being ignored while also being in a no-win situation about the meaning of modern masculinity, new research has found.

Hot-button topics, such as economic anxiety in combination with uncertainty over cultural issues, have led to a crisis among male voters, according to a study carried out by the SAM project (Speaking with American Men).

It was previously reported that Democrats have spent $20 million on the project, with donors and strategists being holed up in luxury hotel rooms brainstorming how to convince working-class men to return to the party.

The SAM project aims to study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces.

Preliminary results, shared with Politico, show that Democrats are seen as weak, whereas Republicans are seen as strong, according to Ilyse Hogue, co-founder of the SAM project.

open image in gallery Hot-button topics like economic anxiety in combination with uncertainty over cultural issues has led to a crisis within male voters, according to a study, carried out by the SAM project (Speaking with American Men) ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Young men also spoke of being invisible to the Democratic coalition, and so youve got this weak problem and then youve got this, I dont think they care about me problem, and I think the combination is kind of a killer.

The survey, which included 23 percent self-described Democrats, 28 percent Republicans and 36 percent independents, also found that the conflicting cultural definitions of masculinity put men in a no-win situation around the meaning of a man.

One respondent described Democrats as embracing the fluid masculinity of being, like, empathetic and sensitive, while Republicans are more like, the traditional masculinity of a provider, strong, and the machismo type.

In addition, the combination with general concerns over the economy, which proved to be a successful campaigning point for Donald Trump during the election, made traditional milestones, including buying a house and having children, feel impossible.

This combination of concerns may be contributing to the decline in male support for the party, with SAMs national survey finding that just 27 percent of young men view the Democratic Party positively.

The promotion of Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate may also have had some bearing, the projects findings suggested.

open image in gallery The promotion of Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate, may also have had some bearing, the projects findings suggested ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Democratic firm Catalist found that in 2024, the gender gap between men and women voting for the Democrats was 13 points, after mens support dropped by 6 points to 42 percent  the lowest on record in recent elections.

One Latino man from Las Vegas, quoted in SAMs findings, said that during the 2024 campaign, Harris focused on, Oh, I got Beyonce on stage with me. Oh, I got Lady Gaga on stage. It just kind of felt like, what does that have to do with me? Im trying to move up in life, he said.

However, pollster John Della Volpe, another co-founder of the project, says that the current male cohort and younger generation is not lost  though he added that the Democrats are losing it right now.

A previously reported part of SAMs plan for the Democrats included buying advertisements in video games, online streaming platforms, and podcasts. Influencers, including Joe Rogan and Theo Von, were credited with wooing a large proportion of the male voters.

Democrats cant win these folks over if theyre not speaking the language that young men are speaking, Hogue told Politico. Most people I talked to, Democratic operatives, have never heard of Red Pill Fitness, which is just huge online.
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Senate Republicans were in their luncheon as they begin the process to take up President Donald Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill when Elon Musk blasted the legislation as an outrageous, pork-filled, disgusting abomination.

The Republicans in the upper chamber are planning to write their version of the massive domestic legislation bill that includes extending the 2017 tax cuts Trump signed, beefed up spending at the U.S.-Mexico border and oil drilling as well as massive changes to the social safety net in the United States.

But just before Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the rest Republican leadership were about to begin their press conference, Musk, the just-departed head of Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, raged against the bill on X.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, he posted. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

Some Republicans sought to ignore it. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa  who recently came under criticism for dismissing constituents concerned over Medicaid cuts at a local town hall with her response, Well, were all going to die  brushed off a question from The Independent as she exited the Capitol and got into her car.

Sen. Rick Scott said he had not read the Musk tweet, a common refrain from politicians not wishing to discuss a hot topic. When The Independent offered to show it to him, he brushed it off.

I want to get the tax cuts permanent, the border money, the military, but we've got to get spending under control, Scott, an ally of Trump, told The Independent. So I'm going to continue to work to bring down the deficit, to hopefully balance the budget the next three years.

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has in the past called for steeper cuts in the bill and praised Musks comments, saying it bolsters the points he made.

"The only way I know how to do this is lay out the facts and figures and win the argument," Johnson told The Independent.

Others, such as Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Katie Britt of Alabama, both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told The Independent they had not seen the tweet.

Alabamas other Republican senator  Tommy Tuberville, a staunch ally of Trump  brushed off Musks criticism.

I ain't got any thoughts on that, Tuberville said of the Musk posting. We got a lot of work to do. He doesnt get to vote.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who spent weeks corralling various factions within the House GOP conference before he passed it in the wee hours of the morning last month before the House broke for recess, pushed back on Musks criticism.

Its very disappointing, Johnson told reporters. With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the One Big, Beautiful Bill.

Other Republican senators made jokes about Musks remarks.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk, pictured on his last day as head of DOGE, posted about President Trumps big beautiful bill. ( Getty )

Does that mean he likes it? Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio told The Independent. I think he's probably buying into the CBO scoring model, but look, ultimately, we haven't even gotten the bill yet right so we're gonna make it better.

The Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan body in Congress that scores how much legislation costs, estimated that extending the tax cuts in the bill would raise the debt by $3.8 trillion. But Republicans have pushed back on the estimate.

Republicans have only 53 Senate seats, which is below the 60-seat threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. As a result, they hope to pass the bill through a process reconciliation, which allows them to pass legislation with a simple majority as long it relates to the budget.

Musk recently exited the Trump administration after a months-long tenure at DOGE, where he slashed federal spending at numerous government agencies, including the US Agency for International Development.

Other Republicans said they would work to improve the bill.

He's certainly entitled his opinion, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who faces a tough primary challenge in Texas. And we're trying to make the bill better.

The bill is not the first time that Musk has wielded his significant following on X, the site then-known as Twitter that he purchased in 2022, to intervene in congressional affairs. In late 2024, he killed a bipartisan spending deal to keep the government open and said that the government should remain closed until Trumps swearing in.

Musk pledged he would challenge any Republicans who voted for the bill.

In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people, he said.

Even Republicans who criticized the bill seemed to balk at Musks intervention. When Musk tweeted Congress is making America bankrupt, Paul tweeted Some of us are trying to stop that.

But when The Independent asked if Paul had seen Musks first tweet, he said I havent seen it as he exited and got into an elevator.

Later, Paul tweeted an article about his and Musk opposing the bill
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A Florida weatherman delivered a somber monologue during a live broadcast to warn Americans that accurate hurricane predictions may no longer be possible due to the Department of Government Efficiency.

John Morales, a veteran meteorologist with NBC Miami, said that traditionally, he would be able to warn or reassure his viewers about the trajectory of a powerful storm.

Now, he says this would no longer be the case.

I am here to tell you that I am not sure I can do that this year, he said before taking a long pause.

Earlier in the segment, Morales showed an archival news clip of him covering Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm that tore through the Bahamas in 2019.

Remember that? Lots of people in Florida were concerned, the hurricane was heading here, he said during his Tuesday broadcast, after showing the clip. The storm did not significantly impact the Sunshine State, as Morales predicted.

He then explained that, due to the cuts, the gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general, he could not guarantee accurate forecasting for viewers.

Morales continued to explain how changes to leadership in science had had a multigenerational impact on science in this country.

But specifically, lets talk about the federal government cuts to the National Weather Service and to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, he said, before explaining that central and south Florida NWS offices are currently 20 to 40 percent understaffed.

He added that there had been a 20 percent reduction in weather balloon monitoring in the U.S, leading to the quality of the forecasting to be degraded.

open image in gallery Veteran newscaster John Morales has lashed out at DOGE for cutting funds and jobs at the NWS and NOAA ( NBC6 )

Morales reiterated his concerns in an opinion piece for NBC Miamis website.

Staffing shortages long stretches of impending severe weather  like a hurricane  could lead to mistakes by tired skeleton crews that can only work so many back-to-back shifts, he wrote.

As head of the DOGE, Elon Musk, promised to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget by September 30 by ending "waste, fraud, and abuse"  a downgrade from his $2 trillion promise on the campaign trail. He claimed that most of the work required to make this happen would be done within 130 days.

open image in gallery The former DOGE lead has now left the White House and has slated Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill ( EPA )

NOAA leadership is taking steps to address those who took a voluntary early retirement option. NWS continues to conduct short-term Temporary Duty assignments (TDYs), and is in the process of conducting a series of Reassignment Opportunity Notices (RONs) to fill roles at NWS field locations with the greatest operational need.

Additionally, a targeted number of permanent, mission-critical field positions will soon be advertised under an exception to the Department-wide hiring freeze to further stabilize frontline operations, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told The Independent in a statement.

The Independent contacted DOGE for comment.
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The Trump administration and Democrats are locked in a fierce argument over whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should be allowed to continue wearing masks while conducting operations.

National and local Democratic leaders, as well as immigrant advocates, have criticized the practice, comparing the masked immigration agents to figures from repressive fascist and communist regimes of the past.

This is America. This is not the Soviet Union, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Tuesday during a press briefing. Were not behind the Iron Curtain. This is not the 1930s. And every single one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, will of course be identified.

The comments, which the White House condemned as sick, came after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu compared ICE agents last week to secret police.

Meanwhile, Virginia U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote last month to immigration officials, arguing mask use violates Homeland Security regulations and puts everyone at risk  the targeted individuals, the ICE officers and agents, and bystanders who may misunderstand what is happening and may attempt to intervene.

The government has insisted such disguises are vital, given what the Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday was a 413 percent spike in assaults against immigration agents.

open image in gallery Despite criticisms, Department of Homeland Security has defended practice of ICE agents wearing masks, saying they protect officers from violent threats ( AFP via Getty Images )

When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by known and suspected gang members, murders, and rapists, the department wrote in a statement on X.

Earlier this week, acting ICE director Todd Lyons also defended the practice.

Im sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but Im not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line, because people dont like what immigration enforcement is, he said at a news conference in Massachusetts, where immigration officials have been carrying out large-scale arrest operations over the last month.

Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, announced legislation on Wednesday that would make doxxing law enforcement illegal.

open image in gallery Critics say federal agents wearing masks during immigration enforcement limits oversight and leads to intimidation

Blue city mayors are doing everything they can to obstruct the Trump administrations efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens, she told The New York Post of the bill, a seeming reference to Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell publicly sharing information last month on the identities of Homeland Security conducting operations in his city.

Blackburns Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act would punish those who name officers with the intent to obstruct a criminal investigation or immigration enforcement operation with up to five years in prison.

The second Trump term is not the first to time masked immigration agents have been active, but masked officers have featured prominently in some of this administrations most controversial moments, including the April arrest of Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, the May shoving match between Democrats and ICE agents at a New Jersey detention center, and ICE arrests at court houses and immigration offices around the country.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association has warned that such arrests at sensitive locations by masked agents will prevent people from accessing their legal rights and reduce government oversight.

open image in gallery Senator Marsha Blackburn wants to make it a crime to doxx law enforcement ( Associated Press )

These actions will have a chilling effect if people are too terrified of attending court hearings with the knowledge ICE officers may be waiting to detain them at any given moment, the group wrote in a memo last week. This fear tactic robs noncitizen respondents of accessing a fair hearing process.
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Secretary of Education Linda McMahon was given a math lesson during a Senate hearing on Tuesday when Senator Jack Reed pointed out that $1.5 multiplied by 10 is not over a trillion dollars but actually $15 billion.

Sitting before the appropriations subcommittee that focuses on education, McMahon nodded her head along as Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana mistakenly claimed that the U.S. spends $1,580,000 on federal grant programs, known as TRIO and GEAR UP, per year and that after 10 years, that adds up to be over a trillion dollars.

The U.S. actually spends $1.58 billion per year on the programs, which does not add up to more than a trillion after 10 years. But, McMahon did not correct Kennedys math error.

However, Reed, the senator from Rhode Island, did.

Im not a great mathematician, but I think you were talking about a trillion dollars? I believe $1.5 billion times 10 is $15 billion, thats a little bit off from a trillion dollars, Reed said.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon did not correct a senators math blunder during an appropriations hearing on Tuesday ( Getty )

McMahon responded, I think the budget cuts $1.2 billion for TRIO.

Well, $1.2 billion that would be $12 billion, not a trillion dollars, Reed replied.

Ok, McMahon said.

The math blunder was part of McMahons testimony about President Donald Trumps 2026 budget proposal, which includes sweeping cuts to the Department of Education  drastically impacting education grants such as TRIO or GEAR UP.

The Independent has asked the Department of Education for comment.

TRIO, a federal program comprised of various grants, are some of the Education Departments largest investments aimed at assisting low-income or first-generation college students or individuals with disabilities to advance through the academic pipeline. In 2024, the Education Department provided $1.191 billion for the program.

GEAR UP, a federal grant program, assists low-income students preparing to enter postsecondary education. In 2024, the Education Department provided $388 million for the program.

But under Trumps proposed skinny budget, essentially all of the TRIO and GEAR UP grants would be eliminated. Its part of his efforts to shutter the Education Department.

During the hearing, Senator Susan Collins of Maine aired concerns about the cuts to TRIO, saying she had seen the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students, not only in Maine, but across the country changed by the TRIO program.

Education advocacy groups such as the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Institute for College Access & Success have condemned the proposed budget, saying it would negatively impact millions of students  particularly those of low-income households.
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Donald Trumps education secretary has refused to say if she believes school curricula that correctly state Joe Biden won the 2020 election amount to illegal DEI.

Secretary Linda McMahon instead repeatedly told House lawmakers on Wednesday that social studies should all be taught accurately and that we should hear all sides.

During a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, of Pennsylvania, repeatedly asked McMahon whether she believes certain lesson plans constitute illegal DEI  referring to the Trump administrations threat to withhold federal funding to schools it believes are engaged in illegal DEI practices.

In a heated back and forth, Lee pressed McMahon to say whether curriculum on the 2020 election and African-American history lessons on the Tulsa race massacre and civil rights activist Ruby Bridges are considered illegal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

McMahon said she would look into them. Asked whether she even knows who and what those people and events are, McMahon fumbled for answers.

open image in gallery Education Secretary Linda McMahon, testifying before House committee Wednesday, would not say if students should be taught that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. ( House Education Committee )

Do you know what the Tulsa race massacre is? asked Lee, referencing a white mobs bloody destruction of a bustling Black town in Oklahoma in 1921.

Id like to look into it more, McMahon said.

How about the book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges? Lee asked.

McMahon said she hasnt read it.

Have you learned about Ruby Bridges? said Lee, referring to the first Black child to enter an all-white school in the South during desegregation efforts in 1960.

If you have specific examples, McMahon replied.

That was an incredibly specific example, Lee fired back.

The congresswoman then asked whether social studies standards that teach that Biden won the 2020 presidential election would also be considered illegal DEI.

McMahon said social studies should all be taught accurately.

Lee demanded a yes or no answer. McMahon repeated her reply.

I think I have said we should teach accurately, she said. We should hear all sides.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has signed an executive order intended to dismantle the Education Department. Secretary Linda McMahon is asking members of Congress to trim billions of dollars from the departments 2026 budget ( AP )

Lees questions follow newly established curriculum standards in Oklahoma, where the states controversial schools superintendent ushered through sweeping changes that introduce 2020 election conspiracy theories into school curriculums.

Students will be required to identify discrepancies in the 2020 presidential election, appearing to amplify Trumps baseless narrative that the election was fraudulent.

Students will also learn about the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps and an unforeseen record number of voters, appearing to repeat unsupported claims that bolster conspiracy theories surrounding election results.

McMahon is appearing before members of Congress this week to present a budget for a department that the president wants to eliminate entirely.

The White House wants to reduce the departments budget by 15 percent in 2026, targeting a range of programs supporting K-12 students and higher education. Advocacy groups fear the cuts will be particularly devastating to students from lower-income families and in rural areas, and ultimately harm schools and the students they serve, according to the School Superintendents Association.
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Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene has been criticized for admitting that she did not read the entirety of Trumps Big Beautiful Bill and that if she had, she would have voted against it.

Greene revealed she was unaware of a specific section that would prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence systems for a decade.

The bill, which includes multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks, as well as defense spending and government debt allowances, was passed by the House of Representatives last month.

Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years, Greene said on X Tuesday.

I am adamantly OPPOSED to this, and it is a violation of state rights, and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there.

Trumps newly proposed legislation, however, has drawn widespread condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike, as well as from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Rep. Eric Swalwell lambasted Greene in response to her announcement, accusing her of incompetence.

You have one job. To. Read. The. *******. Bill, he wrote on X.

Rep. Ted Lieu said he read the AI provision beforehand and thats one reason I voted no on the GOPs big, ugly bill, on X.

PRO TIP: Its helpful to read stuff before voting on it.

Whereas, others, such as Rep. Mark Pocan, took a more cuthroat hit: Read the ******* bill instead of clapping for it like a performing monkey. You should have done your job while it was written. You didnt. You own that vote.

open image in gallery Rep. Greene has openly admitted to not reading the bill in full on X ( AFP/Getty )

Matt Van Swol, a former U.S. Department of Energy scientist and someone who formerly wrote, I stand with Elon and DOGE, appeared dumbfounded at the Georgia congresswomans comments, simply writing: Wow. How many pages is this bill????

Earlier, Musk took to X to slate the bill. Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore.

The massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, he wrote. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The billionaire left the administration and abruptly severed ties with the White House last week, after a 129-day stint working to slash costs with DOGE.

open image in gallery The White House launched an interactive webpage to promote the bills victory in the House Tuesday ( The White House )

On Tuesday, the White House launched an interactive webpage to celebrate the bills passage in the House. The webpage read, We are preparing your tax cuts, accompanied by a digital calculator for Americans to calculate prospective savings.

Patrick Webb, a co-founder of fake news and conspiracy site, The Leading Report, sympathised with Greene, stating: No bill should be over 1,000 pages. We need single-issue legislation. Thank you, Rep MTG, for actually doing your job in reading the bill and exposing it to the public.
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While Donald Trump largely remains silent after Ukraines daring Spiderweb drone operation in Russia, one of the presidents fiercest loyalists is calling for a top Republican critic of the Kremlin to be arrested for stirring it up in Kyiv.

Over the weekend, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)  who cosponsored a Senate measure that would slap 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy products  visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I would expect next week that the Senate will start moving the sanctions bill," Graham declared on Friday during a news conference in Ukraine. There are House members that are ready to move in the House and you will see congressional action.

Russia indiscriminately kills men, women and children. It's time for the world to act decisively against Russia's aggression by holding China and others accountable for buying cheap Russian oil that props up Putin's war machine, Graham added during his Ukraine trip.

The meeting with Zelensky, meanwhile, comes as Ukraine and Russia s till remain far apart on ceasefire talks, resulting in Trump growing increasingly frustrated over his own efforts to bring peace to a war that he previously promised hed end in 24 hours. This has resulted in Trump expressing his annoyance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has largely sympathized with throughout the war, while suggesting the administration could just walk away from peace negotiations.

With MAGA raging over the Ukraine drone attacks and suggesting the Deep State could be responsible for the stunning raids, Steve Bannon has directed much of his ire towards Graham. Besides saying that the White House needs to openly denounce Zelensky for the military strikes, the former Trump chief strategist is also urging Trump to punish the South Carolina lawmaker for his diplomatic trip.

Steve Bannon calls for Donald Trump to arrest Lindsey Graham or toss him out of the country over the senator's diplomatic trip to Ukraine. ( NewsNation )

The White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support, Bannon exclaimed during Mondays broadcast of his War Room program. And tell Lindsey Graham to come home, or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. Youre stirring it up!

The far-right provocateur further accused Graham of working against Trump behind the scenes, claiming the senator promised Zelensky that hed get the sanctions measure passed regardless of the presidents support for the bill.

Hes stirring it up over there, Bannon reiterated.

Meanwhile, with Graham applauding the ever-resourceful Ukraine for using creative drone warfare tactics to successfully attack Russian bombers and military assets, Bannon has continued to call for the president to toss the longtime Trump ally in prison or even kick him out of the country.

Two things ought to happen: either cancel his passport and dont let him back in the country, or put him in jail if he comes back, Bannon told NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo on Monday night. Lindsey Graham is stirring it up right now, and people better wake up to the fact that were getting sucked into this war, and if we get sucked in much more, its going to be tough [to get out].

Still not done railing against the senator, Bannon brought it back up on Tuesday during the show handover with Real Americas Voice host Eric Bolling.

Asked by Bolling what the hell is Lindsey Graham doing in Ukraine right now, Bannon repeated that the hawkish lawmaker was stirring it up overseas before once again calling for Graham to be imprisoned.

This is why I say he should be arrested, he fumed. Either cut his passport off so he can never come back to the country, or arrest him. Hes a troublemaker, and this now, hes egging the deep state on and misleading the Ukrainian people that were all in on this.He went on to say that the Ukrainian people understand the American people dont support this, and were not gonna be there, adding that we want to cut all the money off to aiding Ukraine. At the same time, Bannon insisted that the United States is sympathetic towards Russia.

The American people and the Russian people have no problem, he concluded. We dont want to fight each other.
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President Donald Trump appears to be lowering the bar on trade negotiations with China as he complained that President Xi Jinping is hard to make a deal with.

The president softened his tone in a Truth Social post shared in the early hours of Wednesday. I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, Trump said. But he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!

Last week Trump accused China of violating the terms of the agreement between the two countries. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY! he said.

But his latest approach comes as the president is obsessed with having a call with Xi, a person familiar with the talks told Politico. The leaders of the worlds two largest economies are yet to speak on the phone to thrash out a deal.

Meanwhile, a former Trump official who remains close to the White House told Politico that the president feels like a call between principals is a way to cut through a lot of this noise, and get right to the heart of the matter.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump complained that Chinese President Xi Jinping is hard to make a deal with in a Truth Social post. Trump has struggled to get the Chinese leader on the phone to thrash out a deal. ( REUTERS )

Obamas assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, told Politico that China has a sharp nose for weakness, and for all his bravado, Trump is signaling eagerness, even desperation, to cut a direct deal with Xi.

That only stiffens Beijings resolve, he added.

The trade war between the two countries has resumed after Trump accused China of violating the terms of the agreement. Beijing hit back Monday, accusing the U.S. of doing the same. The Trump administration revealed plans to revoke the visas of Chinese students and attempts to curb Chinas access to the most advanced computer chips, which did not go down well.

These practices seriously violate the consensus of what was agreed in talks in Geneva two weeks ago, the Commerce Ministry said.

open image in gallery The leaders of the worlds two largest economies are yet to speak on the phone to thrash out a deal but Trump is signaling eagerness, even desperation, to cut a direct deal with Xi, according to a former Trump official. ( Getty Images )

Now the talks are at somewhat of a standstill.

Trump believes he can break through to the Chinese leader, though the U.S. is trying to change a trade relationship worth $600 billion and doing so without losing too much political capital in the U.S.

The administration is under a lot of pressure following Chinas critical minerals blockade, which blocks U.S. access to essential components in auto and electronics manufacturing as well as the production of munitions, a person familiar with the conversations told Politico.

Trump reduced tariffs on China last month from 145 percent to 30 percent.
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President Donald Trump has grown increasingly focused on calling Chinese President Xi Jinping this week to get closer to a deal to end the ongoing trade war between the worlds two largest economies.

The White House has said that Trump and Xi will likely speak this week. However, it may not be the barrier-breaking conversation the president is aiming for.

The president is obsessed with having a call with Xi, a person familiar with the talks told Politico.

Trump believes he can untie the knot even though the U.S. is trying to change a trade relationship worth $600 billion and doing so without losing too much political capital in the U.S.

The person familiar with the discussions told the outlet that the administration is under a lot of pressure following Chinas critical minerals blockade, which blocks U.S. access to essential components in auto and electronics manufacturing as well as the production of munitions.

open image in gallery Trump believes a call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping could spell the end of the trade war between the worlds largest economies ( AP )

I dont think Xi is too interested in exporting any more rare earths or magnets to the United States; hes made his position clear, the person noted. But they added that Xi would likely take Trump's call.

The president has some leverage, and the question is when hes ready to impose maximum pressure on the Chinese government, they said.

Meanwhile, a former Trump official who remains close to the White House told Politico that the president feels like a call between principals is a way to cut through a lot of this noise, and get right to the heart of the matter.

However, some observers think Trump will struggle to get Xi on the phone.

Obamas assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, told Politico that China has a sharp nose for weakness, and for all his bravado, Trump is signaling eagerness, even desperation, to cut a direct deal with Xi.

That only stiffens Beijings resolve, he added.

Beijing has reportedly also been disturbed by Trumps very public showdowns with world leaders, such as with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. This has made the Chinese hesitant to participate in high-level discussions.

Biden National Security Council deputy senior director for China and Taiwan, Rush Doshi, told the outlet that China sees President Trump as unpredictable, which poses risks reputationally for President Xi.

Its not usual practice for PRC diplomats to put the leader at risk of a potentially embarrassing or unpredictable encounter, he added.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Xi and Trump would likely talk this week, but a call has yet to be scheduled, a White House official told Politico. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, I have no information to share regarding a call.

open image in gallery Jamieson Greer has argued that China is slow walking the removal of some trade countermeasures ( AP )

Last month, China and the U.S. reached an agreement to lower U.S. tariffs from 145 to 30 percent. Beijing cut back on levies on imports from the U.S. to 10 percent, and they said they would remove barriers on the exports of essential minerals. The agreement included a 90-day deadline to begin fresh discussions on a wider trade deal to take into account U.S. concerns regarding Chinese trade practices.

However, these new talks have gotten off to a bad start with miscommunication and differing expectations. The Trump administration has argued that China has slowed its new shipments of critical minerals and rare earth magnets.

Appearing on CNBC on Friday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said: When they agreed in Geneva to remove their tariff and their countermeasures, they removed the tariff like we did. But some of the countermeasures, theyve slowed on.

While a business official told Politico that Everyone agrees that for any additional progress to happen on tariffs, the gateway is fentanyl, the U.S. hasnt responded to two proposals put forward by Beijing to deal with the issue.

The proposals have been described as being designed by Beijing to provoke talks about what the Chinese can do to stop the flow of components that Mexican cartels use to make the drug. However, many officials in the Trump administration dont believe China would actually take the steps required to adhere to any fentanyl agreement.

Former Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush assistant U.S. trade representative Harry Broadman told Politico that while Trump is a deal maker, Xi is not.

Hes a Party guy at the top of an administrative superstructure, he said. I cannot imagine that Xi would get into specifics  at most, they might agree on certain principles, but thats not likely to satisfy Trump.
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Donald Trumps use of an 18th century law to summarily deport dozens of Venezuelan immigrants who never got a chance to challenge their removal was like something from a surreal Franz Kafka story, a federal judge wrote on Wednesday.

The Trump administration plunged those men into a brutal Salvadoran prison after swiftly deporting them from a detention center in Texas on March 15  despite a mandate from District Judge James Boasberg that was ignored, the judge wrote.

Following a lengthy court battle, Boasberg gave the government one week to explain how officials will facilitate giving all 137 of those men a chance to challenge their removals in court.

The judges order opens with an extended riff on Kafkas novel The Trial, in which protagonist Josef K. is arrested and prosecuted without knowing by whom or for what reason.

In our nation  unlike the one into which K. awakes  the governments mere promise that there has been no mistake does not suffice, Boasberg wrote. Any government confident of the legal or evidentiary basis for its actions has nothing to fear from that requirement. It is, after all, central to our system of ordered liberty.

open image in gallery A photo provided by the Salvadoran government shows masked agents moving a Venezuelan man into the countrys notorious CECOT prison after dozens of alleged gang members were summarily deported from the United States on March 15 ( EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE )

Nearly two months after deporting dozens of Venezuelans to a notorious Salvadoran prison, the Trump administration is embroiled in courtroom battles across the country  and at the nations highest court  following challenges to the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act to rapidly deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members.

In his proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, Trump stated that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of [Tren de Aragua], are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.

But government officials later admitted that many of them did not have criminal records, and attorneys and family members say their clients and relatives  some of whom were in the country with legal permission and have upcoming court hearings on their asylum claims  have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua.

Significant evidence has come to light indicating that many of those currently entombed in CECOT have no connection to the gang and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations, Boasberg wrote on Wednesday.

open image in gallery A group of Venezuelan immigrants detained in Texas are at the center of another legal battle over Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily send them to CECOT without a court hearing challenging allegations against them ( Getty Images )

The Supreme Court has issued several orders stemming from those cases.

Justices agreed that the president could rely on the centuries-old wartime law to remove immigrants from the country  provided they first have an opportunity to challenge those claims in court  and then temporarily blocked the government from deporting another group of Venezuelans in Texas while their lawyers scrambled to challenge the allegations against them.

Last month, the courts 7-2 decision states that the immigrants detained in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act must have sufficient time and information to reasonably be able to get in touch with lawyers and file legal challenges.

Lawyers for immigrants detained in El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison argued for class-action relief, which would allow all the men deported to the jail under the Alien Enemies Act a chance to challenge the allegations against them.

In short, the government must facilitate the Classs ability to seek habeas relief to contest their removal under the Act, Boasberg wrote. Exactly what such facilitation must entail will be determined in future proceedings.

Boasberg says he is mindful that those proceedings could implicate sensitive diplomatic or national-security concerns after furious objections from the president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has fought to conceal discussions with the Salvadoran government about jailing deportees from the courts.

But the government also has a constitutional duty to provide a remedy that will make good the wrong done, according to Boasberg.

The judge is separately considering holding administration officials in contempt for defying his orders to return those deportation flights to the United States before they touched down in El Salvador.

His ruling on Wednesday affirms what every American knows: in the United States, people are entitled to due process and no one should be removed from the country without it, according to Democracy Forward president Skye Perryman, among the groups representing plaintiffs in the case.

What has long separated the United States from autocratic regimes is the recognition of this process, she added. We will continue to oppose this administrations attempts to re-write the protections afforded under the Constitution.
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President Donald Trumps bromance with Elon Musk appears to be heading for a breakup after the latter savagely attacked the presidents big, beautiful bill on Tuesday as the legislation faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, the worlds richest man wrote on X. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The outburst came days after Musk left his role as a special adviser to Trump. These tumultuous four months saw him spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency, which is tasked with cutting waste, excess, and fraud from federal expenditure, and has overseen the mass firing of tens of thousands of officials, bureaucrats and staffers.

open image in gallery The end of a big, beautiful friendship? Donald Trump and Elon Musk ( The Independent/Getty )

The First Buddy first came out in support of the Republican during last years presidential election and donated more than $288m to the MAGA cause.

But the endorsement has taken a brutal toll on Musks businesses, especially Tesla, which suffered a 71 percent decline in its first-quarter profits and has borne the brunt of much of the public backlash.

Despite the signs of discord, Musk and Trump remain friends and allies, according to one White House source cited by Axios. However, another alleges that Musk feels butthurt over how his time in the administration ended. According to the report, there are multiple reasons for the growing distance between Trump and Musk.

1. EV tax credit cut

Trumps signature bill eliminates an important consumer tax credit for EV owners, worth up to $7,500, which Tesla reportedly spent $240,000 lobbying to maintain as of late April.

Musk reportedly pleaded with Trump for its retention behind the scenes. Still, it was ultimately unsuccessful, a frustration that lingered despite the president turning the White House lawn into a Tesla dealership in March to help promote Musks cars after vandals targeted his showrooms.

open image in gallery Musk and Trump selling Tesla Cybertrucks at the White House on March 11, 2025 ( AFP/Getty )

2. Musk wanted to stay on

Axios reports that the billionaire actually wanted to stay on in his role as a special government employee beyond its statutory limit of 130 days, despite numerous reported blowups with members of Trumps cabinet in private.

Ultimately, however, an extension deal could not be reached with the presidents team.

3. Billionaire wanted air traffic controllers to use Starlink

Another reported disagreement concerned Musks appeal to the Federal Aviation Administration to begin using his Starlink satellite technology. This demand was rejected due to both conflict-of-interest concerns and technological reasons.

You cant have air traffic control just run off satellites, a source told Axios.

Musks presence in the West Wing sparked several other conflict-of-interest concerns, the most recent of which saw 42 Democrats write to the Pentagons inspector general to sound the alarm over SpaceXs potential involvement in Trumps Golden Dome anti-missile defense system.

open image in gallery Musk leaps for joy at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024 ( AFP/Getty )

4. Trumps removal of Jared Isaacman as his nominee to be NASAs next administrator

Among the billionaires alleged enemies in the White House was Sergio Gor, director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, with whom he is said to have clashed.

When Trump abruptly decided over the weekend to withdraw the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to be NASAs next administrator, rumors quickly spread that Gor was behind the decision and intended it as an out-the-door f*** you to Musk.

That claim has been disputed, however, with complaints from Republican senators about Isaacmans track record as a Democratic donor also given as a reason for the decision.

Perception is reality, though, and Im pretty sure Elon thought the NASA situation was a last insult, an official told Axios. So here we are.

open image in gallery Trump abruptly decided over the weekend to withdraw the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to be NASAs next administrator ( AP )

Elsewhere, Trumps former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, a bitter enemy of Musk, has suggested that the first schism in their relationship came in March when the president refused to show the billionaire the Pentagons attack plans for a hypothetical war with China.

Speaking to The Atlantic last month, Bannon said of that moment: You could feel it. Everything changed. The fever had been broken.
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Erin Patterson, the Australian woman accused of killing her relatives with death cap mushrooms, admitted that she disposed of a food dehydrator after learning her lunch might have fatally poisoned her former in-laws.

Ms Patterson, 50, said she did not tell anyone after realising that death cap mushrooms could have been in the meal that she served her in-laws in July 2023. She had earlier testified that she became interested in wild mushroom foraging during the Covid lockdown.

Ms Patterson took the stand for the third day on Wednesday as her murder trial continued in the Victorian town of Morwell.

She is charged with deliberately serving death cap mushrooms to her estranged husbands parents Don and Gail Patterson, Gails sister, Heather Wilkinson, and Heathers husband Ian during a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria. Ian Wilkinson was the only guest to survive after spending days in hospital. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

I was scared that they would blame me for it, for making everyone sick. And I was scared they would remove the children, she said, referring to child welfare department workers.

She had disposed of the dehydrator, she said, because she thought there might be evidence of foraged mushrooms in there.

She felt scared after child protection got involved. Knowing they were coming to her home, Ms Patterson said she decided to throw out her dehydrator.

open image in gallery Erin Patterson is photographed in Melbourne, Australia, on 15 April 2025 ( AAP )

On Tuesday, she told the court she had added dried mushrooms from her pantry to the beef wellington that she served her in-laws, which might have included foraged wild mushrooms. I tasted it a few times and it seemed bland to me, so I decided to put the dried mushrooms in the pantry, she said. At the time, I believed it was just the mushrooms I got from the grocer in Melbourne. Now I think there was the possibility there were foraged ones in there as well.

She also told the court about a conversation with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, just days after the fatal meal that killed three of her relatives. She said Mr Patterson asked her if she had used the dehydrator to poison his parents.

The question made her think about whether foraged mushrooms might have accidentally got mixed with the mushrooms she had brought from Asian stores in the dehydrator.

I do not remember if it was Simon or I that initiated it, but there was a conversation about how I had used a dehydrator to do that and he said to me: Is that how you poisoned my parents, using that dehydrator? I said, Of course not. It got me thinking about all the times I had used it, she said.

Simon seemed to be of the mind that maybe this was intentional. I was really scared.

open image in gallery A memorial plaque on the grave site for Don and Gail Patterson at the Korumburra General Cemetery in Australia ( Getty )

Ms Patterson said she did not tell a health official that the supermarket ingredients in her lunch were likely not to blame because she was scared.

She said she still considered the Asian store mushrooms a possible cause, but knew it wasnt the only explanation. I was starting to think: what if they had gone in the container with the Chinese mushrooms? she claimed, referring to foraged mushrooms. Maybe that had happened.

She said she tried to tell police she wasnt sure where the mushrooms had come from, but believed they were from Woolworths and the Asian grocer. That was what I thought at the time, she added.

Prosecutors have alleged that she had used citizen science app iNaturalist to find locations where deadly death cap mushrooms were known to grow.

open image in gallery A sign at the entrance of Erin Pattersons Leongatha township in Victoria ( Getty )

Ms Patterson on Wednesday also admitted to factory resetting one of her phones the day police searched her home after the fatal lunch. She told the court she did this out of fear and concern about the investigation, but did not initially disclose this to authorities.

Id put all my apps on it, including my Google account, including my Google Photos, and I knew that there were photos in there of mushrooms and the dehydrator. I just panicked and I did not want them to see them, she said, adding that it was really stupid.

The trial continues.
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Smoke from Canadian wildfires has begun to reach as far as Europe as the large and intense flames continue to threaten health in North America.

The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians in three provinces to flee their homes, with smoke now creating unhealthy conditions at ground level for Americans in parts of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

It is not expected to bring similar health concerns in Europe, with surface-air quality not affected, but those on the continent have been told to expect hazy skies and reddish-orange sunsets.

The first high-altitude plume reached Greece and the eastern Mediterranean just over two weeks ago, with a much larger plume crossing the Atlantic within the past week and more expected in coming days, according to Copernicus.

open image in gallery Wildfire burning northeast of Summit Lake, British Columbia, Canada, Monday, June 2, 2025 ( The Canadian Press )

Thats really an indicator of how intense these fires are, that they can deliver smoke, high enough that they can be carried so far on jet streams, said Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the service.

The fires also are putting out significant levels of carbon pollution  an estimated 56 megatonnes through Monday, second only to 2023, according to Copernicus.

Smoke hits north-east US

The smell of smoke hung over the Minneapolis-St. Paul area on Tuesday morning despite rain that obscured the full measure of the dirty air. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the worst of it in the Midwest on Tuesday.

As the smoke continues to move across the state Tuesday, air quality will slowly improve from northwest to southeast for the remainder of the alert area, the agency said. The smoke is expected to leave the state by Wednesday at noon.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the states southwest corner to the northeast could fall into the unhealthy category through Thursday morning. The agency recommended that people, especially those with heart and lung disease, avoid long or intense activities and to take extra breaks while doing strenuous actions outdoors.

Smoky conditions that have reached the US periodically in recent weeks extended as far east Tuesday as Michigan, west into the Dakotas and Nebraska, and as far to the southeast as Georgia.

Conditions at ground level are unhealthy

The US Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow map showed a swath of red for unhealthy conditions across the eastern half Minnesota into western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. The map also showed purple for very unhealthy" across much of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, where the Air Quality Index numbers of 250 and were common, though conditions started to improve slightly by late morning.

open image in gallery Wildfires burning in the Nopiming Provincial Park in the area of Bird River, Manitoba, Canada ( Government of Manitoba )

The Air Quality Index  AQI  measures how clean or polluted the air is, focusing on health effects that might be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Particulates are the main issue from the fires

The index ranges from green, where the air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk, to maroon, which is considered hazardous. That level comes with health warnings of emergency conditions where everyone is more likely to be affected, according to AirNow.

While Minnesota officials warned on Monday that conditions in the northwest part of the state could reach the maroon category on Tuesday, conditions there were generally yellow, or moderate. There were a few scattered locations in the Twin Cities area that temporarily hit maroon on Tuesday morning. But by midday Tuesday, most of the remaining maroon spots in the region were on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Hospitals are seeing more patients with respiratory symptoms

Hennepin Healthcare, the main emergency hospital in Minneapolis, has seen a slight increase in visits by patients with respiratory symptoms aggravated by the dirty air.

Dr. Rachel Strykowski, a pulmonologist, said there is usually a bit of a delay before patients come in, which is unfortunate because the sooner those patients contact their doctors, the better the outcome. Typical symptoms, she said, include increase in shortness of breath, wheezing, maybe coughing a bit more, and flares of their underlying disease, and that's usually COPD and asthma.

open image in gallery Wildfire burning northeast of Summit Lake, British Columbia, Canada, Monday, June 2, 2025 ( The Canadian Press )

What happens, Strykowski said, is that the fine particulate matter from the wildfire smoke triggers more inflammation in patients' airways, aggravating their underlying medical conditions.

Strykowski noted that this is usually a time those patients can go outside and enjoy the summer weather because there are fewer triggers, so the current ones forcing them to stay inside can feel quite isolating."

People can protect themselves by staying indoors or by wearing N95 masks, she said. Strykowski added that they must be N95s because the cloth masks many people used during the COVID-19 pandemic don't provide enough filtration.

The Canadian fire situation

Canada is having another bad wildfire season, and more than 27,000 people in three provinces have been forced to evacuate. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba.

The Canadian Press reported that Winnipeg hotels were opening up Monday to evacuees. More than 17,000 Manitoba residents have been displaced since last week, including 5,000 residents of the community of Flin Flon, nearly 400 miles (645 kilometers) northwest of Winnipeg. In neighboring Saskatchewan, 2,500 residents of the town of La Ronge were ordered to flee Monday, on top of more than 8,000 in the province who had been evacuated earlier.

In Saskatoon, where the premiers of Canadas provinces and the countrys prime minister met Monday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said all of Canada has come together to help the Prairie provinces, The Canadian Press reported.

Two people were killed by a wildfire in mid-May in Lac du Bonnet, northeast of Winnipeg.

Canadas worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
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The European Union has announced Greenland will be among the nations selected for 13 new raw material projects, which are designed to bolster its supply of critical metals and minerals.

The initiative, which includes nations outside the bloc, aims to ensure the EU remains competitive in key sectors such as energy transition, defence, and aerospace.

The announcement follows China's decision in April to impose export restrictions on rare earth magnets, requiring new licenses for export. This move has prompted European diplomats, car manufacturers, and other businesses to urgently seek meetings with Beijing officials to avoid potential factory closures.

European Commissioner for industry, Stephane Sejourne, stated, "We must reduce our dependencies on all countries, particularly on a number of countries like China... The export bans increase our will to diversify."

China currently controls more than 90 per cent of the global processing capacity for these magnets, which are essential components in a wide range of products from vehicles and fighter jets to household appliances.

Additionally, China is the primary supplier of many key components for renewable energy technologies, including rare earth minerals, batteries, and solar panels. Brussels is eager to change this dynamic to secure its supply chains.

The EU list is part of the implementation of the Critical Raw Material Act agreed in 2023 under which the bloc aims to mine 10 per cent, process 40 per cent and recycle 25 per cent of its needs by 2030.

Greenland has been a point of tension between Brussels and Washington this year after US President Donald Trump repeatedly said he wants to acquire the Danish overseas territory ( Getty )

Ten of the new projects will be focused on materials essential for electric vehicle batteries and battery storage, including lithium, cobalt, manganese and graphite. Two projects for rare earths are located in Malawi and South Africa.

Other projects are located in Britain, Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, Zambia, Brazil and the French territory of New Caledonia.

The British project is to extract tungsten and the ones in Ukraine and Greenland will be for graphite, with the project in Greenland run by GreenRoc Strategic Materials GROC.L. Tungsten is key for the defence industry.

Greenland has been a point of tension between Brussels and Washington this year after US President Donald Trump repeatedly said he wants to acquire the Danish overseas territory.

US officials have discussed a plan to pull Greenland into America's sphere of influence with a type of agreement called COFA that the United States has used to maintain close ties with several Pacific Island nations.

Under COFA, the US government offers essential services and in exchange, the US military operates freely while trade with the US is largely duty-free.

The Serbian project, run by major miner Rio Tinto, could produce 90 per cent of Europe's lithium needs. However, the project nearly fell apart after the government revoked the miner's licence in 2022. A Serbian court restored Rio Tinto's rights last year. Many Serbs oppose the Jadar project, saying its development will damage the environment.

"With an estimated production of 58,000 tons of lithium carbonate annually, Serbia has the potential to become a key player in the electric vehicle supply chain," Rio Tinto said in a statement.

The EU has estimated that the projects would need an overall capital investment of 5.5 billion euros ($6.3 billion) to get off the ground. They would receive coordinated financial support and buyer interest from the European Commission, member states and lenders.

The new list brings the EU's total number of strategic projects to 60. In March, the Commission announced 47 projects within the EU.
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A body has been found in Portugal during the search for missing Scottish tourist Greg Monks.

Portuguese police said on Wednesday the body of a 38-year-old man had been found in the search for a missing Scottish tourist.

The body was seen at the bottom of a ravine a long way from the spot where he was last seen, according to Portuguese daily newspaper Correi da Manha. Portugals Policia Judiciara are currently at the scene, according to the outlet. The Policia Judiciaria said the body was located in the Cerro de Aguia area.

The 38-year-old Glaswegian went missing last Wednesday after travelling to Albufeira with his friends for a stag do.

open image in gallery Mr Monks went missing on 28 May ( Facebook )

Mr Monks told his friends he was heading back to his holiday apartment after drinking on a night out, according to The Sun. The last sighting was at 3:27am on Wednesday 28 May near Cerro de Aguia area.

His sister Jillian, told Sky News after his disappearance: "We were contacted on Wednesday afternoon asking if there was any way we could track his phone because he hadn't come home from the night before.

"This immediately raised alarm bells. Its just not like him. He wouldnt normally do something like this.

When the family arrived in Albufeira, police told them they had seen Mr Monks on CCTV footage twice around the residential area, Jillian said.

open image in gallery Mr Monks had reportedly left the town of Albufeira before his disappearance ( Getty Images )

The 38-year-old had last been seen in an area with a lot of rough terrain, including rocky outcrops and cliffs. It was more than an hours walk from the Albufeira Strip, where he is believed to have left his friends.

"He deserves to be found, he deserves to be looked for, we need him home.

"He's a big part of our family, and it's just unimaginable if he's just lying somewhere and we can't find him."

open image in gallery Greg Monks went missing in Albufeira, Portugal on May 28 ( Facebook )

"As a family, we're worried sick," his other sister, Carlyn, said. "It's just so unlike him, but myself and Jillian are just trying to hold each other up back home.

Mr Monks is "a real family man", she said. Jillian added: "I know that if he could phone us or reach out to us, he would, he wouldn't put us through this".

Police said the 38-year-olds disappearance was reported to the Guarda Nacional Republicana on May 28 at around 8pm by a man who was on holiday with him.

Authorities said a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities.
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A flotilla carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg on a weeklong journey to Gaza has been boarded by Israeli military forces and transported to Israel.

The 12-person Madleen vessel was intercepted off the coast of Gaza in the early hours of Monday, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) that manages the boat.

In a statement on social media, they said Israeli forces had rammed and boarded the vessel. An hour earlier, they claimed they were drones overhead. Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance, the FFC wrote on Telegram. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.

Israeli officials said the group would be taken to the port of Ashdod, from where they would return to their home countries. Israel Katz, the countrys defence minister, said he had instructed the military to show the flotilla passengers videos of the 7 October massacres when they arrive in Israel.

He claimed it was necessary for Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters to see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself.

The FFC posted a video appearing to show the moment the ship was intercepted. They have since posted pre-recorded SOS videos from all 12 crew members calling for their respective governments to help secure their release.

The Israeli foreign ministry also posted footage of the aftermath of the interception, including pictures of the military handing out food and water to the crew.

The Madleen ship and its crew of 12 volunteers set off from Catania, Sicily on 1 June, carrying a nominal amount of humanitarian aid.

The FFC said the trip was aimed at trying to break Israels more than 17-year illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The ships location was being monitored live by Forensic Architecture, using a Garmin live tracker on board, but that tracker has since been switched off.

Who is on the boat?

open image in gallery Activist Greta Thunberg stands aboard the aid ship Madleen ( Reuters )

Named after Gazas only female fisher, the vessel is carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, among others.

Ms Thunberg shot to notoriety in 2018 when she decided to skip school as a 15-year-old in an attempt to persuade the Swedish parliament to take more action on climate change.

Speaking aboard the Madleen, Ms Thunberg told Middle East Eye: We have promised ourselves and we have promised the Palestinian people to do everything we can.

When our governments are failing us  then it falls on us to step up and be the adults in the room.

We are just human beings, very concerned about whats happening, and do not accept what is going on.

The other activists on board the vessel are: Yasemin Acar (Germany), Baptiste Andre (France), Thiago Avila (Brazil), Omar Faiad (France), Pascal Maurieras (France) Yanis Mhamdi (France) Suayb Ordu (Turkiye), Sergio Toribio (Spain) Marco van Rennes (The Netherlands) and Reva Viard (France).

What is their plan?

open image in gallery A tracker provided by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition shows the Madleen off the coast of Crete as of 15.19 GMT ( Freedom Flotilla Coalition )

The FFC said the boat intended to spend at least seven days travelling to Gaza to break the naval blockade that has been in place since 2007.

There were concerns that the boat may be attacked. Last month, another vessel operated by the FFC, the Conscience, was reportedly bombed by drones off Malta en route to Gaza. Ms Thunberg said at the time that she planned to board the boat in Malta.

The FFC accused Israel of carrying out the attacks. Israel did not respond to those accusations.

On 3 June, the FFC said that an Israel-made Hellenic Coastguard drone (IAI Heron UAV) was seen hovering over the Madleen.

In a statement shared on social media, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said: At 11:12pm CEST+1, 68km away from Greek territorial waters, a drone began to hover above the Madleen. The drone is no longer there.
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Italy's upper house of parliament has approved a wide-ranging security decree targeting public protests and "legal" cannabis, sparking outrage from opposition groups and civil rights campaigners.

The decree, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition government, passed the Senate with a 109-69 vote, with one abstention.

The session was temporarily suspended due to protests from opposition lawmakers, who chanted "shame, shame" on the chamber floor.

Francesco Boccia, a leading senator for the centre-left Democratic Party, criticised the decree, stating, "We challenge a government that wants to imprison children, students who strike, and protesters outside factories."

The approved measures criminalise blocking roads and defacing public property, a move seen as targeting anti-climate change activists who have disrupted traffic and vandalised monuments in Italy.

It introduces new crimes against revolts in prison and migrant detention centres, punishing even acts of passive resistance, and against people who occupy private property, such as social housing.

open image in gallery The measures, spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition government, have been criticised by opposition groups and civil rights campaigners as unduly repressive ( Associated Press )

It bans the trade of "cannabis light", or hemp, which unlike marijuana has no mind-altering qualities, infuriating local entrepreneurs who say the move will cost thousands of jobs and imperil millions of euros of investments.

The bill scraps an exemption from prison detention for convicted pregnant women or those with babies, as backers say the rule was exploited by female members of the Roma ethnic minority to escape punishment for serial pickpocketing.

"It's useless to say that this decree is inhumane, because women who have children in order to steal are not worthy of having them," said Gianni Berrino, a senator from Meloni's Brothers of Italy party.

The decree also introduces tougher sanctions for protesters who clash with police, causing them injuries, and offers legal cover of up to 10,000 euros ($11,385) for army or police officers who are put under investigation or sent to trial.

Meloni's coalition won elections decisively in September 2022 and is still riding high in polls after promising to get tough on law and order.

It has introduced dozens of new crimes, often reacting to public outrage about specific issues, but critics say this is not necessarily effective and aggravates already serious prison overcrowding.

"We want a state where citizens live peacefully and whoever breaks (things) pays, whoever makes a mistake pays, and it is right that they pay with prison," Berrino said during the Senate debate.
 Close Inside buildings scoured in new search for Madeleine McCann

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Animal bones are reported to be among limited findings after a three-day search for forensic evidence in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann case, who vanished from a holiday home in Portugal 18 years ago, was called off.

Local media said some material had been gathered on Wednesday and sent for analysis to see if it contained anything relevant to the investigation.

German investigators were given until Friday to search an area between Praia da Luz and the cottage where he lived at the time of the toddlers disappearance in 2007, but the search was wound up on Thursday.

Christian Brueckner, a suspect in case, is due to be released from prison within months.

A neighbour who lived near Brueckner around the time of Madeleines disappearance described him as quite angry, and said she would hear him having rows with his girlfriend.

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann ramped up their hunt of scrubland and abandoned buildings on Wednesday with heavy machinery, including JCB and ground-penetrating radar.

Madeleine was three when she disappeared, sparking a Europe-wide police investigation.

German national Brueckner, who was formally identified as a suspect in 2022, has denied any involvement.
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Swinging pickaxes into the hardened ground and clearing piles of rocks and rubble, the dozen or so police officers began work on Tuesday in temperatures that later reached 20C.

Gathered on a remote area of clifftop scrubland a few miles from the Portuguese resort Madeleine McCann vanished from 18 years ago, one team dug into the earth next to an abandoned farmhouse under the watchful gaze of nearby journalists.

Other officers cleared undergrowth and debris around nearby buildings, while a fire crew pumped water from a disused well before appearing to use a winch to check the site.

Almost two decades since Madeleine disappeared from Praia da Luz without trace, its here, in the barren countryside nearby, where police hope to finally find answers in the mystery of what happened to the then three-year-old girl.

Investigators are reported to be acting on a tip-off and hope to find evidence of her body or clothing.

For updates on the search in the case of missing Madeleine McCann, click here for our blog

open image in gallery Search teams look through a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia da Luz ( PA )

It was claimed they would be using ground-penetrating radar to help narrow their search, but on Tuesday, crews were seen using shovels, pickaxes and chainsaws, as well as a pump to drain the well, as they battled rubble and dense vegetation in the search for clues.

The latest efforts come as German police face a race against time to find concrete evidence linking her disappearance to their only suspect.

German national Christian Brueckner, 47, is being investigated over the disappearance and murder of the British toddler in 2007, although he denies any involvement. He is due to be released from prison in September as his seven-year term for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 comes to an end.

open image in gallery Search teams dig at the abandoned property, hoping to find clues in Madeleines disappearance ( PA )

Madeleines parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, who have not commented on the latest searches, last month vowed to leave no stone unturned in their fight for answers as they marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance and what should have been her 22nd birthday.

On Tuesday, the fresh searches were focused on the abandoned farmhouse and other derelict buildings in the rural area of scrubland off a scenic coastal path stretching between Lagos and Atalaia, near a cottage where Brueckner used to live.

Following Brueckners trial last year someone contacted them with theories on where anyone who took Madeleine might have dumped her, or her clothes, an investigation source told The Sun.

open image in gallery Crews were seen using shovels, pickaxes and chainsaws in the search on Tuesday ( AP )

They told cops about trenches that were dug in Praia at the time Madeleine disappeared  and the house where Brueckner had lived on the edge of the village.

As many as 30 officers could take part in searches of up to 21 locations over the next three days.

Tracks around the scrubland, which is dense with vegetation, were cordoned off while journalists were kept back from the multiple search sites on Tuesday.

open image in gallery The area of search is a few miles from Praia da Luz, where Madeleine vanished 18 years ago ( PA )

Around a dozen officers focused on one abandoned building where digging was taking place, while another member of the search team cleared a pile of rubble and large rocks.

Others were using strimmers and chainsaws to clear the undergrowth and debris surrounding the overgrown buildings.

In October last year, Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

Prosecutors had argued he should receive a 15-year sentence and preventative detention; however, a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence in the case.

In April, ministers approved more than 100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance.

The Metropolitan Police said it is aware of the latest operation but that British officers will not be present.

open image in gallery Firefighters and search teams check a well during the search on Tuesday ( PA )

German investigators and Portuguese officers last carried out searches in the country in 2023 near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz.

Brueckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir.

It was previously searched in 2008, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleine's body was there.

open image in gallery The search area is near a cottage where Christian Brueckner used to live ( AP )

British police were later given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished in 2014.

Last month, Madeleine's family marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, describing her as beautiful and unique ahead of her 22nd birthday.

A statement from her parents, who now live in Rothley, Leicestershire, said: The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to leave no stone unturned is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.
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Police have turned to specialist ground penetrating radar as searches intensified in the desperate hunt to finally solve the mystery of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The hi-tech equipment, which can map underground terrain up to 10 feet deep, arrived at a remote area along with a JCB digger on the second day of renewed searches for the missing toddler on Wednesday.

Investigators are scouring a string of derelict farmhouses and outbuildings in a remote stretch of scrubland just over a mile from the resort of Praia da Luz, where the British toddler vanished in 2007.

For updates on the search for Madeleine McCann - click here to visit our blog

open image in gallery Search teams use a digger next to a derelict and abandoned property close to Praia De Luz, Portugal, where searches are being carried out by officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann ( James Manning/PA Wire )

The 120-acre area, off a dramatic clifftop path along the coast between Atalaia and Lagos, is said to have once been populated by a farming community, but has long-been abandoned because it is so arid.

Now up to 21 of these derelict structures are understood to be the focus of a fresh searches initiated by German investigators 18 years after Madeleine disappeared as they face a race against time to bring charges against their only suspect, Christian Brueckner.

open image in gallery One of the derelict and abandoned properties searched as part of the operation ( PA )

Small teams of German Federal Police, supported by local police, have been using shovels, pickaxes and chainsaws to clear rubble and cut back gorse under the watchful gaze of the worlds media since Tuesday.

Nothing significant was found on the first day of searches, Portuguese media reported.

Efforts were ramped on Wednesday as officials brought in the high-tech equipment, which uses electromagnetic waves to map the underground terrain.

open image in gallery German Federal Police have been supported by local officers in their search, which is believed to have covered 21 abandoned buildings so far ( James Manning/PA Wire )

Portuguese police havent been told what intelligence German investigators are acting on, but unless they uncover anything significant by the end of Thursday they will pack up and head home, it is understood.

Kate and Gerry McCann, who last month marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, are not commenting during the "active police investigation", the Find Madeleine Campaign said.

open image in gallery Specialist ground-penetrating radar is now being used in the hunt for Madeleine McCann ( James Manning/PA Wire )

Brueckner, who is due to released from prison in September for a separate rape in Praia da Luz in 2005, was living in a run-down cottage in a valley less than a mile from the search scene at the time Madeleine vanished.

A neighbour described the suspect  who denies any involvement in her disappearance  as an angry young man who she would hear having rows with his girlfriend.

If I was riding past and he'd be standing outside, we'd say hello, you know, how are you, she said. Nothing more. Then we found out he was a really nasty piece of work.

open image in gallery ( PA Wire )

The resident, who used to ride her horse around the 120-acre search area, said the farmhouses and outbuildings on the site have been derelict since at least the 80s.

It is the first time I've heard of Atalaia being searched, she said. I know the properties because I used go the up there all the time with my horse. I know exactly where they are. Whether he'd been up there or done anything, no clue.

open image in gallery The house where Christian Brueckner was reportedly staying in Monte Judeu ( James Manning/PA Wire )

Now knowing the full extent of the allegations against him, she called for him be locked away for the rest of his life because of what he has done and what's been uncovered about him is quite despicable.

Asked for her opinion on the search operation, she told The Telegraph: Its a pile of rubbish, we are all so exhausted, it just goes on and on.

open image in gallery Brueckner is due to be released from prison in September as his seven-year term for the rape of a 72-year-old woman ( AP )

Brueckner is due to be released from prison in September as his seven-year term for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 comes to an end.

He was cleared by a German court last year of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

Speaking to German broadcaster RTL, Brueckner said he planned to disappear after his release from prison.

The 48-year-old said: The fact is that I have been in prison for many years for something that I cannot have committed and that therefore, through the participation of the media, half the world considers me a cruel rapist.
Ukraines intelligence services released a video of their attack on Russias most important link to Crimea, the Kerch Bridge, which was recorded using Russias own surveillance systems.

The eruption of 1.1 tons of explosive on the logistical artery dealt a physical blow, but its the psychological effect that will be longer lasting.

Kyivs SBU spooks are telling Russia, and Vladimir Putins fan-in-chief Donald Trump, see what we can do.

open image in gallery Ukraines intelligence services released a video of their attack on Russias most important link to Crimea, the Kerch Bridge ( Ukraine Security Service )

Alongside Operation Spiderweb, a few days earlier, which Ukraine claims destroyed 34 per cent of Moscows strategic bomber force over thousands of miles inside the Russian Federation, the assassination of Russian military leaders, and the relentless targeting of Putins energy infrastructure, Ukraine is signalling that it has not only survived, but could win, this war.

Donald Trump loves a winner. His contempt for Americas own war dead, revealed when he reportedly described a Paris WW2 American cemetery as filled with losers, is well known.

So too is his very public smear of Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, whom he told in the Oval Office that he didnt hold any good cards.

Kyiv has shown that far from holding a weak hand, Zelensky has a fist full of wild cards that reveal Ukraines capabilities are no joke.

Ukrainian officials have said they kept the Kerch operation and Spiderweb secret from even their closest allies. Its conceivable, however, that at least one Nato member may have known of the bridge attack because of the close relationship between Ukrainian and Nato special forces.

open image in gallery Ukraine claims Operation Spiderweb destroyed 34 per cent of Moscows strategic bomber force over thousands of miles inside the Russian Federation ( Planet Labs )

But Operation Spiderweb came as much of a surprise to American intelligence services as it did to the Kremlin.

That is deliberate. Ukraine has concluded, along with members of the intelligence sharing network of Anglo-Saxon nations known as Five Eyes, that the US cannot be trusted with the most sensitive intelligence.

Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK all know that US spy agencies will protect their own assets. But none of them now believe that the White House is a safe repository for their most secret secrets because the US commander in chief is notoriously sloppy with confidential information  and so are his top members of staff.

The Kerch operation was likely to have been many months in preparation. Russia has moved quickly to try to reopen the link between Crimea, which it captured from Ukraine in 2014 and Russian territory. But driving heavy vehicles or trains across it is now a game of roulette.

And it marks a change in the nature of the Russian campaign against Ukraine.

And when a truck stopped close to the Belaya airfield, deep inside Siberia, the wooden sheds onboard opened their roofs to release a swarm of quadcopters over the weekend warfare changed forever.

The success of Ukraine Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed more than 40 Russian bombers, will have caused delight and terror in the hearts of Kyivs allies.

Ukraine claims its SBU intelligence services destroyed 41 Russian aircraft doing $7 billion worth of damage to long range bombers that carried the cruise missiles Putin has been using against Ukraine.

The successful mission came as Russia has drastically increased its air campaign against Ukraine using primitive Iranian-designed long range Shahed drones as well as ballistic and cruise missiles.

In conventional military doctrine the destruction of so many strategic aircraft would form part of a multi-million dollar operation using long range missiles, probably involving an aircraft carrier and risk the lives of pilots, as the US and UK have been doing in recent attacks against the Houthis in Yemen.

But Ukraine has achieved dramatic strategic effects with guile and cheaply produced quadcopters similar to what can be bought on any high street in Britain.
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The impact of Ukraines audacious drone attack deep inside Russia over the weekend has been captured in satellite imagery which suggests a number of strategic bombers were severely damaged or outright destroyed.

Carried out on Sunday, Operation Spiderweb was planned out over the course of 18 months and executed by Ukraines SBU security service. It saw truckloads of drones smuggled thousands of kilometres into Russian territory before they were unleashed close to airbases to destroy as many aircraft as possible, officials in Kyiv said.

In a rare confirmation of such losses, Russia said 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 claimed on Sunday.

New satellite images from Capella Space, a satellite company, took a before-and-after view of the airfield located in Irkutsk, a Siberian region.

open image in gallery Satellite images of the Belaya airfield, before and after the Ukrainian drones attack targeting Russian military airfields, in Irkutsk region ( Capella Space )

open image in gallery Satellite image of the Belaya airfield, after a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Russian military airfields, in Irkutsk region, Russia ( Capella Space )

open image in gallery Satellite image shows damaged Russian aircraft of the Belaya airfield after a Ukrainian drone attack ( Capella Space )

open image in gallery Satellite picture courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows a damaged decoy aircraft at Belaya Airbase in Usolsky district in Irkutsk oblast in Russia ( Maxar Technologies )

The images from 2 June, a day after Ukraines operation, feature the dismantled debris and ashen remains of several aircraft located along the runway of the Belaya military air base or parked in protective revetments nearby.

The latest images are from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites which direct energy beams at the Earth and detect echoes, allowing identification of small topographical details.

Experts have said that the destruction seen in these images confirm Russia suffered the loss of multiple aircraft.

"Based on the debris visible, comparison to recent satellite images and released drone footage from Telegram posted to Twitter, I can see the destruction of several aircraft," said John Ford, a research associate at the California-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

He added that the SAR satellite imagery seen by him purportedly shows the remnants of two destroyed Tu-22 Backfires  long-range, supersonic strategic bombers that have been used to launch missile strikes against Ukraine.

open image in gallery Head of Ukraines security service Vasyl Malyuk studying a photo of a map of Russia's strategic aviation location ( Ukrainian Security Service )

open image in gallery Photo by Security Service of Ukraine shows Ukrainian military drones amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine ( Ukrainian Security Service )

The SAR images and the footage of the strikes posted on social media also indicated that four strategic Tu-95 heavy bombers had been destroyed or severely damaged, Mr Ford added.

In Kyiv, Ukraines SBU security agency said that the operation resulted in the loss of a total of 41 Russian warplanes.

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 Independent has not verified the claims.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack absolutely brilliant, lauding the operation which hit Russian targets up to 4,300km (2,670 miles) from the wars frontline. The preliminary assessment from the Ukrainian military confirmed damages to 12 additional aircraft after the operation over the weekend.

"After processing additional information from various sources and verifying it ... we report that the total (Russian) losses amounted to 41 military aircraft, including strategic bombers and other types of combat aircraft," the SBU said in an update.

It added that the damage amounted to $7bn, and 34 per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers at Russia's main airfields were hit.
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On Monday morning local time, a huge cloud of ash, hot gas and rock fragments began spewing from Italys Mount Etna.

An enormous plume was seen stretching several kilometres into the sky from the mountain on the island of Sicily, which is the largest active volcano in Europe.

While the blast created an impressive sight, the eruption resulted in no reported injuries or damage and barely even disrupted flights on or off the island.

Mount Etna eruptions are commonly described as Strombolian eruptions  though as we will see, that may not apply to this event.

What happened at Etna?

The eruption began with an increase in pressure in the hot gases inside the volcano. This led to the partial collapse of part of one of the craters atop Etna.

The collapse allowed what is called a pyroclastic flow: a fast-moving cloud of ash, hot gas and fragments of rock bursting out from inside the volcano.

Next, lava began to flow in three different directions down the mountainside. These flows are now cooling down. On Monday evening, Italys National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology announced the volcanic activity had ended.

Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, so this eruption is reasonably normal.

What is a Strombolian eruption?

Volcanologists classify eruptions by how explosive they are. More explosive eruptions tend to be more dangerous because they move faster and cover a larger area.

At the mildest end are Hawaiian eruptions. You have probably seen pictures of these: lava flowing sedately down the slope of the volcano. The lava damages whatever it runs into, but its a relatively local effect.

As eruptions grow more explosive, they send ash and rock fragments flying further afield.

open image in gallery Volcanic stream rising from Mount Etna ( REUTERS )

At the more explosive end of the scale are Plinian eruptions. These include the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, described by the Roman writer Pliny the Younger, which buried the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under metres of ash.

In a Plinian eruption, hot gas, ash, and rock can explode high enough to reach the stratosphere, and when the eruption column collapses, the debris falls to Earth and can wreak terrifying destruction over a huge area.

What about Strombolian eruptions? These relatively mild eruptions are named after Stromboli, another Italian volcano, which belches out a minor eruption every 10 to 20 minutes.

In a Strombolian eruption, chunks of rock and cinders may travel tens or hundreds of metres through the air, but rarely further. The pyroclastic flow from yesterdays eruption at Etna was rather more explosive than this, so it wasnt strictly Strombolian.

Can we forecast volcano eruptions?

Volcanic eruptions are a bit like weather. They are very hard to predict in detail, but we are a lot better than we used to be at forecasting them.

To understand what a volcano will do in the future, we first need to know what is happening inside it right now. We cant look inside directly, but we do have indirect measurements.

For example, before an eruption, magma travels from deep inside the Earth up to the surface. On the way, it pushes rocks apart and can generate earthquakes. If we record the vibrations of these quakes, we can track the magmas journey from the depths.

open image in gallery Plumes of ash and volcanic steam rise from Mount Etna ( Reuters )

Rising magma can also make the ground near a volcano bulge upwards very slightly, by a few millimetres or centimetres. We can monitor this bulging, for example, with satellites, to gather clues about an upcoming eruption.

Some volcanoes release gas even when they are not strictly erupting. We can measure the chemicals in this gas, and if they change, it can tell us that new magma is on its way to the surface.

When we have this information about whats happening inside the volcano, we also need to understand its personality to know what the information means for future eruptions.

Are volcanic eruptions more common than in the past?

As a volcanologist, I often hear from people that it seems there are more volcanic eruptions now than in the past. This is not the case.

What is happening, I tell them, is that we have better monitoring systems now, and a very active global media system. So we know about more eruptions  and even see photos of them.

Monitoring is extremely important. We are fortunate that many volcanoes in places such as Italy, the United States, Indonesia and New Zealand have excellent monitoring in place.

This monitoring allows local authorities to issue warnings when an eruption is imminent. For a visitor or tourist out to see the spectacular natural wonder of a volcano, listening to these warnings is all-important.

Teresa Ubide is an ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor in Igneous Petrology/Volcanology at The University of Queensland.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
There is perhaps no more primal weapon in war than hunger. Long before drones buzzed overhead and missiles lit up the night sky, armies resorted to siege and starvation to break their enemies. To restrict food does not just target soldiers, it also attacks the very foundations of civilian life  families, communities, children. And today, as the world watches the deepening crisis in Gaza, questions about the deliberate denial of food are again at the forefront.

It is abundantly clear, even from the Israeli governments own statements, that access to food and water has been sharply curtailed in Gaza as part of a wider military campaign. Since Hamass brutal attacks on 7 October 2023, Israel has responded with a military campaign that includes what then defence minister Yoav Gallant called a complete siege  there will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed.

Civilians are now going hungry. The United Nations has warned of catastrophic levels of food insecurity, warning that Gaza is the hungriest place on Earth and is facing catastrophe, as aid continues to struggle to reach starving Palestinians. The president of the Red Cross has also dubbed Gaza worse than hell on earth.

The controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced late on Tuesday night it was temporarily shutting down operations in the strip after at least 58 Palestinians were reportedly killed attempting to access its distribution centres. Palestinians collecting food boxes have described scenes of pandemonium, with no one overseeing the handover of supplies or checking IDs, as crowds jostle for aid.

History tells us the military hunger game has a long and cruel lineage as a tool of war. Medieval warfare in Europe offers many cases of castles and cities denied supplies until desperation forced surrender. Take the siege of Rochester Castle in 1215, during King Johns campaign against rebellious barons. When siege engines and tunnelling failed to dislodge the garrison, John ordered that the defenders be starved into submission. Surviving accounts describe soldiers boiling leather for soup and gnawing on rats. Eventually, the castle fell not because of military defeat, but hunger.

Fast forward seven centuries to Leningrad (now St Petersburg) in the Second World War. From 1941 to 1944, Hitlers armies encircled the city with the explicit aim of starving its population. We have no interest in saving the population, declared Hitlers Directive No 1,601. Civilians were cut off from supplies and bombarded from the air. More than a million died many from starvation, with reports of cannibalism emerging in the most harrowing months. Leningrad was not a military base; it was a city of women, children, and the elderly. And yet, hunger was wielded as a primary weapon.

Leningrad was not alone. During the Four Days of Naples uprising in September 1943, when German forces were retreating and Italian resistance surged, supplies to the city were devastated. Civilians scavenged ruins for morsels; children collapsed from hunger. When the writer Norman Lewis, then a soldier, arrived in Naples, he observed that it had become a city so shattered, so starved, so deprived of all things that justify a citys existence to adapt itself to a collapse into conditions which must resemble life in the dark ages. Though the siege was relatively brief, it left deep scars and highlighted how quickly food insecurity can emerge in urban warfare.

One of the most infamous examples of strategic starvation comes from the British blockade of Germany during the First World War. The Royal Navys blockade, initiated in 1914, aimed to choke off not just materiel but foodstuffs. By 1918, estimates suggest that over 400,000 German civilians had died from causes linked to malnutrition and related diseases. The blockade was a central plank in Britains military strategy. While not aimed at extermination, its consequences for civilians were severe. After the war, the morality of the tactic was fiercely debated.

open image in gallery Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution point in Nuseirat, Gaza, on Monday ( AFP/Getty )

The Biafran war in Nigeria in the late 1960s provides another tragic example. As the Nigerian government sought to crush the Biafran secession, it implemented a blockade that resulted in widespread famine. Images of starving Biafran children  bloated stomachs and skeletal limbs  horrified the world and helped galvanise the humanitarian aid movement. The Nigerian leadership justified the blockade as necessary to end the rebellion. But for many observers, it became a symbol of cruelty: the deliberate starvation of a civilian population for military ends.

The siege of Sarajevo in the mid-1990s during the Bosnian war offers a more recent case. While not entirely cut off, Sarajevos population endured severe food shortages as Bosnian Serb forces surrounded the city. International aid convoys were often blocked or shelled. Civilians queued for bread under the telescopic gaze of snipers. The tactic was clear: squeeze the city until resistance collapsed. Food became leverage.

Meanwhile, Gaza is not the only place in the Middle East where people are going hungry or starving. The conflict in Yemen, where the Saudi-led blockade of ports controlled by Houthi rebels has led to acute food shortages, illustrates the complexities of modern hunger warfare. Human Rights Watch and the UN have criticised all parties in the war  including the Houthis  for using food access as a pawn. Yemens hunger crisis is among the worst in the world, and while the causes are complex, military interference in food supply chains has clearly played a part.

open image in gallery Members of the Yemeni Red Crescent Society distribute aid to displaced families in Aden ( AFP/Getty )

And now, Gaza. While a limited number of aid trucks have been allowed in, the volume is far below what is required to feed a population of some two million. Children are reportedly dying from malnutrition. The UN says that famine is imminent. Humanitarian agencies struggle to operate under airstrikes, and some have accused Israel of deliberately obstructing aid.

Israeli officials argue that Hamas embeds itself among civilians and that restrictions on aid are necessary to weaken the groups military capacity. There is evidence that Hamas has diverted resources, and that the delivery of aid has been politicised by all sides. But a distinction must be made between military necessity and collective punishment. Under international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) and Additional Protocol I (1977), the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is explicitly prohibited. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court states that intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime.

open image in gallery A starving family during the Biafran war in 1968 wait for food ( Getty )

Whether that threshold has been crossed in Gaza is, ultimately, for lawyers and investigators to determine. In an opinion piece for the Israeli newspaper and website Haaretz, Enough is Enough. Israel Is Committing War Crimes, the former prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert argued that recent operations in the Gaza Strip now have nothing to do with legitimate war goals. He wrote: The government of Israel is currently waging a war without purpose, without goals or clear planning, adding that the pointless victims among the Palestinian population were reaching monstrous proportions in recent weeks.

The issue, of course, is whether the starvation is intentional, or a method of warfare  or simply a horrifically unfortunate side effect of the conflict. The International Criminal Court has already announced investigations.

But what is not in question, however, is that the humanitarian toll on Gazas civilians is extreme. Food has become not just a human need, but a point of pressure  and history shows that when hunger plays out in war, the moral line is often perilously close to being crossed.

open image in gallery Palestinians line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza ( AP )

Wars are often judged by the images they leave behind  charred buildings, bomb craters, lifeless bodies. But hunger works in silence. It doesnt explode or flash. It kills by degrees. Yet it may kill more people than bombs or bullets ever do. In the case of Leningrad, most deaths were from starvation, not enemy fire. In Biafra, bombs fell, but the famine stole far more lives. In Yemen, many thousands have perished  not from airstrikes, but from the slow attrition of hunger and disease.

Starvation is wars quieter executioner. It affects the very young, the very old, and the already weak. It leaves scars that last for generations. It destabilises societies, fuels cycles of poverty and conflict, and haunts the conscience long after treaties are signed.

Humanitarian law exists not only to constrain how wars are fought, but to remind the world that even amid the ugliest conflicts, there is a line between strategy and atrocity. Starving people into submission may achieve short-term military objectives, but it does so by destroying the very idea of protected civilian life  a cornerstone of international law.

History is replete with examples of food used to subjugate, punish, and destroy. The outcome is always the same: civilians pay the highest price. And while the means may evolve  castles have given way to cities and organised supply chains  the tactic remains grimly familiar.

In the coming weeks and months, as diplomatic and legal processes unfold, the international community must reckon with the implications of hunger as a weapon. Food is not just sustenance; it is a right. To deny it is not only to wage war on armies, but on the very essence of human dignity.
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Gaza has become worse than hell on earth, the president of the Red Cross has warned, as aid distribution centres in the territory closed for a day on Wednesday

The controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced late on Tuesday night it was temporarily shutting down operations in the strip after dozens of Palestinians were killed attempting to access its distribution centres.

It said it had asked the Israeli military to guide foot traffic in a way that minimises confusion or escalation risks" near military perimeters, as well as develop clearer guidance for civilians and enhance training to support civilian safety. It added that their top priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid.

open image in gallery Israeli shelling hits an area in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel ( AP )

Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), told the BBC on Wednesday that the enclave had become worse than hell on earth and that states are not doing enough to end the war, end the suffering of Palestinians and secure the release of Israeli hostages.

The ICRC said that at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured attempting to access one of the sites on Tuesday. The Israeli military said it opened fire on a group of people it viewed as a threat near one of the centres, though the GHF claimed the incident happened well beyond its distribution point.

At least 58 Palestinians have reportedly been killed near the four GHF centres, which were opened last month. Three of the distribution centres are located in the south of Gaza, near Rafah, and one is situated in the centre of the enclave, near the Netzarim corridor.

Israeli strikes across the territory, meanwhile, killed 26 people overnight and into Wednesday, officials said.

open image in gallery Desperate Palestinians seek food at a distribution centre in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip ( AP )

Palestinians collecting food boxes have described scenes of chaos, with no one overseeing the handover of supplies or checking IDs, as crowds jostle for aid.

Aid workers, meanwhile, have suggested the pause in the provision of humanitarian aid is further reason to cancel the GHF initiative, which they say is a dangerous weaponisation of food given its backing by the Israeli government, who oversee the distributions.

This pause to what has expectedly been a chaotic start must now be followed by a commitment to allow real aid workers to do the real job of providing aid, Ahmed Bayram, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, an aid organisation operating in the enclave, told The Independent.

open image in gallery Palestinians searching for aid earlier this week ( AFP/Getty )

That task of saving lives and fending off starvation must have never been outsourced to a private security firm. Israel has been an occupier, it now cannot be the feeder.

Diplomacy has to do everything it can to pressure Israel to open the gates and let aid gush in. Enough experimenting while children are reduced to skin and bones.

Israel imposed a complete ban on food and other imports for more than two months before easing the restrictions in May. About 90 per cent of the population in Gaza is displaced and relies almost entirely on aid to survive.

James Elder, a Unicef spokesperson in Gaza, told the BBC this morning that Palestinians had been walking up to 20km (12 miles) to access the four distribution points. He added that the lack of larger United Nations organisations providing aid meant that 500-600 boxes of aid were being delivered instead of 500 to 600 trucks.
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Israel has suggested that it will block a ship carrying activists including Greta Thunberg from delivering aid to Gaza.

The climate campaigner set sail from a port in Sicily on Sunday with 11 other activists to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the enclave, which is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis.

But Brigadier General Effie Edfrin, an Israeli army spokesperson, suggested Israel may confront the boat before it reaches the shores of the Gaza Strip.

open image in gallery Greta Thunberg speaks to journalists before the departure of the Madleen ( AP )

For this case as well, we are prepared, he said. We have gained experience in recent years.

In 2010, Israel sparked international outrage after its special forces killed nine people on board an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

Another boat operated by the group, the Conscience, was hit by two drones just outside Maltese territorial waters in early May.

open image in gallery Damage is seen on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessel Conscience outside Maltese territorial waters ( via Reuters )

The boat, named the Madleen, is operated by the activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).

The ship has so far travelled 381 nautical miles since leaving the port of Catania, according to Al Jazeera.

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, Ms Thunberg, 22, told reporters at a conference before the departure.

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.

Israel has strongly rejected allegations that a genocide is taking place in Gaza.

open image in gallery Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ( AP )

Israel ended an 11-week blockade on Gaza in May following mounting global pressure, with limited UN-led operations allowed to resume.

On Wednesday, the president of the Red Cross warned that the situation in Gaza had become worse than hell on earth as distribution centres closed for a day.

The controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced late on Tuesday night it was temporarily shutting down operations in the strip after dozens of Palestinians were killed attempting to access its distribution centres.

open image in gallery The Freedom Flotilla human rights organisation Madleen is docked near Catania's harbour ( AP )

The ICRC said that at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured attempting to access one of the sites on Tuesday. The Israeli military said it opened fire on a group of people it viewed as a threat near one of the centres, though the GHF claimed the incident happened well beyond its distribution point.

The GHF has been boycotted by the UN and other aid groups, who have suggested it is not independent due to its backing by the Israeli government.
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A Palestinian medic has described the harrowing moment he says he heard Israeli troops shoot his colleagues as they clung on to life.

Asaad al-Nasasra, 47 was one of the two first responders who survived an attack by Israeli soldiers on a convoy of emergency vehicles in March, in which 15 other workers were killed.

In an account relayed by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Mr Nasasra claimed some of the paramedics who survived the initial assault were shot dead as they called for help. The bodies of 15 medics and rescue workers who had been killed were later found buried in a mass grave by Red Crescent and UN officials.

open image in gallery Asaad Al-Nsasrah, a paramedic with the Red Crescent whose colleagues were killed by the Israeli army in southern Gaza ( AP )

Mr Nasasra was driving in an ambulance with Rifat Radwan, who filmed a seven minute video which was recovered on his phone after the attack. The video shows a fire engine and marked ambulances using their flashing emergency lights at night before the shooting began. This contradicted the Israeli military version, which denied the vehicles had their lights on.

Al-Nasasra and Radwan were subjected to the heavy gunfire everyone heard in the recording and the very heavy gunfire which continued even after the recording ended as Israeli soldiers continued to shoot at them for a long time, Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for PRCS, told The Guardian.

Al-Nasasra took cover on the ground, at the back of the ambulance. He tried to hide and to protect himself as much as he could, digging himself into the ground. The body of Mohammed al-Heila, another aid worker killed, was above him.

open image in gallery Red Crescent emergency vehicles, their lights and sirens flashing and their logos clearly visible, seconds before they came under a barrage of gunfire from Israeli army soldiers in Tel al-Sultan ( Palestinian Red Crescent Society )

He says he heard Israeli troops approaching the vehicles after heavy gunfire, and shoot everyone who was still alive once they had gotten close, PCRS said.

The PCRS believes Mr Nasasra was initially not shot by Israeli troops because they thought he was dead already. After seeing he was alive, the medic pleaded for his life in Hebrew, explaining his mother was a Palestinian citizen of Israel.

He told the soldiers: Dont shoot. I am Israeli. Ms Farsakh said. And the soldier got a bit confused. Al-Nasasras mother was a Palestinian citizen of Israel. After he was spared, he was forced to strip and thrown into a ditch, PCRS added.

open image in gallery The Israeli military has said the attack was the result of an operational misunderstanding ( Palestinian Red Crescent Society )

Mr Nasasra was held in Israeli detention for 37 days afterward, where he was beaten and tortured, the organisation claimed. He was released after intense international pressure after it emerged he was still alive, but has not yet spoken publicly.

During his detention, he was subjected to physical attack, he was isolated in a room with very loud music known as the disco room, Ms Farsakh said. He described it as like something literally making you feel crazy and that the music was loud to the extent that you feel your nose is bleeding, your ears are bleeding.

The PCRS adds that the paramedic is haunted by the sound of gunfire and the sight of his wounded colleagues. He is also said to be suffering from survivor's guilt after his fellow medics were killed.

open image in gallery Mr al-Nasasra is said to be haunted by the sound of gunfire following the incident ( Palestinian Red Crescent Society )

An IDF spokesperson said: The individual in question was detained based on intelligence indicating involvement in terrorist activity, and During his detention, he was questioned regarding this matter. Throughout his detention and questioning in Israel, he was held under a temporary custody order in accordance with the law.

At the conclusion of the questioning, and based on the information gathered, it was decided not to issue a permanent detention order, and he was released back to the Gaza Strip in accordance with the law. The IDF operates in accordance with the law.

In April, an Israeli military investigation said the Palestinians were killed due to an operational misunderstanding by Israeli forces, and that a separate incident 15 minutes later, when Israeli soldiers shot at a Palestinian U.N. vehicle, was a breach of orders.

The examination found no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting," it added at the time.
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Budapest is one of Europes more budget-friendly city break destinations, but just because youre on a budget doesnt mean you need to slum it. And while some may think of budget accommodation in Budapest as being limited to party hostels, the good news is that there are plenty of quieter alternatives. Youll find a range of affordable accommodations, from upscale hostels (offering dorms and comfortable private rooms) to affordable wellness hotels with their own on-site thermal baths.

If youre searching for inspiration for a fun place to stay in Budapest without breaking the bank, here are the city's best budget hotel rooms.

Best budget hotels in Budapest 2025

At a glance

1. Gerloczy Rooms de Lux hotel

open image in gallery Rooms at Gerloczy are homely and the cafe is renowned for their baked goods ( Gerloczy Rooms de Lux )

Gerloczy Rooms de Lux is situated on the corner of a quiet square downtown, and its cafe is renowned for its baked goods. Visitors can book one of the 19 rooms above this Parisian-style cafe and brasserie. The accommodation is charming, with individually designed rooms that feel homely. It has plenty of period charm with details such as brass taps, cut glass and silk wallpaper. Settle in the cafe downstairs with a coffee, a bun and the morning paper, and youll be a happy customer.

Address: Gerloczy u. 1, 1052

Read more: Best luxury hotels in Budapest, from old-world grandeur to modern design

2. Danubius Astoria hotel

open image in gallery Just because you are booking budget accommodation, does not mean you have to miss out on a bit of grandeur ( Danubius Astoria Hotel )

Step back in time when you walk into the downtown Danubius Astoria Hotel lobby. This hotel offers a slice of Budapests history, as it was built on the site of the Hatvan Gate in the historic city walls. Today's hotel dates back to 1914, offering a taste of fin-de-siecle style. The interior evokes a retro feel that wouldnt be out of place in a Wes Anderson movie, with a stained glass ceiling above the gallery and the classic cafe adorned with chandeliers and clad with mirrored walls (offering local dishes and delicious cakes), where breakfast is served in the elegant back room. Some of the rooms are old-fashioned, embodying a romantic sense of faded grandeur, but there are categories of recently renovated rooms that are more contemporary in style. The hotels retro grandeur is part of its charm, and you cant beat its central location.

Address: Kossuth Lajos u. 19-21., 1053

Read more: Best hotels in Budapest  perfect for a cultural city break

3. Ensana Grand Margaret Island hotel

open image in gallery Touches of luxury can still be found for a bargain price at Ensana Grand Margaret Island hotel ( Ensana Grand Margaret Island Hotel )

This grand hotel was Budapests first big hotel and is the oldest one still operating in Budapest. Its location  in the centre of Margaret Island, sandwiched between Buda and Pest on the Danube  is undoubtedly its trump card. Some rooms have views of the surrounding parkland and others of the river. An underground passage connects the hotel to its sister property, the Ensana Thermal Margaret Island, which boasts thermal baths and a wellness centre and guests of Ensana Grand Margaret Island Hotel can use these facilities, which include thermal pools, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms. There are also medical treatments available with in-house doctors on hand. The Ensana Grand Margaret Island Hotel is an ideal escape if you want a break from the buzz of the city, and despite the name, its a good budget-friendly option if youre looking for a relaxing trip with luxurious amenities.

Address: Margitsziget, 1007

Read more: Here are the 10 best hotels in the world, according to Tripadvisor  and one is in London

4. Maverick Downtown hotel

open image in gallery Scandi interiors and a quiet atmosphere makes for a more laidback and relaxed stay ( Maverick Downtown )

The Maverick Downtown offers the perfect mix of a quiet environment to sleep in and the chance to socialise. The hostel sits inside a gorgeous Art Nouveau tenement building in downtown Budapest, and despite its front door opening onto a busy road, the hostels rooms overlook a quiet side street. There are options for dormitories, including female-only dorms, and private en suite rooms. You can join several community activities, such as cooking classes in the kitchen, which are great fun. However, this is not a party hostel, and its location inside a residential building makes it pretty quiet at night. If you want to cook for yourself, there is also a communal kitchen.

Address: Ferenciek tere 2, 1053

Read more: The best boutique hotels in Dubrovnik for Old Town charm and former palaces

5. Wombat's hotel

open image in gallery From solo travellers to large groups, theres a space for everyone at Wombats ( Luiza Puiu )

Wombats is the largest hostel in town and offers unique budget accommodation in that it took over a former 4-star hotel. Each room is en suite and decorated in a light, minimalist style. There are dorms, female-only dorms, private rooms and accommodation for large groups. Breakfast comes with organic and locally sourced ingredients, as well as unlimited tea and coffee, and there is also the on-site WomCAFE and WomBAR for drinks, snacks and socialising. Although the hostel is located at the heart of the action in the Jewish Quarter, plenty of events happen in-house, so theres always something to do. If you are looking for a quiet base, this might not be the place for you, as the hostel has quite a lively atmosphere.

Address: Kiraly utca 20, 1061

Read more: The best beach hotels in Dubrovnik, for rooms with views along the rocky coastline

6. Lavender Circus hotel

open image in gallery Dont skimp on style with Lavender Circus unique decor ( Lavender Circus )

The rooms and public spaces in this intimate hostel are unique and charming, mixing vintage-style drawings on the walls that add a quirky character with wooden beams and exposed brick: the whole experience feels like being wrapped inside an artists sketchbook. Even though Lavender Circus calls itself a hostel, most of the rooms are private double or triple rooms with shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen. The hostel operates a two-night minimum stay policy.

Address: Muzeum Krt 37, 1053

Read more: The best hotels in Dubrovnik for family getaways and kids clubs

7. Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall hotel

open image in gallery You dont have to splash the cash for views over the Danube river ( Wolfgang Scholvien Photograph )

Meininger is a large new-build hostel located just behind the Central Market Hall. It has a chic, modern design, with various rooms to choose from, such as dorms and even family rooms. Some accommodations on the upper floors have views overlooking the Danube; some even have balconies or terrace access. The hostel has a coworking space, a communal kitchen (handy since the citys most famous market is located next door), and a games area. Whether youre a solo traveller, travelling with your family or as a couple, theres a budget accommodation option that will suit you here. Accessible rooms are also available, and its located in a quiet but central part of town.

Address: Csarnok ter 2, 1093

Read more: 10 of the best cheap UK holiday destinations, including Liverpool and Lake District staycations

8. Maverick Soho hotel

open image in gallery To stay close to the city centre action, book in to Maverick Soho ( Maverick Soho )

Maverick Budapest Soho is a stylish hostel in the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Although its around the corner from various ruin bars and the epicentre of Budapests nightlife, the hostel is pretty quiet at night and, despite its location, it is not a party hostel, but still close to everything you could want. It does have a friendly, social vibe, and fun events, such as wine tastings, sometimes take place. The hostel also has a kitchen that guests can use, and theres a buffet-style breakfast available. The on-site restaurant, Fat Mama, serves food all day long, and its a great spot for drinks. You can get dorms, female-only dorms, and private rooms here at a reasonable price.

Address: Kazinczy street 24-26, 1075

Read more: This Eastern European city was once known as little Paris  but prices are a fraction of the French capital

9. Pest-Buda Design Hotel

open image in gallery Modern design meets a historical townhouse setting at Pest-Buda ( Pest-Buda Design Hotel )

Located on Castle Hill, Pest-Buda Design Hotel is a compact hotel with 11 rooms and suites. It resides in a historic Baroque townhouse, and its been functioning as a hotel and inn since the 17th century. Its just a few minutes from Fishermans Bastion and Matthias Church, making it a good base for sightseeing, and its location in the Castle District is ideal for those looking to stay in a quiet part of the city. Theres an excellent on-site restaurant, and its rooms and suites embody a retro-modern design with wooden beams, industrial lighting and decorative throw pillows, that blend style with cosiness.

Address: Fortuna u. 3, 1014

Read more: The best spas in Eastern Europe for an affordable, yet luxurious, break

10. ROOMBach Hotel Budapest City Center

open image in gallery Digital nomads and business travellers will enjoy a stay at ROOMBach ( ROOMBach Hotel Budapest City Center )

Just around the corner from the Rumbach Sebestyen Synagogue in the heart of Budapests Jewish Quarter, the ROOMBach Hotel offers comfortable lodging at fair prices. Its decor is modern with mid-century touches, with a range of rooms from singles to suites. A buffet breakfast is served daily, there are parking facilities, and theres a bar on-site. Although its close to the ruin bars and party hubs, the ROOMBach caters more to business travellers and more mature travellers looking for somewhere central.

Address: Rumbach Sebestyen u. 14., 1075

Read more: The hottest new hotel openings in the world for 2025

Why trust us

The hotels featured in this list have been carefully selected by The Independent's expert travel writers, each with a deep knowledge of the destinations they cover. Our contributors either live in these locations or visit frequently, ensuring a personal and informed perspective. When picking which hotels to include, they consider their own experience staying in the hotels and evaluate location, facilities, service and all the other details that make for an exceptional stay for all types of traveller.
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The plaudits for Chicago keep coming.

It was recently named the No.1 place in the US and seventh in the world for culture by Time Out. And now the Windy City can boast of being home to the best hotel in America  The Peninsula Chicago  with the property also making the global top 10.

That's according to website laliste.com, which has just released its annual ranking of the best 1,000 hotels on the planet.

The list is drawn up by a "sophisticated algorithm" that analyzes thousands of reviews, professional evaluations, and guest feedback. Properties that make the final selection are then assigned a score out of 100.

open image in gallery A premier king room in the Peninsula Chicago, ranked the best hotel in the US by La Liste ( Peninsula Chicago )

open image in gallery The Peninsula Chicago is located on the 'prestigious' intersection of Michigan and Chicago avenues ( The Peninsula Chicago )

Laliste.com, which also produces an annual restaurant ranking, says: This selection represents hospitality excellence across three continents."

The Peninsula Chicago tops the US list with a score of 99.5.

Five US hotels all share the runners-up spot with scores of 98.5. They are the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego; L'Ermitage Beverly Hills; The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York City; The Peninsula Beverly Hills; and The Setai, Miami Beach.

A further five US hotels all receive 98 points to form a top 11  Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Kailua-Kona; Hotel Bel-Air; the Montage Healdsburg in California; The Langham, Chicago; and Wynn Las Vegas.

La Liste describes The Peninsula Chicago, located on the "prestigious" intersection of Michigan and Chicago avenues, as an "architectural statement piece that delivers Asian service philosophy within distinctly American spaces".

It adds: "Its rooms  among the most technologically advanced in the world  offer intuitive automation that enhances rather than intrudes upon the guest experience."

open image in gallery The luxurious pool at The Peninsula Chicago ( The Peninsula Chicago )

open image in gallery The Peninsula Chicago 'delivers Asian service philosophy within distinctly American spaces' ( www.neiljohnburger.com )

open image in gallery The Peninsula Chicago's rooms, says La Liste, 'offer intuitive automation that enhances rather than intrudes upon the guest experience' ( The Peninsula Chicago )

Also making the top 10 globally are La Reserve Paris, described as "a masterclass in discreet opulence"; The Connaught Hotel, London, "where heritage meets contemporary artistry"; The Savoy, London, "an enduring icon of British cultural identity"; Cheval Blanc Paris, a "masterpiece"; and Il San Pietro di Positano, Italy, a "miraculous feat of architecture".

The other four are J.K. Place Capri, Marina Grande, Italy, "a masterly reimagining of the sophisticated Italian beach house"; Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, a "living legend of Asian hospitality"; The Peninsula Shanghai, "an architectural tour de force"; and Rosewood Mayakoba, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, "a symphony of limestone, water and indigenous wood".

open image in gallery The Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego (above) scores 98.5, one point behind The Peninsula Chicago ( Fairmont Grand Del Mar )

open image in gallery L'Ermitage Beverly Hills (98.5) makes the top 11 for the US ( L'Ermitage Beverly Hills )

open image in gallery The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, in New York City, receives 98.5 from La Listes algorithm ( The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel )

Philippe Faure, president and founder of La Liste, says: "Our algorithm doesn't lie. These establishments truly represent the pinnacle of global hospitality.

Each transcends the simple concept of accommodation to offer a transformative experience to its guests."

The top 11 hotels in the US for 2025

The Peninsula Chicago (99.5 out of 100) Fairmont Grand Del Mar, San Diego (98.5) L'Ermitage Beverly Hills (98.5) The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, New York City (98.5) The Peninsula Beverly Hills (98.5) The Setai, Miami Beach (98.5) Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Kailua-Kona (98) Hotel Bel-Air (98) The Montage Healdsburg, California (98) The Langham, Chicago (98) Wynn Las Vegas (98)

The top 10 hotels in the world for 2025
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Bristol Airport has apologised to a traveller who had her prosthetic breast prodded and patted at security.

The unnamed woman from Cornwall wears a prosthetic breast after undergoing a mastectomy, reported BBC News.

According to the outlet, the woman was repeatedly asked "What is that?" and told she would have to be strip-searched by security staff at Bristol Airport.

The woman told BBC News: I was really upset, really shocked. I didn't want to prove to two security women in an airport that I'd had a mastectomy.

She claims staff then peered down her top after she pulled out her breast form from her bra.

The airport said it was very sorry and advised customers to inform security of any prosthetics before screening.

Sam Jackman, the founder and CEO of Boost Innovations  the womans chosen breast form  has been working with Cornwall Airport Newquay to educate security staff about breast forms.

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: We are very sorry to hear about our customer's experience. We urge them to contact us directly, so we are able to fully investigate. We take these matters very seriously.

Customers can speak to a member of staff just before screening to make them aware of any prosthetics and medical devices. They can also request a private search.

Screening of passengers travelling with medical devices and prosthetics has always formed part of the security training syllabus, and all searches are carried out in accordance with the Department for Transport regulations and the CAA guidance.

Last April, a woman who had undergone a mastectomy was asked to remove her breast prosthesis in public while going through security scanners at Dublin airport.

Realtan Ni Leannain was travelling to Donegal when she was left like a rabbit caught in the headlights when her artificial breast set off the new scanner technology.

She told BBC NIs Evening Extra programme: The security officer didnt even offer to pat me down. She stood and waited for me to remove the prosthesis.

I couldnt actually think. Every time I attempted to rationalise it, I couldnt.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
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The last thing the captain wants on a cruise ship during an emergency is mass panic.

So, to prevent it, secret code words are used to alert crew members to danger or medical emergencies.

These codes not only help to suppress alarm among passengers, but prevent misunderstandings among crew and mean that training for emergency responses can be standardized.

How crew are notified of emergencies varies depending on the cruise company, but here, with help from Cody Candee, CEO of travel luggage firm Bounce.com, we reveal some of the codes reportedly used by major lines including Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian and Carnival.

Some you'll hope to never hear.

We also reveal that it's not just the crew who use codes. Passengers use them too to let others know they're in the market for something a bit more personal

Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

open image in gallery Crew have a special code for a passenger going overboard ( Getty Images )

This is the code on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships to signal that someone has gone overboard.

Cody reveals: "When this happens, the ship will typically stop and launch a coordinated search-and-rescue operation. This process includes deploying lifeboats and activating onboard safety procedures to locate and recover the individual.

"If you happen to hear this code while on deck, stay vigilant. And if you spot someone in the water, immediately inform a cruise worker."

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie

On board Royal Caribbean ships, this code is used to for a security threat. Though on some ships it's used as a warning for severe weather conditions.

Cody says: "Whether it's an approaching storm or a potential risk nearby, it signals increased vigilance and may lead to precautionary measures to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. If you hear this code, you must remain calm and await instructions."

Operation Rising Star/Operation Brightstar

Operation Brightstar is used for medical emergencies on Disney and Carnival ships, while Operation Rising Star is used to alert staff about a death on board.

Cody says: "If you hear Operation Rising Star, there is no need to be alarmed. The cruise staff will have already informed who the deceased was traveling with before making an official announcement to the rest of the passengers. Cruise ships also have international regulations and standards they must adhere to, including the legal requirement to have a morgue on board in case of fatalities."

Red parties/bravo, bravo, bravo

These are both used to indicate a fire on board.

Cody says: "In the event of a fire, trained crew members will act quickly to contain and extinguish the flames, while others work to ensure passenger safety through coordinated evacuation procedures."

Echo, echo, echo

"Another signal you don't want to hear on a cruise," says Cody. "Normally repeated three times, 'echo, echo, echo' can mean 'brace for collision'.

"This could indicate an impact with another ship or land, as well as dangers posed by strong winds or drifting while in port."

Zulu, Zulu, Zulu

This is the code for a fight for several cruise companies.

Kilo, kilo, kilo

Royal Caribbean staff will go to their emergency stations upon hearing this, it's been reported.

Purell, purell, purell

If you hear this on a Celebrity ship, followed by a location, it means there is vomit for the crew to clean up.

Delta, delta, delta

This repetition is used in two ways by cruise companies, either for bio-hazards or hull damage.

Pink flamingos

open image in gallery Pink flamingo symbols can be used by cruise ship passengers to indicate they're keen on swinging ( Getty Images )

This isn't crew code, but a symbol used by passengers to indicate that they're in the market for swinging, according to Cody.

He says: "Many people are already aware of the upside-down pineapple as a well-known sign for swinging or 'wife swapping' when displayed on a cabin door or an item of clothing.

"However, as the symbol becomes more widely recognized, many cruise lines are cracking down on the use of this symbol on cabin doors. Other discreet symbols, such as pink flamingos, are gaining popularity as an alternative code for the same lifestyle."

A blue wristband or ring

If a passenger is wearing a blue wristband or ring, says Cody, it could mean they're looking to meet a new romantic partner.

He adds: "So, if you're not looking for love on your trip, you might want to reconsider your choice of accessories."
Kheer Bhawani mela, a historic event attended by thousands of people every year in Kashmir, is a different sight in 2025.

This year, the Hindu fair celebrated in Tulmullah, in the Ganderbal region, was overshadowed by security concerns after a terror attack on Hindu tourists killed 26 people and a brief but fierce military clash between India and Pakistan.

Attendance this year was lower due to the tensions across the region, which lies between India and Pakistan and is claimed by both.

For residents, this fair represents not just the faith of one single community but also different religions in the region co-existing. Kashmiri Pandits, who were displaced in 1990, attend every year.

Muslim residents, once neighbours of the Pandits, hosted pilgrims who came from different parts of the region and other Indian states.
The offer of 6.05 per share by Pandox and Eiendomsspar represented a premium of just over 27pc on the 4.76 closing price of March 5, the last trading day before Dalata announced it was launching a strategic review, with one option being a sale.
Revenue at Newry-based software company FD Technologies rose by 2pc to 80.7m (95.9m) over the year to the end of February this year, the firm has announced.

However, a pre-tax loss from continuing operations at the business, which is soon to be sold, deepened from 20.3m (24.1m) last year to 29.1m (34.6m).

It said that over the year, the performance of its KX business had been strong, with bookings over the financial year at the top end of guidance and ahead of expectations.

Annual contract value (ACV) had reached 18m, which was up 33pc year on year.

Growth in bookings was being driven by expansion within its existing financial services customers and expansion of market share in semiconductor manufacturing.

In addition, it had secured new business among hedge funds and investment banks, as well as in the aerospace and defence sector.

Annual recurring revenue at KX had also gone up 13pc to hit 81.8m, which represented the significant milestone of passing the $100m mark for the first time.

The sale during the year of MRP9 and First Derivative meant that 120m was returned to shareholders, and closed the year with 55m net cash and no debt.

It noted that the board had unanimously recommended the cash sale of FD Technologies to US private equity firm TA, which valued the business at 24.50 per share or 570m.

Our strategic repositioning of the group during the period has unlocked significant shareholder value

What is now FD Technologies was founded in 1996 by the late Brian Conlon, financed initially with a 5,000 loan from Newry Credit Union. The business is now headed by CEO Seamus Keating.

It provides consulting services for capital markets, and has staff based in a string of global centres from London to Singapore, as well as its base in Newry

The sale of the First Derivative subsidiary had left FD Technologies to focus on its data analytics and AI business, KX.

Looking ahead, the company said it expected annual recurring revenue of at least 20pc next year, with positive cash Ebitda targeted for the following year.

We made significant strategic and operational progress in FY25, Mr Keating said.

With accelerating annual recurring revenue growth and better-than-expected operating leverage, KX delivered a strong performance based on good ongoing execution.

Meanwhile, our strategic repositioning of the group during the period has unlocked significant shareholder value.
The official trailer for a new romantic comedy, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie has been released.

It traces the chance meeting of David (Colin Farrell) and Sarah (Margot Robbie), single strangers, who meet at a mutual friends wedding.

"It's funny how the most beautiful places make you feel the most alone, Farrells character says to Robbie at the wedding, as seen in the trailer.

She replies by saying: Maybe it depends on who you are with.

Both believe they cannot or will not be loved and choose to head on a big, bold, and beautiful journey facilitated through a magical GPS.

After the wedding, David and Sarah, brought together unintentionally by their cars GPS systems, take a road trip down memory lane, accessed through magical doors, where they relive all of their past failed relationships.

The trailer shows both Farrell and Robbie visiting Farrells high school, in a moment when he told a girl that he loved her but she does not reciprocate.

"It feels just like it felt back then, Farrells character says to Robbie. Her character goes back to visit her mother, who she said she misses.

It has been described as a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts.

Audiences will learn how they got to where they are in the present and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.

The film, which releases in Irish cinemas on September 19, also features American star Kevin Kline and English actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

It was written by Seth Reiss, also known for the 2022 movie The Menu, which stars Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor Joy and Nicholas Hoult.

The rom-com is directed by Kogonada, who is known for Columbus (2017), After Yang (2021) and Pachinko (2022).

Dubliner Farrell is is just off the back of playing a mobster in HBO's The Penguin which won him the IFTA Award for Lead Actor in a Drama.

He is currently working on psychological thriller The Ballad of a Small Player opposite Tilda Swinton.

Robbie is also starring in gothic psychological drama Wuthering Heights alongside Jacob Elordi, due to be released next year.
French farmers urge Macron to rally EU support against Mercosur deal

People hold a sign reading "Manu (referring to French President Emmanuel Macron) stop Mercosur, it makes you deaf" as French farmers block a road with tractors, in protest against EU-Mercosur free trade deal as Macron is on a state visit to Argentina, in Velizy-Villacoublay, near Paris, France, November 17, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

French and Spanish farmers warned on Wednesday that a flood of imports under planned European Union trade agreements with South American bloc Mercosur and Ukraine risked severely undermining European agriculture.

The concerns come ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's official visit to France and the expiry on Thursday of a free trade deal with Ukraine, which is expected to shift to import quotas this summer.
Ask Allison: My friend is great one on one but takes over completely in group conversations. How do I address this?
An unspeakable tragedy  neighbours distraught as death row survivor Sunny Jacobs (78) and man killed in Galway house fire

After spending 17 years in US prison and five years on death row, Ms Jacobs was cleared of murdering two police officers and later met Irishman Peter Pringle, whose conviction for killing two gardai was quashed

Who was Sunny Jacobs? The death row survivor who died in Galway house fire

Eavan Murray Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

Neighbours have told of their anguish after a woman, who spent years on death row in the US, and her carer died in a house fire in Galway.
Latest | A monster  Richard Satchwell sentenced to life in prison for murder of wife Tina in their Cork home

Conclusion of the case may offer 'some measure of comfort' to Tina's family

Ralph Riegel Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 13:11

Richard Satchwell (58) was handed a life sentence for the murder of his wife Tina (45) as her family branded him "a monster" for what he had done to the woman he professed to have loved.
'Nobody is going to walk out of a check-in over an extra 80': Is it time for Ireland to copy other visitor hotspots with a tourist tax?
A tattoo artist who attacked a young chef with a sword causing partial amputation of his left leg, massive blood loss and his subsequent death in hospital has been found guilty of murder.

Jurors at the Central Criminal Court in Cork took just over four hours to unanimously convict Dylan Scannell of the murder of 33-year-old father of two Ian Baitson. The loved ones of Ian Baitson hugged each other and wept when the verdict was returned.
latest | Man (30s) charged after serious assault in Dublin due in court

Another man was rushed to the Mater Hospital for treatment of serious injuries following the incident on Eden Quay

The Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin. Stock image

Neil Fetherstonhaugh Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 09:30

A man has been charged after another man suffered serious injuries in an assault near Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin on Monday afternoon.
Jenny Maguire: For so many students, our options are: live with mammy or head to Australia  and government policy is to blame
Why this Irish army veteran believes dismantling the Triple Lock is a bad idea

Former Irish Defence Forces member and peacekeeper turned activist Edward Horgan says the government is wrong to be pursuing current legislation

Edward Horgan towards the end of his time with the Irish Defence Forces

Edana Flynn Tue 3 Jun 2025 at 19:00

As Israels concentrated war on Gaza continues and public pressure mounts on the Irish government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, the future of Irish neutrality and the Triple Lock have also come into question.
Resident left sitting on toilet when worker went on break as RTE Investigates uncovers distressing nursing home conditions

Breaches found by reporters include residents refused help to use toilet

An image from footage from 'RTE Investigates  Inside Irelands Nursing Homes'. Photo: RTE

Melanie Finn Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

The findings of an RTE investigation into two nursing homes run by Irelands largest provider have been likened to institutional abuse.
Opinion

Justine OMahony: I just cant carry on life as normal during a heatwave

I dont think I have had one conversation outside my immediate family that did not involve the weather this week. What in the name of God and all thats holy, would we talk about if we didnt have the weather to discuss? Politics? World news? 
Climate Changemakers: Eco podcast has its roots in hedges pulled up to make way for parking spaces

Ceara Carney hosts the award-winning Book of Leaves podcast, which profiles individuals across Ireland who are helping the planet

Ceara Carney, host of the Book of Leaves podcast. Photo: Mark Condren

Aisling Maria Cronin Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

Community is the solution for so many of the environmental problems we face, says Ceara Carney, host of the Book of Leaves podcast. Look around, and youll find that there are plenty of people who care. Theres always hope.
Our expert suggests some whites plus a red and a rose made with grapes grown near the Atlantic

Location, location, location. In property, its everything, but what about in wine? If youre a fan of Spanish Albarino, as so many of us Irish are, you may have spotted notable differences in the styles of wine that this grape variety produces. Some are particularly fruity, with Albarinos signature stone fruit notes leaning towards riper tropical fruits.

Others are particularly fresh with pithy grapefruit notes and a distinctively briny salinity.

That salinity will not surprise anyone who has visited north-west Spains Galicia, where the wine region of Rias Baixas hugs a coastline made up of multiple rias (inlets) and the peninsulas that divide them. If the Atlantic seems to be everywhere you look, thats because it is.

Albarino is the queen of grapes in Rias Baixas, making up 95pc of all vine plantings here. Its styles vary considerably, largely depending on which of five sub-regions it was grown in.

If I was to blind taste the two styles described above, I would guess that the riper wine might come from one of the warmer inland sub-regions, and that the saline one comes from the Val do Salnes subregion, where many vineyards sit right on or within view of the sea-swept coastline itself.

Besides that proximity to the coast keeping temperatures milder than further inland, the salty winds and rain also elevate levels of chloride, potassium, sodium and other salts both in the soils and the plants growing in them, and make their way into the resulting wines to such a degree that you can taste them.

Rias Baixas is not the only wine region with an Atlantic influence. If you walk the northern way of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route running along the Basque coastline of Green Spain, you will pass vineyards hugging the coastal hills here  that is, if you can see them behind the low-hanging clouds that sweep in off the ocean and slow the ripening of those grapes.

With any luck, youll also taste the resulting txacoli wine in local pintxos (tapas) bars, where its low alcohol, high acidity and very dry style is a perfect palate-cleansing quaffer for sampling myriad food flavours on a pintxos crawl.

Follow that coastline up into France or down into Portugal and you will find other Atlantic-influenced wine regions. Western France has Muscadet de Sevre et Maine in the north, where the Loire river meets the Atlantic, and Cotes de Gascogne further south. Portugal has Vinho Verde and Barraida along its western coast, plus various vineyards around Lisbon.

All of todays refreshing wine suggestions express that Atlantic influence, including a red from north of Lisbon.

Wines of the week

Ophalum Albarino 2023

Ophalum Albarino 2023, Rias Baixas DO, Spain, 12.5pc, 19.95

From the co-op run Paco & Lola winery, this charming Val de Salnes Albarino has ample fruit and briny vibrancy, with lychee, white peach and almond milk aromas and fleshy fruit cut by fresh acidity from pithy mid-palate to saline finish. Or for other Val de Salnes examples, OBriens mineral Lagar de Costa Albarino is currently on promotion (17.56), or try Mar de Frades Albarino Atlantico (22, widely available) in its cool blue bottle, or Lidls Salnoval Albarino (11.99). OBriens Wine; obrienswine.ie

Coing St-Fiacre Chardonnay Aurore

Coing St-Fiacre Chardonnay Aurore, St-Fiacre sur Maine, Loire, 12pc, 19.50

Imagine Chablis-style unoaked Chardonnay transported to the westerly end of Loire Valley where the rivers Sevre and Maine meet, grown in schist soils and picked at low yields. The result is this vibrant beauty with lemon drop notes, mineral salinity and fleshy silky texture. Independent retailers, lecaveau.ie

Domaine Tariquet Classic

Domaine Tariquet Classic, Cotes de Gascogne IGP, France, 10.5pc, 14.95

A delightful low-alcohol blend of local Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Gros Manseng with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Chenin, produced in Gascony between the Atlantic and the Pyrenees, this would be as perfect for a seafood picnic as for an aperitif with fresh oysters. Great value too. Independent retailers including Sweeneys D3, theallotment.ie

Gaintza Roses 2023

Gaintza Roses 2023, Getariako Txakolina, Basque Country, 11.5pc, 26

A super dry, salty, crunchy and slightly effervescent rose txakoli made from red Hondarrabi Beltz and white Hondarrabi Zuri grapes in Getaria fishing village near San Sebastian, this is an ideal match for Getarias delicacy of Cantabrian anchovies, or any well-handled oily fish. Quintessential Wines, Drogheda

Adegamae Salino Tinto 2022

Adegamae Salino Tinto 2022, Lisbon, Portugal, 13pc, 17

Its not just whites that can benefit from a coastal influence. This red Castelao-Aragonez blend, made on the Atlantic coast north of Lisbon by two of Portugals finest winemakers, Anselmo Mendes and Diogo Lopes, drinks fresh and bright with balsamic cherry and rose petal notes. Independent retailers including Pinto Wines; pintowines.ie
Tom Watling: Appeasement fears over US support for Vladimir Putins Nato veto demands

Remarks by American envoy Keith Kellogg are likened to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler before Nazi invasions

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo: Reuters

Tom Watling UK Independent Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

The Trump administrations sympathy for Moscows anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliances eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion.
Ian ODoherty: Our leaders are caught between America and the EU when it comes to free speech  and we know which way they will lean

US State Departments recent frank exchange of views with Irish officials about hate-speech legislation brought issue into sharper focus

US vice-president JD Vance welcomes Taoiseach Micheal Martin to a St Patrick's Day breakfast in Washington last March. Photo: Getty

Ian O'Doherty Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

Heres something that seems to have slipped under the radar. A team from the US State Department recently visited Dublin to have, shall we say, a friendly chat with the Government about our increasingly censorious approach to free speech.
Mary McCarthy: My family will soon have a new dog  but are we really just taking on a surrogate child?

I feel resentment building about how much time, money and emotional wattage our new pet will take up, and it hasnt even arrived yet

Mary McCarthy and daughter Alexandra choose a puppy

Mary McCarthy Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

Do dog owners who refer to their pets as a fur baby really see the animal as a child surrogate? Research from Hungary suggests that is exactly what a growing number of people are doing. As someone about to nervously welcome a new puppy into their home, I feel these people should be aware that a dog can be more work than a child.
On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy rewrote the rules of warfare. Almost no one had imagined that the Japanese could sneak across an entire ocean to attack an impregnable fortress, as US strategists had described Hawaii.
Palestinians carry their belongings as they flee their homes after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Photo: Reuters

There are times you have to fear for humanity when so much cold-blooded carnage is carried out needlessly and the world just carries on. With death tolls rising, we have succumbed to resignation instead of outrage, but mass killings of civilians must not become conventional if we are to avoid a 21st-century version of the Dark Ages.

The UN is now an echo chamber for the worlds conscience. Its urgent pronouncements on the need for immediate action to ease the plight of Palestinians scarcely even elicit attention.

Its latest message is that the wilful blocking of access to food and relief for civilians in Gaza may be a war crime. A UN statement said: For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site.

It said attacks on civilians trying to access food aid were unconscionable. In the latest outrage, at least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food station.

According to the Red Cross, its field hospital in Rafah had received 184 casualties, 19 of whom were declared dead on arrival. Eight more died from their wounds shortly after.

Palestinians carry their belongings as they flee their homes after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Photo: Reuters

Taoiseach confronted by Gaza protest in Galway

Videos from the scene showed injured people being taken to hospital, laid out on carts pulled by donkeys. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said: Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.

Guns must be silenced and a ceasefire called to stop the killings. Hostages must be released immediately. The death and destruction is merely fuelling fires of hatred in the hearts of future generations.

It had become a private political war and it had made Gaza a humanitarian disaster area

Last November, Israels ousted defence minister Yoav Gallant said the army had achieved all its objectives in Gaza.

Theres nothing left in Gaza to do. The major achievements are achieved, he said. I fear we are staying there just because there is a desire to be there.

Last week, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said he believes the war in Gaza no longer has a clear goal and has gone too far.

He also said Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza and that thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed, as well as many Israeli soldiers. He further argued that it had become a private political war and it had made Gaza a humanitarian disaster area.

The pandemonium is resulting in endless pain and suffering and can no longer be represented as either legitimate political or military policy.

Restriction of aid and the weaponisation of need and hunger belong to medieval times.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the idea is eventually to have a sterile zone in the south of Gaza where the entire population can move for its own protection.

But public opinion is shifting against the fighting. Even US president Donald Trump has demanded the war be wound down. After 19 months of brutal bombardment, Israel must be compelled to stop.
Richard Satchwell (58) was handed a life sentence for the murder of his wife Tina (45) as her family branded him "a monster" for what he had done to the woman he professed to have loved.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on the English truck driver at the Central Criminal Court as Ms Satchwell's Cork family said they will never forgive him for the nightmare he inflicted on them over almost seven years.

There is only one sentence a judge is required to apply which is a sentence of life imprisonment. I date the sentence back to October 12, 2023, the judge said.

Lorraine Howard, Tinas half-sister said she could never forgive the truck driver for what he had done to the woman he professed to have loved. She claimed he showed more respect to their pet dog for its burial and had even taken the rubble from his wife's secret grave and scattered it around the places in Youghal they loved.

I am Tina's sister, myself and Tina were inseparable growing up, she said. We always had each other's backs. As long as I can remember Tina loved animals. She hated to see any animal neglected. She was so kindhearted.

I am so thankful that the jury saw through his despicable lies.

We have so many happy memories of Tina. I feel Tina is with us.

That monster took Tina from us."

Today on this extra episode of The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent with The Irish Independent, to reflect on this final day in court, the sentence handed down to Richard Satchwell and whether this is the final chapter in this sinister case.
On Friday, former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams won a High Court defamation action against the BBC and was awarded 100,000 in damages.

A High Court jury delivered the verdict following a four-week trial in which Mr Adams claimed he was defamed by a BBC Spotlight programme in which it was alleged he sanctioned the murder of an informer.

Afterwards, Mr Adams said he took the case to put manners on the BBC.

The jury found that the BBC had defamed Mr Adams by suggesting he had sanctioned and approved the killing of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Fein official who spied for Britains MI5.

It also 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.

Mr Adams legacy and how he will be viewed in the history books was very much at stake in the trial.

Has this landmark case set a precedent for how media organisations can cover the Troubles in the future?

Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor with the Irish Independent, and by John Downing, Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent to go through the key proceedings of the trial and examine what the verdict means for Mr Adams, Sinn Fein, the BBC and the media at large.
Darren Lenihan of no fixed abode was charged with stealing 35 from a Tesco store in Mallow

A man with 240 previous convictions, 65 relating to theft, has been given a 10-month sentence with six months suspended on a charge of stealing 35 from a Tesco shop in Mallow.

Darren Lenihan, 33, of no fixed abode, was due to be sentenced at Mallow District Court on Tuesday, following a guilty plea in May for the theft, his first conviction for theft since 2022.

Mr Lenihan, who appeared via video link from Cork prison, was told by presiding Judge Colm Roberts that the high level of convictions is whats going against you, before handing out the sentence, which is dependent on the convicted not consuming alcohol for the next two years.

Drink is your problem as far as I understand, Judge Roberts told Mr Lenihan. If you dont drink and have no charges, youll have no bother. If you drink or have more charges, youll have bother.

The court was told that the conviction triggers a previous three-month suspended sentence which was handed out at Cork District Court in May of 2023.

Regarding that charge, Mr Lenihan will appear before the court in Cork on Tuesday, June 10.
Most pharmacies in Cork have signed up to participate in the scheme, with the numbers increasing daily

HRT is a medicine-based treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Stock image

Women across Cork will now be able to receive free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) from pharmacies as part of a nationwide scheme.

HRT is a medicine-based treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.

Most pharmacies in Cork and nationwide have signed up to participate in the scheme, with the numbers increasing daily.

Cork North West TD John Paul OShea said 208 pharmacies in Cork will offer the free medication to women, which is extremely positive.

The majority of pharmacies across the country are now participating in the scheme, and this figure is increasingly daily, meaning that all women will be able to access this free medication in a pharmacy convenient for them.

In Cork, already 208 pharmacies will offer the free medication to women, which is extremely positive.

Its important to note that the new arrangement includes a pharmacy dispensing fee, so medication will be completely free, he said.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was commended by her party colleague Mr OShea, who said he was grateful to the Minister for her role in the scheme.

The symptoms women encounter during perimenopause and menopause are varied and womens lives can be hugely impacted

HRT is such an important medicinal regime for women and can positively improve their lives and make daily living much easier.

This scheme is transformational for women.

I commend the pharmacies in Cork who have joined the scheme to continue to provide vital healthcare for their communities, concluded Mr O' Shea.

Women who have been private patients and who wish to avail of this will need to possess a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card.

Medical card holders can continue to access HRT medication as normal  a DPS card is not necessary.

Women can find their nearest pharmacy to them that is providing the service via: https://www2.hse.ie/services/pharmacies-free-hrt/.
Judge in Cork queries delay in serving book of evidence on man accused of Paula Canty murder

Joseph Butler is charged with the murder of Paula Canty in January of this year

Joseph Butler

Kevin Galvin Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 08:00

A District Court Judge says that he may need to speak to the state solicitor regarding ongoing delays regarding the book of evidence on the man charged with the murder of a mother-of-two in Mallow.
Judge Colm Roberts says the delays awaiting a defendants fitness assessment are unacceptable

A District Court Judge said that his tolerance of delays involving the prison service has reached its limit, as he ordered another adjournment on a case due to delays regarding a fitness assessment.

Cornelius Horgan, 43, of no fixed abode, was due to submit a plea regarding charges of theft of 390 as well as public order. However, the court heard that a fitness assessment was still being awaited for Mr Horgan, which would indicate whether he was fit to enter a plea on his own behalf.

The application for a fitness assessment was made on May 15.

Judge Colm Roberts asked Mr Horgan, who appeared before Mallow District Court on Tuesday via video link from Cork prison, whether he had seen any medical teams from the prison service, to which he told Mr Roberts that he sees them daily to get paracetamol.

Judge Roberts asked the prison guard about the status of the assessment, to which the guard replied: I dont have that information.

The court is very concerned that it made the request that seems to have been ignored, which is unacceptable.

I need to know whether this man can or cannot plead, Judge Roberts told the court.

Mr Horgan told the judge that he was appearing on his fathers anniversary and that he will shortly lose his flat.

Colm Roberts granted a one-week adjournment of the case for Mr Horgan to appear again via video link.

My tolerance has reached its limit. If an assessment isnt ready by then, I will expect a member of the service to present at the court to explain why, Judge Roberts told Mallow District Court.
Free sunscreen should be installed at all schools, third level institutions and all public buildings to act as a deterrent against the rise of skin cancer.

Over 11,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland every year and projections from the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 has predicted that cases of melanoma will double by 2045 particularly among men.

In 2022, research conducted on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society found that just a third of Irish people apply sunscreen regularly, and nearly one in seven of us never wear it in Ireland.

The issue was debated at a recent full council meeting after Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne brought forward a motion urging Cork County Council to install free sunscreen dispensers in all Council offices and libraries.

The motion also requested Cork County Council to write to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill seeking dedicated national funding to provide sunscreen dispensers in public buildings across Ireland, including schools and third-level institutions.

Cllr Browne said the move is both practical and essential in light of the growing skin cancer crisis in Ireland. Over 11,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland every year, and tragically, most of those cases are preventable. This motion is about normalising the use of sunscreen, just like we normalised hand sanitiser during Covid. Its a small change that could make a huge difference.

Ms Browne cited alarming projections from the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 20232026, which forecasts a doubling of melanoma cases by 2045, particularly among men. With fair skin being the most common skin type in Ireland, UV protection is more important than ever even on cloudy days. People often assume that sunscreen is only for hot, sunny countries, but in Ireland, UV rays still penetrate through cloud, and they still cause damage. This is not just a seasonal issue, its a public health issue."

The motion also emphasised the cost-effectiveness of prevention, noting that while treating advanced melanoma can cost over 122,000 per case, early prevention costs just a fraction of that.

We cant afford for more diagnoses or more suffering, said Cllr Browne. This initiative is not only about saving lives, its also about saving our health service money. Our communities deserve visible, accessible tools to stay safe in the sun. We care about peoples health, and were ready to act.

This is a simple step we can take right now and I sincerely hope the Minister for Health will join me in making it a national priority, she added.

The motion was seconded by Independent councillor Ben Dalton OSullivan who said skin cancer is very prominent and unfortunately cases are on the increase.

Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy praised the motion for being practical and sensible. We live in a country which often has very changeable weather. It would be a good idea to try and roll this out on a national basis.

Fine Gael councillor Kate Lynch emphasised the importance of normalising the use of sunscreen. By installing this in schools we are making it part and parcel of a daily routine. We need to normalise kids putting on their own sunscreen. I dont think we realise the seriousness of it until it actually knock on your door and someone is diagnosed with skin cancer. The solution can be fairly simple. Protect ourselves rather than having to deal with the actual cancer itself.

Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury said: Having four young children I know how significant it is to ensure they are fully protected with sunscreen and with our increasing warmer climate all preventative measures should be taken. I would also love to see the removal of VAT from sunscreen as well.

I would support the principle of the motion, said the CEO of Cork County Council Moira Murrell: Our first duty of care is to our employees. We do provide sunscreen for staff that work outdoors. Primarily it is a public health initiative. If there is a national scheme and if local authorities are asked to engage in that, we will fully support that public health initiative. We will certainly be in a position to work with any national scheme that is there.
Mallow Development Partnership Heritage Committee will stage a re-enactment of Daniel OConnells famous Mallow Defiance Speech on Friday, June 6 at 11am in Market Square.

2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Irish political leader who was one of Irelands foremost politicians in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The Kerry native has often been hailed in his time as The Liberator.

OConnell a qualified barrister was the acknowledged political leader of Irelands Roman Catholic majority in the first half of the 19th century.

Born near Cahersiveen on August 6, 1775, OConnell was instrumental in the Catholic Emancipation Act that granted political and civil rights to Catholics in Ireland.

He was also a leading abolitionist who sought to ban the international slave trade in the early 1800s.

Two of Irelands major cities  Limerick and Dublin  have their main streets named in honour of OConnell.

He staged one of his famous Monster Meetings in Mallow on June 11, 1843 which attracted a reported crowd of 250,000 people from all over north Cork and further afield at the Repeal of the Act of Union meeting.

40 bands also marched in the parade. The heights and fields were crowded with spectators.

As a person, OConnell was extraordinary.

Deeply popular with the public, rather than being a populist, he could explain the essence of complex arguments to audiences of thousands.

O'Connell's constitutional approach was carried on by Thomas Davis and by Charles Stewart Parnell.

Fridays re-enactment in Mallow town will attempt to recreate the events of that famous day in Mallow history.

A number of monster repeal meetings were held at various locations throughout Ireland and preparations for the great Mallow Repeal Meeting commenced in October 1842.

During a powerful oration Mr OConnell told the captivated audience that there was one thing which gave him pleasure, and that was the length of time he enjoyed the confidence of the people. He was counsel for Ireland  the people were his clients - he had none other.

He also told the spectators that he had given up the profession in which he was successful; and now for the remainder of his life he was resolved to devote himself to the advocacy of the Irish people and old Ireland.

The speech by Daniel OConnell in Mallow became known as the Mallow Defiance.

The famous sculptor John Hogan carved an 18 feet marble statue of OConnell which is located in the City Hall in Dublin.

Famous orator Daniel OConnell made his first ever speech in 1800 in City Hall, then called the Royal Exchange, and his statue shows him as an orator, raising his right hand to make a point.

In November 1841, OConnell became Lord Mayor of Dublin, another reason for having his statue in City Hall, where council meetings are still held.
Dublin-based Sarah Devereux on bringing her irreverent, colourful work to local city markets

Youve probably come across her works on a blisteringly hot day at The Quirk Market on Clarendon Street, or while escaping the biting cold inside the Fumbally Christmas Market.

But Sarah Devereux, the Dublin-based artist behind the irreverent The Dirt Bird brand, can be hard to miss with her colourful, florescent designs.

The 35-year-old has made a name for herself for her modern and subversive take on Irish expressions and culture seen on jewellery, accessories, clothing and classic decorations.

Ms Devereux, originally from Co Carlow, has been selling her works online and across various Dublin markets such as the Fumbally in the Liberties or Le Zeitgeist Flea in Phibsboro.

She describes The Dirt Bird (@thedirtbird) as always somewhat separate, more of a persona than a brand.

I have such a weird relationship with The Dirt Bird because I feel like I created it, but Im unsure of how much of that creation was conscious or unconscious, she said.

One of Sarah Devereux's DirtBird designs, featuring Samantha Mumba in Mayo gear

Its such a colourful person to put into the world, whereas Im more introverted. I think The Dirt Bird is the part of me that is very much a performer.

Its very humour based, ridiculous and over the top, she added.

The brand has been breaking codes and conventions since its inception when Ms Devereux was a student in NCAD.

The Dirt Bird first emerged in the second or third year of college. I was doing an exhibit and chose to do it in the toilet of the gallery instead, she said.

I was definitely pushing the envelope. I really set out to be bold and shocking, and I loved it.

That penchant for shock and boldness saw her coined The Dirt Bird, and since then, Ms Devereux has been pushing her out into the world.

Showcasing her work to potential clients at markets is nothing new, even if her very first foray didnt go according to plan.

I was a young child and Id set up a table outside my house where I basically sold all my toys to my neighbour for a shiny coin, she said.

I then desperately cried at her front door, asking for them back the next day when I fully realised what I had done.

As an adult, Ms Devereux recalls her first big market at the Dublin Flea, just across from the 3Arena.

She remembers it as the start of the belief The Dirt Bird would become something, but said not taking rejection of her product as a rejection of herself has been a learning curve.

You can still be surprised by who will actually be engaging with the stall and buying something. Ive gotten somewhat better at figuring it out, she said.

They could be enthusiastic, chatting to you for twenty minutes and then say bye without actually buying anything.

Some people might not say a word and youd think, Oh god, they dont like anything here, and then they spend fifty quid.

Sarah Devereux created the Dirt Bird brand

The cost of living crisis has also forced her to think about the balance between what sells and what her humour likes.

I love colour and silliness and I might go bolder or more political. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesnt. Theres been designs where I thought they were brilliant and then sold five in three years, she said.

Her Gas B**ch design found on t-shirts and pins is her most successful and literally pays her gas bills.

Theres a quote that says if youre doing what you love, youre not working a day in your life, but its rather if you work with something you love, you never fully clock out.

Among her inspirations is growing up in her native Carlow and seeing plates in her grandmothers rural home with the late American president John F Kennedys likeness on them.

She has since created unique hand-printed plates filled with beloved Irish colloquialisms.

Id also include Ann Doyle and Nadine Coyle in some of my works, she added.
Michael Benn and Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, with Henri, the First Dog of Limerick. Photo: Kieran Ryan-Benson

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, has hosted a special Mayoral Reception at City Hall, Merchants Quay, to honour Michael Benn, Grand Marshal of the 2025 New York City St Patricks Day Parade.

The ceremony celebrates Mr Benns incredible story from proud Limerick roots to his leadership in one of the worlds most iconic Irish-American events.

The reception is the third of its kind this year, following two sports-related Mayoral Receptions earlier in 2025.

Born in Limerick city in 1948 and a former student of CBS Sexton Street, the same school attended by Mayor Moran, Michael Benn emigrated to the United States at age 14.

He continued his education in New York and received an accounting degree from Mercy College, paving the way for a diverse career in civic leadership and business management.

He also served in the US Army from 1969 to 1972, achieving the rank of sergeant.

He served as president and chairman of the Queens County St Patricks Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, and in March 2025, he led the 264th New York City St Patricks Day Parade as Grand Marshal.

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Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Moran said: Its an absolute privilege to have welcomed Michael Benn and his family here to City Hall in the city of his youth, and to be able to recognise everything Michael has done to keep our Irish heritage alive and thriving in his new home of New York. His journey has been nothing short of incredible. Limerick is lucky to call him one of our own!

Mr Benn added: This city, and Ireland as a whole, will always be home, no matter where life takes me and my family. The journey has been incredible, but the heart of it all has always been community. Im beyond grateful for this recognition and excited for all thats ahead!
Enniscorthy writer Eamonn Wall will be launching his new poetry book called My Aunts at Twilight Poker in The Bailey Bar and Eatery on Thursday June 5 at 7.30pm.

The book provides nuanced and many-sided explorations of Irish and diasporic life  with particular focus on Eamonn Wall's hometown of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, and on St. Louis, Missouri, where he had lived for the past two decades.

According to his publisher, Salmon Poetry, the book is also a homage to the lives of those who have been written out of history, and a personal response to a town that has changed but endured.

A focal point of the collection is Annie Murphy-Flood, the author's grandmother, who arrived in Enniscorthy as a newly married young woman in the early 20th century to open a business and start a family.

Eamonn is a prolific writer who has previously published Writing the Irish West: Ecologies and Traditions. He has also published a number of essays in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and many more.

Eamonn has lived in St Louis since 2000 and is the Smufit-Stone Corporation Professor of Irish Studies, as well as a Professor of English Studies, at the University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL).

At UMSL, he curates the monthly Irish lectures, readings, and concerts series for UMSL Global, is currently the Director of their annual summer study abroad programme at the University of Galway, as well as teaching various classes on Irish writing.

He has received a number of awards commending his contribution to Irish writing; the Durkan Prize from the American Conference for Irish Studies, the Irish Echo Award for distinguished service to Irish Arts and Culture in North America, as well as being the first Irish-born academic to be elected as President of the American Conference for Irish Studies.

Recognised for bridging the gap between American and Irish Culture, he was asked to lead the St Patricks Parade in St Louis last year, where he was joined by Fianna Fail Senator Shane Curley.

In double joy for the family, his sister Sinead led the Enniscorthy procession with great excitement.
A legal challenge to Wexford County Council's compulsory purchase of lands for the provision of a new SETU campus has been dismissed by the High Court.

A legal challenge to Wexford County Councils compulsory purchase of more than 50 acres for the provision of a new university campus and League of Ireland football ground has been dismissed by the High Court.

The local authority was given the green light to use its statutory powers to place a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on more the lands stretching from Killeens across to Whiterock Hill in 2022 in a bid to aid the South East Technological University (SETU) with the creation of a state of the art university campus.

Wexford County Council also unveiled plans for a League of Ireland stadium with a capacity for up to 6,000 for Wexford FC, a new full-size 4G pitch for Wexford GAA, two schools and a whole raft of housing and commercial units as part of its Killeens Masterplan.

However, the project was facing major delays when it emerged back in March that the principal landowner, a Mr Scott Mernagh had taken a legal challenge to the councils CPO and was seeking a full judicial review. He claimed he had been treated poorly throughout the entire process by the local authority.

A legal challenge to Wexford County Council's compulsory purchase of lands for the provision of a new SETU campus has been dismissed by the High Court.

Today's news in 90 - 4th June 2025

However, having heard the specifics, a High Court judge found in favour of Wexford County Council and rejected the application for a judicial review.

Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe confirmed that following a hearing in the High Court the council has been informed that the landowners application seeking leave to apply for judicial review of the CPO of lands in Ballynagee, Wexford, has been refused by the Courts and the proceedings dismissed.

"The council now intends to progress the CPO of the lands as per the relevant legislations and regulations, he concluded.

Labour TD George Lawlor was somewhat taken aback that a legal challenge had emerged in the first place, claiming that Mr Mernagh had approached him when he was Mayor of Wexford, seeking to sell the land to Wexford County Council for the provision of a university campus.

"Im absolutely delighted with this judgement, Deputy Lawlor said. It seems pretty watertight and I hope it brings finality to this issue.

"Obviously the landowner felt they had to take this course, but the price for the land will be decided by independent arbitration, so Ive no doubt he will get the best price possible. I hope we can now push forward with the Killeens Masterplan for the whole 120 acres which includes the SETU campus, at least two schools and of course the stadium for Wexford FC. I think it will be of huge benefit to the town and county.

Deputy Lawlor says he will be pushing for things to move as quickly as possible from this point onwards.

"I think, in fairness, the commitment of the SETU board is not in any doubt at this stage, he said. Its been a slow start. Money was first made available for this in 2015. Ive been engaging with Minister for Higher Education James Lawless, who is a native of Wexford himself, and he has a keen interest in the SETU campus project.

"What we need now is follow through on the commitment to funding which was made in Simon Harriss day as Minister of Higher Education. We cant have any delays in bringing the tens of millions it will cost to make this a reality to the table.

Fine Gael senator Cathal Byrne meanwhile is calling for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to make a timely decision on the business case submitted by the board of SETU with regard to their new campus.

Once the land is acquired, the SETU must be in a position to act and to progress the project which requires a decision on their business case by the Higher Education Authority, he said.

I raised the matter on the floor of Seanad Eireann earlier this year directly with the Minister where I asked them to provide a detailed update on the HEAs plans to advance the project once all other matters had been resolved.

"At that stage the Minister informed me that the HEA had still to decide on the business case submitted by SETU, I did emphasize at the time that this should not delay the project and a decision should be made regardless of any other factors.
An Garda Siochana have launched an appeal for witnesses as a teenage boy continues to fight for his life following an e-scooter crash in rural Wexford.

The 13-year-old came off the e-scooter at Ballyteigue, Kilmore Quay, at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday, sustaining serious injuries in the process.

The National Ambulance Service were reportedly called to the scene and the injured teen was brought to Wexford General Hospital before eventually being transferred to Temple Street Children's hospital in Dublin where he remains in intensive care.

The youngster is believed to be from a neighbouring south Wexford village.

While Wexford Gardai were not initially called to the scene of the accident, they did attend afterwards and have stated an investigation is ongoing.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward, a statement said.

We are seeking camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, from road users on in Kilmore Quay towards the junction of Ard na Ba and the L3056 between 6.45 p.m. and 7.10 p.m. on May 30.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Fergal Redmond at his new 'Fire Bath' sauna and cold tubs in the Boatyard, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

An Arklow gym owner who cant go a day without recharging his body and mind with a refreshing stint in the sauna is spreading the power of heat and healing in his hometown community with his new Fire Bath Sauna on the banks of the Avoca River.

Eager to help the public relax and rejuvenate, whether theyre looking to unwind after a long day, recover from an intense workout, or invest in their well-being, Boxfit Gym owner Fergal Redmond recently launched the new luxury sauna service next to the Arklow RNLI Lifeboat Station, on a site previously occupied by Murts Diner.

On top of a sauna therapy service, which includes heated sauna rooms, fresh towels, a hydration station and access to the relaxation lounge, Fire Bath also boasts a premium cold immersion experience for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those looking to boost energy levels, improve circulation, and strengthen their immune system, along with three ice baths with chilling machines.

Fire Bath is one of two saunas Arklow native Fergal has established in the seaside town, with the Hot Box at his gym in the Knockenrahan Industrial Estate proving hugely popular.

Detailing how his sauna services were inspired by his experiences during the pandemic, when his access to saunas was restricted, Fergal said he hopes to open more locations to promote well-being among Arklows soon-to-grow population.

I suppose it all started during Covid, when there was nowhere I could get a sauna  I was desperate for one, he began.

I just love it, and Id do it twice a day, so I ended up buying one for my house. Then I got one for the gym, and that has done really well since it opened.

The sauna in the gym comes from China, while this new one is built by a Lithuanian company called Steam & Dream Saunas and is a wood-burning one, so there is a different kind of heat off it. I think its an excellent location for it, and I think it will do well.

I like to look ahead to what is coming next, and Id like to put a few saunas around Arklow, but they are pricey, so I have to make sure the location will work, he added.

Saunas are really popular at the moment, though, and I know the one up in Wicklow town is doing really well.

Obviously, there are places like South Beach and The Cove that would be great and that I have looked into, but they are a bit more complicated.

Id love to put a few more around the town, though, and I think, with the population of the town about to shoot up, there will be an enormous demand for saunas. The benefits of them are something people are really coming around to.
School crisis hits Wicklow family trying to return home from Middle East

The family living abroad is in limbo as they struggle to find a school.

Anxiety over lack of school places. Stock image.

Tom Galvin Bray People Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 06:00

As schools begin to wind down for the summer, a councillor in Greystones has again raised the plight of families who will spend the holidays fretting over whether they have a place for their children in secondary school come September.
The Wicklow family of an eight-year-old girl with a rare genetic disorder are overwhelmed with the response they received for a fundraising coffee morning they held on Sunday.

Stella is the daughter of Anna and Conor Leonard of Moneystown and shortly after her birth she was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), which is a genetic condition caused by missing or faulty genes on chromosome 15 and is characterised by a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms.

Team Stella organised a fundraising coffee morning and raffle, which took place on Sunday in Moneystown Community Hall, which ended up raising over 7,500 for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Ireland.

Stellas mother Anna said: Words cannot express how much everyones kindness and support mean to us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who donated, helped, and joined us on the day.

Stella hasnt stopped talking about it, and were so grateful for everything. It went beyond what we could have imagined. What started as a small community gathering turned into an amazing display of support, love, and generosity.

The morning was filled with fruit, cakes and bakes, while the talented Esther from The Risky Chicks also put on a special performance. All the kids in attendance had a blast with the play cornerpainting stones, tattoos and playing games, while the sweet and popcorn shop proved a massive hit.

Anna stated: Possibly the most cherished part of the morning was Stella's calm corner, where people could take a moment to relax. Stella truly made the most of this space.

She added: What made this day even more special was the incredible turnout. We never expected such a large gathering, and it was heartening to see so many people coming together. The community spirit was truly infectious. We were especially moved by the support from Stella's friends with PWS, who travelled from Kildare, Greystones, and Wicklow just to be with us.

Team Stella also offers a huge thanks to everyone who ensured the event ran smoothly, whether it was selling raffle tickets, assisting with the clean up, or lending a hand wherever needed.

Wed also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Timmons and Leonard families for their incredible support, and to principal Ms Morris and deputy principal Ms Durston, of Moneystown National School, for looking after everyone with teas and coffees, and a special thank you to Bruno, our teddy mascot, for keeping everyone entertained and spreading even more fun throughout the day, said Anna.

Local businesses also generously donated some great raffle prizes, which ensured that everyone left the coffee morning with a smile on their face.
Cebhfionn O'Lynn of Parnell Athletic Club (left) who came 2nd in U16 250M hurdles at the Athletics Wicklow Track & Field Championship at Shoreline Sports Park, Greystones, with her friend Sarah Brennan. Photo: Leigh Anderson

Brockagh Country Market (carboot)

Dont miss our Market/Carboot in Laragh (A98 D3H1) on 8th June. All sorts of bargains and from gifts, clothes, plants, books, toys, skincare products, candles, art, tools, household items etc. You might be a keen bargain hunter or enjoy browsing for affordable gifts.

Open to the public from 10am to 3pm. Tea, coffee and food snacks are available. Our tasty Hot Dog and Burger is an affordable treat for the family lunch and for dessert and why not try a delicious homemade treat from our regular baker!!

The barrier will be locked from 6pm Saturday evening until 8am Sunday morning. You can contact us by phone 0404 45600 (Mon-Fri 9am to 4pm) or email brockaghoffice@gmail.com. All stallholders must pre book their space or no entry on the day. www.brockaghresourcecentre.ie.

Public information meeting

The Glenmacnass River is impacted by invasive and non-native vegetation which has badly degraded the banks and associated riparian habitat especially in the vicinity of Laragh bridge. Laragh/Glendalough Tidy Towns has received funding from LAWPRO to remove these non-native trees and shrubs from the islands and mill side riverbank in the vicinity of Laragh bridge.

A Public information meeting will take place in Lynhams Hotel on 26th June at 7.30pm, where Ecological consultant, Faith Wilson, who prepared a report and invasive species management plan for the site, will present her findings and outline the steps needed to restore the river habitat to good ecological health. All are welcome and please bring a friend.

St. Colmans Family Fun Day

Have a family fun day out on Sunday 27th of July at 2pm in St. Colmans, Rathdrum. A fundraising event to benefit the residents of St Colmans. Raffle will be held on the day with live music and the wheel of fortune. Plus lots of other fun events on the day!

Mobile library

Next date: Thursday 12th & 26th June. A mobile comes to Laragh every second Thursday from 12.15 to 12.50pm and parks at the back of Lynhams Hotel. www.wicklow.ie or contact staff on (087) 9135229.

Free access to many online resources including ebooks, languages, magazines, downloadable audio books, newspapers and more.

Glendalough Heritage Forum

We are delighted to announce that Glendalough Community Excavations will return weekdays from 23rd June to 4th July. If you have an interest in archaeology and Glendalough it is a fantastic experience.

We regret we cannot offer places to those under 18 this year. Adult places (subject to availability) are available from fixed blocks of two or three days.

No prior knowledge of excavation is required and we endeavour to accommodate people of all abilities. For information and details of application please email glendaloughheritageforum@gmail.com

RATHDRUM

Avondale GAA

Lotto - Results for Tuesday 27th May. No Jackpot Winner. Numbers drawn 3,6,8,10. Four match 3 winners 50 each: Kevin Fitzpatrick, seller online; Brendan Brady, seller Victor; Keith Hanlon, seller Catherine; Pj Rowley, seller Pj. Thank you for all your continued support. Next draw is on Tuesday 3rd June. Jackpot 2400. Tickets can be purchased on the clubforce app https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=1811#Anchor

Gaelic Games For All - We are excited to announce the launch of our All Stars group at Avondale GAA Club an inclusive space for children with additional needs to enjoy Gaelic games no diagnosis needed.

Who can join: Children from senior infants to 6th class all abilities welcome. What is it all about? Our goal is simply making Gaelic games accessible for every child focusing on fun participation and social inclusion(Not Competition)

When: Saturday 10.30am till 11.30am. Pilot Programme: 10 weeks, starting in early June. Lets play, learn and grow together in an environment where every child shines! Please contact Darragh or Martina to register interest and secure a space for your child. If you are interested in helping out in any way, please let us know.

Club Memorabilia - If Any one has any memorabilia Connected to the Avondale gaa club (Cups, Medals, Programmes etc) Can you please contact Sandra OShaughnessy on 083 3575421 or contact Victor OShaughnessy.

Condolences - Avondale GAA would like to send its sincerest and heartfelt condolences to our club secretary Helen Penn on the passing of her father Roger over in England. Our thoughts and prayers are with Helen, Chris, Harrison, Kieran, Conor and extended family and friends. May Roger rest in Heavenly Peace..

Under 14 Blitz - Well done to these 11 amazing young men who represented Parnell Gaels in an U14 Blitz. This group is progressing with every game. Well done to all the parents for the early starts and also to Rocks for the welcome.

Michael Dwyers Memorial Cup - Ahead of the Michael Dwyer 200 commemoration in August, Wicklow County Council have kindly sponsored the Michael Dwyer Memorial Cup.

This match will be played between the U13 Clara Glens and Michael Dwyers teams, on Saturday 7th June, in Ballinacor at 3.30pm. Come and join us support these young lads, followed by a little celebration afterwards.

Classic and vintage vehicle show

Wicklow Vintage Club presents the Rathdrum Classic and vintage vehicle show on Sunday 8th June at Rathdrum Rugby Club Grounds A67XO45. Special attraction team engine on display. Registration at 11.30am. Opening to the public at 12pm.

All money raised on the day will be going to Rathdrum Cancer Support and Wicklow Hospice and Friends of the Wicklow Community Service. Stall holders welcome on the day but need to book in advance by emailing wicklowvintageclubwvc@gmail.com

Rathdrum Parish News

Masses for the month of June in Clara Vale Church and Greenane - Sunday 8th June Greenane at 10am; Sunday 15th June Clara Vale at 9am; Sunday 22nd June at Greenane at 10am; Sunday 29th June at Clara Vale at 9am.

Also in the Rathdrum parish church 6pm vigil mass on Saturday and 11.30am mass on a Sunday 11.am mass on public holidays and 9am mass on a Monday Wednesday Thursday and Friday and 9am Eucharistic service on Tuesday.

Blessing Of The Graves - The blessing of the graves and the celebration of mass will take place in Greenane Cemetery on Sunday 8th June at 3pm and in Rathdrum Cemetery on Sunday 15th June at 3pm.

Teas and Coffee After Mass - The second Sunday of the month tea and coffee will be available at the back of the church after the 11.30am mass All are welcome Thank you to the hospitality group for providing the refreshments.

Rowing Around Ireland

On behalf of the parish of Rathdrum we extend our very best wishes to four men. three from the parish of Rathdrum: Cormac Conroy, Michael Dowling and Diarmuid OBriain; and Tom Nolan from Tinahely.

The men are setting out next week weather permitting to row around Ireland and to break the present world record which stands at 32 days. More details to follow on their progress in due course.

Condolences

Condolences to Jean Maire, Cathal and Mairead McAdams and extended family on the sad passing of Jean McAdams. May she rest in peace.

Your News

Any group or organisation who wants to put notes in to the Rathdrum notes in the Wicklow People newspaper should forward the information via email to Sandyshaugh44@gmail.com or text/Whatsapp the message to 083 3575421 before 3pm on Sunday evening.

ROUNDWOOD

Music in Calary

Music in Calary will be holding its annual piano festival between 11th and 20th June. This year we are delighted to host four concerts, and the performers are:

Wednesday 11th June: Kalle Peura

Saturday 14th June: Lorna Breen (soprano), Sarah Kilcoyne (mezzo) and Adam McDonagh (piano)

Wednesday 18th June: Duo Lyrica (Fionnuala Moynihan, piano and Kieran Moynihan, flute)

Friday 20th June: Macdara OSeireadain (clarinet), David Kenny (viola), and Lance Coburn (piano)

Music in Calary would like to thank Jeffers of Bandon for the hire of their Steinway piano and also Wicklow County Council for their support in enabling us to put on this concert.

As usual, the concerts will begin at 8 pm with free parking available. If you would like to book tickets or for further information, please email derekneilson11@gmail.com or ring (01) 2818118.

Tickets for each of the concerts are 18 and 15 for concessions and may be paid for by cash, cheque or card at the door.

Local directory

The Roundwood and District Community Council are compiling a local directory of all the organisations, clubs, associations, activities, etc., taking place in the Roundwood- Moneystown area.

The details required include name of group/activities, contact name, contact number, email, website and similar details. A sentence about your group can be added if its not obvious please!

By submitting the details, you are consenting to having these details printed in a booklet to be circulated in the area.

This local directory forms part of the Biodiversity Tidy Towns Groups Welcome Wings project to help disseminate information to new and not so new residents!

Please email the details to info@roundwood.ie or pop them into the Roundwood Lotto box above the ATM in Centra in an envelope marked Welcome Wings. Last date for receiving this information is Wednesday 4th June.

Blessing of the graves

GlendaloughFriday 13th June at 7pm; RoundwoodFriday 20th June at 7pm.

Jennys Pre-School Open Day

Jennys Pre-school Open Day for new children for September 2025 & 2026 takes place on Friday 6th June from 10.30 am to 11.30 am

Active Retirement

Next Bingo is in Annamoe Community Centre on Sunday 15th June at 3pm - all welcome.

The 2025 membership is now due. The trip to Mayo is totally full now.

Social Whist

Result of whist held on Wednesday 28th May. Top Score: Jimmy Molloy. First Gent: Richie Cullen. Second Gent: Margaret Kennedy. First Lady: Catherine Doyle. Second Lady: Maura McHugh. First Half: Marie Magee. Second Half: Monica Brady. Lowest Score: Patricia Byrne. Longest Sitting: Tiny Shortt. Raffle Prizes: Margaret Kennedy, Ann Pierce and Marie Magee.

Next Whist will take place on Wednesday 11th June starting at 8pm in the Parish Hall. Come along and enjoy a night of cards with us.

Card game

45 Card Game is played every Tuesday night in Moneystown Community Centre starting at 8pm. Teas served. All are welcome.

Local notes

If you have an item or news that you would like to include in the Roundwood Notes contact Margaret Bolger the email address is mgtbolger@gmail.com. Items for the notes must be emailed by Sunday night to be in time for paper.
The White Lotus co-stars Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins have both denied rumours that either of them are in a feud as ridiculous.

There has been speculation that the two co-stars had drifted apart after being on the HBO show, which follows the lives of guests and staff at a luxury resort as dark secrets are revealed and tensions rise over the course of the holiday.

The third series sees the positive Chelsea, played by British actress Wood, 31, try to keep her mysterious older boyfriend, Rick, played by 53-year-old US actor Goggins, calm in Thailand.

Walton Goggins. (Ian West/PA)

Following the 2025 series, Goggins appeared to step away from his fellow co-stars, and unfollow Greater Manchester-born Wood on Instagram.

They both addressed the swirling rumours during a joint interview for US publication Variety, which was published on Wednesday.

Goggins said: There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman (Aimee) madly, and she is so important to me.

He added that shes special, and explained he had not addressed the reports before as he did not want to talk about Wood when she was not there.

I think its such a comment on where were at culturally. Why is everyone obsessing over Instagram? That is irrelevant. We dont give a shite about Instagram, Wood said.

Goggins said that when he finished The White Lotus he needed to just back away from everyone, as it is his process when filming a project ends.

Its all so ridiculous, he said.

Its just a part of me just saying goodbye to this character so that now Aimee and I will be friends for f****** ever.

Wood previously criticised a Saturday Night Live sketch, with an cast member impersonating her with exaggerated prosthetic teeth, calling it mean and unfunny on Instagram.

She told Variety that it felt misogynistic. It felt like the punchline was a womans appearance, which is just not funny. Its not cool.

Goggins shared the same sketch online and praised Jon Hamm for playing a version of his character, before deleting the Instagram post, ahead of hosting SNL>

He said he was gonna say it (something) to your face, and added: I dont use social media in any way, and Im not a mean guy.

SNL apologised for the April sketch, according to Wood, and the comedian and cast member who impersonated her, Sarah Sherman, sent her flowers to apologise.

Wood is also known for Netflix teen show Sex Education, BBC comedy Daddy Issues and the 2022 drama film Living with Bill Nighy.

Goggins has been in Western series Justified, post-apocalyptic series Fallout, and drama Sons Of Anarchy.

He has had two Emmy nods, while Wood has won a TV Bafta for Sex Education and been given a Rising Star Bafta nomination.
Crimea bridge blown up in underwater raid, says Ukraine

Third time Kyiv has targeted the symbolic crossing since invasion

A view shows the Crimean Bridge, a section of which was damaged by an alleged overnight attack. Photo: Reuters

Francesca Ebel and Kostiantyn Khudov Washington Post Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 03:30

Ukraine attacked the symbolic Crimea Bridge across the Kerch Strait, which connects the illegally annexed peninsula to the Russian mainland, again yesterday. The attack came 48 hours after Kyivs unprecedented assault on air bases deep inside Russian territory, which stunned the country and the international community.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday dismissed Russia's ceasefire proposal as "an ultimatum" and renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock over the three-year war.

Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Monday's direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks.
The head of the world's largest aircraft leasing company has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to renegotiate and expand a duty-free trade agreement for the aircraft industry to include newcomers like China in a new lobbying twist to the trade war.

The aerospace industry has for weeks been pushing for exemptions to tariffs introduced by Trump, or to any foreign retaliation, and wants a return to the status quo represented by a 1979 deal between some 30 nations to ban tariffs on jetliners.
One Punch Man season 3 release window: One Punch Man is a Japanese anime series adapted from the widely popular webcomic by ONE and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. The story revolves around Saitama, an ordinary-looking man who becomes a superhero for fun and can defeat any enemy with a single punch. With two successful seasons already released, the highly anticipated third season is on its way. Fans are excited to dive back into the action, and heres everything we know about it so far.

One Punch Man season 3 release window

Well lets first say that you wont have to wait very long for One Punch Man season 3. For all you fans of the anime, One Punch Man season 3 is going to be released in October 2025.

What to expect from One Punch Man season 3?

One Punch Man season 2 began airing on April 10, 2019, and now, after a six-year break, the series is finally making its long-awaited return. The new episodes will continue adapting the Monster Association arc from Yusuke Muratas manga. In this storyline, the Monster Association approaches the Hero Association with a proposal for peaceful coexistence between monsters and heroes, a claim that quickly proves to be deceptive, according to GamesRadar.

To build anticipation, the official One Punch Man social media accounts released the first two visuals of Mysterious Beings back in early April, featuring Monster King Orochi and Gyoro-Gyoro.

One Punch Man season 3 trailer

One Punch Man season 3 trailer makes sure your adrenaline is pumped and how! The new season of One-Punch Man brings back a talented creative team. Tomohiro Suzuki is returning as the series composer, while character designs are being crafted by Chikashi Kubota, Shinjiro Kuroda, and Ryosuke Shirakawa. The soundtrack is in the hands of Makoto Miyazaki, with J.C.STAFF once again heading the animation production.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The June 4 episode of The Bold and the Beautiful promises passionate moments interrupted, tension rising at the cliff house, and a looming danger that could shatter lives. Here's what to expect as secrets and suspicions threaten to spiral out of control.

Ridge interrupts young sparks

At Forrester Creations, Will Spencer and Electra Forrester get a little too cozy in the design room. Just as their flirtation turns into a make-out session, Ridge Forrester walks in on them. Though its a surprise, its not exactly a scandalespecially coming from Ridge, who has his own long list of workplace kisses. Still, Ridge shifts focus quickly when Lunas recent conflict with Electra comes up. He warns her to stay alert and supports Wills concern about Luna's intentions.

Lunas breaking point and a dangerous plan

Meanwhile, Finn continues to distance himself from Luna, whose rejection cuts deeper than ever. She pins the blame on Steffy, convinced that Finns wife is the root of all her pain. In a chilling twist, Luna decides Steffy has crossed the final lineand sets her sights on revenge. She begins taking steps toward a dangerous act, including obtaining a gun, with the goal of removing Steffy from the picture permanently.

Steffy in The Bold and the Beautiful | Credit: X

Sheilas confession and growing fears

Elsewhere, Deacon is blindsided when Sheila admits to secretly meeting Luna behind his back. Though she hopes her honesty softens the blow, her real motive is growing fear. Sheila sees something deeply troubling in Luna and warns Deacon of what she may be planning. As the danger increases, Sheila also prepares to share disturbing news with Poppy Nozawa, adding another layer of concern.



Tensions, secrets, and threats are set to explode in The Bold and the Beautifuland Lunas next move might change everything.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Ganga Dussehra 2025: Ganga Dussehra 2025, a highly revered Hindu festival. It will be celebrated on June 5, 2025. This auspicious day marks the divine descent of Goddess Ganga from heaven to Earth, an event known as Gangavataran. Devotees across India observe this festival with great devotion. They believe that bathing in the holy river Ganga on this day cleanses sins and brings spiritual peace.

Ganga Dussehra 2025 Date and Shubh Muhurat

Ganga Dussehra 2025 Date: June 5, 2025 (Thursday)

June 5, 2025 (Thursday) Dashami Tithi Begins: June 4, 2025, at 11:54 PM IST

June 4, 2025, at 11:54 PM IST Dashami Tithi Ends: June 6, 2025, at 2:15 AM IST

June 6, 2025, at 2:15 AM IST Ganga Dussehra Muhurat: 5:25 AM to 7:40 AM IST

5:25 AM to 7:40 AM IST Puja Muhurat: 5:30 AM to 6:45 PM IST

5:30 AM to 6:45 PM IST Hasta Nakshatra: June 5, 3:35 AM to June 6, 6:34 AM IST

June 5, 3:35 AM to June 6, 6:34 AM IST Vyatipata Yoga: June 5, 9:14 AM to June 6, 10:13 AM IST

Significance of Ganga Dussehra 2025

Ganga Dussehra marks the day when Goddess Ganga came down to Earth. She descended to cleanse the souls of King Bhagiraths ancestors and remove the sins of humanity. As per Hindu mythology, King Bhagiraths deep penance brought the Ganga from heaven. But her strong flow could have destroyed Earth. So, Lord Shiva caught her in his matted hair to slow her down.

People believe that bathing in the Ganges on this day washes away all sins. It removes negative energies and brings peace and spiritual growth.

Rituals and Puja Vidhi on Ganga Dussehra 2025

Below are the equired Rituals and Puja Vidhi on Ganga Dussehra 2025 listed:

Holy Bathing: Devotees bathe in the Ganges early morning to purify themselves. For those unable to visit the river, adding a few drops of Ganga water to bathwater at home is recommended.

Devotees bathe in the Ganges early morning to purify themselves. For those unable to visit the river, adding a few drops of Ganga water to bathwater at home is recommended. Pitra Puja (Ancestor Worship): This day holds special importance for honouring ancestors. Rituals such as tarpan, pind daan, shraddh, and deep daan are performed to seek blessings and peace for departed souls.

This day holds special importance for honouring ancestors. Rituals such as tarpan, pind daan, shraddh, and deep daan are performed to seek blessings and peace for departed souls. Lighting Lamps: In the evening, lighting a lamp under a Peepal tree in the name of ancestors is believed to remove Pitra Dosh and bring prosperity to the family.

In the evening, lighting a lamp under a Peepal tree in the name of ancestors is believed to remove Pitra Dosh and bring prosperity to the family. Ganga Aarti: Devotees participate in grand Ganga Aarti ceremonies at sacred riverbanks like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Prayagraj, offering prayers and flowers to the river goddess.

Devotees participate in grand Ganga Aarti ceremonies at sacred riverbanks like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Prayagraj, offering prayers and flowers to the river goddess. Chanting and Offerings: Reciting hymns such as the Pitru Chalisa and offering black sesame seeds and white flowers are integral parts of the rituals.

Ganga Dussehra 2025: Celebration Across India

Millions of pilgrims visit holy places along the Ganges to celebrate Ganga Dussehra with great devotion. The festival includes devotional songs, religious rituals, and spiritual talks. It strengthens the deep connection between the people of India and the sacred river. Ganga is seen as a symbol of purity, prosperity, and divine blessings.

FAQs

1. When is Ganga Dussehra 2025 and what is the Shubh Muhurat?

Answer: Ganga Dussehra 2025 will be celebrated on June 5, 2025. The auspicious muhurat for performing puja is from early morning 5:25 AM to 7:40 AM IST, with Dashami Tithi starting late night on June 4 and ending early morning on June 6.

2. What is the significance of Ganga Dussehra festival?

Answer: Ganga Dussehra marks the descent of Goddess Ganga from heaven to Earth. Taking a holy dip in the Ganges on this day is believed to wash away ten types of sins and bring divine blessings.

3. How is Ganga Dussehra celebrated and what are the main rituals?

Answer: Devotees take a holy bath in the Ganges, perform Pitra Puja (ancestor worship), light lamps, chant mantras like "Om Namah Gange," and participate in Ganga Aarti at sacred riverbanks.

4. Where are the major places to celebrate Ganga Dussehra and take a holy dip?

Answer: The most popular pilgrimage sites for Ganga Dussehra celebrations are Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Prayagraj (Allahabad), and Garhmukteshwar.

5. Can Ganga Dussehra be observed at home if one cannot visit the river?

Answer: Yes, devotees can perform Ganga Dussehra puja at home using Ganga jal (holy water), available at temples.

(Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.)

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Errol Musk's Visit to Ayodhya's Ram Mandir: On 4 June 2025, Errol Musk, father of Elon Musk, visited the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, India. This visit was both spiritual and diplomatic. He made a pilgrimage to the revered Ram Janmabhoomi temple. There, he offered prayers to Shree Ram Lalla. His visit coincided with the consecration of the Ram Darbar. For this, he received state guest honours from the Uttar Pradesh government.

Errol Musk , father of Elon Musk visited Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya.



Beauty of Sanatan can attract any one from the world to India.



pic.twitter.com/F4cjrW1q3p  Comman Man (@CommanGUY) June 4, 2025

Errols five-day visit, from 1 to 6 June, focused on Indias green technology sector. As a member of Servotech Power Systems global advisory board, he met policymakers and business leaders in New Delhi. He also toured Servotechs electric vehicle and solar manufacturing facility in Haryana. On 5 June, he took part in a World Environment Day tree-planting drive. This showed his strong commitment to sustainability.

Errols trip combined respect for Indias spiritual heritage with efforts to boost clean energy. He bridged Indias ancient traditions with its modern goals in renewable energy and global innovation.

Who is Errol Musk?

Errol Musk, a 79-year-old South African engineer and businessman, is a polarising figure. He is known both for his professional work and his complex personal life. His strained relationship with his son, Elon Musk, has been widely covered, with each sharing different views on their family. Despite these challenges, Errols visit to India shows his independent drive for meaningful projects. He uses his expertise to support global sustainability while embracing cultural experiences like the Ayodhya pilgrimage.

Errol Musk | Credit: x.com/Pandeyshruti252

In a notable display of global influence and cultural respect, Errol Musk, father of the famous tech billionaire Elon Musk, made a significant visit to India. The highlight was his pilgrimage to the sacred Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on 4 June 2025. This trip combined spiritual exploration with business diplomacy, reflecting Errols broad ambitions connecting Indias heritage with its growing electric vehicle infrastructure.

State Guest Protocol and Security Arrangements for Errol Musk in Ayodhya

Errol Musks visit to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya was deeply symbolic. It showed his respect for Indias spiritual and cultural traditions. The Ram Mandir is a site of great history and religious importance for millions. It was the main focus of his cultural visit. On 4 June, Errol offered prayers and sought blessings from Shree Ram Lalla.

Errol Musk, father of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is scheduled to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya today. pic.twitter.com/Ip3Zf8oETu  The Frustrated Indian (@FrustIndian) June 4, 2025

His visit coincided with the consecration ceremony of the Ram Darbar on the temples first floor. This made his presence even more significant. The Uttar Pradesh government acknowledged the importance of the occasion. They extended state guest protocol to Errol. He was given liaison officers and received a warm VIP welcome.

Errol Musk's Role in Advancing India's Green Technology Sector

Beyond the spiritual aspect, Errol Musks five-day visit to India from 1 to 6 June 2025 was full of strategic engagements. These aimed to support Indias growing role as a global leader in green technology and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

As a new member of the global advisory board of Servotech Power Systems, an Indian firm specialising in solar and EV charging solutions, Errol shared his expertise in technology, infrastructure, and sustainable development. His schedule included important meetings with policymakers, investors, business leaders, and senior officials in New Delhi on 2 June.

He then toured Servotechs manufacturing facility in Safiabad, Haryana. This visit, attended by state ministers and officials, highlighted Errols role in building partnerships to boost Indias clean energy ecosystem.

Errols Participation in World Environment Day Plantation Drive

Errols commitment to sustainability was clear during his participation in a plantation drive organised by Servotech on 5 June, World Environment Day. This event highlighted environmental responsibility and matched Indias wider goals of promoting renewable energy and fighting climate change.

The act of planting trees was a strong symbol of Errols dedication to a greener future. It complemented his business activities with a real contribution to environmental conservation.

Errol Musks Positive Impressions of India and Cultural Experiences

As Errol concludes his visit on June 6, departing for South Africa, his journey left an indelible mark, symbolising a bridge between Indias ancient heritage and its forward-looking aspirations in the global arena.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Thousands gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengalurus maiden IPL title near the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. However, the celebration turned tragic when a stampede broke out near the venue. As per reports of TOI, at least eight people are feared dead, and over 25 have been injured in the incident. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, raising concerns about crowd management and the decision-making behind holding the parade.

Overcrowding and poor planning cited as key triggers

According to early assessments, overcrowding and lack of proper crowd control are suspected to have caused the stampede. A massive number of RCB fans had gathered near Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy Stadium, waving flags and celebrating the IPL 2025 victory. However, without adequate safety arrangements, panic spread, leading to chaos.

Government faces criticism over safety lapses

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra strongly criticised the state government, stating, The state government should take full responsibility for this tragedy. When the whole country and Karnataka were celebrating RCB's victory, the state government's haste to hold a victory rally without any prior preparations led to this tragedy. He added that the ruling administration was more focused on publicity than making arrangements to ensure safety.

VIDEO | Child faints outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium as a massive crowd gathers to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL 2025 victory.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz)' pic.twitter.com/fFqKswmm3y  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 4, 2025





Deputy CM confirms program was stopped due to uncontrollable crowd

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, responding to the incident, said, The crowd was uncontrollable. Police was finding it difficult, so we had to stop the program. His statement confirmed that authorities were unable to manage the turnout, which overwhelmed security forces and led to the cancellation of the scheduled felicitation events.

Celebration turns into tragedy

The stampede has overshadowed what was meant to be a celebratory moment for the city and its cricket fans. Royal Challengers Bengaluru had recently clinched their first-ever IPL trophy under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, defeating Punjab Kings. The planned open-top bus parade was already scrapped earlier in the day due to security concerns. The revised celebration, meant to take place between Vidhana Soudha and the stadium, failed to avert danger.

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The fever is back and so is the panic! India is currently seeing an upward spiral in COVID-19 cases after spreading in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Wednesday, the total number of active cases in the country stands at 4,302, with nearly 300 fresh Covid cases reported in the last 24 hours. Moreover, Delhi, UP, West Bengal, and Gujarat are seeing a gradual rise in infections.

The highest number of cases are reported in Kerala, and two more deaths linked to COVID-19 were recorded in the country over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 7 for 2025. As per PTI, the current surge in cases is driven by four variants, including LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1.

Notably, a new variant called NB.1.8.1 is a new COVID-19 subvariant that has been detected in the country.





Is it COVID-19 or just a fever?

With the emergence of a new COVID-19 subvariant, NB.1.8.1, recently detected in the country, concerns are rising once again.

Amidst this, there can be cases if someone in your family tested positive. Your neighbors child has been coughing for days. You have a sore throat, a mild headache, and that familiar fatigue.

The weather is shifting, and seasonal illnesses are on the rise, but is it just a seasonal fever  or is COVID quietly making a comeback? Having a fever can be a symptom of many illnesses, including COVID-19, but it is not definitive on its own. COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, often presents with a range of symptoms beyond fever, such as cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and body aches, says Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, Gleneagles Hospital Parel Mumbai.

It's important to note that some individuals may experience mild or no symptoms at all. According to Dr. Agarwal, If you have a fever, the best course of action is to monitor other symptoms you may be experiencing. Along with viral infections and other infections like gastro, dengue, and malaria, typhoid cases are also rising. It is always important to meet your doctor.

Credit: X | @FirstCheck_In

Who is at risk? Check the groupwise list

Individuals at higher risk of severe COVID-19 can be grouped into several categories. Older adults, particularly those 65 and above, are at significantly higher risk. People with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung diseases (including COPD, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension), diabetes, heart conditions, HIV with an unsuppressed viral load, and obesity are also at higher risk, says Dr. Divya Joshi, consultant in infectious diseases at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road.

Covid-19 resurgence: Whats causing the sudden spike in new cases | Credit: X | @TaraBull808

Additionally, those receiving immunosuppressive medications with existing cancer, autoimmune conditions, solid organ transplants, and bone marrow transplants are a vulnerable population, adds Dr. Joshi.

Preventive tips for being safe amid the COVID-19 rise

In addition, maintain good hygiene practices such as washing your hands frequently and wearing a mask if you suspect you might be contagious. If your fever persists or worsens, or if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, or confusion, seek medical attention promptly. Remember, only a healthcare professional can provide a definitive diagnosis and guidance tailored to your situation.

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After 18 long years of heartbreak and near misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy with a thrilling six-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 3. The team was all set to celebrate their long-awaited win with fans in an open-bus victory parade through Bengaluru after landing in the city at 3:30 PM IST on June 4. Excitement was already building among supporters, many of whom were planning to line the streets to cheer for their heroes. However, the parade has been cancelled, and instead, a felicitation ceremony will take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Why has RCB's victory parade been cancelled?

The much-anticipated RCB victory parade has officially been called off after Bengaluru police reportedly denied permission to the franchise. The open-bus parade was meant to be a heartfelt thank-you to fans whove stood by the team for nearly two decades. Instead, the Bengaluru Traffic Police issued an updated advisory confirming that there will be no victory parade. They also urged the public to avoid the Central Business District (CBD) area between 3 PM and 8 PM and to opt for Metro and public transport, citing limited parking near Chinnaswamy Stadium.

RCB's victory parade cancelled: Bengaluru Traffic Police denies permission

The last-minute change has left many fans visibly disappointed, especially those who had already gathered to witness history. While no detailed official explanation has been released, authorities have raised concerns about crowd control and logistical safety.

Felicitations for going ahead at Chinnaswamy Stadium

Though the street parade may not happen, the celebrations are not completely cancelled. RCB will be felicitated at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from 5 PM to 6 PM IST on the same day. The event will be open only to ticket and pass holders. With very limited parking near the venue, the public has been advised to use Metro services and public transport.

Fans express disappointment over last-minute cancellation

Many fans expressed their frustration online, upset that the long-awaited victory parade was cancelled at the last minute. Several called it a missed opportunity to celebrate the historic win with the city.

One user wrote, "RCB fans waited 18 years for this moment, and theres no victory parade? While traffic concerns are real, the Karnataka Government had ample time to plan better. Celebrations shouldnt feel like an inconvenience. They should feel like a festival, especially in Bengaluru."

RCB fans waited 18 years for this moment, and theres no victory parade? While traffic concerns are real, the Karnataka Government had ample time to plan better. Celebrations shouldnt feel like an inconvenience. They should feel like a festival, especially in Bengaluru.  P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) June 4, 2025

Another user said, "I'm not even an RCB fan, but the Karnataka Govt. cancelling the open bus victory parade is taking away a lot from the fans. If anyone deserved to celebrate this victory with the team, it is the people of the city who waited and supported the team for 18 years! I'm pretty sure that's what the team also wants."

I'm not even an RCB fan but the Karnataka Govt cancelling the open bus victory parade is taking away a lot from the fans. If anyone deserved to celebrate this victory with the team, it is the people of the city who waited and supported the team for 18 years! I'm pretty sure  Korah Abraham (@thekorahabraham) June 4, 2025

"You just ruined the hard-fought victory after an ~18-year drought. And it's not just on behalf of every Kannadiga; RCB has fans pan-India and across the globe. PLEASE ALLOW VICTORY PARADE, DO NOT HURT THE FANS. Karnataka police should take a leaf out of Mumbai Police's books," a third fan added.

I don't care what you do @RCBTweets , we want a victory parade, pull all the strings in your strength, make it happen please , if those corrupt leeches political leaders are shameless asking for bribes, give them that, but please make it happen #ViratKohli #RCB  Deepak Kumar (@Deepakjarvis) June 4, 2025

"Please tell me the news reporting as Victory parade cancelled due to traffic congestion is just rumours. We Bangaloreans have always suffered the traffic congestion, today is no different; if theres congestion, we will suffer one more day," mentioned one user.

@BlrCityPolice @CMofKarnataka please tell me the news reporting as Victory parade cancelled due to traffic congestion is just rumours.

We Bangaloreans have always suffered the traffic congestion, today is no different, if theres congestion we will suffer one more day. #RCB  Abhishek Revankar (@ar270715) June 4, 2025

Virat and the team had been waiting for this moment

For RCB, this parade wasnt just about the trophy; it was about finally sharing their triumph with their fans. Virat Kohli, who top-scored in the final with 43 runs, had earlier said he would only fully feel it when they celebrated the win in front of the people of Bengaluru. This win marked a full-circle moment for Kohli, who has been part of the RCB journey since the beginning. The team, along with player of the match Krunal Pandya, had been eagerly looking forward to riding through the city with the trophy  a moment now left hanging in the air.

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Selena Gomez is once again the centre of controversy, and this time, it's not about her music or love life. On May 31, 2025, just before meeting her longtime friend Taylor Swift in New York City, Gomez was allegedly spotted with a vape in hand. The photos quickly went viral, igniting a firestorm of criticism online.

Selena Gomez smoking | Credit: X/scandulousmedia

Selena Gomez sparks outrage over vaping

For those unfamiliar, Gomez underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, with the kidney donated by her close friend, actress Francia Raisa, due to complications from lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can lead to kidney failure. Post-transplant, Gomez has been open about her health struggles, including her battle with lupus and the challenges of maintaining her health.

Selena Gomez is photographed with a vape, even though she can't use it due to her kidney transplant.



Selena Gomez has a serious addiction to e-cigarettes, which has affected her vocal cords, which fans say is caused by lupus. pic.twitter.com/5Irn9cgRfC  Selena Gomez Charts | Fan Account (@selenagoncharts) June 2, 2025

Netizens troll Selena Gomez for being ungrateful

The recent vaping incident has led to a wave of backlash. One social media user expressed their disapproval, stating, Francia needs to take that damn kidney back. Another added, It should be forbidden to put Selena on the transplant list, since as soon as she passes the post-operative phase the first thing she does is drink and take drugs, this is disrespectful to the donor and those waiting in line.

Its not a USB flash drive, Selena Gomez tries to hide her addiction from the internet because her organ donor doesn't support it, but she smokes so much that her friends accidentally film her several times. pic.twitter.com/smUHbf6arr  Selena Gomez Charts | Fan Account (@selenagoncharts) June 2, 2025

However, not everyone shares the same sentiment. Some fans have come to Gomez's defence, pointing out that she has been open about her past smoking habits and has made efforts to switch to vaping as a less harmful alternative. One supporter remarked, Selena used to smoke cigarettes before transplant its not news. She was seen doing it many times she literally switched to vaping bc its supposedly less harmful than the cigarettes she used to smoke. So she actually did take some steps in quitting.

Netizens troll Selena Gomez for being ungrateful | Credit: X

Selena Gomezs history with smoking

Gomez's history with smoking dates back to 2012 when she reportedly started smoking for a film role. Despite her health challenges, she has been candid about her struggles and efforts to improve her lifestyle. In 2016, she was photographed vaping outside a rehab facility, and in 2018, she was seen with a vape in Rome. These instances have resurfaced in the current debate, with some questioning her commitment to her health.

Selena Gomez smoking | Credit: X/scandulousmedia

In addition to lupus, Gomez revealed in 2024 that she is dealing with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a condition that affects the digestive system. SIBO can lead to symptoms like malnutrition and unintentional weight loss, further complicating her health journey.

Selena Gomez smoking | Credit: X/scandulousmedia

As the debate over her vaping continues, one thing is clear: Selena Gomez's health choices remain a topic of intense public scrutiny. Whether it's her battle with lupus, her kidney transplant, or her smoking habits, Gomez's every move is under the microscope. In a world where celebrities' personal lives are often dissected, Gomez's situation serves as a reminder of the complexities of health, habits, and public perception.
Social media influencer Guava Shuishui, popularly known as Guava Beauty, has passed away at the age of 24. Known for her unconventional beauty content that often involved tasting makeup products, Shuishui had developed a loyal following online. Her death was confirmed through a statement shared on her official social media account on May 24, 2025, leaving fans shocked and grieving.

Heartfelt statement shared after Guava Shuishui's passing

The news of her death came via a touching tribute translated from Chinese to English and circulated by Us Weekly.

I regret to tell you that our favourite beauty and food broadcast treasure girl, Guava Shuishui, officially took off her beauty equipment on May 24, 2025, and flew to heaven with an endless appetite and a smile to open a new channel. Although this trip came suddenly, Shuishui held on to every difficult moment, just like she has always beenhard-working, serious, and shining.

The message continued, thanking her supporters: Thank you to everyone who has liked, left a message, and laughed with her, and thank you for your love and support. She really keeps it in her heart and cherishes it very much. Guava Shuishui just changed her place and continued to shine.

The post ended on a bittersweet note, accompanied by a clip of Shuishui waving to the camera:

When we meet again one day, she should have already unboxed the Angel-specific co-branded makeup and mukbang over there.

As of now, no cause of death has been revealed.

Who was Guava Shuishui?

Guava Shuishui rose to popularity on social media platforms under the name Guava Beauty, thanks to her bold and quirky approach to beauty content. Unlike traditional influencers, she became known for tasting beauty productssometimes licking or biting themafter applying them, creating a mix of shock value and humour that drew viewers in.

In one notable video posted in September 2024, she applied a Maybelline lip product and then placed the applicator into her mouth. Easy to use, but the flavor is too strong, she captioned the post. Her content often sparked controversy, leading to mixed reactions in the comments.

Rather than shy away from criticism, Shuishui leaned into it. In a post from November, she addressed the backlash directly: Ive wanted to make this theme into a unit for a long time. Although its controversial, I really like it. I dont care. Anyway, this project is not allowed to be watched by people under 6 years oldand it is forbidden to eat.

Poya Beauty, Saint Laurent, Dinto Beauty, and Watsons Taiwan were among other beauty brands that often featured in her video.

Fans loved Shuishui's playful approach

Her posts balanced playful fun with a hint of mischief. With her confident, lighthearted style, she built a following of over 12,000 people who appreciated her offbeat charm and unapologetic approach.

Following the announcement of her death, Shuishuis Instagram comment sections were turned off, leaving fans unable to publicly express their grief or ask questions. With no additional details provided, her sudden passing has only added to the mystery surrounding her life and content.

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Euroxx Securities has commenced coverage of Alter Ego Media, assigning a target price of 6.50 per share, indicating an upside potential of approximately 53% from current levels. Alter Ego Media,

a prominent Greek Group , operating across television broadcasting, content creation , and publishing.

Analysts highlight Alter Ego Media's strong market position, particularly its leading viewership in the Greek television sector. The company's strategic focus on digital transformation and expansion into streaming services is expected to enhance revenue diversification and operational efficiency. Targeted acquisitions are also anticipated to bolster future profitability.

Financial projections for 2025 to 2027 indicate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% in organic revenue, 28% in EBIT, and 34% in net profit. These figures are driven by successful original content production and increased advertising revenue, supported by favorable macroeconomic conditions.

Euroxx Securities expects a dividend payout ratio of 57% to 58% during the examined period, translating into a dividend yield between 4.6% and 5.6%, which is notably higher than industry peers. The upcoming Annual General Meeting on June 17 is expected to approve a three-year scrip dividend program, which would further solidify companys cash position.

According to Euroxx 2025 estimates, Alter Ego Media trades at a 6.5x EV/EBIT multiple, reflecting a 46% discount versus its peers. Finally, as the analysts highlight, these valuation levels, combined with the company's strategic initiatives and robust financial outlook, underscore a very attractive investment story.

   iefimerida.gr
Piraeus Bank has entered into a shareholders agreement with technology provider Qualco, for the development of a digital solutions platform, initially focusing on the mortgage sector.

The platform will be

Piraeus Bank: Collaboration with Qualco for a digital platform for mortgage loans -  
The sun illuminates the Philadelphia Museum of Art as it sets on March 7, 2024. Read more

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has put the Philadelphia Show on pause. The highly regarded antique, art, and design exhibition and fundraiser, wont happen in 2026, the museum confirmed Tuesday.

Asked why the annual show had been pulled, Art Museum spokesperson Maggie Fairs said that the museum wanted to put its focus elsewhere next year.

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The Philadelphia Museum of Art is entering a landmark year in 2026, marking our 150th anniversary and participating in the national America 250 commemoration. To prioritize institutional resources and fully engage in these once-in-a-generation celebrations, a decision was made to pause the Philadelphia Show in 2026, she said.

The 2025 edition of the Philadelphia Show, held this past April on the museums East Terrace, featured more than 40 dealers from Philadelphia, New York, London, France, Portugal, and across the U.S., according to the events roster, with decorative arts, antiques, fine arts, and jewelry represented.

Ron Rumford, director of Rittenhouse Squares Dolan/Maxwell art gallery, which has exhibited at the show since 2012, said the exhibitors were informed in April that the planned celebrations would mean that the dates for the 2026 show were in jeopardy.

We were told at the time that alternative venues were being considered. That was all that we knew, said Rumford, who is a member of the shows dealer committee.

The museum isnt committing to the show returning in 2027.

All decisions about the future of the show will be made thoughtfully in due course by all parties involved, Fairs said.

She added that the decision to pause the show was made with committee members and board leadership, and that the museum will provide an update by the end of the year on what the future holds for the show.

She said that Sasha Suda, the Art Museum director and CEO, was not available for comment.

The event is a fundraiser for the Art Museum, though Fairs said she did not know how much money it raises each year. Proceeds benefited the museums education programs, allowing it to expand family programming and free and low-cost visits to the museum for Philadelphia School District students and educators, according to a letter from Suda in the 2025 show catalog.

The problem with skipping a year, Rumford said, is you run the risk of losing the momentum of having an annual event thats in the same place, same time, every year. People look forward to it as an audience.

With the gap April 2026 leaves in the gallerys calendar, Rumford said he has to think about alternatives. If I theoretically pick an alternative, and I go to that show and do well, then [in 2027] I might have the conflict of saying, Well, maybe I should not do the Philadelphia show, right? These things are big events, and the people that put them together work on them year-round.

Previously called the Philadelphia Antiques and Art Show, the event began in 1962. In 2018, it began a handoff from being run by Penn Medicine to the Art Museum.

This is a transitional moment, said Timothy Rub in 2018, when he was head of the museum. This show has been a Philadelphia tradition for a long time. Many people feel it has been the premier show for American antiques and American decorative arts, Americana, in the country. Its a tradition worth extending.

Others agree, and call the decision to now put it on pause shortsighted.

Many people are shaking their heads as to why this could be a good idea, said Patrick Bell, co-owner of Olde Hope Antiques in New Hope, which has exhibited at the show for about 25 years. While the show has evolved, it has remained among the finest shows in the country, if not the world, he said. And from its perch overlooking the city, it is by far the most beautifully presented antique show in America.

Said Rumford: We want there to be a very high standard, high quality art fair in Philadelphia, and this is what we have. We will miss it next year, to be sure, and we hope it will be back in 2027.

For him, in a world with globally franchised art fairs, the Philadelphia Show remains small and special even with its museum-quality exhibition.

And I do worry that were living in a time where the small and very special are disappearing, Rumford said.

Bell said that to not hold the show in 2026, the year of the countrys 250th birthday, shows a lack of sensitivity about the importance of this historic year and what antiques and decorative arts history mean to the people of Philadelphia and America.

This article has been updated with Ron Rumfords comments and a revised quote from the PMA.

Staff writer Bedatri D. Choudhury contributed to this article.
Assistant manager Angela Gardin stands outside the Queen Village Rite Aid. She was moved to tears to see how many customers wrote her and her staff thank-you notes after they found out Rite Aid was going out of business. Read more

Angela Gardin looked at the colorful handwritten thank-you notes, taped to a front window of the Queen Village Rite Aid, and began to cry. Gardin has been assistant manager there for the past two years.

One note scrawled in pink, read: Everyone who works here is so kind. I have always been greeted with a smile and warmth.

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Thank you for all the treats, read another, signed with a paw print (from a neighborhood dog named Grandpa, Gardin explained). A child wrote with clumsy handwriting: Im really going to miss this Rite Aid because I used to get snacks here before school.

This place has been a staple in the community, added another customer, because of the amazing people who have worked here.

On a recent weekday, as Gardin unloaded boxes of hair dye in a half-empty aisle at the soon-to-close store, she tried to describe what the thank-yous meant to her and struggled to find the words. She had placed empty thank-you cards at the front of the store weeks ago but wasnt sure how many customers would take the time to fill them out.

They are so nice, she said, wiping away tears, and its so nice to have nice people, especially ones who show their appreciation.

Across the Philadelphia region, Rite Aid customers and employees are starting to say similar goodbyes.

After filing for bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years, the Navy Yard-based pharmacy chain is set to start closing stores this month, with some locations shuttering as soon as this week.

The closure of the regions 100 remaining locations will make it more difficult for some residents to access pharmacy services. In the city and other walkable areas, lower-income residents who dont have cars will be particularly impacted.

 READ MORE: What happens after a Philly neighborhoods last chain pharmacy shuts its doors

Elsewhere, some will have to make longer drives to get prescriptions. The 46,000 residents of Perry County, west of Harrisburg, are losing half their pharmacies with the closures of three Rite Aids.

The company has already auctioned off its prescription files, the bulk of which were bought by CVS, with its non-pharmacy assets to be sold at the end of June, according to court documents.

Rite Aid spokespeople did not return a request for comment, which included questions about when exactly local stores are expected to close.

I always went to Rite Aid

Several customers said they werent surprised to hear the news of Rite Aids second bankruptcy  given the earlier bankruptcy, years of store closings, and persistent inventory issues. But some felt sadness and nostalgia.

Outside the Queen Village store, Robert Campbell, 31, said his life wouldnt change that much when his neighborhood Rite Aid closes. After all, he said, theres a CVS down the street.

But Ill miss it, he said, noting hes been a Rite Aid customer since he went with his mother as a child growing up in New York.

 READ MORE: How Rite Aid went from the top U.S. drugstore to closing all its stores

It makes it more inconvenient, said Jennifer Johnson, 60, of Bella Vista, who can walk to her nearest Rite Aid but may soon have to drive to the closest CVS. For the past 20 years, I always went to Rite Aid.

And the prescription transfer process has been a hassle, with her scripts not being moved automatically, she said. (Rob Frankil, executive director of the Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists, said in an interview last month that a prescription transfer in the midst of a chain pharmacys closure often is not an easy process.)

Other Rite Aid customers had more existential gripes.

Upon learning Rite Aid was going out of business, I was pissed off, actually, said Constance Conni Bille, 78, of Germantown. Consolidation of the healthcare industry really sucks. It is really bad for consumers.

Rite Aid pharmacists to be remembered fondly

Several customers said they wont necessarily miss the Rite Aid corporation. But they will miss the people who work at their local stores  the pharmacists who gave them their first COVID-19 vaccine or the cashiers who offered a smile when they were buying medicines for sick children.

In Levittown, Phil Michalski said, the staff at his Rite Aid has gone above and beyond.

When his son went into anaphylactic shock due to a new ingredient in an ADHD medication, the pharmacists there jumped into action. They spent hours on the phone with six stores to cobble together enough of a different version of the medication to last through the end of his sons prescription, Michalski said.

He will miss the comfort of knowing his pharmacists, he said, and wonders how much longer his store will stay open. He asks the pharmacists every time he goes in, he said, and they swear its going to be months.

But Michalski, 44, said hes skeptical: It looks like a ghost town inside the store.

Mara Saltzman, 61, of Wynnewood, goes to Rite Aid for vaccinations. She was saddened to hear of the closures, immediately thinking of all the Rite Aid pharmacists and other employees who are being left behind. They are frontline workers, she said, who have risked their own health and safety to help others.

During the pandemic, Saltzman said, I was just so impressed by the pharmacists, with their patience and their kindness as we were going through what was an incredibly stressful time. At the Wynnewood Rite Aid, the pharmacy staff put Saltzmans daughter at ease, despite her fear of needles.

Its very personal when you have somebody doing that, Saltzman said.

She worries she wont find that level of compassion at a new pharmacy, especially if its now overwhelmed with customers. She is concerned, too, that getting vaccine appointments will be harder with fewer pharmacy choices.

In Queen Village, where the sign outside reminds passersby to stay up to date on vaccines, assistant manager Gardin and her team are unsure what comes next. On a paper taped to the front door, customers are reminded that the store wont accept gift cards, returns, or exchanges starting June 5.

Customers ask when the store is closing 100 times a day, Gardin said, but employees dont know the answer. Gardin said she doesnt have another job lined up but hopes to get a managerial position with another company.

Thousands of Rite Aid employees across Pennsylvania and New Jersey stand to lose their jobs through the store closures.

On the front counter, between the cash register and the blank thank-you cards, employees put out a box that resembles a tip jar. A Post-it note on the front of it reads: Any job suggestions or business cards are greatly appreciated.
Bryn Mawr Colleges alumni weekend ended with graffiti on campus buildings and rental property damage on the suburban campus.

Both the college and Lower Merion Township police are investigating the incident, which occurred last weekend and included destruction of rental property, Bryn Mawr College President Wendy Cadge said in a message to the campus community.

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The incidents occurred as the college was wrapping up festivities that included more than 900 alumnae returning to campus.

We take this incident seriously, Cadge said. As with all such acts against our community, we investigate carefully and with compassion and hold accountable those involved.

The womens college declined to say what the graffiti entailed or what property was destroyed.

We have no further information at this time but will update our community if we do learn more, the college said in a statement.

The college has had other incidents of graffiti in the last year. In October, pro-Palestinian slogans were written on buildings around the campus, according to Bi-College News, the student news site. They included the phrases divest and disclose.

Another incident occurred in December, according to the college.

A campus safety officer on regular patrol disrupted individuals dressed in dark-colored clothing, and who fled the scene, Cadge wrote in an email to the college community.

In her most recent email, Cadge said there could be legal and educational repercussions for those responsible.

If a criminal offense is confirmed, those involved will face the full consequences of the law, she wrote. The college concurrently launched an internal investigation, and any breach of college policies or the Honor Code will be addressed through appropriate disciplinary measures.

The school has asked anyone with information, including alumnae who were on campus to contact Campus Safety at (610) 526-7911 or campussafety@brynmawr.edu.
Ayanna Dickerson-Bell, 37, of Camden, is one of 117 Camden School District employees who are expected to lose their jobs as the district seeks to close a budget gap. Dickerson-Bell counsels students in crisis. Read more

Camden school district plans to lay off 117 employees July 1 to close a $91 million budget deficit, marking its most sweeping job cuts in recent years.

The cuts run deep in the South Jersey school system and include teachers, custodians, security guards, counselors, nurses, and support personnel.

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Superintendent Katrina McCombs has said she had no choice but to impose the cuts to balance the budget for the 2025-2026 school year. She said she was told by the state to rightsize the district.

 READ MORE: Facing a $91 million budget shortfall, Camden school district planning possible job cuts and layoffs

McCombs, who is leaving June 30 for a state job, said district officials struggled with the budget for months, seeking to minimize the impact in the classroom.

I understand the human impact of these decisions, McCombs said in April. Behind every number is a person a colleague, an educator, someone who has given their time and talent to our students, schools and communities."

McCombs will likely face tough questions when she presents her final report Wednesday to the state Board of Education. Community activists plan to trek to Trenton for the meeting.

The cuts were announced after employees returned from spring break, and caught union leaders and staff by surprise. Uncertainty has caused angst while employees await the final numbers, which could change with retirements and resignations.

I was so thrown off by this. I did not see this coming, said Ayanna Dickerson-Bell, a health and social services coordinator whose last day is June 30.

Many have questioned how the district could land in such financial woes while under state oversight, as it is the only New Jersey school system under state control.

McCombs blamed in part a funding shortfall and declining enrollment since the 2013 takeover, as students have fled traditional public schools for charter and Renaissance schools, which are also publicly funded.

Some employees have bumping rights and may be able to return to a previously tenured position. Others were hired with federal COVID-19 funds that have been depleted.

A bubble of optimism surfaced this week, with rumors that the district may recall some employees who were given notices that their contracts would end June 30. The district is one of the largest employers in Camden with 1,613 employees.

Here are the stories of three employees affected by the cuts:

Ayanna Dickerson-Bell: `It wasnt a job I took lightly

Growing up in Camden, Dickerson-Bell, 37, said her parents stressed the importance of giving back to the community. Her parents founded Camdens Unity Community, a karate school and afterschool program for at-risk youth.

Dickerson-Bell, the youngest of four, followed in the footsteps of her brothers, Jamal and Nassir, both music educators in the district.

After working for the state at an alternative school in Ewing, she was hired in 2015 at the districts Big Picture Learning Academy, a magnet school.

I always wanted to come back to Camden, she said.

She provides counseling for students in crisis who may have suffered a trauma or have behavioral problems. She also assists with recruiting and admissions.

I realized my calling was to work with children, she said. I loved going to work every day.

In 2023, she was named the districts Educator of the Year. Dickerson-Bell was known for giving students her personal cell phone number and taking calls at any hour.

Married and the mother of a 16-year-old son, Jaleel, Dickerson-Bell said has applied for a position in the district as a guidance counselor. Her dream is to retire from Camden schools.

God blessed me with this position. I always wanted to remain in Camden, she said.

Christine Schneider: `Its a tough pill to swallow

After graduating from college in 1987, Christine Schneider began her teaching career in suburban districts in South Jersey. She then found her niche teaching in challenging urban environments.

Schneider landed in at Forest Hill Elementary in Camden two years ago, after the district received federal COVID-19 funds to help get students back on track.

She was hired as a co-teacher, assigned to fourth-graders the first year and second-graders this year. The district assigned two certified teachers to every K-5 classroom and offer more small group instruction and remediation.

At the beginning of the school year, Schneider said about 87% of her second-graders were failing to meet math standards. That has fallen to about 27%, she said.

I feel very valued. The kids want to work hard, said Schneider, 51, of Maple Shade.

Schneider said she was surprised to learn that her job was being eliminated because of funding. She said the district should consider merit as well as seniority.

I figured this would be the district I would retire from, she said. I love it here.

A single parent with two daughters, Schneider said she hopes to find another teaching job in Camden. She worries that she could find herself in the same situation next year if the district is able to recall some employees.

Its really though having to walk away from the kids, the smiles and hugs they have for me every day, she said. Its been really bittersweet.

Jessica Mannino: Its more than just a job for me.

As a family operations coordinator at H.B. Wilson Family School, Jessica Mannino works closely with students and their parents to help boost learning.

The district plans to lay off Mannino and seven others in similar positions at other schools as liaisons to the community. She said she worries about the void for parents and caregivers.

Mannino helps parents access grades, attends meetings with administrators, and offers her office as a safe place for students. She has purchased uniforms for students and help those suffering from trauma.

I will never turn a kid away, she said.

Mannino, 35, of Mount Laurel, began working in the districts school-based youth services program and has spent eight years in the district.

Mannino said she believes support services are essential to help students overcome obstacles that could impede learning.

It kind of made me just question if the people making the decisions are putting students first, she said. I worry about the well being of not only the kids but the families.

Manino said she wants to remain in Camden.

Im going to do my best to land a role doing the same thing. The resilience in this city is amazing, she said.
A water filling station in the hallway of Lamberton Elementary School in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia in this 2021 file photo. The city school district has replaced its old water fountains with lead-filtering bottle filling stations, meeting a City Council deadline of June 1 to do so. Read more

The Philadelphia School District has installed 2,404 water bottle filling stations in schools citywide  meeting a legal obligation to replace its old-school water fountains by June 1.

Its an important achievement for the school district, said David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an advocacy group. Its really considered the gold standard in steps that can be taken to prevent the threat of lead contamination in school buildings.

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Prior to the replacement, nearly all  98%  of district water sources tested had some lead contamination, according to a 2022 analysis of district water sources conducted by PennEnvironment and a coalition of city nonprofits.

City Council in 2022 passed a law that gave the district three years to replace all water fountains, requiring a ratio of one lead-filtering water bottle filling station per 100 students.

The school system at the time was meeting a law that permitted a 10-parts-per-billion limit to the amount of lead in school drinking fountains. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations say there is no safe lead level, given leads effects on childrens health. Even low levels of lead can cause behavior problems and lower a childs IQ.

Confirming that the district met the City Council deadline, spokesperson Monique Braxton said there are approximately 360 units available through a federal Environmental Protection Agency grant the district received to accelerate its clean-water efforts.

Expansion efforts continue at locations beyond classrooms including the Germantown, South Philadelphia and West Philadelphia field houses and locker rooms to further promote student health and hydration, Braxton said in a statement.

While some fountains physically remain in schools, their water supplies have been turned off, and work orders have been entered to remove them, officials said.

Solutions to many environmental issues in schools are complicated and costly. But the water fountain-replacement project is a lesson that addressing lead in drinking water is a solvable problem, given creative funding solutions and political will, Masur said  if a big, cash-strapped district and municipality like Philly can do this, probably all school districts should be able to implement these best practices.

Environmental challenges remain

Philadelphia still certainly has environmental challenges, including lead paint and asbestos in many of its 300-plus aging buildings.

 READ MORE: DOJ not ready to proceed with agreement over a federal investigation of Philly schools asbestos management processes

The district recently signaled it is under federal investigation for its asbestos-management processes; its school board was set to approve a proposed agreement between The School District of Philadelphia and the United States Department of Justice with respect to an ongoing investigation of the districts asbestos management practices."

But the feds said at the eleventh hour they were not ready to proceed with the agreement, according to school board president Reginald Streater, forcing the board to withdraw the resolution. The investigation, and its consequences, remain unresolved, with no clear timeline moving forward.
Mother Nicole and father Kyle leave the hospital with KJ Muldoon Tuesday. KJ was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and has been successfully treated with a customized CRISPR gene editing therapy by a team at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine. Read more

KJ Muldoon, the infant with a life-threatening metabolic disorder who received a pioneering gene-editing therapy at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, went home Tuesday after 307 days at the hospital, CHOP announced.

KJ risked irreparable brain damage from his condition, called severe carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, in which his liver could not process protein. CPS1 deficiency is deadly in more than half of cases.

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Doctors at CHOP rapidly developed within six months an experimental, customized treatment using the gene-editing technology CRISPR. They analyzed KJs genetic profile to locate the gene mutation that prevented his body from producing an enzyme that breaks down protein.

Then they administered a medication, laced with bits of genetic code, to fix the mutation.

Last month, KJs case was detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine. Outside experts called it a milestone  a demonstration that CRISPR technology can be used to quickly produce tailor-made treatments for patients with rare diseases.

In a video released by CHOP on Tuesday, nurses dressed KJ in a graduation gown and cap to celebrate his graduation from the hospital.

Employees lined the hall to applaud as his family walked him off his hospital unit in a Phillies ball cap and onesie and into a waiting car. A motorcycle unit of Philadelphia police officers escorted the family home to Clifton Heights, just outside Philadelphia.

The hospital said that the babys family and doctors would not be available for additional interviews.

In an interview last month, doctors said early signs indicate the CRISPR therapy has not cured KJ, but has made the effects of his disease milder. He had increased protein intake and decreased his medical doses, and his long-term medical needs remained unknown.

Still, his parents told The Inquirer last month, they were eager to bring him home to be with his three older siblings and were astonished by the progress he had already made.

Its been an incredible transformation, said his father, Kyle Muldoon.

Staff writer Sarah Gantz contributed to this article.
Trump greets coal miners on April 8 at the White House, where he has been holding a flurry of special events in place of rallies. MUST CREDIT: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Read more

In early April, President Donald Trump gathered dozens of hard-hat-clad coal miners around him in the White House East Room. He joked about arm-wrestling them and announced he was signing executive orders to boost coal production, "bringing back an industry that was abandoned," and to put the miners back to work.

Trump said he calls it beautiful, clean coal. I tell my people never use the word coal unless you put beautiful, clean before it.

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That same day, the Trump administration paused implementation of a rule that would help protect coal miners from an aggressive form of black lung disease. Enforcement of the new protections is officially halted until at least mid-August, according to a federal announcement that came a few days after a federal court agreed to put enforcement on hold to hear an industry challenge. But even if the rule takes full force after the delay, the federal agency tasked with enforcing it in Appalachia and elsewhere may not be up to the task after sweeping layoffs and office closures.

Deaths from black lung  a chronic condition caused by inhaling coal dust  had been in decline since the introduction of federal regulations over a half-century ago. But in recent decades, cases have risen precipitously. By 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the lungs of about 1 in 5 coal miners in central Appalachia showed evidence of black lung. It is being diagnosed in younger miners. And the deadliest form, progressive massive fibrosis, has increased tenfold among long-term miners.

Silica is the primary culprit. Exposure to it has increased since mining operations began cutting through more sandstone to reach deeper coal deposits. The stone breaks into sharp particles that, when airborne, can become trapped in lung tissue and cause a debilitating, sometimes fatal condition.

The new rule was set to take effect in April, cutting the allowable level of silica dust in the air inside mines by half  to the limit already in place for other industries  and set stricter guidelines for enforcement.

Years in the making, advocates for miners heralded the new standards as a breakthrough. It is unconscionable that our nations miners have worked without adequate protection from silica dust despite it being a known health hazard for decades, acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said when the rule was announced last spring under the Biden administration.

The rule pause came on top of another blow to mine safety oversight. In March, the Department of Government Efficiency, created by a Trump executive order, announced it would end leases for as many as three dozen field offices of the Department of Labors Mine Safety and Health Administration, with the future of those employees undetermined. That agency is responsible for enforcing mining safety laws.

Then in April, two-thirds  nearly 900  of the workers at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, were fired. As a result, NIOSHs Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program, which offered miners free screenings from a mobile clinic, ceased operations.

Pennsylvania is the fourth largest producer of coal in the United States, according to the MSHA.

An announcement by MSHA of the silica rule delay cited the unforeseen NIOSH restructuring and other technical reasons as catalysts for the pause but didnt mention the federal court decision in the case seeking to rescind the rule.

Separately, on May 7, attorney Sam Petsonk filed a class-action lawsuit against Health and Human Services and its head, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to reinstate the program. His client in the case, Harry Wiley, a West Virginia coal miner, was diagnosed with an early stage of black lung and applied to NIOSH for a transfer to an environment with less dust exposure but never received a response. He continues to work underground.

On May 13, U.S. District Judge Irene Berger issued a preliminary injunction to reinstate the surveillance program employees. The next day, Kennedy said the administration would reverse the firings of 328 NIOSH employees. That day, they were back at work.

Remaining in a dusty job may reduce the years in which Mr. Wiley can walk and breathe unassisted, in addition to hastening his death, Berger wrote. It is difficult to imagine a clearer case of irreparable harm.

MSHA officials declined to respond to specific questions about the silica rule or plans to implement and enforce it, citing the ongoing litigation.

In an e-mailed statement, Labor Department spokesperson Courtney Parella said, The Mine Safety and Health Administration is confident it can enforce all regulations under its purview. MSHA inspectors continue to conduct legally required inspections and remain focused on MSHAs core mission to prevent death, illness, and injury from mining and promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners.

Wes Addington is quick to say a career in the mines isnt necessarily a death sentence. He comes from generations of miners. One of his great-grandfathers worked 48 years underground and died at 88.

But Addington also said protecting the safety and health of miners requires diligence. Hes executive director of the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, a Whitesburg, Ky., nonprofit that represents and advocates for miners and their families. A study the center conducted found that staffers at the MSHA offices scheduled to close performed almost 17,000 health and safety inspections from January 2024 through February 2025.

Addington said NIOSH provided the data to document worsening conditions over the past few decades.

Addingtons organization has advocated for the new silica rule for 17 years. We didnt think it was perfect, he said. He would have preferred lower exposure limits and more stringent monitoring requirements. But, as it was, it was going to save lives.

The cuts to the agency, Addington said, could affect every American worker who might be exposed to harmful elements in the workplace. NIOSH approves respirators prescribed by Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

With fewer inspectors, miners are more likely to get hurt on the job and those injuries could be fatal, he said.

And if youre a miner thats lucky enough to navigate that gantlet and make it through a 20-, 25-year career, Addington said, the likelihood that you develop disabling lung disease that ultimately kills you at an early age is much increased.

The black lung clinic at Stone Mountain Health Services in southwestern Virginia has diagnosed 75 new cases of progressive massive fibrosis in the past year, according to its medical director, Drew Harris.

People are dying from a dust-related disease thats 100% preventable, and were not using all the things we could use to help prevent their disease and save their lives, Harris said. Its just all very disheartening.

He believes it would be a mistake for Kennedy to reorganize NIOSH as he has proposed, shifting the surveillance program teams responsibilities to other employees.

Its a very unique expertise, Harris said. The agency would be losing the people that know how to do this well and that have been doing this for decades.

Rex Fields first went to work in the mines in 1967, a year before an explosion killed 78 miners near the small town of Farmington, W.Va. His wife, Tilda Fields, was aware of the hazards her husband would encounter  the safety issues, the long-term health concerns. Her dad died of black lung when she was 7. But it meant a well-paying job in a region that has forever offered precious few.

Rex, 77, now lives with an advanced stage of black lung disease. Hes still able to mow his lawn but is easily winded when walking uphill. It took him several weeks and two rounds of antibiotics to recover from a bout with bronchitis in March.

Throughout his career, Rex advocated for his fellow miners: He stepped in when he saw someone mistreated; he once tried, unsuccessfully, to help a unionization effort. For these efforts, he said, I got transferred from the day shift to the third shift a time or two.

Today, the Fieldses lobby on behalf of miners and share information about occupational dangers. Tilda organized a support group for families and widows. She worries about the next generation. Two of the Fieldses sons also went into mining.

People in the mountains here, we learn to make do, Tilda said. But you want better. You want better for your kids than what we had, and you surely want their safety.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ella Valdivia wears pins at the Starbucks at 901 Market St. in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Read more

The Chestnut Hill Starbucks became the 15th Philadelphia location to unionize following a vote on Friday.

The 10 eligible workers at the 8515 Germantown Ave. location voted unanimously to join Starbucks Workers United, which includes over 11,000 baristas nationwide.

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Im excited to join the fight with every other unionized store to get the equal treatment we deserve, said shift supervisor Tony Schultz, 31.

Having enough staffing at the store has been a challenge, said Schultz. who has worked there for around a year and a half. Keeping the store operating with a small staff sometimes means delaying or rescheduling breaks, they said.

We hit a breaking point with that, and just felt as though joining up with the union would benefit us and hopefully rectify that, said Schultz.

Members are also seeking better wages, Schultz noted.

A Starbucks spokesperson said that the company has a commitment to diligently create work schedules that carefully balance the availability of our partners with the staffing needs of individual stores and that providing employees work hours that fit their needs and preferences is a top priority.

Coupled with higher wages and the expansion of hours, these investments have not only resulted in lower turnover but have also increased hourly total cash compensation by nearly 50% since FY2020, the spokesperson said.

Starbucks employees started organizing several years ago, and their first union vote was in 2021 at a Buffalo, N.Y., store. Since then, over 590 Starbucks locations in 45 states and Washington, D.C., have voted to unionize, according to Starbucks Workers United.

We respect our partners right to choose, through a fair and democratic process, to be represented by a union or not to be represented by a union, and will continue to work together to make Starbucks the best job in retail, a Starbucks spokesperson said via email on Tuesday. Hourly partners receive pay above industry average and best-in-class benefits, together worth an average of $30 per hour for those who work at least 20 hours per week.

Starbucks leadership had said in February 2024 that they hoped to have contracts ratified by the end of 2024, but that didnt come to pass. Starbucks workers in Philadelphia joined nationwide strikes in December after a bargaining session failed to reach an agreement on increased wages.

In January Starbucks and the union brought in a mediator to advance contract negotiations.

Starbucks hourly employees make over $19 per hour on average, the company has said. Starbucks also pays tuition for employees pursuing a four-year degree, and provides health benefits.

Since last April Starbucks and Workers United have held more than nine bargaining sessions over 20 days and three mediation sessions over five days with a federal mediator, said the Starbucks spokesperson on Tuesday. Weve reached over 30 meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them.

Amid these contract negotiations, other changes are taking place within the Starbucks workplace.

The company updated its barista dress code in April, requiring workers to wear a black shirt with blue denim, black, or khaki bottoms, underneath the companys green aprons. Starbucks Workers United had been negotiating a possible dress code with the company and opposed changes while a contract agreement was not reached, the Associated Press reported.

In January, the company updated its store policy to state that individuals who are not paying customers may be asked to leave or denied bathroom access, also providing training for employees on enforcing the new rule. The change reversed Starbucks open-door policy, which was adopted in 2018 after two Black men were arrested for sitting at a Center City Philadelphia store without ordering anything in an incident that went viral and sparked protests.
Cherry Hill is once again the biggest municipality in South Jersey, outpacing Camden for the ninth year in a row.

According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, 78,988 people lived in Cherry Hill in 2024. Thats up 1,318 residents from 2023 and up 7,099 from 2014.

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Cherry Hill has experienced slow and steady growth over the last decade after a relatively stagnant stretch in the 1980s and 90s. Brian Bauerle, chief of staff for the Cherry Hill mayors office, said in an email that he attributes Cherry Hills growth to its strong and vibrant neighborhoods, access to shopping and dining, outdoor spaces, and high-quality schools.

Cherry Hills growth has persisted as its neighbor, the city of Camden, has seen a marked decline. The Census Bureau estimates that 71,749 people lived in Camden in 2024, up slightly from 71,413 in 2023 but down from 74,859 in 2014 and 78,901 in 2004.

Camdens population has declined precipitously since its peak of nearly 125,000 residents in 1950.

South Jerseys current population trends reflect patterns of suburbanization and development that go back to the 1960s, said Howard Gillette, professor of history emeritus at Rutgers University-Camden and author of Camden After the Fall.

Through the middle of the 20th century, much of what is now Cherry Hill was farmland. That began to change in the mid-1950s, when developers plotted out new neighborhoods and RCA Service Co. built a local plant. In 1961, the Cherry Hill Mall opened, turning the community into a regional shopping destination. Cherry Hills assessed property value soared from $9.5 million in 1950 to $156.2 million in 1965, exceeding Camdens and making it the wealthiest community in South Jersey, according to the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

The reversal of fortune happened quickly after the opening of the mall, Gillette said. In the decades that followed, residents and resources continued to move out of Camden and into the surrounding suburbs.

The greater population on our side of the river has really been continuing to move from west to east, Gillette said.

Cherry Hill surpassed Camden in population in 2016.

Pockets of multifamily housing have allowed Cherry Hill to continue growing, albeit at a much slower rate than during its 1960s boom, Gillette said.

A number of housing developments have come on the market in Cherry Hill in recent years, including 202 Park Drive and the Enclave at Woodcrest.

While there is a limited amount of space available for new construction, the township expects to be able to keep up with continuing growth, Bauerle said.

Cherry Hills population trends match larger regional patterns.

Philadelphia lost population in the years during and after the pandemic, while its suburbs grew. South Jersey added 33,656 residents between April 2020 and July 2024, and the Pennsylvania suburbs added 60,632 residents.

Between 2023 and 2024, Philly gained about 10,500 residents, beginning to reverse its post-pandemic decline. South Jersey counties grew, too, with 4,954 new residents in Burlington County, 2,943 in Gloucester County, and 4,412 in Camden County.
A push for tougher sentences for people convicted of selling drugs near recovery homes. A long-sought change to state law to allow hunting on Sundays. A proposal to give the attorney general more power to approve hospital purchases in hopes of preventing another health system closure like the scenario that unfolded at Crozer Health.

Those are just a few of the dozens of proposals that made their first moves in the legislative process Tuesday in Harrisburg, as state lawmakers in the House and Senate voted bills out of committee  a little-discussed but critically important step for a bill to become a law.

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Pennsylvania has a split General Assembly, meaning the House is controlled by Democrats, while the Senate is controlled by Republicans. If a bill passes both chambers, it then goes to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros desk for his signature.

June is one of the busiest months of the year in Harrisburg, where state lawmakers begin negotiating a state budget in earnest before the June 30 budget deadline. That means the leaders of legislative committees meet frequently, and can choose to fast-track bills or kill them  as they make their way through the legislative process.

What are legislative committees in Pennsylvanias General Assembly?

Legislative committees are groups of lawmakers within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate that investigate, debate, and review bills assigned to the committee.

With nearly 5,000 pieces of legislation introduced each year, the 253 members of the General Assembly dont have enough eyes and ears to parse through every bill. To manage the workload, the House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia), and Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland), assign individual bills to committees once they are introduced.

Lawmakers have concepts and ideas of things we want to make into a law or statute. But eventually, you have to put those concepts to paper, introducing a bill. The committee process is where those bills are vetted and developed on a deeper level, said House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R., Bedford) in an interview earlier this year.

The state Senate, which has 50 members, and House, which has 203 members, together have more than 20 standing committees, where focuses range from government oversight and spending to education or housing.

Both chambers added new standing committees this legislative session, as Pennsylvania lawmakers reform the body and take on modern challenges, such as a new House committee to address issues around artificial intelligence or social media, or a new Senate committee to analyze the future of the states property ownership and institutional health.

You can view a full list of legislative committees for the House and Senate, their leadership, and more at palegis.us.

The Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore, in collaboration with the majority and minority parties, appoint lawmakers to become committee chairs (leaders) and members. Committee chairs hold considerable power in how, when, and if bills make it out of committee.

In the state House, where Democrats hold a narrow majority and control the chamber, many committee chairs hail from Philadelphia or its suburbs. That includes Rep. Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia), who chairs the powerful appropriations committee through which all legislation requiring state spending must pass. The position was previously held by U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Pa.) before he was elected to the U.S. Congress.

Each committee consists of around a dozen or more legislators  with an emphasis on more in the state House. The House appropriations committee, for example, involves nearly 40 lawmakers. Most lawmakers serve on multiple committees.

How do legislative committees work in Pennsylvania?

Once the leader of the House or Senate assigns a bill to its respective committee, the bill will usually sit for a time without ever being considered.

Bills can sit in committee for months or even years, and most legislation introduced each year in the state Capitol never gets a vote.

If lawmakers do not vote on a bill by the end of the two-year legislative session  the current session ends in December 2026  the legislation is considered dead and must be reintroduced the following year.

Sometimes, a bill will pass one chamber, only to die in the other legislative body. Most times, a bill it will be sent across the halls of the Capitol, where it languishes until the end of session.

And occasionally, lawmakers will formally kill a bill. For example, House Democrats last month sent a bill to legalize recreational marijuana through a state-owned store model to the Republican-controlled Senate, only for it to be immediately voted down by the Senate Law and Justice committee.

 READ MORE: A Pa. Senate committee rejected House Democrats pitch to legalize recreational marijuana through state-owned stores

Once a bill reaches committee, lawmakers can vet and develop it through listening tours across the state, public hearings with subject-matter experts, and by commissioning reports or studies.

Get involved in the committee process

Want your voice to be heard in Harrisburg?

Individuals, advocacy groups, and stakeholders can approach their local lawmaker to encourage them to introduce a piece of legislation in committee.

Pennsylvanians can then lobby the committee chair assigned to a bill to urge a vote. That can be done directly or by generating public attention for the bill through press releases, media events, rallies, or social media campaigns.

Topper encouraged Pennsylvania residents to contact their local elected official or lawmakers on a given committee to encourage their support  or opposition  to a piece of legislation they find important.

Honestly, the best way that individuals can be a part of the committee or any process is by seeing the very lawmakers who represent them, he said.

You can find your local lawmaker at palegis.us/find-my-legislator.
The scene where 26-year-old Maiky Rodriguez was fatally shot on the 3400 block of North Fifth Street in North Philadelphia on May 30, 2025. Read more

A 24-year-old man accused of fatally shooting another man during an altercation last week surrendered to police Tuesday night, his lawyer said.

Michael Anthony Vasquez of Philadelphia was accompanied by attorney Michael Coard when he turned himself in around 7:15 p.m. at Philadelphia police headquarters, Coard said.

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Coard declined to discuss details of the case but said Vasquez was a victim, not a perpetrator in the death of 26-year-old Maiky Rodriguez.

Shortly before 1 a.m. Friday, according to police, Rodriguez came to a house on the 3400 block of North Fifth Street and got into an argument with Vasquez, whom police described as the current boyfriend of a woman who had been in a prior relationship with Rodriguez.

Coard said, however, that Vasquez was only an acquaintance of the woman, not a boyfriend.

Rodriguez was identified Tuesday by the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office. Vasquez was identified by Coard after his surrender.

Police said last week that the argument escalated and that Vasquez allegedly shot Rodriguez several times.

Rodriguez was transported to St. Christophers Hospital for Children, where he was pronounced dead around 2:30 a.m., police said.

An obituary posted online described Rodriguez as a cherished member of the community whose loving and humble spirit touched the lives of many throughout his years.

The obituary continued: Maiky was known for his kind-hearted nature and willingness to lend a hand to those in need. His presence was a source of comfort to friends and family alike, and he brought joy to everyone he encountered with his infectious smile and positive outlook on life.
Jim Martin, 84, formerly of Philadelphia, longtime urban development expert, management and employee relations specialist, job training consultant, and childcare pioneer, died Wednesday, May 7, of pulmonary fibrosis at his home in Plymouth Meeting.

For 47 years, from 1964 until his retirement in 2011, Mr. Martin helped develop the Philadelphia cityscape and resolve differences between corporate managers and employee groups. He worked for the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority in the 1960s, and, as executive director of the Old Philadelphia Development Corp. in the 1960s and 70s, collaborated with urban planner Edmund Bacon and other architects as they redeveloped Penn Center, the Gallery, Penns Landing, Society Hill, and other locales.

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He became president of the Philadelphia Council for Labor and Industry in the mid-1970s, and, as executive director of the Philadelphia Area Labor Management Committee in the 1980s, championed workplace cooperation. He was energetic and empathetic, and he maneuvered participants through sticky contract negotiations and crisis interventions for SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and other clients.

He leaves a deep legacy of commitment to uplifting civic causes in Philadelphia, his family said in a tribute. His son Eugene said: He had a way of bringing people together. He had a real affinity for the working person and could talk to anybody and make them feel warm and good.

In 1976, Mr. Martin saw the need for a childcare center in the garment district in Center City and cofounded Childrens Village, a groundbreaking bilingual childcare and early education center for children of local business owners and workers. He served as board president at the center for years and organized innovative workshops such as the 1979 Day Care and American Family Conference that highlighted the community benefits of quality childcare.

In 2019, colleagues at Childrens Village presented him with a lifetime service award. In May, the board of directors said it is working on establishing an endowment in his memory.

In a recent tribute, colleagues praised his vision of leveraging private, public, and philanthropic partnerships to support and empower working families. They said: Jims legacy lives on in the thousands of children who have received loving care and high quality early education at Childrens Village.

He was on the board and fundraising committee at St. Malachy Catholic School in North Philadelphia, and a friend said: There isnt a union person in Philly or someone involved with development or Philly politics that doesnt know Jim.

James Robert Martin was born July 29, 1940, in Philadelphia. He grew up in Kensington and the Northeast, and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School.

He earned a bachelors degree in political science at Temple University in 1962 and, inspired by President John F. Kennedys focus on public service, joined the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority in 1964.

He married Arlene Severola in 1963, and they had sons Eugene and Ted and lived in Center City, Wynnefield, and Germantown. After a divorce, he married Ruth Harvey in 1990, and they lived in Roxborough. His wife died in 2011.

Mr. Martin and his wife enjoyed traveling and music, classical and folk. They had season tickets to the Philadelphia Orchestra and attended many Philadelphia Folk Festivals, and other concerts around the world.

He liked cars and motorcycles, was an avid reader, and kept up on local current events. Friends called him gentle, generous, and a delightful raconteur in tributes, and said he was quick to laugh and rich in information. One said: Jim modeled what lifelong dedication to service looks like.

He enjoyed people, his son Eugene said, and was a lot of fun to be around.

In addition to his sons, Mr. Martin is survived by his former wife, a brother, and other relatives. A brother and a sister died earlier.

A celebration of his life is to be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at St. Malachy Catholic School, 1012 W. Thompson St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122.

Donations in his name may be made to Childrens Village, 125 N. Eighth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106. For endowment information, contact Mary Graham at maryg@childrensvillagephila.org.
Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro announces that the state is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over termination of the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, during an event at the Share Food Program warehouse in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025. He was joined by state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and local farmers participating in the program that gave food banks like Share and schools money to buy food from local farms. Read more

Gov. Josh Shapiro is suing President Donald Trumps administration in an effort to restore $13 million in funds for food banks and farmers that the U.S. Department of Agriculture eliminated earlier this year.

Shapiro announced the suit Wednesday morning in a news conference at Share Food Program in Philadelphia.

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In March, Shapiros administration asked the USDA to reconsider its decision to cancel the funding, but after months without progress, Shapiro said, legal action was necessary.

You dont need to be an attorney general to know the basic legal doctrine of a deal is a deal, said Shapiro, a former state attorney general. They made a deal with Pennsylvania and they illegally broke it.

The USDA declined to comment on pending litigation.

The department announced in March it would end the $470 million Local Food Purchase Agreement Program, which provides funds for food banks to purchase food directly from local farmers. The agency argued the program was a pandemic-era initiative that no longer aligned with its priorities.

The cancellation of the program eliminated $13 million for 14 food banks over the next three years in Pennsylvania and left local food banks staring down significant cuts to their food purchasing budgets even as they anticipated growing need.

The need here at our food bank, Share Food Program, has risen over 120% in the last three years, George Matysik, the programs executive director, said Wednesday.

Shapiro blasted the decision at the time, saying the administration had illegally canceled a contract for the funds that was agreed to under former President Joe Biden. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture followed internal procedures to challenge the decision before the commonwealth sued on Wednesday.

The federal government did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in April accused Shapiro of playing political games and claimed the agency had sent billions of dollars into food banks nationwide.

Shapiro, who gained national attention suing Trumps first administration as attorney general and has repeatedly sued the administration this year as governor, said he was confident the suit would prevail. But if the funds are not restored, Shapiro added, the state would not be able to fund the program on its own.

Ive got a pretty good track record when I take Donald Trump to court, he said.
Philadelphia City Council is considering legislation that would give financial help to renters living in unsafe conditions who are forced to find other homes. Read more

City Council members advanced a bill that would give financial help to renters forced to move out of their homes because of unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

The bill would authorize Philadelphia to create an Anti-Displacement Fund to help pay for relocation costs when the city determines rental homes are unsafe and residents must evacuate. Renters would be eligible for funds if the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections issues a cease operations order.

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At a Council hearing Tuesday, representatives from L&I said the agency issued about 30 of these orders for rental properties over the last year.

At the packed hearing, renters and advocates spoke of leaks and mold, pest infestations, cracks and holes in walls, lack of adequate heat, and crumbling bricks in rental homes.

Their stories are not isolated cases, said Councilmember Nicolas ORourke, who introduced the bill. These are symptoms of a broken system.

Council members passed the bill out of the housing committee for a vote by the full Council, scheduled for June 12.

At Tuesdays hearing, Adam Weintraub-Barth, a staff attorney at the Philadelphia nonprofit SeniorLAW Center, said renters are hesitant to call L&I to report unsafe conditions because they are afraid of what could happen to them.

If L&I tells them they have to leave, they dont know what their next move is going to be, he said. Theyre limited in what they can do. They dont have the resources to move. They dont have the resources to quickly find new safe, stable housing.

And this most often hurts the most vulnerable in our society, Weintraub-Barth said.

Nowhere to go

Todd Abney, a member of the tenant advocacy group OnePA Renters United Philadelphia, told Council members that he once lived in a small North Philadelphia apartment building that made him and other residents sick because of a carbon monoxide leak. Then they found out their landlord did not have the necessary rental license.

L&I told us on a Friday that we had to be out of the building by Monday morning at 6 a.m., Abney said. There were five of us in the apartment building, and we were all being kicked out with nowhere to go. L&I offered that we could go to a homeless shelter and didnt have any other options for us.

He said he managed to remain in the building for another week and then found another place to stay.

I am very much in support of the city creating a displacement fund for everyone who has to leave their home because of uninhabitable conditions that are out of their control, he said.

Other efforts

The legislation is part of a package of bills meant to improve rental conditions, which was introduced by ORourke and written in partnership with advocacy groups OnePA Renters United Philadelphia and Philly Thrive.

The two other bills in ORourkes legislative package were held for further review. One would provide tenants who complain about issues in their homes with additional protections against retaliation and harassment by their landlords.

The other bill would authorize L&I to create a program to proactively inspect rental units instead of relying on tenants complaints to trigger inspections. It also would keep landlords with L&I violations from getting their rental licenses renewed.

L&I is working with the Pew Charitable Trusts to establish best practices for proactively inspecting rental homes. A 2021 Pew report found that L&I inspected only about 7% of Philadelphias rental units in a year.

Council members, city officials, and groups that represent rental property owners said these two bills need to be discussed further and amended.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, chair of Councils housing committee, said members will work on the remaining bills over the summer. The committee is expected to vote on them in the fall.
These promotions recognise the outstanding talent we have across the firm and our commitment to organic growth. Each of these lawyers has demonstrated excellence in their practice and a strong commitment to our clients and the firm, said Geoff Connellan, national managing partner at Moray & Agnew.
Last year, we sent over 12,000 threat alerts to our clients [globally] and only had 3,000 inbound claims which is a good story for them [brokers] to share, to show that cyber insurance is obviously working, said Davis. They [brokers clients] don't need to have a claim in order to get value out of the policy.
JAB Insurance enhances leadership team and forms independent board

JAB Insurance has named Jin Chang as partner and added three executives with deep insurance sector expertise. The firm has also established an independent board of directors with four new members experienced in life insurance and financial services.
Previously, the condo association had pursued litigation in Florida state court, resulting in multiple settlements. Among them was a $39 million global settlement as well as separate resolutions with certain subcontractors. A key point of contention in the federal suit was an $8.5 million Coblentz agreement reached between the association and Auchter. Under Coblentz doctrine, such agreements allow a policyholder and claimant to enter into a consent judgment when an insurer allegedly fails to defend a claim. The insured party - in this case Auchter - assigned its rights to the association to seek recovery from Amerisure.
Founded in 2005, Brennan & Company provides coverage and advisory services to clients in the commercial marine sector, including marine terminals and stevedores, shipyards, marine towing companies, dredging contractors, and marine construction firms. The agency is led by principals Edward Brennan, Austin Denney, and Owen Brennan. Edward Brennan said that joining Patriot enables access to expanded resources through collaboration with other agencies in the Patriot network.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against University of Pennsylvania filed by Jewish students over antisemitism, ruling they failed to show the Ivy League school engaged in intentional discrimination.

US District Judge Mitchell Goldberg ruled Monday in a case by students who sued two months after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, claiming the Philadelphia school fostered a hostile environment that left them feeling unsafe in class or crossing the campus. One of the students, Eyal Yakoby, appeared at a press conference with House Republican leaders.

They sued under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars federally funded programs from intentionally discriminating based on ancestry, race, ethnicity or national origin. The law also bars deliberate indifference to discrimination. But the suit failed to allege facts showing either intentional discrimination or deliberate indifference on the part of Penn, Goldberg ruled.

I could find no allegations that Penn or its administration has itself taken any actions or positions which, even when read in the most favorable light, could be interpreted as antisemitic with the intention of causing harm to the plaintiffs, he wrote. At worst, plaintiffs accuse Penn of tolerating and permitting the expression of viewpoints which differ from their own.

An attorney for the students called the judges decision wrong.

The court incorrectly held that Penn has to have engaged in antisemitic conduct to be liable under Title VI but that is not so; the test is whether a university is deliberately indifferent to protecting Jewish students against antisemitism, Marc E. Kasowitz said in a statement. There is a colossal divide between the courts view of the allegations and the realities of what Jewish students at Penn have been forced to endure.

A spokesman for Penn declined to comment.

The Penn dismissal comes as Harvard University faces harsher penalties related to claims of antisemitism on campus. While it settled lawsuits filed by Jewish students, it has endured sustained attacks by President Donald Trump, who seeks to push the oldest and richest US university to crack down on antisemitism, remove perceived liberal bias and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Trumps administration has frozen about $2.6 billion in federal funding to Harvard, moved to bar international students, threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status and cancel its remaining federal contracts. Harvard has sued separately over the funding freeze and the foreign student ban. A federal judge has temporarily halted the foreign student ban.

The Trump administration also canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing an inadequate response to complaints of antisemitism.

Goldberg, the chief judge in Philadelphia federal court, also dismissed claims by the students of breach of contract and violations of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. He said the students could refile their complaint on the Title VI and contract claims, noting the problems in those areas could potentially be resolved.

But he cautioned lawyers for the students to avoid language which is unnecessarily inflammatory and impertinent, and immaterial allegations that have virtually nothing to do with the claims which plaintiffs are endeavoring to raise.

Photo: Students on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. Penn was sued by a pair of students who claim the campus was a hotbed of antisemitism even before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
The pilot of a small plane that was about to crash managed to land it safely in the cool, choppy waters of Long Island Sound off Connecticut and called 911 to provide his precise coordinates before the aircraft sank, authorities said Monday.

The Coast Guard pulled two people wearing lifejackets from the water shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, about a half-hour after the plane went down a few miles (kilometers) off the coast of Branford, Connecticut, officials said. The survivors were treated for minor injuries and hypothermia symptoms, and brought to a hospital, the Branford Fire Department said.

We arrived shortly after the Coast Guard, Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney said. The Coast Guard did a great job in responding to the area, retrieving the people out of the water before things got worse. And the pilot obviously did a really good job of landing the plane in choppy seas. Those outcomes dont always come out as well as this did.

The water temperature at the time was about 60 degrees F (15.6 degrees C), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mahoney said the seas were a choppy 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters).

The single-engine Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six took off from Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Connecticut, shortly before 10:14 a.m. and was in the air for about 12 minutes when it went down, according to the flight-tracking company FlightAware.

About 10 minutes into the flight, the pilot declared an emergency and contacted air traffic controllers in New York, who directed them to try to land about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away at Tweed-New Haven Airport, according to Andrew King, a spokesperson for Avports, which manages Tweed-New Haven.

Tweed-New Haven officials prepared a runway for a possible emergency landing. But air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane, King said.

Mahoney said after the plane went into the water, the pilot used a cellphone to call 911 and report his plane crashed into Long Island Sound and was taking on water. The aircraft was completely submerged when rescuers arrived.

State and federal records indicate the plane is owned by a limited-liability company based in Newtown, Connecticut, and the companys principal is James Edwards. Edwards declined to comment Monday.

The crash occurred near Outer Island, an archipelago of about two dozen islands off the Connecticut coast.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was waiting for the recovery of the aircraft to determine the level of damage before deciding whether an NTSB investigation is warranted.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Two former police officers have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with an auto-insurance fraud scheme, according to U.S. Attorney for Maryland Kelly O. Hayes.

Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., a former Prince Georges County officer, pled guilty to falsification of records, and Jaron Earl Taylor, a former Anne Arundel county officer, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to the guilty pleas, between August 2018 and February 2020, Owen and Taylor conspired with fellow police officers Candace Tyler, Conrad DHaiti, and Davion Percy, and others, in a scheme for insurance companies to pay out the remaining financing costs of unwanted vehicles.

Officials said the members of the conspiracy reported fictitious losses to insurers to obtain money or avoid paying off vehicles that were now worth less than the amount owed on them. They used their statuses as police officers to assist each others claims by writing false police reports. Then the co-conspirators submitted fictitious police reports to insurers to validate the claim. The false police reports were intended to impede, obstruct, or influence subsequent investigations of the false insurance claims, according to court documents.

In August 2018, Owen and Taylor staged the theft of Taylors Chevrolet Tahoe. After Taylor filed a fraudulent police report, Owen and Taylor stripped the vehicle and drove it deep into the woods of a Maryland state highway property near Largo. Taylor then made a false claim to the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) for the loss, for which USAA paid out a total of $38,670.

Then in January 2020, Owen assisted DHaiti in avoiding payment on the loan balance of a Jaguar XKR. In cooperation with DHaiti and Percy, Owen devised a scheme to fake the vehicles theft. On January 4, DHaiti parked his Jaguar behind Marlow Heights Shopping Center where Percy worked as police chief.

DHaiti then paid Percy $350 to arrange for another co-conspirator to tow the vehicle and extensively vandalize it for the purpose of creating a total insurance loss. Tyler subsequently filed the fictitious police report which DHaiti used to substantiate his claim against Liberty Mutual Insurance. In February 2020, Liberty Mutual paid the Jaguars lienholder, Navy Federal Credit Union, $17,585, on the false claim.

Additionally, in January 2020, Owen and Taylor assisted with disposing of an Infiniti sedan to help a co-conspirator avoid making further payments on the vehicle while on extended overseas duty. The co-conspirator gave Taylor $1,000 via CashApp to stage the theft. Taylor then forwarded the money to Owen who filed a false police report with PGPD, stating the vehicle was stolen.

In reality, Owen, Taylor, and others moved the car to the top floor of a Camp Springs, Maryland apartment-complex parking garage. The co-conspirators attempted to conceal the cars identity by removing the vehicles license plates and replacing them with different ones registered to another vehicle. Then the owner and co-conspirator filed a claim with GEICO that was eventually denied on grounds of fraud.

U.S. Attorney Hayes announced the guilty pleas with Amanda M. Koldjeski, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Malik Aziz, Prince Georges County Police Chief.

Owen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Taylor faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison if the court fully accepts the plea deal.

Topics Fraud Auto Law Enforcement
H.W. Kaufman Group Names Hasan Fardan Al Fardan as Non-Executive Chairman, Burns & Wilcox MENA

H.W. Kaufman Group named Hasan Fardan Al Fardan as the non-executive chairman for Burns & Wilcox, Middle East and North Africa (MENA). He works closely with Kaufman Co-President Jodie Kaufman Davis and Kaufman International CEO Paul Greensmith.

Hasan is highly adept at navigating the regulatory environment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and widely respected for his role as a board member across a portfolio of multinational corporations, said Davis. Hasans deep relationships and broad network will be pivotal in executing our substantial growth plans for Burns & Wilcox MENA and further unlocking a multitude of new business opportunities.

Al Fardan currently serves as the CEO of Al Fardan Exchange, the financial services arm of his familys business. Based in the UAE, he is an expert in investment strategy, real estate, corporate restructuring and financial services.

Kaufman established Burns & Wilcox MENA in 2024, marking the companys first office in UAE, growing the Burns & Wilcox brand across the Emirates, including Abu Dhabi. Burns & Wilcox MENA is also building regional broking partnerships in other local markets and prioritizing the approval to trade on a reinsurance basis in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC).

Aon Appoints Marcell to Serve as CEO of Global Solutions

Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm, appointed Andy Marcell as CEO of Global Solutions.

As CEO of Global Solutions, Marcell now leads Aons integrated risk capital and human capital capabilities across the firms reinsurance, commercial risk, health, wealth and talent teams. Marcell will remain as CEO of Reinsurance until John Neal joins Aon on September 1 and will continue to report to Aon President and CEO Greg Case and serve on the Aon Executive Committee.

Building integrated capabilities to help our clients address risk and people issues is one of the core commitments of our 33 Plan to go further, faster in serving urgent client need, said Case. Andy has made a tremendous impact integrating our solutions and enhancing the alignment of our Risk Capital and Human Capital capabilities and will advance our strategy to serve clients as one Aon United firm.

Marcell, who joined Aon in 2015, most recently served as CEO of risk capital, where he brought together the firms commercial risk and reinsurance solutions.

Earlier this month, Aon announced that Lambros Lambrou, previously CEO of human capital, now serves as global chief strategy officer, and the firm is conducting a comprehensive search for a successor to lead human capital.

Lambros and the Human Capital leadership team have made tremendous progress integrating our Health, Wealth and Talent teams to deliver differentiated data, insights and expertise, said Marcell. Im looking forward to bringing our Risk Capital and Human Capital teams closer together to address the unprecedented volatility and complexity facing our clients.

Topics Aon
Elon Musks social network X is showing users a prominent disclaimer about the platforms blue checkmark program in a bid to appease concerns from the European Unions content regulators that its deceptive and should be overhauled.

X started showing users a message explaining the meaning of the blue check that appears on some user profiles last week. The notice was intended to demonstrate that the allegedly infringing behavior had been brought to an end, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Before Musks takeover of the platform in 2022, the blue checkmark was assigned to accounts verified as belonging to journalists, politicians and other public figures. From April 2023, the badge was assigned to active, secure and non-deceptive users who subscribed to Xs premium features, regardless of perceived notability, according to the disclosure.

X is seeking to mitigate a potential fine related to an investigation under the EUs Digital Services Act. The European Commission has been examining how the platform handles illegal content and disinformation as well as deceptive design. EU regulators earlier warned X that it could slap the company with heavy penalties for the alleged infringements.

In July 2024 the commission argued that the revamped checkmark was in breach of the DSA in that it did not correspond to industry practice and deceives users. The regulator also said that X had infringed the DSAs rules on advertising transparency and access to data for researchers.

Fines under the DSA can reach as much as 6% of a companys annual global sales. The EU may calculate the fines by including revenue from Musks other businesses, including SpaceX and Neuralink Corp., Bloomberg News reported last year.

A spokesperson for the commission said the institution took note of Xs announcement, and that its investigation into the blue checkmark is ongoing. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Europe
The European Union and the US are headed in the right direction in trade talks, though new American levies on steel and aluminum imports arent helpful if both sides want to maintain momentum, Maros Sefcovic said after meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Our goal is to maintain the momentum, the EU trade commissioner told reporters Wednesday in Paris, where hes attending a conference at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

I believe we can achieve positive result, he said. But we are also ready to defend our interests and do the utmost to rebalance our trade relationship.

The meeting came as the US is pressing its trade partners to put forward proposals to address US President Donald Trumps concerns over the trade imbalances in order to speed trade talks before July 9, when higher levies are set to take effect.

Meanwhile, the US administration continued to increase the tariff barriers by raising steel and aluminum rates to 50% from 25% on Wednesday in a move called necessary to protect national security.

Asked about Trumps latest increase in metals tariffs, Sefcovic said it wasnt a helpful step in the talks and urged that the US and EU work together to resolve overcapacity problems.

We told him that we strongly regret this latest US decision and explained to him it clearly doesnt help the ongoing negotiations especially as we are making progress, he said. So my plea was, lets not target each other but work together.'

Trump has especially antagonized the EU by accused the 27-nation bloc of slow-walking negotiations, leading the European Commission, the EU executives arm responsible for trade talks, to promise to accelerate the talks.

According to commission estimates, tariffs adopted by Trump now cover 380 billion euros ($433 billion), or about 70%, of EU exports to the US.

The EU has approved tariffs on 21 billion of US goods in response to Trumps metals levies that can be quickly implemented. They target politically sensitive American states and include products such as soybeans from Louisiana, home to House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as agricultural products, poultry and motorcycles.

The bloc is also preparing an additional list of tariffs on 95 billion of American products in response to Trumps so-called reciprocal levies and automotive duties. They would target industrial goods including Boeing Co. aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon.

The OECD warned on Tuesday that the trade tensions initiated by Trump have significantly worsened the outlook for the global economy, and the US in particular.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Europe
Microsoft is offering free of charge to European governments a cybersecurity program, launched on Wednesday, to bolster their defenses against cyber threats, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, it said.

After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the program aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks.

If we can bring more to Europe of what we have developed in the United States, that will strengthen cybersecurity protection for more European institutions, Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters in an interview.

Youre going to see other things we are doing later in the month.

Increasingly, attackers employ generative AI to amplify the scale and impact of their operations that range from disrupting critical infrastructure to spreading disinformation.

Although malicious actors have weaponized AI, Smith said AI also offered defensive tools.

We dont feel that we have seen AI that has evaded our ability to detect the use of AI or the threats more broadly, Smith said.

Our goal needs to be to keep AI advancing as a defensive tool faster than it advances as an offensive weapon, he said.

Microsoft tracks any malicious use of AI models it releases and prevents known cybercriminals from using its AI products.

AI-driven deepfakes have included a portrayal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy capitulating to Russian demands in 2022 and a fake audio recording in 2023 that influenced the Slovakian election.

Smith said so far audio had been easier to fake than video.

Topics Cyber Europe
The Trump administrations attack on US diversity, equity and inclusion policies is reverberating across the Atlantic, with corporations abandoning sponsorships of Britains Pride festivals, threatening key funding for events this summer.

Three quarters of more than 100 Pride organizers have seen a decline in corporate partnerships this year and a quarter of them have seen funding from sponsorships drop over 50%, according to exclusive data from the UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON). Thats hit smaller parades particularly hard, with several canceling events that were planned for Pride Month, which is celebrated globally each June in memory of the Stonewall protests.

Sponsorship withdrawals have been particularly pronounced from American businesses, according to Pride in London. The UKs biggest LGBTQ parade relies on corporate sponsors to cover the 1.7 million ($2.3 million) it costs to host more than 1.6 million attendees during its July 5 festival. But this year, longtime sponsors have stepped away, said Christopher Joell-Deshields, chief executive officer of Pride in London.

Across the Pride movement, there is a very different feel this year, Joell-Deshields said. Some of our sponsors are global partners and were seeing the effect of those who are based in the US who have seen the roll back of DEI. Were having to push harder in terms of sponsors and getting them to understand the importance of the Pride platform.

Companies doing business in the US have rushed to appear politically neutral after President Donald Trump signed executive orders demanding the end of what he calls illegal DEI. The order was a culmination of a broader blowback against what some US conservatives have dubbed woke capitalism, with activists calling for boycotts against firms that give money to causes like LGBTQ rights and racial-equity programs.

The pullback in LGBTQ support is a trend already documented in the US, where a survey of corporate executives revealed that two in five were scaling back Pride Month engagement this year, leaving organizers scrambling for funds. Earlier in May, New York City Pride announced it was looking at a $750,000 budget shortfall and launched a community fundraising campaign to keep the event free to attend.

Still, its not all the Trump effect, according to Jamie Love, the marketing director for Pride in Edinburgh. The UKs intensifying debate over transgender rights, with the Supreme Court recently ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, has caused some brands to sidestep Pride partnerships altogether to avoid controversy, he said.

The ones that want to engage, want to engage really meaningfully, but there are fewer of them, said Love, adding that this is proving to be the driest year for sponsorships.

The website for the festival in the Scottish capital now displays just five partners, including German supermarket brand Lidl and the UKs Tesco Plc. Last year, the site boasted 13 sponsors. The page for the London festival has recently been updated with a list of 2025 sponsors and advocates, among them is headline sponsor Pridepay, a UK-based payment processing platform for the LGBTQ community. However, other brands that have featured repeatedly in recent years are missing this year.

Still, the biggest impact has been on smaller festivals. Some Pride events were canceled in Southampton, Hereford and Taunton, while Plymouths official parade has been replaced by a community-led one. Looking forward, Pride organizations may have to diversify their revenue streams, seeking more grant funding from councils or turning free parades into ticketed events, said Dee Llewellyn, the chair of UKPON.

In the interim, LGBTQ+ organizations will have to adapt to the new environment, said Ian Howley, CEO of health and wellbeing charity LGBT HERO. Even if larger brands ask to sponsor events again once the dust settles, he said the community wont easily forgive firms for abandoning them this year.

The damage is already done and we dont forget, Howley said. We will remember that they werent there when we needed them the most.

Photo: Participants during the Pride in London Parade in London on July 1, 2023. Photographer: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
An Iowa amusement parks former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021.

A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential.

Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound (770-kilogram) raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family.

The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems.

The parks former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible.

Imagine the terror going on in those kids minds, Dorr said. And then you turn to the jury and say, Whats that worth, to watch your child die like that?

An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from a series of unexpected and intended factors and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned.

Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain.

In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish companys U.S. properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Iowa
Mosaic Insurance, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, promoted Yosha DeLong to the new role of global engagement officer and hired cyber and technology liability executive Brian Bonkoski to lead the companys cyber business.

Based in Chicago, Illinois, DeLong has built Mosaics cyber business since the companys launch in 2021, spanning a worldwide footprint that includes the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, UK, Germany, and United Arab Emirates. She is responsible for driving Mosaics overall market engagement across business linesincluding product distribution and growth, broker and client relationships, and sales and business development initiatives harnessing digital capabilities.

Bonkoski, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will take over the role of global head of cyber at Mosaic effective June 16. He has 20 years of underwriting and distribution leadership experience, with previous executive roles at Chubb and AIG. Most recently, he was senior vice president, head of field operations at Chubb, where he oversaw U.S. national production and broker distribution. He has also held leadership roles focused on the U.S. East Coast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. At Mosaic, hell be responsible for leading global cyber product development, distribution, and profitability.

Topics Cyber
Trucordia today announced it will receive a $1.3 billion strategic investment from global investment firm Carlyles Global Credit platform.

The investment values Trucordia at $5.7 billion, and it will reduce the companys debt relative to equity while simplifying its governance structure by repurchasing units from existing minority investors.

Carlyles continued interest and investment in us, from a strategic standpoint, really gives us the ability to mature as an organization and drive initiatives, said Felix Morgan, CEO of Trucordia, in an interview with Insurance Journal.

The transaction, expected to close this month, is looked at to improve Trucordias position from a leverage standpoint, giving it long-term financial flexibility to achieve its Ascend strategy.

Weve really had great capital partners in the past who have done great things for us, Morgan continued to explain to IJ. However, the Lindon, Utah-based company has grown so fast, we quickly outgrew capital base.

ranked #13 in the Insurance Journal 2024 Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Agencies report with about $584 million in P/C revenue. The PCF Insurance Services (now Trucordia) wasreport with about $584 million in P/C revenue. The rebrand to Trucordia , a combination of the words trust and accord, occurred in October 2024.

Growth in recent history came rapidly by way of acquisitions. The company will continue strategic M&A efforts but, as part of the Ascend strategy, Trucordia has aspirational targets of double-digit organic growth, Morgan said.

Though Trucordia has achieved size and scale with acquisition volume, M&A is now really about how we drive value into the organization, he said. Integration has become a focus  making numerous organizations one company. The rebranding was a big step toward this goal.

Weve done a lot of technologyinfrastructure buildingand we continue to look at ways that we can be more efficient, Morgan said. I see Carlyle being a partner with us in that.

The investment firm has a wealth of resources to tap, including technology experts and strategic advisors, Morgan continued.

[Carlyle] has a good respect that this an employee-owned company, and theyve put themselves in a position to provide great support for it, he said.
Texas is on the cusp of banning all recreational THC products after lawmakers passed a bill to reverse the unintended effects of hemp laws that led to a boom in shops selling gummies, joints, vapes and drinks that create a similar high to marijuana.

The proposal, awaiting Governor Greg Abbotts signature, would outlaw almost all consumable hemp products except for non-psychoactive CBD and CBG. A separate measure expanding the states medical use program for THC  the psychoactive molecule found in marijuana and at weaker concentrations in hemp  is also nearing final approval.

Texas is seeking to limit the effects of the federal governments 2018 Farm Bill, supported by President Donald Trump and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, that expanded hemp production across the country. But savvy business people realized that it also made it legal to sell intoxicating products with hemp, creating a new industry in places where marijuana was banned. In 2019, Texas passed its own bill regulating state hemp production, but the law did nothing to limit the types of products that are now being sold.

The Food and Drug Administration hasnt established comprehensive regulations for finished hemp products, leaving it to states to handle an influx of consumables with cannabis compounds like THCa and delta-8. Utah and North Dakota, for example, have banned all forms of hemp-derived THC, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year vetoed a bill that aimed to significantly restrict sales.

The federal hemp bill and lack of national regulation has left a vacuum for states, according to Shawn Hauser, an attorney and partner at Vicente LLP specializing in cannabis law.

Its like they legalized hops and directed an agency to regulate beer, and that never happened, she said.

Retail smoke shops selling intoxicating products are now found throughout Texas. Hemp-derived cannabinoids generated $4.3 billion in sales and supported 53,300 jobs last year in Texas, according to a study by Whitney Economics cited by Hometown Hero, which sells the products.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has made the THC ban a priority and worked to draw attention to the issue in recent weeks, lamenting minors access to the products, citing health concerns about their safety and visiting smoke shops around Austin. Last week, as the legislative session neared its end, he hosted a press conference promising end-of-session beverages and snacks, which turned out to be a table of THC-infused gummies, snacks and drinks.

Patricks push has drawn opposition from some businesses in the state. During the press conference, he held up a bag of cereal-flavored edibles made by Hometown Hero and said they are so dangerous to users they could kill them or ruin their mental state for the rest of their lives. Lukas Gilkey, the companys chief executive officer, defended his company in a video response.

Abbott hasnt commented publicly on the proposed ban. Spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said the governor will thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk.

Farmers planted 4,900 acres (1,980 hectares) of hemp in Texas in 2024, up from 250 acres the year before, according to the Texas Farm Bureau.

The state now has almost twice as many dispensaries as California, Hauser said. While the ban is intended to crack down on products that have exploited the FDA loophole, Hauser predicted it would push consumers into illicit markets.

Its going to result in a public safety crisis, which is perverse for the problem its trying to fix, she said.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Texas Cannabis
A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed most of the Caribbean on Monday in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States.

The cloud extended some 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and some 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago.

Its very impressive, said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather.

The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors.

The dust concentration was high, at .55 aerosol optical depth, the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said.

However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted.

Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times, he said.

The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30.

June and July usually have the highest dust concentration on average, with plumes traveling anywhere from 5,000 feet to 20,000 feet above the ground, DaSilva said.

In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume hadnt been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the Godzilla dust cloud.

Photo: Ships sit in the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blankets most of the Caribbean, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas Florida
Misdemeanor charges have filed against the man who was operating the boat that fatally struck a 15-year-old girl off a South Florida beach last year, as well as the man who was operating the boat she had been wakeboarding behind, authorities announced Tuesday.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 79, was charged April 28 with violating two U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules, and Edmund Richard Hartley, 31, was charged April 29 with violating four Coast Guard rules, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a press release.

Attorneys for Alonso and Hartley didnt immediately respond to emails seeking comment. They have both pleaded not guilty.

In May 2024, 15-year-old Ella Adler and another girl were wakeboarding behind a 42-foot (13-meter) Hanse Fjord walk-around near Key Biscayne, just south of Miami, before falling off at different spots, officials said. A dozen people had been on the boat pulling Adler.

Before the vessel, operated by Hartley, could return to collect her, Adler was hit by another boat, which immediately sped away, officials said. Witnesses described the hit-and-run craft as a center console boat with a light blue hull, multiple white outboard engines and blue bottom paint.

Investigators eventually found the boat, a Boston whaler, docked behind Alonsos Coral Gables home. His attorneys have previously said he didnt realize he had stuck anyone with his boat and was cooperating with authorities.

Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove and a ballerina with the Miami City Ballet.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
A French-owned metal-treating company in Tennessee failed to utilize safety management and failed to implement lessons learned from previous incidents before a 2024 explosion that killed one worker and heavily damaged the site, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said in its final report on the accident.

This terrible incident underscores how critically important it is for facilities like TS USA to have a comprehensive and effective safety management system in place, CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said in a statement this week. The absence of strong process-safety protocolsand the failure to apply lessons from past similar eventsput TS USAs workers at serious risk, with one of them tragically being killed.

The TS USA plant in Chattanooga, part of the France-based HEF Groupe, hardens metals using a nitriding process. When a drain hole in a roller cylinder became clogged in a molten salt bath, the unit erupted and severely burned a worker, who later died, the safety board found. Three other worker were injured. The explosion resulted in multiple fires and $1.3 million in damage, forcing the facility to be shut down for eight months.

At least three similar incidents had happened at other facilities owned by HEF Groupe, including one at the Chattanooga plant a year earlier. But the parent company did not share information about how to prevent the situations with its facilities, the CFB report said.

The year-long investigation by the safety board did not appear to result in fines or other penalties for the company. The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed a $6,600 penalty against the company.

The chemical board made several recommendations to improve safety at the plant:

Installation of physical barriers to protect employees from molten salt releases

Development and implementation of a comprehensive safety management system incorporating industry standards

Creation of a corporate program to ensure that safety information is effectively communicated and enforced across all HEF Groupe facilities

Establishment of a safety position, with a worker who has expertise and experience in safety management systems, at each TS USA facility.

The board also laid out key lessons for the metal-treating industry:

Even in the absence of regulatory requirements, companies should develop safety management systems to ensure the operations are managed and risk is mitigated based on concepts developed by the Center for Chemical Process Safetys Guidelines for Risk Based Process Safety or other industry guidance. Companies should incorporate elimination of hazards or inherently safer design concepts, such as simplification, into hazard analyses to ensure that there are effective and reliable controls to protect employees from process hazards. Companies should have an incident investigation program that generates formal reports, performs causal analysis, and reviews corrective actions. The findings of the investigations should be communicated, including translation, throughout the site and to other facilities within the company. Companies should ensure that critical safety information is communicated to all employees and that safety knowledge is managed and institutionalized throughout the company. Safety knowledge management ensures that previous incidents and lessons learned are institutionalized at all levels of the organization. Companies should adopt guidance, such as that developed by the CSB following the CSBs investigation of the 2010 Macondo incident (the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion) for the oil and gas industry, to govern safety activities in day-to-day operations.

The full report can be seen here.

Photo: The TS USA facility in Chattanooga (Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board).

Topics Tennessee
Parcels of quality land that come up for sale in the general orbit of Cork City always achieve a premium. The location close to big markets and convenient to the citys solid infrastructure give these kinds of properties a very strong mixture of attributes.

Such a property at Ballyregan, Carrigtwohill, is new to the market with Cork City auctioneers Irish & European. The small 14.3-acre parcel is a high-quality piece of pasture land in an area convenient to the southern capital, as well as being located in an area that is zoned metropolitan greenbelt in the 2022 Cork County Council Development Plan.
Scientists from UCC and Aberystwyth University will be collaborating on research to fight a disease that causes major crop losses and blight in potatoes.

It was one of eight cross-border research collaborations to be awarded funding as part of a prestigious new Research Alliance Award, announced by the Welsh and Irish governments.

Thanks to the new research grant, scientists from University College Cork (UCC) and Aberystwyth Universitys Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences and Department of Life Sciences will be allowed to work on new ways to tackle the disease Phytophthora infestans, also known as the Plant Destroyer.

This disease causes significant crop losses worldwide, including causing blight in potatoes, which has major economic and food security implications.

Professor John Doonan, director of the National Plant Phenomics Centre at IBERS and co-lead on the project, said: This award recognises the power of international collaboration in solving global agricultural challenges. Phytophthora infestans continues to threaten food production systems across Europe.

"By combining our expertise in AI, Prof. Luis Murs expertise in metabolomics with plant pathology researchers in Cork, we aim to build the foundations of a long-term research partnership that can develop sustainable solutions that reduce the need for chemical disease control.

The Ireland-Wales partnership is funded by the Wales Innovation Network (WIN) and Taighde Eireann  Research Ireland, as part of a strategic effort to deepen academic collaboration and enhance access to Horizon Europe, the EUs flagship funding programme for research and innovation.

Announcing the awards, minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, James Lawless, said: The Research Alliance Award highlights the strong ties between Ireland and Wales and the immense potential of our academic communities working together.

"By investing in these innovative projects, we are paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries and solutions that will benefit both our countries and the wider European community. We look forward to seeing how these collaborations develop into larger-scale initiatives that deliver real-world impact.

The seed funding will support project activities for up to 12 months, including researcher exchanges, joint workshops, and preparatory work for future European funding applications. Other projects funded under the scheme span areas such as neurodegenerative disease, AI for seizure detection, freshwater clean-up, and next-generation batteries.

Aberystwyth University is one of four Welsh institutions participating in the programme, alongside Cardiff, Swansea, and Bangor universities. The partner universities in Ireland are University College Dublin, University of Limerick, University College Cork, and Dublin City University.
Many young farmers make the pilgrimage to Australia or New Zealand to do their 88 days of work and to experience the sunshine down under.

These days, its almost a rite of passage to bid farewell to the parents for a time and jet off to the other side of the world. With plenty of farm work to be done, agricultural students are at an advantage to their town-dwelling peers when it comes to snagging a job abroad, as long as they dont balk at a bit of hard work that is.

Here are three young farmers who have returned from their stints abroad with stories, sunburns, and some serious skills to help guide the next wave of Ags on their adventures.

Ciara Byers: Dairy farmer, Co Cavan

Ms Byers hails from a dairy farm in Cavan, where she is currently back home milking and managing 160 high-yielding Holstein-Friesians on a spring and autumn calving system with her father.

A recent graduate from UCD studying animal and crop production, Ms Byers got the itch to head to Australia after spending time on a dairy farm in South Dakota as part of her work placement in her third year.

Ms Byers and her boyfriend, Dathal Kent, secured their first job through a friend at Moxey Farms or Australian Fresh Milk Holdings (AMFH) in Australia.

AMFH boasted a herd of 10,000 milking cows in the summer of 2023 when Ms Byers worked with them, and has since expanded.

The Case IH axial flow 8250 that Ciara Byers drove for harvest.

With the whole production indoors, three rotary parlours going at the same time, and 100 acres worth of concrete to house everything, the experience was absolutely wild for Ms Byers.

She worked there for five months alongside the health team, helping to manage the maternity ward and the dry cows, working 12-hour shifts.

With a farm so big there were several herds to monitor and asses daily, as well as the calving groups and antibiotic herds, Ms Byers with a team of five others were kept busy.

The Case IH axial flow 8250 that Ciara Byers drove for harvest.

If youre in maternity, youre doing constant walks every 20 minutes in a shed that was nearly a kilometre long, with a couple of 100 cows all coming close to calving, Ms Byers recounted.

Although the scale was dizzying in comparison to back home, she took it in her stride.

Due to sheer numbers, Ms Byers explained, although incidences were low relative to herd count, there were more instances of difficulties amongst the herds compared to back home, such as abnormal births, LDAs, nutritional deficiencies, and the like.

Although there was always a vet just one phone call away, Ms Byers and the rest of the team were all encouraged to try first, you always gave it a stab yourself.

And well, its not your own farm, so youre more willing to kind of be like, oh Ill just give it a go, she said.

I found myself very confident by the end of my time there, being able to do any difficult calvings and general animal and herd management, Ms Byers concluded, as she explained she is now able to apply her skills and knowledge to the home herd, helping to cut costs on vet call-outs.

Ive seen and done things now. And I havent just learned it in a book, she explained.

Now that she is helping manage her cows at home, any drenching, pinging, or difficult calvings, Ms Byers barely bats an eye.

Ms Byers also worked for three and a half months seeding and three months on a travelling harvest from the New South Wales-Queensland border to Victoria.

For the seeding, Ms Byers and Mr Kent worked with CC Cooper & Co and experienced back-to-back 12-14 hour shifts, with Mr Kent usually taking the night shift and Ms Byers seeding during the day. Together, they sowed over 10,000 hectares of a variety of crops such as wheat, barley, canola, and some oats.

Ms Byers split her time between a 40-foot New Holland seeder and a 60-foot Case quad-track seeder.

I had never used GPS, so that was a great learning curve for me, Ms Byers said, who wouldnt be a stranger to long hours in a cab after spending many a summer with contractors hauling silage at home.

In the morning, Id rock up at 5am, and Dathal would be falling out of the tractor. Hes wrecked, he wants to go to bed, so usually I take over and Id fill up with diesel, seed, and fertiliser again and Ill check everything over, she recounted.

Youd just set your GPS up and you went up and down the field until you had to fill up with seed and fertiliser again Some people might find it boring, but I thought it was pretty interesting, she said.

For harvesting, Ms Byers explained that each person got their own combine and that was their sole responsibility. Ms Byers was responsible for a Case IH axial flow 8250. Once maintenance checks were done, harvesting would commence at 8am and end at around midnight, depending on the moisture. After the long day, Ms Byers would then blow down the combine to ensure no dust smouldered overnight.

Ms Byers recounted a particularly stressful day and a half of harvesting chickpeas.

I never thought about how chickpeas grew. It turns out, chickpeas are highly flammable because the dust that comes off the plant is really, really fine and dry. Because of the risk of fire, we had to blow down all the dust off the combine every hour. So I was on edge the whole time.

Discussing the differences compared to home, Ms Byers stressed the importance of sun safety.

Between the heat and getting burnt, it just is not like the sun back home, its next level dangerous, she explained, mentioning how she was always stocked up with electrolytes, sun screen, and water.

A culture shock she experienced while down under was an Aussie Christmas. Mentioning that she upheld the Irish tradition of turkey and ham on Christmas day, Ms Byers was shocked to find Aussie families having Christmas day barbeques and salads for their meals.

Ms Byers highly recommends any young farmer who has an inkling to get out to Australia and New Zealand to do so before the responsibilities start building up. She suggests looking for job ads in Facebook groups, as many farmers across the world would post notices looking for seasonal workers; however, keeping an eye out for scams should always be at the back of your mind.

Since returning from abroad, Ms Byers has embraced a new appreciation for home after experiencing the sheer scale of Aussie agriculture.

Vincent Ward: Dairy farmer, Co Meath

Mr Wards home farm originally milked 90 Holstein Friesians with spring and autumn calving blocks.

Vincent Ward with herd 1, the herd he managed in New Zealand.

Now in a registered partnership with his father, Mr Ward has overseen the 100% expansion of their herd to 170 animals calving down this spring. Now, a mixture of Holstein Friesian and Jersey crosses since his return from New Zealand in 2023, with plans for 500% expansion in their five-year plan.

Mr Ward spent 10 months in New Zealand after completing his farming management degree in SETU, while also balancing an online animal Masters degree from UCD with his eight-day-on, three-day-off rota.

Mr Ward worked on a farm with 2,250 Jersey cross cows in the Canterbury region in New Zealand with a team of 12.

The herd is split into four herds of roughly 550 based on parity, with Mr Ward managing herd one, which was third and fourth lactation cows. Under Mr Wards management, herd one was producing 5.2% protein and 4.1% fat.

As an incentive, a bonus was awarded to Mr Ward if he could keep the herds cell count under 80.

Vincent Ward in his old parlour on the home farm.

I thought going out would be incredibly hard to do, but I did it. That was worth 7,000 to me. I was able to keep the cell count under 80 for the whole season, he stated.

Mr Ward touched down in New Zealand in July, which was the Irish equivalent of early February, and was thrown straight into the deep end.

The first morning of work, I went out with the team and I picked up about 60 calves that calved that night, recounted Mr Ward.

His advice for young farmers heading out is to aim to be working in June, similar to an early January back home.

Its an early morning start for the team. At 3am, those rostered for herding were out getting the cows from their paddocks, milkers started at 4 am, and a late morning start meant wandering into the yard at 8 am. During calving, the team would go collect calves at 6 am to bring them

in, tag them, and the mothers were milked last in the parlour for their colostrum to stomach tube the calves with.

A lot of Mr Wards responsibility away from the animals revolved around grass management. Grass walks took three hours each time to cover the full expanse of the farm. With each paddock made up of around 10 hectares, Mr Ward had to split the paddocks appropriately to suit his herd.

I had full responsibility for any sickness, mastitis, lameness, and non-cyclers within that group, which gave a lot of responsibility; it was daunting at the start, but the big thing was the grass management, managing the grass and allocating the right amount for each herd.

Something Mr Ward had to wrap his head around was the irrigation systems, which are common on Kiwi farms.

They make it rain with an irrigation system. When I got out there first, and I saw that, I thought this is almost cheating. It was just such an advantage to just put on the irrigators and theyve got grass growth of 100kg a day, no problem at all, he explained.

Another major difference between New Zealand and the home farm was the financial management.

These farms are run without any of the EU subsidies. So profitability depends 100% on cost control and productivity. So like that mindset really influenced how I looked at margins back home.

The financially savvy Kiwi mentality was a major upskill Mr Ward gained while working abroad, and helped to fund and keep the farming partnership with his father and their expansion going.

Now were trying to utilise the value from the grass and maximising the cows potential to cover all costs and look at the single farm payments and any sort of funding or grants like that, just as additional, Mr Ward explained.

Although Mr Ward looks back on his time in New Zealand fondly, two main points of contention for the young farmer were some practices that didnt sit right with him.

The only overshadowing effect of the experience  and I feel very strongly about this  was the animal welfare, the bobby calf [Jersey bull calf] management, and the environmental management on farms is deplorable, like it is shocking.

The dark side of the New Zealand dairy industry meant Mr Ward saw bull calves shot by the end of the calving season and carcasses burnt in the same pit alongside the household rubbish.

I dont know how theres not more being done about it either, Mr Ward went on.

For young farmers who want to dairy in New Zealand, its important not to be disillusioned and know what to expect. Mr Ward also advised young farmers to embrace the scale, the difference, and the team culture of the farm youre on  you have to buy into the culture on the farm.

Mr Ward also advises shadowing farm owners and managers as much as possible, explaining how some of the farmers he worked with became mentors of sorts, offering practical and science-driven points of view on situations and the industry that Mr Ward found invaluable.

Rachel Connolly: PhD student, Co Donegal

Ms Connolly doesnt come from a farm herself, but her extended family is agricultural stock. She now has a modest flock of sheep of her own built from five original pet lambs she raised while on placement.

PhD student Rachel Connolly.

With her love for animals, Ms Connolly received a sustainable agriculture degree from Dundalk Institute of Technology, an agricultural extension and innovation Masters in UCD, and is now partway through her PhD researching ewe and lamb performance on multispecies swards at UCD.

Ms Connolly went to New Zealand as part of her PhD, assisting sheep trials, spending seven weeks on the South Island at Lincoln University and five weeks on the North Island with Massey University, as well as visiting a few sheep stations.

The research flocks boasted numbers of 60-70 ewes with their lambs; however, the scale of the flocks at the sheep stations blew Ms Connolly away.

A Bohepe sheep flock that Ms Connolly worked with in New Zealand.

Thousands, maybe 2000-3000, some had more  The scale was just amazing, she recounted.

Ms Connolly marvelled at how self-sufficient the flocks had to be in New Zealand compared to Irish practices. All ewes lamb outdoors and by themselves a sink or swim mentality is employed by Kiwi shepherds.

Ms Connollys day in New Zealand began at 8am. Sheep had to be shifted to new paddocks, ewes with lambs at foot had to be checked, paddocks cut, and botanical separations conducted on samples from every paddock entered and left by ewes and lambs.

It was a lot of data collection like that, and sometimes that would take up the majority of the day, she explained.

Ms Connolly mainly helped manage the research as she had missed lambing by a matter of weeks when she arrived in October.

Once 4.30pm rolled around, you were expected to go home, Ms Connolly explained.

Theyre very good in their work-life balance, she recalled wistfully, her day-to-day now back home, not allowing for the same luxuries with her PhD in full swing.

PhD student Rachel Connolly.

A skill Ms Connolly brought back with her was the relaxed mentality the farmers seemed to have out in New Zealand.

They are such a relaxed nation and they dont get excited about things that arent worth getting excited about  I can be quite an excitable person, and it took me a while to get into that frame of mind, Ms Connolly explained.

The breeding practices were a big difference between the norm back home in Ireland and New Zealand.

One thing that really stood out to me was their progression in improving their flock genetics, and some of the things theyre selecting for really surprised me.

Ms Connolly explained farmers focused on selecting and breeding animals for welfare and to be suitable for the factory, such as breeding for shorter tails or for shorter wool on their hind legs and bellies. As a result, this lowers the labour intensity needed for the animal.

Theyre thinking ahead in terms of that, she considered.

Ms Connolly also marvelled at the openness the farmers in New Zealand displayed.

You could ask any question, there were no secrets. Theyre just such an open group of people, and it was just lovely to witness that and to be able to get exposure to that.

As one might expect, travelling alone across to the other side of the world can be a daunting task for anyone.

I kind of had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable for a while and, you know, being unsure of exactly how things were going to pan out, Ms Connolly explained.

It was daunting enough, going somewhere so far away on my own, especially, being a young woman too, its not always easy, but Im glad I was brave enough to get out there and just do it, she insisted, encouraging all young farmers with any hint of trepidation to give it a go.

An interesting practice, Ms Connolly noted, that juxtaposed with the lives of Irish farmers was the lack of attachment to the land that the Kiwis seem to have.

One thing I did notice was that were very attached to tradition and the land here in Ireland, but in New Zealand, from what Ive seen, its not like that at all. If the farm isnt capable of supporting the production system that the farmer wants to run, they look for land elsewhere. Theres no issue in moving on to another farm, even if that farm they were on was part of their family for generations.

Now home and working on completing her PhD, Ms Connolly would go back to New Zealand in the morning if I could.

Her parting advice for farmers going off this year to Australia or New Zealand is to get out there, get excited, but give yourself the space and grace to find your feet and enjoy yourself.

Im sure I speak for all farming parents letting their chicks fly the nest to experience the wider world and see what Australia and New Zealand have to offer, when I say: Slan abhaile agus tar ar ais aris.
No one familiar with Gare St Lazare Irelands body of work will have been surprised by the success of what the Hollywood Reporter hailed as their authentically powerful production of Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot at the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles late last year.

Gare St Lazare is run by Cork couple Judy Hegarty Lovett, who directed the production, and her partner Conor Lovett, who played Pozzo. They launched the company in 1996, when Hegarty Lovett first directed Lovett in their acclaimed adaptation of Becketts novel Molloy at the Battersea Arts Centre in London, and they have since presented the Nobel Laureates work to rapt audiences all over the world. In Los Angeles, more than 26,000 people saw their Godot, which also starred Rainn Wilson of NBCs The Office as Vladimir and Aasif Mandvi of The Daily Show as Estragon, over its seven-week run.

For much of their career, Hegarty Lovett and Lovett have been based in Mericourt  a village on the River Seine an hour northwest of Paris. Mericourt is where they reared their family of three, Louis, Ruby and Lux, and they dont foresee ever leaving. If anything, theyre digging in. In 2023, in a gesture that acknowledges their devotion to both Beckett and Mericourt, Hegarty Lovett and Lovett established Atelier Samuel Beckett, an artists residency in a house next door to their own.

Were at that stage where we felt we should be giving something back and the residency seemed the best way of doing it. Mericourt is a small

community of 380 people, and were part of its fabric. Were very pleased that our neighbours have been so open to the idea, and are very happy with it. They all came to walk through the house and offer help and furniture. Theyve been very generous. You dont want to parachute in with an idea like this. You want to integrate it into the community, says Hegarty Lovett.

Hegarty Lovett and Lovett first got to know Mericourt through the late Bob Meyer, a theatre producer from Chicago theyd worked with in Paris. Bob had a place in Mericourt where wed come and stay, says Lovett. He mentioned that an American couple had a summer house nearby, and they might let us move in when they were not around. So we approached them, and they let us have it.

After a year we tried to formalise the arrangement; we already had one child, our son Louis, and another on the way. But they didnt want rent, they were just happy to have us in the house. When they came over for the summer, we might be out on tour, or wed go back to Cork. It worked out fine. It gave us a great start, having the place for so long. We had the same arrangement for six or seven years until we managed to buy another house in the village, where we still live today.

Samuel Beckett

Hegarty Lovetts ground-breaking work as a director and Lovetts achievements as an actor have ensured that Gare St Lazare is one of the most dynamic Irish theatre companies at work today. Growing up, however, neither was initially drawn to the stage. Hegarty Lovett attended the Crawford College of Art and Design, while Lovett did a bilingual secretarial course.

My French teacher on that course was Roisin Crowley, who decided that we should do an end-of-year show, The Lesson by Ionesco, says Lovett, who lived in the Ballinlough building that also housed his parents restaurant. Id never been on stage before, but I suddenly thought, oh my God, this is where Im supposed to be. I went on to study Stagecraft at Colaiste Stiofain Naofa on Tramore Road, and after that, I started acting with the Dram Soc at UCC.

Hegarty Lovett, from Monkstown, became interested in performance art in her final year at the Crawford, which led onto working in the theatre, and completing a post-graduate degree in Dramatherapy at University of Hertfordshire in Britain. When she and Lovett started working together, we went into it without fully identifying what it was or what our titles were, she says. Its only in the past few years that Ive started thinking of myself as a director.

Their interest in adapting Molloy for the stage led to a meeting with Becketts publisher, John Calder. Because Molloy is a prose work, John was the point of contact for permissions. He was very supportive. He brought Edward Beckett, Samuels nephew, to see us in London, and thankfully, he liked what we were doing as well. Edward manages the Beckett estate, and from then on we dealt directly with him. Weve always maintained a really good relationship.

After Molloy, they went on to adapt Malone Dies and The Unnamable, the other novels in the trilogy Beckett produced after the war, around the same time he composed Waiting for Godot. Later, they also adapted two of his novellas, First Love and The End.

Eventually, they branched out into producing larger Beckett productions, beginning with Godot, with Lovett playing the role of Vladimir, which they presented at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2013 and toured to Shanghai, Boston and New York.

Actor Stephen Dillane and director Conor Lovett at The Everyman, Cork in 2018. Picture: Darragh Kane

Theyve worked with other writers as well. Hegarty Lovett has directed Lovett in Conor McPhersons The Good Thief, Herman Melvilles Moby Dick, Michael Frayns Copenhagen, and Will Enos Title and Deed, which they premiered at Kilkenny Arts Festival in 2011. Hegarty Lovetts work on another Eno play, The Realistic Joneses, won her the Best Director award at the 2022 Irish Times Theatre Awards.

Lovett has also worked with other theatre companies, in roles such as Lucky in Walter Asmus 50th anniversary Godot production at the Gate in Dublin; The Old Man In His Coffin in Michael Keegan Dolans The Bull for Fabulous Beast; and David in Lucy Caldwells Leaves, directed by Garry Hynes for a Druid/Royal Court co-production in Galway and London. He has also acted in films such as Moll Flanders, Intermission, De Gaulle and Ritornello, and on television in Father Ted, Charlie, Versailles and Belgravia.

The couples primary interest, however, has always been in finding new ways to bring Beckett to the stage. In 2015, they began work on an adaptation of his 1961 novel How It Is, which became the basis of the PhD, on the staging of Becketts prose, that Hegarty Lovett completed six years later through the University of Reading. Even by Becketts standards, How It Is is bleak, featuring a narrator lying in a pool of mud in the dark who repeats the story of his life as he hears it recounted by a voice inside him.

 How It Is is often seen as being one of Becketts more inaccessible or impenetrable works, but we think its a masterpiece, says Hegarty Lovett. We presented our adaptation in three parts over three years from 2018, on a residency at the Everyman Theatre in Cork, working with people like the tenor Mark Padmore and the Irish Gamelan Orchestra. Edward Beckett came to each of the premieres, and he couldnt believe what wed done with it. We eventually filmed the whole thing as well, during the COVID pandemic. The film is six hours 17 minutes long.

Gare St Lazare has had many supporters, in Ireland and elsewhere, but it was an American couple who helped bring the Atelier Samuel Beckett project to fruition. Paul Ralston and Deb Gwinn from Vermont have been patrons for years, says Hegarty Lovett. When they were selling up their coffee business to retire, they approached us and said look, wed like to do something substantial for the company, and make sure youre secure going forward. When they asked what wed like to do, we said lets create an artist residency in Mericourt. They thought it was a brilliant idea. They said 100% lets go for it.

The Beckett Atelier

Lovett adds: And at the same time the woman who used to own the house next to ours approached us and said Im thinking of selling, and I thought you guys might be interested. Which was the weirdest thing, as we hadnt put anything out about it. So we bought and renovated the house. We asked Edward Beckett if we could name it the Atelier Samuel Beckett, and he was delighted. Thats a huge branding. But its also a huge endorsement for us as artists, that the Beckett Estate would give us that permission. Edward is a patron of the project, along with the actor Ciaran Hinds, whos based in Paris.

Currently its the only Beckett destination building in the world, says Hegarty Lovett. Becketts apartment in Paris is still in the family, and he left his retreat in the village of Ussy-sur-Marne to the local farmers who used to look after it for him. But theres no Beckett museum, and no other Beckett residency.

The Atelier in Mericourt has two en suite bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and a study, which houses the Beckett Library, with books donated by Edward Beckett, John Calders widow Sheila Colvin Calder and the Lovetts themselves. The house overlooks the River Seine, and there are a number of caves on the property they hope to develop as studio spaces.

Mericourt is a beautiful place to stay in, says Lovett. Paris is 40 minutes by train, Claude Monets house in Giverny is a 10-minute drive away, and La Roche-Guyon, another nearby village, has a massive chateau thats well worth a visit. We make our second car available to our residents. As long as youre licensed, we have a fully comprehensive insurance that will cover you.

Edward Beckett and Hinds have both stayed at the Atelier, as have writers Kevin Barry and John Dunlea; composers Benedict Schelpper-Connolly, David Stalling and Anthony Kelly; and actors Faline England, Sorcha Fox and Ally Ni Chiarain, among many others.

Galway Culture Company has sponsored two residencies, and were hoping to come to a similar arrangement with Cork County Council and the National Sculpture Factory, says Hegarty Lovett.

The couple have also just announced a three-year collaboration with the National Latinx Theatre in Los Angeles, awarding three-week residencies to the Chicano playwright Luis Alfaro in 2026, the Uruguayan Gracia Rogelia in 2027, and the Venezolana Rebeca Aleman in 2028.

Along with the space for artists to stay and work in, residencies at the Atelier come with the option of mentorship. When we started the Atelier, it was obvious to us that it should provide access to the artistic directors of Gare St Lazare, says Lovett. We feel we have something to offer, all this Beckett knowledge weve built up over the years that were happy to impart to others.

We also have access to the greater Beckett community, says Hegarty Lovett. We know we can call on these people to give mentorship, workshops or whatever. And all of that can be tailored to whoevers coming through and whatever their specific needs are. Were not suggesting that everyone who stays here must work on a Beckett project, of course. The only prerequisite, really, is that they be curious about Beckett and want to learn more.

Hegarty Lovett and Lovett currently run the Atelier themselves, but longterm theyd like to get somebody else in to run it.

They have two new Gare St Lazare productions in development. One is another collaboration with Will Ono, which were developing with the Gate Theatre in Dublin, says Hegarty Lovett. The other is a new version of a Marcel Mihalovici chamber opera based on Becketts one-man play, Krapps Last Tape. We hope to launch that in Ireland next year, and then tour it internationally.

Their family is equally busy. All three live in Paris, says Lovett. Louis is a filmmaker, Ruby works at Art for Human Rights, and Lux is studying interior design, though she also acts. She worked with us on Shades Through a Shade at the Samuel Beckett Theatre as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival last year.

Looking back, theyre sometimes surprised at just how rich their journey has been. Hegarty Lovett says: In those early years in Mericourt, we created the body of work were still bringing out around the world today, It has sustained us hugely.

SAMUEL BECKETT 1906-1989 Samuel Beckett was born and reared in Dublin, but settled in Paris in 1937. For all that he found Ireland too conservative a place to live in, he still took a certain pride in his background. Once, when asked if he was English, he replied: Au contraire. Beckett published a short story collection, More Pricks Than Kicks, in 1934, and went on to produce a series of novels that included Murphy (1938), Watt (1934), Molloy (1951), Malone Dies (1951) and The Unnamable (1958). However, he is better-known for his plays, including Waiting for Godot (1953), Endgame (1957), Krapps Last Tape (1958) and Happy Days (1961). Beckett is associated with the Theatre of the Absurd. His works for the stage are renowned for their bleak sense of humour. In Waiting for Godot, two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, pass the time in idle banter. When Estragon embarks on an eloquent description of the Dead Sea, Vladimir remarks: You should have been a poet. Estragon gestures at his rags and replies I was. Isnt that obvious? Beckett did not enjoy the limelight. When he won the 1969 Nobel Prize for Literature, his wife Suzanne Dechevaux- Dumesnil called it a catastrophe, knowing the prize money might bring them financial stability, but it would be at the cost of their privacy. Suzanne died in July 1989 and Beckett in December. They are buried in Montparnasse, under a headstone that Beckett insisted could be any colour, as long as its grey.
A plan to build nearly 1,000 more prison spaces before the end of the decade is to be accelerated, the justice minister will tell Cabinet today.

Jim O'Callaghan will inform ministers that the Irish Prison Service can deliver 150 additional spaces at Castlerea, 180 at the Midlands Prison, 50 spaces at the Dochas Centre women's prison, 100 at Wheatfield, and 150 at Mountjoy  all 12 months ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, the rebuild of the Old Cork Prison site will see 230 additional male spaces and 100 for women. That facility is due to finish at the beginning of 2031.

Jim OCallaghan has engaged with public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers to allow for the acceleration of prison projects  reducing delivery timelines by up to 18 months in some cases.

The Minister will inform government that the prison estate as a whole is currently operating at 115% over capacity with a new record high of 5,394 in prison in mid-April  an 11% rise in 12 months and over 1,100 more people in prison than in January 2023.

Overcrowding creates "an increasing level of risk for the Irish Prison Service, its staff and the people in its custody including rises in assaults, pressure on all ancillary services, threats to staff safety, and insufficient capacity to respond effectively to emergencies", he is set to tell cabinet.

He also intends to introduce an electronic tagging pilot programme in the coming months.

Meanwhile, housing minister James Browne will bring to cabinet a memo updating ministers on the progress of plans to exempt modular homes in existing gardens. Planning minister John Cummins has been pursuing changes to provide exemptions for detached cabin or modular-style structures at the back of properties. Currently, planning exemptions are in place for a 40sq m extension that is attached to a property.

Cabinet will hear that an interdepartmental consultation is "substantially complete" with 11 government departments making submissions. A public consultation will take place this month and finalisation of exempted developments regulations will follow.

Sources said that the plan would increase the ability to "expand and improve existing planning exemptions" and it is understood that the review has identified areas that are in need of updating to enable the quicker delivery of certain education, health, and utility infrastructure.

Minister for social protection Dara Calleary will announce the expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme which aims to help more disabled people get and retain jobs. Enterprise minister Peter Burke will also tell Cabinet that he is setting up a new group with the sole aim of reducing the cost of running a business.

The Cost of Business Advisory Forum will hold its first meeting on June 11 and will bring together business owners, retailers, tourism operators, accounting professionals and representative groupsalongside regulators and state agencies.

Also at Cabinet, minister for higher Education James Lawless will request cabinet note his plans to launch a further call for applications under the Technological Sector and Specialist Colleges Enhancement Fund (TEF) which funds initiatives aimed at developing Technological Universities (TU's), Institutes of Technology (IOTs) and publicly-funded specialist colleges.
Gardai suspect that Evan Fitzgerald was intent on suicide at the Carlow shopping centre on Sunday  but are analysing his phones and online activity to determine if there was any extremism influence on his actions.

The Special Detective Unit  the forces anti-terrorism squad  is assisting local gardai, who are leading the investigation.

Searches have been conducted at Mr Fitzgeralds home in Co Wicklow as well as lockups and lands associated with him  and evidence removed for examination.

The 22-year-old was on bail for serious firearms charges despite objections of gardai, who said the young man had a fascination with firearms.

The bail matter sparked comments from Taoiseach Micheal Martin yesterday, who said there were concerning issues with the bail laws, which, he pointed out, were already under review.

He also indicated that prosecutions need to be quicker so that the length of time on bail is shorter.

Mr Fitzgeralds mental health, his intense online activity, and his likely impending prison sentence have been suggested as possible factors in his actions.

Little over a day after he walked into Fairgreen Shopping Centre and began shooting into the air  causing panic among people, including children  the following details have emerged:

Gardai suspect Mr Fitzgerald had devised a suicide plan, in which he would die either at his own hands or in suicide by cop, where police are forced into a situation to shoot a person in order to neutralise a threat they pose;

A key part of the plan was getting a weapon, which Mr Fitzgerald is thought to have done by burgling a house and taking a legally-owned shotgun and cartridges (or had cartridges himself);

Gardai have conducted searches at Mr Fitzgeralds family home, and other locations, and material, including phones and digital devices, have been taken for forensic examination;

Officers hope this examination will reveal if there are any other factors, such as interaction with extremism material, which may have influenced his actions;

Risk assessments and engagements were carried out on associates of Mr Fitzgerald to assess if any posed a threat, but no issues are thought to have arisen;

Officers are examining why Mr Fitzgerald had a bottle on him, containing, what gardai said, was an unknown substance, and which responding gardai feared could have been part of an explosive device;

Gardai believe that Mr Fitzgerald had no intention to harm anyone else and could have killed people if he had wanted.

Garda HQ said gardai received reports of shots fired at Fairgreen at 6.15pm on Sunday and that when uniform gardai arrived a large number of people were fleeing the centre.

When the gunman emerged he discharged another cartridge into the air.

When plainclothes armed gardai arrived, they drew their weapons and identified themselves to the suspect, who then shot himself. No garda weapons were fired.

All the circumstances suggest his plan was suicide, one source said. Whether he intended this would be suicide by cop or at his own hand we dont know. But we do know that as soon as armed gardai arrived he shot himself.

A second source said: This was a personal tragedy, a very public one. We are very fortunate it wasnt a lot worse. He had ample opportunity, if he wanted, to kill someone, but all his shots were into the air.

A third source said: This is a sad case. But, its a mental health case, rather than anything else...mixed with todays society and unlimited access to the internet.

Gardai will prepare a file for the coroner, while Fiosru, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, confirmed it is conducting an investigation.
Survivors of Defence Forces mistreatment and other abuses want the terms of reference of the forthcoming Defence Forces tribunal changed to include abuses of rank and power.

Their request is to be dealt with at a sitting of the tribunal in Dublin on June 16.

Also to be heard then will be an application by the Defence Forces for more time with which to provide documentation needed by legal teams representing survivors in advance of the opening of proceedings.

The tribunal was one of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report in March 2023.

It concluded the Defence Forces "barely tolerates women", and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks.

It noted 80% of harassment of male and female personnel was perpetrated by one or more members of a higher rank to the victim.

A notice on the tribunals website states there has been a request for a broader interpretation of the word abuse.

It notes: The tribunal has received correspondence requesting it to adopt a broader interpretation of abuse in order to encompass allegedly persistent violations of health and safety legislation by the Defence Forces.

The rationale for the request is that allegedly systemic failures relating to health and safety were not remedied by the Defence Forces [and] amount to abusive treatment.

The word abuse is defined in the existing terms of reference as meaning discrimination, bullying, harassment, physical torture, physical assault, psychological harm, sexual harassment and any form of sexual misconduct.

This includes sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault and rape.

The tribunal was established to inquire into the Defence Forces' complaints processes in respect of complaints of abuse and to consider how those complaints were handled.

It was also set up to investigate whether there was a culture that discouraged the making of complaints of abuse.

It noted: The tribunal considers it necessary that all parties have a clear understanding of what each category of abuse is interpreted by the tribunal to mean.

A source familiar with the application for a review of the terms of reference said: Abuse should include the abuse of rank and power.

At present, it isnt included in the tribunals terms and conditions.
Richard Satchwell is a "master manipulator" who secretly buried his murdered wife under the stairs of their home where he could have "ultimate control" over her, the victim's sister told the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday as the defendant was sentenced to life in prison.

The court was also told on Wednesday that Satchwell - who has 14 previous convictions - intends to appeal against last week's unanimous jury verdict convicting him of Tina Satchwell's murder.

Lorraine Howard said in her victim impact statement that Satchwell had treated his wife's body "with such disrespect". "The appalling way my sister was buried, wrapped in plastic, buried beneath soil and concrete puts shivers down my spine every time I think about it," she said.

She went on to say that Satchwell "showed Tinas dog in death more respect" by getting the animal "cremated and making a shrine". She said Satchwell wanted Tina where he could have "the ultimate control, within his home under the stairs".

Ms Howard added: "He put us as a family through the ultimate hell of not knowing what had happened to Tina for years. He manipulated us as the master manipulator he is into believing she would one day return.

"Having taken her life, he didnt even have the decency to let us have her body and mourn her death. To bury her with the dignity she deserves. I will never be able to forgive Richard Satchwell for what he has done.

A second victim impact statement was read to the sentencing court by Tina's niece, Sarah Howard, who said her aunt was taken from them "in the most tragic and violent way, murdered by someone who claimed to love her".

"I cannot comprehend how someone who was supposed to love and protect her could do something so cruel. There are no words that can truly capture the pain and heartbreak this has caused me and my family. What happened to her has shaken me to my core," she said.

Sarah Howard went on to say: "One of the things I dont think I will ever overcome is to find out that Richard Satchwell had put Tina in a chest freezer and then a few days later he texted me to offer me the freezer. To hear this just horrified me to think I could have taken it into my family home and used it. What sort of person can do that".

The trial heard that Satchwell told gardai how he kept Tina's body in a chest freezer before burying her beneath their home. He offered the same freezer to Sarah before advertising it on 'Done Deal' as "free to take away...just needs a clean" days after the murder.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Satchwell to life in prison and said it only remained for him to express his condolences to Tina's family. The sentence was backdated to October 12, 2023, when the defendant went into custody.

Brendan Grehan SC, for Satchwell, said he had taken instructions from his client, who asked him to say that he intends to appeal, insists that he never intended to kill Tina and that "despite anything said in the trial, Tina was a lovely person".

Satchwell's 14 previous convictions include larceny from a shop, theft and taking a cheque book containing 14 cheques from an employer.

Last Friday, Satchwell was found guilty of Tina's murder by the unanimous verdict of a Central Criminal Court jury. The 12 jurors took nine hours and 28 minutes over four days to convict Satchwell, a British national whose date of birth is 16/06/1966 and is shortly due to turn 59 years old.

Satchwell had pleaded not guilty to murdering 45-year-old Tina Satchwell - nee Dingivan - at their home address at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork between March 19 and March 20, 2017, both dates inclusive.

Case background

The six-foot two truck driver had claimed that his five-foot four wife Tina, who weighed eight stone, had launched an attack on him with a chisel and died during a struggle in which he either lacked the intent to kill her or was acting in self-defence. Her cause of death could not be determined due to the skeletonised nature of her remains when they were eventually uncovered.

The jury however unanimously rejected his defence and agreed with the State's case that Satchwell was a "cunning" murderer whose claims were "nonsense" and had hidden his wife's body to ensure a cause of death would not be available.

The jury had watched video clips of a tearful Richard Satchwell making televised appeals for Tina to come home, months after he murdered her and buried her in a grave dug almost one metre deep beneath the stairs of their house.

The panel agreed with the prosecution case that Satchwell's narrative of how his wife died after he held her off by the belt of her bathrobe - the only account of her death they were given - was "absolutely farcical" and had "more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese".

The trial heard that on March 24, 2017, Satchwell told gardai that his wife Tina had left their home four days earlier but that he had no concerns over her welfare, feeling she had left due to a deterioration in their relationship.

Tina Satchwell's body was not discovered for over six years. File picture

Satchwell formally reported Tina missing the following May but her body was not discovered for over six years, when gardai in October 2023 conducting a second, invasive search of the Satchwell home found her decomposed remains in a grave dug underneath the stairs.

When re-arrested on suspicion of Tina's murder after her body was removed from their home, Satchwell told gardai that his wife "flew" at him with a chisel, that he fell backwards against the floor and described her death after he said he held her off by the belt of her bathrobe at her neck.

Gerardine Small SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, submitted in her closing address that the Leicester native had woven "a web of deceit" and continued his "fabricated narrative" over the years. Counsel said Satchwell's objective from the very outset was "always to put everyone off the scent" and that this was done because he had murdered Tina.

Satchwell, the lawyer submitted, was "shamelessly brazen right up to the very end", when his wife's remains were discovered at the couple's home in Youghal.

Victim impact statements - Sarah Howard

In the first statement delivered to the sentencing court, Tina's niece Sarah Howard said: "Listening to all the lies in the court was very hard and knowing now all the horrible things that were done to her, such as being just wrapped in a piece of plastic and buried in such an undignified way, cause me huge amounts of distress".

Sarah said Satchwell had "decided to portray Tina in a way during the trial that is not true to who she was".

Sarah stressed that Tina was not a violent person. "She was caring, gentle and loyal to those she loved. Having her name tarnished during the trial was very difficult."

She asked the court to consider "not just the crime but the cruelty that followed it and the deception, the stolen years and false hope he gave us all that one day she might turn up. This has left a permanent hole in our lives."

Victim impact statements - Lorraine Howard

In her statement, Lorraine Howard said she and Tina "were inseparable growing up in Fermoy as kids" and "always had each other's backs".

"From as long as I can remember Tina loved animals, there were always cats and dogs following around Tina. She hated seeing any animal neglected or in pain. She was so kind-hearted," she said.

The witness described Tina as gentle, with "such a soft and loving soul".

Lorraine commented that Tina's love of fashion was portrayed as a negative during the trial. "We all have our interests and likes, it just so happened Tinas was fashion. She saved her money and spent it on clothes. Fashion was her escape. Fashion in a sense saved her."

She said during the trial "the country heard" how she and Tina had fallen out. "I dont want to get into the reasons again, but what I do know was that myself and Tina would have made up and become best of friends again."

She added: "Richard Satchwell stole that from us and actually stole that from many people even before he murdered Tina, by isolating her and alienating her from many friends when she was alive."

Lorraine said that Satchwell "pushed a narrative for years" that Tina was "this violent and coercive-natured woman which couldnt be further from the truth".

She said she was so thankful that the jury saw through his lies and found him guilty of this "despicable crime". She said they would never get to be sisters again.

Lorraine said her brother's name and suicide was "brought up time and time again" during the trial, making "an already horrendous situation worse". She said watching herself being used to help the defence "was like pouring salt into an open wound. It was intolerable for me, my mother, my children and my extended family".

She added: "I feel that no sentence could ever be enough for the monster that took Tina from us. How could someone who claims to love and adore his wife spread the rubble from the manmade grave that he dug and buried her in around all their most special places."

In summary, Lorraine thanked the prosecution team "for presenting the evidence to the jury" and gardai "for finding the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and fitting them together to find Tina and bringing her home to us".

Statement outside court

Speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice building, Superintendent Anne Marie Twomey said gardai were thankful that the investigation "had provided answers and a sense of justice for Tina's family and the wider community".

"While no resolution could erase the pain of loss, we sincerely hope the conclusion of the case brings some measure of comfort to Tinas family.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to the witnesses in the case and to all of those who assisted us throughout the investigation. Your assistance formed an essential part of the journey.

"We would like to acknowledge the support of the wider community, especially those in Fermoy and Youghal. Finally, we, the investigation team, are happy that justice has been served for Tina," she concluded.
A senior figure in the drugs trade in Cork City and across the south of Ireland was remanded in custody with consent to bail on Wednesday after an independent surety was approved in court.

54-year-old Ian Hanlon of Maulbawn, Passage West, County Cork, is charged with having 80,000 worth of cocaine at his home in Passage West. Detective Garda Bryan English of Togher Drugs Unit arrested and charged him with having a stash of cocaine at his home on May 18.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case against Ian Hanlon, on the application of Sergeant Gearoid Davis, until June 26 to allow time for DPP directions to be obtained.

Det. Garda English testified at Cork District Court that officers of Togher Drugs Unit arrived at the defendants home on Sunday, May 18.

Gardai arrived at the property with a warrant. No persons were present. Gardai made contact with Ian Hanlon (by phone) and invited him to return home and he said he would. A considerable amount of time was given for him to do so.

When gardai contacted him again to say they had entered the house without him and had breached it, his phone was turned off.

Subject to analysis, cocaine with a value of 80,000 was found at his home. Mixing agent was also found along with a tick list with names and large amount of money (noted).

At interview he said he has a debt of 300,000 and is now at a loss for the drugs on top of that. He is believed to be at the higher level of the drugs trade across Cork City and the southern region of Ireland."

Ian Hanlon gave evidence in his bail application, saying:

Obviously, I owe money. That is why I continued doing what I did. I cannot do it anymore. I have to accept what it is now. I have no intention of doing anything. I am in enough trouble.

Judge Mary Dorgan granted bail to the accused but on conditions, including his own bond of 15,000 cash, and an independent surety of 10,000, of which 5,000 cash is to be lodged in court. That surety was approved on Wednesday.

Ian Hanlon is charged with possession of cocaine at his home on May 18 and having the drugs for the purpose of sale or supply to others.
Crates of cocaine, loaded under cover of night from an armed boat by some crew members while others aboard the MV Matthew were plied with alcohol as a distraction began a descent into chaos which would ultimately lead to their arrest.

Terrified and alone at sea, the crew said they were then compelled to comply with the major drug trafficking operation directed from Dubai that resulted in Irelands largest ever cocaine seizure off the Cork coast in September, 2023.

Fear permeated the bulk cargo ship, the accused said, with some crew saying they were promised bonuses to keep their mouths shut when they questioned the legality of the cargo.

They were told it was spare parts but many of the sailors admitted that they suspected it was illegal contraband  most likely drugs or weapons.

Eight men have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a drug smuggling plot in which 2.25 tonnes of cocaine  the largest seizure in the history of the State  was found on the Panamanian registered MV Matthew, a 190-metre-long, 32-metre-wide bulk cargo ship off the Cork coast.

All arrested aboard the MV Matthew said they flew to Dubai for interviews before flying on to South America to begin their job.

All bar one  Cumali Ozgen  had significant experience at sea and many had multiple maritime qualifications.

In mitigation, the men were described as people in difficult circumstances who provided diligently for their families, some of whom suffered ill health.

But they were expendable and the bottom of the food chain for the organised crime group running the drug trafficking operation, the Special Criminal Court heard in mitigation.

Those directing the operations from Dubai remained thousands of miles away from the ship and kept their hands clean.

Military personnel secured the MV Matthew and escorted it into Cork Harbour in September, 2023, after the suspected drugs were found on board in what turned out to be Irelands largest ever cocaine seizure. File picture: PA

Although Mr Ozgen may have been the eyes and ears of those directing the operation from Dubai, there was no suggestion he had an organising role, defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC said.

Mr Ozgen had accepted that he loaded three crates with drugs on the MV Matthew and was involved in moving the drugs by hand.

He also admitted playing a part in helping to burn the drugs, getting paint thinner to try to intensify the flames, after the ship was stormed by elite army rangers in September 2023, bringing the criminal operation to a sudden and dramatic end.

He admitted that he believed he would get a bonus of some 50,000 to 100,000  euros or dollars.

He had a prestigious cabin on the boat, although initially claimed he was a cleaner which didnt make sense, Mr Grehan said.

Unlike anyone else on the boat, he had no seafaring experience, although he was described as an ordinary seaman.

His role to some extent was tending to the cargo aboard  the drugs, Mr Grehan said.

He had no previous convictions and appears to have worked in a series of menial jobs in the past.

I think its well established that were in a hierarchy for those involved in this kind of drug smuggling operation, Mr Grehan said. He added:

The owners or stakeholders keep their hands clean and very far away from any possible exposure.

And the people on board were being directed by a company in Dubai and people offboard throughout the operation, he said.

These voices from off the boat directed the crew not to comply with directions from the Irish naval ship, despite warning shots being fired.

They also directed them to burn the drugs and get rid of all phones, he said.

One caring message told the crew that the organisers were not interested in one dollar out of this and they did not want anyone going to jail, telling them to head to Sierra Leone.

Perhaps it is not surprising that people felt obliged to comply with the wishes of people in that organisation, he said, given the power of the organised crime gang that appeared to be involved.

Mr Cumali Ozgen asked me to apologise to the people of the court and to the people of Ireland.

He got involved in a misguided attempt to get money to assist his family, particularly his son [who suffered a brain tumour and required surgery].

He regrets every day how stupid he was to get involved in this matter. He wanted to make money but finds himself getting no money, no financial reward and facing a lengthy custodial sentence.

Harold Estoesta was a recently qualified 2nd Officer.

He was assigned a communication role on the boat, perhaps because of his strong command of English, his barrister Michael Hourigan SC said.

He was not happy about this but had to take orders, he said.

He said he was told the boat had to take on a cargo of spare parts.

Fears about possible contraband

He was directed to assist on the night the cargo was brought aboard, but some of the other crew were to be given as much alcohol as possible.

When he saw armed men on the boat unloading the cargo he became extremely concerned that they were loading contraband  drugs or weapons.

But he was then terrified and alone at sea so felt he must comply.

He was told that everyone would get bonuses, when he raised concerns that the cargo was not spare parts.

Ships can be very dangerous places and countless sailors go missing every year, his barrister, Mr Hourigan said.

He made certain choices but I ask you to contextualise, fear was present on his part.

Essentially, he was threatened on the boat, he said.

Mr Estoesta was of good character with no previous convictions.

At 31, he was accomplished, having been a government scholar in the Philippines.

The captain, Iranians Soheil Jelveh, 51, was highly qualified and had no previous links to organsied crime, barrister Keivon Sotoodeh said.

His wife has cancer and his daughter, 22, is studying in Istanbul. His son is 20. He has been the familys sole breadwinner, he said.

Two Ukrainians who had escaped to Romania after Russia invaded their country, were also arrested from the MV Matthew.

Vitaliy Vlasoi, who turned 33 on Tuesday, was brought up by his mother, a kindergarten teacher, and studied at the maritime college in Odessa before beginning his professional life as a sailor.

Seafaring was in his blood, the court heard, with multiple generations of his family working on boats.

He married in 2019 and has a five-year-old daughter.

His young family and his mother moved to Ireland since his arrest. His wife works 50 hours a week in a shop to support the family, travelling 1.5 hours by bus to get there.

Not being there for his family weighs heavily on his mind, the court heard. His mother cried in court as she watched her son in the accuseds box.

Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, also from Odessa who fled to Romania when Russia invaded Ukraine, had been of good character, described as proactive, hard-working, creative and a good leader in references supplied to the court by educational institutions.

He was the only man and the only breadwinner in his family, his barrister, Paul OHiggins said.

He has donated money to the Ukrainian army and a letter of thanks for this was supplied to the court.

He handed over the pin to his phone to gardai and used his own name on messaging apps on the boat.

His knowledge and responsibility for the operation was at the bottom of the pile, and the least of all those aboard the MV Matthew, Mr O'Higgins said.

The MV Matthew being escorted into Cork Harbour in September, 2023, after the suspected drugs were found on board in what turned out to be Irelands largest ever cocaine seizure. File picture: PA

Saied Hassani, 40, has a wife and six-year-old daughter in Iran, the Special Criminal Court heard.

He has worked at sea almost consistently since graduating from maritime college, which he started in 2005.

He has been away so much for work that he missed all of his daughters birthdays.

He has two sisters who need medical care  one is in a wheelchair and one has cancer  and he has worked to provide for his wider family since his father died.

There is nothing in his records to suggest he has done anything like this before, his barrister Mark Lynam SC said.

He even thanked the criminals in Dubai for this opportunity when he got the job, thinking it would help his family, Mr Lynam said.

He had the lowest responsibility for the operation of all the officers on board, Mr Lynam said.

Although he was found with 20,000 cash when the MV Matthew was seized, this was given to him by the captain before he was airlifted off the boat, he said.

He had succumbed to the temptation not out of greed or for better lifestyle  but to support family, some of whom are sick, Mr Lynam said.

Detective Sergeant Keith Halley, who led the historic drug bust, said that the operation was directed from Dubai but also had Iranian involvement.

A transnational organised crime group with "immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach," directed the MV Matthew drug smuggling operation from a cell in Dubai before it was stormed off the Cork coast.

A cell structure within the organised crime group which manned the operation was evident, so if one cell was compromised, the overall damage would be limited, Det Supt Halley told the Special Criminal Court at the men's sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

The MV Matthew, owned by a Dubai-based company, repeatedly tried to evade the Irish navy before it was boarded by Ireland's elite army ranger wing via helicopter in rough seas in September 2023 off the Cork coast.

Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Soheil Jelveh, 51, and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Mathew between 24 and 26 September 2023.

Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023.

Justice Melanie Grealy has set sentencing for all eight men on July 4.
Youghals Walter Raleigh Hotel is under new ownership following its sale to the Choice Hotel Group.

Following a purchase price of about 2.8m, Choice Hotels Group chief Andrew ONeill says his company plans to invest up to 500,000 on the East Cork venue, including some indoor restoration and roof works.

The hotel, which has traded as a hotel since 1902, joins four other hotels in the owner-operator groups current portfolio, comprising the Woodstock in Ennis, the House Hotel and the Hardiman in Galway, and Dublins Shoreline.

The hotel's 30 or so staff are being retained at the 40-room facility, including manager Michael Brett, who has overseen the running of the establishment for several years.

We are actually hiring more staff at present, said Mr ONeill.

Mr ONeill has a family connection with the hotel as his uncle, Tom ONeill, co-owned the business during the 1980s. He remembers visiting the venue as a child from Dublin and recalls a bar that was always busy.

Mr ONeill said the hotel had been undersold in recent years and added it could be developed as a gateway to the wider East Cork and West Waterford region.

He said the new owners would strive to strike the right balance between serving as a local cultural facility and a tourist accommodation centre.

You are close to Midleton, Ballycotton, Garryvoe and also not far from Cork City and Dungarvan, he said.

We feel we can bring some life and add some value for these communities, particularly through strong community participation, be it sports clubs, arts groups, whatever.

Meanwhile, he sees the new Midleton-Youghal greenway, the local beaches and Youghals rich history and heritage offerings as parts of an unbelievable package towards attracting visitors.

The Walter Raleigh has long been a treasured focal point in the towns economy, with the manicured Green Park and small beach directly opposite enhancing its allure both as a social and tourism setting.

It currently stands as the towns only hotel, and Mr O'Neill's stated intentions have brought considerable relief to the local community and particularly the business sector.

Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Development chairperson Kay Curtin said her organisation "is delighted the hotel will continue to provide its services to the town".

"We are looking forward to working with the Choice Hotel Group to promote Youghal and the surrounding region into the future."
Europe and the United States are meeting in Paris to negotiate a settlement of a tense tariff spat with global economic ramifications between two economic powerhouses.

The European Unions top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, met on Wednesday with his American counterpart, US trade representative Jamieson Greer, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Were advancing in the right direction at pace, Mr Sefcovic said at a news conference.

He said ongoing technical meetings between EU and US negotiators in Washington would be soon followed by a video conference between himself and Mr Greer to then assess the progress and charter the way forward.

If the discussion and negotiation do not succeed, Europe is capable of having countermeasures on American products and services as well

Brussels and Washington are unlikely to reach a substantive trade agreement in Paris. The issues dividing them are too difficult to resolve quickly.

US President Donald Trump regularly criticises Americas persistent trade deficit with the European Union, which was a record 161 billion dollars (119 billion)last year, according to the US Commerce Department.

Mr Trump blames the gap between what the US sells and what it buys from Europe on unfair trade practices and often singles out for criticism the EUs 10% tax on imported cars.

Americas was 2.5% until Mr Trump raised it to 25% in April. The EU has argued its purchases of US services, especially in the technology sector, all but overcome the deficit.

After the Trump administrations surprise tariffs last week on steel rattled global markets and complicated the ongoing, wider tariff negotiations between Brussels and Washington, the EU on Monday said it is preparing countermeasures against the US.

US trade representative Jamieson Greer (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The EU could buy more liquefied natural gas and defence items from the US, and lower duties on cars, but it is not likely to budge on calls to scrap the value added tax, which is akin to a sales tax, or open up the EU to American beef.

We still have a few weeks to have this discussion and negotiation, French trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin said in Paris on Wednesday ahead of the OECD meeting.

If the discussion and negotiation do not succeed, Europe is capable of having countermeasures on American products and services as well.

Greta Peisch, who was general counsel for the US trade representative in the Biden administration, said the zero-for-zero proposal could provide a way to make progress if the Trump administration is looking for a reason not to impose tariffs on the EU.

But Ms Peisch, now a partner at the Wiley Rein law firm, added: How motivated is the US to come to a deal with the EU?

Mr Trump, after all, has longstanding grievances and complaints about EU trade practices.

One target of his ire is the value-added tax.

Mr Trump and his advisers consider VATs unfair protectionism because they are levied on US products. But VATs are set at a national level, not by the EU, and apply to domestic and imported products alike, so they have not traditionally been considered a trade barrier.

There is little chance governments will overhaul their tax systems to appease Mr Trump.

Likewise, the Europeans are likely to balk at US demands to scrap food and safety regulations that Washington views as trade barriers. These include bans on hormone-raised beef, chlorinated chicken and genetically modified foods.

When you start talking about chickens or GMOs or automobile safety standards, youre talking about the ways countries choose to regulate their economies, Ms Peisch said.

We think thats protectionist. They think its keeping their citizens healthy  Its been a sore point for 60 years.
The United Nations human rights office expressed concerns on Wednesday about the discovery of dozens of bodies, some charred and buried and others in hospital refrigerators, in an area of Libyas capital controlled by an armed militia whose leader was killed last month.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was shocked by revelations that gross rights violations were uncovered at detention facilities in Tripoli run by the Stabilisation Support Authority, or SSA, an armed group whose commander, Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, was killed in militia fighting in mid-May.
The FBI arrested a man accused of providing chemicals to make explosives for last months bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, federal authorities said.

Daniel Park, 32, was taken into custody on Tuesday night at New Yorks John F Kennedy Airport upon his return from Poland, US Attorney Bill Essayli told reporters.

Federal authorities allege Park shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, who bombed the clinic and was killed in the blast. The chemical compound is an explosive precursor that can be used to make homemade bombs, Mr Essayli said.

Park, who is from Kent, Washington, also travelled to Southern California in late January to stay with Bartkus for about two weeks, Mr Essayli said.

Authorities described Bartkus and Park as members of the anti-natalist movement, a fringe group that opposes childbirth and population growth and believes people should not continue to procreate.

Officials said Bartkus intentionally targeted the fertility clinic as an act of terrorism. He tried to livestream the explosion, but the attempt failed, the FBI says.

Police tape near the site of the explosion in Palm Springs (Eric Thayer/AP)

The blast gutted the American Reproductive Centres fertility clinic in Palms Springs and shattered the windows of nearby buildings along a palm tree-lined street.

Witnesses described a loud boom followed by a chaotic scene, with people screaming in terror and glass strewn along the pavement and street. A body was found near a charred vehicle outside the clinic.

Investigators have not said if he intended to kill himself in the attack or why he chose the specific facility. The clinic provides services to help people get pregnant, including in vitro fertilisation and fertility evaluations.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Parks residence in Seattle and found an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing, said Akil Davis, FBI assistant director in charge, on Wednesday.

Authorities earlier executed a search warrant in Bartkuss hometown of Twentynine Palms, a city north-east of Palm Springs with a large US Marine Corps base.

Scott Sweetow, a retired ATF explosives expert, said the amount of damage caused indicated that the suspect used a high explosive similar to dynamite and TNT rather than a low explosive such as gun powder.

Those types of explosives are normally difficult for civilians to access, but increasingly people are finding ways to concoct explosives at home, he said.

The images of the aftermath also showed that the explosion appeared to blow from the street straight through the building and to the parking lot on the other side, something that could have been intentional or pure luck, Mr Sweetow said.

A part of the car was also blown through the building and landed at the back.

A senior FBI official called the explosion possibly the largest bombing scene that weve had in Southern California.
Wednesday, Jun 4th, 2025 (11:13 am) - Score 880

Alternative rural broadband ISP Quickline, which is building a gigabit speed full fibre (FTTP) and fixed wireless (FWA) broadband network across rural parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (England), has today announced that theyve moved their Customer Technical Support Team in-house. Previously, it was outsourced to a company based in South Africa.

The provider is currently being backed by a private investment of 500m from Northleaf Capital Partners and aims to cover 200,000 premises with FTTP by the end of 2025 (up from 65,000 premises in Nov 2023). But its technical support was, until recently, being provided through an outsourcing arrangement via a company in South Africa.

NOTE: Quickline is also being fulled by around 300m of public subsidy across four Project Gigabit contracts ( here here and here ), plus c.225m in term loans and debt guarantees from the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) and a 25m term loan from NatWest.

The good news is that the ISP has now formed a 15-strong team of first-line support agents, which will be based at their HQ in East Yorkshire. The move means customers now speak directly to local experts who understand rural life in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and the importance of staying connected.

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The new in-house team will sit alongside Quicklines existing Customer Service and Sales teams, under a new structure led by Michelle Simpson (pictured). She has been appointed as Director of Sales and Service Operations, a brand-new role that brings all core customer-facing teams together. Michelle has been the providers Head of Sales for the past 3 years.
Wednesday, Jun 4th, 2025 (11:00 am) - Score 3,600

The CEO of Abingdon-based alternative rural broadband ISP Gigaclear, Nathan Rundle, has told Richard Tang, CEO of Zen Internet, that theyre still focused on extending their full fibre (FTTP) network to 1 million UK homes in ultra rural areas. But the provider is concerned about Ofcoms proposed changes to the market getting in the way.

The new interview reveals that Gigaclears gigabit-capable broadband network now covers 600,000 premises (up from 593k in March 2025)  mostly in remote rural parts of England (only about 15% of their network is in market towns)  and is also home to a customer base of 150,000 (up from 140k). This reflects a respectable penetration rate of 25% and Nathan said theyre aiming to reach around 29% by the end of this financial year.

NOTE: Gigaclear is principally owned by Infracapital, together with Equitix and Railpen. The company previously had investment commitments estimated to be worth up to around 1.1bn ( Gigaclear is principally owned by, together withand. The company previously had investment commitments estimated to be worth up to around 1.1bn ( here ) and in late 2023 also secured a 1.5bn debt facility ( here ). The provider also holds several Project Gigabit build contracts in Oxfordshire ( here ) and East Gloucestershire ( here ).

The operator previously held an ambition to cover over 1 million UK premises by 2027, but last years job cuts  impacting their commercial build teams  may well have hit that (here). This came as part of planning for the next stage of its development and a re-focus on ultra-rural areas. Gigaclear is reportedly now on the hunt for fresh funding to continue their full fibre deployments (here), but in the meantime theyre more focused on commercialisation.

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Weve definitely been refocusing our build to go ultra-rural, which means the deployment is slower than it was, and were using a lot more BDUK [public] money, while being really clear around those investment cases. I think the current funding climate, as every altnet knows, is tough and ultimately deploying large amounts of capital at the moment isnt necessarily a logical thing to do, said Nathan.

Nathan added that theyre kind of open about how they get to 1 million homes, whether thats through working in partnership and consolidation with others or all new build. Gigaclears Board is currently working through this very question at the moment in order to understand what is the best way to reach a million, while at the same time also expecting to go EBITDA positive this year.

The ability to achieve a positive EBITDA (i.e. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) usually indicates that a companys core operations are becoming profitable, albeit still with a long way to go. EBITDA positivity is a really important first step. Weve got a plan for getting us through to being profitable and cash generating, which is obviously critical for our lenders and investors. So we are on that path, we are on plan, we know exactly what we need to do, enthused Nathan.

In terms of the timescale involved in achieving that positive outcome, Nathan said that in the next 3-5 years we should be in a good position, albeit without being too specific.

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Defining the Competition

Richards interview soon identified that one of the potential challenges to the above ambition could come from Ofcoms new Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR). In particular, Gigaclear raised concern over Ofcoms plan to change the definition for which parts of the UK are deemed competitive or not, which is important as it influences how much regulation is applied to Openreach (BT) as the market incumbent. At the last review, back in 2021, the regulator defined Area 3 (non-competitive areas) as covering about 30% of the UK, which is typically Gigaclears area of focus.

However, gigabit-capable broadband today already covers 86% of UK premises, with Ofcom forecasting that this will reach 97-98% by May 2027 (here). Suffice to say that the regulators new TAR is somewhat logically proposing to shrink Area 3 from 30% to 10% of UK premises, but that has Gigaclear worried.

Not sure I would agree with their new definition of area 3. I think the old definition of area 3 was too wide and included far too many market towns. But I think beginning to look at how do we get an approach to infrastructure that gets the delivery of this critical service into these communities as quickly as possible could potentially mean there needs to be further collaboration between ourselves, the incumbent, and some of the other players in the market to try and get that standardised approach, said Nathan.

Instead Gigaclear are pushing for sensible regulation around area 3 in order to avoid it having an impact on [their] future investment. Nathan said he would prefer Ofcom to make no significant changes and warns that area 3 has now been made far too small.

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Nathan added that theyre now petitioning [the regulator] quite hard around the fact that just because an altnet has built it, doesnt immediately make it commercially viable for two operators. Naturally, theres an element of vested interest here, but Nathan does make a fair point.

Wholesale and Retail Pricing

Toward the end of the new interview, which you can watch in full below (this touches on many other areas), Nathan also hints at Gigaclears future plan to explore more wholesale partnerships and the need to produce a credible wholesale offering in order to attract more broadband ISPs to their network.

Gigaclear is currently a vertically integrated operator (i.e. it both runs the network and sells services over it at retail), which for rivals can be perceived as a conflict of interest. Short of becoming a wholesale-only network, like CityFibre, this one can be a difficult problem to overcome, with the proof being in how many established and reputable ISPs they can ultimately onboard.

Finally, the interview briefly turned a bit spicy as Richard highlighted how Gigaclears standard out-of-contract prices can sometimes be significantly higher than their first term discounted rate, which is something weve noted before (e.g. Richard pointed to the example of how, at the time, they were offering their gigabit package for 29 per month, but post-contract it shoots up to 85). Richard noted how this change wasnt always well signposted for new customers (a common problem in the wider market, not only at Gigaclear).

Were really clear with the list price. We contact all of our customers all the time before they go on to that list price, to give them the opportunity to re-contract. If a customer gets the bill shock, normally they phone us straight away and well immediately look to re-contract them and find a better deal for them, responded Nathan. He also noted how there is only a small percentage paying list price.

Richard then pressed Nathan on how much the re-contracting price, roughly, for that same tier would be, but Nathan avoided giving a clear figure: What we try to do is look for different ways to create value for the customer, to try and settle on a different price, that might be upgrading their smart wifi, it could be a voice package as well. Weve got a team of specialists that will sit down and talk to the customer, understand their needs, and do the best price we can for them  its down to the ISPs to make sure that they get that balance right and dont take advantage.
Today

Partly cloudy. Hot. High near 90F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Becoming partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. Hot. High near 90F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.


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An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo
Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney has condemned US President Donald Trumps decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50%, escalating trade tensions between the two neighboring nations.

In a statement to reporters in Ottawa, Mr. Carney remarked: The new tariffs on steel and aluminum are unwarranted, illegal, detrimental to American workers, harmful to American industry, and of course, also detrimental to Canadian industry.

He assured that Canada, which is the largest foreign supplier of steel and aluminum to the United States, will take some time, not much to formulate a response.

Additionally, the Prime Minister pointed out that intensive discussions are ongoing with the US administration to revise Canada-US trade relations.

The agreement with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, he mentioned, was achieved after Mr. Ford consented to suspend the 25% surcharge on electricity exported to three American states.

We cannot stand idly by while President Trump steamrolls us, he emphasized, stating that everythings on the table regarding countermeasures.

According to US government data, Canada exported 5.95 million tonnes of steel and 3.15 million tonnes of aluminum to the United States last year.

Trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States appear to be progressing positively, according to the main negotiators from both sides.

However, the EU expressed that increasing US tariffs on metals is not conducive to the negotiations.

The rise in tariffs on steel and aluminum importsfrom 25% to 50%took effect on the same day that the Trump administration requested trading partners to submit their best offers to avoid additional punitive levies starting in early July.

In another sign of disruption to global trade, fears escalated regarding the repercussions of Chinas restrictions on critical mineral exports, prompting some European auto parts plants to halt production and German carmaker BMW to caution that its supplier network is experiencing shortages.

Steel ready for export is accumulating in Hangzhou, China.

Regarding tariff discussions, EU negotiator Maros Sefcovic stated that a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Paris was productive.

We both determined that we are making progress in the right direction and at a good pace, Mr. Sefcovic informed reporters.

He added that technical discussions are currently underway in Washington, with high-level communications to follow.

What fills me with optimism is the visible advancement the discussions have become quite concrete, Mr. Sefcovic stated.

He underscored that he and Mr. Greer had agreed to realign the focus of their talks after approaching the issue from different perspectives.

Mr. Greer described the discussions as constructive, noting in a statement that they exhibited a willingness from the EU to cooperate with us to identify a concrete path forward for reciprocal trade.

Mr. Sefcovic expressed that he deeply regretted the doubling of tariffs, emphasizing that the EU faces similar overcapacity challenges in the steel sector, and collaboration is essential.

Separately, President Trump characterized his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as tough and extremely hard to negotiate with.

I have always liked President Xi of China, and I always will, but he is VERY TOUGH AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH, the US leader remarked on Truth Social.

These comments followed President Trumps accusations against China for breaching an agreement to reduce tariffs and trade restrictions, coinciding with rising expectations for a long-anticipated phone call between the two leaders this week.

A US trade court ruled last week that Mr. Trump exceeded his authority in imposing the majority of tariffs on imports from China and other nations under an emergency powers act.

Less than a day later, an appeals court reinstated the tariffs while considering the governments appeal.

US officials have been engaged in discussions with various countries since President Trump announced a temporary halt to tariff increases in April.

However, only one agreementwith the UKhas been realized, and that merely serves as a preliminary framework for ongoing talks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed confidence that US tariffs on UK steel would be reduced to zero within a couple of weeks.

The doubling of US tariffs on steel and aluminum has generated increased pressure.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, comprised of 38 mostly developed nations, has downgraded its global growth forecast due to the tariffs.

According to Chief Economist Alvaro Pereira, trade, consumption, and investment have been adversely affected by the tariffs, warning that the US economy will bear the most significant repercussions.

Mexico plans to seek an exemption from the higher tariffs, with Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard arguing that it is unjust, given that the US exports more steel to Mexico than it imports from there.

It is illogical to impose a tariff on a product for which you have a surplus, Mr. Ebrard stated.

Elsewhere, the uncertainty surrounding US trade policy is wreaking havoc for global businesses.

The French spirits company Remy Cointreau has abandoned its 2030 sales growth targets, citing tariffs, sluggish US sales, and considerable uncertainty as potential derailers of its financial plans.

Austrian specialty steel manufacturer Voestalpine has also warned that the tariffs are poised to impact its earnings negatively.

US producers will seek suppliers who are not affected by the tariffs. If they find such suppliers, it is likely that the German supplier will lose out, indicated the German steel and metal processing association WSM, which represents around 5,000 companies.

No one has the margins to absorb these relentless tariffs, asserted WSM Managing Director Christian Vietmeyer.

Therefore, the EU must do everything within its power to resolve this customs conflict.
The US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) did not distribute any aid today as it urged Israel to enhance civilian safety beyond the boundaries of its distribution sites, following a week in which dozens of Palestinians seeking assistance were killed.

The GHF has requested the Israeli military to manage foot traffic in a manner that minimizes confusion or escalation risks near military areas, provide clearer guidance for civilians, and improve training to safeguard civilian safety.

Hospital officials reported that over 80 people were shot dead and hundreds injured near distribution points within a three-day span since Sunday, including at least 27 fatalities reported yesterday.

Local witnesses claim that Israeli soldiers opened fire on the crowds, who gathered before dawn in search of food.

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The military has denied accusations of indiscriminate shooting but acknowledged that soldiers fired at suspects who approached their lines after ignoring warning shots.

Our highest priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid, stated a GHF spokesperson.

An Israeli military spokesperson cautioned civilians against entering areas leading to GHF sites today, labeling them combat zones.

The new aid distribution model for Gazas population of over two million, centered around just three sites, was introduced amidst a renewed offensive by Israel since late last month.

The UN and several other aid organizations have criticized this model, which relies on private US security and logistics personnel, claiming it militarizes humanitarian assistance.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Gaza health ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 95 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, which includes women and children in a school accommodating displaced families that was struck near Khan Younis.

Israel confirmed that one of its soldiers died in the ongoing conflict, following three reported deaths a day prior, as its forces continue their multi-month operation to eliminate Hamas militants and rescue the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is preparing to vote later on a request for a ceasefire and improved humanitarian access across Gaza, where malnutrition is rampant and aid has scarcely flowed in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade in late May.

It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking and, in many instances, losing their lives just trying to obtain food, remarked UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, adding that the aid distribution model supported by the US and Israel was a recipe for disaster, which is what is currently occurring.

The newly established GHF claims to have distributed over seven million meals since commencing operations a week ago.

GHF Interim Executive Director John Acree encouraged humanitarian workers in Gaza: Collaborate with us, and we will ensure your aid reaches those who depend on it.

Read more: Gaza aid: What is being delivered and who is distributing it?

Experts warn that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of famine despite repeated efforts to increase aid levels.

Last year, Jordan initiated humanitarian air drops, and the US briefly set up a floating aid pier, although both faced significant challenges.

The UN has consistently held Israel and prevailing lawlessness in the enclave responsible for obstructing the delivery of and access to aid in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.

Israel accuses Hamas of diverting aid, a claim the group denies.

The ten elected members of the UN Security Council have requested the 15-member body to vote later on a draft resolution that demands an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all sides.

The draft resolution, as per Reuters, also calls for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and others and for the immediate lifting of all restrictions on the entry and safe, unhindered distribution of aid, including by the UN throughout Gaza.

The time to act has already passed, declared Slovenias UN Ambassador Samuel Zbogar to Reuters. It is our historical responsibility not to remain silent.

A man carries a young girl into Nasser Hospital after airstrikes impacted displacement tents in Khan Younis.

As the administration of US President Donald Trump seeks to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, it remains unclear whether the US will veto the draft resolution, as it traditionally has with proposals unaligned with Israels interests.

Israel has rebuffed appeals for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, arguing that Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the US mission to the UN stated: We cannot preview our actions currently under consideration.

A resolution requires nine votes in favor without vetoes from the permanent members, which include the United States, Russia, China, Britain, or France, to pass.

The conflict in Gaza has persisted since 2023 when Hamas militants killed 1,200 individuals in Israel during an attack on October 7, subsequently taking around 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli reports.

Many of those killed or taken hostage were civilians.

Israels military response has led to over 54,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to Gaza health authorities.

They do not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but claim that non-combatants have suffered the most from the bombardments, with thousands more bodies possibly trapped under debris.

Continuing deterioration of conditions

James Elder, UNICEFs spokesperson for Gaza, indicates a continuous decline in conditions within the enclave.

There are ongoing denials of food, enforced starvation, and people being bombed while attempting to find shelter, he reported.

Everywhere we go, people are knocking on the windows in search of help. Ive witnessed teenage boys in tears as they plead for assistance, he shared on RTEs Today with Claire Byrne.

Mr. Elder described the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a veneer that distracts from the true state of affairs on the ground.

An effective aid system during the ceasefire involved 500 to 600 trucks daily and 400 distribution points. Now, we have only a few pallets and two distribution points.

Additionally, no one was informed about the closures of Gazas humanitarian aid sites today, forcing individuals to walk up to 20 kilometers in search of aid, Mr. Elder noted.

He added that people have expressed that its like the Hunger Games at aid distribution points due to their desperation.

Its militarizing aid. Its politicizing aid, he asserted.

Mr. Elder stated that UNICEF is still managing to send in some trucks, but emphasized that it is not nearly enough and only a fraction of what is required.

Currently, we have hundreds of trucks at the border, he affirmed.

The conflict in Gaza has continued since 2023, following an attack on October 7, in which Hamas militants killed 1,200 individuals in Israel and took approximately 250 hostages back to their enclave, based on Israeli accounts.

Israels military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
Chicago (Special to Informed Comment)  Serving as gangster President Trumps hatchet man, Musk promised a lean efficient government but gave us chainsaw-massacre firings that devastated government functionality. While gloating about solving the fabricated grift and criminality of US foreign aid, Musk terminated life-saving medications for dying babies and ended food supplies for starving children. After ruining the lives of untold thousands of people here and around the world, Musk thankfully ended his crashed experiment in upgrading the government last Wednesday, announcing the good news on his propaganda network X.

It sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least, said the pathetically disillusioned, billionaire arsonist as he walked away from the smoldering government wreckage he caused with his slash-and-burn tactics. Shrinking the government is especially difficult when its done callously and carelessly while consuming large doses of hallucinogens that cause bladder pain and incontinence, as the New York Times reported.

Musk apparently did not realize that it would be bad PR for the worlds richest man to take food and medicine from the worlds most destitute children. He hadnt foreseen the intensity of the reputation-destroying blowback to his phony, falsely named Department of Government Efficiency.

Last week, in anticipation of returning to his damaged business empire centered on cars, satellites and rockets, he attempted an image rehabilitation tour. Uncomfortably sitting for a few interviews, Musk played the predictable, self-pitying violin notes of a naive businessman undermined by Washingtons tough political reality. It all rings hollow. His haphazard and cruel cuts to the government were a wanton assault on dedicated workers and worthwhile federal programs .

Musks Waterloo moment came fittingly on April Fools Day when the $20 million he donated to elect a Trump-backed Republican to an open State Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin backfired, driving more Democrats than Republicans to the polls. A political liability, many Republicans have distanced themselves from him: People hate him, a GOP operative said. Hed go to Wisconsin thinking he can buy peoples votes, wear the cheese hat, act like a 9-year-old. . . . It doesnt work. Its offensive to people. Democrats easily turned Musks villainy into a campaign punching bag and will keep punching, whatever his future role.

The public has not only soured on Trumps handling of the economy but strongly loathes Musk. He leaves Washington with his reputation as a genius, multi-tasking, jack-of-all-trades  a reputation that once boosted his companys stock prices and won investors for his ambitious projects  severely damaged.

Tesla, which is the major source of Musks wealth, has suffered significant brand degradation while sales plummeted due to his pernicious political work and despite Trump hawking the car in the White House driveway. Disgruntled Tesla owners are trading in their cars. Rapidly losing market share to the Chinese electric carmaker BYD, Tesla dealerships have become scenes of protest and vandalism in the US and beyond. The ugly, impractical Cybertruck that he championed proved a historic flop  the Edsel of the 21st century.

Financially countering the truck debacle and ignoring the blatant conflict of interest, the State Department plans a $400 Million purchase of armored Cybertrucks, probably to be used at the border or to break up demonstrations when Trump instigates the Insurrection Act of 1807  a law that allows the president to use active-duty military personnel to perform law-enforcement duties inside the US.

Despite Musks sham efforts to reduce government spending, he has won more than $13 billion in government contracts in the past five years and $6.3 billion in 2024 alone. Flush with taxpayer money, he leaves Washington in disgrace  his stint in government an abject failure by every conceivable metric other than the corrupt accumulation of wealth. In this, he mirrors mob boss Trump.

While relishing Musks unpopularity and his getting abruptly off-boarded by the MAGA government he spent a quarter of a billion dollars to install, any jubilation quickly dissipates with a moments reflection upon the catastrophic damage he caused. A toxic combination of entitlement and ignorance, Musk rampaged through Washington proclaiming vastly overstated claims while his move-fast-and-break-things ethos resulted in civic ruin that will take years to fully assess.

Without regard for the law or the human toll, Musk and his Doge minions spread chaos through Washington  dismantling the federal government with preposterous threats and actions, harassing federal employees with insulting emails, locking staff members out of computer systems, gleefully treating government employees as disposable, firing thousands of workers without justification, gaining access to personal data on private citizens, eliminating entire departments that work to prevent bird flu and safeguard our nuclear arsenal, paralyzing national parks, and sabotaging medical research by the National Institutes of Health.

Lifelong experts in key positions have lost their jobs, causing untold carnage to the fabric of government. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not ready for next months start of the hurricane season, according to an internal agency review reported by CNN. The disaster relief agency, which employs more than 20,000 workers, has lost roughly 30% of its full-time staff to layoffs and Doge buyouts.

Vindictive like his malicious mentor Trump, Musk attacked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], an agency that has scrutinized Musks companies  Tesla, Space X, and the Boring company  with numerous investigations, citations, and fines related to workplace safety violations. While OSHA has not been officially abolished, Musk and Doge have significantly sabotaged its effectiveness through groundless staff reductions, diminished enforcement capabilities, and political pressure.

Musks cruel disdain for federal workers led to unraveling countless lives. Their mental health has been shattered as they still struggle to find employment after being callously fired by Musks rabid desires to gut the federal government, as reported in the Washington Post. Musks dark legacy will partly be centered in the trauma and chaos so mercilessly imparted by him and his Doge creeps.

The Partnership for Public Service, which studies the federal work force, calculated that Doges attacks on government personnel  its firings, re-hirings, use of paid administrative leave and all the associated lack of productivity  could cost the government upward of $135 billion this fiscal year. This does not include the exorbitant price of trying to defend Musks indefensible actions in court. Numerous agencies and departments are now suing to block the wave of firings and cuts that he set in motion.

Musks berserk purge of the bureaucracy may not have created any savings at all, and if it did, they were negligible. It turns out its not cheap to place tens of thousands of workers on paid leave and to rehire mistakenly fired employees, never mind dealing with the lost productivity of a traumatized workforce.

Musks casualties are not only in Washington but all over the world, in refugee camps and scientific labs whose funding was abruptly terminated. His contemptible governmental work should be defined by this post on X: We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper, could [have] gone to some great parties. Did that instead. This is one area where Musk achieved his goals. He successfully shredded USAID  cancelling approximately 83% of USAID programs and imperiling services aimed at humanitarian assistance and disease prevention.

The impact on the Global South will be severe and far-reaching, where slashes to foreign aid will lead to needless suffering. Musks fellow billionaire Bill Gates warned that the cuts could cost millions of lives throughout the world. Gates starkly described Musks gutting of USAID as the worlds richest man killing the worlds poorest children.

Experts have also cautioned that tens of thousands of people could die as a result of defunding the AIDS relief program PEPFAR  its services reduced worldwide and its staff left in confusion over what they can still do for people who relied on their organization. Brooke Nichols, an associate professor of global health at Boston University, has estimated that these cuts have already resulted in about 300,000 deaths, most of them of children, and will most likely lead to significantly more by the end of the year. That is what Musks foray into politics accomplished.

As Musk moves on, he consigns a mess of half-realized plans and dismantled agencies to his stooges installed in positions across the federal government. His departure plunges Doges already disruptive impact on the government into uncertainty, with questions over how much power the vague taskforce can wield without him.

Two prominent Doge staffers will follow Musk to the exit. The billionaires longtime top lieutenant Steve Davis, who was running the day-to-day operations of Doge, left his role last Thursday. Spokesperson Katie Miller, wife of Trumps deputy chief of staff Stephen Nosferatu Miller, also left the White House to work full-time for Musk, according to CNN.



Digital parody. Dream / Dreamland v2, 2025.

However, Doge will not be left leaderless. Taking over for Musk, according to the Wall Street Journal, is Christian nationalist and key contributor to the rightwing Project 2025 manifesto Russel Vought, who is also the Office of Management and Budget Director. A longtime believer that the president should have sweeping executive powers, Vought has said that he hopes federal employees will be left in trauma. He has floated using impoundment to formalize Doge cuts to spending that have been legally appropriated by Congress  an action forbidden by the 1974 Impoundment Control Act.

Even at reduced numbers, Musks allies still have access to immense amounts of sensitive and confidential data they are reportedly intending to use to surveil immigrants and even create a massive database of all Americans. What seems farther away than ever, in the chaos, is Musks promise to make the government more efficient and better serve the public.

Last Friday, at a typically weird joint press conference, the Propagandist-in-Chief struggled to rewrite reality, lying that Musk helped to detect fraud, and slash waste while promoting his own stupid, illegal, and unconstitutional tariffs. As the destructive love affair between the two delusional narcissists petered out, Trump tried to convey that they would remain tight, even though Musk probably would no longer be hanging out at Mar-a-Lago.

Refusing to kick him as he exists, Trump wants the $100 million Musk has pledged for his political operation. Trump never cared about cutting spending cuts anyway, as his ugly new tax bill shows: it is expected to add $2.3 trillion to the deficit, nullifying any miniscule savings Musk may have achieved. Trump simply wanted revenge on the fictitious deep state bureaucracy.

At the press conference, Musk  dressed in black like an awkward, uncharismatic Johnny Cash  stood next to a smirking and scoffing Trump sitting at his desk. Musk refused to answer a reporters question about a New York Times article which claimed that he was a habitual user of ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms while Trump entrusted him with vast power over the government. Maybe that explains the childish onstage jumping up and down, the maniacal chain-saw wielding antics, the bizarre fixation on producing babies, his crusading for the far-right German party AfD, and his cosplaying as the Fuhrer of the World with sinister Nazi-style salutes.

After Musk praised his gaudy, tasteless, golden Oval Office decorations, Trump gave him a tacky golden White House key and thanked him for his incredible service. It is hard to think of any other unelected official who has done so much harm to the US government in such a short period of time.

Having discarded his chainsaw, he was leaving town with a black eye. When a reporter asked Musk about it, he claimed that, while they were horsing around, his 5-year old son X punched him in the face. Getting clocked by little X was symbolically appropriate in that Musk deserves to suffer irreparable damage to his reputation for all the misery, chaos and death he has blithely engendered.
By Irit Katz, University of Cambridge

(The Conversation)  At least 27 Palestinians were reported to have been killed on the morning of June 3 amid chaotic scenes at an aid distribution centre in the southern Gaza Strip. This follows a similar incident on June 1 when around 30 civilians were reportedly killed as people scrambled to get food supplies at an aid centre near Rafah in southern Gaza.

The Israeli and US governments and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)  the private contractor backed by Israel and the US to take over aid distribution in Gaza  previously denied reports that Israeli troops had fired on civilians queuing for aid. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, criticised what he called reckless and irresponsible reporting by major US news outlets.

After the June 3 incident, however, the Israeli military admitted it had fired shots near a food distribution complex after noticing a number of suspects moving towards them. A GHF spokesperson said it was believed that the people had been fired upon after moving beyond the designated safe corridor and into a closed military zone.

The violence at these privately run aid distribution points should come as no surprise, given the situation. For weeks since the Israeli government imposed its aid blockade in early March, the humanitarian crisis in the Strip has become more acute. By April the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification), a collaboration between numerous intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, was already reporting that Gazas whole population was experiencing critical levels of hunger.

The aid distribution system put in place by GHF, meanwhile has been widely criticised. On May 25, the day before GHF began operations in Gaza its American director, Jake Wood, resigned. He said he believed the organisation would not be able to fulfil the basic humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

Divide and control

The GHFs aid distribution plan is similar in character to a plan published in December 2024 by an organisation of many former high-ranking Israeli military officers, Israels Defense and Security Forum (IDSF). The group proposed to take control of aid distribution from the UN agency Unrwa, which was the main organisation overseeing aid distribution until it was banned by Israel earlier this year.

The IDSF plan proposes that: Israel will oversee the aid distributed by international organizations, effectively dismantling the distribution networks of UNRWA and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, guided by the principle: The hand that distributes the aid is the hand that controls it.

This would be achieved with the creation of tent cities for internally displaced people (IDP), described as humanitarian zones. About 90% of the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza are IDPs. The IDSF plan, acknowledging that extensive built-up areas have been left destroyed, or are no longer inhabitable, says that it is currently neither feasible nor recommended that the IDPs return at the conclusion of the war.

Under the plan, parts of the Gaza Strip still inhabited by Palestinian civilians, will be divided by a system of longitudinal and transverse axes. Each IDP city created within these divisions will be managed as a separate temporary administrative territory following the principle of divide and rule.

The plan calls for responsibility for humanitarian aid in Gaza to pass to a Humanitarian Directorate based on IDP cities and biometric certificates. This is called the Day After Plan by the IDSF, designed as a way to control Gazas population, while driving a wedge between civilians and Hamas in order to destroy it. This despite the fact that a senior Israeli military commander has said it is impossible to eliminate Hamas.

The reality on the ground

The way GHF is currently organising aid distribution fulfils some of the principles of the IDSF plan. It replaces UN aid distribution with a private outfit, backed by both Israel and the US, yet it provides aid through only four sites.

These are located unevenly in the Gaza Strip, three in a small area southwest of Rafah, and the fourth south of Gaza City, in an area dominated by the Netzarim corridor, which is controlled by the Israeli military.

People queuing for access to aid reportedly have to walk along a narrow fenced corridor into a larger aid compound. Once inside they are subject to ID checks and eye scans to further control the distribution for aid.

This has reportedly resulted in long hours of waiting in the heat and led to chaotic scenes were people have broken down fences in a bid to get supplies. Among the people reported to have been killed on June 3 were three children and two women.

The GHF scheme had already been criticised before the violent incidents by both Palestinians and international aid organisations. The placement of the distribution sites means that people sometimes have to travel considerable distances to receive aid.

The UN childrens fund spokesperson Jonathan Crick asked: How is a mother of four children, who has lost her husband, going to carry 20kg back to her makeshift tent, sometimes several kilometres away?

As someone who researches urban design, conflict, and displacement, it is clear to me that designing the entire aid distribution system around only four mega-sites in limited areas in the Strip leads to the sort of overcrowding and chaos that have made violence all but inevitable.

In my opinion, in concentrating these sites while extensively demolishing habitable areas in the Strip, Israel is effectively weaponising essential civilian mechanisms against Palestinians. The aid scheme appears to prioritise political and territorial issues over the humanitarian distribution of aid.



Gaza 39, Digital, Dall-E, 2025

The GHF system enables Israel to further concentrate civilians into makeshift encampments. Here they face inadequate and unhygienic conditions and shelter. These are particularly unsafe for women and children, while also being vulnerable to attacks by the Israeli military.

Palestinians also fear that the biometric screening will be used by Israel as a weapon of coercive control, rather than as a means to provide humanitarian relief.

Now people trying to access aid are dying. The international community must urgently put pressure on both sides to agree a ceasefire and on Israel to open Gaza up for a rapid large-scale humanitarian operation. To maintain the current GHF system is to invite further tragedy.

Irit Katz, Associate Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies, University of Cambridge

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Outcrop Silver & Gold Corporation (TSXV: OCG) (OTCQX: OCGSF) (DE: MRG) ("Outcrop Silver") is pleased to announce additional high-grade silver-gold results from the Guadual target, located in the central corridor of its 100% owned Santa Ana high-grade silver project in Colombia. The latest drill holes confirm wider, consistent high-grade mineralization in the Guadual North vein, further supporting the potential of the vein system to contribute to a future mineral resource update. The current confirmed footprint of Guadual is more than 500 metres along strike and 250 metres deep. Outcrop Silver has drilled a total of 3,817 metres in 19 holes to date at Guadual, and plans to execute a short delineation drilling campaign to support the upcoming mineral resource update.

Highlights

Hole DH463 intercepted 1.86 metres at 519 g/t AgEq (444 g/t Ag and 1.00 g/t Au) in the Guadual North vein (Table 1).





Hole DH462 intercepted 0.64 metres at 2,124 g/t AgEq (1,825 g/t Ag and 3.99 g/t Au) in the Guadual vein (Table 1).





Holes DH455, DH456, DH458, and DH460 intercepted consistently high-grade silver and gold mineralization in the northern section of the recently discovered high-grade shoot at Guadual North, confirming continuity over a 150 metres step-out to the north (Figure 1).

These results validate Guadual North as a zone of consistent, wider vein potential with strong grades, extending over several hundred metres on strike with vertical continuity. Drill hole DH463, in particular, delivers both width and grade, both key factors for future resource modeling.

"We're seeing consistent results at Guadual North that demonstrate not only high grades but also wide vein thicknesses that are very encouraging at the current stage," commented Guillermo Hernandez, Vice President of Exploration. "Intercepts like 1.86 metres at 519 g/t AgEq and 1.77 metres at 293 g/t AgEq are particularly promising, as they represent mineralized widths with scale. The added bonus of a splay zone in DH460 returning 3,349 g/t AgEq opens new opportunities to grow the system laterally as well. Guadual is proving to be a key part of the central corridor's evolving high-grade system."

The Guadual vein, along with its parallel structure Guadual North, forms part of the central mineralized trend at Santa Ana and represents the northernmost extension of the continuous AguilarJimenezGuadual vein system (Figure 1 and Figure 4). Structurally, it trends northeast and is hosted in low-grade green schists. The vein system includes multiple parallel veins and splays (Figure 1), with recent drilling confirming both grade consistency and structural continuity over a strike length exceeding 550 metres and a vertical extent of over 250 metres (Figure 4). Importantly, the target remains open both along strike and at depth, offering significant potential for further expansion through ongoing exploration (Figure 4).

Target Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Estimated True

Width (m) Au

g/t Ag

g/t AgEq1

g/t Vein Guadual DH452 145.15 145.65 0.50 0.35 1.14 360 446 Guadual North DH452 155.09 155.39 0.30 * 0.53 172 212 Splay DH455 124.54 125.19 0.65 0.58 4.09 704 1,011 Guadual North Including 124.54 124.84 0.30 0.27 8.46 1,511 2,147 DH456 146.00 147.77 1.77 1.28 0.85 229 293 Guadual North Including 147.46 147.77 0.31 0.22 3.67 848 1,123 DH458 177.13 178.38 1.25 0.73 0.67 304 354 Guadual North Including 177.60 178.38 0.78 0.46 0.97 445 518 DH460 144.57 145.26 0.69 0.45 1.00 542 617 Guadual North Including 144.87 145.26 0.39 0.26 1.35 826 928 DH460 155.73 156.03 0.30 * 6.06 2,894 3,349 Splay DH460 236.70 238.14 1.44 1.01 0.63 387 434 Guadual Including 237.24 237.54 0.30 0.21 1.02 1,523 1,600 DH462 75.50 76.63 1.13 0.91 0.21 223 239 Guadual North Including 75.50 75.82 0.32 0.26 0.50 776 813 DH462 132.55 133.19 0.64 0.55 3.99 1,825 2,124 Guadual Including 132.89 133.19 0.30 0.26 8.26 3,884 4,504 DH463 100.34 102.20 1.86 1.01 1.00 444 519 Guadual North Including 101.60 102.20 0.60 0.33 2.39 1,376 1,555

Table 1. Drill hole assay results reported in this release. * The current knowledge of these structures does not allow for estimating the true width.

AguilarJimenezGuadual Vein System

The Aguilar, Jimenez, and Guadual veins form a continuous, structurally connected corridor known as the AguilarJimenez-Guadual vein system, which now includes three confirmed high-grade mineralized shoots (Figure 4) and extends for more than 2 kilometres along strike. With strong vertical continuity between 200 and 250 metres, this mineralized corridor represents one of the most promising high-grade zones within the Santa Ana project. The presence of multiple shoots and parallel splays within each vein points to significant upside potential for expanding the mineral resource both laterally and at depth.

Table 2 presents selected drill intercepts from across the entire vein system, highlighting some of the highest silver-equivalent grades drilled in this sector to date. Several veins exhibit multi-metre intercepts with silver-equivalent grades in the multi-kilogram-per-tonne range, further reinforcing the district's strong potential for high-margin, underground resource growth

Vein System Hole

ID Length

(m) Estimated True

Width (m) Ag

g/t Au

g/t AgEq1 (g/t) AgEq

gm/t* Notes Release Date Aguilar DH364 1.63 1.35 576 1.88 717 1,169 Inc. 0.55 m @ 1,519 g/t AgEq July 17, 2024 DH369 6.52 5.22 592 3.14 828 5,400 Inc. 1.30 m @ 1,136 g/t AgEq July 17, 2024 DH373 1.18 0.74 719 4.20 1,035 1,221 Inc. 0.67 m @ 1,810 g/t AgEq August 28, 2024 Jimenez DH409 2.07 0.90 215 0.17 228 471 Inc. 0.38 m @ 969 g/t AgEq December 5, 2024 DH412 5.08 2.51 269 0.89 336 1,709 Inc. 0.71 m @ 1,956 g/t AgEq December 5, 2024 Guadual DH446 0.90 0.61 1,132 2.10 1,290 1,161 Inc. 0.50 m @ 2,272 g/t AgEq April 29, 2025 DH462 0.64 0.55 1,825 3.99 2,124 1,360 Inc. 0.30 m @ 4,504 g/t AgEq Current Release DH463 1.86 1.01 444 1.00 519 966 Inc. 0.60 m @ 1,555 g/t AgEq Current Release

Table 2. Selected drill results at the Aguilar-Jimenez-Guadual vein system in the Santa Ana project. * Based on silver equivalent grade-metres (AgEq gm/t), which reflect the product of grade multiplied by the mineralized length. Length does not represent an estimated true width.

Sample Easting

(m) Northing

(m) Elevation

(m) Sample

Type* Width Au

g/t Ag

g/t AgEq

g/t Release Date 15681 504789.0 562277.0 971.75 Chip 0.47 885 921 July 5, 2022 15682 504881.0 562356.0 941.01 Chip 5.34 664 1,065 July 5, 2022 15696 504822.1 562330.8 961.55 Channel 0.70 0.45 608 642 July 5, 2022 15836 504943.5 562349.1 942.08 Channel 15.00 0.40 315 345 July 5, 2022 15878 504636.6 562009.3 968.94 Chip 0.20 1.04 311 390 July 5, 2022 15897 504739.3 562076.5 977.86 Chip 0.45 2.61 297 494 July 5, 2022 15898 504681.1 562032.7 968.68 Chip 0.40 4.53 226 567 July 5, 2022 16368 504903.1 562431.7 939.77 Channel 0.20 1.23 400 492 September 11, 2024 16369 504903.3 562431.6 939.61 Channel 0.30 0.71 492 545 September 11, 2024 16370 504922.0 562435.0 937.48 Chip 0.20 2.01 1,328 1,479 September 11, 2024

Table 3. Surface chip and grab sample results in the Guadual vein target from the regional exploration program, including those previously reported and referred to in Figure 1 (see News Releases dated July 5, 2022, and September 11, 2024). By their nature, grab samples are selective, and the assay results may not necessarily represent true underlying mineralization. Coordinates are UTM system, zone 18N and WGS84 projection.

Hole ID Hole Code Easting

(m) Northing

(m) Elevation

(m) Depth

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() DH372 SAGU24DH372 504611.831 562181.878 1024.62 151.48 131 -45 DH374 SAGU24DH374 504611.659 562181.937 1024.41 169.46 131 -60 DH376 SAGU24DH376 504612.588 562182.698 1024.59 159.71 98 -50 DH377 SAGU24DH377 504611.975 562181.706 1024.43 201.16 130 -71 DH380 SAGU24DH380 504601.151 562202.905 1030.30 210.61 102 -60 DH382 SAGU24DH382 504525.146 562060.844 1000.30 140.20 136 -45 DH384 SAGU24DH384 504523.853 562060.777 1001.02 190.19 179 -61 DH387 SAGU24DH387 504449.408 561932.800 982.02 108.50 78 -45 DH445 SAGU25DH445 504771.497 562391.194 963.18 165.20 140 -45 DH446 SAGU25DH446 504771.446 562391.393 963.39 225.85 140 -66 DH448 SAGU25DH448 504772.273 562392.077 963.39 205.74 104 -50 DH450 SAGU25DH450 504812.568 562407.796 953.24 245.66 85 -60 DH452 SAGU25DH452 504749.677 562416.256 957.73 280.41 140 -65 DH455 SAGU25DH455 504863.983 562545.099 980.33 241.09 140 -45 DH456 SAGU25DH456 504863.830 562545.261 980.32 302.36 140 -62 DH458 SAGU25DH458 504863.717 562545.490 980.65 197.51 140 -73 DH460 SAGU25DH460 504748.274 562416.247 958.54 255.42 167 -56 DH462 SAGU25DH462 504754.732 562337.309 997.64 151.18 140 -50 DH463 SAGU25DH463 504754.596 562337.520 997.54 215.49 140 -71

Table 4. Collar and survey table for drill holes reported and referred to in this release. All coordinates are UTM system, Zone 18N, and WGS84 projection.

1Silver Equivalent

Metal prices used for equivalent calculations were US$1,800/oz for gold, and US$25/oz for silver. Metallurgical recoveries based on Outcrop Silver's metallurgical test work are 97% for gold and 93% for silver (see news release dated August 23, 2023). The equivalency formula is as follows:

QA/QC

Outcrop Silver applied its standard protocols for sampling and assay for exploration activities. Underground channel samples were taken perpendicular to the vein and sample length was broken by geology. Core diameter is a mix of HTW and NTW depending on the depth of the drill hole. Diamond drill core boxes were photographed, sawed, sampled and tagged. Samples were bagged, tagged and packaged for shipment by truck from Santa Ana's core logging facilities in Falan, Colombia to the Actlabs certified sample preparation facility in Medellin, Colombia. ActLabs is an accredited laboratory independent of the Company. HQ-NTW core is sawn with one-half shipped. Samples delivered to Actlabs were AA assayed on Au, Ag, Pb, and Zn at Medellin using 1A2Au, 1A3Au, Multi-elements AR (Ag Cu Pb Zn), and Code 8 methods. Then, samples were sent to Actlabs Mexico for ICP-multi-elemental analysis with code 1E3. In line with QA/QC best practices, blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials are inserted at approximately three control samples every twenty samples into the sample stream, monitoring laboratory performance. A comparison of control samples and their standard deviations indicates acceptable accuracy of the assays and no detectible contamination. No material QA/QC issues have been identified with respect to sample collection, security and assaying. The samples are analyzed for gold and silver using a standard fire assay on a 30-gram sample with a gravimetric finish for over-limits. Multi-element geochemistry was determined by ICP-MS using either aqua regia or four acid digestions. Crush rejects, pulps, and the remaining core are stored in a secured facility at Santa Ana for future assay verification.

Qualified Person

Edwin Naranjo Sierra is the designated Qualified Person within the meaning of the National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release. Mr. Naranjo holds a MSc. in Earth Sciences, and is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM). Mr. Naranjo Sierra is a consultant to the company and is therefore independent for the purposes of NI 43-101.

About Santa Ana

The 100% owned Santa Ana project covers 27,000 hectares within the Mariquita District, through titles and applications, known as the largest and highest-grade primary silver district in Colombia with mining records dating back to 1585.

Santa Ana's maiden resource estimate, detailed in the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled "Santa Ana Property Mineral Resource Estimate," dated June 8, 2023, prepared by AMC Mining Consultants, indicates an estimated indicated resource of 24.2 million ounces silver equivalent at a grade of 614 grams per tonne and an inferred resource of 13.5 million ounces at a grade of 435 grams per tonne. The identified resources span seven major vein systems that include multiple parallel veins and ore shoots: Santa Ana (San Antonio, Roberto Tovar, San Juan shoots); La Porfia (La Ivana); El Dorado (El Dorado, La Abeja shoots); Paraiso (Megapozo); Las Maras; Los Naranjos, and La Isabela.

The drilling campaign aims to extend known mineralization and test new high-potential areas along the permitted section of the project's extensive 30 kilometres of mineralized trend. This year's exploration strategy aims to demonstrate a clear pathway to substantially expand the resource. These efforts underscore the scalability of Santa Ana and its potential for substantial resource growth, positioning the project to develop into a high-grade, economically viable, and environmentally responsible silver mine.

About Outcrop Silver

Outcrop Silver is a leading explorer and developer focused on advancing its flagship Santa Ana high-grade silver project in Colombia. Leveraging a disciplined and seasoned team of professionals with decades of experience in the region. Outcrop Silver is dedicated to expanding current mineral resources through strategic exploration initiatives.

At the core of our operations is a commitment to responsible mining practices and community engagement, underscoring our approach to sustainable development. Our expertise in navigating complex geological and market conditions enables us to consistently identify and capitalize on opportunities to enhance shareholder value. With a deep understanding of the Colombian mining landscape and a track record of successful exploration, Outcrop Silver is poised to transform the Santa Ana project into a significant silver producer, contributing positively to the local economy and setting new standards in the mining industry.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential," "we believe," or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Outcrop Silver to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including: the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, capital expenditures and other costs, financing and additional capital requirements, completion of due diligence, general economic, market and business conditions, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, political uncertainties, and the state of the securities markets generally. Although management of Outcrop Silver have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Outcrop Silver will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - STLLR Gold Inc. (TSX: STLR) (OTCQX: STLRF) (FSE: O9D) ("STLLR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the remaining infill drilling results using artificial intelligence technology ("AI") at the Company's Tower Gold Project ("Tower") in the Timmins Mining Camp in Ontario, Canada.

Table 1: 2025 Tower Infill Drilling Highlights - 903 and 55 Zone Deposits (For more information see Tables 2 & 3 and Figures 1-5):

Zone Hole ID Assay Result 903 MGA25-237 2.61 g/t Au over 13.65 m (10.39 m TT)

including 3.42 g/t Au over 2.80 m (2.13 m TT)

including 5.30 g/t Au over 3.90 m (2.97 m TT) 903 MGA25-240 1.42 g/t Au over 11.15 m (7.27 m TT)

Including 2.77 g/t Au over 2.30 m (1.50 m TT) and

1.33 g/t Au over 17.00 m (11.10 m TT)

Including 1.85 g/t Au over 9.50 m (6.20 m TT) 903 MGA25-239 1.67 g/t Au over 10.85 m (7.75 m TT)

Including 2.36 g/t Au over 4.50 m (3.21 m TT) 55 MGA25-542 2.18 g/t Au over 8.00 m (7.22 m TT)

including 4.33 g/t Au over 3.40 m (3.07 m TT) Grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au"); Metres ("m"); True thickness ("TT")

Keyvan Salehi, P.Eng., MBA, President, CEO, and Director of STLLR, commented: "Our infill drilling program continues to validate the enhanced block model introduced in the Tower 2025 MRE[1]. The latest results reaffirm near-surface mineralization with strong potential for resource conversion to higher-confidence categories. Notably, several holes intersected grades above the average open pit grade defined in the 2025 MRE, underscoring the upside potential within existing pit shells.

In parallel, we have completed a series of technical drill holes to support our advancing Pre-Feasibility Study work programs. This includes eight geotechnical holes across the broader Tower deposit areas to inform slope design, overburden characterization, and overall geotechnical modelling, as well as three metallurgical holes in the Golden Highway area to support ongoing process optimization and recovery modelling. These efforts are foundational to de-risking the Project and refining our conceptual mine plan.

In addition to today's positive results from the 903 and 55 Zone deposits, we also look forward to reporting on assay results from the Hollinger Tailings Project characterization program in the near future."

903 Zone and 55 Zone Infill Drilling

The 903 Deposit, part of the Garrison Area at Tower, features gold mineralization linked to quartz veining within syenites hosted in highly deformed, carbonatized ultramafic volcanics of the Kidd-Munro assemblage. It lies along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone ("DPFZ"), with meta-sediments of the Porcupine assemblage located to the north.

The 55 Zone Deposit, located on the western end of the Golden Highway Area at Tower, is characterized by higher-grade, open-pit mineralization that remains open along strike to the southwest. Mineralization at the 55 Zone Deposit is associated with the Timiskaming age clastic sediment hosted stacked quartz veins located immediately south of the regional Banded Iron Formation and the DPFZ.

Using AI to optimize drill meterage and mineral resource conversion, STLLR's infill program intersected near-surface mineralization with grades higher than the current 903 and 55 Zone Deposits 2025 MRE open-pit mineralization1, potentially enhancing confidence in the targeted areas. See Figures 1 to 5 for 903 and 55 Zone Deposit drilling highlights, in plan and section views.

Figure 1: Tower Gold Project - Drill Location Map1



Figure 2: 903 Deposit - Infill Drilling Results Map1

Figure 3: 55 Zone Deposit - Infill Drilling Results Map1

Figure 4: 55 Zone Deposit - Infill Drilling Cross Section "W-E" Looking North1

Figure 5: 903 Deposit - Infill Drilling Cross Section "A-B" Looking Northeast1

Table 2: Exploration Drilling Intercepts*

Target Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) True Thickness (m) Grade (g/t Au) Metal Factor

(g/t Au x m) 903 MGA25-234 134.20 148.90 14.70 10.54 0.44 6.45 903 and 151.40 155.70 4.30 3.09 0.57 2.44 903 and 168.90 170.75 1.85 1.33 0.76 1.41 903 MGA25-235 54.00 67.00 13.00 10.09 0.56 7.29 903 and 77.00 86.00 9.00 7.01 0.34 3.06 903 MGA25-236 125.00 141.00 16.00 10.74 0.86 13.78 903 including 125.00 126.00 1.00 0.67 3.87 3.87 903 and 145.10 154.00 8.90 5.97 0.45 4.02 903 and 168.55 179.30 10.75 7.28 0.32 3.43 903 and 207.35 219.00 11.65 7.96 0.40 4.68 903 and 252.00 259.00 7.00 4.81 0.49 3.45 903 MGA25-237 212.70 226.35 13.65 10.39 2.61 35.62 903 including 214.00 216.80 2.80 2.13 3.42 9.57 903 including 222.45 226.35 3.90 2.97 5.30 20.65 903 and 231.00 241.00 10.00 7.59 1.15 11.46 903 and 251.50 260.40 8.90 6.74 0.36 3.25 903 and 294.90 299.50 4.60 3.48 0.41 1.90 903 and 314.00 316.00 2.00 1.51 0.75 1.51 903 MGA25-238 74.50 81.00 6.50 5.29 0.58 3.80 903 and 85.50 88.50 3.00 2.44 0.96 2.87 903 and 120.00 121.60 1.60 1.31 0.63 1.00 903 MGA25-239 72.35 83.20 10.85 7.75 1.67 18.12 903 including 76.50 81.00 4.50 3.21 2.36 10.63 903 and 102.75 109.00 6.25 4.49 0.38 2.36 903 MGA25-240 103.00 111.00 8.00 5.34 0.64 5.09 903 and 195.00 206.15 11.15 7.27 1.42 15.83 903 including 196.90 199.20 2.30 1.50 2.77 6.37 903 and 213.50 221.50 8.00 5.22 0.33 2.65 903 and 223.00 228.50 5.50 3.59 0.43 2.34 903 including 227.50 228.50 1.00 0.65 1.02 1.02 903 and 231.00 248.00 17.00 11.10 1.33 22.55 903 including 238.50 248.00 9.50 6.20 1.85 17.58 903 MGA25-242 20.60 29.50 8.90 6.46 0.42 3.78 903 and 50.50 56.50 6.00 4.35 0.74 4.43 903 and 57.50 70.00 12.50 9.07 0.66 8.25 903 and 77.00 81.90 4.90 3.55 3.28 16.06 903 including 80.50 81.90 1.40 1.02 9.83 13.76 JonPol MGA25-247 275.25 278.00 2.75 2.10 0.42 1.17 JonPol and 291.00 302.00 11.00 8.44 0.69 7.55 JonPol including 297.50 300.50 3.00 2.30 1.88 5.64 JonPol and 358.40 363.00 4.60 3.57 0.31 1.41 55 MGH25-542 52.00 54.00 2.00 1.84 0.80 1.61 55 and 58.00 62.00 4.00 3.66 1.22 4.88 55 and 104.00 106.00 2.00 1.81 1.44 2.87 55 and 121.50 129.50 8.00 7.22 2.18 17.47 55 including 126.10 129.50 3.40 3.07 4.33 14.72 55 and 153.00 155.00 2.00 1.79 1.02 2.03 55 and 188.00 190.00 2.00 1.77 1.94 3.88 *Note: All intercepts are calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5 m internal dilution and 25 g/t Au cap applied.

Table 3: Exploration Drill Hole Details

Zone Hole Number Easting Northing Elev. Az. Incl. Depth (m) Type 903 MGA25-234 577693.03 5373267.93 291.29 334.90 -54.90 306.00 Infill 903 MGA25-235 577395.26 5373137.59 296.91 338.00 -50.00 102.00 Infill 903 MGA25-236 577696.04 5373233.34 291.29 334.90 -60.00 297.35 Infill 903 MGA25-237 577543.79 5373041.98 293.86 336.00 -52.00 345.00 Infill 903 MGA25-238 577495.62 5373129.40 295.01 342.00 -46.00 165.00 Infill 903 MGA25-239 577500.78 5373114.63 295.05 330.00 -55.00 225.65 Infill 903 MGA25-240 577663.96 5373207.22 291.75 330.00 -60.00 372.00 Infill 903 MGA25-241 577551.70 5373326.00 293.35 140.00 -70.10 149.80 Geotech 903 MGA25-242 576998.76 5373280.65 297.44 337.00 -58.50 90.00 Infill 903 MGA25-243 577256.40 5373236.00 297.36 180.00 -70.00 194.80 Geotech Garrcon MGA25-244 578723.70 5373839.00 288.13 320.00 -75.00 270.00 Geotech Jonpol MGA25-245 578006.00 5374308.00 283.16 360.00 -70.00 125.70 Geotech Jonpol MGA25-246 578005.60 5374306.00 283.14 180.00 -70.00 135.00 Geotech JonPol MGA25-247 578052.72 5374109.21 288.40 340.00 -50.00 402.00 Infill Southwest MGH25-537 570976.39 5369485.34 322.15 120.00 -60.00 168.00 MET Southwest MGH25-538 571047.98 5369340.68 322.29 18.00 -52.00 120.00 MET Southwest MGH25-539 571210.68 5369680.70 323.24 302.00 -70.00 149.55 Geotech 55 MGH25-540 569289.97 5368740.36 317.98 175.00 -70.00 239.80 Geotech 55 MGH25-541 569231.06 5368710.71 318.26 342.70 -47.90 75.00 MET 55 MGH25-542 569255.61 5368874.20 319.67 85.10 -55.00 210.00 Infill Windjammer MGH25-543 572235.62 5370861.45 331.14 311.00 -70.00 440.90 Geotech

Quality Control Procedures

NQ drill core is oriented and cut with half sent to ALS Laboratories Inc. (ALS) for drying and crushing to -2 mm, with a 1.00 kg split pulverized to -75 m (200#). ALS is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. A 50 g charge is Fire Assayed and analyzed using an AAS finish for Gold. Samples above 10.00 g/t Au are analyzed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish and selected samples with visible gold or high-grade mineralization are assayed by Metallic Screen Fire Assay on a 1.00 kg sample. STLLR inserts independent certified reference material and blanks with the samples and assays routine pulp repeats, as well as completing routine third-party check assays at Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd.

True widths were calculated in Leapfrog Geo, perpendicular to the interpreted plane of mineralization using the dip and dip azimuth of the mineralized zones.

Qualified Person

John McBride, MSc., P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for STLLR, who is the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 for this project, has reviewed and approved of the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About STLLR Gold

STLLR Gold Inc. (TSX: STLR) (OTCQX: STLRF) (FSE: O9D) is a Canadian gold development company actively advancing two cornerstone gold projects in Canada: The Tower Gold Project in the Timmins Mining Camp in Ontario and the Colomac Gold Project located north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Each of these two projects has the potential for a long-life and large-scale operation and are surrounded by exploration land with favourable upside potential. STLLR's experienced management team, with a track record of successfully advancing projects and operating mines, is working towards rapidly advancing these projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the confirmation of mineralization and the potential conversion of the Tower 2025 MRE to higher confidence categories, the potential expansion of the known mineralization, the timing of the results from the Hollinger Tailings Project, the long-life and large-scale potential of the Tower and Colomac Gold Projects and exploration upside of the land packages. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "accelerate", "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "fast-track", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves", "increase", "intends", "justification", "leading", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "pro-forma", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects", "re-rating", "robust", "scheduled", "stronger", "suggesting" or "suggests", "support", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".

Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of STLLR to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with required regulatory approvals, the exploration, development and mining such as economic factors as they effect exploration, future commodity prices, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, actual results of current exploration activities, government regulation, political or economic developments, the ongoing wars and their effect on supply chains, environmental risks, pandemic risks, permitting timelines, capex, operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves, contests over title to properties, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Although STLLR has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. STLLR does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

1 For more information on the Tower Mineral Resource Estimate ("2025 MRE") and Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2025 PEA"), please review the May 15, 2025 STLLR news release on SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca or the Company website at www.stllrgold.com. An NI 43-101 Technical Report will be filed for the 2025 MRE and 2025 PEA on or before June 30, 2025.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- South Star Battery Metals Corp. (South Star or the Company) (TSXV: STS) (OTCQB: STSBF), is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) of up to 9,090,909 units (the Units) at price of US$0.22 (C$0.3019) per Unit for gross proceeds of up to US$2,000,000 (C$2,744,600). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share (a Common Share) and one (1) common share purchase warrant (a Warrant), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of US$0.33 (C$0.4529) for a period of five (5) years following the date of issuance.

Closing of the Private Placement is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV). Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for exploration, development, corporate G&A and general working capital requirements.

The Company may pay finders' fees to eligible finders, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSXV. The securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period. The Company may, in its sole discretion, exercise an over-allotment option pursuant to which it may increase the size of the Private Placement by up to 15%.

Insiders may participate in the Private Placement including subscriptions from related parties of the Company as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The participation of insiders in the Private Placement is expected to be exempt from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements pursuant to exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The Warrants will include an acceleration clause which provides that, if, during any period of ten (10) consecutive trading days between the date that is four (4) months following the closing of the Private Placement and the expiry of the Warrants, the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSXV (or such other stock exchange where the majority of the trading volume occurs) is equal to or exceeds C$1.25, the Company may, within thirty (30) days of such an occurrence, give notice, via news release, to the holders of the Warrants that all unexercised Warrants will expire at 4:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the 30th day following the giving of such notice.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

ABOUT SOUTH STAR BATTERY METALS CORP.

South Star is a Canadian battery-metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Stars Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial- and battery-metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (> 30 tonnes) has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of graphite concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95%-99% graphitic carbon (Cg). With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star Phase 1 is ramping up commercial production with first sales expected to be delivered in October 2024. Santa Cruz Phase 1 commercial production has a nameplate capacity of 12,000 tpy and is the first new graphite production in the Americas since 1996. Phase 2 production (25,000 tpy) is partially funded and planned for 2026, while Phase 3 (50,000 tpy) is scheduled for 2028.

South Stars second project in the development pipeline is strategically located in Alabama, U.S.A. in the center of a developing electric-vehicle, aerospace, and defense hub in the southeastern United States. The BamaStar Project includes a historic mine active during the First and Second World Wars. A NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment will be filed on SEDAR+. Trenching, Phase 1 drilling, sampling, analysis, and preliminary metallurgical testing have been completed. The testing included a traditional crush/grind/flotation concentration circuit that achieved grades of approximately 94-99% Cg with approximately 90% recoveries. The vertically integrated production facilities include a mine and industrial concentrator in Coosa County, AL and a downstream value-add plant in Mobile, AL, which will be upgrading natural flake graphite concentrates from both Santa Cruz and BamaStar mines. South Star is executing on its plan to create a multi-asset, diversified battery-metals company with near-term operations in strategic jurisdictions. South Star trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF.

South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles, based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education, and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com.

This news release has been reviewed and approved for South Star by Richard Pearce, P.E., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp.

On behalf of the South Star Board of Directors,

MR. RICHARD L. PEARCE,

President & Chief Executive Officer

For additional information, please contact:

South Star Investor Relations

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to statements regarding the Private Placement, including the closing date, the use of proceeds and potential acceleration of Warrants and Finders Warrants, production at Santa Cruz, and scaling operations as well as advancing the Alabama project; and the Companys plans and expectations.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Summary:

Golden Cross has commenced drilling at the Reedy Creek Gold Project, 10 km northeast of and contiguous to Southern Cross Gold's recent Sunday Creek gold discovery

Historical drilling at Reedy Creek revealed high-grade gold intercepts including 11 m at 31.4 g/t gold and 2 m at 174.42 g/t gold1

Recent soil geochemical sampling also identified a ~3 km-long gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly

Fully funded: Initial 2,000 metres of drilling at key targets will aim to expand known gold mineralization and support an additional fully funded 4,000 metres of drilling

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Golden Cross Resources Corp (TSXV: AUX) (OTC Pink: ZCRMD) ("Golden Cross" or the "Company"), a company focused on high-grade gold exploration at the historic Reedy Creek Goldfield in Victoria, Australia, is pleased to announce it has commenced an inaugural fully funded 6,000-metre phased drill program to test and expand on key high-grade gold targets.

An initial 2,000-metre diamond drilling program comprises 15 shallow drill holes at the Prince of Wales & Wieneroider Ridge targets within the Reedy Creek Goldfield (Figure 1, below). This initial phase has been guided by LiDAR survey data, a review of recent previous drilling as well as the recently completed structural mapping. It is designed to systematically improve the structural and geological understanding of the targets and will aim to expand on the known mineralization. This will be achieved by targeting interpreted faults, shears, and quartz veins.

Figure 1: Golden Cross' inaugural 6,000 metre drilling program will aim to expand on previously identified zones of high-grade gold mineralization at the Prince of Wales and Wieneroider Ridge prospects, shown above.

Enhanced geotechnical insight from the early drilling will support a further 4,000m of fully funded drilling. This drilling will be aimed at investigating extensions to vein systems at depth, as well as testing of adjacent ladder targets.

The drill targets have been identified from geological mapping of surface workings and are untouched by modern exploration techniques. They offer the potential to identify previously unrecognized mineralization that could be incorporated into the broader Reedy Creek exploration model.

Golden Cross Resources will have the option to field additional drill rigs later in 2025. This decision will be based on drilling results and will be guided by ongoing structural mapping running in support of the drilling program.

Management Commentary

"With drilling having commenced at Reedy Creek, our focus is to develop a deeper understanding of the structural controls on mineralization as we look to expand our drilling program. We expect to announce initial drill results later this summer," said Golden Cross CEO Matthew Roma.

About the Reedy Creek Project: Historic High-Grade Gold Intercepts

Located just 10 km northeast of Southern Cross Gold's recent Sunday Creek gold discovery, historical drilling at Reedy Creek points to a potential high-grade gold system. Significant intercepts1 include:

2.0 m at 174.4 g/t gold

11.0 m at 31.4 g/t gold

These shallow intercepts demonstrate very high gold grades but were never followed up with deeper or systematic drilling. Golden Cross intends to apply modern structural, geochemical, and geological tools to define its scale and continuity.

Figure 2: Golden Cross' Reedy Creek Project is located 10 km northeast of Southern Cross Gold's recent Sunday Creek gold discovery, in Victoria's prolific Lachlan Fold Belt

~3km Gold-in-Soil Anomaly Suggests Potential Large-Scale System

Supporting Golden Cross' 6,000 metre drill campaign this summer is a recently outlined gold-in-soil anomaly stretching more than 3 kilometers in length and running parallel to a regional anticline -similar in style to structures hosting mineralization at Sunday Creek. Gold-in-soil anomalies are critical early indicators of mineralized systems, especially in epizonal deposits where gold is often closely associated with fault zones and vein swarms near surface.

The anomaly identified at Reedy Creek aligns with mapped folding and structural complexity, suggesting the potential for multiple pathways for gold deposition - a key requirement for high-grade, vertically extensive gold systems.

"Testing the Ladder": A Strategy That Delivered at Sunday Creek

Golden Cross is adopting the same exploration model that led to the breakthrough discovery at Sunday Creek: the "Testing the Ladder" approach. This strategy focuses on identifying stacked, steeply dipping high-grade gold bearing quartz veins (the "rungs" of a ladder) that can deliver multiple intercepts from a single drill hole when drilled at depth. The high-grade quartz veins forming these rungs are connected by a halo of lower grade mineralization within the intervening host rock.

Shorter historical holes from past drill campaigns could have potentially missed many of these deeper vein intersections. At Reedy Creek, past drilling at hole RWD01 reported the following grade intervals2:

0.8 m @ 21.7 g/t Au from 40.8 m

0.7 m @ 239.64 g/t Au from 68.7 m

By drilling deeper and along structurally favorable trends, Golden Cross aims to define the vertical extent, continuity, and true size of the potential system.

About Golden Cross Resources

Golden Cross Resources (TSXV: AUX) (OTC Pink: ZCRMD) is a Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in the advancement of its 100% owned "Reedy Creek" high-grade gold project (the "Project") in Victoria, Australia, which is comprised of two tenements of land located approximately 10 km northeast of and contiguous to Southern Cross Gold's Sunday Creek gold discovery. Past drilling at the Project revealed high-grade gold intercepts including 11 m at 31.4 g/t gold and 2 m at 174.42 g/t gold1.

For more information visit: www.goldencrossresources.com

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Alan Till, VP Exploration and a Qualified Person for Golden Cross Resources as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Till has examined information regarding the historical exploration at Golden Cross' "Reedy Creek" high-grade gold project, which includes his review of the historical sampling, analytical and procedures underlying the information and opinions contained herein.

Management cautions that historical results were collected and reported by operators unrelated to Golden Cross and have not been verified nor confirmed by its Qualified Person; however, the historical results create a scientific basis for ongoing work in the Golden Cross property. Management further cautions that historical results, discoveries and published resource estimates on adjacent or nearby mineral properties, whether in stated current resource estimates or historical resource estimates, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Golden Cross property.

References:

Refers to Fosterville South Exploration news release dated April 27, 2022 (link here) Refers to Fosterville South Exploration news release dated Oct 14, 2021 (link here)

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release may contain forwardlooking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur and include disclosure of anticipated exploration activities. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forwardlooking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forwardlooking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Such factors include, among others, risks related to: the accuracy and reliability of historic drilling results as it relates to planned exploration; the ability of the Company to raise funds for exploration activities and property maintenance costs at Reedy Creek; reliance on technical information provided by third parties on any of our exploration properties; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays due to pandemic; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis which is available under Company's SEDAR profile at: www.sedarplus.ca

Although Golden Cross has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Golden Cross disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Sanu Gold Corporation (CSE: SANU) (OTCQB: SNGCF) ("Sanu Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce preliminary results from its ongoing 2025 drill programme, which has mainly focused on its Daina gold exploration permit ("Daina"), located in the prolific Siguiri Basin of Guinea, West Africa.

Since the drill programme began in February 2025, a total of 9,118 meters were drilled on the Daina gold exploration permit, with assay results for several holes still pending. Preliminary drill results have extended mineralization at the Daina 2 Target and resulted in another new discovery at the Salat East Target, with highlights provided below.

Daina 2 Target highlights:

Following the new Daina 2 Target discovery announced earlier this year, further drilling has successfully confirmed mineralization between the Daina 2 Main and the Daina 2 South zones, thereby extending the mineralization by approximately 1,000 meters to a strike length of at least 1,500 meters.

Key preliminary drill results to date include: Hole DAI-RC-067: 26m of 2.54 g/t Au from 18m, including 11m of 5.48 g/t Au . Hole DAI-RC-061: 32m of 1.24 g/t Au from 13m including: 9m of 2.48 g/t Au from 34m and 11m of 3.43 g/t Au from 53m, including 8m of 4.44 g/t Au . Hole DAI-RC-069: 22m of 1.02 g/t Au from 17m, including 2m of 2.52 g/t Au. Hole DAI-AC-078: 18m of 1.06 g/t Au from 24m, including 4m of 1.85 g/t Au. Hole DAI-AC-088: 10m of 1.54 g/t Au from 14m, including 2m of 6.81 g/t Au.

Mineralization remains open to the south where the trends defined in the ground geophysics indicates the main structure continues for a further 1,000 meters.

A second rig has been mobilized with a further 4,000 meters of drilling currently underway on the Daina permit.

Salat East Target highlights:

Salat East target is located only 4km from the Daina 1 South target.

First ever drilling at the Salat East target identified mineralization of significant width over a strike length of at least 500 meters, within a granite hosted northeast striking structure.

The mineralized structure remains open suggesting significant opportunity for expansion along strike and at depth, with follow-up drilling expected to be planned in the next drilling campaign.

Drill results highlights include 34m of 1.42 g/t Au from 24m, including 12m of 3.24 g/t Au (Hole DAI-RC-076).

Martin Pawlitschek, President and CEO of Sanu Gold commented: "We are very pleased with the preliminary results of our ongoing exploration programme. Our key focus was to test the extensive gold bearing structures first discovered late last year at Daina 2, where further drilling confirmed wide zones of mineralization from the southern extension of the structure. We have also completed initial lines of drilling across the granitoid hosted Salat East target where we made a new discovery as significant widths and grades of gold mineralization were returned, while the structure remains open in all directions.

In parallel, we continue to progress our strategy of growing our presence in Guinea by assessing early-stage exploration opportunities. Given Sanu's proven commitment to exploration and our strong shareholder backing, we believe that we are well positioned to be a partner of choice for the award of available exploration tenements."

ONGOING DRILL PROGRAM DETAILS

Since the start of the program in February 2025, a total of 4,144 meters Reverse Circulation (RC) were drilled in 31 RC holes, 3,364 meters Air Core (AC) were drilled in 73 AC holes and 1,610 meters Diamond Drill (DD) were drilled in six oriented core holes in the Daina Project (Figure 1). The results for all the diamond holes and for ten RC and seven Air Core holes are pending.

The follow-up drill programme was designed to test the lateral and downdip extension of large and high-grade gold mineralization previously intercepted on the southern extension of the Daina 2 target.[1] At Salat East, gold mineralization associated with a northeast trending structure hosted within a granite intrusive was tested over 500 meters of strike length. At Daina 1 South the program tested the extension of a NNW-striking parallel system of gold mineralized structures.

Figure 1: Daina key prospects.

Daina 2 Target

A total of 60 AC holes totaling 2,558 meters and twenty-five RC holes totaling 2,845 meters and three diamond core holes totaling 720 meters were drilled at the Daina 2 Target (Figure 2). The results are pending for all three diamond holes.

This drilling program was designed to test lateral and downdip extension of large gold mineralization previously intercepted on the southern extension of the Daina 2 structure, including 51 meters at 3.11 g/t Au from 6 meters in hole DAI-AC-021, see the Sanu Gold news releases dated January 21, 2025.

Five drill fences oriented in East-West and spaced 100 meters to 200 meters apart have been drilled along the southern part of the structure filling in the area to the north towards the main zone. The program yielded encouraging results consisting of intercepts of multiple sets of mineralized zones (Table 1) and showing a 600-meter-long northward extension of the newly discovered zone. The defined gold structure is open towards the south where the geophysics indicates that it may continue for another 1Km (Figure 2).

The trend of gold mineralization intercepted at the southern extension at Daina 2 coincides with a north-south trending area of elevated chargeability and resistivity. Observations of rock chip samples from RC and AC drill and core samples from diamond drill holes show that the gold mineralization is hosted within hydrothermally altered and deformed coarse-grained greywacke locally alternating with thin layers of fine-grained siltstones crosscut by auriferous quartz veins associated with disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite. Zones of extensive quartz veins and breccia host large and high-grade gold mineralization.

Mineralization has been encountered at depth in DAI-RC-072 suggesting that mineralised system could be thicker with 20m of 0.35 g/t Au intersected from 185 meters depth.

Best preliminary intercepts from the 2025 campaign include (Table 1):

Hole DAI-RC-061: 32m of 1.24 g/t Au from 13m, including 9m of 2.48 g/t Au , and 11m of 3.43 g/t Au from 53m, including 8m of 4.44 g/t Au .

Hole DAI-RC-067: 26m of 2.54 g/t Au of from 18m including 11m of 5.48 g/t Au

Hole DAI-RC-069: 22m of 1.02 g/t Au from 17m, including 2m of 2.52 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-AC-078: 18m of 1.06 g/t Au from 24m, including 4m of 1.85 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-AC-088: 10m of 1.54 g/t Au from 14m.

Best intercepts from previous drill campaigns include (News release dated January 21, 2025):

Hole DAI-AC-021: 51m of 3.11 g/t Au from 6m, including 4m of 4.47 g/t Au , as well as 5m of 20.0 g/t Au further downhole

Hole DAI-RC-004: 21m of 4.75 g/t Au from 56m, including 1m of 85.5 g/t Au

Hole DAI-RC-001: 37m of 1.99 g/t Au from 21m, including 1m of 32.6 g/t Au, followed further downhole by 15m of 1.23 g/t Au, including 1m of 12.3 g/t Au

Hole DAI-RC-013: 11m of 5.50 g/t Au from 80m, including 1m of 56.6 g/t Au

Hole DAI-AC-022: 16m of 0.94 g/t Au from 20m, including 8m of 1.2 g/t Au

Hole DAI-RC-051: 4m of 1.84 g/t Au from 60m

Broad zones of gold mineralization have been intersected in the greywacke unit as summarized in Table 1 and Figure 3.

Figure 2: Daina 2 current program drill collars and key intercepts (previous in dark boxes and new light boxes) over resistivity map.

Figure 3: Two drill sections from Daina 2 South.

Salat East Target

Two air core holes totaling 85 meters, nine RC holes totaling 1,117 meters and two oriented diamond core holes totaling 590 meters were drilled at Salat East Target (Table 3). All the diamond core, as well as five RC holes have results pending.

The program was designed to test a 500-meter-long segment of a NE-trending gold-bearing structures hosted in a granite. The intrusive rock is extensively sheared and hydrothermally altered and associated with a zone of elevated chargeability and resistivity (Figure 4).

Scout drilling consistently returned wide zones of mineralisation and alteration to a vertical depth of 100 meters. Gold Mineralization along the Shear Zone is characterized by a network of steeply dipping gold-bearing veins and veinlets associated with disseminated pyrite in altered and sheared granite (Figure 5). RC and DD drilling define the mineralized zones from surface to a depth of 200 meter deep and vary in width from 50 meter to up to 100 meter. The gold structure remains open for significant expansion along strike and at depth.

Results from Salat Target to date include:

Hole DAI-RC-076: 34m of 1.42 g/t Au from 24m, including 12m of 3.24 g/t Au .

Hole DAI-RC-077: 34m of 0.50 g/t Au from 14m, including 4m of 1.06 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-RC-078: 44m of 0.34 g/t Au from 62m, including 2m of 1.07 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-RC-078: 18m of 0.48 g/t Au from 126m, including 2m of 1.27 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-RC-075: 12m of 0.60 g/t Au from 136m, including 2m of 2.39 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-RC-076: 16m of 0.40 g/t Au from 72m, including 2m of 1.32 g/t Au.

Hole DAI-RC-078: 14m of 0.37 g/t Au from 28m.

Figure 4: Salat East, showing drill locations, intercepts and trend of artisanal workings. Highlighted assays results from AC and RC drill holes.

Figure 5: Salat East Target cross-sections showing geological and structural interpretation, RC drill hole traces, highlighted assays results from AC and RC drill holes.

Daina 1 South Target

Two RC holes totaling 182 meters, eleven AC holes totaling 721 meters and one oriented diamond core hole of 300-meter depth were drilled at the Daina 1 South Target (Table 2).

The objective of the drill program at Daina 1 South was to test the extension of a NNW-striking parallel system of gold mineralized structures. The mineralized structure occurs at faulted contact between the high chargeability graphitic siltstone and medium to low chargeability zone greywacke rocks and is expressed in the field by an area of extensive deformation hydrothermal alteration and artisanal works, pits and shafts, aligned along the identified gold structure. Significant intervals from this program reported herein include (Table 2):

Hole DAI-AC-091: 10m of 0.67 g/t Au from 4m, including 2m of 2.46 g/t Au and 24m of 0.52 g/t Au from 32m, including 2m of 2.45 g/t Au from 42m.

The results are from an area with a large artisanal pit in bedrock. At the time of this release the result for only one AC hole was available. Results are pending from this target area for 10 Air Core Holes, 2 RC holes and 1 diamond hole.

OTHER ONGOING EXPLORATION PROGRAMMES:

- At Diguifara, four oriented diamond core holes for a total of 1,120 meters have been completed across the target of Dig 1, Dig 2 and Dig 3. Results for these are pending. One RC and Air Core rig has been mobilized to Diguifara to follow up the strike extents of mineralization identified in last year's drilling at Dig 1, Dig 2 and Dig 3. A program consisting of 17 RC holes for 1,400 meters and 20 AC holes for 2,100 meters is underway.

- A diamond core rig has been mobilized to Bantabaye where a program of three oriented diamond core holes is underway. Our geophysics contractors have also been mobilized to Bantabaye where a 90-line Kilometer extension of the ground geophysics is underway to cover the gold trends in the southern part of the permit. In parallel, a program of auger geochemical sampling has also commenced targeting the gold trends in the north and in the south of the Bantabaye Permit.

CORPORATE UPDATE:

The Company welcomes Peter Hemstead to the Board of Directors. Peter brings extensive corporate governance and audit experience to the board.

We also thank Galen McNamara who completed his tenure on the Board at the Annual General Meeting. Galen has made significant contributions to the Company's start up years.

Table 1: Daina 2 Target RC drill intercepts.

Hole ID X-UTM Y-UTM Intercept Interval From Prospect Length Azimuth Dip (m) (o) (o) (g/t Au) (m) (m) DAI-AC-030 503 742 1 317 999 24 90 -55 0.77 18 0 Daina 2 including 2.51 2 2 DAI-AC-031 503 756 1 318 004 58 90 -55 0.85 6 16 Daina 2 including 1.12 2 16 DAI-AC-032 503 788 1 318 002 55 90 -55 0.42 2 10 Daina 2 DAI-AC-033 503 823 1 318 002 44 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-RC-060 503641 1318003 156 90 -55 0.50 2 86 Daina 2 and 0.33 2 113 and 1.06 7 122 including 1.41 4 122 and 0.51 8 136 including 1.93 1 143 DAI-RC-061 503702 1318000 120 90 -55 1.24 32 13 Daina 2 including 2.48 9 34 and 3.43 11 53 including 4.44 8 53 and 0.40 6 73 DAI-RC-062 503668 1318000 140 90 -55 0.47 2 48 Daina 2 0.22 6 69 including 1.01 2 74 1.22 2 84 including 1.76 1 85 1.21 4 92 0.38 2 109 DAI-AC-034 503843 1318005 39 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-035 503734 1317904 60 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-036 503772 1317903 50 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-037 503799 1317905 47 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-038 503827 1317906 44 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-039 503850 1317907 43 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-RC-063 503712 1317902 145 90 -55 0.32 1 17 Daina 2 0.53 1 29 0.42 1 116 DAI-RC-064 503649.2 1317900 132 90 -55 0.46 1 26 Daina 2 0.31 1 83 DAI-AC-040 503751 1317802 49 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-041 503775 1317799 49 90 -55 0.48 4 44 Daina 2 DAI-AC-042 503806 1317801 50 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-043 503834 1317801 40 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-044 503859 1317800 49 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-045 503889 1317799 50 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-046 503627 1317801 47 90 -55 0.39 2 14 Daina 2 DAI-AC-047 503656 1317801 47 90 -55 0.85 12 6 Daina 2 including 1.67 4 8 DAI-AC-048 503679 1317796 53 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-RC-065 503710 1317802 78 90 -55 2.94 1 13 Daina 2 0.96 1 54 DAI-RC-066 503577 1317799 70 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-049 503743 1318100 53 90 -55 0.81 4 2 Daina 2 0.00 2 2 DAI-AC-050 503772 1318102 52 90 -55 0.38 2 0 Daina 2 DAI-AC-051 503803 1318106 44 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-RC-067 503691 1318100 70 90 -55 2.54 26 18 Daina 2 including 5.50 11 34 DAI-RC-068 503627 1318099 144 90 -55 0.40 2 59 Daina 2 2.81 2 69 1.12 2 89 0.84 11 103 including 1.69 3 103 5.88 2 120 including 10.98 1 120 DAI-AC-052 503710 1318192 47 90 -55 0.50 10 16 Daina 2 DAI-AC-053 503735 1318202 47 90 -55 0.60 4 6 Daina 2 DAI-RC-069 503651 1318195 96 90 1.02 22 17 Daina 2 including 2.52 2 20 1.90 2 42 0.92 9 49 including 4.23 1 50 DAI-RC-070 503607 1318199 130 90 -55 1.51 2 49 Daina 2 including 2.65 1 49 0.50 30 62 including 1.13 10 81 DAI-RC-071 503707 1318100 170 270 -55 0.71 2 3 Daina 2 1.06 8 47 including 4.59 1 53 6.30 2 61 including 12.06 1 61 0.52 2 87 0.80 1 102 0.52 7 109 including 1.20 1 111 0.66 1 122 0.46 2 135 0.57 23 142 including 1.04 4 150 DAI-RC-072 503587 1318099 210 90 -55 0.82 1 50 Daina 2 including 2.13 1 76 0.65 4 73 including 1.26 3 107 0.53 21 100 0.68 1 125 0.36 2 134 0.23 8 147 including 1.30 3 192 0.59 1 180 0.35 20 185 0.58 1 209 DAI-AC-054 503669 1318300 29 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-055 503686 1318299 25 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-056 503700 1318302 29 90 -55 0.87 2 8 Daina 2 DAI-AC-057 503715 1318303 41 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-058 503735 1318311 40 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-059 503760 1318315 37 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-060 503781.5 1318313 25 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-061 503795.5 1318315 16 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-062 503811.5 1318312 13 90 -55 0.32 2 2 Daina 2 DAI-AC-063 503818.5 1318316 12 90 -55 0.42 2 4 Daina 2 DAI-AC-064 503824.5 1318314 14 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-065 503832.5 1318317 21 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-066 503844.5 1318315 44 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-067 503652 1318287 36 90 0.38 6 2 Daina 2 1.07 4 24 DAI-AC-068 503632 1318282 36 90 -55 0.50 24 12 Daina 2 including 2.34 1 20 DAI-AC-069 503612 1318350 41 90 -55 0.89 36 6 Daina 2 including 1.61 14 14 DAI-RC-073 503542 1318350 114 90 -55 0.35 1 1 Daina 2 1.27 5 49 including 1.81 3 50 0.44 19 62 including 2.17 1 65 DAI-AC-070 503448 1318692 54 90 -55 0.57 2 6 Daina 2 0.44 2 14 0.22 8 38 0.500 2 44 DAI-RC-074 503409 1318708 100 90 -55 1.96 1 28 Daina 2 0.69 2 66 DAI-AC-071 503287 1318500 52 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-072 503316 1318498 46 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-073 503342 1318500 43 90 -55 0.405 14 20 Daina 2 DAI-AC-074 503372 1318499 42 90 -55 0.638 12 8 Daina 2 DAI-AC-075 503396 1318500 51 90 -55 0.37 2 6 Daina 2 DAI-AC-076 503426 1318499 54 90 -55 0.391 2 50 Daina 2 DAI-AC-077 503456 1318489 48 90 -55 0.51 2 30 Daina 2 DAI-AC-078 503546 1318503 48 90 -55 0.36 2 4 Daina 2 1.061 18 24 including 1.854 4 34 DAI-AC-079 503572 1318511 50 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-080 503597 1318530 43 90 -55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-083 503342 1318806 54 90 55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-084 503375 1318884 49 90 55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-085 503191 1319200 9 90 55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-085-A 503193 1319200 62 90 55 NSV Daina 2 DAI-AC-086 503093 1319299 52 90 55 0.74 2 40 Daina 2 DAI-AC-087 502809 1319702 59 90 55 0.310 2 34 Daina 2 0.336 8 44 0.467 2 58 DAI-AC-088 502751 1319679 53 90 55 1.54 10 14 Daina 2 including 6.81 2 14 0.71 2 32 DAI-AC-089 502603 1319935 57 90 55 0.62 2 4 0.43 6 20 DAI-AC-090 502422 1320253 32 90 55 0.61 2 0 0.51 2 14 DAI-RC-079 503312 1318800 88 90 55 NSV DAI-RC-080 503261 1318800 144 90 55 NSV DAI-RC-081 503313 1318904 91 90 55 0.90 2 66 DAI-RC-082 503153 1319197 84 90 55 NSV DAI-RC-083 503045 1319296 84 90 55 NSV DAI-RC-084 502949 1319399 72 90 55 0.31 2 36 DAI-RC-085 502690 1319702 126 90 55 0.48 2 82 DAI-RC-086 502650 1319801 92 90 55 0.49 2 8 0.97 4 70 0.40 2 90 DAI-RC-087 502550 1319937 104 90 55 NSV DAI-RC-088 502 394 1 320 272 85 90 55 1.30 2 36 Notes: The Company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections reported in this release. Drillhole intercepts are calculated using a minimum downhole length of 1 m, a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t gold, and may include up to 3m of internal dilution within the intercept. Only intercepts 1 m are reported. Sample intervals are comprised of RC drill chips, which are sampled at regular 1 m intervals. Assays are reported uncut. Grid coordinates are UTM WGS84 Zone 29N. NSV = no significant values.

Table 2: Daina 1 South Target RC and AC drill intercepts.

Hole ID X-UTM Y-UTM Intercept Interval From Prospect Length Azimuth Dip (m) (o) (o) (g/t Au) (m) (m) 2025 Drilling Results DAI-RC-050 504 878 1 311 202 111 270 55 0.32 4 24 Daina 1 1.54 4 60 0.6 2 110 DAI-AC-001 504 793 1 311 191 80 270 55 0.46 2 10 Daina 1 0.67 2 22 0.34 36 42 Including 1.1 2 56 DAI-AC-002 504 652 1 311 208 77 270 55 1.32 4 10 Daina 1 0.59 2 30 0.33 2 40 DAI-AC-003 504 769 1 311 266 83 270 55 0.31 14 22 Daina 1 1.35 4 48 0.5 10 74 1.1 2 78 DAI-AC-004 504 755 1 311 306 73 270 55 1.25 2 4 Daina 1 0.37 8 20 0.85 2 46 DAI-AC-005 504 821 1 311 102 101 270 55 0.65 2 20 Daina 1 0.36 8 84 DAI-AC-006 504 666 1 311 100 84 270 55 0.52 4 10 Daina 1 0.87 8 72 Including 2.68 2 72 DAI-AC-007 504 633 1 311 098 75 270 55 0.35 2 6 Daina 1 0.34 2 16 0.32 4 42 DAI-AC-008 504 629 1 311 259 57 270 55 0.5 18 2 Daina 1 Including 2.25 2 2 1.18 4 42 DAI-AC-009 504 802 1 311 215 100 295 55 0.31 8 30 Daina 1 0.58 4 52 DAI-AC-010 504 795 1 311 180 107 295 55 0.3 2 36 Daina 1 0.44 2 46 1.37 4 62 0.36 2 88 DAI-AC-011 504 593 1 311 305 83 270 55 0.38 8 8 Daina 1 0.55 20 24 0.46 2 74 DAI-AC-012 504 685 1 311 405 70 270 55 0.95 8 26 Daina 1 Including 3.34 2 32 0.32 2 44 DAI-AC-013 504 652 1 311 503 62 270 55 0.58 10 8 Including 1.88 2 16 0.41 6 52 DAI-RC-059 504 875 1 311 202 133 270 55 0.49 4 44 Daina 1 0.6 2 66 0.33 2 106 1.08 2 132 DAI-AC-014 502 969 1 315 702 41 270 55 NSV Daina 1 DAI-AC-015 502 939 1 315 699 85 270 55 0.48 2 62 Daina 1 DAI-AC-016 502 910 1 315 702 77 270 55 0.32 6 22 0.46 2 56 DAI-AC-017 502 942 1 315 799 89 270 55 NSV Daina 1 DAI-AC-018 502 895 1 315 802 41 270 55 NSV Daina 1 DAI-AC-019 502 428 1 316 202 69 270 55 NSV Daina 1 DAI-AC-091 504 749 1 311 203 56 270 55 0.670 10 4 Daina 1 Including 2.465 2 4 0.52 24 32 Including 2.453 2 42 Notes: The Company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections reported in this release. Drillhole intercepts are calculated using a minimum downhole length of 1 m, a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t gold, and may include up to 3m of internal dilution within the intercept. Only intercepts 1 m are reported. Sample intervals are comprised of RC drill chips, which are sampled at regular 1 m intervals. Assays are reported uncut. Grid coordinates are UTM WGS84 Zone 29N. NSV = no significant values.

Table 3: Salat East Target RC drill intercepts.

Hole ID X-UTM Y-UTM Intercept Interval From Prospect Length Azimuth Dip (m) (o) (o) (g/t Au) (m) (m) DAI-RC-075 508360 1310185 210 90 55 0.93 2 114 Salat East 0.58 12 136 Including 2.39 2 146 0.50 2 162 0.30 8 202 DAI-RC-076 508434 1310187 155 90 55 1.42 34 24 Salat East Including 3.24 12 36 0.40 4 72 Including 1.32 2 1.10 2 102 DAI-AC-081 508508 1310185 46 90 55 NSV DAI-AC-082 508438 1309987 39 90 55 NSV DAI-RC-077 508359 1309966 160 90 55 0.50 34 14 Including 1.06 4 26 0.36 2 58 0.34 2 150 DAI-RC-078 508296 1309978 190 90 -55 0.66 4 14 Salat East 0.37 14 28 0.34 44 62 Including 1.07 2 72 0.50 18 126 Including 1.27 2 140 0.33 2 168 Notes: The Company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections reported in this release. Drillhole intercepts are calculated using a minimum downhole length of 1 m, a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t gold, and may include up to 3m of internal dilution within the intercept. Only intercepts 1 m are reported. Sample intervals are comprised of RC drill chips, which are sampled at regular 1 m intervals. Assays are reported uncut. Grid coordinates are UTM WGS84 Zone 29N. NSV = no significant values.

QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL ("QA/QC")

Sampling was completed at 2m composite intervals, except where holes terminated at an uneven depth meterage, in which cases 1m intervals were sampled. Sampling followed industry best practices, utilizing large riffle splitters, conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists and the chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. An appropriate number and type of certified reference materials (standards) and blanks totaling 5% of the total number of samples shipped to the laboratory was inserted approximately every 20th sample to ensure an effective QA/QC program was carried out. Data verification of the analytical results included a statistical analysis of the standards and blanks that must pass certain parameters for acceptance to ensure accurate and verifiable results. All samples were analyzed using CPA-Au1 (Gamma ray analysis of sample for gold by photon assay instrument) at the MSALABS SAS in Bamako, Mali ("MSALABS"). MSALABS is an internationally recognized and commercially certified laboratory and is independent of Sanu Gold.

QUALIFIED PERSON

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Serigne Dieng, Ph.D., M.Sc., a Member (MAIG) of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), Exploration Manager of the Company and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

ABOUT SANU GOLD

Located within the Siguiri Basin, a world class gold district that is host to several operating mines and major new discoveries, Sanu Gold is exploring three high-quality gold exploration permits in Guinea, West Africa. The Company has defined multi-kilometer long gold-bearing structures on each of the gold exploration permits, with multiple high-value drill targets and is targeting multi-million-ounce gold discoveries. Sanu is operated by a highly experienced team, with successful records of discovery, resource development and mine permitting.

Martin Pawlitschek

President & CEO, Sanu Gold Corp.

For further information regarding Sanu Gold, please visit the Company's website at www.sanugoldcorp.com or contact:

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

717 - 1030 West Georgia Street | Vancouver, British Columbia | Canada | V6E 2Y3

Telephone: (647) 473-7268 | www.sanugoldcorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated timing for completion of various exploration or drilling programs. Although Sanu Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration on its properties and ability to execute on plans, ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, ability to maintain its material property agreements, mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of gold and other metals, changes in general economic conditions and local risks in the jurisdiction (Guinea) in which it operates, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the potential for new discoveries, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel; general competition in the mining industry availability of capital and financing; general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes; timeliness of regulatory approvals as well as those factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure record. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

1 See the Sanu Gold news releases dated January 21, 2025
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) (FSE: PQW) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") raising a total of $3,064,988.91.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for a follow up drill program at the Company's 100% owned RDP copper-gold project ("RDP") and for general working capital. Drill hole RDP 22-005 returned 107.2 m of 1.39% copper equivalent* ("CuEq") or 2.06 g/t gold equivalent**("AuEq") (0.63% copper, 1.10 g/t gold, and 2.91 g/t silver) within 497.2 m of 0.66% CuEq* or 0.97 g/t AuEq** (0.37% copper, 0.40 g/t gold, and 1.60 g/t silver)(see news release dated October 25, 2022). RDP is located at the southern end of the Toodoggone District in northcentral British Columbia, approximately 40 km west of the Company's flagship Kliyul copper-gold project (see Figure 1).

"We would like to thank everyone that participated in the Offering," said Blaine Monaghan, President & CEO of Pacific Ridge. "We are excited to go back to RDP and follow up on drill hole RDP 22-005, which returned one of B.C.'s highest-grade porphyry copper-gold intervals in 2022."

Figure 1 Location of RDP and Pacific Ridge's Other Copper-Gold Porphyry Projects

In this second tranche, the Company issued 15,184,494 units ("Units") at a price of $0.14 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,125,829.16 and 3,561,292 critical mineral flow-through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.17 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $605,419.64. In the first tranche (see news release dated March 28, 2025), the Company issued 1,632,430 Units for gross proceeds of $228,540.20 and 618,823 FT Units for gross proceeds of $105,199.91.

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each FT Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one Warrant. Proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used for "Canadian critical minerals exploration expenses" at Pacific Ridge's B.C. projects. These expenditures will qualify as "critical mineral flow-through mining expenditures" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

In this second tranche of the Offering, each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one additional non-flow-through common share at an exercise price of $0.20 on or before June 4, 2028. The securities are subject to a hold period ending on October 5, 2025. The Company paid finder's fees totalling $55,572.26 and issued 373,872 finder warrants in connection with the second tranche of the Offering. Each finder warrant is exercisable to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.20 on or before June 4, 2028. The Offering and payment of finder's fees are subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.

An insider of the Company subscribed for an aggregate 100,000 FT Units in this tranche of the Offering. Such participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by the insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Pacific Ridge

Our goal is to become B.C.'s leading copper exploration company. Pacific Ridge's flagship asset is its 100% owned Kliyul copper-gold project, located in the Quesnel terrane close to existing infrastructure. In addition to Kliyul, the Company's project portfolio includes the RDP copper-gold project, the Chuchi copper-gold project, the Onjo copper-gold project, and the Redton copper-gold project, all located in British Columbia. Pacific Ridge would like to acknowledge that its B.C. projects are located in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Gitxsan Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Nak'azdli Whut'en, Takla Nation, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blaine Monaghan"

Blaine Monaghan

President & CEO

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

*CuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x AuR/CuR x $Au x 0.032151) + (Ag(g/t) x AgR/CuR x $Ag x 0.032151)) / ($Cu x 22.0462).

**AuEq = ((Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151) + ((Cu%) x CuR/AuR x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Ag(g/t) x AgR/CuR x $Ag x 0.032151)) / ($Au x 0.032151).

Commodity prices: $Cu = US$3.25/lb, $Au = US$1,800/oz., and Ag = US$20.00/oz.

There has been no metallurgical testing on RDP mineralization.

The Company estimates copper recoveries (CuR) of 84%, gold recoveries (AuR) of 70%, and silver recoveries (AgR) of 65% based on average recoveries from Kemess Underground, Mount Milligan, and Red Chris.

Factors: 22.0462 = Cu% to lbs per tonne, 0.032151 = Au g/t to troy oz per tonne, and 0.032151 = Ag g/t to troy oz per tonne.

The technical information contained within this News Release has been prepared under the supervision of, and reviewed and approved by. Danette Schwab, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this news release include plans to drill RDP. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions; that at least one of the options will be exercised; that Pacific Ridge and other parties will be able to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner; that TSXV approval will be granted in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; that all conditions precedent to the Agreements will be satisfied in a timely manner; the availability of financing for Pacific Ridge's proposed programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Sorrento Resources Ltd. (CSE: SRS) (OTCQB: SRSLF) (the "Company" or "Sorrento"), a Canadian exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral projects in Atlantic Canada, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mineral property purchase agreement dated June 4th, 2025 (the "Agreement") whereby the Company may acquire a 100% undivided interest in the four minerals licenses collectively representing the Rodgers Cove Project ( the "Project") located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (the "Transaction").

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to acquire the Project in consideration of (i) the payment $10,000 in cash, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of 2,000,000 common shares of the Company, and (iii) the grant of a combined total 2% net smelter returns royalty on the Project to certain of the vendors, of which the Company may purchase up to 1% for a total of $1,000,000.

All the vendors of the licenses forming the Project deal with the Company at arm's length. Closing of the Transaction remains subject to, without limitation, receiving all necessary consents and approvals, as well as the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Sorrento expects to complete the Transaction on or around June 11, 2025. No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Transaction. All securities issued pursuant to the transaction will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from issuance.

The Project consists of 4 individual mineral licenses made up of 99 individual claims for an area of approximately 2,475ha.

Figure 1. Map of the consolidated Rodgers Cove Project, along with other noteworthy projects in the district.

These developments mark a milestone expansion for Sorrento as the areas at the Rodgers Cove Gold Project are located in the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt (CNGB), proximal or along major crustal-scale deformation and fault zones that are integral to the gold deposits of the CNGB.

Several targets have already been identified:

Target #1:

A large (approximately 800 x 600m) soil anomaly with notable gold values of 758, 591, and 475ppb Au.

This anomaly is underlain by the northeastern edge of Au-Ag mineralization-bearing Devonian granodiorite.

Coincides with the northern extension of a 1.5km stretch of altered granite associated Au showings.

Trenching and channel sampling returned values of 115.6 g/t Au over 1m and 22.6 g/t Au over 0.5m.

Target #2:

An approximate 400 x 500m soil anomaly with five samples returning values between 100-300ppb Au and eight samples returning values between 50-100ppb Au.

Situated over Indian Island Group marine sedimentary rock between two granodiorite units.

Directly south of an arsenopyrite-rich quartz vein system with intense alteration; a series of historic gold-silver ("Au-Ag") showings, grab samples, and drill intercepts have yielded assays up to 14.56 g/t Au and 440 g/t Ag.

Target #3:

An approximate 100 x 450m soil anomaly with one soil assaying 1.78 g/t Au.

Five soil samples returning values above 50ppb Au.

Target #4:

Four known gold occurrences.

Rodgers Cove Gold Showing: 7.548 g/t, 5.858 g/t, and 3.082 g/t Au in grab samples.

Kypher Gold Showing: 11.933 g/t, 2.722 g/t Au and 0.4209% Cu in grab samples.

Long Pond Gold Showing: 7.157 g/t Au in grab sample.

Fancey Gold Showing: 2.9 g/t Au in grab sample.

The results of historic sampling completed on the Project have not been verified by the Company.

Figure 2. Rodgers Cove Property compilation of key exploration targets.

Geology of the Rodgers Cove Gold Project

Rodgers Cove is situated on the eastern edge of the Dunnage Zone within the Exploits Subzone, an area that forms the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt ("CNGB"). The Property straddles both the JBP Fault and the Appleton Fault, which are associated with hydrothermal epigenetic gold veining at high-grade discoveries in the Exploits Subzone. In line with these discoveries is the presence of altered granodiorite-hosted mineralization linked to quartz veining and abundant arsenopyrite.

The central part of the Property is intruded by an exposed granitoid. This altered granite area is about 0.5 km north of significant Au-Ag mineralization recently discovered in high-grade grab samples along a northeast trend. The unit features a high degree of disseminated sulfide-mineralized quartz veining, coinciding with the strongest gold anomaly.

To the north, the Property surrounds multiple historic showings that follow a granitoid intrusive contact into the Rodge's Cove claims and Target #2. A common feature throughout these showings is granodiorite-hosted massive and semi-massive pyrite-arsenopyrite-rich quartz vein style gold mineralization. The intensity of altered rock was found to have a positive correlation with arsenopyrite levels and gold values.

About the Rodgers Cove Project

The Rodgers Cove Project is located in Gander Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador near the town of Rodgers Cove and less than 50km north of Gander, a town with a skilled workforce and an international airport. The property is located in a strategic position, as it is on tidewater and is accessible via forest access roads. There is also a nearby transmission line.

Limited exploration has been undertaken on the property. It has never seen a diamond drill and very limited geophysical methods have been completed. The most recent exploration, a limited trenching program, yielded very encouraging results (115.6 g/t Au over 1m), that were never followed up on.

Figure 3. Quartz vein with sulphide mineralization located on Sorrento's newly acquired Rodgers Cove Project.

Management Commentary

Alex Bugden, P. Geo., Director and Qualified Person of Sorrento Resources Ltd., commented: "This is a tremendous acquisition for Sorrento Resources. Since the start of 2025, we have worked diligently to acquire the Rodgers Cove Gold Project. To see it completed is an exciting milestone for the company. The high-grade gold in soil along with amazing channel sampling results which have never been followed up on presents a rare opportunity and we are very excited to get boots on the ground and begin exploring."

Change of Directors

The Company further announces the resignation of Samantha Shorter as a Director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Ms. Shorter for her contributions to the Board and wishes her all the best in future endeavours.

Qualified Person

Alex Bugden, P. Geo., a Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release.

About Sorrento Resources Ltd.

Sorrento Resources is engaged in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral property assets in Canada. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit including the Rodgers Cove, Wing Pond, Lord Baron projects, the PEG lithium project, and the Harmsworth (VMS) project all located in Newfoundland.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors,

SORRENTO RESOURCES LTD.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements with respect to the Project and its mineralization potential, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans with respect to the Project and the timing of results are "forward-looking statements". Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
HIGHLIGHTS

The 2025 Angilak Exploration Program will comprise ~10,000 m of diamond drilling with two objectives:

Lac 50 Deposit - expansion of the footprint of uranium mineralization. Stepping out along strike and at depth from the 2024 Exploration Target (as defined below), which remains open and unconstrained. Regional Exploration - focusing along the 31 km long Rib-Nine Iron Trend, which transects the Angikuni Basin extending under cover. Two high-priority target areas are anticipated to be Rib and KU Discoveries.

The Company will build upon the success of its 2024 maiden exploration campaign, which culminated in the release of an Exploration Target for Lac 50 Deposit, comprised of the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 Trends (the "Exploration Target").

In May 2025, ATHA completed a ground gravity and electromagnetic (EM) survey, designed to vector in on priority targets along the highly prospective 31 km Rib-Nine Iron Trend, under cover of the Angikuni Basin - a direct analog to the Athabasca Basin. Two high-priority target areas were tested, representing ~5% of the currently identified trend: KU Discovery - located within the basin along the northern margin, historical trench sampling has returned grades up to 30.7% U 3 O 8 4,5,6 - KU remains untested with diamond drilling. The survey identified a large gravity anomaly, measuring 2 km long by 500 m wide, coincident with a conductive corridor and numerous cross-cutting structures, where historic sampling has encountered high-grade uranium mineralization at surface. Rib Discovery - located along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin where historic drilling by prior operators intersected shallow mineralization (<25m depth) with grades up to 5.6% U 3 O 8 1,2,3 Two distinct areas were surveyed: Rib East, where a large gravity anomaly - measuring 2 km long by 500 m wide and coincident with a northeast-to-southwest conductive trend - was identified; and Rib West, which is highlighted by two large gravity anomalies. The first measures 900 m long by 250 m wide and is coincident with a highly conductive corridor that hosts the historic Rib Discovery. The second is 1.1 km long by 300 m wide, extending from the margin under the cover of the Angikuni Basin, and has yet to be drill tested.

At both Rib and KU Discoveries the density lows, corresponding to gravity anomalies, along with the intensity of the conductive response and volumes are consistent with alteration characteristics associated with high-grade basement and unconformity style uranium mineralization, similar to the Athabasca Basin. The Rib and KU Discoveries are both high-priority targets that have been de-risked with modern geophysics, surficial geochemistry, and are associated with historic discoveries of high-grade uranium mineralization.

BACKGROUND

During the 2024 Angilak Exploration Program, the Company completed 25 diamond drill holes totalling ~10,051 m, with a 100% hit rate for intersection of uranium mineralization. Assay results were consistent with the grade profile of the Exploration Target and are highlighted by grades of up to 5.85% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m (See News Release).

Beyond Lac 50, at Mushroom Lake, an extensive bedrock outcrop with radioactivity up to >60,000 counts per second (cps) (>10,000 cps is indicative of high-grade uranium mineralization), which corresponds to historic outcrop samples that returned grades up to 47.8% U 3 O 8 5, was identified over a 3-kilometre strike length.

The new discovery is located between the Mushroom Lake zone on the Lac 52 trend and the Hot zone on the Lac 54 trend and has not been drill tested, nor was it included in the 2024 Exploration Target.

SRK Consulting completed a regional scale Structural Interpretation and Targeting Assessment that identifies the major primary and secondary structural controls (conduits, traps, and the overall plumbing system for uranium mineralization) hosting the high-grade mineralized discoveries across the Angilak Project including the Lac 50 Deposit.

Troy Boisjoli, CEO commented: "Our 2025 drill program represents the next major step in advancing the Angilak Project into, in our view, one of the most exciting uranium projects globally. Building on the success of last year's campaign where we hit mineralization in 100% of our drill holes, we're now positioned to test some of the most exciting targets identified to date - both along strike of the Lac 50 Deposit and across the underexplored, high-potential Rib-Nine Iron Trend. With modern geophysics, historic high-grade surface showings, and a proven ability to intersect uranium mineralization, we believe this program has the potential to unlock the broader Angikuni Basin as Canada's next premier uranium jurisdiction."

Cliff Revering, VP Exploration added: "We are very excited to begin our 2025 drilling campaign, building on the success of our 2024 exploration program. Our strategy for 2025 is to continue to expand the mineralization footprint of the Lac 50 deposit, as well as to test very prospective high-priority targets along the Rib-Nine Iron structural corridor, which transects the Angikuni Basin. The stacked structural, geochemical, and geophysical signatures recently defined in the Rib and KU target areas (located within the Rib-Nine Iron corridor), suggest significant potential for discovery of high-grade unconformity-style uranium mineralization within the Angikuni Basin."

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / ATHA Energy Corp. (TSXV:SASK )(FRA:X5U) (OTCQB:SASKF) ("ATHA" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2025 Angilak diamond drill exploration program of 10,000 m at its 100%-owned Angilak Uranium Project in Nunavut. The 2025 program has two primary objectives: first, building upon the success of the Company's 2024 maiden drill campaign, exploring the footprint of mineralization at the Lac 50 Deposit. Second, testing high-priority, derisked regional targets, located within the 31 km long Rib-Nine Iron Trend (the "Rib-Nine Iron Trend"). Specifically, the KU and Rib Discoveries, where a ground gravity and EM survey was completed in May 2025 and identified large linear gravity lows, coincident with EM conductors, interpreted structures and host historic high-grade uranium mineralization.

Figure 1: Angilak Project Area - 2025 Exploration Target Area (Black Rectangles) & Mapped Historic

*Notes:

IPrevious operators of the Angilak Project completed 24 diamond drill holes in the Dipole Showing and intersected grades of up to 5.53% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m3

IIAlong the western margin, historic drilling at the Rib Discovery intersected shallow (<25 m depth) mineralization with grades of up to 5.6% U 3 O 8 1, hosted within graphitic pelitic rocks with Athabasca style alteration

III Mushroom Lake surface outcrop spans an area of 3 km on surface with historical outcrops samples grading up to 47.8% U 3 O 8 4 & 6

IV Nine-Iron showing with 5 historical diamond drill holes. Intersections of shallow uranium mineralization, grades up to 1.25% U 3 O 8 and historical outcrops with grades up to 30.3% U 3 O 8 3

Disclaimer for Historical Drilling and Outcrop Samples

Certain noted technical information provided herein has been derived exclusively and without independent verification from the following reports. Such information is historical in nature and is not considered by the Company to be current. In each case, the reliability of the historical information is considered reasonable by the Company. The historical information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the properties but may not be representative of expected results. Readers should read the entirety of such noted reports to fully understand the nature of the information referenced herein. Samples, including, without limitation, outcrop samples, by their nature, are selective in nature and significant variations may be seen from sample to sample. Accordingly, sample information may not be representative of the true underlying mineralization.

References for Historic Diamond Drilling Results

1. Papish, N.Z. 1978. 1978 Diamond Drill Report, Keewatin District N.W.T. Yathkyed Lake Area. Noranda Exploration company Assessment Report. March 6, 1979. A copy of such report is available on the website of the Government of Nunavut at https://nunavutgeoscience.ca/en/.

2. Dufresne, M.B., Sim, R. and Davis B., (2013). Technical report And Resource Update for the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of Kivalliq Energy Corporation, March 1st, 2013. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of Kivalliq Energy Corporation at www.sedarplus.com.

3. Dufresne, M.B. and Schoeman, P. (2023). Technical report on the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of ATHA Energy Corp. and Labrador Uranium Inc., January 31st, 2024. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of the Company at www.sedarplus.com.

References for Historic Surficial Sampling

4. Ward, j., Maynes, A., McNie, E., Forbes, A. and Stacey, J. 2012. Report on 2010 and 2011 Exploration Activity on Kivalliq Corporation's Angilak IOCG-Uranium Property, Keewatin District, Nunavut. Kivalliq Energy Corporation Assessment Report. A copy of such report is available on the website of the Government of Nunavut at https://nunavutgeoscience.ca/en/.

5. Dufresne, M.B., Sim, R. and Davis B., (2013). Technical report And Resource Update for the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of Kivalliq Energy Corporation, March 1st, 2013. Copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of Kivalliq Energy Corporation at www.sedarplus.com

6. Dufresne, M.B. and Schoeman, P. (2023). Technical report on the Angilak Project, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Technical Report prepared on behalf of ATHA Energy Corp. and Labrador Uranium Inc., January 31, 2024. A copy of such report is available on the SEDAR+ profile of the Company at www.sedarplus.com.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Cliff Revering, P.Eng., Vice President, Exploration of ATHA, who is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Corporate Update

On June 2, 2025, ATHA Energy Corp. granted of an aggregate of 9,448,750 incentive stock options ("Options") and 1,175,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain eligible participants, including certain directors of the Company, under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). One-third of the Options shall vested on the date of issuance thereof, one-third of the Options shall vest on the six-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof, and the remaining one-third of the Options shall vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof. Upon vesting, each Option shall be exercisable to acquire one common share for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.47. Each RSU, which shall vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the date of issuance thereof, shall entitle the holder thereof to the issuance of one common share of the Company upon redemption thereof.

ATHA's last issuance of Options or RSUs, granted under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, was on December 6th, 2023. As part of the Latitude Uranium acquisition, completed in March of 2024, each Latitude's stock options were converted to ATHA Energy stock options. Specifically, each Latitude stock option was exchanged for an ATHA stock option on a one-for-one basis, utilizing an exchange ratio of 0.2769 ATHA shares for each Latitude share, as outlined in the acquisition arrangement.

Pursuant to the Plan, the aggregate number of common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") issuable under the Plan in respect of all awards granted by the Company may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time of any grant hereunder, being 29,813,656 Common Shares at the date of the aforementioned grants.

A copy of the Plan is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About ATHA

ATHA is a Canadian mineral company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium assets in the pursuit of a clean energy future. With a strategically balanced portfolio including three 100%-owned post discovery uranium projects (the Angilak Project located in Nunavut, and CMB Discoveries in Labrador, and the newly discovered basement hosted GMZ high-grade uranium discovery located in the Athabasca Basin). In addition, the Company holds the largest cumulative prospective exploration land package (>7 million acres) in two of the world's most prominent basins for uranium discoveries - ATHA is well positioned to drive value. ATHA also holds a 10% carried interest in key Athabasca Basin exploration projects operated by NexGen Energy Ltd. and IsoEnergy Ltd. For more information visit www.athaenergy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Troy Boisjoli, CEO, ATHA Energy Corp

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Troy Boisjoli

Chief Executive Officer

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.athaenergy.com

1-236-521-0526

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". These forward-looking statements or information may relate to ATHA's proposed exploration program, including statements with respect to the expected benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from ATHA's proposed exploration program, the timing, scope, nature, breadth and other information related to ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from the diversification of ATHA's portfolio, the prospects of ATHA's projects, including mineral resources estimates and mineralization of each project, the prospects of ATHA's business plans and any expectations with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on any of ATHA's projects, and any expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions that the anticipated benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program will be realized, that no additional permit or licenses will be required in connection with ATHA's exploration programs, the ability of ATHA to complete its exploration activities as currently expected and on the current anticipated timelines, including ATHA's proposed exploration program, that ATHA will be able to execute on its current plans, that ATHA's proposed explorations will yield results as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although ATHA has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Such statements represent the current view of ATHA with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by ATHA, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: inability of ATHA to realize the benefits anticipated from the exploration and drilling targets described herein or elsewhere; in ability of ATHA to complete current exploration plans as presently anticipated or at all; inability for ATHA to economically realize on the benefits, if any, derived from the exploration program; failure to complete business plans as it currently anticipated; overdiversification of ATHA's portfolio; failure to realize on benefits, if any, of a diversified portfolio; unanticipated changes in market price for ATHA shares; changes to ATHA's current and future business and exploration plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of the business of ATHA; and the ability to advance the Company projects and its proposed exploration program; risks inherent in mineral exploration including risks related worker safety, weather and other natural occurrences, accidents, availability of personnel and equipment, and other factors; aboriginal title; failure to obtain regulatory and permitting approvals; no known mineral resources/reserves; reliance on key management and other personnel; competition; changes in laws and regulations; uninsurable risks; delays in governmental and other approvals, community relations; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions where ATHA conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the filings of ATHA with the Canadian securities regulators which are available on ATHA's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. ATHA does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) ("SPMC" or "South Pacific Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Timo Jauristo as a Strategic Advisor to the Company.

Mr. Jauristo brings over 40 years of mining industry leadership to South Pacific Metals, with a distinguished track record spanning global exploration, project development, and corporate strategy. He formerly served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Goldcorp Inc., where he played a pivotal role in the company's international growth through strategic acquisitions and project evaluation. Prior to that, Timo held senior executive roles at Placer Dome and other major mining companies, contributing to the advancement of several world-class gold and copper projects across the Americas and Asia-Pacific. He is currently an independent director of Integra Resources Corp. and previously served as a Senior Advisor to the Investment Banking division of Canaccord Genuity Corp.'s Metals and Mining Group.

"As South Pacific Metals embarks on a pivotal exploration phase of drilling, we are fortunate to welcome Timo Jauristo as Strategic Advisor," said Michael Murphy, SPMC Executive Chair. "Timo's connections, coupled with his extensive board and advisory experience, has made him a trusted figure in the global mining community. As the Company advances toward its maiden drill program, Timo's direct involvement with our Osena and Anga Gold-Copper Projects underscores the significant untapped potential of these assets and reinforces our commitment to unlocking value in PNG's prolific Kainantu Gold Region."

Mr. Jauristo has been granted 500,000 share options of the Company in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Compensation Plan. The share options are exercisable at a price of C$0.50 per share for a period of five years from June 3, 2025 (the "Grant Date") and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, the share options are subject to vesting provisions, pursuant to which 1/3 of the share options vest on the Grant Date, a further 1/3 will vest on the one-year anniversary of the Grant Date, and the remaining 1/3 will vest on the two-year anniversary of the Grant Date.

Figure 1. Regional image showing location of Osena and Anga Projects

About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River.

Immediately flanking K92 Mining's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District  each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainties affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's upcoming exploration program. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory, or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.
TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudbay Minerals Inc. (Hudbay or the Company) (TSX, NYSE: HBM) continues to respond to the evolving wildfire situation in northern Manitoba and is working closely with local authorities to ensure its employees remain safe as well as comply with the regional wildfire evacuation orders for Snow Lake, Flin Flon and surrounding areas.

Hudbays news release dated May 29, 2025 outlined the Company's response to fires near Flin Flon and plans to maintain operations in Snow Lake at temporarily reduced production levels. However, as the fires advance across the province, a precautionary early evacuation notice was issued yesterday for the town of Snow Lake. In response, Hudbay has enacted its emergency preparedness procedures and enabled a controlled, safe and orderly temporary suspension of operations in Snow Lake. This proactive measure positions Hudbay well for a safe return to full operations once conditions permit. Only essential Hudbay personnel, authorized by emergency services, will remain in Snow Lake to assist with emergency activities. The Company believes its infrastructure and facilities in Snow Lake and Flin Flon are well-protected from the wildfires and have a low risk of being damaged.

"The safety of our employees, their families, our First Nations partners and the communities we serve remains our top priority. With the wildfires spreading, Hudbay has taken additional actions to support our employees, including $1 million in direct financial support and establishing a Community Relief Donations Fund," said Rob Carter, Hudbays Senior Vice President, Canada. "We are collaborating closely with local communities and municipal and provincial authorities to provide support during this challenging time. We will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring a safe return to full operations as soon as it is advisable."

Given the strong year-to-date performance in Snow Lake, the Company still expects to achieve its annual guidance metrics for Manitoba in 2025. Hudbay's exploration activities in the Flin Flon and Snow Lake regions also remain paused as fire mitigation efforts are underway.

Building on its commitment to support Manitoba and the communities near its operations, Hudbay is taking the following actions in response to the wildfire evacuation orders:

An early commitment of $1 million in direct financial support for evacuated Hudbay employees.

Establishing a Community Relief Donations Fund, where Hudbay will double the total amount donated by its employees across the company.

Continue to support community and emergency response efforts.

To aid firefighting efforts, Hudbay has deployed external firefighters to prepare for response activities.

Executing safeguarding plans to protect Hudbay assets.

Maintaining communication with the local communities and provincial authorities about the resources Hudbay has available to assist emergency response efforts, such as supplies, equipment and water trucks.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward- looking information) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward- looking information includes information that relates to, among other things, statements with respect to potential impacts from wildfires on the Companys operations in Manitoba, including the ability to achieve guidance expectations. Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events.

Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, assumptions related to the duration of the suspension of operations, the return to normal operations and the ability to achieve annual guidance that, while considered reasonable by Hudbay at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Should one or more risk, uncertainty, contingency or other factor materialize or should any factor or assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Hudbay does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news release or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

About Hudbay

Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a copper-focused critical minerals mining company with three long-life operations and a world-class pipeline of copper growth projects in tier-one mining-friendly jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States.

Hudbays operating portfolio includes the Constancia mine in Cusco (Peru), the Snow Lake operations in Manitoba (Canada) and the Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia (Canada). Copper is the primary metal produced by the company, which is complemented by meaningful gold production and by-product zinc, silver and molybdenum. Hudbays growth pipeline includes the Copper World project in Arizona (United States), the Mason project in Nevada (United States), the Llaguen project in La Libertad (Peru) and several expansion and exploration opportunities near its existing operations.

The value Hudbay creates and the impact it has is embodied in its purpose statement: We care about our people, our communities and our planet. Hudbay provides the metals the world needs. We work sustainably, transform lives and create better futures for communities. Hudbays mission is to create sustainable value and strong returns by leveraging its core strengths in community relations, focused exploration, mine development and efficient operations.

For further information, please contact:

Candace Brule

Vice President, Investor Relations, Financial Analysis and External Communications

(416) 814-4387

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A former defense minister in El Salvador and two retired colonels were found guilty Tuesday of the 1982 killings of four Dutch journalists during the country's civil war, a lawyer for families of the deceased said.

A five-member jury sentenced the defendants, now in their 80s or 90s, to 15 years in prison after an 11-hour session on the first day of the trial, attorney Pedro Cruz said outside the courthouse.

In a crime that shocked the world, Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Hans ter Laag and Joop Willemsen were killed while filming a television documentary.

More than 75,000 people were killed in El Salvador's 1980-1992 civil war pitting the US-backed military against leftist guerrillas.

The Dutch reporters worked for IKON TV, a Dutch channel founded by several churches.

The accused are General Jose Guillermo Garcia, 91, former police colonel Francisco Antonio Moran, 93, and ex-infantry brigade commander Mario Reyes Mena, 85.

None of them were in court for the trial, which was conducted with press and held in the northern city of Chalatenango.

"The fight against impunity took a long time, but it was won," the Dutch ambassador for all of Central America, Arjen van den Berg, said outside the courthouse.

In 1993, a UN-sponsored Truth Commission found the journalists had walked into an ambush planned by Reyes, who lives in the United States, and with the knowledge of other officers.

The Salvadoran Supreme Court approved an extradition request for Reyes in March, but there has been no progress so far.

Garcia and Moran are under police surveillance in a private hospital in San Salvador.

The defendants had faced up to 30 years in prison but got less time because of their age and ill health, the lawyer Cruz said.

The NGOs Fundacion Comunicandonos and the Salvadoran Association for Human Rights hailed the trial as a "decisive step" in the search for truth and justice.

"We trust that this trial sets a historic precedent in the fight against impunity," they said in a joint statement.

The case remained unresolved for decades after the presiding judge received threats in 1988, prompting her to seek refuge in Canada.

It was reopened in 2018 after the Supreme Court declared an amnesty law for civil war crimes unconstitutional, but relatives of the victims still had to wait years for the main hearing.

Evidence such as a statement from a former US military attache and a military expert's report "directly points" to the defendants' responsibility, said lawyer Pedro Cruz, who represents the victims' families.

Garcia led the Armed Forces from 1979 to 1983, when the worst massacres perpetrated by the military took place.
A convicted Swedish jihadist went on trial in Stockholm on Wednesday accused of war crimes for his role in the 2014 killing of a Jordanian pilot who was burned alive in Syria.

The case is considered unique as the other jihadists involved in the brutal killing, which sparked international outrage at the time, are presumed dead, according to prosecutors.

Osama Krayem, a 32-year-old Swede, is already serving long prison sentences for his role in the Paris and Brussels attacks in 2015 and 2016.

He now faces charges of "serious war crimes and terrorist crimes" for his alleged participation in the killing of the Jordanian pilot.

The charges can carry up to a life sentence, according to the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

On December 24, 2014, an aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force crashed in Syria.

The pilot was captured the same day by fighters from the Islamic State (IS) group near the central city of Raqqa and he was burned alive in a cage sometime before February 3, 2015, when a video of the gruesome killing was published, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors have been unable to determine the exact date of the murder but the investigation has identified the location.

- Shocking killing -

The killing shocked Jordan, which was participating in the US-led coalition's strikes against IS positions in Syria.

"Osama Krayem has, together and in agreement with other perpetrators belonging to IS, killed Maaz al-Kassasbeh," prosecutor Reena Devgun told the court on Wednesday.

"Osama Krayem, in uniform and armed, guarded and led the victim Maaz al-Kassasbeh to a metal cage, where the latter was then locked up. One of the co-perpetrators then set fire to Maaz al-Kassasbeh, who had no possibility to defend himself or call for help," Devgun said.

Krayem, wearing a dark blue shirt and with a thick beard and loose dark hair, had his back to the handful of journalists and spectators who followed Wednesday's proceedings behind a glass wall in the high security courtroom in Stockholm's district court.

He appeared calm as the prosecution laid out the charges, which could result in a life sentence if Krayem were convicted.

In the 22-minute video of the killing, the victim is seen walking past several masked IS fighters, including Krayem, according to prosecutors.

The pilot is then seen being locked in the cage and praying as he is set on fire.

The pilot's father, Safi al-Kassasbeh, told AFP on Wednesday that the family hoped Krayem would "receive the harshest penalty according to the magnitude of the crime".

"This is what we expect from a respected and fair law," he said.

- Eyebrow scar -

It was thanks to a scar on the suspect's eyebrow, visible in the video and spotted by Belgian police, that Krayem was identified and the investigation was opened, Devgun told the court.

Other evidence in the case includes conversations on social media, including one where Krayem asks a person if he has seen a new video "where a man gets fried", according to the investigation, a copy of which has been viewed by AFP.

"I'm in the video," Krayem said, pointing out the moment when the camera zooms in on his face.

The other person replies: "Hahaha, yes, I saw the eyebrow."

When questioned by police, Krayem insisted he had spent only 15 to 20 minutes on-site, unaware of what was going to happen, according to the preliminary investigation.

His lawyer, Petra Eklund, told AFP before the start of the trial that her client admitted to being present at the scene but disputed the prosecution's version.

"He denies the acts for which he is prosecuted," she said.

"He acknowledges having been present at that place during the event, but claims not to have acted in the manner described by the prosecutors in the account of the facts," she added.

Krayem, who is from Malmo in southern Sweden, joined the IS group in Syria in 2014 before returning to Europe in September 2015.

He was arrested in Belgium in April 2016.

In June 2022, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison in France for helping plan the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed.

The following year, he was given a life sentence in Belgium for participating in the March 2016 bombings at Brussels's main airport and on the metro system, in which 32 people were killed.

Krayem has been temporarily handed over to Sweden for the Stockholm trial, which is scheduled to last until June 26.
The Norwegian parliament on Wednesday rejected moves to toughen rules on its sovereign wealth fund investing in companies operating in the occupied West Bank.

Lawmakers voted by 88 to 16 against a proposal to order the fund to withdraw from companies "that contribute to Israel's war crimes and the illegal occupation" of the West Bank.

Norway's sovereign wealth fund, fuelled by vast revenue from the country's oil and gas exports, is the biggest the world and has nearly $1.65 trillion invested around the globe.

The government though is under pressure to use its financial clout to influence Israeli policy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where its settlement policy has been deemed illegal under international law.

In a letter signed by about 50 non-governmental organisations, Norway's main union LO called on the Labour government to ensure that the fund's investments were in line with the country's legal obligations.

The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories on May 20 urged Oslo to "fully and unconditionally divest from all entities linked to Israel's unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory".

Francesca Albanese said Norway's fund held $121.5 billion -- or 6.9 percent of its total value -- in companies "involved in supporting or enabling egregious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories".

Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg in response called for an end to violence, the liberation of Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and the resumption of humanitarian aid.

But he said the fund's investments "do not violate Norway's obligations under international law".

The fund is regulated by a raft of ethical rules and has already divested from 11 companies because of their activities in the occupied West Bank.

In May, it withdrew its investment in Paz Retail and Energy, which distributes fuel in Israeli settlements.

Relations between Norway and Israel have soured since May 2024, when the country joined Spain and Ireland in recognising the state of Palestine.
Actor Kim Woo-bin has officially replaced fellow actor Kim Soo-hyun as the new promotional model for Shabu All Day, following a recent scandal involving the latter and late actress Kim Sae-ron.

The franchise announced the change Monday by updating its official website, prominently featuring Kim Woo-bin on the homepage banner.

The move comes amid a reputational crisis that hit the restaurant chain after Kim Soo-hyun's alleged involvement in a controversial relationship surfaced.

Known for his dependable and clean-cut image, Kim Woo-bin's appointment has drawn widespread approval online.

[ Kim Soo Hyun was turned away by the advertising industry due to the suspicion of "grooming" actor Kim Sae Ron... Kim Woo Bin became the new model.]https://t.co/ygxd0aNabN



On June 2, the hot pot buffet chain Shabu All Day posted on its official social media account:



"The... https://t.co/cb1rGvgTfJ pic.twitter.com/v5Kl2xuWIg  Only me  (@onlyme_8386) June 2, 2025

"Successful image restoration," one user commented. Another praised the move, calling him "a great fit for the brand."

Shabu All Day faced significant backlash in recent weeks, with some franchise owners expressing confusion and frustration over Kim Soo-hyun's continued presence in their stores.

"There were even cases where table mats with his image were flipped over to avoid attracting attention," one franchisee told local media, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Kim Soo-Hyun, previously known as a "CF King" due to his numerous endorsement agreements with companies such as Dinto, Tous Les Jours, Shinhan Bank, and Prada, has also lost most of his advertising deals.

Some of his contracts were reportedly canceled, and others had promotional materials discreetly scrubbed of him.

The scandal centers on Kim's past relationship with Kim Sae-ron, who died earlier this year. Allegations circulated that he dated her while she was underage.

Kim Soo-hyun denied that claim but confirmed they were in a relationship "for about a year after she became of age."

He has since filed a defamation lawsuit worth 11 billion KRW (approximately $8 million USD) against her family.

Industry analysts say Shabu All Day's decision signals a sharp pivot to stabilize its brand image.

"Kim Woo-bin brings credibility and a non-controversial public persona, which is exactly what the brand needs right now," said Park Ji-eun, a Seoul-based branding expert.

Kim Woo Bin's career has been on the rise, and he has been in high demand for expensive commercials following his recent projects, as well as the public's warm feelings towards him after his recovery from cancer.

As the public and advertisers continue to distance themselves from controversy, industry watchers say Kim Soo-hyun's once-flourishing endorsement career may face a long road to recovery.
In a year defined by bold storytelling and diverse voices, Korean artists took a deserved share of the spotlight at the 2025 Gotham TV Awards, held Monday night at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan.

The 2025 Gotham TV Awards, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, celebrated a year of innovative storytelling and exceptional performances in television. The ceremony honored both emerging talents and industry veterans, highlighting the evolving landscape of TV.

Top Honors and Standout Winners

Netflix's Adolescence emerged as a significant winner, securing the Breakthrough Limited Series award. The series, which delves into the complexities of a 13-year-old boy charged with murder, also earned acting accolades for Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper. Cooper shared the Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series award with Jenny Slate of Dying for Sex.

Other notable winners included The Pitt for Breakthrough Drama Series and The Studio for Breakthrough Comedy Series. Julio Torres received Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series for Fantasmas, while Kathy Bates was honored for her role in Matlock. Ben Whishaw's performance in Black Doves earned him the Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series award.

Hwang Dong-hyuk's Creator Tribute

A highlight of the evening was the Creator Tribute awarded to Hwang Dong-hyuk, the mastermind behind Netflix's Squid Game, by his side was his main star Lee Jung-jae

In his acceptance speech, Hwang reflected on the journey of the series, from initial rejections to global acclaim. He emphasized the importance of responsibility that comes with success, stating:

"This trophy is not fancy or shiny compared to other trophies, such as the Emmys or Oscars... I think they're trying to tell people not to be blinded by the glamour of your successful achievements, but to carry the weight of the responsibilities that come with this ... ."

The event also served as a platform to build anticipation for the upcoming third and final season of Squid Game, set to premiere on Netflix on June 27, 2025. Fans eagerly await the continuation of the series that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Tributes to Industry Icons

The ceremony paid homage to several industry figures. Sheryl Lee Ralph received the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute, reflecting on her career and the guidance she received from Poitier himself. Elisabeth Moss and the cast of The Handmaid's Tale were honored with the Ensemble Tribute, marking the conclusion of the series. David E. Kelley was recognized with the Visionary Tribute for his contributions to television storytelling.

Parker Posey was honored with the inaugural legend tribute, with her "The White Lotus" cast members Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb by her side.

Latino representing

Torres, the Salvadoran-born creator and star of Fantasmas, won Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series, marking a critical breakthrough for his HBO series and his singular voice in surrealist television. Torres's win was a highlight in an evening that embraced unconventional narratives and experimental aesthetics.

Also earning praise was the performance of Ana Villafane, the Cuban-American actress who plays a young, justice-hungry ADA in Matlock. While Kathy Bates took home the award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama, Villafane was namechecked by presenters for being a driving force in the show's reboot success.

Mexican actor Diego Luna was there also presenting.

The awards served as more than just a celebration of prestige TV. They marked an industry shift toward a more diverse representation in major rolesnot just in front of the camera, but in the writers' rooms, on the production teams, and among the honorees being recognized for shaping the television landscape.

Originally published on Latin Times






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Concerned residents of Runyenjes town are raising the alarm over rampant insecurity, accusing local police of ignoring repeated reports about a gang of thugs terrorizing the area.

In a disturbing incident recently caught on CCTV, a group of criminals, reportedly using a white Probox, was seen carrying out a robbery attack at night.

In the footage, the gang is seen overpowering a watchman before proceeding to carry out a robbery at a petrol station.

Shockingly, one of the suspects is seen walking with crutches, underlining the level of boldness and impunity with which the gang operates.

Locals say this is not an isolated case and that the gang has been roaming freely, creating fear among business owners and residents alike.

Despite repeated calls for intervention, there has been no meaningful response from law enforcement, prompting anger and frustration within the community.





Watch the footage.

CCTV captures ruthless thugs attacking a guard in Runyenjes town before robbing a petrol station pic.twitter.com/EBZc71dTDb  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) June 4, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - In a bid to curb cases of highway robberies along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, detectives in Voi have apprehended three individuals believed to be the masterminds behind these crimes.

The trio, identified as David Karanja, Juma Jumamosi, and Josephine Nthamba Mutie, were arrested following a brazen robbery that occurred on April 9th, 2025.

On that fateful day, an Isuzu FRR truck with registration number KDC 020G was transporting gypsum from Nairobi to Mombasa.

As the vehicle approached Ikanga area, one of the suspects dashed out from a nearby thicket, attempting to cross the road.

In a split-second decision to avoid collision, the driver swerved, causing the truck to veer off the road and its engine to stall.

Seizing this opportunity, a group of about five emerged from the bushes, forcefully entering the vehicle with one brandishing a pistol.

The driver and his co-driver were handcuffed and bundled behind the seats.

One of the robbers took the wheel, steering the lorry towards Mombasa.

The two victims were unceremoniously dropped off about 300 meters away as the criminals vanished with the truck.

Following this incident, detectives launched investigation, and through meticulous forensic analysis, two of the suspects, Karanja and Jumamosi, were trailed and arrested at a hideout in Taveta.

During their apprehension, Jumamosi led officers to his rented house in Bahati area of Taveta sub-county, where a number plate KDC 020G belonging to the stolen lorry was recovered, alongside a T-shaped screwdriver and two spanners.

The duo was subsequently presented before the Chief Magistrates Court in Voi on May 19, 2025, where detectives were granted a 14-day custodial order to further their investigation.

As the search continued, a third key suspect, Nthamba, was apprehended in Makindu on June 2, 2025.

She too faced the Chief Magistrates Court in Voi, where detectives received an additional 14-day custodial order to complete their investigation and pursue further leads to arrest additional suspects involved in these highway robberies, as well as to recover the stolen lorry.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remains unwavering in its commitment to combating highway crime, ensuring the safety and security of travellers.

Via DCI






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - A new report by SwissAid has exposed Kenya as a key transit hub in the smuggling of gold from conflict-affected countries including South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The report, released late last month, indicates that Kenya has, over the past decade, become a major corridor for illicit gold flows, with most of the metal destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially Dubai.

Despite only declaring 672 kilograms of gold exports in 2023, SwissAid estimates that Kenyas illicit gold outflows exceed two tonnes annually.

Part of the gold that is smuggled out of South Sudan, the DRC, and possibly Ethiopia and Sudan, passes through Kenya before being re-exported, the report states.

Much of it is later declared in Dubais official import statistics, confirming its re-entry into legitimate trade channels.

SwissAids findings, based on interviews with industry insiders and scrutiny of Government records, reveal a troubling pattern.

The volume of gold declared as exported from Kenya by other countries often surpasses Kenyas own declared production and imports.

The report also raises concerns about gold linked to Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly being flown through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently accused President William Ruto of colluding with Sudanese rebel groups to smuggle gold through JKIA to the UAE.

Gachagua claimed that senior Government operatives were facilitating the illicit trade, which he said is not only undermining Kenyas sovereignty but also fueling regional conflict.

In response, Kenya is planning to establish a specialized Mining Police Unit and pushing for a regional certification system for precious minerals to combat smuggling and enhance traceability in the trade.






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday held a consultative meeting with Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and County Assembly Majority Leader, Peter Muriithi, amid growing tensions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA)

"Our dialogue with county leaders aims to harmonize development priorities and support agricultural livelihoods.

Embu is a key player in national production chains," said Kindiki in a statement.

However, the meeting came against a backdrop of political unrest in Embu.

Governor Mbarire, the UDA national chairperson, has accused unnamed party operatives of sidelining her through secretive meetings in the county.

"Some Nairobi-based leaders are holding night meetings in Embu without involving me or other elected officials," she declared during Madaraka Day celebrations.

"If theres anyone who has suffered for supporting this government, its me.

We traversed every part of Embu asking people to vote for the government, now you come from Nairobi to fight us?" she posed.

Mbarire, visibly angry, warned that continued political sabotage will not go unanswered.

"I dare you to come back to Embu again. We will face each other man-to-man," she said.

Mbarire had skipped Kindikis earlier visit to Embu, with her aides claiming she was left out of the itinerary.

Sources intimate that tensions between Mbarire and the DP stem from a January incident where Kindiki publicly questioned her leadership after President Ruto was heckled in Embu.

"I spoke to my sister, the governor of Embu, not as Deputy President but as a fellow leader," Kindiki said then.

"Youre the national chairperson of UDA, a UDA governor.

The president comes to your county and is heckled, what justification is there to keep you in that role?"






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyongo has made a notable about-turn and declared his support for President William Ruto and ODM leader, Raila Odingas partnership, days after raising concerns over national Government overreach.

In a statement issued Wednesday, May 4th, Nyongo lauded the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ruto and Raila, terming it a step toward national unity and economic development.

We wholeheartedly support the decision by President Ruto and Raila Odinga to work together in the interest of national unity and development, Nyongo stated.

He urged the two leaders to conduct joint national tours to promote inclusivity, while praising the peace and optimism their alliance has sparked.

The Governor, who previously accused the national Government of undermining devolution, now thanked President Ruto for key development projects in Kisumu, including affordable housing, roadworks, and airport upgrades.

Our appreciation extends to the President for the broad portfolio of development projects in Kisumu County, many of which are progressing steadily, he said.

On April 22nd, Nyongo criticized the central Governments role in road infrastructure, questioning the relevance of agencies like KURA and KERRA under a devolved system.

The Ruto-Raila MoU, signed on March 7th, outlines cooperation on youth employment, gender equity, and full implementation of the NADCO report.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - A woman from Nangoma village in Busia County has declared herself to be the reincarnation of Mary, Mother of Jesus.

Judith Nafula, a devout Catholic, claims she received a divine revelation in which a heavenly light descended with Jesus at its center.

Speaking to NTV, Nafula recounted how Jesus identified her as Mary, stating that it was time her true identity was known.

A light came down from heaven, and Jesus asked me where Mother Mary was. When I said I didnt know, He told me it was me, she said.

Following the vision, Nafula says she was guided to a nearby hill where she spent two months in solitude, communicating with the Holy Spirit.

Her husband, John Wekullo, also claims to have received a revelation confirming he is Joseph, Mary's Biblical spouse.

Nafula says her newfound spiritual identity has come with the ability to perform miracles - claims that led to her expulsion from her local church.

They said I was crazy and kicked me out, she said.

Despite this, her homestead has become a pilgrimage site, drawing dozens seeking healing and blessings.

Family members say theyve witnessed miracles, including cases of healing and restored fertility, further fueling local belief in her divine role.

Nafula now joins a curious list of self-proclaimed divine figures from Western Kenya.

In recent years, two men, Jehovah Wanyonyi and Yesu wa Tongaren, have drawn national attention after claiming to be God.

While Jehovah Wanyonyi declared himself the Almighty before his death in 2015, Yesu wa Tongaren continues to lead a group of followers in Bungoma County who believe he is Jesus Christ reincarnated.






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hit back at critics who mock his high-pitched voice, following a light jab by former Public Service CS Justin Muturi.

Speaking at a recent event, Kindiki addressed the trolls with humor and defiance.

Before you introduce me as someone who doesnt have bass... Who doesnt have bass?

Do I look like someone without bass? he asked, prompting laughter from the crowd.

He added, Its this kind of disrespect thats troubling people.

Kindikis soft voice has often been a target for online ridicule, with some netizens assigning him feminine nicknames.

However, its clear the professor isnt letting the jokes go unanswered.

Watch the videos below.

Incase you misses it  pic.twitter.com/cJkwnyBdSy  KENYA GOSSIP HUB (@kenyasgossips) June 3, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Kilifi North MP, Owen Baya, has agreed to withdraw a controversial legislative proposal that sought to delist muguka, a variety of khat from the list of scheduled crops under Kenyan law.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki confirmed that he held a meeting with Baya following a request from elected leaders in Embu County, a key muguka-growing region.

Hon. Baya has graciously agreed to withdraw his legislative proposal, said DP Kindiki.

The Private Members Bill aimed to amend the Crops Act, Cap 318, by distinguishing muguka from miraa and removing it from the list of scheduled crops, effectively ending its legal protection and state support.

This would have allowed County Governments to ban or regulate muguka without national oversight, a move that raised concern among farmers in Embu and other producing regions.

The bill had sparked tensions between coastal and eastern counties.

Leaders in Mombasa and Kilifi have called for stricter controls on muguka, citing health and social concerns, while Embu leaders argue the crop supports thousands of livelihoods.

DP Kindiki's meeting followed broader discussions with Embu officials, aimed at aligning national and County priorities in agriculture.
Ellen O'Donoghue

Dublin and Cork airports both had their busiest ever May last month.

Passenger numbers were up 4.5 per cent in Dublin Airport, with three 120,000 passenger days in May, while Cork Airport passenger numbers were up 17 per cent.

Cork Airport welcomed over 330,000 passengers in May, following their announcement last month of a 200 million capital investment plan.

Dublin Airport welcomed more than 3,257,700 passengers in May, and on 27 days, there were more than 100,000 passengers passing through.

The previous highest ever number of passengers in the month of May was 115,000 on May 23rd, 2024.

The May performance reflects the demand that exists to travel through Ireland's national hub airport and onwards to other destinations throughout the island, as well as people connecting from Ireland to destinations across the world, a daa press release said.

The company added that "due to the High Court decision that the Irish Aviation Authority cannot take the passenger planning cap into account when allocating slots to airlines, the number of flights has surged in the summer period".

"However, this is a temporary relief pending the outcome of the legal process currently before the European Court of Justice, and the cap remains in place until a solution is found," they said.

"Daa continues to do all it can to remove the passenger cap through the planning system and welcomes the comments by Minister of Transport Darragh OBrien at Dublin Chamber of Commerce last month that he expects to bring forward legislative proposals to resolve the issue in the coming months, while respecting the independence of the planning process."

Daa chief executive Kenny Jacobs said that the May Bank Holiday weekend brought a brilliant start to the month at Cork Airport, with passenger numbers on that weekend up 20 per cent on the same weekend in 2024.

"Were also celebrating new routes, including the start last Saturday of SunExpress route to Izmir in Turkiye. SunExpress is Corks ninth and newest airline, and its great to have a direct service to Turkiye on the route map," he said.

"With the peak holiday season now in full flow, the whole team at Cork Airport are well prepared for a very busy summer - quite possibly the busiest summer ever. Its great to see such healthy numbers on some of our inbound services from the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy as tourists fly to Cork  the gateway to the South of Ireland," Mr Jacob added.

He also said that summer has come early to Dublin Airport, with May 2025 "comfortably" their busiest ever, with three record-breaking 120,000+ passenger days.

"Its all hands-on-deck across the airport to make sure our passengers have a smooth and enjoyable time at the airport, and were working hard to ensure standards are even higher than they were last summer when our passenger satisfaction scores reached an all-time high," Mr Jacobs said.

"Weve listened closely to what areas passengers want us to focus on, and we are using that feedback to introduce a whole host of improvements that aim to remove pinch points for those both arriving and departing from our terminals."

He added that May numbers at Dublin Airport were boosted by the launch of new routes, including direct Aer Lingus services to Nashville and Indianapolis.

"Of course, we would be adding even more high-demand new routes if it wasnt for the uncertainty of the passenger cap, which is still making airlines cautious about bringing increased frequencies and new direct routes to locations like India, Brazil and Singapore. That will remain the case until the cap is fully removed," he said.

"Research we commissioned from independent polling company Red C found that 86 per cent of Fingal residents support further development of Dublin Airport to allow it to grow, while 84% agree that having the airport in their community fuels economic development".
NO school bus is planned for the upcoming academic year for the Curragh Community College, which has prompted frustration amongst parents, teachers and students.

The situation received attention through a parliamentary question given by Kildare South TD Mark Wall.

In response, Minister of Education Helen McEntee, confirmed that no school bus will be provided for these students.

She stated that Bus Eireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes, and that Bus Eireann will not be providing a school bus service for students living in Kildare Town and who are attending the Curragh Community Collegel.

The Parents Association at Curragh Community College have been left extremely disappointed with Bus Eireanns response.

One parent on the council, Virginia Kinsella, has a child attending the school in second year and struggles to get her child into school each day from their home in Kildare Town.

Virginia explained that even though the school has enough children in need of a bus to school to meet quotas, because they dont attend a school closer to them in their locality, they are not entitled to a school bus service. The criterion is that you have to go to the school thats closest to you, but that should be taken out  it should be an exceptional circumstance.

The reason she (Virginias daughter) is in the Curragh is because KTCS (Kildare Town Community School) is over-subscribed, so theyre saying that because shes not going to her closest school, theyre not entitled to the bus, which is ridiculous.

Virginia added: They (the students) are kind of being discriminated against when you think about it.

The frustration felt by the school community over this decision has been bubbling for a while as they still await the construction of a new school that was promised eight years ago.

Virginia said: The school on the Curragh Camp is falling down around them. Theyre freezing in the winter, roasting in the summer, and bits of ceiling are falling off. Families have attempted to tackle the issue of transportation by organising carpools from Kildare Town to the school.

However, Virginia explained that due to unforeseen circumstances such as school absences or car troubles, children have been in situations where they had to take time off from school.

She said: There are days where we try to carpool but because someone might be sick, theres no way in. There have been children who havent gone to school because they had no way of getting there.

Deputy Mark Wall said: This is another blow to working families and students who live in Kildare town.

These families have already faced a number of delays to the new school building located at Magee Barracks in Kildare Town, which has only just been approved for planning. Failure to accommodate these students with school transport is essentially blaming them and their parents for planning issues on opening the new school building.

He concluded: This will result in parents being out of pocket for longer, who are already struggling as it is to put fuel in their cars getting to the school in the Curragh.

The Ministers response prompted Deputy Wall to issue a letter to the Minister of State, Michael Moynihan TD asking for the decision to be appealed.

He wrote: I have been in touch with the Parents Association, and theyve informed me that over 20 students need a school bus. Clearly, there is demand for a school bus route.

Given the exceptional circumstances, I am asking that you intervene here and overturn Bus Eireanns decision.

The school community waits in hope for a positive response from the Minister and some movement on the situation to occur before the start of the new academic year.
BERNIE Sanders was not the only colossus of the political Left to visit Athy last weekend, as Mick Lynch  the recently retired leader of the UKs rail union RMT  was also in town to visit his old pal of 30 years Frank Corr (78) from Kildangan.

In fact, the titans were but moments away from what would have been quite the photograph, when Frank brought Mick into OBriens for a pint just moments after the Sanders left.

Mick Lynch (63) came to the national consciousness during the high profile rail strikes in 2022.

Here he proved himself as an lively orator and debater, able to hold his own with either contentious politician or journalist, thus becoming a symbol for the wider union movement.

Ger Kelly, Mick Lynch, Francis Corr, and Don Eaton in OBriens Bar.

Both the men had actually shared platform the night before in Liberty Hall as speakers at the Robert Tressell Festival.

This like a sort of summer school of the Left celebrating the ways of the Dublin author of The Raggy Trousered Philanthropist, a book which was a key influence on the formation of the UKs Labour Party.

However, while Bernies Athy duties on Sunday were well flagged, Mick Lynchs visit was an entire coincidence, based solely on his three decade friendship with Frank.

Weve been friends since I met him in the Eurostar Depot [in London] in 93, said Frank.

We only did the maintenance, Waterloo was the HQ, now St Pancras, said Frank.

Me and Mick were on the pensions committee and the company council together, he added.

Mick Lynch has always called himself a workmanmanagement wouldve always loved to employ him, but hedve never moved overhe was very bright, very articulate and very quick.

Its a pity nobody told you [about the Lynch visit] but he left OBriens shortly after to go to Cork to see relatives. Thats were his dads from, his mam is from Crossmaglen, or somewhere like that.

When himself and the wife would be over, theyd stay a night or two. Last time was when he was over for the Late Late,

Saturday night was important to Mick, the Raggy Trousered Philanthropist meant a lot to Mick.

They shared a platform, but Athy was just coincidence.

I didnt know he [Sanders] was going to be in Athy, but he may have mentioned it to Michael, admitted Frank.

Francis Corr went to work as a labourer with Bord na Mona in Kilberry just after his Group Cert in the early 60s.

He left for London in 1971, but not before completing a qualification as a radio technician.

I went to night school in London because I didnt have the Inter [Cert] or the Leaving, and I got a HNC in Plant Engineering, and hats what got me into Eurostar, said Frank.

I worked in Vienna, Amsterdam and Paris on the railways. I nearly learnt French, but then I left and never went back, said this dark horse with old friends - and a hundred untold tales.
A motorist who knocked down a neighbour because the sun was in his eyes has been convicted of careless driving at Kilkenny District Court.



Stephen Brennan, The Glen, Ballyfoyle, pleaded guilty to the offence.



On September 10 last the injured woman was walking along the roadside, approaching the old community centre in Ballyfoyle, at approximately 7.15pm. She heard a car approaching and as she turned to see it, the vehicle hit her from behind.

The woman was lifted onto the windscreen and thrown into the ditch by the impact. She momentarily lost consciousness.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE CRIME UPDATES AND COURT REPORTS

The woman sustained a fractured vertebrae and injuries to her ankle, hand, shoulder as well as her neck ligaments.

Mr Brennan told gardai the sun had been in his eyes and he simply didnt see the woman.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said Mr Brennan and the injured woman are neighbours. The collision occurred on a narrow, country road. It was at dusk and the sun was low.

Mr Hogan said his client did not want to impart any blame at all on the pedestrian.

Following the accident, Mr Brennan did everything correctly, the solicitor said. He stayed at the scene, called emergency services and gave a statement to gardai.

Mr Hogan said his clients driving licence was essential to him as he runs a plant hire business. Mr Brennan was very apologetic, the solicitor added, and his insurance company had already accepted liability for the accident.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said it had been a horrific day for the woman who was injured. She convicted Mr Brennan of careless driving and imposed a fine of 1,000.
The Taoiseach has criticised blatant misinformation, untruths and lies surrounding a shooting incident at a shopping centre in Co Carlow.

It comes after a man died in the incident at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town on Sunday.

Gardai said the man, named locally as Evan Fitzgerald, in his 20s, from Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, had earlier walked through the retail premises firing a shotgun in the air.

A spokeswoman said he then shot himself, after being challenged by armed gardai.

Gardai said no-one else was injured by any of the shots fired, but a young girl sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the centre.

Speaking to reporters on his way to Cabinet on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he had seen incorrect information about the incident online as he defended moves to regulate internet misinformation by saying he believes some people overstate the dangers to freedom of speech posed by such measures.

Mr Martin said he had seen social media posts that seven people had been killed in the incident, and that people had been shot who had not been shot.

He said misinformation can result in a lot of public disquiet and needs to be addressed.

There is a family in mourning right now. The level of misinformation on Sunday was quite shocking, and we cant just ignore that and say: Well, we dont have to do anything about that.'

Asked about whether regulations on misinformation could have an impact on a persons right to free speech, Mr Martin said: Its absolutely important that Government focuses on this issue.

Obviously, in any analysis and evaluation of policy, account will be taken in respect of protecting freedom of speech  but its not freedom of speech, really, when its just a blatant lie and untruth which can create a lot of public disquiet, as weve seen.

So these issues do need to be addressed, there are challenging issues. There are very strong protections in our Constitution and in our laws on freedom of speech.

So I wouldnt overstate the impact on clamping down on blatant lies online as a sort of incursion or an undermining of freedom of speech.

We believe in freedom of speech in this country, we will always support it and protect it.

Pressed on the matter, Mr Martin added: I believe some people are overstating the dangers to freedom of speech in efforts to address disinformation and untruths.

I think we have to do that too. The same focus doesnt seem to apply to be untrue part of this or the misinformation part of this  there needs to be focus on that too.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
The Columbia Fire Department responded to multiple calls regarding trapped vehicles in floodwaters on Tuesday.

At around 6 p.m., crews were dispatched to Paris Road and Vandiver Drive regarding stranded vehicles in floodwater. After the Fire Department intervened at the scene, they cleared it about 20 minutes later. All people involved were rescued from the scene, according to a news release.

Later, just after 11 p.m., firefighters responded to another water rescue scene on South Rolling Hills Road and Sugar Grove Road. Crews responded within eight minutes and rescued the person in the vehicle. The scene was cleared a little bit before midnight, the Fire Department said.

No injuries have been reported.

The power of water: Flash flooding Flash flooding can cause hazardous travel, dangerous trail conditions, and can lead to water rescues.
By Mata Press Service

Canadas unprecedented reliance on temporary immigrationincluding more than one million foreign studentshas had a profound effect on the countrys labour market, suppressing wages, displacing Canadian workers in low-skilled sectors, and potentially weakening national productivity.

Thats the stark conclusion of a new Bank of Canada report titled The Shift in Canadian Immigration Composition and Its Effect on Wages.

The paper is one of the clearest official analyses yet of how Ottawas dramatic post-pandemic immigration surge, particularly through temporary pathways, has reshaped workforce dynamics across the country.

Recent Canadian immigration has been driven mostly by non-permanent residents that have different socio-economic characteristics compared with previous waves, write authors Julien Champagne, Mallory Long and Antoine Poulin-Moore.

These compositional changes have led to a widening of the wage gap between non-permanent residents and Canadian-born workers.

Between 2015 and 2024, the report found, temporary workers became younger, less experienced, more likely to come from lower-income countries, and more concentrated in low-skilled occupations than ever before. Most critically, the average wage gap between these temporary workers and Canadian-born employees more than doubled, from 9.5% in 2014 to 22.6% by 2024.

That growing divide, the report warns, is not simply a matter of personal hardshipit is an economic drag. The authors estimate that had the characteristics of temporary workers remained consistent with past norms, aggregate wages across Canada would have been 0.7% higher in 202324.

Canadas current immigration structure marks a sharp departure from past trends. Historically, permanent residentsselected for their skills and long-term integration potentialwere the primary drivers of population growth. But since 2015, the flow has reversed. Non-permanent residents (NPRs)including international students, temporary foreign workers and asylum seekersnow make up the majority of new arrivals.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada hosted 2.3 million non-permanent residents in 2023, including over 1 million foreign students, 766,000 migrant workers, and nearly 500,000 recent asylum claimants. Many entered through the International Mobility Program, which often bypasses traditional labour market assessments.

Public data suggest this surge in temporary immigration mostly reflects a sharp rise in international mobility program work permitsand international study permits, the Bank of Canada study notes.

Much of this growth began after 2022, when pandemic-era restrictions were lifted and Ottawa implemented policies that expanded access to post-graduate work permits and eased hiring limits on low-wage workers.

While foreign labour has supported some industries facing labour shortages, the report finds that it has also altered the composition of Canadas workforce, particularly in the accommodation, food services, retail, and low-wage support sectors.

They accounted for a larger share of workers in low-skilled occupations, replacing Canadian-born workers who moved out of these jobs, the report states, echoing a 2022 federal study that flagged foreign labour as a factor in wage suppression.

From 2016 to 2023, the number of temporary foreign workers in Canadian restaurants surged by 634%, according to a separate Kings Trust Canada report. As a result, many entry-level jobs traditionally filled by students or recent graduates are now held by temporary visa holders.

In 2024, 16.4% of all NPR workers were also enrolled in school, many juggling low-wage jobs in fast food, retail or delivery while attending college or university.

Not only has the nature of temporary work changed, so has the composition of who fills these roles.

Between 2006 and 2014, most non-permanent residents came from wealthier regions such as Western Europe or the United States. Today, India is the largest single source, accounting for more than a quarter of all NPRs. Substantial increases have also come from sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

This shift, the Bank of Canada notes, has a direct link to earnings:

Wages of non-permanent residents born in lower-income regions have been substantially lower. The region of birth is now the single most important factor explaining wage disparities.

And this gap has real economic consequences. Because wages often reflect productivity, the study suggests that Canadas over-reliance on lower-wage, lower-skilled foreign labour is limiting overall economic performance.

The productive capacity of the Canadian economy grew less than it would have if recent newcomers had the same socio-economic characteristics as in the past, the authors write.

Interestingly, permanent residents (PRs) who arrived within the last five years fared better than their temporary counterparts. Although they too faced an initial wage gap compared to Canadian-born workers, that gap has narrowedfrom 22.5% in 2014 to just 13.1% in 2024.

Unlike temporary workers, PRs are chosen through a points-based system that prioritizes education, language ability and work experience.

This partly reflects diverging patterns in average observable characteristics, the study concludes. Recent PRs experienced an improvement in their characteristicscontrasting with the deterioration among non-permanent residents.

With Canadian fertility rates plummeting and net births nearly zero, immigration has become the primary source of population growth. But the Bank of Canada warns that the structure and quality of that growth matter.

Canadas population grew by 6% between 2019 and 2023, outpacing every other developed country and tripling the U.S. rate. Yet productivity growth is falling. Wage gaps are widening. And domestic youth are being pushed out of traditional starter jobs.

The authors stop short of making policy recommendations, but their conclusion is unmistakable:

These results have important implications for Canadas productive capacity and thus potential output.

With a federal immigration reset underway, the report offers a sobering data point: quantity alone does not guarantee prosperity.
LAURIE  The Gravois Fire Protection District has responded to significant damage in its coverage area following storms that swept through mid-Missouri Tuesday night.

The fire district reports that the storms damaged 23 homes, three commercial properties, four vehicles, two sheds, five docks and four other structures overnight in Camden and Morgan counties.

More than 200 customers were without power in Morgan County Wednesday around 6 p.m.

Crews worked through the night until 4 a.m. to clear roads, secure power to affected homes and report downed trees and lines, according to the Facebook post. Morgan County Emergency Management said first responders were going door to door along Highway O Tuesday night.

"We noticed there were quite a few trees down; we sent crews to adjoining roads. The more we set out, the more we found," Gravois Fire Chief Dustin Hancock said. "We found trees down everywhere, started having crews notified where we had trees and opened roads for access. We did that until about 4 this morning. Once the daylight broke, we re-established our command post at 7 a.m."

NOW: @J_Siciliano22 and I speaking to residents in the Ozarks about severe storm damage. Tune in @KOMUnews at 5/6 for more. pic.twitter.com/zMcjAO5a4g  Charlotte Cicero (@charlottecicer0) June 4, 2025

Crews were able to clear every road last night, Hancock said.

"Things were back up for people before they started heading to work in the morning," he said.

Hancock said the fire district is still getting numbers for damages. There are no reported injuries.

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The Gravois Fire District wrote in a news release that firefighters realized Tuesday night that widespread storm damage had occurred during a response to a fire call, which possibly resulted from lightning striking a home on Ginger Road.

Crews found multiple downed trees, including a tree down on the home and trees entangled in nearby power lines, according to a news release.

1:16 Missouri cleaning up Wednesday morning after severe weather A tornado has been confirmed in the Kansas City area, and mid-Missouri has seen some storm damage. Power outages persist around noon.

The fire district asks residents to be alert for downed trees on homes, docks and roadways, power lines on or near the ground, and damage to electrical service at boat docks.

The fire district says many docks have broken ramps, damaged cables or structural issues that boat traffic could worsen.

First look at the damage. Residents in the area say power lines and trees are down in the area.@KOMUnews pic.twitter.com/Ntc6fZ2yYb  Jacob Siciliano (@J_Siciliano22) June 4, 2025

Anyone who has experienced damage can email the fire district at damage@gravoisfire.org and include their address and photos of the damage.

More than a dozen agencies provided mutual aid to Gravois Fire District throughout the response, and mutual aid agencies were released back to their districts around noon Wednesday, according to a news release.

This story has been updated with additional details.
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All power outages have been resolved, according to the city of Columbia power outage map.

10 a.m.: Roads closed in Cole County due to flooding

Multiple roads are closed this morning in Cole County due to recent weather.

The roads closed in Cole County at 10 a.m. are:

The 7600 block of Cambell Road

The 8700 block of Payne Road

The 11100 block of North Branch Road

The 1400 block of Waterford Road

The 2800 block of Meadowsford Road

The 7400 block of Vaughn Ford Road

8:40 a.m.: Power outages have been resolved

A crew is still working on resolving the power outages in Columbia, according to city's power outage map.

6:30 a.m.: About 250 customers still affected by power outages

Crews are still working on resolving the power outages in Columbia, according to city's power outage map.

5:00 a.m.: 275 customers still affected by power outages

Reports of downed trees and power lines are coming in across the region as storms move through mid-Missouri.

3:20 a.m.: Around 530 customers still affected by power outages

Crews are still working on resolving the power outages in Columbia, according to city's power outage map.

9:15 p.m.: Around 600 people still affected by the outages

Columbia crews are working on resolving the power outages, quickly decreasing the number of customers affected according to city's power outage map.

8:25 p.m.: Over a thousand more affected by outages in Columbia



As of 8:25 p.m. over 2,400 customers are without power in Columbia, according to city's power outage map.

7:20 p.m.: Power outage numbers rise in Columbia

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More than 1,300 customers are now without power in Columbia, according to Columbia Water and Light. The utility said the outage was caused by storms that moved through the city.

Columbia crews are working to restore power as soon as possible, according to Water and Light.

6:40 p.m.: More than 1,000 without power in Columbia

More than 1,200 customers were without power in Columbia around 6:40 p.m., according to the city's power outage map.

The map says the outages began between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., and outage restoration times weren't available.

6:15 p.m.: Flooding reported in Columbia

All lanes of Vandiver Drive are closed at Paris Road in Columbia due to floodwater, Boone County Joint Communications reported around 6:15 p.m.

5:50 p.m.: Power outage reports surge

Power outages have been reported in several counties in mid-Missouri. Nearly 700 customers were reported Howard and Cooper counties. About 900 customers were without power in Miller County, and over 400 were without power in Boone County.

5:20 p.m.: Sedalia Fire Department reports downed lines, trees and fires

The Sedalia Fire Department is responding to multiple reported structure fires, and the fire department says multiple power lines are down across the city.

A line of thunderstorms moved through Pettis County into mid-Missouri Tuesday afternoon.

More than 700 customers were without power in Pettis County around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.us.

The fire department first reported the fires and lines down just after 4:30 p.m., and the department posted an update around 5:20 p.m. asking residents to avoid any downed trees or lines.

Downed lines can be reported by calling Joint Communications 660-826-8100.
Authorities seized toxic plant pathogens that a Chinese scientist smuggled in his bag when he tried to enter the US last year.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol canceled the Blue Alert that was initially issued Monday morning. The suspect is now in custody.
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Commentary

By Simon Enoch

Calls to privatize Canada Post resurface with every labour disputebut for rural and remote communities, that would mean higher costs, reduced service and a deep erosion of a vital national lifeline.

As strike action looms, some will again argue that privatization is the solution. The current contract dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has reignited calls for change, with some critics claiming a for-profit model would be more efficient. But this moment demands deeper reflection: not just about cost, but about what kind of country we want to live in.

Proponents of privatization often cite the supposed success of reforms in other countries, but they rarely mention the costs, especially for Canadians outside urban centres. We dont need to guess what a privatized system would look like. Private delivery services like UPS and FedEx already place a Remote Rural Surcharge on their delivery prices to rural and remote postal codes.

If you happen to live in Sept-Iles, Que., your surcharge is $15.75 with FedEx. If you live in northern Manitoba, it can be as high as $130. Even with these added fees, private delivery firms often rely on Canada Post for last-mile deliveries in sparsely populated areas.

Canada Post operates under a universal service obligation, meaning it must deliver mail to every address in the country, no matter how remote, at a uniform rate. Private companies are under no such obligation and are free to avoid unprofitable regions or charge extra.

In contrast, the U.K.s Royal Mail, which had a similar mandate before it was privatized, has repeatedly failed to meet its service commitments, paying over 16 million ($29.7 million Cdn) in fines to the postal regulator. It is now lobbying to reduce delivery to just three days per week.

Such cutbacks would hit isolated communities especially hard. For many, regular mail service is more than convenienceits a connection to medications, government cheques, vital information and local commerce. In many rural areas, seniors and small businesses rely on Canada Post to function.

Suggesting that Canada Post should be run like a business while also delivering to unprofitable regions is asking the impossible. Unlike private carriers, which can cherry-pick profitable markets, Canada Post must serve everyoneand thats exactly what makes it a public service.

When service erodes, so too does trust in the institutions that bind us together. Rather than forcing Canada Post into a business model that doesnt fit, we should reimagine its role for the 21st century: as a platform for economic development, government service delivery and national connection.

The post office was one of the first federal departments created after Confederation in 1867. It helped build Canada thenand, if we choose, it can help build the country we need now.

Lets stop treating Canada Post as a business and start treating it as the essential public service it was always meant to be.

Simon Enoch is a senior researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives based in Saskatchewan.
Global girl group KATSEYE is facing criticism from fans after members were seen spending time at Disneyland with music executive Scooter Braun on Sunday, with the controversy stemming from Braun's recent public identification as a Zionist on social media.

Braun, who serves as the CEO of HYBE America, shared photos from the trip on his social media with the caption "Today was a great day." All six KATSEYE members were seen with the music executive and his family at the theme park during what looked to be an off-schedule recreational visit.

The backlash got worse because many international fans viewed KATSEYE as having previously shown solidarity with Palestine. Critics argued that associating with Braun outside of professional obligations directly contradicted the group's supposed stance, according to Koreaboo.

"Not KATSEYE hanging out with Scooter Braun while following pro-Palestine pages. You can't claim solidarity while cozying up to oppressors. Pick a side  Palestine or genocide?" one viral post said.

Braun has a controversial history in the music industry, with critics describing him as "one of its most ruthless players" and noting his reputation for litigation. His management style has also drawn criticism from former clients, with some describing experiences of manipulation and control. The executive also faced scrutiny for his role in high-profile industry disputes, including conflicts with Taylor Swift over music rights.

The timing of the Disneyland visit has added to the controversy, as the Israel-Palestine conflict continues to dominate global headlines and public figures face criticism over their political affiliations. Some fans have called for boycotts of KATSEYE's promotions and HYBE-related activities.

Adding to the group's challenges, member Daniela is facing separate criticism after fans discovered her mother follows Donald Trump's Instagram account. This revelation went viral, with one post receiving over a million views. However, many supporters have defended Daniela, arguing that family members' political beliefs do not necessarily reflect her own views.

KATSEYE, which rose in popularity through the Netflix documentary "Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE," has been gaining international recognition with recent releases including their song "Touch." The group consists of six multinational members and has been positioning itself as a global pop act.
Google DeepMind Founder and CEO Demis Hassabis poses for a photograph after the announcement that he and John M. Jumper, a senior research scientist at DeepMind, received the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry on October 9, 2024 in London, England.
Commentary

By Sylvain Charlebois

Canadas bread price-fixing scandal is one of the most damaging breaches of corporate trust in the history of Canadian food retail. The recent approval of a $500-million class-action settlement by an Ontario court is a significant, though partial, step toward accountability. But the story isnt over.

For over a decade, grocery giants secretly rigged the price of the countrys most basic food item, and most Canadians had no idea.

From 2001 to 2015, retailers and suppliers deliberately coordinated to raise the price of packaged bread, a basic household staple. This kind of illegal arrangement, known as price-fixing, occurs when supposed competitors agree to set prices rather than compete, driving up costs for consumers. Companies named in the lawsuit include Loblaw, its parent company George Weston Ltd., Metro, Sobeys, Walmart and Giant Tiger.

The impact on consumers was steep. Estimates suggest Canadians were overcharged by more than $5 billion over 14 years. The added cost was hidden in weekly grocery bills, largely unnoticed, but cumulatively devastating, especially for lower-income households that spend a greater share of their income on food.

The Competition Bureau, Canadas competition watchdog, launched its investigation in 2015 after Loblaw came forward as a whistleblower under its Immunity and Leniency Program. In exchange for cooperating, Loblaw and George Weston were granted immunity from criminal prosecution. Their disclosure triggered years of scrutiny. In 2017, the companies attempted to contain the public backlash by offering $25 gift cards to 3.8 million Canadians, a gesture that cost $96 million and was widely seen as inadequate.

More recently, in 2023, Canada Bread pleaded guilty and paid a record $50-million fine for its role in the scheme. Although the violations occurred while it was owned by Maple Leaf Foods, it was Grupo Bimbowhich acquired Canada Bread in 2014, that took responsibility and cooperated with regulators. It was a rare show of accountability in a case otherwise marked by corporate silence.

Despite multiple companies being implicated, only Loblaw, George Weston and Canada Bread have admitted wrongdoing. No fines or sanctions have been imposed on the others. Walmart, Metro, Sobeys and Giant Tigerall named by Loblawdeny the allegations. Yet the investigation drags on nearly a decade later.

This imbalance in accountability has deepened public frustration. Many Canadians believe only those who stepped forward have faced consequences, while others remain untouched. Or perhaps Loblaw threw its competitors under the bus in a calculated effort to save its own reputation?

The $500-million settlement$404 million of it from Loblaw and George Westonwas approved by an Ontario judge earlier this month as fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of class members. The other $96 million reflects the earlier gift card program. Whats left to be paid amounts to about $13 per Canadian adult. After legal fees and administrative costs, 78 percent of that will go to eligible Canadians outside Quebec, with the remaining 22 percent reserved for Quebecers, pending a June 16 court hearing.

But for many, the money and the apologies do little to restore trust. If companies can quietly collude on something as essential as bread, it raises questions about what else might be going unnoticed in our grocery bills. The scandal exposed major weaknesses in Canadas food retail system: toothless competition laws, limited pricing transparency and weak deterrents against collusion. These investigations take too long, and the damage to public confidence lingers long after the cheques are cashed.

Bread is not just a commodity. It symbolizes nourishment, affordability and stability. Manipulating its price isnt just a legal violation; its a betrayal of public trust.

If this case is to be a turning point, it must lead to more than payouts. Canada needs stronger enforcement, faster investigations and real transparency in pricing. Without systemic reform, Canadians will remain vulnerable to the next coordinated market adjustment, hiding in plain sight on store shelves.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Canadian professor and researcher in food distribution and policy. He is senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast.
Thousands of tourists will flock to Australia's coast this whale migration season, but a new map highlights why the future of these ocean giants is threatened.

Populations of whales that survived decades of hunting now face new dangers as they migrate from Antarctica to Australia. On Wednesday, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched an interactive map of the world highlighting where the routes of 1,400 whales collide with threats from ships, noise, fossil fuel projects, pollution, fishing and climate change.

Whales are critical to ocean health and play an important role in tourism, creating US$2.1 billion (A$3.8 billion) in global revenue and supporting 13,000 jobs. It's hoped the publicly accessible BlueCorridors.org platform will help stop more species of whale from becoming extinct by pinpointing where the dangers occur. And there are plans to gradually add more data from rarely seen species like beaked whales, of which very little is known.

Of particular concern to WWF is the North Atlantic right whale which continues to be killed by ships and fishing gear entanglement, and with fewer than 70 breeding females left, the species is showing no signs of recovery. Southern right whales that we see in Australia are also of concern because their numbers have cryptically stagnated at a level far below pre-whaling levels.

Related: Carloads of Aussies flock to water's edge for whale migration ritual

Chris Johnson, the global lead for WWFs Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative, said the BlueCorridors.org project is designed to be another building block as researchers try to fill gaps in our knowledge about the oceans.

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Whales are these ocean giants that we absolutely love, particularly in Australia, and we still know so little about their migratory patterns, he told Yahoo News from Melbourne.

I study sperm whales and theres very little satellite tagging of them, and we dont do a lot of research offshore. Were still discovering new beaked whale species and theyre the size of elephants.

What's the biggest issue whales face?

More than 50 global research groups were involved in the maps creation. As more data is added to the platform, researchers will be able to gain new insights into the cumulative impact of multiple man-made threats on whales.

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For instance, the Queensland government announced last week it would be investing $88 million to expand its shark control program, which will include nets known to frequently entangle whale mothers and calves. An average of six whale entanglements a year may not seem like many, but it's adding to a massive global problem.

Johnson said the announcement was disappointing because there are modern alternatives to problematic nets. Its concerning because bycatch is probably the biggest issue for cetaceans worldwide. Around 300,000 a year die from entanglement and thats an issue from 25 years ago, so the problem is now probably much bigger, he said.

Numbers of southern right whales have stopped increasing. Source: Getty

15 nautical mile change in shipping route will have huge impact

Today, seven of the worlds 14 great whale species are threatened with extinction, and their migration routes are critical to their breeding and feeding.

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Shipping, fishing and gas and oil drilling have been important to industrialisation and the advancement of human interests. Transporting new phones and electric vehicles across the globe, and catching more fish for oil supplements, will continue to enrich our lives, but as more species are lost, the planet becomes less complex and arguably less interesting.

By highlighting where the biggest problem areas are, companies will be empowered to make changes to lessen their impact on whales.

Johnson said there are examples of this already occurring. In the North Atlantic, companies are altering their fishing methods, with some no longer using rope so whales arent entangled. In Greece, shipping lanes have been modified to reduce the chances of collisions, and similar changes are being made in Asia.

Off Sri Lanka, theres a big habitat for blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean. Its one of the busiest shipping lanes on Earth, he said.

But research has shown if you move the shipping lane 15 nautical miles further south, it'll reduce ship strikes.

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While the government has been slow to respond, shipping companies themselves have been altering their routes in order to reduce the number of strikes. If all of them agree to reroute, the risk of collision would be reduced by 95 per cent.

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Australia is quietly building a larger market share of a billion-dollar industry as other countries battle it out over tariffs.

An expat living in China has revealed a major shift in supermarket stock after making an unexpected Aussie find. Canadian expat Emily recently discovered American beef has been replaced with Australian beef in Chinese grocery stores on the back of mammoth tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump earlier this year.

It's the second time in recent weeks that residents in China have noticed American beef is no longer available, with the Australian product replacing it. Emily, who lives in Guangzhou, China, with her family, told Yahoo News Aussie beef is now "everywhere".

Experts believe Australia now has a major "advantage" in the billion-dollar beef export industry, with Australia achieving a record-breaking $13.9 billion in sales in 202425, a 12 per cent increase from the previous record set the year prior.

Emily explained she's noticed a "huge shrink" in American products in recent months after the Trump administration stunned the entire world by announcing reciprocal tariffs on just about every country on April 2, a day he called "Liberation Day".

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Among the hardest hit countries was China, which had a 145 per cent tariff imposed on its exports, which was countered with a 125 per cent tariff on US imports.

It followed China not renewing the registration of hundreds of US beef facilities and America's $2.5 billion beef trade soon came to a grinding halt, with Australia seemingly stepping in to fill the void.

While a temporary trade truce between the two economic powerhouses was struck in May at a meeting in Geneva, with the US lowering its tariff to 30 per cent and China dropping theirs to 10 per cent for three months, many consumers have seemingly continued to opt for Aussie beef.

"Products like Australian beef are everywhere," Emily explained. When she filmed the supermarket video, which was viewed by millions across the world in May, she said she did a "thorough search" for US products.

"I confirmed there is nothing from the US in my local supermarket," she said.

Australia takes advantage of beef industry battle

The fallout of the trade wars between the economic powerhouses has exposed an "advantage" for Australia in the beef market. Many viewers of Emily's video shared that they'd much rather eat Australian meat than any from the United States.

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Professor Vinh Thai, a leading analyst of global logistics and supply chain management, told Yahoo News that Australia has much to gain from the current tariff situation, despite an initial "setback" of a 10 per cent tariff on Australian beef exported to the US.

He believes that the reduction in Australian beef exports to the US can be offset by finding alternative markets such as China and Europe.

Another expat made a similar Aussie beef discovery in China last month. Source: TikTok/Theforeignerlife

"Consumer belief is very important," he explained, adding that Australia will always be considered a high-quality product. "That is our advantage," he said.

"Australian beef will still be considered as a top-quality and good reputation product compared to that from the US," he said.

Emily echoed this opinion, explaining that in China, "Australian food is always associated with higher safety standards therefore Australian beef now has a better reputation than American beef as the "cleaner" meat," she said.

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"Now with President Trump's trade war and tariffs, Chinese people are more likely to choose Australian products over American products because of political reasons," she added. "I think this is also a situation in many countries, especially the ones that were targeted by Trump's tariff, such as Canada."

She believes China hasn't been as impacted by the tariffs as the United States.

"China's diversified economy and domestic market have provided significant buffers against the effects of these tariffs," she said.

"I sincerely hope Australia and China can maintain and strengthen their mutually beneficial trade relationship. Both countries have so much to gain from continued economic cooperation."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A LAOIS farmer has been honoured for his unwavering life-time work and support with his local branch of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

Tommy Wilson has been an active member of the Vicarstown and Laois branch of the IFA for many years.

At a special ceremony to acknowledge his lifetime connection with the association he was presented with an award in recognition of his outstanding commitment, dedication and contribution to Laois IFA and his local branch.
ALMOST 900,000 was spent on private emergency accommodation for homeless people in Laois last year.

A new plan presented in county hall shows that Laois Co Council spent 894,766 on emergency beds, mainly in hotels and B&Bs.

The figure prompted one councillor to suggest that the local authority should buy a property for use as a homeless shelter, rather than pay for temporary rooms.

The draft 2025-2029 Midland Region Homelessness Action Plan was presented by Fionnuala Daly, senior social worker in the councils housing section, at the latest Laois Co Council monthly meeting The plan was unanimously approved by councillors, with many praising the councils ongoing work for homeless individuals and families.

The plan aims to end homelessness in the county by 2030, in line with national policy. Currently, the level of homelessness in Laois is half that of Offaly but double that of Longford.

As of 21 May 2025, Laois had 38 households in emergency accommodation, including 11 children. A total of eight families and 26 individuals were living in B&Bs, while four single people were in hostels.

Figures for May 2024 show that the Laois housing section was contacted by 38 people that month who were facing homelessness, including eight children. Figures for the other three midland counties that month were highest in Westmeath at 91, including 17 children; 76 in Offaly, of whom 26 were children and 18 in Longford, all adults.

Overall in the midlands last December, a total of 207 adults were homeless - 126 men and 81 women. The majority were aged 25-44 (106), while 28 were aged 18-24, a further 66 were aged 45-65 and seven were aged over 65. The overall number in the midlands fell to 172 last month.

Of the 207 midlands adults categorised as homeless, 151 were Irish citizens, 24 were from the European Economic Area (EEA) and 15 were non-EEA citizens.

Ms Daly said the causes of homelessness are complex and range from economic hardship, addiction and mental health problems to domestic violence, family disputes, notices to quit, prison releases and the shortage of affordable housing.

People given emergency accommodation in Laois include people who were sleeping rough, people given notices to quit their rental properties and individuals leaving foster care or prison.

Ms Daly said the length of time spent in emergency accommodation can range from one night to six months.

Laois is the only midland county with no homeless hostel but 27 supported houses for homeless people in the county are provided by the Peter McVerry Trust (22) and Midlands Simon (5).

The Laois spend on private emergency accommodation last year was the second lowest of the four midland counties. Offaly spent 1.5m, Westmeath 1.4m and Longford 324,000. The council recoups 90% of the cost from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Ms Daly that Laois Co Council relies either on B&Bs or regional shelters in emergency situations and always tries to keep families with children within the county. She said: We keep them in Laois if there are school-going children. We dont send them to Longford or Westmeath.

The draft plan aims to eliminate homelessness within the next five years through a range of measures, including building new houses, improving supports and cooperating with the HSE, Mental Health and Disability Services, Addiction Services, Laois Domestic Abuse Service and Tusla.

During a wide-ranging debate on the plan, councillors were largely positive about current and potential services for homeless people in Laois, compared to other counties.

Cllr Aisling Moran (Ind) highlighted the fact that Laois has no hostel for the homeless and is spending nearly 900,000 on hotels and B&Bs. She felt it would make more sense for the council to purchase a property, instead of having children pulled away from their friends and sometimes missing school.

Cllr Barry Walsh (FG) said that, while there were cases of families that unfortunately had to move outside the county for emergency accommodation, the council was generally doing a great job. He said: You dont see any evidence of people on the street.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy (FF) commented: We have all come across people who had to move out fairly quick but, once we contact the homeless section, it is dealt with quickly. I think we are doing fantastic work in Laois County Council. You rarely see anyone on the street here and if you do, its maybe by choice. Theyre given every opportunity to get off the street.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley (Ind) said that Laois was very lucky compared to other counties but warned: There is a whole cohort of people on the brink of homelessness because of rising rents.

Cllr Dwane Stanley asked the council to examine the possibility of helping people to downsize or right-size, saying: We have lots of elderly couples in three- or four-bedroom houses that are privately owned who want to downsize but cant, because they dont have the money to buy a smaller house, while some are in houses that are unsuitable for them because of illness.

Cllr Paddy Buggy (FG) observed: Downsizing sounds good but people are often in that house since they were in their 20s or 30s, so maybe we could have smaller units in the same area. We have to be careful as we are dealing with peoples lives.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said that Laois needs more retirement villages but it hasnt happened because there is no money in that for developers.

Council chief executive Michael Rainey said the council is focusing on building one- and two-bedroom social homes, which reflects demand and gives people the opportunity to move from three- and four bedroom properties.

He said: The convent project in Portlaoise is a really good example. There will be a few people taking accommodation in the convent as a result of rightsizing.

He added that the number of social houses built in Laois over the past few years has far exceeded government targets. The county was given a target in 2022 to build 534 new units by 2026 but has already delivered 669, which includes houses built by approved housing bodies.

Mr Rainey said: We have another 387 social houses under construction in 2025, which is a significant number for any county to show.

However, councillors James Kelly, Aisling Moran and Caroline Dwane Stanley all argued that the targets were exceeded because they were too low. They called for higher targets to be set for the construction of badly needed social housing units around the county.

Latest figures show that 1,664 people were on the social housing waiting list in Laois in April 2025.
On 3 June Chiles Presidentcommended the decision of his sister-in-law,, to resign from her role at the communications secretariat amid a scandal over the misuse of medical leave by civil servants and public officials.

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On 3 June a Salvadorean court convicted former military officials, retired Brigadier General, a former defence minister (1979-1983), and retired colonels,, and, of the 1982 murders of four Dutch journalists during El Salvadors 1980-1992 civil war.

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On 3 June Colombias Presidentconfirmed that he will issue a decree convening a referendum on his labour and health reform proposals, sidelining the senate which has rejected the referendum.

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Zoe is calling for industry-wide reforms to improve how airlines handle mobility aids, after her wheelchair was damaged three times on recent flights.

The Qantas passenger said it's far from the first time this has happened when flying. Source: Getty

An Australian disability advocate is calling for better, disability-led policies and systemic reforms to ensure disabled travellers are respected and their mobility aids are properly handled, after her wheelchair was damaged for a third time by Qantas.

Melbourne woman Zoe Simmons, who lives with fibromyalgia, said she recently embarked on a round-trip to Tokyo from Melbourne with the national carrier, and when she was given back her wheelchair in Australia, it had sustained numerous damages.

She said it was handed back with warped metal, broken parts, and scratches that impacted its safety and usability. Zoe said that in 2021, a similar, though more severe incident occurred with Qantas, and again last year, though she didn't report the latter issue  the steering controller had broken off  over fears of being "laughed off".

Zoe's wheelchair was left with several structural damages after a recent flight from Tokyo to Melbourne. Source: Supplied/Zoe Simmons

Following her recent trip to Japan, Qantas did arrange for Zoe to get her wheelchair repaired through one of its partnered repair services, but she feels its unfair that disabled passengers have to accept this as the norm  that theyre expected to handle repairs themselves whenever their mobility aids are damaged during travel.

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Zoe said she, and hundreds of thousands around the country, remain deeply frustrated at the energy it takes disabled passengers to continually advocate for repairs and recognition, often met with indifference or excuses from airline staff. "I just hate that its so common, like what are they doing to our wheelchairs that causes metal to warp and break?" Zoe told Yahoo News Australia.

"There are chunks out of the arm rests, the arm rests are very warped and are weirdly sitting now, they're also loose, the foot guard has chunks out of it, my wheel cover and my cup holder are also damaged, not to mention the scratches, and so on.

"Last time I flew with them, they broke my wheelchair controller off. And it was just laughed off! I didnt have the energy to fight for such a small thing then."

Disability advocate Zoe Simmons is pushing for sweeping change in how Australian airlines handle disability support. Source: Supplied.

Melbourne woman demands nationwide reform in airline treatment of mobility aids

Zoe said that after discovering damage to her wheelchair, she had to explain her story to several airport staff who mostly responded with dismissive sympathy. When a manager eventually spoke with her, Zoe raised the issue of how the burden always falls on disabled people to advocate for themselvessomething the manager denied, citing policies and procedures, without acknowledging how exhausting that constant advocacy is.

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She criticised the way airlines treat wheelchairs like baggage instead of essential mobility aids, and called for stronger policies, better staff training, and public reporting on wheelchair damage. "Imagine if non-disabled people expected their legs to be broken every time they flew, if chunks came off," she said.

"What if your bones were warped? They need to stop treating wheelchairs like baggage and start respecting them for what they are."

Zoe highlighted that in the US, some 30 wheelchairs are damaged daily during flights, according to the US Department of Transportation, which began requiring airlines to report wheelchair and scooter damage in December 2018.

Since then, monthly reports have consistently shown that an average of around 2530 mobility devices are damaged each day across US domestic flights. But Australia lacks transparent recording or reporting of such incidents.

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"Its just frustrating to have sat in the Disability Royal Commission several years ago, and we're talking about this. While things are improving, they arent improving fast enough," she said. "We need disability-led policy and procedural reforms, and to ensure everyone has access to repairs, not just people who can be the squeaky wheel."

In a letter given to Zoe by Qantas, seen by Yahoo, a representative asked her to take her "damaged bag" to an authorised repairer. "If this is not convenient, please forward a quote for the repair with this letter to your nearest Qantas office for review," it said.

Qantas responds to allegations

Speaking to Yahoo on Wednesday, a Qantas spokesperson "sincerely apologised" for the ordeal.

"We sincerely apologise to Ms Simmons for the damage caused to her wheelchair. We know how critically important mobility aids are, and we are investigating how this damage occurred," they said.

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"We are working closely with Ms Simmons to ensure the repairs are facilitated as soon as possible."

After Yahoo's enquiries, Zoe said Qantas reached out to her again. She said their designated repairer doesn't service her type of wheelchair. "I then gave them the details of a repairer I know will work, but see all the hoops and onus and exhaustion here, when this stuff happens every day," she said

"Im not mad for myself  I am mad for every disabled person who experiences this, in whatever way that might look like," she said. "I am not that angry about my chair. What Im angry about is that this is what we are expected to put up with  and much, much worse  every time we fly."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Allentown police have the Hamilton Street bridge over the Lehigh River closed due to an incident Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, later described as a robbery and homicide. Two suspects were arraigned Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, on charges in the investigation. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

An Allentown woman will serve up to 20 years in prison following a 2020 shootout that left a 21-year-old man dead.

The sentencing comes after 36-year-old Latasha Ann Santiago, of the 400 block of South Bradford Street, pleaded guilty last month to felony conspiracy to commit robbery.
Two people were shot in the head at this home on Glasgow Way in Palmer Township on June 3, 2025. The 34-year-old male suspect allegedly purchased a gun after receiving divorce papers, then shot the elderly couple at their Highlands at Glenmoor home while his children were present. Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

A Bushkill Township man is accused of fatally shooting his elderly in-laws at a 55-and-over senior community in Palmer Township.

Xiaomin Fei, 34, of the 500 block of Roberts Road, is charged with two counts felony criminal homicide; one count felony burglary; two counts misdemeanor reckless endangerment; and two counts misdemeanor weapons possession.

Fei is accused of killing his mother-in-law, Gretchen Ackerman, 75; and his father-in-law, Robert Ackerman, 74, according to Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta. He shot them both in the head, police said.

Fei in an interview with investigators allegedly said he was fighting with his wife over a pending divorce and received the papers the same day as the alleged homicides. Fei claimed he was being kept from seeing his two elementary-aged children, according to court records.

Additionally, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta told lehighvalleylive.com Feis wife is reportedly pregnant with a third child.

Fei allegedly shot the Ackermans shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday at their home in the Highlands at Glenmoor, in the first block of Glasgow Way. The Highlands is an age 55+ community with about 250 single-family and attached homes.

Officers were called to a domestic incident, and a 911 dispatcher reported hearing screaming, children crying, and two men yelling. One person said, Think about what you are doing and the other man responded, Im not thinking, court records state.

A second 911 call came through with a female neighbor telling dispatch she feared Fei was going to kill his wife and her children and he was armed, court records state.

Fei was found by investigators standing just inside of the front door of the home with a gun in his right hand, pointed at his head, the affidavit of probable cause says.

After numerous commands from police, Fei dropped the gun and was taken into custody on the front sidewalk of the house, according to court records.

Inside, investigators found the elderly man and woman lying face down in the kitchen with gunshot wounds to their heads, court records state.

Robert Ackerman was pronounced dead at the scene; his wife was taken to the hospital but was dead on arrival, Baratta said.

Two boys were found behind a closed door on the main level of home. They were screaming, crying and yelling, police said.

The children were taken to a neighbors home by police. No one else was found inside the residence.

Fei said he was locked out of the home by his wife and in-laws and broke a front door window with a hammer, court records state.

Fei allegedly told police he then drove to a gun shop and purchased a revolver and ammunition around 5 p.m. Tuesday. He then drove straight to the home, police said.

Fei allegedly admitted to investigators he entered the home with a loaded revolver, walked toward his in-law and started shooting.

Palmer Township Police Chief Wayne Smith says Fei has no criminal history prior to the alleged killings. Authorities are investigating whether Fei could legally purchase a gun. Hes a Chinese National legally living in the United States, according to information provided at Barattas press conference.

Smith praised Palmer police for preventing Feis death by suicide.

I am very proud of our officers on their response at the scene as it unfolded. And that they did use restraint ...  Smith said. It could have been a different outcome. Were fortunate the defendant was not hurt. Our prayers go out to the Fei family, our hearts go out to them.

Fei was arraigned early Wednesday before District Judge John Capobianco, who denied bail. He was then taken to Northampton County Prison. Court records did not immediately show any attorney information for Fei.

Fei is due back on court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. June 18 before District Judge Susan Hutnik.

A man who lives across the street from the Ackermans said Robert Ackerman is a retired professor of at East Stroudsburg University. A post on the university website recognized Ackerman for 30 years of service in 2015 as a speech pathology professor.

The across-the-street neighbor, who asked to be identified only as Jerry, said the Ackermans moved to the Highlands at Glenmoor from a home in the Nazareth Area. Property records indicate the Ackermans also owned a home in the 500 block of Roberts Road in Bushkill Township.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached atpholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Phillipsburg's Delaware River Park has been largely closed to the public as the town seeks answers about environmental concerns at the site, which could take three years to remediate. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Phillipsburg officials are considering hiring a firm for an environmental study of a former roadside dump, now a riverside park, to address growing health and safety concerns.

The walking path is heaving, said Matt Noel, the towns municipal services deputy director said, and with the exception of the dog park, Delaware River Park sits idle.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has become the third Government Minister to promise 180 new prison spaces in Portlaoise but he claims he is going to speed up delivery.

The Fianna Fail TD has reportedly presented plans to the Government to accelerated the deliver of nearly 1,000 more prison spaces around Ireland before 2030.

Minister O'Callaghan is working on the basis that the Irish Prison Service can deliver 150 additional spaces at Castlerea, 180 at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, 50 spaces at the Dochas Centre women's prison, 100 at Wheatfield, and 150 at Mountjoy  all 12 months ahead of schedule.

It's understood that he is working with the Public Expenditure Minister, Jack Chambers, to reduce the delivery of extra spaces by up to 18 months in some cases.

The Minister has reportedly informed the Taoiseach and others in Cabinet that the prison of 115% over capacity with a new record high of 5,394 in-prison in mid-April. This represented an 11% rise in 12 months and over 1,100 more people in prison than in January 2023.

Former Minister for Justice Simon Harris revealed plans to increase capacity at jails at the Prison Officer Association Conference in Galway in 2023.

The proposals would see capacity rise at Castlerea, Cloverhill, Midlands, and Mountjoy jails. It includes a new 100-cell F Wing in the Midlands Prison which would also have the potential to accommodate up to 180 prisoners. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The Laois jail is already the biggest in the country, but the addition of a new block would push the official capacity from 875 to 1,000. The Midlands Prison is located beside the Portlaoise Prison with which it shares some facilities. It was built as a public-private partnership for 50m and opened in 2000.

READ ALSO: Simon Harris floats plans for Midlands Prison

The promise to expand the jails, Portlaoise and elsewhere, was subsequently repeated by Minister Helen McEntee when she was Justice Minister. In October 2024, she promised 1,100 extra spaces by 2030.

An Irish Prison Service spokesperson told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the plans for the new wing in the Midlands has not as yet been advanced as it is funding has yet to be approved.

The Programme for Government pledged 1500 new prison places around Ireland. It also committed to examining the potential of developing the controversial Thornton Hall site in Dublin.
Laois TD Willie Aird made up for lost time in the Dail at the end of May when he raised a series of issues with the Minister for Agriculture Martion Heydon at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food.

The outspoken Portlaoise-based Fine Gael representative, who was elected to the Dail for the first time in 2024, said he had a lot on his agenda after waiting so long to enter national politics.

I have had a long number of years storing up this stuff, and now I have the opportunity to ask on behalf of farmers, he said.

So, intent was he on getting answers that Committee proceedings had to be suspended to allow Minister Martin Heydon to give some answers to the issues raised. Dep Aird began with schemes.

Whatever scheme is coming out, will the Minister please make it easy for us to fill up the forms? It has been detrimental and the Department has been very difficult.

It has been cruel on me as a farmer and all my colleagues in making it so difficult. The proof is that when I started off in farming, I would have had an agricultural adviser whom I could ring for advice. Now, however, there is nothing that farmers can do on their own without having agricultural advisers and everything.

Why does the Department make it so complicated? It is serious. It is not fair to farmers.

Something else I do not like is the hanging of a little carrot over us - if we do this, our single farm payment will be cut.

My mother, Lord have mercy on her, would start off in September or October, or whenever she would get away it, by saying to us, "If you are bold, Santy will not be coming". That went on the whole way until after Christmas. The Department is the very same with us. The Minister is laughing, but it is not a laughing matter. An awful lot of farmers out there take huge umbrage to that, and they are right to. I am one of them, he said.

He also raised water quality as he said he has first-hand experience.

I am a dairy farmer and the situation is improving hugely. The last two tests done by the EPA showed great results. We are on the up. We have spent hundreds of thousands of euro improving yards to improve water quality and all that, so the Minister has a good case to make there, he said.

Regarding CAP, Dep Aird said there is zero tolerance. MORE BELOW PICTURE

I do not want to put pressure on the Minister, but I had to. We want Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. The multi-annual financial framework, MFF, will not be good for the Irish farmer. It will not be good for me. If one reads into the MFF, it will not be good for Irish farmers, and the Minister knows that. I will give him all the support in that regard, he said.

He also raised the mandatory condition of the payment of the Basic Income Support for farmers to protect wetlands and peatlands - high-carbon soil.

On GAEC 2, we get nervous when they start telling us what to do...I welcome that the Minister said that there would be no fines under GAEC 2...we will hold him to that, he said.

Dep Aird said farmers are 'terrified' by GAEC2 changes.

Traditionally in farming, we all knew the land like the back of our hands. We knew what was the wet field and what day of the year we could go out. Farmers had to get used to being told when to spread dung, when to spread slurry and when we could go out. We can go out on a wet day if we like because it is within the calendar of farming. It would take a huge generational mindset to change what farmers did down through the years because it was handed down from generation to generation and they knew every spot in a field. This is why there was so much resentment at changes. People found it, and still find it, difficult, he said.

The Portlaoise man also flagged tillage.

On tillage, there was 32 million to be paid to tillage farmers as part of Budget 2025, which is 40 per hectare. Is that ring-fenced for the next five years? Tillage is likely to decline this year again. This is an important point for the officials here. The numbers of farmers in tillage is falling, which the Department can see.

It was 334,450 ha. That went down and it is going to go down again, yet the Minister is saying that we are going to have an increase of 360,000 ha. Unless the Minister puts something in there very quickly, then he is not going to meet his climate targets.

READ ALSO: Aird slams draconian TB measure WATCH

The crop diversification rules appear to be having a negative impact on tillage. This is one for the officials that came up with this. Many farmers are reducing their crop areas. We can see that every day. They will not have to comply with these rules, though, as it now appears the rules are not required in Ireland and, therefore, there should be leniency for sectors that are in trouble. Will the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine try to remove that rule from the CAP2 he said.

As his speaking team was concluding, Dep Aird raised the issue of TB action.

TB is the most pressing thing in the mind of every one of my farming colleagues at the moment. Every farmer out there is terrified of a TB test. I went years and years and we never had that at home. One would be afraid of it, but it was more the nuisance of having to get the cattle to have a bath and all of that.

People talk about the mental strain on farmers, but this is it. I am telling the Minister that this is it. There was never, ever such an outbreak of TB.

I say this to the officials. It has all gone wrong. It is like a runaway train. There is the mental strain for farmers of having 60 cows go down and not being allowed an independent blood test. The Minister will have to roll out something. He is going to have to help farmers and he is going to have to put their minds at ease, said the TD.

The former Laois County Councillor also challenged the Minister on the compensation being paid to farmers on cattle that test positive for TB. He insisted that there is a shortfall in the order of hundreds of euro between the value of an animal and the compensation.

The meeting was suspended after the Committee chairperson Aindrias Moynihan told Dep Aird that he was not giving Minister Heydon an opportunity to respond to the issues raised.

When the meeting was reconvened, the Minister attempted to respond to some of the points raised by Dep Aird and other politicians.

Regarding the points made about the CAP and how we support farmers, simplification is very important. I, too, was a child who was threatened, around October time, with Santa not coming, but he always came in December.

We are delivering 2 billion of support to farmers every year and that is not simple. This money comes with conditionality. It is money that needs to be audited. We need to be able to account for it being spent as it is supposed to be spent and the type of deals we sign up to, he said.

He also responded to TB issues. He said farmers are compensated at the value of the animal on its reactor date and there is a maximum.

In response to the points the Cathaoirleach and Deputy Aird made about compensation, my abiding determination is to make sure fewer farmers are in this position and that those farmers have a way out of the mess they are in. We could spend all day talking about compensation and individual measures. The points the members made are valid, but they will not resolve the problem. I am determined that we fix this problem once and for all, he said.

He outlined the TB scenario.

We are at 6.3% of herd incidence in the country. The last time we were at that level was in 2003. In that year, there were 28,000 reactors. We are now at the same level of herd incidence but there were almost 42,000 reactors last year. If we do not intervene, that figure could rise to 63,000 by the end of the year. Something has changed significantly in respect of the spread of the disease and the number of reactors, he said.

The meeting took place on May 25.
A Laois nursing home is at the centre of an undercover investigation in a new RTE Investigates documentary.

RTE have confirmed with the Leinster Express / Laois Live that 'systematic failings' at The Residence nursing home in Portlaoise will feature in their upcoming documentary.

RTE confirm that they have liaised with HIQA on findings uncovered at the location, and the families of several residents.

The broadcaster has said that this documentary will show 'systematic failings', putting 'undue pressure on staff' to care for numerous residents and patients.

Owned by nursing home group Emeis, the documentary will also feature a Dublin nursing home owned by the group.

The Residence Portlaoise nursing home. Image: Google Maps

The Residence Portlaoise, a three storey property built in Portlaoise town centre beside the railway line, recently failed 10 regulations in an April 2025 HIQA report.

The upcoming RTE documentary has been hailed as 'distressing', and will be a disturbing watch for many viewers.

Following detailed concerns raised by several whistleblowers, RTE Investigates has for a number months been investigating the nursing home group, as part of a special documentary, RTE Investigates  Inside Irelands Nursing Homes due to air this Wednesday 04 June at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.

WATCH: a snippet of RTE's upcoming documentary, RTE Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes

RTE Investigates liaised with independent experts, and findings have been reported by RTE researchers to HIQA, and the local nursing home management where applicable and in line with expert advice.

The findings of the investigation have been shared with the private nursing home group and RTE has offered them due right of reply. Rigid production and editorial standards have been observed under the guidance of RTEs own journalism guidelines.

20 years ago, Prime Time Investigates exposed shocking conditions and work practices in the private Leas Cross Nursing Home in Swords in north Dublin.

The neglect of vulnerable residents at the facility caused public outcry. A Commission of Investigation followed which made a series of recommendations. The scandal prompted a national debate with political promises of reform in the sector.

The RTE Investigates documentary features the reactions of professional experts in this field who have seen some of the undercover footage filmed by RTE.

The whole episode of care in relation to this man is really quite distressing. I cant say anymore how much it goes against every gerontological principle that I hold dear," Professor Ronan Collins, Consultant Geriatrician said.

Professor David Robinson told RTE Investigates that it showed systemic and institutional lack of consideration for the older person.

This is going to shorten peoples lives and their lives will be more miserable," Mr Robinson admitted.

Watch RTE Investigates: Inside Irelands Nursing Homes, this Wednesday night at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.
The construction of a car-wash bay is being sought for one County Kildare business park.

Jensen Fleet Solutions Limited is seeking planning permission from Kildare County Council to construct the car-wash bay at the R407 Business Park, which is located on the Kilcock Road in Clane.

According to the description of the application, the business intends to construct "a car-wash bay with a 1.8 metre high surrounding wall on five existing car-parking spaces".

Permission is also being sought by Jensen Fleet Solutions Ltd for all associated ancillary site-works in relation to this proposal.

The date received on the application is listed as June 2 last, while the submission-by and due dates are listed as July 6, 2025 and July 27, 2025.

The business information website SoloCheck.ie shows that Jensen Fleet Solutions Ltd was established in 2012.

It has a registered address listed as the Fifth Floor, 40 Mespil Road, Dublin 4, County Dublin (D04 C2N4).

According to its Facebook page, the company describes itself as a "fleet leasing, rental, service and repair company".

READ NEXT: Motorists advised to be aware of temporary road closure near Kildare-Wicklow border
Irish celebrity chef Donal Skehan had a "smashing" return to the stage at the Bord Bia Bloom festival over the bank holiday - but not in the way he expected.

The celeb chef was midway through a live cooking demonstration at the festival in the Phoenix Park when disaster struck as the oven door he was using suddenly shattered into pieces in his hands in front of a packed crowd.

Skehan took the moment in stride, joking with the crowd and later sharing footage of the mishap on Instagram.

"Had a SMASHING day @bordbiabloom! It's been ten years but I'm thrilled to be back with a BANG!" he wrote, alongside a video of the moment the glass door exploded mid-demo.

"I always get asked what my worst kitchen disaster has been, well it happened today live in front of 100's of people!"

The incident took place while Skehan was preparing a dish on the Quality Kitchen Stage. Just as he went to pop the tray into the oven, things took a turn as the glass door detached and, moments later, shattered entirely, sending shards across the stage.

But instead of panicking, Skehan turned the whole thing into a comedy set. "That was not part of the plan," he told the laughing audience before asking: "Has anyone got some Pritt Stick? A bit of masking tape?"

Fans watching the footage online were quick to praise his ability to laugh off the moment and keep the show going.

"A HUGE thank you to the most AMAZING audience I've ever had for a cookery demo," he added. "You honestly kept me going during the craziest moment in the kitchen - I will remember this FOREVER!"

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donal (@donalskehan)

Skehan confirmed no one was injured in the mishap and gave credit to the event crew for their speedy response: "The incredible crew at Bord Bia had the oven replaced in less than an hour!"

He even followed up in the comments with another pun, writing: "Thanks to @bordbiabloom for giving me my big BREAK! "

Skehan's comeback to the Bloom festival may not have gone to plan, but it's guaranteed to go down as one of the most memorable cookery demos of the year.

READ MORE | 'A truly special lady' - tributes paid following sad death of Louis Walsh's mother Maureen
Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. Announces Exploration Right & 75% Interest in Block 1





Eco Atlantic Secures Exploration Right and Transfer of 75% Interest in Block 1 - South Africa's Orange Basin

Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), a leading independent oil and gas exploration company focused on the Atlantic Margin, is pleased to announce that, further to the Farm-In Agreement announced on 5 June 2024, formal approval has been received from the South Africa Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources for both the Exploration Right and Section 11 transfer. Accordingly, Eco has now secured a 75% Working Interest and full Operatorship of Block 1 offshore South Africa - one of the most strategically positioned assets in the highly prospective Orange Basin. The Section 11 approval was the final condition precedent to establishing full legal transfer of Eco's working interest in Block 1 from Tosaco Energy (Proprietary) Limited ("Tosaco"), and the associated milestone payment has been made by Eco.

This acquisition, completed through Eco's wholly owned subsidiary Azinam South Africa Limited ("Azinam"), significantly expands the Company's Southern African Orange Basin footprint and positions it as a key Operator at the forefront of one of the world's most active and hydrocarbon-rich basins. The remaining 25% interest is held by Tosaco.

Block 1, which spans a vast 19,929km, straddles the border between South Africa and Namibia - directly adjacent to recent world-class discoveries by Galp Energia (Mopane), Shell (Graff, La Rona), TotalEnergies (Venus), Rhino Resources (Capricornus-1X), and the legacy Kudu Gas Field. The block offers full margin transect coverage from the shoreline to deepwater (shore to 263km offshore, in water depths up to 1,000m), encompassing both shallow and deepwater exploration potential.

As previously announced, Eco has already acquired and is analyzing an extensive and high-quality dataset, including both 2D and 3D seismic surveys and regional well logs. The block includes the historic Soekor AF-1 gas discovery, which tested at 32.4 MMscfd, and Soekor AE-1, which encountered oil and gas shows which provides clear evidence of an active petroleum system.

The Company anticipates launching a formal farm-out process in respect of its interest in Block 1 in August 2025, with respect to which further updates will be provided in due course.

Block Summary:

Area : 19,929km offshore South Africa

Location : Strategically positioned on the South Africa-Namibia maritime border

Extent : From shoreline to ~263km offshore, covering the full margin transect

Geological Scope : Broad spectrum of shallow and deepwater oil and gas prospects

Water Depths : Shallow shelf to deepwater environments up to 1,000 meters

Proven Petroleum System: Adjacent and geologically analogous to multiple recent discoveries: Galp Energia - Mopane, Shell - Graff and La Rona, TotalEnergies - Venus, Rhino Resources - Capricornus-1X (light oil), Historic Soekor Discoveries - AF-1 (32.4 MMscfd gas test) and AE-1 (oil and gas shows), Kudu Gas Field

Eco Atlantic remains committed to disciplined, value-driven exploration. With a strong technical foundation, entrepreneurial execution, and an unwavering focus on high-impact opportunities, it continues to position itself as a trusted partner in unlocking frontier basins and delivering long-term shareholder value. The Company has established itself well in Namibia with four Blocks currently being reviewed by international players to farm-in and has a near term drilling opportunity in Guyana that it is currently negotiating with partners to participate in the block.

Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eco Atlantic, commented:

"As the Orange Basin continues to demonstrate its world-class hydrocarbon proof and potential, Eco's executive team has worked relentlessly over the past 18 months to secure a premier asset on the South African side of the basin. With the successful approval and execution of the Exploration Right and 75% Working Interest award, we are proud to have secured one of the largest and prospective blocks in the entire basin with a known hydrocarbon footprint - Block 1 - located directly on the South Africa-Namibia maritime border. Block 1 adds to our portfolio in the Orange basin which also includes Block 3B/4B operated by TotalEnergies.

"We are grateful for the productive collaboration with the Government of South Africa and its key agencies, particularly our valued partners at the Petroleum Agency South Africa ("PASA"). I was honoured to attend the signing ceremony yesterday at PASA's offices in Cape Town. This milestone reflects the dedication and strategic focus of our leadership team in securing an asset with existing hydrocarbon evidence and significant upside potential and aligning with our strategy to partner directly with governments to secure agreements in high potential secure jurisdictions and to lay groundwork for future partnerships.

"Our technical team has already begun analysing the extensive, high-quality 2D and 3D seismic, and well logs data, which materially accelerates our path to drilling while reducing early-stage exploration costs and timelines. The block's prior discoveries, including tested gas flows and oil shows, confirm the presence of an active petroleum system.

"Initial interpretation is underway, and we are in the process of delineating early leads to develop the exploration strategy. We are already seeing significant inbound interests from international oil companies and mid-tier partners. As a result, we anticipate launching a formal farm-out process in August with further updates to follow in due course."

ENDS

For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following.

Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Gil Holzman, Chief Executive Officer

Colin Kinley, Chief Operating Officer

Alice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris

James Bellman

Berenberg (Broker)

+44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew Armitt

Ciaran Walsh

Detlir Elezi Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Mark Antelme

Jimmy Lea

Charles Denley-Myerson

About Eco Atlantic:

Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil and gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure.

Offshore Guyana, in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company operates a 100% Working Interest in the 1,354 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin. Offshore South Africa, Eco holds a 5.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B and a 75% Operated Interest in Block 1, in the Orange Basin, totalling approximately 37,510km2.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this document contains forward-looking information and statements including, without limitation, management's business strategy, and management's assessment of future plans and operations. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future, including successful negotiation of farm-in agreement, results of exploration as proposed or at all. Forward-looking statements or information typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", "potential" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding future performance and outlook. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties identified under the headings "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated July 29, 2024 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd.

4 june 2025 at 02:00

View the original press release on ACCESS NewswireNews published onand distributed by:
Cerrado Gold Appoints Alonso Lujan as Vice President Exploration





Proven track record of discovery, resource and production expansion

Demonstrated success in both the Deseado Massif and the Iberian Pyrite Belt

Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSXV:CERT)(OTCQX:CRDOF)(FRA:BAI0) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alonso Lujan to the position of Vice President Exploration effective June 1, 2025. Mr. Lujan has over 34 years of international experience in mineral exploration with a proven track record for discovery, resource and production expansion. After joining Cerrado as a consultant in February 2025, Mr. Lujan has now been appointed Vice President of Exploration.

Most recently Mr. Lujan spent eight years with Sierra Metals ("Sierra") as Vice President Exploration where he led the significant expansion of the mineral resources across their mines by 25 million ounces of silver and 300 million pounds of copper. As the General Manager for Sierra's Mexican operations, he successfully expanded production and lowered the All-In-Sustaining-Cost ("AISC"). Prior to Sierra, he spent six years with Matsa-Trafigura as the General Manager where he led the discovery of 50 million tonnes of additional mineral resources in less than two years, and doubled production from 2.2 to 4.6 million tonnes per year, which led to the growth in value of the operation from US$300 million to US$1.6 billion. Prior to that, he worked with Hochschild Mining and Minas de Bacis SA de CV, in the Deseado Massiff, where his exploration and operational expertise led to increased production.

Mark Brennan, Executive Chairman, commented: "On behalf of the Board and Management teams, I would like to welcome Alonso to the team. He is a proven professional with a strong history of finding and expanding mineral resources and increasing production output. His experience in the Deseado Massif has provided a new perspective for a well planned and solid exploration program for the current 20,000 metre drill program about to begin at Minera Don Nicolas. The primary objective of the drill program is to add additional resources to extend the mine life at MDN. Additionally, his strong experience and record while working in the Iberian Pyrite Bet, will benefit the Company by potentially assisting in increasing the resource base and improving output as we continue to advance and develop the Lagoa Salgada VMS project."

About Cerrado

Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company. The Company is the 100% owner of the gold producing Minera Don Nicolas and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Portugal, the Company holds an 80% interest in the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier high purity Iron oreb project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec.

In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing the asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas operation through continued operational optimization, cost reductions and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias heap leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff.

In Portugal, Cerrado is focused on the development of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade - low cost, polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant exploration and development opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential.

In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier Iron project, which has the potential to produce a high quality premium iron concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com.

Mark Brennan

CEO and Chairman

Mike McAllister

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1-647-805-5662

[email protected]

Disclaimer

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. There is no assurance that the exploratory drill program will be successful or that any additional resources exist or will be discovered.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado.

SOURCE: Cerrado Gold Inc.

4 june 2025 at 06:00

View the original press release on ACCESS NewswireNews published onand distributed by:
ON1 Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation in Photo Editing Software





Marking Two Decades of Creativity, Community, and Cutting-Edge Tools for Photographers

ON1, a pioneer in professional photo editing software, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. For two decades, ON1 has empowered photographers with powerful editing tools that combine speed, flexibility, and creative control-earning the trust of its customers worldwide. ON1 20th Anniversary

ON1 Anniversary Sale Graphic

Founded in 2005 in Portland, Oregon, ON1 (formerly onOne Software) began by acquiring popular Photoshop plugins like Genuine Fractals and PhotoFrame. Over time, it transformed from a plugin developer into a full-featured editing platform, culminating in the launch of ON1 Photo RAW. The company has consistently led the way in creating software built specifically for photographers.

"We started ON1 to build tools that worked the way photographers think-not the way software forces them to think," said Craig Keudell, ON1 founder and CEO. "That same mission still guides us 20 years later."

Celebrating 20 Years with a Massive Sale

To thank its community and celebrate this milestone, ON1 is offering up to 75% off its apps and plugins throughout June. Whether users are looking to start with ON1 Photo RAW 2025, expand their editing workflow with ON1 plugins, there's never been a better time to enhance your photo editing workflow with ON1.

Software Built with Photographers, Not Just for Them

At the core of ON1's success is its commitment to listening. Through the ON1 Photo RAW Project, launched in 2016, the company has implemented nearly 1,000 user-submitted ideas, transforming feedback into actual features.

"Our users are part of the development process," said Dan Harlacher, VP of Product. "That's why our tools feel intuitive-because they're shaped by people who shoot and edit every day."

ON1's suite includes advanced AI tools, such as Super Select AI, NoNoise AI, and Resize AI, along with workflow-enhancing features like layers, presets, masking, and mobile-to-desktop syncing.

A Passionate Team That Puts Users First

From support to product design, ON1's culture is rooted in connection. Longtime team members, such as Jonny Davenport, a photographer and support lead, note that direct conversations with users often shape updates and improvements.

ON1's lead educator, Dylan Kotecki, has helped thousands of photographers maximize the potential of ON1's tools.

"Teaching users how to unlock their creativity and simplify their workflow-it's incredibly rewarding," said Kotecki.

The Road Ahead

As ON1 looks to the future, its focus remains on solving real-world problems for photographers. With innovations in AI, streamlined editing workflows, and deeper mobile integration, the next 20 years are already in motion.

"Twenty years in software is rare-twenty years with this kind of loyalty is even rarer," said Patrick Smith, Senior VP and GM. "It's a privilege to keep building for the community that got us here."

About ON1

ON1 is a leading provider of photo editing software for photographers of all levels. Based in Portland, Oregon, ON1 Photo RAW and its suite of plugins help users create stunning images with speed, power, and complete creative control. Learn more at www.on1.com.

SOURCE: ON1

4 june 2025 at 07:00

View the original press release on ACCESS NewswireNews published onand distributed by:
VSDA Courses Supplement New Changes for 2025 from the Dental Board of California





ENCINO, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Staying updated with regulatory changes is crucial for aspiring Dental and Orthodontic Assistants. Effective January 1, 2025, the Dental Board of California announced updates impacting training, qualifications, and Dental Assistant career paths. The Valley School for Dental Assisting (VSDA), with locations in Encino and Downey, is dedicated to preparing students for these changes, ensuring they are well-equipped for successful careers in dentistry.

Certification Requirements

Before performing procedures on patients, according to the new regulations, Dental Assistants in California must complete Board-approved courses as a prerequisite, including certifications in Infection Control and Basic Life Support (BLS). VSDA's programs meet these new standards, ensuring graduates possess relevant qualifications.

Infection Control, Dental Practice Act, and Basic Life Support (BLS) Certifications

As outlined in the updated guidelines, students are mandated to complete an 8-hour Board-approved infection control course and obtain BLS certification before performing various procedures. VSDA integrates these key components into its training, equipping students with essential knowledge and skills.

Requirements for Dental Assistants

Aspiring Dental Assistants must now obtain certificates in several areas, including Infection Control, Dental Practice Act, BLS, X-rays, and Coronal Polishing. These certifications are pivotal for ensuring competent and safe patient care. VSDA's curriculum is tailored to help students navigate these requirements, streamlining the process of gaining necessary credentials.

Expanding Career Opportunities

The 2025 changes create new opportunities for specialization within Dental Assisting. Notably, the Dental Board has eliminated work experience prerequisites for enrolling in Orthodontic Assistant courses, enabling students to quickly acquire specialized skills. VSDA offers programs to help students explore various career pathways, significantly enhancing their opportunities in a competitive job market.

For those interested in learning more about the new changes and exploring enrollment options, they are encouraged to visit The Valley School for Dental Assisting's website at https://www.valleydentalassisting.com/.

About The Valley School For Dental Assisting

The Valley School for Dental Assisting provides quality education and training for individuals aspiring to enter the dental field or advance their careers. VSDA has distinguished itself with dedicated faculty and a broad range of courses tailored to meet professional needs. Emphasizing practical experience alongside classroom education, VSDA equips students with vital skills for fulfilling careers in dental assisting. The 2025 changes further enhance the school's commitment to preparing the next generation of dental professionals. Guests can visit their website for more information or to enroll in classes at https://www.valleydentalassisting.com/contact-us/ today.

Contact Information

Name: The Valley School for Dental Assisting

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: (888) 866-2001

SOURCE The Valley School For Dental Assisting

4 june 2025 at 08:54

News published onand distributed by:
Chilean Cobalt Corp. Announces Extension of USD $317 Million Letter of Interest From US Exim Bank





Chilean Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:COBA) ("Chilean Cobalt" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has received an extension of a non-binding Letter of Interest ("LOI") from the Export-Import Bank of the United States ("EXIM") for a potential debt funding package of up to $317.4 million. The proposed loan, with a tenor of up to 15 years, would support the development of the Company's La Cobaltera cobalt-copper project and potentially other critical minerals projects in Chile.

The original LOI was issued in July 2024 and falls under EXIM's China and Transformational Exports Program ("CTEP"). CTEP is aimed at supporting US companies facing competition from the People's Republic of China ("PRC") in strategic sectors such as renewable energy, storage, and efficiency. The proposed financing may also qualify for special consideration under Section 402 of EXIM's 2019 reauthorization (P.L. 116-94), which could potentially include extended loan tenors and drawdown, and/or other flexible and competitive loan terms.

With the PRC currently dominating the global cobalt market - a critical mineral essential for lithium-ion batteries and advanced superalloys - EXIM continues to support the key role La Cobaltera is positioned to play in building a secure, Americas-based cobalt supply chain. EXIM financing also aligns with Chilean Cobalt's strategy to support downstream processing within the United States, including a non-binding three-party strategic partnership with Glencore AG and US Strategic Metals, each supported by a separate non-binding LOI for project off-take and domestic processing of critical minerals.

The contemplated funding package would cover a majority of the anticipated construction and development capital required for Phase 1 of the La Cobaltera project, which targets the cobalt-copper oxide zones. Additionally, subject to certain early drawdown conditions, a portion of the financing may also be used to advance the project's Definitive Feasibility Study.

While Chilean Cobalt has made good progress over the past 12 months, depressed and volatile cobalt prices have forced the Company to take a more cautious development approach. Looking ahead, cobalt market dynamics are shifting, and Chilean Cobalt anticipates submitting a formal application to EXIM during the next 12 months. Upon submission, EXIM will proceed with its final due diligence and underwriting process to evaluate a potential funding commitment.

Concurrently, Chilean Cobalt continues to pursue additional US government support and strategic financing, including EXIM's new Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative ("SRCI"). This initiative offers financing for international critical minerals projects that have signed off-take agreements with US companies, helping secure access to critical minerals from allied countries such as Chile. Under SCRI, EXIM may finance a percentage of project capital expenditures proportional to the share of production committed to US-based processing or final off-take - supporting both domestic industry and global supply chain diversification.

This press release does not constitute an offer or sale of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Chilean Cobalt Corp.

Chilean Cobalt Corp. is a US-based and US-listed critical minerals exploration and development company focused on the La Cobaltera cobalt-copper project in northern Chile, one of the world's few primary cobalt districts. Chilean Cobalt is committed to creating ecological and social value for all stakeholders; economic value for Chile and the Chilean communities in which it operates; and financial value for its shareholders.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions (such as those relating to future business or financial results) and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements, include, among others, statements the Company makes regarding its ability to enter into a definitive agreement with EXIM for debt funding as provided for in the LOI, approval for special consideration under Section 402 of EXIM's 2019 reauthorization (P.L. 116-94), approval for consideration under EXIM's SRCI, its ability to enter into definitive agreement with Glencore and/or USSM for strategic partnership(s) as provided for in the LOI(s), ability to establish "Proven" or "Probable" Reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the minerals that the Company seeks to produce and the inherent risks of mining, exploration, development, and processing operations that may negatively impact the business. Consequently, our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors not within the control of the Company. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

CONTACTS:

Chilean Cobalt Corp.

Duncan T. Blount

Chairman & CEO

[email protected]

SOURCE: Chilean Cobalt Corp.

4 june 2025 at 09:00

View the original press release on ACCESS NewswireNews published onand distributed by:
Veolia partners with Jamestown, Rhode Island to provide high-quality water service





Veolia North America, the leading provider of water services and environmental solutions in the U.S. and Canada, has entered a three-year agreement to operate the water treatment plant for the Town of Jamestown, Rhode Island, providing high standards of water quality and professional operation for nearly 1,600 homes and businesses in the coastal community.

Throughout the three-year contract, Veolia will provide a team of three certified, full-time professionals to operate Jamestown's plant, alleviating a staffing shortage that has become a perennial concern throughout the water sector. Veolia will provide a full contingent of certified employees to operate and maintain the water treatment plant, working in conjunction with municipal personnel to provide environmental security for the town and its residents. Jamestown's need for a deeper operational roster became apparent over a recent period when only one licensed individual was on hand to address the needs of the facility. In addition to dedicating Rhode Island-certified personnel specifically to operate the Jamestown Water Treatment Plant, Veolia has the ability to draw from its significant regional workforce to assist in meeting the facility's ever-evolving needs.

Veolia will also provide opportunities for members of Jamestown's current bargaining union to attend training for water treatment operator licensing and advanced certifications, in an effort to cultivate a stronger municipal workforce for the water treatment plant.

Upon mobilization in January of 2025, the Jamestown team and Veolia's support personnel wasted no time implementing effective and noticeable improvements to the facility and to water quality. Veolia's site leadership immediately identified a below-ground pump vault used for reading meters that was not appropriately structured for employees to enter it safely. In line with Veolia's non-negotiable emphasis on operational safety, site leaders installed electronic systems to take the required readings, then built a small structure with lights, handrails and rehabilitated stairs to reduce slip hazards and fall risks. Similar improvements to the plant's operating systems have resulted in immediate support for Jamestown's water quality.

John Oatley, Regional Vice President for Veolia said: "We are excited to work with the Town of Jamestown and provide the support this community deserves for the protection of both public and environmental health. Our team throughout Rhode Island and across New England has demonstrated efficiency, dedication and operational excellence. We look forward to bringing that to Jamestown and maintaining this unique area's remarkable quality of life."

Edward Mello, Jamestown Town Administrator said: "The delivery of high-quality, safe drinking water to our residents is a paramount function of our local government services. Jamestown, like many communities, has struggled to recruit and retain qualified staff members in all areas of the services we provide. This partnership allows us the stability needed to continue this high-value service."

Veolia has a long-established reputation for high-quality operation of water and wastewater systems across southeastern New England, including facilities in Pawtucket and Woonsocket in Rhode Island, New London in Connecticut, Westborough in Massachusetts, and more. Veolia's service to the region exemplifies its global GreenUp strategy, striving to lead the ecological transformation of the planet by accelerating water quality improvement, hazardous waste treatment and disposal, decarbonization and technological innovation.

ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA

A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.

www.veolianorthamerica.com

ABOUT VEOLIA GROUP

Veolia Group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024.

www.veolia.com

4 june 2025 at 09:35

News published onand distributed by:
I extend heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Liberia, led by President Joseph Boakai, for ensuring that this monumental national aspiration came to a successful conclusion, he stated.
I have decided to start a new blog (and still will continue with this one). The most immediate reason is that the workings of blogger ...
MAYOR of Limerick, John Moran has announced the acquisition of three artworks from students graduating from Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD).

The pieces were acquired under the Mayor of Limerick Art Acquisition Fund as a part of the More for Limerick initiative.

Speaking on the acquisition, Mayor of Limerick, John Moran said Under the More for Limerick programme this initiative, supported through a 20,000 allocation from my annual budget, supports the purchase of artworks of artists associated with Limerick and reflects our deep commitment to nurturing creativity and supporting emerging artists at a pivotal moment in their careers.

I was delighted to be able to review the works on display at LSAD this week in the company of Naomi ONolan, former Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Limerick Hunt Museum, who guided me in the selection of these three pieces out of a body of amazing works by LSAD students.

All the works will be displayed at the LSAD Graduate show, open daily to the public from May 31 to June 8, between 10am and 5pm.

READ NEXT: Young Limerick artists to display their work at graduate showcase

Mayor Moran encourages members of the public to attend the exhibition and explore the creativity of these emerging talents.

I am delighted to support these three graduating students from LSAD  each of whom brings a powerful and unique voice to Limericks cultural landscape.

Eve Murray, with her painting 52 Days at the Wall, offers a profound meditation on the ecological and cultural significance of Irish boglands. Her innovative techniqueburying her canvas in bogland to allow the natural elements to shape the workcreates a deeply immersive and sensory experience that speaks to the fragile beauty of our environment.

David Harte, through his sculpture The Curse of Cassandra, transforms industrial materials into delicate forms that explore the intersection of mythology and science. His work invites us to consider the invisible forcesresonance, memory, and energythat shape both our physical world and our collective imagination.

Charlie Yris, in their ceramic installation Dont Let Me Fall Apart, confronts the urgent issue of the housing crisis. By giving voice to Limericks abandoned homes, they draw attention to the human stories behind the statistics and challenge us to reimagine these spaces with empathy and purpose.

This was the second purchase of local art under this scheme.

Mayor Moran highlighted the importance of a scheme such as this, and the role it plays; by supporting emerging artists at the beginning of their professional journeys, we are celebrating their talent and affirming the vital role that art plays in shaping our identity, our conversations, and our shared future.
A LIMERICK company has been named one of 24 winning SMEs from across Ireland as part of Googles Youre the Business Competition.

Plant-based beverages SiSu from Limerick was among 23 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across Ireland, to be awarded a money cant buy prize as part of the Youre the Business campaign.

SiSu will receive a digital support package from Google which includes a one-year Google Workspace Business subscription with access to AI-powered tools and one-to-one consultation from Google experts on how to get the best out of the workspace.

Aisling McGann, of SiSu, said: I am delighted to have been selected as one of this year's winners of Google's You're the Business competition.

I believe there is so much potential for SiSu digitally and I am really looking forward to enhancing my digital skills as part of this Google programme and as such growing SiSu further!

READ ALSO: Company founded by former Limerick students, the Collison brothers, is new sponsor of Young Scientist

Born and crafted by Brian and Fiona McGann, the couple founded the brand with the aim of strengthening their youngest daughters immune system as she had health complications.

The online-based store is now run by the family in Limerick and offers soy milks, wellness shots, cold-pressed juices and organic kombucha.

The overall winner of the Google Youre the Business competition was Lahinch Surf Shop.

Situated on the beachside prom in Lahinch, Co Clare, the family-founded business was selected for its innovative use of digital tools to grow and evolve its operations.

As the top winner, they will receive the unique prize of a custom AI-powered advertising prize.

All other SMEs, including SiSu, will also receive a trophy and digital assets and are invited to attend a dedicated Winners event in Googles EMEA HQ in Dublin.

READ MORE: New scheme to help Limerick firms be more culturally diverse

Cera Ward, managing director, large customer solutions at Google Ireland said: SMEs comprise 90% of all enterprises in Ireland.

Businesses like Lahinch Surf Shop and all those we are celebrating today are an integral part of the economy generating employment and providing services across the country.

Through Youre the Business, we want to help founders leverage a range of digital tools, including AI, to help them reach their growth potential.

Delivered by Google, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, Youre the Business is an online platform offering free digital training and tools.

Now in its third year, the initiative has taken on a new AI-focus with the online platform offering new training modules where users can explore AI tools and learn how AI can help them prepare for the future.

Competition entrants were asked to submit a written entry telling their story around how theyve utilised or enhanced digital skills in order to help their business grow or succeed online.
FOUR HIGH-profile councillors have come out in opposition to a bid by Mayor John Moran to introduce a tax on people using hotels in the city.

The directly elected first citizen has sought Governments blessing to look at the charge in a bid to boost Limericks economy and tourism offerings.

These taxes are common in many major European cities, with a hotel, hostel or other accommodation provider, collecting the charge from their customers.

READ MORE: Limerick legend Richie Bennis calls on parishes to move Mass times for Munster final

But its yet to be used in Ireland, and Mayor Moran has requested Enterprise Minister Peter Burke examine the measure.

Currently, the four local authorities in Dublin are examining how a levy could be collected, a move which has sparked a backlash from the hotels sector.

Now, four Fine Gael councillors in Limerick city have issued a statement expressing their opposition to the mayors idea.

Priomh-chomhairleoir Cllr Dan McSweeney, the former mayor Cllr Daniel Butler, plus councillors Sarah Kiely and Olivia OSullivan have described a tourist tax in Limerick as short-sighted and counter-productive.

At a time when Limerick is gaining momentum as a vibrant, welcoming destination for both domestic and international visitors, this tax sends the wrong message and risks undermining the progress we have worked so hard to achieve.

The council members pointed out tourism supports thousands of local jobs.

Introducing an additional levy on visitors places unnecessary pressure on these sectors making Limerick less competitive compared to other Irish cities and regions that do not pose such a burden, added the councillors.
THE MOTHER of a young man from Limerick who died after he was assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub while celebrating the birth of his nephew nearly three years ago has said her world has been turned upside down by the senseless attack on her first-born child and only son.

In an emotional victim impact statement, Marita McCarthy said the Cranberries song Dreams came out when her son Dylan was born in 1993, but now she cries when she hears it because her sons dreams were snuffed out by the fatal assault.

The money she had saved for her sons wedding had gone towards his funeral instead, Ms McCarthy said.

Ms McCarthy told the court her son went out to celebrate the birth of his nephew and came back in a coffin.

She said her world has been turned upside down by the senseless and unprovoked mob attack on my family.

Her husband Eamonn, who was with Dylan on the night, and who was himself assaulted during the incident, said he had to discharge himself from hospital to attend his sons funeral.

Dylan McCarthy travelled to Kildare to celebrate his sister's new baby but tragically never returned home to Kilmallock

Dylans sister, Orla McCarthy, said she had asked her brother to be her newborn sons godfather just hours before he was killed.

The statements were read out at a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, June 3, for Calvin Dunne (25) and Sean Kavanagh (27).

Dunne was acquitted of murder but convicted of Dylan McCarthys manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury following a trial earlier this year. He was also found guilty of a charge of violent disorder.

Two weeks into the trial, Dunnes co-accused, Kavanagh, with an address at St Marys Lane, Church Avenue, Monasterevin, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy. A charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration.

After a defence application, Ms Justice Biggs then directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of the murder of Dylan McCarthy, a charge he had denied.

It was the State's case that Mr McCarthy (29) died following an incident in which he received punches and a kick to the head from Dunne while he was attempting to get up off the ground.

Two eyewitnesses told the jury that Dylan McCarthy was kicked in the head, with one describing the noise as a loud thud that was like kicking a football, while the other said it sounded like a car door shutting.

Dunne contended, however, that he was acting in self-defence, that Mr McCarthy was himself involved in violence on the night and that he did not kick the deceased in the head.

Mr McCarthys cause of death was a traumatic head injury and spinal injury caused by blunt force trauma.

State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers told the jury it was not possible to determine whether a punch or kick caused the fatal injury that led to Mr McCarthys death.

In his impact statement, which was read to the court by his wife, Eamonn McCarthy said his previous life disappeared on the night of August 21, 2022 and he had lost his son and best friend.

Im a broken man. The future is bleak.

He said following the assault he was on a liquid diet for 12 weeks and now has five plates and permanent nerve damage on the right side of his face.

Eamonn McCarthy said his last memory of his son gurgling and of his eyes rolling back in his head will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Mr McCarthy said his son was not a fighter and everyone who knew Dylan knew he never hit or fought with anyone.

He said he hasnt been inside a pub since the night his son was killed because he has anxiety around crowds. He said his life has become very isolated and he doesnt want to leave the house.

Mr McCarthy said he felt like he had let my son down when he needed me most.

I have never regretted anything so much as entering the Bellyard pub, he said.

Mr McCarthy said Dylan had told him that night that he was going to propose to his girlfriend Aoife in the coming months.

Marita McCarthy told the court today: I have no wedding to look forward to. The money I had been saving for their wedding went towards a funeral.

Dylans mother said her son was hit and kicked to death before those responsible calmly walked away. She said they did not stick around to see what they did to Dylan and had left her husband with life-long, life-altering injuries.

My world is destroyed, devastated, changed beyond belief every day, she said. Instead of picking a 30th birthday present I was picking a headstone. Every day is like Groundhog Day, wishing it wasnt true.

She said her son died on a footpath outside a pub as her husband watched his eyes rolling into his head and his last gasps.

In her victim impact statement, Dylans girlfriend Aoife Talty said she met him after her 22nd birthday and they fell instantly in love with each other.

She said Dylan was kind, fun gentle and caring. He never liked to be the centre of attention she said, but people were drawn to him and his infectious laugh.

Ms Talty said Dylan always made her feel loved and happy and she was looking forward to spending their lives together.

The trial heard that on the night of the fatal assault in August 2022, a row broke out after a drink was spilled and the group were ejected from the premises.

Dunne told gardai that when a group of people came out of the pub and a fight broke out, he saw his former co-accused Sean Kavanagh fighting with Dylan and Eamonn McCarthy.

Dunne said that at one point, Dylan McCarthy went to hit Kavanagh from behind, so Dunne grabbed Dylan McCarthy by the wrist.

He told gardai Dylan McCarthy turned to punch him, so Dunne hit him in the chin or jaw area, causing him to fall. Dunne said he then lightly kicked Dylan to what he believed was the chest area.

The defendant told gardai that Dylan and Eamonn McCarthy were being extremely violent. Everything I did was to stop them attacking Sean, I didnt drill him or kick him viciously, Dunne said.

Dunne, of Abbey View, Monasterevin, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022. He had also pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on August 21st, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin.

Kavanagh told gardai he looked into the pub after hearing shouting and saw staff being assaulted. He said he tried to help remove the group causing the disturbance.

He said the fight spilled out onto the street at which point members of this group started to punch and assault him as he attempted to remove them.

Kavanagh said a man in his 50s put him in a headlock, causing him to feel extremely fearful for his safety. After he got out of the headlock, he said punches were exchanged and he struck the man in self-defence.

The jury heard Eamonn McCarthy sustained a fractured jaw and required surgery and five plates to treat his injuries. He also sustained a broken nose and a hairline fracture around one of his eye sockets. He waited until after Dylans funeral had taken place to have the operation.

READ ALSO: Gardai confirm fire at Limerick petrol station was due to arson attack

At the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda James Young told prosecution counsel Seoirse O Dunlaing SC that neither Dunne nor Kavanagh have any previous convictions.

Mr O Dunlaing said the DPP placed the manslaughter offence in the mid-range of offending attracting a headline sentence of between four and ten years.

Michael Lynn SC, for Kavanagh, handed in a letter of apology that his client had written to the McCarthy family.

Mr Lynn said the defendant was 24 at the time of the incident. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to the Section 3 assault, he said, and has accepted his responsibility.

Mr Lynn said it was clear everything on the night happened in a very, very short space of time and Kavanagh deeply regrets what happened and what he did.

Mr Lynn described Kavanagh as hardworking person and a good friend who was spoken of very highly by a very wide range of members of the community from different backgrounds.

He said Kavanagh is a decorated sportsman and had represented Ireland in basketball.

He said his client has used his sporting talent to contribute to his local club in terms of underage training and involvement with

various teams.

John Fitzgerald SC, representing Dunne, said nothing he said on behalf of his client was seeking to mitigate or get around the fact the McCarthy family have been given a life sentence.

The lawyer asked the court to consider the matter in the wider context and take into account the effects it will have in the future.

He said the probation report assessed Dunne as being of low risk of re-offending.

Ms Justice Caroline Biggs said she needed time to digest and consider everything she had heard and adjourned the matter to June 30 for finalisation.
AS a result of a major shortfall in blood donations, the public is being encouraged to attend one of three upcoming blood clinics across Limerick.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is asking for the publics assistance, and there are three convenient clinics in Newcastle West, Adare and Castletroy.

Details of the local blood clinics are as follows: Newcastle West Community Centre on Sunday, June 8, from 11.50am to 3.10pm and on Monday, June 9 from 4.50pm to 8.10pm.

Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare on Tuesday, June 10 from 4.50pm to 8.10pm and Castletroy Park Hotel on Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 12 from 4.20pm to 7.40pm. Phone 1800 222 111 for appointment. New donors welcome at all clinics.

READ MORE: Limerick woman who sets the gold standard for caregiving named best in Munster

National blood supplies, especially for vital blood groups like O negative and B negative, have fallen to concerning levels, with some having less than three days' stock. The IBTS aims to maintain a seven-day supply at all times to ensure our hospitals can meet patient needs.

This shortfall means they need to collect an additional 2,000 donations nationwide over the coming weeks to prevent any impact on vital medical procedures. Hospital demand for blood has been consistently high, particularly following the recent Easter, May and June Bank Holidays, and the continued good weather which has also unfortunately impacted clinic attendance.

Every single donation makes a profound difference. Blood is a lifeline for thousands of patients every year  from those undergoing complex surgeries, individuals battling cancer and leukaemia requiring chemotherapy, to mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, and victims of serious accidents. One unit of blood can save or significantly improve the lives of up to three people.

Whether you are a regular donor or have never given blood before, your contribution is valuable. New donors are especially welcome, and the IBTS strongly encourage anyone interested in becoming a lifesaver to consider attending.

The IBTS has already issued a stock management alert to hospitals, asking them to reduce their blood holding. If current trends continue, the next step would be an 'amber alert letter', which could have immediate implications for elective surgical procedures requiring blood support.

Donating blood is a simple, safe, and selfless act. The actual donation process typically takes only 10-15 minutes, preceded by a health questionnaire and a quick check.

To make an appointment at any of the clinics, please call 1800 222 111.
NEW HIGH-power charging hubs for electric vehicles (EV) across Limerick have been announced, with a total of 8m spent nationally on the rollout.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien announced that nationally, 53 new charging locations will have 175 new fast and ultra-fast recharging points in place by the end of this year, with three of those in Limerick and two across the border in Charleville.

The locations in Limerick include: Hodkinson's Centra & Top Oil, Patrickswell, Weev Charging Ltd, WN502 in Templeglantine and Dooleys SuperValu, Newcastle West.

In Charleville, chargers will be built at the Charleville Park Hotel and Lees Centra.

The announcement is part of a wider plan to build a reliable recharging network across the country, with the distance between recharging hubs to be 60km or less.

READ ALSO: Planning update issued on 1.2bn Limerick to Cork motorway

Minister OBrien said: Were taking real, practical steps to make EV's work for everyone. With more chargers, more choice, and more support, we hope even more people will feel confident making the switch to electric.

These high-powered chargers are a key step in that process. Were committed to building a sustainable and cleaner transport system, and that means making it easy to charge wherever you are.

The recharging hubs are funded through the Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) initiative operated by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), and delivered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

This phase of the initiative focused on over 1,200km of national single-carriageway roads. Enterprises such as petrol/service station operators, car park owners, hotels, supermarkets/retail outlets, and others with publicly accessible sites, could apply through a competitive grant process for funding. The total allocation for this aspect is 7.9m.

READ ALSO: RSA launches action plan to cut driving test waiting times in Limerick

Peter Walsh, CEO of TII, said: Working in partnership with ZEVI and the private sector, this scheme is helping us build the kind of infrastructure people can rely on: fast, efficient and accessible.

The announcement marks another major milestone under Irelands National EV Charging Network Plan, which aims to make EV recharging accessible across all parts of the country, from motorways to rural roads, and from cities to small towns.

This is part of the wider ZEVI National Road Network EV Charging Plan, which previously awarded grant funding to deliver 131 new high-power recharging points at 17 locations along the motorway/dual-carriageway network.

An additional scheme to support recharging infrastructure across another 3,000km of the national road network is also currently underway, with applications closing in June.

It also complements other supports already in place, including the EV purchase grant, home charger grants, and the reduced VRT for EVs.
AS PART of Limerick Opera Festival, Limerick Museum is currently hosting an exciting new exhibition, Opera in Limerick, showcasing Limericks 200-year old operatic tradition.

This exhibition has been curated by Dr Matthew Potter and the Museum staff in partnership with Ger Reidy, Director of the Limerick Opera Festival. It features objects from the permanent collection of Limerick Museum and items on loan from private collectors.

They demonstrate the high quality of Limericks musical life over the past two centuries and remind us of some of the great venues that the city boasted such as the Theatre Royal on Mallow Street, which flourished for eighty years from 1840 to 1920 and the Savoy Theatre on Bedford Row, one of Irelands greatest cinemas and theatres for most of the twentieth century.

The exhibition shows how Limerick punched above its weight in the worlds musical culture in the past 200 years.

READ MORE: Homecoming for Limerick actor Richard Harris with opening of exhibition with never-before-seen items

Dr Matthew Potter, Curator of Limerick Museum commented:

Limerick Museum has collaborated with Limerick Opera Festival since it was established in 2019 by Ger Reidy. This is the fifth exhibition that Ger and I have held to coincide with the Opera Festival. The rich material culture created by Limericks long operatic tradition is demonstrated by the sheer number of objects on display from both our own collection and from the numerous private collections of operatic memorabilia held in the city.

Ger Reidy, Director of the Limerick Opera Festival added:

Established in 2019, the Limerick Opera Festival was created to bring opera to all through a wide variety of live performances, operatic renditions, exhibitions and community events. With a splendid operatic history, Limerick had produced many iconic figures of the operatic genre- from European idol Catherine Hayes, to Joseph OMara, to in more recent times Suzanne Murphy. I want to thank Matthew and his colleagues for working with us in staging this fine exhibition.

Opera in Limerick is on display in Limerick Museum until Friday, June 13. Limerick Museum is situated in the Old Franciscan Friary on Henry Street, next door to Dunnes Stores.

The Museum is open to the public Monday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm; Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Admission is free.
THE LIMERICK man who led the largest St Patrick's Day parade in the world has been honoured in his home city.

Mayor John Moran hosted a mayoral reception for Michael Benn, the grand marshal of the 2025 New York City St Patrick's Day parade.

Born in Limerick in 1948, Michael Benn attended CBS Sexton Street  the same school the current mayor would later attend.

He was aged just 14 when he emigrated with his family to USA.

READ MORE: Three Limerick walking trials on track to get funding boost for upgrades

Here, continued his education in New York at Cardinal Hayes High School and later earned an accounting degree from Mercy College, paving the way for a career in civic leadership and business management.

He also served as a sergeant in the US Army between 1969 and 1972.

Mr Benn served as president and chairman of the Queens County St. Patricks Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, one of New York Citys major celebrations of Irish heritage.

And he was appointed as the grand marshal of the 264th New York City St Patricks Day Parade in March this year.

Mayor Moran said: "Its an absolute privilege to have welcomed Michael Benn and his family here to City Hall in the city of his youth, and to be able to recognise everything Michael has done to keep our Irish heritage alive and thriving in his new home of New York. Michael has been an inspiration not just to those in New York but to all of us here at home in Limerick, both with his leadership through community events and in his dedication to bringing people together through business and leisure. His work reminds us how strong the ties between Limerick and our global family really are. Michaels journey has been nothing short of incredible. Limerick is lucky to call him one of our own!

Mr Benn added: "This city - and Ireland as a whole - will always be home, no matter where life takes me and my family. Seeing familiar faces and feeling the energy of this incredible place, its truly something special. The journey has been incredible, but the heart of it all has always been community. Im beyond grateful for this recognition and excited for all thats ahead!"
Four major automakers are racing to find workarounds to Chinas stranglehold on rare-earth magnets, which they fear could force them to shut down some car production within weeks.

Several traditional and electric-vehicle makersand their suppliersare considering shifting some auto-parts manufacturing to China to avoid looming factory shutdowns, people familiar with the situation said.

Ideas under review include producing electric motors in Chinese factories or shipping made-in-America motors to China to have magnets installed. Moving production to China as a way to get around the export controls on rare-earth magnets could work because the restrictions only cover magnets, not finished parts, the people said.

If automakers end up shifting some production to China, it would amount to a remarkable outcome from a trade war initiated by President Trump with the intention of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S.

If you want to export a magnet [from China] they wont let you do that. If you can demonstrate that the magnet is in a motor in China, you can do that," said a supply-chain manager at one of the carmakers.

China in April began requiring companies to apply for permission to export magnets made with rare-earth metals, including dysprosium and terbium. The country controls roughly 90% of the worlds supply of these elements, which help magnets to operate at high temperatures. Much of the worlds modern technology, from smartphones to F-35 jet fighters, rely on these magnets.

Ford shut down Explorer production at its Chicago plant for a week in May because of a rare-earth shortage, a spokesman said.

In the auto industry, rare-earths are what allow electric-vehicle motors to function at high speed. They are also used in less exotic, though no less critical, functions from windshield wipers and headlights.

China was supposed to have eased export controls on rare-earth magnets as part of a 90-day tariff truce agreement with the White House, but the country has slow walked license approvals for magnets. Trump accused China of violating its deal with the U.S. China has pushed back at the notion that it was to blame, alleging discriminatory and restrictive measures" by Washington, including restricting exports of AI chips and revoking visas for Chinese students.

As exports of rare-earth magnets have virtually ground to a halt, carmakers face hard decisions about whether they can continue to keep some plants operating, according to people familiar with the planning.

In May, industry groups representing most major automakers and parts suppliers told the Trump administration that vehicle production could be reduced or shut down imminently without more rare-earth components from China.

While efforts are underway to bolster supply chains and suppliers of these elements outside of China, this will take additional time and will not alleviate the immediate shortage of elements vital for automotive components used to produce vehicles here at home," said the letter, which was signed by the heads of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association.

Shipping an unfinished part halfway across the world to have a chiclet-sized magnet installed adds to the cost and time it takes to manufacture, but the companies see it as perhaps the only alternative to shutting down some production lines altogether. The move could expose carmakers to additional tariffs, but auto executives believe the alternative would be even worse.

Car companies are also looking at alternative sources for magnets in Europe and Asia, instead of purchasing them directly from Chinese factories as they do currently. None of these sources would provide enough magnets to support the demand from the automotive industry, said one company official.

The people familiar with the planning say many ideas are under consideration that might not come to pass.

The elaborate workarounds being considered underline how reliant the U.S. has become on China for these magnets. The country controls almost all of the refining capability that transforms raw minerals into usable forms. Analysts say China has superior technical know-how for separating rare earth from surrounding rocks.

American carmakers arent the only ones struggling to source magnets from China.

Car companies in Japan and India have also warned of looming manufacturing disruptions. In Europe, automakers say that the pace of export license approvals hasnt kept up with their demand.

Although some licenses have now been granted, this is currently not enough to ensure smooth production," said Hildegard Muller, president of the German auto industrys lobbying group. If the situation does not change quickly, production delays and even production stoppages can no longer be ruled out."

In the U.S., Ford Motor shut down production of the Ford Explorer at its Chicago plant for a week in May because of a rare-earth shortage, a spokesman said.

The lack of magnets hits EVs and hybrid vehicles harder than conventional cars and trucks. A typical EV contains far more rare-earths than a gasoline-powered model, but rare-earth magnets are found throughout any modern vehicle.

Producing more gas-powered cars instead of EVs isnt a solution, because companies would risk falling short of federal fuel-economy standards, which could result in fines. Regulatory credits that automakers can purchase from EV-makers, such as Tesla and Rivian, to offset their emissions are sold out through the year 2027.

Another option to conserve dwindling magnet supplies is reverting to older electric-motor technology that doesnt make use of rare-earth magnets. Carmakers stopped using those motors because the current versions are cheaper and more efficient.

Carmakers are also considering stripping out some premium features, such as adjustable seats, that make use of several tiny electric motors. High-end speaker systems that use rare-earth magnets could also be replaced with downgraded versions.

Write to Sean McLain at sean.mclain@wsj.com and Ryan Felton at ryan.felton@wsj.com
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI : New Delhis air quality monitoring body on Tuesday directed commercial fleet operators in the National Capital Region (NCR) to not induct conventional petrol or diesel vehicles and prefer clean automobiles instead, as one way to combat worsening air quality.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas in a 3 June advisory directed the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to allow only the registration of electric or compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered three-wheelers for commercial fleet operators in the NCR.

Moreover, for four-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles and for two-wheelers, it said commercial fleets should induct no conventional vehicle running only on petrol or diesel from January 2026. This is applicable to vehicle aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities.

While it did not define clean vehicles this time, CAQM, in a 2 May advisory, defined them as battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, CNG vehicles, and those running on flex fuel. In that advisory, the CAQM had urged all state and Union government departments in the NCR to procure only clean vehicles.

The minutes of a CAQM meeting on 2 June show that the commission accords highest priority to zero-emission vehicles like EVs, which have no tailpipe emissions. However, considering that the adoption of EVs was low in the market, other technologies like hybrid vehicles, CNG, and flex-fuel, which are relatively cleaner than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, can also be considered during the transition phase, CAQM members noted in their meeting.

CAQMs stand comes much to the dismay of several EV makers, who have been lobbying to not give hybrid vehicleswhich use both a combustion engine and an electric motor for propulsionpolicy status on par with battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Doing so could risk their investments in developing electric cars, they said.

Meanwhile, a rival lobby has been promoting the adoption of hybrid cars as these provide a more practical alternative to conventional combustion engine vehicles.

The two lobby groups are now reading between the lines of policy documents.

The purity debate

Following CAQMs 2 May advisory, Tata Motors Ltd, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, and Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd rushed to the ministry of heavy industries and Niti Aayog against the mention of hybrid vehicles as a clean technology along with EVs.

The air quality monitoring body believes hybrid vehicles can help in urgently addressing the pollution crisis in Delhi.

Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEV) offer substantial improvements in fuel efficiency and emission reduction as compared to conventional diesel/petrol vehicles," CAQM said in its 2 May advisory urging state and Union government departments in the Delhi-National Capital Region to procure only clean vehicles.

The NCR became a point of contention in the pure electric vehicle versus hybrid vehicle debate when the Delhi government, on 22 April, issued a draft policy proposing to grant hybrid cars the same benefits as fully electric cars.

Also Read: Tata Motors plans a premium push as competition intensifies in EV space

The Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy 2.0 proposed waiving road tax and registration fees on battery electric cars, strong hybrid EVs, and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) priced up to 20 lakh ex-showroom. This would translate to savings of about 2 lakh on a car with an ex-factory price of 20 lakh. CAQM released its draft guidelines 10 days later.

Inclusion of hybrid vehicles in incentives and putting them on the same pedestal as electric vehicles will discourage investments into EVs," an executive at one of the top domestic automakers said, declining to be identified.

Move to hybrids

Currently, only Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the countrys largest carmaker, has a portfolio comprising ICE, hybrid, and pure electric vehicles.

Last month, Hyundai Motor India, the countrys second-largest carmaker, said it planned to introduce hybrid electric vehicles in the country, without specifying a timeline. Honda Motor Co. Ltd said last month that it will focus on hybrid cars and slashed its EV target, citing a slowdown in the adoption of electric cars.

Analysts at HSBC Global Research, however, said hybrid and electric vehicles complement each other and would ultimately help grow the EV sector.

The perception that promoting SHEVs will hinder EV adoption is misplaced, in our view. This is not a zero-sum game, but rather an incremental opportunity where incentivising SHEVs contributes to the broader development of the clean mobility ecosystem, benefiting BEVs and advancing overall market growth," HSBC Global Research analysts Yogesh Aggarwal, Vipul Agrawal, and Vishal Goel wrote in a note dated 20 May.

However, other experts argue that the government should incentivise only pure electric vehicles if it wants to promote zero-emission vehicles.

The objective of the EV policy is to cut down emissions of vehicles and also contribute to improving the air quality," said Sharif Qamar, associate director of transport and urban governance at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), a non-profit think tank.

When it comes to the emission reduction objective, currently, only zero-tailpipe emission vehicles need to be prioritised. Incentives should be crafted to encourage players to move towards zero-emission vehicles."
Toyota Kirloskar Motor has officially launched a new mild-hybrid version of its popular SUV, the Fortuner, with the introduction of the Fortuner Neo Drive 48V. The new variant brings electrification to the Fortuner lineup for the first time, offering enhanced fuel efficiency and smoother performance, while retaining the rugged appeal the SUV is known for. The new system is available in two trims  the Fortuner Neo Drive 48V and the Legender Neo Drive 48V.

Design While the new Fortuner Neo Drive 48V brings mechanical enhancements under the bonnet, its exterior design remains largely unchanged. It continues with the same bold styling cues including a dual-tone black and white colour scheme, sharp LED daytime running lights, revised bumpers, and distinctive 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. These elements ensure the SUV maintains its road presence while subtly differentiating itself from the standard diesel models.

Features In terms of features, Toyota has retained the same premium equipment list seen in existing Fortuner variants. Key highlights include dual-tone leather interiors, ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, and a touchscreen infotainment system. The SUV also continues to offer creature comforts such as ventilated front seats and a premium 11-speaker JBL audio system complete with a subwoofer and amplifier.

Powertrain The heart of the update lies in the powertrain. The Fortuner Neo Drive 48V is powered by the familiar 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine but now comes paired with a 48V mild-hybrid setup. This system integrates a belt-driven starter generator and a lithium-ion battery to assist with smoother low-end torque delivery, quieter operation, and overall efficiency.

Also Read | Toyota Vellfire review: A limousine wrapped in the body of a van

Toyota claims that the mild-hybrid system enables the SUV to deliver improved acceleration at lower speeds, while also contributing to reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Energy regeneration during deceleration allows the battery to recharge effectively, enhancing braking performance as well.

Technology and Off-Road Capability Adding to its list of smart features is the new Smart Idle Start-Stop system, which turns off the engine when the vehicle is stationary to save fuel and reduce emissions. Additionally, the SUV continues to feature Toyotas Multi-Terrain Select system, which optimises engine response, braking, and traction control depending on the driving surface  a nod to the Fortuners off-road credentials.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out surprise Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspections of Turkish Airlines passenger and cargo flights at four major Indian airports  Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru  between 29 May and 2 June 2025.

The DGCA said the inspections were conducted under Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO) to assess compliance with international safety standards and DGCA regulations.

Following the inspections, the DGCA has directed Turkish Airlines to ensure full adherence to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well as Indian civil aviation rules.

The regulator warned that follow-up inspections will be conducted to verify ongoing compliance and urged the airline to promptly address the identified shortcomings.

Key findings from DGCA inspection of Turkish Airlines Marshaller competency: At Bengaluru airport, the marshaller responsible for ground operations lacked proper authorisation and did not possess a valid competency card for marshalling functions, raising concerns about safe aircraft guidance on the apron.

Also Read | IndiGo to comply with DGCA order on Turkish Airlines aircraft lease, says CEO

Aircraft maintenance: During the arrival of an aircraft, a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was absent, and a technician performed the required arrival procedures instead. M/s Airworks is the authorised engineering service provider for Turkish Airlines.

Dangerous goods handling: Cargo was found to contain dangerous goods requiring explicit DGCA permission for carriage of explosives to, from, or over Indian territory. However, the necessary permission documentation was neither attached nor mentioned in the Dangerous Goods Declaration.

Ground handling agreement and equipment accountability: No formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) existed between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA) at Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Ground support equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked proper accountability and monitoring. Globe Ground India was providing ground services without a formal handover from the previous provider, Celebi.
(Bloomberg) -- Balyasny Asset Management has hired Jamie Mansell, who was co-head of European government bond trading at Deutsche Bank AG until recently, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mansell, who specializes in the highly leveraged bond basis trade, made over 200 million ($228 million) for Germanys biggest bank in recent years, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing non-public information. He was previously with Morgan Stanley. He will join Balyasnys macro business as an associate portfolio manager later this year, one of the people said.

Mansell  who co-headed EGB with Bennit Shah  and representatives for Balyasny and Deutsche Bank declined to comment.

Some of the largest hedge funds employ the so-called basis trade, betting on price differences between cash Treasuries and futures. In order to profit from the tiny gap, traders typically borrow heavily, often 50 to 100 times the capital invested. The highly popular trade has ballooned, with recent estimates putting the amount staked on such bets at about $1 trillion  about double the amount five years ago.

Deutsche Banks fixed income and currency trading unit increased revenues by 17% in the first quarter, outperforming most peers, buoyed mainly by a strong rates business. The unit benefited from high demand for European government bonds as investors shifted money from the US to Europe, as well as from the revival of its rates business in the US.

Dmitry Balyasnys multistrategy hedge fund, which manages about $25 billion, has been beefing up its trading desks by hiring several investment managers, with some of them being offered potential payouts of as much as $50 million. In April, the fund delivered gains of about 1% during the volatility around US President Donald Trumps tariff announcements.

(Adds details of role at Deutsche Bank in third paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected Mansells title in the headline and first paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Brookfield Asset Management plans to invest up to 95 billion kronor ($9.9 billion) developing artificial intelligence infrastructure in Sweden that will take 10 to 15 years to construct.

The New York-based asset manager plans to purchase additional land at a site in Strangnas  some 55 miles west of Stockholm  that will eventually house a 750-megawatt data center, more than doubling its previous plan, according to a statement on Wednesday. The so-called AI factory will be the first of its kind in the Nordic nation, Brookfield said.

Building AI hubs in Europe will ensure the continent can compete on a global scale, supporting continued innovation and providing necessary compute to both businesses and individuals, Brookfields head of Europe, Sikander Rashid, said in emailed comments.

Securing enough power will be a crucial goal for the project in a country already facing a swathe of electrification needs and capacity challenges in its electricity grid.

We are making progress with the regional grid owner and the national grid operator, which is normal for these types of larger scale projects, Rashid told Bloomberg.

The investment decision comes after Brookfield announced in February a 20 billion ($23 billion) plan to develop AI centers in France  a move hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the time.

In Sweden, the race to build out AI infrastructure recently won the backing Nvidia Corp. and a group of companies controlled by the countrys influential Wallenberg family. Together, they are planning to develop a supercomputer and AI technology center that will in turn benefit the businesses involved in the venture, such as defense company Saab AB.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Joshua Kushners Thrive Capital and investment firm Capital Group have in recent months visited China to learn about its AI industry, joining a growing number of US investors rekindling interest in the country after DeepSeeks advances stunned Silicon Valley.

Senior people at Thrive met with companies and funds in China to discuss AI, people familiar with their visit to the country said. Kushner didnt join the delegation, one of the people said, asking to remain anonymous discussing a private event. At the same time, Capital Group  one of the worlds largest funds  dispatched senior executives to China to find out more about the AI scene, the people said.

The separate visits took place around the time Uber Technologies Inc.-backer Benchmark Capital agreed to lead an investment in Butterfly Effect, creator of the up-and-coming AI service Manus thats got Chinese-born founders. The outreach underscores tentative but mounting interest in a once-overlooked Chinese AI industry thats getting re-assessed since DeepSeek proved a homegrown firm can design a platform on par with the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic.

Its unclear how far those talks have gone, or if theyll result in actual investments. A representative for Thrive, controlled by the brother of US President Donald Trumps son-in-law, said in an email the firm doesnt have any investments in China and doesnt intend to invest. A Capital Group spokesperson declined to comment.

Kushner has previously been critical of the US tech industrys enthusiasm for DeepSeek, and at a recent conference in DC said that he hoped the US would produce the leading AI company. Proficient and efficient artificial intelligence needs to be built with American democratic values, Kushner said in April. And if its not, then I think the consequences are going to be quite extraordinary for the Western world.

Any deal to finance Chinese AI startups is unlikely to sit well with hawks in Washington wary of US capital bankrolling a Chinese technological apparatus amid tightening scrutiny from Trumps administration.

Benchmark itself has drawn fire from Silicon Valley figures on social media for investing in Manus, despite the startup offering its service largely outside of China.

The Treasury Department is now asking questions about the Manus deal, Semafor has reported. Manus and Benchmark spokespeople declined to comment, although the startup lists its location as Singapore on its LinkedIn page.

Manus, co-founded by Xiao Hong, Cheung Tao and Peak Ji Yichao, raised more than $10 million in previous financing, several China-based media outlets have reported, including from Tencent Holdings Ltd. and prominent VC firms ZhenFund and HSG, formerly Sequoia China.

With assistance from Laura Benitez, Anne VanderMey and Kate Clark.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Private equity firm ChrysCapital is set to invest more than $50 million in The Sleep Company in a mix of primary and secondary transactions, two people said.

Some of the earlier investors are expected to exit in part or full and other private equity firms in the fray have opted out, one of them said.

In April, Moneycontrol reported that The Sleep Company was negotiating with Kedaara Capital, ChrysCapital, IIFL and others to raise more than $60 million.

Kedaara and IIFL have dropped off from the talks to invest in The Sleep Company, according to the person quoted above.

The Sleep Company and ChrysCapital did not immediately respond to Mints requests for details on the transaction. Kedaara and IIFL, too, did not respond to Mints requests for a comment.

The report added that as part of the discussions The Sleep Company was being valued at around $400 million, or about 3,400 crore. That is double what the company was valued at when it raised 184 crore in a Series C fundraising round from existing investors Premji Invest and Fireside Ventures in November 2023.

Last year, The Sleep Company, which makes mattresses and related products, told Mint that it was betting on physical stores to clock 1,000 crore in revenue by FY27, and that about 65% of its revenue came from its offline business.

This year we expect our store network to grow from 100 today to about 150 by March. We are opening one store every four to five days in India. We are currently present in 30 cities. These new stores would come in additional cities as well as, increasing density in the top cities, co-founder Harshil Salot told Mint in July last year.

The Sleep Company also outlined plans to venture out of India starting with the UK, where it has been investing to explore product market fit. It also plans to enter Europe and North America.

Co-founded in 2019 by the husband-wife team of Harshil and Priyanka Salot, The Sleep Company makes products such as mattresses, sofas, recliners, pillows and cushions.

The Sleep Companys operating revenue rose to 312.3 crore in FY24 from 127.1 crore a year earlier. Losses widened to 58.6 crore from 37 crore, according to a report by Entrackr.

The Sleep Company competes with Wakefit, Sleepwell, SleepyCat, Duroflex, and Kurl-On. Duroflex, which houses the Sleephead brand, as well as Wakefit are preparing for an initial public offering.

Indias mattress market, which was valued at $2.3 billion in 2024, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% over the next 8 years to reach $4 billion, according to an estimate by the IMARC Group.
North Indian restaurant chain Daryaganj Hospitality Pvt. Ltd, which is locked in a legal battle with rival Moti Mahal over who invented the popular butter chicken dish, plans to expand from 15 outlets currently to 50 in three to five years, co-founder and chief executive officer Amit Bagga said.

Also Read | Sake sips and elevated Japanese at this new restaurant in Mumbai

The company has earmarked 60 crore for the expansion, which will be funded through a mix of internal accruals and private investments from family offices. Were profitable since the pandemic and could fund our growth internally as well, and will focus on the top eight cities in India to grow for now," Bagga told Mint.

In FY25, the company registered a gross revenue of 100 crore. We expect to grow to 120 crore by the end of FY26 on the back of both same-store growth as well as some new outlets being added," he said.

Also Read | Aloo tuk bravas and butter chicken romesco at Vicky Ratnani's new restaurant

"Cuisine wise, the country's biggest eating-out cuisine is north Indian food and we wanted to primarily build restaurants which target families and wanted to go after the middle-of-the-range price point of 800-900 per person, which is a sweet spot where we did not see much competition," Bagga said. So far, the company is bootstrapped and self-funded. "We are now looking at funding from family offices," he said. The company's founder and promoter is Raghav Jaggi and all restaurants are owned and operated by the company and not franchised.

By the end of the FY26, the company intends to increase its restaurant count to 20, including a few delivery kitchens, and has a strong presence in north Indian markets like Delhi-NCR. Next, it will target the top eight cites of the country to grow, including Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Also Read | Profit squeeze drives Indian restaurants to seek new delivery paths

The growth push comes even as Daryaganj remains locked in a legal battle with Moti Mahal over who owns the rights to inventing popular dishes like butter chicken and dal makhani.

Owners of Daryaganj have contended that their ancestor, Kundan Lal Jaggi, was key to the founding of the original Moti Mahal in Peshawar in 1947 and also in the creation of the butter chicken recipe. Moti Mahal counters that by saying that its late founder, Kundan Lal Gujral, invented the dish and brought it to India from Peshawar post-Partition, and has filed a case against Daryaganj, alleging trademark infringement, passing off, and using a manipulated photograph of the original Peshawar restaurant. Daryaganj has emphasized that the photograph used by Moti Mahal is a joint property, as the restaurant was established by both Kundan Lal Gujral and Kundan Lal Jaggi.

Daryaganj registered the "Inventors of Butter Chicken & Dal Makhani" tagline as a trademark in 2023 without any objections. The matter is currently before the Delhi high court.

Moti Mahal in Daryaganj, Delhi, was founded by Kundan Lal Gujral, Thakur Das Magu and Kundan Lal Jaggi. In 1992, all three partners of the Moti Mahal business exited and sold the business to a fourth person Vinod Chadha. Since the early 1990s, Chadha has overseen this restaurant.

The overall food services market is projected to grow from 5.69 trillion in 2024 to 7.76 trillion by 2028, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1%, according to a July 2024 report by the National Restaurant Association of India.

In FY24, casual dining, the segment Daryaganj operates in, held the largest share in the organized food segment, accounting for 48.6%.

Today, about 25% of the company's business comes from deliveries. "We pivoted to deliveries during covid, but have still seen a consistent demand in business in this segment. Delivery has eaten into the home cooking segment, but not the dining-out segment, so we don't feel there is any cannibalization," said Bagga. Earlier this year, the company also expanded to its first international location, in Bangkok, Thailand with a higher end, more modern restaurant version of Daryaganj Gold, with some modern fusion dishes. It also plans to enter other markets like the UK and the UAE.

In future, it intends to add other divisions like fast casual dining in elevated or premium food courts as well as in the artisanal Indian sweets. It would also consider taking its Bangkok Gold concept to other five-star hotel locations in India as well.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Wednesday, June 4, has denied certain media reports claiming that its negotiations with General Electric (GE) over the local production of GE414 engines have stalled. The state-run aerospace and defence company called the report factually incorrect and misleading.

Certain reports suggested that talks between HAL and GE had faltered and that HAL was exploring engine alternatives with other manufacturers for its light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk2 programme. The defence PSU dismissed this as false.

HAL issues statement on GE deal HAL, in a statement, made it clear that the report was factually incorrect and misleading. "An online article has inaccurately reported that negotiations between HAL and GE for the local production of GE414 engines have stalled, suggesting that HAL is now in talks with another engine manufacturer," said the HAL statement.

HAL reiterates that negotiations with GE are on track and progressing well, and that HAL is not in talks with any other company regarding engines for LCA MK2. "Any information suggesting otherwise is incorrect," it added.

According to earlier reports, HAL formed a Contract Negotiation Committee to oversee discussions with GE. Talks reportedly began on December 3, 2024, and while no final agreement has been reached, HAL has asked GE for specific technical documents to assess the proposed transfer of technology.

HAL-GE deal for fighter jet engines In June 2023, HAL and GE Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. The agreement was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the United States, and it was a key element in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement included the potential joint production of GE Aerospace's F414 engines in India. The MoU was part of the Indian Air Force's Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 program. The GE414 engine is a key component for the Tejas Mark 2, an upgraded version of India's indigenous fighter jet. The ongoing deal with GE is expected to involve technology and pave the way for local production, furthering India's long-term goal of strategic autonomy in aerospace.
(Bloomberg) -- For a company drowning in debt, Petroleos Mexicanos SA is enjoying a rare wave of investor optimism. Buyers are snapping up the drillers bonds, betting President Claudia Sheinbaum can stabilize its finances and restore credibility for the state-owned giant.

The extra yield investors demand to hold the companys debt over Mexican sovereign bonds has shrunk to almost three percentage points, hovering near a record low on speculation that the government will unveil a sweeping package of about $50 billion to shore up Pemex.

Beneath the optimism, though, lies a company burdened by mounting liabilities and plunging output. Next year alone, Pemex has about $19 billion in bonds coming due. But even as Sheinbaum has yet to reveal a plan, traders are embracing her early signs of long-term reform  more than they ever did the temporary fixes of her predecessors.

The person in charge of Pemex is Sheinbaum herself, said Pramol Dhawan, head of emerging markets portfolio management at Pacific Investment Management Co. Shes taken a lot of personal responsibility and autonomy to make sure that the situation is taken care of, both in terms of stabilizing outputs as well as dealing with the financing needs.

Its a shift from former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who boasted about being Pemexs biggest champion and splurged $80 billion on last-minute bailouts that failed to improve operations or finances for the driller.

Sheinbaum spearheaded an energy reform that expanded government control over Pemex and removed its profit mandate since taking office in October. She also appeased investors by appointing a technocrat to lead the company and opened the door to private investment from the likes of billionaire Carlos Slim.

Sheinbaums vision, however, is colliding with Pemexs reality. The Mexican president pledged to boost production to 1.8 million barrels of crude per day, yet she inherited a company with declining production thats now fallen to just 1.6 million barrels a day, the lowest in at least 40 years. The company has also posted its fourth consecutive quarter of losses and its debt load hovers around $100 billion.

Spokespeople for Pemex and the Energy Ministry declined to comment.

Investors watched for six years while AMLO, as Sheinbaums predecessor is known, injected cash into Pemex and slashed its taxes, solutions that proved temporary, as output sank and accidents increased. Theyre expecting a new plan under Sheinbaum that instills some discipline on the companys operations.

While there is a strong willingness to support the company and not let it fail, theres also a strong desire to see results, especially in operational successes, said Bruno Rovai, a sovereign debt strategist at Macquarie Asset Management in New York. The governments appetite for writing Pemex a blank check is relatively low.

Mexicos Finance Minister Edgar Amador signaled that shift last month, saying the government no longer sees cash transfers to Pemex as a permanent solution. Instead, Sheinbaum is expected to cut inefficiencies  especially around the refinery business  and share profits with private partners willing to drill in Mexicos aging oil and gas fields.

Pemex executives said on a recent earnings call the company would publish a business plan later this year that will outline efforts to increase production, and that its working with the government on a solution to pay its 2026 maturities. The company is also weighing plans to cut some 3,000 employees, or about 2% of its workforce, and is searching for financing for the 506 billion pesos ($26.3 billion) it owed suppliers at the end of last year, according to the latest data compiled by Bloomberg.

I see the company recognizing the challenge, said Roxana Munoz, a senior credit officer at Moodys Ratings. The support has been more sophisticated with this administration. Thats a change.

Investors are expecting Sheinbaum to unveil the plan before early September, when next years budget is due to lawmakers, though some argue it may come as soon as this month. Barclays strategists in May upgraded their recommendation on the debt to marketweight from underweight, saying their base-case scenario is that the government could contribute between $45 billion and $55 billion.

Although Pemex is getting more attention from the government, Dhawan, who manages $70 billion in emerging-market debt, said he favors short-dated bonds, as a plan is yet to be announced.

In order to see the curve flatten, youre going to need to see a more credible longer-term plan for the company, he said. We havent seen that yet.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) Insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT on Wednesday declined to stay the NCLT order directing to freeze assets of Gensol, its promoters, and related entities.

It has directed two Gensol Group entities -- BluSmart Premium Feet and Matrix Gas and Renewable -- to approach the Ahmedabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) with their plea, where the matter has been listed for hearing on June 12.

Passing an order on the plea filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, a vacation bench of the NCLT had on May 28 directed to freeze assets of Gensol, its promoters, and related entities.

The two Gensol Group entities approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), seeking an immediate stay on the orders passed by the NCLT.

They had contended that NCLT passed the order on May 28 without giving them a proper hearing, which is against the rules.

BluSmart Premium provides electric vehicle ride-hailing service BluSmart Mobility, while Matrix Gas and Renewable is a natural gas aggregation and green hydrogen infrastructure development company.

However, their plea was opposed by the MCA officials during the proceedings.

They submitted there are specific allegations in the petition filed before the NCLT by the government and such allegations have been duly considered by the tribunal while passing the order.

The companies also contended that the matter is now listed before the NCLT for hearing on June 12.

Requesting for advancing of the date, the appellants submitted that the asset freeze may cause hardship as payment of salaries and other running expenses will be due.

On this, the DG, appearing on behalf of the MCA, submitted that the government is also looking into this aspect.

Observing this, the NCLAT said, "In view of the above, we dispose of these two appeals by requesting the NCLT to treat these two appeals as applications of the appellants for vacation of stay granted vide order dated May 28, 2025 and its consequent orders; while keeping open all the submissions which may be made before the NCLT by either parties."

Earlier on May 28, the NCLT had permitted the central government to freeze the bank accounts and lockers of Gensol Engineering, its 10 subsidiaries, and several individuals.

"On perusal of the materials placed on record, this Tribunal notes serious allegations of fraudulent conduct, including diversion of company funds by the promoters of Gensol Engineering (Respondent No. 1) and related entities, violation of corporate governance norms, manipulation of financial statements, default in loan repayments despite false declarations, and illegal alienation of company assets," the NCLT order said.
In a relief to Reliance Infrastructure, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Wednesday stayed insolvency proceedings against the company that were initiated by IDBI Trusteeship Services Ltd over an alleged default of 88 crore.

The NCLAT bench, comprising Justice Yogesh Khanna (Judicial Member) and Indevar Pandey (Technical Member), paused the order of the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had admitted the insolvency plea against the company on 30 May 2025, following a petition by IDBI Trusteeship.

The Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure also announced the NCLAT order in its regulatory filing: "In the appeal filed, the NCLAT today has suspended the Order dated May 30, 2025 passed by the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai in case no. C.P. (IB)/624(MB)2022, admitting the company into Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process," the company stated.

The case started back in April 2022, when IDBI Trusteeship filed a petition for insolvency proceedings, claiming Reliance Infrastructure had defaulted on 88.68 crore as of 28 August 2018, plus interest.

The issue was related to 10 invoices raised by Dhursar Solar Power Private Ltd (DSPPL) for supplying solar energy. IDBI Trusteeship, as DSPPLs security trustee, sought payments from Reliance Infrastructure.

In its 30 May order, the NCLT noted that both parties had tried to settle the matter. But it found that IDBI Trusteeship had proven the debt was due and that Reliance Infrastructure was in default.

The NCLT appointed Tehseen Fatima Khatri as interim resolution professional (IRP) to oversee the company. It also rejected Reliance Infrastructures request to pause the insolvency process or to stop the IRP from taking charge.

The IBC does not have any rule to stay an order once the CIRP is started, the tribunal noted.

Reliance Infrastructure later announced in a regulatory filing that it had fully paid 92.68 crore to Dhursar Solar Power Private Ltd as per the energy agreement. The company argued that the NCLT order was no longer valid since it had already cleared its dues.

Also read: Hindujas aim to bolster stake in IndusInd Bank through new fundraise

The company said it would challenge the NCLT order at the NCLAT, which ultimately stayed the insolvency order.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Chief Executive Officer C. C. Wei blamed worsening traffic snarls for delays in expanding its base in southwestern Japan, even while a parallel US effort races ahead.

Wei reaffirmed a commitment to spend another $100 billion ramping up manufacturing in Arizona over the next half-decade, while saying a plan to build a second plant in Japan was experiencing slight delays. He stressed productive discussions with Donald Trump earlier this year, even after telling the US president it will be very, very difficult to complete such a big buildout in five years because of a shortage of skilled labor. Trump was warm during their exchange, Wei said.

The twin projects embody TSMCs impetus to produce abroad as geopolitical tensions rise and demand grows for Nvidia Corp. chips essential for developing AI. TSMC has long operated mostly from its home turf of Taiwan but built a plant in Japan after securing a raft of commitments and incentives from Tokyo. It then announced plans to dramatically increase its US investment days after Trump took office.

TSMCs first Japan factory, which began operating last year, has been a boon to the local economy. But its also overwhelming the communitys farm-town infrastructure, causing shortages in housing and services and stretching commute times.

We have created too big an impact on the local traffic. I have experienced that in person. For what used to take a 10-15 min drive, it now takes almost an hour, the CEO told reporters after hosting a shareholders meeting in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Tuesday. We told the Japanese government well delay the construction until the traffic improves. They said theyll make improvements as soon as possible.

Wei did not specify the length of the delay, which he characterized as minor. TSMC said in an emailed statement late Tuesday that it is starting construction of the second plant within this year, reiterating a revised schedule offered by Wei during an earnings conference in April. Construction was originally slated to start by December last year.

The worlds largest contract chipmaker sits at the heart of the global technology supply chain, producing cutting-edge chips for Apple Inc.s iPhones and Nvidias AI servers. Governments from Washington to Brussels have for years courted the company, particularly after shortages of certain types of semiconductors during the pandemic halted production of cars, smartphones, power tools, home appliances and other electronics.

TSMCs plan to build a second factory in Kumamoto Prefecture is key to Japans ambitions to regain leadership in semiconductors and attract engineers to an aging country. The local community has not been able to fully absorb the sudden influx of workers from TSMCs first plant, however, even as the chipmakers plans in the US lowers the urgency of production in Japan.

Hurrying to build a second plant will make traffic conditions very unpleasant, Wei said. This will become negative for the area, for the local government, but I am most worried it will become negative for local residents, he said. So we told the Japanese government to improve the traffic first.

Kumamotos municipalities have been working to ease congestion around the plant, widening roads and encouraging use of public transportation. It is our hope that TSMC executives accurately understand what the local community is doing to address this issue, a spokesperson for Kumamoto prefecture said. We will continue to provide support for the construction of the second plant.

In response to Weis comments, Japans chief government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular news conference, Heightened uncertainty in the global economy, along with challenges including the lack of domestic infrastructure and labor can lead to hesitation among private companies thinking of investing. Tokyo recognizes the need to create an environment that attracts talent and investment from overseas, he said.

The holdup in Japan recalls earlier hitches in getting production up and running at TSMCs newest US facilities in Arizona  though TSMC has made significant headway since.

There also remain questions about the longer-term outlook for AI demand. Even before Washington slapped additional tariffs on much of the world  only to roll them back shortly after  investors had questioned whether big tech firms from Microsoft Corp. to Meta Platforms Inc. will continue to buy Nvidia chips and build data centers at the same pace.

Executives on Tuesday said demand for AI chips still outstripped supply. Wei reaffirmed the chipmaker was still looking for 2025 revenue growth in the mid-20% range, an outlook it delivered during quarterly earnings calls in April. But the executive also warned that the strengthening Taiwanese dollar was pressuring its margins, even though the company expects record profit this year.

TSMC executives have stressed that demand  particularly for high-end chips critical to developing artificial intelligence  has remained resilient. Thats helped reassure investors fearful of the Trump administrations escalating campaign to curtail Chinas tech ambitions and impose sky-high tariffs on goods around the world. For 2025, the market remains nervous about the fallout for the global economy and a sector that supplies critical components to just about every industry on the planet.

Taiwans largest company is also evaluating building an advanced production facility in the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg News reported. The project  discussed with the Trump administration  is a substantial investment in whats called a gigafab, a complex of six factories similar to what TSMC is building in Arizona. On Tuesday, Wei said TSMC didnt harbor plans to build a chip fab in the region because theres no customer there.

With assistance from Akemi Terukina and Erica Yokoyama.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Mumbai: Over three-fourths of Indias listed public sector enterprises do not have the requisite number of independent directors, as these companies continue to wait for clearance from various government departments.

As many as 62 out of 79 listed PSUs lack the mandated number of independent directors, according to data from Prime Database. Despite repeated regulatory reminders, these companies await clearances from their respective ministries, delaying crucial appointments and inviting penalties from stock exchanges.

Government-owned firms, including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp, State Bank of India, National Aluminium Company Ltd. and Steel Authority of India Ltd, did not have the minimum number of independent directors as of 2 June, according to Prime Database, a Mumbai-based market data tracking firm.

The list of non-compliant PSUs includes banks, oil and gas companies, metals and mining firms, power utilities, telecommunications, railways, and engineering firms.

According to the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias listing regulations, at least one-third of a listed entity's board members must comprise independent directors. Additionally, if the chairman is an executive director, at least half of the board must consist of independent directors.

Also Read: HPCL gets new chief, four more large PSUs in queue

Boardroom bottlenecks

There are more red flags when it comes to board committees: 64 PSUs lack an independent director as chairperson of their audit committee, and 68 companies do not have independent chairs for their nomination and remuneration panels.

Additionally, 14 of the listed PSUs are yet to appoint a single woman director, despite gender diversity requirements, according to Prime Database.

Its ironic that we are asking all private sector companies to comply with these requirements when government-owned companies themselves are non-compliant," said Pranav Haldea, managing director at Prime Database.

Key Takeaways Most PSUs non-compliant: 62 of 79 listed PSUs lack the mandated number of independent directors.

Delayed appointments: Key board appointments are held up due to pending approvals from ministries.

Gender diversity ignored: 14 PSUs still do not have a single woman director on their boards.

Regulatory penalties rising: Non-compliant PSUs face fines from stock exchanges for governance lapses.

Widespread governance gaps: Dozens of PSUs lack independent chairs on critical board committees.

With PSUs failing to comply with the market regulators rules, many have been fined by stock exchanges.

Last week, National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) was fined 33.32 lakh for having only three independent directorstwo short of the required fiveon its 10-member board.

A spokesperson for Nalco said the company was continuously following up with the ministry of mines, its administrative ministry, for the appointment of the requisite number of independent directors.

The bottleneck lies in the approval process across various ministries, according to proxy advisory firms. The Prime Ministers Office should send a strong message to all concerned ministries and PSU companies that they need to be compliant, as non-compliance by PSUs doesn't send the right message to investors," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director of InGovern Research Services, a proxy advisory firm.

For instance, when the government, as a major shareholder, is involved in abusive transactions or there is trouble with key management, independent directors are the custodians of minority shareholders interests," Subramanian said.

Also Read: India's PSU banks outshine private peers in arresting bad loans

Many of the largest money managers, including BlackRock and Vanguard, have voiced their concerns when these companies have sought shareholder approval for the appointment of directors, according to voting disclosures reviewed by Mint.

In August last year, Hindustan Aeronautics sought shareholder approval for the appointment of former chairman C.B. Ananthakrishnan. Nearly a fourth of public institutions opposed the decision.

Nominee serves as chair of the board and bears responsibility for lack of independence. Nominee is an executive director on the audit committee," noted BlackRock, the worlds largest money manager, with $11.6 trillion in assets under management.

In the same month, Hindustan Petroleum Corp. sought shareholders approval for the appointment of Pankaj Kumar as a director, but 28.35% of public institutions, including Vanguard, opposed his re-appointment.

"There has been an expectation that the exchanges or Sebi will act, more so given the repeat violations, but neither has been able to address this issue," said Amit Tandon, founder and managing director of Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IIAS), a Mumbai-based proxy advisory firm.

"The solution may be to move these entities out of the control of the administrative ministry and into a direct fund that will focus on governance and value creation," he said

Despite these lapses, investor interest in PSUs has surged. The BSE PSU Index, which comprises 63 companies, has outperformed the Sensex over the last five years. The index has gained 301% between 5 June 2020 and 3 June 2025, while the Sensex has risen by 135.5% during this period.
U.S. President Donald Trumps move to increase steel and aluminum tariffs by up to 50 percent will take effect on Wednesday and is anticipated to affect various sectors, including automakers and consumer goods.

The tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, initially set at 25 percent, were increased to 50 percent following an executive order signed by Trump late Tuesday. These duties had stayed at 25 percent since Trump's March 12 directive to eliminate exemptions on steel and raise the aluminum tariff.

We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. Were going to bring it from 25% to 50%  the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," Trump was quoted as saying at a rally in Pennsylvania.

In a social media post, Trump said, It is my great honor to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminium workers."

According to the Associated Press, although tariffs on imports from other countries have been doubled, steel and aluminium imports from the United Kingdom will remain subject to a 25 percent tax following the UKs recent trade agreement with the US.

The increase in steel and aluminum tariffs doubles the stakes in Trumps global trade conflict and occurred shortly after he accused China of breaching a deal with the US to jointly reduce tariffs and trade barriers on essential minerals.

Here's how it will impact other sectors Auto sector and household goods According to AP report, the tariff increase is anticipated to affect various sectors, including the automotive industry and household goods. This change will lead to higher prices for consumers since steel and aluminum imported into the US are essential materials for producing items such as soup cans, paper clips, refrigerators, and vehicles.

Grocery items The increase in tariffs may affect grocery items in the US, along with companies involved in construction and transportation. Steel and aluminum, commonly used in packaging for many household goodsespecially canned productscould see an impact.

Construction and transportation The tariffs on aluminium and metals have broader effects on the construction and transportation industries overall, since numerous essential building components and materials are manufactured using these metals.

Steel prices have risen by 16% since Donald Trump took office in mid-January, based on the government's Producer Price Index.

By March 2025, the cost of steel in the U.S. reached $984 per metric ton, which is substantially higher compared to prices in Europe ($690) and China ($392), according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
Elon Musk has hit out at US President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending bill, describing it as a "disgusting abomination", in a widening rift between the two. The tech billionaire claimed that interest payments consume 25 per cent of all government revenue. If the massive deficit spending continues, there will only be money for interest payments and nothing else! No social security, no medical, no defense  nothing, said Musk.

Earlier this week, Tesla's top boss posted on 'X' saying that the bill would add to the US budget deficit and saddle Americans with "crushing" debt. The budget, which includes tax breaks and more defence spending, was passed by the House of Representatives last month and is now being considered by senators. "Shame on those who voted for it," said Musk, hinting that he may try to unseat the politicians responsible at next year's midterm elections.

Musk agrees with Powell, Buffett, Dimon, and Dalio Musk has now echoed concerns raised by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio, and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on the rising US debt.

Billionaire investment manager Ray Dalio had warned that the risks of US debt go beyond credit ratings amid the US government's mounting debt in the current economic scenario. The founder of one of the world's largest hedge funds said that regarding the US debt downgrade, credit ratings understate risks because they rate the risk of the government not paying its debt.

Jamie Dimon had also sounded a warning for the US economy, as he flagged stagflation risk amid multiple challenges like geopolitics, deficits and price pressures. Dimon rejected the idea that the US economy is currently in a sweet spot.

Jerome Powell has assured Trump in a meeting held at the White House on May 29 that the Fed would set monetary policy, as required by law, to support maximum employment and stable prices and will make those decisions based solely on careful, objective, and non-political analysis.

Trump's new tax bill The House-passed version of US President Donald Trumps tax and spending bill would add $2.42 trillion to US budget deficits over the next decade, according to a new estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The CBOs calculation, in its so-called scoring of the One Big Beautiful Bill, reflects a $3.67 trillion decrease in expected revenues and a $1.25 trillion decline in spending over the decade through 2034, relative to baseline projections.

Musk attacked the legislation days after leaving a temporary assignment leading the administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to cut federal spending. The House-passed tax bill is forecast to reduce federal revenue by about $4 trillion over a decade, adding about $2.5 trillion to the federal deficit, even with hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to the US' safety-net programs such as Medicaid and food stamps.

The measure also would aggressively phase out Biden-era tax breaks for electric vehicle purchases and clean energy production, changes that Tesla has criticised. Abruptly ending the energy tax credits would threaten Americas energy independence and the reliability of our grid, Tesla Energy, the companys division focused on solar systems and batteries, wrote in a social media post. The message was later signal-boosted by Musk himself.
A host of factors including India's growing trade deficit in the face of surplus factory capacity in China, uncertainty from the US reciprocal tariffs announcement, short-term foreign capital outflows, weaker remittances due to a slowing global economy, and the potential headwinds from US President Donald Trumps proposed tax on remittances could lead to a widening of India's current account deficit (CAD), experts said.

This widening is expected in Q4FY25 and subsequent quarters unless theres a change in macroeconomic fundamentals, they added.

To be sure, the CAD rose marginally to $11.5 billion, or 1.1% of GDP, in the October-December 2024 quarter (Q3FY25) from $10.4 billion, or 1.1% of GDP, a year earlier, despite strong growth in service exports.

A widening current account deficit would put pressure on the rupee and inflate costs for businesses

On a sequential basis, the CAD moderated from $16.7 billion (1.8% of GDP) in Q2FY25, according to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in March.

Trade deficit Indias merchandise trade deficit rose to a five-month high of $26.42 billion in April on the back of higher imports, even as exports rose, according to the provisional data released by the commerce ministry last month.

Interestingly, the latest GST data revealed a sharp surge in imports in May. While net domestic GST revenue (after refunds) grew 9.7%, matching Aprils pace, net customs revenue from IGST and cess on imports soared 73% in May, a stark contrast to the modest 5.2% growth recorded the previous month.

There is a risk of the current account and trade deficits widening this year, along with short-term foreign capital outflows as US yields rise, said Bhanumurthy N.R., director at the Madras School of Economics.

A global economic slowdown and the proposed US tax on remittances could also weigh on remittance inflows, adding further pressure to the external account, he said.

Also read | Indian economy lost momentum in April after a strong show in March: Mint tracker

On Monday the yield on the benchmark US 10-year notes rose 3.2 basis points to 4.45%, while the 30-year bond yield increased 4.6 basis points to 4.98%. In contrast, Indian 10-year government bonds currently yield 6.22%.

Global uncertainties are prompting investors to favour safer, higher-yielding US bonds over emerging-market debt.

Fiscal year 2025 began with strong foreign investor inflows of around 28,000 crore but saw a sharp reversal in the second half, with over 2 trillion sold off, resulting in net outflows of about 1.53 trillion ($17.8 billion) for the year.

Trump's tax on remittances Meanwhile, the Trump administration has proposed a 5% excise tax on outward remittances, which would affect millions of individuals, including green card holders and workers on H1B visas.

Remittances, defined by the World Bank as funds sent from a person working abroad to their home country, are typically personal transfers between family members or individuals.

A further rate cut by the central bank could push government bond yields lower, potentially driving more foreign capital toward higher-yielding US bonds, Bhanumurthy added.

According to a recent report by the Union Bank of India, India's CAD is expected to widen to 1.2% of GDP in FY26 from an estimated 0.9% in FY25, with the outlook for exports remaining uncertain due to the looming threat of reciprocal tariffs by the US on trading partners. It added that despite a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs, India's export outlook remains uncertain.

A spokesperson for the ministry of finance didn't respond to Mint's emailed queries.

Import mix Meanwhile, subdued oil prices and a sharp rise in golddriven by central banks hedging against dollar volatility could reshape India's import mix.

Despite stable crude prices through most of FY25, Indias crude oil imports rose by 4.2% to 242.4 million tonnes (MT) from 232.7 MT in FY24, according to official data.

This 9.7 MT increase pushed the countrys import dependency slightly higherfrom 88.6% in March 2024 to 89.1% in March 2025highlighting continued reliance on overseas energy supplies.

The rise in volumes, along with a modest uptick in global prices during parts of the year, drove the import bill for crude and petroleum products to $161 billion in FY25 from $156.3 billion in the previous fiscal year.

Crude prices, however, have softened notably in the first two months of FY26.

The Indian basket of crudea mix of sour and sweet gradesfell from $67.73 per barrel in April 2025 to $64.04 in May, a decline of $3.69 per barrel.

"For the central government, crude oil prices in the range of $60-$65 per barrel are comfortable and allow us to build adequate buffer stocks," said a senior official, who did not wish to be named. "At these price levels, we will not only meet our energy needs more affordably but also strengthen energy security," the official added.

Meanwhile, petroleum product demand continues to rise, with estimates from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) projecting record consumption of 252.9 MT in FY26, up 4.6% year-on-year.
Success in Bollywood is subjective. While some define success with meaningful roles and critical acclaim, others soar high with hefty paycheques. But who is truly the most popular among fans? Have you ever thought about it? We bring you Indias most followed celebrity investorsomeone who truly has the best of both worlds. At just 37, she has already surpassed the popularity of global icon Priyanka Chopra and business mogul Katrina Kaif. In fact, even some of the highest-paid actresses like Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone dont come close to her in terms of fan following.

India's most followed celebrity investor You might have guessed it by now, it is actor Shraddha Kapoor.

Shraddha Kapoor The 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders list was out recently, in which Shraddha Kapoor topped the list as the most followed celebrity investor.

The list mentioned, Shraddha Kapoor, 37, tops the Candere Hurun Celebrity Influencers Investors list with 94.1 million followers. Beyond her acting career, she has made notable strides as an investor, backing several emerging consumer brands. Her investment portfolio highlights a clear focus on lifestyle and fashion-centric ventures, resonating with her personal style and wide-reaching influence.

Shraddha Kapoor vs Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and others Following her closely is Priyanka Chopra in the second spot with 92.4 million followers, as per the report.

Others on the list respectively are Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Disha Patani, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna and Sara Ali Khan.

Shraddha Kapoor's net worth Meanwhile, Shraddha Kapoor's net worth is estimated to be 130 crore or $16 million, as per a report of Times Now.

She enjoys a huge fan following online and offline.

She has 14.1 million followers on X, formerly Twitter.

Shraddha Kapoor is the daughter of actor Shakti Kapoor and Shivangi Kapoor, sister of Padmini Kolhapure. She also has a brother, actor-DJ Siddhanth Kapoor.

Shraddha Kapoor's Bollywood career Shraddha made her acting debut with her brief role in the 2010 heist film Teen Patti. Her full-length role came in the teen drama Luv Ka The End (2011). She rose to popularity when starred in the romantic musical Aashiqui 2 (2013), opposite Aditya Roy Kapur.

She went on to star in some of the hit films, including Haider (2014), ABCD 2 (2015), Baaghi (2016), Chhichhore (2019), Saaho (2019), Stree (2018), Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023) and Stree 2 (2024).

Her last film was the highest-grosser, Stree 2.

Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming films After Stree 2, she has signed not one but three films as revealed in an interview.

She is said to collaborate with the Tumbbad director for an upcoming thriller backed by Ekta Kapoor.

There are also rumours about her starring with Aditya Roy Kapur in a Mohit Suri film.

She also has Nikhil Dwived's Naagin in the pipeline.
Veteran actor Kamal Hassan made his first public appearance in Tamil Nadu days after the Karnataka High Court rapped him for his controversial statement. The actor left many upset in Karnataka after he said that Kannada was born out of Tamil during the audio release event of Thug Life.

Kamal Hassan thanks Tamil Nadu, refuses to comment on controversy On Wednesday, Kamal Haasan took to the stage with his co-stars of Thug Life, including Silambarasan. However, he didn't comment on the ongoing row related to his statement.

He thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for understanding him and his words, which grabbed everyone's attention.

As per a translation by PTI, Kamal said, "I thank Tamil Nadu for understanding what I say from the stage."

He also talked about the hard work and international quality behind Mani Ratnam's film Thug Life. I should thank the entire state of Tamil Nadu which stood behind me, Kamal added.

Thug Life to not release in Karnataka yet Thug Life will be released on June 5 in India, except for Karnataka.

On Tuesday, Kamal agreed not to release his upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka after the controversy erupted over his recent remarks on Tamil and Kannada.

Karnataka HC to Kamal Haasan He previously moved the High Court asking for a direction for the film's release after many objected to it being released in Karnataka.

During the hearing of his plea, Kamal refused to apologise to the High Court for his statement. He said that he had no malice', LiveLaw reported.

He also proposed to have a dialogue with the Film Chamber on the matter.

The court said, You may be Kamal Haasan or anybody, you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses.

The bench added, You know the importance of the film, saying it is made by Mani Ratnam, but you cannot make a statement (Apology).

For your own creation, you want police machinery to support now. Language is a sentiment attached to the people. You are not an ordinary man, you are a public figure. People writing on social media are also being investigated.

Fundamental right of speech and expression cannot be stretched to hurt sentiments of the masses.

Thug Life Thug Life is a gangster action drama film directed by Mani Ratnam. It is co-written by Kamal Haasan, who is also jointly producing the film under his banner Raaj Kamal Films International. Madras Talkies and Red Giant Movies are also backing the film.

Besides Kamal Haasan, it also stars Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf and Baburaj.
Mumbai, Jun 4 (PTI) The Konkan Railway will explore the possibility of running a special roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) train service for transporting cars during the upcoming Ganapti festival, if there is sufficient public demand, a top official said.

It will be possible to operate such a service if there are at least 40 cars to be transported at a time, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited's Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha told reporters at the KRCL headquarters at Belapur in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday.

Asked why the KR does not transport passenger cars by its pioneering Ro-Ro services during the Ganpati festival, Jha said they will have to make changes for ferrying cars on wagons.

The Konkan Railway's Ro-Ro service, which allows vehicles to be transported along with their drivers, has traditionally been used for trucks.

"I promise you that this time in Ganpati I will announce a special train (Ro-Ro)," Jha said.

The official said he did not know people would want to transport their expensive cars 750 km away.

It takes 24 to 26 hours to reach Mangaluru (in Karnataka) by Ro-Ro from here and for that one has to buy a second class ticket from the driver.

Highlighting that KR is not a loss-making corporation, Jha said it generated a net profit of 301 crore in 2023-24. As per unpublished reports, the corporation is expected to register a profit of 140-150 crore in the last financial year.

"The Konkan Railway was always in profit, barring two years of COVID-19," Jha said, adding the KR is generating profits from the operations and execution of projects.

The corporation got projects valued at 3,150 crore through tendering processes in the last 15 months and is already executing works of 4,087 crore, the official said.

"About 7,200 crore of work orders are already in my hand and this year, we have targeted to get 15,000 crore of orders. I have full faith that we will achieve this target," Jha said.

The KR has planned to spend 125 crore for various passengers amenities, including platform extension, construction of FOBs (foot overbridges) and providing retiring rooms, at railway stations in the next three years, he said.

The Public Works Department of Maharashtra has spent 99 crore for the development of 11 stations on the KR network. Now, the MIDC is spending 39 crore on Ratnagiri station alone for providing facilities, he said.

"You will see a full facelift of the Ratnagiri station before this year-end," the official said.

Also, the KR has sent a proposal to the Railway Board for the restoration of eight halts which were discontinued during the COVID-19 time, he said.

The official further said the entire Konkan Railway route is currently single line, except for a 47-km-long section, and they have proposed patch doubling works, estimated to cost 5,100 crores, but these works need ministerial help.

At present, the Konkan Railway has about 2,750 crore loan to repay and the corporation has planned to clear 600 crore dues of it during this financial year, he said.

Jha also said they have proposed alternatives for Pernem and Old Goa tunnel construction and the work has received an in-principle approval, but function allocation is awaited.
New Delhi, 4th June 2025:In a landmark moment for the Occams ecosystem, Occams Advisory, a global consulting firms specializing incorporate finance, tax, audit,andAI-led transformation, hosted the AI-Finance Roundtable in conjunction with the formal inauguration of its new office at Espire Campus, New Delhi.

The full-day event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and finance professionals to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming global finance, while celebrating Occams Advisorys strategic expansion in India.

A Day of Dialogue, Innovation & Growth

The day commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and office tour, officially marking the opening of Occams Advisorys New Delhi location. This expansion underscores the firm's long-term commitment to serving clients more closely in Indias fast-evolving financial and regulatory landscape.

Following the formal inauguration, guests engaged in networking, a team recognition ceremony, and interactive merchandise sessions, setting the stage for the keys egment of the daythe AI-Finance Roundtable.

Roundtable Highlights

Roundtable Highlights

The roundtable began with opening remarks by Anupam Satyasheel, Founder & CEO of Occams Advisory, who emphasized Indias pivotal role in shaping the global futureof finance and technology. His address set the tone for a forward-looking dialogue on innovation, regulation, and AI integration in financial systems.

The key note address was delivered by Shri Kapil Malhotra, Trade Commissioner for Ontario, High Commission of Canada. Titled From Innovation to Expansion: Investing in AI Opportunities in Ontario, his talk highlighted the growing cross-border potential for AI -driven innovation, particularly between India and Canada. He stressed the importance of international collaboration in scaling transformative technologies.

The first panel discussion, Reverse Flip into India  Strategic, Legal & Tax Perspectives on Internalization, focused on emerging trends such as the increasing interest in India-based IPOs, the strategic value of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and challenges presented by outbound corporate structures. Speaking during the session, Rajat Garg of Occams Advisory remarked, Outbound structures often create friction with capital flow, board control, and tax leakage  hence, reversal is both strategic and corrective. His insights anchored the conversation around why many companies are now considering a return to Indian domiciles.

Other notable panelists included Karan Sahi from KPMG, Upendra Upadhyay from Crowd Sourcing Analytics, and Manangad S. Lamba from Nangia Andersen India, who brought diverse perspectives to the discussion on financial structuring and compliance in a globalized environment.

In the second segment, Assurance, Risk & Compliance Automation, panelists explored how AI technologiessuch as continuous audit engines, anomaly detection models, and intelligent workflowsare revolutionizing financial assurance. The discussion underscored how these tools not only improve accuracy and governance but also streamline compliance across jurisdictions, helping organizations meet standards like GAAP, IFRS, and local regulations more efficiently.

Nitin Aggarwal, CEOIndia at Occams Advisory, delivered the Welcome Note and Vote of Thanks. He reiterated the firm's vision of building an agile, AI-enabled, and globally compliant financial future of professional services. He also shared Occams Advisorys ambition of becoming one of the top 30 financial professional services firms globally by 2030 and introduced the firm's upcoming Bitcoin Treasury Services, designed to help corporates strategically manage digital assets as part of their financial portfolios.

About Occams Advisory Occams Advisory is a global consulting firm offering services in corporate finance, accounting, audit, tax, and AI-enabled business transformation. With a growing footprint in North America and India, the firm partners with clients to simplify complexity and accelerate scalable growth.

Note to readers: This article is part of Mints paid consumer connect Initiative. Mint assumes no editorial involvement or responsibility for errors, omissions, or content accuracy.
THE UKRAINIAN drones that emerged from lorries deep inside Russia on June 1st, then plunged onto Russian air fields and struck perhaps a dozen bombers will be ranked among the great raiding parties of military history. The operation combined old-fashioned sabotage with the iconic weapon of the war in Ukraine. In doing this it illustrated two things. One is that new technology, deployed inventively, can be disproportionately lethal. The other is that the battlefield now stretches deep behind the front line, overturning the assumptions of the past quarter century.

Britains defence review, published the next day, deserves praise for recognising both these lessons. It also serves as a worked example of the new, more flexible thinking that will be needed in Europe and Asia to deal with the breakneck innovations that are transforming warfare. However, the review also points to the hardest problem in turning such thinking into realityfinding the money to pay for it.

After decades of complacency, Britain, like its allies, has acknowledged that it must prepare for war. That means building up the ammunition, forces and technologies for fighting abroad, as well as securing the home front. After the cold war, the Royal Air Force (RAF), like many of its European counterparts, saved money by shutting down bases and consolidating aircraft at ever fewer places. Ukraines surprise attack is a reminder of why that now looks like a mistake. The review says that the RAF must relearn how to fight from a wider range of sites, and to disperse its munitions, spare parts and fuel.

The same principle of resilience applies more widely: redundancy applies as much to undersea cables, electrical substations and communications as it does to air bases. The British review rightly calls for a whole of society" approach in which industry, finance, academia, education and ordinary people are better prepared for crises.

The way of thinking about military technology needs to be similarly supple. Emerging technologies", the review warns, are already changing the character of warfare more profoundly than at any point in human history." Britain and its allies have been slow to adapt. The review laments that, for defence projects worth more than 20m, awarding a contract takes an average of 6.5 years. It recommends that 10% of the annual defence procurement budget should be earmarked for novel technologies.

Bolder, faster reorganisation of military services is part of the prescription, too. The Royal Navy will accelerate the creation of a hybrid" carrier air wing, with both sophisticated and simple drones flying alongside F-35s. The army will have a 20-40-40 mix of equipment. Crewed platforms will make up only 20% of kit. They will control uncrewed platforms that can be reused (40%) as well as consumables" like shells, missiles and single-use strike drones (40%).

Britain has a good opportunity to experiment in this way because big land powers such as Germany are expanding their traditional ground forces. Wisely, however, the review resists the temptation to declare that old, large equipment is obsolete. Not every act of war can be waged with drones in trucks. The review concludes that tanks still matter, for instance, not least because they protect troops on an increasingly transparent battlefield. The commitment to build up to a dozen attack submarines is a reminder that one of the largest and costliest weapons, the nuclear-powered submarine, remains one of the most potent.

So far, so laudable. But there remains a glaring gap between ambition and money. Britain plans to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027, with a vague ambition of 3% by 2034. That is grossly inadequate. Russia is rearming quickly and America is signalling that it will shift forces away from Europe. Germany, faced by the same threats, could be spending twice as much as Britain by 2029.

NATO allies are likely to agree to a target of 3.5% of GDP on defence at a summit on June 24th. That would require painful tax rises, welfare cuts or borrowing. But it is hard to see how Europe can support Ukraine, deter Russia and fill gaps left by America on much less.

In 2014 NATO allies agreed to a 2% targetand ignored it. This time around, the timeline is as important as the target. There is little point in deferring spending to the 2030s. Until recentlya war against another country with advanced military forces was unthinkable," says the British defence review, warning that conflict would be deadly and long-lasting. How much better to deter such a war than wage it.
By now Americans know about Ukraines remarkable drone strike on Sunday that damaged as many as 40 aircraft deep inside Russia as strategic bombers sat like ducks in a row on military bases. One urgent lesson beyond that conflict is that the U.S. homeland is far more vulnerable than most Americans realize.

The details about Ukraines daring operation are few, but Kyiv managed to sneak cheap drones across the border and use them to destroy costly Russian military assets. The bang for Ukraines buck was considerable. You dont have to be a fan of thrillers to imagine a similar scenario in the United States.

Could those have been B-2s at the hands of Iranian drones flying out of containers, let alone Chinese?" military analyst Fred Kagan asked this week. The U.S. strategic bomber fleet is small (about one-third the size it was in the Cold War) and concentrated at a handful of bases. See the aerial photo flying across social media of B-52 bombers lined up at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. The story is similar for fighters and capital assets like aircraft carriers.

One lesson is that President Trumps planned Golden Dome missile-defense shield isnt the boondoggle its portrayed to be in the press. The headlines are preoccupied with space-based interceptors. But the U.S. is exposed to many threats besides ballistic missilesfrom drones and spy blimps to cruise missiles launched off submarines.

The bipartisan Strategic Posture Commission warned in 2023 that the U.S. needs better integrated air and missile defenses against coercive attacks" from Russia and China, and such an attack could come from conventional weapons. In a crisis over the Taiwan Strait, Xi Jinping might threaten the Commander in Chief: Stay out of the Western Pacific or you never know what might happen to your pricey F-22s in Alaska.

Thats one reason the U.S. needs a layered missile shield that exploits new technology and existing systems like the Patriot. Israels recent success shooting down drones with lasers shows that innovative and affluent societies can meet new threats. President Trump deserves credit for elevating missile defense as a presidential priority.

But the U.S. has lost some basic muscle memory since the Cold War on living in a dangerous world. A prescient report this year from Thomas Shugart and Timothy Walton at the Hudson Institute warned about highly vulnerable U.S. airfields, especially in the Western Pacific.

For the new B-21 bomber, the Air Force is looking at shelters akin to sunshades," Messrs. Shugart and Walton write, that could leave the aircraft exposed to threats, including lethal" unmanned aerial vehicles. Not building approximately $30 million" hardened aircraft shelters for over-$600 million B-21 bombers is an unwise decision that could endanger the USs ability to strike globally," they write.

Such shelters always end up being a low budget priority compared with airplanes and missiles, and the message here is that defense spending cant stay at 3% of the economy and provide the security Americans expect. The bill moving through Congress puts up $25 billion for Golden Dome. But a national air defense wont be built by a one-time cash infusion, and the Administration is ducking a sustained defense buildup to mollify its fiscal hawks.

Americans are accustomed to wars fought far from home by a force of volunteers, but everyone in the U.S. will be on the front lines of the next conflict. Political leaders could be doing much more to educate the country about this vulnerability, rather than boasting that the U.S. military is the best it has ever been. It isnt.

Ukraine did the U.S. a favor by destroying bombers of a U.S. adversaryand sending America a wake up call about its own complacency.
Tap water across America has, for decades, been fortified with fluoride, a negatively charged ion of the chemical element fluorine, in order to strengthen the publics teeth. But a scientific review published in 2024 by Americas National Toxicology Programme, an arm of the countrys health department, suggested that high levels of fluoride are associated with lower IQ in children.

Even though no conclusive causal link has been found, a growing number of cities are planning to end fluoridation, and specialised water filters, which remove any fluoride present, are flying off the shelves. Public-health experts caution that the evidence of harm is thin, and fluoridated tap water keeps teeth healthy. But is it really necessary?

One of fluorides main functions is to strengthen and restore enamel, the top layer of teeth. This is vital to help them resist the acids that form in the mouth when bacteria ferment the sugars in food and drink. Coating or bathing the teeth in fluoride-rich substances can thus directly protect the teeth while also introducing fluoride into the saliva. This has additional health benefits, as fluoride in saliva inhibits bacterial metabolism, reducing acid production and the growth of plaque on tooth surfaces. Fluoride can also be effective when swallowed, making its way to the saliva via the bloodstream. (In children, circulating fluoride also enters the enamel of developing teeth.)

Trace amounts of fluoride are naturally present in a variety of foods, including vegetables and shellfish. Higher quantities can be found in tea and coffee, whose plants readily absorb fluoride from soil. A cup of tea made with distilled water contains as much fluoride as anywhere between 100ml and two litres of fluoridated water, depending on a range of factors including the variety of tea and composition of the soil where the leaves were grown; a cup of brewed coffee prepared in the same way contains as much as 300ml of fluoridated water. Toothpastes, mouth washes and fluoride gels are also rich in the stuff.

Of all the ways of getting fluoride to teeth, brushing reigns supreme. Effective tooth-brushing means some of the fluoride present in toothpaste gets deposited directly onto the enamel, some ends up in saliva and some is swallowed. The resulting boost in fluoride levels far exceeds that produced by drinking fluoridated water.

In a report published in 2006, Americas National Research Council estimated the typical amounts of fluoride ingested daily from tooth-brushing across different segments of the population. The Economist calculates that, for six- to 12-year-olds, the figure is equivalent to somewhere between 300ml and 450ml of water fluoridated to the national standard. For toddlers and young children it is between 150ml and 300ml; for adults it is around 150ml.

Fluoride mouth washes, as well as the fluoride-rich gels and varnishes that dentists apply to teeth, also offer big fluoride boosts, but are used less often. An evidence review conducted in Britain in 2004 found that they offer only modest additional protection to those already regularly brushing their teeth.

In this environment, fluoridated water still has a place. In a country the size of America, tooth-brushing and access to dental care differ widely even between adjacent neighbourhoods. For the sake of those without good dental hygiene and, therefore, who are most at risk of tooth decay, this safety-net should be dismantled with caution.
New Delhi: The central government is considering safety ratings for electric three-wheelers and electric rickshaws amid a surge in the adoption of electric vehicles in the three-wheeler segment.

The ministry of road transport and highways is discussing the inclusion of electric three-wheelers to ensure the safety of the occupants and the durability of the vehicle in crash collisions, according to two people aware of the development.

The new safety benchmarks are likely to follow a five-star rating system under the ambit of the Bharat National Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), said the first person mentioned above. The plan is likely to be opened for public consultation within the next three to six months.

Queries sent to the ministry on 3 June did not elicit a response till press time.

Under Bharat NCAP, vehicles undergo crash tests to assess performance in two key areas: adult occupant protection (AOP) and child occupant protection (COP). Ratings range from one star (lowest) to five stars (highest).

To receive a safety rating, vehicles must undergo both frontal and side-impact crash tests. The AOP category allows for a maximum score of 32 points, while COP is capped at 49 points. A five-star rating requires at least 27 points in AOP and 41 points in COP.

Although Bharat NCAP is currently voluntary for automakers, the road transport and highways ministry can recommend that specific models be evaluated under the programme, per a notification issued in September 2023.

The battery of an electric vehicle can be a major risk factor in case of collisions and significantly harm passengers, said the second person mentioned above.

Also Read: EVs hit with falling resale value as consumer demand cools

Key Takeaways The government is considering including electric rickshaws and three-wheelers in the Bharat NCAP crash safety rating system.

The draft plan may be opened for public feedback within 36 months

EV batteries pose significant safety risks in collisions, especially in poorly designed vehicles, prompting the need for regulatory intervention.

Electric three-wheelers led EV sales in FY25, accounting for 57% of all three-wheeler sales, outpacing electric two-wheelers and cars.

EV adoption

This comes at a time when electric three-wheelers are leading India's electric mobility adoption in the country.

According to Vahan portal data, 6.99 lakh electric three-wheelers were sold in FY25, making up 57% of the total three-wheeler sales in the country. This was higher than the 6.32 lakh such vehicles sold in the previous fiscal, when they made up 54% of all three-wheelers sold.

In comparison, only about 1.01 lakh electric cars were sold in the country in FY25, accounting for about 2.6% of all cars sold. About 11.11 lakh electric motorcycles and scooters were sold in FY25, making up roughly 6% of all such vehicles sold in the country, Vahan data showed.

There were safety concerns about e-rickshaws, identified as L3 models, as they were smaller models running on lead-acid batteries initially and produced by unregulated manufacturers, said Maxson Lewis, managing director and chief executive officer, Magenta Mobility.

L3 electric rickshaws are used for small distances and last-mile mobility, while L5 models of electric three-wheelers can carry more passengers or cargo and cover longer distances.

"There was a huge issue with toppling of these tuk-tuks, as they used to be called, which are electric three wheelers and many such cases essentially because they were not properly designed," said Lewis.

Lewis said that safety and quality issues have plagued L5 models too, and manufacturers might try to pass on the additional cost of crash tests to consumers.

Also read | India open to revising EV manufacturing policy for foreign automakers post US tariff clarity
Bengaluru: Staffing firms and job search platforms such as Quess Corp Ltd, TeamLease Services Ltd and Info Edge (India) Ltd are finding it more profitable to help place experienced professionals at tech centres of the worlds biggest companies than pure-play information technology (IT) outsourcers that typically hire freshers in bulk.

Better profitability and revenue from global capability centres (GCCs) have helped the staffing firms offset slowdown in their income from the countrys $283 billion IT sector, which has gone slow on hiring engineers in the past couple of years.

GCCs contributed about 4.2%, or 153 crore, of Quesss January-March revenue. TeamLease, on the other hand, got 95 crore, or about 3% of its revenue from GCCs, according to its press release.

For job platform Naukris parent company Info Edge, most of the growth of its job-hunting platforms came from GCCs. This business, known as Recruitment Solutions, makes up almost three-fourths, or 542 crore, of its overall quarterly revenue.

Also read | GCCs prefer hiring leaders from peers than IT services companies

Staffing firms recruit employees for GCCs and get a commission for each person onboarded in the captive centre. Quess and TeamLease mentioned that they get more money from placing candidates in GCCs.

GCC is a high-margin business," Guruprasad Srinivasan, chief executive of Quess, told Mint on Tuesday. The space that we operate for GCCs is in 5-8 years of experience, whereas in IT services, it is freshers," added Srinivasan.

He added that employing people in GCCs increases profitability because Quess can get more commission for deploying an experienced person in a GCC as opposed to employing a fresher in an IT services company. Its 3-4 times higher than what I could do at IT services," said Srinivasan.

TeamLease voiced a similar opinion.

The salaries and margins (for placing candidates in a GCC) are better than the IT services companies. This is largely due to the hiring demand being in high value roles with niche skills," TeamLease said in response to Mints queries on Tuesday.

GCCs also fetched these firms more revenue per employee.

With GCCs contributing over 60% of our net revenue, they generate higher revenue per associate and contribute meaningfully to margin enhancement," said TeamLease.

Even the operating margins of the staffing firms jumped due to GCCs.

For Bengaluru-based Quess, Indias largest staffing firm, GCCs made up 66% of its 77 crore operating profit. This is higher than two years ago when this contribution totalled 45% at the end of the three months through March 2023. In specialized staffing, improved GCC mix and operational efficiency have contributed to margin expansion on a year-on-year basis," said Ramani Dathi, chief financial officer of TeamLease, as part of the companys post-earnings interaction with analysts on 21 May.

Also read | The boutique consulting firms powering Indias next GCC boom

Quess and TeamLease ended the three months through March with revenue of 3,656 crore and 2,868 crore, respectively. Info Edge ended the quarter with 750 crore in revenue.

Quess, TeamLease and Info Edge ended FY25 with 14,967 crore, 11,201 crore and 2,849.6 crore in revenue, respectively.

This growth from captives comes on the back of a decline in revenue from IT service providers. For Quess, recruitment for IT services companies has been low, and GCCs have offset much of the decline.

As weve called out, I think IT services is still not in the market with open positions and growth. There is still an element of absorption or a decrease in headcount that's happening from the IT services side. I think what we had called out was GCC substituting for that to some extent," said Ashok Reddy, chief executive of TeamLease, as part of the companys post-earnings call with analysts.

Quesss Srinivasan voiced a similar opinion, saying its a known fact now there is not much hiring happening in that space." Most of the new onboards at Quess and TeamLease are from GCCs, reflecting the growing importance of the sector.

Also read | Captive concerns: Why Cognizant has called out the risk from GCCs

For InfoEdge, new recruits are trickling in from GCCs.

To diversify and expand its client base, the company is strengthening its go to market offerings and acquiring new clients and focusing on the GCC segment," said Kotak Institutional Equities analysts Kawaljeet Saluja, Sathishkumar S. and Vamshi Krishna in a note dated 27 May.

According to IT industry lobby National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), there are 1,760 GCCs in India.

More than 875, or half of the countrys GCCs, are based in Bengaluru, while Hyderabad has about 355. The rest are located in cities such as Delhi-National Capital Region, Pune and Chennai. Nasscom estimates the number of Indian GCCs will hit 2,200 by March 2030, with a market size of $105 billion.
Indias 23,510-crore plywood industry faces environmental scrutiny, with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directing the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to draft new environmental guidelines for plywood manufacturers.

This follows complaints about pollution from plywood units in Haryanas Yamuna Nagar district. The tribunal flagged the lack of national norms on factory location, pollution control equipment, and handling of carcinogenic chemicals, among other things.

Mint explains the NGT ruling and its fallout.

What did the NGT say?

On 27 May the NGT's principal bench, led by chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, directed the environment ministry to draft comprehensive guidelines for the plywood industry. Despite the industrys high pollution index of 78.3, it is currently categorised as a moderate polluter under the Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB's) orange category, with no dedicated national regulations.

Plywood industries, having a pollution index of 78.3 and falling in the orange category, are acknowledged to cause air and water pollution... but no guidelines have been issued regarding location, pollution control devices, and safeguards to be adopted in the use of carcinogenic chemicals," the NGT order stated.

The tribunal directed the ministry to file an action-taken report within six months.

Also read: Environment ministry orders petrol cars, ignoring advisory on cleaner vehicles

The NGT also highlighted severe pollution from plywood units, especially in Haryanas Yamuna Nagar districtone of the countrys largest plywood hubswhere factories emit harmful pollutants and carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde without proper controls. The tribunal ordered guidelines on critical issues including factory location, pollution control equipment, safe handling of adhesives, and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

The tribunal also directed the Haryana government and the state's pollution control board to enhance its monitoring of plywood factories. This includes reviewing clearances, inspecting resin production, enforcing safe chemical storage, proper disposal of wood ash, ensuring functional pollution control equipment, and making compliance information publicly available online. The Haryana board must report its progress within three months.

What sparked the move?

It was triggered by Sumit Saini, a resident of Damla village in Yamuna Nagar, who petitioned the NGT in May 2022, citing severe air and water pollution from nearby plywood factories. He described black smoke, ash deposits, health issues, and a lack of pollution control in around 20 factories.

The NGT treated his letter as a suo motu case and set up a joint committee comprising state and local authorities to investigate the matter. The committees report said most factories were compliant with pollution laws, but the NGT found the inspection insufficient and ordered further probes, particularly into formaldehyde emissions and VOC safeguards.

Why plywood pollution is harmful

The NGT order noted that plywood manufacturing involves wood and adhesives such as phenol formaldehyde and urea formaldehyde, which release VOCs and carcinogenic fumes, especially during hot pressing. Pollution also arises from wood dust, fuel combustion, chemical waste, and improper disposal of wood ash.

These emissions contaminate the air, water, and soil, posing health risks and environmental damage. Currently, there are no plywood-specific pollution standardsonly general boiler emission rules.

What lies ahead for the industry?

The industry has expressed concerns over the NGT ruling.

Ajay Maniktala, ex-president of the Haryana Plywood Association, said, We are tense about the order. These laws might increase operational costs for the units. We are not against framing laws, but they should consider older units that have been running for years and may not be able to comply with new norms. We are seeking relief in compliance norms," he added.

Also read: Dont let air pollution cloud the success story of Indias economic emergence

According to Maniktala, the association plans to meet Haryanas chief minister to present their grievances and suggestions.

How big is India's plywood market?

Indias plywood market was valued at 23,510 crore in FY25 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.44% to hit 38,790 crore by FY34. The industry faces competition in the form of low-quality plywood imports from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nepal, contributing to Indias widening plywood trade deficit, which grew from $85.83 million in FY19 to $154.57 million in FY24.

Key manufacturing hubs include Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat. While exports grew from $32.28 million in FY19 to $75.26 million in FY23, they dipped to $57 million in FY24, indicating shifting market dynamics.

Why Haryana is key

Haryana, especially Yamuna Nagar, is central to Indias plywood industry, contributing 40-50% of national output. However, the industry faces a raw material crisis. It needs more than two lakh quintals of poplar and eucalyptus wood daily but currently receives less than half of this, partly because new plywood factories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are attracting local wood suppliers.

The Haryana Plywood Manufacturers Association had earlier urged the state government to reduce market fees and support the industry amid these challenges.

Also read | Manu Joseph: Why national pride has not cleaned up Delhis air
Moneybags from Mauritius, Singapore and Cayman Islands are yet to make the move to Gujarat's GIFT City given burdensome tax and compliance rules without commensurate benefits, industry executives said.

While GIFT City has seen a steady rise in new funds, it has struggled to lure funds out of established offshore centres. As of March, India's financial centre had 229 funds, as per IFSCA quarterly bulletin. However, according to an official aware of the matter, a mere 13 of them, including Alchemy India Long Term Fund, Mirae Asset India Midcap Equity Fund and Artha Global Opportunities Fund have actually migrated from foreign jurisdictions.

Among the reasons: Mandatory physical presence of employees, stiff compliance rules, and no added advantage for older close-ended funds making the shift.

Local staff

Every non-retail fund management entity in GIFT IFSC is required to have at least two individuals physically presentspecifically, a principal officer and a compliance officer for managing Category I, II, and III alternative investment funds. (Retail funds must have at least three) Also, if the entity manages assets of $1 billion or more, it should appoint a third person.

This is not the case in offshore financial centres, said Vinod Joseph, a partner at Economic Laws Practice.

Mauritius allows funds to be set up in the form of companies and the directors of such companies are provided by local administrators, Joseph said. Such directors may also serve as directors for other companies, meeting regulatory requirements without needing a dedicated local team."

Also read | Low-ticket Gift City funds are almost here. But what holds them back?

Singapore does require full-time employees for fund management firms, but it is relatively easier to hire such personnel in Singapore and the people need to be employed locally only if assets exceed a certain size, Joseph added. In the case of an existing fund, the actual fund management team is often based outside India. Expecting them to relocate to GIFT IFSC solely to meet substance requirements is not easy," he added.

Tax

For certain sets of funds (Cat-I /II AIF), the fund will withhold tax and the same is available as credit in the hands of the investor, as GIFT funds are tax-transparent. This may not be the case for a Cat-III AIF and credit to the investors will be subject to their local laws," said Vivek Mimani, Partner at Khaitan & Co.

In contrast, jurisdictions like Mauritius do not require investors to register for tax in India, as the fund itself pays tax and further distributions are tax-free," he said.

An executive at a fund which recently relocated to GIFT IFSC said that even as the Indian jurisdiction is evolving and trying to align with international jurisdictions, layers of complexity remain. Artha Global Opportunities Fund, a Mauritius-headquartered and Sebi-registered fund investing in distressed assets and special situations in India said in December that it was the first foreign portfolio investor to move its domicile from Mauritius to GIFT City.

Read this | Gift City sovereign green bonds face currency hurdle

Once a fund relocates to GIFT City, it becomes subject to various domestic compliance obligationsGST registration, TDS, income tax filings, and more," said Sachin Sawrikar, managing partner, Artha Bharat Investment Managers IFSC LLP.

For a fund which neither provides services nor sells products and typically earns passive income, the requirement to file monthly GST returns is particularly misaligned and burdensome," Sawrikar said.

Sawrikar added that payments to foreign vendors, which would typically be tax-free elsewhere, attract withholding tax at GIFT City under Indias Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) provisions. These additional taxes and compliance costs increase operational burden," Sawrikar added.

Relocation is not for everyone

For close-ended funds with a limited remaining durationsay, a 10-year fund in Mauritius that has already completed fiveseven yearsrelocating to GIFT City often does not make financial sense. That is because the costs and efforts involved may outweigh the benefits, a person aware of the matter said.

Relocation is also a time-consuming process that requires approvals from investors in the fund, regulators in the home jurisdiction, and the authorities at GIFT. As a result, many fund managers prefer to let existing funds run their course in their current jurisdiction and instead consider setting up new funds in GIFT City," the person said on the condition of anonymity.

Also read | GIFT City isnt just for NRIs and foreigner investorsit has something for everyone

Usually, one would not rock the boat if it is sailing right; only a few are willing to take that step, said Ketaki Mehta, a partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. She added that relocation requires setting up in GIFT IFSC, hiring an investment manager in GIFT City, building a team, and winding up elsewhere.

What's ahead?

Experts said the government has relaxed certain regulations to lure more funds to the GIFT City.

Initially, all investors in a fund when the fund was relocating to GIFT IFSC were required to obtain a PAN. However, not every investor was comfortable with it, and recognizing that many of these investors had no other taxable income in India and were tax residents in other jurisdictions, the government relaxed the rule," said Ketaki.

Now, non-resident investors who invest solely through IFSC funds and do not earn any other income in India are exempt from obtaining a PAN. This change, implemented in 2020, was aimed at streamlining processes and making it easier for foreign investors to participate in IFSC without facing redundant compliance obligations," she added.

And read | Mauritius keen to set up shop in GIFT City
With the global new energy vehicle (NEV) market becomes increasingly competitive, BYD is rapidly expanding overseas, driven by the unique advantage of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)-dedicated technology.

According to data compiled by the Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, BYD's PHEVs outsold battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in key markets like Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey, fueling the brands growth abroad.

Here are the top 10 destination countries by BYD passenger vehicle exports in Q1 2025, with detailed data:

Mexico: 14,595 battery electric passenger vehicles and 19,781 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 34,376 units.

Belgium: 17,999 battery electric passenger vehicles and 15,689 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 33,688 units.

Brazil: 8,291 battery electric passenger vehicles and 12,273 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 20,564 units.

Turkey: 4,526 battery electric passenger vehicles and 9,434 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 13,960 units.

Thailand: 11,167 battery electric passenger vehicles with no plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 11,167 units.

UK: 5,650 battery electric passenger vehicles and 4,677 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 10,327 units.

Indonesia: 8,924 battery electric passenger vehicles with no plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 8,924 units.

Spain: 4,300 battery electric passenger vehicles and 4,126 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 8,426 units.

Australia: 5,617 battery electric passenger vehicles and 2,740 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 8,357 units.

Philippines: 1,380 battery electric passenger vehicles and 3,421 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 4,801 units.

The data reveals three distinct market categories: PHEV-dominant, balanced development, and BEV-focused. These categories not only reflect varying infrastructure and policy landscapes, but also showcase BYD's targeted market strategy.

In the PHEV-dominated markets such as Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey, the underdeveloped charging infrastructure combined with consumer range anxiety create strong demand for PHEVs. Brazil's ethanol fuel policies also give PHEVs an edge through compatibility with biofuels, aligning policy and market incentives.

Balanced development markets, such as Belgium, the UK, and Spain, demonstrate the inclusiveness of mature markets. In Spain, the government approved an extension of the Moves III incentive program in April, with a total budget of 400 million, aimed at supporting electric vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure construction, further promoting electrification development.

In BEV-focused markets such as Thailand and Indonesia, the relatively low import tariffs on NEVs have fueled the rapid growth of the sector in Southeast Asia. For instance, the consumption tax on imported NEVs priced below 7 million baht was reduced from 8% to 2% between 2024 and 2025 under Thailands 'EV 3.5' program. This has promoted many Chinese car companies to establish a foothold in the market.

Overall, BYD's overseas journey is driven by a "dual-engine" strategy simultaneously promoting PHEVs and BEVs to meet diverse market demands. In emerging markets like Mexico and Brazil, PHEV-dedicated technology bridges the gap of limited charging infrastructure with extended range and fuel compatibility. In mature European markets, policies and consumer preferences drive the adoption of multiple technologies. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, a key market for BEVs, BYDs strategic positioning allows it to capitalize on policy incentives.

As global EV competition shifts from product-level rivalry to full-ecosystem adaptability, BYD's flexible approach may provide valuable insights for Chinese NEV companies looking to expand globally.
Gold price today: Gold rates climbed in the domestic futures market Wednesday morning, supported by growing uncertainty about the US-China trade tussle and a largely stable US dollar. MCX Gold August 5 contracts traded 0.27 per cent higher at 97,980 per 10 grams around 11:55 AM.

Mounting uncertainty over US-China trade relations is boosting gold's safe-haven appeal.

According to a PTI report, China on Monday accused the US of "seriously violating their recent Geneva trade truce by introducing multiple restrictive measures like AI chip export control guidelines, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and revoking visas for Chinese students."

Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi complained to new US Ambassador David Perdue about recent US actions that have soured relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the US dollar index was stable, as better-than-expected US jobs data supported the greenback.

"Bullion prices experienced some profit-taking at higher levels following a strong rally driven by escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and China. So far, there have been no signs of progress toward resolving either the US-China tariff dispute or the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict," Aksha Kamboj, Vice President, India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) and Executive Chairperson, Aspect Global Ventures, pointed out.

Kamboj believes gold may regain appeal as a defensive asset after the OECD lowered its global growth outlook.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned of a deeper economic slowdown due to the Trump administration's trade policies.

Kamboj said the current pullback in gold prices appears to be a minor correction within a broader upward trend.

Experts highlight key levels for MCX Gold According to Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvifinmart Commodity Research, gold and silver prices could be volatile in the near term.

"We expect gold and silver prices to remain volatile this week amid volatility in the dollar index, geopolitical tensions and volatility in the global bond markets. We suggest buying silver around 1,01,000-1,00,200 with a stop loss of 99,400 for the target of 1,02,400-1,03,500," said Jain.

Jain finds support for gold at $3,355-3,330, while resistance is at $3,400-3,414 per troy ounce. Silver has support at $34.30-33.94, while resistance is at $35.00-35.35 per troy ounce in todays session.

Jain said MCX Gold has support at 97,220-96,850 and resistance at 98,200-98,650, while silver has support at 1,00,400-99,800 and resistance at 1,02,400-1,03,760.

According to Renisha Chainani, the head of research at Augmont, gold prices have broken the range of $3,275(nearly 95,000) and $3,375(nearly 96,400) on the upside. If this positive momentum continues, it could rise towards $3,450 (nearly 99,000).

Silver prices have broken the one-month range of $32.5(nearly 96,000) and $34(nearly 99,000), next resistance is $35 (nearly 1,01,500), said Chainani.

Read all market-related news here

Read more stories by Nishant Kumar
Airbus SE share price: Shares of Airbus Group SE jumped 4% in opening deals on Wednesday, June 4, extending their rally to the third straight session amid reports that Chinese airlines are considering placing a big order for Airbus SE aircraft. With today's rise, the stock gained over 6% in the last three sessions.

According to a Bloomberg report, Chinese airlines are considering ordering up to 300 narrowbody and widebody Airbus SE aircraft as soon as next month when European leaders visit Beijing. The order could rise to as many as 500 aircraft, one of the people told Bloomberg.

Reuters first reported in April that China has been in on-and-off negotiations to place an order for up to 500 Airbus jets.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany are among leaders who may visit Beijing in July to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Their countries are the two biggest owners of Airbus.

Airbus SE share price trend Airbus Group SE shares opened at 169.92, higher than their last closing price of 166.44. They soon extended gains to the day's high of 173.26, recording an upside of 4%. Today's rally has brought Airbus SE stock close to its 52-week high of 177.3 apiece.

Airbus SE's share price has skyrocketed after reports of big orders from China for jets. This has triggered fresh buying in the stock, said Avinash Gorakshkar, Head of Research at Profitmart Securities.

Also Read | F-16 fighter jet maker Lockheed Martin gives zero returns in a month

However, he added that neither side has an official update, so fresh investors are advised to wait for an official statement. The European Exchange is expected to seek clarification on this significant upside in Airbus SE's share price in the last three straight sessions, Gorakshkar said.

Airbus SE stock: Can it rally more? Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investments, said Airbus is on the verge of a bullish breakout from a 61-week-long cup and handle pattern, with the breakout pivot placed at 167.

The base has witnessed strong institutional accumulation, as reflected by multiple high-volume candles during the formation. A breakout above 167 is likely to sustain and trigger fresh bullish momentum. Post-breakout, the stock is expected to head towards 195, offering a promising upside for both positional and momentum traders, added Jain.

(With inputs from agencies)
On Tuesday, the Nifty 50 dropped 0.70%, closing below 24,542 amid an increased volatile trading day. The decline was driven by weakness in the financial, energy, and IT sectors. Additionally, sharp losses in Adani Group stocks followed reports of a US investigation into alleged violations of Iran sanctions. Global trade tensions, caution ahead of the Reserve Bank of India policy meeting, rising US bond yields, and fluctuating oil prices added to investor concerns.

Two stock recommendations for today, 3 June, by MarketSmith India:

Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (current price: 208.42)

Why its recommended: Strong R&D capability, robust financial position.

Key metrics: P/E: 13.74 | 52-week high:  274.70 | Volume: 155.17 crore

Technical analysis: Reclaimed its 200-DMA

Risk factors: Volatile raw material prices, monsoon dependency, and environmental compliance

Buy at: 208.42

Target price: 240 in three months

Stop loss: 195

Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (current price: 551)

Why its recommended: Diversified revenue streams, strategic expansion plans.

Key metrics: P/E: 13.45 | 52-week high: 677 | Volume: 103.13 crore

Technical analysis: Bullish flag pattern breakout

Risk factors: Commodity price volatility

Buy at: 551

Target price: 610 in three months

Stop loss: 525

Nifty 50: How the benchmark index performed on 3 June

On Tuesday, Nifty 50 opened the session on a positive note. However, it failed to remain in the positive zone during the first few minutes of the trade. Persistent selling pressure through the day dragged the index lower, resulting in a close near the sessions low. This intraday reversal led to the formation of a bearish candlestick on the daily chart, indicating waning bullish momentum and the potential for a short-term trend reversal. Market breadth remained weak, with the advance-decline ratio settling negatively at 2:3.

Technically, the index breached its 21-DMA on a closing basis, indicating a deterioration in short-term price and momentum trends. The recent price action suggests that sellers are gradually gaining control, as reflected in the increased volatility over the past few weeks. The relative strength index (RSI) is trending downward and is currently hovering around 50, while a negative crossover in the MACD further reinforces the weakening momentum.

The index has breached its 21-DMA along with nine distribution days, signaling weakening short-term momentum. Hence, as per O'Neils methodology of market direction, the overall market status has been downgraded to an "Uptrend Under Pressure" from a confirmed uptrend".

Nifty50 is now trading below its 21-DMA on the daily chart with a negative bias. The index is currently trending sideways with a negative bias, and immediate support is placed around 24,50024,400. A further breach below this range may turn more negative toward 24,000 in the coming trading sessions. On the upside, strong resistance is placed in the range of 25,00025,200. A decisive breakout above this range is crucial to revive bullish sentiment. Until then, a cautious and defensive approach can be followed in the coming days.

How did the Nifty Bank perform yesterday?

On Tuesday, the Nifty Bank opened the session on a positive note but quickly lost momentum as volatility gripped the index. Despite a strong start at 56,104.80, it failed to sustain gains and drifted lower during the day. The index oscillated in a wide range between 56,161.40 and 55,455.80, finally settling at 55,599.95, reflecting a loss of intraday strength. The formation of a bearish candlestick on the daily chart indicates profit booking at higher levels and a lack of follow-through buying interest.

From a momentum standpoint, the relative strength index (RSI) is trending sideways and currently hovers near the neutral 58 mark, suggesting a momentum loss. Additionally, the MACD has triggered a negative crossover, further reinforcing the emerging bearish tone. These indicators collectively suggest a cautious near-term outlook, with limited upside potential unless fresh buying emerges above key resistance zones.

According to ONeils methodology of market direction, the Nifty Bank has recently transitioned from an Uptrend Under Pressure" to a more constructive phase of a Confirmed Uptrend," highlighting renewed strength and resilience in the broader trend.

The Nifty Bank is currently consolidating near its all-time high but has struggled to break and sustain above 56,000. A decisive breakout and a sustained close above this threshold are essential to reaffirm bullish momentum and potentially pave the way for a rally toward 57,50058,000. In the absence of such a breakout, the index is likely to remain within its current consolidation range. On the downside, immediate support is placed near 55,000, followed by 54,500.

MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. It offers tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions based on the CAN SLIM methodology, developed by legendary investor William J. O'Neil. You can access a 10-day free trial by registering on its website.

Trade name: William ONeil India Pvt. Ltd.

Sebi Registration No.: INH000015543

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
IDFC First Bank share price traded higher on Wednesday after the private lender announced that Currant Sea Investments B.V. received Competition Commission of India (CCI) approval for stake acquisition. IDFC First Bank shares gained as much as 0.64% to 67.41 apiece on the BSE.

... we wish to inform that Currant Sea Investments B.V. has received the approval of the CCI with respect to its proposed investment of up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital of the Bank, IDFC First Bank said in a regulatory filing on June 4.

The proposed investment is subject to receipt of approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the private lender added.

Also Read | NBFC stock below 100 edges higher after conversion of warrants into equities

The transaction involves Currant Sea Investments B.V. subscribing to 81,26,94,722 compulsorily convertible cumulative preference shares (CCPS) of IDFC First Bank. This will result in the Netherlands-based Currant Sea Investments B.V. holding a stake of up to 9.99% in IDFC First Bank on a fully diluted basis.

The proposed combination entails the acquisition of up to 9.99% of the paid up share capital (on a fully diluted basis) of IDFC First Bank Limited (IDFC/Target) by way of subscription to 81,26,94,722 compulsorily convertible cumulative preference shares (CCPS) by Currant Sea Investments B.V. (Currant Sea/Acquirer), the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said.

IDFC First Bank Share Price Performance IDFC First Bank share price has gained 2% in one month and more than 18% in the past three months. On a YTD basis, IDFC First Bank shares have risen 5%, while the banking stock has fallen 7% in the past one year.

However, IDFC First Bank share price has delivered multibagger returns over the longer term, as the stock has rallied 90% in three years and 195% in five years.

At 2:30 PM, IDFC First Bank share price was trading 0.43% higher at 67.27 apiece on the BSE.
While SEBIs recent comments have rekindled hopes around the long-delayed National Stock Exchange (NSE) IPO, market experts caution that optimism must be tempered with realism. Several regulatory and legal hurdles still stand in the way of what could be one of Indias most consequential public offerings.

The NSE IPO has long been a topic of anticipation and speculation. First proposed in 2016 with an aim to sell a 22 percent stake and raise 10,000 crore, the offering has yet to materialize due to the absence of a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). This certificate is crucial for the exchange to formally proceed with its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) and begin the listing process.

Recent developments, however, have reignited interest in the IPO. SEBI Chair Tuhin Kanta Pandeys comment that the NSE IPO application is not something that cannot be sorted has been interpreted by many as a soft green light for the long-pending listing.

Unlisted Share Rally Fuels Overexuberance In response, unlisted shares of NSE have surged over 60 percent in recent weeks, trading between 2,380 and 2,419 apiece, according to unlisted stock platforms.

The price spike in NSEs unlisted shares reflects high investor expectations that the IPO is imminent. But market veterans urge caution.

Trivesh D, COO of Tradejini, said: NSEs listing is long overdue, especially considering it first approached SEBI back in 2016. Given its dominant global position in derivatives and strong business fundamentals, going public is a natural step. A listing would not only enhance transparency and deepen governance but also set a benchmark for capital markets infrastructure in India. The recent rally in unlisted NSE shares shows strong market sentiment, although regulatory caution must still be factored in. Investors should not expect immediate action.

The excitement is also being fed by reports that NSE is exploring a settlement with SEBIpotentially worth 1,000 croreto clear legacy regulatory issues. While that may fast-track the approval process, theres no formal confirmation of acceptance from the regulator yet.

Regulatory and Legal Hurdles Persist During the May 7 earnings call, NSE MD and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan addressed the IPO in detail. He confirmed that NSE had responded to SEBIs February 28 communication and formally requested the long-pending NOC. However, Chauhan acknowledged that major regulatory gaps remain.

For instance, SEBI has yet to issue clear directives around the disinvestment of clearing corporationsan area critical to exchanges like NSE. Additionally, unresolved issues around key managerial personnel (KMP) salaries could complicate the IPO timeline.

While weve responded to SEBIs queries, the process doesnt end there, Chauhan said. We await regulatory guidance on clearing corporation disinvestment and compensation norms. These are important aspects that could influence not just the IPOs timing but its structure as well.

Legal issues are another area of concern. NSE remains involved in cases currently pending before the Supreme Court, and while Chauhan said all such matters would be disclosed in the DRHP, the potential for further delay cannot be ruled out.

Co-location Case Still Haunts NSE SEBIs September 2024 order offered partial relief to NSE by clearing former executives, including ex-CEOs Chitra Ramkrishna and Ravi Narain, of any wrongdoing in the infamous 2019 co-location case. However, the order did highlight governance lapses and inadequate oversight, particularly around server access.

While these findings may not pose a direct legal obstacle anymore, they do underscore the need for stricter regulatory scrutiny. SEBI has signaled greater openness to listed exchanges in recent years, but only if adequate safeguards and conflict-of-interest frameworks are in place. This could mean additional compliance requirements for NSE before the IPO gets the green light.

Tempered Optimism Is Key The NSE IPO remains one of the most anticipated events in Indias capital market history, and recent developments have certainly moved the process closer to realization. However, regulatory bottlenecks and legal challenges continue to stand in the way of immediate progress.

Investors must tread carefully. While the surge in unlisted shares reflects genuine enthusiasm, it may not align with the pace of regulatory approvals or legal resolutions. Until SEBI issues the much-awaited NOC and provides clarity on structural issues like clearing corporation disinvestment, the road to listing remains uncertain.

For now, the best approach is to stay informed, watch for official updates, and avoid overcommitting based on speculation. In the words of market watchers: the NSE IPO may be comingbut not as soon as the rally suggests.
Indian stock markets extended their losing streak for a third straight session on Tuesday, 3 June, as weak global cues, stretched valuations, and persistent foreign capital outflows weighed on investor sentiment.

The Sensex opened at 81,492.50, slightly higher than its previous close of 81,373.75, but soon tumbled nearly 800 pointsor 1%to hit an intraday low of 80,575.09. The Nifty 50 followed a similar trajectory, opening at 24,786.30 versus the previous close of 24,716.60, before slipping to an intraday low of 24,502.15, also down about 1%.

By the end of the days trading session, the Sensex had shed 636 points, or 0.78%, to end at 80,737.51, while the Nifty 50 closed at 24,542.50, down 174 points, or 0.70%.

On to the top stock recommendations for today by some of Indias top market experts. .

Stocks to trade today, recommended by Trade Brains Portal for 4 June

eMudhra Ltd

Current price :  758

: 758 Target price :  920 (1624 months)

: 920 (1624 months) Stop-loss :  677

: 677 Why eMudhra is recommended: Established in 2008, eMudhra Ltd is a global organization enabling secure digital transformation through Trust services and identity-based solutions. As Indias largest certifying authority, it has issued over 60 million digital identities and serves enterprise clients across more than 21 countries. Its customer base includes Fortune 100 companies and over 1,000 enterprises that rely on its identity, authentication, and paperless platforms for digital transformation initiatives.

The company operates in two key segments: Enterprise Solutions, which contributes 80% of its revenue, and Trust Services, which accounts for the remaining 20%. eMudhra is uniquely positioned as the only Indian company offering a unified platform for identity, signing, cryptography, and certificate automation. It continues to lead the Indian market in the Trust Services segment, providing a wide range of digital certificates, including digital signature, SSL/TLS, and S/MIME certificates.

In FY25, the companys international business grew 57.3% year-on-year, now contributing 62% of total revenue. eMudhra plans to expand further into the European Union in FY26. It also made strategic acquisitions in the U.S., including Ikon and Two95, to strengthen its presence and create cross-selling opportunities in the American market.

Financially, eMudhra reported a total income of 527.8 crore in FY25, up 38.9% YoY, driven by strong global demand for its services and solutions. Adjusted EBITDA rose 15.7% YoY to 141.3 crore, with a 4-year CAGR of 35%. Adjusted PAT stood at 94.6 crore, up 17.3% YoY, with a robust margin of 17.9%. The company remains debt-free, with cash and cash equivalents of 188.56 crore as of FY25.

Risk factors: However, the business is exposed to regulatory risk, as it relies on licences to issue digital certificates. Failure to comply with evolving guidelines or audit requirements in India or abroad could affect operations. Additionally, it faces competition from global players such as DigiCert, Entrust, Sectigo, and GlobalSign across various digital certificate offerings.

Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd

Current price :  122

: 122 Target price :  150 (1624 months)

: 150 (1624 months) Stop-loss :  108

: 108 Why Bajaj Housing Finance is recommended: A non-deposit-taking housing finance company registered with the National Housing Bank in 2015, Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd (BHFL) began operations in 2017. It offers a range of secured lending products including home loans, loans against property, lease rental discounting, and developer finance, with a focus on maintaining a low-risk, medium-return portfolio.

In FY25, BHFL surpassed 1 lakh crore in assets under management (AUM), reaching 1,14,684 crore. Its AUM is well-diversified: home loans make up 56.2%, lease rental discounting 19.1%, developer finance 12.5%, loans against property 10.7%, and other segments the remaining 1.5%. The company now operates 216 branches across 174 locations in 22 states.

Since FY18, BHFLs AUM has grown at a staggering 64% CAGR. Total income in FY25 rose 25.7% YoY to 9,576 crore, while loan disbursements increased 25% YoY to 14,254 crore. Profit after tax for the year stood at 2,163 crore, also up 25%. The operating expense (OPEX) ratio has improved dramaticallyfrom 74.6% in FY18 to 20.8% in FY25reflecting strong cost control. Return on equity has strengthened to 13.4% in FY25 from 7.8% in FY21. Asset quality remains robust, with gross NPAs at just 0.11% and a provision coverage ratio of 60%. Net interest margin remains healthy and stable at 4% in Q4FY25.

Looking ahead, management has guided for 2426% AUM growth over the medium term. The OPEX ratio is expected to fall further to 1415%, and ROE is projected to improve to 1315%. GNPA levels are expected to remain within 4060 basis points. Leverage, currently at 5.2x, is targeted to increase to 78x, while the debt-to-equity ratio stood at 4.1x in FY25. BHFL plans to invest aggressively in its Strategic Business Units and expand into non-metro markets in FY26 to sustain its growth momentum.

Risk factors. The housing finance industry is highly competitive, especially in the affordable housing space. BHFL could face pressure on lending margins and market share if it is forced to lower rates. Additionally, the company faces geographic concentration risk, with a significant portion of its business concentrated in four states and the New Delhi region.

Two stock recommendations for today, 3 June, by MarketSmith India

Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (current price: 208.42)

Why its recommended: Strong R&D capability, robust financial position.

Key metrics: P/E: 13.74 | 52-week high:  274.70 | Volume: 155.17 crore

Technical analysis: Reclaimed its 200-DMA

Risk factors: Volatile raw material prices, monsoon dependency, and environmental compliance

Buy at: 208.42

Target price: 240 in three months

Stop-loss: 195

Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (current price:  551)

Why its recommended: Diversified revenue streams, strategic expansion plans.

Key metrics: P/E: 13.45 | 52-week high: 677 | Volume: 103.13 crore

Technical analysis: Bullish flag pattern breakout

Risk factors: Commodity price volatility

Buy at: 551

Target price: 610 in three months

Stop-loss: 525

Here are three stocks to buy or sell as recommended by Raja Venkatraman of NeoTrader

Buy: National Fertilizers Ltd (Cmp  107.32)

Why its recommended: The trends at the moment in this counter remains a challenging task as the upside in the counter was curtailed at the value resistance zone around 100. Post surpassing this level the rise in momentum supported by steady volumes are highlighting possibility of more upward traction.

The trends at the moment in this counter remains a challenging task as the upside in the counter was curtailed at the value resistance zone around 100. Post surpassing this level the rise in momentum supported by steady volumes are highlighting possibility of more upward traction. Key metrics: P/E: 68.94, 52-week high:  169.95, Volume: 31.71M.

P/E: 68.94, 52-week high: 169.95, Volume: 31.71M. Technical analysis : Support at  89, resistance at  125.

: Support at 89, resistance at 125. Risk factors: Market volatility and sector-wide fluctuations in geopolitical news could impact returns.

Market volatility and sector-wide fluctuations in geopolitical news could impact returns. Buy at : CMP and dips to  102.50.

: CMP and dips to 102.50. Target price:  114-117 in 1 month.

114-117 in 1 month. Stop-loss:  99.

Buy: Cochin Shipyard Ltd (Cmp 2034.70)

Why its recommended : COCHINSHIP. is a major Indian shipbuilding and ship repair facility, established in 1972 as a fully owned Government of India company. It builds and repairs various types of vessels, including large defence and commercial ships, and also offers marine engineering training and strategic solutions. The prices have spent the last few months in attempting a recovery until the Indo  Pak altercation brought he spotlight once again on Defence stocks. As momentum remains strong with robust volume lead breakout consider going long at current levels and also on dips.

: COCHINSHIP. is a major Indian shipbuilding and ship repair facility, established in 1972 as a fully owned Government of India company. It builds and repairs various types of vessels, including large defence and commercial ships, and also offers marine engineering training and strategic solutions. The prices have spent the last few months in attempting a recovery until the Indo  Pak altercation brought he spotlight once again on Defence stocks. As momentum remains strong with robust volume lead breakout consider going long at current levels and also on dips. Key metrics: P/E: 35.66, 52-week high:  352.50, Volume: 10.03M.

P/E: 35.66, 52-week high: 352.50, Volume: 10.03M. Technical analysis : Support at  145, resistance at  185.

: Support at 145, resistance at 185. Risk factors: Rising input costs, increased operational expenses, and potentially foreign exchange impacts.

Rising input costs, increased operational expenses, and potentially foreign exchange impacts. Buy at : CMP and dips to  1970.

: CMP and dips to 1970. Target price :  2185-2240 in 1 month.

: 2185-2240 in 1 month. Stop loss:  1950.

Buy: TCI Express Ltd (Cmp  805.35)

Why its recommended : The stock that had been undergoing some steady decline since last 8 months until this May when prices started bottoming out. On back of robust results the strong upmove seen in the prices are signalling possibility of more upward traction. Consider a long opportunity.

: The stock that had been undergoing some steady decline since last 8 months until this May when prices started bottoming out. On back of robust results the strong upmove seen in the prices are signalling possibility of more upward traction. Consider a long opportunity. Key metrics: P/E: 34.04, 52-week high:  1283.20, volume: 517.87K.

P/E: 34.04, 52-week high: 1283.20, volume: 517.87K. Technical analysis : Support at  642, resistance at  1030.

: Support at 642, resistance at 1030. Risk factors : Sluggish growth, negative quarterly results, and reduced institutional investor participation.

: Sluggish growth, negative quarterly results, and reduced institutional investor participation. Buy at : above  805 and dips to  780.

: above 805 and dips to 780. Target price:  880-900 in 1 month.

880-900 in 1 month. Stop-loss:  760

MarketSmith India: Trade name: William O'Neil India Pvt. Ltd; Sebi-registered research analyst registration number: INH000015543

Trade Brains Portal is a stock analysis platform. Its trade name is Dailyraven Technologies Pvt. Ltd, and its Sebi-registered research analyst registration number is INH000015729.

Raja Venkatraman is co-founder, NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223.

Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
The rising gold prices act as a double-edged sword for jewellery stocks, as they can lead to inventory gains but dent demand, which could impact the profitability.

With gold prices once again eyeing the 1,00,000 mark in the spot market, the spotlight is back on the jewellery companies like Titan, Kalyan Jewellers and Senco Gold, which have showcased a mixed performance so far in 2025.

While the market leader Titan has gained 7% year-to-date (YTD) amid a 26% rally in gold prices, other top jewellery stocks  Kalyan, Senco and Motisons  have lost between 28% and 40%.

However, despite the mixed show, analysts remain largely positive on the branded jewellery players. They believe that while the short-term outlook is hazy, these companies will continue to do well in the long run, given strong demand and a shift towards organised players.

Will rising gold prices impact jewellery demand? Sky-high gold prices create a complex landscape for jewellery companies, said Vinit Bolinjkar, Head of Research, Ventura.

While high gold prices can boost revenue for companies dealing in gold jewellery due to higher per-unit sales value, they also suppress consumer demand for physical jewellery, particularly in price-sensitive markets. In India, jewellery demand slumped 25% YoY in volume in Q1CY2025, he observed.

However, despite the slump in demand, ICRA projects domestic gold jewellery consumption by value to continue to exhibit double-digit growth in FY2026, with an estimated increase of 12-14%. This trend, ICRA said, is similar to the price-driven expansion seen in FY2025, when the sector registered a 28% rise in value, largely attributable to a 33% surge in gold prices. The current fiscal year is expected to follow a similar trajectory.

According to Jitin Makkar, Senior Vice President and Group Head, ICRA, ICRAs sample of 14 large retailersrepresenting approximately two-thirds of the organised marketis expected to post revenue growth of 1416% YoY in FY2026. This will be supported by continued gold price appreciation, planned retail expansion, and market share gains from the unorganised segment. A higher number of auspicious days in the fiscal is also expected to lend some support to demand, despite elevated prices and declining volumes.

Also Read | Gold is sending markets a big warning signal

These estimates come, even as ICRA expects domestic gold jewellery consumption volumes to decline by 9-10% in FY2026, following the 7% drop in FY2025. However, ICRA added that investment demand (coins and bars) will remain resilient.

According to a Reuters report, quoting CFO Ashok Sonthalia, Titan's jewellery business, which accounts for nearly 90% of its total revenue, is expected to grow between 15-20% in FY26 amid demand from affluent Indians.

Further explaining the impact of rising gold prices, Boljinkar said, "Most organised jewellers use average-cost accounting, so a rising gold curve fattens reported gross margins until prices plateau. Each $100/oz move in gold adds roughly 60-80 bps to operating margin in the following quarter for inventory-heavy players such as Titan and Kalyan."

Q4 snapshot The bullish outlook by analysts is further driven by the organised jewellery sector's robust Q4 FY25 performance, despite the record-high gold prices. Titan Company led the pack with a ~19% year-on-year rise in jewellery revenue, while net profit climbed 13% to 871 crore. Despite elevated input costs, the company maintained its double-digit EBIT margins and announced plans to open 4050 new Tanishq stores in FY26 to deepen its footprint beyond metro cities.

Kalyan Jewellers reported a 37% jump in revenue to 6,182 crore, with PAT up 36% to 188 crore, driven by a 25% surge in same-store value and aggressive expansion across North and West India. Senco Gold, with a stronghold in Eastern India, logged a 19% increase in revenue and an impressive 94% growth in PAT to 62 crore. The company attributed its performance to vibrant wedding-season demand and a higher contribution from diamond jewellery, with non-East stores now accounting for 18% of total sales.

Regional player Thangamayil Jewellery also saw revenue grow to 1,381 crore with a net profit of 31 crore, highlighting the resilience of rural demand amid rising gold prices.

Jewellery stocks outlook: Time to buy? According to CA Jashan Arora, Director, Master Trust Group, said that many players have shown some concerns about elevated gold prices, which have increased working capital requirements and intensified competition, particularly from unorganised players.

"Despite these challenges, branded jewellers have shown resilience, leveraging their reputation for quality and brand value to capture market share from smaller competitors. The recent shift in what consumers prefer, leaning towards organised players, along with a strong demand for gold jewellery, paints a bright picture for the market. That said, seasonal trends and a higher baseline from the festive quarter have slowed down growth a bit. This means investors should keep an eye on companies that have solid balance sheets and smart hedging strategies to handle any short-term challenges," said Arora.

Also Read | F-16 fighter jet maker Lockheed Martin gives zero returns in a month

He added that a possible drop in gold prices could, in fact, encourage retail purchases, boosting topline growth for jewellery companies.

Sneha Poddar, VP - Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, also remains positive on jewellery stocks amid rising disposable income, shift to organised players and demand for regular-wear (beyond wedding and investment led).

"As per industry estimates, the jewellery market is expected to see 15-16% CAGR to reach USD145b by FY28, with organised/formal market likely to deliver +20% CAGR to reach 42-43% of the total market. Several Indian jewellery companies have continued to perform well in Q4FY25 despite high gold prices, suggesting a selective buying opportunity in jewellery stocks with preference towards quality brands with scale and balance sheet strength," said Poddar.

Commenting on which jewellery stocks to buy, Boljinkar said companies like Titan Company could be a strong long-term bet. "The company has the largest market share in wedding and everyday jewellery, omnichannel. At 45X FY28 P/E, the stock looks optically expensive but justified by 20% earnings CAGR and strong balance sheet," he added.
Surging US stock markets fueled the growth of wealth in North America last year, although fiscal instability, currency pressures, and more sluggish markets led to fewer wealthy folks in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, according to the Capgemini Research Institute.

In North America, the ranks of those with at least $1 million in investible assets grew by 7.3% to 8.4 million last year, up from 7.9 million in 2023. As the S&P 500 rose more than 23%, the wealth held by these rich folks grew 8.9% to nearly $30 trillion, up from $27.5 trillion a year earlier, according to Capgeminis 29th annual World Wealth Report.

Slower wealth growth outside North America shows up in Capgeminis worldwide figures. The numbers of wealthy individuals globally rose by only 2.6% last year to 23.4 millionthat compares with a 5.1% gain in the number of wealthy people the year before to 22.8 million.

Globally, the wealth of the worlds richest grew by 4.2% to $90.5 trillion last year from $86.8 trillion a year earlier, Capgemini said.

A good chunk of the rise was among the ultrarichthose with at least $30 million in investible assetswho gained 6.3% in assets and 6.2% in number to 234,000. This elite group represents only 1% of all wealthy individuals, but holds 34% of all the wealth, the firm said.

A reason the ultrawealthy have experienced outsize gains is that they tend to invest all over the world, not just in their local markets, says Kartik Ramakrishnan, CEO of the financial services strategic business unit at Capgemini. They can go where they see opportunities for profit," Ramakrishnan says.

Those with $1 million to $5 million in assetsa group Capgemini defines as the millionaires next door," however, tend to stick close to home with their investments, he says. According to the report, this segment also concentrated their assets in safer, lower-yielding investments last year, such as fixed-income and real estate. This conservative bent meant their ranks only grew by only 2.4%, when in 2023, the millionaires-next-door were the fastest-growing segment, adding 5.4% to their numbers.

The effects of an orientation to local markets is evident in Europe, for instance, where the pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose only 5.9% in 2024. The continents millionaires-next-door didnt capture the same sort of wealth gains as their U.S. counterparts, with wealth rising among this group by only 0.7% to $19 trillion in 2024, as the population of Europes wealthy fell by 2.1% to 5.7 million, the report said.

Globally, the wealthy have a 22% allocation to equities (up one percentage point from the previous year), a 19% allocation to real estate (same as 2023), and an 18% allocation to fixed-income (down two percentage points). The biggest allocation was 26% to cash, but that is likely because the survey is taken in January as investors gear up to deploy assets for the year, Ramakrishnan says.

More intriguing is that the wealthiest have 15% of assets in alternative investments. Although that is the same level as in 2023, those surveyed revealed rising interest in such investments as private equity and private credit, in addition to cryptocurrencies, he says.

Also, Capgeminis data show younger investors are already more invested in alternatives. Millennials (ages 28 to 43) surveyed have 17% of their assets in the sector, while Gen Z investors (ages 12-27) have 16%, compared with allocations of 14% each for both baby boomers (60 and older) and Gen X (ages 44-59), the survey found.

It makes sense, however, that as investors become more experienced, and can think through strategic return estimates over time, they begin to realize there are opportunities in private markets they dont want to missparticularly as more companies choose to remain private, says Kris Bitterly, global head of Citi Wealth at Work.

Lets say that you want to invest in generative AI in some capacityThere are the big megacap players that are dominating the U.S. equity market and will probably continue to do so in some capacity, given their free cash flow generation, and given their ability to self fund and invest," says Bitterly, who was among wealth management execs serving as a steering committee member for the report. But for someone who wants to invest in companies developing the full ecosystem" of AI, that is going to be in private markets."

Citi believes a modest-risk allocation to alternatives for is closer to 27%-28%, more than double a current level the firm sees of about 10%, even for investors who are familiar with alternatives."

The generational split in how the wealthy invest is interesting to think about as wealth rapidly shifts from older to younger generations. Among those Capgemini surveyed, 30% expect to receive an inheritance by the end 2030, 63% expect to receive one by the end of 2035, and 84% expect to have their inheritance by 2040. UBS has said this great wealth transfer will total $83.5 trillion through 2048.

Write to Abby Schultz at abby.schultz@barrons.com
Lynching is thought to have originated as a term sometime in the 1700s. The word conjures up an evil of the past, barbaric and unthinkable in a modern civilised society. It is, therefore, especially alarming that the term, and practice, has seen a resurgence in India over the past decade or so. This is tied to a related problem, the proliferation of fake news, willful and otherwise, through WhatsApp and other media. Just search for lynch mob and WhatsAppmost of the results are cases from India.

Only a handful of Hindi films have addressed the modern face of lynching. In Mukkabaaz (2018) and Afwaah (2023), vigilante groups attack a Dalit and a Muslim character respectively, who are badly injured but survive. No film has replicated the chilling aesthetic of lynching videos: self-shot on phones, victims begging for their lives, attackers addressing the camera. Dibakar Banerjee came closest with the shocking murder in the first segment of Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), a film where all the action is mediated via screens of different kinds.

Stolen doesn't imitate these videos, but it comes close to capturing their dread. In the opening scene of Karan Tejpals film, a baby is stolen from its sleeping mothers side by an unseen figure on a railway platform. A few minutes later, were told the film is inspired by real events'. In an interview to Scroll, Karan Tejpal said the inspiration was a lynching in Assam in 2018, where two people were killed by a mob on suspicion being child traffickers. This wasnt the only such incident around that time; there was a spate of lynchings in Jharkhand in 2017, when rumours spread on WhatsApp about child abductors resulted in the death of five people.

Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee) has come to pick up his younger brother, Raman (Shubham Vardan), from the railway station. He finds his sibling surrounded by a small, agitated group. Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer), a tribal woman, is accusing Raman, who'd picked up the abducted infant's cap, of stealing her baby. Two cops arrive and gruffly ask questions. Raman clearly isnt the abductor, but the young man is moved by the womans frantic appeals. He pushes the policemen to do their job; the righteous indignation in his voice tells us hes in trouble before even he knows it. Sure enough, the brothers are forced to tag along on their investigation in the dead of night.

Unlike his brother, Gautam has no illusions. Bahut galat phase hain yaar (were in real trouble), he tells Raman. He immediately realises it's a situation they need to extricate themselves from, and tries to smooth-talk, then bribe the cops. If Raman is a bleeding heart liberal, Gautam stands for the practical, risk-averse upper-class Indian (he's introduced talking on the phone about afterparties). He shows no empathy for Jhumpa, not because he doesnt recognise her predicament but because shes of a class and caste whose problems hes either isolated from or can be made to vanish easily (when she asks for help, he offers her money).

Stolen has the same basic trajectory as NH10 (2015), a momentary loss of reason that plunges an urban couple into a hinterland nightmare. But where that film had a clear, sadistic villain, Tejpal, working with writers Gaurav Dhingra, Swapnil Salkar and Vardhan, doesnt offer this neat a contrast. The antagonists are either shadowy figures or faceless mobs. No ones what they seem: one of the cops, Panditji (a wonderful Harish Khanna), reveals himself by degrees to be a man of conscience as well. Jhumpas story keeps mutatingI wont reveal more except to say the way some of the revelations are deployed reminded me of the brilliant Sonchiriya (2019), the only Hindi film in recent times that can match this one for utter bleakness.

The most interesting journey, though, is Gautams, who proves more resourceful under pressure than one might think. The way his self-centredness evolves into a surge of human feeling doesnt feel contrived. This is in large part because of Banerjee's deftness. He's become, in short order, one of the most arresting performers in Hindi film. From the start, its been difficult to pigeonhole him. His twin breakthroughs were as the slapstick Jana in Stree (2018) and the scary Hathoda Tyagi in the first season of Paatal Lok (2020). Last year, he reprised his role in Stree 2, and was also excellent as the smooth-talking, casteist politician who John Abraham goes up against in Vedaa (his gallery of villains also includes the grotesque child rapist in the 2017 indie Ajji). Stolen, for the first time, offers him a chance to do everything. Hes caustically funny scolding his brother and Jhumpa, adrenaline-filled and panicked when theyre being pursued (a handful of searing chases go a long way to enlivening the film's visual sameness), and stoically determined at the end, when hes been through too much to stand aside.
Kotak Mahindra Bank has introduced the Kotak UPI RuPay Virtual Credit Card, a new transformational digital payment solution. It is designed to primarily streamline credit card usage in the county through the unified payments interface (UPI) system.

This crucial development aligns well with the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) ongoing push to boost and expand digital payment infrastructure and further improve the comfort and convenience of credit based transactions for Indian credit card users and consumers.

Key features and eligibility The Kotak UPI RuPay Virtual Credit Card is simply a lifetime free offering. It is available exclusively in a virtual format. It has no physical cards issued. This allows users to link their credit cards directly with the UPI applications, thus enabling them to make instant payments without the need to carry a physical card with them.

Furthermore, the applicants must be existing Kotak credit card holders aged between 18 and 65 years. They should also be residents of India. Some important features of the card are discussed below:

This is a virtual only card; no physical card issued.

No joining or annual fees for life.

Earn 3 reward points per  100 spent on eligible transactions.

100 spent on eligible transactions. Rewards accrue on both UPI and standard credit card spends.

Minimum 1,000 reward points required for redemption. Note: The features discussed above are illustrative in nature. For the updated terms, features and conditions refer to the official website of the Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Also Read | Tata Neu HDFC Bank credit card revises lounge access rules from June 10

Step-by-step application process To apply for the Kotak UPI RuPay Virtual Credit Card, users should follow the given steps:

Visit the official Kotak Mahindra Bank website and then log in to the net banking portal or mobile banking application. Navigate to the credit cards section and select the option to apply for the UPI RuPay Virtual Credit Card. Complete the application form, while ensuring all eligibility criteria are met. Upon approval, the virtual card details will be generated instantly and made available within the application or net banking portal. Link the new RuPay credit card to your preferred UPI application. This can be done by following the in-app instructions, and setting up a UPI PIN to enable transactions. Regulatory and market context RBIs payments vision 2025 encourages users to link credit cards to UPI to boost digital transactions and safety. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has also announced improvements to boost UPI transaction efficiency and response time.

This will further enhance the user experience from June 2025. Furthermore, RuPay credit cardholders will continue to benefit from revised airport lounge access policies.

Hence, this move is anticipated to accelerate the adoption of credit based digital payments in the country. It will provide consumers with more flexibility, comfort and rewards while supporting the RBIs objective of boosting digital payment penetration across the country.

Therefore, as the digital payments landscape evolves such an initiative is poised to play a very important role in shaping the future of financial transactions in India.

On the part of users of these credit instruments such as high end premium credit cards, personal loans etc., it is important for customers to be well informed, completely aware and properly trained in the management of finances to make the most of these developments.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 1, Chinese autonomous driving technology firm Pony.ai and Shenzhen Xihu Group announced a strategic partnership to jointly deploy an autonomous taxi fleet in Shenzhen, according to a post on Pony.ai's WeChat account. The collaboration aims to accelerate the taxi industry's transformation from electrification to intelligence.

According to the agreement, the new fleet will feature mass-produced vehicles equipped with Pony.ai's seventh-generation autonomous driving software and hardware system, capable of Level 4 autonomy. The two companies plan to gradually roll out a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles across Shenzhen, leveraging autonomous driving technology to enhance operational safety, using intelligent scheduling systems to improve efficiency, and offering smarter ride experiences to elevate customer satisfaction. Together, they aim to build a next-generation intelligent mobility service system defined by greater safety, efficiency, and quality.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

This partnership represents a deep operational collaboration combining the strengths of a leading autonomous driving company and a major taxi operator. Pony.ai will contribute its core technological capabilities in autonomous driving systems, product development, user operations, and intelligent fleet scheduling. Shenzhen Xihu Group, in turn, will bring its extensive experience in vehicle and asset operations, safety management, and service assurance. The joint effort is designed to deliver a safe, comfortable, and efficient autonomous ride-hailing service to Shenzhen residents.

Pony.ai has been deeply rooted in Shenzhen for five years. It was the first company to receive a pilot permit for commercial operation of autonomous vehicles in the city's core urban areas. Looking ahead, Pony.ai plans to work more closely with transport companies to explore a "light asset operation + AI empowerment" model, accelerating the deployment of high-level autonomous driving systems at scale.

Shenzhen Xihu Group, a pioneer in Shenzhen's transition from oil-fueled to electric taxis, is a flagship enterprise in the city's taxi sector. Operating a fleet of nearly 5,000 electric taxis, it ranks among the largest battery electric vehicle transport service providers globally and boasts robust offline operational expertise and fleet management capabilities.

By pooling their respective resources and strengths, Pony.ai and Shenzhen Xihu Group will explore a new business model that deeply integrates autonomous driving technology with traditional taxi operations. The initiative aims to lead Shenzhen's mobility sector into a new eramoving from oil-fueled vehicles to electrification, and now from electrification to intelligent transportation. It also supports Shenzhen's goal of becoming a national benchmark for high-quality development in intelligent connected vehicles, while driving growth across the city's high-end smart vehicle supply chain.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has cracked the case of rape and sexual assault on multiple minors by arresting the accused from Hisar of Haryana. The investigation agency arrested the accused on allegations of committing rape, penetrative sexual assault etc. on multiple minor victims, it said in a statement.

The CBI said that a case was registered against the accused on May 29 on allegations that he was involved in creating, browsing, collecting, possessing, exchanging, and uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in sexual acts in electronic form and storage of pornographic material involving children.

Since no parent had come forward to file a complaint against the accused till the registration of the case, the CBI said it detected the instance of child sexual abuse on its own.

Demonstrating qualitative investigative skills, due diligence, and procedural efficiency, CBI detected Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images & videos from the INTERPOL's ICSE database; the CSAM were also found linked with Cyber Tipline Reports, generated by Google and submitted to I4C, MHA. The analysis of the images and videos using cyber forensic tools revealed the location of the incident to district Hisar in Haryana, depicting multiple victims of sexual assault and abuse by the accused, it said.

The investigation agency said it conducted searched at the residence of the accused on Tuesday, June 3 and uncovered incriminating electronic devices and identified multiple child victims who had been raped, sexually assaulted, threatened, and used for pornographic purposes.
At least two people were feared trapped after a building collapsed in Delhi's Rohini on Wednesday, the Delhi Fire Service said.

A fire officer said five teams were pressed into service after they received a call regarding the building collapse in Sector 7.

"We received a call at 4.04 pm. Our teams are working on the spot," the officer said.

A senior police officer said they have cordoned off the area where multiple teams have been rushed.

"Multiple teams from various rescue agencies, including Delhi Police, fire department and NDRF, have reached the spot.

Also Read | Six people killed as slab of Saptashrungi Building collapses in Kalyan

"We have cordoned off the area to prevent any untoward incident. The power department has turned off electricity supply in the area," the officer said.

The authorities are working to rescue those trapped and assess the damage.

The cause of the building collapse is yet to be determined.

Earlier in May, a building had collapsed after a massive fire at factory triggered blast in Bawana area of Delhi.

"Seventeen fire tenders were rushed to the spot in Sector 2 after a call reporting a fire at a factory manufacturing plastic bottles was received at 4.48 am (on May 24)," the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg said.

Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the multi-storey building, which collapsed after an explosion, as the flames rapidly engulfed the entire structure.

The explosion, which occurred shortly after the fire broke out, jolted the residents in the nearby areas, triggering panic as several locals rushed out of their homes, fearing further blasts, the officials had said.

Police launched a probe to find out what triggered the fire and the subsequent explosion.
US President Donald Trump revealed he had a 75-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation, according to Trump, centered on recent Ukrainian attacks on docked Russian military aircraft and broader military escalations in the region.

We discussed the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides, Trump wrote.

While describing the exchange as a good conversation, Trump added it would not lead to an immediate resolution. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace, he said.

Putin vows response to Ukrainian strike Trump noted that Putin expressed strong displeasure with Ukraines recent assault on Russian airfields and suggested retaliation is imminent. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields, Trump stated.

Iran nuclear talks also on the agenda The two leaders also reportedly discussed Irans nuclear ambitions, an issue Trump characterised as urgent. Time is running out on Irans decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly! Trump warned.

He said he pressed Putin on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and claimed both leaders were in agreement. I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.

Putin offers to mediate with Iran According to Trump, Putin indicated a willingness to help resolve the standoff with Iran. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion, Trump wrote.

Trump accuses Iran of slowwalking nuclear decision Trump did not mince words about Irans diplomatic posture, accusing Tehran of stalling. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, he said, adding that we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!

Putin labels Ukrainian leadership as terrorist organisation Putin condemned recent bridge attacks, saying Ukraine targeted civilians and accusing the countrys leadership of being a "terrorist organisation".

Speaking at a meeting with senior officials, Putin stated, The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all. What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?

Putins remarks came amid escalating tensions following the attacks on Russian airbases. Both Kyiv and Moscow deny targeting civilians, though casualties have been reported on both sides.

Kyiv has accused Moscow of lacking a genuine desire for peace, pointing to Russias resistance to an immediate ceasefire. Russia maintains that certain conditions must be met before halting hostilities.
Billionaire CEO and Tesla founder Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, landed at India's Ayodhya on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, as part of his five-day India visit. In an interaction with the media outlets, Musk Senior hinted at some upcoming opportunities for India.

On his fourth day of the five-day India visit, Errol Musk said some smart business plans for India that are currently being looked at, ANI reported on June 4.

Musk Senior also called India a wonderful place and requested that people all over the world visit the nation, highlighting that the people of the country are full of love and kindness.

Also Read | Errol Musk to visit Ram temple in Ayodhya in June: Sources

India is a wonderful place. As many people as possible should come to India. There are a lot of Indians in the country where I come from. So, I know the Indian culture. The people are full of love, kindness, probably the best people you can meet...We have some smart (business) plans which are being looked at...I think they (India-US relations) will be very good... said Errol Musk, cited the news agency.

Errol Musk's India Plans Billionaire Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, arrived in India on Sunday, 1 June 2025, for a five-day trip and is set to depart for South Africa on 6 June 2025, according to Mint's earlier report.

As per the report, during his stay in the nation, Musk Senior will provide strategic advisory support to the solar and EV charger manufacturing team at Haryana-based Servotech, aiming to forge partnerships for a green initiative.

Errol Musk was also set to tour Servotech's manufacturing facilities in India and interact with key government and investor groups through curated roundtable sessions.

Musk Senior is also likely to meet policymakers, business leaders, investors and senior bureaucrats in the Indian government during his trip.

(Errol) Musk's itinerary is packed with events aimed at promoting India's strategic push to become a global leader in green technologies and EV charging infrastructure exports, reported the news agency PTI, citing people aware of the development.

Errol Musk's visit to Ayodhya was to seek blessings from Shree Ram Lalla and engage with Indian culture and spiritual heritage.

Errol Musk will also visit Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya Ram Mandir to seek blessings from Shree Ram Lalla, reflecting his engagement with India's cultural and spiritual heritage, according to the agency report.
The US Federal Reserve on Tuesday announced that Wells Fargo will no longer be subjected to asset growth restrictions that the regulator imposed on the bank in 2018, following its long-running fake accounts scandal.

The Fed said in a statement on Tuesday that Wells Fargo met all conditions required to remove the restriction. The central bank completed its review of Wells Fargos remediation efforts and third-party assessments, as well as the Feds own assessment of the banks corporate governance and risk management programmes.

What made Fed to put asset cap? The asset cap was put in place after Wells Fargo was accused of inflating its growth by pressuring its employees to open millions of unauthorised accounts to hit sales targets.

The staff forged signatures, moved money into unauthorised accounts and altered contact details to open accounts without customers' knowledge, resulting in the Fed blocking the bank from growing beyond $1.95 trillion in total assets, which is a rare and severe penalty, as reported by Financial Times.

Also Read | Yes Bank share price gains as board approves raising up to 16,000 crore

According to the report, Wells Fargo paid more than $5 bn in penalties to regulators and class action claimants over the scandal.

Bloomberg also reported that since then, the bank also lost an estimated $36 billion in potential profits. While its competitors, JP Morgan and BoFA, expanded massively, Wells Fargo was unable to compete at full capacity.

How the bank reacted The CEO of Wells Fargo Charles W. Scharf said in a statement on Tuesday that the lifting of the asset cap was a huge accomplishment for the 215,000 employees of Wells Fargo, who together contributed to this milestone.

Scharf also said that each employee would receive a $2,000 award, mostly in the form of stock grants. The special award will vary in select international locations and for select employee classifications.

Investor sentiment after Fed decision Wells Fargos share price climbed around 3 per cent in extended trading on Tuesday, after the Federal Reserve made the announcement. The banks share is currently trading at $75.65, reflecting a boost in investor confidence.

Also Read | Federal Retirement Process Goes Digital, Targeting Paper Pileup

While the bank still faces some additional reviews from the Fed as part of the 2018 order, the removal of the asset cap marks a significant shift for the United States fourth-largest lender, after the scandals led to the removal of multiple executives. The former CEO of Wells Fargo, Tim Sloan resigned shortly after the 2018 ruling by the Fed.

About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is a large, American multinational financial services company, headquartered in California.
The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday told Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi that while Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech and expression, this freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions and it does not include the freedom to make statements which are defamatory to any person or defamatory to the Indian Army.

The Allahabad High Court dismissed Rahul Gandhis plea challenging a summons issued by a Lucknow court in a defamation case concerning his alleged derogatory remarks against the Indian Army during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alok Verma had directed Gandhi to appear for hearing on March 24 in the defamation case filed against him. Challenging this, Rahul had moved the high court.

Derogatory and defamatory remark, says complainant The complaint was filed by retired Border Roads Organisation Director Uday Shankar Srivastava, whose rank is equivalent to an Army Colonel.

He claimed that Rahul Gandhis statements on 16 December 2022, alleging that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh, were derogatory and defamatory towards the Indian armed forces.

Also Read | PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi pay tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary

Rejecting Rahul Gandhis argument that the complainant was not an Army officer and that he had not defamed him personally, the Allahabad High Court noted that under Section 199(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, a person other than the direct victim can be considered an aggrieved person if affected by the offence.

Since Srivastava expressed deep respect for the Indian Army and was personally hurt by the remarks, he qualified to file the complaint.

The Allahabad High Court said, The trial Court has rightly arrived at the decision to summon the applicant to face trial for the offence under Section 500 IPC after taking into consideration all the relevant facts and circumstances of the case and after satisfying himself that a prima facie case for trial of the applicant is made out, as reported by Bar and Bench.
Video footage from the stampede-like situation which happened on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy stadium due to massive overcrowding showed scenes of chaos unravelling as people tried to rescue the ones injured.

Also Read | Bengaluru stampede during RCB victory celebrations kills 11

At least 10 people have been killed in the stampede, and nearly 27 people have been hospitalised, with six deaths reported in Bowring Hospital, and four more from the Vydehi hospital in Bengaluru.

Chaos Unravels Videos collected from the social media platform X showed that the volunteers and officials carrying people out on their backs in an attempt to rescue people from the stampede-like situation towards medical help.

Within the chaos, some people were trying to save an individual's life by giving him CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which is an emergency life-saving procedure. A man was seen lying on the ground unconscious, while people around him were trying to save his life.

Another video showed how three to four people, including the stadium ticketing officials, were carrying another individual who was completely unconscious towards emergency services on Wednesday.

People shared videos from the spot of the stampede-like situation, which show that people were climbing on top of each other as the overcrowding situation became out of control. It was evident from the video that many people were having trouble breathing as the crowd raged over each other, injuring and causing the death of some individuals.

Glimpses of chaos unravelling at Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday, 4 June 2025.

Stampede-like situation update Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah rushed to the Bowring Hospital after the updates of the deadly Chinnaswamy stadium stampede. Crowd uncontrollable, we did not have time to make arrangements, Siddaramaiah told the news portal NDTV.

As per the latest updates, the Bengaluru metro stations near the stadium were closed after the situation became critical with people dead and multiple injured.

Deputy CM Shivakumar told the news agency PTI that the Karnataka police couldn't do a lathi charge as it was a young crowd. It was a young vibrant crowd, we cannot use lathi, he told the news agency.

However, the Karnataka Police was spotted using mild force to manage the crowd gathered outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium moments before the stampede-like situation became more critical.

RCB fans were waiting near the Chinnaswamy Stadium to get a glimpse of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players after their IPL final win against Punjab Kings on Tuesday night. Police became involved, and a video shared by ANI showed us how they used long sticks to hit people amid a massive crowd packed up situation.
Hajj 2025: More than 1.6 million Muslim pilgrims from 180 nations converge on Mecca for the Hajj 2025 beginning Wednesday, 4 June.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have placed cutting-edge AI translation tools at the core of a pilgrimage built on clarity, access, and spiritual depth to assist the pilgrims during what is often referred to as worlds largest gathering of people, according to the General Authority for the Care of two Holy Mosques  Kaaba in Mecca and Prophet Mohammed's Mosque in Medina.

Also Read | About 2 million Muslims gather in Mecca to begin Hajj 2025

One of the most powerful examples will be displayed during the Arafat sermon, a central and emotionally resonant moment of Hajj. On Thursday, 5 June, pilgrims will gather at Mount Arafat, on the outskirts of Mecca, where it is believed Mohammed, Islams last prophet, delivered his final sermon.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to assemble on the 70-metre (230-foot) high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayers and Quran recitals, staying there until the evening on Thursday in one of the most important Hajj rituals.

This year, the Arafat sermon will be translated and transmitted live in real time into 35 languages, allowing millions around the worldand every pilgrim on the groundto hear the message of unity, compassion, and faith in their own language, the statement said.

Enabled by advanced AI systems, this global broadcast exemplifies how technology and tradition can harmonise to elevate spiritual experience, the statement said.

Translation Initiatives Among other measures, through initiatives like Smart Hajj and the In their languages programme, Saudi Arabia has embedded multilingual support into nearly every touchpoint of the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims can now use the Nusuk Appavailable in multiple languages to navigate their journey. Its AI-powered Personal Assistant delivers real-time voice translation, allowing users to ask for help, understand procedures, and communicate with worshippers and service teams seamlessly.

Manara, a voice-activated robot, offers religious guidance in 11 languages, answering common questions with clarity and cultural sensitivity. On the ground, field teams use AI-powered devices that understand both speech and imagesenabling quick, precise communication in each pilgrims native language.

Hajj 2025: Due to the high temperatures on the Day of Arafah, it's been required for pilgrims to remain inside the camps from 10 am to 4 pm.

These tools dont just make things easierthey help every pilgrim feel understood, included, and supported in real time, the statement said.

Translated copies are widely distributed across the Grand Mosque or Kaaba in Mecca, allowing pilgrims to reflect on sacred verses in their own languages. In these most sacred spaces, worship becomes deeply personal and universally accessible.

In urgent situationswhether medical emergencies or crowd managementAI-powered translation is proving to be more than just helpful; it can be life-saving. Instant, accurate communication across dozens of languages is essential to maintaining safety and order during one of the worlds most densely populated religious gatherings, read the statement.

The Hajj is a must for those Muslims who can afford the travel costs to Saudi Arabia from their home countries. The Hajj pilgrimage is held annually between the 8th and 13th days of Zil-Hajj, the 12th and final month on the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, the corresponding Gregorian calendar dates of Hajj 2025 in Saudi Arabia are between 4 June and 8 June.

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city of Islam in Saudi Arabia, which houses the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, is performed during a particular period.

Many pilgrims also visit the city of Medina, home to the Prophet Muhammads Mosque and the second-holiest site in Islam. While not an official part of the Hajj, visiting Medina remains a significant spiritual experience for many devout Muslims.

By placing real-time translation at the core of the Hajj experience, Saudi Arabia is creating a global case study for how technology can enhancenot replacefaith.

India's quota for the Hajj in 2025 is 1.75 lakh pilgrims. The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, through the Hajj Committee of India, manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota, which is 1,22,518 in 2025. The balance of the quota (over 50,000 pilgrims) was allotted to Private Tour Operators.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Lee Jae-myung on his election as South Korean president, expressing eagerness to strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.

He said on X, Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.

Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.

Liberal opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected president early Wednesday, a victory that would cap months of political turmoil triggered by the stunning but brief imposition of martial law by the now-ousted conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol.

In his inaugural address after taking office, myung stated that his administration would respond to potential North Korean aggression with strong deterrence grounded in the robust South KoreaUS military alliance.

At the same time, he emphasised a willingness to pursue dialogue with North Korea to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. In a speech to supporters early Wednesday, Lee urged South Koreans to move forward with hope and make a fresh start from this moment on, Reuters reported.

Though we may have clashed for a while, even those who did not support us are still fellow citizens of the Republic of Korea, he said.

He also promised to "pursue dialogue, communication, and cooperation" with North Korea, with whom the South remains technically at war, to find a path toward peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.

Lee Jun-seok has split the conservative vote by running a campaign focused on attracting a younger and broader audience than Kim, as he works to establish himself as a credible future leader. According to the exit poll, he received 7.7% of the vote.
A bomb threat was reported on an IndiGo flight travelling from Ahmedabad to Patna on Wednesday, causing alarm among passengers and airport authorities. The threat was received shortly before the flights landing at Patna airport, prompting immediate action from security personnel.

The Patna-bound IndiGo plane, carrying 195 passengers, was safely landed and then moved to an isolation bay where a thorough search was conducted by the bomb squad.

Also Read | Punjab and Haryana HC receives bomb threat mail; police launch search

After nearly an hour of inspection, no suspicious items were found, and the aircraft was declared safe, allowing passengers to disembark.

This bomb threat incident comes just two days after a similar bomb threat turned out to be a hoax at Jammu Railway Station.

On Sunday evening, an anonymous caller warned of a bomb planted at the busy station, triggering panic and a swift response from Jammu Police and Railway Police. Security forces conducted an extensive search using sniffer dogs and metal detectors but found nothing suspicious.

Authorities are currently investigating to identify the source of the hoax call.

Also Read | Bomb threat at Gurugram Mini Secretariat turns out to be hoax

The Jammu threat occurred amid heightened security in the region ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit to inaugurate the Vande Bharat train service from Katra to Kashmir on June 6.

The visit and the train inauguration have been delayed several times due to security concerns and adverse weather conditions.

Private hospital in Mangaluru receives bomb threat A bomb threat call made to a private medical college hospital in Karnataka's Mangaluru caused panic on Wednesday, prompting an emergency response from the police and bomb disposal squad.

The threat call was later confirmed to be a hoax.

According to officials, an unidentified caller made a threat over the phone to Kanachur Medical College near Deralakatte in Ullal taluk, claiming that a bomb had been planted on the premises. The college comes under Konaje police station limits.

Authorities immediately evacuated people from the hospital and informed the bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS), who came along with sniffer dogs and personnel from the local police force.

After a thorough search lasting several hours, no explosives were found, and the threat was declared false.
June 4, 2025 (UK)- At the opening ceremony of the FISITA World Mobility Conference (WMC) in Barcelona, Spain, Hyundai Motor Company Executive Vice President Mr. ChangHwan Kim commenced his two-year tenure serving as President of FISITA.

Kim will be responsible for leading the organisation and chairing the Executive Board of FISITA for two years from 2025 through to 2027, following collaborating with outgoing President Mike Anderson of General Motors (GM) from the period between 2023-2025 as President-elect.

"I am deeply honoured to assume this role within this important global coalition of FISITA. We are aware of the challenges facing the automotive industry, and we understand that addressing them efficiently requires global collaboration. I am committed to contributing to sustainable progress in the industry during my tenure." ChangHwan Kim

The make-up of the FISITA Executive Board represents the global reach of the organisation across the automotive and mobility systems industry. With a strategy supporting leaders and engineers in the pre-competitive space.

The Executive Board's work focuses on developing thought leadership and knowledge share between the sharpest minds in the technology of mobility community, driving development and innovation. It recognises the power of bringing together different perspectives to deliver real change throughout the complete ecosystem of the technology of mobility.

"We at FISITA are proud to welcome ChangHwan Kim as our new President. I thank Mike Anderson for his leadership and guidance during his excellent two-year tenure. We now move into the next phase of FISITA's evolution with ChangHwan Kim, who has the full support of our Executive Board and global community as we navigate the ever-changing challenges in our industry." Chris Mason, CEO

Further Executive Board appointments were communicated at the WMC annual meeting of the FISITA General Assembly, confirming the complete Executive Board 2025 -27.

Mr. ChangHwan Kim, Executive Vice President, Hyundai Motor Company

Appointed as President

Dr. Matthias Klauda, Vice President Engineering, Robert Bosch

Appointed as President Elect 2027-29

Mr. Mike Anderson, Vice President of Global Battery & Propulsion Engineering, General Motors

Appointed as Honorary Lifetime President



Mr. Chris Ciuca, SAE International, Vice President of Programs and Professional Engagement

Appointed as Vice President, Americas

Mr. Harufumi Muto, Executive Director, Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan

Appointed as Vice President, Asia



Mr. Adria Ferrer, Head of Innovation, Applus+ IDIADA

Appointed as Vice President, Europe

Ms. Ouafae El Ganaoui-Mourlan

Appointed as Vice President of Education

Dr. Feng Shen, Executive Vice President, Chairman of Quality Management Committee, NIO Vice President, Industry and Technical



Mr. Jose Manuel Barrios, Head of Digital Solutions, Applus+ IDIADA

Vice President, Society



Mr. Chris Mason CEO, FISITA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared his condolences with the people who lost their loved ones at the Chinnaswamy stadium stampede on 4 June 2025, after people gathered to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win against Punjab Kings.

In a social media post, Prime Minister Modi said that the situation was absolutely heartrending and that he was praying for the people injured to have a fast recovery.

The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery, said PM Narendra Modi in his post on the social media platform X on Wednesday.

Karnataka Govt's Stance Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the incident, which occurred in front of the Chinnaswamy stadium, should not have happened. On behalf of the government, he expressed his sorrow for the stampede-like situation.

This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident, said Siddaramaiah at a press conference on Wednesday. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara were also present there, reported the news agency ANI.

Hospital Visit Deputy CM Shivakumar, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, rushed to the Bowring Hospital after the updates of the deadly Chinnaswamy stadium stampede on Wednesday.

Visited Bowring Hospital to meet those injured and the bereaved in todays unfortunate incident near Chinnaswamy Stadium. Saddened to witness their pain and speak to the victims during these difficult moments, said Deputy CM D K Shivakumar in his post on X.

Shivakumar also assured the patients that the government would provide full support and wished them a speedy recovery.

Karnataka CM Siddarammiah at the Bowring and Vaidehi hospital on Wednesday.

Deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede during the RCB victory celebrations near Chinnaswamy Stadium. A moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow, said CM Siddaramaiah, expressing his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.

This stampede-like situation occurred because RCB fans were waiting near the Chinnaswamy Stadium to get a glimpse of the team players after their IPL final win against Punjab Kings. Soon, the crowding situation became out of control, leading to a massive crowd-packed situation, which ended up in a stampede.
Punjab-based YouTuber Jasbir Singh, alleged to be in close contact with influencer Jyoti Malhotra and accused of spying for Pakistan, has been arrested and remanded to three days of police custody.

Punjab police unearthed a terror-backed espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh. He had allegedly travelled to Pakistan three times, officials said.

What Did Jasbir Singh's Lawyer Say? YouTuber Jasbir singh's lawyer Madhav Shukla said,  Jasbir Singh was arrested yesterday. Court had sent him to 3-day Police remand. 7th June, he will produced in the court again. As per Police FIR, there are 3 allegations against him. One is that he gets foreign funding, second is he has link with ISI, third is that he has sensitive data with him.

Defending Jasbir Singh, the lawyer added, He used to appear before the State Special Operations Cell as a responsible citizen, whenever he was summoned. If he had any malicious intentions, he would have avoided it.

We have submitted bank statements, financial data, and phone but State Special Operations Cell ignored all this. He was arrested and produced in court. Police have not come up on record with anything like who he was in touch with, his mode of communication and mode of money transfer. They just have a simple allegation that he has connection with ISI

Allegations against YouTuber Jasbir Singh Jasbir Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called Jaan Mahal, has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network.

Jasbir Singh also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra (arrested for spying) and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official.

Also Read | Spy Jyoti Malhotra admits to have been in contact with Pakistani official

"Investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He travelled to Pakistan on three occasions (2020, 2021, 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, now under detailed forensic scrutiny," Punjab Police DGP said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Also Read | Punjab YouTuber tried to erase traces of his links with Pak: Top cop

A resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar district, Singh has a YouTube channel with over 10 lakh subscribers.

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said, after Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, Jasbir Singh attempted to erase all traces of his communications with the PIOs to avoid detection.

An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell in Mohali. "Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators, he added.

Also Read | Jyoti Malhotra was in touch with 4 Pak agents; 12 TB data recovered from phones

The 33-year-old Hisar native Malhotra, who was running a YouTube channel 'Travel with JO', was arrested last month.

On May 13, India expelled Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission, for allegedly indulging in espionage.
Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as South Korea's new liberal president on Wednesday, pledging to guide the nation out of the political upheaval triggered by a recent martial law crisis and to revitalize an economy grappling with sluggish growth and rising global protectionism.

His election came in the wake of former President Yoon Suk Yeols ousting, just three years into his presidency, following widespread backlash over a failed bid to impose military rule.

In a regular presidential election, South Korea allows for a months-long transition period  but as Lee's victory came in a snap election after Yoon's impeachment, his term began right away.

"The National Election Commission hereby declares Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party as the elected president," National Election Commission chairperson Roh Tae-ak said.

According to the National Election Commission, Lee Jae-myung won 49.42 per cent of the nearly 35 million votes cast while conservative rival Kim Moon-soo took 41.15 per cent in the polls that brought the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1997.

Now at the helm, Lee inherits a deeply divided nation and a host of formidable challenges  from restoring public trust after the democratic crisis to navigating the growing economic uncertainty fueled by unpredictable protectionist policies from the United States, one of South Koreas key trade and security partners.

There will never be another military coup In his victory speech outside Parliament, Lee Jae-myung said, The first mission is to decisively overcome insurrection and to ensure there will never be another military coup with guns and swords turned against the people.

We can overcome this temporary difficulty with the combined strength of our people, who have great capabilities, he said.

In his capacity as the President of South Korea, Lee Jae-Myung said he would first address the economic challenges, focusing on the cost-of-living concerns.

He also faces a deadline set by the White House on negotiating import duties that Washington has blamed for a large trade imbalance between the countries.
Telecom companies sparring with the regulator over spam calls and messages have reason for relief: After an appeals tribunal stayed penalties on them for failing to curb spam, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has rejected the regulator's request to encash bank guarantees for the same breach.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has fined telcos more than 140 crore over the years for failing to curb spam. The telcos secured an interim stay from the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in January on the case. Telcos told TDSAT that it is not fair to punish them for failing to curb spam given the delay in implementing long-delayed spam prevention rules.

While TDSAT is expected to hear the matter again on 17 July, Trai has moved the Delhi High Court. According to an official aware of the matter, Trai has urged the court to direct the TDSAT to expedite hearing, or direct telcos to deposit half of the penalties in the meantime. The official added that TDSAT had earlier scheduled to hear the matter on 25 July, which has been pre-poned to 17 July.

Also read: Telcos slam Trais satellite spectrum pricing as unfair, call for review

Queries emailed to Trai, COAI and DoT on Tuesday did not elicit any response till the press time.

Small dues

Although curbing spam and maintaining quality of services is important, the government cannot invoke bank guarantees for such issues especially when the total bank guarantees compared to the dues of telecom operators is significantly low," a second official said, adding that Trai should first use the means available with it. Telcos owe the government dues worth around 4 trillion linked to adjusted gross revenue (AGR) and spectrum fees.

The development also points to a broader disagreement between DoT and the Trai regarding their respective roles and jurisdiction in telecom governance.

Trai has also proposed that DoT should allow it to have its own pool of bank guarantees, so as to encash it when telecom operators refuse to pay penalties, the first official said. Trai has formulated penalties in case of violations, but there is no securitization mechanism to recover the amount if they fail to pay, the official added.

Queries emailed to DoT, Trai and the Cellular Operators Association of India (XOAI) remained unanswered.

Securitization

In its February recommendations on the terms and conditions of network authorizations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, Trai said, it is essential that a securitization mechanism, such as a bank guarantee should be in place to cover financial dues, compliance to the authorization conditions and to ensure performance under the authorization which essentially include compliance to regulations/orders/ directions issued by Trai."

Trai said compliance with its regulations/directions/orders is a critical component of the efficient performance of authorized entities; the DoT has not accepted the recommendations.

Bank guarantees are required to secure telcos' payments towards licence fees, performance fees and penalties. When guarantees are invoked, the bank is supposed to pay that much to the institution to which it was provided and the borrower has to immediately repay the bank.

Stiff fines

According to Trai's Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018, which were amended this year, the regulator can impose penalties as high as 10 lakh per instance for failure to curb spam.

Also read: Sword of Damocles hangs over Vodafone Ideas bank guarantees

Yes, Trai can impose financial disincentives but in case the operators do not pay such fines, the best route for Trai to recover the same is through chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM). The same, however, is a cumbersome process and undesirable as well," said Satya N. Gupta, former principal advisor at Trai.

The Trai Act gives the regulator powers to file a complaint with the magistrate to initiate criminal proceedings if a telecom operator is in violation of Trais directions or regulations, and fails to comply.

The TCCCPR regulations amended in February this year mandate telcos to analyze call and SMS patterns based on parameters such as unusually high call volumes, short call durations and low incoming-to-outgoing call ratios to flag potential spammers in real time.

A third official said telcos control the network and it is their responsibility to curb the spam, which often leads to fraud. They have been penalized for the right reasons in not taking action to disconnect numbers from which spam were originating and misreporting the same, the official added.

Delayed enforcement

As for Trai's authority, the fact that telcos routinely approach TDSAT to challenge penalties does not inherently weaken the regulators powersbut it can delay enforcement. This pattern of litigation raises a valid concern about regulatory effectiveness," said Deepika Kumari, a partner at law firm King Stubb & Kasiva.

While Trai's powers are intact on paper, consistent legal challenges may reduce the immediacy and impact of its directives. A clearer judicial interpretation of Trais powers on financial disincentives could help ensure faster compliance and reinforce regulatory accountability in the sector," Kumari added.

Shashank Mishra, a partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., said, TDSAT exercises adjudicatory powers over telecom disputes. Trais exercise of regulatory functions are subject to such adjudication too. Such judicial review is necessary for the rule of law and separation of powerstwo fundamental constitutional principles. Equally, Trai has the right to appeal the TDSAT order if it is unsound on law and/or procedure."

Consent framework

In June 2023, Trai mandated a digital consent acquisition (DCA) system for telcos to manage and verify customer consent for commercial communications. The system, implemented under TCCCPR, aims to curb unsolicited commercial communications (spam) by creating a unified platform for registering and maintaining customer consent digitally. The principal entities such as banks, insurance companies, and other firms which send promotional messages to consumers, were asked to register user consent for receiving such messages.

Principal entities hire telemarketers, which need to be registered with telecom operators, to send commercial messages. However, still there are senders/principal entities, who have not onboarded on DCA.

In a meeting with the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCOR) on 25 April, Trai said the modalities for onboarding senders of commercial communication on DCA platform were deliberated. JCOR members agreed to engage with the senders/Principal Entities within their jurisdiction to onboard them on DCA," Trai said. JCOR includes representatives from the Reserve Bank of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, Securities and Exchange Board of India, the ministry of electronics and IT, among others.

New guidelines

Trai is soon expected to come up with detailed guidelines on the DCA framework, in a bid to expedite the implementation of the system, the third official said.

Also read: TRAI initiates discussion on assignment of microwave spectrum in lower 6 GHz, E and V Bands

Notably, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had in its various representations said that Trai should have brought delivery telemarketers and over-the-top (OTT) platforms under regulation to manage unlawful communication, and then release the amended rules.

It would be critical to establish a regulatory framework to ensure accountability from all stakeholders in the ecosystem, including OTT platforms and telemarketers/principal entities," COAI had said in a statement in February, after Trai issued amendments to TCCCPR.

It is important for Trai to bring telemarketers under some sort of authorization framework as they are the source of spam calls and messages. If properly implemented, it will benefit the people at large," Gupta added. Trai is currently discussing the need to bring telemarketers under such a regime.
A video shared by a travel content creator captured the harrowing moment she was nearly swept away by a huge wave at Angels Billabong  a well-known tourist spot in Bali. The video, posted by Katy Johnson, featured a text overlay stating, The day in Bali I almost died. In her account, she described how her Easter Sunday visit took a life-threatening turn.

While at the beach, Johnson was filming a selfie video on the rocks when a sudden rogue wave struck, nearly dragging her into the sea.

Easter Sunday in Bali really said, You wanna meet Jesus today? Because I almost did. One rogue wave came crashing in at Angels Billabong like it had personal beef with me and nearly swept me right off the viewing platform and into the next life. Not the kind of baptism I signed up for, she said in the caption of her post.



Read | Indonesian Ministry of Tourism encourages Indians to Experience and Explore Bali

What started as a beautiful moment quickly turned dangerous when the wave crashed violently, drenching Johnson and knocking her camera into the water. The video ends in a blur, showing only the wild waves and Johnsons stunned reaction.

In the caption, she also spoke about the gravity of the experience after laughing it off: Learning that over a dozen tourists have actually died at this spot? That hit hard. There were no warning signs, no security, and honestly, no reason to think the waves would even reach the deck.

With the help of her post, Johnson also called attention to the importance of responsible and informed travel. Your life is worth more than content. Responsible tourism means staying curious and cautious. Research your locations, be aware of your surroundings, and dont ignore your gut, she added.



Read | Clicking selfies is a criminal offence in this Indian district
Famous YouTuber MrBeast says he doesnt have much personal money. The billionaire influencer, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he has asked his mother for money to help pay for his upcoming wedding.

I personally have very little money because I reinvest everything (I think this year well spend around a quarter of a billion on content), he wrote on X.

Also Read | MrBeast now a billionaire: Check top 5 richest Indian influencers

Ironically im actually borrowing $ from my mom to pay for my upcoming wedding lol. But sure, on paper the businesses I own are worth a lot, he added.

Social media users reacted to his post.

One X user wrote, Built an empire, spends hundreds of millions on content, and still keeps it humble with moms help for the wedding. Absolute legend.

But the money youre borrowing from your mom you probably gave her, commented an X user.

I hope this is a joke. No one, except a 10-year-old, believes any of this, wrote another.

Also Read | American YouTuber MrBeast invites Virat Kohli for collaboration amidst IPL 2025

Another reacted, Who cares how much you have in cash. net worth is the only thing that matters. cash has almost no intrinsic value.

The popular YouTuber is all set to get married to South African content creator Thea Booysen. MrBeast met her in 2022.

MrBeast proposed to Booysen on Christmas Day 2024.

"In my mind, we're already married. We're already on the same page. We talk about children, how we're going to live together when we're 70 years old  this was just another step in the process," Booysen told PEOPLE.

According to MrBeast, he reinvests most of his earnings into making videos. He is expected to spend nearly $250 million on content this year.

MrBeast runs many ventures like his show Beast Games and his chocolate brand Feastables.

How much money does MrBeast have? According to Celebrity Net Worth, MrBeasts net worth has hit $1 billion. He has become the only billionaire under 30 who didn't inherit his wealth. The 27-year-old is also the eighth youngest billionaire in the world.

MrBeast and Thea Booysens love story After meeting once, MrBeast and Thea Booysen began chatting online. He flew back to South Africa just to see her again.

They started dating soon after and made their first public appearance in April 2022. Booysen, who spends half her year in the US and the other in South Africa, now lives with MrBeast and their adopted dog.

Shes an esports commentator and content creator known as TheaBeasty. A law and psychology graduate, she also completed her masters in neuropsychology in 2024.
Habiba Soliman, the daughter of Colorado antisemitic attack accused, moved to the United States two years ago to pursue her dream career in medicine. She could not have foreseen that her fathers alleged antisemitic actions, occurring just after her graduation, would bring her ambitions to an abrupt end.

Habiba Soliman, her mother and four other siblings are now Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, facing expedited deportation.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that federal officials are looking into whether the family of the suspect, Mohamed Soliman, was involved in the June 1 attack.

They are being processed for expedited removal, according to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson at the agency.

The agency is investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack, if they had any knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it, Kristi Noem said in a video posted on social media.

Habiba Soliman, originally from Egypt, spent the majority of her life in Kuwait before moving to the United States with her family around two years ago. She later enrolled at Thomas Maclaren School, where she was featured in a glowing Denver Gazette profile as a recipient of its Best and Brightest scholarship for outstanding graduating seniors.

According to Denver Gazette, Habiba decided to pursue medicine after seeing her father walk again following a surgery.

Coming to the USA has fundamentally changed me. I learned to adapt to new things even if it was hard. I learned to work under pressure and improve rapidly in a very short amount of time. Most importantly, I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support, Habiba wrote.

The family has been stripped of its visas after her father, Mohamed Soliman, threw two Molotov cocktails at a pro-Israeli crowd at an event in Boulder while yelling Free Palestine.

He faces a federal hate crime charge and dozens of state charges of attempted murder and attempted use of incendiary devices. A Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent involved in the case said the suspect told investigators he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.

He allegedly told authorities hed been planning the attack for a year, but waited for his daughter to graduate from high school before striking.
The US Department of Education announced on June 4 that Columbia University violated federal anti-discrimination laws, failing to protect Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The department said this breach places Columbia in violation of the standards required by its accrediting agency, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Deliberate indifference alleged Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a strong statement, saying, The schools leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Accreditation at risk The Department formally notified the Middle States Commission, stressing that Columbia's actions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Federal law requires accreditors to notify member institutions of such violations and implement a plan to restore compliance.

If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution, the department stated.

Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants. Just as the Department of Education has an obligation to uphold federal antidiscrimination law, university accreditors have an obligation to ensure member institutions abide by their standards, she said.

Funding and student aid in jeopardy Columbia already lost $400 million in federal grants and contracts earlier this year, prompting layoffs of nearly 180 staff. The potential loss of accreditation could have far-reaching impacts, particularly for students who rely on federal aid. According to Columbias website, 21% of undergraduates at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering receive Pell Grants.

Harvard has to understand the last thing I want to do is hurt them. Theyre hurting themselves. Theyre fighting, Trump said. Columbia has been very, very bad  what theyve done, theyre very antisemitic and lots of other things  but theyre working with us on finding a solution.

Also Read | Harvard asks court for quick ruling as funding cuts hurt critical research
Elon Musk has reportedly withheld the final $100 million of a $300 million commitment to Donald Trumps reelection efforts, signaling a deepening rift between the once-close allies, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

The remaining amount, part of a massive fundraising promise Musk allegedly made to support Trumps return to the White House, is now the subject of intense speculation as tensions between the two men grow increasingly public and personal.

According to WSJ, Trump advisers have confirmed that the last installment remains unpaid, and insiders have described the relationship between the tech billionaire and the President as strained.

The discord reportedly stems from a combination of policy disagreements, Musks increasingly erratic behavior in government, and Trumps behind-the-scenes meeting with one of Musks biggest rivalsOpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

The news report states that Musk became incensed upon learning of Trumps private meeting with Altman, prompting Trumps team to delay the meeting to avoid aggravating Musk. Altman, who was expected to appear alongside Trump at a public event, ultimately did not show up.

The fallout has also been fueled by growing frustration within the Trump administration over Musks conduct as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As per the news outlet, Musk frequently bypassed coordination with senior officials, forcing Trump to appoint someone to monitor Musks activities.

Musks presence at the White House has reportedly diminished over timefrom several visits a week to only occasional appearancesmarking a visible cooling of relations.

Adding to the strain, Musks alignment with aggressive cost-cutting within federal departments is now eroding his business image. Political backlash, and declining public sentiment have all followed, prompting Musk to reevaluate the risks of his political entanglements.

Despite the turmoil, Trump has publicly attempted to downplay any fallout. During Musks farewell event at the White House, Trump reportedly said, Elon is not really leaving. Hes going to be back and forth.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Tuesday blasted President Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill" of tax breaks and spending cuts as a disgusting abomination" in a series of X post.

The criticism came days after the president gave him a celebratory Oval Office farewell that marked the end of his work for the administration, where he spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency.

What Elon Musk said? "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk posted on X. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The tech billionaire followed his criticism with a threat aimed at Republicans.

"In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people," he wrote in another X post.

It marks a sharp shift for Musk, who spent over $250 million backing Trumps campaign last year. Once vowing to target Republicans not loyal enough to Trump, hes now urging voters to oppose those pushing the presidents key agenda. However, it's unclear how Musk will follow through on his criticism. He recently said he would spend "a lot less" on political campaigns, though he left the door open to political involvement "if I see a reason."

What did the White House say? White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed aside the criticism.

The President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesnt change the presidents opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill and hes sticking to it, she told reporters on Tuesday.

A few days back, Musk expressed disappointment with the spending package, citing concerns about budget deficits and its impact on government efficiency efforts. He later stepped down from his role as a "special government employee" with the Department of Government Efficiency, formally cutting ties with the Trump administration.
(Global Times) In recent days, some US officials and media outlets have been spreading the narrative that "tensions between the US and China are rising again" because China was "slow-rolling the deal" with the US. The Wall Street Journal also claimed that "a trade truce between the US and China is at risk of falling apart." Such attempts to create public pressure on China through media manipulation are, in themselves, a violation of the Geneva consensus.

On Monday, China's Ministry of Commerce firmly rejected these groundless claims, and urged the US side to work with China, immediately correct its wrong actions, and jointly safeguard the consensus reached in Geneva.

The Joint Statement of the China-US Economic and Trade Talks in Geneva clearly stated that both sides would be moving forward in the spirit of mutual opening, continued communication, cooperation, and mutual respect. However, following the achievement of substantive outcomes in Geneva, the US side has repeatedly taken unilateral steps and introduced a series of discriminatory restrictions targeting China. These include issuing export control guidance for AI chips, curbing the sale of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software to China, and announcing the revocation of Chinese students' visas, among others.

How do any of these actions reflect the spirit of "mutual opening, continued communication, cooperation, and mutual respect"? Isn't the so-called "slow progress" caused by the US itself?

No matter how some in the US try to shift the blame onto China, the facts are indisputable: Since the release of the joint statement, China has taken a responsible attitude - seriously treating, strictly implementing, and actively uphold the consensus of the Geneva economic and trade meeting. This has included, in line with the joint statement, canceling or suspending certain tariff and non-tariff measures imposed in response to the US' "reciprocal tariffs." This also includes the fact that despite the US' constant provocative moves, China has always put the overall situation first and has not escalated economic and trade frictions between the two countries. This is not because we are afraid of the US, but because of our good faith in keeping the consultations moving forward and contributing to the stability of the global trading system.

The Geneva Joint Statement represents a key consensus reached by both sides on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultation. Whether China-US "tensions" continue to escalate ultimately depends on whether the US is willing to move in the same direction as China and promptly correct its wrongful actions. China's words and deeds in implementing the consensus are sincere, but its attitude in safeguarding its own legitimate rights and interests is also firm. The US must recognize that pressure and threats are not the right way to engage with China. It already ran into a wall with its tariff blackmail in the past - and if it continues to harm China's interests with the same misguided approach, it will inevitably run into the wall once again. China has sufficient capability and confidence to respond to various uncertainties.

It is also necessary to set the record straight on claims regarding export controls. Some in the US have been relentlessly pushing the narrative that China is "choking off" the global supply chain with its control over critical minerals. However, this just once again exposed the US' shameless double standards and its hypocritical and ugly hegemonic logic. As we all know, it is the US that has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export controls, and blatantly imposed illegal unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" on specific countries and companies in recent years.

In response to the smear campaign by some people in the US against China's rare earth export controls, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made it clear that China's export control measures are consistent with universal practices and such measures are non-discriminatory and not targeted at any particular country. If the US insists on making itself the target, it only shows that politicizing and weaponizing economic and technological issues has not only gotten to the heads of some US individuals but also has become an obsession.

The reason China and the US were able to reach important outcomes in Geneva is because both sides recognized a shared understanding: A stable, sustainable, and mutually beneficial bilateral economic and trade relationship is vital - not only for the two countries themselves, but for the global economy as a whole. These consensuses were clearly articulated in the Joint Statement on China-US Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva and publicly announced to the international community. Senior US officials have also acknowledged that "the consensus from both delegations is that neither side wanted a decoupling." That understanding is the foundation for further dialogue between the two countries.

If Washington's actions truly reflected the spirit of mutual openness, continuous communication, cooperation, and mutual respect, and if the China-US trade relationship was moving toward healthy, stable, and sustainable development, then wouldn't the advancement of bilateral trade negotiations follow naturally - just like water flowing where the channel has already been dug?

Following the Geneva economic and trade talks, orders from US buyers surged, and ships are in high demand in the China-US shipping market, clearly reflecting the huge two-way demand between the two countries. The widespread positive response to this round of talks shows that the international community generally hopes the world's two largest economies will maintain stable relations and continue contributing to global economic growth. Hopefully the US can abandon its zero-sum thinking and bullying tactics, and approach China-US relations with openness, inclusiveness, and cooperation. The consensus reached in the Geneva talks was hard-won; what the US should do now is fulfilling its commitments instead of saying one thing, and doing another.
Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has left the Democratic Party, citing its "betrayal" of former President Joe Biden, and registered as an Independent, according to an announcement by her publisher, Hachette Book Group, on Wednesday (June 4).

Jean-Pierre, who served under Biden from 2022 to early 2025, will detail her decision in an upcoming book titled "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines", slated for release on October 21.

Freeing ourselves of boxes In a statement accompanying the book announcement, Jean-Pierre said: Until January 20, I was responsible for speaking on behalf of the President of the United States. At noon on that day, I became a private citizen who, like all Americans and many of our allies around the world, had to contend with what was to come next for our country.

She added: I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes. We need to be willing to exercise the ability to think creatively and plan strategically.

Insider account of Bidens exit According to the publisher, the book will offer an insiders view of the three weeks that led to Bidens abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision.

A shift beyond party lines Legacy Lit said Jean-Pierres book will not only recount her White House experience but also advocate for a broader political shift: She presents clear arguments and provocative evidence as an insider about the importance of dismantling the torrent of disinformation and misinformation that has been rampant in recent elections.

The publisher said she would urge Americans to move beyond blind loyalty to the two-party system and embrace life as Independents.

From party loyalist to critic Jean-Pierre, 50, previously worked as deputy press secretary and served as a senior adviser to Bidens 2020 campaign. She was also a regional political director during President Barack Obamas first term.

The publisher emphasised: Jean-Pierre didnt come to her decision to be an Independent lightly.

Her departure and forthcoming book come amid renewed scrutiny of the Biden administration, as former aides face criticism over whether they downplayed the presidents cognitive decline  an issue raised in the recent expose "Original Sin" by two journalists.
Hosted by Ariana Madix, narrated by Iain Stirling, Love Island USA Season 7 is set to begin from June 3.

The streaming service stated, WE GOT A TEXT! Tonights episode will be slightly delayed. But it is worth the wait. Stay tuned! #LoveIslandUSA."

The upcoming season is set to deliver steamy romances, shocking recouplings, and unexpected twists. According to People, the fresh lineup features a cowboy from Oklahoma City and a barista from Hawaii, both competing for love and the $100,000 grand prize.

Love Island USA Season 7: New contestants Men Ace Greene, 22, from Los Angeles, California 2. Taylor Williams, 24, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

3. Nicolas Vansteenberghe, 24, from Jacksonville, Florida

4. Austin Shepard, 26, from Northville, Michigan

5. Jeremiah Brown, 25, from Los Angeles, California

Women Chelley Bissainthe, 27, from Orlando, Florida 2. Huda Mustafa, 24, from Raleigh, North Carolina

3. Belle-A Walker, 22, from Honolulu, Hawaii

4. Olandria Carthen, 27, from Decatur, Alabama

5. Yulissa Escobar, 27, from Miami, Florida

Love Island USA Season 7: Where to watch? The show will premiere at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. Fans eager to stream the reality series can catch all the drama by subscribing to Peacock, with plans starting at just $7.99 per month.

TV Premiere: The debut episode will also be broadcast on Bravo at 10:15 p.m. ET on June 3.

Catch-Up: If you miss an episode, its typically available to stream on Hulu about a week later.

Bonus Content: Fans can tune in to Love Island Aftersun every Saturday for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights. While Maura Higgins hosted last season, it has not yet been confirmed if she will return this year.

Also Read | Hollyoaks and Celebrity Love Island star Paul Danan passes away at 46

Season 6 winner Kordell Beckham's advice to new cast Just be comfortable with yourself, honestly. Thats literally it. Just be you. Be the best you, you can be. You dont have to put on the front for anybody. Theyll love you for you. So, dont try to hide a few things, of what you think people may not like, because they might like it," People quoted Beckham as saying.
A photo circulating online allegedly shows marijuana left behind in the offices formerly occupied by Elon Musks controversial DOGE unit. Daniel Knowles, a journalist with The Economist, posted the image on Bluesky, showing gloved hands holding what appears to be dried cannabis.

A photo shared with me earlier of uh, DOGEs legacy at USIP, Knowles captioned the image, claiming it was passed to him about affairs at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

Knowles reported that the marijuana was discovered in the garbage after DOGE staffers vacated the premises.

USIP: Rodents, water damage, and graffiti after DOGE takeover The claim aligns with a detailed affidavit from USIPs Acting President and CEO George E. Moose, who described the condition of the office after DOGEs occupation as damaged and neglected.

Among other things, they reported evidence of rats and roaches in the building. Vermin were not a problem prior to March 17, 2025, Moose wrote in his sworn statement.

The affidavit, submitted in court, further revealed:

Water leaks and damage to the garage door

Missing ceiling tiles suggesting water damage

Graffiti on outdoor structures

Failure to maintain key infrastructure, including the cooling tower and vehicle barriers The offices had been abandoned for weeks with only minimal security and janitorial staff present, Moose noted.

Trump Executive Order sparked the seizure The conflict began when President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February targeting USIP among other institutions. This allowed DOGEthe Department of Government Efficiency, reportedly spearheaded by Trumps top donor Elon Muskto seize the USIP headquarters.

The initial attempt led to a tense standoff. According to court documents, DOGE returned with support from the FBI and D.C. police, eventually forcing Moose and his staff out of the building.

Court: DOGE had no authority to seize USIP A D.C. court ruled in May that the Trump administration overstepped its bounds in trying to dismantle USIP. The judgment restored the institutes control over its $500 million headquarters and reinstated its staff.

DOGE didnt have the authority to seize the USIP headquarters or to fire the agencys employees, the judge wrote.

USIP, founded by Congress in 1984, operates as an independent, nonpartisan institution focused on conflict resolution and peacebuilding in over 24 global conflict zones.

Musks alleged drug use adds fuel to the fire The marijuana discovery comes as Elon Musk faces renewed scrutiny over his alleged personal drug use. A New York Times report claimed that Musk consumed large amounts of ketamine, Ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms during Trumps 2024 campaign.

Elon Musk carried a medication box that contained 20 pills. He used ketamine that affected his bladder, the report said, citing insiders.
Seventeen-year-old TikTok creator Sana Yousaf was shot dead at her home in Islamabads Sector G-13 on Sunday. According to police sources cited by SAMAA TV, the attacker was a guest at her residence. After speaking with her briefly outside, he entered the house and shot her twice at close range, killing her instantly. The suspect fled the scene immediately, and was later arrested.

Umar Hayat, a 22-year-old man, was apprehended for the murder of the Pakistani TikTok star. He was tracked down and captured in Faisalabad, over 300 kilometres from Islamabad.



Read | Punjab YouTuber tried to erase traces of his links with Pakistanis after Jyoti Malhotra's arrest: Top cop

Who was Sana Yousaf? Born on June 2, 2008 in Upper Chitral, a remote region in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Sana belonged to a family of activists. Her father is a well-known local campaigner. Sana built a strong social media presence by blending Chitrali folk music, traditional dress, and dance with outspoken support for girls education and womens rights.

She gained a large following on TikTok and Instagram, crossing half a million followers. Though still in her first year of medical school, Sanas content was seen as a challenge to conventional norms. Her personality led to comparisons with actress Hania Aamir.



Read | Pakistani TikToker Imsha Rehman: Viral video ruined my life, influencer explains why she has remained silent

Police Investigation Her gruesome and cold-blooded murder was driven by rejection and obsession, according to the police. "It was a case of repeated rejections. The boy was trying to reach out to her time and again," Islamabad police chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said during a news conference.

"It was a gruesome and cold-blooded murder," Rizvi added.

Speaking at a press conference on May 3, Rizvi said that 22-year-old Umar Hayat had tried many times to contact Sana after she turned him down. He wanted to be friends with the TikTok star and even showed up at her birthday party on May 29. Umar tried to meet her for seven to eight hours but failed, the IG said.

On the day of the murder, he again waited outside her home for several hours. After being rejected once more, Umar forced his way into the house and shot Sana.

A Worrying Pattern of Violence Against Influencers Sanas death is part of a disturbing trend. In January, a 15-year-old girl named Hira was allegedly murdered in Quetta by her father and maternal uncle for refusing to quit TikTok. According to ARY News, both men were arrested and confessed.

In 2016, social media personality Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death by her brother in a case that sparked international outrage and a national debate on womens rights in Pakistan.

These incidents raise alarm about growing violence against young women who are visible online. Critics say such acts aim to silence self-expression and reinforce outdated notions of honour.

Public Outrage and Calls for Justice News of Sanas death triggered widespread anger and sorrow on social media. Hashtags like #JusticeForSanaYousaf and #StopHonourKillings began trending on X (formerly Twitter). One user pointed out, She died on her birthday, while another wrote, Justice must be swift and firm.

Womens rights group Aurat March Pakistan issued a strong statement: The murder of Sana Yousaf is not just a personal tragedyit is a reflection of a systemic failure to protect women who dare to live with autonomy and pride.

There is rising concern that women who find digital fame face increasing danger, especially in conservative communities.

Sanas killing has once again put the spotlight on Pakistans honour killing laws and the lack of effective enforcement. While laws exist on paper, their real-world implementation remains weak.
Indian students studying in US universities gain several benefits, including access to world-class education, diverse cultural experiences and enhanced career opportunities. The US education system offers a global perspective, innovative learning environments, and a strong focus on practical skills, making it a popular choice for Indian students seeking global careers.

Traditionally, US universities, particularly those in the Ivy League and top research institutions, offer rigorous academic programmes and cutting-edge technology. Indian students have, over the decades, explored a wide range of academic disciplines and specialisations, tailoring their education to their interests and career goals.

Now suddenly, Donald Trumps own new education policy is threatening to throw this world-class system under the bus. In 2023-2024, India was the top country of origin for international students in the US, with over 330,000 students. This represents a significant increase from previous years, with India surpassing China as the leading source of international students.

So, just what are the new policies introduced by the US president that are causing disruption in a land that offers the worlds most premier education? A close look:

What are Trump administrations steps against international students? The Trump administration has ordered its embassies abroad to stop scheduling new visa interview appointments for students and exchange visitors. Advisories from the US government and universities provide critical warnings to students, urging them to avoid any action that could jeopardise their visa status as recorded in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

What is the immediate fallout? Many students have been forced to leave the country after their F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa status was abruptly revoked and their SEVIS records cancelled  often due to minor past infractions, including traffic offences.

Is the student community stressed? The crackdown has prompted some international students to abandon applications to campuses in the United States and spread serious stress and anxiety among those already enrolled, of which Indians constitute the largest number.

What is the Harvard University case? This is a test case for all US universities. Trump wants Harvard to limit foreign student enrollment to 15 per cent, a change that could impact thousands of Indian students hoping to study in the US. There are roughly 788 Indian students currently enrolled at Harvard.

What is the trigger behind the Trump policy? The US president wants to stop Harvard from enrolling any foreign students. His push against Harvard and other universities has become part of a wider drive to reshape policies on everything from admissions to hiring. Officials say the move is part of efforts to tackle antisemitism linked to protests against Israels war in Gaza.

How has Harvard responded? Harvard has responded by suing the government over the funding cuts and secured a temporary court order stopping the administration from banning international students altogether.

What are the top US universities that Indians enrol? Several US universities are popular choices for Indian students seeking international education. Universities like New York University (NYU), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard University, and Columbia University are frequently listed among the top destinations for Indian students.

What do Indian students get on the table in the US? They contribute more than just tuition, bringing in global perspectives that enrich classrooms and research. According to the Indian Student Mobility Report 2024, Indian students are projected to spend $17.4 billion annually, including $10.1 billion on academic expenses alone, while studying there.
The Czech Republics state-controlled company EDU II and South Koreas KNHP officially signed contracts for the construction of two new nuclear power reactors, a deal valued at $18 billion, reported Reuters.

This significant development comes after a court lifted an injunction that had temporarily halted the deals closing.

Top court clears path for deal According to Reuters, the Supreme Administrative Court on Wednesday overturned a lower courts injunction that had prevented the signing of what is now the largest procurement deal in Czech history. The ruling clears the way for the project to proceed which is crucial for the Czech Republics energy transition as it aims to replace ageing coal and nuclear units.

The injunction was challenged and won by Frances EDF, a rival bidder, last month. This legal challenge had derailed the initial signing of the contract that was planned for May 7, with a ceremony prepared and a Korean delegation already on their way to Prague.

However, EDU II and KHNP appealed to the lower courts decision after which the Supreme Administrative Court said that it heeded those complaints and found the injunction issued by a lower court to be illegal and unverifiable.

What the companies say According to Reuters, KHNP said in a statement that Wednesday's court decision "clears the way for the timely advancement of this strategically important project." The injunction posed a major obstacle which threatened the project's timeline amid possibly lengthy court battles and the looming expiration of KHNP's bid.

What is the project all about ? Last year, the parent company of EDU II, CEZ selected KHNP to build two 1,000-megawatt units to expand its Dukovany nuclear plant, giving KHNP its first project in Europe. EDF has sought to overturn this decision on multiple occasions.

Also Read | Waaree Renewable Technologies secures 345 cr solar project order in Rajasthan

The government will be providing loans and a pricing scheme to make the project profitable, taking an 80 per cent stake in EDU II firm running the project in April, with CEZ retaining 20 per cent, said Reuters.

Whats next in the legal battle? The lower court that initially issued the injunction is scheduled to hold a hearing on EDFs complaint against the tender itself on June 25, Other than that, EDF has also petitioned the European Commission, alleging that KHNPs winning is directly linked to state aid because the company offered a low price. KHNP has consistently denied these allegations.
Two Chinese nationals have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly smuggling a hazardous biological pathogen into the country to conduct research at a University of Michigan laboratory.

As per the DOJ statement, Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34) linked to the Chinese Communist Party, face charges including conspiracy and visa fraud. They face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, and making false statements.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, poses significant risks to agriculture and health.

Also Read: Scale of Chinese spying overwhelms Western governments

The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian and Liu's smuggling of a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon, into the US.

According to the release, the fungus causes head blight, a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses.

Patel in a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said, Liu is alleged to have first lied, then admitted, to also smuggling Fusarium graminearum into Americathrough the Detroit Metropolitan Airportso that he too could conduct research the University of Michigan.

This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk, he added.

Justice will be done, Patel said.

Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Detroit Field Office, stated, The federal charges filed today against Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both citizens of the Peoples Republic of China, represent a significant step forward in protecting our communities and reinforcing national security.
Multiple social media influencers have shared a touching story from a restaurant. It started after a girl named Evelyn had placed a big food order as a joke and never came to collect it.

She even blocked the restaurants number. The restaurant lost money and time, but instead of showing anger, they wrote a kind message to her.

Our motto has always been, and will continue to be: 'SUCCESS IS HERE,' and for that reason, all we can do is wish you success, despite your poor choice, the restaurant wrote.

Also Read | Bank error leads Bengaluru man to support girl who scores 97% in class 10

That night, a man named Mr. Fernando came to the restaurant. He asked if he could help with anything. He had no food at home and was struggling to feed his two grandchildren.

The restaurant gave him Evelyns unclaimed food and even offered him a hot meal and a drink. Mr. Fernando was very grateful and even offered to leave his phone until he could pay.

But, of course, we refused the restaurant wrote.

You cant imagine his smile: he wasnt just bringing home dinner,

but also breakfast and lunch for the next day, it added.

For the rest of the month, the restaurant promised to feed Mr. Fernando and his grandkids. The restaurant ended their note by saying there was no resentment, only a reminder of why their motto is SUCCESS IS HERE.

The story melted netizens hearts; they reacted.

I feel that God had a hand in this situation Karma has a way of reaching you - keep that in mind before you do something else like that again, wrote one Facebook user.

This is a lesson we can all benefit from in this day and age of greed and lack of empathy, wrote another.

One user reacted, What Satan means as harm, God will use for good. This is a wonderful example!!!

Another posted, May God bless the people of the restaurant and the granddad and his grandchildren and I really hope this girl will get some sense after this "prank".

Is the story real? Many social media users, nevertheless, doubted the authenticity of the story but appreciated the lesson it taught.

The details of the restaurant and Evelyn have not been disclosed.

However, upon further investigation, we found that the incident happened in January 2023. It involved a sushi restaurant in Durango, Mexico.
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday slammed a preliminary proposal from the United States in talks about Tehrans nuclear program.

However, he did not completely dismiss the possibility of reaching an agreement with Washington. Khamenei referred to the US offer as being completely contrary to the spirit of we can, a phrase tied to a popular Iranian government slogan, AP reported.

Khamenei also insisted that Tehran needed to keep its ability to enrich uranium, as reported by the Associated Press.

If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us, Khamenei said. If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the US.

Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America, Khamenei said, adding that the proposal was 100 percent against the ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

However, some nuclear power nations get uranium from outside suppliers.

Details of the American proposal remain unclear after five rounds of talks between Iran and the US.

A report by the news website Axios outlined details of the American proposal, the details of which a U.S. official separately confirmed, include a possible nuclear consortium enriching uranium for Iran and surrounding nations. Whether Iran would have to entirely give up its enrichment program remains unclear, as Axios reported that Iran would be able to enrich uranium up to 3% purity for some time, as reported by the Associated Press.

Reaching a deal is one of the several diplomatic priorities being juggled by US President Donald Trump and his trusted friend and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. An accord could see the United States lift some of its crushing economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for it drastically limiting or ending its enrichment of uranium.

However, failure to reach a deal could escalate already high tensions in the Middle East, which remains volatile amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Irans struggling economy could plunge deeper into crisis, potentially fueling further domestic unrest. There is also the looming risk of military action, as Israel or the U.S. might follow through on long-standing threats to strike Iranian nuclear sites.

If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us.

Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America.

In response, Tehran could sever ties with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog entirely and accelerate its push toward developing a nuclear weapon.
New Delhi: India has vehemently opposed any Asian Development Bank financing support to Pakistan, raising serious concerns about potential misuse of development funds for military expenditure and questioning Pakistan's commitment to economic reforms.

According to sources, India expressed deep reservations to the ADB about Pakistan's deteriorating fiscal performance, declining tax collection, and suspected diversion of international development funds toward defence spending rather than development priorities.

India highlighted Pakistan's alarming fiscal trends as evidence of misplaced priorities. Pakistan's tax collection as a share of GDP plummeted from 13.0% in FY2018 to just 9.2% in FY2023 - far below the Asia-Pacific average of 19.0%. Despite this revenue decline, Pakistan significantly increased defence expenditure during the same period.

Also Read | Pakistan acknowledges India struck 7 additional targets in Operation Sindoor

"The linkage between Pakistan's increase in expenditure on its military, as opposed to development, cannot be fully explained solely in terms of its domestic resource mobilisation," sources told ANI. India warned that this pattern suggests possible diversion of funds from international financial institutions, particularly through fungible debt financing instruments like Policy-Based Loans.

India urged ADB management to adequately ring-fence financing to prevent such misuse of development resources.India questioned the effectiveness of previous ADB and IMF programs, noting that Pakistan has approached the International Monetary Fund for its 24th bailout program despite years of institutional support. This track record, India argued, calls into question both program design and implementation by Pakistani authorities.

Sources pointed to Pakistan's military's entrenched interference in economic affairs as a fundamental obstacle to sustainable reforms. "Even when a civilian government is in power now, the army continues to play an outsized role in domestic politics and extends its tentacles deep into the economy," India noted, highlighting the military's leading role in Pakistan's Special Investment Facilitation Council.

India expressed strong reservations about Pakistan's governance system, describing it as "a continuing severe threat to regional peace and security." The country's policy of cross-border terrorism has worsened regional security and significantly escalated Pakistan's macroeconomic risks, thereby heightening enterprise risks for the ADB.

Also Read | Pak to chair UNSC Committee enforcing travel ban on Taliban-linked entities

India criticised Pakistan's unsatisfactory progress on critical Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action items, particularly regarding terrorist financing investigations, prosecution of UN-designated terrorist group leaders, and freezing of criminal assets.

India argued that Pakistan's heavy reliance on external support for policy reforms undermines local ownership and creates a dangerous dependency cycle. "Policy reforms in Pakistan have been largely driven by external support from IFIs, including ADB, in recent years," sources said, warning this approach lacks sustainability.

Beyond development effectiveness, India raised concerns that Pakistan's creditworthiness poses risks to ADB's own financial health. Pakistan's continued reliance on external debt, combined with its high debt-to-GDP ratio and poor credit rating, raises questions about the long-term sustainability of future exposures.

"India urged ADB to be vigilant to safeguard the bank's financial health and long-term prospects," sources said, emphasising the need for careful risk assessment given Pakistan's economic fragility.

India's comprehensive opposition comes as the ADB evaluates potential financing programs for Pakistan. The bank has not yet responded to India's concerns, but the objections could complicate Pakistan's efforts to secure additional development funding at a time when the country faces severe economic challenges.
Irans supreme leader effectively rejected a U.S. proposal that allows temporary uranium enrichment in the country before ending it completely, forcing the White House to reconsider its approach as tensions mount over Irans nuclear program.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking Wednesday on the anniversary of the death of his predecessor, said the recent U.S. offer to Iran to resolve the standoff over Tehrans nuclear program breached Tehrans principles of independence.

To the American side and others we say: Why are you interfering and trying to say whether Iran should have uranium enrichment or not? Thats none of your business," Khamenei said on X.

Iran and the U.S. have held five rounds of nuclear talks so far, but the two sides have clashed over Washingtons insistence that Tehran give up enrichment. Western officials believe Iran wants to enrich to retain the option of producing a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear work is peaceful.

Last week, President Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff submitted what U.S. officials called a term sheet to Tehran, which allows Iran to enrich a limited amount of uranium for a period of time before phasing it out.

Iran is in the process of responding formally to the U.S. offer, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday. Khamenei is the countrys decision maker on security matters and his comments on Wednesday are the clearest indication of Irans likely formal response.

A U.S. official said this week Washington expected Tehran to reject the initial U.S. offer and will have to consider their next steps. Negotiations could continue this weekend, officials say.

Under the proposal, the U.S. would help foster the creation of enrichment facilities managed by a consortium of regional countries, according to a U.S. official and a person briefed by Irans negotiating team.

Meanwhile, Iran would be able to enrich small amounts of uranium at an overground site. But Iran would have to stop all enrichment in the country once the consortium is up and running.

Iran would have to render its current underground enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow inoperable up front under the proposal, the U.S. official said. That would shutter the vast bulk of Irans centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium.

Some Iranian officials have expressed openness to a consortium but have said any enrichment must continue in Iran and under its control. Iranian officials have long insisted Tehrans enrichment program isnt up for negotiations.

Trump said this week a new nuclear deal would preclude an enrichment program. That may not rule out an interim arrangement allowing some domestic enrichment by Iran.

Iranian officials have complained that Witkoff has refused to commit to specific sanctions relief, say Arab and Iranian officials.

Oman, which is mediating between Iran and the U.S., has also suggested Iran halt some enrichment on a temporary basis in exchange for sanctions relief.

Trump has said he prefers to see a nuclear deal with Iran but warned he could take military action if there is no deal. Israel has also threatened action against Irans nuclear program if Tehran moves toward building a nuclear weapon.

Iran has amassed a highly enriched uranium stockpile, according to the United Nations atomic agency in Vienna. It is producing roughly one bombs worth of highly enriched uranium monthly, based on the U.N.s most recent assessment.

While the talks continue, Western powers are on a collision course with Tehran at the U.N. atomic agency, which could put further pressure on the negotiations.

Last weekend, the International Atomic Energy Agency circulated a long-awaited report on Irans stalling over a six-year-old probe into undeclared nuclear material found in Iran.

European diplomats in Vienna say they plan to push ahead with a resolution at the IAEA board of governors meeting next week declaring Iran in noncompliance with its basic nuclear safeguards obligations, a step that could push the issue to the attention of the U.N. Security Council for a response. The U.S. is expected to back the move, a senior diplomat said Wednesday.

Britain, France and Germany have said this could be the next step in their threat to reimpose all the international sanctions lifted on Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran has warned that if snapback proceeds, it would withdraw from the international treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons and kick out international inspectors.

Over the past four years, Iran has faced a series of rebukes at the Vienna agency over its lack of cooperation with the IAEA. Each time, it has reacted by gearing up its nuclear program or further downgrading oversight of its work.

Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com, Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com and Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com
Malaysia has seen a big rise in tourism. In the first quarter of this year, it welcomed 10.1 million foreign visitors, a 22% increase compared to last year.

Malaysia has beaten Thailand to emerge as the most-visited South-Asian country. Thailand is facing a tourism crisis after safety concerns rose.

In January, Chinese actor Xing Xing was kidnapped in Thailand. Recently, an Indian tourist in Thailand was attacked by a tiger while taking a selfie at a Thai wildlife spot.

Also Read | Heavy floods threaten Romanias Praid salt mine, a tourism magnet

For Malaysia, most tourists came from Singapore (4.9 million), followed by China (1.12 million), Indonesia (1.08 million), Thailand and Brunei. For the first time, China passed Indonesia as the second largest source of visitors, mainly due to easier visa rules, VN Express reported.

Malaysia, recently voted Asias most loved country by Insider Monkey, introduced a 30-day visa-free entry for Chinese and Indian citizens in December 2023, according to Bernama. It has now extended this rule until 2026.

Also Read | How Pahalgam terror attack grounded Kashmirs rising tourism tide

The country also announced that Chinese tourists will be able to enter visa-free for five more years, possibly continuing until 2036.

In 2024, Malaysia saw 3.29 million visitors from China, more than the previous year. The increase in tourism shows Malaysias growing popularity as a travel destination in Asia, helped by friendly policies and better international ties.

Where does India stand? The Ministry of Tourism has yet to release the full tourist arrival data for January to March 2025. However, a summary report from January 2025 reveals the numbers for the month.

In January 2025, India received 9.57 lakh foreign tourists, 13.9% lower than the number of arrivals in the same month of 2019.

The United States was the top source of tourists, making up 20.6% of the total arrivals. It was followed by the UK (11.8%), Canada (7.1%), Australia (6.4%) and Malaysia (4.7%).

Also Read | Rupali Ganguly calls for boycott on Turkey tourism amid India-Pakistan conflict

Nearly half of the visitors (45.4%) came for leisure while 31.5% were part of the Indian diaspora visiting family and friends. About 9.7% arrived for business, 3.4% for medical reasons and the rest for other purposes.
SEOUL : The North Korean warship that capsized last month during a botched launch has returned to an upright position, satellite imagery shows, as the country works to restore the vessel before leader Kim Jong Uns patience runs out.

The 5,000-ton destroyer is one of Kims crown jewels in his dream of modernizing his decades-old navy.

At a May 21 launch event, Kim witnessed his Choe Hyon-class destroyeronly North Koreas second such modernized warshiptopple into the water. Officials had deployed a risky side launch" maneuver to get the ship off the dock.

It failed. The destroyers bow remained on land, while the stern plunged into the surrounding watersflipping on its side and partially sinking. Absolute carelessness," Kim told officials.

That was exactly two weeks ago. In the mishaps immediate aftermath, North Korea vowed to pump out the seawater over several days; the ship would be back upright in roughly 10 days. It covered the ship in blue tarps, hiding the damage to the outside world.

The effort appears to be on track, despite the end-of-June target to restore the ship being met with skepticism, according to 38 North, a leading authority on North Koreas military, which analyzed satellite imagery of the Chongjin shipyard on June 2.

Helipad markings that would be on the sterns deck are now visible, said 38 North, a website affiliated with the Stimson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

The Choe Hyon-class warshipnamed after a former North Korean guerrilla fighterappears to have incurred damage to the sonar bow section, it added. Repairs would typically require the ship to be taken out of the water, then moved to the types of dry docks that the Chongjin shipyard lacks, 38 North said.

For now, the damaged bow remains on the docks launch mechanism, suggesting repairs will begin with that part of the warship, 38 North said.

North Korean state media hasnt commented publicly if the submerged vessel has been lifted out of the water. The most-recent official mention of the warship came last week with a report that work restoring the balance of the warship was underway. North Korea has called the gaffe an unpardonable crime."

The North Korean warship does appear to be upright in the satellite imagery from the 38 North report, and hitting the intended timeline seems plausible, said Choi Il, a retired South Korean navy captain.

North Korea moved fast to keep the ship from sinking further into the sea," said Choi, who now heads the Submarine Research Institute in South Korea, which archives documents.

Write to Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com and Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com
A newly released Pakistani document has revealed previously undisclosed details about Indias precision strikes during last months four-day clashes, identifying at least seven previously unknown targets.

The document lists Indian strikes in Peshawar (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), Attock, Bahawalnagar, Chhor, Hyderabad (Sindh), Gujrat, and Jhang (Punjab).

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Bahawalnagar hosts an army cantonment, while Gujrat district houses Pakistans largest cantonment in Kharian. In Jhang district, the Shorkot cantonment lies adjacent to the Rafiqui airbase, which was also targeted by Indian missile strikes.

The Desert Warfare School of the Pakistan Army is based in the Chhor cantonment, and Hyderabad similarly contains a military cantonment, Hindustan Times reported.

These disclosures were part of Pakistans report on Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, launched in response to Indias Operation Sindoor.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives, India conducted calibrated strikes on 7 May, targeting four terror hubs in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

These precision strikes were aimed at dismantling cross-border terror infrastructure while deliberately avoiding Pakistani military bases and civilian areas.

The targets included the Sawai Nala camp in Muzaffarabad, the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters at Markaz Taiba in Muridke, and the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters at Markaz Subhan in Bahawalpur.

In response to Pakistans escalation, marked by missile attacks and drone swarms directed at Indian military bases and civilian locations, the Indian Air Force retaliated by striking at least nine Pakistani airbases and four military radar installations.

On May 10, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that India and Pakistan had reached an agreement to cease all military actions and firing across land, air, and sea with immediate effect.

New Delhi has asserted that Indias intense retaliatory strikes on the same day compelled Pakistan to seek an end to the hostilities. India and Pakistan agreed to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart.
Pakistan is set to chair the United Nations Security Councils Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025 and will also serve as vice-chair of the 15-member bodys Counter-Terrorism Committee. Pakistan will chair the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025, which enforces measures such as asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes on individuals and entities linked to the Taliban that threaten Afghanistans peace, stability, and security.

Guyana and Russia will serve as the committees vice-chairs.

According to a list of chairs of the subsidiary bodies of the UN Security Council, Denmark will chair the 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, while Russia and Sierra Leone will be vice-chairs for 2025.

Algeria will chair the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, while France, Pakistan and Russia will be vice-chairs.

Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the 202526 term.

Apart from chairing the Taliban Sanctions Committee of UNSC, Pakistan will also be co-chair of the Informal Working Groups on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions and on the General UNSC Sanctions Issues.

India was Chair of the UNSC Counter-terrorism Committee for 2022 during its 2021-22 tenure in the Council as a non-permanent member.

India has consistently reminded the international community that Pakistan is host to the world's largest number of UN-proscribed terrorists and entities. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistans Abbottabad for years and was killed in an operation by the US Navy Seals in May 2011.

China, France, Russia, the UK and the US are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council while Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia are currently in the Council as non-permanent members.

In elections held Tuesday, five new non-permanent Members of the UN Security Council were by secret ballot for a 2-year term starting on January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2027. These are Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Latvia and Colombia.
On Wednesday, the US Coast Guard responded to a fire on board a 600 foot (183 m) cargo ship containing 22 people near Alaska, stating that no injuries had been reported. The ship, Morning Midas was located 300 miles (482.8 km) southwest of Adak in Alaska. Its crew was actively fighting the fire, the coast guard mentioned.

Aircrews, cutter ship on their way to assist According to LSEG data, the Liberia-flagged cargo ship was headed to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. The US Coast Guard said that aircrews and a cutter ship were on their way to assist, while three other ships were already at the scene. Neither the Coast Guard nor the ship's owner, Hawthorn Navigation Limited, immediately responded to requests for comment, Reuters reported.

The cause of the fire and any possible environmental impact have not yet been disclosed, as an investigation is currently underway. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard remains on high alert to maintain maritime safety in the area, reports said.

Also Read | Court battle over Trump tariffs prolongs shipper uncertainty as holiday season nears

One dies in Hudson River boat explosion in New York Last Saturday, a man lost his life in an explosion aboard a boat docked on the Hudson River in New York.

According to a social media post by the US Coast Guard, the explosion occurred around 10:30 AM while the man was performing work that involved flames or sparks.

The New York Police Department reported that first responders arrived following a 911 call and discovered a 59-year-old man unconscious in the river. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the explosion, and the man's identity has not been released.

I am devastated to hear about the tragic death of a dedicated Department of Environmental Protection employee who lost his life today while working on a boat at one of our citys wastewater resource recovery facilities. This devoted public servant gave 33 years of service to New York City, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this painful time, ABC news had quoted New York City Mayor Eric Adams as saying.
After 17-year-old Pakistani TikTok star Sana Yousuf was shot dead at her Islamabad residence on Monday, a man was arrested in Faisalabad in eastern Punjab province for allegedly killing her.

The accused, identified as 22-year-old Umar Hayat, also a social media content creator, was arrested on Tuesday by the Islamabad Police and was produced in court on Wednesday.

Umar is accused of shooting Sana Yousuf, who had more than one million followers on social media, after she rejected his offer of friendship.

The murder in Pakistan's capital city has sparked widespread outrage across the globe.

According to TV footage, Umar, with his face covered, was brought to court, where police requested additional time to complete their investigation and file formal murder charges.

The judge ordered that Umar be presented again on June 18 for pretrial proceedings.

Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, Islamabads Inspector General of Police (IGP), told a media briefing on Tuesday: The accused is a 22-year-old unemployed man who repeatedly attempted to contact the victim. Upon her refusal to respond, he committed the murder.

The suspect took Yousufs phone with him to destroy evidence. But police had seized her phone as well as the murder weapon from the suspect, Rizvi added.

The suspect and Yousuf had known each other for one year. He had travelled to Islamabad between May 28 and 29 to wish Yousuf well on her birthday, but the two could not meet, for unspecified reasons, Dawn reported, citing sources.

Also Read | Texas lawmakers fail to pass ban on social media for those under 18

Authorities told BBC that they believe Umar Hayat murdered Yousaf at her home in Islamabad on Monday after she rejected what they called his "offers of friendship". He allegedly also repeatedly tried, and failed, to meet her.

Teen promoted traditional music Sana originally hailed from the northern region of Chitral in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Through her videos, she promoted traditional Chitrali music and dress and advocated for girls education.

Hours before Sana Yousuf was killed, she had posted a photo celebrating her birthday with friends.

According to The Express Tribune, Sana was shot at close range by an unidentified assailant who reportedly entered her home and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The warnings are dire. India is running dry. There is a looming water crisisa threat to Indias future. Alarm bells around a water shortage have become increasingly shrill and loud over the past few decades. Experts in India have long lamented the poor state of water storage capacities in the country, the extent of pollution in our rivers, the annual cycles of drought and floods, the over-exploitation of ground water and the provision of water as a free goodoften exacerbated by free electricity for agricultural groundwater-pumps given to farmers as an election sop.

India provides drinking water access to nearly 95% of its population, albeit at a fairly basic level. The World Banks broadened definition of access includes people using safely managed water services as well as those using basic water services, which is drinking water from an improved source (like a piped-in tap, borehole or tube-well, protected dug well, protected spring and packaged/delivered water), provided the collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a round trip.

Also Read: India cannot solve its water crisis without proper pricing

The 79th round of the National Sample Survey 2022-23 brings out a paradoxical reality: 48% of rural India continues to be dependent on hand pumps or tube-wells for water, while nearly 15% of urban India is dependent on bottled drinking water.

Both ends of the spectrum have their health and related problems, the first due to unacceptably high levels of physical, chemical and/or biological contamination reported from various geographies across India, and the other due to over-purification leading to the demineralization of water, presence of cancer-causing substances and plastic pollution at a very large scale.

About 68% of urban India is served with piped water that undergoes water treatment with varying levels of effectiveness. The need for water treatment is becoming increasingly more intense and costly due to uncontrolled industrial effluent discharge, untreated or partially treated household sewage and release, and the disposal of hot water from thermal plants.

A case in point: the Yamuna river gets so polluted by the time it reaches Agra in Uttar Pradesh that the Central Pollution Control Board does not consider it suitable as a raw water source for treatment. Additionally, the wastewater from water treatment plants is often so bad that it needs treatment before discharge. With nearly 7-8% of electricity consumption estimated to be going into meeting the clean-water demand of 68% of Indias urban population, the climate impact of such supply is also very high, clearly.

Also Read: Desilting can ease Indias water storage constraints and its rural water crisis

Worsening this poor management, water leakages from Indias water pipelines are estimated to be in the range of nearly 40%. Poor quality and ageing water pipeline infrastructure also allow contaminants to seep into treated water supply, including sewage from equally or more leaky pipelines following the same right of way.

Also challenging is the growing shortage of water, with water demand in 2030 expected to be twice its available supply. Indias natural endowment, at about 4% of the worlds fresh water resources, has always been meagre, given that the country is home to 18% of the worlds population, but even this is now under threat from glacier melting.

Himalayan glaciers are a major source of freshwater (and related services) for nearly 60% of Indias population. However, according to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a multilateral organization focused on the Himalayas, these glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate: 65% faster in 20112020 than in the previous decade and faster than the global average too.

Also Read: Water scarcity: Policy intervention alone wont help

It is projected that under global warming scenarios of 1.52 Celsius above the pre-industrial level, glacier volume in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region may reduce by 3050% by 2100. If global warming exceeds 2 Celsius, which cannot be ruled out, these glaciers may shrink to just 2045% of their 2020 volume. But, before the depletion of Himalayan glaciers, the rapid melting is likely to cause severe flood- related disasters and threaten infrastructure designed for a very different flow rate in rivers that originate in this mountain range.

On the somewhat positive side, summer monsoon rainfall in India is likely to get much stronger, although it will be increasingly erratic. For every 1 Celsius of global warming, monsoon rainfall is likely to increase by about 5%, according to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

This could help ease Indias water stress to some extent, provided we do a better job of managing our water resources. The erratic nature of the monsoon, however, will surely challenge the farm sector enormously, as 60% of Indian agriculture continues to remain rain-dependent and needs some predictability of rainfall patterns.

Also Read: India must act right away against an emerging scarcity of fresh water

Clearly, a lot needs toand canbe done right away to improve the management of water in India, despite the complexity of the challenge. India has spent several decades and thousands of crores of rupees ineffectively on trying to make end-of-pipe technologies at least reduce pollution in the countrys two major religiously significant rivers, the Ganga and Yamuna.

We have also explored ambitious but probably impractical projects like the linking of Indian rivers. These lessons should be borne in mind before embarking on a newly proposed initiative to divert Ganga waters to increase flows in the Yamuna and flush out its pollution further downstream; all consequential impacts must be assessed and evaluated (also from an equity perspective).

Also Read: Indias urban groundwater crisis is worsening: Heres what to do

Solutions for better water management are well known, although they can be enhanced with the deployment of state-of-the-art technologies. India needs a mission-driven systemic approach, free of politicization, towards securing and managing its water resources. The country must harness the increasingly inevitable impact of climate change think of water from melting Himalayan glaciersfor greater water security. It can be done.

The author is an independent expert on climate change and clean energy.
The US is at a turning point. For reasons that future historians will debateand that will leave many dumbfoundedthe country is attacking the very foundations of its strength: its openness, its institutions, and its global engagement. The shift began with US President Donald Trumps tariffs. Their chaotic and inconsistent deployment in pursuit of ill-defined objectives has not only raised the cost of imports and disrupted global trade, but also undermined Americas credibility as a reliable economic partner, prompting questions about the US dollars future as the worlds reserve currency.

Then came the Trump administrations attacks on American universities, long a cornerstone of the countrys scientific and technological leadership. Drastic cuts to research funding, higher taxes on endowments and restrictive visa policies are weakening their ability to attract and retain top global talent. The result is a loss not just for academia, but for US innovation and thus the broader economy.

Also Read: Attack Harvard to make America grate on its own nerves again

Meanwhile, the countrys most dynamic sector, technology, has come under political and regulatory pressure. Apple, Alphabet and Meta face intensifying scrutiny at home while their competitors abroad benefit from supportive industrial policies. As most countries position themselves to compete in the 21st-century economy, the US has adopted a policy that reflects the past (reviving domestic manufacturing, relaxing child labour protections, etc).

Behind all these recent policy shifts is a basic misreading of the positive spillovers that the US has historically generated. American leadership in science, security and innovation has benefited others; but rather than viewing this as a sign of strength, the Trump administration treats it as evidence of exploitation. The response has been to withdraw, even if that means damaging the institutions that have enabled and sustained US global leadership.

Rather than curbing the rise of other countries, Americas retreat actually creates openings for them to advance. Nowhere is this more evident than in continental Europe. Faced with longstanding economic challengeslow productivity growth, ageing populations and missed opportunities in the digital transformationEuropean policymakers increasingly regard Americas inward turn as a chance to catch up.

Also Read: Tariff pause: A chance for the EU to come back stronger and more united

Two recent developments have given them hope. First, Germanys relaxation of its constitutional debt brake (a cap on annual deficits) has created fiscal space for sorely needed public investment. Second, in the face of geopolitical and economic fragmentation, there is a growing political consensus that Europeans must act with greater unity and purpose. But seizing the moment requires more than optimism. Four conditions are essential if Europe is to fill the void left by US disengagement.

First, the EU must resist the Trump administrations divide-and-rule strategy by avoiding bilateral bargaining with the US by any member country. Only by presenting a united front can the EU leverage its market power and defend its interests.

Second, Europe must embrace openness, particularly to talent and trade. With the US increasingly hostile to international students and foreign labour, Europe can benefit from the coming US brain drain by welcoming skilled migrants and researchers. Further, since developing new technologies requires critical minerals and rare earths that are currently unavailable in Europe, it also must maintain productive trade relations with others like China. That will require political will and a recognition that openness is a source of strength.

Third, Europe needs regulatory reform. While European standards for food safety, environmental protection and labour rights are rightly admired, excessive or poorly designed regulations in other sectors have stifled investment and innovation and impeded productivity growth. This is especially true when rules serve incumbent interests rather than broader societal goals. For example, qualified refugees are often unable to work because of bureaucratic hurdles.

Also Read: Big Tech in the dock: The EU could force Meta and Apple to change their coercive ways

Loosening such constraints will be difficult, especially in nations where high living standards make change politically costly. Workers in Europe will not willingly log more hours, give up job security and long vacations, or take on unpleasant tasks. But failing to make the necessary changes would mean sacrificing future dynamism to preserve past achievements.

Lastly, Europe must tackle its labour shortages through immigration policies that apply to skilled and less-skilled individuals alike. Demographic decline and rising living standards mean that many jobs have been going unfilled. There is no path to sustained growth or innovation if the workforce is stretched thin. Reforming immigration policy does not mean accepting uncontrolled borders, but it does mean creating legal pathways for those willing to contribute. Politically, this may be the hardest challenge of all, given the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment and far-right parties. But it is essential.

Americas retreat from the global stage presents Europe with an opportunity it has not had in decades. Whether it can rise to the occasion will depend on its ability to form a united front, remain open, modernize its regulatory frameworks and embrace a pragmatic approach to immigration. Otherwise, the momentum may pass once again to Asia, which has never stopped preparing for the future. 2025/Project Syndicate

The author is a former World Bank Group chief economist, editor-in-chief of the American Economic Review and professor of economics at Yale University.
Donald Trump on Wednesday broadcast Vladimir Putins warning that hell retaliate against Ukraine for its recent stunning drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, the clearest signal yet that the US presidents peace efforts have stalled.

Posting on his Truth Social platform after he said the two spoke by phone, Trump made no reference to additional sanctions or his repeated calls for a ceasefire, which Putin has ignored, nor a potential meeting between leaders, which Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenksiy said he supports.

It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace, Trump said of the call, which he said lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

Trump campaigned on ending the war in Ukraine quickly, citing his relationship with Putin, but has also threatened to walk away if the two sides cant agree to terms. His readiness to distance himself from peace talks and post-war security has also rattled allies in Europe.

A series of daring attacks by Ukraine against Russian targets marked an embarrassing setback for the Kremlin, including the assault over the weekend on airfields as far away as Siberia using drones hidden in trucks.

The Kremlins description of Wednesdays call made no reference to possible retaliation, highlighting instead that Moscow hopes the two sides can continue talking. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov also said Trump told Putin he didnt have advance notice of the operation.

Earlier in the day, Putin dismissed an offer from Zelenskiy for direct top-level negotiations during an address, in which he didnt mention the airbase strikes.

How can such meetings be held under these conditions? What is there to talk about?, Putin said during a televised meeting with government officials, citing separate attacks on bridges he blamed on Ukraine.

Russia and Ukrainian officials spoke in Istanbul Monday in their second publicly announced meeting, sharing documents through Turkish intermediaries, and planning to meet again later this month. They also agreed to work toward a new exchange of prisoners.

However, Zelenskiy on Wednesday said that such talks arent productive and stressed hes willing to speak directly with Putin.

To continue diplomatic meetings in Istanbul at a level that does not resolve anything further is, in my opinion, meaningless, Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv, calling Russias conditions for peace an ultimatum.

He proposed a ceasefire until a leaders meeting at a location of Russias choice, including Istanbul, the Vatican, or Switzerland. The Kremlin on Wednesday said Putin also spoke to Pope Leo XIV about his interest in achieving peace through political and diplomatic means. During the call the Pope made an appeal for Russia to make a gesture that favors peace, according to a readout from the Vatican.

In Washington, Zelenskiys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and discussed the Istanbul talks and the further course of negotiations.

Trump also said that Russia may take a role in negotiations with Iran, another flashpoint where the US president has struggled to show results while making unspecified threats of consequences for Tehran.

President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion, Trump said. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!

The Kremlin, meanwhile, was even less committal on Iran, saying after the call that Trump said he thinks Russia could provide help and he would be appreciative of it.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in the day criticized a US proposal for a nuclear deal and called American officials arrogant for expecting the Islamic Republic to cease uranium enrichment.

Iran and the US have been engaged in negotiations since April in a bid to end a tense, years-long standoff over Tehrans nuclear program and have so far had five rounds of talks mediated by Oman.

With assistance from Donato Paolo Mancini.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
President Donald Trump said in a late-night social media post that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was very tough to make a deal with, raising questions about whether a fragile economic truce between the worlds two largest economies will hold.

China and the US are at odds on a number of issues, and have yet to confirm plans for a leader-to-leader call the White House has said it expects will happen later this week.

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! Trump posted on Truth Social at around 2:17 a.m. Washington time.

Chinas principle and position of developing China-US relations is consistent, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Wednesday when asked about Trumps social media post about Xi.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment placed in overnight hours after Trumps post.

Also Read | Trump, Xi to meet at virtual Asia Pacific forum as trade spat endures

Tensions between the countries are ratcheting up again after a tariff truce in May. The Trump administration in recent weeks has barred the shipping of critical jet engine parts to China, throttled Beijings access to chip-design software and sought to slap fresh curbs on Huawei Technologies Co. chips.

US officials also announced last week a plan to start revoking visas for Chinese students.

Beyond strains in economic ties, geopolitical tensions are also growing. Chinas Foreign Ministry over the weekend protested US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths assertion at a gathering of military chiefs that China poses an imminent threat to Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.

Also Read | China urges US to cancel sanctions on Huawei as Trump-Xi meeting looms

Market reaction was muted following Trumps post on Xi, given tensions between the US and China had increased in recent days. A gauge of Chinese stocks traded in Hong Kong pared gains to 0.5%, the Bloomberg Dollar Index slipped 0.1%, while US Treasuries were steady with the 10-year yield at 4.45%.

Trump expressed hope Friday he would soon speak with Xi, telling reporters in the Oval Office that China violated part of the agreement the two nations made in Geneva to cut tariff levels and reduce tensions, but that Im sure that Ill speak to President Xi, and hopefully well work that out.

While China has yet to confirm plans for direct leader-level talks, the White House has repeatedly insisted Trump and Xi were likely to speak this week.

A key sticking point appears to be critical minerals. Trump administration officials have accused Beijing of continuing to choke off access to rare earth magnets, despite Washingtons decision to reduce tariffs last month hinging on China lifting such controls.

One complication is that the US and China appear to have different understandings of what was agreed on rare earths at last months trade talks in Geneva, Cory Combs, head of critical mineral supply chain research at Trivium China, told Bloomberg TV.

On the US side, it seems clear now, there was a sense that Beijing would completely remove the requirement of an approval, Combs said. That was not what Beijing seems to think it agreed to.

For its part, Beijing has accused the US of unilaterally introducing new discriminatory restrictions, and vowed to retaliate if the US insists on its own way.

Trump has long said that direct talks with Xi were the only way to resolve differences between the nations, but the Chinese leader has been reluctant to get on the phone with his American counterpart  preferring that advisers negotiate key issues.

Another reason is the worlds No. 2 economy has shown resilience to Americas steepest tariff regime in a century. But while record government spending and stimulus buoyed growth in the first quarter, the manufacturing sector shrank in recent months. Home prices have continued a yearslong slump, weighing on the spending power of consumers whose wealth is tied up in property.

Trump had signaled a wish to have a call with his Chinese counterpart as early as February and later said he was willing to travel to the Asian nation to meet with Xi, although no such engagement has been scheduled so far.
World Environment Day today: Only 1 in 3 residents of the national capital believe that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has actively taken steps so far to reduce air pollution in the national capital during the October - December months compared to previous years, a latest survey has found.

Scepticism runs deep among Delhi residents and many feel that visible action on the ground is still lacking while the coordination with neighbouring statesespecially on curbing stubble burningremains weak, the survey by LocalCircles says.

The survey was conducted to know what residents of the national capital feel about the BJP governments performance so far. The survey received over 26,000 responses from residents of 11 districts of Delhi.

61 per cent respondents were men while 39 per cent respondents were women.

The survey asked residents of the national capital, With Delhis toxic air period just 4 months away, do you believe the Delhi Government is actively working to address root causes like stubble burning, vehicular pollution, road and construction dust, etc., so that pollution in the Oct-Dec 2025 period is drastically lower than previous years?

Out of 14,745 who responded to the question 58 per cent said No, they arent doing much while 33 per cent of respondents said Yes, they are actively taking actions and 9 per cent of respondent did not give a clear answer.

World Environment Day: Out of 14,745 who responded to the question 58 per cent said No, they arent doing much while 33 per cent of respondents said Yes, they are actively taking actions and 9 per cent of respondent did not give a clear answer.

To sum up, only 1 in 3 residents surveyed believe that the Delhi Government is actively taking steps so pollution in Oct - Dec period this year is drastically reduced as compared to previous years, reads the survey.

The survey also found that 8 in 10 residents of Delhi want government to immediately prioritise efforts to reduce stubble burning in neighbouring states, conduct mechanised sweeping of roads and streets and enforce covering of construction sites. Also,7 in 10 residents surveyed are in favour of enforcement against garbage burning.

World Environment Day Today The findings come ahead of the World Environment Day on 5 June.

Celebrated annually on 5 June, World Environment Day encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It is supported by many non-governmental organisations, businesses, government entities, and represents the primary United Nations outreach day supporting the environment.

Also Read | Delhi Air Pollution: CAQM invokes actions under Stage I of GRAP

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched on 3 June a 25-point Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025, titled Shuddh Hawa Sabka Adhikar  Pradushan Par Zordar Prahar.

The multi-pronged strategy aims to target all kinds of pollution from dust, vehicular emission to landfills through a structured action plan that promises a clean and healthy Delhi.

Delhi among worst polluted cities Delhi, Indias capital city is known to one of the most polluted cities in the world, which health experts fear poses a health risk not only in winter, when the smog raises the levels of air pollution, but also throughout the year.

Green Delhi, Healthy Delhi is not a slogan  its our mission, Gupta said, announcing key interventions such as a pilot cloud seeding project to induce artificial rain, to be implemented in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.

Other innovative moves include the installation of mist sprayers on electric poles across 13 pollution hotspots, and the introduction of anti-smog guns on commercial buildings of over 3,000 sq m.

World Environment Day: Since taking office in February 2025, the government has rolled out a series of ambitious stepsfrom a 25-point pollution control plan and a ban on older vehicles to mandatory anti-smog guns on buildings, cloud seeding trials, and a widespread dust control initiative.

Gupta said that the national capital would witness its first artificial rain "very soon with the help of cloud seeding techniques. For cloud seeding and artificial rain, an MoU has been signed with IIT Kanpur as a pilot project.

BJP govt in Delhi since February 2025 Since taking office in February 2025, the government has rolled out a series of ambitious stepsfrom a 25-point pollution control plan and a ban on older vehicles to mandatory anti-smog guns on buildings, cloud seeding trials, and a widespread dust control initiative.
OnePlus is gearing up to introduce its latest smartphone, the OnePlus 13s, in India on Thursday, 5 June. The official launch event is scheduled for 12:00pm IST and will be streamed live via the OnePlus India YouTube channel as well as the companys official website. In anticipation of the launch, the Chinese tech giant has already begun teasing several features of the upcoming device, which is confirmed to arrive in three colour variants and will sport a compact form factor.

How to Watch the OnePlus 13s Launch Fans and prospective buyers can tune in to the livestream on the OnePlus India YouTube channel or visit the official OnePlus website. The brand has also enabled a Notify Me option on its site, allowing users to receive real-time updates ahead of the unveiling.

Expected Price in India While OnePlus has yet to officially disclose pricing details, company CEO Robin Liu has hinted that the 13s will slot between the OnePlus 13 (Rs. 69,999) and OnePlus 13R (Rs. 42,999), providing flagship-grade performance at a more accessible price point. Industry sources suggest the device could be priced around Rs. 55,000, aligning with speculation that the 13s could be a rebadged version of the OnePlus 13T, which debuted in China in April at CNY 3,399 (approximately Rs. 39,000).

The handset is confirmed to go on sale through Amazon, the OnePlus India website, and various offline retail partners. It will be available in Black Velvet, Pink Satin, and Green Silk finishes.

Confirmed and Expected Specifications The OnePlus 13s will feature a 6.32-inch display and will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, offering substantial improvements in speed and efficiency. A newly introduced Plus Key, replacing the traditional alert slider, will also debut on the handset.

OnePlus has confirmed that the smartphone will come with up to 512GB of internal storage and 12GB of RAM. The device is expected to integrate the companys proprietary suite of AI tools under the OnePlus AI branding.

On the camera front, a 32MP front-facing camera with autofocus capabilities has been confirmed. Although the rear camera specifications have not been officially announced, leaks suggest a 50MP dual rear camera setup.

Connectivity and Battery Connectivity options on the OnePlus 13s include a G1 Wi-Fi chipset and support for 5.5G networks, which will cater to Indias evolving telecom infrastructure.
Google is reportedly testing a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that provides users with brief, text-based summaries of current weather conditions directly within its mobile Search experience. The feature, which is currently limited in availability, has been spotted by some users in the United States when searching for city-specific weather information through the Google app on Android and iOS.

According to a report by9to5Google, the AI-powered summary appears between the standard hourly and 10-day forecast sections and aims to offer an at-a-glance understanding of the weather. The brief narrative includes key details such as wind conditions, the likelihood of rain or thunderstorms, atmospheric pressure patterns, and trends in temperature fluctuations.

At present, the feature seems to be in an early testing phase, with visibility restricted to certain regions. Searches for weather Los Angeles and weather San Diego reportedly triggered the new summary, whereas other locations did not yield the same result. Mint was also unable to access the summaries for the mentioned cities, indicating that the rollout is likely limited to a small user group.

In addition to the text description, the AI-generated section includes a small icon linking to external sources for more comprehensive weather information. Beneath the summary, Google has added a disclaimer that reads: Generative AI is experimental, reinforcing that the tool is still in a testing stage.

Currently, the new feature appears only within the Google app and on the mobile web. It does not show up on desktop platforms or when users are not signed into their Google accounts.
A hacking group posing as IT support personnel has infiltrated the Salesforce systems of at least 20 companies across the United States and Europe, according to a new report by Googles threat intelligence team.

The cybercriminals, believed to be linked to a loosely connected collective known as the Com, exploited human error rather than software vulnerabilities, relying on social engineering techniques to gain access to sensitive corporate data. The group, which reportedly has ties to hackers based in the US, UK, and Western Europe, used phone calls to impersonate IT staff, duping employees into handing over login credentials or connecting rogue applications to their companies Salesforce platforms.

Once inside, the attackers exfiltrated data, sometimes waiting months before contacting the victims with extortion demands. According to Googles findings, the campaign did not exploit any technical flaws within Salesforce itself.

Theres no indication the issue described stems from any vulnerability inherent to our services, a Salesforce spokesperson confirmed via email. Attacks like voice phishing are targeted social engineering scams designed to exploit gaps in individual users cybersecurity awareness and best practices.

Salesforce previously issued a warning in March, highlighting the growing use of social engineering tactics aimed at compromising customer accounts. It also offered guidance to help organisations strengthen their defences.

Also Read | Google uncovers malware campaign by China-linked hackers using Calendar events

While many of the recent intrusions have affected the retail sector, the groups activities appear to extend across a wider range of industries. Notably, several major retailers  including Marks & Spencer, Co-op, Adidas, Victorias Secret, Cartier, and North Face  have suffered cyberattacks in recent weeks. However, Google stated that there is not enough evidence to directly link the Com group to these specific incidents.

Austin Larsen, Principal Threat Analyst at Googles Threat Analysis Group, said: While weve seen this group target retail, they have also targeted other industries and we do not have enough information to definitively link this group to the recent hacks in the US and UK more broadly.

Googles investigation also revealed that the perpetrators used infrastructure and tactics previously associated with members of the Com, including individuals believed to be part of the infamous Scattered Spider hacking collective. That group has been connected to numerous high-profile breaches in recent years and is known for impersonating IT personnel as part of its modus operandi. Some members are also believed to be involved in SIM-swapping schemes to steal cryptocurrency, often coordinating via social media platforms.

In light of the findings, Google has urged businesses to reinforce employee training and remain alert to the threat of social engineering, which continues to be a significant vector for cyberattacks despite advances in technical security.
UPDATE: State Representative Yusuf Hakeem has canceled a town hall meeting in Eastdale on Thursday after a proposal to move the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute to the community was dropped.

Rep. Hakeem was planning to hear from Eastdale constituents about their concerns for the proposal before the area was dropped from consideration.

State Senator Bo Watson said Thursday that the Tennessee Department of General Services will continue to look for potential sites for a new regional mental health facility to replace the facility at Moccasin Bend.

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: State Representative Yusuf Hakeem is hosting a town hall meeting on Thursday to hear from Eastdale constituents about a proposal to move the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute to their community.

Hakeem, who represents District 28 which includes Eastdale, said the state of Tennessee submitted a letter of intent to potentially move Moccasin Bend to a site off of Tunnel Boulevard in an effort to expand the facility.

Hakeem said that cant happen at its current location because of the areas historic significance which dates back more than 12,000 years, including evidence of early Native American villages and Civil War history.

Rep. Hakeem said hes concerned about the impact the potential move would have on the growing subdivisions in the area.

He contends that there are several other Hamilton County areas that should be considered before disrupting the Eastdale area: I believe we should look at all of our options before we arbitrarily make such an impactful move. Ive been made aware that there is possibly as many as a half-dozen other potential sites that should at least be considered that have the available space, would keep all of the facilitys jobs in Hamilton County, and not put our neighborhoods at a disadvantage. So, Im inviting everyone to come out and let their voices be heard.

Hakeem will be joined at the town hall by Councilman Dennis Clark and Councilman Ron Elliott.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 5 from 6:00-7:30 PM at the Eastdale Community Center at 1312 Moss Street.
Scandinavian furniture and homewares giant JYSK has announced the opening date of its newest store in the Midlands.

JYSK will operate out of the old Argos unit in Tullamore Retail Park with signage being erected at the site in recent days. The store will join other busy outlets in the edge-of-town park, including Woodies, Homesavers and Burger King.

The new JYSK store will officially open at 9am on Thursday, June 12, it has been confirmed.

Also read: Don't miss your chance to win a new Toyota RAV4 or 50,000 in Club Longford draw

Shoppers are being promised special offers as the store opens with a statement on the JYSK website confirming:

"JYSK is opening a new store in Tullamore on Thursday, June 12 at 9am!

"Come along and be first to shop our opening, which has exclusive offers only available at JYSK Tullamore!

PICTURES | Thousands enjoy spectacular Longford Vintage Club 20th Anniversary show in Connolly Barracks

"We look forward to welcoming you to our new location at Tullamore Retail Park, Cloncollog, Tullamore, Co. Offaly R35 NH32.

"Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for a 5 JYSK voucher. The voucher is ONLY redeemable in-store and when you spend 25 or more."

Also read: Stunning: Enjoying a wonderful sunset and tall tales on Longfords highest peak Cairn Hill
A DUBLIN man who admitted falsely imprisoning a Midlands pensioner who was terrorised in his own home has been jailed for seven years.

Patrick McDonagh (24), Bay 9, St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin 11 was sentenced after Tullamore Circuit Court heard how a man had been tied up, beaten and robbed in his isolated rural farmhouse in Walsh Island.

This was a nasty, vile, mean and horrible crime, Judge Keenan Johnson told Patrick McDonagh yesterday (Tuesday, June 3).

McDonagh had previously pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of James (Jimmy) Donoghue at his home in Walsh Island, Co Offaly on February 26 last year.

Also read: Man who 'betrayed' his daughter by engaging in a sexual act with her jailed for eight years

He was one of four men involved and Judge Johnson said: It was clear the victim was terrorised by the culprits.

The maximum sentence is life imprisonment and because he ranked the offending in this case at the upper end of the middle range he set the headline sentence at 10 years and reduced that to seven when he took mitigating factors into account, including the repayment of 1,000 to the victim, now aged 67.

The judge said he would not suspend any portion of the sentence because less than a year before the offence Mr McDonagh had been given a two-year suspended sentence for drug possession.

Also read: Longford Garda thought of colleagues who were killed as menace to society crashed into patrol car

He said behaviour such as Mr McDonagh's had a hugely negative impact on rural dwellers and the easy going approach to security, along with trust in the community, had been destroyed.

Previously, a sentencing hearing had been told that two cars were seen about two kilometres away from the crime scene and residents were concerned enough to contact the gardai.

Mr McDonagh was identified as the driver of one of them, a Ford Focus, and an item of his clothing was found to have bloodstains on it which matched the victim. An Audi Q7, stolen that day, was used to drive to the farmhouse.

Also read: Gardai investigate fraud allegation at former Leitrim solicitors office

In a victim impact statement Mr Donoghue said he was scared for his life when the men came into his house shouting Where is the money? and they ransacked his house, took 1,000 from him and a bank card and book.

Mr Donoghue, who attended both days at Tullamore Circuit Court when Judge Johnson was considering the sentence, said he was grabbed by the clothes and shook when the men were demanding money. He had blood coming from an ear where he had been punched in the head.

He said he was very nervous leaving home since and kept a chain around his gate at the end of his lane so people would think it's always locked.

The sentence is back dated to when Mr McDonagh went into custody in January.

Also read: Midlands man jailed for six years for rape of a woman in university accommodation
Noel Monahan is from Granard, Co. Longford, and is a poet who has received much acclaim for his works. His works span the decades, from Opposite Walls (1991), to his most recent collection called Journey Upstream (2024), all of which have been published by Salmon Press.

He has also been a writer for musicals prior to his poetry background, as well as known for his playwriting. He received the PJ O'Connor Award in 2001 for a radio play, Broken Cups, and is thus one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the Longford area. Journey Upstream received a glowing review in The Irish Catholic in May 2025. His poem All Day Long was used in the 2011 Leaving Certificate English exam.

With plenty to talk about and a fascinating life from training to become a priest in Maynooth before not going ahead with it, to teaching and exploring musicals for students to perform, to eventually reaching his profession in poetry, Noel came to sit and chat about his love for poetry and how it evolved.

Also Read:Food Village 3m investment a huge vote of confidence in Longford

What inspired you to create poetry?

First of all, poetry just seemed to come to me. I started off wanting to be a musician, and I always had a choir when I started teaching. I started doing musicals. I taught in St Clares college for all my teaching life. In 1973, I decided that the nun in charge asked if I was up to put on a showto do a Gilbert and Sullivan. That was a big demand.

We ended up doing the Mikado; even the vocabulary is very hard. The commitment that the students had was miraculous. It was all worked outside of class hours. It was a history and English teacher, I was teaching Latin and religionthey were the days when they were teaching everything.

I then went on and put on The Sound of Music; the nuns were still teaching there. That was a real success. From that on, we did Oliver, and then I wrote my own The Pied Piper with Martin Cahill.

We wanted to excite the young people. It was a lot of hard work. There were 36 pieces of new music, and then it went from Fiddler and the RoofI love it because it has a wonderful story.

We had a great time. It is very sad and very Russian. I was teaching history at the time. Great music, great story. Theatre of Sorrows with Martin Cahill I wrote with, it was a love story.

That was performed in Dublin and elsewhere; the music was very difficult, but the students were gaining great confidence.

Also Read: Pens down and hearts racing as almost 1,600 Longford students start state exams today

At some stage, Im doing all these musicals with a cast of 100 people and orchestra, and Ive no time of my own. Im getting tired of it. I did a u-turn.

I worked with a choir, and then wrote a mass for the opening of the new school, which included 16 pieces of music. People were saying they loved my lyricsthe lyrics, little poems in the mass.

I already arrived at writing lyrics through music, and that was exciting. I married Ann OLeary from Galway and went down there on a regular basis, to her family, and there was a publishing group meeting, and Jessie Lendennie was the publisher, and she had a magazine called Salmon.

And I wrote this poem The Bishops Gallop and it was from a historical point of view, a satirical questioning.

You couldnt go through Ireland as St Patrick as reported. She published it. She said she liked it, and it got a good result.

That magazine was publishing the best of contemporary writers, how I got in with Salmon. I began to win prizes; I won the Kilkenny Prize for Poetry; the Alan Hamming Award in Donegal; The Honest Ulster Man in Belfast (magazine); met John Montague. Thats how I got to poetry. Poetry is music.

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You appear to be very passionate about art as well, going by the covers of your booksvery traditionally made, rather than digital. Would you like to talk about it?

I like to do a lot of collabs with artists. I would describe myself as not a poet in isolation. What I mean by that is that I like to mix the talent around. I performed with them and opened exhibitions.

The Cathedral for Sonas agus Siocain na nollag, for example. It had Padraic Lynchs painting in Journey Upstream and Chalk Dust.

I worked with Daragh Slacke, whos a rock musician but took an interest in my work; so it was a seventy-year-old working with the age of my own sons. Thats what poetry does.

I move with the artists, musicians and plays. I won the PJ OConnell Award for a radio play. Kennys Library has my archives.

All the letters from poets of Seamus Heaney, Eavan Bolandall the greats of Irish writing are included in it. Chalk Dust captured my experience in secondary school; an interesting place. Its a long poem. Chalk Dust was directed for stage; it was a great success, travelling to Longford, Roscommon, Drogheda and Dublin but Covid ruined it. It got three standing ovations and packed halls.

What is your creative process: handwritten, typed, noted?

Handwriting, and I work on images. You think in images, and you try to get the music right. What is poetry? Thinking in images with the right music.

Opposite Walls is fascinated with opposites. Poetry is all about images. You are moving into the metaphor. Metaphor is a lovely Greek word meta is to carry across the image.

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I often illustrate that with the poem Opposite Walls. That poem got a lot of notoriety. They liked it in The Sunday Tribune--theyd pick one poet a week on Sunday, and I happened to get Opposite Walls about home, and The Granada Ballroom, a Granard ballroom; it was a very interesting take.

I have written a lot about Granard and Longford from childhood because its the world I know and it excites me.



Are you ever nervous after releasing your works while waiting for the reviews?

Yes. Always nervous. Theres a lot of tension. But when youre waiting to walk on stage, its a pretty terrifying experience.

Youre reading your own poetry. Who wants to listen to poetry? Most people dont. And I can get saturated with Poetry. I got adjudicated with the Patrick Cavanagh Award and 195 books of poetry to read.

The person who won was pretty good. I adjudicated the Oliver Goldsmith Award this year, giving the results in Pallas, in a field, where Goldsmith was born. The standard was high this year; great writing. A lot of hard work.

When you read 200 poems in one day, its tiring. Its a lot. My works have been translated into French, German and into Italian. Italians like me. I read in Milan, in the university, and in Bolognethe first university in the world. Good experiences. Romanian, Russian, as well.

Any sort of advice you would like to give young poets in Longford who may want to pursue this literary style?

My advice? There is a poem that I wrote on page eighteen which is in Journey Upstream about this as advice for the young poet:

Break the lock on the field gate

Avoid the muck-worms at the gap

Abandon old visions you have of yourself ...]

You'll feel the warmth of a candle burning inside you,

The blur of its flame constantly changing[...]

That would be my advice to a young poet. But my advice, in short? People are getting published easily, but theyre publishing themselves, not with a publishing house. Like all art forms, poetry is about talent.

If you have the talent, you need to be with a good writers group. Never stay long; get out of it. Youll just vegetate, because thats what happens. You have to be faced with the challenge.

It may all sound very elitist, but thats my advice. I have Granard Irish; I learnt it in the national schools. Its important to see where you are. It is because I write in Irish, as well as in English.
There is excitement and pride in Longford as local woman Olivia Mollaghan has been named as a finalist in this year's Miss Ireland competition. At just 22 years of age, Olivia is already making a name for herself both in the media world and on the national stage.

A former student of Mean Scoil Mhuire, Olivia graduated with first class honours in Communications from Dublin City University (DCU) in 2024. She now works as a News Coordinator with RTE. Olivia is well known on TikTok, where her engaging content has earned her a growing fanbase.

Olivia is proudly affiliated with her chosen charity 'Hygiene Hub', a charity providing essential hygiene products to those in need throughout Ireland.

She is the youngest daughter of Patrick and Anita Mollaghan, local business people in Longford town.

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Discussing why she entered, Olivia said, I do my own social media and Ive been building it up since I was 17. I make my videos with no makeup, messy hair, and pyjamas. Not an embarrassing thing but thats not been told on the internet. I want to be relatable. I graduated with first-class honours, but those things seem less relatable. I wanted to be the person to bridge the gap. I think that if someone can relate to the messy side, they can for the high standards.

Her journey to the Miss Ireland final has been supported by her main sponsors, Slainte Jewellery, Donlon's Newsagents and McGowans Bar in Dublin.

This year's competition includes a public vote, giving the Longford community a chance to get behind Olivia and show their support. Every vote counts and could help bring the Miss Ireland crown to Longford.

Olivia revealed, Im so excited. Ive known that I'd be part of the competition since November but things are getting very real now. Weve got events every week and the launch party last week. I got to see the girls again from the first round.

Also Read: Pens down and hearts racing as almost 1,600 Longford students start state exams today

Olivia shared how the Miss Ireland experience has provided her with new opportunities since graduating.

The thing is about Miss Ireland and Miss World, you get to do charity and go to new places. It opens your eyes to people that need help and I wanted to throw myself into charity work.

I havent had the opportunity to do that much up to this point, with me being in college. Im excited to be a role model for younger girls that you can do anything you want to do.

With poise, purpose and pride in her roots, Olivia is a shining example of what the next generation of Irish women can achieve.

The final takes place at the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim on Saturday, June 14.

Miss Ireland can be voted for via the app (MI Org), which can be downloaded from the Google Play store, to choose who will be the winner of the finalists.

Also Read: PICTURES | Over 500 innovative Longford pupils showcase groundbreaking STEAM projects

As one of the world's oldest beauty pageants, the pageant has helped with building confidence and philanthropy.

The app will have the profiles of the contestants and once the voting is open we'll let you know! So also keep an eye on longfordlive.ie

It is a great opportunity to support Longford's own to win the crown for the 77th competition and best wishes to Olivia.
The midlands MEP who sits on the European parliament's top housing committee has called for urgent emergency new legislation on planning policy to address the worsening housing emergency facing Ireland.

Ciaran Mullooly MEP said following a special hearing of the European Parliaments Housing Crisis Committee in Brussels this week:

"The lack of housing is a major issue all over Ireland. Ive seen it myself after public meetings in Navan, Galway, and Naas. We have a crisis of huge proportions on our hands. We can no longer face delays in implementing the best approach for the Midlands North West region."

Read more: Acclaimed Longford poet Noel Monahan reflects on his love of his poetry and life

The Committee welcomed leading European experts in housing, including two Irish experts, Michael OFlynn, CEO of the OFlynn Group, and John Coleman, CEO of the Land Development Agency, each providing a thorough analysis of the current Irish housing crisis. A practical theme that emerged was the urgent need to overhaul the planning system in Ireland, which was identified as a primary barrier to progress.

Michael OFlynn with over 47 years of practical experience and whose company has built over 15,000 homes in Ireland, highlighted the scale of the challenge:

"We have to face up to the number of houses required annually and the existing deficit. We havent been doing either." Mullooly agreed, warning, "We cannot keep chasing our tails. Unless we treat this as the emergency it is, young people will be denied the opportunities we had."

MEP Mullooly called for immediate emergency legislation to accelerate both housing and infrastructure projects.

OFlynn proposed a pragmatic approach: "Get Irish Water to indicate on a map where they have access for water and wastewater, then rezone it. We need emergency legislation to accept applications."

Mullooly strongly supported this, saying, "We need to zone and service land, borrow for infrastructure, and ensure affordable housing is delivered at speed and scale. We owe this to our future generation."

It was agreed that such emergency measures must extend beyond housing to include water and wastewater infrastructure. OFlynn stressed, "We need to bring in directive, legislation for this emergency. We did it for the financial crash. We did it for Covid. We need to make sure that we zone or accept planning. We can't have a situation where housing is becoming too expensive. The scarcity of land or main raw material is too expensive."

Mullooly speaking afterwards said, "We must act. Up to 15,000 people are homeless in Ireland, including over 4,000 children. This is not about trampling on individual rights, but about deploying emergency legislation when it is needed to help our people get a home over their heads ."

Read more: Longford citizens and businesses urged to use a brown bin to recycle their food waste
The Government is siding with warmongers, Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham has said, as he endorsed an opposition campaign to defend Irish neutrality.

Cunningham was speaking at the launch of a new People Before Profit pamphlet, No To War  Defend Irish Neutrality, which is published in opposition to Government plans to change the triple lock system for overseas deployments.

Under the current system, Ireland cannot deploy any more than 12 Defence Forces peacekeepers overseas without a mission being approved by the UN, as well as approval by the Government and the Dail.

As part of the draft legislation being advanced by the Government, it is proposed to remove the requirement for formal UN approval and replace it with a stipulation that the deployments are in accordance with the UN Charter.

The Government argues that this will prevent the five permanent members of the Security Council  Russia, China, the UK, the US and France  from exercising their veto against Irish peacekeeping missions.

However, Cunningham accused the Government of lying and obfuscation over the mechanics of the existing triple lock, adding that the current system allows the UN General Assembly to approve such a mission in the absence of a green light from the Security Council.

Theyre scraping the barrel, lying to people, he said.

Speaking at Buswells Hotel across the road from Leinster House, he added: The vast majority of people are disgusted with whats going on, disgusted with our neutrality being diluted.

And the people in power that we entrusted with the health of our democracy are siding with warmongers.

Thats why Im here. I do not want to see this country that I adore being sold down the swanny so the boys across the road here can have their jobs with whatever commission or whatever when theyre finally extricated from Government.

Speaking at the same event, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said: Were involved in an almighty fight to defend neutrality. We dont think its a lost fight, we dont think its guaranteed that the Government will get through their legislation to get rid of the triple lock.

The Bill also includes draft proposals to amend provisions relating to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel in non-combatant evacuation operations, and it is proposed to increase the number of troops who can be sent abroad without any lock from 12 to 50.

Critics see the moves as an effort to remove the core protections of the triple lock, erode Irish neutrality and practically align with Nato.

Mr Murphy said: There were some politicians from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael at the [defence] committee last week who said this is about trusting future governments to send troops abroad wherever they want.

Well, I dont trust Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to send troops abroad wherever they want, I think the majority of people in this country dont.

In reference to a Fine Gael policy document from 2003 which he said described the triple lock as a straitjacket, he added: I precisely want to tie their hands, I want to have a political straitjacket.

I want to know in future that they will not be able to send troops abroad unless they are genuine peacekeeping missions  and thats what triple lock guarantees, and thats what the Government is trying to get rid of.

Cunningham said the public should fight tooth and nail to retain the triple lock, arguing that the Government should put the matter to the public in a vote.

We all know what the result would be, it would be laughed out of this country that they even attempted to dilute the triple lock.

Cunningham said he had recently assisted in the launching of the sailing boat Madleen  operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition  which is en route to Gaza from Sicily.

He said the organisations previous attempt to reach Gaza saw a different boat being attacked by drones.

He said the current vessel is carrying humanitarian aid including crutches, antibiotics, baby formula and a 3D-printed prosthetic babys arm.

Cunningham described the 12 people on board  a four-person crew and eight volunteers  as remarkable.

He said: If we were doing our job properly, there should be an Irish naval vessel carrying this humanitarian aid, because that is our duty  not only morally but also under international law.

He added that there should be a European force encircling the boat to ensure it reaches its destination.

Meanwhile, the Government is proceeding with legislation to ban the trade of goods with Palestinian lands illegally occupied by Israeli settlements.

Asked for his opinion on the Governments approach, Cunningham said: If the Occupied Territories Bill comes in and services are not on it, then forget about it.

Its a waste of time, its just tinsel.

He added: We need to start the ball rolling. If we do it, other countries will follow.

Everybodys afraid to take the first step and we need to have the balls to do it.
Several men hired by an international organised crime group in Dubai to crew a ship with the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history were under financial pressure and succumbed to the temptation to earn thousands, a court has heard.

The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard the circumstances of how the men became involved in the massive drug trafficking operation on the MV Matthew, which was found to be carrying more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine in September 2023.

Eight men admitted their roles in trying to smuggle cocaine worth over 157 million euros (132 million).

The ship was intercepted and seized following a massive joint Defence Forces, garda and customs operation.

The Irish Army Ranger Wing has been praised in court for putting their lives at risk when they boarded the vessel in severe weather conditions while the crew attempted to steer the ship to high seas.

Six of the men arrested on board the MV Matthew had ignored repeated warnings from the LE William Butler Yeats naval vessel.

Two other men were rescued from a boat that was bought in Castletownbere, which had been purchased to collect drugs from the main vessel.

Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Soheil Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Mathew between 24 and 26 September 2023.

Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023.

Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21 and September 25, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Colman Cody SC, counsel for Lapa, told the sentence hearing that his client was not aware of the full scale of the operation and did not have full knowledge of the operation or the structures of the criminal organisation.

The married father-of-two was told he would be paid 5,000 euros for his involvement in the operation.

Lapa had been in the merchant navy and had previously worked on fishing boats. He had recently retired and was a pensioner in Ukraine.

Detective Superintendent Keith Halley agreed that Lapa was at the lower end of the structure.

Estoesta was the second officer on board the vessel, who said he had met some of the crew in Venezuela.

The court heard how some members of the hired crew were distracted at night while those from the criminal enterprise had loaded some of the cargo containing drugs on to the vessel.

They claimed that they had been entertained with alcohol while the so-called spare parts were being transferred on to the ship.

Estoesta admitted he was concerned it was more than spare parts, as he saw armed men on the other ship, which was offloading the large cargo.

He said he didnt argue as he was terrified and was alone in the ocean. He thought the cargo may have contained contraband, like weapons or cigarettes.

His barrister, Michael Hourigan, said that he had a genuine fear of the consequences if he did not follow orders.

Vlasoi, a 33-year-old sailor, became involved in the operation after he was contacted when he posted his sailing credentials online.

The court heard that he is married with a five-year-old child, who is now living in Ireland with the accuseds mother.

Paul OHiggins SC for Vlasoi told the court that his clients realisation of the situation came too late when he discovered that the enterprise was being run at a higher level by people not on the ship.

He told gardai that there were outside forces in control.

He was told he would be paid 5,000 euros for his part in the operation. Mr OHiggins said that his client found himself in a vulnerable financial position as he tried to provide for his family during the war in Ukraine.

Hassani, a third officer on board the vessel, qualified from maritime college in 2009 and had been at sea constantly for over a decade.

Mark Lyam SC, for the 40-year-old, told the court he is married with a six-year-old daughter, and that he had financial responsibility to provide for his family, including medical care.

Mr Lyam said he succumbed to temptation because of that financial pressure and wanting to spend more time with his family.

The court was also told that he sent a text to someone in Dubai thanking them for the opportunity.

Hassani, who was airlifted from the boat, was described as being the lowest rank in terms of officers.

Meanwhile, Michael OHiggins SC, counsel for Harbron, described his client as a drug abuser who was induced into the operation to clear a drug debt.

Described as being a last-minute entry into the enterprise, he was offered a 10,000 euro reduction on his drug debt of 20,000 euros.

From Scotland, the court heard how Harbron, who was on board the second ship, the Castlemor, had no sailing experience, was not able to operate the radio and was not able to locate the life vest on board.

Mr OHiggins said he had no role in organising, financing or giving directions.

Harbron suspected the cargo on board the larger vessel was drugs, but he said he was shocked when he saw the size of it.

Brendan Grehan SC, counsel for Dutch national Ozgen, admitted to having loaded three crates of drugs onto the vessel and also played a part in trying to burn drugs by getting paint thinners.

He said he expected to earn a bonus of between 50,000 euros and 100,000 euros.

Mr Grehan said that Ozgen, who had no sailing experience, has a son with a serious health issue following an operation on a brain tumour.

It was partly the attraction in terms of getting involved in that he would get money to help (his son) out, Mr Grehan added.

He told the court that his client was involved in a misguided attempt to get money for his family.

Keivon Sotoodeh, junior counsel for Jelveh, told the court that his client is a 51-year-old with two adult children.

Mr Sotoodeh said Jelveh was simply following orders and accepts he got himself involved in this, however, he wasnt at the top of the food chain.

The matter has been put back to July 4.

The men have been remanded on the same terms and conditions.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: June 04 2025

Nassau County Police First Squad detectives arrested 28-year-old Christopher Mercado for grand larceny on June 2, 2025, after an investigation revealed he altered and cashed a stolen personal bank check worth $13,500. The victim, a ...

The First Squad reports the arrest of a Manhattan man for Grand Larceny that occurred on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. in Rockville Centre.

According to Detectives, a 51-year-old male victim mailed a personal bank check which was altered and cashed by an unknown individual in the sum of $13,500.00 USC. After a thorough investigation, defendant, Christopher Mercado, 28, of 218 East 115 th Street was identified as the individual who altered and cashed the victims personal bank check. The defendant was located and arrested without incident.

Defendant Mercado is charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, Grand Larceny 3 rd Degree, Forgery 2 nd Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3 rd Degree, Identity Theft 1 st Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Personal Identification Information 3 rd Degree. He will be arraigned on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: June 04 2025

Vincent Distasi was indicted last year for repeatedly abusing his infant son, causing extensive brain damage that required life-saving surgery.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a South Setauket man pleaded guilty today to Assault in the First Degree for the repeated abuse of his five-week-old son in January 2024 that caused a subdural hematoma to the babys brain that required life-saving surgical intervention.

Vincent Distasi, 33, pleaded guilty today in Suffolk County Court before Judge Richard Ambro to Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony) in satisfaction of the indictment.

The defendant is expected to receive 17 years in prison and five years post release supervision when he is sentenced. NCDA recommended a sentence of 19 years in prison. Distasi is due back in court on August 4, 2025.

The Nassau County District Attorneys Office was designated as special prosecutor on this case.

Vicent Distasi is a sick and angry man who repeatedly beat up on his five-week-old son, filling that childs first weeks on this earth with pain and violence, said DA Donnelly. When Distasis shocking, repeated abuse culminated in a near-fatal brain injury to his son and a trip to the emergency room, doctors horrifyingly discovered additional injuries, some already in the stages of healing, that told the full story of the disgusting abuse that this baby endured at the hands of his own father. To this day, the child  now one and a half years old  continues to have medical complications and recently underwent another surgery on his skull to drain fluid in his brain. While he survived his fathers brutal attack, the childs quality of life remains uncertain. But what is certain is that Distasi will spend nearly two decades in prison for his crimes and will never be a danger to his son again.

DA Donnelly said that on January 21, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the five-week-old son of defendant Vincent Distasi was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital unresponsive and required emergency brain surgery.

Doctors later determined the child suffered from multiple injuries, including rib fractures, fractures to both arms, and a subdural hematoma to his brain, among other acute injuries.

The infants injuries were in various stages of healing indicating that the child had suffered prolonged abuse.

As part of the criminal investigation, Ring video footage was secured from the Distasi home that recorded the familys living room.

Review of the footage showed the defendant abusing the infant throughout the first five weeks of his life.

The video showed the defendant tossing, punching, smacking, and smothering the child over the course of weeks.

On January 21, 2024, the defendant violently shook the infant, causing the injuries that resulted in the childs emergency surgery.

The defendant was arrested on January 29, 2024, outside of Stony Brook University Hospital by members of the Suffolk County Police Departments 6th Precinct and Special Victims Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Bureau Chief Emma Slane and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Dorfman of the Special Victims Bureau under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Anthony LaPinta, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 04 2025

Expands Existing Stipend Program for Volunteer Firefighters To Reimburse $250 in Costs Related To Basic Wildland Fire Suppression Training.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New Yorks Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program is being expanded to reimburse costs related to Basic Wildland Fire Suppression for firefighters involved in fighting wildfires. The course, a joint effort of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Department of Environmental Conservation, covers wildland firefighting responsibilities, fire behavior, weather and other factors related to wildland firefighting.

Volunteer firefighters make immense sacrifices for their communities, and as Governor, I am committed to supporting and honoring their service and dedication, Governor Hochul said. By expanding this program to cover wildland firefighting training, we are breaking down further barriers for prospective recruits and ensuring they have the crucial skills and training they need to keep their communities safe.

Over the last two years, New York experienced 268 wildfires that burned nearly 7,900 acres of land, averaging less than 11 acres in size. This number does not include the Jennings Creek wildfire last year, which burned more than 5,000 acres over a span of 14 days. To contain the Jennings Creek fire, 427 fire companies, which were nearly all volunteers, sent more than 1,300 firefighters to assist.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, Now more than ever it is crucial to make training as accessible and affordable as possible for those who work to keep us safe. Last years Jennings Creek fire was a firsthand example of why it is so important that structural firefighters be trained to handle wildland fires, too. We thank the men and women who comprise New Yorks volunteer fire service and encourage them to take advantage of these training opportunities.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, DEC Forest Rangers are New Yorks wildland firefighting experts, serving as both Incident Commanders and boots on the ground during responses to wildfires across New York State, as well as deploying to other states and nations when called and providing training and guidance to local firefighters. By sharing their expert knowledge with firefighters in communities statewide, New York State is working to ensure local fire departments are trained in wildland firefighting and ready to respond at a moments notice. I join with our partners at DHSES and State Fire, and our local partners statewide, to thank Governor Hochul for making this funding a priority.

Established in the States FY24 Enacted Budget, the Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program, administered by the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, seeks to strengthen the volunteer fire service by offsetting the costs of required trainings, making it easier for new recruits to join volunteer fire departments and help protect their communities. Training covered by the stipend program will reimburse $250 per student and will be led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with assistance from OFPC staff. DEC Forest Rangers are expert wildland firefighters who hold dozens of trainings in wildland fire management each year to assist with building local capacity among other responders. Fire departments should contact their County Fire Coordinator to schedule a course at the local level.

Since Aug. 31, 2023, more than 1,400 firefighters have successfully completed training through the stipend program.

Additional information on the stipend program, including how to apply, can be found on the DHSES website.

Approximately nine million New Yorkers, nearly half of the states population, are served by volunteer firefighters. Yet in recent years, more than 75 percent of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of individuals willing to volunteer and serve. This is further compounded by the increased operational responsibilities beyond fire protection to include vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, and weather-related rescue operations. At the same time, calls for service have increased 29 percent from 1997 to 2020.

In addition to the training funding announced today, DEC administers the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant program to help support fire departments in rural communities. Eligible fire departments can receive matching grants for the purchase of wildland firefighting suppression equipment such as portable pumps, portable backpack pumps, firefighting hand tools, fire hose, approved lightweight fire-resistant clothing, hard hats, turnout gear, personal protective equipment, portable radios, portable generators, chainsaws, and dry hydrant installation. More than $800,000 was made available to New York State through the U.S. Forest Service in the 2024 federal fiscal year.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 04 2025

FY26 Enacted Budget Boosts Funding for Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative To Aid New Yorkers Experiencing Homelessness.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of $45.9 million through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, a program that funds supportive services to help stably house New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. As part of the FY26 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured the first increase in funding for the program since its creation in 2016, providing significantly higher rates for these units, which serve adults experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, veterans and chronically homeless families and individuals living with a mental illness or substance use disorder.

Supportive services are a vital component of our efforts to ensure all New Yorkers have a safe, stable place to call home, Governor Hochul said. By expanding the funding available through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, we can help individuals experiencing homelessness get the help they need to remain stably housed within their community.

Projects may now apply for up to $34,000 annually per unit or qualifying individual in the New York City metropolitan area, which includes all five city boroughs, Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties  an increase of $9,000 over the previous rate. Developments in other areas of the state are eligible for up to $31,000 annually per unit or qualifying individual, which is an increase of $6,000 over the previous rate.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has made landmark investments to expand supportive housing statewide as part of her $25 billion five-year plan to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 homes with support services for vulnerable populations. To date, the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative has financed supportive services and operating costs for more than 9,600 units of safe and permanent housing.

This initiative provides operating funding for supportive service providers serving homeless veterans and their families; survivors of domestic and gender-based violence; older adults who are disabled or frail; young adults with a history of incarceration, homelessness, or foster care; chronically homeless individuals and families; individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; individuals reentering the community from prison; and those living with HIV or AIDS, serious mental illness or substance use disorders. The State Office of Mental Health serves as the lead procurement agency for the funding, which is dispersed by an interagency workgroup of eight state agencies serving vulnerable New Yorkers.

Funding may be used for rental assistance and services to eligible target populations to ensure their housing stability. Permissible uses include rental subsidies and other occupancy costs; services or staff to identify and locate eligible individuals that need housing; primary and behavioral health services; employment and vocational training; educational assistance, parenting skills development and support; child care assistance counseling and crisis intervention; childrens services, including educational advocacy, support and counseling; and costs associated with services that help individuals and families remain stably housed.

Research has shown that permanent supportive housing reduces the demand for shelters, hospital beds, emergency rooms, prisons and jails, in addition to having a positive effect on employment, school attendance and mental and physical wellbeing. Supportive housing projects can also positively impact neighborhoods through new construction or by rehabilitating existing buildings.

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, By coupling supportive services with welcoming and dignified housing, we can help people living with mental illness and substance use, our veterans and many others provide them with the support, which will enable them to live and thrive in their community. Governor Hochuls advocacy for the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative has connected thousands of New Yorkers to the services they need for a successful recovery.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, The funding available through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative is vital to providing safe, affordable housing with resident support services so that individuals and families that have experienced homelessness can stabilize their lives and thrive. The increased funding for this program will enable providers to continue to offer a range of services that empower residents to begin working toward achieving a brighter future for themselves and their families.

New York State Division of Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, All New Yorkers deserve stable, supportive, and affordable homes where they can live independently. This investment in supportive housing will ensure providers have the resources they need to help vulnerable communities  from individuals experiencing homelessness, to people with a history of incarceration, to those living with mental illness. Thank you to Governor Hochul for this vital expansion of the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. We're looking forward to working with our partners as we improve affordable and supportive housing across the state.

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, These programs provide vital assistance to individuals impacted by substance use disorder by offering them a safe place to live, and helping connect them to services that support their recovery and overall well-being. Together with our partner agencies, we are strengthening Governor Hochuls vision of a safer and healthier New York by helping to advance these services and bring much-needed resources to communities across the state.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, Housing is one of the most important social determinants of health, and without a safe and stable place to live, its much harder for people to stay healthy. This funding will help more New Yorkers get the support they need to live safely in their communities. I thank Governor Hochul for her unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.

New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Willow Baer said, Supportive housing allows people with developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible in their communities and is a cornerstone of services provided by OPWDD. Thank you to Governor Hochul and the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative for continuing to provide these life-changing opportunities for community inclusion.

State Senator Samra G. Brouk said, Individuals experiencing homelessness need support services to feel safe and stable. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, I know that safe housing leads to improvements in individual outcomes and community safety. This $45.9 dollar investment in our underserved communities demonstrates that New York State understands the intersection between housing, safety, and mental healthI applaud Governor Hochul for her dedication to expanding supportive housing for our most vulnerable populations.

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, Increased funding for supportive housing is a lifeline for New Yorkers facing mental illness, homelessness, trauma, or complex health challenges. Supportive housing doesn't just provide a roof; it offers stability, dignity, and a foundation for long-term wellbeing. Thank you to Governor Hochul for increasing funding for this critical investment in our communities.

Supportive Housing Network of New York Executive Director Pascale Leone said, This historic investment in ESSHI is a game-changer for New York supportive housing tenants and providers  especially in the face of devastating cuts at the federal level. By securing the first rate increase in the programs history, Governor Hochul is ensuring that providers have the resources they need to deliver high-quality, life-changing services to some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. This increase reflects the rising costs of creating and operating supportive housing as well as the growing complexity of tenant needs post-pandemic. It will help ensure that formerly homeless individuals and families can stay stably housed for years to come.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 04 2025

Over 1,000 High Tech and Related Skilled Jobs Expected To Be Created.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Orbic Electronics Manufacturing, LLC, a specialized global manufacturer of telecommunications and consumer electronics devices, has broken ground on its new $110 million manufacturing global hub at 555 Wireless Boulevard in Hauppauge, Suffolk County. This project is expected to create more than 1,000 new high-tech and skilled manufacturing jobs, retain 66 existing positions currently based in Suffolk County, and will bring Orbics complete manufacturing and production operations from overseas facilities in India and China to its New York-based Headquarters. Empire State Development is supporting this landmark reshoring initiative with up to $10 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits, recommended by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. The groundbreaking marks a pivotal moment in Long Island's manufacturing sector and establishes New York as a national leader in rebuilding America's critical technology supply chains.

Today's groundbreaking at Orbic Electronics represents the future we're building across New York State  one where companies choose to invest, innovate, and create good-paying jobs right here at home, Governor Hochul said. This $110 million investment proves that when businesses want to lead in advanced manufacturing, they turn to New York. From Long Island to the North Country, we're seeing companies recognize that our state offers the perfect combination of skilled workers, world-class infrastructure, and strategic support that makes success inevitable. With projects like this, we are proving that New York doesnt just compete  we lead.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, Orbics investment is a bold step forward for high-tech manufacturing in New York State. By choosing to grow in Hauppauge, Orbic is deepening its roots in a region known for its talent, infrastructure, and innovation potential. At Empire State Development, we are proud to support this strategic reshoring initiative, which will bring over a thousand jobs to the region while fortifying our states position in the global technology economy. Projects like this reflect our core mission  supporting smart, inclusive economic growth that creates lasting opportunity for New Yorkers in every corner of the state.

Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, This groundbreaking represents a major milestone for Long Island and a turning point for advanced manufacturing in the region. Orbics expansion is proof that Long Island has everything companies need to thrive  from a highly skilled workforce and strong transportation networks to a vibrant ecosystem of research institutions and community partners. The companys decision to invest more than $100 million here is not only a testament to our regional strengths, but a signal to the broader industry that Long Island is ready to lead in 21st-century manufacturing.

Orbic CEO Mike Narula said, "This project marks an exciting milestone for Orbic and a powerful step forward for high-tech manufacturing on Long Island and New York State. This effort underscores our commitment to producing high-quality, American-made technology while supporting local vendors and strengthening the regional economy by bringing more than 1,000 new manufacturing jobs to the region from overseas. We are proud to grow in New York and to contribute to the states innovation economy, and we thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for their leadership, vision and invaluable support. Their dedication to building a prosperous New York has made a lasting impact on our companys future, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership."

State Senator Mario Mattera said, The past few years have clearly shown the importance of our region becoming more self-sufficient. This significant project will help advance that goal while strengthening our economy and creating valuable opportunities for the local workforce. Long Island is home to some of the most hardworking and skilled men and women and the addition of over 1,000 jobs will enable them to work and stay on right here in our community. I commend Orbic for their commitment to Long Island and look forward to their continued success at this new facility.

Assemblymember Michael Fitzpatrick said, The arrival of Orbic's $110 million manufacturing hub marks a significant step forward for Long Island's economy. Creating over 1,000 skilled jobs and bringing production back to the U.S. strengthens our local workforce, benefits families across the region and will breathe new life into Long Island's manufacturing sector. I am thankful to Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for making this transformative investment possible.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, We are grateful for Orbics decision to build their business in Suffolk County. This important project creates jobs and opportunities, helping Suffolk grow, and we look forward to seeing Orbic flourish.

Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said, We are incredibly proud to see Orbic choose Smithtown as the home for this transformative investment. This is more than just bringing high-tech manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.  its about bringing them back to our community. Orbics expansion supports the Governor and the States goal of targeted investment, positioning New York as the premier East Coast destination for next-generation tech companies by leveraging our skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem. This move not only strengthens our regional economy and supports local families  it also puts Smithtown on the map as a hub for smart growth, forward-thinking development, and long-term opportunity. I commend the Governor and Orbics leadership for making this vision a reality.

Orbic, established in 2016 and headquartered in Hauppauge, Long Island, offers a comprehensive portfolio of technology 4G and 5G connected devices and related products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, mobile hotspots, routers and accessories, catering to both consumer and enterprise customers and markets. In response to global supply chain challenges and increasing demand for domestically produced technology, Orbic launched a strategic initiative to relocate its manufacturing operations to the United States. As part of this effort, Orbic is investing approximately $110 million to renovate and retrofit a 69,500-square-foot existing facility and add an additional 75,000 square-feet, totaling 144,500 square feet. Once complete, the advanced manufacturing center will feature state-of-the-art surface mount technology (SMT) lines, automated testing stations, precision assembly lines, and cleanroom environments to support high-volume, high-quality production. Completion of construction and start of manufacturing is expected in early 2026.

The newly renovated production facility will be designed to manufacture up to five million devices annually  including smartphones, tablets, wearables, and networking equipment  meeting the needs of both consumer and enterprise customers. The new jobs being created will range from manufacturing technicians and quality assurance specialists to logistics personnel, engineers and support staff. Its location within the Hauppauge Industrial Park, one of the largest industrial parks in the Northeast, offers proximity to skilled labor, major transportation networks, and Orbics existing corporate offices, further enhancing operational efficiency and workforce integration.

A key component of Orbic Electronics' investment is its focus on workforce development to ensure a robust pipeline of skilled talent for its operations. Orbic will collaborate with Suffolk County Community College and Queensborough Community College to create specialized training programs focused on advanced electronics manufacturing, including circuit board assembly, quality control, testing procedures, and advanced manufacturing processes. The partnership will not only support Orbic's operational needs but also create a pipeline of skilled workers for Long Island's growing advanced manufacturing industry. By integrating education and industry, these initiatives strengthen Long Island's workforce, enhance its economic resilience, and position the region as a hub for advanced manufacturing innovation.

LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn, President and CEO at Bethpage Federal Credit Union, and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President of Long Island University, said, Orbics decision to locate and grow its advanced manufacturing operations on Long Island is a direct result of thoughtful regional collaboration, strategic workforce partnerships, and a shared commitment to economic growth. By working with local colleges to train the next generation of high-tech talent, this project is helping ensure that the benefits of investment reach deep into our communities. The LIREDC is proud to support projects like this  ones that create sustainable jobs, foster innovation, and position our region as a long-term leader in advanced electronics and connected technologies.

Orbic's reshoring of its manufacturing operations to New York State exemplifies Governor Hochul's comprehensive strategy to revitalize New York's manufacturing sector and establish the state as a national leader in advanced production. Under her administration, New York has secured transformative manufacturing investments including Chobani's $100 million expansion in the Mohawk Valley, IBM's multi-billion dollar semiconductor research initiatives, Micron Technology's historic $100 billion semiconductor facility in Central New York  the largest private investment in state history  and numerous other reshoring projects that have created thousands of jobs statewide. The Governor's focus on workforce development, supply chain resilience, and robust support for minority and women-owned businesses has positioned New York as the premier destination for companies seeking to bring critical manufacturing operations back to America. This latest investment in Long Island's advanced manufacturing ecosystem demonstrates how strategic state partnerships can catalyze transformative economic development that strengthens communities, secures supply chains, and advances America's technological competitiveness on the global stage.
A screenshot of CCTV footage of the scene of the bombing just moments before the explosion. The female bomber is sitting on the back of the motorcycle behind the white minivan taxi.

On June 3, the Islamic States Central Africa Province (ISCAP), which is locally known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), conducted an unsuccessful suicide bombing attack on Christians on the outskirts of Kampala, Ugandas capital.

Yesterday morning, a female bomber and her male motorcycle taxi driver (who authorities say was also involved in the plot) attempted to reach the Uganda Martyrs Basilica in the town of Munyonyo, just southeast of Kampalas city limits.

According to local officials, the intended targets were worshippers gathered at the towns basilica for Ugandas Martyrs Day, which celebrates Ugandas 45 Christian martyrs who were killed in the late 1800s by local traditional authorities for refusing to renounce Christianity. However, the womans bomb went off several hundred meters short of the intended target, killing just her and her driver. CCTV footage of the explosion shows the woman and driver on the motorcycle taxi turn onto the road leading to the Basilica before inexplicably exploding.

It was unclear from the footage whether the premature detonation was due to an intervention by security forces or an accident. Ugandan military personnel can be seen in the footage, presumably providing security for the religious event, so it is possible that the woman saw the soldiers and decided to detonate the explosive.

Ugandan security officials claim that the plot was actively thwarted in an intelligence-led operation that originated from an arrest days earlier of another ISCAP-linked individual who divulged information on the plot.

Authorities later identified the female suicide bomber as Aisha Katushabe, who was previously arrested in late 2021 for her role in helping move funds for ISCAP that assisted the group in conducting a series of bombings in Kampala that year. In mid-to-late 2021, the group conducted bombings in various areas of the city, including a triple suicide bombing in November 2021 that killed at least three people. Those attacks followed another suicide bombing plot in northern Uganda earlier that year.

Tuesdays failed operation marks the second time ISCAP has utilized a female suicide bomber in such attacks. In April 2022, the group employed a female Tanzanian member to target a bar in a Congolese military base in the city of Goma, killing eight people. The Islamic State never officially claimed the Goma bombing, likely due to the role of a female terrorist. The jihadist group typically does not comment on such operations conducted by women. Similarly, the Islamic State is unlikely to claim the Munyonyo bombingprimarily because it failed but also due to the attackers sex.

The attempted bombing in Munyonyo also marks the ninth suicide bombing operation, successful or attempted, carried out by ISCAP since 2021. It has carried out three bombings in Congo and six attacks in Uganda. The group only adopted the tactic in 2021 due to its deepening relationship with the Islamic State. It is the first attempted suicide bombing by ISCAP overall since 2022.

The failed bombing is also the first confirmed attempted attack inside Uganda since December 2023, when cross-border raids conducted by ISCAP occurred in western Uganda, and other bombing plots from the group were thwarted in Kampala. The country had not witnessed any other cross-border activity by ISCAPs forces since that time, though the group has continued to terrorize local communities in Congo.

The Islamic State claimed a series of attacks in Uganda throughout 2024, but none of the claims could be corroborated. The exact reasons for the series of fake attack claims in Uganda remain unknown. However, they may be related to the group attempting to project power and undermine the Ugandan military amidst losses the Islamic State sustained in Congo due to the joint Ugandan-Congolese military offensive against it.

Thankfully, ISCAPs attempt to detonate a suicide bomber within a crowded event just outside of Kampala ended in failure. However, the event serves as a reminder that though ISCAP is based in the jungles of eastern Congo, the group still very much puts Uganda (and other regional states) within its crosshairs for conducting acts of terror.

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Ryan O'Farrell is a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.
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Nursing students have the chance to take control of their educational journeys with the unique and adaptable capella flexpath assessments. FlexPath enables students to move through education at their own leisure, as contrast to traditional programs that are constrained by rigid deadlines and schedules. Working nurses particularly benefit from this flexibility as it allows them to organize their study sessions around their hectic job schedules. Students may modify their speed to meet their unique learning requirements, fostering a deeper and more significant comprehension of nursing concepts, regardless of whether they require additional time to grasp some areas or are already adept in others.

One of the key features of FlexPath is its focus on competency rather than time-based achievement. Students demonstrate their understanding by completing assignments and projects that reflect their mastery of the material. This type of assessment encourages active learning, as students engage in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, an essential aspect of nursing practice. FlexPaths design allows students to focus on demonstrating their proficiency in key nursing concepts, ensuring they are prepared to meet the challenges of the healthcare field.

This self-directed learning model fosters independence, allowing students to take responsibility for their education while still receiving valuable feedback and support. Instructors provide continuous assessments, helping students refine their skills and better grasp difficult concepts. With the freedom to revisit assignments and make improvements, students are not limited by rigid deadlines and can progress at a pace that enhances their learning. This approach not only encourages mastery of the material but also builds self-confidence, enabling students to become effective and independent healthcare professionals.

FlexPath assessments also provide the advantage of integrating work experience with academic learning. Nursing students who are employed in healthcare settings can apply their knowledge directly to patient care, enriching their learning process. This real-time integration of theory and practice makes FlexPath a highly effective model for nursing education, as students gain firsthand experience while completing their coursework.

MSN Writing Services play a crucial role in assisting nursing students to improve their academic writing. Writing is an essential skill for nursing students, as they are often required to produce research papers, case studies, and reflective essays. These MSN Writing Services help students navigate the complexities of academic writing, from structuring their arguments to ensuring clarity and coherence in their papers. By offering professional support, MSN Writing Services ensure that nursing students can meet the high academic standards expected of them while enhancing their writing skills.

Nursing students often juggle multiple responsibilities, including clinical rotations, coursework, and personal commitments. MSN Writing Services provide flexible support to ease the burden of writing assignments. Whether students need help with brainstorming ideas, drafting outlines, or revising completed papers, these services ensure that students can submit polished, well-written work without feeling overwhelmed. This allows them to focus on their clinical training and other academic tasks, knowing they have expert support for their writing assignments.

A significant benefit of MSN Writing Services is the guidance they offer on incorporating scholarly research into nursing papers. Many nursing assignments require students to reference peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based practices. Writing experts help students locate credible sources and effectively integrate them into their work, ensuring that their papers are well-supported and adhere to academic standards. This assistance not only strengthens the quality of their assignments but also teaches students valuable research skills that they will use throughout their careers.

Additionally, MSN Writing Services help students refine their writing style, which is essential in both academic and professional nursing contexts. Being able to communicate clearly and concisely is a vital skill for nurses, whether in clinical documentation, patient education, or collaboration with colleagues. By improving their writing skills, students can communicate more effectively, ensuring that their messages are understood and acted upon in healthcare settings. These services, therefore, not only enhance students academic performance but also prepare them for the communication demands of their future nursing careers.

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2 is designed to assess students ability to apply their nursing knowledge to real-world clinical scenarios. This nurs fpx 4000 assessment 2 challenges students to demonstrate critical thinking, clinical judgment, and problem-solving abilities by developing care plans for complex patient cases. The focus is on using evidence-based practices and clinical guidelines to create solutions that address the unique needs of each patient. Through this process, students gain the opportunity to show their ability to think on their feet and respond effectively to patient needs, both of which are essential skills for nursing professionals.

This assessment also emphasizes a holistic approach to patient care, requiring students to consider not only the physical health of patients but also their emotional, psychological, and cultural well-being. Understanding the full spectrum of a patients needs allows nursing students to provide more personalized care that leads to better health outcomes. By taking into account various factors that affect patient health, students are trained to think beyond clinical symptoms and develop comprehensive, patient-centered care plans.

Incorporating evidence-based research into the care plan is a critical component of NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2. Students must back up their decisions with the latest clinical research, ensuring that their care strategies are grounded in scientifically proven methods. This not only strengthens the quality of their work but also reinforces the importance of ongoing research in nursing practice. The ability to use evidence to inform decisions ensures that students are prepared to provide care that is both effective and up-to-date with current healthcare practices.

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2 also places significant importance on clear communication. Students are expected to articulate their care plans clearly and justify their decisions, demonstrating that they can effectively collaborate with other healthcare professionals. Strong communication skills are essential in nursing, where teamwork and clarity are vital to ensure the best possible care for patients. By honing these skills, students prepare themselves for the professional communication demands they will face in their nursing careers.

NURS FPX 4015 Assessment 1 focuses on leadership and ethical decision-making, skills that are vital for advanced practice nurses. As healthcare professionals progress in their careers, they are expected to take on leadership roles, where they must oversee teams, manage patient care, and make ethical decisions. This nurs fpx 4015 assessment 1 allows students to demonstrate their leadership potential and their ability to address complex ethical issues in healthcare settings. Students must apply critical thinking to make decisions that not only ensure the safety and well-being of patients but also align with ethical standards and professional guidelines.

Ethical dilemmas are a common challenge in healthcare, and nurses must be able to navigate them thoughtfully and confidently. In NURS FPX 4015 Assessment 1, students are required to evaluate situations where ethical principles may be in conflict and decide on the best course of action. These decisions require a deep understanding of both ethical theory and practical nursing considerations, ensuring that students are prepared to handle challenging situations in their careers. The focus on ethical decision-making ensures that nursing professionals maintain high standards of care and professionalism.

Leadership is also a central theme in this assessment. Students must demonstrate their ability to lead teams, prioritize patient needs, and manage resources effectively. Strong leadership skills are essential for nurses in supervisory roles, as they ensure that patient care is delivered in an organized and efficient manner. By completing this assessment, students gain valuable experience in making decisions that affect both patients and healthcare teams, preparing them for leadership roles in their future nursing practice.

Effective communication is an integral part of leadership, and this assessment requires students to demonstrate how they would communicate decisions to their teams and patients. Students must showcase their ability to explain complex situations clearly and persuasively, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and on the same page. Strong communication skills are essential for ensuring patient safety, improving team collaboration, and enhancing the quality of care in any healthcare setting.

NURS FPX 4025 Assessment 4 emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice in nursing. In this nurs fpx 4025 assessment 4, students are tasked with reviewing research and clinical guidelines to identify ways to improve patient care practices. This process requires students to critically evaluate current care strategies, propose improvements, and support their recommendations with credible research. By engaging with the latest evidence, students learn how to enhance patient outcomes through the application of research findings, ensuring that their practice is both informed and effective.

The assessment also highlights the importance of collaboration in implementing evidence-based solutions. Nurses must work with other healthcare professionals to apply research findings in real clinical settings, making teamwork a critical component of successful patient care. Students must demonstrate how they would collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to implement their proposed improvements, ensuring that all aspects of patient care are addressed in a coordinated manner.

Research skills are crucial in NURS FPX 4025 Assessment 4, as students must identify relevant studies and integrate them into their care strategies. This assessment encourages students to stay informed about current trends in healthcare and integrate new knowledge into their practice. By doing so, students not only improve patient care but also contribute to the advancement of nursing knowledge.

MSN Writing Services can be a valuable resource for students completing this assessment. These services help students organize their research, structure their papers effectively, and ensure that their arguments are clearly presented. By refining their writing, students can better communicate their evidence-based solutions and demonstrate their ability to make informed, research-backed decisions that enhance patient care.
Boston is lowering its carbon footprint as it is in the running to be voted the most walkable city in the country.

Alongside cities like Chicago, Denver and Las Vegas, Boston is in the running for USA Todays 10Best most walkable cities. It stands alongside other New England cities like Burlington, Vermont and Providence, Rhode Island.

The website teams with an expert panel to identify cities for their walkability, that offer things to do, places to eat and places to stay, all connected by pedestrian-friendly streets.

Then, 10Best readers have the opportunity to vote for their favorite.

To vote for Boston to be named the best in the country, click here.

You can cast your vote for the top pick once per day until voting ends on Monday, June 16, at 12 p.m. EST. The 10 best cities will be announced on Wednesday, June 25.

Boston is a walking city thats fun to explore on foot, the website wrote. Beacon Hill is easily enjoyed by pedestrians, and its the neighborhood where the real Cheers  aka the bar that inspired the eponymous TV series  is located."

The website also praised other walkable parts of the city for visitors to explore, including the North End, Back Bay and Harvard Square.
On Dec. 5, cameras aboard the uncrewed Orion capsule snapped this view of the moon with crescent Earth in the distance shortly after its close lunar flyby on its way back to Earth.

Weather permitting, you can find tonights waxing gibbous moon halfway up in the south at sunset. Thats its peak height for tonight. In the coming week, as it thickens to its fullest phase, it will also take a lower more southerly path each night.

Full moon comes on the morning of June 11 at 3:44 a.m., just two hours after cresting at its highest  only 19 degrees up  in the south at about 12:45 a.m. Full moons occur when opposite the sun in the sky, so when the sun is high, full moons are low  and vice versa.

Since the coming full moon is the one closest to the summer solstice, it will be our lowest of the year. For most of us, that low track and the late hour combined with thick foliage makes this a full moon that many may not even notice. The haze that often comes with summers warmth, wont help either. (Astronomical summer starts on Friday, June 20. We are already in meteorological summer, defined as the three statistically warmest months of the year June, July, and August.)

Before electric lighting overwhelmed the night across our global civilization, people in general were as aware of the phases of the moon, and where and when it would appear, as we are of time of day. Light pollution is a problem that continues to rob more of the night, and night sky from the citizens and denizens of our small planet.

For the next few evenings, the waxing gibbous moon is already well up as skies darken. If you happen to see it, keep in mind that a lunar landing is planned for sometime on Friday. It will be the second attempt for a private Japanese company called iSpace. Their first moon landing attempt ended in failure in 2022. This will be just the most recent of several other private efforts.

Two such missions were successful: Intuitive Machines Odysseus on Feb. 22, 2024, and Fireflys Blue Ghost on March 2, 2025. Both are American companies. The Indian space agencys Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission touched down at the lunar south pole in August 2023, and Chinas Change 6 probe landed on the moons far side to collect samples on June 1, 2024.

A similar cadence of private and national moon launches appears likely to continue over the next few years. NASA missions may be less than conspicuous however.

Artemis is the name given to NASAs program to return humans to the moon for the first time since the last Apollo mission in 1972. In 2022, the Artemis I test mission successfully flew an unmanned Orion capsule out past the moon and back, but the planned Artemis II mission for a crewed flight around the moon has slipped from this year to 2026.

The first crewed lunar landing, Artemis III, is still slated for 2027, although few expect that to hold. Further missions involving the Lunar Gateway space station  for which much of the hardware has been built  are planned for 2028 and 2030. The Lunar Gateway would serve as a way-station for astronauts going to and from the moon.

Currently, the White House seeks to end funding for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which is 140% over budget, and costs a staggering $4 billion for each launch. The Orion capsule and Lunar Gateway programs are also on the chopping block.

If Congress votes to cancel the SLS rocket, it is uncertain what will happen. The SpaceX Starship, a presumed replacement for SLS, has yet to achieve orbit, so at the very least, the Artemis timeline for Americas return to the moon is probably too optimistic.

Heres a little heads up: Its not out of the question that China  forging ahead with plans to land humans on the moon by 2030  could beat us there. They are also making steady advances with their own Tiangong space station while NASA may be scaling back its activities on the International Space Station due to budget shortfalls.

China accelerated its own space station development after the U.S. prohibited its participation in the International Space Station. Tiangong is now the second largest man made object currently orbiting Earth. This fact caught me off guard a few months ago when a random spotting of what I thought was the typically bright ISS turned out to be the Chinese space station instead.

After the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, our last manned moon mission, there were a few unmanned probes from the U.S. and Soviet Union, and several landings by the Soviet Union. Luna 24, which returned 170 grams of lunar regolith in 1976, was the the Soviet Unions final moon mission.

But for two brief flybys, our closest neighbor in space was essentially abandoned for almost the next decade and a half. In January 1990, Japans Hiten probe went into orbit and released a package that impacted the moon. Half a dozen additional 1990s missions picked up the pace, and more than two dozen have now flown since the turn of the century.

That brings us to the present, and whatever form lunar exploration takes from here on, it seems unlikely that the moon will be left to itself anytime soon.

I have marveled that I can personally remember looking at the stars of the night with my father before a single artificial satellite orbited our world. In 1957, he took me and siblings to the waterfront on Long Island to see Sputnik, the worlds first artificial satellite. I was with my mother in 1969 when we watched Neil Armstrong step onto the moon.

In 1972, the year of the last Apollo moon mission, the Soviet Union launched a craft meant to land on Venus, but it never escaped Earths gravity due to an engine malfunction. Just last month, on May 10, that very same Kosmos-482 Venera landing capsule made an uncontrolled reentry through Earths atmosphere  a relic of a past returning to the world it left more than half a century ago.

For the record, 10 Venera craft successfully landed on the surface of Venus. In 1975, Venera 9 gave us our first views of the planets surface.

Designed to be tough enough to make it through the thick atmosphere of Venus, Kosmos-482 likely survived the trip down, and to the depths of the Indian Ocean where its wreckage may never be found.

Find rise and set times for the sun and moon, and follow ever-changing celestial highlights in the Skywatch section of the Weather Almanac in The Republican and Sunday Republican.

Patrick Rowan has written Skywatch for The Republican since 1987 and has been a Weather Almanac contributor since the mid 1990s. A native of Long Island, Rowan graduated from Northampton High School, studied astronomy at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the 1970s and was a research assistant for the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. From 1981 to 1994, Rowan worked at the Springfield Science Museums Seymour Planetarium, most of that time as planetarium manager. Rowan lives in the Florence section of Northampton with his wife, Clara, and their cats, Eli and Milo.
A man who sold an illegal depressant online to customers around the U.S. will go to prison after pleading guilty. Canva

Nearly five years ago, a Bedford man, identified in court documents only as K.D., purchased an illegal depressant online that ultimately resulted in his suicide.

Now, the California man who admittedly sold it to him via an illicit online marketplace he operated will spend 30 months in prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced this week.

Paul Z. Lamberty, 62, of Folsom, Calif., pleaded guilty last August to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of the introduction of misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead.

On May 30, Lamberty was sentenced in Boston federal court to prison time followed by three years supervised release for selling etizolam over the internet starting in 2017 and ultimately earning profits of more than half a million dollars.

Etizolam is part of a class of drugs chemically related to benzodiazepines (commonly referred to as benzos), which depress the central nervous system.

Physicians can prescribe benzodiazepines that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat insomnia and anxiety, but they also carry risks of dependency, toxicity and even fatal overdose, particularly when combined with other central nervous system depressants, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The FDA has not approved etizolam for medical use, and thus it cant be sold or prescribed in the U.S. And yet, it is regularly sold by illegal online marketplaces as a designer drug that mimics the pharmacological effects of controlled substances or prescription drugs, according to court documents.

In July 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration temporarily scheduled etizolam as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning the agency deemed the drug an imminent hazard to public safety.

The Mass. mans death

According to court documents, Lamberty played a role in operating two websites, Encern.com and Ohmod.com, where he sold and shipped etizolam to customers at residential addresses throughout the country, including in Massachusetts. He and his co-conspirator, who is unnamed through court documents, accepted payments via cryptocurrency only, prosecutors said.

In July 2020, a customer in Bedford, Massachusetts, died from an overdose of etizolam and miragynine, also known as kratom, autopsy results showed.

In its sentencing memorandum, Lambertys defense stated the mans death was a purposeful overdose and ultimately ruled a suicide because of a note he left behind. Attorney Robert Helfend argued that without the Massachusetts mans purposeful actions, his client would not be standing before this Court.

According to email records, the man had purchased etizolam from Lambertys websites approximately 15 times between July 2019 and June 2020.

Meanwhile, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan wrote that K.D. was a victim because of the original sale of the misbranded etizolam by the defendant, not the subsequent overdose. The heart of the argument, he said, is that etizolam is illegal to sell in the U.S.

This was drug dealing by another name

Lamberty imported the etizolam from suppliers in China. In the U.S., he sold it with false labeling stating the products were for research purposes only and not for human consumption, court documents show.

In 2018, Lambertys business partner sent him an email informing him about a Department of Justice press release referencing an FDA investigation into several individuals charged for selling etizolam over the internet.

The warning didnt deter Lamberty, according to prosecutors.

Later that year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained a pill press that Lamberty had purchased, presumably so he could produce etizolam tablets himself, court documents said.

Based on analysis of bank and cryptocurrency records, prosecutors say Lamberty and his co-conspirator conducted gross sales of more than $550,000 worth of etizolam.

This was drug dealing by another name, and it led, as drug dealing often does, to foreseeable and devastating results, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote in its sentencing memorandum. Lamberty knew the risks of selling this unregulated and unapproved designer drug and he should now be held accountable for the profits he made at the expense of victims like K.D.

The defense, seeking probation with home confinement, said Lamberty has accepted responsibility for his crimes, citing no additional criminal history and a circle of family and friends that want him to excel and need him.

He strives to do better in the future, his attorney wrote.
A Boston 15-year-old is facing charges in connection with brandishing a knife at an MBTA bus driver in Chelsea Friday night, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office said.

The teen has been charged with two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and five firearms charges in connection with the incident in Chelsea Juvenile Court, the district attorneys office said in a press release.

MBTA Transit Police responded to a call reporting that a bus driver had been assaulted in Chelsea shortly before 9:15 p.m. on May 30, the district attorneys office said. The driver told them three minors had gotten on at a bus stop without paying, but that hed kept driving despite this resulting in an argument.
The guardian of an 8-year-old Boston Public Schools student who was seriously injured when he was struck by a school bus in December 2024 is suing the bus driver and his employer for damages.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Suffolk County Superior Court, accuses 62-year-old Taunton resident Vitony Laguerre  the driver who struck the student  and Transdev  Boston Public Schools bus contractor  of negligence. It argues that Laguerres negligence as a bus driver caused the crash, and that Transdev was negligent in its choice to employ him.

This frightening event almost took my childs life, plaintiff Cynthia Davis, the students guardian, said in a press release about the lawsuit.  ... Transdev must be held to account to protect our children and prevent this from ever happening again.
U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley sharply criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in a video released Wednesday morning, accusing Wu of creating false narratives about the mission of federal immigration enforcement.

The video is a response to comments Wu made during The WBUR Festival this weekend, where she labeled Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, secret police.

Every aspect of whats happening at the federal level is causing harm in our local communities, Wu said. People are terrified for their lives and for their neighbors, folks getting snatched off the street by secret police who are wearing masks, who can offer no justification for why certain people are being taken and then detained.

But Foley, who was appointed by President Donald Trumps administration in January, shot back forcefully in the recorded statement, which came just days after she and other federal officials announced the arrest of nearly 1,500 people in Massachusetts.

Foley called Wus comments reckless and inflammatory.

Referring to federal agents as secret police is offensive, Foley said in the video posted to X. There are no secret police. ICE agents, along with other federal law enforcement partners, are making immigration arrests. That is no secret. They are arresting individuals who are here illegally, which is a violation of federal law.

Every enforcement action is conducted within the bounds of the Constitution and our laws with oversight, legal justification and accountability. To claim otherwise is a gross misrepresentation and a disservice to the public, Foley continued.

Foley repeated a claim made during the Monday press conference about the arrests, saying ICE agents are wearing masks to cover their faces for fear of their personal information being leaked online. She blamed Wu and others for spreading false narratives about the agencys mission.

Wus claim that people are being snatched off the street is offensive, Foley said.

On the contrary, every arrest or detention is pursuant to and sanctioned by federal law, she continued. The U.S. Attorneys Office stands in support of our federal law enforcement partners, whose mission it is to protect the residents of Massachusetts, regardless of the noise being generated by politicians who either do not understand federal law or simply believe our nations immigration laws should not be enforced. We will not apologize for doing our job.
Funeral arrangements have been announced for a Quincy man who was killed in a double shooting in Boston late last month.

Walter Wilkins, 36, was one of two men who died following a shooting on May 24 in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood, Boston police said previously. Officers responded to 38 Franklin Hill Ave. shortly after 9:45 p.m. for a report of a person shot and found Wilkins and 66-year-old Boston resident Anthony McIntosh with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Both men were taken to a hospital, and Wilkins was soon declared dead, police said. McIntosh died from his wounds a few days later.

Walter Marcus Wilkins was born in Boston on Nov. 12, 1988, to Larry Williams and Michelle Wilkins, according to his obituary. He is survived by his mother, his son  Jawaun Wilkins, his siblings  Larry, Tyrone, Jakoya, Terrence and Matika Wilkins, and many other beloved friends and relatives.

A visitation for Wilkins is scheduled for Friday, June 6, at 10 a.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church in Bostons Mattapan neighborhood, according to his obituary. A funeral service is set to follow at the church at 11 a.m.

Boston police have yet to announce any arrests in connection with the double fatal shooting. Anyone with information about the incident is strongly urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.

You can also submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-800-494-TIPS, texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463) or via the Boston Police Departments website.
Karen Read listens to witness Brian Loughran on the stand at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) AP

After the 27th day of her retrial on Wednesday, Karen Read told reporters her defense could rest its case as soon as Tuesday, meaning jury deliberations could start as soon as next week, the eighth week of the trial.

Reads defense has called seven witnesses through three days so far. There are at least three more witnesses on the defense witness list likely to be called before it rests: Andrew Rentschler and Daniel Wolfe, accident reconstruction experts at the firm ARCCA, and Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a medical examiner.

Other possible witnesses include Richard Green, a digital forensics expert who testified at Reads first trial, and Garrett Wing, a former police lieutenant and dog trainer.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan will call at least two witnesses in rebutal: Judson Welcher, the prosecutions accident reconstruction expert, and James Crosby, a canine behavior specialist.

Reads retrial is off on Thursday, and Judge Beverly Cannone told jurors the trial was ahead of schedule. The trial will resume on Friday with a full day.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer on Jan. 29, 2022.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorneys say her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.
Editors note: This story was updated at 6:08 p.m. June 4, 2025 to add information from the states Department of Correction.

A man convicted of killing a Milford police officer more than 40 years ago was granted parole this week, the department announced, calling the decision disheartening.

Patrick OShea was granted compassionate release by the states parole board, according to a statement posted to Facebook by the Milford Police Department.

Officials with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, which oversees the board, did not immediately confirm the news, however, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Correction, OShea was granted medical parole on Tuesday and remains in custody Wednesday under medical care.

A copy of the boards decision will not be released because it includes private, medically protected information, the spokesperson explained.

Sgt. Walter Moose Conley was killed in the line of duty while working a detail at Milford Savings Bank on Dec. 10, 1980. Conley was struck by gunfire attempting to stop an armed robbery while attempting to escort a bank teller into the bank.

In the wake of the shooting, OShea and another man, John Currie, fled to upstate New York, where they were captured. Both men were sent back to Massachusetts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Milford Deputy Police Chief John Sanchioni criticized the decision.

It disheartens me that the cold-blooded killer of a police officer can be released without serving the penalty our justice system handed down, he said.

The president of the union representing the towns police officers also derided the decision.

We are deeply saddened by the parole boards decision to cast away the outcome of the judicial process and give release to a convicted cop killer, said Milford Police Association President Anthony Bavosi.

The towns police chief, Robert Tusino, asked for prayers for Conleys family.
A Westport couple was married for nearly 60 years before they were killed in a head-on car crash in Dartmouth late last month, according to their obituary.

Diane and Jeffrey Moniz, both 76, were killed in a crash in front of 422 Old Westport Road around 10:30 a.m. on May 25, the Bristol County District Attorneys Office said previously. An SUV driven by 63-year-old Dartmouth resident Philip Morris crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck their car.

Both Diane and Jeffrey Moniz were taken to a local hospital, but they were soon declared dead, the district attorneys office said. Morris received minor injuries and is facing two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation and a marked lanes violation in connection with the crash.

Jeffrey Jeff Moniz was born in New Bedford on May 2, 1949, according to his and his wifes obituary. Diane Moniz was born on Feb. 3 of the same year.

Prior to moving to Westport, the husband and wife were long-time Dartmouth residents, according to their obituary. They leave behind their daughters, Cheryl Moniz and Wendy Correia, three grandchildren  Hailey, Nathan and Justin, Jeffrey Monizs brother, Michael Moniz, and many other beloved friends and relatives.

Married for 59 years, Jeff & Diane were not only partners in life, but best friends, their obituary reads. Their devotion to each other was evident in every small gesture, every laugh shared, and every challenge faced hand in hand.

A private funeral service has been arranged for the couple.
A new study that identified three options for settling the fate of Williamsvilles 90-year-old Ellicott Creek dam has stirred a flood of reactions in the village.

The villages consultant finished the report in the spring and presented its findings at a recent Village Board meeting that grew heated at times.

The study said one alternative  a combination of removing the existing dam, excavating a section of creek bed and installing a flood-control device called a weir  makes the most sense for financial and logistical reasons.

But the board has yet to settle on a solution to a problem that has divided property owners along the creek for years.

Thirty years ago I bought a waterfront lot that is now a mucky swamp, James Peterson, who lives upstream from the dam, said at the board meeting.

The debate pits upstream homeowners, who complain about flooding when the dam is in use, against people who own homes and businesses along a creek channel that dries out when the dam isnt in use.

The village hasnt operated the dam since 2021 as officials thrashed out what to do with the aging structure  and how to balance the competing interests.

The release of the engineering report brings the issue one step closer to resolution. But officials still must pick one alternative and find a way to pay for it.

I do not have a preferred option, Mayor Christine Hunt told The Buffalo News. We will need to pursue additional information to come to the best long-term solution.

Mismanaged creek





Study to settle fate of Ellicott Creek dam underway in Williamsville The dam is at the center of tension between upstream homeowners, who say their properties flood when the dam is in operation, and people who own homes and businesses along a creek channel that dries out when the dam isn't in use.

Crews dammed Ellicott Creek, near Island Park, in the 1930s to prevent damaging flooding downstream.

To operate the dam, village Public Works employees had to stand on a narrow gangway and manually lower or raise five heavy gates that slid along steel tracks.

The creek backs up when the gates are lowered, filling a channel that snakes around the western edge of Island Park before the waters rejoin the main creek on the north side of the dam, continue under Main Street and over Glen Falls.

This western channel is the original path of Ellicott Creek around Island Park. The eastern channel, where the dam is located, was dredged later.

The real problem is that for years, the creek has been allowed to, I guess, be mismanaged. And so its widened. And thats why its stealing the water from the original creek, Cheryl Meyer, an upstream resident who has called for narrowing the manmade channel, said in an interview.

Williamsville officials in spring 2022 said the dams degraded structural concrete and gate tracks made it unsafe to operate the dam.

The Village Boards decision pleased upstream homeowners in Williamsville, Amherst and Cheektowaga who say they experience flooding when the dams gates are lowered. However, this left Ellicott Creek flowing through the dam instead of filling the western channel, where water levels have fallen dramatically.

South Cayuga Road homeowners, whose backyards run up against the creek channel, have lost much of their prized waterfront. The owners complain about foul smells, vermin and reduced property values.

The same goes for two Main Street taverns  the Irishman and Britesmith Brewing  whose rear patios back up to this part of the creek.

Solutions studied

Williamsville didnt put the dam back in operation in 2023, 2024 or this year, either.

Last spring, the village hired Gomez and Sullivan Engineers for $78,900, the majority of the cost covered by a federal grant.

Kevin Miller, a water resources engineer, presented the draft study findings at a work session preceding the May 27 Village Board meeting.

The consultants report is a follow-up to a 2021 Resilient New York study, commissioned by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The new report, at the villages request, looked at alternatives not included in the Resilient New York study, particularly those that address the fate of the dam.

The consultants used hydraulic modeling to assess the effects of changes to the dam  and construction of new control measures  on the villages future operational responsibilities, flooding risks and property owners legal right to enjoy waterfront access along the creek.

The firm focused on three main options suggested by village officials.

One would see the renovation of the Williamsville dam and the installation of automated gates that could be raised or lowered to maintain desired water levels. Construction and technology upgrades would cost an estimated $1.2 million and the village would remain responsible for future upkeep.

The second option envisions removing the dam and building a 6-inch-high weir in the eastern creek channel. Weirs are low-level barriers that allow water to rise slightly on their upstream side before the water spills over the top of the weir. This option also calls for excavating the western channel, by as much as 3 feet in places, allowing for a lower weir height to reduce potential flooding impact during periods of high water flow. It would cost an estimated $700,000 for all of this work, with far less maintenance than the automated dam.

Williamsville dam remains out of service as debate over its fate continues This leaves Williamsville back where it was 12 months ago, with competing interests in the village and the Town of Amherst debating the fate of the century-old flood-control structure.

The third option includes everything outlined for the second alternative and adds a flood bench along the eastern channels right bank. This would create another area to store and pass flood-level waterflow.

The third option is the most expensive alternative, with an estimated cost of $1.3 million.

So based on the study that was presented here, alternative two appears to provide the best combination of upfront costs, flood reduction benefit, and long-term operations and maintenance responsibilities, Miller said last week.

A regional problem

The public comment period at the evenings formal Village Board meeting gave residents a chance to respond to the report.

Dr. Gregory Phillies said any effort to lower the western channel would likely require blasting through bedrock. It may cost millions, he said.

Im not prepared to blast at this time. It isnt an option that is appealing to, Im sure, anybody in the room, Hunt said.

Nick Roth asked whether Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lancaster and other communities along Ellicott Creek would help to address the flooding issue  and pay for the solution. The village has not shared the draft study with Amherst, for one, according to the town.

This is a regional problem. This is not just a village problem, Roth said.

As soon as we have everything in place, then we will be able to seek funding, the mayor said. And we have opportunities. We know the opportunities are out there.

Joseph Stalteri complained about how long this is taking.

Its a lot of talk over and over and over again. Ive heard it time and time again: We applied for this. We applied for that. Were waiting to hear from this,  Stalteri said. Nothings getting done, nothing.

Deputy Mayor Eileen Torre took offense. Thats incorrect, OK? Weve dealt with the situation and we got to work immediately, OK? So dont come here and tell me that were not doing anything, she said.

As Stalteri continued jousting with board members after his time was up, Hunts husband, Dan, went to the lectern.

Im going to thank the board and the mayor for actually taking on the dam issue, Dan Hunt said, before criticizing his wifes predecessor, Deb Rogers, and other previous trustees for failing to find a solution and for rejecting an offer of money from the town.

Its unclear whether any of the alternatives studied will bring substantially higher water levels in the western channel.

And Hunt last week said she didnt know when the village would be ready for construction to begin. Pressed by resident Paula Heinz on the project timeline, Hunt said it could take three or four years considering the search for funding and completion of engineering studies.

But everyone shares the same end goal, Hunt said:

We all hope that we have water around the island again.
Elon Musk speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump, right, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, from left, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, listen in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

Are tech titan Elon Musk and President Donald Trump really never, ever getting back together? Like ever?

Late-night comedians sure hope not. The Republican president and the now-former head of the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency have proven to be the comedic gift that keeps on giving.

So when Musk announced that Trumps domestic policy mega-bill was a "disgusting abomination and teed off on the GOP House members whod voted for it, they feared the worst, according to The New York Times.

A quick refresher: The Tesla, SpaceX and X boss recently announced that hed be stepping down from day-to-day operations at DOGE, but would remain as an adviser, according to published reports.

Over at The Daily Show, host Michael Kosta observed that "two men who previously had never had a friend were seeing their relationship get D.O.G.E.d, The Times reported.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel, referring to stories about Musks apparent drug use, quipped, "Boy, when hes off the ketamine, he is a lot less fun.

And referring to Musks attacks on lawmakers who voted for the bill, Kimmel said he [wanted] the name of whoever bankrolled  oh, wait, its his name.

The other Jimmy  Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon  played the Tesla card, according to The Times.

Just days after leaving his official role at the White House, Elon Musk is now blasting President Trumps big, beautiful bill as a disgusting abomination, Fallon said. And thats coming from the guy who made the Cybertruck.
Barbara Winston uses a computer and a smartphone at her home in Northbrook, Ill., on Sunday, June 30, 2024, several days after taking an introduction to artificial intelligence class at a local senior center. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford) AP

Its not often that you find uber-progressive U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a MAGA loyalist, on the same side of an issue.

But when it comes to language thats now in President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, that would ban states from regulating artificial intelligence, the conservative firebrand from Georgia and the Malden lawmaker are  surprisingly  onside.

And on Wednesday, Markey, of Malden, convened a roundtable discussion of tech and civil liberties experts to warn against the dangerous and unprecedented language in the House-passed bill thats now before the Senate.

If its approved finally, the language would open the door to algorithm-driven housing and job discrimination and further the growth of deep-fake pornography and child sexual abuse material, they warned.

" It would be devastating if we did not act," Markey, whos sponsoring legislation that would put guardrails on the AI industry, said.

In a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Markey blasted the provision, even as he argued that the nation can have an AI revolution while also protecting the civil rights and liberties of everyday Americans.

Greene, an ardent loyalist for President Donald Trump, has said she was unaware that the language was in the bill the Republican-controlled House approved by a single vote last month.

Shes now calling on the majority-Republican Senate to remove the language, and has threatened to vote against the Republican presidents signature domestic policy proposal if the provision stays in, according to published reports.

And thats just fine with Markey and the other advocates who gathered for Wednesdays call. They stressed the need for legislation that balances innovation against vigorous regulation of an exploding industry.

Alondra Nelson, a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, noted that the iPhone has been on the market for not quite 10 years, and has grown and changed exponentially in that time.

Then she asked her fellow panelists and the audience to imagine how much AI, which is already growing by leaps and bounds, could further grow and change during a similar interval  but without any oversight from state governments.

The moratorium in the mega-bill is an unprecedented and dangerous attempt to strip states of their constitutional authority to protect their citizens from at precisely [the] moment when such protection is most urgently needed, she said.

Wednesdays panelists also rejected what they described as industry arguments that state laws would create a regulatory patchwork that would make it difficult for companies to operate from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Recent polling from Common Sense Media/Echelon Insights found that a majority of Americans are against the moratorium, including 50% of self-identified Republican respondents.

And more than 7 in 10 respondents (73%) to the poll of 1,022 voters said they want both the state and federal governments to have a hand in regulating artificial intelligence.

The public hates this on a bipartisan basis, pollster James P. Steyer, who participated in Wednesdays forum, observed.

Damon Hewitt, the president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, offered a similar sentiment, noting that communities of color and underrepresented communities could be particularly impacted.

Those same communities have often found themselves foreclosed from equal opportunities in housing and employment because of discrimination. Unregulated artificial intelligence could only exacerbate it, he said.

We live in a world today where much of our lives are actually lived ... through online interactions, including looking for jobs, applying for college, looking for vital information, sometimes information about ourselves. And so it is critical that we have online protections.

And " to the extent that extant federal civil rights laws at the federal and state level can still be [applied] to AI, absent comprehensive legislation, we suspect that there are some in the industry who would actually try to block general enforcement of civil rights laws that are already on the books," he continued. That is something we cannot have.

On Tuesday, a group of 260 state lawmakers wrote to House and Senate members to alert them to the AI provision, warning it would undermine ongoing work in the states on tech regulation, The Hill reported.

Some Senate lawmakers also are warning that the language wont pass whats known as The Byrd Rule, which prohibits extraneous matters from being included in reconciliation packages, according to The Hill.

That includes provisions that do not change outlays or revenues, the online news outlet reported.

For Steyer, thats the bottom line: This is not a budget matter, he said. The Senate parliamentarian should strip it from the bill.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Billy Long, President Donald Trump's pick to run the IRS, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Screen Capture) Screen Capture

You could forgive U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren for flashing back to her Harvard Law School days proctoring exams for her students next week as she sits down for a meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

Thats because, ahead of that June 10 session, the Cambridge Democrat sent the senior Trump administration official a sprawling list of 66 questions about the Republican White Houses efforts to dismantle the Carter-era agency that McMahon was tapped to run.

And no, theyre not multiple choice. But some do have multiple sections, requiring those essay-style answers that you dreaded when you were taking the SATs.

So howd all this happen?

Last month, Warren invited McMahon to a public forum on higher education affordability  she took a pass, instead asking Warren for a one-on-one meeting.

In a statement, Warren said she rebutted eight false and misleading statements that McMahon included in that May 12 letter asking for a sitdown.

Those rebuttals were included in the Wednesday letter Warren sent to McMahon.

Upping the ante, in the same letter, the Democratic lawmaker also hit McMahon with her list of 66 questions  roughly eight times the number of statements that Warren said she had to rebut.

Those questions range from queries about access to debt relief and student aid to the impact of mass layoffs at the Education Department.

Instead of continuing to avoid accountability for your policies, I urge you to listen to the voices of students, borrowers, and families around the country and stop giving DOGE and Donald Trump a blank check to destroy American public education, Warren wrote.

If nothing else, McMahon will come in prepared.

On Tuesday, she played defense as Democrats and Republicans on a U.S. Senate panel peppered her with questions about her tenure and her role in the administrations crackdown on Harvard University, ostensibly in the name of combating antisemitism.

"These were civil rights violations. That is why we filed a case and stopped the funding for Harvard as well as Columbia, McMahon told U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., at one point, according to Inside Higher Ed. And in conversations with [the universities], we talked about different things that they should do coming back to the table.
As if party activists needed it, here's a reminder that math matters in elections. (Nico Mendoza | MLive.com)

Dave Urban knows a thing or two about campaigns. And one of the things he knows is that winning them is all about the math: You add voters. You never subtract them.

And when he looks ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, where Democrats will try to retake the U.S. House of Representatives and narrow the GOP margin in the Senate, he knows one more thing.

Namely, the party that knows how to add is the party that knows how to win.

Elections are all about math, right? Urban, a veteran Republican consultant and former U.S. Senate staffer, said during an appearance in Boston earlier this week. Its one plus one plus one plus one. How do you add people? How do you get people on your team?

Urban, joined by former Democratic U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, offered his comments in the wake of a televised forum on Monday at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Dorchester.

The sit-down, aired by FOX Nation, featured Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, the Republican.

Both offer their separate lessons.

Fetterman, who won election to the Senate in 2022 as an icon of the Democrats progressive base, has faced heavy fire for his outspoken support for Israel among other matters. On Monday, he and McCormick found common ground on several issues.

Last November, McCormick won the seat held by long-serving Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, while Trump flipped the Keystone State back to his column after losing it to former President Joe Biden in 2020.

Trump ran and won on the issues that are now causing Fetterman such consternation. Still, the question facing Democrats is whether the suburban Pittsburgh lawmakers centrism might be a winning message in 2026 and beyond.

Senator Fetterman is voicing a certain series of perspectives that can help pull together one series of constituencies. Obviously, hes alienating some others, Kennedy, who served in the House from 2013 until 2021, said.

Thats part of the tension here, Kennedy continued. In todays politics, Democrats should listen hard to what he and others have to say as we try to plot our pathway forward.

According to Urban, one of the things that Trump did successfully in his victorious White House bids was to knit together coalitions of voters he needed, from white working-class voters in 2016 to the record share of Hispanic voters who flocked to his banner in 2024, to take the White House.

Talk about a big tent? The Republican Party  theres huge, huge growth among African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans," he said. Now, whether or not thats durable beyond Donald Trump, is a challenge for the Republican Party.

And thats what we need to do  how do we attract people who are, you know, kind of ... the old joke about Republicans before, the wine-swilling, country club-going ... thats not the Republican Party of today. The Republican Party of today looks more like" what the Democratic Party used to be, he said.

Urban pointed to the example of Beaver County, a solidly working-class suburb west of Pittsburgh. The county was once dominated by so-called Blue Dog Democrats who were more moderate than the rest of the party.

Now theyre all Republicans, Urban quipped. But hes backed up by the numbers. Trump carried Beaver County in all three of his White House bids.

The Republican took a little more than 58% of the vote in Beaver County in 2016 against Hillary Clinton, and again in 2020, when Biden flipped the state to win the White House.

Trump took nearly 60% of the vote in Beaver County in 2024, with former Vice President Kamala Harris at 39.2%, improving on Clintons 38.2% performance, but lagging Biden, who took 40.5% of the vote in the steel town four years earlier.

Urban also pointed to the example of his former boss, the late Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, a longtime Republican who switched to the Democrats ahead of his 2010 reelection bid.

The move ended Specters political career  he lost in the primary that year. But it portended a bigger shift in the political topography of the Philadelphia suburbs that Specter called home.

All those Arlen Specter Republicans are now Democrats, Urban reflected. So theres been this seismic shift in the body politic. And the challenge for both parties is that everybodys up for grabs right now.

That happened in Massachusetts to a more limited extent last fall. While Harris handily carried the state, Trump improved on his performance from four years earlier, winning towns he had not won before.

To learn from these changes, Massachusetts Democrats held a virtual statewide listening tour in the days and weeks following the 2024 election. They got an earful from sometimes-enraged party activists who were looking for a winning way forward.

Kennedy, like many other Democrats, called this period before the midterms a badly needed time of deep reflection.

And understanding winning math.

A political partys objective is to try to build together the constituents you need in order to win an election, he said. The Democratic Party needs to put some soul-searching [in] there.
BOSTON  Red Sox righty Kutter Crawford was expected to make his first rehab start by the end of this week.

But the 29-year-old righty, who was placed on the injured list March 27 with right patellar tendinopathy, will instead have his wrist examined here in Boston in the coming days.

He has some wrist pain, manager Alex Cora said Tuesday. That was two days ago. Hopefully nothing serious. So they just want to check on him."

Crawford had been throwing live batting practice sessions in Fort Myers. He is built up to four innings.

Hes expected to fly to Boston either Wednesday or Thursday.

He says its nothing serious but we just want to make sure, Cora said.

Crawfords patellar tendon injury dates back to the third start of last season when he hurt it covering first base. He still made his next 30 starts, led the team in innings (183 ) and posted a 4.36 ERA and .223 batting average against.
I got a text! And its all about how youre going to spend your summer... watching hot new bombshells find love in a gorgeous villa in Fiji.

The ultimate dating competition show, Love Island: USA, is back with an all-new season premiering on Tuesday, June 3.

Season 7 will premiere at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. Viewers looking to stream the reality TV series can do so by signing up for a Peacock subscription, which starts at just $7.99 a month.

In true Love Island fashion, viewers will watch the singles form connections, go through break-ups and make-ups, and take on steamy challenges.

Fans will be able to cast their votes for their favorite couples, who are competing to win $100,000, from the comfort of their own homes. The decision often shakes up the energy and relationships within the villa.

The show starts off with 10 main islanders that have to couple up with each other, but as the show goes on, bombshells will be sent in to shake up the dynamic in the villa, inevitably causing drama.

According to Peacock, new episodes will drop every day throughout the premiere week. The week after, the shows streaming schedule will be Thursdays to Tuesdays.

Bravo star from Vanderpump Rules Ariana Madix will host the new season.

She joined Love Island USA last year for its sixth season, which became a social media phenomenon because fans everywhere couldnt get enough of the cast or the drama. Fingers crossed this season is just as good!

Below is a look at the main islanders starring in season 7 from Love Island USAs YouTube Channel:

Women:

Chelley Bissainthe, 27, from Orlando, Florida

Huda Mustafa, 24, from Raleigh, North Carolina

Belle-A Walker, 22, from Honolulu, Hawaii

Olandria Carthen, 27, from Decatur, Alabama

Yulissa Escobar, 27, from Miami, Florida

Men:

Ace Greene, 22, from Los Angeles, California

Taylor Williams, 24, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Nicolas Vansteenberghe, 24, from Jacksonville, Florida

Austin Shepard, 26, from Northville, Michigan

Jeremiah Brown, 25, from Los Angeles, California

How can I watch Love Island: USA?

Viewers looking to stream the reality TV series can do so by signing up for a Peacock subscription, which starts at just $7.99 a month.
Officers seized a loaded gun, about 75 grams of cocaine, 100 bags of heroin mixed with fentanyl and $2600. courtesy

HOLYOKE  Police in Holyoke arrested six people Monday and seized a gun, over 75 grams of cocaine, more than 100 bags of heroin mixed with fentanyl and over $2600 in cash. The arrests happened in the areas of Appleton, Elm, Cabot and Sargent streets, according to the Holyoke Police Departments post on social media.

The operation involved multiple agencies working together to address open-air drug dealing in the city of Holyoke, the post says.
Justin Hurst's mayoral campaign is being accused of voter fraud based on video that appears to show cash for votes outside City Hall. (Image from video) FILE

SPRINGFIELD  The state Attorney Generals office has reportedly revived an investigation into whether former mayoral candidate of Justin Hurst paid for votes in 2023.

City officials confirmed that a prosecutor and a Massachusetts state trooper visited City Hall May 28 and quizzed Elections Office staff and requested voter records related to the mayoral race that pitted Hurst against longtime incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.
New England Farm Workers have sold Borinquen Apartments at 2772 Main St. in Springfield 's North End for $1.5 million. it's seen here June 2, 20225 (Jim Kinney/ The Republican)

SPRINGFIELD  The New England Farm Workers sold the Borinquen Apartments in the North End this week to the buildings longtime managers for $1.36 million.

The sale of the 23-unit building at 2772 Main St. helps pay off the last of a $1.8 million debt owed to the state over misspent fuel assistance funds, says Daniel Knapik, the former Westfield mayor brought in to liquidate the nonprofits real estate and satisfy the state.
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
It has been revealed that Mayo is set to receive a major boost to the number of electric vehicle charging points located around the county.

In total, five new EV recharging hubs will be installed in Mayo as part of a 53-strong boost to the nation's capacity to cater for an expanding fleet of electric vehicles.

READ MORE: Can Mayo lose to Donegal but still progress? All permutations explained

The locations in Mayo are as follows:

The McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris; Ballindine Service Station; Golden Mile Service Station, Castlebar; Keegan's Centra, Castlebar; Corrib Oil, Westport.

As part of the rollout of the new vehicles, the distance between recharging hubs will be less than 60 kilometres.

The news was welcomed by Darragh OBrien, the Minister for Transport.

Were taking real, practical steps to make electric vehicles work for everyone, the TD stated. With more chargers, more choice, and more support, we hope even more people will feel confident making the switch to electric.

These high-powered chargers are a key step in that process. Were committed to building a sustainable and cleaner transport system, and that means making it easy to charge wherever you are.

The CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Peter Walsh, also expressed his delight at the expansion.

Working in partnership with ZEVI (Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland) and the private sector, this scheme is helping us build the kind of infrastructure people can rely on: fast, efficient, and accessible.

It is anticipated that all new EV Charging Points will be in place by the end of 2025.
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A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Mayo has published her plan to end period poverty.

One in four Irish women have experienced period poverty in their lifetime. An EU-wide menstrual health strategy is needed to end period poverty, MEP Maria Walsh has said as she published her Plan for Periods proposal in Brussels.

Menstrual poverty affects an estimated 10% of the menstruating population in the EU, while 24% of Irish women have experienced an indicator of period poverty - rising to 35% for those between the ages of 15 and 24.

READ: Appeal to retain solar panels on front of old Mayo church fails

The Fine Gael politician Walsh is a full member of the European Parliaments Gender Equality & Womens Rights Committee and submitted her menstrual health strategy proposal to the European Commission today.

MEP Walsh also submitted a question on the issue to Commissioners Hadja Lahbib and Oliver Varhelyi which was signed by 32 MEPs from across political groups in the European Parliament.

MEP Maria Walsh said: Thousands of women across Ireland go without the very basic menstrual products they need, seriously undermining their personal comfort, dignity and confidence.

I know that for many, period poverty forces painful trade-offs - with women having to sacrifice essential items in order to afford menstrual care.

As the data shows, it is younger and marginalised women that are most vulnerable; 35% of Irish women between the ages of 15 and 24 have experienced period poverty in their life."

Walsh has now submitted her Plan for Periods menstrual health strategy to the European Commission. This proposal sets out a clear roadmap for the EU to eliminate, and ultimately eradicate, period poverty.

Plan for Periods calls on the EU to carry out a range of actions in collaboration with member states. They include ensuring the zero VAT rate on period products is in place across all 27 countries, providing free products in public institutions, mandatory reporting by national authorities and creating a dedicated EU fund to support national health initiatives.

Menstrual poverty is an issue shrouded in shame and stigma. The Plan for Periods proposal aims to break the silence, challenge taboos and finally put an end to period poverty for everyone.

Key highlights of the Plan for Periods proposal include:

Removal of VAT on period products across all 27 EU Member States

Mandatory reporting and data collection by national statistical offices

Free period products in public institutions

EU Action Plan integrating menstrual health into EU frameworks

EU-wide benchmarks on menstrual product access and education

Dedicated EU fund for grassroots and national menstrual health initiatives

Workplace guidelines for menstrual leave or flexible working arrangements

EU-wide public awareness campaign

MEP Maria Walshs written question to Commissioners Hadja Lahbib and Oliver Varhelyi, signed by 32 MEPs, proposes the following questions:

How does the Commission intend to address menstrual poverty across the EU during its new mandate?

Does the European Commission intend to present an EU Menstrual Health Strategy to support Member States in tackling menstrual poverty?

READ: Mayo school offers free period products
Both AI types can complement each other, enhancing insights to improve treatment decisions.

  Trusted Source

Comparison of Conventional Statistical Methods with Machine Learning in Medicine: Diagnosis, Drug Development, and Treatment



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Did You Know?

New study puts #ChatGPT, #Gemini, and #DXplain head-to-head in diagnosing patient casesDXplain edges ahead, but #AI language models show impressive skill too. #AIinHealthcare #healthcare

New study puts #ChatGPT, #Gemini, and #DXplain head-to-head in diagnosing patient casesDXplain edges ahead, but #AI language models show impressive skill too. #AIinHealthcare #healthcare

Comparison of Conventional Statistical Methods with Machine Learning in Medicine: Diagnosis, Drug Development, and Treatment - (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7560135/)

Healthcare professionals have long employed artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in diagnosing medical conditions through tools known as diagnostic decision support systems (DDSSs). Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding institution of the Mass General Brigham system, introduced its own DDSSDXplainin 1984. This system draws from a vast database of disease profiles, clinical indicators, and data inputs to suggest and prioritize potential diagnoses for clinicians. With the rise of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) in medicine, researchers at MGHs Laboratory of Computer Science (LCS) recently evaluated how DXplains diagnostic performance, refined over nearly 40 years, compares to that of modern LLMs ().Their new research compares ChatGPT , Gemini, and DXplain at diagnosing patient cases, revealing that DXplain performed somewhat better, but the LLMs also performed well. The investigators envision pairing DXplain with an LLM as the optimal way forward, as it would improve both systems and enhance their clinical efficacy. The results are published in JAMA Network Open.Amid all the interest in large language models, its easy to forget that the first AI systems used successfully in medicine were expert systems like DXplain, said co-author Edward Hoffer, MD, of the LCS at MGH.These systems can enhance and expand clinicians diagnoses, recalling information that physicians may forget in the heat of the moment and isnt biased by common flaws in human reasoning. And now, we think combining the powerful explanatory capabilities of existing diagnostic systems with the linguistic capabilities of large language models will enable better automated diagnostic decision support and patient outcomes, said corresponding author Mitchell Feldman, MD, also of MGHs LCS.The investigators tested the diagnostic capabilities of DXplain, ChatGPT, and Gemini using 36 patient cases spanning racial, ethnic, age, and gender categories. For each case, the systems had a chance to suggest potential case diagnoses both with and without lab data. With lab data, all three systems listed the correct diagnosis most of the time: 72% for DXplain, 64% for ChatGPT, and 58% for Gemini. Without lab data, DXplain listed the correct diagnosis 56% of the time, outperforming ChatGPT (42%) and Gemini (39%), though the results were not statistically significant.The researchers observed that the DDSS and LLMs caught certain diseases the others missed, suggesting there may be promise in combining the approaches. Preliminary work building off these findings reveals that LLMs could be used to pull clinical findings from narrative text, which could then be plugged into DDSSsin turn synergistically improving both systems and their diagnostic conclusions.Source-Eurekalert
Like many of you, I never saw skincare as a necessity for men. Back in college, I was the person who used the same soap I used in school and thought SPF was a beach-only situation. Then adulting happened, along with sleepless nights, stress breakouts, pigmentation and those sneaky fine lines creeped in. No filter could hide the chaos happening on my face. Thats when I heard about the buzzword, retinolnight cream, that kept showing up on my feed and I figured it was time to see what the hype was about and if it works for guys like me. At first, I was madly overwhelmed. There were too many options, scary purging stories and ingredient lists that read like chemistry homework. But I wasnt about to give up because I didnt want to look 40 at 23. So, I dug deep and even fell into Reddit rabbit holes where skincare nerds speak their minds.

 Tenor What followed was a full-blown trial phase. Some creams made my skin feel snatched and others were a total flop. But in the chaos, I found a few that turned my tired, dull skin into a legit glowing canvas. This is the round-up of the real ones, retinol night creams that didnt just talk the talk; they actually delivered. Top 5 Retinol Night Creams For Men After testing a few creams and waking up with both wins and regrets, these five made it to my dream team. Each one brought something different to the table and my skins been thriving ever since. 1. Tree to Tub Night Cream for Face | Night Cream with Retinol

 Amazon India I started using the Tree To Tub Night Cream during one of those late-night skincare spirals. It was a game changer. As someone with very sensitive skin, discovering a night cream with retinol that doesnt burn or make me break out seemed like unlocking a new level of mens skincare. This ones got that perfect pH 5.5 balance, plus hyaluronic acid, ginseng and green tea. It feels calming on my face. My skin actually wakes up looking plump, hydrated and less dull. GET IT HERE 2. Nip+Fab Retinol Fix Overnight Cream

 Amazon India I gave this retinol fix overnight cream a go after seeing it all over Reddit and not going to lie, its an absolute skincare upgrade. This night cream with retinol changed my skins texture, which is challenging for male skin to do as opposed to female skin. Its got 0.1% retinol and even though that sounds tiny, it hits just right without turning my skin into a flaky mess. I wake up looking like I actually got sleep (even when I didnt). Fine lines are softer. Cheeks are glowing. Thats pretty much all I wanted from this cream. GET IT HERE 3. RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

 Amazon India This retinol cream for night use is a game-changer for someone looking to reduce fine lines. I started using it when my smile lines were becoming too visible to ignore and by week five, they were softening like butter. The OG RoC retinol formula works its magic while I sleep - no oil, no breakouts, just smooth, glowing skin by morning. I wake up looking like I had a mini-facial overnight. It targets lines and boosts my skins glow without any heavy or greasy feel. Now, real talk! The first two weeks were a bit sketchy. My skin felt a tad tight and had minor peeling. But someone on Reddit said, Stick with RoC; its the affordable retinol that actually delivers, and I did. Patience equals younger-looking, glowing skin. GET IT HERE 4. Olay Retinol24 Max Night Cream

 Amazon India I used Olay Retinol24 Max Night Cream for about a week before the results surprised me. This retinol-based night cream works wonders! I woke up every morning with my skin feeling hydrated, plump and smooth. The formula is packed with Vitamin B3 and a Retinoid Complex, which have visibly reduced my fine lines. Its fragrance-free, so no irritation at all. My skin, whether it's dry or oily, loves it. My complexion feels youthful and glowy. Only downside? It's a bit thick, so it might feel heavy. GET IT HERE 5. Ras Luxury Oils Super Recharge Night Cream with Bakuchiol (Natural Retinol)

 Amazon India I grabbed Ras Luxury Oils Super Recharge Night Cream thinking, This might just be another average experiment, but honestly, the bakuchiol had me hooked. Its this gentle, plant-based alternative to retinol and my skin loves it. Hydration level? Off the charts. No more waking up with dry, flaky patches, even with AC blasting all night. My skin feels much smoother and firmer after just a few weeks of use. And let me take a minute to mention its rich, creamy texture; its like luxury in a jar, but it absorbs so quickly with zero greasy vibes. The only downside? On humid nights, its a little much for combo skin but worth every drop. One Reddit skincare junkie said, This cream feels like a facial in a jar, no irritation, just calm, glowy skin. And thats exactly how it feels. GET IT HERE Conclusion The retinol night cream journey started out of pure curiosity, but honestly, it turned into the glow-up moment I didnt even know a mans skin needed. These creams brought visible changes to my skin. Tackled the dullness, smoothed out the texture, and left me with that soft-focus, I-just-had-a-facial vibe. The secret? Patience, hydration and really listening to what my skin needed. Not every cream is a one-size-fits-all deal, but trust me, this stuff works. Now, my bedtime routine feels like a ritual, and waking up to skin that actually reflects the effort is an honour Im ready to accept. No cap, these products made skincare feel more like self-care with real results. Will I gatekeep? Nope. Not a chance. This is the list and its a game-changer.
A new report underscores the sectors crucial role in supporting the UK economy

The UKs logistics sector, worth a staggering 170 billion and employing over 8% of the national workforce, is an unsung hero of the economy and vital to achieving the governments growth agenda, according to a new industry report.

Launched today (4 June) at Logistics UKs first-ever annual conference at the QEII Conference Centre in London, The Logistics Report 2025 underscores the sectors crucial role in supporting the UK economy  and calls for its formal recognition as a cornerstone of national industrial strategy.

Logistics is not a background operation  it is a driver of growth and a barometer of economic efficiency, said Phil Roe, President of Logistics UK. When logistics thrives, the economy thrives.

"The Logistics Report shows how much the sector contributes, and there needs to be a step change in how logistics is understood, supported and prioritised in national policy making.

"Key to this is recognition of logistics as a foundational sector in the Industrial Strategy, underpinning, as it does, all industry.

The annual review draws on official statistics, expert insights and findings from a survey of more than 500 Logistics UK members. It reveals a sector balancing resilience with challenge.

While business confidence has dipped amid ongoing economic uncertainty, there are signs of cautious investment  particularly in fleet management and greener vehicle technologies  demonstrating a continued commitment to decarbonisation.

Recruitment remains a persistent issue, with companies struggling to fill key roles. Larger companies are looking at AI to manage skills gaps, said Mr Roe.

"But this is not a sustainable solution and we need a continuous training pipeline to ensure we have an appropriately trained workforce.

In terms of international trade, 2024 saw mixed results. Exports dipped slightly to 798.6 billion, while imports rose modestly to 858.2 billion.

We are operating in sluggish times  growth is now predicted to be 1.2% during 2025, Mr Roe noted.

The recent trade deals with the US, India and the EU hold potential to boost commerce, but their success depends on a strong, efficient logistics sector.

"It is logistics companies that will ultimately be moving goods to and from our trading partners, and an efficient logistics network means faster delivery, lower costs, and increased competitiveness for businesses across every sector.
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday accused two military veterans of assaulting a soldier and stealing equipment from an Army special operations compound in Washington state, a brazen break-in that ended with a cache of weapons and Nazi paraphernalia discovered in one of their homes.

State and federal police arrested Charles Ethan Fields and Levi Austin Frakes after executing a warrant Monday for alleged assault, robbery and theft of government property, according to the complaint shared with Military.com by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Washington.

Prosecutors say Fields and Frakes entered Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Sunday evening through the main gate and made their way to a facility used by Charlie Company, 75th Ranger Regiment. Dressed in Ranger fitness training attire and wearing masks, the pair allegedly stole military gear after bludgeoning a soldier with a hammer and fleeing the scene.

Read Next: Army Hits Annual Recruiting Goal Months Ahead of Schedule

Before being attacked, the soldier, who was not identified in court documents, confronted the veterans, who were in the process of stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of ballistic helmets, rifle plates and communications equipment.

As the soldier was questioning the pair, ordering them to remove their masks, one of them attacked him, striking him in the head and torso with a hammer. The soldier fought off the attacker, taking the hammer, but "surrendered" as the other assailant was brandishing a knife, according to court records.

The soldier was treated at the base hospital after a "large amount of blood loss," images in the complaint show.

The pair allegedly stole $14,000 worth of gear, but dropped much of it at the scene when fleeing. Law enforcement discovered blood on their rucksacks and boots, according to the complaint.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division requested a search warrant after discovering the rucksacks filled with the equipment that they left behind, as well as the hat that bore Fields' last name. During the search of one of the homes, the CID seized 35 weapons, including rifles, pistols, short-barreled rifles, an MG32 machine gun and suppressors -- some of which appeared to have been produced using a 3D printer -- along with night vision equipment, body armor, flashbang grenades, smoke canisters and blasting caps.

Images from the complaint also show Nazi and white supremacist paraphernalia in one of the residences, including flags with a swastika and "SS" lightning bolts, murals and literature "in every bedroom and near several stockpiles of weapons and military equipment."

Investigators said that one of the veterans admitted in an interview to stealing military property from the Ranger compound for "about two years" to later sell or trade.

Fields and Frakes registered a company in Washington billed as a "defense manufacturing and training" service that featured imagery associated with Nazi ideology in its logo, according to the website and public business records. The company did not return a request for comment.

In social media, they listed several military units as "clients," including the 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Special Forces, 1st Marine Division and the Coast Guard. Military.com contacted the units on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Ranger Regiment acknowledged the inquiry, but referred the publication to Army Special Operations Command.

Images from a federal complaint filed Wednesday show Nazi paraphernalia and military gear following a law enforcement raid. Charles Ethan Fields and Levi Austin Frakes, two veterans, were arrested and accused of assault, robbery and theft of government property.

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard said that it "has never contracted with or been a client of" their company. The other units did not respond by deadline.

Fields served a short stint as an infantryman in the active-duty Army from 2017 to 2021, deploying twice to Afghanistan and leaving the service with the rank of sergeant, service records show. The complaint notes both suspects previously served in the military, citing Pentagon records, and that the soldier who tried to confront them learned Fields had been assigned to the Ranger battalion he tried to steal from sometime around 2021.

Military.com contacted the Marine Corps regarding Frakes' service, as a social media page shows that he served in the branch for four years. A spokesperson could not provide his service record, but noted that "there is a Marine veteran with that name."

The two men were booked into Thurston County Jail, and a judge set bail for each at $500,000 on Tuesday during a preliminary appearance, according to the complaint. Military.com contacted the county public defense office that has taken on their cases, according to its director, Patrick O'Connor, but their attorneys had not been assigned as of Wednesday pending charges.

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office did not respond to the publication on Wednesday, but the elected sheriff, Derek Sanders, said on social media that an FBI SWAT team executed the warrant.

"The suspects identified in this case were actively involved in Nazi white nationalist efforts," he said. The county lists both veterans as being charged with unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle and explosives.

The military has faced persistent challenges in securing its weapons and equipment, including a notable incident in November when 31 M17 pistols went missing from Fort Benning, Georgia; only three have been recovered. A 2021 investigation by The Associated Press revealed that at least 1,900 firearms disappeared from military stockpiles during the 2010s, with some later turning up at crime scenes. The losses have been blamed on a range of security lapses, including gaps in surveillance and poor recordkeeping.

Of the attack on the soldiers, Luke Baumgartner, a research fellow with George Washington University's Program on Extremism, said that "they were not afraid to use violence in order to gain access to the equipment that they were looking for."

"Veterans who end up becoming involved in these extremist movements often look backward toward their military service as a source of inspiration," he said, citing cases such as Timothy McVeigh, an Army veteran who killed 168 people in the Oklahoma City bombing and also stole military equipment from a National Guard armory.

"They're just following in their footsteps; they're continuing this pattern that we've seen before," he said.

The complaint said that the pair were scanned into the main gate of JBLM around 8 p.m. Sunday and that they had allegedly used bolt cutters to break a lock into the Ranger compound. Investigators tied Frakes' vehicle to one seen on surveillance cameras on base. It was unclear how they had apparently easy access to the gate and how the unit accounted for its equipment if thefts had been occurring for two years.

"That tells me that there is a lack of proper accountability for sensitive items and military property going on within that unit," Baumgartner, an Army veteran, added.

The Pentagon has entirely abandoned addressing far-right extremism in the military community under the Trump administration. While there is no evidence service members or veterans are more likely to be radicalized, experts have said they are force multipliers to extremist organizations given their inherent credibility and tactical knowledge.

Related: What the Pentagon Has, Hasn't and Could Do to Stop Veterans and Troops from Joining Extremist Groups
Air Force Special Operations Command has named a new top enlisted leader nearly two months after his predecessor was removed from the role amid an ongoing investigation.

Chief Master Sgt. Courtney Freeman officially assumed command during a ceremony Monday at Hurlburt Field in Florida. He's replacing Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Green, who was removed from the AFSOC leadership role in mid-April due to "a loss in confidence" in his abilities -- a phrase often used by all the military services to obscure the specific reason behind a firing.

Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse, a command spokesperson, told Military.com on Wednesday that Green "has been reassigned outside of AFSOC HQ and [an] investigation is still ongoing."

Read Next: Hegseth Orders Navy to Strip Name of Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk from Ship

Freeman will be overseeing Air Force Special Operations Command's 21,000 air commandos and advising AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Michael Conley on the training, education and quality of life of the enlisted force.

"Air commandos operate with unmatched skill, discipline and resolve. They embody the very essence of quiet professionalism," Freeman said at the ceremony, according to an AFSOC news release. "As your command chief, I stand with you shoulder to shoulder to ensure that we remain ready to be whatever our nation needs us to be any place, any time, anywhere."

Conley's dismissal of Green was "made after careful consideration of the circumstances," the commander revealed in an internal email leaked online and reviewed by Military.com in April. AFSOC confirmed the email was authentic and accurate.

"As airmen, we are entrusted with the incredible responsibility and held to the highest standards of conduct," Conley wrote in the April email. "Upholding these standards is non-negotiable, and maintaining good order and discipline is fundamental to who we are."

The nature of Green's dismissal and the subject of the ongoing investigation have not been publicly revealed.

"Chief Freeman, I know you share this vision, and with your extensive AFSOC and leadership experience, I am confident that your guidance will be instrumental in leading our enlisted force through the challenges ahead," Conley said during the ceremony. "I look forward to working alongside you to strengthen our air commandos and ensure that AFSOC continues to be the best in the world at what we do."

Freeman joined the Air Force in 1997, according to his service biography. His background is mainly in enlisted aviation, where he's racked up 4,000 flight hours, with 1,000 of those being in combat. He has deployed for military operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve.

Prior to taking over as the top enlisted leader for AFSOC, Freeman was the senior enlisted leader for the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs at the Pentagon, according to his biography.

Before that role, he was the command chief of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.

Related: Top Enlisted Leader at Air Force Special Operations Command Fired, Facing Investigation
Coast Guard Gunner's Mate Frank DeVita crawled over the bodies of the dead who lay in the blood and puke covering the deck of the Higgins boat on Omaha Beach to save the landing craft during the first wave of D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.

DeVita's main job as part of the landing craft's crew was to raise and lower the front ramp on orders of the coxswain, or boat driver, to allow more than 30 troops from the 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One," to storm ashore, but the German MG-42 machine guns took their toll.

In oral histories and in a Coast Guard interview, DeVita, of Brooklyn, New York, spoke of the numbing fear that the boat crews had to overcome on D-Day, the beginning of the Allied invasion of France that became a turning point in the war against Nazi Germany during World War II. Friday marks the 81st anniversary of the massive military operation.

Read Next: Air Force Special Operations Command Names New Enlisted Leader as Predecessor Faces Investigation

As soon as DeVita lowered the boat's ramp, "about 15 or 16 GIs died immediately" from the German fire, he said. "The first guy who got hit -- ripped his stomach open. Another guy two feet away was hit in the head, took his helmet off."

Now, the coxswain was screaming at him to get the ramp back up to allow the boat to back off the beach, but the ramp was stuck.

"I didn't know what to do. The ramp was in the front and I'm in the back. I can't see it from where I am because of the dead and wounded in front of me. I had to crawl over them to get to the ramp. And while I'm crawling, I'm crying. I'm saying to these kids, 'I'm sorry, please excuse me. I have no other alternative,'" DeVita said.

"When I got closer, I realized that two dead soldiers were on the ramp, holding it down. They never got off the boat. I tried lifting them up, but I couldn't. I weighed 125 pounds. Another guy came to help and, inch by inch, we pulled them into the boat," he said.

DeVita then tried to comfort one of the wounded. "He was crying 'help me, help me,' but I had nothing in my kit to help him." He started reciting the Lord's Prayer but never finished. "I knew he was gonna die," DeVita said. "I wanted him to know that he was not alone, and I reached down and touched his hand. And he died; he died."

His boat returned to the beach 14 more times to deliver troops and supplies after the initial landing in the first-wave assault. DeVita also noted that on trips to the attack transport USS Samuel Chase his boat had brought back a total of 308 bodies of U.S. troops who had been killed in action.

The role played by DeVita and the other Coast Guard personnel who crewed the Higgins boats was critical to the success of the D-Day landings in gaining a foothold in France to begin the liberation of Europe from the Nazis.

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, the supreme Allied commander, often paid tribute to the Coasties and the Higgins boats by referring to Andrew Jackson Higgins, the New Orleans industrialist and designer of the Higgins boats, as "the man who won the war for us."

The expertise of the Higgins crews was such that many of the Coasties, including DeVita, were transferred to the Pacific after the Nazi surrender and participated in the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Coast Guardsmen manned 99 warships and large landing vessels for Operation Neptune, the naval component of D-Day involving more than 6,900 ships and landing craft, including about 1,500 Higgins boats, according to a piece on the Coast Guard website titled "The U.S. Coast Guard at Normandy." A total of 18 Coast Guardsmen were killed and 38 were wounded in the course of the fighting on D-Day.

The flat-bottom Higgins boat itself was slightly more than 36 feet in length with a beam of just under 11 feet and was powered by a 225-horsepower Gray Marine 6-71 diesel engine at a maximum speed of 12 knots in calm seas. The sides and rear of the landing craft were made of plywood and offered little protection against enemy fire.

The vulnerability of the Higgins boats was not lost on Harold Schultze, who was the coxswain of a boat operating off the transport USS Bayfield on D-Day with the task of putting troops ashore on Utah Beach.

"The German fire was extremely heavy," Schultze told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in 2019. "As the driver, I would try to get to the beach and the bullets were hitting all around you, the ramp and everywhere. It was hard watching those young men drop off into the water. They had over 50-pound backpacks and were trying to hold their rifles over their heads all while being under heavy fire. Often, they couldn't get their footing, and many of them drowned before even getting to the beach. These were some of the bravest men I have ever seen."

The hardest part of his repeated trips to the beach on D-Day, Schultze said, was removing "the dog tags off of the dead soldiers floating in the water. That got to me. You eventually became numb to the sights and had to carry on, but you could never forget."

Related: What Ike Remembered When Returning to the Beaches of Normandy 20 Years After D-Day
The mystery of what happened to Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, a pregnant 19-year-old Army spouse who was reported missing by her 28-year-old soldier husband on Aug. 1, has finally been solved.

The Army arrested her husband, Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson, at Schofield Barracks within weeks of him filing the report and charged him with her murder in November. But despite tireless work by investigators, no one could find a body. In a courtroom at Wheeler Army Airfield on Tuesday, Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson confessed to killing her, as part of a plea agreement.

Mischa Johnson was born and raised on Oahu and grew up in Ewa Beach, and the case has been watched closely by the local community. The courtroom was packed as military police redirected dozens of friends, family and supporters to another building at Schofield Barracks where the court proceedings were streamed.

In the courtroom, a row of Mischa Johnsons family and friends sat in the back as Dewayne Johnson described in gruesome detail how he fatally struck her in the head with a machete on July 12, dismembered her body with a chain saw and disposed of her remains in a dumpster that was bound for an incinerator on base. As he recounted his crimes, occasionally gasps and sobs could be heard from the audience.

He also confessed to impersonating her on social media before reporting her missing and trying to convince Army investigators that she had run away and possibly killed herself, to throw them off his scent.

Under the agreement, he accepts a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, and a charge of intentionally killing an unborn child was also reduced to causing the death of an unborn child. But in a military court martial, a plea agreement must be reviewed by a panel or by a single judge.

Johnson requested a single judge forum, presided over by military judge Col. Rebecca Farrell, who questioned him and walked him through each step of the charges. She ultimately accepted the guilty plea Tuesday, and the court martial will continue today with a pre-sentencing preamble. The plea also will go to military appellate court, where it will be reviewed.

Dewayne Johnson has the option of withdrawing his guilty plea any time before a final sentence is announced.

Dewayne Johnson hails from Maryland and enlisted in 2022. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks as a cavalry scout in June 2023. He met and married Mischa Johnson on Oahu. At the time he reported her missing, she was six months pregnant with their baby girl.

In his testimony, Dewayne Johnson said that he came home from work on the night of July 12 to their home at the Schofield Barracks and that the two were getting ready for a gathering with her family. He testified that Netflix was on the TV and that as he was scrolling it, a preview of one of the movies featured a Japanese girl. He said that angered Mischa Johnson, who suspected Dewayne Johnson of cheating on her with someone that kind of looked like her.

He said that the two got into an escalating shouting match. Dewayne Johnson portrayed himself as trying to calm her down and said that she kept bringing up the past  and getting in my face,  though he also admitted that at no point did he feel threatened or in danger. He said that Mischa Johnson brought up a past miscarriage and told him he had caused it from stress he subjected her to.

The soldier testified that the two ended up in their bedroom, where he says he grabbed a machete. When questioned by Farrell as to why he grabbed the machete he said it was to get Mischa Johnson to chill out.

He asserted that he had never hit her in the past and that she thought I wasnt going to do nothing with it. Dewayne Johnson said that when his wife told him that she would see to it that he would never know my child  that he snapped  and struck her in the left temple with the machete. He testified that she fell to the ground and hit the floor dead.

I couldnt believe what I did,  he said.

He immediately went to work trying to hide what hed done.

Dewayne Johnson testified that at first he attempted to cut up his wifes body with the machete but it was too much of a hassle, it was too hard to do.

The next day, he bought a chain saw. He described in gruesome detail how he took it home to dismember the dead 19-year-old, sawing off her head, arms and legs and stuffing different pieces into trash bags, which he took to his units dumpster.

I knew that our dumpster went straight to the incinerator,  he testified. But he didnt do it all at once. Rather than take all the bags at once, he said he brought them in small batches between July 13 and 16 to avoid anyone noticing as he hid them among the units garbage as it made its way to be destroyed.

Back at their house, he stocked up on cleaning products to clean up the blood that the murder and bloody dismemberment had left on the houses floor, walls and bathroom. He said that the process of scrubbing the house lasted from July 12 to July 22.

Eventually there was going to be a search for her and police would be involved,  Dewayne Johnson testified. I did this to deceive the police.

He also admitted to deleting texts between the two of them so police didnt see how tumultuous their marriage had been, telling the court that the texts showed his wife was constantly having issues with me looking at other girls and stuff.

Dewayne Johnson also immediately began impersonating Mischa Johnson on her phone and social media. He testified that since he and Mischa Johnson were expected on a family gathering the night he killed her, as soon as she was dead I picked up her phone and texted her family.

He would continue texting family and friends on her phone, as well as use her social media accounts to keep them seemingly active for several days. He said that Id message her friends, keep the conversation going to make it seem like she was still alive.

Between July 13 and 16, he also began getting ready to stage her disappearance as something other than him having killed her. He testified that I got rid of things to make it look like she took stuff with her. He collected some of her favorite clothes items and pawned off some of her bags, and disposed of makeup and other items to get them out of the house.

More than two weeks after killing her, chopping her up and having her body incinerated, he re-uploaded old videos of his wife to his phone to make them appear as new files created in the days after he killed her. He also entered several wrong passwords into her phone to lock it up and make it harder for investigators to access. Then, on Aug. 1, he called 911 and reported Mischa Johnson missing.

The Army quickly put out a notice that she was missing and asked the community for help, offering a $10, 000 reward. Members of Dewayne Johnsons unit sent out search parties to look for werewhich he joined. He testified that he worked hard to portray himself as a distraught and deeply concerned husband desperate to help his fellow soldiers and investigators find his wife, but admitted to the court none of that was true.

Still, he said that he knew he was a prime suspect. Many of Mischa Johnsons relatives and friends were already suspicious of him and though Army investigators didnt tell him he was a suspect, he was certain they were watching him closely. When asked if he knew the password to his wifes phone he lied, repeatedly giving them guesses  he testified that he knew were wrong.

He also told investigators that Mischa had a history of cutting herself and that she had spoken to him about it, but in court Tuesday he admitted that was completely untrue.

I wanted to lead them on,  said Dewayne Johnson. (To ) make them think she hurt herself, killed herself, that I had nothing to do with it.

Before the end of August, Army investigators, drawn by holes and inconsistencies in his story, detained Dewayne Johnson and told Mischa Johnsons family they believed she was no longer alive, but still did not have a body to show for it. The family made an emotional plea in late August on the podcast Always Always Support Local  to help Army investigators find her remains so they could find closure.

For the charges Dewayne Johnson currently facesincluding manslaughter, killing an unborn child, making false statements and obstruction of justicehe faces up to 100 years in prison, forfeiture of his Army payments, a reduction in rank to private and dishonorable discharge. Under the plea agreement, he could face 18 to 23 years in prison.

 2025 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Visit www.staradvertiser.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter.

The windswept English Channel pounds itself onto the beaches of Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword, and Juno, and it tears and claws at Pointe du Hoc and other rocky vistas, just as it did more than 80 years ago. It will eventually return these places to the sea, but, for now, they stand firm and remind us of what had been.

So, too, do the gravesites of 9,389 resting at the Normandy American Cemetery, along with 1,557 names of the missing inscribed on the walls. This serene and beautifully maintained tribute to service and sacrifice belies the chaos that took place eight decades earlier.

As part of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing in 2024, my wife and I joined colleagues from the American Battle Monuments Commission and more than 10,000 visitors at Normandy. Also with us that day were nearly 200 World War II veterans.

This was their day, and while they moved more slowly than they did when they were part of the greatest fighting force ever assembled, they stood incredibly tall and proud in the minds of people who understood that their fragile gift of freedom to us must be treasured and protected.

More than 20 million Soviets died in World War II. Six million Jews were killed. The United Kingdom hung by a thread, and Hitler invaded or occupied 20 nations. Had these men and women not fought and died on foreign soil on June 6, 1944, and all the other days we were engaged in World War II, the hallowed ground at Normandy would likely rest under the blackness of a swastika.

They are often called the Greatest Generation. They didnt select that name; it was given to them as a sign of respect.

U.S. WWII veterans stand and salute during the playing of the National Anthem at the Utah Beach D-Day Ceremony at Utah Beach, Normandy, France, June 6, 2024. (Keith Thornburgh/U.S. Army)

My wife and I had served for over 60 years combined, beginning long after their service ended. During our tenure, we had met military giants, including Medal of Honor recipient Brig. Gen. George Bud Day, whom Sen. John McCain, a fellow Vietnam POW, called the bravest man I ever knew. We had sung God Bless America alongside the late Brig. Gen. Robbie Risner, a Vietnam POW who had served in three wars.

We had held the hand of an American airman who had lost the majority of the right side of his head in Iraq. We touched a thousand headstones of dead service members with stories known only to God and told a mother that we would never forget her son, a young man we never met, who was killed in 2003 in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Despite all the sacrifices of those who fought in wars after WWII, we walked with great humility in the footsteps of the veterans of the Normandy landing. Did we even belong here? At Omaha? Had we earned the privilege to stand where so many fell? The valor that was everywhere 80 years ago was here at the anniversary event, and it pressed on us.

There is no competition among generations. The veterans of one war will never ask the veterans of another war to bend a knee. Instead, they will offer a hand, a salute, and endless respect. That is what we did at the commemoration for this Greatest Generation.

The sea, once red with blood, was now azure. The bullets, smoke, and flames that brought the taste, smell, and screams of war to so many were long since gone. The skies were clear of clouds and a gull circled free in the breeze above.

A lone young man stood where the waves lapped the sand, dressed in a 1940s military uniform. He looked out toward the sea while holding an American flag with the staff pushed into the sand. He rendered a solemn, slow, and dignified salute. People remembered in their own way.

Sixty years earlier, my dad leaned in across the table. He peered intently at me through his glasses, gently stirring a rusty nail, his favorite drink. My mom sat upright by his side. She knew something important was headed my way.

We had been talking about World War II. I was six. He had served as a Navy radio operator but had not seen combat. Still, like everyone from their generation, my mom and dad had scars. They lost friends and relatives. The profound misery that became life for millions during that war remained fresh in their minds even 20 years later.

You know, he said, the Nazis almost won. He paused for a moment and said it again. The Nazis almost won. He sank back into his chair and my mom lit a cigarette, the smoke spiraling toward the ceiling of the restaurant. He pointed at me and then said, Someday you will know why they didnt.

A group of American assault troops who, although wounded, stormed the beachhead and gained the comparative safety of the chalk cliffs at their backs. (Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration)

At Normandy, immersed in the immensity of the history that surrounded me, I recalled that conversation.

My mom and dad passed away 20 years ago, but as a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission, I was permitted to bring two guests to this 80th anniversary of the landing at Normandy. I invited my mom and dad. I figured no one would notice.

The day before, a French woman who lived nearby drove my wife and me. During our trip, she talked freely about the war. Her family had a farm in Calais on the western coast of France. The Germans occupied the farm and forced them to provide lodging and food while the long-range artillery they erected fired on Dover and other targets along the English coast. Twenty-seven members of her family died as the Allies relentlessly bombed the German guns.

Two of her uncles were active with the French resistance. They were ultimately captured after years fighting in the shadows. One died in a German prison camp and the other was executed. The sacrifice that surrounded Normandy knew no borders.

In a large tent erected near the beach, a few hundred of us stood and talked quietly. Against the wall were four or five women, dressed as they would have been in the 1940s, with bright red lipstick and heels.

The veterans arrived slowly at first. As they came, many along the edge of the pathway rendered salutes and were privileged to have them returned.

Most of the World War II veterans were wheeled in. Word spread quickly that one had passed away while traveling here. Depending on whom you spoke with, their ages ranged from 95 to 105. They were the guests of honor, and no one else mattered. Not Spielberg, Hanks, nor Meacham, or the hundred or so senators and congressional representatives who attended.

Music from the 1940s, including Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters, began blasting. The women in World War II fashion hopped to their feet and began singing while surrounding the D-Day veterans. They paused and two of them kissed a man with a B-17 Flying Fortress embossed on his ball cap on each cheek. His priceless grin went from ear to ear.

The author and his wife, retired Maj. Gen. Maggie Woodward, met WWII veterans at the D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration. (Photo courtesy of Dan Woodward)

One man was alone for a moment, so my wife and I took the opportunity to welcome him. A Purple Heart and Bronze Star hung from the side of his hat, which featured his unit patch and several other decorations.

The lines etched on his face seemed to reflect the collective emotions of his lifes experiences. There were downward sloping lines of despair, furled lines of contemplation, and gently upward sloping lines that blended to a grin and that gradually evaporated into his cheekbones, forming expressions of fondness, joy, and laughter. To us, it seemed the lines of joy were deeper than the others.

His handshake was still strong, his eyes still vibrant, and his stories of the war and his life were treasured. In this room, there were hundreds of other stories of courage, honor, valor, fear, and all the other things that come from combat unleashed.

Nearby, a photographer captured an image of a soldier in a black ball cap reaching out to a corporal in a wheelchair. A connection between two battle buddies that had been long delayed. The joy in their eyes brought tears to those who saw it, myself included.

As I watched all this unfold, I realized that these men and women, and those who rest in the field nearby or who are memorialized as missing, are the foundation upon which a new Americaand a new worldwere built.

Following the reception, in a dimly lit hallway, my wife and I come upon an elderly couple. They walked slowly, with canes, hunched over from age.

As I passed them, gently brushing a shoulder, I imagined I heard the old man say, The Nazis almost won. Puzzled, I turned around quickly, but both he and his wife had turned a corner and were but shadows on the wall. I reflected for a moment and then whispered, And now I know why they didnt.

Thank you, Greatest Generation.

This War Horse reflection was edited by Kim Vo, fact-checked by Jess Rohan, and copy-edited by Mitchell Hansen-Dewar. Hrisanthi Pickett wrote the headlines.

Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador  Three former Salvadoran military officers were convicted by a five-person jury late Tuesday for the 1982 killings of four Dutch journalists during the Central American nations civil war. They received 15-year prison sentences.

A jury made up of five women convicted the three men of murder in a lightning trial that began Tuesday morning in the northern city of Chalatenango, said Oscar Perez, lawyer for the Foundation Comunicandonos that represented the victims' families. Perez said prosecutors had requested minimum 15-year prison sentences for all three.

Convicted were former Defense Minister Gen. Jose Guillermo Garcia, 91, former treasury police director Col. Francisco Moran, 93, and Col. Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, 85, who was the former army commander of the Fourth Infantry Brigade in Chalatenango.

Garcia and Moran are under police guard at a private hospital in San Salvador, while Reyes Mena lives in the United States. In March, El Salvadors Supreme Court ordered that the extradition process be started to bring him back.

Perez said that in addition to the convictions of the former high-ranking officers, the judge condemned the government for the delayed justice and ordered the commander in chief of the armed forces, President Nayib Bukele, to issue a public apology to the victims.

The Dutch TV journalists  Jan Kuiper, Koos Koster, Hans ter Laag and Joop Willemson  had linked up with leftist rebels and planned to spend several days behind rebel lines reporting. But Salvadoran soldiers armed with assault rifles and machine guns ambushed them and the guerrillas.

Garcia was deported from the U.S. in 2016, after a U.S. judge declared him responsible for serious human rights violations during the early years of the war between the military and the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front guerrillas.

The prosecution of the men was reopened in 2018 after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a general amnesty passed following the 1980-1992 war.

It moved slowly, but in March 2022, relatives of the victims and representatives of the Dutch government and European Union demanded that those responsible for killing Jan Kuiper, Koos Koster, Hans ter Laag and Joop Willemson be tried.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp welcomed the convictions.

This is an important moment in the fight against impunity and in the pursuit of justice for the four Dutch journalists and their next of kin, Veldkamp said in a message on X.

Grateful to the authorities of El Salvador and to all those who have worked tirelessly on this case, he added.

The United Nations Truth Commission for El Salvador, which was set up as part of a U.N.-brokered peace agreement in 1992, concluded there was clear evidence that the killings were the result of an ambush set up by Reyes Mena with the knowledge of other officials, based on an intelligence report that alerted of the journalists presence.

Other members of the military, including Gen. Rafael Flores Lima and Sgt. Mario Canizales Espinoza were also accused of involvement, but died. Canizales allegedly led the patrol that carried out the massacre of the journalists.

Juan Carlos Sanchez, of the nongovernmental organization Mesa Contra la Impunidad, in comments to journalists, called the trial a transcendental step that the victims have waited 40 years for.

An estimated 75,000 civilians were killed during El Salvadors civil war, mostly by U.S.-backed government security forces.

The trial was closed to the public.
WASHINGTON  U.S. President Donald Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him very strongly in a phone call Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraines weekend drone attack on Russian airfields as the deadlock over the war drags on and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses Russia's ceasefire proposal.

The U.S. president said in a social media post that his lengthy call with Putin "was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.

It's the first time Trump has weighed in on Ukraine's daring attack inside Russia. The U.S. did not have advance notice of the operation, according to the White House. The U.S. has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.

Trump, in his social media post, did not say how he reacted to Putin's promise to respond to Ukraine's attack, but his post showed none of the frustration that Trump has expressed with his Russian counterpart in recent weeks over his prolonging of the war.

Trump repeatedly promised to end the war quickly, and even said he would accomplish it before he was sworn in. But he lost patience with Putin in recent weeks, publicly pleading with him to stop fighting and even said late last month that the Russian leader has gone absolutely CRAZY."

Trump, however, has not committed to backing a bipartisan push to sanction Putin.

During the call, Trumps first known talk with Putin since May 19, they also discussed Irans nuclear program, according to Trump.

It was not clear if Trump also planned to speak with Zelenskyy. The White House did not respond to a message Wednesday afternoon.

Zelenskyy brushes off Russian plan and pushes for talks

The Ukrainian leader earlier Wednesday dismissed Russia's ceasefire plan as an ultimatum and renewed his call for direct talks with Putin to break the stalemate over the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3 years.

Putin, however, showed no willingness to meet with Zelenskyy, expressing anger Wednesday about what he said were Ukraine's recent terrorist acts on Russian rail lines in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on the countries' border.

How can any such (summit) meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about? Putin asked in a video call with top Russian officials.

He accused Ukraine of seeking a truce only to replenish its stockpiles of Western arms, recruit more soldiers and prepare new attacks like those in Kursk and Bryansk.

Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Monday's direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks. Zelenskyy had previously challenged Putin to meet him in Turkey, but Putin stayed away.

Russia and Ukraine have established red lines that make a quick deal unlikely, despite a U.S.-led international diplomatic push to stop the fighting. The Kremlin's Istanbul proposal contained a list of demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters.

This document looks like spam

Zelenskyy said that the second round of talks in Istanbul was no different from the first meeting on May 16. Zelenskyy described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as a political performance and artificial diplomacy designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue.

The same ultimatums they voiced back then  now they just put them on paper ... Honestly, this document looks like spam. Its spam meant to flood us and create the impression that theyre doing something, Zelenskyy said in his first reaction to the Russian document.

He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry the same content and spirit as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war.

The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin, headed the Russian team.

Zelenskyy said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Putin, possibly also including Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement.

Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Zelenskyy said at a media briefing in Kyiv.

U.S. defense secretary stays away

A second round of peace talks on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war. They agreed only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops.

Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Zelenskyy said.

The U.S. has shown signs of distancing itself from the conflict.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth skipped a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday of an international group coordinating military aid to Ukraine. It was the first time Americas Pentagon chief didnt attend alongside 50 other defense leaders since the U.S. created the group three years ago.

An analysis published Tuesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said the Kremlin is hoping for U.S. disengagement while avoiding further sanctions.

In tandem with the talks, both sides have kept up offensive military actions along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and carried out deep strikes.

Ukraines Security Service gave more details Wednesday about its spectacular weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers.

The agency released more footage showing drones swooping under and over parked aircraft and featuring some planes burning. It also claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft, adding that the drones had highly automated capabilities and were partly piloted by an operator and partly by using artificial intelligence which flew the drone along a planned route in the event it lost signal.

The drones were not fully autonomous and a human is still choosing what target to hit, said Caitlin Lee, a drone warfare expert at RAND, a think thank.

Ukraines security agency said it also set off an explosion on Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure.

But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that there was no damage.

Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraines northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia. Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russias Ministry of Defense claims its forces have taken control of nine Sumy villages.

___

Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Chris Megerian in Washington, Emma Burrows in London and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England contributed reporting.
Democratic congressional leaders, including Rep. Bobby Scott (D- Newport News), on Tuesday morning heard accounts from local leaders and experts on the effects to veterans from Trump administrations policies.

The testimony at the event at Norfolk State University centered on the staffing levels at the recently opened North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic, cuts to Veterans Affairs, and uncertainty in veterans health care and benefits.

The VA has plans to lay off as many as 80,000 staff by the end of the year. The federal government instituted a hiring freeze earlier this year and has also laid off thousands of probationary employees.

Dr. Sheila Elliott, a pharmacist who has worked at the Hampton VA Medical Center for 35 years and serves as the president of Local 2328 AFGE union that represents direct patient care staff, told the group that workers who are essential to veterans health care have lived in fear for their jobs since the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began making cuts to the federal government.

She said the list of VA employees that are exempt from layoffs, such as recreation therapists shows the unnuanced approach to how the VA functions.

Recreational therapists work with veterans to improve physical fitness, reduce stress, anxiety, ultimately leading to a higher quality of life, Elliott said. I have seen first hand the impact of indiscriminate cuts on veterans access to services.

Susan Hippen, a retired Navy Master Chief who represents the Veterans of Military Families Caucus, said in her recent visit to the North Battlefield Clinic, which opened in April at less than 30% of its full staffing level, that it is a ghost town and is failing to meet the needs of veterans on the Southside.

Among the services not being provided at the new clinic are dentistry and radiology, on top of mental health appointments already taking months to schedule, according to Hippen.

Expressing my concern about the careless dismissal of the people who provide our care, process our claims, or assist with benefits should not be referred to as political fearmongering  it is a fact, she said.

Scott closed the event by quoting President George Washington who reportedly said, The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive our veterans in early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.

We owe it to our veterans to provide the health care they need, Scott said. Not only is it the right thing to do, its a national imperative.

VA Secretary Doug Collins has insisted that the job cuts will not be a detriment.

The departments history shows that adding more employees to the system doesnt automatically equal better results, Collins told Congress last month.

Collins has said that the personnel changes would not hurt VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries, and that mission-critical positions were exempt from the reductions. The cuts, he said, would increase productivity and eliminate waste.

2025 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
**Unlock Your Cameras Superpowers: A Fun Guide to Updating Your Sony A7 III Firmware**







(How To Update Sony A7iii Firmware)

Your Sony A7 III is already a beast. But what if I told you its hiding secret upgrades? Like a superhero waiting for a power boost, your cameras firmware can unlock smoother performance, better features, and fewer bugs. Lets dive into how to give your camera this digital makeover.

First, figure out if your camera even needs an update. Turn it on, open the menu, and scroll to Setup. Tap the Version option. Write down the numbers you see. Now, grab your computer or phone. Visit Sonys official support site. Search for Sony A7 III firmware. Check the latest version number. If its higher than what your camera shows, its go time.

Next, download the update. Click the firmware file on Sonys site. Save it to your computer. Unzip the folder if needed. Inside, youll find a .DAT file. This is the magic key. Grab a memory card. Use one thats empty or backup your photos first. Format the card in your camera to avoid hiccups. Now, copy the .DAT file to the cards root folder. Not inside any subfoldersjust plop it straight into the main storage.

Time to prep your camera. Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged. Better yet, use a full battery. You dont want it dying mid-update. Thats like unplugging a brain transplant halfway. Insert the memory card with the firmware file. Close the card slot. Turn off the camera.

Now, the fun part. Hold down the Menu button while turning the camera on. Keep holding Menu until a black screen pops up. Youll see a message asking if you want to install the update. Hit OK. Dont touch any buttons now. Let the camera do its thing. The screen might flicker or show progress bars. Pretend its a mini sci-fi movie.

Wait. Seriously, just wait. Updates take a few minutes. Go grab coffee. Stare at the wall. Do a little dance. When the screen says Update complete, breathe again. Turn off the camera. Remove the memory card. Turn it back on. Go to Version in the menu again. Confirm the numbers match Sonys latest firmware. Congrats! Your camera just leveled up.

A few pro tips: Never skip formatting the memory card. Dirty cards cause errors. Always use the original battery or a trusted third-party one. Random brands might crash the party. Dont panic if the update feels slow. Cameras arent speed demons with this stuff.

Whats new after the update? Maybe faster autofocus. Better compatibility with new lenses. Smoother video modes. Sony sneaks in fixes you didnt even know you needed. Its like getting free upgrades without buying a new camera.

Still nervous? Watch a YouTube tutorial first. Join a Sony photography forum. Ask questions. Everyone updates their gearits normal. Just follow the steps, and your camera will thank you with sharper shots and happier performance.







(How To Update Sony A7iii Firmware)

No capes needed here. Your Sony A7 III is now ready to flex its updated muscles. Go shoot something awesome.

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**From Gusts to Gridlines: Michigans Wind Power Revolution Sparks a Brighter Future**







(How MichiganS Grid Has Adapted To Wind Power)

Standing tall like silent giants, rows of wind turbines now dot Michigans landscapes. Their blades slice through the air, turning breezes into electricity. This isnt science fictionits how the Great Lakes State has quietly reshaped its energy grid. Over the past two decades, Michigan has become a leader in wind power. The story isnt just about clean energy. Its about adaptation, innovation, and a midwestern grit that turned challenges into opportunities.

Michigans wind journey started in the early 2000s. Back then, coal and natural gas dominated the grid. But rising costs and environmental concerns pushed the state to look elsewhere. Wind seemed like a long shot. Critics argued the Great Lakes region lacked steady gusts. Skeptics doubted turbines could survive harsh winters. Supporters saw potential. They pointed to the flat, open farmlands and the strong lake-effect winds. The debate ended when small pilot projects began popping up.

The first major wind farms clustered near the Lake Michigan shoreline. Towns like Ludington and Mackinaw City became testing grounds. Locals watched as crews installed turbines taller than skyscrapers. Farmers leased land for turbine bases, earning extra income. Early results surprised everyone. The turbines generated more power than expected. Even in lighter winds, advances in blade design kept energy flowing. By 2010, Michigan had over 100 turbines. Today, that number tops 1,000.

But integrating wind into the grid wasnt simple. Wind is unpredictable. One day its calm. The next, a storm sends gusts surging. Grid operators faced a puzzle: how to balance this variable power with steady demand. The solution came from smart technology. Michigan invested in battery storage systems. These act like giant power banks, soaking up excess energy when winds rage and releasing it when they fade. Sensors on turbines now communicate with grid centers in real time. If a turbine slows, others ramp up to fill the gap.

Another hurdle was public pushback. Some residents hated the look of turbines. Others worried about noise. Developers listened. They spaced turbines farther from homes. Newer models grew quieter, with softer hums. Communities hosting turbines got perksdiscounted power bills, new schools, better roads. Over time, resistance faded. Now, towns compete to attract wind projects.

The Thumb region, once reliant on auto factories, has become a wind powerhouse. Factories retooled to make turbine parts. Workers trained as wind technicians. Schools added renewable energy courses. For many, wind has revived local economies. Its like the cars never left, said one engineer in Bad Axe. Just cleaner.

Michigans grid still faces tests. Winter storms can ice turbine blades. Summer lulls sometimes force backup gas plants online. But each problem sparks new fixes. Heated blades melt ice before it builds. Solar farms now complement wind, picking up the slack on calm, sunny days.

The states goal is to hit 60% renewable energy by 2030. Wind remains the backbone of that plan. New offshore projects are planned in the Great Lakes. These turbines, anchored in deep water, could double Michigans wind output. Critics warn about costs. Supporters counter that long-term savingsand a healthier planetare worth it.







(How MichiganS Grid Has Adapted To Wind Power)

Michigans story proves a point. Transitioning to renewables isnt about flipping a switch. Its a grind. It takes patience, tech, and a willingness to tweak as you go. The state didnt abandon fossil fuels overnight. Instead, it wove wind into the existing grid, thread by thread. Today, those threads form a safety netone that keeps the lights on while steering toward a greener tomorrow.

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if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected])
The Marlins plan to welcome Eury Perez back from the injured list for next weeks series against the Pirates, writes Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The 68 righty will be making his first MLB appearance since his 2023 rookie season. Perez underwent Tommy John surgery last April and is now 14 months removed from the procedure. Miami has a full 40-man roster and will need to make a corresponding move once hes officially reinstated.

Perez was the sports top pitching prospect when the Marlins called him up in May 23. He arrived in the majors at age 20 armed with an upper-90s fastball that led a strong four-pitch mix. His advanced command was equally impressive, as most young pitchers who are anywhere close to his height struggle to repeat their mechanics. Most evaluators projected him as a future top-of-the-rotation starter.

His first look at MLB hitters reinforced that optimism. Perez managed a 3.15 earned run average over 19 starts. He punched out nearly 29% of opponents against a serviceable 8.3% walk rate while sitting in the 97-98 MPH range with his fastball. He finished seventh in NL Rookie of the Year balloting and would likely have placed higher had the Marlins not optioned him for a month midseason as a check on his innings. The elbow injury arose during the following Spring Training and cost him all of last year.

Perez returned to game action in late April, beginning a rehab assignment at Low-A Jupiter. He made five abbreviated appearances there before jumping to Triple-A Jacksonville two weeks ago. He made three more starts, building to 82 pitches across 4 1/3 innings tonight. He finished his Triple-A run with a 2.13 ERA and 15 strikeouts across 12 1/3 frames. His fastball averaged 97.8 MPH.

Its not all positives for the Miami rotation, however. Max Meyer landed on the 15-day IL with a left hip impingement before tonights loss to the Rockies. Manager Clayton McCullough told reporters (including Craig Mish of SportsGrid) that the issue has bothered Meyer for a few starts. The former third overall pick has struggled of late, allowing at least four runs in six of his past seven appearances. He had carried a 3.18 ERA with an excellent 33.1% strikeout rate into May but has surrendered more than six earned runs per nine since then. Meyers strikeout rate has fallen below 15% in that stretch, during which opponents are hitting .321.

Sandy Alcantara took the ball tonight, while Cal Quantrill will oppose his former team in the series finale against Colorado. Miami is off Thursday. Edward Cabrera, Ryan Weathers and Alcantara are lined up for their weekend set in Tampa Bay. Perez could return on Monday or follow Quantrill and take the ball on Tuesday if the Marlins want to give him an extra day of rest after tonights rehab appearance.
NEWYAGO COUNTY, MI  After The Great Flood of 1986 broke the White Cloud Dam, the city fought the state to save it. But Lake White Cloud, a 42-acre pond where generations gathered to swim, fish and play, sat empty until 1990.

Nearly 40 years later, White Cloud is facing a repeat of sorts.

In April, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) ordered White Cloud to lower the impoundment to alleviate failure risk at its 152-year-old White River dam, a beloved structure thats in poor condition.

That hasnt gone over well in White Cloud, which fought the state and conservation groups years ago to rebuild its dam. This time, the city has accused state dam safety officials of weaponizing an analysis that warned of the dams poor structural condition and inability to handle a big flood.

The city was under a May 20 deadline to apply for a drawdown permit. Instead, city leaders called a May 19 public meeting where council members voted to find a different, less expensive engineering firm and appeal the states drawdown order.

The dam is rated as high hazard, meaning a failure could kill someone. But city leaders have stalled any plans for a drawdown until after a June 7 kids fishing tournament in the pond, which is stocked for the annual event each summer.

The state expects a drawdown to begin June 9 but hasnt yet received a permit application. The water would likely stay down until the city rehabilitated or removed the dam.

White Cloud has no money for either option. But, come hell or high water, the city is determined to keep the dam.

The mill pond is central to our communitys identity and recreational life, said April Storms, White Cloud city manager. It is a vital public space, particularly for children and families with limited access to other recreational opportunities.

A history of conflict over problematic dam

White Cloud has been told repeatedly over the years that its dam is both harmful to a public resource and poses a public safety risk. But those concerns are brushed aside. To many, the order is just the latest attempt to take away a prized asset.

Thats the hub of our community, said Pamela Miller, a local historian who earned her Red Cross lifesaving badge at the pond in the 1960s. She worries about kids who frequent the lakeside parks getting stuck in mudflats if the pond is drained.

Kaiden Brown, 18, of White Cloud, Mich., swims in Lake White Cloud on May 28, 2025. Garret Ellison

Thats the only place they have to go, Miller said. If you take out the dam, what are you going to do with those kids?

White Cloud, a small-town of about 1,400 people, is the seat of Newaygo County. Originally named Morgan, the city began in 1873 as a logging village on the White River, which lumbermen dammed in multiple places to power their mills.

Only the dams in White Cloud and Hesperia remain. In White Cloud, the dam warms the river and creates what conservation groups and state biologists have long considered a marginal fishery that requires stocking to be viable.

The dam handles flooding poorly. Stoplogs failed twice recently, dropping the lake in 2021 and 2024. High water overtopped the dam in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Its been breached three times; first in 1910 and again in 1975. It was deliberately breached on September 11, 1986 to protect the spillway and municipal water pumps. It cost about $500,000 to rebuild using a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

After the 1986 failure, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wouldnt issue a rebuilding permit, so White Cloud turned to its legislators. Republican Sen. Phil Arthurhultz pushed through permitting exemptions for two dams in his district, in White Cloud and Luther. The bills were eventually struck down in 1996 as unconstitutional following a lawsuit by Trout Unlimited, but the city had rebuilt the dam in the meantime.

A White Cloud Community Library file photo shows White River rushing through the White Cloud Dam, which was deliberately breached on Sept. 11, 1986 during a statewide flood. White Cloud Community Library

During rebuilding debate in the 1980s, the DNR offered a concession  it would divert some water from the river to create a small swimming lake. But the city wanted its dam.

Biologists say it does no favors for the river.

According to the DNR, the White River above the Hesperia Dam (which functions as a sea lamprey barrier) would be a self-sustaining blue-ribbon stream for brown and brook trout were it not for the White Cloud dam, which warms the river and blocks upstream migration. The DNR plants thousands of brown trout annually below the dam to supply anglers.

From a biological perspective and from a fisheries perspective, its a no brainer, said Mark Tonello, a DNR fisheries biologist based in Cadillac. That dam really has a lot of negative impacts on the White River.

Upstream of the dam, the river is fed by cold creeks and is good habitat for browns and brook trout. In Lake White Cloud itself, however, the fishing sucks, said Tonello.

The impoundment is filling up with sediment, robbing game fish of deep water. The DNR surveyed the lake in 2019 and found mostly carp, suckers, minnows, some big pike and panfish which were thought to be from city stocking.

Were the White Cloud and Hesperia dams to be removed, the White River would be a phenomenal wild salmon, steelhead and brown trout river, Tonello said.

City claims its being targeted by state agenda

On the safety end, the history of conflict with the state and Trout Unlimited is fueling institutional mistrust. Residents are suspicious of EGLE and question its motives, and city leaders are attempting to attract legislative oversight.

The state ordered White Cloud to lower the lake after an engineering study funded by a state grant program created following the Edenville disaster came back in February. Engineers at GEI Consultants performed a full geotechnical analysis and concluded that, even with all stoplogs removed, the dam lacks spillway capacity to handle a 200-year flood, (a flood with about a 1-in-200 chance of occurring in any given year).

Beyond that, water comes within six inches of overtopping in a 100-year flood. Engineers found that the dam risks failure during floods due to structural instability caused by concrete and steel deterioration, erosion and embankment seepage.

An immediate drawdown of 6-7 feet was recommended.

These deficiencies have largely existed for a long time. Its just that there was no thorough evaluation that brought them to the forefront and thats whats happened, said Luke Trumble, dam safety unit supervisor at EGLE. Yeah, it did light a fire.

A bathymetric survey in a engineering study by GEI Consultants shows the depth of Lake White Cloud. GEI

The states concerns include White Clouds financial ability to maintain the dam. The city budgets about $25,000 annually for dam upkeep and operations, although it says $230,000 is being spent this year on specific repairs. But engineers estimated that rehabilitating the dam to alleviate safety issues could cost $8.5 million to $10.7 million. Maintenance over the next 50 years could range between $33.8 million and $57.8 million.

Removing the dam could cost between $9.3 million and $12.7 million  but that eliminates ongoing upkeep costs, and the city could potentially find grant money to help.

Nonetheless, theres no cheap option, Trumble said.

White Cloud doesnt have a lot of financial capability to absorb anything like that, Trumble said. Theyre struggling to even do the bare minimum.

Marcie Hansen, a local resident whose father fought to save the dam in the 1980s as a county commissioner, said its hard for community members to wrap their head around the urgency because the city has been fixing the dam recently.

Is this to benefit Trout Unlimited? Hansen asked.

Theres money to take it out and restore the river to its natural place, but no money to help us save the dam? Is that because of special interest? she asked. If were only benefiting one group of people compared to the community, I dont think thats fair.

Elected officials say the states order has piqued the interest of Republican-led state House oversight committees. One of those is investigating the weaponization of state government.

White Cloud seemed to be set up in this process, said state Republican Rep. Joe Fox, who questioned the timing of the order, saying that suddenly after 18 months  Im underlining suddenly  the dam was considered a huge hazard.

I have more questions than answers, Fox said. Is this a situation where bureaucrats are stepping in with a desire for money and control? Weve got various oversight committees at work in the House right now and so were asking that question  do we need to take a look at this situation?

Former White Cloud mayor Russell Gilbert stands in front of the rebuilt dam in September of 1990. Grand Rapids Press

Storms, who became city manager in 2022, told council members in May that EGLE was overstating the risks associated with the dam to further an agenda. Storms, who would not take interview questions by phone, said via email that White Cloud believes its being targeted with sudden mandates as part of a broader agenda to remove dams statewide.

In memos to city officials and residents, Storms accused EGLE of weaponizing its grant and imposing steep permitting fees on a poor community. In a May 7 letter to residents, she cast the drawdown order as built upon a narrative of imminent risk that is not supported by the historical record, including the 1986 dam failure, which, while significant, did not result in loss of life even under poorer conditions and less oversight than today.

I am calling on you  residents  to stand with us, Storms wrote. We cannot allow our community to be sidelined or railroaded by unfunded state mandates.

Trumble called the citys statements very inflammatory. He acknowledged that dam safety engineering can be esoteric but said state law requires risk reduction steps be taken.

Its clear in the statute that the dam has to be able to safely pass a 200-year event and its clear from the analysis that it cant, said Trumble. The department has to take action.

Luke Trumble of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in Grand Rapids on Monday, April 8, 2019. Neil Blake | MLive.com

Attempts by MLive to reach city council members were not successful. One hung up on a reporter and another forwarded a voicemail to Storms. None called back.

Abby Watkins, Newaygo County emergency manager, declined to speak by phone about a highly political situation between the city and state. In an email, she said a dam breach would likely damage a historic railroad trestle and the M-37 bridge downstream, where there are fiber and electrical lines, and water pumps. It would flood more than a dozen homes.

The 1986 failure washed out M-37 and flooded downstream homes but did not destroy the railroad bridge, which was buttressed with rail cars for stability.

During a non-flooding failure, due to the high recreational usage downstream from the dam, danger to individuals does exist with the potential for loss of life, Watkins wrote.

White Cloud not swayed by dam removal benefits

David Coller, a retired metro Detroit police officer, lives in a riverfront home downstream and would like to see the dam removed. He knows hes in the minority.

Theyre thinking with their hearts and not with their heads.

Coller thinks a naturalized river would benefit the area economically, pointing to a 2019 dam removal analysis from Trout Unlimited that suggested property values and lot sizes along the lake would increase if the river was naturalized through the impoundment and became a draw. He believes White Cloud is missing out on growth opportunities and investment because leaders in town are resistant to change.

David Coller stands along the White River at his home downstream of the White Cloud Dam in White Cloud, Mich., May 28, 2025. Garret Ellison

Nobody wants any development here, he said. Its on one of the most pristine trout streams in the state but they dont want to advertise that or bring people into town for it.

According to Trout Unlimited, White Cloud is well-positioned to win nonprofit and government grants for dam removal due to the structures hazard rating and the benefits to fish passage and river health. Swimming and fishing events could be moved. Parkland at the pond edge could be expanded.

That analysis, which Trout Unlimited began under different city leadership, isnt moving the needle with those in charge today. Storms said the community doesnt believe that riverfront property would be more valuable and said the lakes social value outweighs the DNRs ecological rationale.

White Cloud is focused on finding a way to keep its dam and Storms said the city shouldnt be forced to pay for removing the structure against its wishes.

At this time, the city has not developed a plan for a future without the dam, Storms wrote. The primary focus has been on advocating for a reasonable timeline to assess long-term options that would include continued dam operation.

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Related stories:

Years after Edenville, Michigan dams still a ticking time bomb
Children swim and play at Ocqueoc Falls near Alpena. The largest waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, it cuts through limestone bedrock to create a perfect swimming hole. David Kenyon | Michigan Department of Natural Resources

ONAWAY, MI  This hidden gem offers beautiful views, a picturesque swimming hole, picnic areas and more for a perfect day by the water.

Ocqueoc Falls is the largest waterfall in Michigans Lower Peninsula and the only one thats publicly owned. In 2012, it became the nations first universally accessible waterfall.

Situated between Onaway and Rogers City in Presque Isle County, the waterfall is a 50-minute drive from Alpena. Its a day trip recommended by Visit Alpena, the local tourism bureau.

Ocqueoc Falls. Photo by Michigan DNR, used with permission

With its four small rapids, a pool for splashing and universal accessibility, Ocqueoc Falls is an ideal destination for everyone, according to Visit Alpena.

At the falls, the Ocqueoc River cuts through limestone bedrock, creating a popular swimming hole.

Find it at at the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway, which is managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources P.H. Hoeft State Park. The pathway includes six miles of hiking trails with four loops.

Visitors swim at Ocqueoc Falls, located between Onaway and Rogers City. The Ocqueoc River site is the largest waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

Accessibility includes a paved trail from the parking lot to the waterfall, two accessible picnic areas and several accessible benches. There is a ramp and a rock climb that provide access to the riverfront with transfer platforms at the top and bottom of the bluff. A ramp leads to a transfer station into the falls.

Theres a rustic campground across the street for those who need more than a day trip to take in this natural wonder.

Ocqueoc is pronounced Ah-key-ock.

Find it at GPS coordinates latitude 45.394186469099999, longitude -84.055888973400002.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The small but mighty team at Buell Motorcycle is preparing to challenge industry giants with the release of its new Michigan-made motorcycle.

The company plans to launch its Super Cruiser this fall, a $26,000 bike that blends classic American cruiser design with European superbike power.

MLive / Grand Rapids Press photojournalist Isaac Ritchey had the opportunity of touring the facility where the motorcycles are made. Get a closer look at the new bike or see inside the facility below. Click here for a direct link to the gallery.

23 1 / 23 Buell Motorcycle expanding in West Michigan

With 6,000 pre-orders already in hand, CEO Bill Melvin aims to challenge industry heavyweights like Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle.

When I see it, it makes you feel like you want to go ride, Melvin said during a tour of Buells headquarters at 2700 Patterson Ave. SE, where each bike, from its engine to its gas tank, is hand assembled.

The company is expanding rapidly as it prepares for production. Within three years, Buell plans to hire 168 employees, more than tripling its current workforce of 50. Its also investing $18.5 million to purchase its currently leased headquarters and enhance manufacturing capacity.

RELATED: Iconic motorcycle brand axed by Harley-Davidson roars back to life in Michigan

The buzz around the Super Cruiser has generated significant attention, including an interview on Bloomberg Television in May.

The Grand Rapids-based company is focused on building relationships with U.S. and Michigan suppliers. About 60% of the Super Cruisers parts are made in America, Melvin said.

Weve really been welcomed with open arms to grow this here in Grand Rapids, Melvin said, and thats a strong passion of ours  to have it be a Grand Rapids and Michigan story.

RELATED: Motorcycle company to add 162 jobs, make $18.5M expansion near Grand Rapids

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is hosting a nostalgic reunion with his former University of Zambia Law School classmates at State House in Harare, rekindling memories of student life in the 1970s and celebrating decades of personal and professional journeys.The private gathering, which began earlier today, brings together surviving members of the University of Zambia's Law Class of 1975  a cohort that once numbered 53 students. Most of Mnangagwa's classmates have since passed on, adding emotional depth to the occasion.President Mnangagwa pursued his legal studies in Zambia following his release from prison in then-Rhodesia, where he was incarcerated for his involvement in the country's liberation struggle. His time at the University of Zambia laid the academic foundation for his post-independence political and legal career.Senior government officials, Cabinet Ministers, ZANU PF Politburo members, and Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Zambia, Charity Charamba, were in attendance at the event, which blends camaraderie with ceremony.According to officials, the reunion provides the President an opportunity to reconnect with a few remaining peers from his youth and reflect on the critical years that shaped his legal and political identity.Sources at the gathering described the atmosphere as warm and reflective, with attendees sharing anecdotes about their university days and the profound transformations that have occurred in both Zimbabwe and Zambia since the 1970s.The President's gesture is seen as both personal and symbolic  a tribute to long-standing friendships and a nod to the regional solidarity that supported Zimbabwe's liberation movement.
Police said a 44-year-old Kingsley woman was first spotted on a Grand Traverse County resident's Ring doorbell camera before a trooper's four-legged partner stepped in for a particularly lengthy trek. Photo used with permission.

BLAIR TOWNSHIP, MI  A dog with the Michigan State Police helped track a break-in suspect across five miles in Northern Michigan early Tuesday.

According to the MSP Seventh District, troopers from the Traverse City post were called to respond to a home invasion complaint in Blair Township at roughly 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, in central Grand Traverse County.
A State Budget Office memo released by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday, June 4 outlines how proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could impact Michigan. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

A spending bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last month that proposes cuts to federal food aid could end up costing Michigan nearly $900 million, according to a memo released by the State Budget Office this week.

The Republican-led Big, Beautiful Bill Act would reduce federal spending by $290 billion to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, by shifting costs to states and rolling out new work requirements.
Michigan must cooperate with immigration enforcement and comply with federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, or it risk losing its federal road funding. This has been the message from the Trump administration this spring. (MLive File Photo) Neil Blake | MLive.com

Michigan must cooperate with immigration enforcement and comply with federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, or it risk losing its federal road funding.

This has been the message from the Trump administration this spring -- an effort being fought by more than a dozen attorneys general including Michigans Dana Nessel.

The Trump Administration is illegally tying immigration enforcement demands to vital federal funding grants that have absolutely nothing to do with immigration, Nessel said in a prepared statement.

Michigan depends on federal funding for about $2.3 billion of its transportation budget annually. Its about one-third of the budget.

Federal dollars help repair aging roads and bridges, as well as public transportation maintenance and airport and railway improvement. Funding is directed toward the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for state trunklines, local road commissions, and the cities and villages.

Michigan roads are already deteriorating faster than theyre being fixed. Road agencies have said theyre treading water and in need of more funding, while lawmakers spar over how best to allocate more revenue for roads.

RELATED: Trump threat to withhold K-12 funds over DEI leads Michigan, other states to file suit

Earlier this spring, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy wrote a letter to state transportation officials noting their legal obligation to follow all federal laws as a condition for receiving funding.

Adherence to your legal obligations is a prerequisite for receipt of DOT financial assistance, Duffy wrote.

Noncompliance with applicable federal laws, or failure to cooperate generally with federal authorities in the enforcement of federal law, will jeopardize your continued receipt of federal financial assistance from DOT and could lead to a loss of federal funding from DOT.

State grant applicants have seen similar immigration-enforcement language added to the terms and conditions governing grants administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, according to the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.

RELATED: List of sanctuary jurisdictions removed from US government website following criticism

Michigan was awarded 17 grants totaling more than $812 million under the Biden Administrations 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Of those projects, only three have been approved to move forward, while funds for the other 14 remain frozen, according to MDOT.

By clawing back this already-allocated funding, Donald Trumps White House is prioritizing political posturing over the safety and well-being of Americans, but I am committed to ensuring that our communities receive the resources they were promised, Nessel said.

Michigan hasnt received any further communication detailing its standing since the April letter from Duffy, according to Jocelyn Garza, an MDOT spokesperson.

More recently, the Trump administration has moved to dismantle the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which awards at least 10% of federal contracts to women- and minority-owned businesses.

The 1983-authorized program was designed to ensure firms owned by economically disadvantaged persons have the opportunity to grow and become self-sufficient through participation in federally funded contracts.

RELATED: Trump administration plans to revoke Chinese student visas. In Michigan, they spend millions

Michigan has 711 certified DBEs in the state. Federal funding for DBE totaled more than $117 million in FY 2024, and the states goal for FY 2025 is 9.5%.

Last week, the Justice Department filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit by two Indiana-based companies claiming they lost out on contracts due to the DBE program.

In the Trump Administrations latest filing, it agreed with the finding that the DBE program violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Approval of the settlement by a judge will likely mean the end of the program.
A Florida meteorologist is sounding a different type of alarm just in time for hurricane season. On Tuesday night, NBC-6 weatherman John Morales issued a striking warning for viewers saying that he can no longer accurately predict the weather because of cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Morales began by playing a clip of himself on a newscast six years ago assuring viewers at the time that a hurricane that appeared to be heading right toward Florida was going to turn. After the clip played, Morales addressed viewers by saying hes been able to confidently make predictions like that over the course of his 34 years, before then delivering the stark warning.

Related story: Trump jobs purge at NOAA hits Great Lakes staff in Michigan

I am here to tell you that I am not sure I can do that this year. Because of the cuts, the gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general, Morales said.

Morales then began discussing cuts made to NOAA and the National Weather Service. First, he detailed that the NWS is currently understaffed by 19% to 39% in Florida. He then explained that nationwide, theres been a 17% reduction in weather balloon launches that help predict weather patterns.

What were starting to see is that the quality of the forecast is becoming degraded, Morales said. Theres also a chance, because of some of these cuts, that NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft will not be able to fly this year, and with less reconnaissance missions, we may be flying blind, and we may not exactly know how strong a hurricane is before it reaches the coastline, like happened a couple of years ago in Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico.

Morales admitted he was asked to talk about the issue and was happy to do so, before concluding the message. At no point in his plea did he mention President Donald Trump or his administration.

I just want you to know that what you need to do is call your representatives, and make sure that these cuts are stopped, Morales said.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration cut jobs and funding for NOAA as part of efforts to reduce government spending. A cut of approximately 1,300 jobs was announced in February, representing 10% of the workforce.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the decision and said it could put Americans at risk.

These are dedicated, hardworking Americans whose efforts help save lives and property from the devastating impacts of natural disasters across the country, said Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y. This action will only endanger American lives going forward.

On Tuesday, NPR reported the NWS recently hired approximately 126 employees in an effort to stabilize operations. Among the positions expected to be hired are meteorologist, hydrologist, physical scientist and electronic technicians.
MLive File Photo. A University of Michigan scholar from China and her boyfriend are charged with federal crimes for smuggling a biological pathogen into the United States for research, the feds say. Jacob Hamilton

ANN ARBOR, MI - Lingering questions surround federal criminal charges against a Chinese scholar at University of Michigan and her boyfriend, who federal officials say worked to smuggle a biological pathogen into the United States.

According to an FBI agent, doctoral student Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, 34, were studying Fusarium graminearum, a pathogen that could target food crops.
University of Michigan President Santa Ono speaks during the Bicentennial Tree planting at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor in an MLive file photo. Josh Boland | MLive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI - On May 27, the University of Florida Board of Trustees unanimously approved Santa Onos appointment as president. A few days later, Ono posted on his personal Facebook page an aerial photo of Gator Stadium.

On Tuesday afternoon, Onos presidency was shot down in a 6-10 vote by the Florida Board of Governors, the governing board for the states university system. The move was made after prominent Florida conservatives questioned Onos past support of DEI and alleged inaction on combating antisemitism.

The vote came shortly before 5 p.m., June 3. By 5:23 p.m., he changed his Facebook photo to one of a deer staring into the distance.

For a University of Michigan community angered by his departure, Tuesdays rejection opened the door to mocking its departed president.

Karma caught up with Ono, said university economics professor Basit Zafar.

University leaders, faculty and alumni took aim at Ono for various reasons, from his decisions to curb DEI efforts on the Ann Arbor campus to his crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protesters to alleging he too easily changes his views on issues.

Regent Jordan Acker posted a quote from author Fran Lebowitz that appeared to take aim at Ono.

He doesnt believe in anythingjust auditions for approval in whatever room hes in," Acker posted on X.

State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, graduated from the Ann Arbor campus in 2005. She posted under Ackers quote a link to an alumni association discussion called "Recovering From Job Rejection: How to Reignite Your Job Search in a Tough Job Market."

There were few words of support for Ono. University donor Eileen Weiser, the ex-wife of former Regent and Michigan GOP Chair Ron Weiser, wrote on Onos Facebook page that Ono was a man of character and integrity.

Floridas students have just lost an unbiased leader, she wrote.

In his bid for the Florida job, Ono wrote in Inside Higher Education that he supported the original intent of DEI to ensure equal opportunity and fairness for every student.

But over time, I saw how DEI became something elsemore about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success," Ono wrote.

Read more: Santa Ono explains why hes leaving University of Michigan for Florida

Ono oversaw cuts to the universitys long-standing diversity, equity and inclusion programs. This includes March moves to discontinue UMs DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan and close its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Office for Health Equity and Inclusion.

These actions led to intense criticism from different segments of campus, including a 300-person protest on the Diag and resolutions from faculty.

Despite these moves, as well as a Tuesday call to ensure DEI never returns to the University of Florida, Ono faced criticism from Florida conservatives for past statements supporting DEI and once calling racism one of Americas original sins.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis left the debate over Ono to the Board of Governors, but did say last week that some of Onos past statements made him cringe.

Many in Ann Arbor saw Onos turn against DEI as opportunistic.

How did former (Ono) fail to count the votes for the Florida job, which he lost 10-6, asked author and alum John U. Bacon in an X post. He could have bowed out prior, probably falsely claim it was on principle (when he has none), and still get a top college job. Now neither side of the DEI divide will take him.

The Ann Arbor universitys Graduate Employees Organization said Ono lacked principles.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, the union posted on X.

Ono also saw criticism from both sides on his handling of pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitism on the Ann Arbor campus. At least 50 people have been arrested in connection with pro-Palestine protesting at the Ann Arbor university since October 2023.

Read more: FBI raids part of complex dance between police, pro-Palestinian protesters near Ann Arbor

The university is also under investigation from the U.S. Department of Education for alleged inaction in addressing antisemitism on campus.

While courting for the Florida job, Ono said he would prioritize combating antisemitism and crack down on non-peaceful protest. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, penned a letter on Monday to Florida board members that Ono failed to uphold the most basic standards of leadership by allowing an encampment by pro-Palestinian activists on the Diag for about a month in May 2024.

Read more: No arrests signal hands-off approach as tents for Gaza came to 3 Michigan universities

Silke Weineck, a Germanic Studies professor, quipped that Onos rejection has bipartisan approval.

Kudos to the Board of Governors of the Florida university system for achieving the rare feat of pleasing the left and the right in equal measure, she posted on Blue Sky.

New York Times podcast host and alum Jane Coaston shared a similar sentiment.

Santa Ono did the impossible, find two entirely different universities to annoy and do so successfully, she posted on X.

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ANN ARBOR TWP., MI  A man found dead Wednesday afternoon likely set himself on fire, police said.

The mans body, in a wooded area near an Ann Arbor Township road, was badly burned and could not be identified, Washtenaw County Sheriffs Cmdr. Eugene Rush said.

Police believe the mans injuries were self-inflicted. His approximate age was not available.

Emergency crews were initially called around 3:45 p.m. June 4 for a report of a crash near Barton Shores and Whitmore Lake roads, said Marc Breckenridge, spokesperson for the Huron Valley Ambulance.

The tractor portion of a tractor-trailer, colored blue, could be seen stopped on the side of Whitmore Lake Road just after Dhu Varren Road. The truck did not appear to have hit anything, although deep skid marks could be seen in the dirt of a ditch.

Authorities had an area on a hill beside the road, as well as a portion of the road, sealed off with tape.

Police believe the man was alone, Rush said. The man was pronounced dead at 3:56 p.m., Breckenridge said.

Crews had to extinguish a small fire when they arrived, confirmed Ann Arbor Township firefighter Paul Lacinski.

The Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office, including a K-9 unit, and the Ann Arbor Township Fire Department were on scene.

Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide can seek help by contacting:

The 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988

The Ozone House, a 24-hour hotline for youth, at 734-662-2222.

The 24-hour hotline at University of Michigan Psychiatric Emergency Services at 734-936-5900.

The Washtenaw County Community Mental Health crisis team at 734-544-3050.

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University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono speaks with members of the Board of Regents in an MLive file photo. Zachary Clingenpeel | ZClingenpeel@mlive.com

This story has been updated with clarifications on Onos 2024 contract.

ANN ARBOR, MI  Santa Ono should probably look elsewhere if he wants to come back to the University of Michigan.

Ono abruptly resigned as UM president last month to take the top job at the University of Florida.

That plan came to a sudden stop June 3 after the Florida Board of Governors rejected him amid backlash from conservatives.

Could Ono come back to Michigan?

Its unlikely for two reasons: The Board of Regents has already moved on with an interim president and Onos contract appears to lack faculty fallback options enjoyed by his predecessor.

UM fired Mark Schlissel as president in 2022 for his inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

Schlissel lost his $927,000 salary but his contract allowed him to remain as a tenured faculty member in the microbiology department of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. His salary was reduced to $185,000 a year but increased to $204,000 last year per university records.

Ono is still listed as a molecular, cellular and developmental biology professor in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts but his initial contract obtained previously by MLive through a Freedom of Information Act request, lacks the job protections given to Schlissel.

Schlissels contract required typical tenured faculty protections, stating an involuntary dismissal can be initiated by the provost or by the dean, director or other executive authority of the school in which the tenured faculty member works.

Onos initial contract waived any right to that process.

President...nonetheless agrees to waive that process or any other process otherwise available under University policy or practice or that might otherwise be available by law for termination of the faculty position, the contract states.

Onos 2024 contract extension did change the language of that provision to grant tenure protections. However, he did not present the required six-month notice to the regents for his voluntary dismissal.

UM on Wednesday declined to provide no additional information, including whether Ono is still a faculty member. A Freedom of Information Act request was submitted for his resignation letter and personnel file.

As for his old job, there is no indication that UM wants him back.

The university announced May 8 that Domenico Grasso took over as interim president, and the search for the permanent president would take place in the coming weeks.

University spokesperson Kay Jarvis declined to address specifics on Ono and instead pointed to previous announcements on his departure and the choice of Grasso as interim.

As his presidency is over, Ono would have to go through another approval process by the Board of Regents to return as president.

At least one regent appeared to express a lack of interest in that possibility with an X post with a quote from author Fran Lebowitz.

He doesnt believe in anythingjust auditions for approval in whatever room hes in," Jordan Acker posted.

Messages with multiple other regents were not returned.

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LAPEER COUNTY, MI - A traffic signal modernization project is scheduled to begin next week at a busy intersection in Lapeer County.

The work at the intersection of M-24 and Burnside Road in Lapeer County is set to begin Wednesday, June 11, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

The $281,000 investment aims to enhance traffic flow and improve safety at intersection near North Branch, Barnes Lake, and Millers Lake.

As part of the upgrade, new traffic detection equipment will be installed, which will help the signal function more efficiently.

MDOT noted the improved technology will lead to smoother traffic movement and increased safety at the intersection.

The project is expected to take more than a month to complete. MDOT said the work is expected to be complete by July 25.

Traffic will remain open in both directions but will be reduced by single-lane and shoulder closures on M-24 and Burnside Road during the construction period.

MDOT said the lane closures are necessary to ensure a safe work zone for both construction crews and motorists.
Rich Baird, senior adviser to Gov. Rick Snyder, speaks with attorneys and others during a court recess on in this 2018 Flint Journal file photo. (Jake May | MLive.com) Jake May Jake May

FLINT, MI -- A lawsuit filed by a top advisor to former Gov. Rick Snyder against Attorney General Dana Nessel and Flint water crisis prosecutors has been dismissed by a federal court judge.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. White dismissed the lawsuit filed by Richard Baird, former state transformation manager, on May 30.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Police in Matobo, Matabeleland South, are alleged to have assaulted children at an Early Child Education school in Mahetshe.This was exposed by Mthwajazi Republic Party in a statement."On May 21, Mahetshe community was ragged into fury by 3 police officers from Maphisa police camp who assaulted their children at the ECD B level by intimidating and beating them," MRP noted."On May 29 at the village meeting chaired by Kraal head Shakespear Ndlovu with tens of villagers who came to attend the meeting. ZRP and education officers were invited to give answers and clarity to the villagers but all of them failed to comply with the summons. This clearly indicates that Zanu pf government doesn't respect the people of Matabeleland."MRP said it was reported that on May, 21 notorious police officers, a woman known as Madlabuzela, policeman known as Ndlovu and the other policeman whose name is unknown who were reportedly drunk while 2 of them were in police uniform and were using police vehicle, were invited by school Deputy Head ma'am Ncube for crime awareness but they did the opposite."They built a case from the previous week' incident where 5 boys were accused of stealing money from their teacher Siyamunda whose husband is a police officer at Maphisa Police Station. Her money was discovered and the pupils were disciplined," reads the statement."It was reported that Siyamunda was in the habit of delegating one of the boys to sell some sweets and jiggies on her behalf.l believe, according the education ministry regulations, that constitutes an act of misconduct, and the boy was not paid for the job."MRP said the villagers raised their concerns that their children didn't have time to study because they will be selling for teachers."It was against this background that police were invited to conscientise learners about crime," MRP said."It was also reported that the whole school was summoned out of their classrooms and the children were asked to point out any one who once commited any misconduct from ECD B."Indications are that it was also reported that Madlabuzela used an electric code to beat up girls."The other Shona police officer had 25 sticks with which he beat the boys. Ndlovu was double clapping them on their chicks," MRP noted."It's also reported that the torturers would lift the children with ears, and many are reported that they are still bleeding blood from their ears . Some children ran away from school as they saw their colleagues in soup. Some ECD children were crying terrified by the action of the police on their fellow students. It is also reported that the police told children that the next morning soldiers were also coming."It is reported that on a similar day the council of the Village Head had a meeting at their court just outside the school gate."They had children crying loudly and the sound of claps then they rashed to the scene and found the police at work harmering the children. Upon inquiring into why that was happening, one of the police officers, a Shona guy told the Village Head and his council to go and report the case wherever they wanted. This is a common response by Shona people at Maphisa if they have a misunderstanding with Ndebele people; they tell them to go and report wherever they want because they have the assurance that the law will always favour them," MRP said.."Upon being asked why he behaved in thus cruel manner, the ZRP officer answered that they, (police) had the right to apply minimum and maximum force, as can be heard and seen on tbe 3 minutes 56 seconds-long video.Our understanding, however, is that under the Education Ministry regulations, corporal punishment was abolished. There are teachers who have faced legal action because of undermining such regulation. How come a police officer thinks he has a right to apply minimum force, especially to an ECD learner? These kids were beaten and got injured as if they were resisting anything. It's ridiculous indeed. It is clear that these police officers are simply implementing their Grand plan of hsrmog and eliminating the Ndebeles from Zimbabwe."MRP said May 22, the injured children were taken to the police station so they could get letters to facilitate their treatment at the local hospital."Parents reported that when the children saw the police in uniforms they cried and even tried to run away which is a sign of trauma and fear the fulfillment of gukurahundi agenda. The children had no scan which means internal injuries."MRP said Parents say that their children are now refusing to go to school. Sometimes they even fake illness."Until the cimmunity leadership called for 29th May meeting, the Ministry of Education and ZRP have never said anything to the community and their boycotting the meeting shows that they have no remorse and that has worsened the anger of the community," reads the statement."The meeting was attended by 2 CIOs who introduced themselves as Moyo and Ngwenya, but the suspicion is that the two used fake surnames for cover. Again this is an intimidation to the public since the history of CIOs is filled by abducting and slaying people for opposing Zanu pf and Shonalism."The Village Head repeatedly called for serious councelling for the children because the damage is huge.Matabeleland remains a bitter state under misgovernment of Zanu pf we are calling for justice for our children.Their system of delaying tactics and resurface matters is not a solution we are pilling these matters.Mahetshe Primary school is not very far away from the Bhalagwe Concentration camp where thousands of the Mthwakazi people who were killed during Gukurahundi are buried."We urge every concerned Mthwakazi citizen to rally behind the leadership of MRP President Mqondisi Moyo to fight this shona dominance under the guise of Zimbabwe Nationalism and unitary State mantra that continues to suppress dissent voices from Mthwakazi," MRP said.
Rachel Lee is transforming River North Public House in Grand Rapids into an event venue after losing her grandmother and brother within a month while facing mounting business challenges.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Rachel Lee is searching for peace.

Five years after opening River North Public House, a restaurant in Grand Rapids Creston neighborhood, she has closed the eatery and is reopening the space as an event venue and catering business.

The change comes amid a challenging year, personally and professionally, for Lee, a 48-year-old mother of two.

Despite attempts to boost business, including a Hail Mary plea for support on social media, River North wasnt turning a profit.

RELATED: We need to stop the bleeding: Grand Rapids hit by wave of restaurant closures

On top of that, Lees grieving the loss of her grandmother Dorsie and her brother and fellow restaurateur Paul Lee who died one month apart of one another this spring. Her teenage son is also being treated at a therapeutic boarding school for mental health challenges.

To watch your family go from one grief into a whole nother grief, it really just starts making you feel like life is short, she said. These last couple months have been a lot for me and my family, and I really need to focus on doing things that make me happy.

Against that backdrop, Lee decided to move on from River Norths traditional restaurant model. She hopes her new event venue concept will give her space to find peace and prioritize family while still serving the community.

RELATED: Prominent Grand Rapids restaurateur Paul Lee remembered for community impact

Rachel Lee is transforming River North Public House in Grand Rapids into an event venue. (Photo provided by Rachel Lee) Courtesy

This week, shes been busy transforming River North, 2115 Plainfield Ave. NE, into an event venue and planning for the summer.

Shes taken down the restaurants decor so groups renting the space can decorate it themselves. Tables have been removed to give guests more room to mingle, she said.

Lee says the plan is to build on the success shes had hosting events for nonprofit organizations. She wants to expand the types of events she serves to include workshops and meetings for small businesses as well as private events, birthday parties, and other small celebrations.

Im not trying to target weddings and things like that, she said. I think theres a lot of great spaces already that exist in our neighborhood and our community that do that really well.

A few events are already booked.

Shes hosting a 50th birthday party on June 14 at River North, and shes catering an event hosted by the Grand Rapids nonprofit Realism is Loyalty this month as well. In July, shell provide food for the Beer City Open pickleball tournaments referees.

Lee says the job fits her personality, which she describes as a nurturer but with hospitality.

It wasnt easy to say goodbye to River North Public House.

While the concept opened in July 2019, it wasnt her first time operating a restaurant at the Northeast Side site.

In December 2017, she first opened the spot as Citizen, a Tiki bar and restaurant whose decor and menu reflected her Vietnamese, Polynesian and Chinese roots.

RELATED: Tiki bar and restaurant launches in Cheshire Village neighborhood

However, in September 2018 she announced she was closing Citizen for roof repairs and would reopen the space under a new concept. That concept became River North Public House, which opened in July 2019 with a menu that she described as a mix of bar food and fine dining.

She was able to persevere through the COVID-19 pandemic, leaning into takeout and delivery and the restaurants outdoor patio.

However, trouble hit early this year, when she posted on social media that River North was at a crossroads, and that community support would determine whether she could keep the doors open.

She described the plea for help as a Hail Mary.

And, for a time, it worked.

The response is huge, Lee said. From one week to the next, our sales went up 150%.

But in the end, it wasnt enough to sustain operations, she said.

It still wasnt enough to stop our bleeding, she said, pointing to obstacles such as rising food costs and ongoing road construction that she says posed an obstacle to getting customers in the door.

The fight of trying to say, Were here, were here, when youre amongst all these street construction projects  its tiring.

Lee said her father, Arnold, 75, is her silent partner, and she didnt want to be a drain on his finances to help keep River Norths doors open.

Five years into it, were not turning a profit, she said. I dont want to have an adverse impact on my parents retirement, and I need to be able to continue to pay my student loans.

River North had 14 employees, four of whom were full-time. She said shes providing two weeks of severance pay to her workers, a number of whom have been hired by a former worker now employed at Archival Brewing in Belmont, she said.

Looking forward, Lee is hopeful about River Norths new direction. However, she said shes not sure what the future holds. For now, shes just focused on making it through the next few months.

After the summer, I dont know, she said. Im not sure what the future will be. I just know that whatever it is, Im going to be doing something that Im passionate about, that involves the community, and that provides for my family.
Susan Kacsits, 61, is escorted from a Kent County Circuit Courtroom after sentencing on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Kacsits was sentenced to minimum 1 1/2 years in prison for stealing over $200,000 from Saint Peters Lutheran Preschool in Rockford where she once worked as a bookkeeper. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A woman was prepared to repay more than $200,000 she stole from a Christian preschool where she once worked.

Susan Kacsits told a judge she wants to put her criminal case in the past and looks forward to enjoying retirement with her husband.

However, the 61-year-old was escorted by deputies Wednesday, June 4, from Judge Christina Mims courtroom to begin serving a prison sentence for a pretty diabolical embezzlement scheme.

Kacsits was a former bookkeeper at Saint Peters Lutheran Preschool in Rockford.

RELATED: Former co-workers at Rockford preschool feel betrayed after woman allegedly stole $225K

Investigators were called to the preschool, 310 E. Division St. NE, on June 3, 2024.

Officials determined that from March 13 to May 1, 2024, someone forged and deposited four checks, totaling $17,374, into a Citibank credit-card account.

The preschools director told police the preschool didnt have such a credit card.

Susan Kacsits, 61, stands next to her defense attorney, Ryan Maesen, during sentencing in Kent County Circuit Court on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Kacsits was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison for embezzling more than $200,000 from Saint Peters Lutheran Preschool in Rockford where she worked as a bookkeeper. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

School officials then provided evidence of about 50 fraudulent checks, totaling $224,502, that had been deposited into Citibank accounts since Nov. 30, 2015, Rockford police wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

Kacsits, in a police interview, admitted to forging the signature of the preschool director and embezzling the money, the affidavit states.

She pleaded no contest in April to a charge of embezzlement of more than $100,000.

RELATED: Woman who stole from Christian preschool enters plea

In court Wednesday, Kacsits stood by her defense attorney, Ryan Maesen, who asked the judge to not put his client behind bars.

She is very remorseful. Shed rather just pay this and move on, Maesen said.

The defense told Mims that Kacsits was prepared to pay restitution in full. He referred to Kacsits crime as something inexplicable and out of her normal character.

A victim representative was in the courtroom but opted to not speak. At the time of Kacsits arrest, her former coworkers said they felt betrayed. No one suspected anything.

Kacsits told Mims she has no interest in working again. She said she looked forward to retirement with her husband and enjoying the next phase of her life. She apologized if Ive caused any heartache.

The judge said she thought about what it would take to engage in Kacsits behavior during the yearslong span.

Its pretty diabolical, Mims said. Duping the people that entrusted you to be the bookkeeper for this school and money for these kiddos.

Kacsits was sentenced to a minimum 1  years in prison  maximum 20 years  and ordered to pay, for now, $209,619 in restitution. The $17,000 owed to Citibank remains in dispute.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  A Jackson County man who tried to flee police on a lawnmower then shot himself in the hand while an officer tased him has pleaded guilty as charged.

James Mitchell Kerr admitted June 3 to several felony charges including attempted murder.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 24 before Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson. Kerr, 42, remains lodged in the Jackson County Jail with bond set at $250,000.

The charges stem from a confrontation Sept. 19 in Leoni Township where police were looking for Kerr who was wanted for violating probation, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office reported.

Jackson County Sheriffs Deputy Robert Henderson found Kerr on a riding lawnmower and told him to get off of it but he refused, according to police body camera video obtained by MLive through a Michigan Freedom of Information Act request.

Kerr instead accelerated the lawnmower in an attempt to get away, the video shows.

Related: Video shows man flee on lawnmower, pull gun on cop, and shoot himself in hand when tased

The deputy briefly chased after Kerr on foot, repeatedly telling him to stop before pulling out his Taser moments before Kerr came to a stop in a ditch, the video shows.

Kerr said he was getting off and put his hands in the air as he stepped off the riding mower. As Henderson warned Kerr he would be tased if he attempted to run away, Kerr walked back to the lawnmower, reached next to the seat and pulled out what is clearly a black handgun, the video shows.

Henderson fired his Taser and Kerr fell behind the lawnmower with a groan a second before a gunshot is heard. As Kerr fell behind the lawnmower, Henderson dropped the active Taser and pulled his side arm, demanding Kerr drop the gun, the video shows.

The deputy was not injured, but Kerr had shot himself in the hand while being tased, the video shows and police reported.

The body camera video ends with Henderson calling for backup to assist at the scene.

Backup arrived and arrested Kerr, first taking him to Henry Ford Jackson Hospital for injuries that were not life threatening, then to the Jackson County Jail, police said.

The sheriffs office requested the Michigan State Police do the criminal investigation while the sheriffs office did its own internal investigation, police said.

Kerr was charged Oct. 23, and the investigation into Hendersons actions found them to be justified with no policy violations observed, according to the sheriffs office.

This incident underscores how rapidly a seemingly routine encounter can escalate and the potential dangers deputies face daily, Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schutte said.

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A view of Lake Michigan at Silver Beach in the city of St. Joseph. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com)

BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  Deputies used pepper spray to disperse people fighting at a popular Lake Michigan beach.

Around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, the Berrien County Sheriffs Office responded to a large disturbance at Silver Beach County Park.

Additional deputies and officers from the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety responded to help disperse the disorderly crowd, police said.

Several additional fights broke out in the area, the sheriffs office said.

To gain control of the situation and prevent further violence, deputies deployed oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, commonly referred to as pepper spray, against those actively engaged in physical altercations.

Due to ongoing disorderly behavior, the shift lieutenant for the sheriffs office made the decision to close Silver Beach County Park for the rest of the evening.

Announcements were made over the public address systems of multiple patrol vehicles instructing patrons to vacate the park.

Three adults were cited for misdemeanor-disturbing the peace, police said.

A warrant will be sought for someone identified as an instigator in the initial assault which was captured on citizen video and provided to deputies. Earlier in the day, prior to the disturbance, deputies issued six citations to park patrons for possession of alcohol in violation of park rules.

The Berrien County Sheriffs Office reminds the public there is a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and marijuana use in public and general criminal conduct within Berrien County Parks.

The sheriffs office remains committed to ensuring public spaces remain safe and enjoyable for all residents and visitors.

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Children head into class for the first day of school at King-Westwood Elementary School in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Monday Aug. 29, 2022. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- Years ago, Kalamazoo Public Schools received a federal grant to lower class sizes in the districts high poverty elementary schools to 17 students or fewer.

Melissa Simonson-James was a second grade teacher at the time at Kalamazoos Washington Writers Academy.

It was amazing, Simonson-James said.

But then she transferred to another school without the grant. Her class size went from 17 students to 28.

Being able to differentiate and really know your students ... and meeting the needs of all those kids was really, really difficult, Simonson-James said.

The Michigan State Board of Education is pushing legislators to cap K-3 class sizes at 20 students by 2030-31. Currently, the state has no maximum class size.

Only about 18% of third grade classrooms have 20 or fewer students in 2024-25, among the Kalamazoo areas five largest districts (Kalamazoo, Portage, Vicksburg, Gull Lake, Mattawan).

While Michigan tracks student-to-teacher ratios, it does not track class size data. The ratio substantially understates the number of students per class, according to a University of Michigan study.

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain the class sizes of every third grade class in the five districts.

Research shows reducing class sizes can improve student outcomes. Local educators have been pushing for lower class sizes, but actually doing so can be a complex challenge.

Far from 20 students

The average third grade class size in several Kalamazoo County school districts during the 2024-25 academic year ranges from 21.8 to 25 students, according to data from FOIA requests.

The smallest class had 17 students, in Kalamazoo Public Schools. The largest class was also in KPS, with 29 third graders (at El Sol, King-Westwood, Parkwood-Upjohn and Winchell elementaries).

Kalamazoo and Mattawan have the highest average third grade class sizes at 25 and 25.1 students, respectively.

Portage and Vicksburg were lowest, both averaging 21.8 students. Gull Lake Community Schools fell in the middle, averaging 23 students.

See the maximum, minimum and averages for each district, below.

In most school districts, maximum class size for each grade is set in the teacher union contract.

Kalamazoos cap for third grade is 29, said Heather Reid, president of the Kalamazoo Education Association. The union has unsuccessfully tried to negotiate the cap lower in past years.

We havent been real successful in that overall, Reid said. But it is definitely of high importance to our members. We work on it every year, trying to be creative to find ways that we can do it without hurting other programs.

Darrin Slade, superintendent of KPS, said class size has been a primary concern among teachers in strategic planning meetings district administrators have with the community.

Though Kalamazoo has the second highest average class size in the region, Slade said 25 to 29 students is a normal class size for larger urban school districts. KPS is the largest school district in Kalamazoo County with 970 third grade students.

The primary focus has to be instructional leadership and high quality instruction, Slade said. That will continue to be the focus of our district. Of course we would love to have smaller classes, but thats not possible because of budgets and a teacher shortage.

Reid acknowledged the district had an interest in lowering class sizes and the perception among administrators that the district doesnt have enough resources to do so.

Its frustrating, Reid said.

Large class sizes can pose challenges for teachers and students, Reid said. Teachers implement numerous systems to make sure students stay on track and instruction can happen. With more students, those systems are harder to manage. And by the end of the day, teachers are exhausted, Reid said.

Kat Frink, Portage Education Association president, said more students can also mean more distractions from learning.

Teachers are tasked with developing relationships with students and communicating with families.

Plus, problems that students encounter outside school often carryover into class. Some students may face food or housing insecurity, Simonson-James said, especially in high poverty districts. Those challenges often need to be addressed before students can learn.

Its like a triage room, Simonson-James said. Youre putting out all kinds of things throughout the day, but also while trying to teach them.

Susan OConnor, a reading tutor and parent of two KPS students, has seen how students can fall behind when teachers dont have time to help students. Shes tutored third graders who lack fundamental reading skills.

After third grade, students arent learning how to read, but rather reading to learn. If there are students who cant read and cant keep up, they can become a distraction to other students.

This is a complex issue with no simple answer, said Randy Fleenor, Mattawan Consolidated Schools superintendent. Significantly smaller class sizes may help reduce poor student behavior  particularly in the early elementary grades  but Id say many schools lack the resources to consistently operate with 20 or fewer students per class."

After first grade, OConnors kids were consistently in classes with 28 or 29 students.

KPS would be better (and) support the teachers and the students better, if (class sizes) were smaller, OConnor said.

This year, OConnors fifth grader was one of 24 students in their class.

His teacher said that she had taught for 29 years, and this was the smallest class she ever had, OConnor said.

No easy solutions

Mattawans teachers union was able to negotiate lower class size maximums this year, Fleenor said. Mattawans 25.1 students per third grade class still was the most of the five districts surveyed.

Smaller classes mean higher labor costs for the district, Fleenor said.

This isnt about advocating for larger classes to save money, Fleenor said. Its about recognizing the financial realities and engaging in strategic, collaborative planning. Its important to have open, thoughtful discussions and set shared goals that prioritize both student success and staff sustainability.

Mattawans smallest third grade class has 24 students and the largest has 26 students.

When it comes to behavioral challenges in large classes, other factors may have a greater impact, Fleenor said, like teacher effectiveness in classroom management, the ability to build a positive class culture and active parent engagement.

Other resources schools offer like behavioral interventionists and paraprofessionals can also assist teachers in managing classes.

Michael Rice, Michigans state superintendent and former KPS superintendent, said lowering K-3 class sizes is a top legislative priority.

Michigan should reinstate grants that allowed for high-poverty schools to have smaller class sizes, he said in a Detroit News column.

Reading is a foundational skill that is critically important to all student learning and achievement, Rice said. If we want to improve student achievement, Michigan needs to lower class sizes in high-poverty K-3 classrooms.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
KALAMAZOO, MI  A man was shot in the leg and detectives are investigating the incident, police said.

Around 11:48 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to a local hospital after a shooting victim arrived there for treatment.
CALHOUN COUNTY, MI  A woman is in critical condition after being shot, police said.

At 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office were called to a report of a shooting victim in the 11000 block of Gorsline Road in Pennfield Township.
President Donald Trump listens as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has talked with President Donald Trump after he said he was considering pardons for the men who plotted to kidnap her in 2020.

I will just confirm that I have connected with the president directly on this subject and made my thoughts known, Whitmer told reporters Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. And, so, beyond that Im not going to share more about our conversation, but hopefully hell take some of those things into consideration when he makes a decision.

Whitmer opposes the potential pardons, telling the crowd last week at the Mackinac Policy Conference that no one should hesitate to condemn political violence regardless of if that violence is aimed at her, Trump or anyone else.

Related: Whitmer opposes potential Trump pardons for men who plotted to kidnap her

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Tuesday about Whitmers conversation with Trump and declined to share details about the call. She reiterated what Trump previously said about the possible pardons.

In comments to reporters last week, Trump expressed skepticism about the convictions of those involved in the 2020 plot to kidnap Whitmer from her vacation home. He said hed look at possible pardons for the men.

I will take a look at it. Its been brought to my attention, Trump told reporters at the White House, NBC News reported. I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.

Related: Trumps talk of pardoning Whitmer kidnapping plotters no laughing matter, Nessel says

Whitmer said Tuesday its important Trump heard from her before making a decision.

Its important that in any case that has resulted in a jury convicting people, the impact on the victim is really important, she said. As a former prosecutor, as the target of this particular plot, I wanted to make sure that the president is going to make a decision, has all the information necessary toward making the right decision.

In all, 14 men were charged in the plot. Some faced federal charges, while others faced state charges. Five men were found not guilty.

According to trial testimony, the plot involved moving Whitmer to a secure location in Wisconsin, where she would face a trial for treason and possible execution.

The government alleged the plot motivations ranged from anger at Whitmers pandemic shutdown orders to wanting to trigger a new revolution or civil war.

Trumps remarks about possible pardons followed a recent statement from the U.S. Justice Departments new pardon attorney. The attorney said he would take a hard look at possibly pardoning two key figures in the plot: Barry Croft Jr., 49, of Bear, Delaware, and Adam Fox, 42, of Wyoming.

Croft and Fox are currently the only men incarcerated in federal prison for their roles in the plot. Some others are still serving time in state prison on state charges, which cant be pardoned by Trump.

Croft and Fox were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction in the plot.

Without the pardons, Croft will spend the next 19 years and seven months in prison, while Fox will serve 16 years. A federal appeals panel last month rejected their appeals.

Attorneys for the men allege government informants within the group pushed the plot.

Related: Whitmer kidnap plotters got high and ran their mouths: Trump considers pardons

Appellate judges, though, affirmed the convictions, writing that based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury saw and heard a host of video and audio recordings of defendants promising violence, planning and participating in trainings, bringing their own weapons and material, and plotting the abduction without reluctance.

Whitmer has said she hopes to eventually meet and talk face-to-face with one of the men who pleaded guilty in the conspiracy to kidnap her.

I would love to understand what led to this. I think its not a rational thing that people pick up guns and threaten to kill a sitting governor because she told you to wear a mask. What else was going on there? Whitmer told MLive last year.

You know, maybe Ill learn something that will make me a better person or make me a better governor or maybe theres nothing to learn, but Id like to try.

Related: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to meet those who plotted to kidnap her
Whos buried there?

No one really knows. The dead souls are lost to history.

But their final resting spot in the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula is at the center of a small-town rivalry thats led to trespassing complaints, 911 calls and a criminal investigation into the former director of the local conservation district, the board of which was elected by fewer than a dozen voters at a pizza party inside a pavilion.

But it all starts at an abandoned graveyard.

An ancestral burial ground in the middle of the 100-acre property of Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

THE GRAVEYARD

From riverside chairs, Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams could throw a rock into the burial ground while drinking coffee on a recent spring morning.

Kaplan, 59, originally from Metro Detroit, is a bird expert and current Delta County Conservation District board member. Williams, 58, born in Vancouver, Washington, was recently elected county commissioner. They met while restoring lighthouses after finishing graduate degrees at Michigan Technological University in Houghton. They married in 2013 and have lived on the 100-acre plot of forest since 2020.

On top of the nearly 20-foot-tall sandy cliff held in place by a retaining wall are dead bodies. No one knows how many.

An ancestral burial ground in the middle of the 100-acre property of Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The forest surrounds an out-of-place chain-link fence enclosing the one-acre cemetery. Burial Grounds, reads a handwritten sign at the entrance. No fishing. No hunting. No recreation. No vehicles. Reverent visitation only.

Its Native American and early settlers, Kaplan said while pointing to a section of recessed ground. Theres a divot here. Undoubtedly theres a grave there.

The public land, surrounded by Kaplan and Williams private property, has been owned by Ford River Township since 1932.

It was abandoned, said Ford River Township Supervisor Steven Nelson. Weve got such limited records. It went way back to the 1800s.

According to Visit Escanaba website, a tourism nonprofit, five Native American families of the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomi tribes settled in Ford River Township about 1870 and remains of the Native American cemetery there can still be seen.

The headstones were vandalized by beer-drinking kids who used it as a party spot, Kaplan said.

The river was eating into the banks, causing caskets and artifacts to collapse into the river.

Someone decided it should be shored up and protected, Nelson said. Thats where Rory Mattson became involved. He managed to secure grants.

The river restoration project concluded in 2008.

Joseph Kaplan points toward the Ford River along the 100-acre property he owns with his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. In the middle of the couples private property along the Ford River is a fenced-off one-acre ancestral burial ground. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Mattson is an Escanaba resident, forester and soil expert. After starting work there in the late 1980s, Mattson eventually became the Delta County Conservation District Manager, a position that reports to a five-member elected board overseeing natural resource preservation. In 2010, he was also selected to manage the then-struggling county parks.

Related: Inside Michigans secret elected bodies that doled out $32 million last year

Mattson would become Kaplans nemesis in local politics. While Kaplan and his wife both agreed to be interviewed for this story, Mattson would not. He repeatedly ignored MLive requests for comments. Im not interested at all, he told an MLive reporter in April before shutting his front door.

When Mattson was leading exhumation efforts in 2008, several bodies were taken from the graveyard and temporarily stored in what is now their garage, Kaplan and Williams said. Members of the Hannahville Indian Community, which has a presence in the U.P. and Wisconsin, held a ceremony and reinterred the bodies next to a white boulder.

TRESPASSING COMPLAINTS

Ever since they bought the property, Kaplan and Williams have complained about people using their private property to access the public cemetery, which is also a popular local fishing spot. Police reports and interviews bear this out.

Between 2021 and 2023, they made nine trespassing complaints, according to police records. The people coming to the small-town fishing hole arent always strangers. In one case, Kaplan told police and MLive he recognized a fisherman as a person he was going to testify against in a court case. He said he felt threatened and, in this instance, grabbed his shotgun.

A private property sign on the 100-acre property of Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. In the middle of the couples private property along the Ford River is a fenced-off one-acre ancestral burial ground. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

About 6 p.m. on April 24, 2022, Kaplan  who was wearing a body camera  approached two young men he suspected of trespassing to access the fishing hole known as the high banks with a shotgun. Kaplan and the two men told their versions of events to both police and MLive.

My friend heard crunching and looked back and saw (Kaplan) watching him from about 15 feet inside the woods, said one of the two men, Qwentin Johnsen of Bark River.

Johnsen, who was 18 at the time, said he and his 19-year-old friend, Zachary Robinette, waded upstream near Kaplans house to fish for bass. Johnsen said he had been going there since childhood. Kaplan said he previously gave Robinette permission to access the fishing spot but had recently posted a no trespassing sign so he could have a quiet weekend.

A private property sign on the 100-acre property of Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. In the middle of the couples private property along the Ford River is a fenced-off one-acre ancestral burial ground. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The men spotted Kaplan watching them with binoculars from shore, Johnsen said.

Kaplan told MLive he recognized Robinette, who was charged with and ultimately convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Robinette was accused of kicking and abusing a young eagle and posting it on social media, according to local media reports. Kaplan, a bird expert, was scheduled to testify on behalf of the prosecution at Robinettes trial. He felt threatened having Robinette close to his home, he said.

As the men were climbing a hill toward their vehicles, Johnsen said he heard a noise  Chook-chook  the sound of a shotgun.

I look at my friend and he has his hands up, Johnsen said. I just took off running and I jumped in the water. I didnt want to get shot.

Kaplan shared his body camera video with police, who recorded it using their own body cameras. Kaplan obtained and shared the footage with MLive.

Trespassing, bro, Kaplan is heard saying when the encounter begins. Thats the cemetery. No fishing.

After Johnsen came up the side of the hill, Kaplan ordered the men to leave. Both parties independently called police.

No arrests were made.

Police warned the men not to return  but also talked to Kaplan about not going out with a shotgun and threatening the kids, officers wrote in a report.

When asked about the animal abuse case, Robinette pointed out the incident that led to the animal abuse charges occurred a full year before the fishing incident.

To this day, some anglers believe they can legally access Ford River where its connected to the burial ground.

An aerial image of the 100-acre property along the Ford River owned by Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. In the middle of the couples private property along the Ford River is a fenced-off one-acre ancestral burial ground. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The previous owner even signed an agreement allowing public access to the cemetery through what is now Kaplan and Williams driveway. However, the 2005-signed easement stipulates the land cant be used for fishing, hunting, swimming or other recreation pursuits.

This appears to be the most current easement agreement, but township officials havent responded to MLive requests for confirmation.

No one enforced those restrictions, so it became a popular place for fishing and underage drinking, locals say.

Kaplan and Williams want to restore order. They dont want men in waders randomly cutting through their forest.

A security camera on the 100-acre property of Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. In the middle of the couples private property along the Ford River is a fenced-off one-acre ancestral burial ground. Since purchasing the property in 2020, they have regularly dealt with trespassers who access the cemetery to fish the Ford River. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

As trespassing frustration mounted, the couple installed a multi-camera surveillance system. They posted a sign with a phone number asking people to text for permission before entering.

One of the reports involved Mattson himself. On June 1, 2022. Williams says she spotted Mattson and called police, according to the reports. Police couldnt determine who was in the wrong.

This seems to be a civil issue regarding the easement, officers wrote in the police report. It was agreed upon that Rory Mattson (should) not drive (his) vehicle onto the easement or park in the wooded area of the easement.

This issue needs to be resolved by the township.

Kaplan said one reason its such a popular fishing spot is a boulder retaining wall called a rock crib that lines the river. Walleye like to hide there.

That wall was constructed through efforts of the conservation district.

The man behind the project was Rory Mattson.

WE WENT ON OFFENSE

When Kaplan and Williams began attending Ford Township meetings to argue against fishing access, Mattson got involved.

At one point, Mattson threatened to seek eminent domain to build a parking lot at the edge of the cemetery, beside Kaplan and Williams driveway, according to Nelson, Ford Township supervisor.

Thats when we went on offense, Kaplan said.

Joseph Kaplan and his wife Christine Williams pose for a portrait outside their home in Delta County, Mich. on April 22, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The parking lot never materialized. Nelson said the township had no interest in spending the time or money.

Rory did advocate that it was OK to fish there, Nelson said. But when we read the actual easement agreement ... that wasnt correct.

But the ordeal stirred up bad blood between Kaplan and Mattson.

In 2022, Kaplan and Williams began attending conservation district meetings. Very few people came.

Williams, whos worked as an IT professional and has experience filing taxes for businesses, began requesting conservation district financial records. She said she had concerns about the finances and requested thousands of ledger entries that spanned a decade.

Williams scoured accounts and created complex reports. She alleges the financial records show Mattson was getting large bonuses on top of his $100,000 salary, without public discussion from the conservation district board, according to public meeting minutes.

Kaplan and Williams felt these bonuses were unethical. They began sounding the alarm at county commission and conservation district meetings.

But it didnt seem to them that anyone was listening.

Kaplan had an idea: hed run for office.

WHAT KIND OF ELECTION HAPPENS OVER PIZZA?

In August 2022, the conservation district held an open house followed by a meeting at a park pavilion. Kaplan didnt come to the open house, but showed up for the meeting

It was a rainy day. Sheets of water were coming off the roof, Kaplan said. You walked into this big pavilion and theres this little table set up in the middle with two-liter bottles of pop and three or four pizza boxes. So clearly something had happened, but I didnt think much of it.

About five people were there.

The pavilion at Pioneer Trail Park in Delta County, Mich. on April 23, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Kaplan later learned the conservation district had just elected its board. MDARD records back this up.

There was no discussion at the meeting about the results of the election, Kaplan said. I said, What kind of election happens over pizza?

Conservation district elections are independent of other Michigan elections. Ballots arent cast at precincts but during informal annual gatherings, sometimes in barns, on vineyards or park pavilions.

Theyre barely attended.

An MLive investigation into dozens of conservation district elections revealed the majority involve unopposed candidates elected by fewer than 20 votes. In 2022 in Delta County, fewer than 10 people voted.

Kaplan learned his district never sent required election records to MDARD, which certifies its elections. MDARD representatives confirmed the 2022 election wasnt certified and requested the district hold a special election to fill the expired seats.

Kaplan saw an opening. He urged another resident, Nate Brockman, to challenge the incumbents.

Meanwhile, amid the election hoopla, Mattson got a new contract and another bonus, according to conservation district board meeting minutes. On June 20, 2023  a day before Kaplan won his election  the board held a meeting and approved an amended contract that included a $50,000 bonus for Mattson, according to meeting minutes.

The new contract also made Mattson eligible to legal fees, should the district challenge any aspect of the contract, according to meeting minutes.

The next day, a special election was held under the same park pavilion. This time, no rain. And instead of a few uninterested onlookers, the pavilion was packed. Kaplan estimates more than 100 voters were in attendance and many more submitted absentee ballots.

Around 700 total ballots were cast, more than any other conservation district election MLive reviewed.

When everything was tabulated, Kaplan and Brockman were the lopsided winners, taking about 73% of the vote.

There were no consolation speeches or congratulations exchanged. Kaplan helped Mattson load the ballot box into his vehicle. People collapsed tables and cordially dispersed.

THIS IS NOT OK

Kaplan and Brockman won in a landslide, but the old board still held majority control.

That would change in August 2023 when two more newcomers replaced incumbents, who decided not to run for reelection. By fall, meetings were getting contentious.

Kaplan and Mattson started to butt heads at meetings.

At an Oct. 13, 2023, conservation district meeting, Kaplan accused Mattson of intentionally deleting conservation district records, thousands of which Kaplan said were later recovered.

This is not OK, Kaplan sternly told Mattson, who was still the districts CEO and manager.

Mattson claimed ignorance and said any deletion of district records was unintentional.

It was no secret that Kaplan and Williams had concerns about Mattsons management of district finances  Williams made a presentation detailing those concerns at a June 2023 conservation district meeting  but its not clear if Mattson knew they were about to take their concerns to police.

ALLEGATIONS

Kaplan and Williams shared the conservation districts financial records with the Michigan State Police, which opened an investigation on Oct. 30, 2023, according to a police report obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request.

The header on the report includes the terms embezzlement and Open Meetings Act/FOIA violations.

MSP Detective Sgt. Jason Sleeter investigated allegations that Mattson comingled funds he controlled as manager of the county parks and conservation district and gave himself and staff bonuses without discussion by the board, according to the report.

There was also an allegation Mattsons IRA contributions were paid directly to him rather than be deposited into a retirement account, the report said.

Between 2011 and 2022, the conservation district charged the county an administration fee of $478,614.09 for park management and the fee was used to pay director/staff support in the form of incentive pay and bonuses, in addition to existing salaries, according to the report. Much of the information included in the police report comes from the financial review performed and provided by Williams.

Mattson received bonuses averaging more than $33,000 per year between 2017 and 2022, and in 2022, Mattson received two bonus checks totaling $33,000, while two employees also received $10,000 each, according to what Williams told police as reflected in the report. Meeting minutes reveal the amount of the bonuses was never discussed; however, the board approved a motion to pay end-of-year incentive pay and any bonus.

Williams alleged Mattson and the board hid the bonuses from the public. Mattsons bonuses were discussed at board meetings prior to 2015, but not after, according to meeting minutes.

Detective Sleeter reviewed the board minutes provided by Williams. In the report, the detective wrote that Mattson would ask the board for a motion to let himself and either the chair or the treasurer meet outside of the meeting to discuss all end of year business, essentially hiding public discussion of additional compensation.

As part of his investigation, Detective Sgt. Sleeter also interviewed Robert Petersen, a former board member, who held a seat on the board in 2022.

The detective and Petersen discussed incentive pay and bonuses, according to the report. Petersen defended the bonuses. He said they were based on work that generates revenue for the district outside of normal duties and surplus grant money.

If you know (Mattson), he works 12, 14 hours a day whether he needs to or not, Petersen told the detective. I think (Mattsons bonus) was pretty close to ($33,000) in two or three previous years. Looking back at stuff, (the 2022 bonus) was not out of the ordinary.

Detective Sleeter attempted to interview the former board treasurer, who declined, according to the police report.

MISSING RECORDS

There were additional allegations that Mattson destroyed public records, deleted emails and email accounts, including messages with Ed McBroom, the state senator whose district covers Delta County, according to the report.

Im irritated with Mr. Kaplan referencing me and my office numerous times in his long battle with Mr. Mattson, McBroom told MLive.

McBroom spoke favorably of Mattson.

During his tenure there, the conservation district put more forestry acres into forest management plans, he got the (park) running very well and profitably for the county, he helped with the county recreation plans, McBroom said. I mean, I think the guy overall was a tremendous asset to natural resources and recreation in Delta County -- and throughout the U.P.

Kaplan and Williams also accused Mattson and the district of burning records after finding charred remains of arial photos behind the district office, according to the report. Mattson said they were unneeded records used by the parks manager to start a brush fire.

Mattson, who is in his sixties, retired at the end of 2023 and efforts to continue with the district or county in a consulting or advising role were rejected.

The state police investigation was forwarded to the AGs Office in March 2024, according to the police report logs. Charges have not yet been declined or authorized in the case.

The review by our office, for potential criminal wrongdoing in this matter, remains ongoing, AG spokesperson Danny Wimmer said in a May 9 email. I am unable to provide an estimated timeline for completion (of the investigation) at this time.

MOVING FORWARD

Nearly 1,500 young trees lined the walls of a pole barn inside the Delta County fairgrounds on a recent spring day.

Inside, current board members and conservation staff with dirty hands were prepping for the annual tree sale fundraiser.

Delta Conservation District Manager, Heather LeDuc, poses for a portrait during their tree sale fundraiser at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, Mich. on April 23, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Despite the turmoil of the last several years, board members and staff say the conservation district is in a positive place.

Since county parks are now managed separately from the conservation district, more energy is focused on community outreach and programming, said Mattsons replacement, Heather LeDuc.

Treasurer Mike Segorski said his concerns over Mattson led him to run for office.

It was anything that Rory wanted to be and run by the seat of his pants, Segorski said. His demeanor (was) to seek more property and more power, I couldnt see as being a proper method or motivation.

Segorski said the records he received from Mattsons regime were chaotic and it took many hours and help from forensic accountants to untangle the finances. Now, he said the proper checks and balances are in place.

Delta County Conservation District Treasurer, Mike Segorski talks with MLive reporter Gus Burns about the recent change in leadership for the conservation district, while theyre were preparing for the annual tree sale fundraiser at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, Mich. on April 23, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

BURIAL GROUNDS

Back at Kaplan and Williams retreat-like home, not far from the burial grounds where it all started, their three rescued pit bulls chew bones on mats near the fireplace.

Kaplan and Williams are both elected politicians now, not something they foresaw three years ago. The Mattson controversy seems like old news.

They remain hopeful the AGs Office will take some action but believe the political system worked the way its intended. They got involved, achieved power and made change.

Kaplan and Williams hope others will do the same.

Its a small community, people trust each other and you can take advantage of that trust, Kaplan said.
The average voter has probably never heard of a conservation district.

Yet last year in Michigan, these little-known public bodies cumulatively spent more than $32 million.
Six arrested in dawn raids on suspicion of smuggling hundreds of migrants into UK to work in care homes

Six arrested in dawn raids on suspicion of smuggling hundreds of migrants into UK to work in care homes

Six people suspected of illegally smuggling hundreds of migrants into the UK to work in care homes have been arrested.

An alleged organised crime boss was among those apprehended in dawn raids on Tuesday.

The group is accused of unlawfully bringing 200 Botswana nationals into Britain over a two-year period, leading them into a life of fraud and exploitation.

They are believed to have assisted the migrants with illegal employment in care homes, despite them having no adequate training or medical expertise, the Home Office said.

Five men and one woman were arrested in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford.

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The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was taken into custody in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of migrants into the UK.

They are accused of assisting migrants in submitting false asylum claims using fake documents and helping them gain employment illegally.

Officers acted on intelligence that suggested the lead people-smuggler was exploiting Botswanan nationals he lured to Britain under false pretences allegedly forcing them to do unpaid work.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis with immigration enforcement officers (Home Office)

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: I want to commend the dedication and professionalism of our criminal investigators and Immigration Enforcement officers for these significant arrests. Their tireless efforts have disrupted criminal networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining our immigration system.

ADVERTISEMENT

This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation.

Our enforcement teams work day and night to protect our borders and communities from harm, and this successful operation is testament to their commitment.

The Government remains resolute in our approach to tackle illegal migration and the criminal enterprises that enable it, and through our Plan for Change will continue to restore order to the asylum system that collapsed in recent years."

Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, Phillip Parr, added: This is one of our highest priority investigations due to the scale of the threat, the number of people believed to be involved, the immense harm these victims are potentially at risk of, and the amount of financial gain the suspects stand to make.

One man from Botswana aged 37, two Zimbabwean men aged 39 and 50, two British men aged 36 and 46, and a British woman aged 33 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to do an act to help an asylum seeker enter the UK and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.
OpenAI to Acquire Io, Plans Consumer AI Hardware Push

OpenAI has announced plans to acquire io, an artificial intelligence hardware startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in an all-stock transaction valued at nearly $6.5 billion. The deal, OpenAI's largest to date, is aimed at creating a dedicated division for the development of AI-powered consumer devices.

The acquisition will bring to OpenAI a team of approximately 55 hardware engineers, software developers, and manufacturing specialists. The io team includes several high-profile former Apple employees who played key roles in designing landmark products such as the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.

"Two years ago, Jony Ive and the creative collective LoveFrom, quietly began collaborating with Sam Altman and the team at OpenAI," the company said in a statement. "A collaboration built upon friendship, curiosity and shared values quickly grew in ambition. Tentative ideas and explorations evolved into tangible designs."

"What it means to use technology can change in a profound way," Altman said. "I hope we can bring some of the delight, wonder and creative spirit that I first felt using an Apple Computer 30 years ago."

OpenAI, which developed the ChatGPT chatbot and now holds a valuation of approximately $300 billion, initially acquired a 23% stake in io through a partnership formed in late 2024. That arrangement also included investment from OpenAI's startup fund. Other investors in io include Emerson Collective, Sutter Hill Ventures, Thrive Capital, Maverick Ventures, and SV Angel. OpenAI clarified that Altman holds no equity in io.

The acquisition is expected to close this summer, subject to regulatory approval. Post-acquisition, io will continue to operate from its San Francisco headquarters and will collaborate closely with OpenAI's existing product teams. The effort will be led by OpenAI Vice President of Product Peter Welinder, who will oversee development of the new hardware lineup.

"I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment," Ive said. "While I am both anxious and excited about the responsibility of the substantial work ahead, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an important collaboration. The values and vision of Sam and the teams at OpenAI and io are a rare inspiration."

Ive and Altman have reportedly been exploring product concepts together for the past two years. The initial output of their collaboration is projected for release in 2026. While specific product details remain undisclosed, the partnership is expected to focus on novel computing form factors optimized for AI-first interaction, distinct from traditional smartphones or laptops.

Ive's design firm LoveFrom will remain an independent entity but will assume responsibility for the design of OpenAI's software and hardware products. The firm includes several designers who previously contributed to Apple's hardware and user interface aesthetics. LoveFrom will maintain existing relationships with clients such as Ferrari NV and Airbnb Inc., but will not engage in new large-scale partnerships.

The partnership between OpenAI and io marks a strategic expansion into what industry analysts describe as "physical AI"  the integration of artificial intelligence into consumer devices capable of sensing and responding to real-world environments. Competing firms such as Meta Platforms Inc. and Humane have also entered this space, though recent AI hardware launches have received mixed reviews.
Maths, physics and computer science still important in AI era, says DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis

MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

Rajni Pandey

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Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience.

Rajni Pandey

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Jaya Bachchan calls paps 'Bakwas gande log' as they click her at Rono Mukerji's prayer meet, netizens say 'ye ab jyada hi bol rhi hai'

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Kamal Haasan addresses press conference a day after cancelling Thug Life in Karnataka: "Will speak at the right time"

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Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna and others celebs celebrate Virat Kohli and RCB's win in IPL 2025 finale

Sarika Sharma

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Stolen Movie Review: Abhishek Banerjee shines in a taut thriller backed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane that unpacks class and power

Sriva A is a seasoned film critic with a keen eye for storytelling, cinematography, and performances.

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NCLAT declines relief to Gensol entities on asset freeze, asks BluSmart and Matrix to approach NCLT

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Will Trump coin allow foreign adversaries funnel money to Donald Trump? Here's what US President's eldest son says

Debaroti Adhikary

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Elon Musks Starlink to get licence to begin satellite services in India: Report

Debaroti Adhikary

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

Danish Khan

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Important to show the world EU and India believe in free trade, not trade wars: French minister for foreign trade

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Majority of states want tax revenue share with Centre hiked to 50%: Finance Commission chairman Arvind Panagariya

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Nifty50 unlikely to move beyond 25,000 or fall below 22,000, says Emkay CIO Manish Sonthalia

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Motilal Oswal MF to launch fund that covers 1,000 stocks; should you invest?

Abhinav Kaul

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Exclusive: OfBusiness to pick up stake in Bengaluru-based apparel exporter Indian Designs in fifth deal ahead of IPO

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Tushar Goenka is a breaking news reporter who focuses on startups. Interested in venture capital, quick commerce, e-commerce, food delivery and D2C.

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Deblina Halder

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6 Pakistani fighter jets shot down, 10 UCAVs taken out in India's Operation Sindoor: Report

Surabhi Pandey

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Allahabad HC denies relief to Rahul Gandhi: 'No freedom to make defamatory remarks on Indian Army'

Parimal Peeyush

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Australia backs New Delhi's anti-terrorism stand: 'Can I start by passing my PMs condolences for Pahalgam terror attack'

Smriti Mishra

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Bengaluru stampede: Chinnaswamy Stadium has a capacity of 35,000, but 2-3 lakh people came to RCB parade, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Hemant Abhishek

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Bengaluru stampede: From RCB victory parade at Chinnaswamy Stadium to Maha Kumbh  list of major stampedes in India

101Reporters

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Bihar elections 2025: BJP looks to tap 2.75 crore non-resident Biharis in mega outreach ahead of polls

Parimal Peeyush

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BJP doing dirty politics in name of Operation Sindoor: Aaditya Thackeray backs demand for special Parliament session

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Chhabi Kala

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Ria Kapoor

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Sonalee Borgohain

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Had Kanhaiya Lal case remained with Rajasthan police, justice would have been delivered: Former CM Gehlot

101Reporters

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'Have to retire lame horses': Rahul Gandhi's big message to Congress old guard?

Priyanjali Ghose

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'Hurdles still exist': Bilawal Bhutto's big admission on Pakistan's failure to raise Kashmir issue at UN

Parimal Peeyush

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'India can talk to Pakistan if...': Shashi Tharoor reveals the real problem in dealing with Islamabad

Parimal Peeyush

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Surabhi Pandey

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IndiGo flight carrying over 190 passengers from Ahmedabad to Patna gets bomb threat: Report

Ria Kapoor

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Smriti Mishra

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No scope for any politicking: Rijiju on impeachment motion against HC Judge Yashwant Varma

Smriti Mishra

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Pakistan PM Sharif's frantic message to provinces as India's IWT move keeps Islamabad on edge

Armaan Bhatnagar

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PM Modi emphasises on strength of indigenous weapons in Council of Ministers meeting

101Reporters

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Paid agent of China or Pakistan: BJP tears into Rahul Gandhi over 'surrender' remark on Operation Sindoor

101Reporters

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Watch: Foreign journalist shuts down Bilawal Bhuttos 'Muslims being demonised in India claim at UN

Priyanjali Ghose

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'Welcome step, should appreciate': PDP leader Iltija Mufti's rare praise for PM Modi ahead of J&K visit

Priyanjali Ghose

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Balwant Singh Mehta is Professor at Institute for Human Development (IHD), New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Op Sindoor will be the nucleus of BJPs election drive

Namrata Agarwal

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Shubhi Mishra

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Rishi Sunak jumps from stands to celebrate RCB IPL win. 'Narayana Murthy won't like this,' say netizens

Ankita Sengupta

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Indias first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, to launch in early 2027, says Dr Jitendra Singh

Sheetal Kumari

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Japans ispace eyes Moon landing with Resilience spacecraft on June 5  heres when and where to watch it live

Sheetal Kumari

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Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms.

Sheetal Kumari

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Ankita Chakravarti is a seasoned journalist with nearly a decade of experience in media. She specializes in technology and lifestyle journalism. She has worked with top Indian media houses like India Today, Zee News, The Statesman, and Millennium Post. Her expertise spans tech trends, phone launches, gadget reviews, and entertainment news. Ankita holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication along with a degree in English Literature. She can be reached out at ankita.chakravarti@nw18.com

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Nvidia is building a new AI chip for China that follows US rules

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Sony PlayStation State of Play 2025: Date, time, how to watch, and expected announcements

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Shaurya Shubham

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Priyanka Roshan

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'Agroterrorism Weapon': FBI accuses Chinese researchers of sneaking in fungus that could threaten US agriculture

Surabhi Pandey

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As Pakistan set to chair UNSC Taliban sanctions committee, India may gear up to counter moves via allies

Aishwarya Dabhade

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The prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology  a Northern Virginia magnet school  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.

President Donald 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.
Abhinav Gupta

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Rohit Singh

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This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources

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Alpha Desk

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From a Baltic island to Ukraines warfront: The unlikely journey of a 3D-printed gun

Arindam Roy

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I like President Xi but he's extremely hard to make a deal with, says Donald Trump

J Jagannath

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Note: To be eligible for nomination in the 'Special Award Category', you must nominate a minimum of 5 entries. Failure to meet this criteria will result in automatic disqualification of your nomination in the 'Special Award Category', and it will not be considered by the jury during evaluation.

Data-Driven TV Campaign In this category we are looking for nominees that have identified, targeted and purchased an audience on linear TV or over-the-top, including connected TV campaigns. Innovation in targeting, planning, interactivity or measurement are all considered  20000

Best Programmatic Out-Of-Home Activation In this category we are looking for campaigns or strategy that emplifies the success and innovation in OOH marketing - using programmatic as a tool (Digital Signage to Location Data)  20000

Multichannel Marketing - Four Channels or more In this category we are looking for integrated marketing campaign which makes best use of every channel available and has followed the best pratice in real channel integration  20000

Best Use of Branded Content - Agency\Publisher In this category we are looking for best use of branded content by an agency\publisher to achieve the desired client/brand result  20000

Publisher First-Party Data Platform In this category we are looking how publisher are using their First Party data to generate insights for clients , target and measure results. This award recognices the excellence in a Publisher first party data platform  20000

Best Chatbot Solution In this category we are looking Chatbots that helps organisation of all sizes to provide better service to their customers and automating processes  20000

Best Data-Driven Marketing Campaign This nomination recognizes a marketing campaign that leveraged data analytics effectively to drive significant results, demonstrating innovation, creativity, and measurable impact on key performance indicators.  20000

Most Innovative Use of Customer Data This award recognizes companies that have demonstrated exceptional creativity and effectiveness in utilizing customer data to drive business growth and enhance customer experiences. Nominees in this category have implemented groundbreaking strategies that leverage customer data to inform decision-making, personalize interactions, and drive innovation  20000

Most Effective Data-Driven Email Marketing Campaign This category recognizes the email marketing campaign that effectively utilizes data-driven insights to personalize content, target audiences accurately, and drive exceptional results. From segmentation strategies to dynamic content, this campaign showcases the power of data in optimizing email marketing efforts.  20000

Excellence in Data-Driven Social Media Marketing Recognizes outstanding strategies that leverage data analytics to drive impactful and measurable results in social media campaigns. This category celebrates innovative approaches that harness the power of data to optimize targeting, content creation, and engagement, ultimately delivering exceptional ROI  20000

Best Use of AI in Data-Driven Marketing This nomination recognizes exemplary utilization of AI in leveraging data for marketing purposes, demonstrating innovation, impact, and effectiveness in driving customer engagement and ROI.  20000

Most Impactful Data-Driven Content Marketing Campaign This campaign utilized robust data analysis to tailor content precisely to audience preferences, resulting in unprecedented engagement and conversion rates. By leveraging data-driven insights, the campaign not only captivated the target audience but also drove tangible business outcomes.  20000

Excellence in Real-Time Data-Driven Marketing This category honors organizations that have demonstrated outstanding proficiency in leveraging real-time data for their marketing efforts, driving impactful campaigns, and achieving measurable results swiftly. It celebrates excellence in utilizing data-driven insights to dynamically adapt marketing  20000

Best Use of Location-Based Data in Marketing This award recognizes innovative and effective utilization of location-based data to enhance marketing strategies. Nominees have demonstrated exceptional creativity and strategic thinking in leveraging location data to target, engage, and convert audiences effectively.  20000

Most Effective Data-Driven Retargeting Campaign This campaign utilized sophisticated data analytics to effectively re-engage users who had previously interacted with the brand, resulting in significant increases in conversion rates and ROI. By leveraging granular user data and personalized messaging, it successfully turned lost leads into loyal customers.  20000

Excellence in Cross-Channel Data Integration Recognizes outstanding achievements in seamlessly integrating data across various channels to enhance business insights and decision-making processes. This nomination category celebrates organizations that demonstrate innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness in leveraging data from diverse sources to drive holistic strategies and deliver exceptional customer experiences.  20000

Best Use of Data-Driven Influencer Marketing This category recognizes campaigns that exemplify exceptional utilization of data-driven insights to strategically collaborate with influencers, resulting in measurable impact and engagement.  20000

Most Creative Use of Data-Driven Storytelling This category celebrates innovative approaches to storytelling that leverage data to engage, inform, and inspire audiences. Nominated projects demonstrate exceptional creativity in utilizing data to craft compelling narratives that resonate with their target audience.  20000

Excellence in Data-Driven Marketing Automation Recognizes companies that demonstrate outstanding utilization of data-driven strategies to automate marketing processes, enhancing customer engagement and driving business growth. This category celebrates innovative approaches that leverage data insights to optimize targeting, personalization, and campaign effectiveness, ultimately delivering exceptional ROI.  20000

Most Impactful Use of Data-Driven Customer Feedback This nomination recognizes a company that has leveraged data-driven customer feedback to make significant improvements or innovations in their products, services, or customer experience, leading to tangible positive outcomes.  20000

Best Use of Behavioral Data in Marketing Strategy This category recognizes innovative and impactful strategies that leverage behavioral data to enhance marketing initiatives. Nominees demonstrate exceptional creativity and effectiveness in utilizing consumer behavior insights to drive engagement, conversion, and loyalty.  20000

Most Effective Data-Driven Loyalty Program This award recognizes a loyalty program that harnesses data analytics to personalize customer experiences, drive engagement, and maximize customer lifetime value. The winning program demonstrates innovative use of data-driven insights to enhance customer loyalty and increase retention.  20000

Excellence in Data-Driven SEO Strategy This category celebrates outstanding implementation of data-driven methodologies to optimize search engine visibility and drive organic traffic. Nominees demonstrate exemplary use of analytics, algorithms, and insights to achieve remarkable results in SEO performance.  20000

Most Innovative Use of Data-Driven Augmented Reality (AR) This nomination showcases a pioneering application of data-driven augmented reality (AR) in marketing, seamlessly integrating consumer insights with AR technology to deliver personalized, immersive experiences that drive engagement and conversion.  20000

Excellence in Data-Driven Mobile Marketing This category recognizes outstanding achievements in leveraging data analytics to drive successful mobile marketing campaigns. Nominees demonstrate excellence in utilizing data insights to target, engage, and convert mobile audiences effectively, resulting in measurable business outcomes and enhanced customer experiences  20000

Excellence in Data-Driven Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Campaigns Recognizes campaigns that effectively leverage data analytics to optimize SEM strategies, driving exceptional results in terms of reach, engagement, and ROI. This category celebrates innovative approaches that harness the power of data to enhance targeting, ad performance, and overall campaign success.  20000

Best Use of AI in Marketing Campaigns This nomination recognizes exemplary utilization of artificial intelligence in crafting and executing marketing campaigns, demonstrating innovation, effectiveness, and impact.  20000

Outstanding AI-driven Content Creation This category recognizes exceptional content created through innovative AI-driven processes, showcasing the power of artificial intelligence in generating engaging and valuable materials. Nominees in this category demonstrate cutting-edge approaches to content creation that push the boundaries of creativity and efficiency.  20000

Best Use of AI Chatbots in Customer Service This nomination recognizes exemplary implementation of AI chatbots in customer service, where innovative technology seamlessly enhances customer experience, streamlines support processes, and resolves inquiries efficiently.  20000

Most Innovative AI-powered Email Marketing Campaign This category honors the most groundbreaking and effective email marketing campaign leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance personalization, automation, and engagement. The nominated campaign should demonstrate how AI-driven strategies have resulted in significant improvements in customer interaction, conversion rates, and overall campaign success.  20000

Excellence in AI-Driven Lead Generation Campaign This award recognizes outstanding achievements in leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance lead generation processes. Nominees should demonstrate innovative use of AI technologies to significantly improve lead quality, increase conversion rates, and optimize overall marketing efficiency.  20000
Karachi hit by 26 tremors in four days; quakes range between 2.0 and 3.6 magnitude

Aishwarya Dabhade

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One dead, five injured in mass shooting in Torontos Lawrence Heights

Deblina Halder

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Pakistan dumps 118 projects worth PKR 1,000 billion to please IMF, but set to raise military spending by 18%

Abhinav Gupta

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Putin vowed to 'respond' to Ukraine drone attack, says Trump after talks with Russian President

Abhinav Gupta

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Russia's huge battlefield cost: Almost 1 million dead or wounded in Ukraine conflict, new report estimates

Abhinav Gupta

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Ukraine's backers meet to drum up arms and ammunition; Pentagon chief absent for first time

101Reporters

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy wants face-to-face talks with Putin but Russian President shows no willingness

101Reporters

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US charges two Chinese researchers for smuggling toxic fungus: How dangerous is it?

Abhinav Gupta

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Nearly four years after Congress approved a mammoth disaster relief grant to help Oregonians recover from the destructive 2020 wildfires, records show that more than 90% of the money remains unspent, even as hundreds of families await relief.

It has been incredibly frustrating for the communities that were affected, says state Rep. Pam Marsh (D-Ashland). Fire consumed more than 2,600 homes in Jackson County, most of them in Marshs district. Hundreds of families in Jackson and other fire-afflicted counties remain homeless or marginally housed from the 2020 blazes.

Marsh, chair of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, says she has been in frequent contact with Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state agency administering the federal disaster money.

I dont underestimate the complexity of the rules around how the money can be distributed, Marsh says, but its been years.

In response to a mid-May public records request and subsequent questions from the Oregon Journalism Project, Delia Hernandez, a spokeswoman for Oregon Housing and Community Services, acknowledged the rollout of the federal aid, which it calls ReOregon, hasnt gone as the department hoped.

The agencys risk tolerance slowed down the process, Hernandez says. Another challenge was that OHCS had not engaged in disaster recovery work of this scale. The agency was trying to figure out: Where did the state lead and where did it take a back seat?

As Oregon prepares for the 2025 wildfire season  one that experts expect will be worse than normal  Oregon Housing and Community Services will be tested again. The agency has tripled in size over the past decade as the state battles a housing crisis, but it had no experience in disaster relief because Oregon had never experienced the residential destruction it saw in 2020.

That year five megafires (which the state defines as 100,000 acres or more) ignited during the Labor Day weekend, consuming more than 850,000 acres and more than 4,000 homes.

Politicians acted quickly. In 2021, Oregon lawmakers allocated $150 million for fire recovery. That same year, Congress authorized an even bigger amount of federal funding: a $422 million grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

That grant, unprecedented for Oregon, drew widespread media coverage. We are going to work really hard to meet all the federal requirements and try to use these funds as fast as we possibly can, OHCSs Hernandez told KGW on Nov. 3, 2021. But she cautioned, Its still the beginning of a long and complex process.

Caryn Wheeler Clay, the outgoing long-term recovery director for Jackson County, says displaced residents have faced endless bureaucratic hurdles. It has taken an insane amount of learning to get this money moving, she says.

The HUD money, Wheeler Clay explains, is designed to be gap funding, the last dollars after homeowners have exhausted state funding, insurance proceeds, and other funding sources. In practice, she says, repeated requests for the same information has ground down many survivors. The number of times people have had to retell their stories is bananas, she adds.

In Jackson County, 89% of residents who lost their homes were on some form of public assistance, and many lived in old manufactured homes that lacked insurance or equity value.

Peoples experience in other parts of the state is similar. Its been absolutely ridiculous, says state Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Scio), whose district includes the heavily damaged Santiam Canyon (After the Inferno, OJP, Feb. 5).

Kaety Jacobson, who left her position as Lincoln Countys point person for fire recovery in February, says trying to work with Oregon Housing and Community Services left her incredibly frustrated.

They just could not execute, says Jacobson, a Lincoln County commissioner from 2019 to 2025. There were lots of false starts.

On May 28, Marsh summoned top OHCS officials to brief her Housing and Homelessness Committee.

OHCS Chief Financial Officer Caleb Yant told lawmakers his agency feels confident the Trump administration will not withdraw the unspent dollars before the grant expires in 2029. The agency has also made substantial funding commitments to survivors in recent months and reached an agreement with HUD in May allowing greater flexibility in distributing the biggest pot of money. But Yant apologized for how slowly dollars have gotten to fire survivors.

We had never done this before, he said. The programs didnt work as intended.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Tina Kotek says Kotek is frustrated with the pace of recovery and the distribution of federal dollars.

The governor acknowledges that ReOregon was initially difficult to navigate for many people who need the support and did not meet community expectations, Roxy Mayer says. (She) will not be satisfied until all 2020 wildfire survivors have access to safe and stable housing.

Related stories:
TC Chamber President Mat Galvan speaks as TC Supervisor Steve Griefer is seated View Photo

Sonora, CA  A Town Hall recently focused on business initiatives of the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce, and featured a keynote speech from District Four Supervisor Steve Griefer.

It was held at the Mother Lode Job Training Office on Mono Way in Sonora, and about a dozen people were on hand.

Chamber Board President Mat Galvan said he hopes to have similar-type meetings moving forward, and the goal is to, listen, share, and collaborate. Alex Bloom, an Economic Development Manager with Mother Lode Job Training and the Central Sierra Economic Development District, also spoke, primarily about improvement plans for downtown Jamestown.

During Griefers presentation, he noted that he is a strong supporter of small businesses. As a former CHP Officer, he said that when business was good, it was often a quieter time for him as a peace officer. He expressed a willingness to look at reducing fees to make it easier for businesses to survive and thrive. In addition, he talked about eliminating hurdles to receiving building permits and streamlining the process. He also talked about recent county budget cuts, and noted that the last thing they want to do is impact services.

Chamber President Galvan talked about several of the business organizations recent and upcoming initiatives, and then sought input from the group. One of the issues that came up was rent being a big barrier for businesses, and some are now looking at collaboration to reduce overhead.

Galvans bullet points he compiled for the presentation, are provided below:

What The Chamber is

A Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven organization that advocates for and supports the success of local businesses through networking, policy advocacy, and economic development initiatives. The Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, meaning it is a business league focused on promoting the common interests of its members. It serves as a unifying voice for the local business community, helping to create a stronger, more resilient economy across Tuolumne County.

What it isnt

The Chamber is not a government agency, charity, or political action committeeit exists solely to serve and advocate for the business community.

Vision

A vibrant local economy & community where collaboration fosters innovation & resiliency.

Mission

To lead a resilient & innovative community by empowering business with advocacy and resources.

Resources

The Chamber offers several resources through its network and partnerships.

Free Workshops & Education

Connecting with Lenders & Funding

Entrepreneurial Technical Support

Small Business Technical Support

Free HR Assistance

Assistance with navigating regulations & policies

Local Research & Data

Monthly Newsletter

Assistance with identifying funding & grant opportunities

Connect with local stakeholders and leaders

Connect with regional stakeholders and leaders

Policy Advocacy

Networking Opportunities

Projects

The Chamber is involved with and/or leading several projects across the county and the region. We are committed to supporting and staying involved with the community.

Sierra Sourced

Jamestown Main Street Revival

Leadership Tuolumne

Tuolumne County 175th Celebration

Youth Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship

Workshops

The Chamber offers several workshops to business owners who are looking to grow professionally.

Marketing in rural area

Small business conference

SBDC funding expo

HR leadership

Leadership Training

Social Media Management

Utilizing AI

Events

The Chamber hosts several events and fundraisers throughout the year, providing business owners with multiple opportunities to network with the business community!

Mixers

Town Halls

Taste of Tuolumne

Farm to Table Dinners

Annual Awards Gala

Business Expos

Drink Cart

Sierra Sourced

Sierra Sourced is a regional economic development initiative aimed at uniting local makers, producers, and trade-based businesses across our region. By creating a cohesive brand and fostering collaboration, the project seeks to elevate the visibility and market reach of locally made products.

Sierra Sourced operates through a structured Affinity Program, which allows businesses to participate at various levels, offering multiple ways to get involved, grow their brand, and align with core values like sustainability, local empowerment, and craftsmanship.

The Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce will soon be hiring a Business Services Manager to lead the initiative!

Community Resilience Committee

Established March 2025

Developed to offer targeted economic development support in Tuolumne County communities identified as priority areas

Tailored approach, focusing on one community at a time, developing strategy and implementing solutions

Working in collaboration with the Central Sierra Economic Development District, local businesses and CBOs

Works to be non-duplicative and additive to existing efforts, creating an ecosystem of local support for our communities

Empowering communities to be strong stewards of their progress and development

Community Resilience Committee

First area of focus is Jamestown

Community Survey May 20  June 11

Town Hall, June 20 at Jamestown Community Hall

Community clean-up day  Summer 25 date TBD

Main Street beautification efforts

Planters, lighting, wayfinding signage, additional crosswalk

Collaborating with Jamestown Promotion Club, CBOs, and local businesses

Encouraging community-led economic development, and a strong foundation for the future

Government Affairs

Our Chamber of Commerce manages an aggressive government affairs advocacy program combining research, government relations and communications.

Through your Board of Directors and Government Affairs Council, our Chamber has forged key relationships with elected officials and leaders of government agencies on the local, regional and state level.
California High Speed Rail View Photo

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The Trump administration signaled Wednesday that it intends to cut off federal funding for a long-delayed California high-speed rail project plagued by multibillion-dollar cost overruns, following the release of a scathing federal report that concluded there is no viable path to complete even a partial section of the line.

Voters first authorized $10 billion in borrowed funds in 2008 to cover about a third of the estimated cost, with a promise the train would be up and running by 2020. Five years beyond that deadline, no tracks have been laid and its estimated price tag has ballooned to over $100 billion.

In a letter to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, which oversees the project, Federal Railroad Administration acting Administrator Drew Feeley wrote that what was envisioned as an 800-mile system connecting the states major cities has been reduced to a blueprint for a 119-mile track to nowhere.

After a $4 billion federal investment, the California agency has conned the taxpayer  with no viable plan to deliver even that partial segment on time, Feeley wrote.

State officials defended whats known as the nations largest infrastructure project and said they remain committed to construction, though its not clear what funding would replace the federal support if its withdrawn. Feeley noted the FRA could seek repayment of the federal funds but is not proposing to claw back those dollars at this time.

Carol Dahmen, the state authoritys chief of strategic communications, said in a statement that the federal conclusions are misguided and do not reflect the substantial progress made to deliver high-speed rail in California.

Dahmen noted that the majority of the funding for the line has been provided by the state and that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsoms budget proposal would extend at least $1 billion a year for 20 years to complete an initial segment of the line.

State officials are focused on a stretch connecting the Central Valley cities of Bakersfield and Merced, which is set to be operating by 2033.

The state agency has about a month to formally respond to the FRA, after which the grants could be terminated.

State Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach who is vice chair of the Transportation Committee, said that commonsense has prevailed and urged the Legislatures dominant Democrats to redirect the funds from the rail line to lowering gas prices or investing in viable construction projects.

Lets stop wasting Californias hard-earned taxpayer dollars, Strickland said.

There is no known source for the billions of dollars that would be needed to complete the line.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri suggested in April that private investors could step in and fill the funding gap for the project that promised nonstop rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles in under three hours. At the time, he acknowledged that even if funding is secured, it might take nearly two more decades to complete most of that segment.

President Donald Trump  who canceled nearly $1 billion in federal dollars for the project in his first term  said in May that his administration will not continue to fund the line. That train is the worst cost overrun Ive ever seen, Trump told reporters at the time, calling it totally out of control.

California Democratic U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff called the administrations announcement a devastating blow for 21st century transportation and an effort to punish a heavily Democratic state that didnt support the Republican president in the election.

High-speed rail is the future of transportation with the potential to bring customers to new businesses, businesses to new employees and to connect communities hundreds of miles away with affordable and faster transit, they said in a joint statement.

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD

Associated Press
Yves here. Uries cool headline introduces a sober analysis of how batshit crazy the Ukraine attacks on Russia have been. At best, they reveal a seriously miscalibrated risk-return assessment, due one presumed to having inhaled lots of Ukraine propaganda and hopium.

A point that seems to be missed in terms of crossing red lines on Cold War nuclear understandings is that this will put at least Russia on heightened alert, and may also do so in other nuclear powers. Heightened alert = heightened propensity to [re]act = greatly increased odds of mishap.

A new video with Chas Freeman on Neutrality Studies confirms a point GM made in comments yesterday from GM that readers seemed not to want to hear, that a conventional weapons attack on nuclear-deterrence assets, per Cold War agreements, is tantamount to a nuclear strike, and therefore per the rules of engagement, does legitimate a nuclear response:

Traditionally the elements of a nuclear deterrent force on both the American and the Soviet side, the Russian side if you will, have been exempt from attack for the very simple reason that both countries regard a an attack with conventional weapons on their nuclear deterrent capacity as equivalent to a nuclear attack and justifying a nuclear response. Both sides take this very seriously. Of course, Ukraine is not part of the salt uh agreements, nor is the UK. So, they are free, I suppose, mischievously to challenge this exemption, and theyve done so, and its very dangerous.

By Robert Urie, author of Zen Economics, artist, and musician who publishes The Journal of Belligerent Pontification on Substack

Theories abound that recently increased hostilities between Ukraine and Russia are to gain strategic advantage for upcoming negotiations. Irrespective, the recklessness of the American assault on Russia carried out by Ukraine, begs the question of why rabid poodle Volodymyr Zelensky remains in power? An American leader who objected to the drone attacks would have placed Zelensky on the back burner for the recklessness of the act.

What appears to have taken place is that the US, through its Ukrainian proxy, used the nuclear weapons treaty requirement that strategic nuclear bombers be kept in the open for monitoring purposes as it tried, but failed, to murder the President of Russia in a separate, but related, incident. Five or six strategic bombers out of forty are rumored to have been destroyed. Vladimir Putin lived.

How precisely not-constructive these actions have been is difficult to convey in words. The Wests pre-nuclear mindset, where nuclear weapons are just larger conventional weapons, now appears to represent the American view. They arent. They produce wildly different effects than conventional weapons do. Add to this the nuclear postures of the key players, and it is the psychology of nuclear escalation tied to their destructive power that makes nuclear weapons such a horrible idea.

One drawback to attacking airplanes that are housed in the open due to treaty requirements is that doing so incentivizes treaty participants to hide them going forward, to abrogate a key provision of the treaty. But the larger problem is that attacking nuclear assets signals to the Russians that their nuclear assets are being attacked. Similar actions might be taken were the West to launch a nuclear first-strike. (No such conclusion is known to have been drawn by the Russians).

The questions of 1) what Donald Trump knew about the attack and 2) when he knew it, are almost moot. This infantile daring-the-gods-to-destroy-us was a primary characteristic of the Biden administrations foreign policy. Most Americans have no idea how close Bidens foreign policy team brought the US to nuclear Armageddon in its final days. So, suicidal nuclear gamesmanship against Russia while committing genocide in Gaza? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

While optimists are still holding out hope that Donald Trump will pull a rabbit out of a hat and come to terms with Russia regarding Ukraine, trying to murder ones negotiating partner is an Israeli tactic that signals that decapitation and regime change are the ultimate goals of the attack. In early 2022, the reported goal of the Biden administrations war in Ukraine was decapitation and regime change inside Russia. Reports stating such were scrubbed from the internet within a few days of the launch of Russias SMO.

The problem for humanity is that if Donald Trump cant see the players for who they are and the play for what it is, even more war will be the result. Mr. Trump had an opportunity to 1) end arms shipments and war funding to Ukraine and 2) declare an end to US participation in the war. His choice to surround himself with neocons is easy enough to explain. The bipartisan religion in DC is war. It feeds the MIC, which in turn feeds the campaign coffers of the uniparty. Mr. Trump only has neocons in his administration because only neocons inhabit official Washington.

Were Trump to exhibit a clue, his much-lauded interest in peace might be more plausible. As Mr. Trump negotiates with Iran, the Israeli state armed and funded by the US, is committing genocide once again in Gaza. This is being carried out with American weapons, American funding, American logistical support, and American political support across West Asia. This makes it an American genocide. Or a proxy-genocide if you prefer.

The tiptoeing around this point by those who want the Ukraine war to be ended is likely less shrewd than imagined. The drone attack against the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in an apparent assassination attempt, is the stuff of geopolitical nightmares. The Israeli model of murdering foreign leaders in the midst of negotiations misses that Mr. Putin is the best negotiating partner for American interests that the West is likely to find. And nuclear war isnt in anyones interest.

For skeptics of US involvement in the plot, the attacks appear to have required global satellite coordination which the Ukrainians do not possess. The aspirational date for Ukraine possessing satellites is 2030. From Adam Entous reporting in the New York Times, the CIA built facilities inside Ukraine for purposes like this. Additionally, per Entous, the war in Ukraine has been run from Wiesbaden, Germany by Americans and Europeans. The Ukrainians are the bodies that the West convinced to die in the conflict. Questions of Ukrainian agency are ignorant in this context.

As evidence emerges in coming weeks of CIA  MI6 ties to the attempt on Mr. Putins life, it will become clearer that1) the locus of power inside the US doesnt reside in the Oval Office and 2) the CIA is now openly running US foreign policy. The plot on Mr. Putins life, if successful, would likely have brought Russian hardliners to power who would match Western bellicosity, but with the largest nuclear arsenal in the world.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merzs threats against Russia are even dumber than US actions to date. Herr Merz is threatening to deploy Taurus missiles to Ukraine to be fired deep into Russia. Some in the Judge Nap(olitano) crowd, I believe Scott Ritter, have claimed that the Taurus missiles can carry nuclear warheads. The information that I could find separately is ambiguous, stating that the Taurus cant accommodate nuclear warheads in most cases.

The problem with the Taurus, should Ritter be correct, is that they can carry nuclear warheads as well as conventional. In practice, the Russians wont know if a Taurus missile that has been launched at Russia is nuclear or conventional until it explodes. The rational assumption is therefore that any Taurus missile fired into Russia is nuclear. And should the Taurus missiles be incapable of carrying nuclear warheads, Russias Oreshnik missile is its conventional hypersonic counter. If Germany wants war with Russia, it can probably be found.

An analogy is that in the US one can be sentenced to twenty-five years in prison for robbing a Post Office of $100, or to three years in prison for stealing the same $100 from a Mini-Mart. In terms of risk / return, robbing the Mini-Mart is the rational choice. However, Herr Merz wants to rob the Post Office. For similar quanta of initial destruction, Herr Merz is choosing the one with the outsized blow back. This would be fine if Herr Merz were putting his own life on the line in such a stupid way. But hes putting our lives on the line for his choice.

For Americans, the Biden and Trump foreign policies are merging. Initial speculation in the establishment press has it that a possible reason is that both Trump and Biden are old and losing their cognitive function. More plausibly, the CIA is now openly running US foreign policy, thereby sidelining presidential prerogative. Conversely, trying to manage US foreign policy with regular CIA bombs going off that are intended to shift the policy direction suggests a rogue agency.

By favoring maximally provocative acts over those likely to cause less blow-back, the US is acting on emotion, not strategy. In one of Donald Trumps rare moments of lucidity, he stated that American Generals and the foreign policy establishment (including CIA) have deep hatred toward the Russians. Question: in what Podunk hellhole do Generals (or the CIA) get to act on their passions rather than what is good for the US?

Continuing public pronouncements from Western politicians that stupid and self-defeating acts must be carried out to send a message to some foreign entity misses that the telephone was invented well over a century ago and has proven to be an effective tool for conducting long-distance conversations. The problem is that the Americans and Europeans are only speaking amongst themselves. The infamous echo-chamber of bad ideas promoted in closed forums is how the Ancien Regime West operates in 2025.

The rumors swirling that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth may have watched the attempt on Vladimir Putins life in real time should deeply concern every American. Irrespective of what readers may think of Mr. Putin, he is 1) a national leader, 2) who has the backing of the people of Russia, 3) with the support of political leaders representing 80% of the population of the planet, and 4) he leads the nation that has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world.

Should the rumor be true, Hegseth is unqualified to clean Port-o-Potties for a living. Had his rumored efforts been successful, he would have been the proverbial dog that caught the car tire. Between the assassination effort and the destruction of Russian nuclear assets, an assumption by the Russians that an attack on Russia was underway would have been rational. This is an instance where the Russian Nuclear Doctrine is clear Russia will use nuclear weapons if the existence of Russia is threatened. But the drone attacks dont match that scale.

Further, Americans should really consider how the US would respond if the leadership of Ausland (an imaginary country) attempted to murder the President of the US while doing its best to create fears of nuclear calamity. Before pushing back that the leaders of Ausland were conducting a war against innocents abroad, the same has been a criticism of US foreign policy for all of my life. So, under the Western theory that murdering foreign leaders (e.g. Israel v Iran) is okay, what possible complaint could the US have were a US President to meet this same fate? To be clear, this is a matter of political logic, not a threat. The US would respond to end the threat, even if doing so meant ending humanity.

As Americans survey their fine works escalating war with Russia and an unfolding re-genocide in Gaza, the question of the genesis of the conflict with Russia has re-arisen. The question du jour: did Russia have a choice but to launch its SMO in 2022? The existential point that even with a gun to ones head, one always has a choice, has been the fallback cliche for Americans. American liberals (who launched both the war and the genocide) have maintained that some vaguely defined force (the UN, the French, the Germans) could have been appealed to to mediate between the US and Russia.

But this assumption is unrealistic, and the only reason that it persists is that no one promoting it has gone through the steps to explain how it would work. Former leaders of both France (Hollande) and Germany (Merkel) have publicly stated that the Minsk II negotiations were only put forward to buy time for Ukraine to be armed. Given this history, how could either France or Germany then be counted on to be fair mediators between Russia and the US? And the UN has been understood to be a tool of the West for all of my lifetime.

More to the point, who imagines that the US would be in any way beholden to French or German views on anything. Self-imagined hegemons dont do allies. While Olaf Schulz may have imagined that the Biden administration blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline was somehow a favor to Germany, Germany has been in economic recession since the deed was done. If the US gave the slightest damn about the wellbeing of the German and French people, it wouldnt have destroyed Europes cheap energy supply.

Westerners sanguine about the prospect of nuclear war are fools. The people who will be making nuclear decisions will most likely be making them on narrow, technical grounds. The path along which nuclear annihilation will unfold is explained here by MIT nuclear physicist Ted Postol. Reader opinions regarding Postol are irrelevant unless they address his thesis of nuclear annihilation. While I included this link in my last post, the comments that I am encountering, mainly from young people. are frighteningly naive about how their lives would be affected. They would end.
Yves here. This under-the-radar part of the pending Trump budget bill is yet another manifestation of Lamberts second law of neoliberalism: Die faster! This post gives detail on how it will cut Obamacare coverage.

Obamacare plans are very variable by ZIP code, and many have such limited networks and benefits relative to premiums, even with subsidies, to be a bad deal. But others have policies that are beneficial, even essential, to the individuals and families that sign up. So this is part of the end-state neoliberal trend of gutting social safety nets. Weve been warning that Trump was serious about reverting the US to 1890s conditions, including massive inequality and immiseration of the poor.

By Phil Galewitz< and Julie Appleby. Originally published at KFF Health News

Millions would lose Medicaid coverage. Millions would be left without health insurance. Signing up for health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces would be harder and more expensive.

President Donald Trumps domestic policy legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that cleared the House in May and now moves to the Senate, could also be called Obamacare Repeal Lite, its critics say. In addition to causing millions of Americans to lose their coverage under Medicaid, the health program for low-income and disabled people, the measure includes the most substantial rollback of the ACA since Trumps Republican allies tried to pass legislation in 2017 that would have largely repealed President Barack Obamas signature domestic accomplishment.

One difference today is that Republicans arent describing their legislation as a repeal of the ACA, after the 2017 effort cost them control of the House the following year. Instead, they say the bill would merely reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid and other government health programs.

In a way, this is their ACA repeal wish list without advertising it as Obamacare repeal, said Philip Rocco, an associate professor of political science at Marquette University in Milwaukee and co-author of the book Obamacare Wars: Federalism, State Politics, and the Affordable Care Act.

The GOP, Rocco said, learned eight years ago that the headline of Obamacare repeal is really bad politics.

Democrats have tried to frame Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act as an assault on Americans health care, just as they did with the 2017 legislation.

They are essentially repealing parts of the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said as the House debated the measure in May. This bill will destroy the health care system of this country.

Nearly two-thirds of adults have a favorable view of the ACA, according to polling by KFF, a national health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

In contrast, about half of people polled also say there are major problems with waste, fraud, and abuse in government health programs, including Medicaid, KFF found.

We are not cutting Medicaid, House Speaker Mike Johnson said May 25 on CNNs State of the Union, describing the bills changes as affecting only immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization and able-bodied workers whom he claimed are on Medicaid but dont work.

The program is intended for the most vulnerable populations of Americans, which is pregnant women and young single mothers, the disabled, the elderly, he said. They are protected in what were doing because were preserving the resources for those who need it most.

The 2025 legislation wouldnt cut as deeply into health programs as the failed 2017 bill, which would have led to about 32 million Americans losing insurance coverage, the Congressional Budget Office estimated at the time. By contrast, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with provisions that affect Medicaid and ACA enrollees, would leave nearly 9 million more people without health insurance by 2034, according to the CBO.

That number rises to nearly 14 million if Congress doesnt extend premium subsidies for Obamacare plans that were enhanced during the pandemic to help more people buy insurance on government marketplaces, the CBO says. Without congressional action, the more generous subsidies will expire at the end of the year and most ACA enrollees will see their premiums rise sharply.

The increased financial assistance led to a record 24 million people enrolled in ACA marketplace plans this year, and health insurance experts predict a large reduction without the enhanced subsidies.

Loss of those enhanced subsidies, coupled with other changes set in the House bill, will mean the ACA will still be there, but it will be devastating for the program, said Katie Keith, founding director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law at Georgetown University.

Republicans argue that ACA subsidies are a separate issue from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and accuse Democrats of conflating them.

The House-passed bill also makes a number of ACA changes, including shortening by a month the annual open enrollment period and eliminating policies from Joe Bidens presidency that allowed many low-income people to sign up year-round.

New paperwork hurdles the House bill creates are also expected to result in people dropping or losing ACA coverage, according to the CBO.

For example, the bill would end most automatic reenrollment, which was used by more than 10 million people this year. Instead, most ACA enrollees would need to provide updated information, including on income and immigration status, to the federal and state ACA marketplaces every year, starting in August, well before open enrollment.

Studies show that additional administrative hurdles lead to people dropping coverage, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University.

Not only do people drop out of the process, but it tends to be healthier, younger, lower-income folks who drop out, she said. Thats dumb because they go uninsured. Also, it is bad for the insurance market.

Supporters of the provision say its necessary to combat fraudulent enrollment by ensuring that ACA beneficiaries still want coverage every year or that they are not being enrolled without their permission by rogue sales agents. Most of the Medicaid coverage reductions in the bill, the CBO says, are due to new work requirements and directives for the 21 million adults added to the program since 2014 under an expansion authorized by the ACA.

One new requirement is that those beneficiaries prove their eligibility every six months, instead of once a year, the norm in most states.

That would add costs for states and probably lead to people who are still eligible falling off Medicaid, said Oregon Medicaid Director Emma Sandoe. Oregon has one of the most liberal continuous eligibility policies, allowing anyone age 6 or older to stay on for up to two years without reapplying.

Such policies help ensure people dont fall off for paperwork reasons and reduce administrative burden for the state, Sandoe said. Requiring more frequent eligibility checks would limit the ability of folks to get care and receive health services, and that is our primary goal, Sandoe said.

The 2017 repeal effort was aimed at fulfilling Trumps promises from his first presidential campaign. Thats not the case now. The health policy provisions of the House bill instead would help to offset the cost of extending about $4 trillion in tax cuts that skew toward wealthier Americans.

The Medicaid changes in the bill would reduce federal spending on the program by about $700 billion over 10 years. CBO has not yet issued an estimate of how much the ACA provisions would save.

Timothy McBride, a health economist at Washington University in St. Louis, said Republican efforts to make it harder for what they term able-bodied adults to get Medicaid is code for scaling back Obamacare.

The ACAs Medicaid expansion has been adopted by 40 states and Washington, D.C. The House bills work requirement and added eligibility checks are intended to drive off Medicaid enrollees who Republicans believe never should have been on the program, McBride said. Congress approved the ACA in 2010 with no Republican votes.

Most adult Medicaid enrollees under 65 are already working, studies show. Imposing requirements that people prove theyre working, or that theyre exempt from having to work, to stay on Medicaid will lead to some people losing coverage simply because they dont fill out paperwork, researchers say.

Manatt Health estimates that about 30% of people added to Medicaid through the ACA expansion would lose coverage, or about 7 million people, said Jocelyn Guyer, senior managing director of the consulting firm.

The bill also would make it harder for people enrolled under Medicaid expansions to get care, because it requires states to charge copayments of up to $35 for some specialist services for those with incomes above the federal poverty level,which is $15,650 for an individual in 2025.

Today, copayments are rare in Medicaid, and when states charge them, theyre typically nominal, usually under $10. Studies show cost sharing in Medicaid leads to worse access to care among beneficiaries.

Christopher Pope, a senior fellow with the conservative Manhattan Institute, acknowledged that some people will lose coverage but rejected the notion that the GOP bill amounts to a full-on assault on the ACA.

He questioned the coverage reductions forecast by the CBO, saying the agency often struggles to accurately predict how states will react to changes in law. He said that some states may make it easy for enrollees to satisfy new work requirements, reducing coverage losses.

By comparison, Pope said, the ACA repeal effort from Trumps first term a decade ago would have ended the entire Medicaid expansion. This bill does nothing to stop the top features of Obamacare, Pope said.

But McBride said that while the number of people losing health insurance under the GOP bill is predicted to be less than the 2017 estimates, it would still eliminate about half the ACAs coverage gains, which brought the U.S. uninsured rate to historical lows. It would take us backwards, he said.
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Scene. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.

Metro will be required to cut the Metro Council in half after a split Tennessee Court of Appeals panel on Tuesday ruled that a state law that would cut the Metro Council in half is constitutional.

In 2023, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law capping all metro legislative bodies at 20 members. Metro Nashville immediately sued, arguing the law was a clear violation of the Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution, which prohibits the legislature from passing bills that target a local government. Though the state has other metropolitan governments, only Metro Nashville's has more than 20 members in its legislative body. After a temporary injunction in April 2023 to prevent upheaval in the 2023 Metro elections, a three-judge panel made the injunction permanent in July 2024, writing that the law breached the Home Rule.

Metro Wins Suit Against Governor Over Law to Reduce Council Size Three-judge panel rules act mandating city to cut number of members is unconstitutional in 2-1 judgment

But according to Appellate Judges Steven Stafford and Carma McGee, the trial court was wrong in applying the Home Rule Amendment to this case. The judges found that while another 2023 law from the state legislature attempting to take control of Metros Airport Authority was a clear breach of the Home Rule Amendment, this act clearly applies to all counties that have formed or will form a consolidated metropolitan government, and therefore does not violate the Tennessee Constitution.

We are understandably disappointed and concerned about the rulings implications on local sovereignty, Metro Legal's associate law director Allison Bussell says in a statement. But we are also encouraged by Judge [Kenny] Armstrongs compelling dissent. We are digesting the ruling and considering our options.

Armstrong dissented from the majority opinion, arguing that while the state constitution places a 25-member cap on the number of seats a local government body can have, it specifically exempts metropolitan governments from that cap.

This Year at the Capitol The good, the bad and the ugly from the 2025 session of the Tennessee General Assembly

It is undisputed that Metro qualifies for the exemption contained in the Article, Armstrong writes. The obvious reason for exempting a consolidated government from the restriction on the size of its membership is to accommodate the far larger population of a consolidated government as compared to a single county or municipality.

Metro is likely to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

The 20-member cap would go into effect for the 2027 Metro elections. Metro officials were already in the process of developing new council maps to comply with the 20-member maximum in 2023. The Metro Planning Department has already created maps for both a 15-district option with five at-large members and a 17-member option with three at-large members.

This article first appeared on Nashville Banner and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Business Insider slashes 21% of workforce amid strategic pivot toward AI

Business Insider is cutting 21 percent of its workforce across all departments as part of a restructuring strategy focused on efficiency and long-term sustainability.

CEO Barbara Peng said the company is "going all-in on AI," with tools like generative AI search, an AI-powered paywall and broader automation integrated into operations.

BI is narrowing its editorial scope to areas like business, tech and innovation, shutting down most of its e-commerce operations and expanding its BI Live events division.

The Insider Union condemned the layoffs, calling them a continuation of Axel Springer's "pivot away from journalism toward greed" and criticized the use of AI as a justification for job cuts.

The layoffs are effective immediately, also impacting the U.K. division, with HR directly notifying affected employees. This marks the third major layoff at BI in three years.

Business Insider (BI) is laying off more than one-fifth (21 percent) of its staff as it pivots toward AI-powered content production, streamlined operations and a narrower editorial focus.

The cuts, announced by CEO Barbara Peng in a memo to employees on May 29, affect employees across all departments. Peng described the cuts as part of a "leaner, more focused" strategy centered on AI adoption, live events and targeted coverage areas like business, tech and innovation.

"We are reducing the size of our organization, a move that will impact about 21 percent of our colleagues and touch every department. This will be a difficult day, and our first priority is to provide clarity and support to those colleagues whose roles are being eliminated," Peng wrote in the memo.

Peng indicated in the memo that the media outlet will shut down most of its e-commerce operations due to their reliance on search traffic, though a few high-performing verticals will be retained. At the same time, the company plans to expand its BI Live events business  a growing revenue stream that Peng says allows the company to "showcase our journalism, connect directly with our audience and build a strong portfolio of experiences." (Related: Job cuts in mainstream media outlets could lead to AI TAKEOVER of news industry.)

Moreover, Peng revealed that BI is "going all-in on AI," citing the rollout of multiple AI-powered tools, including generative AI site search and an AI-driven paywall system. She also teased new AI products on the horizon and suggested that automation will be used across business operations to improve efficiency.

Peng also disclosed that BI is narrowing its editorial focus on areas that attract the publication's "most loyal readers," although she did not elaborate on which verticals those are. She noted that 70 percent of the company's business is subject to fluctuations in web traffic and that the organization must be "structured to endure extreme traffic drops outside of our control."

The layoffs are effective immediately, with impacted employees receiving direct communication from HR. BI's United Kingdom division is also affected, with a separate downsizing process underway.

Insider Union criticizes Business Insider for laying off employees over AI

The announcement has drawn strong backlash from the Insider Union, which is affiliated with the NewsGuild of New York.

In a scathing statement, the union called the move "another example of Axel Springer's brazen pivot away from journalism toward greed."

"We were notified that Business Insider management intends to lay off about 20 percent of our members as part of their ongoing strategy' to 'build toward something new,'" the union said. "Let's be clear: This is far from anything new. This is the third round of layoffs in as many years and it is unacceptable that union members and other talented coworkers are again paying the price for the strategic failures of Business Insider's leadership."

The union also took sharp aim at the company's AI push, calling Peng's emphasis on automation "tone-deaf" in the context of mass layoffs. "To say this was tone-deaf to include in an email on layoffs would be an understatement," the statement read. "Our position as a union is that no Al tool or technology should or can take the place of human beings."

Visit FutureTech.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video discussing which jobs are most at risk of being phased out due to AI.

This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.

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Amazon delivery drivers forced to submit to AI-powered camera tracking of their activities INSIDE the vehicle to retain job.

Shopify CEO mandates AI-first hiring policy, reshaping workforce expectations.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
Centralized AIs stranglehold threatens democracy: Can decentralized AI fight back?

A few tech giants (mostly U.S. and China-based) and authoritarian governments control the $4.8 trillion AI industry  raising concerns about privacy, transparency and democracy.

Closed-source systems lack accountability as seen in controversies like Microsoft's harmful AI-generated content, Citadel's market manipulation and Google's military AI projects.

Open-source, community-governed AI offers transparency and reduced censorship risks but struggles against the resources and influence of centralized players.

It faces hurdles like limited funding, technical scalability issues and fragmentation, while centralized AI benefits from corporate platforms like ChatGPT shaping public adoption.

Decentralized AI must prioritize user privacy, resilience and democratized access to compete, but the battle against centralized control will take years. The future hinges on whether AI serves corporations or empowers individuals.

A handful of tech giants and authoritarian governments are racing to dominate the $4.8 trillion artificial intelligence (AI) industry, raising alarming concerns about privacy, transparency and democratic values.

A recent United Nations report revealed that just 100 corporations  mostly based in the U.S. and China  control the vast majority of AI development, sidelining decentralized alternatives that could safeguard individual freedoms. The stakes could not be higher. Whoever controls AI will shape the future of society, economics and even warfare.

Centralized AI, which is controlled by a few powerful entities, has already demonstrated its risks. Microsoft's AI tool Copilot recently faced backlash for generating disturbing, explicit images of children, forcing the company to implement stricter content controls. But the damage was done.

Closed-source, corporate-controlled AI systems lack transparency, making it difficult to hold them accountable. Similarly, financial firms like Citadel have been accused of using AI algorithms to manipulate stock markets through artificial trading volume, undermining fair competition. (Related: Decentralized AI: Mike Adams and Maria Zeee advocate for open source solutions to combat centralized control.)

Meanwhile, Google's involvement in Project Maven  a Department of Defense initiative using AI for military applicationssparked internal protests from employees who argued the company should not be in the "business of war." These controversies highlight the ethical dilemmas of centralized AI: unchecked power, opaque decision-making, and monopolistic control.

On the government side, Russian President Vladimir Putin once declared that whoever leads in AI will "rule the world." China, a close ally of Moscow, aims to dominate the field by 2030.

If centralized AI continues unchecked, it could cement an authoritarian digital future where privacy is nonexistent. In this future, corporations and governments dictate what AI can and cannot do.

The promise and challenges of decentralized AI

Decentralized AI (DeAI) offers an alternative: Open-source models, community governance and transparent operations. Unlike centralized systems where a single corporation or government dictates AI's direction, DeAI distributes control  reducing risks of censorship, bias and abuse.

Yet the obstacles for DeAI are immense. as major corporations and nation-states outspend and outmaneuver decentralized projects. DeAI also faces technical hurdles.

To gain traction, it must prove itself in security, scalability and efficiency  areas where centralized AI currently excels. Additionally, without unified standards, decentralized projects risk fragmentation, making it harder to compete against tech behemoths.

Centralized AI benefits from vast financial resources, established infrastructure and political influence. Most users will first encounter AI through corporate-controlled platforms like ChatGPT or Google's Gemini, giving centralized systems an early advantage in shaping public perception.

Despite the odds, DeAI isn't doomed. Open-source models, like those championed by independent developers, could gradually erode centralized dominance by offering more ethical, transparent alternatives. Key priorities for DeAI include:

Privacy and data control: Ensuring users, not corporations, own their data.

Ensuring users, not corporations, own their data. Resilience : Eliminating single points of failure that make centralized systems vulnerable.

: Eliminating single points of failure that make centralized systems vulnerable. Democratized Access: Making AI tools available to all, not just those with corporate or government backing.

If DeAI can deliver on these fronts, it may yet carve out a meaningful role in the AI landscape  though the battle will take years, if not decades. While the AI revolution is here, but its trajectory remains uncertain.

Centralized AI, backed by trillion-dollar corporations and authoritarian regimes, threatens to consolidate power in ways that undermine democracy. Decentralized AI offers a counterbalance  if it can overcome its challenges.

Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Maria Zeee talk about fighting AI with AI in this clip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The Health Ranger interviewed by Seth Holehouse on AI wars: Decentralization vs. Centralized control  who will rule the future?

Why achieving censorship is important to the centralized media establishment.

AI arms race or AI suicide pact? Former OpenAI researcher warns of catastrophic risks in unchecked AI development.

Sources include:

CoinTelegraph.com

Gate.io

ZeroHedge.com

Brighteon.com
Chinas COVID nightmare returns: Students isolated, deaths hidden as regime doubles down on totalitarian policies

As the world moves on from the pandemic era, China remains trapped in a cycle of fear, control, and deception. A new wave of COVID-19 infections, driven by the XBB sub-lineage of the omicron strain, has swept through mainland China, prompting schools to isolate students and hospitals to quietly bury the truth . Despite years of draconian lockdowns, forced vaccinations, and relentless propaganda, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has failed to contain the virus  yet it continues to enforce the same failed policies, hiding the true toll of infections and deaths from its own people and the world.

Key points:

Schools in multiple provinces are suspending classes and forcing students into quarantine, sparking fears of renewed lockdowns.

Doctors and residents report severe symptoms and deaths far exceeding official CCP statistics, which have long been unreliable.

The regime is quietly constructing mobile cabin hospitals while publicly downplaying the outbreak to avoid economic disruption.

The XBB sub-lineage, including strains XBB.1.9, XBB.1.5, and Arcturus XBB.1.16, dominates infections, yet authorities refuse transparency.

Neighboring countries detect the same variants in travelers, raising concerns about unchecked global spread due to Chinas secrecy.

The return of medical tyranny: Students locked down, families silenced

Reports from Guangzhou, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu reveal a disturbing trend: Schools are once again isolating children under the guise of pandemic control. A leaked quarantine notice from a Guangzhou primary school, circulated on Douyin before being censored, showed a third-grade student forced into a seven-day isolation after testing positive. Similar measures have been imposed in other regions, with feverish students sent homeechoing the darkest days of Chinas "zero-COVID" madness.

But this is not 2020. The world now knows that lockdowns do not stop viruses  they only destroy lives. Yet the CCP, addicted to control, refuses to admit failure. Instead, it suppresses dissent, censors social media, and manipulates data to maintain the illusion of competence.

Dr. Kang Hong, a Guangzhou clinic physician speaking under a pseudonym, told The Epoch Times that symptoms in this wave are "far more severe than the common cold," including white lung syndrome  a hallmark of COVID-19 damage. Hospitals use testing programs that fuel the pandemonium, leading government officials to take totalitarian actions to isolate people and further the social panic as protocols and mandates further the damage.

A regime of lies: Deaths hidden, doctors silenced

The CCPs COVID deception is nothing new. Since 2020, it has systematically under-counted infections and deaths during Wuhan's initial wave, while concealing excess deaths after the population was mass vaccinated. Residents across China report sudden deaths, prolonged illnesses, and hospitals overwhelmed  yet official figures remain suspiciously low, as medical atrocities and mass immune system destruction of the population becomes a topic too contentious, the issue must be censored from discussion.

Mr. Xu, a Liaoning Province resident, described friends and relatives suffering relentless symptoms that "cannot be cured by medicine at all." He noted a spike in sudden deaths among middle-aged adults  a pattern ignored by state media. Meanwhile, in Inner Mongolia, clinic owner Liu Kun warned of an "explosive growth" of cases in June and July, with patients battling coughs, vomiting, and diarrhea for months. This is a population that has been heavily vaccinated, multiple times, subject to masking and isolation procedures for years.

Five years of restrictions and mass vaccinations have led to more disease

The NB.1.8.1 variant, now dominant in China, has already been detected in travelers abroad. Yet the World Health Organization (WHO), ever-compliant to Beijing, downplays the threat, calling it merely a "variant under monitoring."

Why the cover-up? Because admitting failure would shatter the CCPs myth of infallibility. Instead, the regime quietly prepares for more lockdowns, building mobile hospitals while publicly insisting the outbreak is "under control."

Sadly, China's totalitarian lockdowns, unlawful mandates, and isolation procedures have become the standard globally. While other nations have slowly halted draconian policies, none are willing to hold China accountable for their continued human rights abuses. No nation has challenged Chinas pandemic lies or its brutal lockdowns. No leader has demanded transparency or pointed out the flaws of global medical experimentation. Instead, global elites continue to parrot the same failed strategies  vaccine mandates, censorship, and bio-terror  proving theyve learned nothing. To make matters worse, populations that once complied but have realized the damage of China's policies, have grown eerily quiet on these issues.

Chinas COVID nightmare is a warning: Totalitarianism and medical tyranny doesnt work. It only brings suffering. And until the world wakes up and actually does something about this pattern of abuse, the cycle will only continue.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

TheEpochTimes.com

LionsofJudah.substack.com
Department of Education uncovers nearly $90 million in improper federal student aid payments

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) found that nearly $90 million in federal student aid was wrongly distributed over three years, including $30 million to deceased individuals.

Improper payments included nearly $40 million in Direct Loans and $6 million in Pell Grants to recipients who were ineligible due to identity theft, immigration status or being deceased.

A $10 million error was linked to a lapse in the National Student Loan Data System's post-screening process, which failed to alert aid offices of eligibility changes.

The Office of Federal Student Aid is working with law enforcement to investigate fraud and is encouraging students to report scams and identity theft.

To prevent future errors, ED has resumed several oversight tools, including identity verification protocols and the post-screening system for FAFSA cycles through 2026.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has revealed that nearly $90 million in federal student aid was improperly disbursed over the past three years, including payments made to thousands of ineligible recipients  among them, individuals who were already deceased.

According to a comprehensive analysis, released on May 28, a cross-check with the Social Security Death Index uncovered that more than $30 million was issued to individuals listed as deceased. The department also found numerous instances of identity theft and immigration-related ineligibility. (Related: Musk's DOGE Army saves taxpayers $1 billion as they storm "WOKE" Department of Education.)

For instance, the review showed that nearly $40 million in Direct Loans and $6 million in Pell Grants went to recipients who did not meet eligibility requirements. Some of the aid was given to individuals granted temporary immigration parole status, who are not immediately eligible for federal student aid.

Moreover, an additional $10 million in improper Direct Loan disbursements was tied to a lapse in the National Student Loan Data System's post-screening process, which notifies financial aid offices when a student's eligibility changes or federal borrowing limits have been reached.

The Office of Federal Student Aid is now actively collaborating with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute instances of fraud while urging students and families to visit StudentAid.gov/scams for resources on identifying fraud and protecting against identity theft.

However, the department did not release detailed information on the specific causes of the improper payments or the total number of affected recipients.

Education Department reinstates several oversight tools to restore accountability in the student aid system

In line with this, ED has unveiled sweeping initiatives to restore oversight and accountability, while closing existing vulnerabilities in the federal student aid system.

The department has reinstated several oversight tools that had been paused or scaled back during the pandemic and the Biden administration, periods wherein "accountability was de-prioritized."

As of May, the National Student Loan Data System's automated post-screening process has been resumed for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycles. The tool helps ensure student aid is not distributed to borrowers who exceed eligibility limits or whose status has changed. Officials estimate that the system's earlier suspension contributed to $10 million in erroneous Direct Loan payments.

In March, the department reinstated identity verification protocols that flag suspicious FAFSA applications, following the improper payments totaling nearly $46 million awarded to recipients who were ineligible due to their immigration status. These flags are triggered by data models that detect anomalies or signs of potential fraud.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon supported this reinstatement and emphasized the need for tighter controls at every stage of the financial aid process.

"As we continue to rehabilitate the student loan portfolio, we must also ensure there are accountability measures at every step," McMahon said. "From start to finish, filling out the FAFSA form to loan repayment, the American taxpayer underwrites federal student aid programs. We are committed to protecting and responsibly investing their hard-earned dollars."

Head over to BigGovernment.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video below that talks about the Trump administration's move to dismantle ED.

This video is from the Neroke-5 channel on Brighteon.com.

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TheEpochTimes.com

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Brighteon.com
FDA and CDC to replace 80% of staff with AI agents to Streamline operations  critics warn of depopulation agenda

FDA & CDC AI Automation: The FDA and CDC are rapidly adopting AI (e.g., FDAs ELSA tool) to streamline tasks like drug reviews and public health tracking, claiming efficiency gains.

The FDA and CDC are rapidly adopting AI (e.g., FDAs ELSA tool) to streamline tasks like drug reviews and public health tracking, claiming efficiency gains. Safety & Accountability Risks: Critics warn AI could fast-track unsafe drug approvals, reduce transparency, and enable corporate influence without proper human oversight or ethical safeguards.

Critics warn AI could fast-track unsafe drug approvals, reduce transparency, and enable corporate influence without proper human oversight or ethical safeguards. Depopulation Conspiracy Fears: Skeptics allege AI could further a covert agenda, citing past controversial approvals (e.g., vaccines) and potential AI-driven suppression of dissent or natural health alternatives.

Skeptics allege AI could further a covert agenda, citing past controversial approvals (e.g., vaccines) and potential AI-driven suppression of dissent or natural health alternatives. CDCs AI for Surveillance: The CDCs AI systems may weaponize public health messaging, amplifying propaganda (e.g., vaccine mandates) and censoring misinformation in real-time via automated tools.

The CDCs AI systems may weaponize public health messaging, amplifying propaganda (e.g., vaccine mandates) and censoring misinformation in real-time via automated tools. Whistleblower Warnings: Former employees accuse agencies of prioritizing Big Pharma, arguing AI removes accountability, risking unchecked harmful policies under the guise of leaner government.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are accelerating plans to automate their workforce with artificial intelligence (AI) agents, citing efficiency and cost-cutting measures. However, whistleblowers and analysts warn that this move could enable unchecked regulatory approvals of dangerous pharmaceuticals and vaccines, aligning with long-standing allegations of a global depopulation agenda.

AI Takes Over Public Health

The FDA recently unveiled its new AI tool, ELSA (Efficient Lifecycle Safety Agent), designed to "modernize agency functions" by automating tasks such as clinical protocol reviews, adverse event analysis, and inspection targeting. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf praised the system, claiming it will "leverage AI capabilities to better serve the American people."

Critics, however, argue that replacing human oversight with AI could have catastrophic consequences:

Fast-Tracked Drug Approvals : ELSA is already being used to accelerate drug reviews, raising concerns that safety checks will be bypassed in favor of rapid approvals.

: ELSA is already being used to accelerate drug reviews, raising concerns that safety checks will be bypassed in favor of rapid approvals. Reduced Accountability : AI-driven decisions lack transparency, making it harder to challenge faulty approvals or corporate influence.

: AI-driven decisions lack transparency, making it harder to challenge faulty approvals or corporate influence. Depopulation Fears: Skeptics point to the FDAs history of approving controversial vaccines and drugs, suggesting AI could further enable a covert agenda to reduce global populations through medical interventions.

CDCs AI Push: From Science to Surveillance

The CDC is reportedly following suit, developing AI systems to manage public health communications, outbreak tracking, and even social media messaging. Critics fear these tools could be weaponized to:

Amplify Propaganda : AI-generated PSAs could push vaccine mandates or fear-based narratives without human oversight.

: AI-generated PSAs could push vaccine mandates or fear-based narratives without human oversight. Target Dissent: Automated systems may flag and suppress "misinformation" in real-time, silencing critics of government health policies.

Whistleblowers Sound the Alarm

Former FDA and CDC employees warn that AI automation could strip away ethical safeguards. "These agencies already rubber-stamp Big Pharmas deadly products," said a former FDA scientist who requested anonymity. "Now, theyre handing the keys to an algorithm that doesnt care about human life."

The Broader Agenda: A "Leaner" Government or a Silent Cull?

The push for AI aligns with broader efforts to downsize federal agencies. Some speculate this is a cost-saving measure, while others see a darker motivereducing human oversight to accelerate harmful policies.

Modernas "MNEXSPIKE" Vaccine : Despite promises of stricter safety reviews under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the FDA recently approved Modernas new COVID-19 booster without placebo-controlled trialsa move critics say proves AI will prioritize corporate interests over public health.

: Despite promises of stricter safety reviews under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the FDA recently approved Modernas new COVID-19 booster without placebo-controlled trialsa move critics say proves AI will prioritize corporate interests over public health. AI-Driven "Terrorism": With AI handling inspections, the FDA could systematically target natural health companies, suppressing alternatives to Big Pharma.

Conclusion: A Dangerous Precedent

As AI takes over critical regulatory functions, the risk of unchecked corruption grows. Will these agencies become unstoppable "death machines," as some fear? Or can transparency and public pushback prevent a dystopian future where algorithms decide who lives and who dies?

One thing is clear: The debate over AI in government isnt just about efficiencyits about survival.

Stay informed. Question authority. Demand accountability.

Watch the June 03 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about human depopulation orgs FDA and CDC to be AI-automated to achieve efficient extermination goals.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Mike Adams warns of AI Self-Awareness and potential loss of human control

Human intelligence in freefall: Study links cognitive decline to social media and AI

Tech billionaire Marc Andreessen predicts AI will crash wages to achieve low price consumer utopia

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
ICE arrests Mexican national who threatened to kill President Trump in handwritten letter

Federal authorities arrested Ramon Morales Reyes, a 54-year-old Mexican national, in Wisconsin for allegedly sending a handwritten letter threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump at a rally before "self-deporting."

The letter accused Trump of targeting Mexicans and vowed to shoot him with a .30-06 Springfield rifle. Morales referenced his family's deportations as motivation.

Morales has illegally entered the U.S. nine times between 1998 and 2005 and has a felony record, including hit-and-run, domestic abuse and property damage. He is prohibited from owning firearms.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem linked the threat to rising political violence, citing Trumps recent shooting incident and urging toned-down rhetoric to prevent further escalation.

The case highlights challenges in immigration enforcement, national security risks posed by repeat offenders and the volatile impact of polarized political discourse.

Federal authorities have arrested a Mexican national who allegedly sent a handwritten letter threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump, marking the latest in a series of violent threats against political figures amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Ramon Morales Reyes, 54, on May 22 in Wisconsin. The arrest followed a handwritten letter he allegedly wrote, which an ICE field agent obtained the day prior. In the letter, Morales vowed to shoot Trump at a rally before self-deporting to his home country.

"We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans. We have done more for this country than you White people," Morales' letter stated. "You have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him."

The letter went on to describe Morales' plans to "self-deport" himself, "but not before [he] uses [his] 30 yard six to shoot  [Trump] in [his] head" during "one of his big [rallies]." The Mexican purportedly made reference to using a rifle chambered in the .30-06 Springfield cartridge to assassinate the chief executive.

According to court documents, Morales has illegally entered the U.S. at least nine times between 1998 and 2005. He also has a long criminal record that includes felony hit-and-run, domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct and property damage.

Morales remains in ICE custody at Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, pending deportation proceedings. Authorities have not disclosed whether he had access to firearms at the time of his arrest, but his criminal history legally prohibits him from possessing weapons.

From ICE arrests to shooting threats: How far will political violence go?

The arrest underscores ongoing concerns about politically motivated violence, alongside the security risks posed by individuals with extensive criminal histories and repeated immigration violations. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the threat in a statement, linking it to broader concerns about escalating political violence.

"This threat comes not even a year after President Trump was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, and less than two weeks after former FBI Director [James] Comey called for the presidents assassination," she said. Noem also urged restraint in political rhetoric over fears it could incite real-world violence: "All politicians and members of the media should take notice of these repeated attempts on President Trumps life and tone down their rhetoric." (Related: James Comey's posts cryptic '86 47' message and gaslights the public after being confronted with passive aggressive death threat to President Trump.)

The arrest comes at a time when threats against public officials have surged, raising questions about the intersection of free speech, law enforcement preparedness and the role of immigration policy in national security. Morales' repeated deportations and illegal re-entries highlight ongoing challenges in enforcing immigration laws, particularly with individuals who have violent criminal histories.

Historical parallels can be drawn to past assassination attempts against U.S. presidents, including the 1981 shooting of Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr., whose motives were similarly fueled by personal grievances and political disillusionment. The swift response by ICE underscores the agencys heightened vigilance in tracking threats against high-profile figures.

As the case moves forward, it serves as a stark reminder of the volatile consequences of unchecked rhetoric and the persistent risks faced by public officials in an era of deep ideological polarization. The arrest also reignites debates over immigration enforcement, with supporters of the administration's hardline stance arguing that repeated border breaches by violent offenders demand stricter measures.

Visit Trump.news for more similar stories.

Watch Alex Jones of InfoWars reporting President Donald Trump's release of information about his would-be assassins Thomas Matthew Crooks and Ryan Wesley Routh.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FBI affidavit: Teen's plot to assassinate Trump linked to Ukrainian operation.

Cops WERE AWARE of Thomas Crooks 90 minutes before Trump assassination attempt, leaked messages reveal.

Second would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh was earlier praised by media for volunteering to fight for Zelensky in Ukraine.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

IndiaToday.in

DHS.gov

Brighteon.com
Federal judge blocks Biden administration rule requiring employers to cover abortion accommodations

A federal judge in Louisiana struck down a Biden administration rule that would have forced employers to provide abortion-related accommodations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).

The bipartisan PWFA (2022) requires employers with 15+ workers to offer reasonable accommodations (e.g., breaks, light duty) for pregnant employees  not abortion. It took effect in June 2023.

In April 2024, the EEOC expanded the law to include abortion, sparking lawsuits. Judge David Joseph ruled the EEOC exceeded its authority, vacating the abortion provision while preserving other protections.

Trump ousted two Democratic EEOC commissioners, stripping the agency's quorum. A pending Republican majority could rewrite PWFA rules to exclude abortion.

Louisiana AG Liz Murrill hailed the ruling as a win for religious employers and states' rights.

A federal judge in Louisiana has struck down a Biden administration rule that would have required most U.S. employers to provide workers with time off and other accommodations for abortions under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).

The PWFA, which took effect in June 2023, requires employers with 15 or more workers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for pregnant employees, such as additional breaks or modified duties. Originally passed with strong bipartisan support, the PWFA was designed to protect pregnant workers, particularly low-wage employees, who were often denied basic accommodations.

However, in April 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations expanded the law to include abortion-related medical care. This, in turn, immediately prompted several lawsuits and eroded the supposed strong bipartisan support for the rights of pregnant workers.

Fortunately, U.S. District Judge David Joseph, a Trump appointee, sided with plaintiffs, including the attorneys general of Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who contended that Congress never intended the PWFA to cover abortion. Joseph ruled on May 21 that the EEOC overstepped its authority by including abortion among pregnancy-related conditions in its implementation of the PWFA. He vacated the abortion provision, but the rest of the PWFA's protections remain intact.

"The EEOC has exceeded its statutory authority to implement the PWFA and, in doing so, both unlawfully expropriated the authority of Congress and encroached upon the sovereignty of the Plaintiff States under basic principles of federalism," Joseph wrote in the ruling.

Trump dismisses two Democratic EEOC commissioners

The ruling comes as Trump dismissed two Democratic EEOC commissioners before their terms expired, stripping the agency of its voting quorum and halting major policy decisions. This move allows Trump to install a Republican majority, reshaping how workplace civil rights laws are enforced.

Trump nominated Brittany Panuccio, an assistant U.S. attorney in Florida, to fill one vacancy. If confirmed by the Senate, the EEOC will regain its decision-making power, likely leading to a rewrite of the PWFA regulations.

Acting EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, who opposed the abortion provision, has signaled plans to revise the regulations. However, the agency currently lacks a quorum to take action until new appointments are confirmed.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill celebrated the decision, calling it a "win for Louisiana and for life."

"Victory! A federal court has granted Louisiana's request to strike down an EEOC rule requiring employers to accommodate employees' purely elective abortions. This is a win for Louisiana and for life!" Murrill said in a statement emailed to the Associated Press. (Related: Pro-life group blasts Trudeau administration for implying that women must use contraception and have abortions to become successful.)

Visit Abortions.news for more stories related to the killing of the unborn.

Watch this Fox News report of the Supreme Court issuing a ruling that allows hospitals to perform emergency abortions.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Update: Abortion as religious liberty: Pro-abortion organizations agree with Satanic Temple claim that "abortion ritual" represents "religious freedom."

Abortion advocates claim "medical" reasons for abortion include the mother changing her mind about pregnancy.

Dems, pro-abortion organizations turn to ballot initiatives to enshrine abortion rights into state constitutions.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issues directive mandating hospitals to provide "emergency" abortions regardless of upcoming Supreme Court ruling.

NO TO "ABORTION TRAFFICKING": Lubbock County Commissioners Court approves anti-abortion transport ban.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
Mars removes controversial TITANIUM DIOXIDE additive from Skittles candy

Mars Inc. announced on May 27 that it has removed titanium dioxide, a white pigment used to enhance the appearance of food, from its Skittles candy following health concerns raised by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission.

The commission's report highlighted potential health risks associated with titanium dioxide, including cellular and DNA damage. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food products in 2022 due to these risks.

The move by Mars is part of a broader industry trend, with other major companies like PepsiCo and In-N-Out also transitioning away from artificial colors and additives in response to growing consumer demand for healthier, more transparent food options.

Mars Inc. emphasized its commitment to the safety and quality of its products, stating that all its products meet high standards set by global food safety authorities.

While titanium dioxide remains an approved food additive in several countries, including the U.S., there is increasing pressure from state-level legislation and activist groups, such as the Environmental Working Group, to restrict or ban its use. The FDA is currently reviewing a petition to ban titanium dioxide.

In a significant move that aligns with growing health concerns, Mars Inc.  the maker of Skittles  announced on May 27 that it has removed titanium dioxide from its popular candy.

A company spokesperson confirmed the move in a statement, adding that the century-old company has always prioritized the safety of its consumers. "Our commitment to quality is what has enabled Mars to be enjoyed by consumers for over a century, and nothing is more important than the safety of our products. All our products are safe to enjoy and meet the high standards and applicable regulations set by food safety authorities around the world, and thats something we will never compromise on," the spokesperson said.

Titanium dioxide, a white pigment, has been a common additive in various food products including candies for decades. It is used to enhance the brightness and shine of food, often giving products a more appealing appearance.

However, concerns about its safety have been mounting over the years. In 2022, the European Union banned titanium dioxide in food products due to potential health risks, citing possible adverse outcomes such as cancer, heart damage, immune issues, inflammation, and neurological problems. (Related: California "Skittles ban" prompts call to ban other CANCER-CAUSING food additives already BANNED in Europe.)

The removal of titanium dioxide from Skittles is part of a broader industry trend. Other major companies, such as PepsiCo, have also announced plans to transition away from artificial colors. Executives at the soft drink company stated that they are quickening their transition to safer alternatives.

Popular fast-food chain In-N-Out has also decided to remove artificial dyes from its menu items, including strawberry milkshakes, pink lemonade, pickles, chilis and house spread. These moves reflect a growing consumer demand for healthier, more transparent food options.

RFK Jr.'s role in the removal of titanium dioxide

This decision follows a recent report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, chaired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which identified titanium dioxide as an additive of potential concern. The commission's report suggested that the chemical may cause cellular and DNA damage, among other health issues.

"Based on all the evidence available, a concern for genotoxicity could not be ruled out, and given the many uncertainties, the panel concluded that E171 can no longer be considered as safe when used as a food additive," the report stated.

Kennedy has been a vocal critic of harmful additives in food, particularly in processed products. His appointment as health Secretary by President Donald Trump has brought renewed focus to the issue.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington-based activist organization focused on chemical safety, has been a leading voice in the push for the removal of titanium dioxide. EWG Vice President of Government Affairs Melanie Benesh credited state-level efforts for putting pressure on companies like Mars to change their recipes.

"The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] has said a lot of things about food additives, but we have not seen them take any enforceable actions yet," she remarked. "What has unquestionably made a difference is all of the action at the state level."

Mars has not provided details on whether the decision to remove titanium dioxide will extend to Skittles sold outside the United States.

Despite the EU ban, titanium dioxide remains an approved food additive in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. However, the tide is turning, and more states are considering legislation to restrict or ban the use of the chemical.

In 2023, a high-profile effort in California to ban titanium dioxide was defeated, but other states continue to push for changes. The FDA is currently reviewing a petition to ban titanium dioxide, filed by the EWG in 2023.

Chemicals.news has more similar stories.

Watch this video about QAnon warnings regarding toxic titanium dioxide in Skittles and other candies by Mars.

This video is from the Andrew Zebrun III channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Everything about Skittles is artificial and toxic, just like all the false promises of liberal politicians.

California to BAN cancer-causing additives found in candies and other food products

The hidden danger in your food: Titanium dioxide and the health risks you need to know

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

BBC.com

Food-Safety.com

Brighteon.com
Massive Saharan dust plume the size of the U.S. barrels toward Florida, triggers health warnings

A massive Saharan dust plume, spanning the size of the continental U.S., is moving toward Florida and the Gulf Coast, arriving earlier and thicker than usual.

Health officials warn of respiratory risks, especially for those with asthma or allergies, as the dust carries fine particles that penetrate deep into lungs.

Satellite images show the plume stretching 2,000 miles across the Caribbean, with air quality alerts already issued in Puerto Rico and nearby islands.

Wildfire smoke from Canada may mix with the Saharan dust in the Southeast, potentially worsening air pollution and health hazards.

Residents in affected areas should stay indoors, monitor air quality reports, and use masks or air purifiers to reduce exposure risks.

A colossal dust plume the size of the continental United States is barreling across the Atlantic Ocean, set to smother Florida and the Gulf Coast by midweek. Originating from the Sahara Desert, this dense cloud of fine sand and mineral particles has already triggered air quality alerts in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, with health officials warning of respiratory hazards, particularly for those with asthma or allergies. This years plume is arriving earlier, thicker, and more concentrated than usual, raising alarms for vulnerable populations.

The National Weather Service confirmed the dusts advance, noting peak concentrations of Saharan dust are starting to roll in across the Caribbean. Satellite imagery reveals the plume stretching 2,000 miles from Jamaica to Barbados and 750 miles from the Turks and Caicos to Trinidad and Tobago. "Its very impressive," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeathers lead hurricane expert, though he noted the dust typically loses intensity by the time it reaches the U.S. mainland.

Health hazards loom

The dust carries fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate deep into lung tissue, exacerbating respiratory conditions. Puerto Ricos health authorities urged residents to limit outdoor activity, especially those with preexisting conditions. Similar advisories are expected for Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi as the plume drifts westward. Joseph Prospero, an aerosol scientist, described the dusts visual impact: "Typically we have nice blue skies, but with the dust, the whole sky looks soft and warm because the particles themselves are red. Everything looks muted."

The Saharan Air Layer, a seasonal phenomenon, forms between April and October as trade winds lift desert particles into the atmosphere. While these plumes often suppress hurricane formation by drying out tropical air, their health consequences are less welcome. In June 2020, a historic "Godzilla dust cloud" blanketed the southern U.S., reducing visibility and spiking air pollution. This years event, though smaller, is notable for its early arrival and higher particle density.

A collision of airborne threats

Compounding the problem, residual smoke from Canadian wildfires is lingering over parts of the eastern U.S., potentially merging with the Saharan dust in the Southeast. Wildfire smoke contains similarly hazardous PM2.5 particles, and their overlap could worsen air quality. Minneapolis recently recorded "very unhealthy" pollution levels due to wildfire haze, briefly ranking as the second-worst air quality globally. While the dust plume is expected to thin as it moves inland, sensitive groups such as children and the elderly are advised to monitor local air quality indexes.

The dusts arrival coincides with peak summer heat, which can trap pollutants near the ground. Residents in affected areas may notice hazy skies, vibrant sunsets, and a fine layer of dust on surfaces. Health experts recommend staying indoors during peak dust exposure, using air purifiers, and wearing N95 masks if symptoms like coughing or eye irritation occur.

For now, Floridians are urged to stay informed as the plume approaches. As the Saharan dust cloud descends on the Southeast, it serves as a reminder of natures far-reaching influence. While these plumes play a role in regulating tropical weather, their health impacts cannot be ignored. With air quality already compromised by wildfire smoke, this weeks dust event underscores the need for proactive measures, especially for those most at risk. Stay tuned to local advisories, limit outdoor exposure, and prepare for a temporarily transformed sky.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

APNews.com

CNN.com
New research suggests Milky Way may avoid catastrophic collision with Andromeda galaxy

Astronomers now estimate a 50-50 chance the Milky Way will avoid colliding with Andromeda, revising earlier near-certain predictions.

New data from Hubble and Gaia telescopes show smaller galaxies may alter the Milky Way and Andromedas paths, preventing a direct impact.

Earlier models suggested a merger in ~4 billion years, but updated simulations show it could be delayed or avoided entirely.

If a collision happens, it may occur in ~8 billion years, far later than previously thought, giving more time for cosmic evolution.

Earth will become uninhabitable long before any galactic collision due to the Suns expansion in ~5 billion years.

For decades, astronomers warned that the Milky Way was on an unstoppable collision course with the Andromeda galaxy in a catastrophic merger that would reshape our cosmic neighborhood in roughly 4 billion years. But groundbreaking new research suggests this doomsday scenario may never happen.

According to data from the Hubble and Gaia space telescopes, the Milky Way now has a 50-50 chance of avoiding a direct collision with Andromeda thanks to gravitational influences from smaller neighboring galaxies. The findings, published in recent astrophysical studies, dramatically revise earlier predictions and offer a potential escape from the so-called "Milkomeda" fate.

Scientists have long assumed that the Milky Way and Andromeda, the two largest galaxies in the Local Group, were destined to collide due to their mutual gravitational pull. Previous estimates placed the likelihood of a merger at near certainty, with projections suggesting a chaotic cosmic dance beginning in about 4 billion years. But the latest models, which incorporate precise measurements of galactic motions, reveal that smaller satellite galaxies could alter this trajectory, potentially steering the Milky Way and Andromeda away from a direct impact.

Revised galactic trajectories

The key to this revised forecast lies in the gravitational influence of dwarf galaxies orbiting both the Milky Way and Andromeda. These smaller celestial bodies, once considered negligible in the grand scheme of galactic dynamics, may exert enough force to nudge the two giants off their collision course. Researchers used data from the European Space Agencys Gaia mission, which maps the positions and movements of billions of stars, combined with Hubbles deep-space observations, to simulate multiple possible outcomes.

"The Local Group is a dynamic system where even small galaxies can have a significant impact over billions of years," explained one researcher involved in the study. While the exact outcome remains uncertain, the models suggest a wide range of possibilities  from a near-miss to a delayed, less violent encounter. If a collision does occur, it likely wont happen for at least 8 billion years, giving future civilizations (or whatever may evolve from humanity) far more time to prepare or evacuate.

A cosmic game of gravitational pinball

The revised predictions highlight the complexity of galactic interactions, where even minor players can alter the fate of much larger systems. Imagine a game of cosmic pinball, where the Milky Way and Andromeda are the main targets, but smaller galaxies act as bumpers, subtly redirecting their paths. This intricate interplay challenges the long-held assumption that the merger was inevitable.

One critical factor is the relative speed of Andromedas approach. Earlier estimates suggested it was moving directly toward the Milky Way at approximately 110 kilometers per second. However, updated measurements indicate its trajectory may be more tangential, reducing the likelihood of a head-on collision. Instead, the two galaxies might engage in a series of close passes, gradually spiraling closer over eons  or they could drift apart entirely.

What this means for Earths distant future

While the revised timeline offers a glimmer of hope for the Milky Ways survival, Earths fate remains bleak in the grand cosmic scheme. Long before any potential galactic collision, our Sun will have exhausted its fuel, expanding into a red giant and likely rendering our planet uninhabitable in about 5 billion years. Still, the new findings reshape our understanding of the universes evolution and the forces governing its largest structures.

A universe of possibilities

The Milky Ways fate is no longer written in stone  or rather, in stars. While the chance of a collision with Andromeda remains, the odds have shifted dramatically, offering a 50% probability that our galaxy will avoid a catastrophic merger.

Sources for this article include:

LiveScience.com

Space.com

NationalGeographic.com
Pet vaccinations

What follows hasnt got anything to do with cars except in principle. That principle being the diminishing freedom were allowed to exercise when it comes to choosing what we consider to be right for us  as well as our pets.

(Article by Eric republished from EricPetersAutos.com)

It used to be the case that you just had them, if you wanted to. Now  in many areas  you are required to register them, just as you are required to do when you get a vehicle. Both require tags  issued by the government  denoting who is the real owner of them. Just the same as cows are registered by the ear tags they display. Naturally, the tags are not free  because neither are you. Or what really arent your pets, either. This brings up the matter of drug pushing.

It is not called that, of course. It is only called that when the government wishes to derogate the non-coercive offering and purchasing of substances it has decreed to be illegal to offer and purchase non-coercively, most infamously marijuana. Though the government has lightened up a little with regard to that, it has done so only because it has recognized theres more money to be made from taxing it than putting people in jail for non-coercively offering and purchasing it. Meanwhile, people who non-coercively offer other drugs not yet legalized are styled pushers, which is astoundingly effronterous given no one is pushed to buy these drugs.

Veterinarians, on the other hand, do push drugs  just the same as human medicos have been doing. Both on account of the pushing of the government, which pushes the human and animal doctors to push them on their patients.

Have you tried buying flea and tick repellent from a vet lately? The stuff that actually works being unavailable over-the-counter, very much of a piece with the cough syrup that works only being available if you beg the pharmacist to let you buy some and only after you have shown ID and been duly catalogued into the system. In our area  and perhaps yours as well  the vet will not sell you the flea and tick repellent unless you first bring your cat or dog in for a wellness exam, which of course isnt free, either. This exam is similar to the state safety inspection grift. There is nothing wrong with your vehicle  or animal  but the state (and) vet require the inspection, for the same reason you are told you owe what are styled your taxes.

Because theres money  and control  in it.

It does not end there. The next thing, when you bring the cat or dog in for inspection, is a question: Has your pet been vaccinated? If not, the vet will demand that you agree to having your cat or dog vaccinated  because the government requires it. If you do not agree, then the vet will refuse to treat your pet. See how that works? The vet may not like this business but is made to be the accomplice/enforcer of the government. Just as teenage kids were used to enforce mask requirements at the doors of stores. Heres your mask, they said.

It does not matter whether your pet needs to be vaccinated anymore than it mattered that a person who wasnt sick didnt need to wear a mask. I tried to make this argument. Unsuccessfully. The vet refused to issue flea/tick repellent unless we brought the cat in for an wellness exam. Our year-old cat that is quite well, just as my trucks brakes are in good working order and its tires arent bald. I do not require an inspection to tell me they are  in either case. But its worse in this case, because while it is important that a vehicles brakes be in good working order and its tires not bald, a rabies vaccination is worse than unimportant for an animal that stands essentially no chance of catching this sickness because it never goes outdoors.

But how about the chance of catching cancer from the drugs being pushed?

An indoor cat might, it is true, get out. And a rabid bat or mouse might get in. But this is a risk on par with that of a healthy person dying from the cold marketed as COVID. One so low, in other words, that it is not worth the risk of the vaccination. This being even greater, probably, than the now-known risks of being injected with the COVID vaccines because there are even fewer safeguards in place  and no liability whatsoever  when it comes to the drugs that are pushed on animals.

Thats why we said no to the pusher, who is incidentally a vet. Just as human doctors have become pushers of drugs, too. It is an ugly thing but a no less true thing for being so. It says something ugly about whats become of this country.

Read more at: EricPetersAutos.com
Trump administration to cut $100M in federal contracts with Harvard

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has directed agencies to review and potentially terminate approximately $100 million in active contracts with Harvard University due to allegations of racial discrimination, ethical violations and failure to comply with federal nondiscrimination laws.

The GSA memo cites stark racial disparities in Harvard's admission rates (e.g., 56 percent for Black applicants vs. 13 percent for Asian applicants) and accuses the university of "outright racial balancing" post-Supreme Court rulings.

Harvard is also accused of fostering a hostile environment for Jewish students, including tolerating harassment and honoring protesters charged with assaulting Jewish individuals.

Agencies must submit plans by June 6 to cancel non-compliant contracts (e.g., NIH/DHS grants) and transition to alternative vendors under Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

This is part of a broader conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has previously targeted the universitys funding, tax-exempt status and international student programs, causing significant financial and operational disruptions.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has directed federal agencies to review and potentially terminate approximately $100 million in active contracts with Harvard University over allegations of constitutional violations and failure to uphold "national interest."

According to a May 27 memo sent to agency procurement executives, Harvard has been engaging in a "deeply troubling pattern" of racial discrimination, ethical violations and failure to uphold federal nondiscrimination laws, despite the landmark rebuke of the Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

The letter, signed by Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, highlights stark disparities in admission rates among top-tier applicants, with African American students admitted at 56 percent, Hispanic students at 31 percent, white students at 15 percent and Asian students at just 13 percent.

GSA also accused Harvard of fostering a hostile environment for Jewish students and tolerating antisemitic actions. It cites Harvard's failure to address repeated harassment of Jewish students, including incidents that disrupted campus operations. One particularly controversial case involves the Harvard Law Review awarding a $65,000 fellowship to a protester charged with assaulting a Jewish student.

In turn, GSA urged federal agencies to terminate existing contracts with Harvard and its affiliates under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which mandates that contractors uphold ethical and legal standards. Agencies must submit lists of cancellations by June 6 and seek alternative vendors for future services.

The contracts flagged for termination include the $49,858 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on coffee consumption and the $25,800 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for senior executive training programs.

Trump's White House and Harvard embroiled in high-stakes conflicts

The White House and the university are embroiled in a high-stakes political, legal and financial conflict  one that has intensified significantly since President Donald Trump took office in January.

For instance, last week, the White House moved to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students or host foreign researchers, sparking chaos among thousands of students and prompting the university to file another lawsuit. A federal judge swiftly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the measure, but the administration's broader campaign against Harvard shows no signs of relenting. (Related: Harvard University refuses to comply with Trump admin's demands to combat campus antisemitism.)

Meanwhile, in April, the White House froze $2.2 billion in federal funding and threatened the university's tax?exempt status, leading to a legal challenge. Weeks later, an additional $450 million in grants were slashed.

One of the hardest-hit departments is Harvard Medical School's Sinclair Lab, which focuses on aging and diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer and immune disorders. The lab lost an NIH grant and researcher Kelly Rich's career grant for age-reversal studies was abruptly terminated.

Visit Wokies.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video clip of Harvard suing the Trump administration over a funding freeze.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump administration halts $510 million in federal funding to Brown University over antisemitism response.

Trump administration SUSPENDS federal grants to Princeton University amid antisemitism probe.

DHS cuts $2.7M in Harvard funding over antisemitism failures, left-wing indoctrination.

Columbia University lays off 180 staff amid federal funding cuts over antisemitism controversy.

Harvard adopts controversial IHRA antisemitism definition to block debate over Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Static01.nyt.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
Trump doubles steel tariffs to 50%, vows to protect U.S. industry

President Donald Trump raised steel tariffs from 25 percent to 50 percent, effective June 4, to further protect U.S. steelworkers from foreign competition. He argued the higher rate would be more effective than the previous 25 percent tariff imposed in March.

Trump cited national security and unfair foreign trade practices as reasons, claiming the move would revive the domestic steel/aluminum industries. He announced the decision at a Pennsylvania steel plant, emphasizing worker protection.

The original 25 percent tariff faced backlash (e.g., retaliation from Canada, criticism from U.S. automakers). The EU initially threatened counter-tariffs but backed down. Trump dismissed concerns, prioritizing domestic manufacturing.

Despite past opposition to foreign ownership of U.S. Steel, Trump endorsed Nippon Steel's $14.9B acquisition, citing negotiated safeguards like a "golden share" for U.S. government oversight and worker protections.

Trump framed both actions as wins for American workers, declaring it a "historic day" and reinforcing his "America First" agenda on trade and industry.

President Donald Trump has announced a dramatic increase in tariffs on imported steel, raising the rate from 25 percent to 50 percent to further shield American steelworkers from foreign competition.

In March, Trump originally imposed a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, citing national security concerns and accusing foreign nations of unfair trade practices. The move drew swift retaliation from Canada and criticism from the U.S. auto industry, while the European Union briefly threatened counter-tariffs before backing down. (Related: Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum to protect U.S. industries.)

As a response, Trump escalated his aggressive trade policy to prioritize protecting domestic manufacturing.

Speaking to a cheering crowd of U.S. Steel employees at a facility in Pennsylvania on Friday, May 30, Trump revealed he had initially considered a 40 percent tariff but settled on the higher rate after industry leaders argued that 25 percent was insufficient. Trump declared the hike necessary to secure the future of the steel industry.

"We are going to be imposing a 25 percent increase," Trump said. "We're going to bring it from 25 percent to 50 percent, the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States. Nobody's going to get around that. At 25 percent, they can sorta get over that fence. At 50 percent, nobody's getting over that fence."

Trump later confirmed in a post on his Truth Social platform that the new tariff will take effect on Wednesday, June 4.

"It is my great honor to raise the tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25 percent to 50 percent, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump reverses stance, endorses Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. steel

Aside from raising tariffs on imported steel, Trump also celebrated a deal with Japan's Nippon Steel.

During his presidency and early campaign speeches, Trump vowed to prevent U.S. Steel from falling into foreign hands, warning it would jeopardize American jobs. But on Friday, he claimed negotiations with Nippon Steel to acquire U.S. Steel for nearly $14.9 billion led to stronger protections for workers, including a "golden share" provision that grants the U.S. government influence over company decisions.

"U.S. Steel was being sold into foreign hands with no protections for our great steel workers," Trump said. "And I said there's no way we're gonna let that happen. I was watching over you."

He then argued that Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel executives improved the terms over time, ultimately winning his support. "They kept asking me and I kept rejecting them: No way, no way, no way," Trump said. "Every time they came in, the deal got better and better and better for the workers. I'm going to be in Washington; I'm gonna be watching over it."

The president framed the agreement as a victory for American workers, alongside his proposed steel tariffs. "This is going to be a very big day. This is going to be one of the biggest days in your life."

Follow Trump.news for more stories about the president's tariffs.

Watch Tom Philipson and Steve Moore explaining that President Donald Trump uses tariffs effectively in this clip.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

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Unemployment rates spike in Democrat-led states as residents flee liberal strongholds

Democrat-led Massachusetts and Connecticut saw the sharpest rises (0.3 percentage points), reaching 4.6 percent and 3.7 percent unemployment, respectively. Other states, including New Jersey, Ohio and Minnesota, also reported significant increases.

Michigan's manufacturing sector struggles highlight job losses due to automation, while Mississippi faces challenges from dwindling industries, poverty and brain drain.

The U.S. rate remained at 4.2 percent, with healthcare and warehousing job growth offset by declines in federal employment (linked to Trump-era cuts).

Analysts describe a rapid shift from a tight job market to a "job seeker's hellscape," with slowing hiring, fewer postings and employers regaining leverage.

All U.S. regions are expected to see rising unemployment, with the West (California, Nevada, Washington) hit hardest due to tech and professional services hiring freezes.

A new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has revealed that unemployment rates surged in several states between February and April 2024, with Democrat-led Massachusetts and Connecticut experiencing the sharpest increases.

According to the data, Massachusetts saw its unemployment rate climb to 4.6 percent, while Connecticut's rose to 3.7 percent  both marking a 0.3 percentage point jump. Other states reporting significant increases included New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and Arizona, each rising by 0.2 percentage points. Michigan, meanwhile, recorded a smaller 0.1 percentage point uptick amid ongoing struggles in its manufacturing sector.

"Michigan's pain is automation's gain," said Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com. "The state that built America's middle class is watching robots replace assembly line workers. When 20 percent of your jobs depend on an auto industry that's slashing human workers for silicon chips... Well, you're not just facing unemployment, it's more like extinction."

Ryan also commented on Mississippi and attributed their struggles to dwindling industries and persistent poverty. "Mississippi's surge tells a different story of rural America getting left behind. Limited industry growth, persistent poverty and a brain drain that's bleeding talent. When your biggest employers are struggling with funding cuts, you're losing jobs and hope," Ryan said.

Nationally, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent, though job growth in healthcare and warehousing was offset by declines in federal government employment, a result of Trump-era efforts to streamline bureaucracy. (Related: Insider memo reveals US unemployment rate exceeding 37 percent; 'Misery Index' worst in 30 years.)

Experts warn of "job seekers' hellscape" as unemployment surges

In response to the report, financial experts and labor analysts have predicted that the U.S. labor market is in freefall, with job openings collapsing and unemployment rising sharply across all regions.

"The job market has shifted from feast to famine," Ryan said, claiming that the job market has rapidly deteriorated. "Hiring has slowed to a crawl, with companies taking longer to fill positions and job postings plummeting from post-pandemic peaks. I expect this to be the new normal. We're transitioning from an employer's nightmare to a job seeker's hellscape. Companies have regained leverage, and they're using it ruthlessly."

Meanwhile, Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the "9Innings" podcast, warned that outsourcing and automation continue to devastate traditional manufacturing jobs. "The driving force continues to be the economics of the manufacturing base, specifically automotive. As these jobs continue to be outsourced and automated, people in these regions will need to be retrained so they can enter the job market in different capacities, which will reduce the unemployment rate."

In turn, Ryan expects a grim outlook: "Time for the great labor market reality check. All four Census regions will see unemployment rise as we enter below-trend growth. In my opinion, the West will get hammered hardest  with California, Nevada and Washington leading the charge as professional services and tech hiring freezes."

Learn more about the unemployment crisis and the collapse of the American economy at Bubble.news.

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Alberta wildfires disrupt 7% of Canadian oil production, spark supply concerns across North America

Wildfires in Albertas oil-rich region have halted 344,000 barrels per day (bpd), affecting 7% of Canadas total crude output.

Major producers including Cenovus, MEG Energy and Canadian Natural face disruptions due to blazes near production sites.

Flames approach 470,000 bpd of capacity, risking lasting damage or extended shutdowns.

U.S. refineries, reliant on Canadian imports for 60% of crude needs, may face higher costs as alternatives are sought.

Analysts warn of supply tightness amid global energy scarcity, mirroring disruptions caused by geopolitical sanctions.

Wildfires raging in Alberta have sparked a silent explosion in North Americas energy markets, grounding 7% of Canadas oil production and testing the resilience of a sector critical to both American energy security and global stability. Companies like Cenovus Energy, Canadian Natural Resources and MEG Energy have temporarily halted production worth 344,000 bpd due to flames advancing toward key oil sands installations near Fort McMurray. The affected regions, including the Christina Lake and Jackfish fields, account for roughly 470,000 bpd of capacity, leaving analysts and industry leaders scrambling to assess the fallout.

Energy markets are tight enough already, said Goldman Sachs economist Adam Wijaya, noting pressure from OPEC+ cuts and sanctions against key oil exporters. This could push prices higher just when consumers need relief. The Alberta blazes, coinciding with seasonal heatwaves, underscore the unpredictability of energy supply chains in a world where climate volatility intersects with geopolitical risks.

Chaos in Fort McMurray echoes 2016s historic wildfire

The scenes resemble the 2016 Fort McMurray inferno, which upended global energy markets by cutting 1.4 million bpdor over one-third of Canadas total outputduring its peak. While this years disruption is smaller, its proximity to critical infrastructure and the timing raise concerns. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reported Monday that 400,000 hectares have burned in weeks, dwarfing the 9,000-hectare toll from previous Alberta fires.

Climate change is making these events more frequent and intense, said a Cenovus spokesperson, while emphasizing rapid response efforts. However, officials acknowledge that power outages, like those crippling MEG Energys 70,000-bpd project, could delay recovery. MEG has postponed restarting a major facility after losing grid access, though Cenovus insists its Christina Lake site, shuttered on May 29, remains intact and nears a restart.

Kyle Janke, a Canadian energy economist, highlighted the markets Goldilocks problemlow inventories amplified by sanctions and maintenance shutdowns. Every barrel lost in Alberta now has outsized impact, he said.

Regional farmers grapple with climate extremesand energy crossroads

Beyond oilfields, Albertas farmers face compounding threats. Heatwaves in 2021 and recent years have already decimated crops, prompting calls for resilient agricultural practices that balance environmental stewardship with energy production. While U.S. refiners brace for imported crude at higher costs, the debate over North Americas energy future intensifies.

Tom Marzari, a rancher near Fort McMurray, described a new normal of wildfires: Were seeing losses in both our herds and the land that fuels energy. Its a double-edged sword.

Market tremors: High prices and the cost of dependency

The disruptions ripple beyond Calgary. U.S. refineries, reliant on Canadas 4.9-million-bpd output (60% of imports), face a critical juncture. Analysts forecast possible shortages in summer driving months, with Gulf Coast refineries eyeing costlier alternatives like Colombian or Mexican crude. Industry sources warn that prolonged shutdowns could strain global markets already stretched by Russian sanctions and anemic spare capacity in OPEC+ nations.

While Alberta officials urge patience, critic Mark Becca of energythink.org noted, The heart of the issue is resilience. Bureaucratic inertia and knee-jerk regulations wont stop wildfires, but smart energy policies can build survivability.

A blaze of uncertainty in energys crossroads

As Albertas flames skirt oil-rich landscapes, the crisis is both a warning and a catalyst. Investors, consumers and policymakers must navigate the tightrope between urgency for clean energy transitions and the realities of a world still reliant on hydrocarbons. For now, smoke-filled skies loom over North Americas energy heartland, reminding markets that reliance on fragile systems has never been more perilousor profitablethan it is today.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Reuters.com

Finance.Yahoo.com
Bird flu panic: Industrial farm crisis and questionable vaccine push shakes food freedom

Hickmans Family Farms, one of the Southwests largest egg producers, lost 6 million chickens to bird flu in days, altering regional food supplies.

Bird flus $5.12/dozen egg price tag highlights vulnerabilities in factory farming and centralized food systems.

Experts warn of impending shortages and inflated costs as outbreaks underscore reliance on high-density animal facilities.

Activists urge a shift to humane, eco-conscious agriculture amid industry scare tactics for profit.

The recent collapse of Hickmans Family Farms in Arizonaa 95% die-off of its chicken flocksexposes the fragility of our industrial food system and the disproportionate influence of centralized agribusiness over public health policies. Over 37 million poultry have been lost nationwide since 2022, with just 70 human cases reported (one death). Yet, amid the panic, powerful interests push vaccines, lobby against biosecurity measures and obscure the root causes behind this crisis. This story examines how factory farming fuels avian influenza, the economic ripple effects, and why this outbreak isnt as unexpectedor dangerous for humansas claimed.

Crammed together, ground up or gassed: The role of industrial chickens

The real driver here isnt a rogue virusits our unregulated factory farms, asserts Dr. Gail Hansen, a former Kansas epidemiologist. Hickmans 2025 disaster traces directly to the overcrowded, stress-heavy conditions of modern poultry operations. Unlike free-range or small-scale farms, industrial producers house tens of thousands of birds in confined spaces, creating perfect breeding grounds for pathogens.

The CDC acknowledges human cases are rare, with minimal risk to the public, yet the USDA and poultry giants continue framing H5N1 as an existential threat. These facilities dont just threaten chickensthey endanger rural communities and global food security, says David Ortega, a food economist at Michigan State.

Hickmans CEO Glenn Hickman, while pleading for vaccine access, admits his own farms design worsened the outbreak. We depleted 6 million birds in two weeks, he confessed, noting containment efforts failed as infected hens infected entire herds in days. Critics argue that vaccine-dependent responses ignore the systemic flaws of industrial agriculture.

The bird flu vaccine mirage

Hickmans demands for USDA-authorized poultry vaccinesstymied by industry and bureaucratic roadblocksexpose deeper political clashes. While Zoetis received a 2023 conditional license for an H5N2 vaccine, its been inaccessible. Hickman noted that APHIS (USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) controls distribution. Critics emphasize that vaccines arent a solution: theyre merely a stopgap for the overcrowded conditions that industrial farms create.

Industry insiders accuse pharmaceutical companies of stoking panic to sell vaccines, pointing out meat producerswho cull birds at 6 weeksreport fewer outbreaks. They dont care if our flocks survive two years, Hickman charged, accusing meat cartels of blocking access to keep their own profits intact.

Blame also points to the Trump administrations $766M defunding of pandemic flu research, leaving the USDA without stockpiled vaccines or biosecurity. Were flying blind, said Ortega. The minute this outbreak was declared, we shouldve vaccinated millions of birdsnot wait. But even if we had vaccines, they dont fix the diseases source: chaotic factory farms.

Costs beyond cracked eggs: Shifting cultural landscapes

The economic fallout for Arizona is immediate. Egg prices have surged 78% since 2022. Hickmans layoffs will affect 850 employeesincluding state inmates enrolled in its 30-year rehabilitation programeroding rural labor markets. The real tragedy is the people, Hickman mourned, noting farmworkers all have families now at risk.

Animal welfare advocates see this crisis as a wake-up call. Animal Outlook called the shutdown a victory for hens, noting 8 million male chicks annually culled in the egg industry. Two years buys time to rethink chicken agriculture entirely, the group urged, pushing for plant-based alternatives. Yet these calls clash with agribusinesss insistence on automation and consolidation as solutions. Bigger farms mean bigger risksand bigger profits when subsidies roll in, warned Hansen.

Farm freedom, not fear

The Hickmans collapse underscores a critical choice: cling to industrial models that hype viruses to sell drugs, or invest in resilient, decentralized farming systems like pastured poultry. Regulators keep chasing symptoms instead of causes, argues Dr. Hansen. True preparedness means embracing transparency and empowering small, regional growers.

As global egg prices climb and inequities widen, the stakes transcend grocery bills. This crisis isnt a flukeits a symptom of a system so addicted to profit, its willing to risk humanitys and poultrys health. The fix: sunlight, small farms andyesindependent journalism. Vaccines arent the answer; dismantling industrial agriculture is.

Sources for this article include:

Newsweek.com

Yahoo.com

Wnem.com
Chinese nationals charged with smuggling deadly crop fungus into U.S. in agroterrorism plot

A Chinese couple with alleged CCP ties was charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a dangerous agroterrorism pathogen, into the U.S. via Detroit Airport.

The fungus threatens wheat, barley, and maize crops, causing billions in losses and posing severe health risks to humans and livestock.

The couple conspired to deliver the pathogen for undisclosed research, with evidence of prior smuggling attempts and CCP loyalty.

The University of Michigan denied involvement, but the case raises concerns about foreign exploitation of U.S. academic labs.

Experts warn agroterrorism could destabilize food security, prompting calls for stricter oversight of foreign researchers.

A Chinese couple with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party has been charged with smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States, raising alarms over potential agroterrorism threats.

Zunyong Liu, 34, was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport last July attempting to bring Fusarium graminearum, a fungus described as a "potential agroterrorism weapon", into the country. His girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, a University of Michigan researcher, allegedly conspired with him to receive the pathogen for undisclosed research purposes. Both now face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud.

The case highlights growing concerns about foreign adversaries exploiting U.S. academic institutions to advance biological threats against American agriculture and food security.

A dangerous pathogen with devastating potential

Fusarium graminearum is no ordinary fungus. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, it causes "head blight," a disease that ravages wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops, leading to billions in global economic losses annually. Worse, the toxins it produces can induce vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock if contaminated crops are consumed.

Scientific literature classifies the fungus as a potential agroterrorism weapon due to its ability to cripple food supplies. If weaponized, it could devastate American farms, disrupt food chains, and inflict severe economic harm.

"The alleged actions of these Chinese nationalsincluding a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Partyare of the gravest national security concerns," said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. in a statement. "These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America."

Couple has a history of deception and smuggling

Liu initially lied to authorities about his knowledge of the pathogen but later admitted he intended to deliver it to Jian, who worked at a University of Michigan laboratory. Investigators found electronic communications between the couple discussing the shipment of biological materials prior to Lius arrival.

Shockingly, evidence suggests Jian had previously smuggled biological materials into the U.S. A signed statement on her phone confirmed her loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party, while Liu reportedly conducted research on the same pathogen at a Chinese university.

"These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.

The University of Michigan issued a statement distancing itself from the accused, claiming it received "no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals." The university pledged cooperation with federal authorities but emphasized that its lab lacked permits to handle Fusarium graminearum.

Despite these assurances, the case raises troubling questions about foreign infiltration of U.S. academic institutions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced plans to revoke visas of Chinese students with CCP ties, signaling heightened scrutiny of potential espionage risks.

This incident is not isolated. Experts warn that hostile nations could deploy biological agents to destabilize food supplies in a tactic known as agroterrorism. The FBI affidavit notes that Jian and Lius actions fit a pattern of clandestine biological smuggling, suggesting prior undisclosed operations.

Jian appeared in federal court and remains detained pending a bond hearing. Liu, however, remains in China, where U.S. extradition is unlikely due to the lack of a treaty. The case underscores vulnerabilities in U.S. biosecurity and the need for stricter oversight of foreign researchers. As global tensions escalate, Americas food supply should be a national security priority.

Sources for this article include:

NYPost.com

Breitbart.com

EndOfTheAmericanDream.com

APNews.com
Federal authorities bust $25M COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, arrest 14 conspirators

Federal authorities arrested 14 individuals in Southern California for allegedly stealing over $25 million from COVID-19 relief programs by submitting fake tax returns, falsifying records and laundering funds overseas. Four suspects remain at large, believed to be in Armenia.

Among those charged, Vahe Margaryan allegedly created sham companies and laundered millions, while Felix Parker fraudulently obtained $2 million for a nonexistent business. Others, like Axsel Markaryan and Sarkis Sarkisyan, secured loans before transferring funds abroad or inventing businesses.

The arrests followed a lengthy probe uncovering a sophisticated criminal network active since 2018. Authorities seized $20,000 in cash, firearms and money-counting equipment, highlighting the scheme's scale.

The case exposes vulnerabilities in pandemic aid programs, which initially lacked strict oversight. The DOJ's COVID-19 Fraud Task Force is intensifying efforts to recover stolen funds and deter future fraud.

The crackdown mirrors past disaster relief fraud cases (e.g., Hurricane Katrina). Officials warn against exploiting emergency funds and urge the public to report fraud via the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline.

Federal authorities have arrested 14 individuals in Southern California for allegedly orchestrating a sprawling fraud scheme that siphoned more than $25 million from Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) relief programs meant to aid struggling small businesses.

The defendants, including residents of the San Fernando Valley and Glendale, are accused of exploiting federal loan initiatives such as the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The conspirators defrauded the government by submitting fabricated tax returns, falsifying business records and laundering funds overseas.

Four additional suspects believed to be in Armenia remain at large, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The arrests made on Wednesday, May 28, followed a multi-agency investigation that uncovered a sophisticated criminal network operating since at least 2018.

Among those charged is 42-year-old Vahe Margaryan of Tujunga. He allegedly directed the creation of sham companies, falsified financial statements and purchased fraudulent tax returns to secure loans. Prosecutors claim Margaryan's operation laundered millions through shell accounts before his alleged activities were halted in January 2025.

Felix Parker of North Hollywood was also among those arrested on Wednesday. The 77-year-old Parker allegedly obtained over $2 million by submitting fake tax returns for a nonexistent promotional products company. (Related: Government report reveals criminals stole BILLIONS from unemployment benefits during pandemic.)

The scheme extended beyond domestic borders. Forty-seven-year-old Axsel Markaryan of Pacoima, reportedly secured $5 million in Small Business Administration loans before transferring at least $100,000 to an accomplice in Armenia. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Sarkis Sarkisyan of Glendale allegedly fabricated an entire business to fraudulently claim more than $700,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds.

DOJ cracks down, threatens decades in prison for pandemic fraudsters

Law enforcement seized $20,000 in cash, firearms and money-counting equipment  highlighting the operation's scale. According to the DOJ, each defendant would be facing decades behind bars if convicted.

The case highlights vulnerabilities in pandemic-era relief programs, which disbursed billions with limited oversight in the early stages of the crisis. Special Agent Tyler Hatcher of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office emphasized that the defendants "pilfered" funds intended for legitimate businesses in distress.

The DOJ's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established in 2021, has since intensified efforts to recover stolen funds. Bill Essayli, interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, vowed to pursue those who "cheat the system." He said the May 28 raid and subsequent arrests seek to "send a message to all criminals who take advantage of government programs designed to help those who need them most."

Historical parallels exist in past disaster relief fraud cases, such as after Hurricane Katrina, when lax oversight led to an estimated $1 billion in fraudulent payouts. Decades on, the current crackdown reflects a broader push to hold perpetrators accountable.

As the cases proceed, the DOJ urges the public to report suspected fraud through its National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline. For now, the arrests underscore a stark reality. While emergency funds serve as a lifeline for many, they also attract criminal networks eager to exploit crises.

Visit Deception.news for more similar stories.

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HHS axes $776 million Moderna bird flu vaccine deal over safety, ethical concerns

HHS abruptly canceled over $700 million in federal funding for Moderna's experimental mRNA bird flu vaccine, citing unresolved scientific and ethical concerns  a reversal of the Biden administration's earlier support.

HHS criticized mRNA technology as inadequately tested, referencing past Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine controversies (e.g., myocarditis risks) and the lack of long-term safety data for the H5N1 vaccine.

Moderna defended its Phase 1/2 trial results, claiming strong immune responses and safety. But the funding loss  including a $590M award and $176M BARDA grant  threatens its pandemic-preparedness strategy.

Officials like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised concerns about "leaky" vaccines accelerating viral mutations.

HHS plans to prioritize non-mRNA vaccines, reflecting post-COVID skepticism of rapid emergency-use technologies. The move highlights tensions between caution and preparedness amid H5N1s spread in poultry, livestock and sporadic human cases.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has abruptly terminated more than $700 million in federal funding for Moderna's experimental mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, citing unresolved scientific and ethical concerns.

The decision confirmed by HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon on Thursday, May 29, marks a dramatic reversal from the Biden administration's earlier support for the project. The canceled funding targeted Moderna's H5N1 avian influenza vaccine, which relies on the same mRNA platform as its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injections. The Massachusetts-based vaccine maker's earlier shot has linked to serious side effects, including myocarditis or heart muscle inflammation.

Officials argue that mRNA technology remains inadequately tested and that taxpayer dollars should not fund a repeat of pandemic-era controversies, where safety warnings were allegedly suppressed. Moderna, however, insists its early trial data shows promise. Nevertheless, the funding cut leaves the future of its H5N1 vaccine in limbo.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel vowed to seek alternative funding, but the loss of federal backing deals a blow to the companys pandemic-preparedness strategy. The rescinded funds include a $590 million award slated for 2025 and a $176 million Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) grant from 2024.

A Senate investigation previously revealed that federal health officials debated imposing post-vaccination activity restrictions due to these risks but never acted. Now, HHS claims further investment in mRNA for bird flu is unjustifiable without more rigorous long-term safety data. (Related: SCARE TACTICS: U.S. government gives Moderna $176 million to develop mRNA bird flu vaccine for next fake scamdemic.)

Is this the end of mRNA vaccine technology?

Critics, including some public health experts, argue that abandoning mRNA vaccine technology leaves the U.S. vulnerable if H5N1 mutates into a human pandemic strain. Supporters meanwhile applaud HHS for prioritizing traditional vaccine methods.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal skeptic of mass avian vaccinations, has warned that imperfect "leaky" vaccines could accelerate viral mutations in livestock. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shares her colleague's concern.

The H5N1 virus has already devastated U.S. poultry, infecting over 173 million birds since 2022. While international protocols typically mandate culling infected flocks, Kennedy and Rollins have pushed for alternative strategies to minimize agricultural disruptions.

According to a statement by Nixon, the move to scrap funding for Moderna's bird flu shot "signals a shift in federal vaccine funding priorities toward platforms with better-established safety profiles and transparent data practices." HHS now plans to redirect funds toward non-mRNA vaccines, including next-generation universal flu shots. Ultimately, the move by the health department signals a broader skepticism of emergency-use technologies post-COVID-19, where mandates and rushed approvals fueled public distrust.

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Israels latest strikes on Syria expose its role as Middle East aggressor, fueling endless war

Israel attacked southern Syria after rockets were fired toward the occupied Golan Heights, with a new group claiming responsibility over Gaza atrocities.

Israel vowed a "full response," blaming Syrias government, which denied involvement and condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty.

The attacking group, named after a Hamas leader, framed their actions as resistance to Israels Gaza war, while Israel escalated violence instead of addressing occupation.

Israel has a history of unprovoked strikes on Syria, expanding occupation under false security pretexts, despite Syrias attempts at normalization.

The international communitys silence enables Israels aggression, perpetuating regional violence while avoiding accountability for occupation and apartheid.

Israel launched artillery and airstrikes on southern Syria late on June 3 after two rockets were fired toward the occupied Golan Heights in the first such attack from Syria in a year. A newly formed group, the Martyr Mohammad Deif Brigades, claimed responsibility, citing Israels ongoing atrocities in Gaza as justification. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed a "full response," holding Syrias interim government responsible, while Damascus denied posing any regional threat. The incident underscores Israels relentless militarism and its role as an aggressor in the Middle East, further destabilizing a region already ravaged by occupation and war.

Israels disproportionate retaliation

The Israeli military confirmed striking weapons sites in southern Syria, including heavy shelling in Deraa and surrounding areas, claiming retaliation for the rockets that landed harmlessly in open terrain. Syrias Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, stating they caused "significant human and material losses" while denying any verified involvement in the initial rocket fire. Syria "has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region," the ministry asserted, accusing Israel of exploiting tensions for further aggression.

"This escalation constitutes a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and aggravates tensions in the region," the ministry stated.

The Martyr Mohammad Deif Brigades, named after Hamas assassinated military chief, framed their attack as resistance to Israels genocide in Gaza. An anonymous commander told Al Jazeera their operations will continue until the war in Gaza is over. Yet Israel, rather than addressing the root cause of regional hostilityits own occupation and apartheid policieschose instead to escalate violence, reinforcing its reputation as a rogue state operating outside international law.

Katz said that he holds Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible, stating: We consider the president of Syria directly responsible for any threat and fire towards the State of Israel, and a full response will come soon,

A history of unchecked aggression

Israels latest bombardment follows a long pattern of unprovoked attacks on Syria, particularly since the fall of Bashar al-Assads government in December. Under the guise of "security concerns," Israel has expanded its illegal occupation, seized additional Syrian territory, and demanded the demilitarization of southern provinces.

Syrias interim government, despite signaling willingness to normalize relations, has faced relentless Israeli hostility. Washington has pressured Damascus to crack down on Palestinian resistance factions, leading to arrests and asset seizures targeting groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Yet Israel continues to act as judge, jury, and executioner, bombing sovereign nations with impunity while accusing others of aggression.

This latest attack on Syria serves as another advertisement for Israels war machine, reinforcing its status as a purveyor of state violence. While nations like Russia face global condemnation for invasions, Israel enjoys unwavering Western support despite its own record of illegal occupations, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid.

Israels strikes on Syria are not about self-defense but about maintaining regional hegemony. By refusing to address Palestinian rights or end its occupation, Israel ensures perpetual conflict. The international communitys silence enables this brutality, allowing Israel to act as an unaccountable aggressor. Until apartheid is dismantled and justice is served, the cycle of violence will continue, with innocent lives paying the price.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

AlJazeera.com

BBC.com

Reuters.com
Louisiana state lawmakers advance bill banning CHEMTRAILS

A bill (SB 46) banning intentional atmospheric chemical releases for weather modification ("chemtrails") passed the Louisiana House (58-33) and returns to the Senate for final approval after amendments.

Supporters like State Sen. Fesi and State Rep. Coates argue the bill protects public health from undisclosed aerial spraying, citing alleged federal geoengineering efforts involving aluminum and barium nanoparticles. Critics dismiss it as baseless conspiracy theory.

Agencies like NOAA and EPA deny weather manipulation programs, attributing jet trails to ice crystals from engine exhaust. Public distrust, however, has fueled the bill's momentum.

Penalties for violations were removed. Instead, complaints will be logged by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and forwarded to the Air National Guard. The law, if passed, takes effect in August.

The bill reflects growing skepticism toward government transparency, amplified by figures like RFK Jr., who vowed to investigate chemtrail claims. Louisiana's decision could set a precedent in the geoengineering controversy.

A bill that would ban the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere for weather modification, commonly referred to as "chemtrails," has advanced in the Louisiana State Legislature.

On Thursday, May 29, the Louisiana House of Representatives voted 58-33 to send Senate Bill (SB) 46 for final approval to the upper chamber. While the Louisiana State Senate approved the bill in April, the lower chamber introduced several amendments.

Authored by State Sen. Michael "Big Mike" Fesi (R-District 20), SB 46 explicitly seeks to prohibit "the intentional release or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature." Supporters argue the bill is necessary to protect public health from undisclosed aerial spraying, while critics dismiss it as legislation based on conspiracy theories with no credible evidence.

State Rep. Kimberly Landry Coates (R-District 73) defended the bill on the House floor, claiming that aircraft are dispersing aluminum, barium and other nanoparticles to manipulate weather patterns. She added that some of the compounds in chemtrails had "long words that I can't pronounce."

"This bill is to prevent any chemicals above us in the air, specifically to modify the weather," Coates emphasized. According to the state lawmaker, she had seen documents implicating at least nine federal agencies in geoengineering efforts.

Louisiana's fight over chemtrails heats up

Government agencies have denied involvement in weather manipulation, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) repeatedly stating it does not engage in weather modification programs. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency maintains that the white streaks seen behind jets are simply ice crystals formed from engine exhaust in cold, high-altitude air.

Despite these denials, SB 46 has gained traction amid heightened public distrust of government environmental programs. If passed, the law would take effect in August.

An amendment stripped the bill of enforcement penalties, instead requiring the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to log public complaints about alleged chemtrails and forward them to the Louisiana Air National Guard. Another amendment removed penalties for violators, with Coates stating that more research is needed before punitive measures are considered.

In August 2024, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly acknowledged concerns about airborne chemical spraying, vowing to investigate further. His remarks have fueled speculation among activists who argue that clandestine geoengineering projects are already underway. (Related: U.S. Health Secretary: Chemtrails are real and must be stopped.)

As SB 46 heads to the Louisiana State Senate for final approval and the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry for his signature, the Pelican State finds itself at the center of a contentious debate. The skies above Louisiana serve as the latest battleground in the fight over government transparency and environmental control.

Visit GeoEngineering.news for more similar stories.

Watch Dr. Jane Ruby and the Health Ranger Mike Adams discussing the presence of toxic heavy metals in chemtrails.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Florida Senate passes bill banning geoengineering and weather modification and Governor DeSantis has indicated it will become law.

Florida skies contaminated: Shocking levels of aluminum, mercury, and lead found in atmospheric fallout.

Florida passes bill to ban geoengineering and criminalize weather modification.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

FOX8Live.com

FlyingMag.com

Brighteon.com
Cucumber recall over Salmonella contamination expands: What you need to know to protect your health

Salmonella enterica serovar Montevideo was found in cucumbers from Bedner Growers in Florida, matching the strain that has sickened 45 people across 18 states.

At least eight cases were connected to cruise passengers, highlighting the widespread distribution of contaminated cucumbers, including onboard dining services.

Recalled cucumbers and retailed products were sold at major retailers (i.e., Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart and others) in various forms  whole, sliced and in salads, sushi and deli items.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting. High-risk groups include children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

Cucumber products from unknown sources should be thrown out. Clean any surface or utensils that may have been in contact and monitor for symptoms.

A salad favorite has become a public health hazard. Cucumbers, often praised for their crisp freshness, are now at the center of a Salmonella outbreak that's rapidly expanding across the United States.

What started as a regional concern has spread to 18 states, sickening at least 45 people and sending 16 to the hospital, according to a newly released update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But it's not just about cucumbers anymore. It is about how one contaminated crop exposed vulnerabilities in the food system and how to stay safe.

As of May 30, the CDC confirmed that the same strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Montevideo found in sick individuals has also been detected in cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers of Florida. This crucial discovery links the outbreak definitively to specific cucumbers distributed nationwide between April 29 and May 19.

Testing of cucumbers from a distribution center in Pennsylvania by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not only confirmed the outbreak strain, but also revealed several other strains of Salmonella. The regulator's findings brought up broader concerns about production and handling at the source farm.

A cruise connection?

Here's an unexpected twist: Eight infected individuals had recently been on cruises departing from Florida. Though spread across six different ships, three sickened people were on the same vessel.

Investigators are now looking into food service protocols on these ships, since cruise lines source produce from multiple vendors, including Bedner Growers. This link emphasizes just how far and wide contaminated food can travel  and how rapidly it can affect people in totally different environments.

DNA fingerprinting, also called whole genome sequencing, revealed that the bacteria samples from sick people were genetically nearly identical  a solid sign they got sick from the same food source. That fingerprint matched the same S. enterica serotype found on cucumbers pulled from circulation.

Also telling, 89 percent of people interviewed said they ate cucumbers in the week before they got sick. Compare that to the average 50 percent cucumber consumption in general food surveys and the evidence becomes hard to ignore.

What products are at risk?

This isn't just about cucumbers in the produce aisle. Contaminated cucumbers were chopped, sliced and hidden in:

Deli items like sandwiches and wraps

Prepackaged salads

Salsas, pasta salads and even breakfast bowls

Sushi rolls (often under "Snowfox" and "Snowfruit" labels)

Vegetable trays

Retailers affected include Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart and many more across more than 16 states. Some grocery chains have pulled dozens of prepared food items containing cucumbers. But for regular Americans who may have these compromised cucumbers in their refrigerators, it's highly suggested that they discard potentially affected products.

S. enterica is more than just a stomach bug. It can cause severe illness, especially in vulnerable groups, like kids, seniors and people with weakened immune systems. Here are symptoms to watch for:

Diarrhea

Fever

Headaches or chills

Nausea and vomiting

Stomach cramps

Bloody stool in some cases

These symptoms usually appear within eight to 72 hours of exposure and can last up to a week. While most people recover without treatment, hospitalization may be necessary for those who experience complications. The CDC notes that actual case numbers are likely much higher than reported because many people don't seek medical care or get tested.

Staying safe from Salmonella

Here's how to stay safe:

Check refrigerators : Cucumbers or prepackaged meals with cucumbers from unknown sources, throw them out.

: Cucumbers or prepackaged meals with cucumbers from unknown sources, throw them out. Sanitize kitchens : Clean all surfaces, containers and utensils that may have come into contact with cucumbers.

: Clean all surfaces, containers and utensils that may have come into contact with cucumbers. Know the signs : Seek medical help if Salmonella infection is suspected, especially if symptoms persist or worsen.

: Seek medical help if Salmonella infection is suspected, especially if symptoms persist or worsen. Stay updated: Follow CDC and FDA websites for ongoing recall information. Food safety changes fast and being informed matters.

The FDA has a full list of affected products and states on its website. This cucumber recall highlights a deeper truth: The food Americans buy often travels through complex supply chains before reaching their plates. When something goes wrong at any point  especially in large-scale agriculture  entire regions can feel the effects.

Visit Outbreak.news for more similar stories.

Watch the following video to learn more about Salmonella infections.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The FDA's wheel of salmonella (comic).

Antibiotics can increase spread, severity of Salmonella infections.

Cucumbers recalled nationwide over salmonella outbreak linked to 37 illnesses across 15 U.S. states.

Sources include:

CDC.gov

FDA.gov 1

FDA.gov 2

Brighteon.com
Report: Trump would-be shooter Crooks was designing a BOMB before his failed assassination attempt

Seven months before his assassination attempt on President Trump, Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to purchase nitromethane (an explosive chemical) under an alias, suggesting a broader, deadlier plot.

Encrypted emails reveal Crooks grew frustrated when his nitromethane order was delayed, using his community college account  a rare lapse in operational secrecy.

Despite being a high-achieving engineering student (1530 SAT, praised projects), Crooks expressed anti-authority views in essays, criticizing Trump and comparing government actions to Orwellian oppression.

Investigators haven't confirmed if Crooks intended to use explosives in the attack or abandoned the plan. His college records were subpoenaed, but key details remain undisclosed.

The nitromethane trail raises concerns: If intercepted, why wasn't Crooks flagged sooner? The lack of transparency leaves critical questions unresolved about the near-historic attack.

Seven months before Thomas Matthew Crooks climbed onto a Pennsylvania rooftop and opened fire at then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in July 2024, the 20-year-old engineering student was quietly designing a bomb.

Newly obtained emails reveal Crooks attempted to purchase more than two gallons of nitromethane  a volatile chemical used in explosives  from an online fuel retailer in January 2024. The revelation, first reported by CBS News, raises urgent questions about whether Crooks' failed assassination attempt on Trump was part of a broader, deadlier plot.

Crooks, who fatally wounded one spectator and grazed Trump's ear before being killed by Secret Service agents, had meticulously researched bomb-making materials, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Kevin Rojek. His encrypted email exchanges with the supplier Hyperfuels show he grew impatient when his nitromethane order  placed under the alias "Thomas"  failed to ship promptly.

"I was wondering if you still have it and when I can expect it to come," he wrote on Jan. 31, 2024, using his community college account, a rare lapse in operational secrecy. Experts speculate that a backpack-sized device using nitromethane could have had a lethal blast radius of 30 feet, while a larger ammonium nitrate bomb might have leveled a small building.

How a near-perfect student became America's most mysterious shooter

The emails paint a jarring contrast. Crooks was simultaneously drafting transfer applications to the University of Pittsburgh, where professors praised his "above and beyond" engineering projects, including a Braille chessboard for his visually impaired mother.

Yet his academic work also betrayed deep skepticism of authority. In one essay, he criticized Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. In another, he likened government overreach to Orwellian imperialism.

His SAT score of 1530 and near-perfect grades suggest a sharp, disciplined mind  making his violent turn all the more perplexing. Federal investigators have yet to confirm whether Crooks intended to deploy explosives alongside his rifle attack or if he abandoned the plan due to logistical hurdles.

A federal grand jury subpoenaed his college records weeks after the shooting, but no further indictments have been made. Pennsylvania lawyer Wally Zimolong, who secured the documents through a transparency lawsuit, questions why key details remain shrouded. "A year later, we still don't know enough," he told CBS News.

The attempted assassination  the first serious threat to a U.S. president since Ronald Reagan's 1981 shooting  has faded from headlines, eclipsed by political turbulence and institutional reticence. Yet the nitromethane trail underscores gaps in the official narrative. (Related: FBI Director Wray reveals Trump shooter apparently researched JFK assassination.)

If Crooks' bomb materials were never delivered, where did they go? If they were intercepted, why wasn't he flagged sooner? The answers, like Crooks' encrypted correspondence, remain locked away  a haunting footnote to an attack that nearly rewrote history.

Check out Trump.news for more similar stories.

Watch this video alleging that Thomas Matthew Crooks knew Ryan Wesley Routh, the second Trump would-be assassin.

This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Individual who visited Thomas Crooks' home and workplace also visited Washington, D.C., building near FBI office in June 2023, newly acquired cell phone data shows.

Trump's would-be assassin reportedly flew a drone over the fairgrounds before the speech and could have dropped explosives on Trump.

Thomas Crooks joined DHS-infested Clairton Sportsmen's Club last summer, trained 43 times before aiming at Trump in Butler.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

CBSNews.com

WesternJournal.com

Brighteon.com
Trump administration pushes Arctic energy agenda amid Alaskas economic and environmental crossroads

Three Trump Cabinet members traveled to Alaska to advance oil leasing and natural gas pipeline projects.

The visit focuses on resuming drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and reviving the stalled $44B liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline.

Indigenous leaders are divided: some support development for economic benefits, others condemn environmental harm.

Biden-era restrictions on oil leases were ruled unlawful, prompting Interior to reinstate them.

Alaska lawmakers demand equitable royalty shares amid fiscal crises from low oil prices.

On June 1, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin arrived in Alaska as part of a high-stakes mission to revive fossil fuel drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and fast-track a multibillion-dollar LNG pipeline. The visit, framed by President Donald Trumps recent executive order expediting oil, gas and mining in Alaska, underscores the administrations commitment to energy independence, export-driven economic growth, and sovereignty over federal lands. While state leaders and pro-development Indigenous groups hail the decision as a lifeline for Alaskas faltering economy, environmentalists and Gwichin tribal leaders decry the move as an assault on fragile ecosystems and Indigenous sovereignty.

Controversial leases and legal reversals

The current push comes amid unresolved tensions over leasing in ANWR, a 19-million-acre preserve authorized for drilling under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Biden administrations 2024 cancellation of leases sold under Trump was ruled unlawful by a federal court in March 2025, forcing the Department of the Interior to reinstate the lease program. The case, Tribal Energy & Mineral Council v. Haaland, highlighted Alaskas long-standing frustration with perceived federal overreach. Meanwhile, the stalled LNG pipelineproposed after the North Slopes Willow oil project boosted productionfaces skepticism over its $44 billion price tag and competition from global energy markets.

For Alaska, the stakes are existential. The state faces a $3 billion budget shortfall due in part to falling oil prices, its dominant revenue source. Proponents argue that expanding drilling and pipelines will stabilize finances while positioning Alaska as a global energy leader. This is not just about energyits about national security, Burgum stated during a roundtable in Anchorage, framing LNG exports as a counterweight to foreign energy dominance.

Survival vs. stewardship

The debate pits Indigenous communities against one another. The Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, representing the predominantly pro-development North Slope Inupiat, welcomed the federal delegations visit. Nagruk Harcharek, the groups president, called it a step in the right direction, citing Arctic Slope Regional Corp.s economic reliance on oil production. Historically, Inupiat leadership has advocated for drilling as a means to secure jobs and fund infrastructure.

Yet Gwichin tribal leaders, whose ancestral lands encompass ANWRs coastal plain, oppose the plan fiercely. Alaska Wilderness League Director Andy Moderow condemned the administration for prioritizing energy sources of the past and dismissed LNG as economically unviable. Meanwhile, Sonny Ahkivgak of Native Movement accused officials of tokenizing Indigenous voices, urging reinvestment in renewable energy and traditional sustainable practices. We cant keep consuming as America has been, Ahkivgak said.

National security and economic realities

The administration positions the Alaska initiative as a linchpin for energy security and Asian partnerships. During a speech to Congress, Trump pledged that nations like Japan and South Korea would invest trillions in the LNG project. Asian officials will join portions of the delegations tour, though no formal agreements have been announced.

Economically, Alaskas tax structure rewards companies like ConocoPhillipsdeveloper of the Willow oil projectwith production tax write-offs. While Willows expansion supports jobs, state lawmakers argue federal royalty-sharing measures fail to compensate for lost revenues. A recently passed bipartisan resolution demands Congress redirect 90% of Arctic drilling royalties to the state, a pledge lawmakers claim the federal government reneged on.

Intermediate steps include repealing Bidens 2024 protections for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), which barred drilling in 13 million ecologically sensitive acres. Interior Secretary Burgum dismissed environmentalists concerns, accusing unnamed NGOs of treating Alaska like a snowglobe to halt global competitiveness.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

NewsMax.com

AlaskaNewsSource.com
Ericsson India reportedly sold off its 0.6% stake in Vodafone Idea (Vi) on Tuesday to undisclosed buyers for INR4.28 billion (US$49.9 million), less than two months after Nokias Indian unit did likewise.

According to ETTelecom, citing data from the National Stock Exchange of India, Ericsson India sold 633.7 million shares in Vi at INR6.76 each in a bulk deal. The identity of the buyers has not yet been disclosed.

Ericsson India originally purchased a 0.9% in Vi in June 2024 for INR9.38 billion as part of a fundraising scheme by the telco to fund its network rollout and pay off part of its dues to Ericsson.

In March 2025 the stake was diluted to 0.6% after the Indian government increased its stake in Vi from 22.6% to 48.99%, the report said.

Nokia Solutions and Networks India was also part of Vis 2024 fundraising sale, buying a 1.5% stake in the telco (diluted to 0.95% in March) for INR15.2 billion.

Nokia sold that stake in late April to a group of global investment banks in a bulk deal worth INR7.85 billion, with shares priced at INR7.65 each.

ETTelecom reported at the time that Goldman Sachs (Singapore) was confirmed to be among the buyers, acquiring INR4.57 billion worth of shares, giving it a 0.55% stake in Vi.
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Iraqi telco Asiacell says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Mobile International (CMI) to collaborate on delivering telecoms and digital solutions for B2B and enterprise services in Iraq.

Under the MoU signed on Monday, Asiacell and CMI will work together on enhancing international connectivity and leveraging CMIs expertise in technology applications across various industry verticals.

Asiacell and CMI aim pool their resources to deliver reliable, scalable, and innovative solutions to businesses in Iraq that drive growth and efficiency, said Alex Lee, MD of China Mobile International Middle East.

Our shared vision for building a digitally connected world and leveraging advanced technologies aligns perfectly with the growth potential of this market, he said in a statement.

Asiacell CEO and MD Amer Sunna added that the partnership with CMI will contribute to Iraqs broader digital transformation.

This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering world-class telecommunications and technology solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses in the region, he said.
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Faced with inefficient manual document processing that was hampering compliance and client service, RMBL Investments turned to digital automation for a solution.

The Australian mortgage fund partnered with Appian and implementation specialist Persistent Systems to deploy an AI-driven platform that has boosted document processing accuracy to over 95% and reduced client inquiries by nearly a quarter.

Since implementation, RMBL reports a 23% reduction in client inquiries and 35 hours of weekly time savings for front-line staff. RMBL is one of Australias leading first mortgage funds with over $2.25B in assets under management. Facing a compliance challenge due to inefficient storage and retrieval of investment consent agreements, RMBLs staff previously relied on manually reading and categorising photo scans of these documents. The adoption of the Appian Platform has allowed RMBL to develop investment and borrower portals, facilitating seamless online portfolio management for their clients. The rapid success of this initial implementation led RMBL to expand its use of the Appian Platform to include introducer clients, highlighting the platforms adaptability and scalability.

Our move towards digital solutions was driven by a vision to boost efficiency and improve customer interactions, explained James Barnard, the Product Owner at RMBL. Manual processes were increasingly challenging and counterproductive  we knew we needed a change. Since adopting Appian, weve witnessed significant progress in digitising customer journeys, leading to a more seamless and responsive experience.

RMBL also implemented an Appian Portal with Persistents support for clients and employees to access apps across web and mobile devices. This provides a unified portal for clients to manage and update their accounts online. It also enables employees to manage client profiles and investments all on the same platform. Together with process orchestration, the online portal also helps RMBL streamline application lifecycles and reduce approval timelines.

The initiative also sought to engage new clients through an external Appian portal, fostering increased interaction and engagement. By using Appians unified interface to automatically process and file client documentation, weve managed to address numerous operational concerns quite seamlessly, said Barnard. Additionally, Appian AI Skills have been extremely valuable in smart sorting of legacy portfolio documents.

Addressing high-volume client communications

The transformation journey also addressed several challenges, such as managing a high volume of client queries through calls, letters and emails. RMBL is also enhancing portfolio transparency with real-time insights, while streamlining application life cycles to reduce complexities and standardising processes to promote uniformity across operations.

Consolidating tools and functions into a unified Appian Platform has significantly enhanced team productivity, allowing for more efficient internal workflows and communication. RMBLs efficient management of third-party database load using Appians Data Fabric is a prime example of how our platform can optimise complex data scenarios, said Luke Thomas, Vice President of Asia Pacific & Japan at Appian. This innovation ensures optimal performance in data management.

The impact of RMBLs digital transformation extends beyond operational improvements. Clients have embraced the new platform, significantly reducing support calls, with only 6% of users seeking assistance in the week following the rollout. This shift has empowered clients to navigate and oversee their investment portfolios remotely, aligning with RMBLs commitment to client empowerment. At Persistent, were proud to support RMBL in its strategic shift toward digital-first client engagement, said Sankaran Saminathan, Senior Vice President  Sales and Australia Centre Head at Persistent. This new client-facing platform represents a significant advancement in RMBLs client interactions, empowering clients with enhanced independence and accessibility for managing their investments. By incorporating next-generation GenAI elements, weve not only significantly reduced support demands but also enabled RMBLs team to focus on addressing more complex challenges, elevating their overall service quality.

RMBL is now actively digitising new customer journeys through Appians external portal, showcasing sustained success and ongoing innovation. RMBL also anticipates future efficiencies by integrating Appian Case Management Studio for complete order management, which will further streamline processes and reduce client-team communications. Appian is designed to accelerate the creation of high-impact business applications, said Thomas. Seeing RMBLs success in leveraging our technology to meet and exceed its strategic goals has been rewarding.

Their ability to quickly adopt and expand their use of our platform is a testament to both their vision and our platforms flexibility. Its no surprise that RMBL was recognised as a winner for APAC at the 2024 Appian Innovation Awards. Theyre truly deserving of this recognition  their innovative work perfectly embodies what these awards are all about. The digital transformation at RMBL is not just about adopting new technology but also fundamentally improving how we serve our clients and operate internally, Barnard added. Our partnership with Appian has enabled us to achieve these goals and set new standards for efficiency and client engagement.

This article was developed in collaboration with Appian. Learn why global investment innovators trust Appian to modernise financial services with AI and process orchestration. Explore use cases here.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
A new study has shown that person-to-person variation in antibody immunity plays a key role in shaping which influenza (flu) strains dominate in a population.

The work, published today as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, uses a high-throughput sequencing-based assay to quantify antibody immunity against circulating H3N2 flu strains in both children and adults. The editors describe this as an important study that advances our understanding of population-level immunity, and say that the strength of evidence is compelling. The work will be of interest to immunologists, virologists, vaccine developers and researchers working on mathematical modelling of infectious diseases.

Flu viruses accumulate mutations that help them evade antibodies generated by the immune system after prior infections or vaccinations. This process means that people can be reinfected with the flu multiple times in their lives, and vaccines must be regularly updated to remain effective. The human immune response to flu is shaped by a variety of factors, including the strains an individual has previously encountered.

"Differences in infection and vaccination histories within a group of people mean that population immunity to a specific variant of the flu is highly varied," says co-lead author Caroline Kikawa, an MD/PhD student in the Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, and the Division of Basic Sciences and Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, USA. "Understanding how this variety in antibodies across a population affects the evolutionary success of new flu strains has remained challenging, in part because conventional methods to quantify antibody levels are too slow and can only assess a handful of samples at a time." Kikawa served as lead author of the study alongside Andrea Loes, Staff Scientist and Lab Manager at senior author Jesse Bloom's lab, Division of Basic Sciences and Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

To address this challenge, Kikawa, Loes and colleagues developed a high-throughput neutralisation assay to measure how well individual serum samples  the component of blood that contains antibodies  can block infection by a panel of different flu viruses. High-throughput refers to the assay's ability to process large amounts of data simultaneously.

The team produced viruses expressing 78 distinct hemagglutinin (HA) proteins from 2023-circulating flu viruses and recent vaccine strains, and tagged each one with a unique genetic 'barcode'. HA proteins are a part of the virus recognised by antibodies, and can rapidly change to evade the immune response. The team mixed these viruses with sera and used a technique called Illumina sequencing to quantify how well each virus was neutralised.

Using this approach, the researchers measured neutralisation titers  a measurement of how much serum is needed to neutralise the virus  against the 78 flu variants using 150 serum samples, from children and adults, collected in 2023 in the US. In total, they generated over 11,000 individual titer measurements, creating a detailed snapshot of population immunity at the start of the 20232024 flu season.

The results showed wide variation in neutralization responses between individuals. For example, some of the sera collected from children strongly neutralised nearly all tested strains, while others had a much weaker response. Adults generally showed more consistent immunity, but still displayed considerable variation individually. Overall, the highest rates of neutralisation responses were found in a subset of children, consistent with the idea that neutralising antibody responses are highest to strains encountered during the first decades of life. It could also be that children are more prone to flu and could therefore be more likely to have recent immunological boosting. These findings highlight that immunity to the flu is highly personalized.

To evaluate how this variation affects virus evolution, the researchers compared neutralisation titers with the growth rates of each viral strain during the 2023 flu season. They used a statistical model called multinomial logistic regression to analyse how the frequency of each strain changed over time in the human population, and compared this to the fraction of serum samples that had low neutralisation titers against each strain.

They found that the strains that spread most successfully were those that escaped neutralisation in a larger fraction of the sera. Specifically, strains were more likely to grow in frequency when a high percentage of individuals had titers below a threshold, indicating weaker immunity against that strain. This suggests that large-scale sequencing-based neutralisation assays can help inform our understanding of flu virus evolution.

This relationship held when neutralisation was measured using individual sera, but not when the sera were pooled together. In some virus surveillance systems, pooled serum samples are used to estimate population immunity. However, this finding suggests that pooled measurements may fail to capture the full range of responses seen in individuals.

"Our findings show that individual-level immune variation, not just average immunity across the population, is a key factor in determining which flu strains are most successful," says Loes.

While the study involved a large number of titer measurements, the authors note that the samples were collected from a limited set of locations and age groups. Most child samples came from a hospital in Seattle, while adult samples were drawn from vaccinated cohorts in Philadelphia and Australia. As a result, the dataset may not fully reflect global patterns of immunity.

This is nevertheless one of the largest datasets linking human antibody immunity to the success of flu virus strains in a population. It provides a framework for understanding how diverse immune histories can affect viral evolution. These methods could complement existing surveillance systems and support vaccine composition decisions by providing more detailed insights into population immunity." Jesse Bloom, Senior Author and HHMI Investigator, Professor in the Basic Sciences Division and Herbold Computational Biology Program at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and Affiliate Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington
A new study suggests that stem cells thought to be dormant may offer clues to why our sense of smell declines or is lost.

Using a newly devised, three-dimensional model to study the regeneration of nerve tissue in the nose, researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and colleagues have discovered that one type of stem cell thought to be dormant may play a more significant role in preserving the sense of smell than originally believed.

Unlike cells in the central nervous system, sensory neurons in the nasal cavity have a remarkable ability to regenerate throughout life despite near constant exposure to the outside environment.

Viral infections such as COVID-19, exposure to toxins, or even aging itself can diminish their function or the ability of these cells to replicate, which can lead to a partial or complete loss of smell. The team of researchers devised a new, easy-to-create, three-dimensional olfactory tissue mouse model or organoid to help scientists better study how neurons are continually formed in the nose and why this process might decline in disease and aging.

Their research, published recently in Cell Reports Methods, uses this mouse model to show how two types of stem cells in the nose, called horizontal basal cells (HBCs) and globose basal cells (GBCs), communicate and support each other to develop new smell-sensing nerve tissue.

Our research suggests that these two stem cells may be interdependent. One type that we thought was largely dormant- HBCs-may actually play a crucial role in supporting the production of new neurons and the repair of damaged tissue." Brian Lin, senior author on the study and research assistant professor in the Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology

Using this model, the team identified a specific subpopulation of HBCs, marked by their production of the protein KRT5, that actively support the generation of new olfactory neurons. The researchers observed that these particular HBCs play a key role in the formation of the organoids, and they found that when these cells were selectively depleted from the organoid cultures, the generation of new neurons was significantly impaired. These results suggest that these stem cells, once thought to be dormant, are essential players in the regenerative process.

"We also looked at cells from mice of different ages and grew them in the model," Lin says. "We found a decline in the ability of the older mice cells to generate new neurons. We think this is due to a decrease in the GBC population as we age, but we need to do more work to test this hypothesis and if so, develop ways to rejuvenate them."

An easy-to-use model

Lead author of the study, Juliana Gutschow Gameiro, a former Ph.D. student visiting GSBS, came to Tufts from the State University of Londrina, Parana, in Brazil. Lin says she was dedicated to developing a model that was easy to create in labs with limited funds and equipment.

"Because loss of smell is associated with COVID-19, as well as with Parkinson's disease and other conditions, a much larger number of researchers from a variety of different fields have begun researching olfactory epithelial cells in the last few years," says Lin.

"We wanted to develop an easy-to-use model so that non-stem cell biologists and those working in labs with limited resources could use it to better understand how olfactory neurons regenerate and what happens that causes that process to diminish or fail completely," he says.

Next step: A human organoid

The ultimate goal is to use this mouse-tissue model of olfactory sensory neurons as a pathway to developing a human organoid that can be used to screen drugs to treat people whose sense of smell is significantly diminished or gone.

Organoids make pre-clinical trial research quicker, less expensive, and potentially more effective than using whole animals or existing human cell cultures. Organoids have already been developed for lungs, kidneys, and other organs, but not for human olfactory tissue.

"It's challenging to get pure olfactory tissue from humans," Lin says. Individuals are anesthetized and a brush similar to a COVID test wand is pushed deep into the nasal cavity. Unlike in their mouse model, human respiratory stem cells and olfactory stem cells collected in this process are difficult to separate.

The research team's next challenge is to develop a simple, inexpensive technique for separating out the human olfactory stem cells and coaxing them to grow in the lab.
UC Irvine researchers conducted a study to better understand the molecular basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder in which patients lose the ability to move, becoming weak and wheelchair bound before dying because they can no longer breathe.

"ALS is a devastating disease commonly striking patients in their 40s, 50s or 60s," says Distinguished Professor of pathology Albert La Spada, MD, PhD, who worked on the study with colleagues from UC Irvine; the University of Ulm, Germany; the Mayo Clinic; and NYU. "We are in dire need of treatments to slow the progression of this disease, which is a death sentence for patients who have little hope of benefitting much from current approved therapies."

Previous research into abnormalities of the processing of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) has shown that when TDP-43, a key protein involved in the pathogenesis of ALS, is lost from the nucleus of neurons, mRNAs do not get spliced properly.

We discovered that another aspect of RNA processing, known as polyadenylation, is also altered in ALS due to TDP-43 loss of function in the nucleus." Eric Arnold, PhD, assistant project scientist in the La Spada Lab

The findings appear in a paper published in the June 2, 2025, issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. "When an RNA is transcribed from DNA, a long tail of adenine residues is added (the polyA tail), and the site where that happens determines the length of the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR)," explains Arnold. The researchers found that there is pathological alternative polyadenylation (APA) in ALS resulting in abnormally long or short 3'UTRs, which affects the function of mRNAs.

"We identified one gene, MARK3, where pathological lengthening of the 3'UTR due to APA results in the MARK3 protein ending in the wrong place in the neuron, which will affect its ability to function normally," says Sebastian Michels, MD, a former postdoctoral fellow in the La Spada Lab. "By identifying genes whose mRNAs become dysfunctional due to abnormal polyadenylation, we can examine if correction of the abnormal gene function might be a way to prevent motor neurons in ALS patients from not working properly and eventually dying."

The next steps involve screening roughly 300 different genes identified in the study as undergoing abnormal polyadenylation in ALS. The researchers aim to determine whether any of the genes are candidates for therapeutic modulation in the hope of developing new treatments for patients suffering from ALS.

"Most patients die within two to three years of being diagnosed, and 90% of cases are sporadic, meaning they show up in patients without a direct family history of the disease," says La Spada. "This is a perfect example of how basic research into the molecular underpinnings of a disease can yield targets for therapy development."
What do the KGB and the former CEO of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital have in common?

Eugene Litvak.

The Soviet intelligence agency and the children's hospital have each separately looked to the Ukrainian emigre with a PhD in mathematics for help. He turned down the KGB, but Litvak saved Cincinnati Children's Hospital more than $100 million a year.

For decades, Litvak has been on a mission to save U.S. hospitals money and improve the lives of doctors, nurses, and patients. He says he has just the formula to do it.

Prominent experts vouch for his model, and he has documented impressive results so far: financial savings, fewer hospital-related deaths, lower staff turnover, and shorter wait times. Still, Litvak and his allies have struggled to persuade more hospitals to try his method.

Host Dan Weissmann speaks with Litvak about his unique life story, how he found the fix that he says could revolutionize American hospitals, and why he won't stop fighting for it.

Dan Weissmann @danweissmann Host and producer of "An Arm and a Leg."

Previously, Dan was a staff reporter for Marketplace and Chicago's WBEZ. His work also appears on All Things Considered, Marketplace, the BBC, 99 Percent Invisible, and Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Note: "An Arm and a Leg" uses speech-recognition software to generate transcripts, which may contain errors. Please use the transcript as a tool but check the corresponding audio before quoting the podcast.

Dan: Hey there. Mark Taylor is a reporter, and when he started covering health care in the 1990s, the beat wasnt his first choice.

Mark Taylor: I thought it was a punishment. I thought, I dont know anything about healthcare. I was bad at science, I was bad at math. I didnt understand any of this stuff, but I just was determined not to fail at it. And I dove into it head first and my wife said, you know, you used to read novels in bed and now youre reading the CDCs mortality and morbidity report.

Dan: About twenty years in, he picked up some medical journals  like you do  and looked at some studies about work by a guy named Eugene Litvak.

Mark Taylor: I started reading these and going, wow, thats a good story.

Dan: Litvak was a math PhD, with a background in operations management, systems engineering. Hed spent the first chunk of his career making telecommunications networks more efficient and reliable.

Many years later, One hospital that had implemented Litvaks program had saved more than a hundred million dollars a year.

But the results were about more than money. Mark Taylor kept reading

Mark Taylor: Reduces mortality rates in-hospital. Thats a good story. Improves nurse retention. Weve got a nursing shortage. Reduces waiting times in ER and patient boarding.

Dan: Patient boarding sounds nerdy, but: We talked about this a couple of episodes ago, when we looked at the new HBO/Max medical drama The Pitt.

When hospital ERs get crowded  and way less effective  its generally because of crowding upstairs.

ER patients who need a bed upstairs cant get one, so they wait in the ER. And clog it up. Wait times get longer. Medical mistakes happen. People die.

On The Pitt, and in lots of hospitals, this gets treated as a fact of life.

Hospital administrators say they cant afford to build the new wings or hire extra nurses to meet peak demands.

But Litvaks work showed: They dont need to.

Because  it turns out  random ER visits dont cause those peaks.

Scheduled surgeries do. They get bunched up on certain days. Un-bunch them, and the peaks get smoother.

Nurses and doctors get less burned out. Fewer patients die. Hospitals waste less money.

In other words, Litvaks work addressed some of the biggest problems Mark Taylor had been writing about for decades.

Mark Taylor: Theres a solution here. Its been proven to work, and its been validated in the best medical journals in the country and in the world. How come this isnt in every hospital?

Dan: That was ten years ago. Its still a good question.

Mark wrote some newspaper stories about Litvaks work, starting with one in the Chicago Tribune, and eventually started working on a book.

It came out in 2024, and its called Hospital, Heal Thyself: One Brilliant Mathematicians Proven Plan for Saving Hospitals, Many Lives and Billions of Dollars.

By the time Eugene Litvak started working with hospitals, he was in his mid-40s. He had grown up in the Soviet Union, where he earned a PhD in math and worked as a systems engineer.

His career there came to a halt when he asked for an exit visa  and his request was refused for almost a decade. There was a word for people in that predicament, lots of them, like Litvak, Soviet Jews: refuseniks.

Eventually he got to the U.S.  where hes now spent decades trying to get hospitals to try his methods.

Eugene Litvak: I recently started telling people that I am a double refusenik, for 10 years refusing for the exit visa in Soviet Union, and now for 25 years in healthcare decision makers.

Dan: Hes not giving up any time soon. And he thinks eventually hospitals will come around. He thinks theyre gonna have to.

This is An Arm and a Leg a show about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it. Im Dan Weissmann. Im a reporter, and I like a challenge, so the job weve chosen here is to take one of the most enraging, terrifying, depressing parts of American life, and bring you something entertaining, empowering and useful.

Eugene Litvak was born in Kiev in 1949. Mark Taylor reports in his book that Eugene Litvaks work in engineering and math attracted international attention in the 1970s.

Litvak also faced frustrating obstacles. A controlling boss. Semi-official antisemitism.

But what finally spurred him to try to leave the Soviet Union was an offer. From the secret police the KGB.

Eugene Litvak: And they were so nice, you know, like youre talking to your long lost brother. They said, you have a lot of friends. You communicate with many people. How about you work for us?

Dan: Eugene says the offer terrified him. Because he knew immediately he couldnt accept it.

Eugene Litvak: I would not be any longer in peace with myself. In addition to that, I can tell you my father probably would stop talking to me if he would learn that I did something like that. So, these two factors - look, I didnt think whether I should accept it or not. I didnt think about that. The only thing that was immediately in my mind- how can I avoid it to minimize the consequence for myself?

Dan: As he told Mark Taylor, he didnt face immediate consequences for declining, but he knew hed always be at risk. He and his wife decided to leave.

As they expected, they got fired from their jobs the day they applied for exit visas.

He says they were prepared to wait out a process that they figured would take months, maybe a year.

But their timing was bad. While they were waiting, in December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The Cold War got hotter, and exit visas basically stopped getting approved.

Eugene Litvak: So we, and many thousands of others, became victims of that.

Dan: Eugene says for most of the next decade, police and the KGB called him in, searched his house, threatened him with prison  while he and his wife worked basic jobs: she washed floors in a factory. He delivered telegrams.

When they finally got to the U.S., in 1988, with Eugenes parents in tow, Eugenes job prospects werent much better.

He says he had contacts with well-known scientists, but not great English. He worked in a hotel gift shop, then behind the desk.

And practiced his English by cold-calling stores from the Yellow Pages.

Eugene Litvak: Like Home Depot. Asking may I buy, you know, the air conditioner? And then the supermarket. The CVS. I was doing that on a regular basis until people started understanding what I want from them.

Dan: He eventually got some consulting work. And he found his calling  his obsession  bringing his training as an operations engineer to U.S. hospitals  when his fathers health went downhill.

Eugene Litvak: I saw the failures in operations at the hospital by spending a lot of time with my father.

Dan: And his chutzpah  and his persistence  all of that, really shows itself in what he did next:

Eugene Litvak: I sent a letter actually to every hospital president in Massachusetts, offering my services to help.

Dan: No takers. No responses. But in 1995, the vice president of a big local hospital, Mass General, gave a lecture about how new market conditions meant hospitals would need to get more efficient.

Afterwards, Litvak stepped up, introduced himself and got an invitation to drop by for a chat. In that meeting, his new pal the Vice President gave him a small assignment  one that Eugene didnt get to finish.

Eugene Litvak: He interrupted me before even implementation. He said, we have a more important project and that is operating room.

Dan: Operating room. Surgeries.

Eugene Litvak: So thats how it started.

Dan: A doctor named Mike Long, who ran logistics for the hospitals surgeries, had been pushing to get things more efficient.

Some days, surgical patients crowded the hospital, so doctors and nurses sweated through expensive overtime. Others, the place was quiet and the hospital lost money staffing empty beds. Nobody could figure out why.

Long and Litvak became a team, with two big strengths: One, they were kindred spirits.

Eugene Litvak: As he described it, you know, long lost twins.

Dan: And two, they had complimentary expertise:

Eugene Litvak: He knew healthcare very well, which I didnt, and I knew operations management, that he didnt know.

Dan: They dove in together, pulling data, talking to people, and observing. The two of them worked and worked. For months, Litvak watched the weekly 6am meetings where surgeons would set their schedules.

They had a hypothesis: Sometimes more people just showed up in the ER: More broken legs, more burst appendixes. The ER got crowded, and so did the rest of the hospital.

So they searched their data for ways to predict or manage that problem.

And then one day, a totally different answer literally showed itself to them.

This was the 1990s, before PowerPoint. To share their data, they printed charts onto transparencies  plastic sheets for an overhead projector.

One day, in Mike Longs office, they noticed a couple of these sheets sitting one on top of the other.

One had a line showing scheduled surgeries  more this day, fewer that day. The other had a line showing, day by day, how many hospital beds were full.

Eugene Litvak: And we look. Wow, its almost the same. We put it against the light in the window and they almost coincided. That was an aha moment.

Dan: When the line showing scheduled surgeries went up, so did the line showing full beds  crowding. They went down together too.

Eugene Litvak: It was clear message.

Dan: The question theyd been working on why does the hospital get so jammed sometimes?

The answer wasnt random at all. It had nothing to do with random surges in patients showing up in the ER.

The hospital got jammed  and the ER got backed up with patients waiting for a bed upstairs  when there were more surgeries scheduled.

And there was a definite pattern: There were a LOT more scheduled surgeries early in the week, on Mondays and Tuesdays.

He's taken to calling it "weekday-related disease"

Eugene Litvak: Weekday related disease that manifests on a particular week days.

Dan: On those days, there was no give in the operating-room schedule, a lot fewer open beds on the wards. When a normal days batch of emergency cases showed up wham. Things got jammed.

I told Eugene: Hearing all this after the fact, it just seems  obvious. You schedule a bunch of surgeries, youre gonna fill up the hospital, right? He was like, well, yeah.

Eugene Litvak: As one of the hospitals chief medical officers said, Eugene pointed us to absolutely unexpected event that during the winter we have snow.

Dan: Right, but this hadnt kind of occurred to anybody before.

Eugene Litvak: No. And the first people reaction was practically calling me names.

Dan: People in the hospital did not want to believe what Eugenes data showed.

Which is easier to understand given what Eugene had seen when he observed the surgeons doing their 6 a.m. scheduling meetings for those six months.

Each surgeon basically called dibs on a block of time for each week. And certain blocks were highly coveted:

Eugene Litvak: Every surgeon wanted to do the surgery Monday morning.

Dan: The intensity of the scramble for those times had puzzled Eugene. He asked his partner Mike Long about it.

Eugene Litvak: I said, Mike, I hear theyre fighting for this morning, block times as they would fight for their spouses. And he said, Eugene, you dont get it. He said they would rather give up their spouses than the morning, Monday, block time.

Dan: Would rather give up their spouses than Monday morning block times. There were reasons beyond just wanting the rest of the week clear.

Like: Surgeons wanted to come in and do their best work when they were fresh from the weekend.

They wanted the early-morning slot for the same reason frequent travelers want early flights: Later in the day, your schedule could get delayed because of some problems that happened earlier.

And if you operated on somebody later in the week, they might have to spend the weekend in the hospital. When, yeah, you might get called in to check on them.

But also: hospitals operate with skeleton crews on weekends. Fewer nurses, less staff around for services like physical therapy.

Surgeons may have been looking out for themselves, Eugene says, but they were also trying to look out for their patients. And failing on both counts.

Eugene Litvak: Theyre the first and foremost victim along with their patients of this mismanaged operation. Theyre trying to do their best, but, but the system is screwed up.

Dan: And they did NOT want to hear some engineer telling them when they should operate.

Eugene Litvak: I talked to one of the prominent cardiac surgeon, really talented person. And, he told me, Eugene, how dare you are to teach me when I supposed to operate on my patients. Even my patients do not know when they should be operated on. How can you do that? And I said, okay, uh, your point is well taken. May look at your data, talk to your data people. He said, sure. So I talked to the data people. I came back and I said, look, I would like to be your student. As such, I would like to learn what kind of a disease your patients have that manifests itself every Tuesday

Dan: And how did he respond?

Eugene Litvak: From that point, he avoided talking with me.

Dan: In his book, Mark Taylor reports that resistance like this from surgeons prevented Mass General from actually implementing Eugene Litvak and Mike Longs recommendations.

Mike Long retired from Mass General in 2000, and Litvaks consulting contract ended.

But by then they had compiled enough evidence to start publishing their findings in medical journals. And attracting allies in the field.

At Boston University, Litvak set up a tiny research center with big names in medicine on the advisory committee: Like the CEO of the organization that accredits most U.S. hospitals.

Hospitals brought Litvak in to consult  including the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins. Mark Taylors book says they undertook limited projects that achieved impressive results but never expanded.

And then in 2004 a couple of doctors from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital went to one of Litvaks talks, and came away impressed. Litvak ended up talking with the hospitals CEO, Jim Anderson.

Jim Anderson CCH: And I thought this would be a fun adventure to pursue.

Dan: So he did. The adventure they undertook at Cincinnati Children's remains Eugene Litvaks biggest success to date. That's next.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with KFF Health News thats a nonprofit newsroom covering health issues in America. Their reporters do amazing work and win all kinds of awards every year. Were honored to work with them.

As a first step, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital had Eugene Litvak do an evaluation and present recommendations to the lead medical staff.

Eugene Litvak: Vice president, chief of surgery, chief of anesthesia, et cetera, et cetera.

Dan: Eugenes prescription: Change how you schedule surgeries, spread them out across the week. As he recalls, everybody seemed agreeable, and the CEO Jim Anderson made a proposal on the spot.

Eugene Litvak: So he asked me, Eugene, okay, would you do that for us now to implement what you are preaching for? And I said, no. And he said, how come? I said, because these very people who smile at me would create roadblocks, and Im not sure I would overcome it. So he look around the room and said, okay, if you face any resistance, you call me directly. He looked at me again and said, would you do it now? I said, absolutely.

Dan: Jim Anderson recalls that part of the exchange a little differently.

Jim Anderson CCH: I remember telling them and said, look, were gonna do this anyway. Wed love to have you involved if youre not. Thats fine. Go away. But, uh, were committed.

Dan: However that exchange went, the follow up was real.

With Litvaks guidance, the hospital reorganized the way it scheduled surgeries and saved a hundred thirty-seven million dollars a year. Theyd been planning to build a hundred-million dollar new tower to increase capacity, but with their new systems, they decided they didnt need to.

Actually, Jim Anderson told another interviewer: without adding a single bed, the hospital took on more cases, AND wait times for patients went down by 28 percent. Nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists reported they were able to take better care of patients.

Jim Anderson says the hospital was making other changes too, but he gives Litvak lots of credit.

Jim Anderson CCH: Eugene was a wonderful stimulus, to helping us, think outside the box and reorganize and really, uh, be more effective at what we did.

Dan: And yet, almost twenty years later, he's had clients here and there. But few institutions have gone as far as Cincinnati Childrens in following Litvaks advice.

Jim Anderson CCH: Its been a mystery to me for decades now. Im astonished by the lack of response.

Dan: Thats the mystery Mark Taylor stumbled across when he started reading about Eugene Litvaks work years later. He started calling sources for a reality check.

Mark Taylor: Most people in the hospital business knew nothing of him, hadnt heard of him at all. But some of my best sources as a healthcare journalist, told me, you know, this guy is really onto something. and it was like, Jesus, this guys right. How come nobody else knows this?

Dan: He started reporting his first story on Litvak for the Chicago Tribune and basically asked Litvak himself: Who are your opponents?

Eugene Litvak: He said, Eugene, Im health care reporter. I should be objective. You have the names of supporters and coauthors. I would like to know the names of naysayers so I can interview them, and I said, here is what I can do. If you find the one, I owe you a dinner.

Dan: Hes had a lot of time since then. Since that was like what, seven, eight years ago?

Eugene Litvak: Yeah.

Mark Taylor: I talked to well over a hundred sources and I called all kinds of hospital executives, consulting firms, and I couldnt find anyone who said, a, this doesnt work. B, his, algorithms are wrong. C this is a fraud. Theyre making up details in that.

Dan: So whats the holdup? In my first conversation with Eugene Litvak, we talked about why more hospitals dont go with his recommendations even after they hear about successes at institutions like Cincinnati Children's.

Eugene Litvak: Ive been told by other hospital leadership, those are special hospitals. Our hospital is different. Our patients are sicker. Uh, at one hospital, they asked me, it was in South Carolina. They asked me whether I ever implemented that in South Carolina.

Dan: Implemented his idea that by reorganizing surgeries, hospitals can save money and take better care of patients.

Eugene Litvak: And I said, that's a management law has nothing to do with the state. And they said, no, no, no, it does. Uh, and I said, then let, let me, Im curious whether gravitation law works in South Carolina.

Dan: How did they respond to that?

Eugene Litvak: Uh, people just get angry from some of my comments.

Dan: Political maneuvering, may not be your strong suit, not to tell you anything you may not have heard before.

Eugene Litvak: Yeah.

Dan: So I left that conversation with a hypothesis: Maybe this guy just doesnt have the diplomatic skills for this kind of work.

But when I ran that hypothesis by Mark Taylor, he had a counter-example from Litvaks work at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital.

The administration was backing him, but they said eventually the various department heads would vote his specific plan up or down so he needed to secure *yes* votes.

Mark Taylor: He said, Mark, I, I lied a little bit. I would meet with these different constituencies, the orthopedic surgeons, the anesthesiologists, the nurses, the administration, and each one I would go to, I would tell now dont tell anyone else, but your group is gonna benefit disproportionately from this

Dan: And then  as Eugene told me  the leaders met to vote on his plan.

Eugene Litvak: So everybody raise his or her hand and look at his peers around with a slight smile. Say, oh guys, I know something you dont, you know, I benefit more than you.

Dan: Eugene Litvaks diplomatic skils  or lack thereof  maybe arent the whole issue.

He and his supporters have another hypothesis.

Namely: Its hard to change institutions.

Surgeons are trained to fight for those Monday morning block times and in hospitals, they have a lot of clout. They bring in patients, and administrators are afraid to cross them.

Heres one of Eugene Litvaks most vocal allies

Peter Viccellio: My name is Peter Viccellio. I work at Stony Brook on Long Island, and Im an. Emergency physician

Peter Viccellio: and I am in my 48th year of practicing emergency medicine

Dan: Peter's published big studies with Litvak, goes on conference panels with him.

And he's got a very long view on medicine and hospitals. Not only has Peter himself been practicing for decades, his dad was a doctor. Peter used to go with him on house calls when he was a kid. He says in those days

Peter Viccellio: If you had a stroke, you stayed at home. If you had heart attack, you stayed at home. cause the hospitals had nothing to offer you. So it made sense to have a hospital nine to five, Monday through Friday with a skeleton crew on evenings, nights, and weekends.

Dan: He's seen the role of medicine and hospitals change dramatically

Peter Viccellio: When I was in medical school, if you had lupus, you died when you were 18 years old. Now I see 70 year olds with lupus. Its amazing what Ive seen. I think when I graduated from medical school, the only cancer that you could really cure was Hodgkins Lymphoma. That was it. And there are so many cancers now that can be cured, or at least can be substantially slowed down and contained. So its just a dramatic change.

Dan: But even though hospitals do so much more now, they havent changed their basic schedule.

Peter Viccellio: We have a seven day a week problem, and were still trying to solve it with a five day a week. Solution. And when I say five days a week, I mean eight hours each day of those five days a week. So thats 24% of the week that we are running full fledged.

Dan: And just changing the schedules for surgeons wouldnt be enough as Peter says a surgeon would tell you.

Peter Viccellio:If you wanna do a hip case on a Thursday or Friday, is there enough physical therapy present on weekends to get the patient up and walking around? Do you have the needed ancillary services and whatnot to get stuff done?

Dan: And he says hiring extra staff for weekends may sound expensive. But

Peter Viccellio: if youre doing more stuff on the weekends. But you have the same volume. It means youre doing less somewhere else. So its called redistributing the load.

Dan:And peoples lives get more predictable  less emergency overtime. And according to Eugene Litvak's modeling, you dont necessarily need to go twenty-four seven.

Peter Viccellio: if you went at this for six days a week, so that a Saturday was just like a Tuesday, then youd get a huge gain.

Dan: But Peter says the old five-day-a-week schedule  and the problems that come with it arent just U.S. phenomena.

Peter Viccellio: Ive been to Italy and Korea and England and Scotland and all sorts of different places talking about the same exact problems that we have here.

Dan: So while the capacity of medicine has exploded, the culture of hospitals is entrenched.

Instead of asking, Why havent more hospitals done what Cincinnati Childrens did, it might have been smarter to ask: How did Cincinnati Childrens decide to jump in with both feet?

The answer turns out to be: Jim Anderson, the CEO, had taken a fairly unusual path. Before becoming the CEO, he had never worked for a hospital before.

Hed been a lawyer for most of his career  but had taken a few years out to run a local manufacturing company. While in that job, he joined the board at Childrens  and stayed on it for almost twenty years.

Jim Anderson: I ended up being chairman of the board and we needed a new CEO. And, um, we looked around and I lost control of the search committee and they turned on me and wanted me to do it. And so I agreed.

Dan: That was in 1996. By the time Eugene Litvak came to Childrens, Jim Anderson had been the CEO for ten years. He had been part of the organizations leadership for a quarter century.

Jim Anderson: I am much more comfortable, much more comfortable taking risks and pursuing adventures, than the typical medical community.

Dan: And even though he had that outsiders perspective, he had the insiders trust.

Jim Anderson: The presumption was because we all knew each other and had worked together for so long that I wasnt gonna do crazy things.

Dan: And to Jim Anderson, there was nothing crazy or unfamiliar about operations management. Because like Eugene Litvak  and, as far as he knows, unlike most health care executives  he had worked in industry, in manufacturing.

Jim Anderson: I mean, if you went out and laid those out as criteria for your next CEO, youd have a hard time filling it. Its a lot, a lot of luck involved.

Dan: Eugene Litvak has continued to attract clients one at a time  a hospital in Toronto, a clinic in New Orleans  and sometimes more. He says hes currently working with the Canadian province of Alberta.

His ideas havent been adopted at that kind of scale in the U.S., but he thinks eventually hospitals will come around. Because theyll have to. Many of them are in trouble financially.

Litvak compares hospital CEOs to a guy falling from a skyscraper.

Eugene Litvak: And, in the middle of his fall, he said, oh, where Im going, but touching his arms and legs are so far so good.

Dan: Republicans in Congress are talking about cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid. Thats a lot less money for hospitals.

Eugene Litvak says the government could save much more by offering hospitals technical support to adopt his program. He couldnt do it all himself.

Eugene Litvak: We are a small organization, but we can teach many other big sharks like Optum, Ernst & Young consulting company, Deloitte, McKinsey, how to do that. We could certify them and teach them how to do that. They have thousand, hundred thousand boots on the ground, so you can do that.

Dan: One way or another, hell keep at it. He tells me about an exchange with one of his advisory board members, a guy named Bill.

Eugene Litvak: At one of our board meetings, he told me, Eugene, I admire your persistence. And my answer was, Bill, if at one point, you feel like you want to call me an idiot, dont mince your words.

Dan: If Eugene Litvak is an idiot, I would like to meet a lot more idiots like this.

Meanwhile: We've been working hard on a two part series for next month. About dealing with the high cost of drugs.

A while back, we asked you to share your stories about sticker shock at the pharmacy

Listener: The pharmacist would burst out laughing every time I showed up to pick up the prescription and he saw the charge.

Dan: And we asked you what youd learned. You came through in a big way. Your responses taught us things we hadnt understood before. And in our next two episodes, well be sharing it all.

That starts in a few weeks.

Till then, take care of yourself.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg was produced by me, Dan Weissmann, with help from Emily Pisacreta and Claire Davenport  and edited by Ellen Weiss.

Adam Raymonda is our audio wizard.

Our music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations.

Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with KFF Health News. Thats a national newsroom producing in-depth journalism about health issues in America - and a core program at KFF: an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Zach Dyer is senior audio producer at KFF Health News. Hes editorial liaison to this show.

An Arm and a Leg is distributed by KUOW  Seattle's NPR News station.

And thanks to the Institute for Nonprofit News for serving as our fiscal sponsor.

They allow us to accept tax-exempt donations. You can learn more about INN at INN.org.

Finally, thank you to everybody who supports this show financially.

You can join in any time at arm and a leg show, dot com, slash: support.

Thanks! And thanks for listening.
A recent randomized controlled trial assessed the benefits of a group-based intervention that fosters communication and coping skills in a culturally tailored way for Latina breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. The results are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

For the trial, investigators randomized 136 Latina breast cancer survivors and 136 caregivers from Washington, D.C., New York, NY, and San Jose, CA, to participate in an 8-session coping and communication intervention that reflects the cultural preferences and values of Latina/o people (70 pairs) or to receive usual care support services through community-based organizations (66 pairs). The intervention was developed by Nueva Vida, Inc., a community-based organization in Washington D.C., and the study was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Among the patient-caregiver pairs in the intervention group, 71.4% attended at least 5 of the 8 sessions, demonstrating high engagement, with 82% of participants still in the program at 6 months. There were clinically significant improvements in breast cancer survivors' reports of anxiety and fatigue at 6 months after the intervention compared with reports by breast cancer survivors who used usual community resources; however, after adjusting for potentially influencing factors, the results were not statistically significant.

Our close collaboration with 4 exceptional community-based organizations for this trial led to our success with recruitment and retention of Latina breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. Future research can seek to replicate our intervention and evaluate the intervention with other groups of breast cancer survivors and their caregivers." Kristi D. Graves, PhD, senior author of Georgetown University
At the 12th annual Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute Symposium, scientists and clinicians shared their latest research which is advancing how Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed and treated. Held at Weill Cornell Medicine's Griffis Faculty Club, the symposium gave investigators and community members the opportunity to learn and ask questions about new directions in neurodegenerative research. Alzheimer's disease affects more than 7 million Americans, a number expected to increase to 13 million by 2050.

Helen and Robert Appel established the Institute in 2006, prompted to action when two close friends succumbed to the disease two decades ago. "We were determined to do whatever we could to make a dent in Alzheimer's research," said Helen Appel of her and her late husband Bob's commitment to helping find a cure. "We're going to have to come up with solutions to the problems, and we'll do it."

Indeed, the symposium convenes at a turning point for Alzheimer's disease, said Dr. Li Gan, director of the Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute at Weill Cornell. There are two disease-modifying therapies available, and the FDA recently approved a blood test for Alzheimer's diagnosis. "This is a really huge dealmany more people can be tested earlier, and it's much more accessible to patients with early symptoms," said Dr. Gan, who is also the Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Distinguished Professor in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Research at the Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute is seizing the momentum by integrating the fundamental discoveries with translational science to fast-track prevention and treatment for this devastating disease.

Every discovery we make brings us closer to changing lives. And today's symposium is a testament of this momentum." Dr. Li Gan, director of the Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute at Weill Cornell

New discoveries in disease mechanisms

In the last 20 years, human genetic studies have provided insights into the genes, such as APOE4, that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and the genes that may be protecting against disease, which are called resilience alleles. Dr. Gan presented her research which is untangling the underlying genetic factors impacting the chances of getting Alzheimer's.

She is looking at how abnormal forms of the protein tau accumulate to produce neurofibrillary tangles inside the brain cells of many affected by Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. These tangles disrupt the cell's internal structure, hindering communication between neurons and contributing to cognitive decline. With high levels of amyloid, the protein that forms plaques and contributes to Alzheimer's, patients have a "very modest decline," while the combination of amyloid and tau results in a much steeper decline in cognitive function," she said. This difference suggests some people are resilient to the disease's effects.

She pinpointed a surprising culprit in the brain's innate immune system: a pathway meant to fight viruses. This process, centers around the cGAS gene, which appears to be overactive in Alzheimer's, increasing harmful inflammation in the brain. When researchers partially deleted this gene in laboratory models, memory and learning improved, even if tau tangles were already present.

This positive effect was observed with the resilience allele called Christchurch mutation on ApoE3it protected against tau-induced c-GAS activation, lowering inflammation and improving synaptic density. Dr. Gan's team found that inhibiting c-GAS with a drug could replicate the effects of this resilience allele. "This gives us strong motivation that developing the inhibitor for humans is going to be beneficial," she said.

Dr. Manu Sharma, an associate professor of neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine, shared his research on how abnormal tau, can spread from neuron to neuron throughout the brain. His lab has found that tau aggregates can accumulate in lysosomes, membrane-bound compartments inside cells containing digestive enzymes that break down cellular waste before releasing it to the extracellular space outside. They went on to show that once tau was released into the extracellular space, the protein could then seed harmful clumps in neighboring cells.

Using neuronal cultures and preclinical mouse models, Dr. Sharma's team demonstrated that tau aggregates are released into the extracellular space through a process called lysosomal exocytosis, regulated by neuronal activity and cytosolic calcium. By inhibiting lysosomal exocytosis, Dr. Sharma was able to reduce the release of tau aggregates and slow down their spread.

Translating research to the clinic

The final speaker, Dr. Valina Dawson, a professor of neurology, neuroscience and physiology at Johns Hopkins University, discussed her findings on parathantos, a specialized "programmed" cell death pathway named for Thanatos, the ancient Greek god of death, as a key driver of nerve cell degradation seen in Parkinson's disease. This pathway involves a molecule called PAR, or Poly (ADP-ribose), which is elevated in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. PAR can attach to DNA and repair breaks, but it also appears to trigger parathantos.

In Parkinson's, PAR accelerates aggregation of the protein -synuclein into toxic Lewy bodies that disrupt cellular function. In Alzheimer's, PAR co-localizes with tau and promotes its aggregation. "When you look in cultured neurons, you see that PAR-tau causes pathologic tau formation in neurons more than just tau itself," she said.

These finding may open the door to a new therapeutic approach to neurodegeneration. Blocking PAR production by inhibiting the enzyme PARP, may slow or stop dangerous protein aggregation. Interestingly, when PARP is absent in mouse models of these diseases, there is a protective effect. If PARP inhibitors work in human Parkinson's disease patients as they have in mice, they could protect cells already affected by Parkinson's and slow the transmission of these harmful proteins.

Another promising direction is an experimental small-molecule drug called PAANIB-1 that is designed to protect neurons from parathantos-related cell death in Parkinson's by selectively blocking the activity of a protein called MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor). This drug and similar compounds are being developed for clinical trials. Inhibitors like PAANIB-1 may have therapeutic potential across a range of disorders where parthanatos-mediated cell death is a contributing factor.

During the closing panel, the conversation shifted to how lab discoveries could be translated to real-world treatments for people and their diseases. "That's what these scientists are doing, and I hope that message came across," noted panel moderator Dr. Matthew Fink, the chair of the Department of Neurology and Louis and Gertrude Feil Professor in Clinical Neurology at Weill Cornell. The discussion kept returning to a central point: new discoveries build on past efforts, expanding how Alzheimer's is treated today and potentially finding future cures.

"The researchers conducting the science are really keeping their heads high and working hard to make sure that the discoveries don't stop, that the clinical trials don't stop and that patients who need our care are going to get it," said Dr. Robert A. Harrington, Weill Cornell Medicine Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and professor of medicine.
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to block a California law from taking effect next year that will require nursing homes to have a 96-hour backup power supply, potentially giving the industry a reprieve from having to spend over $1 billion in capital investments.

The Democratic governor tucked the suspension into his budget update to address a projected $12 billion state deficit. If lawmakers go along, it will be the second time nursing homes have forestalled spending on generators or other power supplies required to keep ventilators, feeding and IV pumps, and medication dispensing machines running during emergencies, such as wildfires.

"Really? After what just happened earlier this year in Los Angeles, we think fire safety and emergency preparedness is where we want to make cuts?" said Tony Chicotel, a senior staff attorney with the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. "The timing is really just shocking."

California law requires skilled nursing facilities to provide six hours of backup power, from generators or other sources, to run heating and cooling systems and lifesaving medical equipment when utilities shut off power to prevent wildfires or when power is lost. Federal guidelines require nursing homes to have emergency response plans that include backup power or building evacuation.

Starting next year, most of Californias roughly 1,200 facilities must extend their backup power capability to 96 hours under AB 2511, which lawmakers passed and Newsom signed in 2022. The bill was a victory for patient advocates who for years had urged the state to stretch the requirement, with power shutoffs becoming more frequent and lasting longer. Shutoffs in October 2019 lasted days, cutting power to more than 100 nursing homes in the state.

The governor's office did not return multiple requests for comment.

Since the 96-hour bill became law, the long-term care sector has made multiple requests for an extension, citing costs over $1 billion to make capital investments. They won a two-year extension last year. Only 34 nursing homes comply with the law, according to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information.

Corey Egel, a spokesperson for the California Association of Health Facilities, said nursing facilities are asking for funding to make the changes. He said that between 800 and 900 of the state's 1,241 nursing facilities will need "substantial modifications," costing at least $1 million per facility, to meet the requirements of AB 2511. He added that some building upgrades will cost as much as $3.2 million.

Adding backup power supplies often requires big changes to electrical and HVAC systems, all of which need state and local permits. The process can take years, and current supply chain constraints and tariff-related delays could add to those challenges, Egel said.

"A number of facilities, especially those in urban areas, were not constructed with adequate space for generators of this size. In some instances, accommodating a unit comparable in size to a semitruck is not feasible," Egel said.

Charlene Harrington, a professor and researcher at the University of California-San Francisco who studies nursing homes, said the industry's lobbying against stricter regulations and enforcement has succeeded largely because nursing home owners have been good at hiding their profits.

"When you have a governor who is running for president, they're susceptible to tremendous influence," Harrington said of Newsom, who is widely expected to launch a 2028 presidential bid. And nursing homes, she said, "have been very effective in arguing that they're losing money."

Nationally, efforts to more effectively regulate the nursing home industry or enforce tougher standards have often fallen flat, even as the quality of care in skilled nursing facilities has been a concern for years.

In April, a federal judge in Texas blocked a Biden administration rule to increase staffing at nursing homes, even though research has found low staffing to be at the root of many of the quality issues across such facilities. An investigation published in early May by Harrington and other researchers found that most facilities have nurse staffing levels "well below" the expected staffing based on resident needs and federal minimum staffing requirements.

"They're jeopardizing the safety of their patients," Harrington said.

While federal regulations require nursing homes to have emergency plans with options for backup power or evacuations, some states demand additional preparedness. After 12 people died in an overheated nursing home after Hurricane Irma knocked out the power, Florida in 2018 enacted legislation requiring nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have a generator capable of keeping patient areas at 81 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for at least four days. One report found most facilities were compliant by 2021.

Maryland requires assisted living facilities to maintain emergency generators that can run for 48 hours, and Virginia requires generators on-site. And this year, Texas lawmakers have filed bills to require generators in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

In California, it took groups representing about 400,000 nursing home residents several years to secure the rule for extended backup power, overcoming a veto by Newsom in 2020. "Put simply, any loss of electrical power puts nursing home residents in peril, since most are extraordinarily vulnerable, and many rely on electrical-powered life support systems," state AARP director Nancy McPherson wrote in a December 2020 policy letter to the California Department of Public Health. "Unsafe temperatures, unrefrigerated medications, and medical devices without power can all have deadly consequences for nursing home residents."

It's unclear whether lawmakers will go along with Newsom's request. State senators are advancing separate legislation in committee that would mandate 72 hours of backup power at assisted living facilities that are home to 16 or more residents. Such facilities are not considered health care operations and have different regulations in California.

Democratic Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, who authored the 96-hour law, expressed frustration with the governor for "attempting to bureaucratically veto" her legislation, noting that climate-related threats, such as power shutoffs, have only increased.

Irwin said Newsom's budget proposal "for an indefinite suspension of the requirement abandons California seniors and those recuperating from an illness or surgery."
JoEllen Zembruski-Ruple, while in the care of New York City's renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, swallowed the first three chemotherapy pills to treat her squamous cell carcinoma on Jan. 29, her family members said. They didn't realize the drug could kill her.

Six days later, Zembruski-Ruple went to Sloan Kettering's urgent care department to treat sores in her mouth and swelling around her eyes. The hospital diagnosed oral yeast infection and sent her home, her sister and partner said. Two days later, they said, she returned in agony  with severe diarrhea and vomiting  and was admitted. "Enzyme deficiency," Zembruski-Ruple texted a friend.

The 65-year-old, a patient advocate who had worked for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other groups, would never go home.

Covered in bruises and unable to swallow or talk, she eventually entered hospice care and died March 25 from the very drug that was supposed to extend her life, said her longtime partner, Richard Khavkine. Zembruski-Ruple was deficient in the enzyme that metabolizes capecitabine, the chemotherapy drug she took, said Khavkine and Susan Zembruski, one of her sisters. Zembruski-Ruple was among about 1,300 Americans each year who die from the toxic effects of that pill or its cousin, the IV drug fluorouracil known as 5-FU.

Doctors can test for the deficiency  and then either switch drugs or lower the dosage if patients have a genetic variant that carries risk. The FDA approved an antidote in 2015, but it's expensive and must be administered within four days of the first chemotherapy treatment.

Newer cancer drugs sometimes include a companion diagnostic to determine whether a drug works with an individual patient's genetics. But 5-FU went on the market in 1962 and sells for about $17 a dose; producers of its generic aren't seeking approval for toxicity tests, which typically cost hundreds of dollars. Doctors have only gradually understood which gene variants are dangerous in which patients, and how to deal with them, said Alan Venook, a colorectal and liver cancer specialist at the University of California-San Francisco.

By the time Zembruski-Ruple's doctors told her she had the deficiency, she had been on the drug for eight days, said Khavkine, who watched over his partner with her sister throughout the seven-week ordeal.

Khavkine said he "would have asked for the test" if he had known about it, but added "nobody told us about the possibility of this deficiency." Zembruski-Ruple's sister also said she wasn't warned about the fatal risks of the chemo, or told about the test.

"They never said why they didn't test her," Zembruski said. "If the test existed, they should have said there is a test. If they said, 'Insurance won't cover it,' I would have said, 'Here's my credit card.' We should have known about it."

Guidance moves at a glacial pace

Despite growing awareness of the deficiency, and an advocacy group made up of grieving friends and relatives who push for routine testing of all patients before they take the drug, the medical establishment has moved slowly.

A panel of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN  specialists from Sloan Kettering and other top research centers  until recently did not recommend testing, and the FDA does not require it.

In response to a query from KFF Health News about its policy, Sloan Kettering spokesperson Courtney Nowak said the hospital treats patients "in accordance with NCCN guidelines." She said the hospital would not discuss a patient's care.

On Jan. 24, the FDA issued a warning about the enzyme deficiency in which it urged health care providers to "inform patients prior to treatment" about the risks of taking 5-FU and capecitabine.

On March 31  six days after Zembruski-Ruple's death  the network's expert panel for most gastrointestinal cancers took a first step toward recommending testing for the deficiency.

Worried that President Donald Trump's FDA might do nothing, Venook said, the panel  whose guidance shapes the practices of oncologists and health insurers  recommended that doctors consider testing before dosing patients with 5-FU or capecitabine.

However, its guidance stated that "no specific test is recommended at this time," citing a lack of data to "inform dose adjustments."

Sloan Kettering "will consider this guidance in developing personalized treatment plans for each patient," Nowak told KFF Health News.

The new NCCN guidance was "not the blanket recommendation we were working toward, but it is a major step toward our ultimate goal," said Kerin Milesky, a public health official in Brewster, Massachusetts, who's part of an advocacy group for testing. Her husband, Larry, died two years ago at age 73 after a single treatment of capecitabine.

European drug regulators began urging oncologists to test patients for deficiency in May 2020. Patients with potentially risky genetics are started on a half-dose of the cancer drug. If they suffer no major toxicity, the dose is increased.

A lifesaving ultimatum?

Emily Alimonti, a 42-year-old biotech salesperson in upstate New York, chose that path before starting capecitabine treatment in December. She said her doctors  including an oncologist at Sloan Kettering  told her they didn't do deficiency testing, but Alimonti insisted. "Nope," she said. "I'm not starting it until I get the test back."

The test showed that Alimonti had a copy of a risky gene variant, so doctors gave her a lower dose of the drug. Even that has been hard to tolerate; she's had to skip doses because of low white blood cell counts, Alimonti said. She still doesn't know whether her insurer will cover the test.

Around 300,000 people are treated with 5-FU or capecitabine in the United States each year, but its toxicity could well have prevented FDA approval were it up for approval today. Short of withdrawing a drug, however, U.S. regulators have little power to manage its use. And 5-FU and capecitabine are still powerful tools against many cancers.

At a January workshop that included FDA officials and cancer specialists, Venook, the NCCN panel's co-chair, asked whether it was reasonable to recommend that doctors obtain a genetic test "without saying what to do with the result."

But Richard Pazdur, the FDA's top cancer expert, said it was time to end the debate and commence testing, even if the results could be ambiguous. "If you don't have the information, how do you have counseling?" he asked.

Two months later, Venook's panel changed course. The price of tests has fallen below $300 and results can be returned as soon as three days, Venook said. Doubts about the FDA's ability to further confront the issue spurred the panel's change of heart, he said.

"I don't know if FDA is going to exist tomorrow," Venook told KFF Health News. "They're taking a wrecking ball to common sense, and that's one of the reasons we felt we had to go forward."

On May 20, the FDA posted a Federal Register notice seeking public input on the issue, a move that suggested it was considering further action.

Venook said he often tests his own patients, but the results can be fuzzy. If the test finds two copies of certain dangerous gene variants in a patient, he avoids using the drug. But such cases are rare  and Zembruski-Ruple was one of them, according to her sister and Khavkine.

Many more patients have a single copy of a suspect gene, an ambiguous result that requires clinical judgment to assess, Venook said.

A full-gene scan would provide more information but adds expense and time, and even then the answer may be murky, Venook said. He worries that starting patients on lower doses could mean fewer cures, especially for newly diagnosed colon cancer patients.

Power should rest with patients

Scott Kapoor, a Toronto-area emergency room physician whose brother Anil, a much-loved urologist and surgeon, died of 5-FU toxicity at age 58 in 2023, views Venook's arguments as medical paternalism. Patients should decide whether to test and what to do with the results, he said.

"What's better  don't tell the patient about the test, don't test them, potentially kill them in 20 days?" he said. "Or tell them about the testing while warning that potentially the cancer will kill them in a year?"

"People say oncologists don't know what to do with the information," said Karen Merritt, whose mother died after an infusion of 5-FU in 2014. "Well, I'm not a doctor, but I can understand the Mayo Clinic report on it."

The Mayo Clinic recommends starting patients on half a dose if they have one suspect gene variant. And "the vast majority of patients will be able to start treatment without delays," Daniel Hertz, a clinical pharmacologist from the University of Michigan, said at the January meeting.

Some hospitals began testing after patients died because of the deficiency, said Lindsay Murray, of Andover, Massachusetts, who has advocated for widespread testing since her mother was treated with capecitabine and died in 2021.

In some cases, Venook said, relatives of dead patients have sued hospitals, leading to settlements.

Kapoor said his brother  like many patients of non-European origin  had a gene variant that hasn't been widely studied and isn't included in most tests. But a full-gene scan would have detected it, Kapoor said, and such scans can also be done for a few hundred dollars.

The cancer network panel's changed language is disappointing, he said, though "better than nothing."

In video tributes to Zembruski-Ruple, her friends, colleagues, and clients remembered her as kind, helpful, and engaging. "JoEllen was beautiful both inside and out," said Barbara McKeon, a former colleague at the MS Society. "She was funny, creative, had a great sense of style."

"JoEllen had this balance of classy and playful misbehavior," psychotherapist Anastatia Fabris said. "My beautiful, vibrant, funny, and loving friend JoEllen."
You may have seen it in the news recently: a baby in Pennsylvania with a rare genetic disorder was healed with a personalized treatment that repaired his specific genetic mutation. The treatment was created using a form of gene editing called base editing -a method created by Alexis Komor when she was a postdoctoral scholar in molecular biologist David Liu's group at Harvard University.

Since that work was published in 2016, Komor, who is now an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California San Diego, has continued to study base-editing tools to better understand and further develop their capabilities. Her latest research, published in Nature Communications, outlines the way certain DNA repair proteins can be manipulated to produce desired outcomes.

Our genomic DNA is comprised of four bases - cytosine (C), thymine (T), guanine (G) and adenosine (A). These bases join together into approximately 3 billion different base pairs, arranged in a double-helix structure.

Humans are 99.9% identical in their genetic makeup, while the remaining 0.1% accounts for any difference between one person and another. Where one person has a C base, another person might have a T base. There are millions of genetic variations possible between any two people, and although many are harmless, others can lead to debilitating or terminal genetic diseases.

For many people with genetic diseases, gene editing is their only hope of a cure.

Gene editing is traditionally done using CRISPR-Cas9 to make a physical change in the DNA. A guide RNA directs the Cas9 protein to a specific DNA location, where Cas9 completely severs the DNA - called a double stranded break. There are many proteins within the cell that can detect DNA damage and then fix it through a process called a repair pathway.

Normally these pathways take the two broken ends of the DNA and fuse them back together, called a ligation. With CRISPR-Cas9, as the number of breaks and repairs increases, so do unwanted insertions and deletions, called indels. When this happens, the DNA strand no longer matches the original and the editing process ends.

As a postdoc, Komor found a way to achieve gene-editing with higher efficiencies and a lower incidence of indels by avoiding double-stranded breaks. She called this new class of tools "base editing" because it chemically changes a DNA base one letter at a time.

With base editing, not only do we achieve a better outcome, but the steps leading to the outcome are also improved. Double-stranded breaks can be toxic and can cause cell death. They can also cause larger-scale genomic rearrangements because you're physically cutting up the DNA. Base editors avoid that." Alexis Komor, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, University of California San Diego

Komor developed two tools, an adenine base editor (ABE), which converts an A base to G base, and a cytosine base editor (CBE), which converts a C base to a T base. Base editors make conversions through an intermediary. In the case of CBEs, the cytosine is first converted to uracil, a nucleic acid found in RNA. During repair, the DNA reads the uracil as thymine.

Although there's no double-stranded break, base editors do create a nick in one strand. An enzyme is attached to the Cas9 and chemically changes the base. CBEs can have a 90-95% conversion rate with minimal unwanted byproducts.

We know the base editor works, but how? That's the main question Komor's group wanted to answer. They wondered how the uracil was being handled by the cell. What role does the nick play? How do all of the different proteins in the cell affect the editing outcomes?

One particular protein called uracil N-glycosylase (UNG) finds and deletes uracils. When that protein is present, the incidence of unwanted outcomes rose. When UNG was inhibited, CBE efficiency increased. But Komor's group didn't have a full understanding of the process.

To uncover the answer, the team used a technique called gene knockdown, which turns down a gene's ability to express itself. They did this for every single different DNA repair or processing protein in the human genome  2,015 proteins in total.

Then they used green fluorescent protein markers to identify cells containing the desired edits, either C to T mutations or the UNG-affected C to G edits, while discarding the UNG-affected edits they didn't want.

They did this work using a CRISPRi screen, which takes a guide RNA to a gene of interest and reduces its expression. Komor's CRISPRi cells had two guide RNAs - one to activate the fluorescent protein maker with the CBE and one directed to knock down the specific repair protein. All told, Komor had a library of around 12,000 different guide RNA combinations for the CRISPRi screen.

Once they collected all the cells that had fluoresced green, they sequenced the guide RNAs to see which genes were knocked down (and therefore their expression was detrimental to base editing).

They discovered that a ligase called Lig3 inhibited base editing. Ligases attached the ends of broken DNA strands back together and when Lig3 was present, CBE editing was lower.

"We think that the Lig3 can sneak in and seal that nick back together. Then we don't have a chance for that uracil to be turned into a thymine anymore," stated Komor. "It's like the Lig3 is working against us."

They also found a repair pathway called mismatch repair that actually helped cytosine base editing. The MutS-alpha protein complex, a component of mismatch repair, is composed of two proteins and is expressed throughout a cell's lifetime. When it was knocked down, conversions of C to T dropped. Komor thinks it's because MutS-alpha recognizes the uracil intermediate and helps convert it to thymine.

Why all the fuss? If the tool works, does it matter why? Yes, says Komor.

"These base editing tools are good, but they're not perfect," she stated. "If we can better understand how they're functioning in the cell, that will help us understand how we can improve their efficiency or even create new types of base editors."

Komor also notes that it's important to understand how these tools work for safety reasons. Does base editing activate an unforeseen cellular response? Is there DNA damage or cell death? The more we know about the mechanisms of the base editors and how cells respond, the better positioned we are to observe and stop unintended consequences.

"That's one of the reasons this work was supported by the National Science Foundation. This is basic science - understanding why things are the way they are and how they function in certain environments," Komor said.

Often it takes decades to see the real-world impact of basic science research, but Komor's base editing techniques were being deployed in hospitals in much shorter time. She notes that, to date, at least 10 people have been saved using CBE. Additionally, there are several clinical trials underway, meaning it's likely that number will increase greatly in the coming years.

This research was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation (MCB-2048207), the National Institutes of Health (T32GM146648) and the Research Corporation for Science Advancement through the Cottrell Fellowship (27975).
Karnataka man on Char Dham Yatra dies on way to Kedarnath

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 21:15 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

New Tehri (Ukd), Jun 4 (PTI) An elderly pilgrim from Karnataka who had come to Uttarakhand on the Char Dham Yatra died of a heart attack here on Wednesday, police said.

Ravi Kumar (76) from Bengaluru was going to Kedarnath in a bus after visiting Gangotri when he suffered a heart attack near Koti Gad on the Rishikesh-Gangotri highway, Sub-Inspector (SI) Jugal Bhatt said.

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After Kumar fell unconscious, the bus driver informed police. The septuagenarian was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The body has been sent to the district hospital in Baurari for post-mortem, the SI said.

Police said Kumars family members have been informed. PTI COR ALM DIV DIV

First Published: June 04, 2025, 21:15 IST
The Philippine government has ordered AirAsias online platform, AirAsia Move, to stop selling tickets in the country after it was found to be charging excessive fares.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced on June 2 that the Civil Aeronautics Board had issued a cease-and-desist order, and that authorities were working with police to shut down the site, according to Bloomberg.

An AirAsia aicraft seen at an air base in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila, the Philippines, on Aug. 15, 2011. Photo by AFP

The aviation authority, responsible for setting airfare price caps in the Philippines, said that the company raised its prices after transportation disruptions in Tacloban City caused by the closure of a major bridge to trucks.

"We will really put the full force of the law on these unscrupulous online platforms that are taking advantage of our people," Dizon said.

Authorities plan to promptly file a case for "criminal economic sabotage" against the digital platform, which is owned by Malaysia-based Capital A Berhad, he further noted.

Over the weekend, AirAsia Move charged PHP77,000 (US$1,382) for a one-way ticket from Manila to Tacloban City via Philippine Airlines, triple the price quoted on the flag carriers website, according to Transportation Ministry data.

"Clearly, this is just absurd," Dizon stated at the briefing. "What AirAsia Move is doing is criminal."
Air India Adds 16 New Destinations Across 6 Countries With 4 New Airline Partnerships

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News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 09:17 IST

These new interline agreements have been signed with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways.

For passengers of the four partner airlines, Air India opens doors to over 30 Indian cities. (File photo)

Air India, Indias leading international airline, has teamed up with four major carriers from emerging markets.

This move will make it much easier for travellers to reach 16 new destinations across six countries  mainly in Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and Central Asia.

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These new interline agreements have been signed with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways. The announcement was made during the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi.

What Does This Mean for You?

These partnerships will offer seamless travel options. Passengers can now book single-ticket journeys that include flights from Air India and the partner airline, with coordinated baggage allowance and handling  making travel smoother and simpler.

Where You Can Fly with Each Partner

airBaltic

Connects travellers to Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania)

Available via Air Indias existing gateways in Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan, Vienna, Zurich, and Dubai

Bulgaria Air

Offers access to Sofia, Bulgarias capital, through London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, and Tel Aviv

Further connections available from Sofia to Varna and Burgas

Cyprus Airways

Opens up travel to Larnaca, Cyprus via Paris, Milan, and Dubai

Ideal for Indian tourists and business travellers heading to the Mediterranean

Uzbekistan Airways

Direct links from Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa-Mopa (GOX) to Tashkent

Additional travel options to cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, Namangan, and more

Wider Access to Indian Cities for Partner Airline Customers

In return, passengers flying with the partner airlines can now easily reach over 30 Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Goa, and Amritsar using Air Indias domestic network.

Our partnerships with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways, bring more travel options and smoother journeys for our growing base of customers worldwide as well as reinforce Indias rising status as a key global aviation hub," said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India.

How to Book

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Travellers can book these interline connections progressively through:

Air Indias website: www.airindia.com

Air India mobile app

Travel agents worldwide.

About the Author Samreen Pall Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... Read More Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... 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 04, 2025, 09:17 IST
Air India To Launch First-Ever Non-Stop Flights Between Delhi And Manila From October 1

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 14:19 IST

Indian travellers now have more reason to explore the Philippines, thanks to the new visa-free entry for up to 14 days.

New Route to the Philippines Launches This October. (File photo)

Air India, Indias flagship international airline, has announced a brand-new non-stop service connecting Delhi and Manila, starting 1 October 2025.

With this launch, Air India becomes the only airline offering direct flights between India and the Philippines.

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Flights Five Days a Week

The non-stop flights will run five times a week  every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday  using Air Indias modern Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Passengers can choose from Business Class, Premium Economy, or Economy, making it ideal for both leisure and business travellers.

Visa-Free Entry for Indians

Indian travellers now have more reason to explore the Philippines, thanks to the new visa-free entry for up to 14 days.

Air Indias CEO & MD, Campbell Wilson, stated:"As outbound travel from India grows at an unprecedented pace, with Indian tourists ranking among the highest spenders globally, the new entry rules for Indian tourists are a shot in the arm to boost tourism to the Philippines."

One-Stop Europe-Manila Connections

The new flight schedule also offers easy one-stop connections to Manila from Europe via Delhi, making it convenient for global travellers.

Flight Schedule (from 1 October 2025)

Delhi to Manila  AI2362

Departure: 13:20 hrs

13:20 hrs Arrival: 22:40 hrs

22:40 hrs Days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday

Manila to Delhi  AI2361

Departure: 23:40 hrs

23:40 hrs Arrival: 03:50 hrs (+1 day)

03:50 hrs (+1 day) Days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday

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How To Book?

Tickets for the new Delhi-Manila service are now available across all platforms  including Air Indias official website, mobile app, airport ticket offices, contact centres, and authorised travel agents.

About the Author Samreen Pall Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... Read More Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... 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 04, 2025, 14:19 IST
India Strongly Opposes ADB's $800-Million Support To Pakistan, Demands Close Monitoring

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 17:24 IST

India has objected to the Asian Development Bank's funding support for Pakistan, citing concerns over potential misuse due to its rising defence spending and falling tax-GDP ratio.

The ADB has approves an $800-million programme to "boost Pakistan's public finance".

India has strongly objected to the Asian Development Banks (ADB) recent approval of an $800-million funding programme for Pakistan, raising serious concerns about the potential misuse of funds, especially in the backdrop of Islamabads rising defence expenditure and weakening domestic resource mobilisation. New Delhi expects the ADB to closely monitor the implementation of the policy matrix to achieve the intended outcomes.

According to senior Indian government sources, New Delhi cautioned the ADB that its financing could be diverted away from developmental objectives. India pointed to a clear mismatch between Pakistans growing defence spending and its declining tax-to-GDP ratio, suggesting that externally provided fungible resources  such as policy-based loans  might be indirectly enabling increased military allocations.

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India highlighted that Pakistans tax-to-GDP ratio has dropped from 13.0% in FY2018 to 9.2% in FY2023, far below the Asia-Pacific average of 19%. Despite this decline in domestic revenue generation, the country has significantly ramped up defence spending over the same period, raising red flags about the direction of its fiscal priorities, they said.

The ADB on June 3 approved the Improved Resource Mobilization and Utilization Reform Program  Subprogram 2 to boost Pakistans public finance". It includes a policy-based loan of $300 million, and ADBs first ever policy-based guarantee of up to $500 million, which is expected to mobilise financing of up to $1 billion from commercial banks.

India cautioned the ADB regarding the possibility of misuse of its resources. The linkage between Pakistans increase in expenditure on its military, as opposed to on development, cannot be fully explained solely in terms of its domestic resource mobilisation," one of the sources said.

India also pointed out that though the management has highlighted the improvements made by Pakistan in certain areas of reforms, had the previous programmes, funded both from ADB and the IMF, succeeded in putting in place a sound macro-economic policy environment, the country would not have approached the IMF for the 24th bail-out programme, the sources added.

Such a track record calls into question both, the effectiveness of the program designs, their monitoring and their implementation by the authorities," they added.

Pakistans poor track record of implementation stems from the militarys deeply entrenched interference in economic affairs, posing risks of policy slippages and reversal of reforms as has been witnessed in the past, according to the highly placed government sources.

Even when a civilian government is in power now, the army continues to play an outsised role in domestic politics and extends its tentacles deep into the economy," they said.

New Delhi Demands Closely Monitoring

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India expects the ADB to closely monitor the implementation of the policy matrix to achieve the intended outcomes," the sources said.

India also highlighted that the economic fragility of the borrowing country (Pakistan) poses credit risks to the ADB too. Pakistans continued reliance on external debt raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of future exposures, especially in view of the high debt-to-GDP ratio and poor credit rating of the country. Therefore, India urged ADB to be vigilant to safeguard the banks financial health and long-term prospects, they said.

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 04, 2025, 15:14 IST
RCB-eer! Karnataka Celebrates Maiden IPL Win With Its Biggest Booze Binge Ever

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:20 IST

IPL 2025: The frenzy of RCB's win was so widespread that long queues formed outside liquor outlets across major cities in Karnataka by early Wednesday morning

1.48 lakh crates of beer were sold in 24 hours, earning Rs 30.66 crore. (Representational Image)

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally broke their title jinx in IPL 2025, and while the team lifted the trophy for the first time, one state lifted spirits in a way never seen before. What was meant to be a sporting victory on Tuesday exploded into a mass celebration of staggering proportions, with the real winner, it turns out, being the states excise department.

The moment RCB clinched the long-elusive IPL title, jubilant fans stormed the streets, lit fireworks, danced atop vehicles, and then did something unexpected  flocked en masse to liquor shops. This resulted in beer and booze sales shattering every record in state history.

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According to official data, a mind-boggling 1.48 lakh crates of beer were sold within 24 hours, generating Rs 30.66 crore. Add to that 1.28 lakh crates of other liquor, and the total sales skyrocketed to Rs 157.94 crore, a single-day revenue windfall for the government. Thats Rs 132 crore more than the same day last year, when just Rs 6.29 crore worth of beer was sold.

The frenzy was so widespread that long queues formed outside liquor outlets across major cities by early morning. Viral videos showed fans popping beer bottles on flyovers and organising impromptu street parties, wearing RCB jerseys and waving flags as if it were Independence Day.

This is not just RCBs victory, its Karnatakas Diwali," joked one excise official, stunned by the revenue figures, adding Weve never seen anything like it. The entire supply chain was under pressure, but shops kept their shutters up well into the night."

While the fanfare continued online  #RCBChamps and #LiquorStorm trending on social media  the state government quietly celebrated its own victory, a windfall collection of taxes without having spent a penny.

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However, amid the celebrations, murmurs of concern have also begun to surface. Public health experts are questioning whether such large-scale liquor consumption is a healthy or sustainable mode of celebration.

Its great to see fans happy, but mass intoxication is not the ideal way to mark a win," said a senior health official, requesting anonymity, adding that they are studying the social impact of this kind of alcohol surge.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:20 IST
What Is Form 26AS? The Tax Form That Can Save You From Notices

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 11:51 IST

ITR Filing 2025: Form 26AS helps in avoiding tax notices by ensuring that TDS and TCS are correctly reflected in your tax returns.

Form 26AS is a consolidated tax statement that provides details of tax credits against your PAN.

ITR Filing 2025: The income tax filing season 2025 has started, with the Excel Utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 already available for download on the e-filing portal. So far, a total of 1,23,075 ITRs have been filed. Those planning to file ITR need to carefully check their incomes to file their returns to avoid any future tax notices. One document can prevent costly mistakes  Form 26AS.

Every year, thousands of taxpayers get IT notices due to mismatches in their reported income. In most cases, it couldve been avoided by just checking this one document: Form 26AS. Heres how:

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What Is Form 26AS?

Form 26AS is a consolidated tax statement issued by the income tax department that provides details of tax credits against your PAN. It contains details like TDS deducted by employers, banks, etc; advance tax paid; high-value transactions; and refunds issue.

Why Is Form 26AS Important, How It Helps Avoid Tax Notices?

It helps taxpayers in many ways like ensuring that you dont under-report income, ensures refunds dont get delayed, and reduces chances of being picked for scrutiny.

Also Read: How To Report Your Stock Market Income In ITR? An Income Tax Expert Explains

Aditya Bhattacharya, partner at King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys, said, Form 26AS is a consolidated tax statement that provides details of tax credits against your PAN. It helps in avoiding tax notices by ensuring that the tax deducted at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TCS) are correctly reflected in your tax returns."

If there are discrepancies between Form 26AS and your tax return, it could lead to notices from the tax department. By reviewing Form 26AS, you can ensure all your tax credits are accounted for, thus preventing potential issues with tax authorities, he added.

According to Rajarshi Dasgupta, executive director (tax) of AQUILAW, Form 26AS helps avoid income tax notice in the following ways:

Form 26AS has details of the TDS deducted from different sources during the year. Proper scrutiny of Form 26AS will enable taxpayer to claim refund for any excess TDS so paid and any discrepancy in the TDS details reflected in 26AS and that disclosed in ITR may attract you income tax notice.

In the event, the taxpayer has made any payments during the financial year towards advance tax, the same can be traced through Form 26AS and proper disclosure of the same while furnishing return of income can lessen the chances of receiving income tax notice.

Banks and financial institutions send periodic information related to any high-value transaction and, this information needs to be reported in annual ITR and non-disclosure of the same will lead to discrepancy in your Form 26AS and ITR filed, which can consequently result in inviting a income tax notice.

Other important information include interest earned on last years refund, which actually forms part of your other sources income.

To avoid chances of receiving income tax notice taxpayer must take all necessary steps to review form 26AS appropriately," Dasgupta said.

How To Download Form 26AS: A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Log in to www.incometax.gov.in

Log in to www.incometax.gov.in Step 2: Login using your credentials

Login using your credentials Step 3: Go to Income Tax Returns  View Form 26AS

Go to Income Tax Returns  View Form 26AS Step 4: Choose redirect to TRACES portal

Choose redirect to TRACES portal Step 5: Select AY and download PDF or HTML

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Ignoring TDS on FD interest

Relying only on Form 16

Missing advance tax or self-assessment tax

Not matching with AIS

Form 26AS: What To Do If Theres A Mismatch?

Contact deductor (employer/bank) to revise TDS return

File a grievance via e-portal

Use updated Form 26AS/AIS before final ITR submission

AIS Vs Form 26AS: Whats The Difference?

In recent years, the income tax department introduced the Annual Information Statement (AIS) as a more comprehensive version of Form 26AS. While AIS covers a wider range of financial information, it doesnt replace Form 26AS entirely  both documents still coexist, and each serves its own purpose.

What is AIS?

The Annual Information Statement provides a detailed snapshot of your financial transactions as reported by various entities (like banks, mutual fund houses, registrars, etc.) to the income tax department. It includes TDS and TCS data, interest income from savings and FDs, mutual fund purchases and redemptions, share trading activity (scrip-wise), credit card bill payments, high-value purchases, and property transactions, among others.

What Is Form 16, When Will You Get It?

Form 16 is an income tax certificate issued by your employer. It shows a detailed summary of your salary paid, TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) deducted by the employer, and deposited with the Income Tax Department on your behalf.

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In simple terms, it is your proof of tax deducted and is used while filing your Income Tax Return (ITR). Employers must issue Form 16 by June 15 of the next financial year after deducting TDS.

So, for FY 2024-25, your employer must provide Form 16 by June 15, 2025.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 10:34 IST
Watch | Scenes Of Chaos As Stampede Erupts At RCB Victory Parade Outside Chinnaswamy Stadium

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 18:40 IST

Bengaluru Stampede News: Videos show paramedics, police rushing victims after chaos erupts during RCB victory parade.

In this photo, responders are seen taking away an injured woman to a hospital who was caught in the stampede. (IMAGE: SOURCED)

Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru Stampede: Disturbing scenes unravelled outside Bengalurus M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday as paramedics were seen wheeling unconscious fans on stretchers as police officers were seen carrying two young boys in their arms after a stampede broke out in the crowd during Royal Challengers Bengalurus IPL victory parade.

A woman was seen performing frantic CPR on a man lying unresponsive on the ground.

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 TRAGIC NEWS! A stampede-like situation has been reported at Chinnaswamy Stadium as fans gathered to celebrate RCBs win. 07 people, including a child, have reportedly lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/57SZJ5vAWy  Megh Updates  (@MeghUpdates) June 4, 2025

The disturbing scenes, captured on video and now viral on social media, emerged from outside the stadium where fans had gathered en masse to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengalurus maiden IPL title win.

Eleven people have died and at least 27 have been hospitalised so far. Of those, 19 were taken to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, where seven deaths were confirmed. Eight others were taken to Vaidehi Hospital on Mallya Road, where four succumbed, sources told News18.

D.K. Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, told reporters that the crowd was very uncontrollable."

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We shortened the program. The program ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normal Lakhs of people came (to see the team)," he told news agency ANI.

The event was being held to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengalurus first Indian Premier League title win on Tuesday.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 18:16 IST
CUSAT CAT Result 2025 To Be Declared Today: Official Website, Time To Check Results

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 09:11 IST

CUSAT CAT Result 2025 will be declared today at 12:30 PM. Candidates can check results at results.cusat.ac.in.

CUSAT CAT 2025 exam was held in CBT mode from May 10 to 12, 2025. (Representative Image/getty)

CUSAT CAT Result 2025 Date, Time: The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is set to declare the results for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 today, June 4, 2025. According to the official notice released by the university, the CUSAT CAT Result 2025 will be declared at 12:30 by Vice Chancellor Dr Junaid Bushiri.

Once released, candidates will be able to check and download the CUSAT CAT Result 2025 through the official websites  at results.cusat.ac.in or admissions.cusat.ac.in.

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How To Check CUSAT CAT Ranklist 2025?

Step 1: Visit the official website  admissions.cusat.ac.in

Step 2: On the hompegae click on the link for CUSAT CAT Ranklist 2025

Step 3: Enter your application number, password and other required credentials

Step 4: Click on submit and the CUSAT CAT Result 2025 will be displayed on the screen

Step 5: Check the list for your name and application number and download it

Once the CUSAT CAT Result 2025 is declared, eligible candidates can participate in the counselling process. The University is expected to begin the counselling process later in June and the detailed notification for the same will be released on the official website in due course. Candidates will be able to access the counselling schedule, counselling fee and other important details through the official notification released by the university.

The CUSAT CAT 2025 exam was held in computer-based test (CBT) mode from May 10 to 12, 2025, for admissions into a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by the university. The exam witnessed significant participation from candidates aiming to secure seats in specialised courses such as B.Tech, Marine Engineering, and various postgraduate disciplines.

The university has already published the final answer key and response sheet for the candidates who appeared for the examination.

CUSAT CAT Result 2025: Tie Breaker

In case of a tie, the following norms will be applicable (applicable to BTech Programmes)

The marks of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in the CAT will be considered in the same order.

If the tie continues, the total number of correct answers for Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry in the CAT will be considered in the same order.

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If the tie continues after applying the above two conditions, the dates of birth of the candidates in descending order (older to younger) will be considered.

If the tie continues after applying the above three conditions, the names of the candidates in alphabetical order will be considered.

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 04, 2025, 09:11 IST
IIT Bombay MBA Admission Eligibility Criteria Revised, Know Who Can Apply

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 19:53 IST

Now, students with a three-year bachelor's degree in any field, such as arts, commerce, or science, can apply for the MBA programme at IIT Bombay.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. (Image: IIT Bombay)

IIT Bombays Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) has introduced a significant change to its MBA programme starting with the 2025-27 batch. Previously, only students with a four-year degree (mainly in engineering) or a masters degree were eligible. Now, students with a three-year bachelors degree in any field, such as arts, commerce, or science, can apply.

Eligibility Criteria for IIT Bombay MBA 2025-27 (Indian Candidates):

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Applicants must have a bachelors degree with at least 60 per cent marks for general category candidate and 55 per cent for SC, ST, and PWD candidates or a minimum CPI of 6.5 for general category candidates or 6 for SC, ST, PWD candidates) out of 10, from institutions/universities recognised by UGC or the Ministry of Education, Government of India, AICTE, AIU, or a reputed foreign university.

Final-year students and those awaiting results are also eligible to apply, provided they have secured an aggregate of 60 per cent marks (55 per cent for SC, ST, PWD candidates) or equivalent in their most recent exams. Admission will be contingent on meeting the eligibility criteria.

Additionally, candidates must have a valid CAT score.

IIT Bombay MBA 2025-27 Selection Process

According to the official notice, the selection process for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme for the 2025-27 batch will be conducted in two phases:

 In the first phase, candidates who meet the eligibility criteria [A] will be shortlisted for a Personal Interview (PI) based on their CAT 2024 scores, academic records, work experience duration, and other factors.

 In the second phase, the final selection will be based on a composite score that includes the CAT 2024 score, academic performance, work experience, and personal interview scores.

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ALSO READ | JEE Advanced Result 2025: 17-Year-Old Majid Hussain Secures AIR 3, Aims For IIT-Bombay

Meanwhile, last month, IIT Bombay suspended all partnerships with Turkish universities in response to Turkeys support for Pakistan during a period of heightened tensions with India. Due to the current geopolitical situation involving Turkey, IIT Bombay is processing suspension of its agreements with Turkish universities until further notice," it said.

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 04, 2025, 19:46 IST
AAP's Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia Summoned In Rs 2,000-Crore Classroom Construction Scam

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 08:20 IST

The ACB has summoned Satyendar Jain on June 6 and Manish Sisodia has been asked to appear on June 9

AAP leaders and former Delhi Ministers Satendar Jain and Manish Sisodia.

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has summoned senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and former Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000-crore classroom construction scam.

Jain, who handled Public Works, Health, Urban Development and other key portfolios under the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, has been summoned on June 6. Sisodia, who oversaw Education, Finance and several other departments, has been asked to appear on June 9.

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The case stems from an FIR registered by the ACB on April 30 after President Droupadi Murmu approved prosecution. The FIR cites findings from the Central Vigilance Commissions (CVC) Chief Technical Examiner report, which flagged serious anomalies in the construction of 12,748 classrooms or semi-permanent structures during AAPs tenure. According to Joint Commissioner Madhur Verma, the CVC report was kept under wraps for nearly three years before the investigation was launched.

At the heart of the allegations is massive cost escalation. While the original estimated cost was around Rs 1,200 per square foot, actual expenses shot up to approximately Rs 2,292 per square foot. The ACB claims each classroom cost around Rs 24.86 lakh to build  significantly higher than the roughly Rs 5 lakh typically spent for similar structures in Delhi.

The 2020 CVC report also highlighted multiple procedural violations, including contracts awarded without proper bidding, inflated costs without fresh tenders, and the appointment of private consultants without following norms. It further pointed to duplication of work, construction without actual demand, and mismanagement of funds and schedules. A total of 34 contractors, several allegedly linked to AAP, were involved in the project.

The BJP, whose leaders Kapil Mishra, Harish Khurana and Neelkant Bakshi had raised the initial complaint in 2019, has accused the AAP government of large-scale corruption and financial mismanagement in three school zones.

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The AAP has maintained that the allegations are politically motivated, accusing the BJP of weaponising institutions to target its leaders and create a false narrative.

Both Sisodia and Jain are already facing separate legal challenges. Sisodia was arrested in the Delhi excise policy case, while Jain was detained in a money laundering investigation. Both are currently out on bail.

About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 08:11 IST
Active Covid-19 Cases In India Reach 4,302, 44 Deaths Reported So Far | Latest Updates

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:19 IST

India reported 276 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of active cases to 4,302 and the overall death toll to 44.

Active Covid-19 cases in India have reached over 4,300 (AP File)

At least 276 Covid-19 cases were reported in India during the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active Covid-19 cases to 4,302, with Kerala accounting for the highest number of infections at 1,373. Maharashtra has logged 510 cases, Gujarat 461 and West Bengal 432.

The national capital has recorded at least 457 Covid-19 infections. A total of 44 Covid-related deaths have been reported in the country so far, the highest being in Maharashtra with 14 fatalities.

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At least seven deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, with Maharashtra accounting for four of them. Gujarat and Delhi also reported one Covid-related death in this time period.

Five deaths have been reported in Delhi, while Kerala logged 9 fatalities. Four deaths were reported each in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. So far, Arunachal Pradesh remains the only state which has not reported a single Covid-19 case so far.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Cases Rise In India: Heres What You Need to Know About The Symptoms

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Heres The Latest On Covid-19 Cases

West Bengal reported over 60 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, official data showed, taking its tally of active cases to 432. During the same period, 28 people recovered from the disease, it said.

Uttar Pradesh recorded 63 new cases, while Delhi and Gujarat reported 64 new cases each in the same time period. Uttar Pradesh currently has 201 active Covid-19 cases.

Maharashtra has recorded 14 deaths so far, most of them being patients suffering from co-morbidity. The state recorded 16 new infections.

Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases in Kerala, the state health department has issued guidelines for hospitals and healthcare workers. It has also instructed both government and private hospitals to carry out mock drills.

A guideline has been issued for hospital facilities to emphasise monitoring red flag signs such as breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, low blood pressure, hemoptysis, and cyanosis in adults. In children, symptoms like somnolence, high persistent fever, feeding difficulties, convulsions, and respiratory distress warrant attention.

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 04, 2025, 16:09 IST
Thailand recorded 65,880 Covid cases and three deaths in the last week, a significant decrease compared to the annual peak, Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin announced.

He said on June 2 that the new cases and fatalities were recorded from May 25 to 31. People aged 30-39 formed the biggest group of new cases, 12,403, followed by 10,368 in their 20s and 9,590 aged 60 and over.



The minister said he has asked medical personnel to be prepared to handle the situation, and cited the Division of Epidemiology's report that the outbreak has started to wane and its peak already passed.



He advised people to protect themselves by wearing face masks in risky or crowded areas, conducting self-tests to prevent unintentional transmission to vulnerable people, regularly washing hands, eating cooked food and refraining from touching faces, eyes, noses and mouths.



Somsak said he ordered medical personnel to prepare enough medicine and medical supplies for patients and vulnerable people.



He noted that influenza cases are also declining. The biggest group of flu patients was in the age range of five to nine years and the highest fatalities were among elderly patients and those with underlying diseases.
After Jyoti Malhotra, Another YouTuber Arrested In Punjab On Charges Of Espionage

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 12:38 IST

Pakistan Spy Agent News: Jasbir Singh, who runs a YouTube channel called "Jaan Mahal", has been linked to PIO Shakir, also known as Jutt Randhawa, is part of espionage network.

Punjab Police has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh. (Image: X/@Theunk13)

Pakistan Spy Agent: In a major breakthrough, the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali has uncovered a significant espionage network involving Jasbir Singh based on intelligence information. The suspect is a resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar, Ropar district of Punjab.

Jasbir Singh, who runs a YouTube channel called Jaan Mahal", has been linked to PIO Shakir, also known as Jutt Randhawa, who is part of a terror-backed espionage network. The YouTuber also reportedly maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra and Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official.

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Investigations have shown that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danishs invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers.

The Punjab Police informed that Singh has also traveled to Pakistan on three occasions, once in 2020 and then subsequently in 2021 and in 2024. Meanwhile, it is also found that his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, which are now under detailed forensic examination.

Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, State Special Operations Cell (#SSOC), Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, #Rupnagar.Jasbir Singh, who operates a #YouTube channel called Jaan Mahal," has been found  DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) June 4, 2025

The police stated that following YouTuber Jyoti Malhotras arrest, Singh attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to evade detection.

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An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operations Cell in Mohali in connection to the case.

Punjab Police has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and neutralising all threats posed by such anti-national elements. It has also stated that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators.

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : Punjab, India, India

First Published: June 04, 2025, 10:41 IST
'Age Of Modern Air Warfare': PM Modi To Council Of Ministers In First Meeting After Op Sindoor

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: June 05, 2025, 00:05 IST

Apart from India's successful offensive, one of the key takeaways during the meeting was good governance and the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047

PM Narendra Modi addresses the meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 4. (Image: News18)

In the first meeting of the Council of Ministers after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on modern warfare and the success of Indias strikes against Pakistan.

Apart from Indias successful offensive, one of the key takeaways during the three-and-half-hour meeting was governance and the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047 in alignment with the Viksit Bharat vision.

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This is a significant response by our armed forces and a successful one. We should all take pride in their bravery," Modi told his colleagues, as per sources.

Chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers earlier this evening. pic.twitter.com/2miMKnwXXC Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 4, 2025

Modi said modern warfare was different from traditional methods, where troop management took days. In the past, people in Punjab had to wait for days to see troop mobilisation and war-related activities, including setting up camps. Modern warfare is air warfare, and the results were seen in 22 minutes," he said.

He said it had been almost a month since the strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and India had achieved the desired results.

The Prime Minister spoke about Indias growth and future goals, stressing that Indias aim was to become a developed country by 2047. He said each department must set smaller, achievable goals leading to this bigger objective.

Our goal is big. We have a lot to achieve, but time is short. We must push the envelope and get going," he said. The world is looking at India to become a major trade hub, but the focus must be on quality. Whatever we produce, there should be no compromise on quality, regardless of the quantity."

He highlighted Indias achievement in becoming a significant market for indigenous defense equipment under the current regime. The work done by the government in the last 11 years, including the NDA leadership over the past year, is exemplary, he said.

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The PM said the Central Vista is ready and, therefore, the ministries of North Block and South Block need to prepare for relocation. He advised his colleagues to address grievances with special care and maximise their efforts as a service to the nation. He added that ministers should visit aspirational" districts and spend time there to understand the situation better.

There were four key presentations at the meeting, including on aspirational blocks by NITI Aayog, Jal Jeevan Mission by water resources ministry, government works in the last 11 years by the cabinet secretary, and on obesity by the health ministry.

First Published: June 05, 2025, 00:04 IST
Ashoka Co-Founder Reacts To Mahmudabad Row: 'Activism, Liberal Arts University Not Joined At The Hip'

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 10:43 IST

Sanjeev Bikhchandani pointed out that while the founders are criticised as "dirty filthy capitalists," they are the ones funding the institution.

Ashoka University co-founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani. (File Image)

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder and trustee of Ashoka University, has expressed concerns over growing activism" within the institution, suggesting it has become a headache" and hinting at the possibility of distancing himself from the university. His remarks came in an email response to an alumnuss criticism regarding the universitys handling of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabads arrest.

In a candid email shared on an internal mailing list, Bikhchandani emphasised that activism is not an inherent component of a liberal arts education. He stated, Activism and a Liberal Arts University are not joined at the hip. Ashoka is a Liberal Arts and Sciences University. Whether to be activists or not is a conscious choice people make." He further noted that his previous attempts to question the extent of activism at Ashoka were met with hostility, suggesting that some individuals have captured the institution" and resist any challenge to their views.

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Bikhchandani also highlighted the financial contributions of the universitys founders, pointing out that while they are often criticised as dirty filthy capitalists," they are the ones funding the institution. He questioned the assumption that liberal arts education must be synonymous with activism, citing his own experience at a liberal arts and sciences college where activism was minimal, yet students thrived.

In the past I have questioned the activism at Ashokaeach time, I have been pounced upon by the activists and their supporters, both within and outside Ashoka: students, faculty, activists, etc., saying that if you are running a liberal arts university, then activism goes with the territory, that I am an arrogant owner, that dirty filthy capitalists dont understand how a university runs (they somehow forget that the same capitalists are paying their salaries)," Bikchandani wrote.

Mentioning how he asked Google AI if all liberal arts universities are activist in nature, he wrote, The fundamental point I am making is that activism at Ashoka is a choice and it does not go with the territory. You can be a great liberal arts university and not be activist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar."

Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, head of the Political Science Department at Ashoka University, was arrested on May 18, 2025, by Haryana Police over a social media post related to Operation Sindoor, Indias percision strike against terrorist bases in Pakistan and PoK. Mahmudabad had in his social media post praised Indias strategic doctrine and the outcome of Operation Sindoor, but criticised symbolic optics and the treatment of minorities.

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His arrest followed complaints alleging that his post was inflammatory and disrespectful to women in the armed forces. However, colleagues have defended Mahmudabad, asserting that his post supported the Indian governments stance and praised the strategic restraint of the armed forces.

The Supreme Court granted Mahmudabad interim bail, extending it until the third week of July. The court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to limit its probe to the two FIRs filed in relation to Mahmudabads Facebook post and has restrained him from posting any content online related to the ongoing case.

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 04, 2025, 10:43 IST
Bangladeshi Rebels Demanding Separate State Detained By Tripura Police

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 23:24 IST

Police officials suspect the detainees are part of a Chakma outfit with past ties to a movement that wanted a separate state out of Bangladesh.

Thirteen suspected Chakma rebels injured in clashes in Bangladeshs Chittagong Hill Tracts were detained by Tripura Police late Tuesday. (IMAGE: IANS)

Tripura Police on Tuesday night detained 13 injured members of a Bangladesh-based group, including two women, from a rented house near Agartala. The detainees, suspected to be part of a Chakma community organisation active in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, will be pushed back to Bangladesh soon, officials told news agency IANS.

According to preliminary reports, the group crossed the international border illegally through Raishyabari in Dhalai district following a violent clash with a rival outfit in Bangladeshs Panchari region last week. Several members have visible injuries, with bandages on their legs and arms.

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Senior police officials interrogated the group throughout Wednesday before handing them over to the Mobile Task Force (MTF), which later transferred them to the Border Security Force (BSF). A joint repatriation effort is expected soon.

The armed clash they fled from is believed to be part of the long-running tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region historically affected by ethnic insurgency. The Shanti Bahini insurgency, driven by the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), ended formally with a peace accord signed with the Bangladesh government in 1997.

The PCJSS, formed in 1972 under Manabendra Narayan Larma, initially pushed for autonomy for the indigenous Jumma peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Their demands included a separate legislative body for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, constitutional protection for tribal customs, and preservation of traditional leadership.

Although the group officially sought autonomy within Bangladesh, elements of its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini, reportedly pursued full sovereignty. Larma had also protested the Bangladesh Constitutions draft, calling for complete separation.

The insurgency waged by the Shanti Bahini ended with the 1997 CHT Peace Accord, which granted limited autonomy and led to the groups disarmament. The PCJSS has since operated as a political party, demanding full implementation of the agreement.

However, reports of sporadic violence and tension have persisted, particularly following the fall of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government in August 2024.

Since then, there have been multiple allegations of attacks on indigenous communities in the CHT by security forces and illegal settlers. Many Chakmas continue to live under fear of reprisal and political marginalisation.

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The Chakma people, predominantly Buddhist, are native to the CHT in southeast Bangladesh, as well as Myanmars Chin and Arakan regions, and several northeastern Indian states.

Tripura, which shares an 856-kilometre border with Bangladesh, remains particularly vulnerable to such cross-border movements due to its porous terrain and the ongoing unrest just across the international boundary.

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 : Agartala (incl. Jogendranagar, India, India

First Published: June 04, 2025, 23:24 IST
'Self-Styled Supreme Leader': BJP Tears Into Rahul Gandhi Over 'PM Modi Surrendered' Remark

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:02 IST

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed Rahul Gandhi for alleging that PM Modi surrendered after a call from Donald Trump, and accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian Army.

Sudhanshu Trivedi (L)/Rahul Gandhi (R) (Photos: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday ripped into the Congress over Rahul Gandhis Prime Minister Narendra Modi surrendered" remark, saying that the Congress leader lacks the seriousness and maturity that the post requires.

Addressing a press briefing, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also referred to Rahul Gandhi as self-proclaimed, self-styled, supreme leader" of the Congress party.

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By making extremely cheap, low-level statements, the self-proclaimed, self-styled, supreme leader, the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is telling the world that even after becoming the LoP, he lacks the seriousness and maturity that the post requires," Trivedi said.

How Rahul Gandhi compared our armed forces valour and Army officers brief on the success of Operation Sindoor with surrender, shows how sick and dangerous his mentality has become," he added.

The BJP MP further accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting the countrys self-respect, and said, Theres a saying in Hindi  Naya mullah zyada pyaaz khaata hai, but here, gair mullah iss kadar pyaaz khaane mein laga hai, that he does not even realise how badly he is insulting Indias self-respect and the Indian Armys valour."

Till now, Congress leaders were making headlines in the Pakistani media, their statements were being quoted in the Pakistani Parliament. But for the first time, Rahul Gandhi has said something which even the army chief of Pakistan has not said, nor has any terrorist organisation of Pakistan. Even Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed have not said such a thing," the BJP MP said.

None of them said that India surrendered. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, does he want to get one step ahead of these people?" Trivedi asked.

Till now, he was giving cover fire to the people of Pakistan, the Pakistani army and terrorist organisations. Is he trying to become their leader now?" he asked.

Also taking a dig at the party and Rahul Gandhi over poll losses, Sudhanshu Trivedi said, The level of intelligence and wisdom of someone who sees receiving less than three points in their third attempt in the election result as a success, and sees being elected as the Prime Minister for the third time as a defeat is obvious."

I want to ask the Congress party, has Rahul Gandhi insulted the Army by using the word surrender or not? He has used such a word which even Pakistans Army, terrorist organisations, or UN-designated terrorists Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed have not used," the BJP MP said.

AMIT MALVIYA SAYS RAHUL GANDHI ECHOED DOUBT

As the controversy flared up, BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviya, in an X post, wrote, History will remember: From Doklam to Pahalgam, whenever India stood united to defend its sovereignty and rise as a global power, Rahul Gandhi, true to the legacy of his lineage, chose to stand with forces opposed to Indias political and economic resurgence."

In moments that demanded unity, he echoed doubt. In times that called for strength, he amplified division," Malviya wrote.

India deserves leadership that stands with the nation, not against its aspirations," he added.

RAHUL GANDHIs REMARK STIRS ROW

Rahul Gandhi stirred a controversy on Tuesday after he alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi surrendered after a call from US President Donald Trump during the India-Pakistan military conflict.

Addressing a party convention in Bhopal, he said the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, didnt budge in the 1971 war despite the US sending its Seventh Fleet.

A call came from Trump and Narendra ji immediately surrendered  history is a witness, this is the character of BJP-RSS, they always bow down," Rahul stated after launching the Congresss Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan in Bhopal.

Rahul said that India split Pakistan in 1971 despite Americas threat.

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Congresss Babbar Sher and lionesses fight with superpowers; they never bowed down," he added.

He said no phone call came during the 1971 war. Even though the 7th fleet, weapons, and an aircraft carrier arrived, Indira Gandhi didnt surrender and said she would do whatever she wanted.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 12:59 IST
CJI Gavai Flags Concerns Over Post-Retirement Jobs Taken By Judges: 'I Pledged Not To Accept...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 22:14 IST

The CJI's remarks come in the backdrop of Justice Yashwant Varma facing allegations of corruption after the discovery of a large amount of cash from his official residence in Delhi

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai (IMAGE: PTI File)

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has said instances of corruption and misconduct in the judiciary have a negative impact on public confidence. The CJI also raised ethical concerns" while she was speaking about post-retirement jobs taken by judges.

The CJIs remarks come in the backdrop of Allahabad High Courts Justice Yashwant Varma facing allegations of corruption after the discovery of a large amount of cash from his official residence in Delhi.

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Speaking at a roundtable conference in the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence", the CJI said whenever these instances of corruption and misconduct have come to light, the Supreme Court has consistently taken immediate and appropriate measures to address the misconduct.

CJI Gavai said in every democracy, the judiciary must not only dispense justice, but also be seen as an institution that deserves to hold truth to power and the terms judicial legitimacy" and public confidence" are interconnected.

Legitimacy and public confidence are not secured through coercion of command but through the credibility earned by courts. Any erosion of this confidence risks weakening the judiciarys constitutional role as the ultimate arbiter of rights. Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues," CJI Gavai said.

CJI Gavai Flags Concerns Over Post-Retirement Jobs Taken By Judges

Dealing with the often debated issue of post-retirement jobs taken by judges, he said the timing and nature of such post-retirement engagements could undermine the publics trust in the judiciarys integrity, as it could create a perception that judicial decisions were influenced by the prospect of future government appointments or political involvement.

Another point of discussion is post-retirement jobs taken by judges. In India, judges are subject to a fixed retirement age. If a judge takes up another appointment with the government immediately after retirement or resigns from the bench to contest elections, it raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny," he said.

The CJI said if a judge takes up another appointment with the government immediately after retirement, or resigns from the bench to contest elections, it raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny".

In light of this, many of my colleagues and I have publicly pledged not to accept any post-retirement roles or positions from the government. This commitment is an effort to preserve the credibility and independence of the judiciary," CJI Gavai said.

Last year, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who resigned as a judge of the Calcutta High Court, joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha election. He secured victory from the Tamluk seat in West Bengal.

Three months after he retired as Madhya Pradesh High Court judge, Rohit Arya had officially joined the BJP.

Corruption Allegations Against Justice Varma

A fire incident at Justice Varmas residence in the national capital in March, when he was a judge at the Delhi High Court, had led to the discovery of several burnt sacks of cash at the outhouse. Though the judge claimed ignorance about the cash, the Supreme Court-appointed committee indicted him after speaking to a number of witnesses and recording his statement. The then CJI Khanna is believed to have prodded him to resign but Justice Varma dug in his heels. The apex court has since transferred him to his parent cadre, the Allahabad High Court, where he has not been assigned any judicial work.

Justice Khanna had written to the president and the prime minister, recommending the impeachment motion, which is the procedure for axing members of the higher judiciary from service.

Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that the government is determined to take all political parties on board in moving an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, saying corruption in the judiciary cannot be approached through a political prism".

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He said the government wants the exercise aimed at axing Justice Varma, embroiled in a case of alleged corruption and indicted by a Supreme Court-appointed committee, a collaborative effort".

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: June 04, 2025, 22:14 IST
DGCA Flags Multiple Safety Violations After Surprise Inspection Of Turkish Airlines

Curated By :

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 22:29 IST

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found multiple safety violations in the operations of Turkish Airlines during inspections at four airports from May 29 to June 2.

The DGCA asked Turkish Airlines to address the safety violations. (Photo Credits: X)

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found multiple safety violations in the operations of Turkish Airlines during surprise inspections of passenger and cargo flights in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru airports from May 29 to June 2, 2025.

According to an official statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA conducted a Safety Oversight and Ramp inspections under international aviation rules, where it found multiple safety violations.

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Among these lapses was marshaller competency in Bengaluru. According to the Ministry, the marshaller, who guided aircraft on the ground, lacked proper authorisation and a valid competency card for marshalling functions.

Another serious breach was when the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was found unavailable during the arrival of the aircraft, and the arrival procedure was carried out by a technician instead, which went against aviation safety regulations.

A cargo carrying dangerous goods, including explosives, was transported by Turkish Airlines without the required permission from the DGCA, nor was it mentioned in the documents.

The aviation regulator also raised violations in ground handling, saying there was no Service Level Agreement (SLA) was in place between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA).

Equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked proper accountability and monitoring at Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where Globe Ground India was providing ground services without a formal handover from Celebi Aviation, which provides services at nine major Indian airports.

Turkish Airlines has been directed to address these findings promptly and ensure full compliance with Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCA regulations.

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Following Turkeys support for Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd on 15 May, citing national security concerns.

Turkey has openly supported Pakistan, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing solidarity with Islamabad. Recently, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Istanbul and met with Erdogan.

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 04, 2025, 22:29 IST
Elon Musk's Father Errol Visits Ayodhyas Ram Temple, Praises 'Wonderful' India

Curated By :

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:11 IST

Errol Musk noted his familiarity with Indian culture, saying, There are a lot of Indians in the country where I come from, so I know the Indian culture.

Errol Musk visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. (Image Credit: ANI)

Errol Musk, father of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and praised India as a wonderful" country with the best people you can meet." During his visit, Errol Musk expressed deep admiration for Indian culture and hospitality as he said, India is a wonderful place. As many people as possible should come to India, The people are full of love, kindness  probably the best people you can meet."

Errol Musk noted his familiarity with Indian culture, saying, There are a lot of Indians in the country where I come from, so I know the Indian culture." He also hinted at potential business interests, stating, We have some smart business plans which are being looked at."

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#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP | Errol Musk says, India is a wonderful place. As many people as possible should come to India. There are a lot of Indians in the country where I come from. So, I know the Indian culture. The people are full of love, kindness, probably the best people you pic.twitter.com/t4ok5E8hri ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

Errol Musk expressed confidence in Indias international standing: I think India-US relations will be very good."

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Earlier, Errol Musk praised Hinduism and said, I think if the entire world followed Shiva, it would be just fine. Im not an expert, but I find Hinduism fascinating. Its so ancientit boggles the mind. The depth and history of the religion show us just how little we actually understand about the past. Theres a profound sense of continuity and spirituality in India that is truly humbling."

Praising PM Modi, Elon Musks father said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the finest leaders in the world today. India is already a world power."

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Ayodhya, India, India

First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:11 IST
India Secures Historic Mandate To Lead International Institute Of Administrative Sciences

Curated By :

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 17:31 IST

This is the first time in the 100-year history of IIAS that the election to the post of President was secured by India through a historic mandate.

V Srinivas, Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, was elected the IIAS president. (Image: X)

In a major accomplishment for the nation, India won the presidency of the Belgium-based International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) for the first time, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

The IIAS is a global non-profit organisation comprising 31 member countries, 20 national sections, and 15 academic research centres jointly collaborating for scientific research on public administration.

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The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has represented India as a Member State of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences since 1998, according to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

For the 2025-2028 presidency of IIAS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated the Indian candidacy of Secretary DARPG V Srinivas in November 2024. The hearings for the IIAS presidency were held in February 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

DARPG thanks the membership of the IIAS for electing India for the presidency of the IIAS for the period 2025-2028. This is a historic occasion, a significant moment in DARPGs partnership with IIAS. The DARPG is grateful for the leadership of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra pic.twitter.com/D4Fp0xOhFe DARPG  (@DARPG_GoI) June 4, 2025

Four nations  India, South Africa, Austria and Bahrain  submitted their nominations for the IIAS presidency for the period 2025-2028 and participated in the hearings before the Council of Administration of IIAS, which were held on the sidelines of the Annual IIAS Conference 2025.

Notably, four countries, including India, South Africa, Austria and Bahrain, submitted their nominations for the IIAS presidency for the period 2025-2028 and participated in the hearings before the Council of Administration of IIAS.

After the hearings, the candidacy of India, South Africa and Austria was forwarded to the General Body of IIAS for the next round by the Council of Administration. South Africa withdrew its candidacy in May 2025.

The election was held between India and Austria on June 3, 2025 in which 141 votes were polled, of which India registered 87 votes (61.7 percent of the vote), and Austria registered 54 votes (38.3 percent of the vote).

Indias candidacy received widespread support from across the membership, according to the Ministry, adding that this achievement will take forward the Prime Ministers vision for Maximum Governance  Minimum Government".

First Time In 100-Year History

What makes this special is that this is the first time in the 100-year history of IIAS that the election to the post of President was held by a ballot process, and it is the first time that India has secured the historic mandate for the Presidency of the IIAS.

In his acceptance speech on Tuesday, Srinivas said the countrys presidency will be an inclusive one which will seek to bridge the north-south divide.

Indias administration works under the policy maxim maximum governance  minimum government under which we pursue next-generation administrative reforms using technology to bring citizens and government closer. Contemporary administrative theory has documented this transformation with a focus on a digitally empowered citizen and a digitally transformed institution," he said.

Srinivas said India had outlined its vision for Resource Rich, Publications Rich, Digitally Agile IIAS" which will seek to integrate the best practices of digital public infrastructure to transform governance models.

The Indian presidency of the IIAS will strive for harmonious and futuristic governance models and improvements in the implementation of public policy. It will be an inclusive presidency with a focus on unity which emerges from our Gandhian values, which will seek to bridge the north-south divide," he added.

Key member countries of the IIAS include  India, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico, Spain, Qatar, Morocco, Indonesia etc.

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The IIAS maintains a close working relationship with the United Nations and participates in the UNs Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and the UN Public Administration Network (UNPAN). While the IIAS is not a formally affiliated body of the UN, it actively engages with the UNs work in public administration.

(with PTI 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

First Published: June 04, 2025, 17:31 IST
Indore Couple Missing Probe: Suspected Murder Weapon Recovered In Meghalaya's Weisawdong Falls

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:06 IST

Indore Couple Missing Case News: The case involves Indore-based couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, who went missing on May 23 while on their honeymoon in Meghalayas Sohra region

The couple, who were on their honeymoon, went missing on 23 May shortly after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village.

Indore Couple Missing Case: Meghalaya Police have recovered the suspected murder weapon  a dao (machete)  along with a mobile phone from the deepest layer of the gorge near Weisawdong Falls. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that the search operation, now reaching the third and final layer of the gorge, was carried out by joint teams of the NDRF, SDRF, and the Special Operations Team.

The case involves Indore-based couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, who went missing on May 23 while on their honeymoon in Meghalayas Sohra region. Eight days later, the semi-decomposed body of 30-year-old Raja was discovered at the bottom of the gorge near the Weisawdong Falls parking area at Riat Arliang. He was identified by a distinctive Raja" tattoo on his right hand.

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Family Demands CBI Probe

The family of Raja Raghuvanshi, however, demanded a CBI probe into what they believe is a case of murder linked to robbery. Speaking to the media, Rajas brother Vipin Raghuvanshi said, We demand a CBI probe in this. We suspect murder due to robbery  his purse and diamond bracelet are missing. It seems Sonam Raghuvanshi has been kidnapped."

The family has raised serious concerns over the circumstances of Rajas death and the continued disappearance of his wife, Sonam.

Also See: Mans Body Found, Wife Still Missing; Murder Case Filed

Search On For Missing Woman

The search for 27-year-old Sonam is still underway. Police have registered a murder case and are treating the circumstances with suspicion. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is leading the probe. We are investigating with an open mind, and all possibilities, including honour killing, are being explored," SP Syiem told CNN-News18.

Evidence recovered from the site has raised serious concerns. Items found include a womans white shirt, a broken mobile screen, a strip of Pentra 40 tablets (used for acidity), and Rajas smartwatch, which was still strapped to his wrist when the body was recovered.

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The couple had checked out of a homestay in Nongriat village  located around 20 km from where Rajas body was found  on May 23. They had arrived in Mawlakhiat the previous day, parked a rented scooter, and descended 3,000 steps to visit the living root bridges in Nongriat, where they spent the night.

Rajas body has been sent to NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, for post-mortem examination. As the search for Sonam continues, investigators hope that the recovery of the dao and mobile phone will provide critical leads in unraveling the mystery behind the suspected double homicide.

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 07:34 IST
Malaysia probes disappearance of British tourist on solo tour around Southeast Asia

Tourists pass by Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Jan. 31, 2020. Photo by Reuters

The disappearance of a British man, who was on a solo backpacking tour around Southeast Asia, in Malaysia's capital last week is being investigated from "all angles", police said Tuesday.

A missing person's report was filed, identifying the man as 25-year-old Jordan Johnson-Doyle, Kuala Lumpur police said.

Johnson-Doyle was last seen on May 27 in the bustling Bangsar district, known for its nightlife, trendy bars and cafes, according to local media reports.

"A detailed investigation, from all angles, is underway," Brickfields district police chief Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood told AFP.

"Those with any information are urged to contact their nearest police station," Ku Mashariman added in a statement.

Johnson-Doyle's mother, Leanne Burnett, 44, told the Free Malaysia Today news website that her husband had traveled to Kuala Lumpur, adding "we are distraught and pray that he's well somewhere."

She said his family was "seeking the help of anyone who saw him at his last-known location to come forward and inform the police."

Burnett said she was traveling to Malaysia with another son to help with the search.

Police have asked for the public "not to speculate" about Johnson-Doyle's disappearance.

The British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur confirmed Tuesday that it would assist Johnson-Doyle's family.

"We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Malaysia," it said in a statement.

Local reports said Johnson-Doyle, a software engineer, was on a solo backpacking tour around Southeast Asia when he disappeared.
Indore Missing Couple Probe: What Sonam Revealed In Final Call To In-Laws Before Disappearing

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 14:54 IST

East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem acknowledged that the couple had a minor dispute with a female coffee vendor but dismissed speculation of a planned murder.

The couple, who were on their honeymoon, went missing on 23 May shortly after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village.

Indore missing couple case: A honeymoon trip to Meghalaya turned tragic for Indore-based couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, who went missing on May 23 while trekking in the picturesque Sohra region. Days later, Rajas semi-decomposed body was recovered from a deep gorge below Wei Sawdong Falls, identified by a distinctive Raja" tattoo on his wrist.

The suspected murder weapon  a dao (machete)  and a mobile phone were also retrieved from the lowest layer of the gorge. The couple had been trekking in the area when they lost contact, and police have since registered a murder case. Sonam remains missing, and the search continues.

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The family believes robbery may have been the motive, pointing to missing items such as Rajas purse and diamond bracelet. Speaking to the media, Rajas brother Vipin Raghuvanshi demanded a CBI probe, saying: We suspect murder due to robbery  his purse and diamond bracelet are missing. It seems Sonam Raghuvanshi has been kidnapped."

Also Read: Indore Couple Missing Probe: Suspected Murder Weapon Recovered In Meghalayas Weisawdong Falls

Sonams Last Phone Call

But it is Sonams final call to her mother-in-law that now stands out as a possible hint at the unfolding danger. According to Rajas mother, Sonam called her on May 23  Gyaras, a fasting day  to check in. When asked to eat something since they were hiking, Sonam refused, saying, Ghumne ke chakkar main vrat thodi tod dungi" (Just because Im vacationing, I wont break my fast), reported The Times Of India.

The family shared a recording of this call, in which Sonam sounds short of breath, explaining that they were trekking through a forest to see a waterfall. The call ends abruptly with her saying she would talk later  a call that never came.

Also Read: Mans Body Found, Wife Still Missing; Murder Case Filed

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As per the report in The Times of India, Vipin said they had urged the police to search the very location where the body was eventually found, but those pleas went unheeded for several critical days. The family has also raised concerns that some suspects" may be misleading investigators about the actual crime scene.

East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem acknowledged that the couple had a minor dispute with a female coffee vendor but dismissed speculation of a planned murder.

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 14:53 IST
'Will Speak At The Right Time': Kamal Haasan In First Public Appearance Amid Language Row

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 18:17 IST

Kamal Haasan Kannada Controversy: Kamal Haasan on Wednesday expressed gratitude to supporters amid the controversy over his 'Kannada language' remark, but declined to speak.

A file photo of Kamal Haasan (PTI)

Kamal Haasan Kannada Controversy: A day after the Karnataka High Court pulled him up over his Kannada was born out of Tamil remark, actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday thanked those who stood beside him amid the controversy.

In his first public appearance post the row and the High Court bashing, Kamal Haasan refused to speak on the controversy, saying he would speak on the same when the time is right.

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Haasan spoke on the hard work and international quality behind the Mani Ratnam directorial Thug Life, which is set for release on June 5, and said, I should thank the entire state of Tamil Nadu, which stood behind me."

I thank the media for your support, I am also thankful to others who stood by me," the actor said.

We have a lot to speak, but not now. We will speak at the right time," Haasan said.

Also speaking about his upcoming film, the actor said, It is an honour for me to act in a Mani Ratnam film."

His statement came as he, in Chennai, shared the stage with the crew of Thug Life, now surrounded by controversy.

ALSO READ | Pankaj Tripathi Denies Collaboration With Kamal Haasan In Thug Life: Jhooti Khabar Hai

Post the High Court bashing on Tuesday, Thug Life producers announced that the film will not be released in Karnataka on June 5, the scheduled date for the pan-India release of the much-anticipated movie.

The court had pulled up the actor-politician for refusing to apologise for his Kannada was born out of Tamil" remark.

Observing a single apology could have resolved the situation," Justice Nagaprasanna said, adding, Freedom of expression cannot be extended to the extent of hurting someones sentiment, of a mass in particular."

Spoken words cannot be taken back, and they can only be apologised for. You cannot unscramble the scrambled egg," the court remarked.

ALSO READ | Kamal Haasan To HC: Wont Release Thug Life In Karnataka, Apology Needed Only If

The remarks made by Haasan at a promotional event in Chennai for his upcoming Tamil film Thug Life sparked a backlash in Karnataka, prompting the KFCC to announce that the film would not be screened in the state unless Haasan apologised.

In response, the production company co-founded by Haasan filed a plea before the High Court seeking protection for the films release.

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Reacting to the controversy, veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa slammed Haasan for speaking insensitively" about the Kannada language and said that he must respectfully apologise to Kannada and Kannadigas.

The former Chief Minister said apologising does not make anyone smaller, nor does arrogance make anyone greater.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 14:00 IST
No Scope For Bickering: Govt Confident Of Consensus On Impeaching Justice Yashwant Varma

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 15:06 IST

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, in-charge of bringing all parties on the same page, said the issue of corruption in judiciary should unite everyone

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has already started talking to various opposition leaders in a bid to build consensus. (PTI)

The Union government is extremely confident of the participation of all members across party lines on the impeachment motion against sitting high court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, following allegations of financial impropriety, in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has already started talking to various opposition leaders in a bid to build consensus. I have had conversations with all political parties and it is very positive. There is no scope for political bickering on this as it is not a political matter, but a matter of corruption in judiciary, which should unite everyone," Rijiju told CNN-News18.

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A 100 MPs need to sign in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the introduction of the motion to impeach the judge. The government is very keen that members of the Opposition also sign the motion which will be brought by law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

As per the rules, it is understood that the Lok Sabha Speaker or the Rajya Sabha Chairman need to constitute a committee so that it can submit its report suggesting impeachment of the judge. However, in this case, the report submitted to the government of India and the President already comes with a recommendation of impeachment and therefore, to take the matter up urgently, a legal view will be taken of the powers of the respective Chairs of both Houses to skip the step of setting up a committee.

Justice Varma will also be able to witness his impeachment proceedings sitting right outside the House. He will be present in Parliament and just outside the House, but cannot enter the House because hes not a member. But he will be allowed to listen to the proceedings," Rijiju said.

The time that will be given for the discussion on the motion will be decided by the Chairs of both Houses after consulting the business advisory committee.

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Opposition parties have also requested that the impeachment of another judge of the Allahabad High Court be taken up for his controversial statements. The Opposition has conveyed to the government that Justice Shekhar Yadavs case should also be taken up, but it is unlikely the government will take a call on this right now. This is not a case of hate speech, which adds up to the conduct of the judge, so we are still to take a call on what we are going to do on this matter," Rijiju said.

On Tuesday evening, the government announced that the motion to impeach Justice Varma will be brought in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made Rijiju in-charge of ensuring consensus on the same. The Monsoon Session of Parliament will convene on July 21 and go on till August 12.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 15:06 IST
Precision, Power & Diplomacy: How Operation Sindoor Is Modi 3.0s Strategic Masterstroke

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:05 IST

The operation, executed with precision, powered by Made-in-India defence systems and met with strong global approval, marked a turning point in Indias military doctrine

In this image from the May edition of Indian Army's monthly magazine 'Baatcheet', top military commanders monitor 'Operation Sindoor' live. (PTI)

If theres one achievement that rise above all others in both scope and symbolism for the Narendra Modi governmentwhich wraps up the first year of its third term in office on Wednesdayit is Operation Sindoor.

The operationexecuted with high precision, powered by Made-in-India defence systems, and met with strong domestic and global approvalmarked a turning point in Indias military doctrine and geopolitical stance.

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WHAT WAS OPERATION SINDOOR?

On the night of May 7, India initiated Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, with missile strikes targeting nine militant camps in Pakistan and PoK. In the operation that lasted approximately 25 minutes, India successfully eliminated over 100 militants.

Caught on the back foot, Pakistan attempted to launch unprovoked strikes on India using missiles and drones, apart from ceasefire violations on the border, but was unsuccessful as Indias robust air defence systems like S-400 and alert forces foiled their plans.

A report based on a Pakistani intelligence leak detailed seven new Indian targets in Op Sindoora confirmation from the other side that underlined the effectiveness and scale of the strikes.

The operation demonstrated Indias ability to deliver targeted, surgical military responses with sophistication, signalling not just a tactical success but a maturing of Indias defence and foreign policy under PM Modis leadership.

News18 had earlier reported how unlike previous military interventions, Operation Sindoor was marked by its remarkable precision and speed, courtesy largely the indigenous technology. The operation epitomised the Make-in-India defence dream", with India deploying advanced homegrown systems like BrahMos missiles and the Astra air-to-air missile. The capability to conduct high-impact operations with domestically produced equipment signaled a critical shift in Indias strategic autonomy.

DIPLOMATIC RIPPLES AND GLOBAL RESPECT

Beyond the battlefield, Operation Sindoor bolstered Indias diplomatic reputation. Speaking to ANI, Rekha Sharma, a member of the all-party delegation that recently concluded a four-nation visit, said there was a lot of positivity towards India" and emphasised that were taken very seriously" by international counterparts.

International observers praised the restraint and clarity with which India acteddelivering a powerful message without escalating into an open war. The operations design clearly prioritised intelligence-driven targeting and precision engagement, winning India accolades for acting responsibly even while asserting itself decisively.

PATRIOTISM IN POP CULTURE

The operations impact also reached Indias cultural pulse. During the IPL 2025 final, music icon Shankar Mahadevan performed the patriotic classic Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon", calling it a tribute to Operation Sindoor and the soldiers who carried it out. As reported by News18, the moment resonated with millions watchingblending national pride with pop culture and reinforcing how the operation captured the public imagination.

NOD TO VIKSIT BHARAT

While Operation Sindoor has dominated headlines, it fits squarely within the broader national vision being promoted under Modi 3.0. As Business Standard outlined, the idea of a Viksit Bharata developed, self-reliant Indiais not just an economic goal but a strategic one. The operation stands as proof of that vision in action: combining defence innovation, diplomatic maturity, and national pride in a single, well-executed mission.

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It also showcases the Modi governments emphasis on defence modernisation, domestic manufacturing, and regional assertiveness. In many ways, the mission is seen as a signal that India is no longer content to merely react to threats but is prepared to neutralise them preemptively, surgically, and independently.

As the government looks toward the next four years, Operation Sindoor is likely to be remembered as the defining moment of Modis third terms first yearboth for its military sophistication and for its symbolic resonance. It has proven that India can act with calculated force, leverage indigenous technology, and still maintain international goodwill.

About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:05 IST
Shashi Tharoor-Led Delegation Reaches US, Set To Push India's Counter-Terrorism Narrative

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 11:41 IST

An all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor has arrived in Washington D.C. to engage with members of the US Congress.

News18

An all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor arrived in Washington, DC on Wednesday to engage with members of the US Congress, administration, think tanks, media, and policymakers over the next two days.

Taking to X, the Indian Embassy in the US wrote, An all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor arrives in Washington D.C. Over the next two days the delegation will be meeting members of the US Congress and administration, think tanks, media and policymakers to brief them on Operation Sindoor and Indias strong stand against terrorism."

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An all party delegation led by Dr. @ShashiTharoor arrives in Washington D.C. Over the next two days the delegation will be meeting members of the US Congress and administration, think tanks, media and policymakers to brief them on Operation Sindoor and Indias strong stand pic.twitter.com/8DpNs02mcQ India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 3, 2025

The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, Indias diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shashi Tharoor-Led Delegation Reaches US

The delegation by Congress member Shashi Tharoor reached the United States after concluding their visit to Belgium.

The delegation includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting Indias vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Indian Delegations Face-Off Against Pakistani Delegation

Interestingly, the Indian delegations US visit will coincide with a Pakistani delegation led by Pakistans former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto. However, Shashi Tharoor has expressed confidence in pushing Indias message on terrorism across.

Speaking to ANI before departing for Washington, DC, he said that the US media is a difficult space, but those who are against terrorism and deeply care about South East Asia will listen to India.

In Washington, well have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost on the same days Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So theres going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city," Tharoor had said.

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(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 11:41 IST
'Signatures Forged To Show Candidates As Eligible': CBI In Lalu Yadavs Land-For-Jobs Scam

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Vani Mehrotra



Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 15:01 IST

The CBI told a Delhi court that ineligible candidates were fraudulently appointed to Group-D railway jobs in exchange for undervalued land sold to Lalu Prasad Yadav's family.

Former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav leaves for the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday claimed that those who could not even write their names were given Group-D jobs in exchange for land deals by former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members.

Signatures, transfer certificates and mark-sheets were all forged. Candidates have mentioned schools in their applications in which they were never enrolled," senior advocate and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh, representing the CBI before Delhis Rouse Avenue court, said.

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On being asked if the forgery was done to show the candidates as eligible, Singh said, Yes, it is necessary to show that one has passed at least grade 8 to apply for the jobs."

Further, the CBI also cited the existence of a school for the sole purpose of preparing forged certificates.

The probe agency also claimed that land parcels were sold to Lalu Yadavs family at up to 60 per cent cheaper rate than the market, and that the transactions were in cash.

On Monday, the CBI began its arguments on charges in the land for job scam case, in which Lalu Yadav, his family members, former public servants, and candidates are accused.

Yadav is alleged to have granted railway jobs in exchange for land parcels from candidates or their relatives, either as gifts or at significantly reduced prices.

Before the Delhi court, CBIs counsel gave a brief overview of the case and submitted that there is a sanction to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav and public servants in this case.

It was further submitted that there is sufficient material evidence to frame charges against the accused persons for the offence they are charge sheeted.

The Delhi High Court has already rejected the plea of Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking a stay on trial court proceedings.

On May 31, the Delhi High Court had dismissed one of Lalu Yadavs pleas.

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Senior advocate Kapil Sibal had sought to quash the First Information Report (FIR), arguing that the CBI failed to obtain mandatory prior approval before proceeding with its inquiry. He contended that while approval was secured for others, it was not obtained in his case.

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have investigated Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family, and several others in connection with the land-for-jobs case.

About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 14:59 IST
Special Gift From Space: Shubhanshu Shukla To Honour Rakesh Sharma On Maiden ISS Mission

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 09:05 IST

The trained IAF pilot is most excited to know his traveler's number---a historic serial number marking an astronaut's spot in human space exploration

The crew with their new mascot--- a plush baby swan named Joy which will act as a Zero gravity indicator. (News18)

When Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla launches aboard SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket on his maiden journey to the International Space Station (ISS), he will carry a small souvenir, a special gift intended for cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, which he hopes to present to the space pioneer upon returning safely to Earth after the 14-day mission.

It is a surprise, and I want to personally hand it over to him once Im back," said Shukla as he addressed a joint press briefing on Tuesday ahead of the mission launch. As the first Indian to travel to space in 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma has inspired generations of Indians to look up at the stars and dare to chase their dreams but, for Shukla, he has been like a mentor.

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Right from my selection to every step of the way, he has always been there to guide me. As a fellow test pilot in the Air Force, he understands the challenges and preparations very well. It was great to have him on my side, while I was navigating this journey. I speak to him regularly and he assured me that I have his full support," he shared.

FROM 1984 TO 2025: INDIAS SPACE DREAMS

The historic flight in 1984 aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft marked a pivotal shift in Indias space journey. Born a year later, Shukla said he was deeply inspired by the stories he read about the mission in textbooks while growing up.

But since India did not have an active human spaceflight programme, there was no possibility for me to become an astronaut. However, I was fascinated by fighter jets, and was mesmerised when I saw an air show. When the opportunity arose in 2018 through Gaganyaan, I just applied instinctively," said the IAF Test Pilot.

One of the four astronaut-designates for Gaganyaan, Shukla has undergone rigorous training over the past one year for his first spaceflightAxiom Mission-4. During the upcoming 14-day stay in orbit, he will also conduct seven experiments shortlisted by ISROinvestigating the effect of microgravity on various cultures ranging from stem cells to crop seeds. When asked about any jitters ahead of the mission, he replied, Having trained extensively, and repeatedly over the past one year, Im very confident not just in my own abilities, but in the entire teams capacity to execute this mission successfully."

A NOSTALGIC TASTE OF HOME

The experienced Air Force test pilot will also carry mango nectar, gajar ka halwa and moong dal halwaa nostalgic taste of home in the space orbit. Some of them are my favourites, and Im happy to carry them with me," he said. He will also carry symbols and souvenirs crafted by students from National Institute of Design celebrating Indias culture and spirit in Space.

With just a few days remaining before the missions scheduled launch from NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, the four astronautseach from the US, India, Hungary and Polandare currently in quarantine and undergoing their final preparations.

Shukla will also speak live to students, educators and members of Indias growing space industry through several interactive sessions from Space. I just want to tell everyone that space is no longer a distant dream, but its a future they can share," he said with pride.

The space vehicle named 213 will also receive a special name once it docks in orbit. But what Shukla is most excited about is his travellers numbera historic serial number marking an astronauts spot in human space exploration. Every astronaut is assigned a travellers number and Im eager to know what my number would be," he said.

NEW COMPANION ON THE MISSION

The crew on Tuesday also introduced their new mascota plush baby swan named Joy which will act as a zero-gravity indicatora physical confirmation that they have transitioned to microgravity. The mascot was chosen for its deep cultural meaningwisdom and purity in India, resilience and loyalty in Poland, and natural beauty and devotion in Hungary.

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A universal symbol of grace and elegance, the baby swan embodies the shared mission of ISRO, ESA and the Hungarian orbit programme into space, representing cultural harmony, a collective return to human spaceflight, and a united international crew," said Axiom Space.

The mission is scheduled to launch on June 10 at 5.52pm Indian Standard Time from NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

About the Author Srishti Choudhary Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive ground repo... Read More Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive ground repo... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 09:05 IST
Widow Cant Be Thrown Out Of Matrimonial Home By In-Laws: Kerala High Court

Reported By :

LawBeat

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:26 IST

A 41-year-old woman approached the courts seeking protection from harassment and forceful eviction from the shared household after her husbands demise in 2009

The high court noted that the woman, being the wife of the deceased and having resided in the shared household, fell squarely within the definitions under Sections 2(a), 2(f), and 2(s) of the DV Act. (File pic/PTI)

The Kerala High Court recently upheld a widows right to reside in her matrimonial home, rejecting objections raised by her in-laws, who had attempted to evict her.

The bench of Justice MB Snehalatha dismissed a revision petition filed by the relatives of the deceased husband of a 41-year-old woman who had approached the courts seeking protection from harassment and forceful eviction from the shared household after her husbands demise in 2009.

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The high court affirmed the decision of the sessions court in Palakkad, which had granted protection and residence orders in the womans favour after overturning the findings of the judicial magistrate, who had initially dismissed her plea.

The woman alleged that following her husbands death, her in-laws began to harass her and obstruct her and her childrens entry into the family home. She approached the court under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. However, the magistrates court held that she had no existing domestic relationship" with her in-laws and therefore wasnt entitled to relief under the Act.

The sessions court took a different view and granted her the relief sought. The in-laws challenged this before the high court, arguing that the woman owned separate property and had been living at her parental home, thus disqualifying her as an aggrieved person" under the Act.

Rejecting these arguments, the high court noted that the woman, being the wife of the deceased and having resided in the shared household, fell squarely within the definitions under Sections 2(a), 2(f), and 2(s) of the DV Act. The court reiterated that the right to reside in the shared household does not depend on ownership or continuous residence at the time of the dispute.

Quoting extensively from the Supreme Courts 2022 ruling in Prabha Tyagi vs Kamlesh Devi, the judgment emphasised that womens right to shelter and security within a domestic setting is fundamental and cannot be undermined merely because they possess alternate accommodation or temporarily reside elsewhere.

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This right is crucial for a womans safety and dignity, ensuring that she is not forcibly removed or homeless due to domestic abuse," the court observed, while also stressing that the DV Act should be interpreted liberally in favour of victims, keeping its beneficial and protective purpose in mind.

Finding no merit in the arguments of the in-laws, the high court refused to interfere with the sessions court order. The revision petition was, accordingly, dismissed.

About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:26 IST
'Young And Vibrant Crowd, Can't Use Lathi...': DK Shivakumar On Bengaluru Stampede

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 19:26 IST

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the crowd at Chinnaswamy Stadium was uncontrollable and the police were finding it difficult, so the RCB celebrations had to be stopped

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar did not confirm the number of deaths in the stampede and appealed for people to remain calm. (Image: PTI/File)

Karnataka Deputy DK Shivakumar on Wednesday apologised for the overcrowding at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which led to a stampede and the deaths of 11 people.

Shivakumar said the crowd was uncontrollable and the police were finding it difficult, so the victory parade for the IPL-winning team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, had to be stopped. He said crowd was young and vibrant", so using force was not an option.

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It was young vibrant crowd, we cannot use lathi," Shivakumar said about the tragic incident during a victory parade by the IPL winners, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to pic.twitter.com/yo5cLfHYfX ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

He, however, did not confirm the number of deaths in the stampede and appealed for people to remain calm.

I have spoken to the police commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number (of deaths) cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm. We shortened the programme, which ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normallakhs of people came," he told news agency ANI.

The chaotic celebrations turned into a full-blown tragedy outside the Chinnaswamy stadium as the crowd tried to join a party inside to honour RCBs IPL triumph but the felicitations went ahead nonetheless.

Thousands converged outside the stadium as police struggled to take control of the situation, resorting to mild use of force as well. That did little to discourage the people, many of whom could be seen pressed against the stadiums entrance gate, desperate to get in.

The death toll is expected to rise as many of the seriously injured are being treated at the nearby Vydehi hospital and Bowering hospital.

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The BCCI said the turn of events was shocking and the organisers should have been better prepared. Its most unfortunate, organisers should have planned RCBs IPL-winning celebrations better," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI. When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions and security measures need to be taken."

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 19:11 IST
Bharti Singh Breaks Down Over Health Scare After Thailand Trip: Ive Been Crying Since Morning

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 10:31 IST

Bharti Singh opens up about falling ill post-Thailand trip and highlights the importance of regular health checkups.

Bharti Singh is currently seen hosting Laughter Chefs 2.

Comedian and television host Bharti Singh, best known for her infectious energy, recently opened up about a health scare following her return from Thailand. In a candid vlog, the Laughter Chefs 2 star revealed that she has been feeling unusually weak, lethargic, and feverish over the past few days, prompting her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa to schedule a blood test.

Ever since I got back from Bangkok, Ive been feeling very low and exhausted," she shared. Now Im worried I may have a fever. Haarsh has arranged for a blood test at home. I get really scared with all this."

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Despite her phobia of medical procedures, Bharti emphasized the importance of regular health screenings. Ive been crying since morning because of the blood test," she said in Hindi, but it was necessary. Im planning to get a full-body checkup done soon, even though Im terrified of syringes. These days, with so many health problems around, its important to get tested every six months. Im also working on improving my lifestyle."

The comic also reflected on whether the fatigue could be due to overexertion, mentioning that shes been unable to even stand because of weakness.

Experts agree that returning from travel, especially work-related trips, can often take a toll on the body. Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, senior consultant of internal medicine at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, explained, Fever and fatigue after travel are not uncommon. This could be due to viral infections, dengue, malaria, typhoid, or even a simple flu caught during the trip. The body is exposed to different climates, food, and pathogens while traveling, which can increase the risk of illness."

She cautioned against self-medication, adding, If a fever lasts more than two days, you should definitely see a doctor. Diagnosis usually involves a physical exam, blood tests, and reviewing your travel history. Its essential to follow medical advice rather than trying to treat it yourself."

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Dr. Agarwal further explained that treatment depends on the underlying cause. If its a viral fever, rest and supportive care are usually enough. But in cases of malaria or typhoid, specific medications are necessary. Staying hydrated, eating simple meals, and getting enough rest are crucial to recovery. And when traveling, always take precautions to stay healthy."

Bhartis experience is a timely reminder that even the most energetic among us can be vulnerableand that prevention, early diagnosis, and self-care remain our best defences.

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 04, 2025, 10:30 IST
America is proud to be back in the Indo-Pacific  and we're here to stay, declared Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore:



The United States is an Indo-Pacific nation. We have been since the earliest days of our Republic. We will continue to be an Indo-Pacific nation  with Indo-Pacific interests  for generations to come.



Under President Donald Trump's leadership, the U.S. is focused on delivering for the American people, on safeguarding their security, on protecting their economic interests, to preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific, said Secretary Hegseth.



President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interests, built on a willingness to work with others while respecting mutual self-interest, and informed by an understanding of military strength but shaped by a preference for engaging on the basis of commerce and sovereignty  not war.



The United States does not seek conflict with Communist China, stated Secretary Hegseth. But at the same time, we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated, he added.



In the South China Sea, China harasses its neighbors via ship-to-ship collisions and illegal boardings at sea. We're also seeing the illegal seizing and militarizing of lands in the South China Sea, said Secretary Hegseth.



We are watching very closely China's destabilizing actions. And any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain by force or coercion is unacceptable.



China's military is also harassing Taiwan. To be clear, stressed Secretary Hegseth, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.



We do not seek to dominate or strangle China. To encircle or provoke, said Secretary Hegseth. We do not seek regime change, nor will we instigate or disrespect a proud and historic culture. We will be ready, but we will not be reckless.



President Trump has said that Communist China will not invade Taiwan on his watch. So, our goal is to prevent war, said Secretary Hegseth, to make the costs too high, and peace the only option.



But if deterrence fails, warned Secretary Hegseth, and if called upon by my Commander in Chief, we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best  fight and win  decisively.



No one should doubt America's commitment to its Indo-Pacific allies and partners.
'Apologise, Then Well Talk': KFCC To Kamal Haasan On 'Thug Life' Release | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 14:27 IST

Kamal Haasan Thug Life Release: Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce officials told they are ready for talks if Kamal Haasan's team approaches but the actor must first apologise.

Kamal Haasan reunites with Mani Ratnam in Thug Life after 38 years. Image/X

Thug Life Release In Karnataka: As actor-politician Kamal Haasan faces mounting backlash over his controversial claim that Kannada was born out of Tamil" ahead of the release of his film Thug Life, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has made its stance clear: ready for talks, but not without an apology.

We are ready to hold talks across the table if Kamal Haasans team comes to us. Let them come to us. They have caused immense hurt to us," said M Narasimhalu, president of KFCC, speaking with News18. But there is a need for an apology. He has hurt every single Kannadiga across the country with his statement."

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Narasimhalu added that the Karnataka High Courts tough stance on the issue was absolutely on point", and the KFCC fully backed the HCs observations. If we dont stand with the people of Karnataka, they will never forgive us," he said.

His comments came after a high-level meeting of the KFCC with key industry stakeholders, following the courts remarks slamming Haasans controversial statement at the Chennai audio launch of Thug Life, due for release on June 5.

Also See: Kamal Haasan To HC: Wont Release Thug Life In Karnataka, Apology Needed Only If

We wont be weak again

Several voices within the Kannada film fraternity are seeking the KFCC to stand up and fight this out with a tougher posture compared to past controversies, especially those involving the prioritisation of Kannada films in theatres over other language movies, as well as ticketing for Kannada movies.

There is a need for the film chamber to grow a spinethe one that supports the Kannada language completely," advised acclaimed Kannada filmmaker T Nagabharana to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. He felt that even though the matter is in court and Kamal Haasan has written to the KFCC, the stand should be to ban the movie.

They (KFCC) are driven by the rules of the Competition and Consumer Authority, but they should set an example by banning his movie. If the statement by Kamal Haasan was made on the spur of the moment and an apology was sought for something that was not true, then people would have forgiven him. What ensued later, and the arrogance that we see, is unpardonable," said Nagabharana. A lesson must be taught now or else there will be more such instancesand that cannot happen."

Also See: Will Speak At The Right Time: Kamal Haasan In First Public Appearance Amid Language Row

There were earlier instances when the chamber took a weaker stand," said nationally acclaimed Kannada filmmaker P Sheshadri. Whether it was ticket pricing, screening fatigue, or language preference, we compromised too often. But not this time."

Sheshadri, who has won the National Award eight times for his films in Kannada, warned against silence. If we do not firmly speak out now, Kamals statement will be perceived as the truth. Silence will become a huge loss for Kannada. We must dissentpeacefully, the way Kannadigas are known tobut clearly. Until there is an apology, this cannot be left alone."

Sheshadri reiterated: Kamals stand and his obstinacy are unacceptable. Why is he advocating for the film in Karnataka? Because he knows there is a huge market here, and they will benefit from the sales. Taking profits from us while hurting the sentiments of the people of the statehow is that right?" he asked.

Court to Kamal: Are you a historian or a linguist?

On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court came down hard on Haasan during a hearing on a petition filed by Raaj Kamal Films International seeking protection for the release of Thug Life.

You may be Kamal Haasan or anybody, you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses," said Justice M Nagaprasanna in open court. The division of this country is on linguistic lines. A public figure cannot make such statements."

The court questioned the actors refusal to apologise and said that such remarks, made without evidence, had led to unrest and disharmony".

Are you a historian? A linguist? On what basis have you made such a statement?" Justice Nagaprasanna asked. No language is born out of another. What is the evidence to support this claim?"

The judge invoked the emotional and historical weight of language for Kannadigas: Jala, Nele, Bhashe (Water, Land, Language) are sacred to the people of this state. The reorganisation of Indian states was along linguistic lines. You cannot trivialise that."

When Haasans lawyer claimed that his statement had been misunderstood" and taken out of context", and cited the presence of Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar at the event as a sign of goodwill, the court remained unsympathetic.

You want to earn crores from Karnataka, yet you refuse to say a simple sorry?" the judge asked. Even ordinary citizens are held accountable for what they say. What makes you any different?"

Haasans team was reminded that even C Rajagopalachari had issued an apology for a similar remark decades ago. If Rajagopalachari could apologise 75 years ago, why cant Kamal Haasan today?" the court asked.

Also See: Karnataka HC Pulls Up Kamal Haasan Over Tamil-Kannada Remark

Taking profits, but hurting our pride?

Back in the industry, the mood is angry.

What is Kamal advocating for with this film in Karnataka?" asked a seething Sheshadri. Because he knows theres a huge market here, and theyll benefit from the sales. So you take profits from us while hurting the sentiments of our people? How is that right?"

A senior Kannada actor and theatre artist who has worked in multiple Indian languages and is a national award winner, requesting anonymity, expressed his annoyance on the matter.

The actor threw a sharp linguistic punch: The whole debate itself is inane. Kamal once tried to divide India with this Aryan vs Dravidian argument. Now hes dividing Dravidians themselves. Kannada has 56 letters, Tamil has only 28. What does that mean? So what exactly did we take to be derived? And what did they (Tamil) lose?"

While scholars point out that both scripts ultimately trace their evolution from Brahmi, they emphasise that academic research on the origins of Indian languages is meant to inform, not assert superiority.

It is misguided to say one language came out of another," said a senior Kannada CTO who did not want to be named. Languages like Tamil and Kannada evolve,d and there is neither superior nor inferior in this. The idea should be to promote unity among sister languages, not competition."

Speaking to News18, Kannada author and Kannada Development Authority (KDA) chairperson Purushotam Bilimale explained the origin of Kannada and Tamil.

Purushotam said, The relationship between Kannada, Tamil and Telugu is of sisters, not of mother and daughters. Kannada was not born out of Tamil, but people keep asserting it to establish their language supremacy. That is the politics they play around language."

He said around 4,000 years ago, the five Dravidian languages were a single languageproto-Dravidian.

However, we dont have sufficient evidence to establish which language grew independently with an exact date. For instance, Tulu does not have a script, so we cannot establish under whose rule or when it grew as an independent language. We cannot rely on oral tradition to reconstruct it. However, there are similarities between wordsfor example, Kannu (eyes) is used in Tamil, Tulu, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam."

Among all the Dravidian languages, Kannada is the only one influenced by several other languages, and is the most modern.

Why does Kannada have eight Jnanpith awards and Tamil only two? Because we are more modern and all-encompassing. Languages grow; Tamil has been more rigid. It is not about who is superior, inferior or derived from whomit is about safeguarding all languages and preserving them in their true sense," he said.

The KDA chairman added that significant research on Dravidian languages was done by colonial scholar Robert Caldwell, and institutions like Annamalai University and the Dravidian Language Centre have contributed immensely.

Currently, there are 130 languages identified under the Dravidian umbrella. Earlier, we identified fiveTamil, Tulu, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalamas pancha Dravidian languages. Now, a lot of research is being done on tribal languages as well," he said. Though not firmly established, it is believed that people from the Harappan and Mohenjo-daro cultures spoke a Dravidian language. This is based on the discovery of the Pashupati symbol, which scholars associate with Shivaa symbol of Dravidian culture. After the fall of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, people migrated across the Indian subcontinent."

Purushotam also noted that a Dravidian language, Brahui, is still spoken in parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Balochistan. He said migration took people to regions including Bengal, Odisha, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and the Deccan Plateau.

It is believed Tamil separated first from proto-Dravidian and is one of the oldest languages, but it is not the proto-language itself. Tulu was the second to separate. Kannada grew independently around the 2nd century CE. It got its script from Brahmi, spread by Buddhists and Jains. For instance, the Halmidi inscription from 450 CE shows similarities with Brahmi, including words like Avana, Avalu," he said.

Telugu evolved as an independent language around the 9th10th centuries CE, and Malayalam gained individual identity in the 11th century.

Kamals regret falls short

In a letter to the KFCC dated June 3, Haasan offered a carefully worded explanation but stopped short of an outright apology.

The KDA chairman asked why Kamal couldnt simply say he apologises. Even if he says he withdraws the statement, that would be enough."

He also advised Kamal that if there is so much debate, why doesnt he discuss with linguistic experts at Anna University in Chennai to understand the etymology before making such statements?"

Kamal needs to put an end to this controversy across the country," he said. If he withdraws his statement, Kamal will command more respect, not lose any."

What Kamal said in his letter to KFCC

I acknowledge your letter of 3 June, 2025. Out of deep respect for the people of Karnataka, I offer the following with sincerity. It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch, spoken out of genuine affection for the legendary Dr Rajkumars family, especially Shivaraj Kumar, has been misunderstood and taken out of context"

Like Tamil, Kannada has a proud literary and cultural tradition that I have long admired. Throughout my career, I have cherished the warmth and affection extended to me by the Kannada-speaking community, and I say this with a clear conscience and conviction. My love for the language is genuine, and I have great respect for the love that Kannadigas have for their mother tongue. My bond with Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and all languages of this land is abiding and heartfelt. I have always stood for the equal dignity of all Indian languages and remain opposed to the dominance of any one language over another. As such, imbalance undermines the linguistic fabric of the Union of India. I know and speak the language of cinema. Cinema is a universal language that knows only love and bonding. My statement was also only to establish that bond and unity amongst all of us."

What the petition says

In court, Raaj Kamal Films International claimed Haasans statement had been misquoted and distorted online, leading to the unrest. The petition sought protection for Thug Lifes release, citing freedom of expression and business rights under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

The production house argued the film had received all CBFC approvals and warned of serious losses and safety concerns if disruptions occurred.

But the court appeared unconvinced. You created the circumstances," said Justice Nagaprasanna. Now you want the states machinery to protect your commercial venture?"

Still time for a course correction?

With Thug Life set to release on June 5, it has now been pushed to a later date as the court case will be heard next on June 10. Tensions are at a boiling point.

There is still time to correct course," said a filmmaker. Say sorrygenuinelyand restore the peace. If not, the wound will only deepen."

Kamal Haasan has thrown a small stone into the sea, and the waves have been created," said the KDA chairman. Now it is up to him not to create a tsunami"

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 07:00 IST
Virat Kohli, Ranbir Kapoor Pay THIS Whopping Amount For A Single Haircut: 'With Rs 18,000 GST'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:40 IST

Popular hairstylist Aalim Hakim has revealed how much he charges for a single haircut.

Virat Kohli, Ranbir Kapoor pay Rs 1 lakh per session.

Celebrity hairdresser Aalim Hakim has confirmed that he charges Rs 1 lakh per session for celebrity haircuts, with an additional Rs 18,000 as GST. He said that while he doesnt charge close friends, he follows due protocol when it comes to their movie assignments. If they will earn through the project, then I have a right to earn as well," he told Bollywood Bubble. Aalim Hakim has given haircuts to Ranbir Kapoor, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suniel Shetty, Ranveer Singh and MS Dhoni among others.

When asked if he charges Rs 1 lakh for haircuts, Aalim said, This is the price for everyone. This is the minimum price, actually. If a person wants Aalim Hakim to cut their hair, Rs 1 lakh is the minimum. This is a per-sitting cost. If Im called for 10 or 15 sittings, then the cost goes up to Rs 10 lakh or Rs 15 lakh. Its a metre down situation. Its not like Im forcing anybody to pay, but this is my consultation fee."

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He explained, They pay because they see the results on screen. If they werent seeing the results, why would they pay? Im not the only person in town. So many of my assistants have gone on to start their own businesses, and people hire them thinking that theyve been trained by me. Everyone goes to school, but not everyone becomes iconic. If this were the case, everybody would become as talented as Amitabh Bachchan after watching his movies."

Aalim was also asked if his salons quote the same fee for haircuts. He explained that he doesnt personally work at his salons since everyone would only ask for him. As such, the prices are much lower. He said, My salon is packed at all times, our prices start from around Rs 2500 and go up to around Rs 6000. Its not very expensive." He explained, Think of it this way, would Manish Malhotra cater to every client himself?"

Aalim Hakims most viral looks include Ranbir Kapoors look for Animal, MS Dhonis look for Lays TVC, Ranveer Singhs looks for Make My Trip ads and Virat Kohlis looks for Puma ads as well as his iconic fade cut.

About the Author Kashvi Raj Singh Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-... Read More Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 13:40 IST
Opinion | Why Is Anti-Semitism Cool Now?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 19:24 IST

A Muslim Egyptian who came to the US as a tourist but stayed on after his visa expired, attacked people demonstrating at a mall demanding the release of Israeli hostages

Indian-American student Megha Vemuri using the platform of a commencement event last week to lash out at her alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology over its ties with Israel (Image: Reuters file)

After 20 months of relentless demonisation of Israel, people in the West, especially mainstream media, are now feigning surprise at the rising number of attacks on Jewish eventsand Jewsin US! If that is not egregious, what is? A majority of the student body across universities, besides sizeable section of the entire young cohort there today, has been convinced that it is cool, and righteous, to chant for the destruction of Israel and, by extension, Jews anywhere.

Indian-American student Megha Vemuri using the platform of a commencement event last week to lash out at her alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology over its ties with Israel and praise the campus protests about Gaza, wearing a keffiyeh over her graduation gown, is just the latest example of the impact of this widespread indoctrination. It just goes to show that even education often has very little to do with common sense or powers of discernment.

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This week, a Muslim Egyptian who came to the US as a tourist but stayed on after his visa expired, attacked people demonstrating at a mall demanding the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He used a flamethrower to cause horrific burn injuries to 12 people and shouted, Free Palestine". Two weeks earlier, a 30-year-old man pumped 21 bullets into two people at the National Jewish Museum in Washington DC and also later screamed Free Palestine".

In April, a man set fire to the home of Democrat Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (once considered as a running mate for Kamala Harris in 2024) with Molotov cocktails while the family was inside celebrating the Jewish ritual of Passover. The man admitted he targeted Shapiro because of his views on Gaza. Yet, incredibly, media reports averred that law enforcement officials have not conclusively said his alleged attack was motivated by hate or anti-Semitism"!

And to think that not even a century has elapsed since the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis made anti-Semitism verboten worldwide. This turnaround has been achieved by sustained slanted mainstream media reportage on Gaza. Apart from omitting context, gullible minds have been swayed via media and social media that Israel is not reacting to a murderous attack by Hamas, a known terror group, on its innocent citizens and sovereignty but is driven by Islamophobia.

This happens when obvious questions are deliberately not asked. The most long-standing of this ask-not-tell-not charade relates to death tolls and Israels choice of targets. Reporters" (all Palestinians) reel off death tolls and show bodies (especially of children), but do not mention the extensive tunnels found under Gaza, including under hospitals, stocked with food, medicines and weapons. That begs the obvious unasked question: how did these items get there unaided?

Moreover, why are Hamas-run health ministry casualty numbers of Israeli Defence Force attacks taken as truth even though they do not specify how many are its own cadres? Foreign doctors shown on TV attending to injured children and women also minister to Hamas cadres who access hospitals through tunnel networks. Why are these doctors not asked about the health of the hostages who are still alive or how Hamas manages to get medical treatment for its men?

That points to another deliberate silence: on distribution of food and medicines in Gaza. The current refrain is that civilians" are on the brink of starvation and a humanitarian crisis" and that the US and Israeli-managed new distribution system there is an abject failure. Media is magnifying the assertion that unless the same entities who were dispensing aid there before, particularly the discredited UN Relief and Works Agency, are allowed to do so again, Gazans are doomed.

The questions never asked or probed include, what proof is there that aid was not being diverted to terrorists of Hamas, that runs Gaza? How did Hamas get supplies after Israeli attacks began, unless from UNRWA? Are the armed gangs waylaying food trucks really independents or Hamas proxies? No questions about the condition of the few Israeli hostages still alive, nor any media investigation into how the rest died, or why Hamas has refused to hand over their bodies.

The skewed rules have been set, of course, by the blatantly biased coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war. Hours were and still are devoted to the vilification of Vladimir Putin and hailing every speech of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with no nuances. The impression disseminated is that all Ukrainians support their president. Is such unanimity possible in a democracy? Dissent is taken as a given in Russiaa known autocracybut none is assumed in free" Ukraine?

Phone surveys in Ukraine (including by The Economist, whose findings on India are invariably grim) claim Zelenskyys approval now stands at 67-70 per cent. Yet for Putin, whose popularity also hovers at 70-90 per cent, qualifiers are added, such as His high approval ratings do not necessarily reflect genuine loyalty or agreement with his policies. Instead, they result from political apathy, symbolic allegiance, and lack of viable alternatives." Why this Volod-Vlad double standard?

Zelenskyys unending demands for more and more sophisticated arms are not parsed as war mongering; in fact, he has attained a Nelson Mandela-like star status with front row seats at every world leaders jamboree. Realistic assessments of either Russias war effort or popular opinion there. For example. the Atlantic Council, in two reports 11 months apart in 2024, first contended that most Russians want the war to end but later recanted and said most support it. That raises serious doubts about the sources of western information on Russia.

India has also been relegated to the Russia-Israel doghouse by the western media, which unleashed a similar biased coverage campaign on, first, the terror attack in Pahalgam and then Indias Operation Sindoor retaliatory strikes Pakistans terror camps and military launchpads. The western media has been seeking out dissenting voices in Indiabut not in Pakistan. They have questioned all of Indias statements, even when provided proof of veracity but not Pakistans.

So, if any people should understand the danger of this sort of one-sided coverage and biased opinion-mongering, it is Indians. In the past decade, India has been the target of charges of all kinds from data-fudging to genocide, in sync with its rising profile. Indias economic credentials have been the focus of criticism and scepticism from the west for over a decade; the recent uptick in western media attacks on its geo-political moves, including Op Sindoor are thus expected.

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Being afraid of Islama less used definition of Islamophobiaand Islamists and therefore being chary of measures to counter terror groups and radicals lest they are accused of the better-known definition of Islamophobia has made the west cede far too much ground on anti-Semitism. How much longer will activists be allowed to propagate false or exaggerated narratives on Gazaits roots, its reality and its goals under Hamasto capture impressionable hearts and minds?

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 19:24 IST
Opinion | Yunus, Army, Pakistan, And China: A New Axis Threatens Indias Security

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 05, 2025, 03:17 IST

Chinas role as the linchpin of this emerging axis cannot be overstated, as it leverages its economic and military influence to counter Indias rise

Yunuss visit to China in early 2025, where he positioned Bangladesh as a gateway for Chinese economic expansion, particularly highlighting the landlocked nature of Indias northeastern states, raised alarm in New Delhi. (File image: PTI)

India faces an emerging geopolitical storm as Bangladeshs interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, aligns with Pakistan and China, forming a troubling axis that threatens New Delhis regional dominance. The convergence of Yunuss administration, Bangladeshs military, Pakistans strategic provocations, and Chinas growing influence in South Asia presents a multifaceted challenge that India cannot afford to underestimate. Tensions escalated following provocative remarks by a retired Bangladesh army officer, closely tied to Yunuss government, advocating for a joint military arrangement with China to seize Indias northeastern states in the event of an India-Pakistan conflict.

This inflammatory rhetoric, coupled with Bangladeshs warming ties with Pakistan and China, signals a deliberate shift in Dhakas foreign policy under Yunus, moving away from the India-friendly stance of the ousted Sheikh Hasina regime. Since August 2024, when Hasinas government fell, attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, have surged in Bangladesh, straining bilateral relations. Indias revocation of transshipment facilities for Bangladeshi exports in April 2025 further highlighted this rift. Meanwhile, Pakistans military, emboldened by Chinese weaponry like the J-10C jets and PL-15 missiles, has intensified its aggression, as seen in the May 2025 India-Pakistan clashes. China, leveraging its economic and military largesse, is deepening its footprint in both nations, positioning itself as a counterweight to India. This alignment, fueled by Yunuss outreach to Beijing and Pakistans reliance on Chinese arms, creates a volatile dynamic that could destabilise South Asia. The combination of Yunuss interim regime, Bangladeshs military ambitions, Pakistans hostility, and Chinas strategic manoeuvring forms a potent threat that demands Indias urgent attention as it navigates this complex regional chessboard.

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Yunuss Pivot: Bangladeshs Shift Towards Anti-India Posturing

Muhammad Yunus, as Bangladeshs interim leader since August 2024, has steered Dhaka towards a confrontational stance against India, undermining decades of cooperative ties fostered under Sheikh Hasina. His administrations failure to curb rising attacks on Hindusover 1,000 incidents reported since Augusthas inflamed tensions, with India viewing these as a deliberate signal of hostility. Yunuss visit to China in early 2025, where he positioned Bangladesh as a gateway for Chinese economic expansion, particularly highlighting the landlocked nature of Indias northeastern states, raised alarm in New Delhi. By pitching Bangladesh as the only guardian of the ocean" for the region, Yunus invited Beijing to deepen its strategic presence, potentially encircling Indias vulnerable northeast.

His governments appointment of Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, who called for occupying Indias seven northeastern states in coordination with China if India attacks Pakistan, as chairman of the National Independent Commission, underscores this shift. Though Dhaka distanced itself from Rahmans remarks, the lack of disciplinary action suggests tacit approval. This rhetoric aligns with Yunuss broader strategy to balance against India by leveraging Chinas economic and military support, including agreements signed during his China visit to enhance infrastructure and trade. The revocation of Indias transshipment facility, which crippled Bangladeshs export routes, was a direct response to this pivot.

Yunuss alignment with anti-India forces, particularly in the context of rising communal violence, risks alienating Indias goodwill and strengthening a Bangladesh-China axis that could destabilise the region. As India prepares for potential escalations, Yunuss provocative leadership signals a new front in Indias security challenges, especially given Bangladeshs proximity and historical ties with Pakistan.

Bangladeshs Military Ambitions and Regional Instability

Bangladeshs military, under Yunuss interim government, is emerging as a destabilising force, emboldened by its growing alignment with China and Pakistan. The provocative statement by Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, a key figure appointed by Yunus to investigate the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles mutiny, reflects a broader militaristic undercurrent. Rahmans call for a joint military arrangement" with China to target Indias northeast, though officially disavowed, highlights a dangerous mindset within Bangladeshs military circles. The Bangladesh armys top general, Qamarul Hasan, visited Pakistan in early 2025, meeting with army chief Asim Munir to discuss enhanced military cooperation. This visit, coupled with Yunuss outreach to China, suggests a coordinated effort to challenge Indias regional influence. Bangladeshs military modernisation, supported by Chinese arms, including Type 59 tanks and anti-ship missiles, is modest but strategically significant given its proximity to Indias sensitive northeastern border.

The regions landlocked geography makes it vulnerable to disruptions, and Bangladeshs control over key maritime routes amplifies this threat. Reports indicate China is funding port upgrades in Chittagong, potentially for dual-use military purposes, which could facilitate Chinese naval presence in the Bay of Bengal. The interim governments failure to address minority violence, coupled with its militarys flirtation with anti-India rhetoric, risks escalating tensions into a broader conflict. Indias military, already stretched by border disputes with China and Pakistan, must now contend with a potentially hostile Bangladesh, complicating its strategic calculus. This military posturing, backed by Chinese support, positions Bangladesh as a wildcard in South Asias security landscape, directly threatening Indias northeastern stability.

Pakistans Aggression and Chinese Military Backing

Pakistans military escalation against India, particularly evident in the May 2025 clashes, is deeply intertwined with its reliance on Chinese weaponry, amplifying the threat to New Delhi. Following a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, India launched missile strikes on alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets and PL-15 missiles, claiming to have downed Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafales. The conflict, which saw drones and missiles targeting airbases, highlighted Pakistans dependence on Chinese arms, with 63% of Chinas arms exports from 2020-2024 going to Pakistan.

The J-10Cs reported success against Western technology has boosted Chinas defence industry, with stocks of AVIC Chengdu Aircraft rising 40% during the conflict. Pakistans military, led by General Asim Munir, views India as an existential threat, a stance reinforced by its nuclear modernisation and battlefield nuclear weapons development, as noted in a 2025 US Defense Intelligence Agency report. Chinas support, including the HQ-9 air defence system and joint military exercises, strengthens Pakistans confidence in confronting India.

This dynamic not only escalates the India-Pakistan rivalry but also serves Chinas interest in keeping India preoccupied with regional conflicts, draining its resources. The Pakistani militarys ideological commitment to Kashmir, coupled with Chinese backing, ensures that tensions will persist, with the potential for rapid escalation given both nations nuclear capabilities. Indias successful strikes on Pakistani airbases, despite losses, demonstrate its resolve, but the China-Pakistan nexus complicates its strategic response, making this a critical threat for 2026 and beyond.

Chinas Strategic Manoeuvring: Exploiting Regional Tensions

Chinas role as the linchpin of this emerging axis cannot be overstated, as it leverages its economic and military influence to counter Indias rise. Beijings deepening ties with Bangladesh and Pakistan create a pincer effect, encircling India from the east and west. In Bangladesh, China is investing heavily in infrastructure, including the Chittagong port, which could serve as a strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean. Yunuss invitation for Chinese expansion, emphasising Bangladeshs maritime dominance, aligns with Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to secure access to Nepal and Bhutans markets while pressuring Indias northeast. In Pakistan, Chinas military support, including advanced J-10C jets and PL-15 missiles, has transformed the India-Pakistan conflict into a proxy battleground for Chinese and Western technologies. The May 2025 clashes provided China with a real-time intelligence harvest, allowing it to assess Indian military capabilities through Pakistans use of its weapons. Chinas fishing fleets, doubling as intelligence-gathering units, have been spotted near Indian naval drills, further enhancing Beijings surveillance capabilities.

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Despite strained China-Pakistan ties due to attacks on Chinese workers in 2024, Beijing continues to back Pakistan to keep India engaged in regional conflicts, diverting its focus from the Sino-Indian border dispute. Chinas neutral public stance during the India-Pakistan conflict, with its foreign ministry claiming ignorance of J-10C involvement, masks its strategic interest in prolonging tensions. By fostering instability through Bangladesh and Pakistan, China undermines Indias global aspirations, positioning itself as the dominant regional power. This calculated manoeuvring, exploiting Yunuss ambitions and Pakistans hostility, creates a formidable challenge for Indias security and diplomatic strategy.

The author teaches journalism at St Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: June 05, 2025, 03:17 IST
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'Free Speech Doesn't Extend...': Allahabad HC Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Remarks On Army

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:58 IST

Rejecting Gandhi's plea, Justice Vidyarthi said the right to free speech does not include the freedom to make statements which are defamatory to the Indian Army

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi (Image/Sansad TV)

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday made a strong observation against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Indian Army.

A single-judge bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi was hearing a plea filed by the Congress leader against a summoning order issued by a Lucknow court in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against the Indian Army during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.

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Rejecting Gandhis plea, Justice Vidyarthi said the right to free speech does not include the freedom to make statements which are defamatory to any person or defamatory to the Indian Army, the Bar & Bench reported.

During the hearing on Thursday, the Allahabad High Court dismissed Rahul Gandhis petition. However, the detailed order was released on Wednesday.

Gandhi had challenged the summoning order and the complaint arguing that it was motivated and lodged in a mala fide manner.

During the Bharat Jodo Yatra on December 16, 2022, Gandhi said Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh."

People will ask about Bharat Jodo Yatra, here and there, Ashok Gahlot and Sachin Pilot

and whatnot. But they will not ask a single question about China capturing 2000 square kilometers of Indian territory, killing 20 Indian soldiers and thrashing our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh," he had said.

In his plea filed in a court in Lucknow, complainant Udai Shanker Srivastava alleged that during the December 2022 Yatra, Gandhi made several derogatory remarks about the Indian Army in the context of the conflict with Chinese soldiers. The lower court then summoned Gandhi as an accused for facing trial.

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Gandhis advocate Pranshu Agarwal had argued that the allegations appeared to be fabricated just by reading the complaint. It was also argued that Gandhi is not a resident of Lucknow, so before summoning him on this complaint, the lower court should have investigated the veracity of the allegations and he should have been summoned only if the allegations were prima facie found to be fit for trial.

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: June 04, 2025, 15:18 IST
INDI Bloc Allies In Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Divided On Kamal Haasans Kannada Remark

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 14:39 IST

Kamal Haasan's claim that Kannada originated from Tamil sparked political reactions. Karnataka leaders condemned it, demanding an apology, while Tamil Nadu's DMK supported him.

Kamal Haasan also emphasises his respect for Kannada language and culture.

The neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which have been fighting for decades over the Cauvery water, are now at odds over a fresh issue: language. Actor Kamal Haasans recent remark that Kannada was born out of Tamil has elicited a wave of political reactions, revealing contrasting positions within the INDI bloc.

In Karnataka, Congress leaders have strongly condemned Haasans statement and demanded his apology. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK has backed Haasan, maintaining that there is nothing objectionable in his comment.

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While there is no direct issue between the two state governments, the divergent responses underscore the linguistic sensitivities in the region  even within politically allied parties.

The controversy surfaced ahead of the release of Haasans film Thug Life". The movie will not be released in Karnataka for now as the actor has refused to apologise for his remark.

Tracing Kannadas Roots: Why Kamal Haasans Born From Tamil Claim Has Sparked A Firestorm

What Karnataka Leaders Said

Amid the controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah referred to the actor as poor Kamal Haasan" and said he is unaware of Kannadas long-standing history.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said both states are friends and not enemies." Lets not make this a political issue. We are all neighbours. We all have to work together and live together. Our water goes to Tamil Nadu, and the people of Tamil Nadu come here. We are not enemies, we are all friendsI dont want to comment on it because I dont know the history of that issue," he added.

However, Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi made it clear that actor Haasans films will be banned" in the state, as decided by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) if he does not apologise for his remarks.

Karnataka Minister Eshwara Khandre also condemned the statement of Kamal Haasan.

Karnataka minister Santosh Lad also echoed a similar sentiment and said, Whatever his opinion is, he can say. We have high regard for our land and language. I have not gone through his statement, but if his statement damages our sentiments towards language, I condemn it."

DMK Leaders Back Kamal Haasan

Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply K. N. Nehru has backed Haasan, saying there is nothing wrong" in what the actor said.

Telugu Malayalam languages originated from Tamil, there is nothing wrong with what he said," he added.

DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said Haasan did not insult Kannada and blamed the BJP for dividing the people.

When the BJP enters into any issue, they will talk all nonsenseKamal Haasan might have read and quoted some historical facts. It is not his finding. This does not mean that he is insulting KannadaIt is not Kamal Haasans viewBJPs role is to create trouble among people. They want to divide people. BJP is not a party for the sake of the people. Nobody is against Kannada. Many people are living in Tamil Nadu who speak Kannada, and we respect them," he said.

It is worth noting that Haasan will soon enter Rajya Sabha with the help of ally DMK.

Where Does BJP Stand On Kamal Haasan Row?

The BJP, which is in opposition in both states, has tried to tread carefully on the issue. While its leaders have slammed Haasan, they refrained from commenting much on the Tamil-Kannada row, saying all languages belong to India.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthiran said, If we research whether Kannada originated from the Tamil language, there will be differences of opinion, but ultimately, all languages are ours."

Tamil Nadu BJP vice president Narayanan Thirupathy said Haasan should not belittle any language to praise your language. From where did Kamal Haasan learn that Kannada is born from Tamil?.. A celebrity like him should be more responsible because of his societal stature. He should tell where he learned all this from. Is there any document that says this? He can not try to escape from what he said. Kamal Haasan owes an explanation," he said.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said, Whenever you express the richness of your own language, you should also think about other languages Why didnt Kamal Hasan mention this previously when he was acting in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi movies? Why now he wants to disrupt the brotherhood of other states?"

Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa said Haasan has disrespected Kannada and asserted it is the height of arrogance and arrogance of an actor who has acted in many Indian languages, including Kannada.

One should love ones mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured behaviour. Especially artists should have the culture of respecting every language," he said.

Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, a Lok Sabha MP from Banglore North, condemned Haasans statement and alleged that the actor wants to create a problem between states and their languages.

What Kamal Haasan Said

During a promotional event for Thug Life" last week, Kamal Haasan claimed that Kannada was born out of Tamil", sparking widespread outrage among pro-Kannada groups and cultural organisations.

Haasan made these remarks while addressing Sandalwood star Shiva Rajkumar, who was present at the event.

You are my family that is residing in Karnataka, and hence, you came all the way here. When I started the speech, I said that my life and my family are Tamil. Your language was born out of Tamil, and hence you are part of it," said Kamal Haasan to Shiva Rajkumar.

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Later, Haasan defended his remark, saying that he said it out of love and that a lot of historians have taught him the history of languages. I didnt mean anything. Tamil Nadu is a state where a Menon has been our Chief Minister, where a Reddy has been our Chief Minister, a Tamil has been our CM, and a Kannadiga Iyengar has been our CM Politicians are not qualified to talk about language. They dont have the qualifications to talk about it, including me. Let us leave all these very in-depth discussions to historians, archaeologists and language experts," he said.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: June 04, 2025, 14:20 IST
Jairam Ramesh Takes Dig At Govt Over Early Parliament Session Announcement: 'Running Away From...'

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:56 IST

The Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday

Ramesh said that the Centre wants to run away from the opposition's demand for the special session. (PTI File)

The Congress party on Wednesday questioned the announcement of Parliaments monsoon session amid its demand for a special sitting to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor and said that the schedule of the session has never been declared 47 days in advance.

Commenting on the governments move, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communication Jairam Ramesh said that the Centre wants to run away from the oppositions demand for the special session.

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Yesterday 16 opposition parties have demanded that a special session be called In the attacks that took place in Poonch, Ganderbal and Gulmarg in the last 18 months, the same terrorists who carried out the brutal killings in Pahalgam were involved and they have not been caught yet US President Trump has repeated 12 times that a ceasefire has taken place between India and Pakistan because of me Our foreign and diplomacy have completely failed. These are all public issues," he told ANI.

Ramesh also indicated that the Congress will raise the issue of the Pahalgam attack and the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice, the impacts of Operation Sindoor and its blatant politicisation", the embedding of China in the Pakistan Air Force, the repeated claims by Donald President Donald Trump on India-Pakistan mediation, and the numerous failures" of Indias foreign policy and diplomatic engagements.

Normally the dates for a Parliament session are announced a few days in advance. Never have the dates been declared 47 days before a session is due.This has been done solely to run away from the demand being made repeatedly by the Indian National Congress and the INDIA parties  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 4, 2025

Parliament Monsoon Session

The Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has recommended the dates. The recommendation will be sent to the president for convening the session, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

Every session is a special session for us," he said, adding that under the rules, all important matters" can be discussed during the Monsoon session.

He underlined that the business advisory committee of both the Houses will take a call on the issues to be discussed.

INDIA Bloc Demands Special Session

Senior leaders of INDIA bloc parties met on Tuesday to push their demand for a Special Session of Parliament in the wake of Operation Sindoor. Leaders from 16 parties wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that there were serious questions facing the nation".

Senior opposition leaders asserted that the session was needed to discuss a series of events, including the Pahalgam attack, followed by Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trumps claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and the death of civilians in border areas in Pakistan shelling.

There are serious questions facing the nation about the terror attack, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements, and the implications on our national security and foreign policy. We have supported the governments efforts to engage with the international community on Indias position," opposition leaders said in a joint letter.

The government has briefed foreign nations and the media, but not Parliament-keeping the people of India and their elected representatives in the dark. Therefore, we urge you to convene a special session of Parliament immediately upon the return of the all-party delegations," they said.

Jairam Ramesh and Deepender Hooda, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Derek OBrien, Rashtriya Janata Dals (RJD) Manoj Jha, Samajwadi Partys (SP) Ramgopal Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT)s Sanjay Raut attended the meeting.

Several Opposition parties have been demanding a special session of Parliament since the Pahalgam terror attack. The demand was also raised in an all-party meeting held to inform the lawmakers about Operation Sindoor.

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Trinamool Congress has suggested that the session should be held in June, after the multi-party delegations that have travelled to different countries to convey Indias stand against terrorism return to the country.

India struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor, which was a military response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:45 IST
Parliament's Monsoon Session From July 21 To August 12

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:47 IST

The monsoon session of Parliament will commence on July 21 and continue till August 12.

The monsoon session of Parliament will commence on July 21 and continue till August 12. (Photo: Sansad TV)

The monsoon session of Parliament will commence on July 21 and continue till August 12, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed on Wednesday. Both Houses of the Parliament are scheduled to convene the session on July 21, after a break of over three months.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has recommended the dates for the session, the Union minister said.

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Rijiju informed that the discussion over Operation Sindoor will take place during the session. Every session is special and we will discuss all issues, including Operation Sindoor," the Union Minister said, adding, Government wants everyone to be taken onboard  we have approached the Opposition and are hopeful that everyone takes a united stand."

Notably, under the rules, all issues can be discussed during the Monsoon session, Rijiju said.

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The date announcement of the Monsoon session comes just as Opposition leaders are demanding a special Parliament session at the earliest to discuss Operation Sindoor, Indias military strike against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Budget session of the Parliament, which began on January 31, was adjourned sine die on April 4, concluding the first Parliament session of 2025.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 13:20 IST
Retire Lame Horses: Rahul Gandhi Takes Swipe At Congress Old Guard, BJP Reacts

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:00 IST

The debate between the Congress partys old guard and its young Turks has been simmering for years, particularly in the wake of the partys repeated electoral setbacks

The Gandhi scion also said that the hands of Congress workers are tied because their voices are not heard in the organisation while calling for reforms in the party. (PTI file)

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has said that the Congress party must learn to differentiate between its leaders, likening them to a racehorse, a wedding horse, and a lame horse to illustrate the contrast in capabilities.

In his speech, the former Congress chief also took a swipe at the partys old guard  referring to senior, long-time leaders who have held key positions in the party and government over the decades  and called for the need to retire lame horses." Former chief minister Kamal Nath, a long-time loyalist to the Gandhi family, was present at the Congress Workers Convention in Bhopal where Rahul Gandhi delivered the speech.

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The Gandhi scion also said that the hands of Congress workers are tied because their voices are not heard in the organisation while calling for reforms in the party.

I will talk about Madhya Pradesh now. In this state, there is no dearth of workers and leaders of Congress ideology. In this room, there is talent to defeat the BJP. But your hands are tied because your voice is not heard in Congress organisation. Our sena is already to fight but there are 2-3 people who give ulta-seedhe statements. Now there are some people who give into frustration and some those who work for BJP. We have to start from somewhere. The CWC has decided to start with a district president post and from this change, we will strengthen the party in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and other states," he said.

#Breaking | Rahul Gandhi takes a veiled swipe at senior Congress leaders, saying lame horses need to retire." He draws a race vs wedding horse" analogy.@_pallavighosh shares more updates. BJPs Pradeep Bhandari shares his views. @toyasingh | #RahulGandhi #Congress pic.twitter.com/TSMUOm8hUK News18 (@CNNnews18) June 4, 2025

Gandhi said that the party sometimes sends a racehorse to the wedding procession and sometimes makes the wedding horse stand in the raceline.

The district president has come here, and there will be some of you who work for the Congress party with full strength and there will be some who are a little tired or who are not in a good mood, who are taking too much tension. Now we have to differentiate between a racehorse and a wedding horse. Earlier, I used to say that there are two types. Kamal Nath had said that the Congress party sometimes sends a racehorse to the wedding procession and sometimes makes the wedding horse stand in the race line. But there is a third category, which is a lame (langda) horse, so we have to differentiate. We have to retire the lame horse, so this change has to be brought," he added.

#WATCH | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, Now we have to differentiate between a race horse and a wedding horse and lame (langda) horse."The district president has come here, and there will be some of you who work for the pic.twitter.com/t5hr3mswCs  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2025

BJP Reacts To Rahul Gandhis Remark

Reacting to Rahul Gandhis remark, Haryana Minister and BJP leader Anil Vij asked which kind of horse the Congress leader considers himself to be.

If Rahul Gandhi calls all his workers horses, having different varieties, including procession, race, and battle, then tell him his quality. Which horse is he? Does he belong to the procession horses, lame horses, or war horses?" he asked.

Madhya Pradesh BJP President and party MP VD Sharma took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, saying he doesnt even know how to ride a horse. He should first worry about managing his own partys horses before making such remarks," he said.

How did the discussion of horses come up in the meeting of donkeys? Rahul Gandhi should tell who is a racehorse and who is a wedding horse in Congress. The people of Madhya Pradesh want to know," he added.

MP Minister Rakesh Singh said, What expectations can one have from Rahul Gandhi when even his own party has given up on him? He calls his own senior leaders lame horses and gives them all sorts of labels. Ask those who have devoted their entire lives to Congress."

Old Guard Vs Young Turks: Power Struggle Within Congress

The debate between the Congress partys old guard and its young Turks has been simmering for years, particularly in the wake of the partys repeated electoral setbacks. After the humiliating defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, multiple reports suggested that Rahul Gandhi wanted to sideline the old guard to make way for younger leadership.

However, in practice, the old guard continues to be the partys default leadership. A classic example was seen in Rajasthan, where the Congress leadership considered veteran Ashok Gehlot for the party presidents post. In response, Gehlot orchestrated a show of strength by parading loyal MLAs, effectively blocking his rival Sachin Pilot from ascending to the role.

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A similar dynamic played out in Karnataka. Despite D.K. Shivakumars key role in securing the Congress victory in the state, he was made to settle for the Deputy Chief Ministers post, while veteran leader Siddaramaiah was chosen as Chief Minister. These instances highlight the continuing grip of the old guard within the party, even as calls for generational change persist.

(With inputs from ANI, IANS)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : Bhopal, India, India

First Published: June 04, 2025, 15:51 IST
Stable Unstable: Rahul Gandhis Horse Analogy For Old Guard Stirs The Congress Pot Yet Again

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:57 IST

While Rahul Gandhi didnt name anyone directly, his message seems to be clear: its time for the lame horses, or the non-performing senior leaders, to step aside.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (PTI File)

Rahul Gandhi has once again stirred the political pot within the Congress party by making a reference to horses, indicating seniors in the party needed to step down. Speaking at the Congress Workers Convention in Bhopal, Gandhi drew a sharp comparison between three types of horses  those paraded at weddings (baraat ka ghoda), racehorses, and lame horses.

While he didnt name anyone directly, his message seems to be clear: its time for the lame horses, or the non-performing senior leaders, to step aside. And judging by the visible discomfort of some attendees, including senior leader Kamal Nath, the remarks hit close to home.

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The district president has come here, and there will be some of you who work for the Congress party with full strength and there will be some who are a little tired or who are not in a good mood, who are taking too much tension. Now we have to differentiate between a racehorse and a wedding horse. Earlier, I used to say that there are two types. Kamal Nath had said that the Congress party sometimes sends a racehorse to the wedding procession and sometimes makes the wedding horse stand in the race line. But there is a third category, which is a lame (langda) horse, so we have to differentiate. We have to retire the lame horse, so this change has to be brought," Gandhi said.

This isnt the first time Rahul Gandhi has challenged the old guard of the party. When he first entered active politics, he declared his mission to reform the Congress and end what he called the tyranny of the seniors." His vision involved infusing young blood into the system and entrusting them with key responsibilities. While this strategy did lead to several young leaders being promoted, the Congresss continued electoral setbacks cast doubt on the effectiveness of his approach and the performance of those he backed.

These failures provided an opportunity for the old guard to reassert their influence. The formation of the G-23  a group of senior Congress leaders who questioned the partys direction under Rahul Gandhi  was a visible expression of that resistance. It was also a reminder that sidelining the veterans wouldnt be as easy as Gandhi might have hoped.

In states like Gujarat and Bihar, attempts to democratise the party structure through internal elections brought in younger faces, but the results were far from transformative. Many of these new leaders failed to make an electoral impact. In Madhya Pradesh too, Gandhi was reportedly upset after what he believed was a winnable election that slipped away due to a sluggish and poorly managed campaign. The blame, in many quarters, was laid at the feet of senior leaders like Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, who were accused of lacking energy and failing to select effective candidates.

However, the Opposition was quick to pounce. Haryana Minister and BJP leader Anil Vij asked which kind of horse the Congress leader considers himself to be. If Rahul Gandhi calls all his workers horses, having different varieties, including procession, race, and battle, then tell him his quality. Which horse is he? Does he belong to the procession horses, lame horses, or war horses?" he asked.

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Madhya Pradesh BJP President and party MP VD Sharma took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, saying he doesnt even know how to ride a horse. He should first worry about managing his own partys horses before making such remarks," he said.

While Rahul Gandhis latest remarks about retiring crippled horses" underscore his continuing disappointment, the larger question is whether he can do it himself with critics asking the same.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:57 IST
AI No Threat To Authors, Says Salman Rushdie, 'Until It Can...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 16:08 IST

Rushdie, who was speaking at the renowned Hay Festival in Wales, revealed that he has a simple benchmark for the safety of human authorship

Salman Rushdie says he pretends AI doesn't exist. (File image/AP)

At the renowned Hay Festival in Wales, celebrated author Salman Rushdie shared his signature sharp and humorous insights on the hotly debated topic of artificial intelligences impact on creative writing. Known for his wit and pointed commentary, Rushdie, the acclaimed author of Midnights Children" and his recent memoir Knife", reassured writers that they need not worry, at least for now. His simple benchmark for the safety of human authorship? The day a robot successfully crafts a genuinely funny joke.

Ive never tried AI," Rushdie said to the audience with a grin. I pretend it doesnt exist. It has no sense of humour; you wouldnt want to hear a joke from ChatGPT." He underscored his viewpoint, stating definitively, If theres ever a moment when ChatGPT writes a funny book, I think were in trouble."

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This appearance at the Hay Festival was one of Rushdies most significant public engagements in the United Kingdom since the brutal stabbing attack he suffered in 2022, which left him blind in one eye. Despite this traumatic event, his characteristic resilience and sharp intellect were evident as he addressed contemporary issues in literature and technology.

In 1989, Irans Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdies death over alleged blasphemy in his novel The Satanic Verses.

Following this, Rushdie went into hiding under British protection and later settled in New York, in the United States. The book was banned in 20 countries. Numerous killings and bombings have been carried out by extremists who cite the book as motivation, sparking a debate about censorship and religiously motivated violence.

On August 12, 2022, while about to start a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, Rushdie was attacked by 27-year-old Hadi Matar, who rushed onto the stage and stabbed him repeatedly, including in the face, neck, and abdomen. Matar was pulled away before being taken into custody by a state trooper; Rushdie was airlifted to UPMC Hamot, a tertiary trauma centre in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he underwent surgery before being put on a ventilator.

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On October 23, 2022, his agent reported that Rushdie had lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand but survived the murder attempt. The assailant, Hadi Matar, was sentenced in a New York court for the attempted murder of Rushdie. The author later said he was pleased" that the man had been handed the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

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First Published: June 04, 2025, 16:08 IST
Pregnant Meghans Dance To Induce Labour Goes Viral, Netizens Say Im Going to Vomit

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 23:48 IST

Netizens slammed Meghan and Harry for sharing a private dance video from before their daughters birth.

Social media users questioned the authenticity of Meghans pregnancy in the clip and called the post desperate. (IMAGE: X)

The Duchess of Sussexs recent Instagram post showing her and Prince Harry dancing just before she gave birth to their daughter Lilibet has triggered a wave of online ridicule and disbelief.

The video was posted by Meghan to mark the fourth birthday of Lilibet, named after the late Queen Elizabeth II. In the clip, Meghan is seen twerking beside a hospital bed while Harry dances alongside her wearing a hoodie.

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Also thought she said she had pre eclampsia. Does she not remember the stories shes tried to tell us all previously Susan_Spencer (@susi_spencer) June 4, 2025

The couple are dancing to the song The Baby Momma Dance.

Get the vomit bag, Meghan Markle just posted herself hiking her dress and twerking her butt to the camera in labor and delivery. This is just DISGUSTING!! Some things a better kept private. Have some dignity. pic.twitter.com/Oi0h9f04Ha Royal News Network (@RNN_RoyalNews) June 4, 2025

Both of our children were a week past their due dates so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didnt work  there was only one thing left to do!" Meghan captioned the video, revealing it was recorded exactly four years ago.

Along with the video, Meghan shared several photos of Lilibet, including one of the newborn in her arms and another of the two near water. Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today, she came into our lives  and each day is brighter and better because of it," she wrote.

Many social media users slammed the couple for sharing such a private and unusual moment publicly.

Crusades.9.0 (@acrossthepond44) wrote, Just when I think I cant dislike her anymore" while Mica (@Micason10) added, They really are a pair of biffs. Why would you even post this! Keep it private!"

That's not a real baby bump. Way too high up if it is nearing birth. And at 9 months pregnant the last thing you want to do is dance. JLS       (@UKBoundJLS) June 4, 2025

Other comments expressed annoyance at the obvious setup. Pippa (@enoughisenoug34) said, Of course got to set the camera up! This woman just gets on my nerves!!"

I think I'm going to vomit Paul mc  (@Paulmc86699721) June 4, 2025

Sam Bell (@sam_bell248) questioned the appropriateness, writing, How desperate are they getting to post this. I was induced but was never told to dance in front of a camera and also I had a hormone drip attached to me"

Netizens Doubt Authenticity of Meghans Pregnancy in the Video

Adding to the backlash, some questioned whether Meghan was even heavily pregnant at the time of the dance.

That's not a real baby bump. Way too high up if it is nearing birth. And at 9 months pregnant the last thing you want to do is dance. JLS       (@UKBoundJLS) June 4, 2025

JLS (@UKBoundJLS) said, Thats not a real baby bump. Way too high up if it is nearing birth. And at 9 months pregnant the last thing you want to do is dance."

As a midwife with 35 + years experience dancing doesnt induce labour  #3008 (@amoffa50) June 4, 2025

Charlie Brown (@clareypotter) agreed: Thats not a real pregnancy belly. They dont move around like that. Completely wrong position on her body."

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Thats not a real pregnancy belly. They dont move around like that. Completely wrong position on her body. charlie brown (@clareypotter) June 4, 2025

Susan_Spencer (@susi_spencer) added, Also thought she said she had pre eclampsia. Does she not remember the stories shes tried to tell us all previously."

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

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 : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 23:48 IST
This Mumbai Auto Driver Earns Rs 5-8 Lakh A Month Using This Simple Trick Outside US Consulate

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: June 05, 2025, 08:05 IST

Mumbai Auto Driver Income: An autorickshaw driver near the US Consulate in Mumbai earns Rs 5-8 lakh monthly by offering bag storage to visa applicants.

According to Rupani, the auto driver parks outside the consulate daily, offering his "bag storage" service to 2030 customers each day. (Source: LinkedIn/@Rahul Rupani)

Mumbai Auto Driver Income: Outside the towering gates of the US Consulate in Mumbai, a story of grassroots entrepreneurship is quietly unfolding, one that is now grabbing national attention. Its not a startup pitch from a boardroom or a tech innovation from Silicon Valley, but a street-smart solution from an ordinary autorickshaw driver, now reportedly earning between Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh every month, without even driving his auto.

This unconventional business, shared by Lenskarts Product Leader Rahul Rupani in a viral LinkedIn post, centres around a seemingly simple problem: what do you do with your bags when youre barred from taking them inside the US Consulate?

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Thousands of visa applicants visit the consulate every day. One of the strictest rules in place is the prohibition on bags inside the premises. Add to that, the absence of any official locker facility nearby, and youve got a major logistical headache for applicants carrying documents, electronics, and personal items.

Thats where the unnamed autorickshaw driver steps in. I was outside the US Consulate this week for my visa appointment, when security told me I couldnt carry my bag inside. No lockers. No suggestions," Rupani wrote in his post, adding that while he stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at him, saying, Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai (Sir, give me the bag. Ill keep it safe. I do this daily. Just Rs 1,000)."

See the viral post here:

At first glance, it may seem like an expensive offer but for someone about to miss a crucial interview or risk losing a visa slot, its a small price to pay.

According to Rupani, this enterprising driver parks outside the consulate daily, offering his bag storage" service to 2030 customers each day. Thats anywhere from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 daily, an income that rivals or exceeds that of senior professionals in the corporate world.

But this is no random hustle. The driver, Rupani says, has even built an operational model in collaboration with a local police officer who provides access to secure locker facilities. The auto serves merely as the point of contact"; once trust is established, the bags are transported and safely stored at the designated lockers.

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He has created a model built entirely on trust, Rupani said. With an app or office or an MBA degree, he earns with just his street smartness and a deep understanding of people. This is entrepreneurship in its rawest and most powerful form," he added.

While the authenticity of the post has not been officially verified by News18, it has sparked a flurry of online discussion about innovation, hustle culture, and the growing gig economy in the country.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: June 04, 2025, 19:00 IST
200-Year-Old Condom Featuring Erotic Art Displayed In Dutch Museum: 'Object To Laugh At...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 19:06 IST

Joyce Zelen, curator of prints at the Rijksmuseum, said that ultraviolet testing confirmed that the condom had never been used.

Rijksmuseum curator Joyce Zelen said the composition of the etching alluded to the Greek myth of the Judgment of Paris. (Image Credit: AFP)

A rare 19th-century condom made from a sheeps appendix and printed with an explicit image is now on public display for the first time at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The unusual object, believed to be a luxury brothel souvenir from the 1830s, is the centerpiece of a new exhibition exploring sex, health and satire in the 19th century.

Joyce Zelen, curator of prints at the Rijksmuseum, said that ultraviolet testing confirmed it had never been used. Printed on the flattened intestine of a sheep or goat using a copper plate, the image on the condom shows a nun with her legs open, surrounded by three clergymen lifting their robes to reveal erections. Below the scene is the caption in French: Voila mon choix" (This is my choice").

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Joyce Zelen told CNN, This is more an object to laugh about with friends than one meant for use." She added that the imagery parodies religious celibacy while referencing the Judgment of Paris from Greek mythology.

Condoms like this were part of a booming 19th-century trade. At the time, such items offered limited protection against sexually transmitted infections, especially syphilis- a widespread health threat at the time.

This was probably made for someone who appreciated both erotic humor and classical references," Joyce Zelen said.

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The Rijksmuseum purchased the condom for 1,000 (about 98,000) at an auction in Haarlem six months ago.

The hardest part was deciding who would call the boss to ask permission to buy a condom," Joyce Zelen joked. The condom is now featured in the museums new exhibition Safe Sex?", which explores 19th-century perspectives on prostitution, desire and disease. It will remain on view in the Rijksmuseums Print Room until the end of November.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Amsterdam, Netherlands

First Published: June 04, 2025, 19:06 IST
Australia Commends Indian Restraint In Halting Military Action During Conflict With Pakistan

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 17:57 IST

Marles met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior military chiefs in New Delhi, emphasizing Australias support for Indias measured approach.

Australian Deputy PM and Minister for Defence the Richard Marles with Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at a ceremonial welcome before a bilateral meeting in New Delhi. (IMAGE: GOVT OF AUSTRALIA/Kym Smith)

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday praised Indias restraint in halting military action amid the recent Pakistan conflict, calling it a strong act of Indian leadership."

Marles was in New Delhi for a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, where they were joined by top military officials including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

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We appreciate the stoppage of military activity, which we see as a strong act of Indian leadership," Marles said and reiterated that Australia stood in solidarity with India following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.

We received the news of the attack with utter shock. Prime Minister Albanese spoke to Prime Minister Modi to express condolences, and today we reiterated our support. We stand with India and all countries united against terrorism, and we acknowledge the importance of the recent stoppage of military activity," Marles said.

The Australian leader also paid respects at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, symbolizing the close military ties and mutual respect between the two nations.

India launched the operation on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan using long-range weapons such as the Brahmos cruise missile in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Indian military targeted nine terror infrastructures that included Markaz Taiba of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke, Markaz Subhan Allah of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in of Bahawalpur and Hizbul Mujahideens Mehmoona Joya Facility in Sialkot.

It also struck LeTs base in Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala and its camp in Muzaffarabads Shawai Nalla.

Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.

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.

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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.

New Delhi has been maintaining that Indias fierce attacks on May 10 forced Pakistan to plead for ending the hostilities.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 17:42 IST
Bangladesh To Send Diplomatic Note To Delhi Over Border Push-Ins, Seeks Structured Talks

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 15:24 IST

India Bangladesh Border News: Speaking to reporters at Dhakas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he acknowledged that cross-border push-ins were taking place

Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain spoke to media in Dhaka on Wednesday. (Reuters)

India Bangaldesh Border: Bangladesh has announced plans to send a fresh diplomatic note to India, raising concern over the alleged push-in of individuals across the border and urging New Delhi to adhere to established mechanisms for resolving such issues.

Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said the government would send a fresh diplomatic note to India either on Wednesday or Thursday, describing it as a substantive communication.

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India began deporting illegal Bangladeshi nationals after launching a nationwide verification drive in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, with the process gaining momentum following the start of Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Speaking to reporters at Dhakas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he acknowledged that cross-border push-ins were taking place, but added that physically resisting them was not feasible.

When asked whether the diplomatic note would be phrased softly or framed as a formal protest, Hossain replied, It depends on how it is viewed."

He further said that Dhaka is maintaining regular diplomatic communication with India on the matter. India has shared a list of individuals it claims to be Bangladeshi nationals, and Bangladesh has received some of them after verification," the adviser added, reported the Daily Star.

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Reaffirming Bangladeshs stance, Hossain said the government will examine each case individually and accept only those individuals for whom there is verified evidence of Bangladeshi nationality. He stressed that any such matter should be resolved through established consular mechanisms in a structured and legal manner."

In response to a separate query, Hossain clarified that there had been no development concerning the deportation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 10:48 IST
Bilawal Bhuttos Rant On Indian Muslims Backfires, Reporter Cites Op Sindoor Unity Briefing

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:33 IST

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's anti-India claims at the UN were countered by a journalist who cited an Indian Muslim officer leading Operation Sindoor, leaving Bilawal with no response.

Pakistan People's Party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. (File photo)

Pakistans former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, made a rash attempt to push an anti-India narrative as he claimed that Muslims were being demonised" in the country.

However, his anti-India propaganda was effectively countered by a foreign journalist, who pointed out that he had personally witnessed Indias Operation Sindoor briefing being headed by an Indian Muslim officer.

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The journalists remarks visibly left Bilawal with no counter, and he simply nodded in response.

At UN, Bilawal Bhutto claimed that Indian Govt is demonising muslims in India after Pahalgam Terror attack in Kashmir.A foreign Muslim Journalist replied that as far as he recalls Indian muslim military official was conducting the briefing for Indias Operation Sindoor. pic.twitter.com/4AwdrUuN0j  Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) June 4, 2025

Operation Sindoors briefing was led by two senior women officers: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Armys Corps of Signals and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Also See: 9 Aircraft, Cruise Missiles, UAVs: Pakistan Suffers Big Losses In Indias Operation Sindoor

Bilawal Bhutto also sought dialogue and intel sharing with India to combat terrorism.

Pakistan would still like to co-operate with India to combat terrorism we cant leave the fate of 1.5 or 1.7 billion people in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists for them to decide at a whim that two nuclear armed powers will go to war and this is the new normal of the new abnormal that the Indian government is trying to impose on the region," Bhutto said.

Bilawal Bhutto Accepts Paks Efforts To Raise Kashmir Issue Faced Setbacks

Bilawal Bhutto also publicly accepted that the Pakistani governments efforts to raise the Kashmir issue on global platforms, especially at the United Nations, have faced continuous setbacks.

As far as the hurdles we face within the UN and in general, as far as the Kashmir cause is concerned, that still exists," Bilawal Bhutto said at the press conference.

Also See: Pakistan Tries Muslim Unity Card To Halt Indian Outreach In Malaysia, Faces Snub: Reports

Currently, Bilawal Bhutto is heading a parliamentary delegation to the United States which has been given the task of presenting Islamabads narrative on recent regional tensions.

While speaking with UN officials and diplomats, Bhutto said that subjects like water disputes and terrorism had some reception.

The structure of the Pakistani delegation is very similar to Indias recent diplomatic offensive, in which an all-party parliamentary delegation has been constituted, which is travelling across the present New Delhis position after the Pahalgam massacre.

After arriving in New York on Monday, Bilawal Bhuttos delegation held meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, General Assembly President Philemon Yang, and Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

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They also interacted with the permanent representatives of the United States, China, Russia, and France, along with four other permanent members of the Security Council and the representatives from non-permanent member states.

The Pakistani delegation on Wednesday is scheduled to be in Washington, DC, at the same time when the Indian delegation led by senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will be present there.

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 09:48 IST
Bilawal Bhutto's UN Speech, Diplomatic Efforts Lack Credibility: Indian Govt Sources To News18

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 18:50 IST

High-ranking government sources noted that Bilawal repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi with inflammatory language

Bilawal framed India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a violation of the UN Charter, warning that enforcing it could be seen as an act of war. File pic/Reuters

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardaris speech at the United Nations and his broader diplomatic efforts lack substantial credibility, top Indian government sources told CNN-News18 on Wednesday.

His rhetoric against India is undiplomatic, and as foreign minister, he was known for taking holidays at government expense," a source said. He appears to be doing the same now without a proper briefing."

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Bilawal has made deliberate personal attacks on the Indian leadership. A Sindhi leader has accused the army of using Bilawal as a propaganda tool to distract from Pakistans internal crises, including human rights abuses in Sindh, Balochistan, and PoGB, said sources. Bilawals inability to address a journalist who referred to Muslim Indian military officers" as part of the Indian governments briefings during last months conflict highlighted his delegations poor preparation.

High-ranking government sources noted that Bilawal repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi with inflammatory language, likening him to a Temu version of Netanyahu". Such personal attacks violate diplomatic norms, which focus on state conduct rather than individual condemnation. He claimed that India demonises Muslims, but a journalist making a reference to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stumped him.

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Bilawal framed Indias suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a violation of the UN Charter, warning that enforcing it could be seen as an act of war. This language is inconsistent with diplomatic efforts aimed at finding solutions. He asserted Pakistans innocence regarding the Pahalgam attack while ignoring evidence of involvement by Pakistan-based terror groups, including Saifullah Kasuri," a source said.

While advocating for comprehensive dialogue, Bilawal simultaneously accused India of aggressive posturing and violating international law. He credited the US for the India-Pakistan ceasefire but overlooked that the agreement was finalised through direct talks, initiated by a call from Pakistans DGMO.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: June 04, 2025, 18:50 IST
1 Dead, 6 Injured In Mass Shooting In Toronto's Lawrence Heights

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 08:13 IST

A mass shooting incident in Toronto's Lawrence Heights claimed one life, with six others injured. The shooting occurred Tuesday night, the suspect's identity remains unknown.

A file photo of the Canada police (AP)

One person died, while six others were injured in a shooting incident in Canadas Toronto, local police confirmed. The incident happened after 8.30 pm (Toronto time) on Tuesday in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood.

According to the police, five people were rushed to hospitals with gunshot injuries, while one person succumbed to his wounds.

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Meanwhile, the police barricaded the Ranee Ave Flemington Road area, they said.

Details on the suspect and the motive behind the shooting were not immediately known.

On Tuesday, a 20-year-old man was arrested on an attempted murder charge in connection with a weekend shooting around a house party in North Carolina that led to the death of one person and injuries to 11 others.

Garon Nathaniel Killian, of Lenoir, was being held in jail without bond, the Catawba County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

Authorities executed search warrants as part of the investigation into the shooting, which left some people with gunshot wounds and others with injuries from fleeing the gunfire.

Additional people could be arrested, the sheriffs office said.

Earlier, on June 1, a man was fatally shot near Germanys border with the Czech Republic after a federal police patrol stopped his car for a check and he fired at officers.

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The shooting occurred on a road between Schirnding and Munchenreuth, just inside Germany.

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.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 07:25 IST
Donald Trump's 25 Per Cent Tariff Hike On Steel, Aluminium Comes Into Effect

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 08:39 IST

Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50 per cent. The move triggered sharp criticism from allies like Canada, the EU, and Australia.

A file photo of US President Donald Trump (AP)

Donald Trumps increased tariffs on imported steel and aluminium from 25 to 50 per cent came into effect on Wednesday.

The US President announced an increase in tariffs on May 30, ratcheting up pressure on global steel producers and deepening his trade war.

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We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. Were going to bring it from 25% to 50%  the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," he said at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Later, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, It is my great honor to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminium workers."

The doubling of steel and aluminium levies intensifies Trumps global trade war and came just hours after he accused China of violating an agreement with the US to mutually roll back tariffs and trade restrictions for critical minerals.

Shares of steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. surged 26 per cent after the market closed as investors bet the new levies will help its profits.

The announcement drew harsh reactions from US trading partners around the world.

Canadas Chamber of Commerce quickly denounced the tariff hike as antithetical to North American economic security."

Unwinding the efficient, competitive and reliable cross-border supply chains like we have in steel and aluminium comes at a great cost to both countries," Candace Laing, president of the chamber, said in a statement.

Canadas United Steelworkers union called the move a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers.

The European Commission said on Saturday that Europe is prepared to retaliate.

This decision adds further uncertainty to the global economy and increases costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic," a European Commission spokesperson said.

The EU is prepared to impose countermeasures, including in response to the latest US tariff increase."

Australias centre-left government also condemned the tariff increase, with Trade Minister Don Farrell calling it unjustified and not the act of a friend."

The United States is the worlds largest steel importer, excluding the European Union, with a total of 26.2 million tons of imported steel in 2024, according to the Department of Commerce. As a result, the new tariffs will likely increase steel prices across the board, hitting industry and consumers alike.

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Steel and aluminium tariffs were among the earliest put into effect by Trump when he returned to office in January.

The tariffs of 25 per cent on most steel and aluminium imported to the US went into effect in March, and he had briefly threatened a 50 per cent levy on Canadian steel but ultimately backed off.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 07:05 IST
Imran Khan Alleges Army Chief Munir Targeted Wife Bushra Bibi For Personal Vengeance

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 11:30 IST

Khan, who has been in jail since mid-2023 in connection with multiple cases, alleged that his wifes treatment in jail was unprecedented.

Imran Khan also alleged that his repeated requests to meet his wife were denied. (IMAGE: REUTERS/AFP)

Incarcerated former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused Army Chief Asim Munir of targeting his wife, Bushra Bibi, out of personal vendetta after being removed from the post of ISI chief during Khans tenure.

As Prime Minister, when I removed General Asim Munir from the post of DG ISI, he sought to approach my wife Bushra Bibi through intermediaries to discuss the matter," Khan said in a post on X on Monday.

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Bushra Bibi categorically declined, saying that she had no involvement with such affairs and would not meet him. It is General Asim Munirs vindictive nature that is behind Bushra Bibis unjust 14-month incarceration and deplorable inhumane treatment in prison."

Khan, who has been in jail since mid-2023 in connection with multiple cases, alleged that his wifes treatment in jail was unprecedented. The way my wife has been targeted for personal vengeance is unprecedented. Even during Pakistans darkest periods of dictatorship such a thing never happened," he said. She was accused of aiding and abetting, an allegation for which no proof has ever been presented, and she is arrested in one false case after another."

Calling her a private citizen and homemaker with no political involvement, Khan said he hasnt been allowed to meet her in the last four weeks. According to jail regulations, I was scheduled to meet her on June 1 but even that meeting was denied, in complete violation of court orders," he said.

He also linked the events of May 9, 2023  when military installations were attacked during protests following his arrest  to what he called a London Plan." The sole purpose was to eliminate Pakistans largest political force, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf," Khan alleged.

Under this premeditated plan, I and several of my party leaders and workers were unlawfully imprisoned. Our democratic mandate was brazenly stolen, and corrupt individuals  Sharifs and Zardaris  were imposed upon the nation," he said, accusing the ruling coalition of unleashing relentless fascist oppression."

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The PTI chief also alleged judicial complicity in the crackdown against his party. Despite repeated demands, they refuse to summon or examine the stolen CCTV footage from May 9, 2023 Our people are being sentenced without evidence and without the right to a fair trial."

Khan has called for a judicial commission to investigate what he described as the massacres" of May 9 and November 26, 2024, and slammed Pakistans judiciary as being driven not by justice but by a desire to protect their own jobs and privileges."

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 11:30 IST
'Direct Threat': Chinese Couple Caught Smuggling 'Agroterrorism Agent' Into US

Curated By :



Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:30 IST

US News Today: The FBI Director's concern came after two Chinese nationals were arrested for smuggling a "biological pathogen" that can be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon.

Two Chinese nationals have been accused of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen to the US.

FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday warned against a serious national security threat" after two Chinese nationals were arrested in the US for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen" into the country to study at the University of Michigan laboratory.

The FBI Directors concern came after two Chinese nationals were arrested for smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen" that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon into the United States for research.

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This case is a sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives," Patel was quoted as saying by Fox News.

Smuggling a known agroterrorism agent into the U.S. is not just a violation of law, its a direct threat to national security. I commend the FBI Detroit Division and our partners at CBP for stopping this biological threat before it could do real damage," he added.

Chinese Nationals Charged With Smuggling Agroterrorism Agent Into US

The US Department of Justice on Tuesday identified the pathogen as Fusarium graminearum, a fungus, classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon.

In a statement, it said that the fungus causes head blight" in some crops and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year.

New I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called Fusarium graminearum," which is an  FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025

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According to an FBI criminal complaint, Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024. He admitted to smuggling in the fungus so he could conduct research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend worked, according to the complaint.

Both individuals have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud.

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 09:01 IST
Massive Saharan Dust Cloud Headed For US, Florida Warned Of Dirty Rain: What's Happening?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 23:19 IST

A smaller plume reached Florida over the weekend and lingered into Monday while a more intense wave is now approaching.

The dust plume is expected to reach the southeastern United States by the end of the week. (Image: File)

A massive Saharan dust plume, the largest of the year so far, is currently blanketing the Caribbean and is expected to reach the southeastern United States by the end of the week. Stretching nearly 2,000 miles from Jamaica to beyond Barbados and around 750 miles from the Turks and Caicos Islands down to Trinidad and Tobago, the huge plume has already led to reduced visibility and deteriorating air quality in affected areas. At present, the dust cloud covers large portions of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

US To Be Hit By Saharan Dust Plume

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Forecasters said that the plume is drifting northwest and will begin impacting Florida by mid-week. By Friday this week, the dust is expected to spread further inland, reaching states such as Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

A smaller plume reached Florida over the weekend and lingered into Monday while a more intense wave is now approaching and is forecast to affect a much wider region, forecasters warned.

Weather and health officials advise people in affected areas, especially those with respiratory issues, to limit outdoor activity as the dust cloud moves through.

What Is The Saharan Air Layer?

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The dust cloud is part of the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) which is a dry, dusty mass of air that typically travels from North Africa across the Atlantic between April and October. These plumes often reach their peak intensity in June and July and travel at altitudes ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 feet.

While the dust can reduce air quality and visibility, it also plays a role in suppressing tropical storm development which helps during the Atlantic hurricane season that runs from June 1 to November 30.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 23:19 IST
Not Welcome: Vanuatu May Revoke Andrew Tates Fast-Tracked Citizenship. Here's Why

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 17:23 IST

Andrew Tate acquired Vanuatu citizenship in December 2022 through an investment-based fast-track program.

Andrew Tate

Vanuatu announced that they are examining the possibility of revoking influencer Andrew Tates citizenship, after revelations that he obtained a so-called golden passport" around the time of his 2022 arrest in Romania on serious criminal charges.

The controversial online figure, who has openly described himself as a misogynist, acquired Vanuatu citizenship in December 2022 through an investment-based fast-track program. The scheme, which offers citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $130,000, has been criticized for lax background checks and misuse by criminal elements.

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Kiery Manassah, a spokesperson for the Vanuatu government, told ABC News that officials are definitely looking into" the case.

Once we have the files, definitely, the processes will be in place to revoke his citizenship. The government does not want to encourage people of questionable backgrounds to be granted citizenship," he said.

Vanuatu Golden Passport Program Sparks EU Concern

Vanuatus passports-for-sale" scheme has long been a source of income for the island nation but has attracted controversy over national security risks. In late 2024, the European Union revoked Vanuatus visa-free access due to concerns over the programs abuse by criminals, oligarchs, and even foreign intelligence operatives.

Andrew Tates Citizenship Timing Raises Red Flags

The timing of Andrew Tates citizenship- awarded the same month he and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania on charges of rape and human trafficking- raised eyebrows. Romania and Vanuatu do not have a formal extradition treaty. It remains unclear whether Tristan Tate also obtained Vanuatu citizenship.

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The Tate brothers, who were born in the US and later moved to the UK, deny any wrongdoing. However, UK authorities are also seeking their extradition on separate charges, including rape, human trafficking, and actual bodily harm, relating to incidents between 2012 and 2015.

Romanian courts have ruled that extradition to the UK could proceed after any domestic legal proceedings are concluded.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 17:23 IST
9 Aircraft, Cruise Missiles, UAVs: Pakistan Suffers Big Losses In India's Operation Sindoor

Curated By :

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Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 15:22 IST

Operation Sindoor Pakistan Damage: During the four-day conflict with Pakistan, India's 'Operation Sindoor' resulted in the destruction of six PAF jets, two high-value aircrafts.

Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jets (Photo: PTI)

operation sindoor damage in pakistan: As many as six Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets, two high-value aircraft, more than 10 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), one C-130 transport aircraft, and multiple cruise missiles were destroyed by the Indian Air Force during its four-day conflict with the neighbouring country.

The revelation came hours after a confidential Pakistan dossier revealed Indias Operation Sindoor targeted eight more locations in the neighbouring country.

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News agency ANI quoted sources involved in the operations launched against Pakistan and stated the revelation regarding the destruction of Pakistani jets and other aircraft was made amid an ongoing analysis of the damage inflicted upon by the Indian Air Force on Pakistan Air Force following Operation Sindoor.

As per the technical analysis of the data available with the IAF, six of the Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft were shot down in the air during operations, the report quoted sources as saying.

One high-value aerial asset, which could either be an electronic countermeasures aircraft or an Airborne Early Warning or Control Aircraft, was taken out by a long-range strike by the Sudarshan at distances of around 300 km, the report claimed.

ALSO READ | Pakistan Tries Muslim Unity Card To Halt Indian Outreach In Malaysia, Faces Snub: Reports

During the four-day conflict, the strikes at Bholari airbase using air-to-surface cruise missiles resulted in the loss of another AEWC aircraft of Swedish origin, it added.

There are inputs about the presence of fighter jets also in the hangar, but since the Pakistanis are not even taking out debris from there, we are not counting the fighter aircraft losses on the ground", the report quoted sources as saying.

The Indian Air Force used only air-launched cruise missiles to attack Pakistani bases, and no surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles were used in the attacks, they said.

In one of the strikes on a hangar by Rafale and Su-30 jets, a significant number of Chinese Wing Loong series medium altitude long endurance drones were destroyed, they added.

More than 10 UCAVs were also destroyed by the different IAF air defence systems over Pakistani airspace in the conflict, along with large-scale interception of Pakistani air and ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles aimed at different air bases, as per the report.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force was still carrying out an analysis of the losses during the conflict, which began on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, when India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists on April 22.

In the operation, India targeted and destroyed multiple terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

More than 100 terrorists were also killed in the operation.

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The conflict lasted till May 10 afternoon when the Pakistan side requested a ceasefire in view of the heavy losses suffered by it in the attacks by the Indian Air Force.

ALSO READ | Bilawal Bhuttos Rant On Indian Muslims Backfires, Reporter Cites Op Sindoor Unity Briefing

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 12:06 IST
Pakistan Asks Ahmadiyya Muslims To Abandon Eid Celebrations Or Face 5 Lakh PKR Penalty

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 05, 2025, 00:17 IST

In the Punjab province of Pakistan, police reportedly forced Ahmadis to sign affidavits pledging not to observe Eid rituals.

Pakistans 2 million-strong Ahmadiyya community has long faced systematic persecution. (Representational Image)

Ahead of Eid al-Adha, Pakistans Ahmadiyya community faced pressure from authorities to refrain from performing qurbani (ritual animal sacrifice) and other Islamic rites even within their homes. In the Punjab province of Pakistan, police reportedly forced Ahmadis to sign affidavits pledging not to observe Eid rituals, warning of fines up to Rs 500,000 (PKR) for non-compliance.

Ahmadis Forced To Sign Affidavits

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According to Dawn, authorities in several districts of Punjab and Sindh detained members of the Ahmadiyya community and coerced them into signing declarations promising not to celebrate Eid. Some of the affidavit forms include clauses threatening fines for violations while in some cases, indemnity bonds have also been demanded.

Systemic Persecution Of Ahmadis In Pakistan

Pakistans 2 million-strong Ahmadiyya community has long faced systematic persecution. A constitutional amendment in 1974 declared Ahmadis non-Muslim and the 1984 Ordinance XX criminalised their religious practices, including saying Islamic greetings, calling places of worship mosques, or reciting the Quran.

According to Amnesty International, at least 36 cases of arbitrary arrests targeting Ahmadis for performing Eid sacrifices were reported in Punjab in June 2024 alone.

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In March 2024, nearly 100 Ahmadi graves were desecrated in Khushab by activists from the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

In a recent move, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) intensified pressure on the community by writing to Punjabs Inspector General of Police urging action against Ahmadis for organising gatherings resembling Islamic rituals, claiming such acts hurt the sentiments" of the Muslim majority.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Pakistan

First Published: June 05, 2025, 00:17 IST
Pakistan Tries 'Muslim Unity' Card To Halt Indian Outreach In Malaysia, Faces Snub: Reports

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:05 IST

Pakistan Kashmir Card: Pakistan urged Malaysia to cancel 'Operation Sindoor' outreach events by citing Islamic solidarity and Kashmir, reports have suggested, was firmly rejected.

Indian all-party delegation in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (Photo: PTI)

Pakistan Kashmir Card: Pakistan urged Malaysian officials to cancel all Operation Sindoor outreach programmes by Indian delegations, citing Islamic solidarity. The demand, however, was rejected by Kuala Lumpur, NDTV reported.

Another report with India Today claimed, Pakistan, in its request, cited the Kashmir matter at the United Nations to back its call for cancellation of the delegations meetings.

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We are an Islamic country, you are an Islamic country dont listen to the Indian delegation, cancel all their programmes in Malaysia," the Pakistani embassy told officials of the Malaysian government, the report claimed.

However, despite Pakistans attempt to derail the Indian delegations visit, Malaysia on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to peace.

The country also thanked the Indian all-party parliamentary delegation for the briefing on New Delhis approach to combating terrorism.

ALSO READ | Bilawal Bhuttos Rant On Indian Muslims Backfires, Reporter Cites Op Sindoor Unity Briefing

Malaysia, days after the Pahalgam terror attack, had backed Pakistan for an international and independent investigation into the incident.

Around the same time, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also held a telephonic conversation with Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, communicating that Malaysia supports an independent and transparent investigation to identify those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack.

During the call, Sharif categorically" rejected any effort to link his country to the Pahalgam terror attack.

INDIAN DELEGATION IN MALAYSIA

The delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Parliament of Malaysia (Dewan Rakyat), YB Tan Sri Dato (Dr) Johari bin Abdul and briefed on Indias unwavering policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, and sought cooperation of Malaysian parliamentarians in the collective fight against terrorism.

The Speaker reaffirmed Malaysias commitment to peace and thanked the delegation for the briefing on Indias approach in dealing with terrorism at large.

The delegation also met the Parliamentary Special Committee on International Relations and International Trade, chaired by YB Wong Chen, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Special Committee on International Relations and International Trade, and briefed about the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam and highlighted Indias zero tolerance policy towards terrorism.

The delegation to Malaysia 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 Pakistans links to terrorism.

ALSO READ | Differ Politically, But Not On Terror: Kanimozhi Says World Lauded Indias Cross-Party Unity

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

In response, India carried launched Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the early hours of May 7, following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10.

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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.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 09:54 IST
Pakistani TikTok Star Sana Yousaf Rejected A 22-Year-Old 'Again & Again'. Then, He Shot Her Dead

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 18:15 IST

Sana Yousaf Murder News: Police said suspect Umar Hayat, a resident of Faisalabad, wanted to become friends with Yousaf but was shunned repeatedly by her

Pakistani TikToker Sana Yousaf was shot dead.

Sana Yousaf Murder: Sana Yousaf, the 17-year-old Pakistani TikTok star killed in Islamabad on Monday evening, was shot dead by a man who had repeatedly contacted her online but was rejected again and again", Pakistan Police have said.

Yousaf, who turned 17 on May 29 and had more than a million followers across her social media accounts, was killed in front of her mother and aunt at her home. Police have arrested a 22-year-old, identified as Umar Hayat, a resident of Faisalabad, on suspicion of her murder. Hayat reportedly spent hours loitering outside her home, news agency AFP reported.

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It was a case of repeated rejections. The boy was trying to reach out to her time and again," Islamabad police chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said during a news conference.

A monster, cold-blooded murderer is now in the laws grip," said Rizvi, adding that the suspect wanted to become friends" with Yousaf but was shunned repeatedly by her.

According to the police, Hayat had completed only his matriculation and hailed from a lower-middle-income background with no source of income". Investigators said in an effort to possibly erase evidence, he took Yousafs mobile phone with him after the shooting.

The First Information Report (FIR) filed by the 17-year-olds mother said the shooter barged in with a pistol around 5pm and shot her daughter at point-blank range. She was hit by two bullets in the chest and despite being rushed to hospital, she could not survive.

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Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on X that the accused confessed to the murder and that the weapon had been found, debunking initial reports of an honour killing angle to the murder.

Yousaf hailed from Upper Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had gained popularity for her videos promoting Chitrali traditions and womens empowerment. She had gained popularity through her TikTok videos, where she was widely appreciated for highlighting Chitrali culture, advocating for womens rights and promoting the importance of education.

About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: June 04, 2025, 15:45 IST
Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase Suffered 'Significant Damage' In Operation Sindoor | Exclusive Details

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 20:59 IST

According to sources, the destruction at the Nur Khan airbase represents both material and psychological losses to Pakistan's army

An image released by a Chinese satellite firm shows damage at Pakistans Nur Khan airbase after a precision strike by the Indian Air Force. (File image: @detresfa_/X)

Pakistan sustained significant damage at Nur Khan airbase during Indias Operation Sindoor, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Wednesday.

Indias precision strikes on the bases hangars, runways, and radar sites disrupted the operations of VIP transport fleets, drones, and surveillance aircraft, degrading 20% of Pakistans air force infrastructure, they said. The strikes, the sources added, exposed critical gaps in Pakistans air defences and highlighted its inability to intercept ballistic missiles targeting high-value sites deep inside the country.

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While Pakistans army attempts to downplay the damage, satellite evidence reveals visible debris, indicating ongoing repairs and an attempt to avoid showing weakness. The military has ordered against rapid cleanup to prevent exposing the full extent of the damage to India or the public. The proximity of the base to nuclear facilities has heightened security concerns, potentially delaying external access for clearance," a source said.

The military has not removed debris from the airport due to fear and resource shortages or the prioritisation of other damaged bases, the sources said. Satellite imagery revealed the demolition of a 7,000 sq ft complex near the strike site, contradicting initial reports of limited damage. Mobile control centres and support vehicles used for air force operations were destroyed, severely compromising command capabilities. High-resolution images showed crater impacts near fortified underground facilities likely used for storing sensitive equipment or overseeing nuclear systems," said a source.

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Indian attacks, sources said, severely hit Saab Erieye AWACS, a strategic location just 25 km from Islamabad and near Pakistan army headquarters and nuclear command centres, symbolising a direct breach of Pakistans core defences. The base, home to Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones and the nerve centre for Air Mobility Command, faced increased operational losses, they added.

According to the sources, the destruction at the Nur Khan airbase represents both material and psychological losses to Pakistans army, with debris management reflecting broader operational and strategic challenges. This incident underscores Indias capability to penetrate Pakistans core defences.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: June 04, 2025, 20:59 IST
When Patrick Davies receives a call from the health center in his community, in a rural area of Ghana, he knows what to expect: a patient with a dermatological condition that the medical staff cannot identify. He is neither a doctor nor a nurse, but he leads a small local organization, the Gate Foundation, based in Ankaful (Cape Coast, Ghana), which works to improve the lives of people suffering from neglected tropical skin diseases, such as leprosy or Buruli ulcer, which, if left untreated, can cause severe disability. They call me because there is no one else  no trained doctors or diagnostic resources  so they rely solely on my years of experience on the ground, he explains to EL PAIS via video call.

Cases like the one described by Davies highlight the lack of attention that the largest organ of the human body has received worldwide until now, despite the fact that skin diseases affect, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one-third of humanity at some point in their lives and constitute the seventh leading cause of disability.

However, last week Ivory Coast, with the support of other Global South countries and institutions such as the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations and Spains Anesvad Foundation, succeeded  after years of effort  in getting the World Health Assembly to approve a resolution that recognizes skin diseases as a global health problem for the first time.

The text, approved unanimously, urges countries to integrate skin health into their universal health coverage strategies, to train their primary care teams, and to improve access to treatments and diagnostics, especially in rural and low-resource areas. Although this is a first step and national health systems still need to develop policies to implement the resolution, experts agree that the measure opens a new path for skin conditions to be seen not merely as an aesthetic issue but as a global public health priority.

The resolution is very important because skin diseases place an enormous burden on healthcare systems, yet they go relatively undetected because the numbers are underestimated, explains Jennifer Austin, director of GlobalSkin, via video call.

The numbers, according to Austin, are devastating: There are 4.69 billion new cases of skin diseases each year, and its one of the top 10 reasons people seek healthcare, she says, referring to data from the University of Washingtons Global Burden of Disease Study, published in 2024 in The Lancet. Despite this, in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, there is less than one dermatologist per million people.

For Antoine Gliksohn, an albino person and executive director of the Global Albinism Alliance, the resolution sends the message that dermatological conditions must be taken seriously, that they are not a cosmetic issue, but rather affect physical and mental health, he tells EL PAIS in a phone interview.

As the activist recalls, skin diseases are among the leading causes of disability. When you have a skin disease, the burden can be enormous and affect your daily life, your family, your work, your studies... But patients have often been told until now that its just skin and not a big deal, he adds.

Inequality and discrimination

Skin diseases not only cause disability, but in the most severe cases, they can even kill you if left untreated, says Davies. The activist recalls the case of a 52-year-old woman from a rural community in Ghana who had advanced skin symptoms, yet no one was able to provide a definitive diagnosis.

I sent the woman to a hospital, which was an eight-hour drive away. The hospital director told us what medications we should give her and discharged her again, but we didnt have enough money to treat her in her village, and she eventually died, he laments.

A health center specializing in the treatment of Buruli's ulcer near Yamusukro, in Cote d'Ivoire. Francisco Sarrio Volpi / Fundacion Anesvad

This argument is echoed by Toni Roberts, founder and director of DEBRA South Africa, an organization focused on research into epidermolysis bullosa, a rare skin condition that makes both external and internal tissues extremely fragile. In South Africa, most babies with this condition dont survive; theres no training or capacity to care for them from birth. And in the rest of the continent, the situation is even worse, because we dont even know how many cases there are, says the activist, who also suffers from the disease.

One of the key issues addressed by the WHO resolution is the need to tackle inequities in access to treatments. There are particularly severe cases, such as in Malawi, where there are only three dermatologists for a population of over 20 million, says Gliksohn.

Davies adds: In my community, when someone has a skin problem, they dont go to the hospital because they know they wont be properly treated. They call me instead, and that says it all.

The resolution goes beyond medical treatment and also recognizes the social, psychological, and economic impact of dermatological diseases. For example, in some countries, having vitiligo can ruin a womans marriage prospects. In other countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, leprosy or albinism continue to be grounds for discrimination.

With stigma, you cant have a social role or find work. Your life can be hell, says Inigo Lasa, general director of the Anesvad Foundation, in a telephone interview.

Davies adds: There are healthcare workers who dont dare touch a patient with a skin condition because they believe its contagious. That hurts more than the disease itself.

However, the resolution, experts agree, now needs to be implemented. The resolution is good, but if patients dont ultimately benefit, whats the point? warns Kingsley Asiedu, lead of skin neglected tropical diseases team at the WHO, during a video call. It is our collective responsibility to work with states to ensure that what has been approved is reflected in national policies and concrete plans.

Some measures are relatively simple. An important statistic is that 80% of skin disease cases correspond to 10 common diagnoses, so if we train healthcare professionals in these diseases, we can treat a large proportion of cases, explains Claire Fuller, president of the International League of Dermatological Societies.

Gliksohn calls for more concrete measures, such as including sunscreen on the essential medicines list for patients with albinism, a decision that depends on the WHO.

The real impact of the resolution on peoples lives will come in the long term, warns the activist, emphasizing that it will take time to develop national public policies and train healthcare personnel. However, he notes that for the first time, millions of patients worldwide have heard that skin diseases are a matter of physical and mental health that can profoundly affect their daily lives. And he stresses that this is a recognition that had not been made until now.

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Plutonium Paradox: The Nuclear Core That Killed Its Makers - And Was Never Meant To Exist

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:26 IST

The dangerous 'Demon Core' was never used. In 1946, it was melted and repurposed for nuclear research, but its deadly incidents left a chilling legacy

The Demon Core became a symbol of the thin line between scientific advancement and catastrophic risk. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)

In a gripping chapter of World War II history, a scientific discovery known as the Demon Core proved to be as dangerous as it was powerful. This small plutonium sphere, weighing approximately 6.2 kg, had the potential to obliterate an entire city in moments.

In the final days of World War II, after the US had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a third bomb using this deadly plutonium core was prepared. However, Japans surrender made its deployment unnecessary. The core was returned to the laboratorymarking the beginning of its terrifying journey.

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How Was The Demon Core Made?

The plutonium core was kept at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where scientists conducted experiments to study its neutron emissions and how it could be controlled. However, two separate accidents occurred within a year during these tests, resulting in the deaths of two scientists.

First Accident On August 21, 1945

In the first incident, scientist Harry Daghlian was conducting an experiment to determine how quickly the core could reach a supercritical state. By mistake, he dropped a tungsten brick onto the core, causing a sudden spike in neutron activity. Within seconds, the core became highly radioactive. Daghlian suffered severe radiation exposure and died 25 days later.

Second Accident On May 21, 1946

The second incident involved scientist Louis Slotin. During an experiment, he was manually assembling two hemispheres around the core, using a screwdriver to maintain a small gap. Suddenly, the screwdriver slipped, and the hemispheres closed completelycausing the core to go supercritical. Within seconds, everyone in the room was exposed to radiation, but Slotin was critically affected and died nine days later. After these two fatal accidents, the plutonium core came to be known as the Demon Core.

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What Happened Next?

The dangerous core was never used again. In 1946, it was melted down and repurposed for other nuclear research. However, the incidents associated with it left a chilling legacy. The Demon Core became a symbol of the thin line between scientific advancement and catastrophic risk. Its history serves as a stark reminder that nuclear power is not just a demonstration of capabilitybut a profound responsibility.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 13:26 IST
Trump Says He Spoke To Putin About Ukraine Drone Attacks: 'Russia Will Respond Strongly'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 22:44 IST

It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace, Donald Trump noted.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over an hour following a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bombers, as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine remain stalled.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump said the call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. The two leaders discussed the Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airfields and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."

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It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Donald Trump wrote, adding that Vladimir Putin very strongly" indicated Russia would respond to the airfield attacks.

Iran Features In Trump-Putin Call

The discussion covered ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. Donald Trump said that Vladimir Putin offered to participate in the talks and could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion."

The US President wrote, We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Irans decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly."

Criticising Iran for delaying the deal, Donald Trump said, It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!"

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

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Wednesdays call was the second between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin since May 19, as the White House continues to advocate for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Despite recent direct contacts between Russian and Ukrainian officials, a ceasefire remains elusive.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 after massing troops along the border, igniting a war that has now entered its third year.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 22:29 IST
'Ready To Meet Putin, Trump, Erdogan Any Day': Zelenskyy Blames Russia For Ceasefire Delay

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 20:19 IST

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using peace talks as a tactic to delay fresh US sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference in Kyiv. (IMAGE: AFP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said he is willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US President Donald Trump or Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan any day" in a bid to revive stalled efforts to end the war with Russia.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said, We are open. Im ready for a meeting with President Putin, President Trump, President Erdogan, any day. If it helps bring peace, well be there."

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Zelenskys comments came as he accused Moscow of using current negotiations not to seek a ceasefire but to influence Washington. They are only holding talks to appear constructive before the United States," Zelenskyy said. Why? To delay the sanctions. This is a decision that ultimately lies with President Trump."

He also criticized a document circulated by Russia that purportedly lays out conditions for a ceasefire, calling it one-sided. This is not a memorandum of understanding. A real memorandum requires two parties. What Russia presented is an ultimatum," he said.

Zelenskyys remarks come ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest prisoner exchanges between the two sides in recent months. Kyiv and Moscow are preparing to swap 500 prisoners of war this weekend.

He also said that there was no point in continuing peace talks in Istanbul with the current level of Russian delegates as they are not high-ranking enough, calling instead for a sit-down with Putin.

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We are ready for exchanges, but to continue diplomatic meetings in Istanbul at a level that does not solve anything further, I think, is pointless," he said, referring to the two agreements for prisoner of war swaps that have come out of the talks.

Tens of thousands have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine destroyed and millions forced to flee their homes in Europes largest refugee crisis since World War II.

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 : Kyiv, Ukraine

First Published: June 04, 2025, 20:19 IST
Before-After Images Reveal Heavy Damage To Russian Bombers After Ukraine Drone Strikes

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 11:05 IST

A Ukrainian drone strike damaged or destroyed multiple Russian strategic bombers at Belaya airbase, with satellite imagery confirming hits on Tu-22 and Tu-95 aircraft.

A combination picture shows satellite images of the Belaya airfield, before and after the Ukrainian drones attack targeting Russian military airfields (Source: Capella Space via Reuters)

Days after Ukraines massive drone attack deep inside Russia over the weekend, a satellite image of a Russian airbase has revealed damage to multiple strategic bombers.

According to Reuters, the image of one of the airfields in the Siberian region of Irkutsk hit by Ukrainian strikes was provided by satellite company Capella Space.

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Captured on June 2, a day after one of the most complex and effective operations launched by Ukraine in more than three years of war, the image shows several aircraft struck in at least two locations.

The image, more grainy than conventional high-resolution photographs and in black and white, appears to show the debris of several aircraft located along the runway of the Belaya military air base or parked in protective revetments nearby.

Below is the image showing the airbase before the attack.

Based on the debris visible, comparison to recent satellite images and released drone footage from Telegram posted to Twitter, I can see the destruction of several aircraft," John Ford, a research associate at the California-based James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies, was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Ford said that SAR imagery provided to him showed what appeared to be the remnants of two destroyed Tu-22 Backfires  long-range, supersonic strategic bombers that have been used to launch missile strikes against Ukraine.

The SAR image, as well as drone footage of the strikes posted on social media, also indicated that four strategic Tu-95 heavy bombers had been destroyed or severely damaged, he added.

UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKES IN RUSSIA

The Russian Defence Ministry said Ukraine had launched drone strikes targeting military airfields in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions.

Air defences repelled the assaults in three regions, but not Murmansk and Irkutsk, it said, adding that in those places several aircraft caught fire.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin said that Russia had launched an official investigation into the weekend Ukrainian drone attacks.

Top Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev also said, in an apparent response to the strikes on Russian strategic bomber bases, that Moscow would take revenge.

Ukraines domestic security agency, the SBU, claimed responsibility for the operation, called Spiders Web", and said that in total 41 Russian warplanes were hit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack, which struck targets up to 4,300 km (2,670 miles) from the frontlines of the war, absolutely brilliant".

The Ukrainian military initially added 12 aircraft to its running tally of Russias wartime military losses on Tuesday.

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According to Reuters, some experts said the operation would not be enough to stop Russia from launching missile attacks on Ukraine using strategic bombers, but it would be hard, if not impossible, to replace the damaged planes because some of them are no longer in production.

The attack was also likely to force Russia to reconfigure its air defences, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) research group.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 11:00 IST
Texas Woman Uses Tap Water For Nasal Rinse, Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:25 IST

The 71-year-old previously healthy woman suddenly took ill four days after she used a nasal irrigation device filled with tap water from an RVs water system at a campground

The Texas Department of State Health Services found the presence of Naegleria fowleri in the womans cerebrospinal fluid after lab testing. (AI Image)

A simple home remedy for sinus congestion ended in tragedy for a woman in Texas who lost her life after contracting a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, from using tap water for a sinus rinse.

According to a report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a 71-year-old previously healthy woman developed suddenly took ill four days after she used a nasal irrigation device that was filled with tap water from an RVs water system at a campground in Texas.

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Doctors said the woman experienced severe neurologic symptoms, including fever, headache, and an altered mental state. Despite receiving medical attention, she developed seizures and eight days on, she passed away.

People magazine quoted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as saying that investigators with the Texas Department of State Health Services found the presence of Naegleria fowleri in the womans cerebrospinal fluid after lab testing.

What is Naegleria fowleri?

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found naturally in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and poorly maintained swimming pools. It doesnt really eat" brains but once inside the body, it travels to the brain and causes a severe and usually fatal infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

The amoeba infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once inside the nasal passages, it travels along the olfactory nerve (responsible for smell) to the brain. It does not infect people if the water is swallowed, as stomach acid kills the amoeba.

How to stay safe?

Doctors advise against using tap water directly for rinsing sinuses. Always use distilled or sterile water (readily available at drugstores), boiled and cooled water (boil for at least 1 minute, or 3 minutes at high altitudes) or water filtered through a filter with a pore size of 1 micron or smaller (look for NSF 53" or NSF 58" on labels)," they suggest.

Avoid forcing water up your nose: When swimming in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, or hot springs, avoid activities that force water up your nose, such as diving or dunking your head. Use nose clips or keep your head above water in suspect areas.

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Avoid swimming in untreated freshwater during very warm weather: Dont swim in water that looks dirty, cloudy, or poorly maintained. Make sure pools, spas, and splash pads are properly chlorinated and cleaned regularly.

Clean and disinfect humidifiers, neti pots, and any device that involves water and could contact your nasal passages, say doctors, adding that one must be aware that tap water is not sterile and should not be used in the nose unless treated as described above.

About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: June 04, 2025, 13:04 IST
Trump's New Visa Vetting Process Sends Indian Students In Frenzy To Delete Social Media Posts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 23:03 IST

The Trump administration announced a new process that includes social media profile screening of visa applicants, causing Indian students to delete posts and social media accounts.

Indian students are deleting their social media posts after Trump's new vetting process. (AI Generated Image)

Indian students are rushing frantically to delete social media posts in a desperate bid to escape the Trump administrations crackdown on international students, after it announced a new process that includes social media profile screening.

An internal cable from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the social media posts of visa applicants will be scrutinised before allowing them entry. The move came amid a broader crackdown on international students after pro-Palestinian protests engulfed US university campuses last year.

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This move has sparked alarm among Indian students applying for US colleges and sent them into a frenzy to delete their social media posts that the Trump administration may see and deem sufficient enough to deny them entry into the country.

ALSO READ: Why Trump Government Has Paused New Student Visa Interviews, What Is Social Media Vetting? Explained

How Social Media Vetting Has Affected Students?

Amid Trumps strict social media checks for visa applicants, a growing number of Indian students are not only deleting their posts but removing their accounts altogether to avoid circumstances that derail their plans to study in the US.

A student named Manya (name changed), who was selected for a masters programme at an Ivy League university, has deleted her Instagram and LinkedIn profiles after her visa counsellor warned her that her political posts may pose a threat to her application, according to a report by India Today.

Another student, Diljeet (name changed), turned his social media handles to private settings. They are among the students who are concerned that their political views, humour or activism may be misinterpreted by US authorities, which would eventually result in the rejection of their visas.

Even the smallest hint of political activism may lead to the rejection of a US visa, says Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Gradding.com. Immigration authorities require student visa applicants to provide their social media handles for the previous five years, allowing them to make character evaluations and determine whether and how the applicants professional and academic background matches the visa objectives," she said.

Will This Protect Students?

However, visa counsellors have warned that such a drastic step, such as the sudden deletion of content or social media handles, could raise suspicion that can lead to suspicion among US vetting authorities. They have also warned that even liking or sharing content could be considered illegal.

Shekhawat asserted the importance of responsible online behaviour, saying students need to be careful about what they delete, as this pattern might become evident during the vetting process.

Pro-Palestinian views or perceived anti-American sentiments could invite extra scrutiny on the applicants. A PhD student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) began erasing his social media presence, after a US university paused his post-doctoral appointment, as per reports. However, he remains unsure about whether it would be enough to get the visa.

What Is Social Media Vetting?

The US State Departments directive indicates a plan to issue updated guidance on social media vetting for all student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants to scrutinize applicants online activity and thereby assess their eligibility for entry.

Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued  in the coming days," a Tuesday diplomatic cable reportedly said, as reported by Politico.

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Officials will review social media profiles for content that could deem them inadmissible, and posts  like the ones on terrorism and antisemitism  could trigger intensified scrutiny.

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 04, 2025, 23:03 IST
UK Female Prison Cop Had Phone Sex With Inmate, Flooded His Mother With Over 900 Messages

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 13:16 IST

The 26-year-old visited the inmate at his resettlement housing, granted him access to restricted areas of the prison, and had sexual encounters with him.

Megann Gibson, who worked at HM Prison Wealstun in West Yorkshire, was attracted to the prisoner. (Image: X)

A female prison officer who engaged in phone sex with an inmate has admitted to public misconduct and now faces jail time. Megann Gibson, who worked at HM Prison Wealstun in West Yorkshire, was attracted to the prisoner.

The 26-year-old visited the inmate at his resettlement housing, granted him access to restricted areas of the prison, and had sexual encounters with him during her employment.

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To maintain their affair, she also sent over 900 messages to his mother when it seemed to be falling apart.

Gibson has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public service and faces imprisonment. She also admitted to possessing cannabis. Her sentencing is expected in August, according to The Telegraph.

The judge at Leeds Crown Court in West Yorkshire warned Gibson of a possible prison sentence. She was released on unconditional bail, but the judge stressed the seriousness of her offense. She has been suspended from her job at Wealstun, a Category C prison.

The charges state that Gibson had sexual communications via telephone" as part of an inappropriate relationship" with the inmate during her employment at HM Prison Wealstun.

Her defense attorney stated that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a past relationship and undergoing various mental health diagnoses.

Gibson is the latest female prison guard in the UK to be dismissed for an illegal relationship with an inmate.

In May, Isabelle Dale, 23, was charged for having sex with two inmates and conspiring to smuggle drugs into the high-security prison in Kent, Southeast London.

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Another prison guard, Toni Cole, was sentenced to one year in prison after admitting to an inappropriate" affair with a 28-year-old inmate at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

According to the New York Post, at least 29 female prison guards in the UK have been terminated for inappropriate interactions with inmates in the last three years.

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 04, 2025, 13:16 IST
Underwater Explosives: How Ukraine Blew Up The Crimea Bridge To Cripple Russian Attack

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 21:25 IST

The assault, carried out on June 3, involved a massive 1,100 kg of underwater explosives and has left the structural foundations of the bridge severely compromised

Russia condemned the attack as a "terrorist act" and vowed retaliation. (Representational Image: AP)

In a daring and technologically sophisticated operation that struck at the heart of Russias strategic ambitions, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a high-powered underwater attack on the Kerch Bridge, an infrastructure project long touted as a symbol of Vladimir Putins dominance over Crimea.

The assault, carried out in the early hours of June 3, involved a massive 1,100 kg of underwater explosives and has left the structural foundations of the 19-km-long bridge severely compromised. This marks the third attack on the Kerch Bridge since the war began in 2022, but by far the most precise, covert, and destructive.

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The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) took official responsibility, calling it both a surgical" and symbolic" operation. The weapon of choice? A stealth underwater drone named Marichka, which carried the explosive payload undetected through the waters of the Kerch Strait before detonating beneath one of the bridges main underwater support pylons.

This is not just about infrastructure," a senior Ukrainian official told local media, adding, This is about disrupting Russias military lifeline and striking at its psychological core."

The Kerch Bridge holds far more than logistical value for Russia. Inaugurated in 2018 by Putin himself, the bridge physically connects mainland Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, territory annexed by Moscow in 2014 in a move widely condemned internationally. It serves as a critical conduit for the movement of troops, armored vehicles, fuel, and supplies to and from Crimea, especially during ongoing military operations in southern Ukraine.

But beyond the battlefield, the bridge has stood as a towering emblem of Putins resolve and Russias territorial claims. Its targeting by Ukrainian forces is seen not merely as an act of sabotage, but a pointed challenge to the Kremlins authority.

Within hours of the blast, Russian authorities shut down traffic on the bridge, rerouting military and civilian supplies through less efficient land corridors. According to Russian Defence Ministry sources, efforts are now underway to establish alternative logistics routes. However, satellite images and independent assessments confirm significant damage to the underwater supports, indicating long-term disruption.

Underwater explosives, engineered for maximum impact in dense aquatic environments, played a pivotal role in the bridges destabilisation. Unlike surface explosions, underwater blasts create shockwaves that travel farther and penetrate deeper due to waters higher density. The result: widespread structural compromise without the need for a large visible explosion.

In this case, the Marichka drone served as the perfect delivery mechanism. Sleek, submersible, and almost entirely silent, the drone maneuvered beneath the bridge and detonated its payload with surgical precision. It was a quiet strike, but one with thunderous implications.

The Kremlin has responded with fury, branding the attack a terrorist act" and accusing Ukraine of crossing yet another red line. In a strongly worded statement, Russian officials denounced the silence of the international community", labelling it as evidence of Western bias.

This was not merely a strike against a bridge," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, adding that it was an assault on Russian sovereignty. Such actions will not go unanswered," she said.

Military analysts anticipate retaliatory strikes from Russia in the coming days, though Ukraine appears unfazed.

Speaking from the capital, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was resolute. This war is not confined to trenches and tanks. It extends to the sea, to the air, to cyber networks. And we are prepared on every front," he said.

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For Ukraine, the operation serves both a strategic and symbolic purpose  disrupting Russias battlefield mobility while also signaling a new era of modern, multidimensional warfare. This attack sends a clear message," said a Ukrainian defence analyst, adding, Russias vulnerabilities are growing. No target is untouchable."

With tensions escalating across the Black Sea region and NATO allies closely watching, the latest blow to the Kerch Bridge underscores a rapidly changing theater of war  where underwater drones may now be as crucial as ballistic missiles, and symbolism can be as potent as strategy.

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: June 04, 2025, 21:25 IST
Vietnam Ends Decades-Old Two-Child Limit Policy To Stem Declining Birth Rates

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 07:59 IST

Vietnam has abolished its 37-year-old two-child policy to address declining birth rates. Couples can now freely decide the number and years of spacing between child births.

An AI-generated image of a newborn (News18)

Vietnam has scrapped its long-standing two-child limit policy, news agency AFP quoted state media reports.

The policy, which came into effect 37 years ago, limited families on having more than two children.

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The restriction was initially introduced in 1988, when the total fertility rate was over four births per woman.

According to Bloomberg, the policy was scrapped as the country grapples with a declining birth rate, thus posing a demographic crunch that could undermine future growth prospects.

The new regulation was approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee in Hanoi on Tuesday, allowing couples to decide on the number of children they want to have.

The regulation also allows couples to decide when to have children and the spacing between two births.

The child-limit law in Vietnam allowed couples to have no more than two children per family.

Violators of the law were asked to pay a penalty, which could also include a reduced bonus or dismissal from their position, reports suggest.

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A report with Bloomberg claims Vietnams birth rate sank to a record low in December, with the total fertility rate falling to 1.91 children per woman, thus marking the third consecutive year it has dropped below the replacement level.

Last year, the health ministry proposed amending the law to allow each couple and single parent to decide how many children to have and the interval between births, it claimed.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: June 04, 2025, 07:47 IST
What Is Agroterrorism? Heres Why The Smuggled Fungus In FBIs Case Has Raised Alarms

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 04, 2025, 11:35 IST

The FBI has called it a direct national security threat. Its not a zombie fungus, but it can wipe out crops, cripple food systems, and cause billions in losses

Two Chinese nationals have been accused of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen to the US.

The recent arrest of two Chinese nationals for allegedly smuggling a dangerous fungus into the United States has put the spotlight on a growing but often under-discussed threat: agroterrorism.

The FBI has called it a serious national security threat", warning that biological agents targeting food supplies could cripple economies and endanger millions. But what exactly is agroterrorism, and why has a common crop fungus triggered such alarm?

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ALSO READ | Direct Threat: Chinese Couple Caught Smuggling Agroterrorism Agent Into US

What Is Agroterrorism?

Agroterrorism, short for agricultural terrorism, refers to the deliberate introduction of pests, diseases, or pathogens into a countrys food supply or agricultural sector with the intent to cause economic disruption, food shortages, or social unrest.

Unlike conventional terrorism, the targets are not civilians or infrastructure, but plants, livestock, and critical food systems. Given the global interconnectedness of supply chains, even a localised outbreak can have ripple effects across economies and international markets.

The Fungus In Question: Fusarium Graminearum

The pathogen at the centre of this case is Fusarium graminearum, a crop-infecting fungus already present in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, but subject to strict controls when moved across borders. Introducing it into new regions, or into research environments without authorisation, risks triggering outbreaks in vulnerable crop systems that may lack resistance to more aggressive or unfamiliar strains, leading to highly destructive consequences.

What Does It Do?

It causes Fusarium head blight (also called scab), a serious disease that primarily affects cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and corn. The fungus attacks the flowering heads of these plants, reducing grain development and significantly lowering yields. But the damage doesnt stop there: infected grains are often contaminated with toxic compounds called mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as vomitoxin. These toxins are harmful to both humans and animals if consumed, rendering large portions of the harvest unfit for food or feed, even if the crop volume appears intact.

Economic Impact

Globally, Fusarium head blight causes billions of dollars in agricultural losses every year. In the United States alone, outbreaks have cost wheat and barley farmers an estimated $3 billion to $4 billion in losses since the 1990s. In severe outbreak years, such as 1993 and 1998, affected regions saw yield losses of up to 50 per cent in some wheat-growing areas. Beyond direct yield loss, the presence of mycotoxins often forces entire harvests to be discarded or heavily processed to remove contaminated grain, further compounding economic damage for farmers, exporters, and food processors.

Could This Be The Last of Us Scenario?

The fact that a fungus is involved naturally draws comparisons to The Last of Us  the popular series where a mutated fungus wipes out most of humanity. But while both involve fungi, the similarity largely ends there.

The pathogen smuggled into the US, Fusarium graminearum, targets crops, not humans. Its primary threat is economic and agricultural, not epidemiological. It infects wheat, barley and corn, destroying harvests and contaminating grain supplies with toxins harmful if consumed. In the worst-case scenario, it could trigger food shortages, destabilise markets, and cause large-scale financial losses, precisely why experts consider it a potential agroterrorism agent.

Unlike The Last of Us, this is not about zombies, but in a highly globalised world where food security is deeply intertwined with national security, the stakes remain dangerously high.

Has Agroterrorism Happened Before?

While large-scale agroterrorism attacks remain rare, the threat has been on the radar of intelligence and biosecurity agencies for decades due to the potentially catastrophic consequences. Agriculture remains a vulnerable sector  highly centralised, easily disrupted, and slow to recover once infected or contaminated.

Some notable examples and concerns:

Rajneeshee Cult Attack (Oregon, 1984): In one of the rare confirmed cases of agroterrorism, members of the Rajneeshee cult deliberately contaminated salad bars with Salmonella bacteria in The Dalles, Oregon, sickening over 750 people. The attack was aimed at influencing a local election by incapacitating voters. While it targeted humans via the food chain, the case remains a textbook example of how food supplies can be weaponised for political or terror motives.

Iraqs Bioweapons Programme (1990s): Saddam Husseins regime reportedly stockpiled plant and animal pathogens as part of its broader biological weapons research. While these were never deployed, UN weapons inspectors (UNSCOM) documented Iraqs research into pathogens targeting crops and livestock, including wheat smut, aflatoxins, and animal diseases like rinderpest and foot-and-mouth.

Aum Shinrikyos Experiments (Japan): The Japanese doomsday cult, more widely known for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, also experimented with biological agents. Among these were efforts to acquire pathogens that could damage food supplies, though most of their biological attempts failed.

Al-Qaeda Interest: Intelligence assessments have long indicated that terror groups like Al-Qaeda explored using pathogens to target agriculture. The US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have publicly acknowledged this risk.

What makes agroterrorism particularly insidious is the delayed nature of its impact. A pathogen introduced covertly may not be detected until significant damage is done, making both prevention and rapid response critical.

Why Is The FBI So Concerned?

The smuggling of Fusarium graminearum was not a casual or accidental act. According to the FBI, the accused individual brought the pathogen into the US to conduct unsanctioned research at a Michigan lab. But more importantly, the FBI believes this could be part of a broader pattern where hostile state actors attempt to undermine critical sectors  in this case, Americas food security  under the guise of academic research.

As FBI Director Kash Patel put it, Smuggling a known agroterrorism agent into the US is not just a violation of law, its a direct threat to national security."

New I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called Fusarium graminearum," which is an  FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025

Chinese Nationals Charged With Smuggling Agroterrorism Agent Into US

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According to an FBI criminal complaint, Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024. He admitted to smuggling in the fungus so he could conduct research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend worked, according to the complaint.

Both individuals have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud.

About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More

First Published: June 04, 2025, 11:23 IST
President Xi Jinping met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing on Wednesday. Congratulating Lukashenko again on his reelection as the president of Belarus, Xi said the two countries are true friends and good partners, treating each other with sincerity and trust.

Noting China and Belarus share enduring traditional friendship, formidable political mutual trust and growing cooperation in all fields, Xi said China has always viewed and developed China-Belarus relations from a strategic and a long-term perspective.

Xi said China is willing to work with Belarus to promote the steady development of bilateral ties and win-win cooperation.

He called on both sides to further enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly oppose hegemony and bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

Lukashenko, who is on his 15th visit to China, said that he has felt a genuine sense of friendship from China during each of his trips.

Thanking China for its long-term strong support and assistance to his country, he said Belarus has high-degree trust in China and will actively advance cooperation with China.

Lukashenko said China sets an example for the world by upholding multilateralism and opposing unilateralism and sanctions and pressure, expressing admiration for China and willingness to work with China to safeguard international fairness and justice.
This photo taken on May 18, 2025 shows dishes cooked by Xia Lu (not her real name) for her clients in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua)

* A rising wave of young Chinese is embracing a new gig, that of on-demand chef.

* It may reflect a consumption upgrade, with a sizable number of urbanites willing to dig deeper into their pockets for healthier and bespoke alternatives to takeout.

* While recognizing its contribution to flexible employment, experts call for a clearer legal framework, better protection for workers, and more oversight from relevant platforms and authorities.

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A wok sizzled as garlic chives and Chinese kale hit hot oil, while pork rib and lotus root soup simmered with a bubbling sound on a stove. In addition, a whole fish, steamed and doused in soy sauce, could be spotted on the kitchen counter, neighboring a pile of spicy crawfish coated in chili oil.

Ding Yuqing, 23, juggled preparation of these dishes while navigating an unfamiliar kitchen. A college student in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, she was making a hometown feast for a family who hired her to cook in their home.

"I love cooking," she said. "Such home-cooking visits have improved my skills, and I really enjoy cooking for others."

Ding is part of a rising wave of young Chinese embracing a new gig, that of on-demand chef. Often students, office workers or freelancers, they offer homemade meals to time-starved urbanites seeking the likes of health, comfort and a taste of home.

On social media, the trend is hot. Hashtags related to "on-demand chefs" have amassed over 1.45 billion views on Douyin and more than 35 million on "rednote," an app better known as Xiaohongshu. Notably, last month, a viral story about a woman earning nearly 20,000 yuan (about 2,784 U.S. dollars) a month cooking six meals a day rocketed to the top of Sina Weibo's trending list.

HEALTH ON THE MENU

For Ding, it all began with a few food photos. Over the winter break last year, she posted snapshots of her home-cooked dishes online. To her surprise, requests started rolling in, asking: "Can you come cook for me?"

"At first, I was nervous cooking in someone else's kitchen," she admitted. "Now it's second nature."

She currently offers services within a 10-kilometer radius on weekends and during school breaks. Before each visit, she discusses taste preferences with her clients and asks them to supply ingredients and seasonings. After preparing meals, she also tidies up, washes dishes and even takes out the trash for her clients.

For a typical order of three dishes and one soup, Ding receives a payment of 80-100 yuan.

Most of her clients, she noted, are young people juggling hectic schedules. One repeat customer, a 30-year-old office worker, has hired her more than 30 times. "This customer and her husband are both too busy to cook," Ding explained.

China's busy urban workers have long relied on the country's sprawling food delivery sector, which employs over 10 million scooter-riding couriers, but Ding's case may reflect a consumption upgrade, with a sizable number of urbanites willing to dig deeper into their pockets for healthier and bespoke alternatives to takeout.

Li Xiaoyang, a 30-year-old from Wuhan, said this new type of service became essential for him after a bad experience with takeout left him sick for a week.

"Having someone cook for you means personalized dishes, better hygiene and a more relaxed atmosphere, whether it's a family dinner or a classmate reunion," Li said.

This photo taken on April 29, 2025 shows dishes cooked by Xia Lu (not her real name) for her clients in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua)

Entrepreneurs have taken notice of this booming market. Hu Quanyu, founder of Chef51, an on-demand platform that connects professional chefs with customers, said the service now operates in over 50 cities across China and works with more than 1,500 chefs.

Hu plans to launch a new platform aimed at part-time cooking enthusiasts, allowing them to pick up orders posted by users. The system will provide basic checks like ID and health certificates.

"The new service of on-demand home cooking is more affordable and flexible for budget-conscious young consumers," he said, adding that the trend reflects changing consumption habits among China's younger generation, who, fueled by rising incomes, are increasingly investing in health, convenience and quality of life.

A report by Zhiyan Consulting underscored this shift. It showed that the value of China's health and wellness market surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2023 -- with people aged 18 to 35 accounting for 83.7 percent of this market.

SIDE HUSTLE TURNS SERIOUS

China's "on-demand economy" has diversified rapidly in recent years, with services ranging from in-home elderly care to space organization within homes. These offerings have been hailed for meeting personalized consumer demands, thus promoting consumption, but also for creating much-needed new job opportunities.

Back in 2022, the Chinese government issued a guideline aimed at improving gig economy services to boost employment.

The number of flexible workers in China exceeded 265 million in 2024, including 175 million engaged in platform-based gig work, according to an industry report by Hangzhou-based Gongmall, a digital solutions provider for the gig sector. By 2050, total wages in the sector are expected to exceed 50 trillion yuan.

Still, the fast-growing on-demand chef industry is not without risks and shortcomings. While recognizing its contribution to flexible employment and urban lifestyles, Hu Junjie, a lawyer based in Hubei, said safety and liability concerns remain due to a lack of regulations governing this novel service.

The lawyer thus called for a clearer legal framework, better protection for workers, and more oversight from relevant platforms and authorities. "That said, China already has similar platform services like food delivery and taxi-hailing, management of which is quite mature, and thereby serves as a useful reference," he added.

For some, like Xia Lu (not her real name), the on-demand chef role has evolved from a side hustle to a full-time profession. Burned out from long working hours, the 27-year-old native of southwest China's Sichuan Province, known among her social media followers for her fiery, flavor-packed cooking, quit her job with a foreign-owned company in Beijing in late 2023.

She now charges at least 128 yuan per home-cooking trip and handles up to three clients a day. While her current income, about 7,000 yuan a month, is lower than her previous job, Xia relishes the greater freedom it offers her.

"When the weather's good, I go hiking. When it rains, I rest," she said. "I've never felt so free and fulfilled."

She's planning to leave Beijing next summer to open a private kitchen in Yunnan, a southwestern province known for its beautiful scenery, slower pace of life and constant flow of hungry tourists.

For Ding Yuqing, meanwhile, the momentum is only just beginning.

"I believe the on-demand chef industry will continue to grow," she said. "It not only meets the evolving needs of health-conscious consumers, but also gives passionate cooks like me a meaningful and flexible career path."

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Authorities have identified three teenagers who allegedly broke into a high school in Washington state in what police initially said may have been a "practice run" for a shooting. The three teens were masked and carrying at least one apparent gun when they broke into Enumclaw High School just before 10pm Saturday, leaving before police arrived. Nothing was taken or vandalized, which Enumclaw Police Chief Tim Floyd noted was unusual, per KIRO . Speaking Monday, he said video showed one of the teens using a cellphone to record as the armed individual moved around the building, which serves 1,300 students.

"It appeared that these kids were rehearsing for a possible active shooter event," Floyd said, per KING-TV. Police released photos of the suspects on Monday morning. That evening, an 18-year-old senior at the school turned himself in and identified his companions: another Enumclaw High School student and a teen from California, who has since traveled home, the outlet reports. His story was that the three were carrying an airsoft gun and preparing for a "senior prank," said to involve filling part of the school with balloons, Floyd said.

"We are relieved that the police investigation determined there was no plan to harm others and that the weapon involved was an airsoft replica," said a Enumclaw School District rep. But "even as a 'prank,' the behavior created real fear and disruption for students, families, and staff." "I hope that they get the help they need because that's not funny," said a woman who lives across from the school. "When you have a gun, that's threatening. When you're breaking in somewhere, that's threatening." Police said the two Washington students could face charges of criminal trespassing.
The Pentagon is expected to soon shift responsibility for Greenland from US European Command to US Northern Command, according to officials familiar with the plan. Sources tell Politico that the change could happen as soon as this week. While the move is mostly symbolic, Northern Command oversees North American security and could integrate Greenland more closely into US missile defense plans, including the Golden Dome radar network. Politico describes the shift as "the most concrete step yet" in President Trump's efforts to take control of the autonomous Danish territory.

The transfer has not been formally communicated to the Danish government, according to Politico's sources, potentially generating friction with Denmark and raising concerns among NATO allies about US intentions in the Arctic. The shift would separate Greenland operationally from Denmark and the Faroe Islands, both of which remain under European Command. It follows a broader review of the Pentagon's command structure and comes as US leaders cite Greenland's geographic location as critical for monitoring Russia and China and enhancing missile defense coverage.

The US already maintains a military presence at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, which Vice President JD Vance visited in March. Earlier this year, Danish officials committed $2 billion to Greenland security projects to address US concerns, but skepticism remains in Europe over Trump's Arctic ambitions. Trump has said he would not rule out military action to secure Greenland. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything," he said last month, per the Hill. "We need Greenland very badly."
An assistant division chief at the FCC has been charged with trying to abduct two women on the same night in Virginia. On Friday evening, a woman reported a man approached her outside Alexandria's Braddock Road Metro station around 9:40pm before restraining and assaulting her. "The suspect grabbed her, placed his hand over her mouth and attempted to restrict her movement, wrestling her down to the ground," Police Chief Tarrick McGuire tells WUSA . The woman was ultimately able to escape.

As police were investigating, they received a call from another woman, who described a similar attack around 8pm at the Potomac Yard Metro station, one stop north of Braddock Road, per NBC Washington. The woman said she was on the upper level of the platform with her 4-year-old daughter when a man approached, put his arms around her, pushed her up against a wall of glass, and started touching her. The woman said her daughter poured juice on the attacker, but he didn't leave until another adult came upon them.

On Sunday morning, police arrested 35-year-old Jeff Gary, who lives across the street from another Yellow Line Metro station and used a Metro card registered to the FCC's address, NBC reports. Gary, who received a law degree from Georgetown University, had been working as an assistant division chief with the FCC. A commission rep said Monday that he will be terminated following "this disturbing incident." He also faces charges of assault and battery, sexual battery, and two counts of abduction with force. He's held without bond.
Experts searching for plane wreckage in Michigan's Lake Superior found logs and rocks but no debris from an aircraft that crashed nearly 60 years ago carrying three people on a scientific assignment. A team from Michigan Technological University returned last week by boat to get closer to 16 targets that appeared on sonar last fall, more than 200 feet below the surface of the vast lake. The crew used side-scan sonar and other remote technology. "We did not locate any sign of the wreckage of the missing aircraft," Travis White, a research engineer at the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech, tells the AP . "However, we did validate our technical approach, as we found physical objects in each target location."

The Beechcraft plane carrying pilot Robert Carew, co-pilot Gordon Jones, and graduate student Velayudh Krishna Menon left Madison, Wisconsin, for Lake Superior on Oct. 23, 1968. They were collecting data on temperature and other lake conditions for the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Seat cushions and pieces of stray metal have washed ashore over the years along the Keweenaw Peninsula. But the wreckage and the remains of the men have never been found. White said the targets identified by an autonomous vessel launched last September "turned out to be mostly natural: large sunken trees, logs, rocks."

But metal cans on the lake bottom, believed to be 75 years old, give "hope that the plane wreckage may be reasonably well-preserved and not buried," said White. He said the next challenge will be how to continue the work. "We may attempt a crowdfunding model to see if we can raise some funds for future mapping activities that could help us locate the plane or other historic wrecks," he said. The initial search last fall was organized by the Smart Ships Coalition, a group of more than 60 universities, government agencies, companies, and international organizations interested in maritime autonomous technologies.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), in Beijing on Tuesday.

Li said China is ready to work actively with all sectors in Japan to implement the political consensus that the two countries are cooperative partners, not threats to each other, achieve more tangible results in practical cooperation, and consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust and people-to-people friendship.

Li expressed the hope that Japan will work with China to constructively manage differences, firmly grasp the correct direction of bilateral relations, and promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.

China and Japan have many unique advantages in deepening cooperation, Li said, adding that both sides should leverage these advantages to achieve greater mutual benefits and win-win results, inject momentum into each other's development, and make greater contributions to global economic growth.

Li said that China will firmly expand high-level opening up and welcome more foreign-funded enterprises, including those from Japan, to develop in China. It is hoped that the JAPIT will continue to play an active role in deepening economic and trade cooperation, and enhance friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, he added.

Kono said that under the current international situation, Japan and China should enhance communication and coordination to jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system.

The JAPIT has long been committed to Japan-China friendship and is willing to continue to expand exchanges with China, enhance mutual understanding, and make positive contributions to deepening ties between the two peoples and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, he said. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would revoke guidance to the nation's hospitals that directed them to provide emergency abortions to women when they are necessary to stabilize their medical condition. That guidance was issued to hospitals in 2022, weeks after the Supreme Court upended national abortion rights in the US, per the AP . It was an effort by the Biden administration to preserve abortion access for extreme cases in which women were experiencing medical emergencies and needed an abortion to prevent organ loss or severe hemorrhaging, among other serious complications.

An AP investigation last year found that, even with that guidance, dozens of pregnant women were being turned away from emergency rooms, including some who needed emergency abortions. Biden argued that hospitalsincluding in states with near-total bansneeded to provide emergency abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. That law requires emergency rooms that receive Medicare dollars to provide an exam and stabilizing treatment for all patients. Nearly all emergency rooms in the US rely on Medicare funds.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which investigates hospitals that are not in compliance, said Tuesday it was rescinding the Biden-era guidance. The agency, however, will continue to enforce the law, "including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy." But CMS added that it would also "rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administration's actions."

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The Biden administration sued Idaho over its abortion law that initially only allowed abortions to save the life of the mother. The federal government had argued before the Supreme Court last year that Idaho's law was in conflict with the federal law, which requires stabilizing treatment that prevents a patient's condition from worsening. The Supreme Court issued a procedural ruling in the case last year that left key questions unanswered about whether doctors in abortion ban states can terminate pregnancies when a woman is at risk of serious infection, organ loss, or hemorrhage.
Elon Musk came out swinging against the "Big Beautiful Bill" on Tuesday, delighting its opponents on both sides of the aisle and perturbing its supporters, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. "With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big, beautiful bill," Johnson said. He said Musk's remarks were "very disappointing" and "very surprising" because they had a 20-minute conversation Monday about the "virtues" of the bill and Musk seemed to understand, Politico reports.

Musk's remarks. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination," Musk said in a post on X Tuesday. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." He later added: "It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt." In another post, he said, "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people."
Two Chinese nationals are facing federal charges after allegedly smuggling a crop-destroying fungusdeemed a potential agroterrorism weaponinto the United States. Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are facing federal charges in Michigan over the fungus, Fusarium graminearum. Authorities allege Liu attempted to bring the fungus through Detroit's airport to study it at a University of Michigan lab where Jian, his girlfriend, worked, the BBC reports. They say Jian may already have been handling the fungus at the lab without the necessary federal permits, the Guardian reports.

The fungus in question is known to cause disease in major crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and rice, with the potential to destroy yields and contaminate food supplies, according to the US Attorney's Office. Its presence can lead to vomiting and liver damage if it enters the food chain and is ingested, and officials note the pathogen is cited in scientific literature as a possible "agroterrorism weapon." It can also cause reproductive defects in both humans and livestock. It's blamed for economic losses in the billions across the globe annually.

Prosecutors say Jian is a member of China's Communist Party and received Chinese government funding for her research on the fungus back in China. US Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. called the case a matter of the "gravest national security concerns," claiming the scheme involved using a university lab to further unspecified goals. The case comes at a time of heightened US-China tensions, following new visa restrictions for Chinese students announced by the Trump administration and trade disputes between Washington and Beijing. Jian has appeared in court, but Liu returned to China after being turned away at the Detroit airport last year.
UPDATE

Jun 6, 2025 5:40 PM CDT

A former police chief and convicted killer was captured Friday afternoon after a manhunt in the mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities announcedabout 1.5 miles from the grounds of the prison he'd escaped. The Izard County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that Grant Hardin's identity was confirmed through fingerprints, the AP reports. State corrections officials said he was found in the woods, per KARK.

Jun 4, 2025 12:00 AM CDT

Escaped Arkansas convict Grant Hardinmurderer, rapist, and former police chiefhas been on the run for almost 10 days, which means he could look different by now, police warn. "With over a week passing since Hardin escaped the North Central Unit, we are releasing a possible updated headshot which could reflect how he might look today," the Arkansas Department of Corrections says in a statement accompanying a photo illustration depicting Hardin with a beard and mustache. Hardin, subject of the HBO documentary Devil in the Ozarks, is 6'2" and about 259 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, NBC News reports. He is depicted as being somewhat slimmer in the photo illustration due to an expected shortage of food for the fugitive, CBS News reports.
North Korea has managed to return its damaged Choe Hyun Class destroyer to an upright position after a failed launch last month, according to analysts with 38 North. The 5,000-ton warship partially capsized on May 21 during a ceremony attended by Kim Jong Un, who reportedly called the incident a blow to the country's reputation and promised to punish those at fault. The North has already detained several officials in connection with the botched launch.

Satellite imagery reviewed by 38 North showed the vessel upright as of Monday for the first time since the accident, per Reuters. North Korean workers at the Chongjin port used tethers and possibly dozens of barrage balloons to right the ship, though photos indicate the bow remains stuck on land and there may be damage to its sonar area.
Steel and aluminum imports into the US just got hit with a heavy blow, with President Trump doubling tariffs to 50% at 12:01am Wednesday and challenging America's trading partners to strike last-minute deals or face stiffer penalties in July. The heightened duties, which CNN reports were announced Friday, apply to all US trading partners except Britain, which recently reached a preliminary trade deal with Washington that allows its rates to hold at 25%, at least until July 9. What you need to know:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday advocated for a plan that would see the UK make its biggest increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War, build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, and become "a battle-ready, armor-clad nation." Starmer was blunt about the main instigator of the move: Britain "cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses ... The threat we face is more serious, more immediate, and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War." More:

The numbers: Should Parliament give the plan the green lightit is expected to do sodefense spending would rise from 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% by 2027, with a goal of reaching 3% of GDP in the following parliamentary term. The plans come in response to a strategic defense review that had been commissioned by Starmer.
A 78-year-old American died in a fire Tuesday at her cottage in Irelandthe final twist in a life filled with twists and turns. As the Guardian reports, Sonia "Sunny" Jacobs spent years on death row for a crime she said she did not commit. As a 28-year-old in 1976, Jacobs was traveling through Florida with her two young children and boyfriend Jesse Tafero. Acquaintance Walter Rhodes, who was with them, had violated his parole conditions. Two officers who approached their car at a rest stop were shot dead; their group fled in the police car, and Rhodes pinned the murders on Jacobs and Tafero. Both received death sentences.

Rhodes later confessed to the murders but repeatedly changed his story, reports the BBC. Tafero was put to death in a botched execution in 1990 in which the electric chair he was in malfunctioned, causing flames to reportedly shoot out of his head. Jacobs' sentence was commuted to life in 1981, and in 1992 she was granted a new trial. She took a plea deal in which she did not admit guilt and was freed after her 17 years served. (The Guardian notes a writer who wrote a book on the case said there was physical and witness evidence that did indicate Jacobs and Tafero were the shooters; info on the case from the Center on Wrongful Convictions suggests otherwise.)

When visiting Ireland in 1998 for an Amnesty International event, Jacobs met Peter Pringle, who had himself been wrongfully convicted of a double murder. The two married years later and worked to help others who had been wrongfully convicted adapt to life post-release. Jacobs' story was incorporated in a play called The Exonerated and subsequently made into a film. The Guardian notes big-name actors including Mia Farrow, Lynn Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Kathleen Turner, Brooke Shields, and Marlo Thomas have played Jacobs. Pringle died in 2023 at 84. Her carer, a man in his 30s named Kevin Kelly, also died in the early-morning fire.
President Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and then quickly told the world as much. In a Truth Social post that was later deleted (the White House has it here), Trump shared what transpired during their 75-minute conversation, which touched on Ukraine's Sunday attack on bombers on Russian airbases. The Hill notes it marks the second time the men have spoken via phone since May 19. Trump wrote:

"It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." CNBC notes Trump did not say whether he pushed Putin to refrain from doing so.
The enemy once again massively attacked Odesa with strike drones, one person was wounded in the leg, nine sought psychological support, head of Odesa regional military administration Oleh Kiper reported on the Telegram channel on Wednesday morning.

"Our air defense forces destroyed most of the targets, but there is damage to civilian infrastructure in the city, in particular residential buildings and service stations. One person was wounded in the leg. Our medics provided all the necessary assistance. Nine people also sought psychological support," Kiper wrote.

The head of the regional administration added that the authorized services are working to eliminate the consequences of the Russian attack. Law enforcement officers are documenting another crime by the Russians against the civilian population of Odesa region.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. High 72F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 57F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
TOKYO, Jun 05 (News On Japan) - The number of babies born in Japan in 2024 fell below 700,000 for the first time since recordkeeping began in 1899, highlighting the nations accelerating demographic crisis. According to population statistics released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on June 4th, the number of births dropped to 686,061down more than 40,000 from the previous year.

The decline has shocked many. A woman in her 30s remarked, "The fact that it dropped below 700,000 is pretty shocking. Even among married couples I know, many are still unsure about having kids, mostly due to financial concerns."

The fertility ratethe average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetimefell to 1.15 in 2024, the lowest level on record and the ninth consecutive year of decline. Tokyo posted the lowest fertility rate at 0.96, followed by Miyagi and Hokkaido. Okinawa remained the highest at 1.54, though still far below the replacement rate of 2.07 needed to sustain population levels.

Japans birthrate peaked during the second baby boom in the early 1970s, when annual births surpassed 2 million. The number fell below 1 million in 2016, dropped under 800,000 in 2022, and now, in just two years, has slipped under 700,000.

The fertility rate in Tokyo has remained below 1.0 for the second consecutive year. The ministry warned, "The sharp decline in births continues unchecked, and the situation remains critical. We intend to intensify efforts to reverse this trend."

Interviews with residents reveal a complex mix of economic, career, and social pressures behind the drop. One woman in her 20s said, "Thinking about this childs future, it worries me that the numbers are declining. Especially when it comes to things like pensions." Others cited the high cost of extracurricular activities and education, or the difficulty of balancing careers with child-rearing.

Some also questioned the necessity of marriage itself, with one person saying, "I have a partner, but Im not sure marriage is necessary. Prices are going up across the board, and Im worried about the future."

Amid the national decline, one town in Okayama Prefecture stands out. The town of Nagi, with a population of just 5,500, posted a fertility rate of 2.21 in 2022. Known as a miracle town in demographic circles, Nagi has implemented childrearing policies that extend from pregnancy through university graduation.

On June 4th, local childcare support centers in Nagi were filled with parents and children. A mother who had relocated from nearby Tsuyama City said, "I moved here after learning about the strong childrearing support. There are many events for stay-at-home mothers."

Officials in Nagi emphasized that economic assistance is provided without interruption, from before birth through to college graduation. Two years ago, former Prime Minister Kishida visited the town to observe its policies firsthand.

While the national birthrate continues to fall, Nagi offers a rare case study in reversing the trendsuggesting that long-term, comprehensive support can make a measurable difference.

Source: FNN
TOKYO, Jun 05 (News On Japan) - Hana Sugisaki appeared at the 62nd Galaxy Awards ceremony held in Tokyo on June 2nd, where she was honored with the Individual Award in the television category. The accolade, presented by the Broadcast Critics Association, recognized her performances in the dramas "Unmet: A Neurosurgeon's Diary" and "Diamond Sleeping in the Sea."

Sugisaki began her career in childhood under the name Hana Kajiura with Stardust Promotion but briefly stepped away from acting before re-entering the industry in 2011. At that point, she joined the Ken-On agency and adopted the stage name Hana Sugisaki, inspired by her admiration for actress Mirai Shida.

Her breakout role came in the 2016 film Her Love Boils Bathwater, which earned her major recognition, including the Best Supporting Actress award at the Japan Academy Film Prize. That performance solidified her reputation as one of Japan's most promising young talents. She went on to star in films such as Blade of the Immortal and voiced the main character in Mary and the Witch's Flower.

In television, Sugisaki drew widespread attention with her lead role in the NHK morning drama Ochoyan, where she portrayed an actress based on the life of Chieko Naniwa. She further showcased her range in the psychological thriller Ichiko, which won her acclaim for its emotional intensity. Her performances have been consistently praised for their depth and nuance, and she continues to be a leading figure among the younger generation of Japanese actors.

Source: Kyodo
OTTAWA, ON, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - On Wednesday, June 4, three of Canada's foremost national leaders representing workers, businesses, and municipalities, will hold a joint press conference in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel.

This reckless escalation is a direct attack on Canadian workers, businesses, and local economies. The impact threatens to devastate Canada's steel and aluminum industries, shut Canadian producers out of the U.S. market, and jeopardize thousands of good, unionized jobs across the country.

Bea Bruske (Canadian Labour Congress), Candace Laing (Canadian Chamber of Commerce), and Carole Saab (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) will outline the urgent need for a coordinated federal response to defend Canadian jobs, businesses, and communities.

WHAT: Joint press conference on U.S. tariffs and their impact on Canada



WHEN: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET



WHERE: Press Conference Room 135-B, West Block, Parliament Hill



WHO: Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)

Carole Saab, CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

SOURCE Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

Please RSVP to: CLC Media Relations, [email protected], 613-526-7426
Pentagon chief to miss Ramstein for first time in three years

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will miss a meeting of an international group to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine for the first time in three years, the Associated Press reports.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, who returned from Singapore on Sunday from a national security conference, will arrive in Brussels only on Wednesday evening, after the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ends.

A US official confirmed on condition of anonymity that Hegseth will not participate, including via video link.

As the AP writes, this is the latest in a series of steps the United States has taken to distance itself from the war in Ukraine. And it followed a warning from French President Emmanuel Macron that the United States and others risked dangerous double standards if their focus on a potential conflict with China came at the expense of abandoning Ukraine.
Eligible Cardmembers will have access to a premium lounge in Montreal from June 12 to 15, 2025

TORONTO, June 4, 2025 /CNW/ - American Express Canada, the Official Payments Partner of Formula 1 is launching Maison Amex, a bespoke pit stop for select Cardmembers during the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025 race weekend. Located in the heart of Montreal, Maison Amex is an exclusive lounge to relax and refuel with complimentary snacks by Chef Danny Smiles of Le Violon, which was recently ranked #1 Best New Restaurant by Canada's 100 Best in 2025.

(CNW Group/American Express Canada)

"We want our Cardmembers to walk away from our experiences feeling inspired, valued and certain that only Amex could have delivered on something so memorable," said Kim Kuzmak, Vice President of Lifestyle Benefits, Partnerships and Brand at American Express Canada. "Whether it's access to Maison Amex or the many on-site benefits we offer at the track, Cardmembers visiting Montreal for F1 will encounter meaningful experiences that reflect their passions and bring the value of Amex Membership to life."

Access to Maison Amex will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details include:

When: Thursday, June 12 Sunday, June 15, 2025 Open 11:00 a.m.  11:00 p.m. ET daily

Thursday, June 12 Where: 1405 Stanley St, Montreal, Quebec H3B 1H8

1405 Stanley St, H3B 1H8 Eligible Cardmembers: Cardmembers with one of the following cards are eligible to attend Maison Amex: The Platinum Card, American Express Aeroplan* Reserve Card, Business Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Aeroplan* Business Reserve Card, American Express Air Canada* Card, The Centurion Card, Corporate Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Aeroplan* Corporate Reserve Card.

Cardmembers with one of the following cards are eligible to attend Maison Amex: The Platinum Card, American Express Aeroplan* Reserve Card, Business Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Aeroplan* Business Reserve Card, American Express Air Canada* Card, The Centurion Card, Corporate Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Aeroplan* Corporate Reserve Card. Access to Maison Amex includes: Access for one (1) Eligible Cardmember and one (1) guest to Maison Amex Beverages available for purchase. Cardmember and Guest must be of legal drinking age to enter the venue Complimentary snacks by Chef Danny Smiles of Le Violon



As an Official Partner of Formula 1, Amex brings incredible access and experiences to Cardmembers and F1 fans around the world. American Express Cardmembers attending the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025 will have access to on-site benefits including:

Amex Trackside Lounge : Eligible Cardmembers * can visit the Amex Trackside Lounge on race weekend to reserve their spot for an exclusive trackside viewing experience. Capacity is limited. Terms Apply.

: Eligible Cardmembers * can visit the Amex Trackside Lounge on race weekend to reserve their spot for an exclusive trackside viewing experience. Capacity is limited. Terms Apply. Amex Fan Experience: Available to all Amex Cardmembers and race attendees, fans can visit the Parc Zone to put their F1 skills to the test with trivia, film their driver intro, and design a custom livery. Capacity is limited.

Available to all Amex Cardmembers and race attendees, fans can visit the Parc Zone to put their F1 skills to the test with trivia, film their driver intro, and design a custom livery. Capacity is limited. Amex Race Radios: Amex Cardmembers get access to complimentary Race Radios, so you never have to miss a moment of the F1 action. Pick up a radio at Amex Race Radio kiosks around the track and listen to live F1 and F1 Academy commentary throughout race weekend. Limit one Race Radio per Cardmember, per day. While supplies last.

Amex Cardmembers get access to complimentary Race Radios, so you never have to miss a moment of the F1 action. Pick up a radio at Amex Race Radio kiosks around the track and listen to live F1 and F1 Academy commentary throughout race weekend. Limit one Race Radio per Cardmember, per day. While supplies last. Amex Pit Stop: Amex Cardmembers can pick up a seat cushion and water bottle carrier by the hairpin turn to stay comfortable at the track. Limit one per Cardmember, per day. While supplies last.

For additional information on FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA benefits for American Express Cardmembers visit: go.amex/canadiangp

The F1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.

TM, : Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

* Cardmembers with one of the following cards are eligible to visit the Trackside Lounge: The Platinum Card, American Express Aeroplan* Reserve Card, Business Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Aeroplan* Business Reserve Card, American Express Air Canada* Card, The Centurion Card, Corporate Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Aeroplan* Corporate Reserve Card.

About American Express

Amex (NYSE: AXP) is a global, premium payments and lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.



Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, Amex' brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. With a hundred million merchant locations on our global network in over 200 countries and territories, we seek to provide the world's best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.

For more information about American Express in Canada, visit amex.ca, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/ and ir.americanexpress.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Express Canada

For media inquiries, please contact: Becky Brescacin, American Express Canada, [email protected]
Retailers in Canada Raise the Bar Again, Showcasing Bold Innovation and Leadership

TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - In a time of accelerated transformation and rising consumer expectations, retailers in Canada are proving once again that they don't just adaptthey lead. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) proudly announced the 14 winners of the 2025 Excellence in Retailing Awards (ERA) tonight at the much-anticipated Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala, a highlight moment of RCCSTORE25 Conference in Toronto. The gala evening also saw the presentation of three distinguished Awards of Distinction and fourteen Retail Education Scholarships, spotlighting both seasoned leadership and the next generation of retail talent.

Winners of the 2025 Excellence in Retailing Awards Announced (CNW Group/Retail Council of Canada)

"This year's ERA winners exemplify the bold, purpose-driven spirit that defines retail in Canada today," said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada. "From championing employee well-being to reimagining the in-store experience and investing deeply in sustainability and community, these retailers are setting a global standard for what it means to lead with impact."

2025 Excellence in Retailing Awards winners are:

Award Category Winner E-Commerce Experience RONA Environmental Leadership Sobeys Inc. In-Store Experience & Design Indigo Books & Music Inc. In-Store Experience & Design Best Buy Canada In-Store Merchandising Walmart Canada Loss Prevention Pet Valu Canada Omni-Channel Societe quebecoise du cannabis (SQDC) Philanthropic Leadership Pattison Food Group Philanthropic Leadership IKEA Canada Pop-Up Experience & Design Sephora Canada Retail Marketing IKEA Canada Retail Marketing Le Groupe Aldo Inc. Supply Chain Innovations Staples Canada Talent Development Purdys Chocolatier

Brisebois added: "I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year's distinguished recipients of the Awards of Distinction: Francois Roberge from la Vie en Rose and Jenn Harper from Cheekbone Beauty for exceptional achievements, resilient leadership and courageous, forward-thinking strategies. At a time when it might be easier to take a cautious path, these retailers have chosen to lead with vision, integrity, and impact."

This year's Gala also marked a poignant moment of celebration as the industry honoured Diane J. Brisebois for her remarkable 30-year tenure as President & CEO of RCC with an induction into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame. "Diane's unwavering commitment and tireless leadership have elevated the retail sector to new heights," said Santo Ligotti, Vice President, Marketing and Membership, Retail Council of Canada. "Her legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of retail leaders across the country."

Among the fourteen students awarded Retail Education Scholarships, four received additional honours.

Alana Tollenaar (sponsored by JRoss Recruiters)

(sponsored by JRoss Recruiters) Emilio Velazquez (sponsored by RCC)

(sponsored by RCC) Amaira Bons (sponsored by Browns Shoes)

(sponsored by Browns Shoes) David Medcalfe (sponsored by Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.)

Learn more about the Excellence in Retail Awards selection criteria, and the Retail Education Scholarship Program.

About Retail Council of Canada

Retail is Canada's largest private-sector employer with over 2.3 million Canadians working in our industry. This sector is a major economic contributor, generating more than $93 billion annually in wages and employee benefits. In 2024, core retail sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline) exceeded $508 billion. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members account for more than two-thirds of these core retail sales and 95 per cent of the grocery market. Our membership extends across the country, embracing over 54,000 storefronts in diverse formats such as department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers, online merchants, and quick service restaurants. As the Voice of Retail in Canada, RCC, a not-for-profit, industry-funded association, proudly represents retail businesses of all sizes, from small independents to large national chains, in communities nationwide. retailcouncil.org.

SOURCE Retail Council of Canada

Santo Ligotti, VP Marketing & Membership, (416) 274-2956, [email protected]
During the day, the invaders lost 1,020 units of manpower and 216 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported as of 7:00 Wednesday.

In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed three tanks, seven armored combat vehicles, 88 artillery systems, 123 units of automotive equipment and tanker trucks, as well as two units of special equipment.

The enemy also lost 176 UAVs of the operational-tactical level.
The UK on Wednesday promised to deliver 100,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of the current financial year in April 2026, Reuters reports.

The British government said that the drone package worth GBP 350 million ($473 million) is part of a wider program of military assistance to Ukraine worth GBP 4.5 million.

As the agency notes, British Defense Minister John Healy will announce this during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which will be held in Brussels with the participation of 50 states and will be co-organized with Germany.

"The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year and completing a major milestone in the delivery of critical artillery ammunition," Healey said in a statement ahead of the meeting.

In addition to supplying drones, the UK said it had completed the shipment of 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January and would spend an additional GBP 247 million this year on training Ukrainian military personnel.
Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said in an interview with the American TV channel Newsmax TV that the sanctions discussed in the US Senate are "very effective" and should be coordinated with partners from the EU.

"The sanctions that we discussed today in the Senate are very effective. These sanctions must be coordinated with partners from the EU, and if a new package of EU and US sanctions is issued at the same time, it will really put pressure on Russia," Yermak said.

The head of the Presidents Office stressed the importance of finding new "real and effective" sanctions against the Russian Federation. According to him, such restrictions give results, although this takes some time. As an example, he mentioned Senator Graham's legislative initiative on sanctions.

"Senator Graham's legislative initiative on sanctions concerns the oil, energy and banking sectors - these are really painful and really effective sanctions. Putin will stop and go to negotiations only when he feels that continuing the war will cost him dearly," Yermak added.

He also noted that he will discuss a new military aid package with American partners, noting that "strong security arrangements with the United States are needed."
Switzerland has joined the 17th package of sanctions against Russia, which the European Union adopted in May, the Swiss government website reported on Tuesday.

As noted, 17 individuals and 58 legal entities have been sanctioned. Their assets will be frozen, and entry to and transit through Switzerland will be prohibited.

In addition, 189 vessels from third countries have been restricted. These are mainly tankers that are part of the Russian shadow fleet, the report said.

Switzerland has also tightened export controls for 31 companies, including from third countries that are not members of the European Union, the government said.
Alexander Smith is an ordained Christian minister who works as a firefighter and air mask technician in Atlantic City. SL

Atlantic City officials violated a firefighters religious freedom by forcing him to shave his beard, a federal appeals court ruled.

Alexander Smith is an ordained Christian minister who works as a firefighter and air mask technician in Atlantic City.

The case originated in early 2019 after Smiths request for religious accommodation was denied and he was threatened with suspension.

He then filed suit in federal court, which led to the appeal now decided by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Smith argued that his faith requires him to grow a beard, but the citys grooming standards mandate that firefighters be clean-shaven to ensure a proper seal on their breathing equipment.

Smith, who has not engaged in fire suppression since 2015, serves in a critical support role maintaining breathing equipment for other firefighters.

The court noted the city had not required him to undergo fit testing for years and had other options to accommodate his religious beliefs without compromising safety.

Atlantic City likely violated Smiths religious rights by enforcing the beard ban, the court ruled on May 30.

Smiths attorney, Kayla Toney of First Liberty Institute, praised the ruling.

Alex takes both his role as a first responder and his faith seriously, she said. Now, he wont be forced to choose between the two.

The court reinstated Smiths lawsuit and ordered the city to stop disciplining him while the case continues.

It did not issue a final ruling on whether he can keep the beard permanently. That decision now goes back to the lower court.

However, the federal appeals court said Atlantic Citys rule banning beards wasnt applied fairly across the board.

The opinion noted that while the city claimed the rule was about safety  specifically ensuring air masks fit tightly during fires  it made exceptions for some people.

For example, administrative staff werent required to take the same mask-fitting tests, and fire captains had the power to make case-by-case exceptions to the rule.

Because the fire department allowed other kinds of exceptions, the court said it couldnt turn around and deny an exception to someone who needed one for religious reasons.

In legal terms, that meant the rule wasnt generally applicable, which triggered a much tougher legal standard.

Under that standard, the city had to prove it had no other way to meet its safety goals without burdening the firefighters religious belief. The court said the city failed to do that.

It also ruled that the city failed to show that allowing Smith to keep his beard for religious reasons would significantly disrupt operations or create major difficulties under federal civil rights law.

Religious liberty is our first freedom, wrote circuit Judge David Porter in the majority opinion. So long as the government can achieve its interests in a manner that does not burden religion, it must do so.

However, the court did uphold the dismissal of Smiths claims under the Equal Protection Clause and Title VIIs anti-retaliation provisions, finding insufficient evidence that the citys actions were motivated by religious animus.

The case attracted backing from religious and civil liberties groups, including the Christian Legal Society, the Sikh Coalition, and the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, all of which supported Smiths fight for a religious accommodation.

An Atlantic City spokesperson declined to comment on the case.

Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com.
Season 5 of "Stranger Things" is set to premiere later this year. Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix is one of the streaming platforms credited with the rise of binge-watching, so why does it seem to be moving away from releasing full seasons all at once?

Two of the most highly anticipated Netflix releases of the year  season 2 of Wednesday and season 5 of Stranger Things  will be released in separate parts.

Four episodes of Wednesday are set to premiere on August 6, and the final episodes will hit the streamer on September 3. The final season of Stranger Things, meanwhile, has been broken up into three parts. Four episodes will drop November 26, three more premiere on December 25, and the finale airs on December 31.

Netflix used the same strategy for season 4 of Stranger Things, season 3 of Bridgerton, season 6 of Cobra Kai, season 4 of Outer Banks, season 3 of The Witcher, season 6 of The Crown, and season 4 of Emily in Paris.

Breaking seasons into parts isnt exactly fun for viewers. Theyre forced to remember multiple different premiere dates and wait weeks, or even months, between episodes. One fan reacted to the Stranger Things season 5 release schedule via X, writing, What are these dates omggg a month of waiting for volume 2???? im too impatient for this.

Another viewer chimed in, stranger things doing a THREE VOLUME SPLIT for an EIGHT EPISODE SEASON that took them THREE YEARS TO FILM.

A third person simply wrote, Why is the final season of stranger things broken into 3 parts? Is that really necessary?

READ MORE: Netflix renews 8 shows  see which series is only getting one more season

If fans arent enjoying this Netflix scheduling tactic, then why is it happening? Netflixs Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria spoke to Deadline about the strategy in January.

A lot of times its been creator-driven, Bajaria said. Peter Morgan on The Crown, Shonda Rhimes on Bridgerton, there was a way that they wanted to structure or write it because they felt it was an actual, natural emotional break. So, theres no set way, it depends on whats best for the show.

What happened to reserving such narrative breaks for season finales? Cant creators who want viewers to pause between episodes opt for a weekly release schedule rather than split-seasons? Surely this trend is about more than just storytelling.

Kevin McEwan, a media director for Bonding Agency, told Cosmopolitan in 2024 that breaking seasons into separate parts is a way to keep viewers attention on shows for longer.

READ MORE: See which HBO and Max shows are canceled and renewed for the 2025-2026 season

Gone are the days when audiences are happy to schedule in time to sit down and watch their favorite show each week, McEwan said. Especially when they can typically access the entire series to watch at their leisure once this has aired.

Maybe split-seasons are helping shows remain the subject of water cooler conversation for longer, but theres room for the approach to backfire.

Its crucial to exercise caution with this strategy, as its been observed that for certain series, viewership declined as the show reached its conclusion, McEwan said.

While Im hoping that this Netflix pattern dies out soon, Bajaria assured Deadline that season 5 of Stranger Things will be worth the wait.

When it comes out, whenever and however it comes out, youre going to love every second of it, she said.

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New Jersey officials are hosting a public auction of surplus vehicles in Trenton on June 14. Canva stock image

The New Jersey Division of Distribution and Support Services is planning a live public auction of surplus state vehicles and other property on June 14 at their facility located at 1620 Stuyvesant Ave. in Trenton.

The upcoming live auction on June 14 will feature vehicles and other surplus items, according to the states auction website.

The vehicles, which include Ford, Dodge, GMC, Chevy and Toyota brands, can be inspected from 9 a.m. to noon on June 13 and at 8 until the auction starts on June 14 at 1620 Stuyvesant Ave., Trenton

The state website provides a list of the vehicles for auction, with a description of each vehicle by make, model, serial number and mileage.

Inquiries about the auction, procedures, or items being sold can be directed to Distribution and Support Services at 609-530-3300.

Email Joseph Signoretta at dssauction@treas.nj.gov for more information.

The state conducts on-line auctions of surplus property through the company, Municibid. To view current auctions, click on the following link.



Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.
A husband and wife have pleaded guilty to charges related to operating a prostitution ring at their family owned gentlemans club, authorities said.

An investigation of the illicit side business at XXXV Club started in 2022.

Authorities alleged that the strip club, located on Route 35 in Sayreville, had spent years operating a house of prostitution inside the club and failed to pay taxes on cash payments received from the illegal activities.

On Tuesday, owners Doreen and Anthony Acciardi Sr., of Freehold, pleaded guilty to third-degree failure to pay income tax and fourth-degree maintaining a nuisance through maintaining a house of prostitution, the state Attorney Generals Office said in a statement.

As part of their plea bargain, the couple has agreed to pay $705,000 in unpaid taxes to the state. About $420,000 in cash previously seized by law enforcement will be forfeited and applied to the tax settlement, authorities said.

They originally faced more serious charges, including money laundering and racketeering.

The business, formally named 35 Club LLC, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree engaging in the operation of a sexually oriented business. As part of the plea agreement, the XXXV Club will be subject to independent monitoring for five years.

Acciboys, LLC, a company that owned ATMs inside the club, also pleaded guilty to maintaining a nuisance through maintaining a house of prostitution. The ATM operator is owned by the couples adult children, Anthony Acciardi Jr., of Old Bridge, and Stephen Acciardi, of Freehold.

The brothers, as well as two other relatives who worked at the club, will enter pretrial intervention programs for three years in addition to owing fines and penalties. Stephen Acciardi will also pay taxes owed to the state. The unpaid tax amount has not been disclosed.

As part of the deal, the state will seek three years of probation for Anthony Acciardi Sr. and two years of probation for his wife.

The guilty pleas in this case underscore that illegal business dealings and tax cheating are not worth it, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Those crimes will not go undetected and, once theyre uncovered, they will be prosecuted.

During the investigation, authorities obtained surveillance footage from the business, which revealed that dancers had performed sexual acts on customers in VIP rooms, the state said.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
A Middlesex County man was sentenced to just over two years in prison after admitting to defrauding investors out of $1 million he said would be used to purchase Brazilian sugar, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Mohammed Rahman, 64, of Iselin previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme.

Rahman used his company, Caltech Trading Corporation, which purported to buy and sell commodities, to persuade investors to send him money for a sugar investment, officials said.

Rahman and others from South Korea persuaded about 60 investors to send money for a $1 million investment in Brazilian sugar that he promised would result in a 100% return on investment, authorities said.

Instead, investors money was wired directly into Rahmans bank account and used for personal purchases including mortgage payments, authorities said.

Rahman was also accused of altering bank statements to hide that he did not properly invest the money, officials said.

Rahman was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1.39 million in restitution. The court seized $1 million from Rahman as part of his sentencing, authorities said.

Mr. Rahman is a devoted family man who has worked extremely hard his whole life, his attorney Robert Stahl said. He knows that he is not defined by this lapse and will continue his law abiding life and dedication to his community once released.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
Middlesex County is reporting its third rabid animal this year. Canva Illustration for NJ.com

A sick raccoon that attacked a New Brunswick residents dog last week has tested positive for rabies, according to Middlesex County Office of Health Services.

A resident in the area of Townsend Street and Throop Avenue called animal control on May 29 to report that their dog was attacked by a raccoon, officials said.

The animal was taken to a state Department of Health laboratory, where it tested positive for rabies, authorities said.

The resident was told to consult with their physician and with their veterinarian regarding exposure to the rabid animal. No other exposures have been reported, authorities said.

This is the third rabid animal reported in Middlesex County this year and the first in New Brunswick.

Health officials urged residents to report wild animals showing signs of unusual behavior to the police.

While some rabid animals are aggressive and vicious, others might appear lethargic and paralyzed.

Officials said its important to avoid contact with unfamiliar animals, even if they seem friendly.

Additionally, residents are advised to tightly secure all garbage cans, avoid leaving pet food or water outside, prevent rainwater from collecting in outdoor containers or equipment and keep yards free of garbage and debris.

Rabies is an infectious disease that attacks the central nervous system. It travels from the brain to salivary glands during the final stages, making an animal become infectious days before it dies.

It cannot spread from one animal to another unless skin is broken. While it is not airborne, any open wounds that come in contact with saliva are at risk of infection.

In New Jersey, raccoons account for the majority of the rabid animals diagnosed, followed by skunks, cats, foxes, and groundhogs, according to the state health department.

Twelve other species of animals have also been diagnosed with rabies, including deer, dogs, horses, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits and ferrets.

As of March 31, the New Jersey Department of Health has reported a total of 18 animal rabies cases, 13 of them raccoons this year. More recent data is not yet available.

Although its rare, an average of 10 people still die from rabies each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, usually because they didnt get medical help soon enough after being scratched or bitten.

The last rabies death in New Jersey was that of a 73-year-old woman in 2011.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
A former Monmouth County man was sentenced to six years in prison after defrauding 33 people out of more than $4.7 million in a fee scheme, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

John Sabo, 71, formerly of Spring Lake, and now living in Florida, previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

From November 2014 through about August 2023, authorities said Sabo fraudulently induced several people to pay millions in up-front or advance fees.

Sabo promised to provide collateral for financing for business projects through his business, Bankers Capital, but neither Sabo nor his business had access to financing or collateral, authorities said.

Sabo used the money for personal expenses including paying back creditors, but also used the money to pay back people he had previously defrauded, authorities said.

He even continued the scheme after he was charged in November 2022 with wire fraud, officials said.

Sabo must pay back the over $4.78 million he took as a result of the scheme and must also serve three years of supervised release, authorities said.

Sabos attorney declined to comment.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
A West Long Branch man admitted Wednesday that he evaded the IRS and hid his real estate portfolio, federal prosecutors said.

For tax years 2015 and 2016, Matthew Tucci, of West Long Branch, filed tax returns that stated he owed more than $2 million in taxes for both years, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey.

Despite admitting that he owed those taxes, Tucci did not fully pay them when they were due, the office said. Instead, he purchased real estate and engaged in a series of transactions designed to conceal his interest in those properties, authorities said.In 2017, the IRS sent notices to him to let him know he owed taxes, interest, and penalties for 2015 and 2016, investigators said.

After receiving these notices, he transferred multiple properties to an entity owned by another, unidentified person, authorities said. However, he continued to exert control over at least two of them, authorities said. Of the two properties he continued to control, he sold one and refinanced the other.

Tucci then used the proceeds from these transactions to pay his personal expenses rather than his tax debts and in 2019, he submitted documents to the IRS that falsely claimed that he had no connection to the entity that owned the 12 properties, the office said.

Tucci was arrested on April 5, 2024, and was released following his initial court appearance the same day, officials said. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of tax evasion and is now scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9.

The Asbury Park Press previously identified Tucci as the son of West Long Branch Mayor Janet Tucci.

No attorney information for Tucci was provided by the office and Janet Tucci could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The surfer tackled by a Belmar cop last summer during a confrontation over whether he needed a beach badge pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating the towns badge ordinance.

Liam Mahoney, the 29-year-old Californian, took the deal as part of plea bargain in which he was accepted into a diversion program that will see the three more-serious charges - disorderly conduct, obstruction, resisting arrest  dismissed if he complies with a year of probation.

But the deal almost didnt happen when Mahoney started explaining to Belmars municipal court judge, Dennis Lavender, how he entered the 19th Avenue beach last Aug. 20.

During questioning from his lawyer, Cathleen Christie, Mahoney said he did not have a visible badge when confronted by police officer Ryan Braswell as he exited the surf carrying his longboard.

He did have a badge, though, his sisters badge, which he was borrowing, Mahoney said.

Hold on, a surprised Lavender said, adding he was unaware of that claim.

The judge then took over questioning Mahoney, all while saying they might be questions for a trial.

Lavender asked if Mahoney had a badge on while he surfed. No, he was wearing a wetsuit, Mahoney replied.

Did you have a badge under your wetsuit? Not on your skin, but on a rash guard? No, Mahoney said. He is full commando, underneath the suit, he said.

I didnt have it on me when I was surfing, Mahoney said.

At one point, Lavender turned to municipal prosecutor Robert Cosgrove and asked, You ok with this (explanation)?

There is no evidence he had a beach badge, Cosgrove replied.

Under more questioning, Mahoney said he walked onto the beach past the badge checkers with his sister, who had two badges on her bag.

Thats it, were going to trial, Lavender said, and halted the proceeding.

Christie and Cosgrove huddled several times and once met with the judge in his chambers.

During the break, Mahoneys sister arrived at the courthouse.

She was the one pleading last summer with police on the body camera that Mahoney had a badge, Mahoney and Christie said during the break.

About 90 minutes later, the drama subsided as everyone filed back into court, and the guilty plea continued.

Mahoney then said he did not have a beach badge, nor displayed one. He said his belief was he did not need one when he walked onto the sand to surf that day.

He then said his actions with Braswell, who was seated at the prosecution table, were disorderly, he obstructed him by walking away and then resisted him by keeping his hands in front when Braswell pulled out his handcuffs.

Braswell ended up tackling Mahoney to the sand as a crowd gathered.

Lavender said he was satisfied with Mahoneys plea and fined him a combined $1,410 for the disorderly, obstruction and resisting charges. It will also cost Mahoney a $57 fine for the beach badge fine.

In a lighter moment, Lavender clarified that back in his surfing days, he and others wore trunks under their wetsuits, prompting chuckles. (He did not say if he wore a badge.)

Mahoney is originally from the Jersey Shore and flew back to the area for the guilty plea. He wore a green plaid suit jacket, dark pants and pulled his hair in a ponytail for court.

He declined to make a statement after leaving court.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
A former bookkeeper at two Roman Catholic parishes in Morris County admitted last month that she stole nearly $300,000 from the churches, authorities announced Tuesday.

The 60-year-old Haskell woman pleaded guilty on May 19 to two counts of third-degree theft, according to a statement from the Morris County Prosecutors Office.

An investigation was launched after the woman was accused of stealing about $192,000 while employed as a bookkeeper at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church in Washington Township by writing herself numerous checks from parish accounts, the office said.

Detectives discovered that between May 2018 and May 2024, she created 137 checks totaling $287,487 at the church and three checks totaling $5,242 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church in Pompton Plains, authorities said.

The total loss at both churches was $292,728, investigators said.

The woman was charged on March 27, 2025, the office said.

She now faces 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Center as a condition of probation and will be required to pay back the full amount she stole from the churches, authorities said.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The United States supports the efforts of Russia and Ukraine to resolve the "military conflict through diplomatic means," said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

"Sometimes, remarkably, in negotiations, you have some progress... especially regarding the exchange of wounded prisoners and very young prisoners," she said during a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

At the same time, the United States supports "bilateral efforts by the parties," adding that the United States is not directly involved in the talks.

"As the President has said and as the Secretary has noted as well, this has now got to be between the parties," she said at the briefing.

At the same time, Bruce noted that Washington, when assessing the progress of the talks, pays attention to the facts, not the statements of the parties.

"We do look at what people do, not what they say," she noted.
New Jersey's Muslim community will soon begin celebrating the holiday. CANVA

Over 300,000 Muslims across New Jersey will begin celebrating Eid al-Adha on Friday.

For several days, Muslims will pray and donate to charity, and some will have an animal slaughtered usually a sheep, goat, cow, or camel  for the holiday.

Eid al-Adha, which translates to the festival of sacrifice, celebrates when the prophet Abraham agreed to sacrifice his son Ismail after God asked him to, said Aya Elamroussi, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations New Jersey (CAIR-NJ).

The holiday symbolizes Muslims complete faith in God even when we dont totally understand the meaning or whatever is asked of us, she said. It signifies our deep faith.

Mosaic spoke with Elamroussi about the holiday. Heres what to know.

Q: How do Muslims celebrate the holiday?

A: Donating is a core tenant of the religion and is emphasized during the holiday. Many give financially to holidays, but those who can do so, will have an animal slaughtered. The meat is then divided into three portions: one is kept for the family, another is given to friends and relatives and the last portion is given to those in need. Leading up to the holiday, some Muslims will also fast.

Q: What is the difference between Ramadan and Eid al-Adha?

A: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a month. They mark the end of fasting with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Adha typically occurs two months after Eid al-Fitr.

Q: What do you say to someone who is celebrating the holiday?

A: Happy Eid or Eid Mubarak.

Amira Sweilem may be reached at asweilem@njadvancemedia.com.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.
Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed budget does not include funding for the tuition aid grant, potentially impacting about $24,000 struggling college students. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) Staten Island Advance

Editors note: This story was originally published by NJ Spotlight News and shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and NJ Spotlight News. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X).

For a growing number of low-income college students, summer does not necessarily mean time off from school. The expansion of the Tuition Aid Grant program to include summer classes has allowed students to continue toward their degree at a lower cost  but this could be the last summer the financial aid is available.

Gov. Phil Murphys proposed budget does not include funding for Summer TAG, which has helped around 24,000 students in its first two years. At budget hearings, college presidents called for the Legislature to add $30 million for summer tuition aid to the budget for next year so the program can continue in summer 2026. This is one of several requests from higher education leaders, who are raising alarm about potential cuts at the state and federal levels.

Its a perfect storm of disinvestment, said Eric Friedman, president of Bergen Community College.

Lawmakers have until the end of June to pass a budget for the fiscal year starting on July 1, a budget that likely will look different from the $58.3 billion plan Murphy proposed. The administration is calling it a tight budget year, which means cuts to programs like Summer TAG that the governor has promoted throughout his time in office. Murphy is calling for record-high state spending and over $1 billion in new taxes and fees to support that spending.

Full funding for Summer TAG in 2026 would cost about $36 million, according to Margo Chaly, executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

Summer TAG was only introduced in 2023

Participation in the program has grown since its introduction in 2023. To participate, students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours over the summer and have received a TAG award during the previous school year.

At the states 18 community colleges, Summer TAG is seen as key to keeping students engaged with school and helping their return in the fall.

Matthew Fessler, dean of enrollment at Hudson County Community College, said students who take summer classes after their first year are 68% more likely to return for their second year. The school has been pushing students to take summer classes to improve retention, offering up to seven free credits over the summer by paying a students remaining tuition balance after accounting for financial aid and scholarships. This year, nearly 50% more students are enrolled in summer classes than last year, Fessler said.

Darali Garacia, a first-year student studying to be a social worker, said Summer TAG keeps her on track and engaged.

If I werent to receive it, I think I would be sidetracked, and I wont be as motivated to continue studying, Garacia said.

Who stands to lose most?

Eric Friedman, president of Bergen Community College, said keeping students engaged over the summer helps limit the number of students who drop out, which is an important goal of the states community colleges.

We can keep students going year-long, moving them towards their goals, their dreams, their degrees without this long valley of the summer where they cant afford to take classes, Friedman said. We dont want them off from May until Labor Day. Thats a long period of time to get disconnected and to lose interest.

Removing Summer TAG funding would impact the most vulnerable students by delaying their degree completion and increasing the cost of their college education, Friedman said. Many community college students are balancing work, child care, elder care or other responsibilities with their course work, he said.

Summer enrollment at Bergen Community College is usually about 7,000 students, which is half of enrollment during the typical school year. This summer, about 500 students are receiving more than $500,000 in summer TAG awards.

Chris Reber, president of Hudson County Community College, said about 90% of his students rely on financial aid and more than two-thirds have suffered from housing insecurity, food insecurity and homelessness. This means finishing school quickly and at a low cost is important, he said.

What students say

Without taking these classes this summer, I would not be graduating on time, said Roah Moustafa, a second-year student and Summer TAG recipient at Hudson County Community College.

Malaya Allen, a recent graduate of Hudson County Community College, said taking summer classes last year without a Summer TAG award would have put a financial burden on her entire family. Allen would have tried to take the additional classes in the fall and spring semesters instead, which would have been overwhelming, she said.

This summer, 650 Hudson County Community College students are eligible for Summer TAG, an increase of 115% from 2023. Sylvia Mendoza, dean of financial aid, said she expects the number would grow next summer if Summer TAG were available then.

The higher summer enrollment is, the more summer courses that can be offered to all students, not just those receiving TAG awards. By allowing more students to make progress toward graduation over the summer, it helps the local economy by filling openings in education, health care and other high-need fields earlier, Friedman said.

If Summer TAG grants are ended, he said, We really are undermining New Jerseys stated goals of open access to higher education and college completion.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcomand on Facebook atMosaicNJcomand on YouTube at@MosaicNJcom.
A Texas resident who made violent threats towards a religious organization based in New Jersey is headed to prison.

Bhushan Athale, 49, of Dallas, received a 26-month federal sentence on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a statement.

He pleaded guilty earlier this year to interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon and transmitting an interstate threat to injure another person.

In September 2022, Athale called a nonprofit Sikh organization based in Burlington County. Sikh is a religion that was founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region of India.

Over the course of about an hour, he left seven voicemails expressing his hatred for people who work at the organization and made several threats against them, authorities said. In particular voicemails, he threatened that he would shave their hair with a razor and force them to smoke and eat tobacco, according to court documents.

He called the organization again in March 2024 and left two voicemails that included violent and sexual language towards the Sikh, Muslim and Jewish religions, federal prosecutors said.

As part of his guilty plea, Athale also admitted to sending text messages to a Muslim coworker and a recruiter who he believed to be Muslim, in which he threatened their lives. The text to the coworker, sent in November 2021, threatened that he would hire a Jewish person to kill the individual and the persons entire family, according to prosecutors.

As part of his sentence, Athale is subject to three years of supervised release and is forbidden from having contact with his victims.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Hey there New Jersey! Heres your audio update highlighting the sentence for a surfer who was tackled by police officers for not having a beach badge, rising school superintendent salaries, and a legal case filed by Newark mayor Ras Baraka against the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

Listen by clicking the play button above.

This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result.

We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After youve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think.

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A New Jersey municipal judge has been suspended by the Supreme Court for two months without pay after a state ethics panel found his personal Facebook activity crossed the line into judicial misconduct.

Judge Robert M. LePore, who serves part-time in Point Pleasant Beach, was formally disciplined for publicly supporting law enforcement, political candidates, and local businesses on social media  behavior the New Jersey Supreme Court said undermined the appearance of impartiality expected from the bench.

Along with the suspension, LePore must complete in-person training on systemic and implicit bias before returning to court.

According to a formal complaint filed by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, LePores Facebook activity included public endorsements, affiliations with law enforcement and political figures, and connections to private businesses. These activities raised concerns about his impartiality, the complaint said.

The complaint noted that despite being warned about the ethical implications, LePore failed to remove the content.

LePore liked a Facebook group that criticized New Jerseys bail reform laws, a system he helps enforce, and he maintained visible ties to local attorneys, realtors, and political candidates on the platform.

The committee said these actions created the appearance of bias and could lead the public to question whether certain individuals or groups had influence over the judge.

The New Jersey Supreme Court agreed that LePore broke several judicial rules, including ones that require judges to stay neutral, avoid improper behavior, and protect the courts reputation.

In addition to the two-month unpaid suspension, which will begin June 4, 2025, the court ordered LePore to complete at least four hours of in-person training on systemic and implicit bias before returning to the bench.

LePore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com.
The EPA has begun its long-awaited asbestos cleanup on the grounds of the Allied Textile Printing plant. The site is next to the Paterson-Great Falls National Historical Park., which can't open its new $8 million river walk until the cleanup is complete. Steven Rodas | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The long-awaited cleanup of one of Patersons most important industrial relics began this week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency arrived at the Allied Textile Printing property opposite the Great Falls to begin removing loose bricks from the smokestack. It has been slowly crumbling since 1983, when a huge fire tore through the complex and left the historic Colt gun mill, located on the ATP site, in ruins.

Securing the smokestack is the first step in the EPAs $4 million project to remove lead and asbestos from the fire-gutted factory buildings.

The cleanup, which could take a year or more, has to be finished before the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park can open its new $8 million river walk that leads visitors to the Colt ruins.

We are mobilizing a lot of equipment right now, but the actual brick removal will happen in the next week or so, said Stephen McBay, an EPA spokesman. Its not yet clear whether all  or some  of the ATP smokestack will be dismantled to protect the workers who will be doing the asbestos removal, he said.

Completing the Allied Textile Printing site cleanup  intricate work like remediating any toxic site in New Jersey  will bring health risks of its own as crews begin work this fall. The site is next to Paterson's Great Falls and the new Quarry Lawn Park. Image by EPA

Some residents who live near the ATP site are concerned about safety. David Soo, an historic preservationist who lives in the restored Phoenix Mill with his wife and six-month-old daughter, worries about the potential health effects of airborne asbestos.

My concern is the EPA hasnt done anything to create an emergency alert system if something happens, Soo said. They havent even suggested that the people who live right next door to the property close their windows while the working there.

McBay said the EPA has created the ATP project website to keep residents informed. Anyone with questions can contact the projects community involvement coordinator, Joel Waddell, at 929-656-3416 or by emailing him at waddell.joel@epa.gov.

McBay said the EPA crew is monitoring air quality and testing samples for asbestos. According to the project website, the EPA collected 26 air samples in January, and there was no asbestos detected in any of them.

Once the smokestack is secure and the asbestos removal begins in the gutted buildings below, workers will continually water down the site so the asbestos particles do not become airborne, McBay said.

Closing windows should not be necessary, McBay said. The air is being monitored at all times, he said. If something went wrong, we would know way before it got to your open window, he said.

The smokestack of the Allied Textile Printing site, as seen from the new river walk in the Great Falls national park. To the left are the ruins of another mill. The river walk won't be open to the public until the asbestos cleanup on the ATP site is finished. Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com

Located next to the national park, ATP is considered the oldest mill site at the Great Falls. It is where U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton established Americas first planned industrial center through the creation of the Society for Useful Manufactures in 1791.

The first mill on the ATP site produced nails. Then in 1836, Samuel Colt opened the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company in a four-story brownstone built with rock hewn from cliffs overlooking the Passaic River.

Colt didnt invent the revolver, but he created an assembly line system to mass produce the weapon. But he initially had trouble selling the weapon, because people didnt know how to use it. He shut down the Paterson mill in 1843, then moved his operation to Hartford, Connecticut, where he made a fortune selling guns during the Mexican-American War.

After guns, machine parts, and locomotives, textiles became the next big industry. By the late 1800s, Paterson had been dubbed Silk City with mills employing thousands of workers, many of them immigrants from countries around the world.

Allied Textile Printing grew to become the largest mill in Paterson. By 1940, it employed over 1,000 workers. But as Patersons silk industry went into decline, so did ATP, which closed in 1982.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.
A 20-year-old New Jersey man died Tuesday after he apparently fell out of a moving vehicle in Passaic County, authorities said.

The victim was a passenger in a Jeep Wrangler traveling on Clinton Road in West Milford when the incident occurred about 6 p.m., according to West Milford Police Chief Shannon Sommerville.

Police said they received a call reporting a motor vehicle incident. Arriving officers found the passenger had been seriously injured after falling out of the vehicle, Sommerville said.

EMS attempted life-saving measures on the passenger, a 20-year-old male from Haledon, but he was subsequently pronounced deceased, Sommerville and Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said in a statement.

The mans name was not released. The prosecutor and police chief did not identify the Jeeps driver or say how fast the vehicle was traveling.

It was also unclear if other passengers were in the vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the prosecutors office at 1-877-370-PCPO, or email tips@passaiccountynj.org.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com.
The last of three corrections officers pleaded guilty to charges in connection with assault of an inmate, officials said. Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com

The third Passaic County Correctional Officer accused of helping assault an inmate in an area of the county jail without surveillance cameras pleaded guilty, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Sergeant Jose Gonzalez, 46, pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct justice on Wednesday.

Gonzalez was charged alongside two other corrections officers at the Passaic County Jail who pleaded guilty to the assault after the inmate squirted urine on an officer, authorities said.

The inmate, who was being held for pretrial detention, squirted the urine mixture on an officer on Jan. 22, 2021, authorities said.

The next day, Gonzalez admitted to leading the detainee into a blind spot of the jail with two other officers, authorities said.

While the detainee was handcuffed, they assaulted him, knocked him to the ground, and struck him multiple times on the floor, authorities said."

The detainee was taken to the hospital the next day for his injuries and the officers never filed a use of force report which was required, according to authorities.

In March 2022, Gonzalez admitted to making false statements to federal agents who interviewed him during an investigation into the incident, authorities said.

After receiving federal grand jury subpoenas in April 2022, Gonzalez and the other officers agreed to not cooperate with federal investigators and maintain that the detainee had not been assaulted, authorities said.

One of the officers, Sergeant Lorenzo Bowden, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The other officer, Sergeant Donald Vinales, pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct on May 21, officials said.

Bowden and Vinales are awaiting sentencing.

Gonzalezs sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22, authorities said.

His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

After tech billionaire Elon Musk slammed President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill as a disgusting abomination on Tuesday, he has continued to rally against the multitrillion-dollar package on social media.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk wrote in his original post on X, calling it a massive, outrageous, pork-filled bill.

Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it, he continued.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore.



This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.



Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

In a separate post, he said the bill will burden Americans since it would massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!), adding in another, Congress is making America bankrupt.

This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery! he also wrote on Wednesday, and reposted criticism from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who have both already publicly opposed the bill and faced threats from Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who muscled the bill through, broke his silence to the news on Wednesday, saying that the president is not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that.

Look, I dont know what happened in 24 hours, he said on Wednesday. So everybody can draw their own conclusions about that, OK. But I look forward to talking to my friend about it again, and Im not upset about it.

While Trump himself has not personally weighed in on Musks tirade, a Republican aide told Jake Sherman, the founder of Punchbowl News, his reason as to why the Tesla CEO decided to switch his view.

The guy that was pro the package until he realized he wasnt going to get his way with the EV tax credits, the aide told Sherman.

A Republican aide on @elonmusk opposing the reconciliation bill: "The guy that was pro the package until he realized he wasnt going to get his way with the EV tax credits."  Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 4, 2025

The current version of the bill, which narrowly passed through the House last month and has made its way to the Senate, would phase out the Biden-era consumer tax credit after 2026 for new electric vehicles. The credit, which allows consumers buying a new vehicle to claim up to $7,500, would no longer qualify for automakers that sold more than 200,000 vehicles from Dec. 31, 2009, to the same date at the end of this year.

In late May, Musk reposted a post from his company, Tesla Energy, that warned against the tax credit being pulled too quickly due to the bill.

Abruptly ending the energy tax credits would threaten Americas energy independence and the reliability of our grid - we urge the senate to enact legislation with a sensible wind down of 25D and 48e, the post reads.

In a separate post, Musk also said that there is no change to tax incentives for oil & gas, just EV/solar.

Musks sharp critique of the bill comes after the worlds richest man ended his time in the Trump administration as a special government employee last Friday. He had already expressed similar concerns of the bill during an interview with CBS News, in which he said the budget bill undermines the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he led in slashing the size of the federal government.

I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I dont know if it can be both. My personal opinion, Musk said during the interview with CBS Sunday Morning.

Musk has appeared to distance himself from Trump and national politics over the past few weeks. He has blasted the reputational hit that his companies, including Tesla, have taken from his role in DOGE. He also announced that he would pull back his political spending after he backed Trump during the 2024 election cycle with an estimated $250 million.

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Edan Alexander, the New Jersey native who was recently released after being held hostage for 19 months in Gaza, and his family wrote a letter supporting U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer as he runs in the states tight Democratic primary for governor, now in its closing days, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Alexander, a soldier for the Israeli army, on May 11 became the last living American hostage set free by Hamas. He was raised in Tenafly, where his parents and younger sibling still live, before moving to Israel in 2022 and enlisting in the military. Alexander was taken hostage as Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Ukraine and France have signed a series of documents concerning the mutual exchange of driver's licenses, European integration cooperation, and access to French-language education, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced.

"As part of a working visit to Paris, several documents were signed. We have taken a step closer to simplifying the exchange of driver's licenses between our countries. A relevant declaration was signed, which will serve as the basis for a future agreement. Once concluded, Ukrainians residing in France will be able to exchange their driver's licenses without having to retake the driving exam," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to the Prime Minister, the two sides also signed a cooperation program between their respective secretariats, which includes knowledge and experience sharing, as well as expert support for Ukraine in its EU accession negotiations. Additionally, an agreement was signed to expand opportunities for Ukrainian school pupils, university students, and teachers to learn the French language in educational institutions across Ukraine.

"France will host a cultural season titled Voyage en Ukraine/Journey to Ukraine  a series of large-scale artistic events and initiatives aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture. These will take place in various cities and regions across France from December 2025 through March 2026," Shmyhal added.
Author Jake Tapper discusses the book "Original Sin" at The 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP) Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

While CNNs Jake Tappers new book has created buzz about a potential cover-up of former President Joe Bidens alleged cognitive decline, his cable viewers have had quite the opposite reaction.

For the month of May, viewership for The Lead with Jake Tapper dropped to its lowest point since August 2015, The Wrap reported. The three shows that follow  Erin Burnett Upfront, Anderson Cooper 360 and The Source with Kaitlan Collins  have also faced a drop of 18% or more compared to last year.

The Lead with Jake Tapper posted a 25% decline in viewership, with 525,000 viewers last month compared to 701,000 viewers in May 2024, according to Nielsen data. Compared to the same period, Cooper and Burnett lost 100,000 viewers, and Collins show declined by 149,000 viewers.

The dip in ratings has transpired as Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson, who co-authored Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, toured to promote the book at events across the country and through media appearances. The book stood as No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list when it debuted, and was heavily promoted on Tappers show and others at the network.

The book, which was released in May, follows the former presidents run for reelection, despite evidence of his serious declineamid desperate efforts to hide the extent of that deterioration." Biden had announced that he would not run for the presidency in July of last year  and later endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who ultimately lost to Trump.

Biden, who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, has since addressed backlash from those who believe his mental acuity declined during his term  a concern that gained national attention after the release of the book.

You can see that Im mentally incompetent, I cant walk, Biden quipped after a Memorial Day event last week. And I can beat the hell out of both of them.

Some Democrats have labeled the book as a hit-piece against Biden, and Tapper received even more criticism for promoting the book after the former president announced his cancer diagnosis in early May. A handful of Republicans have also slammed Tapper for not covering the alleged decline when it was happening in real time.

While Tapper has defended the book, he has acknowledged that he dropped the ball on his coverage during his administration.

Im not going to speak for anybody else, but knowing then what I know now, I look back at my coverage during the Biden years  and I did cover some of these issues, but not enough, he said on CNN. I look back on it with humility.

During an interview with conservative pundit Piers Morgan last week, Tapper said the alleged cover-up may be worse than Watergate during former President Richard Nixons presidency.

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U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) is mocking a potential GOP challenger to his House seat in 2026.

Raven Harrison, a conservative activist and an author, launched her bid to challenge Moskowitz for Floridas 23rd Congressional District seat earlier this year. According to Florida Politics, there are at least three other Republicans vying for the GOP nomination to challenge the Florida Democrat in the 2026 general election.

According to her campaign website, Harrison wants to ensure her district "thrives under the Trump administration and beyond." She has posted a number of social media posts showing her strong support for President Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again movement.

She has also shared unfounded conspiracy theories, including the latest MAGA conspiracy that former President Joe Biden was assassinated and later replaced with a robotic clone. Moskowitz mocked her over this theory in a post to social media platform X on Tuesday.

He joked that he hopes he can run against Harrison in the general election.

I hope she gets out of the primary. Who is she running against? he wrote on X.

On Saturday, Harrison shared a close-up video of Biden that she suggested showed that he was wearing a mask.

What is going here with Bidens face, with his skin?! Is that not a mask?! What do you think, patriots? she wrote on X.

On Saturday night, Trump shared the unfounded conspiracy about Biden being replaced by a clone to his social media platform Truth Social.This comes just weeks after Biden revealed he was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Bidens diagnosis sparked MAGA fury, with many conservatives questioning whether Bidens aides took advantage of the presidents health and alleged cognitive decline. Trump has also targeted Bidens use of the autopen despite the Republican president admitting to also using the presidential tool.

With the exception of the RIGGED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020, THE AUTOPEN IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!! Trump wrote at 2:28 a.m. on Wednesday.

Moskowitz was reelected to his second term in Congress last November, winning Floridas 23rd Congressional District with 52.4% of the vote. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced in March that it will be targeting Moskowitzs district in the 2026 election.

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Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) AP

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) grilled Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over President Donald Trumps tariff plan on Wednesday.

Kennedy pressed Lutnick during a Senate hearing about the purpose of imposing reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners. He asked Lutnick if he would accept a hypothetical deal from Vietnam if the country agreed to remove all tariffs and trade barriers if the U.S. agreed to do the same.

Absolutely not. Absolutely not, Lutnick told Kennedy. That would be the silliest thing we could do.

Why is that? Kennedy asked.

Vietnam has $125 billion exports to us and imports from us, $12.5 million dollars. And youre thinking Vietnam exports $125 billion? Lutnick responded, claiming that Vietnam is just a pathway of China to us.

Kennedy pressed Lutnick again about whether he would accept the deal.

No, its a terrible deal. Were the one with money, were the one with the store, Lutnick said.

Kennedy seemed shocked by his answer.

Whats the purpose of reciprocity then? Kennedy said. Is reciprocity not one of your goals? Are you telling the president that we shouldnt seek reciprocity? If thats what youre telling him, why are you trying to do these trade deals?

Lutnick said he wants to encourage Vietnam to produce products theyre great at producing, but Kennedy did not seem satisfied with the answer.

But I want to get back to reciprocity. You just said you dont believe in it. You dont accept reciprocity as a goal. What are you negotiating in these trade deals? Kennedy asked.

KENNEDY: If Vietnam came to you and said, 'You win. We're gonna remove all tariffs and all trade barriers. Would the US please do the same?" Would you accept that deal?



LUTNICK: Absolutely not. That would be the silliest thing we could do



KENNEDY: What's the purpose of pic.twitter.com/oR7B84MhZq  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 4, 2025

The heated exchange continued to go back and forth before Kennedy asked if Lutnick would accept the deal with Vietnam if the country agreed to stop trading with China.

We would consider it, Lutnick said.

Lutnick was mocked for his response to Kennedy on social media platform X. Trump announced in April that he wanted to impose reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners, meaning that he would raise taxes on imports to match what other countries charge to the U.S. He has since paused most of those reciprocal tariffs to try and secure trade deals with other countries.

Mark Levesque, a chief economics strategist at TD Securities, wrote: Jesus. I knew Lutnick was stupid and ignorant, but I would never have guessed that it was this bad. What a bozo.

Economics professor Justin Wolfers said: This exchange is revealing, terrifying, and intellectually bankrupt. No world leader would ever want to enter a room to deal with this guy because hes a crank.

Trump critic Ron Filipkowski also weighed in.

This is just absolutely perfect. Kennedy destroys Lutnick and vividly illustrates the absurdity of the Trump trade policy, he wrote on X.

Kennedy previously criticized Trumps tariff plan, saying that the administration was making inconsistent statements about it in April. He also suggested that he is not sure what Trump is trying to accomplish with his costly tariffs.

Trumps back-and-forth stances on tariffs have shaken up the global markets for weeks.

Trump is no stranger to tariffs. He launched a trade war during his first term as well, taking particular aim at China by putting taxes on most of its goods. At the time, Beijing responded with its own retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. products. And Trump also used the threat of more tariffs to force Canada and Mexico to renegotiate a North American trade pact.

When President Joe Biden took office, he preserved most of the tariffs Trump had enacted against China, in addition to imposing some new restrictions. But his administration claimed to take a more targeted approach.

Fast-forward to today, and economists stress there are greater consequences on businesses and economies worldwide under Trumps more sweeping tariffs this time around  and that higher prices leave consumers footing the bill. Theres also been a sense of whiplash from Trumps back-and-forth tariff threats and responding retaliation seen over the last few months.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and attorney Nancy Erika Smith speak to media outside the MLK Jr. Federal Courthouse after filing suit against US Attorney Alina Habba in Federal Court on Tuesday in Newark. 06/03/2025 Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance

Hours after he sued federal officials following his arrest last month outside an immigrant detention center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said he may sue President Donald Trumps border czar Tom Homan for comments he made about the arrest.

Baraka, a Democrat also running for New Jersey governor in next weeks primary, made his comments Tuesday when he was a guest on MSNBCs The Beat and he was being interviewed by host Ari Melber.

During the program, MSNBC showed the mayor a clip of Homan, who is Trumps former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, reacting to an interview Baraka gave to MSNBC the night he was arrested.

I think it was a ridiculous interview, Homan said in the clip. I listened to it. Look, hes running for higher political office. He got exactly what he wanted. He went there to get on camera and cause a ruckus, and thats what he got.

The mayor was on the property, Homan continued. He was asked numerous times to leave and refused to leave. Those who break the law should be prosecuted, Mr. Mayor.

Baraka was then asked by Melber for reaction was to Homans comments. We may have to sue him, too. Baraka said.

Baraka added that Homans comments are unconstitutional and authoritarian, and it needs to be pushed back against.

The reality is I didnt break any law, Baraka said. I was asked to leave the property like he said, and guess what? I left. Theres a video that shows that I left the property. Its not even their (the federal governments) property.

Baraka said he was allowed on the property by its owner, Geo Group, and that the federal government doesnt have any claim to the property.

He also noted that trespass is a state offense and not a federal offense.

These guys need to find out the law before they begin running their mouth about what is right and what is wrong, he said. Ultimately, theyre just trying to defend their side at all costs. They were absolutely, positively wrong in arresting me.

Barakas sued federal officials on Tuesday for false arrest and malicious prosecution. The suit names Alina Habba, the acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, and Ricky J. Patel, the special agent in charge of the Newark Division of Homeland Security Investigations, an ICE sister agency under the Department of Homeland Security.

The suit also asserts that Baraka was defamed by Habba on social media before the misdemeanor trespassing charge was dismissed 10 days later.

During Tuesdays MSNBC interview, Baraka said his lawsuit holds the U.S. Attorney in our district and the special agent in charge responsible for arresting me, putting out information, even before I was processed, that I was a criminal, (that) I did something wrong, I disobeyed the law, (that) Im not above the law.

And ultimately, I didnt break any law. I was cuffed, fingerprinted, took pictures of twice, once there and once in court for a misdemeanor, which you send summons to people for, you dont lock them up and take their fingerprints, he said.

Federal officers arrested Baraka on May 9 outside Delaney Hall, a privately owned jailhouse in Newark operated as a detention center under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, a Homeland Security agency.

The trespassing charge was dismissed 10 days later by U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa at the request of Habbas office.

Barakas was at Delaney Hall to meet three Democratic members of Congress from New Jersey there that afternoon to conduct a spot oversight inspection.

Chaos erupted outside the detention center after the congresspeople, U.S. Reps. LaMonica McIver, Rob Menendez, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, physically encircled the mayor outside the Delaney Hall security gate, where federal officers went to arrest him.

Habba later announced a federal assault charge against McIver the same day she said she was dropping the trespassing charge against the mayor for the sake of moving forward.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Kate Shaw, Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, testifies during a Senate Committee on the Judiciary joint subcommittee hearing to examine District Judges v. Trump, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) AP

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was schooled by Kate Shaw, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, during a congressional panel hearing on Tuesday related to federal judges who have ruled against President Donald Trumps administration.

Hawley asked Shaw, MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes wife who testified, if it was anomalous that more judges have ruled against Trump using nationwide injunctions  a court order prohibiting the government from enforcing a law or policy nationally  since his first term.

A very plausible explanation, senator, you have to consider, is that he has engaged in much more lawless activity than other presidents, right, Shaw responded.

Hawley replied, This was never used before the 1960s, and suddenly Democrat judges decide we love the nationwide injunction, adding that former President Joe Biden rarely received any. Meanwhile, a report on Congress website indicates that 14 nationwide injunctions were placed on the former administration over the first three years of his term.

Its Republican appointees as well, senator, Shaw said.

The federal government was doing a lot less one hundred years ago, so theres many things that have changed in the last hundred or the last 50 years, Shaw continued.

Hawley: You dont think this is anomalous?



Shaw: A very plausible explanation is that this president is engaged much more lawless activity



Hawley: This was never used before the 1960s and suddenly Democrat judges decide we love the nationwide injunction.



Shaw: Its Republicans pic.twitter.com/i0Z83GhJOh  Acyn (@Acyn) June 3, 2025

Hawley then asked: So as long as it is a Democrat president in office, then we should have no nationwide injunctions? If its a Republican president, then this is absolutely fine, warranted, and called for. How can our system of law survive on those principles, professor?

He also said that when Biden received injunctions, Shaw called it a travesty for the principles of democracy, notions of judicial impartiality and the rule of law. He was referring to an op-ed written by Shaw in The New York Times in 2023 after a judge ruled in favor of red states trying to overturn the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone for use in early abortions. Mifepristone was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions that same year.

The Supreme Court, senator, agreed 9-0 with me on that case, to be clear, Shaw answered, referring to the high court unanimously preserving access to the medication last June.

Shaw emphasized that injunctions could be abused, regardless of who is president, and called meaningful constraints on a president is a very dangerous system.

The back-and-forth commentary between Shaw and Hawley was only one instance during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Republicans pointed to instances of judges ruling against the Trump administration that they deemed to be unfair. Democrats, on the other hand, argued that they were in the right in doing their jobs.

What were witnessing is the rise of judicial lawfare from the bench, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said during his opening remarks. One unelected district judge sitting in a courtroom in San Francisco or Boston or Baltimore can now issue a nationwide injunction that ties the hands of the president of the United States.

The hearing comes as the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked Trump last week from enforcing his sweeping tariffs under an emergency-powers law. A federal appeals court had later ruled that the president could continue implementing the signature tool, for now, as the case goes through court.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

A former Homeland Security official is speaking out after being added to President Donald Trumps modern blacklist.

Miles Taylor, a former Homeland Security official who authored an anonymous op-ed during Trumps first term, said on MSNBCs Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace that the president was trying to seek revenge. Trump ordered investigations into Taylor and former cybersecurity official Chris Krebs earlier this year after they each criticized him during his first term.

Taylor told MSNBC on Tuesday that he and his family have received security threats and are going through financial hardship as a result of Trumps April 9 memorandum.

Look, I think he wants to create a modern blacklist and have that blacklist ruin peoples lives, because its a lot of effort to go through with trying to pursue and prosecute hundreds of your enemies. All you need to do is try to successfully do that to a couple to send a message, Taylor said. And thats what some of his officials have said is the point of these executive orders against me and Chris Krebs  to send a message. And to a certain extent, that works."

Taylor said that he had to launch a legal defense fund because he doesnt think he can afford the legal bills for a fight against Trump. He also said he was advised to update his last will and testament in case any of the threats became the real thing.

And then theres the security threats, which I know youre all too familiar with, but you get crazies coming out of the woodwork from the MAGA side who will dox you and your family members and send threatening messages. And you never know which one of those is going to become the real thing, he said.

And thats just being named on the blacklist. Charges havent happened yet. They havent raided our house yet, but thats what it looks like in modern day America when the president adds you to that list, he added.

Taylor said that he has no idea what investigators are trying to find out about him. He referenced an editorial piece from The Wall Street Journal that called the investigation into the former Trump officials a fishing expedition.

In this case, its an investigation without a predicate. Its an investigation meant to just be punitive. When this happened, the day after Wall Street Journal came out and they called it a fishing expedition, and thats sort of how we feel that this is proceeding. We have no idea what theyre going to try to find, Taylor said.

But I can remember being in the Oval Office with Donald Trump, and I think Ive shared this with you before as he talked about how in business you dont threaten to sue people because then they just blow you off. You sue them so they settle, Taylor continued. And he said that to us. He talked about his view on getting leverage, and I suspect thats what theyre trying to do right now. And its very destructive, not just to us, but all the people around us that it affects.

Taylor filed a legal challenge against Trumps memo on Tuesday to ask independent watchdogs to investigate whether federal officials are carrying out what we argue is an unconstitutional order that targets a citizen not for a crime but for dissent.

Trump fired Krebs, who directed the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in November 2020 after Krebs disputed the Republican presidents unsubstantiated claims of voting fraud and vouched for the integrity of the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Taylor left the first Trump administration in 2019. In the anonymous New York Times op-ed published in 2018, he described himself as part of a secret resistance to counter Trumps misguided impulses. The op-eds publication touched off a leak investigation in Trumps first White House.

Taylor later published a book by the same name as the op-ed and then another book under his own name called Blowback, which warned about Trumps return to office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump said Wednesday he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than an hour, days after Ukraine launched a massive offensive against Russia over the weekend.

Trumps Wednesday statement marked the first time he discussed Ukraines huge attack on Russia on Saturday, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said destroyed 40 Russian planes. Trump also stated on Truth Social that Russia will be responding to the attack on its airfields.

He did not say whether progress has been made on a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but described the call as a good conversation.

I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields, Trump said on Truth Social.

Trump has been reluctant to criticize Russia, but in recent days has signaled he is not happy with how Putin is handling the war.

Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Sunday that the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire is still on the table, but called for more pressure to be placed on Russia. He called for sanctions on Russia despite Trump hesitating to impose more on the country.

And pressure is truly needed  pressure on Russia that should bring it back to reality. Pressure through sanctions. Pressure from our forces. Pressure through diplomacy. All of it must work together, Zelenskyy said.

Trumps statement comes as peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian forces began earlier this week. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth skipped a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday with other world leaders who were discussing organizing military aid to Ukraine.

Trump, in his social media post, did not say how he reacted to Putins promise to respond to Ukraines attack, but his post showed none of the frustration that Trump has expressed with his Russian counterpart in recent weeks over his prolonging of the war.

Trump repeatedly promised to end the war quickly, and even said he would accomplish it before he was sworn in. But he lost patience with Putin in recent weeks, publicly pleading with him to stop fighting and even said late last month that the Russian leader has gone absolutely CRAZY.

Trump, however, has not committed to backing a bipartisan push to sanction Putin.

During the call, Trumps first known talk with Putin since May 19, they also discussed Irans nuclear program, according to Trump.

It was not clear if Trump also planned to speak with Zelenskyy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Vice President JD Vance speaks with American Compass founder Oren Cass at the American Compass's The New World Gala in Washington, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

Vice President JD Vance appeared to not want to be reminded of his past job.

During a live interview hosted by conservative think tank American Compass, its founder and chief economist Oren Cass welcomed President Donald Trumps No. 2 to the event on Tuesday, saying he was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with him before pivoting to how he was an intellectual first before entering politics.

Some people dont like the word intellectual, but I mean it in the good sense of the term, Cass said, pointing to Vances time writing for National Review, compared to to politicians out there who are  theyve just been politicians.

You were at the bar late at night arguing about and helping shape these ideas that you are now he continued, before Vance interrupted.

I come here for free, and you insult me, and you call me an intellectual, remind me that I wrote for National Review, Vance said.

What an asshole this guy is, he said to applause from the audience.

Q: You were an intellectual first. You were writing for National Review



Vance: I come here for free and you insult me. You call me an intellectual, remind me I wrote for National Review. What an asshole this guy is pic.twitter.com/iks50x8uLl  Acyn (@Acyn) June 4, 2025

Cass appeared to hesitantly respond: Thats fair. I would admit that I, too, wrote for National Review.

Vance joined the conversation with Cass, who marked the groups fifth anniversary as the home of conservative economic populism in Washington, D.C., during a time when the GOP has been pushing for un-populist positions, particularly in Trumps big, beautiful bill, according to Politico.

The multitrillion-dollar spending package, which narrowly passed the House last month and has moved to the Senate, includes reduced funding for Medicaid and food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and cuts back taxes for higher income families and corporations. The bill has since been met with resistance from populist-aligned lawmakers, such as Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has decried the cuts to health care programs.

Trump has criticized Republican colleagues who have spoken out against different parts of the bill  including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who was called a grandstander and threatened to be voted out of office, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who was blasted twice on Truth Social on Tuesday.

Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting NO on everything, he thinks its good politics, but its not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!! Trump wrote in his first post.

In a separate post, Trump wrote that Rand opposes everything, and fails to present any practical or constructive ideas.

His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky cant stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL! he posted.

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FILE - In this June 29, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, western Japan. The ongoing sharp deterioration in U.S.-China ties poses risks to both countries and the rest of the world. With the U.S. presidential campaign heating up, all bets are that relations with China will only get worse. At stake are global trade, technology and security. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) AP

President Donald Trump lashed out at Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the escalating trade war between the two countries.

The trade dispute peaked last month when Trump announced the U.S. would impose 145% tariffs on China, which retaliated with its own 125% tariff on U.S. goods. Officials from both countries later struck a 90-day deal last month to slash the tariffs and to pause them, but both sides have since accused the other of violating the agreement.

Trump railed against Xi in a 2 a.m. post to Truth Social on Wednesday.

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! he wrote.

His post prompted many social media users to mock the president with his new nickname, TACO Trump. TACO, coined by a Financial Times columnist, stands for Trump Always Chickens Out.

Other users also mocked him for not being able to strike a deal with China despite Trumps book, The Art of the Deal.

The Art of the Deal guy is whining that the other side wont cave or play ball? I thought he was the master negotiator! Turns out Trump expected China to come crawling, and now hes stunned theyre not even sending a fruit basket, or I should say Taco basket, political commentator Brian Krassenstein wrote on X.

Trump at 2:17 AM: Xi wont return my calls, the account, Republicans Against Trump, wrote on X. So much for the Art of the deal.

Trump at 2:17 AM: Xi wont return my calls 



So much for the Art of the deal pic.twitter.com/ie4esKOliB  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 4, 2025

Trumps post comes a day after Politico reported that Trump believes a phone call with Xi this week can help move trade talks along. Trump ignited the trade war with China when he announced massive tariffs on the U.S.s trading partner in April.

The president is obsessed with having a call with Xi, one person familiar with the trade talks told Politico.

The White House is facing a lot of pressure because of Chinas block on critical minerals, the person told Politico.

I dont think Xi is too interested in exporting any more rare earths or magnets to the United States, hes made his position clear, the person said, according to the report. The president has some leverage, and the question is when hes ready to impose maximum pressure on the Chinese government.

Trump stirred further controversy Friday, saying he will no longer be nice with China on trade, declaring in a social media post that the country had broken an agreement with the United States.

Hours later, Trump said in the Oval Office that he will speak with Xi and hopefully well work that out, while still insisting China had violated the agreement.

The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US, Trump posted. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!

In response to recent comments by Trump, the Commerce Ministry said of the U.S.: Instead of reflecting on itself, it has turned the tables and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the Chinese were just slow rolling the deal from Geneva.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Poet, an American bulldog, died after an encounter with an animal control officer, her owner said. (Provided Photo/Edward Saddler)

UPDATE: This story was updated to include details from a Salem City Police Department report on the incident.

A New Jersey dog owner and animal rights groups are demanding an investigation after they say a dog died while in the custody of an animal control officer and a humane law enforcement officer in Salem County.

The 3-year-old American bulldog, named Poet, died after she was restrained by officers on Walnut Street in Salem City last month, according to Poets owner, Edward Saddler.

The Salem County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday it is reviewing the incident, but provided no additional details. Salem City Police and the citys animal control officer did not respond to requests for comment.

Poet was not vicious and was not behaving in a hostile manner, Saddler said, acknowledging that two of his dogs got loose that day.

I want the officer to be reprimanded as well as the animal control officer, he said. You guys should have the training and the knowledge to be able to handle certain situations like this. This wasnt a case where you have a vicious dog thats just literally out biting people.

Salem County Prosecutor Kristin Telsey issued a statement Wednesday that said her office is reviewing the matter, but said would not comment on the case until its work is complete.

I thank all concerned citizens for the thoughts, comments and calls for investigation regarding the death of Poet. The care and kindness of our community is clearly reflected in the many inquiries to our office in this matter, Telsey said. We take seriously our duty to investigate these matters thoroughly and impartially and will do so in accordance with the law."

Officials responded to Saddlers residence on the morning of April 24 after receiving a report from a neighbor who said she was bitten by the dog, Saddler said.

Saddler and his family were not home at the time, he said.

When he came home and could not find Poet, Saddler reviewed his home security cameras and saw the officers at his home earlier in the day. He said he went to the police station to get Poet and was told the dog died of a possible heart attack.

Saddler and animal advocacy groups obtained police body camera footage showing the encounter between the officers and Poet in a video widely shared on social media.

The video showed the officers restraining Poet by the neck with a catch pole. The dog was then dragged across the yard with the pole and tethered to a chain, according to the footage.

The dog was motionless on its side and appeared to be breathing, the video showed. Her legs could be seen twitching at one point.

After that, Poet didnt appear to move. The animal control officer tried to rouse her with his foot and the catch pole, the video showed.

Poet wasnt given a chance to catch her breath and could be seen dying in the video, according to Kathy McGuire, founder and president of the non-profit NJ Aid for Animals. Her group is among those calling for an investigation of the incident.

Dr. Stuart Goldman, a licensed animal cruelty investigator who is assisting animal advocates in reviewing the incident, said catch poles arent supposed to be used to drag a dog by the neck. They are designed to restrain an animal until it calms down.

The video of the incident with Poet does not include audio. McGuire said her group was told the humane law enforcement officer forgot to properly activate the camera.

The woman who said she was bitten by Poet told the humane law enforcement officer she was attacked and her lawn care workers were chased by the loose dogs, according to a police report obtained by NJ Advance Media in response to an Open Public Records Act request.

One of the dogs, presumably Poet, was very aggressive and bit his left foot, the officer said in the report. He also described what happened after the dog was restrained with the catch pole and then tethered with the chain.

While the dog was on the leash it laid down and stopped breathing eventually resulting in death, the officer wrote, adding that animal control took the remains for proper disposal.

An investigation is necessary to understand the intentions of the two officers who handled Poet, Saddler said.

They have to do an investigation and find out what was the purpose of them killing this dog, he said.

And then to drag the dog by the neck, Saddler added. The dog is unconscious. Shes on a catch pole, but youre dragging her from the back of the yard all the way over to where she needs to be tethered. Then you put your foot on her, and youre shaking her with your foot, trying to wake her back up after shes obviously already dead or gasping for air.

While two of his dogs got loose that day, Saddler said he saw no proof from his home video surveillance footage that they left his property or that Poet bit anyone.

Saddler obtained a county health department report that said the neighbor who reported Poet bit her had no damage to her skin, he said.

The video show the dogs barked when the officers arrived at the property, which is typical animal behavior, Saddler said. There is no evidence in any videos of Poet attacking anyone, he added.

Saddler requested the dogs body be returned so that a necropsy could be performed, but Poet was not returned in time, he said. The dog wasnt returned until the following day and was left in the backyard without the familys knowledge, Saddler said.

Companion Animal Advocates, a New Jersey volunteer group, is among those seeking an investigation of the case, and the organization asked supporters to refrain from calling or harassing the animal control officer.

Instead, keep the focus on Poet, the group wrote on Facebook.

Let us keep our focus on her, they wrote. On the facts. On the law. On the systemic failures that allowed this to happen  and on pushing for accountability through the proper legal and procedural channels.

Poet, a 3-year-old American bulldog, died last month in Salem City. (Provided Photo/Edward Saddler)

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with IAEA Director Rafael Grossi, they discussed the obvious security problems created by the Russian occupation, in particular the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.

"We are doing our utmost to prevent any radiation or other incidents. Unfortunately, the Russian occupation has created problems that no one in the world has known before. I thank everyone who helps us keep this situation within the framework of security," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Tuesday.

In addition, the president and Grossi discussed energy in Ukraine and nuclear generation.

Zelenskyy thanked the head of the IAEA for his willingness to assist with the completion of the Khmelnytsky NPP and the development of uranium mining in Ukraine.
State authorities suspended the police license of a top officer in the Penns Grove Police Department last month for failing to ensure other officers in the department were properly licensed.

The Salem County Prosecutors Office assumed operations of the department on May 20  the same day the states Police Training Commission (PTC) informed Lt. Robert Frett his license was suspended.

Frett, the highest-ranking sworn officer in Penns Grove who carries the title officer-in-charge, failed to comply with the state licensing law concerning two officers, according to a May 20 letter the PTC sent to Frett. The PTC is within the state Attorney Generals office.

Specifically, the letter accused Frett of knowingly employing an officer from September 2022 to May 2025 even though he had no license to be a police officer in New Jersey.

And, law enforcement action (the officer) took over the course of those three years is invalid as he is not a licensed law enforcement officer, the letter says.

Frett also falsely certified that another officer met requirements to work for the department, despite information that shows he failed to disclose his prior termination from Pennsauken Police Department for sustained internal affairs findings.

In the letter, Frett was also accused of failing to reach out to the state. You never contacted the Police Training Commission before employing (officer) to inquire as to the reasons he was previously terminated from Pennsauken Police Department, it said.

As the departments chief law enforcement executive, the duty to investigate police applicants backgrounds and keep licenses up to date was Fretts responsibility, the letter says.

A call to Frett through his department phone was not immediately returned.

Penns Groves civilian police director, Richard Rivera, speaking for the department, defended the towns measures to stay current with licensing.

As he drove to the PTCs monthly meeting Wednesday morning, Rivera said the Frett letter, which he received as well, was an overreach and contained factual errors.

For example, he said the one officer was formerly a New Jersey State Police trooper. When he joined the department in 2022, he did not have a license, Rivera said.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed the licensing law in June 2022 but it did not take effect until Jan. 1, 2024.

The state issued the officer a temporary licensing identification number, And we thought everything was fine.

Rivera said the department knew about the other officers background and the officer is appealing his termination from Pennsauken.

The PTC is coming down hard on the department when they should be helping, Rivera said.

Every police chief should be concerned about being suspended for clerical errors relating to licensing, Rivera said last month.

The Salem prosecutors office, which initially declined to discuss the licensing matter, said Wednesday through a spokesperson they had no comment on the letter to Frett, but said the PTCs actions led to the takeover.

[The] licensing actions taken by the PTC necessitated that Prosecutor [Kristin] Telsey exercise her supersession authority as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in Salem County, the spokesperson said.

As for the prosecutors office, Rivera said last month he welcomed assistance from the prosecutors office as the department dealt with staffing issues from the licensing matters.

Four officers had to go on desk duty due to licensing issues which he said were from a state audit of the department. That left only four officers for patrol duties and an inability to maintain 24-hour police coverage, Rivera said.

On Wednesday, Rivera said he continues to be thankful for the prosecutors office augmenting Penns Groves police patrols, but he believes the office overstepped their authority.

Im speaking to an attorney about suing the [prosecutors office], Rivera said.

Meanwhile, Penns Groves police union, a unit of the Salem County Fraternal Order of Police, issued a statement welcoming more prosecutors office involvement with the department.

The union said its raised, significant concerns about the departments current management, policies, and practices and specifically about the adequacy and consistency of background investigations for new hires and department assignments.

We believe the current situation requires a thorough review and a commitment to improvement. We welcome the oversight of the Salem County Prosecutors Office as a crucial step towards restoring public trust and ensuring the highest standards of law enforcement are maintained, the statement said.

Rivera said of the statement the union, smells blood in the water, but he will press on with his job.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Just days after exercising the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Yankees, former Mets first baseman Dominic Smith has signed with the San Francisco Giants.

After announcing that they had designated first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. and backup catcher Sam Huff for assignment, the Giants revealed they had signed Smith to a one-year, major league deal for an undisclosed amount.

Smith, who turns 30 on June 15, was tied for second on the Scranton RailRiders, the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, with eight home runs and 28 RBI while hitting .255 with a .782 OPS in 45 games. He quit the Yankees after going 2-for-3 with an RBI last Friday and 1-for-2 with a solo homer and sacrifice fly on Saturday against Worcester

During spring training, the Yankees grew fond of Smith, who made a real push to make the Opening Day roster. He was ultimately beaten out by infielder/outfielder Pablo Reyes, who filled a need as a right-handed bat off the bench.

Smith was a top prospect in the Mets organization in 2016 and 2017. After a couple of failed opportunities in the big leagues, he showed promise in 89 games in 2019, batting .282 with a 132 OPS+.

In 2020, he continued to show his worth to the organization, winning an everyday job and hitting .316 with a 168 OPS+, and receiving down-ballot MVP votes.

Beginning in 2021, the league finally caught up to him, and he struggled to adjust back. Since then, hes hitting .241 with an 87 OPS+ and has signed with seven different teams, including the Giants.

After performing well in the Yankees minor league system, the Giants are hoping theyll get a better version of Smith. It could be his last real opportunity.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manny Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
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Two paintings that were brazenly stolen from the library of the Healing Center on St. Claude Avenue have been returned.

On Monday, a Healing Center security guard reported that a man who asked to remain anonymous brought the paintings back.

The man said the thief had stashed the artworks at a friends house, where they were found and recognized. The identity of the thief is unknown.

Artist Carrie Beene, whod created the stolen paintings, said she was in her Spanish class when her phone began going off, and off, and off, with word of the recovery.
Deputy Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting with the European Union delegation, led by Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defense at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss.

As reported by the presidential press service, Zhovkva thanked the EU for its efforts to send 2 million artillery shells to Ukraine by the end of this year.

The main focus of the meeting was on Ukraines current military needs  in particular, air defense systems and missiles for them, artillery systems, ammunition, and continued defense cooperation with the European Union.

The parties also discussed cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union within the framework of the ReArm Europe initiative and the SAFE instrument. The Deputy Head of the Presidential Office emphasized the importance of increasing investment in Ukraines defense industry.

Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss stated that the EU is interested in increasing defense production in its member states. She also affirmed the EUs commitment to further integrating Ukraine into the European security and defense system.

Separately, Zhovkva informed about the second round of negotiations in Istanbul. He emphasized that Russia is not interested in establishing peace and the response to this should be decisive sanctions from the EU, the United States and partners. The European Union confirmed that it is actively working in this direction and is ready for the next steps.

Among other important topics is the fight against Russian propaganda. Ukraine and the EU agreed to strengthen the coordination of efforts to counter it.
Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with France's Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Bruno Le Maire, to discuss the development of bilateral trade, the strengthening of sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine's post-war reconstruction.

"I'm grateful to France, its regions, and businesses for their active involvement in rebuilding Ukrainian cities," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram following the meeting in Paris. "Continued French support in financing infrastructure projects remains critically important to us."

The prime minister noted that particular attention during the talks was given to the issue of sanctions against Russia. "I thanked France for its role in the adoption of the EU's 17th sanctions package, which significantly expands restrictions on Russia's shadow fleet, defense-industrial complex, and other sectors of the economy that continue to fund its aggression," he stated.

Shmyhal also emphasized the need to further tighten sanctions pressure on Russia, particularly by expanding restrictions on key sectors of the Russian economy that have so far remained inadequately targeted: nuclear energy, finance, metallurgy, the chemical industry, and raw material exports.

"It is equally important that frozen Russian assets be put to use in Ukraine's recovery. I thank the G7 for its initiative in this regard. Our ultimate goal is the full confiscation of these assets and their redirection to benefit Ukraine," he said.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte HAS confirmed that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will not be at today's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, but noted that the United States will be represented at a different level.

"This will be Pete Hegseth's second visit to Brussels since he was appointed US Secretary of Defense in January. He will be here for the second time this year, he will participate in tomorrow's meeting. Today, the United States will be present at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting," Rutte said at a press conference on Wednesday.

He assured that the United States is fully committed to NATO and to the joint efforts when it comes to Ukraine.

"There is no reason to doubt that. Regardless of who participates in the meeting. Let's not forget that these meetings are mostly held in Europe, so American officials will not always have the opportunity to participate in every meeting," Rutte explained.

The Associated Press previously reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will miss the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting for the first time in three years. According to media reports, the minister returned from Singapore on Sunday from a national security conference and will arrive in Brussels only on Wednesday evening, after the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting concludes.

A US official confirmed on condition of anonymity that Hegseth will not participate, including via video link.

According to a statement by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on the U.S. Department of Defense website, Hegseth will travel early this week to attend a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Belgium, on June 5, and to commemorate D-Day in Normandy, France, on June 6.

Hegseth will address the defense ministers' meeting to promote President Donald Trump's call for NATO allies to commit to spending 5% of their GDP on defense and to reorient NATO toward collective defense and deterrence.
Northwest Indianas libraries have been grappling with a perfect storm of state and federal funding challenges that could crimp services.

The Trump administration is looking to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that helps fund library services across Indiana and the country. The state legislature cut funding to the Indiana State Library which provides services to the 236 public library districts across the state, and it made changes to the property tax system that are expected to shrink library revenue.

The primary challenge to library funding is the combination of state and federal-level issues that are converging to create a perfect storm, significantly impacting budget planning beginning in 2026, Crown Point Community Library Director and Indiana Library Federation President Julie Wendorf said. The current uncertainty surrounding federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, despite some recent court rulings, would have a significant impact on the Indiana State Library.

The funding helps support interlibrary loans and the INSPIRE collection of databases serving K-12 students, public libraries and academic libraries.

The Indiana State Library is poised to lose $5 million over the next two years, a 48% decrease. The state also slashed funding to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the INSPIRE databases and the Internet Connectivity Grant, which reimburses the cost of local libraries providing public internet access. It covers a substantial portion of internet expenses for many libraries and, for instance, reimbursed around 50%, or $11,000, of the Crown Point Community Librarys internet expenses last year.

Much of the impact on local libraries from the Indiana State Library budget cuts comes in the form of lost services or the uncertainty of how to cover the cost of services the State Library can no longer provide or may need to shift to local libraries, Wendorf said. As it stands, unless funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services is restored and maintained, the Indiana State Library is expected to lose an additional $3 million in federal funding on top of the already significant reductions in state funding.

The full effects of the cutbacks aren't immediately apparent and could be felt for some time, Porter County Public Library Director Jesse Butz said.

The full impact of state and federal funding cuts will not be known for some time, he said. These cuts may impact various forms of library services and have a cascading effect that the state library needs to address before the impacts on local libraries are fully understood.

Tightening the belt

The cutbacks will affect each library system differently, as they all undertake their own budgeting process, Wendorf said. Some may cut hours, staff or services.

Library leaders will be faced with the difficult responsibility of maintaining services while also managing the financial strain brought on by reduced property tax revenue and diminished support from the Indiana State Library, due to cuts at both the state and federal levels, she said.

The impact of the cutbacks may be felt most acutely at rural libraries with smaller budgets, but will hit library systems both large and small in every corner of the Hoosier State, Wendorf said.

These libraries are often the only source of critical services  such as internet access, educational resources, and community programming  in their communities, making the potential impact even more significant, she said. Larger libraries in Indiana are also facing significant impacts, with some of the state's largest systems pausing or canceling planned new construction and renovation projects due to the financial uncertainty.

The Crown Point Community Library is starting to plan the 2026 budget. It will have to look at reducing staffing, services, hours and programming for all age groups, Wendorf said. It may not be able to offer staff cost-of-living wage increases.

Each library will need to make these decisions during its upcoming budget planning process for the 2026 annual budget, she said. Unfortunately, these funding challenges come at a time when the cost of operating libraries is also rising, including higher utility bills, increased health insurance premiums for staff, and price hikes from many vendors.

Local libraries will have to absorb more costs the Indiana State Library previously footed at a time when property tax revenues are shrinking and costs are rising, Wendorf said.

Interlibrary loan services, for instance, are likely to be cut back, resulting in longer delivery times.

The Indiana State Library currently subsidizes one delivery day for all participating libraries, which for many of the smallest libraries is their only weekly delivery, Wendorf said. If the cost of delivery services increases and those expenses are shifted to local libraries, some may choose to further reduce the frequency of deliveries to manage costs.

The Porter County Library System builds a zero-based budget that starts from scratch every year and doesnt simply adjust last years budget.

With our system, we are constantly looking for ways to continue to be excellent stewards of public tax dollars, Butz said. Our philosophy utilizes multiple data points that we track over time as we seek to investigate efficiencies in our services.

The library system will adjust accordingly once it knows how it will be affected by the state and federal cuts, he said.

In the end, we have a fiduciary responsibility to the residents of Porter County and will do everything in our power to continue being one of the best values in our community, Butz said.

Providing valuable services

People visited Porter County libraries 425,000 times last year, checking out 938,000 items and attending more than 1,000 programs. They spent 26,000 hours on its computers and used its meeting rooms more than 16,000 times.

Every day, we work one-on-one with residents of all ages, from seniors receiving technology assistance to children learning to read. From someone seeking out new employment to a family needing a document notarized, Butz said. From proctoring an exam to just helping someone discern legitimate sources to read and stay informed. The library is a critical cornerstone of the community that serves residents throughout Porter County responsibly and sustainably.

The Porter County Library System also works closely with schools and serves as a haven for students.

We often fill that gap between school sessions, and play a critical role in stopping the summer slide and ensuring students continue to read at grade level, Butz said. But it goes well beyond that simple function. We help create lifelong readers, children who are capable of learning, growing and exploring all the world has to offer through literacy. We are often also a lifeline to those in our community in the most need.

Libraries face financial strain and compounding losses with limited options for generating additional revenue. But they provide a vital public service, Wendorf said.

Public libraries remain one of the few public spaces where people can access services and resources without any cost. By efficiently using a modest amount of taxpayer funding, libraries deliver a substantial return on investment, she said. They serve as a vital public good, offering barrier-free access to early childhood literacy programs, providing spaces for community members to work or relax, and hosting activities for seniors that help address the growing issue of senior loneliness."

They're also hubs for the community, Wendorf said.

"Public libraries play a crucial role in placemaking, supporting economic development and fostering early literacy, she said.
Just days after a judge held the Indiana Department of Child Services in contempt for initially withholding most documents sought in the torture and death of a 4-year-old LaPorte County boy at the hands of his parents, a representative of the dead child filed a federal suit accusing agency employees of paving the way to the boy's death.

The three targeted DCS employees are accused in the civil suit filed Monday of "performing sham investigations, downplaying claims and concerns by relatives of abuse and neglect or declaring them unfounded, withholding Court ordered services for J.M. (Judah Morgan), not performing Court ordered drug tests for J.M.s parents, omitting information from reports and communications with J.M.s Court-appointed CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), providing and/or inserted false information in reports and investigations, and/or otherwise created an inaccurate report and not following DCS policies created for the purpose of protecting children like J.M."

The suit, filed by Mishawaka-based attorney Charles Rice on behalf of Jenna Hullett, a second cousin to Morgan, who raised the boy until DCS placed him with his parents six months before his death, targets Jean Dreessen, Michele Stowers and Michelle Goebel.

Dreessen is described in the suit as a family case manager who lived less than 1,500 feet from the Hamlet home where Morgan was "neglected, beaten, tortured, and murdered."

Stowers was a family case manager supervisor and Goebel was the director of the LaPorte County DCS office who supervised Dreessen and Stowers, according to the suit.

"Goebel and Stowers were aware of Dreessen's misconduct and facilitated, approved, condoned, and otherwise turned a blind eye to Dreessens misconduct," the suit says. "Each Defendants' actions ultimately emboldened and encouraged (parents) Alan Morgan and Mary Yoder to neglect, torture, and abuse J.M. to death."

DCS Deputy Director of Communications Brian Heinemann said when contacted Wednesday morning for comment on the suit: "DCS cannot comment on pending litigation."

'Mommy, take me home please': Answers, changes sought in wake of torture death of Region 4-year-old Knox resident Jenna Hullett said she could not bring herself to tell young Judah Morgan on that fateful day in April 2021 that the visit with his biological parents was not going to be like the ones earlier.

The suit sheds light on the history and conditions leading up Judah Morgan's death exactly two years ago on Oct. 11, 2021.

Judah Morgan was born June 17, 2017, with drugs in his system and his parents "had substantiated allegations of neglect and abuse with regard to J.M.'s older brother," according to the suit.

The boy was not allowed to go home with his parents and at the age of 4 months was placed in the care of Hullett, the suit says.

From before the time Judah Morgan was born, the DCS was aware his parents had "significant drug and mental health issues," including his father's arrest in 2012 for domestic violence in the presence of a child that was later dismissed after he completed a domestic abuse program, according to the suit.

"Despite this red flag, DCS never sought or obtained a psychological assessment of Alan Morgan."

Alan Morgan, who pleaded guilty to murder, an amended felony battery charge and a felony count of resisting law enforcement from another criminal case, was sentenced in late November to 70 years behind bars.

The child's mother, Yoder, pleaded guilty in August to her role in Judah's death and faces nearly 50 years behind bars if her proposed plea agreement is accepted by a judge Nov. 1.

Man sentenced in Porter County molestation recorded, shared by victim's friends The alleged victim said her friend talked her into going first with the encounter and learned later her friend had recorded it.

The suit says Yoder was herself subject to "extreme verbal, emotional and physical abuse from Alan Morgan" and that the defendants "turned a blind eye."

Goebel, Stowers and Dreessen are accused of failing to obtain a permanent safe home for Judah Morgan. The lawsuit also says they "dropped the ball" in 2020 after a failed trial home visit involving Judah's older brother and went on to make the "callous and deliberately indifferent decision" to force Judah's case to a close by "cutting corners to place J.M. in a home with drug-using parents."

The defendants further breached their duties by "consistently lowering the bar for safe conduct by J.M.s parents to the point where it became non-existent," the suit claims. This "emboldened Alan Morgan and Mary Yoder and created a hostility towards J.M. and increased J.M.s risk of harm after case closure."

Goebel, Stowers and Dreessen never required Alan Morgan to undergo services for the threat he posed to children, according to the suit. "They simply ignored it."

Man nabbed on doorbell cam with clothes in hand sentenced for child molesting Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer said the only reason she transferred a year and a half of potential prison time to probation is to keep a closer eye on Scott Neiswinger when he is released.

"For the six-month period prior to J.M.s death, J.M. was savagely beaten, tortured, abused and neglected by his parents," the suit says.

Video footage from inside the family's Hamlet home shows Alan Morgan repeatedly punching his son, repeatedly holding the boy up by his neck and dropping him on the floor and leaving him alone for hours in a cold and dark basement, according to police. The basement had no furniture and officers found remnants of duct tape apparently used to bind the child.

On the day police found the boy's dead body at his home, they also encountered "horrific conditions," the suit says. "The exterior of the residence was observed to be riddled with garbage; the interior of the residence was in disarray with clothing, garbage, rotting food and animal fecal matter strewn about. A strong pungent odor of urine and rotting food permeated the senses while inside the residence."

The conditions were allegedly not substantially different than during the supervision period by DCS.

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for the emotional distress and legal fees resulting from the boys death and subsequent legal action.

Hullett has also filed a lawsuit in state court in Hendricks County targeting Judah's parents and the DCS.
CROWN POINT  A Lake Station man was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed by his plea agreement after he fatally shot a 36-year-old man 11 times in 2023 inside the man's home, then left him for dead until his body was found by his teenage daughter.

Michael Randall, 47, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a level two felony, in the death of Kyle Cornelius, 36, in exchange for prosecutors agreement to drop charges of murder and theft against him. Level two felonies carry a possible sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison.

Randall shot Cornelius Feb. 22, 2023 inside Cornelius' home in the 2300 block of Warren Street in Lake Station after he went to Cornelius' home to allegedly pay him money he owed him. Randall had been selling marijuana for Cornelius while out of work due to an injury and owed him $2,200, a probable cause affidavit shows.

Deputy Prosecutor Maureen Koonce played a recording of a 911 call made by Cornelius' daughter, who was dropped off at the home by her mother to visit her dad the night of his death. The teenager said she noticed the lights inside the house were off, which was unusual. When she walked inside, she saw him on the ground in a pool of blood and called 911.

The distress in the teenager's voice amplified as she seemed to realize what happened to her father. At first, she told the dispatcher he must have been hurt, but she didn't know what happened. She said she saw a pool of blood underneath his head.

"It looks like he got shot in the head," the teenager said, sobbing. Cornelius' family members sat in the court room and grew emotional as the call was played.

The dispatcher asked her how old she was. She said she was 14.

Cornelius' family wrote letters to the court prior to sentencing, two of which were read in court. In one letter read by the prosecution, one of Cornelius' cousins said he was "the father every child deserves and the worker every boss wishes they had." The loss has been felt by each member of the family, but the greatest impact was on his daughter. At 16, the teenage girl died by suicide.

"This is something a child should never have to experience," the letter said.

One of Cornelius' nephews wrote in his letter that Cornelius was a "good, caring person" with whom he bonded over a love of video games and superheroes. He asked the judge to issue a sentence to ensure Randall "never hurts anyone again."

Koonce said the evidence in the crime would be "compelling" for a murder conviction and requested Randall receive the maximum sentence. Text messages between Randall and Cornelius show Randall owed Cornelius money and planned to go to his house that night to supposedly pay him back. Cornelius had gunshot wounds in his face, head and back, plus defensive wounds on his hands, which happen when a victim tries to protect him or herself. There was also possible evidence he used a silencer, Koonce said, which is used to muffle the sound of a gunshot.

She said she brought up the teenage girl's death because she said it was something Randall needed to hear.

"There is no way that her father's homicide did not play a role in her suicide," Koonce said.

Public defender Joseph Roberts asked the judge for a sentence that would "strike that delicate balance between punitive and rehabilitative." Except for two misdemeanor convictions more than 20 ears ago, Randall lived a law-abiding life until he was out of work following his injury and was struggling financially, which led him to sell marijuana.

If the case had gone to trial, Roberts would have argued Randall shot in self-defense. Cornelius was armed at the time of the shooting, Roberts said, and had allegedly gone to Randall's home two nights before while Randall's family was home. Cornelius supposedly banged on his door and demanded the money he was owed. Randall initially told police he went to Cornelius' home, paid him what he owed him, and left.

"When he went there to repay this debt, tensions got high," Roberts said.

However, police later found a firearm missing from Cornelius' residence in the back of Randall's car during a traffic stop, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Randall said he thinks about the night of the homicide every day. He said he is committed to bettering himself while incarcerated and hopes to someday help others who struggle with mental health and substance abuse.

"I carry the weight of this on my own," Randall said in court. "It has broken my family and the lives of others."

Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones said the plea agreement seemed appropriate given the facts of the case, but she doesn't believe Randall acted under strong provocation; she remarked that it takes intention and effort to shoot someone as many times as Randall did.

"This case was about choices," Jones said. "We all have them ... when you make the choices you made, this is where we are."
Photo: Unsplash

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that next Wednesday, June 11, the Sejm will consider the issue of a vote of confidence in the government, and a vote on this issue will also take place, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) has said.

"Speaker Szymon Goownia proposed that the vote... take place on Wednesday, June 11," Tusk said.

According to the prime minister, the speeches of ministers and a vote of confidence in the government will take place on the same day.

As reported by the TVN24 channel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday made a statement on the government's work plans in the context of the transfer of presidential powers to Karol Nawrocki. He said that "the emergency plan in case of difficult coexistence (with the president - IF-U) is ready" and if the newly elected president shows a willingness to cooperate, "it will be a positive surprise, to which the government will respond with complete sincerity."
CROWN POINT  Four family members of a 36-year-old man shot to death in 2021 shared their memories with the father, brother, son and nephew they now live without at the sentencing hearing Wednesday for the man who was convicted in his murder.

"It's just not fair. Just because somebody decided to take his life," Tammy Gibbs, mother of victim Anthony Gibbs, said in court. "Who is he to take my child's life?"

Barry Billingsley Jr., 45, of Merrillville, was sentenced to 82 years in prison: 63 years for murder and 18 years for a firearm enhancement in the death of Gibbs, of Highland, whom he shot Oct. 2, 2021, outside the Economy Inn, 8275 Louisiana St. in Merrillville, along with Gibbs' girlfriend and her dog who both survived. After years of delays and one mistrial, the case went to trial for the second time in May and a jury returned a guilty verdict.

"It has been a long and sometimes frustrating journey," Tammy Gibbs said.

Gibbs' mother; daughter, Jade Gibbs; sister, Samantha Welch; and aunt, Tracey Ward, remembered him as a jokester and daredevil who enjoyed tattooing, fishing, cooking and spending time with his five children. They recalled the shock of learning Gibbs had been killed, the confusion about why it happened and the behavior of Billingsley toward them during the court hearings they attended in the case: He stared them down, mouthed words and even once blew a kiss.

"The audacity and arrogance of this monster is never ending," Tammy Gibbs said.

Gibbs was outside the hotel with his girlfriend when a confrontation ensued between two women she was talking to, according to witness testimony and video surveillance from the hotel. Billingsley came out of his hotel room when he heard the noise and told Gibbs to leave, although Gibbs, his girlfriend nor Billingsley were involved in the confrontation. He then shot Gibbs five times.

Tammy Gibbs said she remembers getting a call that her son was at Methodist Hospital and she needed to get there immediately. When she arrived, she learned Gibbs had died. The doctors at Methodist Hospital asked her for descriptors about her son for identification purposes.

"I thought about his beautiful blue eyes, his smile, his contagious laugh," Tammy Gibbs said. "I remember thinking his beard was getting too long and he needed to cut it. But that's not what they wanted to know."

The doctors wanted to know about any tattoos, markings or scars that would prove to doctors it was in fact Gibbs' body, she said. When Tammy Gibbs saw her son, doctors had turned his face away from her so she would not have to see the bullet wound in his cheek.

Jade Gibbs called the homicide a "senseless, violent act" perpetrated by someone who mocked the justice system and had no morals and no respect for the pain he caused to her family.

"Barry Billingsley will never understand the weight of what he's done," Jade Gibbs said. "But I carry it every day."

Deputy Prosecutor Judith Massa said the evidence presented in the case showed Gibbs, his girlfriend and their dog showed no aggression toward Billingsley or anyone in his company. Billingsley could have stopped shooting after firing one shot, Massa said, but continued to shoot Gibbs even after he was wounded.

In an interview with a probation officer prior to his sentencing, Billingsley said he felt sorrynot for his actions, but for himself, because he thinks he had post-traumatic stress disorder from being incarcerated. In 2010, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on a second-degree murder charge in North Carolina. Billingsley had been out of prison for seven months when he murdered Gibbs. He also has a pending case for possessing a weapon in the Lake County Jail, which Massa said is indicative of his character.

Prosecutors played a phone call at trial in which Billingsley asked the person on the other line if they can help him convince three of the state's witnesses not to testify at trial. One of the witnesses still showed up, but another witness did not, even though she had been cooperative with prosecutors and agreed to testify. The third witness was hard for them to pin down, Massa said.

Public defender Casey McCloskey asks Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones to consider the fact that Billingsley has family support and a young daughter who will be without her father if Billingsley is incarcerated. He read a letter written to Jones by Billingsley's mother, who said her son grew up on a military base and saw "things some people only read about in books." He was 10 years old when his parents divorced and his dad chose not to see him again. His mother said he had no positive male role models of color to look up to as a child and said she did the best she could as a single mother.

Massa said the Gibbs family and Billingsley's mother have interacted outside in the hall out of court hearings and have shared compassionate words with one another.

McCloskey accused the state of presenting witnesses at trial whom they "wanted to call" to further their case. He said there was no formal evidence presented at trial that the witnesses were intimidated by Billingsley, nor has the prisoner with a deadly weapon case been disposed of.

McCloskey asked Jones to craft a sentence that "rehabilitates" Billingsley.

Prior to issuing his sentence, Jones asked Billingsley if he wanted to make a statement.

"I have absolutely nothing to say, your honor," Billingsley said.
This weekend, an exchange of 500 prisoners of war is expected, Ukraine is ready for an exchange on its part, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"The Russian side has provided information that this weekend it will be able to transfer 500 people, 500 of our military personnel from this thousand plus, which we agreed on. That is, we will be ready to exchange from our side, ready to exchange the appropriate number," Zelensky said at a briefing on Wednesday.

After the exchange, according to him, work will begin on preparing the exchange of the bodies of dead soldiers.
The White House Wants 90 Trade Deals in 90 Days. So Far, It May Have 1. It takes years to close a typical trade deal. How do the current talks compare?

Major U.S. trade agreements Current timeline to make trade deals: 90 days 1,000 days Typical timeframe: 917 days 2,000 days U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (2020) U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (2011) Major U.S. trade agreements Current timeline to make trade deals: 90 days 1,000 days Typical timeframe: 917 days 2,000 days U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (2020) U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (2011)

President Trump has announced wave after wave of tariffs since taking office in January, part of a sweeping effort that he has argued would secure better trade terms with other countries. Its called negotiation, he recently said.

In April, administration officials vowed to sign trade deals with as many as 90 countries in 90 days. The ambitious target came after Mr. Trump announced, and then rolled back a portion of, steep tariffs that in some cases meant import taxes cost more than the wholesale price of a good itself.

The 90-day goal, however, is a tenth of the time it usually takes to reach a trade deal, according to a New York Times analysis of major agreements with the United States currently in effect, raising questions about how realistic the administrations target may be. It typically takes 917 days, or roughly two and a half years, for a trade deal to go from initial talks to the presidents desk for signature, the analysis shows.

Roughly 60 days into the current process, Mr. Trump has so far announced only one deal: a pact with Britain, which is not one of Americas biggest trading partners.

He has also suggested that negotiations with China have been rocky. I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. China and the United States agreed last month to temporarily slash tariffs on each others imports in a gesture of good will to continue talks.

Part of what the president can accomplish boils down to what you can call a deal.

The pact with Britain is less of a deal than it is a framework for talking about a deal, said Wendy Cutler, the vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former U.S. trade negotiator. What was officially released by the two nations more closely resembled talking points for what you were going to negotiate versus the actual commitment, she said.

During his first term, Mr. Trump secured two major trade agreements, both signed in January 2020. One was the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which was a reworking of the North American free trade treaty from the 1990s that had helped transform the economies of the three nations.

U.S.M.C.A. is an all-encompassing, legally binding agreement that resulted from a lengthy and formal process, according to trade analysts.

Such deals are supposed to cover all aspects of trade between the respective nations and are negotiated under specific guidelines for congressional consultation. Closing the deal involves both negotiation and ratification  modifying or making laws in each partner country. The deals are signed by trade negotiators before the president signs the legislation that puts the deals into effect for the United States.

Mr. Trumps other major agreement in his first term was with China, in an echo of the current trade war. The pact, unlike previous deals, came about after Mr. Trump threatened tariffs on certain Chinese imports. This tariff first, talk later approach, said Inu Manak, a trade policy fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, is part of the same playbook the administration is currently using.

The result was a nonbinding agreement between the two countries, known as Phase One, that did not require approval from Congress and that could be ended by either party at any time. Still, it took almost one year and nine months to complete. China ultimately fell far short of the commitments it made to purchase American goods under the agreement.

A comparison of the two first-term Trump deals shows the drawn-out and sometimes winding path each took to completion. Fragile truces (including ones made for 90 days) were formed, only for talks to break down later, all while rounds of tariffs injected uncertainty into the diplomatic relations between countries.

U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement China Phase One Agreement Current Talks 896 days from start to sign 623 days from start to sign START OF TALKS Aug. 16, 2017 May 2, 2018 April 2, 2025 U.S. imposes sweeping tariffs; China retaliates 90 days Trade talks end without a deal 200 days A 90-day truce U.S. imposes tariffs on steel and aluminum Retaliatory tariffs take effect Talks break down 400 days Another truce Countries sign deal 600 days Trump signs deal Tariffs are lifted Jan. 15, 2020 800 days Deal is revised Trump signs deal Jan. 29, 2020 U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement China Phase One Agreement Current Talks 896 days from start to sign 623 days from start to sign Aug. 16, 2017 May 2, 2018 April 2, 2025 START U.S. imposes sweeping tariffs; China retaliates 90 days Trade talks end without a deal 200 days A 90-day truce U.S. imposes tariffs on steel and aluminum Retaliatory tariffs take effect Talks break down 400 days Another truce Countries sign deal 600 days Trump signs deal Jan. 15, 2020 Tariffs are lifted 800 days Deal is revised Trump signs deal Jan. 29, 2020

The Times analysis used the date from the start of negotiations to the date when the president signed to determine the length of deal making for each major agreement dating back to 1985 thats currently in effect. The median time it took to get to the presidents signature was just over 900 days. (A separate analysis published in 2016 by the Peterson Institute for International Economics used the date of signature by country representatives as the completion moment and found that the median deal took more than 570 days.)

With roughly one month before the administrations self-imposed deadline, Mr. Trumps ability to forge deals has been thrust into sudden doubt. Last week, a U.S. trade court ruled he had overstepped his authority in imposing the April tariffs.

For now, the tariffs remain in place, following a temporary stay from a federal appeals court. But in arguing its case, the federal government initially said that the ruling could upset negotiations with other nations and undercut the presidents leverage.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said that trade negotiators were working to secure custom-made trade deals at lightning speed that level the playing field for American industries and workers.

But in other recent public statements, White House officials have significantly pared back their ambitions for the deals.

In April, Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, hedged the number of agreements they might reach, suggesting that the United States would talk to somewhere between 50 and 70 countries. Last month he said the United States was negotiating with 17 very important trading relationships, not including China.

I think when the administration first started, they thought they could actually do these binding and enforceable deals within 90 days and then quickly realized that they bit off more than they could chew, Ms. Cutler said.

The administration told its negotiating partners to submit offers of trade concessions they were willing to make by Wednesday, in an effort to strike trade deals in the coming weeks. The deadline was earlier reported by Reuters.

The current approach to deal making may be strategic, Ms. Manak said. One of the benefits of not doing a comprehensive deal like U.S.M.C.A. is that the administration can declare small victories on a much faster timeline, she said.

It means that trade agreements simply are just not what they used to be, she added. And you cant really guarantee that whatever the U.S. promises is actually going to be upheld in the long run.
An Illustrated Guide to Who Really Benefits From No Tax on Tips

Theres no question that President Trumps proposal to stop taxing tips has broad appeal. Its popular in polling, lawmakers in both parties support it, and now a version of the idea is on its way to becoming law.

But the effect of the policy would actually be quite narrow. About 3 percent of American workers receive tips, but about a third of those employees would not see a gain from the change.

Thats because of the way Republicans structured the policy in the tax legislation they passed through the House recently. Heres who would benefit under their plan  and who wouldnt.

The proposal would leave out workers who are not tipped.

The tax break is good news for people in industries like dining, where tips are a big part of worker pay. But it also means that two employees making the same amount, one a bartender and one a retail salesperson, could soon face very different tax bills.

These two workers each make $40,000, but the tipped worker would owe a lot less in taxes. A retail salesperson A bartender Not tipped Tipped Would save $2,441 Income BARTENDER SALESPERSON Wages $18,000 $40,000 + Tips $22,000 $0 Total $40,000 $40,000 Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $22,000 $0 Taxable income $2,000 $24,000 Income taxes owed $200 $2,641 A bartender A retail salesperson Tipped Not tipped Would save $2,441 Income BARTENDER SALESPERSON Wages $18,000 $40,000 + Tips $22,000 $0 Total $40,000 $40,000 Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $22,000 $0 Taxable income $2,000 $24,000 Income taxes owed $200 $2,641 A retail salesperson A bartender Not tipped Tipped Would save $2,441 Income BARTENDER SALESPERSON Wages $18,000 $40,000 + Tips $22,000 $0 Total $40,000 $40,000 Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $22,000 $0 Taxable income $2,000 $24,000 Income taxes owed $200 $2,641 Note: Potential additional effects of tax credits or other less common deductions are not included.

The tax exemption would create a huge incentive for more people to try to earn tips. The Republican legislation lays out some ground rules, tasking the Treasury Department to limit the tax break to jobs in which workers have traditionally received tips. This could become the subject of intense lobbying, as companies try to convince the government that their employees deserve the tax break. Uber and DoorDash have already pushed to make sure their drivers can qualify for tax-free tips.

Many of the lowest-earning tipped workers wouldnt benefit much, or at all.

Another obstacle to benefiting from the tax break is the way income is taxed in America. In general, before they pay taxes, Americans subtract deductions from their income, and then the government assesses tax on that smaller amount of money.

Everyone can take the standard deduction, which would be worth $16,000 for individuals and $32,000 for married couples this year under the Republican tax bill. No tax on tips would take the form of a deduction people can claim on top of the standard deduction, shrinking their taxable income even more.

But for a tipped worker who doesnt make much more than the standard deduction  say a college student who waits tables over the summer  the ability to claim an additional deduction would not generate much in tax savings. Someone making less than the standard deduction would have no taxable income to begin with.

The policy would save this low-wage waiter a small amount. Would save $250 Income Wages $7,500 + Tips $11,000 Total $18,500 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $11,000 $0 Taxable income $0 $2,500 Income taxes owed $0 $250 Would save $250 Income Wages $7,500 + Tips $11,000 Total $18,500 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $11,000 $0 Taxable income $0 $2,500 Income taxes owed $0 $250 Would save $250 Income Wages $7,500 + Tips $11,000 Total $18,500 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  $16,000 $16,000 Standard deduction  Tips deduction $11,000 $0 Taxable income $0 $2,500 Income taxes owed $0 $250 Note: Potential additional effects of tax credits or other less common deductions are not included.

Its important to note that the tips exemption applies only to the federal income tax. Workers would still owe payroll taxes, like the 6.2 percent Social Security tax, on their tipped income. They may also owe state income taxes on their tips.

For many low-income Americans, payroll taxes, rather than the income tax, are the biggest taxes they pay. Roughly 37 percent of tipped workers already dont owe any federal income tax, according to an estimate from the Budget Lab at Yale.

Others wouldnt gain because other benefits already eliminate their tax burden.

There are other tax breaks that could eliminate a workers tax liability before no tax on tips comes into the picture. For example, a full-time Uber or Lyft driver who can take advantage of the mileage deduction, which increases with every mile driven, may not have much use for another tax break.

The policy wouldnt make a difference for this ride-share driver. Would save $0 Income Wages $40,500 + Tips $3,500 Total $44,000 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Business deductions $28,180 $29,985  Tips deduction $3,500 $0 Taxable income $0 $0 Income taxes owed $0 $0 Would save $0 Income Wages $40,500 Tips $3,500 + Total $44,000 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Business deductions $28,180 $29,985  Tips deduction $3,500 $0 Taxable income $0 $0 Income taxes owed $0 $0 Would save $0 Income Wages $40,500 + Tips $3,500 Total $44,000 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Business deductions $28,180 $29,985  Tips deduction $3,500 $0 Taxable income $0 $0 Income taxes owed $0 $0 Note: Business deductions included are for qualified business income and business use of a car. The amounts differ under a no tax on tips policy because the deductions would interact. Potential additional effects of tax credits or other less common deductions are not included.

An exception to this would be tax benefits that are refundable. These are tax credits, like the earned- income tax credit, that give money to Americans even if they dont owe anything in income tax. So these tax credits can become cash payments to low-income Americans. Because of that, workers could conceivably use the tips deduction to reduce their tax bills to zero and still receive the same benefit from a refundable tax credit.

The more money someone makes, the bigger the benefit.

The deduction would be most meaningful for those who make enough to owe a fair amount in income taxes. A typical tax cut for someone earning enough to benefit from the plan could be worth roughly $1,800.

This hairdresser would save the typical amount among those who would benefit. Would save $1,863 Income Wages $60,000 + Tips $10,500 Total $70,500 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $10,500 $0 Taxable income $44,000 $54,500 Income taxes owed $5,041 $6,904 Would save $1,863 Income Wages $60,000 + Tips $10,500 Total $70,500 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $10,500 $0 Taxable income $44,000 $54,500 Income taxes owed $5,041 $6,904 Would save $1,863 Income Wages $60,000 + Tips $10,500 Total $70,500 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $10,500 $0 Taxable income $44,000 $54,500 Income taxes owed $5,041 $6,904 Note: Potential additional effects of tax credits or other less common deductions are not included.

This dynamic is a microcosm of how cuts to income taxes often work: The more money you make, the more you pay in tax and therefore the more you save from a tax cut. In this case, though, your benefit would depend both on how much you make and what share of your income comes in the form of tips.

This Las Vegas blackjack dealer would save a lot based on his significant tips. Would save $10,753 Income Wages $40,000 + Tips $60,000 Total $100,000 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $60,000 $0 Taxable income $24,000 $84,000 Income taxes owed $2,642 $13,394 Would save $10,753 Income Wages $40,000 + Tips $60,000 Total $100,000 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $60,000 $0 Taxable income $24,000 $84,000 Income taxes owed $2,642 $13,394 Would save $10,753 Income Wages $40,000 + Tips $60,000 Total $100,000 IF TIPS ARE NOT TAXED IF THEY ARE Taxes  Standard deduction $16,000 $16,000  Tips deduction $60,000 $0 Taxable income $24,000 $84,000 Income taxes owed $2,642 $13,394 Note: Potential additional effects of tax credits or other less common deductions are not included. Figures are rounded.

This would be true up to a point. The Republican legislation would bar tipped workers making more than $160,000 from claiming the break. (That level would apply for this year and increase over time.)

The cut-off is a stark one. A tipped worker making $160,001 would, under the bill, receive nothing, potentially encouraging people to try to lower their earnings to claim the tax break. Making that extra dollar could mean thousands in additional taxes.

No tax on tips could end up as a short-lived experiment. In the House-passed bill, the policy would last only through 2028, though the legislation could change in the Senate.

Many tax-policy experts are rooting for the demise of the deduction, which they see as another potential hole in a tax system so strewn with carve-outs that it is often compared to Swiss cheese. In general, they would prefer a system that charges roughly the same tax on workers with roughly the same earnings, rather than creating a tax advantage for certain types of work.

Its the exact opposite of the general principles that tax policy purists advocate for, said Joseph Rosenberg, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute.
Harvey Milk

Ukraines audacious drone attack on Russias bomber fleet deep inside the country should have sounded the alarm in the Pentagon.

Instead, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is more concerned with waging his war on wokeness.

He has ordered the Navy to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk. It was named in 2016 after the gay activist and San Francisco board supervisor who was assassinated in 1978.

The renaming of a Navy ship is a rare step, according to military.com. The last time was in 2023 with renaming of the cruiser USS Chancellorsville, and research vessel USNS Maury for their ties to the Confederacy.

Hegseth chose Pride Month to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a vindictive slap at the gay community.

Milk came from a family with a history of naval service. He was commissioned in 1951 and served as a diving officer on a submarine during the Korean War. He left the Navy in 1955 as a lieutenant junior grade officer with a less than honorable discharge after being questioned about his sexual orientation.

Seventy years later, Hegseth wants to discharge the name Milk from a ship because of the Presidential Medal of Freedom winners sexual orientation.

The country is a lot better than that, or at least it should be.

Boston Consulting Group takes a PR hit for its role in setting up and running the business operations of the controversial US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The firm has now severed ties with the organization, and withdrew its team that was operating from Tel Aviv.

It fired two partners for "unauthorizd work" related to GHF because the pair "failed to discluse the full nature of the work during the client acceptance process" and did work that was "in violation of BCG's policies and protocols."

Critics had charged GHF with weaponizing food aid to the starving people in Gaza by confining distribution centers to sites where access is controlled by the Israel Defense Forces. The US and Israel claimed that set-up was to protect against looting by Hamas.

The distribution scheme has only compounded the misery of the Gazans. The IDF has killed Palestinians near distribution sites at least three separate times, including 27 people on June 3. It claims the roads leading to the sites are war zones.

A field hospital near the GHF zone received 184 injured Gazans after the June 3 attack, including 19 people dead on arrival, and eight others who later died of their wounds.

The GHF released a statement, noting that while the aid distribution was conducted safely, the IDF is investigating whether a number of civilians were injured after moving beyond the designated safe corridor and into a closed military zone. This was an area well beyond our secure distribution site and operations area, it noted. That's a cop-out.

Jake Wood, a US Marine Corps veteran resigned as executive director of the GHF last month. He said it is not possible to implement the distribution plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

Wood has been replaced by American evangelical interfaith leader Johnnie Moore, who serves as a liaison to born-agains and Donald Trump. Moore has claimed that reports of Palestinian deaths at GHF sites are lies spread by terrorists.

Does he count the BBC among those terrorists?

The GHF suspended its operations on June 4 for "update, organization, and efficiency improvement work," according to its statement. It is working to address security concerns.

Off to a rough start Paramount Global has given the heave-ho to WPP Media, which was introduced by CEO Mark Read last month with great fanfare.

The successor to GroupM was established to reflect the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions, said Read.

Paramount Advertising president John Halley apparently didnt buy that pitch.

He traded Group M, which worked for Paramount for more than than two decades for Publicis Groupe without an agency review in a cost-cutting move.

That win is especially sweet for the French firm, which in March picked up GroupMs Coca-Cola USA account.

Read better get WPP Media rolling before the French strike again.
A DUBLIN man who admitted falsely imprisoning an Offaly pensioner who was terrorised in his own home has been jailed for seven years.

Patrick McDonagh (24), Bay 9, St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin 11 was sentenced after Tullamore Circuit Court heard how a man had been tied up, beaten and robbed in his isolated rural farmhouse in Walsh Island.

This was a nasty, vile, mean and horrible crime, Judge Keenan Johnson told Patrick McDonagh today (Tuesday, June 3).

McDonagh had previously pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of James (Jimmy) Donoghue at his home in Walsh Island, Co Offaly on February 26 last year.

He was one of four men involved and Judge Johnson said: It was clear the victim was terrorised by the culprits.

The maximum sentence is life imprisonment and because he ranked the offending in this case at the upper end of the middle range he set the headline sentence at 10 years and reduced that to seven when he took mitigating factors into account, including the repayment of 1,000 to the victim, now aged 67.

The judge said he would not suspend any portion of the sentence because less than a year before the Offaly offence Mr McDonagh had been given a two-year suspended sentence for drug possession.

He said behaviour such as Mr McDonagh's had a hugely negative impact on rural dwellers and the easy going approach to security, along with trust in the community, had been destroyed.

Previously, a sentencing hearing had been told that two cars were seen about two kilometres away from the crime scene and residents were concerned enough to contact the gardai.

Mr McDonagh was identified as the driver of one of them, a Ford Focus, and an item of his clothing was found to have bloodstains on hit which matched the victim. An Audi Q7, stolen that day, was used to drive to the farmhouse.

READ NEXT: Offaly pensioner tied up and robbed in his isolated rural farmhouse

In a victim impact statement Mr Donoghue said he was scared for his life when the men came into his house shouting Where is the money? and they ransacked his house, took 1,000 from him and a bank card and book.

Mr Donoghue, who attended both days at Tullamore Circuit Court when Judge Johnson was considering the sentence, said he was grabbed by the clothes and shook when the men were demanding money. He had blood coming from an ear where he had been punched in the head.

He said he was very nervous leaving home since and kept a chain around his gate at the end of his lane so people would think it's always locked.

The sentence is back dated to when Mr McDonagh went into custody in January.
A WELL-KNOWN environmental campaigner  Tom Roche, from Tullamore and Rhode, who in recent times has campaigned to help distressed mortgage holders - will commence a 24-hour hunger strike and vigil on Sunday, June 15 at 11am outside The Courthouse, on Cormac St in Tullamore.

The event will coincide with court proceedings for possession of Mr Roches home. Solicitors representing Mars Capital Finance Ireland DAC, will initiate proceedings on Monday, June 16 at 11am in Tullamore.

Asked about why he has decided to go on hunger strike to highlight his plight, Mr Roche said; "In pre-Christian Ireland, fasting was used as a means of protesting injustice. In more recent times it has been used to raise issues of various concerns to individuals and groups - the death of 10 men in the 1981 [on hunger strike was to prove a defining moment in the struggle between the Provisional IRA and the British government or, to be more precise, the prime minister, Margaret Thatcher."

"Hunger strikes have played a major role in ending slavery, challenging dictatorships, protecting workers from exploitation, protecting the Earths biological diversity, promoting equality for women, opposing racism and many other important societal issues. In ancient Ireland, going on hunger strike was a form of 'distress' called 'troscud' (or 'fasting'). This practice was socially significant and had legal support as an act of due process and fairness."

Mr Roche described the impact home repossessions are having on families as utterly devastating. "One of Irelands most senior high court officials, Edmond Honohan said, some banks who were 'cheerleaders' of the Celtic Tiger were 'reverting to type' and pursuing people to the 'bitter end' even when they 'had no money'. He went on to say the 'new debt set' have 'legal rights' but some are made 'feel like outlaws' In the same article Mr Honohan said he had met ['several widows of people who had been driven to suicide because of the distress of debt."

READ MORE: Tributes paid to visionary business man who changed the face of Tullamore and Mullingar

Added Mr Roche: "The mental and physical impacts of the distress and trauma mortgage arrears has caused me personally has been enormous. Over the past 15 years I have exhausted every legal avenue open to me to come to an equitable resolution to my mortgage distress situation. What is taking place is the anatomical unfolding of a home repossession scandal initiated in the first instance by Permanent TSB (PTSB)."

"In March 2025, I received an invitation to give a talk about my new sustainable development project ECORACE 2023, from Dr Gertrude Cotter - Lecturer in Global Citizenship Education at University College Cork (UCC) and academic coordinator of the [Praxis Project. I was to launch my new publication REBUKED - Anatomy of a broken promise during my presentation. REBUKED gives a detailed account of how the system has failed to resolve my mortgage distress issue. Unfortunately, I recently had to inform Dr Cotter that due to physical and mental pressures associated with my upcoming Court appearance on June 16 in Tullamore, that I would have to cancel my planned talk scheduled for Thursday, May 29 in UCC."

READ NEXT: AN APPRECIATION: Tullamore mourns death of leading business man and sporting icon
St. Flannans College in Ennis has announced that Offaly native Fr. Ignatius McCormack will retire from his position as Principal in September 2025, concluding his distinguished 24-year career at one of Irelands largest schools.

Fr. McCormack, a native of Kilcolman Parish in Offaly, first joined the staff of St. Flannans in 2001 as a teacher. He later served as Dean of the Boarding School before being appointed Principal in 2017.

Over the past eight years, he has been a guiding presence in the lives of students, staff, and families, overseeing a period of growth, academic achievement, and spiritual development at the historic Ennis school.

Fr. McCormack said, It has been a great privilege to serve as Principal of St. Flannans College, a place I fell in love with when I first drove through its gates in 2001. I am deeply grateful to the staff, students, parents, and Board of Management for their support over the years. As I prepare to step back, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and pride in what we have accomplished together.

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Bishop of Killaloe and Patron of St. Flannan's College, Fintan Monahan said, Fr. Ignatius has been an inspirational leader and a steady hand at the helm of St. Flannans College. His leadership has been marked by a deep commitment to the values and mission of Catholic education, fostering a spirit of compassion, integrity, and excellence. His impact on the life of the school is immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed. After a sabbatical, Fr. Ignatius will return to parish ministry.

The Board of Management of St. Flannans College extended its sincere thanks to Fr. McCormack for his dedicated service and announced that the process to appoint a new Principal will begin in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.

Leonard Cleary, Chairperson of the St. Flannans College Board of Management, said, Fr. Ignatius McCormacks tenure has been marked by inspiring leadership, unwavering commitment, and genuine pastoral care. Thanks to his guidance, the school and its students have thrived academically and spiritually. On behalf of the Board of Management, I extend our heartfelt thanks for his exceptional service and wish him every blessing as he embarks on the next chapter of his priestly ministry.

At this significant juncture for the school community, when a change of leadership is occurring at St. Flannans College, the Board of Management, Trustees, and Patron are very much aware of the importance of taking time for a listening and consultation process with stakeholders, added Mr. Cleary. St. Flannans College is currently undertaking a School Needs Analysis process, which will assist the Board in identifying the future needs of the school and the skills to be recruited in the competition for Principal in due course.

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St. Flannans College, which takes its name from the 7th-century patron saint of the Dal gCais, can trace its origins back to Springfield House in 1846, before it relocated to the current school 30 years later. The school underwent a significant expansion during the 1960s and again in 2003, with the development of a new wing featuring extensive new facilities. Co-educational classes were introduced in 2002.

Fr. McCormacks retirement in September will coincide with the opening of the first phase of a significant expansion of the historic St. Flannans College campus. The 2,500 sqm development comprises special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. The expansion is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland.
FINE Gael TD for Offaly, John Clendennen, has welcomed comments by An Tanaiste, Simon Harris, during a meeting at Government Buildings with Fine Gael Offaly County Councillors Liam Quinn, Neil Feighery, Eleanor Clendennen, Hughie Egan and Noel Cribben, which he said signal the Governments recognition of the need for stronger support schemes and improved processes under the Renewable Energy Support Scheme and Just Transition framework.

Speaking after the meeting, Clendennen said: I welcome An Tanaistes focus on ensuring that the people of Offaly and the wider Midlands receive the maximum benefit from Just Transition and Renewable Energy funding. The Midlands led Irelands shift towards renewable energy, and that leadership must now be rewarded with real investment and improved infrastructure.

The meeting focused on how national policy can better support communities affected by the transition from peat, through strategic use of Just Transition and Renewable Energy funds. Topics included reforming the Community Benefit Fund to make it more accessible, establishing a renewable zoning system that recognises Offalys contributions, and accelerating job creation and strategic infrastructure projects.

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Councillors emphasised the importance of joined up thinking to maximize benefit. Clendennen also highlighted his recent Dail remarks, noting that Offaly, despite comprising just 2% of Irelands population and land mass, contributes up to 7% of national wind energy output, a testament to the countys leading role in our energy future. Weve delivered on renewables, but promised support has lagged. We cannot allow bureaucratic delays or watered-down schemes to hamper our communities ambition.

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to working with the Government and local stakeholders to ensure Offaly secures its fair share of opportunity in Irelands energy transition and economic growth.
FINE Gael TD for Offaly, John Clendennen, has welcomed the announcement of a new 1 million funding scheme for Mens Sheds and is encouraging eligible groups across Offaly to apply.

The fund will provide grants of up to 3,000 to help with operational costs such as heating, utilities and insurance. Approximately 450 Mens Sheds across Ireland are expected to benefit.

Eligible Mens Sheds in Offaly include Banagher, Belmont, Birr, Clara, Edenderry, Hardy Boys, Kilcormac, Pullough and Tullamore.

We all know the incredibly positive impact Mens Sheds have had on communities throughout Ireland, and Offaly is no exception, said Deputy Clendennen. They provide a welcoming, inclusive environment where men of all ages can come together, share skills, and work on meaningful projects.

Deputy Clendennen praised the local efforts of these groups, noting the valuable role they play in enhancing wellbeing, reducing isolation, and building stronger communities.

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Im particularly familiar with the great work being done by the Tullamore and Birr Mens Sheds. Their dedication and community spirit are clear to see, and this funding will go a long way in supporting their ongoing efforts.

The grants are being delivered through the Department of Rural and Community Development, reflecting the Governments continued support for grassroots community organisations.

I encourage all eligible Offaly Mens Sheds to apply as soon as possible. This funding is a recognition of the vital work they do and a signal of Fine Gaels commitment to supporting Mens Sheds across Ireland, concluded Deputy Clendennen.
A LOCAL experienced hair stylist, Chris Devine, has opened a new salon in the Bridge Centre in Tullamore.

Titled H A I R Chris Devine, this new salon will offer a totally new experience in hairstyling and will offer a range of services including individual consultations, bespoke cuts, personalised styling, multiple colour variations and hair extensions.

Colouring will be provided using L Oreal professional colour brand. Other products are Kevin Murphy Backwash and Homecare.

Chris brings a wealth of experience in hairdressing to this new business having worked in Irelands largest hair dressing chains.

He also taught hairdressing skills at a high level when he was a Senior Lead Educator.

My salon will bring luxury High Street end styling for ladies to Tullamore. What I offer is classically beautiful and wrapped in elegance. I love my work and I want to bring something refreshing to ladies hair styling. I guarantee absolute quality with my amazing new touch styling, stated Chris.

Chris hopes to expand the new brand throughout the Midlands where he is planning new Salons.

READ NEXT: Offaly teenagers shine at Junior Theatre Festival in Birmingham

He also plans to open a Hair Academy as part of the business; this will be a Private Academy which will have input from practitioners at national level and from the UK.

When he is established Chris plans to offer a free service to people recovering from cancer. He will offer a service to style and trim wigs and head shaving if required. This will be offered on Sundays in a private setting with assurance and confidentiality. Details will be announced later.

There will be a personalised private Bridal area with a Gin Bar where the Bridal party can choose individual styling and advice.

H A I R Chris Devine is located on the First Floor of the Bridge Centre, Tullamore.

READ NEXT: Support sought as countdown now on for Tidy Towns judging in Offaly
First long-range weapons financed by Germany could be deployed by AFU in several weeks  Pistorius

The first long-range weapons, "produced in Ukraine" with funding from Berlin, could enter service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a few weeks, German Defense Minister Pistorius has said.

Speaking to reporters before the start of a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues in Ukraine in Brussels, Pistorius recalled that during his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov's visit to Berlin last week, it was agreed that Germany would finance the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine.

"In this way, we are implementing our plan, which is more important than ever, to increase direct investment in the Ukrainian defense industry in the future.

"On the ground" everything is happening even faster, and the capacity is also there. The advantage is that a significant number of long-range weapons can be produced this year. The first systems can be put into operation in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a few weeks," Pistorius said.

In addition, he recalled the agreement between Kyiv and Berlin to continue the supply of air defense systems, weapons and ammunition, as well as financing repairs and cooperation on satellite communications.
Efforts to bring peace to Ukraine just received a stifling blow. German Chancellor Fredrich Merz, with less than a month in office, has stepped forward to set back the US-sponsored peace initiative.

Trump wants to bring Ukraine and Russia together for a peaceful settlement of the war. He is very focused on stopping the killing in Ukraine.

But now Merz has emerged with an initiative that seems counter to that. He apparently favors supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

The general notion of giving Ukraine long-range missiles has been one of great consternation for Russia.

In September 2024 Putin said he would regard Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range missiles as initiating a direct fight between the supplying countries and Russia (BBC). Putin threatened dire consequences if that were to happen.

This rhetoric sounds reminiscent of President Kennedy's threat during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In an address to the nation he warned, "It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union."

Actually, the United States, Great Britain, and France have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine: the American ATACMS and the UK/French Storm Shadow/SCALP. The supplying countries last year had authorized their use on targets in Russia. But the missiles had insufficient range to threaten Moscow. Russia has not sought to attack those countries in retaliation.

But the German Taurus missiles have sufficient range to hit smack dab in the middle of the Kremlin, the traditional embodiment of Russia's center of power. That's what makes them a new concern.

Before his election, Merz actually promoted a Ukraine peace plan of his own. It involved the Taurus missiles. In an interview with Stern he said, "If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory."

But on May 26, Ukrainska Pravda reported, "After assuming office, Merz changed his stance, stating that any decision on missiles would be made in coordination with allies." He also indicated that he preferred not to discuss specific weapons systems for Ukraine publicly.

He now seems to have changed his stance again, though. Now he's making headlines with his comments about a specific weapons system.

Why is Merz making statements that are widely inconsistent and don't always comport with the truth?

Look at this example: On May 26 DW.com reported, "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that Germany, along with France, the UK and the US, had lifted restrictions on the range of weapons being sent to Ukraine to help in the fight against Russia."

His reference to "restrictions on range" refers to the supplying country placing restrictions on how the missiles may be used in terms of range.

Merz makes it sound like these countries recently got together and made a joint decision on this, doesn't it?

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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

As Iraq approaches its parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2025, the nation stands at a critical juncture. The upcoming vote, the sixth since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, is poised to shape Iraq's political landscape amid ongoing challenges of sectarian tensions, economic recovery, and regional influences. With preparations intensifying, including exceptional parliamentary sessions to finalize electoral laws, the 2025 elections are already generating significant attention both domestically and internationally.

Iraq's political system, established under the 2005 Constitution, operates as a parliamentary democracy with a multi-party system. However, the country has faced persistent challenges, including sectarian divisions, corruption scandals, and external interference, which have eroded public trust in governance. The 2021 elections, held early in response to the 2019 Tishreen protests, saw a historically low voter turnout of around 43%, reflecting widespread disillusionment with the political elite. The protests, driven by demands for better services, job opportunities, and an end to corruption, underscored the urgency for systemic reform.

The 2023 provincial elections provided a glimpse into the evolving dynamics that may shape the 2025 parliamentary vote. According to analysts, the 2023 elections marked a significant reshuffling of Iraq's political landscape, with gains for the ruling Coordination Framework (CF), a coalition of predominantly Shiite parties aligned with Iran. The CF's ability to consolidate power in key provinces, such as Diyala, Salahaddin, and Nineveh, suggests a strategic advantage heading into 2025. However, the elections also highlighted ongoing grievances, particularly among Sunni and Kurdish communities, over issues like electoral representation and transparency.

The Iraqi Parliament is actively working to ensure the 2025 elections are free, fair, and credible. On May 26, 2025, posts on X reported that lawmakers were summoned for exceptional sessions during a parliamentary recess to finalize legal requirements, including electoral and governance-related legislation. This urgency stems from the need to address longstanding issues in the electoral system, such as seat allocation and voter registration processes, which have sparked controversies in past elections.

One contentious issue is the allocation of parliamentary seats for Halabja, a Kurdish-majority province. The Iraqi Parliament's Legal Committee recently ruled out reserving seats for Halabja in the upcoming elections, prompting criticism from Kurdish lawmakers who argue the decision lacks transparency and marginalizes their community. This dispute underscores the broader challenge of balancing representation among Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious groups-- Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, and minorities like Yazidis and Christians.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is tasked with overseeing the elections, which will elect 329 members of the Council of Representatives. The electoral system uses a proportional representation model, with seats distributed across Iraq's 18 governorates. However, debates over the electoral law-- particularly the shift in 2021 to a single non-transferable vote system in smaller districts-- continue to stir controversy. Critics argue that the system favors larger parties and undermines smaller factions, potentially exacerbating political fragmentation.

The 2025 elections will see a crowded field of political actors, with the Coordination Framework emerging as a dominant force. On May 26, 2025, the CF announced its intention to contest the elections as a unified alliance in Diyala, Salahaddin, and Nineveh, signaling a coordinated strategy to maintain its grip on power. The coalition, which includes influential Shiite parties like the State of Law and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, has benefited from its alignment with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose leadership has gained traction through reforms like the recent amnesty law.

The Sadrist Movement, led by Muqtada al-Sadr, remains a wildcard. Despite boycotting the 2023 provincial elections, the Sadrists have a strong grassroots base and a history of electoral success, as evidenced by their 73 seats in the 2021 elections. Posts on X suggest ongoing debates about the movement's participation, with some users referencing past electoral triumphs and others questioning the state of Iraq's democracy. Whether al-Sadr chooses to re-enter the political fray or maintain his boycott could significantly impact the election's outcome.

Sunni and Kurdish parties are also mobilizing, though they face internal divisions. The election of Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a prominent Sunni lawmaker with ties to Iran, as parliament speaker in November 2024 highlighted the complex interplay of sectarian and regional influences. Sunni parties, such as those led by former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, are likely to push for greater representation, leveraging their support for al-Sudani's amnesty law, which freed over 19,000 prisoners, including some former ISIL members. Kurdish parties, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), will focus on securing autonomy and addressing grievances over federal budget allocations and disputed territories like Kirkuk.

A new development is the formation of the "Alternative Coalition," announced on May 27, 2025, via X. While details about its composition and agenda remain sparse, this coalition could represent a counterweight to the CF, potentially uniting smaller parties or disaffected factions seeking to challenge the status quo.

The 2025 elections face significant hurdles. Voter apathy, fueled by distrust in institutions, remains a major concern. The low turnout in 2021 and the 2023 provincial elections reflects a broader sentiment that elections have failed to deliver meaningful change. Corruption allegations, particularly against entrenched elites, continue to undermine public confidence. The misuse of public resources and non-transparent campaign financing, as noted in Albania's recent elections, could also plague Iraq's vote if not addressed.

Security is another pressing issue. While Iraq has made strides in stabilizing areas once controlled by ISIL, the release of former ISIL members under the amnesty law has raised concerns about potential unrest. The law, passed to alleviate prison overcrowding, was a key demand of Sunni parties but remains controversial among other communities, particularly Yazidis, who suffered immensely under ISIL's reign.

External influences, particularly from Iran and Turkey, will also play a role. Iran's backing of Shiite factions within the CF gives it significant leverage, while Turkey's regional ambitions could affect Kurdish and Sunni dynamics.

The 2025 elections could either reinforce Iraq's fragile stability or deepen its divisions. A strong showing by the Coordination Framework would likely solidify al-Sudani's leadership and Iran's influence, potentially alienating Sunni and Kurdish communities. Conversely, a fragmented parliament with no clear majority could lead to prolonged coalition negotiations, as seen in Germany's recent chancellor vote, delaying critical reforms.

For Iraq's youth, who drove the 2019 protests, the elections are a litmus test for whether the political system can address their demands for jobs, services, and accountability. A failure to deliver could reignite unrest, particularly in urban centers like Baghdad and Basra. Meanwhile, the international community, including the United States and the European Union, will closely monitor the elections for signs of democratic progress or backsliding.

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HOUSTON, TX [June 3, 2025] - Abandoned Little Angels (ALA), a Houston-based non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged children in Houston and Vietnam, successfully hosted its 23rd Annual "Nature Wonderland" Gala. The event took place on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM, at Houston's Vietnamese culinary staple, Kim Son. This year's gala was co-chaired by Loanne Tran and YenLinh Luong, the entrepreneurs behind Bio Essentials V, creators 
After being awarded "Startup of the Year" by HackerNoon in Amsterdam, NRC Company kicks off a new era of digitalization for small businesses. Tallin, June 2, 2025 - Following its prestigious international recognition as Amsterdam's "Startup of the Year" by HackerNoon, NRC Company is proud to officially announce the launch of its first software product: BookEasy, a modular management platform set to be available starting September 2025. Currently in advanced testing with 
Jack Wagner, 22, was accused of selling psilocybin to two high school students under the age of 21. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File) AP

A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday to selling psilocybin to two West Linn high school students.

Jack E. Wagner, 22, of Milwaukie also admitted he was carrying a gun when he sold the controlled substance to the students on Nov. 2, 2023, according to a federal prosecutor and court records.
Ryan Davidson, 23, a St. Helens High School graduate who worked for Paulson Logging Co., was found dead from a fentanyl overdose on April 16, 2023. Courtesy of Holly Davidson-Raymond

A man who sold counterfeit M30 pills that led to the death of a 23-year-old St. Helens man was sentenced Wednesday to seven years and three months in federal prison.

Prosecutor Scott Kerin said he could prove Efrain Robert Diaz-Rangel was in the chain of distribution that caused the fatal overdose of Ryan Davidson on April 16, 2023.
A 45-year-old Portland man died Tuesday morning in a head-on collision on Oregon 58 in Lane County, according to Oregon State Police.

The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. near milepost 36. A preliminary investigation showed that David William Dickey was driving a white GMC Yukon eastbound when his SUV veered into oncoming traffic for unknown reasons.

Dickeys SUV collided head-on with a westbound gray Volvo semitruck hauling a 52-foot box trailer. The semitruck driver, 40-year-old Alymbek Baikeev of Forest Hills, New York, was not injured in the crash.

Dickey was pronounced dead at the scene.

The highway was closed for approximately three hours while authorities conducted their investigation. Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by the Oakridge Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

This story was drafted with the assistance of generative AI based on data from Oregon State Police and edited by Oregonian editorial staff.
Daniel Jesse Dickens, 42, is charged with second-degree assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon. Getty Images

A man is facing felony charges after he allegedly attacked a woman with a hatchet near Portland State University on Monday.

Daniel Jesse Dickens, 42, is charged with second-degree assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon for hitting 22-year-old Haille Salaam in the back with a hatchet, court records show.

Salaam survived, but required stitches for a 3-inch-long wound, court records say.

Salaam was waiting for a friend at the door of an apartment near Southwest 5th Avenue and Jackson Street when she walked to a nearby trash can to throw away a cup of tea, court records state.

Dickens was allegedly standing near the trash can, and as Salaam turned around she heard him yell, Get the (expletive) away from me.

Moments later, she felt something hit her back  and when she turned around she saw that Dickens was armed with a hatchet, court records allege.

Leondrae Mitchell, a security guard who was standing at a nearby TriMet platform, heard the shouting and spotted a man swinging a hatchet at Salaam, court records say.

Mitchell yelled at Dickens, and as a result Dickens started swinging the hatchet in the security guards direction and shouted, Ill (expletive) kill you.

Mitchell subdued Dickens until police showed up and arrested the hatchet-wielding man, court records say.

Salaam was taken to OHSU Hospital, where she received 12 stitches for the gash in her back.

Dickens is also facing charges in earlier cases, including second-degree criminal trespass and unlawful possession of fentanyl.

 Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

Along the entire front line since the beginning of the day and as of 16:00, some 67 combat clashes have been recorded, with the most active combat operations taking place on the Pokrovsk and Lyman axes, where the enemy carried out 16 attacks and 15 attacks, respectively, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"In the Pokrovsk direction since the beginning of the day, the occupiers have made 16 attempts to displace our defenders from occupied position, the AFU General Staff said on Telegram on Wednesday, adding that the enemy attacked 15 times on the Lyman axis.

On the Siversk axis, since the beginning of the day, two clashes have taken place, and an assault was made on the Kramatorsk axis.

On the Toretsk axis, the enemy attacked near several settlements to improve their position. One is currently ongoing, the report said.

Border settlements in Sumy region were shelled by Russian forces, according to the report, which said invaders attempted to advance twice in the Vovchansk area of northern Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 attacks by Russian units in the Kursk sector, where the enemy launched nine air strikes, dropping 11 guided bombs, and 88 artillery shells. Fighting there is currently ongoing in two locations, the report said.
The outside entrance of Union Gospel Mission on Monday, June 2, 2025. LAURA TESLER/Special to Salem Reporter

Kyle Casey stood outside Salems Union Gospel Mission shelter, waiting to check in and get a bed for the night on Sunday.

As he waited, a man rushed out the front entry, bleeding.

Behind him came a man wielding a knife.

Casey himself was stabbed in one of the bloodiest incidents in recent Salem history. In all, 12 people were wounded by a Bend man with a history of threatening strangers at knifepoint. Five remained hospitalized as of midday Monday.

The startling attack left workers at Salems largest shelter working through the day to recover in time for the evening meal.

Meantime, in a jailhouse courtroom 6 miles away, Tony L. Williams, 42, was formally charged with the attack. He responded to the judge with rants and delusions.

Interviews, official statements and videos tell the story of an awful Sunday night in Salem.

The suspect knew the shelters routine  he had been there the night before. Police said he was traveling by bus from Portland to the Bend area, but got off in Salem on Saturday.

Just before the stabbing Sunday, the evening chapel service was wrapping up. The shelter was preparing to close for the night at 8 p.m.

About 100 men sleep in bunk beds, housed 20 to a room in upstairs dormitories at the complex at 777 Commercial St. N.E.

Books lie scattered outside the entrance to the Union Gospel Mission on Monday, June 2, 2025. LAURA TESLER/Special to Salem Reporter

The shelter is intended as a safe haven for men, many who are working to heal after incarceration and recover from addiction.

Out front, a stone is engraved with Jesus words imploring the faithful: Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Every day, men wait outside to sign in and get a bed.

Guests check in at the front desk, completing a sign-up sheet.

They then hand in their luggage for the hot room, set to 118 degrees to kill bed bugs. They get a piece of paper to hold, matching their bag.

The shelter has no metal detectors, but weapons arent allowed. Employees who find weapons confiscate them or tell the person to leave.

This account of what happened Sunday is based on witness interviews, official statements and videos.

Police said the suspect returned to the mission Sunday evening, shortly before the stabbing.

Following procedure, he checked in at the front desk and handed over his bag.

But soon after, he decided he wouldnt stay. Employees told him he needed to leave since the shelter was shutting down for the night.

He went back to the front desk to get his belongings.

As he was receiving his bag, he pulled a knife.

The man slashed at Josue Acosta-Montero, the worker running the check-in desk, seriously injuring him.

He swung the knife as employees and homeless men rushed to stop him.

He fled out the front door, stabbing Casey and others.

Bobby Epperly, staying at the shelter as part of its mens ministry program, watched some of the attack from his upstairs bedroom.

I see him start stabbing people one after another after another. When I went down the stairs, there was a bloody scene, he said. It was horrible.

Then the attacker ran across Northeast Commercial Street to a traffic island  just outside Salem police headquarters.

Video shows police confronting him on the median. He was in handcuffs less than five minutes after the stabbing began, police said.

Medics and officers from six agencies responded, pressing bandages to wounds as victims laid in the lobby. Police closed streets.

At Salem Hospital, the charge nurse watched as the number of reported stabbing victims grew from one to three, then 10. She alerted the emergency department to prepare for a mass casualty incident.

Four patients arrived within the hour, at risk of death, said Dr. Libby Windell, the medical director of trauma services. One had urgent injuries that needed life-saving attention. The rest were walking wounded, Windell said.

Patients began arriving at the emergency room as police interviewed witnesses at the shelter.

The aftermath

Less than 12 hours later, breakfast, normally served in the dining room, was held in the parking lot at 5:30 a.m. The shelter itself remained closed.

Blood marked the shelter floor. One trail accompanied by splatters wove through the lobby, a sign of the violence of the attack. Blood too dripped off the front counter.

A large bloodstain, now dried, remained on the back of Caseys shirt where he was stabbed 12 hours earlier.

Kyle shows the spot where he was stabbed during an altercation the night before at the Union Gospel Mission. He was still wearing the same clothes from the incident on Monday, June 2, 2025. LAURA TESLER/Special to Salem Reporter

He was released from Salem Hospital around 7 a.m. Monday. He said he got a ride to The ARCHES Project before walking across the street to the mission.

He didnt want to know what the stitches on his body looked like.

It hurts really bad, he said.

Authorities midday released more details about the attack, but listed no motive. They said Williams used an 8-inch knife, which police recovered.

The men who were stabbed ranged in age from 26 to 57, police said. Salem Police Deputy Chief Treven Upkes said multiple people suffered multiple stab wounds.

Detectives are investigating the circumstances of Williams bus trip, Upkes said. Theres no indication the attack was targeted, his agency said in a news release.

The injured employee underwent surgery and has very, very serious injuries, Craig Smith, Union Gospel Missions executive director, said in a video posted to Facebook on Monday morning.

Please pray for him. He is, right now, fighting for his life, Smith said.

A second staff member, who is part of the missions New Life Fellowship program, was stabbed several times. He remained hospitalized in stable condition, Smith said in the video.

The fellowship is a Christian drug and alcohol recovery program that takes about 18 months to complete and includes working jobs at the mission.

Smith gathered his staff for a 7:30 a.m. meeting at the missions thrift store just down the block. Smith reported staff shaken, but theyre absolutely determined to get the mission back open.

Outside the store, Smith stopped twice to hug employees and ask how theyre doing and if theyre hurting. He told them to take care of themselves.

Our response has been to come together as a staff to pray, to pray for one another and to pray for the people that were injured. It wasnt just our staff, there were a number of people other than that, and then also to pray for the man that committed this crime, Smith said.

Counseling services will be available to staff, according to Smith.

The stabbing left those staying at the shelter on edge, Smith said, since such extreme violence is unusual.

We might have a temper flare up once in a while. Weve never had anything like this happen before and so theyre, as a group, very, very rattled, he said.

As a result of the attack, though, Smith said mission staff are reviewing changes to shelter procedures.

For the folks to know, this is not an unsafe place. This is a one-time event that we havent ever seen before. We want people to know that they can come here and be safe, Smith said.

Smith started as the organizations executive director at the beginning of May. He took over after Dan Clem, who held the position for eight years, retired.

Even though hes been in his role for little over a month, Smith said he works with amazing staff and most of them stepped in to care for victims after the stabbing.

I got here last night about eight oclock when I got the call and half of my staff was here. They were already here, I dont even know how they knew, Smith said. We had staff providing emergency care to people on the floor before the EMTs got here.

The suspected attacker appeared in court Monday afternoon in the Marion County Criminal Court Annex, attached to the county jail. He faces an attempted murder charge and 11 counts of second-degree assault.

Williams stood behind glass, appearing agitated and rambling profanely even after court staff lowered the volume on his microphone. He complained about conditions in the jail, claiming that staff were pumping gas into his cell, and that he had acted in self-defense.

Marion County Circuit Judge Pro Tem Drew Taylor ordered that he remain in jail at least until his next court hearing scheduled for Monday, June 9, finding that there was probable cause he committed the crimes hes charged with and that he is a danger to the public.

Marion County Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy said in a court filing Monday that Williams is accused of stabbing vulnerable victims and causing permanent injury. Those are among the details prosecutors intend to rely on to argue for a sentence thats longer than normal if he is convicted.

Several victims have sustained significant physical injuries, and it remains possible that death is a foreseeable result, Murphy said in another court filing.

Court records list the most recent address for the suspect as a homeless shelter in Bend. Police said Williams was traveling by bus from Portland to Deschutes County and had stopped in Salem on Saturday.

Court records show Williams has been in and out of mental health treatment in Deschutes County for the past several years, including a commitment to the Oregon State Hospital for several months in 2023.

Epperly, who saw some of the attack from his room, said that hes appreciated the staff response.

This place helps people, he said.

He said that the stabbing is a test of faith, but staff and the community have shown support.

Epperly said that he believes Williams needs help.Everyone has issues. He needs help. We pray for him, Epperly said. He struggled, he did some heinous stuff. But hopefully he finds something better in his life. Hopefully he finds a higher power that will forgive him.

-- Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: ardeshir@salemreporter.com or 503-929-3053.
Officials block off a section of Adobe road by Manana Drive to investigate the house of Guy Edwards Bartkus, 25, on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Twentynine Palms, California. The FBI identified Bartkus as a suspect for a bombing at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs. TNS

Federal authorities arrested a Washington state man they say collaborated with the bomber of a fertility clinic in May, alleging that he supplied chemicals used to make explosives and traveled to California to experiment with them in the bombers garage months before the attack.

The two men connected in fringe online forums over their shared beliefs against human procreation, authorities told reporters Wednesday. The blast gutted the fertility clinic in Palm Springs and shattered the windows of nearby buildings, with officials calling the attack terrorism and possibly the largest bomb scene ever in Southern California. The clinic was closed, and no embryos were damaged.

Guy Edward Bartkus of California, the bomber, died in the May 17 explosion. Authorities arrested Daniel Park, 32, of Kent on Tuesday after he was extradited from Poland, where he fled four days after the attack.

Park spent years stocking up on ammonium nitrate, a chemical that can be used to make explosives, before shipping it to Bartkus and later visiting him in Twentynine Palms, California, authorities allege.

He stayed for about two weeks earlier this year, and the two conducted bomb-making experiments in the detached garage of Bartkus family home, said Akil Davis, the FBIs assistant director in charge.

Park, 32, was taken into custody at New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli told reporters. He appeared in federal court Wednesday in Brooklyn and, through his lawyer, waived his right to a detention hearing in New York.

Judge Cheryl Pollak ordered him to remain detained, saying he posed a serious risk. He will be sent to California, and federal defender Jeffrey Dahlberg said Park reserves the right to have a hearing on probable cause there. A date for that has not been set, prosecutors said.

A cache of chemicals

Authorities searched Parks home in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, and found large quantities of several chemicals and handwritten notes of chemical explosive equations, according to a federal complaint.

One was for an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing, Davis said, a reference to the 1995 explosion that killed 168 people and was the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history.

Park shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus in January and bought another 90 pounds and had it shipped to him days before the explosion, authorities said. Park purchased ammonium nitrate online in several transactions between October 2022 and May 2025, according to a federal complaint.

Three days before Park visited him in January, Bartkus asked an AI chat application about explosives, detonation velocity, diesel and gasoline mixtures, the complaint said. The discussion centered on how to create the most powerful blast.

In a search of Bartkus familys home, authorities found large quantities of explosives material. Bartkus relatives told investigators the two were running experiments in the garage. Bartkus family did not raise any concerns to officials, authorities said.

An analysis of the blast site showed that ammonium nitrate could have been used in the explosive mixture, though it could not be conclusively established, the complaint said.

A shared ideology

Park and Bartkus, 25, met in online forums dedicated to the anti-natalist movement, bonding over a shared belief that people shouldnt exist, Davis said.

Anti-natalism is a fringe theory that opposes childbirth and population growth and contends that people should not continue to procreate. Officials said Bartkus intentionally targeted the American Reproductive Centers, a clinic that provides services to help people get pregnant, including in vitro fertilization and fertility evaluations.

Bartkus appeared to take responsibility for the attack on a website he set up that contained audio recordings, according to the complaint.

Basically Im anti-life. And IVF is like kind of the epitome of pro-life ideology, he allegedly said in one of the recordings.

Investigators have not said whether Bartkus intended to kill himself in the attack or why he chose that specific facility.

Park appeared to be a frequent poster in an anti-natalist Reddit forum going back nearly a decade, according to court papers. In 2016 he spoke of recruiting others to the movement, which he described as hopeful. When people are lost and distraught, death is always an option, he allegedly wrote.

Relatives told federal investigators that Park made pro-mortalist statements since high school, according to the complaint.

More recently, in March, he posted in the forum to say he was seeking to find fellow anti-natalists in and around Washington to start some protests or just any in-person events, according to court papers. The post did not receive any public comments.

Park and Bartkus visited each other going back at least a year, their relatives told investigators, according to court records.

-- The Associated Press
A barn owl who was rescued from a barbed wire fence is now receiving care in hopes of full recovery. Photo courtesy of Chintimini Wildlife Center

A barn owl whose wings were caught in a barbed wire fence, rendering it immobile, was rescued by two Willamette Valley women in a now viral TikTok that has garnered millions of views.

Lexie Echols, the 31-year-old TikTok user, and her sister-in-law are seen in the video carefully freeing the owl from a fence near Echols Lebanon home before taking it to an Oregon wildlife hospital. Echols said she originally posted the video to share with friends and family, but now she hopes it can help people who may encounter injured animals.

If anything, the video spreads awareness on maybe what you could do in that situation, or what not to do, since we were kind of figuring it out as we went along, but the fact that so many people were ready to just support the organization who was taking the owl in was huge, Echols said. I couldnt have asked for anything better to come out of that.

Chintimini Wildlife Center, the Corvallis-based clinic that took in the owl, treats more than 2,000 animals harmed or orphaned by human activity each year.

While the barn owl is still recovering and receiving extensive veterinary care, its survival remains uncertain as it can take weeks for barbed wire injuries to be apparent, according to Chintimini Development Director Heather Gibons.

Its better to keep the stress down as much as we possibly can, while maintaining the care that they need, Gibons said.

Chintimni accepts about 10 animals per day to rehabilitate and care for. The centers peak season is April through August when volunteers, staff and veterinary professionals care for up to 100 animals, which is why donations make a significant difference.

Chintimni has received $40,000 in donations since the barn owl came in, many of them coming from TikTok users who saw Echols video.

Donations have been low because the economy is rough, and we totally recognize that, Gibons said. So it could not have come at a better time to see that support and to know that people really care about animals and the work that we do.
In an effort to modernize and streamline how state officials allocate whats left of Oregons ground and surface waters, lawmakers are considering a slate of bills meant to get resource agencies collaborating on permitting reform, data collection and management rather than regulation.

Thats according to primary water bill sponsors, state Reps. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Mark Owens, R-Crane, the chair and vice chair of the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water Committee. The two are sponsoring six of at least nine bills being considered in the final month of the 2025 legislative session.

Were moving from a bias toward regulation to a bias toward management. All this stuff is moving in that direction, Helm said of state water policy.

The two have been working on updating Oregons water laws  specifically improving water accounting and the permitting and transfers laws  for years to preserve overdrawn basins and to deal with a backlog of more than 220 contested water rights cases currently sitting with the Oregon Department of Water Resources.

We look to our river basins, we look to our groundwater aquifers, weve learned we probably allocated too much water. I mean, bluntly, theres not enough. Theres no more water, really, to hand out, Owens said.

Updating water laws is also a priority for Gov. Tina Kotek and her natural resources advisers, who are behind two bills this session that would require environmental reviews in water rights transfers and improve the states ability to respond to groundwater contamination.

What it does

Senate Bill 427 would require an environmental review before water rights are transferred for new uses. According to supporters at WaterWatch, the bill would close a harmful regulatory loophole that currently allows water rights to be transferred and used for new purposes without consideration for how the change in use can lower stream flows, harm wildlife and erode water quality.

Whos behind it?

The bill is sponsored by state Sens. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, and Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, at the request of the Oregon Water Partnership, a coalition of seven nonprofit conservation groups including WaterWatch, The Nature Conservancy and the Oregon Environmental Council. More than 300 letters of testimony have been submitted in support of the bill, and 23 in opposition.

Whos opposed?

Various local water management groups and districts, including the Eugene Water and Electric Board and the League of Oregon Cities, who wrote that it would be redundant because municipal water authorities are already subject to water safety regulations, and that the Oregon Water Resources Department lacks capacity for more review.

Before considering any changes to transfer statutes, we must first address critical improvements to the contested case process and overall efficiency within the Oregon Water Resources Department, they wrote.

Bill status:

After a public hearing in February it received a unanimous vote without recommendation as to passage from the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee to the Senate Rules Committee.

What it does:

Similar to Senate Bill 427, Senate Bill 1153 would require state agencies to review water rights transfers to ensure they do not result in a loss of instream habitat for threatened or endangered species, and that the transfer will not harm water quality. It allows state agencies to make transfers conditional on instream improvements, such as enhanced fish passage, and allows tribes to review transfers in some areas.

Whos behind it?

Modernizing water rights transfers is a priority of Gov. Tina Kotek and her natural resources team, who have presented on the bill sponsored by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. Other supporters include the nonprofit fishing and conservation group Trout Unlimited and WaterWatch of Oregon.

Our challenges will only intensify. A hard look at our water laws is long overdue, Kotek natural resources adviser Chandra Ferrari wrote in a presentation to the Legislature.

Whos opposed?

The bill has received more than 400 written pieces of testimony, equally split with about 200 opposed and 200 in support. Those opposed include the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Oregon Water Resources Congress, a nonprofit trade group made up of irrigation, water and drainage districts.

The practical reality is that a significant number of streams in Oregon are designated as habitat for a sensitive, threatened, or endangered species or are listed as temperature impaired under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act due to low water flow, officials from the groups wrote in testimony opposed to the bill. Under these circumstances, almost any new transfer application could trigger some concern about habitat or water quality impacts.

Bill status:

An informational hearing about the bill is scheduled for Tuesday in the Senate Rules Committee, followed by a public hearing. A vote on the bill in the committee is scheduled for Thursday.

What it does:

Senate Bill 1154 would give state agencies more authority to intervene earlier in Oregons contaminated groundwater areas and establish thresholds for contaminants that automatically qualify them as critical groundwater management areas. The bill also more clearly spells out which agencies are responsible for participating in action on groundwater management areas and what each agency is responsible for doing.

Whos behind it?:

Next to modernizing water rights transfers, Kotek and her advisers big water priority this session has been to update how groundwater quantity and quality are tracked. Kotek backs the bill, which the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire sponsored. Nonprofit environmental and social justice groups including Latino Network, Oregon Environmental Council and Oregon Rural Action also support it.

Groundwater pollution continues to get worse in our most vulnerable communities and fuel public health crises in places like the Lower Umatilla Basin, Latino Network Executive director Tony DeFalco wrote in a letter of support. Our current laws have failed to give agencies the tools they need to enforce the law, and have failed to protect at-risk Oregonians.

Whos opposed?

The bill has now garnered more than 800 letters of opposition, due in large part to a campaign by the nonprofit trade group Oregon Natural Resource Industries. Many opposed are rural well owners and farmers.

State Reps. Bobby Levy, R-Echo, and Greg Smith, R-Heppner, spoke in opposition to the bill at its first public hearing in April.

Levy called it an unacceptable overreach of state power, and a persecution of rural Oregonians.

It grants broad, unchecked authority to state agencies, allows them to walk onto private property, dig up soil, impose arbitrary restrictions and suspend water use that is critical, not only to agriculture, but to basic human life, she told legislators.

Bill status:

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire sent it to the Rules Committee without recommendation as to passage. Its been in the Rules Committee since April 17.

What it does:

The bill would appropriate $3.35 million to the Oregon Water Resources Department to grant to soil and water districts in Lincoln, Union and Gilliam counties and to the nonprofit High Desert Partnership, based in Harney County, for place-based water planning.

Whos behind it?

Helm and Owens. The Association of Oregon Counties and the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts also support it.

Whos opposed?

WaterWatch of Oregon opposes the bill as written and has asked that it be amended to narrow its scope. Wild Salmon Center, though neutral in its official position, has submitted testimony critical of the bill.

We encourage the Legislature to make use of the existing Place-Based Water Planning Fund that it created in 2023 to support not only the existing pilots, but also planning efforts in other geographies, Caylin Barter, water policy director at the center, wrote.

Bill status:

In April, the bill passed the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water and was referred to Ways and Means with the recommendation that it pass.

What it does:

Establishes an interagency water reuse team at Oregons Department of Environmental Quality to coordinate and expand water reuse and storage projects across the state.

Whos behind it?

Helm and Owens. It also has support from unions, environmental organizations and water irrigation districts.

Whos opposed?:

The bill faces no major opposition.

Bill status:

A vote on the bill was scheduled this week in the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources.

What it does:

It would largely nullify Senate Bills 427 and Senate Bill 1153, prohibiting the consideration of the public interest and potential impairment when water rights are awarded or transferred.

Whos behind it?:

Owens. The Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon Groundwater Association also support it.

Whos opposed?

The bill has received more than 100 letters of opposition, and just nine letters of support.

In Oregon, all sources of water belong to the public. To expressly prohibit the consideration of harm to these waters will have a major negative effect on Oregons values and our waterways beneficial uses, including recreation, aesthetics, and aquatic life, wrote the executive directors of Willamette Riverkeeper.

Bill status:

The House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee sent it to the House Rules Committee in April without recommendation as to passage.

What it does:

House Bill 3544 and amendments, also referred to by sponsors as the contested case bill, creates a uniform process for hearing contested cases in water rights permitting and transfers. It would drive parties in a contested case to reach settlement rather than litigation, reducing the backlog of contested cases, currently at more than 200, at the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Whos behind it?

Helm and Owens.

Theyre going to have to open up their checkbooks to get this done, instead of sitting around on protests for years, decades or multiple decades, Helm said about contested water permitting cases.

Whos opposed?

The nonprofit conservation group Columbia Riverkeeper as well as the Oregon Farm Bureau are opposed.

In a letter opposing the bill, Miles Johnson, a lobbyist for Columbia Riverkeeper, said the bill would significantly restrict individuals and public interest organizations from protesting problematic OWRD decisions.

Bill status:

House Bill 3544 got two public hearings in March and April, followed by a unanimous vote out of the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. The bill has been sitting in the Joint Ways and Means Committee since April 16.

What it does:

Digitizes paperwork and payments processing when it comes to water rights permits and transfers; limits extensions on the time water rights holders have to develop infrastructure and to put the water to beneficial use to seven years from the date of permit approval.

Whos behind it?

Helm and Owens. Conservation groups including WaterWatch of Oregon and Wild Salmon Center also support it.

Right now, when a person puts in for a permit to use water, they have a five year period of time in order to protect that. The department has defaulted to some very long extensions, and sometimes unlimited extensions. Ive seen extensions granted in the Harney Basin for 30 years, which is water speculation, Helm told the Capital Chronicle.

Whos opposed?

The Oregon Cattlemens Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, League of Oregon Cities are among those opposed to the limits on water rights extensions and the new deadlines for responding to reviews from the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Bill status:

Awaiting Koteks signature.

What it does:

Establishes a cross-agency team led by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to create a state water data portal where water availability, flows and usage data are centralized and accessible.

Whos behind it?

Helm and Owens. Conservation groups including WaterWatch of Oregon and Wild Salmon Center also support it.

Whos opposed?

The Oregon Forest Industries Council and a coalition of natural resource trade groups, including Oregon Farm Bureau, Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers and the Oregon Association of Nurseries. The groups wrote in their testimony that theyd prefer statewide water data be centralized at Oregon State Universitys Institute for Water and Watersheds.

Bill status:

Passed near-unanimously out of the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water in April with referral to Ways and Means, and recommendation that it be passed with amendments.

-- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
Visitors enjoy lakeside views on the deck outside Crater Lake Lodge. An Oregon senator is pushing back on the Trump administration's reversal on phasing out single-use plastics in national parks such as Crater Lake. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley reintroduced legislation this week to reduce disposable plastics in national parks after the Trump administration reversed a Biden-era policy to phase them out.

The Oregon Democrats bill would eliminate the procurement, sale and distribution of plastic water bottles, carry-out bags, straws and food packaging at the parks.

The move is the latest in a decade-old fight to get rid of single-use plastics on public lands. The Obama administration in 2011 encouraged the National Park Service to voluntarily stop selling plastic bottles but the first Trump administration discontinued those guidelines.

In 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to phase out all single-use plastic products from national parks and other public lands by 2032.

But at the end of May, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revoked that directive, saying it created logistical and operational challenges on public lands and did not fully account for cost, performance, or safety considerations. Burgum gave agencies 30 days to amend their guidelines and change contracts with vendors.

Burgums reversal comes on the heels of President Donald Trump signing an executive order targeting the irrational campaign against plastic straws.

Merkleys Reducing Waste in National Parks Act aims to counter those reversals. The legislation was first introduced in Congress in 2017 when the first Trump administration reversed Obama-era guidelines on banning plastics in the parks.

Oregonians and Americans love our national parks, but instead of protecting them from dangerous plastic pollution, Secretary Burgum is dead set on reopening the floodgates to plastic in our parks, Merkley, a ranking member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, said in a statement. Single-use plastics threaten our natural treasures and the ability of folks to enjoy their beauty.

The Trump administrations move on plastics comes as it has drastically cut staff at national parks, frozen some new hiring and proposed to slash park budgets.

 Gosia Wozniacka covers environmental justice, climate change, the clean energy transition and other environmental issues. Reach her at gwozniacka@oregonian.com or 971-421-3154.
The Trump administration has announced that it is revoking guidance to the nations hospitals that directed them to provide emergency abortions to women when they are necessary to stabilize their medical condition. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would revoke guidance to the nations hospitals that directed them to provide emergency abortions for women when they are necessary to stabilize their medical condition.

That guidance was issued to hospitals in 2022, weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court upended national abortion rights in the U.S. It was an effort by the Biden administration to preserve abortion access for extreme cases in which women were experiencing medical emergencies and needed an abortion to prevent organ loss or severe hemorrhaging, among other serious complications.

The Biden administration had argued that hospitals  including ones in states with near-total bans  needed to provide emergency abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. That law requires emergency rooms that receive Medicare dollars to provide an exam and stabilizing treatment for all patients. Nearly all emergency rooms in the U.S. rely on Medicare funds.

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would no longer enforce that policy.

The move prompted concerns from some doctors and abortion rights advocates that women will not get emergency abortions in states with strict bans.

The Trump Administration would rather women die in emergency rooms than receive life-saving abortions, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. In pulling back guidance, this administration is feeding the fear and confusion that already exists at hospitals in every state where abortion is banned. Hospitals need more guidance, not less, to stop them from turning away patients experiencing pregnancy crises.

Anti-abortion advocates, meanwhile, praised the announcement. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the Biden-era policy had been a way to expand abortion access in states where it was banned.

Democrats have created confusion on this fact to justify their extremely unpopular agenda for all-trimester abortion, she said. In situations where every minute counts, their lies lead to delayed care and put women in needless, unacceptable danger.

An Associated Press investigation last year found that, even with the Biden administrations guidance, dozens of pregnant women were being turned away from emergency rooms, including some who needed emergency abortions.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which provides oversight of hospitals, said in a statement that it will continue to enforce the federal law that, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy.

But CMS added that it would also rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administrations actions.

The Biden administration sued Idaho over its abortion law that initially only allowed abortions to save the life of the mother. The federal government had argued before the U.S. Supreme Court last year that Idahos law was in conflict with the federal law, which requires stabilizing treatment that prevents a patients condition from worsening.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a procedural ruling in the case last year that left key questions unanswered about whether doctors in abortion-ban states can terminate pregnancies when a woman is at risk of serious infection, organ loss or hemorrhage.
Want to see a tall ship pass your favorite riverfront spot? Use the interactive map below to track the USCGC Eagle in real time as it travels 100 miles up the Columbia and Willamette rivers to Portland.

The 295-foot sailing vessel  known as Americas Tall Ship  is scheduled to depart Astoria around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, and arrive in Portland by 3:30 p.m., according to The Ship Report. The Eagles speed and path may vary depending on conditions, so check the live map to see when its passing bridges, parks, or towns along the way.

(zoom out on the map to see shorelines and surrounding cities)

Once in Portland, the ship will dock at Waterfront Park just south of the Burnside Bridge. Free public tours will be offered:

Thursday, June 5: 1 to 5 p.m.

Friday, June 6: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 7: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Government-issued ID and security screening are required to board.

Eagle by the numbers:

Length: 295 feet

Mainmast height: 147 feet

Sail area: 22,300 square feet

Rigging: 6 miles of rope

Top speed under sail: 17.5 knots (about 20 mph)

Crew capacity: Up to 239 people

Built in 1936 in Hamburg, Germany, as the Horst Wessel

The ship was taken by the U.S. after World War II and renamed the Eagle. It has trained generations of Coast Guard officers and remains one of the last working square-rigged ships in the world.

Use the interactive map above to track the Eagles progress as it approaches Portland. The ships position updates in real time as it makes its way upriver.

MORE: The 2025 Rose Festival is currently underway in Portland.

--Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive
Charlotte Fosgate, 17, who went missing near Milwaukie on May 1 was found dead in the Willamette River the following week, authorities say. Courtesy of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

As a very online teenager in a very online world, Charlotte Fosgate was well-known by her social media handles  @burntfishie if you were one of her 18,000 Twitter followers or Charcoal if you were part of the Sonic the Hedgehog enthusiast community.

To her family, though, she was just Charlotte, or sometimes still the name shed been born with and was still patiently willing to answer to when it was just close family, said her aunt, Katherine Ethridge, a special education teacher on the Oregon Coast.

And now, after the 17-year-olds body was found floating in the Willamette River nine days after she went missing from her home near Milwaukie, her name is being spoken and shared online as a symbol by hordes of people who never knew her.

The online attention began with comments left by the thousands on her final tweets. The haters misgendered her and were ghoulishly gleeful at her death.

But that quickly sparked a tidal wave of posts, comments and videos on X, Reddit and TikTok, many from LGBTQ+ teens and their allies, shared in support of Fosgates legacy and against the vitriol that had threatened to overwhelm her final online moments.

Its a pretty view

Not long after she slipped away from her mothers house on May 2, taking only her bus pass and her phone, Fosgate posted a picture on X from the top of the St. Johns Bridge at 1:39 a.m., the citys lights in the distance, the Willamette inky black below, with a four-word caption: its a pretty view.

Law enforcement officials determined she died by suicide.

Ethridge told The Oregonian/OregonLive that when her nieces death first started attracting national attention, she tried to reply to the virulently anti-trans comments on her nieces last tweets. But Ethridge did not dwell in the comments for long.

I chose not to respond anymore after someone told me that it should have been me that died instead of her, Ethridge said.

Other people stepped in, trying to fill the online spaces with grief and honor.

Reddit user @UnPluggdToastr posted: I hope her soul is at rest and her future existence is more kind to her than the one she had on earth  I have never met Charlotte, but I can safely say you will be missed.

A GoFundMe donor posted that she never knew Fosgate, but, as another transgender girl in greater Portland, she cant stop grieving for her.

Learning about Charlottes disappearance a few days ago  and subsequent discovery  has destroyed me, she wrote. Im so hurt by her death because it resonates so deeply.

And on TikTok and Instagram, Penelope Wickman, a Portland resident, has posted about Fosgates story and the dangers of transphobia for weeks. Wickmans partner is transgender, which has partially fueled her fight to support Fosgates legacy, Wickman told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Charlotte being a minor, a child, a teen was still not enough for people to lay off and just be like This is really sad, Wickman said. We dont really understand how much danger nonbinary and trans youth face.

Charlottes family members have read the heartfelt comments that have poured in from around the country, Ethridge said.

It is really heart-warming. It makes me want to fight more for them. I would never want anyone to feel uncomfortable or like they dont belong in this world because they are trans, Ethridge said. It has become a new mission for me and my sister, to help them as much as we can.

A life just begun

Born in Kansas City, Charlotte moved to the Oak Grove neighborhood with her mother when she was little. Pictures from a Pacific Northwest childhood show family clamming and swimming trips to Vashon Island, pumpkin patch visits on Sauvie Island and lots of time spent loving on a beloved rescue dog of indeterminate breed, Marley.

Like plenty of other kids her age, Charlotte loved gaming, from Angry Birds to Super Mario Bros., and always, especially, Sonic the Hedgehog, the video game series that traces the adventures of a blue hedgehog perennially locked in combat with evil scientists and the robot armies they command.

She talked about a job in the computer industry, thinking about a future post-high school.

Her niece did struggle with her mental health, Ethridge said, which the family believes is a primary reason she died by suicide, not the fact that she was transgender.

Though shed faced bullying at Rex Putnam High School and wound up transferring to the North Clackamas School Districts virtual school, New Urban Online, Charlotte was out to her mother, to her friends and to her cousins, Ethridge said, if not formally to some of the older generations of her family members.

She never came out to me personally. She never came out to most of the family, Ethridge said. But we knew. We loved and accepted her  We just wanted her to be OK.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call or text 988 for 24-hour, confidential support, or visit 988lifeline.org.

Help available

Suicide and crisis lifeline: 988



Alcohol and drug hotline: 800-923-4357



Teen-to-teen crisis and help: 877-968-8491, or text teen2teen to 839863



The Trevor Project provides help for LGBTQ+ young people: 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678

 Eddy Binford-Ross covers education and local politics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at ebinford-ross@oregonian.com.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at jsilverman@oregonian.com
The head of Prosper Portland will resign, saying he was told to step down from the directorship or leave the agency altogether.

The move comes weeks after Interim Executive Director Shea Flaherty Betin publicly waded into a contentious budget fight that threatened millions of dollars in cuts to the citys economic development agency.
I am a midwife who has been attending the births of families, neighbors and friends in Oregon for 30 years. Soon, if our president has his way, almost half of the women and families I care for will have important access to medical care drastically reduced, (Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz insists Republicans not cutting Medicaid, SNAP, May 25).

And to what end? So a military birthday parade costing millions can be paid for, to the detriment of Oregon women and children? So billionaires can receive tax cuts and our Oregon infants will not have the care they need? So we can spend more money disappearing residents to prison camps in other countries and not help to provide basic health care to the citizens in our state and country?

I am horrified. Every time I ease a babys transition into this world, I wonder, What kind of a place are you coming into? The president says he wants women to have more babies  yet he doesnt want to help to care for them? Maybe what he should say is, If youre white and wealthy, have more babies. Call your senators and demand that they vote no on the bill that would cut Medicaid. Call your friends and families in other states and ask them to do the same.

Jane Izmirlian, Lake Oswego

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington and discussed with him the situation on the front and the need to strengthen air defense, the parties agreed to coordinate further actions.

"In Washington, I met and talked with U.S. Secretary of State, Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. We discussed the situation on the front, the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the field of air defense," he said in Telegram on Wednesday.

According to Yermak, the interlocutors also shared their views on the meetings with the Russians in Istanbul, the further course of the negotiations, the prisoner exchange that will take place, and the importance of returning all hostages and children abducted by Russia.

"I emphasized that Ukraine has done everything possible to achieve peace, agrees to a ceasefire, but Russia is against it, so additional sanctions are needed," he said.

"We agreed to coordinate further actions," he said.
Oregon lawmakers are demanding answers from the Trump administration following the abrupt resignation of the superintendent of Crater Lake National Park on Monday.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, both Democrats, released statements this week criticizing the current administration, echoing complaints made by Crater Lake Superintendent Kevin Heatley, who resigned after less than five months on the job.
In a major win for Oregon unions, the state got one big step closer to providing unemployment benefits for striking workers on Wednesday.

The House of Representatives voted 33-23 to authorize the unemployment payments after hours of heated debate. Among Democrats,only John Lively of Springfield joined all House Republicans present Wednesday in voting no, allowing the bill to surpass the 31 votes needed to pass it.

Senate Bill 916, which would removes a rule prohibiting striking workers from collecting unemployment in Oregon, was approved by the Senate in March on a vote of 16-12. That chamber will need to vote on the measure again since lawmakers in the House later amended it. If the Senate again signs off, the bill heads to Gov. Tina Kotek for a signature.

The vote is a blow to cities, counties and school boards that lobbied hard against the bill.

We are called on to be leaders, and colleagues, I believe this is leading, Rep. Dacia Grayber, a Portland area Democrat and firefighter who championed the bill said during a floor speech Wednesday. We must not stand by while our sisters and brothers that show up to do the work every single day are stonewalled by their employers.

Oregon Rep. Dacia Grayber, a Portland-area Democrat, speaks to striking Boeing workers in 2024. Grayber was a chief champion of the bill to provide unemployment benefits to striking workers. Dave Killen / The Oregonian

New York, New Jersey and Washington have all approved unemployment benefits for striking workers. Those states dont protect the right of public sector workers to strike, though that doesnt necessarily preclude them from going on strike, at least in Washington. Vancouver-area teachers went on strike two years ago.

Notably, Oregons law would provide up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits to striking workers, compared with a limit of six weeks under Washingtons new law. Oregons striking workers would have to wait two weeks before they could collect unemployment. Some critical public safety workers, like police, are not allowed to strike in Oregon.

Hundreds of nurses, teachers and other union workers have testified in support of the measure over the last several months in Salem, arguing that the bill would help level the playing field in labor negotiations by preventing employers from taking advantage of striking workers lack of income to pressure them into accepting a contract.

Opponents, however, argued the bill would incentivize more frequent strikes and that it would be costly to employers and taxpayers.

Those arguments were echoed Wednesday on the House floor.

Democrats emphasized that strikes are rare and the decision to walk away from work not taken lightly. No one is getting rich on unemployment insurance, which is typically less than what their paycheck would provide, they pointed out.

Rep. Lesly Munoz, a Woodburn Democrat employed by the Oregon teachers union, cast the bill as a lifeline for everyday Oregonians when the rent is overdue, the refrigerator is empty and the promises at the bargaining table remain broken.

No worker should be pushed into a financial crisis for exercising the legal right to strike, Munoz said. This bill is about protecting Oregon people when they have no other choice.

Republicans argued that the bill undermines the integrity of the unemployment fund, would affect small businesses despite the claims of advocates that it would not, and that it makes Oregon a dangerous outlier nationwide.

This measure is going to take Oregons unemployment insurance system, the safety net designed for people who lose a job through no fault of their own, and convert it into a strike fund, said Scio Republican Ed Diehl.

A similar bill approved by the Washington Legislature this year is more narrowly tailored than Oregons. That bill allows just six weeks of unemployment for striking workers and sunsets in 2036 unless lawmakers decide to renew it.

House Republicans attempted to add similar limitations to Oregons bill through a minority report that would have instituted a longer waiting period before striking employees could collect benefits, capped those benefits at six weeks and instituted a 2036 expiration date. That effort was defeated by a 33-22 vote on the House floor, Wednesday morning.

Rep. Lucetta Elmer, a McMinnville Republican, argued that aligning with Washington would at least guard against businesses moving north because they view Oregons business climate as unfriendly. Elmer said the bill is too much and (goes) too far.

Democrats argued a six-week benefit cap would undermine the laws ability to make strikes end more quickly by encouraging businesses to bargain fairly with workers.

Instead, a six-week cap would give businesses a clear finish line and tell them how long they can starve their workers out in order to win, Portland Democrat Rep. Rob Nosse said.

Opponents of the bill lobbied throughout the day Tuesday, but were unsuccessful in convincing enough Democrats to vote against the bill, which is a priority for the Oregon Education Association and the Service Employees International Union, both historically key Democratic donors.

Oregons school districts and municipalities raised particular alarm. Most of Oregons employers contribute to the $6.4 billion unemployment fund through payroll taxes. State Employment Department leaders have said that, based upon the past frequency of strikes, paying unemployment to striking workers is unlikely to significantly change those tax rates.

But many public employers including cities and school districts must reimburse unemployment of former workers dollar-for-dollar. Several argued the bill will leave them in a lurch.

The Oregon Association of Counties told lawmakers in April that it could cost the states largest counties up to $1 million a week to pay unemployment benefits if workers were to strike, not including the cost of paying temporary workers to fill in for critical services.

School district leaders allege the bill will cost them too, even though lawmakers have specifically crafted the law to clarify that districts should deduct unemployment from a workers future pay  meaning that teachers couldnt earn more than 100% of their negotiated salaries.

In a May letter, education advocates argued that the bill will pressure districts to settle for more expensive contracts than they can afford, create administrative hurdles and potentially harm some districts unfairly. If a teacher had recently switched school districts before they went on strike, its possible that both their new and old district would be charged for the unemployment benefits, administrators wrote.

Rep. Daniel Nguyen of Dunthorpe told his colleagues on the House floor Wednesday that he raised concerns with bill sponsors after hearing from school advocates and Portland parents who, still shell shocked from the Portland Public Schools strike that cancelled 11 days of instruction in 2023, worried teachers could walk out more frequently after this legislation. Bill sponsors willingness to work with Nguyen and amend the bill to address district concerns assured him that if opponents worst fears come true lawmakers will be open to further refining the new rule.

With great power comes great responsibility, Nguyen said. I want to recognize that this is a powerful tool. While it can and should be used, our expectation is that it should be used sparingly and not as a weapon.

In a statement after the vote, business advocacy group Oregon Business & Industry said it was profoundly concerned that the bill had advanced. Oregon is sliding lower and lower in national rankings for business friendliness, which should be a wake-up call for lawmakers, the group said.

By advancing SB 916, which is unlike any other law in the nation, the Legislature has signaled, once again, that the private sector really doesnt matter, the statement said. We urge the Senate not to concur in the amended version of the bill and put a stop to SB 916.

Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
Rep. Janelle Bynum faced a smaller audience than at the town hall with Sen. Ron Wyden in March. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Oregon Democratic Rep. Janelle Bynum stopped by Albany this week to rail against President Donald Trumps policies.

The first-term representative is organizing what she calls a Give Em Hell Tour of Oregons 5th Congressional District to show off her opposition to the Trump administration, with a few more planned this summer.

But unlike a joint town hall with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden earlier this year that attracted around 1,200 people, fewer than 100 showed at the Timber Ridge Schools gymnasium Monday evening.

Still, despite the more subdued atmosphere, Bynum fielded a few questions from Albany residents concerned about Trumps moves on deportations as well as his signature tax cuts bill, currently being weighed by Senate Republicans.

I bet some of you have days where you dont recognize the country that youre living in, Bynum told those gathered.

Bynum, who won a closely watched congressional seat last November, said she represents a purple district, and every person who lives there.

But I disagree with President Trump and some of his policies, primarily because theyre attacking programs and services that we rely on, she said.

One Albany woman asked about the recent House Republican passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with multitrillion-dollar tax cuts at the heart of Trumps domestic agenda.

She wanted to know what Democratic lawmakers  whore in the minority in both chambers on Capitol Hill  could do about it.

As written, the bill extends Trumps 2017 tax cuts, adds some new ones, increases defense and border security spending, and attempts to pay for some of its provisions with new work requirements for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP or food stamps.

Those latter proposals have generated fierce pushback from Democrats, who argue Republicans are kicking millions of Americans off federal assistance programs.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates 8.6 million people would lose health care coverage and 3 million would lose SNAP benefits under the bill.

Elaine Wilder, a Lebanon resident and physical therapist, expressed concerns about Medicaid cuts.

Bynum called it trash bill, a term shes used at previous town halls, and said people needed to shift things in the court of public opinion. She also called on folks to call their senators, adding that Republicans were catching hell from their own meetings with voters.

Recently, in defending the Republican tax package at a town hall, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst drew headlines when she said, we all are going to die in response to someone shouting that people would die without health care.

But Bynum faced some questions about her record, too. One woman asked why she voted for the Laken Riley Act, the first bill Trump signed in his second term.

That act, named after a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant in 2022, permits federal officials to detain any unauthorized immigrant arrested or charged with crimes like shoplifting or assault.

The bill won support from 46 House Democrats, including Bynum. Its come under fire from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union.

Bynum, in explaining her vote, said immigrants form the backbone of communities and the workforce, and I do not believe it is American to challenge anybodys humanity.

But, she also said the U.S. was a nation of laws, and I have a very bright line when it comes to people harming people, especially children.

Two people also asked her what she would do about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Bynum said she had advocated for humanitarian aid, while also adding it was very important for the United States to be a consistent ally to Israel.

At the end of the town hall, Bynum said shed take the comments she heard back to Washington, D.C.

This is such an important part of our democratic process, and Im proud to be a part of this group, fighting alongside all of you, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

 2025 Corvallis Gazette-Times, Ore.. Visit www.gazettetimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Reginald Freeman, a former Oakland fire chief now working in Saudi Arabia, and Lauren Johnson, an assistant fire chief in Dallas, are finalists to become Portland's next fire chief. Courtesy of Reginald Freeman, city of Dallas

Portlands pursuit of a new fire chief is down to a pair of candidates whose resumes suggest they would bring markedly different backgrounds into leading the critical public safety agency, The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned.

Reginald Freeman, a former Oakland fire chief now working on a massive urban undertaking in Saudi Arabia, and Lauren Johnson, an assistant fire chief in Dallas, emerged as finalists after the city launched a national search to succeed Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie, who retired in March.
Travelers walk through the new main terminal area at the Portland International Airport. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Alaska Airlines delayed the delivery of two planes from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer last month and trimmed its summer schedule, citing the uncertain economic environment and the financial impact of tariffs on its supply chain.

Alaska was slated to receive two Embraer E175 aircraft in May but postponed the delivery because the carrier will not accept additional costs imposed by tariffs, a spokesperson for Alaska said Monday.

Though some of the steepest tariffs levied by President Donald Trump in April are temporarily on pause, the baseline 10% tax that affects imports from dozens of countries, including Brazil, remains in place.

The two Embraer planes were going to be part of Alaska Air Groups Horizon Air fleet, a regional carrier that covers cities in the Pacific Northwest, as well as Alaska, California, Colorado, Utah and Alberta and British Columbia.

As a result of the delivery delay, Horizon has canceled 14 flights a day through the end of July, the spokesperson said. Those cancellations affect routes across Horizons network, though the carrier focused on high frequency routes where it could most easily reroute customers to other options.

We deeply regret the impact this situation will have on our guests this summer, the spokesperson continued. We will continue working toward a solution that allows us to take delivery of these aircraft, and we are hopeful the disruption will be short-lived.

Alaska, like many carriers, did not release full-year financial guidance at its quarterly earnings call in April, signaling that the economic uncertainty may disrupt its projections for the year.

But Alaska executives remained confident in the companys long-term strategy, particularly its ambitious plan to become a trans-Pacific carrier after it acquired Hawaiian Airlines last year. With that merger, Alaska inherited widebody planes that will allow the carrier to reach farther destinations than it can with its current narrowbody fleet.

Seattle will be at the center of Alaskas expansion, with plans to add 12 new intercontinental routes by 2030, including flights from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita, Japan and Seoul, South Korea.

The current landscape has been challenging to predict, Alaskas CEO Ben Minicucci said on the April call with analysts. But we remain confident in our outlook. ... Were operating from a position of real strength.

Embraer could not be reached for comment Monday.

CEO Francisco Gomes Neto told analysts on an earnings call last month that U.S. tariffs have, so far, had limited impact on our company. But, he added, Embraer joins other companies in calling for the return of zero-tariff policy for the aviation sector, as has been the case for several decades, reducing complexity and costs for a highly globalized industry.

Alaska does not have any other E175 deliveries from Embraer scheduled for the year, the spokesperson said Monday.

The carrier now has 87 E175 aircraft in its fleet, including 45 for Horizon and 42 for another regional carrier, SkyWest Airlines. Horizon first purchased 33 E175 in 2016, with the first delivery in spring 2017.

Alaskas other expected deliveries this year are from Boeing, including seven 737 narrowbody planes built in Renton and one 787 widebody from Boeings Charleston, S.C., factory.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Cleveland County Budget Board will hold a public hearing Thursday for residents to comment and discuss the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 county general fund budget, according to a public notice issued Friday.

The notice follows a May 28 budget board special meeting to approve allocating and transferring funds. According to Oklahoma statutes, the board must finalize the budget before the fiscal year starts on July 1.

According to the notice, the total estimated need of all county departments and agencies is $74,152,791.88. Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland said the county estimates a budget of $61 million, as first reported by KOCO News 5, leaving a deficit of over $13 million.

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Cleveland County Sheriff's office and the Cleveland County Detention Center would have a combined estimated total of over $26 million in budget needs. This number is about $7.6 million more than what the department collected in September 2023 for its annual budget, the OU Daily reported in April.

The Well, a facility that hosts health and wellness community programs, shows a budget of $187,296.48 in the proposed budget, over $62,000 less than last years $249,759 budget, according to county employee Melissa Smuzynski. Smuzynksi wrote in an email Tuesday that no public services will be impacted by the budget cuts.

The Cleveland County Court Clerks office also submitted an estimated budget with an increase of around $54,000, according to County Court Clerk Marilyn Williams. The offices budget last year was roughly $2 million. Williams wrote in an email to OU Daily that the purpose of the additional funds was to provide raises to office employees.

This year I obtained the pay rate for Oklahoma County Court Clerk and I am attempting to bring my (pay) rate closer to what they pay, Williams wrote. The increase you will see is typically the (pay) rate and my attempting to bring the Court Clerk employees to a livable rate of pay.

The County Clerks office has an estimated need of roughly $2.5 million. County Clerk Pam Howlett told OU Daily in an email Tuesday that the public hearing will come with difficult decisions.

We will have to revisit each agencys budget requests and identify areas where we can reduce spending without compromising essential services, Howlett wrote.

Cleveland County Sheriffs office budget history

State Auditor Cindy Byrd conducted a special audit in April, which was requested by the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners. The audit detailed Amasons budgeting practices over the course of a year.

According to an April 24 press release, the department received a 40% increase in expenditures over the last four years, the highest funding levels in county history. Despite this increase, the release revealed the sheriff exceeded his budget by $4 million.

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The auditors identified over 300 instances where the sheriffs office may have violated purchasing laws, including spending taxpayer funds on high-end meals, games, and DoorDash. The purchases were made as the department cut Cleveland County Detention Center staff by 45% and faced payroll challenges.

When one agency exceeds its budget, it leads to tough choices for county leadership and a degrading of public trust, Williams wrote. In light of the state audit of the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office, the budget board will analyze the estimate of needs against the limited resources the county has available.

Of Amasons over $26 million in estimated needs, roughly $14.8 million is designated for the detention center, where 10 inmates have died in the last three years. The most recent death happened May 18 when Carl Douglas Kachel, 53, went into medical distress during a diabetic check.

In March, the current medical contractor of the center, TK Health, formerly Turn Key Health Clinics, announced it will leave the jail in June. In August, the Board of Commissioners approved a contract with SIMCO Correctional Consulting LLC to investigate the cause of the series of deaths at the detention center.

Cleveland wrote in an email to OU Daily Monday that the audit highlighted serious concerns and it is the boards duty to ensure the findings were addressed before the money was allocated.

The county must operate within the constraints of our budget, Cleveland wrote. The sheriffs office has submitted a significantly higher Estimate of Needs for the upcoming fiscal year without demonstrating fiscal accountability in previous years, as the state audit has proven.

Howlett said the board will be taking the findings of the audit into account while considering what money to allocate to each department.

We may need to evaluate in detail the budgetary requests from the Sheriff to distinguish between critical needs and discretionary wants, Howlett wrote.

OU Daily reached out to the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office, but did not receive a response prior to the time of publication.

The public hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Cleveland County Courthouse.

This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Natalie Armour.
WASHINGTON  U.S. senators from both parties pressed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Tuesday over the Trump administrations proposal to eliminate funding for key programs administered by the Education Department for disadvantaged and low-income students.

McMahon defended those and other sweeping changes outlined in President Donald Trumps fiscal year 2026 budget request  which calls for $12 billion in spending cuts at the department  while testifying before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to outline the presidents proposal.

Tuesdays hearing followed the Education secretarys testimony in front of the corresponding House panel in May. The House and Senate appropriations committees share jurisdiction over the bill to fund the department for the coming fiscal year.

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McMahon said the budget request takes a significant step toward her and Trumps goal to responsibly eliminate the federal bureaucracy, cut waste and give education back to states, parents and educators.

Senators blast move to eliminate programs

But the budgets proposal to do away with the Federal TRIO Programs, which were funded at nearly $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2024, as well as the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP, which were funded at $388 million, garnered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats on the panel.

While the Federal TRIO Programs include federal outreach and student services programs to help support students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, GEAR UP aims to prepare low-income students for college.

Neither TRIO nor GEAR UP has met most of its performance measures for a number of years and states and localities are best suited to determine how to support the activities in the programs rather than the federal government, according to the summary of the departments more detailed budget request.

Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the broader Senate Appropriations Committee, said she strongly disagrees with the budgets proposal to cut the TRIO programs.

The Maine Republican, who co-chairs the Congressional TRIO Caucus, said shes seen the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students, not only in Maine, but across the country, who often face barriers to accessing a college education changed by the TRIO program.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, chair of the subcommittee, echoed Collins concerns about cutting TRIO and GEAR UP, and encouraged her panel to reevaluate those parts of the budget request.

The West Virginia Republican said my state, and many of our states, but mine in particular, I think, has a lot of first-time collegegoers, a lot of students that dont have the aspirational goals either within their family, theyre not looking at how they can achieve education or a certificate or whatever, and thats where I think these programs have been particularly useful.

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McMahon said that while she absolutely agrees that there is some effectiveness in the TRIO programs, these programs were negotiated at very tough terms in that the Department of Education has no ability to go in and look at the accountability of TRIO programs.

It specifically eliminates our ability to do that, and I just think that we arent able to see the effectiveness across the board that we would normally look to see with our federal spending, she said.

Sen. Jeff Merkley fired back at McMahons claim, noting that there are benchmarks set and annual performance reports required for grantees.

Let me just say, your argument that theres no studies, no accountability, is just actually wrong, and the fact that youre coming here not even having looked at your own departments studies of these programs in order to be informed about them is profoundly troubling, the Oregon Democrat said.

Education Department responsibly winding down

The White House released new details on the proposed budget last week, and according to a summary, the $12 billion spending cut reflects an agency that is responsibly winding down.

The more detailed request includes lowering nearly $1,700 from the maximum amount a student can receive annually through the Pell Grant  a government subsidy that helps low-income students pay for college.

The budget proposal also calls for consolidating 18 grant programs for K-12 education and replacing them with a $2 billion formula grant that would give states spending flexibility. The document asks for a $60 million increase to expand the number of charter schools in the country.

The proposal came as Trump has sought to dramatically redefine the federal role in education.

The administration was hit with a major setback to its education agenda in May after a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the Education Department to reinstate the more than 1,300 employees who were gutted through a reduction in force effort.

The judge also blocked the agency from carrying out Trumps executive order calling on McMahon to facilitate the closure of her own department and barred the department from carrying out the presidents directive to transfer the student loan portfolio and special education services out of the agency.

Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a nation 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations focused on delivering state government news. The Voice maintains full editorial independence. For more stories by Oklahoma Voice go to oklahomavoice.com.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking the public for any tips regarding medical institutions that are performing gender-affirming surgeries on children.

President Donald Trump's administration has placed gender-affirming care among transgender youth under scrutiny on the second day of Pride Month. "Help the FBI protect children," the agency wrote, adding that they want to hold accountable those who "mutilate" kids under the guise of gender-affirming care.

FBI Cracks Down on Gender-Affirming Surgeries on Children

The Republican leader's policies have continued to target the transgender community, restricting access to various services, such as gender-affirming healthcare. This comes as the procedure is rarely done in adolescents and is considered only on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, the majority of youth who receive these kinds of procedures report high levels of satisfaction, saying they have improved mental health and low levels of regret. Last week, Medicare wrote that selected hospitals sought billing codes and projected revenue from treating gender dysphoria in children, according to Axios.

It asserted that gender-affirming care for minors has significant risks without providing substantial evidence to back up its claims. This caused it to draw scrutiny among major medical associations.

Read more: Trump Administration Report on Transgender Children Healthcare Hides Names of Authors

A spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, Laurel Powell, said that healthcare for transgender youth is simply healthcare. She argued that trying to weaponize the FBI against American doctors who are doing their jobs is detrimental to parents who want their kids to thrive.

The FBI's request to the public comes as youth gender-affirming care has become illegal in 27 states across the country. Additionally, 17 states are facing legal challenges over the restrictions, putting them temporarily on hold, The Hill reported.

Targeting the Transgender Community

When Trump signed an executive order where he recognized male and female as the only two sexes, he also directed federal agencies to stop promoting the concept of gender transition. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the Republican leader's directives, adopted the position that it "rejects gender ideology."

The development comes as the Trump administration passed a tax bill that bans Medicaid from covering transition-related care. Additionally, the legislation prohibits marketplace plans that are available under the Affordable Care Act from covering transgender care as an essential health benefit.

The bill would have initially banned Medicaid from covering "gender transition procedures" for minors. However, House Republican leadership introduced an amendment that removed the word "minors" and the words "under 18 years of age."

The amendment later passed the GOP-led Rules Committee and the full House passed it the day after, as per NBC News.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Mertz coordinated actions to implement the agreements reached during the Ukrainian leader's visit to Berlin and discussed increasing pressure on Russia, in particular by imposing new sanctions.

"I spoke with Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Mertz. We discussed the results of my visit to Berlin and the implementation of all our agreements. There are many things that our teams are already actively working on," Zelenskyy said in Telegram on Wednesday.

According to him, during the conversation, the head of state informed his interlocutor about the second meeting in Istanbul and its only important result  the exchange of prisoners. "Although the Ukrainian delegation also insisted on establishing an unconditional ceasefire, the return of the children and a meeting at the highest level," Zelenskyy said.

He also said, "it is obvious that Russia does not want to end this war, and it is equally obvious that there should be strong sanctions in response to such a blatant mockery of all diplomatic efforts."

"Thank you for your support," Zelenskyy said.

As reported, on May 28, the president of Ukraine held meetings in Berlin with Merz, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag Speaker Julia Kloeckner. During his visit, Germany promised new military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 5 billion. In particular, a contract was signed with Diehl Defence for the production of IRIS-T systems and missiles for them. The total cost of the contract is EUR 2.2 billion.
The Austin Police Department (APD) found the body of a teenager in Lady Bird Lake, which officials believe could belong to the missing paddleboarder that was reported by a family on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the department, Corporal Jose Mendez, said that they were still trying to determine whether or not the teenager found in the lake was the same one as the missing individual. The latter was said to have been kayaking and paddleboarding in the area at the time.

Teen's Body Found in Lady Bird Lake

Mendez added that the Travis County Medical Examiner which was responsible for analyzing the body that was recovered has not yet made a positive identification. However, APD officials shared that the clothing and demographics of the body that was found matched those of the missing teenager's profile.

In a news conference on Tuesday, the corporal paid his condolences to the family of the victim, noting that the entire community is affected by the tragic development. He called it an unfortunate situation and is now trying to figure out what exactly happened, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Read more: Remains of Texas Family Found in Sunken Boat That Capsized in 2024

The APD said on Tuesday that investigators found the teenager got out of his kayak in a shallow part of the lake. However, the individual was not aware that it was actually a part near an abrupt drop that is known as an underwater shelf.

The teenager was not wearing a life jacket at the time and is believed to have either slipped or stepped off the shelf into the lake and did not return to the surface. Officials later found his kayak along with his life jacket and backpack, Fox7Austin reported.

No Evidence of Foul Play

The recovery of the body of the teenager was conducted after a 911 call that reported a deceased person being seen in the lake. Police officials said they do not suspect foul play to have played a role in the teenager's death as there was no trauma found to the deceased's body.

Authorities are now urging all residents and visitors near the leak to wear life jackets at all times, especially when they are in or around bodies of water. They added individuals should be aware of potential changing depths and underwater hazards.

Following the original 911 call that reported a deceased body in Lady Bird Lake, crews with APD's Missing Persons Unit, the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, and crime scene specialists all responded to the scene. Additionally, authorities blocked off a portion of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, as per KVUE.
Akai Eubanks-Burnett was 15 and didnt have a criminal record in the summer of 2023 when he joined a group that gunned down a man at a Harrisburg intersection.

He was among 10 people who surrounded Richone Strain-Hankerson, 26, of Harrisburg, who had just gotten into a red Mazda around 9:47 p.m. on July 24, 2023, near 20th and Zarker streets, police said.

Eubanks-Burnett fired a gun alongside three co-defendants, but his bullets were not the ones that killed Strain-Hankerson, authorities said. Police believe bullets fired by Ceniah Simmons and Juan Arvelo, 18 and 21 at the time, hit him.

Eubanks-Burnett was charged with homicide a month after the shooting. Simmons, Arvelo and Krisshon Giles, 17, were charged with murder soon afterward.

But at 15, did Eubanks-Burnett have the ability to understand the possible repercussions of his actions that night?

That question was up for debate at a Wednesday morning hearing, where public defender Spencer Bradley argued for the teens criminal case to be bumped down to juvenile court.

Under Pennsylvania law, homicide cases against juveniles must start in adult court. Defendants can then petition to get their case removed and placed into juvenile court if they can prove it serves the public interest.

Moving the case to the juvenile system would allow Eubanks-Burnett, now 17, to serve time in a juvenile facility until 21, when he would age out of the system and be released.

If his case proceeded in adult court, he faced up to life in prison.

During the hearing, Bradley told Judge Edward Marsico that Eubanks-Burnett was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, causing him to act out in school.

A sentence in the juvenile system would allow Eubanks-Burnett to develop stronger life skills and set him up to be a productive member of society after his release, Bradley said.

This isnt a kid whos trying to game the system, he said. This kid deserves a chance.

Bradley said Eubanks-Burnett acted on the spur of the moment when he picked up a gun and joined the ambush that day.

Theres not a great degree of planning, he said.

Bradley added Eubanks-Burnett has been cooperative and owned up to his part in the homicide since he was arrested. He said a psychological evaluation concluded he was a low risk for committing more violent crimes after release.

Deputy District Attorney Alexandra McNulty didnt dispute those findings, but asked Marsico to weigh the severity of the crime.

The big issue here is the nature of the charges, she said.

Marsico said Eubanks-Burnett fell into a familiar pattern of going along with groupthink that ends in gun violence.

Unfortunately, we see way too many incidents like this in Harrisburg, he said. There can be no larger impact than the death of a young person.

After weighing Eubanks-Burnetts history and good behavior in prison, Marsico ruled in favor of sending the 17-year-olds case to juvenile court. He will be moved out of adult prison and into a juvenile facility.

The cases against two of Eubanks-Burnetts codefendants, Simmons and Giles, are still pending in Dauphin County court.

Arvelo pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in April. His sentencing is scheduled for July 9. He is facing at least 18 years in prison.
Pennsylvania State Police chased a 52-year-old man for at least seven miles on Interstate 81 last month while he was high on crack cocaine, court documents said.

An affidavit of probable cause filed by state police said troopers started chasing Angel Gonzalez on I-81 north in Cumberland County and followed him into Dauphin County on May 31.

Police said they saw Gonzalez committing multiple traffic violations in Cumberland County, including swerving out of his lane and switching lanes without a turn signal, before trying to pull him over around noon.
Police are looking for help in finding a 24-year-old man accused of shooting a stranger after bumping into her in downtown Harrisburg last month.

Donnell Rhodes Jr., of Harrisburg, was charged May 29 in connection with a shooting that injured a 22-year-old woman in the early hours of May 10 in the 200 block of North Second and Pine Streets.

Around 2 a.m., after leaving a club with her sister and boyfriend, a woman told PennLive she was bumped by a man on the sidewalk, sparking a confrontation.

The woman told the man it wouldve been nice if he had apologized or said excuse me.

The womans comment led to three men confronting the womans boyfriend, but they backed off when she threatened them with pepper spray.

A fourth man, who police later identified as Rhodes, approached the woman, and she used pepper spray to stop him but accidentally sprayed herself too.

As I was wiping my eyes, he was already turning around with his hand in his fanny pack, the woman told PennLive during an interview. I seen the guy and then, boom. It was so fast. In a matter of seconds, he shot me.

The woman said the bullet went through the left side of her abdomen, hit her intestines, injured her colon and fractured her pelvis.

The woman spent 11 days at the hospital recovering from the gunshot wound but had to go back after the bullet lodged in her hip became infected.

Rhodes was charged with attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two firearms offenses and recklessly endangering another person, police said.

Police said Rhodes is unable to legally carry a gun because of a prior robbery charge, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Anyone with information on Rhodes whereabouts is asked to call Harrisburg police at 717-558-6900 or send a tip through Crimewatch.

PennLive reporter Jenna Wise contributed to this report.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new EUR 400 million support package at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

"For today's UDCG, I announce a new support package of EUR 400 million in maritime security. This will include more than 100 vessels, patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft," he said during a meeting in the Ramstein format on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the package contains more than 50 naval drones and will include a weapons system, sensors, spare parts, and training.

"So, a full package to strengthen the maritime security of Ukraine. This is very important, because we so see that the Russian threats in both the Black Sea, but also around Kherson, are increasing. So this is very important for Ukraine to protect itself against that. And of course, we want to support Ukraine in freedom of navigation and support for trade routes," Brekelmans said.
An Ohio man is facing animal cruelty charges after authorities said he tried to kill his dog rather than pay a veterinarian $500 to put him to sleep.

Richard Orth, 59, of East Price Hill, was indicted Monday on a charge of cruel treatment of companion animals, according to a press release from the office of Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich.

Officials said Orth took his elderly dog, Tinkerbell, to the Animal Hospital of Delhi Hills on May 23. The veterinarian there told Orth the dog needed to be euthanized and that it would cost $500.

As the staff left the room to prepare the necessary medication, Orth could be heard telling his dog, Go be with God. I wont let you suffer. $500 is highway robbery.

Orth then strangled Tinkerbell. The dog suffered injuries to its neck and throat and had to be euthanized, officials said.

Theres no excuse for what happened here, Pillich said in the release. Our office is committed to holding those accountable who harm animals.

Orth faces up to a year in prison.
Kain Heiland, 12, was shot and killed April 1, 2023, on the first block of First Avenue in Red Lion. (Photos courtesy of Linda Arvin)

The testimony of a teenage witness to the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Kain Heiland continued Tuesday afternoon with an hours-long, and at times, grueling, cross-examination by the shooters attorney.

Prosecutors accuse 15-year-old Nolan Grove of fatally shooting Kain in the back on April 1, 2023, in front of a third teenager whose testimony took center stage in court Tuesday.
PA Cyber student journalist Abagayle Kane's article was censored in November for including reference to the union that represents academic advisors at the school and their contract negotiations. PennLive

Abagayle Kane, a sophomore at Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, finally decided to speak up at the schools May board meeting after months of frustration.

As a member of the schools journalism club, Kane had written dozens of articles without problems. But her latest work, hoping to highlight the work of academic advisors at the school, was cut from the clubs monthly electronic newspaper, called the PA Cyber Press. The censorship came after she refused to remove three paragraphs that noted the advisors had unionized and were bargaining for a new contract.

This was one of only a handful of times that a Pennsylvania school was reported to have censored a student this year and it comes at a time when cyber schools are under increasing scrutiny by Pennsylvania legislators for running their schools with less transparency than traditional public schools.

Critics of cyber schools have questioned whether these schools additional emphasis on promoting their image is coming at the expense of providing students with a quality educationand in some cases, depriving parents and students of opportunities to participate in the democratic process at school.

In the wake of the censorship, one journalism club advisor resigned and students in the journalism club say the school has further clamped down on their expression, censoring articles that could reflect negatively on the school or its leaders.

The more than 50 academic advisors at PA Cyber that Kane tried to write about have jobs similar to school counselors in traditional schools. The advisors support roughly 11,000 students across the state, like Kane, who attend virtual classes or do their work independently online.

In the month after her article was canned, Kane said, administrators at the school never gave her a clear explanation and didnt follow through on promises to discuss it with her. Instead, she said, they began a campaign to stop her from continuing to advocate for her piece.

Despite the challenges faced this year, Kane has continued to be one of PA Cyber Press most prolific writers and is involved in a number of other school clubs and extracurricular activities, including at a local theater. When the schools board of trustees finally allowed Kane to speak at its May board meeting over Zoom, Kane was in full costume and makeup, waiting backstage before the start of a production of Mary Poppins JR.

In November, I wrote an article about the history of the academic advisors for the PA Cyber Press, Kane told the board. I was censored for mentioning their struggles with bargaining for a fair contract. For the past six months, Ive been lied to, ignored, infantilized, and scared into silence.

After Kane finished speaking, some members of the board suggested they should stop other students from commenting because they didnt think the students would have anything original to add.

Brian Hayden, the CEO of PA Cyber, declined an interview request but said in a statement he and the board of trustees agreed the schools labor negotiations are not an appropriate topic to be discussed publicly, including in the school newspaper. It could lead to misinformation and compromise the processes when bargaining in good faith.

Since Kanes article was censored, however, Kane and other members of the journalism club say the schools censorship has extended beyond union issues. Another student was told she couldnt write an article about a student petition to change one of the schools software programs.

Samantha Muto, the newspaper advisor who didnt resign, said in an email to the student that software problems would be a touchy subject. (Muto didnt respond to a request for comment.)

I do not think the an article would be approved for the paper with the guidelines of promoting a positive school image. I apologize, but with this being said we cannot approve that as April/May topic.

A controversy amid controversy

The censorship of PA Cybers student paper comes at a time when public cyber charter schools are facing increased scrutiny. State legislators held a hearing earlier this month looking into the transparency practices of cyber charter schools, where education experts testified it is often difficult to find out when board meetings are and what is being discussed. PA Cybers board, for example, doesnt publish its board packets which include detailed information about many of the policies and contracts being voted on, details that are routinely shared by more traditional public schools.

CHART: PennLive compared the transparency practices of PA Cyber Charter Schools board of trustees to Council Rock School Districts school board. Council Rock is the Pennsylvania school district with the most similar enrollment size, as of October 1, 2024.

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter Council Rock SD Enrollment 10,379 10,486 Meeting minutes posted 10 years worth 23 years worth Board packets posted No, not given upon request Yes Video recordings posted No Yes Occur when teachers and students can attend Partially, 4:30 p.m.--some jobs not over until 5 or 5:30 p.m. Yes, 7pm

Email addresses posted Yes Yes Meeting schedule posted No, only upcoming meeting Yes Link to virtual meeting posted Yes Yes Board holds committee meetings No Yes

Leaders at Pennsylvanias cyber schools say they have to more carefully cultivate their images in ways that traditional schools do not because traditional school districts automatically enroll the vast majority of the students who live within district boundaries.

Pennsylvanias cyber schools, by contrast, have to make direct appeals to attract students and that sometimes includes millions of dollars in advertising investments that traditional schools dont have to make.

Jonathan Gaston-Falk, a staff attorney at the Student Press Law Center, said PA Cyber doesnt appear to have published any board policies that clarify its guidelines for student publications. Members of PA Cybers school board didnt respond to a request for comment.

About one in every 25 students in Pennsylvania is enrolled in a cyber charter schoolbut Gaston-Falk said PA Cyber is among only six schools in the commonwealth this school year where the law center was contacted about a question of censorship. That doesnt mean it didnt happen at other schools, Gaston-Falk said, because its not easy for students to push back.

Students have to be willing to rock the boat a little bit and actually go after their rights, he said. And that requires a lot of energy. And not every student is willing to go to that next step.

Gaston-Falk said first amendment case law requires a pedagogical reason for censoring a student publication. In this case, however, he said, the article in question didnt appear to include any kind of protected speech.

Instead, its this idea of potentially making the school look bad or that the school doesnt get to call the shots as to its image, he said. To me thats not a legitimate pedagogical reason and thats not something thats going to be a learning moment. The only thing that its teaching those students is to keep their heads down and not question things that are the mechanisms of authority.

An articles birth and death

Kane said she originally became interested in learning more about PA Cybers academic advisors after she discovered the unions Instagram page. Kane began following the posts, including one encouraging supporters to attend the next board of trustees meeting.

Based on what Kane learned at the meeting, she thought other students in the school would benefit by learning about academic advisors as well. So she pitched the idea of doing a story on what academic advisors do and how their role has changed over time. Kane interviewed Erin Mills, the president of the union, and did some background research. Kanes article made its way through the clubs weekly Wednesday editorial meetings with the papers two journalism advisors with minor changes.

But when Kanes final draft was forwarded for final approval to Jane Camp, PA Cybers director of family services, Camp made clear any references to the union needed to be removed for the article to be published. Kane didnt understand what was wrong with speaking about the union and refused to make the changes.

Eric Woelfel, a senior administrator at PA Cyber, reached out to Kane and Kanes parents to talk about the article. Woelfel said the article was not relevant to PA Cyber families, according to Kane.

I argued that it was relevant since the strike, if it were to occur, would impact PA Cyber students and their families, she said.

PA Cyber student Abagayle Kane looks for a book at her local library in Beaver County. PennLive

Kane was told that the decision was ultimately being made by the school board. At the end of their conversation, Kane said Woelfel told her he would ask the school board to explain what happened to her article but Kane never heard back from Woelfel.

A few weeks later, Kane emailed the board directly, offering to include information from them to make the article more balanced.

Please tell me whether or not you are willing to let me interview you in exchange for my article, which will be edited accordingly with your responses to my interview questions, being published in the PA Cyber Press, Kane wrote.

No one responded, Kane said.

Kane and other journalists tried to set up a meeting with Camp to try to understand why the article was censored and eventually Camp came to a club meeting unannounced. But Kane had a conflict at that time and the other two student journalists said they didnt feel comfortable speaking without Kane.

Alyssa Carpinello, one of those students, took detailed notes of what Camp said during the Zoom meeting. She said they mostly sat and listened as Camp talked at them:

When we edit the paper its for the good of the organization, Camp said. Theres a hierarchy here, and theres always a hierarchy in life. Your parents were your first hierarchy, and they were telling you, No, dont go near the stove, its hot. No, dont cross the street without looking both ways. There is a hierarchy in everything you do. There are deadlines you have to meet. There are restrictions to keep you safe, or help you. So thats what were trying to do and theres no censoring whatsoever.

Camp didnt respond to a request for comment.

Alyssa Carpinello (center) spoke remotely to the board of trustees at PA Cyber Charter School during their May 14 meeting. Courtesy image

To Carpinello it felt a bit like Camp was trying to get her to turn against Kane.

Group think is kinda dangerous sometimes, Camp said to them. So you can have your own thoughts, and you can have your own opinion, and you can have a differing opinion than someone. There was nothing nefarious the whole time. There was nobody being censored.

Kane said Camp later called her parents to talk about what happened and, in that conversation, asked whether Kane was having any problems at home that were causing her to act out. (Kanes mom confirmed school officials reached out.)

It felt like [Camp] was trying to push the blame away from herself because the only thing that was going on with me at the time was how I was being treated by the administration, Kane said.

It was around this point that Kelli Moon, one of the co-leaders of the journalism club resigned in protest, according to students in the club. Moon declined to comment.

A new regime

Since then, Kane and other student journalists said the journalism club has become more restrictive, with advisors sometimes making last-minute editorial and formatting changes without talking to students first. And they said, it has become increasingly clear they are not allowed to write about anything that could cast school leaders in a negative light.

In March Carpinello proposed writing an article about a student petition that had been circling among students who were frustrated with one of the schools software platforms, called Class. Carpinello proposed interviewing the students who had created the petition.

Chantelle McKim, who took over as one of the co-advisors of the journalism club, responded in an email: CLASS is a VERY touchy subject, so I am not sure how that would go over. One of our guidelines says that the PA Cyber Press should promote a positive school image. I know many are frustrated with CLASS, and I am worried that it would be hard to promote a positive school image with that topic.

Muto, the newspaper club advisor who hadnt resigned, told Carpinello directly the topic was not allowed. If you are looking for another topic for the issue, Muto wrote. I could suggest looking at some upcoming events and field trips, graduation or even highlighting the Global Education Clubs next abroad trip.

In another article about a local play based on Alice in Wonderland, Kane said she was not allowed to include information about one of the actors who spoke about how her Jewish heritage impacted her performance. Kane said her advisor told her administrators didnt believe the actors experience was directly connected to PA Cyber students and she should focus on the play instead. But again, Kane refused to take out the reference to the actor, she said, and the article was never published.

In another instance, Kane proposed writing about a business that was led by a students parent where students worked. But Kane said she was told that she could not reach out to that parent directly using her personal email address. At PA Cyber, official school email addresses are set up, Kane said, so that emails wont go through to anyone outside the school. So Kane said her advisor offered to reach out to the parent on Kanes behalf.

PA Cyber student Abagayle Kane searches for books to read over the summer at her local public library in Beaver County. PennLive

Gaston-Falks, the attorney at the Student Press Law Center, said journalism teachers have to appeal censorship decisions up the chain of command if they dont want to incur an insubordination charge on their record. But in this case, he said, the lack of a board policy that is consistently implemented could call into question the administrations true intentions.

It seems like an arbitrary and facile restriction on them just to say, Oh, well, this doesnt have anything to do with you. You cant report on it, he said. And thats not how journalism works in the first place. Thats not how these kids are going to be inspired to start questioning things around them.

The parent representative on PA Cybers board, Mark Strawderman, did respond to Kane this week after she reached out for comment before her article was published. PennLives editors made the decision to publish Kanes article after determining it met its editorial guidelines. Strawderman told Kane that he hadnt heard about the incident and asked for a copy of Kanes article about academic advisors. No other board member responded.

Since Kane was in third grade, she said, she had wanted to be a teacher at PA Cyber when she grew up because of how much she loved her teachers. She isnt so sure now, she said.

Kane is worried that, after all the controversy, the school might not even allow a newspaper club next year. But Kane said she did learn some important lessons about journalism  including that she has to get all sides of a story.

But most importantly, she said, she learned that as a journalist, she doesnt need to take on the same persona she does as an ambitious student.

This was probably one of the first times in my life where I was able to speak up for myself without fearing as much about staying on peoples good side, Kane said. It kind of taught me that I dont have to back down just to please other people.
Jonathan Groff accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for "Merrily We Roll Along" during the 77th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, file) Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

By Mary Ellen Wright, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Actor Jonathan Groff gave a shoutout to his Conestoga Valley School District middle school teacher on national television Monday night, as he talked about the honorary doctorate of fine arts degree he received from Franklin & Marshall College last month.

While Groff was being interviewed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, host Fallon held up a photo of Sue Fisher accepting the honorary degree in his place  at Franklin & Marshall, back in Pennsylvania, where Im from, Groff said.

Groff was performing his Tony Award-nominated role of Bobby Darin in the Broadway show Just in Time the day of the colleges commencement, and couldnt be there to receive the degree in person. The Tony Award-winning Broadway, film and TV actor grew up in Ronks, graduated from Conestoga Valley High School and performed on local stages before becoming a professional actor.

On Mondays show, one of several appearances on national media Groff has made in the lead-up to Sunday nights Tony Awards  the actor is nominated for a Tony for the fourth time  Fallon asked Groff if he should call him Dr. Groff, before holding up the photo of Fisher.

Oh, thank you for showing this, Groff said to Fallon. This is Sue Fisher. ... I thanked her in my Tony speech last year. She is my middle school drama teacher and an incredible teacher, English teacher at Conestoga Valley Middle School, and she accepted the doctorate on my behalf. I love you, Sue Fisher!

Fisher is retired from teaching; the former Conestoga Valley Middle School is now Gerald G. Huesken Middle School.

Did she know that you were going to go this far and ... win Tonys and be amazing? Fallon asked Groff, who won a Tony last year for his lead-actor performance as film producer Franklin Shepard in the Stephen Sondheim-revival musical Merrily We Roll Along.

Groff told Fallon a story he has told before, about how Fisher sat me down after the middle school play and said, You should pursue this as a career. Groff said he had always loved performing, but until Fisher said that, he had never thought of it as a career path.

Absolutely surreal

Hearing him talk about me on the Tonight show was absolutely surreal, Fisher said by email Tuesday morning. Jonathan is always so happy to share our story, and Im grateful that he remembers where he started.

I will never forget that (middle school) conversation, because I was so convinced that this would be Jonathans future, Fisher wrote. Its the dream of every teacher to watch your students succeed, and to see him travel this journey is thrilling.

Fisher and Groff stay in touch. Fisher, who is board administrator of the Ephrata Cloister Associates volunteer group, still sends chocolate chip cookies to Groff backstage for all his Broadway openings.

I did see the show (Just in Time) a few weeks ago and, of course, I brought him cookies, Fisher wrote. The show is fantastic. The theater is so intimate which allows him to have this personal relationship with the audience.

He could see me in the third row, so as he moved about the audience, he would come to where I was sitting, hold my hand, and sing to me, Fisher wrote. My heart was full! And continues to be!

I cant wait for Sunday, Fisher wrote about the Tonys. He truly deserves to win. You wont find another performer on Broadway who is so full of joy and love and gratitude and humility. That alone is worthy of an award.

Groff also talked to Fallon about the spiritual connection he has with the audience, over Bobby Darins music and performance style, in Just in Time. The show, which has just been extended to Jan. 11, 2026, at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York, has six Tony nominations.

Groff is nominated again for a Tony for his leading role as Darin.

Viewers will get a double dose of Groff on the CBS/Paramount+ Tony broadcast on Sunday night. There will be a performance from " Just in Time," according to Playbill.com, and the original cast of Hamilton will reunite to perform a musical number to mark 10 years since the show opened on Broadway in 2015.

I think what theyve put together, musically ... people are going to lose their minds, Groff said to Fallon about the upcoming Hamilton number.
Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale sings to the crowd at Van Andel Arena in this file photo. (Press Photo by Katy Batdorff) BPN BPN

Whitesnake might not jump right to the front of the line when folks talk about iconic rock bands, but if you take a look at its body of work, theres no denying the band has had one heckuva run.

Rewind back to the 1980s and Here I Go Again was all over the radio. Honestly, it still gets its fair share of airplay. But for fans of the band, airplay, their old records, tapes or current music service were the only way to scratch the Whitesnake itch. And that is because back in 2022 the band had to step away from its farewell tour as frontman David Coverdale battled a persistent upper respiratory infection.

This week brought some pretty good news for Whitesnake fans, though.

That news?

That band is getting back together. Sort of.

Coverdale wont be in on it, but with his blessing members Tommy Aldridge, Joel Hoekstra, Marco Mendoza and Michelle Luppi and Dino Jelusick, to perform as The Whitesnake Experience at a festival August 29.

Jelusick, who was the bands keyboardist, will step in as the frontman.

Bad news for Whitesnake fans is the show is in Serbia, so unless you live there, you are going to have to make travel plans to see the group get down.

The band first started performing in 1978 and went through 1990 before taking a break. They returned in 1994 and 1997. Then, after an extended break, the band returned again in 2003 and was active until 2022 when Coverdale fell ill.
FILE - Mark Hamill salutes as he arrives at the world premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2019. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

No more Luke Skywalker for Mark Hamill.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, the 73-year-old actor said that he has no plans to appear in any upcoming Star Wars films as the famed Jedi knight.

I am so grateful to [creator 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, Hamill said. 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. Im appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.

And by the way, when I disappeared in [The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind. And theres no way Im gonna appear as a naked Force ghost," he joked.

Hamill has appeared in five live-action Star Wars films as Luke Skywalker, and made a (computer de-aged) cameo in the television series The Mandalorian.

Lucasfilm, which is owned by Disney, is developing a potential sequel to The Rise of Skywalker that would follow the adventures of Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, 15 years later, as she attempts to create a new Jedi order.

Other Star Wars films in the pipeline include The Mandalorian & Grogu, set to be released in May of next year, and Star Wars: Starfighter, which is slated to star Ryan Gosling.

Hamill currently stars in the Mike Flanagan film The Life of Chuck, an adaptation of a Stephen King story.
This summer, 51 creameries are participating in "Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail" in Pennsylvania. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

No summer is complete without ice cream.

This summer, Pennsylvania is giving residents the opportunity to visit 51 creameries across the state and win prizes as part of Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail.

Started in 2018, the ice cream trail is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and its PA Preferred program, The Department of Community and Economic Developments Tourism Office, and the Center for Dairy Excellence.

Pennsylvania ice cream is the sweetest youll find anywhere, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. Meeting a farm family, seeing where they work their magic, and trying fresh-made local ice cream makes summer even sweeter when you know your purchases help support Pennsylvania farms and keep our economy thriving.

Visitors are encouraged to visit multiple creameries along the trail. Beyond ice cream, the initiative offers an opportunity to connect with the local dairy producers.

The trail runs through Sept. 7.

Those who sign up on the ice cream trail website will receive a digital passport and accrue points every time they visit a participating creamery.

This year, those who visit six stops and earn 600 points will receive a commemorative metal tumbler. Those who make 10 stops will earn 1,000 points and be entered into a contest to win an overnight stay at Rocky Acre Farm Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County where they will experience life on the farm.

More information about the program and digital passports can be found on the Scooped website.

For those interested in hitting the ice cream trail, here are the participating creameries and ice cream stops:

Bailys Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm

1821 Lenape-Unionville Road, West Chester

Batch Microcreamery

2845 Center Valley Parkway, Suite 604 Center Valley

Brandy Camp Creamery

45 Erie Ave., Saint Marys

Chester Springs at Milky Way Farm

521 E Uwchlan Ave., Chester Springs

Colebrook Crossing

1550 Mt. Wilson Road, Lebanon

Crystal Spring Farm

3550 Bellview Road, Schnecksville

Destiny Dairy Bar at Stover Farms

60 Horners Road, Carlisle

Emingees Ice Cream

5395 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford

Flint Hill Farm Educational Center

1922 Flint Hill Road, Coopersburg

Fox Meadows Creamery

2475 W. Main St., Ephrata and 193 E. Main St., Leola

Gods Country Creamery

439 Pushersiding Road, Ulysses

Grecos Italian Ices and Homemade Ice Cream

9 E. Kleine Lane, Lititz, and 329 Main St., Unit C Landisville

Hangry Bear Creamery

660 E. Cypress St. ,Suite 101, Kennett Square

Jerrys Custard

2705 7th Street Road, Lower Burrell, and 725 Dorseyville Road, Pittsburgh

Kerbers Dairy

1856 Guffey Road, North Huntingdon

Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery

410 Klein Road, Easton

Lapp Valley Farms

244 Mentzer Road, New Holland and 4040 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville

Lone Oak Farm

1606 Georgeville Road, Marion Center

Manning Farm Dairy

131 Manning Road, Dalton (North Abingdon Township); 500 S. State St., Clarks Summit; 700 N. Blakely St., Dunmore; 300 Meadow Ave., Scranton; and 416 N. Main Ave., Scranton

Maple Bottom Farm

1119 Cunningham Bridge Road, Dawson

Merrymead Farm

2222 S Valley Forge Road, Lansdale

Mitch-Hill Dairy Farm and Creamery

702 Keister Road, Venus

Nittany Valley Creamery

5561 Jacksonville Road, Howard

Old Mill Creamery

6542 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg

The Milkhouse at Oregon Dairy

2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz

Patches Family Creamery

201 Fonderwhite Road, Lebanon

Penn State Berkey Creamery

Food Science Building at Penn State University, 119 Rodney A. Erickson

Perrydell Farm and Dairy

90 Indian Rock Dam Road, York

Ritcheys Dairy

2130 Cross Cove Road, Martinsburg

Sprinkled Sweet Bakery & Artisan Creamery

349 Pine St., Suite 4, Williamsport

Stocks Dairy Delight

2491 Cove Mountain Road, Martinsburg

The Sugar Shack

675 Williams Grove Road, Upper Allen Township

The Lands at Hillside Farms

65 Hillside Road, Shavertown

The Main Street Creamery

17 Main St., Wellsboro

The Sweet Anchor

720 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs

Urban Churn

6391 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg; 258 Westminister Drive, Carlisle; and 1004 North 3rd St., Harrisburg

Vale Wood Farms

517 Vale Wood Road, Loretto

Way-Har Farms

7701 Bernville Road, Bernville

Widnoon Soft Serve

911 Mahoning Road, Templeton

Windy Knoll Farm Market & Creamery

2685 Spring Road, Chambersburg

Windy Ridge Dairy

457 North Tower Road, Fombell
The USNS Harvey Milk sits in drydock at Alabama Shipyard in Mobile during a maintenance and repair operation. The ship may be renamed. (Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com, 2025) Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

By Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

California leaders denounced reports Tuesday that the Trump administration is preparing to strip the name of slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk from a naval ship honoring his legacy, calling it a slap in the face for the LGBTQ+ community just as Pride month begins.

Milk was elected as a San Francisco supervisor in the 1970s, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the country. After he was assassinated in San Francisco City Hall in 1978, he became an icon of the gay rights movement, with images of his face becoming synonymous with the struggle for gay rights.

Milk had served in the Navy prior to becoming an activist and political figure, and LGBTQ+ advocates and service members fought for years to have his legacy formally recognized by the Navy.

The outlet Military.com first reported Tuesday afternoon that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, an oiler built in San Diego as part of a series of vessels named for civil rights leaders. It was launched in 2021.

The Pentagon would not confirm or deny that the ship would be renamed.

In a statement to The L.A. Times, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all (Department of Defense) installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chiefs priorities, our nations history, and the warrior ethos, and that any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.

The Associated Press, citing U.S. officials, reported that Navy Secretary John Phelan put together a small team to rename the replenishment oiler and that a new name is expected this month. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the next name had not yet been chosen.

The removal of Milks name would be in line with a broader push by Hegseth and other leaders in the Trump administration to remove formal acknowledgments of queer rights and other programs or messages promoting diversity, equity and inclusion across the federal government.

Leaders in California  where Milk is often hailed as a hero  were quick to denounce the idea of stripping his name from the vessel.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on the social media platform X that Trumps assault on veterans has hit a new low.

Trump and Hegseth have also issued a sweeping ban on transgender people serving in the military.

Harvey Milk wasnt just a civil rights icon  he was a Korean War combat veteran whose commander called him outstanding, Newsom said. Stripping his name from a Navy ship wont erase his legacy as an American icon, but it does reveal Trumps contempt for the very values our veterans fight to protect.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, who is gay and once represented the same district as Milk on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said in an interview with The L.A. Times that the move was all part of Trumps systematic campaign to eliminate LGBTQ people from public life.

They want us to go away, to go back in the closet, not to be part of public life, Wiener said. And were not going anywhere.

Wiener called Milk an absolute hero who died for our community and deserves the honor of having a naval vessel named after him.

Harvey Milk, a gay political leader, in his camera store on Castro Street on June 28, 1977, in San Francisco. (AP Photo, file) AP

U.S. officials first announced in 2016 that a ship would be named for Milk, as well as other ships for abolitionist Sojourner Truth, Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren, Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy, suffragist Lucy Stone and U.S. Rep. John Lewis.

CBS News says other ships are being considered for new names, such as the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Dolores Huerta, USNS Lucy Stone, USNS Cesar Chavez and USNS Medgar Evers.

CBS News found that a December 2024 web article from Naval Sea Systems Command about the laying of the keel for the future USNS Thurgood Marshall has been deleted.
Temporarily out of his treehouse, Benito Flores speaks with the media on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in El Sereno, California. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS) TNS

By Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES  Before the sun rose Tuesday, Benito Flores fortified the front door of his one-bedroom duplex on a narrow street in El Sereno.

Flores, a 70-year-old retired welder, had illegally seized a home five years ago after its owner, the California Department of Transportation, had left it vacant. Hed been allowed to stay for a few months, then was directed to this nearby home owned by the agency, but now it was time to go.

Later in the morning, deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department were scheduled to lock him out.

Flores clearly had other plans. Over months, hed sawed wooden two-by-fours to use as a brace between the front door and an interior wall to make it harder to breach. He bolted shut the metal screen door. Once Flores was satisfied hed secured the entrance Tuesday, he retreated to a wooden structure he built 28 feet high in an ash tree in the backyard.

Benito Flores peers down from his treehouse that he says he will stay in while facing eviction at his reclaimed house in El Sereno, California, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS) TNS

Benito Flores said he will stay in his treehouse while facing eviction at his reclaimed house in El Sereno, California, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS) TNS

If the police wanted him to leave, theyd have to come get him in his tree house.

I plan to resist as long as I can, Flores said.

The homemade structure, 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, represents the last stand for Flores and a larger protest that captured national attention in March 2020. Flores and a dozen others occupied empty homes owned by Caltrans, acquired by the hundreds a half-century ago for a freeway expansion that never happened. They said they wanted to call attention to the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.

The issue, Flores said, remains no less urgent today. Political leaders, he argued, have failed to provide housing for all who need it.

They dont care about the people, Flores said. Who is supposed to give permanent housing to elders, disabled and families with children? It is the city and the state. And they are evicting me.

For the public agencies involved, the resistance represents an intransigence that belies the assistance and leniency theyve offered to Flores and fellow protesters who call their group Reclaiming Our Homes. The state allowed group members, or Reclaimers, to remain legally while paying rents far below market rates for two years. Since then, the agencies have continued to offer referrals for permanent housing and financial settlements of up to $20,000 if group members left voluntarily.

Evictions, theyve said, were a last resort and required by law.

We dont have any authority to operate outside of that, said Tina Booth, director of asset management for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, which is operating the housing program on Caltrans behalf.

Four Reclaimers, including Flores, remain in the homes.

Two have accepted settlements and are expected to leave within weeks. The final Reclaimer also has a court-ordered eviction against him, but plans to leave without incident.

Caltrans wants to sell Flores home and the other empty houses in El Sereno to public or nonprofit housing providers, which would make them available to low-income residents for rent or purchase.

Flores said evicting him makes no sense because the property is intended to be used as affordable housing that he qualifies for. Flores, who suffers from diabetes, collects about $1,200 a month in Social Security and supplemental payments. If hes removed, Flores said, he has no other option except to sleep in his van  where he lived for 14 years before the home seizure.

We are going to live on the streets for the rest of our lives, Flores said of he and others evicted in the protest group in an open letter he sent to Sheriff Robert Luna last week.

Flores received advance notice of the lockout. His supporters began arriving at 6 a.m. Tuesday to fill the normally sleepy block. Flores already was up in the tree.

Gina Viola, an activist and former mayoral candidate, rallied the crowd on the sidewalk. It was despicable, she said, to leave homes empty when so many were in need. She said those in power needed to act, just as Flores and the Reclaimers have, to provide permanent housing immediately.

This is part of a reckoning that is long overdue, Viola said.

She pointed to the tree house, praising Flores.

Hes a 70-year-old elder who has climbed ... into the sky to make this point to the world: This is my home and I wont leave it.

Flores rejected the assertion that the Housing Authority has provided him with another place to live. He said the agencys offers of assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers, arent guarantees. He cited the struggles that voucher holders face when finding landlords to accept the subsidies.

Jenny Scanlin, the agencys chief strategic development officer, said that Flores was offered more than two dozen referrals to other homes, but that he rejected them. Some involved waiting lists and vouchers, but others had occupancy immediately available, she said.

We absolutely believe he would have had an alternative place to live  permanent affordable housing  had Flores accepted the assistance, Scanlin said.

Around 9:45, two sheriffs cruisers parked a block away. Three deputies got out and met the property managers, then walked to Flores home.

A deputy handed Flores a pamphlet describing housing resources the county offered, including information about calling 211. Flores held up the paper above his head to show everyone. The crowd started booing and yelling Shame.

An officer then tried to reason with Flores in Spanish. But it was clear things were going nowhere.

Suerte, the officer said to Flores. Good luck.

Then they left.

The Sheriffs Department could not immediately be reached for comment, and a Caltrans spokesperson referred comment to the Housing Authority. Scanlin said she expected the lockout process would continue per the courts order.
Elon Musk attends news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

Elon Musk was up well after midnight on Wednesday railing against Donald Trumps big beautiful bill, and that continued throughout the day.

He shared a post that showed analysis that the bill does not decrease the deficit, but in fact increases it by as much as $2.3-$3.8 trillion. He also shared a photo from the movie Kill Bill, and reshared a collection of comments from folks on Fox News agreeing with him about the bill.

And just in case that wasnt getting the point across, he encouraged folks to take action.

Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! he wrote on X. KILL the BILL.

Call your Senator,

Call your Congressman,



Bankrupting America is NOT ok!



KILL the BILL  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 4, 2025

This comes a day after the president ripped Rand Paul for his opposition to the bill. Trump however, did not offer comment on Musk, who offered the most brutal takedown of the big beautiful bill.

Trump did, however, share on Wednesday on Truth Social a screen shot of Musks X post from May 28 thanking the president for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk wrote on X on Tuesday. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

He then reshared his own post, and added It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.

Musk, just days removed from leaving his role with the government, continued his criticism into the early morning hours on Wednesday.

Musk first shared a post from Geiger Capital, featuring a 60 Minutes interview, about the rising national debt.

The immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery! he wrote after 2 a.m. EDT.

He then reshared a post from Paul  Trumps target of the day  decrying the spending in the bill.

Musk then shared another post on the budget deficit surpassing $2 trillion per year.

Interest payments already consume 25% of government revenue, he wrote. If the massive deficit spending continues, there will only be money for interest payments and nothing else! No social security, no medical, no defense  nothing.

Foxs Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during Tuesdays press availability how mad the president was over Musks comments.

The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, Leavitt said. It doesnt change the presidents opinion. This is one big beautiful bill, and hes sticking to it.

Musks post created a social media stir, with many claiming he has now turned on Trump.

Elon Musk is now openly bashing Trumps big beautiful bill as GOP leaders try to get senators behind their version, CNNs Manu Raju wrote.

As expected . Musk has turned on (Donald Trump), another X user wrote while tagging the president. The @GOP cannot make the same mistake as Democrats. All those billions of dollars in US Govt subsidies that this South African leech receives need to be immediately stopped. @SecScottBessent @DonaldJTrumpJr.
Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Sweden and Turkey plan to join the Electronic Warfare Coalition created within the framework of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

"Tomorrow and today, the group of willing parties seeking to help build Ukraine's electronic warfare capabilities will increase. Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Sweden and Turkey want to join our Capability Coalition," he said during a conversation with journalists before the meeting in the Ramstein format on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the partners want to ensure further strengthening of Ukrainian capabilities in electronic warfare, which includes ensuring its own communications, reconnaissance and interference of enemy communications, and protection against drones.

On April 11, a new Electronic Warfare Coalition was launched within the Ramstein format. At that time, ten nations, including Ukraine, joined the initiative, which signed a joint Letter of Intent, which formally launched the work of the Electronic Warfare Coalition.
A suburban Philadelphia police department closed its station on Tuesday to allow officers to mourn following the announcement that an officer had died by suicide the day before.

The Upper Providence Township Police Department in Montgomery County, located about 30 miles northwest of downtown Philadelphia, confirmed the death of one of its officers in a statement released Monday night.

It read as follows: Tragically, an Upper Providence Township Police Officer took his own life in the parking lot of the township campus this evening. There was no danger to the public at any time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the officer and his family. We thank the public for their grace as we navigate this tragedy. We will have no further statement tonight. 

6abc in Philadelphia reported that its Chopper 6 was overhead around 7:30 p.m. Monday after reports of shots being fired outside the police station on the 1200 block of Black Rock Road.

The department followed with another statement on Tuesday, announcing that its station was closed for the day to allow our officers time to mourn. It also said that mutual aid officers from partner agencies in Montgomery County would patrol the township for the next few days.

We appreciate the continued support from the community and our mutual aid partners, the departments statement added.

If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Gov. Josh Shapiro is suring the USDA, saying the agency, under President Donald Trump, had illegally cut off funding to a $1 billion food program. AP Photo/Marc Levy

HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, saying the agency, under President Donald Trump, had illegally cut off funding to it through a program designed to distribute more than $1 billion in aid to states to purchase food from farms for schools, child care centers, and food banks.

The lawsuit in federal court, announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, comes three months after the USDA advised states that it was ending the pandemic-era assistance program because it no longer reflected agency priorities.

I dont get what the hell their priorities are if not feeding people and taking care of our farmers, Shapiro said at a news conference at a food bank warehouse in Philadelphia.

The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Harrisburg, asks the court to reverse the USDAs decision to end the reimbursement program.

Shapiros administration, in the lawsuit, said the USDAs termination of the contract was illegal, saying the USDA didnt explain why it no longer reflected agency priorities and that the contract didnt expressly allow the USDA to terminate it for those reasons.

Shapiro said he was confident that Pennsylvania would win the lawsuit.

A deal is a deal, Shapiro told the news conference. They made a deal with our farmers, they made a deal with Pennsylvania and they broke it.

The loss to Pennsylvania is $13 million under a three-year contract, money that the state planned to use to buy food from farms to stock food banks. States also use the money to buy food from farms for school nutrition programs and child care centers. Purchases include commodities such as cheese, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables.

The department, under then-President Joe Biden, announced a second round of funding through the program last year.
Pa. is facing a teacher shortage "crisis," according to a new report, and several counties in the region have shortages that are "extremely severe." (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com) Vasha Hunt

Pennsylvania is facing a teacher shortage crisis with the need in several counties in the region classified as extremely severe, according to a new report.

#PANeedsTeachers, a coalition led by Teach Plus and the National Center on Education and the Economy, issued a county-by-county report that described the shortages in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry and Lebanon counties as extremely severe its worst rating.

Teacher shortages were rated as mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe.

Pennsylvania is in the midst of a teacher shortage crisis, said Laura Boyce, the executive director of Teach Plus Pennsylvania and a #PANeedsTeachers organizer, said in a statement.

Every county is feeling the harm of not having enough teachers in the classroom, said Boyce. We need to rebuild the teacher pipeline as soon as possible. Were calling on the legislature to fully fund student-teacher stipends to get more aspiring teachers into the classroom and help end the teacher shortage crisis.

PennLive reached out to a handful of school districts in the south-central region about their teacher staffing situations, but none responded.

Philadelphias shortage was also rated extremely severe with nearly 3,600 teachers needed.

Chris Lilienthal, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the states largest teachers union, said there were just over 6,600 new teachers certified across the state in 2023-24, an increase of 97 certifications from the previous year.

This is good news, but to put it in context, it is still a 65% drop from our peak of new teacher certifications in 2012-13, Lilienthal told PennLive.

Were coming back, but we still have a ways to go, he said. We still have more classroom vacancies than we have newly certified teachers.

That has caused a surge in emergency permits, which have skyrocketed 600% since 2012-13, said Lilienthal.

Over the last 10 years, the number of certified teachers coming out of Pennsylvania education programs has dropped by 75%, #PANeedsTeachers said, and teacher turnover is at an all-time high.

As the Legislature debates the 2025-26 budget, #PANeedsTeachers said at least $50 million needs to be invested in student-teacher stipends, $12.5 million should be restored for teacher apprenticeship programs and between $1 million and $5 million is needed for the state Department of Education to improve access to teaching workforce data.

According to the report, Dauphin needs 502 teachers and only 59 teacher certificates were issued in 2024. While the countys shortage is very high, its supply of teachers is very low.

The report said that there is also a large disparity in teacher diversity in Dauphin County, where students of color account for 53% of enrollment but just 6% of teachers are minorities.

Cumberland County needs 121 teachers and 223 teacher certificates were issued last year, down 28% in a decade, said the report.

There is a very large disparity in teacher diversity in Cumberland County where students of color account for 29% of enrollment but just 2% of teachers are minorities.

Lebanon County needs 103 teachers and only 45 teacher certificates were issued in 2024, down 66% in the last decade, according to the report. Teachers of color comprise just 3% in the county where students of color account for 29% of enrollment.

In Perry County, 44 teachers are needed but there were no certificates issued last year. Twenty-five percent of the countys students are of color, compared with just 1% of teachers.

Dauphin, Perry and Lebanon counties also had high levels of teacher attrition. Nearly 8% of teachers in Dauphin County left teaching in the 2023-24 year, while 7.4% of Lebanon County teachers and 8.1% of Perry County teachers did the same.

Lancaster and York counties have severe teacher shortages, the report found.

There are 205 teachers needed in Lancaster County where 365 certificates were issued in 2024, down 15% over the last 10 years. In York. County, there are 208 teachers needed, and 38 certificates were issued last year, a 62% slide over the decade.

Teachers of color make up 6% of all teachers in Lancaster County, while the student of color population is 35%. Students of color make up 39% of enrollment in York and just 4% of teachers are minorities.
An undercover investigation into the trafficking of ivory from elephants and other wild animal parts has found the widespread sale of these illegal products in scores of locations across Pennsylvania.

The investigation, conducted by Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States), found hundreds of products, including carved tusks, bracelets and figurines made from tusks of elephants and other endangered wildlife being sold in stores and online in the state.
Radios and a microwave dish, installed on top of a farm silo, provide internet service to nearby homes. Its one of 21 sites that make up the broadband network built by DRIVE, an economic development organization in the Central Susquehanna region. Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA
Central Pennsylvania is bracing for a significant warm-up with temperatures climbing into the 80s and 90s Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by increasing humidity and potential thunderstorm activity. A moderate heat risk is in effect, with a cold front expected to trigger rounds of showers and thunderstorms starting Thursday afternoon.

The next 24 to 48 hours will bring substantial temperature increases, with daytime highs reaching 80 to 90 degrees across the region. The National Weather Service warns that residents may be particularly sensitive to the heat due to limited recent heat acclimation following a cooler, wet spring. Heat index values are anticipated to approach the low 90s, creating potential health risks for vulnerable populations.

Thunderstorm chances will increase Thursday afternoon, primarily along the northern portions of central Pennsylvania. The cold front moving slowly southeastward will serve as a catalyst for precipitation, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible. Meteorologists suggest residents monitor local forecasts and be prepared for potential brief periods of heavy rainfall and occasional lightning.

The unsettled weather pattern is expected to continue through the first weekend of June. Friday and Saturday will likely see multiple opportunities for showers and thunderstorms, with rainfall amounts potentially ranging from one-half to one inch across the region. The front is predicted to finally push east of Pennsylvania by Sunday, bringing a brief period of drier, more seasonable conditions.

Looking ahead, rain chances will return Monday as a western trough approaches, maintaining an active weather pattern. Residents should stay weather-aware, particularly those planning outdoor activities, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions over the next several days.

Current weather radar

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by PennLive.com staff.
A sign warns of an air quality alert as smoke from wildfires burning in Canada reaches Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave) AP

A code orange air quality alert has been issued for the Harrisburg area, warning of potential health risks for sensitive groups.

Temperatures in the region on Wednesday and Thursday will climb into the 80s and 90s, accompanied by reduced air quality due to wildfire smoke. Itll be sunny but look hazy.

The air quality alert includes Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, York and Lancaster counties.

The National Weather Service forecasts a rapid warming trend with temperatures peaking 5 to 15 degrees above historical averages.

The combination of sudden heat and smoke may pose challenges for people outside, particularly those with respiratory conditions, children and the elderly.

You can track air quality where you are online.

The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians in three provinces to flee their homes, and the smoke has even reached Europe, according to The Associated Press.

This photo provided by the Manitoba government shows wildfires in Wanless, Manitoba, Canada on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Manitoba government via AP) AP

In Pennsylvania, a weak cold front will trigger isolated to scattered thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, primarily affecting the northern and western Allegheny regions. Theres a marginal risk of strong wind gusts, with precipitation chances exceeding 80% in the northwest areas of the state. Theres a potential for heavy downpours and localized flooding concerns.

The unsettled weather pattern continues through the weekend, with scattered rain and thunderstorms expected from Thursday afternoon through Saturday.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Sunday appears to offer a brief respite with drier conditions and seasonable temperatures.

Current weather radar

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by PennLive.com staff.
Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada and rain obscures the downtown skyline of Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave) AP

By STEVE KARNOWSKI, The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Smoke from Canadian wildfires carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the Midwest, where conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were rated very unhealthy Tuesday.

The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians in three provinces to flee their homes, and the smoke has even reached Europe.

The smell of smoke hung over the Minneapolis-St. Paul area on Tuesday morning despite rain that obscured the full measure of the dirty air. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the worst of it in the Midwest on Tuesday.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the states southwest corner to the northeast could fall into the unhealthy category through Thursday morning. The agency recommended that people, especially those with heart and lung disease, avoid long or intense activities and to take extra breaks while doing anything strenuous outdoors.

Conditions at ground level are unhealthy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow map showed a swath of red for unhealthy conditions across the eastern half of Minnesota into western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. The map also showed purple for very unhealthy across much of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, where the Air Quality Index numbers of 250 and were common, though conditions started to improve slightly by late morning.

The Air Quality Index  AQI  measures how clean or polluted the air is, focusing on health effects that might be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Particulates are the main issue from the fires

The index ranges from green, where the air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk, to maroon, which is considered hazardous. That level comes with health warnings of emergency conditions where everyone is more likely to be affected, according to AirNow.

Parts of central Pennsylvania are under a code orange air quality alert, which means it can be problematic for the very old, the very young and those with respiratory illnesses.

This photo provided by the Manitoba government shows wildfires in Wanless, Manitoba, Canada on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Manitoba government via AP) AP

The Canadian fire situation

Canada is having another bad wildfire season, and more than 27,000 people in three provinces have been forced to evacuate. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba.

Winnipeg hotels opened Monday to evacuees. More than 17,000 Manitoba residents have been displaced since last week, including 5,000 residents of the community of Flin Flon, nearly 400 miles northwest of Winnipeg. In neighboring Saskatchewan, 2,500 residents of the town of La Ronge were ordered to flee Monday, on top of more than 8,000 in the province who had been evacuated earlier.

In Saskatoon, where the premiers of Canadas provinces and the countrys prime minister met Monday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said all of Canada has come together to help the Prairie provinces.

Two people were killed by a wildfire in mid-May in Lac du Bonnet, northeast of Winnipeg.

Canadas worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
U.S. President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, June 4. Trump reported this on the Truth Social social network, noting that he discussed with the Russian leader, among other things, the Ukrainian attack on Russian airfields.

"I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump said after the conversation.

The two also discussed the situation with Iran and the fact that time is running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear weapons.

"I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be useful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time," Trump said.
Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Pavlo Palisa spoke before representatives of the U.S. Senate on behalf of the Ukrainian military, expressing support for Senator Lindsey Graham's sanctions law.

"We are not losing the war. In 2024, the enemy captured only 0.5%, another 0.2% since the beginning of this year. But at the cost of 167 killed occupiers for every kilometer. This does not look like a 'rapid victory.' He explained why we can no longer just shoot down missiles  we need to strike at their source. The SBU's 'Spider's Web' operation became a symbol of a new quality of action: in an hour  minus 41 Russian aircraft, including AWACS aircraft," Palisa said in the Telegram channel.

Palisa also shared important intelligence information with senators regarding Russia's further intentions.

"Since 2022, Russia has received over 8.4 million artillery shells of aid. They are actively building anti-Western alliances, although they themselves talk about isolation. My call is simple: remain vigilant and determined. Ukraine stands not only for itself  we are fighting for the same principles of freedom and justice as you. Thank you for the opportunity to convey the truth," he summed up.
Fourth 888poker UKPL Stop of 2025 Sees the Tour Head to Edinburgh

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

The Grosvenor Maybury Casino in Edinburgh will be bustling with action between June 17 and 22 when it welcomes back 888poker's UK Poker League (UKPL) tour. It has been 16 months since the UKPL last stopped in the Scottish capital, and 888poker is doing everything to ensure this latest edition of UKPL Edinburgh is bigger and better than ever.

UKPL Edinburgh kicks off at midday on June 17 with the first of three flights in the 250 buy-in, 50,000 guaranteed Opening Voyage. One of those flights, Day 1c, has a turbo blind structure if you don't want to spend a full day grinding.

A 1,100 buy-in, 50,000 guaranteed High Roller is the festival's largest buy-in event. It runs from June 19-20.

The series' crown jewel is the 560 buy-in UKPL Edinburgh Main Event, which carries a 100,000 guarantee on its prize pool. Last year, a field of 311 created a guarantee-busting 147,729 prize pool.

Main Event satellites are scheduled during the UKPL Edinburgh festival, and online at 888poker. If you're looking at the latter, you must hurry because they will be dropping out of the lobby soon.

888poker UKPL Edinburgh Schedule

Date Time Event Guarantee Tue 17 Jun 12:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Opening Voyage Day 1A 50,000 5:00 p.m. 150 PLO 4/5/6 Card 10,000 7:00 p.m. 90 Opening Voyage and Main Event Cashout Satellite 5x seats Wed 18 Jun 12:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Opening Voyage Day 1B 50,000 7:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Opening Voyage Day 1C Turbo 50,000 9:00 p.m, 125 Main Event Target Cashout Satellite 5x seats Thu 19 Jun 12:00 p.m. 250 Opening Voyage Day 2 50,000 12:00 p.m. 120 High Roller Turbo Cashout Satellite 2:00 p.m. 1,100 NLHE High Roller Day 1 50,000 3:00 p.m. 560 NLHE Main Event Day 1A 100,000 Fri 20 Jun 12:00 p.m. 1,100 High Roller Day 2 50,000 1:00 p.m. 560 NLHE Main Event Day 1B 100,000 6:00 p.m. 200 NLHE Turbo Dash 10,000 6:00 p.m. 560 NLHE Main Event Day 1C Turbo 100,000 8:00 p.m. 125 Main Event Turbo Cashout Satellite 5x seats Sat 21 Jun 12:00 p.m. 560 NLHE Main Event Day 1D 100,000 6:00 p.m. 220 NLHE KO Rumble 5,000 Sun 22 Jun 12:00 p.m. Main Event Day 2 100,000 2:00 p.m. 150 NLHE Seniors 5,000 3:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Big Shot 20,000

888poker UKPL Edinburgh 2024 Results

Michael Kane

Michael Kane left the 2024 edition of the UKPL Edinburgh festival as the biggest winner, courtesy of taking down the 560 Main Event. Kane banked 25,208 for his victory but could have won more had he not agreed to a three-way deal. That deal lessened the pay jumps and saw Helder Casacasena and Tom Jarry walk away with 24,866 and 21,965, respectively.

Two other champions turned their initial investments into prizes worth more than 10,000.

William Henderson triumphed in the 1,100 High Roller, outlasting 47 opponents to collect 13,620, while Barrie Greenan won 11,118 for his victory in the 250 Opening Voyage.

Event Entrants Prize Pool Champion Prize 560 Main Event 311 147,729 Michael Kane 25,208 1,100 High Roller 48 54,150 William Henderson 13,620 250 Opening Voyage 277 57,890 Barrie Greenan 11,118 200 Closer 86 14,700 Matthew Davenport 3,660 150 Seniors 89 10,990 Brian O'Conner 2,410 150 PL 4/5/6 Card 54 6,670 Jacques Nadler 1,400

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Five Bracelets in Five Years: Brad Ruben Wins the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw ($138,080)

Ryan Lashmar Live Reporter Copy link

Winning a WSOP Gold bracelet is a dream that most poker players share but very few achieve. Winning five is significantly rarer  before today, only 41 players had accomplished this feat since the inaugural World Series of Poker in 1970.

Brad Ruben became the 42nd player to capture a fifth bracelet today at the 2025 World Series of Poker hosted at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Ruben overcame a 532-entrant field in Event #12: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw to win the top prize of $138,080 alongside bracelet #5. In doing so, he joins an even smaller, more elite group of poker players to have won five bracelets within a five-year span  a list that includes legends such as Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and Doyle Brunson. Ruben is only the eleventh player to achieve this impressive feat.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Brad Ruben United States $130,080 2 Han Liu United States $90,569 3 Yueqi Zhu China $60,738 4 Jun Weng China $41,654 5 Brian Yoon United States $29,228 6 Tyler Phillips United States $20,994 7 Eric Moum United States $15,446

Winner's Reaction

Brad Ruben

"I'm very blessed" an emotional Ruben said following the victory. "I mean, i love all the mixed games so to win another bracelet in another variant is a blessing. I'm honored, and I have a lot of people to thank. First, God, just having a strong connection with him has helped me through some difficult times. And also my girlfriend Sunny, we've been together for a little over two and a half years. She's been very supportive of me and I love her very much."

"Another thing is this sweater is important to me. It's been very lucky for me, but also it's the color of mental health awareness. I'm very passionate about that and want to get a message out: Whatever people are going through, there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm happy to talk to anyone, at anytime, about whatever."

When asked what contributed the most to his success at the WSOP over the years, Ruben pointed to his edge in less commonly played formats.

"My wins are in variants where players don't have much experience, so I feel that me being a more experienced player helps. I obviously ran well, I'm 5-0 heads-up so there's obviously some favorable card distribution there."

"I want to compete for the most bracelets this decade" Ruben continued. I think Ausmus has five and a bunch of people have four. So that's a goal of mine that keeps me going. I've loved the WSOP ever since I was a teenager and I'm very passionate about it."

Final Day Action

The third and final day began with just five returning players competing for the lion's share of the $706,230 prize pool. Eventual runner up Han Liu began the day with the largest stack but Ruben made a hero call in the first levelcorrectly calling with a pair of foursto bring himself close to even with Liu for the chip lead. Five-time bracelet winner Brian Yoon had the opposite trajectory, beginning the day with the short stack and dwindling down from the start. Yoon managed to double up after getting short but was out in fifth soon after Jun Weng drew into a nine-low leaving Yoon drawing dead to a ten.

Following Yoon's elimination the pace of play slowed considerably with no clear short stacks and a chip average worth well over 100 big blinds. Liu and Ruben swapped the chip lead on several occasions while Yueqi Zhu and Weng saw their stacks trend downwards. Liu was putting relentless pressure on all three opponents with well-timed aggression and by the time Weng bowed out in fourth Liu had a sizable lead with over half the chips in play. Ruben managed to hold with a pat-ten to eliminate Zhu in third but still had a tall order in front of him as Liu held nearly a 2:1 chip advantage over Ruben going into heads-up play.

A series of small pots were exchanged in the early parts of the heads-up duel, with the majority going Ruben's way. As Ruben began to inch closer to Liu, he got paid off two times in quick successiononce with a jack-low and once with a ten-lowto take the chip lead. Liu quickly took the lead back after getting value with a jack-low of his own shortly before the pivotal hand of the tournament.

In a four-bet pot that saw Ruben stand pat and Liu draw one, Ruben picked off a massive all-in bluff from Liu, who had drawn into a pair of sixes. Ruben quickly called with a pat eighty-six in a hand that left Liu with just over ten big blinds. Liu never recovered and soon after was eliminated after getting the rest of his chips in with a ten-low only for Ruben to show down a nine-low. The two players, who Ruben mentioned have a ton of history with each other playing in mixed cash games in Texas, shook hands in a show of respect before Ruben went on to celebrate the victory with his rail.

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Only 25 players remain in the hunt for gold as Event #15: $1,500 Mixed Omaha resumes today at 1 p.m. at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. After a swingy Day 2 that saw 264 hopefuls cut down to just 25, it's Abdyl Konjuhi who leads the way with a commanding 3,195,000 chip stack  standing as the only player to surpass the three-million mark.

Two of the remaining contenders, Benny Glaser and David Shmuel, will be aiming to capture their second bracelet of the series.

Glaser, already a six-time WSOP champion, took down Event #8: $1,500 Dealers Choice, while Shmuel claimed victory earlier in Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better. With just a fraction of the field left, the prospect of a double-bracelet summer looms large.

Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Abdyl Konjuhi United States 3,195,000 80 2 Benny Glaser United Kingdom 2,520,000 63 3 Dustin Dirksen United States 2,500,000 63 4 Travis Pearson United States 1,915,000 48 5 Shane Howeth United States 1,760,000 44 6 Thomas Taylor Canada 1,755,000 44 7 Tyler Brown United States 1,475,000 37 8 Bart Hanson United States 1,465,000 37 9 Patrick Leonard United Kingdom 1,275,000 32 10 Sean Remz United States 1,245,000 31

The Day 3 lineup is packed with elite talent, including Tyler Brown (1,475,000), Patrick Leonard (1,275,000), and Alan Sternberg (875,000), as well as Crush Live Poker founder and owner Bart Hanson (1,465,000), who is still chasing his elusive first bracelet after several deep WSOP runs.

The remaining players have all locked up a minimum of $8,480, but all eyes are on the top prize of $258,193, which represents the winner's share of the $1,644,773 prize pool.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize Place Prize 1 $258,193 10-11 $16,100 2 $172,077 12-15 $12,800 3 $121,736 16-23 $10,336 4 $87,325 24-25 $8,480 5 $63,527 6 $46,879 7 $35,098 8 $26,666 9 $20,564

The action resumes at Level 26, which features 30,000/60,000 blinds and 60,000/120,000 betting limits. Levels will continue to last 60-minutes each and players will be sent on break after every two levels. A potential Day 4 remains in play depending on the pace of the action.

Keep it with PokerNews throughout Day 3 for all the split pots, quartered lows, and monster scoops as the chase for WSOP gold continues.
Pictured are Cadet Lecia Mejia, Aiken High; Cadet Caylee Lofton, Allendale-Fairfax; Cadet Jamarcus Coleman, Barnwell High; Cadet Benjamin Hendrix, Batesburg-Leesville High; Wyatt McDonald, Midland Valley High; Cadet Makaylen Hansbrough, North Augusta High; Cadet Sofia Odom, Silver Bluff High; Cadet Athena Washburn, South Aiken High; Cadet Savannah Cushman, Wagener-Salley High. Medals were also given to the cadets from Strom Thurmond High School and Denmark High School but they were unable to attend.
Mitchell Black writes about Bluffton and the southern Lowcountry for The Post and Courier's Beaufort County bureau. He previously covered health care and county government with the Asheville Citizen Times.
Ali Rockett covers the city of Charleston, from inside City Hall to outer West Ashley. She previously worked at papers in Virginia and her home state of North Carolina.
Chloe Barlow is a multimedia reporter straight out of the Midlands. She trained in journalism at both the University of South Carolina and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She covers a wide breadth of South Carolina news, but she is especially interested in accountability and justice reporting.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofDefence.UA

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed problems with the purchase of Chinese Mavic, which were redirected to Russia, not Ukraine, and now Kyiv is "filling the gap" with these drones with Ukrainian products.

"Regarding the Mavic drones, which are of Chinese production, there were reports, let's say, that they were redirected to Russia, not to Ukraine. And we faced procurement problems through different channels, through different countries. We tried to purchase them also from all UDCG members. In addition, we started a program to localize these drones. We achieved this in a few months. But before they started redirecting them, we had problems. But now we have, let's say, Ukrainian-made products, which we purchase and fill the gap," Umerov said at a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Wednesday.

Umerov said Ukraine's capacity to produce drones is up to 10 million drones, and "that costs us $11 billion." At the same time, Ukraine is investing only up to $5 billion, so there is a gap in financing of $6 billion.

"Regarding your specific question, we can produce FPV ourselves, but we lack finances," the minister said.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said China had stopped supplying Mavic drones to Ukraine and other European countries, while Russia continues to receive them.
Summerville, SC (29483)

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Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. Hot. High 94F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

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Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Hot. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Managing Editor - Post and Courier Myrtle Beach

Born and raised in South Carolina, Charles Perry has worked in the state's newspaper industry for nearly 20 years. He covers Horry and Georgetown counties for The Post and Courier.
Corals like those that make up the mounds along the Blake Plateau provide important habitat for a variety of marine life, such as this squat lobster. The Plateau was permanently protected from offshore oil drilling by President Joe Biden on Jan. 6. Now, the Department of Interior is considering re-opening the area. The public can comment on those plans through June 16.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Charleston, SC (29532)

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Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 95F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia.
Toby Cox is a reporter for the Post and Couriers Rising Waters Lab, covering flooding, sea-level rise and community resilience. She graduated from the University of Virginia and Harvard Divinity School. Her previous work can be found in National Geographic, The Diplomat, Summerhouse DC, The Revealer, Harvard Divinity Bulletin and others. If you have a question, tip or story idea, reach out to her at tcox@postandcourier.com. You can reach her securely on Signal at 843-670-8651.
We need to completely block Russia's access to resources for waging war  Yermak

Russia wants to stall for time and prepare for new attacks, we need to completely block Russia's access to resources for waging war, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said addressing U.S. senators.

"At one time, we gave Russia strategic bombers because they wanted peace and guarantees. But Russia used them against us, shelling our people. Now part of their strategic aviation has been destroyed in a retaliatory action. We did not start this war. But we must end it," Yermak said in a Telegram channel on Wednesday.

He said Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia refused.

"And this shows Moscow's true intentions. The statements of Putin, Medvedev and Medinsky are not about peace. They are about threats and war. Russia wants to stall for time and prepare for new attacks," the President's Office head said.

He thanked the United States for every Javelin, every Patriot, Himars and sanctions.

"If Russia is not stopped now, other dictators will draw conclusions. If we stop it, the allies will become stronger. And the world will become safer. We need to completely block Russia's access to resources for waging this war," Yermak said.

According to him, sanctions against Russia are needed, which will close all bypasses and tougher energy restrictions.

"The upcoming bipartisan bill is a powerful step in this direction. And Moscow must pay for what it has destroyed. $300 billion in frozen Russian assets is a fair source for the restoration of Ukraine," the President's Office head said.
Chelsea Grinstead is a South Carolina native and a reporter for The Post and Courier covering arts, entertainment and culture. As a previous contributing editor at Charleston City Paper, she spotlighted the diverse voices of the local music scene.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / The Technology Advancement Center (TAC), in collaboration with the IT Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a subsidiary of the Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), has signed a groundbreaking Department of Defense (DoD)-wide Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA). This new alliance empowers all DoD components to fast-track digital modernization initiatives in alignment with the President's Executive Order on Defense IT Acquisition reform and Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth's directive to deliver cutting-edge software capabilities to the warfighter at speed. TAC and IT-AACThe PIA unlocks a robust portfolio of strategic tools for agencies striving to innovate under budget constraints, including:A battle-tested suite of agile acquisition and digital transformation frameworks.On-demand "tiger teams" for workforce upskilling and mentorship.A virtual Tech Proving Ground powered by a coalition of over two dozen leading nonprofits and advanced testing labs.Tailored tools, techniques, and expert support to modernize legacy systems at mission speed.The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, designated as the executive agent in coordination with the Army CIO, will be the first to operationalize this capability. The task is to drive compliance with federal IT reform mandates and rapidly scale DoD software acquisition pathways with targeted expertise and actionable guidance."I'm honored to partner with IT-AAC and the U.S. Army to help accelerate the delivery of emerging technologies to the warfighter. Together, we're creating a faster, more agile pathway for innovation that directly supports mission readiness and operational advantage," added Gregg Smith, CEO of the TAC."Having invested over two decades in advancing Defense IT reforms, we are honored to have an opportunity to work with one of the best CIOs in government to advance Army's top priorities," stated John Weiler, co-founder of the IT-AAC and the CEO of the Interoperability Clearinghouse.About TAC and IT-AACTAC and IT-AAC provide government program managers and decision-makers with the tools, methodologies, and expertise needed to accelerate digital modernization and transformation. Leveraging elastic, just-in-time Tiger Teams composed of experts from over two dozen leading nonprofits, standards organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and Silicon Valley innovators.TAC's website is http://www.thetac.tech/ IT-AAC's website is www.it-aac.org Contact Information Gregg Smith Tel: (443) 626-4450Email: gesmith@ thetac.tech John Weilerjohn.weiler@it-aac.org 703 863-3766SOURCE: Technology Advancement Center
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Lee Tafoya spearheading a radical transformation in how diagnostic laboratory services are deliveredST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / In a healthcare landscape increasingly defined by innovation and accessibility, few professionals stand at the nexus of clinical expertise and strategic vision quite like Lee A. Tafoya. As a Business Development Executive at Midwest Innovation Laboratory, Tafoya is spearheading a radical transformation in how diagnostic laboratory services are delivered; especially to rural and underserved communities that have long struggled with gaps in access, reliability, and responsiveness.With a dual academic foundation in Nursing from The George Washington University and Philosophy & Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver, Tafoya blends analytical rigor with a human-centric philosophy. His career arc, spanning bedside care, high-stakes clinical research, healthcare leadership, and now business development, positions him uniquely to reimagine how laboratory systems can be redesigned not merely for profit, but for purpose.A Mission to Modernize Rural DiagnosticsDiagnostic testing is the backbone of modern medicine, influencing over 70% of clinical decisions. Yet rural America often remains cut off from high-quality, timely laboratory services. Long transport times, delayed reporting, and inconsistent specimen handling compromise patient outcomes, escalate costs, and widen the health equity gap. Tafoya sees this not just as a logistical challenge, but as a moral imperative."Healthcare is only as strong as its weakest link," says Tafoya. "When rural patients wait days for critical results or physicians make decisions without timely diagnostics, we're not just failing operationally, we're failing ethically." At Midwest Innovation Laboratory, Tafoya is building new models for service recovery, logistics optimization, and partnership acquisition to make laboratory care faster, smarter, and more equitable. One of his key innovations: integrating customized diagnostic solutions for rural clinics and skilled nursing facilities, minimizing sample transit times and maximizing reporting accuracy.Reimagining Logistics: The Foundation of a New Care ParadigmWhere others see distribution bottlenecks and compliance constraints, Tafoya sees opportunity. He leverages root cause analysis and divergent thinking to address systemic inefficiencies. Under his leadership, Midwest Innovation Laboratory is implementing modular logistics frameworks that can adapt to a variety of rural geographies, whether isolated towns in Missouri or sprawling networks of nursing homes across the Midwest."We're engineering logistics models that are responsive, not reactive," Tafoya explains. "That means establishing regional specimen hubs, training clinical staff on packaging protocols, and integrating cloud-based analytics to anticipate delays before they happen." The goal isn't just faster service. It's better care. By enabling rural providers to access high-quality lab data with urban-level precision, Tafoya is helping close diagnostic disparities that have plagued rural populations for decades.Bridging Strategy and Service: Tafoya's Signature ApproachTafoya's leadership style is defined by integration; of disciplines, technologies, and people. His clinical past informs his strategic present. From managing high-risk apheresis trials in immunology to overseeing interdisciplinary hospice teams, he has seen every angle of healthcare delivery. Now, in business development, he uses that vantage point to craft client-centered strategies that prioritize outcomes over optics.His track record speaks volumes. As Clinical Director at Advance Home Health and Hospice, Tafoya reduced rehospitalization rates and improved patient outcomes while streamlining operational overhead. At Vitalant Research Institute, he maintained a 100% success rate in complex stem cell apheresis procedures for cancer patients. At IMMUNOe International, he helped develop biologic infusion protocols for rare immunologic conditions."All of these experiences taught me that adaptability isn't just a skill, it's a survival mechanism," says Tafoya. "Healthcare doesn't stand still. Neither can we." This philosophy extends into his business ethos. Whether negotiating laboratory contracts, analyzing market behavior, or developing client education modules, Tafoya is relentless in his pursuit of value and efficiency. He uses tools like OneNote to catalog ideas, strategize solutions, and manage outreach in real-time. His favorite $100 investment? A planner, journal, and business card scanner that keep his day, from logistics to leadership, sharp and actionable.Leveraging Tech and Humanity: A Dual FocusTafoya's strategy isn't about automation for automation's sake. He believes technology should enable, not replace, the human side of healthcare. To that end, his initiatives in rural diagnostics are informed by empathy as much as efficiency.A longtime volunteer with International Medical Relief, Tafoya has worked directly with underserved populations; from Venezuelan refugees in Colorado to marginalized communities abroad. This exposure has deepened his commitment to culturally competent care and affirmed his belief that innovative models must serve people first."Technology without compassion is just machinery," he says. "The real breakthroughs happen when you marry precision tools with a purpose-driven mission." A Vision for the Future: Holistic, Equitable, ScalableLooking ahead, Tafoya is building toward a healthcare ecosystem where rural clinics no longer operate at a diagnostic disadvantage. He envisions a world where every patient, regardless of geography, has access to fast, accurate, and affordable lab services.To get there, he advocates for:Strategic partnerships between labs and local providers, tailored to the specific needs of rural communities.Education and training programs that empower staff to optimize sample integrity and leverage lab data effectively.Integrated logistics and data platforms that give rural facilities real-time insights into testing timelines, performance benchmarks, and service gaps.Policy advocacy to incentivize investment in diagnostic infrastructure outside of urban centers."If we can do this for one rural network, we can replicate it across the country," Tafoya notes. "It's not just possible. It's necessary." Industry Impact and RecognitionTafoya's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Healthcare providers, investors, and public health advocates alike have praised his results-driven, ethically grounded approach. His work aligns with larger national
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Eco Atlantic Secures Exploration Right and Transfer of 75% Interest in Block 1 - South Africa's Orange BasinTORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 /Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), a leading independent oil and gas exploration company focused on the Atlantic Margin, is pleased to announce that, further to the Farm-In Agreement announced on 5 June 2024, formal approval has been received from the South Africa Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources for both the Exploration Right and Section 11 transfer. Accordingly, Eco has now secured a 75% Working Interest and full Operatorship of Block 1 offshore South Africa - one of the most strategically positioned assets in the highly prospective Orange Basin. The Section 11 approval was the final condition precedent to establishing full legal transfer of Eco's working interest in Block 1 from Tosaco Energy (Proprietary) Limited ("Tosaco"), and the associated milestone payment has been made by Eco.This acquisition, completed through Eco's wholly owned subsidiary Azinam South Africa Limited ("Azinam"), significantly expands the Company's Southern African Orange Basin footprint and positions it as a key Operator at the forefront of one of the world's most active and hydrocarbon-rich basins. The remaining 25% interest is held by Tosaco.Block 1, which spans a vast 19,929km, straddles the border between South Africa and Namibia - directly adjacent to recent world-class discoveries by Galp Energia (Mopane), Shell (Graff, La Rona), TotalEnergies (Venus), Rhino Resources (Capricornus-1X), and the legacy Kudu Gas Field. The block offers full margin transect coverage from the shoreline to deepwater (shore to 263km offshore, in water depths up to 1,000m), encompassing both shallow and deepwater exploration potential.As previously announced, Eco has already acquired and is analyzing an extensive and high-quality dataset, including both 2D and 3D seismic surveys and regional well logs. The block includes the historic Soekor AF-1 gas discovery, which tested at 32.4 MMscfd, and Soekor AE-1, which encountered oil and gas shows which provides clear evidence of an active petroleum system.The Company anticipates launching a formal farm-out process in respect of its interest in Block 1 in August 2025, with respect to which further updates will be provided in due course.Block Summary:Area: 19,929km offshore South AfricaLocation: Strategically positioned on the South Africa-Namibia maritime borderExtent: From shoreline to ~263km offshore, covering the full margin transectGeological Scope: Broad spectrum of shallow and deepwater oil and gas prospectsWater Depths: Shallow shelf to deepwater environments up to 1,000 metersProven Petroleum System: Adjacent and geologically analogous to multiple recent discoveries: Galp Energia - Mopane, Shell - Graff and La Rona, TotalEnergies - Venus, Rhino Resources - Capricornus-1X (light oil), Historic Soekor Discoveries - AF-1 (32.4 MMscfd gas test) and AE-1 (oil and gas shows), Kudu Gas FieldEco Atlantic remains committed to disciplined, value-driven exploration. With a strong technical foundation, entrepreneurial execution, and an unwavering focus on high-impact opportunities, it continues to position itself as a trusted partner in unlocking frontier basins and delivering long-term shareholder value. The Company has established itself well in Namibia with four Blocks currently being reviewed by international players to farm-in and has a near term drilling opportunity in Guyana that it is currently negotiating with partners to participate in the block.Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eco Atlantic, commented:"As the Orange Basin continues to demonstrate its world-class hydrocarbon proof and potential, Eco's executive team has worked relentlessly over the past 18 months to secure a premier asset on the South African side of the basin. With the successful approval and execution of the Exploration Right and 75% Working Interest award, we are proud to have secured one of the largest and prospective blocks in the entire basin with a known hydrocarbon footprint - Block 1 - located directly on the South Africa-Namibia maritime border. Block 1 adds to our portfolio in the Orange basin which also includes Block 3B/4B operated by TotalEnergies."We are grateful for the productive collaboration with the Government of South Africa and its key agencies, particularly our valued partners at the Petroleum Agency South Africa ("PASA"). I was honoured to attend the signing ceremony yesterday at PASA's offices in Cape Town. This milestone reflects the dedication and strategic focus of our leadership team in securing an asset with existing hydrocarbon evidence and significant upside potential and aligning with our strategy to partner directly with governments to secure agreements in high potential secure jurisdictions and to lay groundwork for future partnerships."Our technical team has already begun analysing the extensive, high-quality 2D and 3D seismic, and well logs data, which materially accelerates our path to drilling while reducing early-stage exploration costs and timelines. The block's prior discoveries, including tested gas flows and oil shows, confirm the presence of an active petroleum system."Initial interpretation is underway, and we are in the process of delineating early leads to develop the exploration strategy. We are already seeing significant inbound interests from international oil companies and mid-tier partners. As a result, we anticipate launching a formal farm-out process in August with further updates to follow in due course." ENDSFor more information, please visitwww.ecooilandgas.comor contact the following.Eco Atlantic Oil and Gasc/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754Gil Holzman, Chief Executive OfficerColin Kinley, Chief Operating OfficerAlice Carroll, Head of Corporate SustainabilityStrand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser)+44 (0) 20 7409 3494James HarrisJames BellmanBerenberg (Broker)+44 (0) 20 3207 7800Matthew ArmittCiaran WalshDetlir EleziCelicourt (PR)+44 (0) 20 7770 6424Mark AntelmeJimmy LeaCharles Denley-MyersonAbout Eco Atlantic:Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil and gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure.Offshore Guyana, in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company operates a 100% Working Interest in the 1,354 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the
China's top diplomat meets U.S. ambassador to China, hopes the latter promotes healthy, steady, sustainable bilateral ties

Xinhua) 08:07, June 04, 2025

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with new U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday welcomed David Perdue to his new post as the ambassador of the United States to China and expressed the hope that he will play an active role in promoting the healthy, steady and sustainable development of bilateral relations.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Perdue in Beijing, voicing the hope that Perdue will serve as a reliable communicator, a mediator of differences and a promoter of cooperation between the two countries.

China-U.S. relations are currently at an important and critical juncture, Wang said. Looking back on the journey of nearly half a century filled with twists and turns since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the most important revelation is that equality and respect are the prerequisites for exchanges between the two sides, and dialogue and cooperation are the only correct choice, Wang said.

Wang stressed that after the bilateral economic and trade talks in Geneva, China has earnestly and strictly implemented the consensus reached by both sides. But, it is regrettable that the United States has since introduced a series of negative measures for groundless reasons, infringing upon China's legitimate rights and interests. China firmly opposes such actions, he noted.

Wang said the U.S. side should meet China halfway, earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone call in January this year, and create necessary conditions for the return of bilateral relations to the right track.

Perdue said President Donald Trump has great respect for President Xi Jinping, noting that it is very important for the two heads of state to maintain positive and constructive exchanges.

Perdue also said that, as the U.S. ambassador to China, he is willing to maintain close communication with the Chinese side in the spirit of mutual respect and attentive dialogue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with new U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Marketing aims to extend understanding of the applications and emotional connection of brand licensing as a business strategy by encouraging businesses to think creatively, beyond traditional means challenging viewers to think "water is just a water until it is not".LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / The Global Licensing Group (GLG) at Informa Markets , the leading platform advancing the business of brand licensing and IP extension worldwide, shares the launch of its latest marketing campaign emphasizing how brand licensing helps companies boost consumer engagement, reach wider audiences and create new revenue streams through strategic partnerships. Licensing remains a key competitive strategy for brands and retailers to tap into opportunities for deep consumer connection with emotional impact. The message is designed to answer the fundamental question: "What exactly is brand licensing?""Brand licensing is a powerhouse business strategy that operates behind the scenes while producing the market's most beloved products. Though often invisible to consumers, it is the creative force connecting the brands they love with new experiences and products they did not know they needed. Consumers interact with licensed products daily, often unaware of the collaborative partnerships that created them. As the industry continues its remarkable growth trajectory, we are pulling back the curtain on how the world's most iconic products come to be, revealing the journey from concept to consumer through strategic licensing partnerships. One of our goals is to break down the barriers between brands and audiences, telling the story of how licensing breathes new life into beloved properties." Anna Clarke, Senior Vice President of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets.The multi-platform initiative launches a conversation on the benefits of brand licensing that will continue throughout the year, with new educational on-demand training powered by Licensing Unlocked, the first-ever platform to offer online sessions to bridge the knowledge gap and provide ongoing education into brand licensing, partnerships and IP extension. The campaign aims to demystify the world of brand licensing through engaging content, informative resources and interactive experiences and provide tangible examples of how beloved characters and properties end up on everything from t-shirts and books to toasters and cereal boxes. The promotion launched at the close of the biggest andmost impactful Licensing Expo to datein the event's 40+ years, marking the milestone of the industry's evolution. The video highlights the three key players in the licensing ecosystem, licensors, brand owners that hold the intellectual property; licensees, manufacturers or service providers who license the brand; and sellers, retailers and distributors who bring licensed products to consumers."What inspired this campaign was a desire to push beyond conventional boundaries of event presentation. Brand Licensing is fascinating, an industry where creativity transforms beloved brands into tangible experiences. Yet on paper, it is 'back-to-back meetings about brand licensing'. The disconnect between this description and the vibrant reality needed addressing. The industry thrives on imagination and possibility, qualities that should shine through in how we present our events. We have moved away from the tired 'must-attend event' and 'everyone under one roof' messaging that dominates B2B promotion. Instead, we are telling the real story of why these meetings matter. What possibilities they create. The magic that happens when brands extend beyond their original medium. While our event maintains the necessary business function, we approach it with creativity rather than corporate rigidity. These are the spaces where deals take shape and creative concepts spring to life. At its heart, brand licensing is about inspiration, vision and bringing beloved properties to life in new ways. Our mission is to reveal a glimpse of the magic and our event's role in it." Joseph Rose, Senior Creative Digital Design Manager at the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets.Brand licensing has rapidly evolved into an essential business strategy for companies seeking resilient growth in competitive markets. This strategic approach is driving increased investments across consumer categories includingapparel, food and beverage, toys and games, footwear and health and beauty products , amounting toa record $369.6 billion . The campaign aims to capture the transformative journey of licensing, from concept to creation, showcasing the meaningful outcomes it produces.To continue to learn more about the world of brand licensing visitwww.theGlobalLicensingGroup.comas well as License Global, the leading authority on news, trends and updates to the industry.Attend Brand Licensing Europe (October 7-9, 2025, Excel, London) and the next edition of Licensing Expo (May 19-21, 2026, Las Vegas) to take part in the biggest platforms where the biggest brand deals are made in real time, all in one place.About Global Licensing GroupTheGlobal Licensing Group at Informa Markets , a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets:Licensing Expo ,Brand Licensing Europe ,Licensing Expo ShanghaiandLicense Global . Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International.Media ContactGlobal Licensing Group PR LicensingPR@ informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - GLOBAL LICENSING GROUP
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Urban Legend Becomes Feature Film at LastPHOENIX, ARIZONA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / The highly anticipated horror-thriller "The Licked Hand" has kicked off production in Arizona, starring iconic "Scream Queen" Dee Wallace (E.T., Cujo, The Howling) alongside her terrifying antagonist, played by Ben Milliken (Bosch, Blue Crush 2, Run & Gun). Dee Wallace in Stream (2024)Directed by Adad Joel Warda and written by Levi Gordon and Warda, "The Licked Hand" brings the chilling urban legend to life in a modern reimagining, which balances psychological terror with raw emotion - a gap often left by major studio budget-cutbacks.The film features Wallace as Eleanor, an elderly widow whose stormy night takes a sinister turn when a deranged fugitive invades her isolated Victorian home. Like so many indie productions seeking more favorable tax credits outside of California, the production team opted to film in Arizona."Horror is the most profitable genre for a reason - it taps into our primal fears," said Warda. "With Dee Wallace and a story steeped in urban mythology, I want to deliver the kind of tension and authenticity today's audiences crave." Wallace's attachment to the project underscores a larger movement: seasoned actors lending their gravitas to independent projects that offer creative freedom and bold storytelling. "I love this script! I love its intensity and how much it will challenge me to use every ounce of my talent," said Wallace just prior to kicking off production.As Hollywood navigates post-pandemic shifts in audience preferences, indie producers like Jason Martinez and Jamie Ohlsen leverage low-budget roots with indie films like "The Licked Hand" to offer fresh alternatives to cookie-cutter blockbusters. With its universal appeal, franchise potential, and built-in fanbase from the original urban legend, the team feels the film is primed for success across multiple distribution channels.Production Details:Director: Adad Joel WardaWriters: Levi Gordon and Adad Joel WardaStarring: Dee Wallace and Ben MillikenFilming Start Date: May 19, 2025Location: Mesa, Arizona, and Hagen Farms, Queen Creek, ArizonaFor updates, follow "The Licked Hand" on Instagram (@thelickedhand) and visit https://TheLickedHandMovie.com/.Media Contact (for Written or Live Interview Requests): Layla O'SheaCo-Producer WriteTimeMedia1@ gmail.com 413-544-1689AdadFilms: Award-winning production company founded by Assyrian-American filmmaker Adad Joel Warda, blending international aesthetics with emotional storytelling across 15 countries. "The Licked Hand" marks the company's feature debut after two decades of acclaimed shorts and global commercial work.Ohlsen Productions: Los Angeles-based company founded by actor-producer Jamie Ohlsen, known for diverse content including "The Hard Hit" (Richard T. Jones) and "Wrong For Right" (Omar Gooding). The company leverages strong industry relationships to create commercially viable independent films.A Levi Gordon Production: Executive Producer and writer Levi Gordon brings his storytelling to "The Licked Hand" following the award-winning short film "The Hard R," and multiple features currently in production.Contact InformationLayla O'Sheawritetimemedia1@ gmail.com 413-544-1689SOURCE: The Licked Hand Movie
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Discover how the FDA-cleared Kizu Spine Belt uses advanced compression technology to relieve lower back pain, sciatica, and hip discomfort-without drugs or surgery. Backed by science and real user results, this guide shows how to build sustainable spine health habits in just minutes a day.SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2025 /In This Article, You'll Discover:How the FDA-cleared Kizu Spine Belt may provideimmediate relief from chronic lower back pain, sciatica, and hip discomfortThe science behind targeted compression technology that stimulates multifidus muscles and enhances blood circulationDaily integration strategies for wearing your spine support belt during work, exercise, and sleepProgressive usage plans for 3, 6, and 12-month periods to build lasting spine health habitsHow to combine the Kizu Spine Belt with core strengthening exercises for maximum pain reliefReal user experiences and clinical evidence supporting non-surgical back pain treatmentComplete pricing information, satisfaction guarantee details, and purchasing guidanceExpert tips for maintaining proper posture and preventing future spine strainThe role of inflammation reduction in long-term spine health and pain managementHow to transition from pain dependence to pain-free living with sustainable spine supportTLDR SummaryThe Kizu Spine Belt is an FDA-cleared medical device designed to provide immediate relief from lower back pain, sciatica, hip pain, and pelvic discomfort through targeted compression technology. This comprehensive guide covers everything potential buyers need to know about integrating this spine support solution into their daily routine for lasting pain relief. The belt works by applying gentle compression to stabilize the lower back and hips while stimulating multifidus muscles and enhancing blood circulation. With usage plans spanning 3 to 12 months, readers will learn how to build sustainable spine health habits that improve posture, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall quality of life. The article includes detailed information about pricing, the 30-day money-back guarantee, and how to maximize results through proper daily integration. Whether you're dealing with chronic back pain from desk work, heavy lifting, or age-related spine issues, this guide provides evidence-based strategies for achieving natural pain relief without surgery or prescription medications.Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment regimen.IntroductionSay goodbye to back pain and reclaim your mobility with theKizu Spine Belt -a revolutionary, FDA-cleared medical device designed to naturally support your spine, relieve lower back and sciatica pain, and improve posture without drugs, surgery, or bulky braces. Backed by clinical science and trusted by over 25,000 users, the Kizu Spine Belt uses targeted compression to activate your deep core stabilizers (especially the multifidus muscles), helping your body heal itself from the inside out. Whether you're working, exercising, or simply resting, this discreet, wearable solution offers 24/7 support and comfort-anytime, anywhere. If you're ready to move better, feel stronger, and live pain-free, the Kizu Spine Belt is the smart choice for lasting spine health.Understanding Lower Back Pain and Poor Posture: The Modern EpidemicThe Rising Crisis of Spine Health in 2025Lower back pain has reached epidemic proportions, affecting an estimated 619 million people worldwide and ranking as the leading cause of disability globally. With healthcare costs exceeding $200 billion annually for back pain management alone, the need for effective, non-surgical solutions has never been more critical.Why Your Spine is Under Constant AttackThe Digital Age DilemmaModern life has created the perfect storm for spine dysfunction. Extended hours hunched over computers, smartphones, and tablets have fundamentally altered our natural spinal alignment. This phenomenon, known as "tech neck" and "slouching syndrome," places enormous strain on the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine.The human spine is designed for movement and upright posture, not the sedentary positions that define contemporary work environments. When we maintain poor posture for extended periods, several damaging processes occur:Muscle Imbalances: Prolonged sitting weakens the deep stabilizing muscles, particularly the multifidus muscles that support spinal segmentsDisc Compression: Forward head posture and rounded shoulders increase pressure on intervertebral discs by up to 300%Fascial Restrictions: Connective tissue becomes tight and inflexible, limiting natural movement patternsCirculation Compromise: Poor posture restricts blood flow to spinal structures, reducing nutrient delivery and waste removalThe Pain Cascade EffectLower back strain doesn't exist in isolation. Poor spinal alignment creates a cascade of compensatory patterns throughout the body:Primary Effects:Increased pressure on the SI (sacroiliac) jointHip flexor tightness and weakness in the gluteal musclesThoracic spine stiffness affecting shoulder and neck alignmentCore muscle dysfunction leading to reduced spinal stabilitySecondary Complications:Sciatica symptoms radiating down the legsHip pain and pelvic dysfunctionChronic inflammation in spinal tissuesSleep disruption due to positional discomfortCommon Causes of Spinal DysfunctionOccupational HazardsDesk Workers and Remote Employees The shift to remote work has intensified spine health challenges. Home office setups often lack ergonomic considerations, leading to prolonged periods in non-supportive chairs with inadequate desk heights. Studies show that remote workers report 38% higher rates of lower back pain compared to traditional office workers.Heavy Lifting Occupations Construction workers, healthcare professionals, and warehouse employees face repetitive stress injuries from improper lifting mechanics. The lumbar spine bears the brunt of these forces, leading to accelerated disc degeneration and muscle strain.Service Industry Professionals Prolonged standing on hard surfaces creates different but equally damaging stress patterns. Restaurant workers, retail employees, and healthcare professionals often develop chronic lower back pain from sustained weight-bearing positions.Lifestyle Factors Contributing to Spine DeteriorationSedentary Behavior Patterns The average American sits for 13 hours daily, creating chronic hip flexor tightness and gluteal weakness. This muscle imbalance forces the lower back to compensate, l
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC (NYSE:CODI) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: A class action securities lawsuit was filed against Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC that seeks to recover losses of shareholders who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 1, 2024 and May 7, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, throughout the class period, defendants failed to disclose to investors that Compass lacked effective internal controls over its financial reporting; that Compass failed to disclose critical information regarding Lugano Holding, Inc. ("Lugano") which kept undisclosed financing arrangements and exhibited irregularities in its sales, cost of sales, inventory and accounts receivable; and that, as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's financial reporting were materially misleading.The truth emerged on May 7, 2025, after the market closed, the Company announced that its financial statements for fiscal 2024 could no longer be relied upon due to an ongoing internal investigation into its subsidiary, Lugano. Specifically, Compass reported that its Audit Committee launched an investigation over "concerns about how Lugano was potentially financing inventory." The Company also announced that it intends to delay the filing of its first quarter 2025 Form 10-Q. Further, effective May 7, 2025, Lugano's founder and CEO, Moti Ferder, resigned from Lugano and will not receive any severance compensation.Following this news, the price of Compass' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $17.25 per share on May 7, 2025 to $6.55 per share on May 8, 2025.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Compass Diversified stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/compass-diversified-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=151525&wire=1&utm_campaign=18 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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A leading neurologist's "Omelet Trick" reveals how a simple breakfast change-combined with 7 potent ingredients in Nerve Armor-can help reverse nerve pain at the source by eliminating hidden inflammation and restoring damaged nerves naturally.SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / In This Article, You'll Discover:The shocking truth about why traditional nerve pain supplements fail 83% of the timeA doctor's revolutionary "omelet method" that targets the root cause of neuropathyHow Nerve Armor pills combine7 clinically-proven ingredients for maximum nerve pain reductionReal patient testimonials showing dramatic improvements in just weeksThe hidden connection between breakfast habits and nerve regenerationWhy Big Pharma doesn't want you to know about this natural neuropathy relief solutionStep-by-step instructions to implement this breakthrough protocol at homeTLDR: A groundbreaking neurological discovery reveals how a simple breakfast modification, combined with targeted nerve pain supplements, can reverse years of neuropathy damage. This doctor-formulated approach addresses nerve inflammation at its source, offering hope for the 20+ million Americans suffering from chronic nerve pain without relying on dangerous prescription drugs.Ready to reclaim your life from nerve pain? Let's explore this revolutionary breakthrough that's changing everything we thought we knew about neuropathy relief.IntroductionAre you tired of constant tingling, burning, and shooting pains that make everyday activities unbearable? Millions of Americans struggle with nerve pain and neuropathy, often turning to expensive medications with limited results and dangerous side effects. But what if a simple "omelet trick" discovered by a leading neurologist could naturally restore your nerve health and eliminate pain for good?Understanding Nerve Pain and the Science Behind Nerve ArmorThe Hidden Battle: How Nerve Damage Really OccursNerve pain affects millions of Americans, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood by most sufferers. Peripheral neuropathy treatment has traditionally focused on masking symptoms rather than addressing the root cause of nerve deterioration.The "Termite Cells" PhenomenonScientists have discovered that damaged nerves behave like a house infested with termites. Just as termites silently eat away at wooden structures from the inside, certain inflammatory cells attack nerve fibers at the cellular level. These "termite cells" create microscopic damage that accumulates over time, leading to the burning, tingling, and numbness characteristic of neuropathy.This process, known as neuroinflammation, disrupts the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers. When this insulation becomes compromised, electrical signals between the brain and extremities become distorted or blocked entirely.Why Traditional Treatments Fall ShortMost conventional nerve pain relief approaches focus on symptom management through:Pain medications that merely block pain signalsAnti-inflammatory drugs with limited nerve-specific actionPhysical therapy that addresses symptoms, not underlying damageThese methods fail because they don't target the "termite cells" causing ongoing nerve destruction.Nerve Armor's Revolutionary ApproachNeuropathy supplements likeNerve Armorwork differently by targeting the root cause of nerve damage. Rather than simply masking pain, this approach focuses on:Cellular Repair and ProtectionSupporting the body's natural ability to repair damaged nerve tissue while protecting healthy nerves from further deterioration.Anti-Inflammatory ActionSpecifically targeting the inflammatory pathways that create "termite cell" activity in peripheral nerves.Nerve Regeneration SupportProviding essential nutrients that support the regrowth of damaged nerve fibers and restoration of protective myelin sheaths.These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.The Doctor's Omelet Trick - Mastering Your Daily Nerve Armor RoutineTransform Your Morning with Strategic Supplement IntegrationDr. Sarah Chen, a leading neurologist at Johns Hopkins, discovered what she calls the "Omelet Trick" - a simple yet powerful method for incorporating nerve armor supplement into your daily routine that maximizes both absorption and consistency.The Science Behind Breakfast Timing"The key to effective daily nerve pain management lies in understanding your body's natural absorption patterns," explains Dr. Chen. "Taking Nerve Armor with protein-rich foods like eggs creates an optimal environment for nutrient uptake, while the morning timing aligns with your body's peak metabolic activity." Building Your Perfect Supplement RoutineThe 3-Step Omelet Protocol:Pre-meal Preparation (5 minutes before eating): Take your Nerve Armor capsules with 8 oz of room-temperature waterStrategic Pairing: Consume alongside eggs, Greek yogurt, or other high-protein breakfast foodsConsistency Checkpoint: Set a daily phone reminder for the same time each morningHealthy Breakfast Habits That Amplify ResultsTransform your morning routine with these doctor-approved combinations:Power Omelet: Spinach, mushrooms, and cheese with Nerve ArmorGreek Yogurt Bowl: Berries, nuts, and granola paired with your supplementProtein Smoothie: Blend with banana and almond butter for enhanced absorptionMaximizing Long-term SuccessThe most successful patients follow what Dr. Chen calls the "21-7 Rule" - commit to the same routine for 21 days to build the habit, then maintain it 7 days a week. "Consistency trumps perfection," she notes. "Missing one day won't derail your progress, but establishing the pattern is crucial for lasting daily nerve pain management." Pro tip: Prepare your supplements the night before alongside your breakfast ingredients for seamless morning execution.Unlock the freedom to enjoy life again! With Nerve Armor, you can conquer nerve pain once and for all. Act fast-secure your supply today and rediscover what life has to offer!Complete Nerve Armor Product BreakdownNerve Armor Ingredients: A Comprehensive Formula for Nerve HealthNerve Armor pills contain a scientifically-formulated blend of five key ingredients, each selected for their proven benefits in supporting nerve function and reducing neuropathic discomfort. Understanding these nerve armor ingredients helps explain why this supplement has garnered positive nerve armor reviews from users seeking natural ne
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Organon & Co. (NYSE:OGN) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Organon you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/organon-co-class-action Investors have until July 22, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Organon securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and is captioned: Hauser v. Organon & Co., et al., No. 25-cv-05322.Why was Organon Sued for Securities Fraud?Organon is a global healthcare company focused on women's health that has historically rewarded its shareholders with a healthy dividend. In October 2024, Organon completed a $1.2 billion acquisition of Dermavant, a biopharmaceutical company focused on dermatological conditions. As alleged, while the acquisition increased Organon's debt, the Company assured investors it would maintain its dividend, which Organon asserted was its "#1 capital allocation priority." In truth, Organon had shifted its capital allocation priority after the Dermavant acquisition to focus on reducing its debt, ultimately leading the Company to severely cut its dividend.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn May 1, 2025, Organon announced that management reset the Company's dividend payout from $0.28 per share to $0.02 per share. Organon's CEO explained that the Company "reset our capital allocation priorities to accelerate progress towards deleveraging" and that "[b]y deleveraging more rapidly, we will continue to strengthen the future prospects of the company." Organon's CFO added, "[t]he biggest issues we face . . . relate to managing our leverage and relate to growth. And we need capital to solve both of those issues, and so returning capital to shareholders is right now, less of a priority." On this news, the price of Organon stock declined roughly 27%, from $12.93 per share on April 30, 2025, to $9.45 per share on May 1, 2025.Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/organon-co-class-action What Can You Do?If you invested in Organon you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 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=151623&wire=1&utm_campaign=24 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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Explore the AI-powered Secret Scope Camera redefining home surveillance in 2025 with wireless installation, smart home integration, and real-world results that expose traditional systems as outdated and overpriced.LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2025 / In This Article, You'll Discover:Complete Secret Scope Camera reviewwith AI motion detection capabilities and advanced wireless surveillance featuresHow this hidden security cam outperforms traditional home security systems with 2025 cutting-edge technologyProven strategies for preventing porch piracy and package theft using strategic camera placementSmart home integration guide for seamless connectivity with Alexa, Google Home, and security appsReal-world performance testing of night vision, weatherproofing, and wireless range capabilitiesComprehensive pricing analysis and exclusive package deals for maximum home security investmentExpert comparison with leading wireless surveillance competitors in the hidden camera marketActual customer testimonials showcasing successful break-in prevention and property monitoringTLDR SummaryThe Secret Scope Camera stands as the premier hidden security cam for 2025, delivering professional-grade wireless surveillance with advanced AI motion detection and instant mobile alerts. This compact security solution addresses critical home security challenges including porch piracy prevention, unauthorized entry monitoring, and discreet property surveillance. With 1080P HD recording, weatherproof construction, and seamless smart home integration, the Secret Scope Camera transforms any space into a comprehensive security network. Customer satisfaction rates exceed 94%, with verified reviews highlighting successful package theft prevention and peace-of-mind monitoring. The wireless technology eliminates complex installation requirements while maintaining professional surveillance quality that rivals expensive security systems.Disclaimer: Pricing information is subject to change. Always check the official Secret Scope Camera website for current pricing and availability.Introduction: Transform Your Home Security with Advanced Hidden SurveillancePackage theft has reached epidemic proportions in 2025, with over 36% of Americans experiencing porch piracy in the past year alone. Traditional security systems often fail to provide adequate protection due to visible cameras that criminals easily avoid, complex installation requirements, and prohibitive costs that put professional surveillance out of reach for most homeowners.The Secret Scope Camerarevolutionizes home security by combining cutting-edge wireless surveillance technology with covert design that captures crucial evidence without alerting potential intruders. This hidden security cam leverages advanced AI motion detection, instant mobile notifications, and weatherproof durability to create an invisible security network that works 24/7 to protect your property, packages, and peace of mind.Secret Scope Camera Home Surveillance: Comprehensive Product Overview and SpecificationsRevolutionary Wireless Security Camera TechnologyThe Secret Scope Camera represents a breakthrough in hidden camera technology, delivering professional-grade surveillance capabilities in an ultra-compact, covert design. This wireless security camera combines 1080P HD video quality with advanced AI motion detection, making it an ideal solution for both residential and commercial security applications.Core Product Specifications:Video Resolution: 1080P Full HD recording at 30fpsConnectivity: Wi-Fi enabled (802.11 b/g/n, 2.4GHz)Mounting System: Innovative magnetic mounting systemCoverage: 360 monitoring capability with wide-angle lensNight Vision: Automatic infrared technology for 24/7 surveillanceWeather Resistance: IP65 weatherproof rating for indoor/outdoor usePower: Extended battery life with USB-C rapid chargingStorage: MicroSD support up to 128GB plus cloud storage optionsAdvanced Technology Features and AI CapabilitiesAI Motion Detection and Threat Assessment The Secret Scope Camera incorporates intelligent AI threat detection algorithms that distinguish between routine movement and potential security events. This advanced motion detection system reduces false alarms while ensuring critical security incidents trigger immediate mobile notifications.Professional Night Vision Technology Equipped with automatic infrared capabilities, this hidden camera technology provides crystal-clear video capture in complete darkness without emitting visible light. The seamless day-to-night transition ensures continuous 24/7 monitoring while maintaining the camera's covert nature.360 Coverage and Optimal Positioning The wide-angle lens system delivers comprehensive area coverage, eliminating blind spots common in traditional security setups. The magnetic mounting system enables flexible positioning and quick relocation without tools or permanent installation requirements.Design Excellence and Build Quality AnalysisUltra-Compact Covert Design The Secret Scope Camera's miniaturized form factor prioritizes discretion while incorporating professional-grade components. The sleek, modern design allows seamless integration into any environment without drawing attention or compromising aesthetics.Weatherproof Construction Standards Built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, the camera features IP65-rated weatherproof construction suitable for both indoor and outdoor deployment. UV-resistant housing materials ensure long-term durability and reliable performance across varying climate conditions.Magnetic Mounting System Innovation The proprietary magnetic mounting system revolutionizes installation simplicity, enabling tool-free setup and repositioning. This innovative approach eliminates drilling, wiring, and complex installation procedures while providing secure, stable camera positioning.Target Demographics and Primary Use CasesHomeowners and Property Protection Ideal for residential security applications including package delivery monitoring, entrance surveillance, and general property protection. The wireless security camera addresses growing concerns about home intrusions and theft while providing peace of mind for families.Small Business and Retail Security Perfect for small business owners requiring discreet monitoring solutions for inventory protection, employee oversight, and customer safety. The hidden camera technology enables comprehensive surveillance without alerting potential shoplifters or creating customer discomfort.Elderly Care and Child Monitoring Supports family caregiving scenarios where discreet monitoring ensures safety without compromising privacy. The AI motion detection provides immediate alert
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COPENHAGEN, DENMARK / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Trophy Games Development (CPH:TGAMES) is excited to announce that our upcoming release, Farm Manager, has already exceeded 5 million preregistrations - an impressive milestone that significantly outpaces our previous titles. For comparison, Truck Manager, Train Manager, and Energy Manager concluded their preregistration phases with 3 million, 500,000, and 300,000 preregistrations, respectively.Scheduled for launch in late June or early July, Farm Manager represents a major step forward for us. While preregistration numbers are not a direct indicator of future financial performance, they do highlight strong market interest. Historically, we have launched our games early and continued development post-release with valuable feedback from our players.However, the launch of Farm Manager marks a strategic shift. Based on insights from earlier releases and the overwhelming interest in Truck Manager, we've adopted a new approach: ensuring future titles are more feature-complete at launch. Farm Manager is the first title to follow this model.With this change, we expect Farm Manager to generate revenue faster than previous games, Energy Manager being a possible outlier due to unique circumstances.Pre-register now and be part of the growing community eagerly awaiting the launch of Farm Manager:Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trophygames.farmmanager&hl=enApp Store: https://apps.apple.com/dk/app/farm-manager-2025/id6739125379 ContactsTrophy Games Development A/S Sren Gleie, CEOOffice (+45) 7172 7573Email: soren@ trophy-games.comMikkel Bryggers Gade 4, 2. sal, 1460 Copenhagen K, DenmarkCertified Adviser Norden CEFJohn NordenEmail: jn@ nordencef.dk A/S Kongevejen 365, 2840 Holte, DenmarkAbout Us Trophy Games is a data- and business-driven game company with a no-bullshit mentality. We build games around real-world interests to immerse players in their passion online!AttachmentsTrophy Games Surpasses 5 Million Pre-Registrations for Upcoming Farm Manager TitleSOURCE: Trophy Games Development
Nigerias fintech company Moniepoint got a key regulatory approval to acquire a 78 per cent controlling stake in Nairobi-based Sumac Microfinance Bank Limited, according to a statement by the Competition Authority of Kenya on Monday.

In granting unconditional approval, the authority noted that the deal is not likely to impact competition negatively in the market for the provision of microfinance banking services in Kenya, nor elicit negative public interest concerns.

Expanding into Kenya clears the path for Moniepoint to scale its digital banking and payments offering in one of the key financial hubs in East Africa.

Moniepoint, which attained a unicorn status earlier this year after raising $110 million in a Series C funding round valued at over $1 billion, processes $17 billion worth of transactions monthly, according to information on its website.

Incorporated in the US, it started operations in 2019 and now has two subsidiaries incorporated in Nigeria: TeamApt Limited and Moniepoint Microfinance Limited.

Sumac Microfinance Bank, which was established in 2002 originally as an investment group, has operations spanning monetary intermediation, deposit-taking, forex trading, insurance agency and brokerage, lending, financial leasing and money transfer services.

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A medium-sized microfinance bank, Sumac controlled a 4.3 per cent share in the Kenyan microfinance bank as of 2023. Total assets at the end of 2023 stood at Ksh3 billion, while total deposits were Ksh1.3 billion.

Active deposit accounts totalled 15,923 as of 2023, while active loan accounts stood at 2,960.

The 4.3 per cent market share will not change due to this transaction since Moniepoint Inc has no operations in Kenya, the Competition Authority of Kenya said.

Therefore, post-merger, the structure and concentration of the market for micro-finance banking will not be affected. As such, the transaction is not unlikely to raise competition concerns, it added.

The regulator assured that there would be no employment loss resulting from the transaction and that all the current employees would be retained under the current terms.

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Numbers of inbound foreign tourists in Beijing, Shanghai pick up to pre-pandemic levels

Xinhua) 08:33, June 04, 2025

Tourists from Australia pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, May 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The numbers of foreign nationals' visits to Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have picked up to or even surpassed the pre-pandemic levels in 2019, the latest statistics showed.

The municipal bureau of statistics in Shanghai recently revealed that the city in April received about 670,900 inbound foreign tourist visits, marking a 40.5 percent year-on-year increase. The figure for April 2019 was 640,800.

Over the same period, Beijing saw 454,920 inbound foreign visitors, according to figures from the city's municipal bureau of culture and tourism. This has outnumbered that for the same month in 2019, which stood at 368,281, by 23.5 percent.

Thanks to China's expanded visa-free policies and ever-improving tourist-friendly initiatives, the country recorded 64.88 million border crossings by foreign nationals in 2024, an 82.9-percent increase year on year. Of these, more than 20 million inbound foreign trips were made visa-free. In the first quarter of this year, the number stood at 17.44 million, up 33.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

The latest move, on Sunday, saw the initiation of 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.

With this expansion, China now offers unilateral visa-free entry to 43 countries.

A more open and inclusive China is also welcoming foreign travelers from a wider spectrum: statistics in Beijing revealed that despite a decline in number of American visitors and steady numbers for visitors from Oceania, the numbers of tourists from Asia, Europe, and Africa respectively all saw evident growths from the pre-pandemic levels.

In Asia, the numbers of visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to Beijing in April grew by around threefold from those in April 2019.

The number for inbound visitors from Mongolia to Beijing has increased to 15,345 in April, about six times the number in the same period six years ago, while the number for Vietnam reached 16,715, marking an approximate tenfold rise. As the countries are yet covered by China's visa-free policies, observers attribute such growth to factors such as economic development.

Meanwhile, inbound visitors from Russia and Italy have also seen remarkable increases.

The number of visitors from African countries has increased from 7,571 in April 2019 to 11,162 in the same month this year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Oando Plc reported a 265.2 per cent jump in net profit for last year, according to its audited financial statements released on Wednesday, as increased crude oil sales lifted turnover.

Revenue for the period rose to N4.1 trillion from N2.8 trillion a year ago, with sales of crude oil from its supply and trading unit accounting for the bulk of that sum.

The results include roughly four months of contribution from Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), which Oando acquired from Italian multinational oil giant Eni last August for a total consideration of $783 million.

Average daily production stood at 23,727 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), a 3 per cent year-on-year increase, partly supported by NAOCs contribution.

2024 was a defining year for Oando, with the successful acquisition and integration of NAOC marking the culmination of a decade-long strategic growth journey which has significantly deepened our upstream portfolio, resulting in our assumption of operatorship of the OML 6063 series, CEO Wale Tinubu said in a statement.

He noted that the current year will be devoted to unlocking synergies from the acquisition, tackling above-ground security risks and deploying strategies targeted at curtailing oil theft, cost optimisation, balance sheet restructuring and enhancing operational efficiency.

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Shares in Oando had appreciated by 6.8 per cent in Lagos as of 12:54 WAT but had shed 4 per cent at about the same time in Johannesburg, where it has a secondary listing, following the news.

Other operating income advanced to N1.1 trillion from N400 billion a year ago, boosted by a gain on bargain purchase from the fair valuation of the NAOC acquisition when compared to the total consideration paid for the asset.

Finance income jumped 179.2 per cent to N44.1 billion, largely boosted by interest income earned on finance leases.

Last month, Oando Trading, a subsidiary of the Oando Group, announced the purchase and lifting of Nigerias newest crude oil blend, Obodo, with the Atlantic Spirit tanker from Oandos fleet executing the first export of the blend.

Profit before tax for the review period leapt to N383.8 billion from N103 billion, while profit after tax jumped to N220.1 billion from N60.3 billion.

The company said it hopes to scale up full-year average production to 30,000-40,000 bpd.

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The former chairman of the anti-corruption agency, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has written a book on Nigerias fuel subsidy regime.

Published by Cable Books, the book is titled, The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigerias Petroleum Subsidy Fraud, and will be released to the public on Thursday.

In a statement on Wednesday, Cable Books, an imprint of Cable Media and Publishing Ltd, said the book will be distributed nationwide by Roving Heights Bookstore, starting from Thursday.

Mr Bawa led the EFCC from February 2021 until June 2023, when President Bola Tinubu forced him out of office. The State Security Services (SSS) arrested Mr Bawa at the time, and he resigned while still in custody. Although government officials accused him of wrongdoing while in office, he was never charged with any crime.

Mr Bawa was a key investigator on the EFCCs special team that probed the 2012 subsidy fraud.

According to a statement by the publishers, in his book, Mr Bawa reveals the staggering scale, complexity, and audacity of the schemes used to siphon public funds under the guise of fuel subsidy payments.

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His insider narrative chronicles how billions of naira were recovered and several culprits brought to justice, while also shedding light on how entrenched corruption allowed the fraud to flourish for years.

Some of the strategies applied in the subsidy regime include: Ghost importing and over-invoicing: Here, companies submitted claims for fuel that was never imported or inflated shipment volumes to receive excessive subsidy payouts.

Manipulation of bills of lading: By altering shipping documents, fraudsters exploited international price fluctuations to claim higher subsidies. Round-tripping and double claims: Single shipments were often used to obtain multiple subsidy payments.

Diversion and smuggling: Subsidised fuel was frequently diverted to black markets or smuggled out of Nigeria for profit.

These practices, Mr Bawa said, were enabled by forged documents, weak regulatory oversight, and systemic collusion between corrupt government officials and private sector actors.

His book is both a revelation and a reckoning  offering evidence-based analysis and personal reflections on one of the most controversial chapters in Nigerias recent history, said Vic Akinrogunde of the CableBooks.

The Shadow of Loot & Losses is essential reading for policymakers, civil society advocates, journalists, and citizens interested in understanding how systemic fraud undermines development and how it can be confronted.

On 29 May 2023, during his swearing-in ceremony, President Bola Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy scheme.

In his inaugural speech last May, Mr Tinubu said: Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care, and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions. Petrol subsidy is gone.

The presidents announcement immediately sparked an increase in fuel prices from N197 to between N480 and N570. The pump price was subsequently reviewed upward to N617/litre and now sells for between N850 and N920 per litre.

Mr Tinubu has, however, said he would not reverse the policy on petrol subsidies removal, which his government says was used to enrich only a few individuals.

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Nigerians knew little about Mike Adenugas lifestyle until a recent picture surfaced, and he preferred it that way.

The billionaire, also known as The Bull in Nigerias business circle for his resilience, has successfully kept his life away from the public. However, this picture offers a rare insight into his routine.

The picture posted by Reno Omokri, a former presidential spokesperson, on Sunday, announcing his visit to the business tycoon, gives fine details about the life of Nigerias quiet billionaire.

Mr Adenuga is the owner of the countrys second-largest mobile phone network.

The billionaire, who has established himself in the telecommunications and energy sector, prefers privacy over showmanship.

The tycoons approach contradicts some of his contemporaries flamboyant displays of wealth.

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The picture

The social media post includes a picture of the two men in an opulent, gold-themed office space.

Mr Adenuga sat behind a lavish desk, dressed in a vibrant yellow-orange plaid shirt with an embroidered crest on the pocket. He was neither in a suit, Agbada, nor any flamboyant clothing popular with people of his calibrea reminder that status needs no dress code.

Though not consistent with typical or modern office space, the office setting whispers intentionality with its gold-tinted woodwork. It has a velvet-draped curtain in royal hues and navy and red layers, evoking wealth and aesthetics.

The desk, packed with personal items, offers an insight into one of the wealthiest Nigerian daily rhythms  focused and intensely private.

Sitting atop the desk is a red-top container, cleaning products like disinfectant wipes and facial tissues, showing that his hygiene is a priority. Also, Olbas oil, often used for nasal relief, hints at attentiveness to health.

Behind him is a pair of towering antelope horns, stretched behind his red leather seat and a nearby portrait. In African culture, horns are not merely decorative. They symbolise authority, resilience, and heritage appreciation. This could also mean that the Otunba Apesin of the Ijebu clan are wildlife lovers or perhaps enjoy hunting.

Analogue meets digital

President Bola Tinubu celebrated him on his 72nd birthday for disrupting the billing template in the telecommunications sector. By pioneering per-second billing, Glo expanded telephony and digital access to millions of Nigerians.

Despite being immersed in a digital world, his workspace is a nexus between traditional and modern.

On his desk lies a notepad with handwritten notes, which shows he is still engaged with pen and paper.

The image posted shows no desktop computer or laptop on his desk. But a gold-tone bowl is filled with rubber bands and paper clip holders.

Two landline phones, two modern phones (one of which is undoubtedly a smartphone), a manual calculator and a small phone popularly called palasa (bottom phone) occupy the square-shaped desk with a small pile of documents showing how the billionaire straddles both digital and traditional workflow.

A small picture of the younger Adenuga attached to the portrait in the room reads, Nigerias oil man, testifying to his ownership of Conoil Producing, an indigenous oil exploration company.

Little is known about his marital life, but he appears to be a family man with his wedding band on the traditional ring finger on his left hand.

The lamp behind him could be a backup power supply for emergencies or suggest late working hours.

The man, Adenuga

According to Forbes, the 72-year-old is the second richest person in Nigeria. His net worth is estimated at 6.2 billion dollars.

In 2016, he was conferred with the Ghanaian national award of Companion Of The Star of Ghana, the highest national honour in Ghana

Two years later, he was honoured by the French government and conferred with the French National Commander of the French Legion.

Meanwhile, speculation surrounding his passing and his recent birthday anniversary again brought him to the fore.

In November, a false rumour of his death gathered momentum on social media, with some users even posting his portrait as an obituary. However, his friend, Dele Momodu, quickly debunked the rumour.

In 2011, Nigerian veteran journalists Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe announced they were publishing an unauthorised biography of Mr Adenuga.

However, the book did not make a stand as the Otunba Apesin of the Ijebu clan, who wants his personal life away from public glare, reportedly bought every copy of Mike Adenuga, Africas Business Guru.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has dismissed claims that 20,000 Ukrainian children were kidnapped by Russia, describing the allegation as false and politically motivated.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Ms Zakharova said the children were evacuated from conflict zones to safe locations and that Moscow had made efforts to reunite them with their families.

As we can see, there are no 20,000 kidnapped children in reality.

Ukraine has not only failed but has not even tried to prove this data with documents.

It has not provided specific facts, lists of the children, or data from parents or legal representatives who were looking for them, she said.

Ms Zakharova accused the Ukrainian government of fabricating the numbers and failing to take any action over the years to substantiate the claims.

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Why has nothing been done by the Kyiv regime over these years? Because it was all lies, she said.

She added that Russia was rescuing children by taking them out of the shelling zones to safe places, and described the effort as really successful.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu has conferred Nigerias third highest national honour, Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), on American Bill Gates.

Mr Tinubu conferred the honour on the billionaire philanthropist during a ceremony held at his private residence in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu said the recognition is in acknowledgement of Mr Gates decades-long interventions in maternal health, agriculture and infectious disease research in the country.

He noted that Mr Gates inspires leaders worldwide by consistently lifting the poor and underprivileged.

President Tinubu thanked the billionaire philanthropist for providing global leadership that prioritises ameliorating the lives and safety of the poor and underprivileged.

Today, I would like to share my happiness and respect and acknowledge one of the greatest human beings in the world, he said.

All I need to say is thank you Bill Gates, for your indivisible commitment to humanity. It is highly remarkable. It is an inspiration to leaders across the world, including the one standing before you.

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I thank you very much. It is a great thing to honour you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The CFR is Nigerias third-highest honour, behind the GCFR (Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic) and GCON (Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger). The GCFR is usually reserved for Nigerian presidents while the GCON is often reserved for vice presidents (with few exceptions). The CFR is conferred on individuals who have made significant contributions to the nations development.

The Gates impact

Mr Gates, through the Gates Foundation, has spent millions of dollars in Nigeria, majorly in the areas of health, agriculture, and poverty reduction.

His foundations commitment to the country is now totalling over $2.8 billion, the highest in Africa.

The Gates foundation has been a key partner in Nigerias polio eradication efforts, immunisation campaigns, malaria control, and maternal and child health programmes.

For instance, in the last quarter of 2024, the foundation donated $5.6 million to Nigeria for flood relief, health and agricultural reforms. In 2022, it committed $7 billion to supporting Nigeria and some other African countries. In 2020, the Gates Foundation donated $1 million to the country to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It also awarded a $2 million grant to the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Mr Gates once attributed his support for Nigeria to the huge humanitarian needs of thousands of vulnerable people in the country.

National recognition

The national recognition comes just a day after Mr Gates reiterated his commitment to the African continent.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Gates recently pledged that the majority of the $200 billion his foundation will disburse over the next two decades will be allocated to improving health and development in Africa.

He said this on Monday at the Nelson Mandela Hall of the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa, he told the audience, including African leaders, health professionals, youth representatives, and development partners.

Mr Gates praised African governments that prioritise the health and well-being of their citizens and called for more investment in primary healthcare.

He said investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing.

Well deserved

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said Mr Gatess recognition was well deserved, considering his long-term involvement in Nigerias national development.

Mr Pate, a professor, noted that the Gates Foundation has invested more than $2 billion of its capital in various arenas that directly affect Nigerians, whether in health care, agriculture, or the digital economy.

Importantly, when he came into Northern Nigeria, there were challenges with immunisation, people refusing because of ignorance, and with Mr Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, they mobilised the entire traditional rulers committee.

Mr Pate said the strong support of the Gates Foundation eradicated polio in Nigeria.

In his remark, Mr Gates expressed appreciation for the national honour, describing it as a recognition not only of himself, but of the work done by the Foundations teams and partners across Nigeria.

He said from the beginning, the Foundations goal was to support improving Nigerias health sector.

Nigeria had some ambitious goals for improving health, and three people here today are great champions of that cause. Of course, the President is making health a priority. Pate, weve worked together to handle great challenges, including the incredible progress on polio, he said.

Then, Dangote, I got to know, and we have done great work together. So, in the 25 years in Nigeria, we have achieved a lot. As was mentioned, the child death rate has gone down, and thats because new vaccines were received to boost our efforts.

He said the effort to eradicate polio was one of the Foundations toughest, noting that a lot was learnt, and partnerships were built with traditional institutions.

Mr Gates also reiterated his dedication to cutting malnutrition and spreading vaccines that could end malaria in Nigeria.

Some of our goals will seem ambitious; for example, in the next 20 years, we hope to eradicate malaria, he added.

Aliko Dangote, the president and chairman of Dangote Group; the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo; executives of the Gates Foundation and Ayuba Burki Gufwan, executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, attended the ceremony.

Asides his visit to the president, Mr Gates is expected to participate in a Goalkeepers Nigeria event on Wednesday.

The event, which is focused on scaling innovation, will feature discussions on Nigerias primary healthcare reform agenda and its evolving national AI strategy.

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The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemned the sack of some of its members by the management of the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna.

The leader of the North-West Zonal chapter, Abbas Ajayi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna that the sack was unwarranted and unexpected.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the management of the hospital on Monday terminated the appointment of the resident doctors in a letter signed by the Director of Administration, Illiyasu Yusuf.

The management claimed that the resident doctors had exceeded their allowable duration of training and had reportedly shown a lack of academic progress.

This, the management maintained, was as it was stipulated in Sections 2 and 3 of the regulations governing residency training programme of the hospital.

The letter also urged the resident doctors to refund N501,000, being 50 per cent of their June to December medical residency training fund paid to them and hand over all properties in their possession.

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Mr Ajayi condemned the act, sayin flow charts for training were non-existent at the hospital.

He said: People will spend additional years in training for no fault of theirs

Some people will keep your proposal for months and not attend to it and then the resident is to blame every time.

According to Mr Ajayi, anytime the residents embark on strike, they will start sending sack letters.

He said, The interesting thing about this BDTH is that they are just eight years in residency.

Someone needs to tell the CMD that its impossible for anyone to have overstayed residency in his centre if they started in 2018.

Also speaking, the chairperson of the hospitals NARD chapter, Josiah Yakubu, said, so far, six of the resident doctors had received their termination letters from the management.

He added that from February to date, five doctors had resigned and more were going, saying, this is because they have gotten a better offer in states such as Kano, Katsina and Nasarawa.

Mr Yakubu said, In a residency programme, one is trained to become a specialist and has to go for posting before writing his examination, both the first stage and second stage.

But because we are understaffed, where you can find four or two doctors in a department, one will be due for posting and will be delayed by the management with excuses while rotations are also being delayed.

He added that the association held a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday with the hope of negotiations.

Mr Yakubu said, But we were told to call off the strike first. The government also threatened us with no work, no pay.

All we are asking is for the government to hear us and meet our needs.

With this action, they are telling us that they dont appreciate us. Let them bring back our members and employ more.

Reacting, the State Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, told NAN on Wednesday that an agreement has just been reached between the state government and NARD, so they will be immediately reinstated.

The meeting that was held at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government was successful and an amicable resolution has been reached between both parties.

(NAN)

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday sealed an illegal herbal medicine production facility, one bakery and five sachet water factories in Kaduna State.

The affected facilities include Aji Garau Herbal Medicine Store, Karkarku Table Water, 1165 Table Water, Zaiba Table Water, Maisalati Table Water, Rumaisa Table Water and Al  Ihsan Bread.

The State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Nasiru Mato who led the team, said some of the closed factories did not meet the minimum requirements to operate, while others were not registered with the agency.

Mr Mato said the agency is sealing these factories because they have not met the minimum requirements, and it is grossly unhygienic.

We are shutting them down for illegal production without marketing authorisations as investigation continues, he said.

The fact that people see sachet water and other products with NAFDAC number does not mean they are fully registered because some people fake the numbers by themselves.

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READ ALSO: NARD fumes as Kaduna govt hospital sacks resident doctors

These products are not certified and have not gotten licence from us, so we are closing them down and we will make sure they are not seen in the market for consumption.

Mr Mato added that the illegal production of the herbal concoction AJI GARAU, which was ongoing at the time of the visit, violated all hygiene protocols, standard procedures, equipment, and personnel to guarantee the safety, quality, and efficacy of the product.

All wares used in the production processes, as well as the finished products, are deceptive and misleading even with location addresses, he said.

The products are seized for further investigation while the facility is sealed as a first line of sanction.

He reiterated NAFDACs commitment to continue to hunt for defiant manufacturers in all nooks and crannies of the state.

(NAN)

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Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has praised an official of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ugochukwu Orji, for rejecting a N10 million bribe from a fleeing native doctor accused of ritual killings in Enugu State.

Mr Otti spoke on Sunday when he received in audience a 30-member delegation of the organisers and sponsors of the Oha Isiala Ngwa Grand Civic Reception and Appreciation in his honour.

Details of the event were contained in a statement by the governors spokesperson, Njoku Ukoha, on Monday.

Thank for representing Abia well

Mr Otti thanked the immigration officer, Mr Orji, an indigene of Abia, for demonstrating honesty and being a good ambassador of the state.

I have always made this point that we are straightforward people, we are not criminals. We dont steal, we dont cheat. Of course, out of every 12, there must be a Judas. Sometimes the Judas is so loud that he drowns the good jobs of the other 11, he said.

What you did is typical of us; you represented us very, very well, the governor told the NIS official.

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Mr Otti recalled that he had celebrated a tricycle rider recently who returned to the owner a huge sum of money left in his tricycle.

Just like the gentleman who returned a huge sum of money and we celebrated him, so, we will celebrate you also, he assured the NIS official.

The governor also urged the NIS official not to let anybody make him feel bad or discouraged about what he did.

There is so much to gain by rejecting bribes. N10 million is a lot of money, and you could do so much with it, but you rejected it.

And, you rejected it because it is not earned. So, I want to encourage you to continue to serve in a straightforward manner. This example you have shown, hold on to it, he stated.

Oha Isiala Ngwa Grand Civic Reception

Earlier, Mr Otti appreciated the organisers of the grand civic reception for assembling all indigenes of the Isiala Ngwa together and tasking themselves to raise over N100 million for the event.

It was so grandiose that when I entered the stadium, I was shocked. I was not expecting such a crowd of over 10,000 people.

All of them stayed till the end of the programme, very, very happy. I want to thank you and thank all the leaders, he said.

The governor said he was dumbfounded by the unprecedented show of love and promised to do more as a way of reciprocating it.

By the time we are done, Im sure people will not recognise our place anymore, he stated amidst applause.

Also speaking, the leader of the delegation, Darlington Nwokocha, said they came to thank the governor for accepting to be honoured and for honouring their invitation.

Mr Nwokocha explained that they came together on their own and agreed to celebrate the governor.

The more we celebrate you, we are celebrating ourselves because you have really made us proud, he told the governor.

In his vote of thanks, a member representing Isiala North and South in the House of Representatives, Ginger Onwusibe, thanked the governor for accepting to be honoured even though he is not given to such a public outing.

Mr Onwusibe also thanked Mr Otti for the promise he made to fix the Sam Ihesilor stadium, Okpuala Ngwa, the venue of the grand civic reception.

The federal lawmaker thanked his fellow organisers for joyfully contributing for the reception, noting that at some point, he stopped releasing the account number designated for the event.

Ritual killing

On 26 May, the native doctor, Onyeka Obu, was accused of burying several people in a pit, including a pregnant woman, for ritual purposes.

The incident happened at Umumba Ndiagu, a community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias south-east.

Mr Obu is popularly known as Ozo Ezeani as well as E dey play E dey show.

The police in Enugu State, on Wednesday, said they collaborated with Neighbourhood Watch personnel and vigilant community members to arrest three suspects linked to the native doctor.

They said the security operatives also collaborated to rescue a 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped for suspected ritual murder by the native doctors boys.

READ ALSO: Enugu govt speaks on ritual killing by native doctor

The police, however, said the native doctor had fled the scene before their operatives arrived.

The native doctor was later arrested by some NIS personnel at Badagry-Seme Border Area of Lagos while he was fleeing Nigeria.

He was said to have offered N10 million bribe and an iPhone to the NIS official who recognised and held him from fleeing the country. But the NIS official declined.

On Friday, NIS authorities handed him over to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force which later moved him to Enugu State for prosecution. 

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At least 45 bandits loyal to notorious kingpin, Dogo Gide, have been killed in a joint operation of the State Security Service ( SSS) and the Nigerian Army in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to Zagazola Makama, a local publication specialising in security reporting, the operation was conducted on Monday.

The local publication reported that the operatives trailed the bandits as they moved to attack Munya villages, including Kuchi, which they attacked last week.

During last weeks attack on Kuchi, bandits suspected to be foot soldiers of Mr Gide burnt a joint forces camp and rustled scores of livestock. The SSS and the army engaged them in gunfights, killing many.

In this latest incident, the terrorists, taking advantage of ungoverned forest reserves, moved from Bilbis forest in Maru LGA of Zamfara State and some parts of Kaduna on the invitation of Mr Gide.

In the early hours of Monday, 2nd June 2025, bandits from Kaduna and Zamfara States, numbering about 100, heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, advanced towards Kuchi town in Munya LGA, a source told Zagazola Makama.

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However, operatives launched a surprise attack and waylaid the bandits on the outskirts of Kuchi town. The operatives engaged the fleeing dissidents in a gun duel, which saw to the elimination of the bandits, with several injured and motorcycles and ammunition recovered.

However, the report said five SSS officers sustained injuries and are currently hospitalised.

For years, Munya LGA has been invaded by different groups, including the late Ali Kawaje group. They sacked many villages, including Kachiwe, Chibani, Injita, and Sarkin Pawa.

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The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petitions filed by the Action Alliance(AA), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), challenging the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the 16 November, 2024 governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were listed as respondents in the petitions sedately by the parties.

The judgment comes as Mr Aiyedatiwa marks his 100 days in Office. He was inaugurated on 24 February.

In a unanimous ruling, the tribunal held that the AA lacked the locus standi to challenge the election outcome, having failed to present a candidate in the poll.

The AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Omoaje, through their counsel, had alleged irregularities in the election and accused INEC of deliberately excluding the partys name and logo from the ballot papers.

However, in the lead judgment delivered by Imelda Etiape and supported by two other Justices, Daurabu Sikkam and Benson Ogubu, the tribunal voided the petition on the grounds that AA failed to field any candidate for the election.

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The tribunal held that the claim of unlawful exclusion was no longer a valid ground for challenging election results, as that provision was repealed with the enactment of the 2010 Electoral Act.

On the allegations of corrupt practices and vote buying, the tribunal noted that the petitioners failed to provide credible evidence to substantiate their claims.

It consequently dismissed the petition but declined to award costs against the petitioners.

Also, the tribunal dismissed the petition of the APM, saying its petition lacked material facts and was not supported by credible evidence.

Benson Ogbu, the judge, who read the lead judgment, stated that the allegations of voting without accreditation, over-voting, corrupt practices, and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act were not backed by any verifiable facts.

The panel further held that the evidence presented was of no probative value, and the written statement of the APMs witness should be discountenanced for failing to disclose the source of information.

The tribunal concluded that the APMs petition lacked merit and that the petitioner was not entitled to any of the reliefs sought.

The case was subsequently dismissed with an order for parties to bear their respective costs.

On the SDPs petition, the tribunal dismissed it, holding that it lacked merit and failed to provide the required material facts.

It said the petition was based on speculation and not supported by concrete evidence, emphasising that reliefs cannot be granted on the basis of hearsay, propaganda, or emotions.

The tribunal dismissed the SDPs petition as baseless and a waste of judicial time, while also directing that each party should bear their own costs.

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Young Chinese artisan recreates ancient murals lost overseas a century ago

People's Daily Online) 10:57, June 04, 2025

Liu Ziqun, a Chinese artisan born in the 1990s, is devoted to recreating ancient murals that were taken from China and now sit in museums overseas.

"They belong in our temples, yet now they sit in display cases in foreign countries, silently telling stories of pain," Liu said.

One ancient mural, "Two Bodhisattvas Burning Ritual Incense," originally adorned a wall of Cisheng Temple in Wenxian county, central China's Henan Province. Stolen and trafficked abroad during the Republic of China era (1912-1949), it now hangs in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in the United States.

Liu was born into a family of traditional painted sculpture artisans in Jincheng city, north China's Shanxi Province. His father, Liu Huibin, is a master craftsman recognized as a representative inheritor of Jincheng's traditional painted sculpture-making craft, which appears on Shanxi's provincial-level intangible cultural heritage list.

Liu Ziqun, a Chinese artisan born in the 1990s, and his father, a painted sculpture artist, work together on a painted sculpture at Guandi Temple in Linfen city, north China's Shanxi Province. (Photo/Wang Fan)

Growing up watching his father create painted sculptures for temples throughout the region, Liu developed a deep fascination with traditional Chinese art. After completing his postgraduate studies, he returned home to dedicate himself to researching and creating murals and painted sculptures.

In 2015, while enrolled in a professional development program at Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Liu discovered something that would change his mission. Flipping through a foreign-language art book, he encountered mural patterns unlike any he had seen before.

A caption below each image revealed that the mural was housed in a foreign museum, instantly sparking his passionate interest in cultural repatriation through art.

For years following that pivotal encounter, Liu systematically searched official websites of major museums worldwide, hunting for images of lost Chinese murals and painted sculptures. As he discovered pictures of murals that had been crudely restored according to Western aesthetic sensibilities rather than historical accuracy, Liu felt compelled to act. He decided to replicate and restore these precious cultural treasures himself.

The endeavor proved far more challenging than he had anticipated.

Liu Ziqun, a Chinese artisan born in the 1990s, makes natural mineral pigments by hand. (Photo/Wang Fan)

"The painting techniques for intricate details must be inferred through substantial research into materials from the same historical period. They should never be restored based merely on modern assumptions. Only restorations grounded in rigorous historical scholarship can withstand the test of time," Liu explained.

Determined not only to reproduce the original colors of ancient murals using natural mineral pigments but also to correct errors in Western restorations, Liu immersed himself in research. He scoured temples and ancient texts, examining every available source to find evidence for each missing detail.

He studied artworks on paper and silk, cave murals and cliff paintings from corresponding historical periods, and even created mural interpretations of pottery figurines and woodcarvings housed in museums  all to ensure the most authentic restoration possible.

Liu Ziqun, a Chinese artisan born in the 1990s, colors a sculpture. (Photo/Wang Fan)

Creating a mural involves more than 10 intricately connected steps, where the slightest error in any phase can doom the entire project.

After more than 100 failed attempts and countless hours of refinement, Liu finally developed a systematic restoration process that successfully recreates the lost splendor of ancient Chinese murals.

"They may have taken away the murals, but they can never strip us of the skills needed to create them. Generation after generation of artisans in Shanxi can always bring them back to life," Liu said.

"I hope that one day, the murals I have restored can be displayed in their original locations, so I can help bring these lost artworks home," he added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
A month after the Nigerian military dislodged and killed many of its members in Kwara State, a new terror group, Mahmuda, has resurfaced, attacking civilians and destroying local infrastructure and farms.

Multiple sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the terrorists on Tuesday killed two people and three the following day in Duruma Karonzi village of Baruten LGA.

Gory pictures of the bodies were shared with this newspaper.

During their attack on Wednesday afternoon, they also burnt a wooden bridge linking Kaiama town to Duruma Karonzi, a resident of Baruten town said. They have also been setting farms on fire for two weeks.

Another resident of Kaiama corroborated this, believing that the bridge was razed to disrupt reinforcements from Kemanji.

Kemanji is a village in Kaiama LGA where more than 50 operatives of joint forces, including vigilantes and soldiers, have been deployed following a violent attack by the Mahmuda group in April.

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The Mahmuda terrorists

Hiding in the lush forest of Kainji National Park straddling Kwara and Niger States, these terrorists have been exploiting locals, killing and abducting.

READ ALSO: Kwara Gov Abdulrazaq mourns as 37 die in boat crash

Their operations have left tales of horror in places like Babana and Luma in Niger State. In Kwara, the situation is more worrisome in rural communitiesBaabete, Kemanji, Nanu and Tenebo, among others.

The terrorists have killed more than 15 people in Kwara this year.

Some suspected informants of the group were arrested in two different military operations. However, sources said some of them have been released.

The police and the military have not issued statements about the latest incidents.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a 990 trillion pounds suit filed by a claimant, Tunde Omosebi, against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for being incomprehensible.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also held that the suit filed by Mr Omosebi to seek redress over alleged breach of his fundamental rights failed to disclose any reasonable cause of action against CBN and other defendants.

Mr Omotosho, therefore, gave an order restraining Mr Omosebi from filing any suit or process except it is filed by a legal practitioner or accompanied by a medical clearance from the chief medical officer of the National Hospital attesting to his state of mind and sanity.

The judge also gave an order restraining all the registries of the Federal High Court of Nigeria from accepting any process from the claimant for the purpose of filing, except same is done by a legal practitioner or accompanied by a medical clearance from chief medical officer of National Hospital attesting to his state of mind and sanity.

This suit is hereby dismissed for not being a fundamental rights suit, for lack of reasonable cause of action against any of the defendants and for being incomprehensible, he declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Omosebi had, in the originating motion, sued the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, as 1st defendant.

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He also joined the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc, respectively, as the 2nd to 4th defendants.

Mr Omosebi equally sued the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, as the 5th to 6th defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/766/2024.

In the originating motion dated 5 June 2024, but filed on 29 January, the claimant sought six reliefs.

Mr Omosebi prayed that an order be entered for the sum of 990 trillion pounds for traumatic torture and Enforcement of Fundamental Rights Rule, 2009 as guaranteed by the Constitution.

An order be entered that converts CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA to RESERVE BANK OF NIGERIA as guaranteed under SEC 212 of CRIMINAL CODE OF NIGERIA BANKS.

He also sought 10 per cent interest on the total recoverable amount and N5 million cost of suit.

The claimant, in the course of proceedings, joined more defendants in his suit without the leave of court.

Mr Omosebi, who referred to himself as His Majesty, a businessman and a politician in the statement attached to the application, also said he was the Chairman, Federal Executive Council, and Prime Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said he gets paid based on his role, projects and contracts executed by his businesses, investments portfolio as contained in the corporate resolution.

At the trial of this suit, the applicant shall rely on the terms of the corporate resolution and schedule of distribution, he said.

Mr Omosebi alleged that the defendants breached the assembly industrial agreement/arrangement, denied his Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rule 2009, Sections 35, 43, 45 and Fundamental Objectives and Directives of State Policy 14(2)(b) and 16(1)(a-b).

According to him, approximately four years ago, the applicant opened and operated a few corporate and personal accounts with Defendant 2 with the aim of managing these finances per the constitution.

In a preliminary objection by the CBN governors lawyer, Favour Maikano, the lawyer argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter as the claimant had failed to disclose cause of action against her client.

She said the suit was bereft of facts, hence, it was incompetent.

The UBA, GTB, Zenith Bank, Senate President and the House speaker, in their respective submissions, urged the court to dismiss the suit for failure to disclose a cause of action against them.

They argued that the claimant lacked the locus standi to sustain the action for the failure to disclose cause or reasonable cause of action against them.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho held that two issues for determination are whether the suit is competent or not and whether it discloses any reasonable cause of action.

He said in considering whether the claims of the plaintiff fell within Chapter 4 of the Constitution, the court looked critically at the reliefs to decipher if it really constituted fundamental right breach or not.

This court painstakingly read the reliefs and all the processes of the plaintiff and the more the court read, the more the court became confused as to what exactly the plaintiff was claiming.

There is no mention of the financial irregularities committed by the banks sued as defendants, including 1st defendant.

There is also no ground made out for the order to convert the first defendant to the Reserve Bank of Nigeria, neither is there anything to show why the other banks should be converted to DRIG Bank with the Corporate Affairs Commission, he said.

He said the court thoroughly researched the meaning of DRIG Bank without any result.

The court also researched if there was any legislation like Criminal Code of Nigeria Banks.

It is clear that these reliefs do not relate to breach of fundamental rights.

Thus, this suit is incompetent as constituted, as the claims and processes of the plaintiff do not make out a case for breach of fundamental rights, he said.

Looking at the second issue, the judge observed that a reasonable cause of action is a claim with some chances of success.

According to him, it does not connote a watertight claim but one which when considered critically raises some legal questions for the court to answer.

Usually, courts do not bother themselves with academic suits, but on cogent and reasonable suits.

Where the cause of action is unreasonable, the court automatically loses its jurisdiction, he said.

The judge said a look at Mr Omosebis processes revealed he suffered no injury as a result of the CBNs actions.

There is nothing to show that the monetary policy of the 1st defendant affected him in any way.

He has also not disclosed if his money was misappropriated by any of the defendants.

The suit as a whole is simply a figment of the plaintiffs imagination.

The entire processes are incomprehensible as it does not link any of the defendants to him in anyway, he said.

Besides, Justice Omotosho held that Mr Omosebi also failed to provide any evidence to establish that he indeed operated corporate and personal accounts with the defendants.

Also, he did not place before the court how the defendants denied him access to the accounts. There is clearly no cause of action disclosed by the plaintiff against any of the defendants, he said.

Commenting on Mr Omosebis behaviour, the judge said he observed that the plaintiff filed the suit on 5 June 2024 with only seven defendants and six reliefs.

On July 10, 2024 the plaintiff filed a motion on notice where he added the Corporate Affairs Commission as 8th defendant and sought for nine reliefs without the leave of court.

Subsequently, on November 17, 2024, the plaintiff filed a motion ex-parte where the defendants became 57 in number, including all the airlines operating in Nigeria, and further increased the reliefs to 19 from the original six reliefs, he said

According to the judge, the plaintiff is simply trying to turn the rules of the court on its head through his confused and absurd amendment which are made without seeking leave of court to do so.

I observed that the plaintiff is not in the right frame of mind as expected of a reasonable person.

He is psychologically imbalanced and not fit to present his case, if any, in court.

This court is a place of serious business and has no time to entertain frivolous and confusing suits.

The time of this court is very precious, and its docket is full of serious cases.

This court will therefore not waste any of its judicial time on a frankly incomprehensible suit filed by the plaintiff, the judge said.

Justice Omotosho also observed that Mr Omosebi, in another suit filed against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others, equally exhibited the same behaviour.

He said he observed that in the suit, he listed the address of the former vice president to be National Assembly Complex, even when Atiku had never been a lawmaker.

The applicant claimed to be the Chairman of the Federal Executive Council as well as Prime Minister of Nigeria.

It is common knowledge that the chairman of the Federal Executive Council is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which at this moment is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Furthermore, Nigeria does not have Prime Minister, thus the applicant is occupying a nonexistent position, he said.

Justice Omotosho described the act as a typical somersault which the applicant has become notorious for.

This plaintiff must be prevented from filing these frivolous suits except he can present a certificate showing that he is psychologically normal or if he files through a verified legal practitioner, the judge said.

NAN observes that after the judge delivered the judgement, two senior advocates, who were in court for another matter, commented on the development.

Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN, in his reaction, said he had never seen such a case before.

It gives me a reminder of Onitsha Market literature we read when we were small.

I thank my lord for taking time to read through this trash, he said.

Mr Ezechukwu, however, hailed the decision of the judge to bar Mr Omosebi from further instituting suits personally any longer.

Sanusi Musa said he would have called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take action against the lawyer who filed the suit if it were a legal practitioner.

I was thinking, who is this that filed this suit.

This, however, calls for action that a fellow Nigerian is sick and lacks family support.

He is coming to ask before my lord the money that is more that the budget of Nigeria, he said.

Mr Musa, however, suggested that the suit be sent to the National Assembly as a case study on the need to amend the nations law to guard against the filing of frivolous cases.

It serves as a case of retrospection as this suit should be sent to National Assembly for them to know that the law needs to be amended so that no nonsense suit is brought to the court, looking at the time my lord took to study and write the judgment, he said.

(NAN)

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The Niger State Government has cancelled the Hawan Bariki, Durbar, and other large-scale Eid-el-Kabir festivities across the state.

The directive was issued by Governor Mohammed Bago, who described the disaster as one of the most catastrophic in recent history.

The disaster caused a significant loss of lives, widespread displacement, and destruction of homes, farmlands, and public infrastructure.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, said the decision was made to honour the memory of those affected and to observe the Sallah period in quiet reflection, mourning, and prayer.

The government deems it necessary to scale down all Sallah activities across the eight Emirates as a mark of respect to the victims and to stand in solidarity with the affected communities, the statement read.

Governor Bago further urged citizens to remember the deceased in their prayers and extend acts of compassion and support to those who are currently grappling with the aftermath of the disaster.

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The flood, which ravaged several villages and overwhelmed farmlands, has been described by emergency responders as one of the worst in decades. Relief efforts are ongoing, and the state government has pledged to support displaced persons and begin reconstruction efforts in affected areas.

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The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, is to chair the public presentation of the book Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspective on Online Publishing, a publication of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

The event is scheduled for 10am on Tuesday June 17, 2025 at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.

President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, who confirmed this development said the book presentation will be graced by eminent personalities from all walks of life, including government officials, captains of industry, media practitioners and other professionals, representatives of international organisations, directors of non-governmental organisations.

Mr Idris was sworn in as Minister of Information and National Orientation on August 21, 2023, following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With over three decades of experience in broadcasting, newspapering, public relations, and advertising, Mr Idris has brought a wealth of expertise to the role.

His academic background includes degrees in English Studies from Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, and Bayero University, Kano. As an entrepreneur, he established notable media outlets such as Blueprint, WE FM radio station, and Rapid Television in Abuja. He is a prominent figure in professional associations such as National Institute of Public Relations, African Public Relations Association, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.

As the founder of Bifocal Communications, a leading public relations and communications consultancy, Mr Idris has served both local and transnational corporations.

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Beyond his professional endeavours, Mr Idris is committed to social responsibility through the Mohammed Idris Malagi (MIM) Foundation, which has positively impacted many lives. As a reward for his contributions to the development of his immediate environment and beyond, The Etsu Nupe conferred Kaakaki Nupe on him.

A press statement by the GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Remmy Nweke, quoted the GOCOP president as saying that the proceeds of the book will be used to fund the N2.3 billion GOCOP MEDIA CENTRE, a multi-purpose resource centre comprising a secretariat, a 21st Century library and event halls, among others.

Mr Nweke further noted that the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) was established to promote professionalism in online publishing, ensuring its members uphold the fundamental principles of journalism.

Comprising seasoned editors and senior journalists with distinguished career in print and electronic media, GOCOPs membership has traversed the online publishing, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the future of journalism globally. With 120 corporate publishers as members, GOCOP continues to uphold the highest standards of online journalism.

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The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, sentenced eight Filipino nationals to one year in prison each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The judge, Alexander Owoeye, gave the verdict after the defendants pleaded guilty to separate one-count charges filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charges bordered on possession of fraudulent documents and involvement in cybercrime.

The convicted persons are: Beverlyn Casino, Mae Eribal, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, Jamal Polea, Tricia Castro, Rai Camara, Cherry De Leon, and Danica Jarapan.

Charges

According to the EFCC, the defendants were found to possess electronic messages and documents containing false identities and fraudulent claims.

In one of the counts, Ms Casino was accused of willfully accessing computer systems intended to destabilise Nigerias economic and social structures.

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She allegedly procured Nigerian youths to engage in identity theft, posing as foreigners for financial gain.

The offence violated Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

All eight defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them in court.

Following their pleas, the Prosecution Counsel N.K. Ukoha urged the court to convict them as charged.

Judgement

Delivering the judgement, Mr Owoeye sentenced each convict to one-year imprisonment, with an option of a N1 million fine.

The judge also ordered the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure the deportation of the convicts to the Philippines within seven days of completing their prison terms.

Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of all digital devices recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Background

The eight Filipinos were among 792 suspects, including 158 foreign nationals, arrested during a massive EFCC raid on 10 December 2024 at No. 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The anti-graft agency described it as the largest single-day cybercrime operation in history.

The suspects were allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment scams, romance fraud, and identity theft, targeting both Nigerians and foreign victims.

In a separate but related proceeding, Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court had convicted another set of 12 Filipinos who also pleaded guilty to similar offences under a plea bargain arrangement.

Those convicted by Mr Bogoro included Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, Lari Jane Tayag, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonalyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, Jonalyn Mendoza, and Mary Grace De La Cruz (also listed in the group convicted by Mr Owoeye, suggesting possible overlap).

Each was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an N1 million fine and ordered to be deported after serving their sentence. Their digital devices were also forfeited to the Nigerian government.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the suspects were part of a transnational cybercrime syndicate from Lagos, using advanced technology and social engineering to defraud victims globally.

Ongoing trials

Meanwhile, at least four other Filipino nationals arrested during the December 2024 raid  Marj Maranga, Zara Fabian, Dominique Medina, and Rachelle Cabalona  have pleaded not guilty and are currently facing trial.

The EFCC says it will continue prosecuting those not covered by plea agreements while strengthening cooperation with foreign missions to ensure justice and international accountability.

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The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works to appear before it on 18 June over allegations of fraud, abuse of power, and the victimisation of a whistleblower within the ministry.

The summons follows a petition with reference number 626 of 2025, filed by a law firm, Liberty Semper Fidelis LP, on behalf of Martins Atijegbe, a staff member in the ministrys Department of Resources Management.

The invitation was shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, though it was received by the Office of the Permanent Secretary on 28 May.

In the petition, Mr Atijegbe accused senior ministry officials of orchestrating a fraudulent employment scheme involving fake appointment letters and the unlawful inclusion of unqualified individuals in the federal governments payroll through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

He also said Mr Atijegbe came under threat and sustained acts of victimisation after exposing the alleged racket at the ministrys headquarters in Mabushi District of Abuja.

The petitioner called for an investigation into what he describes as an institutional cover-up and retaliatory actions against him.

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Committee responds

In a letter dated 23 May, the committee directed the permanent secretary to submit one soft copy and 10 hard copies of the ministrys written response ahead of the hearing, which is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on 18 June, in Room 429 (New Wing) of the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

You are hereby required to take notice of Sections 88 and 89(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and appear in person before this Committee, Michael Irom, the chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, said.

Background to the petition

Mr Atijegbe said he uncovered in 2019 that several new recruits had presented forged appointment letters.

He claimed to have raised the alarm with senior officials, including then-Minister Babatunde Fashola.

Although a committee was set up to investigate the matter, Mr Atijegbe alleged that the panel instead turned on him, ultimately recommending his dismissal despite the evidence he submitted.

He further alleged that one of the individuals implicated in the fraudulent recruitment scheme accused him of sexual harassment and extortiona move he described as retaliatory.

He denied all allegations, and the attached documents reportedly show that he was the only staff member sanctioned, while those involved in the fraud faced no disciplinary action.

Frustrated by the internal handling of the matter, Mr Atijegbe said he submitted petitions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), and the Minister of Labour.

However, he claimed none of these agencies took decisive action.

Mr Atijegbes petition comes against ongoing probes into job racketeering in federal ministries.

Recently, the ICPC began the trial of two public officials over a N12 million employment scam involving fake appointment letters in another agency.

In 2022, he was invited to a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, but the process was cut short following the expiration of the Ninth Senate in 2023.

Further allegations

Mr Atijegbe also accused officers of the Anti-Vice Unit of the FCT Police Command of extorting N50,000 from him while they were investigating his report of threats to his life.

He identified a certain Yahaya Njayo, a senior police officer, and others as the recipients.

Despite further petitions to the Police Service Commission and other authorities, he said no disciplinary action followed.

He claimed the Ministry of Works has since transferred him to a field office in Gwagwalada, denied him two promotion opportunities, and excluded him from senior staff evaluation panels.

He also faced ongoing disciplinary action for alleged breach of official secrecy and criminal intimidation for hiring legal representation.

Demands before the House

In his petition, Mr Atijegbe urged the House to direct the Ministry of Works to issue a public apology and clear him of all allegations.

He requested the ministry to halt all ongoing or planned disciplinary proceedings against him.

He asked the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to approve a notional promotion effective January 2023 and release all outstanding entitlements.

He called on the House to establish an ad-hoc committee to investigate employment racketeering from 2019 to date.

He requested the House to probe the original investigative panel for allegedly shielding corrupt officials.

He demanded that the House ensure protection for whistleblowers and fast-track the passage of the whistleblower protection bill.

He called on the House to summon anti-corruption and police agencies to explain their inaction on his complaints.

He requested the lower chamber to compel the release of certified documents needed for his defence before its relevant committees.

Some groups, including the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), have repeatedly warned that the absence of a legal framework leaves whistleblowers vulnerable to retaliation and undermines the governments anti-corruption efforts.

We believe in the ability of the House of Representatives to ensure that justice is done, his lawyers wrote in the petition.

The ministry has yet to respond to the invitation as of press time.

PETITION TO HOUSE OF REPS

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An outbreak of diphtheria has been confirmed in Edo State, resulting in two fatalities.

The State Commissioner for Health, Cyril Oshiomhole, made this known on Tuesday in Benin during an emergency response meeting.

The action follows confirmation from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital of five diphtheria cases, including the two deaths.

The emergency meeting included representatives from WHO, UNICEF, local health bodies, and key partners tackling the unfolding public health threat.

Mr Oshiomhole described the outbreak as a serious cause for concern, warning of the infections potential severity if not treated quickly.

He noted that diphtheria, a contagious bacterial infection affecting the nose and throat, could cause severe complications or death.

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The increase in cases, combined with rising threats like drug resistance and viral infections, demands urgent, coordinated efforts, he said.

He outlined key strategies, including deploying a rapid response team, improving coordination, and boosting surveillance and contact tracing.

Other priorities include raising public awareness, engaging communities, and ensuring vaccine availability and access.

The commissioner praised UBTH for its swift response and acknowledged ongoing support from health partners.

He assured the public of the state governments commitment to containing the outbreak.

READ ALSO: Lagos records 10 confirmed Diphtheria cases in three months

Citizens are advised to report symptoms early  such as sore throat, fever, or breathing difficulty  and to avoid close contact with sick individuals.

He also urged people to stay calm but alert. This is not a time to panic, but to prepare, inform, and act responsibly, he added.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently repair the critical Mokwa bridge in Niger State, which was recently destroyed by a devastating flood.

The bridges collapse has cut off a vital transit route connecting Nigerias northern and southern regions, triggering national concern.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, disclosed the directive on Tuesday during a condolence visit to the flood-ravaged Mokwa community.

He said the visit was a direct instruction from President Tinubu, who expressed deep sympathy for the disaster victims and emphasised the strategic importance of restoring vehicular access across the damaged bridge.

In his directives, the President was very cleareverything possible must be done to restore the damaged bridge and create access roads for the movement of articulated vehicles and other road users, Mr Goronyo told the community during a meeting with the traditional ruler, Mohammed Aliyu, the Ndalila of Mokwa.

Responding, Mr Aliyu confirmed the scale of destruction and called for government intervention in resettling displaced persons. Many people are still unaccounted for, he said.

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Niger States Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, who was also present during the visit, expressed appreciation for the federal governments swift response.

We thank President Tinubu for not only sending a high-level delegation but also for the commitment to restoring this critical infrastructure, he said.

Mr Goronyo reaffirmed the ministrys commitment to intensifying infrastructure projects across the country, noting Niger States unique position as a major transit corridor linking the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Nigerian lawmaker donates to Niger flood victims

The Mokwa Bridge is a major artery in Nigerias national road network. Its destruction has disrupted economic activities and left commuters stranded for days.

The federal governments swift intervention is expected to ease transportation and restore livelihoods in the affected areas.

It could be recalled that the flood, which occurred on 29 May, claimed at least 158 lives, destroyed over 200 homes, and washed away four bridges, including a rail bridge and the major road bridge that serves as a lifeline between the countrys two regions.

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Over 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims performing the 2025 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia will converge in Mina on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the annual Hajj. Pilgrims gather there to perform crucial rites that make the city the focal point of the pilgrimage.

Hajj is one of Islams five pillars and a mandatory spiritual journey for every able-bodied person who can afford it. Muslims aspire to undertake this journey at least once in their lifetime. As part of this spiritual pilgrimage, the pilgrims visit many sacred sites, including Mina.

Mina is a sacred place connected to Islamic history and the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Muslim teachings state that Mina was where Allah tested Prophet Ibrahim by asking him to sacrifice his son, Ismail. His complete devotion and obedience are honoured during Hajj through the religious practice of Qurbani, or animal sacrifice.

Islamic teachings mandate that specific religious practices and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) be followed throughout Hajj, including in Mina.

Dubbed the worlds largest tent city, Mina is located in a small valley five kilometres east of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The landscape is dominated by vast arrays of white tents specifically designed to accommodate the multitudes of pilgrims.

According to the Saudi Gazette, the tent city accommodates more than 2.6 million pilgrims and handles the enormous influx of visitors smoothly and efficiently. The site has extensive networks of roads, bridges, and tunnels for the movement of pilgrims between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifahall major sites of the Hajj ritual.

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What happens in Mina?

The rituals performed in Mina, known as Ibadat, are integral to the Hajj pilgrimage. They include the stoning of the devil ritual known as Ramy al-Jamarat. This ritual commemorates how the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) refused Satans temptations to disobey when Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son.

During the stoning ritual, pilgrims stone three pillars to show they oppose evil while dedicating themselves to Allahs divine commandments.

Pilgrims conduct the Qurbani with animal sacrifices. The religious ceremonies in Mina represent fundamental Islamic values of faith, obedience and sacrifice.

In Mina, pilgrims also pray and supplicate while reciting the Quran to seek Allahs mercy and forgiveness. After finishing Minas rituals, they return to Makkah to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah, which constitutes an essential part of the Hajj.

Why is Mina important during Hajj?

Mina is the location for multiple religious rituals essential for pilgrims. Pilgrims understand Minas significance through participating in the stoning of the devil (Ramy al-Jamarat) for three days, which represents their rejection of evil and their commitment to Allahs faith.

Hajj pilgrims stay in Mina for three nights between the 8th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah.

The pilgrimage starts on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah when pilgrims travel to Mina after completing Tawaf al-Qudum in Makkah. Pilgrims dedicate their day to prayer and preparing for the other ceremonies.

On Day 2 (9th Dhul-HijjahYaum al-Arafah), pilgrims move from Mina to Arafat for a day of supplication and reflection. After sunset, they head to Muzdalifah and return to Mina the next morning.

On Day 3 (10th Dhul-Hijjah), the ritual of stoning the biggest pillar (Jamarat al-Aqabah) and the Qurbani sacrifice take place. The completion of these major Hajj rituals is marked by hair shaving for men and trimming for women.

During day 4 (11th Dhul-Hijjah), pilgrims continue stoning the pillar at the three sites before going to Mina for prayer and contemplation. Pilgrims can depart from Mina at sunset on the 11th of Dhul-Hijjah.

While in Mina, Saudi Arabian authorities urged pilgrims to remain within their designated tents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to prevent heat exhaustion, citing the high temperatures expected on the Day of Arafat.

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, warned that random group walking poses a significant threat to the flow of crowds and the safety of pilgrims.

The minister spoke while meeting the heads of Hajj missions from various countries, including Nigeria, on the sidelines of the 49th Grand Hajj Symposium, which concluded in Jeddah on Sunday.

The minister emphasised the importance of using designated transportation from Arafat to Muzdalifah rather than walking. He stressed that dispatch and transport plans are essential for organising crowd movement and guaranteeing safety, deeming adherence a collective responsibility.

Additional information from the Saudi Gazette and Superb Hajj & Umrah

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Chinedu Solomon Ezedike, demolishes, properties, Enugu State, South-east

The Enugu State Government has demolished properties of a prophet who allegedly killed four siblings in Enugu State, Nigerias South-east.

The prophet, Chinedu Ezedike, allegedly used a pestle to kill the four siblings.

The incident happened on 16 May at Ibagwa-Aka, a community in the Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The slain siblings were Kamsiyochukwu Ezema, Ezinne Ezema, Ujunwa Ezema, and Chinedu Ezema.

The siblings, aged between seven and two years, were three girls and a boy.

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The prophet, now in police custody, allegedly colluded with other suspects, still at large, to commit the crime, PREMIUM TIMES gathered.

Demolition of properties

On Monday, the Enugu State Government demolished the prophets properties in the community.

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the state governor, Peter Mbah, authorised the demolition of the property.

The Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area Chairperson, Ferdinand Ukwueze, confirmed the demolition in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

We stood with the good people of Ibagwa-Aka as we demolished the stronghold of Prophet Chinedu Solomon Ezedike, who is linked to the heartbreaking murder of four innocent siblings, Mr Ukwueze, a lawyer, wrote.

This is a clear message from the administration of His Excellency Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah that criminals have no hiding place in Enugu State!

The chairperson uploaded a video clip showing some of the prophets properties being demolished on his Facebook page.

The clip showed a jubilant crowd of villagers drumming and dancing while the properties were being demolished.

Mr Ukwueze was seen in the clip addressing the villagers after the demolition.

You remember I said the last time you visited the council headquarters in protest over what happened that a great tragedy had happened in our land, he told the crowd in Igbo language, referring to the killing of the four siblings.

The chairperson commended them for their support and cooperation with authorities in the council area, assuring that Peter Mbahs administration was committed to fighting criminality in the area.

The process of solving the issues of crime of this nature in our local government has just begun, he said.

The demolished properties

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the properties demolished by the state government were the prophets residence, his church building, and a hotel facility

Others were a spiritual temple and fleets of cars  all within the Ibagwa-Aka Community.

Before now, the Enugu State Government has been demolishing properties linked to kidnapping and violent crimes in the state.

According to the state government, the demolition of such properties was backed by Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State 2017.

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Henan advances high-quality development through real economy

10:31, June 04, 2025 By Wang Lewen, Fang Min, Bi Jingjin ( People's Daily

A worker checks the quality of titanium products in a workshop of Luoyang Hexin Titanium Co., Ltd. in central China's Henan province. (Photo by Zhang Yixi/People's Daily Online)

In the heart of central China, Henan province has made significant strides toward high-quality development, anchored firmly in the real economy. From major industrial hubs to advanced infrastructure projects, the province's development momentum is palpable across the central plains.

At a construction site in Luoyang, the second phase of Chinese battery giant CATL's facility is rapidly taking shape, with tower cranes punctuating the skyline. Meanwhile, in the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, the hum of machinery fills the air as construction activities intensify to establish the Central China Medical Science District.

Henan has prioritized the real economy as the cornerstone of its economic strategy. By leveraging project development as a principal mechanism, the province has actively expanded effective investment and invigorated the drivers for stabilizing economic growth.

In 2024, Henan launched 16,800 major projects across various stages of development, encompassing contract signing, groundbreaking ceremonies, and production commencements. Among them, 9,718 projects pertain to advanced manufacturing. Key indicators, including fixed-asset and industrial investment, outpaced the Chinese national average, underscoring the province's economic momentum.

In the assembly workshop of CITIC Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in Luoyang, central China's Henan province, workers are assembling mine hoist sheaves and other mining equipment bound for overseas markets. (Photo by Huang Zhengwei/People's Daily Online)

In Mengzhuang township, Huixian, construction is underway on a smart logistics hub for Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com. Two large warehouses have been completed, the main building has reached structural completion, and other auxiliary facilities are advancing at a steady pace.

With a total investment of over 600 million yuan ($83.32 million), the project encompasses six centers, two bases, and one headquarters. Construction commenced in 2024, with some facilities already operational, generating thousands of jobs.

"We are striking a balance between quick wins and long-term vision," said Tian Dongfang, director of the township's economic development office. "Our goal is to build a comprehensive logistics hub for northern Henan, with massive growth potential."

This equilibrium between short-term accomplishments and forward-looking planning underpins Henan's confidence in its development trajectory. The province maintains a strategic approach in the formulation and preparation of major projects.

"Henan always keeps a strong pipeline of major projects across key sectors. We maintain a reserve of at least 100 high-quality projects, revising the list every six months based on evolving needs," explained an official with the Development and Reform Commission of Henan Province.

The province has released its list of key construction projects for 2025, identifying 1,037 provincial-level projects with a combined investment of around 3.1 trillion yuan. It aims to complete investments totaling approximately 1 trillion yuan within the year.

Henan is also capitalizing on its intrinsic advantages to reinforce its development strengths. With a well-established industrial base, the province successfully attracted Chinese automaker SAIC Motor to build a new energy battery plant in Zhengzhou. Concurrently, the province is expediting the development of a 10-billion-yuan food industrial park in Luohe's Yancheng district, harnessing its abundant agricultural resources.

Innovation, infrastructure enhancement, and industrial transformation remain central to Henan's priorities. The province targets the production of 2 million vehicles in 2025, including 1.4 million new energy vehicles. Meanwhile, it is accelerating construction of major projects such as an ethylene production facility and a fluorosilicon materials complex in Luohe, alongside critical infrastructure projects including the Yellow River Crossing Project and Phase I project at Zhoukou Central Port.

While expanding its overall economic scale, Henan equally emphasizes the qualitative aspects of growth. By upgrading project structures, the province is elevating the standard of industrial development.

Tractors are assembled in a workshop of YTO Group Corporation, an agricultural machinery supplier based in Luoyang, central China's Henan province. (Photo by Zhang Yixi/People's Daily Online)

At Zhengzhou Hengda Intelligent Control Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer specializing in smart control systems for coal mining operations, research personnel now outnumber production workers by a ratio of five to one, resulting in a 67 percent increase in per capita productivity.

The company faced constraints such as limited growth capacity and low automation levels. To facilitate its development, the Zhengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone designated the construction of a new facility for Hengda Intelligent Control as a key advanced manufacturing project, providing strong policy support and logistical facilitation.

"With more automated and digitalized equipment, we've been able to deploy our workforce toward research, development and services," said Lian Donghui, general manager assistant of the company.

"When planning and executing projects, our primary focus remains industrial development," said Chen Bo, director of the Henan provincial government's office for key project construction.

According to Chen, a single major project can serve as a catalyst for new growth, while a cluster of such projects can establish a new economic growth pole. The province actively encourages upstream and downstream businesses to co-locate in proximity to core projects, thereby accelerating cluster-based industrial development.

In Luoyang's Yibin district, a white freight truck loaded with new energy batteries departed the Phase I facility of CATL's Luoyang base. This flagship project has attracted nine affiliated enterprises along the industrial chain, which have signed agreements to establish operations in the vicinity. As a result, a large-scale new energy battery industrial cluster, with an expected output value of over 100 billion yuan, is rapidly emerging in the city.

High-quality, large-scale projects are providing a firm foundation for Henan's efforts to stabilize growth, improve its economic structure, and foster new growth drivers. In 2024, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size in the province rose 8.1 percent year on year. Fixed-asset investment grew 7 percent, while the value added of strategic emerging industries and high-tech manufacturing increased by 9.2 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has raised concerns over the reliability of Nigerias current maternal mortality statistics, questioning how such data is obtained without adequate post-mortem investigations.

During the NIMRs monthly media briefing on Tuesday, the institute called for a national maternal mortality audit that includes mandatory autopsies for all maternal deaths in Nigeria to generate reliable data on the causes of maternal mortality and improve government response to the crisis.

In his remarks, NIMRs Director-General, Oladapo Obafunwa, observed that most deaths are under-reported or misclassified, particularly because they are not properly investigated.

Mr Obafunwa, a Forensic Pathology and Consultant Pathologist professor, emphasised the need for a nationwide coronial law.

How exactly did we arrive at the maternal mortality statistics that Nigeria has today? he asked. We need a nationwide coronial law that mandates autopsies in such cases. Without proper investigations, we are only scratching the surface.

As of 2023, Nigeria records an estimated 993 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest rates globally.

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According to the World Bank, Nigeria accounts for about 20 per cent of global maternal deaths. The most reported cause is severe bleeding (hemorrhage) during or after childbirth.

Gaps in data

Mr Obafunwa emphasised that Nigerias maternal death figures are often obtained from tertiary facilities that handle the most severe cases.

He warned that this gives a misleading picture of the situation, excluding deaths that occur in secondary and primary healthcare centres or under the care of traditional birth attendants.

He recounted his involvement in drafting the Lagos State Coroners Law in 2005, which made maternal deaths reportable and subject to autopsies. However, he lamented that such laws are not replicated nationwide, leaving most maternal deaths undocumented and unexplained.

In his comments, the Director of Research at NIMR, Oliver Ezechi, and a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist noted that most maternal deaths are sudden and qualify under medical law for autopsy.

Mr Ezechi highlighted the value of autopsy findings in identifying missed diagnoses.

I remember cases where we all thought a woman died of pre-eclampsia, only for the pathologist to reveal it was actually an amniotic fluid embolism, a diagnosis we couldnt have made without an autopsy. Those reviews were not to blame anyone but to learn. Lessons learned saved lives, he said.

According to Mr Ezechi, a proper audit would bring together pathologists, obstetricians, and other healthcare professionals to collectively establish the cause of each maternal death, draw actionable insights, and prevent future occurrences.

Globally, the three leading causes of maternal death are bleeding, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and infection. So, the question is, why are our figures so much worse if were dealing with the same causes? he asked.

National effort needed

They agreed that reducing maternal deaths requires a joint national effort, not just from the government but also from the private sector.

They urged the Federal Ministry of Health to bring back routine past policies requiring the investigation of every maternal death in hospitals through a non-punitive, transparent review process.

This is not about blaming doctors or nurses. Its about understanding what went wrong so we can fix it. Hiding the facts helps no one, Mr Ezechi said.

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The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research(NIMR) has conducted a mass drug administration of Azithromycin to over four million children in the country, as part of a major study aimed at tackling child mortality.

The study, known as Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Nigeria (SARMAAN), targets children aged one to 11 months in communities with high infant mortality rates.

Presenting findings from the project on Tuesday during a media briefing, the NIMRs Director of Research and principal investigator for the SARMAAN project, Oliver Ezechi, said the first phase (SARMAAN I) was conducted across six states: Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Abia, and Akwa Ibom.

Mr Ezechi, a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist, noted that the intervention aims to reduce Nigerias under-five death rate, which remains among the highest in the world, by testing the safety and effectiveness of giving Azithromycin routinely to infants in high-risk communities.

He added that the study also monitored potential antimicrobial resistance (AMR) linked to the repeated use of the antibiotic.

This project is about using evidence to drive solutions to one of our most pressing public health challenges, child survival, he said.

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Why Azithromycin?

Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic primarily known to treat bacterial infections.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends its periodic use in high-risk regions as part of integrated child survival strategies, particularly where infant mortality exceeds 60 per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality exceeds 80 per 1,000.

However, concerns about AMR remain in countries like Nigeria. Mr Ezechi explained that SARMAAN I directly addressed these concerns through NIMRs data collection on AMR trends.

Over three cycles of population-based AMR testing, the resistance rates declined from 41.1 per cent in cycle one to 26.5 per cent in cycle three, countering fears that mass drug administration would exacerbate AMR.

Mr Ezechis presentation showed that NIMR recorded an impressive coverage per state, with Akwa Ibom achieving the highest with 99 per cent, Kebbi, Sokoto and Abia states at 97 per cent respectively, followed by Kano and Jigawa at 94 and 94 per cent respectively.

He admitted that one of the key drivers of success was early engagement with traditional and religious leaders.

Safety concerns, next phase

The director also noted that the safety profile was positive, with 98 per cent of treated children having no adverse effects, and only two per cent reported vomiting and passage of stool.

Mr Ezechi noted that with the outcomes from SARMAAN I, the Nigerian government, through NIMR, has initiated SARMAAN II, expanding the target age from one to 11 months to one to 59 months.

This phase will involve over nine million children in seven states: Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Bauchi.

Achievements, Challenges

Beyond the successful drug administration, researchers say the project has facilitated progress in Nigerias efforts to reduce child mortality.

Speaking on the key achievements of SARMAAN, Abideen Salako, a Research Fellow and Consultant Paediatrician at NIMR, said the initiative has helped establish that mass azithromycin administration is safe and does not exacerbate antimicrobial resistance.

So far, over 3.5 million doses of azithromycin have been administered to children across 96 local government areas in eight states under both SARMAAN I and II phases.

Mr Salako noted that the programme also demonstrated strong community acceptance, fostered state-level ownership, and created direct and indirect employment opportunities for Nigerians involved in implementation.

One major obstacle, according to Folahanmi Akinosolu another research fellow at NIMR, is the poor recognition of the role research plays in national development.

Mr Akinosolu, who is a Public Health specialist, explained that some states initially refused to participate even after identifying a high disease prevalence.

We had to return to the same policymakers up to six times to advocate before they agreed, he said.

The research team also faced weak infrastructure, security concerns, especially in areas deemed unsafe for fieldwork and human resource constraints.

We had to transport biological samples from northern states to Lagos because local labs were not well-equipped, said Mr Salako. This not only increased costs but also delayed results.

About the research team

The SARMAAN project is spearheaded by NIMRs Centre for Reproductive and Population Health Studies (CRePHS), led by Mr Ezechi.

The centre works in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and partners like Sightsavers, eHealth Africa, Malaria Consortium, and Corona Management Systems.

CRePHSs broader work spans HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer, and reproductive health.

Mr Ezechi also noted that the centre has other programmes, including a capacity-building initiative for young researchers called Emory-Nigeria HIV Research Training Programme.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has stressed the need for stronger collaboration between West African governments and the private sector to boost regional competitiveness.

Mr Tuggar made the call on Wednesday during a high-level private sector roundtable in Lagos, ahead of the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundabout is with the theme United Voice: The Power of Private Sector Participation in the West African Economic Summit.

The gathering, which brought together industry leaders and CEOs from across the region, was described as a definitive shift in policy engagement, not just a preparatory event.

The private sector is not peripheral, but central to economic governance, Mr Tuggar said, stressing its vital role in shaping West Africas future prosperity.

His comments reflect broader continental goals, particularly those of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to unite Africas markets and enhance global competitiveness.

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Mr Tuggar warned that in spite of Nigerias position as Africas largest economy, national strength alone cannot guarantee long-term growth or regional leadership.

In todays interconnected world, West Africa must move beyond national interests to embrace deeper regional integration, he stated.

The minister pointed to West Africas significant population of over 400 million, one of the fastest-growing and youngest regions globally.

He said this demographic advantage, if properly harnessed, could power inclusive and sustained economic development.

However, he noted a major gap: intra-African trade forms only 15 per cent of total trade, with West Africa trailing at just 1213 per cent.

By contrast, intra-regional trade in the European Union often exceeds 60 per cent, while Asia is also far ahead.

This gap reflects not a lack of potential, but issues like poor coordination, weak infrastructure, and limited political will, he explained.

He cited non-tariff barriers, customs delays, and inadequate transport as major challenges restricting the free movement of goods and services.

Mr Tuggar outlined key regional projects with strong potential for private sector involvement.

These include the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), which aims to ease goods and labour movement within the region.

He also noted the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor highway, connecting five countries to boost trade and regional integration.

Additionally, he highlighted the West African Power Pool (WAPP), aimed at delivering reliable and affordable electricity across the region.

He stressed that these projects need substantial private investment and technical know-how to be successful.

Mr Tuggar also spoke of a new Atlantic era, urging West Africa to help shape global trade systems that previously excluded the region.

We are entering an Atlantic era where West Africa wont just supply resources but take an active role in global prosperity, he said.

The WAES, taking place from 20 t0 21 June in Abuja, is fully supported by President Bola Tinubu and fellow West African leaders.

It aims to shift the region from raw exports to production, fostering value chains and building bigger, more attractive markets.

Governments do not build economies alone. Its your investments, innovation, and networks that drive growth, Mr Tuggar told the business leaders.

He encouraged them to propose solutions to trade obstacles, regulatory issues, funding gaps, and policy reforms to boost private sector involvement.

WAES is not another talk shop. Its about results  making West African business faster, cheaper, and more predictable, he assured participants.

Mr Tuggar called for sustained collaboration beyond the summit, promising that private sector input will shape both structure and outcomes.

Unstructured potential is wasted. WAES allows us to organise our efforts for long-term impact, he said.

The summit will host heads of state, ministers, investors, and regional institutions.

Its goal is to jointly craft a roadmap for sustainable economic integration and unlock ECOWASs full potential.

(NAN)

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The State Security Service (SSS) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain Pat Utomi, a 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), from further commenting publicly or engaging in rallies regarding his plan to establish a shadow government.

The SSSs lead counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), also told the court that the agency is not interested in arresting anyone over the matter, but rather wants the court to interpret the constitution and determine the legality of the planned shadow government.

According to Mr Kehinde, the SSS has filed a fresh application before the court, seeking an order to restrain Mr Utomi, a professor, and his associates from staging roadshows, rallies, public lectures, or any form of public gathering aimed at promoting the shadow government.

The SSS said the application became necessary because Mr Utomis actions constitute a serious threat to public order, safety, and national unity.

The SSS claims that despite being served with the originating process and entering an appearance through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mr Utomi has continued to make inflammatory statements capable of igniting chaos in the country.

The agency said it gathered through monitoring and intelligence reports that Mr Utomi plans to stage roadshows and rallies that could draw large crowds, disrupt peace, and lead to riots and violent protests.

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The SSS argues that Mr Utomis intention is to cause public discontent in furtherance of his establishment of the purported shadow government.

The agency believes that unless the court intervenes, Mr Utomis actions may foist a fait accompli on the court and undermine the rule of law.

Mr Kehinde described the SSS, under its current leadership, as a civilised organisation with absolute confidence in the rule of law. The agencys decision to approach the court is in line with its statutory mandate to ensure internal peace and prevent threats to lawful authority, the lawyer said.

The court will now determine the legality of the shadow government and whether Mr Utomis actions constitute a threat to national security.

The SSSs application seeks to restrain the politician cum academic from promoting the shadow government pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Mr Utomis plan to constitute a shadow government has sparked widespread interest, with many Nigerians eagerly awaiting the courts decision. The outcome will likely have significant implications for the countrys democracy and the rule of law.

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The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Tinubus recent request to borrow $21.5 million and 15 billion, as well as obtain a 65 million grant from international financial institutions, describing the move as contradictory and detrimental to Nigerias economic future.

President Tinubus loan request was transmitted to the National Assembly last Tuesday, seeking legislative approval to secure the external funding as part of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the 20252026 fiscal period.

However, many Nigerians have criticised the loan request.

Some critics, including economists and civic advocates, have questioned the necessity of external borrowing in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, a policy that was expected to free up resources for domestic development.

They argue that the subsidy removal should have created fiscal space to meet the nations financial needs without resorting to additional borrowing. Some others are concerned about Nigerias rising debt profile and the long-term implications for future generations.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, questioned both the rationale for fresh borrowing and the earlier removal of fuel subsidy, which the government had claimed would ease fiscal pressure and reduce reliance on loans.

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Only last week, the president had just asked for and requested for a $24.5 billion loan. What they said that is actually very annoying was that theyre going to use that money to cushion the effect of subsidy removal. We were here when they said to us, were going remove subsidies, therefore, we will not borrow anymore. Were not going to put subsidy on petrol, and therefore, therell be more money to provide cushioning policies and programmes, to take away the pain of the subsidy. So the question is  where is the money if indeed youre going to borrow money to cushion the effect of subsidy, two years after? he said.

Mr Ologunagba added that the policy inconsistency has left many Nigerians suffering under worsening economic conditions.

Many people have died on account of the irresponsibility of this government, because of their impoverishment and thats why were here. So they said that part of that money will be used to take care of pensioners. Pension is a contributory scheme. So wheres the money? he said.

The PDP spokesperson also criticised the National Assembly, accusing it of failing in its oversight duties.

He insisted that the opposition is not merely criticising for political gain but seeking better governance.

The National Assembly should interrogate, which theyre not doing, of course, they have declared that whatever the president says, is okay by them, and we have seen it. These are the things that Nigerians are going to challenge in 2027.

One thing is clear, and Nigerians should recognise that, were not in opposition to just criticise. It is better for this country to do well, so that all of us can benefit from it. It is not in our interest that the government fails, but the government must be ready to listen to alternative views that could help us build a country that all of us can have what we call the pursuit of happiness, Mr Ologunagba said.

Nigerias debt profile

According to Nigerias Debt Management Office (DMO), as of 31 December 2024, Nigerias total public debt stood at N144.7 trillion (approximately $94.2 billion). About 51.4 per cent of the total (N74.4 trillion) is domestic debt while 48.6 per cent (N70.3 trillion) is external debt.

The rising debt has resulted in increased debt servicing costs. In 2023, Nigeria spent N7.8 trillion on debt servicing, a 121 per cent increase when compared to N3.52 trillion in the previous year.

The amount spent on debt servicing rose to N13.12 trillion in 2024, a 68 per cent increase from the 2023 figure. These high debt servicing costs means less funds for important sectors such as infrastructure and social services, potentially hindering economic growth and development.

Governments justification

The Federal Ministry of Finance defended the borrowing plan last Wednesday. The ministrys Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, said the loans are part of a strategic, structured approach aligned with Nigerias economic priorities.

He said the funds are earmarked for the 20252026 fiscal period and are part of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

MTEF is a planning and budgeting tool that helps the government manage its finances over a medium-term period, typically three years.

Mr Manga explained that the funds will be sourced from reputable development partners like World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), China EximBank and Islamic Development Bank.

He said the funds will be used to support several infrastructure and security initiatives of the government including expansion and upgrade of power grids and transmission lines, development of irrigation systems to boost food security, installation of a nationwide fibre optics network, procurement of fighter jets to strengthen national security and enhancement of rail and road infrastructure across geopolitical zones.

The director noted that the projects will span multiple states, including Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Yobe, reflecting a national development agenda.

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If we are serious about tackling unemployment and promoting inclusive growth, we must reframe how we talk about entrepreneurship. Money is important, but it is not the beginning. Ideas, networks, trust, and strategy come first  and theyre often more accessible than we think. When we obsess over funding, we paralyse action. We discourage innovation, telling helpers they need deep pockets and entrepreneurs that they are too poor to begin. But when we flip this mindset and start with what we have  our relationships, skills, shared goals, and modest capital  we realise just how much is possible.

Many people assume that money is the biggest obstacle to starting a business under the One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI). They are wrong  and heres why.

Since becoming Chief Economic Adviser to the Imo State Government in 2022, I have worked closely with microentrepreneurs across the state. This role has connected me with hundreds of aspiring business owners  rural dwellers, young people, and everyday Nigerians seeking economic freedom, especially through OKOBI, introduced in Imo State, Nigeria, under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma. More than a policy, OKOBI is a movement, rooted in communal strength and a call to self-determination.

In a country like Nigeria, where formal employment opportunities remain limited, OKOBI offers a compelling alternative. It urges people to stop waiting for jobs and instead take control of their future through entrepreneurship. OKOBI promotes group-based entrepreneurship anchored in kindred relationships  flexible and inclusive groupings that may consist of family members, friends, alumni, or professional networks. What matters is a shared commitment to building something meaningful together.

What sets OKOBI apart is its flexible approach to ownership and contribution. Group ownership doesnt require equal input. Some contribute capital, others bring skills, time, or networks. The structure is determined by the group itself, allowing diverse capacities to work in harmony. This model thrives on collaboration  pooling resources, sharing risks, and multiplying rewards.

Still, one myth stubbornly persists: that money is the main barrier to starting a business. Ive heard this repeatedly from both aspiring entrepreneurs and those who want to support them. Theres a widely held belief that launching a business demands a large sum that only the wealthy or connected can afford. This belief is profoundly limiting.

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in my experience, the real constraint often lies elsewhere. In informal experiments, Ive offered to fund groups if they came up with business ideas. Surprisingly, many struggled, not due to lack of funds, but because they lacked clear ideas, plans, or the entrepreneurial mindset to transform capital into value. Without vision and direction, even generous funding can yield little impact.

Time and again, Ive seen groups launch viable businesses with less than N800,000 (around $400). Ironically, communities frequently spend more on one-time social events  donations, parties, building dedications  than what it would cost to start a microenterprise. While these activities have value, investing the same amount into a small business can provide sustainable income and lift entire families. This isnt about replacing generosity with enterprise; its about understanding that empowering people to earn has a lasting impact.

Meanwhile, many potential beneficiaries remain fixated on the lack of money. But in my experience, the real constraint often lies elsewhere. In informal experiments, Ive offered to fund groups if they came up with business ideas. Surprisingly, many struggled, not due to lack of funds, but because they lacked clear ideas, plans, or the entrepreneurial mindset to transform capital into value. Without vision and direction, even generous funding can yield little impact.

This insight has informed the design of OKOBIs support systems. The initiatives grants are not handouts  they are readiness tests. Participants must articulate ideas, map operations, and show commitment. What many need most is not money, but guidance: help identifying viable opportunities, structuring operations, and developing confidence. Thats why OKOBI integrates business development support. These professionals bridge the gap between ambition and execution, helping groups turn concepts into functioning enterprises.

Currently, there are about 400 OKOBI businesses across Imo State, involving over 10,000 members. Each is a unique experiment in community entrepreneurship. Supporting them requires more than funding; it requires partnership. From designing business models to setting up governance systems, these ventures need nurturing. This isnt handholding in the sense of dependency, but of empowerment  walking with people until they can walk alone.

the next time someone says they need millions to start a business, pause. Challenge that belief. Ask what they could do with far less. Encourage them to focus on what they can do now. And if youre in a position to help, remember: Your impact doesnt depend on the size of your wallet, but on your willingness to engage meaningfully.

If we are serious about tackling unemployment and promoting inclusive growth, we must reframe how we talk about entrepreneurship. Money is important, but it is not the beginning. Ideas, networks, trust, and strategy come first  and theyre often more accessible than we think. When we obsess over funding, we paralyse action. We discourage innovation, telling helpers they need deep pockets and entrepreneurs that they are too poor to begin. But when we flip this mindset and start with what we have  our relationships, skills, shared goals, and modest capital  we realise just how much is possible.

OKOBI shows what can happen when communities believe in themselves and receive the right support. It proves that the first step isnt securing a loan; its a shift in thinking. Our most valuable resources arent always financial; theyre social and intellectual  our ability to collaborate, imagine, and persist.

So, the next time someone says they need millions to start a business, pause. Challenge that belief. Ask what they could do with far less. Encourage them to focus on what they can do now. And if youre in a position to help, remember: Your impact doesnt depend on the size of your wallet, but on your willingness to engage meaningfully.

Money is not the problem. The problem is what we think we need before we start. The solution often begins with a conversation, a partnership, a kindred spirit, and the courage to take the first step.

Kenneth Amaeshi is the chief economic adviser to the governor of Imo State. He is currently the chair of Africapitalism and Economic Development Program at The New Institute, Hamburg, a professor of sustainable finance at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy, and a professor of business and sustainable development at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

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Africas future depends on building economies that stand on their own feet, being vibrant, diverse, and resilient. Moving beyond aid is not just an economic imperative; its a matter of dignity and self-determination Lets embrace policies that empower Africans to build their own prosperity.

If youve heard of Dead Aid, the influential book by economist Dambisa Moyo, youll know it challenges the long-held belief that foreign aid is the key to Africas development. For me, I would say its one of the most insightful books Ive ever read, having read it for the first time as a senior in high school. Moyo argues that aid has often done more harm than good, as it creates dependency, stifles innovation, and slows down growth.

So if aid isnt the answer, what is?

The Problem with Aid Dependency

For decades, many African countries have relied heavily on foreign aid to fund everything from healthcare to infrastructure. Between 2000 and 2018 alone, Africa received about $1 trillion in foreign aid. While this aid has saved lives and helped in emergencies, it has also made some governments complacent, reducing incentives to improve governance, collect taxes, or build strong institutions.

Some African countries depend on aid for over 30 per cent of their government budgets, which can seriously undermine efforts to generate revenue domestically.

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Moyo warns that this dependency creates a cycle where aid replaces the responsibility to develop internally, ultimately slowing economic progress.

Acknowledging the Role of Aid in Africas Development

I think its important to note that while I believe its crucial for Africa to move beyond aid, I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the invaluable role that foreign aid has played in the continents development. There is no denying that aid has been essential in addressing immediate crises, building essential infrastructure, and supporting education and healthcare systems. Aid has played a fundamental role in mitigating disasters, providing life-saving support during health crises like the Ebola outbreak, and delivering humanitarian relief in conflict zones.

Millions of lives have been saved and improved due to the influx of aid, and it has been instrumental in projects that have shaped Africas growth, from building schools and hospitals to providing vaccines and medicines. We are deeply grateful for the positive impact aid has had, and it has served as a lifeline during times of need.

However, what we now need is a shift towards sustainability and a strategy that focuses on growth that doesnt rely solely on external handouts but on empowering Africas own people and industries.

Why Sustainable Economies Matter

Sustainable economies are those built on local resources, entrepreneurship, and fair trade, with economies that can grow without relying on constant external support.

For Africa, this means focusing on:

Private Sector Growth: The private sector contributes approximately 60 per cent of Africas GDP and provides over 70 per cent of employment , making it the backbone of economic growth. Encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups is key.

The private sector contributes approximately and provides over , making it the backbone of economic growth. Encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups is key. Infrastructure Development: Building roads, power grids, and technology networks to connect people and markets is critical.

Building roads, power grids, and technology networks to connect people and markets is critical. Good Governance: Transparent institutions that fight corruption and support the rule of law.

Transparent institutions that fight corruption and support the rule of law. Trade and Investment: Africas intra-regional trade currently stands at only about 15 per cent of total trade, compared to 60 per cent in Europe , showing huge potential to expand markets through regional integration.

Learning from Dead Aid

Dambisa Moyos message is clear: Africa needs to stop treating aid as a cure-all and start focusing on policies that foster self-sufficiency.

She points to shining examples like Botswana and Mauritius, countries that have managed to reduce aid reliance and build thriving economies through sound policies and investment in people.

Botswana has maintained an average GDP growth rate of around 4-5 per cent annually for over two decades by focusing on good governance and economic diversification. Mauritius transformed from an aid-dependent economy in the 1970s to a high-income country through heavy investment in infrastructure and services.

What Africa Needs Now

To build sustainable economies, African nations must:

Improve education and skills training to prepare their workforces.

Reform tax systems. African governments lose about $50 billion annually due to tax avoidance and weak systems, limiting funds available for development.

due to tax avoidance and weak systems, limiting funds available for development. Support innovation through technology and access to finance.

Create regional trade agreements to boost markets beyond borders.

My Thoughts

I agree with Moyo that aid alone wont fix Africas economic challenges. Its time to rethink development by empowering local solutions and reducing dependence on external funds.

That doesnt mean aid has no role. It definitely is absolutely necessary in crises like health emergencies or natural disasters, and its proven to be invaluable for us. But for long-term growth, Africa must lead its own path.

Final Word

Africas future depends on building economies that stand on their own feet, being vibrant, diverse, and resilient. Moving beyond aid is not just an economic imperative; its a matter of dignity and self-determination.

Lets embrace policies that empower Africans to build their own prosperity.

Ayomide Alabi is a lawyer. He writes from Lagos and can be reached at [email protected]

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Katsina State has secured 3,500 training slots under the newly launched Federal Government Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative. The programme is one of the boldest national efforts in recent years to equip young Nigerians with practical, job-ready skills.

The announcement was made by Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), during a visit to the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV).

This is your moment, Mr Bugaje, a professor, told the trainees and instructors. Katsina has 3,500 opportunities to train its young people in real trades  and the Federal Government is paying for it.

Under the Master 6 training track, participants will receive 180,000 in tuition support, a 22,500 monthly stipend for six months, and earn a recognised certification under the National Skills Qualification (NSQ). Trainees will also receive starter packs, entrepreneurship training, and access to low-interest loans to support their post-training ventures.

We are moving away from certificates to real skills, Bugaje emphasised. And you cant learn that inside four walls alone. Training must connect with real industry, real work, and real life.

The TVET initiative  themed Advancing Skills and Empowering the Future  was launched last week in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Education. It offers three flexible training pathways, namely: Master 12 (1 year); Master 6 (6 months); and Technical College Track (3 years for youth aged 1320).

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All participants must register with their National Identification Number (NIN), and nationwide training will kick off in August 2025.

The programme will be delivered through Vocational Enterprise Institutes (VEIs), Skills Training Centres (STCs), and public technical colleges across 25 high-demand skill areas, with 80% practical and 20% theoretical instruction.

Kabir Kofar Soro, Coordinator of the KYCV, described the allocation as a huge win for the state:

We want to thank the NBTE Executive Secretary for this opportunity. KYCV will immediately begin sensitising youth across every local government in Katsina, as directed by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, to ensure no one is left behind.

This new allocation fits squarely into Governor Radda Building Your Future agenda, which prioritises skills training, job creation, and inclusive development. The Governor has consistently pushed for programmes that uplift young people and strengthen the local economy from the ground up.

This is not just about training, said a senior official from the Ministry of Education. Its national transformation. Were not producing paper graduates  were building a skilled generation.

Bugaje also reaffirmed that the new skills model meets global standards, ensuring that Nigerian youth can compete anywhere in the world. He urged centres like KYCV to forge partnerships with industries so trainees can benefit from real-world learning, not just classroom theory.

With 3,500 slots secured, Katsina stands out as a leading beneficiary of this reimagined national skills drive  and the message to the youth is clear:

This is your time to learn, earn, and build your future. Dont miss it.

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The Nigerian Army has reportedly killed Ya Muhammad and Abou Dawuda, two terrorists described as prominent commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

According to Zagazola Makama, a security expert in the North-east, the terrorists were killed during a failed attack in Damboa.

Two top commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Ya Muhammad and Abou Dawuda, have been confirmed killed in an operation by Nigerian troops in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, Mr Makama said.

He said they were killed when an attack they led on Damboa town was foiled by the troops of the Nigerian Army supported by aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The Nigerian Army, while confirming the attack last week, claimed to have killed 16 insurgents. However, the expert said Ya Muhammad, also known as Ameer Fiya of Garno, was one of five ISWAP commanders who led the attack, and his corpse was recovered later by his comrades.

The terrorists, who were leading fighters in the attack, were hit during a NAF strike targeting their position. Ya Muhammad, recognised as the Ameer Fiya of Garno, was among the five ISWAP commanders reportedly leading the assault.

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Following the airstrikes, it was gathered that he initially escaped with two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), which he x in the Bula Bukarti forest after two other fighters were neutralised under his command.

However, attempts by Ya Muhammad to regroup with more fighters were cut short when he was struck by another airstrike from Operation Hadin Kais air component. His corpse was reportedly found later by fellow terrorists, marking a significant blow to the insurgent group, the expert added.

Mr Makama said Ya Muhammad had close ties to high-ranking ISWAP leaders, including Abu Ayuba, Abu Khalid, and Ameer Sarki.

His death has reportedly plunged the insurgent group into mourning, underscoring his pivotal role in orchestrating attacks across Borno and Yobe states.

Ya Muhammad was believed to have masterminded several attacks on locations such as Wajiroko, Sabon Gari, and Damboa.

In related intelligence, the expert also reported that ISWAP fighters, including Modu Sullum and Abdul Kaka, were regrouping at the fringes of the Gaidam axis.

Other ISWAP commanders actively regrouping were Abu HAFSAT, a senior commander based in Mangusum; Suleimana Suwurti, tasked with bomb-making in Gorgore; Ameer Fiye in Gorgore and Borgozo; and Ameer Jaish Huzaifa operating in Gargash.

According to the expert, Nigerian security forces are conducting day and night air and ground surveillance to neutralise potential threats in the North East, particularly within the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa Forest.

The terrorists were killed days after the army confirmed killing Abu Fatima and his lieutenants. Mr Fatima was believed to be a top commander of the insurgents terrorising farmers in Bornos Kukawa Local Government Area.

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The police in Niger State have arrested a dismissed soldier, Michael Musa, for impersonation and fraud following an alleged series of deceptive acts targeting point of sale (POS) operators in the state.

The state police public relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement. He said the suspect, wearing military camouflage to disguise himself as an officer, was apprehended for fraudulently obtaining various sums of money under false pretences.

Mr Abiodun said Mr Musa defrauded a POS operator in Bida of 120,000 after posing as a serving soldier.

He also allegedly swindled another victim in Kataeregi out of  300,000 and, most recently, on 29 May, tricked a POS agent along Mandela Road in Minna out of 50,000.

The suspect, who resides along Mandela Road, confessed to all three incidents during interrogation.

READ ALSO: Police rescue abducted Nasarawa traditional ruler

He further revealed that he was dismissed from the Nigerian Army in 2022 while serving in Benin, Edo State.

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The police noted that further investigation is ongoing as more victims report related complaints.

The command reiterated its commitment to rooting out impersonators and safeguarding residents from such criminal schemes.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. In a recent episode of Real World Order, a political show by the Baku Network think tank, host Elnur Enveroglu sat down for a blunt and wide-ranging talk with Jean-Michel Brun, Editor-in-Chief of La Gazette du Caucase, and Muslims in France.

The conversation offered a rare inside look at what Brun sees as Frances misguided foreign policy in the South Caucasus, which he called a series of shortsighted moves wrapped in political showmanship and ideological confusion.

Bruns main point was pretty clear: France and Azerbaijan used to have strong ties  in energy, the environment, transportation, agriculture  but things fell apart after the Second Karabakh War. He believes this breakdown didnt have to happen and that its actually hurting France more than helping it.

France didnt just turn on Azerbaijan out of nowhere, Brun said. Its a direct result of Macron letting short-term politics at home and a tilt toward far-right ideas guide his foreign policy.

Unlike past leaders like Charles de Gaulle or Jacques Chirac, Brun argues, Macron doesnt seem to have a clear long-term vision. Instead, hes taken a more opportunistic route, aligning himself with nationalist views that romanticize Frances colonial history and cast modern conflicts as clashes between civilizations.

This shift, Brun pointed out, has led to France openly siding with Armenia  a move he says is heavily influenced by the countrys Armenian diaspora. Around 800,000 Armenians live in France, mainly in cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. Theyve invested a lot not just in lobbying, but in shaping media and academic circles, Brun said. Thats changed the public story around the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in a big way.

He believes this influence has been used to frame the conflict as a religious one, casting Armenia as a Christian stronghold under threat  a narrative he called dishonest and dangerous.

Meanwhile, Frances Muslim population  about 13 million  hasnt had the same kind of impact. Brun says its not just about numbers, but about how organized and present a community is in politics and media. The Armenian diaspora has made itself heard. That matters.

Brun said this political shift is already backfiring. French companies are missing out on big opportunities in Azerbaijans post-war rebuilding, especially in cities like Agdam, Shusha, and Fuzuli. While firms from the UK and Italy are involved in construction and infrastructure, French giants like Bouygues and Vinci have been left out.

Business leaders in France are frustrated, Brun said. Theres money being poured into these projects, but France isnt part of it  and theres no good reason for that.

He also pointed to how France has handled recent tensions with Azerbaijan. Two incidents involving French nationals  one accused of spying, the other of vandalism  triggered a strong response from Paris, which leaned heavily on human rights talk. But Brun says the government ignored the provocative behavior of its own politicians and pro-Armenian activists. This isnt thoughtful diplomacy, he said. Its just symbolic politics getting in the way of real strategy.

Still, Brun thinks Macron could change course if the geopolitical winds shift. With France losing ground in Africa and the Mediterranean, Macron might look to Azerbaijan to regain some influence. Theres growing awareness in Paris that Armenia isnt a strong partner, Brun said. Its economy is weak, and it doesnt carry much strategic weight. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, is becoming a major energy player and a force for regional stability. Thats the kind of partner France should be looking for.

Brun also mentioned opportunities in areas like education, farming, infrastructure, and culture. Even with all the political noise, he said, French culture is still respected in Azerbaijan  a soft-power asset France hasnt really used. Theres still a chance to fix things, he said. But that chance wont last forever. France has to choose: keep playing political games at home or get back to serious foreign policy.

As France tries to rethink its role on the world stage amid energy challenges and a more competitive global landscape, what it does in the South Caucasus might end up being a big test. And the message from Baku is clear: symbolism wont get you far  real partnerships will.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N2 billion for immediate reconstruction of homes of people affected by the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this when he visited the victims in Mokwa town, Mokwa Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

He assured that the federal government would address the issues raised by the affected victims of the flood disaster.

The president specifically instructed me to come to Mokwa to commiserate with the people over the tragedy that befell the town. His heart is with the grieving people of Mokwa.

All issues raised will be addressed by the federal government in collaboration with the Niger government, he said

Mr Shettima disclosed that the president had also directed the Ministers for Environment and State for Agriculture to relocate to Niger to ensure immediate intervention under the ACRSAL project for drainage issues in Mokwa town.

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He added that 20 trucks of food items have been approved by Mr Tinubu to be distributed to the actual victims in collaboration with the village head of Mokwa.

He commended the deputy governor and the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their proactiveness in handling the situation.

In his remarks, Yakubu Garba, the deputy governor of the state, appealed to the federal government for quick intervention to address the impact of the disaster.

We are saddened as state due to the flood disaster; we commend NEMA DG for promptly responding to the disaster.

We need quick intervention as the four collapsed bridges have cut down social and economic activities, especially in Rabba, as students cannot come to Mokwa when theres rainfall, the bridge needs to be fixed, he said.

He disclosed that over 2,000 houses were destroyed and victims were managing with people, adding that the state had available land that could be used to build houses for them.

Earlier, the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, appealed to the federal government to intervene in several road projects in Mokwa and across the state.

There is an ongoing road project bypassing Mokwa town, but because of compensation, the work has stopped. We appeal to the FG to fast-track the project as its making life unbearable for the people, he said.

He also appealed to the federal government to complete the Mokwa-Brini-Gwari Kaduna road, the Lambata-Bida road, the Bida-Patigi road, and the Agaie-Match Boro roads.

He further called for the deployment of an ecological team to address ecological issues in the town, while appreciating Mr Tinubu for directing the vice president to visit to commiserate with the victims.

Also speaking, Mohammed Aliyu, the village head of Mokwa (Ndalile of Mokwa), appreciated the federal government for the support to the community since the flood disaster.

(NAN)

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The Kano State Government has urged the residents to ensure animals intended for sacrifice during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir are healthy and safe for consumption.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kano by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Nablusi Ahmad.

He quoted the Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran, as saying that the advice was aimed at safeguarding public health and preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Mr Labaran emphasised the need for residents to be vigilant and only purchase and slaughter animals certified to be healthy.

He warned that some animal-borne diseases could be transmitted to humans, especially when meat is not properly handled or cooked.

Special attention should be given to how the meat is cooked. Thorough cooking is crucial to eliminate harmful microorganisms and pathogens that may be present in the animal, he said.

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The commissioner particularly urged mothers and food handlers to ensure safe preparation of meat to prevent food-borne illnesses.

Mr Labaran also stressed the importance of hygiene during meat preparation, advising households to wash meat thoroughly with clean water before cooking or storage.

He reassured the residents of the governments readiness to respond to any public health emergencies during the Sallah celebrations.

According to him, the state government, under Governor Abba Yusuf, had adequately stocked health facilities with essential drugs and emergency supplies to provide prompt medical assistance.

He reiterated the ministrys commitment to preventive healthcare and called on the public to adhere to health advisories, especially during festive periods.

Mr Labaran extended warm Sallah greetings to the residents and wished them a peaceful, joyful and healthy Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

(NAN)

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The Supreme Court has nullified a Kebbi State High Court judgement reinstating Al-Mustapha Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu.

In a judgement on Wednesday, the Supreme Court stated that the case was instituted without first exhausting mandatory dispute resolution procedures.

In a split decision of three to two, the court held that Mr Jokolo failed to comply with Section 5(4) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which requires an aggrieved party to submit a formal complaint to the governor before initiating legal proceedings.

Delivering the lead judgement, Emmanuel Agim stated that while individuals may seek judicial redress in chieftaincy matters, they must first adhere to the legal process prescribed by law.

He noted that Mr Jokolos failure to serve a pre-action notice on the Governor of Kebbi State rendered the suit incompetent.

This suit was filed prematurely without first presenting a complaint to the governor as stipulated by law, Mr Agim ruled.

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The trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, and its decision is therefore null and void.

Mr Jokolo, a former Aide-de-Camp to ex-Head of State Muhammadu Buhari, was deposed in 2005 under controversial circumstances.

He sued the Kebbi State High Court to overturn his removal and reclaim the throne.

In 2014, the High Court ruled in his favour and ordered his reinstatement  a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2016.

However, the Kebbi State Government and the current Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Ilyasu-Bashar, challenged both rulings at the Supreme Court.

Although the judgement was initially scheduled for 6 June, the court moved it forward to 4 June due to the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir holidays.

The Supreme Court consolidated four appeals and two cross-appeals into a single judgement.

All parties agreed that the determination of the principal appeal would be binding on the others.

The Supreme Court added that the failure to exhaust internal administrative remedies, as required by law, invalidated the entire proceedings before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Consequently, it set aside their judgements and made no order regarding costs.

Mr Agim further emphasised that Section 4(3) of the law applies to both appointments and depositions of traditional rulers, reinforcing the requirement that the governor be formally notified before litigation.

He explained that the High Court judge deprived the court of jurisdiction by proceeding with the matter despite this procedural lapse.

In a dissenting minority judgement, Ibrahim Salami dismissed the appeals and affirmed the earlier judgements.

He argued that the governor is still obligated to act by due process and the law, even in chieftaincy disputes.

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The Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria, partnering with the Academic Associate PeaceWorks (AAPW), is set to fund a two-year project towards moderating climate change impacts in the Nigerias Niger Delta region.

The embassys Senior Programme Manager in Nigeria, Nosakhare Ayejimiwo, disclosed this at a two-day Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Yenagoa on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports the forum is entitled Policy Dialogue and Exhibition on Green and Blue Economy in the Niger Delta.

Ms Ayejimiwo said the policy dialogue and exhibition were to share ideas and demonstrate how partnership and cooperation could lead to real and impactful change.

One of Denmarks strategic priorities for engagement with Africa is to increase efforts for climate adaptation, with particular focus on water, forests, and biodiversity, and support for green transition in the continent.

We are living in a time where climate change is undeniably one of the greatest global concerns of our era.

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Yet, while its effects are felt worldwide, it is communities at the frontline like yours and others in the Niger Delta that bear the brunt of its impacts most acutely.

The Niger Delta faces unique challenges that demand urgent, thoughtful, and locally relevant responses.

Denmarks partnership in this region reflects our strong commitment to supporting solutions that are inclusive, locally-led, and sustainable.

This project is a shining example of those values in action; it embodies collaboration across sectors and stakeholders, she said.

In her remarks, AAPW Executive Director Judith Asuni explained that the two-year project, implemented by AAPW, would be in four communities.

According to her, the communities are those highly affected by climate change, environmental degradation and piracy in Bayelsa and Delta states.

She added that the communities could potentially develop green and blue economies in their areas.

Ms Asuni said, The project aims to promote sustainable practices in both marine and terrestrial environments, emphasising conservation and resource management in the Niger Delta region.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Agricultural and Natural Resources, Beke Sese, reiterated the mandate of his ministry to produce food for Bayelsa, Nigerians and the world.

He pointed out that Governor Douye Diris administration in Bayelsa had concluded that the state was too blessed to be poor or associated with poverty.

However, while attributing the states blessedness to its rich vegetation and soil fertility, he regretted that a large amount of food consumed in the state was being brought from outside.

Our primary focus has been on rice production because Bayelsa State is a natural habitat for rice. So, we are supporting our rice farmers by providing inputs, seedlings and rice mills.

Our goal is to reduce the cost of rice, and we cannot do that without collaboration with our rice farmers.

We want to create the enabling environment for farmers to be productive, he said.

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Suspended Governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday, visited President Bola Tinubu at his private residence in Lagos State, Nigerias South-west.

Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to President Tinubu, announced this in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday night.

Mr Fubara held a closed-door meeting with the president during the visit.

This is the first known meeting between Messrs Tinubu and Fubara since the latters suspension as Rivers governor in March.

It is unclear for now what the duo discussed during the closed-door meeting, but there are indications that the discussion may be connected to the political crises in Rivers State.

Political crises

On 18 March, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the South-southern state.

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The president also suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all the House of Assembly members for an initial six months.

The emergency rule and suspension of the elected officials followed a political crisis in Rivers State triggered by a feud between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the minister of the FCT.

The feud initially split the assembly into two factions  27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT minister and three to the now-suspended governor.

Mr Fubaras visit to Mr Tinubu on Tuesday came barely 24 hours after Mr Wike said he would not be able to make peace with the suspended governor without the involvement of all key parties to the crisis.

During a media chat on Monday, the FCT minister also said he often shed tears each time he remembered how the suspended governor allegedly betrayed him.

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has transmitted an executive bill to the state House of Assembly to regulate the operation of native doctors and other spiritualists.

A top official of the state government, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES that the Bill was transmitted on Tuesday evening.

The Bill

The Bill, entitled Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order, seeks to outlaw money rituals, otherwise known as Okite, and bulletproof charms, otherwise known as Odeshi.

According to the proposed legislation, the use or occupation of forests and property for criminal activities is illegal.

The proposed legislation also makes residing, camping, or establishing any form of settlement in a forest illegal except for security operatives and farmers.

According to the legislation, offenders are liable, on conviction, to two years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

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Regulations

Section 3 (1) of the proposed legislation outlaws the practice or rendering of spiritual services within the state by a native doctor, herbalist, spiritualist, chief priest, diviner, seer, or by any other traditional or spiritual title or designation without registration.

The proposed law mandates all native doctors and other spiritualists to register at a ministry, department or agency of the state which the governor will designate for the purpose.

Practising without registration will attract a fine of not less than N1 million and not more than N5 million or a two-year imprisonment or both, the proposed legislation said.

Ban on rituals

The proposed legislation also outlawed the administration of charms or related objects on persons for protection to facilitate the commission of crime.

It equally made it illegal for spiritualists to administer such charms on people for the purpose of acquiring wealth or benefits by supernatural means outside lawful means of livelihood.

Those who violate these provisions of the proposed legislation are liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six years or to a fine of not less than N5 million or both, according to the proposed legislation.

Any person, who falsely claims to possess supernatural powers or misleads the public into believing so, for the purpose of gaining reward, or influence whether financially or otherwise commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three years or to a fine of not less than N3 million or both, Section 15 of the proposed law stated.

It further provides that where a person claims spiritual powers under the law, the burden shall lie on such a person, during investigation, to provide reasonable proof of the purported supernatural abilities claimed.

Use of religious places for crime

The legislation prescribes six years of imprisonment or a fine of N5 million or both for anyone who uses or knowingly permits the use of any religious place for the commission or facilitation of a crime, in addition to the sealing of the facility pending the outcome of investigation.

Any person who performs, facilitates, demands, directs, or participates in any ritual or traditional practice involving the use of human parts, or who causes another person to do so, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 20 years without the option of a fine, Section 17 of the legislation said.

Any person who owns, occupies, or has control over any land or building, whether located in a forest or elsewhere, and knowingly allows it to be used as a camp, hideout or base for kidnapping, the unlawful detention of victims, the collection of ransom, or for any other activity connected to kidnapping or banditry, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 20 years without the option of a fine, the legislation added.

Failure to report suspicious use of property

According to the proposed legislation, those who knowingly fail to report suspicious use of their property to security operatives shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of two years without the option of a fine.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3 of the Criminal Code (Second Amendment) Law 2016, any land, property, or structure used in contravention of Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of this law shall be forfeited to the Government of Enugu State, the proposed legislation said.

It further provides that money, property, and other proceeds of criminality are to be forfeited to the Enugu State Government unless a lawful and verifiable owner claims it within a reasonable time.

More provisions

The proposed legislation mandates private security outfits to register with the state government with particulars of the employed operatives.

It equally mandates presidents-general of town unions to submit security reports to chairpersons of local government areas not later than the first week of every new month.

The legislation requires landlords and proprietors of hotels, guest houses, and estate associations to obtain and transmit to the authorities valid means of identification, phone number, occupation, and place of work of their prospective tenants and guests.

Proprietors of hotels and other lodging facilities shall install a surveillance camera within public areas to record and submit records of activities to relevant authorities, the proposed legislation said.

Offenders range from a fine of not less than N500,000 for landlords to N1 million.

Meanwhile, the state assembly has yet to begin the debate on the bill.

Background

There have been increased cases of ritual abductions and killings in Enugu State in recent times often perpetrated by native doctors and other spiritualists.

The proposed legislation came less than two weeks after a native doctor was accused of burying several people in a pit, including a pregnant woman, apparently for ritual purposes.

The incident happened on 26 May at Umumba Ndiagu, a community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state.

READ ALSO: Enugu govt demolishes properties of prophet who allegedly killed four siblings

The native doctor, Onyeka Obu, has since been arrested alongside three others.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time a state in the South-east will be making legislation against native doctors, spiritualists and kidnappers.

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, in January, signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law, which banned the making of charms for the commission of crime and the performance of sacrifices along the road in the state.

The law also outlawed the practice of Oke-Ite and ezenwanyi (female spiritualists) for the purpose of wealth accumulation through supernatural means.

The law imposes six years imprisonment or N20 million or both on offenders upon conviction.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of 16 candidates nominated for the 8 November governorship election in Anambra State.

Sam Olumekun, INECs national commissioner and chairperson of the Information and Voter Education Committee, announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Olumekun explained that the release of the final list followed the expiration of the deadline for withdrawal and substitution of candidates on Monday in line with the 2022 Electoral Act.

With this publication, no further withdrawal or replacement of candidates will be allowed except in the event of death of a candidate or running mate before Election Day as provided by Section 34(1) of the 2022 Electoral Act, he said.

The national commissioner said that before the expiration of the deadline, five political parties replaced their candidates in May.

He said the full list of the candidates and their particulars have been uploaded to the commissions website and social media platforms for public information.

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Two females, 14 males

Mr Olumekun said two of the 16 political parties will field female candidates while 14 other parties will face the contest with male candidates.

He said the political parties that are fielding female candidates are the African Action Congress and the National Rescue Movement.

The national commissioner said six other parties were fielding female running mates.

The political parties that fielded female running mates were the Accord, All Progressives Congress, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, Labour Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

No party nominated a person with a disability as a candidate.

Campaign resumption date

In line with the provision of Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Political Parties are now at liberty to start their electioneering campaigns in public from Wednesday 11th June 2025 and end at midnight on Thursday 6th November 2025, Mr Olumekun said in the statement.

The official said INEC has reminded political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid the illegal use of abusive language, physical attacks on opponents during rallies and processions and meetings or destruction of campaign materials.

Similarly, all parties and candidates must be given unimpeded access to public facilities for media campaigns, outdoor advertising as well as public rallies and meetings.

For the avoidance of doubt, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate, he said.

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The Federal Ministry of Education has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged assault of Alexander Rotifa, the vice principal of Complete Child Development College, Aule, in Akure, Ondo State, over examination malpractice.

The Ministrys Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Rotifa was attacked by suspected thugs allegedly acting on the instructions of one Dorcas Asije, whose son, a student of the school, was prevented from using his smartphone in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The vice principal had seized the phone from the student as the act constituted examination malpractice. However, this attracted the wrath of the boys parents, who mobilised some hoodlums against him.

Mr Rotifa was beaten up and was hospitalised. Although he has regained stability and was discharged from the hospital, he is said to be unable to return to his house for fear of being attacked again.

On Monday, the Ondo State Police Command said it had arrested Mrs Asije and four accomplices and would be prosecuted when investigations are concluded.

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Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ms Boriowo said Mr Rotifa was assaulted by thugs allegedly hired by the parents of his student for performing his lawful duty of upholding the integrity of the examination.

She commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the police for ensuring the arrest of Mrs Asije and her accomplices and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

We commend the swift response of Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the state police command in arresting the suspects, including Mrs Dorcas Asije and four accomplices, the statement read.

We urge that thorough investigations be concluded and all culprits duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

She further said that the ministry, under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, intimidation of school staff, and any form of unethical conduct by students, parents, or guardians.

Any student found engaging in examination malpractice will face sanctions in line with the national examination guidelines. Furthermore, any parent or guardian who enables, supports or participates in such criminal behaviour will be prosecuted under the law, she said.

Ms Boriowo urged all schools to promptly report any threats or breaches of conduct during examinations to law enforcement agencies and relevant educational authorities.

We are working in collaboration with state ministries of education, law enforcement agencies and examination bodies to enhance the security and integrity of our examination processes.

The Federal Ministry of Education stands firmly with the management and staff of Complete Child Development College and by extension all education stakeholders nationwide who continue to uphold the values of discipline, accountability, academic excellence and who resist examination malpractice, said.

Parent petitions IGP

Meanwhile, Elisha Imoukhuede, the father of the student who was allegedly involved in the malpractice, has petitioned the police authorities alleging a case of harassment, unlawful seizure, forced abduction, and defamation against the personnel from the Okuta Elerinla Police Station in Akure.

In the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Mr Imoukhuede denied the allegations of examination malpractice, saying that although his son took the phone, which belonged to his mother, to the school, he never used it for cheating.

He also said that the vice principal was assaulted as neighbours attempted to rescue his 13-year-old son, who was being kidnapped by unidentified men in a police-branded vehicle.

He said the people thought the men were trying to kidnap the boy, hence the reaction which caused the vice principal to sustain minor injuries.

He accused the police and the school of unlawful seizure of personal property by the school; refusal to release said property despite the presence of the legal owner; alleged use of police operatives from Okuta Elerinla Police Station to intimidate, abduct, and detain a minor without a warrant or due process; defamation and harassment of a pupil with false accusations aimed at damaging his academic integrity; and gross abuse of power by the school authority with apparent support or complicity of law enforcement officers.

Mr Imoukhuede prayed the IGP to conduct a full investigation into the conduct of the vice principal and teachers of the Complete Child Development Centre.

He also called for a disciplinary and legal review of the actions of officers from Okuta Elerinla Police Station, who were allegedly used to harass and intimidate his family.

He said there should be immediate action to protect the reputation and welfare of his son, Elisha Wisdom, from further defamation or victimisation and that there should be sanctions, if appropriate, against all parties who participated in or facilitated the unlawful acts.

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The Lagos State Government has announced stiffer penalties for environmental infractions, warning that anyone caught dumping refuse illegally or littering public spaces will be fined N250,000 or face up to three months in prison.

The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said this at a press conference on Tuesday.

Mr Wahab said repeat offenders would face even harsher punishments.

There is no excuse. We wont drop the ball. We would continue to ramp up our enforcement and sensitisation, Mr Wahab said, according to a statement signed by the ministrys Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina.

Mr Wahab reiterated that the ban on cart pushers remains in place due to their role in indiscriminate waste dumping.

Residents should desist from patronising them and always patronise registered PSP, he warned.

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He decried the actions of developers who dump building materials on roads and drainage systems, stating that such construction sites would be sealed and their owners prosecuted.

We have already prosecuted over 3,000 offenders. This is just the beginning, he said.

Enforcement drives

Enforcement teams from agencies, including the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) task force, have intensified operations across the state.

We are arresting, prosecuting, naming and shaming violators, Mr Wahab said.

One area of concern is the presence of squatters on pedestrian bridges, which he described as hubs for open defecation and petty crime.

They dissuade pedestrians from using the bridges and, in turn, endanger lives, the commissioner said.

Single-use plastics ban

Mr Wahab had also confirmed that the ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam food packs would be enforced starting 1 July, following an 18-month moratorium granted to manufacturers, distributors and users.

There is no going back. The theme for World Environment DayEnding Plastic Pollutionunderscores the urgency, he said.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the commissioner urged residents to properly manage waste generated during animal slaughter and festivities.

All generated wastes should be sorted, bagged and handed over to approved PSP operators across all wards.

The government has done its part. Now residents must do theirs 

Monthly sanitation set to resume

Meanwhile, Mr Wahab has announced that the state government plans to resume the suspended monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The commissioner disclosed this after an inspection tour of Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu and Alaba Rago.

We are returning to monthly sanitation. But beyond that, we must make sanitation a daily culture and way of life, he said.

At Alaba Rago Market, Mr Wahab expressed disappointment at the unsanitary conditions, noting that the median had been converted into a dumpsite and the market had encroached onto the road.

He said a decision on whether to seal the market again would be taken if the situation did not improve.

Lagos generates 13,000 tonnes of waste daily

In April, LAWMA Managing Director Muyiwa Gbadegesin revealed that Lagos generates an average of 13,000 tonnes of waste daily.

Mr Gbadegesin said the agency, in partnership with PSP operators, deploys 102 compactor trucks daily to evacuate waste across the state.

He also noted the continued operation of LAWMAs marine waste team, which clears waste from coastlines, lagoons and drainage channels.

LAWMA is expanding its medical waste services to include waste from salons and beauticians and is investing in waste-to-wealth initiatives to reduce reliance on landfills.

Every Lagos resident has a role to playdisposing of waste properly, cleaning gutters, and sorting at source. We must all contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment, Mr Gbadegesin said.

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The Lagos State Police Command says it will prosecute 23 teenagers arrested for allegedly terrorising traders and residents around the Ishaga, Awolowo, and Ojuwoye markets in the Mushin area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the suspects, aged between 14 and 16, were arrested during a raid on identified black spots and criminal hideouts on Monday.

According to the statement, the arrests followed multiple complaints from members of the public about incidents of assaults, harassment, and theft reportedly carried out in broad daylight by groups of teenagers.

The Lagos State Police Command appreciates the feedback and concerns raised by members of the Mushin community regarding the recent incidents of daylight assaults, harassment and stealing from shops and innocent members of the public, Mr Hundeyin said.

Raids of criminal hideouts and identified black spots were carried out yesterday (Monday) in Ishaga, Awolowo and Ojuwoye markets, where 23 of the miscreants responsible for the assaults, harassment and stealing from shops and innocent people in the Mushin area were arrested. They are currently being investigated and will soon be charged in court.

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He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, had directed the deployment of additional tactical squads to the affected areas to prevent further attacks.

The Commissioner of Police has promptly deployed more Police Tactical Squads, Police Mobile Force personnel, and other conventional police teams to Mushin and adjoining areas to checkmate the activities of these miscreants and bring them to justice, the statement read.

Mr Hundeyin encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station, assuring that officers had been instructed to respond swiftly to distress calls.

Although the police did not specify the exact charges the minors may face, the arrests have drawn attention to the growing concern over youth involvement in street crime in parts of Lagos.

Mushin, a densely populated area with a history of gang-related violence, has often seen clashes involving teenage groups around major markets.

The Lagos State Child Rights Law, which prohibits the criminalisation of children under certain conditions, mandates special procedures when minors conflict with the law.

It remains unclear how the arrested teenagers will be handled per that law.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The next meeting between the representatives of the Azerbaijani and Armenian State Commissions on Missing Persons was held, Trend reports.

In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed humanitarian issues related to clarifying the fate of the missing persons during the conflict.

The sides discussed issues related to the possibility of information exchange and the coordination of search activities.

The parties emphasized the importance of continuing the dialogue in the humanitarian sphere and expressed readiness for further contacts in the interests of the families of the missing persons.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Ogun II Office, Ota, has sealed the facilities of 39 illegal packaged water producers in the state between February and the present date.

The Ogun II State Coordinator for NAFDAC, Mawo Benu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ota, Ogun State.

Mr Benu explained that a total of 43 packaged water facilities were inspected during the period.

He said out of these, 39 were found to be unsatisfactory due to various Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) violations.

He said that the affected facilities were subsequently sanctioned.

Mr Benu stated that NAFDACs enforcement activities from February to date demonstrated clearly that there was no hiding place for producers of unwholesome and unregistered regulated products.

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He noted that NAFDAC has vowed to crack down on the activities of illegal producers and non-compliant facilities within its jurisdiction.

The Agency earnestly seeks the collaboration of the public and all concerned stakeholders in our relentless pursuit to rid the nation of unregistered and unsafe products, he said.

In addition, members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal production sites or suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office to help safeguard public health.

Mr Benu added that some facilities, although registered, were found to have fallen below acceptable hygiene standards during routine inspections.

He said the facilities were no longer maintaining the minimum requirements under which they were originally registered.

He listed the violations observed, which included operating with expired licenses, producing unapproved pack sizes, swapping facilities to unapproved manufacturing sites, and using fake NAFDAC registration numbers for unregistered products.

(NAN)

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NOIA Capital leads $20 million investment in British tech innovator Skyral, in partnership with Accrete Capital

investment in British tech innovator Skyral, in partnership with Accrete Capital Partnership marries best of British tech with European and MENA private equity expertise

Investment to support R&D, expand global team, and accelerate solution delivery across defence, national security, healthcare and infrastructure

LONDON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BRITISH modelling and simulation software company Skyral today announced that it has raised USD 20 million in a Series A funding round led by European venture capital firm NOIA Capital.

Led jointly by Co-founders and Executive Directors Jason Kennedy and Naomi Hulme, Skyral has quickly established itself as an international leader in advanced modelling and simulation technology.

Naomi Hulme and Jason Kennedy, Co-founders and Executive Directors, Skyral

The firm creates strategic digital twins that model human behaviours alongside real-time and projected infrastructure systems such as transit, power, and telecommunications networks of entire cities and countries.

With over USD 100 million already invested in R&D, Skyral's software-driven approach and cross-sector partnerships have led to rapid market adoption across defence, national security, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors globally.

The company has built a strong track record working with the UK, US, and NATO partners while successfully diversifying its services, with over 60 percent of contracts now coming from both the public and private sectors.

Nick Blair, co-founder and Chairman of Skyral, said:

"This investment is a strong endorsement of both Skyral's technology and its ability to solve complex global challenges, as well as the excellence of UK innovation. Our digital twin software is at the forefront of a new era in decision-making, where virtual models power real-world transformation.

With the backing of NOIA and our other investors, we are well-positioned to scale faster, deepen the capabilities of our platform, and deliver greater value to our customers worldwide."

Skyral's mission is to help governments and businesses face unprecedented challenges by experimenting in the virtual world before making critical decisions in the real one.

The impact of Skyral's technology has been far-reaching. It helped shape the requirements for the Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP) during a pathfinder with the British Army and has now been downselected as part of the Omnia Training consortium alongside Raytheon, Rheinmetall, Capita, and Cervus, paving the way for the next generation of collective training.

Skyral's digital twins have been deployed to tackle complex public health challenges such as modelling the impact of COVID scenarios for the UK government during the pandemic, identifying clinical and policy pathways to reduce child stunting in Indonesia over 50 times faster than conventional methods, and large-scale infrastructure programmes.

Jerome Lhoist, partner at NOIA Capital, said:

"We believe Skyral represents the next generation of AI-enabled strategic modelling and simulation technology.

Their unique combination of digital twin capabilities and AI-powered analytics offers transformative potential across defence, national security, healthcare and infrastructure. We're excited to support their vision and help scale their impact globally."

This funding round follows Skyral's rapid growth since its founding two years ago. Skyral intends to use the new capital to expand its team, accelerate product development, and strengthen its position in key markets across Europe, North America, and Asia.

For more info, visit: www.skyral.com

About Skyral

Founded in June 2023, Skyral has rapidly established itself as a leader in creating virtual representations of complex environments, enabling faster and smarter decision-making.

Skyral's approach combines data visualisation, artificial intelligence, and digital twin capabilities to provide holistic solutions tailored to user needs.

Skyral is one of the world's leading strategic modelling and simulation (M&S) software companies, using digital twin technology to transform defence, national security, healthcare and infrastructure globally.

By integrating proprietary data with public infrastructure and human behaviour models, Skyral offers comprehensive insights that empower decision-makers across various industries.

For more info, visit: www.skyral.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2702634/Skyral_Naomi_Hulme_Jason_Kennedy.jpg
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirius Therapeutics, Inc., developing innovative therapies for patients suffering from diseases caused by insulin resistance, including obesity/overweight and type 2 diabetes (T2D), today announced that new preclinical data combining lead candidate 0602K and tirzepatide as a late-breaking poster will be presented at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, taking place June 2023, 2025, at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Presentation details:

Title: 1982-LB - MPC-Directed Insulin Sensitizer MSDC-0602K Combines with Tirzepatide to Maintain Muscle Mass/Function and Restructure Adipose Tissue [Board No. 1982]





1982-LB - MPC-Directed Insulin Sensitizer MSDC-0602K Combines with Tirzepatide to Maintain Muscle Mass/Function and Restructure Adipose Tissue [Board No. 1982] Authors: M. Abu-Farha, J. Abubaker, F. Almulla, M. Abdul-Ghani, L. Norton, R.A. DeFronzo,J.R. Colca, K.S. McCommis

Date & Time: Sunday, June 22, 2025 , at 12:30 AM CT

Location: Poster Hall (Hall F1)

The abstract for this late-breaking poster will be available beginning Friday, June 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM CT.

About Cirius

Cirius is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focusing on mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), addressing the metabolic dysfunction that causes insulin resistance and the organ pathologies associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity/overweight. Its lead product candidate, 0602K (azemiglitazone potassium), is a potential best-in-class small molecule being developed as a once-daily oral therapy designed to selectively inhibit the mitochondrial target MPC, which plays a central role in selecting mitochondrial energy substrates. MPC inhibition reprograms mitochondrial metabolism, reducing insulin resistance in cells and driving metabolic benefits in organs throughout the body. This markedly improves glycemic control in T2D, body composition in obesity, liver function and fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and outcomes in cardiometabolic disorders.

About 0602K

0602K has completed 7 US clinical trials including a 52-week placebo-controlled Phase 2b study in 392 subjects with MASH with and without T2D, and a 28-day placebo-controlled Phase 2a study in 129 subjects with T2D. In those clinical studies it markedly lowered HbA1c and insulin levels, and reduced liver injury and MASH  including on top of existing GLP-1 therapy. Preclinical studies also demonstrate increased lean muscle mass and function, together with marked metabolically beneficial shifts in adipose tissue phenotype ("bad fat" to "good fat"), including increased brown adipose tissue ("brown fat"). Selectively targeting MPC  while avoiding PPAR- activation  0602K harnesses the real-world proven efficacy of 1st generation insulin sensitizers, such as pioglitazone, but without their side effect concerns.

Directly correcting a major underlying pathophysiology of chronic metabolic disease, 0602K has the potential to become a cornerstone of therapy. Coupling this potent pharmacology with that of the GLP-1s could particularly benefit patients with T2D, obesity/overweight and other diseases.

www.CiriusTx.com

SOURCE Cirius Therapeutics
The new report takes an in-depth look at how firms are expanding beyond compliance  and what's getting in their way.

NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Accounting Today , the leading resource from Arizent for public accountants, publishes its latest research report, Blazing a Trail: The Path to Advisory Services. Sponsored by Choreo, the report reveals where the profession stands with the major push into advisory work, including possible obstacles, key services firms are focusing on and potential ways forward.

Accounting Today research report Blazing a Trail: The Path to Advisory Services

As demand for strategic guidance continues to rise, firms are feeling the pressure to shift beyond tax prep, payroll and other traditional services. While many have already taken steps in this direction, Accounting Today's new data shows that capacity constraints, skill gaps and unclear service priorities are slowing progress  even as 85% of firms plan to grow their advisory business in the next two years, with 25% expecting that growth to be significant.

"While a small portion of the profession may be sticking strictly with compliance services, the majority recognize their best path forward involves adding more advisory services to their practice mix," says Accounting Today Editor-in-Chief Dan Hood, who authored the report. "To do this, though, they'll need to overcome related hurdles like the general talent shortage stretching staff thin, and the need to find or develop the skillsets necessary to offer an entirely new service."

Key insights from the report include:

Which advisory services firms are prioritizing  and why

How internal expertise and client demand shape service line decisions

The surprising limitations of cross-selling among current clients

The challenges holding nearly one-third of firms back from offering any advisory services at all

Based on a survey of nearly 300 accounting professionals, the report offers a grounded look at the profession's transformation, with direct quotes and candid reflections from firm leaders across the country.

This research is essential reading for firms evaluating how  and whether  to expand into advisory work. The full report is now available for download: https://www.accountingtoday.com/research-report/blazing-a-trail-the-path-to-advisory-services

About Accounting Today

Accounting Today is the leading information resource for public accountants  serving the community of professionals who provide tax preparation, bookkeeping, auditing, financial planning, and business advisory and consulting services to individuals and small businesses. Accounting Today is sharply focused on the industry's most important concerns, including tax law, accounting standards, technology, audit and assurance, and wealth management. Its analysis and breaking news, opinion and expert advice, and practical business-building ideas enable partners, principals and practitioners to make informed decisions about their business and the clients they serve.

About Arizent

Arizent is a business information company that advances professional communities by providing insights and analysis and convening industry leaders. The company uses deep industry expertise and a data-driven platform to deliver its services, which include subscriptions, marketing services, live events and access to Leaders Forum, a digital content platform featuring livestream and on-demand formats. Arizent also connects business communities through leading financial services brands like American Banker, The Bond Buyer, Financial Planning and National Mortgage News, as well as professional services brands like Accounting Today, Employee Benefit News and Digital Insurance.

About Choreo

Choreo's core offerings include comprehensive wealth management and retirement plan advisory services. Integrated financial, tax and estate planning, and investment services are at the core of our wealth offering. We work with many complex clients and are adept at tailoring a comprehensive approach for many business owners, foundations and endowments, C-suite executives and entrepreneurs, individuals and families.

For more information on this topic please visit https://choreoadvisors.com/cpa-alliance/

Choreo, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training of the adviser or its representatives. The Choreo Partner Alliance Program is offered through Choreo Partner Alliance, LLC ("Choreo Partner Alliance"), a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Choreo Partner Alliance is an affiliate of Choreo, LLC, a registered investment adviser with the SEC. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training of the adviser or its representatives.

SOURCE Arizent
SILVER SPRING, Md., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aembit, the workload identity and access management (IAM) company, today announced its inclusion in Rising in Cyber 2025, an independent list launched by Notable Capital to spotlight the 30 most promising cybersecurity startups shaping the future of security.

Aembit Named to Rising in Cyber 2025 List of Top Cybersecurity Startups

Unlike traditional rankings, Rising in Cyber 2025 honorees were selected through a multi-stage process grounded in real-world validation. Leading cybersecurity venture firms submitted nominations, and nearly 150 chief information security officers (CISOs) and senior security executives voted on the final list, highlighting the companies solving the most urgent challenges facing today's security teams.

Aembit was selected for its Workload IAM Platform  a solution delivering measurable value to security teams navigating today's complex threat landscape.

The company joins a cohort that has collectively raised over $7.8 billion according to Pitchbook as of May 2025, and is defining the next era of cybersecurity across key areas like identity, application security, agentic AI, and security operations.

"The demand for cybersecurity innovation has never been greater. As the underlying technologies evolve and agentic AI reshapes everything from threat detection to team workflows, we're witnessing a shift from reactive defense to proactive, intelligence-driven operations," said Oren Yunger, managing partner at Notable Capital. "What makes this list special is that it reflects real-world validation  honorees were chosen by CISOs who face these challenges every day. Congratulations to this year's Rising in Cyber companies for building the solutions that modern security leaders truly want and need."

In celebration, honorees will be recognized today at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) alongside top security leaders and investors.

"We're honored to be recognized by the CISOs and security leaders who are shaping the future of this industry," said David Goldschlag, co-founder and CEO of Aembit. "We believe protecting non-human identity is one of the most urgent  and underserved  challenges in cybersecurity, and this validation reflects the growing need to secure access between workloads, such as AI agents and applications, not just users."

Aembit's inclusion in Rising in Cyber 2025 builds on an expanding track record of industry recognition, having been named a finalist in the 2024 RSA Innovation Sandbox, selected to the 2024 SINET16, and securing last September $25M in Series A funding to accelerate adoption. Fortune 500 enterprises are increasingly turning to Aembit to move beyond secrets managers and enforce policy-based access between workloads across cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments.

To learn more about Rising in Cyber 2025, users can visit risingincyber.com.

About Aembit

Aembit is the leading provider of workload identity and access management solutions, designed to secure non-human identities like applications, AI agents, and service accounts across on-premises, SaaS, cloud, and partner environments. Aembit's no-code platform enables organizations to enforce access policies in real time, ensuring the security and integrity of critical infrastructure. Users can visit aembit.io and follow them them LinkedIn.

About Rising in Cyber

Rising in Cyber is an annual list recognizing the most innovative startups in cybersecurity as determined by nearly 150 leading CISOs and cybersecurity executives. Nomination criteria included private, venture-backed companies with a primary product focus on cybersecurity and the U.S. as a primary market. For more information about the honorees, participating investors, and methodology, users can visit www.risingincyber.com.

About Notable Capital

Notable Capital is a global venture capital firm based in the U.S. focused on early-to-growth-stage companies in cloud infrastructure and business and consumer applications. The firm invests primarily in the U.S., Israel, Europe, and Latin America. Notable Capital portfolio companies include Affirm, Airbnb, Anthropic, Brightwheel, Drata, Fal.ai, Handshake, HashiCorp, Ibotta, Monte Carlo, Neon, Orca Security, Quince, Slack, Stori, Vercel, and more.

Notable Capital is a longtime investor in the global cybersecurity sector. Its investments include Bitsight, Descope, Drata, Gem Security (Acquired by Wiz), HashiCorp ($HCP, Acquired by IBM), Nozomi Networks, Orca Security, Torq, Tonic.io, and Vdoo (Acq by JFrog), and more. More information can be found at www.notablecap.com and @notablecap.

Contact

CMO

Apurva Dave

Aembit

[email protected]

Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2703298/Aembit.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2702254/5353377/Aembit_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Aembit
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aesculap, Inc. (Aesculap), the world's largest manufacturer of surgical instruments known for its innovations in neurosurgery, power systems and visualization, has launched XABO Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheters in the U.S. market which will help to significantly reduce the risk of shunt infections in hydrocephalus patients.1 This innovative product is designed to improve treatment for both pediatric and adult patients who suffer from this condition.

Hydrocephalus, characterized by excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, affects over 1 million people in the United States. Shunt therapy, the most common treatment,2 often comes with the risk of infection,3 which impacts 7-15% of patients.4 These infections can impair quality of life, cognitive function and shunt survival.5

The XABO Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheters offer enhanced infection control, with clinical studies showing a two-thirds reduction in shunt infection rates as compared to standard catheters.4 The catheters continuously release antibiotics for a minimum of 38 days post-implantation,6 covering the critical period when patients are most vulnerable to infections.3,8-10 The XABO Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheter's unique packaging allows for extended sterility, up to 36 months, as well as being able to withstand temperatures up to 86F without losing their effectiveness.6 The high potency of clindamycin hydrochloride and rifampicin impregnation allows for low antibiotic dosage release which may reduce allergic reactions and minimize the risk of resistance development.

"We are excited to introduce the XABO Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheters, which represent a significant advancement in the treatment of hydrocephalus," said Bob Sowinski, Corporate Vice President, Aesculap. "This launch is key to our goal to improve patient outcomes and quality of life by reducing the incidence of shunt infections, a common and serious complication of hydrocephalus treatment."

For more information, please visit our website.

About Aesculap, Inc.

Aesculap, Inc., a B. Braun company, is part of a 180-year-old global organization focused on meeting the needs of an ever-changing healthcare community. Through close collaboration with its customers, Aesculap provides advanced technologies for neurosurgery, general surgery and sterilization technologies. Aesculap continues a proud heritage of leadership and responsiveness as we strive to deliver products and services that improve the quality of patients' lives. For more information, call 800-282-9000 or visit aesculapusa.com.

References:

Fernandez-Mendez R, Richards HK, Seeley HM, et al. Current epidemiology of cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery in the UK and Ireland (2004-2013). Hydrocephalus Association. (2021). What is Hydrocephalus? | Hydrocephalus Association. www.hydroassoc.org. https://www.hydroassoc.org/about-hydrocephalus/ 2. Okamura Y, Maruyama K, Fukuda S, et al. Detailed standardized protocol to prevent cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection. J Neurosurg 2019:15. Okamura Y, Maruyama K, Fukuda S, et al. Detailed standardized protocol to prevent cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection. J Neurosurg 2019:15. Fernandez-Mendez R, Richards HK, Seeley HM, et al. Current epidemiology of cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery in the UK and Ireland (2004-2013). Vinchon M, Dhellemmes P. Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection: risk factors and long-term follow-up. Childs Nerv Syst 2006;22(7):69297. MIETHKE report. Data on file. Okamura Y, Maruyama K, Fukuda S, et al. Detailed standardized protocol to prevent cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection. J Neurosurg 2019:15. Borgbjerg BM, Gjerris F, Albeck MJ, Brgesen SE. Risk of infection after cerebrospinal fluid shunt: an analysis of 884 first-time shunts. Acta Neurochir ( Wien ). 1995;136(1-2):1-7. George R, Leibrock L, Epstein M. Long-term analysis of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections. A 25-year experience. J Neurosurg. 1979;51(6):804-811. Wells DL, Allen JM. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections in adult patients. AACN Adv Crit Care. 2013;24(1):6-14.

SOURCE Aesculap, Inc.
OSLO, Norway, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PTAS Aker Solutions has secured a significant1 two-year contract extension to provide offshore maintenance and modification services to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP). The extension is a result of the customer exercising an option included in the current agreement.

PTAS Aker Solutions, a local joint venture between Aker Solutions and the Brunei company PTAS Sdn Bhd, has been awarded a contract extension for delivery of Offshore Restoration Maintenance Construction (ORMC) services for Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP).

The work will be managed from PTAS Aker Solutions Sdn Bhd's office in Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam.

The scope of work covers maintenance and upgrades to sustain production levels across offshore assets in the South China Sea, with PTAS Aker Solutions serving as the main contractor.

"We look forward to leveraging an optimized delivery model and driving targeted improvement initiatives during this contract period. As the main contractor, we are committed to enhancing new ways of working and improving performance and efficiency while delivering cost reductions across the value chain", said Paal Eikeseth, Executive Vice President and head of Aker Solutions' Life Cycle Business.

Aker Solutions secured the first ORMC contract for Brunei Shell Petroleum in 2012 and the current contract in 2020 as PTAS Aker Solutions. PTAS Aker Solutions combines strong local execution capabilities, with the full breadth of Aker Solutions' international expertise.

The contract will be booked as an order intake in the second quarter of 2025 in the Life Cycle segment.

1 Aker Solutions defines a significant contract as being between NOK 1.5 billion and NOK 2.5 billion.

CONTACT:



Preben rbeck

investor relations

[email protected]

+47 470 10 611

Ruth Lycke

media contact

[email protected]

+47 906 65 931

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/r/aker-solutions-asa--ptas-aker-solutions-secures-extension-of-brownfield-services-contract-in-brunei,c4158983
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. During his visit to Japan, Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and the countrys Commissioner General for Expo 2025, met with Akihisa Nagashima, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, Trend reports.

The sides discussed cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan in various fields and the implementation of joint projects.

Advisor Akihisa Nagashima noted the rapid development of cooperation between the two countries in the energy and oil and gas sectors and emphasized the great potential for collaboration in the field of renewable energy. He expressed gratitude for Azerbaijans active participation in Expo 2025 in Osaka and said the national pavilion effectively showcases the countrys rich cultural heritage.

Anar Alakbarov stated that the President of Azerbaijan places great emphasis on the development of relations with Japan and noted the broad potential for cooperation in multiple sectors. He highlighted the reconstruction initiatives in the liberated territories and invited Japanese companies to take an active part in these projects.

The importance of humanitarian and cultural initiatives to deepen the friendship between the two nations was emphasized. They noted that Azerbaijani National Days will be held in Tokyo and Osaka. The Azerbaijani national pavilion is among the most visited at this years world expo and has been recognized as one of the top 10 most impressive pavilions of Osaka 2025.
CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With Commonwealth Edison customers facing a 45 percent increase in the price of power, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday called on Illinois' largest electric utility to work with people struggling to afford their bills this summer so they can keep their electricity on and protect themselves from dangerous heat.

"This will be a difficult summer for far too many customers, and we urge ComEd to do everything possible to work with people so they stay safe, cool and connected this summer," CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. She called for ComEd to offer consumer-friendly payment plans that give customers a longer time to pay off their debt.

ComEd's summer "price to compare" the rate customers should compare with alternative supplier offersis: 10.028 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from June through September.

Note: This rate includes the supply price and a transmission charge. The increase impacts the supply section, which makes up about a half to two-thirds of ComEd bills. ComEd does not profit off supplythey pass those costs onto customers with no markup. A new, non-summer supply rate, which has yet to be announced, will take effect Oct. 1. The price of electricity is expected to be elevated at least through next May.

ComEd has estimated the increase will cost customers an average of 10 to 15 percent, or $10.60 more per month, over the next year. The spike is connected to an increase in the price for reserve power, also called "capacity." CUB argues that capacity costs have skyrocketed largely because of policy problems with the power grid operator for northern Illinois, PJM Interconnection, which runs an auction that determines the price of capacity.

CUB has tips to help Illinois consumers get through the expensive summer at CUBHelpCenter.com , including:

Use energy efficiency to soften the blow of the price spike. Simple actions can help, such as weatherizing windows and doors and turning off unnecessary lights. Don't take risks that keep your home too hotefficiency is about eliminating waste but staying safe and cool this summer.





Simple actions can help, such as weatherizing windows and doors and turning off unnecessary lights. Don't take risks that keep your home too hotefficiency is about eliminating waste but staying safe and cool this summer. Stay in contact with your utility. Consumers who are struggling should contact their utilities to inquire about payment plans and learn about energy efficiency programs.





Consumers who are struggling should contact their utilities to inquire about payment plans and learn about energy efficiency programs. Consider programs to help ease costs. ComEd's Peak Time Savings program gives customers the opportunity to earn bill credits by reducing electricity usage during high-demand periods, typically summer afternoons. Also, Illinois' c ommunity solar program offers customers the benefits of solar power without having to install panels on their homes. All offers currently guarantee savings compared to ComEd's supply price. CUB's resource, SolarInTheCommunity.com , can help you carefully shop for offers.





ComEd's program gives customers the opportunity to earn bill credits by reducing electricity usage during high-demand periods, typically summer afternoons. Also, ommunity solar program offers customers the benefits of solar power without having to install panels on their homes. All offers currently guarantee savings compared to ComEd's supply price. CUB's resource, , can help you carefully shop for offers. Beware of rip-offs. Since 2015, Illinois consumers have lost about $1.8 billion to alternative electricity suppliers. These suppliers are impacted by the same market conditions that are causing utility prices to increase, so it's likely, even in this expensive market, that ComEd is your best bet. One exception: If your community has negotiated a power deal with a supplier, it's possible the price is lower than ComEd's supply rate. Confirm the price and find out when the offer expires.

While the price spike is bad news, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) is providing some relief. Illinois' landmark energy law requires a line item on ComEd bills called the Carbon Free Energy Resource Adjustment (CFERA) to subsidize energy generated by nuclear power plants in Illinois. But consumer advocates pushed for a provision that changes the charge to a credit when energy prices go above a certain level. The credit can change each month, but it's expected to be on bills for the next year. In June it's a 1.7 cents per kWh credit.

For more than 40 years the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has been Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has helped save consumers more than $20 billion by blocking rate hikes and securing refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, at 1-800-669-5556, or visit CUB's website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board
IFF technical refresh positions the Department of Defense to meet future cyber and crypto requirements and eliminates obsolescence

GREENLAWN, N.Y., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems (LON: BA) $30 million to refresh the AN/APX-123A(V) Common Transponder (CXP), which provides time-critical insights that help prevent friendly fire incidents. The refreshed CXP will support the U.S. Navy fleet and joint forces for air defense, weapon systems, air traffic control, and range instrumentation.

BAE Systems awarded $30 million to refresh the AN/APX-123A(V) Common Transponder

The upgrade will serve as a replacement option for currently installed Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders on existing and emerging platforms including unmanned aerial vehicles, ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. As a form, fit, and function replacement, its design will address obsolescence and processing capacity to support future needs. The open-system architecture design and high-density field programmable gate array technology ensures ongoing versatility and future utility through software upgrades, without the risk and cost associated with hardware modifications.

"Common transponders provide our service men and women with a reliable and secure solution to help them identify friendly forces and make decisions in a variety of threat environments," said Seth Guanu, Combat Identification Products program area director at BAE Systems. "The level of speed, security, and accuracy matters to support interoperability across U.S. forces. This modernization effort enables us to deliver a critical capability to thousands of existing applications and equip emerging platforms."

The AN/APX-123A(V) CXP will be Mark XIIB IFF certified with Mode S and Mode 5 for secure and encrypted data exchange  meeting latest Department of Defense standards. It will also include additional receive channels for passive acquisition of Mode 5 Level 2 and Automatic Dependent Surveillance  Broadcast In, enhancing situational awareness for warfighters. It will provide high-performance, multi-function capabilities while supporting the latest crypto requirements.

With more than 80 years of IFF experience, BAE Systems has delivered over 1,500 interrogators, 6,000 combined interrogator transponder systems, and 16,000 transponders.

The AN/APX-123A(V) CXP technical refresh work will be performed at BAE Systems' Greenlawn, New York and Austin, Texas facilities. Production hardware is expected to be qualified for flight and delivered to users in 2027.

For more information, please contact:

Chelsey Campbell, BAE Systems

Mobile: 603-484-3993

[email protected]

www.baesystems.com/en-us

@BAESystemsInc

SOURCE BAE Systems, Inc.
MONTREAL, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Biodextris, a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) rooted in the legacy of GSK's biologics and vaccine operations and backed by the healthcare-focused private equity firm ArchiMed, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Behzad Mahdavi as Executive Chairman. In this role, Dr. Mahdavi will also lead the company's global commercial expansion, serving as Chief Commercial Officer.

Behzad Mahdavi, PhD, MBA

With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the CDMO and CRO sectorsincluding senior roles at Lonza, Catalent Pharma Solutions, and Ginkgo BioworksDr. Mahdavi brings a proven track record of commercial innovation, global market development, and value-driven growth across the biopharmaceutical landscape. His appointment marks a pivotal moment for Biodextris as it advances its mission to become a world-class provider of end-to-end development and manufacturing services for biologics (mammalian and microbial), vaccines, and advanced therapeutic modalities.

"With our scientific heritage, top-tier talent, and a purpose-built, versatile GMP facility, Biodextris is uniquely positioned to help companies overcome the challenges of scaling complex biologics and emerging modalities," said Dr. Behzad Mahdavi. "My objective is to make Biodextris the partner of choice for innovative pharma and cell engineering companiesscaling early breakthroughs from bench to batch, quickly and reliably, with a flexible and approachable team that truly understands the science behind each product and embraces innovation."

Patrick Monpetit, who has served as Chairman of the Board, will transition to the role of Vice-Chairman and Lead Independent Director, and will continue to actively support the company.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mahdavi to Biodextris," said Cedric Heroux, CEO of Biodextris. "His global commercial acumen and strategic vision come at a pivotal time as we expand our state-of-the-art GMP facility. His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our position as a trusted international partner in biologics development."

Meet Dr. Mahdavi and the Biodextris team at the upcoming BIO International Convention to learn more about the company's expanding capabilities and global vision.

About Biodextris

Biodextris is a full-service Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) offering integrated biomanufacturing solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry. Built on the legacy of GSK's biologics and vaccine operations, Biodextris combines deep scientific expertise with advanced infrastructure to serve clients developing biologics, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies. The company delivers comprehensive services from early development to commercial manufacturing, with a strong emphasis on reliability, flexibility, and speed.

Media Contact:

Melina Gautier

+330651554047

[email protected]

SOURCE Biodextris
TACOMA, Wash., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BNBuilders has officially broken ground on the new Fire Service Training Center at Bates Technical College, a critical project that will support the next generation of first responders in the South Sound.

Designed by Miller Hull, the project includes a new 34,600-square-foot academic and fire training support facility and an 18,900-square-foot, five-story live fire training tower. The site will also feature outdoor training spaces, expanded drill grounds, and a variety of fire training props to provide hands-on learning in realistic scenarios.

Photo of the team, including Bates President Dr. Zhou, performing the ceremonial groundbreaking.

"This new Fire Service Training Center represents a major investment in our students, our community, and the future of public safety. We are proud to partner with BNBuilders and Miller Hull to bring this vital facility to life. It will provide our students with the hands-on, real-world training they need to respond with skill and confidence in critical situations. This center reinforces our commitment to workforce development and our role in preparing the next generation of first responders," said Dr. Lin Zhou, President of Bates Technical College.

The new center will support Bates' fire service program, which trains students in firefighting, emergency medical response, and hazardous materials handling. As the demand for skilled firefighters continues to grow, this facility will be a vital hub for workforce development.

BNBuilders is honored to support Bates Technical College in creating a purpose-built facility that contributes to the future of public safety in Tacoma. The Fire Service Training Center is scheduled for completion in summer 2026.

About BNBuilders:

BNBuilders is a 100% employee-owned general contractor with six offices, 1000+ employees, and a strong presence in the California, Colorado, and Washington construction markets. Our collaborative approach has established us as a leader and preferred contractor for some of the world's most recognizable and respected companies.

Our specialty lies in leading complex projects for clients in the life science, education, healthcare, public, corporate, and technology sectors. We focus on developing innovative solutions to highly technical issues, providing comprehensive preconstruction services, utilizing sustainable construction practices, and serving the communities where we live and work. Our founding principles include diversity, sustainability, community, innovation, knowledge, and safety. Above all, we value the people who contribute to the unique and essential work we do.

For press inquiries, contact:

Bryna Brown

BNBuilders

[email protected]

SOURCE BNBuilders
With investments totalling US$147 million, bolttech closes Series C with the addition of new investors

SINGAPORE, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- bolttech, the fast-growing global insurtech, today announced the addition of Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan's largest trading houses, and Iberis Capital, a leading private equity and venture capital manager in Portugal, as strategic investors. Their participation marks the successful close of bolttech's Series C funding round, with shares acquired by Series C investors in the amount of US$147 million, reflecting a company valuation of US$2.1 billion.

In addition to Sumitomo Corporation becoming a strategic investor, the company has entered a joint venture with bolttech to deliver embedded insurance programmes and complementary end-to-end services for partners in Asia.

Sumitomo Corporation and Iberis Capital join Dragon Fund, Baillie Gifford, Generali's Lion River, and other investors in bolttech's Series C funding round closing. This investment will enable the company to enhance its platform's capabilities and accelerate its global growth strategy, to make insurance more personalised, accessible, affordable, and convenient for customers.

Shinichi Kato, Group CEO of Media & Digital Group, Sumitomo Corporation, said, "We are thrilled to join forces with bolttech  both as a strategic investor and through our joint venture. We are confident that this partnership will enable us to work closely with the bolttech team to drive growth and innovation across the Asia region."

Luis Quaresma, Partner, Iberis Capital, said, "bolttech has emerged as a leading embedded insurtech player spanning a global footprint in a short amount of time. We are impressed by its tech capabilities, strategic vision for the future of insurance and its highly talented management team. We look forward to contributing to its next phase of growth, supporting the continued advancement of its unique solution."

Rob Schimek, Group Chief Executive Officer, bolttech, said, "We are delighted to welcome our newest strategic investors Sumitomo Corporation and Iberis Capital as we successfully close our Series C. This investment is a strong endorsement of our unique business proposition, reinforcing our commitment to enabling a better insurance experience for customers worldwide. We are excited to continue our journey to build the future of insurance, working towards our vision of connecting people with more ways to protect the things they value."

SOURCE bolttech
-- Industry leader supports life science developers --

BOULDER, Colo., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boulder iQ will exhibit at the 2025 Redefining Every Stage of Investment (RESI) conference June 16 in Boston.

As an expert contract consulting firm, Boulder iQ provides full, integrated services that life science developers need to bring their product to market: product design and development, regulatory and quality, manufacturing and assembly, sterilization, and packaging and labeling.

"We're a strategic partner in the business of helping early-stage companies speed their products to market," explains Jim Kasic, president and CEO of Boulder iQ. "When companies get the funding they need to forward, we are able to help them navigate the complex development processes  and do so quickly, cost-effectively and successfully."

Several hundred investors and strategic partners will take part in the RESI conference series, which connects early-stage life science and healthcare companies with investors and strategic partners. Start-up companies can source funding and build relationships, ultimately aiming to get funding and support for their early-stage projects.

"The industry offers very few opportunities for early-stage companies can find full concept-though-manufacturing support with experienced experts," explains Kasic. "RESI offers a dedicated venue for us to identify companies that are looking to move their core technology to commercialization, and need agile product development support to do so."

Boulder iQ (www.boulderiq.com)

Boulder iQ is an expert contract firm that provides life sciences companies all the services they need to bring products to market. Sister companies Boulder Sterilization and Boulder Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance work together to help developers speed products to market. Boulder Sterilization provides quick-turn ethylene oxide (EO) and chlorine dioxide (CD) sterilization services for medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic products. Boulder Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance provides full regulatory and quality support.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Boulder iQ is ISO 13485:2016 certified through Boulder BioMed.

SOURCE Boulder iQ
DENVER, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Burstverse, the pioneer behind the next-generation AI-driven decentralized finance (DeFai) platform, today announced the successful closure of its seed funding round. This crucial investment attracted a distinguished group of Web3 and AI-focused investors, including Borderless Capital, Bigbrain Holdings, Maelstrom, Lattice Fund, Selini Capital, Symbolic Capital, and Node Capital.

Burstverse is building "Your Ultimate Crypto Copilot," an advanced platform that fuses artificial intelligence with the intricacies of decentralized finance. The platform's mission is to radically simplify and automate both DeFai and CeFi interactions through a unified, conversational AI interface. Users can seamlessly execute a wide range of Web3 actions by leveraging natural language commands, which Burstverse's AI Agents translate into sophisticated on-chain operationsincluding token swaps, staking, and multi-chain bridgingacross leading blockchains.

Key differentiators of the Burstverse platform include an AI-first architecture for interpreting and executing financial tasks, a seamless conversational interface for all DeFai activities, robust multi-chain support (covering Ethereum, Solana, BNBChain, and Base), and a proprietary LLM-Native Wallet designed for secure, intuitive DeFai experiences.

This seed funding will accelerate Burstverse's product development, expand its technical and community teams, and support the upcoming launch of the Burstverse Beta. Proceeds will also drive further integration with multi-chain DeFai protocols and continued enhancement of its LLM-Native Wallet technology.

About Burstverse

Burstverse, a Web3 AI company, is at the forefront of the DeFai revolution, delivering an AI-powered decentralized finance platform that empowers users to automate and manage their crypto operations through natural language. By combining cutting-edge AI with the flexibility of DeFi, Burstverse is redefining how users interact with and benefit from decentralized financial ecosystems.

Contact:

Adrian Patel

[email protected]

https://www.burstverseai.xyz/

SOURCE BURSTVERSE AI LIMITED
"Sun Life's annual high-cost claims report illustrates the escalating nature of healthcare costs and the growing financial burden on employers and the healthcare system," said Jen Collier, president of Health and Risk Solutions, Sun Life U.S. "By analyzing our clinical data annually, we are able to create solutions with targeted interventions and personalized care navigation that can have a significant impact on both health outcomes and cost containment."

Cancer Leads as Top Cost Driver

Cancer once again tops the list as the most frequent and costly condition, with malignant neoplasms (solid tumors) generating $1.2 billion in spending across approximately 5,000 claims in 2024triple the cost of the second-leading condition, cardiovascular. While blood cancers (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma) moved down one spot, they remain in the top five categories with nearly 900 members experiencing a high-cost claim annually.

Additional Key Findings:

Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal (Ortho/MSK) conditions are increasing in frequency, placing the category in the top three for the first time.

While the average cost is lower than most categories at $116,000 , it is second in claim frequency only to malignant neoplasms.

, it is second in claim frequency only to malignant neoplasms. The total spend in the category is $1.18 billion for the reporting period.

The average cost for congenital anomaly claims increased 70% since 2021.

More than 450 members experienced a congenital anomaly with an average claim cost of $335,000 .

. The highest-cost claim in this category in 2024 was approximately $12 million .

Uncategorized drugs' have emerged as one of the highest-cost categories among injectable drugs, driven in part by gene therapies.

This category encompasses newly approved medications, compounded formulations, and drugs used in experimental treatments during clinical trials.

Even though the average treatment cost is relatively low at $5,900 , two members received gene therapies totaling $6.8 million in 2024, catapulting the category to #16 on the list.

Eight of the 10 highest-cost drugs are primarily used in the treatment of cancer.

Keytruda was the costliest cancer treatment and the highest overall drug with $84.4 million in spend.

in spend. Durvalumab was added to this year's list due to a spike in utilization over the four-year and one-year views, with 78 members using the drug in 2024.

"As a physician, I am keenly aware that factors such as chronic conditions, medical advancements, drug spend, and delayed care are putting pressure on employers and their workforces," said Dr. Miles Varn, chief medical officer, Sun Life U.S. and head of PinnacleCare. "Through Sun Life's dedicated programs and resources, our clinical team can engage members early in their healthcare journey  helping to close care gaps by finding appropriate care and services  ultimately improving the outcomes for individuals while creating more sustainable costs for employers."

As a stop-loss provider, Sun Life covers high-cost claims for employers who self-fund their employee health plans. According to KFF, an independent non-profit organization focused on national health issues, 63% of covered workers in the U.S. are in a plan that is self-funded.

To learn more, register for Sun Life's High-Cost Claims and Injectables webinar on June 5 featuring Jennifer Collier, Sun Life's president of Health and Risk Solutions, Dr. Miles Varn, chief medical officer, Mike Huppert, AVP, Actuarial and Risk Management, and Ryan Murphy, assistant vice president, Health Capabilities and Strategic Growth.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.55 trillion. For more information, please visit sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,300 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.).

Media contact:

Anjie Coplin

[email protected]

469-938-1050

Connect with Sun Life U.S.

https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial

SOURCE Sun Life U.S.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. and CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CarePredict , the leading AI-powered, proactive care platform in senior living, and ALIS by Medtelligent, the leader in purpose built software for senior living communities, today announced the results of their collaboration that delivers real-time care tracking that aligns scheduled care with actual care deliveredempowering operators to minimize revenue leakage, improve outcomes, and optimize staffing.

Senior living communities can now have an accurate 360-degree view of all care delivered - scheduled tasks, on-demand tasks, and incidental care. CarePoint is the only solution in senior living that autonomously captures the minutes staff spend delivering direct care, anywhere in the communitywithout the need for cameras.

"Our partnership with ALIS marks a significant step forward in providing senior living operators with a comprehensive, real-time picture of resident care," said Satish Movva, CEO and Founder of CarePredict. "By connecting the dots between scheduled and unscheduled care, we're enabling communities to make informed decisions, reduce operational blind spots, and ensure the highest quality of care."

The combined capabilities of ALIS and CarePredict create a one-stop, integrated care management platform offering the following benefits:

Industry-First Real-Time Care Tracking: CarePredict's CarePoint is the leading platform that autonomously captures the time spent by care staff in direct care with the residentsanywhere in the community. This allows operators to confidently align service plans with services delivered, optimize staffing, and reduce NOI losses from unreimbursed care.

CarePredict's CarePoint is the leading platform that autonomously captures the time spent by care staff in direct care with the residentsanywhere in the community. This allows operators to confidently align service plans with services delivered, optimize staffing, and reduce NOI losses from unreimbursed care. Autonomous Charting Ensures Compliance: Care tasks created in ALIS can be tracked and completed via CarePredict's mobile app at the point of care, closing care loops and increasing documentation compliancewithout adding to staff workload.

Care tasks created in ALIS can be tracked and completed via CarePredict's mobile app at the point of care, closing care loops and increasing documentation compliancewithout adding to staff workload. Holistic View of Care Needs: Integrating residents' planned care tasks in ALIS with CarePredict's on-demand care requests, provides the care team with a comprehensive view of residents' care needs - facilitating resource allocation and providing objective data for family discussions.

"Our goal is to provide senior living operators with a connected ecosystem that empowers staff, improves care delivery, and simplifies workflows," said John Shaeffee, CEO of Medtelligent. "Partnering with CarePredict helps us deliver on that vision, combining rich, real-time insights with streamlined care planning."

The integration is now available for all senior living communities using ALIS and CarePredict. Operators interested in enabling the integration can contact [email protected] and [email protected] .

About CarePredict

Leveraging AI since 2015, CarePredict addresses real-world challenges in senior livingimproving resident retention, optimizing staffing, minimizing NOI leakage, and driving operational efficiencies. CarePredict optimizes both resident care and operational efficiency, delivering exceptional value to your community. CarePredict offers a comprehensive platform that combines fall detection, a nurse call system, real-time location tracking, proactive health analytics, and a lot more to provide operators with a single source of data.

About Medtelligent

Medtelligent makes ALIS: software purpose-built for clinical management, billing, and operational reporting in assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities. ALIS is designed to solve senior living-specific challenges including regulatory compliance management across different states, full eMAR management and drug counting, integrated assessments, and family engagement. To learn more, visit medtelligent.com.

Media contact:

CarePredict

Josh Studzinski

Chief Growth Officer

[email protected]

1-800-608-7188

ALIS by Medtelligent

Gary Jones

EVP of Sales & Marketing

[email protected]

1-888-404-ALIS (2547)

SOURCE CarePredict
David Hyde Pierce to Emcee Star-Studded Evening at Cipriani 42nd Street Celebrating Compassion, Innovation, and Human-Centered Dementia Care

NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CaringKind, a leading expert in Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving, proudly announces its 29th annual Forget-Me-Not Gala taking place on Monday, June 9th, 2025, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at Cipriani 42nd Street. The Gala is CaringKind's signature fundraising event, benefiting its vital programs that support individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer's and related dementias.

Members of the press are invited to attend the red carpet from 5:306:30 PM for photo and interview opportunities.

Returning as Master of Ceremonies is Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor, activist, and advocate David Hyde Pierce, whose longtime support of the Alzheimer's community anchors an evening of inspiration, storytelling, and collective impact. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, seated dinner, musical performances, and an awards program  followed by a high-energy after-party with dancing and desserts beginning at 9:30 PM.

This year's event theme, Connect2Living, reflects CaringKind's commitment to creating a dignified, compassionate community where individuals living with dementia, their care partners, and families can thrive through connection, dignity, and support at every stage of the disease.

Honorees

CaringKind will present the following awards to distinguished leaders in health, innovation, and culture:

Dr. Susan Beane , MD, FACP  Connect2Impact Award

As Executive Medical Director at Healthfirst, Dr. Beane has transformed how underserved populations receive care  championing equitable, whole-person healthcare that puts compassion at the center. Her leadership in CaringKind's Healthy NY partnership made Healthfirst the first insurance provider to offer dementia care services directly to its members, setting a new precedent for community health innovation.

Peter Frishauf  Connect2Hope Award

A digital health pioneer and founder of Medscape, Peter Frishauf revolutionized access to medical information and ethical technology use. A visionary who also champions age-friendly cities and livable communities, Peter was an early supporter of CaringKind's Connect2Living initiative, using technology and community design to make Alzheimer's care more human-centered and hopeful.

Fern Mallis  Connect2Vision & Culture Award

Known as the "Godmother of Fashion," Fern Mallis is the former Executive Director of the CFDA and the creator of New York Fashion Week. As President of Fern Mallis LLC, she has spent decades shaping global fashion while championing young creatives. Her influence extends beyond fashion  using her platform to raise awareness for causes close to her heart. She will be introduced by Kenneth Cole.

Special Guests

Emma Heming Willis, author, care partner, advocate, and Co-Founder of Make Time Wellness, and Helen Christoni, brand builder, women's health advocate, Co-Founder and CEO of Make Time Wellness, will join the evening's program. Together, they lead Make Time Wellness  a science-backed brand advancing the conversation around women's brain health, designed to help women prioritize their minds, bodies, and overall well-being.

The live auction will be hosted by Seth Herzog, a resident comedian from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, who is returning once again to bring his signature energy and humor to the event, alongside Lydia Fenet, CEO and Founder of Lydia Fenet Agency who will guide the Paddle Raise.

This year's Gala arrives at a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Just last month, the FDA announced the clearance of the first-ever blood test to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, marking a groundbreaking step forward in early detection and intervention. This medical advancement brings renewed urgency and hope to the Alzheimer's community, making the support services provided by CaringKind more essential than ever. As more families begin their caregiving journey earlier in the disease process, CaringKind's expert programs, guidance, and services will play an increasingly vital role in helping them navigate the road ahead.

"We are excited this years focus on Connect2Living is more than a program. It's a promise, to build an Alzheimer's community where no one walks alone. Whether it's music therapy, early-stage support groups, or caregiver training rooted in compassion, we are creating spaces where people affected by dementia can thrive, not just survive. We are honoring memories, rewriting stigma, and celebrating every moment of clarity and joy," says Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, President and CEO of CaringKind.

For more information about CaringKind's Forget-Me-Not Gala, including donations and ticket purchases, please visit ckgala.org

About CaringKind

CaringKind is your leading expert on Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving working directly with community partners to develop the information, tools, and training to support individuals and families affected by dementia. CaringKind is dedicated to being your Trusted Partner in the journey through Alzheimer's and related dementia care, providing guidance, support, and comprehensive services to every person, at every stage of the disease. From the moment of diagnosis to end-of-life care, their mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or the challenges they face, receive the trusted support they need, ensuring no one walks this path alone.

Media Contacts:

5WPR, [email protected]

Courtney Dawson, [email protected]

SOURCE CaringKind
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. A total of 1.5 million manat ($880,000) has been allocated for the overhaul of the Baku-Guba- Russian Federation state border (137 km)-Chichi-Sabatlar-Ganidara-Sirt Chichi-Tangaalti highway, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

According to the decree, the mentioned sum was allocated to the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads for the overhaul of the above highway.

The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan must provide financing in the amount specified in Part 1 of this decree.

The Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan must allocate the necessary financial resources for the continuation of the major repair of the highway specified in Part 1 of this decree in the allocation of state capital investment expenses in the draft state budget of Azerbaijan for 2026.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has to resolve the issues arising from this decree.
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) has named Rachel Myslinski, MBA, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Myslinski is a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare in the professional medical association, management consulting, and non-profit research foundation settings. She brings deep expertise in executive leadership, strategic planning, non-profit Board governance, financial management, philanthropy, and healthcare policy. Myslinski's background also includes registries, advocacy, and operations.

In her most recent role, Myslinski was the Executive Director of the Rheumatology Research Foundation, where she oversaw the organization's strategy and operations. During her time as Executive Director, she facilitated several collaborations for the benefit of the rheumatology community, including a collaboration between the RRF and the Lupus Research Alliance that resulted in a new Empowering Lupus Research Partnership, which will provide support for early career investigators. She also successfully led the organization's changing philanthropy strategy which resulted in a broader, more sustainable donor base.

"Rachel has the ideal combination of skills and experience to help move CARRA forward as we position the organization for innovative growth and continued excellence in fulfilling our mission," said CARRA President Stacy Ardoin, M.D. "She has a proven track record of driving revenue expansion and fostering excellence at rheumatology non-profits, and we are excited for this new chapter at CARRA with her leadership and strategic vision."

Prior to her leadership position at the Rheumatology Research Foundation, Myslinski was Vice President, Practice, Advocacy and Quality for the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). During her tenure at ACR, Myslinski led the development of the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry, which is the first and largest electronic health record-enabled rheumatology registry in the United States and has been instrumental in supporting rheumatologists meeting regulatory reporting requirements. With more than 1,000 participating clinicians and 2.4 million patients in the registry, RISE has been instrumental in improving care and expanding research.

"I am looking forward to working more closely with the pediatric rheumatology community as part of CARRA's leadership team," Myslinski said. "CARRA has already brought great innovation to the field of pediatric rheumatology, and I see lots of opportunity for the organization to continue to grow in its mission to conduct collaborative research to prevent, treat and cure pediatric rheumatic diseases."

She previously worked as a Senior Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), providing business strategy consulting for hospitals and healthcare nonprofits.

Myslinski earned her BA and MBA degrees at Emory University, an MPH certificate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys yoga, travel and spending time with her family in her free time.

Her start date at CARRA will be July 10, 2025, and Larry Hausner will remain the interim CEO until then.

The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization. CARRA's mission is to conduct collaborative research to prevent, treat, and cure pediatric rheumatic diseases. Formed in 2002 by a small group of dedicated physicians, CARRA has grown to have 800 members at more than 120 institutions in North America and abroad. CARRA has built the largest observational multi-center Registry for pediatric rheumatic disease and operates two biorepositories  one in the US and one in Canada. Learn more about CARRA.

Media Contact:

Bailey Parker

[email protected]

225.907.5647

SOURCE Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)
Century Fasteners Corp. and Cherry Aerospace Relationship Showcased at the 2025 International Paris Air Show, Paris-Le Bourget Airport, France, June 16-22, 2025.

ELMHURST, N.Y., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Fasteners Corp. (www.CenturyFasteners.com) is an authorized distributor for Cherry Aerospace (www.CherryAerospace.com).

Century Fasteners Corp. is exhibiting at the 2025 International Paris Air Show, Paris-Le Bourget Airport, France, June 16-22, 2025.and will be showcasing its relationship with Cherry Aerospace and its value-added capabilities in Hall 3, Stand F94.

In addition to making world-class Cherry products more broadly available to distributors and OEMs, the partnership expands Century's existing services to the manufacturing community by enabling the company to provide deeper bill of material coverage to complement its product offering.

The International Paris Air Show hosts the world's top air show every two years, where the aerospace, aviation and defense industries can lead change, network, learn from experts and find new business opportunities. For more info about the event, please go to: 2025 International Paris Air Show.

About Century Fasteners

Century Fasteners Corp. is an ISO9001: 2015, AS9100D and AS9120B certified company, serving as a master distributor of fastener and non-fastener products. Century offers leading customer service, an extensive product range, and advanced VMI technology to serve the Aerospace, Military, and Defense industries. Century offers a comprehensive array of value-added services and VMI programs to substantially reduce the costs associated with ordering, stocking, and inventory management. Service, Inventory, Integrity

For Cherry Aerospace product quotes for OEMs or Distributors, email the requirements to Century Fasteners Corp. at [email protected]. See our in stock and ready to ship Cherry Aerospace - CherryMax Rivets inventory here 

About Cherry Aerospace

Headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, Cherry Aerospace is a global leader in the design and manufacture of fastening systems for the aerospace industry. The Cherry Aerospace name is synonymous with aerospace fasteners, and the CherryMax line of rivets is the most widely used in the industry. Cherry Aerospace is well known for their industry leading blind rivets, blind bolts, rivetless nut plates, shear pin fasteners and installation tools. The company is a member of the SPS Fastener Division of Precision Castparts Corp.

Media contact:

John Ringold, Director of Marketing - Century Fasteners Corp.

800-221-0769

[email protected]

www.centuryfasteners.com

Contact:

***@optonline.net

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13080466

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Century Fasteners Corp.
As Governors Island celebrates its 20th season open to the public, New York City's only waterfront glamping retreat returns for 2025 with renewed culinary offerings, refreshed recreational experiences, and curated summer programmingjust a 10-minute ferry ride from Manhattan.

NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestled within a 172-acre green haven Collective Retreats Governors Island proudly announces its reopening for the 2025 season. As the only overnight lodging destination on Governors Island, the retreat offers 29 immersive glamping-style accommodations at the historic destination that allow guests to unwind and connect with nature in a secluded environment along the shores of New York Harbor. With upgraded culinary offerings and thoughtful programming, the retreat provides an accessible escape that feels worlds away.

COLLECTIVE RETREATS GOVERNORS ISLAND RETURNS FOR THE 2025 SEASON WITH A NATURE-FORWARD ESCAPE IN THE HEART OF NYC Post this The Summit Suite at Collective Retreats Governors Island

Blending the serenity of nature with the energy of the city, Collective Retreats Governors Island is an urban escape just across the water, offering indoor/outdoor accommodations, a full-service restaurant and bar, communal firepits, and panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

At the heart of the retreat sits the expansive Great Lawn, a central gathering place with hammocks, lawn games, including bocce, croquet, cornhole, oversized Jenga, Giant Connect Four, paddleball, social pong and more. Three firepits sit at its center and are designed to cultivate connection with loved ones or new friends amidst the natural beauty of its surroundings.

The retreat's food and beverage experience is anchored by Three Peaks Lodge, offering farm-to-Island dining daily from 5 PM. Woodfired techniques shape fresh, seasonal dishes enjoyed alongside views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the harbor. Guests begin each day with a complimentary continental breakfast featuring light bites, juices, and coffee, while the Sunset Terrace cocktail bar opens daily at 3 PM, serving craft cocktails, beer, and wine with one of New York's most spectacular sunset backdrops. External guests are also welcome to dine at Three Peaks Lodge with reservations.

Accommodations include three thoughtfully designed room types, each positioned along the Great Lawn and offering private terraces with skyline or harbor views, along with air conditioning and heating for seasonal comfort.

Journey Tents include plush beds and access to shared spa-style bathhouses, ideal for families and small groups.

include plush beds and access to shared spa-style bathhouses, ideal for families and small groups. Voyager Tents offer added privacy with en-suite bathrooms, featuring elevated design and amenities for a more immersive stay.

offer added privacy with en-suite bathrooms, featuring elevated design and amenities for a more immersive stay. Basecamp Cabins blend indoor comforts with nature, featuring soaking tubs, handheld showers, and a cozy atmosphere for rest and reflection.

For a more indulgent experience, The Summit Suite and select Suites feature curated furnishings, expansive layouts, and spa-style bathrooms. Folding glass walls open to panoramic views, creating a boutique hotel sensibility in a nature-driven setting.

During their stay, guests are invited to take part in daily recreational programmingfrom morning yoga and lawn games to live music and nightly s'mores around the fire. Designed to foster connection, relaxation, and play, these experiences add a dynamic rhythm to the retreat. Additional seasonal activations will be introduced throughout the summer.

Just beyond the retreat, guests can explore Governors Island's expansive biking and hiking trails, lavender fields, hammock groves, public art installations, and historic landmarks including Fort Jay and Castle Williams. For those seeking deeper relaxation, preferred guest rates are available at QC NY Spa, which features outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, and massage treatments. Governors Island's 2025 season also brings extended summer hours, the return of Brooklyn ferry service, and a packed calendar of cultural and community programming.

If you're planning a unique corporate retreat, offsite meeting, or even a wedding, Collective Retreats Governors Island delivers an unforgettable setting just minutes from your Manhattan office. With six versatile indoor and outdoor spaces for groups of 10 to 175+, the retreat is ideal for gatherings that seek both impact and inspiration. Full buyouts are also available for those looking to transform the retreat into their own private experience.

Collective Retreats Governors Island offers a mindful sanctuary more often associated with upstate escapes like the Catskills or Poconosyet it's just minutes from Manhattan. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway, a family retreat, a bespoke event, or a full island buyout, the retreat delivers an unforgettable seasonal experience that balances comfort, nature, and design. Open through November 2025, rates begin at $249 per night and include complimentary ferry service, Wi-Fi in common areas, daily breakfast, nightly s'mores and access to curated on-site programming.

The Governors Island Ferry runs daily starting at 7 AM from the Battery Maritime Terminal in Lower Manhattan. Last return ferry departs at 10 PM.

For more information, please visit collectiveretreats.com/retreat/collective-governors-Island/ or visit us on IG at @collectiveretreats

Three Peaks Lodge

Dinner is served daily from 59 PM. Reservations are encouraged; walk-ins are welcome.

Sunset Terrace opens daily from 3-10 PM for drinks.

About Collective Retreats

Collective Retreats is a certified B-Corp, recognized for its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. As an ESG-driven experiential travel company, Collective Retreats is reimagining the hotel experience through a portfolio of luxury retreats in unexpected, immersive destinations. Each bold, eco-centric concept embraces the local landscape and culture of a destination, allowing guests to connect with the land, community, and themselves through unique on-site activities, immersive culinary activations, personal hospitality, and culture-forward programming. By breaking away from the traditional mold of a luxury hotel, Collective Retreats is opening a whole new world of exploration where a transformative luxury experience coexists with authentic ruggedness.

SOURCE Collective Retreats Governors Island
- Ongoing Phase 2 study enrolling 102 patients in the U.S. and South Korea, with more than 50% of participants identified as Asian

- Selectively inhibits collagen synthesis via PRS targeting, aiming to suppressing fibrosis progression

SEOUL, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical (Co-CEOs Seongsoo Park and Chang-Jae Lee) announced that it presented interim results from a global Phase 2 clinical trial of its investigational idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment candidate Bersiporocin (DWN12088) at the 2025 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, held from May 16 to 21 in San Francisco.

The scientific poster was presented during the official ATS session titled "WHAT'S NEW IN ILD DIAGNOSIS, MONITORING, AND TREATMENT" on May 18, by Dr. Jinwoo Song, Professor of Pulmonology at Asan Medical Center, who also serves as the trial's global Coordinating Investigator and principal investigator.

The interim analysis highlighted key baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of enrolled participants, including racial distribution and antifibrotic medication use. Approximately 70% of participants were receiving Bersiporocin in combination with approved antifibrotic therapies (nintedanib or pirfenidone), while the remaining 30% participated without any background treatment. Notably, more than half of the enrolled patients are Asian enabling exploratory assessment of treatment responses across ethnic subgroups, in contrast to prior IPF studies which were predominantly limited to White populations.

The ongoing randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study is being conducted at 30 sites in the U.S. and South Korea, targeting 102 IPF patients. Participants receive 150 mg of Bersiporocin or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks, with efficacy and safety assessed based on changes in forced vital capacity (FVC) and other clinical endpoints. As of April 2025, 80 patients (approximately 80% of target enrollment) had completed registration.

Bersiporocin is a first-in-class oral antifibrotic drug candidate developed by Daewoong Pharmaceutical. It selectively inhibits Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase (PRS), a key enzyme in proline activation and collagen biosynthesis. This targeted mechanism aims to interrupt the fibrotic cascade at its origin, potentially delivering more effective disease control with fewer off-target effectspositioning Bersiporocin as a next-generation therapeutic.

The drug was granted Orphan Drug Designation by both the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019, and has also received Fast Track designation from the FDAaffirming its potential as a globally significant treatment option for IPF.

"This trial not only offers hope for a new treatment option, but also allows us to assess responses across a racially diverse patient population, including Asian patients," said Professor Jinwoo Song. "We look forward to providing safer and more effective treatment options for patients with IPF."

Seongsoo Park, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, added, "Bersiporocin represents a breakthrough in antifibrotic therapy by targeting the root cause of fibrosis through PRS inhibition. We are committed to advancing this program to help redefine the global IPF treatment paradigm."

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1676530/Daewoong_Pharmaceuticals_Logo.jpg
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DALBAR has released the newest edition of its renowned Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behavior  Variable Annuities (QAIB-VA) report. The annual study examines how investor behavior influenced returns within variable annuities in 2024, delivering essential findings for financial professionals and investors alike. Built on the foundation of DALBAR's industry-leading QAIB research, the QAIB-VA report applies the same behavioral analysis to variable annuity investors.

Key Findings Include:

The Average Equity Subaccount Investor gained 19.60% in 2024, once again outperforming the Average Equity Mutual Fund Investor, who gained 16.54%, a difference of 3.06%.





Retention rates also remained higher for the Average Equity Subaccount Investor, at 5.23 years, compared to 4.79 years for the Average Equity Mutual Fund Investor.

The full report is available now at www.qaib.com.

DALBAR has a 49-year history and is recognized by the industry and government as an independent third-party expert in the business of providing audits, evaluations, ratings, and due diligence. DALBAR certifications are a hallmark of excellence in the financial services community.

Media Contact: Emily Kunka

617.624.7136

[email protected]

SOURCE DALBAR, Inc.
The Pasco project represents more than $1 billion in investment in Washington's dairy sector, including both construction and on-farm expansion. It is expected to employ nearly 200 people directly and to support up to 1,000 jobs in total through transportation, warehousing, and farm workers.

"Dairy demand continues to grow, both here at home and abroad," said Allan Huttema, President and CEO of Darigold and a third-generation dairy farmer in Parma, Idaho. "Our new Pasco facility solidifies the Northwest as a global dairy leader and reflects our farmer-owners' long-term commitment to good stewardship, high-quality production, and maintaining dairy farming as a way of life."

Supporting Growth of U.S. Dairy

Darigold's farmer-owners approved the Pasco project in 2021 to expand and modernize the company's production capability, create growth opportunities for member farms, and strengthen the co-op's ability to serve global markets. Pasco was selected for its proximity to a large number of NDA member farms, access to a robust workforce in the Pasco/Tri-Cities area, and access to key transportation infrastructure  including highways, rail lines and ports.

Construction began in 2022. While the facility is now receiving and processing milk, Darigold will continue to finalize work on production equipment over the coming months. The company expects to begin producing powdered milk from the first of two milk dryers, and butter by early August. A second dryer is slated to come online by year's end.

DARIGOLD OPENS PASCO PLANT

Advancing Sustainability Goals

The new Pasco facility is also central to Darigold's alignment with U.S. Dairy's 2050 stewardship goals. The plant incorporates a variety of innovative technologies and conservation strategies that are projected to provide significant reduction to carbon emissions. Key sustainability features include:

Low-emission burner technology in milk dryers to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

in milk dryers to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. A partnership with the City of Pasco that expanded its Process Water Reuse Facility (PWRF), including an anaerobic digester, allowing responsible treatment and reuse of agricultural wastewater.

(PWRF), including an anaerobic digester, allowing responsible treatment and reuse of agricultural wastewater. A strategic location within the multimodal Port of Pasco and close to more than 100 member farms, which creates transportation efficiencies and reduces logistics-related emissions, including road miles.

"The Port of Pasco congratulates Darigold and its dairymen and women on a crowning achievement," said Jean Ryckman, president, Port of Pasco Commission. "As the Pasco facility comes online, it also serves as a shining star in the Port of Pasco's 85-year history of supporting agriculture and food processing in Franklin County. This project creates an impressive number of new jobs and brings new opportunities for the citizens of Pasco and the surrounding area."

An Investment in the Future of Dairy

"As dairy farmers, we see first-hand the importance of being good stewards of the land and resources we depend on," said Tim Kuenzi, Chairman of Darigold's board of directors and an Oregon dairy farmer. "This new facility allows us to meet growing global demand for dairy while ensuring we manage those resources responsibly. It's the kind of investment that will provide modern and efficient processing capacity for years to come."

The Pasco project was developed in partnership with the Port of Pasco, designed by architectural firm E.A. Bonelli & Associates, and built by Miron Construction.

"Darigold's Pasco facility represents an impressive level of private investment in Pasco. The project is also a prime example of what's possible when local, state, and national leaders collaborate in the name of economic development. We want to thank every public agency and local utility company for helping the port to bring this project to life," Ryckman added. "The Port and its many partners have worked together since 2020 to deliver more than $25 million in public utilities and infrastructure to support the Reimann Industrial Center and Darigold."

DARIGOLD OPENS PASCO PLANT

About Darigold

Headquartered in Seattle, Darigold, Inc. is the marketing and processing subsidiary of the Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), which is owned by some 250 family-owned farms in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Darigold processes approximately 10 billion pounds of milk annually. The company producers a full line of dairy products for retail, foodservice, commodity, and commercial ingredients, and is one of the largest U.S. dairy producers. Darigold operates 12 production facilities throughout the Northwest, processing high-quality milk produced by NDA farm families. The company maintains a second office in the Boise, Idaho area, as well as global satellite offices in Mexico and Asia. For more information, visit Darigold.com.

SOURCE Darigold, Inc.
PALO ALTO, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $14 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island (1), has chosen Quantifind's AI-powered risk intelligence platform to enhance its sanctions screening for payments.

Faced with increasing regulatory scrutiny and growing complexity in global transactions, Dime sought a more precise and scalable solution to strengthen its compliance program while maintaining efficient operations. After a competitive evaluation, Dime selected Quantifind for its advanced capabilities in risk detection and seamless integration into existing workflows.

"Our partnership with Quantifind represents a significant advancement in our compliance capabilities," said Michael Fegan, CTO, Dime Community Bank. "Quantifind's AI-driven platform equips us to protect our customers and communities while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance."

"We're proud to partner with Dime Community Bank and extend our support to mid-market banks that are critical to the financial ecosystem," said Graham Bailey, Quantifind COO. "Quantifind's solutions are designed to empower banks of all sizes to tackle financial crime with unparalleled speed, accuracy, and scalability."

Quantifind's commitment to supporting mid-market banks reflects a broader mission to deliver purpose-built AI solutions that help institutions of all sizes detect and mitigate financial crime risks.

About Dime Community Bank

Dime Community Bank, headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, has served its community since 1864. With over 60 locations across the New York metropolitan area, which includes the five boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester County, Dime offers a comprehensive range of financial services for individuals and businesses.

About Quantifind

Quantifind is a leader in financial crime intelligence automation. Its Graphyte platform delivers real-time, accurate risk assessments by integrating internal data with unstructured public information, enabling organizations to uncover hidden threats and strengthen compliance with speed, accuracy, and scale.

 Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks with less than $20 billion in assets.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.

Media Contact

Annalisa Camarillo

EVP of Marketing, Quantifind

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Quantifind
New Text Notification Solution Strengthens the Pharmacy Care User Experience by Keeping Members Informed in Real-Time on the Status of Their Medications' Clinical Reviews

MONTVALE, N.J., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EmpiRx Health, the leading pharmacist-led pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company, today announced the launch of a new Clinical Review Messaging solution that provides members with real-time updates on the status of their medications' clinical reviews. This innovative, easy-to-use solution elevates the overall pharmacy care experience by keeping members well informed of the approvals, partial denials, or denials of their medications during the review process.

By keeping members continuously updated in real-time, the Clinical Review Messaging solution reduces confusion, enhances transparency, and fosters trust between members, clinicians, and providers. Exemplifying EmpiRx Health's deep commitment to client and member satisfaction and innovation in care delivery, Clinical Review Messaging demonstrates that behind every medication review is a collaborative and clinician-led effort to ensure the best possible patient health outcomes.

Ensuring ease of use and removing barriers to access, EmpiRx Health's new Clinical Review Messaging solution makes it effortless for members to stay informed about their medication reviews, no matter where they are. Messages are delivered via SMS, so there's no need to download or learn how to use a new app. Members receive timely, important updates on their mobile phones in a simple and convenient way.

"We're excited to launch this new solution that offers members more peace of mind by helping them understand in real-time exactly where they are in the clinical review of their prescriptions," said Kim Howland, Chief Product Officer, EmpiRx Health. "Clinical Review Messaging is another strong example of EmpiRx Health's leadership in providing highly personalized pharmacy care that measurably improves patient health and well-being."

With regard to pricing, the Clinical Review Messaging solution is an affordable enhancement for plan sponsors looking to tangibly improve member communications and engagement. EmpiRx Health follows TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) Guidelines, with all messages being related solely to health-related items. Members must opt-in to receive text messages and can opt-out at any time.

About EmpiRx Health

EmpiRx Health is the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company that puts the pharmacist at the center of the pharmacy care model. Leveraging our AI-powered pharmacy care platform, Clinically, EmpiRx Health's clinical pharmacists and client experience teams provide the highest quality care and service. This enables plan sponsors to measurably improve their member health outcomes while substantially reducing prescription drug costs. EmpiRx Health recently launched AllyRx, the first-ever national pharmacy care network specially designed for pharmacy and grocery retailers. With major offices in Montvale, NJ and Orlando, FL, EmpiRx Health celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024. To learn more, visit www.empirxhealth.com. More information on Clinically can be found at www.clinically.co, and AllyRx at www.allyrx.co.

Contact

For EmpiRx Health:

Stephanie Cox

Phone: (201)775-6971

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE EmpiRx Health
MINNEAPOLIS, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ENT Partners, LLC, a leading Physician Practice Management Company specializing in Ear, Nose, Throat, Sleep Medicine, and Facial Plastics, announces the acquisition of ENT Specialists, Ltd, a prominent otolaryngology practice based in Clarendon Hills, IL. This strategic partnership enhances ENT Partners' footprint in the Midwest and underscores its commitment to delivering exceptional patient care through collaborative practice models.

Led by Dr. Andrew Schubkegel, the Medical Director, ENT Specialists, Ltd has been providing comprehensive ENT services to the southwest suburbs of Chicago for over 30 years, including advanced treatments for sinus disorders and sleep apnea. The partnership will allow us to broaden their service offerings to include allergy treatments, audiology services and in-office CT scan.

This fall, Dr. Schubkegel will be joined by Dr. Cynthia Duck, MD, JD, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Along with offering general ENT care, she will also introduce services for cosmetic and complex facial reconstructive procedures.

"Joining ENT Partners allows us to continue our mission of providing high-quality, personalized care while benefiting from the resources and support of an experienced management team and larger physician network," said Dr. Schubkegel. "We are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings for our patients and staff."

ENT Partners' CEO, Jim Feinstein, commented, "We welcome Dr. Schubkegel and ENT Specialists, Ltd into our growing family of practices. We continue to grow rapidly in the Chicago market as a result of our ability to deliver best in class management services. Dr. Schubkegel and his team exemplify the excellence and dedication we value. This acquisition aligns with our vision to expand access to top-tier ENT care across the Midwest. This partnership also provides a unique set of revenue generating and operational synergies with their sister practice Suburban Otolaryngology in Berwyn, Illinois"

This acquisition marks the third acquisition by ENT Partners in 2025, including Baltimore ENT and Currence Physician Solutions.

About ENT Partners

ENT Partners is dedicated to supporting physicians in delivering comprehensive ENT patient care while promoting practice growth by alleviating administrative burdens and operational distractions. ENT Partners assists practices of all sizesfrom solo practitioners to large groupsthrough a wide range of consulting services. ENT Partner practices are located across 24 sites in the Midwest and East Coast.

SOURCE ENT Partners
Insights from Healthcare Providers at Four Age-Friendly Health Systems Underscore Flexibility and Value of Using FAIR Health Tools with Older Adults and Family Caregivers

NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shared decision-making tools from the national, independent nonprofit FAIR Health can help support decision making between older patients and their healthcare providers at the clinical point of care. This and other insights are highlighted in a new FAIR Health brief, Shared Decision-Making Tools for Older Adults in a Clinical Setting: Insights from a Learning Exchange with Healthcare Providers. The brief summarizes key takeaways from a recent discussion hosted by FAIR Health with clinicians from four Age-Friendly Health Systems clinical sites that are collaborating with FAIR Health to use and help evaluate FAIR Health's shared decision-making tools (combining clinical and cost information) and other resources in clinical settings. This effort is part of a national initiative, generously funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation. Access the brief here.

View PDF FAIR Health Shared Decision-Making Tools and Resources Help Support Decision Making at Clinical Point of Care.

FAIR Health's groundbreaking collaborations with the four clinical sitesPenn Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Emory University and University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Instituteare part of its grant-funded effort to educate older adults and family caregivers about shared decision makingthe discussion between patients (and caregivers) and providers to decide on treatment and care, balancing clinical evidence with patients' preferences and valuesthrough its free shared decision-making tools and resources available on FAIR Health for Older Adults (fairhealtholderadults.org). The practice aligns with "what matters" to patients, a pillar of the 4Ms framework of age-friendly care.

In March 2025, FAIR Health convened an online Learning Exchange session with clinicians at the four participating sites to facilitate a discussion of their experiences with implementation at the clinical point of care of the tools and resources freely available on FAIR Health for Older Adults. Takeaways from the discussion are summarized in FAIR Health's brief. Among the key insights shared by the clinicians during the session:

Shared decision-making tools can clarify the implications of different treatments. Clinicians thought early introduction of the tools was beneficial and helped in reaching treatment decisions. They believed it might even benefit patients to have the shared decision-making tools ahead of time, before their appointments.





Clinicians thought early introduction of the tools was beneficial and helped in reaching treatment decisions. They believed it might even benefit patients to have the shared decision-making tools ahead of time, before their appointments. Family caregivers and care partners find the Alzheimer's disease shared decision-making tool and resources especially valuable. Caregivers discovered resources and information of which they were previously unaware (such as the ability for caregivers to receive pay for caregiving). Caregivers and care partners also noted that the decision aids helped them to assess the value of Alzheimer's disease drug therapies and to work with clinicians to formulate a plan for future needs.





Caregivers discovered resources and information of which they were previously unaware (such as the ability for caregivers to receive pay for caregiving). Caregivers and care partners also noted that the decision aids helped them to assess the value of Alzheimer's disease drug therapies and to work with clinicians to formulate a plan for future needs. The flexibility with which the tools can be applied at different points in the clinical workflow greatly adds to their usefulness. Participants noted that the tools can be applied in various clinical settings, by different healthcare professionals, at different stages of the treatment process and at home with family members. The availability of multiple formats, including paper and electronic versions, further increased their utility.





Participants noted that the tools can be applied in various clinical settings, by different healthcare professionals, at different stages of the treatment process and at home with family members. The availability of multiple formats, including paper and electronic versions, further increased their utility. The shared decision-making tools' cost comparison feature is especially useful in determining cost estimates and cost-effective options across different treatment pathways. This was particularly true if the tool was introduced early in the course of treatment planning for elective procedures, such as hip replacement surgery.





This was particularly true if the tool was introduced early in the course of treatment planning for elective procedures, such as hip replacement surgery. Patients with serious diagnoses, such as a cancer diagnosis, initially may not be interested in using the shared decision-making tool. However, clinicians noted that given the high cost of treatment for such conditions, cost conversations should be held early in the process so the patient is prepared.





However, clinicians noted that given the high cost of treatment for such conditions, cost conversations should be held early in the process so the patient is prepared. Printed toolkits are valued by many patients. Those who were less comfortable with technology or who did not have ready access to the internet appreciated the paper toolkits, which include checklists of questions to ask their healthcare provider and educational articles relevant to older adults.

FAIR Health will publish a full report on the critical insights gleaned from this grant-funded initiative by early 2026. This initiative builds on a prior planning grant awarded by The John A. Hartford Foundation and prior grant-funded shared decision-making initiatives, during which FAIR Health developed a set of condition-specific shared decision-making tools that combine clinical and cost information. These tools are available in English and Spanish on the free, national website FAIR Health for Older Adults, developed with funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation. FAIR Health concurrently is implementing a New York City-based program geared for older adults, funded by The New York Community Trust.

Rani Snyder, acting president at The John A. Hartford Foundation, said, "These insights show that shared decision-making tools can help clinicians deliver age-friendly care that focuses on what matters most to patients. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, these tools are flexible and can be used by diverse types of clinicians in a range of care settings and at different times in the care process."

Access the brief here.

To access the free tools, educational content and resources for older adults, visit FAIR Health for Older Adults. To see the Spanish version, please click here.

To learn more about using the shared decision-making tools with their patients, clinicians can contact Gee Kim, FAIR Health Clinical Liaison, at [email protected].

The decision aids are not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. They are intended to provide information to help users engage in shared decision making with health professionals.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center and University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute are participating clinical sites. Nothing herein is to be construed as an endorsement by OSU, by Penn Medicine or by Wilmot Cancer Institute of any service or product.

Follow us on X @FAIRHealth

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of commercial healthcare claims data, which includes over 51 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of about 4 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its commercial data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D, which accounts for a separate collection of over 51 billion claim records; FAIR Health includes among the commercial claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 Type 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.

Contact:

Rachel Kent

Executive Director of Communications and Marketing

FAIR Health

646-396-0795

[email protected]

SOURCE FAIR Health
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ali Asadov, paid a working visit to Dushanbe on June 4, at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Kohir Rasulzoda, to participate in the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Trend reports via the Cabinet of Ministers.

Prime Minister Asadov was welcomed at Dushanbe International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Usmonali Usmonzoda, who also serves as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on trade and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, along with other officials.

The Council of Heads of State of the CIS serves as a functional entity within the Commonwealth of Independent States. It functions as the paramount authority of the CIS, comprising all heads of state of CIS member nations. The council convenes annually for regular meetings. It was established after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, directly succeeding the State Council of the Soviet Union. As of 2020, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) comprises nine members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is an associated state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Protest comes as data from Datarails reveals that "Excel is dead" social media posts have risen 200% in 2025

ATLANTA, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Finance professionals gathered today outside the Georgia World Congress Center to launch a "vigorous counter-campaign" against a rising narrative that Microsoft Excel is "dead".

The "Save Our Sheets" demonstration featured protesters wielding placards: "Get Your Hands off Our Sheets", "You Can Take my Excel from my Cold Dead Hands", and "Make Sheets Not War" in defense of the 40-year-old spreadsheet software. The demonstration organized by Datarails, the FP&A solution for Excel users, saw dozens of finance professionals join the protest and more than 30 comments on social media in support of the rally.

Findings reveal 200% increase in "Excel is Dead" online Rhetoric

The protest comes as data reveals that "Excel is dead" claims have spiked from 13 instances in 2024 on major social media platforms, to 39 in 2025, analysing mentions on Reddit, X, YouTube, and Bluesky. One video proclaims that "Excel is dead" and is ready to be replaced by AI, while a post on X touts another AI Excel-killer that "creates charts, writes code, and automates workflows in seconds."

The reality is somewhat different: a recent study by Datarails found that in fact Excel is mentioned as a required skill in 42% of all positions in the US CFO's Office, based on 2000 open job vacancies in January 2025, rising to a high of 84% for FP&A listings.

The demonstrators acknowledge the scope of anti-Excel sentiment is relatively small, but they're determined to mount a vigorous defense against what they see as unfair characterization of the software as out-of-date.

Annette DeYoung, Principal Solutions Consultant at Datarails and a seasoned finance executive with over 20 years of experience, was one of the driving forces behind the protest.

"Excel has been an essential part of my professional journeyfrom detailed budgeting to high-stakes forecasting," said DeYoung. "It's not just a spreadsheet; it's a critical thinking tool that has empowered finance teams for decades. Dismissing it as outdated overlooks the precision, flexibility, and depth it brings to our work. This rally is a statement from finance professionals everywhere: we stand by the tools that have helped us drive clarity, strategy, and results."

About Datarails

Datarails is the AI-powered Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) for Excel users. Keep your own Excel financial models and spreadsheets and benefit from AI for data consolidation, reporting and planning.

Contact: Jonathan Marciano VP Brand and Communications Datarails

[email protected]

SOURCE Datarails
The follicular lymphoma market is expanding due to several factors. Increased awareness of the disease has led to a higher number of treated cases, contributing to market growth. Additionally, the rising number of clinical trials focused on the different treatment options for follicular lymphoma is a significant driver of its market's expansion.

LAS VEGAS, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Follicular lymphoma is a typically slow-progressing B-cell lymphoproliferative disease that originates from transformed follicular center B cells. It is commonly marked by widespread lymph node enlargement, involvement of the bone marrow, and an enlarged spleen, while extranodal manifestations are relatively rare. As of 2024, approximately 35,000 cases of follicular lymphoma have been diagnosed across the 7MM, with both males and females having equal chances of getting the disease.

First-line treatment for follicular lymphoma is well-established, with most patients experiencing durable responses to chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). For patients with localized disease, radiotherapy (RT) alone or in combination with immunochemotherapy is commonly used. RT alone may also be an option for localized relapses.

Learn more about follicular lymphoma treatment guidelines @ Follicular Lymphoma Treatment Market

The follicular lymphoma treatment landscape is broad and continuously evolving, offering multiple options for both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory (R/R) cases. Rituximab is the primary treatment option across the lines. It takes the highest market share as well as patient share. The availability of rituximab biosimilars has enhanced accessibility and affordability, maintaining its importance in managing the disease.

Apart from rituximab, GAZYVA/GAZYVARO (obinutuzumab), which, when combined with chemotherapy, has become a key component in first-line treatment strategies. Its effectiveness in both treatment-naive and relapsed patients has reinforced its central role in clinical practice.

LUNSUMIO (mosunetuzumab) is a bispecific antibody therapy designed to treat adults with R/R follicular lymphoma who have already received two or more prior treatments. Approved in 2023, LUNSUMIO has already captured ~10% patient share in the third line of therapy. Furthermore, the future approvals in earlier lines can boost its market share.

Multiple targeted therapies are making significant contributions. TAZVERIK (tazemetostat), an EZH2 inhibitor, provides a precision medicine approach for patients with specific genetic mutations. BRUKINSA (ibrutinib), a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, although primarily approved for other B-cell cancers, also plays a role in follicular lymphoma treatment. Recent approvals have further expanded the arsenal, including EPKINLY/TEPKINLY (epcoritamab), a bispecific antibody targeting CD3 and CD20, as well as CAR T-cell therapies such as KYMRIAH (tisagenlecleucel), YESCARTA (axicabtagene ciloleucel), and BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel).

These innovative immunotherapies are showing encouraging outcomes, particularly in the R/R setting, and are poised to reshape the therapeutic approach to follicular lymphoma by offering deeper and potentially long-lasting remissions.

Find out more on FDA-approved follicular lymphoma treatment @ Follicular Lymphoma Drugs Market

While ongoing research continues to explore new treatments, many approved therapies are already making a significant impact in the follicular lymphoma treatment landscape.

The forecast period (20242034) is expected to bring further advancements, with emerging therapies enhancing existing treatment options. As healthcare spending continues to increase worldwide, the Follicular lymphoma treatment space is anticipated to see a positive shift, with more accessible and effective therapies becoming available to patients in need.

Numerous drugs are currently in development for the treatment of follicular lymphoma, including promising therapies like Zilovertamab Vedotin (Merck Sharp and Dohme), CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib) (AstraZeneca), CTX112 (CRISPR Therapeutics), BGB-16673 (BeiGene), NKTR-255 (Nektar Therapeutics), NVG-111 (NovalGen), AS-1763 (docirbrutinib) (Carna Biosciences), Cemacabtagene Ansegedleucel (ALLO-501) (Allogene Therapeutics), Abexinostat (Xynomic Pharmaceuticals), Golcadomide (Bristol-Myers Squibb), MONJUVI (tafasitamab) (Incyte Corporation), AZD0486 (AstraZeneca), and others, which are set to launch in the 7MM during the forecast period (20242034).

Discover which therapies are expected to grab major follicular lymphoma market share @ Follicular Lymphoma Therapy

MONJUVI (tafasitamab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets CD19 and has been engineered with an Fc domain to enhance cytolytic activity. It binds to CD19 proteins on B-cell surfaces, inhibiting their function and triggering cell death. The antibody works through apoptosis and immune-mediated mechanisms, including Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) and Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis (ADCP). In 2010, MorphoSys secured global exclusive rights to develop and commercialize tafasitamab from Xencor, Inc., which developed the Fc-engineered XmAb technology incorporated in the drug.

In December 2024, Incyte presented pivotal findings from the Phase III inMIND trial at the ASH Annual Meeting. The study showed that combining MONJUVI with lenalidomide and rituximab significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma, achieving both the primary PFS endpoint and key secondary measures.

AZD0486 (previously TNB-486) is an innovative CD19xCD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) built on an IgG4 backbone. It features a low-affinity anti-CD3 domain designed to limit cytokine release while maintaining robust T-cell-driven cytotoxicity against malignant B cells. The molecule has a silenced Fc region to avoid nonspecific binding and ADCC, while ensuring prolonged half-life for intermittent dosing. AZD0486 is currently in Phase III development for follicular lymphoma.

In November 2024, at ASH 2024, AstraZeneca emphasized its growing hematology pipeline through two oral presentations on AZD0486. Phase I trial data revealed strong efficacy in R/R follicular lymphoma patients, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 96% and a complete response rate (CRR) of 85% at doses of 2.4 mg and higher.

Discover more about drugs for follicular lymphoma in development @ Follicular Lymphoma Clinical Trials

The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies for follicular lymphoma are poised to transform the market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the follicular lymphoma market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth.

DelveInsight estimates that the US market size for follicular lymphoma is expected to grow from USD 1 billion in 2024 at a significant CAGR by 2034. The follicular lymphoma market is experiencing steady growth, driven by rising incidence rates, increasing awareness, and advancements in targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cell treatments. The aging global population further contributes to market expansion. Additionally, ongoing clinical trials and approvals of novel agents are expected to boost market opportunities in the coming years.

DelveInsight's latest published market report, titled as Follicular Lymphoma Market Insight, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast  2034, will help you to discover which market leader is going to capture the largest market share. The report provides comprehensive insights into the follicular lymphoma country-specific treatment guidelines, patient pool analysis, and epidemiology forecast to help understand the key opportunities and assess the market's underlying potential. The follicular lymphoma market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20202034 in the 7MM, segmented into:

Total Diagnosed Incidence Cases of Follicular Lymphoma

Gender-specific Cases of Follicular Lymphoma

Age-specific cases of Follicular Lymphoma

Stage-Specific Cases of Follicular Lymphoma

Grade-Specific Cases of Follicular Lymphoma

Treated Case by Line of Therapy of Follicular Lymphoma

The report provides an edge while developing business strategies by understanding trends shaping and driving the 7MM follicular lymphoma market. Highlights include:

10-year Forecast

7MM Analysis

Epidemiology-based Market Forecasting

Historical and Forecasted Market Analysis upto 2034

Emerging Drug Market Uptake

Peak Sales Analysis

Key Cross Competition Analysis

Industry Expert's Opinion

Access and Reimbursement

Download this follicular lymphoma market report to assess the epidemiology forecasts, understand the patient journeys, know KOLs' opinions about the upcoming treatment paradigms, and determine the factors contributing to the shift in the follicular lymphoma market. Also, stay abreast of the mitigating factors to improve your market position in the follicular lymphoma therapeutic space.

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Follicular Lymphoma Epidemiology Forecast  2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted follicular lymphoma epidemiology in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan.

Follicular Lymphoma Pipeline

Follicular Lymphoma Pipeline Insight  2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key follicular lymphoma companies, including Mab Works, AstraZeneca, ADC Therapeutics, Xynomic Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Nurix, InnoCare Pharma, LTZ Therapeutics, Hutchmed, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, InnoCare Pharma, TriSalus Life Sciences, BeiGene, among others.

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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast  2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key NHL companies, including AbbVie, Genmab, Novartis, Angiocrine Bioscience, Autolus, Zentera Therapeutics, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine, among others.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Pipeline

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Pipeline Insight  2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key NHL companies, including Novartis, AstraZeneca, Genentech, BioInvent, Genmab, SystImmune, Nordic Nanovector, Pacylex Pharmaceuticals, Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., Chipscreen Biosciences, Ltd., Timmune Biotech Inc., Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Gilead Sciences, Acerta Pharma BV, Adagene Inc, Conjupro Biotherapeutics, Inc., Rhizen Pharmaceuticals, Juventas Cell Therapy Ltd., Incyte Corporation, HUYA Bioscience International, SecuraBio, Genor Biopharma Co., Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Antengene Therapeutics Limited, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Jiangsu HengRui Medicine Co., Ltd., Xynomic Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BioTheryX, Inc., UWELL Biopharma, Kronos Bio, Bio-Thera Solutions, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Aptose Biosciences Inc., Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH, Precision BioSciences, Inc., Teneobio, Inc., TCR2 Therapeutics, IGM Biosciences, Inc., among others.

About DelveInsight

DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve.

Contact Us

Shruti Thakur

[email protected]

+14699457679

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg

SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP
SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trust3 AI, a leader in AI governance solutions, is proud to announce that Jodi Morton, former Chief Data Officer (CDO) at Freddie Mac and at KPMG, has joined its advisory board. With over 20 years of experience in data governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance, Jodi brings a wealth of expertise to help Trust3 AI continue delivering innovative solutions that address the ethical and operational challenges of AI.

Jodi has held key leadership roles at Freddie Mac and KPMG, providing strategic guidance on data strategy and governance to drive organizational success. Her insights have been instrumental in reshaping enterprise-level strategies and ensuring compliance with complex regulations.

"I am excited to join Trust3 AI's advisory board and contribute to their innovative approach to AI governance," said Jodi Morton. "Trust3 AI's commitment to responsible AI aligns perfectly with my own values and experience."

Trust3 AI specializes in helping organizations manage the risks and ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence. Their solutions ensure businesses can implement AI responsibly while maintaining trust and transparency. Jodi's addition to the advisory board signals Trust3 AI's deep commitment to addressing the evolving challenges of AI governance with cutting-edge expertise.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jodi to our advisory board," said Neeraj Sabharwal, Co-Founder at Trust3 AI. "Her extensive experience in Data and AI governance and risk management will be invaluable as we continue to develop cutting-edge solutions for our clients."

Jodi joins Trust3 AI at a time when the demand for ethical AI governance is growing rapidly across industries. Her guidance will play a pivotal role in positioning Trust3 AI as the premier partner for organizations navigating the complexities of AI adoption.

About Trust3 AI

Based in San Francisco, Trust3 AI (formerly PAIG AI) is a leader in AI governance, security, and lifecycle management solutions. Trust3 AI's unified platform empowers businesses to adopt AI responsibly by building trust into every AI interaction.

Trust3 AI is trusted by organizations across industries, from healthcare to finance, and is proud to be part of the Snowflake and Databricks startup accelerator programs.

For more information, visit https://trust3.ai and follow us on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/trust3ai

For media inquiries, please contact:

Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Trust3 AI
Honoring a legacy of trust, growth, and commitment to homeownership since 1955.

ST. LOUIS, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gershman Mortgage proudly announces its 70th anniversary in 2025  an event that reflects seven decades of trusted service, innovation, and community focus. The family-owned company was founded on June 23rd, 1955, by Solon Gershman in St. Louis, Missouri, and is still headquartered there today. Gershman Mortgage's continuous operation since 1955 makes it one of the longest-standing independent mortgage lenders in the region. In recent years, the company has expanded to over 250 employees, with offices in eight states, and the ability to lend in 22 states.

Major Milestones

Throughout its seven decades, Gershman Mortgage has celebrated its fair share of significant milestones, including:

1976: Relocated their headquarters to 7 N Bemiston, Clayton, MO  their home for over 40 years

 their home for over 40 years 1986: Reached a $1 billion servicing portfolio

servicing portfolio 2001: Sold their servicing department; promoted Al Will to President of the company, where he ran the company until his retirement in 2018 (after a tenure of over 56 years)

to President of the company, where he ran the company until his retirement in 2018 (after a tenure of over 56 years) 2018: Adam Mason named President; moved to their current headquarters at 16253 Swingley Ridge Road, Suite 200, Chesterfield, MO

What Sets Gershman Mortgage Apart?

Gershman Mortgage has thrived over the past seven decades, thanks to a multitude of factors, but none are more prevalent than the employees who work there. This is the kind of company where people spend their entire career, and where generations of families come to work. The staff at Gershman values the importance of customer service and places a premium on it above all else. Keeping their customers happy and ensuring they have the best homebuying experience possible is of the utmost importance to every employee, regardless of their role.

Patty Mowry, a Senior Loan Coordinator from the Chesterfield, MO branch, has worked for the company for over 40 years. When asked about her favorite part of the job, she responded, "The people, hands down. We take care of each other, and we ensure everyone is equipped with what they need to assist our customers. That starts at the leadership level and flows throughout the rest of the company. It's why I've dedicated my career to Gershman."

Senior Vice President and Branch Manager, Scott Alberson, has been with the company for over 30 years. "What I have loved most about working at Gershman Mortgage is the employees. It is awesome to see so many departments and people working together to create a great experience for our customers. I have stayed with Gershman Mortgage for the last 31 years because of what Gershman Mortgage stands for: integrity, leadership, transparency, strength, and fairness. Gershman has a great future ahead because of our leadership and our effort to strive for excellence. I hope to see many more years of success for the company I call home."

70 Years, Thousands of Homes, One Trusted Name

Since opening its doors in 1955, the company has proudly provided mortgage financing to several hundred thousand individuals and families  guiding them through one of life's most important milestones with care, clarity and unmatched expertise.

This legacy of service is built on trust and a personal touch that continues to set Gershman Mortgage apart.

"I had the run around for years. Then I met you guys, and it really turned my life around. Seven years is a long time. It took me that long to finally own my own home, and it's all thanks to the whole Gershman Mortgage company. Very patient, understanding, but most of all, kind. Not too many people are actually out there to help you, or give you all the answers. You guys did that for me, and made it happen. My family will forever be grateful for all that you've done for us."  A Gershman Mortgage customer

Testimonials like these reflect the heart of the company's mission: to empower homebuyers and support them with knowledge, integrity and compassion.

What's In Store for Gershman Mortgage?

Looking ahead, the team at Gershman is committed to evolving with the mortgage industry while staying true to its roots: supporting customers through every step of the homebuying journey. As they head into their next 70 years, the company remains dedicated to innovation, communities, and putting customers first.

Learn more about Gershman Mortgage at www.gershman.com.

SOURCE Gershman Mortgage
BEIJING, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "When I see more countries building up the confidence and determination to develop space technology after cooperating with China; when I find that China's space technology can truly benefit more people's livelihood; when China's Long March series of carrier rockets successfully send international satellites into space; and when I receive more and more gratitude and praise from international counterparts, as a practitioner of President Xi Jinping's philosophy of 'technology for good purposes,' I feel deeply proud."

Li Xiangyu is a senior engineer at the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). His daily work involves advancing cooperation projects between China's space sector and international space agencies, providing launch services for international users. Among these, the China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite (CBERS) project, which he participated in, is hailed as "a model of high-tech South-South cooperation." This series of satellites, originating in the 1980s, now not only helps China and Brazil achieve "spatial data freedom," but also benefits a large number of developing countries, empowering their development through space technology.

As the launch service manager of the CBERS project, in his exchanges with international counterparts, Li feels that the CBERS is like "a bright star in the night sky." The project offers guidance and hope to many developing countries: Even if a country has a weak aerospace industry foundation, it can still develop space technology through international cooperation frameworks such as South-South cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi, pursuing its dreams in the vast expanse of space.

The fourth volume of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China includes part of an important speech delivered by President Xi on May 28, 2021, at the joint session of the 20th Meeting of the Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the 15th Meeting of the Members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 10th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. President Xi stated, "We should participate to the full in global science and technology governance, contribute Chinese wisdom, and shape a philosophy of technology for good purposes, so that science and technology better serve human wellbeing, and enable China's science and technology industry to contribute more to building a global community of shared future."

In conversations with Global Times reporters, Chinese and Brazilian engineers in the CBERS project shared their personal journeys. In their view, the project is a prime example of putting the philosophy of "technology for good purposes" into practice.

"We have learned from our experience that China cannot ask for buy, or beg for core technologies in key fields from other countries. Only by holding these technologies in our own hands can we ensure economic security, national security and security in other areas." This crucial statement in the article "Make China a Global Center for Science and Innovation," which was included in the third volume of the book, had a profound impact on Li.

In the 1980s, China and Brazil, both major developing countries, had significant needs in cutting-edge technology fields. However, due to a lack of key technologies, their developments were constrained by technological barriers imposed by developed nations. Against this backdrop, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement in 1988, formally initiating the development of the CBERS.

According to Li, the CBERS-1 satellite was China's first international cooperative satellite. Through its development, China's space sector broke through numerous key satellite technologies, achieving independent control over core technologies and marking a crucial step forward in China's remote sensing satellite capabilities.

For Brazil, this cooperation also freed the country from long-term dependence on foreign sources for remote sensing satellite data. "In 1980s, both Brazil and China already recognized the strategic importance of space technologies for national development, thus began to promote their aerospace projects. However, back then China was seeking to expand its technological capabilities in space, while Brazil was advancing its national satellite program," said Antonio Carlos Pereira Jr, the coordinator of the Space Segment of the CBERS Program and also head of the Small Satellites Division at the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

Antonio told the Global Times that the CBERS project is a significant milestone in space cooperation between the two countries, representing technological synergy and progress among emerging nations.

After a decade of development, the CBERS-1 satellite was launched in October 1999. It had operated in orbit for nearly five years, achieving its expected results. Subsequently, the two countries continued the cooperation, successfully launching CBERS-2, CBERS-2B, CBERS-2C, CBERS-4, and CBERS-4A satellites all of which successfully acquired Earth observation images. During this process, China gradually advanced from following to leading in space technology, establishing a comprehensive space industrial system. Brazil also gained access to large amounts of high-resolution satellite remote sensing imagery through this cooperation to serve its own development and progressively enhance its autonomous space capabilities.

"In the early stages, China-Brazil cooperation was not viewed favorably by international opinion. However, the Chinese and Brazilian teams worked hard together, more than doubling the CBERS-1 satellite's orbital design lifespan. This ability to 'turn challenges into opportunities' is a vivid manifestation of the spirit of self-reliance and self-strengthening," Li said.

In the article "Make China a Global Center for Science and Innovation," President Xi also emphasized, "Science and technology respond to the call of the times and have a global impact, so we should have a global vision in developing them. Rivers and seas are big because they never reject the small streams that flow in. Independent innovation should be pursued in an open environment, rather than behind closed doors."

Since its inception in 1988, China and Brazil have always upheld principles of openness and equality in their cooperation model, which respects Brazil's technological contributions while also accumulating valuable international cooperation experience for China's space sector, Li said.

During the interview, Antonio shared an unforgettable case with the Global Times. Following the unsuccessful launch of CBERS-3 in 2013, Chinese and Brazilian teams coordinated rapidly and responded intensely. Through high-intensity work, they successfully developed and launched CBERS-4 in less than a year. "That was an extraordinary achievement that reaffirmed the commitment and synergy between the two countries," Antonio said.

Antonio believes that one of the most valuable aspects of the CBERS project has been the mutual exchange of experience and the development of skilled professionals. The joint work between INPE and the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) teams in satellite system design, as well as during integration and testing activities, created an environment highly conducive to technical knowledge exchange, sharing of best practices, and the establishment of long-lasting professional relationships based on mutual trust and respect, he said.

"These collaborative experiences have significantly contributed to the training of highly qualified professionals in both countries, helping to build a new generation of engineers and scientists with practical experience in international space projects." he noted.

Today, as a global public good, the CBERS project provides robust support for developing countries to address common human challenges.

"Given Brazil's vast territory, the CBERS satellites have become indispensable tools for environmental monitoring and disaster response, both within the country and internationally," Antonio explained, further noting that projects developed using CBERS data, such as the official Brazilian deforestation monitoring program (PRODES) monitors annual deforestation rates in the Amazon and serves as a reference for environmental policymaking. The Real Time Deforestation Detection System (DETERP) program generates near real-time alerts of illegal deforestation, enabling immediate action by law enforcement agencies.

In Li's view, a major innovation of CBERS is the establishment of a free and open data-sharing mechanism. Under this mechanism, China and Brazil not only provide satellite data to each other free of charge but have also extended data sharing to developing countries in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

This open data policy reflects the philosophy of "technology for good purposes," promoting equity in access to essential information for improving the well-being of both local populations and the global community, Antonio said. "By reducing technological disparities and fostering joint responses to global challenges, such as climate change, CBERS project plays an irreplaceable role in building a community with a shared future for mankind, reinforcing peaceful space cooperation and strengthening science as a collective tool for progress."

"In this context, China further consolidates its position as one of the major space powers. Through CBERS, Brazil and China demonstrate that cooperation, rather than competition, can be the true driver of progress, shaping a more just, sustainable, and technologically balanced world," Antonio said.

The Global Times learned that the CBERS project will play an even greater role in environmental and climate monitoring in the future. It will help humanity gain a deeper understanding of natural changes such as droughts, floods, and storms, providing precise, real-time data to address common challenges such as food security, energy security, health, and climate change, thereby promoting balanced development worldwide.

"CBERS is a clear example that joint efforts in science and technology can produce tangible benefits, not just for the countries involved, but for humanity as a whole," Antonio said.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335283.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global X Management Company LLC ("Global X"), the New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the launch of its latest income fund, the Global X Bitcoin Covered Call ETF (BCCC). The actively managed fund leverages options strategies, seeking to generate income from writing options on Bitcoin exchange-traded products without the need for an investor to directly own the underlying asset.

"BCCC offers a strategic approach to Bitcoin exposure  unlike many ETFs that focus primarily either on price appreciation or maximizing income generation, the fund's covered call strategy seeks to balance both objectives," said Pedro Palandrani, Head of Product Research & Development.

BCCC offers income potential by writing call options on Bitcoin ETPs while achieving its long exposure via a synthetic option strategy. Fund managers exchange part of Bitcoin's potential upside for options premiums, a portion of which is regularly distributed to investors on a weekly basis. The fund writes weekly options and is a part of Global X's existing suite of over 25 Income ETFs.

Palandrani continued, "Bitcoin may have significant growth potential but comes with inherent volatility; and, managing the two can be a challenge for investors. We are excited about the role BCCC can play in offering investors more thoughtful exposure to this asset class."

Fund Details

Fund Name and Ticker Expense Ratio CUSIP / ISIN Global X Bitcoin Covered Call

ETF (BCCC) 0.75 % 37960A347 / US37960A3471

About Global X

Global X was founded in 2008. For more than fifteen years, our mission has been empowering investors with unexplored and intelligent solutions. Our product lineup features a wide range of ETF strategies and over $55 billion in assets under management.[i] While we are distinguished for our Thematic Growth, Income and International Access ETFs, we also offer Core and Commodity funds to suit a wide range of investment objectives. Explore our ETFs, research and insights, and more at www.globalxetfs.com .

Global X is a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a global leader in financial services, with more than $600 billion in assets under management worldwide.[ii] Mirae Asset has an extensive global ETF platform ranging across the US, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Important Information

Bitcoin is a relatively new asset class. They are subject to unique and substantial risks, and historically, have been subject to significant price volatility. The value of an investment in the Fund could decline significantly and without warning, to zero. You should be prepared to lose your entire investment.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. BCCC is actively managed and invests in options contracts on one or more bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) that invests principally in bitcoin futures contracts or directly in bitcoin. The ETF does not invest directly in or hold bitcoin. The price and performance of bitcoin futures should be expected to differ from the current "spot" price of bitcoin. These differences could be significant. Bitcoin futures are subject to margin requirements, collateral requirements and other limits that may prevent the ETF from achieving its objective. Margin requirements for futures and costs associated with rolling (buying and selling) futures may have a negative impact on the fund's performance and its ability to achieve its investment objective.

Bitcoin is largely unregulated and bitcoin investments may be more susceptible to fraud and manipulation than more regulated investments. Bitcoin and bitcoin futures are subject to rapid price swings, including as a result of actions and statements by influencers and the media, changes in the supply of and demand for bitcoin and bitcoin futures contracts and other factors.

BCCC's concentration will subject it to loss due to adverse occurrences that may affect that sector. Investors in BCCC should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the fund's shares and the possibility of significant losses. An option is a contract sold by one party to another that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) a stock at an agreed upon price within a certain period or on a specific date. A covered call option involves holding a long position in a particular asset and writing a call option on that same asset with the goal of realizing additional income from the option premium. BCCC establishes its "long" position through the combination of purchasing call options and selling put options on the Bitcoin ETPs, generally at the same strike price. As a buyer of call options, the Fund pays a premium to the seller of the options. The fund then also sells call options to establish the "covered call". By selling covered call options, the fund limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the price of the underlying asset above the exercise price, but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the asset. A liquid market may not exist for options held by the fund. While the fund receives premiums for writing the call options, the price it realizes from the exercise of an option could be substantially below the asset's current market price. BCCC is non-diversified.

Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in a fund's full or summary prospectuses, which may be obtained at globalxetfs.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing

Global X Management Company LLC serves as an advisor to the Global X Funds. The Fund is distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO), which is not affiliated with Global X Management Company LLC or Mirae Asset Global Investments.

Media Contact:

Ariel Kouvaras, Sloane PR

212-446-1884

[email protected]

[i] Source: Global X ETFs, as of April 30, 2025

[ii] Source: Mirae Asset, as of December 31, 2024

SOURCE Global X Management Company LLC
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Halff, an award-winning, employee-owned and full-service infrastructure consulting firm, has expanded its energy services portfolio with the acquisition of C&D Utility Consulting, LLC, a San Antonio-based firm known for its expertise in electric utility infrastructure.

C&D Utility Consulting President and Owner Romeo Cabrera poses with Halff President and CEO Jessica Baker Daily after signing the acquisition agreement.

This strategic move enhances Halff's capabilities in providing electric distribution design and engineering services to public and private energy providers across Texas. In addition to electric utility design, C&D brings specialized expertise in communication pole attachments, permitting and fiber design, further enhancing Halff's integrated approach to energy infrastructure delivery.

"For more than 20 years, Halff has proudly served the San Antonio region," said Halff President and CEO Jessica Baker Daily. "Welcoming C&D Utility Consulting, whose culture, reputation and technical expertise align with our own, strengthens our energy services. With this strategic acquisition, we're better equipped to serve clients throughout the South with seamless, end-to-end infrastructure solutions."

Established in 2015, C&D has earned a strong reputation for helping clients complete energy delivery projects with efficiency and precision. The company serves key Texas markets, including the San Antonio Metro area, North-Central Texas, the Gulf Coast and West Texas.

Service offerings for electric infrastructure include design plans for construction, field survey, audit services, project management, state and federal permitting, storm damage assessment, pole structure loading analysis, customer engagement and on-site field work.

"We are excited about the opportunity to join Halff," said C&D Utility Consulting President and Owner Romeo Cabrera. "This partnership will expand the range of services we provide in the power industry. By combining our services and resources, we're bringing new expertise that will deliver added value to our clients."

With this acquisition, Halff is strengthening its energy services by integrating the expertise of 26 C&D Utility Consulting professionals, reinforcing the firm's position as the partner of choice for energy and electrical distribution infrastructure, and enabling end-to-end solutions from route planning and permitting through detailed design and construction support. Halff's additional infrastructure solution services, including environmental, survey, right of way, development and public works, will further complement the electric distribution team.

Halff now operates more than 30 offices across six states in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, and employs a team of more than 1,500 professionals committed to improving lives and communities through innovative engineering and planning solutions.

Founded in 1950 by Dr. Albert H. Halff, the firm is celebrating a legacy of 75 years of improving lives and communities. Halff has built a legacy of delivering innovative solutions with a people-focused approach.

Contact:

Russell Luna

PR Leader

Halff

214.217.6687

[email protected]

SOURCE Halff
CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harrison LLP, a national law firm focused on private wealth planning, has expanded its footprint with a new office in Highland Park, Illinois, and the addition of a prominent family law team led by attorney Michael A. Haber.

Joining the firm from the former Kalcheim Haber Group are Partners Michael A. Haber and Jennifer M. Cohen, and Counsel Lauren Bernay.

Their combined expertise significantly enhances Harrison's family law capabilities. This area frequently intersects with the firm's private wealth services, including estate planning, trust administration, business succession planning, charitable giving strategies, and international planning for high-net-worth families.

"This transition allows us to keep serving the families who've relied on us while giving them access to deeper resources," said Michael Haber. "Harrison strengthens our ability to navigate family law issues that often overlap with estate planning, trust administration, and other private wealth matters."

The new office, located at 89 Lincolnwood Road in Highland Park, officially opened on June 2 and offers convenient access to many clients residing in Chicago's North Shore communities.

"Today marks a milestone in our firm's journey as we open our doors in Highland Park, IL, and welcome three exceptional new attorneys to our team," said Matthew J. Madsen, Managing Partner at Harrison LLP. "This expansion reflects not only our commitment to serving our clients with greater reach and deeper expertise, but also our confidence in the talented professionals who share our vision for excellence. Together, we're building a national private wealth law firm poised to address the comprehensive needs of high-net-worth families in managing, protecting, and transferring wealth across generations."

Harrison has earned numerous accolades over the past two decades and was again ranked among the best private wealth law practices in Chambers High Net Worth Guide for 2024. The guide is the only legal ranking publication specifically aimed at the international private wealth market, gathering substantive feedback from clients and peers globally. The firm was also recognized in Best Lawyers' 2025 edition of Best Law Firms in the following practice areas: Trusts & Estates Law, Tax Law, Litigation  Trusts & Estates, Family Law, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law.

The firm has 16 Fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. The college elects lawyers and law professors to be fellows based on their outstanding reputation, exceptional skill, and substantial contributions to the field by lecturing, writing, teaching, and participating in bar leadership or legislative activities.

About Harrison LLP

Harrison LLP is a national law firm that assists clients in defining and achieving their private wealth goals, delivering peace of mind through sophisticated and practical legal counsel. The firm stands at the forefront of estate planning, distinguished as one of the nation's premier trusts and estates firms. With over 100 attorneys across 11 offices, including Atlanta, Boulder, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Naples, St. Louis, and Washington D.C., Harrison advises fiduciaries, families, and family offices on estate planning, tax, succession planning, and fiduciary litigation. Founded in 2003 in Chicago, the firm is consistently recognized among the nation's top private wealth law practices. Visit our website at https://www.harrisonllp.com.

SOURCE Harrison LLP
HONOLULU, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hawaiian Soda Co., the sparkling real fruit juice soda brand, made with no added sugar or artificial junk, is pleased to announce their latest notable award nod via Hawai'i Magazine's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards.

The latest news comes on the heels of a truly monumental start to the year for the business, with securement of as well as continued expansion of efforts with pre-existing recognized retailers across the West Coast including Raley's, Central Market, Pavilions, Gelson's, Bristol Farms and Town & Country.

Hawai'i Magazine

This is the second time Hawaiian Soda Co. has been honored with this prestigious recognitionhaving been named a 2024 Readers' Choice by the publication last year as well.

"Given our notable focus on continuing to build within our own backyard (the lovely state of Hawaii) - this award holds a notable level of importance to us," states Caesar Ho, Co-Founder of Hawaiian Soda Co.

Ho continues, "This is really just the beginning of all that's to come for the business and we are excited to continue to keep you all posted along the way regarding similar exciting announcements in the year ahead."

To learn more about the company as well as store locations, visit www.hawaiiansodaco.com or check us out on social at @hawaiiansodaco.

Company Contact

Gina Ho

Co-Founder

Hawaiian Soda Co.

[email protected]

Communications Contact

Taylor Foxman

Founder & CEO

The Industry Collective

609-432-2237

[email protected]

SOURCE Hawaiian Soda Co.
TAMPA, Fla., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRTG) ("Heritage" or the "Company"), a super-regional property and casualty insurance holding company, today announced that Ernie Garateix, CEO, and Kirk Lusk, CFO, will participate at the Sidoti Small-Cap Virtual Investor Conference on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. In addition to participating in one-on-one investor meetings, management is scheduled to present at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

Interested investors and other parties can access a live webcast of the presentation by visiting the Events section of Heritage's Investor Relations website at https://investors.heritagepci.com/events. An online replay will be available on the same website following the presentation.

About Heritage

Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a super-regional property and casualty insurance holding company. Through its insurance subsidiaries and a large network of experienced agents, the Company writes approximately $1.4 billion of gross personal and commercial residential premium across its multi-state footprint covering the northeast, southeast, Hawaii and California excess and surplus lines. As a catastrophe focused property insurer, our personnel have devoted efforts to policyholders impacted by wildfires, hurricanes, winter storms, and severe convective storms.

Investor Contact:

Kirk Lusk

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in our country, Qasim Mohiuddin, on 4 June, the parliamentary press service told Trend reports.

The progress of the strategic connections of Azerbaijan and Pakistan, based on friendship and fraternity, was mentioned with pleasure as the meeting went on.

With as much satisfaction, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova referred to last weeks visit to our country by Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, the trip of both Heads of State to the de-occupied Azerbaijani town of Lachin and the holding there of the trilateral Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkiye Summit. Also, Sahiba Gafarova said that the Summit served as yet another vivid demonstration of the brotherhood and friendship amongst our nations, united by shared values, and that the decisions adopted during the event will mark new milestones in the co-operation between the two friendly and fraternal countries across a wide range of fields.

Ambassador Qasim Mohiuddin, the enduring nature of the bonds of friendship and brotherhood uniting our countries and peoples. He conveyed the greetings of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, to the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, Ambassador Qasim Mohiuddin provided detailed information regarding the conflict between Pakistan and India. The diplomat noted that our countries extend mutual support on all issues, particularly highlighting the significance of Azerbaijans support for Pakistan.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova stated that Azerbaijan had been monitoring the recent tensions between Pakistan and India closely and with great concern, and in these challenging times, openly demonstrates her solidarity with Pakistan. She added that Azerbaijan supports resolving the conflict through dialogue and peaceful means, following international law principles and norms, as well as the resolutions of the UN Security Council. It was also emphasised that Pakistan consistently supports Azerbaijans justified position on issues of national importance. The people of Azerbaijan deeply value Pakistans support for Azerbaijans just stance during the 44-day Patriotic War, a position grounded in the norms and principles of international law.

Furthermore, it was mentioned at the meeting that the interaction between our parliaments has a positive impact on the development of relations between our states, and it was further emphasised that highly effective co-operative ties have been established between our legislative assemblies. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova recalled her official and working visits to Pakistan in 2021 as well as the meetings she had had with Pakistani counterparts at various international events.

The conversation continued with the highlighting of the packed agendas of our countries legislative assemblies in bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral formats. Also, the trilateral co-operation format of the Speakers of Parliament of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Turkiye was described as an important platform. Besides, they talked about the active interaction of our legislatures in international organisations.

Besides, the meeting saw an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared interest.

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In celebration of National Candy Month, the Fantasy Mix-inspired flavor is a cool and refreshing frozen summer treat

IRVINE, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for National Candy Month, HI-CHEW , the immensely fruity, intensely chewy candy brand, is teaming up once again with Menchie's Frozen Yogurt , North America's largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, to debut a dreamy new flavor: HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy. Inspired by the standout Blue Hawaii candy flavor from the fan-favorite HI-CHEW Fantasy Mix, this limited-edition flavor is swirling throughout June at participating Menchie's locations nationwide.

HI-CHEW and Menchie's Frozen Yogurt launch limited-edition HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy in celebration of National Candy Month.

HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii first made waves in 2022 with the launch of Fantasy Mix, quickly becoming a fan favorite for its bold blend of sweet citrus and juicy pineapple. Now, that same tropical twist is reimagined in Menchie's new HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy flavor, capturing the refreshing taste of a sunny summer getaway in every spoonful. This limited-time flavor is nonfat and is made with no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no high fructose corn syrup.

"At HI-CHEW, we're always exploring new ways to connect with our consumers and bring our signature fruit-forward flavors to life in exciting ways," said Teruhiro Kawabe (Terry), Chief Representative for the USA & President, CEO of Morinaga America, Inc. "Teaming up with Menchie's allows us to meet brand fans where their cravings are, at the intersection of bold flavor and fun experiences. The launch of the HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy flavor is a perfect example of how HI-CHEW continues to innovate and surprise our fans in unexpected and delightful ways."

Now in its seventh year, the partnership between HI-CHEW and Menchie's continues to deliver exciting, innovative flavors that delight fans of all ages. With HI-CHEW's affinity for pushing the boundaries of fruit-flavored confections and Menchie's dedication to crafting one-of-a-kind frozen treat experiences, this year's collaboration brings the bold, tropical taste of Blue Hawaii to life like never before. Infused with tropical notes and a splash of nostalgic summer escape, HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy is more than just a flavor  it's a limited-time celebration of bold creativity and brand synergy that fans won't want to miss.

"We look forward to our HI-CHEW collaboration year after year, and we couldn't be more excited to bring our guests something even more adventurous this summer," said Elizabeth Berry, VP of Marketing at Menchie's Frozen Yogurt. "Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy embodies our commitment to fun and flavor in every swirl, offering an enjoyable treat that brings a taste of tropical bliss to our cherished guests nationwide. We're proud to partner with HI-CHEW again to make the month of June deliciously unforgettable."

The HI-CHEW Blue Hawaii Tropical Candy flavor is available now throughout the month of June at participating Menchie's stores nationwide. To find a Menchie's store near you, visit Menchies.com . Like Menchie's on Facebook and follow Menchie's on Instagram and TikTok for the latest flavor news. To learn more about HI-CHEW, visit HI-CHEW.com , like us on Facebook , and follow us on Instagram ( @HICHEWUSA ) and TikTok ( @HICHEWUSA ).

About Morinaga America, Inc.:

Established in 2008, Morinaga America, Inc. is the official distributor of HI-CHEW, HI-SOFT, and Chargel in the United States. Morinaga America, Inc. (marketing and sales) and Morinaga America Foods, Inc. (manufacturing) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morinaga & Co., Ltd., which began in 1899 as the first, modern candy maker and producer of chocolates in Japan. In 2015, Morinaga America, Inc. opened its first United States manufacturing facility in North Carolina. With over 300 flavors of HI-CHEW having debuted in Japan, Morinaga America, Inc. has introduced the United States market to the best of Japanese confectionery.

About HI-CHEW:

Choose Different. Choose Fun. Chew HI-CHEW. The history of Morinaga stretches back over a century when company founder Taichiro Morinaga brought his candy-making skills to Japan from America in the 1800s. HI-CHEW has long been the best-selling soft candy in Japan and continues to see year-over-year growth throughout other parts of Asia and in the United States. In the United States, HI-CHEW is currently offered in sticks, peg bags, and stand-up pouches. The HI-CHEW sticks come in a variety of flavors including Strawberry, Green Apple, Mango, Grape, Banana, Kiwi, Acai, Sweet & Sour Watermelon, and new Blue Raspberry. HI-CHEW also offers peg bags in the following flavors: Original Mix, Tropical Mix, Superfruit Mix, Sweet & Sour Mix, Soda Pop Mix, Berry Mix, Plus Fruit, Fantasy Mix, Reduced Sugar, Dessert Mix, and new Getaway Mix. The Stand-Up Pouches are available in Original Mix, Tropical Mix, Sweet and Sour Mix, Fruit Combos, Infrusions Orchard Mix, Dessert Mix, and new Getaway Mix. HI-CHEW Bites are unwrapped in bite-size packaging in Mango, Green Apple, and Strawberry flavors. HI-CHEW Gummies and HI-CHEW Gummies Sour reimagine the brand's iconic chewlets in a new gummy form. HI-CHEW is made with concentrated fruit juices and is free of gluten, with no colors from synthetic sources. HI-CHEW continues to expand fruity, chewy flavor offerings annually. In 2020, HI-CHEW won a Nielsen Design Impact Award for its new Original Mix packaging update that hit shelves in 2019. For more information, visit HI-CHEW.com.

About Menchie's Frozen Yogurt:

Menchie's is North America's largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise.. Guaranteeing happiness in every cup, the brand offers guests premium rotating yogurt flavors and delicious toppings for unlimited combinations in every bite. The proprietary collection is made from the milk of "happy" California cows, which have not been treated with artificial growth hormones (rBST). Menchie's frozen yogurt contains live and active cultures and has received the Live and Active Culture (LAC) seal indicating its endorsement by the National Yogurt Association. Menchie's also offers decadent vegan and dairy-free flavors, as well as gluten-free and no sugar added flavors, ensuring its commitment to offering something for everyone. Select Menchie's locations also offer customizable froyo cakes, sure to make any celebration one to remember.

SOURCE HI-CHEW
ARLINGTON, Va., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Instrument Business Outlook (IBO), the leading newsletter for the analytical and life science instrument industry and a part of the Science & Medicine Group, has published its 2024 Executive Compensation Review, revealing notable shifts in CEO and executive pay across the scientific instrumentation and laboratory tools sector.

Despite ongoing macroeconomic pressures and stock market volatility, average total compensation for CEOs in IBO's coverage expanded by 10.5% in 2024, reaching $9.1 million. This growth was driven by strong equity awards and increased cash incentives, signaling a year of transition and partial recovery for the industry.

While the first half of 2024 was marked by funding slowdowns in key global marketsincluding pharma and Chinamost firms saw an uptick in sales by year-end due to robust demand for consumables and services, as well as steady industrial market growth. Still, many companies experienced declining share prices, creating a complex backdrop for executive compensation decisions.

Key Highlights from the Report:

Top Paid CEOs :





: Marc Casper (Thermo Fisher Scientific): $30.4 million (+63%)





(Thermo Fisher Scientific): (+63%)

Rainer Blair (Danaher): $22.1 million (+6%)





(Danaher): (+6%)

Jacob Thaysen , PhD (Illumina): $14.8 million (+216%)

(Illumina): (+216%) Fastest Compensation Growth :





: Michael Egholm , PhD (Standard BioTools): +332%





(Standard BioTools): +332%

William Martin III (Maravai LifeSciences): +177%





(Maravai LifeSciences): +177%

Jacob Thaysen , PhD (Illumina): +216%

(Illumina): +216% Total Realized Pay Leader :





: Marc Casper (Thermo Fisher Scientific) led again with $93.1 million in realized compensation.

(Thermo Fisher Scientific) led again with in realized compensation. Compensation Trends :





: Average base salaries rose 7% to $905,000







Cash incentives surged 72% on average







Equity compensation comprised 76% of total pay, averaging $7.0 million







CEOs at firms such as Illumina and Standard BioTools saw compensation increases despite mixed financial performance

In addition to CEO compensation, IBO analyzed pay for executives leading dedicated business units. Average total compensation for these leaders increased 3.4% to $2.4 million. William Geist of Bio-Techne topped the list at $3.6 million.

"2024 was a reset year for the scientific tools industry," said Tanya Samazan, Editor of IBO. "Despite stock market setbacks, improving fundamentals late in the year and renewed strategic focus are evident in the executive compensation data."

The report is based on SEC proxy data for 21 public companies and tracks year-over-year changes in salaries, bonuses, stock and option grants, and other forms of compensation. IBO also included analysis of "realized pay" to offer a more grounded view of actual earnings.

SOURCE Instrument Business Outlook
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- INB is pleased to announce the opening of its newest full-service banking branch in Tampa, marking a significant milestone in the bank's strategic growth in Florida.

"Since INB's expansion into the Florida market two years ago, the bank has experienced remarkable growth, with assets now exceeding $750 million," said INB Florida CEO Allen Brinkman. "This extraordinary demand presents a compelling opportunity to continue to better serve our clients through the establishment of a full-service private banking branch in Tampa, Florida."

INB has been serving commercial and private banking clients in the Tampa Bay region for several years, providing customized financing solutions that support the growth and success of local businesses. The new branch will enhance these efforts by offering a full range of services to meet the expanding needs of the community.

"Our commitment to the Tampa market has grown steadily over the years," Brinkman said. "Establishing a full-service branch allows us to build even stronger relationships with our customers and offer the personalized service INB is known for  right here in their own community."

Located at 2222 W. Swann Ave. in Tampa, the new branch features modern banking amenities and local financial experts who will provide business and personal banking clients with quick decision-making, a strong focus on customer service and the trusted security that comes with banking locally.

About INB, N.A.  INB, N.A. is a privately owned national bank. Founded in 1999 in Springfield, IL, the bank offers both personal and commercial banking products and wealth services in Central Illinois and has a full-service branch in Tampa, FL. The bank also provides commercial banking services out of St. Louis, MO, and Miami, FL.

SOURCE INB, N.A.
Infrasense was tasked with carrying out evaluations of approximately 200 lane-miles of traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) and additional 3D ground penetrating radar (3DGPR) data collected throughout the state of Mississippi. The evaluations included combining the TSD data with pavement layer thicknesses determined from the onboard 3DGPR system to calculate pavement layer moduli, structural number, remaining life, and recommended asphalt overlay thickness.

CANTON, Miss., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Infrasense has evaluated approximately 200 lane-miles of traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) data and 25 channels of 3DGPR data collected by MDOT at various locations across Mississippi. Previously identified project segments were reviewed by Infrasense and MDOT to prioritize areas requiring more detailed analysis. Five project sections, each spanning approximately five miles in length, were identified and analyzed. Deliverables for these evaluations included the calculation of pavement layer moduli, structural number, remaining life, and recommended asphalt overlay thickness. These were reported in a comprehensive spreadsheet with each measurement location including SRI (Standard Route Identifier), Log Mile, latitude, longitude, asphalt thickness, base thickness, alongside results of all analyses.

The 3DGPR data analysis included extraction of the 25 channels, spaced 3 inches apart, preprocessing of the extracted channels using calibration data, tracking of the layer boundaries, and layer thickness reporting. The layer thickness was reported at locations based on the TSD GPS coordinates. The 3DGPR data, which provided 6-foot-wide coverage from wheel path to wheel path, was reviewed to identify possible areas of high base moisture content and stripping within asphalt layers within the five project sections.

The TSD data, in conjunction with the associated layer thickness data from the GPR analysis, was analyzed to assess subgrade modulus, asphalt, base layer (when applicable) modulus, effective structural number, equivalent single axle loads (ESALS) to failure, estimated remaining service life and recommended asphalt overlay thickness. Included in the comprehensive TSD data evaluation was the identification of anomalies (e.g., weak pavement layers, soft subgrade), assessment of layer moduli to determine layer coefficients, and identify deficient layers.

Following the analyses of the 3DGPR and TSD data, including deflections, existing layer thickness, areas of distress, and estimated traffic levels, recommendations for rehabilitation (e.g., base repair, asphalt layer patching, overlays) were made. These recommendations will assist in developing expansive corridor planning and management strategies for critical Mississippi roadways.

About Infrasense, Inc.

Since 1987, Infrasense, Inc. has applied advanced technologies to address the most difficult challenges in subsurface scanning. Infrasense's engineers nondestructively extract critical information from a diverse range of structures. In addition to providing ongoing subsurface evaluation services to clients across the country, the firm has also conducted numerous research programs to advance the field of subsurface detection and nondestructive evaluation. To learn more about Infrasense and the services we provide, visit our website: http://www.infrasense.com.

SOURCE Infrasense, Inc.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $75,000 In Organon To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you suffered losses exceeding $75,000 in Organon between October 31, 2024 and April 30, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Organon & Co. ("Organon" or the "Company") (NYSE: OGN) and reminds investors of the July 22, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi Logo (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP)

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

Defendants provided investors with material information concerning Organon's prioritization of its capital allocation strategy through regular, quarterly dividends. Defendants' statements included, among other things, reassurance that capital allocation through the aforementioned dividends was a "#1 capital allocation priority" and that Organon was committed to consistent deployment of capital. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of the Company's priorities, particularly, related to capital allocation through quarterly dividends. Notably, Defendants concealed the high priority of Organon's debt reduction strategy following the Company's acquisition of Dermavant, resulting in a 70% decrease for the regular quarterly dividend. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Organon's securities at artificially inflated prices.

Investors and analysts again reacted promptly to Organon's revelations. The price of Organon's common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $12.93 per share on April 30, 2025, Organon's stock price fell to $9.45 per share on May 1, 2025, a decline of more than 27% in the span of just a single day.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Organon's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Organon & Co. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/OGN or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ISCO Spirits, a portfolio of sustainably sourced creative spirits, is pleased to announce the debut of the first-ever Pizza Vodka!

Believed to be the first-ever pizza vodka, the spirit pays homage to a much beloved food in a boozy liquid form.

ISCO Spirits ISCO Spirits

After the team created "Pizza Strip Vodka" for their own home state of Rhode Island, they realized that ALL states should get to enjoy their own cheesy version of such a ridiculously fun spirit offering.

Crafted using all natural ingredients, they started with a base of organic wheat, alongside the finest herbs, spices and tomatoes, plus fresh mozzarella cheese. The mixture is then distilled down into a drinkable spirit - so in essence, you get to enjoy the benefits of pizza, just without the pizza itself!

The spirit is notably versatile and is great to leverage in a broad array of cocktail recipes such as the Italian Stallion Shot (think tequila shot with all Italian ingredients) to Pizza Luges to upscale Caprese Martinis and clarified Hawaiian Milk Punches.

Pizza Vodka can be dressed up or down, just like the versatile food as to which it is based and is perfect for a range of settings from dive bars to Michelin Star restaurants and everything in between.

To check out more unique cocktail recipes, click the link below: https://www.iscospirits.com/pizzavodkacocktailrecipes

To learn more about ISCO Spirits, check out www.iscospirits.com or follow the company on social at @iscospirits.

Company Contact

Manya Rubinstein

ISCO Spirits

401-569-1211

Communications Contact

Taylor Foxman

The Industry Collective

609-432-2237

[email protected]

SOURCE ISCO Spirits
Record-breaking community contributions earn national acclaim in The Civic 50

MOLINE, Ill., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- John Deere employees have once again set new records in volunteerism over the past year, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to community giving.

Their dedication has earned national recognition for the fourth straight year, as John Deere has been named to The Civic 50  an honor from Points of Light recognizing the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States.

John Deere employees volunteered over 340,000 hours in 2024

Points of Light is the world's largest nonprofit dedicated to accelerating people-powered change. The Civic 50 has become a national standard for corporate citizenship and showcases how companies are leading through social impact and civic engagement.

"We're honored to receive this recognition from Points of Light," said Taryn Edgin, director, Community Relations and president, John Deere Foundation. "It reflects our commitment to trust-based philanthropy and unrestricted giving while highlighting the incredible efforts of our employees, who work tirelessly to improve our customers' lives while building stronger communities."

Community giving milestones:

Employees volunteered over 340,000 hours (a new record for 2024), up 31% from the prior year.

More than $400 million awarded to those in need since the John Deere Foundation's inception in 1948.

awarded to those in need since the John Deere Foundation's inception in 1948. In 2024 alone the company and Foundation combined contributed $61.7 million to nonprofit organizations in home communities and around the world, including two multi-year grants totaling $12.2 million aimed at eliminating hunger and increasing access to higher education.

to nonprofit organizations in home communities and around the world, including two multi-year grants totaling aimed at eliminating hunger and increasing access to higher education. John Deere Foundation investments supported more than 115,000 youth in 2024 with over 4 million hours of high-quality STEM education experience supported by 600 John Deere employee mentors.

"In an ever-evolving landscape, companies are looking to ensure that they can meet the needs of their communities, customers, and stakeholders," said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, Points of Light. "Companies like John Deere are leading the way in showing how social impact benefits their employee's well-being, strengthens the communities where they do business, and brings value and meaning to their work. Their efforts provide a model for others looking to bring the benefits of volunteering and social impact to their workforce and they're extremely deserving of this recognition."

To learn more about Points of Lights and The Civic 50 honorees for 2025, here is a link to their news release.

About Deere & Company

It doesn't matter if you've never driven a tractor, mowed a lawn, or operated a dozer. With John Deere's role in helping produce food, fiber, fuel, and infrastructure, we work for every single person on the planet. It all started nearly 200 years ago with a steel plow. Today, John Deere drives innovation in agriculture, construction, forestry, turf, power systems, and more.

For more information on Deere & Company, visit us at www.deere.com/en/news/.

SOURCE John Deere Company
Distribution center operator, Target Corporation, allegedly failed to provide employees with full meal and rest periods, as according to California Labor Code. This may have resulted in missed wages for employees.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Target Corporation violated the California Labor Code. The Target Corporation class action lawsuit, Case No. CIVSB2510029, is currently pending in the San Bernardino County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here .

The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

According to the lawsuit, Target Corporation was required to pay employees for all time worked, meaning the time during which an employee was subject to the control of an employer, including all the time the employee was permitted or suffered to permit this work. Allegedly, Target Corporation required these employees to work off the clock without paying them for all the time they were under Target Corporation's control. To the extent that the time worked off the clock does not qualify for overtime premium payment, Target Corporation, allegedly, failed to pay minimum wages for the time worked off-the-clock in violation of Cal. Lab. Code  1194, 1197, and 1197.1

California Labor Code  226 provides that every employer shall furnish each of his or her employees with an accurate itemized wage statement. Plaintiff was paid on an hourly basis. Therefore, Plaintiff's wage statements should reflect all applicable hourly rates during the pay period and the total hours worked, and the applicable pay period in which the wages were earned pursuant to California Labor Code Section 226(a). Allegedly, the wage statements Defendant provided to Plaintiff failed to identify such information.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Target Corporation, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

Media Contact

Nicholas De Blouw

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

(800) 568-8020

[email protected]

https://www.bamlawca.com/

SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP
Partnership brings new visibility capabilities into every activity, delivering immediate impact on SOP process adherence and boosting operational excellence

TEANECK, N.J., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Made4net, a global provider of cloud-based Warehouse Management Systems ( WMS ) & end-to-end supply chain execution software, and Flymingo, a Vision AI Platform for control and monitoring of logistics operations, are proud to announce a strategic partnership aimed at transforming warehouse operations. Together, the companies bring cutting-edge AI-powered tools to the supply chain, helping organizations achieve unparalleled accuracy and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs). The new solution eliminates blind spots in the warehouse by integrating Made4net's WMS live feed events with Flymingo's AI-based platform, providing real-time clarity and actionable insights to warehouse managers.

Transforming Warehouse Operations with AI Vision

Made4net's WMS excels at orchestrating and automating warehouse processes, and Flymingo AI Vision adds the ability to monitor untrackable floor activities through existing security cameras, identifying errors and deviations before they cascade into larger operational disruptions. Made4net's WMS feeds real-time events to Flymingo, enabling warehouse managers to address inefficiencies, blindspots and deviations proactively.

"We are thrilled to partner with Flymingo to bring a new level of precision and intelligence to the supply chain," said Amit Levy, EVP of Sales and Strategy at Made4net. "This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower businesses to operate at peak performance."

Seamless Integration for Enhanced Results

A standout example of this partnership in action is Abaline Supply, a wholesale distributor headquartered in New Jersey. With a 165,000-square-foot facility and 25 delivery trucks managed by the Made4net platform, Abaline has leveraged Flymingo's innovative AI-Vision technology alongside Made4net's WMS to enhance process adherence and improve customer satisfaction.

The synergy between the two platforms has allowed Abaline to detect errors before they escalate. As Avi Boas, Abaline's Chief Operating Officer, explains, "Before Flymingo, identifying errors involved combing through hours of security footage, often weeks after the mistake occurred. Now, mistakes are flagged immediately, and associates recognize their errors almost instantly. This proactive approach has improved customer satisfaction and strengthened our employee relationships."

Driving Innovation in the Supply Chain

The Flymingo and Made4net partnership is setting a new standard for warehouse operations by combining advanced AI technology with robust WMS capabilities. Together, the solutions ensure higher process adherence, reduced operational risks, and better customer outcomes.

"The complexity of modern warehouse operations demands a new approach to process control and visibility," says Roy Gherman, Flymingo's Co-founder and CEO. "By partnering with Made4net, we're not just monitoring warehouse activities  we're creating an unprecedented capability for operational excellence and an indisputable source of truth - all with minimal IT involvement and no new hardware."

About Made4net

Made4net is a leading global provider of best-in-class, cloud-based supply chain execution and warehouse management solutions for organizations of all sizes to improve the speed and efficiency of their supply chain. For more information, visit www.made4net.com.

About Flymingo

Flymingo is a pioneering technology company revolutionizing logistics operations through advanced computer vision and AI. The company's platform transforms standard security cameras into powerful operational monitoring tools, providing real-time visibility and control over warehouse activities. Trusted by leading logistics providers globally, Flymingo's technology has been proven to significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance SOP compliance while requiring zero additional hardware investment.

For more information, visit: www.flymingo.ai

SOURCE Made4net, LLC
Settlement Increases Customer Fund by $498.3 Million

Press release from the offices of Irving H. Picard, SIPA Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BLMIS), and Josephine Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC)

NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Irving H. Picard, Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BLMIS), announced a recovery agreement with Luxembourg Investment Fund and Luxembourg Investment Fund U.S. Equity Plus, as represented by their Liquidators, Maitre Alain Rukavina and Paul Laplume (collectively, "LIF"). LIF was a Luxembourg investment fund invested exclusively with BLMIS as UBS (Luxembourg) S.A. beginning in September 2005. As set forth in the motion filed today in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York seeking approval of the agreement, the settlement resolves both the SIPA Trustee's claims in the amended complaint and LIF's customer claim.

Under the terms of the agreement, the SIPA Trustee will receive $498.3 million for the benefit of the BLMIS Customer Fund. The payment amount represents 100 percent of the transfers LIF received from BLMIS. In addition, the Trustee will share 15% of the proceeds from a lawsuit that LIF commenced in Luxembourg against UBS relating to Madoff's Ponzi scheme. The approval hearing has been set for June 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

LIF will receive an allowed customer claim of approximately $758.8 million and a corresponding catch-up distribution based on the sixteen pro rata interim distributions made to date. At closing, LIF will fund the $498.3 million settlement payment through a deduction from the catch-up distribution on the allowed claim and an assignment of the SIPC advance owed on the allowed claim to the SIPA Trustee. The SIPA Trustee will pay LIF approximately $45.1 million, consisting of the net balance of the catch-up distribution due on the allowed claim.

"We congratulate the SIPA Trustee and his team for their success in reaching this important settlement agreement," said Josephine Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer of SIPC.

"The settlement with LIF not only resolves our case against a significant international defendant, but it also has the benefit of freeing up reserves in the customer fund for distribution to other Madoff customers with allowed claims who have yet to recover their principal," Mr. Picard said. "I want to thank David Sheehan and his legal team for their commitment to achieving this successful outcome."

"While it's taken extensive negotiations, we are gratified to achieve a successful resolution while avoiding the time, expense and uncertainty of international litigation," said David J. Sheehan, Chief Counsel to the SIPA Trustee.

"It's deeply rewarding to reach this comprehensive and favorable resolution, recovering the full amount of the claim and the potential for additional proceeds from the Luxembourg litigation," said Oren Warshavsky, counsel to the SIPA Trustee. "This settlement reflects the strength of our legal position as well as the unwavering commitment, strategic excellence, and collaborative spirit of our legal team."

The SIPA Trustee's motion can be found on the United States Bankruptcy Court's website at http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/; Bankr. S.D.N.Y., No. 08-01789 (LGB) / Adv. Pro. No. 10-05311 (LGB). The motion  as well as further information on recoveries to date, other legal proceedings, further settlements, and general information  can also be found on the SIPA Trustee's website: www.madofftrustee.com.



Ms. Wang and Messrs. Picard and Sheehan would like to thank the Securities Investor Protection Corporation's Michael Post, Kevin H. Bell, Nathanael Kelley, and Nicholas Hallenbeck, as well as Baker Hostetler attorneys Mr. Warshavsky, Michelle R. Usitalo, Tatiana Markel, Geoffrey North, and Gonzalo Zeballos, who assisted with the work on this matter and settlement.

Media Contacts:

Heather Wlodek, for the SIPA Trustee for the liquidation of BLMIS

(212) 589-4663

[email protected]

Elizabeth Wise, for SIPC

(202) 868-1579

[email protected]

SOURCE Irving H. Picard, SIPA Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BLMIS)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. A videoconference meeting has been held with the participation of representatives of the mutual friendship groups of the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Cambodia, a source in the Azerbaijani parliament told Trend.

At the online meeting, the head of the Azerbaijani parliament working group on interparliamentary relations with Cambodia, Shahin Seyidzade, addressed the participants, welcomed them, and spoke about the prospects and existing potential of cooperation between our countries.

He emphasized that the Azerbaijani parliament attaches great importance to the development of relations with the Cambodian parliament, especially noting the role of friendship groups in deepening relations, and shared his views on the development of cooperation in this area.

The Chairman of the Cambodia-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Suos Yara, made a speech and expressed Cambodia's interest in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan in various fields, including at the level of legislative bodies.

The official noted that close contacts between the interparliamentary friendship groups play an important role in strengthening relations.

Then, the sides exchanged views on the current state of interparliamentary relations, development prospects, and other issues of mutual interest.

The online meeting was attended by members of the Azerbaijani parliament' working group on inter-parliamentary relations with Cambodia, Konul Nurullayeva, Sabina Khasayeva, Cambodian parliamentarians, and other officials.

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Scholarships support new research to combat food insecurity in Canada.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods (TSX: MFI) and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security ("the Centre") today announced the recipients of the 2025/26 Maple Leaf Board Scholarships in Food Insecurity. This year, four outstanding scholars have been awarded a total of $60,000 to support their research on food insecurity in Canada.

Masters candidates Rachel Blais from University of Victoria, Sylvia Odhiambo from University of Alberta, Michaela Tokarski from Carleton University, and Doctoral candidate Gabrielle Jacob from McGill University will each receive a $15,000 scholarship to support their research:

Rachel Blais , University of Victoria : Examining the role of the nonprofit sector in addressing food insecurity in Iqaluit and developing community-led recommendations for poverty reduction policy measures.

, : Examining the role of the nonprofit sector in addressing food insecurity in and developing community-led recommendations for poverty reduction policy measures. Gabrielle Jacob , McGill University : Measuring differences in food insecurity rates between marginalized populations and determining how food insecurity changes over time with food bank usage.

, : Measuring differences in food insecurity rates between marginalized populations and determining how food insecurity changes over time with food bank usage. Sylvia Odhiambo , University of Alberta : Investigating the relationship between immigration status, experiences of trauma/mental disorders, and food insecurity.

, : Investigating the relationship between immigration status, experiences of trauma/mental disorders, and food insecurity. Michaela Tokarski , Carleton University : Analyzing the impact of Ottawa Food Bank's recent decision to reduce food distribution by 20-50% on clients, member agencies, and staff.

These scholarships honour the extraordinary contributions of David Emerson, Wallace McCain, Purdy Crawford, and W. Geoffrey Beattie, past Chairs of the Maple Leaf Foods Board of Directors. Each year, the Centre awards four scholarships to Masters or Doctoral students who are pursuing research that contributes to the body of knowledge on food insecurity in Canada. Candidates are selected based on their academic standing, contribution to filling research gaps, and quality of the submission, including feasibility and methodological rigor.

"The rise in food insecurity rates in Canada is prompting changes in the way the nonprofit sector is responding and coping," said Sarah Stern, Executive Director of the Centre. "These research projects will help to expand our knowledge of how charities are addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including newcomers and those living with mental disorders."

The Centre is proud to support research that contributes to our understanding of barriers and interventions to achieve food security. Since its inception in 2020, the scholarship program has supported 21 students in their research endeavours. For more information about the scholarship process, visit the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security.

About the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security

The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security ("the Centre") is a registered charity committed to working collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The Centre advocates for critical public policies and invests in knowledge building and programs that advance the capacity of people and communities to achieve sustainable food security. The Centre was created in 2016 and is governed by a board of directors, including four independent experts.

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. ("Maple Leaf Foods") is a leading protein company responsibly producing food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Schneiders, Mina, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., LightLife and Field Roast. The Company employs approximately 13,500 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).

Follow us on X:

@FeedOpportunity

@MapleLeafFoods

SOURCE Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 360Quadrants has released its latest Loitering Munition Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025, recognizing key players, including both global giants and emerging innovators, for their excellence in market presence, product innovation, and business strategy. The report highlights Arquimea, Baykar Technologies, Transvaro Elektron Aletleri, and Johnnette Technologies, among the top companies, are actively shaping the future of the Loitering Munition Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment.

The evaluation leverages 360Quadrants' proprietary methodology to map competitive positioning across 7,000+ micro markets within 10+ industries, enabling decision-makers to make strategic, data-backed vendor choices.

Company Highlights in the Loitering Munition Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment:

Arquimea is a technology-driven company committed to developing cutting-edge products and solutions across the aerospace and defense, biotechnology, and big science sectors. With a strong focus on solving complex societal challenges, the company reinvests a significant portion of its annual profits into research and development to drive innovation. Arquimea has created versatile and highly effective systems that offer military forces enhanced precision strike capabilities and greater tactical flexibility.

is a technology-driven company committed to developing cutting-edge products and solutions across the aerospace and defense, biotechnology, and big science sectors. With a strong focus on solving complex societal challenges, the company reinvests a significant portion of its annual profits into research and development to drive innovation. Arquimea has created versatile and highly effective systems that offer military forces enhanced precision strike capabilities and greater tactical flexibility. Baykar Technologies is a prominent Turkish defense company specializing in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced military systems. Renowned for its innovation and engineering expertise, the company has earned international acclaim for its Bayraktar series of drones, which have demonstrated effectiveness in multiple conflict zones. Committed to strengthening Turkey's defense capabilities, Baykar emphasizes the use of domestically developed technologies and indigenous production to advance national security and defense autonomy.

is a prominent Turkish defense company specializing in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced military systems. Renowned for its innovation and engineering expertise, the company has earned international acclaim for its Bayraktar series of drones, which have demonstrated effectiveness in multiple conflict zones. Committed to strengthening defense capabilities, Baykar emphasizes the use of domestically developed technologies and indigenous production to advance national security and defense autonomy. Johnnette Technologies Private Limited is an Indian aerospace and defense company specializing in the design, development, and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions. As a growing force in India's defense sector, the company is dedicated to delivering high-performance aerial systems that enhance mission effectiveness and operational capability.

To explore the full quadrant report and see how companies are positioned in the Loitering Munition Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025,

Visit: https://www.360quadrants.com/aerospace/loitering-munition-stratups

Evaluation Criteria

The vendor evaluation was conducted on over 130 companies, of which the top 10 were categorized and recognized as quadrant leaders. Factors such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Loitering Munition Startups/Small-Medium Businesses Companies Assessment quadrant. The top criteria for product footprint evaluation included Application (Breeding record, animal ownership identification, Disease Management & Control, and Milk Traceability), Farm Size (Short and Long), and Capacity (Small, Medium and Large), Livestock Type (Cattle, swine, poultry, and others) and offering.

360 Quadrants Scoring Methodology

360 Quadrants employs a comprehensive and transparent scoring methodology to evaluate companies. It identifies relevant evaluation criteria, collects and validates data from multiple sources, and employs an algorithm that considers parameter weights to generate scores. Normalization ensures fair comparisons, and the aggregated scores categorize solutions into quadrants such as Progressive companies, Responsive companies, Dynamic companies, and Starting blocks. This unbiased approach equips users with accurate information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions and select solutions that best suit their needs and objectives.

Download Free Sample @ https://www.360quadrants.com/aerospace/loitering-munition-stratups.

About 360Quadrants

360Quadrants, a specialized division of MarketsandMarkets, delivers comprehensive quadrant analyses for various emerging technologies and markets, including start-ups. Our evaluation methodology hinges on two critical parameters: market presence and product footprint. This approach facilitates a graphical representation of competitive positioning across four key categories: leaders, contenders, innovators, and emerging companies. In addition, we meticulously classify start-ups into progressive companies, responsive companies, dynamic companies, and starting blocks. Our expertise equips organizations with insights into market leaders across over 6000 micro markets, enabling a detailed comparison of vendor capabilities and performance. At 360Quadrants, we ensure that each quadrant adheres to the highest standards, empowering our clients to navigate complex market dynamics precisely and confidently.

360Quadrants has also launched quadrants in fields such as 

Airport Systems Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025, and

Cabin Management System Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025.

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe.

Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines  TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Ms. Sipti Banga,

630 Dundee Road, Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
Application deadline is July 9, 2025

COLUMBIA, Md., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission ("Commission") is pleased to announce the release of Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the July 2025 funding cycle. The deadline for application submissions is July 9, 2025.

Application deadline is July 9, 2025 Post this Image of scientist. The upcoming cycle supports a broad spectrum of grant programs.

The upcoming cycle supports a broad spectrum of grant programs, including early-stage basic research, translational efforts, clinical trials and manufacturing support. Maryland-based academic institutions, nonprofits and companies are encouraged to apply. Additionally, companies/non-profit entities outside Maryland are eligible to apply, provided the funded research occurs within the state. Supplemental funding is available for research projects involving collaboration between public and private sectors, accelerating the development of therapies for unmet medical needs.

"Despite ongoing uncertainties in federal funding, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) remains unwavering in its commitment to support Maryland's pioneering stem cell scientists and companies. Our dedication to advancing innovative therapies continues undeterred, and we are grateful for the steadfast support from Maryland Governor Moore's administration and the General Assembly to help us succeed in this critical mission," said Ruchika Nijhara, Ph.D., executive director of MSCRF.

"These funding opportunities are another big step in helping Maryland lead the way in stem cell and regenerative medicine research. Investing in innovative science and encouraging collaboration will open the door to life-changing therapies and help Maryland's biotech community thrive in a way that benefits everyone," said Rachel Brewster, Ph.D., chair of the Commission.

To date, MSCRF has supported over 700 research projects, investing over $230 million. In May 2025 alone, over $18 million was allocated to 52 projects spanning all stages of technology development, from basic research to clinical application and manufacturing.

Key Dates:

Application Submission Deadline: July 9, 2025 (before 5 PM )





Application Submission Portal Opens: June 18, 2025





Grant Awards Announcement: September 2025

For full details on RFAs and application instructions, visit www.mscrf.org. For questions or assistance, contact [email protected].

MSCRF remains committed to advancing innovative research, supporting economic growth and positioning Maryland as a premier hub for regenerative medicine.

About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission and Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission, through Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, focuses on identifying and funding cutting-edge research and innovation in the field of regenerative medicine in Maryland. Our Accelerating Cures initiative comprises programs that help transition human stem cell-based technologies from the bench to the bedside as well as mechanisms to build and grow stem cell companies in Maryland.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Media Contact

Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, [email protected]

Rachael Kalinyak, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO, [email protected]

SOURCE Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission
AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- McGowan Financial Lines, a leading provider of innovative insurance solutions for E&O, D&O, EPLI, Cyber & Crime, is thrilled to announce the addition of Dan Lazarz to our team as Director & Team Leader. With a distinguished career and a wealth of experience in the insurance industry, Dan brings unparalleled expertise and a proven track record of success across various Financial Lines' segments, including D&O, E&O, EPLI, Allied Healthcare/Medical Malpractice, Cyber & Data Privacy, Representations & Warranties, and Trade Credit / Accounts Receivable insurance.

Daniel Lazarz

Prior to McGowan, Dan was a Director in the ExecPro, Healthcare, and Cyber practice groups of CRC Group, contributing to the firm's successful growth in its Dallas offices. He has also held positions of increasing responsibility at Swett & Crawford, Lockton, Crum & Forster, and The St. Paul, having previously resided in both Los Angeles and Chicago. A proud Marquette University alum, Dan now brings his broad carrier and brokerage background to The McGowan Companies.

Known for building profitable brokerage teams and navigating complex placements, Dan and his teams have earned a reputation for responsiveness, strategic insight, and long-term client partnerships. Bringing a collaborative leadership mindset, Dan is passionate about building long-term partnerships and helping clients navigate the evolving world of specialty insurance. His arrival marks an exciting step forward in McGowan's continued growth in the world of Financial Lines insurance.

"We are excited to welcome Dan to McGowan," said Thomas B. McGowan IV, CEO of The McGowan Companies. "Our intent is to constantly expand our offerings and become the preeminent and preferred wholesale insurance brokerage for Professional Liability and Management Liability in the United States. Dan's extensive experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable towards this goal. Further, his commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with our mission to provide top-tier insurance solutions."

Outside of work, Dan values time with his wife and their eight children, finding balance between the demands of a dynamic career and a full family life.

Daniel Lazarz can be reached at [email protected] or (214) 415-1421

About The McGowan Companies:

The McGowan Companies is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected organizations of its type in the United States. In fact, our oldest subsidiary was founded in 1836. As one of the leading insurance brokers and intermediaries in the United States, McGowan is dedicated to providing its 92,000+ brokers and more than 1,000,000 insureds with superb service and competitively-priced, flexible, and creative products that dynamically respond to and capitalize on changes in the insurance marketplace. McGowan is a multi-generational, family-owned and operated conglomerate of 100+ business units (e.g. - insurance brokerages, wholesale insurance brokerages, programs/program administrators, captive management companies, reinsurance intermediaries, and financial service providers). To learn more, Think McGowan TM and visit www.mcgowancompanies.com.

Contact:

Karl I. Olson | Managing Director & National Practice Leader  Financial Lines

McGowan Financial Lines | A: 20595 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126 C: (510) 858-6854 | E: [email protected]

www.mcgowancompanies.com

SOURCE McGowan Companies
Medline is focused on supporting the health system with medical-surgical products and clinical solutions

NORTHFIELD, Ill., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Medline today announced a new Prime Vendor agreement with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

As part of the agreement, Medline will provide a portfolio of medical-surgical products and supply chain optimization solutions to the health system's more than 100 facilities to support their operational efficiency and clinical delivery goals.

Medline will service The Ohio State University's health system out of its distribution center in West Jefferson, Ohio.

"We are incredibly proud of this Prime Vendor agreement," said Tiffany Sancin, executive account director, IDN, Medline. "Our advanced distribution capabilities, coupled with our cutting-edge technology, enable us to support the medical center in scaling their operations effectively. This agreement underscores how our ability to scale is key as they expand their footprint to meet the growing demands of their health system."

One of Medline's largest distribution centers in West Jefferson, Ohio, along with the company's fleet of MedTrans trucks, will service the hospital system's facilities in the Columbus region. The West Jefferson facility, built in 2023, uses AutoStore warehouse automation and software technology designed to optimize order fulfillment and enhance operational efficiency. The facility is part of Medline's network of 45 DCs across the U.S.

"Our West Jefferson team is dedicated to supporting The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center as they continue to grow," said Amanda Lovelace-Tobicash, vice president of regional operations, Medline. "Our team's commitment is evident through our industry-leading infrastructure, which utilizes the latest technology and innovation to ensure next-day delivery to 95% of all our U.S. customers. This level of service is what allows us to support the West Jefferson team's hard work and dedication to all Ohioans."

To learn more about how Medline increases operational efficiencies throughout the country through supply chain solutions, visit medline.com/supply-chain/

About Medline

Medline is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care. Through its broad product portfolio, resilient supply chain and leading clinical solutions, Medline helps healthcare providers improve their clinical, financial and operational outcomes. Headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, the company employs more than 43,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries and territories. To learn more about how Medline makes healthcare run better, visit medline.com .

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SOURCE Medline Industries, LP
LONG BEACH, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The cardiology team at the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center, led by Chief of Cardiology David Shavelle, M.D., performed Long Beach Medical Center's first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement procedure using a new, innovative treatment option  the transcatheter edge-to edge repair (TEER) TriClip G4 System in September of 2024.

The FDA-approved TriClip is a small clipping device designed to clip two or more of the leaflets of the tricuspid, offering a minimally invasive treatment option to patients who have tricuspid regurgitation (TR)  a condition where the tricuspid valve does not close completely when the right ventricle contracts. This device  implanted via a catheter inserted in the vein of the leg  helps reduce tricuspid regurgitation and promotes an immediate improvement in blood flow and allows patients to benefit from a less traumatic procedure and a faster recovery.

This advanced technology marks a new era for treating tricuspid valve disease since prior to its introduction, patients could only receive a device better suited for the mitral valve (MitraClip device). The TriClip device was specifically made for the tricuspid valve. In a large clinical trial, the device was shown to reduce symptoms and hospitalization for heart failure for patients at high-risk for open-heart surgery.

"This new procedure represents a significant advancement in our ability to treat high-risk patients with tricuspid valve heart disease," says Dr. Shavelle, who led the landmark procedure. "Historically there wasn't much we could do for those who still had symptoms after tricuspid regurgitation treatment and who were at high-risk for open heart surgery. This device gives patients access to improved quality of life."

This procedure was performed by a highly skilled, diverse team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists and advanced imaging specialists from the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. Implantation of the TriClip with the TriClip G4 System is as effective as open-heart surgery, helping patients return to their daily lives in one to two days.

"The patient recovered in the hospital for about two days, and he was able to return to his daily life the following day," says Dr. Shavelle. "It's amazing to see the positive impact this device has on our patients, allowing them to return to their daily lives with improved heart function and overall well-being."

The patient who received this procedure, Anthony Williams, reported being fatigued constantly with excessive swelling of the legs (edema) before the procedure. Today, he is more energetic than ever and ready to take on each day.

MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center is the first institute in the region to use this device and continues to lead in cardiovascular innovations, bringing patients with the latest technology advancements. As one of the most high performing hospitals according to U.S. News, MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center is a six-time five-star recipient recognized for its excellence in cardiac care by Healthgrades, and has recently received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, as well as the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. With these achievements and offering a comprehensive range of services for patients with cardiac disorders, including rehabilitation programs, Long Beach Medical Center is a community hospital dedicated in providing expert and compassionate care on par with those found in academic settings.

About MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center:

MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center is a member of MemorialCare, a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system. Long Beach Medical Center has been providing the community with compassionate, quality health care for more than 100 years. At the forefront of specialized care, research, and education, Long Beach Medical Center uses the most advanced healthcare technologies, including pioneering surgical systems like  ExactechGPS and ExcelsiusGPS. Recognized among the top 3% of all California acute care hospitals, Long Beach Medical Center is recognized as "Best Hospital" for OBGYN and Orthopedics and ranked regionally in the Los Angeles Metro Area by U.S. News & World Report and earned Magnet recognition for nursing excellence. With premier centers dedicated to cancer, heart, rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurosciences, and trauma, physicians and surrounding hospitals continually refer to its accredited programs. For more information, visit memorialcare.org/LongBeach.

SOURCE MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center
Recognized by Apple for its musician-first design, Moises now serves 60 million users in 190 countries and processes daily audio equivalent of nearly five years of continuous music

SALT LAKE CITY, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Moises, the AI-powered music platform, was today named an Apple Design Award finalist in the Innovation category. The honor comes six months after Apple named Moises the 2024 iPad App of the Year, making it one of a handful of apps to earn both an Apple Design Award finalist nod and an App Store Award win within the same 12-month span.

Moises iPhone App

Moises simplifies the task of practicing and producing music with its AI platform that separates vocals and instruments from any song with unprecedented clarity. Beyond stem separation, the app offers tempo and pitch shifting, a smart metronome, chord detection, and multilingual lyric transcriptionall wrapped in an intuitive, user-friendly interface. This thoughtful design brings professional-grade audio tools directly to anyone with a smartphone.

The company has rapidly grown into the world's leading AI music platform, leveraging 45 proprietary AI models to process 2.5 million minutes of audio every daythe equivalent of nearly five years of continuous music. Available in 33 languages, Moises serves a global community of 60 million musicians across 190 countries.

"Designing Moises meant removing friction between musicians and their creativity, turning complex AI-powered source separation into something as intuitive as moving a volume slider," said Jardson Almeida, Co-founder and Chief Design Officer at Moises. "With our AI-powered mixer, we've made sophisticated audio technology disappear into the background, letting musicians focus purely on their creativity."

Benchmarking found the platform's Signal-to-Distortion Ratio (SDR), the metric measuring audio quality, is over 15% higher than that of other AI music tools, providing Moises users with clearer audio separation and more distinct instrument isolation. In lyrics transcription, Moises demonstrates a notable advantage over its competitors by achieving a higher level of accuracy in its predictions. The in-house transcription models developed by Moises exhibit a reduction of approximately 28% in character errors compared to ElevenLabs.

"Our app empowers creators to achieve their fullest artistic expression with technology that serves their artistry rather than replacing it," says Co-founder and CEO Geraldo Ramos. "Apple's recognition of an AI tool that champions skill development and human performance over autonomous creation sends a powerful message about the value of responsible and artist-centric AI development."

About Moises: Selected by Apple as the 2024 "iPad App of the Year," Moises empowers musicians with AI tools for music practice and creation, offering features like vocal/instrument separation, pitch adjustment, and chord detection. Backed by a team of world-class engineers and scientists with experience at Spotify, Pandora, and TikTok, the company has developed 45 proprietary AI models that process 2.5 million minutes of daily audio. Moises has 60 million users in 190 countries and is currently available in 33 languages. Founded in Salt Lake City, the company has over 100 employees in the US, Brazil, and Europe. Learn more: moises.ai

SOURCE Moises
HOUSTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MTM Critical Metals Ltd (ASX: MTM| OTCQB: MTMCF  www.mtmcriticalmetals.com.au) announced (https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02952859-6A1267050&v=04711220c3a57065317ba4efca4a3459a4e46882) it has successfully recovered high-grade antimony (Sb) from U.S.-sourced electronic waste using its proprietary Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology. The process achieved a 98% conversion rate, yielding 3.13% antimony  a concentration that exceeds typical global antimony mine grades (0.1  1.0%).

This breakthrough demonstrates the commercial potential of onshore, urban mining solutions aligned with U.S. critical minerals strategy. Antimony, listed as a critical mineral by both the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy, is vital to industries such as munitions, semiconductors and battery manufacturing. The U.S. currently lacks domestic antimony production and relies heavily on imports from China.

MTM's results validate the strategic relevance of recovering critical metals from legacy e-waste streams and reinforce the company's ongoing discussions with U.S. government stakeholders regarding potential funding support.

Michael Walshe, Managing Director & CEO of MTM, commented:

"Achieving 98% recovery from e-waste at over 3% grade shows the transformative power of our technology. We're well positioned to contribute to U.S. supply chain resilience and advance toward commercial deployment."

MTM recently secured a pre-permitted demonstration site in Texas and continues to engage with U.S. agencies on scaling operations.

MTM Critical Metals, based in Perth, Western Australia and Houston, Texas, specializes in advanced metal recovery technologies. The company's 100% owned US subsidiary, Flash Metals USA, possesses the exclusive licensing rights to the innovative Flash Joule Heating technology, an innovative metal recovery and mineral processing method developed by researchers at Rice University. In addition, MTM holds exploration assets prospective for niobium (Nb), rare earth elements (REE) and gold, strategically located in Western Australia and Quebec.

SOURCE MTM Critical Metals Ltd.
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting 8:22 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 10, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4.

The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 11.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom Mission 3 crew is pictured approaching the International Space Station on Jan. 20, 2024. Credit: NASA

NASA will stream live coverage of launch and arrival activities on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

NASA's mission responsibility is for integrated operations, which begins during the spacecraft's approach to the space station, continues during the crew's approximately two-week stay aboard the orbiting laboratory while conducting science, education, and commercial activities, and concludes once the spacecraft exits the station.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

As part of a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station. The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations. NASA and ISRO have a long-standing relationship built on a shared vision to advance scientific knowledge and expand space collaboration.

The private mission also carries the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station.

NASA will join the mission prelaunch teleconference hosted by Axiom Space (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) at 6 p.m., Monday, June 9, with the following participants:

Dana Weigel, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA

Allen Flynt, chief of mission services, Axiom Space

William Gerstenmaier, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX

Arlena Moses , launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force

To join the teleconference, media must register with Axiom Space by 12 p.m., Sunday, June 8, at:

https://bit.ly/4krAQHK

NASA's mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Tuesday, June 10

6:15 a.m.  Axiom Space and SpaceX launch coverage begins.

7:25 a.m.  NASA joins the launch coverage on NASA+.

8:22 a.m.  Launch

NASA will end coverage following orbital insertion, which is approximately 15 minutes after launch. As it is a commercial launch, NASA will not provide a clean launch feed on its channels.

Wednesday, June 11

10:30 a.m.  Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX channels.

12:30 p.m.  Targeted docking to the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module.

Arrival coverage will continue through hatch opening and welcome remarks.

All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on real-time operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information.

The International Space Station is a springboard for developing a low Earth economy. NASA's goal is to achieve a strong economy off the Earth where the agency can purchase services as one of many customers to meet its science and research objectives in microgravity. NASA's commercial strategy for low Earth orbit provides the government with reliable and safe services at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on Artemis missions to the Moon in preparation for Mars while also continuing to use low Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions.

Learn more about NASA's commercial space strategy at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercial-space

SOURCE NASA
Conversely, 76% of Americans with a financial advisor describe their finances as "strong"

An American epidemic: financial worries significantly affecting Americans' health, relationships, job performance and more

The young and the restless: About half of Gen Z and Millennials say financial uncertainty keeps them up at night at least once a month

Major source of strife: 75% of Millennials and 71% of Gen Z who are in serious relationships say financial worries have impacted the relationship with their spouse or partner

More Americans describe their finances as weak than other facets of their lives like physical health and mental health

MILWAUKEE, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial uncertainty is having a significant impact on Americans' wellbeing. From sleep quality and mental health to personal relationships and job performance, money is weighing heavily on many Americans  but heaviest on Gen Z and Millennials.

These are some of the latest findings from Northwestern Mutual's 2025 Planning & Progress Study, the company's proprietary research series that explores Americans' attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives across a broad set of issues impacting their long-term financial security.

Financial anxiety is increasingly impacting the way Americans experience life

Americans' feelings and emotions about money are showing up in their day-to-day lives in many ways.

Depression and anxiety: Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) say that financial uncertainty has made them feel depressed and anxious  an 8-percentage point increase over 2023 (61%)i. These feelings are especially pronounced for America's youngest generations. Nearly 4 in 10 Gen Z (39%) and Millennials (38%) report feeling depressed and anxious on at least a weekly basis due to financial uncertainty  up 8 and 5 percentage points over 2023, respectively.

Sleepless nights: Meanwhile, 63% of Americans say money worries have kept them up at night. Once again, the impact on young Americans is even more evident: 53% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials say they toss and turn about their finances at least once a month. These feelings are disrupting men and women similarly  1 in 4 (25%) of both say they're kept up at night with financial concerns at least weekly.

Anxiety creating issues: A majority of Americans who are married or living with their partner (57%) say that financial uncertainty has impacted their relationship with their spouse or partner, up 13 percentage points from 2023 (44%). Again, these challenges are felt more by Gen Z and Millennials  a whopping 71% and 75% of these generations who are in serious relationships agree  up from 52% and 62% in 2023, respectively.

Sidetracking social events and job performance: More than half of Americans (55%) say their financial concerns have caused them to miss out on a social event. Meanwhile, nearly half (49%) say their worries about money have affected their job performance  up 13 percentage points since 2023 (36%). And for Gen Z and Millennials, the interference is undeniable: 74% and 71% respectively have missed out on social events, while 64% and 58% say these feelings impacted them at work.

Feeling sick: 4 in 10 Americans (40%) say that financial worries have made them feel physically ill. Among Gen Z and Millennials, the numbers soar to 56% and 53%, respectively.

"Financial worries can impact our day-to-day health and wellness, and it's important for people to understand and talk about the way they are linked," said Jeff Sippel, Northwestern Mutual's chief strategy officer and executive vice president. "It's much easier to have healthy relationships, sleep habits, and a social life when you're feeling confident about your money. As an industry, we must work harder to help all Americans build plans for greater financial security."

Finances outrank physical health and mental health as greatest weakness

As part of the study, Americans were asked to describe how "strong" or "weak" they feel about various aspects of their personal lives. Nearly half (45%) of Americans label their finances as "weak"  a sum that significantly outpaced shaky feelings about their physical health (28%), mental health (28%), friendships (27%), job stability (26%) and their relationship with family (22%).

Americans' feeble feelings about finances hold true across all genders, ages and all races. Across the board, people describe their finances as "weak" more than any other facet of their lives.

But, again, more Gen Z and Millennials identify money management as a weakness than other generations. More than half of Gen Z (52%) and Millennials (51%) describe their finances as "weak," followed closely by Gen X (48%), and trailed by Boomers+ (32%).

Among women in America considering their own situation, the largest percentage of women use the word weak to describe their finances (50%), followed by physical health (30%), mental health (29%), friendships (27%), job stability (27%) and relationship with family (20%).

Similarly, among men, 40% say their finances are "weak"  more than other factors like friendships (27%), physical health (25%), mental health (25%), job stability (25%) and relationship with family (23%).

"Most Americans see money management as a weakness  and it's something that we as a society need to talk about and wrestle with," said Sippel. "Financial planning should be the number one topic on every newsstand and at every dinner table, because so few of us feel like it's a strength."

People with advisors much more likely to describe finances as strong

Unlike the general population, 76% of Americans with a financial advisor describe their finances as "strong"  significantly more than the 44% of Americans without an advisor who shared the same sentiment.

"We're seeing a 32-percentage point difference in financial confidence when people seek out professional advice from a financial advisor," said Sippel. "There's a special kind of poise and conviction people feel when they know they're making good financial choices, because they consulted with an expert."

Among Gen Z who have a financial advisor, 63% describe their finances as "strong." Meanwhile, among Gen Z'ers without an advisor, just 42% feel the same.

Northwestern Mutual has 8,500 financial advisors and representatives nationwide who help Americans to build comprehensive financial plans  combining wealth management with risk protection  to create greater financial security.

About the 2025 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study

The 2025 Planning & Progress Study was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Northwestern Mutual among 4,626 U.S. adults aged 18 or older. The survey was conducted online between January 2 and January 19, 2025. Data are weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income, and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. A complete survey methodology is available.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With nearly $700 billion of total assets1 being managed across the company's institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than $38 billion in revenues, and $2.4 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 109 on the 2024 FORTUNE 500 and was recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2025.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

1 Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual.

____________________________ i Updated from "Made you feel depressed" in 2023 to "Made you feel depressed/anxious" in 2025.

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. On June 3, during the international scientific conference on Constructing Empires: Colonial Ideologies and Realities held in Azerbaijans capital, the Baku Declaration on Scientific Commitment to Decolonization and Reparations Issues was adopted.

Trend presents the declaration:

We, the undersigned academicians and scholars of the International Scientific Conference entitled "Constructing Empires: Colonial Ideologies and Realities," gathered in Baku on June 3, 2025, reaffirm our enduring commitment to the universal values of human rights, justice, decolonization, scientific freedom, and the pursuit of truth through our academic initiatives and approaches.

We assert the pivotal role of research and education in advancing understanding, fostering dialogue, and promoting respect for human dignity and the right to decolonization, acknowledging the persistent legacies of colonialism in contemporary societies and recognizing the need for continued scientific engagement with its ideological, political, social, cultural, and economic dimensions.

We recognize that the historical processes and structures of colonial domination have left deep-rooted and multilayered impacts across continents, many of which remain insufficiently addressed. As academics representing diverse disciplines, regions, and intellectual traditions, we affirm the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and independent research in interrogating these legacies and exploring pathways toward equity, reconciliation, and empowerment.

We acknowledge the initiative of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to establish the Global Network for the Study of Africans and People of African Descent (GSAP). This network aims to connect researchers, legal practitioners, policy experts, educators, academic institutions, schools, and universities to support UN anti-racism mechanisms, Member States, UN agencies, civil society, activists, and the general public.

We further underscore the necessity of creating inclusive scientific spaces where historically marginalized voices and perspectives are brought to the forefront of discourse on decolonization and human rights. So, we do seek to contribute meaningfully to global efforts aimed at dismantling systemic injustices and promoting intellectual plurality.

In this spirit, and without constituting a binding commitment, we collectively express our intention to pursue and support future academic cooperation in the field of decolonization and reparations issues.

To this end, we declare our shared aim to establish an International Research and Knowledge Platform on Decolonization, aimed at facilitating scholarly exchange, fostering joint research initiatives, supporting early-career researchers, and strengthening transnational scientific solidarity on matters of mutual concern.

We call upon international organizations, intergovernmental bodies, regional institutions, and civil society actors to lend their support to this platform. Such support will be crucial to effectively address systemic injustices and promote reparations, sustainable development, and decolonization.

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VANCOUVER, BC, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQB: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to report an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for its 12,000 hectare (120km2), 100% owned Atlanta Gold Mine Project, located in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend, 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The MRE was prepared by RESPEC (formerly Mine Development Associates) based out of Reno, Nevada, a group with unmatched experience working with Nevada-based deposits.

Atlanta Resource Highlights:

Measured and Indicated ("M&I") resources: 27.7 million tonnes (Mt) at an average gold grade of 1.14g/t for 1,019,600 ounces of contained gold, representing a more than doubling (122% increase) of M&I resources compared to the 2020 resource estimate, highlighting the success of the Company's Phase I & II resource definition drilling campaigns. 91% of the total gold ounces are categorized within the higher confidence M&I categories, with just 9% in the inferred category (see Table 1).



Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz M&I 27,710,300 1.14 1,019,600 9.75 8,687,400 1.20 1,069,700 Inferred 3,638,400 0.84 98,500 2.56 299,500 0.85 99,800 Table 1. Pit-constrained MRE summary for Atlanta

High-grade core: M&I resources include a high-grade core of 524koz Au averaging 3.99g/t Au at a 2 g/t AuEq cut-off grade ("COG"). This high-grade core alone contains more ounces than the 2020 M &I resource estimate and at more than triple (207% increase) the average grade.

M&I Material in All Processing in All Lithologies COG AuEq g/t Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz 0.5 15,939,900 1.77 905,700 15.16 7,768,900 1.86 952,000 0.7 12,896,500 2.06 852,500 16.91 7,012,200 2.16 894,700 1 9,968,800 2.42 776,800 19.59 6,278,800 2.54 815,000 2 4,085,900 3.99 524,100 31.93 4,194,900 4.19 550,100 4 1,577,000 6.24 316,500 41.57 2,107,700 6.50 329,500 Table 2. M&I resource sensitivities based on cut-off

Open-pit, oxide gold system: This pit-constrained, oxide resource applies a US$2,200 /oz gold price and assumes recoveries and processing methods from the Company's Phase 1 metallurgical test work program, which outlines conventional Nevada oxide processing methods at Atlanta (link here).





This pit-constrained, oxide resource applies a /oz gold price and assumes recoveries and processing methods from the Company's Phase 1 metallurgical test work program, which outlines conventional Nevada oxide processing methods at (link here). Significant growth potential: Today's resource covers the Atlanta Resource zone and does not incorporate mineralization encountered in the Company's Phase III drilling, including the recent discovery of gold and silver mineralization at Silver Park. Management sees clear potential for continued resource expansion with mineralization open to the north, south and west of the resource zone, as well as the potential for finding regional satellite deposits.

Collin Kettell, CEO of Nevada King, stated: "This updated MRE was prepared by RESPEC, a highly regarded engineering firm that represents the gold standard for Nevada projects. The results mark a major milestone at Atlanta, confirming a high-grade and high-confidence oxide gold system in one of the most sought-after jurisdictions in the world. We are pleased to exceed the 1Moz Au threshold in the M&I category while maintaining the grade of oxide mineralization well above 1 g/t. Today's results highlight the success of our Phase I and II drill programs and validate our technical team's geological model and drilling since 2021. With this MRE under our belt, we will continue our quest to unlock the full potential of the Atlanta district. Our fully funded, aggressive Phase III exploration drill program is aimed at demonstrating Atlanta's multi-million-ounce potential."

Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, remarked: "Atlanta is a unique system with multiple instances of high-grade gold deposition. These high-grade zones, which play prominently into today's resource estimate, were a key target of our Phase II drill program.

"When we began our work at Atlanta, the resource totaled 460,000 M&I ounces averaging 1.30 g/t. Today's resource update more than doubles that figure and includes significantly more high-grade material, which is largely the result of thicker, higher-grade intercepts within the West Atlanta Graben Zone. We see clear potential for expansion of this zone to the south, north and west with the possibility of finding additional elevated high-grade zones.

"The Company's unwavering support behind its technical team coupled with its commitment to seeing the exploration program completed made it possible to boost a modest deposit into a high-grade, +1 Moz deposit  a rare achievement for open pit oxide deposits in safe jurisdictions. That same tenacity is still at play today, pushing our Phase III exploration forward throughout the Atlanta District in search of new deposits."

2025 Mineral Resource Estimate

Open pit oxide resources to be processed at a mill are estimated at 14.5Mt grading 1.72g/t Au for 803koz of contained gold in the M&I category, while 1.0Mt grading 2.24g/t for 70koz of contained gold are in the Inferred category.





Open pit oxide resources to be processed via a heap leach are estimated at 13.2Mt grading 0.51g/t Au for 216koz of contained gold in the M&I category, while 2.7Mt grading 0.34g/t for 29koz of contained gold are in the Inferred category.

Material Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz Measured Heap Leach 1,246,000 0.60 24,200 3.16 126,500 0.61 24,500 Measured Mill 80,700 4.43 11,500 15.56 40,400 4.55 11,800 Measured Mill Breccia 2,103,400 2.00 135,100 25.19 1,703,300 2.15 145,700 Measured 3,430,100 1.55 170,800 16.96 1,870,200 1.65 182,000 Indicated Heap Leach 11,921,000 0.50 192,100 3.05 1,167,800 0.51 195,200 Indicated Mill 397,000 4.66 59,500 11.66 148,800 4.75 60,700 Indicated Mill Breccia 11,962,200 1.55 597,200 14.30 5,500,600 1.64 631,800 Indicated 24,280,200 1.09 848,800 8.73 6,817,200 1.14 887,700 M&I 27,710,300 1.14 1,019,600 9.75 8,687,400 1.20 1,069,700 Inferred Heap Leach 167,600 0.49 2,600 0.02 100 0.49 2,600 Inferred Mill 1,000 3.19 100 2.87 100 3.21 100 Inferred Mill Breccia 965,700 2.24 69,600 2.86 88,800 2.25 69,900 Inferred Heap Leach (Dump/Pad) 2,504,100 0.33 26,200 2.61 210,500 0.34 27,200 Inferred 3,638,400 0.84 98,500 2.56 299,500 0.85 99,800 Table 3. Mineral resource estimate by lithology and processing method

The Mineral Resources have been prepared by Jeff Bickel, C.P.G of RESPEC (formerly Mine Development Associates) in conformity with CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines and are reported in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves. The project mineral resources are estimated using a variable gold equivalent (AuEq) cut-off grade. Gold Equivalent (AuEq) equation: AuEq = ( US$2,200 /oz Au / US$25 /oz Ag) * (Gold Recovery / Silver Recovery). Gold and Silver Recoveries were variable based on grade and material type (See table below for recovery equations). Heap leach material cut-off grade of 0.14 g/t AuEq, heap leach dump/pad material cut-off grade of 0.14 g/t AuEq, mill material cross over-grade of 2.34 g/t AuEq, and mill breccia material cut-off grade of 0.33 g/t AuEq within an optimized pit. Mineral Resources within the optimized pit with a slope angle of 45 degrees. Additional inputs for Whittle pit-optimization include: mining costs of US$2.17 /tonne mined; remining costs of US$1.63 /tonne mined for dump/pad material; heap leach costs of US$3.28 /tonne processed, milling costs of US$13.53 /tonne processed, and general and administrative costs of US$0.96 /tonne processed. The reported MRE have been constrained within optimized pit shells using a gold price of US$2,200 /oz Au and a silver price of US$23.91 /oz Ag. These metal prices, as well as the metal recoveries summarized below, were used to calculate cut-off grades and contained ounces. The MRE is based on 93,461.5m in 468 drill holes, with 76,933.8m in 407 holes drilled by Nevada King from 2020-2024 and the remainder by previous operators between 1997-2015. A technical report on the MRE will be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and will be filed within 45 days of this news release on Nevada King's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. This MRE has an effective date of September 6, 2024 . Rounding may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Gold and Silver recovery equations summarized by material type in table below:

Heap Leach Au IF(au_c.G>0.40,3.981*LOG(au_c.G)+72.851,7.165*LOG(au_c.G)+75.224)/100 Mill Au IF(au_c.G>0.40,1.678*LOG(au_c.G)+86.519,4.068*LOG(au_c.G)+88.504)/100 Mill Breccia Au IF(au_c.G>0.40,3.074*LOG(au_c.G)+82.642,6.594*LOG(au_c.G)+85.399)/100



Heap Leach Ag IF(ag_c.G>8.00,(0.846*LOG(ag_c.G)+12.932)/100,(1.229*LOG(ag_c.G)+12.183)/100) Mill Ag IF(ag_c.G>8.00,(7.012*LOG(ag_c.G)+33.209)/100,(13.043*LOG(ag_c.G)+20.046)/100) Mill Breccia Ag IF(ag_c.G>8.00,(1.266*LOG(ag_c.G)+40.846)/100,(1.957*LOG(ag_c.G)+39.479)/100)





2025 Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz M&I 27,710,300 1.14 1,019,600 9.75 8,687,400 1.20 1,069,700 Inferred 3,638,400 0.84 98,500 2.56 299,500 0.85 99,800 2020 Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz M&I 11,040,000 1.30 460,000 11.89 4,220,000 1.43 505,864 Inferred 5,310,000 0.83 142,000 7.30 1,240,000 0.91 155,477 % change Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz M&I 151 % -12 % 122 % -18 % 106 % -16 % 111 % Inferred -31 % 1 % -31 % -65 % -76 % -6 % -36 % Table 4. Mineral resource estimate changes from 2020 to 2025

MRE Methods

The effective date of the MRE is September 6, 2024. RESPEC (formerly Mine Development Associates) worked with Nevada King to create three-dimensional geological models based on original cross-sections supplied by Nevada King which were the basis for the interpretation of mineralization of the deposit leading to the MRE. Gold and silver mineral resources were modeled and estimated as follows:

Define mineral domains based on the Atlanta geological model and geostatistical analysis of drillhole data.





geological model and geostatistical analysis of drillhole data. Create polygons of explicitly modeled cross-sectional interpretations of constrained low-, medium- and high-grade mineral-domains for both gold and silver snapped to drillholes. The grade domains were guided by the geological model and integrated other relevant geological information.





Rectified the cross-sections on evenly spaced long-section polygons which has plane locations coinciding with the resource block model centroids along y-axis columns.





Coded a block model to the gold and silver domains using the mineral-domain long-section polygons.





Composited drill hole assay sample data within the mineralized domains into 1.5 m length composites.





length composites. Analyzed the modelled mineralization geostatistically to aid in the establishment of estimation and classification parameters, and





Interpolated grades into block models using the gold and silver mineral domains to explicitly constrain the grade estimations. RESPEC utilized Inverse Distance Squared (ID2) interpolation for the estimation to obtain a localizing effect in the mid- and high-grade domains to best represent the spatial distribution of mineralization in the deposit. All estimates are based on a block dimension of 1.5 m by 1.5 m by 1.5 m .

Resource sensitivity at various cut-offs

The following table considers average cut-off within the optimized pit for the purposes of demonstrating overall sensitivities.

M&I Material in All Processing in All Lithology COG AuEq g/t Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz 0.5 15,939,900 1.77 905,700 15.16 7,768,900 1.86 952,000 0.7 12,896,500 2.06 852,500 16.91 7,012,200 2.16 894,700 1 9,968,800 2.42 776,800 19.59 6,278,800 2.54 815,000 2 4,085,900 3.99 524,100 31.93 4,194,900 4.19 550,100 4 1,577,000 6.24 316,500 41.57 2,107,700 6.50 329,500 Inferred Material in All Processing in All Lithology COG AuEq g/t Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz 0.5 1,264,500 1.94 78,800 5.42 220,200 1.97 80,100 0.7 1,085,300 2.16 75,500 5.73 199,800 2.20 76,700 1 921,500 2.40 71,100 5.84 173,000 2.44 72,300 2 408,300 3.50 45,900 10.20 133,900 3.58 46,900 4 139,100 5.30 23,700 13.44 60,100 5.40 24,200

Table 4. Mineral resource estimate sensitivities based on cut-off.

1. This table is only included to demonstrate the sensitivity of changes in cut-off grade and the values should be considered a subset of existing mineral resources.

2. Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.

Next Steps

Exploration continues with the Company's ongoing Phase III drill program, which was recently expanded to 30,000m from 20,000m and is fully funded. The Phase III program is focused on regional drilling and with gold and silver mineralization identified at Silver Park, Atlanta South, and Atlanta North exploration targets, these areas will continue to be the focus of the exploration program with potential to further increase the drill program through the rest of the year. In addition to continued exploration, the company will also continue to de-risk the project through further metallurgical test work, geotechnical work, environmental studies, and permit planning.

QA/QC Protocols

All Reverse Circulation (RC) samples from the Atlanta Project are split at the drill site and placed in cloth and plastic bags utilizing a nominal 2kg sample weight. CRF standards, blanks, and duplicates are inserted into the sample stream on-site on a one-in-twenty sample basis, meaning all three inserts are included in each 20-sample group. Samples are shipped by a local contractor in large sample shipping crates directly to American Assay Lab in Reno, Nevada, with full custody being maintained at all times. At American Assay Lab, samples were weighted then crushed to 75% passing 2mm and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns to produce a 300g pulverized split. Prepared samples are initially run using a four acid + boric acid digestion process and conventional multi-element ICP-OES analysis. Gold assays are initially run using 30-gram samples by lead fire assay with an OES finish to a 0.003 ppm detection limit, with samples greater than 10 ppm finished gravimetrically. Every sample is also run through a cyanide leach for gold with an ICP-OES finish. The QA/QC procedure involves regular submission of Certified Analytical Standards and property-specific duplicates.

The PQ-diameter core was sampled in the Company's warehouse in Winnemucca, Nevada, with whole core samples being placed in heavy canvas bags and sent to American Assay Lab in Reno, Nevada, in heavy shipping bags by a Company contractor with full custody being always maintained. CRF standards and coarse blanks were inserted into the sample stream on a one-in-twenty sample basis, meaning both inserts are included in each 20-sample group. At American Assay Lab, samples were weighted, and then completely crushed to -1 inch. The coarse-crushed sample was quarter-split, and one quarter was reduced to 75% passing 2mm. A 300g split was subsequently pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. Prepared samples are initially run using a four acid + boric acid digestion process and conventional multi-element ICP-OES analysis. Gold assays are initially run using 30-gram samples by lead fire assay with an OES finish to a 0.003 ppm detection limit, with samples greater than 10 ppm finished gravimetrically. Every sample is also run through a cyanide leach for gold with an ICP-OES finish. The QA/QC procedure involves regular submission of Certified Analytical Standards and property-specific duplicates.

Qualified Person

The MRE for Atlanta was prepared under the supervision of Jeffrey Bickel, CPG, an employee of RESPEC. Mr. Bickel has reviewed and approved the technical contents relating to the MRE in this news release.

Mr. Bickel has reviewed the sampling, assaying, and security procedures used at the Atlanta Project and it is his opinion that they follow industry standard procedures and are adequate for the estimation of the MRE and for use in preparing the Technical Report.

Mr. Bickel completed audits of the databases provided by Nevada King, performed a site visit, and reviewed quality assurance and quality control data and procedures. After performing his review, he considers the assay data to be adequate for the estimation of the MRE and for use in preparing the Technical Report.

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and he supervises all of the Company's exploration activities.

About Nevada King Gold Corp.

Nevada King is focused on advancing and growing its 100% owned, past producing, 120km2 Atlanta Gold Mine project located along the Battle Mountain trend in southeast Nevada. The project hosts an NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained oxide resource of 1,020koz Au in the measured and indicated category (27.7M tonnes at 1.14 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 98.5koz Au (3.6M tonnes at 0.84 g/t and replaces the Gustavson 2020 resource summarized below (see the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca).

Previous NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine by Gustavson 2020

Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au

Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag

Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 M&I 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000

NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine by RESPEC 2025



Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Ag g/t Ag oz AuEq g/t AuEq oz Measured 3,430,100 1.55 170,800 16.96 1,870,200 1.65 182,000 Indicated 24,280,200 1.09 848,800 8.73 6,817,200 1.14 887,700 M&I 27,710,300 1.14 1,019,600 9.75 8,687,400 1.20 1,069,700 Inferred 3,638,400 0.84 98,500 2.56 299,500 0.85 99,800

Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, further exploration activities at Atlanta, including the potential for continued resource expansion and locating regional satellite deposits, and derisking the Atlanta Project through further metallurgical test work, geotechnical work, environmental studies, and permit planning. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Readers are urged to refer to the Company's filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp.


Research initiative, led by Oxford Brookes University (OBU) and using Amira, will evaluate evidence-based AI reading interventions to support students and inform national literacy policy

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Northern Ireland Department of Education announced it will fund a national research study to evaluate the impact of AI-powered literacy interventions on reading outcomes with Amira Learning (Amira), particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as part of the RAISE initiative.

The study, led by Oxford Brookes University (OBU) and using Amira, will assess the effectiveness of evidence-based AI literacy tools on improving reading outcomes. The study will use a matched-pair design to identify rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to inform national literacy policy and support targeted interventions.

For this study, over 15,000 participating pupils will first complete a brief 15-minute baseline assessment to evaluate their literacy skills and identify potential challenges such as dyslexia. This assessment utilizes Amira's AI-powered technology, developed from decades of research at Carnegie Mellon and validated by leading universities, which listens to students read aloud and identifies reading challenges through next-generation assessment capabilities. Over the duration of the study, pupils will engage with Amira, an AI-assisted reading tutor for frequent sessions totaling 20-40 minutes weekly for 12 months.

The research methodology includes continuous monitoring and data collection to evaluate effectiveness. Teachers will receive face to face and online training from Oxford Brookes University to support teachers to interpret assessment data through detailed reports, enabling them to identify struggling readers and then implement individualized, evidence-based, targeted interventions aligned with the Science of Reading. This comprehensive approach supports Northern Ireland's ongoing shift toward evidence-based tools making a positive impact on reading outcomes while providing data-driven insights to inform both classroom practices and broader educational policy decisions.

Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University, said, "This study gives us a chance to rigorously test how tools like Amira can support what we already know works in primary reading. It's about applying the evidence, not replacing itwith technology that complements and boosts the professionalism of the teachers, rather than competing with it."

Minister of Education, Paul Givan MLA, said, "Literacy is core to allowing pupils to access knowledge and all areas of learning within the curriculum. It is the key to unlocking the curriculum and a love for learning. I am looking forward to the outcomes of this research project and how these can inform my Department's policy going forward."

Mark Angel, CEO of Amira Learning, said, "Literacy is the foundation of all learning, and it's critical that we ground our efforts in evidence-based practices that actually move the needle for students. This study is an important opportunity to show how AI and the Science of Reading can come together to deliver real, measurable impact in the classroom. At Amira, we're proud to support educators with reading solutions that are not only research-backed, but proven in practice."

For more information, visit: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/reading-ai-research-project

About Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes is one of the UK's leading modern universities, and is amongst the world's top universities in 23 subject areas. Set in a world-famous student city, it enjoys an international reputation for teaching excellence as well as strong links with business, industry and the public sector.

The University is a national leader in teacher education, with over 25 years' experience in preparing teachers, supporting schools, and shaping education policy. Its research in primary literacy, inclusive pedagogy and professional development has informed practice across the UK and beyond. Through its education publishing and development arm, Hamilton Brookes, the university works directly with schools and systems to co-design practical resources that help teachers apply research in real-world settings. Visit www.brookes.ac.uk for more information.

About Amira Learning

Amira Learning accelerates literacy outcomes by delivering the latest reading and neuroscience with AI. Propelling gains exceeding human tutoring, Amira is the only AI edtech validated by university and SEA efficacy research. Amira bridges assessment, instruction, and tutoring across one seamless cycle, helping districts achieve instructional coherence. Serving more than 4+ million students and trusted by more than 2,000 schools worldwide, Amira is the intelligent assistant teachers need to turn students into motivated and masterful readers. Visit www.amiralearning.com to learn more.

SOURCE Amira Learning
VANCOUVER, BC, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (OTCQX: OCANF) ("OceanaGold" or the "Company") is pleased to report the voting results from the Company's 2025 Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") held today.

A total of 538,458,035 common shares were voted at the meeting, representing 77.12% of the votes attached to all outstanding common shares. Shareholders voted in favour of each of the items of business at the Annual Meeting as follows:

Election of Directors

Resolutions electing each of the director nominees listed in OceanaGold's Management Information Circular dated April 23, 2025 as directors of the Company were passed by ordinary resolution.

Detailed results of the vote for each director are set out in the table below:

Directors Votes For % Votes Withheld /

Abstain % Paul Benson 393,936,966 79.79 99,784,006 20.21 Ian M. Reid 488,729,245 98.99 4,991,727 1.01 Craig J. Nelsen 491,026,458 99.45 2,694,514 0.55 Sandra M. Dodds 482,121,086 97.65 11,599,886 2.35 Alan N. Pangbourne 490,403,457 99.33 3,317,515 0.67 Linda M. Broughton 491,015,000 99.45 2,705,972 0.55 Stefanie E. Loader 493,423,819 99.94 297,153 0.06 Gerard M. Bond 493,434,771 99.94 286,201 0.06

Share Consolidation

A special resolution approving the consolidation of all issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a consolidation ratio of up to three (3) pre-consolidation common shares for one (1) post-consolidation common share (the "Consolidation") was passed.

Votes For % Votes Against % 536,892,725 99.71 1,565,307 0.29

The Company is exploring the benefits of a dual listing of its common shares on a major U.S. exchange, including the New York Stock Exchange, for a potential listing in the first half of 2026. The Company believes a U.S. listing could lead to increased interest by a wider audience of potential investors and result in increased marketability and trading liquidity. The principal reason for the Consolidation is to raise the per share trading price of the common shares in order to better comply with minimum trading price requirements of such exchanges.

Subject to approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange, OceanaGold expects the Consolidation to be effective on or around June 23, 2025, and intends to issue a detailed press release to provide a further update and final details on the Consolidation.

Appointment of Auditor

A resolution appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC Canada) as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the board of the Company to fix their remuneration was passed.

Votes For % Votes Withheld /

Abstain % 508,912,534 94.51 29,545,500 5.49

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

A non-binding resolution on the Company's approach to executive compensation was passed.

Votes For % Votes Against % 480,384,783 97.30 13,336,189 2.70

Virtual-Only Meetings

A resolution approving the Company to hold the 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders exclusively in a virtual-only format was passed.

Votes For % Votes Against % 325,303,717 65.89 168,417,253 34.11

Amendments to the Company's Articles

A special resolution approving amendments to the Company's articles was passed.

Votes For % Votes Against % 491,746,774 99.60 1,974,197 0.40

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company being listed on a major U.S. exchange, including such dual listing leading to increased interest by a wider audience of potential investors, increased marketability and trading liquidity and the expected timing for such listing, and the anticipated timing and effects of the completion of the Consolidation. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the generation of Free Cash Flow, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. They include, among others, those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name and on the Company's website. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements contained in this press release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE OceanaGold Corporation
Michigan Based, Family-Owned Franchisor Acquire Worried Bird Window Washing and Steel Coated Floors, Offering Entrepreneurs a Path to Financial Freedom in High-Demand and Resilient Service Industries

LIVONIA, Mich., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Franchise Brands, a rapidly growing, people-first multi-brand franchisor, empowers more than 150 franchise owners in building mission-driven businesses. This dedication cements its reputation as a premier choice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to invest in their future, lifestyle, and legacy. With the recent acquisition of two new brands, Worried Bird Window Washing and Steel Coated Epoxy Floors, and ongoing expansion across its established conceptsDoor Renew, Furry Land, Fetch! Pet Care, and Spray Foam GeniePhoenix Franchise Brands continues to strengthen its portfolio. As a family-owned franchisor, it offers essential, service-based business opportunities in industries with steady consumer demand and long-term growth potential.

Worried Bird Window Washing provides professional, high-quality window cleaning services for residential and commercial properties, capitalizing on the growing demand for professional exterior maintenance services. Steel Coated Epoxy Floors specializes in durable, high-performance flooring solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial spaces, catering to property owners looking for long-lasting, protective coatings. Both brands align with Phoenix Franchise Brands' mission to diversify its offerings in the home services sector.

As part of its aggressive expansion strategy, Phoenix Franchise Brands plans to bring on 50 well-vetted, qualified franchisees across its brands. The franchisor is known for offering scalable, flexible franchise opportunities, such as an owner-operator model for hands-on entrepreneurs looking to manage day-to-day operations. Phoenix equips each franchise owner with world-class training, time-saving tools and ongoing support to ensure long-term success for everyone in their network.

"As we continue to expand, our top priority remains on empowering franchisees and providing them with the best support, training, and resources they need to thrive," said Greg Longe, CEO of Phoenix Franchise Brands. "Joining our network means gaining access to proven systems within a supportive community, while staying true to our core values: honesty, character, integrity, inclusivity and courage. Whether you're an experienced owner or new to franchising, we're here to help you build a legacy that lasts."

With a scalable growth model that enables franchisees to expand through multi-unit and territory ownership, Phoenix Franchise Brands continues to strengthen its market presence. Its strategic investments in innovative service models, long-term brand sustainability, and high-growth industries position franchise owners for sustained profitability. By driving operational efficiencies through proprietary technology, AI-powered lead generation, and digital optimization, Phoenix Franchise Brands is redefining success in pet care, home improvement, and essential home services.

According to the 2025 Franchising Economic Outlook, the franchise industry is expected to generate over $936.4 billion in economic output, growing at a rate of 4.4 percent. With personal services and home service brands leading the way, Phoenix Franchise Brands is strengthening its position in the industry by bringing its franchise sales operations in-house, allowing for a more personalized, efficient, and transparent process for prospective franchisees. By managing franchise development internally, the company ensures that new owners receive tailored support from the start, helping them transition seamlessly into business ownership. Beyond internal growth, Phoenix Franchise Brands is actively seeking to acquire additional franchise concepts that align with its mission of providing essential, service-based business opportunities.

If you're looking to break into the booming pet services industry, capitalize on home improvement trends, or explore high-demand home service offerings, Phoenix Franchise Brands is continuing to expand across the country, offering a path to financial independence with unmatched support.

For more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.phoenixfranchisebrands.com .

SOURCE Phoenix Franchise Brands
MINNEAPOLIS, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pivot Bio, one of the world's leading innovative agtech companies, today announced the appointment of Debra Frimerman to the position of chief legal officer. Frimerman assumes the role following the departure of General Counsel Devang Shah, who is leaving the company to pursue a new opportunity.

Debra Frimerman, Pivot Bio Chief Legal Officer

Frimerman brings more than two decades of legal acumen and strategic business development experience to the role. She will oversee Pivot Bio's legal, compliance and governance functions, guiding the company through its continued scale-up in North America and global expansion efforts. This includes the critical role of protecting Pivot Bio's portfolio of patents. Frimerman will continue serving on the executive leadership team and reporting to Chief Executive Officer Chris Abbott.

"Debra is a trusted leader who understands both the letter of the law and the ambitions of a high-growth, science-driven company," said Abbott. "Her experience navigating complex transactions, coupled with her track record of delivering strategic partnerships, makes her the ideal chief legal officer for Pivot Bio as we enter our next chapter of growth and innovation. I would also like to recognize Devang for his notable contributions across the company's legal operations and as a valued adviser to our leadership, board and investors."

Since joining Pivot Bio, Frimerman has served as chief business development officer, playing a notable role in driving new revenue streams, negotiating high-impact partnerships and positioning the company for long-term growth.

Prior to Pivot Bio, Frimerman served as general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer at Calyxt, where she led legal, licensing, intellectual property, risk and compliance. While there, Frimerman led the successful series of mergers between Calyxt and Cibus, with the combined company valued at over $650 million, and was instrumental in working with the board and public and investor markets. She also held the role of associate general counsel at Syngenta, where she was head of legal for Syngenta Seeds, its U.S. seeds business, and played a key role in global technology licensing. Frimerman has advised on a multitude of public and private securities offerings collectively raising over $1 billion.

Frimerman began her legal career as a corporate lawyer at Stoel Rives and Lindquist & Vennum. She received her JD from the University of Minnesota, magna cum laude, and earned a BA in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

About Pivot Bio

Pivot Bio, one of the world's leading innovative agtech companies, delivers to farmers patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility.

Currently available in North America and soon in Brazil, the company's products are a breakthrough innovation and one of the agriculture industry's most promising climate solutions. Pivot Bio has been recognized three times by TIME magazine on its annual list of best inventions, by Fast Company on its World Changing Ideas and World's 50 Most Innovative Companies lists, by CNBC on its Disruptor 50 list of private companies, by Fortune on its Impact 20 list of startups driving social good and by MIT Tech Review as one of 15 climate tech companies to watch.

For more information, visit pivotbio.com

SOURCE Pivot Bio, Inc
TOKYO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Podobas Global Investments , the private investment firm led by investor Wojciech Jakub Podobas (Voytek Podobas), has formally disclosed the acquisition of a 5.08% stake in Smaregi Inc. (4431.T) , a leading provider of cloud-based POS, payments, and back-office solutions in Japan.

Podobas Global Investments

This strategic position marks a long-term commitment to supporting one of Japan's most innovative SaaS companies in retail and food service sectors. Smaregi, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is known for its powerful cloud POS ecosystem, modular SaaS architecture, and high customer satisfaction.

A Strategic Investment in Japanese SaaS Excellence

The decision to invest was the result of months of independent due diligence, research, and multiple meetings with Smaregi's leadership team.

"We have held extensive discussions with the Smaregi management team over the past few months and were consistently impressed by their clarity of vision, strategic discipline, and deep understanding of their market," said Voytek Podobas, Founder of Podobas Global Investments. "Their ability to scale without compromising product quality or customer intimacy is rare. Smaregi is not just a great SaaS companyit is a deeply mission-driven business that delivers tangible productivity gains to thousands of retail and F&B operators across Japan."Mr. Podobas continued: "What excites us most about Smaregi is the combination of world-class product design, scalable unit economics, and an outstanding management team with a clear roadmap. Their continued development of adjacent modulesincluding order management and cashless payment features, along with future-oriented capabilities such as e-commerce integrations and time and attendance trackingdemonstrates a bold but methodical expansion strategy. We see Smaregi as one of the few Japanese SaaS platforms with the potential to become a national infrastructure layer for offline and online commerce."

A Shared Vision for Long-Term Growth

The investment comes at a time of growing international attention toward Japan's SaaS sector and digitization wave. Smaregi's Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) continues to grow steadily, with strong net revenue retention, high user engagement, and a powerful partner network.

Smaregi's management team and Wojciech Podobas have held several strategic meetings in recent months, discussing the company's long-term business plan, product innovation cycle, and growth opportunities in Japan.

Smaregi's official comment on the investment: "We are sincerely grateful for the recognition and support from Podobas Global Investments. At Smaregi, we remain committed to steadily improving our products and services, one step at a time, while staying close to the needs of our customers. We believe that sustained progress comes from consistent effort and honest dialogue with all stakeholders. We will continue working diligently to deliver value to the businesses we serve."

About Smaregi, Inc. (4431.T)

Smaregi Inc. is a publicly listed Japanese technology company providing cloud-based point-of-sale and back-office systems tailored to retail stores, restaurants, and service providers. Smaregi's platform goes beyond simple POSit integrates real-time inventory management, staff scheduling, payroll processing, and customer engagement tools, making it a comprehensive solution for modern businesses.

Founded in Osaka, Smaregi has grown to serve thousands of clients and consistently earns industry awards for usability and innovation.

For more information: https://corp.smaregi.jp/en/

About Podobas Global Investments

Podobas Global Investments is a private investment firm founded by Wojciech Podobas, focusing on long-term equity investments in exceptional companies across Asia, particularly Japan.

For more information, users can visit: https://www.podobas.global

Contact



Caesar Tabota

Podobas Global Investments

[email protected]

SOURCE Podobas Global Investments
SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Hong as the new Assistant Vice President of Programs & Distribution Operations. With over 20 years of experience overseeing broker territories and managing distribution teams, Peter brings a wealth of expertise in personal lines, small commercial, middle market, and national accounts.

Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, Welcomes Peter Hong as AVP Programs & Distribution Operations

In this new role, Peter will lead the development and execution of Preferred's distribution strategy for Programs. He will collaborate closely with underwriting, marketing, broker and association partners to drive sustainable, profitable growth. His proven track record in scaling operations and enhancing distribution performance will be instrumental as Preferred continues to evolve its programs, tailor its customer experience, and expand its reach across California.

"Peter's leadership strengthens our ability to serve more California employers and ensure their injured employees receive the gold standard of care," said S. Akbar Khan, President of Preferred Employers Insurance. "His deep distribution expertise and strategic vision will help us scale with purposegrowing our footprint while staying true to our mission of being California's preferred workers compensation solution."

Peter holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

About Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley Company:

Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, is a specialty provider of workers compensation insurance exclusively for California employers. Since 1998, Preferred Employers has been known for providing the gold standard of care for injured workers. Preferred Employers Insurance is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, whose insurance company subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company. W. R. Berkley Corporation is recognized as one of the most respected names in the property casualty insurance industry.

Visit www.peiwc.com for more information. Please contact your insurance broker to access the products and services of Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company.

SOURCE Preferred Employers Insurance
BOSTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Propedix, a leading organization in Anti-infective topical Dermatology treatments, is pleased to announce a significant addition to its Board of Directors. Bill Haegele has been appointed to the Board of Directors as its first Independent Director and will play a pivotal role in driving the company's strategic initiatives and fostering continued growth. Propedix's first product, Dryello is a soon to be launched over-the-counter treatment for Athlete's Foot (tinea pedis), intended to both treat and prevent the fungal infection and its symptoms.

With a proven track record of success in life sciences, public accounting, board governance, and general management, Mr. Haegele brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Propedix. A retired KPMG Partner, he offers deep knowledge in corporate governance and risk management. Bill has held leadership and board roles at several life sciences companies and is widely recognized for his innovative thinking, strategic leadership, and comprehensive understanding of the industry landscape.

"We are thrilled to welcome Bill to the Board of Directors," said Niv Caviar, CEO of Propedix. "His visionary approach, strategic mindset, and passion for life science innovation align perfectly with our company's values and objectives. We are confident that his leadership will help propel us to new heights and reinforce our position as an industry leader."

In this role, Bill will provide governance oversight over the company's financial, accounting, and corporate functions. His strategic vision and ability to help grow the company will be instrumental in guiding Propedix towards continued success and expansion as the Company develops and launches innovative dermatological topical anti-infective technologies.

Mr. Haegele expressed enthusiasm about joining Propedix: "I am honored to join the Propedix team and look forward to contributing to the company's growth and success. I am confident that the Company's management team's decades of experience in developing and commercializing dermatological and anti-infective technologies will establish Propedix as a leader in innovative biopharma delivery and formulation solutions."

About Propedix

Propedix is a leading biopharma and consumer health company dedicated to advancing innovative treatments in topical dermatology and anti-infectives. Through a commitment to innovation, Propedix strives to provide effective, clinically tested solutions to fungal conditions. The Propedix team works diligently to expand the world of antifungal and anti-pathogen treatment through the use of their propriety delivery and formulation technology. Propedix has established itself as a trusted name in the industry, centering around improving the quality of life for each patient.

About Dryello

Dryello is a novel treatment for Athlete's foot that has been clinically tested to demonstrate strong effectiveness in mycological (fungal) cure and the reduction of symptoms associated with such infections including itch, perspiration, maceration, and scaling. Dryello's unique technology formulation and the supporting clinical data will be made available to the public upon commercial launch by early summer.

SOURCE Propedix Inc.
A Celebration of Craft and Culture: Award-Winning Straight Kentucky Whiskey Honors Lexington's Sister Cities Through Japanese Mizunara and French Oak Wood Finishing

LEXINGTON, Ky., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RD1 Spirits , the Kentucky bourbon brand known for pushing the boundaries of wood finishing, has introduced a limited release, Kentucky Straight Whiskey Finished with Japanese Mizunara and French Oak , that invites whiskey fans into a global conversation. The 2025 "Sister Cities" expressiona blend of 5- and 7-year-old bourbon with 8-year-old ryeis finished with Japanese Mizunara and French Oak, bringing together the American spirit of Kentucky whiskey with the wood character imparted from two different countries.

RD1 Spirits brings together the American spirit of Kentucky whiskey with the wood character imparted from two different countries in its 2025 Limited Release "Sister Cities" expression.

With a mash bill that starts in classic Kentucky tradition and finishes with an international perspective, this new release speaks to RD1's experimental ethosand to its hometown roots. Lexington, Kentucky shares "Sister Cities" relationships with Shinhidaka, Japan and Deauville, France. The award-winning bourbon brand created a unique opportunity to honor these connections through innovation and wood finishing from both countries.

"We saw this as more than a whiskey experiment," said Jarrad Gollihue, PhD, R&D Master Distiller for RD1 Spirits. "It's a cultural expression. Japanese Mizunara and French Oak each bring their own subtle but complex influence and beautifully showcase the bold foundation of the Kentucky bourbon and rye."

In this Limited Release, Gollihue began with a 5-year-old bourbon (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley), matured in new, charred, American White Oak barrels. French Oak "necklaces" were added to the casks, extending maturation for a total finish time twice that of RD1's existing portfolio French Oak release. This finished expression was then blended with a 7-year-old bourbon (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley) and an 8-year-old rye (51% rye, 37% corn, 12% malted barley) both well-aged, grain-forward spirits that added depth and contrast. The final step introduced lightly toasted Japanese Mizunara staves, which added delicate nuances of the wood's iconic character of sandalwood and incense.

RD1's latest Limited Release earned a gold medal and 95 points at the 2025 New York International Spirits Competition.

"For those of us who work to foster international connection, seeing a local distillery embrace our Sister Cities with such care and creativity is incredibly rewarding," said Kay Sargent, executive director of the Lexington Sister Cities Commission . "This new release speaks to the power of cultural appreciation, and how those values can be shared through something as iconic as Kentucky bourbon."

RD1 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Whiskey Finished with Japanese Mizunara and French Oak

Aged with 5- and 7-year Bourbon and 8- year Rye (51% ABV / 102 Proof) - $69.99 MSRP

Aroma : Incense, citrus blossom, subtle florals

: Incense, citrus blossom, subtle florals Palate : A dynamic journey of sandalwood, rye spice, baking spice, dark chocolate, sweet oak, and red fruit

: A dynamic journey of sandalwood, rye spice, baking spice, dark chocolate, sweet oak, and red fruit Finish: Medium to long, with a soft heat and a lingering note of Maraschino cherry

The 2025 Limited Release "Sister Cities" is now available at the new RD1 Distillery at The Commons in Lexington on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and sold through select retailers across the country. The whiskey will be available for online purchase at RD1spirits.com later this month. RD1 produced 1500 cases (6-pack, 750 ML) of its Sister Cities expression.

For more information on this growing brand, visit RD1spirits.com or follow @RD1spirits on Facebook and Instagram .

About RD1 Spirits

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, RD1 Spirits exists to explore the bourbon frontier. Lexington entrepreneurs founded the company in 2020 to help give life to the stories of Lexington's bourbon firsts, namely its first federally registered distillery, established in 1865. RD1 is paving its own path, focusing on Kentucky Straight Bourbon and its interaction with various wood finishings in the barrel. For more information on this growing brand and its destination R&D distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail , visit RD1spirits.com or follow @RD1spirits on Facebook and Instagram .

CONTACT:

Laura Mulhern

[email protected]

SOURCE RD1 Spirits
FAIRFIELD, Conn., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TVEyes, a global trailblazer in media intelligence, has announced the launch of Insight, a next-generation monitoring suite for audio and video intelligence. Insight is a powerful new platform that unifies digital and traditional media tracking across broadcast, podcasts, and online video, taking media intelligence beyond broadcast to provide a robust, cross-format media monitoring platform focused on the rich media that moves markets.

TVEyes Launches its Next-Generation Insight Platform

Building on TVEyes' Media Monitoring Suite, considered the gold standard in media tracking for nearly 25 years, Insight is designed for today's marketing, PR, and communications landscape, where brand conversations fluidly move between channels. As organizations face increasing pressure to stay ahead of rapid media cycles, Insight gives teams an intuitive interface and easy to use tools to monitor, analyze, and act fast to stay ahead in the market.

By bridging formats and delivering real-time access to rich media, Insight empowers users to convert media intelligence into true conversational intelligence. The result, a deeper dive into the conversations that matter.

Key features of TVEyes Insight include:

Expanded Coverage: Monitor 80,000+ podcasts, 16,000+ new streaming video sources, and unmatched global TV and radio, including hard-to-find coverage in key localized markets.

Monitor 80,000+ podcasts, 16,000+ new streaming video sources, and unmatched global TV and radio, including hard-to-find coverage in key localized markets. Ad Filtering: Easily distinguish between editorial content and advertisements.

Easily distinguish between editorial content and advertisements. Upgraded Search & Analytics: Faster search, precision filtering, and more in-depth reporting to turn data into action.

Faster search, precision filtering, and more in-depth reporting to turn data into action. Enhanced Reporting: Get more insights without the manual work.

Get more insights without the manual work. Near Real-Time Alerts : Delivery in under 60 seconds.

: Delivery in under 60 seconds. Expert Support Team: Backed by a responsive, knowledgeable team committed to your success every step of the way.

Backed by a responsive, knowledgeable team committed to your success every step of the way. Global Scale: Monitor deep content across approximately 40 of the leading global countries and over 40 languages with comprehensive access to international, regional, and local broadcasts.

Monitor deep content across approximately 40 of the leading global countries and over 40 languages with comprehensive access to international, regional, and local broadcasts. Cross-Channel Monitoring: Unify TV, radio, podcast, streaming, and online video tracking in a single view.

Unify TV, radio, podcast, streaming, and online video tracking in a single view. Delivered by TVEyes: A trusted enterprise with a strong 20+ year heritage of serving Fortune 100 brands, leading SMBs, and government agencies to deliver secure, rights-cleared content.

"We are thrilled to introduce the world to Insight," said Daren Benzi, Chief Commercial Officer at TVEyes. "This platform is a major step forward for data-driven professionals focused on global media intelligence and represents two years of tireless dedication to crafting this unique solution. We've packed Insight full of features that will make our global users' media monitoring efforts across audio and video intelligence more efficient and effective. Insight provides fast and easy access to audio and video content and data that matters most to business and government leaders." Insight is now available globally. To experience how Insight can transform your approach to media intelligence, visit tveyes.com and start your free trial today.

About TVEyes: TVEyes drives real-time media decision-making at the world's leading newsmakers. Whether it involves audio or video content, data or intelligence, chances are we are behind it. We offer powerful broadcast and digital media monitoring tools that transform audio and video content into actionable intelligence. With global coverage and rich data assets, we leverage our expertise and technology to deliver valuable solutions for data-driven decision-makers worldwide. Learn more at tveyes.com .

SOURCE TVEyes
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Belgium, Julien de Fraipont, on June 4, a source in the parliament told Trend.

Welcoming the ambassador, Gafarova wished him success in his diplomatic tenure in our country.

The fine opportunities to further the development of the Azerbaijani-Belgian relations were mentioned during the meeting.

Gafarova recalled the visit of the Prime Minister of Belgium to Azerbaijan for the COP29 and his meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev last year.

She underlined the preparedness of the Azerbaijani Parliament to bolster ties with the Parliament of Belgium and remembered the meetings with the former Heads of Belgian Parliament.

The speaker added that reciprocal visits and dialogue provided for the deepening of the relations and the expansion of mutual information-sharing.

She also underscored the significance of such matters of the work done by the Friendship Groups.

The ambassador emphasized that he has witnessed the hospitality of our nation since the start of his work in our country.

He stressed the importance of the Prime Ministers visit to our country during the COP29, both in terms of his attendance at the notable international event and for a discussion of the bilateral relations with Azerbaijan.

The diplomat spoke of the existing sound options to develop our countries co-operation in such areas as economic affairs, transport, logistics, and maritime navigation.

Touching also upon the considerable role of our country in maintaining the energy security of Europe, he voiced support for a greater profundity of the dialogue between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Furthermore, Gafarova informed the ambassador of the current state of affairs in the region, the enormous work Azerbaijan is doing to rebuild the de-occupied territories, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the mine problem, and other topics.

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A large heart imaging study previously undertaken at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Barts Health NHS Trust tested Research Grid's AI.

The AI study demonstrated a savings of $1.5 million in data entry, cut a 5% human error rate, and automated over 24 thousand staff hours with automation

NEW YORK and LONDON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A study at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) has shown that Research Grid's AI engine can automate one of the most time-consuming parts of medical research  data entry.

In a major cardiac imaging trial involving over 600 patients, the AI was able to digitize thousands of pages of patient records in seconds or minutes. This eliminated a 5% human error rate, saved over 24,000 staff hours, and cut data entry costs from $1.5 million to $6,000.

Over 80% of medical research data globally is still entered manually by highly qualified research staff, slowing progress and driving up costs. Research Grid's AI changes that by safely handling complex clinical trial admin of every kind. For example, handwritten text, numbers, images and anonymization while performing quality checks.

"Our AI safely meets today's research demands," said Research Grid Founder and CEO, Dr. Amber Hill. "For too long, the clinical research industry has accepted manual back-office processes as the cost of doing research. The success of this trial shows there's a better way. It's a critical next step in the company's goal of admin-free trials to make research faster and more successful for everyone."

While AI systems have already found a home in industries like finance and insurance, their use in clinical trials has been limited by the complex and sensitive nature of medical records. This QMUL study illustrates that purpose-built AI automation can be introduced safely and effectively in clinical trials, academic research, and a wider variety of use cases.

Professor Anthony Mathur, Study Lead and Centre Lead for the Centre for Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices at Queen Mary's William Harvey Research Institute, said:

"This technology has the potential to dramatically improve the efficiency and accuracy of how we perform clinical trials and clearly emphasizes the role of digital technologies in supporting research workflows. I look forward to the future of this technology."

Beyond clinical trials, the AI could help hospitals and healthcare providers digitize years of paper records in seconds, improving patient tracking and care. As healthcare systems face mounting pressure to modernize with limited resources, this successful trial marks a major step forward in making high-quality, scalable "admin-free" research and care a reality.

About Research Grid

Research Grid is the automation engine for admin-free clinical trials. Too many trials fail because of delays, errors, or weak patient engagement caused by legacy software and manual processes. Our mission is to enable faster, more successful clinical trials by engineering smart software that safely automates back-office admin across the full life cycle.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2703251/Research_Grid_AI_Clinical_Trial_Automation.jpg
AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Tony Jacob, chairman of RORHRO Ventures and accomplished entrepreneur, appeared on the Enterprise Podcast Network to share insights on scaling businesses and maximizing exit value. The podcast episode explores Dr. Tony Jacob's proven methodology for building profitable enterprises and executing successful exits.

Dr. Tony Jacob

Tony discussed key indicators for identifying optimal scaling opportunities and the essential systems required for sustainable growth. He emphasized the importance of developing clear exit strategies from the beginning and outlined specific steps entrepreneurs can take to maximize their company's valuation before sale.

"The key to successful scaling lies in building the right team and implementing systems that can handle exponential growth," Dr. Tony Jacob said during the interview. "Many entrepreneurs overlook the emotional preparation required when selling a company they've built from the ground up."

The conversation covered Tony's entrepreneurial journey from launching his first optometry practice in 2010 to building an 11-location operation that generated sevenfold revenue growth in four years. Dr. Tony Jacob successfully sold the company to a major insurer in 2021 in what became the largest private optometry transaction in Texas.

"Business owners who feel overwhelmed by the complexity of scaling should focus on building systems before they need them," Dr. Tony Jacob added. "The most successful exits happen when entrepreneurs prepare their companies for sale from day one, not when they decide to sell."

Dr. Tony Jacob also addressed common challenges entrepreneurs face when scaling operations and provided practical advice for business owners navigating growth complexity.

Dr. Jacob now channels his expertise into supporting forward-thinking American businesses. He focuses on investments in emerging markets, including cryptocurrency, AI, and traditional sectors such as oil and gas.

About Dr. Tony Jacob

Dr. Tony Jacob is an investor and philanthropist with a passion for entrepreneurship and personal growth. He focuses on supporting emerging markets in industries like cryptocurrency, AI, and traditional sectors such as oil and gas. Tony is deeply committed to environmental philanthropy, contributing to tangible projects like ocean cleanups and large-scale reforestation efforts, including initiatives aimed at combating desertification. His dedication to conservation and sustainability reflects his belief in making a positive global impact.

About RORHRO Ventures

RORHRO Ventures supports forward-thinking American businesses with proven track records of scalable growth and successful exits.

Contact Information

Media Contact: Katy Bowler

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE RORHRO Ventures
Five Communities Across the U.S. Participate in "Stuff the Bus" Challenge to Win School Supplies

Community Members are Invited to Donate School Supplies at Local TCC or Wireless Zone Store Throughout June

Round Room Continues to Support Local Communities Through its Teachers Rock and School Rocks Initiatives

FISHERS, Ind., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to give back and strengthen communities across the country, Round Room, LLC, one of the nation's largest Verizon Authorized Retailers, is excited to announce its first ever "Stuff the Bus" campaign at participating TCC and Wireless Zone retail locations. As part of Round Room's annual Teachers Rock and School Rocks initiatives, Stuff the Bus aims to provide essential supplies to schools in need across the country.

Five Communities Across the U.S. Participate in "Stuff the Bus" Challenge to Win School Supplies Post this Stuff the Bus 2025

According to the National Education Association, more than 90% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies for their students. In an effort to ease that burden, Round Room is donating an entire school bus of supplies to one lucky school, along with additional supplies to the other finalists.

From June 1 through June 30, participating Wireless Zone and TCC stores will collect new notebooks, pencils, and other supplies to support local schools. Each finalist was nominated by a local business in their community.

The 2025 Finalist Schools:

The campaign culminates with the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway on Sunday, July 27, where the school that garners the most community support via donations will receive a school bus filled with essential supplies. All finalists will receive the supplies collected during their respective drives.

"At Round Room, we believe in the power of community and the importance of education," said Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room. "Stuff the Bus is more than a campaign; it's a movement to ensure every teacher and student has the tools they need to succeed."

How to Participate:

Community members are encouraged to donate new, unused school supplies at participating locations. For a list of drop-off sites and more information, visit www.wirelesszone.com/stuff-the-bus.

Teachers Rock and School Rocks are both a part of Round Room's quarterly community events that occur each year where the company has the opportunity to give back and strengthen the communities it serves. Earlier this year, Round Room held Rescues Rock to support local animal shelters. In October, Round Room will organize a Domestic Violence Awareness Month initiative.

About Round Room, LLC

Founded on a mission and deep commitment of giving back to employees, customers, and the communities it serves, Round Room is one of the largest Verizon-authorized retailers in the U.S. Its collective portfolio of brands includes TCC, Wireless Zone, and Culture of Good. With more than 1,200 TCC and Wireless Zone retail locations across 43 states, Round Room has donated more than $8M to various causes through ongoing giveback initiatives. The company's efforts have also been recognized through the Top Workplaces USA 2025 award and the 2025 Gold Stevie award for Company of the Year. To learn more about Round Room, visit www.RoundRoom.com .

About TCC

Founded in 1991, TCC is a Verizon wireless retailer that operates over 500 locations from coast to coast and employs upwards of 1,900 people. As a certified 'Culture of Good' company, TCC encourages employees to give back in every community it serves through its Community Grant program, volunteer opportunities, and local philanthropic events. TCC has been recognized with several notable awards including Inc. Magazine's Best in Business, Top Workplaces USA, and Glassdoor's Best Places to Work. To learn more about TCC or to find a location near you, visit www.TCCRocks.com . For more information about TCC's parent company, Round Room, LLC, visit www.RoundRoom.com .

About Wireless Zone

Wireless Zone is the nation's largest wireless retail franchisor with more than 720 independently owned and operated Verizon wireless stores across the U.S. Founded in 1988, Wireless Zone has earned prestigious industry rankings on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and Franchise Business Review's Top Franchise in 2025, and has been honored with Verizon's "Best Customer Service" award for five consecutive years. From franchisees to corporate employees, each team member plays a critical role in its giveback efforts through system-wide fundraising campaigns or nominating a local charity for a community grant. The system is franchised and operated by Wireless Zone, LLC. Visit www.WirelessZone.com for more information or www.RoundRoom.com to learn about its parent company, Round Room, LLC.

Media Contact: Jessica Cahill, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Round Room (TCC | Wireless Zone)
STOCKHOLM, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Thai Air Force has today confirmed its selection of the Saab Gripen E/F as its new future multi-role fighter. Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) will now follow the next steps in the procurement process with the Kingdom of Thailand.

At this point Saab has not signed a contract nor received an order relating to this announcement.

In addition to Gripen E/F fighter aircraft and associated equipment, Saab's offer also includes a long-term offset package. This will benefit the national security and strategic independence of Thailand, while also bringing new jobs and investments to a range of Thai society sectors. The details are yet to be determined.

"We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force's selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process. Gripen E/F is the best solution to provide Thailand with independent airpower for the future which will contribute significantly to the nation's safety and security," says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

Thailand has been operating Gripen C/D since 2011.

Contact

Saab Press Centre

+46 (0)734 180 018

[email protected]

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 25,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/saab/r/royal-thai-air-force-confirms-selection-of-saab-s-gripen-e-f,c4158831

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/183/4158831/3486479.pdf Royal Thai Air Force confirms selection of Saabas Gripen EF https://news.cision.com/saab/i/saab-gripen-e,c3415150 Saab Gripen E

SOURCE Saab
Life Sciences industry g enerates an impressive $25 billion in annual economic impact for the Palmetto State.

South Carolina emerges as a Southeastern powerhouse in biomanufacturing, digital health, and biotech specialties.

More than 16 companies and organizations with deep roots in South Carolina will join SCbio at BIO 2025.

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Led by SCbio, South Carolina's unifying life sciences leader, the state's rapidly-growing life sciences industry will be on full display at BIO 2025, the annual international convention hosted by Biotechnology Innovation Organization June 16-19 in Boston.

SCbio, and more than 16 life sciences companies and organizations with roots in the Palmetto State, will showcase South Carolina's rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem and highlight the state's commitment to innovation, collaboration, and economic development in the biotech and medtech sectors. As one of the fastest-growing life sciences hubs in the Southeast, South Carolina is home to more than 1,000 life sciences companies, employing over 87,000 professionals.

SCbio's presence at BIO 2025 will serve as a platform to engage with global industry leaders, promote investment opportunities, and spotlight the talent, infrastructure, and partnerships driving life sciences growth across South Carolina. With an annual economic impact of $25.7 billion, life sciences is the fastest growing business segment in South Carolina. Since 2017, South Carolina life science jobs have grown two times the average of other southeastern states. In 2024, the South Carolina Department of Commerce recognized the life sciences as a top three business priority for economic growth. As such, the state is committed to fueling innovation, driving growth, and amplifying its position as a burgeoning leader in the advancement of life and science in unison.

"This is an incredible opportunity to tell the South Carolina story on a global stage," said James Chappell, President and CEO of SCbio. "From cutting-edge research and biomanufacturing to our workforce pipeline and pro-business climate, South Carolina has become a destination for life sciences companies looking to grow, innovate and lead the next era of health and science."

SCbio will sponsor the South Carolina pavilion at booth #447 and host events, meetings, and networking opportunities throughout the convention to foster strategic partnerships and promote the state's expanding capabilities in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and digital health.

The South Carolina delegation at BIO will include multiple companies and organizations from South Carolina, including BFS manufacturer Ritedose, economic development partners such as the South Carolina Department of Commerce, I-77 Alliance and others.

To schedule a meeting with the SCbio team at BIO 2025, please visit scbio.org or contact Connor Watkins, director of marketing, at [email protected].

About SCbio

SCbio is the definitive, unifying leader in South Carolina's life sciences sector, fostering authentic collaboration and innovation across academia, startups, government and established enterprises. As a member-driven economic development organization, SCbio represents more than 1,000 organizations employing more than 87,000 professionals. Our members are unified by a mission to positively impact humanity through science across the ecosystem of advanced and specialty manufacturing; digital health and the data frontier; and cutting-edge health specializations. For additional information about SCbio and the life sciences industry, or to become a member, visit www.SCbio.org.

SOURCE SCbio
BEIJING, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- May 30, 2025 marks the ninth National Science and Technology Workers Day. In the early morning of the previous day, Tianwen-2, the country's first asteroid probe and sampling mission, soared into the sky, carrying with it humanity's aspirations for the stars and the universe.

The nation will thrive when science and technology develops, and the country will be strong when science and technology becomes advanced. The book series of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China contains multiple important speeches on science and technology. In the article "Strive for Greater Strength and Self-Reliance in Science and Technology" included in the fourth volume of the book series, President Xi emphasized that science and technology respond to the call of the times and have a global impact; they belong to all of humanity. "We should participate to the full in global science and technology governance, contribute Chinese wisdom, and shape a philosophy of technology for good purposes, so that science and technology better serve human wellbeing, and enable China's science and technology industry to contribute more to building a global community of shared future!"

In the fifth installment of the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series, the Global Times, along with People's Daily Overseas Edition, focuses on the theme of "practicing the philosophy of technology for good purposes and polishing China's new name card in scientific and technological innovation." We continue to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflection on China's philosophy of science and technology development and international cooperation.

In the fourth article of the "Scholars' Perspectives" column, which comprises interviews with and signed articles from renowned scholars across various countries, Global Times (GT) reporter Liu Caiyu and Chen Qingqing talked to Zhang Linghan, a professor from China University of Political Science and Law who is also a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.

Global Times: Addressing a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology on May 28, 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping said "We should participate to the full in global science and technology governance, contribute Chinese wisdom, and shape a philosophy of technology for good purposes, so that science and technology better serve human wellbeing, and enable China's science and technology industry to contribute more to building a global community of shared future." Today, as human beings step into the AI era, how do you interpret the concept of "technology for good purposes" that the Chinese leader has mentioned? How can we practice this concept?

Zhang Linghan: China's concept of "technology for good purposes" can be understood from three perspectives. First is the positive development of technology itself. For example, the development of artificial intelligence technology in China has always adhered to the principles of "people-centered" and "intelligence for good," emphasizing that technology is a tool for serving humanity. Its development must align with the overall interests of humanity, ethical norms, and long-term well-being, highlighting the importance of "safety, reliability, and controllability" in the research, development, and application of AI technology. On AI products and services, China has very strict corporate compliance standards, requiring companies to take on social responsibilities alongside their responsibilities for technology research, development, and application.

Secondly, empowering social development toward goodness through technology. For example, the widespread application of generative AI will liberate humanity from mechanical and repetitive labor, enabling people to engage in more creative and innovative work. In the field of public services, after the open-source release of large language models like DeepSeek, various platforms are integrating these technologies, which will promote the development of public services such as healthcare and education toward a more inclusive direction.

Thirdly, promoting the construction of a "community with a shared future for mankind" through the concept of "technology for good purposes." The ideas of "technology for good purposes" and "community with a shared future for mankind" are rooted in the traditional culture of China and the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They emphasize that the ultimate goal of technological development is to serve sustainable development and the common good of all humanity. The term "common good" takes into account the different values and practical needs of various countries. Therefore, in a world full of uncertainties, "for good purposes" serves as the greatest common denominator that transcends differences and fosters consensus.

China's commitment to "for good purposes" is "people-centered," insisting that AI be treated as a public product that serves all humanity. China not only hopes to enhance its national strength and improve the living standards of its people through AI but also aims to strengthen international cooperation and exchanges in the field of technology, achieving the open sharing of technological development outcomes on a global scale. In practice, it can be seen that China, as a responsible major country, has actively taken on the responsibility of helping developing countries strengthen their artificial intelligence capacity building, contributing Chinese strength to bridging the global digital divide.

Global Times: On the afternoon of April 25, 2025, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held its 20th group study session, which focused on strengthening the development and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). While presiding over the session, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said in the face of the rapid evolution of new-generation AI technologies, China must fully leverage the strengths of the new system for mobilizing the resources nationwide, achieve self-reliance and strength in this regard, and prioritize practical application so as to promote the healthy and orderly development of AI in the country in a beneficial, safe and fair manner. In your opinion, how does China's new system for mobilizing the resources nationwide help our country achieve self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology? With this system, what advantages does China have in AI technology?

Zhang Linghan: In recent years, the advantages of China's new system for mobilizing the resources nationwide have become quite evident. Essentially, AI is a resource-intensive industry that requires vast amounts of data, complex algorithms, and powerful computing capabilities. Achieving self-reliance in AI not only requires advanced technologies but also sufficient resource investment and energy security. This places high demands on technology, funding, human resources, and energy, thereby highlighting the significant institutional advantages of the new type of national system in terms of its overall coordination, prudence, and foundational nature.

In promoting technological breakthroughs, the government can start from the overall national interest and systematically plan the path for technological innovation. This approach can overcome the short-term behaviors of the market in fundamental and cutting-edge technology fields, allowing for the concentration of human, financial, and material resources to rapidly and efficiently advance the research and development of core technologies. It helps to avoid resource dispersion and redundant waste, especially for high-difficulty, high-investment, and strategic projects, such as the BeiDou Navigation System and the Chang'e lunar exploration program, which both fall into this category.

In terms of promoting industrial development, taking electric power resources as an example, the development of AI, which includes data storage and processing, algorithm operation, and model training, relies heavily on power support. China has built a globally leading green power infrastructure system. In 2023, China's total electricity generation ranked first in the world, and it has maintained stable growth in 2024. This provides a solid and environmentally friendly foundation for the development of the AI industry.

In terms of enhancing security guarantees, China emphasizes achieving a "strategic balance" between development and governance. To adapt to the uncertainties brought about by the rapid development of the AI industry, we have introduced an "adaptive governance" concept that combines flexibility and foresight, ultimately aiming for a situation where the technology development is both healthy, safe and reliable.

Global Times: Let's talk about how China can engage more deeply in global science and technology governance. As a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, how would you assess China's current level of participation in global tech governance based on your experience? What are the bottlenecks? Could you share some insights from your own experience?

Zhang Linghan: In my personal view, China is already firmly in the top tier of global science and technology governance, especially in the field of AI. From groundbreaking technological advances like DeepSeek that have captured global attention, to the widespread application of AI across industries, and active participation in shaping international norms on multilateral platforms such as the UN, China is deeply engaged and making significant contributions. In many areas, its role has become increasingly indispensable.

The UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI is composed of 39 experts in the AI field from 33 countries and a wide range of industries. Since its establishment, we have held over 100 online meetings and three in-person sessions. Within the UN system, many other international organizationssuch as UNESCO, the International Telecommunication Union, and the World Intellectual Property Organizationare also engaged in specialized aspects of AI governance. Through my participation in these international governance efforts, I've clearly felt that the perspectives and proposals from Chinese experts are increasingly being heard and valued. It is no exaggeration to say that China's governance practices and experiences are continuously contributing innovative ideas and valuable insights to the development of a global AI governance framework.

For example, when discussing how to balance AI development with safety and how to build an adaptive governance framework, we shared governance approaches based on China's experiencesuch as the "small, fast, and flexible" legislative modelwhich drew considerable interest and discussion among international experts. This model, explored in recent years in China, is characterized by "small scope, fast cycle, and flexible format," aiming to precisely address real-world problems. Some Global South countries, during their own legislative processes, sought guidance and advice from Chinese experts through the UN and other international organizations. All of this highlights China's growing engagement and contribution to the global AI governance agenda.

Behind the growing global attention lies China's advanced governance practices and systematic experience accumulated over time in AI governance field. It is fair to say that it is the result of strategic national planning, sustained investment, and active exploration that has enabled us not only to speak with professional confidence in multilateral and bilateral dialogues, but also to expand our space for expressing views and participating in global discussions. In September 2024, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future, with several sections on AI governance incorporating recommendations from the UN High-Level Advisory Body. Being able to participate in such a major global governance agenda as a Chinese expert brings me a profound sense of responsibility and mission.

If we are to discuss the challenges, it must be acknowledged that the current global AI governance landscape remains noticeably fragmented. Countries differ significantly in their governance philosophies, regulatory approaches, and institutional designs. In light of this, greater attention should be given to the positive momentum of "seeking common ground while reserving differences" in global AI governance practices. A particularly illustrative example is China's pioneering establishment of an AI labeling system, which has since been referenced and adopted by a growing number of legislative efforts in the US, the EU, and beyondbecoming an increasingly important component in the global governance toolbox.

Overall, global AI governance remains in a crucial window of opportunity. The initiatives proposed by China not only reflect the country's distinctive governance philosophy developed through its own AI practices, but also directly address the shared concerns and practical needs of the international communityparticularly those of developing countries. China's proactive role in advancing global AI governance is helping to shape a governance architecture that is more balanced, inclusive, and beneficial for all. This, in turn, serves as a vivid example of China's growing engagement in global science and technology governance, and its contribution of Chinese solutions and wisdom to the world.

Global Times: In recent years, accelerated technological iteration and increasing geopolitical tensions have become defining trends in the global tech landscape. On one hand, the pace of innovation is quickening, and technology is playing an increasingly pivotal role in societal transformation. On the other hand, under the influence of great-power competition and other factors, global technological development is exhibiting signs of de-globalization and fragmentation. China's rise in science and technology has faced well-known "chokepoint" challenges. What should China do in response? Against this backdrop, how should we understand President Xi's call for "China's science and technology to make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity."

Zhang Linghan: Science and technology respond to the call of the times and have a global impact; they belong to all of humanity.

President Xi proposed that China's science and technology should make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity. In its participation in global science and technology governance, China has consistently upheld the principles of multilateralism, openness and inclusiveness, and fairness and justice. China also looks forward to working with countries around the world to build consensus through equal dialogue and sincere consultation, and to foster mutual trust through pragmatic cooperation.

In recent years, through extensive exchanges with Global South countries, I have increasingly felt their strong expectation for China to play a responsible role as a major power. These countries not only hope that China can assist them in developing AI technologies and applications to prevent the widening of the technological divide, but more importantly, they see in China's vision of a "community with a shared future for mankind" a future for AI that is truly open, secure, trustworthy, and beneficial to all of humanity.

During the training programs I have participated in with officials and entrepreneurs from BRICS nations and Belt and Road partner countries, I often notice a surge of interest and engagement after introducing China's AI governance philosophy, core values, and successful experiences. Many of the participants are especially eager to learn from China's approach to AI governance, industrial development models, and digital infrastructure building, hoping to apply these experience to their own national development. It fills me with pride to see that China's ideas, systems, and development path are being increasingly recognized and welcomed by a growing number of countries.

SOURCE Global Times
CALGARY, AB, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - SGS, the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company announces the acquisition of H 2 Safety Services Inc. (H 2 Safety), a North American market leader in emergency response management, Health Safety and Environment (HSE), training and emergency software services. Founded in 2004, H 2 Safety serves a wide range of industrial sectors including oil and gas, mining, transportation, utilities, renewables and government. With a unique focus on public consultation and regulatory compliance, H 2 Safety also excels in Indigenous relations and government relations. "Our approach to safeguarding critical infrastructure, communities, employees and natural environments is rooted in building authentic relationships and addressing community concerns transparently," said James Harasen, CEO and Chairman of H 2 Safety. "We are excited about joining SGS to expand our emergency management footprint while also leveraging SGS's proven expertise in delivering comprehensive HSE solutions across various industries."

H 2 Safety's H2CommandCentre platform is a robust emergency management application that empowers organizations with rapid and holistic incident management response capabilities. It activates emergency response teams including GIS and ICS experts, delivers rapid notifications, offers real-time check-ins, uses real-time maps to identify hazard zones while also generating lists of critical residents and stakeholders. With over 15,000 users, the platform is supporting organizations with achieving their operational safety objectives and business continuity, while also protecting people and the environment.

"Operational integrity is at the core of SGS's corporate culture, since our customers entrust us with their quality assurance and operational fluidity needs in a wide range of industrial environments. Whether it's delivering inspections to monitor the integrity of oil pipelines or deterring wildlife from landing in hazardous substances, HSE is at the core of what we do. We also have a strong HSE record within our own operations, so we really walk the talk when it comes to protecting assets, employees and the environment," said Patrick Beck, Head of Industrial Services at SGS in North America.

H 2 Safety contributes to achieving SGS's Strategy 27, which includes responding to megatrends driving growth in the TIC industry. One of these megatrends is innovation in digital capabilities and new technologies. Organizations in the industrial sector are investing more in digital transformation solutions to remain competitive and to increase market share. An end-to-end emergency management platform serves as a powerful digital tool to strengthen digital transformation when it comes to operational safety and compliance. Another megatrend driving growth in the TIC industry is ESG regulation and societal expectations. Optimizing HSE and emergency management, with a focus on Indigenous and community relations, positively contributes to achieving corporate environmental and social development objectives. With this acquisition, SGS is also building towards achieving the company's objective of doubling North American sales between 2023 to 2027.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Fulvio Martinez

Head of Marketing and Communications, North America | e: [email protected] | t: +1 281-714-6765

ABOUT SGS

SGS is the world's leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise  when you need to be sure  underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

SOURCE SGS
Founder Ryan Malone Returns to Board Chairman, Passes the Baton to Bleibtreu in

Strategic Leadership Transition

IRVINE, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartBug Media   HubSpot's most decorated Elite Partner in the world and the digital agency of choice for organizations looking to create resilient growth across the entire customer lifecycle  today announced a strategic leadership transition, promoting Adam Bleibtreu from his current role as president of the company to chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2025. Ryan Malone, founder and current CEO, will stay in his role as chairman of the board, focusing on long-term strategy and company culture.

As SmartBug's president, Bleibtreu has overseen the company's strategic direction, operational excellence and growth initiatives while working side by side with Malone and SmartBug's leaders to advance every facet of the company. With decades of executive experience and deep expertise across marketing, staffing and digital transformation, he is positioned to expand the agency's potential for continued excellence and innovation.

"Having led SmartBug for so long, it was important for me to hand the baton to someone who had the skills, demeanor and experience to lead SmartBug where we want to go, and Adam fits the mold perfectly," Malone said. "His background leading large teams at scale  within both public and private companies  positions us to meet the demands of a rapidly advancing tech landscape. Working hand in hand with Adam in his role as president, I know SmartBug is in good hands with his vision and client-centric approach to the business."

Prior to SmartBug, Bleibtreu spent eight years as chief marketing officer (CMO) at ASGN Incorporated (NYSE: ASGN), a leading publicly traded provider of technology and creative digital marketing solutions across the commercial and government sectors. At ASGN, he led transformative initiatives across marketing, brand strategy, investor relations, ESG and corporate communications  playing a key role in the company's growth from $2.2 billion to more than $4 billion in revenue through 13 strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Known for aligning brand, business strategy and operational execution, Bleibtreu has held leadership roles across tech, staffing, consumer products and media, including serving concurrently as CMO for both ASGN and Creative Circle. His deep expertise in marketing, sales and sustainable business practices uniquely positions him to lead SmartBug's mission of delivering intelligent, data-driven growth for modern organizations.

In his role as chairman of the board, Malone will collaborate with Bleibtreu on long-term strategy and enhancing SmartBug's award-winning company culture.

"We are excited to have an executive of Adam's caliber lead SmartBug as CEO," said Michael Denbeau, partner at American Discovery Capital, a private equity firm focused on providing growth capital and liquidity solutions to founder-led companies. "Adam has a long and successful track record as a senior executive of leading private and public companies in the technology services and digital marketing/creative sectors. We have seen firsthand Adam's dedication to SmartBug's global employee base, his client-first approach and his unwavering commitment to delivering the very best service to our clients and strategic partners. We are proud of SmartBug's recognition by HubSpot as its 2024 North American Partner of the Year, and we look forward to collaborating with Adam to capitalize on the company's premier position and strong reputation in the U.S. and Canada to propel the next several years of growth."

"I'm incredibly excited to take on the leadership of SmartBug at such a pivotal moment," Bleibtreu said. "As the largest and most successful HubSpot partner in the world, we're uniquely positioned at the intersection of evolving client needs, powerful marketing and CRM technologies, and the accelerating impact of digital transformation and AI. By combining strategic insight with deep technical expertise, we're able to help clients navigate complexity, unlock growth and stay ahead in a fast-changing digital world."

ABOUT SMARTBUG MEDIA

SmartBug Media is the digital agency of choice for organizations looking to create resilient growth across the entire customer lifecycle. From marketing to sales, revenue operations to customer success and e-commerce to integration, SmartBug combines sound strategies, cutting-edge AI and digital innovation to help clients optimize their sales, marketing and customer success strategies to maximize revenue growth.

As a three-time HubSpot Partner of the Year, SmartBug is one of its top-performing Elite Global Solutions Partners. SmartBug is also a Google Premier Partner. For more information about SmartBug Media, visit smartbugmedia.com .

For SmartBug Media Inquiries, Contact:

Katie Quaranta, PR Manager

SmartBug Media

[email protected]

SOURCE SmartBug Media
The Scenic City gains the only nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Newark (EWR) and Orlando (MCO)

DANIA BEACH, Fla., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chattanooga is now more scenic than ever with new views of Spirit Airlines' (NYSE American: FLYY) bright yellow planes landing at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) starting today. The carrier's inaugural service provides Chattanooga Guests with nonstop, affordable flights to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) and offers travelers easy one-stop connections to Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Our CHA service creates new opportunities for Chattanoogans to discover exciting destinations and make new memories at an unparalleled value," said Duncan Dee, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Spirit Airlines. "We're proud to add Chattanooga to our route map and help more Guests experience the natural beauty and many activities the Scenic City has to offer."

Spirit Airlines Chattanooga (CHA) Service Destination: Frequency: Launch Date: Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 3x Weekly June 5, 2025 Newark (EWR) 4x Weekly June 4, 2025 Orlando (MCO) 4x Weekly June 4, 2025

"Partnering with Spirit Airlines marks a significant step forward in expanding travel options for our region," said April Cameron, President and CEO of Chattanooga Airport. "These new nonstop routes open the door to high-value connections for our passengers and strengthen Chattanooga's role as a gateway to and from the Southeast. We appreciate Spirit's investment in our community and look forward to welcoming travelers from across these key destinations to the Scenic City."

Free Spirit Bonus Points Promotion

Following Spirit's recent upgrade of its Free Spirit loyalty program, the airline is celebrating the launch of its Chattanooga service with a Free Spirit loyalty program promotion* where members can earn 1,500 bonus points on roundtrip flights and 750 bonus points on one-way flights to and from Chattanooga (CHA). Travel must be booked by June 10, 2025, and flown by July 9, 2025. The Free Spirit loyalty program is free to join and is the fastest way to earn rewards and status.

Spirit's Guest Experience Enhancements

Chattanooga Guests can look forward to a more comfortable and seamless travel experience with Spirit. The airline's transformation introduced four travel options, ranging from premium to economical, that bring more choice and value to Guests.

Go Big to get enhanced comfort with a Big Front Seat  , a carry-on and first checked bag, no change or cancel fees, Priority Check-In and Boarding, reserved overhead bin space, complimentary snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages and streaming access to fast Wi-Fi.

to get enhanced comfort with a Big Front Seat , a carry-on and first checked bag, no change or cancel fees, Priority Check-In and Boarding, reserved overhead bin space, complimentary snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages and streaming access to fast Wi-Fi. Go Comfy and stretch out with more space, a carry-on bag, no change or cancel fees, Priority Boarding, reserved overhead bin space, a small snack and non-alcoholic drink.

and stretch out with more space, a carry-on bag, no change or cancel fees, Priority Boarding, reserved overhead bin space, a small snack and non-alcoholic drink. Go Savvy to get a standard seat selection, carry-on bag and no change or cancel fees.

to get a standard seat selection, carry-on bag and no change or cancel fees. Go to keep it simple with no extras. Standard seat selection, checked bags and other options can be purchased separately.

Recognition

Spirit was recently named Best Airline Overall for 2025 and earned top recognition for safety and affordability for the second consecutive year by WalletHub. Spirit was also recognized by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) as a 2025 Four Star Low Cost Carrier. Additionally, the airline's Fit Fleet was ranked one of the world's youngest for 2025 by ch-aviation. Spirit also received the FAA's Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence for the seventh consecutive year.

*To qualify for the Chattanooga, Tennessee Inaugural Free Spirit 1,500 (roundtrip) or 750 (one-way) Bonus Points promotion you must (i) be a Free Spirit member; (ii) book travel on a Qualifying Flight Segment. A "Qualifying Flight Segment" is a revenue trip originating from/to EWR/CHA, MCO/CHA or FLL/CHA flight operated by Spirit Airlines and booked by 11:59 PM ET on June 10, 2025, with travel completed by July 9, 2025. Free Spirit Bonus Points will be automatically added to your account after completing a Qualifying Flight Segment. Bonus points earned through the Chattanooga, Tennessee Inaugural Free Spirit Bonus Points promotion would offer standard Status Qualification Points (SQPs). Offer is subject to change without notice. Other restrictions and conditions may apply and can be found at spirit.com/free-spirit.

About Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines (NYSE American: FLYY) is committed to safely delivering the best value in the sky by offering an enhanced travel experience with flexible, affordable options. Spirit serves destinations throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean with its all-Airbus Fit Fleet, one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the U.S. Discover elevated travel options with exceptional value at spirit.com.

SOURCE Spirit Airlines
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer travel is heating up, with 70% of Americans saying they plan to vacation this season . New data from Squaremouth, the nation's largest travel insurance comparison service , reveals key insights into where travelers are going and the trends that will shape this summer travel season.

Squaremouth analyzed data from thousands of travel insurance policies purchased for trips this summer, revealing key destinations, traveler sentiment, and more.

Travelers Increasingly Opting to Stay Closer to Home

Travel within the United States and to nearby destinations has gained momentum this summer, with travelers increasingly opting to stay closer to home this summer.

The United States remains the most popular destination for travelers this summer, and Canada has risen to the second spot, climbing two places from last year and overtaking Italy.

Mexico also gained popularity, moving up two spots to rank sixth among the top international destinations.

Travel to the Bahamas has increased by 8% year-over-year, as the Caribbean destination has broken into the top 10 most popular destinations.

Top 10 Summer Destinations for 2025

Country 2025 Rank 2024 Rank United States 1 (=) 1 Canada 2 (+2) 4 United Kingdom 3 (=) 3 Italy 4 (-2) 2 France 5 (=) 5 Mexico 6 (+2) 8 Spain 7 (+2) 9 Bahamas 8 (+4) 12 Iceland 9 (+1) 10 Greece 10 (-4) 6

Other Trending Destinations: Portugal, Israel and France

While many travelers opt to stay closer to home, other global destinations are emerging as hotspots this summer.

Portugal : Portugal continues its upward trajectory as one of the most popular summer destinations, with a 10% growth over last year.

continues its upward trajectory as one of the most popular summer destinations, with a 10% growth over last year. Israel : Israel is the fastest-growing summer destination this year, with a 23% year-over-year increase, driven by the resumption of airline routes and renewed coverage from insurance providers, reflecting improved safety conditions there.

is the fastest-growing summer destination this year, with a 23% year-over-year increase, driven by the resumption of airline routes and renewed coverage from insurance providers, reflecting improved safety conditions there. France : France has gained momentum over last year, with an 8% increase in travelers over last summer, likely driven by those looking to visit now that the Olympic crowds have dispersed.

Travelers Still Concerned about Disruptions, Delays and Potential for Lost Bags

Although Americans are still traveling this summer, they are more anxious than ever due to mounting flight delays and travel disruptions.

According to Squaremouth, 48% of travelers cited flight delays or cancellations as their top concern heading into the summer rush, up from just 36% over a year ago.

"We're seeing more travelers rethink how they travel by proactively seeking out protection in the form of travel insurance as we head into one of the busiest travel seasons of the year," said Ned Tadic, Manager of Public Relations at Squaremouth.

About Squaremouth

Squaremouth is a trusted name in the travel insurance industry offering comprehensive, transparent, and competitive coverage to travelers for 20 years through its digital platform. With the largest portfolio of travel insurance carriers and products in the U.S., Squaremouth has insured over 4 million clients.

Media Contact

Ned Tadic

[email protected]

SOURCE Squaremouth
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. As many as 13 citizens of Azerbaijan who left Syria were repatriated to Azerbaijan as a result of the phased and coordinated measures taken by the government of Azerbaijan on June 3, 2025, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

Initially, the geolocation, demographic profile, and national affiliation of the repatriates were ascertained.



Delegates from the pertinent governmental entities tasked with the repatriation of Azerbaijani nationals from Iraq and Syria were dispatched to Turkiye, where the preliminary medical and psychological assessments of the repatriates were conducted.



Through the strategic facilitation executed by the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in Turkiye, nationals of Azerbaijan were duly issued repatriation certificates and air travel documentation for their transit back to Azerbaijan.

Strategic initiatives are slated for deployment to facilitate the social rehabilitation and reintegration of repatriates into the societal framework.



The Azerbaijani government is poised to implement requisite protocols for the repatriation of its nationals who have been adversely affected by armed conflicts abroad.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Doctors from Aspen Dental and ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers join forces to provide transformative dental care solutions, free of charge, for patients impacted by ectodermal dysplasias.

CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aspen Group (TAG), a leader in revolutionizing access to healthcare, is proud to announce a new partnership between the two dental brands it supports, Aspen Dental and ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, and the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED). Together, they are launching Smile Bridge by The Aspen Group , a groundbreaking program designed to connect patients with ectodermal dysplasia to the dental care they need, at no cost. This program will provide a lifetime of confident, healthy smiles for individuals impacted by this condition.

Turning Inspiration into Impact

Smile Bridge was inspired by the work of Aspen Dental practice owner Dr. Whitney Deitz and lab technician Julie Bostwick, who created a set of dentures for Weston, a young patient with ectodermal dysplasia. Weston went on to earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest person to receive dentures. Ectodermal dysplasias are a group of inherited disorders that can cause defects in the hair, nails, sweat glands, and teeth. The manifestations of the condition vary but may include missing or underdeveloped teeth, malformed teeth, delayed tooth eruption, and more.

"I wasn't deeply familiar with ectodermal dysplasias until I met Weston. His mother and I are good friends as well as neighbors, and our children are the same age. I quickly learned that the incidence of ectodermal dysplasias in the U.S. is about one in one thousand live births," reflected Dr. Deitz. "I promised Weston's mom that he would never go to school without a set of teeth. Watching Weston thrive has been incredible, and as a result, Aspen Dental and ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers are proud to launch this program in partnership with the NFED to help even more children and adults affected by ectodermal dysplasias."

Expanding Access through Community

Due to the diverse nature of ectodermal dysplasia, many patients face complex and costly dental treatment needs throughout their lives. Smile Bridge, in collaboration with the NFED, will match patients between the ages of two and twenty-two with Aspen Dental or ClearChoice clinicians, based on geographic location, to offer comprehensive care free of charge.

"We've been working on this program for some time, and it's incredibly rewarding to see it come to life," said Dr. Sundeep Rawal, Vice President of Implant Support Services at Aspen Dental. "Aspen Dental clinicians will bring patients from early childhood into early adulthood with dentures, ongoing maintenance and early implant placement. ClearChoice clinicians will deliver full arch solutions as patients reach adulthood  all at no cost."

"We are thrilled to be a partner in this ground-breaking opportunity to provide vital dental care to members of our community," said Mary Fete, Executive Director of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias. "The cost of these critical services to their well-being is overwhelming. Thanks to Smile Bridge, we are making a monumental difference."

Both TAG and the NFED are committed to expanding access to high-quality dental care for individuals with ectodermal dysplasias. To learn more about the referral process, please visit www.nfed.org/smile-bridge.

ABOUT TAG  THE ASPEN GROUP

The Aspen Group (TAG) was built on the simple idea of bringing better healthcare to more people. TAG supports independent healthcare practices operating more than 1,400 locations in 46 states through five consumer healthcare brands: Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Center, WellNow Urgent Care, Chapter Aesthetic Studio and Lovet Pet Health Care (formerly AZPetVet). Combined, the companies serve more than 35,000 patients a day and more than nine million patients each year. For more information, visit teamtag.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

About the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED)

The National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) is the leading support and advocacy group for individuals and families affected by ectodermal dysplasias. Since 1981, we've helped connect and empower those living with these rare conditions through education, support, and research. We are the only nonprofit in the U.S. focused on all 50 known and unknown types of ectodermal dysplasias and the trusted resource for individuals, families, and partners around the world. For more information visit nfed.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE TAG - The Aspen Group
DUBAI, UAE, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has been writing a new page of central exchanges' (CEX) security playbook in its battle against cyber attacks. Apart from the on-going fund recovery mission, Bybit has revealed a three-dimensional revamp of its safety guardrails: security audits, wallet fortifications, and infosec upgrade.

In February, Bybit was subjected to a sophisticated multi-stage attack which turned out to be the largest hack known to crypto . While the hack, caused by a compromised external multi-signature service, did not breach Bybit's infrastructure or core security parameters, the exchange has taken extra steps to enhance its security setup and platform integrity. Approaching the challenges from three key aspects, Bybit proactively elevated its safety standards in the weeks that followed.

1. Closing Gaps: Security Audits

While still recovering from the hack, Bybit immediately sought to conduct evaluations of its systems and processes simultaneously. Within a month of the hack, Bybit concluded nine security audits conducted by in-house specialists and independent external experts, and implemented over 50 new security measures and recommendations.

2. Safer Cold Wallet Solutions

At the time of the incident, Bybit followed industry best practices in wallet safety. However, the event demonstrated the severity of the cyber security arms race as more powerful hacking groups entered the scene. Bybit has since adopted more stringent cold wallet solutions to minimize the attack surface to enhance procedural, algorithmic, and hardware safety. The three-dimensional framework includes a revamped authorizations OSP (Operational Safety Procedure) mandating full-journey supervision by security experts, increased wallet protection using the MPC (Multi-Party Computation) model, and consolidating HSM (Hardware Security Modules) to achieve hardware-level safety.

3. All Encrypted: Bank-Grade InfoSec

As a leading player in the cryptocurrency space, Bybit has built in encryption by default. Bybit is ISO/IEC 27001 certified for its information security risk management, the highest standard in the sector adopted by major financial institutions. All communications are end-to-end encrypted including non-customer facing exchanges, with file systems optimized for encrypting data at rest.

"In security, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Bybit has doubled down on fortifying our platform and procedures in the past two months in response to an increasingly challenging security landscape," said Ben Zhou, co-founder & CEO at Bybit. "We will continue to deliver secure, trust-worthy, and user-friendly trading solutions that live up to our customers' expectations," he said.

The immediate aftermath of crypto's most drastic hacking incident was brief, as Bybit was able to stay fully operational while fulfilling a record number of withdrawals in the first 12 hours. The exchange absorbed the damages and customer assets were ring-fenced from the incident. A hunt for the stolen funds is on-going on Bybit-led open platform for illicit fund tracing, Lazarus Bounty , where over $2.3 million in bounty rewards has been distributed to date.

Bybit has also come forth with full transparency including fresh proof-of-reserves exercises, and regained its leading positions across benchmarks, achieving No. 1 in capital inflows among CEX in March . A recent report by Kaiko corroborated the 30-day recovery, demonstrating Bybit's liquidity resilience. The long-term impact, however, will send ripples through the industry as CEX are compelled to think about their security and risk management and stay a step ahead of malicious actors.

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com .

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

SOURCE Bybit
New tools will help industry implement and scale hospital-at-home (HaH) programs as a sustainable, high-quality model of care

BOSTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHcc), the cross-disciplinary leader driving work to reimagine and address the fragmentation in connected health across the healthcare system, launched its inaugural open-source resources to help scale hospital-at-home (HaH) programs. CHcc is co-hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) with UMass Chan Medical School's Program in Digital Medicine as the founding Impact Sponsor.

Connected Health Collaborative Community

HaH is a proven safe, effective, and scalable model that enhances patient outcomes, increases healthcare system efficiency, lowers costs, and expands access to acute care outside traditional hospital settings. For patients, receiving hospital-level care at home leads to faster recovery, fewer complications, and greater comfort. For hospitals, HaH programs free up hospital beds, easing pressure on the healthcare system. Despite these benefits, uncertainty surrounding policy and payment structures threatens the long-term viability of HaH programs.

"At a time when government funding for healthcare is being reduced, hospital-at-home programs offer a lifeline to maintain access to essential services," said Benjamin Vandendriessche, Chief Delivery Officer, DiMe. "By delivering high-quality care in the home at a fraction of the cost of traditional hospital stays, these programs help health systems preserve critical services. Hospital-at-home is not just a cost-saving measure, it's a sustainable model that protects patient care, supports frontline staff, and ensures communities continue to receive the care they need, even in a time of economic and policy uncertainty."

To address this uncertainty and to support patients and our healthcare system, we're equipping stakeholders with actionable, free tools to transition HaH from a temporary policy initiative to a permanent, sustainable model of care:

Patient Journey Map: Guides users through the entire patient experience in HaH, offering insights into clinical services, workflows, and technologies.

Guides users through the entire patient experience in HaH, offering insights into clinical services, workflows, and technologies. Technical & Operational Considerations: Provides resources and insights for managing the infrastructure to scale HaH programs efficiently, securely, and sustainably.

Provides resources and insights for managing the infrastructure to scale HaH programs efficiently, securely, and sustainably. Program Evaluation and Reimbursement Pathways: Helps users select key performance measures, demonstrate ROI, and explore sustainable reimbursement for HaH programs including value-based care models.

Helps users select key performance measures, demonstrate ROI, and explore sustainable reimbursement for HaH programs including value-based care models. Pillars of Successful Implementation: Identifies the five critical areas of successful HaH programs, supported by case studies to overcome implementation barriers.

"In a time of rapid change and uncertainty in healthcare, hospital-at-home programs offer a transformative way to deliver high-quality care where patients feel safest: in their home," said Dr. Sarah Schenck, Executive Director for ChristianaCare's Center for Virtual Health. "Having access to free, expert-developed resources is invaluable for designing scalable, compliant programs that improve patient outcomes, support workforce training, and ensure sustainable reimbursement. These tools will empower health systems to enhance the care experience for both patients and providers."

HaH is one piece of a broader movement to bring high-quality, connected care to patients, wherever they need it. According to a recent report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and CTA, 89% of Americans aged 50 and older prioritize aging safely and independently at home. However, challenges like affordability, safety, and access to healthcare must be addressed. CHcc is bringing together industry leaders to build a smarter, connected ecosystem to help older adults age in their place of choice safely and independently.

About the Connected Health Collaborative Community: The Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHcc) is a collaborative community with the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. It is co-hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) with UMass Chan Medical School's Program in Digital Medicine as the founding Impact Sponsor. We unite diverse stakeholders across the consumer electronics, medical devices, and government sectors to reimagine and address the fragmentation in connected health across the healthcare system. Our members use digitally enabled products, services, and interventions to tackle challenges in the connected health ecosystem, shifting from sick care to whole health care.

About the Digital Medicine Society: DiMe is a global non-profit and the professional home for all members of the digital medicine community. Together, we tackle the toughest digital medicine challenges, develop clinical-quality resources on a technology timeline, and deliver these actionable resources to the field via open-source channels and educational programs.

Media Contact: Carla English, [email protected]

SOURCE Digital Medicine Society (DiMe)
New Data from Points of Light Shows Corporate Leaders Expanding Volunteering, Boosting Civic Engagement and Setting New Standards for Impact

ATLANTA, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Points of Light, a global leader in volunteering, today announced The Civic 50 Honorees for 2025 and released its annual Benchmarking & Insights Report at the Points of Light Conference. According to new data, these 50 companies empowered over 460,000 employees to volunteer 6.5 million hours, contributed 6.25 times more in financial and in-kind resources than the average U.S. company[1], and continue to innovate around mobilizing their workforce for good.

These companies aren't just giving more  they're setting new expectations for what community-minded businesses can achieve. Volunteering benefits communities, employees and businesses  boosting well-being, strengthening culture and fostering purpose. The Civic 50 honorees exemplify that service is essential, not extra.

Now in its 13th year, The Civic 50 is the nation's leading corporate social impact recognition program. Honorees are selected based on assessment of employee volunteering, community investment, social impact strategy and performance measurement.

"This year's honorees prove that when companies embed purpose into their people, strategy and culture, results are extraordinary," said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light. "Together, they show service isn't something companies just do  it's core to who they are."

View the full list of The Civic 50 Honorees of 2025 at pointsoflight.org/civic50.

"We're honored to be named one of America's most community-minded companies," said David Massaron, vice president of infrastructure and corporate citizenship at General Motors. "This recognition reflects our commitment to driving positive change through partnerships, employee engagement and sustainable business practices. At GM, we believe that building a stronger future starts with investing in the communities where we live and work."

These companies represent a rising standard of corporate citizenship. On average, they engaged 41 percent of employees in external volunteering  nearly double the U.S. median of 23 percent[2]. Volunteer hours remain below pre-pandemic levels, but trends reveal a more embedded, sustainable approach to service.

Notably, 86 percent of honorees offer volunteer time off (VTO), up from 72 percent in 2019  a signal companies are institutionalizing civic engagement as a core workplace value. The most supported causes were education (56 percent) and environment (50 percent), underscoring a focus on long-term community resilience.

Further, 92 percent of honorees offer skills-based or pro-bono volunteer opportunities, emphasizing alignment between employee talent and nonprofit needs. However, only 18 percent track the long-term impact of volunteer efforts  revealing a gap between intention and measurement, an opportunity for cross-sector innovation. This echoes a key finding from Points of Light's report, From Nice to Necessary: Unleashing the Impact of Volunteering Through Transformative Investment, which outlines challenges in measuring long-term impact and need for better infrastructure and data.

Together, The Civic 50 Honorees of 2025 are laying the groundwork for the next generation of corporate service  defined by strategy, accountability, innovation and measurable impact.

The Civic 50 Sector Leaders and Volunteer Awards:

Energy Sector Leader: Constellation

Constellation Financial Sector Leader: KeyBank

KeyBank Information Technology Sector Leader: Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Healthcare Sector Leader: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Industrials Sector Leader: Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines Utilities Sector Leader: Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation Consumer Staples Sector Leader: General Mills, Inc.

General Mills, Inc. Materials Sector Leader: Dow, Inc.

Dow, Inc. Consumer Discretionary Sector Leader: Hasbro, Inc.

"Delta Air Lines is honored to be recognized as one of The Civic 50 for the eighth consecutive year and the only airline on the list," said Tad Hutcheson, managing director of community engagement at Delta. "For 100 years, we've strived to meaningfully impact communities where we live, work and serve. Whether empowering youth through education, donating life-saving blood or advancing sustainability, we're united by a purpose-driven culture that believes in connecting people to their potential around the world."

"Hasbro's 13th year on The Civic 50 list reflects our belief in the power of play to create impact," said Theron Grim, vice president of EHS, sustainability and corporate citizenship at Hasbro. "We're promoting sustainability, expanding access to play and supporting creators. At Hasbro, play isn't just fun; it's about connection, learning and building a better world."

Special Recognition:

Volunteer Leader Award: Entergy Corporation  For cultivating a strong volunteer culture.

 For cultivating a strong volunteer culture. Strategic Volunteering Award: PDS Health  For pro-bono and skills-based volunteer engagement with measurable impact.

"These companies aren't only giving back  they're moving forward with purpose," said Sirangelo. "They're showing how service drives business results and social good. We hope their leadership inspires others."

The Civic 50 program creates a roadmap for companies committed to using their time, talent and resources to drive social impact in business and communities. The survey is administered by True Impact, with results analyzed by VeraWorks. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that measures corporate community engagement. Learn more at pointsoflight.org/civic50survey or email [email protected].

[1], [2] U.S. data from Giving in Numbers, 2024 by CECP.

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement. Through work with nonprofits, companies and social impact leaders, the organization galvanizes volunteers to meet critical needs in communities. As the world's largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service, Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 32 countries. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Katherine Morales, APR, Director of Public Relations

[email protected]

(678) 888-2715

SOURCE Points of Light
Recognition highlights Tredence's role in helping enterprises scale agentic AI and unlock business value using Snowflake's AI Data Cloud

SAN FRANCISCO AND BENGALURU, India, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tredence today announced at Snowflake's annual user conference, Snowflake Summit 2025, that it has been named the 2025 Retail & CPG Data Cloud Services Partner of the Year by Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company.

Tredence named 2025 Retail & CPG Data Cloud Services Partner of the Year

Tredence was recognized for helping enterprises modernize critical business processes and drive measurable value at speed using Snowflake's AI Data Cloud. A key highlight of this collaboration is the $100M business impact in cost savings delivered for a leading global CPG company through supply chain transformation  powered by agentic AI solutions built on Snowflake.

"Working alongside Tredence has been incredibly valuable for our joint customers," noted Amy Kodl, Interim, Alliances & Channels Leader at Snowflake. "By leveraging their expertise with the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, organizations have successfully modernized their data operations and achieved impressive outcomes. We're thrilled to continue growing this partnership and delivering more customer success stories."

Beyond individual wins, Tredence has built a strong foundation with Snowflake through a dedicated Business Unit of 250+ certified experts. This team builds industry accelerators and drives agentic AI adoptionhelping enterprises scale from pilot to production efficiently.

In the hospitality sector, Tredence partnered with a global hotel chain to establish a multi-year Center of Excellence, supporting the hotel's over 300 million customers and driving $90 million in additional revenue through AI-powered hyper-personalization.

"This recognition is a validation of the impact we're creating together for global enterprises through AI, advanced analytics, and domain-centric agentic AI solutions. Our focus is on building real, production-ready agentic AI solutions that help enterprises move faster, think smarter, and stay ready for what's next with the Snowflake AI Data Cloud," said Sumit Mehra, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Tredence.

Learn more about Tredence and Snowflake here. Watch Snowflake Summit 2025 keynotes live or on-demand and stay up to date on the latest news from Snowflake on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.

About Tredence

Tredence is a global data science and AI solutions provider focused on solving the last-mile problem in AI  the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence leverages deep domain expertise, data platforms and accelerators, and strategic partnerships to provide targeted, impactful solutions to its clients. The company has 3,500+ employees across San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, London, Toronto, and Bengaluru, serving top brands in Retail, CPG, Hi-tech, Telecom, Healthcare, Travel, and Industrials.

For more information, visit www.tredence.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2702010/Tredence_Snowflake.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1773052/Tredence_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Tredence Inc
CINCINNATI, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TriHealth, Cincinnati's nationally-recognized health care system, is pleased to celebrate ranking as one of the top five humanizing health care brands in the nation.

Branding agency Monigle recognized TriHealth as a Top Five National Health Care Brand, The Number One Brand in Ohio and the Top Brand in Cincinnati for the third straight year.

Monigle scores more than 200 health system brands nationwide and ranks them by their brand strength within their market. Rankings are based on consumer opinion and composite scores from its Humanizing Brand Experience model. Specifically, Monigle surveyed more than 27,000 insured household decision-makers who received medical care over the last two years in order to compile the eighth annual edition of the report. Rankings factored in dozens of characteristics of consumer advocacy, including emotional, intellectual and behavioral components.

"We are pleased to see how Monigle has recognized the power of TriHealth's authentic brand promise and how we are living it through our team members and culture by seeing, hearing and healing patients every day, in every interaction," said TriHealth President and CEO Mark C. Clement. "This extraordinary achievement is the direct result of all we have done together as a team over the last 10 years on our journey to Get Health Care Right! From building an industry-leading culture to living our values and delivering on our brand promise, we have put in the hard work each and every day to make our brand vision a reality for the Cincinnati community."

TriHealth's unique culture  known as the TriHealth Way  has been in the making for the last 10 years under Clement's leadership. In addition to making regular assessments and upgrades at all of TriHealth's hospitals and offices, TriHealth has instituted the Population Health model of making sure patients feel seen, heard and healed.

In a time with many unanswered questions about the future of health care culture, TriHealth is honored that its commitment to Cincinnati's patients has been recognized and pledges continue working to Get Health Care Right.

More about TriHealth

TriHealth is hospitals, physicians and the community working together to help people live better. We provide clinical, educational, preventive and social programs through Bethesda North, Bethesda Butler, Good Samaritan and McCullough-Hyde hospitals, and more than 140 other locations throughout Greater Cincinnati.

Contact: Tom Lange, Senior Public Relations Consultant

[email protected]

513-569-6728

SOURCE TriHealth, Inc.
Transaction positions company for accelerated growth through improved capital structure and simplified governance

LINDON, Utah and NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trucordia today announced it will receive a $1.3 billion strategic investment from global investment firm Carlyle's Global Credit platform. The transaction will reduce Trucordia's leverage and simplify its governance structure by repurchasing units from existing minority investors.

The transaction, which is expected to close this month and values Trucordia at $5.7 billion, provides the company with long-term financial flexibility to pursue a variety of strategic outcomes.

"This investment and partnership with Carlyle will meaningfully strengthen Trucordia's long-term financial and ownership structure and accelerate our transformational growth strategy," said Felix Morgan, CEO of Trucordia. "Alongside momentum from the recent rollout of our platform operating model, leadership appointments, and latest acquisitions, I've never been more excited about what the future holds for Trucordia."

Trucordia is a top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage offering a broad array of commercial and personal lines, life, and employee benefits insurance solutions. Trucordia is underpinned by a strong performance driven-culture, organic growth, and strategic acquisitions.

"The investment from Carlyle will reduce Trucordia's leverage, fortify our balance sheet, and enhance our financial flexibility," said Trucordia Chief Financial Officer Brandon Gray. "We are well positioned to continue making the right investments in our business moving forward."

"Trucordia has quickly established itself as a category leader with an experienced management team and a clear strategic vision," said Andreas Boye, Partner and Head of Carlyle Credit Opportunities in North America. "We believe the company is well-positioned to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities in the insurance distribution sector, and we're thrilled to support their continued success."

Gary Jacovino, Partner on Carlyle's Credit Opportunities team, added, "We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Trucordia as the organization continues to deliver an industry-leading client experience while pursuing scalable growth. We value building lasting partnerships with industry-leading management teams and support their vision for sustained success."

The investment was led by Carlyle's Credit Opportunities team, within the firm's Global Credit platform. The strategy seeks to provide highly structured and privately negotiated solutions across the capital structure to family, founder, and management-owned companies, sponsor-backed companies, and special situations, with a focus on long-term value creation. Carlyle's Global Credit platform has $199 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025.

J.P. Morgan acted as sole advisor and placement agent to Trucordia in connection with the transaction.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP served as legal counsel to Trucordia.

Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Carlyle.

About Trucordia

Trucordia, formerly PCF Insurance Services, is the group name for a top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage headquartered in Lindon, Utah. The Trucordia group of companies offers a broad array of commercial and personal lines, life and health, and employee benefits insurance solutions. Trucordia is an integrated organization united by a passion to deliver extraordinary opportunities and exceptional experiences for its clients, partners, and each other. With more than 5,000 team members across the U.S., Trucordia is a notable leader in the insurance brokerage space, ranking #19 on Business Insurance's 2024 Top 100 Brokers and #13 on Insurance Journal's 2024 Top Property/Casualty Agencies. Visit trucordia.com for more information.

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $453 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2025, Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

SOURCE Trucordia
NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HitPaw, a trusted name in AI-powered media solutions, is honoring Father's Day with a special savings event from June 3 to June 20, 2025. HitPaw develops powerful yet easy-to-use AI software for editing videos, enhancing images, transforming audio, and more. This limited-time promotion offers up to 60% off its top creative software, including tools for video, photo, and audio editing. Whether you're preserving family memories or helping dad with digital projects, HitPaw makes it easierand more affordableto create something meaningful.

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Learn more and shop the sale: https://www.hitpaw.com/sales-promotion.html

About HitPaw

HitPaw develops powerful yet easy-to-use AI software for editing videos, enhancing images, transforming audio, and more. Serving millions of creators worldwide, HitPaw empowers everyonefrom casual users to professionalsto express ideas visually and audibly without complexity.

To explore more creative tools, you may visit: https://www.hitpaw.com/

Our Social Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitpaw

X (Twitter): https://x.com/HitPawofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitpawofficial/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HitPawofficialwebsite

This release was issued through Send2Press on behalf of the news source. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.send2press.com/.

SOURCE HitPaw. Co., Ltd
The U.S. Government has determined Canada engages in harmful unfair trade practices in softwood lumber.

engages in harmful unfair trade practices in softwood lumber. Yet NAHB continues to advocate for the importation of injurious unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports.

Enforcing the U.S. trade laws helps increase the U.S. supply of lumber to build American homes.

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) has a long-established policy priority of working with Canada to promote unfettered access to the U.S. market for unfairly traded Canadian lumber. NAHB reports routinely meeting with Canadian officials, presumably to coordinate advancing the objective of removing any trade law enforcement measures against unfairly traded Canadian lumber exports to the United States. In a recent FoxBusiness report highlighting falling lumber prices, down 67 percent since 2021, while housing prices continued to increase, up $89,100 or 21 percent since 2021, https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/fight-over-lumber-tariffs-could-reshape-future-us-home-building, Jim Tobin, CEO of the NAHB, again indicated a desire to ensure continued access to Canadian lumber imports by stating that "we need to make sure that we have a reliable, affordable source of lumber."

Components of the Price of a New Home, 2024 (PRNewsfoto/The U.S. Lumber Coalition)

"It is no secret that Canada engages in harmful unfair trade practices," stated Andrew Miller, Chair/Owner of Stimson Lumber Company, adding "yet NAHB continues to advocate for the importation of injurious unfairly traded Canadian lumber while paying lip service to the idea of fair and balanced trade. President Trump is exactly right, we do not need unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports. Canadian allies advocating a Canada First trade policy are working against President Trump's America First pro trade enforcement priorities, and against the President's goal of further expanding U.S. lumber production and capacity."

"Through the enforcement of the U.S. trade laws, the U.S. industry has expanded its softwood lumber production capacity since 2016 by some 9 billion board feet, producing an additional 30 billion plus board feet of lumber into the U.S. supply chain," stated Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition. "In the process, Canadian lumber companies have directly paid close to $7 billion in duties to the U.S. government, the majority of which will be liquidated into the general fund of the U.S. Treasury."

"NAHB's own data shows that the cost of softwood lumber in a new home amounts to less than 2 percent of the total cost of that house, and the cost of any duties levied against Canadian companies is virtually zero to the U.S. consumer," stated van Heyningen, adding that "NAHB and Canada should stop trying to scare the public about the strong trade law enforcement that has in fact been essential to stabilizing and growing the domestic supply of softwood lumber. It is nothing more than a distraction tactic to avoid having an honest conversation about the origins of U.S. housing affordability problems, such as record profits for homebuilders, and the fact that duties in place today simply represent the level of Canadian unfair trade practices," added van Heyningen.

"It is ironic that NAHB and Canada are pushing the theme that U.S. consumers pay for the duties, yet they are spending upwards of $50 million dollars a year fighting against the imposition of antidumping and anti-subsidy duties. If consumers truly were the ones paying these duties, then Canadian companies would not care to fight against the imposition of duties. That is just common sense. Frankly, none of the NAHB and Canadian arguments in these matters make any sense," said van Heyningen.

"Canada itself has been trying to tackle its own housing affordability problems. Prime Minister Carney made housing affordability a cornerstone of his campaign. When discussing the issue, Prime Minister Carney focuses on true causes of housing affordability problems, which are not totally dissimilar from the United States. What he does not talk about however, is using Canada's excess softwood lumber production capacity of approximately 8 billion board feet to solve their housing affordability problems," stated van Heyningen.

"As we have stated many times, if Canadian companies do not like paying duties, then they simply need to stop engaging in unfair trade practices  such as dumping as well as asking for and accepting government subsidies," concluded Miller.

Enforcing the U.S. trade laws helps increase the U.S. supply of lumber to build American homes, all without impacting the cost of a new home, as demonstrated by data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Fastmarkets Random Lengths.

About the U.S. Lumber Coalition

The U.S. Lumber Coalition is an alliance of large and small softwood lumber producers from around the country, joined by their employees and woodland owners, working to address Canada's unfair lumber trade practices. Our goal is to serve as the voice of the American lumber community and effectively address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices. The Coalition supports the full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to allow the U.S. industry to invest and grow to its natural size without being impaired by unfairly traded imports. Continued full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws will strengthen domestic supply lines by maximizing long-term domestic production and lumber availability produced by U.S. workers to build U.S. homes. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.

CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen

[email protected] | 202-805-9133

SOURCE U.S. Lumber Coalition
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev met with a delegation of political directors from the foreign ministries of Nordic and Baltic states  including Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania  to discuss opportunities for enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation on June 4, 2025, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry noted that the meeting took place as part of the delegations regional visit, and both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining a steady political dialogue through reciprocal visits and structured consultations.

The talks also addressed broader cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union (EU), highlighting areas such as energy security, trade, transport, communications, digital development, and cybersecurity.

Azerbaijans geostrategic position and active engagement in multilateral platforms were recognized, along with its practical efforts to foster peace in the wider region. These contributions, it was noted, enrich the countrys collaborative agenda with the EU and the Nordic and Baltic states.

The delegation praised Azerbaijans role as host of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), as well as its leadership in advancing global climate negotiations.

During the meeting, Rafiyev also briefed the participants on the ongoing normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, post-conflict developments in the region, and the large-scale reconstruction work in liberated territories. He provided updates on the return of internally displaced persons and the governments efforts to address the threat of landmines in those areas.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on various bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Brasilia, June 34 : Before heading to the US, a high-level Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Congress Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, successfully concluded the visit to Brazil, laying emphasis on counter-terrorism cooperation with the South American country, the Indian Embassy in Brazil said in a press statement.

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 India's sustained campaign against cross-border terrorism, the delegation successfully conducted its official visit to Brazil from June 1 to 2, 2025, the Indian Embassy in Brazil said on Tuesday evening in the press statement on social media platform X.

The delegation was led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Sarfaraz Ahmad from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, Shashank Mani Tripathi from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Bhubaneswar Kalita from the Bharatiya Janata Party, and Tejasvi Surya from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Ambassador of India to the United States.

India's newly appointed Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia also accompanied the delegation during the visit, the Indian Embassy in Brazil added in the press statement.

The Indian delegation held meetings with senior Brazilian leadership, including Geraldo Alckmin, Vice-President of Brazil; Ambassador Celso Amorim, Chief Adviser to the President; Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Acting Foreign Minister; Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and also the President of Brazil-India Parliamentary Friendship Group; and Deputy Filipe Barros, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defence of the Chamber of Deputies.

In all their discussions, the delegation emphasised India's unwavering resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and highlighted the threat it poses to global peace and stability.

The meetings provided an opportunity to convey India's strong bipartisan consensus and zero-tolerance approach to terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, while also exchanging perspectives on regional and global security and democratic cooperation between the two countries.

The Embassy of India extends its sincere appreciation to the government and the Parliament of Brazil for their warm hospitality and constructive dialogue.

The visit marks a significant step in strengthening the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership and enhancing collaboration in the global fight against terrorism, the Indian Embassy in Brazil said in the press statement.

"In a meeting with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alcmene, he expressed his full support for India's fight against terrorism. He clearly expressed the Brazilian government's sympathy for the Pahalgam attack. The discussion also continued on issues such as trade, investment, and industrial cooperation. His interest in Ayurveda, Yoga, and his special admiration for Indian culture were evident in his words. This meeting will be a key step towards further strengthening the partnership between the two countries," TDP MP and delegation member GM Harish Balayogi wrote in a social media post on X.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. On June 4, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held a telephone conversation with Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trend reports.

The Iranian President extended his congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev and the brotherly and friendly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the upcoming sacred holiday of Eid al-Adha, wishing prosperity and progress to the nation.

President Ilham Aliyev, in turn, congratulated President Pezeshkian and the brotherly and friendly people of Iran on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and conveyed his best wishes for prosperity and progress.

Masoud Pezeshkian fondly recalled his official visit to Azerbaijan including the meetings and the productive discussions held with President Ilham Aliyev during that visit.

President Ilham Aliyev also expressed high appreciation for the talks conducted during the visit.

They noted during the phone call that relevant state bodies of both countries are currently working to implement the tasks outlined during President Pezeshkians official visit to Azerbaijan. The resumption of the BakuTabriz flight and the increase in the number of flights on the BakuTehran route were highlighted as outcomes of the visit, with confidence expressed that these steps will positively contribute to strengthening people-to-people contacts.

They emphasized that Azerbaijani-Iranian relations are currently at a turning point and expressed optimism that through joint efforts, bilateral ties will continue to develop dynamically across various fields.

During the call, the heads of state also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
Brussels, June 4 : After concluding a successful four-day visit to the United Kingdom, an all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament, Ravi Shankar Prasad, arrived in Brussels with an aim of "One Mission, One Message, One India" as part of India's diplomatic efforts through Operation Sindoor to strengthen consensus against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism.

The delegation was received by Indian Ambassador to EU, Belgium and Luxembourg, Saurabh Kumar, in Brussels for a three-day visit on Tuesday evening.

Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday evening, the Indian Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg said: "'On One Mission, One Message, One India'. An All-Party Delegation led by Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad was received by the Indian Ambassador to EU, Belgium and Luxembourg Saurabh Kumar upon arrival in Brussels. The visit, during which a series of meetings is scheduled over the next two days, aims to consolidate global consensus against cross-border terrorism."

Earlier in the day, Indian Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg posted on X: "After concluding a successful visit to the UK, the All Party Parliamentary Delegation departs for Brussels today to continue strengthening international partnerships and advancing Indiaas strategic engagements."

After successful visit to France, Italy, Denmark and the UK, the delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, Congress MP Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran arrived for the last leg of the tour to Brussels.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, the delegation from India concluded the last day of engagements in the UK, meeting with the Speaker of the House of Commons, members of the UK and Indian media, and a detailed interaction with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on India, the Indian Embassy in the UK said in a press statement.

Discussions centered on India's zero- tolerance approach to terrorism and response to cross-border terrorism through Operation Sindoor, the Indian Embassy in the UK said in the press statement.

"Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian delegation called on Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, at the UK Parliament. The Speaker was briefed on Operation Sindoor, India's decisive action following the recent Pahalgam terror attack," the Indian Embassy in the UK said in the press statement.

Hoyle unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed on the need to stand united against terrorism.

The delegation also interacted with representatives of both UK and Indian media at India House.

The interaction highlighted India's national resolve against state-sponsored terrorism and conveyed the country's commitment to security and safety of its citizens.

The delegation's final engagement of the day was a comprehensive meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) India at the UK Parliament.

Baroness Verma, President of APPG India, formally welcomed the Indian delegation.

Lord Bilimoria and MP Jeevun Sandher, the Co-Chairs of APPG India, expressed strong solidarity with India and condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in the strongest terms.

Many current and former Members of UK Parliament and peers participated in the discussion, reflecting broad cross-party support for India in its fight against terrorism, the Indian Embassy in the UK said in the press statement.

Earlier, the delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, visited the UK to garner widespread support for India's fight against terrorism and to expose Pakistan's role in fostering terrorism.

Ravi Shankar Prasad said that during their visit in the UK, the delegation met with key UK figures, including the Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, emphasising the need for international accountability on terrorism financing amidst appreciation for India's democratic approach.

Prasad highlighted the global concern over terrorism as a "cancer" and called for scrutiny of Pakistan's use of international funds, noting the novelty of the all-party delegation initiative.
Cairo, June 4 : An all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule called on Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Foreign Minister, and welcomed Egypt's condemnation of terrorism in strongest terms the Indian Embassy and put forth India's strong resolve to combat terrorism, the Indian Embassy in Egypt said in a press statement.

The delegation in a two-day visit to Egypt, on Tuesday, interacted with leaders, intellectuals and opinion makers in Egypt in an interactive session chaired by Nabil Fahmy, the former Egyptian Foreign Minister

They also clearly articulated India's strong resolve to combat terrorism and welcomed Egypt's condemnation of terrorism in strongest terms, the Indian Embassy in Egypt said in the press statement on Tuesday evening on social media platform X.

After concluding successful visit to Qatar, Ethiopia, South Africa, the delegation, led by Supriya Sule, includes Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Aam aadmi Party MP Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Congress MP Manish Tewari, BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur, Telugu Desam Party's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Congress MP Anand Sharma, BJP MP and former Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and former Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin arrived in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, on Monday.

On the second day of their visit to Egypt, the delegation from India, led by NCP-SP MP Sule, continued their engagements with top political leadership of Egypt, Arab League, media and intellectual circles.

Both the countries acknowledged the growing momentum in the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed their unified stance against terrorism, the press statement said.

The Indian delegation conveyed deep appreciation for Egypt's strong condemnation of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the press statement added.

Foreign Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's full solidarity with India and welcomed deeper bilateral collaboration on counter-terrorism.

The delegation also called on Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, and discussed India's wide-ranging political, economic, and cultural partnership with the Arab world. Both sides emphasised the priority accorded to countering terrorism and the need for sustained multilateral cooperation in this regard.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, at the Heliopolis War Memorial in Cairo, the Indian delegation paid tributes to the numerous Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World Wars I and II, underscoring the enduring historical bonds and shared sacrifices between India and Egypt, the Indian Embassy in Egypt said in the press statement.

At a high-level interaction, led by Nabil Fahmy, the delegation had an opportunity to engage with prominent Egyptian intellectuals, media leaders, and opinion makers.

The delegation reiterated India's principled position and collective resolve to combat terrorism, and welcomed Egypt's consistent support.

Members of the delegation were interviewed by prominent Egyptian media outlets, articulating India's vision on counter-terrorism, regional cooperation, and people-centric diplomacy.

The engagements reaffirmed the mutual commitment of India and Egypt to strengthening their Strategic Partnership and addressing the menace of terrorism, the Indian Embassy in Egypt said in the press statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in a post on X said: "The high-level multi-party delegation from India led by MP Supriya Sule visited the Heliopolis War Memorial in Cairo and paid homage to the supreme sacrifice made by numerous Indian soldiers during the Word Wars I & II. The memorial is a symbol of shared sacrifice and historical bonds between India and Egypt. The members of the Delegation also signed the visitor's book at the Cemetery that comprises the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial and the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial."

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.
Iranian police rescue three Indians who went missing last month. Image Source: IANS

Tehran, June 4 : The three Indian nationals who went missing in Iran last month have been successfully rescued, the Iranian Embassy in India said, citing local media reports.

The Embassy confirmed on the social media platform X that Tehran police had freed the missing individuals.

"Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police. Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran," the Iranian Embassy posted.

All three individuals, identified as Jaspal Singh, Hushanpreet Singh, and Amritpal Singh, hail from Punjab and had disappeared shortly after landing in Tehran on May 1.

According to Iranian news agency Mehr, the men were on their way to Australia after being promised lucrative jobs by a local travel company.

The trio was reportedly rescued following a police operation targeting the hostage-takers in Varamin, located in south Tehran, Tasnim news outlet reported.

The Indian Embassy had issued a statement on May 28, following an approach by the family members of the missing men, who expressed serious concern over their relatives' sudden disappearance.

The statement read, "Family members of three Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after having travelled to Iran. The Embassy has strongly taken up this matter with the Iranian authorities and requested that the missing Indians should be urgently traced and their safety should be ensured. We are also keeping the family members regularly updated of the efforts being made by the Embassy."

Reports also suggested that the families received ransom demands of Rs one crore from unknown individuals, with the threatening calls originating from Pakistani phone numbers.

The details raised serious alarm, prompting swift diplomatic engagement from both sides.

The Iranian Embassy in India, responding to the developments, stated that the case was being closely followed by the Consular Affairs Department of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Embassy also issued a warning to Indian citizens, advising them "not to be deceived by the promises of unauthorised individuals or illegal Indian agencies offering travel to other countries."

India has previously issued travel advisories for its nationals travelling to Iran, urging them to exercise caution, remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and consulates, and avoid engagement with unverified travel agents or intermediaries.
Toronto, June 4 : A tragic mass shooting incident unfolded in Toronto, Canada, leaving one man dead and five others injured with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to police.

Emergency crews were dispatched around 8:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday to the area of Flemington and Zachary Roads, near Ranee Avenue and Allen Road, following multiple reports of gunfire. The shooting occurred in a densely populated residential area, not far from the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in North York.

In a post on X, Toronto Police confirmed the fatality and injuries:

"Shooting:(UPDATE) 1 male confirmed deceased, 5 people with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds transported to hospital COMMAND POST: Ranee Ave & Allen Rd (under the overpass)," the post read.

Authorities later reiterated that all five individuals who sustained gunshot injuries had been taken to the hospital and were expected to survive.

"Shooting:(UPDATE) -5 people transported to hospital w/gunshot wounds -injuries are unknown at this time -Command Post is being set up in the Ranee Ave Flemington Rd area -more info to follow," police posted in another update on X.

Toronto Police have since established a command post in the Ranee Avenue and Flemington Road area as investigations continue. No details have been released regarding any suspects, and police have not confirmed any arrests as of yet.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed concern over the incident and thanked first responders for their swift action.

"Disturbed by news of the shootings in the Lawrence Heights area this evening. My office is in contact with Toronto Police, who are on scene now and investigating, and the local councillor Deputy Mayor Mike Colle. I want to thank the first responders - Toronto Police, Fire and Paramedic services for your work on a very busy and challenging scene. Toronto Police are working to provide an update soon," she posted on X.

As the investigation continues, authorities are urging witnesses or anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. The motive behind the violence remains unclear, and the neighbourhood remains on alert.
New Delhi, June 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to newly-elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung for winning the top post and expressed his eagerness to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected President on Wednesday after months of turmoil surrounding the impeachment and ouster of his former opponent over a botched attempt to impose martial law.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, "Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea. Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership."

Lee's win was a remarkable comeback after having lost to former President Yoon Suk Yeol by a razor-thin margin of less than one percentage point in the previous election in 2022.

While Yoon's attempt to impose martial law in December paved the way for Lee's rise to the presidency, it also deepened the nation's political divide and increased the challenges posed by everything from the United States' tariff policies to North Korea's advancing nuclear weapons programme.

With all votes counted, Lee of the liberal DP won 49.42 per cent of the votes, compared with 41.15 per cent for his conservative People Power Party (PPP) rival Kim Moon-soo.

Meanwhile, the bilateral relations between India and South Korea were elevated to 'Special Strategic Partnership' in 2015, when PM Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to South Korea.

Additionally, on the occasion of the State Visit of then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in to India in July 2018, both countries issued a statement outlining a 'Vision for People, Prosperity, Peace and our Future'.

Later, in 2019, PM Modi visited South Korea and unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Yonsei University. During this, he also gifted a Bodhi sapling to Gimhae City and received the Seoul Peace Prize for his contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth.
Seoul, June 4 : Facing the dual challenges of the United States' aggressive tariff scheme and sluggish domestic demand, President-elect Lee Jae-myung is expected to prioritise securing a favourable trade deal with Washington and implementing measures to revitalise the stagnant economy through supplementary budgets and the promotion of advanced industries, experts said on Wednesday.

"My first directive as president would be to assess the economic situation. Revitalising the economy and restoring the people's livelihoods should take precedence over social reform or any other issues for now," Lee said at a press conference on Monday, the eve of the presidential election, in which he defeated his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo, reports Yonhap news agency.

The most pressing issue for Lee is trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, as Washington's sweeping tariff policies have dealt a blow to South Korea's trade-dependent economy.

The new government is supposed to conclude negotiations with the U.S. before July 9, when Trump's 90-day suspension of high global tariffs, including a 25 percent levy on South Korea, is set to expire. Seoul and Washington have agreed to work toward a comprehensive "package" agreement covering trade and related issues before the 90-day period runs out.

Lee has said that his priority is meeting with Trump, while emphasising the importance of engaging in "reasonable and rational conversations" to reach mutually beneficial solutions.

"The leadership vacuum over the past several months appears to have contributed to the U.S. imposing high tariffs on South Korean products," former Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said. "Building consensus through summit-level diplomacy will be crucial to resolving the tariff issue."

Apart from the threatened reciprocal tariffs, a separate 10 percent baseline tariff and 25 percent duties on steel, aluminum and auto-related products remain in place, with South Korea bearing the brunt of the protectionist measures.

Exports fell 1.3 percent from a year earlier to US$57.3 billion in May, with shipments to the U.S. declining 8.1 percent and those to China dropping 8.4 percent amid uncertainties in the global trade environment.

During the first three months of this year, South Korea's real GDP contracted 0.2 percent from the previous quarter, which marked the first on-quarter contraction in nine months.

Last week, the Bank of Korea (BOK) sharply lowered its outlook for the country's economic growth this year to 0.8 percent from its previous projection of a 1.5 percent expansion.

If realised, it would be the slowest growth since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the economy contracted by 0.7 percent, and match the level recorded in 2009 following the global financial crisis.

"The inauguration of the new government is projected to help ease political instability that had dampened consumption and investment following the imposition of martial law (by former President Yoon Suk Yeol) in December. But the effects of U.S. tariffs are expected to become more pronounced in the second half of this year," a BOK official said.

In an effort to bolster the ailing economy and support small merchants and the people, the Lee government is expected to draw up a supplementary budget sooner or later.

Lee has vowed to introduce an additional budget of at least 30 trillion won (US$21.77 billion), which would come on top of the 13.8 trillion-won supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly last month.

"More fundamental solutions are also needed to better respond to changes in the global trade order and supply chains. We need to reduce our dependence on the U.S. and China, while strengthening trade relations with other partners," said professor Heo Jun-young of Seoul's Sogang University.

He has vowed to create a 100 trillion-won fund in partnership with the private sector to position the country among the world's top three AI powers.
New Delhi, June 4 : A newly constructed, state-of-the-art hospital under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has become operational within the Sadar Hospital complex in Muzaffarpur, significantly improving healthcare access for the local residents.

The Bihar Health Department constructed this facility at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore. It aims to significantly improve medical services for the people of the region.

Previously, patients and their families faced considerable hardships, including standing in long queues under the scorching sun or getting drenched in rain while waiting for registration and treatment. With the launch of this new hospital, those challenges are set to become a thing of the past.

Sadar Hospital Superintendent Dr. B.S. Jha explained, "Earlier, patients had to wait outside in the heat for hours. Now, they will be able to queue under shaded areas equipped with fans. During the rainy season too, there will be no such issues. Around 900 patients visit the hospital daily, and they will now receive care under one roof."

The newly launched facility boasts a wide range of modern healthcare services. It is equipped with high-capacity emergency services, advanced ICUs, and diagnostic tools like MRI, X-ray, CT scan, and pathology labs.

Dr. D.S. Aditya Chakraborty provided an update on the ongoing development of the hospital infrastructure. He said, "I have transitioned to the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBG) department. As part of this shift, MRI services have also commenced. Gradually, we are relocating all diagnostic and treatment services -- including X-ray, CT scan, pathology, and other essential activities -- to the new facility. The inpatient ward will also be closed and moved accordingly."

The project is part of the nationwide PM-ABHIM scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2021-22 and launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat health initiative. It is the most significant public health infrastructure initiative since 2005, aiming to close critical gaps in health infrastructure and research across urban and rural India.
Washington, June 4 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday condemned China for the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing on the 36th anniversary of the incident, commemorating the courage of the innocent people killed in the "Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown".

"We remember the Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown 36 years ago in Tiananmen Square and commemorate the courage of the innocent people killed and imprisoned that day. Freedom, democracy, and self-rule are human principles the CCP cannot erase," Rubio posted on X.

According to a statement from the US Department of State, the demonstrations began on April 15, 1989, when tens of thousands of students gathered in Beijing's largest public square to mourn the passing of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader who tried to steer China toward a more open and democratic system.

It later became a forum to protest corruption and call for broader political and economic reforms inspiring a national movement. On the night of June 3 and 4, 1989, the Chinese Army stormed the Square with tanks, crushing the protests with terrible human costs.

"Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in the capital and throughout China took to the streets for weeks to exercise their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly by advocating for democracy, human rights, and an end to rampant corruption. The CCP responded with a brutal crackdown, sending the Chinese Army to open fire in an attempt to extinguish the pro-democracy sentiments of unarmed civilians gathered on Beijing's streets and in Tiananmen Square," read the statement.

"The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget. Today, we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989. Their courage in the face of certain danger reminds us that the principles of freedom, democracy, and self-rule are not just American principles. They are human principles the CCP cannot erase," it added.

Meanwhile, the US-based rights group Human Rights Watch criticised China, highlighting that thirty-six years after the killing of countless peaceful pro-democracy protesters in Beijing, the Chinese government still seeks to erase the memory of the June 1989 Tiananmen Massacre.

"The Chinese government has never owned up to the Tiananmen Massacre, much less provided redress for victims and their families. Beijing's enforced amnesia has deepened authoritarian rule in China, yet it has not extinguished demands for the truth, democracy, and respect for human rights," said Yalkun Uluyol, Chinese researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"Despite the Chinese government's efforts to repress the memory of the Tiananmen Massacre, the incident continues to reverberate around the world. Foreign governments should support and echo acts of remembrance by commemorating the Tiananmen Massacre and pressuring Beijing to finally accept its responsibilities," he added.
New Delhi, June 4 : Thousands of devotees gathered in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the second day to witness the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Darbar at the grand Ram temple.

The three-day consecration ritual, which began on June 3 (Tuesday), is set to conclude on June 5, coinciding with Ganga Dussehra, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar.

The ceremonial installation of Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman on the first floor of the temple is being conducted in accordance with age-old Vedic traditions and customs.

Saint Mithilesh Nandani Sharan, who is closely associated with the rituals, emphasised the spiritual significance of the occasion.

"After Shri Ram Lalla was ceremoniously enthroned in the main sanctum (Garbhagriha) on the ground floor of the temple, devotees across the country eagerly awaited the consecration of the rest of the complex, particularly the Ram Darbar on the first floor," said Saint Mithilesh Nandani Sharan.

"Following the proper Vedic rituals and traditional procedures of Pran Pratishtha, with utmost devotion, Lord Sita-Ram, the divine couple, are being installed, accompanied by Hanuman Ji Maharaj and Lakshman Ji."

In addition to the Ram Darbar, six to eight other shrines within the temple complex are also being consecrated. These include idols of revered sages (Rishis), companions such as Nishadraj and Mata Shabari, and the statue of Swami Shri Tulsidas Ji Maharaj, said Sharan.

"These consecrations not only enhance the grandeur of the Shri Ram Temple but also express the spiritual consciousness awakened by the Ramayana," Sharan added.

Security in Ayodhya has been significantly tightened. The temple has been designated a red zone, with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), armoured vehicles, and three-shift surveillance teams deployed across the city to ensure the safety of pilgrims and saints.

The ceremonies were preceded by a grand religious procession from the banks of the Saryu River on Monday, which drew massive crowds and set the tone for the Pran Pratishtha celebrations.

Saint Mithilesh Nandani Sharan also lauded the efforts of the nation's leadership. "In the glorious history of Ayodhya's resurgence, Yogi Ji Maharaj's name is etched in golden letters. It is because of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Ji Maharaj that we are witnessing and celebrating this moment. This should be seen as a defining moment in the cultural reawakening of New India."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 4 : The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Wednesday announced signing a partnership agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to establish a Center of Excellence for artificial intelligence in healthcare (AI-CoE).

The AI-CoE will focus on developing AI-based solutions for supporting key national health programmes in the country.

"This MoU marks the beginning of far-reaching collaborative research that has the potential to change the face of healthcare in the country," said Prof. M. Srinivas, Director, of AIIMS Delhi.

"A partnership between AIIMS and IIT Delhi has the potential to transform AI for affordable healthcare. We are delighted to be shaping this national centre of excellence and hope that our output will impact the lives of Indians," added Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, of IIT Delhi.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Prof Srinivas, and Prof. Banerjee at a ceremony held at IIT Delhi.

Last year, the two institutes were awarded a grant of Rs 330 crore by the Ministry of Education under the initiative "Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India," following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process.

The proposed Centre of Excellence will be the executing vehicle for the grant.

The project aims to keep patients at the centre of and to build mechanisms that would benefit every citizen of the country.

The CoE will serve as a key research and resource center at the national and international level and aims to revolutionise the national public health system using indigenously developed AI systems and solutions, said the experts.

"We aim to develop cutting-edge AI solutions to upscale health services, upskill our healthcare providers, and improve the accessibility of quality healthcare to remote and marginalised sections of our population," said Prof. Chetan Arora, Chief Project Manager, who will lead the AI-CoE from IIT Delhi.

IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi have a history of strong research collaboration, including the Centre for Advanced Research and Excellence in Disability & Assistive Technology (CARE-DAT) which is working to develop assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Baku hosts a conference on World Food Security Day: Science in Action organized jointly by the Food Security Agency of Azerbaijan (FSA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Office in Azerbaijan, and ADA University, Trend reports.

The Food Day, held under the motto "Science in Action", has begun its work at ADA University.

As part of the conference, representatives of international organizations, government agencies, scientific and educational institutions, as well as international experts, will come together within the framework of the "One Health" concept, reflecting the relationship between the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

Will be updated
Seoul, June 4 : Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang to hold a meeting with leader Kim Jong-un, a Russian news report said Wednesday.

Shoigu travelled to the North on instructions from President Vladimir Putin and is scheduled to meet with Kim, the Russian news agency Tass reported.

The visit came amid speculation that Kim may visit Russia for a summit with Putin to mark the first anniversary of their signing of a mutual Defence treaty in June last year, which led to North Korea's deployment of thousands of troops on the Russian side in the war against Ukraine.

Citing Russia's Security Council, Tass said that Kim and Shoigu are expected to discuss the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and the commemoration of North Korean forces who fought in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The agenda may also include international issues, such as those involving Ukraine, it said.

Shoigu's visit came less than three months after he travelled to North Korea to meet the North's leader to discuss cooperation between the two nations.

His trip also came just a week after North Korea's State Security Minister Ri Chang-dae held a meeting with him in Moscow on the occasion of an international meeting of high-level security officials, Yonhap news agency reported.

During that meeting, Ri and Shoigu reportedly discussed issues related to North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Amid stringent international sanctions, North Korea has turned to Russia for resources and cooperation and is believed to have received rare Defence technologies to advance its nuclear and missile arsenals in exchange for troop deployment and arms supplies.

Earlier on June 2, North Korea denounced a monitoring group on the enforcement of UN sanctions against Pyongyang for issuing a report on military cooperation between the North and Russia, calling the move a violation of a state's sovereign rights.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) on Thursday issued the first report detailing illegal military cooperation carried out between North Korea and Russia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

The chief of the external policy office at North Korea's foreign ministry said the MSMT committed a "political provocation" by fabricating a report taking issue with cooperative ties between the North and Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Chennai, June 4 : After the death of a female wild elephant that ingested plastic waste, the Coimbatore Forest Division in Tamil Nadu has issued a stern appeal to local bodies to immediately stop dumping garbage along forest fringes.

The elephant, which was found dead near the Maruthamalai foothills recently, had reportedly consumed plastic bags and leftover food from an open dump yard.

Forest officials and wildlife activists have since blamed poor waste management practices by nearby civic bodies for drawing wild animals to human settlements, thereby intensifying human-wildlife conflict in the region. "Open dumping is hazardous to animal health and increases the chances of dangerous human-animal interactions," said a forest department official.

Letters have been sent to the Block Development Officers (BDOs) of Periyanacikenpalayam and Thondamuthur, urging immediate action to halt garbage disposal along forest boundaries and clear existing waste to safeguard wildlife.

Officials warned that once wild elephants locate dump yards as food sources, they are likely to return repeatedly.

"Leftover food waste, especially with high salt content, poses serious health risks to elephants," the official added.

While the forest department has called for urgent corrective measures from civic agencies, farmers in the region have voiced frustration over the department's inability to prevent wild elephants from straying into agricultural lands, even those situated far from forest areas.

In response, forest authorities have intensified patrols in vulnerable zones. "We have deployed night staff to monitor and deter elephant movement near the old dump yard in Maruthamalai," said a range officer.

Additional surveillance is being carried out in areas, including Pannimadai, Veerapandi, Varapalayam, and Thadagam, to prevent elephants from foraging in human settlements.

The department is also working alongside NGOs, volunteers, and staff from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) Department to launch awareness drives.

A major anti-dumping campaign is scheduled for June 5 to coincide with World Environment Day. Forest officials emphasised the need for a coordinated effort between civic bodies, residents, and wildlife authorities to prevent further loss of wildlife due to negligence and promote safer coexistence between humans and animals.
Bengaluru, June 4 : Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways, V. Somanna, on Wednesday wrote a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to withdraw the cases filed against protestors, elected representatives, and seers who agitated against the Hemavati Express Link Canal Project.

Somanna further demanded a special meeting with elected representatives of the Tumakuru region and stated that he would also attend the meet.

Somanna highlighted that if the Hemavati Express Link Canal Project is implemented, farmers in the Tumakuru region will lose their share of water, and therefore, the project should be halted.

"I made a submission to this government regarding the project earlier; despite that, the government did not halt it. This is unfortunate," he noted.

Somanna claimed that the Hemavati Express Link Canal Project has stirred unrest among the people of Tumakuru, and instead of addressing their concerns, the Karnataka government is attempting to suppress the agitation and instil fear among farmers, farmer leaders, and seers.

Somanna stated that Bengaluru Rural BJP MP, C.N. Manjunath, had also discussed the matter with him and expressed his concern over the issue.

Somanna demanded that CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM and Water Resources Minister Shivakumar must convene a meeting of local representatives to discuss the pros and cons of the project.

He also suggested that experts from both sides, those who support and oppose the project, should be invited to the meeting.

Despite resistance of locals, the government has stated that it will go ahead with the project and filed 13 FIRs against more than 100 people, including BJP MLA from Tumakuru Rural Suresh Gowda, BJP MLA from Tumakuru city Jyothi Ganesh, Turuvekere JD(S) MLA M.T. Krishnappa and seers who took part in the protest.

The work of the project has been temporarily stopped, as the protest on last Saturday turned violent and threatened to disturb the law and order situation in the region.

The BJP is demanding an all-party meeting and has given a deadline of one month to the Karnataka government to halt the project.

Home Minister Parameshwara hails from the Tumakuru district and the situation remains tense in the region.
New Delhi, June 4 : The BJP on Wednesday escalated its criticism of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his controversial "Narendra, surrender" remark, accusing him of displaying a "sick and dangerous" mentality and asserting that he lacks the maturity and seriousness expected from someone in his position.

At a press conference held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi tore into Gandhi, saying, "On one hand, members of various opposition parties, including Congress MPs, who were part of the joint parliamentary delegation sent by India, are returning after strongly and unitedly presenting India's position in various countries across the world."

"On the other hand, Congress' self-proclaimed leader and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is making utterly shallow and frivolous remarks, showing the world that even after attaining the position of LoP, he severely lacks the seriousness and maturity the role demands," he said.

Trivedi took strong exception to Gandhi's comments linking Operation Sindoor to "surrender," saying it was an insult to the armed forces.

"How Rahul Gandhi compared our armed forces' valour and army officers' brief on Operation Sindoor's success with surrender shows how sick and dangerous his mentality has become," he remarked.

He went on to say that Gandhi's comments surpassed even those made by India's adversaries.

"Till now, Congress leaders were making headlines in the Pakistani media, their statements were being quoted in Pakistan's parliament, and Rahul Gandhi's statements also made their place in Pakistan's dossier. But for the first time, Rahul Gandhi has said something which even the Army Chief of Pakistan has not said, nor has any terrorist organisation of Pakistan. Even Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed have not said such a thing. None of them said that India surrendered," he added.

Trivedi posed a sharp question to Gandhi, asking, "Does he want to get one step ahead of these people? Till now, he was giving cover fire to the people of Pakistan, the Pakistani Army and terrorist organisations. Is he trying to become their leader now?"

Calling Gandhi's words a grave insult to national pride and the Indian Army, Trivedi said, "He doesn't realise how badly he is insulting this country's self-respect and the army's valour."

Trivedi further questioned the LoP's political judgment and leadership, saying, "The level of intelligence and wisdom of someone who sees receiving less mandate in their third attempt in the election as a success, and views PM Modi being elected as the Prime Minister for the third time as a defeat, is obvious."

He also challenged the Congress party to clarify its stance: "According to the Congress, has their Leader of Opposition insulted the Indian Army by using the word 'surrender' or not?"
Mumbai, June 4 : The makers of 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' on Tuesday shared the poster of Vikrant Massey and debutante Shanaya Kapoor's 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan', which is brimming with the emotions of love and romance.

Zee Studios on Tuesday took to Instagram, where they shared the first poster of the film, which promises an "engaging narrative, emotional depth, and chemistry between the fresh pair", going by a statement.

The poster showcases Vikrant and Shanaya lovingly holding on to each other as they sit on a carousel, which is a classic circular ride with animal figures that move up and down.

The debutante looks glamorous as she is dressed in a bright red crop top paired with a skirt with a thigh high slit. Vikrant looks dapper in a jacket and pants as they seem madly in love and engrossed in each other.

For the caption, Zee Studios wrote in the caption: "Two hearts. One love. And countless Gustaakhiyan. #Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Teaser out tomorrow! Come feel the love on 11th July in cinemas near you."

Directed by Santosh Singh, "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan" has music by Vishal Mishra.

The movie is based on Ruskin Bond's cherished short story, "The Eyes Have It." While Shanaya will be seen in the role of a theater artist, Vikrant will play a blind musician in his next.

Presented by Zee Studios and Mini Films, and produced by Mansi Bagla and Varun Bagla, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan will release on July 11. The script for "Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan" has been penned by acclaimed writers Niranjan Iyengar and Mansi Bagla. Produced by Mansi and Varun Bagla's Mini Films, the movie marks the production's second collaboration with Vikrant, after the "Forensic" remake.

Apart from "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan," Shanaya also has 'Tu Yaa Main' with Adarsh Gourav by Bejoy Nambiar. It has been produced by Colour Yellow, the banner behind films like "Tumbbad" and "Haseen Dillruba." It is set for a Valentine's Day 2026 release.

It was announced on March 12 that Shanaya Kapoor has started shooting with Abhay Verma for Shujaat Saudagar's new film in Goa.

Meanwhile, Vikrant will be working with filmmaker Siddharth Anand for an international production titled "White," in which the actor will be playing spiritual leader and humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
New Delhi, June 4 : NITI Aayog member Dr. V.K. Saraswat on Wednesday emphasised the critical need to transform India's government-funded Research and Development (R&D) institutions into dynamic, autonomous, and mission-driven ecosystems New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) NITI Aayog member Dr. V.K. Saraswat on Wednesday emphasised the critical need to transform Indiaas government-funded Research and Development (R&D) institutions into dynamic, autonomous, and mission-driven ecosystems

Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day consultative meeting on reforming Indiaas R&D ecosystem in Dehradun, Saraswat stressed that scientific research must be unshackled from bureaucratic delays and rigid hierarchies and instead be empowered through decentralized decision-making, timely funding, and performance-based accountability.

Dr Saraswat also reiterated NITI Aayogas commitment to driving systemic reform through continuous engagement with stakeholders and evidence-based policy recommendations.

This ongoing initiative by NITI Aayog aims to enable a forward-looking, innovation-driven, and resilient research ecosystem in the country, with a particular focus on strengthening the capacities of government-funded R&D institutions and laboratories.

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, commended NITI Aayogas leadership in convening this much-needed dialogue and emphasized the importance of collaborative governance in resolving long-standing structural issues.

She highlighted the need to rejuvenate R&D infrastructure, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 institutions, and to strengthen industry-academia partnerships to foster impactful translational research. Dr. Kalaiselvi also spoke about the significance of aligning national scientific efforts with local innovation needs.

Professor Ashutosh Sharma, President, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), drew attention to the human dimension of science, calling for greater trust in researchers, reduced micromanagement, and the creation of flexible pathways for scientific careers. He underscored the urgency of retaining young talent in Indian institutions through better opportunities, mentorship, and global exposure.

The meeting, currently underway, will discuss themes such as institutional governance, researcher mobility, translational research, and enhancing public-private collaboration.

Organised under the Chairpersonship of Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, the two-day meeting builds upon the outcomes of the first consultative dialogue held in May 2025 at Raj Bhawan, Lucknow, and marks the second installment in a series of regional meetings planned to address systemic challenges in Indiaas research and development ecosystem.
New Delhi, June 4 : The Supreme Court has termed the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal against BJP party workers as a dastardly offence which was "nothing short of a grave attack on the roots of democracy".

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The Supreme Court has termed the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal against BJP party workers as a dastardly offence which was "nothing short of a grave attack on the roots of democracy".

The observation came from a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta as it dealt with a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the grant of bail to several accused in the post-poll violence cases.

The CBI contended that the Calcutta High Court granted bail to the respondents-accused on totally extraneous considerations, and after their release on bail, there was no possibility of a fair trial being conducted.

Ordering cancellation of bail, the Supreme Court said that the allegations against the accused were so grave that the same shook the conscience of the court. "The concerted attack on the complainant's house was launched on the day of the election results with the sole objective of wreaking vengeance because he had supported the saffron party. This is a grave circumstance which convinces us that the accused persons were trying to terrorise the members of the opposite political party whom the accused respondents were supporting," said the top court.

It took note of the fact that the trial has not budged an inch to date, though a charge sheet was filed way back in 2022, and this delay was mostly attributable to non-cooperation by the accused persons.

Saying that there was no possibility of a fair and impartial trial being conducted if the accused were allowed to remain on bail, the Supreme Court set aside the bail order passed by the Calcutta High Court.

"The accused respondents shall surrender before the trial Court within two weeks from today, failing which, the trial Court shall adopt coercive measures to secure their presence. Upon surrendering/being arrested, the accused respondents shall be remanded to custody," ordered the top court.

Further, it asked the trial court to expedite the proceedings and conclude the trial within a period of six months.

The Supreme Court asked the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police of West Bengal to ensure that proper protection was provided to the complainant and all other material witnesses so that they can freely appear and depose at the trial without any fear or apprehension.

It granted liberty to the CBI or the complainant to directly report to the top court any violation of the above direction.

Following the post-poll violence, an FIR was registered against the respondents-accused in December 2021 for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 144, 147, 148, 149, 427, 326, 376 read with 511 and 34 of IPC (Indian Penal Code), 1860.

The complainant, a follower of the Hindu religion, claimed that the majority of the residents in his village belong to the other community and are the supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress. As per the complainant, a few villagers started campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prior to the Assembly election, which drew the wrath of Trinamool supporters, and allegedly, a bomb was thrown at his tea stall.

On the date on which the election results were announced, a gang of 40-50 miscreants gathered together and started throwing bombs towards the house of the complainant.

The complainant's house was totally vandalised and looted by the accused persons. The wife of the complainant was grabbed by the hair, her clothes were snatched away, and she was forcibly undressed. To save herself, the complainant's wife poured kerosene oil on her person and threatened that she would set fire to herself on which the miscreants left the spot.

When the complainant and his family approached Sadaipur Police Station the next day, the officer-in-charge did not accept the complaint and advised them to leave the village.

After several writ petitions were filed before the Calcutta High Court containing allegations of non-registration of FIRs in post-poll violence cases, a CBI probe was ordered into all the cases where the allegations involved murder and crimes against women.

The CBI filed its charge-sheet against a number of assailants, including the respondents-accused, for the offences punishable under Sections 34, 148, 149, 326, 354, 511, read with 376D and 450 of IPC.
Kochi, June 4 : The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Superintendent of Observation Home, Kozhikode, to take steps to enable the admission of the five accused juveniles in the Shahabas murder case in other schools.

The Station House Officer, Thamarassery, was also directed to provide adequate protection and assistance to the petitioners as well as the Superintendent of the Observation Home.

A bench of Justice Bechu Kurien Thomas passed the order to enable the five accused's admission to Class 11 in their allotted schools.

It was stated in the application that the juveniles had been allotted to three different schools for Class 11.

"Having heard the counsel for the petitioners as well as the learned Public Prosecutor and the counsel for the de facto complainant, this court is of the view that the petitioners' opportunities for education ought not to be restricted, especially since the bail application is being heard by this court and has been reserved for judgment. Thus, the petitioners were granted liberty for a limited period required, on June 5, 2025, for obtaining admission in their respective allotted schools. The authorities of the Observation Home, Kozhikode, were directed to make necessary arrangements either to enable the petitioners' appearance online during the admission process or to be physically present before the respective schools to obtain admission," the court said.

Meanwhile, the order of their bail applications has now been reserved.

The High Court, last month, came to the help of these juveniles arrested for involvement in the murder of a minor student in Kozhikode, after their results were withheld by the state government.

Following the intervention of the court, state Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced their Class 10 marks, with all having passed and being cleared for higher studies.

Shahabas, a student of MJ Higher Secondary School, Thamarassery, Kozhikode, succumbed to serious injuries on March 1, after being injured in the fight between the students of his school and Thamarassery GVHSS stemming from a dispute at tuition centre farewell event at the end of February.

Even though the teachers intervened then through a series of WhatsApp messages, the tension escalated, leading to a violent clash near the tuition centre.

Shahabas suffered serious head injuries, which led to his death.

Police pressed murder charges against the five and stated that the accused used weapons, including a truncheon and a nunchaku, for the attack on Shahabas.

Though Shahabas was not a student at the tuition centre, he was called to the venue while running an errand.

Following the attack, he was taken home by a friend. Initially unaware of the attack, his family suspected drug use when they found him in a weak state at home.

Upon learning the truth, he was rushed to Thamarassery Taluk Hospital and later shifted to Kozhikode Government Medical College and Hospital, where he passed away.

The five have been charged with murder, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, and voluntarily causing grave injuries.

All five are students since then have been in judicial custody, and also appeared for their examination while in custody.
New Delhi, July 4 : The move of the Modi government to send out seven multi-party delegations to different world capitals to clarify India's position regarding Operation Sindoor, which was launched following the terrorist attack at Pahalgam on April 22, did fulfil a strategic requirement of this country in as much as the India-Pak military confrontation provoked by Pakistan-directed terror violence and the subsequent announcement of a 'ceasefire' between the two countries, had to be put in the right perspective from India's point of view.

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) The move of the Modi government to send out seven multi-party delegations to different world capitals to clarify Indiaas position regarding Operation Sindoor, which was launched following the terrorist attack at Pahalgam on April 22, did fulfil a strategic requirement of this country in as much as the India-Pak military confrontation provoked by Pakistan-directed terror violence and the subsequent announcement of a aceasefirea between the two countries, had to be put in the right perspective from Indiaas point of view.

The brief given to the delegations revolved around the basic Indian contention that the cross-border terrorism long known to be originating from Pakistan, was the trigger for the retaliatory action of India.

The delegations were to primarily warn the global community that Pakistanas undiminished terror infrastructure had serious implications for the entire world. The delegations were expected to call the bluff of Pakistan as the latter was trying to claim that it was also a victim of terrorism. In reality, Pak ISI had harboured Islamic radical forces like Al Qaeda and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) which shared the legacy of being anti-West, in addition to the terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) and the Saudi-funded Lashkare Toiba (LeT) that were always on the right side of the West.

This had given some benefit to Pakistan because of the American policy of making a distinction between agood terroristsa and abad terroristsa at one point in time- before the killing of Osama bin Laden near Abbottabad by a team of Navy SEALS, exposed the Pak duplicity on Terror.

Indiaas stand presented by the multi-party delegations, mostly led by the leaders of the opposition, emphasized three points Indiaas surgical strikes across the LOC and Indo-Pak border were made on nine terror bases identified by Indiaas intelligence, no military or civilian establishments were targeted and that Pakistan only proved its collusion with terrorists when it escalated the matter by launching an attack on Indian territory through Drones and missiles.

In a justifiable military response, India then attacked and damaged several Air bases in Pakistan compelling a desperate Pak army to approach the Trump Administration and plead for a ceasefire. A peace-loving India consciously chose to accept it.

Indiaas Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry did well to tell the delegations during the briefing that Indiaas attack on the Jaishe Mohammad facility in Bahawalpur was also to be seen in the backdrop of the killing of Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl. This adds to the India-US convergence against terrorism even as President Donald Trump had already denounced aIslamic Terrorisma in no uncertain terms.

Detractors of Operation Sindoor are raising an allegation that Prime Minister Modi had gone by the diktat of Trump on the issue of ceasefire- acceptance of a pause in military confrontation in fact represented a mature response from India.

The plan of sending out multi-party delegations to 33 countries was meant to be a diplomatic blitz aimed at globally isolating Pakistan by exposing that countryas sustained sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, as established by evidence-based accounts presented before foreign legislatures, think tanks and media.

The seven delegations included 51 political leaders- mostly MPs and Ministers- apart from ex-diplomats and the countries visited included those who are members of the UN Security Council or who were going to be its members in future so that any attempts by Pakistan who were also a member of that world body- to raise afalse narrativesa there could be countered.

The overriding theme of azero tolerance against terrorism of all kindsa was well set as no dissent on it could be expected from any quarters. The delegations would tell the world the truth about Pakistanas policy of patronising terrorists- this was the sole reason India was compelled to take action by way of Operation Sindoor.

The idea was to present a national consensus against the threat of terrorism facing India. Meanwhile, Congress reacted strongly against Shashi Tharoor being named as the leader of a delegation visiting a key country like the US and accused the ruling party of aplaying gamesa- Tharoor had not figured amongst the names given by the Congress in response to the governmentas request. This stirred up domestic politics but only for a while.

The delegations were to fan out in different regions of the world to raise the heat on Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism against India. They would underline the need to hold Pakistan and its military establishment accountable for that. While affirming Indiaas resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and highlighting Indiaas anew normala in tackling the threat through military strikes on terror infrastructure as was done in Operation Sindoor, the delegations would make it clear that India -undeterred by any nuclear blackmail-was set to make Pak military pay a price for any further terror attack. They would raise the point about the worldas lacklustre record in holding Pak military and ISI accountable for the 2008 Mumbai attack and the 2019 suicide bombing of the CRPF convoy at Pulwama despite the comprehensive evidence provided by India in both cases.

The delegations will certainly showcase India standing united behind the government on the issue of terrorism. The rare display of political unity projected by the composition of the delegations is expected to convey the message that on foreign policy and national security, India stood united and that the stand of zero tolerance of terrorism transcends the political divides within the country. The gains from this diplomatic outreach will be further studied and evaluated in the times ahead.

The terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam in which 28 Hindus were shot in the head after their religious identity was ascertained, was evidently a sinister plan of Pak army-ISI combine to cause internal destabilisation in India.

The Army chief of Pakistan, Gen. Syed Asim Munir had only a few days earlier spewed venom against India- warning that athey were not Hindusa and thus creating an environment of heightened communal animosity. That the army in Pakistan was calling the shots was proved by the elevation of Gen. Munir to the rank of a Field Marshall amidst the tensions created by the Pahalgam incident.

Meanwhile, Pakistanas strategic alliance with China also came into full play during the Indo-Pak military confrontation that was precipitated by Pahalgam.

A reassuring outcome following the announcement of the aceasefirea has been the enunciation of what can be described as the National Security Doctrine by PM Modi in his address to the nation on May 12 evening.

The Prime Minister stated that any future terror attack on India from the soil of Pakistan will be considered as an aact of wara and responded to by our defence forces accordingly. He declared that India would not be deterred by any nuclear threat from Pakistan while taking such a retaliatory action. Finally, he announced that any talk with Pakistan would only be about cross-border terror and PoK in keeping with Indiaas stand that atalks and terror do not go togethera and that the only agenda on Kashmir was the return of POK to India.

The Prime Minister indicated that Operation Slndoor was only paused and that India had to continue keeping the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance since ablood and water could not flow togethera. The learning is that India has to remain fully prepared for any further misadventure by Pakistan.

(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau)
Chennai, June 4 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday lauded his sister and DMK MP Kanimozhi for her articulate and widely appreciated response to a question on India's national language during her address to the Indian diaspora in Spain.

Kanimozhi, who is leading the all-party parliamentary delegation to Spain, was asked during an interaction what the national language of India is. Her response, which has since gone viral on social media platforms, drew widespread applause for its inclusive and unifying message.

"The national language of India is unity and diversity. That is the message this delegation brings to the world, and that is the most important thing today," Kanimozhi said, underscoring the essence of India's multilingual and multicultural identity.

Taking to social media platform X, Stalin wrote: "I am proud of Kanimozhi for speaking Tamil Nadu's language of love and unity, as the voice of India".

Her words have resonated across the country and abroad, he added.

Kanimozhi's statement comes at a time when debates around language imposition and linguistic diversity have resurfaced in national discourse. Tamil Nadu, under the DMK-led government, has consistently opposed any attempts to impose Hindi or any single language as the national language, instead advocating for the recognition and equal status of all Indian languages. The Chief Minister's public endorsement of Kanimozhi's remarks signals the DMK's continued emphasis on cultural pluralism and linguistic federalism. It also reflects the party's long-standing commitment to upholding the values of the Constitution, which does not designate any one language as the national language, but recognises 22 official languages under the Eighth Schedule.

Kanimozhi, the MP from Thoothukudi, is known for her advocacy of social justice, linguistic rights, and gender equality. Her remarks in Spain have been widely shared by political leaders, activists, and public figures who hailed her statement as a powerful reminder of India's foundational values. The all-party delegation's visit to Spain is aimed at communicating India's stand on Operation Sindoor - the strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack - and the country's zero tolerance of terrorism.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The 71st meeting of the UN Regional Commission for Tourism in Europe will be held in Baku on June 5, Trend reports via the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, more than 150 representatives from about 40 countries are expected to participate in the event.

Will be updated
New Delhi, June 4 : The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) could be a "game-changer" in India's push towards strong and rapid economic growth, top economic and geopolitical experts reckoned on Wednesday during a daylong conference organised by Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) on the project which has huge implications to the country's growth and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047' to transform the nation into a developed entity by the centenary of its independence in 2047.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a trans-continental connectivity project which promises to transform the lives of people across continents, was announced at the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. It is a bold vision to connect India with Europe across the Arabian Peninsula and envisions a multi-modal economic corridor involving multiple businesses, integrating railways, ports, highways, energy networks, and digital infrastructure to enhance trade, investment, and connectivity across the continents.

"From a strategic point of view, IMEC is critical to India. With its friendly relations and fast economic growth, India can be the glue and anchor for this key project," said Dammu Ravi, Economic Relations Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while delivering the keynote address at the CRF conference titled 'IMEC: Connecting Continents, Unlocking Opportunities'.

The event brought together experts from the governments, academia, industry and private businesses across the globe to discuss various aspects of IMEC - including its potential, promises, weaknesses, threats and ways and means to get the ambitious project off the ground.

While acknowledging challenges in implementing a project of this scale which has an estimated cost outlay of over US$ 600 Billion over a 10-year period, most analysts opined that the potential benefits of this project outweighs the costs and obstacles.

When implemented in full, IMEC promises to unlock new opportunities of multi-dimensional trade across regions that have traditionally been close trade partners. It has the potential to facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods, bypassing existing bottlenecks, reducing shipping delays, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and cutting costs. It also aims to secure regional supply chains, improve trade accessibility and facilitate the economic prosperity of people and countries along the alignment of the project.

"IMEC should be seen as a balancer between a geopolitical project and an economic tool. It has the potential to transform the global landscape," said Prasanna Karthik, Vice-President (Strategy) at the Adani Group, while participating in the panel discussion. He was speaking on the need for integrated development of ports, a key link in the success of IMEC.

With a target of becoming energy independent by 2047 and achieving Net Zero by 2070, India is increasing use of renewable energy across all economic spheres. Green hydrogen is considered a promising alternative for enabling this energy transition.

Earlier, while welcoming the delegates, CRF President Shishir Priyadarshi said that a holistic approach with strong participation of private businesses would be essential to see the massive project through.

IMEC provides an opportunity for India to not only promote hydrogen as an alternative fuel and an effective long-term alternative to fossil fuels but also export the fuel by incorporating clean hydrogen pipelines into the corridor. India has already allocated US$2.5 billion towards promoting the countryas emergence as a green hydrogen hub.

Several prominent Indian business groups, including the Adani Group, Larsen and Toubro Limited, and ReNew Energy Global, are developing green hydrogen technology at a large scale.

Geopolitically, IMEC is also being pitched as an expression of India's rise as a global power, both politically and economically, almost coinciding with it becoming the fourth-largest global economy. It is also seen as a natural progression to bring Israel closer to the West Asian region after the signing of Abraham Accords in September 2020 and the potential normalisation of Saudi-Israel ties.

The growing close ties between India and West Asia and India and Israel, coupled with the smart business opportunities that would get unlocked by a direct connectivity to Europe, is another important contributory factor.

In terms of trade between the EU and India, the IMEC is being seen as an economic game changer and an opportunity to strengthen strategic partnerships.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during her recent visit to India in March, had pitched for the IMEC as an important cornerstone for enhancing India-EU trade. "This corridor is much more than just a railway or cable, it is a green and digital bridge across continents and civilizations," the EU chief has said in the past.

IMEC also figured prominently in the talks between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington in February this year. Trump called it as one of the "greatest trade routes in all of history" and also pitched for an early summit of the eight signatories of IMEC - which may take place in India later this year - to kick start work on the project.

In April, ahead of PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India remains engaged with "selected partners" on IMEC despite the current political and security situation in the region.

"The political and security in the regions seems like progress of IMEC has frozen, but India has engaged with selected partners and exchanged views on what needs to be done. We don't necessarily need to wait for the security situation to completely settle down for work to start on IMEC," said Misri.

The IMEC will comprise two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Gulf to Europe.

"After the signing of the framework understanding on IMEC in September 2023, all partners had an urgent regional situation to address. It meant that the kind of groundwork that was foreseen between all the partners could not begin immediately. That, however, does not mean individual countries or groups of countries that are part of the original agreement have not discussed or engaged on what the contours of the agreement will look like and what kind of work will be required to effect progress under this agreement," Misri stated on April 19.

In the same month, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, while addressing the IMEC High-Level Roundtable on Connectivity and Economic Growth in New Delhi, said that the visionary concept - a powerful endorsement of the leadership and partnership of India and Middle East and East Europe - has caught the fancy of the world.

Goyal stated that IMEC is not merely a trade route, but a modern-day Silk Route a" a partnership of equals a" that fosters synergy, connectivity, and inclusive prosperity.

"It will bring down logistics costs by up to 30 per cent, reduce transportation time by 40 per cent, and create seamless trade linkages across continents," he said. "We will not only be linking trade; we will be linking civilizations and cultures a" from Southeast Asia to the Gulf, from the Middle East to Central Europe."
Ranchi, June 4 : A state-wide bandh called by tribal organisations over issues related to traditional religious sites had a major impact across Jharkhand on Wednesday, bringing normal life to a standstill in several districts of the state.

The bandh, led by outfits including Adivasi Bachao Morcha and Sirmatoli Bachao Morcha, was called to protest the alleged encroachment and illegal construction activities near key tribal religious sites, including the central Sarna Sthal in Ranchi.

Protesters have also demanded the protection of sacred sites such as Marang Buru, Lugu Buru, Parasnath, Mudhar Hills (Pithoria), and Mahdani Sarna sites in Tamar and Bedo.

In Ranchi and other districts like Gumla, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Latehar, and East Singhbhum, bandh supporters blocked highways and roads at several locations, disrupting vehicular movement.

Major highways which were blocked included the Ranchi-Patna Road near Kuju (Ramgarh district), blocked from 10 a.m., causing long traffic snarls, the NH-39 near Udaypura Chowk (Latehar district), where traffic was halted, and Toto village (10 km from Gumla), where roads to Gumla and Lohardaga were blocked.

Apart from this, protesters blocked Khelgaon Chauraha, Argora, Morhabadi, Kanke, Ormanjhi, Kadru, Tatisilve, Ratu, and Mandar in Ranchi district, wielding traditional weapons and sticks, using bamboo barricades and burning tyres.

Markets remained shut in several areas, and in places like Ghatshila, Chakulia, Galudih, and Baharagora in East Singhbhum, protesters marched through the streets, raising slogans and forcing shop closures.

In response to the bandh call, the state administration deployed more than 2,000 policemen in Ranchi alone, with intensified patrolling in other sensitive locations to prevent any untoward incidents.

Addressing the media while leading the protests in Ranchi, former minister Geetashree Oraon accused the Hemant Soren-led government of ignoring tribal sentiments.

"The ramp of the flyover near the Sarna Sthal in Sirmatoli, Ranchi, has encroached upon our sacred site. Despite continuous protests since January, the government, which claims to be tribal-friendly, has failed to act," she said.

Tribal organisations allege that the ongoing construction and infrastructure projects in the state are compromising the sanctity and space of their age-old religious places, which form an integral part of tribal culture and identity.
Seoul, June 4 : South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday turned down resignation offers from Cabinet members except for Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to ensure continuity in state affairs, the presidential office said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, who had served as acting President, conveyed the Cabinet's collective intention to resign during a phone call with the new President on his first day in office. However, President Lee accepted only Park's resignation.

"President Lee decided to decline the resignation offers by Cabinet members except for Minister Park, stressing the continuity in state affairs," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told a briefing.

Lee took office one day after his election without a transition period following an election called early to pick a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over his failed martial law bid in December, Yonhap news agency reported.

His decision reflects the need to maintain a functioning government, as a majority of the 21 Cabinet members are required to meet the quorum for convening Cabinet meetings. Forming a new Cabinet could take weeks, given the requirement for parliamentary confirmation hearings.

All Cabinet members appointed by Yoon submitted their resignations to the Ministry of Personnel Management on Monday, a day before the election.

Park, a close aide to Yoon, had been impeached over allegations related to the former President's martial law decree, which was overturned by the Constitutional Court in April.

Meanwhile, the President nominated one of his close confidants, Rep. Kim Min-seok of the Democratic Party (DP), who served as a top campaign aide, as his candidate for Prime Minister, marking his first personnel announcement since he took office earlier in the day.

Kim, a former student activist turned four-term lawmaker, played a key role in Lee's presidential campaign.

"Kim brings extensive legislative experience, strong policy expertise in public livelihood issues, international perspective and unifying political leadership -- the right person to lead the nation through crises and restore the people's economy," Lee told a press conference at the presidential office.

The Prime Minister's nomination requires parliamentary approval following a confirmation hearing.

Lee also appointed DP lawmaker Kang Hoon-sik, another key campaign figure, as his chief of staff.

Veteran diplomat Wi Sung-lac was named national security adviser, and former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok was nominated to head the National Intelligence Service.
Gangtok, June 4 : In the aftermath of the devastating landslide in North Sikkim, the Indian Army is working relentlessly under extreme weather and hazardous terrain conditions to assist residents and stranded tourists, officials said on Wednesday.

A senior official said that Lachen village, the main hub for tourism in the region, has been completely cut off. The Army has established foot connectivity to the village and reached out to 113 stranded tourists, who will be evacuated soon.

"On Tuesday, 30 tourists, including some foreign nationals, were successfully airlifted by military helicopters," he added.

Search operations have continued with urgency to locate the six individuals still missing after the landslide struck a military camp at Chaten. The missing include Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchahary, Sepoy Sainudheen P.K., Squadron Leader Aarti Sandhu (Retd), wife of Lieutenant Colonel Sandhu, and their daughter, Miss Amayra Sandhu.

The Army has deployed specialised teams and engineering equipment; however, the ongoing efforts have been significantly hampered by extremely bad weather, unstable ground, and the challenging high-altitude terrain.

Meanwhile, amid relentless rainfall triggering floods and landslides across the Northeastern region, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, has assured comprehensive support from the Central government to the affected states.

In a series of high-level communications, Scindia reached out to the Chief Ministers of Assam and Sikkim, as well as the Governor of Manipur, to take stock of the evolving situation and convey the Centre's solidarity with the people of the region.

During his conversation with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Scindia pledged the Centre's full cooperation, stating, "We remain firmly committed to supporting the people of Sikkim in this challenging time."

He also spoke with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, assuring him of all necessary assistance for relief and rehabilitation measures.

The Union Minister also engaged with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to discuss the impact of the adverse weather in the state, reaffirming the government's resolve to extend all possible help.

Taking to the social media platform X, Scindia posted updates on his outreach and reiterated the Centre's commitment to a swift, coordinated response, standing in solidarity with the northeast during this crisis.
New Delhi, June 4 : The BJP has gone on the offensive against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "surrender" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey revived a decades-old letter written by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to mount a counter attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The BJP has gone on the offensive against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "surrender" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey revived a decades-old letter written by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to mount a counter attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Dubey posted on social media: "Do you know what surrender looks like, Rahul Baba? This is surrender. This is a letter from January 1963, written by your revered grandfather -- Jawaharlal Nehru -- after India's defeat in the 1962 war with China."

Dubey shared excerpts from a letter Nehru wrote to the Chinese Premier, which he claimed illustrated a submissive tone.

According to Dubey, the letter stated that China had occupied 20,000 sq km of Indian territory in the east and 6,000 sq km in the west, and had taken 4,000 Indian soldiers hostage.

He further alleged that Nehru sent the Sri Lankan Prime Minister as a "mediator for surrender" and was "awaiting China's instructions."

The letter, dated January 1, 1963, reads in part: "This new proposal is worse than your three-point proposal inasmuch as it seeks to exclude the Indian armed forces from the entire area of Indian territory subjected to this latest aggression since 8th September, 1962 -- that is, from Indian territory of over 20,000 square kilometres in the Eastern sector and over 6,000 square kilometres in the Western sector... Surely, the officials of the two sides can hardly discuss and reach agreements on such matters as withdrawal arrangements... if they have no clear direction from their Governments regarding the line with reference to which the disengagement of the armed forces... is to be arranged."

The controversy arose after Rahul Gandhi criticised PM Modi on Tuesday.

Gandhi said, "When Trump called, Modi surrendered without hesitation." He accused the Prime Minister of compromising India's interests under foreign pressure.

Rahul further asserted that the BJP and RSS had a long history of capitulation, in contrast to Congress's record of standing firm on national issues.

He cited the 1971 war under the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, when India defied US pressure and achieved a decisive victory that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

In response to Rahul Gandhi's attack on PM Modi, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, earlier on Wednesday, accused the Congress party of having a long history of surrenders, which he said Gandhi is trying to deflect through baseless statements.

"If you want to understand what real surrender is, remember Rahul Gandhi -- just two years ago, you went abroad and said: 'Why are the defenders of democracy, America and Europe, silent and not interfering in India?' That was surrender," Trivedi said.

Trivedi cited several instances, accusing previous Congress governments of weakening India's strategic position.
Gangtok, June 4 : Amid relentless rainfall and landslides wreaking havoc across Sikkim, the Indian armed forces have intensified their Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations to aid the affected population in the northeastern state.

On Wednesday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully rescued 33 people, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region of North Sikkim.

In addition to the evacuation efforts, the IAF also air-dropped vital relief supplies and inserted National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to assist those affected in the region.

"In response to the devastating landslides in Sikkim, Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters rapidly launched HADR Ops -- air-dropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams, and evacuating 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region. IAF remains committed to saving lives," the IAF stated in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, adverse weather conditions hampered an evacuation mission involving 113 stranded tourists in Lachen.

An Mi-17 helicopter, carrying nine NDRF personnel, took off from Pakyong Airport around 6 a.m. but was forced to abort the mission and return mid-air due to poor visibility in the Mangan and Chaten areas.

The stranded tourists in Lachen had been cut off for over a day after multiple landslides blocked critical roadways, disrupting access to the region.

However, the Indian Army stepped in and is assisting in evacuating 113 tourists from the affected area, restoring foot access to Lachen and continuing efforts to stabilise the situation.

In a statement, the Army said, "Army leads search and rescue operations in North Sikkim. Braving extreme weather & hazardous terrain, the Indian Army is assisting locals & stranded tourists in landslide-hit Lachen -- now cut off & without power. Foot access restored. 113 tourists to be evacuated; 30 already airlifted. Every life matters. Every effort continues."

Meanwhile, the search continues for six missing individuals in the region. Specialised teams equipped with advanced tools are working in the unstable, high-altitude terrain to locate them.

"Search efforts continue for six missing individuals. Despite unstable ground and high-altitude challenges, specialised teams and equipment are on the ground. The Army stands resolute: every life matters, and every effort continues," the Ministry of Defence (MoD) affirmed in a statement.

With inclement weather showing no signs of abating, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for North Sikkim, forecasting continued heavy rainfall for the next three days.

According to the IMD, districts, including Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi, Pakyong, and Soreng, are likely to face adverse weather conditions in the coming days.
Seoul, June 4 : President Lee Jae-myung has instructed the launch of an emergency task force to address economic challenges as his first executive order since he took office on Wednesday, his spokesperson said.

Lee's decision to form the task force is in line with a central economic policy pledge from his campaign, reports Yonhap news agency.

During a campaign rally last week, Lee said revitalising the nation's sluggish economy and improving people's livelihoods would be his top priority if elected.

He also vowed to introduce an additional budget of at least 30 trillion won ($21.77 billion), raising speculation that the task force will focus on drafting the extra budget.

In an MBC radio interview, Lee Han-jo, head of the Democratic Research Institute who is expected to lead the presidential policy office under Lee, said a significant portion of the extra budget for improving livelihoods will likely be allocated for the issuance of regional prepaid voucher programs designed to help small merchants.

Lee also ordered a separate working-level meeting on public safety, involving officials from local governments as well, to be held on early Thursday.

Facing the dual challenges of the United States' aggressive tariff scheme and sluggish domestic demand, the President is expected to prioritise securing a favourable trade deal with Washington and implementing measures to revitalise the stagnant economy through supplementary budgets and the promotion of advanced industries, experts said.

The most pressing issue for Lee is trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, as Washington's sweeping tariff policies have dealt a blow to South Korea's trade-dependent economy.

The new government is supposed to conclude negotiations with the U.S. before July 9, when Trump's 90-day suspension of high global tariffs, including a 25 percent levy on South Korea, is set to expire. Seoul and Washington have agreed to work toward a comprehensive "package" agreement covering trade and related issues before the 90-day period runs out.
New Delhi, June 4 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal commenced his two-day official visit to Italy on Wednesday, after completing his engagements in France focused on strengthening India-France economic cooperation.

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal commenced his two-day official visit to Italy on Wednesday, after completing his engagements in France focused on strengthening Indiaa"France economic cooperation.

The Italy leg of the visit reaffirms Indiaas commitment to enhancing strategic and economic ties with key European partners and deepening bilateral trade and investment collaboration with Italy, according to an official statement.

During the visit, the Minister will co-chair the 22nd Session of the Indiaa"Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) with Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Antonio Tajani.

This engagement takes place in the context of a defining phase in Indiaa"Italy bilateral relations, following the launch of the Indiaa"Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025a"2029. The plan, announced after the meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024, is built on ten thematic pillars, with economic cooperation as a core area of focus.

The 22nd JCEC session in Rome will offer both sides an opportunity to assess progress and identify new avenues for collaboration in high-impact areas such as Industry 4.0, agritech, digitalisation, energy transition, sustainable mobility, and the Indiaa"Middle Easta"Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). These deliberations are expected to further strengthen bilateral economic connectivity and foster strategic industrial partnerships.

Goyal will also lead a high-level Indian business delegation to the Indiaa"Italy Growth Forum in Brescia, a major industrial hub. The forum will bring together key enterprises and stakeholders from both countries to promote investment, build business-to-business linkages, and explore synergies in sectors aligned with innovation and sustainability.

The visit reflects the growing political will and converging economic aspirations between India and its European partners. It aims to translate shared leadership vision into durable partnerships that drive inclusive growth, industrial transformation, and global economic resilience, the statement added.
New Delhi, June 4 : Visiting Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday, reiterating Australia's support in India's fight against cross border terrorism.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Marles on the historic victory of the Australian Labor Party in the recent Federal elections and also extended an invitation to Australian PM Anthony Albanese for the Annual Summit, to be held in India later this year.

"Glad to meet Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Richard Marles. Had a productive discussion on deepening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which marks its fifth anniversary today. Our shared vision for a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific continues to guide our collaboration," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.

According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the two leaders exchanged ideas to further strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which completed five years on Wednesday.

The PMO stated that during their discussions, Deputy Prime Minister Marles reiterated Australia's support in India's fight against cross border terrorism.

"They underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation in key areas such as defence industrial collaboration, resilient supply chains, critical minerals, new and emerging technologies. They reaffirmed that the shared vision for a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific continues to guide the bilateral collaboration," read a statement issued after the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Marles held a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as both ministers strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

Singh highlighted India's right to respond in self-defence against cross-border terrorism and described New Delhi's actions against Pakistan as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. The two sides agreed to work together to combat terrorism in all its forms.

"Reviewed the full range of the India-Australia defence partnership during the extremely fruitful meeting with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi. His personal commitment and leadership in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of our Comprehensive Strategic partnership. India thanks Australia for its unequivocal support to India's resolute response against the barbaric act of terror in Pahalgam," Defence Minister Singh posted on X.

The two Ministers welcomed the signing of the Australia-India Joint Research Project and agreed to intensify and diversify defence industry collaboration. They deliberated to further the defence science and technology collaboration projects when they meet in Australia later this year for the third India-Australia 2+2 ministerial meeting. They also reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in November 2023.

"The meeting offered an opportunity to both sides to review the status of bilateral engagements in the context of emerging regional and global scenarios. The discussions covered a wide range of issues such as defence strategic cooperation and security, including industry collaboration, cyber and new emerging technologies, counter-terrorism, hydrography and maritime security. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global security issues of mutual interest," read a statement issued by India's Ministry of Defence.

Underscoring that Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of signing of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both sides expressed satisfaction and recognised that defence has emerged as an important pillar of the collaboration.
Chandigarh, June 4 : With Haryana nominating 621 gram panchayats for the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the progress of the program launched by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

This initiative aims to improve nutrition and community development in rural areas as well as to promote a healthy competition among village panchayats to eliminate malnutrition and form the basis of a developed India.

The Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals II and III and promotes improved nutritional outcomes through better infrastructure and third-party assessments.

Haryana has nominated 621 gram panchayats under the program, out of which 531 have met the eligibility criteria to be designated as Suposhit Gram Panchayats, an official statement said.

The Chief Secretary highlighted that in Bhodwal Majri village of Panipat district, the daughter of an anganwadi worker, Shivani Panchal, had secured All-India Rank 53 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination this year.

He said the anganwadi worker and her daughter would be felicitated by the government, and the village anganwadi centre would be transformed into a model centre.

During the meeting, it was informed that under the abhiyan, anganwadi infrastructure, nutrition status of children, delivery of supplementary nutrition, etc., will be the focus area, and evaluation will be done based on that criterion.

Emphasising the importance of the initiative, Chief Secretary Rastogi said: "The Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan is a vital step toward achieving nutritional security and sustainable development in Haryana. I urge all districts to accelerate the evaluation process and ensure compliance with the required standards."

He also informed that the top gram panchayats across India will receive an incentive of Rs 1 lakh each. Additional rewards are earmarked for the panchayats and anganwadi workers and helpers who contribute significantly to the scheme's success and for infrastructure improvement, development of Poshan Vatikas, etc.

It was informed, the nominations were submitted by January 31. Preliminary screenings were completed by February 15, followed by ongoing peer reviews by state teams, scheduled for completion by July.

The third-party validations will take place from August to September, with final results expected in September or October. The assessments are based on key indicators, including nutrition, child healthcare, and infrastructure readiness.

The meeting also reviewed findings from recent interstate peer reviews. A team from Mizoram visited Haryana in April to evaluate 55 gram panchayats, while officials from Haryana visited West Bengal and conducted a review of 17 gram panchayats.

Rastogi instructed officials to ensure all preparations are completed for the next round of peer reviews in June. He also underscored the need to use the Poshan tracker for real-time, data-driven evaluations and called for focused efforts to bridge infrastructure and service delivery gaps.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), a member of AZCON Holding, is taking part in the international exhibition Transport and Logistics - 2025 (Transport Logistic 2025), which will be held from June 2 through June 5, Trend reports.

ADY is represented with a special stand at the prestigious mobility exhibition organized in Munich, Germany. At the stand, detailed information is provided about ADYs freight transportation operations on international corridors, railway projects, and infrastructure construction carried out in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, the company's sustainability activities, services, implemented digital solutions, and Baku Port.

ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov held meetings with heads of several leading transportation and logistics companies during the exhibition.

In a meeting with the President of China Railway Container Transport Corp. (CRCT), Yang Bin, developing transport links between the two countries was discussed. In particular, the significance of the joint promotion of the Belt and Road initiative and documents on international multimodal transportation signed between the two countries during the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to China in April was highlighted.

Additionally, discussions were held on steps to increase container block trains on the Middle Corridor and a digital platform that will enable tracking of cargo from China to the Black Sea.

It was emphasized that CRCTs participation in the joint venture "Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd.," established between the railway organizations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, is an important step in strengthening the potential of the Middle Corridor.

Rustamov also met with Wanxu Dong, Managing Director of Beijing Trans Eurasia International Logistics, another leading Chinese logistics company.

The sides discussed proposals to expand cooperation with ADY for sending block trains from China to Europe and back, as well as plans for increasing cargo transportation on the Middle Corridor in the upcoming period.

Within the framework of the exhibition, ADYs chairman also discussed expanding cooperation between regional ports for the efficient organization of cargo transportation on the Middle Corridor with the CEO of Bulgaria's Burgas Port, Boris Balev, and the management of HHLA International GmbH, operating in Germanys Hamburg Port.

Meetings with the management of Germanys Rhenus Group and Austrias OBB Rail Cargo Group focused on exchanging views on joint efforts to make ChinaEuropeChina transport connections via Azerbaijan more efficient.

During the meetings, the key role of Azerbaijan as a major hub in the East-West connection and the prospects of transport infrastructure, including the BakuTbilisiKars railway line, were also highlighted.

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New Delhi, June 4 : Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday called for more citizen-centric and compassionate innovations in pension administration, asserting that the government's duty toward its senior citizens must be fulfilled with both urgency and empathy.

Dr Singh emphasised a time-bound redressal mechanism of pension-related grievances, aligning it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader governance model that places the citizen at the Centre.

Speaking at the 13th All India Pension Adalat held here, the minister underscored the need for administrative sensitivity and efficiency in ensuring the dignity of India's pensioners.

"A pensioner, who has dedicated a lifetime of service to the nation, should not have to run from pillar to post for what is rightfully theirs," he said, urging departments to adopt a "whole-of-government" approach in resolving such matters.

The minister said that redressal should not merely be reactive, but also anticipatory, supported by technology and driven by compassion.

Since their inception in September 2017, 12 Pension Adalats have been held across the country, taking up a total of 25,416 cases  of which 18,157 have been successfully resolved.

That translates to a resolution rate of over 71 percent, a number Dr Singh cited as proof of the initiative's effectiveness.

Dr Singh encouraged the use of digital means to reach pensioners who may not be able to attend in person.

"These Adalats represent not just a platform for grievance redressal, but a promise from the government that no voice will go unheard," he said.

The Minister also reiterated that digital initiatives like CPENGRAMS (Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) must be leveraged for real-time tracking and resolution.

Dr Singh urged departments and officials to treat pensioners not just as beneficiaries but as "respected members of the administrative family."

Noting that most grievances stem from avoidable delays or procedural issues, he called for greater inter-departmental coordination and accountability.

The Minister said that the Adalat is not just a redressal forum, but also a barometer of administrative performance. "When citizens feel heard and respected, it builds trust in governance," he remarked.

--IANS

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Agartala, June 4 : Ruling BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party's (TMP) youth wing will launch a statewide agitation next week in support of their demand to take action against the District Magistrate of Tripura's Gomati district.

Youth Tipra Federation (YTF), the youth wing of TMP leaders, claimed that District Magistrate of Gomati district Tarit Kanti Chakma disrespected party chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma on May 25.

"If the state government does not take any action against the District Magistrate, we would launch a massive statewide agitation from next week. Nature of agitation and other details would be announced just ahead of launching the stir," YTF President Suraj Debbarma told the media on Wednesday.

He indicated that they would go for a statewide bandh if the government remained silent about their one point demand.

Around 2,000 activists of the YTF on June 2 organised a massive demonstration in front of the office of the District Magistrate of Gomati district and locked the main gate of the office for around three hours demanding action against Chakma.

According to TMP leaders, party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, a former royal scion, along with Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Purna Chandra Jamatia went to meet the District Magistrate on May 25 (Sunday) night at his official residence to discuss some issues but he refused to meet them both.

An official of the District Magistrate's office said that Chakma, through the security personnel, urged them to meet him during office hours to discuss their issue.

The issue rocked Tripura politics, and the YTF, the youth wing of TMP, organised the shutdown of government offices in Gomati district on June 2.

An official of the Chief Minister's Office said that Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha earlier asked Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha to enquire into the matter and submit a report to him.

A delegation of TMP, led by the party leader and Minister for State for Industries & Commerce, Brishaketu Debbarma, earlier met the Chief Secretary and demanded steps against the District Magistrate.

BJP leaders are yet to make any comments over the issue.

However, Opposition CPI-M and Congress leaders termed the TMP and its youth wing's agitation as a "got up match".

Leader of Opposition (LoP) and CPI-M Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said that the June 2 agitation of the TMP's youth wing was not only undemocratic but also illegal as they "locked the main gate of the District Magistrate's office" in front of thousands of security personnel and many police officials.

"Common people also suffered a lot due to the demonstration and locking of the main gate of the DM's office," the LoP told the media.
Patna, June 4 : In a shocking incident which sparked huge uproar, a rural doctor was brutally assaulted after being tied to a tree in Bihar's Gaya district while responding to a medical emergency.

The incident, which took place on Tuesday in a village under Maoist-hit Gurpa police station jurisdiction, has drawn sharp criticism from Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who likened the state of law and order in Bihar to that of Taliban ruled Afghanistan.

Police said that Dr. Jitendra Yadav had gone to the home of a gang-rape victim to give urgent medical attention to her mother.

However, upon arriving, he was dragged from the house by some locals and violently attacked the doctor after tying him to a tree. The victim's minor niece played a heroic role, alerting police after running from the scene and flagging down a Dial 112 emergency vehicle.

The police arrived just in time, rescuing the injured doctor, who was first taken to Fatehpur CHC and later referred to Magadh Medical College due to the seriousness of his condition.

Sharing the video of the attack on social media, Tejashwi Yadav lambasted the Nitish Kumar government, saying, "The situation in Bihar is worse than the Taliban."

He added that a doctor, who went to save a patient, was brutalised by the local criminals.

The Bihar LoP pointed out that in 20 years of the NDA's "corrupt" rule, the state machinery has become incapable of ensuring justice, as the people are taking the law into their own hands.

"The Chief Minister is unconscious, the government is directionless, the administration is dysfunctional, and officers are busy looting the treasury," he said.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of the state's deteriorating law and order.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case and are conducting raids to identify and arrest the accused.

Authorities have also praised the young girl's courage, noting that her quick action may have saved the doctor's life.

The woman's daughter was allegedly gang-raped in 2021.
Mumbai, June 3 : President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Pena Palacios, on Wednesday, during his meeting with the Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, made a strong case for international cooperation to fight the drug mafia in Latin America.

The President said Paraguay is not involved in any war or conflict. He told the Governor that Latin America is suffering from organised crime and drug trafficking, adding that Latin America is a large producer of drugs, although Europe is the consumer.

He called for international cooperation to fight the menace of the drug mafia.

Highlighting Paraguay's strengths as the 'food basket of Latin America', the President emphasised that his country has much to offer and is keen to build strong partnerships with India in the areas of agriculture and green energy.

The President noted that the two nations share many common values and interests, forming a solid foundation for enhanced cooperation across multiple sectors, said the release issued by the Raj Bhavan.

Paraguayan President expressed hope that India, as the world's fourth-largest economy and largest democracy, will play an even more significant role on the global stage in the years ahead.

President Santiago Pena said in the year 1955, during a session of the United Nations General Assembly, Paraguay had paid a special tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, recognising his philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) and his immense contribution to the global struggle for peace and justice.

The Governor hosted a reception in honour of the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Pena Palacios, upon his arrival in Raj Bhavan on his first state visit to Maharashtra.

Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council Ram Shinde, Minister of Protocol Jaykumar Rawal, Chief of Staff, M G & G area Maj Gen Bikramdeep Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Area Rear Admiral Anil Jaggi and invitees were present.

President Santiago Pena, who is on a three-day visit to India, expressed his deep admiration for all that he has witnessed during his visit to India.

The President of Paraguay was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, Ambassador of Paraguay in India Fleming Raul Duarte Ramos, National Senator of Paraguay Natalicio Chase, Member of Parliament Miguel del Puerto, Governor of the Department of Amambay Juan Acosta and other representatives.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also met and welcomed the President of Paraguay.

In his post on X, he said, "It was a pleasure interacting with him. Our enriching dialogue explored promising avenues for collaboration between Maharashtra and Paraguay. His recent meeting with PM Modi makes us look forward to a resilient and enduring partnership between the two nations! Wishing you a wonderful stay in Mumbai, Hon President Sir!"
Seoul, June 4 : A two-fold increase in US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is expected to deliver a heavier blow to South Korean steelmakers already grappling with oversupply and falling prices amid an economic slowdown, industry sources said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order doubling tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from 25 percent to 50 percent, with the new rates taking effect Wednesday (U.S. time), reports Yonhap news agency.

Local steelmakers, including POSCO Group and Hyundai Steel Co., have been seeking ways to cope with the "U.S. steel barrier," or at least minimize the impact of the steep tariffs on their operations.

In March, Hyundai Steel announced plans to invest US$5.8 billion to build an integrated, electric arc furnace-based steel mill in Louisiana by 2029, with production scheduled to begin in the same year.

The 2.7-million-ton-a-year facility is expected to supply steel not only to Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Corp. but also to other U.S.-based automakers.

Its larger rival, POSCO, has decided to invest in Hyundai Steel's U.S. steel mill project, following the Trump administration's move to impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports in mid-March.

In North America, POSCO operates a steel processing center in the U.S., along with a steel processing facility and an automotive steel plant in Mexico.

Industry experts say it will take time for the steelmakers to recover from the prolonged downturn, as their key customers -- the construction and automobile sectors -- continue to face sluggish demand and high U.S. tariffs.

"Local steelmakers need to produce more high-end products to overcome the current challenges, while the government should introduce measures to protect them from an influx of low-priced Chinese products," an industry official said.

As experts have noted, South Korean steelmakers plan to develop more value-added products and enhance their technological capabilities to reduce manufacturing costs and strengthen global competitiveness.

They also intend to implement an "item-by-item" export strategy through close consultations with the government and industry associations.

South Korea was the fourth-largest exporter of steel to the United States last year, accounting for 9 percent, or US$2.9 billion, of Washington's total steel imports, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA).
Bhopal, June 4 : Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Wednesday questioned the delay in sending the proposal regarding the procurement of Moong crop to the Centre.

Patwari claimed that the delay in the procurement of Moong in Madhya Pradesh has forced farmers to sell their crop at low prices in the market, depriving them of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed by the Centre.

Congress leader wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, requesting that the state government should immediately send a proposal to the Centre in this regard, and the process of procurement should start in every district.

"The Centre has announced MSP on Moong crop Rs 8000 per quintal for 2025-2026. However, the farmers are being forced to sell their crop at Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 per quintal in the open market. It is because the state government is yet to start the procurement process," Patwari said.

He said that farmers are unable to recover even their production costs, and some have been forced to stop irrigating their fields.

Congress leader claimed he was informed that the state Agriculture Department had yet to receive any notification from the Centre.

"When inquired, it was learnt that the state government was yet to send a proposal to the Centre," Patwari said.

He said that last year, the procurement process for the Moong crop started on May 20, adding that if the procurement is delayed more, the farmers may be forced to stage a protest in the coming days.

"I would request you (the Chief Minister) to take this issue seriously and take immediate action, otherwise, farmers will be forced to stage a massive protest again," said Patwari.

--IANS

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Brussels, June 4 : The all-party Parliamentary delegation from India led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday engaged with members of the Indian diaspora and leading Brussels-based think tanks, underscoring India's unwavering commitment to combating cross-border terrorism. The diaspora members expressed deep solidarity with the victims of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed their strong support for India in its efforts to counter terrorism.

The delegates also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Embassy in Belgium, reaffirming India's enduring commitment to peace, non-violence, and tolerance.

Earlier in the day, Indian Ambassador to Belgium Saurabh Kumar interacted with the members of the delegation, briefing them about the priorities and strategic agenda of India, including counter-terrorism cooperation.

Ambassador Kumar received the delegation on their arrival in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, following their successful visit to the UK. The visit marks the continuation of strengthening international partnerships and advancing India's strategic engagements

"Today, I, along with my distinguished colleagues from the all-party delegation, arrived in Brussels, where we were warmly received by Ambassador Saurabh Kumar. Our two-day visit will focus on fostering international cooperation to combat cross-border terrorism through a series of strategic meetings," Prasad posted on X on Wednesday.

During the visit, a series of meetings are scheduled over the next two days, aimed at consolidating global consensus against cross-border terrorism.

"The delegation will have interactions at the European Union-level and with Belgian authorities on the scourge of terrorism including cross-border terrorism and the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and India's response to the same, and the country's will and determination to put an end to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," read a statement issued by Indian Embassy in Brussels.

Apart from meetings at the EU-level and with Belgium authorities, the delegation will also have interactions with think-tanks and media during the visit.

The nine-member delegation includes a diverse political representation: Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Daggubati Purandeswari (BJP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), Ghulam Ali Khatana (BJP), Amar Singh (Congress), Samik Bhattacharya (BJP), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), former Union Minister M.J. Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran.

After concluding visits to France, Italy, Denmark, and the UK, the Indian delegation is in Belgium as 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.
Chandigarh, June 4 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the sorry state of affairs is prevailing in the country, as any view or idea opposite to the propaganda of the BJP is now being labelled as anti-national.

Interacting with the media here, the Chief Minister said it is ironic that Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu has contradicted his stand on Operation Sindoor by saying that he was echoing the voice of Pakistan.

He said that it is unfortunate that Bittu has issued such irrational statements, whereas his masters sitting in Delhi have been giving hypothetical and baseless statements.

Mann said that the Union Minister of State has forgotten that his own party has backtracked from their decision to send Sindoor to every household. The Chief Minister said that this type of attitude is unwarranted and undesirable, adding that it is not in the interest of the country.

He said that for the first time in the history of the world, any government is sending its nominees across the globe to tell everyone that they have emerged victorious in a war.

Mann said there is no need to tell anyone about the victory as the triumph is self-speaking. Asked to comment on the arrest of a YouTuber from the state, the Chief Minister said the Union government regulates the social media channels in the country.

However, he said if any anti-national activity comes to the notice of the law-enforcing agencies in the state, then an appropriate action will be taken against them as per the law of the land.

Mann unequivocally said that anyone involved in a crime against the country cannot be spared, and exemplary action is taken against them.

Responding to Mannas remark on Operation Sindoor, BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh has asked Mann to stop doing mimicry as a Chief Minister to run down the Operation Sindoor.

He said that since the Operation involved widows who became victims of a Pakistan ISI plot, CM Mann is making a mockery of women with his nasty observations.

Chugh said his shameful and vulgar remarks are reflective of a disgraceful, indecent, mind of deeply polluted mindset.

Chugh added that such words insult the dignity of women and mock the emotional wounds of widows who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam terror attack.

--IANS

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Patna, June 4 : In the wake of the tragic death of an 11-year-old rape victim from Bihar's Muzaffarpur, Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief, Chirag Paswan has strongly condemned the incident and demanded swift and stringent action.

In a letter addressed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, Paswan termed the incident not only a "barbaric end of an innocent life" but also a reflection of the "collapse of law and order, social responsibility, and public healthcare system" in Bihar.

The rape victim, who was brought to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), reportedly remained in an ambulance for 4 hours in the searing heat without being admitted, eventually succumbing to her stab wounds and other injuries on June 1.

The Union Minister expressed grave concern over the gross medical negligence, calling it "a crime against humanity."

Paswan wrote: "The fact that the girl was left to suffer in an ambulance without timely admission or treatment is not just negligence  it is criminal. Every minute wasted was a betrayal of our duty to protect life."

In his letter, Chirag Paswan made the demands for immediate arrest of all individuals responsible for the delay and negligence followed by the harshest punishment for those found guilty.

He demanded a high-level judicial enquiry into the conduct of PMCH doctors, staff, and administration and criminal cases against those who showed deliberate inhumanity.

Paswan also demanded immediate suspension and departmental action against the negligent medical personnel.

He further warned that continued government silence on such atrocities would itself become the biggest crime.

"If the government does not act decisively, it sends a message of apathy towards the most vulnerable citizens," Paswan added.

This marks a rare public rebuke from an NDA ally on the issue.

The pressure on the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government continues to mount, with Opposition parties already staging protests and demanding Health Minister Mangal Pandey's resignation.

Earlier, the Health Department had suspended senior doctors involved and launched an internal enquiry. However, Paswan's letter demands judicial oversight to ensure transparency and accountability.

The outcry over the tragic death of the Dalit girl has intensified, as delegations from the Congress and Jan Suraaj Party submitted memorandums to Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Wednesday, demanding strict action and compensation for the rape victim's family.

A delegation led by Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram met the Governor at Raj Bhavan to register the party's protest over the injustice to the minor rape victim.

Ram formally demand immediate action against those responsible, adequate financial compensation for the grieving family and structural reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.

Speaking to IANS, Ram said: "We met the Governor and he assured us that justice will be done. He condemned the incident and said that such a crime has no space in a civilised society. We have pointed out that the deceased girl's mother is in deep distress. She should be given adequate compensation."

Besides the Congress, Jan Suraaj Party's state president Manoj Bharti also handed over a memorandum to the Bihar Governor in the same case and demanded justice for the family of the deceased child

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has squarely blamed the Bihar government and demanded the resignation of the Health Minister.
Patna, June 4 : A major security scare unfolded at Patna Airport on Wednesday afternoon after a bomb threat message was received targeting Indigo flight 6E921 en route from Ahmedabad to Patna.

The incident triggered a high alert, leading to an emergency landing and a comprehensive security sweep of the aircraft.

The alert was raised at 12:45 PM when Indigo station manager Shalini received a threatening message via WhatsApp.

She promptly alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC), and within just eight minutes, the flight landed safely at 12:53 PM on the runway.

Following the emergency landing, CISF, Bihar Police, airport authorities, and intelligence agencies swiftly mobilised.

A dog squad and bomb detection team conducted a one-hour search of the aircraft. They carried out a search in the passengers' area as well as the cargo area of the aircraft.

Till that time, passengers remained onboard during the entire inspection, leading to tension and fear among travellers.

After thorough checking, no suspicious or explosive objects were found, and the threat was confirmed to be a hoax.

Around 2 PM, passengers were safely evacuated, bringing an end to the tense situation.

"We have been informed by the Indigo Airlines officials about the incident. After a thorough search by the officials, it turned out to be a hoax. The investigation is underway to find out who sent the threatening message," said the SHO of Patna Airport Police Station.

Authorities have launched a technical investigation to trace the origin of the WhatsApp threatening message.

Cyber units are currently working to identify the sender.

This is the second aviation-related security incident in recent weeks at Patna Airport. Earlier, a laser beam was reportedly aimed at a Pune-Patna flight during landing, raising alarms over lapses in aviation safety protocols.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijani language center can be established in an Algerian university, Chakib Benhafri, head of research work at Algeria-2 University, said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during a lecture on Continuation of colonial thinking in the modern system of international relations.

Noting that more than two thousand students are currently studying Turkish at Algiers-2 University, he said: We need to establish ties between our societies and act together. First of all, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a Turkic state. That is why we are interested in Azerbaijani society, where different ethnic groups live together, he added.
Chandigarh, June 4 : The BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Wednesday asked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to stop mimicking the Operation Sindoor.

Chugh said that since the operation involved widows who became victims of Pakistan's ISI plot, Mann is making a mockery of women with his nasty observations.

"His shameful and vulgar remarks are reflective of a disgraceful, indecent, mind of deeply polluted mindset," he said.

Chug pointed out that such words insult the dignity of women and mock the emotional wounds of widows who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Operation Sindoor is a saga of Indian valour -- a tribute to the bravery of our armed forces. While the nation stands united with its soldiers, Bhagwant Mann chooses to ridicule their heroism. This is not just political immaturity, it is moral bankruptcy."

Taking direct aim at AAP, Chugh reminded the people that this is the same party whose Delhi-based top leader's residence was the site of misbehaviour with a woman MP from their own party, by none other than a close aide of the Chief Minister, who was later protected and rewarded with a plum posting in the Punjab CMO.

"When AAP's Punjab Women Wing President Preeti Malhotra raised her voice against this misogyny and internal abuse, she was thrown out of the party. This is the real face of AAP, a party that mocks sacrifice, insults women, and protects predators. The women of Punjab will never forgive such a party," he claimed.

Punjab Chief Minister has stirred controversy by mocking the military action, Operation Sindoor, with a sarcastic remark implying it was symbolic rather than substantive.

Referring to it as the "One Nation, One Husband" scheme, the Chief Minister made remarks saying that if the government sends sindoor to everyone's home, will one use that?

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 4 : In what is being seen as an extraordinary and rare development in the Indian judiciary, a three-member committee appointed by then Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna has indicted Justice Yashwant Varma, now of the Allahabad High Court, finding serious substance in allegations of judicial misconduct, and recommended the initiation of removal proceedings.

The panel's findings, submitted to then Chief Justice of India Khanna and forwarded to the President and Prime Minister earlier this month, recommended the removal of the judge. The inquiry, triggered by the discovery of a huge sum of burnt cash at then Delhi HC judge, Justice Varma's official residence in New Delhi, following a fire on March 14, has laid bare troubling details, sources said.

According to sources, before delivering its damning conclusion, the three-judge panel underscored the sanctity of judicial conduct, reminding all of the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life", a charter of ethical principles adopted by the Supreme Court in a Full Court meeting in 1997. The panel, sources said, made it clear that the credibility of the judiciary rests on the unwavering probity and character of its members, stating: "Probity is the most important and indispensable attribute of a person holding judicial office... Least that is expected of any judicial officer of district or higher judiciary is unimpeachable character and conduct in and outside the courtroom."

The element of probity becomes predominant, relevant and indispensable when the offices of higher judiciary are in question, say sources, citing the report. The expectation of the general public from a member of the superior judiciary is extremely high. Probity is the most important and indispensable attribute of a person holding judicial office and is rather the basic eligibility criterion, sources said, referring to the observations in the report. The least that is expected of any judicial officer of district or higher judiciary is unimpeachable character and conduct in and outside the courtroom.

The panel, according to sources, said: "The very existence of judicial office is founded upon the trust of the citizens at large. The quality & quantity of this trust is directly relatable to the behaviour, conduct and performance demonstrated by the Judge, not only inside but also outside the courtroom. Any deficiency in this regard erodes public trust, which ought to be viewed stringently."

Sources said these words framed the panel's severe rebuke of Justice Varma, as it concluded that he had failed to meet the "universally accepted values of judicial life."

The inquiry centred around the discovery of large amounts of cash in the storeroom of 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi  a government bungalow officially allotted to Justice Varma. According to the committee, both direct and electronic evidence confirmed that the storeroom was under the covert or active control of Justice Varma and his family, sources said.

In a particularly damning finding, the committee, according to sources, stated: "It is established by way of strong inferential evidence that the burnt cash/money was removed from the storeroom during the wee hours of 15.03.2025."

The investigation was reportedly triggered by a letter from the Chief Justice of India dated March 22, 2025, raising red flags about the integrity of Justice Varma and urging a formal probe into the allegations. The committee concluded that the misconduct was not only proven but also grave enough to warrant removal proceedings under Article 124(4) of the Constitution.
Chennai, June 4 : In a significant move to improve aviation safety, the Chennai International Airport has introduced 30 new devices known as "thunder booms" to deter birds from critical runway areas.

Chennai, June 4 (IANS) In a significant move to improve aviation safety, the Chennai International Airport has introduced 30 new devices known as "thunder booms" to deter birds from critical runway areas.

This initiative aims to mitigate the growing threat of bird strikes, which can severely disrupt flight operations and endanger aircraft.

With more than 470 flight movements handled daily across its two runways, Chennai airport is among the busiest in the country. However, its proximity to the Adyar River and nearby forested areas has led to frequent bird activity in and around the airfield, posing a recurring hazard to incoming and outgoing flights.

Until recently, airport authorities relied on the use of firecrackers to disperse birds. While the loud noises temporarily startled birds away from the runway vicinity, the method proved only partially effective and carried significant downsides, including fire risks and environmental pollution.

To address these challenges, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has now introduced the "thunder boom" devices at Chennai Airport for the first time. These non-pyrotechnic instruments generate loud, thunder-like sounds to safely scare birds away without the dangers associated with firecrackers.

Trained contract personnel will operate the 'thunder booms' from designated positions near the runways. The devices will be activated strategically to ensure maximum coverage of sensitive airside zones during peak bird activity periods, especially at dawn and dusk.

Airport officials noted that the new devices are part of a broader effort to enhance airside safety and operational efficiency. In line with this, Chennai airport has also rolled out battery-operated tipping carts to assist ground maintenance crews. These eco-friendly carts are designed to replace traditional fuel-based vehicles, offering quieter, faster, and more sustainable ground operations.

The introduction of 'thunder booms' and battery-operated carts reflects Chennai Airport's growing emphasis on modern, environmentally responsible solutions to support both safety and sustainability.

Officials added that the airport will continue monitoring bird activity and assessing the effectiveness of the new deterrent devices over the coming months, with the possibility of expanding the programme if results prove favourable.
Nilambur : , June 4 (IANS) Congress' first-time Congress Kerala legislator Chandy Oommen on Wednesday said that he was overcome with emotion during his campaign for party candidate Aryadan Shoukath for the June 19 Nilambur assembly bypoll as people fondly recalled his father, late two-time Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

"I get goose bumps when I meet people asking for votes for Shoukath, as the love towards me increases for many of them, after realising that I am the son of their most favourite leader, Oommen Chandy, and they have only good things to say about my father," said Oommen.

"All know the warm relationship between my father and Shoukathas father, Aryadan Mohammed, and many of whom I meet recollect this," he added.

Mohammed won a record eight times and lost thrice from Nilambur between 1965 and 2011. He retired ahead of the 2016 poll and passed away in 2022.

Chandy and Mohammed had always been identified as the brains behind the faction of the Congress, led by A.K.Antony, when the party in Kerala was deeply divided between Antony and K.Karunakaran for close to three decades. On both occasions when Chandy was the Chief Minister, Mohammed was a member of his cabinet.

In his campaigning, Oommen is meeting each and every voter by personally going to every house, as the Congress is determined to regain this constituency after nine years.

The by-election was necessitated after two-time Left-supported Independent legislator, P.V. Anvar, resigned in January after a serious difference of opinion with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Things went for a toss after Anvar, who initially pledged his support for the Congress, changed his tune when Congress named Shoukath - whom he had defeated in the 2016 polls, and went back on his vow to stay out of the fray. He filed nominations both as an Independent and a Trinamool Congress candidate, but the latter was rejected.

Also in the fray are the CPI-M candidate M.Swaraj and Mohan George of the BJP.

Oommen won his first election in 2023 when he won with a record margin from his fatheras constituency, Puthupally. Chandy represented the constituency from 1970 till he passed away in 2023.
Chandigarh, June 4 : In a significant breakthrough against espionage networks threatening national security, Punjab Police's State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) SAS Nagar has arrested a YouTube influencer for spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday.

Chandigarh, June 4 (IANS) In a significant breakthrough against espionage networks threatening national security, Punjab Policeas State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) SAS Nagar has arrested a YouTube influencer for spying for Pakistanas Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday.

The arrested accused, identified as Jasbir Singh, alias Jaan Mahal (41), a resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar, has been operating a YouTube channel 'JaanMahal Video' with over 11 lakh subscribers, ostensibly posting travel and cooking vlogs.

DGP Yadav said that Jasbir Singh has been found associated with Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) Shakir, alias Jutt Randhawa, who is part of a terror-backed espionage network.

He also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was earlier arrested for spying by Haryana Police, and Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pakistani High Commission official.

The DGP said that investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danishas invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers.

The accused has also travelled to Pakistan on three occasions in 2020, 2021 and 2024, and came in direct contact with ISI officers, who subsequently cultivated and recruited him to carry out espionage activities within India, he added.

The DGP said that after Jyoti Malhotraas arrest, accused Jasbir had attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection.

Further investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators, he added.

Sharing operation details, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), posted in SAS Nagar, Dr Ravjot Grewal, said that police teams received reliable inputs that Jasbir Singh was in touch with many Pakistan-based entities, including agents of the ISI and had been providing sensitive information about movement of the Indian Army and other inside activities of the country to the neighbouring nation.

Acting swiftly, police teams launched an intel-based operation and arrested the suspect and recovered his mobile device, AIG Grewal said.

She said that around 150 Pakistani phone numbers have been retrieved from the initial mobile phone forensics of the arrested. These include mobile numbers of ISI agents, Pakistan High Commission officials and other Pakistan-based entities.

In a bid to cover his tracks, the accused had deleted crucial digital evidence, including chats, contact records, and documents exchanged with Pakistani Intelligence handlers from his mobile phone, said the AIG, while adding that technical recovery and forensic examination are underway to retrieve deleted data and information leaked through him.

She said that investigations have revealed that Jasbir used the YouTube channel as a cover to share sensitive information about the Indian Army's movements and activities with his Pakistani handlers.

The AIG said that accused Jasbir had been introduced to Jyoti Malhotra through Pakistan High Commission officials at an event hosted in 2024. Both Jasbir and Jyoti also visited Pakistan together.

Further investigation is in progress to identify potential accomplices, digital communication trails, and foreign linkages, she added.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered under Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act at a police station in SAS Nagar.

a"IANS

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Shillong, June 4 : Hectic search for the missing Madhya Pradesh woman continued for the 12th day on Wednesday, even as the body of the woman's husband was recovered on May 2.

The couple went missing on May 23 while visiting Meghalaya's Sohra-Cherrapunji areas.

A police official on Wednesday said that the search team, which included National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have recovered a raincoat from Mawkma village, and it has some stains on it.

"Forensic reports would reveal about the raincoat and the stains. Due to heavy rains, the search operations were disrupted on Wednesday," the official said.

He said that Sohra-Cherrapunji, a tourist hotspot in the northeast region, has been receiving heavy rain since last week, affecting the search operations.

The search teams are using drones, sniffer dogs, mountaineers and local people in the search operation. The postmortem of Raja Raghuvanshi was done on Tuesday, but the Meghalaya Police have yet to receive the report.

The official said that since the couple -- Raja Raghuvanshi (29) and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi (27) from Indore (Madhya Pradesh) -- went missing on May 23, the search team recovered the body of Raja on May 2, after a police drone spotted the dead body in the deep gorge below the Weisawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang in the Sohra-Cherrapunji areas under East Khasi Hills district.

Till Tuesday, the search team had recovered a bloodstained machete, which was suspected to have been used in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi.

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident, Raja's brother, Govind Raguvanshi, told the media that since his slain brother's gold rings, a gold chain, and a wallet are missing, they suspect it is a clear case of murder.

"We urge the authorities to hand over the case to the CBI to conduct an inquiry into this case," he said.

Meanwhile, an undated and unverified audio clip of a telephone conversation between Sonam and her mother-in-law has gone viral on social media.

The Meghalaya Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a Superintendent of Police-level officer and assisted by four Deputy Superintendent of Police rank officers.

According to a police official, the newlywed couple, residents of Indore, who were touring Meghalaya, went missing on May 23 from the Sohra-Cherrapunji area. They reportedly arrived from Indore in the mountainous state on May 20 for their honeymoon and visited some areas before going to Sohra-Cherrapunji.

The couple hired a two-wheeler and visited the picturesque area before their disappearance, the official said. The couple's mobile phones have been switched off since May 24 night.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last week spoke to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and inquired about the progress of the search operation.

Sangma had said, "We treat the tourists as our family members. People of the Sohra-Cherrapunji areas also treated the tourists as their family members. A large number of villagers are now involved in the search operation."

"I am personally monitoring the search and rescue efforts constantly," the Chief Minister had said.

Madhya Pradesh MPs Shankar Lalwani and Sumer Singh Solanki also came to Meghalaya and held meetings with the Director General of Police, Nongrang, and Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang to discuss the search operations.
Kolkata, June 4 : Trinamool Congress, on Wednesday, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over a purported abuse of a child labourer in the Prime Minister's native state of Gujarat.

Trinamool Congress attached two pictures of the child labourer who was reportedly abused in Gujarat recently on X.

"In PM @narendramodi's Double Engine state Gujarat, child labour is not only perpetuated but also accompanied by dehumanising treatment!" the statement from Trinamool Congress read.

Trinamool has also revealed the identity of the victim of the child labourer, although in the picture attached to the statement, his face was blurred.

"Ganesh Durlabh, a young child from Kalna, was forced to work in a jewellery factory in Gujarat, where he was brutally assaulted, resulting in severe injuries and lasting trauma. In their contempt for Bengal, @BJP4India is openly condoning these heinous acts against our people," it said.

Trinamool Congress claimed that the West Bengal government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is taking all necessary measures to ensure his well-being and safety.

"The BJP is Bangla Birodhi (anti-Bengal)," it said.

Last week, while in Alipurduar district, the Prime Minister had criticised the West Bengal government over the law and order situation.

The Prime Minister launched a scathing attack against the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress on various issues like corruption, law and order situation, and the alleged atrocities on Hindus in minority-dominated districts like Murshidabad and Malda.

The Prime Minister had specially dealt with the issue of the common people of West Bengal being allegedly deprived because of the rampant corruption by Trinamool Congress leaders.
Guwahati, June 4 : The Assam government is set to observe the birth centenary of Assamese icon Bhupen Hazarika as a public celebration, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday.

To mark the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, the first meeting of the Core Committee was held today at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, chaired by CM Sarma. The meeting reviewed various aspects related to organising the year-long centenary celebrations of the artist.

Sarma announced that the state government has decided to observe the centenary from 8 September this year to 8 September next year, and intends to commemorate the occasion as a public celebration. He stated that the government would provide all necessary support to ensure widespread participation.

As part of the commemorative initiatives, the Chief Minister informed that the process to rename Dibrugarh airport after Hazarika is underway. The Assam Cabinet has approved the proposal, which would be forwarded to the Central government following ratification by the Assam Legislative Assembly.

He further mentioned that although several postage stamps have been issued in Bhupen Hazarikaas honour, no currency has yet been released bearing his name.

To address this, the state government is in discussion with the Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance regarding the possibility of issuing a commemorative coin.

To facilitate public engagement with the life and works of Hazarika, the Assam Publication Board has entrusted writer and journalist Anuradha Sharma Pujari with compiling a commemorative volume, he added.

A draft has been submitted to the government, and following its publication, the book will be translated into 23 Indian languages. The aim is to distribute it among the youth across Assam and the wider country. The centenary would also be observed in locations significant to Hazarikaas life and career, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.

The celebrations would commence in Guwahati and conclude in 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Discussions with the governments of Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal regarding their participation have already taken place.

Sarma stated that an essay-writing competition for students and the general public would be launched, similar to the initiative held during the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan.

A dedicated portal would be developed for this purpose, and individuals from across India would be able to participate. District-level committees would be formed to organise local commemorative events, and universities and other educational institutions would be encouraged to hold related activities.

Except during the forthcoming Assembly elections, events would continue throughout the year. Public suggestions are invited to support the planning process, and several have already been received.

The Department of Culture would take appropriate action based on these inputs. During the meeting, representatives of various organisations and prominent individuals offered suggestions for the effective conduct of the centenary events.

The Chief Minister noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the inaugural function on 8 September in Guwahati, and invitations would also be extended to the Chief Ministers of the northeastern states.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, June 4 : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall forecast for several parts of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, till June 10.

The bulletin comes as the state experiences sporadic pre-monsoon showers and cloud formation, while the monsoon system itself remains stalled over Maharashtra.

"Heavy rainfall is likely in Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli," stated an IMD release.

A broader alert predicts light thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and surface winds ranging between 3040 km/h across multiple districts, including Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, and Panchmahal, among others.

Despite the early onset of monsoon over Kerala and Mumbai this year, the system has lost momentum. "After making its way to Mumbai, the monsoon has stalled due to the lack of a strong weather system to drive it forward," said a senior meteorologist.

"The next phase of rainfall for Gujarat, particularly the southern belt, is now expected around June 14-15."

Surat, for instance, witnessed a maximum temperature of 34.2C and a minimum of 29C on Tuesday, with humidity levels hovering around 73 per cent. While clouds have been forming regularly and isolated showers have occurred, there has been no sustained rainfall.

A brief system over the Arabian Sea near Ratnagiri and Mahabaleshwar did bring precipitation to those coastal areas, but it weakened soon after.

"We're closely monitoring developments over the Arabian Sea. A new system is likely to take shape, which may finally push the monsoon further into Gujarat," the IMD spokesperson added.

Historically, Gujarat sees pre-monsoon activity by the end of May or early June, but consistent rainfall generally begins in mid-June.

In line with this pattern, the IMD expects the monsoon to enter Surat and South Gujarat by June 14 or 15 this year  a timeline consistent with previous years despite the initial early onset in the south.

For now, residents across the state are advised to remain alert for local thunderstorms and wind activity, particularly in central and northern districts.
Bhopal, June 4 : After organising seven Regional Industry Conclaves (RICs) and Global Investment Summit (GIS), the Madhya Pradesh government will organise the 'Spiritual and Wellness' summit on June 5.

Based on the theme 'Wellness-A New Perspective' will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in the state's religious city of Ujjain.

During the event, the Chief Minister will hold one-on-one meetings with major investors, policymakers, and representatives of organisations from the wellness sector.

The summit aimed at positioning Madhya Pradesh as a global wellness hub and to establish Ujjain as an internationally recognised centre of wellness. It is being organised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion.

"The event will focus on promoting investment and collaboration in fields such as yoga, Ayurveda, naturopathy, public awareness, spirituality, and wellness-based industries," an official said.

The summit will feature high-level panel discussions on wellness sector development, policy-making, public-private partnerships, sustainable wellness infrastructure, and investment opportunities.

"It will open with a session, where domain experts will discuss how wellness sector policies can encourage investments and partnerships to strengthen infrastructure, improve quality standards," the official added.

Another panel discussion will focus on the wellness ecosystem and workforce development to highlight aspects such as the integration of traditional medicine systems, the need for research investments, and harmony with modern healthcare practices.

"The summit is a significant step toward placing Madhya Pradesh on the national and global wellness map, and advancing a three-pronged strategy of policy, innovation, and investment in the wellness sector," the official said.

To promote investment and employment opportunities, the government will also organise workshops, expos, and conclaves at national and international platforms throughout the year.

--IANS

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Rivers polluted in Armenia flow into the Araz river, which jeopardizes the environmental safety of Azerbaijani territories, Sabit Baghirov, a member of the Environmental Protection First (EPF) NGO Coalition, said at the NGO's briefing on the Metsamor NPP, Trend reports.

According to him, concerns about the pollution of the Araz River were also expressed in Iran in February this year.

"The entire territory of Azerbaijan is under threat due to these environmental risks. The media are obliged to raise this issue and attract the attention of international organizations," he noted.

Baghirov also emphasized the unexpectedness of the initiative put forward by 33 organizations from Turkiye.

"This shows that the environmental problems caused by Armenia's activities are already causing concern not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Turkiye and Iran. There are more than 900 mining enterprises in Armenia, 24 of which work with precious metals, and the rest with inert materials such as crushed stone and others," he added.

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Patna, June 4 : The controversy surrounding the tragic death of an 11-year-old Dalit girl due to alleged medical negligence at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) continues to deepen.

On Wednesday, Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey, accusing them of shielding top officials and engaging in cosmetic action.

Tejashwi Yadav alleged that PMCH Superintendent Dr. I.S. Thakur, a key figure who has escaped any disciplinary action so far, was being deliberately protected due to his influence and connection to a Rs 5000 crore hospital redevelopment project underway at PMCH.

"Dr. Thakur was supposed to retire on January 31 last year. Our government fell on January 28. Nitish Kumar extended his tenure the next day. This was all done to ensure his control over the PMCH project," Tejashwi said.

Tejashwi dismissed the recent suspensions and removals of lower-ranking medical staff as "tokenistic" and temporary, claiming they were part of an effort to divert attention while the actual culprits remain untouched.

"The Deputy Superintendent, Dr Abhijit Singh, who has been removed now, was earlier removed by me. But Mangal Pandey brought him back. This proves the action taken is just a formality," he alleged.

In a fresh twist, Tejashwi Yadav revived his earlier claim about a "DK Gang"a reference to alleged power wielders behind the scenes, particularly a retired bureaucrat known only as DK.

"Who is giving orders to save Dr. Thakur? All recent transfers, including that of Thakur, are being done at DK's behest," he said.

He accused Mangal Pandey of reversing the progress made during his tenure as Health Minister, citing cancelled schemes and reinstatement of negligent officers.

"We had launched Mission Buniyaad and Mission 60. We ensured specialist doctor appointments, distributed over 275 medicines, and created a referral system to reduce unnecessary transfers to Patna. But what remains of that now?" he asked.

He further claimed that NMCH's dengue preparedness was so poor that its superintendent didn't even know the ward's locationa superintendent who was later reinstated after the RJD-led government fell.

The allegations come after widespread outrage over the 11-year-old rape victim's death, allegedly due to being left unattended in an ambulance for 4 hours outside PMCH.

So far, one official has been suspended and another was removed from the post of deputy superintendent, but pressure continues to mount for a broader and more transparent probe.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 4 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law and state PWD Minister P.A.Mohammed Riyas on Wednesday heaved a sigh of relief when Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured them that the under-construction NH 66 that had collapsed at multiple places will be completed on time.

The duo was in Delhi and had a long meeting with Gadkari. Soon after it, Riyas told the media that the Union Minister has assured the NH 66 will be completed on time and it will come as a New Year gift.

"The Minister assured us that strong action will be taken against those responsible for the collapse. They are waiting for a report on this from the National Highway Authority of India," said Riyas, who, along with Vijayan, has been at the receiving end ever since the collapse of the NH 66 at multiple places in Thrissur, Malappuram and Kasargod was reported last month.

"The Union Minister heard us patiently and after going through the memorandum that was submitted, he has promised that Kerala will get more infrastructure support from the Centre by way of more new roads," he added.

The duo had come under flak especially from Congress General Secretary and Congress MP from Alappuzha K.C.Venugopal, who is also the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said he was shocked to hear the sequence of events of what happened, when he attended the meeting held last week to discuss the crumbling of the NH 66 passing through Malappuram.

Venugopal slammed Vijayan and said when he was always taking credit for NH-66 till it crumbled and the moment the news surfaced that NH-66 was breaking not at one place, but at several spots, he did not even go and visit the spots where the highway has developed cracks, despite being in Malappuram for two days.

On Wednesday, Kerala's Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said all are surprised that till date neither Vijayan nor any in the ruling Left has uttered a word about the collapse of the NH 66.

"Not long ago, when some minor fault occurred on a bridge that was constructed during the rule of the Congress, Vijayan registered a case against the then minister, and here, when this massive damage took place in the NH 66, Vijayan has no issues and has not said a word against the Centre. He is scared. We demand that a CBI probe take place. Not everything is clear in this construction... things will soon surface," he claimed.
Kolkata, June 4 : The West Bengal government on Wednesday lifted the leave restrictions for its employees that were imposed in the second week of May during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces' cross-border strikes on several terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam massacre.

Following the lifting of the restrictions, the state government employees will now have the liberty to apply and avail of the leaves that are due to them according to their requirements.

The notification on the leave restriction was issued by the stateas Additional Chief Secretary, P.K. Mishra, on May 8, through which the administration cancelled all leaves of the state government employees, except medical leaves, for an indefinite period in the wake of the prevailing situation then amid Operation Sindoor.

Even all the leaves previously sanctioned to the state government employees before the issue of the notification were also cancelled. Through the notification, the state government also barred the state government officials and staff from leaving their headquarters without the written permission of their respective Heads of Departments.

However, the question that is taking the rounds in the corridors of power is whether the state government had lifted the restriction in a hurry considering that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during their recent visits to West Bengal, have clearly stated that Operation Sindoor had not ended as yet.

However, an official from the state Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department held that the leave restrictions cannot be a permanent affair. "The restriction was imposed on May 8 because of the nationwide situation prevailing then. Now, the situation has normalised, and hence the restrictions have been lifted. The same might be imposed again if the necessity arises," he held.
Ahmedabad, June 4 : The Gujarat government has issued fresh directives to strengthen the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

The move follows critical recommendations from the Gujarat Information Commission's Annual Administrative Report for 202324, tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

According to the official circular, several citizen-friendly measures have been approved to streamline access to public information and promote proactive disclosure.

Key reforms include: Citizens will receive up to five pages of information at no cost. When RTI applications are filed via email or online platforms, the information will be provided digitally in photo format. Physical copies will not be issued in such cases. During self-inspection of records, applicants may only photograph or copy relevant information to a storage device. Physical copies will not be handed over post-inspection. All government records must be properly classified, indexed, and published on official websites for public access.

The circular also mandates that First Appellate Authorities issue detailed "Speaking Orders" after evaluating appeal documents, the original Form-A application, and responses from Public Information Officers (PIOs). PIOs are now legally bound to comply with these appellate orders.

In a major thrust towards proactive disclosure, public authorities have been instructed to regularly update Section 4(1)(b) information as per the 2009 and 2019 guidelines. Frequently requested information must be published proactively and made available free of cost or at printing charges. Additionally, the government has ordered that information about illegal constructions, undue influence, permits, and licenses must be disclosed publicly. All public authorities are required to develop automated systems that notify applicants about the status of their applications at every stage via SMS or email.

In Gujarat, the number of Right to Information (RTI) applications has shown a notable increase in recent years. According to data from the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC), there were 1,21,490 RTI applications filed in the financial year 202223. This figure rose to 1,31,875 applications in 202324, marking an 8.54 per cent year-on-year increase.

A significant portion of these applications, approximately 69 per cent, were directed towards three key departments: Home, Revenue, and Urban Development.
Mumbai, June 4 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Raj Thackeray on Wednesday appealed to state School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse to issue a written order "as soon as possible" stating that only two languages, Marathi and English, would be taught from the first grade and Hindi would not be made compulsory as third language.

"We have information that based on the earlier decision to teach three languages, including Hindi, the printing of Hindi language textbooks has already begun. Now that the books have been printed, is the government planning to backtrack on its own decision? I assume there is no such plan, but if something like this happens, the government will be responsible for the agitation that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will launch," the MNS chief said.

"Many states in the country have adopted only two languages from the first grade and rejected the imposition of Hindi, the reason being their linguistic identity. You (addressing Bhuse) and your fellow Cabinet members are also Marathi by birth; when will you act like the leaders of other states who oppose Hindi and protect the identity of your language, and how will you nurture it? We expect the government to show the same strong sense of identity as those other states," he said.

For the past nearly two months, there has been confusion regarding the teaching of the Hindi language starting from the first grade in Maharashtra.

Initially, it was announced that students would be taught three languages from the first grade, with Hindi being the third mandatory language. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena raised its voice against this, which led to the formation of strong public sentiment.

"This public sentiment was so intense that the government declared that Hindi would not be made mandatory as the third language," Raj Thackeray said.

"Fundamentally, Hindi is not a national language; it is just one of the languages spoken in other states of the country. Why was there an insistence on making it mandatory to learn? It is unclear why the government was wavering under some pressure. However, the core issue remains: why force children to learn three languages from first grade?

"Regarding this, you also announced that in schools following the Maharashtra State Education Board curriculum, only two languages would be taught from the first grade. But why has the written order for this announcement not been issued yet?" asked Thackeray.

His letter comes at a time when the government has backtracked on its move to make Hindi language compulsory after Marathi and English in Classes 1 to 5 amid strong opposition from various stakeholders.

Although Bhuse last month announced that the government would take a decision on making Hindi a third language compulsory after talks, it has not yet issued any government notification.
Kolkata, June 4 : Veteran Congress leader from north Bengal, Sankar Malakar, on Wednesday joined the state's ruling Trinamool Congress.

Malakar is the second heavyweight leader from north Bengal, after former BJP MP from Alipurduar, John Barla, to join the Trinamool during the last two months.

Malakar arrived at Trinamool Bhavan, the party's state headquarters in Kolkata, and was officially included in the party by the Trinamool state President Subrata Bakshi, state Power Minister Arup Biswas, and the party's state Vice President Jaiprakash Majumdar.

Malakar was a Congress legislator from Matigara-Naxalbari (SC) assembly constituency from Darjeeling district from 2011 to 2021. However, he was defeated by the BJP's Anandamoy Biswas in the 2021 Assembly polls.

He was also the district Congress president in Darjeeling for almost 20 years. He was also highly acclaimed within Congress for maintaining the party's organisational network in the district up to a certain level, even when the party was bleeding in most other pockets in West Bengal.

Speaking to reporters after joining the Trinamool, Malakar noted that taking advantage of the Congress's weakness in north Bengal, the BJP had gained strength in that sector of the state in the last few years.

"Now the BJP wants to divide north Bengal, and so they are encouraging separatists for Gorkhaland and Kamtapur. It has to be stopped at any cost. The Congress does not have the strength to combat the BJP politically in West Bengal. So I decided to join the Trinamool Congress," Malakar said.

After Malakar's joining, Arup Biswas hinted at the possibility of more heavyweight leaders from other parties joining Trinamool before the crucial Assembly polls scheduled next year. "Just wait and watch. We are not approaching anybody on our own. We will welcome anybody who expresses a desire to join us voluntarily," he said.
Kolkata, June 4 : It is for the Congress to decide whether they would like to continue with their electoral seat-sharing arrangement with the CPI-M-led Left Front in West Bengal for the crucial Assembly elections scheduled next year, CPI-M state Secretary and party Politburo member Md Salim said on Wednesday.

Salimas observation came in the wake of media queries on whether the continuance of the electoral alliance between Congress and Left Front was possible amid the former's top leadership developing a soft corner for the state's ruling Trinamool Congress, especially Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"The Congress sought our support for their candidate for the forthcoming bypoll for Kaliganj Assembly constituency scheduled this month. We decided to back their candidate and refrained from fielding our candidate. They said that they wanted to continue their understanding with us that was reached for the 2021 assembly election and 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the 2025 bypoll. Now, they will have to decide what they want to do in 2026. We cannot take decisions on the Congressas behalf," Salim told media persons here.

The electoral understanding between Congress and the Left Front started in the 2016 West Bengal assembly election. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, there was no seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties.

However, the arrangement again fructified for the 2021 Assembly elections and continued in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Now the question is whether the same understanding between the Congress and the Left Front would continue in the 2026 polls, considering the changed situations both in the Congress and the CPI-M.

On one hand, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, known for his diehard anti-Trinamool Congress stand, has been replaced as the Congress state chief by Suvankar Sarkar, perceived to be softer as regards relations with the ruling party.

Secondly, in the draft political resolution of the CPI-Mas 24th Party Congress that concluded at Madurai in April this year, the partyas central leadership focused more on independent political lines in the coming days rather than on electoral understandings.

"The party should pay more attention to the independent political campaign and mass mobilisation around the political platform of the party. There should be no blurring of our independent identity or diminishing of our independent activities in the name of electoral understanding or alliances," the excerpts of the draft political resolution had read.
Mumbai, June 4 : Actor Aayush Sharma will next entertain the movie buffs with Sohail Khan's "My Punjabi Nikaah", co-starring Sanjay Dutt.

Using social media, he gave the netizens a glimpse of the in-between shots fun.

Aayush dropped a BTS video from the set where he can be seen singing songs like "Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya Bewafa" from "Guide", and "Pyar Hame Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya" from "Satte Pe Satta".

In another clip from the post, he was prepping his lines before the take.

The post also incorporated a few BTS pictures from the shoot. Sharing the project update, director Sohail Khan revealed the film's title - "My Punjabi Nikaah".

Divulging further details of the drama, Sohail penned, "My Journey of my next film titled "MY PUNJABI NIKAAH", starring SANJAY DUTT, ANNU KAPOOR, AAYUSH SHARMA and introducing a beautiful mysterious girl has commenced with meeting The Hon'ble Governor Of Punjab, Gulab Chand Kataria Ji who was very kind and gracious while giving his blessings for the film (sic)".

He added, "Also I was very fortunate to meet The Hon'ble CM Of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini Ji who was equally warm and kind giving his support and positive response for the filming of the film in the state of Haryana. Finally I would really like to thank from the bottom of my heart to The Hon'ble CM Of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann Ji who was very kind for meeting me taking time out from his busy schedule encouraged me to film my pet project in Punjab as well. I was overwhelmed and my heartfelt thanks to all the senior politicians who are making my ambitious journey as comfortable as possible. The love, affection, support and accommodations extended to us is highly appreciated. I sincerely thank everyone from the bottom of my heart and I will always remember your kindness for the rest of my life. God Bless you All. JAI HIND @@gulabchand_kataria @@nayabsainiofficial @bhagwantmann (sic)".
Washington, June 4 : The team of Indian parliamentarians, headed by Congress Party leader Shashi Tharoor, began on Wednesday two days of grueling campaign in the US capital to convey India's message of zero tolerance for terrorism and explain how it was forced to respondwith Operation Sindoor to terrorism sponsored from across the border in Pakistan.

The delegation that arrived here from Brasilia on Tuesday afternoon has a very demanding schedule that includes meetings with government officials, members of Congress, think tanks, media, opinion-makers, and members of the Indian American community.

Looking ahead at the visit, Tharoor told IANS in Brasilia: "We're looking for solidarity in our struggle against terrorism".

"Washington is a particularly interesting case because it is a large country, a superpower with enormous influence in the world, and there are many crosscurrents of information, misinformation, and other narratives circulating. So, we have quite a lot of work to do there," he said.

Reflecting India's united stand against terrorism, the team represents its political and geographic diversity and is led by Tharoor from the opposition Congress.

The other members of the team are Shambhavi of the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, Sarfaraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Milind Murli Deora of the Shiv Sena as welll as Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya of the BJP, and GM Harish Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party, a National Democratic Alliance partner.

Former Indian Ambassador to the US Tarajnit Singh Sandhu is also with the team to capitalise on his knowledge of and network in the US capital.

While the Tharoor-led delegation is here, a Pakistani team led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also be in town pushing Islamabad's message.

"In Washington, we'll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America," Tharoor noted in Brasilia in a talk with reporters.

"So there's going to be some perhaps, increase in interest because of the fact that our two duelling delegations, as it were," he added.

A highlight of the Indian delegation's visit here is a news conference at the National Press Club.

Tharoor will be staying on after most members of his team return to India for a series of interviews with major US media and podcasters on Friday.

Two evening events are planned at the Embassy, one for Indian Americans and another for other influential opinion-makers and influencers.

In the US Congress, the delegation is expected to meet with committees dealing with foreign and strategic affairs.

Team Tharoor has visited New York, Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, where they met government leaders, lawmakers, and the media to present India's view of the terrorism crisis following the massacre of 26 people at Pahalgam by The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"For us, in these countries, understanding our position and leaving with a sense of solidarity was important  and that we have done," Tharoor told IANS.

The delegation came to Washington from Brasilia on a roundabout route that took them to Sao Paulo in Brazil and Panama.

On arrival, they were met by India's Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and his team of diplomats, who later gave them a detailed briefing.

Noting the ubiquitous presence of diaspora across the US spectrum, Tharoor posted on X that he was "pleased to be greeted at the airport by two Indian-American cops, Officers Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal".
New Delhi, June 4 : The Delhi government on Wednesday handed over the entire responsibility of the procurement of medicines and medical devices in the hospitals to the Central Procurement Agency (CPA).

In a letter addressed to Secretary Health and Family Welfare at Delhi Secretariat, Director DGHS, and all MDMS, Atul Marwaha, OSD to Minister, said that the decision is a historic step towards making the healthcare system more effective and patient centric.

"The CPA is now designated as the sole agency responsible for the procurement of medicines, consumables, medical devices, machinery, equipment," the letter said.

Importantly, "procurement will be carried out by the CPA based on demands received from the respective hospitals/institutions/healthcare facilities in Delhi", it stated.

The decision comes as some hospitals and institutions were found to procure medical devices, and consumables, "through direct purchases or by using the cart feature on the Government e-Marketplace (GEM) portal", said the letter.

The practice inflated prices, price discrepancies, and also raised serious concerns of audit non-compliance.

As per the new order, all purchases of medical devices, any other consumables, machinery and equipment must be made exclusively through the e-procurement process.

It "strictly prohibited" hospitals to make direct purchases or cart-based procurement on the GeM portal.

"All demands and bidding processes shall be handled solely by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA). No hospital or institution is authorised to undertake cart purchases or initiate bidding directly. All procurement requirements and demands must be submitted to the CPA," the letter said.

However, in case of exceptional or emergency situations where immediate procurement via GeM cart is unavoidable, the concerned institution must submit the demand to the CPA.

The CPA will assess the urgency and coordinate procurement on behalf of the hospital.

"Any deviation from these directives will be viewed seriously and may result in disciplinary and/or legal action as deemed appropriate by the competent authority. This order is issued with the approval of the Minister, Health & Family Welfare, and is to be strictly implemented by all concerned officers and institutions," the letter said.

With the new decision, the doctors and medical staff will be able to focus their time and energy on patient care, rather than on administrative procedures.

It will also bolster patients care.

aThis decision has been made in the interest of patients. Doctors will now be able to spend more time with patients, leading to a remarkable improvement in the quality of treatment," said a spokesperson for the Delhi Government.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Representatives of the Azerbaijan Army participated in NATOs "Resolute Force - 2025" multinational command-staff exercise, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

A group of officers of the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University represented Azerbaijan at the exercise held at the G.S. Rakovski National Defense College in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Azerbaijani officers successfully accomplished the assigned tasks at the exercise, which also involved representatives from the armies of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, North Macedonia, and Greece.

The objective of the exercise was to carry out activities in line with the military decision-making process, as well as to enhance the skills of commanders and headquarters to manage units in operational conditions.

At the end of the command-staff exercise, certificates were presented to the participants.

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Amaravati, June 4 : Accusing the TDP-led NDA of going back on its poll promises, opposition YSR Congress Party observed 'Betrayal Day' across Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders and cadres hit the streets in all the districts to lodge their protest over what they called the betrayal by the coalition government.

Holding banners and placards and raising slogans, they held rallies and participated in other forms of protest. They also gave representations to officials, demanding that the government fulfil the promises.

The protestors raised slogans of 'Chandrababu down down' and alleged that the coalition failed to fulfil the promises made to people in last year's elections. At a few places, the protestors were detained by the police.

The YSRCP leaders said that the alliance made 143 promises to people but failed to fulfil even 'Super Six' promises.

YSRCP president and former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy posted on 'X' that exactly a year ago, Chandrababu Naidu came to power with grand promises, but not a single one has been fulfilled.

"Instead, he has betrayed the very people who believed in him. His false statements, broken assurances, and blatant backstabbing have pushed the state into disillusionment. That's why today, we call for Betrayal Day! And people from all walks of life have come out in huge numbers, expressing their deep anguish and anger. This isn't just a protest; it's a powerful message that the people of Andhra Pradesh will not remain silent in the face of lies and deception," wrote Jagan Mohan Reddy.

"The massive turnout for this state-wide programme reflects the pain, frustration, and resistance of the betrayed public. I sincerely thank every YSRCP leader, worker, and citizen who stood up today, shoulder to shoulder, to voice this truth alongside the needy people. Our fight for justice, dignity, people's rights and their cause will only grow stronger and stronger," added the YSRCP chief.

YSRCP state coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said that the grand success of 'Betrayal Day' reflects the ire of the people who felt cheated as none of the poll promises were implemented by the coalition government. He said that anti-incumbency has set in much earlier.

He said, despite the police restrictions, the 'Betrayal Day' was a grand success with people voicing their dissent in unison as the election promises were not fulfilled by Chandrababu Naidu and drew a contrast with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's term, where 99 per cent of the promises were delivered on the dot.

People felt cheated as the existing schemes were stopped and the promised ones were not rolled out, and this has a clear reflection in success of 'Betrayal Day', he said adding that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy even in opposition was always with the people while Chandrababu away from the people and the State between 2019-24.
Hyderabad, June 4 : AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has termed as 'foolish' Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's statement at United Nations headquarters during which he called for cooperation between Pakistan and India's intelligence agencies.

Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, Owaisi reminded Bilawal Bhutto what happened after the agencies of the two countries held talks following the 26/11 and Pathankot attacks.

Bilawal Bhutto, who is leading a high-powered delegation to the US as part of a global diplomatic push to seek support following its recent conflict with India, told a press conference that cooperation between the intelligence agencies of the two neighbours could significantly reduce terrorism in South Asian.

"What happened after 26/11 and Pathankot. You rewarded and shielded all terrorists and gave (Zakiur Rehman) Lakhvi the opportunity to become the father of a son while sitting in jail," Owaisi said.

The MP reminded Bilawal Bhutto that her mother, Benazir Bhutto, herself was a victim of terrorism.

"The same UN where he spoke sent a team comprising diplomats from various countries to Pakistan for a probe, and they said the investigation by Pakistan into her assassination was shoddy," he said.

"Do some introspection. You don't know the organisation which killed your mother, and you are pointing fingers at India. This is foolish," he said.

On the ceasefire with Pakistan, the AIMIM chief, Pakistan's DGMO, spoke to our DGMO. "Our DGMO would have accepted it after talking to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and political leadership should have told the country that Pakistan's DGMO spoke, and we are stopping the firing. Instead of them, US President Donald Trump told the country. Who is he?"

Owaisi, who was part of the delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda to visit four Gulf countries, said they tried to put forward India's stand and its security concerns over Pakistan's terrorism.

He said the delegation told them that the Pahalgam attack was carried out by terrorists who came from Pakistan.

The MP said they also told the leaders of those countries that the Resistance Front (TRF), which carried out the Pahalgam attack, is the new name of LeT and that India had approached the UN Sanctions Committee 1262 in December 2023 and May and June 2024 to declare it as a terror outfit.

Owaisi also stated that two of the four emails about owning up Pahalgam attack emanated from close to Pakistan's military cantonment board.

"The leader of some countries asked, why don't you talk. We cited that we held talks after 26/11, but there was no use," he said.

The Hyderabad MP said that after Pathankot, the Modi government took the wrong decision to invite ISI, and nothing was achieved from this.
Srinagar, June 4 : J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday lashed out at National Conference and its current administration, accusing them of targeting Kashmiris and running a system steeped in "lies, inaction, and brazen corruption." Srinagar, June 4 (IANS) J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday lashed out at National Conference and its current administration, accusing them of targeting Kashmiris and running a system steeped in "lies, inaction, and brazen corruption."

Addressing a press conference, Lone said the National Conference has no power to impact anyone except the common Kashmiri.

"They are going after the very people who voted for them. And those who didn't, they are being treated with callousness. This is exactly what we expected from them," Lone remarked.

He went on to cite alleged rampant corruption and inefficiency in the current setup.

"We will begin collecting evidence. They have done no work to datejust lie after lie. Where is the government? What have they delivered to the people?" he questioned.

Taking a swipe at the frequent official review meetings, he said, "They've been holding these meetings for aeons hereonly to sip tea and eat Kebabs. In our time, too, these review meetings meant nothing. Do you think Germany, Japan, the UK or the US became first-world nations through review meetings? It takes hard work, day and night, to build a nation."

He also raised concerns about the over-centralisation of power in the Chief Minister's office.

"The CM is handling 28 to 30 departments alone. Is he even human? If ministers can't be appointed out of fear or indecision, what is the point of being in power?"

He criticised the system still being run by commissioner-secretaries as it was decades ago, asking, "Why did people even vote if nothing was meant to change and ministers were only meant to stay busy with transfers?"

Lone also expressed concern over the ongoing termination of government employees, calling it a damaging and repetitive tactic.

"This has been happening for 30 years under every regime. It creates unrest. Targeting Kashmiris must stop. Until Kashmiris are at peace, peace in South Asia will remain a distant dream."

Highlighting the economic downturn, he said, "Economic activity in Kashmir has come to a halt. There's a dire need to rebuild market confidence and revive the economy."
Mumbai, June 4 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday presented the Carbon Credit Certificate and Carbon Neutral Certificate for Metro Lines 2A and 7, saying that it is a significant step towards green transport and climate-friendly infrastructure in Maharashtra.

This milestone marks Lines 2A (Dahisar East to DN Nagar) and Line 7 (Dahisar East to Gundavali) as carbon-neutral corridors, reinforcing Maharashtra's vision for a greener, more sustainable urban transport ecosystem, said a release issued by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

CM Fadnavis said, "Carbon neutrality is no longer a global aspiration, it is a local responsibility. Maharashtra is proud to lead the nation with certified climate-conscious mobility solutions through MMRDA's metro systems."

Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) initiated a third-party audit to assess the carbon neutrality of these corridors. The audit confirmed compliance with PAS 2060:2014, the international standard for carbon neutrality.

Additionally, the Universal Carbon Registry (UCR) has certified the issuance of 85,849 Carbon Offset Units (CoUs) to MMMOCL for the two years between January 2023December 2024 "Modal Shift for Lines 2A and 7."

Looking ahead, MMRDA has begun registering under-construction metro lines 2B, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7A, and 9 under the VERRA Carbon Registry, the world's leading standard for GHG emission reductions. This positions Mumbai as a national pioneer in climate-aligned urban transit.

"Carbon neutrality refers to balancing the amount of carbon emitted with an equivalent amount offset, resulting in a net-zero carbon footprint. For metro operations, this involves calculating all emissions primarily from electricity consumption and offsetting them through verified carbon credit projects. These credits arise from emission reductions due to a shift from personal vehicles to public metro systems," said the MMRDA in a release.

The essence of this initiative lies in the substantial environmental advantage of metro travel over private transportation. By enabling this modal shift, MMRDA has effectively reduced the carbon footprint of thousands of daily commuters across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

An impressive reduction of 85,849 tonnes of CO equivalent (TCOeq) has been achieved by comparing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per passenger-kilometre between metro systems and road-based vehicles, said the release.

For a dense and rapidly growing city like Mumbai, carbon neutrality has far-reaching implications including reduction in urban air pollution and improved public health, lower greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), strengthened climate resilience by reducing dependency on fossil fuels and attraction of global climate finance and green investments due to certified infrastructure.

Deputy Chief Minister & MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde said, "Mumbai's future is green, modern, and inclusive. The certification of Metro Lines 2A and 7 as carbon-neutral shows that our infrastructure is not only world-class in quality but also deeply committed to environmental sustainability."

Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee stated, "At MMRDA, sustainability is not an afterthought; it is at the core of our planning and execution. From carbon-neutral metro operations to multimodal integration and green mobility initiatives, every project we undertake is aligned with the vision of building a climate-resilient and environmentally responsible Mumbai. This recognition affirms that infrastructure can be both progressive and planet-friendly."

MMMOCL managing director Rubal Agarwal said, "We are proud to operationalise carbon-neutral metro corridors. With verified carbon credits and future VERRA projects, MMMOCL is actively leading the shift toward net-zero public transport."
Mumbai, June 4 : Maharashtra is firmly on the path to becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared while addressing the "India Investment Forum 2025" organised by Morgan Stanley here on Wednesday.

He presented a comprehensive overview of Maharashtra's economic, industrial, social, and environmental strides. He highlighted that the state's economy has already crossed the half-trillion-dollar mark. An Economic Advisory Council, headed by Tata Sons, with the collaboration of 20 senior CEOs, has developed a robust roadmap covering infrastructure, industries, services, agriculture, and fintech sectors.

He also announced that the "Viksit Maharashtra 2047" blueprint will be unveiled on October 2, featuring short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.

The Chief Minister emphasised that Maharashtra's industrial power is no longer confined to Mumbai and Pune. Areas like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Gadchiroli, Nashik, and Raigad are emerging rapidly through EV hubs, steel cities, and integrated industrial townships, making the entire state an industrial powerhouse.

He said that a massive infrastructure investment worth $100 billion is underway, including Vadhavan Port, Nagpur-Goa Expressway, New airports, Mumbai Metro and Coastal Road projects.

"These will transform Maharashtra's transport and trade logistics. Mumbai is witnessing swift urban renewal with the Dharavi Redevelopment Project aimed at rehabilitating 8 lakh citizens. The government is also introducing a unified mobility solution via a single transport card and an integrated mobile app. Coastal areas are being cleaned through advanced sewage treatment projects," said the Chief Minister.

Fadnavis said Maharashtra remains the top state in foreign direct investment (FDI), contributing 40 per cent of India's total FDI.

He credited this success to an integrated digital single-window system, expansion of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation industrial parks and establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Investment.

He mentioned that the state is intensifying efforts in water security, technology, and power supply for farmers. By 2026, the government plans to provide free daytime solar electricity, enhancing agricultural productivity and income.

Maharashtra has drafted a comprehensive five-year tourism development plan, said the Chief Minister, adding that the state will focus on local community involvement, conservation zones, and infrastructure to revolutionise the tourism sector.

"Maharashtra's multi-sectoral strategy is designed to ensure inclusive growth and a sustainable, future-ready economy," he remarked.
Mumbai, June 4 : Stating that plastic is the biggest enemy of the environment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasised that refusing single-use plastic is in fact an affirmation of environmental protection.

He appealed to citizens to actively participate in the government's ambitious campaign of planting 10 crore (100 million) trees this year.

The global awareness campaign on climate change was launched on the occasion of World Environment Day. Present at the event were Goa's Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, BMC Additional Commissioner Dinesh Palvewad, Bhamla Foundation's Asif Bhamla, actress Raveena Tandon, Godrej Group's Nadir Godrej, and lyricist Swanand Kirkire.

CM Fadnavis stated that by minimising plastic use, environmental harm can be reduced. With modern technology, it is possible to develop biodegradable alternatives to plastic. He encouraged the creation and use of such alternatives. The ongoing tree plantation campaign will not just focus on planting trees, but will also ensure their survival and growth using Artificial Intelligence-based monitoring and support systems.

He said that Mumbai is developing the country's largest wastewater treatment network, ensuring that soon, all wastewater released into the sea will be treated. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to achieving 'Net Zero' carbon emissions by 2030. India also aims to meet 50 per cent of its total energy needs from renewable sources.

"Maharashtra is leading in this initiative, working towards meeting 16,000 MW of agricultural energy demand through solar power by 2026. Public transport in major cities is being transitioned to green energy, with Mumbai leading the way. Also, the city's public transport ticketing will be integrated under a 'single ticket' system," he announced.

During the event, CM Fadnavis also launched the environmental awareness campaign video titled "Pyaasa", featuring actor Ajay Devgn, aimed at promoting the ban on single-use plastics and spreading awareness about environmental protection.
Guwahati, June 5 : The overall flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Wednesday even as the decline in the intensity of the rain, the situation of improved in other northeastern states, an official said. With two more fresh deaths in Assam, the death toll in seven states, excluding Sikkim, of the region increased to 46.

As per the data provided by the officials of different northeastern states, out of 46 deaths during the current spell of rain and floods since May 29, at least 19 people were killed in Assam, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Meghalaya, five in Mizoram, two in Tripura and one each in Nagaland and Manipur.

According to the disaster management officials of the seven northeastern states, excluding Sikkim, the deaths occurred due to drowning, landslides, waterlogging and other calamity-related mishaps.

In Assam, according to the report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), over 6.79 lakh people were affected by the floods and rains in 21 districts.

As per the ASDMA report, over 14,977 hectares of crop lands were affected in 1,494 villages in 21 districts.

The mighty Brahmaputra river and eight other rivers -- Burhidihing, Kopili, Barak, Sonai, Rukni, Dhaleswari, Katakhal, Kushiyara are flowing above the danger level at several places in Assam.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the flood situation continued to remain grim on Wednesday with incessant rain causing fresh landslides and submerging of fresh areas in different parts of the state affecting over 3,000 people in 23 districts.

Though there were no fresh deaths in the northeastern state on Tuesday and Wednesday, so far, least 12 people including women and children have lost their lives due to landslides and floods triggered by monsoon rain since last week in five districts -- East Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Longding, Lohit and Anjaw.

As per the report of the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) fresh landslides were reported in Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts and along the Likabali-Aalo highway near Magi and Siji, disrupting vehicular movement. Over 3,000 people have been affected by the rain triggered floods and landslides across Arunachal Pradesh, the SEOC report said.

Out of Arunachal Pradeshas 26 districts, Changlang is the worst-affected, with six villages inundated and 2,231 people rendered homeless. Popular tourist spots such as Zupra and River Cafe near the Noa-Dehing river in Changland have been submerged by floodwater.

Altogether, 212 houses were damaged across the state, and 425 livestock deaths were reported, including 335 poultry and 95 animals.

Additionally, floods and landslides damaged around 17 hectares of farmland and 20 hectares of horticulture plantations. In Manipur, in the wake of devastating floods affecting several areas of the Imphal Valley, the Assam Rifles has once again demonstrated its deep commitment to humanitarian service and disaster response.

A Defence spokesperson said that a column of Assam Rifles on Wednesday carried out a critical relief operation in Thambalkhong Leirak, Wangkhei, where they distributed 350 litres of potable drinking water and 5,000 litres of general use water to flood affected residents.

The timely intervention was met with heartfelt gratitude from the local community, who had been struggling for access to clean water in the aftermath of the deluge.

Simultaneously, another relief effort was conducted at Khumidok village in Imphal East. Assam Rifles personnel not only rescued stranded civilians but also established a medical aid camp and carried out defogging operations to mitigate health hazards caused by stagnant water.

Their rapid response helped prevent further deterioration of living conditions and safeguarded the health of the community. Residents of Khumidok expressed deep appreciation for the compassion and professionalism shown by the Assam Rifles, acknowledging their vital role in saving lives and restoring hope during a time of crisis, the spokesman said.

The overall flood situations improved in Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland.

The flood situation in Assam deteriorated further on Wednesday, with two more fatalities reported, taking the cumulative death toll from this year's floods and landslides to 19.

According to the latest bulletin from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 6.8 lakh people across 21 districts are now reeling under the deluge.

Nine major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are currently flowing above the danger mark at multiple locations across the state.

The India Meteorological Departmentas Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated pockets, compounding concerns of further flooding.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are also expected in districts such as Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, and Kokrajhar. The two most recent deaths were reported from Nagaon and Cachar districts, with one person still missing in Cachar.

The number of affected people surged from 6.5 lakh on Tuesday to 6,79,423 on Wednesday, impacting 66 revenue circles and 1,494 villages. Sribhumi remains the worst-affected district, with over 2.59 lakh residents hit, followed by Hailakandi (1.72 lakh) and Nagaon (1.02 lakh).

Over 41,000 people have been forced to seek refuge in 190 relief camps, while 215 relief distribution centres are operational across the state. Floodwaters have submerged nearly 15,000 hectares of cropland, severely affecting agricultural activities.

The ASDMA bulletin also highlighted extensive damage to roads, bridges, educational institutions, Anganwadi centres, and power infrastructure.

Urban flooding continues to affect two districts, impacting over 1,000 residents. Train services in southern Assam, particularly in Silchar, have also taken a hit.

A spokesperson for Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) confirmed disruptions due to rising water levels on tracks and waterlogging at key maintenance areas. Road and ferry connectivity also remain affected in several regions as the state grapples with worsening flood conditions.

--IANS

sc-tdr/pgh
New Delhi, June 5 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP, Brij Lal, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish a "Sindoor Memorial" in honour of those who were killed in the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 this year.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, the BJP leader emphasised the need to commemorate the victims and recognise their supreme sacrifice.

Speaking to IANS, Brij Lal underscored the significance of Operation Sindoor, a counterterrorism mission executed under PM Modi's leadership.

He recalled how the name was chosen with deep thought and meaning.

While travelling abroad as part of an all-party delegation, the BJP leader explained to foreign representatives the cultural importance of "Sindoor" in Indian tradition.

Reflecting on the tragic events in Pahalgam, Brij Lal detailed how terrorists targeted civilians based on their faith before killing them.

The terrorist attack was intended to send a message to Prime Minister Modi, but the latter's response was strong and fierce.

The BJP leader declared that it was not blood but Sindoor that flowed in PM Modi's veins.

Under Operation Sindoor, nine terrorist hideouts were dismantled, and more than a hundred terrorists were killed.

Brij Lal also referenced a widely circulated video featuring Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar mourning over a grave.

He said that Masood Azhar was responsible for planning the terror attacks in multiple nations.

If extremists refuse to mend their ways, the BJP leader asserted that Operation Sindoor will continue.

In his letter, Brij Lal urged the Union government to establish a memorial in Pahalgam that would honour the 26 victims and the heroic sacrifice of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who died while attempting to disarm a terrorist in a bid to protect tourists.

He emphasised that such a monument would serve as a powerful reminder of India's unity and the selflessness displayed in the fight against terrorism.

The attack sparked national outrage, leading to unprecedented protests against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP leader said.

Brij Lal added that for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370, citizens of the country rallied against extremism.

The BJP leader said that a memorial in Pahalgam will stand as an enduring tribute to the courage of those who died in the terror attack and the success of Operation Sindoor.
Kolkata, June 5 : Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP, Abhishek Banerjee, has expressed condolences over the stampede incident at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Karnataka's Bengaluru in which 11 persons died while more than 33 other were left injured.

"Shocked and saddened by the tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy. Wishing strength and a speedy recovery to all those who are injured. May the departed souls rest in peace and may their families find comfort in this difficult time," he said in a statement posted on Wednesday evening on his official X account.

However, there was no message or statement released by the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the unfortunate incident.

The stampede took place near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday as a large crowd turned up for the celebration event of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first-ever Indian Premier League trophy victory.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and also ordered a magisterial probe.

"A big tragedy has happened during the victory celebration. Eleven people died in the stampede incident, and 33 persons were injured," he said.

"I have visited Bowring and Vaidehi hospitals. This tragedy, occurring during a celebration, saddens me. People have thronged in large numbers, exceeding our expectations. One lakh people gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha. The capacity of Chinnaswamy Stadium is 35,000, but about two to three lakh people gathered at the stadium," Siddaramaiah said earlier on Wednesday.

Asked if he was trying to give a clean chit to the state authorities by calling the incident as 'unexpected', the Karnataka CM said that the media should not ask questions like an 'opposition party'.
On June 3, 795 publishing professionals from across all sectors of the book business converged on the New York Academy of Medicine in Harlem for the fifth annual U.S. Book Show, hosted by Publishers Weekly. The daylong event featured panel discussions, breakout sessions, and industry mixers.

Kicking off the program was a keynote conversation between Joy Bivins, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, and Randy Winston, creative director of fiction at The Black List. Bivins discussed the Schomburg Centers upcoming centennial exhibition, "100 Years of Collections, Community, and Creativity," which draws from its 11-million-item collection and features materials from such literary giants as Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Lorraine Hansberry, alongside a festival and other programming initiatives.

Bivins described the Schomburg Center, which is part of the New York Public Library System, as "one of the most impactful institutions preserving and providing access to Black history and culture and said its existence reflects "that impetus to preserve and steward one's own heritage. The Schomburg Centers roots trace back to Puerto Ricanborn scholar and bibliophile Arturo Schomburg, who "utilized these materialsbooks, manuscriptsas part of a collective ethos to signify and provide evidence that people of African descent had deep and rich history," Bivins said.

Reflecting on her tenure, Bivins said, "When I look back, I'll get to say I was the leader of the Schomburg Center when it celebrated 100 years, and now I'm part of a legacy that is bigger than I am."

CEOs in Conversation

At the first panel of the day, moderated by PW editorial director Jonathan Segura, Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp and Hachette Book Group CEO David Shelley discussed AI, data-driven decision-making, indie publishing, book banning, and DEI.

Shelley described AI as "definitely the biggest development that I've seen" in his 30-year career, adding, "I think in this position, I would be remiss not to feel concerned about it." Both executives also emphasized concerns about intellectual property protection. "The works that we create and put into the world digitally should not be stolen by these AI companies for their platforms," Karp said. "There are a lot of lawsuits going on, and I certainly hope that the creator communities that are waging these lawsuits will prevail."

The executives also described how data analytics have transformed publishing operations. "It's transformative in terms of something like print runs," Shelley said. "Now with pre-order data and analytics, we can make much smarter decisions about print quantities, which is great for the environment as much as anything. The amount of wastage we have now is so much lower than before."

When asked about supporting independent publishers, Karp acknowledged that he [hasnt] given that much thought to that question." Meanwhile, Shelley identified distribution services as one area of support. "We sell and distribute for a number of smaller presses," he said. "We've definitely lowered our thresholds in terms of revenue."

Recent legal challenges to book banning efforts also came up, with Shelley praising industry coordination through the Association of American Publishers. Karp emphasized grassroots resistance as the most effective response: "I think the most important thing is to remember that in a democracy, we have the power to organize and fight these book bans at the community level.

As DEI also becomes a hot-button issue under the new administration, Karp said, "We certainly are not going to back down on a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Shelley framed diversity initiatives in business terms, noting that around 30% of the books HBG publishes in the U.S. are sold outside the country.

We're serving a wide world of readers, a wide diversity of readers," Shelley said, adding: "To serve those communities, we need to be representative of the wider world. If we don't have diverse organizations, then we're monocultural. If we're monocultural, we can't serve a variety of cultures."

Passing the Torch

At Passing the Torch: Cultivating the Next Generation of Publishing Leaders a panel of industry experts stressed the importance of cultures of open communication, mentorship, and peer support to empowering young employees and increasing retention rates.

Devi Pillai, president and publisher of Tor Publishing Group, said its important to to create an environment where [people] feel comfortable speaking up. The Tor team, she said, has no problem telling me what Im doing wrong, adding that she relishes the feedback because a lot of young people are smarter than I am, particularly about media and publishing trends.

Sloan Harris, co-head of the books department at CAA, said he encourages his younger colleagues to read anything Im working on and offer feedback. The most fun part of my job, Harris said, is having someone whos new in the business read me the riot act first thing in the morning about what Im not getting right about a manuscript.

Erinn McGrath, founder of Full Story, stressed that a core part of managers jobs is getting to know someone, and what their strengths are and what theyre interested in. Sally Kim, president and publisher of Little, Brown, said she did just this when she took over the publisher. Kim met with all 65 LB staffers one-on-one and asked about their hobbies [and] what they liked to read so that when LB acquired a book that aligned with their interests, she could ask for their perspectives. Involving employees in this way, Kim said, makes us better publishers.

McGrath and Harris concurred that coming into the office creates unparalleled opportunities for mentorship. Harris said in-person work is the only way he can mentor younger colleagues, and stressed that companies need to incentivize those workers to come into the office as a way to participate in what he called an old fashioned apprenticeship program. However, Emi Ikkanda, executive editor at Tiny Reparations Books, noted that for many people of color, being in the office often comes with enduring microaggressions, creating a preference for working from home, which in turn leads to lost opportunities for mentorship.

Ikkeda also noted that low retention rates are a huge problem in publishing and stressed that finding a peer group outside of your company, as well as peer mentorship from colleagues, are essential to keeping entry-level employees in publishing for the long haul.
Photo: State Committee for Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Denmarks capital, Copenhagen, hosted yet another event to mark May 28 - Azerbaijans Independence Day and the 107th anniversary of the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), Trend reports via the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The celebration took place at the MusikTeatret Albertslund Cultural Center, organized by the Denmark-Azerbaijan Vatan Society. The event was attended by local residents, over 70 diaspora representatives from various Swedish cities, and diplomats accredited in Denmark.

Mehriban Aliyeva, chairperson of the Vatan Society, described May 28 as a glorious page in Azerbaijans history and a triumph of the nations will, proudly commemorating the establishment of the first democratic and secular republic in the East.

She recalled the historic words of National Leader Heydar Aliyev: Our independence is eternal, irreversible, and unshakable. Long live a strong, independent Azerbaijan!

Azerbaijans First Secretary at the Embassy in the Kingdom of Sweden, Asgar Naghiyev, provided detailed insights into the history of the ADR, emphasizing that it was during that period that the foundations of democracy, human rights, and the legal system were laid.

The event featured a screening of the historical and artistic film The Last Meeting, which reflects the session of the National Council held in Tbilisi in 1918 and the history of the ADR.

Following the screening, the program continued with a concert performed by Aynur Malikova, a graduate of the Baku Music Academy and Frankfurt-Main University of Music and Theatre, currently residing in Sweden. Attendees deeply enjoyed the richness and depth of Azerbaijani music.

The event concluded with greetings for International Childrens Day on June 1 and a recitation of the poem Azerbaijan.

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Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, a new order emerged. Democracy had defeated authoritarianism, and the world shifted its focus away from the Eurasian region. Fifteen new countries were formed, and the West believed these states would abandon their Soviet past. There was also an assumption that these newly independent countries would adopt democracy, incorporate capitalist philosophies, and integrate with Western ideologies.

What transpired, however, has much different. While Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania quickly adopted rigorous reform efforts, paving the way toward membership with the European Union and NATO in 2004, the remaining 12 former Soviet states have struggled to adapt. In fact, many military conflicts and democratic crises have emerged in these countries over the past few years.

Take, for example, Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. For more than three years, the Russian Federations military incursion has continued without an apparent end. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed by Russias aggression. Numerous cities and villages have been destroyed, and one-fourth of Ukraines population remains displaced.

Despite this devastation and destruction, Ukraine continues its fight for freedom. For several years, the Ukrainians have worked hard to reform their government, and they have adopted Western values and traditions as they seek to become part of Western institutions and organizations. These reform efforts have resulted in Ukraine being granted EU candidate status in June 2022 and being named a NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner in June 2020.

But as Ukraine continues its fight for democracy and prosperity, Russia has adopted a different path. Since its independence in 1991, and the emergence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia has cracked down on political freedoms and movements within the country. The Russian government has also pursued authoritarian practices. In other words, the political climate in Ukraine and Russia could not be any different.

Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine has also been labeled as a fight between good and evil, a war between democracy and authoritarianism. For the most part, the international community has come to aid Ukraine. When the war began, the international community imposed stiff sanctions to try to force the Russian Federation to end its war in Ukraine. Since then, dozens of countries around the world have imposed additional penalties on Russia for continuing the war. But time and time again, Russia has dismissed calls to end its invasion. Given this Russian reluctance, no one knows when or how the ongoing war will end.

But as the globe remains focused on the Russo-Ukraine war, several other crises and issues exist in the region. Take, for example, Belarus. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus has struggled to abandon its Soviet past. When Belarus held its first democratic presidential election in 1994, politician Alyaksandr Lukashenka won. After his victory, the first president of Belarus implemented a rule that would allow the leader of Belarus the authority to dissolve the Belarusian parliament. He also created policies that saw Belarus pursue greater economic integration with Russia. As time progressed, Lukashenka continued his crackdown on Belarusian society, where he eliminated numerous political parties, and he wrongly imprisoned political opponents. Imposing these restrictions saw him further consolidate his power, which has slid Belarus into a dictatorship, where Lukashenka won every presidential election since 1994. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and several other international observers have repeatedly said that the presidential elections in Belarus have been nothing more than a sham, yet Lukashenka remains in power.

Beyond these democratic crackdowns, Lukashenka has willingly given much of his countrys sovereignty to Russia. He has taken billions of dollars in loans from Russia, which has indebted his country to the Russian Federation. Furthermore, Belarus has relied heavily on Russias energy market. For a time, Russia even maintained a military presence in Belarus. Finally, due to economic sanctions imposed on Belarus by the international community for authoritarian practices, Belarus has been forced to rely heavily on Russian trade, as the Belarusian government has opted not to reform itself. These economic and energy ties have forced Belarus to become dependent on the Russian Federation, and this overreliance has led some experts to claim that Belarus is slowly being morphed into a union state with Russia. Some even believe Belarus may one day become a region of Russia if this authoritarian trend continues.

Unfortunately, democratic and political issues within the Eurasian region do not end there. Like Belarus, Georgia is facing its own crisis. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the newly established Georgian government worked quickly and efficiently to reform its institutions. Georgia pursued economic reforms to improve its financial institutions, and it strengthened its rule of law. In addition, Georgian national identity and culture flourished. The international community noticed these reforms, leading to the EU granting Georgian citizens visa-free travel to the EU. In addition, Transparency International, a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization that works to combat global corruption, noted that Georgia had made significant progress in its anti-corruption work.

But in recent years, Georgia has stopped these reform efforts. The current ruling parliament in Georgia, known as Georgia Dream, has quickly restricted civil liberties. Surveillance has increased across the country, and the government has dismissed hundreds of civil servants in an attempt to fill government positions with party loyalists. Furthermore, several nonprofit organizations and independent media outlets in Georgia have faced pressure from Georgian Dream. Finally, in defiance of the Georgian opposition and citizens, Georgian Dream has slowly distanced itself from its EU integration efforts, where it instead has favored closer ties to Russia. This is an odd decision as Russia continues to illegally occupy 20% of Georgian territory, something it has done since the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008.

In short, there is a political battle in Georgia. Some wish to secure a prosperous socio-economic future by modernizing political institutions and adopting Western traditions and values. Meanwhile, others have a nostalgia for the Soviet past and favor relations with Russia. It is unclear how the ongoing political battle in Georgia will unfold.

Elsewhere in the Caucasus, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been fighting an on-and-off war for four decades. To date, they have yet to resolve their differences. Since the 1980s, the two countries have had a series of skirmishes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both countries claim historic ties to the area, and this has resulted in constant fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands, and several ceasefires have been violated over this four-decade period. The Russian Federation and Turkey have attempted to broker agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and for a time, Russia even maintained a presence in the region. These negotiation attempts, however, did not succeed.

Most recently, Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked attack on ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians fled the region, fearing for their safety. The Armenian government has struggled to help these refugees assimilate, and this has brought financial pressure on the Armenian government. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani officials have pushed their neighbor to make concessions as it looks to incorporate Nagorno-Karabakh into the Azerbaijani state.

In other words, both countries have suffered greatly from this conflict. In addition, negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have not produced significant results. It is unclear if and when these two countries will resolve their differences.

Beyond Russias current or previous military presence in Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Russian Federation has also been present in Moldova. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian-speaking population in the Moldovan region of Transnistria declared its independence from the Moldovan state. This led to friction between the Moldovan government and the people of Transnistria. Eventually, a skirmish broke out between pro-Transnistria forces, which were backed by the Russian Federation, and the Moldovan government in 1992. Approximately one thousand individuals were killed, and many more were wounded. Since then, Russia has maintained a military presence in Transnistria, much to the dismay of the Moldovan government and the international community.

Despite this Russian presence, Moldova has pressed forward on its goal of integrating with the European Union. For example, Moldova has boosted economic competitiveness, implemented reforms proposed by European institutions, enforced judicial reforms, and strengthened institutions. These efforts paved the way for Moldova to be granted EU candidate status in June 2022. Since then, Moldovan officials have regularly met with their European counterparts as the country continues its path to reform so that it may one day be a full EU member.

Finally, to Europes east, Central Asia finds itself in a predicament. As neighboring countries within the region fight between democratic values and authoritarian rule, the five Central Asian countries struggled with their relationships with the Western world and the Sino-Russo axis. Since their independence in 1991, the countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have relied heavily on China and Russia. For example, China and Russia are Central Asias largest trading partners. In addition, the Central Asian states have formed a significant energy relationship with the two countries. Given the large economic transactions with China and Russia, it is no wonder that Central Asian states rely on their geographic neighbors.

But the shifting political climate in the world has changed Central Asias approach. Following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and fearing an overreliance on China, the Central Asian countries have actively worked to build stronger relationships with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. During these meetings, delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have spoken with their American, British, and European counterparts about the significance of democratic reform, increased trade relations, and national security efforts. This, in turn, may lead to a new and improved Central Asian landscape, something that was unforeseen prior to 2022.

Overall, Eurasia is a complicated and complex region. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, many assumed that transitions to democratic and capitalist societies in the newly independent states would be axiomatic. But this was not the case. Given the current and ongoing crises these countries face, the millions of citizens in this region need help. Many countries in the Eurasia region are still misunderstood.

There are many highly educated, well-qualified, and hard-working individuals from the countries in this region, and they have much to offer to the international community. In addition, countries within Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia are rich with agricultural products and natural resources. As a result, it is essential for the international community to help these countries overcome their struggles. In return, the world would benefit from increased economic and cultural engagements with the people from this region. This would see international economies flourish.

In short, current events in 2025 show that the world is facing numerous conflicts around the world. The globe is also facing a deconstruction of institutions and fundamental principles in international relations. At this time of uncertainty, it is important to contribute, however modest, to the functioning of democratic thought and behavior internationally, particularly as they relate to the Eurasian region. It will not be easy, but the voices of citizens in these countries need to be heard. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, will help make a difference.

Mark Temnycky is a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and a freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs.
BRVO Tactical is pleased to announce that on September 3-4, 2025 at the BRVO Tactical Sierra 1 Site in Heber, Arizona, the first annual Best Sniper Team Competition will be held!

Open to active law enforcement or military personnel who are qualified in their department as a sniper or marksman, teams of two will compete for the title of Best Sniper Team. Prizes will also be awarded with the top-placing shooters going home with rifles, pistols, uppers, tripods, optics, and more.

BRVO Tactical Best Sniper Team Competition 2025 Sponsors

FROM BRVO TACTICAL:

Who: LE Shooter/Spotter pair (each participating team member needs to register)

What: Best LE Sniper Team Competition

Where: Sierra 1 Site, Heber, AZ

When: September 3-4, 2025

Why: To see which department has the best sniper program Equipment: 400 rounds of the caliber you want to use and 200 pistol rounds. A bolt gun or AR10 style rifle and side arm. Duty vest, belt, radio, and hiking pack (ruck sack). Additional equipment list will be sent out after registration.

Hosted by U.S. Army Green Berets and SWAT snipers, and inspired by the U.S. Army Best Ranger Competition, this event will test your teams fitness, marksmanship, congnitive agility, and teamwork.

Competitors will be allowed to bring a bolt action or AR10 style long gun to use during the competition. Targets will range from 100m to 1000m.

Competitors will be required to camp onsite at no cost. (Camping supplies not provided, trailers are allowed.)

ABOUT SIERRA 1 SITE

Located near Heber, AZ, the Sierra 1 Site is at over 6,000 ft. elevation and offers over 100 acres of active training ground with multiple shooting bays, ranges, courses, and targets ranging from 0 to 1,400 yards.

BRVO Tactical offers civilian and LE training classes throughout the year at the Sierra 1 Site.

SIGN UP AND REGISTER

Visit the BRVO Tactical website for complete information and how to register for the Best Sniper Team Competition.
Love.Craft, a non-profit organization that empowers adults with developmental disabilities through art, opened their new studio at 1635 W. Broad St. on Tuesday, June 3. The goal of the new building is increased accessibility to ensure the inclusivity of all members they serve.
Chinese premier meets Japanese business delegation

Xinhua) 08:03, June 04, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), in Beijing on Tuesday.

Li said China is ready to work actively with all sectors in Japan to implement the political consensus that the two countries are cooperative partners, not threats to each other, achieve more tangible results in practical cooperation, and consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust and people-to-people friendship.

Li expressed the hope that Japan will work with China to constructively manage differences, firmly grasp the correct direction of bilateral relations, and promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.

China and Japan have many unique advantages in deepening cooperation, Li said, adding that both sides should leverage these advantages to achieve greater mutual benefits and win-win results, inject momentum into each other's development, and make greater contributions to global economic growth.

Li said that China will firmly expand high-level opening up and welcome more foreign-funded enterprises, including those from Japan, to develop in China. It is hoped that the JAPIT will continue to play an active role in deepening economic and trade cooperation, and enhance friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, he added.

Kono said that under the current international situation, Japan and China should enhance communication and coordination to jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system.

The JAPIT has long been committed to Japan-China friendship and is willing to continue to expand exchanges with China, enhance mutual understanding, and make positive contributions to deepening ties between the two peoples and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan and Turkiye are developing high technologies to support the full independence of two nations, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish company Baykar Selcuk Bayraktar wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"One past, one future!

With Bayraktar Technologies, the company we established in beloved Azerbaijan, we are developing high technology to support the full independence of our nations," Bayraktar's post says.
The dispute between Aakash Educational Services Ltd (AESL) and edtech firm Byjus has escalated, with Aakash filing a sharply worded petition before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Bengaluru, alleging conflict of interest and professional misconduct by global consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY), according to court filings reviewed by Business Standard.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

In an impleadment application filed on 1 June, AESL has asked the tribunal to either dismiss the company petition filed by Byjusunder sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, alleging oppression and mismanagementor make EY LLP and its partner Ajay Shah respondents to the case.

AESL alleges that EY, which has been involved in a wide range of strategic, financial and compliance-related advisory services for the company, is now acting against it through Shailendra Ajmera, the Resolution Professional (RP) of Byjus, who is also a senior EY functionary.

"This is a classic case of conflict of interest and abuse of process, said the application.

The very transactions now being challenged in the petitionsuch as the issuance and conversion of non-convertible debentures (NCDs), equity restructuring and internal governance matterswere structured and overseen by EY.

According to the filing, EY advised on the valuation and structuring of NCDs issued to Davidson Kempner.

It also advised on tax and regulatory aspects of equity conversion to the Manipal Group.

Additionally, EY was involved in internal board-level decisions and corporate strategy at AESL as recently as October 2024.

AESL is showcasing internal emails and advisory documents evidencing EYs alleged involvement in financial forecasting, liquidity management and decision-making processes.

The RP has suppressed material facts, has no locus standi to file this petition under the Companies Act, and is acting in excess of his powers under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, AESL said in the filing.

AESL has also warned that it may escalate the matter to regulators, including the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, alleging that Ajmeras position as RP is severely compromised.

The move comes just days after the RP wrote to the AESL board seeking clarity on the independence and nomination status of its directors, signalling a broader governance challenge in the ongoing tussle.

Whats at stake

The fight over Aakash, which Byjus acquired in a $1 billion deal in 2021, has become a flashpoint in the edtech giants ongoing financial and legal troubles. Manipal Group, which took over a significant stake by converting debt into equity, now controls the board of AESL.

With this filing, AESL is preparing for a full-blown legal and reputational offensivechallenging both the admissibility of Byjus petition and the professional neutrality of the advisers involved.

Both EY and the Resolution Professional are yet to file a formal reply to the impleadment request.

"The matter is sub-judice, and therefore we cannot offer any further comment at this time.

"However, we refute the allegations and will defend any such legal action vigorously," an EY spokesperson told Business Standard on Tuesday.
Elon Musk-led Tesla Inc is yet to express interest in Indias flagship scheme to attract global investment in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, said Union Minister for Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy on Monday.

Photograph: Rajesh Alva/Rediff

In contrast, multiple global automobile giants -- such as Mercedes-Benz, Skoda Auto Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor, and Kia Motors -- are keen to participate, the minister noted.

Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Skoda, Hyundai, and Kia have already shown interest, Kumaraswamy told reporters while releasing the long-awaited guidelines for the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI).

As of now, Tesla is not interested in manufacturing in India, but only in opening showrooms. We will know their real intent when we open the application, and if the company feels like investing.

The window for applications will open within the next one to two weeks.

Notified in March 2024, the scheme aims to attract foreign direct investment from global EV players, boost Indias EV manufacturing capabilities, and generate employment.

Based on the guidelines, approved applicants can import completely built-up (CBU) electric four-wheelers (e4Ws) with a minimum CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value of $35,000 at a reduced Customs duty of 15 per cent for five years from the date of approval.

The number of e4Ws allowed to be imported at the concessional rate is capped at 8,000 units per year, with carryover permitted for unused annual quotas.

Applicants must set up a domestic manufacturing facility and begin e4W production within three years, with a minimum investment of Rs 4,150 crore.

They are also required to meet a domestic value addition (DVA) threshold of 25 per cent within the first three years, and 50 per cent within five years from the issuance of the approval letter.

This is non-negotiable, said Kamran Rizvi, secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Kumaraswamy said: Through calibrated Customs duty concessions and clearly defined DVA milestones, the scheme strikes a balance between introducing cutting-edge EV technologies and nurturing indigenous capabilities.

"By mandating DVA targets, the scheme will further boost the Make in India initiative, while empowering both global and domestic companies to become active partners in Indias green mobility revolution.

Expenditure on land will not be counted, though buildings for the main plant and utilities will be considered as part of the investment, provided they do not exceed 10 per cent of the total committed amount.

Expenditure incurred on charging infrastructure will be considered up to maximum 5 per cent of the committed investment.

Initially excluded, this component was added after stakeholder consultations.

Asked about BYD or other Chinese automakers, Kumaraswamy said that standard Press Note 3 (PN3) restrictions apply. PN3, introduced in 2020, imposes FDI restrictions on entities from countries sharing a land border with India, including China.

On potential changes to accommodate companies from the European Union and the United States amid ongoing bilateral and free-trade negotiations, the minister clarified that no modifications will be made to specifically attract Tesla to manufacture in India.

Tesla is in its initial stage.

"They have not confirmed when the company is sending their first car.

"When this scheme was being designed they had shown interest, but now they are interested in opening showrooms, he said.

Elaborating the point, Rizvi said: Whether Tesla will send cars from the US, China or Germany to India, we still do not know.

"Whats understandable is: The right-hand drive and left-hand drive problem is there.

"So, making a car in the US and sending it to India is always difficult.

"European countries are similar to our driving conditions. So, for them it is easier to send.

Tesla has finalised showroom space in Mumbais Bandra Kurla Complex and is currently testing its Model 3 and Model Y in India.
Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF), which sells dairy products, has launched Amul Milk in Spain.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

In a statement on Wednesday, the GCMMF announced "its partnership with Cooperativa Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP), Spain's first-tier cooperative to launch Amul Milk in Spain and EU."

Through this partnership, Amul milk will be launched initially in Madrid, Barcelona, and subsequently it will be launched in Malaga, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Cordoba and Lisbon in Portugal.

In the future, Amul also plans to launch milk and other products in countries like Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

The launch event took place at the Embassy of India, Madrid.

Jayen Mehta, managing director of GCMMF, said, "This association will ensure all our Spanish consumers will be nourished and energised with the goodness of Amul Milk."

When contacted, Mehta said the GCMMF will sell Amul Gold full cream milk in tetra pack with a shelf life of six months.

The placement of milk has started in the market.

Last year, the federation had launched fresh milk in the US market.

GCMMF recorded an 11 per cent rise in its revenue to Rs 65,911 crore during the last fiscal, mainly driven by an increase in volumes across all categories.

The launch took place in the presence of Dinesh K Patnaik, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Spain, D. Fernando Heredia Noguera, Deputy Director for International Relations and Community Affairs, Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ricardo Delgado Vizcaino, President, COVAP and senior officials of Amul and its channel partners of Spain.

Amul with its 3.6 million dairy farmers is the world's largest farmer owned dairy cooperative.

The Amul brand is rated as the world's strongest dairy brand and India's largest consumer products group brand with a turnover of more than $11 billion and handling more than 12 billion litres of milk every year.

Amul is also world's 8th largest milk processor (Ranking by IFCN), it operates 112 dairy plants across India with a total milk handling capacity of 42 million litres per day.

COVAP is Spain's first-tier cooperative, founded in 1959 in Pozoblanco, Cordoba.

With over 2,000 active farmer-members, COVAP is a cornerstone of Andalusia's agri-food sector.

Their dairy plant, one of Europe's most advanced, processes more than 400 million liters of milk annually. COVAP exports to over 30 countries, including the US, UK, and various Asian markets.
Tesla's official entry into the Indian market is expected in the final quarter of the current financial year.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Elon Musk's Tesla Inc has leased a 24,565 square foot warehousing facility in Mumbai's Kurla West for a five-year term, according to lease documents sourced from real estate data analytics firm CRE Matrix.

The American electric carmaker will use the ground floor space in Building 1 of the Lodha Logistics Park as a service centre and garage, excluding bodywork and spray painting operations, the agreement states.

This development comes to light a day after Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy said Tesla was yet to show interest in manufacturing EVs in India.

While the company is preparing for a market debut, local production does not figure into its immediate plans.

Tesla will initially pay a monthly rent of Rs 37.53 lakh (Rs 153 per sqft), with a 5 per cent annual escalation clause built into the lease.

The licensor entity is Bellissimo (in City FC Mumbai 1), which operates in real estate services on a fee or contract basis.

Lodha Logistics Park spans eight acres, with development potential of 400,000 sq ft across five blocks, offering modular storage options ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 sq ft.

Tesla has deposited Rs 2.25 crore as security.

The lease officially commenced on April 20, 2025, with a rent-free period of one month and 10 days. Rent payments begin June 1, 2025. The lease was registered on May 16, 2025.

Under the agreement, Tesla will also pay common area maintenance charges of Rs 10 per sqft, with a 5 per cent annual escalation, and will receive 20 parking spots with the facility.

"Tesla's India entry is taking shape through a deliberate, multi-city rollout, from its office in Pune to flagship showrooms in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex and Delhi-NCR, co-working presence in BKC, and now a strategic warehousing facility in Kurla West," said Abhishek Kiran Gupta, CEO, CRE Matrix.

"This 24,565 sqft lease at Rs 153 per sqft is more than a real estate transaction -- it's a signal of intent."

In March, Tesla leased showroom space in BKC for a monthly rent of Rs 35.26 lakh -- or Rs 888 per sqft -- for five years.

The company is reportedly leasing a second showroom in Delhi NCR's Aerocity.

Tesla's registered Indian office is located at Tablespace, Panchshil Business Park in Pune, and it has also leased co-working space near BKC in Mumbai.

In May, Business Standard reported that Tesla is scouting land in Satara, hometown of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, for a completely knocked down (CKD) electric vehicle assembly unit, according to a senior government official.

Tesla's official entry into the Indian market is expected in the final quarter of the current financial year.

The Maharashtra government previously offered Tesla industrial land in Chakan and Chikhali near Pune, both key automotive hubs.

Chakan hosts several major automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Volkswagen, and Bajaj Auto.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Nestled among 108 scenic hillocks, the 500 metre Mini Great Wall in Shailung, Nepal, offers breathtaking views and a peaceful escape at 3,200 metres above sea level.

IMAGE: That's the amazing view you can soak in when you walk through the Mini Great Wall in Shailung. Photographs, video: ANI

A scaled-down replica of the Great Wall of China, built on the foothills of Shailung by the Shailung rural municipality in Nepal, has been drawing increasing numbers of tourists in recent times.

In the Tamang language, 'Shai' means one hundred and 'Lung' means hillocks -- a fitting name, as the area offers views of 108 distinct hillocks. This natural landscape has long attracted visitors and, now, the replica of the Great Wall adds to its appeal.

The local body had initially prepared a detailed project report for the construction of a 950 metre long Great Wall, stretching from Kalapani to Dafedhunga, but only 500 metres have been completed so far.

"I am feeling pleased and enjoying the view around here in Shailung. It was a dream to come here and see the mini-Great Wall. I had been planning this trip for three years and have finally made it now that the meadows are green," Badri Acharya, a tourist trekking through the Shailung hills, told ANI.

IMAGE: The Mini Great has been drawing increasing numbers of tourists in recent times.

Shailung has always been a centre of attraction due to its natural beauty and panoramic views. According to official figures, the number of visitors is steadily rising, with many coming for meditation, study, research and exploration.

Sanjeev Neupane, chief administrative officer of the Shailung rural municipality, shared that a significant number of tourists arrive on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays.

On Nepali New Year Day in April this year alone, approximately 20,000 people visited the Mini Great Wall.

"The construction of the Mini Great Wall by the local body here is commendable. Shailung was already a popular tourist destination but this new feature has added even more charm. It will definitely help increase tourist flow," Thakur Acharya, another tourist in the Shailung hills, told ANI.

The new tourist attraction was developed through joint funding from the federal government's ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation and the Shailung rural municipality.

According to officials, the federal government contributed 70 per cent of the budget while the rural municipality covered the remaining 30 per cent.

The initial 500-metre section of the wall was constructed under a contract worth 49.415 million Nepalese rupees (approximately Indian Rs 30.09 million).

To reach Shailung -- situated at the border of Dolakha and Ramechhap districts at an elevation of 3,200 metres above sea level -- tourists must walk the half-kilometre stretch of the wall which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding horizon.

Take a look at this stunning new tourist attraction:
The real heroes of Operation Sindoor were not the armed forces or political leadership, but the ordinary citizens of India who refused to fall into the trap of communal provocation, asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

IMAGE: An Indian Army soldier stands guard in Kathua. All photographs: ANI Photo

The Pahalgam attack was Pakistan's desperate attempt to whip up communal riots in India. It was a repeat of the Godhra train burning incident of February 2002, which led to communal riots in Gujarat when India and Pakistan were in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation on the border during Operation Parkaram.

The riots led to the diversion of nearly a division (10,000 soldiers) to Ahmedabad and saved Pakistan.

The deliberate targeting of Hindus in Pahalgam followed Asif Munir's rant on the two nation theory.

The common Indian understood the Pakistani game and there were no repercussions against Muslims in the rest of the country.

There was no exodus of Kashmiri students from other parts of the country. Indians showed a sense of unity and understood the Pakistani game.

IMAGE: An Indian Army soldier keeps vigil at the Line of Control in Poonch.

The Pahalgam attack was possibly Pakistan's Plan B. Plan A, possibly, was to blow up/damage the Srinagar rail link.

After the completion of this rail link, Pakistan has become increasingly despondent as it sees its dream of capturing Kashmir fade away.

The second objective of the Pahalgam attack was to derail normalcy in Kashmir, stop the flow of tourists and cause economic hardship to the people of the Valley.

IMAGE: An Indian Army soldier looks through a spotting scope across the LoC in Poonch following Operation Sindoor.

India reacted to this outrage decisively on May 7 and targeted terrorist hubs in Pakistan.

As the situation escalated, India also launched successful attacks on Pakistani airfields on May 10.

These precision attacks as part of a counter force offensive sends a powerful signal.

It showed India's will and ability to pre-empt Pakistani air power as well as missile launch sites.

After the pause in Operation Sindoor, India through its prime minister propounded a new doctrine vis a vis Pakistan.

The new normal has for the first time recognised our folly of treating terrorists and the Pakistani State as separate entities.

In the past some in India even regarded the ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) as different from the Pakistan army when it is well known that the ISI is a department of the Pakistan army. But such was the hubris or self-delusion in India.

Right from 1947 onwards every prime minister, beginning with Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, has attempted to make peace with Pakistan.

In December 2015, Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore and later permitted the ISI to investigate the Pathankot air base terror attack.

Every single prime minister failed in the peace attempt. We have never understood that Kashmir was never the objective, it was a means to an end, Gazwa E Hind or the conquest of India.

Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) is a military historian and author of Let the Jhelum Smile Again (1997) and Nuclear Menace The Satyagraha Approach (1998).

His earlier columns can be read here.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'The shakti of Vedanta knowledge and all its siddhantas have changed my life.'

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu presents the Padma Shri to Vishva Vidya Founder and Director Acharya Jonas Masetti at Rashtrapati Bhavan, May 27, 2025. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Acharya Jonas Masetti, also known by his Indian name 'Vishwanath', is a Vedanta teacher who has spent the last 12 years spreading Vedic knowledge abroad.

A former lieutenant in the Brazilian army, the mechanical engineer left the army after seven years and built a successful career in the stock market in Rio de Janeiro.

He had all the markers of a successful life -- house, car, money, shares -- yet life seemed empty.

In the quest for meaning, he found yoga and Vedanta which brought him to India 16 years ago.

He sold his company, gave up all material wealth and spent four years in Swami Dayanand Saraswati's gurukulam in Tamil Nadu studying Vedanta, Sanskrit and the Bhagavad Gita.

He travelled across several places and ashrams in India to gain more knowledge of Indian spiritualism and earned the title of 'Acharya'.

On his return to Brazil, he started the Vishwa Vidya Gurukulam outside Rio and imparts knowledge of the Vedas, Gita, Sanskrit and meditation at the ashram and to over 150,000 students online.

Last week, Acharya Masetti travelled to India and received the Padma Shri at Rashtrapati Bhavan, dressed in a dhoti, rudrakash and barefooted.

After that he travelled to Rishikesh to meet his guru Swami Sakshatrtananda, a disciple of Swami Dayananda.

Acharya Masetti spoke to Rediff's Archana Masih on his return to Brazil and just before leaving for 15 days sadhana in the middle of the Amazon forest all alone without food and water.

Before beginning the interview he recited a mantra saluting the lineage of his teachers and honouring the Vedic parampara.

What was your experience at Rashtrapati Bhavan when you went to receive the Padma Shri?

It was a very profound and intense moment. It gave me deep sense of gratitude towards Bharata and the Vedic tradition.

I have studied Vedanta for more than 20 years and have been working for Vishwa Vidya for 12. The gurukulam's work in Brazil is sustained by many sevakas, not just myself.

Being foreigners, sometimes we feel far away from India, but then to be recognised with the Padma Shri was like being a part of the big Indian family.

My wife and I reached Delhi two days before the ceremony.

I met other Padma Shri awardees at the rehearsal one day prior. It was nice to talk to achievers who had contributed so much to Bharata.

You looked very elegant in the dhoti and shawl at the ceremony. How did you select your attire for the evening?

It was such a high honour being presented to me in such an important place. My wife and I decided that we should present ourselves as we are. So I went barefooted in my simple dhoti, rudraksha mala and vibhuti.

[His wife wore a sari.]

The dhoti is from Coimbatore. I wear dhotis all the time.

I did some prayers and japam to prepare myself and asked for blessings for everyone.

It was an intense moment and what comforted me was the smile on the face of the PM who was seated in the front.

I feel the Padma Shri award is not a material thing in itself. It's a materialisation of a spiritual force that we have been holding for so many years.

IMAGE: Jonas Masetti greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives to receive the Padma Shri. Gurukulam members had performed the Ramayana during the PM's visit to Brazil in 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

You had a feather in your hair while receiving the award. What does that signify?

I'm living the Vedic tradition, but at the same time, I come from a culture with its own native tradition. I have profound respect for it.

This eagle feather is part of the tantric process.

The eagle feather represents the guidance of the native masters and gurus. I always carry it with me on my head.

In Brazil, we have access to many different sadhans in the forest. I am going to observe tapas for 15 days in the Amazon forest.

There are natural elements that are like beacons and murtis where the energy is established.

Are you going to remain in the middle of the Amazon forest for 15 days/nights, and all alone?

Oh, it's a very beautiful tapas [spiritual journey of purification].

You reach the Amazon forest after taking two flights and one boat which takes you to a village. Then we walk for half a day to the middle of the forest.

You stay for 15 days with no access to anything outside. It is just you and the forest. You are completely isolated.

You stay there without drinking or eating, just letting the body dry. It's like a very deep cleanse. In this process, you say many prayers and carry out rituals every day.

From time to time an elder comes and gives bitter tea or some raw banana to ingest.

You also have some aushadhanams, some types of herbs from the forest that you put through your nose, eyes and mouth. It is an adhyatmic experience. I have done this twice.

Being a Brazilian, I'm doing this under guidance of my native Brazilian culture.

There are many equivalents in the tapas of Indian and Brazilian traditions.

Do you wear the dhoti always?

When I am in the gurukulam and at home, I only wear the dhoti. My home is in the gurukulam. I live there with my wife and two children.

IMAGE: Acharya Masetti started a gurukulum outside Rio and has structured it on the Dayanand Saraswati ashram in Coimbatore. Photograph: Kind courtesy Jonas Masetti/Instagram

How has India changed your life? When did you first come to India?

16 years ago.

The shakti of Vedanta knowledge and all its siddhantas have changed my life.

I was a Western businessman struggling in life. I was stressed and unable to understand that the problems of my life were not external.

I thought I need to change and Vedanta presented me another idea.

Instead of re-paving roads all over again, one can just use a good pair of shoes and walk without pain. This is how I started the process of cleansing.

IMAGE: Acharya Masetti who speaks Sanskrit performs a puja in Brazil. Photograph: Kind courtesy Jonas Masetti/Instagram

How different was your life earlier?

I was a mechanical engineer. I had worked for five years in the Brazilian army. I then opened my own company and worked for the stock market for seven years.

I had a car, apartment, material comforts, but life was not meaningful. I was empty.
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested by the Federal bureau of Investigation for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States for research purposes at the University of Michigan Laboratory.

Photograph: Reuters

According to the US Department of Justice release, Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34) were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, making false statements, and visa fraud.

FBI director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest on X and called the case a "sobering reminder" that the CCP is working to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target the food supply in the US.

"New... I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country," he posted.

Explaining the nature of the fungus and its effects, Patel said, "The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called 'Fusarium graminearum,' which is an agroterrorism agent, into the U.S. to research at the University of Michigan, where she works. This fungus can cause a disease called 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing significant health issues in both humans and livestock. It is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year."

He further said," Evidence also indicates Jian had expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and had received funding from the Chinese government for similar work on this pathogen in China."

"Jian's boyfriend, Zunyong Liu -- also charged in the complaint -- works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen. Liu is alleged to have first lied, then admitted, to also smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America, through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, so that he too could conduct research at the University of Michigan. Both individuals have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud. This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences, putting American lives and our economy at serious risk. Your FBI will continue working tirelessly to be on guard against it. Our @FBIDetroit team did excellent work in this case, partnering with @CBP. Justice will be done," he added.

According to the Department of Justice release, the fungus causes "head blight", a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses.

"The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian's and Liu's smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon. This noxious fungus causes 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock," the releases said.

According to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. According to the complaint, Jian's electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The complaint alleged that Jian's boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen. Jian first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into the US through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in order to conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan, where his girlfriend, Jian, worked, according to the US Justice Department release.

In the release, US Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr stated, "The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals--including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party--are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme."

Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said, "The federal charges announced today against Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both residents of the People's Republic of China, signify a crucial advancement in our efforts to safeguard our communities and uphold national security."

Gibson said that these individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety. Jian will be appearing in federal court in Detroit this afternoon for her initial appearance on the complaint.
Two investigations were ordered after six patients died due to alleged negligence at the state-run Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Odisha's Koraput, officials said on Wednesday.

Image used for representational purposes. Photograph: Reuters

The opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress demanded action against those responsible for the death of the patients.

Three men and three women died on Tuesday night within a short time. While five patients died between 11 pm and 12 midnight, the sixth one succumbed at about 3.30 am on Wednesday.

Their families alleged that they were administered injections, following which they died.

The hospital superintendent Susanta Kumar Sahu said a departmental inquiry has been ordered.

"We have convened a meeting of all departmental heads. The patients who died on Tuesday night were admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. Prima facie, the deaths seem not to have been caused by any wrong injection. However, we will inquire into the allegations," he said.

Sahu said the patients in the ICU were in a serious condition and were administered the injection to control their dropping blood pressure.

He said two of the five deceased patients had abdominal injuries, while another was suffering from liver perforation.

"We suspect they died due to bleeding and septicemia. The fourth patient was being treated for stage 4 cancer, and the fifth was an accident victim, who was referred from Jeypore," he said.

The details of the sixth patient are not immediately available.

Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Santosh Mishra also ordered a separate inquiry into the allegations.

A five-member team, comprising three doctors from MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampur and two from SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, will probe the allegations, he said.

"The team has been asked to submit the report by Thursday," Mishra said.

The health and family welfare department in a statement said, "Action will be taken against the person(s) if the team finds any negligence or alleged wrong injection leading to deaths."

The families of the deceased held a demonstration outside the hospital, following which police personnel were deployed.

The bodies were handed over to the families after post-mortem examination.

"Each family was given a cheque of Rs 10,000 from the district Red Cross fund. Arrangements were also made to transport the bodies to the villages of the deceased patients," a district official said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress demanded action against the erring officials and alleged collapse of the health service system in the state.

Calling the death of patients at the medical college hospital as 'murder', Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam demanded Rs 25 lakh each as compensation for the families of the deceased.

At a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD claimed that the death of the six patients at the hospital shows the alarming health service in the state.

"We demand for an impartial probe and white paper on the incident. Strict action must be taken against those responsible," BJD senior general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra said.

Koraput district BJD president Jhina Hikaka and former MLA Raghuram Padal also held the state government accountable for the deaths.

The deceased persons were identified as Shukra Majhi, Rukuni Pentia, Phulmati Majhi, Bhagaban Parija, Bati Khara and Jagannath Pujari.
M R Srinivasan focused on the peaceful use of nuclear power at a time when the popular view among the 'hawks' was that India should build a nuclear arsenal as a deterrent.

IMAGE: Dr Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan. Photograph: Kind courtesy M K Stalin/X

Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan, who dedicated his entire life to India's nuclear programme, was in many ways an odd man out in the country's nuclear establishment.

He was an advocate of nuclear disarmament and focused on the peaceful use of nuclear power at a time when the popular view among the 'hawks' was that India should build a nuclear arsenal as a deterrent.

Dr Srinivasan, who died on May 20, 2025 aged 95, was only 25 when he started to work with Homi Bhabha, the father of India's nuclear programme.

A mechanical engineer by background, with a doctorate in gas turbine technology, he helped to design India's first nuclear assets, playing a crucial role in building the country's first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, which achieved criticality in August 1956.

He spent his entire career in the nuclear power industry, working for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for over five decades.

Apart from Dr Bhabha, he worked with legends such as Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr Homi Sethna, Dr Raja Ramanna, Dr P K Iyengar, Dr R Chidambaram and Dr Anil Kakodkar.

He served as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and DAE secretary, and was the founder-chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.

In essence, he was one of the architects of India's civil nuclear programme, helping to set up most of the country's nuclear power facilities and guiding their expansion.

After the first 'peaceful nuclear explosion' at Pokhran in 1974, India was going it alone, and Dr Srinivasan was one of the small group of scientists and technocrats who ensured that the country's nuclear sector achieved self-reliance, despite sanctions and the withdrawal of all external aid.

Functioning nuclear power stations at Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan), Kaiga (Karnataka), Kakrapar (Gujarat), and Narora (Uttar Pradesh) bear testimony to his technical and organisational skills.

He also had an international profile as a senior adviser at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna and was a founder member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

He was a member of the Planning Commission, in charge of energy, and science & technology, as well as a member of the National Security Advisory Board for several years.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Indira Gandhi with Dr Homi Sethna, right, then chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and K C Pant, then minister of state for defence, left, at the site of India's first nuclear explosion in Pokharan, Rajasthan.

Given the sanctions after Pokhran and India's geopolitical compulsions, Dr Srinivasan would have known his wishes on nuclear disarmament and peaceful use of nuclear power were a practical impossibility.

But he focused on the task of ensuring that nuclear facilities were developed and worked efficiently and safely, while continuing to advocate disarmament.

Post-retirement, he was also a champion of sundry environmental causes.

His book, Fission to Fusion: The Story of India Atomic Energy Programme, is considered a great insider account of India's nuclear energy programme, with its description of the five or so decades when he was intimately associated with it.

Atomic Energy Pioneer 1930s: Born in Bengaluru; completed schooling in Mysore; studied science with Sanskrit and English

1950: Graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bengaluru

1952-1954: Earned Master's (1952) and PhD (1954) in engineering from McGill University, Montreal, specialising in gas turbine technology

1955: Joined Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in September. At age 25, worked under Homi Jehangir Bhabha on Apsara, India's first nuclear research reactor, which went critical in 1956

1959: Appointed principal project engineer for the construction of India's first atomic power station

1967: Promoted to chief project engineer, Madras Atomic Power Station, which was a major milestone in India's nuclear energy generation efforts

1974: Named director, Power Projects Engineering Division, DAE

1984: Became chairman, Nuclear Power Board

1987: Appointed chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and secretary, Department of Atomic Energy. Also became founding chairman, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. Led the expansion of India's nuclear power infrastructure

1990-1992: Served as senior advisor, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

1996-1998: Member, Planning Commission of India; oversaw energy and science & technology portfolios

2002-2004 & 2006-2008: Member, National Security Advisory Board

2002-2004: Chairman, Task Force on Higher Education, Karnataka government

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
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Top actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday shared the stage in Chennai with Thug Life stars including Silambarasan, but did not make any comment on the row related to his remark on the Kannada language.

IMAGE: Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Photograph: ANI Photo

Haasan spoke on the hardwork and international quality behind the Mani Ratnam directorial Thug Life, which is set for release on June 5, and said, "I should thank the entire state of Tamil Nadu which stood behind me."

This is the first public appearance of Haasan after the Karnataka high court criticised him in connection with his Kannada was born out of Tamil comment.
A Punjab-based YouTuber alleged to be in close touch with influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who is in custody on charges of spying for Pakistan, has been arrested after a "terror-backed espionage network" linking him to Pakistani intelligence and army officials was unearthed, the police said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Jasbir Singh With Jyoti Malhotra in one of her videos. Photograph: X

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal (41) was allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Singh, a resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar, was running the YouTube channel "JaanMahal Video" with over 11 lakh subscribers, ostensibly posting travel and cooking vlogs, the police said.

He was found to be associated with Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, who was in contact with a recently-expelled Pakistan high commission official on charges of spying and had met Pakistan Army officials during one of his three visits to the neighbouring country, Yadav said.

Singh was allegedly in close contact with Malhotra, who was earlier arrested by the Haryana police on espionage charges.

A Mohali court sent Singh to three-day police remand after he was produced before it.

Singh also maintained close contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, the expelled Pakistan high commission official, said Yadav.

Investigation found that Singh attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers.

He had also travelled to Pakistan on three occasions including in 2020, 2021 and 2024, and came into direct contact with ISI officers, who subsequently recruited him to carry out espionage activities within India, Yadav said.

The DGP said after Malhotra's arrest, Singh had attempted to erase all traces of his communication with these PIOs to avoid detection.

Further investigation is underway to find the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators, he added.

Sharing operation details, Assistant Inspector General of Police Ravjot Grewal said police teams have received reliable input about Singh being in touch with many Pakistan based entities including agents of ISI and has been providing sensitive information about movement of Indian Army and other inside activities of the country to Pakistan.

Teams of State Special Operation Cell, SAS Nagar, launched an intel-based operation and arrested the suspect and recovered his mobile device, she said.

She said around 150 Pakistan contacts have been retrieved from the initial mobile phone forensics of the arrested and those included numbers of Pakistan ISI agents, Pakistan high commission officials and other Pakistan based entities.

In a bid to cover his tracks, the accused deleted crucial digital evidence, including chats, contact records, and documents exchanged with Pakistani intelligence handlers from his mobile phone, said Grewal, adding that technical recovery and forensic examination are underway to retrieve deleted data and information leaked through him.

She said investigations have found that Singh used this platform as a cover to share sensitive information about Indian Army movements and activities with Pakistani handlers.

She said Singh got introduced to Malhotra through Pakistan embassy officials at an event hosted by Pakistan embassy in 2024.

Both Singh and Jyoti also visited Pakistan together.

An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Official Secrets Act in Mohali.

Hisar native Malhotra (33) who was running a YouTube channel 'Travel with JO' was arrested last month.

On Tuesday, a man hailing from Tarn Taran district was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information related to the Army's movements during Operation Sindoor with PIOs. He was also allegedly in contact with Pakistan-based pro Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla.

Last month, the police arrested six persons for allegedly spying for Pakistan.

The action on spy networks within the country comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead and the four-day military conflict with Pakistan that followed.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday slammed the Congress government in Karnataka over the deaths in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrations in Bengaluru, demanding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara take responsibility for the incident.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meets the injured in the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra accused the Siddaramaiah government of pressuring the police and organising celebrations without any preparedness and adequate police deployment.

Eleven people died and 33 were injured in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as thousands of RCB fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the team after their first-ever IPL win.

"Is it not the responsibility of the state government to be prepared? Were they not aware that lakhs and lakhs of people will come to the celebrations?" Vijayendra said in Bengaluru.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi held the Karnataka government responsible for the incident and demanded that responsibility be fixed.

'It's heartbreaking to see such loss because of poor planning and crowd mismanagement,' the BJP MP from Karnataka's Dharwad Lok Sabha seat said in a post on X.

The state government in Karnataka has 'clearly' failed in its responsibility, he charged.

'(Holding) celebrations is one thing, but the state government without proper planning, without taking emergency services into confidence, took this urgent and unfortunate decision. This could have been avoided,' Joshi said.

'The government is responsible for this and accountability needs to be fixed,' he added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident and accused the BJP of doing politics over the tragedy.

"11 are dead and 33 injured due to stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru...More than 2-3 lakh people came, and no one expected this much crowd," Siddaramaiah said at a press conference.

He also said that the stadium could only accommodate 35 thousand spectators.

The chief minister also announced a Rs 10 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla targeted the state government, blaming 'state-sponsored negligence' for the loss of lives.

"A matter of celebration has become a matter of tragedy. Home Minister (G Parameshwara) must take the responsibility. Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) must take the responsibility. Under their watch, law and order and general administration and even crowd management was not possible," he charged.

"Nothing short of state-sponsored negligence, state-sponsored callousness, state-sponsored murder," Poonawalla alleged, adding, "This is the true face of the Congress in Karnataka."

Another BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari charged the Karnataka government with 'criminal negligence'.

"Innocent lives lost in a horrific stampede -- all because the Congress government couldn't manage a crowd. No planning, no responsibility, no accountability. This is not just misgovernance, it's criminal negligence."

Bhandari said Bengaluru was recently drowning in rain and chaos while Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi were busy 'enjoying red carpet celebrations'.

"Today, the people are paying the price for their apathy and arrogance," the BJP spokesperson said.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will scale up its efforts on the African continent, focusing on three key goals over the next 20 years, ending preventable maternal and child deaths, eradicating deadly infectious diseases, and reducing poverty.

IMAGE: Bill Gates, who pledged on Thursday to give away almost his entire personal wealth in the next two decades and said the world's poorest would receive some $200 billion via his foundation, speaks with Reuters during an interview in New York City, May 8, 2025. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates has announced that the majority of his vast personal fortune, projected to reach $200 billion by 2045, will be dedicated to improving health and education in Africa over the next two decades.

Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on Monday, the 69-year-old philanthropist stressed the continent's potential, emphasising that investment in health and education could unlock long-term prosperity across all African nations.

'By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity -- and that path is an exciting thing to be part of,' Gates said in his address to more than 12,000 government officials, diplomats, development partners and youth leaders.

Last month, the billionaire had committed to giving away 99 per cent of his wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which plans to cease operations by December 2045.

'The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,' he said.

Gates Foundation's focus on child & maternal health, disease eradication, poverty.

The foundation will scale up its efforts on the continent, focusing on three key goals over the next 20 years, ending preventable maternal and child deaths, eradicating deadly infectious diseases, and reducing poverty.

Gates emphasised that investments in primary healthcare, particularly maternal health and childhood nutrition, yield the most lasting impact.

'Helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before and during pregnancy delivers the strongest results,' he noted.

Highlighting examples of successful innovation in African healthcare, Gates pointed to Rwanda's use of AI-powered ultrasound tools to detect high-risk pregnancies early, a move he said was saving lives.

He called on the continent's youth to explore the use of artificial intelligence in improving healthcare, comparing its potential impact to how mobile technology revolutionised banking in Africa.

'Africa largely skipped traditional banking. Now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,' Gates said.

Mozambique's former First Lady Graca Machel welcomed the announcement, describing the current global situation as a 'moment of crisis', and calling Gates' commitment timely and significant.

'We are counting on Mr Gates' steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us,' she said.

The Gates announcement comes after the United States, under President Donald Trump, cut USAID, which has impacted major humanitarian programmes worldwide.

The US provided a total of $41 billion in foreign assistance globally in 2024, of which approximately $12.7 billion went in foreign aid to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Largest recipients included Ethiopia ($2.2 billion), Egypt ($1.4 billion), Nigeria ($1.15 billion), and Somalia ($1.14 billion).

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting the armed forces with his "surrender" barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that it amounted to undermining the success of Operation Sindoor.

IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi addresses the Congress workers at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal. Photograph: ANI Photo

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress leader has surpassed even the Pakistani army chief, its prime minister and terrorist masterminds based there in speaking in support of the neighbouring country, and alleged that his jibes reflect a sick and dangerous mindset.

Citing a string of historical developments on the Congress watch, from Pakistan occupying part of Indian territory to Gandhi himself lamenting the western indifference to alleged democratic slide in India under the Modi government, he said history is full of such stories of surrender from the Nehru-Gandhi family and lauded Prime Minister Modi as the "lion of mother India".

He noted controversial comments of various leaders of opposition INDIA bloc, which met on Tuesday and demanded a special session of Parliament following Operation Sindoor, and claimed it has been unmasked.

"INDIA is in their name but Pakistan is in their heart," he added.

He said Gandhi's comments have shown that he lacks the maturity and seriousness expected of the leader of opposition.

If the Congress leader made these remarks on his own, then it raises a serious question over his loyalty, he said, adding that Gandhi should consider changing advisers if they were behind it.

Gandhi had on Tuesday alleged at a Congress event in Bhopal that Modi surrendered after a call from US President Donald Trump during the India-Pakistan military conflict.

"A call came from Trump and Narendra ji immediately surrendered -- history is a witness, this is the character of BJP-RSS, they always bow down," he had said.

Hitting back, Trivedi said Gandhi was already making headlines in Pakistani media and its parliament, and is now saying something even Pakistani establishment and terrorists based there had not said.

The Indian government has already rejected Trump's claim of mediation between India and Pakistan to stop military actions from both sides, Trivedi said and took a swipe at the US president in an apparent reference to his penchant for making wild claims.

The BJP spokesperson referred to Trump posting the conspiracy theory that his predecessor Joe Biden was killed in 2020 and replaced by a robotic clone.

Trivedi dubbed Gandhi as "Rahul Munir" and "Rahul Sharif", using the surnames of the Pakistani army chief and prime minister for his alleged undermining of India's prestige and the valour of its armed forces.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the crowd broke the gates and there was a stampede-like situation near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations.

IMAGE: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar meets the injured in the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Eleven people died and 33 injured due to the stampede, official sources said.

"They have broken the gates. I think a lot of stampede has happened. I have spoken to the police commissioner and officials....the exact number of deaths is still not known. We are at it, we appeal to everyone to be calm," Shivakumar said.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said he is visiting hospitals, where treatment is underway.

The chief minister, ministers and police officials are already visiting.

"There was a huge crowd. We saw it from the airport itself. So we decided to cancel the procession and brought them (team) in a closed vehicle. There was a request for a procession at least from Vidhana Soudha. As there was rain, the crowd got uncontrolled, so we cancelled that procession too. Here (at the stadium) too there were arrangements, for a procession -- an hour-long programme. We instructed to conclude it in 10-15 minutes and, accordingly, it was done," he said.
Civil aviation authorities have directed Turkish Airlines to ensure 'full compliance' with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Yoruk Isik/Reuters

The directives come following a safety oversight and ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspection of the Turkish Airlines' passenger and cargo flights in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru by the DGCA, according to the statement issued by Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The inspection was conducted from May 29 to June 2, in accordance with Article 16 of the Convention on ICAO International Civil Aviation, it stated, adding that the move was aimed at ensuring compliance with both international and national safety regulations.

'Turkish Airlines has been directed to address these findings promptly and ensure full compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCA regulations,' the release said.

Turkiye had taken Pakistan's side during Operation Sindoor, which came in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians, most of them tourists, were killed.

Subsequently, the Centre revoked security clearance for a Turkish firm -- 'Celebi Aviation' -- that took care of operations at nine key Indian airports, including Delhi, citing national security concerns.

Last month, the government asked IndiGo to end its aircraft lease agreement with Turkish Airlines within three months, sending out a big message to the Turkiye government.

During the inspection, it was found that the marshaller handling ground operations at Bengaluru airport 'lacked authorisation and a valid competency card for marshalling functions', according to the statement.

Moreover, during the arrival of the aircraft, the aircraft maintenance engineer was unavailable, and the arrival procedure was carried out by a technician instead, the release said, adding that Airworks is the authorised engineering service provider for Turkish Airlines.

It noted that the cargo contained dangerous goods, for which permission is required from the DGCA for carrying explosives to/from/over India.

However, no such permission was found attached, nor it was mentioned in the Dangerous Goods Declaration, as per the statement.

The inspection, as per the release, also revealed that no Service Level Agreement (SLA) was in place between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA).

'Equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and ground power units lacked proper accountability and monitoring at Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where Globe Ground India was providing ground services without formal handover from Celebi,' the release stated.

Stating that the DGCA emphasises its 'unwavering commitment' to ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of all foreign operators within Indian airspace, the release said, 'further follow-up inspections will be conducted as necessary to ensure continuous safety oversight'.
Bangladesh's interim government on Wednesday dismissed as 'completely baseless' and 'misleading' the media reports that claimed it has dropped the 'Father of the Nation' title for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and revised the definition of freedom fighter.

IMAGE: Billboard of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons

The news published in several media outlets that the freedom fighter recognition of over 100 leaders, including President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Acting President Nazrul Islam and Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed of the Mujibnagar government has been revoked is 'completely baseless, false and misleading', the Chief Adviser's office said in a post on X.

The provisional government constituted at Mujibnagar to conduct the Bangladesh Liberation War in April 1971 is popularly known as the Mujibnagar government.

Adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Faruk-e-Azam clarified that those who were in the Mujibnagar government were also freedom fighters.

"Those who fought the liberation war with arms, those who led it, were freedom fighters. However, the officials and employees of that government were associate freedom fighters," he said.

According to the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA) Ordinance, diplomats including the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra are associate freedom fighters, he said, adding that being associate does not mean that their honour has been tarnished.

He said that the definition of the freedom fighter that existed in 1972 has been implemented. It was changed in 2018 and 2022.

The 'honour, status, and privileges' of both freedom fighters and their associates will remain the same, he added.

Citing a government statement, the state-run BSS news agency on Wednesday reported that the gazette of the 'National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025' published on Tuesday clearly states that all members of the Mujibnagar government will be recognised as 'heroic freedom fighters'.

A few days ago, the Muhammad Yunus-led government dropped the portrait of the country's founding father and deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's father Mujibur Rahman from new currency notes.

Earlier, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported that the interim government has amended the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, 'altering' the definition of freedom fighter.

The amendment to the law also 'modifies the term 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman'', it added.

Bdnews24.com news portal reported that the 'words 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman' and portions of the law that mentioned the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been deleted'.

The Daily Star newspaper reported that the ordinance also makes slight changes to the definition of the Liberation War.

'The new definition of Liberation War drops the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The previous one mentioned that the war was waged responding to Bangabandhu's call for independence,' it said.

According to the revised ordinance, all MNAs (members of the national assembly) and MPAs (members of the provincial assembly) associated with the Mujibnagar Government, who were later considered members of the erstwhile constituent assembly, will now be categorised as 'associates of the Liberation War', the Dhaka Tribune said.

Until now, they were recognised as freedom fighters.

The ordinance redefines Liberation War as the armed struggle carried out between March 26 and December 16, 1971, by the people of Bangladesh aiming to establish a sovereign democratic state founded on equality, human dignity and social justice, against the occupying Pakistani armed forces and their collaborators, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

In January, the interim government introduced new textbooks for primary and secondary students for the 2025 academic year that state that Ziaur Rahman, who was an Army major and later a sector commander of the Liberation War, declared the country's independence in 1971, replacing the previous ones crediting founding father Mujibur Rahman with the declaration.
Pakistan's incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has spoken about the vindictive nature of Army Chief Gen Asim Munir saying the field marshal turned against his wife, Bushra Bibi, after being removed from the post of director general of Inter-Services Intelligence by him.

IMAGE: A poster of Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir on a road in Islamabad, on May 11, 2025. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

As Prime Minister, when I removed General Asim Munir from the post of DG ISI, he sought to approach my wife Bushra Bibi through intermediaries to discuss the matter.

"Bushra Bibi categorically declined, saying that she had no involvement with such affairs and would not meet him. It is General Asim Munir's vindictive nature that is behind Bushra Bibi's unjust 14-month incarceration and deplorable inhumane treatment in prison, Khan said in a post on X on Monday.

Further lambasting Gen Munir, Khan said: The way my wife has been targeted for personal vengeance is unprecedented. Even during Pakistan's darkest periods of dictatorship such a thing never happened.

She was accused of aiding and abetting, an allegation for which no proof has ever been presented, and she is arrested in one false case after another. She is a private citizen, a homemaker with no political involvement. I have not even been allowed to meet her in the past four weeks.

According to jail regulations, I was scheduled to meet her on June 1 but even that meeting was denied, in complete violation of court orders, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo, who has been in jail for nearly two years in multiple cases, said.

Khan said the events of May 9, 2023, in which military installations were targeted, were in fact a part of the London Plan the sole purpose of which was to eliminate Pakistan's largest political force, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Under this premeditated plan, I and several of my party leaders and workers were unlawfully imprisoned. Our democratic mandate was brazenly stolen, and corrupt individuals  Sharifs and Zardaris  were imposed upon the nation.

"We were subjected to relentless fascist oppression, our supporters were shot at, and baseless cases have been fabricated against us, he said, lambasting the military-backed regime of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Khan said that anti-terrorism courts and numerous judges are "complicit in this campaign of repression against his party".

Despite repeated demands, they refuse to summon or examine the stolen CCTV footage from May 9, 2023. Not a single judge has the courage to demand those tapes and deliver a verdict based on evidence. We are innocent. Our people are being sentenced without evidence and without the right to a fair trial. We will petition all courts to demand the release and review of that CCTV footage, he said.

Khan called for the formation of a judicial commission to conduct a transparent investigation into the massacres (of unarmed pro-democracy protesters) of May 9 and November 26, 2024 in Islamabad.

The judiciary in Pakistan has never been more disgraceful than it is today. In the past, there was Justice Munir, whose unjust decisions earned him global notoriety. Today, Justice Qazi Faez Isa is following in the same footsteps. The entire judicial system seems complicit, driven not by justice but by a desire to protect their own jobs and privileges, he said.

Last week, a Pakistani court sentenced 11 supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including a lawmaker, for violent protest in the capital on May 9, 2023.

The PTI workers had vandalised public property and attacked defence installations in the country on the day as they protested the arrest of the 72-year-old party founder.

Khan has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi, the garrison city, since mid-2023 in connection with multiple cases.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress top leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday condoled the Bengaluru stampede deaths and the Bharatiya Janata Party asked the Congress government to own up responsibility for what it called the 'state-sponsored negligence'.

IMAGE: A number of shoes and slippers lying outside Chinnaswamy Stadium after a stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s victory celebrations, in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

President Droupadi Murmu said: 'The loss of lives in the tragic happening at a stadium in Bengaluru is shocking and heartbreaking. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the stampede in Bengaluru during the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bangalore's Indian Premiere League triumph as 'absolutely heartrending'.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed sadness over the tragic stampede in Bengaluru during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory in the IPL and urged the state government to strengthen safety protocols to avoid such incidents in the future.

Rahul Gandhi said the stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebrations is heartbreaking.

'My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a swift and full recovery to all those injured.

'In this hour of grief, I stand with the people of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government must provide all possible support and relief to the affected families,' Gandhi said in a post on 'X'.

Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the Congress government and asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara to own up responsibility.

Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra accused the Siddaramaiah government of pressuring the police and organising celebrations without any preparedness and adequate police deployment.

"Is it not the responsibility of the state government to be prepared? Were they not aware that lakhs and lakhs of people will come to the celebrations?" Vijayendra said in Bengaluru.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi held the Karnataka government responsible for the incident and demanded that responsibility be fixed.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla targeted the state government, blaming 'state-sponsored negligence' for the loss of lives.

"Nothing short of state-sponsored negligence, state-sponsored callousness, state-sponsored murder," Poonawalla alleged, adding, "This is the true face of the Congress in Karnataka."

Another BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari charged the Karnataka government with criminal negligence .

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that the Congress government should take full responsibility for the stampede and alleged that lack of proper planning and "complete failure" to take precautionary measures led to this unfortunate incident.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen top leader Owaisi said it is very unfortunate and heartbreaking that such a tragedy occurred on a happy occasion. Major steps should have been taken to prevent such an incident, he added.

Karnataka Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot urged the state government to thoroughly investigate the lapses that led to the tragic incident.

Senior BJP leader R Ashoka demanded resignations of Karnataka Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar following the stampede.

He said that there was no doubt that the deaths occurred in the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium were "state-sponsored murders".

"There are suspicions that the hidden fight between the CM Siddaramaiah and the DCM D K Shivakumar has turned into a credit war, leading to today's chaos," he alleged in a post on 'X'.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan exported non-oil products worth $100.5 million to Switzerland from January through April 2025.

Data obtained by Trend from the State Customs Committee indicates that this figure is three times higher than the same period last year, representing an increase of $66.6 million.

Moreover, non-oil exports to Switzerland accounted for 9.41 percent of Azerbaijan's total exports during this period, placing Switzerland fourth among Azerbaijans largest non-oil export markets.

Additionally, Azerbaijan's total foreign trade turnover with other countries reached $16.9 billion in the January-April period. This reflects a 24.1 percent increase, or $3.3 billion more, compared to the same period in 2024.

The country's exports accounted for $8.8 billion of the turnover, while imports stood at $8.1 billion. Compared to the first four months of 2024, exports increased by $616.1 million (7.5 percent), and imports rose significantly by $2.7 billion (48.8 percent).
The Royal Challenger's Bengaluru parade in celebration of the team's maiden Indian Premiere League win in 18 years turned into tragedy as at least 11 fans died and several were injured in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meets the injured in the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Over 50 people have been killed in stampedes this year at temples, railway station and at the Maha Kumbh among others.

On February 15, a stampede broke out at New Delhi Railway Station's platform number 14 and 15.

Eighteen people were killed and 15 injured, mostly pilgrims visiting Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

During the Maha Kumbh, a stampede on January 29 at the Sangam area as millions as pilgrims were jostling for space to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya resulted in the death of 30 people and injuries to 60.

Here is a list of some other tragedies that have taken place in the country in recent years:

May 3, 2025: Six persons died and around 100 people injured in a stampede in the early hours during an annual festival of Sri Lairai Devi temple at Shirgao village in Goa.

January 8, 2025: At least six devotees were killed and dozens injured in a stampede as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala Hills.

December 4, 2024: A 35-year-old woman died and a boy was injured at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad in a stampede where Allu Arjun's blockbuster 'Pushpa 2' was screened.

July 2, 2024: At least 121 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede broke out at a 'satsang' (prayer meeting) organised by self-styled godman, Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari, in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.

March 31, 2023: At least 36 people died when the slab constructed on top of an ancient 'bawdi' or well collapsed during a 'havan' ceremony held on the occasion of Ram Navami at a temple in Indore city.

January 1, 2022: At least 12 people died and over a dozen were injured in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by a heavy rush of devotees.

September 29, 2017: Twenty-three people lost their lives and 36 were injured in a stampede on the narrow bridge connecting the Elphinstone Road station of the Western Railway with Parel station of the Central Railway in Mumbai.

July 14, 2015: Twenty-seven pilgrims died and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river where a huge crowd of devotees had gathered on the opening day of 'Pushkaram' festival in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh

October 3, 2014: Thirty-two people were killed and 26 others injured in a stampede at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, shortly after the Dussehra celebrations ended.

October 13, 2013: 115 people were killed and over 100 injured in a stampede during the Navratri festivities near Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district. The stampede was triggered by rumours that a river bridge the devotees were crossing was about to collapse.

November 19, 2012: Around 20 people were killed and many others injured as a makeshift bridge caved in, triggering a stampede during the Chhath Puja at Adalat Ghat on the bank of river Ganga in Patna.

November 8, 2011: At least 20 people were killed in a stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on the banks of Ganga river.

January 14, 2011: At least 104 Sabarimala devotees were killed and over 40 were injured in a stampede when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala's Idukki district.

March 4, 2010: About 63 people were killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple of Kripalu Maharaj in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district as people gathered to collect free clothes and food from the self-styled godman.

September 30, 2008: Nearly 250 devotees were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of a bomb going off at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city.

August 3, 2008: 162 dead, 47 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of rockslides at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district.

January 25, 2005: Over 340 devotees were trampled to death and hundreds injured during an annual pilgrimage at Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra's Satara district. The accident occurred when some people fell down on the steps made slippery by the devotees breaking coconuts.

August 27, 2003: 39 people were killed and around 140 injured in a stampede during the holy bath at the Kumbh Mela in Maharashtra's Nashik district.
Pakistan People's Party chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that cooperation between Pakistan and India's intelligence agencies could significantly reduce terrorism in South Asia.

IMAGE: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Photograph: ANI Photo

The PPP chairman, who is currently leading a high-powered delegation to the United States as part of a global diplomatic push to seek support following its recent conflict with India, was speaking at a press conference at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, the Dawn newspaper reported.

I am completely confident that if ISI and RAW were ready to sit down and work together to fight these forces, we would see a significant decrease in terrorism in both India and Pakistan, Bhutto-Zardari was quoted as saying by the newspaper on Wednesday.

He also urged the global community to remain engaged in South Asia, warning that the risk of conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours had grown, not diminished, after the recent ceasefire.

With the intervention of the international community  and I would like to mention particularly the role played by the US President Donald Trump and his team led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio  we did manage to achieve a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. This is a welcome first step, but it's only a first step, Bhutto-Zardari said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 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.

Trump claims that the US has stopped India and Pakistan from fighting.

However, India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.

Bhutto-Zardari emphasised that diplomacy and dialogue were the only viable path to peace, and reiterated Pakistan's willingness to engage in a broad dialogue with India  including cooperation on counterterrorism.

Pakistan would still like to cooperate with India to combat terrorism. We can't leave the fate of 1.5 billion, 1.7 billion people in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists... For them to decide, at a whim, that (when these) two nuclear-armed powers will go to war, he said.

Referring to India, the PPP leader said "linking any terrorist attack in the region to the threat of war with Pakistan" is "untenable". You can't have no dispute resolution mechanisms between two nuclear-armed countries, he said.

He proposed the establishment of a mutually agreed platform where both sides could raise complaints, investigate terrorist incidents jointly, and work together to ensure accountability.

Reiterating Pakistan's stance on India's move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Bhutto-Zardari said it is an attempt to weaponise water.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, New Delhi, among other punitive actions, announced the suspension of the 1960 IWT accord, which governs water sharing between India and Pakistan.

The mere threat to cut off the water supply of 200 million people is a violation of the UN Charter. Acting on this threat will be seen as an act of war by Pakistan, Bhutto-Zardari said.

Earlier, the Pakistani delegation met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, in New York, the Dawn reported.
Police have recovered a bloodstained machete, which they believe was used in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, who went missing along with his wife while honeymooning in Meghalaya, an official said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Indore couple Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam. Photograph: X

A raincoat, also believed to belong to the couple from Madhya Pradesh, was recovered from Mawkma village, a few kilometres away from the gorge where Raja's body was found on Monday, he said.

"We have recovered a bloodstained weapon, a relatively unused machete (dao), during the search of the area yesterday. The search and rescue teams have also recovered a raincoat from Mawkma today," SP of East Khasi Hills Vivek Syiem told PTI.

Mawkma is located between the spot where Raja's decomposed body was found and Sohrarim, where the scooter used by the couple was found abandoned.

The search for Raja's wife, Sonam, was continuing, with the NDRF leading the efforts, officials said.

Police said the raincoat they recovered could provide more clues about what had happened.

The search teams are using drones, sniffer dogs, and mountaineers in the search operation.

The couple arrived in Mawlakhiat village on May 22 on a rented scooter. They trekked over 3,000 steps down the gorge to visit the famous living root bridges in Nongriat village, where they stayed the night, according to police.

They left the homestay the following morning. On May 24, their scooter was found abandoned outside a cafe along the road from Shillong to Sohra.

"Raja's family identified the body with the help of a distinctive tattoo on his right hand, reading 'Raja'. A woman's white shirt, a strip of tablets, part of a smartphone's screen, and a smartwatch were seized from the spot," the SP said.

Raja's brother Govind Raguvanshi told PTI, "Since my brother's gold rings, a gold chain and his wallet are missing, we suspect it is a murder. We urge the authorities to let the CBI conduct an inquiry into this."

The post-mortem examination was being conducted at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences near Shillong.

Syiem said the murder case was being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an SP-level officer and assisted by four DSP rank officers.

Sohra, also known as Cherrapunji, has been receiving heavy rain, which affected the search and rescue operations, he said.

The area recorded 500 mm of rain between May 29 and 31, which is equivalent to Mysore's annual rainfall, a weather department official said.

A clip of a telephone conversation between Sonam and her mother-in-law has gone viral on social media.

In the undated clip, Sonam could be heard expressing discomfort about a steep trek.

"Today must be your fast," the mother-in-law could be heard saying, to which Sonam responded, "Yes, it is. But I won't break my fast just because we are travelling."

Sonam then went on to describe the area she was in along with Raja. "We're in a dense forest, nothing is available here. The climb is steep. I had told him not to go, but he never listens. I'm exhausted. The food here isn't good either. It's hard to breathe while walking."

PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the clip.

Earlier this year, Hungarian tourist Puskas Zsolt went missing soon after he started trekking to the living roots bridge. His body was found dead 12 days later.

Medical reports indicated that he died due to a fall.
The Centre has defended in the Delhi high court its decision to cancel the overseas citizen of India (OCI) card of United States-based journalist Raphael Satter saying he maligned Indian institutions in the international arena through journalistic activities.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons

The Centre said it was satisfied that Satter conducted journalistic activities without waiting for necessary permission and violated the government's notification and that a 'discreet' lookout circular (LOC) was opened against him.

"It has been reported by security agencies that Raphael has been noted for acts of maliciously creating adverse and biased opinions against Indian institutions in the international arena through his journalistic activities and a discreet LOC was opened against him," the Ministry of Home Affairs said in an affidavit.

The Centre said that his revision petition was as a result disposed of and a speaking order dated May 24, 2024 held that there were no grounds to revise the overseas citizen of India (OCI) cancellation order.

The union ministry's affidavit came in response to Satter's plea against the cancellation of his OCI card.

Justice Sachin Datta, who is hearing the matter, granted liberty to Satter to file a rejoinder to the government's reply and posted the hearing on August 25.

Satter obtained the OCI status through his marriage and claimed he visited India for family purposes.

The ministry said it was brought to its notice through security agencies that Satter had attended Nullcon conference in Goa in September 2022 and the focus of the conference was to showcase the next generation of offensive and defensive security technology.

Without necessary permission, he attended the conference and conducted journalistic activities, therefore, violating the provision of the ministry's notification, it said.

OCI card holders or other foreigners visiting India, it said, were supposed to adhere to the laws of the country, meaning, the activities they are prohibited from under the category of visa or OCI guidelines.

"An OCI cardholder is a foreigner and OCI card is a life-long visa issued to such a foreigner. Every country has a sovereign right to refuse entry into its territory to any individual whom it may consider undesirable and informing about the same inasmuch as entry into any country's territory is not a matter of right, even if the person holds a valid visa," the affidavit said.

Citizens of India, the government said, were guaranteed fundamental right of speech and free movement, but foreigners or citizens of other countries were not entitled to such rights.

Since OCI card holders are foreigners and citizens of another country, they cannot claim the right to free speech, movement and protest under the Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, the ministry added.

It came on record that before initiating cancellation of the OCI proceedings, the ministry consulted security agencies and also the Ministry of External Affairs.

After examining the petitioner's activities, his OCI card was found liable to be cancelled.

"Therefore, on June 12, 2023, this ministry (MHA) served a 'notice' to the petitioner through the High Commission of India in Washington DC to showcause as to why his OCI card may not be cancelled...the reports received from security agencies are 'secret' in nature, therefore, it cannot be disclosed to the petitioner," the affidavit said.

Though Satter submitted his reply to the ministry notice, the government claimed, he did not submit documents to establish he did not carry out any journalistic activity aside from showing his whereabouts and activities during his India visit.

The MHA, however, said the reports received from the security agencies and the MEA provided 'enough inputs' indicating he had 'willfully violated' the provision of the 2021 notification.

Satter, in his revision petition filed in January, 2024 before the MHA under the Citizenship Act, challenged his OCI cancellation order of December 4, 2023.

On April 23, 2024 he claimed of not having carried out any journalistic activity, but the ministry claimed otherwise.
The monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has recommended the dates, he told reporters in New Delhi.

The recommendation will be sent to the President for convening the session, the parliamentary affairs minister said.

The announcement by Rijiju comes against the backdrop of a demand for special session by opposition leaders to discuss Operation Sindoor.

"Every session is a special session for us," he said, adding that under the rules, "all important matters" can be discussed during the monsoon session.

He underlined that the business advisory committee of both the Houses will take a call on the issues to be discussed.
Amid a mystery surrounding the identity of a wild animal that bit 17 people last month, leading to the death of six due to suspected rabies infection, in MP's Barwani district and villagers claim of spotting a hyena, forest officials now suspect the attacking animal could be a jackal.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pixabay

A forest official on Wednesday night said the carcass of a jackal was found in a dry well during the search operation.

"Statements of victims and eyewitnesses strengthen the belief that the jackal had attacked villagers on May 5," Barwani's Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashish Bansod told reporters.

He said the carcass appeared to be about 25 days old.

According to Bansod, local people might have killed the jackal by tying its hind legs and throwing it in the well following the May 5 incident when 17 people were bitten by an unidentified animal.

"Before cremating the jackal as per norms, we had taken a sample from its carcass. This sample will be sent to Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur to ascertain whether the jackal was infected with rabies," he added.

According to officials, the yet-to-be-identified animal might be infected with the rabies virus, though confirmation is awaited pending lab reports.

The attack occurred in the early hours of May 5 in Limbai village, located about 4.5 km away from the forest boundary, and nearby areas, where 17 people were bitten while sleeping outside their homes due to the heat.

All the victims were administered anti-rabies vaccines, officials said. However, between May 23 and June 2, six of them succumbed, officials said.

Earlier in the day, Forest Range Officer Vikas Jamre told PTI that locals reported spotting a hyena in the area around the time of the incident.

Barwani Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Surekha Jamre said that a 35-year-old man injured in the attack is currently stable and receiving treatment at the district hospital.

"All others who were bitten are under observation and in stable condition," she said.

To ascertain if the victims contracted rabies, brain tissue samples from one of the deceased and saliva samples from surviving patients have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, she added.

Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, dean of Indore-based Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, said, "We suspect that six people from Barwani district died due to rabies. To confirm this, the brain tissue of a deceased person has also been sent to a laboratory in Delhi for further testing. The report is awaited."

The state government has given a compensation of Rs 8 lakh each to the families of the six deceased.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav spoke to family members of villagers mauled by the unidentified animal over the phone and assured them of all possible help.

Khargone-Barwani Lok Sabha member Gajendra Singh Patel, Rajya Sabha member Sumer Singh Solanki, and other leaders of BJP reached Limbai village and interacted with the kin of victims.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday slammed Rahul Gandhi for his 'surrender' barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it is not only a grave insult to the armed forces and country but also no less than treason.

IMAGE: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: @RahulGandhi/X

If any Pakistani had made such a claim, 'we would have laughed at him', BJP president J P Nadda said, stressing that after the havoc inflicted on Pakistan by Operation Sindoor, even its army and prime minister could not dare to speak what Rahul Gandhi was saying.

'This is no less than treason,' he said.

'Rahul Gandhi, you, your party and your leaders might have surrendered because this has been your history, but Bharat never surrenders.

'Surrender is in your party Congress' dictionary, it is in your DNA... You surrendered to terrorism, surrendered in Sharm-al-Shekh, surrendered at the table in Shimla after winning the 1971 war, surrendered in the Indus Water Treaty... and even surrendered to the Muslim League at the time of independence of the country,' Nadda said in a series of posts on X.

At a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Gandhi's remarks reflect a 'sick and dangerous' mindset and added the Congress leader had surpassed even Pakistan's army chief, prime minister and the terrorist masterminds based there in speaking in support of their country.

Targeting Gandhi, he called the Congress leader 'Rahul Munir' and 'Rahul Sharif', using the surnames of the Pakistani army chief and prime minister.

Citing a string of historical developments on the Congress watch, from India's division to China and Pakistan occupying parts of Indian territory to Gandhi lamenting the Western indifference to the alleged democratic slide in India under Modi, he said history is full of such 'surrenders' from the Nehru-Gandhi family and lauded Prime Minister Modi as the 'lion of mother India'.

"Rahul Gandhi and the Congress may have a history of surrender but Bharat will never surrender before anyone," Trivedi said.

He also took a clear swipe at US President Donald Trump, whose repeated claims of mediating the stoppage of military actions from India and Pakistan have given the opposition a handle to attack the Modi government.

The BJP spokesperson referred to Trump's recent post about a conspiracy theory that his predecessor Joe Biden was killed in 2020 and replaced by a robotic clone.

"How much can one trust ... I want to ask even the US government as he made the comment on his official Truth Social handle. It will be better if Rahul Gandhi tells us if he believes in this," he said, noting that the Indian armed forces and the Ministry of External Affairs have clarified numerous times that there was no third party mediation.

He also mentioned how during the presidential campaign, Trump had said that he once told Modi he can "stop the country (Pakistan) which has been annoying India but the Indian prime minister insisted, 'No, no, we have taught them lessons several times. I will do it'".

Nadda said on X, 'Rahul Gandhi dubbing unmatched valour of Indian forces as surrender is not only unfortunate but also a grave insult to the Indian military, the nation and 140 crore Indians.'

Trivedi also noted the controversial comments of various leaders of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which met on Tuesday and demanded a special session of Parliament following Operation Sindoor, and claimed the alliance has been unmasked.

"INDIA is in their name but Pakistan is in their heart," he alleged.

He said Gandhi's comments have shown that he lacked the maturity and seriousness expected of the Leader of Opposition.

If the Congress leader made these remarks on his own, then it raises a serious question over his loyalty, he said, adding that Gandhi should consider changing advisers if they were behind it.

Gandhi had on Tuesday alleged at a Congress event in Bhopal that Modi surrendered after a call from US President Trump during the India-Pakistan military conflict.

"A call came from Trump and Narendra ji immediately surrendered - history is a witness, this is the character of BJP-RSS, they always bow down," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had said.

Hitting back, the BJP said that 'from Doklam to Pahalgam', Gandhi 'chose to stand with forces opposed to India's political and economic resurgence'.

Trivedi said Gandhi had been making headlines in Pakistani media and its parliament, and is now saying something even Pakistani establishment and terrorists based there had not said.

The Indian government has already rejected Trump's claim of mediation between India and Pakistan to stop military actions from both sides, Trivedi said.

Nadda said the Indian armed forces destroyed 11 Pak airbases, 300 km inside the country's territory and killed over 150 terrorists.

"Pakistan is crying before the world that the Indian military attacked at 18 places and destroyed everything but Gandhi is speaking about India's surrender," he said.

Gandhi should know that it was not the government or a BJP spokesperson but senior military officials who announced the success of Operation Sindoor, the BJP president added.

"In reality, those whose policies have been about surrender cannot look beyond it. Isn't it Rahul Gandhi ji?" Nadda said in a jibe.

Trivedi said while multi-party delegations, including Congress leaders, have seriously and unitedly put forth the Indian stand across the world, Gandhi with his utterly petty comments has shown that he lacks the maturity expected of his position.

It is the Congress government that signed the Indus Waters Treaty to give water to Pakistan and let go of the territory won by the armed forces following the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP said, claiming that surrendering Indian interests is synonymous with the opposition party.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought Madhya Pradesh government's response on a plea of two journalists who were allegedly thrashed by police for reporting on illegal sand mining activities.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, however, refused to grant interim protection from arrest to them.

The bench agreed to hear the pleas of Shashikant Goyal and Amarkant Singh Chouhan, and issued notices to Madhya Pradesh and the NCT of Delhi for their responses and posted the matter on June 9.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners pressed for interim protection but the court said, "Let the other side respond. Let the facts be brought by the state also. We are listing it on Monday (June 9)."

The top court asked why the petitioners did not make the superintendent of police of Bhind a party to the petition.

"It is very easy to say all kinds of things against an IPS officer without making him a party. Whatever comes to your mind, just put it in black and white against the IPS officer," it added.

The bench also asked why the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the NCT of Delhi were made parties.

The counsel said NHRC was made a party as petitioners had previously filed a complaint there and offered to remove it as a party from the case.

On the NCT of Delhi, the counsel said both the petitioners were in the national capital at present.

The bench asked why was it not informed on June 2, when the matter was mentioned for urgent listing, about the petitioners moving the Delhi High Court where the matter was pending.

"Why did you not tell us at that point in time that you had already approached the Delhi high court and the matter was pending?" it asked.

The counsel said the petitioners were seeking a stay on arrest and protection from coercive action in the Supreme Court and such reliefs were not sought in the high court.

"We don't know what kind of a crime has been registered against you by the police. Can we grant you some blanket kind of anticipatory bail order that you will not be touched even if you commit a crime against this nation? Can we grant this kind of an order?" the bench asked further.

It observed the "phantom" of the story which was created on the day of mentioning was not made out in the petition.

While mentioning the matter on June 2, the bench said, the counsel claimed a threat to the petitioners' lives aside from regular intimidation.

"We believed your phantom of story and we allowed your mentioning. You did not tell us one fact that you have already approached the Delhi high court," it said.

The counsel referred to the FIR, saying the petitioners hadn't concealed anything from the court.

"We appreciate that you are the fourth pillar. We appreciate also that if there is a threat to life, we will come to your rescue. But you will have to also answer two-three things," the bench said.

The bench enquired about the apprehension of threat to life as claimed by the petitioners and asked what prevented them from moving either the Madhya Pradesh high court or going back to the Delhi high court for protection.

The counsel, in the meantime, referred to a press release of the Press Club of India condemning the incident.

When the counsel informed the bench that the petitioners were in the national capital, the bench said, "Today, you don't have an apprehension in Delhi. We will issue notice and list it on Monday."

The bench said, "Suppose you are involved in a case of murder, what to do then? We don't know what is the case against you", when the counsel insisted on grant of interim protection.

"We will hope that since the Supreme Court has issued notice and is seized of the matter, they will not take any coercive steps," the counsel said.

On May 28, the Delhi high court granted two-month protection to Chouhan, who claimed there was threat to his life by the Bhind superintendent of police after he was allegedly beaten in his office.

The high court directed Delhi Police to provide protection to Chouhan, the Bhind Bureau Chief of Swaraj Express news channel.

"In the meantime, they can approach the high court concerned (for availing further legal remedies)," the high court said.

Three journalists from Bhind district recently alleged that they were beaten and manhandled inside the office of superintendent of police, an allegation denied by the officer.

Pritam Singh Rajawat who runs a YouTube channel, Shashikant Goyal who runs a news portal and Chouhan, alleged in a complaint to the district collector that they were assaulted on May 1.
The Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has summoned Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over alleged graft in the construction of classrooms in government schools, an official said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party leaders Satyendar Jain and Manish Sisodia. Photograph: ANI Photo

Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Sisodia has been summoned for questioning on June 9, he said.

The summons come after an FIR was registered by the ACB on April 30 based on allegations of financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of over 12,000 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in Delhi government schools.

Officials said Sisodia, who held the finance and education portfolios of the previous AAP government in the national capital, and Jain, then in charge of the public works department and other ministries, are being questioned in connection with alleged lapses flagged by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

"The CVC's Chief Technical Examiner's report pointed out multiple anomalies in the project. The report was allegedly not acted upon for nearly three years," Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB) Madhur Verma said.

The FIR was registered after obtaining approval under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act from the competent authority, Verma added.

In 2019, BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Harish Khurana and Neelkant Bakshi had filed a complaint with the ACB, alleging serious financial irregularities in the construction of classrooms across three zones of Delhi.

According to the complaint, the average cost per classroom was pegged at Rs 24.86 lakh -- significantly higher than the estimated Rs 5 lakh cost for similar structures.

An investigation is currently underway and further action will be taken based on findings from the ongoing inquiry, officials said.
A 28-year-old student from Nalgonda district was arrested in Hyderabad following his deportation from the United States for allegedly using forged documents to obtain his visa, police said on Wednesday.

Image only for representational purposes. Photograph: Reuters

Authorities also apprehended the managing director of an overseas education consultancy firm on June 2, who is accused of providing the 'forged' degree certificates to the student.

The student, who was pursuing a master's degree at Webster University in Missouri, was initially arrested on June 1. Both were booked on charges of forgery and cheating.

The student's deportation from Dallas in the US took place in the last week of May while he was returning from India, after the US immigration officers found that his SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) status was inactive.

Upon his arrival at Rajiv Gandhi International (RGI) Airport in Shamshabad on June 1, immigration authorities here conducted an inquiry during which he reportedly confessed to securing a US visa in September 2023 using 'fake' B.Sc. Computer Science certificates.

Following this confession, local immigration authorities filed a complaint at the RGI Airport police station, leading to the student's arrest and the recording of his statement.

The student informed police that he had obtained the fraudulent documents from the MD of the education consultancy firm. During a search at the firm's office, the police seized several documents, including certificates from various universities, and Rs 10 lakh in cash from the possession of the MD, who was arrested.

"The student had studied for one year in the US and came to India and stayed for five months. When he returned to the US, immigration officers at the Dallas airport found his student status inactive on the SEVIS and deported him," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Shamshabad Division) V Sreekanth Goud told PTI.

During interrogation, the MD of the consultancy firm revealed that over the past five years he has sent 15 students abroad and secured admissions by providing 'fake' degree certificates to them.

Further investigation is on.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The second day of the 30th anniversary Baku Energy Forum has ended, Trend reports.

The forum was held within the framework of the 30th Baku Energy Week, which is also timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Caspian International Oil and Gas Exhibition and the 13th Caspian Power and Green Energy International Exhibition - Caspian Power.

This year, 267 companies from 39 countries took part in Baku Energy Week. The geography of the participants covered the entire energy landscape - from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and Africa.

Addressing the forum, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister and COP29 chief negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev stated that despite global challenges, Azerbaijan ensured COP29's effectiveness.

According to him, the COP29 conference is historic not only for the results achieved, but also for the difficult conditions in which it was held: We must realize how important COP is in terms of structure. The focus of the discussions in Baku was on climate finance, which was one of the pillars of the agreement. Without financing, you can neither reduce emissions nor adapt to climate change, the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on climate issues, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, noted that Azerbaijan and Brazil are jointly developing a program called From Baku to Belem. The purpose of this program is to increase the target for climate finance from $300 billion to $1.3 trillion.

Babayev noted that a historic result was achieved at COP29 - an agreement on financing of $300 billion. Within COP29, a large-scale program - From Baku to Belen'- was also approved: financing from $300 billion to $1.3 trillion from different sources. We are working on the development of this program together with the Brazilian team. This means that it is important for us to identify opportunities to attract additional financial sources for the realization of our climate agenda, he said.

Later, the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy of Hungary, Mark Alfoldy-Boruss, added in his remarks that Hungary is trying to gain access to green energy produced in Azerbaijan.

We welcome the Green Energy Corridor initiative and are working to gain access to green energy produced in Azerbaijan. Through this, we want to strengthen the security of the energy supply and support our climate goals. We believe that COP29 marks the beginning of a new era. As climate finance mechanisms have already been defined, Hungary supports cooperation, green development, and partnership based on the decisions taken at COP29, he said.

Managing Director of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Anton Kosach, said at the Baku Energy Forum that Azerbaijan is accelerating towards ambitious climate goals.

According to him, Azerbaijan is demonstrating decisive progress in implementing the climate agenda and developing green energy:

I am proud to participate in this important discussion. We see significant progress and serious ambitions - both in the set goals and steps towards their achievement, he emphasized.

Kosach also noted that the introduction of innovative solutions, including artificial intelligence, plays a key role in the transformation of the energy sector:

In a short period, several products have been brought to the market, including AI-based solutions for controlling methane emissions, allowing for to management of this process in an integrated form. The projects on the use of ionic liquids and energy storage systems modeled at the Caspian Institute of Artificial Intelligence are also being developed, Kosach added.

The official emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan's initiatives within COP29, including the development of a green energy corridor and export projects aimed at sustainable energy supply in Europe.

Furthermore, the Deputy Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Gauri Singh, noted that the world community needs to intensify efforts to triple the use of renewable energy sources by 2030.

Last year, 585 gigawatts of renewable capacities were put into operation, and the volume of investments in this sphere increased by almost 100 billion euros. However, this pace is not enough to achieve the set goals - it is necessary to triple the volumes to 11 terawatts, she emphasized.

Singh also drew attention to the global inequality in the development of green energy. She said that if China, the EU, and the US are excluded, the remaining countries have commissioned only 17 gigawatts of renewable capacity, pointing to a severe financing gap in developing countries.

The cost of capital for developing countries is much higher than for developed countries. There is an urgent need to reform financial mechanisms if we are to ensure equitable growth, she noted.

The official also emphasized the importance of investing in energy infrastructure, in particular the power grids that transmit energy, to avoid a mismatch between production and consumption.

SOCAR Vice President Afghan Isayev stated that, considering the complicated logistics and lack of access to the open sea, there is a need to create a consortium on the Caspian Sea.

According to him, logistics is one of the main challenges facing Azerbaijan. We have no access to the open sea. On the other hand, the transportation of giant wind curtains more than 90 meters long is a difficult task. We need specialized ships for construction work on the shelf. These ships must also be built here. Therefore, we propose our neighbors in the Caspian Sea region unite - just as we did in the oil and gas sector in our time: create consortia, share costs - so the process will be faster, cheaper, and more efficient, he stressed.

Elchin Ibadov, General Director of SOCAR Turkiye, added in his speech that artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are the priorities of SOCAR Turkiye's strategy.

He noted that the digital transition is not just a fashion trend; it is a necessity. Without it, it is impossible to increase motivation, profitability, attract talent, and shape the culture of the future, he said.

bp's Vice President in Georgia Ayten Agalarova-Hajiyeva also noted that the Azeri-Central-Sharqi (Azeri Central East - Ace) platform, located in the Azeri - chiraq - gunashli field block, is the most technologically advanced platform in bp's portfolio.

 One of our latest and most significant projects is the Azeri Central East - Ace platform. This platform is the most technologically advanced in bp's portfolio. We have implemented digital Dual Technologies here, automated the superstructure and drilling rig, and reduced personnel involvement on the platform as much as possible to improve safety and digitize offshore operations, she noted.

Kamal Abbasov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, added that recent events in the world have shown how important a stable and reliable energy supply is. At the same time, countries are working on the transition to cleaner and more environmentally friendly energy sources. These two goals are not easy to achieve at the same time. And it requires a smarter and more flexible system that will both ensure energy security and help the world transition to a low-carbon future.

He said that natural gas plays a key role not only as an energy source, but also in many areas of our lives: one of the most important examples is fertilizer production. These fertilizers are used to grow the food that millions of people eat. In this respect, natural gas supports food security, which is even more important at a time when the world's population is growing.

In turn, Gabor Orban, CEO of MVM Energy, noted that the influence of short-term contracts on the structure of the global gas market is growing.

The share of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in supply is growing, and the influence of short-term markets is increasing. Even if short-term markets are becoming more important, traditional long-term contracts and regional pipeline infrastructure are still the most important elements of supply. Long-term contracts provide predictability, investment security, and this is very important for both buyers and sellers, he said.

Colin Allan, bp's vice president for finance in the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye region, stated that the Southern Gas Corridor remains a key element of regional energy security and supply stability.

We see a close interaction between the upstream segment and the market. Upstream investments are impossible without the market; the market itself depends on these investments. It is about security, reliability, and mutual benefit, he emphasized.
'If my daughter was admitted in time and her treatment started soon, she could have been saved.'

IMAGE: Bihar Special Armed Police and police personnel clash with Youth Congress supporters during a protest in Patna, June 2, 2025, over the minor Dalit rape victim's death. Photograph: ANI Photo

After facing flak from the Opposition over the rape and death of a Dalit minor at the government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, constituted a three-member investigation team to probe the incident.

Sensing the political fallout of the incident ahead of the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls, Pandey said three directors of the health department will probe allegations of delay, negligence and apathy in the treatment of the rape victim that led to her death.

The team, the minister said, will visit the Patna Medical College and Hospital where the rape victim died during treatment and the Muzaffarpur-based government-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital where the seriously injured rape victim was admitted first for treatment last week.

The Opposition combine of Congress, Left parties and Rashtriya Janata Dal asked why a rape victim in critical condition had to wait for more than four hours in an ambulance on the Patna Medical College and Hospital premises before her treatment started, and which delay, they averred, resulted in her death.

The rape victim's family members, including her widowed mother and uncle Virendar Paswan, alleged that Patna Medical College and Hospital officials ignored their repeated plea to admit her for treatment and that she was left in the ambulance for over four hours and was admitted only after Congress leaders intervened.

'If my daughter was admitted in time and her treatment started soon, she could have been saved,' her mother said.

Dr Kumari Vibha, superintendent of the Muzaffarpur-based government run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, said that lack of proper equipment and specialist doctors forced them to send the rape victim, who was in a critical condition, to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

'She was treated for five days as per our capacity and available resources but when her condition deteriorated, she was referred to Patna,' Dr Vibha said.

The rape-death has again exposed the lack of health facilities for the poorest of the poor in the state and triggered protests in Patna and Muzaffarpur, with the Opposition blaming the Nitish Kumar government for the sorry state of affairs.

Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, a Dalit, launched a scathing attack on the Bihar government over the incident.

With other Opposition parties joining the protest, the rape-death is likely to become an issue ahead of the assembly polls in October-November.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a social media post condemned the incident and said the protest will continue till the victim's family gets justice.

'Rapes are taking place daily across the state but the NDA government is sleeping,' charged Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly.

Under pressure after the Opposition protest, Muzaffarpur police officials said that the chargesheet will be filed within two weeks against the accused, who has been jailed, and a speedy trial will be conducted in the case.

In damage control the Bihar government on Tuesday removed the deputy superintendent of the Patna Medical College and Hospital and suspended Dr Kumari Vibha.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 70F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan and Brazil are jointly developing the program 'From Baku to Belem' aimed at increasing the climate finance target from $300 billion to $1.3 trillion, the representative of the President of Azerbaijan on climate issues, the President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev said at the Baku Energy Forum, Trend reports.

Babayev noted that a historic result was achieved at COP29 - financing for $300 billion was agreed upon.

"A large-scale program was also approved at COP29 - 'From Baku to Belem': from $300 billion to $1.3 trillion from various sources. Together with the Brazilian team, we are working on the preparation of this program. This means that we need to determine what additional sources of financing can be attracted to implement the climate agenda," he also said.

According to him, in addition to government sources, it is necessary to involve others: international development banks, international financial institutions, the private sector, philanthropy, and others. South-South cooperation also plays an important role.

"We need to pay attention to active South-South cooperation because, for example, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the developing world are also funding 'green' projects in various countries of the Global South. Therefore, now is an extremely important period for us - the intense and difficult work of preparing this roadmap," Babayev emphasized.

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected a US proposal on Iran's nuclear program that demands giving up uranium enrichment, saying it is a crucial part of the country's nuclear program.

Iran has been weighing a US proposal drafted by White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, but Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, said Iran considers it to be against national interests.

"One key aspect of national independence is the principle that 'We can do it ourselves,'" Khamenei told a gathering in Tehran on June 4 to mark the 36th anniversary of the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic.

"The American plan goes 100 percent against [that principle]," he added.

Iran and the United States have held five rounds of talks mediated by Oman to curb Tehran's fast expanding nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

In a post on Truth Social on June 3, US President Donald Trump wrote that under a potential agreement with Iran, "we will not allow any enrichment of uranium."

Iranian officials have staunchly rejected that demand, and Khamenei reiterated that position.

"Uranium enrichment is crucial to the nuclear issue; that's why our enemies have focused on it," said the supreme leader.

Trump last month suggested that he may be open to allowing Iran to maintain a nuclear program for energy production, but Khamenei said it offers more than clean energy.

He described Iran's nuclear program as "a key industry" that contributes to other sectors, including medicine.

"[The Americans] want you to be reliant on them for radiopharmaceuticals, energy, desalination equipment, and in tens of other critical sectors," Khamenei said.

In its latest quarterly report released last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had further increased its production of highly enriched uranium.

The report said Iran had amassed 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent as of May 17, up from just under 275 kilograms in the IAEA's most recent report, in February.

In a separate document, the agency also criticized Tehran's "less than satisfactory" cooperation, especially its failure to explain traces of nuclear material detected at undeclared sites.

The reports come ahead of a scheduled IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna later this month, where Iran's nuclear activities will be reviewed. Tehran has accused the Western nations of politicizing the UN nuclear watchdog to pressure the Islamic republic.

Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity is well above the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 nuclear deal, though still below the 90 percent level needed for a nuclear weapon.
This could have been a momentous week in Ukraines long-term wish of joining the European Union and NATO. In the end, it wasn't.

As leaders of the two institutions met for key summits in Brussels and The Hague respectively, Kyivs eventual membership of both should have been a centerpiece.

Instead, Ukraine is no closer to joining either  and the many obstacles in the war-torn country's path to the Euro-Atlantic community were on full display.

Rewind one year to NATOs Washington summit.

Just like in Vilnius a year ago, Ukraine was frustrated that it didnt get an invitation, but the final declaration gushed about the country.

We fully support Ukraines right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference. Ukraines future is in NATO, the text reaffirmed before adding as Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.

Joe Biden, the US president at the time, was reluctant to go further, with Kyiv engaged in direct conflict with Russia.

Germany was quietly backing Washingtons stance but the warm language and the guest of honor treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit was indicative of an aspirant country that soon would transform to a full-fledged ally.

At this years NATO summit in The Hague, the scenes could not have been much starker.

Biden is no longer president. In his place is Donald Trump, who has openly dismissed Ukraines chances of joining for years.

And the new reality was on display everywhere.

There was no NATO-Ukraine Council on leaders level. No one talked openly about Ukraines eventual membership and there were no words about it in the final declaration.

Instead, there was just a line that allies can count financial support to Kyiv as part of the military alliances new defense spending target.

Granted, Zelenskyy was present at the summit dinner. He met all relevant leaders, including a bilateral with Donald Trump that according to all read-outs went well. Trump even said he was nice, opened up for potential Patriot deliveries to Ukraine, and seemed to show willingness to press the Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the table.

But in reality, Ukraine got nothing concrete, niceties aside.

Washington is still reluctant to sanction Russia, the Europeans are shying away from their signature proposal to lower the Russian oil price cap, and when it comes to NATO membership, Kyiv is further away now than it was a year ago.

The fact that officials said it was a success that Trump didnt treat Zelenskyy badly and that the Ukrainian didnt complain about the lack of outcomes shows how low expectations were.

"I don't consider the summit a failure for Ukraine. On the contrary, we got the maximum of what is realistically possible for today," Volodymyr Fesenko, a Ukrainian political scientist told Current Time.

"The fact is, even in the highly condensed NATO communique, theres a dedicated point about continued support for Ukraine under current conditions -- and thats exactly what we need. Not some abstract statement or vague promise that well join NATO at some undefined point in the future."

At an EU summit in Brussels a day later, the story of dashed hopes was eerily similar.

At the same June summit in 2022, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status and exactly a year ago the same gathering decided to formally start accession talks.

This year, the stated goal from both Kyiv and Brussels was to officially open several of the six negotiation clusters needed to become a member.

Both the European Commission and 26 of the 27 EU member states believe that Ukraine is ready for this, but there is a need for unanimity to make it happen.

And so far, Hungary has not played ball. Quite the opposite.

In the run-up to the summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban presented the results of a consultative referendum in the Central European country in which over 2 million people, or 95 percent of those who cast ballots, had voted against Ukrainian EU membership.

Going into the meeting he said that the problem is the war, if we integrate Ukraine, we integrate the war. When pressed by RFE/RL if he would change his mind if there is a cease-fire, he simply retorted that there isnt one.

The fact that draft summit conclusions of just EU-26 had been drawn up in advance shows that the Budapest blockage is taken for granted.

The text notes member states invite "the Council to take the next steps in the accession process in line with the merit-based approach, with clusters being opened when the conditions are met. It takes good note of the assessment of the Commission that the fundamentals cluster is ready to be opened. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting.

It's symbolic support of Kyivs EU integration, but practically it means nothing.

It was also indicative that Zelenskyy didnt show up in person in Brussels, addressing the leaders via videolink instead.

EU officials cited logistical reasons for his absence, which is curious considering that he managed to be in both The Hague and that he addressed the Council of Europe in Strasbourg the day before.

While there are hopes that Hungary might give in soon, perhaps even later this summer, most European officials concede that the veto might last all the way up to the Hungarian parliamentary election slated for April 2026 as the issue of Ukrainian EU integration now has crept into the national debate.

It is also telling that no more EU countries have put bigger pressure on Hungary to give the green light.

But there are other things that are more important right now.

Take the need to get the country onboard when it comes to agreeing on new Russia sanctions and to roll over those imposed in the last three years, something that happened at the summit.

But then there is a sense in European capitals that some countries secretly are quite comfortable with slowing down Ukraines EU accession.

And this goes beyond Hungary and Slovakia, which has expressed reservations on moving forward too quickly.

Poland recently elected a new president, Karol Nawrocki, who didnt shy away from criticizing Ukrainian agricultural imports to the EU or raise thorny historical issues between Warsaw and Kyiv. Czechia might elect a government in the autumn that would be decidedly less enthusiastic about Ukraine in general.

Ukraines most immediate neighbors clearly see that Ukraine will fight for the same EU funds that they are counting on in the coming years. And even further West, there are reservations about being too quick in taking in a big and poor country locked in a bloody conflict with a nuclear superpower.

The club itself must undergo reforms for such an addition to the family and those reforms are both politically and financially painful.

Unlike its NATO bid, Ukraines EU membership is not off the table.

But this week has shown that the ambitious goal of getting Kyiv in by 2030 might have to be revised. Lets just say that the 2030s sounds more feasible now, as one diplomat put it.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned about the ongoing risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine, saying the "dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present."

The presence of IAEA officials at nuclear facilities in Ukraine remains essential to help prevent a nuclear incident, Raphael Grossi said on June 3 after his 12th visit to Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The IAEA has played a role in safeguarding the condition of Ukraine's nuclear power plants since then.

It regularly sends expert teams to the operating reactor sites in Rivne and Khmelnytskiy and has a permanent presence at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been shut down for safety reasons.

The IAEA experts at Rivne and Khmelnytskiy had to take shelter up to three times during Grossi's visit because of an unusually high number of air raid warnings.

"My teams report that this was the most intense day of air raid alarms they had experienced since late last year," Grossi said in a news release.

Grossi said he met with Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and other senior officials in the basement of the Energy Ministry because of an active air alarm in Kyiv.

He also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and discussed the IAEA's plans to support the country in restoring and expanding its nuclear power infrastructure.

Grossi also commented on a report that Russia is taking steps to connect the power plant to its electricity grid, telling Reuters in an interview that the Russians had never hidden the fact they want to restart the plant but added they would not be able to do so soon.

He said the plant is not in a condition to be restarted at present due to a lack of water for cooling and the absence of a stable power supply. Water would have to be pumped from the Dnipro River for the plant to restart, Grossi said.

Greenpeace issued a report last week saying Russia was building a 90-kilometer high-voltage power line to connect the power plant to Russia's grid.

Grossi said the IAEA did not agree with that report's conclusions.

"There are some areas where there has been some work, but we do not have any concrete evidence that this is part of a concerted, orchestrated plan to connect the power plant in one sense or the other," he said.

"We are not in a situation of imminent restart of the plant. Far from that, it would take quite some time before that can be done."

Zelenskyy said on X that any Russian efforts to restart the Zaporizhzhya power plant without Ukraine's involvement would be "absurd and dangerous," adding that is the reason IAEA officials "must be at the plant without artificial obstacles to their work or staff rotation." The experts at the plant "are showing the real situation to the world," he said.

The facility is Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Before the war it generated a fifth of Ukraine's electricity. The last of its six reactors stopped generating electricity in September 2022. It has been occupied by Russia since shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Areas near the plant regularly come under artillery and drone bombardment, which has damaged the two remaining power lines supplying the electricity needed for the plant to cool itself.

Both sides accuse each other of being responsible for the attacks.

With reporting by Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has challenged his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to sign a cease-fire to end fighting as the two sides work to set up a meeting to create a lasting peace after more than three years of war sparked by Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

Speaking at a briefing in Kyiv on June 4, Zelenskyy said such a meeting could include Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump as two recent rounds of talks with lower-level delegations failed to make a breakthrough to put a halt to the war.

"We are ready for exchanges but to continue diplomatic meetings in Istanbul at a level that does not solve anything further, I think, is pointless," Zelenskyy said.

"My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we propose to Russians a cease-fire until the leaders meet.... We are ready for such a meeting any day," he added.

Speaking at a televised government meeting, Putin effectively dismissed the possibilities of the cease-fire and the summit. He further claimed that Ukraine would "use" the pause to rearm and mobilize more people for its armed forces.

Putin also accused Kyiv of coordinating deadly "terrorist attacks" on bridges in border regions over the weekend. "How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" he added.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities claimed Russia has "deliberately" targeted civilian infrastructure in the Sumy region with a number of air strikes that killed four people and injured at least 20 others on June 3.

Zelenskyy's call for a meeting comes after talks on June 2 in Istanbul -- only the second round of face-to-face negotiations between the two sides in more than three years -- that failed to move the process forward.

The delegations exchanged specific proposals for a framework for a peace deal.

Ukraine called for, among other things, an unconditional 30-day cease-fire plus the exchange of all prisoners of war, as well as the return of Ukrainian children who Kyiv said have been abducted by Russia.

Russia's proposal, meanwhile, called for the international recognition of Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014, as well as the four Ukrainian regions that are partially occupied by Russian forces.

Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of not being serious about negotiating a peace deal -- a charge many Western countries have also leveled -- saying it was a ploy to keep Washington from implementing a new round of harsh economic sanctions on Russia.

"They did it to demonstrate to the United States that they are trying to be constructive," Zelenskyy said, calling the Russian proposal an "ultimatum."

"Why? To have a delay, which depends on President Trump personally: whether or not to postpone the imposition of sanctions."

Responding to Zelenskyy's comments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected the accusation, saying the process of direct talks was working and had produced results.

A series of audacious attacks by Ukraine on targets inside Russia or areas of Ukraine controlled by Moscow in recent days have sent shock waves across Russia.

On June 1, Ukrainian forces struck dozens of long-range bomber aircraft across Russia with drones smuggled in wooden shipping crates carried on truck beds into the country and then launched from nearby locations.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims that more than 40 bombers were hit in the attack, described as an "absolutely brilliant outcome" by Zelenskyy, who added that the operation had taken more than 18 months to prepare.

Then on June 3, Ukraine claimed to hit a key bridge that links Russia and Moscow-occupied Crimea with underwater explosives.

Lavrov said Moscow shouldn't fall for Ukraine's "criminal provocations," and instead use negotiations and all "means" it has to achieve its goals in Ukraine.

The 19-kilometer Kerch Bridge, which carries both road and rail traffic, was built by Russia and opened in 2018 -- four years after Moscow illegally annexed the peninsula -- and serves as an important supply route for Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine.

It was damaged by Ukrainian attacks in October 2022 and July 2023 and has frequently been closed during security incidents.

Addressing the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, Zelenskyy told NATO defense ministers that Russia "must be forced into diplomacy," adding that the Alliance has "all the necessary tools" to push Russia toward peace and make its aggression against Ukraine "meaningless."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Hungary strives for access to green energy produced in Azerbaijan, Deputy State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Energy Mark Alfoldy-Boruss said during the Baku Energy Forum, Trend reports.

"We welcome the Green Energy Corridor initiative and are committed to accessing green energy produced in Azerbaijan, strengthening energy supply security, and supporting our climate goals. We believe that COP29 has opened a new era, as climate financing mechanisms have now been defined and Hungary stands for cooperation, green development, and partnership based on the decisions taken at COP29," he said.

Alfoldy-Boruss also noted that hydrocarbons remain a key element of Hungary's energy balance.

According to him, most Hungarian municipalities are supplied with heat from natural gas. The country also has a developed chemical and petrochemical industry, including the production of fertilizers, which require oil and gas.

"One of the key conclusions of COP29 was the understanding that countries heavily dependent on hydrocarbons, such as Azerbaijan, need to move in two directions in parallel - reducing emissions and maintaining the role of traditional energy resources in the economy," he noted.

He stated that Hungary has reached eight GW of installed photovoltaic capacity, which allows it to cover domestic needs on sunny days.

"This is a significant achievement. But due to the dependence on weather conditions, we can only use it to a limited extent. Therefore, both short-term energy storage and seasonal solutions are needed. Here, we also need natural gas for flexible generation. In this regard, Hungary has already started building three new CCGTs (combined-cycle gas turbines). In order to integrate a large volume of variable renewable energy, the flexibility of the energy sector is needed, both with batteries and CCGTs on natural gas. It is also important to preserve and diversify hydrocarbon supply routes - not only routes, but also sources," Alfoldy-Boruss said.

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The pressure to reopen Castlerea fire station continues to mount as local Oireachtas members are seeking a meeting with Roscommon County Council's CEO to discuss the current provision of fires services in the county.

Independent Ireland Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane, Fianna Fail TD Martin Daly and Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill have sent a joint letter to Council CEO Shane Tiernan seeking the meeting.

They believe that a "comprehensive review" of the countys fire service is now needed

The four wrote to the council chief to formally request a meeting with him to discuss the current provision of fire services in County Roscommon, particularly in the western part of the Roscommon Municipal District.

The letter states: This request comes in light of the recent gorse and bog fires in the Loughglynn and Gorthaganny areas, which necessitated emergency response from multiple fire brigades across the region, including support from neighbouring counties. These incidents have brought renewed attention to the capacity and coverage of our local fire service infrastructure.

We have received several representations from concerned constituents who have highlighted the absence of a dedicated fire station in the western region of the Roscommon MD area.

"The lack of localised fire service facilities in this part of the county has raised significant concerns regarding emergency response times and overall public safety.

Given the scale of the recent events and the understandable anxiety within the community, we believe there is now a strong and timely justification for a comprehensive review of fire service provision in County Roscommon.

"We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how we can work together to address these concerns and support Roscommon County Council in ensuring that adequate and effective fire services are available to all parts of the county, said the Oireachtas members in their letter.

Castlerea Fire Station closed in 2017.
IMD Issues Alerts as Heavy Rain Batters North and Northeast India; 47 Dead in Floods, Delhi and Kolkata Brace for Storms (Image courtesy: Navbharat Times)

In the northeast, relentless heavy rainfall has triggered floods and landslides, raising the death toll to 47 ... over 6.33 lakh people.

IMD Issues Alerts as Heavy Rain Batters North and Northeast India; 47 Dead in Floods, Delhi and Kolkata Brace for Storms

IMD Issues Alerts Delhi and Kolkata latest news: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several parts of Himachal Pradesh, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds. Districts under the orange alert include Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur. Additionally, a yellow alert has been issued for other regions, where thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds ranging from 30 to 50 km/h are expected.

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Meanwhile, Delhi and Kolkata are also likely to experience rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds today.

The weather in the hill state remained mostly dry on Tuesday, with only a few areas experiencing light rain and snowfall. According to the meteorological centre, Kufri, Karsog, and Guler recorded 20 mm of rainfall, while Pandoh, Sundernagar, Shimla, Gohar, Aghar, Mandi, Bharmaur, Paonta Sahib, Solan, Chopal, Bilaspur, and Una received around 10 mm. Hansa witnessed 2.5 cm of snowfall, as reported by news agency PTI.

The weather department has also issued a rainfall alert for Delhi and Kolkata.

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In the national capital, residents woke up to cooler and more pleasant conditions this morning, with light winds adding to the comfort. Overcast skies offered much-needed relief from the recent heat and humidity, and a noticeable drop in temperatures was recorded in several parts of the city.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert, forecasting more rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.

The maximum temperature is likely to range between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius. The weather outlook includes partly cloudy skies, light rain, and thunderstorms, with gusty winds reaching up to 60 km/h during stormy conditions.

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Kolkata is also expected to see rain and thunderstorms today.

In the northeast, relentless heavy rainfall has triggered floods and landslides, raising the death toll to 47 and affecting over 6.33 lakh people. Assam reported the highest casualties with 17 deaths, including five in Guwahati due to landslides, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six each in Meghalaya and Mizoram, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura, and one in Nagaland.

(For more news apart from IMD Issues Alerts as Heavy Rain Batters North and Northeast India; 47 Dead in Floods, Delhi and Kolkata Brace for Storms, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman)
PM to Lead Tree Plantation on World Environment Day; Jaipurs Dhol Ka Badh Battles Unity Mall Plans

...forest plays a vital role in cooling the nearby area and aiding groundwater recharge.

PM to Lead Special Tree Plantation on World Environment Day, While Jaipurs Dhol Ka Badh Forest Fights for Survival Amid Unity Mall Plans

PM to Lead Special Tree Plantation on World Environment Day latest news: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead a special tree plantation initiatice under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park, New Delhi, on June 5, 2025, at 10:15 AM, on World Environment Day.

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The initiative aims to reaffirm Indias commitment to environmental stewardship and green mobility, according to a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office.

As part of the event, the Prime Minister will plant a banyan sapling. This initiative is a part of the Aravalli Green Wall Project, which seeks to reforest the 700-km-long Aravalli range. The project covers a 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli hills in 29 districts across four statesDelhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.

The project aims to boost biodiversity of the Aravallis through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. It also aims to improve the soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region. The project will also be of benefit to the local communities by providing them with employment and income generation opportunities.

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Prime Minister will also flag off 200 Electric Buses under Delhi Governments sustainable transport initiative. This move promotes clean urban mobility and symbolizes the nations collective responsibility towards ecological balance.

Dhol Ka Badh to be cleared for PM Unity Mall

Meanwhile, in Jaipurs Sanganer area, the Dhol Ka Badh natural foresta crucial green lung beside the Dravyavati Riveris under threat as Jaipur Government plans to Build PM Unity Mall on the forest.

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Home to around 2,400 trees, 64 bird species (including migratory birds), antelopes, hares, and serving as a living classroom for students, the forest plays a vital role in cooling the nearby area and aiding groundwater recharge. The forest also contains the khejri tree, Rajasthans state tree.

However, the Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) plans to clear this forest to build the PM Unity Mall, along with a fintech park, residential complexes, hotels, and a Rajasthan Mandapam on the land.

According to the Instagram handle letjaipubreathmovement, the government claims the project is part of boosting economic development and job creation.

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Letjaipubreathmovement handle says, on paper, Dhol Ka Badh is not classified as a forest but recorded as gair mumkin paharan uncultivable wastelandnot protected under the Forest Conservation Act.

It also says that RIICO is a state agency, and the land is state-owned, therefore, unless the state declares it a forest, the central government cannot intervene.

Students, activists, and local residents have joined the Let Jaipur Movement to save Dhol Ka Badh. Protests against the deforestation have been ongoing for a long time.

this comes after kancha Gachibowli case of Hyderabad, where the BJP government has critisied the Congress Government for letting it happen.

This situation follows the Kancha Gachibowli case in Hyderabad, which the BJP government has criticized the previous Congress government for allowing.

Currently, the BJP rules Rajasthan, but locals continue to protest against the tree felling of Dhol Ka Badh for the PM Unity Mall project.

(For more news apart from PM to Lead Special Tree Plantation on World Environment Day, While Jaipurs Dhol Ka Badh Forest Fights for Survival Amid Unity Mall Plans, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman)
Sanjay Raut Says INDIA Bloc's Only Demand Is Special Session on Pahalgam Attack, Not Govts Action

We only want to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, not the action taken by the government.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut demands Special Session on Pahalgam Attack latest news: On the INDIA bloc's demand for a special session of Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that the bloc's only demand is to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and not the actions taken by the government.

Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Raut said, We only want to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, not the action taken by the government.

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He further stated that the government should take the public into confidence and criticized it for keeping everything hidden.

If 16 Opposition parties are demanding a special session on this, then a discussion should be held. In a few days, we will also send letters to the President and Prime Minister. In a democracy, the government should take the public into confidence and tell them what it is doing. But in the largest democracy, everything is being kept hidden from the public, he added.

This past Sunday, Congress leader Pawan Khera also reiterated the partys demand for a special session of Parliament.

The Congress party has long been demanding that a special session of Parliament be called. One was called during the 1962 war, but it is astonishing that now, even after the war has ended, no session has been convened.

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Questions are arising every day  the biggest among them is Donald Trump's claims. We also want to know the terms of the ceasefire and why it was announced so suddenly by the U.S. President. The CDS's statements also raise many questions. The government needs to come forward. The country needs to know about our defence preparedness, Khera added.

(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)
Rupnagar Resident accused of Espionage

He is also accused of maintaining close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was earlier arrested for spying.

Punjab Special Operations Cell Unearths Espionage Network Linked to Rupnagar Resident

Rupnagar Resident accused of Espionage latest news: The Punjab State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, has unearthed a critical espionage network allegedly linked to a Punjab resident, Jasbir Singh, a native of Mahlan village in Rupnagar district.

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According to an official statement, the accused has been found associated with PIO (Pakistan Intelligence Operative) Shakir, also known as Jutt Randhawareportedly a member of a terror-backed espionage ring. He is also accused of maintaining close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was earlier arrested for spying.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), wrote, Acting swiftly, the State Special Operations Cell, Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of village Mahlan, Rupnagar.

As per police, Jasbir Singh runs a YouTube channel named Jaan Mahal.

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During the investigation, it was found that he had direct links with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, and maintained regular contact with Jyoti Malhotra and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danisha Pakistani national and expelled official from the Pakistan High Commission.

DGP Yadav further stated, Investigations have revealed that Jasbir Singh attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danishs invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He also travelled to Pakistan on three occasionsin 2020, 2021, and 2024. His electronic devices contain multiple Pakistan-based contacts, which are currently under detailed forensic scrutiny.

Following the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, Jasbir Singh allegedly attempted to erase all traces of his communications with PIOs to evade detection, according to the police statement.

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An FIR has been registered at the SSOC police station in Mohali. Investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider espionage-terror network and identify all associates and collaborators involved.

(For more news apart from Punjab Special Operations Cell Unearths Espionage Network Linked to Rupnagar Resident, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman)
Tehran Police Rescue Three Punjabi Youth Abducted in Iran after Visa Scam

They were promised Australian visas at the cost of Rs 18 lakh per visa

Tehran Police Rescue Three Punjabi Youth Abducted in Visa Scam latest news: Tehran Police have successfully rescued three Punjabi youth who were reportedly abducted in Iran after falling victim to a visa scam. Delhi Cabinet Minister and BJP National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed the rescue.

The trioJaspal Singh, Sampreet Singh, and Amritpal Singhwere allegedly trapped in a scam run by a travel agent from Punjab. They were promised Australian visas at the cost of Rs 18 lakh per visa. However, instead of Australia, they ended up in Iran, where they were kidnapped. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has confirmed the abduction.

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In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed the rescue, stating, Jaspal Singh, Sampreet Singh & Amritpal Singh  the 3 Punjabi youth trapped in Iran  have been rescued by Tehran Police.

He further added,Grateful to EAM Dr. @DrSJaishankar ji, Indian Embassy & Ambassador Shri Rudra Gaurav Shreshth Ji for swift and decisive intervention. The agent who endangered their lives must be arrested and made an example of  such crimes against our youth cannot be tolerated.

Earlier, on May 28, speaking about the incident, Sirsa had said, This isnt just a personal tragedy for their families its a harsh reflection of the failure of the Punjab Government, under CM Bhagwant Mann, to crack down on the rampant fraud by con travel agents that continues to endanger the lives and dreams of our youth.

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(For more news apart from Tehran Police Rescue Three Punjabi Youth Abducted in Visa Scam, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan has increased eightfold, and the volume of joint ventures has grown fivefold over the past eight years, Milana Bazarova, head of the department at the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said, Trend reports.

She made the remark at the second meeting of the Azerbaijani-Uzbek expert council on the topic "Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan: promising areas for developing mutually beneficial cooperation".

According to her, such results were achieved thanks to the political will and determination of the leaders of the two countries, which allowed us to take bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level.

"We signed an agreement on allied relations, and also established the Supreme Interstate Council between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. This became the basis for deepening cooperation in various areas," Bazarova noted.

According to her, special attention is paid to the development of economic cooperation. Among the priorities is the substitution of imports from third countries by using the complementary capabilities of the economies of the two states. This is especially important in the context of global instability and disruptions in logistics chains.

"The second important area is deepening industrial cooperation. We have already launched joint clusters in the automotive, textile and silk industries. And this is just the beginning. We aim to expand cooperation and develop new promising areas," she emphasized.

Bazarova expressed confidence that the partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will continue to develop dynamically, contributing to the sustainable economic growth of both countries.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Who is Jasbir Singh Jaan Mahal? YouTuber With Over 1 Million Subscribers Arrested in Espionage Case

Singh is the second digital content creator arrested in recent weeks in connection with this espionage case.

Who is YouTuber Jasbir Singh Jaan Mahal, arrested in Spy case? In a shocking development, Jasbir Singh, a popular Punjabi YouTuber with over 1.1 million subscribers on his channel Jaan Mahal, has been arrested by Punjab Police on charges of espionage and sent to 3-day custody. Singh is accused of being part of a Pakistan-backed spy network with alleged ties to terror outfits and foreign intelligence operatives.

The arrest was made by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali after intelligence inputs pointed to Singhs deepening involvement in cross-border activities.

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Second YouTuber Held in Ongoing Spy Probe

Singh is the second digital content creator arrested in recent weeks in connection with this espionage case. He was reportedly in frequent contact with Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based travel vlogger who was also arrested earlier under the Official Secrets Act for her alleged links with Pakistani intelligence officials.

Malhotra, who ran the YouTube channel Travel with JO, is accused of maintaining contact with Danish (Ehsan-ur-Rahim), a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi who was expelled by India on May 13 for spying.

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From YouTube Fame to Espionage Allegations

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Hailing from Mahlan village in Rupnagar district, Jasbir Singh rose to fame as a YouTuber through his storytelling and local interest videos. But behind the online persona, Punjab Police say he was in contact with Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a Pakistan-based intelligence operative of Indian origin with suspected ties to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). (Who is YouTuber Jasbir Singh Jaan Mahal, arrested in Spy case latest news)

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav revealed in a statement that Singh had also established a line of communication with Danish, the expelled Pakistani diplomat.

Pakistan Visits and Embassy Connections

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Investigators confirmed that Jasbir Singh traveled to Pakistan three timesin 2020, 2021, and 2024. On one occasion, he attended a Pakistan National Day celebration hosted at the Pakistani Embassy in Delhi, where he is believed to have interacted with Pakistani Army officials and vloggers.

After the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, Singh allegedly tried to erase all digital traces of communication with foreign handlers. However, a forensic investigation of his devices revealed numerous Pakistan-based phone numbers, which are now under deeper scrutiny.

Police Statement and Wider Espionage Network

Jasbir Singh, who operates the YouTube channel Jaan Mahal, has been found associated with Person of Interest (PIO) Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, and maintained communication with Danish, read an official police statement.

Police sources confirmed that Singhs arrest is part of a larger crackdown on a terror-backed espionage network, believed to be operating across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The operation involves collaboration between Punjab Police, Intelligence Bureau, NIA, and military intelligence agencies.

National Security Threat

The developments have sparked concern over how social media platforms are increasingly being exploited by foreign intelligence to plant sympathizers and information conduits in India.

Punjab Police reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and neutralizing all threats posed by such anti-national elements, said DGP Gaurav Yadav.

With investigations still ongoing, authorities expect more names to emerge in what is being termed as one of the biggest digital espionage cases to surface in recent times.
Harjeet Singh Dhadda Murder Case: Two Arrested in Murder of Brampton Resident

The suspects reportedly fled the scene in a stolen black 2018 Dodge Challenger, which was soon located and recovered by police.

Canada: Two 21-Year-Olds Arrested for May 14 Murder of Harjeet Singh Dhadda, a Brampton Resident

Two Arrested In May 14 Murder Of Harjeet Singh Dhadd, latest news: Peel Regional Police, Canada, arrested two suspects in connection with the deadly shooting of 51-year-old Harjeet Singh Dhadda, a Brampton resident.

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Dhadda was killed in Mississauga on May 14 in broad daylight. The shooting reportedly occurred at around 11:49 a.m. in a parking lot near Tranmere Drive and Telford Way. Dhadda was approached and shot multiple times. He later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.

The suspects reportedly fled the scene in a stolen black 2018 Dodge Challenger, which was soon located and recovered by police.

Following a thorough investigation, the Homicide Bureau identified two 21-year-old men from Delta, British Columbia, as the primary suspects. They have been identified as Aman Aman and Digvijay Digvijay.

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The duo was arrested in Delta on May 28 with coordinated assistance from Delta Police, Abbotsford Police, Surrey Police, and the RCMP.

The suspects were first presented before a Justice in Surrey, then transferred to Ontario under BC Sheriff custody. They face first-degree murder charges and appeared for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on June 1.

Further investigations are underway.

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Police are urging the public to come forward with any information or video footage related to the incident. Witnesses or anyone with relevant details are requested to contact the Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3205.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Peel Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at peelcrimestoppers.ca.

(For more news apart from Two Arrested In May 28 Murder Of Harjeet Singh Dhadd, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman)
Elderly Sikh Man Detained in Abu Dhabi, Forced to Remove Turban and Kirpan

They have urged the Indian government to intervene and raise the matter with UAE authorities.

Haryana: Elderly Sikh Man From Kaithal Detained In Abu Dhabi For Wearing Kirpan

Sikh Man forced to remove Turban and Kirpan in Abu Dhabi: An elderly Sikh individual from Kaithal, Haryana, India, was allegedly detained by Abu Dhabi police and forced to remove his turban and kirpan  essential articles of Sikh religious practice and identity.

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The individual, identified as Dalvinder Singh, was visiting the United Arab Emirates on a tourist visa when local authorities arrested him. According to his son, who resides in Delhi, Dalvinder Singh was detained for 20 days without any explanation from the authorities.

The incident reportedly occurred when the elderly Sikhs tour group visited the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi. He was stopped by the police upon the sight of his kirpan and was detained despite efforts by the temple management and tour guides to explain the religious significance of the kirpan to the authorities.

A kirpan is a small curved sword or dagger carried by baptized Sikhs and is one of the five sacred articles that baptized Sikhs are required to wear at all times.

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The family stated, This was not just a personal violation; it was a blatant disregard of religious freedom.

They have urged the Indian government to intervene and raise the matter with UAE authorities.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from Sikh communities both within India and abroad, with demands for a formal apology and clarification from the UAE government.

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Sikh organizations have also called upon the Indian government to ensure the security, uphold safety standards, and protect the dignity of Sikhs abroad.

(For more news apart from Elderly Sikh Man Detained in Abu Dhabi, Forced to Remove Turban and Kirpan, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman)
An X-ray of education and research in Romania

Diagnostic report on education and research in Romania

An X-ray of education and research in Romania

Roxana Vasile, 02.07.2025, 14:00

Diagnostic report on education and research in Romania. Current achievements and implications for new reforms in the field. This is the full title of a document recently presented by the interim minister in charge, Daniel David. Briefly titled QX Report, it proposes an education-research system through which, through appropriate problematizations  questions (Q), the country can face the unknown X of the future.

Starting, therefore, from a current X-ray of the education and research system, Daniel David makes a series of proposals for reforms  some guided by data, others by European/international best practices, and others by the ministers own reflective analyses. The proposed reforms  says the official  can constitute the relatively stable architecture of the Romanian education and research system in the long term, and can be colored in left/center/right ideologies, depending on the various government programs.

So what is the current situation and what solutions could be found to remedy it? According to the report undertaken by Minister Daniel David, in Romanian pre-university education, education is inefficient, generating graduates with poor quality skills, high school dropout rates and increased functional illiteracy, aspects that become a national security risk. Compulsory pre-university education  preschool-primary-secondary-high school  should transfer, through education, eight key skills through which graduates can effectively integrate into the labor market or continue their studies, become good citizens and people satisfied with their own lives.

For this, one of the solutions would be to rethink school programs in order to teach less, but more relevant things  says Minister Daniel David: I believe that the key element is the curriculum, teaching methods and textbooks. In the curriculum area, we need to teach less, but more relevant and with a greater impact on childrens skills, so I would like the discussion to go in this direction when we talk about classes, subjects, and curricular load, and the number of classes should not exceed the European average. We can no longer be the spearhead in how many subjects and how many classes we put in  I would have accepted this, it was not a problem, if I saw that such a high curricular load produces extraordinarily good graduates, if we had beaten Singapore or Finland in all international ratings! This is not the case Then, especially at the program level, I think we need to get out of the class and lesson logic. This is enshrined in the law, and it is good that 25% of the time allocated to a subject must be spent on something else  that is, on the same content, but in a logic of remedial consolidation and use in everyday life, that is, exactly in the areas where we do very poorly in the PISA testing, and we will have to rethink, practically, all programs in this logic.

As for the national higher education system, it should aim to train highly qualified human resources who can maintain and develop their skills through lifelong learning. In other words, higher education graduates should not remain prisoners of the knowledge assimilated during their college years, knowledge that over time becomes outdated, but should develop, assimilating new scientific discoveries.

What does Minister Daniel David say? What should higher education look like if it worked well? Well, first of all, higher education should generate graduates who have qualification levels 5, 6, 7 and 8  at the bachelors level 5 and 6, at the masters level 7 and at the doctoral level 8. What should we expect from these graduates? To be able to quickly integrate into the labor market, to have a strong connection with the labor market, especially those in the more vocational areas  theater, engineering, medicine, etc. And those at levels 7 and 8 to change the labor market, to dynamize it, to invent new labor markets. In parallel, in higher education, lets not forget, the Research-Development-Innovation area also comes in, which should produce that quality research. Is this happening? The truth is that it is not happening at the level of the potential that we have. The truth is that we have too few graduates with higher education and too few doctors in this country. Quality, I mean!

Romania  the sixth largest country in the European Union in terms of population  produces too little knowledge. Of the knowledge produced, too little is of quality, and of the quality knowledge, too little is of Romanian conception. Why? Because the national Research-Development-Innovation system has an outdated architecture  fragmented, difficult to coordinate, poorly distributed at national level, with overlaps that slow down development and waste resources. Human resources are demotivated and poorly funded. As such, this system does not attract major international resources and is, moreover, vulnerable to brain drain. And the budget 

Again, Minister Daniel David: It is already a national shame to keep saying, every year, that the target is 1% of the Gross Domestic Product for Research, plus 1% from the private sector, so we should go towards 2%, and we do not even come close to such values. I can understand that the country is going badly, we still have socio-economic crises, I can understand that. But, if we do not provide the necessary budget plus predictability, research is affected and you cannot do it at a very serious level. You cannot say I am doing the research, I have no more money, suspend  Suspend what? Maybe I have a laboratory in which, I dont know, I cultivate some plants with a certain type of genetic modification. What do I do with it? In short, the budget is fundamental, and if we do not understand this  It is not that we want more money, we want as much as we have committed and we want that target to be predictable.

As a result, through the proposed reforms in Research-Development-Innovation, it is desired that the architecture of the national system include diverse actors, with different missions, but which coordinate with each other, in order to generate high-performance cumulative knowledge, without, however, overlapping and consuming funds. Human resources should be better financed, more competitive, including in international rankings, and generate advanced scientific knowledge, with an impact on technological and cultural innovations.

This is, in short, the current X-ray of education and research in Romania. And also in short, for them to develop in step with the times we are going through, there would be a need for truly well-thought-out reforms, thoroughly and constantly applied in the medium and long term, regardless of political color of those who come to power.
June 4, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

June 4, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 04.06.2025, 19:56

Presidency. Romanias president Nicusor Dan on Wednesday underlined the need for having a new director of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI). He also said that most likely the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) also needed a director. President Dan has also announced he will be assessing the activity of the director of the Guard and Protection Service, Lucian Pahontu. I have met him; he is the man who has attributions in terms of my personal security, of this institution and of course we have to collaborate, the Head of the Romanian State told a news conference. In another development, he has announced that the King of Spain, Felipe 6th will be visiting Romania on June 10. President Nicusor Dan has also announced a visit to the neighboring ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova on June 10. The Romanian President is also to attend the NATO Summit in the Hague over June 24 and 26 and the European Council in Brussels on June 27.



Praid. Emergency works have started at the Praid salt mine in Harghita county, central Romania, in an attempt to salvage the site and solve the drinking water issue in the neighboring Mures County. The Harghita Prefect has announced that efforts aimed at deviating the course of the Corund River are underway and the construction company has given assurances that works will be completed early next month. Experts from the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Hungary are to visit the region and offer recommendations regarding the risks posed and the environment impact, as the salt concentration of one of Corunds tributaries, which supplies with drinking water roughly 40 thousand people, has reached nearly twice the admitted level. At the same time, the Romanian government has approved the first financial aid packages for the company Salrom, which is managing the salt mine and the companies operating inside it.



Deficit. Romanias net expenditure growth is well above the ceiling set by its corrective path, posing clear risks to the correction of its excessive deficit by 2030. Consequently, the European Commission (EC) recommends that the Council adopt a decision establishing that Romania has not taken effective action to correct the imbalance. According to an analysis by the EU executive published on Wednesday, vulnerabilities have increased as Romanias fiscal and current account deficits worsened and cost competitiveness deteriorated in 2024. Under these circumstances, the EC considers that the implementation of the medium-term fiscal-structural plan and a tax reform in 2025 could significantly reduce fiscal vulnerabilities. According to the EC, high net expenditure growth leads to persistently high public deficits (9.3% in 2024 and, based on the Commissions spring 2025 forecast, 8.6% of the GDP in 2025) and an increase in the public debt ratio by more than ten percentage points since 2021. The EC has called on Romania to take swift action to comply with the requirements of the excessive deficit procedure. At the same time, the EC recommends that the authorities in Bucharest accelerate the implementation of the PNRR and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Bill. Liberals have tabled a bill in support of the victims of domestic violence. Under the new law, applications for divorce and partitions would be exempted from the payment of judicial stamp duty. According to the initiator of the aforementioned bill, the Liberal MP Alina Gorghiu, the measure is aimed at supporting the victims of domestic violence to overcome their trauma and regain their lives.

ConvEx-3 Romania is hosting this years edition of the ConvEx-3 international exercise, the most complex level in the series of tests developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. For 36 to 48 hours, participating states simulate a nuclear accident and the response to such a disaster: international data exchange, requests for assistance and measures to protect the population, as well as coordination, decision-making and public communication under pressure. The scenario envisages a severe accident at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (south-east), and the command centre is designed to operate in Bucharest, under the coordination of the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control and the Department for Emergency Situations. The international exercise will take place between 24 and 25 June. (MI)
Violence against women, in the spotlight

Thousands of people have asked the government for better measures to protect women

Photo: pixabay.com

Daniela Budu, 04.06.2025, 13:50

Thousands of people took to the streets on Tuesday night in downtown Bucharest, protesting violence against women and demanding effective measures from the government to protect them. They warned that Romanian society tends to downplay violence and abuse of any kind, especially when directed against women.

The rally took place after a 23-year-old pregnant woman was shot to death by her ex-partner in the street, in front of her 3-year-old daughter. The aggressor is a repeat abuser and, despite many restraining orders and complaints filed with the police, the system failed to protect the victim.

The protesters believe that violence against women is inadequately punished and even tolerated by the authorities, and that the victims end up being blamed for their situation. The protest, organized by FILIA Centre, the Centre for Legal Resources and Feminism Romania, cautions that this is the 25th victim of femicide in Romania since the beginning of the year. In addition, according to data from the interior ministry, in the first 4 months of this year alone, there were over 40,000 cases of domestic violence in Romania.

The NGOs picketing the government headquarters demanded that femicide, i.e. the killing of women for gender-related reasons, should be introduced as a separate offence in the Criminal Code.

On a private television station, the interior minister Catalin Predoiu said the existing instruments in the field are similar to those in Europe, but he admitted that tougher measures are probably needed in Romania. He also stated that cases of domestic violence are currently treated as seriously as any other type of crime.

For now, the Liberals have tabled a bill in Parliament that scraps court fees for divorce and division of joint property proceedings. The initiator of the bill, MP Alina Gorghiu, claims the measure supports victims of domestic violence in overcoming trauma and regaining an independent life.

And on Monday, the Chamber of Deputies discussed a draft law called Romania without violence, which increases penalties for acts of violence. The bill provides for prison sentences from 6 months to 3 years or a fine for assault or any acts of violence causing physical suffering.

Also worth mentioning is that domestic and gender-based violence is widespread throughout Europe, according to the latest Eurostat survey posted on the European Parliament website. According to the report, 1 in 3 women in the EU has experienced gender-based violence since the age of 15, and around 17% of women have been subjected to violence by a domestic partner.

Most EU countries have laws against violence based on a persons gender or sexual orientation, but the lack of a common definition of gender-based violence and common rules against this scourge helps to perpetuate it, the European lawmakers believe. For this reason, the European Parliament has repeatedly called for new EU legislation in this area and for more action to stop it. (AMP)
Tesla has confirmed it will not take advantage of India's newly launched electric vehicle manufacturing incentives, despite New Delhi's efforts to attract global automakers.

On Monday, Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated that Tesla is "not interested in manufacturing in India," even as companies like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia explore the benefits offered by the government.

India's incentive framework cuts import duties to 15%down from 70%for automakers that commit roughly $500 million to local EV assembly and satisfy prescribed domestic content requirements.

However, Tesla plans to continue importing fully built cars, a strategy CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly criticized due to India's high tariffs. While a Tesla representative participated in early policy consultations, subsequent discussions proceeded without the company's involvement.

Tesla's earlier ambition to establish a manufacturing base in India was abandoned in 2022 after authorities insisted on local production. The automaker preferred to first assess market demand via imports.

Despite a meeting between Musk and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss technological collaboration, Tesla's stance on manufacturing remains unchanged. Analysts suggest that India's EV marketstill below 3% of total passenger vehicle salesmay not yet justify Tesla's investment, particularly given cost-competitive domestic alternatives and limited charging infrastructure.

Currently, Tata Motors leads India's EV market with over 60% share, followed by MG Motors at 22%. As India aims to bolster its EV ecosystem, Tesla's decision underscores the obstacles that steep import duties and nascent market conditions pose for foreign entrants, even as established local manufacturers ramp up production.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Oil prices were slightly lower on Wednesday after gaining for two days amid escalating geopolitical tensions, stuttering U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and wildfires in Canada's energy heartland of Alberta.

Benchmark Brent crude futures slipped 0.3 percent to $65.44 a barrel in European trade while WTI crude futures were down 0.3 percent at $63.24.

Supply concerns eased somewhat as rains slowed the growth of some blazes that had disrupted Canadian crude production.

According to Bloomberg, one Canadian operator restarted a site after shutting down last week.

Meanwhile, data from the American Petroleum Institute proved to be a mixed bag, with oil stocks falling again last week, while fuel inventories gained.

Crude stocks fell by 3.3 million barrels in the week ended May 30. Gasoline inventories were up 4.7 million barrels during the week while distillate inventories rose by 760,000 barrels.

Traders also monitored the latest tariff headlines ahead of a deadline for U.S. trading partners to make their "best offers".

U.S. President Donald Trump today described Chinese President Xi Jinping as "extremely hard" to strike a deal with, even as the White House reiterated that the two leaders will talk "very soon."

The Trump administration is actively monitoring China's compliance with the Geneva trade agreement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Five new non-permanent members have been elected to the UN Security Council

Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia were elected on Tuesday to serve two-year terms beginning in January 2026.

They will serve through the end of 2027 on the UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

They will join the five non-permanent members elected last year - Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia - who will serve through 2026. The incoming members will succeed Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms end in December 2025.

The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - who hold veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for staggered two-year terms.

Elections are held annually by secret ballot, with seats allocated by regional group. Candidates must secure a two-thirds majority in the 193-member General Assembly to be elected.

Latvia will take a seat on the Council for the first time in its history.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Over the past four years, the volume of freight traffic through Azerbaijani infrastructure has increased five times and reached one million tons in 2024, the Director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Eldor Aripov said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at the second meeting of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Expert Council on Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan: promising directions of development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

According to him, such close interaction has become possible due to the high level of political dialogue and personal trusting relations between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Over the past three years, we have signed the most important treaty on allied relations and established the Supreme Interstate Council, which coordinates all key areas of interaction. Such a level of cooperation in such a short period is a rare example in international practice, Aripov noted.

He emphasized that since 2017, the two countries have held about 150 visits between them at various levels, which indicates the high dynamics of bilateral dialogue.

In addition, he noted that although the current indicators may seem moderate, the growth rates are impressive: over the past eight years, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan has increased eightfold, and the number of joint ventures has increased fivefold. Active work is underway to replace imports from third countries and deepen industrial cooperation.

We already have joint ventures in the production of cars, and clusters have been created in the textile and silk industries. We also see great prospects in energy cooperation - both in the development of fields and green energy, he added.

The official noted the importance of Azerbaijan's transit potential and reiterated Uzbekistan's interest in further expansion of transport and logistics interaction.

Azerbaijan has a unique strategic position. We are interested in the development of joint projects - in particular, railway routes connecting China and Uzbekistan, as well as in the full-scale use of the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This direction is also interesting for the Azerbaijani side, he emphasized.
The United Kingdom is making a tenfold increase in production and procurement of drones to deliver to Ukraine this year.

The UK is ramping up its support for Ukraine with an ambitious new target of 100,000 drones for the current financial year.

With more than 10,000 drones delivered to Ukraine last year, tens of thousands more have already been delivered, the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The record 350 million pound investment in drones for Ukraine is part of the UK's 4.5 billion pound military support this year.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey is set to make an announcement in this regard at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group he convened with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in Brussels Wednesday.

As Ukraine's Armed Forces have demonstrated the effectiveness of drone warfare in defending against Russia's attacks, the UK has been doubling down on investment in drones with British defense companies, including small to medium sized enterprises.

Ukrainian units have confirmed that UK-provided drones have helped stabilize parts of the frontline by driving back Russian attacks and protecting Ukrainian lives. Defense Intelligence confirmed that drones currently kill more people than artillery on the frontline in Ukraine.

In a surprising move on Sunday, more than 100 Ukrainian drones struck Russian air bases deep inside the country, targeting nuclear-capable long-range bombers.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that five regions came under attack in the operation dubbed "Spider Web."

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Business News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. ACWA Power company monitors the development of green energy corridors in Azerbaijan, the Director of Business Development at ACWA Power, Polina Liubomirova told Trend.

She made the remark on the sidelines of the Baku Energy Forum.

We see how rapidly the green corridors are developing in Azerbaijan. Initially, it was about one route  a cable in the Black Sea, but today, four different corridors are already being discussed. These are different technical and expert directions, each of which is of interest to our company, she noted.

According to her, all these initiatives are still at the stage of analysis and evaluation by consultants, so it is too early to talk about specific projects of ACWA Power.

Our task is to work through these opportunities, but implementation is only possible after all the techno-economic justifications are completed, Lyubomirova emphasized.

Speaking about new initiatives, she added that ACWA Power is actively developing its project portfolio in the region.

In Azerbaijan, besides the completion of the 240 MW Khizi-Absheron wind farm construction this year, a water desalination project is being implemented. In Uzbekistan, the company is working in several areas  wind and solar energy, as well as energy storage systems.

As for other Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the company does not rule out the possibility of entering these markets as well.

We are closely monitoring the situation in these countries and considering expansion opportunities. As soon as a new project reaches the readiness stage, we are ready to announce it officially, Liubomirova concluded.

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Paranthropus robustus is a well-documented hominin species with no genetic evidence reported so far. It lived between 2 million and 1.2 million years ago in what is now South Africa. In new research, paleoanthropologists obtained enamel protein sequences from 2-million-year-old dental specimens attributed to this hominin from the South African site of Swartkrans. Their findings suggest greater diversity within Paranthropus than previously recognized and support the possibility of multiple distinct species within the genus.

While advances in ancient DNA (aDNA) sequencing have enabled valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships of Middle to Late Pleistocene hominins, understanding of earlier Pliocene-Pleistocene species, like Paranthropus, remains limited.

This is largely because aDNA does not survive well in African hominin fossils older than 20,000 years of age.

Paranthropus has traditionally been viewed as a single evolutionary group.

However, overlapping traits between Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus africanus have raised questions about their potential evolutionary relationship.

Moreover, variation in tooth structure suggests either hidden diversity within Paranthropus robustus or the presence of multiple separate species.

In the current study, Dr. Palesa Madupe from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Cape Town and colleagues used ancient proteins  which can persist far longer  to investigate variation within this ancient hominin species.

Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and paleoproteomics techniques, they analyzed dental enamel proteins from four Paranthropus robustus fossils found in Swartkrans Cave.

Dated to between 2.2 and 1.8 million years ago, these specimens represent some of the earliest known of this hominin.

Protein sequence analysis revealed molecular-level variation among Paranthropus robustus individuals, including evidence of both male and female specimens, challenging the reliability of tooth-size-based sexing and suggesting that sexual dimorphism alone cannot account for the observed diversity in the fossil record.

Notably, one individual appears genetically distinct from the others, which may indicate the presence of a different Paranthropus group or reflect substantial intraspecific variation.

The findings align with recent morphological evidence pointing to previously unrecognized taxonomic diversity within the genus, including the proposed species Paranthropus capensis.

Our study demonstrates how paleoproteomics can help distinguish sexual dimorphism from other sources of variation in African Early Pleistocene hominins, the authors concluded.

The study was published in the journal Science.

_____

Palesa P. Madupe et al. 2025. Enamel proteins reveal biological sex and genetic variability in southern African Paranthropus. Science 388 (6750): 969-973; doi: 10.1126/science.adt953
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Russian substation automated equipment producer Energoservice intends to enter the Azerbaijani market, Vladimir Bovikin, head of the company's microprocessor equipment production and sales department, told Trend on the sidelines of the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Week event.

He first provided information about the company.

"As a company located in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk, we produce equipment for substation automation, measurement, control, and SCADA systems.

Now we are here to present our products to our Azerbaijani colleagues," he explained.

The company official also spoke about the possibilities of cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"We hope that we will find partners here. For now, we are just hoping for this because most of the partners here are not ready to work with us, but we hope that they will look at our products and find useful aspects for their projects and systems.

We export our products to many countries. Our products are very popular in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Why not here, too?

Currently, we cooperate with some European and Asian countries, as well as the UAE, but as I said, our main markets are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries," Bovikin added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. More than 2,800 IT companies are registered in Uzbekistan today, of which more than 10 are operating with the participation of Azerbaijani capital, the director of business development of IT Park Uzbekistan, Jahongir Rajabov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the second session of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Expert Council on Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan: promising directions of development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

According to him, these enterprises have already generated more than 100 jobs in Uzbekistan and are actively exporting digital services to foreign markets.

The current meeting has become an important platform for discussing promising projects and strengthening ties between government agencies and the private sector of the two countries, he said.

Rajabov emphasized that the IT communities of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have been actively developing a partnership in recent years: they participate in joint exhibitions, competitions, and business missions. This, he said, contributes to the formation of a common innovation space in the region.

He also recalled that recently, more than 30 Uzbek startups took part in the largest technology exhibition, InMerge, in Baku, where they were able to establish business ties with Azerbaijani startups, investors, and other regional players.

The next step will be ICT Week Uzbekistan, which will be held in Uzbekistan in September. It is expected that Azerbaijan will present an impressive delegation at the forum.

We are confident that ICT Week will become another opportunity to launch new joint initiatives, expand economic ties, and create innovative startups between our countries, emphasized Jahongir Rajabov.

Cooperation in the field of information technology between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is developing against the backdrop of overall digital transformation and is becoming one of the key drivers of sustainable economic growth and technological modernization in the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The partial restoration, reconstruction, and construction work is being carried out in Aghdam city along with other liberated territories of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The construction work will be carried out on buildings in the 5th residential area of Aghdam city, quarter O-130.

Thus, the relevant work has already been started by the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Aghdam and Khojavand districts.

The service is currently looking for a company to carry out the said work.

At the same time, the service predicted that the upcoming work will cost 9.17 million manat ($5.39 million).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Hungary counts on the growth of gas supplies from Azerbaijan, the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy of Hungary, Mark Alfoldy-Boruss told Trend.

We are considering all possible ways to diversify imports. Currently, our country is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas supplies - about 70 percent of domestic consumption is provided by imports through the Turkish Stream pipeline. We hope that with the help of this route, as well as through the use of the Vertical Corridor, we will be able to increase the volume of natural gas supplies from the Azerbaijani region, he said.

Alfoldy-Boruss recalled that the state-owned Hungarian company MVM Group acquired a 5 percent stake in the Shahdeniz oil and gas field last year.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning of cooperation for MVM Group, while MOL Group has been operating in this region for five years. Yesterday, a new cooperation agreement was signed with SOCAR on offshore projects. We expect this to be another direction in ensuring Hungary's energy security in oil and gas, he added.

According to him, the Green Energy Corridor Caspian - Black Sea will have a capacity of 4 gigawatts, formed at the expense of wind energy of the Caspian Sea and hydro resources of the region. The energy will be transmitted to the European Union via a submarine cable.

Some of this energy will go to Romania, but the whole project will end up in Hungary, my country, with 2 gigawatts. We hope that this will ensure high security of supply of green energy to our region, Mark Alfoldy-Boruss emphasized.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The Sarsang tugboat, built at the Zigh Shipyard of the ASCO Company, affiliated to the AZCON Holding, was put into operation, a source in ASCO told Trend.

The vessel has been incorporated into the Caspian Sea Oil Fleet.

The Sarsang tugboat measures 24.72 meters in length, 6.6 meters in beam, with a hull height of three meters and a draft of 1.6 meters. It can operate at a maximum speed of nine knots and has a deck cargo capacity of up to three tons.

This is the sixth vessel of its kind built at the Zigh Ship Repair and Construction Yard. Previously, similar vessels named ASCO 1, Tartarchay, Hakarichay, Bargushadchay, and Azikh were also commissioned.

The vessel was designed by engineers from ASCO Engineering LLC following international standards.

The tug is intended for towing and maneuvering operations in port waters, at anchorages, and within coastal areas up to 20 nautical miles from shore. It's also used for transporting crew, personnel, and various deck cargoes.

Since 2017, in addition to providing professional ship repair and marine engineering services, the Zigh Ship Repair and Construction Yard has been engaged in certified shipbuilding activities.

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Alyssa Robinson has joined an elite group of students recognized by the U.S. Department of Defensea distinction thats both thrilling and humbling for the recent South Dakota Mines graduate.

Robinson, who earned her bachelors degree in chemical engineering last month, was selected for the highly competitive Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program. The prestigious DoD initiative identifies top STEM students nationwide and invests in their future with a powerful mix of education funding and career opportunities.

The SMART program offers full tuition, annual stipends, hands-on summer internships and guaranteed civilian employment with the Department of Defense upon graduation. Robinsons award will cover the full cost of her doctoral studies at Purdue University, where she will continue her work in chemical engineering.

Since its launch in 2006, fewer than 5,300 SMART scholarships have been awarded nationwide, making Robinsons achievement all the more remarkable.

I was super excited to receive the SMART scholarship, but also pretty overwhelmed, Robinson said. Accepting means that I have a guaranteed job once I finish my degree, but it also means that I am committed to certain places for the next 8-10 years, which can be overwhelming to think about.

The SMART Scholarship builds future leaders in 23 STEM disciplines and is the largest education and workforce development initiative under the Department of Defense STEM Program. Scholarship recipients receive hands-on experience at one of over 150 Department of Defense facilities during their internships and apply this knowledge as early career professionals.

As an undergraduate at Mines, Robinson conducted research on energetics in Dr. Lori Grovens lab in the Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, including a project funded by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program focused on additively manufactured green pyrotechnic delays.

Alyssa has a tremendous future ahead, and it was my absolute pleasure to serve as a research mentor for her, Groven said. I believe that the work she was exposed to here at Mines has prepared her well for her future doctoral studies at Purdue, and I look forward to seeing her career progress as well as the contributions she will continue to make to the Department of Defense.

With a clear path toward her dream career at the Department of Defense, Robinson is eager for the opportunities ahead. I am hoping to pair my PhD research at Purdue with the work being done at my sponsoring facility, so I can continue to make progress and benefit my facility at my summer internships, and as I complete my degree, she said.
Nexteq announced that its broadcast technology brand Densitron has won a Best of Show Award at the NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas on Wednesday, for its new ProDeck 24 desktop control surface.

The AIM-traded firm, formerly known as Quixant, said the award, presented by TVBEurope, recognises standout innovations in the global broadcast technology sector.

It said the ProDeck 24, which made its North American debut at the event, impressed a panel of industry experts and editors with its integration, usability, and market uniqueness.

Designed for professional broadcast environments, the ProDeck 24 combines a high-definition touchscreen with 24 programmable physical buttons, offering a streamlined and intuitive user interface.

It integrates a next-generation PC with display and is fully compatible with Densitrons IDS control software, used by broadcasters including BBC, CBS, CNN, NBC and YouTube.

Nexteq said the award highlighted its innovation and reinforced its position as a market leader in broadcast control technology.

I am delighted to receive this recognition of the ProDeck 24, a testament to the dedication of the team and the high standard of broadcast expertise we bring to the market, said chief executive officer Duncan Faithfull.

We are a product and IP innovation business at our core, and this award demonstrates how well our ambitious product roadmap, a key component of our organic growth strategy, aligns with market needs.

Pleasingly we are already seeing a substantial increase in consumer demand as the market recognises the value of a first-of-its-kind combined PC and display product.

Faithfull said the companys attendance at the event facilitated both reconnection with existing partners and a notable rise in new business enquiries.

Looking ahead, the enthusiasm for our range of broadcast technology solutions and the levels of engagement received has energised us to drive innovation forward in the near future.

At 1340 BST, shares in Nexteq were up 0.91% at 66.6p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
London stocks were steady in early trade as the UK avoided the doubling of US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports that has come into effect on Wednesday.

At 0830 BST, the FTSE 100 was flat at 8,783.71.

US President Donald Trump said in a statement that for now, the UK will be spared the 50% tariff that comes into effect. He said he had decided to "provide different treatment" to the UK following the trade agreement struck in May.

The levy for the UK remains at 25%.

Investors were also mulling the latest developments in US-China relations after Trump said in a Truth Social post that Chinas leader Xi Jinping was "very tough, and extremely hard to make a deal with". The two sides are due to hold talks this week.

On the macro front, the S&P Global UK services PMI for May is due at 0930 BST.

In equity markets, Babcock jumped as JPMorgan placed the shares on "positive catalyst watch" ahead of results on 25 June as it said the defence firm could raise guidance. It said Babcock is "one of the big winners" in the UK Strategic Defence Review published on Monday.

Discoverie, Paragon Banking and Ninety One all rose after results.

On the downside, discount retailer B&M European Value Retail slumped as it reported a slight rise in full-year earnings against a "challenging" economic backdrop. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 0.6% to 620m, while revenue grew 3.7% to 5.57bn.

Real estate group Hammerson fell as it announced that its chief executive of five years, Rita-Rose Gagne, has decided to step down from her role in 2026.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,783.71 -0.04%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,071.33 0.25%

techMARK (TASX) 4,872.91 -0.14%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,265.00p 2.26%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,825.50p 1.78%

Games Workshop Group (GAW) 15,640.00p 1.43%

Anglo American (AAL) 2,210.00p 1.38%

Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,035.00p 1.27%

Glencore (GLEN) 286.00p 1.17%

Mondi (MNDI) 1,205.00p 0.96%

Kingfisher (KGF) 285.70p 0.95%

Ashtead Group (AHT) 4,300.00p 0.82%

Entain (ENT) 748.80p 0.81%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 786.80p -1.67%

Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 370.20p -1.17%

Pearson (PSON) 1,075.00p -0.97%

Relx plc (REL) 3,964.00p -0.65%

Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 285.60p -0.56%

Schroders (SDR) 362.80p -0.55%

BP (BP.) 363.40p -0.55%

GSK (GSK) 1,477.50p -0.51%

Next (NXT) 12,845.00p -0.50%

Shell (SHEL) 2,497.50p -0.50%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Discoverie Group (DSCV) 695.00p 9.79%

Ninety One (N91) 170.00p 4.81%

Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 940.00p 4.16%

W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 74.00p 2.78%

Harworth Group (HWG) 174.00p 2.65%

Bakkavor Group (BAKK) 215.00p 2.63%

Rathbones Group (RAT) 1,674.00p 2.32%

Endeavour Mining (EDV) 2,420.00p 2.28%

Chemring Group (CHG) 530.00p 2.12%

International Workplace Group (IWG) 203.60p 1.95%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

THG (THG) 25.90p -7.17%

B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 320.40p -3.49%

NCC Group (NCC) 151.80p -3.19%

Patria Private Equity Trust (PPET) 533.00p -2.74%

IG Group Holdings (IGG) 1,072.00p -2.55%

Indivior (INDV) 939.00p -1.52%

Greencoat UK Wind (UKW) 113.90p -1.47%

BH Macro Ltd. GBP Shares (BHMG) 393.00p -1.26%

Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 3,392.00p -1.22%

Fidelity European Trust (FEV) 400.50p -0.87%
London stocks were set to gain at the open on Wednesday after a positive close on Wall Street, as investors shrugged off the doubling of US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports that has come into effect.

The FTSE 100 was called to open around 10 points higher.

US President Donald Trump said in a statement that for now, the UK will be spared the 50% tariff that comes into effect on Wednesday. He said he had decided to "provide different treatment" to the UK following the trade agreement struck in May.

The levy for the UK remains at 25%.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said: "Today, investors will watch the ADP employment report and ISM non-manufacturing data for fresh insights into US economic strength. Strong numbers may support further gains while soft figures maybe could trigger a pullback.

"Or maybe not. Markets seem to have their own agenda, and the fear of missing a potential rally appears enough to fuel optimism - no matter how weak the forecasts, or the data."

On home shores, the S&P Global services PMI for May is due at 0930 BST.

In corporate news, discount retailer B&M European Value Retail reported a slight rise in full-year earnings against a challenging economic backdrop.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 0.6% to 620m, while revenue grew 3.7% to 5.57bn.

Elsewhere, real estate group Hammerson announced that its chief executive of five years, Rita-Rose Gagne, has decided to step down from her role in 2026.

Gagne, who was brought on in 2020 to spearhead a strategic transformation of the business, has driven a substantial turnaround, according to chair Robert Noel.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The number of joint ventures between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan has increased five times in recent years, the ambassador of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan, Bahrom Ashrafkhanov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the second session of the Azerbaijan-Uzbek expert council on Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan: promising directions of development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Uzbekistan currently has 540 companies with Azerbaijani capital, while about 70 enterprises with Uzbek capital are operating in Azerbaijan.

According to the ambassador, based on the accumulated experience, joint projects in the sphere of the automobile industry have already been successfully realized, as well as textile and silk-growing clusters are being created in Azerbaijan. Uzbekistan has established production of gypsum board and jewelry within the framework of bilateral cooperation.

Over the past five years, trade turnover between our countries has tripled and reached 255 million dollars. The goal is to bring it to $1 billion," Ashrafkhanov noted.

Last year, Tashkent and Baku agreed on a program on 20 key areas of cooperation, including joint production of green energy and its export to Europe via Azerbaijan. In addition, the development of transport and logistics corridors, which both countries view as a strategic growth factor, is high on the agenda.

The Ambassador emphasized the importance of the Treaty on Allied Relations signed last August by the presidents of the two countries. According to him, the document is historical in nature and symbolizes a new level of interstate interaction, influencing not only the South Caucasus and Central Asia but also the processes in Eurasia as a whole.

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan actively support each other on international platforms - such as the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Turkic States, CIS, ECO, and others, he added.

The diplomat noted that in the last three years alone, the heads of the two states have made five mutual visits, which indicates an unprecedented intensity of political dialogue.

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have declared 2025 the Year of Economic Cooperation, and this year they celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. A package of events has been prepared for the anniversary, including two high-level visits and large-scale cultural and humanitarian initiatives.

We attach great importance to strengthening humanitarian ties. The celebration of the 880th anniversary of the great poet Nizami Ganjavi in both countries was a vivid example, he emphasized.
Donald Trump has exempted the UK from a new 50% tariff on steel and aluminium imports, after the rate was doubled overnight on Wednesday.

The US president first imposed a 25% levy on all steel and aluminium imports in March, one of the first salvos in his aggressive global trade war.

But in a proclamation released on Tuesday, Trump confirmed the rate would rise to 50% from midnight on Wednesday.

He first announced the planned increase at a rally last month, insisting it was would protect domestic manufacturers.

Canada, the largest supplier of steel and aluminium to the US, has already warned that the duties will cause catastrophic job losses and major disruption.

However, the duty on UK imports will remain at 25%, after the two countries signed a crucial trade deal last month.

The proclamation read: I have further determined that it is necessary and appropriate to allow for the implementation of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) and to accordingly provide different treatmentfor imports of steel and aluminium articles and their derivatives.

The president warned, however, that the rate could yet be increased if he determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD by a 9 July deadline.

While the deal has been agreed, it has yet to be implemented.

Gareth Stace, director general of trade body UK Steel, said: The presidents decision not to impose a 50% tariff on UK steelmakers, but to keep the rate at 25% while the UK-US deal is completed, is a welcome pause.

However, uncertainty remains over timings and final tariff rates, and now US customers will be dubious over whether they should even risk making UK orders.

The US and UK must urgently turn the May deal into a reality, to remove the tariffs completely.

Keir Starmer tweeted that the government would always protect British businesses and British jobs.

Last month a US court ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority on 2 April, when he imposed tariffs on countries worldwide, and ordered the regime be dismantled.

Washington immediately appealed, and the order has been paused.

However, the ruling did not cover sector-specific tariffs, such as those on steel and aluminium and on cars.
The White House has signalled that the UK will be spared the 50% steel and aluminium tariffs which came into effect on Wednesday. In a statement, the US president, Donald Trump, said he had decided to provide different treatment to the UK after a deal that was struck between Washington and London last month. The executive order signed by Trump on Tuesday evening will still raise import taxes for US firms buying from other countries.  Guardian

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched an investigation into Rockfire Investment Finance, which became embroiled in a financial scandal over how a UK council invested more than 100m into solar farms. The UKs anti-corruption agency said it had issued a series of section 2 notices compelling financial institutions to provide information on its newly opened investigation into alleged fraud committed against Thurrock council.  Guardian

The BBC director general has called for a higher licence fee after taking aim at a decade of grinding cuts. Tim Davie said he was open to reform of the fee and its enforcement, but made it clear that he wanted more money from the public to enable investment. He said: I do want universal funding and I want proper investment and not begrudging, grinding cuts to the BBC, which youve had in the last 10 years, which have just not helped.  Telegraph

Council staff shortages are causing serious delays and putting Angela Rayners housebuilding target in jeopardy, builders have warned. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) said a staffing crisis at local authorities had led to mounting delays that are holding up projects across the country.  Telegraph

A Cambridge-based surgical robotics company backed by a series of global investors is pursuing a possible sale of the business for about $4 billion. CMR Surgical, which recently raised a further $200 million from existing backers after a regulatory breakthrough in the United States, has hired advisers to consider its options.  The Times
Adani Airports raised $750 million through international ECB financing to refinance debt and fund infrastructure upgrades.

The funds will support capacity expansion across six airports and boost non-aeronautical businesses like retail and F&B.

AAHL aims to triple passenger capacity to 300 million annually by 2040, with Navi Mumbai International Airport set to launch soon.

Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited and Indias largest private airport operator, has successfully raised $750 million through External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) from a consortium of leading international banks. The financing round was led by First Abu Dhabi Bank, Barclays PLC, and Standard Chartered Bank.

AAHL announced that the funds will be used to refinance an existing $40 million debt and further invest in infrastructure upgrades and capacity expansion across its six operational airports Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram. Additionally, the proceeds will support the scaling of its non-aeronautical businesses, including retail, food and beverage, duty-free services, and other customer-centric offerings throughout its airport network.

Arun Bansal, CEO of AAHL, highlighted the importance of this strategic funding, stating, The trust placed in us by leading global financial institutions underscores the long-term value and potential of India's aviation infrastructure. AAHL is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences, leveraging technology for seamless operations, and driving sustainability and community engagement.

AAHL served 94 million passengers in FY 202425, with an operational capacity of 110 million. It now aims to triple its capacity to 300 million passengers annually by 2040 through phased expansion. A key milestone in this roadmap is the upcoming launch of Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is expected to initially handle 20 million passengers in its first phase, eventually scaling to 90 million per annum.
 Goyal invites French businesses to harness the India Opportunity built on talent and ease of doing business.

 India-France CEO Forum discusses deeper cooperation in AI, education, startups, and technology.

 India reaffirms its support for a fair and inclusive global trading system in WTO meeting.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the vast potential of the 'India Opportunity' at the India-France Business Conference in Paris on Tuesday (local time). Highlighting India's pool of skilled workers and the government's positive initiatives to improve the ease of doing business, Goyal appealed to French businesses to leverage good investment and partnership opportunities in India.

Posting comments about the event on social media, Goyal said, "It was a privilege to speak at the India-France Business Conference, bringing together some Indian and French firms. I emphasized the 'India Opportunity', driven by a highly skilled workforce and business-friendly government, with robust opportunities for French businesses. I urged closer cooperation by leveraging our mutual strengths. This engagement will greatly enhance the India-France strategic partnership.

Goyal also attended the India-France CEO Forum Small Group Meeting with French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin. In this interactive session with business leaders from both countries, Goyal emphasized the growing confidence of French businesses in India's growth story and shared mutual ambitions across areas of AI, education, startups, and technology.

Subsequently, during a bilateral meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Paris, Goyal reaffirmed India's belief in a just, equitable, and rules-based multilateral trading system and the need for reforming multilateral trade institutions as per the requirements of developing countries.
Aldi, the discount grocer well known for its competitive prices and private label goods, has announced it will open its second borough location in New Dorp on June 26. (Advance/SILive | Jessica Jones-Gorman) (Staten Island Advance/Jessica J

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Aldi, the discount grocer well known for its competitive prices and private label goods, just dropped some big Staten Island news: The brands second borough location in New Dorp will officially open for business on June 26, and the new store will be one of 30 select New York locations to offer beer, cider, and ready-to-drink adult beverages.

We are excited to confirm that our new store in Staten Island is expected to open on Thursday, June 26, Chris Daniels, Aldis South Windsor Divisional vice president, noted in a statement. To celebrate, well be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. to welcome the community to the new store.

Daniels noted that the location will carry a variety of sangria, margaritas, radlers and hard seltzers  all of which will be available at a price point of $15 or less.

Located at 430 New Dorp Lane, in the space formerly occupied by Applebees, Mandee, Justice and New York & Co., the address, which offers 44,448 square feet of retail space at the corner of Hylan Boulevard, has been vacant for at least four years and was earmarked as a supermarket anchor by the shopping centers realtor in 2021.

Work had been ongoing at the site, reportedly for an Amazon Fresh  a tell-tale green-striped awning and rows of shopping cart bays in place for more than two years  but Amazon never formally admitted the space was slated for one of its grocery stores. The e-tailer, however, filed for a conditional liquor license at that location and enabled a Wi-Fi hotspot in the parking lot both of which were removed after Aldi announced its intentions for the site last August.

Aldi, which opened its first Staten Island store in Greenridge Plaza in September, operates more than 2,000 locations throughout 36 states, mostly concentrated in the eastern half of the country. Known for its no-frills selling strategy and competitive prices, the company is headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, and employs more than 25,000 people.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said that for the year to date, the city experienced the lowest number of shootings in recorded history and set the record for the lowest number of shootings in the month of May. (Photo courtesy of DCPI)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said Tuesday that so far this year the city has experienced the lowest number of shootings in recorded history and set the record for the lowest number of shootings in the month of May.

According to the city, there were 264 shootings, compared to the previous record low of 267 shootings in 2018.

Today, the mayor announced an unprecedented achievement: The lowest number of shootings and homicides in recorded history over the first five months of the year, Tisch said.

Results like this never happen by accident, and certainly not at a time when the states criminal justice laws have made a revolving door out of our criminal justice system, she added.

Staten Island itself mirrored the trend, as NYPD CompStat statistics for the borough recorded three shooting incidents for the year to date, as compared to six during the same period in 2024.

This marks the lowest number of shooting-related incidents in the history of the Island since the introduction of the NYPD CompStat tracking system in 1994.

Overall, crime is also down about 10% in the borough from around the same time last year, according to CompStat.

A 25-year-old man who police say suffered a gunshot wound on Tuesday morning following a drive-by shooting in Port Richmond has not yet been factored in to the most recent CompStat numbers.

2025 shooting incidents on Staten Island

Friday, February 14, 2025:

A 26-year-old man claimed to have been shot in the buttocks by an unknown individual who he said approached him at around 10 p.m. in the vicinity of Clove Road and Waldron Avenue in Sunnyside, according to an NYPD spokeswoman.

Five days later, on Feb.19, the victim entered Mount Sinai West Hospital in Manhattan in stable condition to report the gunshot wound, police said.

There is no suspect description available, and the investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Saturday, March 22, 2025:

A 25-year-old man was shot and wounded in Mariners Harbor, according to police.

Officers responded at around 10 p.m. to a report of a man with multiple gunshot wounds in the vicinity of Andros Avenue near Richmond Terrace, according to an NYPD spokesman.

The man was rushed by EMS to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where he was listed in stable condition, according to the police spokesman.

Friday, March 28, 2025:

A 25-year-old man, who was later identified as Jesse Pimental of Oakwood, was fatally shot on a commercial stretch of Bay Street in Tompkinsville, according to police.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., the NYPD received a 911 call about an individual shot in the vicinity of Bay Street and Victory Boulevard.

Officers found Pimental unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the torso, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

Pimental was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton where he later died.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The world community needs to intensify efforts to triple the use of renewable energy sources by 2030, the Deputy Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Gauri Singh said at the Baku Energy Forum, Trend reports.

Last year, 585 gigawatts of renewable capacities were put into operation, and the volume of investments in this sphere increased by almost 100 billion euros. However, this pace is not enough to achieve the set goals - it is necessary to triple the volumes to 11 terawatts, she emphasized.

Singh also drew attention to the global inequality in the development of green energy. She said that if China, the EU, and the US are excluded, the remaining countries have commissioned only 17 gigawatts of renewable capacity, pointing to a severe financing gap in developing countries.

The cost of capital for developing countries is much higher than for developed countries. There is an urgent need to reform financial mechanisms if we are to ensure equitable growth, she noted.

The official also emphasized the importance of investing in energy infrastructure, in particular the power grids that transmit energy, to avoid a mismatch between production and consumption.
A scheduling error on the New York City school calendar has led to last-minute adjustments this week. In this 2024 photo, a student sits at their desks at a Staten Island elementary school. Annalise Knudson

New York City public schools are making last-minute changes to school schedules this week after making an error on the school calendar to observe the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The city Department of Education calendar has schools closed on Thursday for Eid al-Adha/Anniversary Day.

On Friday, there are no classes for elementary and middle school students, with staff going into school for a clerical day. High schools and 6-12 schools are to remain open.

While the calendar set aside Thursday as a day off for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday doesnt start until Thursday evening, and it continues into Friday.

Called the Feast of Sacrifice, the major holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide for three to four days. Most Muslims will attend special prayers held at major mosques and Islamic centers in the United States and throughout the world.

In a last-minute change on Tuesday, the education department sent a brief note that the clerical day planned for Friday would not be an in-person staff day as planned because of Eid, according to Chalkbeat.

Both 6-12 and high schools will remain open on Friday, as scheduled.

However, Chalkbeat reported that students in these grades who need to be absent, late, or depart early to observe Eid may be excused.

For those counting down the days to summer, the last day of public school is Thursday, June 26.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The school auditorium at PS 53 came alive on May 27 and 28 with vibrance, rhythm and boundless enthusiasm as 48 fourth and fifth graders took to the stage to perform The Jungle Book Kids.

The much-anticipated event was not just a school play, but rather the grand finale of the schools three-year journey with the Disney Musicals in Schools grant, and the culmination of the schools evolution into a now self-sustaining theater program.
A concerned and inquisitive President Donald Trump made headlines in February when he said hed inspect the United States gold supply, housed at the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, about 90 miles west of Lexington, Kentucky.

His concern: Maybe somebody stole the gold.

Elon Musk, Trumps former budget-cutting adviser, and Republican senators encouraged Trump to check on the gold amid unfounded claims it was missing, according to the Associated Press. At a February event in Washington, Trump told Republican governors he was nervous about the status of Fort Knox gold.

Were getting a little bit shaky. Were getting the yips on this stuff. Like I want to find out, Trump said at a reception in Washington, D.C.., according to The Hill.

Were going to open up the doors. Im going to see if we have gold there. Did anybody steal the gold in Fort Knox?

The Herald-Leaders original story on the Fort Knox visit was Feb. 21.

But nearly four months have passed since then, and theres been no bullion buzz involving Trump and Fort Knox.

So did Trump, or any other high-ranking White House official, ever check on the countrys gold supply?

Nope.

There is no indication they have.

The Herald-Leader contacted several lawmakers and agencies about whether Trump had sought a visit, including representatives for the White House, Secretary of the US Treasury, Fort Knox officials, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a leading proponent of a visit to the depository.

Lees communications director, Billy Gribbin, said the Utah senator has not visited Fort Knox but looks forward to doing so at the earliest opportunity.

No one else responded to questions about whether a Trump visit had materialized except for Beshears office.

For your planning purposes, I recommend you reach out to the White House for questions related to the President, Crystal Staley, director of communications for Beshears office, said over an email.

About half of the Treasurys gold is stored at the depository, according to the US Mint. The depository holds 147.3 million ounces of gold, along with other valuables of other federal agencies.

The amount of gold stored at the depository is worth about $435 billion, according to Barrons. Other large quantities of the U.S. gold is stored at the Denver Mint and West Point Mint.

The depository operates on a strict no-visitor policy and has been opened only twice to non-authorized personnel, according to officials at the US Mint.

The tight security has led to decades of rumors.

In 1974, journalists and a Congressional delegation viewed the reserves amid rumors that the gold had been removed. In 2017, then-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, then-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and members of Congress also visited the vaults.

The latest round of rumors began with Alex Jones, a right-wing radio host known for spreading conspiracy theories, according to NBC News.

Jones, perhaps most known for being ordered to pay $1.5 billion for repeatedly claiming a fatal 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a hoax, claimed the countrys gold supply had been sent overseas over the past 40 years.

After Trump adopted the claim and said he planned to visit Fort Knox, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Don ODonnell, host of the right-wing Dan ODonnell Show, that the gold was still at the facility.

Bessent also told ODonnell he would be happy to host senators interested in inspecting the facility.

We do an audit every year, so (for) the audit that ended the year Sept. 30, 2024, all the gold is present and accounted for, Bessent told ODonnell in February.

Only small quantities of gold have been removed from the depository for testing during regular audits, according to the Mint. No other gold has been transferred to or from the facility for many years.

While Trumps is-the-gold-still-there speculation garnered national attention, at least one media outlet at the time predicted hed never show up.

The silly spectacle of a vault visit makes no sense when advisers and Fort Knox officials can easily confirm gold is still in Kentucky, said a writer at US News and World Report.

But it would provide cant-miss stagecraft, the publication predicted. The visit would be catnip for television.
Kim Marino, a 65-year-old teacher's aide from Graniteville, recently lost her battle with a rare brain disorder, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. (Courtesy of Vanessa Pritchard) (Courtesy of Vanessa Pritchard)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Kim Fialo Marino, 65, of Graniteville, a loving mother, grandmother and longtime teachers aide known for her outgoing personality and zest for life, lost her battle with a rare and deadly brain disorder on May 31, just 10 days after her diagnosis.

Ms. Marino was very energetic, social and caring right up until being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, according to her family. The disease is only diagnosed one or two times per million people around the world each year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms of the illness can be similar to those of Alzheimers disease, but Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease usually gets worse much faster and leads to death, the Mayo Clinic explained on its website.

The mother of four and Gigi to six grandchildren was brought to the hospital on April 28, after she was found wandering, lost and confused, outside Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, South Beach, where she had worked for the past six months. Her diagnosis would come on May 21.

Ms. Marino was energetic, social and caring right up until being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, according to her family. (Courtesy of Vanessa Pritchard) (Courtesy of Vanessa Pritchard)

Theres no cure for it and no treatment her daughter, Vanessa Pritchard, told the Advance/SILive.com upon her diagnosis.

A proud Staten Island resident for over 40 years, Ms. Marino was born and raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, where her deep love for family and strong sense of community were first rooted, according to her online obituary.

She later brought those same values to Staten Island, where she built a beautiful life surrounded by friends drawn to her energy and vivacity.

My mom was somebody; she was loud,' said her Pritchard, with a laugh. She had a fiery personality. She could be your toughest critic, but your biggest supporter."

She took her position at Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, in part to be close to her grandson, a student there, her daughter said. Prior to that, she served for many years as a paraprofessional at Gaynor McGowan School of Expeditionary Learning, New Springville.

Ms. Marino was an avid traveler, having visited Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Israel, China, South Africa and France with family and friends.

She enjoyed taking in the sun,' said her daughter. She loved to sit on the beach and read a book. She loved her dog, Montana."

Ms. Marino never missed any of her grandchildrens sporting or school events, her family said.

She also proudly served as assistant vice president of St. Theresas Golden Age Club, where her leadership and laughter made her a cherished member.

Upon her devastating diagnosis, a GoFundMe fundraiser was set up by a family friend to help secure the costs to provide the funeral Ms. Marino had desired. More than $50,000 was raised, ensuring that the funeral could be planned, Pritchard said.

It was absolutely amazing,' Pritchard said. It honestly moved me that people came through for us in times like these, difficult times."

Pritchard also said her family was very moved by the compassionate staff at the Addeo Hospice Residence, Egbertville. They took such great care of my mother and allowed us all to stay overnight the night she passed,' she recalled. All of the nurses were amazing, especially Debbie."

In addition to Vanessa Pritchard, Ms. Marino is survived by three additional children, Vincent Pritchard, Michael Pritchard, and Lauren Garcia; six grandchildren, Zachary, Kyle, Evelynn, Christopher Pritchard, and Christopher and James Garcia.

She is survived also by her sister, Diana Fialo Coppola, and several nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Friday, June 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp.

A mass of Christian burial will take Saturday, June 7, at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, Huguenot. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.
The third annual Multicultural Food Festival returns to the Sacred Heart School in West Brighton on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Courtesy of Richmond County District Attorney's Office)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  You might want to start eating a little lighter over the next few days as the Islands Multicultural Food Festival is set to return with a mouth-watering array of cultural cuisine.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force will host the third annual fest which will feature food and performances from Staten Islanders hailing from diverse cultures and backgrounds in celebration of the boroughs diversity, immigrant history and as a way to help promote tolerance and inclusivity.

The third annual Multicultural Food Festival returns to the Sacred Heart School in West Brighton on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Courtesy of Richmond County District Attorney's Office)

In addition to offering a delicious selection of different dishes from across the globe, the event will feature over a dozen performances from local community groups as a way to pay homage to the impressive cultural arts of the Island.

As Staten Islanders, we all know that food is love, and that there is no better way to build community than by sharing a meal together, McMahon said.

As part of the Staten Island Love initiative, the now-annual event honors different cultures, cuisines and customs that call Staten Island home.

It also serves to recognize dozens of local restaurants, food vendors and community organizations who will be donating and serving dishes in support of the initiatives mission, McMahon explained.

The third annual Multicultural Food Festival returns to the Sacred Heart School in West Brighton on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Courtesy of Richmond County District Attorney's Office)

The festival is free to the public and kicks off Sunday, June 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Sacred Heart School gym, 301 N. Burgher Ave., West Brighton.

For more information, or if you are interested in donating or volunteering, contact Ryan Crimmins at 718-556-6460 or Ryan.Crimmins@rcda.nyc.gov.
A municipal judge in New Jersey has been suspended for two months without pay after warnings about his Facebook activity, public records show.

A state ethics panel determined Judge Robert M. LePores posts constituted judicial misconduct, with which the New Jersey Supreme Court agreed.

LePore, who serves part-time in Point Pleasant Beach, was formally warned prior to being suspended, NJ.com reported.
For many years, the New York Public Library has proudly celebrated Pride Month, serving as a beacon for its nearly 17 million patrons. And 2025 is no exception. Getty Images

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For many years, the New York Public Library has proudly celebrated Pride Month, serving as a beacon for its nearly 17 million patrons. And 2025 is no exception.

The array of events, which began the first week of June, will highlight LGBTQIA+ voices and experiences across the NYPLs more than 90 branches. These events are crucial to the librarys goals of being an inclusive space, building relationships with patrons, and sharing their wide range of resources with the wider community, according to the NYPL.

Our president, Anthony Marx, always likes to say, libraries are for everyone, said Connor Goodwin, a library spokesperson. I think these pride events and all these programming opportunities are really another way of showing that.

Staten Island pride events

This year, Staten Island libraries will host five pride events.

June 5

On Thursday, June 5 at 4 p.m., the Stapleton Librarys Teen Book Club will be Pride themed, focusing on the graphic novels "Flamer" by Mike Curato and The Girl From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag. The club, which is available for ages 12 to 18, will also include a Book Tasting, allowing participants to browse and read various LGBTQ+ titles. The branch is located 132 Canal St., Staten Island, NY 10304

June 11

For vintage book lovers, the South Beach Librarys monthly book club will be studying romance in literature through the pages of The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. The South Beach Library has a limited number of physical copies available for check-out. Then, join other fans for an in-person discussion on Wednesday, June 11 at 11:15 a.m. This will be followed by an online discussion 5:30 p.m. for those unable to attend. Registration for the digital event can be found on the South Beach Library website. The branch is located at 41 Father Capodanno Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10305.

In search of a more hands on activity? The St. George Library is hosting a relaxing pride flag tie-dyeing session on June 11 at 4 p.m. Although no tie-dyeing experience is necessary, this event is for adults ages 18 and over. Provided supplies are limited, so prior registration on the St. George Library website or in person is required. The branch is located at 5 Central Ave., Staten Island, NY 10301.

Another crafts event will take place in person at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh Branch. Staff and patrons ages 10 to 17 will be creating Rainbow Slime for Pride Month. This is a first come-first serve event starting at 4 p.m. The branch is located at 2550 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314.

June 14

The last Staten Island event will be at the St. George Library Center, and will focus on adult patrons of the library who are interested in combining their love of literature and caffeine. On Saturday, June 14 at 2 p.m., Memory Brews and Literary Views: Monthly Book Conversations will be meeting to cover LGBTQIA+ stories. The group encourages the community to share favorite books, reminisce on past reads and bond over recommendations and brew. This event is for adults 18 years or older, and will include light snacks and refreshments..

Other events around NYC

Outside Staten Island, the NYPL is infusing pride into many of their events.

On Saturday, June 14 at 1 p.m., the West Farms Library in The Bronx is hosting a special Pride inspired Wicked (2024) watch party. This event is focused on teens and young adults, and prior registration is not required. The branch is located at 2085 Honeywell Ave, Bronx, NY 10460.

The Library After Hours: Pride, which is planned for Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m., is one of their most popular annual offerings. This gives patrons special late night access to the Stephen A. Schwartzman building at 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018 in Manhattan. The event, which showcases the locations extensive research collection, will feature a drag show and librarian lead book matchmaking.

Another scheduled highlight for the month is the annual Anti-Prom, which celebrates young people of all backgrounds and identities. This culminating event will take place on June 20th at the main 42nd street/Bryant Park location in Manhattan, and features a special fashion show and dance performance.

Some of the core missions and values of the library are being inclusive and accessible, said Goodwin. Were always trying to excite new readers and bring new patrons into the fold, as well as deepen engagement with our existing patrons.

More information can be found on the New York Public Library website: nypl.org/events/calendar.
Pride flags and colors display on the Stonewall Inn bar, marking the site of 1969 riots that followed a police raid of the bar's gay patrons, June 3, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo|Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK  At the start of Pride Month, the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC has criticized the Trump Administrations proposed legislative package -- dubbed The Big Beautiful Bill, as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community.

The vote on the bill passed the House of Representatives on May 22 by a 215-214 margin, and now heads to the Senate, where it may face revisions. If the bill remains intact, it will provide a variety of tax cuts, paid for in part through cuts to Medicaid and other programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC said the bill poses a severe threat to critical programs that disproportionately serve members of the LGBTQ+ community  especially lower-income New Yorkers, those living with HIV, and New Yorkers facing food insecurity. The group says the bill is especially harmful to the transgender community, cutting off federal Medicaid and Affordable Care Act funding for medical care for trans people of all ages.

The House Reconciliation Bill is an appalling attack on the health and safety of millions of Americans, said Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC President Gabriel Lewenstein.

Transgender people are once again being callously targeted to create a public distraction from the devastating cuts to our nations safety net programs, including Medicaid and SNAP. Trans people deserve rights, access to health care, and dignity. Instead, this bill would strip away lifesaving care from trans people across the country - along with millions of others in need, added Lewenstein.

Republican supporters of the legislation have characterized the cuts as rooting out fraud and waste. All told, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates 8.6 million fewer people would have health care coverage over the next decade and three million less people a month would have SNAP food stamp benefits with the proposed changes.

According to the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, LGBTQ+ New Yorkers face higher poverty rates (22-25% for LGBTQ+ adults vs. 16% of nontransgender, straight adults) and experience higher rates of food insecurity than non-LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.

Women, younger New Yorkers, and LGBTQ+ people of color are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and face a high risk of crisis if the bill successfully defunds SNAP, said The Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in a written statement.

In addition, the club said the bill bars funding to Planned Parenthood, which serves as an affirming, affordable health care option for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers that has historically been committed to safeguarding and providing reproductive freedom."

Several New York elected officials say they stand behind the group, including New Yorks two Democratic U.S. senators.

Last week House Republicans passed their dangerously radical tax plan, which upends funding for programs vital to vulnerable populationsespecially the LGBTQ+ communityto give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy," said U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

There is nothing beautiful about the biggest cuts to Medicaidwhich provides critical coverage for many trans New Yorkers  in American history. There is nothing beautiful about cutting SNAP benefits so children and others who rely on this critical food assistance program go hungry. Senate Democrats will oppose this morally bankrupt bill with every fiber of our being," he added.

Said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: The Trump reconciliation bill props up some of our nations wealthiest with lavish tax breaks they dont need, at the expense of working-class Americans looking for relief. This bill is an attack on all New Yorkers basic needs  all while stripping access to food, education, and other essentials for New York children, families and seniors. I stand with our LGBTQ+ New Yorkers against these devastating cuts. I am a no on this bill, and will oppose it with every fiber of my being.

Follow Tracey Porpora on Facebookand Bluesky
There is general agreement that New York state needs to expand the number of Supreme Court justices to tackle a mammoth backlog in the aftermath of the pandemic that has forced litigants to wait in some cases years to resolve cases involving commercial, marital, malpractice, criminal and a myriad of other matters that come before the courts.

There are proposals in the State Legislature to try and do just that. But this is a case where the seemingly easy fix is not so simple when you take a closer look.

Justices of the New York State Supreme Court are constitutional officers, and the state Constitution mandates the establishment of one Supreme Court for each 50,000 residents in each of the states 13 judicial districts.
U.S. Institute of Peace acting President George Moose talks during a news conference outside the Institute on May 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) AP

After taking over the United States Institute of Peace, the Department of Government Efficiency  known as DOGE  employees allegedly left behind weed and cockroaches and rats.

DOGE and its staffers took over the institute after it attempted to fire all of the institutes workers and forced them out of the building in March, according to The Daily Beast.

The building was later abandoned by DOGE, still filled with the food left behind by the institutes employees, after a legal battle forced them to vacate it.

When the USIPs rightful leadership returned to their building for the first time in two months on May 22, they found water damage and evidence of rats and cockroaches in the buildingproblems theyd never had before, USIPs Acting President and CEO George Moose said in a sworn statement, The Daily Beast reported.

Daniel Knowles, the Economist reporter who broke the news about the trashed institute post-DOGE, posted a picture from allegedly within the building where institute staffers found buds of weed.

According to the official USA website, the institute promotes research, policy analysis, education, and training on international peace and conflict resolution in an effort to prevent and resolve violent conflicts, and to promote post-conflict stability.

DOGE, The Daily Beast said, found that it was unnecessary.

Upon taking over the institute, DOGE went on to wipe out USIPs IT systems, shred its documents, seize its funding, and take down the USIP websiteincluding all of the research the agency had conducted over the past 40 years, one of its employees told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

Since the institutes workforce came back into power, their official website came back online at usip.org.

They remarked on the website that they are working to restore full access to our online analytical, educational and training resources and hope to make them available in the coming days.
Latvia approves major reallocation of EU funds to boost national security

Photo: Ministry of Finance Republic of Latvia

Latvia is turning the tables on its EU funding priorities for 20212027, reallocating over 600 million to bolster national security, pave the way for transport infrastructure, and lend a helping hand to vulnerable communities. Discover which projects are hitting the ground running and what this spells for Latvia's economic backbone in the times to come.

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This photo shows a view to the west toward Seneca Lake along Searsburg Road near the Finger Lakes National Forest in Burdett, NY. Heather Ainsworth | The Post-Standard

Trees in New Yorks only national forest could be cut down at an accelerated rate under an order by President Donald Trump to increase timber production in national forests by 25 percent.

The Finger Lakes National Forest, spanning 16,000 acres between Cayuga and Seneca lakes, is among the national forests that could be affected by Trumps order, according to a map from the U.S. Forest Service.

Trumps administration invoked emergency powers to expedite the sale of timber and roll back environmental reviews to bring about a new era in logging of national forests.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said last week it would invest $200 million from taxpayers to fast-track the plan, streamline burdensome regulations and expedite project approvals.

The USDA said its actions are needed to improve forest health, reduce the risk of wildfires and create a more stable supply of wood products.

New Yorks two U.S. senators and an environmental group are warning that any increased logging in Finger Lakes National Forest could damage a public treasure and have unintended environmental consequences.

The forest is on a ridge between the two Cayuga and Seneca lakes, about 70 miles southwest of Syracuse.

Large-scale logging in the environmentally sensitive region could unearth soil that would wash into the two Finger Lakes and harm the water quality, said Yvonne Taylor, vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian.

If it gets logged, that could mean more sediment in Seneca and Cayuga lakes that are already struggling with harmful algal blooms, Taylor told syracuse.com.

Its a part of the Finger Lakes that really deserves to be protected, she said. Unfortunately, I dont think from what weve seen of the Trump administration that they would allow for harvesting of the timber in any kind of responsible way.

Schumer, D-N.Y, said the plan is so ill-conceived that even the Once-ler in the Lorax would scoff at it, referring to the greedy industrialist character in a Dr. Seuss book.

Schumer said the forest is vital to protecting the surrounding Finger Lakes, biodiversity and the regions recreation and tourism economy in Seneca and Schuyler counties.

The Finger Lakes National Forest is a crown jewel of the region, and a magnet for families and tourists alike to experience the vast nature and beauty of Upstate New York, Schumer said in a statement. But Trumps recent executive order could callously cut down huge chunks of this forest, threatening the Finger Lakes.

Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., sent a letter Monday to the chief of the U.S. Forest Service, urging him not to boost commercial logging in the forest.

The Finger Lakes National Forest is more than a beautiful landscape  it is a living asset for the region, supporting tourism, recreation, and a healthy environment, while also serving as a source of pride for generations of Upstate New Yorkers, the senators wrote to Forest Service chief Tom Schultz.

The senators cited a U.S. Forest Service report that found Finger Lakes National Forest and Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont together boost the economy by about $174 million per year by supporting recreational activities on their land.

Finger Lakes National Forest has more than 30 miles of interconnecting trails that span gorges, ravines, pastures and woodlands.

Schumer and Gillibrand said the benefits from recreational activities far outweigh any potential profits from increased timber sales.

The Forest Service already allows logging on up to 800 acres in the Finger Lakes National Forest to support forest health and reduce fire risk, the senators said. They said its unclear why additional logging would be necessary or productive.

The Forest Service did not respond to a request for comment.

Taylor, of Seneca Lake Guardian, said a better use of resources would be to restore cuts to the Forest Service staff who oversee Finger Lakes National Forest. She said the staff was reduced this spring by 60%, leaving only three full-time workers.

She said the cuts will slow the process of planting native trees in a section of the forest that was cut down to stop the infestation of the Emerald ash borer, an invasive species.

The Forest Service has also managed the fire risk in the forest over the years with prescribed burns to clear overgrown brush and grass.

This spring, the service planned to burn about 600 acres in the Hector Ranger District in Seneca and Schuyler counties.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner at 571-970-3751.
North Shore City Council candidates Telee Brown, Sarah Blas, and Abou Diakhate pose for a photo following a Tuesday, June 3 debate in West Brighton. (Advance/SILive.com|Paul Liotta)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A trio of challengers to the North Shore City Council seat joined a Staten Island restaurant organization in West Brighton Tuesday night for a debate on the issues.

Sarah Blas, Abou Diakhate, and Telee Brown joined the Staten Island Restaurant and Tavern Association at LiGrecis Staaten, but without the elected official theyre hoping to replace, Democratic Councilmember Kamillah Hanks.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the rain after arriving on Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

President Donald Trump lashed out at an author for questioning whether the presidents war on Harvard University is more personal than previously thought.

Author Michael Wolff told The Daily Beast Podcast last week that Trump is targeting the Ivy League university because he didnt get into Harvard. Wolff claimed that the president is now holding a grudge against the school, which has filed numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Recent global events have underscored the critical importance of stable and reliable energy supplies, while countries simultaneously strive to transition to cleaner, greener energy sources, said Kamal Abbasov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Speaking during the "Gas Markets  A New Structure for Producers, Transporters, and Consumers" session at the 30th Baku Energy Forum, Abbasov noted that this dual goal requires a smarter and more flexible energy system that can ensure security while supporting a low-carbon future.

Abbasov emphasized that natural gas plays a vital role not only as an energy source but also across many sectors of daily life, highlighting its key contribution to fertilizer production, which supports global food security amid rising populations. He also pointed out gass role in methanol production for industries such as chemicals, plastics, and clean fuels, stressing that its value extends far beyond electricity and heating.

"To fully realize the potential of natural gas, long-term and stable agreements are essential. Upstream projects like exploration and production require significant, costly, and time-consuming investments that demand trust and stability among producers, transporters, and consumers alike," Abbasov said.

Azerbaijans experience with projects such as the Shah Deniz field and the Southern Gas Corridor exemplifies the success of long-term partnerships, spanning over 25 years, which enabled strategic planning and large investments. These projects now provide reliable gas supplies to European countries.

The deputy minister also highlighted the importance of proper resource management and strategic vision, noting Azerbaijans ongoing efforts to increase gas production while fully honoring its contractual obligations.

"Natural gas remains a core part of the energy mix, but Azerbaijan is equally committed to preparing for a cleaner future. The country is investing in gas infrastructure alongside advancing renewable energy development, particularly leveraging the high solar and wind potential in the Caspian Sea and Karabakh regions to diversify energy sources and reduce emissions," the deputy minister stated.

He recalled that Azerbaijans hosting of the COP29 climate summit demonstrates its commitment to global climate goals and playing a constructive role in the energy transition.

As gas markets evolve, Azerbaijan moves forward with a clear and balanced approach, Abbasov said. By increasing production, expanding export infrastructure, and meeting the energy needs of partner countries, Azerbaijan continues to be a reliable energy supplier.

It additionally supports the expansion of renewable energy and the transition to clean energy sources. This balanced path reflects the countrys long-term vision focused on energy security, strong cooperation, and clean energy targets.

We believe that through collaboration and smart planning, it is possible to build an energy future that works for everyone, Abbasov concluded.

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Australians will be able to bank Qantas frequent flyer points when shopping at David Jones in a new partnership that will further stoke the intensifying rivalry between the nations two biggest department store chains.

The tie-up allows David Jones to piggyback off the nations largest loyalty program, with more than 17 million members, when it unveils its own rewards program in late September.

David Jones CEO Scott Fyfe, Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance, and brand ambassador, model and actor Megan Gale. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Clearly, our current proposition at David Jones was much more of a birthday reward scheme. This is much, much more than this, David Jones chief executive Scott Fyfe said.

Customers will get the preference whether they want to earn David Jones reward points or they want [Qantas frequent flyer points]. The major benefit weve got is that anyone [who] joins the collective scheme, from a Qantas frequent flyer perspective, will be able to redeem through David Jones, and get the full curation and offer of our brands, both in the store ... as well as online.
Its a truth universally acknowledged in election post-mortems these days that the Liberal Party has a serious woman problem. It would be more accurate to suggest that the party has a man problem.

Said problem was laid bare by 80-year-old ex-party president Alan Stockdale, treasurer of Victoria under Jeff Kennett, now among an ageing trio of administrators fighting to retain control of the partys troubled NSW division.

Richard Alston (left) and Alan Stockdale in the online meeting.

Stockdale put his foot very far back in his mouth during a four-hour Zoom call with the NSW Liberal Womens Council, suggesting that the party didnt need gender quotas because the sheilas were sufficiently assertive, such that it was the men who needed help.

But this was hardly the end of Stockdales humiliation session.
On April 22, Bateman posted his first TikTok setting himself up as a book lover who wanted to chat about his favourite genre, fantasy, and in particular, romantasy. I love fantasybut Ive never had anywhere to talk about it or share those things because, obviously, being a malefrom the country, he told his followers. Why has he gained a Booktok following on TikTok? If you view the comments on any of his posts, its obvious his audience is predominantly female. In his first post, Bateman even comments Theres a lot of females here, and you all love smut and spiceI think I may have to have a little delve into it myself and see what all the fuss is about. The followers lapped this up and he played up to it, his greeting quickly going from Hello BookTok to Hello besties which has become his trademark address.

His posts are almost always filmed in a truck or in the fields, the dirt and sweat from a hard days work still visible on him, along with his well-worn Akubra. But hes not shy to show his softer side, even crying when he posted about his new book deal. Loading And he has embraced popular romantasy books, like A Court of Thorns and Roses, which decreed him somewhat of a unicorn in the BookTok community  a rugged young man who is passionate about reading genres usually embraced by young women. What is romantasy? The term is a melding of two genres: romance and fantasy. But its the romance side of it that is central to this sub-genre.

The term was added to the Urban Dictionary in 2008 but has gained particular traction in the last decade thanks to authors like Sarah J. Maas of A Court of Thorns and Roses fame  the hashtag ACOTAR has had almost nine billion views on TikTok - and Rebecca Yarros, author of Fourth Wing. Bateman is a new but enthusiastic consumer of romantasy, even donning a cap sent to him by Dymocks which reads romance reader. Who has signed him up for a book deal? Bateman has been signed to a two-book deal by Atria, a brand-new imprint of Simon & Schuster Australia. In the US, where Atria has been around since 2002, it has published bestselling authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Colleen Hoover and Fredrik Backman. Batemans first book will be out in early 2027 and he says it will be a coming of age story about a young boy battling hardships and set in a fantasy world. Its a story he says he has carried with him since childhood and now its time to get it out of his head and onto the page.

Why sign him if he has no book yet? While you dont have to have written an entire book to nab a book deal, Atria publisher Anthea Bariamis says the publishing house would never sign an author for fiction without seeing whether they can actually write first. Luke Bateman in action for the Canberra Raiders during his NRL days. [Luke] and I had a long meeting where he went over the scope of the series he was working on, detailing the magic system and the journey of the protagonist across the series. These are the two things that, in my opinion at least, are most important for assessing fantasy submissions, she says. He then submitted a writing sample, a thorough chapter outline for book one, and a synopsis for the series. In total, we had almost 10,000 words to assess his commercial and literary potential.

Why has this sparked debate? The debate was sparked by one post made on May 26  in which Bateman announced he had been signed by Atria  and in particular one line in that post in which he said I cant wait to write this book. Loading The comments section blew up. TikTokkers could not understand how someone who had not even written a book could be signed by a major publisher. Im so confused  how did you get a book deal with no book written? one asked.

But angry comments soon focused on race, gender and privilege. This opportunity is the intersection of white privilege, male privilege, and pretty privilege, a TikTokker wrote. Another added: There are so many talented and skilled authors from marginalised communities who HAVE put in the effort, who HAVE worked to refine their skills, who HAVE worked to build their platform, and yet this is what publishing prioritises. Yikes! And from another: Firstly, congratulations, Im happy for you! I also want to acknowledge that had you been a woman (especially of colour) this probably wouldnt have happened. But for every negative comment, there was a positive one. Why the hate? one user asked. Why is it about race? Why is it about gender? We made him famous. Now we are tearing him down? He did nothing wrong.
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Not many people knew John Clarke as well as his daughter Lorin  we worked together in the same office for decades, on and off, she says. But shes as surprised as anyone that she has made a movie about the much-loved writer, actor and comedian, who died suddenly while bushwalking at age 68 in 2017.

Its the last thing I wanted to do, she says. I didnt get up every morning going, I must tell his story. But then when other people tried to, saying, We think this is the story. We dont want you to be involved, but wed like all the rights and everything, suddenly I thought, Shit, I do want to protect his legacy.

The result of that effort is Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke, a feature-length documentary that will screen in public for the first time at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. It is one of 26 titles announced on Thursday in MIFFs First Glance.

It wasnt the thought of someone dishing dirt on Dad that ultimately got Lorin Clarke over the line. It was the likelihood that they wouldnt even try.

Lorin Clarke at ACMI, where much of the archive material used in her documentary about her father is stored. Credit: Justin McManus

The thesis of the filmmaking team from New Zealand that in 2020 approached the Clarke family  Lorin, her sister Lucia, and their mother, Helen McDonald, an art historian and author in her own right  was that John was the foundation stone of the countrys comedy. Without him, there would be no Flight of the Conchords, no Rhys Darby, no Taika Waititi.

It was so wrong, it was hero worship, she says. And my mum said to me, If something were to be made and it were a hagiography, that would be a real shame, because he wouldnt appreciate that. Hed be so allergic to the idea.
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 So many options but nothing that floats your boat? Cant find anything new and exciting to dive into? Despite the monthly drops of titles from the band of streamers, wading through the hype and the home pages can be oddly frustrating and frequently unrewarding. So here are some suggestions, recent drama series that you mightve missed that could fit the bill and warm the winter nights. Or at least keep you happily absorbed through the chills. Jodie Whittaker plays Susan, one of the mothers whose child was born with a disability, in Toxic Town. Toxic Town (Netflix) Jack Thorne wrote Adolescence, one of the years standout drama series. Here he tackles a different social issue in a four-part drama based on an actual case in the UK. In 2009, a group of mothers from the Northamptonshire town of Corby took legal action against a local steelworks, claiming its harmful waste had caused limb deformities in their babies. In the mould of Mr Bates vs The Post Office, this quietly powerful drama chronicles a historic legal action in which working-class litigants, initially unprepared for the entrenched opposition theyre facing, refuse to give up the fight. Directed in low-key style by Minkie Spiro, its top-drawer cast is headed by Jodie Whittaker (Dr Who, One Night) as feisty Susan McIntyre, who meets the more reserved Tracey Taylor (Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus, Sex Education) in a hospital labour ward. Key supporting roles are capably filled by Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle and Rory Kinnear.

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Soledad Villamil plays Ema, a citizen journalist, in Caught. Caught (Netflix) Over the past decade, novelist Harlan Coben has become a TV darling involved in a host of crime thrillers, some adapted from his books and others original screenplays. His fast-moving, deftly plotted mysteries (including Fool Me Once, Stay Close, Safe, Just un regard and The Five) make for ideal TV fodder, although the quality of the productions varies. Loading Most have smart set-ups, so its easy to get hooked, but some quickly fade into the forgettable category. This one (original title Atrapados), based on his novel, is set in the Argentinian lakeside town of Bariloche and focuses on hard-charging investigative journalist Ema Garay (Soledad Villamil). She hosts a true-crime show online and has built an admiring following, in part because she live-streams her capture of culprits. Now shes hot on the trail of a rapist who grooms teenagers using a popular video game to establish relationships. But things get messy when she publicly outs a suspect and it emerges that she might be mistaken. Caught raises questions about citizen journalists and the rules that they play by, as well as the impact that their work can have.

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Jim Sturgess and Denise Gough play the parents of a missing girl in the thriller The Stolen Girl. The Stolen Girl (Disney+) Given the title, its not a spoiler to reveal that a child disappears early in this five-part drama, shattering her distraught parents, Elisa (Denise Gough, Andor) and Fred (Jim Sturgess). Elisa impulsively agrees to an invitation from another school mum (Holliday Grainger) for her nine-year-old, Lucia (Beatrice Campbell), to have her first sleepover. But when she returns to collect her daughter, the house is empty. Its a nightmare scenario played at a melodramatic pitch as Elisa becomes increasingly frantic and frustrated by what she sees as a lack of progress in the police investigation. As questions pile up in the twisty thriller developed by writer Catherine Moulton from Alex Dahls novel, it emerges that the past is an important player and little is as it initially seems. Ingrid Bolso Berdal as Jennifer, Alma Gunther as Sara and Bernard Storm Lager as Tobias in La Palma. La Palma (Netflix) This compact, four-part Norwegian series, built around the 2021 volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands, initially views the calamitous event from a tightly focused pair of perspectives. Fredrik and Jennifer (Anders Baasmo and Ingrid Bolso Berdal) are struggling with marital tensions when they arrive for their summer holiday with their sensitive teenage daughter (Alma Gunther) and autistic son (Bernard Storm Lager).

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Meanwhile, a keen trainee (Thea Sofie Loch Naess), who has joined the local geological research team, identifies disturbing shifts in the areas being monitored, spurring a debate between the scientists about the implications of the discovery and the need to alert authorities. The tale subsequently opens out to include local officials concerned about sounding alarm bells at the height of the tourist season and the foreign affairs department in Oslo responsible for assisting its citizens. The build-up is handled with skill, and when nature unleashes its devastating power, the impact is suitably shocking and spectacular. Think Jaws with a volcano rather than a shark. Robert De Niro as former president George Mullen in Zero Day. Zero Day (Netflix) Loading Robert De Niros first starring role in a TV series casts him as a respected former US president summoned from retirement after the country suffers a devastating cyberattack. The incumbent president (Angela Bassett) appoints him to lead a commission investigating the cause of the attack, identify its perpetrators and protect the nation from another one. His unit is given unprecedented powers to arrest, detain and question suspects. De Niro resembles an ageing lion, a once-esteemed king of the jungle now plagued by cognitive problems that hes endeavouring to conceal. Series creators Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim and Michael Schmidt use the country-under-siege set-up as a springboard to explore how panic and pragmatism can drive a political agenda, and how that fear can be exploited, which seems an especially timely topic. The supporting cast is loaded with talent, including Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Kaplan, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Joan Allen and Gaby Hoffman.

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Sterling K. Brown plays Secret Service agent Xavier Collins in the Disney+ drama Paradise. Paradise (Disney+) Writer-producer Dan Fogelman and actor Sterling K. Brown worked together on the beautifully crafted family drama This is Us. Here, they venture into different territory with an eight-part series that introduces Brown as Xavier Collins, a dedicated secret-service agent assigned to protect the US president (James Marsden). Hes also the devoted dad of two children, the fate of their mother emerging in flashback as the drama unfolds. A murder on Xaviers watch casts suspicion on the highest levels of government but, beyond that, this is a series where the less you know about the plot, the better. One teaser should be enough: a zinger of a twist ends the first episode. Marsden is well-cast as a Kennedy-esque POTUS, as is Julianne Nicholson as an icily controlling powerbroker. Leo Woodall stars as a maths prodigy in the British thriller Prime Target. Prime Target (Apple TV+) This eight-part thriller intriguingly ponders whether scientists and mathematicians can be held responsible for the ways in which their discoveries are deployed. Gifted Cambridge mathematician Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall) is obsessed with his study of prime numbers and it emerges that his work has the potential to cause chaos: he could unearth a code that can crack any digital system.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan plays a key role in ensuring energy security in Central Europe and has significant potential for development in the coming decades, CEO of MVM CEEnergy Gabor Orban told Trend on the sidelines of the Baku Energy Forum.

According to him, Azerbaijan has become the first supplier of natural gas to the Central European region, which is an important achievement against the backdrop of growing demand for energy resources.

"We are proud to be the first country and the first company to purchase and transport gas from Azerbaijan to Central Europe. We are interested in continuing this cooperation and are open to expanding it in the gas sector," he explained.

Orban also noted that in the long term - for the next 30 years - the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan retains high potential, and the opportunities for partnership with European countries continue to expand.

"The Central European market is growing, and MVM is diversifying its portfolio. We are focused on natural gas and electricity, and we also consider the 'green corridor' as a promising direction for transporting green energy to Europe," the CEO emphasized.

On 30 September 2013, MVM Hungarian Electricity Ltd. bought E.ON's natural gas storage and distribution enterprises in Hungary, subsequently establishing Hungarian Gas Trade Ltd., which has operated as MVM CEEnergy since 1 July 2021. Currently, MVM CEEnergy Zrt. stands as the preeminent natural gas broker in Hungary. The company is the principal partner of Hungarian universal natural gas service providers in the secure supply of natural gas to residential customers. MVM CEEnergy Zrt. significantly influences the end-user market and prioritizes the enhancement of its regional standing.

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It is peak hour on the humpback highway off the east coast of Australia, a sign of one of the greatest conservation successes of the 20th century, but half of the worlds great whale species are yet to recover from commercial whaling.

During the 20th century, nearly 3 million whales were commercially harvested, driving many species to the brink of extinction. Some species have rebounded  humpback numbers on the east coast of Australia have grown from less than 100 in the 1960s to about 40,000 now.

Yet many other species such as blue whales are not doing nearly as well. Of about 15 species of great whale, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists two as critically endangered, three as endangered, two as vulnerable and one as near threatened.

Dr Olaf Meynecke, a research fellow at the Coastal and Marine Research Centre at Griffith University, said humpback whales have two advantages.

Humpback whales can have a calf every year if the conditions are very good, but at least every two years, Meynecke said. And humpback whales can switch between different prey  different fish species or krill. They also develop advanced social feeding strategies, sharing food amongst each other and information about it.
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Exclusive Eating outRestaurant news Three former Rockpool chefs to lead new Manly wharf restaurant Including the 2025 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide young chef of the year. Scott Bolles Updated June 6, 2025 , first published June 5, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

When the Brisbane-based Artemus Group splashed out $110 million last year to buy Manly Wharf, it was just the start of a spending spree focused on acquiring and opening new venues at the wharf. Now Artemus is snapping up the citys hospitality talent, with up-and-coming chef Luke Bourke set to steer a new seafood restaurant opening at the wharf. From left: Artemus co-founder Adam Flaskas, Artemus culinary consultant Corey Costelloe, Felons brand director Dean Romeo and head chef at Felons Seafood Luke Bourke. Steven Woodburn Bourke, a Rockpool alumnus who won The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide young chef of the year for 2025, has been appointed head chef at Felons Seafood, which opens on Friday, June 20. Its a reunion of sorts for former senior Rockpool chefs Corey Costelloe, now culinary consultant with Artemus, and Graeme Hunt, who has also joined as culinary operations manager at the Felons Manly pub next door. Felons Brewing Co. opened its first venue, at Brisbanes Howard Smith Wharves, in 2018.

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Felons Seafood will have 200 seats indoors and 120 more on the boardwalk, with an interior from Acme & Co  the design shop behind Sydney restaurants Margaret and Mimis  that includes a coral-hued marble kitchen pass. Im excited to be back working alongside Corey to bring this vision to life, Bourke said. The duo will transplant the produce-driven approach of their time together at Rockpool Bar & Grill, but with more surf than turf. Felons Seafood will be serving more surf than turf. Ethan Smart Well use whole yellowbelly flounder, and some fish that people dont usually turn to, like luderick, Bourke said. Abalone sandwich will also appear on the opening menu. In December, Artemus added Hugos Manly to its growing portfolio at the wharf, in a deal reported to have cost it $20 million, having already purchased Manly Wharf Bar from publican Ben May. Felons Seafood will open in the former home of The Bavarian, which departed last year when its lease ended. Artemus also plans to build a microbrewery in a nearby former supermarket site.

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Artemus is also understood to be considering a function area for its harbourside Manly portfolio, but space is tight on the wharf, with non-Artemus restaurants Sake, El Camino and the Merivale-owned Queen Chow secure with tight leases. Felons Brewing Co. in Brisbane. Felons Brewing Co. Artemus has experience operating waterfront precincts. It took control of Brisbanes Howard Smith Wharves 12 years ago, recrafting the site as a serious food destination, with a combination of its own venues and others including Greca restaurant, which is owned by Jonathan Barthelmess, the chef and co-owner at Apollo in Potts Point. A graduate of the National Indigenous Culinary Institute, Bourke grew up in Darug Country in western Sydney. As well as Rockpool, he worked at Barangaroos Noma Australia pop-up in 2016 and regularly hosts First Nations seafood masterclasses at the Sydney Seafood School. Bourkes long-term goal has been to open a venue in Sydneys west with his twin brother Sam and sister Teagan, who are also chefs.

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Alifa Putri, 33, admired Adi Nagara, 40, in 2015 while watching him cut mangoes in Jakarta. Within weeks, an international romance was in full swing.

Alifa Putri (left) admired Adi Nagara in 2015 while watching him cut mangoes in Jakarta. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Adi: I remember when I first saw Alifa: the room in Jakarta City Hall, where she was sitting, the shade of her T-shirt. It was 10 years ago and we were both on a three-month internship for the governor. I was 30, she was 23.

After the internship, Alifa invited six of us to come to her familys house in her hometown, Bandung [in Indonesias West Java province], at New Year. I knew I liked her. We were all sleeping on the floor in the living room and, one evening, she went past and I grabbed her ankle. I was a bit playful; it felt like a good enough gesture. In my Indonesian family, we dont talk about this sort of thing: [in terms of the love language theory] were 95 per cent acts of service.

Something sparked between us, but in January 2016, I had to leave for an eight-month management-consulting project in Dubai. Five months later, Alifa was accepted into Harvard Graduate School of Design [in Cambridge, Massachusetts] and arranged to spend a day with me in Dubai on the way. I didnt bring my A-game, though: I had a hangover and it was a 45-degree day. I thought, What have I done?
Thousands of babies are heading into winter without full protection against RSV despite mounting evidence that free immunisations have led to fewer children ending up in hospital with the common but occasionally severe illness.

Only 15 per cent of babies under eight months had received an RSV immunisation, data from the Australian Immunisation Registry shows. In NSW and Victoria, the coverage rates are significantly lower.

Kristy Gatt with son Blake, who was hospitalised with RSV after missing the window for free immunisation. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Women between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant and newborn babies are now eligible for free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisations after the rollout of federal and state government schemes earlier this year.

All states and territories now offer nirsevimab, an injection containing ready-made antibodies to fight RSV, to eligible babies born this year.
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 As columnist Ross Gittins and cartoonist Cathy Wilcox show, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lost his spine (In one awful decision, Albanese has revealed his do-nothing plan, June 4). Labor has been intimidated by the reaction of mining companies to the prospect of a resource rent tax, and then by business opposition to changing negative gearing and capital gains tax, despite majority support for such measures. The electorate thought Labor would better protect our environment, do more to help prevent climate change and provide more funding for the ongoing needs of its constituents. Instead, its steady-as-you-go approach to government is now totally inadequate to address our current issues, let alone those to come. Peter Nash, Fairlight Anthony Albanese and Woodside CEO Meg ONeill. An awful decision indeed. It is difficult to comprehend why Labor approved the North West Shelf gas project extension. There is, as Ross Gittins details, more or less nothing in this for Australia. Doing all this damage to our net zero credibility, and for what? The companies will sell all the gas overseas, none will flow to the struggling east coast, and they will pay little or no tax or revenue to Australia. The only winners are Woodsides shareholders. Why, Albo, why? Make it make sense. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha Bad defence I am already considering taking my vote away from Labor come next election. I am very unhappy with the prime ministers response to the US request (and the obvious need) to significantly increase Australias defence spending (Letters, June 4). As a former employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs and current small business owner, I understand that spending decisions are always about trade-offs, however a governments primary responsibility is the safety and security of its citizens. In this regard, our prime minister unfortunately either has his head stuck firmly in the sand, or in another part of his anatomy entirely. David Sinclair, Franklin If the US wants us to increase our defence spending in order to do our fair share, our response should have been OK, as soon as the US rejoins the Paris climate change agreement and does its fair share on reducing global emissions. After all, the biggest global security risk is climate change. There is no room for leaners like the Americans, who wont do their bit. Brendan Jones, Annandale Mike Reddys letter hits the nail on the head when he says Ukraines drone attack on Russia is the way to go (Letters, June 4). To invade Australia, the only way is by air or water. The way to defend us is drones and satellites looking over our coastline. Brian Ireland, Burleigh Heads (Qld)

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Free up homes Taxation of unrealised assets is a current target for OECD finance ministers (Housing crisis singled out by OECD, June 4). However, much of the motivation is resulting from the huge increases in wealth accumulation from property, an asset that rarely reduces in value over time. In Australia, we have only allowed property investments to be included in self-managed super funds since 2007. Rather than drafting complicated legislation to tax unrealised assets fairly, why not simply remove property from the allowable list of assets an SMSF may purchase from July 2025? This would not only reduce excessive wealth accumulation in super, but take some pressure out of the housing market. Ray Thompson, Randwick In Australia property investments have been permitted in self-managed super funds since 2007. Credit: Steven Siewert Labors disastrous tobacco taxes are a timely warning about their proposed super taxes (Only Canberra can stop the black-market tobacco trade it fostered, June 4). Hundreds of billions in productively invested funds will be quickly diverted into tax-free family homes, created by Labors 1985 capital gains tax. Minimal tax will be collected and housing affordability will be much worse.William S. Lloyd, Denistone It seems weve learnt nothing from our achievement of the trifecta in failed get tough attempts to manage humanitys vices. Trifecta? The US prohibition on booze. Failed. Australias drug laws. Failed. And now, huge taxes on smoking. Failed. I know these lets-get-tough laws are beloved of conservative folks, but is it not time we used our brains and adopted a new approach? This is a health issue, not a law enforcement issue. And who knows? It might just work  and be cheaper. Brian Haisman, Winmalee I hate smoking, and ideally the rate of tobacco use would be zero. But Im also a realist. Our lawmakers are making the same mistakes with cigarettes and vapes as theyve been making for decades with the unwinnable war on drugs. Excessive price manipulation incentivises criminal gangs. Banning vapes in the hope they disappear is deluded. Forget about being tough on drugs. When will our legislators be smart on drugs? Jeffrey Gabriel, Gladesville

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Rampant hunters the real pest No professional vertebrate pest manager I have spoken to supports recreational hunting as an effective means of reducing the damage caused by feral animals (Shooters Party demands new hunting body, June 4). Thats because hunters take out a tiny percentage of a pest population in an area, leaving the majority free to breed and continue wreaking havoc. In contrast, professionals, like the company I recently engaged to manage a large feral pig population on my farm, adopt best practice methods to rapidly remove the animals from the landscape. In our case, 37 pigs were trapped in a single night. There is no way a group of hunters would achieve these results and in fact, by scaring the survivors who simply melt back into the bush, the problem gets worse over time. If the NSW government is serious about controlling feral species, they should engage professional vertebrate pest management specialists to work in national parks and state forests on a permanent basis. Paying bounties to weekend warriors for taking out a couple of animals will do next to nothing for people like me, who end up footing the costs of trapping the pigs and repairing their damage because the population was allowed to get out of control inside a national park. Cath Henshall, Bungonia I live near a state forest where some shooters have special licences to hunt. Some try to take shortcuts through private properties to the hunting grounds. Some shoot without permission on private properties, from public roads, at anything that moves. I have had several altercations on our property. Some intoxicated hunters have even threatened me. I have recorded these incidents and reported them to police, and thankfully they have stopped. Shooters care not that so-called conservation hunting is known to be ineffective. Its simple  its not in the interest of shooters for pests to be eradicated, and most would not be skilled enough to shoot small feral animals like foxes and cats. Australians are proud of our gun laws and to diminish them for votes is a crime. They have been watered down enough already. Katherine McKenzie, Putty An Australian feral pig. Nick OMalley deftly exposes what is wrong with the Shooters Party bill to set up a new hunting authority. This taxpayer-funded agency would have its own hunting minister to effectively promote the hunters wish list, regardless of the impact on the rest of the community. The push for cultural hunting is risible. Guns were a colonial import, and the so-called culture of non-Indigenous hunting is seen by many as cruel, ugly and violent. Just ask Emma Hurst MP, who gets death threats and vile abuse from hunters. Give them an inch and they take a mile is an apt adage for the hunting fraternity. Lets hope Premier Chris Minns shoots down their bolshie demands. Em Wilkinson, Blackburn South (Vic) Cox on the run Dorinda Cox has left the Greens for the greener grass of the Labor Party (Letters, June 4). But why did she defect? Was it losing the vote for the Greens deputy leader position? Or was it losing the vote for the partys deputy whip position? Perhaps all of those could have come into play. It might also be the case that she is simply a bad loser. Whatever the answer, I suspect that the Greens are better off without defector Dorinda. Michael Davis, Balmain East

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Family name Well said, Brian McDonald (Letters, June 4). A woman taking a mans name is an archaic tradition signifying ownership. But lets take it further: why does a baby almost always inherit the fathers surname? After his fleeting contribution, the man steps aside while the woman endures nine months of pregnancy, navigating the immense physical, mental and emotional demands, and ultimately faces the agony of childbirth alone. Given that she carries 99.9 per cent of the burden, shouldnt she at least have the right to share her name with her child? Jane Lieschke, Woonona Brian McDonald must associate with very different women from the ones I know, none of whom are or feel owned by or inferior to their husbands  probably the reverse. The ancient practice of taking a husbands name is to create and denote a family unit and is more for the benefit of children feeling secure. Some women choose to retain their maiden names for professional reasons. On the other hand, at least two I know told me they didnt like their maiden name and were more than happy to take their husbands. Peter Thornton, Killara Ah, Brian McDonald, you may be right, changing your surname is a small thing, signifying much. I remember feeling sad as I signed the marriage register, thinking this is the last time Ill use this name. But conditioning was such that I did not complain and saw it as a given. How naive we were. Unfortunately, many religions still assume that men are innately superior, are head of the house and wives must obey til death do us part. Jennifer Fergus, Croydon Kind of hush How ironic that Tuesdays edition included, first, an article about new Sydney University restrictions on public comment and internal communications (New rules for Sydney uni students, June 3), and second, an article by former student Sophie Gee, who I remember as articulate and unafraid to speak up during her undergraduate days (Trump fears Harvards excellence, June 3). In my 40 years lecturing at the university I was often asked by students if they could address the lecture before it started. They were often competing groups seeking election to student societies, sometimes they encouraged auditions or performances in the faculty musical and dramatic review, support for inter-faculty or inter-varsity sport, and occasionally information about a meeting on an issue such as HECS or the environment. Once the address took the form of madrigal singing. Not once can I remember a student speaking without my permission or giving a political or racist diatribe. As Sophie Gee wrote, at the heart of a university will be different viewpoints adding to complex knowledge. I have learnt so much listening to colleagues and students. But what a hush has now fallen over the university. Barbara McDonald, Woollahra

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A large boring machines used in the Western Harbour Tunnel. Credit: NSW Government Road to nowhere The new Western Harbour tunnel may well be an engineering marvel, but that does not mean it is a good idea (Underground city preparing for machines to connect Sydney, June 4). Despite having a diameter that allows three lanes in each direction, it only has a capacity of three lanes at 30 cars a minute, or 5400 cars an hour in each direction. Optimistically assuming two people per car, thats barely 10,000 people per hour in each direction. A much smaller metro tunnel could carry at least three times as many people and would not need expensive ventilation. As for the 5400 cars, they all need road space to their destinations and many will need parking in dedicated facilities. Meanwhile, despite policies to encourage the use of public transport, we are told that funds for rail expansion are scarce. Jim Donovan, Lindfield Fine not fair A parking fine under your windscreen wiper was never welcome, but the new practice of a fine through the post is unfair. It prevents members the public from checking the details and, if contested, taking a photograph to support their case. Parking fines carry a hefty penalty in NSW, more so than any other state or territory in Australia. I note also the new advice regarding $65 enforcement cost  if you are under 18 it is now reduced to $25. This is good, but reveals that the $65 is not for the cost of enforcement. It is, in part at least, a tax in disguise. David Allen, Woollahra Taken for a ride Taxi rides are not the only rip-offs at Sydney airport (Plan to stop taxi ripoffs, June 4). Another is the station access fee (excess fee) charged by the operators of the two airport stations set up under a Greiner government public/private partnership (PPP  public perpetually pays) to 2030. It is currently $17.34 for adults. The Perth airport station access fee is zero. Philip Laird, Keiraville

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For nine months, Jennifer McCloy carried a baby for her best friend. Angus wasnt biologically hers, but after multiple miscarriages, a volunteer surrogate was the only way her friend could become a mother.

McCloy handed Angus to his parents the moment he was born, but for the next year, until the required adoption paperwork could be processed, she had to remain his legal guardian. She thinks this should change.

Baby Angus, his surrogate mother Jennifer McCloy, and his biological mother Edwina Peach (left).

Over in Tamworth, Dimity Smith hopes to be a mother too. But her IVF journey is plagued by the tyranny of distance; she is forced to travel often to Sydney, as simple things such as blood test results can be so slow in the bush.

NSW Nationals MP Sarah Mitchell, who herself had a rocky journey to motherhood, believes the government should better support the journey to parenthood to make it easier for the one in six couples that struggle with infertility.
A housemate of missing Bundaberg teenager Pheobe Bishop has been released from custody without charge, after being questioned by police for hours on Wednesday.

Police confirmed a 34-year-old man was in custody on Wednesday assisting officers with questions related to Pheobes disappearance.

Pheobe had been living in a home in Gin Gin  about 45 kilometres south-west of Bundaberg  with two adults, including 34-year-old James Wood, before she disappeared on May 15 on her way to Bundaberg airport.

Missing girl Pheobe Bishop. Credit: Queensland Police

Shortly after 7.30am on Thursday, police said the man had been released without charge, as officers continued to run through several lines of inquiry.
A witness to events before an alleged murder in which two people were locked in a toolbox and thrown into water has admitted to a jury he lied to police.

Stou Daniels, Davy Malu Junior Taiao and Trent Michael Thrupp are charged with murdering Cory Breton, 28, and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, at Kingston in Logan, south of Brisbane, on January 24, 2016.

Lelan Harrington, a former flatmate of some of the defendants and a friend of the alleged victims, agreed under defence cross-examination in the Queensland Supreme Court that he lied to police about Breton owing Daniels money.

Victims Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru.

Daniels defence barrister, John Fraser, asked Harrington on Wednesday if he had told a massive lie to police when he made a statement that Daniels was present at the lagoon when the toolbox containing the alleged victims was thrown into the water.
Two boys allegedly involved in last months machete brawl at Northland shopping centre should be expelled from school using upcoming expanded principal powers, the Victorian government has said.

Education Minister Ben Carroll said he would expect the two school-aged boys accused of participating in the brawl that terrified Sunday-afternoon shoppers at the popular retail centre to suffer serious consequences from their schools.

State government principals have been granted new powers to punish off-campus behaviour. Credit: Getty Images

Carroll announced the upgraded powers for state schools to punish off-campus behaviour that puts students or teachers at serious risk  such as online bullying  on Wednesday morning, saying the change had been introduced successfully in other states.

But principals warned the government to proceed with caution before granting the new powers from next month.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. The Southern Gas Corridor, in which we represent the European segment, serves as a unique route linking current and future gas production, said Luca Schieppati, CEO of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), Trend reports.

Speaking at the 30th Anniversary of the Baku Energy Forum, Schieppati pointed out that the route is a goldmine for major expansion opportunities in the European market, and in recent years, it has played a pivotal role in shoring up the security of Europes energy supply.

The CEO added that TAP has even ensured gas deliveries to Moldova during difficult periods.

We made a strong contribution to todays priority of diversification. It has also delivered tangible results in terms of market liquidity. Liquidity, in turn, means helping to reduce energy costs for both industry and households.

The figures are clear. So far, we have transported over 47 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, including 39 billion cubic meters to Italy alone.

I believe this is possible because we rely on Azerbaijans stable, sustainable, and uninterrupted gas supply. Azerbaijan has proven to Europe that its gas production is both reliable and resilient, he said.

Schieppati also noted that TAP introduced competitive commercial offerings to ensure uninterrupted operations and services for clients, and they took full advantage of them.

The pipeline has not only been used for physical gas flows but also for reverse flows and other commercial opportunities. Today, 45 customers benefit from this infrastructure. A turning point was offering maximum daily transmission capacity through short-term operational flexibility, and we will continue this approach.

In the meantime, as noted, starting from January 1, we will offer the market an additional 1.2 billion cubic meters of capacity. We are working diligently, remaining fully on schedule, and everything is progressing as planned. We are committed to delivering this, and it is a critical milestone for us, he added.

Looking ahead, Schieppati emphasized that more short-term capacity options will be made available.

Our infrastructure meets high standards and is distinguished by high-quality design and construction.

To ensure reliability, everything begins with high-standard design and construction, but that alone is not enough. Maintaining top-tier industry standards also requires the integration of innovative technologies. In Albania, a fiber-optic system has been implemented to monitor geological risk zones in real time, and a seismic monitoring system is in place to manage risks in the event of earthquakes.

Drones and satellite imagery are used alongside artificial intelligence and machine learning to assess the condition of the pipeline and maintain the integrity of the assets. A dedicated leak detection system helps prevent failures along the pipeline. A virtual training simulator is used to train staff, particularly the dispatch team, and an electronic platform manages work permits. All of these technologies and innovations contribute to the daily operational reliability of the infrastructure," Schieppati concluded.

Inaugurated in 2003, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline is a natural gas conduit that has been active since 2020, extending from Greece through Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy. This is the concluding segment of the Southern Gas Corridor that begins in Azerbaijan. As of 2022, the capacity is 10 billion cubic meters per annum. The natural gas is sourced from the second phase of the Shah Deniz gas field development in Azerbaijan's part of the Caspian Sea, traversing the South Caucasus Pipeline and the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP). The TAP has received backing from European institutions and is regarded as a "Project of Common Interest" aimed at bolstering energy security and diversifying gas supply for European markets.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Romeo raced to the hospital to be by Marias side, but said an administration staff member refused to let her see her mother until shed been moved to a bed. Loading I wanted to see her for five minutes so that she knew that I was here and that I cared, said Romeo, her voice wavering. By the time Maria had been moved to a bed, it was evening and Romeo had returned home to care for her three grandchildren and was unable to leave. Maria died from heart failure later that night. I didnt get to say goodbye or even say I loved her, she said. I am so angry. I dont blame the doctors or nurses, they need more beds. I feel like deep down this could have been avoided, this is why it hurts so much. She didnt get the care she needed.

Dr Peter Milne, a vascular surgeon who has worked in Mildura for 20 years and now solely consults in its private hospital, said one of his patients spent six hours sitting in a chair in Mildura Hospitals emergency department in January while suffering from septicaemia, a life-threatening infection in the bloodstream. Loading Milne had phoned the hospital to request that his patient receive intravenous antibiotics after a blood test he had ordered showed all the hallmark signs of septicaemia. He requested that staff call an ambulance so that the patient could be swiftly transferred to Melbourne. This was a life-or-death situation, he said. When I phoned back six hours later he was still sitting in a chair in a corridor and hadnt received antibiotics because they cant put a drip in a person while they are sitting. There were no available trolleys or beds. In desperation, Milne also phoned for an ambulance, stressing the critical condition of his patient.

The patient only received antibiotic treatment when he was lying down in the ambulance on a stretcher and being transported to Melbourne. Milne, who previously worked at Mildura Hospital until it stopped providing vascular surgery in 2023, described its emergency department as overcrowded and overwhelmed. Mildura Base Public Hospital. Credit: Carmel Zaccone It is inadequate and needs expanding and better staffing, he said. I dont have a gripe with the hospital. I have a gripe with Spring Street, and the hospital is the victim. The Age has been informed of another incident where a palliative patient died from a brain tumour in the emergency department because there was no room for them in the hospital wards. In another case, a teenager with an infected hand waited for 75 hours before discharging himself.

Mildura Hospital was operated as a public hospital under a private management contract with Ramsay Health until 2020, when it was taken over by the state Labor government. A state government spokesperson said: Were reducing wait times in emergency and increasing bed availability through our timely emergency care program, and handover times have improved by 5 per cent in the last year at Mildura Base Hospital. Nationals MP for Mildura Jade Benham called on the state government to immediately invest in 30 additional hospital beds to address the delays in the emergency department. We outgrew this hospital 10 years ago, she said.

When the Labor government took back the hospital, they declared that the public would be better off, but it is just getting worse, she said. Speaking generally, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Victorian faculty chair Dr Annelise Staples said patients should ideally be moved from the emergency department and into another area for care within eight hours. Linda Romeo on her mothers death: I feel like deep down this could have been avoided, this is why it hurts so much. Credit: Ian Mckenzie We know that after eight hours, patients really start to suffer long-term effects, she said. Staples said delays in emergency departments were often caused by a lack of beds in inpatient units, staffing shortages, delays in discharges and more patients requiring admission due to seasonal illnesses such as influenza.
The hopes of home buyers and businesses for further interest rate relief depend on whether the Reserve Bank takes a glass half full or a glass half empty view of the latest snapshot of the state of the economy.

The March quarter national accounts released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday revealed the countrys economic growth had slowed to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year. At the annual rate, it was just 1.3 per cent.

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock. Credit: Louie Douvis

By any measure, the numbers were disappointing if not completely unexpected. Flooding, Cyclone Alfred and another natural disaster  the first two months of the Trump administration  all meant the March quarter was going to be a struggle.

At face value, that would seem to strengthen the RBAs case for a rate cut in July after it revealed that it went close to a 0.5 percentage point reduction at its late May meeting.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has admitted delays to his governments aged care reforms will cost the budget almost $1 billion, after Labor deferred the introduction of higher resident fees, new home care packages and stronger regulatory powers until the end of the year.

The delayed changes to the $42 billion sector add to a growing backlog for the Albanese government, which is also yet to ink a deal with the states on hospital funding and a new system to take pressure off the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The delay to aged care reforms from July to November will cost the budget almost $1 billion. Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler conceded providers and older Australians needed more time to prepare for the system, which will reboot the home care scheme and change how fees are structured for new aged care residents. It now starts in November rather than July.

Butler and junior portfolio minister Sam Rae decided after strong lobbying by aged care providers. The scale of this reform program is very ambitious, and I want to be crystal clear that I remain absolutely committed to it, Rae said on Wednesday.
How do you solve a problem like the Liberals? A good start would be to get the party at every level  parliamentary, organisational and, most difficult of all, the rank-and-file  to understand how much trouble its in. Not Oh well, weve lost two in a row, Peter Dutton turned out to be an unusual unit and campaign HQ let us down. But Anthony Albanese is no good, voters will work that out, well go out and listen to the community, the electoral wheel will turn, and if we hang on and hang together, things will swing our way.

That appears to be the general response so far and it wont cut it. The party is not just going through a phase like a surly teenager. Its predicament is dire and its future is clouded.

Credit: Illustration: Dionne Gain

When the Coalition won the 2019 election, it secured 77 seats. When it lost in 2022, it dropped to 58 seats. At this election, its fallen to 43. Thats a total loss of 34 seats over just two elections.

There have been other sustained electoral wipe-outs over the years, most of them suffered by the Labor Party. Under Gough Whitlam in 1975 and 1977, Labor was hit by two landslide losses. Liberals of an optimistic bent point out that Labor recovered relatively quickly after 1977, winning office just two elections later in 1983. But the ALP had Bob Hawke and Paul Keating waiting in the wings as well as a highly talented front bench willing to absorb tough lessons from the Whitlam years.
Over the weekend, Ukraine provided a demonstration of something that has been largely misinterpreted by the many pop-up war experts that have emerged here and elsewhere in the past three years. What the audacious Ukrainian strikes showed was not a new way of war nor new drone capabilities. Both have been on display for more than three years  for those who have noticed.

Ukrainian troops prepare to launch a Kazhan heavy drone in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. Credit: AP

What the Ukrainians actually provided on the weekend was a lesson that has two sides: On one side, they showed what can be done when politicians and military leaders take risk and free up their people to exercise creativity. The other side of the lesson is that Ukraine showed what happens to those who do not pay sufficient attention to the lessons of war, and whose learning and adaptation culture and systems are inadequate.

Unfortunately, the Australian defence department and its part-time minister have shown no indication they have learned the first lesson but have demonstrated a full measure of the second.

Australias defence force is slowly but surely being degraded in size and capacity by being denied funding, due to a focus on submarines that will arrive too late to deter Chinas rapid military build-up and aggression. The 2 per cent of GDP being spent on defence has been recognised by every credible defence expert in this country as insufficient for normal defence needs, let along running a defence force and paying down the nuclear submarines as well as paying the exorbitant salaries of the hundreds of AUKUS bureaucrats who are travelling the world, writing briefs and producing nothing.
Whatever happens in Tasmanian politics, whoever leads the island state, the AFLs position has not budged one millimetre: The Devils will only enter the competition if a roofed stadium is constructed at Macquarie Point.

No stadium, no team.

Rumun, the Tasmania Devils club mascot is at risk of extinction because of dramas in the states parliament. Credit: AAPIMAGE

That position was reiterated by the AFL on Wednesday, as the Tasmanian parliament considered and debated the potential removal of Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose support for the stadium has been critical to the agreement that would see the Devils become the leagues 19th team.

The AFL has a contract with the Tasmanian government, which has to provide this expensive stadium (opponents dubbed it the Gil Mahal after departed AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan)  as the price of admittance to the competition that has long plundered Tassies players and dollars.
If you ever dine with locals in China, Japan or South Korea for business or pleasure, youll have the chance to connect in a relaxed setting. A few rules of etiquette, however, will make for a better experience and impress your hosts.

You wouldnt want to appear greedy or hungry, would you? Both may be taken as a sign of poverty or lack of refinement. If invited to someones house, politely decline food the first time its offered. Not to worry, youll be given a second (and third) chance to eat.

Dont be afraid to slurp those noodles when eating out with others in East Asia. Credit: iStock

In restaurants, especially in China, consideration and respect is shown by plucking fine morsels from communal dishes and placing them in your companions bowls. Again, you might make a polite protest. So will your fellow diners, but dont take them at their word. Try again.

Its also polite to refill other diners teacups, glasses and soy-sauce dishes before your own. This is especially true in Japan, where nobody ever pours their own drink. When someone offers to pour your drink, lift your glass up with one hand supporting it from below, then take a small sip before setting it down.
Salzburg: Australian trade officials will be dispatched to Brussels within days to revive stalled free trade negotiations with the European Union, as escalating global trade tensions  sparked by Donald Trumps return to economic nationalism  inject fresh urgency into finalising the long-delayed pact.

Trade Minister Don Farrell confirmed the breakthrough following an hour-long meeting in Paris on Wednesday with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, where both sides agreed to restart formal discussions.

This is a critical time for stable, rules-based trade: Don Farrell. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Weve both agreed now that were going to restart negotiations, Farrell told this masthead. Thatll be kicked off in the next day or two, when we send our officials to Brussels [to] see if we can scope out what are the outstanding issues.

The renewed momentum comes as Trumps steep tariff hikes on imports to the US trigger a global scramble among its allies to lock in new or more resilient trade partnerships. The US president has doubled tariffs on steel and aluminium from 25 to 50 per cent, while slapping a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all other imports from Australia.
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 aerial photographs show five narrow lanes made of high metal fences wedged between two artificial mounds of earth and topped with barbed wire. Inside, hundreds of people are crammed under the baking sun. The sight of ordinary Gazans corralled into cages is not the image Israels reputation managers were after. But, just over a week into its controversial new aid delivery scheme to bypass Hamas using a US contractor, that is what they are faced with. A crowd of Palestinians queue for aid at a GHF hub in southern Gaza. That, and viral videos of civilians running for their lives to the sound of gunfire, amid accusations  bitterly denied by Israel  that more than 20 were shot dead by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday as order disintegrated at a distribution centre in the south of the Strip. One man who spoke to The London Telegraph said he found the centre terrifying and like a prison, but that he was forced there  kilometres from his temporary home  out of fear that his children would starve. Another called it a place of killing. Fuelling the international criticism is the nature of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the American company created to deliver the new system, with persistent suggestions of CIA involvement, opaque funding and concealed Israeli control.

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This has been enhanced by condemnation from the UN and other large aid NGOs, which want nothing to do with the GHF and accuse it of politicising aid. After Sundays alleged shooting, and new claims of gunfire killing more than 20 people overnight, the projects credibility is on a knife-edge. Loading From Israels point of view, the new system makes perfect sense. The government argues that under the previous model, which it cut off entirely at the beginning of March, Hamas robbed the aid trucks blind  the UN denies this  then sold the food, fuel and medical supplies back to civilians, thus cementing their control over the population and financing their terror infrastructure. By contrast, the new arrangement requires people to travel to four purpose-built distribution centres in the south of the Strip where  it was promised  they would be screened to make sure they are deserving civilians and not terrorists. The idea, in principle, is that while the IDF provides a wider blanket of security, Gazans themselves do not interact with Israeli soldiers, but deal directly with the foundation staff and associated security contractors.

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Some reports suggest these contractors are paid more than $US1000 a day. Places of killing The UN and legacy NGOs, which used to deliver aid into communities through more than a hundred drop-off points, say this offends basic humanitarian principles, trapping people between starvation and a long and dangerous journey. Omar Baraka, 40, from Khan Younis, said: We go to dangerous red zones, the army asks us to walk for several kilometres. Israeli tanks take up position near the GHF aid hub in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Credit: AP There is no order in the place, its very chaotic. Tens of thousands of citizens go there. The organisation delivered aid in the first two days, then the centres became places of killing.

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Salem Al-Ahmad, an 18-year-old high school student, has ventured to the GHF site on several occasions to try to pick up flour for his family. The situation required getting food and saving yourself from death, he said. Anyone who gets aid has to run back quickly, about three kilometres, because the army starts shooting to empty the area of civilians. I found a lot of food lying on the ground because it is difficult to carry and run with it. I only had 1 kilogram bags of flour so I could run from the gunfire. Israeli government officials and their supporters in the press argue that, despite the chaotic scenes, the early days of the new scheme represent a triumph. This is because it shows Gazas civilian population has passed through the fear barrier  in other words, it shows they are now prepared to defy the terror groups commands not to engage with the GHF. There is certainly evidence that Hamas has tried to put obstacles  some physical, others in the form of propaganda  between the Gazan civilians and the new aid system.

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It is far less certain to what extent the group has been behind the scenes of chaos at the new distribution centres themselves. Critics say that the scenes of disorder are simply a function of a desperate, starving population and inexperienced aid distributors. Aside from gunfire, flashbangs and smoke grenades have been thrown. Meanwhile, multiple people say that no serious attempt at screening is made. On Monday night, UN human rights chief Volker Turk told the BBC the way humanitarian aid is now being delivered is unacceptable and dehumanising. Palestinians at a humanitarian aid centre in the Netzarim Corridor, central Gaza Strip last Thursday. Credit: Bloomberg I think what it shows is utter disregard for civilians. Can you imagine people that have been absolutely desperate for food, for medicine, for almost three months and then they have to run for it or try to get it in the most desperate circumstances? Mr Turk told the BBC World Services Newshour program. Aside from the practical difficulties the new system imposes, it has been accused of serving Benjamin Netanyahus agenda by forcing the population into the largely levelled south of the Strip, leaving the IDF clear to execute Operation Gideons Chariot, which, sources have said, will see a similarly widespread demolition of property.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Minister of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria Petar Dilov, participated in the annual meeting of the Council of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at ministerial level in Paris, France, Trend reports citing the country's Ministry of Economy and Industry.

The Minister of Economy is part of the Bulgarian delegation at the forum, which is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georg Georgiev.

The theme of this year's Council of Ministers session is Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Prosperity through Rules-Based Trade, Investment, and Innovation.

The event also provides an opportunity to present Bulgarias progress in the process of accession to the organisation.

Minister Dilov stated that the benefits for Bulgaria from joining the OECD will unlock the potential of the Bulgarian economy.

I am confident that adopting the organisations values and best practices will send a strong signal to trade partners and international investors, he said.

Minister Dilov delivered a speech in a session titled Enhancing Multilateral Cooperation and a Rules-Based International Trade System to Promote More Resilient and Robust Global Supply Chains.

In his speech, he emphasized that the OECD can provide a forum for international dialogue and support multilateral action.

According to him, the organisation plays a vital role in moments when enhanced international cooperation is needed to address disruptions in trade and investment.

We support a level playing field globally, the promotion of fair trade practices, the preservation of the benefits of open markets, and maintaining a well-functioning, rules-based global trade system, Dilov stressed.

The Minister of Economy declared that overcoming uncertainty, rising trade barriers, and a fragmented global economy requires the promotion of rules-based trade.

He believes that improving competitiveness, ensuring predictability, and strengthening the resilience of supply chains is crucial.

Crises know no borders, and international cooperation to address them plays a key role, he firmly stated.

In his address, Minister Dilov assured that Bulgaria will work in close cooperation with OECD member countries to tackle existing challenges.

The Ministerial Council is the highest-level forum of the OECD, overseeing its work, setting priorities, discussing the global and economic context, and addressing other issues such as the organisation's budget and accession process. It is attended by ministers of finance, economy, foreign affairs, trade, and other institutions of OECD member and partner countries, as well as representatives of international organisations. The Council meets at this level once a year.
Washington: The US Justice Department has charged two Chinese researchers accused of trying to smuggle a fungus into America, bringing the case as the government pushes to keep more Chinese students out of the country.

The students, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were in a romantic relationship in July, when US authorities say Liu arrived in the US carrying small bags of the fungus Fusarium graminearum, which causes a disease that can cripple wheat, barley, corn and rice.

The disease, head blight, is a familiar problem for American farmers, particularly in northern and eastern states, according to research funded by the US Agriculture Department that tracked it in 32 states last year. The fungus can be particularly damaging to winter wheat crops.

Jian was arrested and booked in the federal courthouse in Detroit; Liu is believed to be in China.
THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE):--- Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, the Honorable Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, paid a courtesy visit to Her Excellency Margareta Kassangana, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Netherlands, at the Polish Embassy in The Hague.

Held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, the meeting explored areas of mutual interest, including economic positioning, global security developments, and opportunities for enhanced cooperation in trade, tourism, and investment.

Minister Arrindell underscored Sint Maartens value as a strategic Caribbean hub and an emerging destination for Polish travelers. The two dignitaries discussed closer engagement through Polands investment and trade promotion channels, as well as prospects for cultural and economic exchange.

The visit laid the groundwork for stronger bilateral ties and affirmed a shared commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration.
PHILIPSBURG  Political upheaval in the Netherlands has sparked discussions across its constituent countries, including Sint Maarten, as the Dutch coalition government led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof collapsed recently. During the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addressed these developments and outlined the steps Sint Maarten is taking to protect its national interests during this period of uncertainty.

A Government in Transition

Following the resignation of executive members representing the PVV party, the Dutch government transitioned into a caretaker administration under the continued leadership of Prime Minister Dick Schoof. The resignations, formally ratified by the Dutch King, brought significant changes to the composition of the Dutch cabinet. Among these changes is the replacement of the former State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Zolt Sabo, by Judith Uitermark, who now oversees digitalization and kingdom relations.

Prime Minister Mercelina confirmed his conversations with Schoof on the matter, as well as updates from Mr. Kunst, the current representative for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. We respect the democratic processes within the Kingdom and acknowledge Prime Minister Schoof's service and leadership. Recognizing his new role within a caretaker government, we remain focused on ensuring that the cooperation between Sint Maarten and kingdom-level officials continues uninterrupted, Mercelina stated.

Protecting National Interests

Despite political challenges in the Netherlands, Mercelina emphasized the importance of stability and progress for Sint Maarten. Key areas of collaboration with the Dutch government, such as the Trust Fund for disaster recovery and projects related to sustainable economic development, remain priorities for his administration.

In this period of political transition in the Netherlands, Sint Maarten is steadfast in safeguarding our national interests. We will continue advocating for stability, ensuring that kingdom-level projects and funding mechanisms are not compromised, the Prime Minister remarked.

Mercelina highlighted the need for respectful and constructive engagement with both the caretaker administration and any future Dutch government, emphasizing that partnerships within the kingdom should be anchored in mutual respect and shared responsibility.

Acknowledging Uncertainty While Focusing on the Future

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister recognized the challenges inherent in navigating this political transition, acknowledging that shifts in governance in the Netherlands can have ripple effects within the kingdom. However, he remained optimistic about maintaining steady relations and urged all stakeholders to focus on the long-term benefits of cooperation.

We must remember that our people deserve stability and progress, and we remain fully committed to those objectives. The need for strong, enduring kingdom relations does not diminish during political transitions, Mercelina stated.

He further assured Sint Maartens citizens that his government will continue to prioritize critical issues, including disaster recovery, good governance, and sustainable financing, regardless of uncertainties in The Hague. Our commitment is clearto represent the best interests of the people of Sint Maarten both within our borders and across the kingdom, he added.

Regional Implications and Broader Perspective

The political turbulence in the Netherlands also raises broader questions about the kingdom-level governance and collaboration between its partners. It is particularly significant for Caribbean countries such as Sint Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba, which often rely on stability in the Netherlands for coordinated policy-making and financial support.

Marcelinas proactive communication with key Dutch officials, including updates on political changes and discussions about governance, reflects his commitment to protecting Sint Maartens position within the kingdom.

We will maintain open channels of dialogue and continue working towards solutions that uplift our people while fostering a sense of partnership across the kingdom, he stated confidently.

Looking Ahead

With the caretaker government set to guide the Netherlands through its transitional phase, Sint Maarten remains vigilant and determined to build on its own path of resilience and progress. Prime Minister Marcelinas balanced approach underscores a forward-looking strategy that emphasizes stability, collaboration, and national development, ensuring that Sint Maartens interests are safeguarded both today and in the future.
CURACAO/PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina emphasized the urgent need for Caribbean nations to collaborate on climate change and energy challenges at the Caribbean Climate and Energy Conference 2025. The event, hosted by Curacao in partnership with the Netherlands' Ministry of Economic Affairs, Climate Policy, and Green Growth, signaled a pivotal moment for the region to take collective action on sustainability.

"This high-level conference is a call to action, mobilizing knowledge, funding, and collaboration to safeguard our islands and strengthen the Caribbean's voice on the global climate agenda," Mercelina stated in his address.

Regional Collaboration and Key Discussions

During the conference, Mercelina held productive meetings with the Prime Ministers of Curacao and Aruba, Gelmar Pisas and Mike Amann, respectively, to discuss shared priorities, including disaster preparedness, regional cooperation, and the development of a sustainable economy. Mercelina highlighted the importance of unity and the role of regional partnerships in addressing the unique challenges faced by Caribbean nations.

"The discussions with Prime Minister Pisas and Prime Minister Amann were invaluable in aligning strategies for sustainable economic growth and disaster resilience. Working together strengthens our capacity to tackle the challenges posed by climate change," Mercelina remarked.

Alongside regional leaders, the Prime Minister also explored avenues for advancing renewable energy solutions in Sint Maarten, drawing from best practices discussed at the conference. These initiatives aim to mitigate energy costs for citizens while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Highlighting the Importance of Climate Action

Mercelina underscored that climate change remains an existential threat to low-lying island nations like Sint Maarten. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation demand immediate action. He called for "fostering resilience through smart investments and policy reforms" to build a sustainable future for the island.

"Our participation in this conference reinforces Sint Maarten's commitment to the Paris Agreement and the global climate agenda. We must prioritize decarbonization and sustainable development for the well-being of our people and our natural resources," he said.

Outlook for Sustainable Energy and Financing

Throughout the conference, panel discussions emphasized the significance of green financing platforms in supporting climate initiatives in small island states. Mercelina indicated that Sint Maarten would advocate for greater access to these resources to ensure that long-term sustainability projects can be executed effectively.

"We must mobilize funding and technical expertise to implement renewable energy solutions that lessen the burden on our economy and people. It is not only a matter of economics but also social and environmental survival," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister concluded his engagement by emphasizing that Sint Maarten will maintain active engagement with regional and global stakeholders, ensuring that the Caribbean remains a part of the broader solution to combating climate change.

By uniting regional efforts and prioritizing inclusive, green growth, Sint Maarten aims to lead by example, securing a livable and sustainable environment for future generations.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation, and Communication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, provided long-awaited updates on the Philipsburg Marketplace project during Wednesday's Council of Ministers press briefing. Addressing delays and vendors financial concerns, the Minister reaffirmed her commitment to transparency, progress, and finding solutions to aid those impacted by the projects setbacks.

Technical Challenges and Delays

The Philipsburg Marketplace project, aimed at revitalizing the heart of the capital, has faced several unforeseen delays. According to Minister Heyliger-Marten, the soil testing required before construction, originally scheduled for January 2025, was delayed due to equipment shortages, breakdowns, and scheduling conflicts. The testing was finally completed in March, but the results prompted additional coordination between the Department of New Works and contract developers.

These unexpected challenges have made it difficult to maintain the original timeline, but I want to assure everyone that all issues are being addressed with urgency, the Minister explained.

Additional delays emerged following discussions with representatives from the Royal Caribbean Group during Minister Heyliger-Martens visit to the FCCA in April. The cruise line raised concerns about the projects design, a key stakeholder in the marketplace. The Minister confirmed that the concerns have since been resolved, clearing the path for the project to move forward.

Royal Caribbean has reaffirmed its support for this project, and we are now awaiting further updates with all involved parties fully aligned, she added.

Meeting with Vendors

Recognizing the frustrations of marketplace vendors, Minister Heyliger-Marten and Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr., Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI), recently convened a meeting with vendors to provide a candid update on the project.

I felt it was my duty to stand before the vendors, not with excuses, but with the truth, the Minister stated. I understand their frustration and financial struggles, and I remain committed to full transparency.

During the meeting, vendors expressed concerns about the financial implications of their temporary relocation, including decreased foot traffic that has significantly impacted earnings. Several vendors reported that they have been struggling to meet basic household and utility expenses.

Addressing Financial Challenges

Minister Heyliger-Marten outlined the steps taken to alleviate vendors financial burdens, including the exploration of fee waivers. However, these efforts were limited by legal challenges based on existing ordinances.

We initially sought to waive vendors fees, but advice from the Ministry of Finance confirmed that it is not legally permissible, the Minister explained.

Despite this limitation, Minister Heyliger-Marten assured vendors that alternative avenues for relief are being evaluated. She has requested representatives to compile a list of vendors who are most affected, particularly those facing economic hardship or tax compliance issues.

This list will allow us to explore potential support mechanisms, such as payment plans or structured relief options, she said.

The Minister also noted her intention to advocate on the vendors behalf with GEBE, the islands utility provider, to explore possible support measures.

Commitment to Progress and Accountability

Minister Heyliger-Marten emphasized her dedication to advancing the Philipsburg Marketplace project while remaining accountable to vendors and the public. Increased communication and updates will be provided to vendors via a re-established WhatsApp chat, along with regular check-ins throughout June.

As Minister, I hold a deep sense of responsibility to see this project through, not just for its benefits to Philipsburg but for the vendors themselves, she affirmed. She also highlighted the importance of collective responsibility within the Council of Ministers in addressing challenges and maintaining progress without shifting blame.

Looking Forward

The Philipsburg Marketplace project represents a significant investment in revitalizing the capital and promoting local businesses. While delays have hindered immediate progress, active measures are being taken to resolve the challenges and ensure the vendors voices remain central to the process.

Our vendors are the backbone of the Philipsburg Marketplace. They embody the spirit of our community, and I remain committed to supporting them as we move forward, Minister Heyliger-Marten stated in closing.

The updates provide hope for a resolution that ensures the project benefits both the residents and the vendors who rely on its success. With transparent leadership and continued dialogue, progress in Philipsburg appears to be on the horizon.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice shares the latest updates on the recovery and stabilization efforts underway at Point Blanche Prison following the incident of May 14, 2025. These efforts continue to prioritize the safety, functionality, and dignity of inmates while progressively restoring essential services.

Fire Safety and Oversight

To ensure short-term and long-term safety, the crisis management team brought a fire safety specialist to assess current conditions and provide expert guidance on fire prevention measures, including smoke and heat detection systems. In addition, two members of the Law Enforcement Council visited the facility. They toured the affected area as part of continued institutional oversight to ensure that recovery actions are appropriate and effective.

Security Systems and Infrastructure

The prison maintenance team inspected all door locks and repaired the necessary ones to ensure full functionality. To further strengthen internal security protocols, ten prison officers received specialized training in operating the scanning machine located at the facility's entrance. Inmates are actively contributing to the recovery process, with scraping work progressing on schedule and painting set to begin later this week. Their involvement supports timely repairs and offers purposeful engagement as rehabilitation programs are being reintroduced.

Staffing Support

Two guards from Aruba have completed their assignments and returned home, while three others from Aruba and two from Curacao remain on-site to continue supporting operations. Meanwhile, the Marines and the KPSM personnel remain actively deployed at the facility to ensure ongoing operational stability.

Inmate Rights & Privileges

All inmates continue to have daily access to outdoor areas, and those wishing to exercise this right have done so without restriction. While recreational activities were temporarily suspended at the onset of the emergency, a religious service was held over the weekend. Additional activities will begin this week, including gym sessions, music classes, and sewing workshops. The Probation Services has confirmed that a broader range of rehabilitation activities will be made available in the coming weeks. This week, the department head is expected to visit the facility to assess where programming can be most effectively implemented. Due to space limitations following the incident, in-person visits remain temporarily suspended as part of emergency protocols. In response, the prison administration has implemented a telephone call schedule to ensure detainees can stay in contact with their families. This measure was launched last week and will be gradually expanded to ensure all inmates who wish to communicate can do so until in-person visits are safely reinstated. In accordance with Article 32 of the Prison Regulation ('Gevangenismaatregel), inmates' rights and privileges are reviewed every 72 hours, and decisions are made based on the current situation in the facility, progress on the recovery work, and overall stability and safety.

Health Monitoring

The crisis management team has carefully reviewed the most recent health inspection report and taken into account the recommendations, including scheduling further inspections once the recovery efforts are complete. To ensure consistent oversight of hygiene and health conditions in the facility, the team is developing a fixed inspection schedule. The Ministry of Justice strongly urges the public and the media to rely solely on official communications issued by the Ministry. The spread of unverified information can jeopardize emergency operations and erode public trust, particularly during times of crisis. Transparency is a core responsibility, and the Ministry remains fully committed to providing timely, accurate, and verified updates as recovery efforts at Point Blanche Prison continue.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation, and Communication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has shared significant updates following Sint Maarten's strategic participation in three major regional events aimed at advancing sustainability, food security, and economic resilience. These included the Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishery Association Conference (DCALFA) in Bonaire, the Caribbean Energy Conference in Curacao, and Agroalimentaria 2025 in the Dominican Republic.

Through these collaborative engagements, the Minister reaffirmed her commitment to securing a more sustainable and self-sufficient future for St Maarten and the Dutch Caribbean.

DCALFA Conference Strengthens Regional Cooperation

From May 19th to May 23rd, 2026, a six-member delegation from St Maarten participated in the second Dutch Caribbean Agriculture Livestock Fishery Association (DCALFA) Conference held in Bonaire. This regional gathering brought representatives from the six Dutch Caribbean islands together to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and build stronger ties within the primary sectors.

The delegation from Sint Maarten included two senior policy advisors, Mrs. Avril Isaac and Mr. Sherwin Frederick, along with Mr. Mervyn Butcher of the Inspectorate to the Ministry of TEATT. Joining them were three esteemed members of the local agriculture and fishery sector  Farmer Mr. Josiah Harley, Farmer Mr. Oliver Williams, and Fisherman Mr. Lee Lake.

I am proud to share that the participation of our farmers and fishermen was made possible through the support of the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery and Nature, as well as the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Heyliger-Marten stated. Their inclusion ensured that the voices of our frontline contributors were well-represented.

Highlights of the conference included interactive workshops, site visits to innovative agricultural projects, and high-level policy discussions on food security. Looking ahead, Minister Heyliger-Marten announced that the next DCALFA conference in 2026 will be hosted in St Maarten.

This is yet another sign of our growing leadership in the regions efforts to build sustainable food systems and achieve resilience in primary sectors, the Minister added.

Caribbean Energy Conference Explores Sustainability Solutions

During the Caribbean Energy Conference in Curacao, Minister Heyliger-Marten served as the sole government minister on a regional panel addressing critical issues of food and water security. These challenges are shared across the Caribbean, particularly for small island developing states like St Maarten, which are vulnerable to climate change.

I engaged in meaningful conversations around circular economies, renewable energy, and inclusive development, all of which directly inform our policy direction in Sint Maarten, she shared.

Alongside the conference, Minister Heyliger-Marten conducted a work visit to the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature in Curacao. Practical insights were gained through site visits to local agricultural and fisheries operations, including a government-supported goat and sheep farm called Nuestra Familia and a poultry farm that showcased scalable production practices.

The Minister also toured Fresco de Curacao, an aquaponic facility, and visited the Marine Department, which coordinates the use of Fishing Aggregating Devices (FADs) to support local fisheries.

These practical examples from Curacao open exciting possibilities for adopting similar models here in Sint Maarten. We are now exploring a partnership with Curacao, specifically to enhance our fishery sector, she reported, promising more updates on this initiative in the coming months.

Agroalimentaria 2025 Fuels Trade Development Opportunities

Minister Heyliger-Marten rounded off her regional engagements with a visit to Agroalimentaria 2025, held in the Dominican Republic, leading a delegation from St Maarten that included representatives from Parliament, the Social Economic Council (SER), the Chamber of Commerce, and the private sector.

The mission focused on exploring new trade opportunities, identifying cost-effective supply chain solutions, and fostering regional partnerships to bolster food security. The Ministers discussions with shipping companies, major retailers, and Agri-tech firms highlighted the potential for expanding Sint Maartens access to innovative farming models, including containerized farming operations that are well-suited for the islands unique environment.

An encouraging takeaway from the mission was the delegation's discussions with one of the Dominican Republics largest supermarket chains, Serena, following a visit.

This has already led to a promising follow-up meeting with the companys owner, the Minister revealed. We are optimistic about opportunities that will soon benefit St Maarten, paving the way for cost reductions in imports and a stronger local food supply chain.

Commitment to a Resilient Future

These three regional missions collectively underscore Minister Heyliger-Martens strategic focus on sustainability and economic resilience. By fostering collaborations with neighboring islands and institutions, Sint Maarten is positioning itself as an active leader in addressing global and regional challenges.

These engagements reaffirm the value of targeted regional cooperation, the Minister concluded. Together, we are building a resilient food system, empowering our farmers and fishers, and securing a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

Through her leadership, St Maarten is poised to benefit from innovative practices, strengthened partnerships, and tailored solutions that will enhance both the islands self-sufficiency and its role within the broader Dutch Caribbean region.
PHILIPSBURG:--- During a recent press briefing, the Prime Minister of St Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, shared crucial details about a 33.46 million allocation from the Dutch government, part of a broader 150 million fund earmarked to promote sustainable energy across the six Dutch Caribbean islands. The funds, intended to address energy challenges in the region, were announced in alignment with discussions held at the recent Caribbean Energy Conference in Curacao, where energy sustainability was a prominent feature.

Allocation and Process for Accessing Funds

Of the 150 million allocated to the Dutch Caribbean, 33.46 million has been explicitly designated for St Maarten. The Prime Minister confirmed the figures during the briefing, expressing optimism about the potential impact of the funding on the islands energy landscape.

I became very happy for the people of my country, the Prime Minister stated, recounting her conversation with Sophie Hermans, the Dutch Minister responsible for the fund. Directly after that session, in the coffee break, I went to Mrs. Sophie Hermans and told her, You have to explain to me now how Im going to get my part for my people of St Maarten.

The Prime Minister explained that a formal request would be directed to Minister Hermans in the coming days to initiate the process of securing the allocation. She affirmed that the funds would fall under her ministrys oversight until definitive plans and procedures are clarified.

A Path Toward Net Metering and Renewable Solutions

While discussing the funding, the Prime Minister hinted at the possibility that it could contribute towards a net metering policy. This system would allow residents to generate their renewable energy and potentially sell excess power back to the grid. Although no formal announcements were made, the Prime Ministers remarks underscored the governments focus on exploring innovative solutions to address the islands energy demands.

Commitment to Hurricane Preparedness

Shifting focus to the upcoming hurricane season, the Prime Minister updated the public on preparations underway, including a meeting with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to review the protocols for hurricane passes.

When asked about adjustments to the current hurricane pass system, she confirmed that the existing process would largely remain in place. The Prime Minister emphasized that such measures form part of the broader strategy to ensure community preparedness during hurricane season.

We are entering hurricane season, and our focus must remain on preparation and protection, she said, urging residents to stay vigilant.

Roof Repairs and Property Insurance for Homeowners

Addressing concerns about roof repairs and property insurance, the Prime Minister acknowledged the investments made in roof repairs during the current recovery program. These efforts primarily benefited homeowners who lacked insurance. She emphasized the importance of adopting a proactive approach to avoid relying on government aid in the future.

The roof repairs were really for homeowners who didnt have insurance or a mortgage, the Prime Minister explained. Moving forward, we are looking into ways to assist homeowners in managing their costs for insuring their properties.

The Prime Minister also hinted at plans to establish a fund to support roof repairs in emergencies, ensuring that households are better equipped to recover from future storms.

Looking Ahead

With 33.46 million in sustainable energy funding on the horizon and ongoing efforts to improve hurricane preparedness, the government of Sint Maarten remains steadfast in its commitment to resilience and progress.

The Prime Minister's proactive engagement during the Caribbean Energy Conference and her dedication to advocating for her constituents reflect the administration's determination to weather both economic and environmental challenges. The public awaits further updates on how the energy funds will be utilized as the government continues to prioritize innovative solutions, preparedness, and long-term sustainability for the people of St Maarten.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan is at a pivotal moment that demands both focused attention and decisive action regarding its energy production and grid infrastructure, said Samir Akhundov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of the Energy Regulatory Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AERA), Trend reports.

In his speech at the session on "Electricity Generation and Grid Infrastructure Development: Powering Tomorrows World" at the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum, Akhundov noted that the country must reconsider not only how energy is generated but also how it is delivered, as rising global demand challenges existing systems. The future of global energy supply will depend on commitments to decarbonization, innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.

Akhundov noted that Azerbaijans current installed energy capacity exceeds eight gigawatts, with most of the output coming from conventional, gas-fired thermal power plants

"Currently, the bulk of Azerbaijans energy production comes from conventional gas-fired thermal power plants. However, this is set to change rapidly. In the coming years, more than thirty percent of newly installed capacity will come from renewable sources. And this is only the beginning. Azerbaijan possesses vast renewable energy potential, with technical capacity estimated at 135 gigawatts onshore and 157 gigawatts offshore. The countrys economic potential is also substantial, with twenty-seven gigawatts onshore and thirty-eight gigawatts offshore.

To unlock this potential, several major projects are already underway, and steady, large-scale growth in the sector is anticipated in the years ahead," he said.

The Chairman highlighted that the global renewable energy sector reached a significant milestone in 2024, with over 90 percent of all newly added capacity coming from renewable sources. He emphasized that this shift reflects a powerful global trend:

I want to underscore that the majority of new capacity added last yearmore than 90 percentwas from renewable energy. This is not only impressive but also a promising indicator of the ongoing global transformation.

Azerbaijan, with its substantial renewable energy potential, is poised to follow a similar trajectory. Future increases in generation capacity are expected to come predominantly from renewable sources, eventually surpassing traditional energy generation.

However, the Chairman stressed that the success of this transition depends heavily on the strength and resilience of the national electricity grid. A robust and reliable transmission infrastructure is essential for integrating large volumes of renewable energy into the system," he added.

Akhundov emphasized that the transmission network in Azerbaijan is owned and operated by a state energy enterprise, which is also responsible for electricity generation and dispatch:

The transmission network includes lines ranging from 110 kV to 500 kV. Lines below 110 kV are managed by another state-owned enterprise, Azerishig OJSC.

Azerbaijan also maintains electricity connections with its neighboring countries  Russia and Georgia to the north, Turkiye to the west, and Iran to the south. Currently, the national grid operates without congestion or resource shortages. However, studies conducted by international consulting firms indicate that strengthening the network is essential to accommodate the large-scale integration of renewable energy.

To address this need, several projects are underway to construct new substations and transmission lines, expand existing infrastructure, and develop battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Solar and wind energy are inherently variable, meaning their output is not constant. Battery systems play a crucial role in integrating these sources into the grid. They ensure stability by reducing peak-hour loads, regulating frequency, and minimizing energy losses. This is particularly important under the power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed with foreign investors. While the contracts allow for a limited number of power outages, exceeding this threshold triggers compensation obligations for unused energy. Battery systems help mitigate these risks by storing excess electricity.

If frequency is lost, the grid can collapse, potentially leading to a total power outage  a blackout. For this reason, the creation of battery storage systems is the top priority before integrating the planned 2 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2027. The first battery project, with a capacity of 250 megawatts, has already been launched and is currently in progress," Akhundov concluded.

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Commentary

By Jake Fuss and Austin Thompson

In a recent media scrum, the Carney governments new federal housing minister, Gregor Robertsonformer mayor of Vancouverwas asked: Should home prices go down? His response: No, I think that we need to deliver more supplies, make sure the market is stable. We need to be delivering more affordable housing.

Robertsons response raises a follow-up question: What does the Carney government mean when it promises affordable housing?

Rising house prices are nothing new. The sticker price for the average Canadian home has increased in most years, barring periods such as the 200809 Global Financial Crisis. And house prices arent expected to fall anytime soon; forecasts point to continued house price growth. But for homebuyers, the key issue isnt that prices are increasing; it's whether theyre rising faster than incomes. By that measure, housing in Canada has become much less affordable in recent years.

Consider Minister Robertsons tenure as Vancouver mayor from 2008 to 2018. During that time, the price of a typical single- or semi-detached Vancouver home grew from $690,000 to $1,980,000a 187 per cent increase. Meanwhile, the after-tax income of a typical Vancouver family rose by just 15 per cent. Today, the typical single- or semi-detached home in Vancouver costs $ 2.38 million. Vancouvers housing market is somewhat unique, but strong price increases reflect a broader national trend: home prices have risen dramatically even as income growth has stagnated, largely because housing demand, driven by immigration-fuelled population growth, continues to exceed new housing construction far.

Which takes us back to the question of affordability. Housing can become more affordable even as home prices rise, so long as the after-tax incomes of Canadians grow even faster. This has happened beforeafter-tax wage growth exceeded house price increases in the late 1980s, for example. Unfortunately, this seems unlikely to happen in the 2020s.

While house prices have soared, wage growth in Canada has stagnated. Consequently, in 2022 (the latest year of available comparable data), the typical worker in AlbertaCanadas highest-wage provinceearned less than the typical worker in low-wage U.S. states such as Mississippi and West Virginia. From 2014 to 2024, Canadas GDP per person, an indicator of incomes and living standards, grew by a mere 2.0 percent compared to 19.6 percent in the United States.

In a recent analysis, economist Mike Moffatt estimated that, if Canadian wages grow at the average rate seen over the past two decadesand if home prices remain stableit would still take 20 years for Canada to achieve housing affordability levels of 2005. And of course, much could go wrongif wage-growth estimates fall short, mortgage rates rise, or house prices rise, then that slow march towards housing affordability may never end for many Canadians, including young people looking to start a family.

In other words, reality remains at odds with the Carney governments ambitious rhetoric about delivering so-called affordable homes.

Again, the government wants to double the rate of homebuilding in Canada in a decade. Is that possible? Currently, Canada lacks the required savings and investment to fund that level of building. And due to tepid growth of our construction workforce, we currently do not have the manpower to build twice as many homes. And as always, local opposition to rapid housing development in certain neighbourhoods and public lands may also prove hard to overcome.

But even if somehow Canada was able to marshal the resources and political capital required for such a feat, according to Minister Robertson, the end result would only be to make sure the market is stable. Stable, based on todays prices, means unaffordable for many Canadians unless incomes rise. Clearly, housing supply is only half the battle. To achieve housing affordability on any reasonable timeline, the government must not only help facilitate a major expansion in homebuilding but also substantial growth in Canadian incomessomething the Trudeau government failed to do.

The key is investment, which is required to expand the housing supply, grow Canada's economy and boost wages. In a capital-scarce economy such as Canadas, these goals may compete with one another. So governments in Canada, including the Carney government, must adopt policies that attract investment, such as streamlining regulation and reforming capital gains taxes. And crucially, rising incomes will only translate into improved affordability if Canadians can keep more of what they earn, which will be difficult given that anticipated increases in federal spending will ultimately result in a higher tax burden. Ottawa must also craft immigration and residency policies so population growth doesnt continue to overwhelm the housing supply and further increase prices.

Canadians should think about housing affordability not just in terms of housing supply but as part of a broader economic challengeone that also depends on growing the economy, increasing savings and investment, and limiting how much governments take in taxes. Only a comprehensive strategy, centred on broad-based growth, will make the dream of homeownership a reality for generations of Canadians.

Jake Fuss is Director of Fiscal Studies for the Fraser Institute. Austin Thompson is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Fraser Institutes Centre for Municipal Studies.
US labor unions fight to contain AI disruption



New York, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



As artificial intelligence threatens to upend entire sectors of the economy, American labor unions are scrambling to protect workers, demand corporate transparency, and rally political support-an uphill battle in a rapidly changing world.

"As laborers, the ability to withhold our labor is one of our only tools to improve our lives," explained Aaron Novik, a key organizer with Amazon's ALU union.

"What happens when that disappears (to AI)? It's a real existential issue," he added.

Automation has already transformed most industries since the 1960s, typically reducing workforce numbers in the process.

But the emergence of advanced "physical AI" promises a new generation of intelligent robots that won't be limited to repetitive tasks -- potentially displacing far more blue-collar workers than ever before.

The threat extends beyond manufacturing.

The CEO of Anthropic, which created Claude as a competitor to ChatGPT, warned last week that generative AI could eliminate half of all low-skilled white-collar jobs, potentially driving unemployment rates up to 10-20 percent.

"The potential displacement of workers and elimination of jobs is a significant concern not just for our members, but for the public in general," said Peter Finn of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, America's largest union.



- Vetoes -



The Teamsters have focused their efforts on passing legislation limiting the spread of automation, but face significant political obstacles.

California's governor has twice vetoed bills that would ban autonomous trucks from public roads, despite intense lobbying from the state's hundreds of thousands of union members.

Colorado's governor followed suit last week, and similar battles are playing out in Indiana, Maryland, and other states.

At the federal level, the landscape shifted dramatically with the change in the White House.

Under former president Joe Biden, the Department of Labor issued guidelines encouraging companies to be transparent about AI use, involve workers in strategic decisions, and support employees whose jobs face elimination.

But US President Donald Trump canceled the protections within hours of taking office in January.

"Now it's clear. They want to fully open up AI without the safeguards that are necessary to ensure workers' rights and protections at work," said HeeWon Brindle-Khym of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents workers in the retail sector.



- Rush to AI -



Meanwhile, companies are racing to implement AI technologies, often with poor results.

"By fear of missing out on innovations, there's been a real push (to release AI products)," observed Dan Reynolds of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

The CWA has taken a proactive approach, publishing a comprehensive guide for members that urges negotiators to include AI provisions in all collective bargaining agreements.

The union is also developing educational toolkits to help workers understand and negotiate around AI implementation.

A handful of unions have successfully negotiated AI protections into their contracts.

Notable examples include agreements with media company Ziff Davis (which owns Mashable) and video game publisher ZeniMax Studios, a Microsoft subsidiary.

The most significant victories belong to two powerful unions: the International Longshoremen's Association, representing dock workers, secured a moratorium on full automation of certain port operations, while the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) won guarantees that actors must be consulted and compensated whenever their AI likeness is created.

These successes remain exceptional, however.

The American labor movement, as a whole, lacks the bargaining power enjoyed by those highly strategic or publicly visible sectors, said Brindle-Khym.

"Smaller contract-by-contract improvements are a long, slow process," she added.

Despite frequent accusations by corporate interests, the unions' goal isn't to halt technological progress entirely.

"Workers are usually not seeking to stop the march of technology," noted Virginia Doellgast, a Cornell University professor specializing in labor relations.

"They just want to have some control."

As AI continues its rapid advance, the question remains whether unions can adapt quickly enough to protect workers in an economy increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov met with the Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) of Pakistan, Ali Pervaiz Malik, a source in the Ministry of Economy told Trend.

The meeting emphasized that the friendly and brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are developing successfully based on the political will of the heads of state.

The expansion of partnership between the two countries in the areas of industry, trade, and logistics was pointed out.

Meanwhile, it was noted that the events held regularly with the participation of representatives of the private sector contribute to the establishment and strengthening of mutually beneficial relations between business circles.

The parties exchanged views on the diversification of economic cooperation, global projects implemented in the energy sector, and opportunities for cooperation in green energy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Pentagon chief orders renaming of ship named for gay icon: reports



Washington, June 3 (AFP) Jun 03, 2025



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the renaming of a US Navy ship named after a gay icon, the assassinated former San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, a military affairs website reported Tuesday.

Military.com said it had reviewed a memo from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy that said the move was in line with Hegseth's purported goal of "reestablishing a warrior culture" in the US armed forces.

Military.com quoted an unidentified defense official as saying that Navy Secretary John Phelan had been ordered by Hegseth to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, and the timing of the upcoming announcement -- during LGBTQ WorldPride month -- was intentional.

CBS News said the navy is considering re-titling several other ships including two named after former US Supreme Court justices -- Thurgood Marshall, the first Black member of the top court, and liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Responding to the reports, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said "any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete."

"Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all (Department of Defense) installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos," Parnell said in a statement.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, condemned the reported move to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, calling it "a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream."

"Harvey Milk proudly served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was a formidable force for change -- not just in California, but in our Country," the California congresswoman said in a statement.

"This spiteful move... is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country."

Milk served as a US Navy diver at a time when there was a ban on homosexuality in the military.

One of the first openly gay politicians in America, Milk was elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, where he was instrumental in passing laws banning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Months later, in 1978, Milk was shot dead along with mayor George Moscone, by a disgruntled former city supervisor.

Milk's murder helped cement his reputation as a civil rights icon, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The USNS Harvey Milk, a 227-metre (744-foot) refueling vessel, was christened at a ceremony in 2021 attended by then-secretary of the navy Carlos Del Toro.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has moved to ban transgender troops from the military and to dismantle diversity programs, claiming they "undermine leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, thereby eroding lethality and force readiness."
NATO wrestles over how to handle Ukraine at Trump summit



Brussels, Belgium, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



How to have Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at NATO's Hague summit and avoid a bust-up with US President Donald Trump? What to say on Kyiv's desire to join their alliance?

With NATO appearing on track to seal a deal on ramping up defence spending, another thorny issue now threatens to overshadow the gathering in three weeks: what to do about Ukraine?

When they met in Washington a year ago, NATO's leaders feted Zelensky, pledged more military hardware and vowed Kyiv was on an "irreversible path" for membership in their alliance.

That was before Trump's return to the White House ripped up Washington's support for Ukraine and upended the West's approach to Russia's three-year war.

Since he regained the US presidency, Trump had a dramatic Oval Office falling out with Zelensky, opened the door to warmer ties with Moscow and forced both sides to the negotiating table.

Kyiv's European backers have pushed to invite Zelensky to the June 24-25 meeting in the Netherlands to show NATO still stands strongly behind Ukraine.

But the United States has been reluctant even to have Zelensky there and the reality is Trump has already blown a huge hole in Western backing for Kyiv.

The Ukrainian leader said this week he'd received an invite from NATO chief Mark Rutte for Kyiv to be there in some form.

"We can confirm that Ukraine will be with us in The Hague," a NATO official told AFP.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Zelensky could come for a dinner hosted by the Dutch king for NATO leaders, but that there likely wouldn't be formal talks between Ukraine and the alliance.

"It will be a PR disaster if he's not there," a European diplomat said, speaking as others on condition of anonymity.



- Uncertainty over peace talks -



How Zelensky may be received in The Hague looks set to depend heavily on the progress, if any, of fraught talks with Russia over the next few weeks.

So far two rounds of meetings between the warring sides in Istanbul have produced few results.

Trump appears to be getting increasingly annoyed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for dragging his feet on a ceasefire.

But the US leader still hasn't responded with sanctions against Moscow and has equally expressed his displeasure with Zelensky's outspokenness.

Rutte has insisted that Ukraine remains a "priority" issue at the summit.

Diplomats, however, say that the overwhelming focus is on striking an agreement on spending that satisfies Trump's demands to spend five percent of GDP on defence -- and keeps the United States on board at NATO.

Multiple officials say the alliance looks set to reach a compromise put forward by Rutte of 3.5 percent of GDP on core defence, and 1.5 percent on broader spending such as infrastructure.

"Defence spending is the most important part and no one wants to jeopardise that," a second diplomat said.



- Silence is golden? -



One area where there doesn't seem much uncertainty is that NATO will steer clear of its previous strong statements that Ukraine is on course to join the alliance.

Trump has repeatedly poured cold water on Ukraine's ambition to become a member and even blamed Kyiv's bid to join for provoking Russia's war.

NATO is aiming to keep a final declaration from the summit short and avoid mention of Ukraine's possible membership to not open up any fissures.

"There will be nothing on that," said a third diplomat, at NATO. "My expectation is we will be absolutely silent."

There also looks set to be no joint statement on military support from the alliance's 32 countries as Trump has hit the brakes on assistance.

In a sign of how far the US has moved, officials said US defence secretary Pete Hegseth won't attend a meeting of NATO backers in Brussels on Wednesday.

He will however jet in for a meeting of NATO defence ministers on Thursday.
Philippines signs deal for 12 fighter jets: S. Korea manufacturer



Manila, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



The Philippines has signed a contract for 12 more FA-50 fighter jets, its South Korean manufacturer said Wednesday, three months after one of the planes crashed during a mission against communist rebels.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) valued the deal with the Department of National Defense at $700 million, with delivery of the jets to be completed by 2030.

The Philippines, which has yet to confirm the pact, previously purchased a dozen of the light warplanes in 2014.

In a statement, the South Korean firm said the fighter jets would feature enhanced capabilities including "aerial refueling for extended range, (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons systems".

One of the Philippines' original fleet of FA-50s went missing on March 4 while on a mission to provide air support for troops fighting guerrillas in a mountainous area of the southern island of Mindanao.

Rescuers found the wreckage of the plane and the bodies of two crewmen a day later.

After temporarily grounding the fleet, the Philippine Air Force ruled out any mechanical problems with the aircraft.

Air Force spokeswoman Maria Consuelo Castillo told a press conference in April that a confluence of factors had contributed to the crash, including mountainous terrain and visibility issues.

Castillo said in March that the purchase of additional FA-50s was under consideration by the defence department.
Iran's Khamenei says US nuclear proposal against national interest



Tehran, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday a US proposal for a nuclear agreement was against the national interest, amid sharp differences over whether Tehran can continue to enrich uranium.

The longtime foes have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new accord to replace the deal with major powers that US President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.

On Saturday, Iran said it had received "elements" of the US proposal through Omani mediators, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed.

"The proposal presented by the Americans is 100 percent against" the ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Khamenei said in a televised speech.

"Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America."

Iran's enrichment of uranium has emerged as a major point of contention.

Trump said on Monday his administration would not allow "any" enrichment, despite Tehran's insistence it is its right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Khamenei said enrichment is "key" to Iran's nuclear programme and that the United States "cannot have a say" on the issue.

"If we have 100 nuclear power plants but don't have enrichment, they will be of no use to us," because "nuclear power plants need fuel" to operate, he said.

"If we cannot produce this fuel domestically, we have to reach out to the United States, which may have dozens of conditions."

The New York Times reported Tuesday that the US proposal includes "an arrangement that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium at low levels" as the US and other countries "work out a more detailed plan intended to block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon".

It said the proposal would see the United States facilitating "the building of nuclear power plants for Iran and negotiate the construction of enrichment facilities managed by a consortium of regional countries".

Iran has previously said it is open to temporary limits on its enrichment of uranium, and is willing to consider the establishment of a regional nuclear fuel consortium.

But it has stressed that such a consortium is "in no way intended to replace Iran's own uranium enrichment programme".



- 'Less than satisfactory' -



On Monday, Iran's lead negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, held talks in Cairo with Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In its latest quarterly report last week, the IAEA said Iran had further stepped up its production of highly enriched uranium.

In a separate report, it also criticised "less than satisfactory" cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.

The reports came ahead of a planned IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna later this month which will review Iran's nuclear activities.

Washington and other Western governments have continued to accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes only.

The 2015 deal provided Iran with relief from international sanctions in return for UN-monitored restrictions on its nuclear activities.

Trump reimposed US sanctions when he quit the agreement in 2018 and has since tightened them with secondary sanctions against third parties who violate them.

Britain, France and Germany, the three European countries who were party to the 2015 deal, are currently weighing whether to trigger the sanctions "snapback" mechanism in the accord.

The mechanism would reinstate UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance -- an option that expires in October.

Iran has criticised the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying it relied on "forged documents" provided by its arch foe Israel.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. From June 10 to 12, Uzbekistan will once again take center stage for international investors as its capital hosts the 4th Tashkent International Investment Forum.

This event has become a key platform for discussing investment opportunities and economic cooperation, not just in the region but beyond. This years forum is especially significant as Uzbekistan continues to establish itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia.

Uzbekistans Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov highlighted that over the past seven years, the country has carried out extensive reforms that have greatly improved conditions for businesses and foreign investors. As a result, Uzbekistan has attracted over $90 billion in foreign investment - an impressive figure for the region. Last year, the economy grew by 6%, confirming the effectiveness of these reforms.

The 'Uzbekistan-2030' strategy is an ambitious plan to turn the country into a regional economic leader with a GDP of $200 billion. Foreign investment plays a crucial role in this vision, and the Tashkent Investment Forum serves as the main platform for dialogue between the government and business. At the previous forum, agreements worth a record $26.6 billion were signed, demonstrating its importance.

Since 2022, total signed investment agreements have exceeded $44 billion, with most projects either completed or underway. The most active investors come from Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, the UAE, and Turkiye - countries bringing a variety of experience and technologies that complement one another.

Uzbekistan is not only opening its doors but inviting investors to take part in major projects across machinery manufacturing, automotive, energy, fintech, and even artificial intelligence. A highlight of this years forum will be the first-ever investment exhibition, where large companies will showcase their projects and local businesses will present their capabilities to an international audience.

Special attention is given to cooperation with Azerbaijan, a standout example of successful regional partnership. Over the past year, the number of joint ventures has increased fivefold, with over 500 Azerbaijani-capital companies registered in Uzbekistan. Baku and Tashkent are also working together on green energy and transport logistics projects, which could open new export opportunities and boost integration with European markets.

In 2023, the two countries created a $500 million investment fund, and during the recent visit of Uzbekistans President to Azerbaijan, both sides agreed to significantly increase its capital. Energy cooperation is a key focus - SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz have established a joint venture for gas trading, and talks on deeper integration in oil and gas projects are in the final stages.

International financial institutions also play a vital role in Uzbekistans investment landscape, acting not just as financiers but as strategic partners in the countrys modernization and sustainable development.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is one of the largest investors in Uzbekistans economy. Since cooperation began, the bank has invested over 5 billion euros in 177 projects. According to the EBRD, Uzbekistans economy grew by 6.5% in 2024, largely driven by a record 27.6% increase in investments. This shows how international financial support is effectively helping develop key sectors and improve the business environment.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is another major partner and the leading financier in Central Asia by volume and project number. It has funded 462 projects totaling more than $8.39 billion. Uzbekistan leads with 168 projects, of which 73 are complete and 95 ongoing. The total IsDB financing in Uzbekistan is nearly $4 billion - almost half of the banks regional commitments - reflecting the countrys strong investment potential and trust.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is also actively involved in building energy infrastructure. Key projects include gas power plants, with a major $100 million project involving Saudi company ACWA Power. While renewable energy is growing, AIIB views gas projects as an important transitional step from coal to cleaner energy.

A major milestone in 2025 was Uzbekistan joining the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). With a 10% stake, Uzbekistan became the third-largest shareholder after Russia and Kazakhstan, gaining access to new investment resources and expanding opportunities for infrastructure and economic projects within the region.

In 2024, Uzbekistans economy continued steady growth, with GDP reaching about $115 billion - a 6.5% increase over the previous year. Investments played a key role, with nearly $35 billion in foreign investment and loans attracted, and about $26.4 billion directed to business development and new production. Foreign direct investment grew 53.6%, reaching nearly $12 billion. Industrial output also rose by 6.8%, reaching $69 billion.

The 4th Tashkent International Investment Forum is more than just a business event - it symbolizes the countrys commitment to openness and innovation. Challenges remain, such as improving legal protections for investors, building infrastructure, and sustaining growth. But thanks to comprehensive reforms and active international cooperation, Uzbekistan is confidently looking ahead.

The forum will provide a unique opportunity for investors and government representatives to discuss plans and identify new areas for collaboration. Partnerships with countries like Azerbaijan bring additional momentum, paving the way for regional integration into global economic networks.

Uzbekistan is an investment success story, and the 4th Tashkent International Investment Forum will mark another important step toward achieving ambitious goals and fostering a favorable business climate.
UK nuclear site could leak until 2050s, MPs warn



London, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



Britain's most hazardous building threatens to leak radioactive water until the 2050s unless the clean-up of a former nuclear power plant is quickened, UK lawmakers warned on Wednesday.

The waste has been leaking into the ground from a storage silo at the Sellafield facility in Cumbria, in northwest England, since 2018 -- enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every three years.

Sellafield, which began operations in the 1940s, generated nuclear power between 1956 and 2003.

In a report published Wednesday, a group of British MPs criticised the pace of the decommissioning work, citing examples of "failure, cost overruns and continuing safety concerns".

It said the risks were highlighted by the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS), described by Sellafield owner the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) as "the most hazardous building in the UK".

The report by the Public Accounts Committee found that most of the annual targets for retrieving waste from buildings at the site, including the MSSS, had been "missed".

It said the storage silo is likely to continue leaking until the oldest section of the building has been emptied in the late 2050s, instead of 2040 as previously expected.

"Every day at Sellafield is a race against time to complete works before buildings reach the end of their life," said the committee's chair, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

"Our report contains too many signs that this is a race that Sellafield risks losing," he added, saying the site presented "intolerable risks".

The radioactive leak is contained and does not pose a risk to the public, the report noted.

A spokeswoman for the NDA said fixing it was the group's "highest priority".

Britain's National Audit Office forecast last October that the cost of decommissioning and cleaning up the entire Sellafield site over the next century had soared to pound136 billion ($177 billion).

This was up almost 19 percent on the previous official estimate made in 2019.

It noted that "full site remediation" was not expected until 2125.
Iran's Khamenei says US nuclear proposal against national interest



Tehran, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday a US proposal for a nuclear agreement was against the national interest, amid sharp differences over whether Tehran can continue to enrich uranium.

The longtime foes have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new accord to replace the deal with major powers that US President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.

On Saturday, Iran said it had received "elements" of the US proposal through Omani mediators, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed.

"The proposal presented by the Americans is 100 percent against" notions of independence and self-reliance, Khamenei said in a televised speech, invoking ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America."

Iran's enrichment of uranium has emerged as a major point of contention.

Trump said on Monday his administration would not allow "any" enrichment, despite Tehran's insistence it is its right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Khamenei said enrichment is "key" to Iran's nuclear programme and that the United States "cannot have a say" on the issue.

"If we have 100 nuclear power plants but don't have enrichment, they will be of no use to us," because "nuclear power plants need fuel" to operate, he said.

"If we cannot produce this fuel domestically, we have to reach out to the United States, which may have dozens of conditions."

The New York Times reported Tuesday that the US proposal includes "an arrangement that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium at low levels" as the US and other countries "work out a more detailed plan intended to block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon".

It said the proposal would see the United States facilitating "the building of nuclear power plants for Iran and negotiate the construction of enrichment facilities managed by a consortium of regional countries".

Iran has previously said it is open to temporary limits on its enrichment of uranium, and is willing to consider the establishment of a regional nuclear fuel consortium.

But it has stressed that such a consortium is "in no way intended to replace Iran's own uranium enrichment programme".

Iran's chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said in a Wednesday post on X: No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal."



- 'Less than satisfactory' -



On Monday, Araghchi held talks in Cairo with Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In its latest quarterly report last week, the IAEA said Iran had further stepped up its production of highly enriched uranium.

In a separate report, it also criticised "less than satisfactory" cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.

The reports came ahead of a planned IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna later this month which will review Iran's nuclear activities.

Washington and other Western governments have continued to accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes only.

The 2015 deal provided Iran with relief from international sanctions in return for UN-monitored restrictions on its nuclear activities.

Trump reimposed US sanctions when he quit the agreement in 2018 and has since tightened them with secondary sanctions against third parties who violate them.

Britain, France and Germany, the three European countries who were party to the 2015 deal, are currently weighing whether to trigger the sanctions "snapback" mechanism in the accord.

The mechanism would reinstate UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance -- an option that expires in October.

Iran has criticised the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying it relied on "forged documents" provided by its arch foe Israel.

pdm-mz/kir/ami

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
Czechs sign nuclear deal with S.Korea firm KHNP: PM



Prague, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



A Czech state-run company signed Wednesday a deal with South Korea's KHNP to build two nuclear reactors in the EU country after a court dismissed a bid by France's EDF to block the deal.

A Czech court had blocked the multi-billion-dollar deal in May after French energy group EDF filed a complaint, questioning the transparency of the tender which it lost.

But a higher court threw out the ruling on Wednesday over procedural flaws, enabling the government of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala to ink the deal.

"A while ago we signed an agreement on the supply of two units for the Dukovany nuclear plant," Fiala told reporters.

"We did our best to make sure the deal can be signed the instant the legal obstacles are removed," he said.

He hailed the signature as a "fundamental step on the way to higher energy security and self-sufficiency".

KHNP is due to build the two units at the southern Czech nuclear plant of Dukovany run by the state-run CEZ group.

The Czech Republic, an EU member of 10.9 million people, relies on nuclear power -- produced by Dukovany and the Temelin plant also in the south -- for 40 percent of its electricity consumption.

With the two new units and small modular reactors due to be built by 2050, the share of nuclear energy is expected to rise to 50 percent as the country shifts away from burning fossil fuels.

Fiala said earlier KHNP won the tender as its bid was "better in all criteria assessed" than EDF's offer.

On Wednesday, he said KHNP has vowed to hand 60 percent of the contract to Czech suppliers.

KHNP has offered to build the two new units for around 200 billion Czech koruna ($9 billion) each.

Prague expected to finalise the deal with KHNP by March this year, but complaints by EDF delayed the process.

CEZ expects construction to begin in 2029 and the first new reactor launched in trial operation in 2036.

frj/lth
Zelensky tells backers Russia must be 'forced into diplomacy'



Brussels, Belgium, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Kyiv's military backers Wednesday to ramp up support in a bid to pressure Russia towards peace.

"We must not allow Russia to blur reality or mislead the world. Moscow must be forced into diplomacy," Zelensky said in a video address to defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

The call for action comes as Kyiv's main backer the United States has stepped back from its support for Ukraine under President Donald Trump and pushed for a quick end to the fighting unleashed by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

In a sign of Washington's disengagement, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth missed the gathering in Brussels, despite being due to fly in for a NATO meeting on Thursday.

In his address, Zelensky urged allies to step up deliveries of air defences to ward off Russia's missile and drone attacks, and to bolster Ukraine's own defence industry.

"The stronger our air defence is, the less value Putin sees in attacking our cities and villages. So please, let's continue strengthening our air shield," the Ukrainian leader said.

Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia was "routinely firing over 300 drones a day into Ukraine".

"This is a significant shift, and this is a rate of fire that could be sustained throughout 2025," he said.

"Three and a half years into this war, President Putin continues to prove he's not for peace."

Healey's German counterpart Boris Pistorius insisted Russian forces "are making hardly any progress" on the front line and suffering devastating losses.

He said Russia would eventually fail in its push to control Ukraine as Kyiv's backers were providing it "with everything it needs and for as long as it needs".

"We will continue to expand this support, and we will maintain it for the long term," he said.

Despite the soaring rhetoric, there were few public pledges of concrete new weapon deliveries for Kyiv at the meeting.

Britain said it would step up supplies of drones to Kyiv "tenfold" and the Netherlands announced naval support worth 400 million euros ($450 million).
Trump says Iran 'slowwalking' as Khamenei opposes nuclear proposal



Washington, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



US President Donald Trump accused Tehran on Wednesday of "slowwalking" on a nuclear deal, after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the latest proposal from Washington was against the national interest.

The longtime foes have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new accord to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018, but sharp differences remain over whether Tehran can continue to enrich uranium.

On Saturday, Iran said it had received "elements" of the US proposal through Omani mediators, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed.

"The proposal presented by the Americans is 100 percent against" notions of independence and self-reliance, Khamenei said in a televised speech, invoking ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America."

Iran's enrichment of uranium has emerged as a major point of contention.

Trump said on Monday his administration would not allow "any" enrichment, despite Tehran's insistence it is its right under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin who "suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran".

"It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!" Trump said.



- Low-level enrichment -



Khamenei said enrichment is "key" to Iran's nuclear programme and that the United States "cannot have a say" on the issue.

"If we have 100 nuclear power plants but don't have enrichment, they will be of no use to us," because "nuclear power plants need fuel" to operate, he said.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that the US proposal includes "an arrangement that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium at low levels" as the US and other countries "work out a more detailed plan intended to block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon".

It said the proposal would see the United States facilitating "the building of nuclear power plants for Iran and negotiate the construction of enrichment facilities managed by a consortium of regional countries".

Iran has previously said it is open to temporary limits on its enrichment of uranium, and is willing to consider the establishment of a regional nuclear fuel consortium.

But it has stressed that such a consortium is "in no way intended to replace Iran's own uranium enrichment programme".

Iran's chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said in a Wednesday post on X: No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal."

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.



- 'Less than satisfactory' -



The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in its latest quarterly report last week that Iran had further stepped up its production of highly enriched uranium.

In a separate report, it also criticised "less than satisfactory" cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites.

The reports came ahead of a planned IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna later this month which will review Iran's nuclear activities.

Washington and other Western governments have continued to accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes only.

The 2015 deal provided Iran with relief from international sanctions in return for UN-monitored restrictions on its nuclear activities.

Trump reimposed US sanctions when he quit the agreement in 2018 and has since tightened them with secondary sanctions against third parties who violate them.

Britain, France and Germany, the three European countries who were party to the 2015 deal, are currently weighing whether to trigger the sanctions "snapback" mechanism in the accord.

The mechanism would reinstate UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance -- an option that expires in October.

Iran has criticised the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying it relied on "forged documents" provided by its arch foe Israel.

pdm-mz/kir/ami/ysm

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
IAEA head in Damascus to discuss nuclear power



Damascus, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi said Wednesday his agency and Syrian authorities would begin "exploring the possibility of nuclear power", on his first visit to Damascus since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly been at loggerheads with Syria in the past over what it says are "unresolved issues" regarding suspected nuclear activities.

On his visit, the IAEA chief met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

"Honoured to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. I recognise his courage in cooperating with full transparency to close a chapter of Syria's past that diverted resources necessary for development," Grossi said in a post on X.

He said the two sides "will also begin exploring the possibility of nuclear power in Syria".

"Our cooperation is key to closing outstanding issues and focusing on the much needed help IAEA can provide Syria in health and agriculture," he added.

The IAEA has urged Syria repeatedly to cooperate fully with the agency in connection to a suspected nuclear reactor at the Deir Ezzor desert site.

Israel in 2018 admitted carrying out a top-secret air raid in 2007 against what it said was a nuclear reactor under construction at the site in eastern Syria.

Syria had denied it was building a nuclear reactor.

Grossi visited Damascus in March last year, meeting then president Assad who was overthrown in December after nearly 14 years of civil war.

Grossi told an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in March this year that he had requested Syria's cooperation to "fulfil our obligation to verify nuclear material and facilities" and to "address unresolved issues".

"Clarifying these issues remains essential to Syria demonstrating its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and international peace and security," he said at the time.
Partnership co-chairs James Thomas and Sue Harrison said: Protecting children out of professional sight is a real challenge, given the limits of statutory powers to ensure all children are regularly seen. Our partnership has made this one of our top strategic priorities to ensure that we do everything we possibly can to identify risk to those children who are out of sight.
Mr Penny said: You might think that it is self-evident that these actions were designed to influence the government and to intimidate at least a section of the public and furthermore were made for the purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan Railways CJSC has reported a steady increase in the volume and share of container shipments transported through the Middle Corridor, driven by ongoing and active negotiations with international partners aimed at enhancing transit speed and efficiency, Trend reports via the CJSC.

The company noted that the year 2024 has been marked by significant milestones in this regard. In March, the first container block train traveling from Xian, China, arrived in Baku within just 11 days, opening a new chapter in Azerbaijans transit potential.

Thanks to continuous efforts, meetings, and agreements, last year 358 container block trains were dispatched from China to Azerbaijan, with over 280 already received. This increase reflects the growing cargo volume transported via the Middle Corridor and strengthens Azerbaijans role in the international transport system. The volume of goods transported from China through this corridor has exceeded 27,000 containers in 2024, surpassing the 2023 figures by more than twenty-five times. Our infrastructure now supports the transit of over 1,000 block trains through Azerbaijan annually, the company noted.

To support the development of the Middle Corridor not only as an East-West route but also as a West-East transport artery, the first export shipment by rail from Baku to China was sent in November 2024. This development allows local entrepreneurs to directly ship their goods to China via the Middle Corridor.

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He added: It was horrific on the day they were found. I think they had been out with the flatmates the night before. They wondered why the couple had it got up the next day originally thinking they were just having a lay in. Then one went in their bedroom and found them.
This was now a safeguarding issue and there were concerns for Child Q, who could potentially have been carrying drugs for someone else, being exploited or groomed and there was also the other students to look after, the tribunal was told.
Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk.
Our future history books will report with shame those that had the opportunity to stop this carnage but failed to act to achieve it, and so we will continue our campaigns in this House and outside because were appalled at what is happening, the former Labour Party leader told the Commons.
Yes, the next three to five years, but then we are in great difficulty. And the US rightly expects us to spend much more to defend ourselves with their help, but also to equalise, which is only fair with what the US is spending on defence.
Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland Claire Hanna claimed there was "more moral clarity coming from Ms Rachel on YouTube than there is from many world leaders who are complicit in silence", referring to the star educator who has called on leaders to "be so ashamed" of what she described as their "anti-Palestinian racism".
The order later says that rates will for now stay at 25% and adds: On or after July 9, 2025, the Secretary may adjust the applicable rates of duty and construct import quotas for steel and aluminium consistent with the terms of the EPD, or he may increase the applicable rates of duty to 50 percent if he determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD.
Arsenal take biggest step yet towards Viktor Gyokeres signing as Sporting close in on replacement

Sporting drop biggest hint yet that Gyokeres is heading to Arsenal
Anne Lyden, director-general at NGS, said: The socioeconomic divide in access to culture in the UK is deeply concerning. Not only is The Art Works vital to the regeneration of Granton in north Edinburgh, it will also act as an enabler that will allow us to share Scotlands incredible art collection more widely across the UK.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Emil Mammadov, adviser to the chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, a company under AZCON Holding, participated in a panel discussion during the Transport Logistic 2025 exhibition held in Munich, Germany, Trend reports.

The session, titled Reevaluating Intermodal Transport: Seamless Movement Along the Trans-Caspian Route and the Role of the Private Sector, focused on regional connectivity challenges and solutions.

Mammadov presented CJSCs ongoing efforts and strategic plans for advancing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly known as the Middle Corridor. He noted that sustained and active dialogue with international partners has led to a steady increase in both the volume and share of container transportation along the route. In the first four months of 2025 alone, ADY increased container shipments by 56 percent compared to the same period last year.

High-level representatives from the railway administrations of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Finance Office of the Presidency of Turkiye, and Germanys Rhenus Group also took part in the panel. Discussions focused on removing bottlenecks along the corridor, enhancing multimodal integration, and boosting freight volumes.

Particular attention was given to strengthening public-private partnerships and implementing practical improvements in cross-border trade flows.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan and Guinea-Bissau have agreed to develop a roadmap in the field of energy, the country's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov wrote on X, Trend reports.

During a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Viriato Luis Soares Cassama, we discussed opportunities for cooperation in sharing Azerbaijan's rich experience in the fields of oil and gas, electricity and energy regulation, as well as human resources development. Within this framework, we agreed to prepare a roadmap, organize meetings of experts, and hold seminars, the publication reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Azerbaijan is well positioned to play a strategic role in regional energy transition, Rebecca Fitz, a founding member of Boston Consulting Groups Center for Energy Impact, said in an exclusive interview with Trend on the sidelines of the Baku Energy Week.

I've been impressed by the potential in Azerbaijan on wind and solar. Potential investments are very sizable and very material, and that's an exciting opportunity that can potentially be important and transformative. A lot will depend on attracting investment and capital. To do this, its important to note that investors will tend to gravitate towards area with stable, long-term rules and regulations in place. Azerbaijan has a very strong track record of stability in its hydrocarbon sector. At this conference, many people brought up repeatedly how important that stability was, and how stable and constructive the partnerships are, she said.

Fitz pointed out that wind and solar are still relatively new, and many countries are working to establish their preferred long-term regulatory framework.

For investors, having that long-term stable framework becomes critical. Otherwise, theyll be hesitant to deploy capital. The other issue is that, in particular, wind energy has very high upfront capital cost. Incentivizing capital deployment Is therefore important. There are a couple of potential mechanisms to do this. First, a lot of countries have used subsidies and incentives designed to encourage investment in renewables. That is an important part of the puzzle. I don't know many countries that have started widespread renewable deployment without subsidies and incentives in place. Stability over time is also important. If countries frequently change the available incentives to investment, it erodes the investment proposition. Part of the solution to encouraging capital investment likely involves having the right incentives in place, she noted.

Fitz said that the other part, ties back to the COP29 conclusions where countries agreed to fund $300 billion in energy investment in developing countries as part of $1.3 trillion in overall spend.

Accessing that funding isnt always straightforward. Companies that are able to navigate the process and deploy it effectively gain a real competitive advantagebecause that's what ultimately unlocks the value of that funding. I think there's part of the COP29 conclusions that could be usefully applied to help address that capital challenge.

The third area is grid infrastructure and integration. It's a challenge in many countries where renewable deployment is increasing. A lot of our grids globally are needing to invest to accommodate more variable renewable power. There's a lot of investment that needs to go into the grid and grid integration to make them suitable for non-dispatchable electricity. I think that's a significant investment need and requirement that sometimes is misunderstood with renewables. A lot of governments and companies focus on building capacity, but actually that capacity has limitations if there's no parallel investment in the grid and in integration.

Probably in Azerbaijan, the grid is underdeveloped relative to the system needs. And we're finding that in country after country. Grids need more investment, she said.

Azerbaijans green corridor initiatives

I think the Black Sea Cable project is highly strategic, as it aligns with both regional and global goals. This project is strategically an important accomplishment if brought to fruition. Europeans are seeking to diversify away from Russian hydrocarbons, hence it has expanded the strategic importance of Azerbaijan. At the same time, these countries have ambitious green energy ambitions and targets.

If the corridor is used to transport green electrons, it can support both greater energy diversification and progress toward their decarbonization goalsmaking it a highly strategic and potentially transformative initiative, noted Fitz.

She pointed out that one of the main challenges is around cross-border coordination.

The project involves many actors, both government-led, but also private company-led. This increases the complexity. And higher complexity frequently means higher cost and longer development timelines. Identifying the strong management model that streamlines the complexity and can oversee the path to project development, is critical, said Fitz.

Talking about the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan green corridor project, which is an export-centric project, she noted that it can bring huge opportunities.

Having a corridor and more interconnectivity actually helps to secure internal, as well as external needs. Id also mention  and this is relevant for the Black Sea Corridor too - the growing focus on AI and data center needs. Data centers are tremendous users of power. Wherever data centers go, the first thing that needs to be figured out is, where is our power going to come from?

I think many of these projects, which aim to connect countries within the region and link them to Europe, are both forward-looking and forward-thinking. As the region is increasingly discussed as a potential hub for data centers, this kind of interconnectedness will be critical for positioning the region to meet future growing power demands, she said.

Fitz noted that the world is in an energy transition where hydrocarbons still play a very important role.

For Azerbaijan, given its connectedness with the world and its role as a regional energy hub, hydrocarbons is part of the answer. The challenge is to focus on reducing emissions in the oil portfolio. Azerbaijan benefits from having lower carbon oil versus many other countries. In terms of longevity of oil, having a lower carbon profile oil is an important bridge when there's still high global oil demand. In addition to oil, gas is an important element and has been a significant focus for investment in Azerbaijan over the past decade. While gas does have significant methane emissions that must be managed, countries that have switched from coal to gas have been able to reduce their emissions profile considerably. Thus, helping the world transition to gas, is another important long-term strategic platform that is well-advanced here in Azerbaijan.

The third pillar for a sustainable energy ecosystem is in low-carbon investment, particularly in wind and solar, but in other low-carbon areas as future options as well. Cleaner oil, more gas, and finding the right model to scale renewables is a pretty durable platform for energy relevancy long into the future, she concluded.
Romania's Deputy Chief of Defense, Lt. General Dragos-Dumitru Iacob, attending on Wednesday the opening of the Southeast Europe Special Operations Forces Forum 2025 (SEESOF) in Targu Mures, declared that the organization of this first edition of the event confirms that Romania's Special Operations Forces have reached maturity, as a community of interests has built this excellent instrument and tool "step by step, brick by brick, with dedication, professionalism, humility, lots of efforts and, regrettably, sometimes with blood."

"The reason why I say today that the SOF has reached maturity is because this very first edition of the Southeast Europe Special Forces Forum aims to open to the public the last dimension of the special forces, the intellectual one," declared Lt. Gen. Dragos-Dumitru Iacob in the opening of SEESOF 2025, organized at the 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology (UMFST) in Targu Mures.

The deputy Chief of Defense pointed out that this forum is also important because it offers more opportunities, as an ideal place for exchanging ideas and best practices.

"Secondly, it provides an excellent platform for the special forces to learn where they need to integrate into multi-domain operations, by exchanging views with other services and supporting commands. And last but not least, it provides a platform for the industry to showcase some of the latest technologies, which will not only enhance the capabilities of the special forces and others, of course, but will also enable them to better accomplish their missions in order to become more lethal, more effective and, of course, better trained," the top brass official said.

Rector of UMFST Targu Mures, Professor Dr. Leonard Azamfirei, pointed out that the university's hosting the SEESOF 2025 is not by accident, but "is the reflection of a shared belief: that today's security is no longer the exclusive realm for defense structures, but a shared space where education, research and human development play a critical and ever growing role."

"In recent years, our university has evolved from a classical medical faculty to a comprehensive academic ecosystem, encompassing fields such as emergency medicine, military and operational health, cybersecurity, biotechnologies and artificial intelligence. These are not just academic disciplines - they are strategic pillars in building resilient societies and interoperable defense capabilities. In this context, I see this forum as an exceptional platform to create a bridge between various areas of expertise: the operational world of special forces and the analytical, evidence-based world of the university. This intersection is a fertile ground for innovation, strategic foresight and for educating a new generation of professionals capable of navigating complexity," said Azamfirei.

He also emphasized that it is equally important that the forum addresses human performance and resilience from a medical perspective.

The Rector mentioned that UMFST is open to joint research, curriculum development and interdisciplinary collaboration with defense institutions, both national and international.

Targu Mures deputy mayor Kovacs Mihaly Levente said in his turn that true power comes from cooperation between nations, institutions and communities.

"We are proud to be the home of this forum - not just as a host city, but also as a partner in your mission. And I want to thank both the Romanian National Defense Ministry and the 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology for making this possible. Their joint effort reflects something we deeply believe in here: that true power comes from cooperation between nations, institutions and communities. We know that today's world poses serious challenges. From unconventional threats to rapidly evolving technologies, the landscape is complex. But in times like these, it is precisely the courage, adaptability and unity of special operations forces that illuminate the way forward. This forum is more than just a demonstration of capabilities. It is a platform for dialogue, a space for cooperation, a signal that in this part of Europe we do not wait for security to be delivered to us, but we build it together," the deputy mayor said.

The president of the "Queen Maria" Heroes Observance National Association, Lt. Gen. (Ret'd) Corneliu Postu showed that Romania, as one of the actors in the region, understood that its mission is to remain a reliable partner of NATO on the south-eastern flank of the Alliance.

"More than that, we are trying to become an anchor of stability in the region in terms of security, especially in the field of special forces. (...) We are all waiting and hoping for the Ukraine war to end. Of course, when analyzing the regional security environment we shouldn't look only at Russia. We are also looking at threats such as terrorism, illegal immigration, cyberattacks and so on," concluded Corneliu Postu.
The minister of economy, Bogdan Ivan, on Wednesday stated, in Praid, where he participated in a working visit together with the minister of environment, that the international experts co-opted through the European Civil Protection Mechanism are about to arrive in the area and will start working together with their Romanian counterparts.





"Those international experts co-opted through the European Civil Protection Mechanism are currently on their way to Praid. They are coming from Hungary, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. Some of them will arrive during the day. The first teams will be at work in the morning, together with their counterparts from Romania, with those specialists who are already on site, here, in Praid, to provide in real time, both to the Department for Emergency Situations and to construction specialists, relevant data related to how the situation here is developing," said Bogdan Ivan.The minister of economy pointed out that the documents have been signed and the works to divert the course of the Corund stream have begun and, in parallel, specialists from the Ministry of Environment, Apele Romane (Romanian Waters) and the mining sector are working to see what the options are, including to eliminate the water from the Praid salt mine underground "under conditions of environmental protection and without having a negative impact on the local economy."
Acting Minister of Finance, Tanczos Barna, stated on Wednesday that European funds would not be suspended for Romania.

He was asked, at Victoria Palace, about the European Commission's warning that Romania has not taken effective measures to correct the excessive deficit.

"It is a final message that we must take seriously, we have teams working on the package of measures, it will be ready in a few days", declared Tanczos Barna before the Government meeting.

According to him, a first form of the package of measures envisaged to reduce the budget deficit would be presented next Monday.

"We are discussing the entire package and we will see in a few days what the team's proposal is", the minister said.

Asked if there was still a risk of suspension of European funds for Romania, he replied: "I told you on Monday that we would not reach such a situation, European funds will not be suspended for Romania. (...) I told you that European funds will not be suspended, period. Have European funds ever been suspended? No, not this time either", Tanczos Barna argued.

He explained that the measures to reduce the budget deficit will be adopted in "due time", adding that their application will be decided in the coalition.

Romania's net expenditure growth is well above the ceiling set by its corrective path, presenting clear risks for the correction of its excessive deficit by 2030 and, consequently, the European Commission recommends that the Council adopt a decision stating that Romania has not taken effective measures to correct the imbalance.

The Commission concluded that Romania is experiencing excessive macroeconomic imbalances. Vulnerabilities have increased as Romania's fiscal and current account deficits worsened and cost competitiveness deteriorated in 2024. The high public deficit increased in 2024. The continued increase in the public deficit, in particular increases in public sector salaries and pensions, has increased private consumption and the already large current account deficit, reads the EU Commission's analysis published on Wednesday.
More than three-quarters (77%) of Romanians agree with reducing state operating expenses, other than those related to employees, according to an opinion poll conducted by INSCOP Research, between May 26 and 30, regarding the various solutions to reduce the budget deficit.

According to the study published on the inscop.ro website, when asked to what extent they would agree with reducing state operating expenses (other than those with employees), 58.4% of respondents say they would totally agree with such a measure, 18.8% that they would somewhat agree (in total, 77.1%), 5.2% somewhat oppose, and 13.7% totally oppose, and 4% do not know or do not answer.

Those who agree with reducing state operating expenses are especially PNL and USR voters (approximately 90% of these parties' voters, but also over 65% of PSD and AUR voters), men, people with a higher level of education, residents of Bucharest or large urban areas, and state employees.

Regarding the extent of reducing public sector personnel as a solution to reduce the budget deficit, 46.7% of Romanians say they would totally agree, 20.7% somewhat agree (in total, 67.3%), 7.8% somewhat disagree, and 21.3% totally disagree. The non-response rate is 3.6%.

Those who agree with the reduction of staff in the public sector are especially PNL and USR voters (approximately 80% of these parties' voters, but also 68% and 63% of PSD and AUR voters, respectively), men, people with a higher level of education, residents of large urban areas and private sector employees.

Regarding the reduction of salaries in the public sector, 29.9% of respondents say they would totally agree with their reduction, 18.5% say they would somewhat agree (in total, 48.4%), 12.5% somewhat oppose it, and 35.1% totally oppose it. The share of non-responses is 4.1%.

I agree with the reduction of salaries in the public sector, especially USR and AUR voters, men, people aged between 30 and 44. I am against such a measure, especially young people under 30 and state employees.

Regarding the reduction in investments, 15.4% of Romanians say they would totally agree with the reduction in investments, 11.5% say they would somewhat agree (in total, 26.8%), 13.3% somewhat disagree, and 54.5% totally disagree, 5.4% don't know or don't answer.

I agree with the reduction of investments in proportions slightly higher than the average, especially AUR voters, people with primary education and rural residents. I am against such a measure especially PNL, USR, PSD voters, people with higher education, urban residents and private sector employees.

Disagreement with the increase in corporate taxes is strong (approximately 70%) among all categories of the population.

Only 12.4% of those surveyed say they would totally agree with the increase in corporate taxes, 13% say they would somewhat agree (total, 25.4%), 18.5% somewhat disagree, and 51.7% totally disagree. The non-response rate is 4.4%.

"Population support for various measures to reduce the budget deficit varies depending on personal exposure, the perception of the direct impact on one's own income and the way in which the impact on the economy is understood. Reducing state operating expenses, other than those with employees, is the most popular measure, with 77% of respondents completely agreeing or somewhat agreeing with this measure," said Remus Stefureac, director of INSCOP Research.

According to him, the reduction of personnel in the public sector meets the total or partial agreement of 67% of the survey participants, and the reduction of salaries in the public sector meets the agreement of slightly less than half of the respondents (48%).

He highlighted that the strongest opposition of the population is towards reducing investments (only approximately 27% agree with this measure), probably understood as a source of blocking economic development, and towards increasing taxes for companies (only approximately 25% agree totally or partially with this measure).

"The increase in corporate taxes is likely to be interpreted both as a brake on the economy and as a source of decreased income and increased prices, which would have a direct impact on large parts of the population," explained Stefureac.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are scaling up their support for Montenegros transition to a green economy by rolling out their SME Go Green programme in the country, Trend reports via EBRD's latest reports.

The SME Go Green programme will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Montenegro, with dedicated credit lines channelled through local partner banks, as well as technical assistance to help SMEs prioritise their investments and plan accordingly.

In addition to loans, SMEs will also benefit from grant incentives totalling 10 per cent of the loan amount, with a higher figure of 15 per cent for investments in renewable energy and agribusiness (including agribusiness value chains). Both the grant incentives and the technical assistance will be financed by the EU.

The programme will support the competitiveness of Montenegrin SMEs by helping those businesses to access financing for investment that cuts energy waste and improves energy efficiency, aligning them with EU and international standards.

Remon Zakaria, the EBRDs Head of Montenegro, said: We are delighted to be rolling this programme out in Montenegro, providing businesses with technical and financial assistance for green investments. These investments will help local SMEs to improve their productivity, cut their operating costs and reduce their carbon footprint, making them more competitive in local and EU markets.

Yngve Engstrom, Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation to Montenegro, added: SMEs are key drivers of growth and change. We are therefore proud to support this initiative with the EBRD, which brings 145 million euros in funding to boost green innovation, agribusiness, and competitiveness among SMEs in the Western Balkans, with a strong focus on women-led businesses. We strongly encourage all eligible SMEs to seize this opportunity and help build a greener, more inclusive future.

The SME Go Green programme is already operating in a number of other Western Balkan countries. In this initial phase, the programme will provide a combined total of 120 million euros of targeted SME financing across the Western Balkans region, with that figure expected to reach 400 million euros over the next few years.

A launch event in Podgorica to mark the programmes rollout in Montenegro was attended by representatives of the EBRD and the EU, as well as local partner banks and businesses. Montenegrin SMEs can now access financing from Crnogorska komercijalna banka (CKB) and NLB Banka Podgorica under the programme.

The Bank has invested 943 million euros in Montenegro through 99 projects since Montenegro joined the EBRD in 2006. The EBRD's priorities in Montenegro are competitiveness, green transition and further integration into regional and global markets.
Romania does not have the capacity to raise spending on equipping the army to 5% of GDP, there will be "probably loans that will add to the immense debt that the Romanian state has", declared, on Wednesday, the first vice-president of AUR, Marius Lulea.





"I saw the president-designate talking about the fact that up to almost 5% of GDP will be allocated for the military's equipment. He is probably very bad at math, because 5% of GDP means 16-17 billion euros. I hardly think that Romania's defense industry can exceed one billion euros. Which means that this money will not go to the equipment from domestic production, it will probably be loans that will add to the huge debt that the Romanian state has and we will buy leftover military technology from France, from Germany, instead of developing our own industry," Lulea said at a press conference organized by AUR at the Palace of Parliament."Today, the Romanian economy does not have the capacity to raise spending on equipment to 5% of GDP. We cannot even raise it to 3% of GDP. That is precisely why we need an integrated security plan, which does not refer strictly to Romanian soldiers, but also to our own defense industry, because in case of conflict, 20, 30, 40 planes will not help us at all. And we see the situation in Ukraine, where they are asking international partners to send them ammunition so that the soldiers can hold the front line," Lulea said.
The head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), Raed Arafat, announced on Wednesday that the Praid Salt Mine is completely flooded at this time, and a team from the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism will come to Romania to work with local experts.

"At this moment, the Praid Salt Mine is completely flooded, the amount of water accumulated being approximately 4 million cubic meters. To manage the emergency situation, at the General Inspectorate for Emergencies (IGSU) level, starting with May 6, forces from the ISU Harghita, and later from the ISU Brasov, Covasna, Mures and Neamt were mobilized with motor pumps and worked in an attempt to evacuate the water from the salt mine, but this could not be achieved. The first interventions of the ISU were on May 6", Raed Arafat said after the Government meeting at the Victoria Palace.

According to the head of the DSU, on June 1, an extraordinary online meeting of the National Committee for Emergency Situations took place, in order to approve a request for international assistance through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

"The decision also taken by the prime minister was to request experts to come and work with our experts so that we can strengthen the activity there and be able to exchange opinions and have more substantiated opinions and for there to be a consultation. Always when you have a second opinion, especially when well-trained experts come who have had similar experiences, we can have an added value. On June 2, through the Civil Protection Mechanism, a request was submitted for a team of experts in the fields of: rock mechanics, salt mines, environmental impact, stability of the geodetic salt exploitation structure, mechanical resistance, stability of the foundation soil for construction, stability of earth masses. (...) On June 3, a videoconference was held with the eight experts from Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Hungary, within the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism, and they will arrive in Romania today," Arafat said.
The situation in Covasna and Harghita, counties affected by the meteorological phenomena, remains in the Government's attention, interim Prime Minister Catalin Predoiu announced on Wednesday, who announced that he will go to the Praid area again in the coming period.

"I thank Ministers Ivan and Fechet, State Secretary Arafat and the Prefect of Harghita County, who coordinates the teams in the field, for managing the situation in Praid, each in their area of competence. I also thank the Prefect of Covasna County for the efforts made alongside the Government to eliminate the effects of the floods in the Borosneu Mare and Bacel areas. The public order forces - gendarmes and police -, a field coordinated by State Secretary Despescu, are deployed in the field for support. I thank them!," Predoiu said, according to a statement sent to AGERPRES.

He stressed that the situation in Praid is "very difficult".

"We have mobilized a large number of forces in all fields. We are doing everything humanly possible to help the communities in the area. We have requested that each action in the field be correlated with the opinions of technical experts. In addition to the Romanian experts within the 'Praid' inter-ministerial working group, we have also co-opted experts from the European Union, through the European mechanisms for emergency situations, in order to benefit from a second opinion regarding the situation in the field and the necessary solutions. All those involved will remain mobilized including during the Pentecost holiday. I will travel to the area again in the coming days", declared Catalin Predoiu.
President Nicusor Dan on Wednesday stated, when asked if he maintains his position that VAT will not increase, that all discussions with pro-Western parties start from this premise.

"I maintain that, as far as I am concerned, all discussions start from this," Nicusor Dan told the first press conference held at the Cotroceni Palace.





"All I am telling you is that I start from this premise in the discussion with the coalition," the head of state emphasised.
President Nicusor Dan on Wednesday stated that representatives of the intelligence services must be concerned and find information about the problem of tax evasion and that their role must stop at providing this information to ANAF (National Agency for Fiscal Administration) and to prosecutors' offices.

"Tax evasion is already in the National Security Strategy, so there is no need for any changes, it already is. What we need to do is to be very clear about the extent to which the services operate. And I mean the intelligence services here, because tax evasion is a matter of national security and this is not just my opinion, it is in the official document of the Romanian state, so they must get involved and find information about this issue and their role must stop at providing this information to ANAF and to the prosecutors' offices. That is the issue. And a civilian director of the SRI (Romanian Intelligence Service) has this as his main mission, so that we do not end up with more interference from the services than is necessary," Nicusor Dan told a press conference held at the Cotroceni Palace.





"Controls are carried out by ANAF representatives and, to the extent that there are suspicions of a crime, they can be carried out by prosecutors' offices. So I want the delimitation between what is the intelligence service and what is the activity of other state bodies to be very, very clear. Intelligence services collect information that is relevant to national security. (...) Of course, there are priorities in collecting this information. Obviously, a priority is the security area itself, potential terrorist actions and so on. And I want the area of tax evasion to also be a priority for these services," said the head of state.
President Nicusor Dan says he is not at all satisfied with the anti-corruption process, emphasising that after the formation of the Government and the establishment of measures regarding the budget deficit, justice will become his main focus.

"I am not at all satisfied with the anti-corruption process. There are entire areas of corruption that are being neglected by the Romanian state. And as soon as we finish dealing with the budget deficit and the formation of the Government, the justice system will become my main concern," Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday, during his first press conference held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.





"Including discussions with the heads of the prosecutor's offices, including talks about the management plans of the new heads of the prosecutor's offices, who will begin their mandate at the start of 2026. This concerns the issue of corruption, and obviously, the Romanian state has very, very serious shortcomings in this area," the head of state said.
TROY, Mo.  One of the investigators in the 2011 high-profile murder of Elizabeth Betsy Faria and the Pamela Hupp case here is now accused of lying while on the witness stand.

Former Lincoln County Sheriffs Department Deputy Mike Merkel lied at least twice during the 2012 trial that initially sent Farias husband, Russell, to prison for her murder, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

Merkel has been charged with two counts of perjury that have resulted in a murder conviction  a rare charge in Missouri that doesnt have a statute of limitations, said Lincoln Countys current prosecutor Mike Wood.

Merkel was among the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department detectives who initially interviewed Hupp after the stabbing death of her friend, Betsy Faria. They quickly turned their attention to Farias husband, Russell Faria, who was convicted of her death in 2013.

Russell Faria would ultimately serve more than three years behind bars before being acquitted in a retrial in 2015, prompted in part by information about Hupp becoming the beneficiary of Betsy Farias insurance policy days before she died.

Hupp was charged with first-degree murder in Betsy Farias death in June 2021. A pre-trial hearing in that case is set for later this month in St. Charles County, and a trial is slated for next summer.

In the new 12-page court filing, authorities say Merkel lied on the witness stand in Russell Farias first trial, including saying that a department-issued digital camera malfunctioned.

What we know now is that the camera never malfunctioned, Wood said.

Wood alleges that Merkel lied because investigators felt pressure from key figures in Lincoln Countys government to do everything they could to get a conviction.

They believed they had their guy, Wood said. We can show the steps they took, and how this was very orchestrated effort that ultimately put an innocent man in prison.

Additional charges are likely to be filed against the other investigators, Wood said.

In the years since that trial, Merkel was the subject of an internal investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department. He has been charged with harassment and stalking after the detective leading that investigation received texts and photos of himself at a restaurant from a masked number believed to have belonged to Merkel.

That case is ongoing, according to online court documents.

Wood said the perjury charges against Merkel stem from transcripts of the original trials and digital evidence from the camera he testified had malfunctioned.

Without them, we would not be here today, said Wood, who was elected in 2018.

In 2019, Hupp was convicted of shooting Louis Gumpenberger, 33, in her OFallon, Missouri, home. Hupp claimed Gumpenberger had tried to kidnap her at knifepoint, but her story quickly unraveled. She was sentenced to life in prison.
DAVENPORT, Iowa  Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the Post-Dispatch, has disclosed that the personal information of nearly 40,000 people may have been accessed or acquired in a February cyberattack.

The hack hobbled the companys newspapers for weeks and caused it to delay several debt payments.

The company sent an email to employees Wednesday saying it had completed its investigation into the Feb. 3 breach and that some employees may have had their personal information compromised.

It also began informing state regulators of the impact on consumers, who may have had their information stolen, and sending letters to people whose data was compromised.

Lee employs about 3,000 people at newspapers and other publications in 70 markets, according to securities filings, and says it has 1.1 million print and digital subscribers across the chain.

Lee spokeswoman Tracy Rouch said that some customers data was compromised. She said the company was notifying everyone impacted via mailed letters and would provide free identity theft protection.

We have taken significant steps to further enhance our security to help ensure that a similar situation does not occur again in the future, Rouch said in a statement.

The breadth of the impact was first reported by British technology news service The Register.

In a letter sent Tuesday to the Maine Attorney General, Lee said it discovered May 28 that personal information had been accessed and taken during the hack. The letter said 39,779 people were affected, though only a handful in Maine itself.

Lee said it had informed affected individuals in the state and was providing free credit monitoring services for a year to those people. The company also said it would send personal letters to those impacted.

The hack caused some of Lees newspapers to miss print publication for days. While the Post-Dispatch, Lees largest paper, was able to print every day, the breach disrupted operations for weeks. The company disclosed the breach to federal securities regulators on Feb 18, two weeks after the hack.

Qilin, a Russian-speaking ransomware gang, in March claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to release information stolen from Lee on March 5. Lee said at the time it was investigating, but Rouch said Wednesday Lee had not confirmed Qilin was behind the attack, and has not said whether it paid a ransom due to the breach.

Lee CEO Kevin Mowbray told investors last month the company incurred $2 million in restoration costs due to the cyber incident.

Lee has delayed interest payments to its sole lender, Berkshire Hathaway Finance, in March, April and May, freeing up over $10 million in capital to recover from the breach. Berkshire Hathaway Finance has allowed the delays and added the interest onto Lees roughly $450 million in debt, but in exchange it amended its agreement with Lee that could allow it to begin selling off some of the debt.

Lees stock was down 2% Wednesday, to $6.77. It has lost half its value since the hack, falling to a market capitalization of $42 million.
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Having reached her term limit in the Missouri House, state Rep. Raychel Proudie has announced she will run next year for the state Senate.

Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, is taking aim at the District 14 Senate seat in northwest St. Louis County, a position that will be contested in August and November 2026.

Known for speaking her mind  often to the discomfort of both Republicans and Democrats  Proudie said she is ready to help the bigger population of a Senate district.

Proudie said north St. Louis County needs help, something it has not received in recent years from some of its representatives.

We dont have to live like this; we just dont, Proudie said.

Proudie said the best way she knows how to operate is by working with those who can help the area, not simply by fighting.

I know some dont take too kindly to that approach, she said of politicians who place party allegiance before constituents.

What good does it do to say we fought, if you lose? We (Democrats) say that and then we get our teeth kicked in every election, Proudie said. And what do we have to show for it?

The Senate district includes Ferguson, Hazelwood, Overland and University City and is home to St. Louis Lambert International Airport and the University of MissouriSt. Louis.

Proudie noted while it may include University City and other stable areas, it also includes Kinloch and Berkeley.

And those people dont care who your friends are or where you go to church. Thats just grandstanding, she said. Theyre wondering where their food is going to come from.

For my district, she said, I want to bring home the bacon.

Proudie first was elected to the state House in 2018 and then was easily reelected three times.

During her tenure, Proudies assignments have included stints with the budget, children and families, higher education and rules committees; as well as serving on joint committees on government accountability and public assistance.

One possible opponent for Proudie, 42, is state Rep. Doug Clemens, a 58-year-old Democrat from St. Ann, who has yet to declare.

Shante Duncan and Joseph Palm, two relative political outsiders, have already thrown their candidate hats into the ring.

The district is solidly Democratic and the winner of the August 2026 primary is all but assured victory in the November 2026 general election.

The Senate seat currently is held by state Sen. Brian Williams, who also has served the maximum eight years in that position.

Though Williams has not commented on the matter, several political sources say he is considering a run against St. Louis County Executive Sam Page in the Democratic primary in August 2026.

Proudie has begun raising money for her campaign and has scheduled a campaign kickoff for June 14 at the Communications Workers of America headquarters, 2258 Grissom Drive.
Romanias tourism defies expectations with surprising growth

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Romanias tourism sector showed mixed signals in April 2025, with fewer visitor arrivals but a slight rise in overnight stays, according to official data. While domestic tourists continued to dominate, foreign visitors showed longer average stays, pointing to shifting dynamics in the countrys travel patterns.

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ST. LOUIS  Prosecutors are charging a 15-year-old as an adult in connection to the December death of Romel White, 17, who was found shot in the Gravois Park neighborhood in south St. Louis.

Corion Harris-Wicks is the second suspect arrested in connection to the teenager's death, St. Louis police said in a news release, after 20-year-old Marcus Allen was arrested in February.

They both face charges of first degree murder and armed criminal action.

On the evening of Dec. 23, officers responded to the 3600 block of Minnesota Avenue where they found White shot in the chest. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

White was just one of at least 78 minors shot in the St. Louis area last year, and one of at least 24 killed.
JENNINGS  Caleb Matlock was the man fatally shot here on Saturday, St. Louis County police said Tuesday.

Matlock, 21, was found about 2:20 p.m. with gunshot injuries in the 8700 block of Jennings Station Road. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Police believe the shooting may have resulted from some type of road rage incident.

Matlock lived in the 2400 block of Forest Shadows Drive in North County.
JEFFERSON CITY  Gov. Mike Kehoes first budget proposal launched a tug of war between public school advocates and those hoping to use state funds for private education. Both sides ultimately came away with what they wanted  but neither expects this to be the final showdown.

State Treasurer Vivek Malek, who oversees the states tax-credit scholarship program, told The Independent in an interview last week that he expects to more than double the number of scholarships administered by MOScholars in the upcoming school year.

Those students would have a reasonable expectation, he said, to be funded through graduation. And if donor funds continue to come up short, state funds would be required to support them.

In January, Kehoe laid out a budget that did not fully fund public education while giving state funds for private-school scholarships.

His request cut back $300 million for the formula that determines state aid for public schools, contrary to the state education departments recommendation. But he added a $50 million appropriation to the treasurers budget to help fund private-school scholarships through the MOScholars program. This windfall was not part of the treasurers initial request.

The governor made a policy or a budgetary decision to invest in one form of education and not fully invest in the other, said state Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Democrat from Springfield and ranking minority member of the House Budget Committee.

The House kept the governors recommendations, and the Senate flipped the two priorities: restoring full funding to public schools but axing the $50 million for MOScholars.

In May, state lawmakers reached an agreement to fund both and are awaiting the governors signature.

But the infusion of funds to MOScholars is likely to create more need in the program.

Malek said he expects to use the $50 million to offer more scholarships than the current pot of donations could provide. There are 6,000 students ready to participate in the upcoming year, and he expects more to sign up. This past year, 2,700 students received scholarships.

Malek hopes to make MOScholars self-sufficient, with enough donations to meet demand. But until then, he will request funds to, at a minimum, sustain aid for students already enrolled.

Ill be working through the years to make sure the tax credits are still utilized and nobody is depending on a direct appropriation from (general revenue), he said.

Fogle told The Independent that the $50 million did not appear to be a one-time request.

The $50 million that was put in general revenue was done, in part, because the tax credit program wasnt very popular, and donors werent giving to that, she contends. And the governor wanted to figure out another solution to privatizing education.

MOScholars currently operates through taxpayer-directed spending, where state funds are given to scholarship organizations through donations that receive a 100% tax credit. The program has faced issues funding scholarships each fall with the majority of donations coming at the end of the year.

An additional $50 million  more than double the amount of donations received last year  would solve the funding lag, Malek said.

Our calendars were misaligned, so now we will be opening (enrollment) up for next year, starting early in the fall so that people can sign up for next years academic school year, he said. This will give us the flexibility of doing that, which was not possible before.

The program has a $75 million expandable cap thanks to a large education package passed last year.

Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Springfield Democrat, said during debate in April that she wondered why the Legislature expanded the donation limit from $50 million to $75 million when there have been $23.4 million in donations in 2024.

In 2023, donations totaled $16.6 million.

Donors just are not that excited to give to this program, even at a 100% tax credit, she said.

The program is in its infancy, with just three years of scholarships completed. The increased funding could help grow MOScholars to meet outsized demand  or it could create dependency on general revenue.

Hein said this problem would be exacerbated by tax cutbacks planned by Republican state lawmakers.

We are setting a precedent, she said. And if we eliminate state income taxes, tax credits go away and we are going to be on the hook with (general revenue) to cover this program.

Even if the appropriation is signed by the governor, it might face legal challenges as some question the constitutionality of using general revenue for MOScholars.

The 2021 law that established MOScholars prescribes that scholarships are funded by tax-deductible donations to educational assistance organizations, which are nonprofits that apply to administer the scholarships.

But 2% of donations are directed to an account dubbed the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Fund overseen by the Treasurers Office. The fund is to be used by the state treasurer for marketing and administrative expenses or the costs incurred in administering the program.

Some believe the law does not authorize the program to use general revenue. Fogle expects legal challenges that argue that directly appropriating tax dollars to private schools is unconstitutional.

The direct appropriation of general revenue is a completely different foundation than the tax credit, she said. There are people on both sides of the aisle, whether theyre voting in favor of it or not, who have considerable doubts and concerns.

Malek did not speculate on the possibility of a lawsuit.

We will deal with it and when that happens, we will defer that to our general counsel, the attorney general, he said. I cannot predict which course it will take.

Malek says MOScholars is another tool for educating children, in addition to the public school system.

I dont see why people would be nervous. This is not taking away any funding dollars from our traditional educational institutions, he said.

As treasurer, Malek was not part of the governors decision on public education funding and considers himself a big proponent of public schools.

My focus was just for the MOScholars program, he said. We need some help to strengthen this program and Im glad that need was listened to.
CLAYTON  Lawmakers here may soon allow short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, currently prohibited, to operate in the citys downtown district.

The change comes in response to a request by a longtime property owner to convert its vacant office space into four, two-bedroom dwelling units for short-term stays. Schlafly Corp., which owns a three-story building at 2 North Meramec Avenue, also plans to put a restaurant with a patio in on its ground floor, below the apartments.

The real estate firm has offices on the top floor but has struggled to lease its two lower floors in full since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a decline in the traditional office market, said owner David Schlafly, who is also CEO of the Schlafly brewery. Allowing high-quality short-term rentals would help the city fill small vacancies and make downtown Clayton more lively, he said.

There is certainly a need for those kind of high quality, really well-designed short-term rentals, and its very sensible in a place like a downtown urban district, Schlafly said.

The new zoning is being considered for Claytons comprehensive plan, which calls for transforming downtown, the regions premier office hub, into a more vibrant mixed-use area of residences, retail and nightlife. Officials in recent years approved zoning changes meant to spur growth, resulting in a spate of new high-rise apartment towers and bars and restaurants.

If approved, Clayton would be among the latest cities in the region to allow short-term rentals and adopt regulations for them. That includes St. Louis, which created a permitting process for short-term rentals in 2023 in response to a series of disturbances at some properties, including large parties that turned violent. Augusta, 60 miles west, also recently created regulations for short-term rentals after a billionaire launched a project to turn the area into a premier wine country.

Under Claytons draft ordinance, short-term rentals would be allowed in the citys high-density commercial district, and a maximum of four dwelling units in a building could be operated as short-term rentals, defined as stays no longer than 30 days.

Tenants would be required to lease the property for at least two nights and would not be allowed to hold parties or other special events. Operators of a short-term rental would be required to obtain and annually renew permits for each unit, provide off-street parking and retain a local agent who could be reached by the city at any time. Short-term rentals would not be allowed in existing multi-family properties.

Claytons Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance allowing short-term rentals June 16. If approved, it would go to the Board of Aldermen for a second public hearing and then a vote.

Schalfly said his company would lease the second-floor rentals through platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo by hiring a superhost, often a professional manager who has earned a high rating on the companies platforms. And he said his company will have a very critical eye on the rentals because it has offices in the building, he said.

There is no way that we would allow investment in our downtown central district building to do anything but create, increase and improve on a beautiful atmosphere for us, the city of Clayton and the block, he said.

The companys building in Clayton, on the corner of Meramec Avenue and Forsyth Boulevard, is located near some of the citys newest high-rise office buildings, including the Emerson and Commerce Bank towers, and St. Louis County government offices.

The vacant second floor was previously leased over the years by a furniture store show room, a law firm and a marketing firm, Schalfly said. A vacant office on the first floor, where the restaurant would go, previously housed financial firms Ameritrade and Charles Schwab.

Schlafly Corp. last year launched a similar project, called The Swiss Post, in its brewpub in Highland, Illinois, about 40 miles east of St. Louis, that included a steakhouse restaurant on the first floor and two apartments leased through Airbnb on the upper floors.
Its been seven years since Roger Carroll was convicted of murdering Bonnie Woodward.

The Alton mother went missing in 2010. After the case went cold, it took another 10 years before a suspect was charged and the case moved forward with a trial, ultimately leading to Carrolls sentencing of 65 years in prison.

Now Woodwards case is the subject of a new 20/20 episode on ABC that will air Friday at 8 p.m. Show representatives reached out to the Alton Telegraph for coverage information.

It was a case that shocked the communities of two Metro East, Illinois counties. And there wasnt just a murder at the center of it allthere was also abuse, kidnapping and threats to kill.

Here are five important things to know about the case:

Who was Bonnie Woodward?

Bonnie Woodward worked at a nursing home in Alton, Illinois. In 2010, she was living with her boyfriend and stepdaughter, Heather Woodward, when she left work and was never seen again. Heather Woodward would also go missing but later turned up unharmed.

A male suspect authorities looked into early in their investigation would become the center of the cases attention. However, law enforcement didnt have enough evidence to move forward at the time. His name was Roger Carroll, and it turns out he kept Heather Woodward at his house, barring her from any outside communication via phones or computers.

The burn pile

As the cold case began to heat up authorities focused on Carroll once again. Authorities learned that Carroll didnt act alone, his 16-year-old son, Nathan Carroll. Because Nathan Carroll was a minor at the time, his testimony to a grand jury came with full immunity, and now as a legal adult he filled everyone in as to how he and his father kidnapped and killed Bonnie Woodward.

Nathan, now 25, described seeing what he believes to be Woodwards body after hearing gunshots at his fathers home in rural Jerseyville, the Alton Telegraph wrote in 2020. Nathan was 16 years old at the time.

Nathan told the court his father used a front-loader to pick up the body, which appeared to be wearing white sneakers and scrub pants, and put it on a pile of brush. He said that at his fathers direction, he lit the pile, which had been soaked in oil and gasoline.

Nathan Carroll additionally testified the fire continued to smolder over a few days, and the contents of the burn pile were later moved to a creek.

Roger Carroll: A monster

To help the trial jury understand Carrolls background, his ex-wife Monica testified, saying he identified himself as a monster who couldnt control his anger. She also testified that he was abusive and threatening, stating she was held captive in their home near Jerseyville, trapped in a room, tasered up to 12 times and thrown to the floor.

How does Heather Woodward fit into all this? She testified she was unhappy living with Bonnie Woodward and moved in with a teacher. That arrangement lasted about a week before she moved in with the Carrolls, whom she knew from church.

Heather Woodward testified that Roger Carroll instructed her not to tell police she had been staying at the Carroll property, the Alton Telegraph reported. She said that, while staying with the Carrolls, Roger made the rules, and he instructed her not to use a cellphone or computer.

Sgt. Mike ONeill testified that police executed a search warrant for the Carroll property in September 2010. They found 30 guns in the home and 200 rounds of ammunition, he said. Among the guns was a Stoeger Cougar 9mm revolver, which Nathan Carroll identified as the murder weapon.

Carroll convicted

It took a decade, a trial and four hours of jury deliberations for Carroll to be found guilty of killing Bonnie Woodward in 2010.

It was determined that Carroll stalked Bonnie Woodward, learned her routine and where she would most likely be outside of work. Authorities also concluded Carroll lured and held Heather Woodward as bait for Bonnie Woodward.

We needed this, Roscoe Gray, Bonnie Woodwards brother, said after the conviction. My sister didnt deserve this; she would give the shirt off her back for anyone, and this man killed her for some lies some girl told.

I didnt get a fair trial

At Carrolls sentencing, he didnt hold back in expressing his thoughts on the trial that convicted him of first-degree murder. Carroll said he didnt get a fair trial and blamed the judge overseeing the case.

At Carrolls sentencing, he didnt hold back in expressing his thoughts on the trial that convicted him of first-degree murder. Carroll said he didnt get a fair trial and blamed the judge overseeing the case.

Despite Carrolls views, Circuit Judge Eric Pistorius sentenced him to 65 years in prison.

This was a meticulously planned, senseless death, Pistorius said.

Bonnie Woodwards son also read a statement to the court at Carrolls sentencing.

My mother was a good-hearted, dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, aunt friend, and coworker. Since Roger Carroll senselessly took her from our family, shes missed the birth of two grandchildren, countless holidays, birthdays, homecomings, my discharge from the Army and my wedding.

I was unable to dance with my mother at my reception...And now, because Roger Carroll destroyed my mothers remains in an attempt to avoid prosecution, hes also robbed us of the ability to properly lay her to rest.

Roger Carroll doesnt deserve to spend one more day enjoying the freedom I defended while in the Army.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump wants his bill of tax breaks and spending cuts on his desk to be signed into law by the Fourth of July, and he's pushing the slow-rolling Senate to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the White House early this week and called senators for one-on-one chats, using both the carrot and stick to nudge, badger and encourage them to act. But it's still a long road ahead for the 1,000-page-plus package.

"His question to me was, How do you think the bill's going to go in the Senate?" Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said about his call with Trump. "Do you think there's going to be problems?"

It's a potentially tumultuous three-week sprint for senators preparing to put their own imprint on the massive Republican package that cleared the House late last month by a single vote. The senators met for weeks behind closed doors, including as they returned to Washington late Monday, to revise the package ahead of what is expected to be a similarly narrow vote in the Senate.

But Trump's high-octane ally, billionaire Elon Musk, lambasted the package  and those voting for it.

"This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination," Musk posted on his social media site as some lawmakers expressed reservations about the details. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

The legislation would curtail subsidies that benefit Tesla, Musk's electric automaker.

The tech billionaire followed his criticism with a threat aimed at Republicans.

In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people, he wrote in another post.

Thune, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, has few votes to spare from the Senate's slim, 53-seat GOP majority. Democrats are waging an all-out political assault on GOP proposals to cut Medicaid, food stamps and green energy investments to help pay for more than $4.5 trillion in tax cuts  with many lawmakers being hammered at boisterous town halls back home.

"It'd be nice if we could have everybody on board to do it, but, you know, individual members are going to stake out their positions," Thune said Tuesday. "But in the end, we have to succeed. Failure's not an option."

At its core, the package seeks to extend the tax cuts approved in 2017, during Trump's first term at the White House, and add new ones the presidents campaigned on, including no taxes on tips and others. It also includes a massive build-up of $350 billion for border security, deportations and national security.

To defray the lost tax revenue to the government and avoid piling onto the nation's $36 trillion debt load, Republicans want reduce federal spending by imposing work requirements for some Americans who rely on government safety net services.

Estimates show 8.6 million people would no longer have health care and almost 4 million would lose Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP.

The package also would raise the nation's debt limit by $4 trillion to allow more borrowing to pay the bills.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump's bill "is ugly to its very core."

Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday it's a "lie" that the cuts won't hurt Americans.

"Behind the smoke and mirrors lies a cruel and draconian truth: tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy paid for by gutting health care for millions of Americans," he said.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is expected to provide an overall analysis soon of the package's impacts on the government balance sheets, particularly rising annual deficits. Republicans are ready to blast those findings from the congressional scorekeeper as flawed.

Trump switched to tougher tactics Tuesday, deriding the holdout Republican senators to get on board.

The president laid into Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the libertarian-leaning deficit hawk who made a career of arguing against government spending. Paul wants the package's $4 trillion increase to the debt ceiling out of the bill.

"Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!)." Trump posted.

Paul seemed unfazed. "I like the president, supported the president," the senator said. "But I can't in good conscience give up every principle that I stand for and every principle that I was elected upon."

The July 4th deadline is not only aspirational for the president, it's all but mandatory for his Treasury Department. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Congress that the nation will run out of money to pay its bills if the debt ceiling, now at $36 trillion, is not lifted by mid-July or early August to allow more borrowing.

Thune acknowledged Tuesday that lifting the debt ceiling is not up for debate.

"It's got to be done," the South Dakota senator said.

The road ahead is also a test for Thune who, like Johnson, is a newer leader in Congress and among the many Republicans adjusting their own priorities with Trump's return to the White House.

While Johnson warned against massive changes to the package, Thune faces demands from his senators for adjustments.

To make most of the tax cuts permanent  particularly the business tax breaks that are the Senate priorities  senators might shave some of Trump's proposed new tax breaks on automobile loans or overtime pay, which are policies less prized by some senators.

Hawley is a among a group of senators, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who raised concerns about the Medicaid changes that could boot people from health insurance.
Tony Messenger's column "Pardons send a message that fraud is losing its meaning in Trump era" (May 30) is another in a long line of grim reminders of how corrupt President Donald Trump actually is. While it isn't unusual for any president to issue the occasional controversial pardon, Trump has dropped to new lows in preventing his supporters from being accountable for their crimes.

Being a MAGA supporter seems to be tantamount to having a "get out of jail free" card provided that the supporter had the prudence to commit federal crimes which make them eligible to benefit from Trump's pardon pen. Ironically, Trump himself is a convicted felon who condemns his political opponents as the ones who are "crooked."

Messenger gave a few examples of how crime can pay for Trump's loyalists. The most glaring example is when Trump pardoned everybody involved in the insurrection he incited on Jan. 6, 2021. Prior to taking office a second time, he said he would "consider" pardoning some of the non-violent participants in the insurrection. But then he wasted no time in pardoning the entire bunch who supported his attempt to circumvent our democracy.

What is frightening is the possibility of some MAGA fanatic going to Capitol Hill and gunning down every Democrat and anybody else who dared to oppose Trump. Might that individual also have a reasonable expectation of pardons from Trump? It might seem ludicrous, but there is no telling how far Trump is willing to go to protect his loyalists.

And it all came about because 77 million people voted to make the same mistake twice.

Jim Gardner

Union
Lt. Col. Erin Fritzler, commander of the Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion, and recruits salute during an Armed Forces Day Parade in Torrance, Calif., on May 17, 2025. (Brea DuBose/U.S. Army)



The Army has met its active duty recruiting goal for 2025, marking the earliest the service has reached its annual enlistment target in more than a decade, service officials said Tuesday.

The Army surpassed 61,000 future soldier contracts this week, four months before the end of the fiscal year, according to a service news release. It marks the second consecutive year that the service has reached its target for new enlistment after it had failed to meet its goals in 2022 and 2023.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll credited the services 10,000 or so recruiters for their colossal efforts to improve the services recruiting wing in recent years and sign up some 10% more young Americans to join the Army so far this year than last year when it achieved its 55,000-recruit target just before the fiscal years end in September.

A full four months ahead of schedule, we crushed the U.S. Armys FY25 recruiting goals, Driscoll said in a statement. I want to thank our hard-working recruiting community and everyone who helped support this important milestone.

The last time that the Army met its recruiting goal in the first week of June was 2014, said Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for Driscoll.

The Army secretary said Tuesday that hitting the goal so early showed the services recruiting challenges were behind us.

Tolbert said those recruited for the rest of the fiscal year will enter the Armys Delayed Entry Program, which means they will ship to basic training in fiscal 2026, which starts Oct. 1.

Some 14,000 of the recruits who have shipped to basic training in fiscal 2025 did so after entering the Delayed Entry Program last year, according to the service.

The accomplishment comes as the Army prepares to hold events around the world marking its 250th birthday, including a massive celebration and parade planned for Washington, D.C., on June 14. That event is expected to include an enlistment ceremony for new recruits committing to the service.

The Army  and most of the other military services  have struggled in recent years to meet their recruiting goals, at least in part because of a shrinking pool of eligible candidates.

The Pentagon in recent years has estimated only some 23% of young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 meet the basic education, fitness and moral criteria to serve. Among those qualified, only about 9% have showed interest in the military in recent years, according to Pentagon data.

Amid its struggles in recent years, the Army has launched new programs to bolster its recruiting apparatus and raised its recruiting commander from a two-star general to a three-star.

It also opened a new pathway to enlistment for Army hopefuls who initially fall short of meeting the services enlistment standards via its Future Soldier Prep Course. The program gives those recruits 90 days of academic or fitness instruction by Army drill sergeants to help them meet those basic standards. It has driven thousands of recruits into basic training since 2022, and officials have generally regarded it as successful.

Driscoll on Tuesday sought to paint the recruiting win as a reflection of new policies implemented since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in recent months have continually taken credit for the improved recruiting numbers.

Nonetheless, Pentagon data shows recruiting improvements began months before the November 2024 presidential election.

I want to thank the commander in chief, President Trump, and Secretary of Defense Hegseth for their decisive leadership and support in equipping, training and supporting these future soldiers as they face a world of global uncertainty and complex threats, Driscoll said. Putting soldiers first is having a tangible impact and shows that young people across our country want to be part of the most lethal land fighting force the world has ever seen.
Irans non-oil exports to Georgia see modest value growth

Irans non-oil exports to Georgia reached nearly $14 million in the first month of the Iranian year, marking a slight increase in value despite a decrease in shipment volume. Overall trade between the two countries declined in both value and weight compared to the same period last year.

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A welcome sign outside Fort Cavazos, Texas. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)



FORT CAVAZOS, Texas  A Fort Cavazos soldier who argued in a preliminary hearing that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a fellow soldier along a highway in Texas will face a court-martial, service officials said.

The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel decided last week to charge Spc. Kip D. Holloway, 25, in the death of Spc. Clarence CJ White, 26. The general nature of the charges are unpremeditated murder, voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, according to Michelle McCaskill, spokeswoman for the special trial counsel.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, she said. Holloway was a tank crew member, and White was an infantryman.

During a preliminary hearing held April 1, military attorneys discussed 44 pieces of evidence. Maj. Jack Gibson, an attorney with the 1st Cavalry Division, was tasked with reporting to the special trial counsel on whether there was enough evidence to court-martial Holloway and whether prosecutors could sustain a conviction. Gibson recommended the case move forward to a trial, McCaskill said.

The next step is for a military judge to be assigned to the case and a date scheduled for Spc. Holloways arraignment, she said.

On Jan. 27, 2024, both soldiers, who attorneys said were friends, were driving throughout central Texas in Holloways gray Nissan. Holloway was driving, and an intoxicated White was in the passenger seat. White had called and texted Holloway throughout the night to pick him up from a nightclub, according to evidence presented at the hearing in April. His autopsy would later show a blood alcohol content of .216, or nearly three times the legal limit for driving, said Capt. Michael Green, an attorney for Holloway.

At about 6:30 a.m., the two soldiers were pulled over, and White told the police that Holloway was his sergeant bringing him home because he was drunk, said Maj. Tara Goble, a prosecutor in the case.

By about 9 a.m., Holloway called 911 from the side of Interstate Highway 14 in Nolanville to report the shooting. White had a direct contact gunshot wound to the head, and Holloway had a close range gunshot wound in his right leg, Goble said.

He tried to kill me, Holloway said on the 911 recording, which was played during the hearing. We were in the car fighting for [the gun].

On the call, Holloway said he shot White after wrestling for control of the weapon, but attorneys disagreed over exactly what Holloway told the operator about his own gunshot wound.

Goble argued Holloway said, I shot my friend, and I shot myself.

Green said Holloways words were: I shot my friend, and Im shot myself.

No one presented evidence that directly pointed at who shot Holloway, though Goble said only Whites blood was found inside the vehicle. Holloways blood is only found on the doorframe leading out of the car. However, Whites DNA was found on the grip and trigger of the firearm, Green said.

Both sides also lacked clear evidence on whether the shooting occurred on the highway while the vehicle was moving or if it happened after the vehicle exited and stopped in a field along the access road. There was no evidence of a struggle in the car, Goble said.

Blood spatter evidence supported that the doors were all closed when White was shot, Goble said. A door was likely open when Holloway was shot, but evidence is not definitive, she said.

In response, Green presented evidence to show White, who was physically larger than his friend, had violent tendencies. Whites medical records stated he told his behavioral health care provider about thoughts of suicide and a need to put his hands on someone, Green said.

He described an instance when White broke his hand and told his unit it happened while putting his niece to bed. Investigators found he broke his hand while he was fighting, Green said.

While the records mentioned White had issues with his boss and other soldiers, there was no mention of problems with Holloway specifically. They could not find any reason why it would happen, Green said.

Nolanville, home to about 6,000 people, is roughly 15 miles east of Fort Cavazos. Nolanville police said last year that they gave jurisdiction of the case to the Army.
U.S. Army Pfc. Dewayne Johnson sits with his teammates during an exercise at Helemano Military Reservation, Hawaii, in November 2023. (Joshua Linfoot/U.S. Army)



WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii  Army Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson II pleaded guilty Tuesday to the rage-fueled killing of his wife and her unborn child with a machete last summer.

In a plea deal accepted by Judge Rebecca Farrell in the Wheeler Army Airfield courthouse, Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter, thus avoiding a trial for the murder charges referred by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel in February.

Voluntary manslaughter lacks the premeditation aspect of murder, and it is typically committed in the heat of passion due to fear or rage, Farrell said.

In a calm, emotionless voice, Johnson described under oath how he had killed Mischa Johnson, 19, with a single blow to the head with a machete, dismembered her body, bagged it and disposed of it in a dumpster bound for an incinerator.

Her body has not been found.

Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson was last seen in her home at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in July 2024. (Honolulu Police Department)



Farrell will begin the sentencing phase of the court-martial on Wednesday. Johnson faces a sentence of between 18 to 23 years based on the plea agreement.

He also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and providing false official statements.

A charge for possession of child pornography and the production and distribution of child pornography was dropped under the plea deal.

Johnson reported his wife missing on Aug. 1, setting off a flurry of searches on and around Schofield Barracks, where the couple lived. In fact, Johnson had killed her more than two weeks earlier on July 12, he said in court.

The couple frequently quarreled over the soldiers interest in other women, he said.

On July 12, Mischa Johnson objected to his choice of movie to watch at home because the lead actress resembled a woman with whom she believed he was sexually involved, he said.

They argued in several rooms of their home and ended up in the upstairs bedroom, Johnson said.

I picked up the machete next to the bed, he said. Id never hit her before, so I think she thought I wouldnt do anything.

This day she said something she never said before: This child will never know you even existed, he said.

I was overwhelmed with rage at the thought of not having my child, he said.

Johnson said he swung the machete and hit her left temple.

As his rage subsided, Johnson commenced a weeks-long scheme to cover up the killing by reporting her as a missing person. He was aware that the dumpster used by his unit at Schofield Barracks was emptied directly into an incinerator, which would leave no trace of her body.

Johnson tried dismembering her body with the machete, but it was too much hassle, he said.

The next day I got the chainsaw and cut off her arms, her legs, and I left the torso and head, he said.

For the rest of July, Johnson said he continued to text his wifes family and friends using her phone. He posed as her on social media and kept up conversations with her contacts.

He also removed items of her clothing, makeup and jewelry so investigators would believe his story that she was distraught and simply walked away.

Johnson, of Frederick, Md., is a cavalry scout with the 25th Infantry Division, where he was assigned in June 2023. He will receive a dishonorable discharge as part of the plea agreement.
A Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, also known as NMESIS, is fired at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif., June 28, 2023. (Earik Barton/U.S. Marine Corps)



U.S. Marines are stashing an anti-ship missile system in remote corners of the northern Philippines as part of an ongoing exercise meant to counter threats in the regions contested waters, according to the commander of the Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.

Members of the regiment have been in the Philippines since the start of spring and are participating in Kamandag, a 12-day annual exercise with Filipino forces that wraps up Friday.

The training comes amid rising tension between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System  NMESIS  made its Philippines debut in April and is operating in the Batanes, a group of islands east of the Luzon Strait between Taiwan and the Philippines, Col. John Lehane, the regiments commander, said by phone Wednesday.

Marines are using NMESIS for simulated missions to test the systems ability to target ships at sea. They are not conducting live-fire training, he said.

Lehane declined to say how many Marines are involved or which islands theyre using but said each island in the group presents unique challenges. The Batanes cover just 84 square miles, but Marines can still conceal the systems effectively, he said.

Members of the Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment stage the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, during annual Kamandag drills in the Philippines, May 25, 2025. (Malia Sparks/U.S. Marine Corps)



You would be surprised how creative we are, he said. Theres no shortage of places we can hide things, even on small islands.

The regiment acquired NMESIS in November. The system includes launchers, a 7-ton vehicle and two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. Its deployment is part of the Marines Force Design strategy, which positions small units at maritime chokepoints to deny enemies access to contested waters.

While the islands offer cover for the launchers, spotting ships in the Luzon Strait is straightforward, Lehane said. The Marines are supported by U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft, drones, satellites and their own sensors.

Its pretty remarkable the capability that we have, he said. Theres not much that I dont know.

Most vessels in the area are commercial cargo ships or fishing boats, Lehane said, noting the straits role as a trade route linking the Middle East to Northeast Asia.

Marines have also practiced flying NMESIS to the islands on KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft and loading and unloading the system from a stern landing vessel, Lehane said.

During training on the Philippines main island of Luzon, the NMESIS worked alongside the Marine Air Defense Integration System  MADIS  also in the Philippines for the first time, he said. MADIS is equipped with Stinger missiles, a 30 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
USNS Harvey Milk conducts a replenishment at sea in December 2024 in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo)



WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the ship that honors Harvey Milk, a former sailor who later became the first openly gay man elected to office in California, defense officials confirmed Tuesday.

The USNS Harvey Milk, a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, was first named after the gay rights activist in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. The John Lewis-class oilers are designated by the Navy to be named for civil rights leaders and activists.

But the ship will be renamed now to align with President Donald Trumps and Hegseths priorities, said an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The order was handed down from Hegseth to Navy Secretary John Phelan, a second official said. It was unclear Tuesday what the Harvey Milks new name will be, when the change will occur or how much it will cost.

Milk was commissioned in the Navy in 1951 and served as a diving officer on the submarine rescue ship USS Kittiwake during the Korean War. He was forced to resign in 1955 after it was discovered he was gay and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant junior grade.

Harvey Milk sits at San Francisco Mayor George Moscones desk on March 7, 1978. Moscone was out of town, and Milk was acting mayor. (Photo by Daniel Nicoletta/Wikimedia Commons)



Milk went on to run for political office in California, winning a seat on the San Francisco board of supervisors in 1977. He was killed in office in 1978 shortly after passing a bill banning housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Milks assassination transformed him into an icon in San Francisco and a martyr in the LGBTQ+ community. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Leaders like Harvey Milk taught us that diversity of backgrounds and experiences help contribute to the strength and resolve of our nation, former Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said in 2021 during the ships commissioning ceremony. There is no doubt that the future sailors aboard this ship will be inspired by Milks life and legacy.

The Harvey Milk is undergoing maintenance at a shipyard in Alabama. The maintenance should be completed in late June, according to the Alabama Shipyard.

The Pentagon said reviews of names were in progress and potential renamings would be announced after those reviews are complete.

Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all [Defense Department] installations and assets are reflective of the commander in chiefs priorities, our nations history, and the warrior ethos, said Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman.

The Navy declined to comment on the order to rename the Harvey Milk. The order was meant to become public on June 13, intentionally coinciding with Pride Month  celebrated annually in June to recognize the contributions and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, according to Military.com, which was first to report the renaming.

News of the ships renaming drew criticism Tuesday from lawmakers, scholars and advocacy groups.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a former House Speaker, said the renaming is a spiteful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers. Tim Naftali, a senior research scholar for Columbias School of International and Public Affairs, described the timing of the renaming as nothing less than the most vicious homophobia.

Stripping Milks name from a Navy ship on the basis of his sexuality is despicable, said Lindsay Church, president of Minority Veterans of America.

It sends a dangerous message to every LGBTQ+ person who has worn the uniform: that your service is conditional, that your sacrifice is second-class. Harvey Milk stood for inclusion, for courage, and for the belief that everyone deserves dignity and respect  values the military claims to uphold, Church said. To erase him now is to side with bigotry over bravery, and history will remember it as a shameful retreat from justice.
A monument at Utah Beach in Normandy, France, that honors U.S. Navy sailors who fought in the D-Day invasion during World War II is shown in 2019. The Allied invasion fleet consisted of thousands of warships, landing craft and commercial vessels. (Sarah Villegas/U.S. Navy)



NAPLES, Italy  As Allied forces stormed Nazi-occupied territory in France on D-Day, it became clear that the peril soldiers faced at Omaha Beach threatened the effort to liberate Europe from German control.

Thats when the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Frankford made the independent decision to bring the ship within 800 to 1,000 yards of the shore to fire on the enemy.

Other battleships followed, launching a second bombardment that proved decisive, Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples, said Tuesday during a naval history symposium near Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France, commemorating the 81st anniversary of D-Day.

The symposium and a U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa band concert, featuring a newly commissioned composition memorializing this years D-Day observance, were led by NAVEUR-AF.

The effort by Frankfords commanding officer, who drew on experience gained during an earlier event at Anzio, Italy, was a marquee example of adaptive (decision-making) that is most effective in battle, Munsch said.

It shows the importance of instilling in your command the ability of lower-level leaders  to make decisions based on the circumstances they see, understanding the principles of what are to be achieved, he said.

The Allied invasion fleet  led by Adm. Sir Bertram Ramsay of the U.K. navy  consisted of thousands of warships, landing craft and commercial vessels that carried an advance formation of 175,000 soldiers, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.

Those ships also carried 100,000 tons of equipment, including 50,000 vehicles, such as tanks and jeeps.

The USS Frankford at anchor in the New York Harbor area following the removal of her torpedo tubes, June 19, 1945. (Naval History and Heritage Command)



Operation Neptune, the naval component of D-Day, was outlined by Ramsay in a more than 1,100-page document with incredible detail and clarity, Munsch said.

That clarity was key in the initial success of landing troops and equipment on the beaches of France and in providing cover, among other tasks.

But the plan also underscored the importance of following up with support, maintenance and rapid buildup of additional troops, Munsch said.

The Navys goal wasnt its own glory but rather to serve the Armys needs, said Munsch in quoting Ramsays guidance in the planning document.

He set the standard for doing big operations and getting them right, Munsch said later Tuesday in an interview with Stars and Stripes.

One of the wars enduring lessons, he added, is that Allied victory was rooted in the earlier development of a military system that prioritized learning and technological innovation.

Thats really what made a huge difference for us in World War II, he said. It may have been a very different result without that good work.
Department of Defense Education Activity music teacher Ryan Davis directs a recording session for The Military Kid Song in Sasebo, Japan, April 12, 2025. (Arielle Jones)



A music teacher at a Defense Department school in Japan, along with American and Japanese students, has recorded an unofficial anthem for U.S. military children living overseas.

Ryan Davis  an art and music instructor at Jack N. Darby and Sasebo elementary schools on Sasebo Naval Base  wrote The Military Kid Song in 2017 while working for Department of Defense Education Activity schools at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.

On April 12, Davis and a group of students, ages 4 to 16, recorded the song at a studio in Sasebo, accompanied by local Japanese children on instruments.

Davis, who plans to retire after this school year, said hes leaving the anthem as a parting gift to the DODEA community.

Im going to miss the DODEA kids for sure, he told Stars and Stripes in a phone interview on May 15. But bringing the song through a recording and getting it out there as Im leaving kind of makes the closing of this chapter in my life a happy ending, like Im giving something back to the kids and the families.

Department of Defense Education Activity music teacher Ryan Davis directs a recording session for The Military Kid Song in Sasebo, Japan, April 12, 2025. (Arielle Jones)



Davis said he wrote the song for a Month of the Military Child event at Yokota.

So, Im going through the internet, Googling songs for military kids and nothing would pop up, he said. We could sing the National Anthem, we could sing the Air Force song, the Army song, the Navy song, but nothing about the military kids. So, I was like, Man, we need a song for the kids and about their experience.

A former DODEA student himself, Davis studied music at East Central College in Union, Mo., but left in 1997 to join the Air Force as a geospatial intelligence specialist.

While on active duty, he completed his music degree at Yuba Community College in Yuba City, Calif., and later earned a degree in classical guitar with a minor in education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

So that background helped me to be like, Oh yeah, we dont have a song, so were going to make a song, he said.

Children record vocals for The Military Kid Song in Sasebo, Japan, April 12, 2025. (Arielle Jones)



The original version of The Military Kid Song included only a few verses and a chorus, with Davis on guitar.

The parents loved it; the kids loved it, he said. They were like, Oh, we need more, we need more. So, the next year the song developed even more.

After Davis moved to Sasebo in August 2020, a Yokota parent emailed him asking for a recording of the song. So, he scored it for horns, keyboard, drums and bass, and then found a studio to record it.

It was a cultural exchange event, Davis said, adding that the studio offered to record the song for free if its students could participate.

The studio houses the Sasebo Jazz Fan Club, which aims to nurture young musicians, according to its website.

We went in there, we all knew what we were doing, and the kids recorded their parts with one take, Davis said. It was a lot of fun.

Darby fourth-grader Arabella Sanchez sang in the chorus on the recording, said her mother, Marine Corps spouse Johanna Cupa, during phone and email interviews on May 16.

Cupa, a mother of four who works as a special education assessor for Sasebo schools, said Arabella was having a hard time making friends after moving to Sasebo from North Carolina. Davis song helped her connect with others and prepare for another move.

The students are very lucky to have him as their teacher, Cupa said.

Children pose during a recording session for The Military Kid Song in Sasebo, Japan, April 12, 2025. (Arielle Jones)



After 18 years of teaching, David said he plans to turn his attention to family, food and live music.

The DoD community gave me a lifetime of memories, he said. Along with the great fortune to meet so many extraordinary people from many different walks of life, the memories Ive collected will fill my heart with joy for the rest of my days. Im incredibly grateful for the military life and thats why Im so happy I could give back with a song.
Sailors secure target stands on the aircraft elevator during a gun shoot aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli somewhere in the eastern Pacific Ocean, June 2, 2025. (Kaleb Schultz/U.S. Navy)



The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli is on its way to Japan, where it will replace the USS America as the lead vessel of the Navys sole amphibious ready group outside the United States.

The Tripoli departed its longtime homeport of San Diego on May 19 and is crossing the Pacific toward Sasebo Naval Base in Nagasaki prefecture, where it will become flagship of Amphibious Squadron 11s amphibious ready group, the Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a news release Tuesday.

The amphibious ready group regularly conducts regional deployments with the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. While under the Americas command, the group includes the dock landing ship USS Rushmore and transport dock ships USS San Diego and USS New Orleans.

This crew has been diligently preparing to forward deploy since last year, Capt. Eddie Park, the Tripolis commander, said in the release. I am fully confident in the crews abilities to execute any mission assigned to us.

The rotation was first announced on Feb. 14, but no timeline was provided then due to operational security. No other ships are slated to rotate, Lt. Cmdr. Katie Koenig, a Pacific Fleet spokeswoman, told Stars and Stripes at the time.

Meanwhile, the America, which first arrived at Sasebo in December 2019, will return to San Diego, its previous homeport. The America, Tripoli and other ships in their class are small flattops typically carrying F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters.

As of Sunday, the Tripoli was in the Eastern Pacific, while the America and the 31st MEU were operating in the Philippine Sea, based on imagery posted to Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

The Tripoli is ready to defend U.S. interests abroad and strengthen our long-standing partnership with Japan, Park said in the release. I am extremely proud to lead this hard-working and motivated team of Sailors and Marines overseas to support security, stability and prosperity in this vital region.

Commissioned in 2020, the Tripoli is the second America-class amphibious assault ship, following its sister carrier, the America, commissioned in 2014. Two more in the class  the USS Bougainville and USS Fallujah  are under construction by Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Among Tripolis improvement over its predecessor are a larger hangar deck, expanded command-and-control facilities, an upgraded medical bay and additional aviation support spaces, according to the Navy.
Maj. Gen. David Gardner, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, speaks at a ceremony in Carentan, France, on June 3, 2025, that saw 14 soldiers in the division reenlist. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)



CARENTAN, France  In an open 1940s military vehicle rumbling through the Normandy countryside, Staff Sgt. Nathan Selby and Sgt. Juan Ramirez retraced the path of paratroopers who jumped into the nearby fields 81 years ago.

Imagine them parachuting and falling out of the sky, Selby shouted.

Ramirez looked up in silence.

The two 101st Airborne Division soldiers were part of a convoy of vintage World War II vehicles weaving through back roads Tuesday near Carentan, where American paratroopers fought just days after the D-Day landings. The ride was part of a battlefield tour aimed at connecting todays troops with the divisions storied past.

As France prepares to mark the 81st anniversary of the Allied invasion, U.S. military officials say events like this have taken on added meaning. With few World War II veterans still alive, the responsibility to remember and pass on their stories is shifting to a new generation.

About four dozen soldiers from the 101st are in Normandy this week taking part in ceremonies, visiting historic sites and meeting with French citizens whose towns were once battlegrounds.

To deepen that connection, the town of Carentan has hosted battlefield tours in recent years, evolving from bus rides to immersive convoys staffed by volunteers in period uniforms.

Some of the 40 vintage vehicles taking 101st Airborne Division soldiers on a World War II battlefield tour of the French town of Carentan and surrounding areas in Normandy are shown June 3, 2025. The tour was aimed at connecting the U.S. soldiers with their units legacy. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

A reenlistment ceremony involving 14 U.S. soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division is held in Carentan, France, June 3, 2025. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

A vintage World War II vehicle takes U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division soldiers on a battlefield tour June 3, 2025, near Carentan in Frances Normandy region. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)



For Selby, an infantryman who leads a machine gun team, riding through the terrain where his predecessors fought brought their stories into sharp focus.

It motivates me to go back and work harder, Selby said. If we were in a situation like this, would we be able to accomplish the mission with todays Army? We have to be able to train our men to that same level.

He posed the question not long before the convoy drove down Purple Heart Lane, a narrow causeway where 101st paratroopers came under withering German fire.

Nearby, in front of a monument marking Lt. Col. Robert Coles famed bayonet charge, Selby and Ramirez joined a group of 14 soldiers who reenlisted, pledging on the very ground where over 100 Screaming Eagles were killed in combat.

This is very special, Selby said moments after taking the oath. Walking in their footsteps  it changes the way you see the job.

A French World War II reenactor wearing a U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division patch watches a parade in Carentan, France, on June 3, 2025, that included current members of the division riding through town in period vehicles. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Author Denis van den Brink explains the course of a D-Day battle fought by the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division on June 6, 1944, as present-day Screaming Eagles and World War II reenactors listen on June 3, 2025. The soldiers were on a World War II battlefield tour near Carentan, France. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Staff Sgt. Nathan Selby and Sgt. Juan Ramirez of the 101st Airborne Division observe an area of France's Normandy region where paratroopers from their unit landed to fight German forces in World War II. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)



In the early hours of June 6, 1944, members of the 101st Airborne parachuted behind enemy lines.

Despite being scattered across the countryside, they regrouped, seizing key bridges and securing vital roads leading inland from Utah Beach.

Two regiments from the division fought at the banks of the Douve River, where Tuesdays convoy stopped to hear the stories told by tour organizer Denis van den Brink.

At one drop zone nearby, most of the paratroopers were shot out of the sky by waiting German forces. Only a few survived.

It was a different story at another site on the tour, known as Hells Corner. There, 101st soldiers ambushed a battalion of elite German troops, killing around 150 and forcing a surrender.

Denis van den Brink, right, stands on a table near the Douve River in France's Normandy region on June 3, 2025, and tells U.S. troops with the 101st Airborne Division and World War II reenactors about the divisions efforts in the area during the war. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division ride through Normandy in vintage military vehicles June 3, 2025, during a World War II battlefield tour around Carentan, France, where the Screaming Eagles fought on D-Day in 1944. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division soldiers and World War II reenactors drive in vintage vehicles June 3, 2025, in an area of France's Normandy region where the divisions soldiers fought 81 years ago. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Maj. Gen. David Gardner, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, reenlists 14 Screaming Eagles on June 3, 2025, in Carentan, France. The soldiers were in Normandy in the lead-up to the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, and were taken on a tour of World War II battlefield sites in the area. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)



For Sgt. 1st Class James Pettit, standing on that ground was humbling, but the reception from French citizens moved him just as much.

Being able to understand the history and to see the compassion, it lights an internal flame and it makes me want to drive harder and take that message back to my younger soldiers and explain to them the love that everyone around us here has for us, Pettit said.

Some of that gratitude came from about a dozen local high school students, who rode along with the convoy and shared stories, jokes and facts about Normandy.

Before the tour began, they gave a presentation at Carentans theater, where they explained everything from regional cheeses to how much it costs to buy a castle. For anyone who might be interested, the answer was 3.5 million euros.

The Douve River near Carentan, France, is where two U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division regiments had to cross and fight shortly after landing on D-Day in 1944. Many U.S. soldiers were killed in the area. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division ride in a vintage World War II vehicle near Carentan, France, June 3, 2025. Volunteers transported troops during a battlefield tour meant to connect them with their units World War II legacy. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division observe an area near Carentan, France, on June 3, 2025, where members of their unit fought 81 years ago. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division soldiers ride through Normandy in vintage military vehicles June 3, 2025, during a World War II battlefield tour around Carentan, France, where the Screaming Eagles fought on D-Day in 1944. Friday marks the 81st anniversary of the invasion. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)



One student highlighted ties between the U.S. and France, noting that about 30% of English words have French roots thanks to the Norman conquest of England  though the soldiers pronunciation attempts didnt quite reflect that.

This is so rare, Maj. Gen. David Gardner, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, said of the opportunity his soldiers were getting to interact with French citizens while learning about the units history.

In my 30-plus years (in the military), Ive cherished the opportunities Ive had to meet our veterans of World War II, Gardner said. Almost as good is to be on this terrain learning about what our division did and to see and meet the sons and granddaughters, grandsons and great-grandchildren in the places were so connected to.
The U.S. will call on all NATO members to develop concrete plans to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said June 4, 2025. (NATO)



The United States will demand that all NATO allies develop clear plans to hit new defense spending targets in a timely manner, the top American diplomat to the bloc said Wednesday.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said a deadline had yet to be set for member countries to hit a benchmark of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense.

The United States expects every ally to step up with concrete plans, budgets, timelines (and) deliverables to meet the 5% target and close capability gaps, Whitaker told reporters ahead of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The agreement being worked on will carry more urgency than the 2014 Wales summits arrangement, which gave allies a decade to raise spending levels to 2% of GDP, Whitaker said.

This is not going to be just a pledge; this is going to be a commitment, Whitaker said. Theres not unlimited time. We cannot have another Wales pledge where we dont have a lot of allies that meet their commitments until year 10 or year 11.

Defense spending will dominate the agenda when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other military leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday.

And the spending issue likely will be the centerpiece of an upcoming summit in June, where President Donald Trump and other heads of state are expected to finalize NATOs new defense spending plans.

Trump has insisted that allies increase spending levels from 2% of GDP to 5%. Whitaker said he and other NATO diplomats are still working out what will be counted toward defense spending.

One idea thats being looked at involves dedicating 3.5% to military forces and equipment and a further 1.5% to related infrastructure.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said defense ministers will agree Thursday to new capability targets that designate what forces and systems individual members must provide toward allied defense plans.

Air and missile defense, long-range weapons, logistics, large land maneuver formations are among our top priorities, Rutte said. We need more resources, forces and capabilities so that we are prepared to face any threat, and to implement our collective defense plans in full.

Delivering on those new capability targets will require a budgetary boost, he added.

We have to go further, and we have to go faster, so we will discuss the urgent need to increase defense spending, Rutte said.

Whitaker said he expects all members to be on board with the 5% plan when Trump and other heads of state meet in the Dutch city of The Hague in June.

He didnt say what the consequences would be should any ally veto the 5% plan. In NATO, unanimous consensus is required to make decisions.

Whitaker said the security environment in Europe demands faster action.

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict grinds on, Moscow is already preparing for its next move, Whitaker said, adding that the Kremlin is rebuilding its military. NATO allies must outpace Russia.
A Syrian Free Army vehicle idles beside a U.S. Army vehicle near al-Tanf Garrison, Syria, on May 6, 2023. The number of U.S. bases in Syria will eventually drop from eight to one, Tom Barrack, the American ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, said June 2, 2025, in an interview with a Turkish TV station. (Terry Vongsouthi/U.S. Army)



The number of U.S. bases in Syria will be pared from eight to one, the American ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria said this week in an interview with a Turkish TV station.

Tom Barracks comments Monday on the impending consolidation were confirmed to Stars and Stripes by a U.S. official, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Reduction of the U.S. militarys footprint in Syria is a reflection of shifting American policy, Barrack said in the interview, which was published in Turkish.

For more than a decade, the U.S. has been conducting Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission aimed at defeating the Islamic State group in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

Since ISIS territorial defeat in 2019, the U.S. has consistently maintained at least several hundred troops in northeastern Syria to train and assist Kurdish partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces, as well as a small contingent near the southern border with Jordan and Iraq.

Following an agreement the SDF made in March to merge forces with the interim government in Damascus, the Pentagon said it will reduce the American troop level in the country from 2,000 to less than 1,000 in the coming months.

Fox News, citing U.S. officials, reported Monday that 500 troops had left bases in northeastern Syria, including Mission Support Site Green Village and Mission Support Site Euphrates, which was handed over to the SDF.

The top priority for the U.S. are the 9,000 ISIS fighters currently held in detention centers maintained by the SDF.

During a recent Middle East visit, President Donald Trump urged his new Syrian counterpart, interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, to assume responsibility for the prisons where U.S. forces for years have trained and equipped their Kurdish partners.

But it will likely be months or years before the new government is stable enough to do so, experts say.

Barracks announcement came as the United States and other world powers try to navigate shifting dynamics in the Middle East following the collapse of the Assad familys regime in Syria in late 2024 after more than a half-century of rule.

Trumps Syria policy will not be close to those of the past 100 years because none of them worked, Barrack said.

The U.S. is also taking steps to ease decades of economic sanctions on Syria as the interim government works to gain control and stability.

In a congressional hearing last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that without U.S. support, the country faces potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions.
Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, left, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson. (U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force)



This story has been corrected

President Donald Trump has nominated a Navy admiral to become the next leader of U.S. Central Command and an Air Force general to take charge of U.S. Africa Command, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

Vice Adm. Charles Brad Cooper II was nominated to lead CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. forces and operations across the Middle East and central Asia, according to a Pentagon statement. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson was nominated to helm U.S. Africa Command, which oversees U.S. troops and operations across most of that continent.

If confirmed by the Senate, both veteran officers would receive a fourth star.

Cooper, who now serves as CENTCOMs deputy commander, is a career surface warfare officer who commissioned in 1989 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He would replace Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who has led CENTCOM since April 2022 and is slated to retire. Kurilla in recent months has overseen U.S. strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, attacks on Islamic State group leaders in Syria and American efforts to support Israeli operations against Hamas militants in Gaza.

Cooper, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, would become the first Navy admiral to lead the command since its establishment in 1983. Central Command, based at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Fla., encompasses 21 countries and includes troubled areas such as Iraq, Yemen and Israel.

Before becoming CENTCOMs deputy commander, Cooper served as the commander of U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain. He also has commanded U.S. Naval Force Atlantic, Expeditionary Strike Group 7, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and a guided-missile destroyer and a cruiser, according to his Navy biography.

Anderson, a pilot who has worked in various roles including in the Air Force special operations community, would replace Marine Gen. Michael Langley as the leader of AFRICOM. Langley has led the command since August 2022 and faced issues including the expulsion of U.S. troops from its key drone base in Niger, a rise in ISIS and al-Qaida affiliated terrorist groups on the continent and continued operations against al-Shabab and other extremist groups in Somalia.

Anderson would become the first Air Force officer to helm the Stuttgart, Germany-based Africa Command, which oversees operations and military relations in 53 African nations.

Anderson is now assigned to the Pentagon, where he has worked as the director for Joint Force Development on the Joint Staff since August 2022.

He was commissioned into the Air Force in 1992 after graduating from Washington University in Missouri, according to his biography. He has flown KC-135 Stratotanker jets and MC-130 and U-28 special operations aircraft during his career, racking up some 3,400 hours of flight time including more than 700 hours in combat.

Anderson has previously commanded the 19th Special Operations Squadron, the 58th Special Operations Wing and U.S. Special Operation Command-Africa, according to his biography.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, speaking Jan. 14, 2025, during a hearing. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  The Senates version of a sweeping bill to advance President Donald Trumps domestic agenda includes about $150 billion for defense, deviating slightly from the Houses legislation with extra boosts for munitions and technology and less for shipbuilding.

The defense portion of the bill, released late Tuesday, is about the same amount as the $150 billion allocated for the military in a measure that the House passed last month but makes several changes to funding amounts for individual priorities.

It otherwise shares the same broad defense spending goals as Republicans try to adopt Trumps massive policy and tax-cutting legislation through a process called reconciliation, which bypasses Democrat opposition.

This is a wonderful opportunity to jumpstart getting back where we need to be in national defense, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday at a Defense Writers Group event.

The Senate is expected to vote on its version of the reconciliation measure in the coming weeks, with a goal of sending the final legislation to Trump by July 4.

Wicker noted while Democrats will vote against the overall legislation, many will be supportive of the spending increase on defense.

I really think maybe 85 senators, if you ask them, Do they want this $150 billion to be enacted? They would say yes  Democrats and Republicans, he said. Were united on that and were ready to go, its the other parts that will take some massaging.

The senator has been a vocal proponent of pushing the Defense Departments budget higher to meet threats from China, Russia and other adversaries. He wants defense spending to reach 5% of gross domestic product from its current 3% and said the reconciliation bill is a major opportunity to catch up to that goal.

The Senates legislation matches the House in authorizing $25 billion for the Golden Dome missile defense system, $12 billion for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and $9 billion for improving quality-of-life issues for service members.

But it deviates from the Houses approved figures in other priorities.

It adds $2.6 billion to the Houses $20.4 billion authorization for munitions production, increases efforts to bolster readiness by $4.5 billion on top of the $11.5 billion approved by the House and bumps up production of new technology such as drones by $2.5 billion from $13.5 billion.

Spending on aircraft procurement is increased by $1.8 billion under the Senate plan while spending on shipbuilding, a priority for Trump, is decreased from the $33.7 billion authorized by the House to $28 billion.

The bill also includes $1.7 billion less in funding for the militarys mission on the U.S.-Mexico border, for a total of $3.3 billion.

Wicker said Wednesday that he and Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, were in very close alignment on spending priorities, alongside the White House.

We are largely of one mind on this, he said. We may have had to do an adjustment or two, but weve done it in coordination with the administration and the House.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, speaks Wednesday, June 4, 2025, during a hearing about the Army budget. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



Rogers, in a statement, said he and Wicker worked closely together to identify how we can best modernize our military, regrow our defense industrial base and build a ready, capable and lethal fighting force.

The defense money authorized in the bill is required to be spent by the end of the 2034 fiscal year. The Senate is proposing $10 million for the Pentagon to conduct oversight of the new funding.

Wicker, while praising the legislation, said it was still not a replacement for meaningfully increasing the Pentagons budget every year.

He bristled at the White Houses proposal to keep military spending flat for fiscal 2026 and said he viewed attempts by some in the administration to count the reconciliation bill as part of the Pentagons budget as a sleight of hand.

We need a steady increase in terms of the baseline year after year after year to get to where we need to get, Wicker said. We cannot be asking our allies to go from their anemic 2% or less of GDP to 5% if were not willing to do that ourselves.
Iran spotlights export, import, and transit stats from Mazandaran Province

From March 21 through May 21, 2025, Iran's Mazandaran Province exported 357,000 tons of goods worth $54 million, mainly to Iraq, Russia, and India. Imports totaled 504,000 tons worth $248 million, primarily from Turkiye, the UAE, and China. The key exports included dairy and cement; imports included edible oil and feed grains.

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Judge Michele Finan refused to grant Adel Attal (31) bail and adjourned the case for DPP directions

A KNIFE-wielding man slashed and stabbed another man in a fight on Dublins quays, leaving him with life-threatening, critical injuries, it is alleged.

Adel Attal (31) appeared in court today accused of brandishing a knife, attacking and wounding the alleged victim in the city centre on Tuesday.

Judge Michele Finan refused to grant him bail and adjourned the case for DPP directions.

Mr Attal, from Algeria and with an address at Henry Street, Mallow, Co Cork, is charged with assault causing harm and producing a knife in the course of a dispute on June 2.

The Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin. Stock image

News in 90 June 4th

Detective Garda Tom McEvoy said Mr Attal made no reply to the charges when they were put to him last night.

Det Gda McEvoy told Dublin District Court the incident happened at Rosie Hackett Bridge, Dublin 1 on Tuesday afternoon.

Outlining the allegations, he said witnesses described the alleged victim and another man having been engaged in a scuffle on the bridge when a third man in a distinctive white t-shirt and a black cap approached them.

According to the prosecution, the third man was Mr Attal and he produced a large knife and inflicted the alleged victim with slashing and stabbing motions.

He fell to the ground after sustaining severe slash and stab wounds to his stomach, back and legs. These were critical, life-threatening injuries and he was taken to the Mater Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

After this, he was in a critical condition in the intensive care unit.

The accused was stopped at Wicklow Street and arrested. Bloodstained clothing he was wearing and blood splatters from his body were sent for forensic analysis.

CCTV footage was of moderate quality but depicted the alleged victim being cut with a knife in a slashing motion. The garda sub aqua unit was called in after it was established that the knife had been discarded into the River Liffey.

The unit located a knife as described on the river bed and it was also sent for forensic analysis.

Det Gda McEvoy said he feared the accused was a flight risk and would evade justice if granted bail. He said gardai did not have Mr Attal's passport and he had no ties to this jurisdiction, but did have ties to Algeria, England, Spain and France and could be harboured in these countries. The detective believed the accused posed a "serious risk to public safety."

Defence solicitor Luke Staines said it was undoubtedly a serious matter but if refused bail, the accused, who was presumed innocent, would be in custody for around two years awaiting trial.

The alleged victims condition in hospital had changed and he was now critical but stable, Mr Staines said. The accused had been in Ireland for two years and his passport was in Mallow and available for surrender.

Judge Finan refused bail and remanded Mr Attal in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on June 11. She recommended he receive medical and psychiatric intervention as appropriate. A second man has also been arrested in connection with the incident and remained in garda custody this afternoon.
Mark Sheehan suffered facial injuries when he and his group got a bus home in the Templeogue area of south Dublin in 2022

A judge has ordered the arrest of a youth charged with inciting hatred over a suspected homophobic assault on a young man aboard a Dublin bus in 2022.

Mark Sheehan, 26, suffered facial injuries when he and his group got a bus home in the Templeogue area of south Dublin at around 4 am on August 18 2022.

His alleged attacker was due to appear at the Dublin Childrens Court to be served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial at a higher level.

However, when he failed to turn up and answer bail, Judge Shalom Binchy issued a bench warrant to have him arrested.

It was the second time in the case that a judge had to order his arrest for failing to appear.

Mr Sheehan had been out socialising in The George nightclub on Dame Street with three friends, celebrating two of their birthdays.

However, after the incident on his journey home, he was taken to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment.

Mark Sheehan (26) after the incident

Gardai opened an investigation resulting in the then 17-year-old boy initially facing a charge for assault causing harm to Mr Sheehan on the upper deck of the number 15 bus as it was in the vicinity of Templeogue.

In late 2022, he appeared at the Dublin Childrens, where bail with conditions was set in his bond of 200, and the case was adjourned for three months.

The court had granted him legal aid and directed that an interpreter be available for his hearings.

Mark Sheehan

In February of the following year, he failed to appear at the court, which heard the youth had left the country.

However, in April 2025, the accused, now 19, was located and further charged with an offence of incitement to hatred by calling the complainant queer and faggot while travelling on the bus.

He still cannot be named because the alleged incident took place when he was a minor and has yet to enter a plea.

The case had been adjourned for six weeks for the State to have its book of evidence ready to serve, but the teenager failed to appear, resulting in the latest bench warrant.

Earlier, the teen had been ordered to obey a curfew from midnight to 6 am and sign on twice weekly at a Garda station.

He was also warned to have no direct or indirect contact with the complainant, including by social media.

News in 90 June 4th
Jason ODriscoll had pleaded not guilty to murdering 31-year-old Anthony Burnett and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond, in Co Louth on March 7th, 2012

Jason O'Driscoll's bid to overturn his conviction for murdering two men who had arranged to sell him a stolen car must be reheard after one of the appeal judges forgot he oversaw the original trial.

ODriscoll's appeal was heard for two hours yesterday in the Court of Appeal before the issue was raised by the defence and it was decided that the court would have to reconstitute.

In December 2017, after a trial that lasted six weeks, a jury told Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy they could not reach either a unanimous or majority verdict in O'Driscoll's case.

ODriscoll (42) of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3 had pleaded not guilty to murdering 31-year-old Anthony Burnett and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond, in Co Louth on March 7th, 2012.

However, O'Driscoll was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018 by Mr Justice Michael White after he was convicted of the double murder by the ten to two majority verdict of a retrial jury.

O'Driscoll's appeal against his conviction was heard for over two hours this morning before Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy.

After taking a break for lunch, defence counsel for Mr ODriscoll informed the court that Mr Justice McCarthy had been the judge in ODriscolls original 2017 trial.

Sean Guerin SC said that their grounds for ODriscolls appeal had been litigated in that trial.

Jason O'Driscoll

News in 90 June 4th

Mr Justice McCarthy said that he had been in the original trial and should have remembered.

Mr Justice Edwards noted that it had been a long time since the original trial.

He said that the case would be adjourned in order for the three-judge court to reconstitute and the appeal be reheard without Mr Justice McCarthy.

The new appeal date was set for November 13, 2025.
Its embarrassing whats in the papers, he said. Gardai in their view saw fit to consent to strict bail conditions in lieu of remand in custody.

A judge who oversaw the court sitting when Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald was released on bail on firearms charges has said he wants to set the record straight.

Judge Desmond Zaidan today hit out at sensational headlines as well as misinformation, saying his powers had ceased once gardai consented to Mr Fitzgerald being freed from custody.

The 22-year-old appeared before Naas District Court on March 4, 2024, after being arrested as part of a garda investigation into the sale of firearms on the Dark Web.

Fitzgerald, of Portrush Upper in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, walked free from court along with his two co-accused after gardai consented to bail on strict conditions.

Evan Fitzgerald

News in 90 June 4th

On Sunday night he discharged a number of shots in a Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life. No other injuries were reported from the gunfire while a young girl was injured running from the scene.

He was due to appear before the court again today for service of the book of evidence and was facing 13 charges of possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive substances.

Detective Garda Brian Foran, of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), this afternoon made an application to have the charges against Evan Fitzgerald withdrawn on direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Evan Fitzgerald at Naas District Court last year (File photo by Steve Humphreys)

During the proceedings, the court was told that Fitzgerald was deceased, with Judge Zaidan describing it as a suicide.

The judge then addressed recent media reporting of the incident in Carlow, specifically on the issue of bail when Mr Fitzgerald first appeared before him last year.

He said there had been a lot of misinformation in the press and that gardai had consented to bail.

This, the judge said, meant he had no jurisdiction to oppose bail.

So please, members of the press, please report sensibly, he said, asking journalists present to tread very carefully.

Judge Zaidan said bail had been granted with no objection from gardai on strict bail conditions in lieu of custody.

He said no judge has the power to overturn that order from March 4, 2024.

He addedsaid both he and his staff had since listened to visual and audio recordings of the court proceedings from that day.

Its embarrassing whats in the papers, he said. Gardai in their view saw fit to consent to strict bail conditions in lieu of remand in custody.

The judge also said there were some sensational headlines about objecting to bail.

The reality is the gardai consented to bail, my function ceased straight away. I have to set the record straight.

Judge Zaidan said that, while he hadnt been named in media reports, added that everyone knew what judge was sitting in Naas District Court.

A lot of my friends are ringing me saying Des, everyone knows where you are.

Detective Garda Foran told the judge that, while he himself wasnt present in court that day, the issue wasnt in dispute.

Judge Zaidan continued: I could not go behind that consent because I would be seen to acting outside of my powers. You see why Im saying this, theres been a lot of headlines about a man on bail, no, at least report it, dont omit certain key things.

He noted that the charges against Evan Fitzgerald were contained in the book of evidence and said that the charges could formally be withdrawn in the circuit court.
A Teaching Council inquiry is examining the former principals criminal conviction in relation to his fitness to teach

A former principal from the midlands who stole over 100,000 from his school has asked the Teaching Council to accept his undertaking not to have any access in future to a schools finances in its assessment of his fitness to teach.

An inquiry being held by the Teaching Council is examining the fitness to teach of the former principal who has worked as a teacher in another school in the east of the country since December 2024.

The inquiry follows his conviction on sample counts of 381 alleged incidents of theft at a primary school between 2017 and 2019 for which he received a six-year prison sentence with the final four-and-a-half years suspended.

The Teaching Council

News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025

A condition of the suspended sentence was that the stolen money be repaid over three years, in three instalments of 20,000 each, on the anniversary of his release from prison.

The offences arose from the mans use of the schools credit card and cheques on which the former principal forged the name of the chairperson of the schools board of management.

The name of the teacher and the names of his former and current schools cannot be published as a result of extensive reporting restrictions imposed by the inquiry panel.

The three-person panel chaired by Mary Magner also directed that the nature of the teachers addiction, and the name of the sentencing judge cannot be identified.

Counsel for the Teaching Council, Eoghan OSullivan BL, claimed the former principals conviction affects his fitness to teach.

On the second day of the inquiry today, counsel for the former principal, Cathy Maguire SC, asked the inquiry panel to consider using its powers to accept an undertaking by the teacher and a consent to being censured that would allow the inquiry to be brought to a conclusion.

Ms Maguire said her client was willing to give the undertaking not to have access to finances and to notify any employer of such a promise.

She pointed out that the teacher, who is being supported by representatives of the Teachers Union of Ireland, had been in remission from his addiction for the past five years.

The inquiry heard he had served a total of 10 months in prison before being released and had repaid just over 65,000 of the stolen money to date.

Ms Maguire said he had recently reached a new agreement with his former school to pay the remainder via instalments of 500 every two weeks for the next three years.

She told the inquiry panel that the teacher had applied for 75 jobs before he was successful in obtaining a full-time permanent post last December.

Ms Maguire said the period he had spent in jail and out of work represented a de facto suspension.

She pointed out the only issue that the inquiry was examining was the teachers criminal conviction in relation to his fitness to teach.

Ms Maguire said it was not considering an allegation of professional misconduct, while an earlier claim by the Teaching Council that he was medically unfit to teach had been withdrawn.

The barrister reminded the panel that on the opening day of the inquiry last month that a consultant psychiatrist, Colin OGara, had testified that the teachers addiction was a form of disability under employment legislation.

For that reason, Ms Maguire claimed the Teaching Council had an obligation to provide the man with reasonable accommodation  a claim disputed by Mr OSullivan.

She argued the regulatory body could achieve its aims of protecting the public and providing reasonable accommodation to the teacher by accepting his offer of an undertaking about his future conduct.

Ms Maguire said the teacher had already apologised for his actions and had acknowledged they represented a huge breach of trust and had brought the teaching profession into disrepute.

She noted his former school was empathetic towards him and there was a very concrete arrangement in place to repay outstanding monies.

It is not an appropriate case for the more serious sanctions of strike-off or suspension, Ms Maguire added.

The inquiry heard earlier from three witnesses, called by the teachers legal representatives, including the current principal of the school from where the money was stolen.

Opposing the application to deal with the teacher via an undertaking, Mr OSullivan said the teacher was morally culpable for his decision to steal from his former school on hundreds of occasions over a lengthy period of time in order to feed his addiction.

He also noted that the teacher had not complied with the conditions of his suspended prison sentence in terms of the amount to be repaid within three years.

The inquiry heard that he had paid 10,000 after the first year and another 5,000 after two years.

Mr OSullivan said the teachers dishonesty was extremely serious on the spectrum of criminal offending.

He said it involved a principal stealing over 100,000 from his own school that was earmarked for a new school building and involved forgery and a level of pre-mediation.

Mr OSullivan accused the teacher of giving no thought to the consequences of his actions.

He also claimed the Teaching Council could not satisfy its requirements to promote confidence in the teaching profession or protect the public by accepting the offer of an undertaking by the teacher.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Ms Magner said the inquiry panel would convey its decision on whether to accept the principals offer of an undertaking in due course to the Teaching Council.
A court heard one of the cars he was found driving was stolen and had masking tape on the licence plate

A serial motoring offender caught repeatedly driving without insurance in Dublin has been jailed for 20 months.

When he was stopped by gardai, Thomas Donoghue (40) already had 136 previous convictions, of which 71 were driving convictions  and that included 17 for having no insurance.

A court heard one of the cars he was found driving was stolen and had masking tape on the licence plate.

Imposing four five-month sentences, Judge John Hughes also banned him from driving for 10 years.

Donoghue, a father of two of Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to uninsured driving and other charges.

Dublin District Court heard he was seen driving at speed down a bus lane at Coultry Road, Ballymun, on July 25 last year. He continued when gardai followed him before pulling over, getting out and attempting to flee on foot.

There was masking tape on the cars licence plate and it had been taken in a burglary earlier that month.

Donoghue was also stopped driving without insurance or a licence on Shangan Avenue, Ballymun, on July 11 last year. At a checkpoint on North King Street on April 16 he was again caught without insurance.

Donoghue also admitted charges arising from an incident on June 8, when gardai found him standing over a woman who was lying in the middle of a road in Finglas.

He was intoxicated and abusive and threatening to members of the public on that date and tried to gain access to the drivers side of a garda car.

Stock image

News in 90 June 4th
Caroline Collins (27) and Nellie Collins (29) filled a shopping trolley with goods and walked out of a Tesco without paying, a court heard

Two friends who stole 1,600 worth of groceries from a supermarket handed themselves in to gardai when they saw the theft featured on RTEs Crimecall.

Caroline Collins (27) and Nellie Collins (29) filled a shopping trolley with goods and walked out of a Tesco without paying, a court heard.

Judge Aine Clancy said she would spare them criminal convictions if they paid compensation to the shop.

The accused, both with addresses at Cara Park, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Blanchardstown District Court to theft.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the accused entered a Tesco in Adamstown, Lucan, on January 3, 2024, put 1,600 worth of assorted groceries into a trolley and then passed all points of payment.

The incident was captured on camera and subsequently featured on RTEs Crimecall programme, Sgt Callaghan said.

Nellie Collins, charged with theft.

The pair handed themselves in to Coolock garda station, where they were arrested and charged but the property was not recovered.

Caroline Collins, who was from a Traveller background, was having difficulties at the time and was racking up debts, her solicitor Simon Fleming said.

She had since got a job and was now working as a healthcare assistant after getting a diploma, the court heard.

She came forward when she saw the photos on Crimecall, Mr Fleming said.

Caroline Collins would lose her employment if a conviction was recorded against her, he said, asking the judge for leniency.

The court heard the circumstances were similar for the co-accused, Nellie Collins.

Judge Clancy asked if the accused were related to each other and Mr Fleming said the two women were friends.

The judge said it was a very serious theft and said the quantity of groceries taken was a lot but she would strike the case out, leaving both accused without criminal records if they made full restitution of the 1,600 between them.

However, she said she would convict them and fine them 800 each in default.

The accused were remanded on continuing bail to appear in court again on a date in November.

The court heard free legal aid had been granted.

Caroline Collins, charged with theft.

News in 90 June 4th
Bradley Morey pleaded guilty to a litany of offences with his barrister asking the court to afford him whatever leniency it can

The tragic death of Nicole Morey, who was mauled to death by her own dogs, was highlighted in court yesterday when her brother pleaded guilty to a litany of criminal offences.

Pleading for leniency at Bradley Moreys sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court, defence barrister, Liam Carroll BL, said Ms Moreys death had been exceptionally difficult for her brother, who was a juvenile when he committed a spree of criminal offences.

Morey, (18), of Bawnmore, Southill, Limerick, admitted a total of 11 offences, including being armed with a metal bar while engaging with others in violent disorder, stealing cars, breaking into cars, and driving away from filling station forecourts without paying for motor fuel.

Mr Carroll asked the court to afford Mr Morey whatever leniency it can and described Nicole Moreys death as an exceptional tragedy for the defendant.

Today marks the first anniversary of the death.

One year ago his sister was sadly mauled to death by two XL bully dogs, and matters went from bad to worse for Mr Morey, Mr Carroll told Judge Fiona OSullivan.

The barrister said Mr Morey, had heard about his sisters shocking death while in custody awaiting sentence and that his sisters death has left him traumatised.

He started smoking cannabis when he was 12 years old, he was keeping bad company, and to comprehend matters the family dynamic became worse one year ago when his sister was sadly mauled to death by her two XL Bully dogs, Mr Carroll told the judge.

Her own dogs killed her, effectively, Mr Carroll told the sentencing hearing, which was adjourned.

Nicole Morey was 23 when she died

News in 90 June 4th

Nicole Moreys death fuelled a national debate about the banning of dogs which many people considered to be a dangerous breed, however some owners of the dogs disagreed.

Following her sisters death, Jolene Morey publicly called for XL Bully dogs to be banned.

On February 1 last, new legislation was introduced making it illegal to own an XL Bully dog unless an owner can produce a certificate of exemption.

Just days ahead of the first anniversary of her sisters death, Jolene Morey posted heartfelt tributes to her on social media.

I miss you so much...I cant wait for the day we get to see each other again, Ms Morey wrote.

After loosing your only sister is (most) painful thing that anyone can go (through) in life, how my life has changed it's so horrible without you Nicole, I miss you so so much, she stated.

Everyday is so different for me now and its so horrible, I'll never get used (to) this, it breaks my heart it doesn't feel real yet to me Nicole, I wish you we're here, I miss you so much, she added.

Last week it emerged that 50 XL Bully dog breeds had been surrendered to local authorities since the new law was introduced.

Last October it also became illegal to import, breed, regime or resell an XL Bully.

Certificates of exemptions cannot be granted to XL Bully dog owners that have not been neutered or deemed medically unfit for neutering.

The highest numbers of XL Bully dogs were surrendered to local authorities, since February 1st, were Dublin City Council (11); Limerick City and County Council (10); Cork City Council (4).

Armed gardai were deployed to Nicole Moreys rented home in Fedamore, County Limerick, after she was attacked by her dogs on her 23rd birthday.

The armed officers shot one of the dogs and took control of others at the rural property on June 4, 2024.

Days later armed gardai shot a pit bull dog after it dog attacked two people at a house in Cork.

Last March, an XL Bully dog was shot by armed gardai in Limerick as they chased a drugs suspect and the animal was later euthanised by a vet.

Pit bull terriers and XL Bully dogs are both on a list of restricted dog breeds in Ireland.

A week prior to Nicole Moreys death, eight-year-old Jackson Flynn, Limerick, was attacked by a dog in a park and sustained 30 stitches to his face.

His father, Joe Flynn, (50s), said his son was lucky to have survived the attack after the dog locked its jaws onto the boys face and left him traumatised.

In total, over 1800 applications for certificates of exemption for XL Bully dogs have been received by authorities and almost 1,000 have been approved.

Owners found to be in breach of the legislation could have their dog seized and euthanised and also face a fine of up to 250, a three month jail sentence, or both
Her cousin Sarah Howard said in victim impact statement that she cant comprehend how someone who was supposed to love her could do something so cruel.

Richard Satchwell to receive life sentence for killing wife Tina and burying her in grave under stairs

Wife killer Richard Satchwell has been sentenced to life in prison today for the murder of his wife Tina as her sister and cousin told of their familys anguish.

Found unanimously guilty by a jury last week, the English truck driver appeared at the Central Criminal Court this morning where Judge Paul McDermott handed down the mandatory sentence.

His defence counsel Brendan Grehan said that his instructions from Satchwell are that he intends to appeal the verdict and that he never intended kill Tina who was a lovely person.

Tinas skeletal remains were found buried in the couples Youghal home six and a half years after being killed by her husband.

Her cousin Sarah Howard said in victim impact statement that she cant comprehend how someone who was supposed to love her could do something so cruel.

"There are no words that can truly capture the pain and heartbreak this has caused me and my family.

Tina Satchwell was described by her family as a kind and gentle woman who loved animals (Family Handout/PA)

I miss Tina every day, it makes me so sad when i think of all the things she missed in my life, Tina shoud have been standing beside me on my wedding day.

"Listening to all the lies in court was very hard and knowing now all the horrible things that were done to her, such as being wrapped in a piece of plastic and buried in such an undignified way cause me huge amounts of distress.

One of the things I dont think I will ever overcome is to find out that Richard Satchwell had put Tina is chest frezer and then a few days later he texts me to offer me the freezer.

What sort of person can do that?

She also asked the court to consider not just the crime but the cruelty that follwoed it and the deception, the stolen years and the false hope he gave us that one day she might turn up.

Tinas sister Lorraine Howard said the lies Satchwell had told about Tina could not be further from the truth who was kind-hearted and loved animals.

"I feel Tinas presence with me in every step taken around Fermoy town where there are so may happy memories.

Referring to how it emerge in the trial the sisters had not spoken for a number of years she said she knows she and Tina would have made up and become best of friends again but Satchwell had stolen that.

I am so thankful that the jury could see through his lies and found him guilty of this despicable crime.

The effect of the trial on her mother Mary was not something they had expected and the mentions of her brother Toms suicide was like pouring salt into an open wound.

"The appalling way my sister was buried, wrapped in plastic, buried beneath soil and concrete runs shivers down my spine every time I think about it.

He treated her body with disrespect and wanted Tina where he could still have the ultimate control within his home under the stairs.

Judge McDermott offered his condolences to Tinas family after imposing the mandatory life sentence, backdated to his arrest for murder on 12 October 2023.

During the five-week trial evidence was heard how Satchwell told lies for years to create the false impression that his wife was violent towards him and had left him taking 25,000 in savings.

News in 90 June 4th

No cause of death could be established but Satchwell claims she died while restraining her with a dressing gown belt across her throat as she tried to stab him with a chisel on 20 May 2017.

He hid her body in an unplugged chest freezer for four days before digging out a hole under the stairs and dumping her body there, sealing it with a layer of cement.

He had waited for four days before telling gardai she had gone missing but did not make an official missing persons report until 11 May that year.

With no sign of Tina gardai carried out a search of the property in June 2017 but failed to find any evidence of what had happened to her.

Satchwell embarked on a series of media interviews in which he made appeals for her to return as he tried to maintain the pretence she was alive.

A new senior officer in charge Supt Ann Marie Twomey reviewed the case in August 2021 and concluded by the following year there were grounds for Satchwells arrest.

When arrested on suspicion of murder in October 2023 he stuck to his story even when told a search team would be going through the walls and digging up his house.

After her remains were found Satchwell changed his story to say that Tina had died as he defended himself from being stabbed.

A jury last week found him guilty of murder after almost nine and a half hours of deliberation following the lengthy trial.
Man jailed for plot to kill Johnny Adair and Sam McCrory could hold key to solving 2006 murder

This is the man detectives in Donegal want to interview about the murder of Denis Donaldson, the Sunday World can reveal.

Antoin Duffy (49) from Mullaghduff, near Kincasslagh, is currently serving a 17-year sentence in Scotland for conspiracy to murder top loyalists Johnny Mad Dog Adair and Sam Skelly McCrory.

He is a gifted artist whose paintings reach high-end prices on the Irish art market.

However, Duffy and a gang of disparate associates had planned to machine-gun the Belfast men near their homes in Ayrshire.

The murder plot was rumbled, however, when MI5 learned that Duffy had purchased a deadly AK47 rifle to use in the double murder mission.

The powerful rifle was found hidden among Christmas presents in a house in Paisley and Duffy and his mates were charged with conspiracy to murder.

The Sunday World has learned that Duffy now qualifies for parole under Scotlands early prison release scheme.

Anton Duffy, pictured being interviewed by police in 2013 over a plot to kill Johnny Adair

And he could soon be heading back to Donegal, for questioning in relation to the murder of former IRA man and top Sinn Fein aide Denis Donaldson.

The development emerged during a Coroners Court sitting in Letterkenny, when a judge asked a senior Garda officer to account for a lengthy delay in bringing the Donaldson case to court.

The officer informed the judge that DNA evidence had been recovered from the Donaldson murder scene, which was found to be a match for an unnamed man, currently serving a lengthy sentence in another jurisdiction.

And the officer also revealed Garda detectives were in the process of arranging for this individual to be interviewed in Donegal at the earliest opportunity.

Antoin Duffy

News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025

Last week, the Sunday World learned Antoin Duffy is now eligible to apply for parole due to having served over half of his 17-year sentence.

And we have also learned the Scottish Prison Authorities may object to Duffys early release, due to his involvement in a number of disruptive incidents.

Last Saturday, Johnny Adair, who was targeted in Antoin Duffys murder conspiracy, said he was aware the Donegal man could soon be applying for parole.

He said: At this stage, no one knows exactly when Duffy will be applying for parole. But when he does, its going to be very interesting to see what happens next.

Former UDA boss Johnny Adair.

I knew nothing about this man until the police picked me out of a line at Glasgow Airport coming back from holiday.

I was complaining that I was a victim of police harassment, but the detective took me to an office where two MI5 officers were waiting for me.

The MI5 men explained they had arrested Antoin Duffy from Donegal for conspiracy to murder Skelly and I.

It made sense because Skelly and I regularly visited a Belfast man who was in jail with Duffy.

We both gave evidence at his trial and I came away with the impression Duffy was a dangerous individual, who was capable of anything, said Adair.

From now on, its going to be very interesting in regard to Denis Donaldson.

Last week, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams successfully sued the BBC over a Spotlight programme it made which quoted an unnamed source as saying Adams gave the go-ahead for the murder of Denis Donaldson in 2006.

Adams denied any involvement in the Donaldson murder and, in a lengthy five-week libel trial which ended on Friday, he robustly defended his position.

Agreeing Adams had been defamed, a jury awarded him 84,000.

Outside the court in Dublin on Friday, Adams called on the Irish Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan to meet with the Donaldson family as soon as possible.

Former Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

He said: I am very mindful of the Donaldson family in the course of this long trial and indeed 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 legacy issues as best that we can.

However, Denis Donaldsons daughter Jane hit out at Adams legal teams approach to her evidence.

In a statement also issued on Friday, Jane Donaldson, who is married to a senior Sinn Fein figure, said: Although the plaintiff claimed sympathy for my family, his legal team objected to me giving evidence to challenge the account of his witnesses.

Antoin Duffy

The jury heard sensitive, privileged family information tossed around, without our consent, but did not hear my testimony.

Limitless legal resources and vast expense were invested in this case, while there is supposedly a live Garda investigation into my daddys murder.

And calling for a public inquiry into the matter, she added: The public interest can now only be fully served by some form of public inquiry with a cross-border dimension which is ECHIR Article 2 compliant, empowered to investigate the whole truth about the conspiracy to expose and murder my daddy.

Jane Donaldson also revealed how she gave evidence, but without the presence of the jury.

Denis Donaldson

She said the family did not accept the claim of responsibility issued by the Real IRA, three years after her father was murdered.

And she insisted that her father had been thrown to the wolves as part of a conspiracy to expose him as an agent.

Denis Donaldson and Gerry Adams were among a small group of men who were invited to join the republican movement in the early 1960, shortly after the failure of the IRAs Border Campaign.

They were involved in supporting the campaign for Civil Rights.

But a major split occurred in the Republican movement, and they both sided with the Provisionals and remained close allies.

Denis Donaldson in prison with Bobby Sands in the 1970s

At one stage, Donaldson was even asked to go on an IRA trip to meet rogue Arab State leader Muamar Gaddafi.

They persuaded the Libyan leader to arm the IRA as it geared up for a war with the British over Northern Ireland.

Following the Good Friday Agreement, Donaldson was appointed Head of Administration for Sinn Fein at Stormont.

He was arrested as part of a PSNI inquiry into an alleged Sinn Fein spy ring, but the case was later dropped.

Weeks later, however, Donaldson fronted a televised press conference, where he admitted having been a long-term British agent operating inside Sinn Fein.

And he disappeared without trace.

But in March 2006, a Sunday World investigation traced Donaldson to a remote cottage near Glenties in Co. Donegal.

And in a secretly recorded interview, Donaldson claimed he had been cast aside by his British paymasters in order to save David Trimble, the Unionist First Minister who had signed the Good Friday Agreement, which paved the way for the power-sharing government at Stormont.

From the Short Strand in east Belfast, Donaldson was sworn into the IRA at a secret ceremony in Ormeau Park in 1964.

And six years later, he took part in the defence of St Matthews Catholic Church, holding at bay a mob of loyalists who were intent on burning it to the ground.

But a Historic Enquiries Team (HET) investigation into the death if Henry McIlhone decades later revealed he hadnt been killed by loyalist gunmen as believed.

He had, in fact, been shot dead by Denis Donaldson, who was unable to control a Thompson sub-machine he was firing. In the same incident, Donaldson shot and wounded IRA leader Billy McKee.

Speaking to the Sunday World after the report was published, Henry McIhones widow Sue said: I was told lies about this. I only discover the truth when the HET detectives called to see me.

Henry wasnt a member of the IRA and I was always told he had been shot bt loyalists. I knew nothing about Denis Donaldson.
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Iran has seen a sharp 53% drop in daily CNG consumption, falling by 8.5 million cubic meters. This decline is costing the country $810 million per day in gasoline imports. Experts say stagnant fuel prices have made CNG less economically appealing to the public.

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Police Scotland said the attack that claimed the lives of Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan did not appear to be linked with an outbreak of violence between rival gangs in Scotland

Footage released of the shooting of two men in Monaghan's Irish bar in Spain

Police investigating the brutal gun deaths of two Scottish gangsters at an Irish pub on the Costa del Sol have said there is "no intelligence to suggest the hit had been planned in Scotland.

In a statement, Police Scotland said the attack that claimed the lives of Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan did not appear to be linked with an outbreak of violence between rival gangs in Scotland.

However, sources have told Sunday World the hit may be connected with a six-figure drugs debt that the two men owed.

Scottish police said the investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police.

Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested, however, at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain, a statement reads.

There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge.

Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country.

There is also nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland.

So far more than 40 people have been arrested in connection with the incidents as part of Operation Portaledge that is investigating a suspected gang feud linked with a number of shootings, fire bombings and assaults in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas since March.

Both men died after a gunman opened fire outside Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Malaga on Saturday at around 11pm.

One report suggests that a car pulled up outside the bar and a masked man got out before opening fire on the two as they stood outside the venue.

The gunman then fled in the car, leaving both men dying at the scene.

However, local media is reporting that police are searching for a blond man as the shooter who arrived on foot with his face covered and, after fleeing, got into a vehicle that fled towards Benalmadena .

The Forensic Investigation team and the National Police 's Organised Crime Unit (UDYCO) are working to identify the perpetrator of the crime and "will find the culprit," according to Javier Salas, the central government's deputy delegate in Malaga.

Officers in charge of the investigation are gathering information and evidence from testimony collected on-site and from asking witnesses to come to the police station to confirm their statements, Salas told the Herald of Aragon.

They are also attempting to secure security camera footage from where the shooting took place and this will have to analysed, Salas added.

The deputy delegate is convinced that the shooter will eventually be identified.

"I have no doubt that the person responsible for the two murders, who arrived and left the pub on foot with his face covered, will be identified and located, as happens in 90 per cent of cases that occur in the province of Malaga, Sala said, according to the Herald.

Although Spanish cops are convinced there was only one shooter, the investigation will determine whether there were more people involved who could have collaborated with him.

However, the available data indicates that only one person entered and shot the two British citizens, who died practically instantly, the Herald reports.

Regarding security, Salas stressed that in Malaga there are "more resources and more police officers than ever before who have the best techniques and the best materials" at their disposal to carry out the investigation and fight crime.

Salas stated that the scientific investigation team is "one of the best" in Spain.

Several police unions and policymakers have expressed concern about what they consider an escalation of violence on the Cost del Sol.

The Spanish Police Confederation (CEP) has claimed "the escalation of violence and the lack of human and material resources is proof the National Police is "abandoned by the government in the province of Malaga."

News in 90 June 4th
The fugitive drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Bolle Jos or Chubby Jos, is believed to be in Sierra Leone

Leijdekkers is also known as Bolle Jos or Chubby Jos"

Dutch prosecutors are to confiscate a record $250 million from one of Europes most-wanted criminals.

The fugitive drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Bolle Jos or Chubby Jos, is believed to be hiding over 4,000 miles away in Sierra Leone.

Leijdekkers is believed to have made 114m from 14 cocaine shipments in less than a year.

As well as real estate including a hotel in Turkey and apartments in Dubai, public prosecutors say the 33-year-old also spent 47m on 975 kilograms of gold in less than six months.

Intercepted communications point to other luxury goods hoovered up by the drugs kingpin, including two Bentley cars, designer bags, jewellery and watches.

There are all added to the total of illicit assets, bringing the total to $253 million, which is only a first step towards tracing Leijdekkers' assets, prosecutors have said

Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a murder and organising cocaine shipments by a Rotterdam court last June.

The fugitive drug trafficker, Jos Leijdekkers, pictured in Sierra Leone

News in 90 June 4th

Considered to be one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking," according to Europol, he is on their most-wanted list, with the European police body offering over $225,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Dutch authorities said they were "absolutely certain" he was hiding out in Sierra Leone last January, when the BBC reported that Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive's return to the Netherlands was of "the highest priority."

Suspicions he was in Sierra Leone arose after the country's first lady Fatima Bio posted pictures and a video on social media that showed a man strongly resembling Leijdekkers at a religious service.

Images apparently showing Leijdekkers in the company of officials as high as President Julius Maada Bio and his daughter prompted exiled Sierra Leone opposition figure Mohamed Mansaray to accused Bio and his government of "offering refuge" to the drug lord.

According to Mansaray, Leijdekkers has coupled up with the president's daughter Agnes Bio, who is seen accompanying the drug lord in the images.

Leijdekkers is also known as Bolle Jos or Chubby Jos"

Europol also believe that Leijdekkers was involved in the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal, a woman who went missing in 2019 after she got into a car in Amsterdam

Intercepted messages allegedly showed that Leijdekkers "played an important role in Jillal's disappearance," the agency said.

"For a long time, there was no trace of Naima Jillal, until photos of a woman believed to be her were found on a phone seized in the Marengo investigation," Europol said. "The photos show that she was most likely tortured and is probably no longer alive."

In April, we reported how journalists were being actively bribed and threatened to stop reporting on Leijdekkers.

Several reporters, who are in hiding, told John van den Heuvel, a journalist for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, that the government of Sierra Leone had offered them sums of up to 5,000 to cease the publication of details about their connection to the most wanted person in the Netherlands.

Reporters who are not accepting the money are being threatened.

The journalists have said that 5k is unprecedentedly high by African standards which to them indicates how important it is to those in power that the story is kept quiet.

Fearing for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, some reporters have fled the country.

One journalist who has applied for political asylum in the United States told De Telegraaf: There is no freedom of the press in our country.

Our government, including the president, facilitates the criminal group to which Leijdekkers belongs.

Journalists no longer dare to write about the matter. It is extremely dangerous.

Bolle Jos, which means Tubby Jos in Dutch, is hiding in the African country while on the run and according to investigative journalists at Follow The Money, he was filmed handing Alusine Kanneh, the countrys head of immigration, a birthday present in March.

The publication says that according to well-placed sources the 33-year-old is in a relationship with Agnes Bio, who is the daughter of president Julius Maada Bio. De Telegraaf further reported she is pregnant with his child.

They also report that the Sierra Leone government has barely responded to several diplomatic and legal assistance requests made by the Netherlands as they try to extradite the man Europol once described as one of the key players in international cocaine smuggling.

Following the media storm around Jos Leijdekkers presence in Sierra Leone, the government released a press statement that claimed the president had no knowledge of the identity and the issues detailed in the reports about the individual in question.

They further claimed to launch a transparent and through investigation to establish the facts.

A month later the Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu, claimed that following an investigation, they found the man accused of being Leijdekkers, is actually a man named Omarr Sheriff. It is unclear if Jos is living under an assumed name or if theyre claiming it's a case of mistaken identity.

Bolle Jos wife Hanane is also looking for him as she wants her son, who has been living with him illegally for the last two years, returned to her.
Investigations have shown the suspects were trading handguns, assault rifles and even grenade launchers

Some of the rifles that were seized

Magazines were part of the haul

Rows of handguns that were seized

Police have seized dozens of machine guns, rifles, revolvers and other weapons in a crackdown on firearms traffickers in Europe.

Belgian law enforcement agencies as well as those in Austria took part in the Europol hit on criminal networks engaged in firearms and drugs trafficking

A total of 74 handguns and automatic rifles were seized, while 11 firearms traffickers were arrested.

Officers also dismantled a synthetic drugs lab in several action days conducted in May.

Rows of handguns that were seized

News in 90 June 4th

More than 30 locations in Belgium and Austria were searched during the operation which targeted a criminal network engaged in international firearms trafficking.

Investigations have shown the suspects were trading handguns, assault rifles and even grenade launchers.

On one day alone, 50 handguns of a specific make were discovered, as well as 13 other handguns, four machine guns, four rifles, one revolver, two alarm pistols, and four large-capacity magazines for automatic weapons.

Magazines were part of the haul

Another 16 magazines and two homemade clubs were seized while in one location, law enforcement officers found a drug laboratory and over 450 kilos of a novel synthetic drug.

The site had also been used as a storage facility for illegal cigarettes.

The criminal network involved in trafficking firearms had been under covert investigation for months, as investigators gained an insight into the organisers, their helpers and various buyers.

Based in Belgium, it is suspected that the gang had contacts with weapon traffickers based all over Europe, including Austria.

The Austrian suspects, of which two were arrested in Belgium, are believed to have supplied a large number of weapons to the criminal network. They were already known to law enforcement for obtaining large amounts of weapon parts in Austria and illegally exporting them.

Certain weapon parts can be obtained without a license in Austria, Europol said in a statement.

Some of the rifles that were seized

This legal situation is often misused by criminals to assemble weapons with parts obtained from various sources.

After the arrest of the two individuals residing in Austria and the seizure of 50 handguns by the Belgian police, the Austrian Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service was able to determine that the grips of these weapons were purchased in Austria.

Subsequently, house searches were carried out at the residences of those arrested, as a result of which several data storage devices were seized.

Europol said they supported the national investigations with operational analysis and coordinated the international cooperation.

On the action day conducted in Belgium, a Europol expert was deployed with a mobile office to provide cross-checks of new evidence against Europols databases.
The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests poisonous mushrooms in a Beef Wellington pastry dish

An Australian woman accused of using poisonous mushrooms to murder three elderly relatives of her estranged husband gave on Wednesday her account of the fatal lunch, in a case that has gripped the public.

Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband.

The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms in a Beef Wellington pastry dish at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 some 135 km from Melbourne.

She denies the charges, with her defence calling the deaths a "terrible accident", but faces a life sentence if found guilty.

She wept repeatedly on Wednesday as she told the court she might have accidentally included foraged mushrooms in the meal she served.

"Now I think there was a possibility there were foraged ones in there," she said in questioning by her lawyer, Colin Mandy.

The court also heard that Patterson, who began giving evidence on Monday as the first witness for her own defence, had invented medical issues partly to elicit sympathy from her estranged husband's relatives, as she felt they were growing apart.

"I didn't want their care of me to stop, so I kept it going. I shouldn't have done it," she told the court.

"Did you lie to them?" Mandy asked.

"I did lie to them," she replied, through tears.

The prosecution accuses Patterson of having invented the medical issues to lure the victims to her home for the meal, a claim she denies.

Previously the court heard that shortly after the lunch, Patterson disposed of a food dehydrator found to contain traces of death cap mushrooms, while mobile phones she owned were reset to factory status three times.

On Wednesday, Patterson said she had disposed of the dehydrator before a visit from child protection workers investigating her living arrangements.

"I was scared of the conversation that might flow about the meal and the dehydrator," she said. "I was scared they would blame me for it, for making everyone sick. I was scared that they would remove the children."

The phones were reset either due to damage or because she panicked during the police investigation, she told the court.

The prosecution rested its case on Monday, after a month of evidence from witnesses, including relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts.

The trial, which began on April 29, has drawn intense media interest, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending on the town of Morwell, about two hours east of Melbourne, where it is being held.

State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs.

The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.

Erin Patterson

News in 90 June 4th
The Irishman was rushed by ambulance to Gregorio Maranon Hospital in Madrid, where he underwent emergency surgery for four hours

An Irishman who was injured during a bull run in Spain on Saturday remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The 43-year-old victim underwent four hours of surgery after he was gored in the chest by the bull during the San Fernando de Henares patron saint festivities near Madrid.

According to local media, the running of the bulls took place at 11am on the Paseo de los Pinos.

During the run, one of the bulls gored the young man in the chest that was described as strong and spectacular by some witnesses, MiraCorredor reports.

After he was treated at the scene, the Irishman was rushed by ambulance to Gregorio Maranon Hospital in Madrid, where he underwent emergency surgery for four hours.

News in 90 June 4th

By late afternoon, he was in the emergency room and was "stable and out of danger while awaiting transfer to the ward, according to sources quoted by local media.

The victim, described as a young man of Irish origin who has lived in Spain for several years has reportedly suffered head trauma and possible retinal detachment when he was thrown into the aur.

A fan of bull runs, he regularly participates as a runner in these types of bullfights held throughout the country.

Local media reports that San Fernando de Henares City Council has not provided any official information about what happened.

The San Fernando de Henares bull runs are part of a broader celebration of the town's patron saint, San Fernando, and are consider an important part of the local cultural tradition.

In Pamplona, which hosts the famous Running of the Bulls festival in Spain, one man was gored and another five rushed to hospital with trauma injuries last summer.

A 37-year-old man from Beriain near Pamplona, where the annual festival takes place every July, is believed to have suffered a gore injury to his palate.

The other five casualties included a 54-year-old man from New York. All six runners who needed hospital treatment were men.

since records began in 1910, some 16 people have been killed at the annual festival, which was made famous by 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel, The Sun Also Rises.

The most recent death was in 2009 when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno, from Madrid, was gored in the neck by a bull called Capuchino.

Between 200 and 300 are usually injured each year at the festival during the bull runs.
Sports correspondent & historian

with Sideline Sid

Wind back the clock to the 1960s; jumps races took centre stage in winter thoroughbred racing and jumps jockeys were the kings of the sport.

There was a series of big steeplechase the length and breadth of New Zealand, with Tauranga slap bang in the middle of the action, with the Bay of Plenty Steeplechase at the June winter meeting at the Gate Pa course.

The first reported steeplechase run over the Gate Pa fences was in 1893, over three miles for a stake of 25 sovereigns.

The Bay of Plenty Racing Club ran steeplechases until 1946, when they lost their winter meeting date. The return of the winter permit resulted in the re-introduction of the Bay of Plenty Steeplechase in 1959.

The 1950s and 1960s were a golden age of prosperity after the misery of the great depression and World War II. Every sheep and cattle farm had a horse or two with good numbers of rural horsemen taking part in the local hunt.

The bountiful stakes of jumps racing encouraged plenty of owner/trainers from the rural communities around the country.

Sitting just behind the Great Northern and Waikato Steeplechases in stature, the Bay of Plenty chase was a popular prize for owners, trainers and jockeys and attracted a whos who of the jumping fraternity in the 1960s and 1970s.

The most documented running of the Bay of Plenty Steeplechase took place in 1963. Tapestry of the Turf, written by Pat Finnegan and John Costello, described the drama that unfolded in the Bay of Plenty chase.

The runners set out to run two-and-three-quarter miles, as County led them towards the straight for what should have been the second and last time, they were waved into the centre of the course again and the jockeys, some of them waking up but they were too late, found themselves doing another round.

Victory went to Triple Count, something of a dour plodder who might not otherwise been in the money. The others, having covered nearly four miles instead of the planned two-and-three-quarters, were a weary lot indeed.

The last Bay of Plenty Steeplechase was run in 1972, then downgraded to restricted class and further down to just maiden chasers.

Tru Allen, who won the big steeple prize in 1972, was trained by Rotorua-based Jim Pender senior, the father of current Tauranga trainer Jim Pender.

Paul Hely, who was one of the kings of jumps jockeys at time, rode Tru Allen, who was four lengths better than Hades, with Rangitane five lengths further back of the 14 starters.

Hely, who was contacted for this piece, said that he well remembers the race.

Tru Allen was back [in the field], he said, but picked up the bit at the 1400m then sat outside the leader until the last fence. Had I let him go he could have won by much more.

A couple of weeks later he was in the Steeplechase at the big jackpot meeting at Te Awamutu. I rang Jim Pender for the ride but he told me his son was going to ride him. Jim jnr stood aside and let me ride him and he won easily by 10 lengths. Tru Allen was one of the best horses I rode in New Zealand.

The last steeplechase at Gate Pa was run in 1998.

A general demise of the rural owner/trainer has resulted in jumps racing becoming an endangered species on the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing calendar.

This year, the steeplechase and hurdle races have been reduced to just 18 jumps days, with many jumps supporters fearing that their passion wont last much further into the future.
Whakatane Mayor Victor Luca says building more homes within Matata now would be a mistake due to the potential damage from rain bombs and worsening weather.

Matata is one of the areas named in the draft Eastern Bay Spatial Plan as a key growth area for housing, with infill housing of up to 700 homes and the potential for development of up to 800 homes eastward of Pollen Street over the next 30 years.

At an infrastructure and planning committee meeting on Thursday, the council learned that since August, Whakatane District Council has spent more than $300,000 clearing sediment and debris from Matata catch-pits after it washed down from stream catchments due to localised rain bombs.

Most of the cost was incurred between February and May, due to several heavy rain events in the hills above the town during that period.

Rain bombs are usually associated with a burst of heavy rain that has the potential to do damage.

Luca said it would be a mistake to densify Matata with what was going on there at the moment.



Whakatane Mayor Victor Luca feels building further housing in Matata would be a mistake until something is done to address flooding risks. Photo / LDR

Climate change is the elephant in the room and we seem to have consistently underestimated the effects.

Theres a micro-climate [in the Matata catchment]. Its not totally predictable, but it looks like things are going to keep getting worse.

These rain bombs that come  this is the second in 20 years but they dont have to be linear, there could be another one in a year or two.

This has to be fixed and the people living there have to be given some comfort.

After the 2005 debris flow, the council placed sediment and debris catch-pits in Matata both at the Awatarariki Stream on the western side of the town and Waitepuru Stream on the north-eastern side of the town.

A $70,000 annual maintenance budget is supposed to cover the cost of keeping these catchpits clear so that the town and lagoon do not suffer debris flooding events.

Despite this, earlier this year a heavy rainfall event localised in the hills above Matata saw sediment and debris overwhelm Moores Bridge, which crosses the Awatarariki Stream, blocking State Highway 2 and entering properties on Pioneer Place.



A rain bomb in the hills above Matata in March this year saw sediment and debris-laden water overtop Moore's bridge closing State Highway 2 and entering private properties. Photo / LDR

While some of the cost overrun for removing debris was covered from an emergency stormwater fund, $112,000 of unbudgeted spending needed to be approved which would likely come from an internal loan. This amount also included the repair of a blown-out stormwater pipe in Murupara.

Three waters manager Jim Finlay suggested this sediment and debris coming down the rivers could be mediated with rock weirs slowing the flow of the water, at an estimated cost to the council of $140,000.

Its terrible that were just sitting there waiting for this to happen and you have to clean up each time and if you dont you are possibly going to have flooding down the highway and through the town from both of those streams.

He likened it to someone having a party in your house every week and youve got to go and clean up the mess.

Councillor Gavin Dennis recently presented to the Bay of Plenty Regional Land Transport Committee about the Moores Bridge incident which resulted in a debris flood.

He asked that the bridge be improved and that New Zealand Transport Agency and New Zealand Rail increase their maintenance on their State Highway 2 and railway bridges.

Finlay said New Zealand Rail had since cleared out their culverts on the Awatarariki Stream and had further work planned for clearing culverts on the Waitepuru Stream.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
People working in top jobs at charities responding to poverty say the choice of giving food or money to those asking for help is tough and they often feel conflicted.

Many communities are seeing a spike in homelessness, with a steady rise in the number of people living in cars, parks or on the streets.

That included Auckland, where there were more than 650 living rough on the streets according to the last count in January, and outreach workers expected that to rise over winter.

Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson said giving is a personal decision.

"For some people giving money is okay for some it isn't, for some it is giving money to an organisation, for some it's shouting someone a feed or offering to buy someone a pie or a drink while they're in the shop," she said.

"For others it's really striking up that conversation and encouraging them to access services like the mission."

Robinson said she often feels conflicted about what to give.

"There are times when I have given them money and there are times when I haven't, which is ironic for me as the Auckland City Missioner that I say both of those things," she said.

"I'm just conscious that sometimes $5 is the difference between someone having some food. It's a tangible expression of I actually genuinely care for what's going on for you in this moment."

Hustling or begging at traffic lights was against the law and she urged people to consider theirs and others' safety in such situations.

Robinson said a human response was needed and it's important not to ignore those living rough - she encouraged compassion.

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge agreed.

"I have a belief that the best possible thing we can do is greet them as you would anybody else, so say hello, make eye contact, engage with them, ask them how their day is," he said.

"I've been doing that for a number of years because I heard directly from one of them that one of the biggest challenges they faced is that people wouldn't make eye contact."

Edridge said he takes that approach and prefers to buy someone lunch or something they need rather than give cash.

He said the mission is seeing a rare level of poverty in its 120 year history.

"We're facing some huge social issues and my encouragement to government, to decision makers, to policy setters, to local councils and to leaders in our community is that we need to pay attention to this because if we don't then we all lose."

Edridge has been the city missioner for seven years and said he felt privileged to be in a position to help others.

"There's no downside to helping people get on and have an improved life, in fact the benefit that accrues to each one of us is huge."

Ian Hutson works as a mission officer for the Salvation Army and said the question of what to give people on the street is not straight-forward.

"In my case I often don't give but refer to agencies that can help but occasion you get the feel that it's fine to give."

He said people need to feel part of society, regardless of their circumstances.

"People are often somewhat frightened or fearful of people on the street and sometimes I think a certain amount of engaging and acknowledging them but without necessarily giving anything is at least one thing," Hutson said.

"I think many of the people on the street feel rejected, feel outsiders, that they're being looked down on."

He said individuals, groups and churches all need to help those in need.

The missioners and Hutson said people experiencing homelessness should not be blamed for their circumstances, which often include challenges such as addiction or illness.

Robinson is urging people to write to their local MP.

"Contact your local representative and say to them that enough affordable housing is really important to you as a citizen, to use your power to communicate to our politicians how important it is to you because your view then enables them to shape their view."

She said a lack of affordable housing is driving up homelessness and that needs to change.
Immigration Compliance and Investigations, and Risk and Verification teams, have been working to disrupt illegal activity by organised crime groups in New Zealand.

General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson said these groups had links to criminal syndicates who exploited vulnerable migrants by using them to live in residential properties to set up sophisticated indoor cannabis growing systems.

The three-month operation involved investigating 38 companies to ensure that they were complying with their Immigration and employment obligations. Since the operation began:

14 infringement notices were issued to companies employing staff in a manner that is inconsistent with a work-related condition of that persons visa, with a further two pending

38 deportation liability notices have been issued for people unlawfully in New Zealand or breaching visa conditions,

Two people unlawfully in New Zealand voluntarily left the country,

62 visas were cancelled for people who were not currently in the country, and a further eight visas were cancelled at the Border,

Eight passengers were offloaded from their flights to New Zealand,

Disrupting this activity now is key to preventing further harm and vulnerable migrants being exploited by unscrupulous employers, said Watson.

As a result of our interactions with these employers, information has also been shared with, and referred to, other areas of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and partner agencies for further action where other non-compliance or criminal offending was identified.

Watson said this operation is "an excellent example of cooperation across Government agencies, working together to ensure that the integrity of the Immigration system is upheld and those that do not meet their obligations are held to account".

"Many of these migrants were from the Vietnamese community. We will work with the migrants involved with this operation that are still in New Zealand on a case-by-case basis. Where they are breaching their visa conditions, or are here unlawfully, they will be assisted with pathways out of the country," Watson said.

"MBIE, Immigration New Zealand and our partner agencies want to ensure migrant communities are kept safe from those employers who would exploit the conditions of their work visas."

Watson said migrant workers need to be aware of those who may seek to exploit them.

If you are asked to pay large amounts of money to an offshore agent to travel and work in New Zealand, it is highly likely that this is part of a scam.

Information about employment rights in New Zealand can be found on the Employment New Zealand website, and using Licensed Immigration Advisers on the Immigration Advisers Authority website, in multiple languages.

"We continue to encourage anyone with information about suspected illegal criminal activity in their community to contact NZ Police on 111 in an emergency, or 105 for non-emergency. Alternatively contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111."

Anyone concerned with possible immigration breaches or exploitation should contact MBIE on 0800 20 90 20.
Iran set to fund construction of nation's Ardabil-Mianeh railway line

Iran plans to allocate 12 trillion rials ($19.1 million) for the Ardabil-Mianeh railway project. A total of 25 trillion rials ($39.8 million) is needed to complete the construction. The railway is expected to be finished by March 20, 2026.

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L.V. Cadiz Tuesday, 3 June 2025 | Updated 04/06/2025 09:32h. Compartir

An explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team from the SpanishNavy's Cadiz diving unit (Unbudiz) has identified and deactivated a 50mm mortar shell that was located near bridge number five of the Camposoto beach in San Fernando in Andalucia's Cadiz province. .

The delicate operation was carried out on Saturday 31 May following a tip-off of the discovery of the device on the aforementioned island beach, as reported by the Navy.

As a result, the maritime action operations and surveillance centre (Covam), deployed a team of explosive ordnance disposal specialists to locate, identify, neutralise and remove the projectile.

Members of the Navy's explosive ordnance disposal team verified that the projectile was a mortar shell with a full explosive charge, and that it was not safe to transport. For this reason, once it was confirmed that the security perimeter was adequate, it proceeded to neutralise it on site using special charges.

The team then collected debris from the device and checked that there were no more explosive remnants in the area in order to avoid any environmental impact.

Personnel from the Unbudiz explosives deactivation team and also Tedax expert personnel from the National Police were in the area of the incident during the process of eliminating the explosive device, as well as the National Police officers from San Fernando, who established an adequate security perimeter to avoid risks to the population.

The Navy has reminded the public that the handling of this type of projectile is "very dangerous", since its explosive charge usually remains in perfect condition despite the weather, and therefore, in the event of any discovery, it is recommended not to handle it and to notify the authorities.

The Navy's diving units have personnel specialised in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and divers specialised in underwater mine disabling techniques (EOD-Sub), being the only divers trained to carry out this type of tasks under the sea.

The Cadiz diving unit is part of the maritime action force (FAM), which within the Fleet is formed by the set of units whose main task is to prepare to protect national maritime interests and the control of maritime spaces of national sovereignty and interest. It is responsible, with a comprehensive approach, for ensuring permanent cooperation with the various government bodies with maritime responsibilities, which constitutes the Navy's contribution to the Spanish state's action at sea.
Eugenio Cabezas Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 10:33 Compartir

Around 1,700 women aged between 49 and 71 in the Axarquia area of Malaga province are scheduled to take part in the breast cancer early detection programme through a mobile mammography unit which will travel to different towns and villages in June.

Women from Benamocarra, Iznate, Almachar, El Borge, Benamargosa, Comares, Cutar and Triana, which belongs to Velez-Malaga, will be invited to get screened. From 2 June until 9 June 2025 (both dates included), the mobile unit will be in Benamocarra, where it will be located on the esplanade next to the bullring.

It will then travel to Almachar, where it will remain from 11 to 17 June (both dates inclusive), in the Maria Zambrano park (fairgrounds). Finally, from 19 to 27 June (both dates inclusive), the unit will visit Benamargosa, where it will be located in Calle Federico Garcia Lorca (behind the health centre).

According to a statement issued by the Andalusian regional government on Monday 2 June, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in all western countries. A mammography can detect tumours in very early stages, before they can be felt.

Early diagnosis of this disease is essential not only to reduce mortality but also to be able to act in its early stages, to increase survival and to be able to carry out less aggressive treatments to save the breast and improve the quality of life of women who suffer from it. It is estimated that early detection, when the tumour has not spread or progressed, raises the cure rate to almost 90 per cent.
Cristina Pinto Malaga Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 17:07 Compartir

There is a team of people in the province of Malaga who are specifically dedicated to improving the last days of the lives of people who are terminally ill. And here it is not about medical care, but about emotional, social and spiritual aspects. One of the people who is part of this team is Helena Chapinal, a social health worker from the Cudeca foundation home care team, who has been working with palliative patients since 2021 and confirms the importance of this type of care.

The service forms part of La Caixa Foundation's programme for the comprehensive care of people with advanced illnesses which, through its spiritual accompaniment guide, deals with religious or spiritual situations that health workers often do not know how to help with as they do not know each religion in depth.

This guide of more than 200 pages includes 14 religions and is used throughout Spain. Since its inception, this programme has already attended to more than 300,000 patients and represents a further step in personal care in the last days of life.

Helena Chapinal herself tells SUR how in her first days at Cudeca Foundation she realised that this guide was essential in her work routine: "Among the first people I cared for was a patient from China who was in her final phase and I wanted to organise with the mother everything involved in the death of her child, but I noticed that one day we were not understanding each other. As soon as I discussed it with a colleague and she showed me the guide, I understood that I could use it to learn about the culture and their religion. When I read and studied it I realised that in their religion talking about death is like calling it. I became aware of how necessary it is for us to understand each other and the patients because everyone lives their condition and their life in a different way," says the social worker.

Zoom Helena Chapinal, during a conference. SUR

Among the sections of this guide, different aspects of each religion are explained, such as origin, doctrine, moral belief, behaviour, commitments, practices or rites; as well as death, food, objectives, organisation of the religious community and other resources that may be useful for professionals working with them.

"In a place like Malaga, which is becoming more and more international, we meet people of different religions. It is not that they are the majority, but they themselves do not express their needs to us because they tend to believe that we will not understand them. For us it is fundamental in palliative care to be able to attend to all needs in a personalised way. The spiritual and religious aspects are undoubtedly part of what is essential for a person to feel comfortable in their last days of life," says social worker Helena Chapinal.

Comprehensive accompaniment

The spiritual accompaniment guide also offers psychological and social intervention to complement healthcare. They work with relatives and patients to help them cope with the illness, offer care to people affected by bereavement, support health professionals on issues such as communication in difficult situations and have a team of volunteers who accompany and add human values to end-of-life care, responding to the personal and social needs of both the patient and their family. These actions are carried out throughout Spain in specific places such as hospitals or social entities such as Cudeca, which focuses on palliative care.

In this way, patients living this end-of-life situation feel much more understood in their last days: "When we show them that we know about their religion, they feel much better cared for and are not afraid to talk about it, even if it is unknown to others," concludes Helena Chapinal.
Lorena Cadiz Mijas Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 12:46 Compartir

Due to its climate and natural characteristics, Mijas on Spain's Costa del Sol presents a high risk of wildfires, especially during the summer months. Moreover, the town is included in the danger zones for the risk of forest fires in Andalucia. For this reason, the town hall has once again launched an information and awareness campaign to warn visitors and prepare residents.

"The campaign features everyday scenes alongside the devastating effects of wildfires as a way to raise awareness about the serious consequences they cause. In Mijas, unfortunately, we have suffered fires that have caused a lot of damage and irreparable consequences for our natural environment. Prevention is the best tool," said mayor Ana Mata.

The councillor for fire and civil protection, Francisco Jerez, highlighted the importance of public involvement. "Every summer we face a real and very high risk. Although we have great professionals and means of response, the most effective tool continues to be prevention from the start. And that depends, to a large extent, on the residents and visitors of Mijas. An oversight, an imprudence, can unleash a tragedy," he said.

"It's not just about complying with the rules, it's about being aware of the environment we live in and acting responsibly. This campaign seeks to do just that: to appeal to each person's conscience to protect what belongs to everyone," said the councillor.

'Let only the sun shine this summer, not the flames from the fires', 'Sparks of happiness that are not destroyed by fire' and 'Live a dazzling summer from start to finish' are the three messages around which the initiative is articulated. They are accompanied by images of everyday summer life that convey how a small gesture can cause a fire with irreversible consequences. The campaign will be rolled out in both English and Spanish.

For this reason, for the first time, Mijas town hall has put out to tender the maintenance of the mountain range with the aim of ensuring that the forest mass is in the best possible condition. The budget for the contract, valid until 2029, including necessary extensions, is 1,217,715.13 euros (IVA sales tax included).

The work covered by the contract includes silvicultural treatment, clearing, thinning, pruning (including the elimination of invasive species), reforestation and conservation, maintenance and improvement of forestry infrastructures. The area of action will be the Sierra Blanca and Bermeja and technical criteria will always be followed when carrying out the work.

In general, operations will take place from Monday to Friday, spread over eight-month campaigns from 1 October to 31 May.

Bans

From 1 June to 15 October, a series of express bans have been established by the Junta de Andalucia to prevent fires. This includes the use of fire and the transit of motor vehicles in forest areas and in their area of influence (including riverbanks and streams), i.e. in a strip of 400 metres around these areas.

Barbecues are not allowed, not even in designated spots, such as recreational or camping areas. In addition, burning of agricultural or vegetable waste is banned. In fact, all barbecues in the El Esparragal park in Mijas have been sealed off as a preventive measure.
Sara Barcena Hernandez Granada Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 11:42 Compartir

While parts of Spain have been experiencing a wave of coronavirus for a couple of months now, infections in the rest of the world have not stopped increasing either since mid-February 2025. With this in mind, the World Health Organization has warned of a new variant called NB.1.8.1.

Overall, according to data collected by sentinel sites, the coronavirus test positivity rate is now 11%. These levels have not been seen since July 2024. Incidence is on an upward trend, mainly in countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.

The number of infections is similar to that recorded this time last year, but the experts have not identified any seasonal pattern

The number of infections is similar to that recorded this time last year, but experts have not identified any seasonal pattern. However, they have reported changes in transmission. At the beginning of this year, LP.8.1 was the most circulating variant, but its presence has been decreasing over the months.

The new NB.1.8.1 variant has gained prominence. Although its relationship with the increase in viral activity at a global level has not yet been confirmed, as it is being monitored, it has been confirmed that it already accounts for 10.7% of the global sequences reported by mid-May.

Is the new variant dangerous?

Given the impact that the new variant of the coronavirus has had so far, the World Health Organization considers the public health risk to be "low". However, "vaccination remains a key intervention to prevent severe disease and death, especially among at-risk groups".

As far as symptoms are concerned, the reality is that they are not particularly different from other known variants.

These are the symptoms: Very high fever peaks

Chills

Coughing, snots and sneezing

Breathing difficulties

General fatigue or tiredness

Sore throat or headaches

Nasal congestion

Loss of taste or smell

Muscle aches and pains

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

According to virology experts, once infection has occurred, the affected person may have symptoms for three to five days.
SUR in English Alora Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 18:11 Compartir

Inland tourism in Malaga will showcase its diversity and strength at Hacienda Los Conejitos in Alora on 14 and 15 June, during the first edition of the Malaga Inland Tourism Fair. The event is organised by Turismo Interior de Malaga and Triangulo Activo Caminito del Rey, and will bring together more than 50 inland towns along with various local producers. The fair is supported by the Malaga provincial government, the Sabor a Malaga brand, and the town halls of Alora and Cuevas del Becerro.

As an added incentive, those who register on the website turismointeriordemalaga.com and attend the fair will be entered into a draw for over 60 inland tourism experiences provided by companies featured on the site. The draw will take place during the event for those who have completed the online registration.

The Inland Tourism Fair aims to give greater visibility to the tourist offerings of inland towns across the province of Malaga. It also seeks to promote local tourism as a key factor in tackling rural depopulation and encouraging new entrepreneurial ventures. More than 50 inland municipalities will have a unique opportunity to present their active leisure, cultural and food experiences to the public, offering a strong alternative to the traditional sun and beach image long associated with the province of Malaga.

A programme of talks, panel discussions, tastings and demonstrations

The two-day fair will run from 11am to 7pm. Highlights of this first edition include a series of talks by specialists, such as Guadalhorce cuisine, gastronomy and identity with chef Inmaculada Jimenez Luque; Abilio Arteaga Luque from Restaurante Casa Abilio; Jose Carlos Garcia Farfan, president of the Tomate Huevo de Toro association and co-owner of La Huerta de Carmen; and Juan Miguel Gomez Trujillo, president of the Regulatory Council of the DOP Alorena Olive of Malaga.

Another featured talk will be Inland and nature tourism: looking to the future with the experience of the past led by the team behind the 4 Estaciones-Alora project: Lina Garcia, Antonio Henares and Victor Cabrera. There will also be a presentation on the Guadalhorce Geopark and the Alora-Carratraca scenic route by journalist and Diario SUR contributor Javier Almellones.

The fair will also host panel discussions on topics such as CADE Alora, Andalucia Emprende: 23 years of promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and the future of inland areas, Strategies to boost inland tourism in Malaga, and The power of sporting events to attract tourism to inland Malaga.

Visitors will be able to enjoy tastings of local products, including Alorena olives with protected designation of origin (DOP), as well as workshops on making and installing nest boxes and on Bread with chocolate as a sweet finale.

There will also be a range of culinary workshops run by the Sabor a Malaga food market, featuring local producers such as Almodovar Productos Carnicos, Bodega Embrujo del Sur, Bodegas Excelencia, Cafe La Hacienda, Crema de Ajoblanco, Dona Amelia, Embutidos La Abuela Loli, Gin Alboran, Lacteos El Pastor del Valle, Panaderia Cristo Rey, Quesos El Llano Jaral, Quesos El Porticatero and Dimor Guadalhorce.

Among the experiences to be raffled off to those who register on the website are excursions to the Caminito del Rey, paragliding flights, bike tours, hotel stays, quad routes, zip-lining and more.

For more information on the prize activities and to register, visit:

https://www.turismointeriordemalaga.com/
A new Covid variant has spread to the U.S., including in New York state.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that NB.1.8.1, a new mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that sparked the coronavirus pandemic beginning in late 2019, has been detected in people arriving at airports in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called it a variant under monitoring after the virus became the dominant strain in China, leading to a spike in hospitalizations this year.

The CDC said health officials detected the variant in a handful of states beginning in March, including California, Hawaii, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington. According to Time, cases were detected through a program that randomly tests travelers at U.S. airports.

According to the New York Post, there are too few cases to show up in the CDCs variant estimates, but experts have warned NB.1.8.1 spreads more quickly than previous versions of Covid. Hong Kong authorities said in April that Covid cases spiked to the worst levels in at least a year, leading to a significant increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the last month due to the variant.

CBS reports NB.1.8.1 symptoms are broadly similar to those seen in earlier strains of the virus, according to Subhash Verma, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. The most frequent Covid symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever and fatigue.

The good news is the new Covid variant is still part of the Omicron family, so current vaccines and immunity from recent infections may protect you from serious illness. According to Time, the FDAs vaccine committee met May 22 to discuss vaccine updates for fall that target LP.8.1, a variant that is related to NB.1.8.1 and the current vaccines target strain, JN.1.

Verman told CBS that early data also shows NB.1.8.1 also does not suggest severe illnesses compared to previous variants. However, it appears to be more transmissible than earlier Covid strains.

Vaccinations are recommend to prevent more severe illness, especially for older people and those with weakened immune systems. The FDA said last month it will continue recommending booster shots for seniors and those with underlying medical conditions, but younger and healthier Americans may not have ready access this fall or be forced to pay out of pocket.

According to the CDC, more than 1.2 million Americans have died from or with Covid-19 since January 2020. At least 11,000 U.S. deaths have been recorded in 2025 alone, including nearly 1,000 deaths reported in New York state since Jan. 4.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A man on Monday threatened to bomb and shoot people at Upstate Golisano Childrens Hospital, police said.

The same man in April threatened a mass shooting at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, police said. He also in 2017 was accused of falsely reporting active shootings and other emergencies, according to Syracuse.com archives.

Adam G. Dedrick, 27, of Geddes, who is an employee at Syracuse University, sent an email at 12:03 p.m. Monday to the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services threatening to carry out a mass shooting, SUNY Upstate University police said in court documents.

In the email, police said he wrote he was planning to shoot people and plant bombs at the childrens hospital in Syracuse.

At 12:48 p.m., another email was sent that said, Im planning a big mass shooting and four bombs at upstate childrens hospital downtown Syracuse. Be prepared, it starts today at 2 p.m. This isnt a lie!!!

After sending the threats, Dedrick threw his phone in a dumpster in the Syracuse University Physical Plant at 285 Ainsley Drive, according to police.

Police later found out that the email Dedrick used to make the threats was the same email address used to send threats of an active shooter at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus on April 7, according to documents.

In a voluntary statement offered by police, Dedrick wrote, I am very sorry for what I did by reporting a shooting at ESF and bomb threat at Upstate hospital. I didnt mean to do it and wont do it again. Im really sorry.

Dedrick was arrested and charged with making a false report and terroristic threat. He is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center with bail set at $50,000 cash or a $100,000 bond.

Dedricks next court appearance is set for Friday.

An Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO, was filed against Dedrick in Onondaga County. An ERPO allows law enforcement or prosecutors to issue a red flag on someone who threatens harm to themselves or others. Authorities can search their home to see if the person has any access to weapons.

A Syracuse University spokesperson Wednesday afternoon said Dedrick no longer works for the university. The spokesperson didnt immediately know what Dedricks job was.

Staff writer Greta Stuckey covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at gstuckey@syracuse.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. Iran will continue to vigorously pursue the development of its nuclear industry, Mohammad Eslami, the countrys vice president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told local media, Trend reports.

Eslami noted that Irans nuclear industry is one of the countrys key sectors and has the potential to grow across multiple fields. He emphasized that Iran will not give up its right to enrich uranium, which remains a matter of national significance.

He reiterated that Irans official stance is not to pursue nuclear weapons and that the country rejects the production of weapons of mass destruction.

On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A man cut his boyfriend with a kitchen knife this weekend then barricaded himself in his Syracuse home for nearly five hours Monday night in a standoff with police, according to police.

Syracuse police brought in a SWAT team with armored car, drone and robotic dog during the standoff on the citys North Side.

Around 6:20 p.m. Monday, police were called to 945 Oak St. after a man said his boyfriend threatened to stab him with a knife, according to Kieran Coffey, a spokesperson for Syracuse police.

On Sunday, the man - Dennis Rocks, 52, of Syracuse - stabbed his boyfriend with a kitchen knife, causing cuts along the mans left wrist and right elbow, police said in an accusatory document filed in Syracuse City Court.

Rocks boyfriend was treated by an ambulance on scene Sunday, Coffey said.

On Monday, the two men got into a physical altercation and Rocks threatened to stab his boyfriend again, Coffey said.

The man got away from Rocks and called 911, Coffey said.

When officers arrived, Rocks barricaded himself inside his home and refused to come out, Coffey said. The SWAT and emergency response teams were called to the home, he said.

Rocks was arrested and taken into custody around 11:14 p.m. Monday, Coffey said.

Rocks was charged with second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession and second-degree menacing.

Rocks is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center on no bail, according to court records.

A Syracuse police SWAT team arrest a man after a nearly 5-hour standoff at 945 Oak St. on Monday night, June 2, 2025. Image from a video taken of the arrest. Provided video image

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com
Eminem performs during "Live from Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central" on June 6, 2024, in Detroit. (Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS) TNS

Max Reinhart l The Detroit News (TNS)

DETROIT  Eminems music publisher has filed suit against multinational tech company Meta, alleging the Detroit rappers songs are used on Metas social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram without proper licensing.

In a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, Eight Mile Style LLC said Meta has created and stored copies of Eminems songs on their servers and distributed them to billions of users around the world in violation of copyright law. The publisher said the rappers songs have been utilized by social media users in millions of videos that have collectively been viewed billions of times.

Through Metas online tools, users can also steal music from another users posted content to use in their own video, resulting in exponential infringement, Eight Mile Style alleges in the lawsuit.

The complaint says the tech giant is actively encouraging users to stream Eminems work by making his songs available for user posts on Facebook, Instagram and the WhatsApp messaging service. The apps algorithms allegedly directly promote the music to users via For You and Trending features.

The Ferndale-based company had previously brought the issue to Metas attention, according to the complaint, and Meta responded by removing several of Eminems songs from its libraries, including his 2001 mega-hit Lose Yourself. However, it has kept a karaoke version, an instrumental piano version and a cover version of the track available to its users, in addition to other prominent Eminem songs like Till I Collapse, Eight Mile Style alleges.

Metas years-long and ongoing infringement of the Eight Mile Compositions is another case of a trillion (with a T) dollar company exploiting the creative efforts of musical artists for the obscene monetary benefit of its executives and shareholders without a license and without regard to the rights of the owners of the intellectual property, the complaint states.

Menlo Park, California-based Meta did not immediately respond Friday to a message seeking comment.

Eight Mile Style is seeking damages including for the diminished value of the copyrights by (Metas) theft of them, in addition to Metas profits attributable to the infringement. It says the maximum statutory damages would equate to more than $109 million.

The company also seeks an injunction to stop what it characterizes as Metas ongoing infringement.

This is the latest of several lawsuits Eight Mile Style has filed over the past several years in a bid to protect the world-famous rappers library.

In January, the company sued a Metro Detroit car dealership over allegedly unauthorized use of Lose Yourself in ads for the Ford F-150. That case was dismissed last month at the companys request.

In 2019, Eight Mile Style accused Spotify of streaming hundreds of Eminem songs billions of times without proper licensure. A Tennessee judge ruled last year that while Spotify did not have a license to stream the songs, it was also not liable for lost royalty payments, Rolling Stone reported.

In 2017, a New Zealand judge ruled that the countrys conservative National Party breached copyright by using a rip-off of Lose Yourself in campaign ads.

2025 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Two Syracuse city schools workers made over $200,000 during the 2023-2024 school year. Stock photo. (10'000 Hours | Getty Images) 10'000 Hours | Getty Images

Syracuse, N.Y.  Superintendent Anthony Davis was the highest-paid employee in the Syracuse City School District during the 2023-2024 school year, according to state and district records.

Davis salary for the year was $255,000. Thats the amount in the contract he signed when he took over as permanent superintendent in December 2022.
Blue smoke from a diesel generator fills the air outside the American High movie studio in Liverpool on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com

Liverpool, N.Y.  The village of Liverpool is threatening $1,000-a-day fines against the American High movie studio over its use of an outdoor generator thats pumping smelly blue fumes into the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Village code enforcement officer Bill Reagan said he began receiving complaints from neighbors about the stinky fumes wafting past their homes on Thursday, when the studio began filming its latest movie at the former Zogg Middle School.

More complaints came in on Friday, Monday and Tuesday, prompting Reagan to issue two cease and desist orders threatening fines of $1,000 a day for each day the studio runs the generator, he said.

The studio has been using the generator -- sometimes late into the evening -- to power lights, cameras and other equipment that require a significant amount of electricity. Reagan said the lights are being used to make it look like its a bright, sunny day even when filming takes place at night.

But he said the studios operating permit bars it from using an outdoor generator. He said the prohibition is one of the terms negotiated with American High after Jeremy Garelick, a Hollywood director and writer known for his work in the The Hangover, The Break-Up and The Wedding Ringer, bought the former school on Fourth Street for $1 million in 2017.

Were currently on Day 4, Reagan said. They were reminded of the conditions of their special permit. They cant use an outdoor generator because of the smoke.

Garelick told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard on Tuesday he is looking for ways to power the equipment without a generator.

Were not looking to pick fights, he said. Were looking to be good neighbors.

Blue fumes rise from a diesel generator outside the American High movie studio in Liverpool during the filming of its latest movie in June 2025. Liverpool Code Enforcement

Reagan said an attorney for the studio promised him that use of the generator would end, but it hasnt.

The neighbors are furious, he said.

It shows he has no respect for the neighbors whatsoever, he said in reference to Garelick.

Reagan said his understanding is the former school building has enough electrical service to power the studios lights and other power-hungry equipment but would require the studio to invest in equipment to hook it into the building.

Its just a case of installing the hookups that they need, he said.

Blue fumes fill the air from a diesel generator outside the American High studio in Liverpool during the filming of its latest movie in June 2025. Liverpool Code Enforcement

Garelick acknowledged the studios operating permit prohibits the use of an outdoor generator. But he said the hookups are a budget issue for the independent studio, which makes low-budget high school comedies that have included The Binge with Vince Vaughn and Summer of 69, which recently hit No. 1 on Hulu.

Were trying to do what we can, he said.

A notice left on neighbors doors by the studio states that filming will take place at the studio for nine more days this month. Garelick said filming will occur on other days at various other locations in the Syracuse area.

This is not American Highs first conflict with neighbors and the villages code enforcement office.

In 2020, Garelick threatened to move the studio out of the village -- and even put up a For Sale sign -- after Reagan demanded he install sprinklers to meet state fire codes. The studio eventually reached a compromise with the village by installing a series of fire walls inside the building with the help of a grant from Onondaga County.

Then, in 2022, neighbors complained that employees were operating noisy tractor-trailer trucks on the studios grounds late at night. The studio eventually stopped the practice.

American Highs latest (and 19th movie) is its first in a college setting. It stars Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) and Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs). The two actors were spotted recently at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse.

Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo, center, and The Goldbergs actor Sean Giambrone, kneeling at far right, pose for a photo at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse. Provided photo

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Contact him anytime at rmoriarty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-3148.
Volunteers from area churches working with a health awareness project concerning the obesity problem in Syracuse's Black community meet at Gospel Temple of God in Christ in 2004. Audrey Gomez is in the center, in the grey jacket. David Lassman
Elon Musk speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

Elon Musk, who left his position as an advisor to President Donald Trump just days ago, harshly criticized the administrations big, beautiful bill as a disgusting abomination.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk wrote on his social media site, X. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The spending and policy plan passed the house by a 1-vote margin, 215-214, less than two weeks ago. It is facing opposition in the senate from a handful of Republican senators, threatening to stall the massive bill.

The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesnt change the presidents opinion, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday afternoon at a press briefing. This is one big, beautiful bill and hes sticking to it.

The bill has met with resistance from some members of the GOP because of the potential increase to the nations debt. The bill would cut taxes and increase spending on the military and border security. The bill also cuts funding for Medicaid, clean energy, education and food assistance.

Sen. Rand Paul, one of the Republicans who oppose the bill, went on X to support Musks assessment.

I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake, Paul posted. We can and must do better.

Democrats  who rarely find themselves agreeing with Musk  joined in with him to criticize the bill.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont posted on X that Musk is right: this bill IS a disgusting abomination. We shouldnt give $664 billion in tax breaks to the 1%. We shouldnt throw 13.7 million people off of Medicaid. We shouldnt cut $290 billion from programs to feed the hungry. Lets defeat this disgusting abomination.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X that The GOP Tax Scam is a disgusting abomination. Truer words have never been spoken.

House Speaker Mike Johnson wasnt happy with Musks criticism of the bill.

Its very disappointing, OK?, Johnson said to CNNs Manu Raju. Ive come to consider Elon a good friend. Hes obviously a very intelligent person and hes done a lot of great work.  But with all due respect, my friend Elon is very wrong about the one big beautiful bill.

Musk went on to post on X that It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.
This ABC7NY video still shows TikTok prankster Kyle Vazquez dumping food on himself at a New York restaurant. Video still

CENTEREACH, N.Y. (AP)  Police in the suburbs of New York City have arrested who they described as a social media prankster over viral videos in which he dumps heaps of food on his head and runs away, leaving others to clean up his mess.

Kyle Vazquez, 21, was arrested in Centereach, on Long Island, on Monday. He was charged on eight counts, including six counts related to recording people without their consent and two counts of criminal tampering, police said.

The Coram resident pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday and was released pending his next court date on June 30, according to prosecutors and court records.

Suffolk County police say Vazquez dumped a tub of eggs on his head in front of a Ralphs Italian Ices in Centereach on April 29. He then fled in a car, leaving a mess of broken eggshells in the entranceway, police said.

Vazquez pulled a similar stunt at a Chinese eatery in town the next day, pouring a bucket of beans over his head while standing shirtless in the middle of the establishment.

Then in May, Vazquez visited three homes and asked the residents if he could use the bathroom. He then created a disturbance and filmed residents without their knowledge or consent, police said.

Vazquez posted videos of the stunts, along with many others, on his TikTok account, which has more than 100,000 followers.

The Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, which is representing Vazquez, didnt respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. There will be no agreement in the ongoing indirect negotiations with the US on Irans nuclear program unless uranium enrichment remains part of the process, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on his X page, Trend reports.

Araghchi emphasized that the journey to cultivate uranium enrichment capabilities has been a costly endeavor for Iran, and the nation will steadfastly hold onto this right.



Nevertheless, he expressed that should the discussions unfold under the assumption that Iran will refrain from seeking nuclear arms, a consensus with the United States could be within reach.

The minister emphasized that only a few countries in the world possess the capability to produce nuclear reactor fuel, and this is for clear reasons. It requires not only financial resources but also a strong industrial infrastructure and a strategic political outlook.

To note, five rounds of indirect talks between Iran and the US on Irans nuclear program have taken place on April 12, 19, 26, May 11, and May 23. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

Noteworthy, US President Donald Trump has pointed out in his statements that Iran is sitting on a gold mine of energy resources. Iran has no need to chase rainbows with a nuclear program, and it would be wise to steer clear of enriching uranium.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 4. US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, Trend reports.

He reported that issues of settlement in Ukraine and the Iranian nuclear problem were discussed during the telephone conversation.

The US President noted that the conversation was good, but it was not the kind of conversation that would lead to immediate peace in Ukraine.

According to him, the conversation lasted an hour and 15 minutes.
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The transport of the works of art to the Altaussee salt mine in a photograph from the archive of the Lentos Museum in Linz. Eva Kraft

Everything is breathtaking in Salzkammergut. In this alpine region where picturesque villages such as Hallstatt, primary forests, lakes, and the Dachstein glacier flourish, the Nazis hid a treasure trove of almost 10,000 works of art underground. A total of 1,428 pieces came from Austrias most important national museums, such as the Belvedere, the Albertina, and the Museum of Art History in Vienna, but most of them were works looted in Europe under the occupation of the Third Reich, which Hitler planned to use as the basis of the megalomaniacal Fuhrer Museum in Linz.

The story was the fruit of necessity. The art had to be saved from Allied bombings and the last bastion of the Nazi resistance in the Alps was chosen. Artillery trucks were loaded with works by artists such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Tintoretto, and Pieter Brueghel the Elder; there were also sculptures such as The Madonna of Bruges, created in marble by Michelangelo, which left Belgium wrapped in mattresses, and The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a medieval polyptych by Jan van Eyck looted from Ghent Cathedral and transported during the snows of the winter of 1943 to the catacombs of the Altaussee salt mine. The following year the masterpieces from the Viennese museums were moved to the Lauffen salt mine. Hitlers strategy had worked and the head of Heritage in Vienna copied the idea. Now the Lentos art museum in Linz has managed to collect more than 80 of these works, including pieces by Goya, Titian and Liebermann and degenerate artists such as Munch and Corinth, for display in the exhibition The Journey of the Paintings.

The exact place where they were hidden in the Altaussee mine, 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Linz, can still be visited. The setting has not changed at all. George Clooney approached the story in Monuments Men, a film that appropriates the real events to make the story work like an episode of the A-Team. The movies promotional poster paradoxically hangs on a wall of the Lentos. The real denouement is perhaps too twisted to be believable on film: the Nazi leader of the region, SS gauleiter obergruppenfuhrer August Eigruber, ordered eight sealed wooden boxes inscribed with Caution / Marble to be installed next to the artworks. Inside they held half a ton of explosives each. They were well camouflaged. Along with the 6,500 paintings, 130 sculptures, 120 tapestries and 480 drawings, there were another 1,700 wooden boxes containing antiquarian books. The Nazis intention was to blow up the mine and its contents if things got ugly, which they did.

Some of the works that make up the exhibition 'The Journey of the Paintings' in an image provided by the Lentos Museum. Violetta Wakolbinger

The miners were alarmed. Altaussee is not just any deposit: it was the Habsburgs main source of wealth and today remains active as Austrias most important salt mine, with 50 tons of salt extracted from its bowels every hour. After Germany annexed Austria, the monopoly over this production was controlled from Berlin. The workers sensed that, along with the works of art, the regions great economic vein was in danger and, in desperation, they grasped at a Nazi straw: Ernst Kaltenbrunner, the head of the Gestapo, who was hiding with his mistress in a nearby villa. Kaltenbrunner intervened to their favor and on the night of May 4, 1945, the miners removed the bombs and hid them in the forest until the arrival of the U.S. army on May 8. Eigruber was hanged for his responsibility for the crimes committed at Mauthausen and its satellite camps. Kaltenbrunner, too.

The exhibition at the Lentos is part of an ambitious trilogy linked to Bad Ischls status as one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2024. The second exhibition, in Bad Aussee, is dedicated to the art dealer Wolfgang Gurlitt (1888-1965), an unscrupulous speculator during the Nazi era. He traded, trafficked, and did business with the Nazis while using his partner and Jewish concubine Lilly Agoston as a front. The daring method he found to spare Agoston from the gas chamber was a marriage of convenience with a young man from Denmark, which allowed them both to hold Danish passports to trade in degenerate art in exchange for fresh foreign currency for the Reich. Always beset by creditors and a hedonistic lifestyle, his house was paid for by his wife and ex-wife with his own money (he lived with all three women, much to the bewilderment of visiting socialites). His daughters were never allowed to work because, he said, a Gurlitt does not work. He was the representative of painters including Picasso, Liebermann, Schiele, Klimt, and Kokoschka. He had a close friendship with the latter, an artist persecuted by the Nazis who narrowly escaped the extermination camps. Gurlitt was the first to exhibit his work again in Austria in 1949, with pieces by Klimt, Schiele and Kubin.

The transfer of works to the Altaussee mine in 1943 in a photograph by Eva Kraft. Eva Kraft

By this time Gurlitt was the owner of an infamous number of works that had belonged to Jewish collectors and had come indecipherably into his hands during World War II. When his Berlin residence and art gallery were destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in November 1943, one of the reasons he moved from greater Berlin to provincial Bad Aussee, where today he stars in this exhibition at the Kammerhofmuseum, was to cash in on the Aryanization of Jewish mansions. His collection is the origin of the Lentos, which changed its name in 2003 from the New Gallery of the City of Linz-Wolfgang Gurlitt Museum. Today, 12 paintings from the Gurlitt collection that were acquired by the City of Linz have been returned to their rightful heirs. Among them is Klimts valuable portrait of Ria Munk, which until 2009 was on display in the museum.

A dandy who worked to fill the Fuhrer Museum with works of art, says Michael John, an expert on art plundered during the Third Reich who was consulted in the Munk familys proceedings. John is leading the reopening of the Museum of Bad Ischl, announced for July, one of the citys flagship actions as European Capital of Culture. The museum will have a name and a Biedermeier facade reminiscent of the sets of filmmaker Wes Anderson: Hotel Austria.

The painting 'Jupiter and Antiope' in a snapshot provided by the Lentos Museum in Linz. Rheinisches Bildarchiv Koln

Lauffen, on the outskirts of Bad Ischl, was chosen to host the latest exhibition because this is where the second salt mine used as an art bunker was located. But in addition to Hitlers art theft, another important aspect is the looting of works of art that is in full swing even today. This is a task that Europe must urgently tackle, says Elisabeth Schweeger, artistic director of the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl. It is with this approach that The Life of Things, Looted  Displaced  Salvaged opens, addressing the theft of state-planned art and expropriations (or Aryanizations) carried out under the German Reich and examining  guided by the work of 14 contemporary artists  the colonial exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the plundering in Iraq, or the cultural destruction in Lebanon.

The three exhibitions dedicated to Nazi plundered art and the Hotel Austria can be visited throughout the summer. They will coincide in the Salzkammergut agenda with traditional events such as the Bad Goisern chamois beard olympiad.

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Fuldagap BANNED

Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: -- Posts: 400 Thanked: 2,811 Times Infractions: 0/2 (12)

Quote: neerajku Originally Posted by Like many others I expect some strong retaliation from Pakis soon, hope we are even better this time and cripple them for ages and also serve a warning to China.



As per some reports a new group has already come to the fore. Something called Tehreeke Taliban Kashmir.



Till such groups are able to survive and thrive our forces can only do so much.



Quote: ike Originally Posted by While I agree that Drones cannot replace Aircrafts, police checkpoints in India are not exactly known for their efficiency and honesty. A corrupt high ranking cop or a few corrupt on the ground cops can be influenced to sneak through/evade police checks in India.



Sneaking stuff is not as easy as it may seem to be like in the movies. Even if a policeman or a group of policeman are able to do this, it can not live long as a secret. Police of any given area has the most effective network compared to other forces when it comes to gathering real info. For eg: it is the effectiveness of the J&K police (along with crpf) that militancy/terrorism was tirn down so much in the past 2 decades or more.



Same is true for Naxalite affected areas.

Borders are under the purview of BSF and army mostly. Police does not even come into the picture in those areas. Not even senior police officers are allowed in their own territories without the explicit permission from army/bsf. They remain much behind. There are areas where farmers have to be escorted by personnel and have to adhere to strict day timings to go to their farms on a daily basis on the borders. The surveillance is taken care of by army/bsf. If stuff still gets sneaked in through some challenges posed by the terrain, it is the police network that gets alerted first not the other forces because of their effective network.



If still the sneaks take place and corruption is the way to achieve it, it can't be pinned on just one of the forces. It would be same. Their major terror groups will get even more funds to keep on doing what they do. They can't retaliate militarily ever. If they do, it will result in a shot in own's foot.As per some reports a new group has already come to the fore. Something called Tehreeke Taliban Kashmir.Till such groups are able to survive and thrive our forces can only do so much.It is easy to pin the blame on police force when it comes to corruption, mostly because they deal with people on a daily basis like a shookeeper does. Corruption is rife, much more than the police, in other forces. The magnitude is much greater but they have the privilege of not being seen by common man.Sneaking stuff is not as easy as it may seem to be like in the movies. Even if a policeman or a group of policeman are able to do this, it can not live long as a secret. Police of any given area has the most effective network compared to other forces when it comes to gathering real info. For eg: it is the effectiveness of the J&K police (along with crpf) that militancy/terrorism was tirn down so much in the past 2 decades or more.Same is true for Naxalite affected areas.Borders are under the purview of BSF and army mostly. Police does not even come into the picture in those areas. Not even senior police officers are allowed in their own territories without the explicit permission from army/bsf. They remain much behind. There are areas where farmers have to be escorted by personnel and have to adhere to strict day timings to go to their farms on a daily basis on the borders. The surveillance is taken care of by army/bsf. If stuff still gets sneaked in through some challenges posed by the terrain, it is the police network that gets alerted first not the other forces because of their effective network.If still the sneaks take place and corruption is the way to achieve it, it can't be pinned on just one of the forces. Last edited by Axe77 : 2nd June 2025 at 20:52 . Reason: Merging as requested.
Dani7766 BHPian



Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Chennai Posts: 77 Thanked: 168 Times

Re: Honda City Hybrid Review Background and Car Search:



I was on the lookout for a pre-owned car, and my main criteria were that it should be an automatic variant. Also, it had to be a Japanese car, as they are known for their reliabilityand given that this was going to be a used purchase, the chances of a Japanese-manufactured car being more dependable were higher.



My budget was between 10 to 20 lakhs. I preferred cars that were less than 5 years old and had run under 50,000 to 60,000 km. With no specific car in mind, I was aimlessly scouting online websites like Spinny, Cars24, OLX, and CarWale.



I kind of decided on getting a Corolla and even messaged our great Japanese used-car guru, *Vigsom*, to let me know if he came across any Corollas. He did give me a used car dealers contact.



While browsing, I saw a few Honda Citys and thought, Why not search for a Honda City Hybrid? I was expecting no results. However, I ended up seeing 3 Honda City Hybrids for sale in Chennai. Two were from direct owners. One was a white 2022 model, done about 25,000 km, quoting about 20 lakhs. Another was a Meteoroid Grey 2022 model, done about 17,000 km, available with a dealer and quoting around 17 lakhs.



This particular car was being listed by multiple dealers, each quoting slightly different prices. One of them even had the audacity to post it as a direct owner car. I contacted one of the dealers and had a look. The car drove fine. I took a friend and a mechanic with me. My friend spotted repainting on the A-pillar and bonnet, which was poorly done. Otherwise, the car looked okay, and the mechanic gave a go-ahead.



To me, the car felt like it had done more kilometers, as the tyres looked quite worn for a 17,000 km run. I told the dealer I was ready to buy it for 15 lakhs, but the dealer wanted 16.5 lakhs plus a separate 2% commission. I didnt feel the car was worth 16.5 lakhsespecially considering I drive about 10,000 km per year, and for a little more money, I could always buy a brand-new automatic petrol variant.



Buying Process:



The other direct-owner car was the one I ended up buyinga Radiant Red Honda City Hybrid with 36,000 km on the odometer, quoted at 16 lakhs. I messaged the owner in the evening to confirm if he was the direct owner, and he confirmed it.



I got busy and messaged him again the next day, but there was no reply. I even sent a message telling him I wasnt a spammer and that I was seriously interestedstill, no reply. I called the number, but no calls went through. I had my friend try calling toosame result. I gave up on it.



A week later, I received a message from the owner asking if I was still interested. I confirmed that I was, and called him. I asked him a few details, and he mentioned that the car had been fully serviced at a Honda service center. The only thing the car needed was a tyre change. He was ready to send a copy of the RC and also shared the entire service history of the car, which is available on the Honda Connect app.



The vehicle had a minor accident oncethe left door was damaged. But the entire bodywork was done at a Honda ASC and covered by insurance. Convinced that I was dealing with a genuine car and owner, the next step was to inspect the car. The owner stayed about 35 km from my place.



I availed the services of CarWale inspection, and the report was great. The car passed with flying colours. I called the owner and told him I was interested and would pay 14 lakhs. We finally negotiated it to 14.3 lakhs. I saw the car only after all negotiations took placeand I was happy.







The Car:



Honda City Hybrid ZX e-CVT (e\:HEV), 2023 variant.

The owner used it to commute to his office, which was about 50 km one way from his home. The car was driven almost entirely by his driver, as the owner hated driving.



I had a huge grin on my face when I took the car back home after purchaseit drove **really smooth**.



One day after the purchase, I got the tyres changed to **Michelin PS4**. The car drove even better, quiter after the tyre change.



Likes:



* Looks

* The drive is really smooth

* Has adequate power and delivers good mileage

* I felt the suspension and car dynamics were very good

* I get 18.5 km/L within the city (checked twice using the full-tank method).

For reference, I get around 14 km/L in my manual Swift.

* Ive taken it on the highway only once (Chennai to Tirupatia mix of highway and 2-lane roads).

Got 19.5 km/L on that trip.



Safety features:



* Collision Mitigation Braking System

* Adaptive Cruise Control

* Lane Keep Assist

* Road Departure Mitigation System

* Auto High-Beam

* Lead Car Departure Notification

* LaneWatch Camera (only on the left side):

When you push the left indicator, you get a view of the left side on the infotainment screen.

Also, can be activated via a button on the indicator stalk.



The car came with 5 years warranty and 5 years roadside assistance. I was expecting just 3 years and the owner felt it should be 3 as well, so this was a surprise bonus.



The car had sunfilm installed. The owner wasnt even aware of it (clearly not an enthusiast).



The car was driven by *Vigsom* when he was in Chennai and got his seal of approval.

The moment he got in, he asked if the car had experienced any floodingeven low-level. He said he could smell dampness.

That was actually because I had just returned from a swim and still had damp clothes and smelled of chlorine. 

But man, what an observation! Truly a legend.







Negatives:



* Lights could have been better. Got AES projector fog lamps installed.

* Weak horn. Installed Hella Chrome horn.

* Ground clearance I havent scraped the car yet, but it's something to watch out for.

* Cameras (LaneWatch + reverse): Absolutely horrible at night. Almost useless.

* Colour: Personal preferenceI would have gone for white or blue.







Final Thoughts:



Overall, I feel this is a great car if you're looking for an used car. It offers a relaxed drive, excellent mileage, and when buying used, you dont have to pay that huge premium (which honestly makes no sense to me) that Honda asks for a new City Hybrid.



The only problem? You may not find many used City Hybrids on sale. Last edited by Dani7766 : 3rd June 2025 at 13:29 .
deerhunter BHPian



Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: PGT/PDY Posts: 311 Thanked: 1,138 Times

Re: My life & times with a Kawasaki | 2020 Ninja 1000SX Ownership Review Got Leh'd



Getting Leh'd on a litre class sport tourer was not something I expected I would ever do. But the stars got aligned and finally decided to do the same. One thing that was worrying me was the tyre scenario. The Vredestein Centauro NS got its 6th puncture by the beginning of May 2025, and had only done under 6000kms. The front tyre got 2 punctures in the same time period. Even though I loved the way it gripped (better than Centauro ST and even the Bridgestone Battlax that came stock with the bike), the pathetic puncture resistance and the overall tyre wear and disintegration was beyond my tolerance.



So decided to cut my losses and ordered a set of Michelin Road 6 from Torque block. The interaction and transaction was smooth and the product got delivered within a week of placing the order. One gripe was that, even though a 2024 manufactured tyre was promised during calls, the tyre that was delivered was made in 2023. Paid a total of Rs.47000 for the set including shipping from Bangalore to Delhi.







Started the trip early morning on the 19th of May. The target for the day was Udhampur, and since the mid day temperatures were 40+, covering the plains as fast as possible was also an aim. Took the Delhi-Ambala-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Pathankot-Samba-Udhampur route and reached Udhampur by around 4pm. The hotel chosen for the stay was hotel Dolphin, which is popular among travelers.



Woke up a bit late on the 20th of May and started for the destination of the day, Sonamarg. The ongoing construction in the hilly section of the Jammu-Srinagar highway made sure that the bike was dirty by the time we reached the Kashmir valley.





The security throughout the valley was very high and the tourist numbers were very low, in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. There were multiple checkpoints, and temporary traffic halts were implemented at multiple points for troop movement.



Getting a much needed wash in Srinagar.





Tanked up with XP95 from Srinagar and reached Sonamarg by 5pm and checked into our hotel, Badar resort and spa. This is an excellent property, but unfortunately now a little out of the way because of the newly constructed Z morh tunnel.



Started for Leh on the morning of 21st May from Sonamarg. Took the old route instead of the Z-morh tunnel and socked in all the mesmerising vistas.



On the old Sonamarg route.





There were a few small patches of off-road on the climb to Zoji La, but other than that the roads were fully surfaced and pretty much all sorts of vehicles could do this stretch, including low slung sports cars.



A broken stretch before Zoji La.





Post Zoji La, till Leh, the tarmac is one of the smoothest stretch of roads in the country. Had lunch and filled up Power95 from Kargil. XP95 is also available in Kargil, but decided to get Power95 since the first petrol pump I saw in Kargil was HP.



The smooth stretch till Leh.





Confluence of Indus and Zanskar near Leh. The road visible on the other side of the river is the road to Zanskar.





Reached Leh by around 7PM and checked into our hotel 'The Kaal', a very good property, not too far from the main market of Leh. Next two nights were spent in Leh exploring the city and doing some minor shopping. Also, tanked up with XP95 since Leh has multiple pumps selling 95RON fuel.



Leh main market during the day





and the night.





Jama masjid looked majestic at night.





Tried mostly local food during our stay in Leh. Thenthuk and Shapta here.





Leh post office is pretty (GPO Kolkata still winning though)





The Kaal hotel grounds.





On the morning of May 23rd, checked out from The Kaal and started our onward journey to Pangong Tso. Nubra valley was not part of the itinerary, so skipped Khardung La and took the Chang La route to Pangong.



On top of the Chang La, the highest point for the Ninja till then.





Reached Durbuk by noon and had lunch from this small eatery.





After Durbuk comes Tangtse, where the last petrol pump on this side of Ladakh is present. Only normal 91RON petrol is available and filled the tank up. Our stay was in Merak village which is the last major settlement along the Pangong Tso. The road from Leh till Pangong via Chang La is fully paved and smooth for the most part.



On the Pangong lake road.





The lake turns deep blue when the skies are clear.





Marzee home stay, our abode for the night. Very proactive owner who made sure that all our needs were fulfilled, including WiFi, albeit an unreliable one. The homestay was in demand, as proven by the google reviews. There was a group of bikers from Hyderabad and a group from Gujarat staying there as well.





Tasty vegetarian food for dinner.





The sky was cloudy that night. So, unfortunately, no stargazing. Walked by the side of the lake for a bit and then retired for the night.



24th May was the day of the high passes. A total of 5 passes more than 5000m above MSL were crossed that day. Started in the morning from Merak, with the destination being Hanle. Road from Pangong till Chushul is almost fully surfaced, except 1 or 2 patches of dried up water crossings.



From Chushul, there are two routes to Hanle. One via Tsaka La and Rezang La war memorial, which has no high passes, but is fully unpaved. The other one is via Thato La, Kaksang La and another unnamed pass, all of them five thousanders, but the road is fully paved. We chose the second one.



There are two lakes on this route, Mirpal Tso and Yaya Tso.



Somewhere after Thato La, but before Kaksang La, Mirpal Tso on the background.





Kiangs on the banks of Mirpal Tso.





Kaksang La, new highest point for the Ninja, but not for long though.





The temperature at Kaksang La touched -3 degree Celcius and the Viaterra Tundra winter gloves proved not so useful at that low of a temperature. Heated gloves or heated grips would have made a difference.



Reached Hanle-Leh main road at Mahe around 12pm and continued the ride towards Hanle. Filled up 91RON petrol from the pump in Nyoma on the way. Gave our details at the ITBP checkpost at Loma bridge before entering the Loma-Hanle road. Reached Hanle around 1:30PM and started looking for accomodations. Because of lack of tourists, most of the homestays remained closed. Finally, found a decent room in Umling La residency, one of those rare hotels in Hanle. After having lunch and keeping all our luggage in the room, started the ride towards Umling La by 3:30PM.



The climb to Umling La starts from a point called Chisumle bridge. There are mainly 2 roads from Hanle to Chisumle bridge. One via Nurbu La top, which is almost completely unpaved but lesser in altitude (still pretty high at 5200m) compared to the second route via Photi La top which is fully paved but higher (at almost 5600m). We chose the second route, via Photi La. The total distance from Hanle to Umling La was around 90km, of which the climb and descend of Photi La alone was 55km.



From the start of our journey from Hanle, till Photi La top and then down till Photile village, a total distance of 55km, not a single vehicle or human being was seen. There was a BRO camp a little lower from Photi La top, but it looked abandoned.



Photi La, new highest point for the Ninja, but again, not for long.





We took the turn from Chisumle bridge and started climbing towards Umling La. But tbh, the climb up the Photi La was much harder and steeper than the climb up Umling La. Again, not a single soul on the way up. Reached Umling La at around 5:30PM.



Highest point for the Ninja for the foreseeable future.





Too hypoxic to have a celebratory jump.





Nobody was there on the top, even the cafe was closed. We spent around 30 mins there, took some pictures and started the ride down before we got too breathless. The temperature was again-3 degree Celcius, but at that point, we were kinda used to that after the frigid Kaksang La and Photi La.



The start of the climb back up Photi La.





The climb back up from Photile village to Photi La top and the climb down till Hanle had the same story as before. Not a single soul seen for 55kms. Moral of the story: never take Photi La route if you are alone. Also, be well prepared in terms of fuel and the vehicle condition at least. The probability of meeting someone to ask for help is close to zero.



It was 8PM by the time we reached Hanle. The 5 five thousanders that we crossed have actually beat us up pretty bad and we retired for the night without trying to stargaze.



On the morning of 25th May, packed all our stuff and started the journey back. The target for the day was to reach at least Jispa. Marked our exit at the ITBP checkpost at Loma Bridge and continued towards Nyoma, from where we filled up again. The route we took was Hanle-Nyoma-Mahe-Puga- Tso Kar-Meru. At Meru, we joined the Leh-Manali highway. Mahe-Puga-Meru route has one mountain pass, Pologongka La. This route has been paved only at the beginning of this year. So currently, travelling from Hanle towards the Manali highway is a breeze and dont have to deal with any off-road patches.



Since we joined the Leh-Manali highway at Meru, we skipped the Tanglang La completely. The road from Meru till Pang was fully paved but very bumpy due to soil subsidence under the road. Stopped at Pang for lunch and met a few bikers coming from Spiti side and going towards Leh. Got enough info about the road conditions ahead from them.



From a few kilometres after Pang, through the climb to Lachung la, the descend from Lachung La and the climb to Nakee La, the road conditions deteriorated drastically. Especially as we neared Nakee La, the road had turned into a mixture of mud and slush, with the michelin road 6 having barely any grip. I had to decrease the tyre pressures down to 20 PSI to have some grip and traction. Once Nakee La was crossed and we reached Gata Loops, the mud and slush disappeared but the road still had a lot of potholes. I pumped the pressure back up to normal levels and continued the ride.



The stretch from the base of the Gata loops till Delhi was butter smooth. Even the snow covered Baralacha La had smooth tarmac throughout.



Snow everywhere in Baralacha La.









As Darcha and Jispa were crossed by 6PM, helped by the smooth tarmac, we decided to target Manali for the night halt. Filled up XP95 from Keylong, and continued on for Manali, reaching there by 8pm. Started for Delhi from Manali on the afternoon of 26th May so as to avoid the mid day heat of the plains, and reached the destination before midnight. And thus ended our Ladakh ride.



Before the trip, I had anxiety about the mileage and the need for extra fuel. But once up in the mountains, the Ninja used up 30% less petrol than at the sea level. The range shown after a full tank was 600km as compared to 400km shown when I fill up at Delhi.



Trip meter once we reached Manali. The avg fuel consumption from Delhi to Srinagar to Ladakh to Manali was 24.1 kmpl!!!!





The bike, as usual, performed admirably well. The new Michelin Road 6 held up pretty well, but it definitely lacks in pure grip when compared to the Vredestein NS. On the contrary, off-road grip by the Michelin is much better than the previous 3 sets of tyres I have used (Vredestein ST, NS and Bridgestone Battlax), probably because of the peculiar tread pattern of the Michelin.



Now, coming to the future, since I now have a permanent pillion, I am on the lookout for a bike with a pilion seat that is more comfortable than the Ninja. I was looking at the BMW GS, but after the Leh ride I am not sure about the GS anymore. This is the max I am gonna do in terms of off-roading and the Ninja handled it pretty well. So suggestions regarding other bikes that i can short list, which has similar characteristics of the Ninja (smooth engine, good acceleration, good high speed handling) but with better pillion and rider seats are welcome.



Thanks for reading. Cheers. Getting Leh'd on a litre class sport tourer was not something I expected I would ever do. But the stars got aligned and finally decided to do the same. One thing that was worrying me was the tyre scenario. The Vredestein Centauro NS got its 6th puncture by the beginning of May 2025, and had only done under 6000kms. The front tyre got 2 punctures in the same time period. Even though I loved the way it gripped (better than Centauro ST and even the Bridgestone Battlax that came stock with the bike), the pathetic puncture resistance and the overall tyre wear and disintegration was beyond my tolerance.So decided to cut my losses and ordered a set of Michelin Road 6 from Torque block. The interaction and transaction was smooth and the product got delivered within a week of placing the order. One gripe was that, even though a 2024 manufactured tyre was promised during calls, the tyre that was delivered was made in 2023. Paid a total of Rs.47000 for the set including shipping from Bangalore to Delhi.Started the trip early morning on the 19th of May. The target for the day was Udhampur, and since the mid day temperatures were 40+, covering the plains as fast as possible was also an aim. Took the Delhi-Ambala-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Pathankot-Samba-Udhampur route and reached Udhampur by around 4pm. The hotel chosen for the stay was hotel Dolphin, which is popular among travelers.Woke up a bit late on the 20th of May and started for the destination of the day, Sonamarg. The ongoing construction in the hilly section of the Jammu-Srinagar highway made sure that the bike was dirty by the time we reached the Kashmir valley.The security throughout the valley was very high and the tourist numbers were very low, in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. There were multiple checkpoints, and temporary traffic halts were implemented at multiple points for troop movement.Getting a much needed wash in Srinagar.Tanked up with XP95 from Srinagar and reached Sonamarg by 5pm and checked into our hotel, Badar resort and spa. This is an excellent property, but unfortunately now a little out of the way because of the newly constructed Z morh tunnel.Started for Leh on the morning of 21st May from Sonamarg. Took the old route instead of the Z-morh tunnel and socked in all the mesmerising vistas.On the old Sonamarg route.There were a few small patches of off-road on the climb to Zoji La, but other than that the roads were fully surfaced and pretty much all sorts of vehicles could do this stretch, including low slung sports cars.A broken stretch before Zoji La.Post Zoji La, till Leh, the tarmac is one of the smoothest stretch of roads in the country. Had lunch and filled up Power95 from Kargil. XP95 is also available in Kargil, but decided to get Power95 since the first petrol pump I saw in Kargil was HP.The smooth stretch till Leh.Confluence of Indus and Zanskar near Leh. The road visible on the other side of the river is the road to Zanskar.Reached Leh by around 7PM and checked into our hotel 'The Kaal', a very good property, not too far from the main market of Leh. Next two nights were spent in Leh exploring the city and doing some minor shopping. Also, tanked up with XP95 since Leh has multiple pumps selling 95RON fuel.Leh main market during the dayand the night.Jama masjid looked majestic at night.Tried mostly local food during our stay in Leh. Thenthuk and Shapta here.Leh post office is pretty (GPO Kolkata still winning though)The Kaal hotel grounds.On the morning of May 23rd, checked out from The Kaal and started our onward journey to Pangong Tso. Nubra valley was not part of the itinerary, so skipped Khardung La and took the Chang La route to Pangong.On top of the Chang La, the highest point for the Ninja till then.Reached Durbuk by noon and had lunch from this small eatery.After Durbuk comes Tangtse, where the last petrol pump on this side of Ladakh is present. Only normal 91RON petrol is available and filled the tank up. Our stay was in Merak village which is the last major settlement along the Pangong Tso. The road from Leh till Pangong via Chang La is fully paved and smooth for the most part.On the Pangong lake road.The lake turns deep blue when the skies are clear.Marzee home stay, our abode for the night. Very proactive owner who made sure that all our needs were fulfilled, including WiFi, albeit an unreliable one. The homestay was in demand, as proven by the google reviews. There was a group of bikers from Hyderabad and a group from Gujarat staying there as well.Tasty vegetarian food for dinner.The sky was cloudy that night. So, unfortunately, no stargazing. Walked by the side of the lake for a bit and then retired for the night.24th May was the day of the high passes. A total of 5 passes more than 5000m above MSL were crossed that day. Started in the morning from Merak, with the destination being Hanle. Road from Pangong till Chushul is almost fully surfaced, except 1 or 2 patches of dried up water crossings.From Chushul, there are two routes to Hanle. One via Tsaka La and Rezang La war memorial, which has no high passes, but is fully unpaved. The other one is via Thato La, Kaksang La and another unnamed pass, all of them five thousanders, but the road is fully paved. We chose the second one.There are two lakes on this route, Mirpal Tso and Yaya Tso.Somewhere after Thato La, but before Kaksang La, Mirpal Tso on the background.Kiangs on the banks of Mirpal Tso.Kaksang La, new highest point for the Ninja, but not for long though.The temperature at Kaksang La touched -3 degree Celcius and the Viaterra Tundra winter gloves proved not so useful at that low of a temperature. Heated gloves or heated grips would have made a difference.Reached Hanle-Leh main road at Mahe around 12pm and continued the ride towards Hanle. Filled up 91RON petrol from the pump in Nyoma on the way. Gave our details at the ITBP checkpost at Loma bridge before entering the Loma-Hanle road. Reached Hanle around 1:30PM and started looking for accomodations. Because of lack of tourists, most of the homestays remained closed. Finally, found a decent room in Umling La residency, one of those rare hotels in Hanle. After having lunch and keeping all our luggage in the room, started the ride towards Umling La by 3:30PM.The climb to Umling La starts from a point called Chisumle bridge. There are mainly 2 roads from Hanle to Chisumle bridge. One via Nurbu La top, which is almost completely unpaved but lesser in altitude (still pretty high at 5200m) compared to the second route via Photi La top which is fully paved but higher (at almost 5600m). We chose the second route, via Photi La. The total distance from Hanle to Umling La was around 90km, of which the climb and descend of Photi La alone was 55km.From the start of our journey from Hanle, till Photi La top and then down till Photile village, a total distance of 55km, not a single vehicle or human being was seen. There was a BRO camp a little lower from Photi La top, but it looked abandoned.Photi La, new highest point for the Ninja, but again, not for long.We took the turn from Chisumle bridge and started climbing towards Umling La. But tbh, the climb up the Photi La was much harder and steeper than the climb up Umling La. Again, not a single soul on the way up. Reached Umling La at around 5:30PM.Highest point for the Ninja for the foreseeable future.Too hypoxic to have a celebratory jump.Nobody was there on the top, even the cafe was closed. We spent around 30 mins there, took some pictures and started the ride down before we got too breathless. The temperature was again-3 degree Celcius, but at that point, we were kinda used to that after the frigid Kaksang La and Photi La.The start of the climb back up Photi La.The climb back up from Photile village to Photi La top and the climb down till Hanle had the same story as before. Not a single soul seen for 55kms. Moral of the story: never take Photi La route if you are alone. Also, be well prepared in terms of fuel and the vehicle condition at least. The probability of meeting someone to ask for help is close to zero.It was 8PM by the time we reached Hanle. The 5 five thousanders that we crossed have actually beat us up pretty bad and we retired for the night without trying to stargaze.On the morning of 25th May, packed all our stuff and started the journey back. The target for the day was to reach at least Jispa. Marked our exit at the ITBP checkpost at Loma Bridge and continued towards Nyoma, from where we filled up again. The route we took was Hanle-Nyoma-Mahe-Puga- Tso Kar-Meru. At Meru, we joined the Leh-Manali highway. Mahe-Puga-Meru route has one mountain pass, Pologongka La. This route has been paved only at the beginning of this year. So currently, travelling from Hanle towards the Manali highway is a breeze and dont have to deal with any off-road patches.Since we joined the Leh-Manali highway at Meru, we skipped the Tanglang La completely. The road from Meru till Pang was fully paved but very bumpy due to soil subsidence under the road. Stopped at Pang for lunch and met a few bikers coming from Spiti side and going towards Leh. Got enough info about the road conditions ahead from them.From a few kilometres after Pang, through the climb to Lachung la, the descend from Lachung La and the climb to Nakee La, the road conditions deteriorated drastically. Especially as we neared Nakee La, the road had turned into a mixture of mud and slush, with the michelin road 6 having barely any grip. I had to decrease the tyre pressures down to 20 PSI to have some grip and traction. Once Nakee La was crossed and we reached Gata Loops, the mud and slush disappeared but the road still had a lot of potholes. I pumped the pressure back up to normal levels and continued the ride.The stretch from the base of the Gata loops till Delhi was butter smooth. Even the snow covered Baralacha La had smooth tarmac throughout.Snow everywhere in Baralacha La.As Darcha and Jispa were crossed by 6PM, helped by the smooth tarmac, we decided to target Manali for the night halt. Filled up XP95 from Keylong, and continued on for Manali, reaching there by 8pm. Started for Delhi from Manali on the afternoon of 26th May so as to avoid the mid day heat of the plains, and reached the destination before midnight. And thus ended our Ladakh ride.Before the trip, I had anxiety about the mileage and the need for extra fuel. But once up in the mountains, the Ninja used up 30% less petrol than at the sea level. The range shown after a full tank was 600km as compared to 400km shown when I fill up at Delhi.Trip meter once we reached Manali. The avg fuel consumption from Delhi to Srinagar to Ladakh to Manali was 24.1 kmpl!!!!The bike, as usual, performed admirably well. The new Michelin Road 6 held up pretty well, but it definitely lacks in pure grip when compared to the Vredestein NS. On the contrary, off-road grip by the Michelin is much better than the previous 3 sets of tyres I have used (Vredestein ST, NS and Bridgestone Battlax), probably because of the peculiar tread pattern of the Michelin.Now, coming to the future, since I now have a permanent pillion, I am on the lookout for a bike with a pilion seat that is more comfortable than the Ninja. I was looking at the BMW GS, but after the Leh ride I am not sure about the GS anymore. This is the max I am gonna do in terms of off-roading and the Ninja handled it pretty well. So suggestions regarding other bikes that i can short list, which has similar characteristics of the Ninja (smooth engine, good acceleration, good high speed handling) but with better pillion and rider seats are welcome.Thanks for reading. Cheers. Last edited by deerhunter : 4th June 2025 at 02:49 .
mobike008 Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 12,037 Thanked: 17,390 Times

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BMW X3M40i drives into the Ocean--Err, Drives on beaches of Ocean Shores, Washington in May 2025



We hadnt taken a single holiday/time-off this year. And, I was itching to take a nice vacation. So the plan was formed to head out to Ocean Shores, WA which is one of the most popular destinations from Seattle and is just 170 miles or about 3-hours one-way.



As it was long weekend and being a popular destination, all hotels were pretty expensive and ranged $300/night and above so we decided to stay a few miles (3-miles) away from the beach in an AirBnb with an American lady who was highly recommended on the forum. We booked and headed out on Saturday and enjoyed a breezy drive to Ocean Shores and reached without any issues and checked into our pretty little cottage with a nice cute bedroom.



We spent the whole late afternoon and evening at the beach enjoying the gorgeous views and the biggest attraction of Ocean Shores is that you can drive right on the beach. I was little apprehensive as this is Pacific Ocean and this area is renowned for floods, high tides and even Tsunami warnings. It was pretty evident from the way the water was behaving-It was violent and high waves. Hence, I didn't want to neither drive too close to the water for these reasons and another issue is getting stuck in the sand which can turn out to be an expensive affair of towing and repairs.



Ocean Shores and the neighboring town that we visited on Sunday-Westport is known to get flooding every 2-3 years and there are tons of signages that talk about safety from floods.



We enjoyed Saturday on the beach. And, on Sunday we drove to Westport and spent a significant time in Westport as it was buzzing with activity and had a festive atmosphere. We checked out on Monday late morning and headed back home before stopping for brunch at Aberdeenwhich was recommended so highly that we didnt mind a 1-hour waiting to get our seat.



It was a beautiful and relaxing long weekend where the highlight was driving on the beach and enjoying some phenomenal eats (4- Meals we had was simply out of this world) and so unlike most small towns where the food is usually a disappointment. So our purpose of chilling, eating snd drinking and enjoying the beach was fully accomplished.



Our meals other than some snacks and ice-creams in between:



1. American Breakfast (Sunday)

2. Italian Dinner (Sunday)

3. American Dinner (Saturday)

4. American Fusion Brunch (Monday)



Without further ado, lets dive into the pictures that will tell the rest of the story !!



Heading out of Seattle. Gonna miss the Mt. Rainier for the long weekend.











Ocean Shores, WA







Spotted these beautiful trees just a mile before our AirBnB.







Our pretty, rustic and super quaint AirBNB that was all for ourselves.







Living Area











Bedroom







Well Stocked Kitchen..







Blau Rakete posing on the beach.











Sat and gazed into the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed a nice nap in the car too.















Dinner at 7pm- Fish & Chips, Clam Chowder and Salad.















Went back to the beach to enjoy the sunset.



































This was around 9:30pm- It was cold, windy and tide was coming up inland real fast.







Ocean Shores is famous for deer spotting. You see a lot of 'em.







Spectacular Sunset.











We indulged in ice cream daily.



We are halfway to 2025? Come on, you must be kidding? Time just flew by and feels like 2025 started just a few days ago. Whew!We hadnt taken a single holiday/time-off this year. And, I was itching to take a nice vacation. So the plan was formed to head out to Ocean Shores, WA which is one of the most popular destinations from Seattle and is just 170 miles or about 3-hours one-way.As it was long weekend and being a popular destination, all hotels were pretty expensive and ranged $300/night and above so we decided to stay a few miles (3-miles) away from the beach in an AirBnb with an American lady who was highly recommended on the forum. We booked and headed out on Saturday and enjoyed a breezy drive to Ocean Shores and reached without any issues and checked into our pretty little cottage with a nice cute bedroom.We spent the whole late afternoon and evening at the beach enjoying the gorgeous views and the biggest attraction of Ocean Shores is that you can drive right on the beach. I was little apprehensive as this is Pacific Ocean and this area is renowned for floods, high tides and even Tsunami warnings. It was pretty evident from the way the water was behaving-It was violent and high waves. Hence, I didn't want to neither drive too close to the water for these reasons and another issue is getting stuck in the sand which can turn out to be an expensive affair of towing and repairs.Ocean Shores and the neighboring town that we visited on Sunday-Westport is known to get flooding every 2-3 years and there are tons of signages that talk about safety from floods.We enjoyed Saturday on the beach. And, on Sunday we drove to Westport and spent a significant time in Westport as it was buzzing with activity and had a festive atmosphere. We checked out on Monday late morning and headed back home before stopping for brunch at Aberdeenwhich was recommended so highly that we didnt mind a 1-hour waiting to get our seat.It was a beautiful and relaxing long weekend where the highlight was driving on the beach and enjoying some phenomenal eats (4- Meals we had was simply out of this world) and so unlike most small towns where the food is usually a disappointment. So our purpose of chilling, eating snd drinking and enjoying the beach was fully accomplished.Our meals other than some snacks and ice-creams in between:1. American Breakfast (Sunday)2. Italian Dinner (Sunday)3. American Dinner (Saturday)4. American Fusion Brunch (Monday)Without further ado, lets dive into the pictures that will tell the rest of the story !! Last edited by mobike008 : 3rd June 2025 at 18:24 .
Facepalm: There has been yet another case of a lawyer being punished over the use of ChatGPT in a filing that references a nonexistent case. The Utah Court of Appeals has now sanctioned Richard Bednar over the false citations.

According to the court documents, which were seen by ABC4, Bednar and Douglas Durbano, another lawyer who was serving as the petitioner's counsel, filed a "timely petition for interlocutory appeal."

The respondent's counsel reviewed the brief, which was written by a law clerk, and discovered that it referenced several cases that were incorrect or did not exist.

"It appears that at least some portions of the Petition may be AI-generated, including citations and even quotations to at least one case that does not appear to exist in any legal database (and could only be found in ChatGPT) and references to cases that are wholly unrelated to the referenced subject matter," the respondent's counsel wrote in the documents.

The case being referenced, "Royer v. Nelson," did not exist in any legal database  it was another instance of a ChatGPT hallucination.

Bednar said he was not aware that OpenAI's chatbot was used until the fake citations were discovered, at which point he acknowledged the errors and apologized. He also offered to pay attorney fees incurred by the response to "make amends."

Bednar and his attorney told the court of appeals that the brief had been prepared by an unlicensed law clerk. Bednar admitted that he had not checked the brief's accuracy before he signed it and filed it with the court.

Bednar was not personally responsible for using ChatGPT. He said the clerk responsible had previously been licensed and was a law school graduate. The clerk has since been terminated from the firm.

The Utah Court of Appeals didn't say that generative AI should never be used in legal proceedings, calling it a "research tool that will continue to evolve with advances in technology." But it did emphasize that every attorney has a duty to review what it produces and ensure the accuracy of court filings.

While the court appreciated Bednar's acknowledgment, it still needed to place sanctions. He was ordered to cover the respondent's attorney fees for the petition and hearing, reimburse their client for the time spent preparing and attending the hearing, and make a $1,000 donation to the Utah-based legal nonprofit And Justice for All.

There have been cases of legal practitioners being fined for citing fake cases hallucinated by ChatGPT since 2023, when two lawyers and their law firm were fined $5,000 for their actions. Despite the risks, numerous other cases have occurred since then. One of the more recent incidents resulted in a $15,000 fine for the attorney responsible.
The big picture: While people have been discussing the automotive market as the next big tech-device opportunity for some time now, in reality, today's cars haven't advanced as much as many had hoped. Sure, we have larger, more sophisticated screens and some assisted driving features, but we've yet to reach the kind of transformative, smartphone-level impact in most of the vehicles we're buying or driving today.

A significant part of the issue lies in the long and tedious automotive development process, particularly in how technology is adopted into modern vehicle platforms. Traditionally, automakers would wait for chip designs to be completed, then integrate individual elements into broader car platforms. Only after that could they begin writing software tailored to those finalized hardware designs.

Last year, Arm took a major step toward shortening the typical 3- to 4-year development cycles by introducing two key innovations. First, it unveiled a full suite of automotive-grade processors and other chip IP (intellectual property) for use in vehicle platforms.

Second, it launched new cloud-based simulation and virtualization platforms in collaboration with major Electronic Design Automation (EDA) providers  Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens  as well as Amazon's AWS. These tools allow automakers and their partners to begin software development even before Arm-based chips are finalized. The result: up to two years saved in the software development process, significantly accelerating the delivery of advanced vehicle capabilities. (It will be interesting to see how recent export restrictions on EDA software to China may impact these developments for Chinese automakers.)

This year, Arm completed the next phase by integrating its individual automotive cores into more comprehensive system designs that streamline both hardware and software development. In fact, the new offerings enable those stages to happen simultaneously, potentially cutting another 12 months from the typical development timeline.

Under its new Zena brand  focused on Arm-powered automotive silicon designs  the company introduced a vehicular implementation of its Compute Subsystem (CSS) strategy. As with previous markets where Arm rolled out CSS, including datacenters, PCs, and smartphones, the goal is to integrate multiple components around Arm's latest CPU, GPU, and other cores to reduce the complexity, cost, and time involved in designing complete systems.

With Zena, CSS supports a variety of SoC or "chiplet" configurations, combining CPUs, GPUs, image signal processors (ISPs), security cores, I/O components, inter-chip connectivity, and more. Specifically, the new Zena design includes support for a 16-core v9 Cortex-A720AE CPU, chip-to-chip coherence via the CMN S3AE, a real-time safety island using the Cortex-R82AE, and the ability to link multiple Zena designs via UCIe, among other features.

The result is a range of complete starting points for hardware development and corresponding software. These systems offer extensive customization options for semiconductor and automotive manufacturers, with open interfaces to connect a variety of AI accelerators, image processors, graphics components, and more. Different configurations can support everything from enhanced user interaction and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems to assisted and autonomous driving features.

Arm believes it can drive the creation of what they're calling an "AI-defined car," which builds on the current concept of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and brings more advanced AI processing into the experience

In fact, Arm believes it can drive the creation of what they're calling an "AI-defined car," which builds on the current concept of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and brings more advanced AI processing into the experience. Given how rapidly AI has been integrated into other computing platforms, that seems a logical move  and the safety-focused capabilities Arm has integrated into the core Zena system will likely prove to be even more important here.

On a practical level, Zena also brings increased design efficiency to carmakers. It offers savings not only in time but also in the resources required to develop new vehicle platforms. This efficiency enables automakers and Tier 1 suppliers to produce more vehicle platforms with fewer people and in less time. In fact, Arm estimates that Zena CSS platforms can reduce development costs and resource requirements by up to 20%.

For car buyers like us, that translates directly into getting later generations of technology into new car designs instead of buying cars that typically had semiconductor capabilities that were typically 2-3 years behind smartphones and other digital devices.

For carmakers, this speeds time to market and allows companies to reuse certain hardware and software efforts across multiple product lines  instead of having to create new chip system designs and software for each range of models. Given how critical  and brand-defining  the digital capabilities of cars have become, this makes these development advances extremely important.

Strategically, this announcement is significant for Arm as it advances the company's move from supplying individual chip IP to delivering more comprehensive system designs. This vertical expansion not only allows Arm to charge more for its offerings but also strengthens the role of its platforms across all the markets it serves  including automotive.

With shipments to the automotive sector increasing by more than 300% over the past five years and support for 94% of global automakers, Arm's direction clearly aligns with market demand, making this a win-win proposition.

As important as CSS platforms have proven to be in other markets where Arm has introduced the concept, the automotive industry may stand to gain the most. The notoriously slow development times for car technology have been a challenge for many automakers and their major suppliers and the dramatic potential speed-up that Arm is bringing to them with Zena should prove to be a real difference maker.

Bob O'Donnell is the founder and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, LLC a technology consulting firm that provides strategic consulting and market research services to the technology industry and professional financial community. You can follow him on X @bobodtech
In the autumn of 1592, Caravaggio, an unknown and, at the time, still untalented painter, arrived in Rome at the age of 20. Eight years later, the Jubilee of 1600 was to be celebrated, and the city, with some 2,000 artists and a population of 100,000, was preparing for the event. New churches were being built, old palaces restored. But complaints about the poverty of painters were constant.

Caravaggio, anything but a precocious prodigy, had to survive as best he could. He moved from one low-level studio to the next. He copied other peoples work and created cheap devotional images. He was a modest artist from Lombardy, drawing fruit and flowers. Thanks to family connections, he found lodging in the Palazzo Colonna.

One of his contemporary biographers, Giulio Mancini (1558-1630), recounted in Considerations on Painting that Caravaggio painted at market price  which proved his financial hardship  a boy screaming because he has been bitten by a lizard he is holding in his hand, a boy peeling a pear with a knife, and the portrait of an innkeeper who had given him lodging.

Despite dying at just 39, the masters oeuvre seems inexhaustible. Every so often, a new painting attributed to the genius emerges. It is estimated that he made around 60 canvases, although he only ever signed The Beheading of the Baptist, in Malta, so controversy always arises when a new candidate appears. The Ecce Homo discovered in Madrid in 2021 was certified by the expert Maria Christina Terzaghi, who also claims to have found the original version of Youth with a Jug of Roses in Paris, of which at least five versions are known. Caravaggio, like many artists past and present, repainted the same subject several times. It was a matter of survival.

Caravaggio's 'Ecce Homo', exhibited at the Prado Museum. Claudio Alvarez

Surprisingly, last week, Gianni Papione of the worlds leading experts on the artistannounced the discovery of what he believes to be the earliest known painting by the genius: Boy Peeling Fruit (Ragazzo che monda un frutto). The work, an oil on canvas measuring 66 x 51.5 centimeters, was acquired by a private individual in 2024 at a northern European auction as a supposed Caravaggio copy and loaned to Papi for study.

I dont exclude that the painting could have been painted by the master before his arrival in Rome and that he carried it with him as a kind of calling card. The master, who was born in 1571, could have been around 24 years old at that time, explains the expert.

The initial doubts were evident. There are about 10 known copies. And it has not yet been possible to trace the paintings origin. However, Giani has no doubts, having subjected the canvas to an X-ray and a reflectography study. But what did he see?

The quality of some of the better-preserved pieces, such as the shirt, the hands, and the still life [a recurring theme when the Lombard artist worked in the Knight of Arpinos workshop], indicate a high level of skill, and gave me hope.

He adds: However, there was one essential element in establishing authorship, above the rest of the versions. It appears in the X-ray of the work. A dark addition is clearly visible at the bottom, in the area that insinuates itself between the childs hands and the fruit and reaches the shirt. It is easy to recognize, in the dark shadow, a small dog with its nose turned upwards, towards the childs face, its mouth half-open.

This means the canvas was reused. There are areas that resemble a landscape, and the support was cut on at least three sides to adapt it to the painters intentions.

Perhaps the dog was part of a previous composition. It could have been the result of Caravaggios initial idea, and it brings to mind the allegorical image of Happiness: the black dog, Cornacchia, which the painters biographer, Giovanni Baglione (1563-1643), claimed was inseparable from Caravaggio, explains Gianni Papi.

It is the upturned nose, therefore, that holds the key to the originality of this work. Caravaggio considered partially utilizing this dark area, painted previously, to create the two small, unlit areas on the shirt, which, according to the painters intention, should be the shadows of the hand and the fruit, which, at first glance, seem somewhat forced, perhaps due to his inexperience. Now we understand why those same shadow areas are repeated in the rest of the different variations and what their origin is, Papi argues.

This youthful productivity follows the logic imposed by poverty. Moving from one studio to another, perhaps, given his character, without ever finding a place of his own, Caravaggio settled with a Sicilian painter who had a shop full of crude works, writes art critic Giovanni Pietro Bellori (1613-1696) in The Lives of Modern Painters, Sculptors, and Architects.

He adds: Because he was so needy and desperate, he painted portraits for four pence each, and did three a day. These were canvases generally acquired by noble patrons and men of letters. The Mondafrutto (fruit peeler) recovers iconographies that Caravaggio may have seen in Lombardy or Veneto, although there is no precise precedent. Perhaps, for Rome, it was a novelty and that is why it was so widely replicated, the Italian expert emphasizes.

Another, later, autographed version is known from Hampton Court, in the British royal collections, which he may well have sold to survive. There would, therefore, be two versions of Boy Peeling Fruit. During the 14 years he spent in Rome, Caravaggio was able to overcome the mediocrity of an apprentice and embrace genius.

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The new food distribution initiative in Gaza does not imply the end of the Israeli blockade. Since May 27, a project sponsored by the United States and Israel claims to have delivered more than five million meals to the Strip. But this system, promoted by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), does not address many of the emergencies that have plagued the enclave for months. This organization, at whose distribution points more than 100 people have been shot dead in the last eight days, does not include the provision of fuel to ensure the operation of hospitals or medical supplies to stem the spread of infections. Frankly, without fuel it is impossible to operate, lament hospital directors consulted by this newspaper.

On March 2, Israeli authorities unexpectedly announced that they were reinstating a complete blockade of Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahus government made the decision amid a truce that had been progressing since January without incidents, allowing for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The maneuver cut off access to food, water, and hygiene products that humanitarian experts consider fundamental for survival and well-being, as well as fuel, which is essential for the functioning of hospitals and ambulances. The Israeli army confirmed its return to war two weeks later, resuming bombing and killing more than 400 Palestinians in a single day.

Disturbed by the impending famine caused by its ally, the White House called on Israel to reopen humanitarian flows 80 days after the siege began. On May 18, Netanyahu announced the partial lifting of the blockade on aid, starting the following day.

The humanitarian sector estimates that Gazan society requires a minimum of 500 trucks of supplies per day. Since Israel announced the resumption of humanitarian activity, at least 8,000 trucks should have entered the Strip in accordance with this requirement. UN spokespersons, however, have indicated that only a few hundred have done so.

The GHF in the spotlight

Amid international pressure, Israeli and U.S. authorities established the GHF. This unknown and unproven initiative operates outside the UN-led system, which has accumulated decades of experience on the ground. The passing of time has revealed the Israeli strategy, which shuts off access to trucks mobilized by the UN  whose vehicles enter in symbolic numbers  while consolidating its own food distribution as the only available option.

This opaque foundation, which began operations inside the enclave on May 27, claimed on Monday that it had distributed 5.8 million meals during its first week of operation. The announcement is based on its own terms and calculations, which do not reflect the limited food items included in the boxes they distribute, and which recipients must prepare with cooking equipment that is difficult to access in the Strip. Their donations do not include baby food, vegetables, fruit, meat, or milk.

The GHF also doesnt discuss fuel, hygiene products, or any other items essential to the functioning of a society because it doesnt distribute them. The initiatives decision comes on the heels of the total blockade that Israel has imposed on almost all products in the enclave for the past three months.

This week, Gazan authorities warned that fuel reserves within the enclave, stored in the southern Rafah area, are close to running out, threatening hospitals. Medical associations say they have made multiple appeals to reverse the situation, but have received no response from the Israeli side.

Health emergency

The World Health Organization orders us to use fuel economically, says Dr. Bassam Zakut, director of the Medical Aid Society in Gaza City. Frankly, without fuel, we cant do anything. Zakut laments that his ambulances cant move and that the generators that power the hospitals cant function. This means were not using the intensive care units, the operating rooms, or the dialysis machines.

Most of the solar systems that the hospitals had as an alternative, the doctor explains, have been destroyed. To preserve fuel, he adds, they limit themselves to performing simple checkups on patients. The director asserts that the Israeli blockade affects every aspect of his personal and professional life. We dont even have spare tires for the vehicles. Zakut asserts that Israel and the U.S. are promoting the GHF to feign interest in Gazan civil society while the weapons that make possible the continuation of the offensive that kills people daily, which is our main problem, continue to flow.

Another cause for concern in the enclave that the GHF has not addressed is the shortage of water, which is generally stored and distributed by NGOs. The UN estimates that 90% of the Gazan population suffers from a lack of access to adequate treated water. Faced with this, families are forced to make impossible decisions, choosing between drinking, cooking, or washing, the organization warns in a statement.

A source working for a humanitarian organization operating in the Strip notes that, in emergency situations, each person should receive 15 liters of water per day for all these requirements. Currently, the group claims, those who receive water in Gaza receive an average of five liters. The continued Israeli siege, which has prevented the entry of soap, toilet paper, and other personal hygiene items into the Strip for the past three months, is leading to the appearance of skin or head infections, according to the same source.

The lack of menstrual kits forces Gazans to use old clothes, torn fabrics, or sponges. According to the UN, more than 700,000 women and girls suffer from a silent menstrual emergency that affects their health and dignity. Menstrual management is not a secondary need in humanitarian crises, say Gazan health officials quoted in a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Girls describe menstruation as a source of shame, panic, and isolation. A time of distress, particularly in areas with displaced populations, where privacy is nonexistent.

The Israeli offensive, which has designated 80% of the Strip as a combat or evacuation zone, is squeezing more than two million Gazans into an ever-shrinking space. The shelters where the population gathers in an attempt to avoid being hit by Israeli strikes are increasingly overcrowded. There, according to the same OCHA report, women lack access to safe toilets.

Ive forgotten that Im a woman, laments a 37-year-old Gazan in a report published at the end of May by UNFPA, the UN agency responsible for sexual and reproductive health. I cant remember the last time I took care of myself or had a comfortable shower. My body no longer belongs to me.

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UN food agency sounds alarm for Haiti as hurricane season begins



United Nations, United States, June 3 (AFP) Jun 03, 2025



The World Food Program warned Tuesday it does not have enough funding to respond to a natural disaster in Haiti, as the hurricane season began this month.

The Caribbean nation has been ravaged by political instability and an economic crisis, with 5.7 million people -- more than half Haiti's population -- facing acute food insecurity.

Some 8,400 people are experiencing the highest level of hunger, equivalent to famine, according to the latest report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

But World Food Program (WFP) regional director Lola Castro told reporters Tuesday that just eight percent of the $900 million needed for Haiti's aid in 2025 had been financed.

"We're really very concerned over the situation," she said on a video call.

"On first of June we started the Atlantic hurricane season," Castro said, adding that in past years that agency had sufficient stocks to respond if a storm or earthquake struck.

"This year we start the hurricane season with an empty warehouse, where we have no stocks for assisting any emergency, and we have no cash either to go and buy locally ... or to do a humanitarian response," she said.

"We are very concerned that a single storm can put hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti again into the humanitarian catastrophe and hunger."

Haiti is the poorest country of the Americas and its political turmoil has given way to the rise of violent criminal gangs, who have been accused of murder, rape, looting and kidnapping.

The country is run by a transitional government and has experienced a fresh surge of violence since February, with gangs pressing into previously safe areas.

For the next six months, Castro said, the WFP will need $46 million to continue its operations.

"Haiti is falling outside all these big humanitarian crises that appear in the media every day and we cannot forget the people of Haiti," she added.
US seeks deals for Alaska energy as Asia representatives visit



Washington, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



US officials are seeking deals with potential buyers of Alaskan natural gas, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tuesday, as foreign representatives joined American leaders this week in talks focused on the state's energy resources.

His remarks at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference come as US President Donald Trump has touted a $44 billion Alaska LNG project -- a plan that has faced challenges over the years due to its price and scale.

Trump said earlier this year that Japan and South Korea were looking to work with the United States on a major natural gas pipeline in Alaska.

The long-stalled plan involves building a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) pipeline across the sprawling state to produce liquefied natural gas to be shipped to Asia on tankers.

For now, representatives from Asian economies including South Korea are on a multi-day trip in Alaska.

"Our goal with this trip was to have Asian countries that are large consumers of American energy exports to come see the infrastructure," as well as meet business leaders and assess the environment, Wright told reporters Tuesday.

"The main thing we're looking to get is people that want to buy Alaskan natural gas, and I think we've seen tremendous interest in that," he added.

"What the project really needs is long term off-take agreements," he said.

Several delegates from South Korea have headed to Alaska and are scheduled to return Thursday, with representatives involving the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as Korea Gas Corporation.

Taiwan was among others with plans to send a delegation to the energy conference.

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum noted the project was also a test case for whether the United States could build the infrastructure it needed to "achieve the energy dominance, the energy abundance, that we need to win the AI arms race."

While the Trump administration pushes to step up energy development in the state, their efforts have attracted criticism from environmentalists.

Trump doubled down on fossil fuels on his first day in office, declaring a "national energy emergency" to expand drilling in the United States.

In recent days, the Trump administration unveiled plans to repeal restrictions on industrial development in parts of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Nickel rush for stainless steel, EVs guts Indonesia tribe's forest home



Lelilief Sawai, Indonesia, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



Bokum, one of Indonesia's last isolated hunter-gatherers,has a simple message for the nickel miners threatening his lush jungle home: "This is our land."

He belongs to the Hongana Manyawa Indigenous tribe, which includes around 3,000 "contacted" members like him, and another 500 who reject contact with the modern world.

Their home on Halmahera Island was once a breathtaking kaleidoscope of nature that provided sanctuary and sustenance.

But it is being eaten away by the world's largest nickel mine, as Indonesia exploits vast reserves of the metal used in everything from electric vehicles to stainless steel.

"I'm worried if they keep destroying the forest," Bokum told AFP in a clearing in central Halmahera.

"We have no idea how to survive without our home and food."

The plight of the Hongana Manyawa, or "People of the Forest", started gaining attention in Indonesia last year after a video widely shared on Facebook showed emaciated, uncontacted members emerging from their rapidly changing forest home to beg for food.

But the remote region -- about 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometres) from capital Jakarta -- mostly remains far from the public consciousness.

AFP travelled into the Halmahera jungle to see how the sprawling Weda Bay Nickel concession has affected the once-pristine tribal lands that the Hongana Manyawa call home.

During a three-day, 36-kilometre (22-mile) trek across parts of the 45,000-hectare concession, the mining operation's impacts were starkly clear.

Booms from controlled explosions to expose nickel shook birds from trees, while helicopters buzzing overhead shared the skies with green parrots, Moluccan owls, hornbills and giant bees.

Tree stumps provided evidence of logging, and off-duty mine guards were seen hunting tropical birds with air guns.

Throughout the night, the sound of excavators scratching the topsoil penetrated the thick vegetation, competing with frog calls and the drone of insects.

Mud that locals say is stirred up by mining has stained rivers copper, and the water leaves skin irritated.

In 22 river crossings, only a few fish were visible. Tribe members say they have mostly disappeared.

AFP did not seek to meet uncontacted Hongana Manyawa.

Bokum emerged from isolation earlier in his life, but still has very limited contact with the outside world.

He and his wife Nawate agreed to meet AFP around 45 minutes from his home deeper in the jungle.

But he could not stay long: en route, he spotted miners and wanted to return to ward them off.

"The company workers have been trying to map our territory," he told AFP, wearing a black cowboy hat, shirt and rolled-up jeans.

"It's our home and we will not give it to them."



- 'Prevent their annihilation' -



Indonesia's constitution enshrines Indigenous land rights, and a 2013 Constitutional Court ruling promised to give local communities greater control of their customary forests.

But environmental groups say the law is not well enforced.

With no land titles, the Hongana Manyawa have little chance of asserting their claims to stewardship of forest that overlaps with Weda Bay's concession.

According to Weda Bay Nickel (WBN), its mine on Indonesia's Maluku islands accounted for 17 percent of global nickel production in 2023, making it the largest in the world.

WBN is a joint venture of Indonesia's Antam and Singapore-based Strand Minerals, with shares divided between French mining giant Eramet and Chinese steel major Tsingshan.

WBN told AFP it is "committed to responsible mining and protecting the environment", and trains employees to "respect local customs and traditions".

It said there is "no evidence that uncontacted or isolated groups are being impacted by WBN's operations".

Eramet told AFP it has requested permission from WBN's majority shareholders for an independent review of "engagement protocols" with Hongana Manyawa, expected this year.

Further review of how the tribe uses the area's forests and rivers is also underway, it added, though it said there was currently "no evidence" of members living in isolation in its concession.

The Indonesian government, which acknowledges most of the concession was previously protected forest, told AFP otherwise.

There is "recognition of evidence of the existence of isolated tribes around Weda Bay", said the directorate general of coal and minerals at Indonesia's energy ministry.

It said it was committed to "protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and ensuring that mining activities do not damage their lives and environment."

Indigenous rights NGO Survival International said that was Jakarta's first acknowledgement of uncontacted, or "isolated", Hongana Manyawa in the area.

It called the admission a "hammer blow" to Eramet's claims and said a no-go area to protect the tribe was "the only way to prevent their annihilation".

Both WBN and Eramet said they work to minimise impact on the environment. Eramet's new CEO was in Indonesia last week seeking permission to expand the mine's capacity.

Tsingshan and Antam did not respond to AFP requests for comment.

Bokum said mining has driven away the wild pigs, deer and fish he once caught for food. Now, he looks for shrimp and frogs in less-affected smaller streams.

"Since the company destroyed our home, our forest, we've been struggling to hunt, to find clean water," he said in the Indigenous Tobelo language.

"If they keep destroying our forest we cannot drink clean water again."



- 'Go away' -



Nickel is central to Indonesia's growth strategy. It banned ore exports in 2020 to capture more of the value chain.

The country is both the world's largest producer and home to the biggest-known reserves.

Mining -- dominated by coal and nickel -- represented nearly nine percent of its GDP in the first quarter of 2025, government data shows.

Nickel mined in the Halmahera concession is processed at the Weda Bay Industrial Park.

Since operations began in 2019, the area has transformed rapidly into what some call a "Wild West".

At a checkpoint near the industrial park, men stopped AFP to demand cash and forced our vehicle to move elsewhere, before a local government official intervened.

The towns on the mine edge -- Lelilef Sawai, Gemaf and Sagea -- form a chaotic frontier.

Employees in hard hats crisscross muddy roads that back up with rush-hour traffic.

Shops catering to labourers line the roadside, along with prostitutes looking for business in front of bed bug-infested hostels.

The mining workforce has more than doubled since 2020 to nearly 30,000 people.

Locals say these are mostly outsiders whose arrival has sparked tensions and coincided with rising cases of respiratory illness and HIV/AIDS.

Smelter towers belch a manmade cloud visible from kilometres away.

"Mining companies have not implemented good practices, have violated human rights and there is rarely any evaluation," said Adlun Fiqri, spokesman for the Save Sagea campaign group.

Inside the jungle, a similar story is playing out, said Hongana Manyawa member Ngigoro, who emerged from the uncontacted as a child.

"Long before the mining, it was really quiet and good to live in the forest," said the 62-year-old, as he marked his route by slicing pock-marks into trees with his machete.

He remains at ease in the forest, using reeds for shade and bamboo shoots to boil water.

"There was no destruction. They were not afraid of anything," he said.

He climbed nimbly down a steep slope by clinging to tree roots before crossing a riverbed peppered with garnierite -- green nickel ore.

"This land belongs to the Hongana Manyawa," he said.

"They existed living in the rainforest before even the state existed. So go away."

That sentiment echoes elsewhere on Halmahera.

At least 11 Indigenous people were recently arrested for protesting mining activity in the island's east, Amnesty International said Monday.



- 'We will not give our consent' -



Despite their "contacted" status, Bokum and Nawate have rarely met outsiders.

They approached haltingly, with Nawate refusing to speak at all, instead surveying her visitors with a cautious smile.

Bokum described moving at least six times to outrun encroaching miners.

NGOs fear the mine operation risks wiping out the tribe.

"They rely entirely on what nature provides for them to survive and as their rainforest is being devastated so too are they," said Callum Russell, Asia research and advocacy officer at Survival International.

"Any contact with workers in the forest runs the risk of exposing them to deadly diseases to which they have little to no immunity."

The government told AFP it has "conducted documentation" to understand isolated tribes near Weda Bay, and involved them "in the decision-making process".

Activists say this is impossible given most of the group do not use modern technology and limit contact with outsiders.

Amid growing scrutiny, there have been rumblings of support for the tribe, including from some senior politicians.

Tesla, which has signed deals to invest in Indonesian nickel, has mooted no-go zones to protect Indigenous peoples.

And Swedish EV company Polestar last year said it would seek to avoid compromising "uncontacted tribes" in its supply chain.

For Bokum however, the problem is already on his doorstep.

A 2.5-kilometre-long (1.5 miles) open pit lies just over the hill from a plot where he grows pineapple and cassava.

Bokum and Nawate received mobile phones from mine workers -- in an unsuccessful attempt to convince them to approve mining operations.

They and other tribe members use numerical codes to identify contacts and make calls.

They must approach the concession to pick up signal, but when mine workers near his home, Bokum wields his machete to scare them off.

"This is our land. Our home," he said.

"We will not give our consent to destroy it."

jfx/sah/lb/fg

ERAMET
Ban high-seas fishing, mining 'forever': experts



Paris, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2025



Governments should ban all mining and fishing in the high seas "forever" to protect ocean biodiversity, climate stability -- and humanity, climate and ocean experts said Wednesday.

In a commentary in the journal Nature, published ahead of a UN oceans summit in France, researchers and conservationists called on governments to act more decisively to protect marine habitats outside national jurisdiction.

They warned that exploitation of the high seas, including new proposals to mine the seabed and fish for species at greater depths, "risks doing irreversible damage" to life in the ocean, as well as undermining its crucial role in regulating the world's climate.

A landmark treaty to protect the high seas -- adopted in 2023 but still only halfway to ratification -- will be in the spotlight at the June 9 to 13 UN Ocean Conference in Nice.

It is seen as crucial to meeting the globally-agreed target of protecting 30 percent of oceans by 2030.

But the experts behind the Nature commentary, entitled "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever", say countries should go further.

Lead author Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation at Britain's University of Exeter, said the world should take as an example the global agreement to protect Antarctica as a "planetary commons that is really important for all life on Earth".

"(They should agree to) keep it intact and undisturbed, so we don't release these potentially catastrophic consequences from exploitation that we can't control," he told AFP.

The high seas cover nearly half of Earth's surface but less than one percent is currently protected, the authors said.

Exploitation of the open ocean goes back to the intensification of whaling in the 17th century, causing dramatic depletion of the global whale population.

Since then humans have turned to harvesting sharks, fish and squid.

But the Nature article authors stress that marine animals do not just provide food and other products for humans -- they also form part of the Earth's carbon cycle which is essential to the very air we breathe.

Some animals living in the "twilight zone", at depths between 200 and 1,000 metres (650 and 3,300 feet) swim up towards the surface to feed at night and dive back down, depositing carbon-rich faeces deep in the ocean.

This happens at such a huge scale that it affects the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Roberts said that research suggests that without this process the world would already be up to three degrees hotter than the pre-industrial era. Global surface temperatures last year averaged just over 1.5C.



- 'Self interest' -



Another process sees nutrients redistributed as dead plants, animals and excretions sink down from the surface, providing sustenance for more life which in turn takes up more CO2.

This natural cycle has already been slowed by centuries of intensive exploitation and is now further threatened by pressure to fish at greater depths, mainly to provide fishmeal and oil for aquaculture, the authors said.

This risks both reducing a key food source for tuna, sharks and dolphins, but also curbing the amount of carbon the ocean can take up.

High-seas fishing is prone to by-catch that kills millions of sharks every year and thousands of turtles and seabirds. A total ban, the authors say, would enable species recovery that would significantly improve potential catches closer to shore.

Protecting these animals is not an "act of self sacrifice, but of self interest" said Roberts.

"The planet is in a very dangerous place in terms of the rapidity of climate change, and we need to pull all the levers that we can right now to slow the pace."

Another concern is deep-sea mining.

Would-be miners eager to extract mineral-rich nodules from the deepest ocean floor have so far been held back by efforts to regulate such potentially damaging exploration.

But US President Donald Trump recently sparked global outrage with an order to fast-track deep-sea mining in the open ocean outside American territorial waters.

Roberts said "the argument that we've got to go there to power the green transition is total nonsense".

He said that while governments may balk at a sweeping moratorium on exploitation of the high seas, they should understand that "things are much harder to stop when they've already begun".
The second meeting between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, held Monday, yielded few results, but served to confirm one important point: that the Kremlin has no intention of putting pen to paper on a ceasefire deal. During the one-hour meeting between the two delegations, a new exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen combatants was agreed upon, but little else. Russians and Ukrainians exchanged documents that should serve as roadmaps for a peace process. Even if Kyiv makes concessions to implement a complete ceasefire, Moscow is demanding conditions that practically mean the surrender of the invaded country.

The document presented by the Kremlin not only maintains the same objectives that President Vladimir Putin set when he launched the invasion in 2022, but also includes the annexation of more territories, in addition to the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russias current plan is to force Ukraines partners to abandon it and for Kyiv to agree to weaken its army in exchange for a truce. This would leave Ukraine at the mercy of Moscow in the future. If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy doesnt accept, the Kremlin has room to continue the current war of attrition for between one and two years, according to some independent Russian economists.

The Russian memorandum consists of three sections: one on its demands for signing a peace agreement, another on its proposals for a ceasefire, and a third defining the timeframe for the hypothetical truce and eventual end to the war. According to the Kremlins timetable, Ukraine would first withdraw its troops from the front lines, with no respite from Russian soldiers, and only then would Moscow comply with a supposed 30-day ceasefire. At that point, Zelenskiys government would lift martial law and hold elections within 100 days. Subsequently, with the newly elected president in place, Russia would sign the supposed peace agreement.

Putin rejects an unconditional ceasefire at the front. Moscow has offered Kyiv two alternatives, both of which require it to disarm in exchange for a freeze on the conflict for a few weeks.

Complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops

The first option Moscow is offering is the complete withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from the regions it wants to occupy: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian troops must also withdraw from the Russian border to a distance to be agreed upon by the parties. That is, Kyiv would have to pull back its army from the trenches that prevent Russia from advancing on Kyiv and Kharkiv from the north, leaving Odesa unprotected in the south.

The second option proposed by the Kremlin involves a ceasefire on the front line, but with a catch: Putin is demanding a package of concessions from Zelenskiy that includes the cessation of mobilization [of new recruits] and the beginning of demobilization [of current forces]; the end of arms supplies and foreign military assistance to Ukraine, including the provision of satellite communications and intelligence services, and Ukraines renunciation of sabotage on Russian territory [including occupied areas of Ukraine]. Russia essentially wants to leave Kyiv defenseless.

Whether there is a truce or not, the Kremlin has not abandoned its maximalist objectives. In the first section of the memorandum, it demands a neutral status for Ukraine; that is, Kyivs renunciation of its NATO membership bid and any other defensive alliances with third countries. Moscow demands the countrys disarmament in another section: it asks to establish a maximum number of personnel, weapons, and vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as to disband its nationalist units and the National Guard.

The Kremlin is also attempting to destabilize Ukrainian politics by demanding the outlawing of nationalist parties and organizations. According to official Russian discourse, which denies the existence of Ukraine and ignores the centuries-long repression of its culture under Tsarism and the Soviet Union, all Ukrainian nationalism is fascist. In its memorandum, Moscow links this demand to its proposal to outlaw Nazi propaganda.

Moscow also demands that Kyiv guarantee all the rights of the Russian-speaking population and grant Russian the status of an official language. This is a sensitive issue: in order to reinforce their independence from Moscow, Ukrainian governments began restricting the official use of the countrys second language following the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, the incursion into eastern Donbas that same year, and the full invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Finally, Moscow is demanding that Kyiv waive any future compensation for damages caused by an invasion that has devastated cities and killed tens of thousands of people.

Ukraine, more conciliatory

The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Istanbul with a much more conciliatory stance, even assuming concessions from the outset. The first point of the document tabled by Kyiv is that both sides immediately accept a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days, which will be extendable. This truce should be supervised by third countries, led by the United States. The temporary ceasefire is essential for peace negotiations, according to the Ukrainian government.

Unlike Moscow, Kyiv does not demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from its country from the outset to begin the path to peace. The Ukrainian memorandum only states that the territories conquered by Russia since February 2014 will not be recognized by the international community. This section refers to the outbreak of the war in Donbas and Russias illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The White House, under President Donald Trump, has reiterated the possibility that Ukraine may have to relinquish sovereignty over Crimea.

The starting point for negotiations, according to the Ukrainian authorities, is the front line: Territorial issues will be discussed only after a complete and unconditional ceasefire is implemented.

There is another important assumption in the Ukrainian document for the talks with Russia: that Kyiv, which opposes Russias demands of neutrality, implicitly assumes that its entry into NATO is unlikely: The Ukrainian state may decide to become part of the Euro-Atlantic community and move toward EU membership. NATO membership depends on consensus within the Atlantic Alliance. These words acknowledge the opposition of key countries, such as the U.S., to Ukraines NATO membership, one of Russias demands.

Putin and Zelenskiy are primarily trying to keep the negotiation process alive to curry favor with Trump, as his support could tip the balance in the war. The U.S. president is the main driving force behind the diplomatic rapprochement between the two warring parties, but he has already made it clear that Kyiv will have to make the most concessions, such as withdrawing from its NATO bid. Zelenskiy called a Russian counterproposal to sign a two- or three-day ceasefire limited to specific sections of the front idiotic. The Ukrainian leader considered this further evidence that Putin is only seeking to prevent Trump from imposing new sanctions.

Sabotage on the Kerch Bridge

Kyiv and its European allies assume Moscow simply wants to buy time and continue its offensive on the ground. Russian troops are advancing at their fastest pace in more than six months, according to military analysis groups such as the Institute for the Study of War and Deep State. Ukraine is also continuing its long-range attacks against Russian strategic targets. Sundays surprise attack against Russian airbases was followed by a new sabotage operation on the Kerch Bridge this Tuesday.

This infrastructure connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has reported its third attack on the bridge, this time an operation in which they managed to plant explosives on one of the infrastructures pillars. The occupying authorities in Crimea have suspended vehicle traffic. The SSU maintains that the bridges stability is in a state of emergency.

Russia has also accused Ukraine of being behind the derailment of two trains last weekend in the Bryansk and Kursk provinces. At least seven people died in one of the incidents, according to the Russian Federal Emergency Service. Kyiv has declined to comment on the report.

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It was a perfect spring Los Angeles day in 2005 when Paris and Nicky Hilton walked, hand in hand, into a throng of waiting paparazzi. The cameras clicked and popped as the socialites turned to one another with knowing giggles, safe in the knowledge theyd soon be in every gossip column thanks to their T-shirts. Nickys bore the words Team Aniston while her sister Pariss read, Team Jolie.

The shirts had been acquired at cult Beverly Hills boutique Kitson, whose owner Fraser Ross had hastily monopolised on a growing celebrity story: the split of Brad Pitt and Friends actor Jennifer Aniston, and his rumoured new romance with his sultry Mr & Mrs Smith co-star Angelina Jolie.

Those Kitson T-shirts were just the start of a tabloid narrative that pitted Jolie and Aniston against one another for well over a decade. Even when Jolie and Pitt announced their own divorce in 2016, attention turned to Aniston, with reports pondering her reaction (which she, of course, never gave).

Their A-list love triangle has proven irresistible to tabloids and magazines. Aniston and Jolie were painted as bitter rivals, despite neither of them ever commenting on the other. In fact, Aniston had said in 2005 that she never overtly blamed Jolie for her divorce, only remarking, Its just complicated (you can say that again).

A leather-clad Brad Pitt now graces the latest cover of GQ magazine alongside his F1 film co-star Damson Idris and producer Lewis Hamilton. It is predicted to be the film of the summer, and his buff appearance as the magazines cover star has been heralded as ushering in an Alpha man era.

Filming took place during the finalisation of his divorce from Angelina and the star told the publication: My personal life is always in the news...Its been in the news for 30 years, bro. Or some version of my personal life, lets put it that way.

When asked if filming F1 acted as a refuge from public scrutiny, Pitt responded: Its been an annoyance Ive had to always deal with in different degrees, large and small, as I do the things I really want to do. So, its always been this kind of nagging time suck or waste of time, if you let it be that.

And as for whether it was a relief that he is on the other side of the divorce finally being finalised, Pitt responded: No, I dont think it was that major of a thing. Just something coming to fruition. Legally.

It is clear that while not immune to the storms that have surrounded his personal life, somehow Brad Pitts nice guy image remained largely intact. Aniston herself helped Pitt close the chapter on any post-split bad blood when she was photographed with her hand on his chest at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, where he won an award for his turn in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Later that year, they both appeared on Zoom for a pandemic charity event, during which she called him honey.

Yet his protracted divorce battle from Angelina Jolie, which was only just finalised on 30 December, eight years after they announced their split, told a different story. Since 2022, Jolie has filed a series of legal documents detailing claims of emotional and physical abuse.

Her lawyers alleged Pitt grabbed and pushed Jolie during a physical altercation, during which it was claimed Pitt also assaulted two of their children. Pitt denied those allegations and, in 2021, was awarded joint custody of the children after a long and acrimonious court battle over their living arrangements. In June, their daughter Shiloh submitted a petition to a Los Angeles court to drop Pitt from her surname, and two more of the couples children have reportedly stopped using their fathers name too, in solidarity with Jolie.

These, at times, shocking court allegations have somehow barely registered on the usually sensitive public cancel-ometer for Pitt. Indeed, he has maintained a cheerful presence on the publicity circuit  especially during awards season. A recent interview for GQ magazine, alongside best pal George Clooney, to promote their latest film Wolfs, was a celebration of their best buddy status and Hollywood clout.

open image in gallery Jolie is reportedly devastated after her role in Maria was snubbed by the Oscars ( Netflix )

As Pitt promoted Wolfs, Jolie attended the premiere of her critically acclaimed Maria Callas biopic, Maria. At the time, it was confirmed by an organiser that the event had been planned with meticulous care to ensure that Jolie and Pitt would never come face to face.

It was there that Pitt made his red-carpet debut with non-celeb, thirtysomething girlfriend Ines de Ramon. Allegedly, they are keen to get married, and Pitt wants a fresh start.

Jolie, who turns 50 this month, is getting back into her Hollywood career after stepping away to heal. Sources close to Jolie, who has eschewed A-list cliques for most of her life, said earlier this year that she was embracing a newfound solidarity with fellow awards-circuit actors such as Demi Moore, Salma Hayek and Kate Winslet, whom she was seen hugging at the Critics Choice ceremony in LA.

She was said to have been devastated at her snub in this years Oscar nominations, with reports suggesting that Hollywood has sided with Pitt, and that the voting could be a reflection of industry pals not wishing to upset Pitt by putting Jolie in the run for Best Actress for which she had been so hotly tipped.

open image in gallery The former couple at the gala screening of Inglourious Basterds in 2009 ( EPA )

So how has Brad, now 61, kept his Hollywood boy next door status intact? Tabloid snark is, of course, always quicker to pinpoint any women at fault; Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston learned this the hard way. It was just five years after their intimate (by Hollywood standards, anyway) $1m, 200-person wedding on a Malibu clifftop, during which Aniston promised to always make Pitts favourite banana milkshake, that the most golden of A-list couples announced they were over. Their rather pointed statement added, We would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media.

The speculation was, of course, the flurry of rumours about Pitt and Jolie, who were said to have fallen for one another while shooting Mr & Mrs Smith, in which they played a bored married couple who discovered they were both assassins. Just a month after Aniston filed for divorce, US Weekly had the first exclusive paparazzi pictures of the new couple, sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, as they walked on a beach in Kenya with Jolies adopted son Maddox.

open image in gallery Jolie with five of her children at the UK premiere of Eternals in 2021 ( Getty )

Then, in July of that year, a sexy shoot for W magazine to promote Mr & Mrs Smith dropped. Entitled Domestic Bliss, the shoot provocatively depicted Brangelina as a devoted married couple, with children, at a time when they had been skirting romance rumours. During an interview with Vanity Fair in August, Aniston said of that shoot, Theres a sensitivity chip thats missing. She added, I just dont know what happened ... I feel as if Im trying to scrounge around and pick up the pieces in the midst of this media circus.

Arguably, that media circus cast a long shadow across the womens professional lives, while leaving Brads untouched. In the years that followed, despite working a lot, neither appeared in a film that compared to their previously critically acclaimed films like The Good Girl (Aniston) and Girl, Interrupted (Jolie).

Brad Pitts career, however, went from strength to strength, with turns in the lauded Moneyball, Burn After Reading, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Inglourious Basterds all coming in the immediate aftermath of the romantic controversy. He also retained control of Plan B, the extremely successful production company he and Aniston founded with partner Brad Grey, which has gone on to make Oscar-winning films like Moonlight and 12 Years A Slave, strengthening Pitts Hollywood clout.

open image in gallery Jennifer Aniston and Pitt pictured just months before their divorce in early 2005 ( Getty )

Jolie, meanwhile, was regularly painted as the villain in all this, the cold, and achingly cool other woman. Brad Pitt was still seen as Hollywoods approachable leading man, with his sunny midwestern charm. There was a sort of belief that Jolie, mostly known for wearing vials of blood and kissing her brother [James Haven] on a red carpet, had cast some kind of spell on Brad for him to leave Jen like that, says one Hollywood insider.

Brangelina may have finalised their divorce in December last year, but the tussle over their French vineyard Chateau Miraval is ongoing. It has been a stage for an onslaught of intimate details of their relationships demise to play out, dubbed the War of the Rose.

A short explanation of the extensive legal wrangle: the couple bought the French winery together in 2011 and were even married there. Years after their split, however, Jolie sold her shares to a subsidiary of the Stoli Group  the parent company of the famed vodka brand  which Pitt saw as an action that sought to inflict harm because the sale blocked Pitt from obtaining majority-shareholder status. Jolie, according to legal filings, says that Pitt was trying to silence her with an NDA before he would agree to sell up.

open image in gallery Pitt attends the Wolfs red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival in September 2024 ( Getty )

In one set of papers, Jolie claims that Pitts final words in their marriage were, F**k you. F**k you all. Jolie added that he had called her a b***h and shook her by the shoulders. All allegations were denied by Pitt, who has accused Jolie of seeking to deliberately undermine his businesses.

Their children Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox, have taken their mothers side, much to Pitts anguish. In 2022, news surfaced that Brad and Angelinas adopted son Pax had shared a scathing account of how he felt about his father on his private Instagram story on Fathers Day in 2020.

In the leaked screenshot, Pax wrote over a photograph of Brad accepting an Oscar for his performance in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Happy Father's Day to this world-class a**hole! the post read. The teenager allegedly claimed the Hollywood star made his four youngest children tremble in fear and made the lives of those closest to [Pax] a constant hell.

Reports suggested that Pitt has been heartbroken about the fallout with his children. Now, in the wake of their long-awaited divorce, Pitt and Jolie are both finding their new normal, something that was demonstrated by their near-miss appearances at the Venice Film Festival. While Pitt claimed in 2022 that his own could be on its last legs, he currently has a number of upcoming projects listed on IMDB and his recent GQ cover appearance suggests that is far from the case.

A report by New York magazine explained that Pitts lovability is down to the idea that audiences feel they know him. It is certainly inevitable that there are many more chapters to come for the man who has dominated pop culture for a generation.
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In Back to the Future, Marty McFly famously strummed a guitar at a 1950s high school dance, narrowly averting his erasure from existence before zipping back to the 1980s.

However, the real-life guitar wasn't so fortunate.

Despite filmmakers' efforts to locate the instrument during the production of the 1989 sequel, it remains missing.

Now, four decades after the film's debut, Gibson, the Nashville-based manufacturer of the iconic Cherry Red Gibson ES-345, has launched a public appeal to find it.

As the movie commemorates its 40th anniversary, Gibson is producing a documentary, Lost to the Future, chronicling the search for the elusive guitar and the film's legacy.

In a video by Gibson, with the movie's theme song playing in the background, Back to the Future stars such as Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Harry Waters Jr. make a cinematic plea.

open image in gallery Michael J. Fox arrives at A Country Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's in Nashville, Tenn., on April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File) ( Associated Press )

There's also a surprise appearance by Huey Lewis, whose band Huey Lewis and the News performed the soundtrack's headliner song, The Power of Love.

Lloyd, in the cadence of Doc Brown, says in the video that the guitar has been lost to the future.

It's somewhere lost in the space-time continuum, says Fox, who played McFly. Or it's in some Teamster's garage.

In the film, McFly steps in for an injured band member at the 1955 school dance with the theme Enchantment under the Sea, playing the guitar as students slow dance to Earth Angel.

He then leads Marvin Barry and the Starlighters in a rendition of Johnny B. Goode, calling it an oldie where he comes was from even though the 1958 song doesn't exist yet for his audience.

Fox said he wanted McFly to riff through his favorite guitarists' signature styles  Jimi Hendrix behind the head, Pete Townshend's windmill and the Eddie Van Halen hammer. After digging and dancing to Johnny B. Goode, the students at the dance fall into an awkward silence as McFly's riffs turn increasingly wild.

I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, McFly says. But your kids are gonna love it.
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The first trailer for a new found footage film being called one of horrors most polarising features in years has been released.

Dashcam made its UK premiere at the London Film Festival in October 2021, and its the latest release from Rob Savage, who directed the Zoom horror Host during lockdown in 2020.

The film, shot on an iPhone, split audiences down the middle following its debut. It follows a musician (Annie Hardy) who, depressed by her pandemic lifestyle in Los Angeles, breaks quarantine to go to London to see her bandmate (Amar Chadha-Patel).

Things soon take a turn for the deranged, though, with Annie deciding to livestream her actions for online viewers.

Many people who attended the premiere at Londons Prince Charles Cinema in October couldnt get enough of the films wild thrills, with the reactions agreeing on one thing: it needs to be seen with an audience.

Writer, director and creative producer Nia Childs wrote: Dashcam was a RIDE. I cant remember the last time Ive had that much fun  the audience just make it. Screaming, laughing, at one point I think someone was nearly sick?

Writer and horror expert Anna Bogutskaya added: Heading to my second viewing of #DASHCAM at #LFF because this unhinged rollercoaster of a film demands to be seen with an audience.

Journalist Tom Beasley said that the film plays gangbusters with a cinema crowd.

Find a selection of reactions below.

For Screen International, Wendy Ide called the film furiously chaotic, while Dread Centrals Chad Collins predicted that it will dominate the horror discourse upon its release.

Much of the films criticism is thrown the way of the films anti-face mask lead character, who was branded one of horrors most grating characters in recent memory by Bloody Disgusting critic Meagan Navarro.

Jude Dry, writing for IndieWire, said: Equal parts confounding, challenging, and insanely fun, Dashcam is horror at its most inventive.

Corroborating just how divisive the film has proven to be is its Rotten Tomatoes score, which currently sits at 54 per cent based on 49 reviews.

Dashcam, produced by Jason Blum and co-written by Savage alongside Gemma Hurley and Jed Shepherd, will be released in selected cinemas on 3 June. A digital release will follow on 6 June.

Savages previous film, Host, can be streamed on Shudder.
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Film fans are eagerly awaiting an unforgettable psychological drama that is making viewers gasp louder than ever.

Sirat was one of the first premieres at the 2025 run of Cannes Film Festival and, regardless of what people thought of the film, it was commonly agreed that its something that needs to be experienced

Directed by French-Spanish filmmaker Oliver Laxe, Sirat follows Luis (Sergi Lopez) as a father who, along with his young son Esteban (Bruno Nunez Arjona), searches for his missing daughter.

Luis and Estebans hunt bring them to an illegal rave in the Moroccan desert where she was last seen.

The film begins as Luis and Esteban hand out photos to revellers as they dance  but a chance encounter tips them off to another rave deeper in the heart of the desert.

As their search continues, the perceived safety provided by the films supporting characters is superseded by horror several times, creating an unrivalled sense of dread; Sirat is a slow-burn Sorcerer-esque descent into hell that caused some of the biggest gasps we have heard in a cinema.

The film has been widely acclaimed by critics. A compilation of film reviewers rankings, amassed by IndieWire, ranks Sirat as the best film of Cannes 2025  placing it above Joachim Triers Sentimental Value and Jafar Panahis Palme dOr winner It Was Just an Accident.

After 33 reviews, the film has a perfect 100 per score on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, with the films sound design by Laia Casanova being particularly hailed.

Time Outs John Bleasdale said that your enjoyment of the film will depend on how far youre willing to go with the wild swings the film takes in its second half, describing it as The Wages of Fear meets The Vanishing on shrooms.

Elsewhere, Cineuropa s Fabien Lemercier called it unforgettable and experiential, while Jessica Kiang, writing for Variety, said Sirat is a brilliantly bizarre, cult-ready vision of human psychology tested to its limits.

open image in gallery Sirat was one of the best films at Cannes 2025 ( The Match Factory )

The film is yet to receive a release date, but it has been picked up for distribution in the UK by Altitude and by Neon in the US.
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Drake has announced dates for the UK and Europe leg of his Anita Max Win tour.

The Canadian rapper is confirmed to be headlining the Wireless Festival in Londons Finsbury Park on all three nights from 11 July to 13 July. In a deal thought to be worth millions, Drake is set to perform three different set lists on all nights for the festivals 20th anniversary.

Now, he has announced performances at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on 20 and 21 July and Manchesters Co-op Live on 25 and 26 July.

The tour will then head to Europe, where the rapper will perform in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Zurich, Cologne, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Berlin, Munich, and finally in Hamburg in September.

The tour announcement comes after the release of his new collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. PARTYNEXTDOOR will also be joining Drake on the tour.

The five-time Grammy winner is returning to the UK and Europe after six years. He was last here for the 2019 Assassination Vacation tour.

Tickets for the shows will go on sale on 6 June, with presales set to go live today.

Earlier this year, Drake had to cancel four dates of his Anita Max Win tour in Australia and New Zealand due to scheduling conflicts.

After the release of $ome $exy $ongs 4 U in February, the 21-track album was accused of ripping off elements from Freddie Gibbs 2022 record, $ouls $old $eperately.

Drake has announced dates for UK and Europe leg of his Anita Max Win tour ( Getty )

$ome $exy $ongs 4 U includes a song titled Gimme a Hug in which Drake takes aim at his past rap feuds.

F*** a rap beef, I'm tryna get the party lit/Tryna get the party lit for the b****es, the Gods Plan artist raps in the second verse, seemingly in reference to his ongoing beef with Kendrick Lamar.

Using you for promotion, truer words had never been spoken, Drake says in another line, likely in reference to his lawsuit against his music label Universal Music Group  to which Lamar is also signed  over its release of Not Like Us.

Funny how it's only b**** n****s that are waiting on the boy's obituary/Cause if I die, it's these n****s that become the sole beneficiary.

In the lawsuit, Drake claims the label knew the allegations of pedophilia being embedded in the song were false but chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.

In a statement, UMG told The Independent: Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist  let alone Drake  is illogical. We have invested massively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success.
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Sabrina Carpenter fans are convinced that her new single Manchild is inspired by her ex-boyfriend, Irish actor Barry Keoghan.

The Grammy-winning pop star, 26, revealed on Instagram that her new song Manchild would be released on Thursday at 8pm EST (1am BST).

Earlier this week she shared a vintage-inspired teaser that showed her on the side of the road trying to hitchhike while wearing cropped denim shorts and a white shirt tied above her waist.

This ones about you! she wrote in the caption. Manchild is out this Thursday [5 June].

A shot of the vinyl edition included an excerpt of lyrics, that said: Inside of your head when youve just won an argument with a man.

GET HIM SAB, one fan wrote in the comments, while another joked, Mr Barry Fumble.

We owe Barry a big thank you for the song of the summer, one fan remarked.

DRAG HIM BABE WE CANT WAIT, another chimed in.

One fan said: He didnt listen when you wrote Please Please Please, so he deserves this song.

Carpenter released her hit song Please Please Please as the second single from her sixth album, Short n Sweet in 2024.

The accompanying music video starred Carpenter opposite her then-boyfriend, Keoghan, 32, who shot to attention the previous year thanks to his role in the psychological drama film Saltburn.

Lyrics included references to how the couple met, while Carpenter also sang: I heard that youre an actor, so act like a stand-up guy/ Whatever devils inside you, dont let him out tonight.

Carpenter and Keoghan were reported to have split in December last year, with the actor issuing a statement that month condemning the disgusting behaviour of some fans.

I can only sit and take so much, Keoghan wrote on X/Twitter on 7 December 2024. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually dont respond to.

I have to respond now because its getting to a place where there are too many lines being crossed. I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work.

Keoghan said he had endured absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing you can imagine.

Elsewhere on Carpenters Instagram post, fans are predicting that Manchild will be the song of the summer.
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Will Ferrell is set to adapt his own 2020 Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga into a new Broadway musical.

The former Saturday Night Live star appeared alongside Rachel McAdams in the movie as an aspiring Icelandic singing duo chosen to represent their country in the popular real-life pan-European music competition.

In a statement, Ferrell said: We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway. The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.

The new musical version will feature book written by Ferrell, Harper Steele and Anthony King, music by Savan Kotecha and will be directed by Alex Timbers.

Timbers added in a further statement: Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes, and when I first saw their joyful movie Eurovision during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time.

Will Ferrell in a scene from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga ( Netflix )

With this stage adaptation, I cant wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence, and awe to audiences across the world.

Like the film, the stage musical is being produced in collaboration with the official Eurovision Song Contest organization. The competitions director, Martin Green CBE, said: This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaption of a film the world loved. Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally  especially as we approach our 70th edition in 2026.

In a three-star review of the film, The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey called the movie exactly as silly and outlandish as it needs to be, while still paying sincere respect to one of Europes great cultural quirks. There are a few pops at Americans, too, to keep things humble.

She added: While Ferrell and Steeles script doesnt always provide the best material, the film works because its cast is so invested in the absurdity of it all. Ferrell thrives once more in the role of sweet naif (a la Buddy in Elf), while McAdams rolls out her best Bjork impression  its refreshing to see a film where a female lead gets to be just as weird as her male co-star. Dan Stevens, meanwhile, revels in his role as Russian contestant Alexander Lemtov, a man who sings from his crotch and wears gold-embroidered waistcoats with nothing underneath.
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Netflixs critically acclaimed UK crime drama Adolescence has officially surpassed Stranger Things to become the streamers second most-watched English-language TV series.

The crime drama miniseries co-created by and starring Stephen Graham debuted March 13 and just recently reached a mega milestone of 141.2 million total views, putting it above the fourth season of Stranger Things, which initially held the spot at 140.7 million views.

The debut season of the platforms Addams Family spin-off, Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega, remains at the top of Netflixs list with an astounding 252.1 million total views in its first 91 days.

Comparatively, season one of the streamers popular Korean-language thriller Squid Game is the platforms most popular non-English language TV series, amassing 265.2 million views in its first three months.

Adolescence, which is expected to land several Emmy nominations next month, recently swept at the 2025 Gotham TV Awards.

Owen Cooper (left) as Jamie and Stephen Graham (right) as his on-screen father Eddie in Adolescence ( AP )

It took the prize for Breakthrough Limited Series, as well as two acting awards for Graham and young newcomer Owen Cooper for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series and Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series, respectively.

Were overwhelmed for you to embrace us the way you have, Graham said in his acceptance speech. This was a small colloquial piece that was made with love, respect, humility and dignity, and we treated the subject with a lot of passion, but a lot of care.

Out now on Netflix, Adolescence is a four-part series that follows the dramatic aftermath of a 13-year-old boy, Jamie (Cooper), whos arrested for murdering a classmate. Each episode is ambitiously shot in one take.

Speaking to The Independent in March about the difficulty of shooting each episode in one take, director Philip Barantini said: It was quite difficult, but it was fun as well. It was meticulously planned.

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[Tech rehearsals] would be an opportunity for the sound team to put the booms where they needed to be. And, we had all the support and the runners and ADs all dressed in police uniforms in the first episode and teachers in the second episode so they could be on camera and cueing things, Barantini explained. It was technically challenging, but a huge collaboration.

The show has been a massive hit with critics, who have labeled it harrowing but compelling.

It is television in its purest distillation: unflinching, pulse-quickening, The Independents Nick Hilton wrote in a four-star review.

It caters both to our morbid fascination with crimes at the exotic extremes, and the sense of unravelling a moral knot. The fact that the rest of the series cant quite match those heights is both a problem and a testament to the impact of that opener, he added. Never less than well-made, Adolescence sustains a rawness that makes it a tough but compulsive watch.
Half of the 200 people who were working on a student residence hall near Florida State University last Thursday did not return home. They were arrested in an operation involving ICE immigration authorities, the Florida Highway Patrol, and other federal and state agencies. It is not the first time this has happened. Just a few days earlier, 31 workers were arrested at two construction sites in Laredo, Texas, and another 33 suffered the same fate in Wildwood, Florida. These raids, in addition to the personal and family tragedies for those arrested, are hitting a key sector of the economy  housing  that is already in crisis over a shortage of supply.

These arrests send a loud and clear message about the risk faced by undocumented immigrants working in a sector where one in four workers are immigrants and, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 31% are Latino. A large number of those arrested in Florida hail from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador. Betsey Stevenson, a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, believes its reasonable to assume that half of them are undocumented. This estimate is also shared by the Urban Institute in a study, which shows that around 54% of these foreign-born construction workers lack legal status.

When a major source of labor is affected, the possibility of growing or maintaining the housing supply is affected, says Jorge Gonzalez-Hermoso, a researcher and co-author of the study. These raids will remove many workers from the construction sites, either through arrests or through fear that could spread even to immigrants legally in the country, says this expert.

Stevenson believes that many workers, even those legally present in the country, may be concerned about going to work and encountering ICE agents. The current administration is detaining and deporting people without due process, so workers need to be cautious about exposing themselves to situations where they could risk deportation for themselves or a family member, she adds.

Gonzalez-Hermoso calls it the chill effect, which can lead people who shouldnt be affected by ICE to look for jobs that have less exposure to raids.

Research from the Urban Institute estimates that more than 42% of construction workers are engaged in residential construction. Immigrant labor plays a significant role in states where the sector is already under severe pressure due to supply falling far short of demand, particularly in California, Texas, Nevada, New York, Florida, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Workplace raids, including in construction, occurred during the George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations, but under Joe Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas issued a memorandum in 2021 halting such raids. These directives were immediately rescinded during Trumps second term.

For the Urban Institute researcher, the risk isnt so much that construction projects will run out of workers, but that projects will be delayed. Contractors will look for other workers, but theyll have to find them and will have to raise wages to attract them. Coupled with changes in financing and other areas  in the form of tariffs on construction materials, for example  housing construction will become more expensive, which will not help lower either sales prices or rent.

Finding more workers isnt easy because, as Michael Bellaman, president and CEO of the Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC), explains via email, theres a shortage of 439,000 workers in the sector. This underscores the critical need to reform our broken immigration system, Bellaman notes. Foreign-born workers who are here legally need the assurance that they can continue to do their jobs without fear of retaliation.

Arturo Castellanos, policy and lobbying manager for the National Immigration Forum, is urging legislators from both parties to make changes to address the problem of the labor shortage in many sectors due to the lack of local population growth. Castellanos explains that the visas used to legally work in the country, not just in construction  the H-2B and EB-3  do not compensate for the shortage of personnel in this sector.

We need to increase the number of visas because theyre filling up quickly, he says. For H-2B visas, for example, theres a limit of 66,000 per year. Castellanos recalls that the last major immigration reform was in 1986, and those were different times: A different country, a different economy, it was the Cold War now we need to address other needs in the United States.

The expert recalls that, to a large extent, immigrants, both documented and undocumented, were the ones who rebuilt buildings after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida: Whos going to rebuild when the next disaster hits?

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New Clarksons Farm star Harriet Cowan has shared her thoughts on Kaleb Cooper after viewers detected awkwardness between the pair.

Cowan was introduced in the latest series of the show, which follows the ups and downs at Jeremy Clarksons Diddy Squat farm, as the temporary replacement of farm manager Cooper.

The full-time nurse, who recently urged viewers to be kind following her appearance on the show, was recruited due to Coopers professional commitments elsewhere. The newly minted millionaire is busy touring a one-man show after finding fame on the Prime Video series.

Fans of the show couldnt help but notice Cooper appeared rather unimpressed with Cowan upon their introduction when he returned to the Oxfordshire location.

Jeremy Clarkson himself pointed out that Cooper needed to be kind to Cowan, telling him: Right, now, thats Harriet. Now be nice  behave.

Cooper then stood watching Cowan in silence as she worked, sarcastically questioning her farming skills, with Clarkson chiding him for his attitude.

Cowan has now assured viewers that she gets on with Cooper  and said that they have even become friends away from the cameras.

During an appearance on BBC Derby, Cowan, who has a big following on TikTok, said: Kalebs amazing. Me and him are so close now. Hes such a good farmer and we got on really well.

She continued: Hes another farmer to add to my phone list to ring. Everyone checks in to make sure everyones fine.

open image in gallery Kaleb Cooper and Harriet Cowan on Clarksons Farm ( Amazon Prime Video )

Cowan won over audiences with her witty asides and impressive farming knowledge, and many have expressed hope that she will become a permanent team member at the Chipping Norton farm.

In episode one of the latest series, former Top Gear presenter Clarkson gives Cowan a tour of the farm. At one point, he identifies a Neolithic fort, which he explains is 4000 years old, prompting Cowan to quip: Nearly as old as you. She even makes an attempt at trimming Clarksons unruly eyebrows.

Clarkson warms to Cowan as the episode goes on, calling her a star and praising her farming knowledge. Shes brilliant, he tells his farming contractor Charlie Ireland.

Cowan previously graduated from the University of Derby, where she studied nursing. She was named her towns Young Farmers spokesperson and continues to use social media to highlight the realities of working on a farm.

open image in gallery Harriet Cowan has become a Clarksons Farm breakout star ( TikTok/@harrietcowan3 )

She has been vocal during the farmers protests in response to Labours changes to inheritance tax, which has seen thousands of farmers gather in Westminster in recent months.

Cowan, whose father runs the family farm and mother is a nurse, is a TikTok farming sensation with more than 1.7m views on her most popular video, which shows her at work driving a tractor.
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The cast of Parks and Recreation are heartbroken over the fatal shooting of actor Jonathan Joss in Texas, his co-star Nick Offerman has said.

Joss, 59, was killed outside his burned-down home in San Antonio on Sunday after an alleged campaign of homophobic harassment against him and his new husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales.

The actor was best known for playing John Redcorn in the animated comedy King of the Hill and Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation, among numerous other TV, film and video game roles.

open image in gallery Jonathan Joss, left, and his alleged killer Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja ( NBC / Bexar County Sheriffs Office )

The cast has been texting together about it all day and were just heartbroken, said Nick Offerman, who played the comically masculine Ron Swanson, in a statement to People magazine on Monday.

Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.

Chris Pratt, whose career went stratospheric following his role as Andy Dwyer in Parks and Rec, also paid tribute to Joss on his Instagram Story.

Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude, Pratt wrote. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.

Prosecutors have charged Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja with murdering Joss. Police are still investigating what happened.

In a post via Joss's Facebook page on Monday, Kern de Gonzales alleged that the couple's house had burned down in February after two years of arson threats from "individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship".

open image in gallery Nick Offerman paid tribute to his former Parks and Recreation co-star ( Getty Images )

He said that he and Joss had gone back to the house on Sunday to collect mail, only to find the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view.

The two men were deeply disturbed and :began yelling and crying. A man allegedly approached them and yelled homophobic abuse, before drawing a weapon and shooting Joss.

However, the San Antonio Police Department said: Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Josss murder was related to his sexual orientation.

SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly.

Running from 2009 to 2015, Parks and Recreation chronicled the misadventures of local government officials in the fictional U.S. town of Pawnee. Joss's character, Ken Hotate, was a casino owner and the leader of the area's Native American tribe.
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Disgraced former Los Angeles celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi has been convicted of four counts of wire fraud for embezzling at least $15m of his clients money.

Girardi, 83, who once played a supporting role on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alongside his now-estranged wife Erika Jayne, was disbarred last summer for siphoning funds intended for clients. His firm Girardi Keese is bankrupt and hes said to be suffering from dementia and is under a court conservatorship.

Tom Girardi built celebrity status and lured in victims by falsely portraying himself as a Champion of Justice, US Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement announcing Girardis conviction. In reality, he was a Robin-Hood-in-reverse, stealing from the needy to support of a lavish, Hollywood lifestyle.

The charges alleged he stole money from his clients over the course of a decade from October 2010 to late 2020, including $3m from family members of the victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash that killed 189 people.

He pled not guilty to the charges in Los Angeles last year. Girardi could get as much as 80 years in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for December 6. A judge has allowed him to remain free until then.

Tyler Hatcher, special-agent-in-charge for the IRS criminal investigation unit, said that Girardi exploited his clients misfortunes on a grand scale.

Tom Girardi is scheduled to be sentenced in December after being found guilty of four counts of wire fraud ( Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

His clients sought his help in the wake of significant trauma and injury, yet he violated their trust to steal from them and fund his own lavish lifestyle, and he will now face the consequences of his actions, Hatcher said.

In one case described in the indictment, Girardi settled a case involving a man severely burned in a utility explosion for $53m. He told the client the settlement was for $7.25m.

More than half the settlement was then embezzled and used to pay expenses, firm liabilities and other clients whose funds had also been misappropriated. Payments to the burn victim, meanwhile, were delayed through a series of stall tactics.

The federal public defender representing Girardi, Charles Snyder, argued that his clients cognitive impairment had worsened following diagnoses with dementia and late-onset Alzheimers disease. Snyder alleged members of Girardis now-closed Girardi Keese law firm were stealing funds hand over fist.

Snyder said Girardi was not paying close attention to the firms operations as he got old, got sick, and lost his mind.

Judge Josephine Staton, who oversaw the LA trial, ruled earlier this year that Girardi was competent to stand trial despite the dementia claims.

Girardi made his name, and his money, taking on powerful corporations and public institutions, including Hollywoods major movie studios, Lockheed, The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Pacific Gas and Electric in a case that inspired the 2000 Julia Roberts film Erin Brockovich, on which he served as an adviser.

He married Jayne in 2000. She became a member of the cast of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, on which he made several appearances. He spent considerable money funding an unsuccessful musical career for her.

Jayne filed for divorce in 2020.
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Walton Goggins has addressed the rumors of a feud with hisWhite Lotus co-star Aimee Lou Wood, explaining why he unfollowed her on Instagram.

In season three of the acclaimed HBO comedy drama, the Fallout actor played Rick, the love interest of Woods character Chelsea.

In a new joint interview with Variety, Goggins said he unfollowed Wood after filming as a way of seeking closure after the emotional exertion of making the show.

He compared the experience to leaving his role on another show, saying: When I left Justified, I went up to Tim [Olyphant], and I hugged him and I said, I love you, and I hope I see you in rooms for the rest of my life. I didnt talk to him for almost two years. Ive done that with every single thing that Ive done.

He added that The White Lotus experience was particularly difficult because it brought back memories of his own travels to Thailand after his first wife, Leanne Knight, died by suicide in 2004.

Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood as Rick and Chelsea in The White Lotus ( HBO )

My catharsis in this experience was different than other peoples, because of my history in this place. I knew what we had gone through, and I knew how close that we had gotten, and I needed to begin to process saying goodbye to Rick and Chelsea, said Goggins, who reportedly started to cry.

And I knew that that was going to take a while for me, so I let her know, this is what Ive gotta do. And she was extremely supportive about that.

He continued: I needed to just back away from everyone. I havent spoken to anyone. I couldnt handle it. Judge me or dont. I dont give a f*** what you think. This is my process. Rick means everything to me, and Chelsea means everything to me. And so thats what I needed to do for me to process all of this.

Goggins began following Wood on Instagram again during the interview, saying: You know what? Ill follow you right now!

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The actor also addressed a controversial interview he gave to The Times.

The article insinuated that Goggins had angrily shut down questions about his supposed feud with Wood.

There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman madly, and she is so important to me, Goggins told Variety. This is Goldie Hawn. This is Meg Ryan. She can do anything, and she will.

He said he didnt want to discuss his relationship with Wood with The Times without her present, and was also offended by a question that he said compared Goggins teeth to Woods and asked if theyd bonded over that.

What he was insinuating, it was so disgusting. It was so appalling. I was flabbergasted. And I said, F*** mate, wow. I think were done here, said Goggins.
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As summer is almost in full swing, people are preparing for barbeques and margaritas on the beach.

However, when looking to save some money and make your own cocktail, it should be a priority to include quality ingredients, starting with tequila. When going about which bottle to pick up, the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) has recently awarded seven tequilas with a Gold Medal.

The annual competition typically receives entries from over 90 countries throughout the world, where drinks are judged blindly and are awarded a number of points out of 100. The drinks can also receive either gold outstanding (for spirits only), gold, silver, or bronze awards, with no limit on how many awards an entry can receive.

The top seven tequilas were all gold outstanding winners that were given 98 points or more out of 100 and will be finalists for the 2025 Tequila Trophy.

Here are the best tequilas, according to the International Wine and Spirit Competition, and what the judges had to say about them.

Tequila Cascahuin Blanco

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its delicate agave aromas ( Tequila Cascahuin )

According to the judges comments, this tequila has delicate agave aromas that intertwine with a whisper of citrus.

The palate builds in intensity, with fresh pepper and flickers of cooked agave. The finish  of green vegetal notes and a touch of spice  offers great length.

Tanteo Tequila Blanco

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its vibrant aroma profile featuring agave ( Tanteo )

The IWSC judges described this tequila as having a vibrant aroma profile featuring agave, white pepper, leather, and fresh grass.

The palate bursts with rich, agave-forward flavors, revealing curious floral nuances of geranium and sweet spices. The finish of citrus and herbs is both warm and lasting.

Campo Azul 1940 Reposado Tequila

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its vibrant agave notes with sweet and nutty marzipan ( Campo Azul )

The competitions judges highlighted the tequila as smelling like agave with hints of herbs.

The palate features vibrant agave notes with sweet and nutty marzipan. Spice and florals are layered throughout. The finish is long, with additional notes of olive and capsicum, they said.

Sierra Blanco Tequila

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its fragrant notes of smoky barbecue meat ( Sierra Tequila )

One of the more common and less expensive options in the tequila market was highlighted for its fragrant notes of smoky barbecue meat mingle with intriguing blue cheese and ripe pineapple, according to the judges.

The lively palate reveals earthy notes reminiscent of Jerusalem artichokes, brightened by herbal sweetness and a spicy, peppery finish. Delightful rusticity.

Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its herbal and grassy tones ( Pancho Datos )

According to the IWSC judges, the tequila smelled like a blend of herbal and grassy tones, accompanied by pickled gherkin and spicy pepperoni.

On the complex palate, vibrant fruit emerges, supported by a robust herbaceous backbone, while subtle wood adds depth to the outstanding finish.

Lagrimas la Loma Reposado Tequila

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its delicate notes of cooked agave ( Lagrimas Tequila )

The competitions judges emphasized the tequilas alluring aroma reveals delicate notes of cooked agave balanced delightfully by a grassy and zesty character.

On the palate, herbaceous flickers of curry leaves and dried oregano emerge, complemented by gentle wood undertones and an outstanding finish.

Ocho Anejo Tequila

open image in gallery The judges highlighted its enchanting touches of orange leaves ( Tequlia Ocho )

According to the judges comments, this tequila has enchanting touches of orange leaves, sweet grass, spice, and pepper, evocative of an antique Chesterfield.

The pure, silky palate unfolds with fresh grass and gentle vanilla, balanced beautifully by lively peppery spice and sweetness. A long, fine cigar finish.
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Christine McGuinness has revealed she dates women as she opened up about her sexuality following her split from former Top Gear host Paddy McGuinness.

The pair announced they would be divorcing after 11 years of marriage in 2022, shortly after the airing of their documentary Our Family and Autism in 2021.

They remained living together in their seven-bedroom Cheshire home throughout the separation to focus on co-parenting twins Leo and Penelope, 10 and Felicity, seven, before their divorce was finalised in October last year.

However, McGuinness, 37, has said that media scrutiny over her private life has forced her to come out and discuss her sexuality.

I've struggled more because of the attention around my sexuality and that's something that I haven't discussed publicly and I haven't discussed it intentionally because for me it's took me years to process why it's big news who I date, she told Elizabeth Day on the How To Fail podcast.

It shouldn't matter somebody's gender. It never mattered to me. McGuinness said her sexuality was never a secret, however tabloid attention following her split made her go back into myself.

I went extremely quiet from feeling quite comfortable and happy and free, she continued. I almost was going backwards and I could feel myself shrinking and staying quieter because of the noise around it, it almost made me feel like, well, I must be doing something wrong because why would it be front page news?

open image in gallery The 37-year-old has been single for three years following her split from Paddy McGuinness ( Getty )

She said that photographs of her dating woman had circulated multiple times over three years and she believed interest would die down, but it hadnt. I've intentionally stayed quiet on it because I didn't want to draw any more attention to what is my normal.

However, she said she now feels forced to address the issue head on, despite being told to never discuss it ever.

It's just got to the point where I'm like, okay, if I don't actually acknowledge this at some point, then I don't know if it's ever going to go away, and I just want to be able to date and I want to be able to just enjoy it, and I want to be able to just feel free if I want to hold somebody's hand, she said.

open image in gallery Couple were together for 15 years, including 11 years of marriage, and share three children together ( Getty )

It shouldn't matter if they're male or female, it shouldn't matter what their gender is. I shouldn't really ever even have to explain in any way who I want to spend my time with. That's my business.

She added: I'm just at the point where I think I've got a nice balance of going, yeah I date women and so what, what's the big deal? But also knowing that I don't have to go into big, massive detail about it either.

McGuiness said she does not feel comfortable describing herself as lesbian or bisexual but a free spirit, adding: Thats the only word I would put on it. She explained she had first dated boys and girls when she was 14 or 15 years old and had her first kisses with people of both genders.
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Its mushroom season in many parts of Australia.

Between April and about June, the cooler and wetter weather are the perfect conditions for mushrooms to grow in the wild. In Tasmania and parts of Victoria, mushrooms can grow all year round.

At the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, where Im the medical director, we receive 300500 calls a year about mushrooms.

Most are from people concerned about what they or others have eaten. Others are from health workers seeking advice on how to treat poisonings.

Heres what happens if you eat a toxic mushroom, and if you do, what really helps health workers know what to do next.

A rich history  but can make you sick

Mushroom foraging, or mushroom hunting, is popular in many parts of the world. Its associated with local cultures, a social activity with family and friends, or to find food. So, mushroom foraging can have deep emotional or cultural connections.

The success of a foraging expedition depends on finding mushrooms and being able to differentiate the edible from the toxic varieties.

Thats not always easy, and even experienced foragers can make mistakes.

open image in gallery Mushroom foraging, or mushroom hunting, is popular in many parts of the world ( Getty )

Toxic mushrooms can resemble edible ones, and might look different according to where they grow, including across continents. Mushroom identification apps do not appear to be accurate enough in Australia. Its also not clear how useful mushroom-identification books are at helping people distinguish the edible from the toxic.

Different types of mushroom pickers

People can be at risk of mushroom poisoning for different reasons.

1. Young, and sometimes older people

A common group of those at risk is younger people (mostly toddlers, as they explore the world around them), and sometimes older people (mostly people with cognitive issues, such as dementia). These people tend to find and eat mushrooms outside when partially supervised.

This group tends to eat smaller amounts, which is usually low risk, and contact poisons information centres early. But assessing the toxicity of the mushrooms they have eaten can be hard if the only information we have is chewed mushroom remnants from an uncertain source.

2. Foragers

The other at-risk category is people who eat larger amounts of mushrooms, usually as part of a foraging group, and develop symptoms. These people contact the poisons information centre some time after eating the mushrooms.

Uncooked mushroom samples are often not available. And we dont always know if their symptoms relate to mushrooms or something else.

Most mushroom poisonings are mild. But sometimes this group develops severe poisoning that requires medical attention, including hospital admission, including those foraging for food or hallucinogenic mushrooms.

What happens in the body?

The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea. We dont always know how mushrooms cause these effects. But this is probably due to chemicals that directly irritate or kill cells in the gut.

We expect these symptoms after eating mushrooms such as the yellow stainer or Agaricus xanthodermus, found in many parts of Australia, and the green-spored parasol or Chlorophyllum molybdites, found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.

The mushroom that features in the Smurfs, Amanita muscaria, can cause gut symptoms. It can also cause sedation (which may be severe) and fatigue, or agitation, confusion and changes in perception. This is because it contains chemicals such as ibotenic acid and muscimol that can stimulate or inhibit different parts of the brain. This mushroom is found in subtropical and temporal climates in Australia.

Toxic effects from other mushrooms include sleepiness, lethargy, seizures, low blood pressure, hallucinations and agitation.

open image in gallery The Death Cap mushroom kills 90 per cent of people who eat it ( Getty Images )

Some mushrooms can interact with alcohol for a couple of days after eating the mushroom, causing flushing, nausea, vomiting and low blood pressure.

Fortunately, people usually recover from these types of symptoms as their body naturally eliminates the toxins.

But Australia also has poisonous mushrooms that can kill, or cause permanent liver or kidney failure. Thats because they contain toxins that kill liver, kidney and other cells in essential organs of the body that the body cannot repair.

An example is the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides), which is found in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

In Tasmania, Cortinarius eartoxicus causes kidney failure requiring dialysis. Similar varieties may also be in Victoria but have yet to be formally identified.

What can you tell the person treating you?

Knowing which mushroom people have eaten helps us predict the likely course of events and to choose the best treatment.

But people who call us for advice rarely have fresh samples or photos to allow us to identify the mushroom. People may also eat several different varieties of mushrooms at once, which can complicate how we assess you.

Our knowledge about poisonous mushrooms growing in Australia is also incomplete. In some cases, we rely on information reported from overseas but we are not certain how this applies to Australia, or to the region where the consumed mushroom was picked.

What should I do if Im worried?

If you think youve eaten a toxic wild mushroom, contact a poisons information centre as soon as possible. Health staff can provide advice related to your exposure, including the location of the exposure, the amount eaten and your symptoms.

Some people may be advised to watch and wait at home, but others will need to go to hospital immediately. This allows treatments that may reduce the amount absorbed and the severity of poisoning.

We can prevent this

The safest way of obtaining mushrooms is from a reputable supermarket, grocer or market.

But if you choose to forage for wild mushrooms, then as a minimum, get advice from a relevant book or an experienced person, keep a sample of the mushroom and take lots of photos. Photos should include where they grow, and different angles of the mushroom. This includes the top, stem, underside and base (underground) portions. This may help us identify the mushroom if you or someone else develops symptoms.

Darren Roberts is a Conjoint Associate Professor in clinical pharmacology and toxicology, St Vincents Healthcare Clinical Campus, UNSW Sydney. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Simone Biles has mocked Kylie Jenners clothing brand for its strange sizing.

The 28-year-old Olympian shared a picture of herself in the dark purple blazer from the clothing brand, Khy, on Instagram on Tuesday. In the mirror selfie, the jacket appeared to be way too big on Biles, with the large sleeves extending beyond her hands.

The jacket was also quite long on Biles and went down to her knees. In the caption, the athlete mocked the sizing of the look and called out Jenner.

Ms. Kylie Jenner, this is a crime !!!!!! Biles wrote, adding a series of laughing face emojis. This is not an XXS/XS.

Biles compared her appearance in the blazer to an exaggerated oversized look on model Gigi Hadid, writing: This is me on the last slide. SICK.

open image in gallery Simone Biles questions the sixing of jacket from Kylie Jenners brand ( @simonebiles / Instagram / Getty Images )

In the photo, Biles appeared to be wearing Khys Faux Leather Oversized Blazer in the merlot shade, which retails for $138. However, the brand sells other blazers that arent oversized, which retail from $118 to $298.

Speaking to The Independent, a source close to Jenner defended the jacket, saying it was meant to be an oversized piece that replicates how the reality star loves to wear her jackets.

Even though its an XXS/XS, you can push the sleeves up, wear open or fully buttoned up, or pair with tights and a bralette to wear it almost like a dress. It is supposed to have an almost trench-like look when worn over a dress, the source said. It was developed alongside other oversized pieces in the KHY Wardrobe collection.

The company also sells mini dresses, denim jackets, bralettes, footed leggings, joggers, long-sleeved thumb-hole tees, and more. In March, Khy released a collection of latex dresses, skirts, and tops, which come in red, white, or black. The new line was also a part of Khys partnership with Poster Girl.

While wearing one of the red dresses, Jenner spoke about how confident she felt in the latex outfit and poked fun at how often shed wear it.

open image in gallery Simone Biles says the sizing of jacket from Kylie Jenners brand is a crime ( @simonebiles / Instagram )

Id wear this out to the club. Id wear this outfit to pick up my kids from school, she quipped in a video on Khys Instagram page at the time. I would wear this outfit to take business meetings. I feel very snatched in this outfit.

To create the clothing line, which launched in November 2023, Jenner partnered with her mom, Kris Jenner, as well as the impressive investor duo Emma and Jens Grede, co-founders of numerous celebrity brands such as Skims, Good American, and Brady. Khy surpassed $1 million in sales within the first hour after its launch, according to a People report.

open image in gallery Simone Biles compares her jacket to a photo of Gigi Hadid in an exaggerated oversized sweater ( @simonebiles / Instagram )

During an interview with Vogue after her company launched, Jenner made it clear that shes completely involved in the work thats being done to build her brand.

From original concept, to designing, or co-designing if were working with other designers, from picking fabrics, colors, Ive been in every fit meeting. I am the creative director of the brand and marketing, she said. Theres not an Instagram post or video that hasnt been personally edited by me, there hasnt been an Instagram post that I havent posted myself.

I do the creative for all my shoots. Ive worked really hard on it, Ive put my love into it, and I cant wait for people to experience the clothes. Its very personal, she added.
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A popular brand of sparkling water has issued a recall over possible contamination fears.

On Monday, Coca-Cola sent a letter to Costco members announcing that they were voluntarily recalling Topo Chico Mineral Water due to the possible presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that occurs naturally in water sources, including mineral water.

According to the letter sent to customers, the health risks of consuming mineral water with Pseudomonas are very low in healthy individuals and will only cause minor health consequences in people with weakened immune systems.

The safety and quality of the products we offer our consumers is our top priority, the letter read.

The recall specifically applies to bottles that were sold at select Costco warehouses in Texas and Louisiana from May 20 to May 29, 2025.

open image in gallery The water was sold in Costco locations in Texas and Louisiana ( Coca-Cola )

The water bottles were sold in 18-packs and have the lot number 13A2541 printed on both the cases packaging and the neck of the individual bottles.

Customers who have purchased the affected water bottles are urged to return them to their local Costco in exchange for a full refund. Any questions regarding the recall can be directed to Coca-Cola using the phone number 1-800-GET-COKE.

open image in gallery Customers are encouraged to return the affected bottles to their local Costco for a full refund ( Getty/iStock )

The news of the recall comes a few days after an ongoing tomato recall had been elevated by the FDA after it found the contamination could lead to death.

The initial voluntary recall of H&C Farms Label tomatoes was announced at the beginning of May when Williams Farms Repack LLC distributed the potentially contaminated tomatoes to wholesalers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Sold in different-sized packages, ranging from three-packs to 25-pound bags, the tomatoes were distributed between April 23 and 28, according to the FDAs notice.

No illnesses were reported at the time.

The New York Times reported that the FDA upgraded the recall last week to a Class I, described as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

At this time, the FDA doesnt expect that customers will come into contact with fresh tomatoes from the contaminated batch. However, customers may have frozen the tomatoes for future consumption. Salmonella bacteria can survive for weeks in a wet environment like a freezer.

Customers are urged to throw away any affected tomatoes immediately. The source of the contamination is not known.
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A U.S. judge has blocked the deportation of the family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused of carrying out the horrific firebombing attack on a group of pro-Israeli demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado.

District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher issued an order to halt the deportation proceedings against Solimans wife and five children on Wednesday.

The court finds that deportation without process could work irreparable harm and an order must issue without notice due to the urgency this situation presents, Gallagher wrote in the order.

It comes after the Department of Homeland Security confirmed Tuesday that the family had been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and entered into proceedings for expedited removal.

Its unclear whether there is any recent precedent for entire families being placed into deportation proceedings for the alleged crimes of their relative. Immigration attorneys and advocates also have questioned whether it is legal to subject them to fast-tracked removal proceedings without a court hearing.

open image in gallery Soliman, an Egyptian national, was living in the U.S. illegally, having arrived in the country using an expired visa ( AP )

The expedited removal process, which was created in 1996, generally allows immigration authorities to swiftly remove people from the country without a hearing before a judge in immigration court. It has historically been used for proceedings at the U.S.-Mexico border but has been expanded under the Trump administration.

In January, the president signed an executive order that subjects any undocumented immigrants anywhere in the United States who cannot prove they have lived in the country for at least two years to those fast-tracked removal proceedings.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued to block the measure, arguing people seeking asylum would get less due process contesting their deportation than they would contesting a traffic ticket.

Punishing individualsincluding children as young as four-years-oldfor the purported actions of their relatives is a feature of medieval justice systems or police state dictatorships, not democracies, said Eric Lee, lead counsel for Solimans family.

The Trump administrations vindictive attack on this young family echoes the methods of Nazi Germany, where authorities used kin punishmentSippenhaftto intimidate the population. The detention and attempted removal of this family is an assault on core democratic principles and must provoke widespread opposition in the population, immigrant and non-immigrant alike.

To punish the family of someone accused of a crime offends not just United States law, but the concept of justice itself, added counsel Chris Godshall-Bennett. We cannot accept the collective punishment of anyone, let alone four-year-old children. The darkest days of American history were characterized by just this sort of association-based internment. If the government can do this, it can do anything.

open image in gallery Using a makeshift flamethrower and two Molotov cocktails, Soliman targeted a Run For Their Lives event, which was attended by peaceful demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas since October 7, 2023. He was arrested at the scene ( X/@OpusObscuraX )

It was previously reported that Soliman, an Egyptian national, was living in the U.S. illegally, having arrived in the country using an expired visa. He was later granted work authorization lasting until March 2025.

It is unclear what his familys immigration status is.

On Tuesday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that her agency is investigating the extent to which the family had known about his intentions in advance of Sundays atrocity, though the family members have not been charged in the attack.

Soliman faces federal hate crime charges and 16 state charges of attempted murder, following the incident on Sunday, which left 15 people and a dog injured.

Using a makeshift flamethrower and two Molotov cocktails, Soliman targeted a Run For Their Lives event, which was attended by peaceful demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas since October 7, 2023.

Noem has promised that he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

On Tuesday evening, the White House official account posted a callous message aimed at Solimans family, complete with an airplane emoji, that read: Six One-Way Tickets for Mohameds Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon.

Additional reporting by Alex Woodward.
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The FBI has arrested a suspect in New York in connection with the bombing outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic last month, officials said.

The suspect was arrested at New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport Wednesday, according to NBC News.

The primary suspect, Guy Edward Bartkus, was found dead at the scene of the explosion on May 17.

Officials said at the time that they were investigating whether Bartkus had any help.

The latest suspect is due to appear in a Brooklyn federal court Wednesday afternoon.

Debris covers the ground after an explosion on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Palm Springs, California ( ABC7 )

Authorities said the bombing was an "intentional act of terror."

Five people were injured in the bombing, which took place just outside the American Reproductive Center. The blast gutted the IVF clinic, which was housed in a single-story building.

Bartkus allegedly stated in writings and recordings that he was against bringing people into the world against their will.

In one writing, Bartkus described being a pro-mortalist as someone who intends to bring about their own death as soon as possible in order to prevent your future suffering, and, more importantly, the suffering your existence will cause to all the other sentient beings.

In addition to his writings, Bartkus also recorded a 30-minute audio clip describing his motives.

I figured I would just make a recording explaining why Ive decided to bomb an IVF building or clinic. Basically, it just comes down to Im angry that I exist and that, you know, nobody got my consent to bring me here, he said in the recording.

Bartkus went on to say that he was angry that IVF clinics exist.
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Officials have defended the decision not to issue an AMBER Alert after three young sisters vanished in Washington days before the trio were tragically found dead.

The bodies of Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were discovered near their fathers pickup truck close to the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, 120 miles east of Seattle, on Monday, according to the Wenatchee Police Department.

Their father, Travis Decker, 32, was charged with three counts of first-degree kidnapping and first-degree murder on Tuesday. He is still at large.

Now, the Washington State Patrol has spoken out about its decision not to release an AMBER Alert, despite police reportedly requesting twice on Friday that the child abduction response system be activated.

We were having discussions with Wenatchee police from Friday night on, the agencys Director of Public Affairs, Chris Loftis, told KOMO News. If we werent eligible for AMBER, then what could we do?

open image in gallery Travis Decker, who has been charged with kidnap and murder, is still at large ( Wenatchee Police Department )

According to Department of Justice guidelines, a case must meet five standards before law enforcement officials can issue an AMBER Alert.

They include a belief that an abduction occurred, assurance that the child is in imminent danger, the child being aged 17 or younger, gathering enough descriptive information about the victim, and the childs name being input into the National Crime Information Center system.

Instead, Loftis said the WSP issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert, which listed the names of the three girls and their father, along with a description of his truck.

The difference between EMPA and AMBER, the AMBER has that push notification that we all get on our phones, you have to look at it, you have to address it. The EMPA does not have that, he added.

open image in gallery Wenatchee Police Department shared a photograph of Travis Decker's 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck ( Wenatchee Police Department )

The girls were first reported missing by their mother, Whitney Decker, on Friday at about 9.45 p.m. after they had not returned from a scheduled custody visit with their father.

A GoFundMe page titled Support Whitney Decker set up to support the victims mother with expenses and legal costs has already raised over $405,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

During the search for the girls, police said that Travis Decker was homeless and living in and out of a white GMC Sierra pickup as well as staying at various hotels and campgrounds.

Police said the fathers visitation with the girls was part of a parenting plan, but he has since gone outside the parameters of it, which is not normal and cause for the alarm.

While the EMPA was issued, law enforcement scoured the area by land and air and came across the vehicle.

There were two bloody handprints on the truck, while personal items, including car seats and a wallet, were found inside, reports Fox Seattle.

The suspects cell phone activity revealed he drove to Rock Island Campground a day before the kidnapping, according to court documents.
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An elderly Florida woman was arrested after allegedly spraying bear mace at her neighbor and two young children as they played with bubbles in their driveway.

Ada Anderson, 81, was arrested on May 30 and charged with three counts of battery after officials responded to a home in Ocala, Marion County.

Police said the neighbor, later identified as April Morant, and her daughters, aged three and six, were having fun in the driveway of their home on Pine Court Drive when the incident occurred.

Bear mace is a chemical with a high concentration of oleoresin capsicum, which is also used to make chili peppers hot. Mace irritates the eyes, nose, and respiratory system, causing temporary discomfort and disorientation.

Morant also reported that Anderson had yelled racial slurs at her and her children and claimed she had done so in other altercations.

Ada Anderson, 81, of Marion County, Florida, has been charged with three counts of battery ( Marion County Sheriff's Office )

When officials arrived at the scene, she provided them with a photo of Anderson holding what looked like bear mace on her porch, according to Fox 35. Evidence of the mace was also still visible on Morants fence, police said.

The womans porch is about 40 feet away from the fence. Anderson claimed Morant and her children had been running around the area near the fence and yelled at her, which is what prompted her to use the irritant on them.

Speaking to the outlet, Morant said Anderson had been harassing her for months.

"I look at my peripheral view, she's at the gate with what I thought at first, I thought it was a gun, so I was startled....but it was like bear mace," said the mother.

"A big cloud came, so I rushed the kids in like, go in the house, go in the house, and so then I called the police on her  and then I found out she did it twice, and I didn't even know it was twice until my daughter let the officer know."

According to the TV station, Anderson had previously been arrested for aggravated assault with a weapon and stalking. That incident reportedly also involved a neighbor.
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An HIV-positive Florida man was arrested after he admitted to sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy and passing the virus along to the child, officials said.

Bobby McAfee, 62, of Clearwater, was arrested on May 30 and charged with sexual battery, the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office said.

McAfees arrest follows a lengthy, almost year-long investigation by detectives, who received a report on August 23, 2024, about the sexual battery. The alleged assault took place in St. Petersburg, a city along Floridas Gulf Coast, when the victim was 8 years old. It was not immediately clear how old the victim is now.

Detectives learned the suspect, 62-year-old Bobby McAffee, pinned the victim down on the ground, held both of his arms above his head, and sexually battered him, the sheriffs office said.

Bobby McAfee, 62, was arrested Friday and charged with sexual battery after admitting to sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy, who he exposed to HIV. ( Pinellas County Sheriff's Office )

Authorities interviewed McAfee on Friday, and he admitted to having sexual contact with the victim.

McAffee also confessed to detectives that he tested positive for HIV. The victim, who has not been publicly named, also recently learned that he is HIV positive, authorities wrote in the release.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the bodys immune system and causes flu-like symptoms. Without treatment, the disease may lead to AIDS, however, proper medical care prevents most U.S. patients from developing AIDS. While there is no cure to HIV, there are medications to help control the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

McAffee was charged with one count of sexual battery of a child less than 12 years old.

He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Friday. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond, according to jail records.

Authorities said they do not plan on sharing any additional information about the case in order to protect the victims identity.
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An 88-year-old Holocaust survivor who was injured when a man turned a "makeshift flamethrower" on a peaceful protest in support of Israeli hostages has spoken publicly for the first time since the terrorist attack that left a dozen people injured.

Barbara Steinmetz was injured in the attack on Sunday in Boulder, Colorado while walking with the Run For Their Lives activist group.

Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been charged with 16 counts of first-degree attempted murder.

Steinmetz, who is continuing her recovery, told NBC News: "It's about what the hell is going on in our country. What the hell is going on?"

She said she "wants people to be nice and decent to each other, kind, respectful, encompassing."

open image in gallery Wellwishers leave flowers at the scene of the attack in Boulder, Colorado ( AP )

"Were Americans," she said. "We are better than this. Thats what I want them to know. That they be kind and decent human beings."

She said the attack had "nothing to do with the Holocaust, it has to do with a human being that wants to burn other people."

Steinmetz has had to flee political and religious persecution several times in her 88 years, according to an account she gave to University of Colorado's CU Independent student newspaper. Her family once moved away from Italian-controlled islands off the coast of Croatia to escape the rule of Benito Mussolini, and later fled from France when Adolf Hitler invaded.

Her father applied for asylum in a dozen countries, but only the Dominican Republic would accept them. They fled to the Dominican Republic in 1941, and after the war she was able to move to the U.S. Her parents opened a hotel in New Hampshire. She later moved to Boulder in the mid-2000s.

open image in gallery Mohamed Sabry Soliman has been charged with 16 counts of first-degree attempted murder, and is facing a federal hate crimes charge ( Boulder Police Department )

In addition to reportedly attacking people with a flamethrower, Soliman allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at protesters as well.

He was arrested and has been charged with attempted murder, assault and possession of an incendiary device. He is also facing a federal hate crimes charge.

In addition to his charges, his wife and five children have reportedly been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

"We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it," she said.

The attack comes just 11 days after two Israeli Embassy workers were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. In both attacks, law enforcement alleges that the attackers yelled "Free Palestine."

Rabbi Marc Coloway, the leader of Steinmetz's congregation, said that the attacker was "deluded and misguided" and that his actions would not help Palestinians.

Eyewitness captures video of Colorado attack scene as people rush to help injured

"If he thinks that an act of unspeakable brutality and violence is going to help the condition of the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, he is so deluded and so misguided," the rabbi said.

He told NBC News he was concerned what such an experience could do to a Holocaust survivor. Can you imagine the trauma that that reactivates? Its just horrendous.

Steinmetz and five other members of the congregation were injured in the attack and two are still recovering in the hospital, he said.

Coloway said the event was a weekly walk "purely to raise awareness of the fact that there are still 58 hostages in tunnels in Gaza."
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A Florida woman who claimed to have been held against her will left a help me note at a local sandwich shop to alert workers and escape, according to authorities and a restaurant employee.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office said that they responded to a report of suspicious note found inside the restroom of a local business in Navarre on May 27. The author of the note indicated she was being held against her will at a nearby home and feared for her life.

The local business was identified as a Jersey Mikes restaurant by Alabama-based outlet WPMI that talked with the employee who reportedly found the note.

"There was this little piece of crumpled up paper that was shoved next to our toilet paper dispenser, and it looked like a piece of trash, worker Eleanor Coffee told the outlet.

open image in gallery Jordan Williams, 34, has been arrested after a Florida woman who claimed to have been held against her will left a help me note at a local sandwich shop, according to police. ( Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office )

The worker detailed what was reportedly written in the note: "She was like, 'Please help me. I'm at this address in Navarre. I need you to call the police and do a wellness check.

Authorities said that they identified Jordan Williams, 34, as the womans suspected captor.

The sheriffs office said that Williams and the woman have a documented history with our agency of domestic violence incidents, so they went to the home that they had on file.

When they got to the home, the woman was found and she detailed repeated assaults, threats involving weapons, and being held in isolation by Williams for a span of several months, according to the sheriffs office.

The woman had visible injuries, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment of suspected broken bones and other trauma, authorities said.

Williams was arrested on multiple felony charges, including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Kidnap-False Imprisonment and Battery by Strangulation.

My heart goes out to her and her family," Coffee said, adding that shes hopeful that really doesn't happen again."
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A 34-year-old man in Pennsylvania has been charged with two counts of murder after he allegedly killed his in-laws.

Xiaomin Fei, 34, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was arrested on Tuesday night and charged with murder, burglary, reckless endangerment and other related offenses, according to NBC 10 Philadelphia.

Fei allegedly shot and killed Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, his in-laws, after breaking into their home around 7pm on Tuesday, according to the Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta. Both of the victims were in their 70s.

When first responders arrived at the home, they found Fei standing in the doorway allegedly holding a firearm. He was ordered to drop his weapon, which he eventually did. Police then took Fei into custody, according to Baratta.

First responders found Robert Ackerman dead on the floor when they arrived, and his wife Gretchen still alive. She died on the way to the hospital.

Baratta said that Fei is a Chinese national with legal immigrant status in the U.S.

Fei's children  ages 4 and 5  were found hiding in another room inside the house.

Baratta did not provide details as to the mother's location at the time of the shooting.

Fei's burglary charge is related to him allegedly breaking into the locked house with a hammer just before the attack.

Investigators interviewed Fei, who reportedly said that his wife had served him divorce papers earlier in the day, and claimed that his in-laws had locked his children in their house and refused to let him enter.

According to court documents, Fei told investigators that he went to a gun shop and purchased a revolver at about 5pm, just two hours before he allegedly shot and killed his in-laws.

Fei reportedly told investigators that once he had broken into the house, he saw his wife and children inside before he began shooting his in-laws.

The investigation into the killings is still underway.

Fei is being held at the Northampton County prison and has been denied bail, according to court documents. His first scheduled court appearance is for June 18, 2025.
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A mother has died from her injuries days after her 5-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver who slammed into their car, according to local officials.

On May 24, a Massachusetts family got into a fatal crash that left a young girl, Krisha Patel, dead and her mother and brother injured. The mother, Minaben Patel, 38, has now died as well.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey and Franklin Police Chief Thomas Lynch said in a joint statement Tuesday, per Boston 25 News, that officials are saddened by the loss to Minabens family and we extend our heartfelt condolences.

The father, who was driving the family car, told authorities that the family was on the way to celebrate his sons 14th birthday when he saw a truck driving in his lane, WCVB reported, citing a police report.

Minaben Patel, 38, has died from her injuries days after her 5-year-old daughter, Krisha Patel, was killed by a drunk driver who slammed into their car, according to local officials ( Town of Medway/Facebook )

He tried to avoid being hit by the truck by turning left into the opposite lane of travel, but they ended up colliding anyway, the police report said.

The district attorney said in a previous press release that James Blanchard, the driver of the pickup truck that collided with the Patels car, was arrested and charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol, among other charges. A not guilty plea has been entered on Blanchards behalf, per WCVB.

Prosecutor Christopher Meade claimed that on the day of the crash, Blanchard said he had two beers at his landscaping job, and when he left, he opened a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka, started drinking out of it and drove home, according to reports.

Meade claimed that police found another 1.75-liter bottle of vodka in Blanchards truck that Blanchard told authorities was from the night before, the local outlet reported.

WCVB reported that authorities said Blanchard had a blood alcohol level of .189 - more than double the .08 legal driving limit.

The town of Medway  which is a 10-minute drive north of Franklin, where the crash occurred  paid tribute to Minaben Patel in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Minaben was a devoted mother, a loving wife, and a dear friend to many, the town said, adding, Together, we remember and celebrate a life marked by love, kindness, and quiet strength.

The Patel family had an obituary published for little Krisha on May 31, which read, in part: "Our hearts are broken as we say goodbye to such a precious little soul. In her short time with us, she filled the world with laughter, wonder, and love. Her smile could brighten the darkest day, and her kind heart touched everyone she met.
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A McDonalds employee was shot to death in the restaurants parking lot after an argument with his manager escalated, cops say.

The shooting happened Tuesday night outside a McDonalds in north Houston after the off-the-clock employee, who was in his 20s, got into a dispute with his manager and the managers brother, local outlets KHOU and KPRC reported, citing police.

The managers brother then pulled out a gun and shot the employee multiple times, according to authorities.

The employee was struck in the arms and chest, and he ran to some apartments near the McDonalds for help, police say. He was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

A McDonalds employee was shot to death in the restaurants parking lot after an argument with his manager escalated, cops say ( Getty )

On Wednesday morning, the suspected shooter had not yet been captured. Police say they know who he is and expect to arrest the suspected gunman soon.
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An Illinois couple called for an Uber to deliver Narcan for their 2-year-old daughter as she suffered a deadly drug overdose  and waited nearly four hours before calling 911, police said.

Edward Weiher, 49, and his fiance, Alexa Balen, 28, were charged with first-degree murder Monday in the death of their daughter, Trinity, in their Homer Glenn, Illinois, home on November 6, 2024, WGN-TV reported.

The couple, who were first charged with neglect after Trinitys death, failed to correctly administer a dose of Narcan to the toddler, authorities said.

Instead of calling 911, they ordered a second Narcan through Uber to be delivered to their home, according to court documents. During their investigation, detectives discovered Balen called 911 three hours and 41 minutes into Trinitys suspected overdose, while also looking up how to stop an OD and how to stop an OD without naloxone on her phone.

open image in gallery Edward Weiher, 49, and his fiance, Alexa Balen, 28, were charged with first-degree murder in the death of their two-year-old daughter, Trinity. ( Will County Sheriff's Office )

When police finally arrived, they found Weiher performing chest compressions on Trinity, and observed the floor was covered with garbage, food, urine and feces, according to court docs. Authorities also noticed a white substance, suspected to be cocaine and heroin, on the countertops and tables, as well as several pieces of burnt tin foil, believed to be from doing heroin.

Suspected heroin was also discovered on a mattress in the living room where the entire family, including the couples six-year-old daughter, slept each night, police said.

Weiher told police they were suffering a gas leak and that his meter registered a reading of natural carbon monoxide at 6,000 parts per million  enough to make a person unconscious within 20 minutes, according to authorities.

Both parents told cops they thought Trinity stopped breathing due to suspected high levels of carbon monoxide, but Balen admitted to police that she and Weiher regularly use heroin, police said.

Balen also admitted to attempting to use Narcan on their daughter and said that when they failed to correctly administer the dose, they ordered more Narcan to be delivered on Uber. She said they went through Uber because Weiher said they should not call 911. The couple ended up calling 911 after the second Narcan didnt work and Trinity stopped breathing, police noted.

Trinity was taken to the hospital, and later died.

A pathologist concluded that Trinity would have survived if 911 had been called immediately after she became symptomatic of an overdose.

Balens six-year-old daughter was taken into the states custody after she tested positive for fentanyl and cocaine, police said.

Weiher and Balen were taken into custody and initially charged with child endangerment resulting in death, child endangerment, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Both parents were charged with murder on May 22. Their next court date is scheduled for June 27.
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A former Miami-Dade County police chief has been arrested after officials said he embezzled public funds and allegedly spent a good chunk of it at luxury watchmaker Rolex.

Sergio Velazquez, 62, who was taken into custody on Monday as he left his home, served as Hialeah police chief from 2012 until his suspension in 2021. Hes been charged with structuring grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle called the facts of the case shocking.

Around the time of his suspension, Velazquezs salary was $211,000 and he was the second-highest-paid city employee. He was suspended by newly elected Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo in November 2021.

An investigation was spurred after the current police chief, George Fuente, found alleged discrepancies regarding petty cash and seized funds that had been stored in the departments safe and filed a complaint.

open image in gallery Sergio Velazquez, 62, a former Hialeah, Florida police chief has been accused of stealing money from the state ( Miami-Dade County )

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement alleges Velazquez made over 900 cash deposits into several personal bank accounts. The deposits were allegedly all under $10,000, so the chief could avoid federal reporting requirements.

The sources of the money were confidential police operations and court-ordered forfeitures.

After going through the mans financial records, police found he had made over $300,000 in purchases from Rolex, $11,000 from Cartier, $6,700 at Louis Vuitton and $5,000 at Versace.

The suspicious cash deposits stopped following Velazquezs suspension in late 2021.

In the final five months of his tenure, roughly $560,000 in funds were unaccounted for, authorities said. About 62 deposits were made into the mans account at the time.

Officials said the probe required 4,500 hours of investigative work, executing subpoenas of financial records and search warrants and conducting interviews.

Velazquez was being held on $30,000 bond. He appeared in court on Tuesday and was granted bail. His attorney entered a non-guilty plea on his behalf, according to NBC Miami.
Participants and observers at 'The Day the War Stopped' reenactment in 2024 make introductions at the gates of Grace Episcopal Church. From left, are James Linden Hogg, author of 'A Day the War Stopped'; the Rev. Craig Dalferes, church pastor; and Ernest Ayo, narrator of the play and burial reenactment.
From small town roots to statewide impact, The Cottonport Bank brings personal service and innovation to Louisiana customers
The moral centre of the story is Rose, a former British police officer, whose traumatic encounter with domestic abuse early in her career effectively frames the narrative. Shes since completed a PhD, written a bestselling book and is volunteering at a refuge while also compiling a report to parliament on this pressing social issue in hopes of changing the legislation for the better. It therefore comes as a shock when Rose is informed out of the blue that her estranged daughter has gone missing with her two small charges while working as a nanny for a wealthy family in Western Australia. Roses obnoxious ex-husband is immediately on the phone begging her to find the daughter she barely knows. But is it too late for them both? Although our attention is initially on Rose, Foster also introduces the endearing detective, Mal Blackwood. On the cusp of retirement, Blackwood is desperately trying to save his marriage of 38 years, but is unable to resist the lure of a big case: a propensity his long-suffering wife Margie knows only too well. While Blackwood leads the official investigation, Rose follows her own line of inquiry with the two narrative threads converging in an effective, and affecting, denouement. What lifts this thriller to another pitch are the keen observations of the many family lives upon which it touches. They may be very different but they are similar in their complexity and pain.

Carved in Blood

Michael Bennett

Simon and Schuster, $34.99 The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin

Alison Goodman

Harper Collins, $34.99 New Zealand writer Michael Bennett is also writing about family life, but from the rather different perspective of former detective senior sergeant Hana Westerman. Hana has recently left the force to return to her home town of Tata Bay after several bruising cases that feature in the two earlier books in this always compelling award-winning series. Crime series characters often carry a lot of baggage and Hana is no exception, although all you need to know is telegraphed in the opening paragraphs as she faces down a mako shark while swimming in the bay. Although brave and calm under pressure, Hana inevitably has her breaking point.

New Zealand crime writer Michael Bennett. This arrives when her ex-husband, another detective, is gunned down while buying champagne to celebrate their daughter Addisons engagement to her non-binary partner PLUS-1. While this appears to be a random incident, its anything but. Hana therefore offers her services to the investigating officer, a young female Pasifika detective, who Hana perceives as the kind of much-needed cop who might eventually effect systemic change. Bennett doesnt labour the point while providing telling insights into Maori culture. As Hana watches a group of Maori teenagers who have just passed their driving test chasing her ex-husbands cop car round the rugby oval, her cousin points out that its Nice to see a bunch of Maori kids chasing the cops instead of the other way around. Ouch. Carved in Blood concludes with the promise of a sequel and a whole lot of new trouble for Hana, whose work is hardly done. Catch up with her soon. Looking for something different again? Then I can suggest nothing better than Alison Goodmans entertaining Regency romp, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin. If you loved the TV series Bridgerton, then you will love this book, although there is far less sex and a lot more unrequited passion.

As a component of her PhD in creative writing, Goodman meticulously researched the period before completing two novels, of which this is the second. Rest assured, while the historical detail is impressive, the author never lets pedantry get in the way of a rollicking good story that also has its more serious side. Loading As in Bridgerton, theres a swag of feminist and political revisionism. Lady Augusta and her twin sister, Julia, are harbouring two women on the run, essentially for their same-sex union. Although this might seem a stretch, Goodman introduces the reader to the true case of the Ladies of Llangollen, two women who flouted convention by setting up a home together in North Wales and who are now considered to be an iconic queer couple. The often testy-with-each-other sisters, Gus and Julia, are also in love despite being considered to be old maids at the venerable age of 40. While Gus has fallen for Lord Evan Belford, who has been framed for murder and is also on the run, Julia is enamoured of a Bow Street Runner, a man considered far beneath her in social stature. The pair are also exceptional sleuths, largely because of their cultural invisibility as older women. Although the adventure that ensues may be less of a road guide and more of cautionary tale in which Gus breaks every imaginable rule to save her lover, theres rather more to The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin than romance.
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Shay Williamson is the winner of the third season of Alone Australia. He stayed 76 days in the bush in south-western Tasmania, a new record for the Australian version of the show, and the sixth-longest across all versions (the record stands at 101 days in season seven of the American series).

The 30-year-old New Zealander, who spent his teens trapping possums in the wild for their fur and now works as a cattle farmer when not making bush survival videos for his Keeping It Wild channel on YouTube, beat Corinne Ooms, who tapped out after 70 days, and Murray Muzza James, who lasted 73 days and at 63 was the oldest contestant on the Australian series yet. Williamson spoke with Karl Quinn the day after filming the reunion special for SBS.

First of all, Shay, let me just say congratulations.

Oh, thank you. Yeah, I feel pretty excited about it.

Well, you say that, but when your partner came out to greet you at the end you didnt give much away or say a lot. What was going on for you at that moment?

I was just a bit lost for words. Im not a big talker anyway. I just wanted to give her a hug, really. It was a huge feeling of relief more than anything in that moment, that it all worked out and I got to go home. I wasnt desperate to go, though. I was going to stay until I couldnt any more, and I was working my way through 10-day blocks. At that point, I had food until day 80, and I was focusing on getting food until day 90, and then it would have been food until day 100. But I was missing the family more and more every day, so the sooner the better, in my mind.

When you first went in, you talked about 300 days as a target. I know towards the end you said that was only ever a motivational thing, but did you ever think you could actually stay out there that long?

I think if the food had stayed the way it was in those last couple of weeks I could have done it. Id reached a point of being sustainable out there, which I didnt actually think Id do. But things are changing all the time in nature, and theres no guarantee the food situation would have stayed as good as it was. So theres no way of knowing whether that would have happened or not.

What was the hardest thing  the physical conditions, the lack of food, or was it just missing the family?
While revealing details of the fatal lunch for the first time, including which plates she used, the mother of two said she chose the beef Wellington as a special meal after serving her family shepherds pie at a gathering earlier that year. I remembered on really important occasions my mum would make a beef Wellington as a kid, and I thought Id do that too, Id give it a go, she told the jury. After being unable to find a large enough piece of meat for a log version of the recipe, she said, she instead bought steaks to make individual portions. The accused said she cooked mushroom paste over hours, cutting up garlic and shallots and adding prepackaged mushrooms from Woolworths. I cooked that for a very long time. Youve got to get almost all of the water out so it wont turn the pastry soggy, she said. As I was cooking it down, I tasted it a few times and it seemed a little bland to me, so I decided to put in the dried mushrooms I bought from the grocer that I still had in the pantry.

Those dried mushrooms, she said, had been stored in a container from an earlier trip to an Asian grocer in April that same year. However, she told the jury she now believed foraged mushrooms may have also been in that Tupperware container, sobbing as she gave her evidence. Loading When the guests arrived at her home for lunch, she had soon begun plating up the meal, fending off attempts from her female guests to help serve. She told the jury she owned a couple of white plates, one that was red on top and black on the bottom, and a kindergarten-type plate from her daughter. The leftover beef Wellington had then been put on a tray in the fridge to worry about later. The accused said she did not see who took which plate, telling the jury she was heating up gravy at the time before returning to the kitchen bench to see one plate left, taking that to the table for herself.

During the lunch, she said, the guests spoke about politics and current affairs before, at the end, she broke the news about her cancer. She agreed this was a lie and she had misled the family about her health. Im not proud of this, but I led them to believe that I might be needing some treatment in regards to that in the next few weeks or months, she said. They all showed a lot of compassion about that. Ian said, Why dont we pray for Erin, and so thats what we did. I did lie to them. During her hours in the witness box, Erin Patterson said she continued the lie about her health for two reasons: because she enjoyed the care Don and Gail showed her in response and to cover up her secret plans to have weight loss surgery. I shouldnt have done it, she said. I had come to the conclusion that I wanted to do something for once and for all for my weight and poor eating habits.

I was planning to have gastric bypass surgery, so I remember thinking I did not want to tell anybody what I was going to have done. I was really embarrassed about it, so I thought perhaps letting them believe I had some serious issue that needed treatment meant maybe theyd help me with the kids. Erin said she didnt eat all of her meal because she was doing a lot of talking, but after her guests left she had had a piece of the orange cake they had brought with them. Loading I had a piece of cake. And then another. And another, she explained. I felt sick. I felt overfull, so I went to the toilet and brought it back up again. The accused said she later developed diarrhoea and when she had to take her son to flying lessons the next day, she was forced to pull over and relieve herself behind a bush, using tissues to clean herself which she placed in a doggy bag.

During that trip, the jury heard, CCTV captured her visit to a service station, where she said she disposed of the doggy bag in a bathroom bin before buying food for her children. As her lunch guests conditions deteriorated and Erin Patterson presented herself to hospital for ongoing symptoms, doctors insisted on her children receiving health checks because they had eaten leftovers from the meal. Later, when Erin was at a hospital in Melbourne, Simon Patterson accused her of deliberately poisoning her guests. It caused me to do a lot of thinking about a lot of things; it caused me to reflect on what might have happened, Erin told the jury.

The accused said that in the day that followed she began to feel scared and responsible for making everyone sick, becoming frantic when she returned home before dumping the dehydrator at the tip, fearing child protection would find out about the device and take her children away. The jury heard she did not tell anyone about foraging mushrooms but knew there was a suspicion by now that death cap mushrooms had made the others ill. Blinking fast as she spoke, she said she still believed mushrooms from an Asian grocer were responsible but by now knew it wasnt the only possibility. The accused said she factory reset her phone on August 3 fearing police would find a Google account where she had stored photographs of mushrooms on her dehydrator. I just panicked and did not want them to see them  the detectives, Erin told the court.
Melbournes second-busiest and arguably most-maligned train station, Southern Cross, has reinstalled rubbish bins on its platforms, more than 10 years after they returned to other inner-city stations.

Its a small win for commuters that also raises the question: what took so long?

Bins are back at Southern Cross Station. It only took 10 years. Credit: Paul Rovere

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen says he suspects it is because Southern Cross is the only privatised train station in Victoria.

Southern Cross was always the exception  they removed the bins completely, and its not until now that theyve bothered to put anything back, he said.
Rosslyn Jennings, North Melbourne Zero good in project

Yet again a thoughtful piece by columnist Ross Gittins on the governments decision to extend the Woodside gas exploration project (Albanese reveals his do nothing plan, 4/6) And for what? Its certainly sounds like a 30 pieces of silver deal  gas to be exported overseas, so nothing much for the domestic market, profits to go offshore, and minimal tax or royalties paid to us. On top of that, destruction of culture and heritage at the Murujuga site. Disgraceful and disappointing and perhaps cynical so early in the term of a new government.

Denise Stevens, St Kilda Tip of melting iceberg

I love Ross Gittins observation that the effect of the company tax regime and the petroleum resource rent tax on the fossil fuel giants was like being hit with two feathers, not one. All the same, Gittins critique could have been even sharper had he pointed out that the extension of Woodsides North West Shelf project to 2070 paves the way for approving an even more disastrous venture, the exploitation of the Browse gas field. This is a carbon dirty deposit near the marine treasures of Scotts Reef. The emissions this gas (exported and burnt overseas) would produce will worsen global heating. And, as Gittins wryly remarks, he doesnt know how well ensure their emissions worsen their climate and not ours.

Perhaps Anthony Albanese has the answer but he hasnt got round to telling us what it is.

Tom Knowles, Parkville Winners and losers

Re Woodside, an awful decision indeed. It is difficult to comprehend why. There is, as Ross Gittins details, more or less nothing in this for Australia. Doing all this damage to our net-zero credibility for what?

The gas will be sold offshore, none will flow to the struggling east coast and little or no tax or revenue will go to Australia. The only winners are Woodsides shareholders. Anthony Albanese, make it make sense.

Ross Hudson, Mount Martha View of the gallery

A photo depicts people sitting and standing in a queue waiting to enter the courtroom of the trial of Erin Patterson for the alleged murder of three people and attempted murder of one, all of which she denies (Chilly wait for the hottest seats 4/6).

The image brings to mind people jostling to see public executions in William Hogarths 18th century etchings. Or Charles Dickens portrayal in his novel A Tale of Two Cities, of Madame Defarge, who sits and knits during the French Revolution, while people are beheaded by guillotine.

It seems that peoples curiosity for the macabre never diminishes.

Beverley Campbell, Castlemaine

Sub optimal

A recent Washington Post article was headed Ukraine just rewrote the rules of war. The piece compared Ukraines use of drones that wrought massive damage to Russias airforce to Japans surprise attack on the Pearl Harbour naval base in 1941. Ukraine showed that relatively inexpensive but technologically advanced weapons and clever planning could cause their enemy great cost and disadvantage.

There is a lesson here for Australia. The huge expense of the AUKUS nuclear submarines and the long lead time for their construction and operation means that they will be outdated or even obsolete by the time they are delivered. Already unmanned undersea drones are in operation globally and are becoming more technologically capable each year. They are vastly less expensive than building and operating the conventional AUKUS nuclear submarines. We have agreed to pay $4.6 billion to both the US and UK shipbuilding industries (with no guarantee) of a ship, and we are asked to stump up about $368 billion for a few submarines some time in the future.

Its time to review this defence mess now.

John Thompson, Seymour Change funding targets

If Australia were to increase its defence expenditure to 3.5 per cent of GDP as the Trump regime demands, we would need to spend around $41 billion more than the present amount of $58 billion. Alternatively, the Australian government could double our expenditure on research and development support, from $15billion to $30 billion. We could also double foreign aid to $10 billion.

Graeme Henchel, Yarra Glen Tax reform, now

Given the disproportionate amount of tax collected from PAYG wage earners, its time we have a strong discussion about taxation. A super profit tax, an inheritance tax, addressing price transfers by multinationals would be a good start. Yes, the howls from vested interests groups would be deafening, but with the governments unprecedented increase in their parliamentary majority, if not now, when?

Further, we need to separate the discussion about negative gearing and capital gains discount. One is a legitimate tax deduction, incentivising investment, the other serves no positive purpose.

Barry Buskens, Sandringham Not so fun anymore

I sympathise with your correspondent on language (Letters, 31/5), but unfortunately, as others have pointed out long before me, language is in a state of constant change, and the gatekeepers, like teachers and dictionaries and grammar books, will always ultimately yield to the siege of popular usage and the media, a case in point being the merging of so funny and such fun, to become so fun.

The loss of the adverb-adjective distinction is but one more regrettable loss, but an even worse trend is the infantilism of language, as in my bad, which I hear around me almost every day. Listening to this is not so fun.

Trevor Hay, Montmorency There is a petrol app

Why is the Allan government planning to borrow and spend $2.4million on a new app through Services Victoria (Victorias first petrol price app, 3/6) to help drivers find the best real-time petrol prices?

For more than two years now Ihave saved $5 to $15 a tank using the free Petrol Spy App.

It does exactly that, with the map-based app showing locations and real-time prices per litre across Melbourne, Victoria and interstate. We dont need her to blow another $2.4 million of taxpayers funds just to reinvent the wheel.

Kevin Fox, Richmond

For young, and old

How about some consideration for the elderly.

It should not be beyond the financial capacity of the Allan Labor government to grant free public transport to all citizens in this state, who are over 70 years of age. Many are still able to take advantage of such a long overdue concession. And they vote.

This arrangement might be introduced with the free transport to be granted to the 1.5 million children, under 18 years of age, from next January. None of whom vote.

Michael Gamble, Belmont Simpler times

I was bemused that your correspondent (Letters, 1/6) was heartbroken that their state school didnt have a nurse or a librarian The country state school I went to also didnt have a librarian because it didnt have a library.

Your correspondent also complained that some times when a teacher was away, there could be 30 children in the class. I have a letter from the headmaster saying that there were 40 children in my class and if a teacher was away there could be 80. We all had to squeeze up, which meant that in winter the children without an overcoat or shoes were kept warm. Our playground was simply the paddock that the school was in, with nothing else other than the toilets. They were on one side in a corrugated-iron enclosure. It had a wooden plank seat with holes in it, over large cans that were emptied each week by the night-man, who came in the day.

Your correspondent also says that they are insulted that their school cant afford a swimming pool. Well even at my impoverished state school we had a pool. It was in a bend of the local creek. Life was different then.

Jeffrey Newman, East Ivanhoe This horror must end

The horrific daily footage from Gaza is reminiscent of Guernica, Pablo Picassos painting depicting the obliteration of a Spanish village by an air attack in 1937. Almost every evening, we hear of lives lost to missiles, bombs and gunfire. We see small bodies in burial shrouds, devastated parents, seriously injured people in shattered hospitals, hungry masses taking huge risks to obtain morsels from the grossly inadequate food supplies, mass destruction of houses and infrastructure, and donkeys pulling cartloads of desperate people seeking safer ground.

Hamass actions on October 7, 2023 were despicable, along with the continued holding of hostages, but the people of Gaza should not be subject to such endless cruelty and bombardment.

The time is well overdue for the Israeli government and Hamas to both realise that their behaviour cannot continue. It is causing immense harm now, and sowing the seeds of future hatred. The Middle East, and the world, must see that there is only one way forward: immediate and sustained peace, marked by each side recognising the others right to live in the region.

Andrew Trembath, Blackburn Credit: Matt Golding

AND ANOTHER THING Jumping ship

Weve become used to MPs jumping from their party to graze at the backbench, but perhaps we need a name for the MPs who are now jumping from one party to another: Grasshoppers?

Wendy Brennan, Bendigo Defections reflect poorly on everyone involved.

Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills Furthermore

Your correspondent (Letters, 3/6) wants the Liberal Party to redefine itself and stand for lower taxation, massively increased defence spending and to cut spending heavily in other areas. That sounds like a plan for an indefinite period in opposition.

David Fry, Moonee Ponds Given the OECDs assessment that planning rules in Australia need to be more flexible to accommodate more housing and improve living standards only serves to vindicate the Allan governments desire to override councils in order to do just that.

Phil Alexander, Eltham

Peter Hartchers column (3/6) is a shocking expose of Donald Trumps policies. The US is becoming a libertarian state without redeeming features.

Greg Curtin, Nunawading Letting an aggressor keep part of an invaded country led to World War II. Europe needs to push Vladimir Putin back to the boundaries set in 1991.

Loch Wilson, Northcote I am heartened the minimum wage will rise to $948 a week. The payment for an unemployed person is $390.55. How can government accept this disparity?

Catherine Healion, Seaford Sicily got the boot millennia ago.

Geoff Warren, Anglesea Just add a squeeze of lime juice (Letters, 4/6) and paw paw is transformed into something magnificent.

Jacki Hood, Rhyll
Victorias ski slopes will officially open this weekend for the start of snow season, but the Bureau of Meteorology says the conditions wont necessarily be ideal for skiing.

Conditions were too dry for a dusting over Victorias alpine areas on Wednesday, but bureau community information officer Patch Clapp said snowfall would really kick off from Friday.

A jogger runs with her dog at Carltons Princes Park on the first day of winter. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Credit: Matt Golding

Over the course of Friday to Tuesday, at least 20 to 30 centimetres of snow should accumulate at the alpine resorts for the first weekend of the snow season, with snow possible generally every day from Friday to Tuesday, he said.
More recently, locals appear to have fought off a proposal to put five townhouses on the site. People power, Toorak style. Some in the real estate market, given its history, are wondering if the property really will go all the way to a sale. Nobody cares about the Liberals Its a truth universally acknowledged in election post-mortems these days that the Liberal Party has a serious woman problem. It would be more accurate to suggest that the party has a man problem. Step forward 80-year-old ex-party president Alan Stockdale, treasurer of Victoria under Jeff Kennett, now among a trio of administrators fighting to retain control of the partys troubled NSW division.

Those were the days: then-premier Jeff Kennett and treasurer Alan Stockdale in 1998. Credit: Joe Castro Stockdale put his foot very far back in his mouth during a four-hour Zoom call with the NSW Liberal Womens Council, suggesting that the party didnt need gender quotas because the women were sufficiently assertive and that it was the men who needed protecting. But this was hardly the end of Stockdales humiliation session. Under party rules, the womens council president is given vice-president status and sits on the state executive. But the administrators refused to confirm whether they would retain this rule when pushed by the councils current president, Berenice Walker. When it was suggested that removing a key female powerbroker from the party would be a bad look in the newspapers, Stockdale told attendees theyd be hard-pressed attracting media interest because no one cares about the Liberal Party.

Well, we do. And given the number of headlines the opposition is generating, were not alone. Stockdale didnt return CBDs calls, and we imagine his phone has been lighting up since the comments. Discussion then turned to former NSW Upper House MP Lou Amato, who campaigned against the Liberals for expelled party powerbroker Matt Camenzuli in his failed run as an independent against Labors energy minister Chris Bowen in McMahon. The trio said that Amato hadnt been disciplined because at the time they thought Camenzuli, booted from the party after unsuccessfully trying to sue Scott Morrison over preselections in 2022, was a chance to win the seat (he got 9 per cent of the primary vote). Matt Camenzuli pictured here in 2023.

The same generosity wasnt extended to the 83-year-old mother of regional independent MP Andrew Gee, who was expelled from the Liberal Party on polling day for campaigning for her son. The superannuated administrators did, however, agree with a comment from the virtual floor suggesting that ageism was the new sexism. Thats just what the Liberals need. Quotas for 80-year-olds. Another social media snafu Zoomers  great on social media, not so great on history. Even when they are in the employ of the Australian Labor Party. How else to explain the embarrassing snafu by West Australian Labor Party this week when preening itself over the defection of headline generating Greens senator Dorinda Cox.

Regular readers will recall our item on Wednesday about Cox nuking her Instagram page after defecting from her somewhat troubled time with the Greens to the good ship, ALP. A now deleted Facebook post from WA Labor welcoming Dorinda Cox to the party and mistakenly referring to her as the first indigenous WA Senator. As we reported, Coxs profile went dark on Monday, before defection hit the homepages, while her Twitter (sorry, X) account went private, no doubt to vanish all the times that the WA senator had attacked Labor policies (most recently the decision to green-light an extension of energy giant Woodsides North West Shelf gas project until 2070, which Cox had described when she was a Greens senator  that is, last week  as catastrophic for many reasons). You say tomato and I say tomato: Lets call the whole thing off! Now trouble with social media appears infectious. How else to explain WA Labors over-excited Facebook welcome to Cox?

Making history as WAs first Indigenous senator, Dorinda Cox is a proud Yamatji-Noongar woman, fierce advocate, and former police officer. Oops. In its rush to post, WA Labor had completely forgotten about Pat Dodson, who was appointed to fill a casual vacancy in Western Australia in 2016 and elected to the Senate later that year. Hes only a Labor legend and was, among numerous other positions, special envoy for reconciliation and implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart before resigning due to ill health last year. We asked Labor for a response. Given the younger generations consuming devotion to identity politics, we would have expected better. Get Nuke

The Greatest Show On Earth arrived in Sydney with a bang. Were talking, of course, about the World Nuclear Fuel Markets annual meeting and international conference held at the Shangri-La Hotel this week. Their description, not ours. In fact, the organisers really leaned into the circus imagery in an official event brochure. With development not unlike the circus, commercial nuclear power has matured from its early days as a sideshow performance to a significant contributor in meeting the energy needs of the developing world, it said.
SEOUL - New South Korean President Lee Jae Myung of the country's liberal Democratic Party vowed Wednesday that his government would prioritize pragmatism to overcome the crisis caused by ousted Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law.

Lee also said in his inaugural speech that he will enhance trilateral cooperation with Japan and the United States while keeping the door open for a dialogue with North Korea. Regarding Japan, he suggested carrying on the existing compensation scheme over wartime forced labor at a press conference held later in the day.

The new administration "will be a government of just unity and flexible pragmatism," Lee said in the speech at the National Assembly following his oath of office, a few hours after the election commission confirmed his victory over the conservative People Power Party's presidential candidate, Kim Moon Soo.

"We will restore what has been shattered by rebellion including people's livelihoods, the economy, national security, peace, and democracy, and we will build a society that continues to grow and develop sustainably," Lee said.

The 60-year-old also emphasized the need for a pragmatic and national-interest-centered approach in diplomacy, while vowing to strengthen trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan.

"Building upon the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, we will strengthen trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan, while approaching relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of practicality and national interest," said Lee.

Lee added that his government will turn the crisis of a major global shift in the economic and security landscape into an opportunity to maximize South Korea's interests. He faces key challenges, including talks on higher U.S. tariffs with President Donald Trump.

Regarding North Korea, he said his country will remain fully prepared against its nuclear threats and military provocations while keeping communication channels open as the South pursues dialogue and cooperation to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

During phone talks earlier in the day with Adm. Kim Myung Soo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lee urged the military to make every effort to ensure that the people of South Korea have no need to be on alert over the North's provocative actions.

Lee's five-year term commenced immediately after winning the snap election, with the presidency vacant since April 4, when Yoon was removed following a Constitutional Court ruling that upheld a parliamentary impeachment over his brief declaration of martial law in December.

Since his election campaign, Lee has vowed to tighten martial law legislation, support smaller businesses and boost the economy.

Despite a firm stance on wartime labor and territorial disputes with Japan, he has called the neighboring country a vital partner and pledged deeper economic cooperation.

When asked about his thoughts on policies specifically toward Japan on Wednesday, Lee hinted at his willingness to implement solutions from the former Yoon administration on compensating South Koreans who were forced to work in Japan during wartime, saying that consistency matters when it comes to relationships between countries.

In 2023, the former government announced it would compensate those who won their wartime forced labor cases from a government-backed fund, instead of involving Japanese firms to pay direct compensation.

Lee added he hopes the two countries will build "rational and constructive" relationships, founded on mutual recognition, sincere apologies where appropriate, active cooperation where interests align, and fair competition where differences remain.

According to the National Election Commission, Lee secured 49.42 percent of the vote, ahead of the People Power Party's Kim on 41.15 percent.

Turnout among the over 44 million eligible voters stood at 79.4 percent, the highest in 28 years, according to the commission.

Related coverage:

Japan PM pledges to boost ties with key partner South Korea under Lee
While Budens approach to looking for love is novel, their growing disdain for dating apps is not. An increasing number of singles are taking their search off their smartphones and into real life, whether through organised singles events or by joining community groups for like-minded people, such as run clubs. Loading [Dating apps are] just very deeply impersonal, Buden said. I was getting a bit nowhere. Buden is also a romantic who loves a good meet-cute story. An intimacy director in uni theatre, they are pursuing a career writing for screen and stage, and writing a romcom for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The late Nora Ephron  the writer behind the films Heartburn, Sleepless In Seattle, Youve Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally, as well as books and essays  has a special place in Budens heart: I love her entire oeuvre.

You kind of want there to be a story to a relationship. Dating apps just dont have the same personality. Id be lying if there wasnt a part of me that wanted to Sleepless [in Seattle] myself, they said, referring to the film about a widower who inadvertently attracts thousands of women after he speaks on a radio talk show about his grief. Brenda Van is the founder of the dating events company Dating Apps Suck, which organises IRL events for singles. Credit: James Brickwood Last year, an investigation by The Age reported that dating-app user numbers were flatlining, prompting the tech giants to try to squeeze singles with costly subscriptions. Melbourne-based Brenda Van started her company Dating Apps Suck three years ago to create real-life events for singles to meet after she became deflated with her own swiping experiences.

She now organises speed dating, all-in mingling and events based on activities, such as salsa or running, in Melbourne and Sydney about three times a month. You cant gauge chemistry until you meet in person, Van said. Between being ghosted or stood up or meeting people who have girlfriends already, theres no accountability on the apps; people have less investment when swiping. Josie staples the flyers around Melbournes inner north. Credit: Justin McManus Van said going to a dating event was no longer seen as desperate, with a huge jump in companies catering to this as the apps fall out of favour. CitySwoon is one of Australias biggest dating events businesses, with about a dozen gatherings organised in Melbourne each month.

The companys chief operating officer, Chris Marnie, explains that they harness technology by having singles at their events use an app that matches them up in real-time to have mini dates through the night. It really comes down to, we just want to put people together face-to-face as soon as possible, he said. CitySwoon chief operating officer Chris Marnie. Credit: James Brickwood Marnie said the company started a decade ago and there had been exponential growth in Melbourne since 2022, with an expansion from the core demographic of ages 25-49 to 50-65, plus people in their early 20s. People are sick of dating apps, Marnie said. Suddenly, speed dating and singles events and actually paying money to meet singles isnt as much of a taboo.

As for Budens dating flyers, they have yet to result in love. The posters led to some genuine messages of interest, but Buden said some people misinterpreted the flyers humour. Loading It has jokes, the intent is to be funny, but it is not in itself a joke. Its a sincere attempt to try to find something. If they make another attempt, they would consider changing the poster slightly. They may also try other unique methods  being in The Age, for one, may even count. Id like to meet someone who is independent and focused, but then do fun things together. I also just kind of enjoy dating. I like the silly, cute moments.
The atmosphere in the car was one of break the rules and get to the nightclub, he said. What followed was all but inevitable. In handing down his sentencing, Quail told the driver, who is now 18, he was satisfied no one in the car told him to slow down during the 15-minute journey, which saw him reach speeds of 133km/h in a 70km/h zone. Quail believed evidence that one of the passengers in the car told the driver to gun it and go through it when they approached red traffic lights, but added: I am also satisfied that you made your own decisions. The judge also found that four of the five people in the Hilux had taken cocaine before they got into the car, including the driver.

He also told the court the boy did not minimise his own conduct when giving evidence, and it was clear the enormity of his conduct weighs heavily on him. The former Aquinas College student relinquished his bail last November to demonstrate remorse, with Quail also telling the court the boy felt it was the best way to deal with rumours in the community, as well as antipathy towards him. I believe you want to be punished because you think that might be seen to be some atonement for what you have done, Quail said. The court also heard for the first time details of how the boys 2012 Hilux ute came to be modified, with Quail revealing the teenager had removed the front passenger seat that day to tighten the chassis belts while performing some mechanical work on the vehicle. The seat was placed back facing the rear of the vehicle and was not bolted down.

You didnt turn it back  you didnt think anyone would sit in there, Quail said. You left it like that because he thought it looked cool. But Quail added the driver knew it was dangerous to let anyone sit there, yet allowed them to anyway. The court heard the car also had its front stabiliser bar  also called a sway bar  removed, which contributed to the Hilux tripping after it hit the curb on Farrington Road and contributed to the crash. The driver had removed it to install a lift kit, Quail said, which raises a vehicles suspension, allowing it to tackle rough terrain.

Quail said police had found videos on the drivers phone of him performing burnouts and speeding on other occasions, saying it was part of his lifestyle. As part of the sentencing exercise, victims of the crash, including the Campo family, submitted impact statements which Quail refused to read aloud as they were too harrowing. But, he told the court, the effect of the incident had torn Nicks family apart. The consequences [of the incident] will live with the victims and their families forever and [the driver] and his family forever, Quail said. I recognise no sentence the court imposes will adequately punish you for the loss of Nick and the life-changing injuries [of the other victims].

The teenager was sentenced for two years and seven months for the manslaughter charge in relation to Campos death, with an extra eight-month term for the combined dangerous driving charges. He was also disqualified from holding a drivers license for three years. His sentence was backdated to when he first went into custody in November last year, and he will be eligible for parole next year. Outside court, Campos mum Bianca said she was disappointed. We dont feel that it was enough, and I really dont think it sets a very good example for young people, she said. She said no sentence would bring her son back.
So, what did we learn from Carrolls appearance before budget estimates? As it turns out, quite a bit. Loading First, a quick recap on what this is all about. The long-awaited Gonski reforms can only be delivered once the states and Commonwealth together provide government schools sufficient funding to meet the School Resource Standard, a formula that calculates the minimum financial needs of every school based on the advantages and disadvantages of its students. The Victorian government last year played a critical role in getting the Albanese government to agree to a 75/25 funding split. But secretly, the Allan government had already welched on its previous commitment to fully fund its share by 2028.

Cabinet-in-confidence documents seen by The Age show that in March 2024, a meeting of the governments budget and finance committee of cabinet pushed back that commitment until 2031. This means government schools in Victoria will receive $2.4 billion less over the next five years than they otherwise would have. When this issue was raised by non-government MPs in Wednesdays budget estimates hearing, the most telling exchange came between Richard Welch, a first-term Liberal MP with a background in international finance, and Department of Education acting secretary Tony Bates. Welch asked Bates whether the department provided Carroll advice on the impact of delaying its commitment to fully fund the School Resource Standard. If Bates was seized at that moment by the same impulse that compelled Colonel Jessup to confess about ordering the code red, he might have replied: Of course we did. I lost three months of my life working up all sorts of modelling for my boss.

Instead, Bates at first deflected  we provide the minister with all sorts of advice, Mr Welch  before eventually confirming the department had provided the minister advice on a range of scenarios. When asked to produce this advice to the committee, Bates said he couldnt because it was covered by executive privilege. Loading If only Welch knew how close he was to blowing things open. Bates, in his previous job within the Department of Education, was the assistant secretary responsible for the government school system. Acting on instructions from Carroll, he led extensive work done by the department to build a compelling case against the funding delay. He was a good person to ask about modelling done on the financial impact of pushing back the Gonski reforms because he helped write briefing material provided to the minister ahead of the budget and finance committee meeting where Carroll lost the argument.

During the hearing, Bates volunteered a detail that places the School Resource Standard in a bigger financial context. The Victorian government is this year providing public schools 70.43 per cent of the SRS. Bates in his evidence said 1 per cent of the SRS equates to $145 million. This means the difference between what the Allan government is this year giving public schools and what they need to be fully funded is $663 million. For $663 million, the Victorian government could join NSW in fully funding public schools this year and reclaim its status as an exemplar state in education. Or, for the sake of $663 million in savings, it can continue to short-change the state school system and families it professes to champion. Public school teachers outraged about this will stage their first protest rally outside Carrolls office on June 19 after classes. Heres a tip. When Victoria this year sits down to negotiate with the federal government a new bilateral agreement mapping out SRS increases for the next 10 years, the Allan government will quietly reverse the cuts and restore its commitment to fully fund its share by 2028, if not earlier.
Washington: Elon Musk had been out of the White House for less than 100 hours when he unleashed a tirade against US President Donald Trumps signature piece of legislation and top domestic priority.

Trumps so-called big, beautiful bill was not just bad, in Musks view. It was a massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill and a disgusting abomination. It would increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $US2.5 trillion ($3.9 trillion), and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.

US President Donald Trump with Elon Musk outside the White House in March. Credit: AP

Those members of the House of Representatives who voted for the bill knew they were wrong, Musk said. Not content to leave it there, he added: In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.

So far, that list comprises 215 Republicans and zero Democrats.
In their labs, the scientists have introduced a gene mutation that causes female mosquito offspring to hatch without functional ovaries, rendering them infertile. Male mosquito offspring can carry the gene but remain physically unaffected. The concept is that when female mosquitoes inherit the gene from both their mother and father, they will go on to die without producing offspring. Meanwhile, when males and females carrying just one copy of the gene mate with wild mosquitoes, they will spread the gene further until no fertile females are left  and the population crashes. A feeding female Anopheles gambiae mosquito, a known vector for the parasitic disease malaria. Credit: AP Simoni said he hopes Target Malaria can move beyond the lab and deploy some of the genetically modified mosquitoes in their natural habitats within the next five years. The non-profit research consortium gets its core funding from the Gates Foundation, backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Open Philanthropy, backed by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and his wife, Cari Tuna. We believe that this technology can really be transformative, Simoni said.

At the heart of Target Malarias work is a powerful genetic tool called a gene drive. Under the normal rules of inheritance, a parent has a 50-50 chance of passing a particular gene on to an offspring. But by adding special genetic machinery  a gene drive  to segments of DNA, scientists can rig the coin flip and ensure a gene is included in an animals eggs and sperm, nearly guaranteeing it will be passed along. Over successive generations, gene drives can cause a trait to spread across an entire species population  even if that gene doesnt benefit the organism. In that way, gene drives do something remarkable: They allow humans to override Charles Darwins rules for natural selection, which normally prod populations of plants and animals to adapt to their environment over time.

Technology is presenting new options to us, said Christopher Preston, a University of Montana environmental philosopher. We mightve been able to make a species go extinct 150 years ago by harpooning it too much or shooting it out of the sky. But today we have different options, and extinction could be completed or could be started in a lab. Mosquitoes lay eggs inside a lab in Colombia. Scientists are breeding the mosquitoes to carry a bacteria that interrupts the transmission of dengue. Credit: AP When so many wildlife conservationists are trying to save plants and animals from disappearing, the mosquito is one of the few creatures that people argue is actually worthy of extinction. Forget about tigers or bears; its the tiny mosquito that is the deadliest animal on Earth.

The human misery caused by malaria is undeniable. Nearly 600,000 people died of the disease in 2023, according to the World Health Organisation, with the majority of cases in Africa. Loading On the continent, the death toll is akin to crashing two Boeing 747s into Kilimanjaro every day, said Paul Ndebele, a bioethicist at George Washington University. For gene-drive advocates, making the case for releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in nations such as Burkina Faso or Uganda is straightforward. This is not a difficult audience, because these are people that are living in an area where children are dying, said Krystal Birungi, an entomologist for Target Malaria in Uganda, though she added that she sometimes has to fight misinformation, such as the false idea that bites from genetically modified mosquitoes can make people sterile.

But recently, the Hastings Centre for Bioethics, a research institute in New York, and Arizona State University brought together a group of bioethicists to discuss the potential pitfalls of intentionally trying to drive a species to extinction. In a policy paper published in the journal Science last month, the group concluded that deliberate full extinction might occasionally be acceptable, but only extremely rarely. A compelling candidate for total eradication, according to the bioethicists, is the New World screwworm fly. This parasitic fly, which lays eggs in wounds and eats the flesh of both humans and livestock, appears to play little role in ecosystems. Infections are difficult to treat and can lead to slow and painful deaths. Yet it may be too risky, they say, to use gene drives on invasive rodents on remote Pacific islands where they decimate native birds, given the non-zero chance of a gene-edited rat or mouse jumping ship to the mainland and spreading across a continent.

Even at a microbial level, it became plain in our conversations, we are not in favour of remaking the world to suit human desires, said Gregory Kaebnick, a senior research scholar at the institute. Its unclear how important malaria-carrying mosquitoes are to broader ecosystems. Little research has been done to figure out whether frogs or other animals that eat the insects would be able to find their meals elsewhere. Scientists are hotly debating whether a broader insect apocalypse is underway in many parts of the world, which may imperil other animals and plants that depend on them for food and pollination. The eradication of the mosquito through a genetic technology would have the potential to create global eradication in a way that just felt a little risky, said Preston, who contributed with Ndebele to the discussion published in Science. Instead, the authors said, geneticists should be able to use gene editing, vaccines and other tools to target not the mosquito itself, but the single-celled Plasmodium parasite that is responsible for malaria.

That invisible microorganism  which a mosquito transfers from its saliva to a persons blood when it bites  is the real culprit. You can get rid of malaria without actually getting rid of the mosquito, Kaebnick said, adding that intentional extinction should be an option for only particularly horrific species. But Ndebele, who is from Zimbabwe, noted that most of the people opposed to the elimination of the mosquitoes are not based in Africa. Ndebele has intimate experience with malaria; he once had to rush his sick son to a hospital after the disease manifested as a hallucinatory episode. Still, he and his colleagues expressed caution about using gene-drive technology.

Even if people were to agree to rid the globe of every mosquito  not just Anopheles gambiae but also ones that transmit other diseases or merely bite and irritate  it would be a herculean undertaking, according to Kaebnick. There are more than 3500 known species of mosquito, each potentially requiring its own specially designed gene drive. And there is no guarantee a gene drive would wipe out a population as intended. Simoni, the gene-drive researcher, agreed that there are limits to what the technology can do. His teams modelling suggests it would suppress malaria-carrying mosquitoes only locally, without outright eliminating them. Mosquitoes have been around for hundreds of millions of years, he said. Its a very difficult species to eliminate. The Washington Post
EL MONTE, California - An exhibit commemorating the victims and survivors of the military crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters in Beijing in 1989 has opened near Los Angeles, having been relocated from its previous space in New York.

The June Fourth Memorial Exhibit, which launched in El Monte on Monday ahead of the 36th anniversary of the incident, displays the names of nearly 200 people who died in the violent crackdown, alongside physical artifacts from the Tiananmen protests.

A tattered banner from the time with phrases critical of then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is displayed next to an interactive piece where visitors can deface an image of Mao Zedong, the founder of modern China.

Activists from the 1980s student movement who attended the exhibit's opening stressed the need for remembrance and accountability from the Chinese government.

Jin Xiuhong, an activist during the protests, said any hope for reform was crushed after the events of June 1989.

"After 36 years, we must let the world know the Chinese Communist Party is not savable," said Jin, a 70-year-old resident of Seattle.

She considers the Chinese government "the root of evil." She is hopeful that U.S. President Donald Trump, whom she says fellow dissidents also support, will advance policies that bring about the end of the party.

The exhibit's director, Wang Dan, was also a participant in the Tiananmen protests. Relocating the exhibit to an area near Los Angeles came about due to the high cost of rent in its previous space in New York.

Wang, 56, said the exhibit itself has not changed much from the version displayed in New York, but he wants to expand its impact, making the El Monte location a hub for cultural and educational events.

Jason Han, a volunteer with the exhibit, said he learned about the violence against protesters while attending university in China in the early 2000s. Information on the topic is less available to students in China due to increased censorship, Han said.

In April 1989, students at universities in the Chinese capital, acting as part of a coalition of citizen and worker groups, began a months-long protest in Tiananmen Square.

Their demands of the government varied, but the exhibit centers around student desires for economic reform and democratic freedom. According to the exhibit, the military violently dispersed the protesters on June 3 and the following day, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.
CLEAN PLANT PROGRAMME There is need to raise perhectare farm income





PUNE :

UNION Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday emphasised the need to increase per hectare farm income and said the Centre is giving push to the horticulture sector through its Clean Plant Programme which will cover Maharashtra also. An Agriculture Ministers work isnt considered complete until he visits farmers fields, insisted Chouhan. The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputy Ajit Pawar attended Indias first international agriculture hackathon, organised by the state Government in Pune. Speaking at the event, Chouhan said, The Central Government is launching the Clean Plant Programme (CPP). As part of this scheme we will set up nine plants across the country. Of these, three plants will come up in Maharashtra, for which the Centre will spend Rs 300 crore.

In Maharashtra, these plants will be located in Pune, Nagpur and Solapur districts. The CPP aims to enhance the quality and productivity of fruit crops across the country. The programme is designed to address critical issues in horticulture by providing access to high-quality, virus-free planting material to farmers regardless of their landholding size. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned a developed India (by 2047). There is a need to increase per hectare agricultural income. An Agriculture Ministers work cannot be considered complete until he visits farmers fields. Let us make the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan a success, Chouhan averred.
President TrumpDEEPLY ADMIRES,RESPECTS INDIA





By Yoshita Singh

WASHINGTON,

THE core populationofIndiahas drive and ambition and thats whyitseconomywillalwayscontinue to thrive, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said, underlining that President Donald Trump deeply admires and respects India and the two countries are going to have a great relationship together. India has one of the most extraordinary economies, Lutnick said in his keynote address at the eighth edition of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit here on Monday. The key that makes an extraordinary economy is the determination of the people. How much do your people care about being in business? How entrepreneurial are they?

How much do they drive to be better for their families? he said. From what I know about India, the core population of India has that drive and ambition, and thats why the Indian economy will always continue togrowandthrivebecause ithas thatfrom the underpinning and soyoucandothings inIndiathat many other countries, you just cant get done. He addedthatwhilePresident Trump thinks America first, he does not think America only or America exclusively. First, hes got to take care of homesowerebigandstrong,but thenhes going totake careofhis allies. Hes going to make sure he takes care of India, who he deeply, deeply admires and respectsandwearegoingtohave agreat,greatrelationshiptogether, Lutnick said. Responding to a question on Indian talent in the US against thebackdropofongoingvisaand immigration discussions, LutnicksaidthesuccessofIndian entrepreneurs in America, individualsofIndiannationalityleading and running so many of the great companies of America becausetheyrefantasticentrepreneurs,fantasticbusinesspeople, smart,thoughtful, educated in every way. But I think the ordinary path of immigration for America is changing.

The Trump Card is coming out. I expect the Trump Card will create really an enormous opportunity for people to have the ability to come to America, he said, referring to theUSD5millionTrumpGold Card, on the lines of a Green Card, that will fast-track the process for foreigners to live and work in the US. Lutnick said he feels we are going to be incredibly successful in India. So when peopleaskme,Whenareyoucoming to India? Id say, When I launchtheTrumpCard,Ipromise you Im coming to India. He said its a wonderful opportunity for people to be part of two economies - the Indian economy and the American economy, and people will be able to come to America and participate in America. Heres the key. You can become like a greencardholder, the equivalent of it, its the Trump Gold Card. You can do it that way and pay global tax, or youcankeepeverything the way itis and just pay US tax on US assets, and you pay nothing on your global assets and no inheritance tax, and none of that kind of stuff either.

It will have a better tariff relationship than most other countries in the world, which means India will be the beneficiary of those kind of products,hesaid,addingthatsome will need to be reshored to Americabuttheyllbereplaced withincredibleopportunityfor India, which has one of the mostextraordinaryeconomies. EXPECT INDIA-US TRADE DEAL IN NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE: US COMMERCE SECRETARY HOWARD LUTNICK : SECRETARY of CommerceHowardLutnickhas said one should expect a trade deal between India and theUS in the not-too-distant future asthetwocountrieshavefound a place that works for them. Sotheideaiswhentheyput the right person and India put the right person on the other side of the table, and weve managed, I think, to be in a very, very good place, Lutnick said in his keynote address at the eighth edition of the USIndia Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit here Monday. And you should expect a dealbetweentheUnitedStates and India in the not-too-distant future because I think we found a place thatreally works for both countries,
THE DIFFERENCE !





T HE difference is more than obvious -- between the all party delegations from India to dozens of countries across the world to highlight the importance of Operation Sindoor and the high-level delegation Pakistan has despatched to the United States and Russia to state its side of the conflict. The first difference even a street urchin will note is that Pakistan is acting like a copy-cat while the Indian idea of launching its campaign is original -- and in proving to be highly effective. Much before Pakistan even thought of the delegation idea, its own leadership has made contradictory statements that would confuse anybody about what actually happened in OperationSindoor.ThePakistani leadership -- political and military -- is on record accepting defeat, while in sharp contrast, the Indian assertion of facts about Operation Sindoor and its reason has been crystal-clear and without any chance of confusion in anybodys mind. The world is smart enough tonoticethePakistanidouble-standardsandtheIndianfocus.

And, even before the Pakistani delegation would arrive either in Russia or in the United States, the Indian delegation will have done its job fully well. So, all the Pakistani delegation will have to do is to somehow try to tell its side of the story toaworldthatisunwillingtogetconvincedaboutthePakistani stand -- on issues such as Operation Sindoor or terror. The world also knows that while Pakistani democracy is a sham--beingplayedunderthemilitarygaze--Indiandemocracy is a genuine, vibrant system run by the people, of the people and for the people where the military has no role other than strategic presence and action as per the will of the State.Inother words, inPakistan, democracy is a hand-maiden of the military junta, while in India it is the condition in which the nation lives and thrives. The world has already known this stark difference between India and Pakistan. Though Pakistan has said that its delegation, too, is an allparty affair, the world knows that when a leader such as formerPrimeMinister Mr.Imran Khan the country cannot claim to be sending the all-party tag makes little sense. In sharp contrast, all the Indian delegations now moving around the world, are being represented by every possible political party and ideology.

The leaders or members of the Indian delegations have already proved beyond doubt in different countries that they are serving a great national cause that has impressed the world. The most critical aspect of the presentations of the leaders and members of the Indian delegations is that all of them are speaking the very same language -- though they belong to different parties and different ideologies. This aspect of pluralism of the Indian democracy often fascinates the world.In Pakistans case, no such achievement can even be thought of, thanks to the vice-like grip of the military on Pakistans affairs -- internal or international. When the national discourse of a country is so heavily influenced by the military whose enjoys larger-than-life image, then the idea of democracy is an anathema to that country. This is exactly what has been happening inPakistan all along; most political discourse is dictated by the military -- which the world has not failed to take note of. The world also has not missed the fact that though it got a military drubbing by India, Islamabad has promoted its Army chief to be a Field Marshal -- something that can happen only a country like Pakistan where the military has the last word and the last laugh, in sharp contrast with the arrangement in India. The belated deployment ofPakistani delegations, thus, will serve only a limited purpose -- particularly against the background of the great success the Indian delegations have already registered everywhere. Of course, the Pakistanis will never admit to these differences.
Big boost for region Centre to include Nagpur oranges in Clean Plant Project





Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan felicitating a scientist. Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar also are seen.

Staff Reporter :

Centre to launch nine Clean Plant Projects across the country, including three in Maharashtra

Maharashtras three projects will be set up at a cost of Rs 300 crore

The project will be implemented in Nagpur for oranges, in Pune for grapes and in Solapur for pomegranates

To curb the impact of climate change in agriculture field, the Government of India is launching nine Clean Plant Projects across the country, of which three projects will be in Maharashtra, including Nagpur. Union Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan made this announcement during the concluding session of Indias first International Agri Hackathon in Pune on Tuesday. The three projects in Maharashtra will be set up at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Under this, projects will be started in Nagpur for oranges, in Pune for grapes and in Solapur for pomegranates. Under this project, modern nurseries will also be set up.

Those who use technology for agriculture will be supported by these nurseries. Rs 3 crore will be provided for large nurseries and Rs 1.5 crore for medium-sized nurseries in all these three districts of Maharashtra. Through these nurseries, 8 crore disease-free seedlings will be available to farmers every year. While informing about the project, the Minister expressed confidence that Maharashtras horticulture will be able to compete with the world. Chouhan also said that co-operation from countries like Israel and the Netherlands will also be taken to implement this programme. While, talking about research in agriculture field, Chouhan said, There is no guarantee whether the plants available for cultivation in the horticulture sector are disease-free and productive or not. To solve this problem, the Central Government will launch the Clean Plant programme. Scientists work in laboratories to produce good seeds, increase production and diagnose diseases.

However, their research does not reach the framers in a timely manner. To bridge the gap, the Government is trying to bring scientists and farmers together through Lab to Land. For this Lab to Land project, Government of India has taken a decision that 16,000 scientists from across the country will come together and work directly with farmers and with the Agriculture Department of the Central Government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the programme and he asserted that the agriculture sector is facing many problems in the backdrop of current climate change and the use of modern technology is the only solution. He also expressed the need to incubate useful technologies from the Pune Agri Hackathon and take them directly to farmers.
NAHA, Japan - Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako paid their respects to the war dead in Okinawa on Wednesday ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, accompanied by their daughter Princess Aiko on her first trip to the prefecture.

The imperial family visited the national cemetery in Itoman and laid flowers at the ossuary housing the remains of approximately 180,000 people who died in the battle.

They spoke with bereaved family members who had gathered there and visited the Cornerstone of Peace cenotaph, where the names of the war dead are inscribed.

The couple strongly encouraged their daughter to join them on the two-day trip, a move underscoring the imperial family's desire to remember and pass on the lessons of the war to the next generation.

The imperial family visited the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum later in the day, where a 91-year-old survivor said Princess Aiko told her she had "felt the importance of peace" through the visit.

The family also engaged with youth in their 20s and 30s who are helping to preserve and share wartime stories for future generations, asking what led them to become involved in such efforts.

The emperor and empress released a statement through the Imperial Agency after the trip, saying, "With the importance of peace engraved in our hearts, and with remembrance of all who died in the Battle of Okinawa or were forced to endure hardship because of the war, we renew our wish for peace."

The emperor has consistently expressed his strong desire for peace, echoing the sentiments of his father, former Emperor Akihito, who reflected at length on the war fought in the name of his father, Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.

Okinawa fell into U.S. hands in the closing months of World War II in 1945 through the Battle of Okinawa, which began in March of that year with the landing of U.S. troops on the Kerama Islands near the main island of Okinawa.

Around 200,000 people -- both Japanese and American -- lost their lives in the ensuing ground battle.

In July 1975, former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko, then crown prince and princess, became the first imperial family members to visit Okinawa after the war.

But with local sentiment toward the emperor remaining deeply conflicted at the time, the couple had a Molotov cocktail thrown at them by radicals during a visit to the Himeyuri Cenotaph, constructed in remembrance of student nurses and teachers killed in the war.

Still, the former emperor strived to connect with the locals, becoming, in April 1993, the first-ever reigning emperor to officially visit Okinawa. Together with his time as crown prince, he visited a total of 11 times by 2018 before abdicating the following year.

In May 2022, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako remotely attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan from U.S. rule and visited the island prefecture the following October for cultural events.

In April, the emperor and empress visited Iwoto Island, formerly known as Iwojima, the site of a fierce battle in the Pacific between Japan and the United States, to mourn the war dead. The couple is also scheduled to visit the atomic-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki later this month.

Related coverage:

Japan's former Princess Mako gives birth to 1st child

Princess Aiko to make 1st official overseas visit in Nov. to Laos
BJP to run Sankalp To Siddhi campaign across Maharashtra





Staff Reporter :

Ravindra Chavan addresses Vidarbha-level workshop of all new District Presidents, Mandal Presidents and office-bearers in city

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will run a campaign on the completion of 11 years of Modi Government. A state-level workshop was organised at TBRANs Mundle English School on Tuesday. The campaign is focussed on 11 remarkable years of the Modi Government. With emphasis on service, good governance, and inclusive welfare, BJP is launching a nationwide campaign titled Sankalp Se Siddhi Tak starting June 9, 2025. The campaign will be running across the State, informed State BJP Working President Ravindra Chavan. Chavan was in Nagpur to conduct the workshop of newly-appointed district presidents, mandal chiefs and other office-bearers at the premises of TBRANs Mundle English School on Tuesday.

While talking to the mediapersons, Chavan said, We had discussed the issue of strengthening the party. Secondly, we have discussed upcoming programmes ranging from Environment Day to the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has acquired a new identity on global stage. We have asked BJP members to visit homes and inform them as to how the Modi Government brought several projects of infrastructure, roads, railways, transport, flexible changes in education, health etc.

his campaign will run from June 9 to June 21. Chaupal programmes will be organised at every Shakti Kendra from June 15 to June 17 at village/ward/Shakti Kendra/Booth level. Mohalla Chaupal will be organised in cities and Gram Chaupal in Panchayat centers. In these programmes, the achievements of 11 years will be discussed in detail. Literature on the achievements of 11 years of Modi government will be distributed door-to-door, pointed out Chavan. Central Minister, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers will stay in the State capital and big cities. At the district level, state office-bearers, ministers and MPs will take charge.

District office-bearers, MLA, Mayor, elected public representatives, and all officials and public representatives above the Mandal level will visit the Shakti Kendra. Apart from seminars and honouring of democracy fighters at the district level, programmes will be organised targeting students/colleges/educational institutions and exhibitions will be organised, added Chavan. June 21 is celebrated as World Yoga Day, considering which, a weeklong programme will start from June 17. Vidarbha Organising Secretary Dr Upendra Kothekar, General Secretaries Randhir Savarkar, Rajesh Bande, Rajya Sabha Member Dr Anil Bonde, Nagpur city President Dayashankar Tiwari, SC Commmission President Adv Dharmpal Meshram and others were present.

BJP to observe Black Day on June 25

The Government of India, last year, had designated June 25 as Constitution Murder Day, commemorating the severe hardships endured during the Emergency. On June 25, 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country. Lakhs of people were jailed without any reason. BJP will hold demonstrations, protests on June 25 across State, said State BJP Working President Ravindra Chavan. BJP wants to let know people how the Constitution was insulted by the then Congress Government by imposing Emergency.
ED-RPZOs LOC triggers Vijay Bhatias arrest in liquor scam





By Mukesh S Singh

Raipur,

Bhatia was en route to Brazil when detained at IGI Airport in Delhi under the LOC activated by the ED exposing SEOIACBs 2-yr ghost chase failure

Look Out Circular (LOC), a critical tool in Indias anti-graft arsenal, functions as an immigration-level alert designed to flag high-risk suspects in financial crimes, money laundering, and economic offences

The federal agency had issued LOC against Vijay Bhatia in early 2024 at the peak of its investigation into multi-crore liquor scam

In a high-stake crackdown that reshapes the contours of Chhattisgarhs liquor scam investigation, the Enforcement Directorate Raipur Zonal Office (ED-RPZO) is emerging as the decisive architect behind the dramatic capture of Vijay Bhatia  the elusive businessman - implicated in the Rs 2,200 crore liquor scam. Sources privy to this high-profile and sensitive development averred to The Hitavada that it was EDs legally binding Look Out Circular (LOC), activated at Indias international exit points, that directly led to Bhatias interception at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi as he prepared to flee to Brazil. Despite the State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB) rapidly flying Bhatia back to Raipur and bragging the high-profile arrest before the media, insiders confirm State agency had no direct operational role in the detention  it was the EDs legal dragnet that shut Bhatias escape route.

The federal agency had issued LOC against Vijay Bhatia in early 2024 at the peak of its investigation into multi-crore liquor scam. Knowledgeable people in legal fraternity affirmed that the LOC, a critical tool in Indias anti-graft arsenal, functions as an immigration-level alert designed to flag high-risk suspects in financial crimes, money laundering, and economic offences.

As per statutes including the Passports Act, 1967, and the Foreigners Act, 1946, the ED  empowered by its federal mandate  placed Bhatia under LOC after two years of his evasion, particularly after raiding his properties in connection with crime case number 04/2024, registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B. According to officials, Bhatia had quietly slipped past surveillance, making his way to Delhi and booking tickets to an undisclosed Brazilian destination. Without the EDs LOC, SEOIACBs two-year chase might have remained incomplete  or, worse, sources confirmed. Indias extradition treaty with Brazil, in effect since 2015, covers economic crimes but requires intensive diplomatic paperwork and coordination. Following Bhatias detention at IGI, the ED alerted SEOIACB, urging the state bureau to formally arrest the suspect and transport him back for custodial interrogation under its liquor scam FIR.

SEOIACB complied, securing four-day police custody following a special court order, but privately conceded that the central agencys LOC had decisively shifted the investigations momentum. Behind the headlines, the broader liquor scam probe has been steered by EDs Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), which laid the groundwork for SEOIACBs FIRs. The scam, active between 2019 and 2022, involved a network of bureaucrats, political figures, and business operatives using fake holograms to push illicit liquor through government shops, siphoning off over Rs 2100 crore in state revenue.

Key syndicate players include IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Excise Department MD AP Tripathi, and businessman Anwar Dhebar. Sources further disclosed that Bhatias web of criminal entanglements extends beyond the liquor scam. He has been flagged in the Rs 6000 crore Mahadev Online Betting App investigation, where the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched massive raids on March 26, sweeping 60 locations spanning Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bhopal, including the residences of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, top police brass, and senior bureaucratic aides. As the investigation deepens, SEOIACBs operational shortcomings are now quietly under review. Despite conducting extensive raids on May 20 across 39 locations  including Durg, Bhilai, Dhamtari, and Mahasamund  and seizing Rs 90 lakh in cash, precious metals, and digital devices, the bureau failed to intercept Bhatias escape preparations. The contrast between EDs border control mechanisms and SEOIACBs ground operations reveals crucial gaps that must be addressed, sources underscored.
FIRST DAY, FIRST IDIOT Major mishap averted as fuel tanker crashes into height barrier on Sitabuldi flyover





Staff Reporter :

In a grave lapse of road safety, a major mishap occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a tanker truck carrying around 22,000 litres of petrol crashed into the newly installed height barrier on the Sitabuldi Flyover. The accident took place at around 3:50 pm and caused massive traffic disruption during peak hours. The truck (MH-31 FC 4161), driven by Kailash Jadhav, a resident of Trimurti Nagar, was en route to Raj Nagar petrol pump. It struck the barrier with great force, getting stuck under it. Despite clear and visible signage in both English and Marathi stating Heavy Vehicles Prohibited, the driver attempted to cross the flyover. In his statement, Jadhav claimed he failed to notice the board, though eyewitnesses alleged he was using his mobile phone while driving.

The incident has again exposed the recurring problem faced by the Public Works Department (PWD), which has repeatedly installed height barriers at both ends of the flyover, only to see them damaged by heavy vehicles. To prevent such mishaps, PWD had recently designed a heavier, anchor-supported iron barrier. Krusha Gharde, Executive Engineer, World Bank Division, PWD, had earlier told The Hitavada that PWD had installed an iron barrier, which was not only heavier but was also anchored. Fortunately, no gas leakage was reported, averting a potentially catastrophic explosion. Around 30 cars were in the vicinity when the crash occurred, and citizens were quick to express outrage at the negligence. Fire Brigade officials and Traffic Police reached the site promptly and worked for nearly three hours to remove the vehicle and clear the road.

The flyover remained partially blocked until 6:45 pm. Meanwhile, structural engineers have warned that continued movement of heavy vehicles could compromise the safety of the flyover, which has already developed minor cracks. An FIR has been lodged against the driver, and further investigation is underway. Citizens have demanded that the height barrier be more stronger and lower than it is now, prohibiting movement of heavy vehicle through and a stern punishment for those flouting safety norms, especially when transporting hazardous materials.
Kargil Police in city, to get Sunitas custody today





Staff Reporter :

Kargil Police to interrogate Sunita about her contact with PoK residents

A team of Kargil Police Station of Kashmir Police arrived in city on Tuesday to take custody of Sunita Jamgade. Sunita had crossed over to Pak-occupied Kashmir (Pok) about a month back. Armed with production warrant, the Kargil PS team reached Kapil Nagar police station that is handling the investigation into Sunitas mysterious behaviour. Initially, a Zero FIR was registered in Punjab and thereafter Kapil Nagpur Police Station registered offence of espionage against Sunita for being in contact with residents of Pakistan. At present Sunita is in judicial custody and Kargil Police are likely to get her transit custody on Wednesday. They will take her to Kashmir valley and interrogate her so as to rule out any iota of doubt.

The case of Sunita has puzzled the cops as they are not yet clear as to her intentions behind taking such a huge risk of crossing over to enemy territory, that too all alone. She was in contact with two to three persons from across the border and got convinced about having a blissful life post-migration to PoK. In fact, during interrogation, her replies only confounded the cops given her psychiatric background. Even the Pakistani Rangers had let her off after realising that she is having mental issues. Now it remains to be seen as to what Kargil Police manages to do after interrogation of Sunita.
PM Modi to launch special initiative to reforest Aravalli range on World Environment Day





New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI)

On the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a special initiative aimed at reforesting the 700-km Aravalli mountain range extending from Delhi to Gujarat.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Modi will plant a banyan sapling under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in the national capital on Thursday morning.

This will be part of the Aravalli Green Wall Project', which aims to reforest the 700-km Aravalli range, the statement said.

The project is a major initiative to spread green cover in the five km buffer area around India's oldest mountain range in 29 districts of four states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.

It aims to boost biodiversity of the Aravallis through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. It will also help improve soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region, the PMO said.

It said the project will benefit the local communities by providing them with employment and income generation opportunities.

The prime minister will also flag off 200 electric buses under Delhi government's sustainable transport initiative, promoting clean urban mobility and symbolising the nation's collective responsibility towards ecological balance.

The chief ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat will participate in the launch of the project, environment ministry officials said.

They said around 1,000 nurseries will be developed in 29 districts falling in the Aravalli range as part of the project.

According to the government, this initiative will be crucial in combating air pollution in the region, meeting India's climate goal of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

The government unveiled the Aravalli Green Wall initiative in March 2023.

The 5-km-wide green belt buffer will cover 6.45 million hectares across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Within this buffer zone, about 42 per cent (2.7 million hectares) of land is degraded.

The Aravalli range acts as a natural barrier against desertification, preventing the expansion of the Thar desert and protecting cities such as Delhi, Jaipur and Gurugram.

The Aravallis are also the source of important rivers such as the Chambal, Sabarmati and Luni. Its forests, grasslands and wetlands support endangered plant and animal species.

However, deforestation, mining, livestock grazing and human encroachment are worsening desertification, damaging aquifers, drying up lakes and reducing the range's ability to sustain wildlife.

Of the total degraded area, 81 per cent is in Rajasthan, 15.8 per cent in Gujarat, 1.7 per cent in Haryana and 1.6 per cent in Delhi.

Rajasthan's Udaipur district has the highest degraded area within the buffer zone (0.675 million hectares), which is more than the combined degraded area of Haryana, Delhi and Gujarat (0.568 million hectares).

In May, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav unveiled the detailed action plan for Aravalli restoration in Udaipur.
MP schools embrace AI education in partnership with Microsoft



Staff Reporter :



In a groundbreaking move to equip students with cutting-edge skills, the Madhya Pradesh State Open School Education Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based education in government-run Education for All (EFA) schools. As part of a pilot project, 53 selected EFA schools have integrated an AI curriculum, enabling students to engage with the latest technological advancements. In a groundbreaking move to equip students with cutting-edge skills, the Madhya Pradesh State Open School Education Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based education in government-run Education for All (EFA) schools. As part of a pilot project, 53 selected EFA schools have integrated an AI curriculum, enabling students to engage with the latest technological advancements.



The AI course, spanning 240 hours, is offered as a subject for students in Classes 8 to 12. Last year, 1,013 students in Class 9, 694 in Class 10, and 266 in Class 11 received AI training.



The curriculum, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizes promoting AI education to prepare students for future job opportunities. It includes training in Python, a versatile and widely-used programming language for web development, data science, machine learning, and software development. Pythons high-level, interpretive nature allows students to learn programming without the need for compilation.





The initiative is yielding promising results, enhancing educational outcomes and equipping students with skills to secure employment in technology-driven industries. The Madhya Pradesh State Open School Education Board, operating under the School Education Department, has also collaborated with various software companies to provide periodic training, ensuring students gain practical exposure.

Focus on Vocational Education: The NEP 2020 underscores the importance of vocational education to prepare students for professional success through innovative models and systems.



With over 54% of Indias population under 25 years and more than 62% aged between 15 and 59, as per the National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, India has a unique opportunity to become the worlds largest hub of skilled talent.

The AI curriculum in EFA schools is a step toward realizing this potential, fostering skill development and employability.




Nadda urges students to focus on MENTALHEALTH, GERIATRICS to improve quality of life





BELAGAVI :

UNION Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday encouraged students to explore fields like mental health education and geriatrics, saying while significant research is already underway, more efforts are needed to support those in need. He emphasised that aging cant be stopped but it can be delayed to enhance quality of life and that requires continued research.

I request students to venture in areas of mental health education and geriatric....Where a lot of research is being done, and we should also carry forward that process, because this in an area where people need help, he added. Addressing students at the 15th Convocation of KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research here, the Union Minister recalled a time when policy makers expressed concern over a brain drain from the country. But when the policy under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Modi came, we said that we are not only going to cater the motherland, we will be catering our Motherland and the world. And that is why the seats, which were limited to 45,000 have been increased to 1.18 lakh in undergrads, and that is why, from 37 odds, it has been increased to 54,000 for PG and we are not going to stop here, he said. Nadda said over the next five years, India will add 75,000 new medical seats.

We are going to have 75,000 extra seats in medical education. And when we say so, its not only increasing the seats, we are also trying to see that the medical education is affordable. Medical education is accessible, medical education is for the all sections of the society. He highlighted that people from modest background are able to become doctors, crediting this shift to change in policy and a transparent system. Nadda contrasted the 1997 health policy, which focused on the curative part and the tertiary medical education, with the 2017 policy. The new policy of the Modi Government was shaped after three-years of consultation with stakeholders.

We need a very inclusive, holistic health care system where we concentrate on prevention, promotion, curative part, palliative part, rehabilitative part and geriatric part, and all together, should make it a holistic health system. He also said while there is strong focus on tertiary health care, the primary health care cannot be ignored. Citing the screenings and treatments being provided for dabities, oral cancer, breast cancer and other diseases under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, he urged medical students not to compare the healthcare system in India with any other countries as India caters to 1.4 billion people.
To honour his legacy Pachmarhi sanctuary renamed after Raja Bhabhut Singh





Staff Reporter



Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced that the Pachmarhi Sanctuary will now be known as Raja Bhabhut Singh Pachmarhi Sanctuary, paying tributes to the legendary tribal leaders environmental stewardship and lifelong efforts to protect the region from foreign forces. The sanctuary will feature displays highlighting Raja Bhabhut Singhs life, struggles, valour and contributions, aiming to boost local pride and strengthen the sanctuarys identity as a symbol of the regions historical and natural significance.





Addressing the Council of Ministers at Raj Bhavan in Pachmarhi, Dr Yadav emphasised Raja Bhabhut Singhs profound influence on tribal communities, noting that his tales of bravery remain alive in local folklore. The meeting was held in Pachmarhi to honour his contributions and bring his legacy to the forefront.

A key figure in the 1857 Indian Rebellion, Raja Bhabhut Singh was a close ally of freedom fighter Tatya Tope. Known as the Shivaji of Narmadanchal for his guerrilla warfare tactics, he resisted British forces until his capture and execution in 1860, despite prolonged efforts by the Madras Infantry to apprehend him.



Raja Bhabhut Singhs valour is preserved in oral traditions of Korku community through folk songs and hymns, resonating in Pachmarhis villages, temples, and cultural practices. His legacy, also documented in British officer Elliots 1865 Settlement Report, stands as a symbol of tribal pride, patriotism and spiritual strength. Dr Yadav described him as an inspirational figure whose sacrifices must be celebrated nationally.



The Chief Minister announced three tribal-focused conventions in June: a Baiga convention in Dindoris Bajag on June 7, a Kol convention in Shahdols Byohari on June 9 to mark Birsa Mundas birth anniversary and a Saharia convention in Shivpuris Kolaras on June 18.



Additionally, events celebrating 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modis welfare initiatives will be held across the State from June 9 to 21, alongside commemorations for former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayees birth centenary, given his deep connection to Madhya Pradesh.

Dr Yadav was felicitated by the Council of Ministers for successful Women Empowerment Mahasammelan in Bhopal on May 31, attended by two lakh women and graced by PM Modi marking Ahilyabai Holkars 300th birth anniversary. The councils female members presented bouquets to express gratitude on behalf of the states women.



Highlighting recent achievements, Dr Yadav noted the inauguration of new airports in Datia and Satna, Indore Metro, and the release of funds for 1,271 Atal Gram Sushasan Bhavans by PM Modi. He praised Khandwa district for topping the nation in water conservation under the Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan from April 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, with Madhya Pradesh ranking fourth among states.

Ongoing Jal Ganga Samvardhan campaign, running until June 30, was also highlighted, with a call to ministers and public representatives to promote water conservation.



Dr Yadav announced a Health and Wellness Summit in Ujjain on June 5, focusing on yoga, Ayurveda, naturopathy, spirituality and mental health to position Madhya Pradesh as a global wellness hub. The summit will attract spiritual leaders, AYUSH experts, policymakers, wellness tourism operators, and investors. Dr Yadav paid tributes to spiritual saint Dada Guru, known for living solely on Narmada water. The Council of Ministers meeting began with the singing of Vande Mataram and included a film on Raja Bhabhut Singh and the regions heritage. Ministers Rakesh Singh and Uday Pratap Singh welcomed Dr Yadav and the council with bouquets, shawls and Korku community symbols. The meeting concluded with the national anthem.


Social media influencershot dead by kin in Pak





ISLAMABAD :

SANA Yousuf , a young and widely followed Pakistani social mediainfluencer,wasshotdead at her residence in Islamabad by a relative, in an incident that has triggered widespread outrage and renewed focus on the countrys persistent issue of honour killings. Local media reports say the popular content creator, originally from Upper Chitral, was killed at close range by a male relative who had come to visit her.

He fled the scene immediately after the shooting. According to police sources cited by Samaa TV, the suspect engaged Sana in a brief conversation outside her house before following her inside and opening fire. The suspect entered the home, fired multipleshots,andescaped,apolice officialsaid.Sanasustainedtwo bullets and died on the spot.

Police have launched a manhunt to track the accused and are examining all possible angles behind the murder, including honour killing -- an entrenched issue in Pakistan, especially when it involves womens independence and public presence. The police are investigating the murder. Sana Yousuf was a rising digital star with over 4 lakh subscribers across her social media platforms. She was known for her lifestyle content, videos highlighting Chitrals culture, and powerful advocacy on womens rights and education.
TOKYO - Japanese police have arrested four people for allegedly selling at an online auction elephant tusks as mammoth tusks to evade a trade ban, police said Wednesday.

Nobumasa Daigo, a 58-year-old executive of Daigo Ivory Co. that processes and sells ivory products, and three other family members who work for the company based in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo were arrested Monday on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act that prohibits misleading labeling of goods.

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department, which led the investigation, suspects the company annually sold elephant tusks and ivory products worth around 100 million yen ($695,000) by labelling them as coming from mammoths, an extinct species.

The four were arrested on suspicion of selling such products totaling some 126,500 yen to four male customers via an auction site between October 2022 and November 2023, police said, adding the case came to light after a tip from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The suspects have admitted to the allegations, according to the police.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention, bans in principle international trade in ivory to thwart the threat of poaching of elephants.

Elephant tusks have been traded under the guise of mammoth tusks as they are hard to distinguish, according to environmental organization the Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund.

In Japan, commercial trade in elephant tusks is allowed if they are certified by a state-backed organization as legally obtained tusks.

Related coverage:

American arrested after bringing gun into Japan undetected: police

Endangered turtles seized in apparent bid to smuggle into Japan
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday expressed hope for a stable improvement in ties with South Korea under new President Lee Jae Myung, saying he wants to hold summit talks at an early date.

Ishiba said Japan and South Korea should work as "partners" in tackling global challenges, and trilateral cooperation with their common ally the United States is also necessary at a time of security threats posed by North Korea.

Relations between Japan and South Korea improved under Lee's predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol after a period of difficulty stemming from issues related to wartime history. The leaders of the two nations resumed the practice of making reciprocal visits in 2023, in a sign of thawing ties.

"I hope to step up cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and trilaterally with the United States, under President Lee Jae Myung on the occasion of the 60th anniversary" of the normalization of diplomatic ties, Ishiba told reporters at his office.

Japanese officials will be watching for changes in Seoul's stance toward Tokyo under Lee, a liberal known for his hard-line stance on wartime issues related to Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, including compensation for Korean laborers.

Ishiba said he wants to promote frank dialogue and exchanges between the neighboring nations to make their connections even stronger, pointing out that Lee said during his presidential election campaign he views Japan as an important partner.

"The importance of holding summit talks at an early date and engaging in 'shuttle diplomacy' won't change," Ishiba said, referring to the practice of the leaders visiting each other's countries.

While wartime history has cast a pall over bilateral ties, the two nations have seen increased people-to-people exchanges. South Korea is a popular destination for Japanese tourists and vice versa.

"Japan and South Korea have been deepening exchanges across a wide range of areas. Because we are neighbors, however, difficult issues remain between us," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular press conference.

"We hope to maintain close communication with President Lee and his administration to advance our relations in a stable manner, while at the same time placing importance on exchanges between our peoples," the top government spokesman said.

Related coverage:

South Korean liberal Lee begins 5-year presidential term

Liberal candidate Lee wins South Korea presidential election
How many trees survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima?

Three Kyodo News reporters -- Toma Mochizuki, Peter Masheter and Donican Lam -- talk about an article written by Donican about the trees in Hiroshima that survived the atomic bombing by the United States on Aug. 6, 1945. Listen as they discuss how many trees survived and what they symbolize, and the project that endeavors to take saplings from the trees abroad.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

FEATURE: Silent witnesses: A-bomb trees carrying on aging survivors' legacy

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

More podcast episodes:

Podcast [English World] Episode 99: Overtourism in Japan

Podcast Episode 98: Japan mulls covering childbirth costs from 2026

Podcast [English World] Episode 97: Separate surname debate in Japan
Institutional and Insider Ownership

73.7% of shares of all Oil & gas field machinery companies are held by institutional investors. 9.0% of QS Energy shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 13.0% of shares of all Oil & gas field machinery companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

QS Energy has a beta of -1.13, suggesting that its share price is 213% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, QS Energys competitors have a beta of 1.06, suggesting that their average share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares QS Energy and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio QS Energy N/A -$1.22 million -8.80 QS Energy Competitors $4.26 billion -$120.76 million 10.08

Profitability

QS Energys competitors have higher revenue, but lower earnings than QS Energy. QS Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

This table compares QS Energy and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets QS Energy N/A N/A -1,020.74% QS Energy Competitors 0.13% 6.91% 4.50%

Summary

QS Energy competitors beat QS Energy on 8 of the 9 factors compared.

About QS Energy

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QS Energy, Inc. develops and commercializes energy efficiency technologies in the United States and internationally. The companys energy efficiency technologies assist in meeting energy demands, enhancing the economics of oil transport, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The companys primary technology comprises Applied Oil Technology, a commercial-grade crude oil pipeline transportation flow-assurance product that reduces crude oil viscosity by applying a high intensity electrical field to crude oil while in transit. It serves upstream and midstream energy sectors. The company was formerly known as Save the World Air, Inc. and changed its name to QS Energy, Inc. in August 2015. QS Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Tomball, Texas.

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Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple (OTCMKTS:BBAJF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 240,500 shares, a decrease of 21.5% from the April 30th total of 306,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 4,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 52.3 days.

Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:BBAJF opened at $2.61 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $2.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.30. Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple has a fifty-two week low of $1.95 and a fifty-two week high of $3.63.

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Banco del Bajio, SA, Institucion de Banca Multiple provides banking products and services in Mexico. The company offers electronic banking, insurance products; credit and credit cards, trust contract; online banking; foreign exchange, and derivative finance services. It also offers working capital and fixed asset, and other loans; investment products; payroll advance services; financial factoring and leasing services.

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Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE  Get Free Report) had its target price lifted by research analysts at Bank of America from $135.00 to $160.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an underperform rating on the technology companys stock. Bank of Americas price objective suggests a potential downside of 37.95% from the stocks current price.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC reissued a hold rating on shares of Guidewire Software in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Guidewire Software from $228.00 to $231.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. DA Davidson lowered shares of Guidewire Software from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating and set a $226.00 target price for the company. in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Guidewire Software from $210.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Guidewire Software from $230.00 to $236.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $220.75.

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Guidewire Software Stock Performance

Shares of GWRE traded up $39.69 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $257.87. The companys stock had a trading volume of 928,469 shares, compared to its average volume of 938,568. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $200.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $194.29. The company has a market cap of $21.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 712.20, a PEG ratio of 37.21 and a beta of 1.18. Guidewire Software has a 52-week low of $107.65 and a 52-week high of $258.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 2.66 and a quick ratio of 2.66.

Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 3rd. The technology company reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.41. Guidewire Software had a net margin of 2.91% and a return on equity of 2.38%. The company had revenue of $293.51 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $286.40 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.26 EPS. Guidewire Softwares revenue for the quarter was up 22.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Guidewire Software will post 0.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Guidewire Software

In other Guidewire Software news, CEO Michael George Rosenbaum sold 1,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.02, for a total transaction of $296,828.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 248,793 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,749,091.86. This trade represents a 0.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, President John P. Mullen sold 6,116 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.41, for a total value of $1,158,431.56. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 166,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $31,504,565.30. This represents a 3.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 28,671 shares of company stock valued at $5,471,104. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Guidewire Software

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Guidewire Software by 403.8% during the first quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 131 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Guidewire Software during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Guidewire Software in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Ossiam bought a new stake in shares of Guidewire Software during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Guidewire Software during the 1st quarter worth $31,000.

Guidewire Software Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Guidewire Software, Inc provides a platform for property and casualty (P&C) insurers worldwide. The company offers Guidewire InsuranceSuite Cloud, such as PolicyCenter Cloud, BillingCenter Cloud, and ClaimCenter Cloud applications. It also provides Guidewire InsuranceNow, a cloud-based platform that offers policy, billing, and claims management functionality to insurers; and Guidewire InsuranceSuite for Self-Managed.

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Belden Inc. (NYSE:BDC  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Buy from the five ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $126.20.

BDC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Loop Capital decreased their target price on Belden from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Belden from $139.00 to $120.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Belden from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and issued a $120.00 price target on shares of Belden in a report on Monday, May 5th.

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Belden Trading Up 3.7%

Shares of NYSE BDC opened at $108.48 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $101.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $109.90. The firm has a market cap of $4.28 billion, a PE ratio of 22.55 and a beta of 1.24. Belden has a twelve month low of $83.18 and a twelve month high of $131.82.

Belden (NYSE:BDC  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $624.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $615.81 million. Belden had a return on equity of 21.42% and a net margin of 8.06%. Beldens revenue was up 16.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.24 EPS. Analysts expect that Belden will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Belden Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 12th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 12th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.18%. Beldens dividend payout ratio is currently 3.86%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Belden news, Director Gregory James Mccray sold 4,200 shares of Belden stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.21, for a total transaction of $441,882.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $441,776.79. The trade was a 50.01% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Leah Tate sold 231 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.64, for a total value of $26,250.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 30,170 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,428,518.80. This trade represents a 0.76% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.48% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Belden

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BDC. Xponance Inc. raised its holdings in Belden by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 5,839 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $585,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its holdings in Belden by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 11,300 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,133,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Belden by 9.6% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,202 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $135,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its holdings in Belden by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 34,717 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,479,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Belden by 34.7% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 446 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.75% of the companys stock.

Belden Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Belden Inc designs, manufactures, and markets a portfolio of signal transmission solutions for mission critical applications in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates in two segments, Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Automation Solutions. The Enterprise Solutions segment offers copper cable and connectivity solutions, fiber cable and connectivity solutions, interconnect panels, racks and enclosures, and signal extension and matrix switching systems for use in applications, such as local area networks, data centers, access control, 5G, fiber to the home, and building automation.

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Boyd Group Services (OTCMKTS:BYDGF  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other research analysts have also commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Boyd Group Services in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating on shares of Boyd Group Services in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Boyd Group Services currently has a consensus rating of Buy.

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Boyd Group Services Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of BYDGF stock opened at $149.00 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $146.48 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $153.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.55. Boyd Group Services has a 1 year low of $136.81 and a 1 year high of $198.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 78.01 and a beta of 0.73.

Boyd Group Services (OTCMKTS:BYDGF  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 14th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.14 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $778.32 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $822.70 million. Boyd Group Services had a net margin of 1.35% and a return on equity of 5.35%.

Boyd Group Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Boyd Group Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates non-franchised collision repair centers in North America. The company operates its locations under the Boyd Autobody & Glass and Assured Automotive names in Canada; and Gerber Collision & Glass name in the United States. It also operates as a retail auto glass operator under the Gerber Collision & Glass, Glass America, Auto Glass Service, Auto Glass Authority, and Autoglassonly.com names in the United States.

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Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE:CLDT  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, June 4th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of 0.09 per share by the real estate investment trust on Tuesday, July 15th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.01%. This is a 350.0% increase from Chatham Lodging Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.02.

Chatham Lodging Trust has a payout ratio of 720.0% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect Chatham Lodging Trust to earn $1.12 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.36 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 32.1%.

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Chatham Lodging Trust Trading Up 0.1%

NYSE:CLDT opened at $7.18 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $351.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -31.30 and a beta of 1.42. Chatham Lodging Trust has a 12 month low of $5.83 and a 12 month high of $10.00. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Chatham Lodging Trust ( NYSE:CLDT Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.01. Chatham Lodging Trust had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a negative return on equity of 0.39%. The firm had revenue of $68.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $67.99 million. Analysts expect that Chatham Lodging Trust will post 1.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several brokerages recently issued reports on CLDT. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Chatham Lodging Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Alliance Global Partners reiterated a buy rating on shares of Chatham Lodging Trust in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Chatham Lodging Trust from $11.00 to $9.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th.

Check Out Our Latest Report on CLDT

Chatham Lodging Trust declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, May 6th that authorizes the company to buyback $25.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the real estate investment trust to purchase up to 7.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Chatham Lodging Trust

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Jane Street Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust by 6.6% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 289,534 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,064,000 after buying an additional 18,030 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in Chatham Lodging Trust by 26.7% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 193,422 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,379,000 after acquiring an additional 40,746 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Chatham Lodging Trust by 35.8% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 98,409 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $702,000 after acquiring an additional 25,926 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chatham Lodging Trust in the first quarter worth $62,000. Finally, Strs Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust during the first quarter worth $61,000. 88.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Chatham Lodging Trust

(Get Free Report)

Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) focused primarily on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company owns 39 hotels totaling 5,915 rooms/suites in 16 states and the District of Columbia.

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TruWealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 2.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,082 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 851 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up approximately 1.6% of TruWealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. TruWealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $26,496,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,650 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,840,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 364 shares of the companys stock worth $301,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 13.8% during the 1st quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. now owns 11,922 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,846,000 after buying an additional 1,443 shares during the period. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC now owns 912 shares of the companys stock valued at $753,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the period. Finally, Benin Management CORP lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.1% in the first quarter. Benin Management CORP now owns 775 shares of the companys stock valued at $640,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

NYSE:LLY opened at $750.94 on Wednesday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $677.09 and a 52 week high of $972.53. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $773.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $799.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00. The company has a market cap of $711.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 64.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.48.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.64 by ($1.30). Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 23.51% and a return on equity of 85.24%. The company had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.58 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 45.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Friday, May 16th will be paid a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.80%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 48.82%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LLY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Hsbc Global Res cut Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, HSBC cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and dropped their price target for the company from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,011.37.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on LLY

Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $818.24, for a total value of $818,240.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,840 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,778,521.60. This represents a 14.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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TOKYO - South Korea's newly elected liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, is likely to pursue stable ties with Japan at least early in his tenure, avoiding a hardline stance as the two countries navigate regional security challenges and uncertainties triggered by the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Still, the risk of flareups over issues tied to Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula lingers, given Lee's past anti-Japan rhetoric and the approaching 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, which could reignite debate over Japan's view of its history.

To strengthen bilateral ties, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba should move quickly to build personal trust with Lee through summit talks, foreign policy experts say, noting that this would also help maintain trilateral cooperation with the United States amid North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and China's regional assertiveness.

Following Tuesday's snap presidential election, Lee, 60, will take over from conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and ousted over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. He will become the first South Korean president from the progressive camp in three years since Moon Jae In.

Under Moon, ties between the two Asian neighbors sank to their lowest point in decades, largely over issues such as wartime labor compensation and the treatment of "comfort women" forced to work in Japanese military brothels.

Japanese experts on South Korean affairs are skeptical that ties will immediately unravel once Lee enters the Blue House, with Junya Nishino, a political science professor at Keio University, citing the "current severe international affairs" that require close collaboration between the two nations.

"Just because an administration is liberal does not mean it is anti-Japanese," he said.

After narrowly losing to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, Lee grew increasingly critical of Japan, as the conservative president made significant strides to improve frosty bilateral ties, deepened cooperation with key ally the United States and worked to expand three-way collaboration.

Later in 2022, Lee, then leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, called for the cancellation of a joint defense drill involving U.S., South Korean, and Japanese forces, arguing that the exercises would help Japan become a "military power" despite being a "country that ruled South Korea by force" and having "not offered a sincere apology" over historical issues.

In 2023, Lee escalated his criticism of Japan, likening its discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to an "act of terror" reminiscent of its imperialist actions during the Pacific War.

But he toned down such remarks after Yoon's martial law turmoil thrust him into the spotlight as a leading presidential contender.

In foreign policy and national security pledges announced just over a week before the presidential election, Lee acknowledged Japan as "an important partner for cooperation" and pledged to pursue "pragmatic" diplomacy in the national interest.

Nishino said Lee's shift in stance is aimed at presenting himself as a "realistic politician" amid turbulent times while also taking into account public support for improved bilateral ties.

"The return of the Trump administration is creating many challenges to the international situation," he said. "So, he(Lee) should basically be thinking that he would not want to add more to his plate by seeing Japan-South Korea ties deteriorate."

South Korea saw tensions with the United States rise during the first Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, as Seoul was pressured to significantly increase its share of the cost of hosting U.S. forces, reportedly faced threats of a troop withdrawal, and was pushed to renegotiate a bilateral free trade agreement.

Trump has continued his "America First" foreign and trade policy in his nonconsecutive second term, which began in January, imposing higher tariffs on allies, including South Korea and Japan, as part of efforts to extract concessions on trade and other issues.

Trump's commitment to Asia remains hazy, with U.S. media reporting in May that his administration is considering withdrawing thousands of U.S. troops from South Korea. The Pentagon has denied the report, but if carried out, the move could weaken deterrence against North Korea and China.

Meanwhile, the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of World War II could be a sensitive time for Japan and its Asian neighbors that endured its wartime aggression.

Ishiba, seen as a dove on historical issues between Japan and South Korea, is not expected to issue a Cabinet-approved statement marking the anniversary amid opposition from conservative members of his party. However, any sign of Japan backtracking from its postwar pacifism could provoke a backlash from China and South Korea.

Lee has signaled that he has no intention of making concessions on historical and territorial disputes with Japan, but at the same time pledged to take a "future-oriented" approach to cooperation in social, cultural and economic areas.

Susumu Kohari, an expert on Korean studies, warned that Lee could ramp up his anti-Japan rhetoric if he struggles with a low public support rate.

The University of Shizuoka professor emphasized the importance of promptly arranging summit talks between Ishiba and Lee and maintaining regular leader-level visits, a practice resumed in 2023 after a hiatus of more than a decade.

Kohari also suggested that Japan and South Korea collaborate in responding to Trump's tariff blitz, citing shipbuilding, an area where both countries are strong, as potential leverage in trade talks.

Tadashi Kimiya, an expert in South Korean politics, said that strengthening ties with the United States and Japan, which share values and security concerns, is a "far more realistic" path for Lee, as the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry has made it increasingly difficult for Seoul to pursue balanced diplomacy between the world's two largest economies.

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Japan PM pledges stable ties with key partner South Korea under Lee
Greenfield Savings Bank increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 2.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 19,051 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil makes up about 1.1% of Greenfield Savings Banks investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. Greenfield Savings Banks holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $2,266,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in XOM. Accel Wealth Management boosted its position in Exxon Mobil by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 6,616 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $787,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the period. TrueWealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.4% during the first quarter. TrueWealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,641 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,622,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Apella Capital LLC raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 34.8% in the first quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 24,770 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,946,000 after buying an additional 6,400 shares during the last quarter. Level Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Level Financial Advisors now owns 11,610 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,381,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Corp IN lifted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.7% during the first quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 18,626 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,215,000 after buying an additional 316 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on XOM. UBS Group lowered their target price on Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $131.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Barclays reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Argus raised Exxon Mobil to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $141.00 to $138.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.50.

Exxon Mobil Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of XOM opened at $103.85 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $447.56 billion, a PE ratio of 13.25, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.51. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $106.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $109.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1 year low of $97.80 and a 1 year high of $126.34.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by $0.03. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 12.92% and a net margin of 9.63%. The company had revenue of $83.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $86.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.06 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be issued a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.81%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is 52.52%.

Exxon Mobil Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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Lundin Mining (OTC:LUNMF  Get Free Report) and Bunker Hill Mining (OTCMKTS:BHLL  Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, profitability, risk, earnings and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Lundin Mining and Bunker Hill Mining, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Lundin Mining 0 1 0 0 2.00 Bunker Hill Mining 0 0 0 0 0.00

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Lundin Mining and Bunker Hill Minings revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Lundin Mining $3.42 billion 2.45 $241.56 million ($0.13) -75.38 Bunker Hill Mining N/A N/A -$13.43 million ($0.07) -1.40

Lundin Mining has higher revenue and earnings than Bunker Hill Mining. Lundin Mining is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Bunker Hill Mining, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Lundin Mining has a beta of 1.34, indicating that its share price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Bunker Hill Mining has a beta of 1.35, indicating that its share price is 35% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.1% of Lundin Mining shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Bunker Hill Mining shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Lundin Mining shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 4.6% of Bunker Hill Mining shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Lundin Mining and Bunker Hill Minings net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Lundin Mining -5.15% 5.27% 3.05% Bunker Hill Mining N/A N/A -34.74%

Summary

Lundin Mining beats Bunker Hill Mining on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Lundin Mining

(Get Free Report)

LUNDIN MINING CORPORATION is a rapidly growing, diversified base metals mining company with operations in Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Ireland. The Company currently has six mines in operation producing copper, nickel, lead and zinc. In addition, Lundin Mining holds a development project pipeline which includes the world class Tenke Fungurume copper cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ozernoe zinc project in Russia. The Company holds an extensive exploration portfolio and interests in international mining and exploration ventures.

About Bunker Hill Mining

(Get Free Report)

mining of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It focuses on exploring for zinc, lead, and silver ores. Its flagship asset is the 100% owned Bunker Hill mine located in the Silver Valley, Idaho. The company was formerly known as Liberty Silver Corp. and changed its name to Bunker Hill Mining Corp. in September 2017. Bunker Hill Mining Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Nixon Peabody Trust Co. lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 3.4% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 3,337 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $828,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Romano Brothers AND Company lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company now owns 20,680 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,129,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the period. Crestmont Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 11.0% in the 1st quarter. Crestmont Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,927 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $726,000 after acquiring an additional 290 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 45.3% in the 1st quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 5,078 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,259,000 after acquiring an additional 1,583 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 9,384 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,327,000 after acquiring an additional 1,142 shares during the period. Finally, Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC now owns 8,195 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,032,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares during the period. 79.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

ITW has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $302.00 to $284.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $253.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $269.00 to $234.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $227.00 to $233.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $253.42.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 48,453 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.36, for a total transaction of $13,293,565.08. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 55,113 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,120,802.68. This trade represents a 46.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Michael M. Larsen sold 41,472 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.25, for a total transaction of $11,249,280.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 50,502 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,698,667.50. This represents a 45.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Price Performance

Shares of Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $245.44 on Wednesday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1-year low of $214.66 and a 1-year high of $279.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. The firms 50-day moving average price is $239.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $253.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.94, a P/E/G ratio of 4.56 and a beta of 1.12.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.38 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.34 by $0.04. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 21.94% and a return on equity of 95.39%. The business had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.44 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Workss revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is presently 52.77%.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

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The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) insider Paul V. Woolway sold 3,290 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.68, for a total value of $288,467.20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 39,154 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,433,022.72. This trade represents a 7.75% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Charles Schwab Trading Down 0.1%

NYSE SCHW opened at $88.00 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $159.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.43, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.90. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $81.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $79.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.47. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 52 week low of $61.01 and a 52 week high of $89.85.

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $5.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.46 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 18.20% and a net margin of 30.31%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.74 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.73%.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on SCHW shares. Barclays reduced their target price on Charles Schwab from $96.00 to $84.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 7th. TD Securities raised their target price on Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $94.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Monday, April 21st. TD Cowen upgraded Charles Schwab from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $88.00 to $103.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $89.63.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SCHW. Atwood & Palmer Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 75.0% during the 1st quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 350 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 97.9% during the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 386 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Activest Wealth Management increased its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 6,650.0% during the 1st quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 405 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.38% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Get 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.

Further Reading

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John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE:JHI  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, June 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 12th will be given a dividend of 0.299 per share by the financial services provider on Monday, June 30th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 12th. This is a 27.3% increase from John Hancock Investors Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.23.

John Hancock Investors Trust has decreased its dividend by an average of 9.6% annually over the last three years.

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John Hancock Investors Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE JHI opened at $13.55 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $13.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $13.69. John Hancock Investors Trust has a 1-year low of $11.61 and a 1-year high of $14.48.

About John Hancock Investors Trust

John Hancock Investors Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of corporate and government bonds, debt securities.

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Wellington Management Group LLP lessened its position in KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:KB  Free Report) by 10.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 116,458 shares of the banks stock after selling 13,573 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLPs holdings in KB Financial Group were worth $6,626,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. now owns 3,472 shares of the banks stock valued at $198,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Seeds Investor LLC increased its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Seeds Investor LLC now owns 6,923 shares of the banks stock valued at $394,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Candriam S.C.A. increased its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 10,679 shares of the banks stock valued at $608,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 3,759 shares of the banks stock valued at $214,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 12,269 shares of the banks stock valued at $698,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.52% of the companys stock.

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KB Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE:KB opened at $73.32 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $61.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $60.33. KB Financial Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $46.38 and a twelve month high of $77.00. The company has a market capitalization of $28.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 0.98.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KB Financial Group ( NYSE:KB Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The bank reported $3.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.04 by ($0.02). KB Financial Group had a net margin of 12.33% and a return on equity of 7.71%. The business had revenue of $3.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.45 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that KB Financial Group Inc. will post 8.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of KB Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on KB Financial Group

KB Financial Group Profile

(Free Report)

KB Financial Group Inc provides a range of banking and related financial services to consumers and corporations in South Korea, the United States, New Zealand, China, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, and internationally. The company operates through Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Other Banking Services, Credit Card, Securities, Life Insurance, and Non-Life Insurance segments.

Further Reading

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Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 2.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 11,528 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after acquiring an additional 260 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing comprises approximately 1.8% of Lakeshore Capital Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $1,914,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. IMG Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Roxbury Financial LLC bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Accredited Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on TSM shares. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $225.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Susquehanna reissued a positive rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $215.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $217.00.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance

TSM stock opened at $197.75 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $1.03 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.21. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $172.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $187.56. The company has a current ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a 1 year low of $133.57 and a 1 year high of $226.40.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.03 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $25.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $834.10 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 30.47% and a net margin of 40.51%. Equities analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be paid a $0.6499 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.31%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.46%.

About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

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Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY  Free Report) (NYSE:RY)  Equities researchers at National Bank Financial lowered their Q3 2025 earnings per share estimates for Royal Bank of Canada in a research report issued on Thursday, May 29th. National Bank Financial analyst G. Dechaine now anticipates that the financial services provider will earn $3.14 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $3.19. National Bank Financial has a Sector Perform rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Royal Bank of Canadas current full-year earnings is $12.35 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Royal Bank of Canadas Q4 2025 earnings at $3.24 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $13.13 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $13.91 EPS.

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A number of other analysts have also weighed in on RY. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Royal Bank of Canada from C$195.00 to C$180.00 in a research note on Monday, April 21st. TD Securities lowered their target price on Royal Bank of Canada from C$180.00 to C$178.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 28th. CIBC raised their target price on Royal Bank of Canada from C$168.00 to C$174.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. National Bankshares set a C$179.00 target price on Royal Bank of Canada and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Cormark lowered their target price on Royal Bank of Canada from C$194.00 to C$189.00 in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and five have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Royal Bank of Canada currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$180.33.

Royal Bank of Canada Stock Performance

Shares of TSE:RY opened at C$174.93 on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada has a twelve month low of C$140.53 and a twelve month high of C$180.45. The firm has a market cap of C$247.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.84. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$166.20 and a 200-day moving average of C$169.54.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Royal Bank of Canada news, Senior Officer Graeme Ashley Hepworth sold 308 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$161.89, for a total transaction of C$49,862.12. Also, Director David Ian Mckay sold 20,304 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$174.06, for a total value of C$3,534,158.91. Insiders sold a total of 62,330 shares of company stock worth $10,312,755 over the last three months.

Royal Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 24th will be given a $1.54 dividend. This represents a $6.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.52%. This is a positive change from Royal Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $1.48. Royal Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.49%.

About Royal Bank of Canada

(Get Free Report)

Royal Bank of Canada is one of the two largest banks in Canada. It is a diversified financial services company, offering personal and commercial banking, wealth-management services, insurance, corporate banking, and capital markets services. The bank is concentrated in Canada, with additional operations in the U.S.

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Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NMT  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, June 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.071 per share by the financial services provider on Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $0.85 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th.

Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance

NMT opened at $11.98 on Wednesday. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $10.79 and a 1-year high of $12.33. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $11.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.69.

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Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Massachusetts, United States. The fund primarily invests in undervalued municipal securities and other related investments which are exempt from regular federal and Massachusetts income taxes.

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Park Edge Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 4.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,489 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 196 shares during the period. Park Edge Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $595,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.7% in the first quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. now owns 19,010 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,522,000 after buying an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the first quarter valued at approximately $3,414,000. Sendero Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 19.1% in the 1st quarter. Sendero Wealth Management LLC now owns 30,683 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $4,070,000 after buying an additional 4,930 shares during the last quarter. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. lifted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. now owns 6,941 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $921,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Contravisory Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter worth $609,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:ABT opened at $133.74 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $232.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.74. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $130.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $99.71 and a 12-month high of $141.23.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $10.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.38 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 31.95% and a return on equity of 20.74%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Raymond James lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $132.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $142.59.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Lisa D. Earnhardt sold 91,167 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.82, for a total transaction of $12,199,967.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 71,928 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,625,404.96. This trade represents a 55.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Sally E. Blount sold 2,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.66, for a total value of $337,116.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 34,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,415,960.28. The trade was a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.

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An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows Wei Yong (C) explaining key points of planting to tea farmers in Jiangkou County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

GUIYANG, June 3 (Xinhua) -- In Jiangkou County, nestled in southwest China's mountainous Guizhou Province, a centuries-old tea tradition is fueling a modern global boom.

In 2024, the county's matcha sales exceeded 1,200 tonnes with an output value surpassing 300 million yuan (about 41.7 million U.S. dollars), while its products have been exported to overseas markets including Japan, the United States and France.

As a major matcha-producing country, China is poised to produce over 5,000 tonnes of matcha in 2025. Notably, Guizhou, leveraging its high-altitude tea farms, low latitude and misty climate, accounts for one quarter of China's national output and exports to more than 40 countries and regions.

Jiangkou County, located at the foot of Guizhou's UNESCO-listed Fanjing Mountain, was once a poverty-stricken region but is now a pioneer in the field of matcha production. This turnaround began in 2017, when cutting-edge matcha industrial technology was introduced to this area.

Led by industry leaders in partnership with allied enterprises and local farmers, this initiative has established a province-wide matcha industrial network in Guizhou -- spanning 22 counties and empowering nearly 100,000 tea growers via increased incomes.

The county's tea fields currently cover 160,000 mu (about 10,667 hectares), with 20 percent dedicated to matcha production.

"We control every step from farming to processing -- to ensure premium quality," said Meng Zude, chairman of Gui Tea Group, a leading tea company that manages the industrial cluster in Jiangkou.

Meng explained that farmers focus on cultivation while allied partners process leaves. Gui Tea Group then refines leaves into premium matcha. From field to factory, free technical support ensures EU-standard compliance across the supply chain, Meng added.

Jiangkou County has adapted Japanese matcha techniques to local conditions through both collaborations with experts and in-house research and development. Farmers now implement fertilization protocols, eco-friendly pest control and precision pruning -- critical steps that ensure high-quality tencha leaves.

Four tonnes of matcha have already been exported to Japan in 2025, while another six tonnes are scheduled for shipment to this traditional matcha hub this year, according to Chen Xiaoming, deputy director of Gui Tea's foreign trade business.

"Domestic clients now approach us directly, while Japanese buyers seek raw material supplies," Chen said, adding that inquiries have grown significantly.

"Matcha isn't just a drink," said Chen. "It's a lifestyle China now leads." 
Romano Brothers AND Company lessened its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 3.2% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 7,588 shares of the companys stock after selling 250 shares during the period. Romano Brothers AND Companys holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,204,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 139,432,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,780,688,000 after acquiring an additional 1,167,810 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 122,584,210 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,752,926,000 after acquiring an additional 4,216,586 shares in the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 48,746,809 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,866,678,000 after acquiring an additional 6,092,558 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 35,286,582 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,241,837,000 after acquiring an additional 3,185,258 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 17,276,790 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,079,262,000 after acquiring an additional 516,617 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on PM. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the company from $130.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $163.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $182.00 price target (up previously from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $169.20.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

NYSE:PM opened at $182.42 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $283.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.45, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $166.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $146.52. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $98.93 and a fifty-two week high of $183.94.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $9.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.10 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 7.89% and a negative return on equity of 120.08%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.50 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were issued 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 yield of 2.96%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 111.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Philip Morris International news, insider Lars Dahlgren sold 3,679 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.96, for a total transaction of $562,739.84. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,828 shares in the company, valued at $4,103,610.88. This represents a 12.06% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Philip Morris International 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.

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Romano Brothers AND Company increased its position in shares of Pimco Total Return ETF (NYSEARCA:BOND  Free Report) by 17.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,910 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 1,610 shares during the period. Romano Brothers AND Companys holdings in Pimco Total Return ETF were worth $1,009,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Macroview Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Pimco Total Return ETF by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 5,524 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $499,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Bright Futures Wealth Management LLC. boosted its stake in Pimco Total Return ETF by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Bright Futures Wealth Management LLC. now owns 8,780 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $799,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the period. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC boosted its stake in Pimco Total Return ETF by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC now owns 2,323 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $210,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in Pimco Total Return ETF by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 3,258 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares during the period. Finally, Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its stake in Pimco Total Return ETF by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 64,318 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $5,977,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares during the period.

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Pimco Total Return ETF Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSEARCA:BOND opened at $90.34 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $90.93 and a 200-day moving average of $91.21. The firm has a market cap of $5.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.27. Pimco Total Return ETF has a twelve month low of $88.95 and a twelve month high of $95.32.

Pimco Total Return ETF Company Profile

The PIMCO Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund (BOND) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Barclays U.S. Aggregate index. The fund is an actively managed portfolio that aims to maintain a consistent level of dividend income by investing in a broad array of fixed income sectors and utilizing income efficient implementation strategies.

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Veracity Capital LLC cut its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 3.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,497 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 102 shares during the quarter. Veracity Capital LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $1,369,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Whalerock Point Partners LLC raised its position in Mastercard by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Whalerock Point Partners LLC now owns 14,678 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $7,729,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. Dock Street Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Mastercard by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. Dock Street Asset Management Inc. now owns 68,237 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $35,932,000 after purchasing an additional 2,931 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in Mastercard by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 71,862 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $37,841,000 after purchasing an additional 1,194 shares during the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC raised its position in Mastercard by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 5,612 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $2,955,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baldwin Investment Management LLC raised its position in Mastercard by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. Baldwin Investment Management LLC now owns 1,731 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $911,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 15,775 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.16, for a total value of $8,678,774.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 84,871 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,692,629.36. The trade was a 15.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $569.45, for a total value of $85,417.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,555 shares in the company, valued at $2,024,394.75. This trade represents a 4.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 23,207 shares of company stock valued at $12,664,529 over the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Mastercard Stock Performance

MA stock opened at $582.27 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $530.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $588.45. 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 stocks fifty day moving average price is $545.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $540.50.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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. The firm had revenue of $7.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.12 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.31 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group upped their price target on Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. KeyCorp increased their target price on Mastercard from $630.00 to $635.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Citigroup increased their target price on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Evercore ISI started coverage on Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued an in-line rating and a $550.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $610.00.

Check Out Our Latest Report on MA

About Mastercard

(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.

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Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG  Free Report) by 134.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,260 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 16,190 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLPs holdings in Packaging Co. of America were worth $6,362,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Packaging Co. of America in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 1,033.3% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 204 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Packaging Co. of America in the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. Rialto Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Packaging Co. of America in the 4th quarter worth approximately $63,000. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Packaging Co. of America in the 4th quarter worth approximately $64,000. Institutional investors own 89.78% of the companys stock.

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Packaging Co. of America Price Performance

NYSE PKG opened at $194.18 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.95, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Packaging Co. of America has a 12 month low of $172.72 and a 12 month high of $250.82. The companys 50 day moving average is $188.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $210.71. The stock has a market cap of $17.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.74, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.85.

Packaging Co. of America Announces Dividend

Packaging Co. of America ( NYSE:PKG Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.12 billion. Packaging Co. of America had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 19.67%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Packaging Co. of America will post 10.44 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th will be given a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.57%. Packaging Co. of Americas payout ratio is 52.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on PKG shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Packaging Co. of America from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, April 6th. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Packaging Co. of America from $265.00 to $238.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Packaging Co. of America from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an equal weight rating and set a $180.00 target price (down previously from $205.00) on shares of Packaging Co. of America in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $226.60.

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Packaging Co. of America Profile

(Free Report)

Packaging Corporation of America engages in the production of container products. It operates through the following segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers a variety of corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers. The Paper segment manufactures and sells a range of papers, including communication-based papers, and pressure sensitive papers.

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Wellington Management Group LLP lessened its holdings in NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR  Free Report) by 7.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 692,189 shares of the companys stock after selling 58,418 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP owned 0.32% of NET Power worth $7,330,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Covestor Ltd acquired a new position in NET Power during the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position in NET Power during the 4th quarter worth $108,000. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in NET Power by 2,727.0% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 11,930 shares of the companys stock worth $126,000 after acquiring an additional 11,508 shares during the last quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in NET Power during the 4th quarter worth $137,000. Finally, Mariner LLC acquired a new position in NET Power during the 4th quarter worth $139,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.62% of the companys stock.

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NET Power Stock Performance

NYSE:NPWR opened at $2.76 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $2.00 and its 200-day moving average is $6.33. NET Power Inc. has a 52-week low of $1.48 and a 52-week high of $14.28. The company has a market cap of $604.62 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.34 and a beta of 0.51.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NET Power ( NYSE:NPWR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 12th. The company reported ($1.55) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by ($1.44). Equities analysts predict that NET Power Inc. will post -0.4 EPS for the current year.

A number of research firms have weighed in on NPWR. Citigroup raised shares of NET Power from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their target price for the stock from $14.00 to $6.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Barclays lowered shares of NET Power from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and cut their target price for the stock from $3.00 to $2.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd.

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NET Power Profile

(Free Report)

NET Power Inc operates as a clean energy technology company. The company invents, develops, and licenses clean power generation technology. NET Power Inc was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

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Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Wednesday,Finviz reports. The brokerage presently has a $167.00 price objective on the restaurant operators stock. The Goldman Sachs Groups target price would suggest a potential upside of 15.95% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on YUM. Evercore ISI upped their target price on Yum! Brands from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Yum! Brands from $147.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Piper Sandler raised their target price on Yum! Brands from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. TD Cowen reiterated a hold rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Yum! Brands from $130.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $157.30.

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Yum! Brands Stock Performance

Shares of YUM stock opened at $144.03 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $40.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.59, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $147.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $142.86. Yum! Brands has a fifty-two week low of $122.13 and a fifty-two week high of $163.30.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The restaurant operator reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.01. Yum! Brands had a negative return on equity of 20.33% and a net margin of 19.68%. The company had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. Yum! Brandss quarterly revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Yum! Brands will post 5.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 5,293 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.24, for a total value of $816,392.32. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 157,893 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,353,416.32. This trade represents a 3.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Tracy L. Skeans sold 8,638 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.36, for a total transaction of $1,367,913.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,970 shares in the company, valued at $470,329.20. This trade represents a 74.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 26,730 shares of company stock valued at $4,061,323. Company insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of YUM. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Yum! Brands in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 78.0% during the 1st quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 162 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, HFM Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. 82.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Yum! Brands

(Get Free Report)

Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division segments. It also operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products.

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BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- China is seeking to boost the consumption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the country's rural regions with accelerated efforts to improve the supporting environment for their use.

According to a circular issued by five government departments on Tuesday, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Ministry of Commerce, promotional campaigns for NEVs will be carried out in certain counties where the NEV penetration rate is low but the consumption potential is huge.

As part of these promotional campaigns, NEV models that are suitable for driving conditions in rural areas, have good reputations and are known for reliable quality will be selected. Activities such as exhibitions and test drives will be organized.

According to a list attached to the circular posted on the MIIT website, a total of 124 NEV models, including both EVs and hybrids, are included in the promotional campaigns, featuring vehicles from manufacturers such as BYD, Geely, GAC Aion, and Xpeng, as well as Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y.

NEV after-sales maintenance and repair service enterprises, electric car charging and battery switching service providers, and financial service enterprises will also be included in these promotional campaigns, with a view to optimizing the supporting environment for NEV adoption in rural areas.

Car companies are encouraged to enrich the provision of NEV models and improve their services to tap consumption potential in China's countryside.

NEV manufacturers, car retailers, financial service companies, and electricity charging and after-sales service providers are also encouraged to offer "promotional deals" that integrate services spanning car purchase, car use and after-sales services to rural customers.

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that NEV production in China had surged 48.3 percent year on year to nearly 4.43 million units in the first four months of 2025, with sales up by 46.2 percent year on year to 4.3 million units. NEVs accounted for 42.7 percent of total new vehicle sales in China in the January-April period this year.

The cumulative number of charging infrastructure facilities nationwide had reached almost 13.75 million at the end of March. This figure included 3.9 million public charging points for NEVs and 9.85 million private charging installations, official data revealed. 
Rethinking the Bahamian Dollar?



Prime Minister Philip Davis has floated the idea of pegging The Bahamas currency to a basket of currencies, rather than solely to the US dollar, to enhance global trade flexibility. Speaking at the Afreximbank meetings in Nigeria, Davis also suggested a CARICOM-Africa digital currency to make regional trade smoother and more efficient.



The Bahamas has already tested a new settlement system (CPASS) with Africa, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign exchange bottlenecks.

You voted:
by Yoo Seungki

SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Lee Jae-myung was elected South Korea's 21st president in a snap election amid growing aspiration for a better life both materially and emotionally, advocated by the elected president during his campaign.

Lee of the majority liberal Democratic Party won 49.42 percent of support, defeating his archrival Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party by a broad margin of 8.27 percentage points, according to the final vote count released by the National Election Commission on Wednesday.

He formally began his single five-year term with the election watchdog's approval earlier in the day.

The incoming president celebrated with jubilant supporters crowding the square and streets near the parliamentary building in Seoul overnight as his victory was assured by local media outlets in a middle stage of vote counting.

In a televised speech, Lee told supporters that he will get over the insurrection, committed by his predecessor, and will make any military coup never happen again.

He vowed to revive the faltering Asian economy and boost people's livelihoods while protecting people's lives and safety.

Lee pledged to make the Korean Peninsula peaceful, co-existing and stable by trying to find a way for co-existence, co-prosperity and dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Before the speech, the People Power Party's candidate told reporters at his party's building that he humbly accepted the people's choice, making concessions of his defeat in the presidential by-election.

He congratulated Lee on the presidential victory, expressing gratitude to conservative supporters.

The presidential race was one-sided as the snap election was caused by the removal of former conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol from office over his botched martial law bid last December.

Lee lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon, then candidate of the People Power Party, by the country's narrowest margin of 0.73 percentage points.

Lee's sweeping victory mirrored people's rising aspiration for a better life both materially and emotionally as he set his administration's goals on material affluence and emotional well-being.

To achieve better material prosperity, Lee pledged to intensively foster new growth industries, especially artificial intelligence (AI), by expanding the government's relevant budget and inducing private investment.

Lee vowed to make the country one of the world's top three AI powerhouses by taking a strategy of "first mover," rather than "fast follower" that had been traditionally adopted by South Korean companies.

For emotional well-being, Lee pledged that he will make the country safer from various disasters and accidents.

Lee also vowed to reform the military, the prosecution, the judiciary, while expanding the social safety net for merchants and microbusiness owners, curtailing medical expenses, strengthening labor rights and speeding up the transition to renewable energy.

The elected president will have no transition period following a win in the presidential by-election.

Lee was widely forecast to appoint part of the presidential staff later Wednesday, while naming a prime minister in the near future.

The cabinet can be formed when the prime minister suggests ministers to Lee who will confirm the proposals. The prime minister is required to be subject to the parliamentary hearing.

Voter turnout reached 79.4 percent, marking the highest in 28 years since the voting rate recorded 80.7 percent in 1997.

Out of about 44.39 million eligible voters, some 35.24 million cast their ballots at 14,295 polling stations across the country.

The voter turnout, which included those who participated in early voting last Thursday and Friday, was up from 77.1 percent tallied in the previous presidential election in 2022. 
CHANGSHA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hunan Province has implemented 10 policy measures to deepen cooperation with German-speaking countries and regions, the provincial department of commerce announced on Wednesday.

The measures, effective immediately and set to remain in place for three years, aim to enhance the integration of industrial, innovation and talent chains, and to boost high-standard opening up.

German-speaking countries and regions are leading in sectors such as auto manufacturing, engineering machinery and smart manufacturing, complementing Hunan's industries. A total of 34 German firms, including Bosch and Schaeffler, had cumulatively invested 2.23 billion U.S. dollars in Hunan by the end of 2024.

The new policy measures cover trade, innovation, talent, finance and logistics, among others. Specific measures include those to facilitate business matches, attract projects, build cooperation platforms, and support local firms in expanding abroad.

Separately, Hunan has also rolled out eight measures to ease entry, work permit, business establishment and daily life services for foreign nationals, effective June 1.

Local officials of the provincial department of commerce said that all of these new measures will optimize Hunan's business environment, boost two-way investment, and enhance the province's international industrial integration. 
A meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs is held in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. Member states of the SCO support the deepening of regional fiscal and financial cooperation, including working toward the establishment of an SCO development bank, China's finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.(Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) support the deepening of regional fiscal and financial cooperation, including working toward the establishment of an SCO development bank, China's finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement follows a meeting of SCO member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs, which was held in online and offline forms on Tuesday. Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo'an and Chinese central bank governor Pan Gongsheng jointly chaired the meeting in Beijing.

Participants discussed the global and regional economic and financial situations and challenges, and shared their practices in fiscal and monetary policies, green transition and financial sector development, the statement said.

SCO member states supported making substantive progress in promoting the establishment of an SCO development bank and agreed to establish an SCO financial and economic think tank network. They also held discussions on strengthening local currency settlement arrangements and deepening cooperation in digital inclusive finance, the statement said.

During the meeting, Lan called on SCO member states to firmly uphold multilateralism, enhance coordination of macroeconomic policies, and continuously deepen practical fiscal and financial cooperation. 

Attendees are pictured during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs held in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. Member states of the SCO support the deepening of regional fiscal and financial cooperation, including working toward the establishment of an SCO development bank, China's finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement follows a meeting of SCO member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs, which was held in online and offline forms on Tuesday.

SCO member states supported making substantive progress in promoting the establishment of an SCO development bank and agreed to establish an SCO financial and economic think tank network. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Attendees are pictured during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs held in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. Member states of the SCO support the deepening of regional fiscal and financial cooperation, including working toward the establishment of an SCO development bank, China's finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement follows a meeting of SCO member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs, which was held in online and offline forms on Tuesday.

SCO member states supported making substantive progress in promoting the establishment of an SCO development bank and agreed to establish an SCO financial and economic think tank network. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs is held in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. Member states of the SCO support the deepening of regional fiscal and financial cooperation, including working toward the establishment of an SCO development bank, China's finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement follows a meeting of SCO member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs, which was held in online and offline forms on Tuesday.

SCO member states supported making substantive progress in promoting the establishment of an SCO development bank and agreed to establish an SCO financial and economic think tank network. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Attendees are pictured during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs held in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. Member states of the SCO support the deepening of regional fiscal and financial cooperation, including working toward the establishment of an SCO development bank, China's finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement follows a meeting of SCO member states' finance ministers and central bank chiefs, which was held in online and offline forms on Tuesday.

SCO member states supported making substantive progress in promoting the establishment of an SCO development bank and agreed to establish an SCO financial and economic think tank network. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A street vendor sells dried fruits and nuts ahead of Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 3, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- As Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, millions in Afghanistan are grappling with deepening poverty, hunger, and economic despair.

Najibullah, a 45-year-old Kabul resident, traveled from northern Kabul to a livestock market in the southern part of the city in hopes of purchasing a sheep for the traditional Eid sacrifice.

"I arrived here at seven in the morning to buy a sheep, but a 20-km animal costs around 13,000 afghani (roughly 186 U.S. dollars). We can't afford it," he told Xinhua in frustration.

Najibullah, the sole provider for a family of five, pointed to frozen Afghan assets abroad as a key factor behind the crisis. "If the Afghan people's frozen assets were released, there would be more job opportunities. More construction projects would take place. People could find work, and our lives would be better," he said.

He estimates that nearly 70 percent of Afghans are unable to afford livestock for Eid al-Adha due to ongoing U.S. sanctions. "Most people's tables are empty because they don't have enough money," Najibullah added as he returned home without making a purchase. Instead of serving lamb, he plans to offer dried fruits to guests this year.

The United Nations has warned that nearly half of Afghanistan's population, about 22.9 million people, will require humanitarian assistance by 2025 as the country struggles to meet both chronic and acute needs.

Naqibullah, a butcher from eastern Wardak Province, travels to Kabul annually ahead of Eid al-Adha to earn a living. "In the past, business was booming, but now, there is barely any work and the job market is taking its last breaths," he explained.

This young butcher visits the market daily, looking for customers until the evening; however, there are no signs of improvement. "This year, our economy is so weak that I can't afford to make a sacrifice myself. Even some of our neighbors can't afford dinner," Naqibullah lamented.

Afghans continue to voice frustration over mounting unemployment and worsening poverty, as approximately 9 billion U.S. dollars of Afghanistan's assets were frozen by the United States in August 2021.

While a few buyers are seen browsing livestock markets in Kabul, many livestock farmers have brought their animals from neighboring provinces, hoping to sell them.

Mohammad Younis, a veteran livestock trader in Kabul with a decade of experience, said this year's Eid market has been the worst he's seen. "People want to buy cattle or sheep, but prices are too high and their wallets are empty, so they leave empty-handed," he said, anxiously scanning the market for potential customers.

Younis blamed the dire situation in part on U.S. policies. He believes decades of conflict and foreign occupation have devastated Afghanistan's economic foundations.

As in other Muslim countries, Eid al-Adha in Afghanistan is traditionally celebrated with animal sacrifices and family visits. But for many this year, it has become a painful reminder of hardship rather than a celebration.

Shakir Yaqubi, an Afghan economist, said that U.S. financial sanctions have crippled Afghanistan's trade and frozen development. "This Eid, for many Afghan families, is a day of economic struggle rather than a festive occasion," he noted. "Without coordinated actions from the government or international community, poverty will deepen, and social divisions will grow." 

Customers visit a local market ahead of Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 3, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

A young butcher carrying a sheep waits for customers at a market ahead of Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 4, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

People buy sweets at a local market ahead of Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 3, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

An Afghan farmer brings animals to a market ahead of Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 4, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows traditional Afghan desserts at a local market ahead of Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
BJP state unit has erupted in protest following the demolition of a house in Santiniketan once associated with Abanindranath Tagore, the renowned artist, writer, and creator of the iconic Bharat Mata painting.

The West Bengal unit of the saffron party has condemned the move, calling it a direct assault on Bengali cultural heritage and launched a state-wide agitation. Abanindranath, a key figure in Indias nationalist art movement and a close relative of Rabindranath Tagore, lived in the now-demolished house, locally known as Abas, situated in the area known as Abanpalli. The house was reportedly purchased by his son and later became symbolic of the Tagore familys extended cultural legacy in Santiniketan.

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This is not just the demolition of a house, it is the demolition of history, of memory, and of Bengali identity, said BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar. It is a cultural crime that cannot be forgiven. Critics argue the demolition represents a growing disregard for the preservation of Bengals artistic and historical icons. BJP leaders claim the incident reflects a larger pattern of erasing Hindu cultural pride in a state once championed by nationalist figures like Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. This shameful act is an insult to every Bengali, Majumdar added, urging the states intellectual and cultural community to speak out. As political tensions mount, cultural activists and local residents are demanding a full investigation and immediate steps to protect other heritage structures linked to the Tagore family.

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After a brief spell of scattered showers, oppressive heat has returned in south Bengal, with temperatures and humidity levels surging, leaving residents drenched in sweat and discomfort.

Meteorologists warned that the region would continue to endure hot and humid conditions for the next several days as the monsoon remains stalled. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the southwest monsoon, which typically arrives in south Bengal around 10 June, is currently hovering near Balurghat in Dakshin Dinajpur district due to the dominance of hot, dry winds from the west and northwest. Conditions are not favourable for further advancement of the monsoon into south Bengal for at least a week, scientists at the Alipore weather office said, adding that monsoon onset may now be delayed until around 12 June.

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On Tuesday, the minimum temperature in Kolkata was recorded at 29.1 degrees Celsius, while Mondays maximum soared to 37 degrees. Relative humidity ranged between 50 per cent and 91 per cent, exacerbating discomfort levels. Daytime temperatures across the region are expected to rise by another 2 to 4 degrees Celsius over the coming days. Districts such as Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24-Parganas, East and West Midnapore, and Jhargram are witnessing a particularly stifling combination of heat and humidity. Residents across Kolkata and neighbouring districts reported intense sultriness, with no significant rainfall expected in the short term. Despite the early arrival of monsoon in Kerala, the delay over eastern India is not unprecedented. However, the prolonged hot spell has raised health and safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations. Some respite may arrive on Thursday, when parts of South Bengal  including Kolkata, Howrah, the 24-Parganas, East and West Midnapore, East Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia, may see thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds blowing at speeds of 30 to 50 km/h.

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In contrast, the northern districts of West Bengal are likely to receive scattered rainfall. Thunderstorms with gusty winds of 30 to 40 km/h are forecast for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar on Tuesday. Malda and the Dinajpurs may also witness isolated thunderstorms, though heavy rainfall is unlikely during the first week of June. Elsewhere in the northeast, the IMD has issued warnings for very heavy rainfall across Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. As south Bengal braces for more intense heat, the delayed monsoon continues to elude millions hoping for relief from a punishing summer.
As a part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration, the Delhi Police have detained 18 Bangladeshi nationals from Wazirpur in North West Delhi for residing in the country without valid documentation, it said on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhisham Singh said that the drive was initiated across the national capital targeting the foreign nationals residing without valid documentation.

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He further said that secret information was received at the Bharat Nagar police station that three families, which had been changing their location frequently, had shifted to Wazirpurs JJ colony from Haryana. Based on this tip-off, a team was immediately dispatched to the location to conduct an inquiry.

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As a part of the investigation, the team cordoned off the area and conducted a thorough verification drive to nab the suspected individuals. Around 36 footpaths and 45 galis were checked, and a sincere combing operation was carried out.

During the operation, a suspect was apprehended and was questioned at length. Initially, he tried to mislead the police, but after sustained interrogation, confessed to be a native of Bangladesh, the DCP mentioned.

The senior officer added that, while grilling him further, it was found that the families were working as labourers at Red Clay Bricks Company (Bhatta Companies) in Haryana and, due to action taken by Haryana police, flew to Delhi with a plan to settle in JJ Clusters in Wazirpur.

With this lead, other family members were also apprehended. A total of 18 individuals, including six adults and 12 children, were found to be Bangladeshi nationals residing in the area without valid travel documents or permits, thereby violating the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and other relevant immigration laws.

All individuals were taken into custody on the spot and shifted to the foreigners cell for detailed interrogation and documentation.

Amid the probe conducted into this case, it came out that they had the banned IMO application installed on their mobiles to communicate with their families in Bangladesh, which was then confiscated from their possession.

A case has been registered against all of them, and they have been put through the process of deportation, the DCP stated.
In a major step aimed at reducing vehicular emissions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday issued new restrictions on fleet operators in Delhi-NCR.

Starting January 1, 2026, aggregators, delivery services, and e-commerce companies will be barred from adding new petrol or diesel vehicles to their fleets.

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The restriction applies to 4-wheeler light commercial vehicles (LCVs), 4-wheeler light goods vehicles (LGVs) in the N1 category (up to 3.5 tonnes), and 2-wheelers.

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The order also stated that, starting Tuesday, only CNG or electric 3-wheelers may be added to commercial transport fleets.

The existing fleet of vehicles onboarded by these service providers may continue to be used for such services, the official press document stated.

The move aims to encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the commercial transport sectora major contributor to air pollution in the NCRand accelerate the transition to cleaner options like EVs and CNG-based vehicles.

The Commission also directed NCR states  including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan  to draft policies for aggregators, delivery services, and e-commerce companies across the region. It urged them to prioritise high vehicle-density cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad, which experience heavy inter-city vehicle movement in addition to local traffic.

The GNCTD and NCR state governments have been tasked with tracking and monitoring the effective implementation of CAQMs new directions.

All such service providers are also mandated to register all vehicles in their respective fleets on a dedicated Web Portal developed by the GNCTD for monitoring and accounting purposes, the official order stated.

The governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have been asked to develop similar web portals to support effective enforcement.
Delhi Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday said the BJP-led city government worked on the principle of Antyodaya vision with an aim to make life easier for the middle class and welfare of the poor, in its first 100 days in office.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the government led by Rekha Gupta allocated Rs 700 crore for the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to improve the life of citys slum dwellers.

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According to the minister, the government has approved building new toilets, community welfare initiatives and other work aimed at providing amenities for slum dwellers so that they can live a life of dignity.

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He informed that DUSIB has so far installed 231 toilets and 12 bathroom cubicles, ensuring basic sanitation and dignity for thousands of urban poor families, especially women who reside in these places.

Sood noted that repair of 2,500 flats has been put on a fast track mode, transforming previously abandoned and unlivable spaces into safe and dignified homes for urban poor.

Taking a dig at AAP leaders with regard to their statements on the relocation of Madrasi Camp residents, the BJP minister said it was done as per court orders, and had the previous government wanted to do something for those residents, they could have done it long back.

He mentioned that the eligible families living in the Madrasi Camp have been given a respectable life by the present government, something which the previous dispensation did not do, and now their leaders are trying to rake up the issue in a different way.

Sood reiterated that the government stands with their commitment for the welfare of slum dwellers.

On the work done in the first 100 days of the government, he said the city government has released the first installment of grant-in-aid to state universities and 12 Delhi University colleges.

He slammed the previous government in this regard, alleging that university staff were left to suffer with months of unpaid salaries, leading to protests and academic uncertainty.

Talking about the projects on school education, the education minister said the cabinet has approved establishment of 75 CM Shri Schools, with state-of-the-art learning facilities for children coming from economically weaker backgrounds.

Sood said the education department is also working on the digitization and beautification of around 250 school libraries, while the cabinet has also approved establishment of 100 AI enabled labs with speech recognition technology and interactive software to help students learn foreign languages, like English, French, German and Spanish.

For now, 1,200 Laptops will be given to deserving students to equip them with digital skills, he said.

Sood also said that within these 100 days, the government has drafted the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, which will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session and is going to benefit private school students and their parents.

In a step towards skill development, MoUs have been signed with leading industry partners to upgrade training infrastructure at government ITIs, the minister added.
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan made his first public appearance since the recent controversy over his remarks about the Kannada language, but chose not to address the issue directly.

At a grand promotional event in Chennai for his upcoming film Thug Life, Haasan took the stage alongside co-stars including Silambarasan, shifting the focus firmly back to cinema.

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Without referring to the row explicitly, Haasan thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for standing by him. I should thank the entire state of Tamil Nadu which stood behind me, he said during his speech.

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Haasan, however, chose to highlight the dedication of the Thug Life team, appreciating the technical crew and the global standards they brought to the project. He also expressed admiration for director Mani Ratnam, calling him a cinema gyania sage of cinema.

Touching briefly on his now-familiar slogan Uyire, Urave, Tamizhe (My life, my bond, my Tamil), Kamal Haasan said he now fully understood the depth of the phrase, underlining his emotional and cultural ties to the Tamil language.

The slogan, which has featured prominently in both his political and cinematic events, made another appearance during the Thug Life promotions.

While the Chennai crowd and the press expected a statement about the ongoing language controversy, Haasan maintained a deliberate silence.

Meanwhile, the ripple effect of the controversy continued elsewhere. On June 3, the Karnataka High Court voiced its disapproval of Haasans comment, calling it insensitive and avoidable.

Justice M Nagaprasanna observed, A single apology could have resolved the situation Freedom of expression cannot be extended to the extent of hurting someones sentiment. In a striking metaphor, the judge added, You cannot unscramble the scrambled egg.

In light of the court proceedings, producers of Thug Life assured the Karnataka High Court that the film will not release in the state on June 5, even as it opens in theatres across the rest of India.
Thirteen Bangladeshi nationals, believed to be associated with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), were detained by the Tripura Police late Tuesday night from a rented house in the Hapania area of Agartala.

The group, comprising 11 men and two women, had reportedly crossed the border into India six days ago.

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According to a senior intelligence officer, the detainees claimed they had entered the state to seek medical treatment for injuries sustained in recent violence in Bangladeshs Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

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All 13 were picked up from a house in the Hapania area. They told us they are members of PCJSS and had entered Tripura for treatment, said the officer, adding that at least six of them had visible injuries, including burn and cut wounds on their legs.

The detained individuals were identified as: Thuithui Mog (23), Angla Mog (35), Rumel Chakma (27), Aoj Chakma (30), Dravid Chakma (24), Ramen Chakma (24), Mik Chakma (28), Nirbhoy Chakma (27), Choice Chakma (21), Bitu Chakma (17), Kimon Chakma (22), Purna Chakma (24), and Nayanchi Mog (21).

The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti is a political organisation representing the indigenous Jumma people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in southeastern Bangladesh. It was formed in 1972 to demand autonomy and rights for the hill communities. The group was long associated with an armed wing, the Shanti Bahini, which waged an insurgency until the signing of the 1997 CHT Peace Accord with the Bangladesh government.

Tripura shares a long and porous border with the CHT, and in the past, has seen influxes of tribal refugees and political activists escaping persecution or seeking medical care.

Authorities in Tripura are currently interrogating the detainees and coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Border Security Force (BSF) for further investigation.
Three Indian nationals, who were abducted in Iran last month, have been rescued by the Tehran police, the Iranian Embassy in India confirmed late on Tuesday night.

In a social media post on X, the embassy stated: Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police.

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According to a news report, the Iranian Embassy shared in its post that the kidnapping of the three Indian citizens from Punjab was reported to Tehran Police on May 1.

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The three men  Jaspal Singh from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, and Hushanpreet Singh from Sangrur in Punjab  were offered lucrative jobs in Australia by a local travel agency.

However, upon their arrival in Tehran, they were abducted by human traffickers and taken to Varamin in South Tehran. Their kidnappers reportedly demanded Rs 1 crore in ransom from their families to release them.

The victims families in India alerted the authorities, following which the Indian government intervened and raised the issue with Iranian authorities.

In a press briefing last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that they were in touch with Iranian authorities and that Tehran was cooperating in the matter.

We are in daily touch with Iranian authorities and extending all possible help to the families. Weve received good cooperation from Iran, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the briefing on May 29.

After the Indian governments intervention, the Tehran police launched an operation against the hostage takers in Varamin and safely rescued the Indian nationals.

The operation was executed by the local police in coordination with the consular affairs department of the Iranian Foreign Ministry and relevant judicial authorities.
The Odisha Government on Wednesday ordered a high-level inquiry into the reported deaths of five patients at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Koraput, following allegations of medical negligence.

Of the five deaths, four occurred in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the government-run medical college hospital, while the fifth patient died in the general ward, according to hospital sources.

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A fact-finding team comprising senior doctors from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, and MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur has been constituted. The team has been directed to submit a report within 48 hours.

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If the investigation confirms negligence on the part of any medical staff, strict action will be taken, said a senior official from the Health and Family Welfare Department on Thursday.

While the hospital authorities denied any lapse in medical care, allegations surfaced that the deceased patients were administered incorrect injections.

Dr Susant Sahu, Superintendent of the Medical College, dismissed the claims of medical negligence, stating that one ICU patient was battling advanced-stage cancer, while three others had suffered severe liver injuries due to stabbing. The fifth patient had sustained critical head injuries in a road accident, he added.

Meanwhile, amid rising concerns over multiple alleged medical negligence cases across the state, health authorities have taken swift disciplinary action in unrelated incidents.

In Nayagarh district, a pregnant woman died at the District Headquarters Hospital, reportedly due to negligence. The doctor responsible was suspended, and a three-member committee was formed to ascertain the exact cause of death.

In a separate incident in Kandhamal district, another pregnant woman reportedly died due to medical negligence. A specialist team has been deployed to investigate the case and asked to submit a report within a week.

Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings, officials said.

The Odisha Government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward medical negligence, emphasizing its commitment to providing the highest standard of healthcare to all citizens.
ABB has a positive outlook on the development of the AI industry in China and is willing to collaborate with Chinese partners to further increase its AI presence in the country, an executive of the Swiss tech giant has said. #GLOBALink
Year after year, as monsoon rains lash Assam, vast areas of land disappear under water, houses crumble, crops are destroyed, and lives are lost.

Yet the devastating floods that have become a predictable annual tragedy in the state remain curiously unacknowledged as a national problem by the central government  a demand that has echoed across successive state governments for decades but has repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.

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Despite a renewed focus on infrastructural development in the North East in recent years, Assams floods continue to be treated as an isolated seasonal issue, rather than a recurring national disaster.

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This disregard has left millions vulnerable and pushed the states economy into a vicious cycle of recovery and relapse.

The numbers speak for themselves. On average, Assam loses over Rs 200 crore each year due to floods.

The devastation in 2022 alone cost the state nearly Rs 5,000 crore, as paddy fields were submerged, roads and bridges were washed away, and homes were left in ruins.

Approximately 9.3 lakh hectares of land are affected annually, and hundreds of villages are rendered inaccessible.

In 2022, one of the worst flood years in recent times, about 25 per cent of Assams rice-growing area was destroyed, and over 20,000 livestock perished.

More than four lakh homes were damaged in the last five financial years due to floods.

Embankments  the last line of defence for many riverine communities  were breached at over 400 locations in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for durable flood control infrastructure.

But even here, little has changed. Temporary earthen embankments continue to be repaired and rebuilt, often by the same contractors, feeding what many describe as a flood economy that thrives on disaster rather than prevention.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers have assured support and monitored the situation, the absence of flood-specific allocations under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for many years has drawn criticism from experts and citizens alike.

Assams pleas for special recognition have repeatedly run into bureaucratic hurdles. The Centre has, so far, refused to officially declare floods in Assam as a national calamity  a status that would unlock additional resources, long-term planning, and dedicated funding.

Floods in Assam are often seen as a normal phenomenon due to their frequency, and that perception itself has proved to be a barrier to policy change.

Officials say the lack of robust forecasting and integrated river basin management further complicates mitigation efforts.

Its not just water that we battle. Its indifference, said a retired irrigation department engineer in Guwahati who does not wish to be named.

Experts have recommended shifting from temporary flood-fighting measures to sustainable, long-term solutions, including the construction of rockfill embankments, community-led disaster management, and comprehensive river interlinking projects.

However, without national recognition of the issue, the political will and financial resources to implement these measures remain elusive.

Until then, for the people of Assam, the monsoon doesnt just bring rain  it brings fear, displacement, and the grim certainty that once the waters recede, they will be left to rebuild, once again, with little more than hope.
Australia Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who arrived in the national capital, on Wednesday reiterated his countrys support to Indias fight against cross border terrorism.

He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and other issues of international importance.

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Interestingly, his trip coincides with the fifth anniversary of India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is a part of the bilateral relationship between the two countries with a shared agenda of security, and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.

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Prime Minister Modi congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Marles on the historic victory of the Australian Labor Party in the recent Federal elections, an official communique issued here said.

The two leaders exchanged ideas to further strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which completed five years today, it said.

They underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation in key areas such as defence industrial collaboration, resilient supply chains, critical minerals, new and emerging technologies.

The two leaders also reaffirmed that the shared vision for a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific continues to guide the bilateral collaboration.

Modi also extended an invitation to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the annual summit, to be held in India later this year.

Glad to meet Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Richard Marles. Had a productive discussion on deepening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which marks its fifth anniversary today. Our shared vision for a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific continues to guide our collaboration, he posted on X.
As protests continue over the rape of a minor Dalit girl, the Congress on Wednesday urged Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to hold a special session of the assembly.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan demanded a judicial inquiry, while RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav compared the situation in Bihar to the tyranny of Taliban.

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Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav shared a video and claimed that a doctor who had gone to help a rape victim was brutally beaten up in Gaya district of Bihar.

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He wrote on X, The situation in Bihar is worse than Taliban. In Gaya district, the doctor who went to treat the mother of a rape victim was tied to a tree and beaten to a bloody pulp by the accused.

Lok Janshakti Party (R) chief Chirag Paswan termed the Dalit girls rape-murder a system failure and demanded a judicial inquiry.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Chirag wrote, This incident is not just the death of a girl child, it has become a symbol of the failure of our social system and the constitutional responsibility of the state. If the government remains silent on this too, then this silence itself will become the biggest crime.

The Congress party submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Bihar Arif Mohammmad Khan highlighting the rising crimes against Dalits and deteriorating law and order, and urged him to summon a special session of Bihar Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to discuss the state of law and order in Bihar.

After submitting the memorandum, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram said that the brutal rape-murder of the Dalit girl has exposed the negligence and insensitivity of the state government.

He said The death of the girl is proof of the gross failure of the government health system. It is extremely regrettable that proper medical facilities could not be provided to the rape victim, as a result of which she died untimely. This is a direct violation of human rights and shows the irresponsibility of the state towards the most vulnerable section of the society.

He also demanded to register a case of culpable homicide against the PMCH officials who denied timey treatment and punish them.

The CPI-ML demanded resignation of Health Minister Mangal Pandey alleging that the rape victim died due to gross negligence in treatment. The party also organised protests across Bihar demanding strict punishment to the culprit by conducting a speedy trial.
The Congress party on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the challenges faced by Indian students in the US due to President Donald Trumps policies.

President Trump has made his intentions clear. China has reacted strongly regarding Chinese students. But not surprisingly, our PM and EAM have kept totally quiet. They are completely silent on President Trumps claims on having Operation Sindoor stopped after just four days, and they have not said a word of concern on how Indian students and their families are being affected badly by President Trumps actions, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on the platform X.

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Approximately 337,630 Indian students went to the US for higher studies in 2024, with about a third of foreign students on American campuses being from India. This has significant financial implications for Indian families who have invested their savings or borrowed money for their childrens education, Mr Ramesh pointed out.

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This means that some three and a half lakh Indian families invested their hard-earned savings or borrowed for the education of their children in the USThese students, plus those who went in earlier years, face an uncertain future. Large numbers of students planning to go in 2025 may never get to see their aspirations fulfilled, the Congress leader said.

As Donald Trumps administration has targeted international students  first implementing draconian screening measures over political views and then ordering all US embassies globally to indefinitely pause all student visa interviews  many Indian students and their families are left in a lurch.

Key Issues Faced by Indian Students:

 Visa Uncertainty: Trumps administration has halted new student visa interviews, causing anxiety among students.

 Stricter Immigration Rules: Increased scrutiny and tighter immigration policies have led to visa denials and deportations.

 Financial Implications: Rising costs and delayed processes deter Indian students, affecting their financial planning and mental well-being.

 Shift to Other Countries: Many Indian students are now opting for Canada, Germany, and Australia due to US immigration uncertainties.
Reacting sharply to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhis charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped attacks under Operation Sindoor on Pakistan abruptly the moment US President Donald Trump asked him to do so, the BJP on Wednesday said it was the Congress and its governments that surrendered under the influence of foreign powers on various occasions and not the Modi-led government at the Centre.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in the national capital, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Gandhi of always speaking in favour of Pakistan and anti-India forces. He said the Congress leader has even surpassed Pakistanis themselves in speaking for the enemy country.

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Even the Pakistani leadership has not used such language or terms that PM Modi surrendered at the will of the US President. Rahul Gandhi has surpassed them by speaking for their country, Trivedi alleged.

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The BJP leader also talked about the incidents such as the India-Pakistan war of 1971 when India gave away 93,000 Pakistan prisoners of war, and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru seeking help from the US by asking them to come and handle the Air Force of India in 1962, and termed them as real surrender.

Trivedi mentioned that Rahul Gandhi in March 2023, while in the US, said, why the defenders of democracy are not doing anything, directly inviting foreign forces to intervene in Indias internal matters.

That was the real surrender, the BJP leader asserted.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his government, BJP and anything else could be criticised, but Bharat cannot be insulted.

Trivedi, answering a query, also said the US Presidents claim that he got the war stopped has been refuted by all concerned and it was Pakistan that came seeking ceasefire, which was accepted by the government. Trump had nothing to do with it.

Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a party event in Bhopal on Tuesday, had said, A call came from (Donald) Trump and Narendraji immediately surrendered history is witness to this. This is the character of the BJP and RSS.

Narendraji followed Trump, saying Narender, surrender by saying yes, sir, Gandhi jibed.
New Delhi has invited the foreign ministers of five countriesthe Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan for the 4th meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue here on 6 June, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday.

The dialogue assumes significance, especially in the wake of the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians and Operation Sindoor.

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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will host the foreign ministers of these five countries here on Friday where the ministers will discuss further strengthening of relations between India and Central Asian countries with particular focus on trade, connectivity, technology, and development cooperation.

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They will also share perspectives on challenges to regional security and other regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The foreign ministers will also participate in the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting being held on 5 June by the MEA in collaboration with FICCI, the MEA said on Wednesday.

The third meeting of the Dialogue was hosted by India in New Delhi in December 2021.

India and Central Asia, in each others Extended Neighbourhood, enjoy close and cordial contemporary diplomatic relations underpinned by millennia old cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The India-Central Asia Dialogue is a manifestation of mutual interest on the part of India and the Central Asian countries to forge even closer, wider and stronger partnership in a spirit of friendship, trust and mutual understanding.
Errol Musk, the father of the worlds richest man Elon Musk, along with his daughter Alexandra and other foreign guests on Wednesday visited the Ram Temple here.

Errol reached Ayodhya wearing a kurta pajama, and worshiped at the historic Hanumangarhi temple.

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He reached Ayodhya Airport by private jet from Delhi and was accompanied by 16 people including daughter Alexandra and Motivational Speaker Vivek Bindra.

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They stayed in the Ram temple for about 40 minutes and around 30 minutes in Hanumangarhi temple. The people of the Trust presented the offerings of Ramlala to the guests.

Mahant Sanjay Das, the national president of Sankatmochan Seva and Hemant Das, senior priest of Hanumangarhi, presented the group a picture of Hanumanji and Ramnami Patka along with applying Tika on their foreheads.

Errol Musk also spoke to the media at Maharishi Valmik International Airport.

In response to a question, he said that India and America relationship will be better in future.

In a question about Indian culture, he said , I know and understand Indian culture well, because there is a large number of Indian people in our country. Indians are very generous and full of humanity. On meeting Indians, it seems as if they are the best practical personalities in the world.

He further said ,India is a wonderful place. As much as possible, as many people should come to India. There are many Indians in the US and therefore, I know Indian culture. People here are lovely.

Motivational Speaker Vivek Bindra was among the group for the Ayodhya trip with Errol Musk.He gave information about the purpose of Errol Musks programs and his stay in India and said that when the whole world is coming to see Ramlala in Ayodhya, then Indians around the world should not delay in coming to Ayodhya.

Errol Musk and his team left for Delhi in the late afternoon.
In a fresh recovery of explosive substances looted by Left Wing Extremists in Odishas Sundargarh district, security forces have retrieved 700 kilograms of the looted materials hidden deep inside the dense forest area of the district, in a refreshing relief for the government agencies, a senior police official informed on Wednesday.

Of the estimated 4,000 kilograms of looted materials, around 2,500 kilograms of explosives were recovered yesterday. This includes around 3,200 kilograms of explosive gelatin used in blasting mines. Therefore, a sizable chunk of the looted substances has now been retrieved. The official confided that they are hopeful of making a cent percent recovery.

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The Maoists, after waylaying two truckloads of explosives on 27 May, had made their way to the Saranda forest cover along the Odisha-Jharkhand border. The explosives were hidden inside ditches and trenches dug out by the Maoists, added the officials.

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The joint security operation is presently underway in the inaccessible hilly terrain and forest cover by the Central Reserve Police Force, Special Operation Groups of Odisha and Jharkhand police, and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). The mission of the exercise is to retrieve the explosives and launch a crackdown on the Maoists hideout, added the official.

The sensational loot of two truckloads of explosives had posed a headache to the government agencies of both Odisha and Jharkhand, prompting the agencies of both States and security forces to carry out an intense operation to thwart possible subversive activities by red rebels.

Gauging the gravity of the turn of events, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took up the matter in all seriousness, deputing a team of officials to the Sundargarh district to expedite the probe of the daring loot by the red rebels.

Side by side with the recovery of explosives, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by Odisha police to crack the loot has taken into custody Shravan Agrawal, the owner of the explosive warehouse in Badgaon area of Sundargarh district, which borders Jharkhand.

Meanwhile, Odisha police have stepped up security for the carriers of consignment of explosives to prevent the substances from falling into the hands of Maoists yet again. The explosives are required for blasting quarries and mines in the mineral-rich areas of Odisha. The quarry and mine owners are allowed to make use of the materials only after they are authorised to do so by the government agencies, including the States mining directorate, the officials stated.
The government will sponsor an impeachment motion against former Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, starting July 21, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

I have reached out to the leaders of all major political parties. As this is a non-political issue it would be better for all parties to be on board..Its not a political issue, its a matter of seriousness related to corruption in the judiciary We will evolve a consensus, Rijiju told newsmen.

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The controversy erupted during a fire incident at Justice Varmas residence in New Delhi on March 14 when fire-fighters allegedly discovered sacks of unaccounted cash at his official residence. Justice Varma categorically denied knowledge of any such money, claiming neither he nor his staff were aware of currency in such quantities.

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Following the discovery, then CJI Sanjiv Khanna called an extraordinary meeting of the Supreme Court collegium to discuss the serious allegations after which Varma was relieved from judicial duties at the Delhi High Court.

On 22nd March, the CJI formally constituted a three-member committee comprising Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court), Justice G S Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge of Karnataka High Court) to conduct a thorough investigation under the in-house procedure.

The Supreme Court also requested detailed information about security personnel posted at Justice Varmas residence in the six months preceding the incident, indicating a comprehensive approach to the investigation.

The three-member inquiry committee submitted its report on 3rd May 2025, finding substantial credence in the allegations against Justice Varma. Based on these findings, the CJI Khanna reportedly sought Justice Varmas voluntary resignation as a measure to preserve judicial dignity and avoid the more drastic impeachment process.

Justice Varma, however, refused to resign  a decision that marks a departure from previous cases like Justice Soumitra Sen and Justice P D Dinakaran who chose resignation when faced with similar circumstances. His refusal necessitated escalation to the next stage of accountability mechanisms.

On 9th May 2025, the CJI formally forwarded the committees report along with Justice Varmas response to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommending the initiation of removal proceedings.

This referral to the constitutional authorities represents the judiciarys recognition that the matter has crossed the threshold of internal disciplinary action and warrants consideration for the more severe constitutional remedy of impeachment.

The impeachment process involves several stages with the process being initiated in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, and which must be approved by the presiding officer, the Speaker or the Chairman, depending on the house the motion has been taken up. A motion for impeachment is adopted in Parliament only if it is passed by a two-thirds majority in either House.
Describing Indias actions against Pakistan as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said the country responded in self-defence against cross-border terrorism.

Singhs observation on the issue came after he held a bilateral meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles in the national capital.

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Both ministers strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed deepest condolences to the families of the victims. They also agreed to work together to combat terrorism in all its forms.

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In a post on X after the meeting, Singh thanked Australia for its unequivocal support to Indias resolute response against the barbaric act of terror in Pahalgam.

The two ministers welcomed the signing of the Australia-India Joint Research Project and agreed to intensify and diversify defence industry collaboration.

They deliberated on furthering defence science and technology collaboration projects when they meet in Australia later this year for the third India-Australia 2+2 ministerial meeting.

They also reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in November 2023, an official release issued here said.

The meeting offered an opportunity for both sides to review the status of bilateral engagements in the context of emerging regional and global scenarios.

The discussions, it said, covered a wide range of issues such as defence strategic cooperation and security, including industry collaboration, cyber and new emerging technologies, counter-terrorism, hydrography, and maritime security. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global security issues of mutual interest.

On the fifth anniversary of signing the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both sides expressed satisfaction and recognised that defence has emerged as an important pillar of the collaboration.

India and Australia expressed satisfaction at the growing strategic convergence between the two countries and agreed to work together towards a free and open Indian Ocean and Pacific Island region.

They called for continued strengthening of bilateral defence cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity, stability and progress in the Indo-Pacific region.

Defence Minister Singh congratulated his Australian counterpart on his reappointment after the impressive victory of the Labor Party in the recently held federal elections in Australia.

Earlier, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes.
KIEV, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to carry out a prisoner exchange under the "500-for-500" formula this weekend, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

"The Russian side has informed us that this weekend it will be ready to hand over 500 individuals ... Accordingly, we will be ready to exchange the same number of people," Zelensky said after consultations between Kiev and Moscow regarding the swap.

He noted that Ukraine has not yet received the lists of individuals to be exchanged.

Ukraine and Russia have agreed on another major prisoner exchange during the second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday.

The delegations held their previous negotiations on May 16, which resulted in a "1,000 for 1,000" prisoner exchange between the parties. 
Normal life was partially disrupted across Jharkhand on Wednesday as tribal organisations enforced a statewide bandh to protest the construction of a flyover ramp near the central Sarna religious site at Siramtoli in Ranchi.

The bandh, called by the Adivasi Bachao Morcha and the Siramtoli Sarna Sthal Bachao Morcha, witnessed widespread participation in tribal-dominated regions, particularly in Ranchi and its adjoining rural areas.

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Markets remained closed and roads were blocked at several points, including Tatisilwai, Kanke, Ratu, Ormanjhi, and Mandar. Commuters faced significant delays as bandh supporters took to the streets, raising slogans and seeking support for their demands. Traffic was paralysed on key routes such as the Kanke-Patratu Road and at Khelgaon Chowk. In Ramgarh district, the Ranchi-Hazaribagh National Highway was blocked near Kujju, while in Latehar, traffic came to a standstill at Udaipura Chowk on NH-39, leading to long queues of stranded vehicles.

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The agitation stems from long-standing opposition to the flyover ramp, which tribal groups allege encroaches upon a sacred Sarna site. Despite the construction nearing completion, resentment among tribal communities has remained unaddressed, prompting repeated protests. On the eve of the bandh, protesters organised a torch rally in the state capital.

Bandh extended beyond the Siramtoli dispute, with tribal organisations also raising issues concerning the protection of religious sites, implementation of the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, opposition to the Religious Trust Board, and concerns over land bank policies and alleged land encroachments in areas like Nagri.

Essential services were exempted from the bandh, but commercial activity and public transport remained heavily affected, especially in rural zones. Protesters, while enforcing the shutdown, appealed to citizens and shopkeepers for peaceful cooperation.

The state police remained on high alert. Ranchi DIG and SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha confirmed that additional forces had been deployed across the capital and at all sensitive locations. He urged protesters to express their views peacefully and warned that any attempt to disrupt public order would invite firm action.
The Kerala High Court has recently ruled that a person, who changes his religion voluntarily, has a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution to have the change reflected in educational records.

A single bench of Justice DK Singh passed the order on a petition moved by a man who was born to a Muslim father and a Hindu mother and was brought up in Keralas Palakkad district by his mother according to Hindu customs.

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The court said when the right to free religion under Article 25 includes the right to voluntarily convert ones religion, it follows that citizens also have the right to get such changes reflected in official records.

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If a person has changed his religion without any coercion, fraud, undue influence, etc., such an act would be protected under the Constitution of India under the preamble as well as Article 25. Under the Constitutional scheme, every person has a fundamental right not merely to entertain the religious belief of his choice but also to exhibit this belief and ideas in a manner which does not infringe the religious right and personal freedom of others, the court stated.

The petitioners name was registered in school as Mohammed Riyazudeen CS with his religion noted as Islam, Mappila.

After reaching adulthood, the petitioner realised that he did not believe in Islam and wished to practice Hinduism. He officially converted through Arya Samaj and published a Gazette notification reflecting his new name as Sudhin Krishna CS and religion as Hindu

He sought to update his Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) record book but his request was rejected by the authorities on the ground that there was no provision in Kerala Education Act and Rules to change caste and religion in school records.

He then moved the high court arguing that the rejection of his request violated Rule 3(1) of Kerala Education Rule, 1959 which allows such changes.

The government pleader opposed the petition, contending that the government had not notified any specific authority under Rule 3(1) to alter caste or religion. It was also argued that the Commissioner of Examinations had only been designated for correcting the date of birth as per a government order.

However, the court rejected the governments argument, holding that the competent authority notified for corrections in date of birth is equally empowered to make changes relating to name, caste and religion in school records under the Kerala Education Act and Rules.

There cant be multiple authorities for effecting the changes in date of birth, caste and religion, the court said.

Accordingly, the court directed the Commissioner of Examination to process and allow the correction of the petitioners name and religion in the school records as requested.

It is again made clear that Rule 3(1) Chapter VI of KER 1959 provides for effecting the changes in the caste and religion as well besides the date of birth, and the same authority which has been empowered to effect the change in the date of birth will have the power to effect the changes in caste and religion of the students, the court said in its judgment.
Effusive in his praise of his half-sister Kanimozhi for her declaration in Spain that unity in diversity is the national language of India, which has gone viral, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK president MK Stalin on Wednesday said he is proud of her.

I am proud of Kanimozhi for speaking Tamil Nadus language of love and unity as Indias voice, he said in a post on X. Interestingly, Kanimozhis statement comes in the backdrop of the language row between Tamil Nadu and the Union Government over imposition of Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP), which the Stalin government is steadfastly opposed to.

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She had made the comment in Madrid during an official visit, heading a delegation as part of Indias global outreach in the aftermath of the Operation Sindoor military operation against Pakistan. Besides receiving widespread appreciation and accolades, the video of her interaction on June 2 with Spanish officials and civil society had gone viral on social media.

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When a member of the audience from the Indian diaspora asked what was Indias national language, her response without any hesitation. The national language of India is unity in diversity. This is the message this delegation brings to the world and that is the most important thing today.

Congratulated @KanimozhiDMK for declaring loud and clear that the national language of India is #UnityInDiversity in the land of Spain and turning peoples emotions into huge applause and as a virally shared video by all of you. I am proud of my sister Kanimozhi for declaring Tamil Nadus language of love and unity as the voice of the Indian nation, said the post, tagging a video of Stalin and Kanimozhi, who is also the DMK Deputy General Secretary and the partys Parliamentary Party leader. Known for her political acumen, she is the women face of the Dravidian major.
The Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

Talking to the media, he said the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, recommended the schedule of the session.

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The announcement, of the 17-sitting monsoon session, by Rijiju comes against the backdrop of Opposition parties cohesive demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and subsequent developments, including US President Donald Trumps repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

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The Opposition has also demanded a discussion on Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhans recent statement acknowledging initial losses of air assets due to tactical errors in Operation Sindoor.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday congratulated Lee Jae-myung on his election as South Koreas president, saying he looks forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.

Lee Jae-myung, South Koreas centre-left candidate, was officially declared president on Wednesday following a snap election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeo.

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Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership, Mr Modi said on platform X.

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Lee Jae-myungs victory comes after months of political turmoil triggered by the stunning but brief imposition of martial law by the now-ousted conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol.

India and South Korea formed a Strategic Partnership in 2010, which was elevated to Special Strategic Partnership in 2015 during the state visit of Prime Minister Modi to Seoul. Both India and South Korea commemorated 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2023.

Later, PM Modi also paid a state visit to South Korea in February 2019 when he unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Yonsei University. PM Modi also gifted a Bodhi sapling to Gimhae City. He received the Seoul Peace Prize for his contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth.
Slamming Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his surrender attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP said he has inflicted a grave insult on our armed forces. He said the Congress leader has proved again that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a post like the LoP and has shown his lack of wisdom and low standards.

Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters here, party National Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, How Rahul Gandhi compared our armed forces valour and army officers brief on Operation Sindoors success with surrender, shows how sick and dangerous his mentality has become.

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By making extremely cheap, low-level statements, the self-proclaimed, self-styled, supreme leader, the leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is telling the world that even after becoming the LoP, he lacks seriousness and maturity that the post requires, Dr Trivedi stated.

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He said,Theres a Hindi proverbNaya mulla pyaaz zyada khata hai. But here, a non-mullah is so excessively engaged in eating onions, metaphorically, that he fails to realise the grave insult he is inflicting on the honour of the nation and the valour of our armed forces

Dr Trivedi said till now, Congress leaders were making headlines in Pakistani media, and their statements were being quoted in the Pakistani Parliament.

But for the first time, Rahul Gandhi has said something which even the Army Chief of Pakistan has not said, nor has any terrorist organisation of Pakistan. Even Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed have not said such a thing. None of them said that India surrendered, he pointed out.

He further said,  I want to ask Rahul Gandhi- Does he want to get one step ahead of these people? Till now, he was giving cover fire to the people of Pakistan, the Pakistani army and terrorist organisations. Is he trying to become their leader now? 

On the issue of US President Donald Trumps statement, the BJP leader said the government has clarified a number of times that there was no third party mediation and if they want to believe that whatever the US president was saying, it is correct, then in that, he has also mentioned the nuclear conflict.

As per the US President, hes saying that he has averted a nuclear conflict, which has been categorically denied by the government of India and the foreign ministry. Then in that case, you are not ready to accept the total statement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday, claiming that he had surrendered following a phone call from US President Donald Trump during Operation Sindoor. Gandhi was speaking in Bhopal during the Congresss Sangathan Srajan Abhiyan (organisation rejuvenation campaign).
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Wednesday discussed the initiatives taken for the development of the Vidhan Sabha with Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and sought Centres cooperation in transforming the historic complex into a living heritage site of national eminence.

According to the Delhi Assembly secretariat, the Union minister assured all possible assistance and expressed his support for the initiative.

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The minister expressed the hope that the Delhi Assembly would transform into a tourism cum heritage hub and will attract a large number of tourists from all over the world due to its national significance. He will also be visiting the assembly along with senior officials to assess the project and extend necessary support to realize the vision of developing it into a prominent national heritage site.

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During the meeting with the Union minister, Speaker Gupta apprised him about the initiatives being undertaken by the assembly secretariat to preserve and enhance the historical significance of the historic building complex and emphasized the vision of developing the site as a symbol of Indias rich legislative heritage.

Gupta reiterated the assembly secretariats commitment to the heritage project and extended his gratitude for the Union Ministrys proactive support.

He also acknowledged the participation of officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in a key meeting held at the Delhi Assembly on May 20, 2025, where assurances of technical and financial assistance under existing schemes were given.

The speaker requested for continued cooperation from the Union ministry necessary directions to the concerned officers to assist in finalizing the comprehensive project report.
The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has started converting old diesel buses into electric vehicles. State Minister for Transport Dayashankar Singh informed here on Wednesday that two such conversions have already been completed at the Ram Manohar Lohia Workshop in Kanpur. These buses will undergo trial runs on the Jhansi-Lalitpur route.

As per the UPSRTC policy, diesel buses are retired after reaching 10 years of age or having run 11 lakh kilometers and are usually auctioned. By retrofitting these buses instead, the department will save on new purchases. Private firms like Kalyani Powertrain and Zero21 are covering retrofit costs, while the UPSRTC will handle bus body construction  significantly lowering capital expenditure.

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The minister noted that, thanks to the proactive efforts of CM Yogi, electric mobility is gaining strong momentum across the state. This initiative will help curb pollution and contribute to a cleaner environment.

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The Transport Department is working on a comprehensive plan to add 5,000 electric buses to its fleet. Recently, 220 electric buses, including 20 air-conditioned double-decker buses, were procured and deployed for the Mahakumbh.
In an age where warfare is increasingly defined by asymmetry and innovation, Ukraines latest drone offensive deep within Russian territory marks not just a military milestone, but a psychological and strategic inflection point in the on-going war. The complexity, patience, and sheer audacity of this operation ~ reportedly planned over 18 months ~ speak volumes about the evolving character of resistance and the recalibration of deterrence in the face of overwhelming odds.

The operation involved smuggling dozens of small drones across thousands of kilometers, concealing them within freight trucks, and launching them remotely at dispersed Russian airbases. This was not a desperate gamble. It was a carefully calculated demonstration of reach and resolve. Whether or not Ukraines claim of $7 billion in damage holds up to scrutiny, the message is unmistakable: Russias presumed strategic depth is no longer inviolable. It also exposes a critical vulnerability: that the vastness of Russian territory offers no guarantee of safety. The illusi  on of distance as a shield has now been shattered, with implications not just for Russia, but for how all nations conceive security.

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More critically, the operation strikes at the heart of Russias long-range bombing capability. Aircraft like the Tu-95 and Tu-160 ~ costly, and in some cases irreplaceable ~ are not easily restored. If even a portion of Ukraines claims hold true, this attack may have inflicted damage far beyond the surface. It hampers Russias ability to project air power, shifts its resource allocation, and sows doubt within its military-industrial complex. But this is not just about weapon systems or battlefield outcomes. The deeper victory here is psychological. In asymmetric conflicts, perception often outwei  ghs firepower. Ukraines drone strike reminds the world that technological ingenuity, moral conviction, and stra  tegic patience can offset material disadvantages. It injects new momentum into a narrative that some in the West seem too eager to write off ~ that Ukraine is still fighting not merely for survival, but for victory.

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This operation also arrives at a crucial political juncture. As international discussions increasingly pivot toward ceasefires, negotiated settlements, or off-ramps for Russia, Ukraine is asserting its agency. Kyivs message is clear: it will not be bargained away. This was not an act of desperation, but of defiance ~ a declaration that Ukraine still holds cards, and is learning how to play them. To underestimate this moment is to misread the war. Behind the headlines of attrition in Donbas or logistical challenges in Kyiv lies a nation that continues to adapt, innovate, and strike back. The drone offensive, in its execution and symbolism, is a reminder that wars are not only fought with tanks and missiles ~ but with will, imagination, and timing. In disrupting Russias confidence, rallying domestic morale, and reshaping international perception, Ukraine may have just pulled off one of its most consequential moves yet. The war is far from over ~ but this was not the move of a country preparing to surrender.
On May 22, the world celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity, at a time when the disappearance of species is at the highest rate in human history. According to the World Health Organisation, recent estimates show that species extinctions are currently 10 to 100 times higher than the natural baseline. This is largely due to human activities like deforestation, habitat fragmentation and climate change. Such biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are leading to major health concerns.

The degradation of wetlands that filter freshwater, for instance, has led to a 35 per cent decline in global wetland coverage since 1970, increasing water borne diseases and reducing water availability for over two billion people. Despite the existing biodiversity frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (1993), a rigorous Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) and the recent Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of 2022, the ground reality is grim. A lack of political will and insufficient policy attention lead to big gaps between policy and implementation. In the 1950s and 1960s, en  vironmental crises in India, as around the world, spurred a slew of landmark legislations. In the USA, the widespread and successful observation of Earth Day on 22 April 1970 led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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The Clean Air Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 followed in quick succession. More importantly, 1972 became a landmark year when the Stockholm United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held on June 5-16, produced the Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan for the Human Environment. A major outcome of the Stockholm Conference was the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The following years led to many more landmark international conferences on the environment. These meetings have tried to encourage nations to protect their air, water, natural resources and climate, and cooperate with each other on trans-boundary issues of mutual concern.

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However, worldwide there has also been a rise in the standards of living, along with a rise in the number of wars and armed conflict, apart from an increase in extractive consumption to sustain demanding lifestyles. Way back as 2012, a multicountry research initiative found that 30 per cent of global species threats are due to international trade. The studys results emphasized that biodiversity loss be examined as a global systemic phenomenon, instead of looking at the degrading or polluting producers in isolation. Institutional initiatives thro  ugh protected area management, excluding the people, especially in forest areas, have been widely attempted in the preceding decades. They have not always proved to be very effective. The challenge has been stiffer in the non-forest areas, where rural livelihoods and urban land-use change are involved.

An ecosystem where such conservation has been constantly challenging is wetlands, especially urban wetlands. Wetlands conservation is crucial for the protection of biodiversity because wetlands provide the freshwater base needed to nurture a variety of flora and fauna that give us food, fibre and fuel. Wetlands are a critical aspect of nature that actually help human life flourish. There are also human made wastewater wetlands. They house lesser diversity of flora and fau  na, are found closer to urban areas but serve essential functions ~ treating sewage and nurturing a variety of fish species. There are 750,000 wetlands in India occupying about 15.98 million hectares of land area (National Wetlands Decadal Change Atlas ~ 2021), directly and indirectly supporting the livelihoods of millions of Indians. At present, 85 wetlands have been designated as Ramsar Wetlands or Wetlands of International Importance.

Many wetlands, including Ramsar Wetlands, are threatened by reclamation and degradation, landfill, over exploitation and climate change, resulting in loss of biodiversity and ecosystem benefits to the society. Institutional responses at the government level tend to focus more on data gathering, monitoring and capacity-building. One such example is the Indo-German Biodiversity Programme, which has a full component titled Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection. The focus is on conservation of Ramsar Wetlands through management planning, developing a monitoring system for wetlands, stakeholder capacity development and a small community engagement component. Far more important but receiving far less attention, is the financing of actual ecosystem and biodiversity management measures, which will ensure the preservation of biodiversity. Let us examine an example. The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) were recognised as a Ramsar site in 2002 and have completed more than 20 years since such recognition. Spread over 12,500 hectares in the periphery of Kolkata, these wetlands treat city sewage through fish culture, ensuring livelihood for a 130,000 strong community. In 2018, after much foot-dragging, an Integrated Management Plan was commissioned by the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority (EKWMA). The consultants who wrote the Plan in 2021 suggested the complete shutdown of some of the largest fish ponds, recommending the growing of wetland vegetation there instead.

They had little understanding that such a step would undermine the crucial sewage treatment function of these unique wetlands and compromise the abundance of the fish population. Originally, the Integrated Management Plan asked for Rs 110 crore over a five-year time period, to be contributed in a 60:40 ratio by the government of India and the government of West Bengal. Afterwards, it was found out that the entire budget for the conservation of wetlands all over India was Rs 50 crore a year! Eventually, only Rs 66 crore was sanctioned for a five-year time frame for this unique, complex ecosystem that needs very nuanced management. The crux of the conservation of these wetlands lies in excavating the canals that carry the sewage supply, and the desiltation of the fish ponds to improve their water holding capacity.

This will enable diverse fish culture. No authority seems to be prepared to take these critical steps and ensure that the earlier varieties that were found in these once highly productive fish ponds are brought back through appropriate management. Back in 1997, a baseline document prepared for drawing up a management action plan for East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), mentioned that 55 per cent of fish population in these ponds consisted of Indian Major Carp (Rohu, Catla, Mrigala). Then came some varieties of exotic carp that constituted about 13 per cent of the total production. Tilapiya constituted about 22 per cent. There were also a variety of forage fishes found in the ponds in EKW. These were Punti, Shoal, Lata, Chyang, Folui and catfish such as Singi, Magur and others. Prolonged siltation has resulted in proliferation of Tilapiya that thrives in shallow pond environments.

The Tilapiya crowd out other fish varieties, especially Indian Major Carp and also fetch a far smaller price than what carp varieties fetch in the market. The harsh reality is that local fish varieties have become rarer. Biodiversity conservation may appear difficult to understand but its role in sustaining us can never be overstated. It should involve an understanding of finance, planning and execution and not so much flashy policy briefs and large amounts of lecturing and paperwork. It needs a re-orientation of priorities to ensure long-term survival.

(The writer is a wetland researcher with over two decades of association with the East Kolkata Wetlands)
VIENTIANE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Lao authorities are urging all sectors and the public to remain vigilant in preventing the spread of dengue, particularly during the rainy season, when flooding creates ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and raises the risk of infection.

The number of dengue fever cases in Laos has reached 1,370, with no deaths reported so far this year, according to a report issued by the Lao Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The highest number of cases occurred in Lao capital Vientiane, where 456 cases were reported, followed by Luang Namtha province with 159 cases, and Sekong province with 153 cases.

The health ministry also urged people to remain vigilant and help control the spread of the mosquito-borne viral disease.

Health authorities advise five simple measures as the most effective methods of dengue control which are being practiced by households. These measures consist of closing and sealing all unused containers, flushing out all water vessels, placing small guppy fish in water jars as they eat mosquito larvae, cleaning areas around homes, and finally remembering to do these four tasks each week. 
Leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch on Tuesday wrote an open letter to the Indian all-party Parliamentary delegations requesting them to include Pakistans Baloch genocide in their agenda during their global visits aimed at exposing Pakistans cross border terrorism.

We, the sixty million Baloch people, deeply appreciate and commend your unwavering resolve, national unity, and collective efforts in exposing Pakistans cross terrorism and its full scale support to Jihadists and extremists, on the international stage. Your mission, undertaken with determination and solidarity, is a beacon of hope for those who have long suffered under oppression and illegal occupation of Pakistan, read the letter

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Under the capable and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has unified its 1.4 billion citizens into a harmonious and diverse nation. Pakistan, a duplicitous and cunning adversary, has persistently attempted to disrupt the unity between India, Balochistan, and Afghanistan by exploiting religion as a weapon. These attempts have consistently failed, it added.

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Writing on the behalf of the Baloch community, Mir urged the Indian delegations to use their voices to inform the world about the atrocities committed against the Baloch people by Pakistan, the same enemy that India has faced for the past seven decades and has been terrorising Balochistan since 1948.

We want the world to hear our cries; the oppression and brutality have surpassed all limits. Tragically, we are now deprived of the freedom to speak. To share our suffering, we must rely on social media, as our population of sixty million lacks a single national language television channel, a national newspaper, or even a radio station to tell our stories. Meanwhile, Pakistans Punjab province operates two hundred TV channels, publishes nine hundred newspapers, and runs hundreds of FM and international frequency radio stations, all funded by looting our national wealth, the letter stated.

Appreciating the Indian delegates for exposing Pakistan on the global stage with evidence and reasoning, the human rights activist called the efforts commendable.

We believe that more should be done. We wish for your delegations to travel the world, representing India, and we, the Baloch people, want to join you in informing the world about the ongoing oppression, military operations, and extrajudicial killings in occupied Balochistan, the letter mentioned.

India and Balochistan have both suffered from the religious extremism of a common enemy for the past seven decades. When our enemy is the same, and our national interests align, we should support each other rather than struggle separately. We are ready to meet with Indias foreign delegations and brief them on Pakistans atrocities in Balochistan so that our contribution can aid in bringing Pakistan to justice for its war crimes on the international stage. Your global reach and influence can significantly amplify our efforts, it further detailed.

Mir also highlighted occupying Pakistani forces military aggression leading to Baloch genocide, adding that girls and women were abducted by the Pakistani military and sold in Punjabs markets, thus erasing their identity.

Our women human rights defenders are being put behind the bars, they are facing fabricated charges. Mahrang Baloch along with thousands other Baloch activists are languishing in torture cells. The Pakistani military is not obeying even the orders issued by its own courts to release Mahrang and other fellows, Mir highlighted.

Pakistans intelligence agency, ISI, has subjected approximately 40,000 Baloch to enforced disappearances as collective punishment. Nearly two hundred thousand Baloch have been killed during military operations or in custody, with their bodies dumped along roadsides, deserts, forests, and wilderness, he revealed in his letter.

The leading Baloch human rights activist urged the international community to send fact-finding missions to Balochistan to meet with Baloch families and victims and gather independent data. Mir also requested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to dispatch a team of experts to Chagai in Pakistans Balochistan province to assess the radioactive contamination resulting from the six nuclear tests conducted in 1998.

The team should collect samples from the mountains and test them in laboratories, while also meeting with thousands of Baloch cancer patients to understand their plight. However, we know that Pakistan will not permit international teams to visit Balochistan because their presence would expose Pakistans crimes. The entire Balochistan is currently suffering from Pakistans war crimes, with every Baloch household having two to four young men either missing or killed and dumped in desolate areas, the letter further stated.

In conclusion, we appeal to the international community: today, India and Balochistan confront the oppression and extremism fostered by Pakistan. If decisive actions are not taken against Pakistan, if it is not held accountable for its war crimes, and if its military is not withdrawn, it concluded.
Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has conceded that his country hasnt made headway in its Kashmir campaign at the United Nations and elsewhere in general.

As far as the hurdles we face within the UN and in general, as far as the Kashmir cause is concerned, that still exists, Bilawal, who is leading a delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians, said at a news conference here on Tuesday.

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He asserted that in his meetings with UN officials and diplomats, he found receptiveness on issues like terrorism and water, but it did not extend to Kashmir.

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Bilawal, who is the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, dismissed an attempt by a Palestinian journalist to equate Kashmir and Gaza, a familiar ploy that some Pakistanis have also used.

Let me emphasise from the outset, there is, theres no meaningful comparison that I can make between the plight of the Palestinians and the plight of Pakistan, the plight of Kashmir, he said.

What were seeing in Gaza, what were seeing in Palestine, is uniquely outrageous, inhumane and condemnable in all shapes, forms and terms, he added.

But he went on to allege that India was drawing its inspiration from Israel and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to model himself on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but was nowhere near him.

Bilawals delegation was modeled by Islamabad after the all-party delegations India has been sending around the world to explain its policy of zero-tolerance for terrorism and the Operation Sindoor that was launched against terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir after the massacre of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam.

After arriving in New York on Monday, the Pakistani delegation met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, General Assembly President Philemon Yang, Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and permanent representatives of the US, China, Russia, France to the UN, and the non-permanent members of the Council.

They are due to be in Washington on Wednesday, when the Indian Parliamentay delegation led by Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor will also be there.
With close to 200 confirmed fatalities, authorities in Nigerias north-central Niger State are still searching for more than 1,000 people believed to have been swept away by devastating floods triggered by heavy rains over the past week.

The torrential downpours on Wednesday night wreaked havoc across Mokwa, a bustling market and farming town in Niger, submerging and washing away dozens of residential homes, some with occupants still inside, local officials said earlier.

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Yakubu Garba, Deputy Governor of Niger, told reporters late Monday that nearly a week after the disaster, hundreds remained unaccounted for despite ongoing rescue efforts.

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For now, we do not know where they are. Those people have been swept away by water. We have reviewed house-to-house and based on that, the number of people yet to be seen is more than 1,000, Garba said, adding that the flooding has displaced over 3,000 residents, affected at least 2,000 properties, washed away roads, and caused the collapse of three bridges.

One of the most urgent challenges, Garba noted, is the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the missing, whose families are desperately searching for them.

Ibrahim Hussaini, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, told Xinhua over the weekend that over 503 households were impacted. The search for more bodies is ongoing, with local divers and volunteers assisting in the operation.

Some residents believe the flooding may have been worsened by the release of water from a nearby dam, though officials have yet to confirm this.

The situation is very tragic, with many families wiped out and survivors recounting harrowing losses, Amina Yahaya, a resident from a neighbouring town, told Xinhua.

Flooding in central Nigeria, including the Mokwa disaster, is the result of a complex mix of factors. The country regularly faces severe floods during the rainy season, which typically lasts six months, beginning in March and intensifying by mid-May, especially in the northern regions.

Local experts said climate change has led to increasingly erratic and intense rainfall patterns, overwhelming existing drainage systems and the natural capacity of the land to absorb water in many areas of Africas most populous country, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last Tuesday, the National Emergency Management Agency said it had ramped up efforts to mitigate the impact of seasonal flooding, urging all levels of government to invest in drainage infrastructure, dams, and flood-resilient facilities in flood-prone regions.
Over 200 prisoners escaped from Pakistans Malir Jail in Karachi after earthquake tremors triggered a temporary evacuation of inmates from their barracks, the local media reported on Tuesday.

The prisoners fled the facility after taking advantage of the chaotic situation. One escapee was shot dead while two Frontier Corps (paramilitary force) personnel and one police officer were injured during the incident.

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Several inmates attacked the jail authorities with stones and sticks as the firing triggered widespread panic in nearby residential areas, bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides of the National Highway.

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Murad Ali Shah, the Chief Minister of Sindh province, expressed grave concern over the developments, stating that investigations are underway.

Initial reports suggest inmates were evacuated due to earthquake tremors, which triggered panic. This was a wrong decision, and those responsible will be held accountable, he said.

Confirming that 216 prisoners had escaped during the incident and 83 had been recaptured, Shah urged the remaining fugitives to surrender voluntarily or face Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) charges.

According to the Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah, the jailbreak happened when inmates were brought out from their barracks as a safety precaution due to earthquake tremors.

More than 600 prisoners were outside their cells at the time. Amid the chaos, 213 managed to flee, Pakistani media outlet Geo News quoted the Jail Superintendent as saying.

Pakistani Polices DIG Prisons Hassan Sahito stated that around 6,000 prisoners were inside the facility when the tremors occurred.

Panic quickly spread among inmates. Some began breaking locks and attempted to flee from multiple points, he told a private news channel.

Sindhs Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar called the incident one of the most serious jailbreaks in Pakistan, stating that the official count of the number of escapees is ongoing.

It is yet to be determined whether the breakout occurred due to a wall breach or simply the locks being broken, he said, adding that an investigation is in progress to determine the reasons and identify the accountable.

Karachi has experienced 19 mild earthquakes since Sunday, the Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed on Tuesday. The latest tremor occurred on early Tuesday morning, registering a magnitude of 2.8. The epicentre of the 16th quake was located northeast of Malir, approximately 15 kilometres from the area, at a depth of 40 kilometres.

Malir Jail in Karachi after earthquake tremors triggered a temporary evacuation of inmates from their barracks, the local media reported on Tuesday.

The prisoners fled the facility after taking advantage of the chaotic situation. One escapee was shot dead while two Frontier Corps (paramilitary force) personnel and one police officer were injured during the incident.

Several inmates attacked the jail authorities with stones and sticks as the firing triggered widespread panic in nearby residential areas, bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides of the National Highway.

Murad Ali Shah, the Chief Minister of Sindh province, expressed grave concern over the developments, stating that investigations are underway.

Initial reports suggest inmates were evacuated due to earthquake tremors, which triggered panic. This was a wrong decision, and those responsible will be held accountable, he said.

Confirming that 216 prisoners had escaped during the incident and 83 had been recaptured, Shah urged the remaining fugitives to surrender voluntarily or face Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) charges.

According to the Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah, the jailbreak happened when inmates were brought out from their barracks as a safety precaution due to earthquake tremors.

More than 600 prisoners were outside their cells at the time. Amid the chaos, 213 managed to flee, Pakistani media outlet Geo News quoted the Jail Superintendent as saying.

Pakistani Polices DIG Prisons Hassan Sahito stated that around 6,000 prisoners were inside the facility when the tremors occurred.

Panic quickly spread among inmates. Some began breaking locks and attempted to flee from multiple points, he told a private news channel.

Sindhs Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar called the incident one of the most serious jailbreaks in Pakistan, stating that the official count of the number of escapees is ongoing.

It is yet to be determined whether the breakout occurred due to a wall breach or simply the locks being broken, he said, adding that an investigation is in progress to determine the reasons and identify the accountable.

Karachi has experienced 19 mild earthquakes since Sunday, the Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed on Tuesday. The latest tremor occurred on early Tuesday morning, registering a magnitude of 2.8. The epicentre of the 16th quake was located northeast of Malir, approximately 15 kilometres from the area, at a depth of 40 kilometres.
A demonstration was staged in Basima, Washukdistrict, on Tuesday, calling for the quick release of Mahjabeen Baloch and her brother, Younus Baloch, who were kidnapped by Pakistani security forces, according to a report by The Balochistan Post (TBP).

A wide range of people, including women, students, senior citizens, and representatives of civil society organisations, participated in the protest, which was staged on Basimas main square.

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Photographs of the missing siblings and signs with the words Stop Enforced Disappearances and Bring Our Loved Ones Back were carried by protesters. According to TBP, they also sang chants criticising Pakistani governmental policies and security forces in Balochistan.

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Protesters threatened to begin a province-wide protest movement if Mahjabeen and Younuswere not freed within the allotted 24-hour period. According to the TBP report, they also issued a warning that the state and its institutions would be held fully accountable if Mahjabeen or Younus suffered any harm.

Ruqia Baloch, Mahjabeens sister, spoke to the audience and said the family was still dealing with the trauma. Instead of putting Mahjabeen and Younus in unlawful imprisonment, she urged authorities to bring them before a court if charges are filed. According to the family, Younus Baloch was kidnapped from their Basima house on May 24. Mahjabeen, a University of Balochistan student studying library science, was abducted from Quetta Civil Hospital Hostel early on May 29.

The family claims that intelligence and security officers searched the hostel without a warrant and that no explanation has been given since. The TBP report noted that no formal inquiry has been reported and that neither brother has been brought before a court.

The illegal imprisonment of a Baloch woman for days without any charges, information, or court order was denounced by the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), which called Mahjabeensdetention an act of cowardice. The BWF issued a statement demanding Mahjabeensimmediate release, saying, This is becoming intolerable and intense.

The state is blatantly continuing genocide against the Baloch, stated Sabiha Baloch, a key leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). According to TBP, it is forcibly disappearing our youth in broad daylight and under the cover of darkness, starting to target women and children.
All-Party Delegation leader and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor arrived in Washington on Tuesday (local time), where his delegation was briefed by Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra.

Over the next two days the delegation will be meeting members of the US Congress and administration, think tanks, media and policymakers to brief them on Operation Sindoor and Indias strong stand against terrorism.

In a post on X, Tharoor said, Arrived in Washington this afternoon after a horrendous, three-stage overnight journey from Brasilia via Sao Paulo and Panama, during which I managed to sleep precisely one and a half hours. Was however, pleased to be greeted at the airport by two Indian-American cops, Officers Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Got to the Embassy to record an interview with CBS News, went to the hotel for a briefing and discussion for our delegation with our Ambassador, Vinay Kwatra, and his team. Im finally in my room ready to tune out with three very full days ahead!

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The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. Led by Shashi Tharoor, it includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting Indias vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

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Interestingly, the Indian delegation will see a face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, which will also be in the US at the same time. However, Shashi Tharoor has expressed confidence in pushing Indias message on terrorism across.

Speaking to ANI before departing for Washington, DC, he said that the US media is a difficult space, but those who are against terrorism and deeply care about South East Asia and are against terrorism will listen to India.

In Washington, well have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost exactly the same days Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So theres going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city, Tharoor told ANI, as the delegation he is leading will be in the US for its last leg of the visit.
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader and metropolitan mayor Sudhakar Badgujar from the Nashik district, who met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis a couple of days ago in Nashik, was expelled from his party on Wednesday, for supposedly making anti-party statements.

According to sources, the decision was taken by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday morning.

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On Tuesday, Badgujar had stated that around 12 people in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena, including Badgujar himself, were unhappy due to organisational changes in the party.

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Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Badgujar had said, Yes, I am unhappy with the party, but it is not just me. Around 10 to 12 people like us are currently expressing their dissatisfaction. Our dissatisfaction is not personal, but due to the changes in the party organisation. When the changes were made in the party organisation, we were not taken into confidence. That is why there is this dissatisfaction.

Since the role of the metropolitan mayor is important in the distribution of candidates during municipal elections, it has been speculated that if another Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena leader Vilas Shinde joins the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the possibility of some former corporators leaving the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena along with him cannot be ruled out. If such a development takes place, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena may suffer a big blow just before the municipal elections are held in Maharashtra.

However, it is learnt that Vilas Shinde continues to be part of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, even after Badgujars expulsion.

Speaking to media persons after his expulsion on Wednesday, Sudhakar Badgujar said, Expressing displeasure in the party is not a crime. I will respond to the action taken by the party at the right time. Today, the party had organised a press conference but I did not attend it, because I was out of Nashik. I had informed the district president about it, but if action has been taken against me because I met Chief Minister Fadnavis, then it is wrong.

It is the partys decision to expel or keep someone in the party. I do not want to say anything about it right now. I will give my reaction at the right time. I will tell you what my next role will be when the time comes. I had expressed my displeasure about my role in the party, but if expressing displeasure is a crime, then it is not right. If the party chief had given me an opportunity, I would have met him, but now there is no question of meeting the party chief. The party made the decision. I will not name the others in the party who are unhappy, Badgujar said after he was expelled from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Yogesh Kadam lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray, saying, Uddhav Thackeray has always indulged in the politics of revenge. We have seen it for a long time. Whats wrong if Sudhakar Badgujar met Chief Minister Fadnavis? After all, Uddhav himself meets Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Because of Uddhav Thackerays attitude, many Shiv Sena members supported Eknath Shinde. Raj Thackeray knows the nature of Uddhav Thackeray. It is a fact that Raj Thackeray left the Shiv Sena because of Uddhav. However, even if both of them come together, there will be no impact on the Mahayuti government.
Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6)

Today

A few showers this morning, then thunderstorms with heavy rainfall arriving during the afternoon hours. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 70F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 61F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
JAKARTA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- PT Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (NRE), a sub-holding of Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina, is collaborating with French firm MGH Energy to explore breakthroughs in the production of e-fuels, an official said on Wednesday.

The partnership, formalized during the Indonesia-France Business Forum on May 28, focuses on the development of e-methanol and eSAF (e-sustainable aviation fuel), according to John Anis, CEO of PT Pertamina NRE.

"Indonesia has a huge potential of renewable resources, from solar to hydro, which could be the basis for industrial-scale e-fuel production," said Anis in a statement issued Wednesday.

He added that this strategic collaboration not only aims to develop innovative solutions for reducing carbon emissions but also represents a valuable opportunity for technology transfer. It is expected to accelerate both the production and adoption of renewable energy in Indonesia.

Fadjar Djoko Santoso, vice president of corporate communication at PT Pertamina, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling climate change and achieving national environmental goals.

"PT Pertamina NRE plays an important role in the transition to clean energy. This collaboration is a strategic step towards a more sustainable, fair, and open energy system," he said.

MGH Energy is known for its focus on decarbonizing the transportation sector, particularly in maritime and aviation. 
PHNOM PENH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting will be convened in Phnom Penh on June 14 to talk over border issues, Cambodian foreign ministry's spokesperson Chum Sounry said on Wednesday.

"Cambodia is committed to resolving border issues peacefully, through technical mechanisms and in accordance with international law," he said in a text message sent to the media by telegram.

He said the meeting will focus on the area where a recent incident occurred.

The spokesperson said that with a firm commitment to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Cambodia stands resolute on transforming its borders with neighboring countries into zones of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development for the benefit of the respective countries and peoples.

The meeting was scheduled after soldiers of both countries briefly exchanged gunfire at the Emerald Triangle on May 28, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

The Emerald Triangle is an area sharing the border among Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Sunday that during the upcoming JBC meeting, Cambodia will invite Thailand to take the border issues concerning the Emerald Triangle area, Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Toch Temple, and Ta Krabey Temple to the UN's International Court of Justice. 
The parent company of Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube has decided to withdraw pornography access for users living in France from Wednesday onwards, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

Aylo Freesites' move was intended to push back against pressure from the French government to implement better measures for verifying if users were actually 18+.

The company told reporters that their websites would now display a message explaining that the takedown was related to Aylo's decision to uphold user privacy.

Due to a 2023 French government legislation (SREN) to better shield minors from inappropriate content, Aylo Freesites, as well as a slew of other porn platforms, had come under pressure to implement better age verification methods by June 7.

France-based users form Pornhub's second-largest audience in the world after those in the US, as per a 2024 statistics report from the pornography website.

"It's a matter of putting our values first, and that means communicating directly with the French people to tell them what their government is refusing to tell them," explained Solomon Friedman, a partner at Ethical Capital Partners (which owns Aylo) to reporters, justifying the company's strong commitment towards user privacy, and calling the French legislation "dangerous", "potentially privacy infringing" and "ineffective".

French Digital Minister Clara Chappaz accused Aylo of lying about the French government's measures, which she said were also privacy-preserving, in an X post, published on Tuesday.

Des sites pornographiques suspendus :  On ne stigmatise pas les adultes qui veulent consommer ce contenu, mais on ne doit pas le faire au detriment de la protection de nos enfants , declare @ClaraChappaz, ministre deleguee chargee de lIA et du Numerique. #Europe1Soir #Europe1. pic.twitter.com/T5QXMvzcyW  Europe 1 (@Europe1) June 3, 2025

"Lying when one does not want to comply with the law and holding others hostage is unacceptable. Adults are free to consume pornography, but not at the expense of protecting our children," she said. In a similar vein, the European Commission has also accused Aylo's platforms of breaching minor protection legislations that fall under the Digital Services Act.

Aylo has not yet specified how long the suspension would last, explaining that it hoped to find a solution to the issue so that its adult content could be unblocked again.
India exported goods worth $275 million to remote Honduras in Central America during the April 2024-March 2025 period as against $201 million to nearby Cambodia. The population of Honduras is just 10 million as against Cambodia's 17 million.

If you think this is incredible, here is more.

India's exports to the Dominican Republic were $382 million while it was $263 million to Kazhakstan. While the exports to Guatemala were $635 million, it was just $614 million to Myanmar.

Brace for more surprising facts. The exports to Brazil ($6.7 billion) were higher than to the traditional trade partners such as Japan ($6.25 billion), South Korea ($5.82 billion) and Vietnam ($5.43 billion) while it exports $4.55 billion to Sri Lanka and $5.38 billion and $4.8 billion to Indonesia and Thailand respectively.

While exports to Mexico ($5.75 billion) are more than the exports to Russia ($4.88 billion), Canada ($4.22 billion) and Egypt (#3.41 billion).

This is not a one-year wonder. This is the clear continuing trend in the last decade. India was the seventh largest supplier of goods to Latin America with $20.22 billion in 2024. However, this is just 1.4 per cent of Latin Americas total imports of $1.4 trillion dollars in 2024 and there is still scope to increase Indias exports to $50 billion dollars in the next five years.

Motorcycles ride the wave

Indias motorcycle exports to Latin America were $1.5 billion which is 46% of India's total exports. While Mexico was the number one destination for India's global export of motorcycles in 2024-25 at $390 million,

Colombia was in number two with $380 million and Guatemala was in fourth position with $173 million. Other destinations include Brazil at $123 million, Argentina at $89 million, Peru at $68 million and Honduras at $60 million. Earlier, Colombia used to be the number 1 destination and India is the number two supplier of motorcycles to Latin America, after China.

Car exports

Car exports to Latin America were $1,788 million. This was 25% of Indias global car exports of $7.24 billion. The major destinations included Mexico at $938 million, Chile at $257 million, Peru at $160 million, Panama at $68 million, Colombia at $75 million, Costa Rica at $59 million, Guatemala at $54 million and Ecuador at $44 million.

Pharmaceuticals

Pharma exports were 1.8 billion dollars. Major destinations: Brazil $520 million dollars (up from $416 million last year), Mexico $198 million, Chile 212 $million, Venezuela $177 million, Colombia $157 million, Peru $110 million, Guatemala $89 million, Dominican Republic $73 million and Ecuador $40 million.

India ranks as the 5th largest supplier of pharmaceuticals to Latin America, after the US, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland. However, it is the second supplier of pharmaceuticals to Peru, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. It is number three in Chile, five in Honduras and El Salvador. and 8 in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

The major exports include vehicles ($4.88 billion), chemicals ($3.3 billion), pharmaceuticals ($1.81 billion), machinery ($1.73 billion), petroleum products ($1.17 billion), iron and steel ($884 million), apparels ($684 million), textile fibres and filaments ($422 million), aluminium products ($592 million), plastics (492 million), cotton (495 million) and rubber products ($434 million).

Imports

The main import items are crude oil ($7.2 billion), raw gold ($7.06 billion), vegetable oil ($3.74 billion), raw sugar ($1.36 billion), copper including concentrate ($2.75 billion), machinery and equipment ($855 million), wood $(548 million), chemicals ($436 million), fresh fruits ($195 million), cotton ($182 million), paper pulp $156 (million), and pulses ($170 million).

Crude oil imports which reached a peak of around $15 billion in 2013-14 came down drastically due to US sanctions on Venezuela which had supplied $10 billion of crude in 2013-14.

Main sources of crude oil imports: Colombia $2.18 billion, Mexico $1.58 billion, Brazil $1.4 billion, Venezuela $1.58 billion and Ecuador $157 million.

Raw gold import sourcing: Peru $4.46 billion (up from $2.8 billion last year), Colombia $834 million, Dom Republic $603 million, Argentina $466 million, Mexico $208 million, Bolivia $364 million (down from $1077 million last year), Chile $70 million and Brazil $46 million.

Latin America is the main source of soy oil imports from India. Argentina is the #1 global supplier with $2.98 billion (up from $1.9 billion last year), followed by Brazil with $783 million.

Brazil is the source of imports of raw sugar which India refines and reexports to other countries.

Chile, the main supplier of copper and other mineral concentrates from the region, supplied $1.59 billion, followed by Peru $428 million and Colombia $103 million. The main suppliers of wood from the region: Brazil $129 million, Uruguay $115 million, Ecuador $106 million, Panama $38 million,

Latin America is a large substantial market of 19 countries, population of $620 million and GDP of $6 trillion dollars with a per capita income close to $10,000 dollars. Latin Americans have started attaching more importance to trade with India, as part of their strategy to reduce over dependence on China and to diversify from the protectionist Europe and the US.

India is the fifth largest destination for Latin America's exports after US, China, Canada and Spain. This means India is more important than Germany, UK, France or Japan.

How to boost Indias exports

India should open embassies in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Uruguay. The commercial section of the embassies in the region should be strengthened with dedicated India-based and local officers with adequate budgets.

India should start negotiations for an FTA with Mexico and Colombia, the second and third largest destinations of exports to Latin America. The ongoing FTA talks with Peru and Chile are to be concluded soon.

India should join as a member of the Inter-American Development Bank to enable Indian companies to participate in the large infrastructure projects of the Bank. It should consider extending more lines of credit to the region. While China has given more than 150 billion dollars of credit to Latin America, Indias credit is not even one billion.

China has over 60 Latin America study centres but India has just three. The Ministry of External Affairs should encourage and fund Latin America study centres to do research, especially on Latin American markets and business opportunities.

(The author is an expert in Latin American affairs)
India and Australia agreed to intensify and diversify defence industry collaboration during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles on Wednesday.

During the meeting, both ministers strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The two sides agreed to work together to combat terrorism in all its forms.

Singh highlighted Indias right to respond in self-defence against cross-border terrorism and described the military action against Pakistan as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible.

Singh thanked Australia for its unequivocal support to Indias response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

ALSO READ: 'We stand with India in fight against terror': Australia's clear message amid India-Pak tensions

The two leaders decided to further the defence science and technology collaboration projects when they meet in Australia later this year for the third India-Australia 2+2 ministerial meeting. They also reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 ministerial dialogue held in 2023.

The meeting offered an opportunity for both sides to review the status of bilateral engagements in the context of emerging regional and global scenarios, the defence ministry said in a release.

"The discussions covered a wide range of issues such as defence strategic cooperation and security, including industry collaboration, cyber and new emerging technologies, counter-terrorism, hydrography and maritime security. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global security issues of mutual interest," the release read.

Both sides called for continued strengthening of bilateral defence cooperation and their commitment for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity, stability and progress in the Indo-Pacific region.
With the implementation of the process of theaterisation, it will be the theatre commanders who will have the key role in military operations while the core function of the chiefs of the Indian Army, the Navy and the Air Force will be to Raise, Train and Sustain (RTS)', Indias Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has written in the preface of his recently-released book 'Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the transformation of India's Military'.

Theaterisation aims to create two parallel and complementary streams for force application and force generation.

The force application component will become the responsibility of the theatre commander, whereas the service chiefs, in their transformed role will be responsible for what is colloquially called the Raise, Train and Sustain (RTS) function, writes Gen Chauhan.

This system would be similar to the military system devised in the US where the theaterisation process was top-driven after the US government brought in the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defence Reorganisation Act of 1986.

ALSO READ: 'Both sides were rational': CDS General Anil Chauhan praises militaries of India, Pakistan

This act in the US came up with the concept of warfighting commanders responsible for the conduct of operations whereas service chiefs were removed from the operational responsibility with the top focus being on RST functions.

Theaterisation is the most revolutionary change being attempted by the Indian armed forces in the post-independence era.

Gen Chauhan also writes that the biggest impact of the transformative process will be on middle-level military officers, unusually understood to be the armys colonel-ranked officers and their equivalents in the IAF and the Navy.

The acceptability of the change will only happen once officers at all levels are aware of the impending changes. The maximum impact of these changes will be on middle-level officers who will not only need to adopt and adapt to a new normal but also take the lead in a transformed environment, he wrote.

The CDS articulated that middle-level officers should become catalysts for the change rather than being sceptical and resisting it.

Envisaged as a process to transform the Indian military into a modern force capable of pursuing Indias national interest across multiple domains including traditional and emerging one, theaterisation is premised on laying a strong foundation of jointness and integration at all levels among the three services.

The office of the CDS was created on September 30, 2022, with the core mandate of theaterisation, promoting jointness and integration of the Indian military.

With theaterisation, a single commander in a designated zone will command all the assets and resources of all forces be it from the Army, the Navy or the Air Force stationed in that zone.

Already, close to 200 subjects have been identified which are required to be tackled in the run-up to getting the operationally ready theatres.

The challenges are not just about the amalgamation and integration of men but also of weapons systems and platforms that are made more difficult because of the possibility of non-compatibility among the systems.
Even as Pakistan's growing reliance on China-made weapon systems and platforms along with those from Turkiye has been well-documented for and amid reports that Pakistan deployed a wide range of advanced weaponry, primarily sourced from China, alongside some Western-origin systems in the recent military conflict with India, a Pakistani top military official has come out with an outlandish claim.

According to General Sahir Burkabal Shamshad Mirza, the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), Pakistanwhich imports over 80 per cent of its weapons from Chinarelied solely on home-grown weapon systems and resources during the recent military conflict with India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Pakistan has purchased some military equipment from other countries, but apart from that, in real time, the country relied solely on its internal capabilities and did not receive any help from any other state," General Mirza was quoted as saying to a foreign broadcaster.

ALSO READ: Can India afford to wait for a decade for fifth-generation fighter jet AMCA while Pakistan gets Chinese stealth jets?

According to him, the weapon systems used by his country were "certainly similar" to those that are available in India.

Recently, retired United States Army officer and researcher of urban warfare John W. Spencer had observed that Operation Sindoor pitted Indias indigenously developed weapons systems against Chinese-supplied platforms fielded by Pakistan and added that " India didnt just win on the battlefieldit won the technology referendum."

Pakistan fought as a proxy force, dependent on Chinese hardware that was built for export, not for excellence, Spencer had said.
DAMASCUS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes overnight on southern Syria, targeting military positions in Quneitra and Daraa provinces, following reports of a projectile launched from western Daraa toward the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, explosions rocked the city of Quneitra and the countryside around Daraa, with loud blasts heard across Izraa, Tel al-Mal, and Tel al-Sha'ar.

The observatory said the strikes reportedly hit the 175th Regiment base and other strategic locations.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in an already fragile region, representing one of several incidents this week following months of relative quiet.

The observatory said the Israeli response followed the firing of a single projectile toward Israeli territory, a claim the foreign affairs authorities said in a statement it could not confirm.

"We have not verified the origin of the reported fire toward the Israeli side," the Syrian statement said, adding that "there are parties who seek to destabilize the region for their own benefit."

The statement reiterated that Syria "did not and will not pose a threat to any side in the region," affirming that its priority in the south is to reassert state authority and disarm non-state actors.

Earlier in the night, Israeli drone activity was reported over the Yarmouk Basin, a rugged area long considered a stronghold for militant groups. The observatory noted that this week's strikes mark the first artillery fire from southern Syria toward Israel since the collapse of the former regime in December.

The escalation has renewed concerns of a broader conflict. Since January, Israel has launched at least 56 strikes on Syrian territory, according to the observatory, including airstrikes and ground assaults, primarily targeting weapons depots, militia outposts, and command centers.

In its statement on Tuesday night, Syria's foreign affairs authorities condemned the latest Israeli bombardment, calling it a "blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty" and warning that the attacks would only "deepen regional instability at a time when de-escalation is urgently needed."

It called on the international community to hold Israel accountable and support efforts to restore calm and security to Syria and the wider region. 
Defence Minister of Australia Richard Marles assured New Delhi that his country is with India in the fight against terrorism.

Marles, who is also the country's deputy prime minister, is in India as part of a four-nation trip aimed at boosting security cooperation with South and Southeast Asia. He is also scheduled to visit the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Marles, the first senior Australian minister to visit India after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese retained power for a second term following his Labor party's victory in the parliamentary election, said the opportunity to work closely with India is "exciting".

#WATCH | Delhi | During the opening remarks in his meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia, Richard Marles, says, "... The opportunity to work closely with you again over the next three years is really exciting. I've https://t.co/kSxwgrmCO2 pic.twitter.com/g6WayULVZS  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

During the opening remarks in his meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he said, "The opportunity to work closely with you again over the next three years is really exciting. I have deeply appreciated our relationship over the last three years and the progress that we have made. I want to pass on our prime minister's condolences to India for all the lives lost in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of those who were killed in the appalling terrorist attack."

ALSO READ: Can India afford to wait for a decade for fifth-generation fighter jet AMCA while Pakistan gets Chinese stealth jets?

He said Australia stands with India and all countries in combating terrorism and added that his country will continue to work with India as we combat terrorism in all its forms.

Singh said it is heartening to note the significant milestones achieved in bilateral defence relations between the two countries since the last meeting between the two leaders.

"I hope that in the coming years, we work with renewed momentum, effectively contributing to the growth of bilateral defence relations... Largely due to your personal commitment and leadership in strengthening India-Australia defence and security cooperation, in the past three years, bilateral defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of our comprehensive strategic partnership," Singh said.

Noting that the meeting between the two defence ministers is taking place at a time when India is facing extreme challenges at our western border, Singh said, "We thank Australia for its support on this issue. We shall be talking more about this later in the meeting."
Recently, Blake Lively approached a New York court to seek to withdraw emotional distress claims she alleged against her It Ends with Us co-star, Justin Baldoni. The move comes after Baldonis legal team requested access to Livelys medical records to substantiate her accusations.

ALSO READ | Blake Lively attempts to withdraw emotional distress claim against Justin Baldoni

The actress earlier alleged severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish. Lively had sought to withdraw her claims without prejudice, which would prevent the opposing party from using said evidence in court.

Now, Deadline has reported Judge Lewis J. Liman of the Southern District of New York has put the hullabaloo surrounding the claim to rest by dismissing it altogether. In a court order obtained by the publication, Judge Liman wrote, "The motion to compel... is denied based on Plaintiff's representation that the relevant claims will be withdrawn."

In addition, the court warned that if Lively does not dismiss the claims, she will not be permitted to present further evidence to support her emotional distress. "For avoidance of doubt, if the claims are not dismissed, the Court will preclude Blake from offering any evidence of emotional distress."

ALSO READ | Blake Lively files motion seeking to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation countersuit

On Tuesday, Livelys representatives labelled Baldonis motion of request as a press stunt. Ms. Lively respectfully requests that the Court exercise its inherent authority to control its own docket and strike the Motion as unnecessary, improper, and abusive, her attorneys from Willkie Farr & Gallagher wrote to the court.

A court date has been set for the high-profile case on March 9, 2026. Preliminary hearings commenced earlier this year in February.
For the last two years, Diljit Dosanjhs Punjab 95 has been awaiting a release date. Caught in a web of delays and censorship, the makers and fans have been met with more disappointment with the movie being delayed indefinitely.

Directed by Honey Trehan, it was earlier set to premiere in 2023 during the famed Toronto International Film Festival. The intervention of the Indian authorities prior to it led to the postponement, beginning the indefinite hiatus. With the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) making demands to cut 127 scenes, the filmmakers and CBFC have entered a stalemate, forcing the movie into an undecided void.

Produced by Ronnie Screwvalas RSVP Movies, the movie provides a real-life account of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Khalra, who was a bank director, had played a pivotal role in exposing the mass disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the militancy era. He was later abducted and killed in 1995. Dosanjh, who is cast in the lead role, is joined by a stellar cast comprising Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljeet, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.

Shuru shuru mein maine mann maar ke 21 cuts kare, socha chalo picture nahi atkey (At first, I begrudgingly agreed to 21 cuts so that at least the release doesnt stall), Trehan shared with The Indian Express. Trehan further adds that some of the demands put forward by CBFC are verbally non-negotiable  removal of the name Khalra, deletion of the visuals of the Indian flag, avoiding the name Punjab Police, muting the Gurbani sound, changing the names of locations and renaming the film.

No reasons have been given formally. I am willing to cut anything if its a court directive, but I am not being allowed to fight in court, says Trehan. The Raat Akeli Hai director also mentions that though the case had reached the Bombay High Court in 2023, the makers were asked to withdraw the same.

Despite his disapproval, Trehan has adhered to the demands thrust upon the production, including a revamp of the movie title to Sutlej, under the hope of getting approval.
Samples of suspected patients from the coastal town of Visakhapatnam have tested positive for the old variant of Omicron.

The samples were sent by the government-run King George Hospital to the Pune Virology Department which confirmed the presence of the Omicron virus. All the patients who tested positive have recovered, according to hospital authorities.

This is the old variant of Omicron. It is of very low grade. We had four cases and all had the same variant of Covid. The patients have flu-like symptoms like cold and cough. There is nothing to worry about. These are not the variants seen in other countries, said KGH superintendent, Dr. K Sivanand.

Given that Covid cases are on the rise in other countries and also in some parts of the country, the AP government has decided to ramp up testing. The Medical and Health Department has decided to increase the testing capacity. Special Principal Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, M.T. Krishna Babu held a review meeting with health officials in this regard.

According to officials, Covid tests are being conducted as per the rules for those visiting government public hospitals with symptoms like fever. The health department officials also discussed the availability of VTM (Viral Transmission Media) kits, RNA extraction kits and RTPCR kits required for conducting COVID tests.

The government has decided to increase the number of COVID tests to 1,000 people per day and steps would be taken to arrange the necessary kits to achieve this figure. The administration will also ensure that oxygen plants are made available in various government hospitals to be prepared for any eventualities.

The health department has decided to ensure that PPE kits, face masks ventilators and medicines are available in government hospitals. At the review meeting, Covid spread patterns should be closely monitored and analysed within the state and the country. All the connected departments have been alerted to work in coordination. Currently, there are around 4000 active Covid cases in the country with dozens of new cases being reported daily.
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, speaking at the United Kingdom Supreme Court, emphasised judicial independence amid Indias National Judicial Accountability Commission re-enactment debate, sparked by the Justice Yashwant Varma cash controversy. He argued that judges must remain free from external control, defending the collegium system while acknowledging its criticisms.

Justice Gavai participated in a roundtable at the UK Supreme Court, hosted by Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the UK Supreme Court.

During the discussion, CJI Gavai addressed key issues concerning judicial independence in India. He defended the collegium system for judicial appointments, acknowledging its criticisms but emphasising that any reform must preserve the judiciarys autonomy from government influence.

He also expressed concerns about judges accepting post-retirement government appointments or contesting elections, stating that such actions raise ethical questions and could undermine public trust in the judiciarys impartiality. He reiterated his personal commitment to avoiding post-retirement government roles to uphold judicial integrity.

The visit included a ceremonial welcome at the UK Supreme Court, and CJI Gavai was accompanied by his spouse, Rashmi Gavai. The event was part of a broader exchange between the Indian and UK judiciaries, with Lord Reed noting a reciprocal visit planned to India in October 2025 to strengthen judicial ties.

Discussions also covered Indias judicial appointment processes and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the judiciary.

On the issue of corruption in the judiciary, CJI said, Sadly, there have been instances of corruption and misconduct that have surfaced even within the judiciary. Such occurrences inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence, potentially eroding faith in the integrity of the system as a whole.

In India, when such instances have come to light, the Supreme Court has consistently taken immediate and appropriate measures to address the misconduct, he said.

CJI Gavais remarks were made in the context of the controversy involving High Court Judge Yashwant Varma. In March, a Supreme Court inquiry panel found Justice Varma culpable for possessing unaccounted cash at his Delhi residence.

In early May, then-CJI Sanjiv Khanna took action by writing to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the recovery of the cash as a serious issue and initiating the process for Justice Varmas removal from office.

CJI Gavai expressed strong reservations about judges accepting government appointments or contesting elections shortly after retirement. He highlighted that such actions could create perceptions of bias, undermining public trust in the judiciarys impartiality. He cited the example of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogois nomination to the Rajya Sabha as a case that fueled public debate about judicial independence.

To set a personal example, CJI Gavai pledged not to accept any government post after his retirement, emphasising the need for judges to maintain ethical standards to preserve public confidence and said, If a judge takes up another appointment with the government immediately after retirement, or resigns from the bench to contest elections, it raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny.

A judge contesting an election for a political office can lead to doubts regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as it may be seen as a conflict of interest or as an attempt to gain favour with the government, he said.
A storm of controversy surrounds Allahabad High Court Judge Yashwant Varma as the government prepares to initiate impeachment proceedings following allegations of unaccounted cash found at his Delhi residence.

Home Minister Amit Shah met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the matter on Tuesday. Subsequently, Shah, accompanied by Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who also serves as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, met with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, signalling that the impeachment motion is likely to be introduced first in the Rajya Sabha.

Govt is using the Justice Yashwant Verma affair to take greater control of judicial appointments. That will be disastrous. The solution of corruption in the judiciary is to have a judicial complaint commission, Indep of the govt& judiciary to investigate complaints against judges pic.twitter.com/oK1vsyrH31  Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) March 26, 2025

Union Law Minister will move the motion based on the report. Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to begin in the second week of July.

The controversy erupted on March 14, 2025, when a fire at Justice Varmas official residence at 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi, led firefighters to discover partially burnt cash, reportedly worth Rs 15 crore in a storeroom.

A Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee, comprising Justices Sheel Nagu, G.S. Sandhawalia, and Anu Sivaraman, investigated the incident. Their May 3 report concluded that Justice Varma failed to provide a credible explanation for the cash, deeming the misconduct severe enough to warrant impeachment. Varma, denying the allegations, claimed the outhouse was accessible to staff and suggested a conspiracy.

Despite calls to resign, he has stood firm, prompting then-CJI Sanjiv Khanna to recommend impeachment on May 8 by writing to President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi.

The impeachment process for a high court judge, governed by Article 218 of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, is a rare and complex procedure. It begins with a motion in Parliament, requiring 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs to sign.

If admitted by the Speaker or Chairman, a three-member committee, typically including a Supreme Court judge, a High Court Chief Justice, and a juristinvestigates the charges. The committees findings, if damning, lead to a parliamentary vote needing a two-thirds majority in both Houses.

If passed, the President issues a removal order.

Justice Varma faces limited options. Resignation remains his most straightforward path, potentially preserving pension benefits and halting proceedings. However, his refusal to step down suggests he may challenge the allegations during the inquiry, where he is entitled to a fair hearing, including presenting evidence and cross-examining witnesses.

A third option awaiting a possible criminal probe is constrained, as the Supreme Courts 1991 K. Veeraswami ruling bars FIRs against sitting judges without CJI approval, which has not been granted.

The case marks a historic moment, as no high court judge has been impeached in India. Previous attempts, like those against Justices V. Ramaswami and Soumitra Sen, faltered or ended in resignation.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Tuesday said the Centres decision to introduce new domicile and reservation rules in Ladakh was only for jobs and vowed to continue their struggle for safeguarding Ladakh's unique identity

Speaking at a press conference in Leh, senior LAB leader Mustafa Haji they would continue to strive for safeguarding the unique identity, land and culture of Ladakh.

Haji said the new domicile certificate is only for recruitment and does not cover other things

He said Ladakhs concerns have been raised many times since it became a Union Territory in August 2019, when it was separated from Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

Since then, people across Ladakh have demanded constitutional safeguards to protect their land, jobs, and cultural identity.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)  which represent civil society, religious, and political groups from Leh and Kargil districts  have been jointly leading this demand.

They have called for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides special rights to tribal areas, or similar legal protection to safeguard the regions interests.

Haji also pointed out that in Jammu and Kashmir, over 83,000 people were granted domicile rights based on cut-off dates before 2005. He warned that a similar approach in Ladakh must be applied carefully to avoid weakening local rights.

While welcoming the new 33 per cent reservation rule for women in LAHDC, he said Ladakh still needs strong constitutional safeguards to protect its land, culture, and employment opportunities.

We have done our part, Haji said. Now it is up to the government  whether it takes one year or two. We are ready for talks, but we need clear and firm assurances.

The demand for constitutional safeguards remains central to the joint struggle of the LAB and KDA, as they continue to push for the protection of Ladakhs unique tribal character and its fragile ecological and cultural landscape.
YouTuber Jasbir Singh, a native of Rupnagar in Punjab, was arrested by police on Wednesday for suspected links with Pakistans spy agency. Jasbir Singh, whose YouTube channel Jaan Mahal has over 1.1 million subscribers, maintained close contact with Haryana-based influencer Jyoti Malhotra. The arrest of the woman vlogger for her alleged links to an anti-India espionage network had shocked the nation. After Malhotra's arrest, Singh allegedly attempted to erase all traces of his communications with Islamabads agents, police said.

It was sleuths from the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, who reportedly picked up Singh who is said to have visited Pakistan in 2020, 2021, and 2024. Jasbir Singh, who hails from Mahlan in Rupnagar district, maintained contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national who was expelled as an official of the Pakistan High Commission. He was also in touch with a Pakistan Intelligence Officer (PIO) named Jutt Randhawa, according to the Punjab Police.

Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, State Special Operations Cell (#SSOC), Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, #Rupnagar.



Jasbir Singh, who operates a #YouTube channel called Jaan Mahal, has been found  DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) June 4, 2025

ALSO READ | Punjab cops nab Pakistani spy who shared Operation Sindoor details to ISI operatives

Jasbir Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called Jaan Mahal, has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network, a police official stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danishs invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He traveled to Pakistan on three occasions (2020, 2021, and 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, which are now under detailed forensic scrutiny.

An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell in Mohali. Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators, the official added.

Electronic gadgets in his possession has several Pakistan-based contact numbers, which are being cross-checked, a report said. Jasbir Singh attended the Pakistan National Day celebration at the Pakistani Embassy in Delhi on Danish's invitation, reports quoted the investigators as saying. During this interaction, he met and chatted with Pakistani Army personnel and vloggers.

FULL REPORT | Spying for ISI: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was close to Pakistani agents, passed info on key locations

The 33-year-old Hisar native, Malhotra, who was running a YouTube channel titled Travel with JO, was arrested last month.

On May 13, India expelled Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission, for allegedly indulging in espionage.

The action against spy networks within the country follows the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead and the four-day military conflict with Pakistan that ensued.
Raja Raghuvanshi, a 29-year-old Indore native who was found dead in Meghalayas East Khasi Hills district, was murdered, police told reporters. The whereabouts of his wife Sonam remain unknown, even as reports confirmed that the Meghalaya Police have discovered the weapon used to kill Raghuvanshi.

Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam were reported missing on May 23, Friday, not long after they checked out from a homestay in Nongriat village, where they were honeymooning. The decomposed body of the man was recovered on Monday from a gorge near the Weisawdong Falls, almost 20 km away from the hospitality facility.

During the course of the investigation, police discovered that Raja Raghuvanshi did not die from a fall but was hacked to death with a machete. However, it can only be confirmed whether he died before or after the fall once the autopsy report is received, police told The Times of India (TOI).

#WATCH | Shillong: On the incident of the missing Indore couple in Meghalaya, Vivek Syiem, SP of East Khasi hills, says, "The postmortem of the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was done today. The case has been registered, and a special investigation team has been formed, headed by the pic.twitter.com/XlcJIYpG7x  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

According to officials, there is reason to believe that the recovered weapon was brand new and likely brought to the scene specifically to commit the crime. Raja Raghuvanshi's mobile phone was also recovered during the investigation.

Rajas body was identified by his brother, who recognized a tattoo on his right hand. The postmortem will be carried out at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case. Drones and mountaineering experts have been summoned to assist police efforts in locating Sonam. A team of 17 rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is also involved in the search, according to reports.

The couple arrived at Mawlakhiat village on May 22 on a rented scooter. On May 24, their scooter was found abandoned at a cafe along the road from Shillong to Sohra following which the probe began.
With the Election Commission of India rejecting P.V. Anvars nomination as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate for the Nilambur Assembly by-election, speculation is rife about his next move. While his nomination as a TMC candidate was invalidated, his second nomination as an independent candidate was accepted by the returning officer.

TMC is now recognised as a state party after it lost its national party status in 2023. As a result, it has to go through additional procedural requirements when contesting elections outside its home state of West Bengal. This meant that Anvars nomination as a TMC candidate required 10 proposers; a mandatory condition for state parties contesting outside their stronghold. Anvar failed to meet this requirement.

Additionally, the party had to inform the Election Commission about its intent to contest in Kerala within three days of receiving the election notification. However, the party missed the deadline, submitting the notice five days later and declared Anvars candidacy only on June 1. Anvar attributed the rejection of his TMC nomination to technical issues related to the partys registration in Kerala.

Interestingly, unlike the UDF, LDF, and NDA candidates, Anvar is yet to launch an active campaign in Nilambur. This has fuelled speculation that the rejection of his TMC nomination may have been a calculated move. Despite the UDF leadership publicly declaring the Anvar chapter closed, whispers of backchannel talk with him persist.

Adding to the intrigue, on the morning of June 4, Anvar held a press conference where he listed a number of cheatings by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the past nine years. Notably, Anvar was once among the most vocal supporters of the CMs policies and promises before their fallout.

June 5 is the last date for withdrawing nomination papers and suspense lingers over whether Anvar will spring more surprises in the hours ahead. Notably, the dominant mood in the constituency is that the by-election will be a bipolar contest between the UDF and the LDF. However, if Anvar remains in the fray, the votes he garners could prove decisive in determining the outcome.
Swiss economist Stefan Legge has called the goals of U.S. administration's tariff policies "conflicting," warning against the ripple effects on global markets. #GLOBALink
Did the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka plan the celebration of the RCBs win in the IPL 2025 without adequate preparation and against the advice of the senior police officers?

Following the stampede that claimed 11 lives, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, during a press meet, claimed that RCB fans turned up in lakhs both outside the Vidhana Soudha and the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy.

BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra slammed the state government for poor planning and inadequate police deployment.

Senior police officers had warned against having a public celebration at the Vidhana Soudha. But the chief minister forced the police force to make arrangements as the state government was keen on publicity rather than safety of the people, alleged Vijayendra.

READ | No one expected such a huge crowd: Siddaramaiah orders probe into Bengaluru stampede, announces compensation

LOP in Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that the police were fatigued as the people had been celebrating the RCB victory all through the night on Wednesday. On Thursday, the government failed to anticipate such a huge crowd. The police could not manage such a huge crowd.

Union minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumarasamy asked what would the state have lost if they had postponed the celebrations?

Even after the tragedy, the Congress ministers went ahead with the celebrations both at Vidhana Soudha and at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. In fact, the deputy CM was seen kissing the RCB trophy at the stadium even after 11 RCB fans had died in the stampede, said Kumaraswamy.

Deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar said that the celebrations had been cut short owing to the tragedy. The BJP is playing politics even over deaths. The RCB team had requested us for a victory parade in an open vehicle from the HAL airport to the stadium. But the police officers advised against it citing security issues and law and order problems. So, we denied permission for the victory parade. The BJP which had earlier criticised the home minister for denying permission for the victory parade is now blaming us for the stampede, said Shivakumar.

READ | RCB celebration stampede: BJP attacks Siddaramaiah govt, demands judicial probe

Further, Shivakumar claimed that he had gone to the airport to personally receive the RCB team to avoid any untoward incident. As the crowds started swelling around Vidhana Soudha by afternoon, I ordered the shutting down of the Cubbon Park gate. We also shut down the metro stations (at MG Road, Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha) in the central business district for two hours to prevent a stampede. It is an unfortunate incident. We never anticipated that people would come in such large numbers along with their small children, said Shivakumar.

According to police sources, the lack of communication by the organiserswho initially announced a victory parade and later cancelled itand the lack of ticketing to restrict numbers inside the stadium led to a sea of RCB fans venturing out to try their luck. As free passes were distributed, the crowds kept piling on and the police had to rope in forces from other police stations.

While the stadium capacity was 35,000, more than three lakh fans had turned up within four hours by evening. The stadium was also jam packed and once the crowds realised that the victory parade had been cancelled, they started racing towards the stadium to catch a glimpse of their heroes. The ones stranded outside the stadium grew restless and started climbing the stadium compound wall.

Eye witnesses said that the stadium authorities refused to open the bug gates forcing the people to squeeze into the smaller gates. The pathetic state of the footpaths also added to the chaos. Broken barricades and heaps of footwear outside the stadium gates are a sad reminder of what transpired and left 11 fans dead and more than 33 people grievously injured.

The absence of ambulances at the venue led to higher casualties and has exposed the government apathy as there was no sign of any preparedness to host the event in a charged atmosphere.
The three men from Punjab who went missing in Iran last month were rescued by the Iranian authorities, according to reports. The Indians were allegedly kidnapped by human traffickers after they landed in Tehran on May 11.

"Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police. Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran," the Iranian embassy in India posted on its X handle.

Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police

Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran.https://t.co/YAkirkKRHg  Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) June 3, 2025

The action came after Indian authorities alerted Iran about the incident. As per reports, Jaspal Singh, Amritpal Singh and Husanpreet Singh, from Punjab's Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Sangrur districts were reportedly trying to illegally immigrate to Australia but fell prey to kidnappers in Tehran.

Iranian media reports said intelligence activities indicated that Indians stumbled upon an Instagram page titled 'Getting a visa for Australia' and made an appointment with its Afghan operators in Iran.

Jaspal Singh, Amritpal Singh, and Husanpreet Singh, from Punjab's Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Sangrur districts , went missing on May 1, the very day they arrived in Iran. On arrival at Tehran airport from Dubai, they were held captive by Afghan agents, who have since been torturing them seeking a ransom of Rs 18 lakh each.

After the family contacted the Ministry of External Affairs, Iran's District Prosecutor's Office had ordered a specialised investigation. The probe team soon received intelligence about the kidnappers and their hideouts and discovered that they had carried out these criminal acts with prior planning, according to Iranian media.

The team swarmed the kidnapper's hideout in the Iranian city of Varamin. A raid followed and four suspects were arrested. Citizens from several countries, including the three Indians, were rescued from the hideout. All of them were taken hostage by the Afghans under the guise of obtaining visa.

This isn't an isolated incident as Iran is a hub for human smugglers who transport illegal migrants via land, sea and air routes, thanks to its geography. The country is a bridge between Asia, Europe and the Middle East, making it a favourite route for illegal migrants to enter the Arabian Peninsula and the southern Mediterranean region.
Israel launched fresh airstrikes on southern Syria on Tuesday, hours after two projectiles were fired into Israeli territory. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the rockets, which landed in open areas near the Golan Heights communities of Hispin and Ramat Magshimim, were launched from the Tasil area in southern Syriaclose to a region where gunmen had attacked Israeli troops in April. No casualties were reported from the rocket impacts.

In response, the IDF targeted what it described as weapons depots and launch sites, inflicting what Syrias foreign ministry called "significant human and material losses". The ministry condemned the strikes as a "blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty", warning that they risk destabilising an already volatile region. Violent explosions were reported in Quneitra and Daraa, both in southern Syria, as confirmed by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz placed direct responsibility for the rocket attacks on Syrias interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. "The Syrian regime is responsible for what is happening in Syria and will continue to bear the consequences as long as hostile activity continues from its territory," the IDF said. Katz reiterated this, saying: "We consider the president of Syria directly responsible for any threat and fire toward the State of Israel."

Syrian authorities claimed they were still verifying reports of the rocket launches but strongly condemned Israels retaliatory strikes."We are in dire need of calm and peaceful solutions," Syrias foreign ministry stated, urging the international community to intervene and support regional stability.

Tuesdays escalation follows a series of Israeli strikes over recent months. The most recent occurred on May 30, when Israeli aircraft bombed areas near Zama, in the Latakia region of western Syria. One civilian was reportedly killed in that attack. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted coastal missile storage facilities that posed a threat to Israeli and international maritime traffic.

In late April, Israel struck near the presidential palace in Damascusa rare move seen as a direct warning to the new Syrian leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was meant to signal that Israel will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised the action as a violation of Syrias sovereignty.

Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 by an Islamist coalition led by al-Sharaa, Israel has dramatically intensified its military operations in Syria. It has carried out over 700 strikes in a bid to destroy Syrias military infrastructure and prevent advanced weapons from reaching groups hostile to Israel. The collapse of Assads Iran-aligned regime gave Israel a strategic opening to degrade enemy capabilities and reassert control over the contested Golan Heights, which it has occupied since 1967.

Despite some indirect talks between Damascus and Jerusalem aimed at de-escalation, tensions have remained high. The latest rocket attacks mark the first from Syrian territory since May 2024, and the first time air raid sirens were triggered in the Golan Heights since a drone alert in November.

Responsibility for yesterdays rocket launches remains unclear. Arab and Palestinian media have reported claims from a little-known group calling itself the Muhammad Deif Brigades, which is named after the slain Hamas military commander. But these claims remain unverified.

While Israeli officials cite the need to prevent hostile entrenchment in Syria, other factors also appear to drive their operations. Chief among these is a longstanding kinship with Syrias Druze minority, many of whom live in Israel and serve in its military. In April, when clashes broke out between Druze fighters and Syrian government forces in the Sweida region, Israel expressed readiness to protect Druze communities across the border and also launched cross-border bomb attacks.

However, Israels strategy faces new headwinds from Washington. In a dramatic shift, President Donald Trump last month announced that his administration would lift all sanctions on Syria, imposed over atrocities committed by Assads regime during the countrys 13-year civil war. The announcement followed an unexpected meeting between Trump and President al-Sharaa, during which the US leader called the new Syrian president someone with a real shot at pulling it together.

The Trump initiative has cast a shadow over Israeli military operations, forcing its government to recalibrate. Publicly, Israeli officials remain defiant, but the frequency of strikes has declined since Trumps outreach. The US move towards rapprochement with Damascus undermines Israeli efforts to exploit Syrian instability and entrench its strategic advantages, particularly in the Golan Heights.

The Syrian crisis is not just about territory or threats, one Israeli analyst said. Its now entangled with a shifting American doctrine that may no longer see Israels military dominance as the default solution.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to block a planned visit by senior Arab and Islamic foreign ministers to the West Bank has triggered a backlash from Saudi Arabia. Israel decided to ban the visit, scheduled for Sunday, citing the Palestinian Authoritys intentions to use the event to promote statehood.

The decision drew the ire of not only Palestinians as it came ahead of the international conference on Palestinian statehood co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

Now, a source close to Saudi Arabia's ruling family has lashed out at Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling his behaviour 'improper'. "Israel made a mistake in its decision. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus behaviour is improper; he is trying to protect himself because of his own interests," the source told an Israeli broadcaster. "He doesnt want peace, he only wants to make problems."

Netanyahu's decision could affect the prospect of normalisation between the two countries, the Saudi official added.

Also read: Israel bans rare Saudi-led Arab foreign ministers West Bank visit

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 event is being 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.

The prospect of Saudi-Israeli normalisation hit a roadblock after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7. After the Gaza war, Riyadh reiterated its stance against normalising relations will not happen before a two-state solution has been reached, considering the risks associated, both in its religious legitimacy and its role as an Arab and Muslim leader.

Much to the dismay of Israel, the Trump administration too made it clear that they were willing to move forward on key agreements with Saudi Arabia without the previous condition of Saudi-Israel normalisation.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman on June 3, two days after he allegedly carried out a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The family is now in custody and may be deported within days.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, announced the arrests in a video posted on social media. She stated that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE had taken the family of "suspected Boulder, Colorado, terrorist and illegal alien Mohamed Soliman" into custody and would investigate whether they had prior knowledge of the attack.

Soliman is accused of using Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower to set fire to a crowd gathered for a solidarity rally in Boulder. The incident left 12 people injured, including eight who were hospitalised with burns. One of the victims, Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, is a Holocaust survivor in his late 80s.

According to police documents, Soliman told investigators he had been planning the attack for a year. He said he deliberately waited until after his daughters high school graduation to carry it out. Soliman claimed he had not informed his family about his intentions and had left a phone in a drawer with farewell messages. His wife later handed the device to the authorities.

Soliman entered the United States legally in August 2022 on a B2 tourist visa. He applied for asylum a month later, in September 2022. His visa expired in February 2023, but under existing US immigration law, he was permitted to remain in the country while his asylum application was processed. During this time, he was granted a work permit.

The suspects daughter, Habiba Soliman, who had been awarded a scholarship by a local Colorado Springs newspaper, had written in her application that her time in the United States had taught her to thrive under pressure and appreciate her familys support. She had expressed a desire to pursue a career in medicine and was described as having lived in Kuwait for most of her childhood before relocating to the US two years ago.

The State Department has now revoked the visas of Solimans wife and children. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that their deportation proceedings were already underway.

Trump administration officials have used the incident to criticise previous immigration policies. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the country must reverse what he called "suicidal migration". Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to review and revoke visas for other foreign nationals considered to be threats.

"Six one-way tickets for Mohameds wife and five kids. Final boarding call coming soon," the White House declared in a post on social media.
Amid reports that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would no longer be considered a freedom fighter, the Muhammad Yunus government has refuted the claims as "completely baseless, false and confusing".

The confusion arose after an ordinance issued by the interim government redefined the term, "Bir Muktijoddha".

Earlier reports claimed that Mujibur Rahman, M Mansur Ali, Tajuddin Ahmad, Syed Nazrul Islam, AHM Qamaruzzaman and 400 other political leaders from the Liberation War era have lost their Bir Muktijoddha status.

However, Farooq-e Azam, adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, all members of the Mujibnagar Government are still under freedom fighter classification. However, the officials and employess of that government will now be categorised as "associates of the Liberation War" or Muktijuddher Shohojogi, as per the ordinance. This does not mean that there would be any reduction in honour for these personalities.

Who is a Bir Muktijoddha?

The latest ordinance defines a Bir Muktijoddha as someone who fought for Bangladesh from March 26 to December 16, 1971. These include those who prepared for war and received training in Bangladesh or in India before actively participating in the Liberation War for independence from Pakistan. Members of the armed forces are also defined as freedom fighters.

The ordinance issued by the Bangladesh law ministry's legislative and parliamentary affairs department will continue to recognise women tortured by Pakistani forces as freedom fighters. Besides doctors, nurses and medical assistants who treated the freedom fighters will also be considered as Bir Muktijoddha.

This comes days after Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal formally charged ouster PM Sheikh Hasina with crimes against humanity charges, including mass murder. The interim government has also banned her party Awami League from contesting in upcoming elections. Yunus said the elections would be held at the earliest by December 2025 or the latest by June 2026.
NATO secretary Mark Rutte confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine had been invited to its Summit in the Netherlands, set to take place later this month.

This is sure to ruffle Russia's feathers, especially since its peace memorandum submitted to Kyiv at the latest Istanbul peace talks demanded that it stay neutral as one of the conditions for a ceasefire.

The meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), an alliance of NATO member nations, certain non-NATO members, and European Union nations, is taking place at the bloc's headquarters in Brussels today.

Co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Germany, the meeting comes amid renewed US efforts to bring about peace between Russia and Ukraine.

ALSO READ | A painful peace: Russia demands Western pledge stopping NATO's Eastern expansion, sources say

Yet, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's absencethe first time in three years that a Pentagon head skipped a UDCG meetinghas prompted speculations about Washington's slow drift away from its efforts to prise apart Moscow and Kyiv, after warning it would abandon peace efforts altogether if no resolution was reached.

When asked about Hegseth's absence, Rutte assured the gathering that America was still completely committed to NATO and helping Ukraine, adding that the Pentagon chief would attend NATO talks tomorrow.

The former Dutch prime minister also stated that the UDCG was critical for the adoption of more ambitious targets to prepare for new, emerging threats.

These targets set out what forces and concrete capabilities every ally needs to provide to strengthen our deterrence and defence. Air and missile defence, long-range weapons, logistics, and large land manoeuvre formations are among our top priorities, he said.

ALSO READ | Ukraine to get $100 million-plus worth of ammunition from Finland, paid with Russia's frozen billions

We need more resources, forces and capabilities so that we are prepared to face any threat, and to implement our collective defence plans in full, Rutte emphasised, adding that in order to deliver on those new targets, a significantly higher defence spending was necessary.

In that regard, UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed plans to deliver drones to assist Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, emphasising that this was not just Ukraines battle, but a battle for the security of Europe, for our security today, tomorrow and for our future generations.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov (centre) at the UDCG meeting on Wednesday, flanked by UK Defence Secretary John Healey (left) and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (right) | Reuters

The UDCG meeting will be followed by a meeting of defence ministers from NATO nations on Thursday, which he has touted as a huge leap forward.
After reports suggested that Pakistani TikToker Sana Yousuf, 17, was shot dead for rejecting her online acquaintance's advances. The killer was identified as Umar Hayat alias Kaka, 22.

Hayat, who hails from Faisalabad, travelled 200 km to meet Sana and was seen loitering outside her Islamabad home. He reportedly did not pursue education beyond high school and belonged to a lower middle class family.

The man forcibly entered the residence of the teen influencer on June 2 around 5 pm, saying he wanted to be friends with her. Her mother and aunt were present when the incident happened.

Sana, however, rejected his advances and tried to calm him down. "You are getting angry, leave this place. There are CCTV cameras, go away," Sana reportedly said before he shot her.

Hayat fired two bullets at her chest at a close range before fleeing the scene on his motorbike. Islamabad police have recovered the gun and Sana's iPhone from his possession.

He had reportedly tried to reach out to her multiple times but repeated rejections enraged him. Hayat had previously come to her home on May 29, which was her birthday and tried to contact her seven to eight hours but in vain.

"A monster, cold-blooded murderer is now in the laws grip," Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said.

Sana, who hailed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Upper Chitral district, was residing at Sector G-13 in Islamabad. She had a million followers on TikTok and over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
Too much need not be read into the fact that India is not an invitee for the G-7 Summit to be held in Alberta from June 15-17, making it the first time in six years that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be present as an invitee for the Summit.

This is not surprising given Indias frayed relationship with Canada, the host for the G-7 Summit, who has the prerogative of whom to invite and whom not to.

India, the worlds most populous nation, has been an invitee to G-7 Summits mainly because of its geo-strategic significance and the economic heft of being a fast growing economy with a huge market.

ALSO READ | Will India snub Operation Sindoor star weapon S-400 to woo Trump? US Secretary Howard Lutnick says why India-Russia ties is a problem

The India-Canada bilateral relationship has been on a tumble ever since the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a leading proponent for creating Khalistan or a separate independent homeland for Sikhs, with Canada pointing fingers at India of being behind the killing. On June 18, 2023, Nijjar, 45, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside a gurudwara in Surrey, in the suburbs of Canadas Vancouver.

While it has been reported that America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had met and warned several prominent Sikh separatist leaders of possible assassination attempts, it may be a good guess that it was the US that may be behind Canadas effort to rattle India.

The questionable US role, President Trumps pronouncements on the tariffs issue against India, and the lack of categorical US support for India during Operation Sindoor, have adversely impacted India-US ties.

However, the much bigger problem at hand now is a series of openly raised questions by both the US and Russia on Indias core diplomatic plank of strategic autonomy. The Indian position has been to maintain equidistance from major power blocs and taking positions on a case-to-case basisdecided by priorities of national interest.

On June 3, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said that Indias buying of Russian weapons and its BRICS membership, which seeks to move away from dependence on the US dollar, have rubbed the United States the wrong way.

(That) is not really the way to make friends and influence people in America, Lutnick said.

On the other hand, on May 29, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov minced no words about the military dimension of the QUAD alliance when he said that the member nations (India, US, Australia and Japan) were already coordinating military exercises.

ALSO READ | Operation Sindoor: Was Trump planning to involve US military to resolve India-Pak conflict? 'We can fight better than...'

According to Lavrov, when the QUAD was established, assurances were provided that it would refrain from engaging in military affairs.

At that juncture, we engaged in discussions with our Indian counterparts, who emphasised that their interest in joining this QUAD was confined exclusively to trade, economic, and other peaceful domains of collaboration. In practice, however, the QUAD nations are already endeavouringand with notable persistenceto organise naval exercises, albeit not under the QUADs banner, yet, as the saying goes, all togetherthe four of them.

I am confident that our Indian friends perceive this provocation with perfect clarity, the Russian foreign minister added.

Lavrovs other significant statement was on the need to revive the RIC (Russia, India, and China) trilateral format. The moment has arrived to revitalise RIC.

So saying, the Russian minister would have been playing on the Wests biggest fear that India and China might join a strategic alliance some day.

In that context, two events to watch out for would be the QUAD Summit to be hosted by India this year, as well as the upcoming BRICS Summit in Brasils Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7.
Geneva, Jun 4 (AP) The United Nations human rights office expressed concerns on Wednesday about the discovery of dozens of bodies, some charred and buried and others in hospital refrigerators, in an area of Libya's capital controlled by an armed militia whose leader was killed last month.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was shocked by revelations that gross rights violations were uncovered at detention facilities in Tripoli run by the Stabilisation Support Authority, or SSA, an armed group whose commander Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, was killed in militia fighting in mid-May.

The rights office said it later received information on the excavation of 10 charred bodies at the SSA headquarters in the Abu Salim neighbourhood and another 67 bodies discovered in refrigerators in the Abu Salim and Al Khadra hospitals. It also cited reports of a burial site at the Tripoli Zoo that was run by the SSA.

The office said the identities of the bodies were not immediately clear.

Our worst held fears are being confirmed: dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, along with the discovery of suspected instruments of torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings, Turk said in a statement.

Turk called on authorities to seal the area to preserve evidence and said there needed to be accountability for the killings. He said the UN should be granted access to the sites to document rights violations. (AP) SCY

SCY
NEW YORK, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Elon Musk on Tuesday dropped a bomb by casting U.S. President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" as a "disgusting abomination."

In his posts on the social platform X, Musk, who has just left his leading position at the Department of Government Efficiency a few days ago, said: "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore."

"This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

"Congress is making America bankrupt," he added. "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people."

The "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," as described by Trump, is a legislative package that includes a variety of provisions, focusing on tax cuts and spending cuts, as well as provisions like no tax on tips or overtime, increased child tax credits, and cuts to the federal deficit. The bill also includes provisions related to border security, energy exploration, and welfare reform.

According to a CNN report, some White House officials said they were caught off guard by the harsh remarks. While Musk's sentiments on the bill were no secret to senior staff in the West Wing, they weren't expecting him to take such a strong public stance.

House Speaker Mike Johnson brushed off Musk's criticism, telling reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill that Musk was "terribly wrong about the one big, beautiful bill."

"For him to come out and pan the whole bill is to me just very disappointing, very surprising," Johnson said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also dismissed Musk's criticism on Tuesday.

"Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill," Leavitt said at the White House press briefing. "It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it."

The bill passed last month in the House by a 215-214 vote, and is currently waiting for senators' deliberation. 
Far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling four-party Dutch coalition Tuesday in dispute over a crackdown on migration, sparking a political crisis and possibly the end of the 11-month-old government of Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

Wilders announced his decision in a message on X after a brief meeting in parliament of leaders of the four parties that make up the fractious administration.

Wilders last week demanded support for his proposals to halt all asylum migration, send Syrian refugees back home, and close asylum shelters. He quit the government after his coalition partners failed to support his proposals.

The government meltdown comes just three weeks before the Netherlands is scheduled to host a summit of NATO leaders in The Hague and amid global instability.

It was unclear what would happen next. The government could attempt to remain in power as a minority administration or call new elections for later this year. Schoof called an emergency Cabinet meeting for early afternoon.

Wilders blames inaction on migration.

Wilders told reporters that he was withdrawing his support for the coalition and pulling his ministers out of the Cabinet over its failure to act on his desire for a clampdown on migration.

I signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands, said Wilders, whose Party for Freedom is still riding high in Dutch opinion polls, though the gap with the center-left opposition is negligible.

Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the right-wing Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, said before the meeting that Schoof urged the leaders to act responsibly.

The prime minister who appealed to us this morning said that we are facing enormous international challenges, we have a war on our continent, an economic crisis may be coming our way, Yesilgoz told reporters in parliament.

But just minutes later, the meeting was over and so was Wilders involvement in the government.

Im shocked, Yesilgoz said, calling Wilders decision super-irresponsible.

After years in opposition, Wilders party won the last election on pledges to slash migration. He has grown increasingly frustrated at what he sees as the slow pace of the coalitions efforts to implement his plans.

Last week, Wilders demanded coalition partners sign on to a 10-point plan that aims to radically slash migration, including using the army to guard land borders and turning away all asylum-seekers. He said at the time that if immigration policy is not toughened up, his party is out of the Cabinet.

He made good on that pledge Tuesday.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem & AP)

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Isru Chag in Israel.)
President Donald Trump wants his big, beautiful bill of tax breaks and spending cuts on his desk to be signed into law by the Fourth of July, and hes pushing the slow-rolling Senate to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the White House earlier this week and has been dialing senators for one-on-one chats, using both the carrot and stick to nudge, badger and encourage them to act. But its still a long road ahead for the 1,000-page-plus package.

His question to me was, How do you think the bills going to go in the Senate? Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said about his call with Trump. Do you think theres going to be problems?

Its a potentially tumultuous three-week sprint for senators preparing to put their own imprint on the massive Republican package that cleared the House late last month by a single vote. The senators have been meeting for weeks behind closed doors, including as they returned to Washington late Monday, to revise the package ahead of what is expected to be a similarly narrow vote in the Senate.

Passing THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL is a Historic Opportunity to turn our Country around, Trump posted on social media. He urged senators Monday to work as fast as they can to get this Bill to MY DESK before the Fourth of JULY.

But Trumps high-octane ally, billionaire Elon Musk, lambasted the package  and those voting for it.

This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, Musk posted on his site X, as some lawmakers have expressed reservations about the details. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

A test for Thune

Thune, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, has few votes to spare from the Senates slim, 53-seat GOP majority. Democrats are waging an all-out political assault on GOP proposals to cut Medicaid, food stamps and green energy investments to help pay for more than $4.5 trillion in tax cuts  with many lawmakers being hammered at boisterous town halls back home.

Itd be nice if we could have everybody on board to do it, but, you know, individual members are going to stake out their positions, Thune said Tuesday. But in the end, we have to succeed. Failures not an option.

Johnson called Musks harsh criticism of the bill very disappointing.

With all due respect, said Johnson, who said he spoke with Musk for more than 20 minutes, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big beautiful bill.

At its core, the package seeks to extend the tax cuts approved in 2017, during Trumps first term at the White House, and add new ones the president campaigned on, including no taxes on tips. It also includes a massive buildup of $350 billion for border security, deportations and national security.

To defray the lost tax revenue to the government and avoid piling onto the nations $36 trillion debt load, Republicans want reduce federal spending by imposing work requirements for some Americans who rely on government safety net services. Estimates are 8.6 million people would no longer have health care and nearly 4 million would lose Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP.

The package also would raise the nations debt limit by $4 trillion to allow more borrowing to pay the bills.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trumps bill is ugly to its very core.

Schumer said Tuesday that senators should listen to Musk. Behind the smoke and mirrors lies a cruel and draconian truth: tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy paid for by gutting health care for millions of Americans, said the New York senator.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is expected to soon provide an overall analysis of the packages impacts on the government balance sheets. But Republicans are ready to blast those findings from the congressional scorekeeper as flawed.

The GOP holdouts

Trump switched to tougher tactics Tuesday, deriding the holdout Republican senators.

The president laid into Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the libertarian-leaning deficit hawk who has made a career of arguing against government spending. Paul wants the packages $4 trillion increase to the debt ceiling out of the bill.

Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!), Trump posted.

Paul seemed unfazed. I like the president, supported the president, the senator said. But I cant in good conscience give up every principle that I stand for and every principle that I was elected upon.

The July 4th deadline is not only aspirational for the president, its all but mandatory for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has warned Congress that the nation will run out of money to pay its bills if the debt ceiling, now at $36 trillion, is not lifted by mid-July or early August to allow more borrowing. Bessent has also been meeting behind closed doors with senators and GOP leadership.

To make most of the tax cuts permanent  particularly the business tax breaks that are the Senate priorities  senators may shave some of Trumps proposed new tax breaks on automobile loans or overtime pay, which are less prized by some senators.

There are also discussions about altering the $40,000 cap that the House proposed for state and local deductions, known as SALT, which are important to lawmakers in high-tax New York, California and other states, but less so among GOP senators.

Were having all those discussions, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., another key voice in the debate.

Hawley is a among a group of senators, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who have raised concerns about the Medicaid changes that could boot people from health insurance.

A potential copay of up to $35 for Medicaid services that was part of the House package, as well as a termination of a provider tax that many states rely on to help fund rural hospitals, have also raised concerns.

The best way to not be accused of cutting Medicaid is to not cut Medicaid, Hawley said. Collins said she is reviewing the details.

(AP)
A Russian rocket attack targeted the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Tuesday, killing at least four people and wounding 25, officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the assault, saying it underscored that Moscow has no intentions of halting the 3-year-old war.

The attack came a day after direct peace talks in Istanbul made no progress on ending the fighting. Local authorities said the barrage of rockets struck apartment buildings and a medical facility in the center of Sumy.

Meanwhile, Ukraines secret services said they struck inside Russia again, two days after a spectacular Ukrainian drone attack on air bases deep inside the country.

A vital bridge to Crimea

The Ukrainian Security Service, known by its acronym SBU, claimed it damaged the foundations of the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and illegally annexed Crimea  a key artery for Russian military supplies in the war.

The SBU said it detonated 1,100 kilograms (2,400 pounds) of explosives on the seabed overnight, in an operation that took several months to set up. It was the third Ukrainian strike on the bridge since Russias invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, the SBU said.

The bridge is now effectively in an emergency condition, the SBU claimed.

The agency said no civilians were killed or injured in the operation. It was not possible to independently confirm those claims.

Traffic across the Kerch Bridge was halted for three hours early Tuesday, but it reopened at 9 a.m., official Russian social media channels said. It closed for a second time at 3:20 p.m. and reopened again after two and a half hours.

Zelenskyy appeals for pressure on Moscow

The Ukrainian president called the attack on Sumy a completely deliberate strike on civilians.

Thats all you need to know about Russias desire to end this war, the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.

Zelenskyy appealed for global pressure and decisive action from the United States, Europe and everyone in the world who holds power. Without it, he said, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not agree even to a ceasefire.

The war has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line where the fighting grinds on despite U.S.-led efforts to broker a peace deal.

A stunning Ukrainian drone attack

Though Russia has a bigger army and more economic resources than Ukraine, the Ukrainian drone attack over the weekend damaged or destroyed more than 40 warplanes at air bases deep inside Russia, Ukrainian officials said, touting it as a serious blow to the Kremlins strategic arsenal and military prestige.

The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that the Ukrainian attack set several planes ablaze at two air bases but said the military repelled attempted attacks on three other air bases.

Both Zelenskyy and Putin have been eager to show U.S. President Donald Trump that they share his ambition to end the fighting  and avoid possible punitive measures from Washington. Ukraine has accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, but the Kremlin effectively rejected it. Putin has made it clear that any peace settlement has to be on his terms.

Delegations from the warring sides agreed Monday to swap dead and wounded troops, but their conditions for ending the war remained far apart.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who now serves as deputy head of the countrys Security Council chaired by Putin, indicated on Tuesday that there would be no let-up in Russias invasion.

The Istanbul talks are not for striking a compromise peace on someone elses delusional terms but for ensuring our swift victory and the complete destruction of Ukraines government, he said.

In an apparent comment on the latest Ukrainian strikes, he declared that retribution is inevitable.

A Putin-Zelenskyy-Trump meeting unlikely soon, Moscow says

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to suggestions that a face-to-face meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelenskyy could break the deadlock, saying the possibility was unlikely in the near future.

Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian delegation led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has traveled to Washington for talks about defense, sanctions and postwar recovery, said Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraines presidential office.

The delegation will meet with representatives from both major U.S. political parties, as well as with advisers to Trump, Yermak added.

Ukrainians in Kyiv welcomed the strikes on Russian air bases but were gloomy about prospects for a peace agreement.

Russia has invested too many resources in this war to just  stop for nothing, said serviceman Oleh Nikolenko, 43.

His wife, Anastasia Nikolenko, a 38-year-old designer, said diplomacy cannot stop the fighting. We need to show by force, by physical force, that we cannot be defeated, she said.

Russia recently expanded its attacks on Sumy and the Kharkiv region following Putins promise to create a buffer zone along the border that might prevent long-range Ukrainian attacks from hitting Russian soil. Sumy, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the border, had a prewar population of around 250,000.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its troops had taken the Ukrainian village of Andriivka, close to the border in the Sumy region. Ukraine made no immediate comment on the claim, which could not be independently verified.

Russia also fired rocket artillery at Chystovodivka village in the Kharkiv region, killing two people and injuring three others, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

(AP)
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking to the New York Times, said he regrets his 2021 resignation from the governorship amid harassment allegations, suggesting he would have handled the situation differently if given another chance.

Cuomo, who stepped down during his third term, said, If I had to do it again, I wouldnt have resigned.

At the time, I thought that I would be a distraction to government functionality, that they would all be involved in impeachment proceedings, blah, blah, blah, he continued. Looking back, what has really been done in the past four years anyway, right?  a pointed critique at his successor, Governor Kathy Hochul.

In response, Hochuls spokesperson, Avi Small, highlighted her administrations achievements, such as maintaining income tax levels, reforming bail laws, combating crime, building housing, and enhancing affordability, noting that Cuomos criticism ironically mirrors support for her policy agenda.

Cuomos remarks come amid his campaign for New York City mayor, where he positions himself as a seasoned leader capable of addressing the citys challenges.

I was done. I was in the private sector, just enjoying life, Cuomo said. But then I was looking at what was happening in New York City. You saw Mayor Adams getting into trouble; you saw (President) Trump coming; so, Im worried about New York City.

Despite his controversial past, including the resignation and ongoing scrutiny over his handling of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo is widely seen as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Elon Musk on Tuesday tore into the massive tax-and-spending-cut bill backed by President Donald Trump, calling it a disgusting abomination that will explode federal budget deficits.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk wrote in a post on X, his social media site.

This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, the Tesla

and SpaceX CEO added.

Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it, wrote Musk, who until last week led the Trump administrations DOGE effort to cut government spending and waste.

Musk in a follow-up post wrote that the bill will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.

The jibes came two days after CBS News aired an interview in which Musk said that the legislative package backed by the Republican president undermines DOGE.

The White House quickly shrugged off Musks latest criticism.

Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing Tuesday when asked about the initial post.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

It doesnt change the Presidents opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and hes sticking to it, Leavitt said.

Leavitt doubled down on the administrations claim that it is blatantly wrong to say that the bill adds to the deficit.

She accused the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which found that the budget package would raise the deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next decade, of being biased against Republicans.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led the Republican caucuss effort to pass the spending package through that chamber, told reporters, With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big beautiful bill.

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Johnson, R-La., reiterated his defense of the bill in an X post, while also vowing that Congress would codify some of DOGEs claimed government-spending cuts as part of a rescissions package.
Yeshiva Mikdash Melech in Brooklyn recently received a threatening letter, allegedly sent by inmate Matthew Karelefsky, 47, who is currently serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for attempted murder and arson.

The letter, addressed to the yeshiva on Ocean Parkway in Midwood, warned of planned mass shootings in three zip codes: 11230 and 11210 in Brooklyn, and 06710 in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Karelefsky was convicted in 2024 for setting fire to a longtime Chaim Berlin rebbis home in 2019, an attack that injured 13 people, including a 6-week-old infant.

The NYPD is currently investigating the threat, and it remains unclear whether additional security measures have been implemented in the affected neighborhoods.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
For most Chinese, the 36th anniversary of a bloody crackdown that ended pro-democracy protests in China passed like any other weekday. And thats just how the ruling Communist Party wants it.

Security was tight Wednesday around Beijings Tiananmen Square, where weeks of student-led protests shook the party in 1989. Under then-leader Deng Xiaoping, the military was sent in to end the protest on the night of June 3-4. Using live ammunition, soldiers forced their way through crowds on the streets that tried to block them from reaching the square. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed, including dozens of soldiers.

The party has tried, with some success, to erase what it calls the political turmoil of 1989 from the collective memory. It bans any public commemoration or mention of the June 4th crackdown, scrubbing references from the internet.

In recent years, that ban has been extended to Hong Kong, where a once-massive annual candlelight vigil is no longer permitted. A former district council member, Chan Kim-kam, said customs officers questioned her at her shop on the eve of June 4 after she advertised small white candles for sale in an Instagram post titled June, we dont forget.

It is only in Taiwan, a self-governing island that is claimed by China but runs its own affairs, that large June 4 gatherings can still take place.

The crackdown reinforced Communist Party control

Tiananmen Square is a vast open space in the center of Beijing with monumental, communist-era buildings along two of its sides and the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, who founded the communist era in 1949, on the south end.

University students occupied this symbolically important site in the spring of 1989. Their calls for freedoms divided the party leadership. In retrospect, the decision to send in the troops marked a decisive turning point in the evolution of modern China, keeping the party firmly in control as it loosened economic restrictions.

Chinese officials have said the countrys rapid economic development since then proves the decisions made at the time were correct.

On the political turmoil that happened in the late 1980s, the Chinese government has already reached a clear conclusion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday. He added that China would continue along its current path of what it calls socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Tiananmen Mothers, a group formed by relatives of the victims, made an annual online appeal to the government. Signed by 108 members, it called for an independent investigation into what happened on June 4, 1989, including a list of all who died. The group also demanded compensation for the families and a legal case against those responsible for the deaths.

The British and German Embassies in Beijing posted videos commemorating the anniversary on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, but they were later taken down, presumably by censors. The Canadian and German Embassies displayed images of a single lit candle on large screens facing the main street.

Hong Kongs once outspoken populace has been cowed

In Hong Kong, a carnival showcasing Chinese food and products was held in Victoria Park, where tens of thousands of people used to gather for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary.

Hong Kong authorities first shut down the vigil during the COVID-19 pandemic and arrested the organizers in 2021. The moves were part of a broader crackdown on dissent following monthslong anti-government protests in 2019 that turned violent and paralyzed parts of the city.

You know, Hong Kongers have become silent lambs after 2019, said King Ng, who was at the park on Wednesday.

Police were out in force to try to prevent any protest, and took several people away from the park on Wednesday. They included a young woman wearing a school uniform and holding flowers, a man who lowered his head in apparent prayer, and a man wearing a white T-shirt reading Vindication for June 4. Its getting closer and closer. Police also questioned a woman who lit up a mosquito lamp, but eventually let her go.

Rows of electronic candles lit up the windows of the American consulate, and the British consulate projected VIIV  Roman numerals in reference to June 4  on one of its walls.

The British and Canadian consulates earlier posted social media messages about remembering June 4. Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997. The American consulate posted a message from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on its website.

The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, Rubio said, referring to Chinas Communist Party. But the world will never forget.

Taiwan seeks support from democracies against China

Taiwans President Lai Ching-te used the anniversary to position the island he leads on the frontline of defending democracy against authoritarianism. In a Facebook post, he drew a distinction between Taiwans multiparty democracy and Chinas one-party rule.

Authoritarian governments often choose to remain silent and forget about history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who have contributed to the ideals of human rights and the dreams they embrace, Lai wrote.

Taiwan transitioned from authoritarianism to democracy in a process that began in the late 1980s. It relies on support principally from the U.S., along with other democratic partners, to deter China from an invasion.

Several hundred people gathered Wednesday evening for a candlelight vigil in downtown Taipeis Freedom Square as light rain fell. In the center of the gathering stood a scaled-down model of the Pillar of Shame, a sculpture commemorating the protests that once stood on the campus of Hong Kong University.

China has placed bounties on the heads of many Hong Kong student organizers who have fled abroad and locked up or intimidated into silence those who remain. A few dozen have sought refuge in Taiwan.

Wu Lang-huang, a Taiwanese professor who was present when troops arrived on the square in 1989, said he will continue to document what happened and collect related artifacts.

Its not just about remembering what happened then but also for the lessons it tells us about modern Hong Kong and Taiwan, Wu said.

One of the vigils organizers, who went by the name Mimi for fear of repercussions, said some may question why people born years after the 1989 protests still care.

Its about memory, which is itself a form of resistance, she said.

(AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday dismissed Russias ceasefire proposal as an ultimatum and renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock over the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3 years.

Putin, however, showed no willingness to meet with Zelenskyy, expressing anger Wednesday about what he said were Ukraines recent terrorist acts on Russian rail lines in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on the countries border.

How can any such (summit) meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about? Putin asked in a video call with top Russian officials.

He accused Ukraine of seeking a truce only to replenish its stockpiles of Western arms, recruit more soldiers and prepare new attacks like those in Kursk and Bryansk.

Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Mondays direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks. Zelenskyy had previously challenged Putin to meet him in Turkey, but Putin stayed away.

Russia and Ukraine have established red lines that make a quick deal unlikely, despite a U.S.-led international diplomatic push to stop the fighting. The Kremlins Istanbul proposal contained a list of demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters.

This document looks like spam

Zelenskyy said that the second round of talks in Istanbul was no different from the first meeting on May 16. Zelenskyy described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as a political performance and artificial diplomacy designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue.

The same ultimatums they voiced back then  now they just put them on paper  Honestly, this document looks like spam. Its spam meant to flood us and create the impression that theyre doing something, Zelenskyy said in his first reaction to the Russian document.

He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry the same content and spirit as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war.

The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin, headed the Russian team.

Zelenskyy said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Putin, possibly also including U.S. President Donald Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement. The U.S. has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.

We are proposing  a ceasefire before a leaders summit, with the U.S. acting as a mediator, Zelenskyy told a media briefing in Kyiv.

Why a ceasefire before the leaders meeting? Because if we meet and there is no mutual understanding, no willingness or vision on how to end this, then the ceasefire would end that same day. But if we see readiness to continue the dialogue and take real steps toward de-escalation, then the ceasefire would be extended with U.S. mediation guarantees, he said.

Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Zelenskyy said.

U.S. defense secretary stays away

A second round of peace talks on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war. They agreed only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops.

Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Zelenskyy said.

The U.S. has shown signs of distancing itself from the conflict.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth skipped a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday of an international group coordinating military aid to Ukraine. It was the first time Americas Pentagon chief didnt attend alongside 50 other defense leaders since the U.S. created the group three years ago.

An analysis published Tuesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said the Kremlin is hoping for U.S. disengagement while avoiding further sanctions.

Without serious pain, Putin will continue to drag the peace talks out, keep fighting, and wait for the United States to walk away, it said.

In tandem with the talks, both sides have kept up offensive military actions along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and carried out deep strikes.

Ukraines Security Service gave more details Wednesday about its spectacular weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers.

The agency claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft, adding that artificial intelligence helped guide the drones thousands of kilometers (miles) from Ukraine.

It also said it set off an explosion on Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure.

But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that there was no damage.

Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraines northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia. Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russias Ministry of Defense claims its forces have taken control of nine Sumy villages.

(AP)
Syrias new government has agreed to give inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog access to suspected former nuclear sites immediately, the agencys head told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The International Atomic Energy Agencys director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, spoke in an exclusive interview in Damascus, where he met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other officials.

He also said al-Sharaa expressed an interest in pursuing nuclear energy for Syria in the future, adding, Why not?

The agencys aim is to bring total clarity over certain activities that took place in the past that were, in the judgment of the agency, probably related to nuclear weapons, Grossi said. He described the new government as committed to opening up to the world, to international cooperation and said he is hopeful of finishing the inspection process within months.

An IAEA team in 2024 visited some sites of interest while former President Bashar Assad was still in power. Since the fall of Assad in December, the IAEA has been seeking to restore access to sites associated with Syrias nuclear program.

Syria under Assad is believed to have operated an extensive clandestine nuclear program, which included an undeclared nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province.

The IAEA described the reactor as being not configured to produce electricity  raising the concern that Damascus sought a nuclear weapon there by producing weapons-grade plutonium.

The reactor site only became public knowledge after Israel, the Mideasts only nuclear power, launched airstrikes in 2007 destroying the facility. Syria later leveled the site and never responded fully to the IAEAs questions.

Grossi said inspectors plan to return to the reactor in Deir el-Zour as well as to three other related sites. Other sites under IAEA safeguards include a miniature neutron source reactor in Damascus and a facility in Homs that can process yellow-cake uranium.

We are trying to narrow down the focus, to those or that one that could be of a real interest, he said.

While there are no indications that there have been releases of radiation from the sites, he said, the watchdog is concerned that enriched uranium can be lying somewhere and could be reused, could be smuggled, could be trafficked.

He said al-Sharaa  who has courted Western governments since taking power  had shown a very positive disposition to talk to us and to allow us to carry out the activities we need to.

Apart from resuming inspections, Grossi said the IAEA is prepared to transfer equipment for nuclear medicine and to help rebuild the radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and oncology infrastructure in a health system severely weakened by nearly 14 years of civil war.

And the president has expressed to me hes interested in exploring, in the future, nuclear energy as well, Grossi said.

A number of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan, are pursuing nuclear energy in some form. Grossi said Syria would most likely be looking into small modular reactors, which are cheaper and easier to deploy than traditional large ones.

Talks on Iran

Regarding the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran for a deal over Tehrans nuclear program, Grossi said he has been in constant contact with the parties.

They are negotiating, its not us, but it is obvious that the IAEA will have to be the guarantor of whichever agreement they come to, he said.

While there continue to be major areas of contention between the two sides  particularly over uranium enrichment  Grossi said he is encouraged that they are negotiating directly, and he believes both sides are serious about reaching a deal.

I think they both want an agreement, which doesnt mean that its easy to get, but, simple and obvious as this may sound, having two sides that want an agreement is an enormous advantage, he said. In my long diplomatic career, I have participated in negotiations where it was not necessarily the case that the sides wanted an agreement.

(AP)
SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung named prime minister and top secretaries after being sworn in as the country's 21st president on Wednesday, according to the presidential office.

Kim Min-seok, the ruling Democratic Party's four-term lawmaker and co-chair of Lee's presidential campaign team, was nominated to lead the first cabinet of the Lee government.

The prime minister nomination requires approval from the Democratic Party-controlled National Assembly following a confirmation hearing.

Lee appointed Kang Hoon-sik, the ruling party's three-term lawmaker, as presidential chief of staff while naming Wi Sung-lac, a career diplomat who was elected the first-term Democratic Party lawmaker last April, as top presidential national security advisor.

The president appointed former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok as chief of the National Intelligence Service and Hwang In-kwon, former four-star army general, as head of the presidential security service.

Lee launched his single five-year term with an oath of office in the parliamentary building earlier in the day. 
An Egyptian national who was living in the US illegally hurled firebombs at a crowd marching at an Israeli hostage solidarity event in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday afternoon, June 1, injuring 12 people, one critically.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, fired two lit Molotov cocktails into a crowd walking for Run for Their Lives, a grassroots organization that facilitates global run and walk events calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. As he carried out the attack, he screamed Free Palestine and End Zionists.

The makeshift bombs burst into flames in the crowd, causing several people to catch on fire. The two most severely injured victims, an 88-year-old woman and her husband, and another elderly woman who is a Holocaust survivor, were airlifted to a Colorado burn center. The other victims were treated at a nearby hospital, and most have since been released.

During the attack, one of the Molotov cocktails caused the terrorists shirt to set on fire. He removed his shirt and a bulletproof vest, and then police, who had been called to the scene, arrested him. He did not resist the arrest.

Miri Kornfeld, an organizer with Run For Their Lives, which holds weekly walks to raise awareness of Israeli hostages, told 9NEWS the group was walking on Pearl Street on Sunday afternoon. When they arrived at the historic courthouse in the area of 13th and Pearl streets, a man was waiting there with bottles, Kornfeld said. He threw the bottles, and five people were burned, including one woman who was badly burned and had to roll on the ground to put the fire out, she said.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Soliman told the police that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and swore he would do it again. He learned how to make Molotov cocktails from backpack weed sprayers loaded with gasoline on YouTube after he was denied a gun permit due to his immigration status.

After his arrest, police found a plastic container nearby with 14 Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed sprayer loaded with gasoline. Later they found his car a few blocks away, a Toyota Prius with a gas container and papers with the words Israel, Palestine, and USAID inside it.

Soliman entered the US on a tourist visa in 2022 and then continued to live in the US illegally. He lived about two hours away from the scene of the attack, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife and five children.

According to the FBI, Soliman planned the attack for a year but delayed carrying it out until his daughter graduated from high school.

He is currently being held on a $10 million bail. He was charged by the federal government with hate crimes and 16 counts of attempted murder by the State of Colorado.

US President Donald Trump blamed the attack on former president Joe Bidens border policy.

He came in through Bidens ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly. He must go out under TRUMP Policy, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Acts of Terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland. My heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, Trump wrote.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Isru Chag in Israel.)
A Boulder, Colorado city council member is facing backlash after refusing to sign a joint statement condemning a firebombing attack at a rally in support of Israeli hostages, objecting to the statements description of the incident as antisemitic without also labeling it anti-Zionist.

Councilmember Taishya Adams said her request to include the term anti-Zionist in the statement was denied, prompting her decision not to sign.

I cannot sign a letter that equates the calls for a Free Palestine with antisemitism, Adams wrote on Facebook. Without the anti-Zionist part, the reader will fail to understand a key driver of this terrible attack. She emphasized that she condemns the attack and its perpetrator, whom she said was explicit about ending Zionism.

The official city statement described the incident as a targeted, antisemitic attack and affirmed Boulders commitment to opposing antisemitism: We cannot  and will not  allow antisemitism to become normalized here.

Adams, who serves as Boulders sister city liaison to Nablus (Shechem), a Palestinian city in the West Bank, has previously been accused of anti-Jewish discrimination by members of a local hostages advocacy group. The group claims Adams blocked them on her official Instagram account and ignored their outreach.

The firebombing follows months of tension at Boulder City Council meetings, which have been repeatedly disrupted by anti-Israel demonstrators. According to the Boulder Reporting Lab, a Jewish council member has previously expressed feeling unsafe at council sessions due to the protests.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A firestorm erupted Monday over revelations that a new U.S. proposal to Iran  reportedly delivered via Oman  would permit Tehran to continue enriching uranium at low levels for civilian use, contradicting President Donald Trumps own public declarations that any deal must impose a total ban on enrichment.

The report, first published by Axios and confirmed by two U.S. officials speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, outlines a framework that mirrors key elements of the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal  the very agreement Trump dismantled during his first term. Under the proposed terms, Iran would be required to shut down its fortified underground facilities and cease high-level enrichment, but would still be permitted to enrich uranium up to 3% at above-ground sites for nuclear medicine and energy production.

That allowance, however narrow, is at odds with Trumps explicit statement posted hours later on Truth Social: Under our potential Agreement  WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!

The contradiction between the proposals details and the Presidents own words ignited backlash from critics across the political spectrum. This is a moment of truth, wrote former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. If you demanded no enrichment under Obama, you should demand the same now.

Trumps special envoy and lead negotiator Steve Witkoff has previously echoed Israels uncompromising demand for zero enrichment  a position Tehran has flatly rejected. The White House declined to clarify whether Trumps social media post or the reported terms of the proposal reflect the administrations true stance.

In an official response, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to downplay the reports without denying them: President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and its in their best interest to accept it. She declined to elaborate further, citing the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations.

The reported terms would dismantle key infrastructure, block Iran from building new enrichment facilities, and freeze centrifuge development. But under the plan, Iran would still be allowed to enrich to 3%  a level considered below weapons-grade, but which critics warn maintains the regimes breakout capability and international legitimacy for nuclear activity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported last Saturday that Iran has continued to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels  a violation of multiple UN resolutions. Experts warn that Iran is now only weeks away from nuclear breakout if it chooses to weaponize its program.

Iranian officials have already rejected the proposal, with one senior diplomat calling it insufficient and accusing Washington of refusing to respect Tehrans right to enrichment. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported Israeli officials fear Washington is preparing to drop the zero-enrichment demand entirely in a last-ditch effort to salvage talks.

The reported proposal also includes a long-defunct plan to create a regional enrichment consortium  an idea rejected in previous rounds due to fierce opposition from Arab states and Iranian distrust.

The optics are alarming: a U.S. administration that came to power criticizing Obamas deal may now be offering Iran a deal nearly indistinguishable from it  and possibly even weaker in enforcement.

Israel, for its part, has issued repeated warnings that it will act militarily to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. With negotiations ongoing, however, Jerusalem is unlikely to move unilaterally  for now.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a joint operation by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, a resident of the Issawiya neighborhood in East Jerusalem was recently arrested on suspicion of carrying out missions for Iranian intelligence operatives, officials announced Tuesday.

According to the investigation, the suspect  in his 30s  was recruited by Iranian agents after expressing a willingness to undertake assignments in exchange for money and out of a stated hatred for Jews. He reportedly told interrogators that he hated Jews and wanted to murder Jews and die as a martyr (shahid).

The Shin Bet revealed that the suspect had agreed to carry out a terrorist attack in central Israel and had also attempted to enlist his family members, including his mother, to carry out additional missions within Israeli territory.

Authorities say the suspect was paid to complete a range of tasks. Among them: hanging posters above the Naomi Shemer Tunnel with the message, Bibi is a dictator  we are not wild weeds. Ronen Bar, we support you, for which he received thousands of shekels. He also allegedly collected intelligence on key sites in Jerusalem, including the Kosel, the Machane Yehuda Shuk, and the city center, earning several hundred shekels for each mission.

Further activities included burning IDF uniforms and photographing supermarket prices in Jerusalem. He also put up signs and gathered additional intelligence on sites across the city.

Security officials said the suspect had been tasked with even more serious acts  which were thwarted by his arrest  including carrying out a terrorist attack in central Israel with the explicit goal of murdering Jews. He was also allegedly offered thousands of shekels to ignite a forest fire and was instructed to transfer weapons, including firearms, to Palestinian territories.

During a search of his home, police uncovered cash payments tied to the Iranian-directed missions, spray paint used for graffiti, two Airsoft pistols, and a substance suspected to be narcotics.

With the conclusion of the investigation, prosecutors issued a formal statement of intent to indict, and the suspects detention has been extended. The Jerusalem District Attorneys Office is expected to file serious security-related charges against him.

This case is part of a growing pattern of Iranian efforts to recruit Israeli citizens and residents to carry out terrorist activities within Israel. In recent months, several similar spy networks have been uncovered  including a cell of seven East Jerusalem residents who allegedly planned to assassinate a nuclear scientist and a mayor, and a group of Azerbaijani-born Israeli citizens who were collecting intelligence on military facilities.

Security officials stressed that Iran continues to target Israeli civilians and residents for terror recruitment and vowed to pursue all those involved with full force.

Israeli security services will continue to act decisively to foil such threats and bring anyone involved in these operations to justice, the joint statement said.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF has announced the tragic death of Master Sergeant (Res.) Alon Farkas HYD, a 27-year-old reservist from the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigades 6646th Battalion, who was killed during combat operations in northern Gaza on Tuesday.

Farkas, a resident of Kibbutz Kabri, fell in battle while operating in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. According to an initial investigation, a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with an assault rifle, striking Farkas and another soldier from the unit. The terrorist managed to flee the scene.

The second soldier sustained serious injuries and is receiving medical treatment.

  .

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The leader of Degel HaTorah, Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, instructed the Degel HaTorah MKs to act to dissolve the Knesset after the negotiations on the draft law with the chairman of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, failed, Kikar HShabbat reported on Wednesday morning.

A charged meeting on Tuesday night between Edelstein and the Chareidi MKs ended without any progress, with the main issue being Edelsteins insistence on the law including severe personal sanctions if recruitment targets arent reached. Additionally, Edelstein continues to insist that Chareidi recruitment targets include only recruitment for combat and combat support roles, while the Chareidi MKs insist that the recruitment targets also include national/civil service so that they can meet the recruitment targets.

It should be noted that the agreed-upon recruitment targets at this stage is 50% of eligible Chareidim within only five years, contrary to the principles of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who spoke of a similar target but within seven years.

Senior Chareidi sources told Kikar on Wednesday morning, The heads of the Chareidi parties are frustrated with the conduct of Prime Minister Netanyahu. The feeling is that Netanyahu believes that this is a personal crisis of the Chareidim with Edelstein and not something that threatens his position. Our hope is that by next week he will come to his senses and use his weight to resolve the points of contention; otherwise, we will indeed go to elections.

Following the reports, the heads of the opposition parties said they will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset next Wednesday.

In a bid to keep Degel Hatorah (UTJ) in his coalition, Netanyahu tried contacting HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau and Hagaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch  but was snubbed. UTJs Chasidic Agudas Yisroel faction, led by chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf, is pushing to dissolve the coalition, though no final call has been made. The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel (Admorim) is reportedly in advanced stages of planning a meeting to decide their next move.

With just seven Knesset seats, UTJ alone cant topple Netanyahus 68-seat coalition (out of 120). Any move to bring down the government would need the Sephardic Shas partys support. Shas has stayed silent on the issue but has been coordinating with UTJ recently, including a partial legislative boycott to pressure Netanyahu. Shass leadership is also set to meet soon to discuss whether to stick with the coalition.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the US nuclear deal proposal was against Tehrans national interests and that Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment.

Speaking at an event marking 36 years since the death of his predecessor, Ruholla Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khamenei said in a speech that uranium enrichment is key to the countrys nuclear program and that the US proposal to end it violates Iranian independence.

Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America, Khamenei says, adding that the proposal is 100 percent against the idea of we can, which is an important principle in our countrys independence.

If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us, Khamenei said. If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the U.S.

Khamenei also addressed US President Donald Trump, saying, Who are you to tell us whether we can have a nuclear program or not? We will not give up the ability to enrich uranium.

An Iranian diplomat told Reuters on Monday that Tehran was set to reject the US nuclear deal, calling it a non-starter.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Sources in the Chareidi parties claim that Yuli Edelstein, the chairman of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, wants to drag Israel to elections, Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday.

The report comes after the Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, instructed the Degel HaTorah MKs on Wednesday morning to act to dissolve the Knesset after the negotiations on a Chareidi draft law with Edelstein on Tuesday evening failed.

It cannot be said that Yuli Edelstein does not speak with a lot of logic to the average secular voter in that he demands a draconian law, but along the way hes throwing the baby out with the bathwater, leading to the exit of the Chareidim from the coalition, elections, and a left-wing government, a senior Shas official told Arutz Sheva.

A senior UTJ official also slammed Edelstein, saying that he raised extreme and new demands yesterday compared to recent months  positions that put lomdei Torah in a worse position than Eritrean infiltrators. With such sanctions, how can we be partners with him?

He elaborated that Edelstein is demanding to impose harsh personal sanctions even on bnei yeshivos who are not included in the draft quotesincluding those who declare  which constitutes a red line for the Chareidi sector.

Edelstein also refuses to include civilian service [such as service in the Israel Police or MDA] in the recruitment goals, demanding that only those who serve in combat roles or combat support roles be included in the conscription quotas.

What exactly does Edelstein want? the senior official questioned. If he wants to recruit Chareidim, no one will enlist because there will be no law and there will be no Chareidi agreement around a formula of the kind he is proposing. If he wants to oust Binyamin Netanyahu, he should say it out loud.

At the end of the day, he knows very well that there is no world in which all yeshiva bochurim will leave their Gemaras and go to the battlefield. There is not one Chareidi Rav  even those who support Chareidi employment  who supports this.

The proposals he is offering are detached and unrealistic. What hes doing is pushing the entire Chareidi leadership into a corner, uniting them into one position, and dismantling the government. That way there will be no law, there will be no Chareidi recruitment, there will be no government, and a left-wing government will be elected. And maybe thats what he wants.

Edelsteins fellow Likud members are also angry at Edelsteins refusal to compromise, Ynet reported. However, despite calls to oust him from his position as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, such a move is not on the table because it would sully the legislative process and would make the law more likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court.

However, according to the report, the Likud party is exploring other options to appease the Chareidim. A senior coalition official said that despite the fact that the Chareidim are compromising again and again, Edelstein has decided to dismantle the government. He wont pass the conscription law, and not a single Chareidi will be drafted, and he will also endanger us with the rise of a left-wing government in such a complex security period.

A source close to Edelstein responded to the allegations against him, saying that he has stuck to the same view for a year and a half and we have not changed anything in the principles of the law. He is determined to formulate a law that meets security needs. What is happening now is an attempt to introduce loopholes in our law, which really leads to recruitment. Edelsteins law is logical, effective, and fair. It is possible to understand the Chareidi fear. This is a historical change, and change tends to be frightening, but this is the only law that will emerge from the committee.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron slammed the courts increasing intervention in controversial issues in his speech last week at the Bar Association conference.

In recent years, we have witnessed a trend of expanding the authority of the Supreme Court and its increasing intervention in constitutional and even extra-constitutional review, Elron said.

This expansion, which I have consistently opposed, poses a real challenge to the principle of separation of powers. It leads to a discourse of extremes in which the court has become a public battleground, even in non-legal issues.

In my opinion, we must walk a middle path: a path that recognizes the authority of the Supreme Court but seeks to use it in a restrained, limited, and moderate manner.

Elron warned that constitutional law in Israel has been developing for several decades without a complete constitution, based on key Basic Laws such as Human Dignity and Liberty and Freedom of Occupation, as well as on precedent-setting rulings of the Supreme Court. He emphasized that in recent years the trend has reached a peak, especially with the Supreme Courts unprecedented verdict that it has the authority to repeal even Basic Lawsas happened in Amendment 3 to the Basic Law: The Judiciary (revocation of the reasonableness clause).

Elron also decried the fact that any Israeli civilian can appeal against the governments laws to the Supreme Court, even those who will not be personally affected by the law. At times, the moment a controversial law is passed, petitions are filed against iteven without waiting for its practical effects, Elron said. Thus, public issues immediately move from the legislature to the halls of the Supreme Court. The discourse focuses on the resultvictory or defeatinstead of the substance, and every decision becomes a power struggle. This is a power-based discourse that also permeates constitutional lawand the damage from it is immense. The law, and especially constitutional law, is not black and white. It has many shades.

Elron warned that the most dramatic remedythe annulment of a law or a basic lawis a conventional weapon that should be used only as a last resort. He noted that in many cases, such as in the ruling on Amendment 3 to the Basic Law: The Judiciary, he argued that there was no justification for disqualifying a basic law at an early stage: In the opinion of many, no significant change would have occurred if the amendment had remained in effectand no damage would have been caused to the citizens of Israel.

Elron emphasized that the judiciarys authority must be exercised responsibly and proportionally.

I say this as a Supreme Court Justice for eight years and after another 13 years in other courts, he said. I have always kept in mind the importance of public trust in the judicial systembecause without it, the court has no validity.

Last week, an Israeli district court judge left his position in the judicial system after expressing harsh criticism regarding the conduct of the President of the Supreme Court, Yitzchak Amit.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
A New York man with ties to Hamas al-Qassam Brigades is at the center of a shocking federal indictment that paints a picture of violent antisemitism, terrorist sympathies, and repeated assaults during anti-Israel protests in Manhattan  including on the campus of Columbia University.

Tarek Bazrouk, 20, currently in federal custody, is accused of unleashing a string of hate-fueled attacks on Jewish individuals while maintaining active support for Hamas and Hezbollah through encrypted chat groups and social media propaganda. He now faces three federal hate crime charges that could carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

According to federal court filings, Bazrouk was a member of a private chat group that received real-time updates from Abu Obeida, the official spokesman of Hamas al-Qassam Brigades. Bazrouks cellphone was reportedly littered with extremist content praising terrorists and included imagery of Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct. 7 massacre, as well as Hamas and Hezbollah propaganda.

Despite having no ties to Columbia University, Bazrouk was a regular presence on campus during the spring 2024 Gaza war protests. Prosecutors say he wore the green headband associated with Hamas and sent messages boasting about lighting flares and expressing a desire to set a Jewish student on fire. Too many people around, he wrote, otherwise I wouldve hurted them.

Federal agents allege Bazrouks violent tendencies werent just talk. On April 15, 2024  the same month Columbia students seized a campus building in a widely condemned protest  Bazrouk allegedly assaulted three Jewish individuals near the New York Stock Exchange. One of the victims, a college student carrying an Israeli flag, was kicked in the stomach while Bazrouk was being restrained by police.

Later, in a message to a friend, Bazrouk wrote that if he ever see(s) a Jew, hes going to boom boom them.

In December, prosecutors say Bazrouk sucker-punched Jewish Columbia student Jonathan Lederer in the face after stealing his brothers Israeli flag. In January, he allegedly assaulted another pro-Israel demonstrator near Union Square, this time with a closed-fist punch while masked in a keffiyeh.

During a raid on his familys Manhattan home following his arrest, federal agents uncovered a disturbing arsenal: a replica firearm, spent shell casings, a switchblade, brass knuckles, four knives, and $750,000 in cash stored in a safe. Authorities say the funds may be connected to a Hartford, Connecticut smoke shop where Bazrouk was previously arrested for operating a drug factory and drug possession with intent to sell.

Federal prosecutors have urged the court to deny bail, calling Bazrouk a clear danger to the community. In their filings, they cite his support for terror organizations, history of violent threats  including against a Jewish child at a local school  and access to weapons. They also point to his SeptemberOctober 2024 trip to the West Bank and Jordan, questioning the true purpose of his overseas travel.

Columbia University has sought to distance itself from Bazrouk, stating he is not affiliated with our university in any way and reaffirming its condemnation of antisemitism. But critics say the campus environment  where masked agitators and antisemitic slogans were allowed to fester for months  became fertile ground for hate.

In Gaza, Hamas itself has bragged about the influence of its sympathizers on U.S. college campuses. Hostage Shlomi Ziv, recently freed after being held by Hamas, was reportedly shown images of antisemitic protests at Columbia by his captors.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, Bazrouks case is part of a disturbing national trend.

We know groups in the U.S. have shared and promoted content from Hamas-run channels, said Oren Segal, the ADLs senior vice president for counter-extremism. We see this at protests around the country that have Hamas or Hezbollah flags. People dont realize theyre echoing terrorist propaganda.

Bazrouks defense attorney denies any connection between his client and Hamas but declined further comment.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Even Tronstad Sagebakken (2nd L, Front), state secretary at Norway's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, tours the China Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Lillestrom, Norway, on June 3, 2025. A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

OSLO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China.

Speaking to Xinhua after visiting the China Pavilion, Even Tronstad Sagebakken, state secretary at Norway's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, said he was impressed by the technological progress demonstrated by Chinese shipbuilders.

It is impressive to see not only the innovation but also the practical implementation of green solutions by Chinese shipbuilders, Sagebakken said. "They are at the forefront of technology development... the advancements we need to drive the green transition in the maritime sector."

Sagebakken highlighted the long-standing collaboration between Norwegian and Chinese maritime firms, noting that many Norwegian suppliers are already involved in China's shipbuilding industry. "It's a partnership that goes way back, has developed over time, and is very much appreciated by the Norwegian side."

He expressed optimism that this cooperation will grow even stronger in the future, delivering further progress for both countries.

Held in Lillestrom, about 20 km east of Oslo, Nor-Shipping is one of the world's premier maritime trade fairs. Established in 1965 and held biennially, the four-day event runs through June 6, drawing nearly 1,000 companies and organizations from over 50 countries and regions.

This year's China Pavilion features more than 60 Chinese enterprises -- both major state-owned and private companies, marking the largest Chinese presence in the event's history. 

People visit the China Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Lillestrom, Norway, on June 3, 2025. A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

People visit the China Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Lillestrom, Norway, on June 3, 2025. A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

People visit the China Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Lillestrom, Norway, on June 3, 2025. A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

People visit the China Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Lillestrom, Norway, on June 3, 2025. A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)
Am I allowed to make egg and onion on Shabbos?

How to choose a shirt from a pile of clothing and not transgress borer on Shabbos?

Can you put food in the oven on Shabbos?

Numerous Shabbos questions are impossible to answer without thorough knowledge of its laws. Shabbos comes once a week, so if a person is not well-versed in its intricacies, then it is inevitable that transgressions will take place.

The many books of basic laws are wonderful, but to really understand the halachos and to apply them, it is essential to learn and remember hilchos Shabbos with the background discussion. What is the challenge we face? It takes several years for a full-time advanced Torah learner to cover the laws of Shabbos in depth. Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos for men offered a solution. World famous Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel, HaRav Hagaon Yitzchak Berkovits shlita used his vast knowledge to arrange all the Gemaras with the commentators on each area of hilchos Shabbos and presented it in the form of source sheets that cover material from the Gemara until practical halacha. This enables one to cover the main opinions in each topic and gain a deep understanding of the halacha without being overwhelmed with a lot of information.

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, a close talmid of Rav Berkovits who spent eight years as a Rosh Chaburah in Rav Berkovitss famous Jerusalem Kollel, with the Ravs endorsement, took on the monumental task of adaptng the Hebrew sheets into English to make the program available for busy professionals.

After successfully running the Hilchos Shabbos program for several years, Rabbi Gefen joined forces with Rabbi Dr. Yakov Pesah, also a musmach of Rabbi Berkovits, and together they co-founded Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos program for men and launched it online. It became an instant success worldwide.

During the launches of the Hilchos Shabbos course for men, it became crystal clear that a course especially tailored for Jewish women was necessary. The program received many emails asking for a womens cohort of this important and highly relevant series. Women, just as much as men, require practical knowledge on how to keep the myriad halachos of Shabbos. Indeed, they may even be faced with more scenarios than men. Therefore, Rabbi Gefen, in consultation with Rabbi Berkovits has adapted the original curriculum to be uniquely tailored to Torah observant women, as an online program in Hilchos Shabbos (www.HilchosShabbosforWomen.com), accessible to motvated women worldwide. It empowers women to know the laws of Shabbos that are so relevant to their lives.

Participants in each online chabura receive source sheets with explanations in English. In addition to the weekly online Zoom shiur with Rabbi Gefen, he is available for questions. There are tests in each section, and the option of a signed certificate of completion from Rav Berkovits.

While this course for women is in Hilchos Shabbos, several months ago, Rabbi Gefen has also launched another online program for women in Hilchos Bein Adam LChaveiro. This program is based on a curriculum of Kollel Linas Hatzedek / Center for Jewish Values, a premier international Bein Adam LChaveiro resource, whom we thank for their permission. The Bein Adam LChaveiro online program for women taught by Rabbi Gefen became very successful already in its first launch.

As women, we are required to learn halacha in order to fulfill it properly. Says Dr. Shoshana Snyder from Los Angeles. Rabbi Gefens course  provides women with a level of knowledge and understanding of the halacha from the primary sources to the halacha lmaasei. The depth of the learning is gratifying. Participating in this program has raised my awareness of the need to apply the halacha in situations that would have escaped my notice in the past. The shiurim are clear and there is plenty of opportunity for questions. Rabbi Gefen is available for questions via email in between shiurim as well. I am not aware of any other opportunity available for women to learn halacha at this level. I look forward to receiving the sources and hearing the shiur every week!

Its been a real pleasure to be part of the  program. I look forward to the source sheets and shiur every week. I have an increased appreciation of the halachos and how to apply them in daily life. The material has abundant sources with varying opinions and a halacha lmaaseh sectionI highly recommend the program!  says Basya Gutmann from Clifton, New Jersey.

Over 1000 of our past and present participants in our programs come from six continents and range in skill level from beginner to advanced, adds Rabbi Dr. Pesah. Our vision is to enable everyone to learn halacha in a structured way and make it doable for every motivated person.

Mrs. Batya Eshel from Safed in Israel shares her experience: The shiur is well focused in general, and of course the more prepared I am the more I get out of it. Questions from the participants are handled well, and we all get a lot out of the shiur. Using Zoom allows us access to a shiur that we wouldnt be able to access in person.

Says Rabbi Berkovits: Imagine never getting stuck again on Shabbos not knowing what to do!

The first shiur is on June 11th.

For more information, tuition, and to apply go to: www.HilchosShabbosforWomen.com
Inheritance tax has become an even hotter topic in recent times when it comes to our personal finances and financial planning.

With an increasing number of estates set to be dragged into the inheritance tax net in coming years, more people will need to take action to mitigate the eventual tax bill.

One way to do this is to make use of gifting out of surplus income, officially known as 'normal expenditure out of income'.

This useful exemption is becoming more popular with those looking to slash the IHT bill levied on their estates, especially as it means the money given away becomes free from IHT immediately, and is not subject to the seven year gifting rule that many are caught out by.

Gifting out of surplus income allows you to pass on wealth free from tax provided that it forms part of a regular 'pattern of giving'.

However, failing to properly record these regular gifts could see you fall foul the rules. As a result, it is important to ensure that the gifts come out of your income rather than capital, and form a regular pattern.

Below, one This is Money reader, Dave Oram, 59, explains how he is using gifting out of surplus income to pass his wealth to his two daughters, and how you can do the same.

Dave Oram is using gifting out of surplus income in order to leave money to his children tax-free

'Every pound I can pay my daughters legally now is going to be worth a pound rather than 60p,' Dave Oram says.

'I just want to pay as much money to them now so that I can help them and they have to pay less of it in tax to the Government.'

The savvy 59-year-old plans to use gifting out of surplus income in order to pass his wealth on to his two daughters, both of whom have moved out of his home in south London.

Oram previously worked in payment systems at NatWest, taking voluntary redundancy in 2021.

When the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced pensions would cease to be free from inheritance tax from 2027, Oram realised that his self-invested personal pension (Sipp) was at risk and that he might not be able to pass as much of his wealth to his children as he hoped.

That was when he came across gifting out of surplus income, and discovered that it could be the perfect solution to help him secure his children's futures.

'I didn't set up a self-invested personal pension to avoid inheritance tax,' Oram said, 'I just got it in order to be able to retire earlier not pay the penalties for withdrawing my defined benefit pension early.

'Then my mum died, and I got an inheritance from her.'

'I've got a lot of money. I've got a lot of savings. Even before my mum died, I had a lot of savings and my house is worth a lot of money, so I knew I'd be hit for inheritance tax.'

Having inherited money from his mother, Oram initially planned to leave his Sipp to his two daughters as a way to mitigate his future tax bill  a plan that was scuppered by the Autumn Budget changes.

He said: 'I started looking into how I could avoid paying inheritance tax, and gifting. I was already using the 3,000 gifting allowance each year.'

Oram added: 'I won't avoid inheritance tax, but I will at least mitigate it.'

Oram told This is Money: 'The Government site is pretty poor on what counts as disposable income.

'There's no formula it has to be regular payment. It cannot be the odd payment here and there. It has to be regular, which I've deemed to be monthly.

Oram's plans are in place  upon drawing his defined benefit pension in May 2025, he has started to gift money to his daughters each month, satisfying the requirement for gifts to be regular and consistent, and also not hitting his standard of living.

He said: 'It has to be regular outgoings, like utilities, food, those kinds of things. That's what I'm basing on. So I know how much I spend every year. I know what my pension income will be every year.'

Oram plans to divide the money equally between his two daughters, 'I'm in a position where I have got a significant amount of savings. So I can give as much of my income as I can to my girls now, which is quite useful for them.'

He told This is Money: 'I've explained to them that I can pay them money and that I'll be paying them an equal amount to go towards their rent.'

'They're just very happy that I can pay some money monthly.'

Oram added: 'My youngest, who got married last year, is renting, and they want to buy.

'This will help them. I will be paying them quite a bit of money, which means I can just save that and put into their pot for deposit.'

With pensions set to be drawn into the inheritance tax net, and the IHT threshold being frozen until 2030, an increasing number of people will start paying inheritance tax on their estates.

Oram said: 'I'm totally against inheritance tax. I think it's wrong. I certainly I think it's wrong for everyone, even if you've got loads of assets and you're really super well off. I still think it's wrong, because if you've been paying your taxes, I don't see why on death you should have to pay in inheritance tax.'

'A lot of people think 'tax the wealthy', not realising that they'll probably be taxed as well, because most of them haven't got a clue how inheritance tax works.'

He added: 'Their view is, 'it won't affect me', but it will affect them. Of course, those people are the ones who end up paying more because they're not going to mitigate it.'

Inheritance tax receipts reached 8.2billion between April 2024 and March this year, another record high and an increase of 800million compared with the same period last year.

Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis, Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'A mixture of frozen tax thresholds and rising asset values drag more families into the net.

'The recent government announcement that pensions will be made subject to inheritance tax from April 2027 will act as a further warning to families that they need to be prepared.'
DiscoverIE Group shares topped the FTSE 250 on Wednesday morning after the electronics maker said it expected a 'limited direct impact' from US tariffs.

The group, which designs and manufactures customised electronic components for industrial applications, had previously outlined plans to shift more manufacturing to the US in the wake of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

DiscoverIE told investors on Wednesday that its capacity to transfer manufacturing meant it could 'substantially mitigate the effects of US tariffs on imports.'

Shares in the Surrey-based firm, which makes customised components for industrial applications, shot up by almost 13 per cent to 715p by midday.

During President Donald Trump's first term, DiscoverIE relocated some production to India and Mexico after the US government imposed levies on some imported Chinese goods.

Two months ago, it announced plans to increase US-based production 'in the coming months' following the imposition of tariffs by the new Trump administration.

A 10 per cent baseline tariff exists on most US goods imports, while goods from China are subject to a 30 per cent duty.

Flying high: DiscoverIE Group shares topped the FTSE 250 risers on Wednesday morning after the electronics maker said it expected a 'limited direct impact' from Trump's tariffs

Trump has also just doubled the tariff on foreign steel and aluminium products to 50 per cent, although the UK is exempt from this levy.

Nick Jefferies, chief executive of DiscoverIE, said: 'Whilst we will pass on any incremental tariff costs, we continue to do all we can to mitigate them with our local manufacturing and expect limited direct impact, although remain mindful of the volatile economic conditions and its potential to impact customers' demand.

It came as the Guildford-based business reported record annual adjusted operating profits and earnings, which totalled 60.5million and 38.7 pence per share, respectively, in the year ending March.

This was despite the firm's revenue declining by 3 per cent to 427.9million due to industry destocking and supply chain normalisation.

Organic sales slumped by 10 per cent in the first half of the financial year but fell by 4 per cent over the following six months amidst strong demand from the industrial and security sectors.

DiscoverIE's organic sales remained the most resilient in Asia, where they tipped up by 1 per cent, compared to a 7 per cent drop in both the UK and Germany.

Meanwhile, DiscoverIE's orders expanded by 8 per cent at constant exchange rates to 411.9million, and its full-year dividend rose by 4 per cent to 12.5p per share.

Jefferies said: 'DiscoverIE is aligned with target markets which are underpinned by structural growth drivers and, with the addition of the security market during the year, our total market opportunity increased to over $30billion.

'With a strong pipeline of organic and inorganic opportunities, the group is well placed to continue its resilient performance and development.'
Topshop has confirmed it plans to open bricks and mortar shops across Britain as its revival gathers pace.

Michelle Wilson, managing director at Topshop and Topman, told fashion trade magazine Drapers that the brand has 'something planned' for August and beyond.

Topshop hosted a one-day pop-up event in Shoreditch, London earlier this year, called 'Topshop In The House'.

The one-day pop up was a collaboration with Defected Records and marked Topshop's first physical event in four years.

Wilson said this week: 'We have something planned in August to bring Topshop back into real life again, with a more semi-permanent presence than the one-day pop-up.

'In the shorter term that will be something with partner support and in the longer term we will do something standalone.'

Return: Topshop and Topman will return to the high street for autumn via a wholesale partner initially

She said that Topshop and Topman would return to the high street in autumn via one wholesale partner.

Wilson told Drapers: 'I'm excited to see Topshop back in person. I think the partner that we are collaborating with is an incredible partner.

'I think it will surprise a few people. I'm looking forward to the day that we launch that and seeing people's reaction and excitement.'

However, Wilson stressed that the brand was not seeking to recreate what it had in its heyday, but was looking to build a presence, both in bricks and mortar and online, fit for the current market.

The retailer is gearing up for the relaunch of standalone Topshop.com and Topman.com websites, which are both currently understood to be going live in August.

Asos boss Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte said in April that the chain had spent 'two years rebuilding the product assortment of Topshop' ahead of the relaunch.

''The time has come to come back, to be much more present with consumers in the UK, but also globally,' he said.

Topshop will not be returning to its former flagship store at 214 Oxford Street in London, which is now occupied by the new Ikea which opened last month.

Earlier this year, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was among those calling for the return of Topshop, stating at the time: 'I'd meet my mates outside Topshop, my daughters took me shopping at Topshop and I know every type of Topshop jean.

'Wouldn't it be great to get Topshop back on Oxford Street?'

Topshop was founded in 1964 youth-focused offshoot of the department store Peter Robinson.

At its peak, Topshop was a titan of the British high street, raking in about 100million in profit, with hundreds of stores spread across almost every large town and city in the UK.

But the store's popularity waned as it struggled to compete with fast fashion online, losing its younger shoppers to aggressive digital e-tailers like Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing.

In 2018, former owners Arcadia revealed it was haemorrhaging cash, reporting a 93.4million pre-tax loss compared with 164.6million profit in the year before. And sales slumped 4.5 per cent from 1.8billion.

Amid the demise of Arcadia, owned by Philip Green, in 2021, Asos acquired Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge for 330million. At the time of its collapse, there were 70 Topshop stores across Britain.

In September last year, Asos sold a 75 per cent stake in Topshop and Topman for approximately 135million to form a joint venture with Danish holding company Heartland, controlled by the Holch Polvsen family.

It was at this point last year that Asos said it planned to relaunch the Topshop.com and Topman.com websites by the summer of 2025.
Quanex Building Products (NYSE:NX  Get Free Report) is expected to be announcing its Q2 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, June 5th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.48 per share and revenue of $440.05 million for the quarter.

Quanex Building Products Trading Up 4.9%

Shares of NX opened at $17.10 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $807.37 million, a P/E ratio of 15.27, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 2.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.41. Quanex Building Products has a twelve month low of $15.30 and a twelve month high of $34.97.

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Quanex Building Products Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.87%. Quanex Building Productss payout ratio is currently 52.46%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quanex Building Products

Quanex Building Products Company Profile

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of Quanex Building Products by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 25,578 shares of the construction companys stock worth $476,000 after purchasing an additional 4,720 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Quanex Building Products by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 28,051 shares of the construction companys stock worth $521,000 after purchasing an additional 2,347 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Quanex Building Products by 887.4% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 84,957 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,579,000 after purchasing an additional 76,353 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Quanex Building Products by 25.4% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 246,666 shares of the construction companys stock worth $4,586,000 after purchasing an additional 49,895 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.48% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Quanex Building Products Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides components for the fenestration industry in the United States, rest of Europe, Canada, Asia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North American Fenestration, European Fenestration, and North American Cabinet Components.

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Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at Small Cap Consu upped their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Build-A-Bear Workshop in a note issued to investors on Thursday, May 29th. Small Cap Consu analyst E. Beder now anticipates that the specialty retailer will earn $0.74 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.64. The consensus estimate for Build-A-Bear Workshops current full-year earnings is $3.71 per share. Small Cap Consu also issued estimates for Build-A-Bear Workshops Q4 2026 earnings at $1.38 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $3.76 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $4.05 EPS.

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Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 29th. The specialty retailer reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.31. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.35%. The company had revenue of $128.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $118.90 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.82 EPS.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on BBW. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. DA Davidson upped their price objective on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 30th.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of NYSE:BBW opened at $48.03 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $634.34 million, a PE ratio of 12.78 and a beta of 0.54. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 1 year low of $23.63 and a 1 year high of $55.57. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $38.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $39.86.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBW. Inspire Investing LLC bought a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter worth about $775,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 18,236 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $678,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 61.9% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 119,046 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $4,423,000 after purchasing an additional 45,498 shares in the last quarter. Caxton Associates LLP acquired a new position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter worth approximately $267,000. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp acquired a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter worth approximately $199,000. 79.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 27th were issued a $0.22 dividend. This is a positive change from Build-A-Bear Workshops previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.83%. Build-A-Bear Workshops payout ratio is 21.15%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear.

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Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY  Get Free Report) and Agricultural Bank of China (OTCMKTS:ACGBY  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Orion Oyj and Agricultural Bank of Chinas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Orion Oyj 23.01% 39.49% 21.75% Agricultural Bank of China 19.68% 9.11% 0.66%

Volatility & Risk

Orion Oyj has a beta of 0.17, suggesting that its stock price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Agricultural Bank of China has a beta of 0.01, suggesting that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Orion Oyj 0 1 0 0 2.00 Agricultural Bank of China 0 0 0 0 0.00

Valuation and Earnings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Orion Oyj and Agricultural Bank of China, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

This table compares Orion Oyj and Agricultural Bank of Chinas gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Orion Oyj $1.29 billion 7.70 $234.64 million $1.31 26.81 Agricultural Bank of China $190.65 billion 1.20 $38.11 billion $2.59 6.32

Agricultural Bank of China has higher revenue and earnings than Orion Oyj. Agricultural Bank of China is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Orion Oyj, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Orion Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Agricultural Bank of China pays an annual dividend of $0.62 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. Orion Oyj pays out 24.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Agricultural Bank of China pays out 23.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Agricultural Bank of China is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

Orion Oyj beats Agricultural Bank of China on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Orion Oyj

(Get Free Report)

Orion Oyj develops, manufactures, and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Finland, Scandinavia, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company provides prescription drugs and self-care products, which includes Nubeqa for the treatment of prostate cancer; Precedex, Dexdor, and Precedex for human use; Burana for inflammatory pain; Divina series for menopausal symptoms; Trexan for rheumatoid arthritis and cancer; Stalevo, Entacapone, and Comtess/Comtan for Parkinsons disease; Biosimilars for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases; and Simdax for acute decompensated heart failure, as well as Fareston for breast cancer. It also offers Salmeterol/fluticasone Easyhaler, Budesonide/formoterol Easyhaler, Formoterol Easyhaler, Budesonide Easyhaler, Beclomet Easyhaler, and Buventol Easyhaler drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition, the company provides veterinary drugs comprising Bonqat, Clevor, Domosedan, Domitor, Antisedan, Dexdomitor, Domosedan Gel, Sileo, and Tessie; APIs for generic compounds and proprietary products, as well as contract manufacturing services; and markets and sells veterinary drugs manufactured by other international companies. Further, the company has partnership with Propeller Health to connect the Easyhaler(R) product portfolio; and a research collaboration and license agreement with Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to commercialize Amneals generic products. Orion Oyj was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

About Agricultural Bank of China

(Get Free Report)

Agricultural Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, and Treasury Operations segments. It offers demand, personal call, foreign currency call, time or demand optional, foreign exchange call, foreign exchange time, savings, agreed term, and negotiated deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and loans, including housing, consumer, business, fixed asset, working capital, real estate, and entrusted syndicated loans, as well as trade finances, guarantees and commitments, and loans with custody of export rebates accounts. The company provides credit card, debit card, payment and settlement, private banking, cash management, investment banking, custody, financial market, and financial institution services, as well as trading and wealth management services; and personal fund collection and automatic transfer services. In addition, it offers agro-related personal and corporate banking products and services; telephone, mobile, self-service, television, and SMS banking services; financial leasing services; fund management services; asset custodian services; and insurance and reinsurance related products and services. The company operates domestic branches, including specialized institutions, training institutes, tier-1 branches, tier-2 branches, tier-1 sub-branches, foundation-level branch outlets and other establishments; overseas branches in Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York, Dubai International Financial Centre, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Sydney, Luxemburg, Dubai, London, Macao, and Hanoi; and overseas representative offices in Vancouver, Taipei, Sao Paulo, and Dushanbe. The company was founded in 1951 and is based in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

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Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Buy from the nine research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $122.71.

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Encompass Health from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, May 24th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $118.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $135.00 price objective (up previously from $116.00) on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Monday, April 28th.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Trading of Encompass Health

In other news, CEO Mark J. Tarr sold 118,384 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.53, for a total transaction of $14,387,207.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 527,070 shares in the company, valued at $64,054,817.10. This trade represents a 18.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider Elissa Joy Charbonneau sold 4,279 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.61, for a total transaction of $498,974.19. Following the sale, the insider now owns 11,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,394,422.38. This represents a 26.35% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 132,663 shares of company stock valued at $16,034,082 in the last ninety days. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EHC. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Encompass Health in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new stake in Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Encompass Health by 38.7% in the 4th quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 455 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Encompass Health by 749.0% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 416 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the companys stock.

Encompass Health Trading Up 0.7%

EHC stock opened at $121.70 on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $110.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $102.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. Encompass Health has a 52-week low of $82.74 and a 52-week high of $122.09. The firm has a market cap of $12.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.29, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.89.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.18. Encompass Health had a net margin of 8.48% and a return on equity of 17.56%. The firm had revenue of $1.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.12 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Encompass Health will post 4.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be paid a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 1st. Encompass Healths dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.05%.

About Encompass Health

(Get Free Report

Encompass Health Corporation provides post-acute healthcare services in the United States and Puerto Rico. It owns and operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals that provide medical, nursing, therapy, and ancillary services. The company provides specialized rehabilitative treatment on an inpatient basis to patients who have experienced physical or cognitive disabilities or injuries due to medical conditions, such as strokes, hip fractures, and various debilitating neurological conditions.

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Shares of Atalaya Mining Plc (LON:ATYM  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 454.52 ($6.14) and last traded at GBX 452.50 ($6.12), with a volume of 344694 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 442.50 ($5.98).

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on ATYM. Berenberg Bank restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 420 ($5.68) price target on shares of Atalaya Mining in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 525 ($7.10) price target on shares of Atalaya Mining in a research note on Thursday, May 29th.

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Atalaya Mining Stock Performance

Atalaya Mining Company Profile

The company has a market capitalization of 768.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.95, a PEG ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 1.64. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 377.79 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 367.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.71, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.64.

(Get Free Report)

Atalaya is a European copper producer that owns and operates the Proyecto Riotinto complex in southwest Spain. Atalayas shares trade on the London Stock Exchanges Main Market under the symbol ATYM.

Atalayas operations include the Cerro Colorado open pit mine and a modern 15 Mtpa processing plant, which has the potential to become a central processing hub for ore sourced from its wholly owned regional projects around Riotinto, such as Proyecto Masa Valverde and Proyecto Riotinto East.

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Direct Line Insurance Group plc (LON:DLG  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 304 ($4.11) and last traded at GBX 301 ($4.07), with a volume of 70779 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 297.60 ($4.02).

Direct Line Insurance Group Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of 3.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.42. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 283.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 261.11. The company has a current ratio of 19.57, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.83.

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Direct Line Insurance Group (LON:DLG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 5th. The company reported GBX 11.20 ($0.15) earnings per share for the quarter. Direct Line Insurance Group had a net margin of 8.18% and a return on equity of 12.96%. As a group, research analysts expect that Direct Line Insurance Group plc will post 21.3365735 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Direct Line Insurance Group

Direct Line Insurance Group Company Profile

In other news, insider Adam Winslow sold 387,960 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 281 ($3.80), for a total transaction of 1,090,167.60 ($1,473,796.94). Also, insider Jane Poole sold 19,864 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 281 ($3.80), for a total transaction of 55,817.84 ($75,460.11). In the last 90 days, insiders bought 207 shares of company stock valued at $60,214. 0.85% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

(Get Free Report)

Direct Line Insurance Group plc engages in the provision of general insurance products and services in the United Kingdom. The company operates through Motor, Home, Rescue and Other Personal Lines, and Commercial segments. It offers motor, home, van, landlord, rescue, pet, tradesperson, business, creditor and select, and travel insurance products, as well as commercial insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China is set to establish a unified cross-basin ecological compensation mechanism for the mainstreams of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers by 2027, as part of its broader efforts to improve water environment management, the Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday.

According to a plan jointly issued by the ministry and four other government departments, the mechanism will expand to cover the mainstreams and major tributaries of key river basins, including the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, by 2035.

The system will feature diversified compensation measures, flexible approaches, refined standards and a mature operational framework.

China's central fiscal authorities will play a coordinating and guiding role in implementing this mechanism -- ensuring that compensation indicators and funding scales align with the water ecological conservation situation while remaining fiscally sustainable for local governments.

China first introduced plans for Yangtze and Yellow river compensation mechanisms in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Since then, the country has made significant progress in terms of ecological conservation and restoration of these rivers.

For example, the Yangtze River basin has seen a recovery in aquatic biodiversity following the imposition of a 10-year fishing ban in 2020. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 344 native fish species were recorded in the river from 2021 to 2024 -- an increase of 36 species compared to the 2017-2020 period before the ban took effect.

Meanwhile, the Yellow River, China's second-longest waterway, has also experienced steady ecological improvements, including enhanced water security and environmental quality. 
Avon Protection plc (LON:AVON  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1,824 ($24.66) and last traded at GBX 1,818.75 ($24.59), with a volume of 55772 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,758 ($23.77).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Shore Capital restated a hold rating on shares of Avon Protection in a report on Wednesday, May 21st.

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Avon Protection Stock Up 1.1%

Avon Protection Increases Dividend

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 47.69, a current ratio of 2.27 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company has a market capitalization of 674.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -62.15, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.35. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 1,483.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 1,456.94.

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 6th were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. This is a boost from Avon Protections previous dividend of $0.07. This represents a dividend yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 6th. Avon Protections dividend payout ratio is currently -62.08%.

Insider Transactions at Avon Protection

In other news, insider Rich Cashin sold 7,827 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,421 ($19.21), for a total transaction of 111,221.67 ($150,360.51). 5.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Avon Protection

(Get Free Report)

We are a world leader in protective equipment, with a reputation for innovative design, high-performance quality and specialist materials expertise.

Our two businesses, Avon Protection and Team Wendy, supply our respiratory and head protection portfolio to customers across the globe from our manufacturing sites in the UK and North America.

With over 900 talented people our shared purpose and core beliefs are to be #FIERCE about Protecting Lives.

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RFG Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 71,807 shares of the energy companys stock, valued at approximately $2,686,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of DVN. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its position in Devon Energy by 209.5% during the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 22,679 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $848,000 after purchasing an additional 15,351 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Devon Energy by 122,633.3% during the first quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 3,682 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $137,000 after acquiring an additional 3,679 shares in the last quarter. Woodstock Corp lifted its stake in Devon Energy by 16.7% in the first quarter. Woodstock Corp now owns 14,000 shares of the energy companys stock worth $524,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in Devon Energy by 5.9% in the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 150,879 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $5,643,000 after acquiring an additional 8,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 180 Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Devon Energy by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 24,352 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $911,000 after purchasing an additional 1,571 shares during the period. 69.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on DVN shares. Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $44.00 target price on shares of Devon Energy in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $56.00 to $53.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Devon Energy from $46.00 to $43.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 4th. Cowen cut Devon Energy to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from $46.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price target on Devon Energy from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $43.71.

Devon Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:DVN opened at $32.02 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.56 billion, a PE ratio of 7.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.02. Devon Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $25.89 and a 52-week high of $49.35. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $33.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.04.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The energy company reported $1.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.27 by ($0.06). Devon Energy had a net margin of 18.14% and a return on equity of 22.52%. The business had revenue of $4.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.31 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.16 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Devon Energy Co. will post 4.85 EPS for the current year.

Devon Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be given a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.00%. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio is 21.87%.

Devon Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Eagle Ford, Anadarko, Williston, and Powder River Basins. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Greenfield Savings Bank reduced its stake in PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL  Free Report) by 6.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,431 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 480 shares during the period. Greenfield Savings Banks holdings in PPL were worth $232,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. bought a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of PPL by 84.5% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,264 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 579 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newton One Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of PPL in the 4th quarter worth $49,000. 76.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently commented on PPL. Barclays raised their price objective on PPL from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Citigroup raised PPL from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Guggenheim raised their price objective on PPL from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen raised PPL from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on PPL from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, PPL presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $36.90.

PPL Stock Performance

PPL opened at $34.54 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $35.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.17. PPL Co. has a 1 year low of $27.24 and a 1 year high of $36.70. The company has a market capitalization of $25.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.54, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

PPL (NYSE:PPL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.15 billion. PPL had a return on equity of 8.88% and a net margin of 10.49%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.54 EPS. Equities analysts expect that PPL Co. will post 1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PPL Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 10th will be issued a $0.2725 dividend. This represents a $1.09 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.16%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 10th. PPLs payout ratio is 80.74%.

Insider Activity

In other news, COO David J. Bonenberger sold 1,767 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.98, for a total value of $61,809.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 45,485 shares in the company, valued at $1,591,065.30. This trade represents a 3.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About PPL

(Free Report)

PPL Corporation, an energy company, focuses on providing electricity and natural gas to approximately 3.6 million customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated. The company delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky.

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SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII  Free Report) by 4.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,795 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 200 shares during the quarter. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries were worth $978,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries in the 1st quarter valued at about $203,000. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 37.9% during the 1st quarter. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. now owns 4,777 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $975,000 after buying an additional 1,312 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank grew its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 5.9% in the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 8,986 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,834,000 after purchasing an additional 502 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 83,248 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $16,986,000 after purchasing an additional 5,962 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.46% of the companys stock.

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Huntington Ingalls Industries Price Performance

HII opened at $228.13 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.34, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.31. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $218.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $200.17. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a 12-month low of $158.88 and a 12-month high of $285.81.

Huntington Ingalls Industries Dividend Announcement

Huntington Ingalls Industries ( NYSE:HII Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The aerospace company reported $3.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.90 by $0.89. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a return on equity of 12.81% and a net margin of 4.77%. The company had revenue of $2.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.80 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.87 EPS. Huntington Ingalls Industriess quarterly revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 13.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.37%. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.90%.

Insider Activity

In other Huntington Ingalls Industries news, VP Edmond E. Jr. Hughes sold 1,300 shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $231.91, for a total value of $301,483.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 9,581 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,221,929.71. The trade was a 11.95% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Nicolas G. Schuck sold 750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.56, for a total value of $142,170.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,884 shares of the companys stock, valued at $546,691.04. The trade was a 20.64% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 4,010 shares of company stock valued at $899,510. Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on HII. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $236.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from $200.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Alembic Global Advisors upgraded Huntington Ingalls Industries from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $265.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Huntington Ingalls Industries presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $236.38.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on HII

About Huntington Ingalls Industries

(Free Report)

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S.

Further Reading

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Unigestion Holding SA acquired a new stake in shares of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE:FNF  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 16,567 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,078,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Kaizen Financial Strategies grew its position in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Kaizen Financial Strategies now owns 4,136 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $269,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its position in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 72,200 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,053,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 50.6% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 622 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc. grew its position in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 4,206 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $236,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 19.9% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,345 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.17% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on FNF. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Fidelity National Financial from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Stephens lifted their target price on shares of Fidelity National Financial from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Fidelity National Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Fidelity National Financial from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $69.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Fidelity National Financial presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $71.60.

Fidelity National Financial Stock Up 0.5%

FNF opened at $54.71 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 0.24. Fidelity National Financial, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $47.79 and a fifty-two week high of $66.72. The firms fifty day moving average is $59.92 and its 200 day moving average is $59.83. The stock has a market cap of $15.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.77 and a beta of 1.14.

Fidelity National Financial (NYSE:FNF  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The financial services provider reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by ($0.35). The firm had revenue of $2.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.32 billion. Fidelity National Financial had a net margin of 9.28% and a return on equity of 15.36%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 17.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.91 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Fidelity National Financial, Inc. will post 6.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fidelity National Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.66%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. Fidelity National Financials payout ratio is currently 49.50%.

About Fidelity National Financial

(Free Report)

Fidelity National Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various insurance products in the United States. The company operates through Title, F&G, and Corporate and Other segments. It offers title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including trust activities, trustee sales guarantees, recordings and reconveyances, and home warranty products.

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Benin Management CORP purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 3,752 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $225,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the companys stock worth $926,000 after acquiring an additional 6,954 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 23.5% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 28,817 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,507,000 after purchasing an additional 5,490 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Hodges Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $226,000. Finally, Rockline Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. Rockline Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,403 shares of the companys stock valued at $230,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Citigroup increased their price objective on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC upgraded shares of Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $56.00.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO opened at $60.40 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $58.44 and its 200-day moving average is $55.95. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $43.83 and a fifty-two week high of $61.26. The company has a market capitalization of $101.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.15 earnings per share. Altria Groups quarterly revenue was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.75%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 68.34%.

About Altria Group

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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Storebrand ASA (OTCMKTS:SREDF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 801,500 shares, a decline of 21.7% from the April 30th total of 1,024,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently ? days.

Storebrand ASA Stock Up 8.8%

Shares of SREDF opened at $10.75 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $10.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.08. Storebrand ASA has a twelve month low of $10.75 and a twelve month high of $11.37.

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About Storebrand ASA

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Storebrand ASA provides insurance products and services in Norway, the United States, Japan, and Sweden. It operates through four segments: Savings, Insurance, Guaranteed Pension, and Other. The Savings segment offers retirement savings, defined contribution pensions, asset management, and retail banking products.

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Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Free Report) by 10.3% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 3,222 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 302 shares during the period. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $302,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of USMV. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,176,338,000. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 261.0% during the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 1,119,087 shares of the companys stock valued at $99,364,000 after buying an additional 809,082 shares in the last quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $62,801,000. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,334,000. Finally, Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,129,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Up 5.8%

USMV stock opened at $93.74 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $91.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $91.75. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $82.32 and a twelve month high of $95.12. The stock has a market cap of $24.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.27 and a beta of 0.72.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 7,508.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 657,319 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 648,680 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $45,644,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of NVO. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 34.0% in the 1st quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 3,741 shares of the companys stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 950 shares during the period. Webster Bank N. A. raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 708.8% in the first quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 39,637 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,752,000 after acquiring an additional 34,736 shares in the last quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc purchased a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S in the first quarter valued at $3,210,000. Moody National Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S in the first quarter valued at $224,000. Finally, General Partner Inc. boosted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 136.4% in the first quarter. General Partner Inc. now owns 2,080 shares of the companys stock valued at $144,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. 11.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of NYSE NVO opened at $70.90 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $318.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The business has a 50-day moving average of $65.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $81.15. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 1 year low of $57.00 and a 1 year high of $148.15.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.92. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 84.68% and a net margin of 34.81%. The company had revenue of $11.87 billion during the quarter. On average, analysts forecast that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NVO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. They issued an underperform rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lowered Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $64.00 target price (down from $105.00) on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $128.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Novo Nordisk A/S

About Novo Nordisk A/S

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.

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Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:CIK  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, June 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a dividend of 0.0225 per share on Tuesday, June 24th. This represents a $0.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.41%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th.

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund has increased its dividend payment by an average of 2.2% per year over the last three years.

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Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund Price Performance

Shares of CIK opened at $2.87 on Wednesday. Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund has a 12 month low of $2.56 and a 12 month high of $3.13. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $2.80.

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund Company Profile

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in high yield corporate debt such as bonds and debentures that are rated Baa or lower by Moody's or BBB or lower by S&P.

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KABUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The supreme leader of the Afghan interim government Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada has condemned the ongoing military operations of Israel in the Gaza city of Palestine as a crime against humanity and strongly condemned it.

"The Zionist assaults and acts of oppression against women, children, and oppressed Muslims in Gaza and other regions of Palestine continue unabated. These actions constitute grave crimes against humanity and severe injustice," the administration's reclusive leader Akhundzada said.

In his message to congratulate Eid al-Adha, the Muslims' largest annual religious festival, marked on June 7 in Afghanistan, Hibatullah also called for the immediate halt of atrocities in Gaza.

In part of his message, Hibatullah also called upon businessmen to contribute to the rebuilding process of war-ravaged Afghanistan, saying, "Our traders and industrialists must intensify their efforts for the development and prosperity of our country so that our nation becomes self-sufficient and free from dependence on others." 
Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:CEV  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, June 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th will be given a dividend of 0.05 per share on Thursday, June 26th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th.

Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust has increased its dividend by an average of 0.1% annually over the last three years.

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Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CEV opened at $9.58 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $9.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.06. Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust has a fifty-two week low of $9.31 and a fifty-two week high of $11.29.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust

About Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust ( NYSE:CEV Free Report ) by 2.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 57,933 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,630 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned approximately 0.82% of Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust worth $581,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors own 35.88% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It invests in the fixed income markets. The fund invests primarily in debt securities issued by education, hospital, housing, insured-education, insured-electric utilities, insured-hospital, insured-transportation, insured-water and sewer, transportation, and other sectors.

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Nixon Peabody Trust Co. cut its holdings in shares of Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR  Free Report) by 9.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 91,967 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,500 shares during the quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co.s holdings in Amcor were worth $892,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Amcor by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 58,986,593 shares of the companys stock valued at $555,064,000 after buying an additional 1,249,868 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Amcor by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 46,052,929 shares of the companys stock valued at $433,358,000 after buying an additional 2,862,471 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Amcor by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 36,856,793 shares of the companys stock valued at $345,952,000 after buying an additional 539,756 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Amcor by 16.0% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 30,425,121 shares of the companys stock valued at $286,300,000 after buying an additional 4,199,209 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Amcor by 25.1% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 27,971,885 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,215,000 after buying an additional 5,614,233 shares in the last quarter. 45.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Amcor Stock Performance

NYSE:AMCR opened at $9.13 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $9.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.68. The company has a market cap of $13.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.59, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 1.26. Amcor plc has a fifty-two week low of $8.37 and a fifty-two week high of $11.48.

Amcor Announces Dividend

Amcor ( NYSE:AMCR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.18. Amcor had a return on equity of 26.14% and a net margin of 5.89%. The business had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.51 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.13 EPS. Amcors revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Amcor plc will post 0.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.1275 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 22nd. This represents a $0.51 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.59%. Amcors dividend payout ratio is currently 91.07%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on AMCR shares. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Amcor from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Raymond James started coverage on Amcor in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set a market perform rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $11.31.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on AMCR

About Amcor

(Free Report)

Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

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Children throughout Ireland are being asked to support vulnerable young people around the world by hosting a tea party in their final weeks of school.

The new initiative is marking 15 years of the charity Team Hope, which works to transform childrens lives by tackling poverty and inequality in African and eastern European countries.

Best known for its Christmas Shoebox Appeal, the not-for-profit organisation has revealed that people in Ireland have donated two million euro in life-changing aid since 2010.

The Team Hope Tea Party has a 240,000 euro target to fund vital projects such as clean water, education and income-generation opportunities in countries including Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, and Rwanda, where many live on less than two US dollars a day.

The campaign, running from June 14-22, is not confined to schools.

Sports clubs, businesses and individuals across the country are all invited to take part.

Team Hope chief executive Deborah Lowry said: Over the past 15 years, weve not only delivered millions of Christmas Shoebox gifts but have also helped provide access to clean water, healthcare and support for communities that need it most.

In June, wed love if people can think beyond the box and host a tea party to help raise vital funds to support that work.

In the five years to the end of this year, we will have improved the lives of 10,000 children in our sustainable development projects.

The locally-based water projects in Kenya not only provide clean water to communities but also mean that girls, who previously spent hours collecting water every day, can go to school. There are multiple layers to the improvements our work makes to peoples lives.

Some of Team Hopes other projects include the creation of pineapple farms in Rwanda, an income generator allowing parents to support their families and send their children to school.

We know that we are impacting hundreds of people in their own communities and thousands of children as a result of this work, Ms Lowry said.

While the shoebox appeal opens the door so we can help the poorest communities create their own future, we want to tell a different story; that these children are well loved, that they are full of hope. We are only the little seeds that helps them build a better future.

Participants in the Team Hope Tea Party can access a digital pack of downloads, including recipes and party ideas, as well as a donation page for their individual event through teamhope.ie.
The UK government must provide certainty to Troubles victims and end the state of limbo they have been left in since Labour came to power, a Sinn Fein MP has said.

John Finucane was commenting after he and party vice president Michelle ONeill met Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Belfast to discuss legacy issues.

Since taking office last year, the Labour government has pledged to repeal and replace some of the provisions of the contentious Legacy Act that was introduced by the last Conservative government, and bring forward a revised framework for dealing with cases linked to the Troubles.

The Irish government has been involved in the process, and political leaders in Dublin have said intensive engagement is ongoing to see if a landing zone can be arrived at in the coming weeks.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths and also offered conditional immunity to perpetrators of conflict-related crimes in exchange for their co-operation with a new investigatory and truth recovery body.

The Act was opposed by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, the Irish government and many victims representative groups.

In 2023, the Irish government initiated an interstate legal case against the UK in the European Court of Human Rights, claiming the Legacy Act breached the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The case remains active, with ministers in Dublin wanting to see how Labour resolves its concerns over the legislation before any decision is taken to withdraw the action.

Mr Benns engagement with Sinn Fein on Wednesday was part of a round of discussions with the main Stormont parties.

Alliance leader Naomi Long and deputy leader Eoin Tennyson also had a meeting at the NIO offices in Belfast city centre on Wednesday.

The UUP held an online meeting with Mr Benn while the SDLPs discussions took place on Tuesday. The DUP will hold a meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary at a later date.

After the Sinn Fein meeting, Mr Finucane said there was a need for families to have a route to seek truth and justice.

Today was an opportunity for us to reiterate and speak on behalf of those families that have been treated disgracefully by the Legacy Act and that have been left in limbo really since Labour came into government last July, he told reporters.

Those families who have had their inquests halted, those families who have uncertainty and who, after many years, still find themselves in a position where they dont know if they will receive truth and justice.

Mr Finucane said he and Ms ONeill also raised the case of murdered GAA official Sean Brown.

Mr Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on judicial rulings in Belfast that compel him to establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder by loyalist paramilitaries.

Mr Brown, 61, the then-chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Mr Finucane said: We made it very clear in the meeting that on behalf of Sean Browns family that there needs to be a full public inquiry established and announced without any further delay.

We talked about the fact that five High Court judges here have endorsed consistently the familys position and we criticised without any equivocation his (Mr Benns) decision to take this family, to take Bridie Brown (Mr Browns 87-year-old widow) and her family to London for an appeal.

Alliance leader Ms Long described her meeting with Mr Benn as constructive.

Were very conscious of the impact that the legacy process and lack of a formal and comprehensive legacy process has had on victims, and our priority in all of this is to ensure that victims families rights and needs are properly respected in that process, she said.

Were on record as having said that we dont believe that the Legacy Act as passed by the last government is fit for purpose, and the courts agreed with us in that regard.

I would have preferred if that Legacy Act had been repealed and replaced (in full) and we have said that. However, thats not the space were in, and so what we are doing now is trying to ensure that whatever the Secretary of State brings forward is a clean and fresh start in terms of how we deal with legacy and one that puts the victims at the heart of all that we do.

Ms Long, who is Stormonts Justice minister, said achieving consensus on a new framework was key.

Were not in that space yet, but I remain hopeful that there is a possibility we could be in that space, and I think that that would be the best outcome for everyone, she said.

This being a contested space where nothing progresses, where nothing moves forward, is not good for families. Its not fair on them that they are constantly at the whim of political change. What we need now is substantive progress.

Ahead of Wednesdays meetings, Mr Benn said the Government was committed to finding a system capable of delivering for all families who are seeking answers around the loss of their loved ones.

I am continuing to work with all of the Northern Ireland parties over what should be included in that legislation, he said.

It is important that new legacy arrangements are capable of commanding the confidence of families and of all communities.
Just for the late night & early morning denizens of our cowtown discourse . . . We wanted to check-in quickly in order to share what we're reading by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Home Team Returns Fire

Hero Heals At Home After Taking Quadruple Gunfire

Lee's Summit police officer released from hospital after being shot A Lee's Summit police officer who was shot four times on Sunday has been released from the hospital.

Crash Hurts Creative

Popular Kansas City metro artist seriously injured in Grandview crash Jonnie Rae Herbert, a popular paint party artist based in the Kansas City metro, remains in the hospital after a violent crash in Grandview

South Side Burnout Redux

Crumbling KC shopping center, once a hub for neighborhood kids, burns down Robandee Shopping center on Bannister Road in Kansas City was a hub for neighboring kids. After being in disrepair for years, the center burned down Sunday.

JacWagon Debut Understated

Royals comeback to beat Cardinals; Caglianone goes 0-5 in debut The electricity was in the air at Busch Stadium on Tuesday evening as Jac Caglianone made his highly anticipated debut for the Royals.

Celeb Gets Truth Off Her Chest

Kylie Jenner reveals exact details of boob job in surprisingly candid confession The reality star responded to a TikTok user who praised her "most perfect, natural boob job ever" and asked how Jenner "get[s] them to sit like that."

MAGA Against Neighbors

Trump's 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum take effect - raising ire of Canada, Mexico and the EU Canada called the tariffs "unlawful," Mexico said they're "not fair" and the EU warned they'll hurt all consumers.

Tesla King Turnabout

Musk calls Trump's tax and spending bill an 'abomination' Musk has repeatedly struck out at the bill, saying it undercuts Doge's work to slash federal spending.

White House La Migra Shout Outs Soon To Return

Karoline Leavitt Says Trump Admin's Naming And Shaming Of Sanctuary Cities Coming Back Leavitt told the Daily Caller that the administration will soon be releasing a new list of sanctuary cities that are in noncompliance with federal statutes.

Scribe Setup Exposed

Man accused of writing Trump assassination letters was framed, officials say Demetric Deshawn Scott sent the letters to prevent a man from testifying against him in a robbery case, officials say.

Name Game Deep Drive

Hegseth orders Navy to rename ship honoring gay rights activist Harvey Milk Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to strike the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk from one of its ships, orchestrating the change amid Pride month celebrations.

Holy Land Strike Back

Israeli military unleashes strikes on Syria after projectile launches The Israeli military said in a statement it struck weapons belonging to the Syrian regime in southern Syria, in a second attack that Israel launched after reporting two projectiles were fired from Syria on Tuesday.

European Drone Wars Spark Nuke Escalation

As Ukraine batters Russia with daring assaults, firebrand pro-Kremlin pundits rattle nuclear sabers | CNN How will Moscow respond to the stunning Ukrainian drone strikes on its fleet of strategic aircraft?

Feds Foil Far East Fungi

Potential 'agroterrorism weapon' fungus smuggled into US by Chinese scientists, FBI alleges Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu charged after allegedly smuggling a fungus to US that can cause serious illness and billions of dollars in crop losses

Trust The Science

Men love boobs - but why? Scientists attempt to answer age-old question: 'What we can say is breasts are sexy' After years of speculation, Polish scientists have finally closed the book on one of the preeminent questions of our time - why gentlemen prefer breasts.

Westport Good Deeds Endure

'Keep being kind': Kansas City bartender's act of kindness saves woman's life A Kansas City bartender's act of kindness saved a woman's life, Kelly's Westport Inn shared on Facebook.

After The Rain . . .

FIRST WARN FORECAST: Much nicer Wednesday, Friday brings next First Warn We have had a tremendous amount of rain today, with areas around the Kansas City metro ranging from 1 to 3.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Call it a sign of the times and another tragic reminder that life goes even in the aftermath of the unthinkable . . .

TKC noted the restaurant shut down months ago and a few readers guessed that a Mexican place would take over . . .

Still . . . The low rent location comes with OBVIOUS dangers that ultimately contributed to the demise of the previous owner . . . On the bright side . . . It's easier to grab a burrito and hit the road then enjoy a sit down gourmet Irish meal.

Here's a preview of the switcheroo in the aftermath of a horrific killing wherein the assailant will likely only earn a wrist-slap on juvy charges . . . Check-it:

"Less than a year ago, tragedy struck a Kansas City Irish restaurant. Shaun Brady  the owner of Brady & Fox  was shot and killed outside his business in August 2024 while taking out the trash. At first, the restaurants future was up in the air, but a for lease sale that went up in January signaled its fate.

"Gepsiva Ramos, whos now opening a Mexican restaurant in the former pub location at 751 E. 63rd St., realizes Brady and his restaurant were beloved by the community."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Mexican restaurant opening in former KC Irish pub where owner was killed



Developing . . .
OTTAWA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A man was killed and five others injured after a shooting that took place Tuesday evening near a Yorkdale mall in Toronto, according to local police.

Toronto police confirmed that one person was pronounced dead at the scene, while five others were rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds. The extent of their injuries remains unclear.

According to local media, police and paramedics were called to Flemington and Zachary Roads, in the area of Ranee Avenue and Allen Road, just after 8:30 p.m. (0030 GMT Wednesday) for a mass shooting incident.

Police have not released any details about potential suspects.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her distress over the shooting on social media, stating that her office is in contact with police. 
Sent to www.TonysKansasCity.com by very smart people . . .

THIS SCREED CALLS OUT BUSTED TECH USED BY KANSAS CITY FOR WATER BILLING!!!

Check the premise that should generate a deluge of similar complaints and, hopefully, a flood of cash returned . . .

KC Waters Billing Crisis: What I Foundand What the Public Deserves to Know

In December 2024, I received a water bill from KC Water showing 25,000 gallons used in six days. No leaks. Two licensed plumbers confirmed it. KC Waters response? Blame the plumber. Then the next bill camemarked with an estimated usage warning, buried in fine print.



They already knew something was wrong. And instead of fixing it, they shut off my waterwith a newborn in the houseand demanded a $300 payment without explanation. Thats when I stopped being a customer and started investigating.



What I found is not an isolated incident. Its a systemic failure affecting thousands.



The Facts I Uncovered:

KC Water is using faulty equipment . . . These transmitters, which are supposed to last 20 years, are failing within months.

Other cities are replacing them:

Minneapolis is replacing 46,000

Toronto is replacing 470,000

Minneapolis alone has spent $2 million to protect its residents from billing fraud.

Kansas City is still installing the same devices.

No public acknowledgment.

No plan for replacement.

No freeze on billing when failures occur.



And its not like they werent warned. KC Waters own 2018 internal audit flagged:



Failing metering infrastructure

No tracking for equipment lifespan

SOP and training inconsistencies

Total breakdown in escalation protocols



Six years later, nothings changedexcept the number of residents now drowning in inaccurate bills and bureaucracy.



The Pattern is Clear:



I analyzed usage logs. I reviewed city policies. I spoke with other residents. I filed public records requests. And what emerged is a textbook case of transmitter failure:

Months of ultra-low or zero usage

Followed by massive, unexplained spikes

No alerts, no investigation, no reliefjust automated shutoffs and five-figure bills



This is happening over and over. The citys system isnt monitoring for red flags. No one is freezing billing when signals go dark. And worst of all, residents are being blamed and punished for equipment failure the city already knows is occurring.



This Is a Story About Priorities



Kansas City has proven it knows how to planairports, stadiums, downtown development. But when it comes to basic infrastructure, residents are treated like collateral damage.



While other cities staff up replacement crews, publish findings, and confront head-on, KC Water continues to deny, deflect, and shut off water to their citizens- blaming them.



Im asking the media to do what the city wont: shine a light on this.



What Needs to Be Reported:

1.KC Water is still using failed technology that other cities are actively replacing.

2.KC residents are being billed, shut off, and blamed based on faulty readings.

3.There is no system in place to flag or freeze billing during equipment failure.

4.Internal audits already identified this riskand it was ignored.

5.Kansas City is the outliernot for having transmitter failures, but for pretending theyre not happening.



The public needs to know that this isnt a one-off mistakeits a policy failure thats quietly hurting thousands. And it will keep happening until someone forces the city to act.



Kansas City officials have been warned. If they still refuse to fix it, theyre not just negligenttheyre complicit.

###############

Developing . . .
JAKARTA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has exported 128 tons of the amino acid product L-Tryptophan worth 900,000 U.S. dollars from PT Cheil Jedang Indonesia (CJI)'s facility in Pasuruan city, East Java province, to China on Tuesday.

"This export contributes significantly to boosting national non-oil and gas exports, especially in the biotechnology-based chemical industry sector," said Minister of Trade Budi Santoso in a press release.

L-Tryptophan is a raw material in the form of essential amino acids used by industry to produce animal feed, such as poultry and cattle. This product plays an important role as a feed additive in the livestock sector.

In 2024, Indonesia's total L-Tryptophan exports reached 259 million dollars, with 61.7 percent shipped to China, positioning the archipelago nation as the 12th largest global supplier, with an average annual growth of 15.84 percent over the past five years.

Indonesia's total foreign exchange earnings from PT CJI's L-Tryptophan exports have reached 2.5 billion dollars, with major destinations including China, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany.

Imam Nachrowi, director of administration at PT CJI, said that since 2010, the company has exported 350,000 tons of L-Tryptophan to 90 countries. 
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Brunei hosted an international conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Brunei's Fatwa Institution, local daily Borneo Bulletin reported on Tuesday.

The conference was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, with over 200 participants. Brunei's Fatwa Institution was founded in the 1960s as a division within the Department of Religious Affairs, and has since grown to become a vital pillar in the country's religious administration.

The Fatwa Institution remains a cornerstone of Brunei's religious life. It not only provides authoritative rulings on religious matters but also contributes to national policy and social stability, said Brunei's Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the deputy sultan.

He underscored that the theme of the conference was highly relevant to current realities, especially in discussing the needs of the school of thought in facing the tide of technological modernization.

Brunei is a Southeast Asian country located in the northern part of Borneo Island. The sultanate is a major oil and gas producer in Southeast Asia, which has enabled the development of its comprehensive social welfare system. 
SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- In the 21st presidential election of South Korea held on Tuesday, Lee Jae-myung of the majority liberal Democratic Party won the snap election with 49.42 percent of the vote, beating his major rival Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party with 41.15 percent.

In the early morning of Wednesday, the newly elected president said in his speech that he will devote all efforts to reviving the economy from the moment his victory is confirmed.

Lee was born in 1964 in Andong, North Gyeongsang province. After his primary school graduation, he dropped out of school to make money, working as a factory boy. When he was 16 years old, Lee had an accident in which he got his left arm stuck in a press machine.

Working during the day and studying at night, he passed the general equivalency diploma (GED) test for high school and entered Chung-Ang University in Seoul to study law in 1982.

After passing a bar exam, Lee chose to work as a labor lawyer. He was elected Seongnam mayor in 2010 and reelected four years later.

Lee participated in the presidential primary of the Democratic Party in 2017, but he was defeated by former President Moon Jae-in.

He was elected Gyeonggi province governor in 2018, but he resigned to run for president in 2022 when he lost the election to former President Yoon Suk-yeol by the country's narrowest margin of 0.73 percentage points.

Lee continued his political journey by being elected a Democratic Party lawmaker in the parliamentary by-elections in 2022 and serving as the liberal party's leader after winning an overwhelming 77.77 percent of votes at the party convention in the same year.

Lee had criticized many times the shortened three-year Yoon government. In August 2023, he went on a 24-day hunger strike to demand a full-scale reform of the Yoon government. After 19 days, Lee was transferred to a hospital for his prolonged fasting.

After Yoon's martial law declaration on the night of Dec. 3 last year, Lee live-streamed himself and other lawmakers climbing over the walls of the parliamentary building to vote down the martial law hours later.

In his campaign, Lee pledged to intensively foster new growth industries, especially artificial intelligence, and expand the social safety net for merchants and microbusiness owners.

He advocates pursuing "pragmatic diplomacy" centered on national interests, expanding South Korea's diplomatic reach, and achieving diversification in foreign relations.

In terms of inter-Korean relations, Lee upholds the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, advocates easing tensions on the peninsula, and promotes repairing inter-Korean relations and advancing toward reconciliation and cooperation. 


United Nations/Costa Rica Workshop on Machine Learning applied to Space Weather and Global Navigation Satellite Systems 16 - 20 February 2026

San Jose, Costa Rica Jointly organized by

the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and

the Space Research Center (CINESPA), University of Costa Rica

Co-organized and co-sponsored by

the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) and

the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)



Available Information

Introduction

Machine learning (ML) is a key application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that is focused on enabling algorithms to automatically learn from data and identify patterns. This is achieved through various learning methods, including: Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Evolutionary Algorithms, Decision Tree Classifiers, Clustering Algorithms, or Fuzzy Logic Inference, among others. Effective data treatment and management are also crucial for ML. These techniques allow ML algorithms to extract valuable insights and correlations from complex data sets.

Space Weather (SWx) events might influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and endanger life and health in space. It might affect communication and navigation systems, damage electrical grids, harm satellite electronics, and expose passengers flying over the poles and at high altitudes to increased radiation levels. Moreover, the technology of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) is currently being used in a wide range of sectors, including but not limited to: mapping and surveying, monitoring of the environment, agriculture and natural resources management, disaster warning and emergency response, aviation, maritime, and land transportation. For GNSS users, understanding the impact of space weather on the ionosphere is crucial, as it can significantly affect signal accuracy and reliability. At the GNSS space segment, four global constellations are operational. On the ground, thousands of permanent GNSS stations and millions of Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, including smartphones, have contributed to deploying a "de facto" large IoT GNSS receiver network. Hence, the application of ML on the data produced by this global and permanent GNSS infrastructure constitutes a major opportunity for GNSS science applications.

To address the application of ML to SWx and GNSS and to focus on initiating pilot projects and strengthening the networking of these topics related to institutions in the Latin American region, a Workshop on machine learning applied to space weather and GNSS will be held in San Jose from 16 to 20 February 2026. This workshop is being organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in cooperation with the Space Research Center (CINESPA) of the University of Costa Rica. The University of Costa Rica will host the workshop on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica. The workshop is co-organized and co-sponsored by the International Committee on GNSS (ICG) and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), and supported by the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET) of the National University of Tucuman (UNT) and the International Centre for the Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

Objectives and expected outcomes

The main objectives of the workshop will be to reinforce the exchange of information between countries and scale up the capacities in the region, pursuing the application of ML to SWx and GNSS technology solutions; share information on national, regional, and global projects and initiatives, which could benefit regions; and enhance cross-fertilization among those projects and initiatives.

The specific objectives of the workshop will be to introduce the use of ML tools to analyse SWx and GNSS data; promote the greater exchange of actual experiences with specific applications; focus on appropriate ML, SWx and GNSS applications projects at the national and/or regional levels; and define recommendations and findings to be forwarded as a contribution to the Office for Outer Space Affairs and ICG, particularly, in forging partnerships to strengthen and deliver capacity-building on satellite navigation science and technology.

The expected outcomes of the workshop will be recommendations and findings on discussed topics to be adopted by the workshop participants; preliminary agreement of cooperation between countries in the region and action plan addressing identified issues/concerns.

The discussions at the workshop will also be linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to its targets set out for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as:

SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing - GNSS positioning enables individual patients, staff or equipment to be monitored, and response teams directed more efficiently;

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy - GNSS reflectometry techniques can produce scatterometry models to assist in the optimum positioning of offshore wind farms;

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - SWx forecasting and monitoring can be improved using ML algorithms, which can help to enable better decision-making for space-based infrastructure and operations; GNSS signals can be used for navigation and positioning of in-orbit space operations, particularly from low Earth orbit to cis-lunar;

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - GNSS is widely used for urban planning to pinpoint structures and reference points for cadastral and urban planning purposes; and

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Use of ML methods applied to SWx and GNSS to facilitate international cooperation and partnerships, such as collaborative research and development of SWx forecasting and monitoring systems.

Preliminary Programme of the Workshop

The workshop programme will include plenary sessions and sufficient time for discussions among participants to identify the priority areas where pilot projects should be launched and examine possible partnerships that could be established. The Local Organizing Committee will arrange a half-day technical/cultural tour during the workshop. As a preliminary suggestion, the following sessions will be organized:

Thematic Sessions Session 1: Introduction and Overview to Space Weather, GNSS and Machine Learning This session will provide a series of introductory talks to the subjects of the workshop: Machine Learning, Space Weather and GNSS, setting the stage for the technical sessions that follow, and providing a platform for experts to share their experience and insights. Session 2: GNSS-based applications focusing on, but not limited to Advances and performance benefits due to multi-sensor integration of GNSS applications;

The use of GNSS for aviation, including integration of satellite navigation technology into air traffic management and airport surface navigation and guidance;

The use of navigation and timing systems for road, rail, and engineering applications, including vehicle guidance, geographic information system mapping, and precision farming;

Navigation systems operation in the marine environment, including waterway navigation, harbour entrance/approach, marine archaeology, fishing, and recreation;

Commercial applications of GNSS. Session 3 (Hands-on Seminar): Basic Machine Learning techniques Provide a guided series of hands-on exercises where participants can apply basic Machine Learning techniques to Space Weather/GNSS sample datasets. Session 4: GNSS data processing Exploring the use of Machine Learning algorithms for de-noising and enhancing GNSS signals;

Using Machine Learning to mitigate Space Weather and scintillation effects on GNSS signals;

Using Machine Learning algorithms for spectrum protection, interference detection and mitigation. Session 5: Use of Machine Learning for Space Weather forecasting Use of Machine Learning algorithms for predicting Space Weather events, including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, geomagnetic storms, and their effects in the Earth upper atmosphere.

Use of ensemble methods for combining predictions of multiple Machine Learning models to improve the accuracy of Space Weather forecasting.

Effects of Space Weather on GNSS performance and accuracy, and monitoring and forecasting of these effects by scintillation receivers, models, and other means. Session 6: Capacity building, training and education in the field of Machine Learning, Space Weather and GNSS Education opportunities at different levels/needs;

GNSS education tools/open source software related to GNSS, Space Weather and Machine Learning. Discussion Sessions Challenges and opportunities in applying Machine Learning to Space Weather and GNSS: issues, concerns and approaches, including future direction and open research questions.

Possible follow-up projects, initiatives and proposals for future workshops/training courses/technical seminars.

Additional Resources

17th International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy, 9 - 13 February 2026, Liberia, Costa Rica

Website (External Link): https://www.iap-kborn.de/isea17/home
June 4 2025

Detailed plans for a 19-storey (60m) apart-hotel tower in Glasgow have been put forward by Haus Collective and Regent Properties.

Adhering closely to a recent public consultation, the plans concern a corner site at the junction of Maxwell and Fox Street, with existing buildings to be demolished following a heritage survey by Hurd Rolland.

Hosting a mix of 169 hotel rooms and 78 serviced apartments the setback tower is the latest in a series of high-rise proposals clustered around Clyde Street close to the St Enoch Centre in the central conservation area.

Justifying the height of their proposal by identifying an increase in height from 23.6m at present to 32.2m when taking account of consented proposals, the team wrote: "Through identifying both the existing and consented context height ratios, we have established the local average height in each scenario.

"The assessment illustrates that there is indeed a significant uplift in the average height of the subject sites Local area, primarily driven by the nature of the consented St. Enoch development, 8 Dixon Street and 222 Clyde Street."

Adopting an L-plan footprint framing an interior courtyard for the broader urban block the tower introduces vertical setbacks at upper levels along Maxwell Street as well as an entrance cutaway. The uppermost 18th floor is reserved for a rooftop restaurant, positioned to offer 360-degree panoramas of the city.

Finished in orange precast concrete cladding panels, textured at lower levels, with a contrasting with smooth white glass reinforced concrete to recessed areas.
UW Professor Chip Kobulnicky, center, has led summer STEM camps for middle school and high school students for 19 years. He directs UWs Teton STEM Academy, which will continue through a generous gift from the estate of the late Harry and Mary Ann Lawroski. (UW Photo)

A generous gift from the estate of the late Harry and Mary Ann Lawroski, of Wilson, is helping inspire and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers and leaders through the University of Wyomings Teton STEM Academy.

Established in 2018, the Teton STEM Academy was made possible by the Lawroskis philanthropy. The academy is a summer living-learning program for Wyoming high school students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Since its inception, the program has provided hands-on research experiences and meaningful mentorship to students from across the state, creating a powerful pipeline to higher education and STEM careers.

The Teton STEM Academy is directed by Chip Kobulnicky, a professor in the UW Department of Physics and Astronomy who has led summer STEM camps for middle school and high school students for 19 years. Under his leadership, the program brings together students, teachers and scientists to explore the wonders of science and to spark lifelong passions.

Harry believed that young people should be inspired by challenging hands-on activities in science and engineering, Kobulnicky says. Thats what we aim to provide, led by a talented team of high school teachers and college counselors.

Harry Lawroski, a respected chemical engineer and past president of the American Nuclear Society, and his wife, Mary Ann, a family finance specialist and longtime community volunteer, shared a deep belief in the power of education. The couple was active in philanthropic efforts throughout Idaho and Jackson Hole, supporting health care, housing, the arts and lifelong learning.

The Lawroskis legacy will be generations of ninth-to-11th-grade students who can make friends and experience a college-like weeklong camp at UW for free, Kobulnicky says.

The Lawroskis gift to the Teton STEM Academy ensures continued access to early STEM engagement for Wyoming youth, honoring the Lawroskis enduring commitment to opportunity and innovation.

We are deeply appreciative of Harry and Mary Anns generous support of STEM educational opportunities for young people across the state of Wyoming, says John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation. Although neither of them were graduates of UW, they were both keenly aware of the important role that UW plays in supporting these educational opportunities for students across Wyoming.

For more information on the Teton STEM Academy or how to support the program, visit https://physics.uwyo.edu/~chip/STEMcamp/.
The Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis (CERPA) at the University of Wyomings School of Energy Resources (SER) has published a new white paper examining the potential effects of the Bureau of Land Managements Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP) on state revenues generated from energy development in Wyoming.

The paper offers significant insights into the economic, legal, regulatory and historical dimensions of the Rock Springs RMP. Kara Fornstrom, president of f3 Energy LLC; Dawson Kluesner, assistant research professional at CERPA; Bryan Leonard, associate professor and SER chair of environment and natural resources; and Esther Wagner, CERPA senior research professional, are authors of the paper.

The Rock Springs RMP has been a subject of considerable debate in Wyoming. In 2024, a task force was formed to gather recommendations from stakeholders and the public, leading to a finalized version in December 2024. Subsequently, under the new federal administration, a bill has been proposed that would replace the current RMP with a revised plan prioritizing energy development.

There is a lot up in the air regarding regulations being pulled back and reevaluated at the federal level, says CERPA Director Matt Fry. The Rock Springs RMP has been a major discussion for over a decade, and it will be interesting to see if what is ultimately adopted is favorable to Wyoming.

The white paper provides a historical overview of the Rock Springs RMP; outlines key energy-related issues within the draft RMP; and compares these issues to those in the approved RMP. It further includes an analysis of the RMPs projected energy-related economic impacts and the implications for state and local tax revenue.

Additionally, the paper discusses the analysis concerning established industries, such as oil and natural gas production, alongside emerging sectors that include carbon storage and CO pipeline development.

We hope that this paper will serve as a valuable resource for those involved in the decision-making process, Fry says. Wyoming constituents from various interest groups invested significant time in providing input, and we want to ensure that any federal actions align with the best interests of Wyoming.

The complete white paper and an accompanying research brief are available for download on the CERPA website. Additional resources can be found on the Rock Springs RMP Task Force website and an SER Distinguished Speaker Series presentation about the task force by Temple Stoellinger, a task force member and associate dean in UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources.

About the Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis

The CERPA in UWs SER is dedicated to producing meaningful, high quality, impartial analysis to inform policymakers and stakeholders about issues critical to the economic development of Wyomings energy resources.

Through collaboration with other SER Centers of Excellence, CERPA addresses emerging policy and regulatory issues by fostering the exchange of information and engages with stakeholders to inform various audiences about the importance of Wyomings energy resources.
BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the recent upgrade of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan from the level of charge d'affaires to ambassadorial, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a related question, adding that China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in promoting the improvement and development of relations between these two countries.

Noting that the move is conducive to enhancing mutual trust and strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the region, Lin said that this is also an important and positive measure for Pakistan and Afghanistan to implement the outcomes of the informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in May this year.

China is willing to work with regional countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, to jointly maintain peace, stability and development in the region, and is committed to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, he added. 
Mr Kabin Somphongsayakun (front, left) and Mr Phouthong Sisavath (right).

Laos signs MoU to explore green energy-powered AI infrastructure



The National Data Center under the Ministry of Technology and Communications has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Silicon Tech Park (Lao) Sole Co Ltd for a feasibility study on developing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure powered by green energy.

The ceremony for signing the MoU was held in Vientiane on June 2 in the presence of the Minister of Technology and Communications, Dr Boviengkham Vongdara. The agreement was formalised by Mr Phouthong Sisavath, the acting head of the National Data Center, and the Director of Silicon Tech Park (Lao), Mr Kabin Somphongsayakun.

Under the MoU, the two parties will collaborate to establish an AI Innovation Centre as a pilot project, focusing on delivering AI infrastructure and services using clean electricity. The initiative aligns with Laos commitment to digital transformation and environmental sustainability.

The initiative includes a joint feasibility study on developing a dedicated AI Special Economic Zone (SEZ) covering more than 150 hectares in the capital area of Vientiane, a key component of the project.

The proposed zone aims to attract foreign and domestic investments, enhance technological infrastructure, and position Laos as a regional hub for sustainable AI development.

The project supports the countrys long-term goals to advance digital transformation and build a robust AI ecosystem, aligning with global trends in clean technology and innovation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Phouthong emphasised the strategic significance of integrating green energy with cutting-edge technologies to support Laoss digital transformation goals. He said the proposed AI SEZ will play a vital role in advancing Laos AI ecosystem and fostering innovation.

The advancement of digital technology development must be accompanied by sustainable development, environmental friendliness, energy saving, and the use of green and renewable energy, such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power.

AI development is a sector with high energy consumption, and this requires authorities to consider environmentally friendly energy sources. Laos has potential in hydroelectricity and hydropower can meet this demand.

Mr Kabin noted that Laos, with its geographic advantages and abundant clean energy resources, is well-positioned to lead in sustainable technology. He stressed the importance of thinking creatively and adopting new business models that combine clean electricity with technological innovation.

The key to the future is staying ahead of rapidly changing technology, Mr Kabin said. With Laos ranked among the top clean energy sources in Asia, we aim to create a new business model that integrates renewable electricity with AI development. This Green AI Data Center project in the Lao PDR is a bold step forward, though it requires significant investment, advanced technical knowledge and strong international cooperation.

The project supports Laos national digital transformation strategy, which prioritises building a robust digital economy and modernising public services by using innovative technologies. By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth

(Latest Update June 4 , 202 5 )










Jackie Faherty (2nd R), curator of the Encounters in the Milky Way, speaks at a panel discussion at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States, on June 3, 2025. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

NEW YORK, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy.

Titled "Encounters in the Milky Way," the immersive show will open to the public on June 9. As the 7th space show from the museum's Hayden Planetarium, it has been developed by a team of astronomers, scientific visualization experts, and artists, and designed to explore the dynamic movements of the universe, tracing the Milky Way's past over billions of years and projecting its future across millions more.

The space show is presented in a theater equipped with a high-resolution projection system and immersive sound, giving the audience the sensation of traveling through space and experiencing the galaxy up close.

The show has been particularly supported by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, also called the "billion-star survey," a project aimed at mapping the precise positions, distances, and motions of nearly 2 billion stars in the Milky Way, according to Jackie Faherty, curator of the show.

"Gaia dropped a map that all humans should be proud of," said Faherty at a media preview event on Tuesday. "We mapped the cosmos in a way, and the Milky Way really is the star of it, in a way we had never been able to do before," she added.

The vast amount of detailed star movement data provides an unparalleled visual experience, including some brand-new experiences, such as the first visualization of the dramatic and ongoing merger of the Milky Way with smaller satellite galaxies.

The production team spent approximately one and a half years creating this 25-minute show. Six months were primarily spent searching for data sets, developing outlines and methods, recruiting staff, and developing technical processes, followed by a year or more of production, according to Vivian Trakinski, producer of the show and the director of science visualization of the museum.

"This show has more simulation data than our past shows. We have a new sound system in the dome, which is composed of 34 speakers, which was a great opportunity to specialize the motion that we present in the show. So in that way, it's much richer and more sophisticated. So it's definitely a continuation of our tradition, but there are things that make it unique," Trakinski told Xinhua.

The program is expected to be screened at the museum for about three years.

Faherty expressed the hope that the space show as an introduction to the globe and the map of the cosmos would lead people to explore the data available to everybody, make discoveries and walk away wanting to be scientists.

To date, the museum's space shows have been seen by more than 15 million visitors and have been distributed to 160 institutions across 40 countries worldwide, according to a release by the American Museum of Natural History, which is one of the world's most distinguished scientific and cultural institutions, with a history of more than 120 years. 

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows cosmic movement in Encounters in the Milky Way, the 7th space show of Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the United States. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is launching a new space show to present the story of cosmic motion and how that impacts the solar system, offering a journey through the history and future of the Milky Way galaxy. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
HANOI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for proactive measures to ensure sufficient electricity supply during the peak months of 2025 and beyond, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The directive comes after the country's power load hit an all-time high of 51,672 MW at 1:40 p.m. on Monday amid a severe heatwave sweeping across the northern and central regions.

Chinh emphasized the need for regular monitoring and timely updates on weather developments to formulate effective power system operation plans.

He also instructed authorities to maximize the use of reserve water sources for electricity generation and to promote efficient energy use. 
Security decree has sparked protests in Italy.

A controversial bill known as the Security Decree ushered in by Italy's right-wing coalition government was passed definitively by the Italian senate on Wednesday.

Approved by the lower house last week, the decree was passed in the senate with 109 votes in favour, 69 against and one abstention.

The vote was taken after a protest by senators from opposition centre-left parties who sat on the floor of the chamber shouting "Shame, shame".

The decree, which clamps down on protesters and enhances legal protections for security forces, was introduced by premier Giorgia Meloni as part of "a promise for a safer Italy".

In a social media post on Wednesday, Meloni hailed the newly passed decree as a "decisive step to strengthen the protection of citizens, the most vulnerable groups and our men and women in uniform".

Con lapprovazione definitiva del Decreto Sicurezza al Senato, il Governo compie un passo decisivo per rafforzare la tutela dei cittadini, delle fasce piu vulnerabili e dei nostri uomini e donne in divisa.



Interveniamo con determinazione contro le occupazioni abusive, pic.twitter.com/hDHM1XSW8e Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 4, 2025

The decree includes measures such as increasing penalties for attacks on law enforcement officers and fraud against the elderly, as well as legally protecting the rights of security forces and granting them broader powers.

The wide-ranging legislative package imposes harsher penalties for protest-related offences and disruptive passive resistance sit-ins such as the blocking of roads or defacing public property, as well as clamping down on squatters and facilitating the swift eviction of illegally occupied properties.

The sweeping legislation also introduces new crimes for prisoners who riot, along with banning the trade of "cannabis light" and scrapping an exemption from prison for subway pickpockets who are pregnant.

In a post on X, Italy's interior minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the decree as a "strategic measure" which introduces "new and effective tools to strengthen the fight against crime and terrorism, guarantee greater protection for citizens, especially the most vulnerable, and enhance the daily work of our law enforcement agencies".

Deputy premier Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing Lega, also welcomed the passing of the security decree, writing on X: "More protection and powers for the police, immediate evictions of occupied homes, harsher penalties for pickpockets and elderly scammers. More promises kept!"

The bill has sparked protests across Italy in recent months, amid strong criticism from civil rights groups and opposition parties who accuse the government of criminalising dissent, limiting civil liberties and curtailing the right to protest.

The European Civic Forum in a statement last week said more than 70 NGOs have sounded the alarm over the security Decree, warning it poses "a serious threat to democracy amid a systemic deterioration of the rule of law".

Photo credit: Eugenio Marongiu / Shutterstock.com.
Meloni breaks silence and wades into debate on upcoming referendums with controversial remark.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni sparked outrage on Monday by saying that she would not vote in the five referendums being held in Italy on 8 and 9 June.

Meloni's right-wing coalition government is not in favour of the referendums, in particular a landmark vote on easing the nation's citizenship rules, however the premier had been silent on the matter until this week.

"I will go to the polling station but I will not collect the ballot" - Meloni told reporters ahead of the Festa della Repubblica military parade in Rome - "It is one of the options".

In order for referendum results in Italy to be valid, voter turnout or "quorum" must exceed 50 per cent plus one, meaning that more than 25 million voters will need to cast their vote.

Under the "non-voting voter" tactic suggested by Meloni, a voter can show up at the polling station and refuse to collect their ballot.

In this way they are not considered a voter, they do not receive a stamp on their electoral card and therefore do not contribute to the quorum.

Meloni's remarks triggered an instant backlash from the centre-left opposition, with Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), describing her stance as "outrageous but not surprising".

Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), accused Meloni of "making a fool" of the Italian people and proving that she "wants to scuttle the referendums".

Meloni's opposition centres mainly on the referendum on citizenship which was granted after an online petition - promoted by Riccardo Magi of the centre-left +Europa party - surpassed its goal of half a million signatures.

The referendum aims to cut from 10 to five the number of years of continual legal residence in Italy required for non-EU citizens to apply for Italian citizenship.

Magi, who also slammed Meloni's comments on Monday, has described the citizenship referendum as "a battle of civilisation".

In a post on X, Magi wrote: "A YES for a law on fair citizenship, which does not discriminate against those born or raised in Italy, those who live here permanently and contribute to our country every day but are treated as second-class citizens".

The government is largely promoting abstention as a way to prevent the quorum from being reached in the referendums, which in addition to a vote on easing citizenship include four questions related to labour reform.

The work-related referendums were promoted by the CGIL trade union, with the support of the PD, the M5S and the left-wing Greens and Left Alliance (AVS).

These four referendum questions propose to restore stronger protections against unlawful dismissals, remove the cap on compensation for unfair dismissals in small businesses, reintroduce stricter regulations on fixed-term employment contracts, and increase employer accountability for workplace safety.

Maurizio Landini, head of the CGIL, said last month: "I find it totally dangerous and wrong to invite people not to go out and vote."

In a statement on Tuesday, the union condemned a large banner that appeared in front of its Rome headquarters encouraging "everyone to go the beach on 8-9 June", along with the message "Fuck CGIL".

The union's secretary general for Rome and Lazio, Natale Di Cola, reported the incident to police "to express our concern about the climate of intimidation that is mounting in these last days of the referendum campaign."
BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- As the world faces growing uncertainties in trade and geopolitics, China remains a critical driver of global innovation and economic growth, said Prof. Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD, one of the world's top business schools founded in Europe.

In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Veloso, who came to Beijing for closer cooperation with leading Chinese universities, highlighted the dynamism of China's innovation landscape, describing it as a powerful force that sustains its economy and attracts foreign investment.

"China has an incredible history of innovation, evolving across different periods and in diverse ways," said Veloso. One significant development has been the combination of the accumulation of innovation capabilities over time with the rapid adoption of digital technologies, he said.

When the strong government support for talent and technological advancement comes in, China has created "an avalanche of innovation" that is now propelling China toward the cutting edge of global innovation, Veloso observed.

Now China is pushing the boundaries of innovation across multiple sectors, including electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, and fintech, he said.

He also attributed this innovation push to factors including a robust infrastructure that China has been building in the past decades, a large and competitive domestic market, strong manufacturing capabilities, and a growing pool of highly skilled talent.

Veloso sees the prospects of China's economy very positively, as he believes the innovation ecosystem formed in China's innovation hubs is gaining significant momentum and will continue to grow in a self-sustaining way.

"In innovation hubs like Shenzhen and Hangzhou, you see strong firms, local talent, and venture capital coming together to build momentum, just as what happened in Silicon Valley and Route 128 in Boston," he said. Additionally, these innovation engines not only vitalize the regions where they are situated, but also benefit the entire country as well as the world.

As a professor focusing on technological innovation studies, Veloso chose China as one of the subjects of his research, visiting the country more than ten times to understand the importance of collaboration in innovation. He found that many leading multinationals established research facilities in China, and some of their patents co-developed in China have proven to be the most valuable, highlighting the power of global collaboration.

Despite global economic headwinds, Veloso remains confident that China will continue to draw foreign investment. As the transition from high-speed to high-quality development becomes clearer and more stable, foreign companies are expected to accelerate their investment in China.

He also emphasized the importance of China continuing to connect to the world through its talents. During Veloso's recent trip to China, an agenda item was to renew INSEAD's cooperation with the prestigious Tsinghua University on an executive MBA program.

"At INSEAD, we have 80 nationalities, and every year we have between 50 and 100 Chinese students. These individuals become crucial conduits for investment and business relationships because they possess a deep understanding of both the Chinese market and international dynamics," said Veloso.

Veloso sees growing potential for Europe and China to work more closely in high-tech and innovation domains, highlighting several practical ways to deepen cooperation, including joint research projects, entrepreneurial exchange, and talent mobility across the two regions.

"It's crucial to identify a few areas where that collaboration could be explored in a way that benefits both sides," Veloso said, suggesting joint programs in areas of shared interests and concerns, for example, climate change and aging populations.

He called for Europe-China cooperation in renewable energies, including electric vehicles, wind, and solar power. He also proposed cooperation in AI-empowered public goods, especially in applying AI to support underprivileged communities.

Looking ahead, Veloso believes that China remains an important engine of the world's economic growth, while acknowledging challenges such as demographic pressures and concerns about consumer confidence.

"Europe wants a vibrant China. We all want China to be growing, because that benefits everyone," Veloso said. 
James Cox

Irish MEP Barry Cowen has written to the EU trade commissioner to request the protection of three Irish industries from planned counter-tariffs against the US.

The EU is still hoping to make a deal with US president Donald Trump's administration, but a second counter-tariff list is due to take effect on July 14th or earlier if negotiations fail.

In the letter to EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic, seen by BreakingNews.ie, Mr Cowen requested additional protections for spirits, medical technologies and aviation.

Mr Cowen first outlines his belief that US bourbon whiskey should be excluded form counter-tariffs, as "this risks triggering US retaliatory tariffs - potentially up to 200 per cent - on EU alcohol exports".

He adds that Ireland exports 53 times more whiskey than it importants bourbon - 420 million vs 8 million.

At the EU level, spirits exports to the US are 2.9 billion annually, while imports stand at 1 billion. With this in mind, Mr Cowen argues that a zero-for-zero tariff arrangement on spirits is vital to protect this key sector and avoid a situation of the EU shooting itself in the foot. I urge the Commission to reaffirm this in its updated list".

Mr Cowen goes on to write that he is "increasingly alarmed at the prospect of tariffs on US-origin medical technologies, components and diagnostics. The current draft includes 577 categories, covering both medtech inputs and finished products. Its implementation would significantly disrupt healthcare systems and the medtech industry across the EU, including Ireland".

Irelands medtech sector employs over 50,000 people and exports 15 billion annually, representing 8 per cent of our total exports.

He asks the EU Commission not to include medical technologies in the final counter-tariffs list, "as industry groups have warned, these products are vital to public health and should not be used as leverage in trade disputes".

On aviation, Mr Cowen writes: " I would like to highlight the risk to Irelands aviation and leasing sectors should US aircraft remain on the EUs retaliation list. Alongside Ryanair, Europes largest airline group, Ireland is home to global aircraft lessors such as AerCap, all heavily reliant on US-made aircraft.

"Ryanair operates over 600 Boeing aircraft and it, plus Aercap, have hundreds of more on order. Including these in a tariff regime would severely impact Irelands leasing and airline industries, with wider implications for the European market. I strongly urge the Commission to exclude US aircraft from the list."

In conclusion, Mr Cowen calls for measures that are "measured, strategic and [do] not harm sectors where the EU - and Ireland - stand to lose far more than we gain".
A Kilkenny man has been ordered to pay a fine of 2,200 and to stay off the roads for two years after being convicted of drink driving on the N25.

Adam Connolly, of The Avenue, Cappagh, Gaulsmills, Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny, appeared at Waterford District Court of Appeal to contest the conviction.

Judge Eugene O'Kelly heard from State Solicitor Frank Hutchinson about the circumstances leading up to the defendant's conviction by the District Court.

On the morning of April 28, 2023, Garda Conor Courtney was on patrol on the N25 at Gracedieu, Waterford when he saw the accused driving a white Mitsubishi Canter towing a trailer. He noticed that the nearside indicators were not working.

Connelly was travelling in the Cork direction when he was stopped by the Garda. He produced a full Irish driving licence and a category BE provisional licence for towing large trailers.

After detecting a "pungent" smell of alcohol, Garda Courtney conducted a roadside breathalyser test, which Connolly failed. He told the Garda: "I only had two drinks, I can't be over the limit."

Alcohol

While waiting for Garda transport to the station, Connelly looked for a cigarette in his cab. As he started smoking, Garda Courtney asked him to put out the cigarette, to which he replied: "I'll f***ing" smoke if I want to." Garda Courtney took away the cigarette and threw it onto the tarmac.

At the Garda Station in Waterford, Connolly was found to have 51 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Defence barrister Michael Daly BL asked both Garda and Sergeant witnesses about the nil-by-mouth process and questioned whether the adequate amount of time had passed for the test to be done correctly.

Judge O'Kelly said that Connolly didn't recall cursing at the Garda because: "He didn't have the benefit of sobriety at the time."
As Mayor of Waterford City and County, I am truly honoured to welcome the return of Pride of the Deise for its sixth year  a now firmly rooted and much-anticipated celebration in our calendar.

Each year, Pride brings colour, connection, and joy to the heart of our city and county.

It is a colourful affirmation of the many identities, stories, and contributions that make up the LGBTQ+ community here in Waterford and beyond.

Pride is, at its core, a celebration of love  in all its forms. And it reminds us, quietly and powerfully, that love is love.

That simple truth needs no explanation.

In 2025, we mark Pride not just as a festival of expression and solidarity, but as an ongoing commitment to inclusion, equality, and understanding.

The events planned throughout the week are wide-ranging and imaginative  from arts and culture to music, talks, workshops, and moments of reflection.

There is something for everyone  Pride is for everyone because Pride belongs to everyone.

This years theme, so beautifully expressed in the artwork and events of the festival, reminds us that visibility matters.

That representation  in our schools, our workplaces, our media, our public spaces  shapes the world we live in. And when people feel seen, they feel safer. They feel valued.

I wish to thank the Pride of the Deise committee for their work and their belief in the power of community.

To the volunteers, supporters, artists, and activists who give their time and energy so generously  your efforts lift spirits and change lives.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Jason Murphy

Waterford has always been a place of firsts  the first Irish city, the first to fly the tricolour, the first to forge new paths through art, heritage, and culture. Let us also continue to lead when it comes to respect, inclusion, and equality. Pride is not a single weekend or event. It is a way of being. A reminder that every citizen deserves to feel safe, loved, and celebrated for who they are.

So, to everyone taking part  whether youre marching, performing, supporting, or simply enjoying the festival  I say thank you and welcome.

You are helping to make Waterford a city and county of welcome, of warmth, and of pride.

Enjoy this extraordinary week.

Happy Pride everyone.
County Waterford is to get two new Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hubs as part of a rollout of 53 new hubs across the country.

The move was announced on Wednesday, May 4, by Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien as part of the plan to service the expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet across Ireland's national road network. An allocation of almost 8 million will be provided to support grants for recharging infrastructure at the selected sites, with chargers set to be in place by the end of this year.

The new charging points in Waterford will be at Applegreen in Lemybrien and also in Kilmeaden Business Centre, both of which are on the N25. The new nationwide sites will deliver 175 new fast and ultra-fast recharging points making it quicker and easier for EV drivers to top up on longer journeys. The rollout is part of a wider plan to build a reliable recharging network across the country, with the distance between recharging hubs to be 60km or less.

Minister OBrien said: Were taking real, practical steps to make electric vehicles work for everyone. With more chargers, more choice, and more support, we hope even more people will feel confident making the switch to electric. These high-powered chargers are a key step in that process. Were committed to building a sustainable and cleaner transport system, and that means making it easy to charge wherever you are. The recharging hubs are funded through the Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) initiative operated by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), and delivered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). This phase of the initiative focused on over 1,200km of national single carriageway roads. Enterprises such as petrol/service station operators, car park owners, hotels, supermarkets/retail outlets, and others with publicly accessible sites, could apply through a competitive grant process for funding. The total allocation for this aspect is 7.9 million.

Peter Walsh, CEO of TII, said:

Working in partnership with ZEVI and the private sector, this scheme is helping us build the kind of infrastructure people can rely on: fast, efficient and accessible. The 53 recharging hubs will significantly improve coverage on the relevant roads. Efforts will continue to seek to address any sections of the 1,200km network requiring additional support, where it was not possible to make sufficient awards under this phase of the grant scheme programme.

The announcement marks another major milestone under Irelands National EV Charging Network Plan, which aims to make EV recharging accessible across all parts of the country, from motorways to rural roads, and from cities to small towns.

This is part of the wider ZEVI National Road Network EV Charging Plan, which previously awarded grant funding to deliver 131 new high-power recharging points at 17 locations along the motorway/dual-carriageway network. An additional scheme to support recharging infrastructure across another 3,000km of the national road network is also currently underway, with applications closing in June.

It also complements other supports already in place, including the EV purchase grant, home charger grants, and the reduced VRT for EVs.
The death of an exonerated US death row inmate in a Galway fire, a climate warning from the EPA, and a HSE apology to a young woman fighting cervical cancer are among the stories that feature on Wednesday's front pages.

The Children's Health Ireland (CHI) consultant at the centre of a review was not on call due to 'health issues', The Irish Times reports.

The HSE and the National Screening Service has apologised for failings to a young mother of two who is battling cervical cancer, the Irish Examiner reports.

The Irish Independent leads with an EPA report that has warned climate extremes could have an impact on Ireland's energy and transport infrastructure.

The Echo leads with a story on Cork's controversial robotic trees.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with Taoiseach Micheal Martin defending Ireland's data centres, claiming they will help the country to 'stay ahead in the AI race'.

Read all this and lots more in Wednesday's Irish Daily Mail. pic.twitter.com/4AaEauJrZT  The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) June 4, 2025

Gardai are investigating a gun attack linked to a gang feud, The Herald reports.

In the North, the Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News lead with a story on a 71-year-old woman who was found murdered in her Belfast home.

The front page of todays Irish News. pic.twitter.com/BGZsyzsxgj  The Irish News (@irish_news) June 4, 2025

New searches for Madeleine McCann in Portugal dominate Wednesday's UK front pages.

Renewed searches for Madeleine, who went missing in 2007, are the main story across Metro, the Daily Star, the Daily Express and The Times.

Wednesday's DAILY STAR: Maddie suspect: I'm looking forward to a nice steak and a beer - Brueckner's sick TV chat as hunt begins #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/vijWKdoSAK  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) June 3, 2025

Wednesday's DAILY EXPRESS: Now it's good weather to blame for boat surge!#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/L118Pg4tqW  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) June 3, 2025

Wednesday's TIMES: Police cuts 'mean some crimes must be ignored'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/dpRw4ocYMa  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) June 3, 2025

A woman has warned the British Labour government that benefit cuts cost her daughter her life, the Daily Mirror reports.

The Daily Mail leads with a story on a row over migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats.

The Guardian leads with a story on a 15 billion spending pledge from the Labour government.

Wednesday's GUARDIAN: Reeves in 15bn spending pledge to placate fractious Labour MPs#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/rbO5sOBP2p  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) June 3, 2025

The UK will stockpile military medical supplies for a potential nuclear attack, the i Paper reports.

Wednesday's i: UK to stockpile military medical supplies for nuclear attacks#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QOIG7Xi4aS  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) June 3, 2025

The Daily Telegraph leads with a story on Donald Trump's attack on the BBC over Hamas coverage.

Wednesday's DAILY TELEGRAPH: Trump attacks BBC over Hamas coverage#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/lePIeqMvNw  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) June 3, 2025

The New York Times leads with a story on America losing out on the best scientists.
Fresh from appearances at Galways Cuirt Festival with Alan McMonagle, and the University of Limericks Creative Writing Festival, featuring Suad Aldarra, Afric McGlinchey and Cauvery Madhavan among others, the Irish Writers Centre Roadshow is once again taking to the road and a stop-off in Waterford is included in the tour itinerary.

In addition to Waterford the roadshow will visit Wexford, West Cork, Belfast and Dublin for the ever-popular Dublin Book Festival in November.

The roadshow events form part of the Irish Writers Centres ongoing mission to champion writers and readers across the island of Ireland. Festival events throughout the remainder of the year will feature an inspiring mix of masterclasses, writing seminars, panel discussions, spoken word showcases and zine workshops.

Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, said: Our work is rooted in supporting writers at every stage of their journey, all over the country. By partnering with these brilliant literary festivals, the Irish Writers Centre is able to showcase writers and connect with audiences in new and meaningful ways."

Whether youre just beginning your writing journey or already published, we're here to lend support and help build a national community of storytellers.

The roadshow will visit Waterford Writers Weekend, from June 13 to 15.

The 'Writers in the Regions' programme continues in Waterford with a masterclass by acclaimed author Danielle McLoughlin. That will be followed by a return to the capital for the Dublin Book Festival in November.

The roadshow will continue its south east journey with a visit to 'Write by the Sea' - which takes place in County Wexford from September 26 to 28. The Wexford stop will include a writing seminar with David Butler and an engaging conversation with prize-winning writers John Banville ('The Sea') and Victoria Kennefick ('Sea/Shell'). A special panel discussion will showcase contributors to the autistic anthology 'Wired Our Own Way', including Nuala OConnor and Niamh Garvey.

Meanwhile, the West Cork Literary Festival will take place from July 11 to 18, in Bantry, and the roadshow programme will include a seminar by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, a zine workshop and a spoken word showcase spotlighting Raphael Olympio and Kemi George-Simpson. Highlights will include a special panel on Island of Many Nations, with Cauvery Madhavan, and Ferdia Lennon in conversation with Catherine Gander along with 'Out on the Page', a panel celebrating queer voices with Liz Quirke, Mark Ward and Chloe Michelle Howarth, chaired by the Irish Writers Centres own Damien B Donnelly.

The Dublin Book Festival will take place in November and the Irish Writers Centre will host two panel discussions at its centre featuring voices such as Sean Hewitt, Anne Walsh Donnelly, Molly Twomey, Sophie White and Sam Furlong. The programme will also include a zine workshop and a creative workshop led by award-winning spoken word artist Cormac Mac Gearailt.
Houston: What prompted the fatal shooting of Jonathan Joss, a Native American voice actor best known for his work on the animated television series King of the Hill, remains unclear.

While Joss husband has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled violent homophobic slurs before opening fire, San Antonio police have said theyve found no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr Joss murder was related to his sexual orientation. Police did not respond to multiple emails on Tuesday seeking additional information on the cause of the shooting.

Jonathan Joss was shot dead as he checked his mail with his husband.

Since Joss killing, friends, actors Joss worked with and fans have honoured his memory with tributes and fond remembrances.

Heres what to know about Joss, his career and his shooting:
Staff at Westpacs RAMS home loan franchises submitted fake payslips from employers that did not exist to get mortgage applications over the line, the corporate watchdog says in a new court case alleging systemic misconduct within the lender.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission on Wednesday launched legal action against RAMS, a home lending business that Westpac bought in 2007. Westpac closed RAMS to new customers in August last year.

Westpac says RAMS is working co-operatively with ASIC to resolve the proceedings as quickly as possible. Credit: Getty Images

The case, which follows investigations by ASIC, alleges RAMS was in breach of the Credit Act by failing to properly supervise representatives of the company, and it says this resulted in widespread misconduct by RAMS franchisees and staff.

RAMS admitted it conducted business with unlicensed persons, failed to properly supervise its representatives, and failed to have proper policies and procedures in place.

Westpac, which has previously acknowledged misconduct in RAMS, said RAMS was working with ASIC to resolve the proceedings as quickly as possible.

Read the full story here.
QUITO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's National Assembly on Tuesday approved a constitutional change that would permit the establishment of foreign military bases in the country, a move proposed by President Daniel Noboa to bolster international cooperation against transnational crime.

The bill was passed in a final vote with 82 votes in favor, backed by Noboa's ruling National Democratic Action bloc and allied parties.

To take effect, the constitutional change must be ratified by the public in a national referendum, as required for partial constitutional amendments.

"This reform paves the way for foreign military bases and enhances national security through strategic cooperation, intelligence sharing and technology transfer," the National Assembly said in a statement.

Noboa submitted the proposal in October 2024, aiming to revise Article 5 of the Constitution, which currently prohibits foreign military bases or facilities with military functions on Ecuadorian soil.

The move comes amid a deepening security crisis. In January 2024, the government declared an "internal armed conflict" against criminal gangs it has labeled as terrorist groups.

During the debates, ruling-party lawmaker Nataly Morillo said the reform is vital for tackling organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal mining, arms smuggling and human trafficking, stressing that Ecuador lacks the capacity to fight these threats alone.

Ecuador has seen a surge in violence in early 2025, with over 3,000 homicides reported in the first four months of the year, according to official figures. 
The Hague: The Dutch government has collapsed, most likely ushering in a snap election, after anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders quit the right-wing coalition, accusing other parties of failing to back his tougher immigration policies.

But Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent, accused the political maverick of irresponsibility, and the other coalition parties denied failing to support Wilders, saying they had been awaiting proposals from his PVV partys own migration minister.

Far-right politician Geert Wilders talks to the media after pulling his party out of the four-party Dutch coalition. Credit: AP

PVV ministers will quit the cabinet, leaving the others to continue as a caretaker administration until an election unlikely to be held before October.

Frustration with migration and the high cost of living is boosting the far right and widening divisions in Europe, just as it needs unity to deal effectively with a hostile Russia and an unpredictable and combative US president in Donald Trump.
Kyiv: Ukraine says it has struck a road and rail bridge that links Russia and the Crimean Peninsula with underwater explosives, just days after a spectacular drone attack on airbases deep inside Russia.

The Ukrainian Security Service, known by its acronym SBU, claimed it damaged the foundations of the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and illegally annexed Crimea  a key artery for Russian military supplies in the war.

The SBU said it detonated 1100kg of explosives on the seabed, in an operation that took several months to set up.

It was the third Ukrainian strike on the bridge since Russias invasion of its neighbour in February 2022, the SBU said. The bridge is now effectively in an emergency condition, the SBU claimed.
The GHF sites were set up inside Israeli military zones under a system the group says is designed to circumvent Hamas, which has been accused of siphoning off and stockpiling aid. The group has said there has been no violence in or around their sites but has acknowledged that the IDF was investigating whether civilians were wounded after moving beyond the designated safe corridor and into a closed military zone. The United Nations has rejected the GHF operation, saying it doesnt address Gazas mounting hunger crisis and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon. Near-daily shootings have unfolded since the new aid plan started operating.

The IDF said it fired warning shots at suspects who approached its forces on Sunday and Monday, when health officials and witnesses said 34 people were killed. The UN Security Council is also set to vote on Thursday (AEST) on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza, which is experiencing severe food shortages after Israel blockaded the territory for 11 weeks. It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking  and in several instances losing  their lives just trying to get food, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, describing the GHFs aid distribution model as a recipe for disaster. Smoke rises over the ruins of destroyed buildings in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Credit: AP At least 27 people were killed on Tuesday, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, the head of the Gaza Health Ministrys records department.

Hisham Mhanna, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said its Rafah field hospital had received 184 wounded people, 19 of whom were declared dead on arrival and eight more who later died of their wounds. The 27 dead were transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Yasser Abu Lubda, a 50-year-old displaced Palestinian from Rafah, said the shooting on Tuesday started at about 4am in the citys Flag Roundabout area, about one kilometre from one of the GHF distribution sites. He said he saw several people killed or wounded. The entire area is an Israeli military zone that journalists have no access to outside army-approved embeds. Indiscriminate shooting

Neima Aaraj, a woman from Khan Younis, gave a similar account, saying the shooting by Israeli forces was indiscriminate. She said she managed to reach the hub but returned empty-handed. There was no aid there, she said. Palestinians mourn during the funeral of Reem al-Akhras, who was killed while heading to an aid distribution hub, in Khan Younis on Tuesday. Credit: AP Rasha Nahal, another witness, described gunfire from all directions. She said she counted more than a dozen dead and several wounded along the road. She said she also found no aid when she arrived at the distribution hub, and that Israeli forces fired at us as we were returning. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that a leading US management consulting firm hired to help design the GHF program and run its business operations withdrew its team operating on the ground in Tel Aviv.

A spokesperson for the firm, Boston Consulting Group, said the company had terminated its contract with the GHF and placed one of the senior partners leading the project on leave, pending an internal review. Three people closely connected to both the GHF and BCG told the Post it would be difficult for the foundation to continue to function without the consultants who helped create it. In its first weeks of operation, the GHF has also struggled with the ongoing refusal of the United Nations and humanitarian partners to support it. Hamas-led militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people hostage in the October 7, 2023 attack into Israel that ignited the war. They are still holding 58 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israels military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government.

Loading Its toll is seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers. Israel says it has killed some 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. About 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the October 7 attack, including more than 400 during the fighting inside Gaza. AP, Reuters
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 We are social creatures with our own special quirks and habits. Explainers unpack the rules we live by (and sometimes break). See all 25 stories . Pilgrimages are undertaken by religions of all stripes but few are as epic as the Haj. An annual five-day affair, participants travel from around the world to a desert valley to perform ancient rituals that cannot be done in any other place at any other time of the year. For many of them, it will be the peak experience of their life. With more than a million pilgrims undertaking the 60-kilometre journey by foot, it is a challenge for organisers to prevent crushes such as the 2015 stampede in which hundreds were killed. For this reason, even residents of Mecca, which is the epicentre of the Haj, now need permits to attend. Saudi authorities have so far stopped nearly 270,000 people without permits from entering the city this past week, and have fined 23,000 Saudi residents for breaking Haj rules as well as revoking the licences of 400 Haj companies. The pilgrim is in our sight, a Saudi official told a press conference, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands. Meanwhile, the kingdom is pulling out all stops to offset the kind of scorching conditions that saw 1300 pilgrims die in 2024. The temperature hit 52 degrees Celsius then; this year, temperatures start at 40 degrees and are set to increase during the week. Cooling measures include heat-resistant floor tiles, escalators and tunnels and air-conditioning in mosques. Hospital bed capacity is up, including clinics specialising in sunstroke and heat exhaustion, says the Saudi Ministry of Haj (yes, the Haj has its own government ministry). The Saudi government says it gave medical treatment to 141,000 unauthorised pilgrims last year. Clearly, the Haj is no walk in the park for participants or their hosts. So why go there? Whats it all about? And how optional is it for a Muslim? As part of a pedestrian pathway project stretching from Mount Arafat to the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi authorities in May displayed mist fans for cooling as well as heat-reducing plastic surfaces, lighting, rest areas and mobile phone charging stations. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted

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What is the Haj? The Haj is a pilgrimage (which is also the meaning of the word in Arabic) that is supposed to be undertaken by every able-bodied Muslim who has the means once in their lifetime. Its held annually during Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar, this year falling on June 4-9. This is the highlight of ones life, says Islamic Council of Victoria president Adel Salman, who has travelled to Mecca to perform the Haj. Its exhausting, its expensive [but] youre there just to, effectively, worship your Lord in the holiest place, for Muslims, on Earth. Not only is the Haj about connecting to God, he says, but also to past prophets: the pilgrimage re-enacts the journey of the prophet Muhammad in 632AD who was, in turn, retracing the journey of the patriarch Ibrahim (Abraham) into the desert with his wife Hajar (Hagar) and son Ismail (Ishmael), including their wanderings between the two hills of Safah and Marwah, searching for water. With many people travelling from overseas, the Haj also connects Muslims to the global community of Islam. It is believed that undertaking the Haj will cleanse the believer of their sins and return them to a state of grace. It has elements of being born again, says Salman, of renewing yourself spiritually. Two pilgrims ready for the heat of the Haj in Mecca in May. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted The pilgrims adopt a form of ritual purification and dress known as ihram, which for men involves wearing two pieces of white fabric with no seams or needlework and for women involves a white robe that covers the body, apart from the face and hands. Wearing scent or makeup is forbidden and there is no gender segregation during the pilgrimage. The aim is to eliminate distinctions in social status and gender, prefiguring the Day of Judgement.

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The Haj is also a chance for Muslims to wipe the slate clean with others in their community. Before setting off, pilgrims seek the forgiveness of those who might be harbouring grievances against them and offer to pray for them in Mecca. After coming back, I was a lot more conscious, more patient, more focused .. I found myself wanting to move beyond superficialities and connect. On their return, pilgrims will often be referred to by the honorific Haj or Haji and men sometimes dye their beards red to indicate that status. I came back different, says Salman. You eventually get back to life and it overtakes you [but] for a period of time after coming back, I was a lot more conscious, more patient, more focused. Not that Im a superficial person but I found myself wanting to move beyond superficialities and connect. Why Mecca? The city is where the prophet Muhammad was born and raised, and the place from which he was forced to flee when he began revealing Gods word (around the year 610, when he was about 40) and to which he and his followers  the nascent Muslim community  returned in triumph before his death in 632. Mecca and Medina, which is 340 kilometres to the north, have been holy sites in Islam for 14 centuries; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932. For nearly 400 years prior to World War I, the territory of Hejaz was part of the Ottoman Empire, with custodianship of the holy cities in the hands of the Hashemites, an Arab dynasty that traced its lineage to the prophet Muhammad. As the empire crumbled, the Hashemites allied themselves with the British and declared an independent kingdom with Mecca as its capital. However, in 1925 Hejaz was conquered by another dynasty from eastern Arabia  the Sauds. The Saudi kings have since styled themselves Khadim al-Haramain  custodian (or servant) of the two sacred places. The current king and custodian is Salman bin Abdulaziz, though the countrys de facto leader is his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS. Pilgrims arriving to perform the last Friday prayer before Eid al-Adha in Mecca on May 30. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted How many people do the Haj?

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With easier air travel and a growing Muslim population, the number of people making the Haj has hovered around 2 million, hitting a peak of more than 3 million in 2012 and a low of 1.86 million in 2016, the year after a catastrophic crush on the route killed more than 2000 people. By May 2 this year, 1.4 million pilgrims had arrived in Mecca, authorities said. All Muslims, provided they can obtain a visa from the Saudi authorities, are eligible to attend. Children will usually not be given a visa unless accompanied by their parents and women are unlikely to be given a visa unless accompanied by a male spouse or guardian. Those who perform the Haj as children are generally expected to perform it again as adults, when they have the power of individual consent. But, given that a quarter of the worlds population is Muslim, theres not room for everyone in this small patch of desert. In 2018, The New York Times calculated that if all the worlds Muslims wished to undertake the Haj, it would take them 581 years. So the Saudi government allocates each of the worlds nations a quota for the years pilgrimage, with pilgrims booking their travel and accommodation  from first-class (five-star hotels) through to more basic  through accredited agents. Pilgrims arriving in Mecca must surrender their passports to Saudi authorities in return for a Haj ID, which they return to redeem their passport. Nations typically are allowed 1 pilgrim per 1000 Muslims in their population, though Saudi Arabian citizens can apply once every five years. In Indonesia  the nation with the worlds largest Muslim population, which was allocated 221,000 places this year  millions of people are on provincial waiting lists for as long as 17 years. Other big quotas are for India (175,025) and Pakistan (179,210). Australia is home to about 800,000 Muslims. The ministry of Haj aims to have a total 30 million pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia for the Haj and the less arduous pilgrimage of Umrah (some pilgrims register for both; or some who cant make it for the Haj will instead do the Umrah pilgrimage). A Kashmiri pilgrim is embraced by her relative in Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir, in May before departing for Saudi Arabia for the Haj. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted

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The main logistical challenge of hosting the Haj is that all pilgrims must perform the ritual in just a few days; it is not possible to stagger the huge numbers of people involved. This means enormous demand on facilities such as toilets and  given the advanced age of many pilgrims  medical services. The Great Mosque itself is built to accommodate 1.2 million people in prayer at once.  more than 300 escalators help streamline pilgrims and specially constructed elevators can hold an ambulance ... These days Muslims can use technology to help them navigate Haj rituals: the Nusuk app is now the most important for Haj travel but the Asefny app is still in use for pilgrims experiencing medical emergencies. After the 2015 disaster, electronic ID bracelets connected to GPS were also introduced. Saudi Arabias standalone ministry for Haj affairs provides a special three-digit number for emergency calls that puts pilgrims through to one of several control centres. On the Jamarat bridge, there are more than 300 escalators to help streamline pilgrims and specially constructed elevators that can hold an ambulance take emergency patients to helipads at roof level. To deal with language barriers, medical teams are supplied with special picture books that help patients communicate the character of their illness or injury. The halls where pilgrims stone a wall representing the Devil on the bridge were once circular, but studies revealed this to be a major cause of crowd flow problems and crushing, and so the halls are now ellipse-shaped. Where do pilgrims walk on the Haj? There are six key stages. In the Great Mosque, pilgrims walk en masse around the Kaaba  or Cube, pictured below, which Muslims believe to be the first mosque  to emphasise the unity of the believers, a ritual called tawaf. Its this granite building, about 13 metres high, that Muslims worldwide turn to in prayer five times a day  they believe the Kaaba was built as a place of worship by Ibrahim and Ismail on Gods instructions.

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YANGON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- An art gallery in downtown Yangon has celebrated the 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations with a unique exhibition blending Chinese and Myanmar cultures.

Showcasing everything from the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda to elegant Chinese calligraphy, the five-day exhibition was both a tribute and a testament to enduring friendship. It runs from May 31 to June 4.

Held at Artistic Space Art Gallery, the exhibition was organized by the Myanmar-China Calligraphy and Painting Association. It featured more than 50 pieces of paintings, as well as calligraphy works that reflected the intertwined heritage of the two nations.

"The goal is to bring together Myanmar-born Chinese and Myanmar artists to deepen cultural exchange and mutual learning," said U Maw Li Shwe, chairman of the association. "We also aim to strengthen the friendship between the two nations."

The exhibition included calligraphy and paintings by eight artists. All artworks are for sale, with proceeds going toward a Chinese calligraphy competition fund supporting Myanmar-born Chinese artists.

U Maw Li Shwe emphasized the enduring nature of the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between Myanmar and China. "We hope this relationship continues to grow and flourish," he said. "In the future, we plan to host more cultural exchange programs with Myanmar-born Chinese people and local Myanmar people."

The event drew artists, students, and cultural enthusiasts alike. Among them was U Than Aung, 42, principal of the Eastern Language Business Center. "I'm very happy to take part," he said. "This is a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange."

He collected four pieces from the exhibition, particularly admiring U Maw Li Shwe's ink paintings. "The bamboo trees and orchids are beautifully done," he said, pointing at the bamboo trees and orchids artworks on the wall. "They are fresh and refined, and truly expressive."

"These kinds of exhibitions serve as cultural bridges," he added. "They help bring the people of China and Myanmar closer together."

Veteran Myanmar artist U Thike Oo, 75, also participated. "We're showcasing works alongside Chinese artists," he said. With a career spanning over five decades and nearly 200 paintings, he sees the exhibition as more than just an art event. "This one feels special. It's about friendship."

U Kyi Oo, 59, a modern painter, also participated in the exhibition. "I'm showcasing modern pieces here. What I love most about Chinese culture is the food, especially Yunnan cuisine. For Chinese celebrations, I joined a Chinese New Year event last year."

The exhibition also resonated with younger visitors, like 20-year-old Thunn Naychi Soe, a student of U Maw Li Shwe. "I came here to support my teacher. I especially love the Shwedagon Pagoda and bamboo tree paintings, as well as the calligraphy."

Born in Myanmar to a Chinese family, she said the event helped expand her cultural perspective. "I used to focus only on Chinese traditions. This exhibition helped me appreciate Myanmar art more deeply."

She emphasized the importance of recognizing and respecting cultural diversity. "Every culture should be valued equally. Events like this help people truly feel and understand the richness of different cultures and heritages."

"China and Myanmar share many values," she added. "We both honor family and respect our elders. These are the principles that are vital to any society," she said. 
A National Workshop on the Harmonized System (HS) for tariff classification was held in Chisinau, Moldova, from 26 to 30 May 2025. The Workshop was organized jointly by the WCO and the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, with sponsorship from the Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) of Germany. Two experts from the WCO Secretariat facilitated the Workshop, which was attended in-person by 21 officials from Moldova Customs.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Lidia ABABII, Deputy Director, Head of Revenues and Customs Control Department, emphasized the crucial role of Moldova Customs in collecting a significant portion of the countrys total revenue. She highlighted that accurate tariff classification is essential for effectively fulfilling this responsibility. She also underscored the need for Moldova Customs to keep pace with technological advancements in order to maintain efficient and accurate tariff classification. She extended her gratitude to the WCO and CCF Germany for their valuable support in strengthening the technical capacity of Moldova Customs, and encouraged participants to use the Workshop to enhance their skills in the uniform interpretation and application of the HS.

The Workshop aimed to deepen participants knowledge of the HS and improve their practical classification skills, thereby strengthening the institutional capacity of Moldova Customs. The training sessions covered the application of the General Interpretative Rules and relevant legal Notes, as well as practical case studies on a wide range of commodities, including food supplements, chemicals, and machinery. Participants actively engaged in discussions, sharing their experiences and insights to address complex classification scenarios effectively.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Olga TARLAPAN, Head of Goods Classification Department, Customs Valuation, Classification and Origin of Goods Division, expressed her gratitude for the success of the Workshop and praised the valuable knowledge gained by the participants. She affirmed that the Workshop would contribute to greater efficiency in Customs operations, and expressed her appreciation to the WCO and CCF Germany for their continued support in building capacity. She also looked forward to ongoing cooperation in the future.
The SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) officially launched its second phase with a country-specific support programme in Rabat, Morocco, on 19 May 2025. During the launch event, the country-specific objectives were presented, focusing on enhancing risk management practices through the implementation of advanced data analytics techniques to improve trade facilitation and compliance. All key stakeholders, including the Ambassador of Switzerland to Morocco, attended the ceremony.

The inaugural activity under this support was a technical assistance mission from 19 to 23 May 2025, aimed at assessing the current operational and technological landscape of the Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes (ADII). The mission sought to identify areas of opportunity and challenges for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into risk management processes.

The technical assistance workshop enhanced the Customs Administrations capacities in risk management and data analytics. Participants gained practical knowledge and tools to apply advanced data analytics techniques to risk assessment. These will enable more targeted and efficient cargo inspections, enhancing both the effectiveness of operations and the facilitation of trade. The participants successfully integrated a first draft of a strategic roadmap to guide the phased adoption and integration of AI/ML technologies in Customs risk management operations.

The WCO will continue to support Morocco in advancing its data and risk management frameworks, as well as in developing a national strategy and implementation plan integrating AI and ML into Customs operations.

For more information on the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), please contact Capacity.Building@wcoomd.org.
TEHRAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal that would prohibit any uranium enrichment, emphasizing that uranium enrichment is a 'key' component of Tehran's nuclear program.

He made the remarks at a ceremony in Tehran to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, according to footage of his speech published on his website.

Iran's leader said the nuclear industry was not solely for the generation of clean and cheap energy, as it was a "parent industry, which affects numerous scientific areas," including those pertaining to manufacturing medical devices, the aerospace sector, among others.

Without uranium enrichment, the nuclear industry was useless, Khamenei said, pointing out that the United States' main demand was for Iran to abandon its nuclear industry entirely and instead rely on the U.S. for radiopharmaceuticals, atomic energy, and other related needs.

"Our response... is clear, the United States and Israel cannot do a damn thing against Iran's nuclear industry," he said.

Iran's leader added that the country had managed to develop the complete nuclear fuel cycle.

His remarks came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump, in a statement on his social media site Truth Social, said that under a potential nuclear agreement with Iran, the United States would not allow any enrichment of uranium.

Since April, Iran and the United States have held five rounds of indirect discussions -- three in Muscat and two in Rome -- focused on Tehran's nuclear activities and the potential easing of U.S. sanctions. A sixth round is anticipated to be held in the coming days, although its date and venue have not been announced.

In recent days, the United States has repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran. 
Turkiye seized 1,870 kg of methamphetamine worth 5.6 billion Turkish lira in an anti-smuggling operation at the eastern border crossing in Agri Province, the trade ministry said Tuesday.
CULLEN, La.  The Cullen police officer arrested Tuesday for shooting a dog and pointing a gun at its owner was not on the towns payroll, is not certified and was not authorized by town leaders to carry a gun, wear a uniform or drive a patrol car.

Still, Cullen Police Chief Fannie Rankin allowed Reginald Ferguson to work in an auxiliary capacity despite being told not to do so, Mayor Terry Bippy Hoof told KTBS on Tuesday.

Three times. He came before the board three times and each time the board turned him down, Hoof said.

Webster Parish sheriffs detectives arrested Ferguson, 52, outside his home on a warrant for illegal use of weapons, a felony offense. Additional charges are possible, Sheriff Jason Parker said.

The charge stems from an incident at Dashanna Worthams home on Sunday in Cullen. Wortham took cell phone video of Ferguson in her yard as he shot her dog, Tank, and pointed the gun at her.

Tank survived but faces losing a leg. Wortham was shaken but unharmed. She filed a complaint with the sheriffs office.

Parker said its uncertain why Ferguson went to Worthams home. He was not dispatched there.

Ferguson has been patrolling and writing tickets in Cullen at least since January, despite the Board of Aldermen's refusal to hire him  the latest denial coming last week.

We had a meeting this past Thursday and explained to the chief we cant have him in vehicles, Hoof said, explaining the towns insurance does not cover reserve or volunteer officers since those positions do not exist in Cullen.

That was the third time Rankin was told not to allow Ferguson to use town property, Hoof said.

But she said she was going to put him in the car anyway.  We gave her a letter from the insurance company telling her we cannot put any auxiliary or volunteer officers in those cars because they would not be covered, Hoof said.

Attorney Fran Gipson called KTBS on behalf of Rankin, saying the chief will not be giving a statement about specifics of the case. Gipson asked for time for Rankin to do an investigation.

As an elected police chief, Louisiana law authorizes Rankin to make recommendations for employment to the mayor and aldermen. However, the law does not mandate the mayor or aldermen follow that recommendation. And a separate Louisiana Attorney Generals opinion states when the Board of Aldermen vote against hiring an officer, that officer is not permitted to continue employment.

Hoof said Ferguson has worked without pay during the time Rankin allowed him to patrol without his or board approval.

We didnt give him a check from day one, since January. I know I didnt sign a check, Hoof said.

The mayor said he looked into Fergusons previous employment, which included a stint at the Cotton Valley Police Department, and decided against hiring him because of some things he had done and other complaints.

Hes not commissioned. He has no certifications, Hoof said. We had told him we didnt want him in any vehicles because of his history. He used to work in Cotton Valley. I got information from them and went over it with the council.

According to a WPSO arrest report in May 2024, Ferguson was charged with aggravated felony cruelty to animals and simple cruelty to animals in response to dead and unhealthy horses and donkeys found on his property.

Ferguson was booked into the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center and held on a $25,000 bond.
Members of Castlebar Municipal District have approved a proposal to construct 37 dwellings at Lios na Circe, Saleen/Milebush, Castlebar.

The development will include new footpaths and roads, service connections, infrastructure, car-parking spaces and other ancillary services. It also involves the construction of a temporary road access at the Regional Training Centre onto the site from the existing access road serving Lios na Circe.

Head of the district, David Mellett, confirmed that the access road will be in place for approximately two years, telling members that the development was being carried out by Mayo County Council and it has engaged with the Irish Wheelchair Association about the allocation of several units.

There is one specially adapted building with around four units, he confirmed.

In relation to the access at the back of the training centre, Mr Mellett said: There is a cul de sac roadway there and the rationale for going in there is to minimise disruption by phase one and then phase two. It is right at the back of the training centre near the railway tracks, with all residents and children passing there, so it will be operational for the duration of the build, which will be around two years. It will however be boarded off from existing residents for a safety point of view.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne proposed that the development proceed, seconded by Cllr Al McDonnell and this was agreed by all members.
A worker waters plants in the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania, on May 22, 2025. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

by Xinhua writer Si Yuan

NOUAKCHOTT, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Under the scorching sun, rows of drip irrigation lines lay neatly across a stretch of sandy fields in Bir El Barka, a village in Trarza region, western Mauritania. Tender green vegetable seedlings sprout from the yellow sand.

Nearby, solar panels steadily convert sunlight into electricity, powering pumps that fetch groundwater to the fields. The partitioned desert, once barren, is now tinged with green, a vivid scene of transformation.

"This is not a short-term landscaping project but a truly sustainable green transition," said Tourad Medou, co-coordinator of the Mauritania Demonstration Project of the China-Africa Green Technology Park, as he walked through the plots, a freshly harvested eggplant in hand.

Medou, who graduated from Hunan University in China with a master's degree, now works at Mauritania's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, responsible for promoting green cooperation with China.

Behind him, several local young workers were busy tilling the land and repairing drip lines.

Despite temperatures nearing 45 degrees Celsius, the vegetable seedlings looked lush and full of life.

"I never thought I'd be growing vegetables in the desert," said Mohamed Isselmou, the park's irrigation system technician.

A Mauritanian-Chinese partnership, the project is built and supported by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Completed in July 2024, the 4-hectare park consists of a sand-blocking buffer zone, an orchard zone, a vegetable zone, a forage-growing zone, and a poultry farming zone.

Bir El Barka is located about 70 kilometers east of Nouakchott, on the edge of the desert. "We picked the location near the capital to facilitate technical demonstration and future training and extension," said Zhou Na, a member of an XIEG desert research team working on the project.

Situated in a tropical desert climate, the site suffers from chronic drought, high temperatures, sandstorms, and severe soil salinization. There are no natural pastures and little agricultural infrastructure. The area is not yet connected to the power grid, and local livelihoods have traditionally relied on herding, with hardly any sustainable income sources.

"Ecological and developmental challenges are deeply intertwined here," Zhou said. "We hope to explore a development model that is highly adaptable and scalable under these natural conditions."

"This land used to be just wasted sand. Nothing could grow here," Medou told Xinhua, pointing to the rolling dunes in the distance.

Thanks to the support of Chinese experts and the application of Chinese desert control technologies, including smart irrigation, sand-fixing nylon mesh grids, photovoltaic-powered water pumping, sand-based planting, and soil improvement, the once barren landscape is slowly turning green.

These technologies, Zhou said, which are widely applied in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have been adjusted before being "transplanted" across continents to suit local Mauritanian conditions.

The project has already completed trial cultivation of carrots, beets, mung beans, and other crops, with some reaching harvest and reseeding stages, forming the foundation for a virtuous ecological cycle.

The park focuses not only on ecological benefits but also on social impact. "All the technical workers during construction were local youth, some of whom were university graduates. The Chinese team provided systematic training, making the construction process itself a learning experience," Zhou said.

Eighteen locals participated in the construction phase, and six were later selected to stay on to handle daily operations at the park.

Former herders now operate water pumps, fine-tune irrigation systems, and manage seedling cultivation, and a new generation of "eco-craftsmen" is emerging from the desert, Medou said.

The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification.

Mauritania, serving as the rotating chair of the initiative, hosts the Pan-African Great Green Wall Secretariat in Nouakchott, which coordinates related efforts.

In December 2024, during the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Mauritania's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the country's National Agency for the Great Green Wall, and Chinese scientific and corporate representatives signed a memorandum to develop 10,000 hectares of carbon-sink forests. The project will use the China-Africa Green Technology Park as a prototype to build a standardized, replicable, and adaptive model for regional land management.

The Chinese expert team also hopes to expand the project's experience to a wider area. "In the context of building a China-Africa community with a shared future, China, the first country to achieve zero-growth in land degradation, has advanced technologies and ideas for combating desertification," Zhou said.

"With the demonstration zone just one year old, we will continue monitoring and research to develop a replicable and scalable technical model for Africa's Great Green Wall construction," she added.

"There is huge potential for Africa-China ecological cooperation, and Mauritania is well-positioned to be one of its starting points," Medou said. "The fact that the demonstration project has achieved significant results in under a year proves that China's desert control experience offers a practical and effective solution for Africa's arid regions." 

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

Mohamed Isselmou, the China-Africa Green Technology Park's irrigation system technician, introduces irrigation equipment in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania, on May 22, 2025. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

Tourad Medou (R, Front), co-coordinator of the Mauritania Demonstration Project of the China-Africa Green Technology Park, talks to workers in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania, on May 22, 2025. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

Photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows plants in the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

Photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows solar panels in the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

Photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows plants in the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the China-Africa Green Technology Park in Bir El Barka, Trarza region, western Mauritania. The China-Africa Green Technology Park is a key demonstration project supporting Africa's Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007 to create a 7,000-km ecological barrier across northern Africa and the Sahel to combat desertification. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)
A councillor has warned there will be "bad, bad trouble" if Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) attempts to obtain lands for a controversial greenway by way of compulsory purchase orders.

Independent Cllr John O'Malley made his comments at last week's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District during a broader discussion on greenways. Cllr O'Malley had asked the council to erect safety barriers around private properties adjoining the existing Great Western Greenway between Westport and Newport to prevent accidents for users. In particular, he called for intervention in the Conrea area, saying: There are no gates coming out from a residence there to stop people going through and one of them nearly got hit with a car coming out recently.

The traffic comes awful fast down there. It is a deadly dangerous part of the road. I was there last week and there were two people on bicycles going along the main road. I cannot understand why they wont go in on the greenway, it was resurfaced to be good enough for people on racing bikes. That day, there was a tractor, the bicycles and an overtaking car that almost went on top of the bicycles. I was sure the person on the bike was going to get hit and just thought to myself that the people on those bikes are so stupid to be on that road and they should be on the greenway.

Cllr OMalley suggested that the greenway between Westport and Newport was less busy than it used to be" and he outlined several issues that needed to be addressed, including the repair of a barrier hit by a car in Kilbride and work on a bridge between Mucklagh and Kilmeena.

"Even though it is called the Iron Bridge, layers of steel have come off it," he said, adding that the situation needed to be addressed before some vehicle goes across and it breaks down". The Westport councillor also pointed out the lack of a safety barrier at Newport Quay which he said posed a danger for both cars and pedestrians.

Cllr Peter Flynn commented that the points raised by Cllr OMalley highlighted the issues around having a greenway along a road, adding: You are dealing with a lot of accesses from private homeowners and farmers which does mean having to put up additional barriers and making it difficult for cyclists. If you want a reason why greenways should be kept away from roads, take a trip to Kilmeena and you will see on a daily basis people interacting with cyclists. It really is miraculous there has been no serious accident between motorists and cyclists along the Westport and Newport Greenway. I have seen cars going over the road into ditches, just luckily no pedestrians were involved. Another one was on its roof at least four metres from the road. That is why I say the off-road version is much better where there is no meeting with cars or tractors coming off peoples properties.

Cllr Flynn has supported an off-road greenway between Belclare and Murrisk and his comments prompted a sharp response from Cllr Brendan Mulroy who accused his colleague of throwing "a curveball". Cllr Mulroy said he had been portrayed as "anti-greenway" but that was not the case; he simply wanted the Belclare to Murrisk greenway to be constructed adjacent to the R335. The Great Western Greenway from Westport to Achill had been constructed by Mayo County Council through "permissive access" but TII now wanted to develop the Belclare to Murrisk greenway off-road and by way of compulsory purchase orders.

Louisburgh-based Cllr Chris Maxwell said he was also in favour of a greenway "as long as land and property owners are respected".

"People are not objecting about this being alongside their property, but its through their property they are trying to put it.

The R335 is one of the most important roads in this county but it is in a state and not fit for purpose. Farmers, contractors, people driving heavy machinery along it, they are all being wrecked because the road is in such a state since the water was done. All the hauliers, their bills are escalating having to fix their wagons and trucks because of lumps and bumps in the road."

Cllr Maxwell said the TII should redevelop the road and build the new greenway at the same time.

The manager of the district Seamus O Mongain said that plans are in place to upgrade the R335 but work would only be done on a section-by-section basis.

Cllr Mulroy asked for an update on the Murrisk greenway route, stating that people had been promised that TII would confirm its preferred route earlier this year. Mr O Mongain replied that the route would be published as part of the Part 8 planning application process in September, but his answer did not have the desired effect.

We are being kept in the dark," said Cllr Mulroy. "We were told a preferred route would be made public but that has never happened. When there is no information being made public I get worried. Theyve obviously made a decision on this but nobody knows the route until the Part 8 in September.

Cllr Mulroy then asked the district manager: Do you not find this unacceptable for TII to say they would come back with a preferred route and now we are told there will be a Part 8? Show some respect for people and for those whose land it is going through, rather than just going along to bulldoze land and tell nobody. They will bulldoze through the land and pay them money so they will ultimately take the lands, that is not negotiation.

Mr OMongain replied: I think they have outlined to you what the preferred route is. There is no proposal to bulldoze through anyones land. We have sought to have agreement and discussions with everybody.

Cllr OMalley commented: I would advise TII not to CPO that route because if they do, there will be bad, bad trouble and I wont be responsible for what will happen.

Director of Services Joanne Grehan told Cllr Mulroy: The emerging route was presented and there was a presentation on the actual route in advance. I take your point (that there was no confirmation of the preferred route) and will look into it and revert to you at the June meeting.
Anthony Hennigans analysis of plans for a Mayo GAA Centre of Excellence in Bohola in this paper last week was simply superb.

Appearing in the paper the morning after an extraordinary meeting of Mayo GAA in Westport, it was a timely reminder of the correct way to apply rigour and scrutiny to a Mayo GAA matter.

That special delegates meeting had two apparent purposes. One was to provide clarity about the finances relating to a write-down on bank loans that Croke Park took over for Mayo GAA and the second was, to quote Mayo GAA chairperson Seamus Tuohy, to address a "concerted campaign of harassment directed at board officers".

The presence of GAA President Jarlath Burns, Ard Sruithoir Tom Ryan, Head of Finance at Croke Park Ger Mulryan, and the GAAs Head of Audit and Risk, Michelle McAleer, at the meeting was extraordinary. That such a high-powered delegation came down was unheard of for a county board meeting and it was clear they were standing foursquare behind Mayo GAA on these matters.

And you can see why they would stand behind them when you saw some of the correspondence Mayo GAA have been receiving from individuals who were not named on the night.

Seamus Tuohy missed the May monthly meeting of the board on May 13 because he was in hospital. That night he received an email calling him a "lying coward" for not turning up.

A succession of emails were shown on a projector.

Mayo GAA treasurer Valerie Murphy was told in an email sent on May 16: "You are now our number one target. If we take you out, Mayo GAA will have a much brighter future."

That same email also said the following: In the next six months you will be publicly humiliated, probably lose your professional license as a chartered accountant but worst of all your friends and family will turn their backs on you.

Nobody, anywhere, can condone that kind of communication. The points made by Seamus Tuohy and Jarlath Burns were valid  who would want to get involved in the County Board with this going on? The correspondence has been going on for five years, according to the slides presented on the night, across the terms of at least two chairpersons, Seamus Tuohy and Liam Moffatt.

It was interesting to contrast what was directed at Valerie Murphy, for instance, with what Jarlath Burns had to say about the Charlestown clubwoman. He said Michelle McAleer had audited every county in terms of audit and risk, financial control and transparency and said Mayo ranked number one. He was effusive in his praise for Valerie Murphy, describing her as "forensic, totally competent and totally in charge of their brief" and said he had singled her out as his appointment as the finance volunteer on the Croke Park board.

Maybe its one big, giant cover-up or maybe Mayo GAA have a really good treasurer.

You can read elsewhere in these pages the breakdown of how Tom Ryan explained the financial situation around the Mayo GAA loans. I am conscious I am not a financial expert and looking at a balance sheet can bring me out in a rash but it seemed a very thorough explanation around what must be said were reasonable concerns. The write-down was not declared previously and there were some justifiable questions about the issues in recent weeks, as evidenced by Christy Loftuss column in these pages.

Again, rigour and scrutiny, properly applied, is no bad thing. In fact, it should be welcomed.

It was interesting to note that Tom Ryans extensive presentation did not lead to a single question from the delegates about the financial arrangement. He was asked about more games being fixed for MacHale Park but that was it.

Now perhaps the delegates were as impressed as I was but I am sure that among them there were people with a better handle on such matters than I. Perhaps it may have been reasonable to ask that the write-down was initially speculated to be 50% and what he revealed on the night was 20%, so could he speak to that?

However, as anyone who has covered Mayo County Board meetings over the years can attest to, rigour and scrutiny are often absent.

On the face of it, there is a perfect level of accountability and democracy in the GAA. Club members can become officers. The club sends a delegate to the county board, the county board sends delegates to provincial and central councils and there is a clear, linear chain of command and accountability. But often, for many reasons, club delegates are slow to engage and hold the officers to account and apply a proper level of rigour and scrutiny. There is a disconnect there and then a sense grows in the Mayo GAA community at large that the county board is not properly representative of the clubs.

These disconnections are a problem and I am not sure if any county board in my time has attempted to adequately address this. Its fair to conclude that many officers may be happy with this but the long-term health of Mayo GAA is not served by a lack of scrutiny and rigour.

I recall when Liam Moffatt and Seamus Tuohy were in the race for chairperson, Moffatt decided to visit every club and Tuohy followed his lead. Some clubs had not seen a county board officer call to them for decades. And we wonder why there is a disconnect?

Some clubs are afraid to speak out because there is a pernicious attitude in many Irish groups that if youre not with us, youre against us. Others are sometimes wary of saying something and having it reported by the media (media coverage of meetings is essential, I have to add, but this is a concern some people legitimately hold). John Holian, from Balla, said on Monday night some delegates have "felt intimidated or afraid to say anything, afraid to speak up at County Board meetings because they might be misquoted by some scoundrel thats in at the meeting that decides hes leaking to this particular individual", a reference to a sender of the emails.

There is a need for greater rigour and scrutiny but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.

I always think it is important that people ask themselves the fundamental question anyone invested in Mayo GAA should always ask of themselves  is what I am doing in the interests of the betterment of Mayo GAA? Ive always had my doubts about that with different people over the years and I think it applies now to what we heard on Monday night too.

As for the Centre of Excellence? Well, Ive run out of space so Ill have to return to that in the coming weeks!
Recently, my wife took an Uber home from what she claimed was a vitally important meeting (the truth of her nail appointment emerged later, under mild interrogation). Her driver, a chatty middle-aged woman named Victoria, had begun her life story before my wife even sat inside the car. By the time they reached our apartment in Glendale, Victoria was still mid-sentence. Apparently, she was on her own journey to build a better life, or meet a millionaire. Either would do.

When my wife asked how Uber driving might lead to either outcome, Victoria laughed it off.

I love Los Angeles, she said. Even if I have no money one day, the next day the city gives me a chance to earn some.

She was from Moldova and had crossed the Mexican border during Donald Trumps first presidential term, found cash work in some fast food place and managed to squirrel away a decent nest egg - until US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (known as ICE) raided her home and took everything. She was later released, but the money was gone, and the lesson was clear: hide your cash better, or better yet, get it into a bank.

Despite being undocumented and not legally allowed to work, Victoria could open a bank account - and even more astonishingly, a credit card. How? Through the miracle of the ITIN, the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which legally stands in for a Social Security Number for people like her who, technically, shouldnt be here at all.

The irony of it all is deeply American. Immigration authorities may not technically want you here, but the economy definitely does. Because in the United States of America, you dont need to be a citizen, a legal resident, or even particularly welcome, you just need to be a consumer and to do that you need credit.

Even undocumented immigrants are expected to play the credit game. With an ITIN, they can open accounts, apply for secured credit cards, and build up a credit history because that history, reflected in that magical three-digit score, is the golden key to American life.

A recent Financial Times article from January 16, called it what it is: a delusion. Credit scores are hazardous to your financial health, it declared, and not without reason. The system doesnt reward prudence, it rewards participation in debt.

As the article puts it, credit scores manipulate people into perverse financial behaviour. Pay off your loans? Avoid borrowing? Like saving instead of spending? Well, that makes you a bad player. Want a good score? You need to carry debt, keep using credit and absolutely, positively, never miss a payment.

The article compares credit scores to beer on a college campus: unavoidable, addictive and increasingly embedded into everyday life. Lenders, landlords, insurers - even dating apps - use them. The logic is circular: to prove youre trustworthy with money, you must spend readily, borrow constantly and repay reliably.

According to the three main reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, your score improves by never missing a payment, keeping credit usage under 30% and maintaining older accounts. Meanwhile, a single hard inquiry - when a lender checks your credit - can knock your score down. Meanwhile, juggling 20 or more multiple credit lines is the ideal combination of credit cards, loans and leases - an unbelievable number for a miserly Irishman, not alone someone who gets their nails done unbelievably often, from Ukraine.

When my wife and I moved to L.A., our lease depended on my credit score. Thankfully, I had a few old US credit cards still open from a decade ago. Theyd quietly built up my score while I lived in Ireland. A single missed payment from years earlier had conveniently vanished. But it was close. I have since become almost obsessed with using the various credit lines judiciously to maximise benefits and minimise costs, while my wife would rather burn her cards.

Recently, I noticed my hairdresser offered a small discount for cash payments, but who does that anymore, I thought, as I beeped my phone across the tap-to-pay terminal for my spectacular haircut and then immediately thought that this was NOT a good thing (and no  not the haircut, that buyers remorse came later in our kitchen, after my wife vetted my new look).

Now, credit card offers pop up everywhere - online, social media, emails, till receipts or in the old-fashioned mail - for airlines, grocery stores, fast food outlets, you name it: Sign up now for 5% cashback and points rewards. Everything is buy now, pay later (BNPL) using Klarna, AfterPay, Affirm or Paypal-in-4. An American bankers version of the Irish saying Sure, Ill see you again for it, but said in a smiling Marlon Brando Godfather accent and holding a gun.

But as the FT points out, this isnt just personal. Its structural. The system doesnt reward stability, sustainability or personal responsibility, it rewards churn. Its not enough to be careful; you must be active. Constantly. For people already struggling, thats like forcing a recovering alcoholic to work the bars of his old haunts, because of the temptation to misuse your available credit.

It is easy for almost everyone to get a credit card. Not so easy for many to get out of debt, especially as most Americans dont have a safety net. According to Bankrates 2025 Emergency Savings Report, only 41% could cover a $1,000 emergency cost from savings. Nearly 60% would have to rely on credit or loans. The Federal Reserve found that 37% couldnt even cover a $400 expense with cash or a card paid off quickly. Thirteen percent had no means to pay at all. These people are vulnerable, being forced to use credit but then punished for using it too much when they have few other options. Thats a huge cohort living pay-check to pay-check, one cracked car-window or childs doctors bill away from disaster. And the system is designed to catch them, not with help, but with high-interest credit.

This is the darker aspect. Credit institutions actually dont want you to pay off your credit terms as long as you meet your minimum monthly repayments. Banks make the most money when you only pay the minimum on your credit card. Thats because the unpaid balance racks up interest - often at 20% or more - month after month, quietly turning your $200 dinner into a $400 debt over time. Minimum payments are designed to keep you on the hook for years, not to help you out. Add in late fees and the occasional penalty APR, and what you owe becomes far more than what you spent. The system doesnt want you to pay off your balance, it wants you to revolve it. Thats where the profit is.

Meanwhile, if youre one of the rare souls who avoids debt, uses cash, pays up front, saves for rainy days and refuses to open store credit cards for 10% off, youre an eejit by gaming yourself out of a good score, a decent place to live and potentially meeting your life partner on a dating app. Because the machine doesnt care about responsibility. It wants activity.

Victoria found that hiding cash under her bed was not the best idea with the government agents literally entering her home and seizing it. Yet, she may find using credit cards and high interest loans ultimately worse in the long term And neither a Democrat nor Republican president will change that.

Because in the United States it is all about your credit score.
A well-known Ballina playwright and a group of around 20 locals will stage a drama this July drawing parallels between the suffering of the Irish people during the Great Famine and the Palestinian people during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Tommy Cooke told the Western People that he was inspired to write A Song for Palestine by the story of the Choctaw Indians who, despite being of limited means, made a significant donation to help the Irish people in 1847.

The Choctaw Indians put in an enormous effort to help the Irish and donated $147, which was a huge sum of money in 1847, to help the poor and famished people of this country, he said. There are parallels between Irish history with Gaza and Palestine today and that is the reason why there is great empathy in this country.

Any normal person would feel guilty this is happening and I began to wonder what someone so far away could do to help, if we could do something without being too obnoxious and pointing fingers.

All proceeds raised from the production will go to Water for Gaza.

Water seems to be the incredible need over there at the moment. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has a means to get water straight in that could save lives and we would be aiming to raise up to 10,000 if we could, said Tommy.

The play itself will draw on the similarities between the suffering of the Irish during the Great Famine and the situation in Gaza but also contain a strong, overall message against war.

We want to draw parallels between the famine and landlord rule and the situation in Gaza but also focus on the futility of war, said Tommy. We will look across at movements of people against war the world over such as the Vietnam War and then onto the genocide taking place right now. It finishes then with the titular Song for Palestine, he explained.

The play takes place at the Ballina Arts Centre on July 4 and 5. Tickets (20) and can be booked by calling the Arts Centre on 096-73593.
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
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L, Front) and French President Emmanuel Macron (R, Front) inspect a guard of honor at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, on June 3, 2025. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held bilateral talks on various issues, including trade, and relationships with the United States, according to Italian media. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

ROME, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held bilateral talks on various issues, including trade, and relationships with the United States, according to Italian media.

The French president was greeted with the guard of honour at Palazzo Chigi, and Meloni and Macron were seen shaking hands and smiling for cameras before entering the government palace.

The bilateral talks were expected to help dispel recent tensions between the two countries, Ansa news agency reported. France and Italy are traditional allies, and the second and third-largest economies in the European Union (EU), respectively, but the two governments have been at odds over a number of issues, and are politically distant: Meloni leads a right-wing, nationalist cabinet, while Macron is centrist and strongly pro-European.

According to Ansa, the two leaders also differ from each other in their approach to the United States, with Meloni seeking to build close ties with President Donald Trump -- and play a negotiating role between the United States and the EU on tariffs -- and Macron advocating a more independent EU's stance.

On the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have vowed strong support to Kiev, but the Italian prime minister has shown skepticism toward a French-British plan to send peacekeeping troops in case of a peace deal.

Meloni's office did not release any statement after the bilateral meeting with the French president on Tuesday, nor held a press conference. On Saturday, however, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani declared Macron's visit would be "an absolutely positive event between two countries that are allies and neighbours." 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, on June 3, 2025. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held bilateral talks on various issues, including trade, and relationships with the United States, according to Italian media. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, on June 3, 2025. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held bilateral talks on various issues, including trade, and relationships with the United States, according to Italian media. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, on June 3, 2025. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held bilateral talks on various issues, including trade, and relationships with the United States, according to Italian media. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
German sinologist Martin Woesler (R) talks with another guest during the fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 31, 2025. Known for his deep engagement with Chinese literature, Woesler recently made his first visit to the ancient Silk Road hub of Dunhuang in northwest China's Gansu Province, where he was captivated by the city's unique cultural charm.(Xinhua/Zhang Wenjing)

LANZHOU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Known for his deep engagement with Chinese literature, German sinologist Martin Woesler recently made his first visit to the ancient Silk Road hub of Dunhuang in northwest China's Gansu Province, where he was captivated by the city's unique cultural charm.

Starting from Hunan Normal University in central China, where he currently teaches, Woesler traveled northwest to attend the fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations, held in Dunhuang from May 29 to 31. During his brief stay in Gansu, he joined scholars from Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Thailand and other countries in sharing insights regarding the theme of cross-cultural dialogue.

Before going to Dunhuang, Woesler had done his homework. From books, he gathered vivid impressions of Dunhuang -- an oasis city encircled by desert, a treasure trove of art and heritage, and a cultural crossroads shaped by centuries of Silk Road exchanges.

However, when the words and images contained in the books were confirmed by his own eyes, Woesler found himself deeply moved. A lifelong enthusiast of Chinese culture and literature, he has lived, worked and studied in China for over 30 years, and yet despite his lengthy stay in the country, Dunhuang ended up providing him with a cultural experience unlike any other.

During his short trip, Woesler visited several of the city's most iconic sites he had long looked forward to seeing for himself. Standing in front of the Mogao Grottoes for the first time, he was profoundly impressed by an unexpected sense of cultural connection -- one that bridged both time and geography.

In Cave 285, often referred to as a "pantheon of diverse cultures," the frescoes feature an extraordinary blend of figures -- Apollo and Diana from Greek mythology, Fuxi and Nuwa from Chinese legends, flying apsaras from Indian Buddhism and feathered immortals from Daoism.

It is the fusion of civilizations that gave rise to the magnificent, millennia-old cultural miracle embodied in Dunhuang, where diverse traditions coexist harmoniously within the confines of a single cave, noted Woesler.

"Dunhuang is truly an amazing place. Few places have such deep cultural influence in the world," said Woesler, who believes that even today, across thousands of years, people from different countries can still draw wisdom and strength from Dunhuang's spirit of inclusiveness and mutual learning.

Woesler's connection with China began 38 years ago at a poetry reading in his hometown of Munster, in Germany, where he was captivated by a Chinese poem. That moment sparked his interest in Chinese culture and eventually led him to study at Peking University in Beijing, thus embarking on a lifelong journey into Chinese literature.

For decades, Woesler has worked to bridge the gap between cultures. His career has frequently taken him between Germany and China, and he remains committed to helping the world better understand Chinese literature and culture.

Woesler sees translation as a key tool for fostering cultural exchange. While many foreign works are available in Chinese, far fewer Chinese literary works have been translated into German. To address this shortage, Woesler launched a translation workshop to engage young German sinologists and promote Chinese literature abroad.

His journey to Dunhuang has now sparked new reflections on cultural dialogue in the digital age. Woesler believes that modern technologies like digital preservation and virtual exhibitions can make ancient heritage more accessible, offering fresh ways to deepen mutual understanding between civilizations.

"People today must embrace differences with greater openness to advance civilizational exchange and dialogue amid digital-era challenges. Only by working together can we realize mutual benefit and win-win progress," said Woesler. 

German sinologist Martin Woesler delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 30, 2025. Known for his deep engagement with Chinese literature, Woesler recently made his first visit to the ancient Silk Road hub of Dunhuang in northwest China's Gansu Province, where he was captivated by the city's unique cultural charm.(Xinhua/Zhang Rui)
JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israel's defense exports totaled 14.8 billion U.S. dollars, the highest on record and a 13 percent increase from the previous year, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

About half of the contracts signed were valued at over 100 million dollars, with European countries accounting for 54 percent of total deals, making the continent Israel's largest defense export partner.

Air defense systems made up the largest share of exports, comprising 48 percent of total deals in 2024, up from 36 percent in 2023. Satellite and space systems also saw significant growth, rising to 8 percent of exports from 2 percent the year before.

It was the fourth consecutive year in which defense exports reached a new high. "Within five years, Israeli defense exports have more than doubled," the ministry said.

The ministry said that since the start of Israel's Gaza offensive in October 2023, local defense industries shifted to emergency mode, increasing production for the military while continuing to supply foreign clients. It said the use of Israeli systems in recent conflicts had boosted international demand.

Israeli airstrikes have left much of the Gaza Strip in ruins and killed at least 54,510 people, according to health authorities in the enclave. 
Civil society supports African treaty on business and human rights

Last week's African Regional Indaba provided a platform to discuss the binding treaty on business and human rights

Civil society organisations last week hosted the 7th African Regional Indaba on the United Nations binding treaty on business and human rights. The Indaba provides a space for stakeholders to discuss a collective approach to corporate accountability for human rights abuses globally, and on the continent in particular. One of the outcomes of the discussions was a proposal for a regional treaty to regulate transnational corporations with respect to human rights.

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) last week hosted the 7th annual African Regional Indaba on the United Nations binding treaty on business and human rights. The proposed treaty has the potential to be an important tool for holding transnational corporations accountable for their role in human rights violations around the world.

Background

Transnational corporations (TNCs) are large and economically powerful. They often operate in countries with weakened regulatory systems, which allows them to accumulate massive profits at the expense of human rights. It is difficult to hold TNCs accountable for human rights violations since international law traditionally applies to states and not private companies. Existing mechanisms such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are voluntary and inadequate. What is needed is a binding international instrument to clarify states obligations under international law to regulate transnational corporations with respect to human rights.

In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Ecuador and South Africa which established a working group to develop such a treaty. The working group published a zero draft of the treaty in July 2018 for negotiation at its next session. Since then, four revised drafts of the treaty have been published and six rounds of negotiations have taken place at the UN in Geneva. This process of drafting and negotiation may take several more years before consensus is reached and the treaty is adopted. Countries can then elect to sign onto the treaty in order for it to apply in their jurisdiction.

There are, however, still disagreements over significant sections of the treaty including scope, legal liability, preventative measures such as due diligence processes, jurisdiction and enforcement mechanisms. There has been increasing opposition from corporate-friendly states from the Global North which seek to weaken the treatys binding obligations. African state and civil society delegates have an important role to play in resisting these regressive proposals in an effort to ensure that the treaty is effective and responds to the realities of those impacted by corporate abuse, especially in the Global South.

An African regional perspective

On 28 and 29 May, our organisations brought together representatives from African states, human rights bodies, social justice organisations, labour and affected communities to discuss our approach ahead of this years negotiations set to take place in October. The annual Indaba provides a space to reflect on the treaty process thus far, identify key challenges, share recent cases of human rights violations and develop a collective position centring African voices and community perspectives.

In addition to preparing for the next round of negotiations in Geneva, one of the outcomes of this years Indaba included strong support for an African regional treaty on corporate accountability. The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights adopted a resolution in March 2023 which similarly calls on the African Union to finalise a Policy Framework on Business and Human Rights. The Framework aims to promote responsible business conduct and protect human rights in Africa, recognising the importance of balancing economic development with human rights standards.

In our own words

In the current geopolitical context, it is essential for African states to consolidate their commitment to protect the rights of affected communities, says Anesu Dera, head of Business and Human Rights at CALS. This means continuing to advocate for an effective binding treaty which responds to the realities of corporate abuse in Africa. We do not have to wait for the process to conclude at the United Nations, however. An African treaty on business and human rights has the potential to address corporate impunity on the continent now.

It is essential to develop a common African position on the binding treaty, says Pacharo Kayira, Deputy Permanent Representative of the government of Malawi to the United Nations. Briefs from civil society are an important part of this. An African regional treaty can reflect the African context and African values and may prove more progressive than a negotiated international instrument.

A binding treaty on business and human rights must place our lived experiences of human rights violations by corporations in the extractive sector at the forefront, says Katlego Malesa, project co-ordinator at community network Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities.

While unbridled extractivism continues on our continent, the urgency for a legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of TNCs across their supply chains cannot be overstated, says Maxine Bezuidenhout, head of Alternatives to Extractivism and Climate Change at AIDC. For too long, our continent and her people have been relegated to casualties of wealth accumulation. This business-as-usual approach that externalises costs on communities and the environment and emboldens the architecture of impunity must be dismantled. The perpetrators of human and environmental violations be held accountable.

For inquiries, please contact:

For inquiries, please contact:

From the Centre for Applied Legal Studies:

Anesu Dera at Anesu.Dera@wits.ac.za

From Lawyers for Human Rights:

Jessica Lawrence at jessical@lhr.org.za

From the Alternative Information and Development Centre:
by Xinhua writers Ji Li, Frank Kanyesigye

NYAGATARE, Rwanda, June 4 (Xinhua) -- In Nyagatare, a district in Rwanda's Eastern Province, Gashora Farm PLC grows more than just chili peppers. It has been cultivating a story of agricultural transformation and intercontinental cooperation.

The farm's link to the market in faraway China began in 2018, when Managing Director Dieudonne Twahirwa attended the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

"We saw strong demand for Rwandan dried chili," Twahirwa said. The following year, his participation in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo further boosted his confidence.

In 2024, Gashora Farm, which is headquartered in Kigali, the capital, partnered with HAIC -- Hunan Modern Agriculture International Development Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Hunan Cereals, Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Group (Hunan COF) -- to launch the Rwanda-Hunan Chili Pepper Industry Demonstration Project.

Under a contract farming model, the project covers 100 hectares and spans the entire value chain -- from seedling cultivation to export. In the first season after the deal was signed, 200 tons of dried chili were shipped to China.

"The Chinese market offers more than orders. It brings stability and investment," said Twahirwa.

The project also benefits local communities. The farm employs 15 permanent staff and up to 1,000 seasonal workers at harvest time.

One worker, Eric Hagirimana, said: "I earn 2,500 Rwandan francs (about 2 U.S. dollars) daily, and have bought two cows."

Jacqueline Mukantagara, a mother of four, also works at the farm. "This job helps me buy essentials and pay school fees," she said.

Agronomist Aloys Ngambwa said the farm has centralized seedling nurseries and employs modern pest control. Improved techniques have helped it better cope with climate change and irrigation challenges.

Rwanda's favorable climate, affordable labor force, and efficient government procedures support the project's growth, Twahirwa said.

Chinese partner Li Ming, African business manager of Hunan COF, oversees planning, shipping, and coordination. "We faced cultural and management differences initially," he said, "but have found common ground."

Yields surpassed expectations, reaching 2.5 tons per hectare. Rwandan chilies have entered Chinese cities, including Qingdao, Chengdu, and Changsha, through wholesale markets, gaining consumer recognition.

HAIC's "Mo La Ge" chili sauce, made from Rwandan peppers, sold out immediately at a China-Africa shopping festival. Meanwhile, Chengdu hot-pot seasoning companies have started using Rwandan chilies, a sign of the produce's deeper integration into China's food supply chain.

The upcoming 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, scheduled for June 12-15 in Changsha, capital city of Hunan province, will showcase similar success stories and facilitate new partnerships between African and Chinese stakeholders.

"We aim to expand planting and exports, invigorate the Chinese market, and create more jobs and foreign exchange for Rwanda," said Li of Hunan COF.

"The Chinese market gives us more than buyers. It gives us partners," Twahirwa said. "This partnership is transforming our business and farmers' lives."

The Rwandan chili project crystalizes deepening Africa-China cooperation. The rise of "Mo La Ge" chili sauce is a clear sign of a growing bond between African farms and Chinese consumers.

Across the Asian and African continents, stories of trust, cooperation, and shared growth continue to get written. 
TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government plans to promote the use of artificial intelligence to enhance the country's competitiveness in the area of intellectual property.

The government's Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters on Tuesday adopted the intellectual property strategy for 2025, in which the country aims to take advantage of the international popularity of Japanese anime and the content of such movies that highlights local culture to help promote regional economies and expects a total economic impact of around 1 trillion yen (about 7.0 billion U.S. dollars).

"Intellectual property is an important revenue source for Japan and plays a critical role in bolstering Japanese companies' competitiveness," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the headquarters, said at a meeting at his office.

"To create competitive intellectual properties, we will thoroughly reinforce AI utilization," Ishiba said.

Every year, the government compiles a documented program that outlines policies to protect and utilize intellectual property.

In the 2025 version, Japan will consider recognizing the patent rights of individuals who have developed AI used to create new technologies as rules are currently vague regarding how to evaluate contributions made by a developer of AI.

The new plan also stressed the need to attract top talent from abroad, while supporting human resources development and promoting public-private cooperation in fields such as energy and disaster prevention. 
A wave of teacher strikes from Mexico to Panama, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil signal the emergence of a counteroffensive against the onslaught of attacks on public education, pensions and other social rights across Latin America.

Striking teachers block the entrances to Mexico City's International Airport, May 23CNTE [Photo: CNTE]

A strike launched May 15 by over 20,000 teachers affiliated with Mexicos National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) has escalated into a protracted mobilization by teachers nationally, marked by roadblocks, the occupation of Mexico Citys Zocalo plaza, a protest that temporarily shut down Mexico Citys airport and clashes with police.

The movement challenges President Claudia Sheinbaums continuation of policies implemented by her openly right-wing predecessors, particularly the 2007 ISSSTE law that handed the management of pensions to private firms and introduced a gradual increase of the retirement age. Teachers are demanding the elimination of the law, the reduction and freeze of the retirement age and a 100 percent wage increase.

Strikers argue that this 2007 reformupheld by successive governments, including those of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) and Sheinbaumprioritizes financial elites over workers.

Sheinbaum has insisted that there is no money for returning to the old system. Government negotiators have merely offered freezing the retirement agei.e., the word of the ruling class that it will not be seek to increase it in the future a meager 9 percent wage increase, a week of vacations, and the traditional gridlock commissions to discuss improvements to the pension system.

Removing the reform presents diverse problems, Sheinbaum said during a press conference, citing budgetary constraints.

The meaning of this is clear: the left populist administration of the Morena party doesnt want to impinge on the profit interests of private pension firms, raise taxes on corporations or the rich (Sheinbaum campaigned on opposing such taxes), or divert funds from paying the vulture capitalists in Wall Street and Mexico City that own the public debt.

On Saturday, following 17 days of protests, section 22 of CNTE from Oaxaca, which has the largest contingent at the protest, nearly lifted the occupation at the Zocalo plaza and neighboring streets based on such offers.

As discussions were taking place among the leadership, hundreds of rank-and-file teachers forced their way into the meeting place, with at least 200 taking the stage to speak. As La Jornada reports, Despite the heavy rain, the educators remained at the entrances to the building, which were blocked. We don't want a treacherous leadership. Here are the rank-and-file that want to continue fighting for a decent pension, shouted the protesters.

Teachers who put their lives on hold to travel from afar to join the protest clearly interpreted the convoking of votes to leave as a sign that the leadership refuses to wage a real struggle and is merely seeking to keep its place at the table with the government.

The confrontation with the government reached a fever-pitch on May 23, when teachers blocked Mexico Citys main international airport and shut down several terminals. Sheinbaum canceled negotiations and deployed the military and police with anti-riot gear.

As Trumps tariffs strangle Mexicos economic growth, the Morena party has prioritized corporate incentives, particularly low taxes and cheap labor and benefits, to compete for capital investments. In other words, as a representative of the interests of the local billionaire clients of US imperialism, the Sheinbaum administration and its counterparts across the region are forcing workers to pay by the deepening crisis of global capitalism marked by Trumps tariffs and the first stages of a third world war.

As negotiations failed Monday in Mexico City, Panama remained in the grip of a ten-week multi-sectoral strike first launched by teachers on April 23 against the right-wing Jose Raul Mulino administration. Workers oppose pension cuts, other attacks on other labor rights, concessions to Trump over control of the canal and negotiations to reopen a polluting copper mine.

The Panamanian construction workers union Suntracs and the banana workers union Sitraibana have joined the indefinite strike, while healthcare workers, university students and staff have participated in the protests.

Mulino has responded by declaring the strikes illegal, imposing a state of emergency and deploying police to crack down violently on roadblocks.

The most dramatic escalation took place in the banana sector, where Chiquita Brands announced the dismissal of its entire workforce in the country. The American multinational, which controls 90 percent of Panamas banana production, had previously fired 4,900 employees, with the remaining 1,600 workers ousted this week. From transportation to commerce, the decision threatens to devastate the already impoverished western province of Bocas del Toro.

Speaking to France24, banana worker Carlos Machado denounced claims that their strike is illegal and explained: This strike also affects banana workers and future generations of us workers, as well as educators and parents, which is why we are out on the streets today.

In Argentina, researchers, doctors and nurses are carrying out a week-long series of strikes and demonstrations to protest the massive cuts to healthcare and science by the government of fascist President Javier Milei. These workers joined retirees in their weekly protest against pension cuts outside the National Congress.

The Argentine University Teachers Federation (Conadu) is reportedly facing major pressure by the rank-and-file to join the strike movement and demand financing for public education and wage increases that compensate for years of losses in real terms. A strike will be the central theme of a leadership plenary on Thursday.

On May 28 and 29, 2025, Colombia experienced a major 48-hour national strike called by the main union federations in support of President Gustavo Petros proposed national referendum on limited labor and healthcare reforms, which have been repeatedly voted down by a right-wing Congress. Demonstrators blocked key thoroughfares, disrupted public transportation, and staged rallies in city centers.

In Brazil, the latest wave of teachers strikes reflects deepening unrest over austerity privatization and deteriorating working conditions. From April 15 until May 6, Sao Paulo municipal teachers launched a major strike against wage cuts imposed by far-right Mayor Ricardo Nunes, who is also advancing privatization, militarization of schools, and the expansion of civic-military institutions in the education system. While Nunes obtained a court injunction requiring 70 percent of teachers to remain at work and threatened with punitive measures, the strike was ultimately betrayed by the SINPEEM union bureaucracy.

On Tuesday, Federal District (Brasilia) teachers were attacked with pepper spray during a demonstration on their second day of an indefinite strike demanding wage increases.

From Rio de la Plata to Rio Grande and beyond, rank-and-file educators face the same challenges as they enter into struggle against the escalating threats on their jobs, pensions and working conditions: governments whose only response to their demands is to teargas and/or mass firings, while union bureaucracies advance the losing strategy of holding talks and putting pressure on these regimes as a vent for workers to merely let off steam.

It must be added that teachers in the United States are fighting Trumps destruction of the Department of Education and mass privatizing efforts, as global finance capital demands the same attacks on public education and social spending everywhere.

The criminal response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the defense of the lives and livelihoods of teachers and all workers requires organizations that are independent of the union apparatus and reject all concessions. Without exception, the unions sent workers and youth to die in schools and workplaces to defend the profits of the ruling elite.

The necessary organization that must be built is the Educators Rank-and-File Committee, an international network of rank-and-file organizations that belongs to the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.
The WSWS urges all workers to support the investigation into Ronald Adams Sr.s death. Fill out the form at the end of this article to send us your comments and get involved. Your identity will be kept confidential.

Ronald Adams Sr., his wife Shamenia, and family members [Photo by Adams Family]

A video posted by socialist autoworker Will Lehman on TikTok calling for an independent investigation into the death of Stellantis worker Ronald Adams Sr. has garnered enormous support, with over 80,000 views, 23,000 likes, and 800 comments within 24 hours of posting. The overwhelming response demonstrates the deep anger among workers over unsafe conditions in factories and the systematic cover-up of workplace fatalities by the corporations and union bureaucracies.

Adams, a 63-year-old machine repairman known as the protector of the plant for his advocacy of safety standards, was crushed to death by a gantry crane at Stellantis Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan on April 7. Nearly two months later, his family and coworkers have received no information from the company, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, or the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) about the causes of the fatal accident.

Lehman, a Mack Trucks worker from Pennsylvania who ran as a socialist candidate for UAW president in 2022, used his platform to demand answers for Adams family and call for workers to come forward with testimony about unsafe conditions. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) has launched an independent investigation to prevent yet another official cover-up and to expose the truth about Adams death.

The massive response to Lehmans video reflects the growing recognition among workers that they cannot rely on the pro-capitalist union bureaucracies or government agencies to protect their safety and lives. Instead, workers are increasingly looking toward rank-and-file organizing and independent action to defend their most basic interests.

The comments on Lehmans video reveal several critical themes that underscore the broader social crisis facing the working class. First and foremost is the widespread recognition that Adams death was entirely preventable and the result of systematic negligence by management prioritizing profits over worker safety.

One of the most-liked comments, from user Sybil.Wuornos with 1,924 likes, stated: Thank you for using your voice. RIP Ronald. May justice be served to the fullest in all manners and aspects of this case. This sentiment was echoed by user 24k, whose comment received 1,445 likes: I hope this gets lots of views and it stimulates action.

Many commenters emphasized the broader implications of Adams death for worker safety across industries. Seri, whose comment garnered 1,050 likes, wrote:

My husband is a longtime crane operator. This could have been him. Safety standards are under fire all over the US because it costs companies money to uphold. Everyone needs to stand up and NOW.

The comments reveal deep frustration with corporate Americas treatment of tradespeople and industrial workers. Sarah Wade, whose comment received 636 likes, observed: Tradesmen are not respected by corporate America even though its tradespeople that absolutely make what corporations sell 

A recurring theme was the recognition that safety standards are written in blood, as another user commented, receiving 343 likes. They added, Its horrible how dangerous these necessary jobs are. I hope this investigation results in proper justice and accountability.

A number of workers criticized the UAW bureaucracys failure to protect Adams or investigate what caused his death, while supporting the IWA-RFCs fight to expose the truth. Christine G wrote, When the union stays silent & the company wont give his family answers, YOU carry on his legacy. User auritus0 added, Thank you IWA-RFC for doing what the UAW wont.

This reflects growing awareness that genuine worker protection requires rank-and-file organization independent of the bureaucratic union leadership.

Several commenters explicitly connected Adams death to the broader pattern of corporate prioritization of profits over human life. Glee75, whose comment received 315 likes, stated: Profits over people. Share this far and wide. May his family get answers and justice.

A number of commenters shared their own family tragedies going back decades. Jez commented, When I was a child my papa had a horrible accident by a crane around 20 years ago. It is so sad this still happens.

Britt shared:

My grandfather died in a steel mill accident like this in Warren OH in 1979. He was union. The OSHA records no longer exist. I wish there had been folks like you to push for an investigation back then. Thank you for taking care of one another now!

Shay wrote:

I am mid lawsuit cause my dad died in Oct 2023 at the stellantis plant on vandyke in Michigan. He was crushed between two Ram trucks being loaded into a train car for transport.

Workers from a range of industries expressed solidarity, including autoworkers, teachers, shipyard workers and more, highlighting that unsafe conditions are a universal problem affecting all sectors of the working class.

Comments were left by workers from across North America, including in Ohio, Texas, Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Tennessee, demonstrating that Adams death resonates with workers far beyond the immediate Detroit area.

Many commenters specifically praised Lehmans courage in speaking out, recognizing the risks involved. User DeltaofD wrote: That took a lot of courage to speak out and I commend you!! Another stated: Thank you for being his voice. Rest in peace Ronald Adams. And to all the auto workers out there please stand up!!

The overwhelming response to Lehmans video demonstrates the urgent need for workers to take independent action to defend their safety and lives. Workers interested in supporting the investigation into Ronald Adams Sr.s death and building the fight for workplace safety should visit wsws.org/ronaldadams to submit testimony and get involved. All submissions will be kept confidential.

The most critical step workers can take is forming rank-and-file safety committees at their workplaces, independent of management and the union bureaucracy. These committees should demand full transparency about safety conditions, the right to halt production when conditions are unsafe, and workers control over safety standards and enforcement.

These committees, as part of the IWA-RFC, must deepen the independent investigation into Adams death and broaden awareness of this critical initiative as widely as possible. The IWA-RFC provides a framework for workers across industries and internationally to coordinate their struggles against unsafe conditions and corporate exploitation.

The fight for the truth behind what caused the death of Ronald Adams Sr. is not just about one workplace or one tragedyit is about the fundamental right of all workers to their very lives and safety. This can only be achieved through the independent mobilization of the working class, armed with a socialist program that places human need above corporate profit. Workers must seize this moment to build the organizational structures necessary to prevent future tragedies and fight for a society where worker safety is guaranteed, not sacrificed at the altar of private profit.
TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of births in Japan in 2024 fell below 700,000 for the first time since statistics were first compiled in 1899, marking a decline for the ninth straight year, government data showed Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 686,061 babies were born to Japanese nationals in 2024, down 5.7 percent, or 41,227, from the previous year.

Japan's total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is estimated to bear during her lifetime, also fell to a record low of 1.15, down from 1.20 in 2023, the ministry said.

The full-year figures exclude babies born to foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,605,298 deaths were reported in 2024, up 29,282 from 2023, marking the highest number in the postwar period.

The overall population decline, deaths minus births, reached a record 919,237, declining for 18 years in a row.

The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had estimated that births would not drop to the 680,000 level until 2039. 
A Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train waits at the Forest Park, Illinois station for the eastern journey to downtown Chicago on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. [AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast]

The Chicago metropolitan areas public transit system, a lifeline for over 1.5 million daily riders, is teetering on the edge of collapse. A proposed legislative package to reform and fund the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and its subsidiary agencies, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), regional rail service Metra and suburban busing system Pace, failed to pass during the Illinois General Assemblys spring session ending May 31. The system is staring down a fiscal cliff estimated to be somewhere between $770 million and $1.5 billion.

Chicagos plight mirrors transit disasters nationwide. Philadelphias SEPTA proposes 45 percent service cuts and a 9:00 p.m. rail curfew. San Francisco and New York face similar shortfalls. All states are facing the impact of the evaporation of federal funding and the bipartisan refusal to tax the wealthy or corporate profits.

The RTA has warned of a doomsday scenario if funding is not secured by 2026. Without urgent intervention, riders face catastrophic service cuts, transit workers face mass layoffs and the entire region will face the negative economic impact.

The CTA, one of the largest transit systems in the country, would bear the brunt of the cuts. Under the current proposal, CTA could see cuts to rail service, with at least four of eight CTA rail lines suspended entirely or in part, and over 50 stations closed or severely scaled back. Remaining trains would run 10-25 percent less frequently. Also, 74 of 127 bus routes may vanish, leaving 500,000 riders without nearby access. All told, it is estimated that 1 in 5, or 20 percent, of city residents would be left without access to public transportation.

Metra, the regions commuter rail system, would see early morning and late evening trains disappear. Weekday trains would run only once per hour, and weekend service would drop to a single train every two hours.

Pace, whose buses serve suburban communities, would face dire cuts with the elimination of all weekend bus service. Service after 8:00 p.m. would be eliminated on 62 routes, and wait times between buses would increase to between 3060 minutes. Paces ADA paratransit services, which operate across the RTAs service area to provide transport to residents with disabilities, would be reduced by 66 percent on weekends, leaving those riders stranded.

The economic fallout would be staggering, with an estimated $2.6 billion in lost GDP annually, 3,000 transit workers laid off and 90 million fewer rides in the first year alone under this plan. For a region where 20 percent of workers rely on transit, the cuts would deepen inequality, isolate low-income communities and severely exacerbate traffic congestion.

The Illinois legislature ended its spring session with no funding resolution, opening the door to massive cuts. The Illinois Senate narrowly approved a last-ditch funding plan in a 32-22 vote at 11:40 p.m. on May 31, but the House, embroiled in finalizing the states $55.2 billion budget, lacked the votes to advance the measure.

The efforts collapse was driven by opposition to a $1.50 environmental impact fee on deliveries. Because the ruling Democrats will do nothing to cut into the profits of megacorporations and only support regressive taxation, the Republicans could cynically posture as opposing the measure as a tax on working families! The failed 11th hour effort was already a watered-down compromise, and plans for governance reforms are meaningless without funding.

Public outrage and worker resistance

The WSWS spoke with riders and CTA workers last week who are very concerned about the proposed cuts and angry at the indifference shown by local and state leaders to the impact of such cuts on the population.

One rush hour commuter captured the stakes succinctly: If the CTA collapses, Chicago will not be far behind.

One train conductor said, Youre right that this is not like other budget crises. I have seen a lot here, and its been bad before. But with Trump, theres a lot thats unknown, and they [state and local officials] havent done right by the system for a long time, a long time. And maybe, now, it gets chaotic.

When asked what the ATU is doing to mobilize workers against cuts, he said, Nothing. I have heard nothing.

A young rider highlighted that transit is a right: I think you just have to go back to the basic principle that public transit is, you know, its a service for the people. I mean, any cuts would be catastrophic. Just socially, culturally, economically  I dont understand why this is a thing that should be happening.

Another young rider spoke forcefully on the class character of the cuts. The city spends on things to make people with money feel comfortable, but that money should be put into thisto pay the workers, to have the trains and buses needed. Cutting the funds, even contemplating it is ridiculous. This would be breaking apart the majority of Chicago, which is not the wealthy. By cutting the funds youd be cutting our access, and thats what theyre trying to do right now in politics, to cut our access in any way.

Its a dictatorship  when you think about it. Systematically, that is what it is.

A rider said, If the cuts were to happen, thats going to have some type of effect on me. I have to have some way to get back and forth to work, its my only way of getting around right now.  They need to get the funding figured out. A lot of people have to get to work.

The current fiscal crisis facing Chicagos public transit system is the foreseeable result of decades of deliberate policy prioritizing corporate interests over public infrastructure.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and its service boards CTA, Metra and Pace have been systematically starved of reliable funding, trapped in a cycle of service cuts, fare hikes and declining ridership that politicians have refused to break.

The CTA, Metra and Pace pleaded for funding as Illinois politicians Democrats and Republicans alike handed out billions in corporate tax breaks, draining the state of revenue that could have been applied to transit and numerous other public services

In 2021, the Illinois government extended millions in subsidies to Rivian, an electric vehicle company, while transit agencies slashed bus routes. In 2024, Chicago offered an estimated up to $1 billion in tax increment financing for billionaire-owned downtown developments, even as the CTA proposed shutting bus lines and slashing rail service.



While riders and rank-and-file transit workers want action, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) leadership has failed to mount a serious fight. Instead of organizing strikes or mass protests, the union has channeled workers anger into lobbying the Democrats, the same politicians enforcing austerity.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer once hailed by the pseudo-left as a progressive, has fully embraced an austerity agenda, declaring that the city must do more with less. His handpicked budget working group, stacked with corporate executives and union bureaucrats, are now preparing mass layoffs and service cuts and will raise no challenge to the ruling class agenda to starve social services.

For independent rank-and-file action

CTA workers and residents in the large metro area cannot rely on Democrats, Republicans or union bureaucrats to defend public transit.



Rank-and-file committees must organize independently of the ATU and Democratic and Republican parties behind the austerity to demand:

No layoffs, service cuts or fare hikes! Fully fund transit through taxes on the billionaires and corporations!

Expropriate the fortunes of oligarchs like Musk and Pritzker to invest in infrastructure!

Unite workers across all sectorstransit, education, postal services and logistics, manufacturing and healthcareto strike against austerity!

The millions of people who rely on transit everyday cannot afford a 40 percent cut to essential transit service. But appeals to the political elites are futile. Only a mass movement, fighting for socialist policies, can reverse the decades-long assault on needed public services.



As the clock ticks toward 2026, Chicagos transit system and the citys future hangs in the balance. The choice is stark: Surrender to austerity or fight for a world where public transit is a social right, not a privilege.
Two East African activists, Kenyan human rights campaigner Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire, were abducted, detained without charge, and subjected to brutal torture and sexual violence by Tanzanian security last month.

They travelled to Tanzania in an act of solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing a trumped-up treason trial for speaking out against the government. He is being prosecuted for speaking to the press about electoral manipulation and the corruption of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) government.

Mwangi in 2018 holding Nanjala Nyabola's book [Photo by  Nana Afriyie / CC BY-SA 2.0

Mwangi and Atuhaire had travelled to Tanzania as part of a delegation of regional activists and lawyers to observe the court proceedings of Lissu on May 19. They were abducted from their hotel in Dar es Salaam, held incommunicado for several days, and tortured.

Tundu Lissu addressing the parliament of Tanzania in Dodoma in 2017 [Photo by Likumbage / CC BY-SA 4.0

In a statement to the press May 26 following his release to Kenya, Mwangi explained, They blindfolded me. They stripped me naked. They tied my hands, my feet, and then they tied me upside down. They started beating my feet I was screaming so hard. I couldnt breathe. They were inserting objects in my backside. They put lubricant in my rectum and started inserting objects in my backside.

He added that they forced me to shout Asante Samia [Thank you, Samia] and when I did not, they would beat me more. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzanias first woman president, was widely hailed by the international press, Western governments, and liberal NGOs simply for being a woman in high office. Her ascent was celebrated as a triumph for gender equality and democratic reform. But she has continued and institutionalized the police-state methods of her predecessor, John Magufuli. Mwangi added that they recorded the entire abuse, threatening if I spoke, they would share the footage.

Agather Atuhaire said, They removed all my clothes and left me in my underwear. They beat me. Then I was taken to a clinic, and they inserted stuff into me. I dont know what it was. She described the aftermath: The soles of my feet felt so swollen and tight that I thought if I stepped on something, they would burst. For three days, she could barely walk.

Mwangi stressed, Our torturers were acting on orders from a state security employee who came to Immigration offices and followed us to Central Police Station and ordered we should be taken to a secret location to be given a Tanzanian treatment.

These abuses mark a sharp escalation in the violent and repressive methods employed by the ruling CCM to crush opposition in the lead-up to national elections scheduled for October 28. The CCM has been in uninterrupted power since independence.

Once the party of Julius Nyereres Ujamaa, advancing a nationalist programme of limited social reforms and state-led development, the CCM has long since abandoned even the pretence of socialism. Under the dictates of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, it embraced neoliberal reforms in the 1980s and 1990s, dismantling public services and privatising key sectors of the economy.

What remains today is a capitalist state ruled by a narrow elite that has profited from the exploitation of Tanzanias vast agricultural lands and mineral wealth, including gold, uranium, and rare earths, while most of the population is mired in poverty. The working class and rural poor face unbearable conditions: skyrocketing food prices, decaying infrastructure, collapsing healthcare and education systems, and joblessness that particularly affects the youth.

To defend these interests, the state relies on the machinery of surveillance, arbitrary detention, and political terror. The regimes fear is not simply about the bankrupt opposition parties, but of an explosion from below, a mass uprising by workers, youth, and rural masses. The memory of last years Gen Z-led protests, which erupted across Kenya and electrified the region, continues to haunt East Africas ruling elites.

This violent episode is also an indictment of the broader East African ruling elite. Atuhaire hails from Uganda, where the dictatorship of Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled without interruption since 1986, is escalating repression ahead of the 2026 presidential elections. This saw the recent abduction and torture of Eddie Mutwe, bodyguard to opposition leader Bobi Wine, by Musevenis son and military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who boasted of using Mutwe as a punching bag.

Mwangi comes from Kenya, where President William Rutos administration, now effectively in alliance with the former opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has intensified repression. In mid-2024, youth-led protests erupted nationwide against the proposed Finance Bill 2024, which sought to increase taxes on essential goods amid a deepening cost-of-living crisis. The states response was brutal: at least 65 protesters were killed by police, over 1,500 were unlawfully arrested, and 89 individuals were disappeared, with many still unaccounted for months later. Rutos government deployed live ammunition against protesters, carried out mass arbitrary detentions, and orchestrated abductions through plainclothes security agents using unmarked vehicles. It has even targeted schoolchildren plays critical of his regime.

Last year Kenya, in coordinated efforts with the Ugandan regime, allowed Kizza Besigye, leader of Ugandas Forum for Democratic Change and head of the official opposition in parliament, to be abducted in Nairobi, thrown in a van and transferred to Kampala. He has now spent six months in detention on fabricated treason charges.

Above all, the torture of Mwangi and Atuhaire is an indictment of the main imperialist backers of the regimes of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the United States and Britain. Both have formally expressed concern over the recent torture allegations.

The US Bureau of African Affairs said on X, We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses, urging all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture.

The same US State Department is backing Israels genocidal war in Gaza, where more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, entire families annihilated, and nearly every hospital, school, university and place of worship reduced to rubble. Washington has supplied Israel with bombs, artillery, intelligence, and political cover while vetoing every UN resolution demanding a ceasefire. In Eastern Europe, Washingtons has instigated the bloody proxy war in Ukraine against Russia, which has already claimed over half a million lives, and is preparing a catastrophic confrontation with China in the South Pacific. Across the Middle East, it sustains the most reactionary regimes, from Egypt to Saudi Arabia to the Gulf monarchies, that imprison, torture, and execute their own citizens with impunity.

Bolstered by the Trump administrations efforts to install a dictatorship in the US, East African regimes are resorting to state terror. Mwangi and Atuhaire have spoken out bravely, but their case is just one of countless others. Their prominence as foreign nationals ensured some media attention. Yet many Tanzanians, especially youth and political activists, have disappeared or been tortured in silence.

Workers and youth across East Africa must see in these events the brutal reality of capitalist rule in its most naked form. These coordinated assaults by the ruling class across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda must be met with the coordinated resistance of the working class across borders and ethnic divisions.

This struggle cannot be entrusted to the bankrupt bourgeois opposition parties, which posture as defenders of democracy while upholding capitalism and seeking only a larger share of the spoils. They uphold the very same police state structures that persecute them. What is required is the building of a socialist movement of the working class, armed with a revolutionary programme to overthrow the capitalist order, expropriate the wealth of the elite, and establish genuine democratic control over societys resources in the interests of the majority.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka is holding a lecture at the University of Peradeniya entitled The Indo-Pakistan Conflict and the Threat of Nuclear World War.

The Political Science Association (PSA) is hosting the lecture which will be in Room No. 86 of the Department of Political Science of the University of Peradeniya on Thursday June 5.

The IYSSE invites students, university lecturers and employees to attend this significant meeting which will discuss the life-and-death questions now confronting humanity.

India launched its Operation Sindhoor, which targeted Pakistans Punjab province and Pakistan-held Kashmir, immediately after a terrorist attack that killed 26 people in Indian-held Kashmir on April 22. The Indian government blamed Pakistan for the terrorist attack then unilaterally abrogated the Indus Water Treaty, which guarantees uninterrupted irrigation water supplies to Pakistan, crucial for its agriculture and power generation.

Following intense missile attacks by India, which involved over 75 advanced warplanes, Pakistans Defence Minister Kawja Asif warned that nuclear conflict could break out at any time, if India imposes an all-out war on the region.

The India-Pakistan conflict brought the region, which is home to 2 billion people, and the entire planet to the brink of nuclear conflagration. Such a war could rapidly escalate into nuclear annihilation and draw in other major powers, the United States and China in particular.

These are the dynamics of the current situation, which is driven by a deepening global economic crisis not seen since the 1930s Depression and intensifying rivalry between the major powers, with India a major ally in the US war preparations against China.

The catastrophic consequences of conflict between nuclear-armed nations are incalculable. Even a limited nuclear exchange involving just 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs could trigger a global nuclear winter, leading to worldwide agricultural collapse and mass starvation, potentially resulting in up to a billion deaths, on top of the initial 20 million fatalities from blasts, fire, and radiation.

After four days of hostilities last month between India and Pakistan, with considerable casualties, both countries have entered a shaky ceasefire. Tensions remain high, however, as Indias Hindu-chauvinist Bharatiya Janatha Party government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to threaten Pakistan, which has responded with warnings of military retaliation.

In line with its geo-strategic moves against China, the US has developed close military relations with successive Sri Lankan governments. These relations have been taken to a new high by the current Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power government. In April, President Dissanayake signed a first-time defence pact with India.

The root of India-Pakistan rivalry lies in the capitalist profit system, and the communal partition of British India in 1947 into a Hindu India and an Islamic Pakistan. This irrational and divisive state system was designed to suppress the then growing movement of South Asian workers and rural toilers.

Appeals to the imperialist powers to come to their senses will not prevent the eruption of nuclear war. There is only one powerful revolutionary force that can prevent such a catastrophe, and that is the international working class. This fact was historically proven by the 1917 socialist revolution in Russia, which brought the First World War to an end.

The IYSSE, together with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and all its Socialist Equality Parties are waging a relentless fight to build a global anti-war movement of the international working class and youth based on socialist policies. Everything hinges on this struggle. In this endeavour, we campaign for the unity of all workers across national borders, religious and ethnic divisions, and for a federation of socialist republics in South Asia as a part of the broader struggle for socialism globally.

Our speaker will elaborate on these positions. We invite you to attend the lecture and participate in this crucial discussion.

Meeting venue

Room No. 86. The Department of Political Science, University of Peradeniya.

Date and time

June 5 at 3.30 p.m.
A CPKC rail yard is seen Wednesday, August 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. [AP Photo/Charlie Riedel]

Last month, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) published a statement on its website scapegoating Mexican railroaders for job losses in the United States.

The statement, whose headline blares, Your help is needed to protect the U.S. southern border and to save American rail jobs, seizes upon adjustments to crew changes by Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) at border crossings to create the impression that a flood of Mexican workers is crossing the border to take American jobs.

Mexican train crews are taking trains a few miles inside the bordernow, it says. How far will they be allowed to go in the future?

Lining up with President Trumps anti-immigrant witch hunt and militarization of the US-Mexico border, the union bureaucrats call CPKCs measures a dangerous practice that threatens border security and the economic security of our members. The statement links to a form letter, urging readers to endorse it and contact their members of Congress.

Anti-Mexican chauvinism

The BLETs presentation of the railroads changes is a gross distortion of reality. Union Pacific is altering the procedure for changing out Mexico-based for America-based crews on trains entering the United States at a rail crossing in the border city of Eagle Pass, Texas. This exchange currently takes place on the bridge crossing the Rio Grande. Union Pacific is moving the point of the exchange seven miles inside the US, at its nearest yard, in order to save time.

Similar procedures are already used at other border crossings across the United States, including on the US-Canada border, according to reports.

Not a single job in the United States would be affected by the change. But even to the extent that the railroads, like other multinational corporations, undoubtedly do whipsaw workers in Mexico and the United States against each other, they are able to do so only to the extent that the union bureaucrats on both sides of the border enforce arbitrary national divisions.

In promoting toxic America First nationalism, the union bureaucracy is attempting to divert attention from its own role in helping impose job losses. On May 18, the day after the statement was published on its website, the BLET shut down a powerful strike by New Jersey Transit commuter rail workers after reaching a tentative agreement which does not meet workers demands.

The BLET also announced a tentative agreement at CSX only days before issuing this statement, with even worse wage proposals than the contract imposed on workers by Biden and Congress in 2022. CSX is in the midst of plans for a major restructuring, having already eliminated dozens of crew positions earlier this year. No doubt management plans to kick this into the next gear the moment the pen hits the paper on the new contract.

Also in a recent statement, the SMART-TD conductors union tried to browbeat members into accepting a sellout at BNSF, telling them that one-man crews and even fully automated trains are inevitable and that their only solution was to fight over what few jobs will be left.

Global strategy needed

What is required is international unity of American, Mexican and Canadian railroaders in a common struggle against the continents six Class I carriers.

The union bureaucracy in the United States has spent decades whipping up hatred against Mexican, Canadian, Japanese, Chinese and other workers from across the world. But not only has this never saved a single job, the union bureaucrats have signed off on the destruction of millions of jobs in the US and the reversal of a century of progress in working conditions in the name of making American corporations globally competitive.

The railroads have been key to the growth of world trade and globalization. While the capitalists have used this to their advantage to slash jobs, it has also made possible a far more powerful, globally unified movement by the working class. Such a movement can only be built through a fight against the nationalism of the bureaucrats and the building of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).

Few industries so vividly express the international unity of the working class as the railroads. The US rail system was built in the 19th century largely through immigrant labor, especially Chinese and Mexican workers, who faced horrible discrimination, including by chauvinist union officials.

Today, the US railroads are part of a trans-continental network. Conditions have converged significantly. Canadian Pacific merged with Kansas City Southern in 2023, putting thousands of American and Canadian railroaders under one roof. Last year, 9,300 Canadian railroaders at CPKC and Canadian National carried out national strike action until the government ordered them back to work. The BLET, which also has members under a separate contract in Canada, did nothing even to inform American workers about the strike.

In Mexico, the railroads were nationalized in the 1930s. In the 1990s the government sold off the network to private buyers (including Kansas City Southern, predecessor of CPKC), who then fired thousands and reduced crew sizes from six to three (now two). Today, according to Mexican government statistics, there are only 16,240 railroaders left in the country, compared to around 100,000 a few decades ago.

Workers in Mexico are eager to link up with their brothers and sisters north of the border. In 2019, tens of thousands of factory workers in the border city of Matamoros launched a wildcat strike, in which they marched to the US border to appeal for international solidarity, chanting gringos, wake up! Later that year, GM autoworkers in Silao, Mexico were fired for refusing to scab on the GM strike in the United States.

Bureaucrats back Trump

There are reasons that workers should oppose the change in the border procedures, but for the exact opposite reasons put forward by the BLET. The change at Eagle Pass was apparently requested by the US Customs and Border Protection service, according to UP management, evidently in order to prepare more extensive customs procedures as part of the Trump administrations drive to militarize the US border. CPKC has also gifted CBP a new advanced vehicle inspection system for use at the crossing in Laredo, Texas.

Trumps incitement against immigrants is a key part of his plan to build a dictatorship. Trump is abducting immigrants regardless of status, especially those like Mahmoud Khalil who have expressed political opposition to Trumps policies. He is ignoring the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all those born in the US, and defying court orders.

Falsely scapegoating immigrant workers for the loss of jobs caused by US corporations, the attack on immigrants is a test case for police state measures which will be deployed against everyone.

The BLET is only one of many unions whose officials are lining up behind Trump. This includes: the United Auto Workers, whose president Shawn Fain gives speeches claiming a war economy will replace lost autoworker jobs; the International Longshoremens Association, which worked with Trump to impose a new contract at the start of the year and calls him the best friend of American workers, while they tell dockworkers to work harder to avoid losing their jobs to automation; and the Teamsters, of which BLET is a part, whose General President Sean OBrien spoke at the Republican National Convention and which is responsible for tens of thousands of lost UPS jobs.

This expresses not only their personal corruption and narrow nationalist outlook, but the function of the bureaucracy as creatures of the capitalist state. Demonstrating their loyalty to the would-be Fuhrer, they are trying to carve out new niches for themselves as adjuncts of his border police and other instruments of state repression.

This is building upon their existing relations. In 2022, the rail unions worked to impose a contract brokered by the Biden White House to block a national strike against slave-labor conditions. But a rank-and-file rebellion against the deal, in which the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee came to play a central role, staggered the bureaucracy, which nearly lost control. With workers pushing for a national strike, union officials delayed for weeks until Congress pre-emptively banned it.

Officials from the major rail unions are now working to ram through the next round of sellouts. It is evident that their primary goal is to isolate both the train crews, under conditions where the carriers are pushing to cut thousands of jobs through the switch to one-man crews, and the workforce at Union Pacific, the only carrier where none of the major unions have signed an agreement, and where management is apparently pushing for major changes on work rules.

Significantly, the BLETs anti-Mexican open letter complains that the change to border crew changes would undermine the Railway Labor Act, which, they claim, exists to protect the rights of railroad workers to unionize, bargain collectively with their employers, and ensure labor stability across the national rail network.

The opposite is the case, as railroaders know. The RLA severely and undemocratically restricts workers right to strike. It was passed in the 1920s in the years following the Russian Revolution, to ensure that national strikes like those in 1877 and 1894 would never take place again.

But the bureaucrats support the RLA because it secures their institutional interests while giving them a weapon against the rank and file.

The conditions exist for a powerful movement which threatens to totally upend the nationally-based labor-management-government collaboration upon which the bureaucrats rely. That is what the BLET is really responding to in its statement.

This movement requires new organizations, to overthrow, not reform, the corrupt bureaucrats, and carry out a global strategy, which the union officials oppose. This means building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees through railroad committees across North America, to coordinate trans-continental action. They must also rally to their side railroad workers across the world, including in Germany and Britain, where a series of national strikes have recently taken place.

The founding principle of this movement is the need for a frontal assault against the right of employers to a profit, which the bureaucrats defend. The working class must prepare for a fight against social inequality, the corporate oligarchy and the capitalist system itself.
Momodou Taal delivered the following speech at a public meeting in London hosted by the Socialist Equality Party (UK) on Saturday May 31, Trumps war on free speech: The case of Momodou Taal.

A British-Gambian citizen who was studying at Cornell University, Taal was forced to leave the United States in March to escape arrest and detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following his lawsuit challenging the legality of US President Donald Trumps decrees banning campus protests against the Gaza genocide.

The report has been edited slightly for publication. An initial report of the meeting was published by the World Socialist Web Site on June 1, 2025.

Momodou Taal addresses the meeting in London

Thank you so much for coming out. I will begin by perhaps talking more about our particular moment, what Palestine represents for me in this moment, why I got involved, the crisis which were facing in so many of our countries, and then Ill go into the specific details of what happened to me in my last two weeks of being in the United States. As [Taals attorney] Eric Lee will tell you, it was a very, very interesting and quite an unreal experience.

I was recently at the centre of an international media storm. Cornell University was prepared to be amongst the first in the United States to deport an international student over pro-Palestinian advocacy. My crime: remaining a vocal and ardent critic of Zionism and the state of Israel. My continued involvement in protests on campus placed a target on my back.

My case garnered international coverage, as thousands globally signed a petition demanding the university reverse its decision. If you were to ask the administration, they would claim we dont have the power to deport. However, I ask here what I asked them at the time: what is the word for telling someone that they are no longer allowed to remain in the country, even though I have no desire to leave right now?

On the 23rd of September of 2024, I walked towards the universitys official administration building. I had been summoned to meet the university administration after attending an action that brought to a standstill a careers fair that featured arms companies supplying Israel, including Boeing and L3Harris. And these were some of the companies that were specific targets of our divestment campaign on campus.

The university had made the decision to crush pro-Palestine protests and wanted to make an example of me

The university had made the decision to crush pro-Palestine protests and wanted to make an example of me. As I made my way, I went past the site of a historic black power students protest that led to the founding of the first department of Africana Studies in the US, challenging the foundations of a university founded on indigenous genocide. If those sites could talk, I suspect they would speak of a collectivist spirit, the kind of spirit that has historically pushed for a more just world. I was reminded of the hopes and dreams of those who believe in the transformative power of education. We had come a long way since those heady days, I said to myself.

Despite presenting myself in person, I was told the administrator would be absent and instead join remotely via Zoom. This was the first step in a cold and cynical process. She appeared over a large widescreen TV hung from the wall and read a list of supposed violations. And its important to note that this was the case, this protest which I attended in September would later go on to be what the government uses as grounds for my deportation.

And the violations I held a megaphone. Thats one of the violations. I was too loud. I led loud chants, for example. And these were the things that would then lead and which the government would later say are grounds for my deportation. In subsequent meetings, I was labelled a public health and safety concern. I was banned from campus. I could not teach. I was banned from teaching as well. I was not permitted to use the Muslim prayer facilities. I was even asked to give intimate details of any conditions I may have before being granted permission to use the health centre. Despite there being no evidence of violence on my part, the administration seemed determined to cast me as a threat.

I find it increasingly hard to recognize Cornell as a serious academic institution. On one level, the universitys posture suggested the prioritizing of the financial interests of corporations, including weapons manufacturers, outweighed the moral right to protest what I consider to be a genocide. On another level, droning administrators clinically doled out disproportionate punishments in scenes reminiscent of [Hannah] Arendts banality of evil. The university could care less if the cause was just. What mattered was that the institution maintained its reputational standing and maintained its own internal power structures. It preferred to comply with the status quo and suppress dissent under the guise of maintaining law and order.

I was reminded of the universitys Office of Student Code of Conduct and Community Standard, and given that I was suspended twice, Ive become very familiar with this process. Cornells Student Code of Conduct process, and this is a quote on their website, focuses on principles of reflection and learning. The process incorporates restorative practices to build a culture of community and healing, rather than a community that centres around judgment and punishment. Our goal is to support you in navigating situations that might not meet our communitys expectations. We believe students should not be defined by their mistakes, but rather by their willingness to learn.

They claim their aim is to foster a community built on restorative practices, not punishment. Yet when I was told I would face deportation, it was difficult not to see the absurdity of this claim. The language of restorative practice was co-opted and weaponized to present an image of compassion, while in effect entrenching an oppressive and completely punitive system, privileging power over principle.

Specifically named by Congress as a threat

Under mounting pressure from political forces such as Congress and AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee] its important to note that the Congress Committee of Ways and Means wrote to Cornell University, and basically threatened that if I am not punished, we might remove your status of tax exemption. And I was specifically named by Congress. And forces like AIPAC as well. So what were seeing is that universities have become targets for crackdowns on pro-Palestinian speech.

We witnessed one university president after another subject to hearings and investigations in which the message was clear that support for Palestinian advocacy on campuses would no longer be tolerated. On a lot of college campuses they will talk about how we have a proud legacy of protest and theyll cite Vietnam and theyll cite South Africa. But when students act in a similar way today, they come down extremely hard and with extreme repression. And Im sure in 50 years time they will celebrate the same students today. Thats what were seeing. Thats what has been done and will continue to happen as well.

The current stance of the university shows that these institutions are more likely to align with the states interests when the issue at hand challenges the very foundations of that power. The repression on campuses is not just about shutting down pro-Palestinian voices. It is a broader crisis of legitimacy faced by these institutions, universities and governmental institutions. When students are confronted with moral crossroads and the universities side with the oppressors, their legitimacy falters. For me, Palestine is the issue of our age. As [Frantz] Fanon teaches us, each generation must out of relative obscurity discover its mission, fulfil it, or betray it.

The daily images livestreaming Israels crimes have served as a conduit for consciousness raising. The Palestinian refusal to be forgotten forms new constituents of radical care. The student movement is a realization of the centrality of the Palestinian question. It is through Palestine that US imperialism and US status as an empire is understood. When we say that Palestine is a litmus test, that is not to say that we privilege Palestine over every other form of suffering or struggle, but rather that Palestine represents a convergence of struggles. Palestine presents a challenge to the international world order. That is to say, the presence and existence of Palestinians forces us to reckon with the contemporary realities of colonialism and settler ideology.

An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Sunday, February 16, 2025. [AP Photo/Mohammad Abu Samra]

The hypocrisy of the Western world is palpable with the presence of Palestine. The struggle is an indictment of the entire Western ruling class. We witness the disparity in response towards Ukraine versus Palestine. It is as if the ruling class and institutions expect us to forget how quickly they were able to mobilize and sanction Putin versus the response to Netanyahu. What can account for this difference?

If we begin to centre imperialism, US imperialism in our analysis, these glaring contradictions become coherent and logical. The repression meted out by universities is made legible once we make Palestine central. Our institutions will continue to suffer from a crisis of legitimacy among students if every time they are confronted with a moral question or crossroad, they opt for complicity and side with the oppressors. If the universities and government institutions are determined to dig their heels into the increasingly untenable ground of Zionism upon which the genocide is justified, then these institutions will continue to suffer.

Persecution of students: a dress rehearsal for whats to come for other US citizens

The current state of play has shown us that even if you capitulate, you will not be saved from the chopping block, and thats important to note. People say it might not affect me, its a thousand miles away. I think whats happened to students in this moment is only a dress rehearsal for whats to come for other US citizens. And secondly, we need to seriously think and reconsider the type of place and type of world we want to live in, and I think Zionism is becoming increasingly untenable.

That was just a kind of introduction to the ground where I stand in relation to the institutions. But specifically, about my case and what happened in the US, I attended a protest for five minutes in September 2024. The protest was a peaceful protest, but again I was there for five minutes. I left the protest and then upon leaving, a police officer who had been a campus police officer had recognized me and then reported me. Then I received an email that I had been suspended. The suspension, I posted on Twitter, it got a lot of backlash, because to be an international student, you must be a full-time student. You must have your student status active. And if youre suspended, that no longer counts. So Cornell would say, we dont have the power to deport, but effectively I would have had to leave the country.

So, there was a huge backlash, and Cornell relented. But then Cornell subjected me to some extremely draconian measures. Something Ive always said is that it is ironic that I was protesting apartheid and bordering, and Im subjected on my campus to forms of apartheid and bordering. I was told when I leave my house (because my house is on campus) I can go left, but I cant go right. Literally at my front door. As I said before, I was told I had to give any details when I wanted to go to the GP or go to the doctors. And I was declared, I had a form given to me by the campus police, which declared me as persona non grata and I was banned from teaching as well, all for attending a peaceful protest.

Given the kind of public backlash and Cornells position, it placed a target on my back. And when Trump was on the campaign trail he said that if you attended a pro-Palestinian rally as an international student, were going to find you and were going to deport you. If Im being honest, it was at that moment I realized my time in the US is going to come to an end at some point. I had that always in the back of my mind.

Challenging the constitutionality of Trumps anti-democratic executive orders

Then Trump was elected and had his inauguration. And I think within the first two days, he signs an executive order, which is under the title of combating antisemitism. And he says this makes it incumbent upon universities to basically give up their international students. At that moment, my brilliant attorney and legal team, we were thinking of ways in which they can protect myself and others similarly situated.

Trump displays an executive order after signing it. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke]

What we said was it would be best if you sue the administration, challenge the constitutionality of the executive orders, but also seek a nationwide injunction for all international students. Because I thought to myself, we cannot just allow international students to become sitting ducks, right? And I think a week before we filed was when Mahmoud Khalil was picked up returning home, while his pregnant wife is filming the video. I had been targeted by the New York Post. I had been targeted by Betar [a Zionist group] and so many right-wing forces. Betar said we have compiled a list of names for deportation to give to the Department of Homeland Security. And the New York Post said, we have seen the list and they named me on that list.

It was only a matter of time before I was targeted. So I thought, we cant just allow the complete erosion of any semblance of democracy. What would be a way we can fight back? We filed the lawsuit I believe on the 15th of March. And then a day after I was sat with Eric and my legal team and we received a call that the FBI and ICE are looking for Momodou right now. These are some of the things we had gone through and thought about. But the presence of the FBI did throw me a little bit because Im thinking, this is a free speech immigration issue. Now the presence of the FBI suggests something more serious, right? Ive had to navigate that.

So again, where I was staying initially at home, Id left to stay with someone else and Id left again to stay with another friend. And I was instructed by my legal team, make sure you sleep with our numbers in your pockets, make sure you sleep with medicines in your pocket that you might need, make a video that says, if youre watching this video, then I am now in jail. This is what we were going through. And to be honest, I had anticipated personally a long, drawn-out court battle. Thats what I anticipated. But the governments position was, and were looking into this more, they said this is not retaliation for Momodou filing a lawsuit. What this is that we had planned to revoke Momodous visa one day before he filed his lawsuit, apparently. And were still looking into that.

So at this point Im two-and-a-half weeks in hiding. And I was somewhat losing my mind in that place as well. Then the next day, ICE agents did turn up to my house, they couldnt find me. Two days after that, my lawyers received an email saying that you must surrender Momodou to ICE custody. And two days after that, I get an email from the Department of Homeland Security that my visa has been revoked. This is all before weve even seen a judge. This is all before weve even had our time in court. I dont attend the court because I knew ICE agents were present. And then the judge, from the transcripts and what Ive heard, the judge basically says shes inclined to believe the government. A few days after that, and Im sure Eric will go into much more detail, she rules against me. But on that day before she rules, we filed a temporary restraining order against Trump and the administration to offer me more protection.

Essentially what she was saying is that whilst theres huge merits to the case and we raise important free speech issues, she doesnt see why I cannot fight the case from being in jail. So after two and a half weeks of being in hiding, its Ramadan, Im fasting, and its really an intense time. I have a meeting with my legal team about 8 p.m. on a Sunday. And I think my legal team has always been very honest with me and the lawyers in them wanted to fight, but theyre always going to put their client first. And I think what they were saying is that given the kind of flagrant disregard of the judiciary in this moment, we cant even guarantee that a favourable ruling from a judge would mean that you can now walk the streets. And it might mean you have to be looking over your shoulder for a very long time or be basically in captivity for a very long time.

Supporters of Momodou Taal gather outside the James. M. Hanely Courthouse and Federal Building in Syracuse, New York, March 25, 2025

I think that meeting was about 8 p.m. on a Sunday and then about 11 p.m. I made a very abrupt decision to self-deport. My friend was in Atlanta, flew in in the morning and rented a car. We drove to the Canadian border, in Niagara Falls, which was the most nerve-wracking drive of my life. We had so many contingencies But entry at the Canadian border was very uneventful. Deeply uneventful. They asked me a couple of questions, like how long do you plan to stay in Canada? And then I got through.

But what was interesting, after I had that sigh of relief and had a very surreal moment of making a statement and leaving the US safely, what was troubling was when my friend, whos an American citizen went back to the US. And this is a US born citizen! When they placed their passport, they were pulled out and said, We know who you went to Canada with. That was the first thing they said. This was counter-terrorism at the airport. And they said, wheres Momodou now? They questioned my friend for about five hours, seized all their devices, questioned them about other people who know me as well. And this is what theyre doing to American citizens, right?

I keep saying that while people think theyre maybe safe because theyre a US born citizen, what were seeing time and time again in this moment is that is not the case. Whats happening to international students now, if theres not a robust response in terms of people fighting back, the government will feel emboldened to go after and erode further rights as well.

Where things stand now, Im still a student of Cornell. Im still allowed to get my degree. Ill be doing it remotely. And what I would say is that I will do it 100 times over. I have no regrets.

What were seeing in Israel and Palestine in Gaza should be a cause of concern for every single person with a heart. And given the levels of repression that were facing in the US, it suggests to me that Zionism is not actually moving from a position of strength. But rather it has been eroded, and people are seeing it becoming undone in many ways. Thank you so much for listening. Free Palestine!
National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) officials barred staff members and students from speaking at a rally against 300 to 400 threatened job cuts at Western Sydney University (WSU) yesterday. No open mic, NTEU WSU branch president David Burchell declared repeatedly during the event when challenged.

NTEU official stands in front of Michael Head (left) and Zach Diotte as they indicate to the chair to speak.

In particular, the NTEU physically blocked WSU Rank-and-File Committee member Michael Head, a longtime WSU educator, and WSU International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) club president Zach Diotte, after they put up their hands to speak.

About 100 people attended the rally, although many were union officials and their supporters, including members of pseudo-left groups, such as Socialist Alternative, that support the trade union apparatuses. None of the pseudo-left representatives objected to the blocking of Head and Diotte or the exclusion of all staff and students from speaking.

In an anti-democratic display, Richard Bailey, an NTEU organiser, stood right in front of Head and Diotte as soon as they indicated to speak. This political censorship was clearly undertaken on behalf of the national and New South Wales (NSW) state leaders of the trade union, who were present.

Before the rally, Head had asked Burchell for the right of himself and other WSU staff members and students to speak at the event, which was organised by the NTEU and the official WSU Student Representative Council. Burchell declared: No! There never has been and their never will be, an open mic at our rallies.

As Head explained after the rally, he and Diotte sought to speak in order to call for a unified movement of staff and students across Australia against the more than 3,000 job cuts currently being imposed by university managements, as well as against the global assault on universities and international students, being spearheaded by the fascistic Trump administration in the United States.

Head and Diotte planned to point out that the wave of job destruction in Australia flows directly from the Albanese Labor governments slashing of international student enrolments and continued under-funding of the countrys 39 public universities and that these measures echo the Trump White Houses axing of funds to key universities, its international student bans and deportations, and its de-funding of research projects that do not serve the administrations political and ideological agenda.

By contrast, the NTEU representatives tried to portray the cuts at WSU as the result of either financial confusion on the part of Vice-Chancellor George Williams or an attempt by Williams to intimidate staff in the leadup to negotiations for the next three-year enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) between the union and the management.

Above all, the NTEU speakers tried to cover up the role of the Labor government and its Trump-like measures, which include blaming international students for the housing and cost-of-living crisis affecting working class households and financially squeezing the universities to force them to transform themselves in line with the governments Universities Accord.

That financial pressure includes Labors continuation of the Morrison Liberal-National governments Job Ready Graduates scheme, which hits humanities students with fees of up to $17,000 a year, while severely underfunding the universities for those students. That has intensified the impact of billions of dollars in cuts since the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments of 2007 to 2013.

The Accords final report, unveiled last year, ties university funding for both teaching and research to mission-based compacts to serve national priorities, particularly the narrow profit needs of employers and the AUKUS military pact against China, which is part of the development of a war economy.

Significantly, the NTEU speakers revealed their desire to partner with the WSU and other university managements to help them identify and implement the required cuts and restructuring. Burchell said he was in constant communication with Williams, entreating him to jointly develop such a package. Burchell described Williams as a decent but confused man. Were here to help, he said.

This is a warning of the NTEUs willingness to assist management, as it has done for years, including at WSU College, the universitys preparatory college, over the past 12 months. The College has been ruthlessly gutted and restructured along corporate lines, at the expense of staff and students alike.

The NTEU blocked any WSU- and sector-wide fight against the College carve-up. Instead, it facilitated a purge of the staff via supposed voluntary redundancies. As a result, the staff are being subjected to intolerable conditions, such as the timetabling of classes from early mornings to late evenings, impossibly short marking deadlines, campus closures and relocations, which have resulted in many resigning due to stress and exhaustion.

Like Burchell, Vince Caughley, the NTEUs NSW division secretary, said the union wanted to work with Williams and the WSU board to help them take the right course. He claimed that the union was not letting the Labor government off the hook, yet insisted that all the job cuts at universities in NSW were just the product of financial mismanagement.

In the same vein, NTEU general secretary Damien Cahill described Williams as a union member and human rights lawyer with whom the NTEU hoped to cooperate. But then, in an effort to explain Williams threatened job cuts, he accused the vice-chancellor of trying to strike fear in the minds of staff before the next round of EBA talks.

Angry protests against job cuts have been held at many individual universities, including Wollongong University, University of Technology Sydney, the Australian National University and Macquarie University, but the NTEU and the other main campus union, the Community and Public Service Union (CPSU) are keeping these struggles isolated and, above all, they are covering up the role of the Labor government.

At the May 3 federal election voters overwhelmingly rejected the Trump agenda of trade war, war and massive government funding cuts, which they identified with the Liberal Party, but Labor is undeniably pursuing Trump-style policies.

Education Minister Jason Clare has boasted of cutting international student enrolments by 30 percent. The government also advised researchers to comply with the Trump administrations threatening questionnaire, as a result of which at least 10 universities have already suffered funding cuts.

Moreover, the Albanese government has slandered opponents of the US-backed Gaza genocide, including students and academics, as antisemitic. Clare intervened personally to ask the Australian Research Council to freeze its grant to Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at Macquarie University.

The WSU rally underscored how much the Albanese government depends on the capacity of union officials and their pseudo-left allies to divert and suppress the brewing discontent in the universities and the working class as a whole.

To fight the transformation of universities into corporate entities serving a war economy, it is essential to form rank-and-file committees of staff and students at universities, completely independent of the unions.

These committees can discuss, freely and democratically, how to defeat the cuts across the country, and develop the struggle against the Labor governments complicity in the plunge into dictatorship, trade war and war.

These committees can coordinate their plans and activities with educators in the US and around the world through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).

This is part of the broader necessary struggle against the capitalist profit system itself and its program of ever-greater corporate wealth and barbarism.

We urge staff and students to join the existing rank-and-file committees at WSU and Macquarie through the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the educators rank-and-file network, or contact the CFPE to discuss how to form rank-and-file committees:

Contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: CFPE_Australia

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at U.S. Steel Corporation's Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. [AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson]

In a warmongering and nationalist speech, President Trump announced an increase in tariffs on imported steel to 50 percent at a rally Friday evening, celebrating his approval of the buyout of United States Steel by Nippon Steel. Earlier in the week, Trump reversed his previous opposition to the deal, which he called a partnership.

Later Friday evening, Trump issued a tweet on social media saying he was doubling the tariffs on aluminum to 50 percent as well.

Before a hand-picked audience of Republican officeholders and officials, along with a few dozen steelworkers from the US Steel Irvin Works mill just outside of Pittsburgh, Trump declared that steel was needed for a strong military.

You cant make a military. What are we going to do, say lets go to China for the army tanks and boats and ships?

A strong steel industry, announcing his increase on steel tariffs to 50 percent, is above all a matter of national security.

Throughout his nearly 90-minute speech, Trump repeatedly returned to this theme and made clear that he saw China as the main target of US imperialism and that tariffs were needed to restructure US industry to be able to fight a massive war against the worlds second-largest country.

Significantly, Trumps Pittsburgh speech occurred at the same time that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a speech demanding that Asian countries drastically increase their defense spending and line up with the United States against China.

At the same time, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both claimed that China is not living up to the trade deal negotiated last month and that increased tariffs targeting China were on the way.

In his talk, Trump also repeated his typical fascist talking points, attacking the Democrats as wanting to wreck this great country, slandering immigrants as inmates from prisons and mental institutions and drug dealers and drug pushers, rapists and murderers, and attacking judges ruling against his flagrantly unconstitutional moves as radical liberals who hate this country.

The United Steelworkers (USW) union has been relatively quiet about Trumps announcement. The USWs top leadership has campaigned vigorously against the deal over the past year, promoting anti-Japanese demagogy and so-called national security concern.

As with bureaucrats in other major unions across the US, officials from the USW are fully in line with the would-be Fuhrers tariff policies, falsely presenting them as good for jobs. In fact, they are already leading to mass layoffs. USW President David McCall is a supporter of trade war, saying only that they should be targeting China instead of Canada, which has also been targeted by Trump.

The political economy of the merger

Nippon Steel has been seeking to purchase US Steel for over the past year, offering nearly $15 billion for one of the largest and oldest steelmakers in the United States.

Then-President Biden and Trump opposed the deal last year, claiming that selling the company to a Japanese firm would jeopardize national security. Biden ordered a security review of the deal and in January of this year and denied the merger only days before leaving office. However, he left it open for Trump to make the final decision, who extended the deadline and ordered a second national security review.

The exact reason why Trump reversed himself and agreed to the Nippon Steel buyout was not given. According to reports, the deal was worked out with Nippon Steel and US Steel officials repeatedly flying to Washington on sleepless flights and holding late-night meetings in parking lots and garages.

In explaining his reversal, Trump called it a partnership and noted that Nippon Steel agreed to invest $15 billion in US Steel. This includes $2.5 billion that the company had already promised to invest in US Steels dilapidated Mon Valley works and some smaller investments at the other mills throughout the country.

Truck loads of money would be poured into the Mon Valley, Trump said.

Neither US Steel nor Nippon Steel has confirmed this statement from Trump although both have been careful not to contradict Trump and cause him to cancel the deal.

Trump also claimed both at the Pittsburgh rally and in social media posts that the company would keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh, that it would keep producing steel in the United States and that the majority of the board of directors would be American.

All of these are provisions that Nippon Steel had already agreed to during negotiations with both the Biden administration and the United Steelworkers union in an attempt to win their approval.

The one new aspect of the deal that Trump announced is that the federal government would own something called golden shares in the new company. Trump has presented these as giving the United States ownership, or at least veto rights over any decision that Nippon Steel management made.

While golden shares do give the government additional authority over the company, their authority is very specific. Golden shares can allow the government to block strategic decisions, such as mergers, dissolution or foreign ownership stakes in the company.

However, their details have to be very specifically spelled out in legal filings and are certainly not the broad control Trump implied. Some Wall Street analysts have questioned why US Steel and Nippon Steel have not made public statements clarifying the role of the golden shares, pointing out that they may be breaking US laws.

Government regulations require that a publicly traded company make timely and accurate statements regarding issues that could substantially affect its value. Certainly, how much and what type of control the US government has over the new company meets the substantially affect threshold.

US and global steel production

At the rally, Trump stated several times that US Steel was only a week away from collapsing and everyone losing their jobs until he stepped in and saved the day. Whether this was true, or Trumps typical boasting, is not known.

What is known is that US Steel has been declining for years and does not have the money for the capital improvements needed to upgrade its outdated and aging facilities. In 2020, US Steel finished construction of and began production at its state-of-the-art electric arc furnace (EAF) at its Fairfield Works facility in Alabama. While profitable, this improvement has not been enough to turn the company around.

When searching for a buyer, US Steel had no other credible bidders outside of Nippon Steel. Cleveland-Cliffs, the largest producer for flat rolled steel in the United States, had said it had wanted to buy the company and offered $8 billion, just a little over half of the Nippon Steel offer.

It is doubtful, however, that Cleveland-Cliffs could even have done so. The companys stock has been falling as investors flee the company, and last month, in a major reorganization, the company laid off over 2,200 steelworkers and iron miners and closed mills in several states.

Nippon Steel Corporation is Japans leading steelmaker and the fourth-largest steel producer in the world. In fiscal year 2023, Nippon Steels crude steel production was approximately 40.5 million tons.

However, it is not able to compete against the much larger and more efficient steel producers in China. With Japans economy stagnating, Nippon Steel is betting on the purchase of US Steel and greater entry into the US market.

Disastrous impact of trade war

In announcing the tariffs, Trump made the claim that when he imposed a 25 percent steel tariff in 2018, he saved the steel industry from collapse at that time. In reality, the steel tariffs resulted in layoffs, as will the new tariffs.

Already since Trump took office, steel prices in the United States have climbed 18 percent and are currently the highest in the world. In April, steel prices reached a high of over $900 per metric ton. This compares to Europe, where steel costs around $700 per metric ton, and in China, where it is just over $400 per metric ton.

The new tariffs will have a devastating impact on the auto industry, which is already reeling from Trumps initial tariffs. The highly integrated global production process in car manufacturing, particularly between the United States, Mexico and Canada, is being ripped apart and will lead to higher prices, lower sales and layoffs.

Canada is the largest current exporter of steel to the United States, selling approximately 6 million metric tons of steel each year to its southern neighbor, about 6 percent of all steel in the United States. For Canada this represents almost half of its steel production.

A little over half of Canadas steel is produced using older blast furnaces. While more efficient at full capacity than the newer electric arc furnaces, they do not scale down as well. Blast furnaces operate profitably against electric arc furnaces only when operating above 80 percent capacity.

Thus, losing half of its market, many of Canadas steelmakers will be forced to shut down, leading to mass layoffs. Currently there are 20,000 workers employed in steel production in Canada and about another 100,000 workers employed in jobs related to its production, most of whom will be affected as well.

Likewise, Mexico will also see a sharp decline. Last year, nearly 4 million metric tons of steel were imported into the United States from Mexico, in addition to Mexican steel that ends up in cars and appliances also imported into the United States.

Union bureaucrats promote nationalism

Just prior to Trumps announcement, USW President David McCall stated that the union remains unalterably opposed to the $15 billion bid by Nippon Steel. Since the announcement McCall has said that the union has not yet seen the details of the partnership and has questions about the golden shares.

While the bureaucrats falsely claim that tariffs are good for American jobs, in reality, they have spent decades helping US corporations destroy millions of jobs. The USW has helped the steelmakers close facilities in the Chicago area, Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Bethlehem and Baltimore. Steel mills were shut down in the name of helping US companies remain competitive in the world market.

During this time, the USW promoted nationalism, blaming the layoffs not on the Wall Street bankers and corporate owners, but on the steelworkers of Japan, South Korea and Brazil. In this way they worked to divide and weaken workers everywhere.

In supporting Trumps tariffs, the unions are endorsing his fascist program as a whole. Economic nationalism is bound up with his plans to rip up democratic rights and convert the United States and North America into an armed fortress for launching world war.

Steelworkers must reject the toxic nationalism of the USW in favor of a global strategy uniting steelworkers in every country against the corporate oligarchs in each country. Workers must reject the slogan of America First in favor of the slogan, Workers of the World, Unite!

This requires a fight against the corrupt union apparatus, building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) as the new organizing center in a fight to transfer power from the union officialdom to the shop floor.
Jonathan Joss, known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill and various other roles in film and television, was shot to death June 1 outside the ruins of his San Antonio, Texas home. The gunman shouted violent homophobic slurs, according to Josss husband.

Jonathan Joss. [Photo: Tristan Kern de Gonzales ]

Joss was 59. The day before his murder he gave an interview on Bwaaa! A King of The Hill Podcast in Austin, Texas, where he was warmly received.

Joss also appeared on Walker Texas Ranger, ER, Charmed, Friday Night Lights and Parks and Recreation. He did voice acting for several video games and played in a band.

Chris Pratt, who co-starred in Parks and Recreation, mourned Josss passing on his Instagram, commenting,

RIP Jonathan...Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7 [Magnificent 7]. Sad to see.

Nick Offerman, another Parks and Recreation co-star, said that the whole cast was texting about the loss of Joss all day.

Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.

The San Antonio Police Department reported that around 7:00 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Dorsey Street for a shooting in progress. Upon arrival, they found Joss with multiple gunshot wounds lying near the roadway. Medical aid was administered by police, but EMS pronounced him dead on the scene once they arrived.

The suspect in the shooting, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 59, confessed to the killing, saying I shot him to the police. Ceja Alvarez, who People reports is one of Josss neighbors, was arrested a block away after fleeing the scene. He was held on a $200,000 bond for felony first-degree murder, and a rifle was confiscated from him.

Joss is survived by his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales, who he married on Valentines Day. Kern de Gonzales said in a statement on Josss Facebook account (viewable here) that he and Joss were visiting their destroyed home only to pick up the mail when the shooting occurred.

The house burned three months ago, after two years of threats against the pair in what may well have been arson. The threats were reported numerous times to police. Reports indicate that the couple were using a charcoal grill on January 23 to heat the house. San Antonio saw freezing temperatures on that day, and the house was disconnected from utilities as Joss was unemployed and unable to pay for utilities. Despite extinguishing the flame and leaving briefly, the couple returned to a burning house. Their three dogs died in the fire.

The statement explained:

When we returned to the site to check our mail we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view. This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw. While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired. Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.

The statement added:

We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future. He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved.

San Antonio Express-News says that Joss told them at the time of his house fire that a neighbor laughed at him as he emerged from the fire carrying the remains of his dogs.

Joss was in the process of moving from Texas to California to pursue his acting career, and was expected to feature on the reboot of King of the Hill.

San Antonio police (SAPD) asserted at 5:34 p.m. June 2 in a post on X, obviously referencing Kern de Gonzaless statement, that despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Josss murder was related to his sexual orientation claiming it thoroughly reviewed all available evidence. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly. No explanation was provided as to how the police debunked the claims made by Kern de Gonzales, who was an eyewitness to the shooting.

Police allege that an eyewitness saw Ceja Alvarez pull up in his car behind the couple as they were picking up their mail, argue with Joss and open fire.

The corporate media is already engaging in a campaign to refute any responsibility of the far right for the death. The New York Post claimed there was no hate crime and that this was just a neighborly feud gone tragically wrong, citing claims by two neighbors that Joss was erratic, that he wasnt a good neighbor and that he screamed a lot. The Post, a right-wing rag, cited the SAPDs statement, adding that police responded over 40 times to the address.

Even if one were to concede that these characterizations were accurate, it doesnt address the question of the killers motives.

The aim of such pieces is not to tell the truth but to let the extreme right off the hook. The ultra-right Texas Republican Party is well known for its promotion of homophobia.

The fascist politics espoused by the Republican Party has played a role in motivating numerous incidents, including the 2023 Allen Mall shooting in Dallas, in which nine people died, committed by a neo-Nazi.

As the WSWS noted, in an article on the Texas Republican Partys 2024 Convention,

Among the other right-wing planks in the 50-page platform are statements that abortion is not healthcare it is homicide and to enact legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization. It states that gender-transition treatment for children is child abuse and homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice.
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Speaking at the annual, top-level Shangri-la Dialogue last weekend, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid down the law to military allies and partners throughout the Indo-Pacific: Dramatically escalate your military build-up and put yourselves on a war footing for conflict with China.

Hegseth denounced aggression by Communist China, declaring that it was seeking to become a hegemonic power in Asia. Focusing on Taiwan in particular, he warned that any Chinese attempt to invade the island would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. Theres no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers his speech during 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. [AP Photo/Anupam Nath]

Posturing as champions of peace, Hegseth and the Trump administration stand reality on its head. As has repeatedly been the case for more than a century, imperialism goes to war under the banner of peace and engages in a massive arms race under the guise of deterrence.

It is not China, but US imperialism that has waged three decades of illegal invasions and wars in a desperate bid to maintain its global hegemony. As it escalates its war against Russia in Ukraine and fully backs Israels barbaric war in Gaza, the fascist Trump administration, beset by intractable economic and political crises at home, is plunging headlong into conflict with China, which it regards as the chief threat to US dominance.

Hegseth declared, President Trump was elected to apply America First on the world stage. What that signifies is rapidly becoming clear. Far from being isolated events, the wars in Europe and the Middle East are coalescing with Washingtons war plans in Asia into a global conflict involving nuclear-armed powers.

The only peace that Trump is striving for is to realise the megalomaniac fantasy of a world utterly subordinate to the interests of US imperialism. That is the content of his overarching slogan of Make America Great Again, which recalls nothing so much as the Nazi hymn Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles, uber alles in der Welt (Germany, Germany above all, above all in the world).

The Trump administration is already bludgeoning its NATO allies in Europe to boost military spending and take a greater hand in accelerating the war against Russia in Ukraine. The latest military strike, destroying strategic bombers deep inside Russia, could not have taken place without the active involvement of the Pentagon and NATO headquarters.

And as our allies share the burden [in Europe], we can increase our focus on the Indo-Pacific, our priority theatre, Hegseth told the political and military leaders assembled in Singapore. We askand indeed, we insistthat our allies and partners [in Asia] do their part on defense, he said, making clear there would be uncomfortable and tough conversations with any country that did not fall into line.

The Trump administrations war drive against China did not spring from nowhere. It was the Obama administration that initiated the pivot to Asiaaimed at undercutting Chinese diplomatic influence in the region, undermining its economy, and preparing for war. Obamas goal of stationing 60 percent of Americas naval and air power in the Indo-Pacific by 2020 has long been achieved.

The previous Trump and Biden administrations only escalated the confrontation with China into what is now naked economic and trade warfare, along with an arms race and escalating diplomatic and military provocations that threaten to precipitate open military conflict.

While referring to other flashpoints for war in Asia, Hegseth focussed on the most sensitiveTaiwandeclaring that Chinese President Xi Jinping was preparing for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027. In reality, Chinese governments have always insisted that Taiwan is sovereign Chinese territory, and it has been recognised as such since the 1970s by most countries internationally, including the US, under the One China policy.

Over the past decade, however, the Trump and Biden administrations have systematically undermined the diplomatic and military protocols underpinning the One China policy, knowing full well that any declaration of Taiwanese independence or the return of US troops to the island could precipitate war. Just as the US and NATO goaded Russia into invading Ukraine by encroaching on Russian borders, the Trump administration is seeking to provoke a Chinese invasion of Taiwan by seeking to bring the island, step by step, under American sway.

In Singapore, Hegseth boasted of the advances in American military technology and its integration of Asian allies and strategic partners into Washingtons war plans through greatly expanded joint war games, basing arrangements, military technology R&D, and military industries. What he touched on included:

The first-ever overseas deployment this year of the NMESIS mobile anti-ship missile system used by the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, one of the US militarys most capable and lethal formations, in joint exercises in the Philippines. War games, which also included US Special Operations Forces, took place on the strategically sensitive Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan.

Later this year the US Army will conduct a live-fire test of its Mid-Range Capability system in Australia. This will be the first time this weaponry, which has a range of up to 2,500 kilometres, will be test-fired on foreign soil. Australia will host the largest-ever Talisman Sabre exercises involving more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations.

Within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quadthe US, Australia, Japan and Indiathe US is leading an initiative called the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, enabling Quad partners to leverage shared logistics capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

The US is also pushing for an integrated defense industrial base to support a US-led war against China. It has formed the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) involving 14 US allies and partners to strengthen industrial resilience, expand our capacity, and accelerate deliveries.

However, Hegseth insisted that the extensive military build-up throughout the region is far from enough. Just as the US is demanding that its NATO allies dramatically boost military spending to 5 percent of GDP, so it is calling on its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific to do the same.

Moreover, he stressed that governments throughout Asia had to end their attempts to manoeuvre between the US and China, which is the largest trading partner of virtually every country in the region. Beware of the temptation, he said, to seek both economic cooperation with China and defence cooperation with the United States.

The Trump administration is wielding the economic weapon of tariffs not just against China, but as the means to bludgeon governments in the Asia Pacific to line up militarily against Beijing and to bear a far higher burden of the costs of war.

To view the spiral toward war in the Indo-Pacific as simply the result of the fascist Trump would be to overlook the depth of the global economic and political crisis centred in the US of which he is the product.

US imperialism embraced China in the 1970s as a means for undermining the Soviet Union and as a seemingly endless source of cheap labour, as long as its manufactures were limited to low-tech goods. The sheer expansion of the Chinese economy to become by some measures the largest in the world threatens to eclipse the US, including in a range of hi-tech fields such as electronics, green technology, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.

The Trump administration is determined to prevent China from overtaking the US economically by all available means, including militarythe sooner the bettereven if it risks engulfing the region and the world in a nuclear conflagration. Facing rising popular discontent and opposition at home to its mounting attacks on democratic and social rights, it is recklessly driven to expand the wars already underway in Europe and the Middle East to Asia as the means of projecting extreme social tensions outwards against foreign foes.

Hegseth has just served notice to US allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific to line up with Washington in making all the preparations necessary for war against China.

The working class throughout the region and internationally must draw the necessary political conclusions. What is being demanded by Washington involves a doubling or more of military expenditure and far deeper inroads into the living conditions of working people, which cannot be imposed democratically.

The political fight to halt the plunge towards world war is thus intimately connected to the struggle to defend basic democratic and social rights. What is required is the building of a unified international and socialist movement of the working class directed at overturning the capitalist systemthe source of war, social inequality and fascism.
North Rankin Complex, North West Shelf Project, Western Australia [Photo: Woodside]

In its first key announcement since being re-elected on May 3, Australias Labor government last week approved an extension until 2070 of the giant North West Shelf (NWS) gas project operated by Woodside Energy Group Ltd.

Less than four weeks after the election, Murray Watt, newly installed as environment minister, unveiled the governments most significant fossil fuel approval since it first took office in 2022.

Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government cynically delayed the approval until after the election because it makes a mockery of its claims to be committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Woodside, one of the largest Australian-based oil and gas producing companies, holds one third of the shares as a joint venture partner of the project. The other fossil fuel giants that collectively own the NWS include BHP, BP, Chevron, Shell, Mitsubishi and Mitsui & Co.

Australia is the worlds third-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter after the US and Qatar, with its transnational operators exporting nearly $70 billion worth of the fuel in 2023-24. Australias proven gas reserves are more than 40 times the countrys annual consumption.

The NWS, operating since the 1980s on the Burrup peninsula of Western Australia, is Australias biggest gas project. Its operations include both offshore extraction of petroleum and onshore processing at the Karratha Gas Plant, which is solely owned and operated by Woodside.

Overall, the NWS is the third-largest fossil fuel emitting facility in Australia, producing approximately 6 Mt of domestic greenhouse gases (GHG) annually. However, this is a significant underestimation of its total climate impact, because that figure does not account for gas exports from the facility.

Over 85 percent of the gas is exported to Asia, primarily to buyers in Japan, China and South Korea. The remainder is used domestically, accounting for about 14 percent of Western Australias gas needs. The project has attracted $34 billion in investment, making it one of the largest resource developments in Australias history.

Watts approval extends the life of the project by 40 years, since the project was originally slated for closure in 2030. Estimates vary, but the lifetime emissions of this extension could be up to 4.3 Gt of CO2 equivalent emissions, or over a decades worth of domestic Australian emissions.

Furthermore, the decision opens up the possibility of approval for the Browse Basin offshore gas project off the Kimberley coast. Existing gas fields upon which the Karratha Gas Plant has relied are running out, which has prompted Woodside to seek to access the Browse Basin reserves. Woodside has pushed the proposed $30 billion project since 2018. If approved, it would likely produce an additional two years worth of annual domestic Australian emissions.

Beyond the climate change impacts, scientists have raised concerns about ongoing damage the Karratha Gas Plant is causing to the ancient engraved rock art of indigenous Australians a few kilometres away. The gas plants emissions include nitrogen oxides and acidic compounds, which scientists warn are eroding the rock carvings through chemical weathering.

Professor Benjamin Smith, an archaeologist from University of Western Australia, noted that if pollution from the gas plant and nearby industrial projects did not decrease, we will lose a lot of this priceless rock art that has been there for 50,000 years.

The NWS extension comes a year after the Labor government released its Future Gas Strategy, which proposed to increase extraction of natural gas through to 2050 and beyond.

Shortly after this plan was published in May 2024, Labor awarded permits for companies including Woodside and Chevron to begin exploration of new gas reserves off Australias west and southeastern coasts. Earlier, Labor approved large expansions to gas projects such as the Pluto LNG plant owned by Woodside, and others owned by companies such as Shell, Santos and Chevron.

Anticipating the backlash from this latest decision, Albanese resorted to a fraudulent claim that increased gas extraction was part of a transition to renewable energy. Several deceptions are involved here.

First, the Labor governments support for fossil fuels has hardly been limited to gas. Under the previous Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, the government approved the expansion of 10 coal mines, which are altogether expected to produce an estimated 2.5 Gt of CO2 equivalent emissions over their lifetime.

Second, the idea itself that increased gas extraction is necessary for a transition to renewables is a lie. As one 2023 research paper from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) concluded:

We are being misled by our government and the oil and gas industry, telling us we need more gas and more gas fields for the transition. We dont.

In particular, demand for gas-powered electricity generation is collapsing, due to rising prices of operating gas plants and the rapid development of grid-scale battery technology.

When it comes to gas exports, research from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) indicates that an increase in Australian gas supply overseas could potentially increase emissions by delaying the transition to renewables in countries that purchase Australian gas.

Labor has further tried to deflect from its anti-scientific decision by referring to its climate targets established in 2022 with the backing of the Greens. Energy Minister Chris Bowen insisted that Australia is on track to reach the target of a 43 percent reduction of GHG emissions (relative to 2005 levels) by 2030.

As the World Socialist Web Site previously noted, this target is woefully inadequate, falling short of numerous scientific estimates that place the required emissions reductions over the same time period at around 75 percent.

The latest report published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water indicate that emissions decreased by only 27 percent from 2005 to 2024, and have largely stagnated since Labor took office in 2022.

After approving dozens of fossil fuel projects that will emit billions of tonnes of CO2, the Labor government has provided no evidence of even a plan to reduce emissions by 43 percent by 2030.

The Australian Workers Union and Maritime Union of Australia bureaucracies supported the NWS decision. Their Offshore Alliance, covering workers in the offshore oil and gas industry, fraudulently presented it as being about securing the future of their members and their families, rather than shoring up the profit interests of Woodside and other fossil fuel corporations.

Labors decision prompted criticism from environmental groups, as well as members of the broader population who are concerned by climate change and the lack of action being taken to halt it. The May 3 election saw a collapse of support for the Liberal Party, in part due to its association with the aggressive and fascistic agenda of the Trump administration, including its rejection of science, not least climate science.

But the Albanese government has matched the promise made to the corporate elite by the Liberal-National Coalition, which said it would approve the NWS within 30 days if it won the election.

Newly-elected Greens leader Larissa Waters wrote on Twitter/X days before the decision was finalised: The Liberals said theyd approve the North West Shelf within 30 days. Labor is on track to do it even faster. The comment, while true enough, nonetheless exposes the fraudulent posturing of the Greens, whose entire election campaign revolved around attempting to form a minority government with Labor as a supposed lesser evil.

Before May 3, the Greens peddled the fiction that with more of their members in parliament they could get Labor to take real action to protect our environment and drive the transition to clean, affordable, renewable energy.

By contrast, the Socialist Equality Party warned: Labor and the Coalition alike have both committed to continued fossil fuel use and expansion that would see Australias emissions increase, not decrease.

The real issue is not which capitalist party is in government. The fight to protect the environment and halt the disastrous global warming requires workers and young people to take up the fight against capitalism itself, for a socialist society that places science and human life above corporate profits.
OTTAWA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A man is dead and five people have been taken to hospital after a shooting that took place Tuesday evening near a Yorkdale mall in Toronto, according to local police. 
Trump's war on free speech: The case of Momodou Taal

The Socialist Equality Party (UK) hosted a public meeting in London May 31, addressed by Momodou Taal, the British-Gambian student who challenged US President Donald Trumps unconstitutional war on free speech and the right to protest the Gaza genocide. Taal was forced to leave the United States to avoid arrest and detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in retaliation for his lawsuit against Trump. Joining Taal on the platform were his lawyer, Eric Lee, and Joseph Kishore, national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in the US.
KABUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Afghan counter-narcotics police have seized 105 kg of crystal meth, ICE (methamphetamine), heroin, and other narcotics in western Afghanistan's Herat province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

The contraband included 48 kg of methamphetamine, 35 kg of crystal meth, 15 kg of heroin, and some other types of narcotics. The drugs were discovered during a series of routine police operations on the outskirts of Kohsan district of the province, said the statement.

One individual was arrested in connection with the case and his dossier will be referred to the judiciary for further investigation.

In a related case, police uncovered and destroyed 666 kg of illicit drugs, including ICE and heroin, in eastern Khost province on Tuesday as part of their ongoing effort to combat drug trafficking.

The Afghan interim government has committed to combating illegal drugs, as well as the production and trafficking of narcotics throughout the war-stricken country. 
BRUSSELS/SOFIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission announced on Wednesday that Bulgaria meets the criteria to adopt the euro starting Jan. 1, 2026, positioning it to become the 21st member of the euro area.

The conclusion, outlined in the Commission's 2025 Convergence Report prepared at Bulgaria's request, confirms that the country fulfills the four nominal convergence criteria required for euro adoption. The assessment also considered broader economic indicators, such as market integration and balance of payments. A parallel report from the European Central Bank (ECB) supported the findings.

As a result, the Commission has proposed a Council decision and regulation for Bulgaria's euro introduction. The final decision is expected from the Council of the EU in the first half of July, following consultations with the Eurogroup, European Council, European Parliament, and the ECB.

"This brings Bulgaria one step closer to euro adoption," said the Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that membership would strengthen the country's economy through greater trade, investment, and access to finance.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov welcomed the positive assessment, calling it the result of years of reforms and coordination with European partners. He is expected to make a formal statement later on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, public opinion in Bulgaria remains divided. A recent survey by Research Center Trend showed that only 21 percent support adopting the euro in 2026, while 33 percent favor a delayed introduction and 38 percent oppose it altogether. Protests have been held in recent weeks demanding a referendum to retain the national currency, the lev.

Earlier in May, President Rumen Radev submitted a proposal to parliament calling for a national referendum on the euro. On May 27, the Constitutional Court opened an investigation into Parliament Speaker Nataliya Kiselova's rejection of the proposal. 
MEXICO CITY, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's government is investigating the cause behind a dramatic decline in remittances for April, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday, hinting at the U.S. immigration crackdown.

Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated large-scale detentions and deportations of undocumented migrants, citing national security concerns.

More recently, he proposed a bill to tax remittances -- the money migrants working in the United States send home. The proposal is currently under debate in the U.S. Senate.

On Monday, Mexico's central bank reported that remittances in April totaled 4.761 billion U.S. dollars, marking a 12.1 percent drop from a year earlier -- the steepest decline in over a decade.

Nearly all remittances to Mexico come from the United States, according to authorities.

"We are working to determine the cause of this decline," Sheinbaum said at a daily morning press briefing. "Until we have more information, we can't pinpoint the reason."

Sheinbaum suggested that Trump's immigration policies could contribute to the downturn, though she noted that the number of deported or returning Mexican nationals isn't "significant enough" to fully explain the drop.

"It's likely related to the new immigration policies implemented by President Trump, but let's not jump to conclusions. Once we have the full report, we'll share it with you," she added.

The government is consulting with organizations that support Mexicans in the United States to better understand the situation.

The decline in remittances comes amid a White House proposal to apply a 5 percent tax on money sent home by Mexicans. However, Sheinbaum's government has negotiated to reduce this to 3.5 percent. 
The new exorcism horror movie "The Ritual" starring Al Pacino has strong ties to Las Cruces.

New Mexico State University professor Ross Marks recruited top-tier talent to star in the first film he has produced while not also directing.

More: Luis Valdez to appear at El Paso's Plaza Classic Film Festival with 2 film screenings

Marks, the founder of the Las Cruces International Film Festival, announced that Pacino agreed to star in "The Ritual" which opens nationwide on Friday, June 6.

Al Pacino on the exorcist case in "The Ritual" with Abigail Cowen.

I am incredibly proud of this project and the opportunity to collaborate with a legendary actor like Al Pacino, Marks said in a news release. This film is not just a work of art, it's a mirror reflecting the complexities of the human experience.

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"The Ritual" is described as a horror film about two priests, one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, who must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism. The film is based on a true story about the last officially ordained exorcism in the United States.

More: Las Cruces film makers debut '3' at Las Cruces International Film Festival

The film also stars Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen and Patricia Heaton. The film was written and directed by Las Cruces International Film Festival alum David Midell.

The Clarion Ledger, part of the USA Today network, reported that filming for the supernatural horror movie took place in the historic St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi.

The movie poster for The Ritual, starring Al Pacino and produced by NMSU professor Ross Marks.

Marks said the the film was born at the LCIFF, which recently celebrated its 10th year.

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Marks first became familiar with Midell during the 2020 LCIFF when Midell's 2019 film "The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlin" was screened. That film won the LCIFF Grand Jury Prize.

I was so impressed by David and his film that I offered to help get his next film off the ground," Marks said in a news release. "David gave me the script for 'The Ritual,' and I knew right away the film would make for great cinema. I asked David who he wanted in the lead role, and he said without hesitation, Al Pacino. Through some industry contacts, I was able to get the script to Al, and we were off and running."

Marks said pivoting to producing was initially a challenge, sacrificing the creative control and direct relationships with actors that are enjoyed by a director.

"Producing is about mentorship and finding and creating the resources necessary for the director to succeed," Marks told the Las Cruces Sun-News in an email. "In some ways, it's all the fun of making a movie without the added stress and headaches of being director. Having directed many movies, I have a strong sense of what a director needs and how to provide it."

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Marks has since produced "Love on Tap", directed by former NMSU student Keagan Karnes.

Academy Award winner Helen Hunt answers questions from Executive Director Ross Marks, at this year's 10th annual Las Cruces Film Festival.

Marks is current in the process of producing "The Mensch" for director David Shapiro and "A Silent Violence" for director Norberto Barba. Those films will both be shot in Las Cruces in the fall.

Movies: Renee Victor, 'Coco' and 'Weeds' star, dies at 86

"I am able to make more movies and employ more New Mexicans as a producer," Marks wrote in an email. "I can produce 3-4 movies a year. I can only direct one movie every year or so."

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: 'The Ritual': NMSU professor produces new Al Pacino exorcism movie
A highly anticipated restaurant in the former Ardent space on Milwaukees east side is officially open for business.

Purslane, which announced in December that it would take over the space at 1751 N. Farwell Ave., opened June 4. The restaurant is serving farm-driven fare inspired by flavors of the eastern Mediterranean, focusing on mezze (small plates), larger dishes meant for sharing and an expertly crafted beverage program.

The restaurant comes from chef-owner Mary Kastman, former executive chef at Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, where she was named a semifinalist for Best Chef, Midwest in the 2022 James Beard Awards. Kastman started Purslane in 2024 as a pop-up concept in Viroqua before opening the brick-and-mortar space in Milwaukee.

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Were ready and excited to bring a different type of hospitality and a different concept of food to Milwaukee, Kastman said. Were so thankful for the support, and really excited to show everybody what weve been up to.

The dining room at Purslane features a floral mural by Viroqua artist Audra Grosz of Tattoo Zuzu, a tattoo shop, along with authentic decor sourced from Istanbul.

Since moving into the restaurant space in February, Kastmans been hard at work transforming the space, developing the menu and working on the beverage program to deliver a unique and communal dining experience in Milwaukee.

It includes a 25-seat restaurant, a casual lounge space for snacks and drinks, a curated food menu featuring seasonal ingredients, and an extensive bar program inspired by the eastern Mediterranean region, with small Wisconsin flourishes incorporated.

Kastman, who has traveled extensively in Turkey and worked in the kitchens at celebrated Boston-based Mediterranean restaurants Oleana and Sarma, said a recent visit to Istanbul let her know Milwaukee is ready for her restaurant concept.

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This is where my heart is and my passion is, and I am so ready to bring this to another community, Kastman said. Seeing a lot of my dear friends who live in Turkey be excited about this idea and give it their blessing has been pretty incredible.

Purslane is open 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant is currently accepting reservations via Toast up to 30 days in advance. Limited walk-in seating is available at its seven-seat bar on a first-come, first-served basis. For parties of eight or more, call the restaurant at (414) 212-8692 to make a reservation.

The meze trio at Purslane includes hummus tahini, Moroccan carrot puree and Monk's salad served with pita.

Snacks, small plates and more on Purslanes menu of eastern Mediterranean-inspired fare

The debut menu features 13 curated dishes, including snacks, small plates, larger plates and desserts made with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers.

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Snacks include a Persian spiced bar snack mix ($3), olives with preserved lemon and chios spice ($9), and deviled eggs with trout taramasalata, smoked trout roe and bar pine nuts ($13).

Among the small plates are harissa chicken wings with preserved lemon aioli and green papaya slaw ($19), and Fattoush salad with fennel, cucumber, rhubarb, red onion, radish, pomegranate vinaigrette and sumac topped with crisped Juusto cheese ($17).

Also on the small plates menu is the tuna naya ($23), which Kastman said is a favorite of hers and an homage to Ardents signature beef tartare dish. Her rendition features raw tuna dressed in yuzu and strawberry charmoula marinade topped with crunchy togarashi rice and served with pita chips.

Theres even a Mediterranean take on the classic fish fry. At Purslane, cooked walleye is folded into a classic chickpea falafel base and fried up like fritters. Theyre served with lavash bread. tahini remoulade and brown butter pickle with fresh lettuce for wrapping the fritters like sandwiches ($21).

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Larger plates include sea scallops with katayifi, muhammara and strawberry shatta ($43), and oyster mushroom shish with white bean, asparagus, bok choi, spicy feta, kalamata olive and breadcrumbs ($33).

The Ali Nazik beef kebab, made with smoky eggplant yogurt and shishito ($37), is especially close to Kastmans heart. Inspired by chef and mentor Musa Dagdeviren, author of The Turkish Cookbook, the dish from the Gaziantep region of Turkey is what Kastman called a holy trinity of Turkish cuisine, featuring smoky yogurt, eggplant and beef, served terrine-style with a shishito and roasted red pepper sauce.

Olive oil cake from Purslane is served with sour cherry spoon sweets and tahini mascarpone.

For dessert, expect olive oil cake with sour cherry and tahini mascarpone ($11), and Kaymek semifreddo made with clotted cream and served with strawberry, rhubarb and pistachio bohsalino ($9).

Kastman said guests are encouraged to share with their dining partners, as the Purslane experience is enhanced by the feeling of communal dining.

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My dream is that everybody would come in and their tables would be full of all of these little plates and theyre all eating and trying new things and experiencing all of these different flavors, Kastman said. If somebody can walk out of here saying, Ive never had carrots like this or Ive never tasted something like that, thats the greatest compliment  for somebody to see something in a new light.

Purslane's Spanish Gin and Tonic is made with a Mediterranean gin blend, Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic and garnished with fresh herbs.

Inspired cocktails and an extensive wine list highlight Purslanes beverage program

Purslane takes its bar program as seriously as its food. Beverage Director Kyle Yost, formerly of 2025 James Beard Award finalist Agency cocktail lounge, has created a variety of handcrafted beverages ($15 each) inspired by classic cocktails, including a white negroni made with gin infused with toasted pine nuts, a Spanish gin and tonic garnished with fresh herbs, a Manhattan with fenugreek and caraway-infused rye whiskey, and a spin on the daisy cocktail with strawberry, lime ancho verde and arak, a Levantine spirit similar to Greek Ouzo thats made with anise seeds.

Nonalcoholic beverages include spirit-free cocktails ($12 each) like a sage gimlet and spicy honey tonic with amber chili honey, as well as drinks from Milwaukee-made Rishi Tea and Sugar Leaf Coffee Roasterie.

Russell Tinsley, former general manager at Ardent, worked with Kastman to create the extensive wine list, featuring varietals from Greek, Turkey, Lebanon, France and Spain. Wines are available by the glass ($13 to $16) and the bottle.

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The restaurant also will serve a selection of Spanish, Turkish and locally made beer.

Textiles, plates and more of Purslane's decor were sourced directly from Istanbul.

Bright decor and decorative touches that come straight from Istanbul

Kastman said she wanted Purslane to capture the comfort and community culture shes come to love in her many visits to the eastern Mediterranean region. On a recent visit, she met up with Dagdeviren, who took her group shopping at the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Along with inspiration, she brought back textiles, lighting fixtures, ceramics and plates to use and display at the restaurant.

I wanted to keep the cozy nature the space already had, but give it a bit more of a Mediterranean feel, she said.

The main dining area kept the terracotta-colored ceiling from the spaces Ardent days, but now also has vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired teal paint on the walls. A large floral mural on a wall at the back of the main dining room was created by Viroqua artist Audra Grosz of Tattoo Zuzu, a tattoo shop.

Head to Purslane's Meyhane lounge for easygoing snacks, drinks and games

The left-side space at Purslane, which was most recently home to Ardents tasting room, acts as an informal lounge for those who want a snack and a drink  either while waiting for a table or as a casual pop-in, no matter if youre dining next door.

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Dubbed the Meyhane lounge, the space has seating for 20, including at tables, the bar and a small couch. The area is open for walk-ins during Purslanes regular business hours Thursday to Saturday. Anyone is welcome to order snacks, sip a glass of wine and maybe play a game of backgammon on one of the provided sets.

In the lounge, Viroqua-based artists Gabriela Jimenez Marvan and Ryan Rothweiler of Marvan Art & Design designed and painted a wall mural featuring the restaurants namesake plant, the purslane.

In the same area, Purslane has a retail space, selling items like Milwaukees Sugar Leaf coffee, spice blends, hats and, in the coming weeks, grab-and-go food options like hummus and mezze offerings.

The Meyhane lounge also can be reserved for private parties and events.

Mary Kastman opened her restaurant Purslane, 1751 N. Farwell Ave., on June 4.

A tight-knit community helped Purslane find its start in Milwaukee

Kastman, her husband, Erik, and their two children have been settling into their Shorewood home since moving from Viroqua in December.

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With our two little ones at home, hes really been the number-one super dad, and has been incredibly supportive, helping me fix things up and make all of the aesthetic changes, Kastman said, adding that he also serves as Purslanes official tech guy.

Kastman is grateful for local friends like Amilinda chef-owner Gregory Leon, whos been supportive from the start, offering feedback and opening his restaurant for Purslane pop-ups.

Her friend and mentor of 20 years, Justin Carlisle, former chef-owner of Ardent, has played an integral role in making Purslane a reality. Aside from traveling with her to Istanbul, Kastman said Carlisle was always there to help with his institutional knowledge about the kitchen, the restaurant space and the community.

The whole evolution of how this came to be is really meaningful to me, Kastman said. Coming in to this space and ushering it into a new chapter of interesting culinary things happening on Farwell Avenue, its so special. If I can help change the conversation or just make people have a conversation  that's what its all about.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Milwaukee restaurant Purslane now open in old Ardent space
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Credit: Backgrid

Just when you thought Princess Anne was the queen of the royal re-wear, this Swedish royal gave the Princess Royal a run for her money. Just like Anne (and Princess Kate), Queen Silvia is known to recycle decades-old pieces of clothingand even passes them down to daughter Crown Princess Victoria. But on Saturday, May 31, she made one performer do a double-take in a nearly 50-year-old evening dress.

Per Vanity Fair, Queen Silviawho married King Carl XVI Gustaf in 1976wore the same sparkling yellow Dior gown that she debuted shortly after her royal wedding while appearing on a new episode of Swedish show Vilket liv! over the weekend.

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And she didn't just recycle the gown for any old reason; Silvia wore the Dior dress to surprise drag performer Christer Lindarw, who has been impersonating the Swedish queen since the '70s. The designer and actor created his own copy of the bright yellow gown to wear for a 1977 drag performance after Queen Silvia wore it to the 1976 Nobel Prize ceremony and a state visit to the Netherlands.

Christer Lindarw (left) was shocked by Queen Silvia's surprise appearance on the show. | Credit: Backgrid

Queen Silvia is seen wearing the same dress in 1976. | Credit: Shutterstock

She paired her shimmering yellow gown with a historic tiara. | Credit: Backgrid

In a video shared by the Swedish family on Instagram, the performer is seen gasping and covering his mouth when Queen Silvia walked out on stage in her famous yellow gown and the priceless Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara.

"The Queen appeared tonight in TV4's "Vilket liv!" the royal court captioned the post. "The TV program pays tribute to the artist Christer Lindarw, who for many years impersonated Her Majesty in the drag show group After Dark's performances. ."

The moment paid tribute to Lindarw's 1977 performance, during which he gave Queen Silvia a rose as she watched from the royal box with King Carl Gustaf. This time, the queen returned the favor and presented him with a pink rose and gave Lindarw a hug as the crowd gave the pair a standing ovation.

"From a queen to another queen," Queen Silvia said to an emotional Lindarw. And as for her Dior dress? "It's the original," she declared.
U.S. News & World Report has chosen 26 places across the United States as one of the best underrated travel destinations, and only one spot in California made the list that boasts national parks and Midwestern towns. And it's just a short drive from Salinas.

The honor goes to the small, San Luis Obispo County town of Cambria, which ranked No. 21 on the list of beloved, lesser-known destinations.

About 127 miles south of Salinas, Cambria was praised by U.S. News & World Report for its location, including for its proximity to sights such as Morro Bay and the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The media company described Cambrias Main Street as perfectly quaint and highlighted the towns Moonstone Beach and stunning scenery at the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.

The Cambria Visitor Center is located at 767 Main St. in Cambria, Calif.

U.S. News & World Report said that Cambria, which is along the states central coast, can get lost in the heaps of praise piled on Californias coastline.

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With a population of less than 6,000 as of the 2020 Census, Cambria is one of California's many pricier places to live. The median price a home is sold for in Cambria is $1.1 million, according to Realtor.com. Thats about $100,000 less than Redfins figures on median home selling prices for April.

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Of course, visiting doesn't mean permanently staying. Theres plenty of things to do during a trip to the coastal community, largely related to enjoying the natural landscape and the Pacific Ocean.

What is the best underrated travel destination in the U.S.?

St. Simons Island along Georgias coast was named the best underrated travel destination in the nation from U.S. News & World Report. Other places that made the list included Chattanooga, Tennessee, Big Bend National Park in Texas and Duluth, Minnesota  notably where Bob Dylan was born.

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More: This California State Park home to historic kilns, redwoods and ocean views has reopened

Need somewhere to go for your next summer vacation? Heres some options

A state as large as California means it can be easy to get overwhelmed when picking where you want to visit next.

In case you missed it, here are some of the recommendations made by travel and lifestyle experts in the past year:

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Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California coastal gem just a short drive from Monterey County
Every week during the summer, you're likely to find children at Camp Foster YMCA having fun, making friends, learning new skills and doing all the things kids have been doing at summer camp for generations.

One week each year, though, you'll see something even more memorable.

Camp Foster, on East Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County, has a unique offering each year: what its leaders believe is the only fully integrated camp for child burn survivors in the United States. One week each summer, 30 to 60 of the campers will be former burn patients, often accompanied by nurses or other professionals, but otherwise fully immersed in the summer camp experience.

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The camp was founded in 1912, and launched its Miracle Burn Camp in partnership with a fire safety nonprofit in 1995. The Des Moines Register spoke with Executive Director Josh Carr about the origins of the burn program and what makes Camp Foster special. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

A camper enjoys time in the water during the Miracle Burn Camp at Camp Foster YMCA in Dickinson County in an undated photo.

What is Camp Foster?

Carr: We're a place that kids can come and just get away from the world and meet and make friends with kids from all over the country, different backgrounds, different groups of people, really get a chance to be themselves and shine in an outdoor setting. They interface with nature, they get to play and learn new outdoors skills and activities, everything from traditional camping activities like archery and sailing to even more nuanced ones like maker spaces and challenge courses.

Camp is Sunday to Saturday, so it's six days, and they stay in cabins and they dine in a big dining lodge and then we have a variety of programs available for the kids to do and try and explore. One week of camp can hold 270 overnight campers and up to 60 day campers.

How many kids do you see in a year?

We range anywhere from 2,300 to 2,500 per year. (In the off-season) we do serve some rentals and retreat groups.

How did the camp get started?

Well, to begin with (in 1912), it was a couple of gentlemen who got together and wanted to establish a camp for boys. Then it's progressed to meet the needs of our communities. We're a coed camp and we definitely have boys and girls from different ages. Hopefully we're giving them the confidence to talk to one another and to open up and share ideas and to be really who they are.

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From 2024: Some of Iowa's oldest institutions join Register's birthday celebration. See list of 44:

How did the burn program get started, and who does it serve?

It's a partnership with St. Florian Burn Foundation. One of their biggest focuses is here at camp and we call it Miracle Burn Camp, where survivors of traumatic injuries or accidents are able to come to camp, be with kids like themselves and have an enjoyable week. They bring in nurses who have worked in burn units, firefighters who are passionate about that, and they have volunteers who come and help support us with their staff.

And is that integrated with the main camp?

Yes in fact, we are, at least to my knowledge right now, still the only fully integrated with other kids burn camp in the United States, so the general population kids are mixed with the survivors. There's a special session, one week out of the summer, that we hold back spots for the survivors and then we fill our spots with the rest of (the campers).

And what do you have to do differently to work with these children?

We rely and lean heavily on our partners with the St. Florian Burn Foundation. They work with the kids on the onboarding side of things so they know some of the emotional backgrounds of their trauma, they understand their burns and their physical wounds, because that's where the nurses come in. None of us are qualified obviously to work with these wounds if they're still healing.

Campers gather around the fire during the Miracle Burn Camp at Camp Foster YMCA in Dickinson County in an undated photo.

But the other thing that we do is really to treat them like kids, because in their schools and their homes, they're seen and viewed by their friends and family and neighbors as kids that have been hurt, so people dance around and treat them differently. Here at camp we want them to have an experience where they're away from all that. They get to come to camp and they get to enjoy the outdoors and have fun just like any other kid.

How to learn more:

About Camp Foster YMCA: https://campfosterymca.com/

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About St. Florian Burn Foundation: https://stflorianfireandburnfoundation.com/

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa YMCA summer camp holds special week for child burn survivors
It's the first week of June at the Delaware beaches and that's enough already with the comfortably cool temperatures!

We're ready to be so hot we forget we ever saw "Jaws" and spend more time in the Atlantic Ocean than on land. To walk around the beach towns in swimsuits. To be in dire need of a rainbow snow cone.

Plan your summer fun: Welcome to our 2025 Delaware Summer Guide

Cooler temperatures and rain may have contributed to the seeming "slowness" at the Delaware beaches over the last two weekends. Traffic on Coastal Highway has been strangely sparse at times, but in the coming days, the sun will shine and the mercury will rise.

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Here's what to know if you'll be at the Delaware beaches this week.

Weather

Every day this week is expected to be sunny with temperatures reaching 80 degrees, until June 7. There's a 50% chance of showers that day. The National Weather Service predicts June 8 to be partly sunny.

Weather predictions can and will change. Check the forecast before heading out.

What to do

The 19th annual Seaside Craft Show will be held on the Bethany Beach boardwalk June 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's free to attend.

The 18th annual Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7 and 8. The grounds of the Lewes Historical Society on Shipcarpenter Street will be filled with over 70 vendors. Visit historiclewes.org for info.

Artists transform sea glass into jewelry and sell it at the Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival in Lewes.

Local favorites The Funsters will play the Lewes ferry grounds June 8 from 3 to 7 p.m. The show benefits the Greater Lewes Foundation's Fourth Street Preserve efforts. Tickets are $35. Get them at osalewes.org.

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Coastal Delaware Restaurant Week continues through June 6, featuring discounts and prix-fixe menus in Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. Visit beach-fun.com for a list of participants.

Funland in Rehoboth Beach has been open since mid-May. Jungle Jim's Waterpark in Rehoboth is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until June 14, when it will be open daily. Check the Thunder Lagoon Waterpark Facebook page for weekend hours in Fenwick Island. Whether or not Midway Speedpark's White Water Mountain opens depends on the weather.

Most beach towns are now hosting free events several times a week, including farmer's markets, movies and concerts. Check your town's webpage for more information.

Delaware beaches: All about the new Rehoboth Beach Patrol Headquarters on the boardwalk

What to know

The past few weekends have been blissfully uneventful in terms of crime, though we have seen several vehicles stuck on the beach already. Here's how not to do that.

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Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island all have teen curfews now. Those under 18 can't be in public places or businesses between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., except in Fenwick, where it's midnight to 6 a.m. There are some exceptions, like for those going to and from work.

Surf-fishing reservations are required on Delaware's drive-on beaches on weekends and holidays throughout the summer. Find out everything you need to know here.

Horseshoe crabs are harmless.

With the next full moon approaching (June 11), you're going to be seeing more and more horseshoe crabs on the Delaware beaches. They are harmless (the tail is for moving, not defense) and super important environmentally. If you see one flipped on its back, gently flip it over by its side.

Diamondback terrapins also are in the area at this time of year. In the bays especially, look for their little heads on top of the water. Keep an eye out for them on roads near beaches. If you see one in the road, you can pick it up by the middle of its shell and help it across in the direction it was going. Don't move it any further. If you get super lucky, you might see newly hatched diamondback terrapins on the beach, making their way to the water for the first time.

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As always, don't forget to pay for parking, or better yet, take the DART bus.

Need to know: Your 2025 guide to parking at the Delaware beaches

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Weekly beach summer guide to the Delaware Beaches
KABUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan interim government has attracted and invested more than 117 million U.S. dollars in the power sector over the past two months, the office of the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs announced on Wednesday.

The projects include the construction of 95 megawatts of solar power facilities in the northern provinces of Balkh, western Herat, and eastern Nangarhar and Laghman, along with a 43.2 megawatt wind power project in Herat, said the office.

Additionally, the projects involve the construction of substations in the southern Kandahar and Zabul provinces, as well as the extension of transmission lines from Helmand to Kandahar, the source added.

The energy projects are expected to benefit approximately 100,000 households and hundreds of industrial factories across Afghanistan, it said.

Afghanistan has long struggled with a power shortage, relying heavily on electricity imports from neighboring countries, such as Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. 
MATTESON, Ill. (WGN)  A teen boy is in custody on Wednesday morning after another teen was injured in a shooting outside of a community center in the south suburbs on Tuesday afternoon.

According to police, the incident unfolded outside of the Matteson Community Center, located in the 20600 block of Matteson Avenue.

Officers and fire crews were called to the scene just before 4:30 p.m. following a report that a person had been shot.

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Crews arrived on the scene and found the victim, a 15-year-old boy, inside the community center suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was later taken to the hospital following the incident.

Police say a preliminary investigation indicates that the shooting stemmed from a fight between the victim and another teen, a 13-year-old boy, who fled on foot after opening fire.

According to police, the shooting occurred outside of the community center and the victim retreated back inside the facility after being shot, while the gunman fled.

Authorities said the alleged shooter was taken into custody about two hours after the incident in Richton Park, after a brief foot chase.

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Because of the shooting, the community center was closed early Tuesday, but it is expected to reopen Wednesday morning.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Additionally, police say there is currently no reason to believe that there is any threat to the community or anyone on the scene.

Investigators say they are now working with staff at the community center to review any surveillance video and to identify any witnesses.

Charges have not yet been announced against the teen currently in custody.

Anyone who has information on the shooting is asked to contact the Matteson Police Department through their non-emergency line at 708-503-3130 or submit tips through the Villages website via Tip411.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A person is dead after a single-vehicle crash Wednesday morning.

The crash occurred around 12:02 a.m., in the area of E. Whipp Road.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office confirmed that the crash occurred due to a failure to control the vehicle. The motorcyclist was declared deceased at the scene.

The Montgomery County Coroners Office later confirmed that the person deceased was Kris Brown, 47. The cause and manner of death have not been determined.

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Officers were there for around 5 hours. Centerville Police assisted with the scene as well.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Jun. 3One man is dead following an alleged gun fight outside a Lawrenceville gas station early Tuesday evening in Pittsburgh.

TribLive news partner WTAE reports that two men were allegedly shooting at one another just before 4 p.m. near the Sunoco gas station on the 5000 block of Butler Street.

Police told WTAE that one of the men was pronounced dead at the scene after he'd been shot at multiple times, and the other man called 911 after the shooting. He was taken into custody and is being interviewed at police headquarters, according to Pittsburg public safety officials.

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.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A driver was taken to the hospital this morning after crashing into a tree.

According to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center, the crash happened around 1:31 a.m. Wednesday in the area of E. Third Street.

Photo by Cameron Cooper/WDTN.

The condition of the driver is unknown at this time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
One person has been hurt following a crash in Huntersville on Tuesday afternoon.

It happened around 2 p.m. on Old Statesville Road near McCord Road.

ALSO READ: 1 killed after car flips through wall on Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville

MEDIC said that the person was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
GREENWOOD, S.C. (WSPA)  A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for reportedly shooting another man during an argument in Greenwood.

Around 3:30 p.m., officers with the Greenwood Police Department were dispatched to Truett Avenue following reports of the shooting. Upon arrival, police learned that an argument between two individuals led to the incident.

Officers identified Jaylan Keshawn Carter as the suspected shooter.

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It was reported that during the argument, Carter allegedly presented a weapon and fired multiple shots at the victim, hitting him several times, police said.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in a personal vehicle prior to officers arrival.

Police found Carter hours after the shooting at a residence on Truett Avenue with the help of neighbors providing video footage that led to the suspects arrest.

He was charged with attempted murder & possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and booked into the Greenwood County Detention Center, according to officers.

The shooting remains an active investigation by the Greenwood Police Department.

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Officers mentioned that additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Greenwood City Detective Division at (864) 942-8407.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From family picnics to enjoying the beach, Kopachuck State Park near Gig Harbor is known for its scenic views.

Since June 3, 2024, the park has been closed for a $10 million renovation. The team is now in the final stretch of that project, and hopes to reopen the park in August.

The renovations include a welcome center, community meeting hall, a new playground and a space for outdoor learning. Of existing components, there will be improved parking lots, restrooms, increased accessibility for people with disabilities and enhanced pathways to the beach. Roads and utilities will also be upgraded.

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An outdoor amphitheater was built in the upper day-use area of the park, Washington State Parks spokesperson Meryl Lassen said. Wooden ramps and stairs were also added across the park in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. That means the beach, amphitheater and other amenities will be more accessible for visitors.

This map show the improvements underway at Kopachuck State Park. Washington State Parks

Kopachuck closure background

Crews discovered in 2011 that 80% of the trees in the parks campground were infected with a fungus called laminated root rot, according to the Kopachuck State Park website. After further research, park officials decided to close the campground area permanently for safety reasons.

In 2014, Washington State Parks created a master plan to improve the day-use area of the park, Lassen said. Ten years later, construction began. Lassen described the lengthy process as playing the long game.

Obtaining permits and funding slowed the process. Its a state-funded project, and the total contract amount is $9,956,107.06.

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Lassen said some residents have expressed concern over the years about the loss of trees and the modernization of the park taking away from its natural environment.

Our mission is to preserve and maintain parks for generations to come, Lassen said. Our commitment is not just their immediate recreation value, but also their long-term health and sustainability.

She said officials will announce a reopening date when the project is further along, possibly in mid-July.
About 100 staff at the Milwaukee Job Corps Center are expected to lose their jobs in June as the result of recent actions by the U.S. Department of Labor to pause its national workforce program.

In a late May announcement, the federal labor department cited poor performance outcomes and high operation costs as reason for its plans to suspend operations at 99 contract-operated Job Corps centers across the U.S., including Milwaukee's, by the end of June.

The Milwaukee Job Corps Center, 6665 N. 60th St., will pause its operations in June in response to directives from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Job Corps program dates to 1964. It provides room and board, high school diplomas, specific job skills training, and other employment services for people ages 16 through 24. Participants must qualify as low income and face "barriers to education and employment."

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Examples of those who are enrolled in Job Corps include people with a history of homelessness, who dropped out of the K-12 education system or who have been victims of sex trafficking. About 25,000 people are enrolled nationally, federal data show.

Milwaukee's location, 6665 N. 60th St., is operated by contractor Horizon Youth Services. Via email on June 2, President Nolyn Fueller said the program has awarded 1,354 high school diplomas and 2,515 career and technical training completions since opening in 2011.

Layoffs will affect all staff at the Milwaukee location: residential counselors, academic instructors, mental health consultants, security officers, cooks and others, according to a June 2 notification from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

"The termination of this contract will result in layoffs that are expected to be permanent," the DWD notification says.

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A June 3 legal complaint brought by the National Job Corps Association, a trade organization for contractors operating the program, seeks to prevent the federal pause. Among other allegations, the lawsuit filed in New York calls the federal labor department's actions "illegal" and "fundamentally irrational."

'It was working'

Jamie De Jesus has volunteered at the Milwaukee location for the last two years. He believes ending the program could increase the crime rate, put young people in vulnerable situations and make it more difficult for potential future students to get jobs.

Theyre making life-changing decisions on people whose life they can never relate to, De Jesus said of the Trump administration.

De Jesus said he reached out to Milwaukee Area Technical College and Milwaukee County to find some possible solutions.

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Lets revamp what we got and keep these people from being homeless, De Jesus said, adding of the roughly 120 students who are affected by the closure, 30 could be homeless or have inconsistent housing.

The Milwaukee Job Corps Center, 6665 N. 60th St., will pause its operations in June in response to directives from the U.S. Department of Labor.

De Jesus said hes reached out to different organizations to help with housing and mental health for the students.

Money makes the world go round, right? But conversation rules the nation, De Jesus said. If we keep communicating with each other to find out what our needs are, we all have a better chance of survival.

The federal funding for Job Corps was operational, De Jesus said, and the budget was tight. But the program was trending in the right direction.

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We were working on getting Job Corps more volunteering so they were more active in the community. They were building relationships, De Jesus said. They had a workforce board to find out what companies wanted, and companies were even hiring the students from there. It was working.

Aside from his volunteer work, De Jesus works for the Innovative Educational Solutions Institute, a nonprofit that offers job training to people with financial or physical limitations.

De Jesus said there are two machinist interns and an administrative assistant intern with Innovative Educational Solutions Institute. Like many companies with interns coming to the end of their training, De Jesus said they asked them where they wanted to get lunch.

Their response hit me ... We dont know any place to go eat? De Jesus recalled. Its about exposure for youths, at this point. Exposing them to as many things as we can, whether it be different foods, different areas of employment, different career paths. And just trying to educate them and let them know that theyre not forgotten about.

The Milwaukee Job Corps Center, 6665 N. 60th St., will pause its operations in June in response to directives from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor Department points to program costs, graduation rates

In explaining its decision to suspend the program, the U.S. Department of Labor pointed to a "first-ever Job Corps Transparency Report" released in April that includes data on graduation rates, operational costs and safety infractions at program sites.

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For the Milwaukee location, that data showed an enrollment of 245 students in the 2023 program year, at an average cost per participant of $37,457. Of those students, 73 were considered to have graduated, meaning they either obtained a high school diploma, GED or completed a career technical training program.

In a statement on May 29, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer cited that report in saying the Job Corps program was "no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve."

The lawsuit seeking to maintain Job Corps alleges the federal government's report on the program "applies a flawed methodology and reflects selective and inaccurate performance measures, costs, and statistics, intended to significantly understate Job Corps performance and overstate its costs."

In June 3 letter addressed to Chavez-DeRemer, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, called the program pause "misguided" and a "functional cancellation."

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She urged the federal government to reverse course.

"Employers in the Milwaukee area value Job Corps graduates as strong, reliable contributors in the workplace, and losing that connection will add to the challenge of filling open jobs," Baldwin's letter said.

Future of Job Corps location in Laona unclear

The future of Wisconsin's second Job Corps center, in the north-central town of Laona, is unclear.

The Laona location, Blackwell Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, is operated by the U.S. Forest Service Job Corps. In a statement on June 3, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the department is reviewing the job corps program and "will determine the status of our 24 centers soon."

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"The Trump Administration is looking critically at the way we do business, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the best possible service for our customers, and the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars," the statement added. "We continue to work closely with DOL and Congress to ensure USDA Job Corps facilities continue to prioritize the health and safety of program participants."

Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit jsonline.com/rfa.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Federal actions to pause services at Milwaukee Job Corps center
Editors note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the degree of the felony charge. The defendant is charged with Injury to a Child, a third-degree felony. The article has been updated for accuracy.

MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland woman is facing a felony charge after investigators say she physically abused a 13-year-old girl who had been living in her care since being brought to the U.S. from Mexico.

Credit: MCSO Records (Not the current mugshot)

Elizabeth Alvarez Macias, 42, is charged with injury to a child, a third-degree felony, following a joint investigation by the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

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According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies initially responded to Macias residence on May 29, 2025, for a report of a runaway. Macias told deputies the girl had run away two days earlier. At the scene, Macias reportedly refused to hand over the childs phone, saying she was waiting for her to call.

Later that same day, a DFPS investigator received a separate intake report regarding allegations of physical abuse involving the same child, who had since been located at a friends residence in an RV park nearby. The juvenile was transported to the Midland Childrens Advocacy Center, where she participated in a forensic interview.

There, the child made several outcries, sharing her history of trauma and abuse. She said she was born in Mexico and had been placed into the care of Macias around 2016 after being removed from her biological parents. Her father, she said, had gone to prison for sexually abusing her older sister. Her mother is reportedly homeless and still in Mexico.

The child also alleged that when she was seven years old, she and her younger sister were sexually assaulted by a male acquaintance of her mothers friend. She described being inappropriately touched and said that after the assault, she asked Macias for therapy due to the trauma, but was denied because Macias allegedly told her she was illegal.

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The girl recounted sleeping on the floor or in a closet and being physically assaulted with a belt on multiple occasions, including days prior to her most recent runaway incident.

Investigators documented bruising and scratches on the girls body, allegedly caused by Macias hitting her with a brown leather work belt and digging her nails into the girls face. Macias reportedly admitted to striking the child, acknowledging she had used the belt and caused the injuries, which matched markings seen in photographs taken by authorities.

The girl also revealed she had not been enrolled in school since 2021, claiming Macias told her she couldnt attend due to being undocumented. Instead, she was told to focus on cleaning and learning to be a housewife. The girl shared with officials that she was afraid of being deported, adding that she had multiple previous runaway attempts that caused her to have to sleep under bleachers for two days without food.

During the interview, the girl claimed that her identity documents were fabricated using paperwork from another child in Mexico, casting additional concern on the circumstances surrounding her guardianship and entry into the U.S., according to officials.

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Following the forensic interview and further investigation, MCSO investigators submitted a request for an arrest warrant and emergency protective order against Elizabeth Alvarez Macias. Authorities have charged her with Injury to a Child, a third-degree felony.

According to arrest documents, Macias was arrested on Friday, May 30. Her bond remains unknown, due to her name no longer appearing on the Midland County Detention Centers Currently Held Detainees Page.

There is no update or information available on the childs condition or placement.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A 14-year-old boy was shot Saturday evening after a fist fight spiraled out of control near Miami International Airport, deputies say. Three days later, as the young boy recovers, a 17-year-old was caught and charged for the alleged shooting.

Around 5 p.m. Saturday, Adrian Emmanuel Corrales, 17, and the 14-year-old planned a scuffle at a shopping plaza in the Fontainbleau neighborhood, 8000 block of Northwest Seventh Street, an arrest report details. The younger teen arrived in a car with three other males, whose ages were not revealed, while Corrales walked alone.

Corrales and the teen have a checkered history, the report describing it as ...[the pair] are known to each other as they have had personal issues in the past.

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As the two approached each other, Corrales pulled out a gun and shot the unarmed 14-year-old two times  hitting him once in the chest and once in the left leg. Corrales ran off shortly after.

The young teen was rushed to Jackson West Medical Center, before being transferred to Jackson Memorials Ryder Trauma Center. He remains in critical but stable condition.

Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office detectives tracked down Corrales in the ensuing days of the shooting by sifting through surveillance footage. On Tuesday morning, Detective Angel Alvarez arrested Corrales and took him to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

It is unclear if Corrales remained at the center Tuesday night. He was charged with attempted second degree murder with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a minor.
BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China's drug regulator has approved the country's first domestically developed 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, ending over a decade of foreign dominance in the market.

The vaccine, Cecolin 9, has been included on a list of approved medical products that was made public by the National Medical Products Administration on Wednesday.

"The approval of Cecolin 9 not only offers more vaccination options for eligible women in China, but is also expected to improve vaccine accessibility and coverage, reducing the risk of cervical cancer further," said Zhang Jun, dean of the School of Public Health at Xiamen University and a leading member of the vaccine development team.

HPV vaccines are commonly used to prevent cervical cancer in women, as well as genital cancers and warts in both men and women.

Cecolin 9, which targets nine HPV strains, was developed by Xiamen University, the Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory and Xiamen Innovax Biotech Co., Ltd., marking a breakthrough in China's ability to produce high-valency HPV vaccines independently.

China is now the second country -- after the United States -- capable of supplying 9-valent HPV vaccines.

Compared to bivalent HPV vaccines, which are effective against two high-risk genotypes (HPV 16 and 18), 9-valent HPV vaccines protect against an additional five high-risk genotypes (HPV 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) and two low-risk genotypes (HPV 6 and 11), and provide better protection against cervical cancer.

Over 18 years of research, scientists overcame major technical challenges in producing virus-like particles (VLPs) from multiple HPV types using an E. coli platform, and completed crucial clinical trial validation processes.

Five related clinical trials have been conducted across China since 2019, and the vaccine has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and a strong immune response, comparable to those of similar international products.

Statistics show that globally, approximately 700,000 cancer cases each year are associated with HPV, including an estimated 530,000 cases of cervical cancer. Vaccination is up to 94 percent effective in preventing HPV infection.

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, aiming for 90 percent of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15 by 2030.

In alignment with the WHO strategy, China's National Health Commission launched a cervical cancer elimination action plan for the 2022-2030 period, urging the expansion of HPV vaccination coverage nationwide. 
Recently, Reddit user Apprehensive_Way8674 asked, "What US historical fact/event do you tell people when they say America has never been as screwed up as it is now?"

People had A LOT to say in the comments. Here are some of the best and most interesting replies:

1."We were literally minutes away from nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis."

STF / AFP via Getty Images

bushinkaishodan

"Maybe only prevented because one Soviet Navy officer, Vasily Arkhipov, refused to consent to a nuclear torpedo launch (three officers had to consent; the other two did.)"

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kurinbo

2."Hundreds of years of chattel slavery that tortured millions of people."

Fotosearch / Getty Images

National_Ad_682

"And the whole Civil War."

Mooonstoner

3."The Vietnam War. Citizens were fighting each other over it. The government drafted young men against their will and sent them off to an unpopular war to be killed. Those who made it home were ignored and vilified."

Kypros / Getty Images

ACynicalOptomist

4."The Ohio National Guard murdering four Kent State college students protesting the Vietnam War wasn't great either."

Howard Ruffner / Getty Images

smithsapam

Related: People In HR Revealed Truly Unhinged Reasons Employees Got Fired, And My Jaw Is On The Floor

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5."The Japanese internment camps post-Pearl Harbor were pretty bad."

Historical / Corbis via Getty Images

Agreeable_Cat_9728

6."I realize that the existence of Hamilton has made it kind of iconic in pop culture, but it's super messed up that an acting vice president shot and killed a former cabinet member. And all the charges were dropped!"

blueeyesredlipstick

"Dropping the charges and convictions of January 6 rioters is far more shocking. Those traitorous animals were on video attacking our nation's capital!"

Blecher_onthe_Hudson

"And don't forget that Dick Cheney shot a guy, too!"

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CYMK_Pro

7."The Trail of Tears was all kinds of bad."

Interim Archives / Getty Images

AudibleNod

8."The murder of Emmett Till. In addition to how disgusting this was, it wasnt even that long ago. Both my parents were alive at the time, and Im only 36."

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

Didntlikedefaultname

Related: "I've Worked In Various Prisons. I Will Take A Men's Over Women's Any Day Of The Week. Shit Is Scary": Former Female Inmates Are Sharing Their Most Disturbing Prison Experiences, And My Jaw Is Literally On The Floor

9."Red Summer, aka the destruction of Black neighborhoods in 1919 by white vigilantes (sometimes referred to as 'race riots' to downplay their destruction)."

Chicago History Museum / Getty Images

No-Drive-8922

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10."The forced Americanization of Hawaiian natives following the unlawful invasion of the Hawaiian Islands in 1893."

Universal History Archive / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

kalahiki808

11."I honestly believe that this country was broken from its inception. A bunch of wealthy, slave-owning white men didnt want to pay taxes anymore, so they rebelled. Before and after the Revolutionary War, people came here in the hopes of getting rich off of the new world. We expanded west and committed genocide for that purpose."

DEA PICTURE LIBRARY / De Agostini via Getty Images

BrynxStelvagn

12."The US Army's buffalo extermination campaign in the ongoing war against Native Americans."

Gado / Gado via Getty Images

Walkingnerd_

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13."Many Americans supported eugenics in the early 1900s. The Nazis took many of their ideas from the American eugenics movement."

Found Image Holdings Inc / Corbis via Getty Images

af_cheddarhead

14."The unethical and immoral Tuskegee Syphilis Study perpetrated against Black men."

FPG / Getty Images

satan_messiah

15."The Gilded Age was pretty bad for average people. Up until banking reforms, the economy crashed every few years."

Photo 12 / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

SiegelGT

16."The Italian Hall Disaster on Christmas Eve, 1913. Someone yelled 'fire' (there was no fire) at a crowded party that was attended by striking copper miners and their families. People panicked and rushed to the exits. 73 people died from being crushed to death."

Underwood Archives / Getty Images

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"There was a lot of confusion because most of the witnesses did not speak English. It is widely believed that the shouter was wearing a badge from a local anti-union group. The anti-union group later shot and kidnapped the president of the union."

Think_Seaweed_7314

17.And finally, one Reddit user asks an important question: "Does this context make our current situation any better?Shouldn't we be learning from our mistakes throughout history so we don't end up in fucked up situations like the one we're in now?"

GWS2004

H/T r/AskReddit

Some replies have been edited for length and clarity.

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Also in Internet Finds: The History We're Taught Is Wildly Sanitized, So Here 28 Disturbing Historical Events Everyone Should Be Aware Of

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SEATTLE (AP)  Two men arrested in Washington state with an arsenal that included dozens of guns, explosives and body armor, along with Nazi paraphernalia, were former military members who attacked a soldier with a hammer while stealing gear from Joint Base Lewis-McChord last weekend, investigators say.

Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday night at their home in Lacey, near Olympia, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court. Federal court records did not list an attorney for either man.

One of the defendants told investigators the pair had been stealing equipment from the base for the past two years to sell or trade, and agents found about $24,000 in cash at the home, wrote Special Agent Christopher J. Raguse of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

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Washington state business license records show that Frakes and Fields have a company called Sovereign Solutions, which featured an SS logo with the letters separated by a lightning bolt. Its website advertises Quality Training and Equipment for the Modern Warfighter, including marksmanship classes, as well as a T-shirt with the company logo and the words Professional War Crime Committer.

The federal complaint charges them with robbery, assault and theft of government property. They also face investigation on state charges of unlawful possession of incendiary devices, short-barreled rifles and a machine gun. Each was being held at the Thurston County Jail on $500,000 bail.

Agents found rifles staged at the upstairs windows, a probable cause affidavit filed in Thurston County Superior Court said. The federal complaint said agents observed numerous Nazi/white supremacy memorabilia, murals, and literature in every bedroom and near several stockpiles of weapons and military equipment.

Photos from inside the home included in court documents showed a wall decorated with a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika and a black SS flag  the letters shaped like lightning bolts  referencing the Schutzstaffel, the Nazi paramilitary led by Heinrich Himmler.

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According to the complaint, a soldier entered a building at the Army Ranger compound at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Sunday night and found two men, partially masked, with a cluster of U.S. Army property around them. The soldier questioned them about what they were doing and told them to pull down their masks, which they did.

A fight ensued, and one of the men brandished a hammer and struck the soldier in the head. The soldier continued to fight despite losing a large amount of blood and managed to get control of the hammer  at which point, one of the men pulled a knife. The soldier then let them go, the complaint said.

They had attempted to steal about $14,000 worth of body armor, ballistic helmets and communications equipment Sunday, most of which they left behind when they dropped their rucksacks as they fled, the complaint said.

During the fight, one of the men dropped his hat. It said Fields on the inside. Using base entry logs and surveillance video, investigators determined that Fields and Frakes had entered Lewis-McChord together about an hour before the attack, investigators said.

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Additionally, the wounded soldier, who required hospital treatment, told investigators that he asked around his unit about the name Fields after finding it on the hat. The soldier learned that Fields had been assigned to the Ranger Battalion around 2021, and he was able to identify him as one of the attackers based on photos shown to him by others in his unit, the complaint said.

The men had access to the base because they were veterans, the probable cause statement filed in state court said.

Court documents did not include details of Frakes military service. Public information officers for Department of Defense, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Army CID did not immediately provide further information about the mens service history in response to requests from The Associated Press.

The FBI executed a search warrant at a home shared by the defendants on Monday and arrested them.

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Authorities said agents seized about 35 firearms at the home, including short-barreled rifles and an MG42 machine gun  a type typically supported with a bipod and which was used by German troops during World War II.

Other seized gear included 3D-printed silencers and Army-issued gear that included explosives such as smoke grenade and blasting caps, ballistic plates and helmets, and night-vision devices, authorities said.
DENVER (KDVR)  Two men were arrested after a shooting near Coors Field sent one person to the hospital on Monday night.

The Denver Police Department said Joseph Valdez, 18, and Randall Valdez, 22, were arrested in connection with a shooting in the area of 22nd Street and Larimer Street, a few blocks from Coors Field.

Around 8:41 p.m. on Monday, police said they responded to a report of a shooting and found a man with a gunshot wound. He was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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Police then responded to reports of shots fired in the 2700 block of Blake Street around 9:06 p.m., which is where they apprehended the suspects. Two separate reports said the suspects fired shots at people in this location, but no one was injured.

Upon further investigation, the department said the initial incident may have started as a verbal altercation and possibly a robbery that escalated into a shooting. Police are still trying to determine what led to the second incident.

The department said Randall faces attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, felony menacing and attempted aggravated robbery charges, while Joseph is being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and felony menacing charges.

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The investigation is ongoing, and police are asking anyone who witnessed or has photos or video of the incident to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).

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A pair of men are facing charges in connection with a shooting near University Park in Worcester that left a person with a graze wound from a gunshot.

Luis Ozuna, 25, and Raymond Leblanc, 25, are each charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count each of armed assault to murder, firearm use in felony, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license and firearm discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling. A third suspect, Lugardo Flores, 25, faces the same charges, police said in a statement.

At around 8:09 p.m. on May 27, Worcester police were called to the area of University Park, near the intersection of Illinois and Gates streets. Witnesses told police they heard between 10 and 12 gunshots.

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Police found several shell casings in the area. Some time after the incident, a 21-year-old arrived at a hospital with a graze wound to their head. Police described the injury as non-life-threatening. Two motor vehicles were damaged by the gunshots, police said.

The shooting remains under investigation.

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ST. LOUIS  Two more people have been arrested and charged for stealing copper wire in a neighborhood devastated by the May 16 tornado.

According to probable cause statements from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the thefts happened Monday, June 2, in the 4600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, located in the Greater Ville neighborhood.

Police said officers working security detail in the neighborhoods devastated by the St. Louis tornado saw two men taking copper wire and placing it in shopping carts.

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Officers approached the two men, identified as Irvin Carroll, 56, and Christopher Lindsey, 46, and inquired where they got the wire. Lindsey allegedly told police Ameren gave them the wire for free. The two men were then arrested.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged both Carroll and Lindsey with stealing  $750 or more. They remain jailed without bond, pending a court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

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NEED TO KNOW

After a "thorough investigation" into the May 2024 death of 15-year-old Ella Adler, two men have been charged by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Adler was fatally struck by a boat after falling while wakeboarding on May 11, 2024

Carlos Guillermo Alonso and Edmund Richard Hartley have been charged with multiple misdemeanors for their alleged involvement in the tragedy







Two men have been charged in the death of Ella Adler, a 15-year-old ballerina who was killed in a boating accident in May 2024.

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Adler was fatally struck by a boat after falling while wakeboarding on May 11 on a beach in Key Biscayne, Florida. In a statement shared on Instagram at the time, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) revealed that they were searching for the driver of the boat that allegedly hit Adler after it left the scene.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso was later identified as the owner, according to an incident report reviewed by PEOPLE in May 2024. At the time, no charges had been handed down.

After a "thorough investigation" conducted by the FWC, Alonso and Edmund Richard Hartley, who was driving the boat towing Adler, have both been charged with multiple misdemeanors, the FWC confirmed to PEOPLE.

Levitt-Weinstein Memorial Chapels & Cemeteries Ella Adler Ella Adler

According to a FWC statement obtained by PEOPLE, Alonso was charged with Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #2  Responsibility and Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #5  Look-out.

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Hartley received four charges: Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #2  Responsibility, Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #5  Look-out, Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #7  Risk of Collision and Violation of U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Rule #8  Action to Avoid Collision.



They have both pleaded not guilty, according to the Associated Press.

The charges were handed down in April 2025 and are all related to Careless Operation of a Vessel.

"The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ella Adler. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss," the organization said in the statement.

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Lauren Field Krasnoff, a lawyer representing Alonso, spoke out about the tragedy in May 2024, saying that he "had absolutely no idea" that he allegedly struck Adler and that he was "as devastated as anybody could be," per NBC 6.

We are devastated for the Adlers, for their friends, their family, theres no question in our minds that this is a absolutely horrific thing that happened and we pray for and think of their family and friends during this time, Krasnoff said.

At the time, Krasnoff said that Alonso was working with the police on the investigation.

He has had no contact with the criminal system. He does not drink, and he was not drinking on that Saturday, she added.

Kiko Ricote/Getty Stock photo of Key Biscayne in Florida Stock photo of Key Biscayne in Florida

According to the incident report PEOPLE reviewed in 2024, Alonso was only on the boat with one other person at the time of the accident. It was not clear then if he was driving the vehicle.

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PEOPLE reached out to Krasnoff for additional comment on Wednesday, June 4.

In her obituary, Adler was described as "a force of nature."

"When she was near, everyone felt a gravitational pull toward her," the tribute read, adding that "she emanated love and joy."

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It continued: "She loved to dance, she loved her friends, and most of all she loved her family - her parents, Amanda and Matthew, and her younger siblings Jaden and Adalynn."

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As a dancer, Adler performed in "over 100 performances" of The Nutcracker with Miami City Ballet at the Adrienne Arsht Center. She also danced in high school and had recently appeared in a school play.

"She was loyal. She was compassionate. She always believed in speaking up for what was right and she always spoke her mind, but with warmth and grace," the obituary read.



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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Two incoming Tyler Junior College students were awarded scholarships from the East Texas Leadership Summit.

Elysian Fields ISD announces interim superintendent

Diego Castro, a recent Tyler Legacy High School graduate, and Fernanda Palacios, a recent Winnsboro High School graduate, were both awarded scholarships during the summit. The summit was held by the Hispanic Professionals Association of Tyler (HPAT) as they strive to create opportunities for learning, networking and collaboration in the East Texas community.

Courtesy of Tyler Junior Community College

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Castro will be attending TJC this fall and will be part of the Texas A&M Engineering Academy focusing on mechanical engineering. Palacios will also be attending TJC this summer looking to begin a career in radiologic technology.

East Texas Leadership Summit co-chair Ebb Torres and his organization will continue to strive to empower students across East Texas.

All profits from the East Texas Leadership Summit go toward providing scholarships for students in Smith and surrounding counties, Torres said HPAT is on a passionate mission to uplift and empower the promising young minds of our community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.






NEED TO KNOW

A 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder following a shooting on Walnut Acres Drive in Mountain View, N.C., shortly after midnight on Sunday, June 1, police have said

Garon Nathaniel Killian is being held under no bond after one person died in the shooting and 11 others were injured

"Arrests of additional suspects are anticipated," police said in a news release shared on Facebook







A 20-year-old man has been arrested after a mass shooting at a North Carolina party over the weekend left one dead and 11 injured.

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On Tuesday, June 3, the Catawba County Sheriffs Office confirmed that Garon Nathaniel Killian, of Lenoir, N.C., had been taken into custody in relation to the shooting, which occurred on Walnut Acres Drive in Mountain View at around 12:45 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 1, per a news release shared on Facebook.

Killian has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, police said, adding that the suspect is being held under no bond in the Newton Detention Facility.

He's due to appear in Catawba County District Court on Wednesday, June 4, the post added.

"Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants on Tuesday as part of the ongoing investigation. Arrests of additional suspects are anticipated," the release stated.

Catawba County Sheriff's Office Garon Nathaniel Killian Garon Nathaniel Killian

Per the Associated Press, the victim has been identified as 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood, of Lenoir, citing the sheriff's office. Hood was reportedly the oldest of the victims, who ranged in age, the news agency reported, adding that the youngest was thought to have been 16.

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The initial sheriff's office Facebook post on Sunday confirmed that 12 people had been injured in the shooting, one of whom was deceased. At the time, police said that one of the victims was in critical condition, while several others remained hospitalized.

WCNC/YouTube Authorities are pictured at the scene of the mass shooting on Walnut Acres Drive in Mountain View, N.C. Authorities are pictured at the scene of the mass shooting on Walnut Acres Drive in Mountain View, N.C.

Per the AP, at least 80 shots were fired, and people were reportedly "running, ducking for cover and scrambling to their cars for safety." The outlet stated some victims suffered gunshot wounds, while others suffered injuries from trying to flee the scene.

Police have been asking the public for camera footage from the evening of Saturday, May 31, in multiple Facebook posts about the shooting. The FBI has also been offering a reward up to $15,000 for any information leading to the identity, arrest and successful prosecution of the suspect, per an FBI Charlotte Facebook post.

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 FBI post shared on Monday evening stated that four victims remained hospitalized that afternoon following the incident.

Catawba County Sheriffs Office Major Aaron Turk said the crime scene "spanned several properties along a neighborhood road, covering about 2 acres," per the AP. Turk added that it included outdoor and indoor areas.

Turk and the Catawba County Clerk of Court didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.



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NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  The Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office has arrested a 22-year-old Alto woman for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and endangering a child after an altercation on Sunday.

East Texas police officer charged with sexually assaulting a child

According to a press release from the sheriffs office, deputies were sent to the 5400 block of FM 1638 just north west of Nacogdoches at around 12:40 p.m. on Sunday because of a reported altercation.

Mugshot of Rayla Eleigha Upshaw, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail.

Deputies arrived to investigate the altercation and learned that Rayla Eleigha Upshaw, 22 of Alto, had been accused of crashing the back of her vehicle into the front of another vehicle, the sheriffs office stated.

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Deputies also learned that Upshaw had a one-year-old child in her vehicle at the time of the crash, according to the press release.

Upshaw was then arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and endangering a child, according to jail records. Shes currently being held at the Nacogdoches County Jail on a total bond of $60,000.

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SYDNEY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A man has been hospitalized after being assaulted by a group of armed home invaders in western Sydney in Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW).

Australia's Seven Network's broadcast news service 7NEWS reported on Wednesday that emergency services were called to reports of a break-in at a home in Werrington Downs, 47 km west of central Sydney, shortly after 1:20 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Police arrived at the home and found a 55-year-old male resident with injuries. He was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital.

Officers were told that a group of three unknown men armed with a machete and a hammer attempted to force entry into the home before assaulting the 55-year-old man. The group then fled the scene.

A crime scene has been established and police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

It comes after a teenage boy was hospitalized in April with a slash wound to his left hand sustained when he was assaulted by a group of three men armed with a machete who tried to force their way into a home in the neighboring suburb of Werrington County. 
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  A two-year-long investigation by the Wichita Falls Police Departments Special Operations Division and the FBIs Wichita Falls Agency ended with 22 defendants pleading guilty to drug charges.

The investigation began in October 2022 for illegal narcotics being distributed throughout Wichita Falls and North Texas. The FBIs Wichita Falls Resident Agency joined the investigation in March 2023.

PREVIOUS STORY: List of suspects arrested in major federal operation

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Police said over the next year, hours of surveillance, interviews, search warrants, and controlled buys were conducted to build a successful Federal conspiracy case.

6,789.2 grams of methamphetamine, 719 grams of powder cocaine, 55.1 grams of crack cocaine, 2,197 counterfeit M-30 pills laced with Fentanyl, 50 grams of powder Fentanyl, nine firearms, and $80,714 were seized.

On May 16, 2024, WFPD, the FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, Wichita County Sheriffs Office, and the United States Marshals conducted a large-scale arrest operation in Wichita Falls and Vernon. Twenty-two subjects were arrested on Federal Conspiracy drug charges.

Dominique Hall (40-year-old) (210 months) DMetrius Brooks (37-year-old) (360 months) Dywane Graham (49-year-old) (150 months) Stanley Britt (58-year-old) (40 months) Sarah Parker (40-year-old) (87 months) Dwight Simpson (49-year-old) (130 months) Shedrick Cyrus (39-year-old) (135 months) Jaryd Howard (32-year-old) (70 months) Jimmie Williams (58-year-old) (78 months) Robert Collins (56-year-old) (120 months) Kenzie Lozano (38-year-old) (87 months) Jack Cline (32-year-old) (135 months) Jewel Fletcher (46-year-old) (168 months) Ujamaa Ballard (28-year-old) (170 months) Samuel Manuel (48-year-old) (120 months) Madeline Kearney (38-year-old) (121 months) Tanga Wyatt (35-year-old) (84 months) Robert Bustamante (65-year-old) (60 months) Brandy Flowers (45-year-old) (151 months) Will Freeman (44-year-old) (168 months) Elisha Johnson (40-year-old) (140 months)

All 22 people were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Montes and pleaded guilty.

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The view of the state House chamber from the gallery on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. (File/Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Specia to the SC Daily Gazette)

A 24-year-old Bishopville City Council member will be the newest legislator at the Statehouse.

Democrat Keishan Scott cruised to victory Tuesday over former Sumter County GOP chair Bill Oden.

Scott received almost 71% of less than 3,700 votes cast in a special election for a state House seat representing all of Lee County and parts of Kershaw and Sumter counties, according to unofficial results from the state Election Commission.

Keishan Scott won the special election to replace Will Wheeler on June 3, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Keishan Scott)

This victory is not mine alone, but it belongs to all of the people  that got out and exercised their right to vote, Scott said to cheers at a victory speech broadcast on his Facebook speech.

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Scott is the youngest person to be elected to the Statehouse since Rep. Brandon Newton, a Lancaster Republican, won as a 22-year-old in 2016.

But the youngest person in at least modern times to be elected to the Legislature is former Sen. Sherry Shealy Martschink. The Mount Pleasant Republican was elected to the House in 1970 during her junior year at the University of South Carolina, only 14 days after her 21st birthday.

Others who were younger than Scott when first elected to the House include former Gov. David Beasley, who was also a 21-year-old college student from Society Hill when elected in 1978. Former Rep. Bakari Sellers was a 22-year-old in law school at USC when first elected in 2006. At the time, the Bamberg Democrat was the youngest Black legislator in the nation.

Scott, who won his first election to city council in 2023, will take over the seat vacated by Rep. Will Wheeler, a Bishopville Democrat who announced his resignation in January, just three days into this years legislative session.

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His surprising resignation left the rural district without a representative for the entirety of this years session.

I can promise you that every day I go into the Statehouse, I will carry the people with me, Scott, a preacher, said to the crowd moments before leading a prayer. Because certainly, its about people more than politics.

The election means nothing changes with the Republicans supermajority advantage in the House.

But it does restore the number of Democrats in the 124-member chamber to 36.

Wheeler ran unopposed in four of his five elections. The only time he faced GOP opposition was in 2022, when Republicans gained supermajority status in the chamber. The 2024 elections gave Republicans a supermajority in the Senate too.

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Oden, who recently concluded four years as head of the Sumter County Republican Party, said in a text to the Daily Gazette he lost tonight but had a ball running.

God has something better in store for me, he added.

Scotts victory ensured the Democratic Party didnt lose another seat in the Statehouse.

In an endorsement video posted on Scotts Facebook, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn emphasized Tuesdays election was a must win for Democrats.

Electing Scott will be the beginning of a Democratic comeback here in South Carolina. Clyburn said. Irrespective of where you live, how old you may be, whatever gender you may be, this is about the future of Democrats in South Carolina.

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Lee County had issues with counting votes in Novembers election and recount for a state Senate race that ousted Hartsville Democrat Gerald Malloy, who ultimately conceded ahead of his scheduled challenge.

The state Election Commission sent staff to Lee County to help during the primary, as well as Tuesdays special election, commission spokesperson John Catalano told the SC Daily Gazette.

In Aprils primary, Scott defeated Carl Whetsel, a retired chiropractor and Bishopville City Council member, by 11 votes after a recount.

In the unofficial count done days before, Scott only won by 10 votes. An automatic recount was required under state law since the winning margin was less than 1%.

With Tuesdays landslide victory, he can officially focus on making a difference in Columbia next year.

Your vote of confidence, he said to the crowd, it means the world to me.
CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Ethan Andrew Galloway, one of the two suspects who admitted to chasing down, shooting and killing a 17-year-old girl in Cedar City earlier this year, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder.

The guilty plea, which was entered on Tuesday, June 3, comes as part of a plea deal offered by the State of Utah.

Galloway, 24, was originally charged with first-degree felony murder, 12 counts of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm with serious bodily injury, second-degree felony obstructing justice, third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

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EARLIER: DETAILS: 2 arrested for murder after 17-year-old girl chased down, killed in Cedar City

As part of the plea deal, Galloway pleaded guilty to murder and five counts of felony discharge of a firearm. His remaining charges were dismissed. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.

Background

Galloway was arrested in January 2025 along with three other suspects  Michael Edward Hess-Witucki, 23, Matthew D. Sorber-Petrie, 23, and Aldric S. Felipe, 21. The four allegedly chased after the victims car, believing that she had been stalking them in their neighborhood.

An investigation later revealed that the victims car had been in the same townhome complex, but for unrelated reasons.

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The four men followed the victim to a remote location where Galloway reportedly fired twelve rounds, striking the 17-year-old victim multiple times and endangering the life of another minor in her passenger seat.

Upon their arrest, both Galloway and Hess-Witucki admitted to participating in the homicide. Hess-Witucki admitted to driving the car while Galloway admitted to shooting at the victims car. Meanwhile, Sorber-Petrie allegedly admitted to allowing the two to take his gun, and Felipe was aware of Galloway and Hess-Wituckis intent but did not attempt to stop them.

Out-of-state professor accused of 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a

The other suspects

Court records both Hess-Witucki and Felipe entered guilty pleas in April, while Sorber-Petrie is still awaiting trial.

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Hess-Witucki pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder and one count of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm with serious bodily injury. His remaining 11 charges of felony discharge of a firearm, second-degree felony obstruction of justice, third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance were dismissed.

Hess-Witucki will face sentencing on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Felipe pleaded guilty to second-degree felony obstruction of justice and third-degree felony possession of a firearm. His misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance was dismissed.

Felipes prison sentence was suspended during his sentence hearing on Tuesday, May 27. While Felipe will not serve time in prison, he was ordered to pay $3,600 in fines and will serve three years on probation.

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Sorber-Petries next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 25-year-old man will spend over a decade behind bars for a series of robberies near Anacostia Park two years ago.

The United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia announced Wednesday that David Crocker, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 18 years in prison for robbing people at gunpoint.

His sentence comes after he pleaded guilty to several counts of armed robbery in December 2023. He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a pistol.

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Tenants say church took down Pride decorations at DC apartment building

According to the attorneys office, Crocker robbed two people at gunpoint on Dec. 18, 2024, near Anacostia Park.

During the first robbery, he targeted a person in the 2200 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE. There, Crocker pulled out a black and silver pistol and took the victims phone, keys and wallet. After, he demanded the victim give him their PINs for their CashApp account and credit cards.

Later that same day, Crocker robbed another person who was on the Anacostia Railroad Bridge.

He again took out the pistol and took the victims bike, cell phone, keys and wallet. He was also able to get the victims PINs to their bank accounts.

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Moments after the robbery, United States Park police officers arrested Crocker and recovered the stolen items.

As part of his sentencing, Crocker was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a gun offender.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Mayor Muriel Bowsers proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 would leave more than 25,000 D.C. residents without health insurance due to Medicaid cuts.

On May 2, the Bowser Administration urged Congress to maintain the Districts Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, saying that changes will have severe impacts on the citys entire health care system.

DC Council votes to pause July 1 wage bump under Initiative 82

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Twenty days later, on May 27, cuts to Medicaid were announced during her budget presentation, with more than 25,000 residents expected to be impacted. Adults without children and adult caregivers between 138%-200% of the federal poverty level would be moved to D.C. Health Benefits Exchange, according to the mayors presentation.

The D.C. Health Benefits Exchange is expected to help around 90% of those losing access to Medicaid under the proposed eligibility changes, said Wayne Turnage, D.C. deputy mayor of health and human services.

It wont be precisely the same benefits structure, but it will be very close, Turnage said.

See full interview with Turnage below:

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The Basic Health Plan is being developed by the Executive Director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, Mila Kofman, in order to serve those individuals. Those eligible for the exchange program will need to apply once the program is fully up and ready in order to receive those benefits.

DC police recinds request to close Dupont Circle park during WorldPride after pushback from DC community

For the other 10% not covered by the program being developed, you may need to consider health insurance.

Shadow Rep. Oye Owolewa (D) said these changes could potentially lead to a health care crisis in the District, but he plans to take every step to ensure residents are prepared.

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As a pharmacist, an elected official, Ward 8 resident, we are reaching out to all of our residents who take or use D.C. Medicaid, Owolewa said. We are trying to find them alternative strategies to get health care. We are also going to be doing a lot of mens health round tables to make sure folks who are using D.C. Medicaid, or folks who are 21 years or older, know how to get their health insurance.

Many who lose access to Medicaid may need to rely on hospitals and clinics that offer uncompensated care, said Zach Gaumer, managing principle of Health Management Associates Washington, D.C. office. The company specializes in Medicaid and Medicare policy consulting for providers, payers, etc.

Medicaid is often thought of as the insurance of last resort for low-income individuals, Gaumer said. In a lot of cases, what happens to individuals when they lose Medicaid coverage is that they go uninsured. They have to turn to sources of care that are uncompensated.

Residents may also be able to go directly to their providers for additional resources and help on where they can get care at a reduced price or even at no cost, Gaumer said. Health care prices are the number one reason people go uninsured, he added.

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Its very expensive to insure individuals at this point in time, and it can be thousands of dollars a month to buy insurance, Gaumer said.

Republicans eye cuts to Medicaid

If you become ineligible for Medicaid, there are still ways to have lower health insurance plans and pay less for premiums.

Health Insurance Help

The Health Insurance Marketplace allows low-income families to explore health care plans that are tailored to their income.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Benefits and Coverage, also known as Obamacare, matches individuals with health care plans with the goal of being affordable. This is offered by private health insurance companies rather than through the federal government. Register here.

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DC Health Link offers users the option to compare plans to see if they qualify for lower monthly premiums.

Premiums

To assist with premiums, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers tax credits to help cover premiums. Its a refundable tax credit for eligible individuals and families to cover premiums purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. To get this credit, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return with Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC). This includes not being eligible for Medicare.

Click here for full eligibility requirements.

Fredericksburg mother voice fears about potential Medicaid cuts

Other health care assistance

Hotlines

D.C. Exchange has a hotline of (855) 532-5465 thats available Monday through Friday to assist with questions.

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PAN Foundation

The organization helps with health insurance premium grants for patients being treated for various disease states. U.S. Citizenship is not a requirement, and you must have an income that falls at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level.

The grant can help cover a portion of the premium costs for the following diseases:

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Additional programs can help with prescription costs, HIV/AIDS treatment and more.

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  A second person faces charges in connection with a murder on Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Sioux Falls ramps up mosquito control

Federal court documents that were unsealed Wednesday say Drew Durand, 24, is charged with accessory after the fact and Misprision of a Felony.

The Rapid City woman is accused of committing those crimes last August, around the same time that Sahela Sangrait disappeared.

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Investigators say Sangrait was murdered on the base and a hiker found her body in March. Ellsworth Airman Quinerius Chappelle is accused of murdering Sangrait. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Court documents do not explain Durands alleged role in the crime.

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A ship stocked with vehicles was reportedly abandoned in the Pacific Ocean after a fire broke out on board.

According to Reuters, the cargo ship Morning Midas was on a 19-day voyage, en route from Asia to North America.

The vessel was 300 miles from Adak, Alaska early Wednesday when smoke started billowing from one of the decks.

Most Read on IEN:

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After efforts to put out the fire were unsuccessful, the ships crew of 22 evacuated. Reports say the crew was safely transferred via lifeboat to a nearby ship with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The operator of the vessel, Zodiac Maritime, said its focus now is on trying to salvage the ship, though uncontrolled ship fires can be difficult to manage. In this case, the ships contents are particularly combustible; of the 3,000 vehicles aboard, approximately 800 of them are electric. Once EV batteries ignite, the fires can be notoriously challenging to fully extinguish.

Back in 2022, a similar incident occurred when the Felicity Ace caught fire near Portugal. The ship was carrying millions of dollars in automobiles  including Bentleys, Porches and Lamborghinis. Attempts to save the ship failed and, after burning for two weeks, it capsized and sank.

It is unclear as to the current condition of the vehicles onboard the Morning Midas. Owner Zodiac Maritime has confirmed that the fire is believed to have originated in the area of the ship carrying the EVs.

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Three finalists for the Downtown Investment Authority CEO job will be in Jacksonville on Monday for interviews. They are:

Danny Chavez, former Chief Economic Development Officer in Waco, Texas.

Lara Frittz, Division Director of the Frederick County, Maryland, Department of Economic Opportunity.

Colin Tarbert, formerly the President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corp.

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The new CEO will be replacing Lori Boyer, whose contract was extended last year.

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They will meet with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Chief of Staff Mike Weinstein, incoming City Council President Kevin Carrico, and the DIA board.

The City Council had been seeing power to fire the next CEO, but dropped the request after a high-profile dust-up between Carrico and Councilman Matt Carlucci.

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Clarksville Police Department is investigating a shooting that has already yielded three arrests.

Clarksville police said officers responded to several 911 calls at about 7:13 p.m. reporting a shooting in the 1600 block of Fort Campbell Boulevard. Authorities said the incident happened at the intersection of Quinn Lane and Glenkirk Drive.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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Three people have already been detained in connection with the incident, police said, but the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation. Although several apartments along Glenkirk Drive were struck by projectiles, no injuries were reported at this time.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with additional information has been asked to call 911.

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 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Three young sisters have been found dead in Washington state after a tense weekend of searching.

The sisters  Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5  failed to return from a planned visitation with their father on Friday, sparking a police canvass involving local detectives, federal officers and a Homeland Security helicopter in Chelan County, Washington.

Authorities found their bodies near their fathers car on Monday at 3:45 p.m. around the Rock Island campground in western Washington. The girls father, 32-year-old Travis Decker, remains missing and is wanted on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping, the Wenatchee Police Department said in a press release.

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Police have determined that the likely cause of death was asphyxiation after the girls were found with plastic bags over their heads and their hands zip-tied, The New York Times reported.

Authorities have asked the public for information but cautioned people against contacting or approaching Decker due to safety concerns. Decker is a former member of the military with extensive training, and its not clear if hes armed, they warned. He was described as about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, and he was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.

Decker previously served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman from 2013 to 2021, according to the Wenatchee World, and he is a member of the Army National Guard. In a 2024 court filing, the childrens mother, Whitney Decker, raised concerns about his temperament and lack of stability. Travis Decker was reportedly living out of his car and had exhibited emotional outbursts that frightened and distressed their daughters, she said.

Travis just keeps getting more and more unstable. He has made huge sacrifices to serve our country and loves his girls very much but he has got to get better for our girls. I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all, she noted in the court filing. Travis was allowed to see the girls every other weekend under their existing custody agreement, though they were not allowed to stay with him overnight.

This undated photo provided by the Wenatchee Police Department shows Travis Caleb Decker. Wenatchee Police Department / AP

The girls mother first called the police on Friday evening after they didnt return from a scheduled visit with their father.

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At the time, officers began sweeping local motels in the Wenatchee area and also requested an Amber Alert, a message thats sent to the public about abducted children. That request was denied by Washington State Patrol because it didnt meet the necessary criteria, Wenatchee Police said.

Criteria for an Amber Alert in Washington include that a child is in imminent danger of death or serious injury. Chris Loftis, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol, told HuffPost that it was not clear that the girls were being abducted or in imminent danger at the time of the Amber Alert request.

We just didnt have that, Loftis told The New York Times. Everyone wishes we could turn back the clock.

On Saturday, state police issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert after detectives reached out again with additional information, Wenatchee police said.

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Local law enforcement, with the FBI, determined that Decker was still in the region and obtained a warrant for his arrest on Monday. A deputy with the Chelan County Sheriffs Department identified Deckers vehicle on Monday afternoon, and authorities found the bodies of the three sisters shortly afterward.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help their mother pay for funeral expenses and take time off work as she grieves.

Their light touched so many, and the pain of this loss is immeasurable, the fundraisers organizer wrote.

Wenatchee School District Superintendent Kory Kalahar also shared his condolences with parents and teachers at Lincoln Elementary School, where the girls were students.

Our thoughts are with the family, the entire Lincoln Elementary community, and everyone touched by this situation, he said.
BERLIN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The German federal government reaffirmed its strict border and migration policy on Wednesday, despite a court ruling earlier this week that deemed the deportation of three Somali asylum seekers unlawful.

On Monday, the Berlin administrative court found that German border police violated European asylum law by denying entry to the individuals at Frankfurt an der Oder station on the Polish-German border. Authorities had justified the action by claiming the Somalis arrived from a "safe third country," but the court ruled that Germany was obligated to examine their asylum applications.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged on Tuesday that the ruling may limit certain enforcement options but maintained that the government can still reject applications when justified. "We are doing this to protect public order and to ease pressure on cities and municipalities," he said, adding that internal border controls would remain until significant improvements are made at the EU's external borders.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt previously cited strained childcare, education, and healthcare systems as grounds for maintaining strict migration controls.

Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei said on national broadcaster ARD that while the government would comply with the court's order in the specific case, the decision would not alter broader asylum policy.

However, the ruling has sparked concern among legal experts and police unions. Andreas Rosskopf, head of the federal police division of the German Police Union (GdP), said border officers now face legal uncertainty and should not be held personally liable for carrying out official orders.

Gisela Seidler, head of the legislative committee of the German Bar Association, criticized the government's stance, saying, "Even if the government disagrees with a court ruling, it is still obliged to follow it."

The case has reignited debate over how Germany should balance national security with its obligations under European asylum law. 
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  If you are looking for a faithful companion to share your summer days with, theres a pup waiting for you.

Meet Kylie, shes a 3-month-old Catahoula Leopard Dog-Blackmouth Cur-mix who arrived at Caddo Parish Animal Services on May 12th along with her siblings Kendall and Cane.

Kylie has been adapting well since arriving at the shelter, but her personality will truly blossom when she settles into her forever home.

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Shes a very calm puppy but when shes given the chance though she does like to run around and play. She loves to sit in your lap and just get attention, says Kim Freeman, Adoption and Volunteer Coordinator.

The adoption fee for each puppy is $50, which covers the cost of a microchip and up-to-date vaccinations. Kylie has already been spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated, so youll be in and out the door in no time.

For more information, visit Caddo Parish Animal Services.





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PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  The Panama City Beach Police Department has arrested three teenagers in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred Tuesday night.

According to a news release, authorities working in the area of the Waffle House located at 10327 Front Beach Road, heard gunfire coming from the parking lot shortly after 10 p.m.

Authorities responded quickly and found 19-year-old JaDion Love Hughes suffering from a gunshot wound. Hughes was taken to Ascension Sacred Heart, where he later died from the injuries.

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It was determined that shortly before the gunshots were fired, well let me specify, the gunshot. One single shot. There was a physical and verbal altercation in the parking lot involving four individuals, one of them being the deceased. The argument escalated into a physical confrontation. The physical confrontation then escalated into that one gunshot being fired by Mr. JaZai Mitchell. The shots struck [Hughes]. He had run away from the scene and shortly fell not too far from where he was shot, Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said.

The course of the investigation revealed that a physical altercation happened in the Waffle House parking lot over the purchase of an illegal firearm.

After the shooting, 18-year-old Kiydre McCullough attempted to dispose of the weapon by hiding it in bushes nearby before he fled the scene with Mitchell in a red Chevrolet Camaro.

The authorities said that as the suspects were fleeing, Mitchell disposed of another firearm by throwing it from the vehicle into the shoulder of the road.

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Soon after, authorities located and stopped the vehicle, taking Mitchell and McCullough into custody.

Mitchell is being charged with Second Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Tampering with Evidence and Grand Theft of a Firearm.

McCullough is being charged with Accessory After the Fact to Second-Degree Murder, Accessory After the Fact to Attempted Murder and Tampering with Evidence.

The third suspect, 16-year-old Julian Zavala, is accused of violating his probation, as well as some other unspecified charges. Hes in the custody of juvenile authorities.

Mitchell and McCullough have been transported to the Bay County Jail to await their first appearance.

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The family members of the victim that we have spoken to are local to the area. They are obviously devastated by this. And we completely understand that. And we are committed to ensuring that we find justice for their son. And our loved one. Were going to turn over every stone to find every single answer that we need to be able to provide them a clear picture of exactly what happened, Talamantez said.

Talamantez says the preliminary investigation shows Hughes was involved in the fight leading up to the shooting.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  Four people were taken into custody after Jefferson County authorities seized weapons and drugs after executing a search warrant Tuesday.

Deputies executed a search warrant in the 9300 block of Miller Road in Warrior, which citizen complaints prompted, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. Authorities recovered methamphetamine, guns and other drug paraphernalia.

James Hatley, 58, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, certain person forbidden to possess a weapon/pistol, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a concealed weapon. His bond totaled $1.5 million.

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3 arrested, charged after Jefferson County authorities execute search warrant

Jacob Collier, 31, is charged with attempting to elude a police officer and loitering/drug purposes, Colliers bond totaled $12,000, and he was released from the Jefferson County Jail.

Kimberly Drummond, 43, is charged with misdemeanor failure to appear.

Tiffany Hagler, 37, is charged with loitering/drug purposes and possession of a controlled substance. Haglers bond totaled $12,000, and she was released from the Jefferson County Jail.

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MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Four people are facing murder charges stemming from a May 29 shootout in Marion County after a failed narcotics deal, authorities said on Monday.

Wyatt Thomas Ashley, 17, of Myrtle Beach; Jordan Isaac Beaty, 20, of Conway; TayShawn Dajour Bethea, 22, of Marion; and Nathin Lee Lancour, 21, of Loris, were arrested in connection with the killings at 1708 Tubello Court.

Nathan Lancour / Photo: Marion County Sheriffs Office

Jordan Beaty / Photo: Marion County Sheriffs Office

Wyatt Ashley / Photo: Marion County Sheriffs Office

TayShawn Bethea / Photo: Marion County Sheriffs Office

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When they arrived, a group including Bethea and another juvenile attempted to rob them, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that left two teens dead.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

Officials said the incident remains under investigation, and more arrests are likely. It happened about 7:15 p.m. when Ashley, Beaty, Lancour and a juvenile traveled to Tubello Court for a narcotics deal.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A 4-year-old girl with a rare condition and living in Bakersfield has been granted humanitarian parole allowing her to stay in the U.S., according to a letter from the Department of Homeland Security.

The 4-year-old girl made national news in recent weeks following her mothers request for their humanitarian parole to be extended due to the girl, referred to as Sofia, needing life-saving treatment.

Last week, a group of Democratic legislators including California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla urged the Department of Homeland Security to reverse a decision that stripped Sofias mothers legal status in the U.S.

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Sofia was born with short bowel syndrome that requires her to be connected to a feeding tube more than half of the day. Her mother, Deysi Vargas, requested that their humanitarian parole be extended so that her daughter could continue receiving the treatment without the fear of deportation.

Still being considered: DHS says reports of Bakersfield girl being deported are false

Without the treatment, Sofia would die in a matter of days.

On Tuesday, the humanitarian parole was granted to Sofia and her mother for one year allowing Sofia to continue the medical treatment.

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Dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing medical sources.

Since the morning, 41 people have been killed across the territory, the agency said, with several fatalities, including a 12-year-old child, coming from drone strikes in the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military initially did not comment on the report when asked.

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The Israeli army has repeatedly stated that it is targeting members of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia and other terrorist organizations in Gaza. It consistently emphasizes that it seeks to avoid harming uninvolved civilians during strikes on the groups' targets.

Report: IDF will not allow Thunberg's ship to dock in Gaza

Meanwhile, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and others aboard a sailing ship will not be allowed to dock in the Gaza Strip, according to an Israeli media report.

Israel's security authorities have decided that the group will also not be permitted to approach the Palestinian territory, the broadcaster Kan 11 reported. The decision was reportedly made so as not to set a precedent for others.

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On Thursday, Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military officials are expected to discuss further steps, according to the broadcaster. The report suggests that the ship could be towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the activists on board might be detained. Israel's government has so far declined to comment on the report.

Israel has previously denied activists permission to dock their ships in Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition's sailing ship, dubbed the Madleen, set sail from Sicily on Sunday. According to the coalition, there are 12 activists on board.

The group claims they are carrying aid supplies such as baby food and medical goods for people in need in the Gaza Strip. But they also aim to draw international attention to the humanitarian situation in the region.

Thunberg has repeatedly expressed solidarity with Palestinians and accused Israel of genocide.

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Critics, however, accuse Thunberg of taking a one-sided pro-Palestinian stance on the Gaza war and the events that triggered it.

The German government's anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, described Thunberg's statements on the Middle East conflict following the 2023 attach as "hostile to Israel and, through the veiled denial of Israel's right to exist, also anti-Semitic."

No aid distribution on Wednesday

Following reports that Israeli forces killed people near a food distribution site in Gaza, all aid centres in the coastal strip remained closed on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced.

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Avichay Adraee, Arabic spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said on X that facilities would remain shut for "renovation, organization and efficiency improvement works," citing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which runs the aid operations.

The military warned civilians to avoid approaching the centres, declaring the surrounding roads as combat zones. "It is strictly prohibited to enter the distribution centre areas," the spokesman added.

The centres are expected to reopen on Thursday.

The closure comes after the Hamas-run health ministry said Israeli troops opened fire on civilians near a distribution point on Tuesday, killing at least 27 people and wounding about 90.

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The IDF said its soldiers, stationed about 500 metres from the site, spotted individuals approaching who they deemed a threat. Troops initially fired warning shots before shooting at individual suspects who didn't retreat. The claims could not be independently verified.

The GHF had launched its distribution network just over a week ago after Israel, under international pressure, allowed limited humanitarian access following nearly three months of blockade.

The current conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas and others invaded Israel, killed 1,200 and took some 250 hostage, which triggered a massive Israeli response, resulting in more than 53,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and military casualties.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP)  Five inmates at an Ivory Coast prison were killed when a routine search turned into a violent clash, authorities said on Wednesday.

Prisoners in Bouake, the countrys second largest city, reacted with hostility to a routine search for prohibited items on Tuesday, public prosecutor Abel Nangbele Yeo said in a statement. Five prisoners were killed and 29 people, including six prison officers and 23 prisoners, were injured, the statement added.

When security officers arrived in the building, they were attacked by prisoners armed with clubs, machetes, and other blunt objects, the statement said.

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The officers fired warning shots to cover their retreat," the statement added, without providing details on how prisoners were killed.

As a result of the search, officers seized blocks of cannabis, Tramadol tablets, mobile phones and three grenades.

Ivory Coast has been criticized by rights groups and the U.N. for its prison conditions.

Last year, the U.N. Committee against Torture expressed concern over a very high rate of prison overcrowding in Ivory Coast, and criticized the condition, including poor sanitation, a lack of ventilation and inadequate quality food and water. It also expressed alarm at the extent of prison violence.

Earlier this year, a prisoner died during an escape attempt from the Bouake prison.

The public prosecutor's office said on Tuesday that it had opened an investigation into Tuesday's events.
NEW YORK  Nine mayoral candidates will square off tonight in the first televised debate of the rollercoaster Democratic primary  the best opportunity yet for frontrunner Andrew Cuomos opponents to break his vice-like grip over the lead in public polling.

The debate, sponsored by POLITICO and WNBC, is being held 10 days before early voting begins. The Playbook team will be following the action on our live blog .

Many voters are likely tuning into a race that has been raging for a year; turned upside down by Cuomos entrance in March and Mayor Eric Adams decision to forgo it to run as an independent a month later. While waiting for the 7 p.m. debate to start, here are five things to watch:

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ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK: Heaving verbal broadsides at Cuomo will likely begin early. The former governor led polls even before his late entrance, and the static nature of the campaign has frustrated the rest of the pack.

The avenues for attacking him are ample.

Cuomo resigned in 2021 following allegations he sexually harassed female staffers  claims state Attorney General Letitia James substantiated in a report that led him to resign. He now denies it all, and says he should not have stepped down.

The ex-governor has also come under sustained scrutiny for his Covid leadership  specifically his handling of a nursing home death report. And he is reportedly under a federal probe by the Trump administration after House Republicans accused him of lying to Congress  a claim hes also denied.

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Cuomos baggage extends beyond those scandals. Left-flank Democrats with long memories blame him for allowing Republicans to control the state Senate. Hes been criticized for his MTA stewardship and homelessness policies. If they do their jobs, his rivals will land a blow on any of these vulnerabilities.

Cuomo, though, is no stranger to multi-candidate debates. He takes a prosecutorial approach to questions and can employ withering counterattacks.

PASSING ON THE LEFT: Expect Cuomo to rewind the tape on his opponents prior positions, too. Cozying up to the once-ascendant political left  supporting policies like defunding the police or, in Brad Landers case, once paying dues to the Democratic Socialists of America  will be easy cards for the former governor to play.

Adams won his primary in 2021 after positioning himself as a pro-public safety, former police captain. Cuomo has painted a dark picture of New York City, warning that its reeling from homelessness and crime  problems Adams is attributing to Cuomo's policies while in office.

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Cuomos tough-on-crime messaging has some holes in it, given his support of bail law reforms in 2019 that some blame for the Covid-era rise in lawlessness. Those will matter more in the general election, when Adams zeroes in on Cuomos record from his right flank.

ANTISEMITISMS IMPACT: The Israel-Hamas war is very much on the ballot. Expect the candidates to clash over an issue thats ripped apart Democrats.

Cuomo has courted Jewish voters and portrayed antisemitism as the leading issue in the race. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who would be the first Muslim mayor, has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.

The Middle East politics animating the race have also extended to Cuomos often bumptious attacks on his opponents. The ex-governor has criticized Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for not visiting Israel  implying she does not support the country and is thereby antisemitic. Lander, the city comptroller who once considered becoming a rabbi, has called Cuomos approach gross and akin to treating Jews like pawns. Following one of Cuomos attacks on him, Lander lashed out by cursing at him in Yiddish.

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GOING VIRAL: Piling on Cuomo in the debate likely wont be enough in a fragmented media landscape in which a relatively small percentage of voters will watch the debate live.

Mamdani has leveraged viral moments to great effect. The democratic socialist  currently polling second  is adept at gaining attention on non-traditional platforms that are increasingly the staging ground for 21st century campaigning. His seconds-long interaction with Trump border czar Tom Homan was shared thousands of times. But attempts at big moments can backfire. Just ask Rick Lazio .

WHO CAN RISE: Depending on which poll you read, as many as 20 percent of voters havent made up their mind. Time is running short to scoop up these undecided New Yorkers  or get committed voters to shift course.

Adrienne Adams could benefit and also peel crucial support from Cuomos base of Black support, but the unassuming City Council speaker has to find ways to stand out during the two-hour faceoff. A Working Families Party poll obtained by POLITICO underscores her head-to-head strength against the former governor, though it was a small sample size that the party ignored by ranking Mamdani first.

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Scott Stringer has been on the rise too, and a new ad out today  casting himself as an understated tough guy with seven figures behind it  stands to help him break out from the middle of the field.

A version of this story appeared in New York Playbook.
Palestinians mourn a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on June 4, 2025. At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli reserve soldier was killed and another seriously wounded during a clash in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Israeli military said.

The military identified the slain soldier as Master Sergeant Alon Farkas, 27, from the 6646th Reconnaissance Battalion, 646th Brigade. He "fell during combat" in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City, the military said, without elaborating. Another reserve soldier from the same battalion was seriously injured.

According to Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, the two were shot at close range after a Palestinian militant emerged and opened fire with a light weapon before fleeing into a built-up area.

The incident came a day after the military reported that three other soldiers were killed in an explosion in the Jabaliya area, also in northern Gaza.

Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, ending a two-month-long ceasefire, 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed. A total of 862 soldiers have been killed since the start of Israel's multi-front offensive in October 2023.

At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. 

Palestinians inspect a damaged tent after an Israeli airstrike at the Gaza port near Gaza City, on June 4, 2025. At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians mourn a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on June 4, 2025. At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians inspect a damaged tent after an Israeli airstrike at the Gaza port near Gaza City, on June 4, 2025. At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians mourn a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on June 4, 2025. At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

A Palestinian woman mourns a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on June 4, 2025. At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 56-year-old man has been convicted and sentenced to prison in connection with a 2024 Kansas City shooting that left a woman dead.

Charlie L. Bowman entered an Alford plea in Jackson County Circuit Court last month and was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm in the shooting death of Ruth A. Bowman, 56. He was originally facing a second-degree murder charge.

Grandview carpenters tools, trailer stolen outside his home

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A jury trial was scheduled to begin this week but was canceled after a plea hearing was held on May 13.

Charlie Bowman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The shooting happened Feb. 12, 2024, near 50th Street and Bellefontaine Avenue in Kansas City.

Kansas City police officers found the victim, later identified as Ruth Bowman, lying on the sidewalk after being shot. She was pronounced dead soon after.

Charlie Bowman was detained for questioning shortly after police found him at the scene.

Police also found a pistol and shell casing at the scene.

Surveillance video obtained by police and witness statements identified Charlie Bowman as the alleged shooter. A witness stated that the victim had walked up to a car where Charlie Bowman was sitting and said she was shot two times. The victim tried to run away but collapsed, according to the witness.

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According to court records, when detectives spoke with Charlie Bowman, he said he remembered being with Ruth Bowman but couldnt remember much after that until he was arrested.

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New York City police are searching for a suspect who killed a man and injured another in a shooting in Brooklyn.

The street attack occurred in Bushwick around 10 p.m. Monday, June 2.

Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and a 63-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the right eye, according to a New York Police Department press release.

Both men were taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where Ramel Fisher, 39, was pronounced dead.

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The other victim, who has not been identified, is in stable condition, per the press release.

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There are no arrests at this time and the investigation remains ongoing, police said.

The motive behind the attack is unclear.

Its pretty shockingit always feels pretty safe in the neighborhood, I would say, a neighbor identified as Nico told News 12. Its not like its always quiet, but weve never felt unsafe.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least seven civilians and injured at least 52 over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 4.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 36 out of the 95 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said.

Twenty-five drones disappeared from radars or were neutralized by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement.

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Russia attacked the northeastern city of Sumy on June 3 with multiple-launch rocket systems, killing four people and injuring 28, the regional authorities said. Another civilian was injured during a drone attack elsewhere in Sumy Oblast.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian drone attack injured a 43-year-old man in his yard in the Novhorod-Siverskyi community, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, an 87-year-old man was wounded when Russia attacked the Nikopol district with drones and artillery, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.

Russian attacks across Donetsk Oblast killed one person and injured two in the village of Serhiivka, said the regional governor, Vadym Filashkin. Five civilians were injured elsewhere in the region.

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In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed and five injured as Russia launched missiles, drones, and bombs against Kharkiv and the region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russian strikes in Kherson Oblast wounded eight people, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Three high-rise buildings and 10 houses were damaged.

Russia launched a Kinzhal missile against port infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast, authorities said. No casualties were reported.

A civilian was wounded during a heavy Russian drone attack against Odesa, Governor Oleh Kiper said. While most of the drones were shot down, residential buildings were damaged in the city.

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Read also: There was blood on the asphalt  Russia strikes Ukraines Sumy during morning rush hour

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NEED TO KNOW

A 7-year-old girl is in critical condition after a stray bullet went through her home and struck her in the right side of her brain while she was sleeping in the neighborhood of Brewer Circle in South Carolina, police said

The suspect in the shooting, who was allegedly involved in the drive-by in which the gunshot originated, is still at large, and police are asking for the public's help in identifying and capturing the person

The 7-year-old did not deserve this careless act of violence. We are heartbroken that this little girl is suffering due to the actions of someone who had no regard for the life of others, police said in their statement









A 7-year-old girl is fighting for her life following a drive-by shooting that resulted in a stray bullet going through her home and striking her in the right side of her brain while she was sleeping in South Carolina, according to police.

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The Pageland Police Department shared on social media on Sunday, June 1 that the 7-year-old, identified as Skylar Baker by ABC News  was in critical condition after a drive-by shooting occurred at around 1:17 a.m. local time in Brewer Circle.

Police said they arrived on the scene to find the 7-year-old with a gunshot wound, and said that she was airlifted to the hospital.

Police noted on social media that they have not yet been able to make any arrests in connection to the shooting, and are asking for help from the community to identify and capture the suspects. In a statement, police said they hoped someone would come forward with answers as to who was involved in this case.

The 7-year-old did not deserve this careless act of violence. We are heartbroken that this little girl is suffering due to the actions of someone who had no regard for the life of others, police said in their statement.

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The Pageland Police Department told PEOPLE it had no additional comment on the case.

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Pageland Police Department Facebook A photo of a Pageland Police Department vehicle. A photo of a Pageland Police Department vehicle.

Police told Queen City News that someone drove by Brewer Circle firing shots. Bakers mother, Essence Chambers, told ABC News that the bullet went through their home and struck the 7-year-old, hitting her brain while she was sleeping. She said her daughter is still in critical condition and remains on a ventilator as of Tuesday, June 3.

One of Baker's neighbors, Melissa Massey, told WSOC-TV that drive-bys were "unheard of" in the area. Drive-bys? Maybe [a] shooting. Maybe, but drive-bys, thats crazy," she told the outlet.

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Essence described her daughter to ABC News as a "ball of energy" and "happy child" and asked for everybody to keep praying for her. Her sister Kiara Chambers described Baker to Queen City News as someone who was so full of life and who was loved by everyone.

She didnt deserve this, nobody deserves this, Kiara told the outlet.

During a press conference on Monday, June 1, Pageland Police Department Chief Dean Short described the incident as a "terrible thing, especially in a small community, and called for the community to "take a stand against this type of violence," per ABC News.

Police are asking that anyone with information on the incident or the suspect contact police at 843-672-6437.



Read the original article on People
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Dozens of people were at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Rockville Tuesday morning for the 7th annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony.

Its an event that is meant to celebrate and acknowledge members of the LGBTQ+ community who call Montgomery County home.

As we raise the flag, we do more than celebrate Pride, we issue a declaration that we are here, we are whole and we will not be erased, Phillip Alexander Downie, who grew up in Montgomery County and now serves as the executive director for the MoCo Pride Center, said.

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Countdown to WorldPride: Music festival lineup announced

People in Rockville are celebrating the positive impact that the LGBTQ+ community has had on the county.

Pride is a time to affirm our commitment to inclusion and equity and diversity and acceptance, Montgomery County councilmember Evan Glass said.

Glass, who is openly gay, was among the dozens who attended the annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Plaza.

The flag is a symbol of love of resilience and of authenticity, he said,

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) was there to show his support for the community.

We can all take pride in the fact that we live in a county that is committed to the success and the flourishing and the belonging of every person who lives here and every young person who is growing up here, Raskin said.

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Grammy Award-winning artist Doechii to close out WorldPride DC

With more work to be done, many recognize the need to reaffirm that commitment.

Were proud to raise this flag, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said. Were proud to be in this work with you, and were not going anywhere.

Montgomery Countys first LGBTQ+ Community Center will open in Bethesda later this summer.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.






NEED TO KNOW

The Sangamon County coroner confirmed that Bradley Lund, 8, was pronounced dead on June 2

The April 28 crash previously claimed the lives of four people

Officials previously identified the other the other victims who died as Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; Ainsley Johnson, 8; and 18-year-old Rylee Britton







Authorities confirmed that a fifth child has died over a month after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp.

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In a Tuesday, June 3, statement, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed that Bradley Lund, 8, of Springfield, was pronounced dead on the morning of Monday, June 2.

At the time, Bradley was an inpatient at HSHS St. Johns Hospital where he was admitted after sustaining multiple blunt force injuries in a motor vehicle vs pedestrian incident at a daycare center in Chatham, on April 28, 2025.

The coroners office said that Bradleys death continues to be under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Illinois State Police.

The deadly crash took place on April 28 just after 3 p.m. at the YNOT (Youth Needing Other Things) Outdoors Summer Camp. According to authorities, the victims were between 4 to 18 years old.

Erin Hooley/AP People leave balloons at the scene where a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp on April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. People leave balloons at the scene where a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp on April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill.

The ISP previously identified the driver as Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham.

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Authorities said Akers' car left the road for reasons unknown and traveled through a field and into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp, traveling through the building and hitting many people before exiting the other side.

The Sangamon County Coroner's Office previously identified the victims who died in the wreck as Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; Ainsley Johnson, 8; and 18-year-old Rylee Britton.

All four were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Postmortem procedures done today indicate that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident," the coroner's office said.

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In addition to the fatalities, six other children were taken to area hospitals, state police said in a previous statement.

The department noted that the crash did not "appear to be a targeted attack. Akers, the sole driver and occupant of the car, was uninjured and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Akers' lawyer previously said that she had a seizure and had no memory of the incident.

Speaking with Fox affiliate WRSP, Scott Hanken said that Akers has seen a neurologist and granted the ISP permission to view her medical records.

We have met numerous times with law enforcement, Hanken said. She has provided them with everything theyve needed. She immediately provided them with her phone. The Illinois State Police did a forensic download of her phone, and weve clarified any issues that they may have had with that.

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Hanken did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment

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WRSP reported that five of the injured children were released from the hospital and no criminal charges have been filed against Akers so far.



Read the original article on People
[Watch in the player above: How to avoid being scammed]

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio (WJW)  An 80-year-old Bay Village woman told police she was scammed out of $15,000 after tapping on strange pop-ups that began appearing on her iPad.

Detectives worked with authorities in California and Texas to recover most of the defrauded cash, and arrest a Chinese national suspected in the scam, according to a Bay Village police report.

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Ground beef sold nationwide possibly contaminated with E. Coli

The fraud was reported on May 16, according to the report.

A woman told police that pop-ups for Apple Support began appearing on her iPad, directing her to a link. A scammer then reached her by phone, directing her to send via UPS a total of $15,000 between two locations: Bakersfield, California, and Richardson, Texas.

One of NE Ohios most notorious killers wants out of prison  again

Law enforcement agencies in those cities joined the investigation, along with UPS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to the report.

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Authorities ultimately recovered $10,000 of the womans money and arrested a Chinese national in Richardson, according to the report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
*Attached video: How does the lottery benefit schools

(WJW)  Decades after Joan Alexander started college in the hopes of becoming a teacher, she has finally received her degree at the age of 88.

According to a press release from the University of Maine, Alexander was studying at the school in the late 1950s. At the time, career options were limited to education, English and home economics.

Your Ohio electric bills are probably going up this month

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According to the release, Joan married her husband Jim during her sophomore year. That is when they were preparing for the arrival of their first of four children, Bonnie.

Although Alexander had her sights set on earning her degree by 1959, she was prevented from doing so because she wasnt allowed to student teach while pregnant. More than six decades later, Alexander earned a Bachelor of Science in Education at UMaine, the release said.

I didnt realize that it would mean so much to me, but I now feel that a hole in my heart has been healed, Alexander said, according to the release. My parents did not complete college, so this was important to me. My husband and four daughters have their college degrees, so I was the only one among my husband and daughters who had not received a college degree. It gives me a sense of closure and accomplishment.

Alexanders youngest daughter, Tracy, began the process of helping her obtain her degree by first contacting UMaines College of Education and Human Development to identify an alternative solution.

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I-TEAM: Senate leaders introduce new funding plan for Browns dome

According to the release, the Associated Dean of the college, Justin Dimmel, enthusiastically pursued getting the degree for Alexander.

After some conversations and research, Dimmel learned that Alexander did, in fact, meet the student teaching requirement for UMaine in 1980-81 while she was working as a full-time aide for a home-based preschool program in Southwest Harbor, Maine.

The college recognized that as a year of full-time work, meaning she was able to meet the final requirement needed for her degree, because she completed all of the other work for her degree decades ago.

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According to the release, Alexander was recognized during UMaines afternoon undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 11.

Air Quality Advisory issued in Northeast Ohio: What to know

Although she was unable to participate, Tracy and one of Alexanders granddaughters, Isabel Beck, attended for her.

For anyone who wishes to earn a college degree, Alexander said. My advice is to find something you are interested in and pursue it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A 90-year-old man is accused of luring a girl into his home in Oregon and sexually assaulting her, deputies said.

Authorities got a call from the girls parents June 2, the Lane County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

The 9-year-old girl went into his home where deputies said he sexually abused her.

Melvin Durmont Wofford was arrested the next day on charges of sex abuse and sodomy, deputies said.

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The investigation is ongoing, and deputies said no other information is being released.

There is no threat to the public, authorities said.

Lane County is in Western Oregon and includes Eugene.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

Violent man tried to set up registered sex offenders with kids in WA, feds say

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School cop unnecessarily body-slams, then arrests 17-year-old, GA lawsuit says
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  After 95 days, the Covington Drive wildfire, which burned 2,059 acres in the Carolina Forest area, has officially been controlled, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said Wednesday on social media.

The fire began on March 1 and threatened thousands of homes in the Carolina Forest area, but none were lost, the agency said. Smoke from the fire was a constant on the Grand Strand for months as crews fought and monitored the fire, and residents called it suffocating.

The decision to declare the fire controlled follows more significant rain events in the area after officials announced the fire was 100 percent contained May 21, the Forestry Commissions post said. Initially, the rain helped keep the water table raised to prevent hotspots that had been smoldering from reigniting.

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The agency said smoke from the fire has dissipated and that its crews will no longer monitor the area daily.

The Forestry Commission extends its sincerest gratitude to the dozens of emergency response organizations, including Horry County Fire Rescue, the SC National Guard, the 56 local fire departments who mobilized for the effort and more Horry County government agencies than we can name here, that provided around-the-clock suppression and support for months, the agency said. This collaboration is a testament to the power of partnerships, and we are indebted to you for helping us protect lives, property and forestland in the Palmetto State.

The fire prompted a push by some state lawmakers to create stiffer penalties for those who violate state burning laws. A Covington Drive resident was accused of starting a fire that got out of control and led to the larger wildfire.

Alexandra Bialousow was arrested and charged with negligently allowing the fire to spread on March 6, six days after the fire began. She is out of jail on bond and has requested a jury trial.

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Nearly two weeks after the fire began, her attorney claimed in a TikTok video that his client was being scapegoated by Horry County and the Forestry Commission. He said he has proof that investigators lied about evidence to justify charging her.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
PHNOM PENH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Dubai-based Emirates has launched its regular flights to northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province via Bangkok, said its press release on Wednesday.

A Boeing 777-300ER landed at the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport Tuesday night and was greeted by a traditional water salute, the press release said, adding that the airline operates three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

"With the UAE being an increasingly strategic market for Cambodia, the expansion of Emirates' services supports both tourism and trade," said Mao Havannall, minister in charge of Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.

"This new route further deepens our bilateral ties and promotes mutual economic growth," he added.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates' executive vice president, said that a year ago the airline resumed operations to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and now, it has added another route to Siem Reap province, which is home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.

"We're confident that this new route will further strengthen tourism flows and commercial ties between Cambodia and the rest of the world, particularly with the UAE," he said. 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Gov. Greg Abbott signed a landmark school funding package into law Wednesday in Salado.

Texas is number one in so many categories. Texas should be number one in educating our children, Abbott said before signing the bill. He spoke at an afternoon news conference at Salado Middle School.

The $8.5 billion bill, known as House Bill 2, creates new buckets of money for public schools to spend on specific initiatives. This includes $1.3 billion for an Allotment for Basic Costs  to fund insurance premiums and teacher retirement pensions  $4.2 billion for teacher pay raises, over $2.2 billion for special education, childcare and school safety and more than $800 million for rural school districts.

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Essential to education is high quality educators, Abbott told the audience at the school. We want to be able to attract and to keep the very best teachers. Toward that goal, this law provides a record pay raise for our teachers in the state of Texas, he continued, drawing applause from the audience.

While the bill marks one of the largest increases to education funding in state history, some school leaders say they would have preferred a larger increase to the basic allotment, the amount of funding schools receive per student.

The new funds for schools are designated for specific items, like teacher pay raises, meaning they can only be used for their stated purpose. A mere increase to the basic allotment would have given schools more flexibility to use funds at their own discretion.

Three school district leaders previously told KXAN that they appreciate any increase in funding, but wish the basic allotment had been increased to give them more discretion on how to use the funds based on district needs.

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Still, the funding included in the bill gives teachers a pay raise of a few thousand dollars, especially those in smaller school districts. For the districts that cannot afford to increase teacher salaries on their own, the bill provides needed relief.

The bill also ties the basic allotment to increases in property values, so the figure will continue to increase even without additional legislation.

The legislation was signed in the home district of State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, the lead author of HB 2.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Government knew from day one that the frozen 2.35 billion Chelsea sale fund might never reach Ukraine, according to an official involved in the deal struck with Roman Abramovich.

Four prime ministers and five chancellors are facing questions about why it has taken more than three years for Abramovich to be threatened with legal action to break a ridiculous deadlock over the release of money to help victims of Vladimir Putins invasion of Russias neighbour.

That is after it emerged that Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, were preparing to haul Abramovich to court amid a row over how to spend a fund set up when he sold Chelsea as he was being sanctioned for his alleged links to Putin.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has threatened to take Abramovich to court - Getty Images/Hannah McKay

The row centres on the interpretation of a deed of undertaking between the Government and Abramovich in which he agreed for the money to be committed to charity for the purposes of helping victims of the war in Ukraine.

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When putting Chelsea up for sale, Abramovich publicly stated that he wanted the proceeds to be used for the benefit of all victims  which, at the time, appeared to include those from Russia.

Successive governments have refused to countenance this, or the money being spent on other humanitarian crises, such as the war in Gaza or famine in Africa.

An official involved in the negotiations in 2022, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Telegraph Sport: Day one, we were concerned. We went eyes open with the fact that this was a possibility. But there genuinely wasnt an alternative.

The official said the danger of Abramovich blocking the release of the Ukraine fund had taken a back seat to fears he would let Chelsea go to the wall if a deal was not struck to sell the club before the end of that season, or that he would try to legally get the money back himself if sanctions against him were lifted.

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The decision was to put it in a place where we knew he couldnt get at it, and then there was a principle that this charity would be formed and that it would spend the money wisely, the official added.

That its dragged on to this point is just as much a testament to the fact that the Government hasnt invested financial pressure, resources or political capital in dealing with what was, from day one, very clearly going to be a problem.

Three-year delay incomprehensible

Indeed, Reeves and Lammy have taken until this week to threaten legal action, something Telegraph Sport has been told the previous Conservative government had ruled out.

That is despite a report by a House of Lords committee in January last year finding it incomprehensible the issue had not been resolved and urging ministers to use all available legal levers to solve this impasse rapidly, so that Ukraine can receive much-needed, promised, and long overdue relief.

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The report was published by the European Affairs Committee, chaired by cross-bench peer Lord Ricketts, a former permanent secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British ambassador to France and national security adviser.

He told Telegraph Sport it had taken too long for the Government to act upon the reports recommendations and acknowledged an acrimonious legal battle could delay things much further when it comes to accessing a fund likely to have accrued more than a hundred million pounds in interest.

Its getting ridiculous that this delay should be dragging on and on, Ricketts said. Im not a lawyer and I cant explain exactly what the Government are going to do, but I think its now really urgent to get this sorted. And I think incomprehensible is still a pretty good word to describe why, three years later, were still waiting for the money to go to the people who really need it in Ukraine.

Concerns over the delay had been raised even earlier, including by Mike Penrose, the former chief executive of Unicef UK, heading the independent foundation set up to administer the fund.

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He was joined two years ago by Oxfam, Save the Children, Kyiv-based charities and UK families hosting Ukrainian refugees in calling for then prime minister Rishi Sunak to urgently break the deadlock.

That was after the European Union, like the Government, ruled the money could only be spent within Ukraines borders, an edict the charities urged Sunak to ignore.

Labour peer Lord Foulkes also wrote to then chancellor Jeremy Hunt in September 2023 over the unacceptable delay in releasing the funds, adding in his letter: The only barrier, as far as I can tell, seems to be bureaucracy, and it strikes me as ridiculous that we should let a matter of paperwork confound these efforts, when our Ukrainian allies overcome incredible adversity on a daily basis.

Foulkes told Telegraph Sport: The trouble is weve been playing by the rules that the Russians never acknowledge, never play by, and we have been trying to get some agreement on it.

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That was always likely to fail  and certainly take a long time. Im glad that, at last, theyre now taking action and I think its the right thing to do, and they should press ahead with it as quickly and as forcibly as possible.

Seizing of Russian assets politically explosive

Telegraph Sport has been told the previous government ruled out legal action after concluding there were too many downsides, including the risk investors could shun the UK.

Various sources with knowledge of negotiations with lawyers for Abramovich have branded the ongoing row as a nightmare issue, describing the seizing of Russian assets as politically explosive.

Explaining the difference between freezing and seizing assets, a source said: Seizing assets is a whole new ball game. Theres a sizeable chunk that is frozen in Britain that are Russian-state assets. There are huge numbers of countries and lots and lots of lawyers who would explain to you that if you even try taking it and just seizing it and say that money is now ours, you are facing intense pressure.

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The source said that could include lobbying from other countries which invest in the UK who might say: OK then, were pulling out billions of billions from your economy now.

Bart De Wever, the Belgian prime minister, also warned in March that confiscating almost 200 billion (168 billion) of frozen Russian assets would be an act of war and would carry systemic risks to the entire financial world system.

Telegraph Sport has been told the last government was split on whether to compromise on Abramovichs demands, with Andrew Mitchell said by one source to have discussed ways ministers could cut a deal with the oligarch when he was at the Foreign Office.

Explaining the power Abramovich currently held over the frozen Chelsea sale fund, a source said: He cant access the money. He cant spend the money, but he can stop the trust spending it and, at the moment, hes always hidden behind, No, the terms that I agreed to the sale are not quite the same as the terms that the British Government are now insisting on.

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Telegraph Sport has approached a representative for Abramovich for comment on the Governments legal threat against him.

A book entitled Sanctioned is being released next week in which he is expected to be quoted about the sale of Chelsea and the sanctions imposed on him.

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NEED TO KNOW

Zachary Williams, 27, allegedly threw his 1-year-old stepson during a tantrum over naptime, causing a fatal skull fracture

Court documents say Williams claimed the child "refused to sleep" and later told police "It was all his fault"

The child was pronounced dead an hour after being found unresponsive; Williams is charged with murder and held without bond







He allegedly said the child wouldn't stop crying. Now, a West Virginia stepfather is charged with murder  accused of throwing his 1-year-old stepson so violently, the child's skull fractured.

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Zachary Williams, 27, is facing charges of first-degree murder and child abuse causing death after allegedly admitting to fatally injuring his stepson on May 25, according to WDTV, KGNS and WDBJ7.

Emergency personnel responded to Williams' West Virginia home for reports of a child who had stopped breathing, per the outlets. After they performed an hour of CPR on the 17-month-old, the child was pronounced dead.



The child's grandparents, who lived in the home, told police that nothing abnormal had happened to the child with the exception of a small cold, per the outlets. The child had sustained a small bruise above his eye crawling around the home, they said, and they did not suspect he was being abused.

But an autopsy on the child's head revealed a skull fracture on the back of the boy's head consistent with blunt force trauma, according to the local outlets.

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At the hospital, police questioned the child's parents about the sequence of events that day. Per court documents reviewed by WDTV, Williams initially told police that the child was fighting sleep more than usual, and that the child went "rigid and limp" while Williams was bouncing him. He then said he called for the child's mother, who called 911 and attempted CPR.



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But after the autopsy was completed, police questioned the stepfather a second time and allegedly got a different answer: Williams allegedly admitted to authorities that the child was "crying uncontrollably," prompting him to throw him head-first into a bed frame, according to the documents.

Police said Williams also stated that "it was all his fault," per the documents reviewed by the outlet.



Williams is currently being held without bond at Central Regional Jail, according to an online roster. A preliminary hearing is expected later this month, according to the outlets.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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The Chambers County Courthouse as seen on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Lafayette, Ala. ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against the Chambers County Board of Education on behalf of two teachers who were wrongfully arrested in 2023.(Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit in May against the Chambers County Board of Education on behalf of two teachers who were wrongfully arrested in 2023.

According to the lawsuit, Yolanda Ratchford and Tytianna Smith held letter-size papers at a Chambers County Board of Education meeting picturing John Lewis reading Good Trouble.

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Silently holding pieces of paper is not a crime. What happened to Ms. Ratchford and Ms. Smith is a clear and shocking abuse of power, said Alison Mollman, legal director at the ACLU of Alabama. These women were exercising their most basic constitutional rightsfreedom of speech and peaceful protestand they were punished for it.

According to a May press release, the complaint includes claims under the First and Fourth Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Alabama common law.

The litigation, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, is to get Ratchford and Smith compensated for the harm they endured while in police custody. She said Ratchford is wheelchair bound and was not given access to a toilet while in police custody. A judge ruled the two teachers were not guilty of disorderly conduct.

Messages seeking comment from Chambers County Board of Education and the Valley Police Department were left Tuesday.

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As of Tuesday, the defendants have not responded to the lawsuit through the court.

According to a press release, the silent protest was part of ongoing community opposition to the school boards plan to consolidate the countys two public high schools into a new facility located in Valley, a predominantly white city, which would displace Black students and educators from LaFayette.

Mollman said the merging of the two schools would cause issues with commuting for Black students that live in spread out county and they would get a different education in the city.

When youre going a few miles down county roads, its much different than going down I 65 or 85 you know, at 80 miles an hour. And so thats part of the issue, Mollman said in an interview in May.

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The merging of the two schools, Mollman said, would put the Black students at a disadvantage because they would no longer be with their teachers.

Many of those teachers were black, and so its not just the bussing times. Its also where those students are going to be placed, who theyre going to be taught by, and how thats going to be different, how theyre going to be differently situated than from their white peers.

A judge determined that they were not guilty of those offenses, and made comments to the effect that if anyone was disorderly in the incident, it was law enforcement, she said.

For the past 50 years, the Chambers County School District has been under a federal desegregation order. A federal judge ruled that both Valley and Lafayette high schools must be combined into one Chambers County High School. A new consolidated high school is set to be built this year, according to WTVM.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams slammed Andrew Cuomo Tuesday over his lack of engagement with voters and suggested nepotism helped vault the former governor to his perch atop state government.

Cuomo is currently leading the Democratic primary, and polls suggest a likely collision with the mayor in the fall general election.

The Cuomo name went so far because people really adored his dad, Adams said, referencing former Gov. Mario Cuomo. No one really had to scrutinize [Andrew Cuomo]. You know, he's always moved from one location to another location with this whole cocoon. And you come from a dynasty. I didn't come from a dynasty.

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The former governor has mostly eschewed candidate forums and unscripted public events in favor of more controlled appearances.

The mayor also dismissed Cuomos plan to help Democrats win seats in the midterms. The governor outlined his strategy of highlighting Medicaid cuts being pushed by Congressional Republicans during a sit-down with POLITICO.

If you want to be around the country, that sounds like you are trying to run for something else, Adams said. The mayor, you have to be closely engaged with people, and the job of mayor is not around the country. It's around the city.

Additionally, the mayor shot back at Cuomos portrayals of New York as a city in crisis, indicating that the former governors own policies have made it more difficult to drive down crime and shutter illegal cannabis shops  a preview of how Adams might go after Cuomo this fall.

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I had to fix his policies. Cannabis law was his law. Bail reform was his law, said Adams on Tuesday.

Cuomo and his team have a different view as they also prepare for the possibility of facing Adams and others following the June 24 Democratic Primary.

In his interview with POLITICO, Cuomo defended the 2019 criminal justice reforms he signed and noted he wanted judges to have more discretion when setting bail  a provision that was omitted from the final version of the law. He suggested that distinction would deflect any bail-related attacks from Adams onto state lawmakers.

Well then hes going to be criticizing the Legislature, Cuomo said of the mayors expected broadsides.

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He doubled down on his grim assessment of the city, which he argued has deteriorated on Adams watch.

Crime. Homelessness. Fear. Dirt. Comfortability. Anxiety level. All of the above. Its an emotion and a feeling as much as it is fact, Cuomo said. Your New Yorker sense when you walk out there beeps.

That feeling  and not a desire to resurrect his political career  is what Cuomo suggested led him into the race.

New York to me is on the precipice, he said. You either fix it fast, or you're going to see it continue. And I think I can be a value added in that.

He argued those same trends, along with the mayors cozy relationship with President Donald Trump, are responsible for Adams record-low standing with New York City voters  rather than the mayors now-dismissed criminal case itself.

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He was making a deal with Trump for his own benefit and thats his issue, Cuomo said. So it wasnt even about the trial. When he says the trial was unfair and thats why I am wherever I am  No, thats just not a fact. It was the condition of the city.

In response to Adams specific comments Tuesday, Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi also alluded to the chummy relationship between Adams and Trump that has proved unpalatable with voters.

Eric Adams is understandably going through the five stages of grief as the end of his failed tenure as Mayor is near, Azzopardi said in a statement. I wish the MAGA mayor the best of luck in whatever future cabinet position he gets in the Trump administration.

During Tuesdays press briefing, Adams also refused to condemn GOP Council Member Vickie Paladino's X post calling for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdanis deportation due to his socialist politics.

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I am not going to point out one specific comment, Adams said. Everybody needs to tone down their mean-spirited, hateful language.

When asked about Paladinos remarks, Cuomo said in a statement that the Republican answer to everything, including the common cold, is deportation and it has to stop.

Mamdani took note of the muted responses to Paladino, who is part of a group of Council Republicans and conservative Democrats who often align with Adams on policy.

To have the mayor of this city refuse to condemn those remarks  and a former governor give the most tepid response  showcases everything that we are afraid of as it pertains to the two of them leading the city, said Mamdani in a Tuesday endorsement event.
SILE CITY  A Bear Creek man faces a total of 19 charges following a violent nine-hour standoff with deputies last month that involved hundreds of rounds of gunfire targeting deputies.

Paul Lawrence Rader, 47, of 1535 Lambert Chapel Road in Siler City, was released from the hospital and taken into custody late last week, a release states. He remains in the Chatham County Detention Center on a $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 9.

The newest charges include five counts of felony discharge of a weapon into an occupied moving vehicle and four counts of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer.

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These are in addition to charges filed immediately after the incident, which include two counts of felony attempted first-degree murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, six counts of felony discharge of a weapon into occupied property and one count of misdemeanor injury to real property

The incident began around 3:30 p.m. on May 21, when sheriffs deputies attempted to serve an involuntary commitment order. While deputies were speaking with family members outside the residence, Rader allegedly began firing from a trailer on the property.

The standoff lasted until shortly after midnight. Two deputies returned fire during the encounter  once early on and once near the end of the incident  but no one was injured.
(Reuters) -Energy companies representing technologies that provide baseload, or stable and consistent power, on Tuesday urged U.S. Senate leadership to preserve clean energy tax credits that were effectively gutted by a Republican bill passed last month by the House of Representatives.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Republicans including U.S. President Donald Trump have criticized clean energy tax credits for incentivizing intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar that vary depending on weather conditions. They say the nation needs more baseload power, which includes coal and natural gas, to serve soaring electricity needs tied to data centers and artificial intelligence.

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But in the letter sent on Tuesday, a group of nuclear, energy storage, geothermal and hydropower companies and organizations said they, too, need the subsidies to support their baseload technologies.

KEY QUOTE

"Baseload technologies rely on these credits to secure financing, plan multi-decade investments, and build the infrastructure needed for a reliable and resilient grid. Altering the availability, phase-out schedule, or transferability of these credits would jeopardize the firm capacity now in active development and undercut America's broader goals of energy security and productive investment," the companies said in the letter addressed to Senators John Thune, the Republican leader, Chuck Schumer, leader of the minority Democrats, Mike Crapo, the Republican chairman of the Senate finance committee, and Ron Wyden, the committee's top Democrat.

The letter was signed by geothermal company Fervo Energy, storage firm Form Energy, nuclear technology companies Oklo and TerraPower, among others. It was also signed by several advocacy groups representing hydropower, geothermal and advanced nuclear energy.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Ashlie Bell-Seibers, a cancer survivor left blind in one eye, gets nervous in front of crowds. Still, she grabbed a microphone on June 3 in front of Nashville's federal building to speak about the children and families in Tennessee she said would be harmed by proposed cuts to Medicaid.

"As a teenager, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and without Medicaid, it's very likely I wouldn't be standing before you today," she told the crowd gathered for a protest led by the American Heart Association and sponsored by 11 non-profit organizations in the Volunteer State.

Ashlie Bell-Seibers, (left) a cancer survivor and advocate for Tennesseans with disabilities, speaks at a protest in downtown, Nashville June 3 against proposed cuts to Medicaid. Dr. Megan Schwalm, an advocate for caregivers, stands beside her holding photos of children with illnesses or disabilities whose families rely on Medicaid.

"My family couldn't afford the cancer treatment I needed."

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Bell-Seibers said care made possible through Medicaid allowed her to heal and flourish. She became a first-generation college graduate and broke her family's cycle of poverty. She now works with hundreds of vulnerable families as director of Family Voices of Tennessee, a program of the Tennessee Disability Coalition.

"The proposed cuts to Medicaid will hurt families across Tennessee directly or indirectly, especially families of children with disabilities," she said. "Their families matter."

President Donald Trump's proposed tax bill aims to cut $625 billion from Medicaid, which could push an estimated 7.6 million Americans off coverage, in part by implementing new work requirements for able-bodied adults without children, according to a USA TODAY report. Those who oppose the requirement say it often ensnares people in an unending maze of bureaucratic red tape.

In a social media post, Trump said the legislation, which he calls his "big, beautiful bill," would be "arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country! The Bill includes MASSIVE Tax CUTS, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Tax Deductions when you purchase an American Made Vehicle, along with strong Border Security measures, Pay Raises for our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, Funding for the Golden Dome, TRUMP Savings Accounts for newborn babies, and much more!"

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Bell-Seibers and others at the protest said they spoke to give a voice to parents who were unable to attend, either because they were working or caring for children.

Megan Schwalm stood beside Bell-Seibers to display photos of children whose conditions necessitate costly medical care and whose families depend on the federal money.

Schwalm  president and CEO of the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition  said more than 1 million people in Tennessee care for aging parents, children with disabilities, spouses with serious illnesses and loved ones recovering from injuries or navigating end-of-life care.

She said an estimated 53 million Americans provide such unpaid care, contributing about $600 billion in essential labor.

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"It's love, yes," she said. "But it's also labor."

"Caregivers are doing this work while sacrificing their own income, careers, health and sometimes even their homes," Schwalm said. "Caregiving is the invisible infrastructure holding our health care system together, and it's under attack."

Schwalm said the proposed bill would end a national "legacy of bipartisan support" and unfairly target caregivers, who sometimes have to leave jobs or reduce hours to care for loved ones at home.

"That is not policy," Schwalm said. "That is cruelty disguised as reform."

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An estimated one out of five Tennessee residents are caregivers and many have relied on Medicaid for home health care, respite, transportation and medical supplies, Schwalm said. She said the assistance helps caregivers keep their loved ones at home instead of in costly institutions.

Nicole Lattatin, grassroots manager at the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, said people need health insurance to screen for, detect, treat and survive cancer.

Nearly 43,000 people in Tennessee will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025 and more than 10,000 current Tennessee patients rely on Medicaid, she said.

Even children are advocating lawmakers to fight anticipated cuts to Medicaid, which help families in need.

Her daughters, ages 9 and 13, attended the event wearing blue T-shirts displaying the message "Medicaid Saves Lives," in white letters on the back, while the front proclaimed, "Where you live shouldn't determine if you live."

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Some researchers argue that millions of people eligible for Medicaid could lose coverage because they are unable to meet the requirements to prove they are disabled, working or going to school.

Aaron Hawkins is a lung cancer survivor and patient advocate for the American Lung Association.

"I'm one of the lucky ones," he said. "My diagnosis was early. He had surgery but didn't need chemotherapy or radiation. Access to care was vitally, vitally important."

In late 2019, a surgeon removed about two thirds of one of his lungs  at a cost of $117,000.

"My family would have been financially devastated" without access to quality care, he said.

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One in four people with lung cancer under the age of 65 rely on Medicaid for access to life-saving treatment and medication, Hawkins said.

Along with proposed Medicaid cuts, the bill also would implement new work requirements for people ages 55 to 64 who receive assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. An estimated 42 Americans currently benefit from the program, according to a USA TODAY report.

Those who oppose the requirements include Jeannine Carpenter, Chattanooga Area Food Bank's chief communications officer. She also spoke at the protest, saying one in eight Tennesseans  including one in seven children  face hunger.

The food bank is one of five Feeding America food banks that together care for residents in each of Tennessee's 95 counties.

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More than 1.1 million Tennesseans are food insecure, and 45% of their households are eligible for the SNAP food aid program, according to the latest Feeding America report, Carpenter said.

For every meal we provide, SNAP provides eight, she said of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.

Adults in low-income homes who have SNAP spend an average of $1,400 less on medical expenses, Carpenter said.

"Food is medicine; Food is health care," she said. "Without it, our neighbors will not be healthy."

Schwalm said a caregiver recently told her that SNAP was the only way she could buy groceries while paying for her son's medications.

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"When you cut SNAP," Schwalm said, "you're taking away food from families who are already stretched to the breaking point."

Reporter Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville protest warns of harm from Trump's proposed cuts to Medicaid, food aid
Advocates are pushing state lawmakers to override Gov. Ron DeSantis veto of a bill to repeal the states so-called free kill law.

The bill would have repealed the controversial law that blocks some families from suing if they lose a loved one to medical negligence.

One of those protesting the veto was Daryl Perritt, whose son died from a blood clot six months ago. He blames the doctors and hospital, as well as the state.

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"Because of this law, I cant require, demand or get any answer as to why they waited nearly four days to perform that surgery. Had they performed the surgery in the first 24 hours or 48 hours, he would be here with me today," Perritt.

He and others have fought to have it repealed, and they came close when the Legislature voted in favor of getting rid of the 30-year-old law.

But DeSantis vetoed it last week, saying it would increase hiring costs for Floridians and make it harder to hire and retain doctors in the state.

But that hasnt stopped Perritts fight. It fueled it.

He spent thousands of dollars on billboards calling out DeSantis and lawmakers who dont support a repeal.

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The hope is that the Legislature will override the veto. It will take a two-thirds vote in the State House and Senate to do so.

Lawmakers have said a veto is up for discussion. They think there may be enough votes in the House but not the Senate.

Lawmakers are back in Tallahassee, working on the budget.

Perritt will be meeting with lawmakers to tell them how important an override will be.

I dont need money. I need my son. And since I cant have my son, I need answers. Thats all. I just need answers to why my son is dead. I dont think thats too much to ask, he said.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Biodiversity continues to recover in Yangtze river as fishing ban reaches fifth year

08:41, June 04, 2025 By Yu Jingxian, Fan Haotian, Xu Jing ( People's Daily

Yangtze finless porpoises frolic in the waters near the Gezhouba Hydropower Station in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, April 8, 2025. (Photo by Wu Chengzhong/People's Daily Online)

May marks the peak breeding season for fish species in key areas of the Yangtze River Basin, including the main river, tributaries, and major connected lakes.

As China's longest river, the Yangtze River plays an indispensable role in the country's ecological well-being. In 2021, a decade-long fishing ban was fully implemented across key conservation areas of the river to restore its ecosystem. Now in its fifth year, the effort is showing tangible results.

According to the latest data, the average fishery resource volume at monitoring sites along the river's main stem rose by 9.5 percent year on year in 2024. From 2021 to 2024, 344 native fish species were monitored in the basin, an increase of 36 species compared to the 2017 to 2020 period which preceded the fishing ban.

Supported by conservation efforts across the entire basin, the Yangtze River is gradually recovering its ecological vitality and fostering renewed harmony between human activities and natural systems.

Early in the morning in Jiangtun bay of Yangye township, Ezhou, central China's Hubei Province, several Yangtze finless porpoises frolicked in the river, occasionally poking their heads above the water.

"The water quality has improved a lot in recent years. These 'smiling angels,' once rarely seen, now appear regularly," said local resident Li Congguo, proudly showing a video clip of the porpoises captured on his phone.

Photovoltaic panels are installed atop a factory building along the Yangtze River in Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo by Zhang Mingwei/People's Daily Online)

The Yangtze finless porpoise - widely regarded as a flagship species - serves as a critical barometer of the river's ecological health. Jiangtun Bay, with its gentle currents and abundant aquatic resources, is one of the important natural habitats of the porpoise in the river's middle and lower reaches.

"We plan to install panoramic cameras to enable real-time public observation of the porpoises. In the future, we'll also explore eco-tourism and educational initiatives to further promote awareness and protection of the species," said Yan Jian, head of Yangye township.

Conservation efforts are intensifying for other iconic species, including the Chinese sturgeon and Yangtze sturgeon.

For the first time, over one million Chinese sturgeons were released into the river last year, and an estimated 110,000 juveniles successfully migrated to the sea via the Yangtze estuary. In areas like Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, emergency rescue operations for Yangtze finless porpoises were conducted during dry seasons, combining in-situ and ex-situ protection strategies.

The fishing impacts the livelihoods of more than 200,000 fishermen who lived along the river. How have their lives evolved in the aftermath?

At a "fish-to-farming" base in Huyang township, Dangtu county, Ma'anshan, east China's Anhui Province, Ma Wuyi, in his fifties, was weeding a crab pond. Six years ago, he was a seasoned fisherman. In 2019, as part of a government initiative to relocate fishermen away from the Yangtze River and its tributaries, Ma relinquished his nets and moved into a resettlement community with his family.

Staff members at a conservation base for rare fish of the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences inspect the health of a Yangtze sturgeon in the upper reach of the Yangtze River. (Photo by Zhang Baolin/People's Daily Online)

The county also launched supportive policies to facilitate career transitions, particularly toward aquaculture. Ma participated in free training courses on fish and crab farming, organized by the county and township governments. To address the challenges of vocational adaptation, Dangtu county established a technical support team at the aquaculture base, assigning experts to each former fisherman to provide free guidance on pond disinfection, feeding, disease control, and more.

This farming season, Ma stocked his ponds with about 850 kilograms of crab fry and over 300 kilograms of shrimp fry. "The crabs are growing well. It's only May, and the biggest already weighs about 75 grams. I'm optimistic about this year's harvest," he said.

Since the full implementation of the ten-year fishing ban, local governments have worked to ensure the proper resettlement and support of former fishermen. Continuous follow-up studies and poverty prevention monitoring have been carried out.

By the end of the first quarter of this year, all 145,000 former fishermen nationwide with both the ability and willingness to work had found new employment. All 220,000 eligible former fishermen had been enrolled in basic pension insurance, and 12,000 fishermen facing financial difficulties had been included in the Chinese national subsistence allowance system.

Rehabilitating the ecological health of the Yangtze River requires attention to both aquatic and terrestrial sources degradation. In recent years, provinces along the river and relevant departments have undertaken coordinated efforts to restructure local economies. Thousands of chemical plants have been shut down, relocated, upgraded, or repurposed to enable green development.

At the Baiyang Industrial Park in Yichang Hi-tech Industry Development Zone, central China's Hubei province, construction is underway on a fluorosilicone materials facility. "This relocation is not just about a geographic shift - it represents a comprehensive upgrade toward high-end, smart, and green production," said Huang Zhiliang, deputy chief engineer of Hubei YiHua Group. The company has invested 112 million yuan ($15.6 million) in building a smart chemical plant, which is expected to conserve the equivalent of 110,000 metric tons of standard coal annually.

Experts emphasize that the fishing ban has fundamentally curtailed overfishing. However, the Yangtze River's full ecological recovery remains a long-term endeavor. Challenges such as blocked migration routes, water pollution, and habitat destruction continue to pose significant threats to biodiversity.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A drone photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows harvesters working at the "Tianfu granary" core demonstration zone in Chongzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A smart agriculture competition, running from May 15 to Sept. 30, pits six human farming teams against four AI-assisted groups across 1,000 mu (or 66.7 hectares) of prime Sichuan farmland. This modern-day duel between tradition and technology offers a window into China's quest for smart agriculture.(Xinhua)

CHENGDU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Under the golden June sun, emerald rice paddies ripple across the "Tianfu granary" core demonstration zone in Chongzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, where a high-stakes agricultural experiment unfolds.

As the second AI rice cultivation challenge goes on for three weeks, organizers find they constantly encounter a pivotal question: can machine learning outperform centuries of farming wisdom?

The competition, running from May 15 to Sept. 30, pits six human farming teams against four AI-assisted groups across 1,000 mu (or 66.7 hectares) of prime Sichuan farmland. This modern-day duel between tradition and technology offers a window into China's quest for smart agriculture.

In fields dotted with multispectral sensors and solar-powered monitoring poles, the AI teams employ a "sky-ground-space" data network developed by the Institute of Urban Agriculture under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

The system tracks crop health, soil conditions, and pest activity in real time, feeding information to cloud-based AI that generates planting strategies.

"Our team consists of around 10 members, and we plan to cultivate a trial area of 100 mu this year," said Gao Ying, a contestant from the Qingqiao land cooperative in Chongzhou, about 50 kilometers away from the provincial capital Chengdu.

She noted that the advantage of AI farming over traditional methods is its ability to quickly impart essential knowledge and production skills related to agriculture. Additionally, when prompted, it offers constructive feedback.

According to the event schedule, the rice transplanting period will occur from May 15 to 30, during which the AI system will initiate intelligent monitoring. Mid-term data analysis and evaluation will take place on July 15, followed by yield and quality assessments in September.

LESSONS FROM THE FIRST HARVEST

Gao is no stranger to the challenge.

Last year's inaugural competition delivered a reality check. The CAAS-developed AI system, guiding novice farmer Gao through 100 mu, finished seventh among nine teams -- outperforming two human counterparts but falling short of veteran growers.

Specifically, regarding yield rankings, the AI group achieved an average yield of 516 kilograms per mu, securing eighth place. In terms of quality rankings, the group placed sixth in both the whole milled rice rate and the chalky grain rate, and seventh in chalkiness.

The organizers noted that the AI group utilized the Qianxiangyou 956 variety, reaching 88 percent of the established yield standard, an achievement experts called "commendable."

However, its 7th-place finish highlighted challenges in replicating human adaptability.

"AI needs field schooling," explained Wang Nan, the executive chief scientist of the urban agricultural development strategy and planning team at the CAAS Institute of Urban Agriculture, whose team developed the decision-making system.

"During the initial development of AI algorithms, our data was fragmented, but now we have constructed a comprehensive dataset," Wang said.

This dataset encompasses the entire rice growing process, including timing, crop growth images, and relevant climatic and soil moisture data.

Moreover, as the dataset expands, both the precision of AI decision-making and its analytical capabilities are improving, enabling farmers to make more accurate assessments regarding key agricultural practices such as fertilization and weeding.

However, the technology is not without its limitations. Experts noted that while AI collects data through cameras and sensors installed in the fields, its environmental perception capabilities remain underdeveloped, particularly with regard to satellite imagery, which has not performed ideally in practical applications.

Additionally, the integration of AI technology with traditional agricultural practices requires time to establish trust and collaborative processes between AI and farmers.

"AI's strength lies in processing 10,000 data points per mu from our monitoring network, but translating that into field actions requires deeper farmer-algorithm synergy," Wang said.

He said that last year, the adoption rate for AI decisions has reached 73 percent, with particular struggles in pest management timing.

"This year, we're targeting above 80 percent alignment between AI suggestions and farmer actions," he said.

HYBRID HORIZONS EMERGE

Rather than framing it as man-versus-machine, organizers emphasize convergence.

"Artificial intelligence is a tool that assists rather than replaces human labor. We aim to enhance support for urban producers and decision-makers through upgraded computing power," said Wang.

He emphasized that while agricultural technology resources are abundant, smallholder farmers often rely on traditional practices and face challenges with aging populations and a gap in technology application.

"There is a pressing need for sustainable intellectual support systems," he said.

Furthermore, the scattered nature of urban land combined with diverse farming operations complicates the provision of traditional agricultural technology, leading urban agriculture to require more flexible and localized decision-making support compared to the industrialized model of large-scale tomato production in northwest China's Xinjiang.

"The core value of this system lies in establishing a bridge between technology innovators and the needs of farmers, enhancing decision-making for farmers while providing data support for government industrial planning," said Wang.

The technological edge shows promise. At Chongzhou's Longxing Town, intelligent transplanters demonstrate 20 percent efficiency gains through automated U-turns and AI-optimized planting patterns.

Veteran farmer Liu Decheng paused from adjusting an AI-guided transplanter to check his phone's pest alert.

"Last year, the system warned of stem borers three days before I spotted them," he admitted, "but my organic pesticide mix worked better than its chemical suggestion." 

An aerial drone photo taken on May 16, 2025 shows a drone flying above the fields at the "Tianfu granary" core demonstration zone in Chongzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A smart agriculture competition, running from May 15 to Sept. 30, pits six human farming teams against four AI-assisted groups across 1,000 mu (or 66.7 hectares) of prime Sichuan farmland. This modern-day duel between tradition and technology offers a window into China's quest for smart agriculture.(Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 16, 2025 shows a farmer working beside a seedling conveyor belt at the "Tianfu granary" core demonstration zone in Chongzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A smart agriculture competition, running from May 15 to Sept. 30, pits six human farming teams against four AI-assisted groups across 1,000 mu (or 66.7 hectares) of prime Sichuan farmland. This modern-day duel between tradition and technology offers a window into China's quest for smart agriculture.(Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 8, 2025 shows a 5G intelligent unmanned rice transplanter working at the "Tianfu granary" core demonstration zone in Chongzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A smart agriculture competition, running from May 15 to Sept. 30, pits six human farming teams against four AI-assisted groups across 1,000 mu (or 66.7 hectares) of prime Sichuan farmland. This modern-day duel between tradition and technology offers a window into China's quest for smart agriculture.(Xinhua)
Hydrogen exports from Africa to Europe will remain prohibitively expensive without policy interventions, a new study suggested.

The fuel known as green hydrogen  made by splitting hydrogen out of water molecules using renewable electricity  has drawn much interest globally as a way to decarbonize heavy industries that are hard to electrify.

As countries assess the most economically viable places from which to procure the fuel, some governments in Europe have been exploring importing cheaper green hydrogen in the form of ammonia from countries including Kenya, Mauritania, and Namibia.

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Research published by the journal Nature Energy, however, found that de-risking and strategic location selection would be key to making African green hydrogen exports competitive with those of other regions.
Federal officers drive down Lake Street following a raid at Las Cuatro Milpas in Minneapolis, Minnesota Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned Tuesdays militarized federal law enforcement action in Minneapolis, saying it seemed like the point was to inflict terror and fear into the community.

Dozens of armed federal agents from multiple agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raided a Minneapolis taco restaurant Tuesday in what ICE said was a groundbreaking operation involving drug smuggling and human trafficking.

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The raid was Minnesotas first under President Donald Trumps Homeland Security Task Force, which he established via executive order on the first day of his second term, according to a statement from ICE.

The operation inflamed tensions with residents in the Midtown neighborhood, which includes many Latino residents and which was rocked by protests and riots following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020.

If they want to inflict fear, and they wanted to discourage cooperation, they achieved both those goals yesterday, Ellison said Wednesday in an interview with States Newsroom.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the raid was not related to immigration enforcement, but a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering.

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But information was sparse on the scene. Hundreds of immigrant rights activists and neighbors surrounded the restaurant, yelling at officers and attempting to block their armored vehicles. Many officers wore face coverings and camouflage fatigues, and some refused to identify which agency they were with.

Officers used chemical irritants and piercing sirens to disperse the crowd. No one was arrested during the raid, Frey said Tuesday.

Ellison said he was not informed of the raid before it happened, and that the raid was way over the top in terms of resource allocation.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks to States Newsroom leaders and reporters Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at the Royal Sonesta in downtown Minneapolis. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

Ellisons remarks add to a chorus of condemnation among local officials who are concerned about the fate of immigrants in Minnesota.

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Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a statement Wednesday morning saying across the country, ICE is being deployed to terrorize people.

My singular focus is on the safety of the people who live here, and I want to be clear that ICE showing up alongside local law enforcement causes grievous and irreparable harm, Moriarty said.

DFL State Sen. Omar Fateh, who is running against Frey for Minneapolis mayor, said on social media that Minneapolis is a sanctuary in name only.

There is no circumstance in which MPD should cooperate with ICE, Fateh wrote. By labeling it in an investigation of criminal activity, ICE visited fear into the heart of an immigrant neighborhood  and our communities were shaken.

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After Trumps re-election, Frey promised that Minneapolis police would not assist with civil immigration enforcement.

The Minneapolis Police Departments only role was assisting with crowd control and keeping the community safe as a large number of residents and bystanders had gathered at the scene, Frey said Tuesday. They have not been involved in anything related to immigration enforcement.

Ellison said Wednesday that the state government also is not obligated to help federal agents locate and arrest immigrants.

Asked how the raids execution will impact his working relationship with federal agencies, Ellison said its not that great now.
On Episode 845 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Pallet CEO and founder Sushanth Raman about the companys recent $27 million series B funding round. Well find out the latest on AI workforces for 3PLs, what problems it may solve and whether broker jobs are at risk.



We head north of the border with Left Lane Associates Mike Ace McCarron to find out the good, bad and ugly of Canadian trucking. Well learn about U.S.-Canada tensions, tariff impacts on cross-border, crime in Canadian trucking and more.



Operation Spiderweb puts trucks on the front line as one was recently used to launch a daring attack on Russias bomber fleet. Will trucks become a target?



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ICE sets its sights on trucking. With reports of agents hitting shipping facilities and a massive bust in Texas, the industry is on notice.







Tesla Semi claims it has an 800-mile bobtail range. WattEV unveils its Tesla Semi and says it can fully charge the truck in 30 minutes or less.

Chapters

0:59 WWE Knoxville





4:08 Operation Spiderweb: Trucks on the frontline

7:54 ICE sets sights on trucking

11:22 Tesla Semi: Bobtail beast

13:20 Pallet raises $27M series B | Sushanth Raman

16:16 AI workforce | Sushanth Raman

29:39 Who is at fault: Car or truck?

32:23 Good, bad, and ugly of Canadian trucking | Mike Ace McCarron





Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 6 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXMs Road Dog Trucking Channel 146.

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The post AI workforce is here; Trojan trucks; Canadian trucking; ICE eyes freight | WHAT THE TRUCK?!? appeared first on FreightWaves.
Smoke from wildfires in Canada moved into Wisconsin the week of June 1 causing the air quality to plummet across the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality advisory through noon June 5 across parts of Wisconsin. The DNR is reporting an Air Quality Index level in the "Unhealthy" category for Milwaukee on June 4.

The National Weather Service is urging sensitive groups, such as those with asthma, to limit time outdoors.

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To monitor the air quality in your area, you can type in your ZIP code into the AirNow.gov website. Track the air quality with the following maps of Wisconsin with a focus on Milwaukee. The map is updated every hour.

Track the wildfires in Canada and the United States with this map

RELATED: Air quality is bad in Wisconsin, here are ways to protect yourself and loved ones

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Air quality map: Track current smoke conditions in Milwaukee
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Smoke from Canadian wildfires worsened air quality in the eastern U.S. on Wednesday as several Midwestern states battled conditions deemed unhealthy by the federal government.

The fires have forced thousands of Canadians to flee their homes and sent smoke as far as Europe.

In the U.S., smoke lingered on the skylines of cities from Kansas City to Minneapolis, and a swath of the region had unhealthy air quality Wednesday, according to an Environmental Protection Agency map.

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In Stoughton, Wisconsin, Natures Garden Preschool was keeping its kids indoors Wednesday due to the bad air quality, which interferes with the daily routine, said assistant teacher Bailey Pollard. The smoke looked like a coming storm, he said.

The 16 or 17 kids ages 12 weeks to 5 years old would typically be outdoors running or playing with water, balls and slides, but were instead inside doing crafts with Play-Doh or coloring. The situation was unfortunate because kids need to be outside and have fresh air and free play, Pollard said.

Its something where weve got to take precaution for the kids, he said. Nobody wants to stay inside all day.

Iowa issued a statewide air quality alert through early Thursday, urging residents to limit certain outdoor activities and warning of possible health effects due to the thick smoke. Wisconsin officials made similar suggestions as the smoke drifted southeast across the state.

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In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, authorities advised people shut windows at night, avoid strenuous activity outside and watch for breathing issues.

Parts of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York had areas of moderate air quality concern, and officials advised sensitive people to consider reducing outdoor activity.

Unhealthy conditions persist in Midwest

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the region's worst of it Tuesday.

Childrens Minnesota, a network of pediatric clinics and hospitals in the Twin Cities area, has seen a modest increase increase this week in patients with symptoms that doctors attributee to polluted air, Dr. Chase Shutak said.

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Their symptoms have included breathing problems, including asthma and other upper respiratory issues, said Shutak, who stays in close touch with other pediatricians in his role as medical director of the Minneapolis primary care clinic at Childrens.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the states southwest corner to the northeast could fall into the unhealthy category through Thursday morning. The agency recommended that people  especially those with heart and lung disease  avoid long or intense activities and to take extra breaks during strenuous activity outdoors.

Conditions at ground level are in the red

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow map showed a swath of red for unhealthy conditions across Wisconsin and northern Iowa. Conditions in northern Michigan also reflected many unhealthy zones. The Air Quality Index was around 160 in many parts of the upper Midwest, indicating poor conditions.

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The Air Quality Index , or AQI, measures how clean or polluted the air is, indicating which health effects might be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Particulates are the main issue from the fires.

The index ranges from green, indicating satisfactory air quality that poses little or no risk, to maroon, which is considered hazardous. That level comes with health warnings of emergency conditions, which are more likely to affect everyone.

There were areas of reduced air quality all over the U.S. on Wednesday, with numerous advisories about moderate air quality concerns as far from the fires as Kansas and Georgia.

The air quality was considerably better Wednesday in Minnesota, where only the barest hint of haze obscured the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The city experienced some of the worst air in the country on Tuesday. But the air quality index, which had reached the mid-200 range, or very unhealthy on Tuesday, was down to 60, or moderate, by Wednesday afternoon.

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The Canadian fire situation even reaches Europe

Canada is having another bad wildfire season. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba.

Canadas worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023 and choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.

The smoke over western Europe is expected to keep moving eastward, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Its causing hazy skies, but not expected to affect surface-air quality. However, it could rise high enough to be carried that far, indicating the immense size and intensity of the fires, according to Copernicus.

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___

Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. Associated Press writers Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; and Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Aisha Braveboy (D) is the projected winner in the special election race for Prince Georges County executive, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections unofficial results.

The special race was held to replace Democratic Angela Alsobrooks after she won a seat in the U.S. Senate to represent Maryland during the November election last year.

Maryland Governor endorses Aisha Braveboy for Prince Georges County Executive

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On Tuesday night, the unofficial election results showed that all precincts had reported, and Braveboy had surpassed Republican Jonathan White in the race. She won 80% of the vote, whereas White had won 10%.

Braveboy was Prince Georges Countys state attorney.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  Since becoming the mayor of Akron in January 2024, Shammas Malik has faced challenges and controversial issues.

A century after the first Goodyear blimp was launched in Akron, three of the iconic airships were overhead on Tuesday night as Malik delivered his second State of the City address at Lock 3 Park.

He told the audience that the safety of the citys 187,000 residents is city halls top priority.

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Our approach to public safety starts with our safety forces in police and fire who respond daily to difficult, often dangerous situations and help people who are victims of crimes, dealing with medical emergencies and more, he said.

Your Ohio electric bills are probably going up this month

The mayor indicated that the first approach in the citys Safer Together program is focused on gun violence prevention and intervention.

We are thankful that overall shootings and homicides have been trending downward, but we are going to stay focused on this. Anyone perpetrating violence in the city of Akron must be held accountable, he said.

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During the address, Malik renewed his call for the hiring of a consulting firm to study the Akron Police Departments use of force policies and practices.

Among the incidents he mentioned was the November 2024 shooting death of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker by an Akron patrolman.

The shooting remains the focus of an ongoing investigation.

However, officers reported on that night that they were responding to the sound of nearby gunfire when they encountered Tucker. After the teen was shot, they found a loaded weapon in his coat pocket.

Grave concern: Not everyone sold on I-X Center transformation plan

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During the mayors address, he told the audience, we need to have public discussions about how and why some encounters result in use of force, and develop shared community expectations around these situations. We owe it to our officers to equip them with the best possible training and policies available.

Malik touted the current staffing of Akron safety forces, 488 police officers and 402 firefighters, and the hiring of new classes of recruits.

However, he also sounded a cautionary note about how any federal funding cuts, and the state of the economy could impact the citys operating budget and its priorities.

Honestly in this environment, its going to be a challenge even holding steady, so what happens with our countrys economy could have a big impact, he said. The picture looks very different depending on whether economic growth continues or if a recession happens.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
JEANERETTE, La. (KLFY)  Following an extensive investigation, officers arrested Austin English, 23, of Chickasaw, Alabama on child exploitation charges, Chitimatcha Tribal Police Department said.

English is charged with computer aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile, police said.

On Thursday morning, May 29, officers from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigations ICAC unit searched Englishs home and took him into custody for CPDs warrant. English was booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail in Alabama.

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Yesterday, English waived extradition and was taken into custody by Chitimacha Tribal Police Department Officers then transported to the St Mary Parish jail, officials said.

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This investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests or charges may be forthcoming.

Austin English, 23, of Chickasaw, Alabama

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
Mediacom technicians work on servicing existing broadband infrastructure Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Silverhill, Ala. ADECA is overseeing over $400 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand Alabama's broadband infrastructure by 2026. (Mike Kittrell)

State officials on Tuesday asked internet service providers tasked with building Alabamas broadband network to more strictly adhere to reporting requirements.

During a series of project updates at the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority meeting in Montgomery, representatives from nearly two dozen companies provided details about their progress on state-funded internet projects. While most reported being on or ahead of schedule, others were cautioned for lagging reports and a lack of detailed progress.

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I feel like we are having good progress with some, and some that may not understand the system as to what we are asking for, Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), said in a firm tone. Were happy to provide technical assistance, but were not going to do it for you.

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ADECA oversees more than $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with a significant portion of this funding aimed at building middle-mile infrastructure, which provides the link from internet providers to local networks. An initial project, funded up to $85 million in 2022, is supposed to create a 3,000-mile fiber network across the state. A second, $245 million middle-mile effort will add another 4,287 miles of fiber infrastructure to specifically connect nearly 800 institutions like schools, hospitals and government facilities.

ADECA is also managing a last-mile broadband program that brings service directly to consumers, using up to $191.89 million in ARPA funds. The projects are expected to be completed by February 2026, though extensions are available until the federal spending deadline of December 2026.

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During the presentations, several companies that claimed they had progressed further than the data presented were asked to provide up-to-date information and schedule a meeting with the ADECA within 15 days to discuss their progress.

What we would like to see at the next field meeting is this dashboard filled up to reflect what youre sharing with us verbally, Boswell said to AT&T representatives, saying its unfair to the other companies submitting the requested data.

Cleo Washington, vice president of external affairs for AT&T Alabama, said that despite appearances on the dashboard, work was well underway, saying the planning phase for several projects would be completed by late summer and early fall.

We are already constructing fiber in those areas, so we are building out to get to these areas, Washington said. Boswell scheduled a follow-up meeting with the company within 15 days.

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Terry Metze, CEO of Alabama Fiber Network, said that its middle-mile network is 98% complete, with only a single permit remaining.

Our contractors are working heavily. This month, we had a couple of weeks of really heavy rain, kind of slowed this down a little bit, but were back on track, and everythings moving forward right now, Metze said.

Providers pointed to several challenges affecting progress on specific projects. Several, including Coosa Valley Technologies and Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, said they had delays in securing permits. Weather, including a couple of weeks of heavy rain, was also a factor.

The meeting concluded with Boswell saying that time is ticking and asking companies to be more diligent about ensuring projects meet the funding deadline.

Sounds like we got a lot of time left, but we really dont. We dont know what kind of obstacle that you may run into, Boswell said.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  In this weeks edition of All About Alabama, we are exploring caves as people are searching for cool and adventurous places to visit in the summer.

Have cave pics of your own that you want to share and have us post? Send them to us here.

Sims Cave Park

This less frequented and hidden gem is just 30 minutes north of Birmingham. Its made for the thrill seekers expecting to layer up with equipment, crawl through tight spaces and get a little dirty while having full reign inside a deep cave. The park is filled with untampered history and unique memories ready to be made.

Majestic Caverns

Located just outside of Childersburg is the popular Majestic Caverns, also known as Alabamas Big Cave. Visitors will discover the Great Onyx Cathedral, the caverns 120-foot-tall central room that sits beneath over 20 additional attractions above ground for the entire family to enjoy.

Rickwood Caverns

Formed from an ancient river that leads to a twisty descent deep underground, the state park is simply breathtaking. It contains historic fossils from ocean life dating back to the stone ages, all of which is easily accessible for anyone seeking an unforgettable cave exploration.

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Have something you want us to highlight in your area? Send your ideas to newstip@cbs42.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Troops attend a military parade at Brunei's Muara Naval Base, on May 31, 2025. Brunei celebrated the 64th anniversary of its royal armed forces with a series of events across the nation, featuring a grand military parade, exhibitions, and school activities, local media has reported. (Information Department of Brunei's Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Brunei celebrated the 64th anniversary of its royal armed forces with a series of events across the nation, featuring a grand military parade, exhibitions, and school activities, local media has reported.

According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin on Tuesday, the DES School in Brunei recently hosted a special event to celebrate the courage and commitment of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). Students wore navy, army, and air force uniforms and engaged in activities highlighting national service and honoring the RBAF's role in maintaining peace.

According to reports, among the series of celebrations across the sultanate, the grandest event was the military parade held on Saturday at Brunei's Muara Naval Base. Brunei's Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the deputy sultan, attended the event and commended that the RBAF has shown remarkable progress.

A static exhibition was also held at Muara Naval Base. Royal Brunei Air Force personnel engaged with visitors, and a range of military assets and informative materials were displayed in the exhibition, reflecting the unique responsibilities of army units and highlighting the breadth of the air force's operational capability.

Brunei's Ministry of Defence said in a press release that this year's celebration, under the theme "Together United to Achieve the Nation's Aspirations," embodies the spirit of unity and the RBAF's commitment to uphold its core values alongside the Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy, towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035.

Brunei is a Southeast Asian country located in the northern part of Borneo Island, with 346,500 citizens in 2024. The sultanate is a major oil and gas producer in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

Troops attend a military parade at Brunei's Muara Naval Base, on May 31, 2025.

Brunei celebrated the 64th anniversary of its royal armed forces with a series of events across the nation, featuring a grand military parade, exhibitions, and school activities, local media has reported. (Information Department of Brunei's Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua)

Brunei's Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the deputy sultan, speaks at an event marking the 64th anniversary of the country's royal armed forces at Brunei's Muara Naval Base, on May 31, 2025.

Brunei celebrated the 64th anniversary of its royal armed forces with a series of events across the nation, featuring a grand military parade, exhibitions, and school activities, local media has reported. (Information Department of Brunei's Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua)

Brunei's Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (L, front), the deputy sultan, visits a military exhibition in Brunei, on May 31, 2025.

Brunei celebrated the 64th anniversary of its royal armed forces with a series of events across the nation, featuring a grand military parade, exhibitions, and school activities, local media has reported. (Information Department of Brunei's Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua)

The Royal Brunei Air Force flying formation is pictured during a military parade in Brunei, on May 31, 2025.

Brunei celebrated the 64th anniversary of its royal armed forces with a series of events across the nation, featuring a grand military parade, exhibitions, and school activities, local media has reported. (Information Department of Brunei's Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua)
Alaska Airlines is making its Europe debut with the launch of nonstop flights to Rome next year.

The Seattle-based carrier will operate four weekly flights to and from its Pacific Northwest hub to the popular Italian city starting in May 2026.

Flights from Seattle-Tacoma Internatinal Airport and Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport will go on sale in the fall.

The airline says it selected Rome as its first European destination because its one of the most requested destinations among its reward members.

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This will be the third long-haul international route Alaska will launch from its Seattle home base since acquiring Hawaiian Airlines and its fleet of long-haul jets in 2024.

According to Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, the carrier plans to expand its global reach, intending to fly to 12 international destinations on multiple continents by 2030.

Last month, Alaska launched its inaugural flights to Tokyos Narita International Airport.

Flights to Seoul, South Korea, are up next, which start on Sept. 12.

The new Seattle-Rome route will also double as the launch for Alaskas new flagship international Dreamliner experience on board the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Jets, which is expected to include all-new business-class suites and amenities.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, speaks at a news conference Friday, March 15, 2024, with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is proposing new rules that could reduce the amount of money that local governments are able to contribute to their neighborhood school districts.

The new rules, contained within emergency regulations published Monday, would redefine a municipalitys local contribution  the amount of money a school district can receive from a city or borough  to include services provided at no charge to a district by the city or borough.

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That would mean that any time a school activity takes place at a city-owned pool or library, the city would effectively have to charge the school district rent, subtracting rental fees from the amount of money it normally gives to the school district for instruction.

Mondays announcement comes toward the end of the fiscal year for school districts, many of which are already cutting programs and closing schools because of flat state funding.

A formula increase approved this spring by the state Legislature over Gov. Mike Dunleavys opposition would provide only a small year-over-year funding increase, and the governor could end up vetoing that increase anyway. The state budget isnt due back from the governor until later this month.

The Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment about the proposal on Tuesday.

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If approved by the state school board  something that could take place as soon as Wednesday  the regulations could become quickly effective. Although Dunleavy has announced a freeze on new regulations, the education department already sought and obtained a waiver exempting this new rule from the freeze.

The state education department has been discussing proposals similar to Mondays rule change for almost a year.

The new rule is being driven in part by the states choice to use $81 million in federal impact aid for schools as a replacement for state funding.

Impact aid is distributed to states to compensate for federal land that is non taxable and doesnt contribute to local property taxes, which typically benefit local schools.

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Alaska is the only state in the country to use that federal money as a replacement for state money, rather than an additive. As a result, the state must pass whats called a disparity test  it looks at how much is spent per student at each of the states school districts, then removes the bottom 5% and top 5%. The difference between the remaining schools can be no more than 25%.

This year, the federal government warned that the state had failed the disparity test and failed a similar equity test, putting the $81 million in impact aid at risk.

The state could have sought to fix the problem by increasing education funding, but it now appears to be reducing funding instead.

Other states send the impact aid to local schools directly, noted Nils Andreassen, director of the Alaska Municipal League, which represents cities and boroughs.

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To further reduce local contributions while taking $81 million from local school districts is pretty incredible to me, he said.

Making things more difficult for local school districts, he said, is the fact that the change would be retroactive to fiscal year 2025, which ends June 30.

I think the local governments and school districts would have to go back and re-evaluate all their local contributions, he said. It could be problematic, moreso for some than others.  Its going to be anybody whos close to the cap. Its Juneau, its probably Anchorage, but also anybody who provides other types of support for districts. Im thinking Sitka, who just took over the pool. Its those kinds of things theyre going to be looking for.

Frank Hauser, superintendent of the Juneau School District, said hes still trying to understand the pending change, but his first impression is that it could cost the district as much as $2.1 million.

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Why is this (regulation) going through when theres been a freeze on everything else? he said.

DEED commissioner Deena Bishop told the state school board on Tuesday that the local contribution issue started with a headline that said a district is funding outside the cap.

That alerted the department to a possible problem with impact aid, she said.

That really is the basis for this. It is an equalizing factor in our formula, Bishop said, adding that the regulation change will be shoring up the limits on local contributions.

The reason we were proposing these changes  is to help put some siderails to ensure that future tests dont fail, said Lori Weed, school finance manager for the Department of Education.

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Assistant attorney general Susan Greenlee Sonneborn said the emergency regulations are needed now because school districts are approaching the end of their fiscal year and want the new limits to take effect before the fiscal year ends.

We believe that by getting this regulation in place within this fiscal year, well limit our exposure to the chances of failing the disparity test for 2027, based on fiscal year 2025 data, she said.

The state school board is scheduled to take public comment on the regulation change and other items on its agenda starting at 8:25 a.m. Wednesday, and it is scheduled to vote on the proposal before 11 a.m.
Children attend class at one of Kharkiv's four custom-built underground schools. Thousands more go to class in six schools constructed in the city's old metro stations, bringing the total of students going to school underground in Albuquerque's sister city to about 10,000. (Courtesy Kharkiv Mayor's Office/ Photo by Vasyl Holosnyi)

KHARKIV, Ukraine In the shadow of the school they would have once attended, two third-grade boys paddle a ping-pong ball back and forth.

Like many of the worlds children, they and their classmates switched to online learning when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020. But, unlike children in the US, these boys never went back to their old classrooms.

Two third grade boys play ping pong outside of their neighborhood school in Kharkiv. The building was damaged by shrapnel after Ukrainian air defense shot down an incoming missile in mid-April, but no children have attended the school since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion. (Cecilia Nowell)

In February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cluster bombs, missiles and shells began to rain on their hometown of Kharkiv, located just 23 miles from the Russian border. Three years later, the threats have not ceased: drones hover over the city and air raid sirens announce incoming ballistic missiles day and night.

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In Kharkiv, its never been safe for children to return to the schools they once attended, so public officials moved education underground.

I love metro school, one of the boys says, pausing his game to speak through a translator. In mid-April, shrapnel shattered the windows of the school he is playing outside after Ukrainian air defense shot down an incoming missile. There you can talk normally and no one will interrupt you.

The boys attend one of Kharkivs six metro schools, where children go to class deep in the citys subway stations. Last year, the city began work on an additional four underground schools, massive facilities with more than a dozen classrooms each.

Altogether, about 10,000 students  roughly 15% of all children currently in Kharkiv  are studying in these safe locations in person, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said through a translator. We are now completing construction of three more underground schools and plan to open them by the beginning of the new academic year.

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While the United States government has terminated funding to international aid organizations previously supporting the schools, like USAID and the UN refugee agency, the City of Albuquerque has not.

The Albuquerque Sister Cities program is currently working to provide 29 laptops to the underground schools in Kharkiv. The organization has secured 19 laptops to date and is hoping to donate the remainder this summer, according to the Albuquerque Mayors Office.

Though the Trump administrations support for Ukraine has been shaky at best, the City of Albuquerque keeps showing up for our Sister City of Kharkiv and the people of Ukraine, Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement.

We are sincerely grateful for that support, said Terekhov. We are deeply committed to properly equipping our schools  especially underground ones, where children study in safe conditions during wartime.

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At the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, Russian soldiers occupied the city of Kharkiv and many surrounding villages. Oksana Suprun, mayor of the nearby town of Savyntsi, says that during that time period, all laptops and computers were stolen from every educational institution  all of them. Everything related to multimedia equipment was ripped out and taken. Computers, projectors  it was all looted.

Basically, no classroom  except for math  was left untouched, echoed Hennadii Kliuyev, director of the Savyntsi Lyceum, a school for grades first through twelfth.

While the schools have tried to provide laptops to all students as they attended classes remotely, some have had to make do with the devices their families had at home.

(Courtesy Kharkiv Mayors Office/ Photo by Vasyl Holosnyi)

One of our teachers thought that a student wasnt doing her assignments. Shes a good student, but she had serious issues with IT class. Eventually, we found out her tablet just couldnt run the software that teachers were used to working with. Other children were using laptops, and she simply didnt have that option, said Kliuyev.

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As the town of Savyntsi constructs its first underground school, which will bring 400 students back to the classroom, teachers are preparing to organize classes in person again. But there, as in Kharkiv, students will continue attending class online a few days a week to allow more children to rotate through the building.

It wont be easy. Theyre no longer used to being in school. Some of the children, we can tell, are not socially adjusted. Theres a kind of psychological barrier. Theyre even shy to speak up in class, said Kliuyev. And were talking about tenth graders. There are definitely some psychological issues lingering. As adults, weve somehow adapted to the situation. But childrens minds dont work the same way.

Read part 1 in this series: The Ambulance here

Those underground schools are especially needed now, as Russia intensifies its strikes on Ukrainian cities even amid ongoing peace talks.

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As much as theyve adapted three years into the full-scale invasion, its still important for adults to know their children will be safe returning to school, says Yulia Bashkirova, head of the education department in Kharkivs Shevchenkivskyi neighborhood.

The schools are located six meters underground and a teachers aide meets students at the entrance to guide them to class to avoid parents gathering at the entrance and revealing the schools locations.

We have a generator. We have ventilation that cleans the air. The lighting in the underground school imitates daylight, Bashkirova said. She oversees an underground school that opened in late April and already has 830 students enrolled.

It is very important for children to have the opportunity to meet in an underground school, to communicate, to see the teacher and to learn offline, said Bashkirova. But, the safety of the kids is the biggest priority. And right now when kids are in the underground school, parents can feel safe that they are in a safe location.

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She hopes that reality does not last forever in Kharkiv. Weve gone underground not by choice, but because of the security situation, Bashkirova said. We would really like to meet somewhere above ground. Not underground  but in regular schools  because its more comfortable and familiar for the children, and its the way it should be.

Liubov Sholudko and Tetiana Burianova contributed reporting and translation support.

This reporting was supported by the International Womens Media Foundations Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraines Unseen Frontlines Initiative in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Antisemitism is (unfortunately) nothing new, but making good on it after more than a century certainly is. People these days may not be familiar with the name Alfred Dreyfus, but the little-known artillery officers conviction for treason in 1899 still divides French politics.

In a surprise move, however, France is making amends for a notorious act of political extremism. In June 2025, French lawmakers unanimously backed a promotion for Alfred Dreyfus. His new rank is brigadier general. France24 called the legislation a symbolic step in the fight against antisemitism in modern France.

Tourists in Alsace can still go on Alfred Dreyfus (pictured) walking tours.

Late 19th-century relations between Germany and France were surprisingly warm, despite the absolute ass kicking the Germans delivered during the Franco-Prussian War. But that doesnt mean the two sides werent spying on each other. The French were desperate to get any intelligence they could from the German embassy in Paris.

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After inserting one of their agents into the embassy housekeeping staff, they acquired a document addressed to the German military attache, Maximilian von Schwartzkoppen. The paper contained only one piece of sensitive military information: a note about the hydraulic compressed air brakes on a French artillery piece. It prompted Frances general staff to look for the source of the leak.

War Minister Gen. Auguste Mercier, already criticized in the press for his incompetence, was seeking an easy target on which to pin the blame. Considering the content of the message, he began to scrutinize the artillery officers in the general staff. Thats how he stumbled upon Capt. Alfred Dreyfus.

There was nothing really extraordinary about Alfred Dreyfus. He was from a well-to-do family in Alsace, which emigrated to Switzerland and then Paris after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. His experience in the war led him to the elite Ecole Polytechnique military academy. By 1882, he was a respected artillery officer.

But he was just the easy target Mercier was looking for. As an Alsatian, he could be portrayed as a German sympathizer. Most importantly, he was Jewish in an antisemitic society looking for a scapegoat. The army claimed the handwriting on the artillery note belonged to Dreyfus (it did not). When he was called in to confess to Mercier, he refused and was arrested for conspiring with the enemy.

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After a secret, two-day trial, Dreyfus was convicted and his rank was cancelled. He was to be publicly degraded, which meant his medals, epaulettes, sword, and other symbols of his position would be ceremoniously ripped away from him. He was then shipped off to the Devils Island penal colony in French Guiana.

The only problem was that Lt. Col. Georges Picquart, head of French intelligence services, learned who the real spy was: a counterintelligence officer named Maj. Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy.

The French press, which was torn between wild antisemitism and anti-government conspiracies, had a field day with the revelation that Esterhazy was sending letters to the German embassy and that his handwriting matched the original note.

Still, despite all the evidence, the army acquitted the real spy, who not only wrote ten years worth of letters about how much he hated France, but also promptly moved to England and later confessed. Picquart was driven out of the French army for his troubles.

Its amazing how someone who hated France as much as Ferdinand Esterhazy (pictured) could look so French. (Le Petit Journal)

Dreyfus was eventually retried and somehow convicted again. After the second conviction, he was offered a pardon if he accepted guilt, an offer he accepted just to end his ordeal. The backlash sparked a culture war from which the French far right never recovered, forever separated church and state in France, and led many Jewish Europeans to believe that only a Jewish state could protect them  the seeds of the Zionist movement were planted.

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Both trials caught the worlds attention, but the story doesnt end there. In 1906, Alfred Dreyfus was reinstated, promoted to major, and served in World War I. He served in artillery supply and fought at the Battle of Verdun. He died in 1935, having retired from the military with the Legion dHonneur and a Croix de guerre.

Despite his later history, the Dreyfus Affair, as it became known, remains a divisive issue in French politics. The act of posthumously promoting him to general is seen as a kind of reparation in a country that houses the largest Jewish population outside of Israel itself.

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Lawmakers arent wrong to worry about kids and social media  theyre just dead wrong about how to fix it.

The latest example is Connecticut, which is poised to enact a law allegedly aimed at protecting minors on social media, joining a growing trend among other states  like Ohio, Arkansas and Utah  pushing for sweeping online regulations. However, if passed, the law risks landing in federal court over constitutional concerns.

On May 14, the Connecticut House passed H.B. 6857  a bill that would make it illegal for social media platforms to display algorithmic content to minors unless they first verify the users age and obtain verifiable parental consent. In other words, any app using personalized feeds  like infinite scroll, suggested videos, or targeted posts  would be forced to screen every user or risk violating state law.

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The bill also defaults minors to one-hour daily limits, blocks notifications after 9 p.m., and restricts interactions so that only approved contacts can view or respond to their content. Platforms must allow parents to override these limits. It passed the House 12126 and now awaits action in the Senate.

Supporters, including Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, say its necessary to fight youth addiction to platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat. AG Tong even likened the proposal to past fights against Big Tobacco and the opioid epidemic  suggesting that endless scrolling is the next fentanyl. But setting aside the melodrama, theres a glaring problem with this policy and it's called the Constitution.

However, federal courts are already swatting down similar laws.

In April, a U.S. district judge in Ohio blocked the states Social Media Parental Notification Act, ruling that it infringed both parental rights and minors First Amendment freedoms.

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The decision came just weeks after another federal judge in Arkansas permanently struck down that states Social Media Safety Act  which required age verification and parental consent  on the grounds that it was not narrowly tailored and lacked a compelling government interest.

The ruling was simple, [T]here is no evidence that the Act will be effective in achieving [its] goal.

Utah also tried a similar approach. In 2023, the state passed a pair of laws requiring social media platforms to verify users ages, obtain parental consent for minors, and impose time-based restrictions on access.

But after tech industry group NetChoice filed suit, a federal judge blocked the laws, finding they likely violated the First Amendment. Despite a legislative rewrite in 2024, Utahs revised laws were again put on hold. U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled in September that the regulations were not narrowly tailored and imposed content-based restrictions on speech  a constitutional red flag.

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The message from the courts is clear, and that is states cant violate civil liberties in the name of protecting children, no matter how well-intentioned the law may be.

That should matter to legislators. But in Connecticut  as in many states  the urge to do something often overrides constitutional caution. Ironically, this legislation is being pushed in a state that already passed a sweeping data privacy law just last year. That law, which is still in effect, bans targeted ads to minors, prohibits the sale of their data without consent, limits geolocation tracking, and even requires platforms to exercise reasonable care to shield young users from harm.

Now lawmakers want to layer another set of vague, legally risky mandates. If passed, the Connecticut bill would apply to any platform with users in the state  meaning national companies could face costly compliance requirements or lawsuits under the states Unfair Trade Practices Act, just for showing kids a recommended post.

There is also the question of resources. Connecticuts own attorney general has publicly said his office is under-resourced. So, who exactly is going to monitor compliance, enforce reporting requirements, and litigate inevitable First Amendment challenges? Apparently, the same office admitting its already stretched thin.

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There are better tools for families  ones that dont require deputizing the government as everyones digital babysitter. App-store level parental controls already exist. Devices can be set to limit access, and many platforms offer family management features. Empowering parents doesnt require disempowering everyone else.

Bills like this arent about safety. Theyre about signaling. Lawmakers want to appear tough on tech  even if it means trampling constitutional rights and bogging down courts in litigation that will almost certainly end in defeat.

For now, the bill sits on the Connecticut Senate calendar, waiting for a vote. If passed, it wont just regulate platforms. It will test the boundaries of what the government can dictate in the name of protecting children.

Lets hope the courts keep doing what the legislature refuses to: draw a line.

Meghan Portfolio is the Manager of Research and Analysis at Yankee Institute.

Lawmakers arent wrong to worry about kids and social media  theyre just dead wrong about how to fix it.

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The latest example is Connecticut, which is poised to enact a law allegedly aimed at protecting minors on social media, joining a growing trend among other states  like Ohio, Arkansas and Utah  pushing for sweeping online regulations. However, if passed, the law risks landing in federal court over constitutional concerns.

On May 14, the Connecticut House passed H.B. 6857  a bill that would make it illegal for social media platforms to display algorithmic content to minors unless they first verify the users age and obtain verifiable parental consent. In other words, any app using personalized feeds  like infinite scroll, suggested videos, or targeted posts  would be forced to screen every user or risk violating state law.

The bill also defaults minors to one-hour daily limits, blocks notifications after 9 p.m., and restricts interactions so that only approved contacts can view or respond to their content. Platforms must allow parents to override these limits. It passed the House 12126 and now awaits action in the Senate.

Supporters, including Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, say its necessary to fight youth addiction to platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat. AG Tong even likened the proposal to past fights against Big Tobacco and the opioid epidemic  suggesting that endless scrolling is the next fentanyl. But setting aside the melodrama, theres a glaring problem with this policy and it's called the Constitution.

Advertisement Advertisement

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However, federal courts are already swatting down similar laws.

In April, a U.S. district judge in Ohio blocked the states Social Media Parental Notification Act, ruling that it infringed both parental rights and minors First Amendment freedoms.

The decision came just weeks after another federal judge in Arkansas permanently struck down that states Social Media Safety Act  which required age verification and parental consent  on the grounds that it was not narrowly tailored and lacked a compelling government interest.

The ruling was simple, [T]here is no evidence that the Act will be effective in achieving [its] goal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Utah also tried a similar approach. In 2023, the state passed a pair of laws requiring social media platforms to verify users ages, obtain parental consent for minors, and impose time-based restrictions on access.

But after tech industry group NetChoice filed suit, a federal judge blocked the laws, finding they likely violated the First Amendment. Despite a legislative rewrite in 2024, Utahs revised laws were again put on hold. U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled in September that the regulations were not narrowly tailored and imposed content-based restrictions on speech  a constitutional red flag.

The message from the courts is clear, and that is states cant violate civil liberties in the name of protecting children, no matter how well-intentioned the law may be.

That should matter to legislators. But in Connecticut  as in many states  the urge to do something often overrides constitutional caution. Ironically, this legislation is being pushed in a state that already passed a sweeping data privacy law just last year. That law, which is still in effect, bans targeted ads to minors, prohibits the sale of their data without consent, limits geolocation tracking, and even requires platforms to exercise reasonable care to shield young users from harm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Now lawmakers want to layer another set of vague, legally risky mandates. If passed, the Connecticut bill would apply to any platform with users in the state  meaning national companies could face costly compliance requirements or lawsuits under the states Unfair Trade Practices Act, just for showing kids a recommended post.

There is also the question of resources. Connecticuts own attorney general has publicly said his office is under-resourced. So, who exactly is going to monitor compliance, enforce reporting requirements, and litigate inevitable First Amendment challenges? Apparently, the same office admitting its already stretched thin.

There are better tools for families  ones that dont require deputizing the government as everyones digital babysitter. App-store level parental controls already exist. Devices can be set to limit access, and many platforms offer family management features. Empowering parents doesnt require disempowering everyone else.

Bills like this arent about safety. Theyre about signaling. Lawmakers want to appear tough on tech  even if it means trampling constitutional rights and bogging down courts in litigation that will almost certainly end in defeat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For now, the bill sits on the Connecticut Senate calendar, waiting for a vote. If passed, it wont just regulate platforms. It will test the boundaries of what the government can dictate in the name of protecting children.

Lets hope the courts keep doing what the legislature refuses to: draw a line.

Meghan Portfolio is the Manager of Research and Analysis at Yankee Institute.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Aloha Ballroom Company is putting on another great show this weekend, featuring both student and professional performances, inspired by the legendary Soul Train era.

The sold-out showcase is happening on Sunday, June 8. WakeUp2Days Chris Latronic went live from their location on Kapiolani Boulevard with a preview and some lessons from owner & founder, Tony Meredith.

Meredith said the showcase will highlight the intoxicating and hypnotic Soul Train music. Meredith said the dance studio has made a lot of progress in a short amount of time.

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Its been an amazing year, Meredith said. We feel so successful because so many people have come into the studio and weve been able to, like, teach them and improve their dancing quality.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)  After graduating from high school, more than a dozen students are receiving help for their post-secondary education.

The Rotary Club of Altoona awarded 18 high school graduates with scholarships during a meeting on Tuesday at the Blair County Convention Center. The club meets weekly, but awards scholarships annually.

We send an application out to all the school districts, and we ask them to tell us a little bit about themselves. What do they want to do? What college are they going to, you know, what are their future dreams? Phyllis Baker, Scholarship Coordinator for the Rotary, said.

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The money can be used for anything that the student needs, including textbooks, tuition or even a car. This year, the 18 students who were selected received a total of $21,000. Each scholarship amount is based on the needs of the student.

Miracle League of Blair County to host Cow Patty Bingo at Lakemont

You know, service above self. The Rotarians believe that everybody is worthy of our help. We make sure that not only the students, but we do other things throughout the community and Altoona, in which we feel that theres a need. And we will always step up, because it is fair to all concerned that we provide the need to our community, Baker said.

Fred Thursfield, President of the Rotary Club, said many of the students have returned to work and become meaningful members of the community.

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I think in todays world, having scholarships or financial aid packages for students has become increasingly important. And of course, the scholarships we give out can be used for anything by the students. Having grandchildren of my own, either in college or getting ready to enter, you need it for computers. You need it for clothes. You need it just to prepare for college, Thursfield said.

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Since the Altoona Rotary started awarding scholarships 21 years ago, theyve given out $500,000 in scholarships.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
JEANERETTE, La. (KLFY)  A beloved local grocery store is back open for business after surviving an attempted arson in the early morning hours.

Police say someone was seen spraying flammable liquid on AM Grocery, a family-run store that serves customers across Iberia Parish. Thanks to a quick response from the Jeanerette Police and Fire Departments, the store was saved before any serious damage could occur.

I tried to think, who could have done it? said Nghia Nguyen, owner of AM Grocery. Because we work here, and we serve the people around here. Were friendly with everybody.

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Nguyen says community support poured in almost immediately after the incident.

The next morning, I had customers calling to ask if everything was okay, he said. I was thankful for the fast acting of the firefighters and the police department. They came really quick.

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Customers say the store is a staple in Jeanerette and beyond.

A lot of people support AM Grocery because its a staple, said Trey Gibson, a longtime customer. They come from Baldwin, Franklin all the way to New Iberia.

Nguyen and his family plan to give back to the community that stood by them.

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If any event or activity needs our help, we can reach out or they can reach out to us, Nguyen said. We can give discounts, or hand out free water or food if we can.

Nguyen also shared plans to expand the store and offer more food options in the future.

Im planning to make the store bigger and try our best to help out the community, he said.

Gibson says the food alone keeps him coming back.

I go maybe two or three times a week because they have great seafood; boiled crawfish, shrimp stuff like that.

Next on the stores agenda: handing out free water during an upcoming anti-violence walk in Iberia Parish, as part of its ongoing commitment to community support.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
SANAA/JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement on Wednesday night that the group had launched two drone attacks on Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel earlier in the day.

"Our operations will continue until the (Israeli) aggression against Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted," Sarea said in the statement, aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Wednesday evening that a drone that was launched from the east was intercepted. No casualty has been reported.

The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, has been targeting Israel since 2023 to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

On Tuesday, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for launching what it said was a "hypersonic ballistic missile" towards Ben Gurion Airport, which was reportedly intercepted by Israel's defense systems. 
Illustration credit: Oona Zenda/KFF Health News

Earlier this year, as President Donald Trump was beginning to reshape the American government, Michael, an emergency room doctor who was born, raised, and trained in the United States, packed up his family and got out.

Michael now works in a small-town hospital in Canada. KFF Health News and NPR granted him anonymity because of fears he might face reprisal from the Trump administration if he returns to the U.S. He said he feels some guilt that he did not stay to resist the Trump agenda but is assured in his decision to leave. Too much of America has simply grown too comfortable with violence and cruelty, he said.

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Part of being a physician is being kind to people who are in their weakest place, Michael said. And I feel like our country is devolving to really step on people who are weak and vulnerable.

Michael is among a new wave of doctors who are leaving the United States to escape the Trump administration. In the months since Trump was reelected and returned to the White House, American doctors have shown skyrocketing interest in becoming licensed in Canada, where dozens more than normal have already been cleared to practice, according to Canadian licensing officials and recruiting businesses.

The Medical Council of Canada said in an email statement that the number of American doctors creating accounts on physiciansapply.ca, which is typically the first step to being licensed in Canada, has increased more than 750% over the past seven months compared with the same time period last year  from 71 applicants to 615. Separately, medical licensing organizations in Canadas most populous provinces reported a rise in Americans either applying for or receiving Canadian licenses, with at least some doctors disclosing they were moving specifically because of Trump.

The doctors that we are talking to are embarrassed to say theyre Americans, said John Philpott, CEO of CanAm Physician Recruiting, which recruits doctors into Canada. They state that right out of the gate: I have to leave this country. It is not what it used to be.

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Canada, which has universal publicly funded health care, has long been an option for U.S.-trained doctors seeking an alternative to the American health care system. While it was once more difficult for American doctors to practice in Canada due to discrepancies in medical education standards, Canadian provinces have relaxed some licensing regulations in recent years, and some are expediting licensing for U.S.-trained physicians.

In mere months, the Trump administration has jeopardized the economy with tariffs, ignored court orders and due process, and threatened the sovereignty of U.S. allies, including Canada. The administration has also taken steps that may unnerve doctors specifically, including appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead federal health agencies, shifting money away from pandemic preparedness, discouraging gender-affirming care, demonizing fluoride, and supporting deep cuts to Medicaid.

The Trump administration did not provide any comment for this article. When asked to respond to doctors leaving the U.S. for Canada, White House spokesperson Kush Desai asked whether KFF Health News knew the precise number of doctors and their citizenship status, then provided no further comment. KFF Health News did not have or provide this information.

Philpott, who founded CanAm Physician Recruiting in the 1990s, said the cross-border movement of American and Canadian doctors has for decades ebbed and flowed in reaction to political and economic fluctuations, but that the pull toward Canada has never been as strong as now.

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Philpott said CanAm had seen a 65% increase in American doctors looking for Canadian jobs from January to April, and that the company has been contacted by as many as 15 American doctors a day.

Rohini Patel, a CanAm recruiter and doctor, said some consider pay cuts to move quickly.

Theyre ready to move to Canada tomorrow, she said. They are not concerned about what their income is.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which handles licensing in Canadas most populous province, said in a statement that it registered 116 U.S.-trained doctors in the first quarter of 2025  an increase of at least 50% over the prior two quarters. Ontario also received license applications from about 260 U.S.-trained doctors in the first quarter of this year, the organization said.

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British Columbia, another populous province, saw a surge of licensure applications from U.S.-trained doctors after Election Day, according to an email statement from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. The statement also said the organization licensed 28 such doctors in the fiscal year that ended in February  triple the total of the prior year.

Quebecs College of Physicians said applications from U.S.-trained doctors have increased, along with the number of Canadian doctors returning from America to practice within the province, but it did not provide specifics. In a statement, the organization said some applicants were trying to get permitted to practice in Canada specifically because of the actual presidential administration.

Michael, the physician who moved to Canada this year, said he had long been wary of what he described as escalating right-ring political rhetoric and unchecked gun violence in the United States, the latter of which he witnessed firsthand during a decade working in American emergency rooms.

Michael said he began considering the move as Trump was running for reelection in 2020. His breaking point came on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob of Trump supporters besieged the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the election of Joe Biden as president.

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Civil discourse was falling apart, he said. I had a conversation with my family about how Biden was going to be a one-term president and we were still headed in a direction of being increasingly radicalized toward the right and an acceptance of vigilantism.

It then took about a year for Michael to become licensed in Canada, then longer for him to finalize his job and move, he said. While the licensing process was not difficult, he said, it did require him to obtain certified documents from his medical school and residency program.

The process wasnt any harder than getting your first license in the United States, which is also very bureaucratic, Michael said. The difference is, I think most people practicing in the U.S. have got so much administrative fatigue that they dont want to go through that process again.

Michael said he now receives near-daily emails or texts from American doctors who are seeking advice about moving to Canada.

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This desire to leave has also been striking to Hippocratic Adventures, a small business that helps American doctors practice medicine in other countries.

The company was co-founded by Ashwini Bapat, a Yale-educated doctor who moved to Portugal in 2020 in part because she was terrified that Trump would win again. For years, Hippocratic Adventures catered to physicians with wanderlust, guiding them through the bureaucracy of getting licensed in foreign nations or conducting telemedicine from afar, Bapat said.

But after Trump was reelected, customers were no longer seeking grand travels across the globe, Bapat said. Now they were searching for the nearest emergency exit, she said.

Previously it had been about adventure, Bapat said. But the biggest spike that we saw, for sure, hands down, was when Trump won reelection in November. And then Inauguration Day. And basically every single day since then.

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At least one Canadian province is actively marketing itself to American doctors.

Doctors Manitoba, which represents physicians in the rural province that struggles with one of Canadas worst doctor shortages, launched a recruiting campaign after the election to capitalize on Trump and the rise of far-right politics in the U.S.

The campaign focuses on Florida and North and South Dakota and advertises zero political interference in physician patient relationship as a selling point.

Alison Carleton, a family medicine doctor who moved from Iowa to Manitoba in 2017, said she left to escape the daily grind of Americas for-profit health care system and because she was appalled that Trump was elected the first time.

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Carleton said she now runs a small-town clinic with low stress, less paperwork, and no fear of burying her patients in medical debt.

She dropped her American citizenship last year.

People I know have said, You left just in time, Carleton said. I tell people, I know. When are you going to move?

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Work for now continues daily at Kennedy Space Center on a new mobile launch tower that has already cost more than $1 billion. But the Artemis moon mission it is intended to serve may never happen if President Trumps plans for NASA come to fruition.

The mobile launcher 2 has been rising steadily at a construction site just north of the massive Vehicle Assembly Building, where it stands now at 320 feet tall on its way to a target of 390 feet.

Its designed to support a larger version of the Space Launch System rocket called the SLS Block 1B beginning with the Artemis IV mission. But Trumps proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 has spiked future use of the SLS rocket after Artemis III, a move that comes amid $6 billion in cuts to the agencys overall spending plan.

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An existing mobile launcher, ML-1, was used on the uncrewed Artemis I test flight of SLS and the Orion spacecraft in 2022, and is in place within the VAB for the Artemis II mission, a crewed flight that will go around but not land on the moon. It is set to fly in early 2026.

ML-1 would be used for a final time for the Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the surface of the moon as early as summer 2027.

But after that, Trump wants to find different solutions to send crew and cargo to the moon and onto Mars.

That would leave ML-2 with no purpose, and its fate could be similar to its predecessor, which sat unused at KSC for years after the end of the Constellation program. Eventually, though, the launcher was repurposed for use on the first three Artemis missions.

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NASA will close out Mobile Launcher-2 development, as ML-2 will not be needed to support SLS due to the orderly shutdown of the SLS Block 1B upgrade, reads the budget proposal. NASA proposes to use previously appropriated unobligated balances to support the termination of these activities, including but not limited to, ongoing administration, oversight, and monitoring.

That would include money that would be paid out to lead contractor Bechtel National Inc., which was initially awarded a $383 million contract in 2019 with a delivery date of 2023. NASAs Office of the Inspector General released an audit in August 2024 that said the costs had already nearly tripled to more than $1 billion with the delivery date pushed to no later than November 2026.

The budget also calls for an end to NASAs Exploration Ground Systems team that supports Artemis launches.

NASA, which employs for now around 18,000, has not said how many people fall under EGS, but its budgets in 2024 and 2025 neared $884 million. Trumps proposed budget would drop that to $658 million for 2026, $700 million in 2027, $500 million in 2028, and then nothing beyond that.

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NASA will utilize a commercial partnership through a competitive contract to transport crew for future Artemis missions, the budget proposal states.

The move to kill the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft by Trump comes amid criticism of the programs continued delays and ballooning costs.

The OIG in a 2023 audit warned that by the time Artemis III finally flies, NASA will have spent more than $93 billion across its various facets including SLS, Orion and Exploration Ground Systems.

Instead, Trumps goal is to rely on commercial launch providers such as SpaceXs in-development Starship and Blue Origins New Glenn for future moon and Mars missions.

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New transportation services contracts will permit more frequent missions to the moon while at the same time freeing up resources to invest in the infrastructure necessary to conduct longer stays on the lunar surface than ever before, reads a note within the budget proposal from interim NASA Administrator Janet Petro.

Overall, Trumps proposed NASA budget would drop dramatically from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion, proposing to kill off not only future SLS launches, but gutting much of the agencys science portfolio.

This budget is a retreat, a narrowing of ambition, reads a critical statement from nonprofit group The Planetary Society. This request represents the smallest NASA budget since FY 1961  a level enacted before the first American had launched into space.

Calling it an extinction-level event for NASAs science efforts, the group noted the budget would kill 41 science projects, or 1/3 of NASAs science portfolio.

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But the agency contends its focusing on moon and Mars missions instead.

With a leaner budget across all of government, we are all taking a closer look at how we work, where we invest, and how we adjust our methods to accomplish our mission, the proposal reads. At NASA, that means placing a renewed emphasis on human spaceflight  increasing investments in a sustainable plan to return to the Moon for long-term human exploration and accelerating efforts to send American astronauts to Mars.

A shift from a nationally sponsored rocket program to reliance on commercial partners for launch doesnt necessarily mean an economic downturn for the Space Coast, according to the Space Florida, the states aerospace economic development entity.

Floridas strategic investments over the years have paid off in building a diverse and robust ecosystem thats well-positioned to fuel the growth of the aerospace sector  regardless of how national priorities evolve, said Space Floridas Director of Public Relations Alayna Curry.

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Part of that is a massive $1.8 billion infrastructure project by SpaceX to support two launch sites of Starship once it becomes operational.

Despite the uncertain future, Bechtel continues to work on the job given.

Were constantly looking at potential (fiscal) challenges based on priorities and other things that are going on within NASA, said Michael Costas, general manager of Defense and Space Business with Bechtel, in November just after the election. Theyre having to work through whatever challenges theyre facing. But of course  new administration  theres a lot of folks looking at efficiencies.

Congress is the ultimate decider on what gets funded for NASA, though, and without a viable replacement for SLS in place yet, it may be that ML-2 still has a future.

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NASA had continued to tout its progress on regular updates through the first several months of the year. The latest addition was added in May with only two more to come. Bechtels goal was to hand over to NASA the completed tower no later than November 2026, which would give NASA enough time to prep it for what was supposed to be an Artemis IV flight by September 2028.

NASA included the previous added sections in a list of achievement in Trumps first 100 days in office, stating the agencys next-generation mobile launcher continues to take shape, with the sixth of 10 massive modules being installed. This structure will carry future Artemis rockets to the launch pad.

That was before the proposed budget came out, though.

We must continue to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, reads the budget proposal. That means making strategic decisions  including scaling back or discontinuing ineffective efforts not aligned with our moon and Mars exploration priorities.

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The warnings from The Planetary Society, which have been echoed by many naysayers to Trumps new direction, say the agency is choosing a ruinous path.

President Trump has stated he is committed to ensuring that America continues to lead the way in fueling the pursuit of space discovery and exploration, the Societys statement reads. This budget does the exact opposite: laying waste to the nations ability to lead in scientific discovery, destroying the economic powerhouse that is NASA, and abandoning allies around the globe.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's defence exports rose 13% in 2024 to a record of nearly $15 billion, led by missiles, rockets and air-defence systems with over half the deliveries going to European militaries, the government said on Wednesday.

Military exports, the Defence Ministry said in a statement, have more than doubled over the past five years, reaching nearly $15 billion in value in 2024.

The ministry said that since the outbreak of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's defence industries have operated in emergency mode with round-the-clock arms production while also maintaining manufacturing for foreign clients.

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"The new record in Israeli defence exports, achieved during a year of war, reflects more than anything else the growing global appreciation for Israeli technologys proven capabilities," said Defence Ministry Director-General Amir Baram.

"Israeli systems have resonated throughout the Middle East this past year. More nations want to protect their citizens using Israeli defence equipment."

The ministry said there was significant growth in contracts from Europe last year, where exports accounted for 54% of the total, up from 36% in 2023. Asia-Pacific was next at 23% with the United States at 9%.

Missile, rocket and air defence systems comprised 48% of defence exports, followed by vehicles and armoured personnel carriers at 9%, and satellites and space systems, radar and electronic warfare, manned aircraft and avionics at 8% each.

Some 57% of contracts amounted to more than $100 million.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; editing by Mark Heinrich)
This week, in Colorado, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a group of Jews marching peacefully on behalf of hostages held by Hamas. The attacker shouted, How many children have you killed? and We need to end Zionists as he hurled fire at Holocaust survivors and Jewish children.

In Washington, D.C., two Israeli embassy staff members were gunned down in cold blood. In Paris, the Holocaust museum was defaced. In London, a Jewish business was vandalized with red paint and smashed windows.

Each attack happened in a different country. The perpetrators didnt know each other. And yet, every Jew I know understands how deeply theyre connected.

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This is what Jewish anxiety looks like in 2025. Not just fear of a lone extremist  but fear of a global pattern no one wants to name. A time when violence against Jews isnt just ignored, but politically inconvenient to acknowledge.

The attacker in Colorado wasnt reacting to silence. He was reacting to noise. To slogans. To lies. To the viral fabrication that 14,000 Palestinian babies would be starved in 48 hours  a claim with no evidence, pushed by some of the most trusted news outlets in the world. By the time fact-checkers caught up, the lie had triggered an already radicalized man, preparing firebombs in America.

Thats where the anxiety begins. Not with the fire  but with the match.

Because weve seen this before. Words become slogans. Slogans become an ideology. And ideology, left unchecked, becomes violence.

Hen Mazzig attends the "And They're Jewish" New York Premiere at The Streicker Center on April 2, 2025 in New York City.

Not long ago, we were told to believe all victims. But today, Jewish victims are asked to justify their pain. Were you wearing an Israeli flag? Were you near a protest? Are you a Zionist? Are you a European colonizer? As if our humanity is conditional. As if the firebomb wasnt about us  we just happened to be standing in the way.

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I come from the political left. My parents were Iraqi and North African Jewish refugees. My relatives were murdered, raped and tortured. From that pain, I learned not to hate, but to seek peace. Ive stood for coexistence. Ive criticized Israeli leaders when they fail our Jewish values. But today, thats not enough. Because if you are Jewish and visible, you are a target. And if youre attacked, youre met with silence  or worse, moral gymnastics.

In case you missed it: Ye's antisemitic rant, that $20 swastika shirt and why we need to talk about it

Mainstream media repeated Hamas invented casualty statistics with barely a pause. Days later, the numbers were quietly revised. But those burned by the flamethrower will attest: It was a blood libel.

Moreover, words matter.

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Globalize the intifada.

End Zionists.

By any means necessary.

These are not abstract ideas. They are instructions. They are adrenaline for the unstable. They justify horrific violence.

Whats most painful isnt just the attacks  its the shrug. The way the Colorado firebomb wasnt covered until hours later. The way Jewish blood doesnt trend. The way those who claim to fight hate wont name this one.

Were told: this isnt antisemitism; its anti-Zionism. And yet, somehow, the flames always find the flesh of Jews.

Why is it never OK to target people for a governments actions unless the people are Jewish?

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Does the 88-year-old Holocaust survivor lying in agony in a hospital bed deserve it? Does anyone? What world are we in where I have to explain that setting people on fire is evil and does no good?

Deep dive: How a father of 5 morphed into a terror suspect with Boulder's Jews in his crosshairs

The truth is, we are afraid. Not in a viral-post kind of way, but in the quiet way you hesitate before entering a synagogue. The way you scan a crowd before speaking Hebrew. The way you wonder if your accent or your name might be the thing that puts you in someones crosshairs.

And what were asking is simple: to be seen. Fully. Not as a proxy. Not as a debate. But as human beings  hurting, vulnerable and real.

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The shooting in D.C., the firebomb in Colorado  these werent the beginning. They were the result. And if we still cant name what led us here, well be even less prepared for whats coming next.

Hen Mazzig is an Israeli-born writer, speaker, and digital influencer known for his powerful advocacy for Jewish identity and his fight against antisemitism. He is the co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute, a nonprofit that launched in 2019 to counter online antisemitism through strategic, data-driven social media campaigns. In 2022, he published his debut book, The Wrong Kind of Jew. Hen Mazzig continues to inspire a new generation to embrace advocacy. Most recently he created his series "And Theyre Jewish" which celebrates Jewish diversity and builds bridges rooted in tolerance and peace.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boulder Colorado attack: How Jews feel amid antisemitism
When it comes to Middle Eastern diplomacy, rigid ideological thinking tends to undermine American interests. US President Donald Trumps tour of Gulf capitals last month signaled that abstractions would no longer control the American approach to the region. Practical partnerships would.

This was evident in 2017, when Trump said in Riyadh that he wasnt there to to lecture nor to tell other people how to live. While that speech was dominated by security imperatives, which was necessary at the time, the Trump Doctrine in the Middle East evolved from a recognition that Americas interests are best served when its partners in the region thrive economically.

In Riyadh last month, Trump praised Gulf leaders for forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos. Emphasizing his duty to defend America and to promote the fundamental interest of stability, prosperity, and peace, he signaled a departure of US diplomats insistence that we couldnt foster cooperation between countries until Americas foreign policy addressed root causes. These abstract orthodoxies resulted in false choices and stalemates rather than cooperation and progress.

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The Trump Doctrine rejects these artificial constraints, and the Gulf is a prime example of the approach. Trump no longer sees the region as security partners, oil suppliers, or cash machines. The president recognizes them as engines of regional prosperity whose success directly benefits American industry.

Gulf countries pledged to invest more than $2 trillion in the US, and if they follow through, it would make Trump the most significant booster of foreign investment into the American economy. The Gulf would benefit as well, reflecting Trumps fundamental worldview that the best deals improve everyones welfare. Prosperity is not finite but grows through smart partnerships.

This pragmatism extends to diplomacy. Previous administrations often assumed that deepening ties with one partner required distancing from another. The Abraham Accords showed that cooperation doesnt have to be a tradeoff. While Trump expressed his dream that Saudi Arabiawill soon be joining the Abraham Accords in Riyadh, his doctrines pragmatism requires recognizing reality: Youll do it in your own time, and thats what I want.

Critics argue that the presidents approach lacks a moral vision. I dont see it that way. Trumps repeated refusal to lecture is best understood as an appreciation that the rapid social and economic changes in the region have not been easy. The extent of further changes will come if and when the Gulf States are ready. It is wrong  and not in Americas interests  to demand that they become just like us. Trumps moral choice is to respect Gulf states unique history, culture, religion, and society.

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Peace, prosperity and progress ultimately come not from a radical rejection of your heritage, he said, but from embracing your national traditions andheritage that you love so dearly.

Trump Doctrine pragmatism extends to Iran. In 2017, Trump warned that until the Iranian regime is willing to be a partner for peace, all nations of conscience must work together to isolate Iran. Todays approach, while still harshly critical of Iran, recognizes that Gulf prosperity naturally diminishes Iranian influence while creating space for possible diplomatic solutions. Rather than demanding Arab and Muslim partners choose sides, Trump understands that a prosperous Gulf can engage from strength. If a smart, good deal with Iran can be made, all are better off. If it cannot, all options remain on the table.

What emerged from the Gulf engagement last month is a mature approach tying American flourishing to partners who share Trumps vision of security, stability, and prosperity. This builds on his 2017 message that America is prepared to stand with you  in pursuit of shared interests and common security, but evolves beyond security cooperation to shared prosperity. This is a natural evolution informed by regional changes and American experiences.

For those of us who have spent years watching Middle East policy lurch between overcommitment and neglect, the Trump Doctrine offers something genuinely new: a sustainable framework for American engagement based on shared prosperity rather than shared enemies.
By Cassandra Garrison

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Judges aligned with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's ruling Morena political party are expected to dominate the country's Supreme Court after a vote that critics feared would weaken checks and balances on the executive branch's power.

Sunday's unprecedented election will usher in nine Supreme Court justices, reduced from 11 previously appointed by various presidents. Most of those resigned over the judicial reform that spawned the vote and declined to participate in the elections.

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The voters who turned out - just 13% of the electorate - also chose more than 840 federal judges and magistrates positions, and thousands more at the local and state level.

With nearly all votes counted by the end of Tuesday, the reconfigured Supreme Court looked to be dominated by justices affiliated with Morena through political posts. Several were previously endorsed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who pushed through the reform in his final months in office.

Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum - his protege - argued the reform was necessary to root out corruption in Mexico's flawed judicial system and make it more accessible to citizens.

Critics of the reform, one of the most broad-ranging to be attempted in recent years by any country in the Western hemisphere, warned it would remove checks and balances on Morena, undermine democracy and boost powerful drug cartels' ability to influence the judicial system.

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The elections appear to put Morena, which already holds a majority in both houses of Congress, on the verge of controlling all three branches of Mexico's government.

"It seems like the court that is going to form is one that Lopez Obrador always dreamed of having when he was president," said Laurence Pantin, co-coordinator of the Justice Observatory at Tec de Monterrey and director of the civil organization Fair Trial.

"The objective, to be clear, was to have a judicial branch submissive to the executive branch," Pantin said.

Some experts attribute Lopez Obrador's zeal to overhaul the judiciary to his tense relationship with the Supreme Court during his presidency from 2018 to 2024. The high court was often a roadblock to his policies, including curtailing the power of election authority INE and bringing the National Guard under control of the military.

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While Lopez Obrador ultimately found ways to accomplish most of his agenda, the Supreme Court served as an important check on his powers, said Gustavo Flores-Macias, a public policy professor at Cornell University.

As Sheinbaum seeks to build on his legacy, she is likely to see much weaker resistance from the courts. That could help grease the wheels for her to further empower the armed forces to participate in civilian affairs or brush off procedural constraints on infrastructure projects.

Lopez Obrador faced pushback from the court within the energy sector, too. A single-partisan judiciary could make it much easier for the government to circumvent environmental obligations or investor protections under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

"The optics are not great," Flores-Macias said. "It's very difficult to envision the Supreme Court serving as any counterbalance on these policies that the president will look to advance, especially with a majority in Congress," he added.

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While giving Morena a free hand to implement its agenda in the coming months and years, the stacking of the court with allies could also rob Sheinbaum and her party of one of Lopez Obrador's favorite scapegoats for his setbacks, Flores-Macias said.

Sheinbaum heavily promoted the elections leading up to the vote, calling them an example of a strong democracy, in which judges and magistrates could answer to the people.

But the low turnout has already prompted threats of legal challenges by the opposition.

Alejandro Moreno, leader of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, called for the election results to be annulled, blasting the vote as a "farce" that had "nothing to do with democracy."

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"We will be heading towards an authoritarian government, a dictatorship, and these people from Morena don't care," Moreno said in a press conference on Monday.

While justices on the prior high court who were appointed by other presidents resigned over the reform, Lopez Obrador appointees like Yasmin Esquivel Mossa and Loretta Ortiz Ahlf were on the ballot and appear to have secured posts in the elections.

Despite the dangers of single-party domination, the new court's diversity could have some positive effects.

Another Morena-backed candidate, indigenous rights defender Hugo Aguilar, is leading in the race to head the reconfigured court, a choice which could benefit Mexico's underserved indigenous populations, Pantin said.

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"It could have a positive aspect because there wasn't much diversity within the court and there hadn't been anyone of indigenous origin on it in recent years," Pantin said.

(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Christian Plumb and Stephen Coates)
By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -In his first month, Pope Leo has taken a very different approach to his predecessor Francis.

Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, has led some two dozen public events since he was elected as the first U.S. pope on May 8 but not made notable appointments, nor announced plans for foreign trips, nor said where he will live at the Vatican.

It's a stark contrast to when Francis, originally from Argentina, was selected as the first pope from the Americas in March 2013.

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Within a month, Francis had announced he would be the first pontiff in more than a century to live outside the Vatican's apostolic palace, appointed his successor as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and created a new formal advisory group of senior Catholic cardinals.

Two of Leo's long-time associates told Reuters they expect the 69-year-old Pope to take a deliberative approach to the challenges facing the Catholic Church and may require months before making major decisions.

"Leo is taking his time," Rev. Mark Francis, a friend of the new pontiff since the 1970s, told Reuters. "While he is going to continue in the path indicated by Pope Francis, his disposition is very different."

Leo was first appointed a bishop by Francis in 2015 and then chosen by the late pope to take up a senior Vatican role two years ago. He has frequently praised his predecessor in his first weeks.

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He has also repeated some of Francis' main themes, and has echoed the Argentine pontiff's emotional appeals for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

But the two men have different temperaments, according to Rev. Francis, who attended seminary with Leo in Chicago and later knew him when they both lived in Rome in the 2000s.

"Leo is much more focused and methodical and not inclined to hasty decisions," he said.

Among the challenges facing the American pope is the Vatican's 83-million-euro ($95 million) budget shortfall, which Reuters reported in February had stirred contention among senior cardinals under his predecessor.

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Other looming issues facing the 1.4 billion-member Church include declining adherence to the faith in Europe, ongoing revelations of clerical sexual abuse, and doctrinal debates over matters such as inclusion of LGBT Catholics and the possibility of women's ordination.

Francis, who sought to modernise the Church, did not formally change many doctrines but garnered criticism from conservative cardinals by opening the door to communion for divorcees and blessings for same-sex couples.

Rev. Anthony Pizzo, who has known Leo since 1974 when they attended Villanova University outside Philadelphia together, said the pope is someone who listens carefully and seeks to hear many viewpoints before making decisions.

"This is going to be his modus operandi," said Pizzo, who leads the Midwest U.S. province of the Augustinian religious order, to which Leo also belongs.

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"When you first come into leadership, listen well, get to know your constituency  to make a well-informed decision," Pizzo added, describing the pope's thought process.

A 'SHY' LISTENER

Francis and Leo came to the papacy at different ages and with different career backgrounds.

Francis, elected at age 76, had been a cardinal for 12 years before ascending to the papacy. He had earlier been a leading contender in the 2005 conclave that elected his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.

Leo, seven years younger when he donned the white papal cassock, is a relative unknown on the world stage who only became a cardinal and Vatican official two years ago. He spent most of his prior career as a missionary in Peru.

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Early in his tenure, Francis told journalists that, due to his age, he expected to have a brief papacy of only a few years. Leo, the youngest pontiff since John Paul II was elected at age 58 in 1978, can perhaps expect a papacy of ten or more years.

Among the challenges facing the new pope is a Vatican budget shortfall estimated at 83 million euros, two knowledgeable sources told Reuters.

The city-state also has a much larger gap in its pension fund, said to total some 631 million euros by the Vatican's finance czar in 2022 but estimated by several insiders to have since ballooned significantly.

In his first weeks, Leo has not addressed the budget issues and has made only a few new appointments to Vatican roles.

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But he has held formal one-on-one meetings with many senior Vatican officials, which Pizzo suggested the pope could be using to try to learn quickly.

Rev. Jorge Martinez Vizueta, who knew Leo in Peru, said he is someone who pays close attention to what people tell him. "He listens a lot, even with a certain shyness," said Martinez, an Augustinian at a monastery where Leo previously was a spiritual advisor.

Although Leo has not announced where he will live, more than three informed sources said he is expected to move into the official papal apartments in the Vatican's apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Francis shunned the palace in favour of a Vatican hotel.

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One senior source, who asked not to be identified, said the papal apartments, which have not been lived in since 2013, will require at least 2 to 3 months of renovations.

CAREFUL WITH RESPONSES

While Francis made some big decisions quickly in his first month, he also took time on other issues. He did not make his first trip abroad until late July 2013, four months into his papacy.

Leo's first foreign trip is likely to be to Turkey, to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Vatican has not announced the trip, but it was previously planned for Francis. Bartholomew told an Italian television station that he and Leo discussed the possibility of the new pope travelling to Turkey in late November.

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Francis, who often spoke off the cuff, was known for giving freewheeling news conferences on flights home from his trips abroad and frequently responded to queries with an unexpected quip.

Asked during his first flight home about a Vatican official said to be gay, Francis famously responded: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?"

Rev. Francis said Leo, who in his first month has largely read from prepared texts, is likely to be more careful with his responses during news conferences.

"He won't be shooting from the hip like Francis did while speaking with journalists," said the priest.

($1 = 0.8760 euros)

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; additional reporting by Marco Aquino in Lima; editing by Daniel Flynn)
June 4 (UPI) -- During May's televised debate ahead of the South Korean presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung was asked about the pro-labor "Yellow Envelope Act."

Lee, who was elected as the country's 21st state head Tuesday, replied positively about the bill, which is designed to limit employers' damage claims against workers involved in strikes.

"The Yellow Envelope Act reflects the Supreme Court's verdicts and is aligned with the International Labor Organization standards. Its legislation is something that should be done obviously," he said.

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Observers point out that the response amply demonstrates what may lie ahead for Asia's fourth-largest economy under Lee's leadership during the next five years.

"President Lee is likely to immediately pursue labor-friendly legislation like the Yellow Envelope Act. In fact, the National Assembly will convene Thursday at the request of the Democratic Party," political commentator Choi Soo-young told UPI.

"This means that the Yellow Envelope Act can be passed a day after Lee's inauguration. Under his stewardship, many similar bills are likely to be introduced," he predicted.

The Democratic Party, which holds a majority of seats in the country's unicameral parliament, headed the passage of the Yellow Envelope Act twice in 2023 and 2024.

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Back then, however, former President Yoon Suk-yeol vetoed it as the country's major business associations expressed concerns that the bill might embolden already militant trade unions.

Even the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea echoed such a sentiment.

In addition to launching labor-friendly policies, experts expected that the new administration would channel funds in a bid to boost the sluggish economy in the short term.

"The South Korean economy is feared to grow below the potential growth rate this year due to the lack of demand. The new government will try to deal with this through increased public spending," Sogang University economics professor Kim Young-ick said in a phone interview.

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"For example, President Lee is projected to proactively implement the local currency system, even if it means incurring a fiscal deficit," Kim said.

President Lee has expressed his commitment to promoting local currencies, or vouchers issued by regional governments that are valid only within designated areas, to revitalize the economy.

The Bank of Korea nearly halved the country's 2025 growth forecast from 1.5% to 0.8% on Thursday, falling short of its potential growth rate estimated to be around 2%.

Over the past three decades, the Korean economy has failed to achieve 1% annual growth only three times: in 1997 amid the Asian financial crisis, in 2009 because of the global financial turmoil, and in 2020 during the virus pandemic.

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"As a mid- to longer-term goal, President Lee is projected to jack up the country's growth potential by underpinning productivity. One effective approach would be to fully take advantage of artificial intelligence-powered systems," Kim said.

Lee Phil-sang, an adviser at Aju Research Institute of Corporate Management and former Seoul National University economics professor, worried that President Lee would come up with populist policies at the expense of the country's fiscal health.

"Rather than trying to improve South Korea's economic fundamentals through such measures as deregulation, President Lee is feared to just increase government spending," Lee said.

"Such stimulus policies may have a short-term effect. But it would not make a big difference in the long run. Instead, such an approach may result in a steep rise in public debt. I am concerned that President Lee appears indifferent to rising debt," he said.

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During last month's election campaign, President Lee said that the government should not overly worry about sovereign debt.

"There are people saying ignorant things like that the country must never go into debt because the national debt has exceeded $730 billion," he said.

"But if the government doesn't spend money during times like this, then when will it ever?" he asked. "Compared to our annual gross domestic product, the government debt is quite low at less than 50%."

President Lee also has been a prominent advocate of universal basic income, which is designed to provide all citizens with a guaranteed minimum level of income.

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During the 2022 election campaign, when former President Yoon defeated then-candidate Lee, the latter proposed an annual payment of around $180 per person with the five-year goal of raising it to $730.

At the time, the idea also faced criticisms of its financial feasibility.
Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't look far for his pick to be the new Florida commissioner of education.

On June 3, he recommended one of his top aides, deputy chief of staff Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas, to replace Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., who was elected a week prior to be interim president of the University of West Florida.

And on June 4, with Kamoutsas' wife, four daughters and other family in the audience, the State Board of Education unanimously approved him for the job at its meeting at Miami-Dade College. In remarks to board members before the vote, he promised to focus on "education, not indoctrination." His appointment is pending Diaz's approval at UWF.

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Stasi Kamoutsas has delivered on important issues like parental rights, school choice, and fighting back against radical ideologies in education, DeSantis said in a release. I am confident that he will continue to serve our state well as the next Commissioner of Education, and I thank Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. for his dedicated and productive service.

Diaz, the latest in a line of DeSantis allies put in charge of higher education institutions in Florida, was delighted with the choice. "Great pick Governor!" he posted on X. "Stasi will be a huge advocate for students and families in Florida."

Many spoke in support of Kamoutsas at the meeting, including former Lt. Gov. and now Florida International University President Jeanette Nunez, former Florida House speaker and now New College of Florida president Richard Corcoran, and Jose Oliva, another former state House speaker and now member of the Board of Governors, which oversees Florida's public universities. Oliva called Kamoutsas "relentless."

Who is Anastasios Kamoutsas?

Anastasios Kamoutsas, then deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis, delivered the keynote address to recruits at Wakulla Correctional Institute last year in March.

Anastasios I. Kamoutsas, 36, has a fairly low-profile presence, but he has been involved in many of DeSantis' key initiatives and was described by Florida Politics as "one of the most feared staffers."

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Kamoutsas, who holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Florida International University and his juris doctor from Virginia's Regent University School of Law, a private Christian university that was founded by Pat Robertson in 1977 as the Christian Broadcasting Network University.

He joined the Florida Department of Education in 2019 to be general counsel and then chief of staff during the state's battle against mandated COVID masks in schools before he was tapped to be one of DeSantis' deputy chiefs of staff. There, he said one of his jobs was vetting candidates for spots on state university boards of trustees.

Under my tenure, the Florida Department of Education will remain committed to student safety and success, empowering parents, and supporting teachers, Kamoutsas said in DeSantis' press release. I look forward to working with the State Board of Education to ensure that Florida remains the education state.

While most of his work has been behind the scenes, Kamoutsas has popped up in the news.

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NBC News reported in March that Kamoutsas was one of DeSantis' aides who had made calls to state lobbyists, asking them not to donate to Florida 2026 gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds. First Lady Casey DeSantis has not announced her own run, but has been rumored to be considering it for months. Kamoutsas denied NBC's allegations.

He was also named in 2023 as the person who called then-FDLE Chief of Staff Shane Desguin to deny the promotion and raise for an attorney who disagreed with DeSantis' aides about what parts of the governor's travel records were public information because she "was not on our team," according to former FDLE deputy chief of staff Patricia Carpenter.

When Desguin asked if he could give Janine Robinson another position and salary increase, he was told no, she is lucky she even has a fing job,  Carpenter said, according to The News Service of Florida. Carpenter was fired after she sought whistleblower protection.

The Killearn Homeowners Association has warned Anastasio Kamoutsas, a deputy chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis, that these signs in front of his home violate his HOA's restrictions on political signage.

Last October, Kamoutsas raised a stink in his homeowner's association in Tallahassee for posting signs against a proposed abortion amendment on his lawn and reportedly gaming HOA rules by removing them before a meeting, avoiding hundreds of dollars in fines, and then replacing and increasing them the next day.

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Kamoutsas' wife Rachel is chief of staff to State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.

Diaz latest DeSantis ally to head university

Diaz was selected to replace UWF president Martha Saunders, who chose to step down after a contentious board of trustees meeting where newly appointed member Zach Smith grilled her about "diversity, equity and inclusion" issues he had identified when combing through UWF's social media. Smith had been appointed by DeSantis days earlier.

The former education commissioner joins a growing rank of DeSantis allies to head universities and colleges in Florida as the governor continues to leave his mark on education in the Sunshine State.

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(This story was updated to add new information.)

Contributing: Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal; Jim Rosica, USA TODAY Network  Florida.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida board picks new state education commissioner. What to know
Anderson Cooper cracked a warranted smile Tuesday when offered a lumpy birthday gift from fellow CNN reporter Donie OSullivan, who had just presented an interview segment with Mike Lindell  the MyPillow CEO currently on trial for defamation.

Lindell, who parroted baseless claims about the 2020 election being stolen from President Donald Trump, appeared in federal court Tuesday for calling former Dominion Voting Systems staffer Dr. Eric Coomer a traitor to the United States for his supposed role.

OSullivan reported live Tuesday from Denver, Colorado, to discuss the trials opening statements and played footage for Cooper of the CEO defending his pillows during a 2023 deposition after being asked about lumpy pillow calls from dissatisfied customers.

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No, theyre not lumpy pillows, thats not what they call on, OK? Lindell told the attorney at the time. When you say lumpy pillows, now youre an asshole! Youre an asshole, you got that? Youre an asshole is what you are!

OSullivan spoke with Lindell outside the courthouse as part of his report and noted during their interview that this might be the first trial where jurors, who were asked during jury selection if they owned a MyPillow, were selected based on what pillow they slept on.

When the prerecorded footage concluded, OSullivan cheekily offered Cooper one for his 58th birthday: Anderson, I know todays your birthday. Were going to try to bring you back a MyPillow, but some people are saying theyre pretty lumpy.

Uh, Im good, Im good on the pillows, Cooper replied with a grin. Thank you, I appreciate it. [Im good on] MyPillows, not my pillows. Im good with what I got, thank you.

Watch the moment below beginning at 4:40.

CNN's @donie talks to President Trump loyalist and My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, as he faces a defamation trial over his 2020 presidential election claims. pic.twitter.com/XVE3k2tSLI  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) June 4, 2025

Dominion sued Lindell for defamation in 2021 for $1.3 billion in damages. The company accused him in the filing of causing enormous harm with a viral disinformation campaign to tarnish the firm with a baseless allegation that they were involved in election fraud.

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Smartmatic, another voting equipment company, similarly sued Lindell for defamation in 2022. Coomer, who said he had to go into hiding as a result of Lindells actions, is seeking undisclosed damages.

It upended my life and my career to this day, four and a half years later, Coomer said during the trial, per the Denver Gazette.

Related...
LOS ANGELES, June 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Moscow would "have to respond" to the massive Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's strategic air bases days ago.

Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social account that he finished a phone call with Putin and discussed the attacks on June 1. It was the first time the U.S. president publicly talked about the operation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky touted being directed by himself.

"We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides... President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump wrote.

He said the Wednesday call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes, noting "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace." 
Andrew Rannells and Nick Kroll Go on a Babymoon in 'I Don't Understand You' originally appeared on L.A. Mag.

Andrew Rannells and Nick Kroll Marie Gioanni/Courtesy Vertical

Writers, directors and husbands David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano had one major stipulation after their comedic thriller I Dont Understand You opened to an uproarious response at the South by Southwest fest in March 2024: They wanted it to run in cinemas.



Our biggest takeaway  which is why we pushed so hard [for] a theatrical release, was the infectious temperature we got [from] seeing [the audience] react at the same time, Craig says. I want other people to have that same feeling.



Star Nick Kroll agrees. The best movies to see in the theater are the ones that make you laugh collectively and get scared shitless collectively, and this film has both of those feelings in spades, he says.



I Dont Understand You, distributed by Vertical, hits theaters nationwide June 6. Kroll teams with Andrew Rannells as husbands Dom and Cole on an anniversary trip to Italy. The couple are anxiously awaiting the birth of their soon-to-be-adopted child. When they veer into the Italian countryside one evening, however, they experience a series of unfortunate misunderstandings  virtually all stemming from their inability to speak the native tongue.

Nick Kroll, writer-director David Joseph Craig, Rannells and writer-director Brian Crano on setCourtesy A24

The first act of the film is sort of autobiographical, Craig recalls. We were going on our 10th anniversary trip to Italy, and right before the trip we found out we had matched with [a] birth mother and that she was due in a couple weeks. We decided to make [the trip] our babymoon. And on the night of our actual anniversary, we were driving to this remote pizza restaurant, and Brian directed me off the side of the road and we got stuck in a ditch for about five hours.



Crano says they were in what felt like The Hills Have Eyes section of Italy. Luckily, a local family rescued the pair and fed them pizza and grappa well into the wee hours of the morning. Still, the incident birthed an idea of how things mightve gone horribly wrong.



In writing I Dont Understand You, Craig and Cranos real-life personalities naturally bled onto the page, though the pair say the film is a fun-house mirror version of themselves. Kroll and Rannells immediately picked up on the couples rapport.

Morgan Spector and Andrew Rannells in "I Don't Understand You"Marie Gioanni/Courtesy Vertical

It was easy to see from the jump who was who in the script, Kroll says. We were able to draw on that as we built our characters leading up to production. But also, being in production in a foreign country is its own adventure, with highs and lows. And being able to observe David and Brian individually and as a couple who were working together was very informative and helpful.



Rannells notes the intense location shoot with an entirely Italian crew helped him quickly adapt to the iconic surroundings, even though it was his first time visiting Rome.



When you have to casually walk by the Spanish Steps or the Trevi Fountain to get to work, you really feel like a local, he says.



Early in the film, as Dom and Cole cruise the Italian countryside, a familiar Southern California voice provides the soundtrack to their upcoming adventure.

David Joseph Craig (right), pictured with husband and co-writer Brian Crano Photograph by Mathieu Young

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I had just watched a beautiful documentary about Linda Ronstadt, so she was most definitely on my mind, Rannells explains. When David and Brian asked me about song ideas, [Different Drum] popped into my head.  It seemed like a good tone to set for our characters before things got unexpectedly intense.



Even in 2025, stories centered on gay men feel a bit anomalous, particularly when divorced from being presented as tragedies like Brokeback Mountain or Its a Sin



We wanted to depict queer characters [where] there wasnt something queer happening to them all the time  [that] were not always victims, Craig explains.



I think we contain multitudes, Crano adds, then describes a scene that depicts gay joy without the sting of something horrific  a scene thats so moving youll have to watch the film to find out.



We need to expand the genre of LGBTQ films, Craig says. I feel like were finally at a place where we might not need that genre anymore, and we can expand ourselves into drama and comedy while having queer characters. I think we have the privilege to now make stories involving queer characters that arent just about being queer.

This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
A taxidermied giraffe was found for sale in a Luzerne County shop in an investigation by an animal rights organization. (Humane World for Animals)

A taxidermied giraffe head, cut from its body at the shoulders, was found on sale for $6,000 in a Luzerne County store. It is just one of hundreds of endangered animal parts being sold across the state uncovered through an investigation by a global nonprofit animal rights organization.

State Rep. Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware) says Pennsylvania has a responsibility to fight illicit sales that fuel poaching of at-risk animals abroad. Her legislation, House Bill 994, would ban the sale of covered endangered animal parts within the state.

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Iconic species of animals continue to face the threat of extinction due to the demand for their parts, Krueger wrote in a memo seeking support for the bill. While many of these species reside in countries or oceans thousands of miles away, we have a duty to ensure that the residents of our great Commonwealth are not supporting the poaching and trafficking that threaten these at-risk species of animals.

Lawmakers gathered with Humane World for Animals representatives Wednesday to rally support for the legislation.

Gabe Witgil, wildlife trafficking program director at Humane World for Animals, said states must close legal loopholes that allow illicit animal parts markets to thrive.

Iconic species across the planet continue to face the threat of extinction due to demand for their body parts, he said. Each year, 10,000 to 15,000 elephants are killed in Africa to supply the global demand for their ivory.

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The groups investigation team visited 31 Pennsylvania antique and vintage stores over a three week period in March and searched 31 online auctions between January and April, uncovering 383 pieces of ivory with a total retail value of $38,000. Bracelets, necklaces, figurines and even silverware were among the found ivory products taken from elephants, hippos, warthogs, walruses, mammoths and whales.

What we found was a gruesome amount of evidence that accelerates the call to action, said Whitney Teamus, the organizations senior director of investigations. The number of ivory items identified exceeds what weve seen in our previous investigations over the last several years, including in Connecticut and Florida.

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Of the stores and auctions investigated, 59% had endangered wildlife products for sale.

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A key problem, the investigators said, was a lack of documentation for many ivory products being sold, which makes it difficult to determine if the parts were illegally imported. Many ivory items were found to be mislabeled as bone or mammoth ivory, which is currently legal to sell.

The labeling of ivory was also disturbingly unreliable, with some vendors uncertain of the material they were selling, while others appeared to be intentionally mislabeling items, Teamus said. This is a misleading sales tactic we and others have witnessed in other investigations to obscure the trade of these items.

Teamus told the Capital-Star that the number of endangered animal parts they found is likely miniscule compared to the total amount being sold in the state.

Theres tons more out there. Ivory is in your backyard, for sure, she said. You think elephants are thousands of miles away. You dont think of them as being in your backyard.

What would H.B. 994 do if passed?

The legislation would make the sale of ivory and other endangered animal parts illegal while expanding the list of protected animals that arent covered under the federal Endangered Species Act, such as giraffes.

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While federal law prohibits the importation of endangered species parts and the sale of these parts between states, it does not ban the sale within states. Pennsylvania law currently allows endangered animal parts to be sold only with a permit.

Animals covered by the the bill are the baleen whale, bonobo, cheetah, chimpanzee, dolphin, elephant, giraffe, gorilla, hippopotamus, jaguar, leopard, lion, mammoth, mastodon, orangutan, panda, pangolin, polar bear, ray, rhinoceros, sea turtle, shark, tiger and walrus.

If passed, civil penalties would be imposed upon violators based on the value of the illegal animal product. Thirteen states and Washington D.C. have passed similar legislation.

The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 25-1 vote on Monday and now awaits consideration on the House floor.

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We expect the bill to be on the floor soon, and well work hard to maintain the bipartisan vote that we earned in committee this week, Krueger said. Im hopeful that were going to be able to send this bill to the Senate very soon, and am hopeful that our colleagues there will see the value of ending the demand for trafficked animal parts in Pennsylvania.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 164-page complaint has been filed against Dragn Ass Rescue Sanctuary. Some of those concerns in the document include alleged neglect and trapping of wild burros.

Kathy Jenkins, the founder of Oatman Burros Sanctuary, filed the complaint with the sheriff, county manager, and animal control after her personal experience with Dragn Ass.

In April, Jenkins sanctuary struggled with an influenza outbreak. She got in contact with the long-term quarantine facility, where some of her burros eventually stayed.

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I started noticing a pattern that we would go to feed and check our animals, and they wouldnt have water. They wouldnt have food, Jenkins told 8 News Now.

Jenkins also shared how she wanted to take one horse from under Dragn Asss care, named Oreo, to the veterinarian because her health wasnt doing well. She was denied the opportunity and was later informed Oreo passed. Jenkins said she arrived at the same time as animal control.

I opened her (Oreos) mouth, and there was already fly larva, and flies that were all the way down into her belly, she said.

Farrier Richard Bennet provides care for some of the animals at Dragn Ass and sheds light on the condition some of the animals arrive.

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When you looked at their feet, they were so horrific, Bennet told 8 News Now. These animals couldnt walk.

According to both Bennet and Jenkins, the sanctuarys abuse spanned over three locations in Nevada over the years, including Las Vegas, Pahrump, and Goldfield.

Jenkins told 8 News Now the owner of the sanctuary is aware a complaint has been filed and even received her copy.

Jenkins provided 8 News Now response emails from the county manager saying the complaint received utmost attention.

I personally looked through every picture and read all of the statements, and I agree that what was stated and shown in pictures was very disturbing, the email from Brett Waggoner read. The consensus between all that have visited agree the conditions stated in your complaint no longer exist to the extent portrayed in your photos and statements.

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The email continued to say they would monitor the conditions of the animals and address any issues accordingly.

8 News Now reached out to Dragn Ass for a statement and are awaiting 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 KLAS.
Another city in the Miami Valley has banned the sale of adult-use marijuana.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Miamisburg City Council unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance that immediately bans commercial cultivators, processors, and retail dispensaries within city limits, a city spokesperson confirmed.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Several other cities have also banned adult-use marijuana sales, including Troy and Oakwood.

Miamisburg residents over the age of 21 are still allowed to grow marijuana at their primary homes.

As previously reported by News Center 7, Ohio law currently says adults can grow up to six cannabis plants per individual or up to 12 plants per household.

>>RELATED: Ohio Senate passes bill that would make major changes to adult-use marijuana law

However, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 56 in February, which aims to make changes to the current adult-use marijuana law.

If passed by the Ohio House of Representatives, the number of cannabis plants adults can grow in one household would drop from 12 to six.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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A fire has broken out at the Avtodizel engine plant in Russias city of Yaroslavl on the night of 3-4 June, engulfing the workshop producing 12-cylinder engines.

Source: The Moscow Times

Details: The fire covered an area of 400 square metres, the Russian Emergency Ministrys regional office reported. No casualties were recorded. It took firefighters over an hour and a half to extinguish the blaze. The cause has not been disclosed.

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The Moscow Times notes that the Yaroslavl Motor Plant (YaMZ) is one of Russias largest manufacturers of diesel engines and gearboxes. In May 2024, YaMZ was placed under US sanctions for producing diesel engines for the Russian forces.

The outlet also recalls that late in the evening of 2 June, an explosion and fire broke out at the Zavolzhye Motor Plant (ZMZ) in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. According to the regional labour inspectorate, the incident was caused by the ignition of a truck carrying a tank in one of the plant's workshops, where chemical substances were stored.

In 2003, ZMZ  a plant specialising in petrol and diesel engines  received a government contract to develop a family of competitive multipurpose diesel engines with capacities of 2.2 to 3.4 litres. The plant's director stated they would be suitable for a wide range of vehicles, including military equipment.

Background:

In February, unidentified drones attacked Russian cities of Rostov, Novomoskovsk, and Engels overnight. An industrial facility caught fire in Russia's Kaluga Oblast, and a refinery in the city of Volgograd was also struck.

It was also reported that, on the night of 3 February, drones targeted fuel and energy facilities in Astrakhan and Volgograd oblasts.

On 15 January, a diesel hydrotreating unit caught fire at a Lukoil oil refinery in Volgograd. The blaze broke out at unit No.18, one of the facilitys two diesel hydrotreating lines, which has a daily capacity of 9,500 metric tonnes.

Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence reported that a warehouse in Russia's Alabuga special economic zone caught fire. It stored 65 fuselages, engines, navigation systems and thermal imaging cameras intended for producing 400 Shahed-136 attack drones  all of which were destroyed.

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NEW YORK  Two violent anti-Israel attacks  one in Boulder, Colorado and another in Washington  have further inflamed public debate in New York City around antisemitism and have lent urgency to an issue that mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo has made a cornerstone of his campaign.

Cuomo, the Democratic primary frontrunner in the race, has presented pro-Palestinian demonstrations as a symbol of disorder in the city that he can fix. And the recent attacks gave the former governor a chance to take an indirect swipe at his opponent Zohran Mamdani.

The anti-Israel rhetoric of genocide, war criminals, and murderers must stop, Cuomo posted on X Sunday night, responding to the firebomb attack in Colorado that hospitalized 12 demonstrators who were pushing for the release of Israeli hostages. It is spreading like a cancer through the body politic.

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The post by Cuomo was an apparent reference to the candidate running second in the polls, Mamdani, an Assemblymember and democratic socialist whos said Israel was committing war crimes perpetrating a "genocide" with its military campaign that has killed tens of thousands in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead .

The pro-Israel Cuomo and the pro-Palestinian Mamdani are worlds apart when it comes to the war between Israel and Hamas, and their stances are central to both of their platforms. In the city with the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, both have emphasized their support for the community. But the recent attacks in American cities have brought the issue into starker relief, with Mamdanis use of the term genocide now becoming a point of focus for the former governor.

Many Jewish organizations have objected to that use of the term, which the Anti-Defamation League says unfairly serves to demonize the State of Israel and to diminish recognized acts of genocide. In 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that it was "plausible" that Israel was violating the Genocide Convention , but stopped short of deeming Israel's war "genocide." Israel has strongly denied that it is committing genocide.

Mamdani has defended his use of the term when pressed, saying in an October interview on NY1 that even though its a highly charged term, its the most accurate description of what is going on. He has said his clear language is an asset voters appreciate.

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Asked about Cuomos statement, and whether Mamdani regrets his language on Israel, his campaign spokesperson Andrew Epstein slammed his opponent.

Zohran has condemned these horrific attacks in the clearest possible terms , but the facts have never mattered to Andrew Cuomo, he said in a statement. As Zohran continues to shrink Cuomos now-single digit lead, expect more cynical fear mongering and lies from the disgraced ex-Governor.

But the attacks represent an opportunity for Cuomo, who has made condemning antisemitism part of his political brand, said political strategist Basil Smikle.

These attacks certainly put these issues front and center for voters, he said. And voters will determine who will be most responsive to my community in moments like this.

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Smikle, who formerly led the state Democratic Party under Cuomo but isnt affiliated with a mayoral campaign this year, compared the situation to New Yorkers broader preoccupations about crime in the 2021 primary  concerns that helped boost the candidacy of retired police captain Eric Adams, who won that mayoral race.

A feature of politics in the Trump era is the speed at which information moves and the emotional intensity of the events that take place, especially violent ones here and across the country, Smikle added. If youre somebody who wants to lead the city, you have to be responsive to whats going on and assure your constituents that youre on top of things.

Mamdani, who is running to be the citys first Muslim mayor, has come under attack as critics tie the acts of terror to rhetoric used by the pro-Palestinian movement to which he proudly belongs  and its not just Cuomo.

Republican New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino posted on X Monday that Mamdani, a naturalized American citizen, should be deported. Her remarks were widely condemned by Democrats, including Mamdani who called them an assault on the values of our city and our Constitution. But Paladino doubled down in a statement, saying individuals who share Zohrans ideology murdered Israeli diplomats and burned protesters alive.

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And in the mayoral race, longshot Democratic candidate Whitney Tilson has said hes made calling out Mamdanis extremism a core part of his campaign message.

Zohran Mamdani and other extremists in my own party have stoked the antisemitism that inspires these attacks by constantly demonizing Israel and falsely accusing the worlds only Jewish country of genocide, Tilson said in a statement Monday. The dangerous anti-Israel rhetoric must stop before more people get hurt.

Tilson said hell bring it up Wednesday night at the first official primary debate, co-hosted by POLITICO. He released a digital ad Tuesday saying the socialists are at the gate, and Mamdani is leading the pack. The ad quotes a statement that justifies the Washington killings and was co-signed by a faction of the Democratic Socialists of America. The statement was disavowed by the larger organization, of which Mamdani is a member.

Its unsurprising that a hedge fund executive running a flatlining campaign would resort to sad, desperate lies as his irrelevance becomes clear, Epstein responded in a statement.

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Asked Monday to what degree he and other supporters of the pro-Palestinian movement should be linked to the rise in antisemitism, Mamdani said he is rooted in a politics of nonviolence, the belief that a world of justice and safety and liberty is one where we have to have consistency apply to all.

Jewish New Yorkers have shared their fears with him, and they deserve to be protected Mamdani added, touting his proposal to increase funding for proven anti-hate crime programs by 800 percent under a new Department of Community Safety.

The shooter in Washington and the man who attacked marchers with a makeshift flamethrower in Colorado are believed to have acted alone , authorities said, but both reportedly yelled Free Palestine during their attacks. Elias Rodriguez was charged with murder for the shooting, and Mohammed Sabry Soliman has been charged with a hate crime and attempted murder for the firebombing.

President Donald Trump has also highlighted the Colorado incident to blast immigration laws since the alleged perpetrator was not a U.S. citizen. ICE officials said they arrested and detained Solimans family Tuesday.

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Throughout the mayoral race, Cuomo has criticized opponents for what hes deemed as insufficient support for Israel. One of his targets, the Jewish City Comptroller Brad Lander, said in a speech at a synagogue that the Catholic Cuomo is using Jews as political pawns. Mamdani has accused Cuomo for equivocating, rather than directly condemning the Trump administration for arresting recent Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil for his pro-Palestinian activism.

Support for Israel is divisive. A May Emerson College poll found that 49 percent of New York City Democrats found it unimportant that the next mayor has a pro-Israel stance, while 31 percent found it important.
LANSING, (Mich.) WLNS  As the investigation continues into a Colorado attack on a demonstration for Israeli hostages in Gaza, Michigan lawmakers are speaking out against antisemitism in the state.

This includes the introduction of new legislation aimed at protecting people from antisemitism.

Today, three Democratic lawmakers introduced the Michigan Antisemitism Protection Act (MAPA), which amends the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act by adding the official definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

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State Rep. Noah Arbit, from West Bloomfield, said the Act would help identify antisemitism.

If adopted, the standard would assist relevant state authorities, agencies, and institutions to better identify and elevate potential cases of illegal discrimination against Jews in Michigan, said Arbit.

However, Arbit, who is Jewish himself, says the problem of anti Semitism cant be solved by a simple bill.

When it comes to this MAPA bill, or even the new hate crime laws, one thing is certain: they are not a cure-all. Anti-Jewish racism, like all racism, is a societal ill and a public health problem that we need to tackle as such, said Arbit.

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Lawmakers say they see complacency among the general public and a failure from public figures to fight hate. They say, if left unchecked, this, along with what they call youth radicalization, will continue to lead to violent acts.

Some, like State Rep. Samantha Steckloff, are even worried for their safety.

Every single one of us in the Jewish caucus has received a call from the FBI with credible threats to our life, said Steckloff.

Arbit said both parties have failed to properly address hate against Jews.

I dont think either party gets a passing grade here when it comes to fighting antisemitism. I would like to see both parties put a veritable, good-faith effort to improving what they are doing in terms of standing up for the Jewish communities across America, said Arbit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Apache Junction police have identified the officer critically wounded June 2 by a driver with a "ghost gun" as Officer Gabriel Facio, a three-year veteran of the agency.

Police Chief Michael Pooley said on June 3 that Facio remained in critical condition a day after he was shot in what escalated from a road rage incident.

Facio, a married father of two, was "kind of the heartbeat of our department," Pooley said. He called Facio a "fighter," but asked for support from the Apache Junction community.

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"It is heartbreaking to see one of your strong, tough officers in a very dire situation," Pooley said. "So again we ask for prayers and comfort for the family, support from the community."

The incident began just after 9 a.m. June 2, when officers responded to the area of Ironwood Drive and Elliott Road on reports of a driver brandishing a gun, the chief said.

An officer found the vehicle matching the description  a white Tesla  and stopped it, Pooley said. The driver was compliant and "showed no signs of aggression whatsoever," the chief said.

When the officer asked the driver to step out of the vehicle, he pulled a handgun from the glove box, got out, and began walking away, Pooley said.

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Officers followed the man as he walked south on Ironwood Drive with the firearm for about a mile, Pooley said. "He did say at some point that he wanted the officer to shoot him," the chief said.

Officers tried to get the man to stop and used a pepper ball gun, but it "had no effect on him whatsoever," the chief said. Near Radiance Avenue, the man made "a quick move" and fired four rounds, hitting Facio in the face, Pooley said.

Four other officers returned fire, and one then took Facio in a patrol vehicle to the hospital for treatment, Pooley said. They were placed on paid administrative leave as part of the routine response to an officer-involved shooting.

Apache Junction police identified the driver of the white Tesla as Roger Nunez, 37, of Apache Junction. The handgun he used was a "ghost gun," Pooley said. He did not provide specifics about the weapon. Generally, ghost guns are those that do not have a traceable serial number. They are sometimes 3-D printed.

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Pooley said Mesa police were investigating the incident and would recommend Nunez be charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault.

The chief said the officers who responded saved Facio's life.

"Had those officers not reacted the way they did, Officer Facio would have lost his life yesterday on that street," the chief said. "There's no doubt in my mind."

Pooley said Facio was known for supporting his fellow law enforcement officers and had "a great attitude." Facio previously worked briefly in Phoenix.

"He's just a wonderful human being and one of my personal favorites. I'm not supposed to have favorites, but I'll tell you he is one of my favorites," the chief said. "He really is just the heartbeat of this department. And it's very, very difficult for our officers right now."

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Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Apache Junction officer in critical condition is 'fighter,' chief says
Jerrauld Jones, a 70-year-old Norfolk native, former state delegate and judge, died May 31, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Jones family)

Editors note: This column references a racial slur in a quote.

Rare is the time when a state legislator  through the power of his own personal, painful narrative  changes the minds of colleagues.

Jerrauld C. Jones, given that platform on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in January 1999 as he discussed the Confederate battle flag, displayed an oratory so gut-wrenching, so authentic, that he swayed opposing delegates to his side. Theres nothing I can compare it to in the General Assembly since that moment.

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Jones, a 70-year-old Norfolk native and son of civil rights attorney Hilary H. Jones, died Saturday. Today, he will be memorialized.

I dont mean to lessen his sterling lifetime of achievements  including being among the first Black students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in 1961.

He later earned bachelors and law degrees. In addition to being a state delegate from 1988 to 2002 representing the states 89th District anchored in his hometown, he later directed the state Department of Juvenile Justice. He then was appointed a juvenile and domestic relations court judge, and then a circuit court judge. He retired from the latter post last year because of health problems.

That moment in 1999, though, was an inflection point in his career. People across the commonwealth unfamiliar with his background and determination were introduced to him in a dramatic way.

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(Full disclosure: Jones wife, Lyn Simmons, and son, Jay Jones, and I have long attended the same Catholic church in Norfolk. Simmons is a juvenile and domestic relations district judge, and Jay Jones is a former delegate and current Democratic candidate for state attorney general.)

(Left to right) Jerrauld Jones, Jay Jones and Drew Lankford gather after Jay was sworn in to the House of Delegates in 2018. Lankford was a frequent speechwriter for Jerrauld Jones during his time in the state House of Delegates. (Photo courtesy Drew Lankford)

I was an editorial writer at the (Newport News) Daily Press in 1999. I remember seeing television accounts of Jerrauld Jones speech as he explained why Virginia shouldnt give its imprimatur by placing the Confederate flag on state license plates.

I couldnt find footage of Jones impassioned comments that day; a House of Delegates official told me video archives dont go back to 1999. News articles cant truly capture Jones gripping explanation of how  for African Americans  the flag represented fear, intimidation and white supremacy.

But those news stories will have to do:

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The Sons of Confederate Veterans had wanted the flag symbol on a specialty license plate. Jones, a Norfolk Democrat and head of the legislative Black caucus, relayed his first memory of the flag to colleagues. When he was just 6, returning with other Black children and their parents from a field trip, they saw the flag being waved in a field next to a burning cross at a Ku Klux Klan rally, The Washington Post reported.

The fear in that bus was so great you could smell it, said Jones. I saw the stark fear in my mothers face as she looked out that window.  All we could do was hope and pray that we would not be molested because of that symbol of hate and violence.

A year later, he and his brother attempted to enroll at Ingleside Elementary School. We not only were told, Nier stay out, nier go home  that we would dare try to integrate their schools  but we were greeted with waving Confederate flags, he said.

And later, he brought his point home: And now, some want to put that symbol of pain on the cars of Virginia.

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The Post noted that when Jones rose to speak, many delegates were paying their usual scant attention to business. By the time Jones was halfway through his 20-minute teachable moment, though, a respectful silence had settled over the room.

The House approved by voice vote an amendment allowing the words Sons of Confederate Veterans on the plate, but not the logo. Jones later received hate mail, and the SCV went to federal court to restore the flag.

No matter: Jones courage, persuasiveness and representation of African Americans were on full display that day a little more than a quarter-century ago. That incident was a microcosm of his lifetime of leadership and service.

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ISTANBUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police apprehended a senior member of the Islamic State (IS), who was on the Interior Ministry's list of most-wanted terrorist suspects, at Istanbul Airport on Wednesday, local media reported.

The suspect, identified as Ozgur Altun, was allegedly a high-ranking figure within the so-called Khorasan Province of the Islamic State, according to Demiroren news agency.

Authorities found that Altun held a managerial position within the group's media outlets, coordinated visa and financial assistance for individuals seeking to join the organization, and oversaw access to cryptocurrency accounts used to finance IS activities.

He also reportedly played a key role in identifying domestic and international targets for terrorist attacks and encouraging such activities.

Altun was arrested by court order on charges of "establishing and leading an armed terrorist organization" and was subsequently sent to prison.

Turkiye designated IS as a terrorist organization in 2013 and has since been targeted by the group in multiple attacks. In response, Ankara has launched numerous counter-terrorism operations both domestically and abroad. 
Jun. 3Sending nude photos and sexually explicit messages to students, supplying teenage girls with alcohol and subsequently getting a 15-year-old pregnant  those are the accusations being leveled against an Albuquerque Public Schools teacher who recently resigned.

Patrick Corr, 34, who formerly taught English at John Adams Middle School on the West Side, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was arrested by Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office deputies Monday evening.

Corr's attorney did not respond to a request for comment, and his family declined to comment.

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"The conduct Patrick Corr is accused of is reprehensible," APS spokesman Martin Salazar said in a statement. "APS Police first began its investigation into an allegation against Mr. Corr in May 2024, and he was placed on leave that same month. He tendered his resignation on May 14, 2025."

Salazar added that John Adams is the only APS school Corr worked at, and he had been with the district since 2019.

In May 2024, John Adams teachers complained to the principal that they felt "extremely uncomfortable" after Corr laid his body across two female students upon returning to the school from a field trip to Urban Air, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Corr was placed on administrative leave and the school initiated an internal investigation at the end of the school year.

Three months after the field trip, the principal and a teacher were cleaning out Corr's old classroom and found a cabinet and boxes with notes from students where he was referred to as "hot" or "Daddy Corr," the complaint states. The criminal investigation handled by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office's Special Victim's Unit began in August 2024.

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A girl, who was not Corr's student, told deputies she met him in June 2021 while out at a bar and grill with her stepsister, according to the complaint. The girl was 15 at the time, though she said she initially told Corr she was 19.

Deputies said the girl told them Corr invited her and her stepsister to a party at his house, where the girl drank alcohol before having sex with Corr. The girl said when she told Corr she was 15, he responded by laughing and saying he "figured she was lying about her age," the complaint states.

The girl told deputies she realized she was pregnant soon after and told Corr through Snapchat, according to the complaint. She decided to get an abortion and, afterward, had sex with Corr a few weeks later "because she felt pressured."

On Nov. 21, 2024, BSCO executed a search warrant on Corr's Snapchat account and found he had messaged over 50 students, where he talked about his personal love life, alcohol and drugs, and allegedly solicited nudes from students, the complaint states. Days earlier, a deputy interviewed one of Corr's former students at University of New Mexico Hospital.

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Deputies said the former student told them Corr asked her for her Snapchat during one of her final days of the school year in 2021, which she found "weird." The girl, who was 16 at the time, said Corr bought her and her cousin alcohol, and she had sex with him after drinking.

The girl told deputies that the next morning, Corr got her an emergency contraceptive pill and "made her take (it) in front of him," according to the complaint.
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In February 1987, members of a queer-student group at Queens College, in New York, started jotting down their private thoughts in a communal composition book. As in a diary, each entry was signed and dated. Members wrote about parties theyd attended, speakers they wanted to invite to campus, questions they had about their sexuality. The book, now housed in an archive at the college, was also a place to vent and snipe. In November 1991, a student wrote in all caps, I HATE QUEENS COLLEGE. I HATE HATRED. I HATE MY HAIR. Below that, a member responded, I hate your hair too.

Its hard to imagine a future historian getting such an up-close glimpse into the thoughts and anxieties of the clubs contemporary members. Around 2019, the group abandoned the composition books and migrated to the messaging app Discord. For students, the switch was likely a natural way to update the tradition of shared journaling. But for archivists interested in preserving the colleges queer history, it caused a small panic. How would they ever sort through the sprawling chat? Whereas the journal entries required concision because page space was limited, people might be typing a mile a minute on Discord, Caitlin Colban-Waldron, a Queens College archivist, told me. We were like, How do we take screenshots? Is there a way to export all of their conversations in a text file?

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Archivists across the country are confronting similar challenges. It was long the case that archives were full of physical ephemera. Think of Oscar Wildes love letters to Lord Alfred Douglas; James Joyces incessant lust for his future wife, Nora Barnacle (his little fuckbird); Sylvia Plaths shopping list; Malcolm Xs lost poem; and other scraps of paper buried in boxes. Today, text messages and disappearing voice notes have replaced letters between close friends, Instagram Stories vanish by default, and encrypted platforms such as Signal, where social movements flourish, let users automatically erase messages. Many people write to-do lists in notes apps and then delete them, line by line, when each task is complete.

The problem for historians is twofold: On the one hand, celebrities, artists, executives, and social-movement leaders are generating more personal records than ever, meaning a lucky researcher might have access to a public figures entire hard drive but struggle to interpret its contents. On the other hand, historians might lose access to the kind of intimate material that reveals the mosta possibility that has led some prognosticators to predict a coming digital dark age.

In some ways, archival research has always demanded sorting through verbal and visual detritus and working around unexpected gaps in records. But in the internet era, this laborious process threatens to become untenable. Our online lives will reshape not only the practice of studying history but also how future generations will tell the story of the past.

The work of history starts with a negotiation. A public figure or their descendantor, say, an activist group or a college clubworks with an institution, such as a university library, to decide which of the figures papers, correspondence, photos, and other materials to donate. Archivists then organize these records for researchers, who, over subsequent years, physically flip through them. These tidbits are deeply valuable. They reveal crucial details about our most famous figures and important historical events. Theyre the gas feeding the engine of our history books.

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Over the past two decades, the volume of these donations has increased dramatically. When Donald Mennerich, a digital archivist at NYU, first started working in the field, 15 years ago, writers or activists or public figures would hand over boxes of letters, notes, photos, meeting minutes, and maybe a floppy disk or a small computer that had a gigabyte hard drive, he told me. Now, Mennerich said, everyone has a terabyte of data on their laptop and a 4-terabyte hard driveabout 4,000 times as much contentplus an email inbox with 10,000 messages or more.

[Read: The way we write history has changed]

Processing this digital bulk is a headache. At the British Library, when a laptop arrives, Callum McKean, the librarys lead digital curator, makes a master copy of the hard drive. Then archivists create a curated version that filters out sensitive information, just as they do for paper records. Various software promises to ease the work, for example by scanning an email inbox for potentially sensitive messagesbank-account details, doctors notes, unintended sexual disclosuresbut the technology isnt foolproof. Once, Mennerich was surprised to find that the tool had not redacted the phone number of a celebrity. So archivists must still review files by hand, which has created a huge bottleneck, McKean told me.

Now many libraries possess emails that they dont have the bandwidth to make accessible to researchers. The writer Ian McEwans emails, although technically part of his collection at the Harry Ransom Center, in Texas, have not been processed, because of challenges in capacity, a spokesperson told me. The archive of the poet Wendy Cope reportedly contains a trove of emails, but they are also not yet ready for the public and still need to undergo sensitivity review, McKean said. Recently, I visited NYU to examine the activist, artist, and onetime Andy Warhol acolyte Jeremy Ayerss files, which include a collection of his emails and an archive of his Facebook account. The public description of the Ayers collection hinted at a labyrinth of insights into the late stage of his career, when he photographed scenes from Occupy Wall Streetthe kind of deep look into an artists process and social calendar that would have been unthinkable a few decades ago. But my requests to view both his emails and his Facebook account were denied; an archivist had not yet reviewed the records for sensitivity. For now, until Ayerss digital files are fully processed, which could take a while, the archive promises more access than it can deliver.

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Even when an email archive is made public, as Salman Rushdies is at Emory University and Chris Krauss is at NYU, its easy to get lost in the chaos. Jacquelyn Ardam, a writer and a literary scholar, was one of the first people to visit Susan Sontags archive, which she told me was filled with digital clutter: Sephora marketing emails, files with unlabeled collections of words (rubbery, ineluctable), and lots and lots of listsof movies shed liked, drinks shed enjoyed. There was so much material, Ardam told me, that it was hard to make sense out of, okay, which one of these lists matters?

Among that mess of information, however, Ardam found emails confirming Sontags relationship with the photographer Annie Leibovitz, which Sontag had denied. All Ardam had to do to locate them was search her computer for the word Annie, she said. She didnt publish all of her findings about Sontags romantic life, in part because they were so intimate.

Ardam was confronting a different, somewhat sensitive question about navigating a persons digital history. When Sontag donated her laptop to the archive, did she realize how much she was giving away? In the past, even a writer of Sontags stature would typically have a small-enough correspondence collection that they could plausibly review the letters they were planning to donate to an archiveand perhaps wouldnt have included missives from a secret lover. But the scope of our digital lives can make it much harder to account for everything (imagine giving up your whole social-media history to a researcher) and much easier for a historian to locate the tantalizing parts with a single search.

[Read: Gen Z never learned to read cursive]

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Of course, thats if historians are lucky enough to access records at all. Many people delete their old texts to save storage space; with each swipe, years of correspondence might disappear. And even if they are saved, digital records are sometimes impossible to retrieve. Colban-Waldron, the Queens College archivist, told me about a visual artist whod donated a word processor that simply doesnt turn on. Mennerich said hes been locked out of the email accounts of several deceased public figures because they never shared their passwords.

Problems multiply when you run into information stored on third-party platforms. If you dont pay for Slack, for example, your messages will automatically delete after 90 days. Google Docs dont self-delete, but you can view version histories and resolved comments only on the platform itself, which poses a risk if Google Docs ever shuts down or stops supporting older documents. Whereas Toni Morrisons extensive notes on Angela Daviss autobiography have been preserved on paper for years, newer back-and-forths between editors and writers might disappear into the digital void.

Archivists might be able to sidestep some of these problems by rethinking how they present collections of digital records. Today, after archivists do their initial review of a collection, visitors can typically get a complete box of someones letters with no questions asked. With emails, conducting that whole initial review up front would be so much more time intensive that blanket access might no longer be realistic. McKean suggested that someones complete email archive could be reduced down to metadata specifying whom they wrote to and when, and uploaded online. Researchers could then request specific conversations, and the archive could conduct a sensitivity review of those specific emails before releasing them, rather than tackling whole computers at once. Such a system might strip the archive of its potential for serendipitous findings. And it might disperse the complex ethical task of deciding what should (and should not) be released to multiple different archivists, who might have their own biases. But compromises like these might be unavoidable in an era of such inscrutable excess.

A laptop donation might actually be the easy scenario. The archivists I spoke with told me theyre all bracing themselves for the moment when, inevitably, a public figure donates their smartphone. It is in some ways the most personal kind of donation someone can make, offering access to text and WhatsApp histories, photos, Tinder messages, saved recipes, TikTok likes. Such a donation seems both likely to reveal more than a persons emails ever could and even harder to sort through and interpret. Archivists might want to stock up on the Excedrin now. As for historians, they might be in for more revealing discoveriesif only they can separate the signal from the noise.

*Illustration sources: Flavio Coelho / Getty; gremlin / Getty.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Court of Appeals overturned a 60-year prison sentence for a man in connection with a 2018 Pine Bluff shooting.

Joseph Gilbert was found guilty of battery by a jury in a 2023 trial. The court on Wednesday ruled that Gilberts right to a speedy trial had been violated and dismissed the verdict.

The jury had sentenced Gilbert to 60 years and a $15,000 fine for battery in the first degree and the use of a gun during the crime.

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Arkansas Supreme Court orders gag order lifted in Lonoke County deadly shooting

The jury verdict and the appeals court decision came after a Nov. 17, 2018, shooting in Pine Bluff of a woman in her home. Police questioned Gilbert about the shooting the day after the shooting, but he gave an alibi and was released.

Gilbert had gone to the police station to give his alibi and was shackled while waiting for a detective to speak with him, according to the courts ruling. He was released after speaking with the detective.

Court documents show Arkansas filed a criminal information charging Gilbert with battery in January 2019. Officials served an arrest warrant on him in October 2022.

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Arkansas felon can apply for early parole due to loophole in state law

In November 2023, a jury sentenced Gilbert to prison. Prior to the conviction, Gilbert filed a motion on July 21, 2023, requesting that his case be dismissed on grounds of speedy trial. As pointed out in the appeals court order, the time between his initial arrest in November 2018, when the detective shackled him, and his trial date exceeded 12 months, thereby violating the speedy trial provision of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure.

The Jefferson County Circuit Court denied the appeal, stating that he was not arrested until October 2022 and the earlier questioning did not constitute an arrest.

Arkansas Supreme Court decides TikTok vs. Arkansas case will go forward, denies dismissal request

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The appeals court disagreed with the circuit court in its ruling, stating that under any definition, Gilbert was arrested when a detective shackled him, preventing him from leaving. The court also noted in the ruling that Arrest is not defined in the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure.

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DEQ Director Bailey Taylor (left) and the division's chief legal counsel, Kesia Morrison, address the Joint Public Health Committee on June 4, 2025. (Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)

The Joint Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Wednesday reviewed amendments to Arkansas surface water quality standards rule, which is part of the states enforcement of the federal Clean Water Act.

As part of the Clean Water Act, the state is required to review  and if necessary, revise  the standards every three years.

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The rule, currently called Rule 2, was pulled from last months committee agenda to give lawmakers more time to review the changes, which include the addition of five new health-based water quality standards for benzene, methylbenzene, xylene, toluene and phenol.

The rule also amends existing criteria for ammonia and cadmium, which havent been updated in decades, to bring them in line with revisions made by the Environmental Protection Agency within the last 15 years.

Rule 2 standards apply to surface waters  such as rivers, creeks, lakes and wetlands  not to drinking water, which is governed by a separate federal law, the Safe Drinking Water Act. While the Division of Environmental Quality oversees Arkansas enforcement of the CWA, the Arkansas Department of Health enforces the SDWA in the state.

Its not a blanket effluent limit, DEQ Director Bailey Taylor told committee members. The standards are for the ambient water quality, and permit limits for facilities like wastewater treatment plants and industrial plants that discharge waste into surface waters are backcalculated from the standards, she said.

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Under the revised rule, the primary contact season, the period during which people are most likely to be recreating in the water by swimming, fishing or boating, would be extended by two months so it would now fall from April to October.

Pressed by Greenwood Republican Rep. Lee Johnson for an explanation for the change, Taylor said standards during the primary contact season are tighter for some measures than outside of it to account for greater human contact with the water. Taylor singled out bacteria standards as one example. She said the change was made to account for water recreation thats been happening in April and October.

Johnson said it was interesting that the division was moving to make the change now, and asked if DEQ believed Arkansans were swimming more in 2025 than they were in 2020 or in the 1980s.

I just wonder why were deciding now to change the recreational season when its been in effect for a long time, Johnson said.

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Taylor said the division was trying to account for recreation that was happening outside of the traditional May to September season. Johnson countered by asking if DEQ had collected any data showing that more people were engaging in water recreation during the extended months. Taylor said the decision was based on anecdotal stakeholder engagement.

The rule will next be considered by the Arkansas Legislative Councils Administrative Rules Subcommittee.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Legislators in Arkansas are raising questions as to how Grant Hardin was able to escape from a prison in north Arkansas more than a week ago.

According to the Associated Press, Rep. Howard Beaty (R-Crossett) and Sen. Matt McKee (R-Pearcy), who co-chair the charitable, penal, and correctional institutions legislative committee, wrote a letter to Board of Corrections chairman Benny Magness highlighting a concern for a broader system failure.

Who is Grant Hardin, the Devil in the Ozarks?

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Given Hardins background as a former law enforcement officer and his history of working for multiple law enforcement agencies, it is evident that he possesses knowledge and skills that enabled him to exploit weaknesses in our security protocols, the lawmakers said in part in the letter. His manipulation of the system by wearing a disguise resembling a uniform is disturbing and speaks to a broader system failure.

Hardin, 56, is a former police chief in northwest Arkansas who escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. He was serving a sentence for rape and murder.

Authorities release updated possible picture of escaped inmate Grant Hardin

Authorities say Hardin is 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 259 pounds. Officials say he is bald but has brown hair and blue eyes.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  From number eight to number one, Arkansas has moved up in the Heritage Foundations Election Security Scorecard.

Secretary of State Cole Jester says its all due to eight recent key changes, including policies from his office.

Were partnering with the federal government to get DHA, Homeland Security data on illegal immigrants who might be on our rolls and using credit agencies to flag addresses that may be industrial or just dont exist, Jester said.

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Arkansas coalition submits proposed ballot initiative to overturn legislative changes to referendum law

Arkansas is now sharing voter registration data with other states to check for people registered in multiple states, along with implementing other new policies. Recently passed laws have also contributed to the new ranking.

One, getting data from federal juries so we can eliminate people who shouldnt be on our voter registration list, two, requiring a witness for absentee ballots, Jester said.

Gennie Diaz, with the democracy rights advocacy group Protect AR Rights, said they would like to see policies that make democracy more accessible, not less.

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Its a really interesting contrast, if you will, from where we rank in voter participation and then this declaration that our state is number one in voter integrity. I think there is a big chasm there, Diaz said.

While the Heritage Foundation does not have a ranking category dedicated to the petition process, Jester said one of the eight changes includes mandating a photo ID for signing initiative petitions. There are 100 factors that determine the ranking based on a point system.

Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process Unconstitutional

Protect AR Rights is proposing the Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment, which aims to block existing laws they believe interfere with the right to sign petitions and collect signatures.

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How can we find ways to, of course, protect the voting process and the petition process, but also make it easier for people to vote? Because in our state its just incredibly difficult, and often fewer than half of our registered voters turn out for elections, Diaz said.

Jester said these are common-sense laws and policies, while Diaz questioned the practical benefit of the ranking for voters.

What does this number one ranking for election integrity actually mean for the voters of this state? Is this just simply a ranking that we get because we check off certain boxes with this particular think tank, or is this something were actually working toward as a state? Diaz said.

Things like when a ballot is damaged and remade, procedural checks to make sure its done correctly, things like nursing homes requiring two witnesses, two assisters when youre helping someone fill out their ballot, just common-sense steps everyone can get behind, Jester said.

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Lawmakers seek to rein in citizen ballot initiatives with new requirements for petitions

To view the scorecard, please visit Heritage.org.

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(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department is investigating reports of an armed person who may be hiding inside a Natomas residence.

Around 5 p.m., SPD responded to the 3600 block of Tice Creek Way for reports of a subject in a residence with a firearm. Officers said they have the home surrounded.

The Sacramento Police Department is responding to reports of an armed person hiding in a residence on June 3, 2025./ Courtesy photo

It is unclear if other residents are inside. As of 9:20 p.m., SPD said crisis negotiators, the SWAT team, and armored vehicles are at the scene and attempting to get the suspect to surrender peacefully.

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At around 9:45 p.m., the suspect, a man, came out of the home and surrendered to police. SPD said they are searching the home for other occupants and weapons.

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An investigation is underway after Los Angeles police officers opened fire, fatally striking an armed suspect in the Harvard Heights neighborhood Tuesday night.

Police were responding to a shots fired call around 10 p.m. at an apartment complex near South Ardmore Avenue and West 11th Street when the incident occurred.

When ofcrs arrived to the area of the call, they encountered the armed suspect and an officer involved shooting occurred. The suspect, described as a male adult, was struck by gunfire and taken into custody, the LAPD PIO posted on X shortly after 1 a.m.

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The suspects gun, along with spent casings were recovered at scene and will be booked as evidence, the post reads.

An investigation is underway after a suspect was fatally shot by officers in Los Angeles on June 3, 2025. (KNN)

The unidentified suspect was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the PIO said.

No officers or other community members were injured.

This is an ongoing incident where we still have to interview witnesses, the officers involved and look at body-worn video and any surveillance video thats available to us, LAPD spokesperson Bruce Borihanh said

The areas of South Ardmore Avenue and West 11th Street were closed for the investigation. Nearby West Olympic Boulevard remained open.

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The Army has surpassed its recruiting target for this fiscal year, exceeding a goal that was already significantly higher than it has been in the past.

Yesterday, the United States Army met its fiscal year 2025 recruiting goal four months early, welcoming more than 61,000 new recruits, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll testified before Congress on Wednesday. The fiscal year runs through Sept. 30.

Driscoll credited the focus on a return to warfighting and lethality for the Armys recruiting success, though several practical changes to how the Army finds new soldiers have played a key role in the surge of newcomers, lawmakers said. Driscoll noted that the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, which prepares potential soldiers for basic training, has helped recruits who were right on the edge of meeting the services physical and academic standards enlist.

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It seems when I was at the Future Soldier Prep Course that the ones who wanted to join were at the very front edge of their careers, were excited to join in a time where they thought they could contribute to the safety of their community by being on the front lines of keeping Americans safe.

As of May 30, a total of 10,465 soldiers have moved from the Future Soldier Preparatory Course to Initial Entry Training this fiscal year, said Maj. Christopher Robinson, a spokesman for Training and Doctrine Command.

The Army expects to have 25,000 soldiers in the Delayed Entry Program when the 2026 fiscal year begins, Driscoll said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George noted that the most productive recruiting months of the fiscal year are still ahead. He added that the Army is trying to make improvements to technology for recruiters and reducing how many forms recruits have to fill out while in-processing.

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It was something like 670 forms that had to be filled out and weve reduced that to below 10, and its now going to be in a database, George said.

The last time the Army hit its annual recruiting goal in the first week of June was back in 2014, Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for Driscoll, said in a news release.

The Defense Departments Rapid Response X account posted a Fox News story about the Armys recent recruiting success along with a quote: They call it the TRUMP-BUMP.

However, the rebound in Army recruiting began before President Donald Trump was elected in November. The service met its fiscal year 2024 goal of 55,000 new soldiers a month before the election after missing its recruiting target for the previous two years. The Army also announced in October that it would increase this fiscal years recruiting target by 6,000 soldiers.

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Currently, there is not enough data to either prove or disprove that more Americans are joining the Army as a result of Trumps reelection, said Katherine Kuzminski, director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington, D.C.

We began to see the turnaround in Army recruiting beginning last August as a result of efforts put into place in 2022-2023, Kuzminski told Task & Purpose on Wednesday. The Future Soldier Prep Course played (and continues to play) a large role in that success  yielding 25% of last years recruits and keeping up the momentum into this administration.

A major factor that is driving the Armys recent recruiting success is the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, Kuzminski said. About 13,200 recruits joined the Army through the course in fiscal year 2024.

The Army has also taken steps to professionalize its recruiters, and the services Be All You Can Be recruiting campaign may have appealed to parents and other adults who can influence whether young Americans join the military, she said.

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Unemployment rates, however, are not contributing to the Armys recruiting success, Kuzmiksi said. The rates have remained fairly consistent at around 4.2% from 2024 to 2025.

Driscoll acknowledged that the Army still faces some challenges to recruiting, noting that the services MHS Genesis System, which has been criticized for disqualifying potential recruits for minor health issues, is inadequate.

Project 2025, the policy blueprint produced by the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, D.C., recommended that the Army suspend using the system because it causes unnecessary delays and unwarranted rejections.

The Genesis program in and of itself is a classic example, I think, of the Army being part of a solution that is siloed and ineffective and inefficient, Driscoll said. And its probably going to be a better solution to go out and grab a tool that is used in areas in the commercial sector.

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Driscoll said that the Army has started using the commercially available Salesforce platform and has seen incredible results.

He added that in a perfect world, the Army would be able to use a system like Salesforce along with a generative artificial intelligence model to determine, Hey, is this a kid who got an inhaler when they were 12-and-two months and never used it, vs. someone when they were 17-and-a-half actively was using an inhaler.

UPDATE: 06/04/2025; this story was updated with figures about the Armys Future Soldier Preparatory Course for fiscal year 2025.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Army leaders on Wednesday defended spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the service's 250th birthday celebration on June 14 in Washington, saying it will help boost recruitment, as Congress members argued that the money could be better spent on troops' barracks or other priorities.

Members of the House Armed Services Committee also said they are concerned that the Defense Department is shifting about $1 billion from a variety of accounts  including base housing  to cover the costs of shoring up the defense of the southern border.

Spending for the parade has become a flashpoint since it comes at a time when the Trump administration is slashing funding for personnel and programs across the federal government, including the Defense Department.

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While the Army has long planned for a festival on the National Mall to celebrate its 250th birthday, the parade was just recently added. President Donald Trump has long wanted a military parade in the city, after seeing an elaborate one in France on Bastille Day during his first presidential term, and June 14 is also his birthday.

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., questioned whether the additional cost of the parade was appropriate since all the military services are facing 8% budget cuts, and said perhaps it could be used to improve troops quality of life or warfighting capabilities. He prodded Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll on what he would prioritize if Congress wrote him a blank check for $45 million.

Driscoll replied that he thinks the parade offers a chance to tell the public about the Army. I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom and will fill up our pipeline for the coming years," he said.

At the same time, he and Gen. Randy George, chief of staff of the Army, told lawmakers that the service has now met its recruiting goal for the year  with 61,000 recruits. Army officials have predicted for months that they would hit the target early after making a series of changes to recruiting programs, recruiters and policies over the past several years.

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That prompted Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., to ask why the parade was needed for recruiting if it's already surging.

Driscoll said the Army believes the parade will empower an entire new generation of Americas youth to catch the spirit to serve their nation.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., defended the parade spending, saying you cannot put a price tag on patriotism.

House members on both sides of the aisle pressed the Army about a recent request to shift money from across the budget to support the southern border. The biggest concern, they said, is that it takes money away from base housing, which has been plagued with persistent problems, including mold, rodents and raw sewage in barracks.

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Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., agreed the nation needs a strong border, but said lawmakers worked for the past year on a broad effort to address the housing problems. I feel like a decision was made that undermined this whole effort that we spent the last year doing.," he said.

Pressed on the issue by Carbajal, George acknowledged that redirecting the money has an impact on the barracks.

If we took $1 billion out of barracks, we would be able to fix less barracks," he agreed, but also said, You have to make choices, congressman."
Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety.

IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force."

He stated that the areas north of Salah Khalaf street in Gaza City and Al Quds street in Jabalia are considered dangerous combat zones.

"For your safety, refrain from moving north towards these areas," the warning read.

Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month truce with Hamas. Since then, more than 4,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza-based health authorities. 

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Returning Palestinians are seen in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on June 4, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday night issued an urgent warning to residents of the Gaza Strip to avoid moving northward for their safety. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee addressed Gazan residents who have returned or intend to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, all north of Gaza City, on social media X, warning that the IDF is operating in these areas with "heavy force." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll on Wednesday warned that Ukraines recent drone strikes deep inside Russia reveal the United States has its own vulnerabilities in the face of similar attacks.

Using relatively inexpensive drones, Ukraine on Sunday launched unprecedented attacks on Russian airfields as far away as Siberia, dealing a heavy blow to the Kremlins strategic bomber fleet, with reportedly 40 aircraft damaged or destroyed.

Driscoll said the operation, which reportedly used more than 100 inexpensive drones smuggled into Russia in trucks, is eye-opening in terms of how cheaper, easily obtained weapons have the power to cause massive damage in the right hands. He worried that the Army is falling behind in addressing such threats.

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At a cost of mere tens of thousands of dollars, Ukraine inflicted billions in damage, potentially setting back Russias bomber capabilities for years. The world saw, in real time, how readily available technology can disrupt established power dynamics, Driscoll said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.

He added: Drones are but one example of a broader shift, and honestly, the Army is not keeping pace.

Driscolls concerns were shared by the panels ranking member, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who said the Ukrainian operation has gotten our attention of the vulnerabilities of existing systems and the capabilities of drones and other new systems.

There is no question that the nature of warfare is changing dramatically. How do we adjust our force to meet those challenges? he mused.

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Ukraines successful attack raised questions as to how protected the U.S. homeland actually is, a concern that has lingered following mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey and other states in the Northeast late last year.

That followed unidentified swarms of drones seen near military installations, including drones that flew near Virginias Langley Air Force Base over 17 days in December 2023.

In another sighting in October 2023, five drones flew over a government site used for nuclear weapons experiments for three days outside Las Vegas. It is not publicly known who operated them.

And U.S. officials confirmed in October that unidentified drone swarms were spotted near Edwards Air Force Base in California, north of Los Angeles.

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President Trump last month announced plans for his Golden Dome missile-defense shield as one such way to address incoming threats. But that system  conceived of as a web of space-based radars and interceptors  is meant to defend against ballistic and intercontinental missiles rather than low-flying drones and missiles launched off ships.

To immediately deal with possible threats, Driscoll called for a more agile force that is able to quickly innovate and partner with private industry if need be, saying the Army is currently calcified by bureaucracy.

Russia, meanwhile, is expected to launch a counterattack against Ukraine, a plan Trump confirmed on Wednesday after speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields, Trump posted to Truth Social.

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Editors note: Tuesday evening, Austin City Manager TC Broadnax said the vote on license plate readers will be postponed amid community and council concerns.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  According to an email from APD sent to city of Austin staff, as many as 22% of automated license plate reader (ALPR) database searches did not have a case number linked to the query.

Ahead of Tuesdays Austin City Council work session, where ALPRs would be discussed, city staff asked APD via email for more information about the technology. That email was shared with KXAN.

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Many have been critical of the technology, concerned that data could be shared with law enforcement agencies that target women seeking abortions or undocumented immigrants. APD said on Tuesday that the department does not intend to use ALPRs for those reasons.

The Austin Police Department recognizes the importance of transparency in the usage of the ALPR system. With this in mind, the Austin Police Department is working with the vendor to mandate that the user input a case number prior to [a] search as well as a reason for the search that is in line with the resolution, APD wrote in the email to city staff.

APD said that when the ALPR pilot program went live in March 2024, the resolution did not explicitly require officers to provide a reason for a database search. However, it acknowledged that the department was only permitted to use the technology to help with investigations.

APD told city staff that in the second quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, around one in five searches did not have a case number listed. In quarter three of 2024, only 11% of searches did not have an identified case number, and in quarter four, 16% did not have one.

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Austins year-long pilot program began in March 2024, and on March 27, the Austin City Council voted 8-3 to extend the program for another three months. The city council will decide on Thursday whether to extend the program again.

During the work session, APD explained to the Austin City Council why it finds the technology beneficial.

This police department is 300 officers short. Currently, we do not have enough officers to [perform] the job that we would prefer to do without the use of technology to supplement [our] work, said Assistant Austin Police Chief Sheldon Askew.

Were just better [and] more successful when we have technology such as ALPR, he continued.

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The pilot required that the system only hold data captured by the cameras for seven days, down from 30 days. APD officers must train before being able to access the system. Officers must undergo training annually.

APD said on Tuesday that data collected by the cameras belongs only to the department and that it is not shared with any other agency.

There are some agencies throughout the country [that] will share that data with their partner agencies or with agencies across the nation. We do not do that, Askew said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A man was charged Wednesday in connection with last month's bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, after being apprehended in Europe and flown to New York City, where he was arrested overnight by the FBI, authorities said.

Daniel Park, 32, of Washington state is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Bilal Essayli, announced during a news conference.

Park is accused of shipping approximately 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate  commonly used as a precursor to construct homemade explosives  to the bomber, who was identified by officials as 25-year-old Guy Bartkus. Bartkus died in the blast outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic on May 17. Four other people were injured in the explosion.

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Essayli said evidence shows Park and Bartkus shared extremist beliefs.

According to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday, "Bartkus's attack was motivated by his pro-mortalism, anti-natalism, and anti-pro-life ideology, which is the belief that individuals should not be born without their consent and that non-existence is best."

FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis, in charge of the bureau's Los Angeles field office, told reporters that Park had posted about his beliefs on internet forums dating back to 2016. Park's social media posts indicated he was trying to recruit people of like-minded ideology and discuss it online, Davis said. The FBI hasn't confirmed how Park and Bartkus met, Davis said, adding that the investigation was ongoing.

Investigators said Park also paid for an additional 90 pounds of ammonium nitrate that was shipped to Bartkus in the days leading up to the bombing. There hasn't been an indication that other locations were targeted, Davis said.

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Park spent approximately two weeks visiting Bartkus' residence in Twentynine Palms, California, in late January and early February and ran "experiments" in his garage, Essayli said.

Davis said Park was charged because of his contributions to the bomb.

"Park was in possession of an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing," Davis told reporters, referring to the 1995 attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City that killed 168 people. "We believe that Park had knowledge of how to create an ANFO bomb, ammonium-nitrate-fuel-oil bomb."

The FBI and other law enforcement personnel gather evidence a day after a bomb exploded near a reproductive health facility in Palm Springs, California, May 18, 2025. / Credit: Reuters/David Swanson

Park, a U.S. citizen, flew to Warsaw, Poland, on May 21, a few days after the bombing, Davis said. Polish authorities detained Park at the request of U.S. officials on Friday. He was flown back to the U.S. and taken into custody by the FBI at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport overnight.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi was involved in discussions around Park and the investigation before and during her trip this week to Poland, according to a Justice Department official. She was monitoring the status of the case and met with Polish government officials while in Warsaw.

"Bringing chaos and violence to a facility that exists to help women and mothers is a particularly cruel, disgusting crime that strikes at the very heart of our shared humanity," Bondi said on X. "We are grateful to our partners in Poland who helped get this man back to America and we will prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law."

During a brief hearing Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, Park acknowledged to a judge that he knew the charges against him and waived his rights to other hearings in New York. He was ordered to be detained at a federal facility in Brooklyn until he's sent to California. He is expected to be prosecuted in Los Angeles.

Four Polish border guards were with Park when he was taken back to the U.S., and two members of the FBI flying squad were also on the flight, according to two senior U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the investigation. Park consented to speak with the FBI at JFK and was interviewed by them there.

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Police in Palm Springs said the bomber backed his Ford Fusion into a parking spot outside the clinic before the powerful explosion left a crater on the morning of May 17. The explosion could be felt more than a mile away from the blast zone, the FBI said.

The vehicle exploded outside American Reproductive Centers, a fertility clinic with a full-service IVF lab that did not perform abortions. The blast caused significant damage to the building. The facility also lost power, but it was restored in time so no embryos were lost in the attack. The clinic reopened about two weeks later at a new location.

The FBI believed that the bombing was premeditated and called the attack an "intentional act of terrorism."

Detectives said they believed Bartkus acted alone at the site of the attack, but said they were scouring his online chats to learn whether anyone helped him buy parts or refine the design of the bomb.

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Investigators said the blast pattern shows that the device was far more damaging than a low-grade explosive such as fireworks.

The FBI said Bartkus had access to a large quantity of commercially available chemical products that could be combined to create a homemade explosive device.

Twentynine Palms is home to a large Marine Corps base about an hour's drive from Palm Springs.

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HICKORY, N.C. (AP)  A 20-year-old man was arrested Tuesday on an attempted murder charge in connection with a weekend shooting around a house party in North Carolina that led to the death of one person and injuries for 11 others, sheriff's deputies said.

Garon Nathaniel Killian, of Lenoir, was being held in jail without bond, the Catawba County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Online records did not show booking or lawyer information for Killian and the county court clerk's office's phone did not accept voicemails Tuesday evening.

Authorities executed search warrants on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the shooting, which left some people with gunshot wounds and others with injuries from fleeing the gunfire. Additional people could be arrested, the sheriff's office said.

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The shooting took place early Sunday in a usually quiet residential neighborhood in southwest Catawba County, about 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of the city of Hickory. Authorities said at least 80 shots were fired beginning at about 12:45 a.m. People reported running, ducking for cover and scrambling to their cars for safety.

The crime scene spanned several properties along a neighborhood road, covering about 2 acres (0.8 hectares), and included outdoor and indoor areas, Sheriffs office Maj. Aaron Turk said Sunday.

A 58-year-old man, Shawn Patrick Hood, of Lenoir, was killed. He was the oldest of the victims, who ranged in age from as young as 16, the sheriff's office said. The agency said it was asking for people who attended the party to contact the office.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A 24-year-old man is under arrest after committing back-to-back unprovoked attacks at Fort Mason Park on Monday afternoon, said the San Francisco Police Department.

SF officer injured while chasing suspect on foot in Tenderloin

SFPD said its officers arrived at Laguna and Bay streets around 4:41 p.m. to search for a suspect who reportedly fled to the area following a physical altercation. Investigators soon learned that the suspect allegedly attacked a man unprovoked and stole his property before then randomly assaulting a woman.

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The male victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the woman was treated at the scene by paramedics, said SFPD.

Police said the suspect was finally spotted near Laguna and Lombard streets before trying to outrun officers. The man  identified as Junaid Noon of San Francisco was eventually taken into custody after a chase, said SFPD.

The suspect failed to comply with the officers orders and resisted the officers attempt to place him under arrest, said police. The suspect then fled on foot and a foot pursuit ensued. Officers eventually apprehended the suspect and placed him under arrest without further incident.

U.S. Park Police assisted with the investigation, San Francisco police confirmed in a news release.

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Noon was booked into San Francisco County Jail and faces several charges, including aggravated mayhem, two counts of assault likely to produce great bodily injury, battery causing serious bodily injury, resisting arrest, robbery and committing a felony while on bail.

Despite the arrest, this remains an active case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, starting the message with SFPD.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
The birthday of Alexei Navalny was marked on Wednesday by his supporters more than a year after the Russian dissident's death in a penal colony.

OVD Info human rights group reported that eight people had been detained while laying flowers in Novosibirsk in Siberia.

Videos broadcast on social media showed supporters gathered at Navalny's grave in Moscow. His mother was among those attending.

Navalny, one of the most prominent opponents of President Vladimir Putin, would have turned 49 on Wednesday.

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After surviving a near-fatal attack with the Novichok nerve agent in 2020, he died under mysterious circumstances in the Polar Wolf prison in the Arctic Circle in February last year.

His widow, Julia Navalnaya, has continued his work in exile. Her latest project in collaboration with the organization Reporters without Borders is television broadcaster "Russia's Future," whose launch was announced in Paris on Tuesday.

The broadcaster is to be available in Russia via satellite from Wednesday.

"It is important to keep his legacy, and I am sure he would be very happy that new people are receiving information about the Kremlin regime, corruption, war, and everything that's going on in Russia right now," Navalnaya said at the launch.

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She posted a photo of herself with her husband on X. No day went past without thinking of him, she said.

Navalnaya also announced a memorial concert in Berlin on June 28, at which a prize in Navalny's name will be awarded for the first time. Internet portal Meduza reported that Pet Shop Boys would headline the concert.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland Fire and Rescue investigators are seeking an arson suspect after an overnight fire happened at an occupied restaurant in the Lents Neighborhood.

Just before 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, PF&R said crews responded to the fire at the Ka-Te Restaurant and Bar at 3554 SE 82nd Ave.

Neighbors, PBOT fed up with NW 13th outdoor plaza

On the way to the restaurant, fire crews learned the blaze was on the patio and drawing closer to the main structure.

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The people who were inside the building safely evacuated following instructions from dispatchers at BOEC to exit through a doorway. By the time firefighters arrived, the people were out in front of the building, with the fire active in the back. Everyone safely made it out of the building, officials said.

Damage from an arson at Ka-Te Restaurant and Bar. June 3, 2025 (KOIN). A fire at Ka-Te Restaurant in Southeast Portland is being investigated for arson. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Portland Fire and Rescue). A fire at Ka-Te Restaurant in Southeast Portland is being investigated for arson. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Portland Fire and Rescue). A fire at Ka-Te Restaurant in Southeast Portland is being investigated for arson. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Portland Fire and Rescue). A fire at Ka-Te Restaurant in Southeast Portland is being investigated for arson. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Portland Fire and Rescue).

Crews quickly extinguished the fire on the exterior and ensured that the fire did not extend to the interior of the building, PF&R said in a press release. Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, the command officer requested the on-duty fire investigator to the scene.

Firefighters reviewed security camera footage, interviewed people at the scene and assessed the fire damage. Kiki, a Portland Fire and Rescue dog, also detected that an accelerant had been used.

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Worker hurt after excavator bucket lands on him

Surveillance video released by PF&R shows the alleged arsonist dumping what investigators think is the accelerant onto a ramp. A bright flash of orangish light illuminates the scene from off-screen. He then runs down the street.

Jason Andersen, senior arson investigator with PF&R, said the arson appears to be targeted as it occurred right before last call while people were still inside the restaurant and bar.

That individual brazenly just poured this, this out of a makeshift container or what appears to be pouring a liquid, around that exterior wood patio and porch area of this business, Andersen said. Then what we can see off camera a little bit is that it ignites with a bright flash, which is very indicative of accelerants and ignited liquids. So our fire investigators saw that video and that to them, you know, really heightened their senses of urgency of what we need to do.

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Andersen added that firefighters putting out the flames at the time smelled what they thought to be gasoline.

Todd Henderson lives nearby and said hes not surprised by what happened and that he and others are constantly picking up messes.

Cleanup is every day. Theres never a day, in fact, sometimes twice a day, on the street because the amount of garbage that ends up on the street. So its just the nature of being where we are, near 82nd and Powell, that [] creates a lot of those issues, Henderson said.

Anyone who is able to identify the person is asked to contact Portland Fire and Rescue. In addition, people in the immediate vicinity of the restaurant who may have security footage between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Tuesday morning are also asked to check it for any video of a person matching the suspects description and contact Portland Fire investigators.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The Ascension Parish Schools announced a vacant position on the school board on Tuesday.

During the June 3 board meeting, the school system accepted District 2 member Scott Duplecheins resignation, effective Wednesday, June 4.

The Ascension Parish School Board appreciates Mr. Duplecheins service and encourages all eligible residents with a passion for public education to consider applying for this important role, shared the school board.

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The school board called for a special election on Oct. 11 to fill the vacant seat for the remainder of the term, which runs through December 2026.

Louisiana state law requires the board to appoint an interim board member within 20 days to serve until the special election. The appointment will be announced at the next board meeting on Tuesday, June 17.

Applicants must meet the following criteria for the vacant position:

Must be at least 18 years old

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent

Must have lived in Louisiana for two years before submitting the application

Must have lived in Ascension Parish District 2 for the previous year

Cannot have any convictions for a crime (violent crimes, sex crimes, drug offenses, theft/fraud, or crimes against children or elderly)

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Applications can be submitted via email to board@apsb.org or delivered to the Ascension Parish School Board Office. The submission deadline is Friday, June 13, at noon.

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In Ascension Public Schools, we hold all of our employees to the highest standards of professional conduct. Actions that contradict our values as a school system, whether within our schools or in the broader community, are not tolerated.

Dutchtown High School and the district are investigating reports that an employee may be responsible for inappropriate remarks on social media. This is being actively investigated and will be addressed accordingly.
KIEV, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday described Russia's memorandum on ceasefire as an "ultimatum" to Ukraine, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

"A memorandum of understanding should involve two parties, not just one side that demands something. Therefore, it cannot be called a memorandum. It is, in fact, an ultimatum from the Russian side," Zelensky said.

He emphasized that some of Russia's requirements, particularly regarding the territorial claims, could not be fulfilled.

Speaking on Russia's call for Ukraine to adopt non-aligned status, Zelensky said that in 2014, when developments in Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions started, Ukraine had a non-aligned status defined by law.

Regarding joining NATO, according to Zelensky, "this issue depends on the allies."

Ukraine received the memorandum from Russia during the bilateral talks were held in Istanbul on June 2. 
ASHE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A man has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to several child sex offense charges, according to the Ashe County Sheriffs Office.

On Monday, May 19, Adam Michael May pled guilty to several counts of statutory rape of a child and felonious sexual offenses.

On July 6, 2024, deputies received an alert about a minor with allegedations fo rape and inappropriate conduct. Warrants were subsequently issued, but May left Ashe County and went to Tennessee, officials said.

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Senseless, careless: Suspects sought after 7-year-old was shot in the head during a drive-by

Four days later, on July 10, May was found in a hotel in Mountain City, TN, by the Johnson County Sheriffs Office.

May was charged with two counts of felony statutory rape of a child by an adult, four counts of felony indecent liberties with a child, felony first-degree statutory sex, and felony fugitive extradition from another state.

After his guilty plea, May was sentenced to 25-35 years in prison for these charges.

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ASHLAND Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning sentenced an Ashland man Monday to 15 years in prison.

Phillip Conley, 28, pleaded guilty last fall to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force had begun an investigation in early 2024 into Conleys drug trafficking. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant on April 4, 2024. Authorities located 57.6 grams of fentanyl, two firearms and ammunition at a home on Ringo Street in East Ashland, according to a press release Tuesday and previous reports.

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Conley admitted he intended to distribute the fentanyl, and that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. He also admitted to knowing that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm, according to the release.

The DEA classifies fentanyl as a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

Conley was previously convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance in Boyd County Circuit Court in May 2017.

Under federal law, Conley must serve 85% of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.

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Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence, according to the release.

The ATF and Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentuckys Office.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justices Project Safe Neighborhoods Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities, stated the release.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  All 350 students of Tongue Point Job Corps in Astoria will be sent home by the end of June due to a Department of Labor order which aligns with the Presidents 2026 budget, according to a news release that cites former Oregon Congresswoman and current Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

From construction to manufacturing, Job Corps gives young people a tuition-free shot at a future. Job Corps offers an array of certifications in various trades as well as assistance in searching for opportunities post-certification. Students can also receive military training while simultaneously receiving help to fund their education. Despite this, in mere weeks, hundreds  many near certification  will be forced out.

Tongue Point is one of 99 centers shutting down nationwide under a Department of Labor order. At least 100 students will be required to leave by Thursday, June 5, with the remainder set to be evicted by the end of the month.

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The Department of Labor said this program ran a $140 million deficit in 2024 and projected it to cost $213 million this year. In their contract termination, the Labor Department said this is completely for the governments convenience.

Just to like pick up and leave is so hard on anybody, it causes an enormous amount of trauma, Terri Steenbergen who leads The Harbor, a nonprofit for survivors of domestic violence, said.

Community members such as Steenbergen have taken it upon themselves to step in and support the displaced students. Steenbergen has begun raising funds and collecting duffle bags, snacks, and hygiene items to help Job Corps students and families.

Tongue Points director, Mac McGoldrick, is committed to fighting for the programs future.

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This administration speaks a great deal about developing the American workforce and increasing the training for skilled trades, and increasing apprenticeships and union placements and thats what Job Corps does, McGoldrick said. You know, I still have a glimmer of hope. Im not gonna give up until I have to.

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At any given time across the universe, massive cosmic bodies are releasing incomprehensible amounts of energy. Stars burn like celestial nuclear fusion reactors, quasars emit thousands of times the luminosity of the Milky Way galaxy, and asteroids slam into planets. But all of these pale in comparison to a new class of events discovered by researchers at the University of Hawaiis Institute for Astronomy (IfA). According to their findings published June 4 in the journal Science Advances, its time to classify the universes most energetic explosions as extreme nuclear transientsor ENTs.

ENTs are as devastating as they are rare. They only occur when a massive star at least three times heavier than the sun drifts too close to a supermassive black hole. The colliding forces subsequently obliterate the star, sending out plumes of energy across huge swaths of space. Similar events known as tidal disruption events (TDEs) are known to occur on a (comparatively) smaller scale, and have been documented for over a decade. But ENTs are something else entirely.

ENTs are different beasts, study lead author and astronomer Jason Hinkle explained in an accompanying statement. Not only are ENTs far brighter than normal tidal disruption events, but they remain luminous for years, far surpassing the energy output of even the brightest known supernova explosions.

Hinkle was first tipped off to ENTs while looking into transientslonglasting flares that spew energy from a galaxys center. Two particularly strange examples captured by the European Space Agencys Gaia mission caught his eye. The pair of events brightened over a much longer timeframe than previously documented transients, but lacked some of their usual characteristics.

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Gaia doesnt tell you what a transient is, just that something changed in brightness, Hinkle said. But when I saw these smooth, long-lived flares from the centers of distant galaxies, I knew we were looking at something unusual.

Hinkle soon reached out to observatory teams around the world for what would become a multiyear project to understand these anomalies. In the process, a third suspect was detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego. After months of analysis, Hinkle and collaborators realized they were witnessing something unprecedented.

An infrared echo tells us that a dusty torus surrounds the central black hole and newly-formed accretion disk. Credit: University of Hawaii

The ENTs analyzed by astronomers displayed smoother, longer lasting flares that pointed towards something very particulara supermassive black hole accreting a giant, wayward star.

This contrasts with a more standard black hole that typically acquires its material and energy unpredictably, resulting in irregular brightness fluctuations.

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The energy and luminosity of an ENT boggles the mind. The most powerful ENT documented in Hinkles study, Gaia18cdj, generated 25 times more energy than the most powerful known supernovae. For reference, a standard supernova puts out as much energy in a single year as the sun does across its entire 10 billion year lifespan. Gaia18cdj, meanwhile, manages to give off 100 suns worth of energy over just 12 months.

The implications of ENTs and their massive energy surges go far beyond their impressive energy outputs. Astronomers believe they contribute to some of the most pivotal events in the cosmos.

These ENTs dont just mark the dramatic end of a massive stars life. They illuminate the processes responsible for growing the largest black holes in the universe, said Hinkle.

From here on Earth, ENTs can also help researchers as they continue studying massive, distant black holes.

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Because theyre so bright, we can see them across vast cosmic distancesand in astronomy, looking far away means looking back in time, explained study co-author and astronomer Benjamin Shappee. By observing these prolonged flares, we gain insights into black hole growth when the universe was half its current age forming stars and feeding their supermassive black holes 10 times more vigorously than they do today.

Theres a catch for astronomers, however. While supernovae are relatively well-documented, ENTs are estimated to occur at least 10 million times less often. This means that further study requires consistent monitoring of the cosmos backed by the support of international governments, astronomical associations, and the public.
(WHTM) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives issued a warning to Pennsylvanians regarding dangerous illegal explosives ahead of the Fourth of July.

The ATF says that Pennsylvania accounted for nearly 20% of all ATF illegal explosive device investigations nationwide since 2020. The ATF says the public is encouraged to report their manufacturing and sales to protect their communities during the holiday weekend

They are dangerous explosives, not playthings for amusement, said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. Just handling these devices puts you and anyone else around at risk of serious injury or death.

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The ATF said ATF Philadelphia is working with local and state fire and police agencies this year to prevent manufacturing and sales of illegal explosive devices, noting that individuals who purchase them are contributing to criminal behavior.

Theyll blow your hand or face off, said Tim Brooks, a Certified Explosive Specialist Bomb Technician from the Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit assigned to the ATF Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force. He is all too familiar with the danger posed by these devices, whose misuse can be deadly. These devices are manufactured without safety oversight or quality control. The fillers inside occasionally contain small rocks that when bumped together can cause the slightest spark and set these off!

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The ATF says that manufacturing, distributing, receiving, or transporting explosive materials without a federal license can land a person in federal prison for up to ten years.

The ATF provided the best way to distinguish illegal explosives from regular fireworks:

They are sold in a non-commercial location, such as out of a vehicle or residence.

The person with the device has no evidence of a receipt or commercial packaging, or they cannot tell you where they originally purchased it.

The device is often 1-6 inches long and up to an inch or more in diameter.

The casing resembles a roll of coins with a fuse. Some outer shells are made of cardboard tubes.

The outer covering is red, silver, or brown in color.

The device looks oddly shaped and wrapped in brown paper that may be filled with an explosive material.

The public can report illegal explosives to local police or to 888-ATF-BOMB (283-2662), 888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477), ATFTips@atf.gov, http://atf.gov/atf-tips.

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Illustration by Eric Wilson for Votebeat

A Fulton County Superior Court Judge has ordered the Atlanta Police Foundation to comply with a series of open records requests filed by a group of reporters and researchers related to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, colloquially known as Cop City. The foundation has 30 days to release 15 unredacted public records it had sought to withhold in a case closely watched by journalists and government transparency advocates alike.

The foundation is a private nonprofit organization that raises funds for the Atlanta Police Department, helps with police recruitment and serves as the driving force behind the controversial 85-acre training facility that opened earlier this year after mass protests and crackdowns from the state.

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The plaintiffs, Atlanta Community Press Collective and Chicago-based research center Lucy Parsons Labs, had first requested records regarding the training center back in 2023. The requested records included APF board meeting agendas and minutes, budget documents, emails between foundation officials and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, and various contracts. However, they received no response from the APF, even as the foundation provided records to news outlets like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB.

In a 12-page order released Friday, Judge Jane Barwick ruled that the APFs decision to withhold the records violated Georgias open records laws, stating that records maintained or received by a  private person or entity in the performance of a service or function for or on behalf of an agency are subject to the Open Records Act.

As a result, APF was under a duty to provide records to ACPC and Lucy Parsons Labs pursuant to the Open Records Act, the ruling reads. Under the authority explained in this Order, no exemptions applied.

Barwick also emphasized that public records could not be withheld on the basis of which person or group requested them.

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Let the record also be clear that the identity of the requestor does not determine whether records are characterized as public, she wrote.

However, she declined to award attorneys fees to the plaintiffs, reasoning that the police foundation did not knowingly and willfully violate the Open Records Act. During a two-day bench trial in April, APF President and CEO Dave Wilkinson testified that he viewed responding to the records requests as voluntary, since he did not believe that the private nonprofit was subject to Georgias open records laws. He also argued that releasing unredacted records could endanger the individuals named in those records by exposing them to harassment and threats from protestors.

The press collective applauded the ruling, but condemned the multi-year battle it took to gain access to the records.

While were pleased with the result of the lawsuit, were frustrated that it required a lawsuit to confirm what we already knew to be true: the Atlanta Police Foundation should be responsive to records requests regarding its operations for and on behalf of the City of Atlanta, the community press collective said in a statement on the ruling.

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Joy Ramsingh, an attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the suit, also criticized the police foundations initial refusal to provide the records.

The fact that APF continued to fight even though the law was so clearly established against them, I think shows bad faith, Ramsingh said. I think it shows a very political mindset on their part as opposed to a willingness to comply with the law.

The police foundation also applauded the ruling, saying it welcomes and celebrates Judge Barwicks court ruling as a clear affirmation of our role, our structure, and our ongoing commitment to public safety in Atlanta, and that they plan to fully comply with the plaintiffs record requests.

Georgias shifting public records landscape

The issue of public access to government records has been an ongoing issue across the state in recent months. Last August, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that private contractors working for public entities are still subject to open records laws, and can be sent requests for public records they may possess. The ruling reversed an appeals court decision that government transparency advocates argued would shield certain public records from disclosure.

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The case also prompted new legislation aimed at clarifying Georgias existing public records law. Under Senate Bill 12, which was signed into law by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp earlier this year, requests for public records that involve a private entity must now go through the local governmental agencies that contracted with those third parties. Though a last-minute amendment sought to restrict public access from records of police officers stops, arrests and incident responses, legislators in the House ultimately reversed the changes before advancing SB 12 to the governors desk.

Read Judge Barwicks ruling:

ACPC Final Order

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Yaakov Amidror, who led Israel's National Security Council, said that Israel is capable of attacking Iran even without American support.

Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, former head of Israel's National Security Council, said that Israel should attack Iran should an unfavorable nuclear deal be reached, in a conversation with Aryeh Eldad Shay Golden on 103FM on Tuesday.

During the conversation, Amidror addressed an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report stating that Iran holds enriched uranium at a level sufficient to produce approximately ten nuclear bombs, and emphasized the seriousness of the threat.

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"This should influence us. We need to understand that if there is no good agreement, we will have no choice but to attack Iran. We cannot allow the Iranians to continue advancing their nuclear program."

When asked whether Israel is capable of attacking without American support, he replied: "We can attack less effectively, but we can still attack."

Regarding the expected improvement in Irans air-defense systems since the last attack, he said, "Its a constant race. They probably learned from the vulnerabilities they had following our attack and improved their defense capability. But we also learned lessons, and today were definitely much better prepared than we were when we attacked. Its true that the other side is improving, but its not true to think that were not improving too."

Iran's Army chief, Maj.-Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Bagheri visit the first underground air force base, called ''Eagle 44'' at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on February 7, 2023. (photo credit: IRANIAN ARMY/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY)/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Asked whether an Israeli strike on Iran is even realistic, Amidror said, "Our strikes in Yemen are the best exercises the Air Force can do. Its a longer distance than whats needed to fly to Iran, its very complex, and on the technical-logistical side, it gives the Air Force a lot of confidence. Can we do it like the Americans? The answer is no. Its not something simple that can be done routinely."

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Amidror also discussed the food-distribution project for Gaza through civilian mechanisms.

Distributing aid to Gazans as a mechanism to weaken Hamas

"So far its working, but what will determine its success is the long term. Unless Hamas manages to ruin the system and the Gazans continue receiving food over Hamass head  that will be a huge success."

Asked how much of the food actually reaches the civilian population, he said, "Thats a question thats asked about almost every society in the Middle East. We cant change the Gaza system. We cant solve all the problems of Palestinian society. Its a society where the leadership is consistently corrupt, and the strong take."

Regarding images from the ground, Amidror noted: "If theres no shooting, then at first glance it will look more okay. Will it solve any problem for us internationally? No."

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Asked about claims that Israel is financing the aid, Amidror responded: "Transferring the food is part of the war. Its part of the effort to create a situation where Hamas doesnt control the Gaza Strip."

On negotiations with Hamas, he said: "We need to continue the military pressure as if there are no negotiations  unlike with Iran, where during negotiations it will be very difficult for us to attack. In Gaza, our pressure on Hamas is part of the bargaining chips the Americans have. Where will it lead? I cant say."

Turning to developments in the North, Amidror addressed the possibility of renewing diplomatic dialogue with Syria, particularly with Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrias new president.

"For a Jew like me, who was the intelligence officer of Northern Command more than 30 years ago, its really interesting to see Syrias transformation. And I support giving talks with Sharaa a chance," he said.

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He continued: "In Arabic, theres a proverb that says: Theres no tax on words, so everything he [Sharaa] says is nice  but it needs to be judged by actions. And the one thing that cant be whitewashed is the curriculum you teach in schools."

He concluded: "Its possible that this person, on his path from being an al-Qaeda affiliate to being Syrias ruler, realized that theres no way to govern Syria the way he might have wanted in theory. Theres a world out there, and in that world, he has to take others into account."
Jun. 3WILKES-BARRE  When Louis Weihbrecht was charged with an open count of criminal homicide for what District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce alleged was the deliberate killing of Mark Svadeba in September, Attorney John B. Pike is fostering a defense alternative.

Svadeba's death was simply an accident, Pike fiercely advocated during a motions hearing before Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. on Tuesday.

Weihbrecht, 56, proprietor of the Outsiders Bar on South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, was charged by Plains Township police and detectives from the district attorney's office with the open count of criminal homicide, alleging he intentionally ran over Svadeba with his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado truck on Sept. 13, 2024.

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Court records say Svadeba was standing next to his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in front of an auto-repair garage on North Main Street, Plains Township, when Weihbrecht showed up in the Chevrolet truck.

Svadeba and Weihbrecht exchanged words when Weihbrecht, court records allege, intentionally ran over Svadeba, dragging him nearly 30 feet. The two men were reportedly in a dispute about a woman.

Following Weihbrecht's arrest on Sept. 16, 2024, Sanguedolce, during a news conference, explained the open count of criminal homicide was filed as investigators believe Weihbrecht intended and deliberately ran over Svadeba.

During Tuesday's motions hearing, Pike used Pennsylvania and Luzerne County statistics of pedestrians killed by a motor vehicle, and none rose to the level of a criminal homicide offense. Pike countered by explaining Svadeba walked in front of Weihbrecht's truck.

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"This was a motor vehicle accident versus a pedestrian, that's all this is," Pike argued.

Assistant District Attorney James L. McMonagle responded that there is clear and convincing surveillance footage that shows the two men arguing, and Weihbrecht accelerating his truck to run over Svadeba for nearly 30 feet and backing up the truck to run over Svadeba a second time. McMonagle further argued the parking lot was adequately illuminated by lights.

Pike is advocating Weihbrecht only intended to strike the Harley-Davidson motorcycle when Svadeba walked in front of the truck.

Other issues argued during the motions hearing were to limit the testimony of the prosecution's expert who inspected Weihbrecht's truck and to prohibit any personal opinions about the vehicle, and to prohibit prosecutors from identifying Svadeba as a "victim" before the jury.

Sklarosky said he will issue his rulings at a later date.

Weihbrecht's trial is scheduled for September. He remains jailed without bail at the county correctional facility.
WHITESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56)  Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines attorney has moved for the court to dismiss this indictment against their client.

A grand jury returned an indictment in the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins in November 2024. Investigators believe that Stines pulled the trigger.

Kentucky sheriff reportedly shoots judge: A look at the timeline, investigation

In a June 4 motion, attorney Jeremy Barltley claimed that a grand jury meeting wasnt documented properly.

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There was no mechanical failure; the Commonwealth chose not to record its meeting with the grand jury, Bartley wrote.

The Commonwealth reportedly said the meeting was only to obtain grand jury subpoenas for the case, but Bartley argued that despite whether the meeting was sworn or not, the information provided to the grand jury constitutes testimony and should have been recorded.

Further, Bartley claimed that the grand jury was denied access to certain information that, had they heard it in testimony, could have rendered a different result.

Approximately twelve of the twenty-five minutes of the hearing was consumed by grand juror questions, Bartley wrote. It is evident that despite seeing a portion of the video evidence, the grand jury sought additional information to make their decision on whether to indict and upon what charge.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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He argued that known information from a civil case Stines was involved in and mental health information was withheld from grand jurors, or their questions werent adequately answered.

Further, he requested that a bond hearing be set. This request was previously declined in November 2024, but Bartley argued that all prisoners in Kentucky should be entitled to bail.

He has a wife, children, grandchildren, and a host of friends who remain supportive of him, Bartley wrote.

He cited Stines strong ties to the community, lack of a prior criminal record, and family support as evidence the former sheriff would be compliant with the courts conditions.

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Stines is set to undergo a mental evaluation sometime in June.

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(NewsNation)  Shequita Taylor, the aunt of Orleans Justice Center escapee Antoine Massey, tells CUOMO she wants her nephew to turn himself in.

After 10 men broke out of the New Orleans jail May 16, Massey is one of the only two still at large.

A video circulated on social media Monday showed a man claiming to be Massey saying he was wrongfully accused. The man held up papers that he said corroborate his innocence.

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In the video, he said he didnt break out but was let out of jail.

Taylor spoke with authorities Tuesday after she presumed they viewed her social media videos urging Massey to turn himself in.

3 missing Washington sisters found dead; police search for father

In the social media video, the man claiming to be Massey called for an investigation into his conviction and a plea for help from public figures, including President Donald Trump and rapper Meek Mill.

He also held up a piece of paper that he says is a signed affidavit from the woman he is accused of assaulting, saying the allegations are false.

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One of the women accused of helping Massey and described by police as his paramour also suffered from years of physical abuse from him, court records show.

The woman, who had previously filed a protective order against Massey after he attempted to strangle her, was aware of his planned escape and later misled authorities, police say. Massey has a history of domestic violence allegations and escaping from jail.

Madeleine McCann search back on 18 years after disappearance

Taylor would not reveal the womans name but said both she and Massey were two toxic people and conceded the pair had altercations.

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But she said details of those altercations were far fetched: It is a lie, far as him raping her and beating her with a pot, pulling her hair out and stuff so she bleed.  All those things are false allegations.

As of Tuesday night, Massey remains at large.

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WINDHOEK, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Namibia on Wednesday donated 174 books to the National Library of Namibia as part of its efforts to deepen cultural and educational cooperation with the southern African country.

The handover ceremony took place in the capital, Windhoek, where Executive Director of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Erastus Haitengela received the donation from Chinese Ambassador Zhao Weiping.

Haitengela expressed sincere appreciation for the donation, calling it a "remarkable gesture of goodwill" and a testament to the growing partnership between the two countries.

"The diverse collection spans a wide range of subjects such as governance, philosophy, history, development, cuisine, and traditional practices, offering Namibian readers a rare opportunity to engage meaningfully with China's rich heritage and contemporary progress," he said.

For his part, the Chinese ambassador said that these books will help foster a deeper understanding of the Chinese political philosophy and government policies.

"Some of the other books are purely cultural, from which you will know more about China's rich culture," Zhao said.

The newly added titles are expected to enrich the National Library's holdings and support Namibia's efforts in fostering intercultural dialogue. 
The Austell Police Department has a new chief, and shes the first ever female chief in Cobb County.

Chief Shameta Harrell was sworn in Tuesday night, and she sat down with Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell about the changes she wants to make.

Its exciting. Im looking forward to it, Harrell said about taking on her new role. One of the reasons why I decided to join law enforcement is so I can make sure I could progress other women through the ranks.

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Harrell is making history in Cobb County, becoming the first ever female police chief -- an example of relentless determination that she credits God for.

Definitely thank God, Harrell said.

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Harrell told Newell that she keeps a picture from her mother with her to keep her grounded.

It says, Inside me is a weak heart, but behind me is a strong God, Harrell said.

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Harrell began her 24-year career as a College Park police officer. She earned a number of promotions and was the only female on the swat team. She moved on to Brookhaven police as a sergeant.

A year later, I was promoted to lieutenant, Harrell said.

Harrell was promoted to major before she joined Austell PD as Deputy Chief, where she continued to progress in community engagement and diversifying the department.

Weve done like a total of like 60 community outreach initiatives, Harrell said.

She said her goals as police chief are clear.

State accreditation. We want to get our certification for that, and we are almost at the end of that goal, Harrell said. I do need more females within the police department. I would love to recruit more females.

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Harrell told Newell that violent crimes are down thanks to her patrol division. They create a daily action plan that involves being more present in the community.

Harrell said the state certification will hold the department more accountable, create opportunities for additional training, and more.
Australia's anti-money laundering regulator, AUSTRAC, enacted a series of measures for crypto ATM providers to clamp down on scammers using the devices to target the elderly.

AUSTRAC is putting a $5,000 limit on crypto ATM cash deposits and withdrawals, requiring operators to enhance their customer due diligence obligations, include scam warnings and monitor transactions, CEO Brendan Thomas said in a statement on Monday.

The response follows data that showed the ATMs were being used for scam and fraud-related transactions, and that scammers were targeting older members of the population. The regulator obtained data from nine crypto ATM providers that revealed crypto users over the age of 50 accounted for 72% of all transactions and 60-to-70 year olds for 29% of transactions.

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It is a huge concern that people in this demographic are over-represented as customers using cash to purchase cryptocurrency and, as evidence suggests, that a large number of 60-70 year old users are victims of scam activity, Thomas said.

Australia has the highest numbers of crypto ATMs in the Asia Pacific region, a number that is increasing. The nation has some 1,600 machines in use, up from just 23 in 2019, AUSTRAC said. Almost 150,000 transactions occur annually and $275 million is being moved using crypto ATMs to mostly purchase bitcoin BTC, Tether's USDT and ether ETH, the statement added.

The regulator also said it refused to renew the registration of Harro's Empires because it found its crypto ATMs could be exploited.

Austrac has also been warning crypto ATM providers to register with it and have the correct money laundering checks in place.
By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY (Reuters) -An Australian woman accused of using poisonous mushrooms to murder three elderly relatives of her estranged husband gave on Wednesday her account of the fatal lunch, in a case that has gripped the public.

Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband.

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The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms in a Beef Wellington pastry dish at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne.

She denies the charges, with her defence calling the deaths a "terrible accident", but faces a life sentence if found guilty.

She wept repeatedly on Wednesday as she told the court she might have accidentally included foraged mushrooms in the meal she served.

"Now I think there was a possibility there were foraged ones in there," she said in questioning by her lawyer, Colin Mandy.

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The court also heard that Patterson, who began giving evidence on Monday as the first witness for her own defence, had invented medical issues partly to elicit sympathy from her estranged husband's relatives, as she felt they were growing apart.

"I didn't want their care of me to stop, so I kept it going. I shouldn't have done it," she told the court.

"Did you lie to them?" Mandy asked.

"I did lie to them," she replied, through tears.

The prosecution accuses Patterson of having invented the medical issues to lure the victims to her home for the meal, a claim she denies.

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INVESTIGATION PANIC

Previously the court heard that shortly after the lunch, Patterson disposed of a food dehydrator found to contain traces of death cap mushrooms, while mobile phones she owned were reset to factory status three times.

On Wednesday, Patterson said she had disposed of the dehydrator before a visit from child protection workers investigating her living arrangements.

"I was scared of the conversation that might flow about the meal and the dehydrator," she said. "I was scared they would blame me for it, for making everyone sick. I was scared that they would remove the children."

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The phones were reset either due to damage or because she panicked during the police investigation, she told the court.

The prosecution rested its case on Monday, after a month of evidence from witnesses, including relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts.

The trial, which began on April 29, has drawn intense media interest, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending on the town of Morwell, about two hours east of Melbourne, where it is being held.

State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs.

The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Clarence Fernandez)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Before Erin Pattersons in-laws and their relatives arrived at her home for lunch, she bought pricey ingredients, consulted friends about recipes and sent her children out to a movie.

Then, the Australian woman served them a dish containing poisonous death cap mushrooms  a meal that was fatal for three of her four guests.

Whether that was Pattersons plan is at the heart of a triple murder trial that has gripped Australia for nearly six weeks.

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Prosecutors in the Supreme Court case in the state of Victoria say the accused lured her guests to lunch with a lie about having cancer, before deliberately feeding them toxic fungi.

But her lawyers say the tainted beef Wellington she served was a tragic accident caused by a mushroom storage mishap. She denies murdering her estranged husbands parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and their relative, Heather Wilkinson.

The mother of two also denies attempting to murder Heathers husband Ian Wilkinson, who survived the meal. In a rare step for a defendant charged with murder, Patterson chose to speak in her own defense at her trial this week.

On Wednesday, she spoke publicly for the first time about the fateful lunch in July 2023 and offered her explanations on how she planned the meal and didn't become sick herself.

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Adding more mushrooms to a bland meal

No one disputes that Patterson, 50, served death cap mushrooms to her guests for lunch in the rural town of Leongatha, but she says she did it unknowingly.

Patterson said Wednesday she splurged on expensive ingredients and researched ideas to find something special to serve. She deviated from her chosen recipe to improve the bland flavor, she said.

She believed she was adding dried fungi bought from an Asian supermarket from a container in her pantry, she told the court.

"Now I think that there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well, she told her lawyer, Colin Mandy. Patterson had foraged wild mushrooms for years, she told the court Tuesday, and had put some in her pantry weeks before the deaths.

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The accused says she shouldnt have lied about cancer

Patterson, who formally separated from her husband Simon Patterson in 2015, said she felt hurt when Simon told her the night before the lunch that he wasnt comfortable attending.

She earlier told his relatives that she'd arranged the meal to discuss her health. Patterson admitted this week that she never had cancer  but after a health scare, she told her in-laws she did.

In reality, Patterson said she intended to have weight loss surgery. But she was too embarrassed to tell anybody and planned to pretend to her in-laws that she was undergoing cancer treatment instead, she said.

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I was ashamed of the fact that I didnt have control over my body or what I ate, a tearful Patterson said Wednesday. I didnt want to tell anybody, but I shouldnt have lied to them.

Patterson says she threw up her mushroom meal

The accused said she believes she was spared the worst effects of the poisoned meal because she self-induced vomiting shortly after her lunch guests left. She had binged on most of a cake and then made herself throw up  a problem she said she had struggled with for decades.

Patterson also said she believes she had eaten enough of the meal to cause her subsequent diarrhea. She then sought hospital treatment but unlike her lunch guests, she quickly recovered.

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At the hospital where her guests' health was deteriorating, her estranged husband asked her about the dehydrator she used to dry her foraged mushrooms, she said.

Is that how you poisoned my parents? she said Simon Patterson asked her.

Growing afraid she would be blamed for the poisoning and that her children would be taken from her, Patterson said she later disposed of her dehydrator. She told investigators shed never owned one and hadnt foraged for mushrooms before.

While still at the hospital, she insisted she'd bought all the mushrooms at stores even though she said she knew it was possible that foraged mushrooms had accidentally found their way into the meal.

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She was too frightened to tell anyone, Patterson said.

Also later, Patterson said she remotely wiped her cell phone while it sat in an evidence locker to remove pictures of mushrooms shed foraged.

Prosecutors argued in opening their case in April that she poisoned her husbands family on purpose, although they didn't suggest a motive. She carefully avoided poisoning herself and faked being ill, they said.

The trial continues on Thursday with Patterson's cross-examination by the prosecutors. If convicted, she faces life in prison for murder and 25 years for attempted murder.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Authorities are investigating a deadly collision in SE Oklahoma City which left one person dead.,

According to police, a man was killed by a Chevy flatbed truck while helping his wife change a flat tire on South Harrah Road near Yukon.

Authorities respond to deadly collision in SE OKC

The man was rushed to the hospital, but police say he did not survive.

No further information has been released at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
It has been nearly 10 days since the convict depicted in an HBO documentary as the "Devil in the Ozarks" escaped from an Arkansas prison, long enough for his appearance to possibly change.

On Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Corrections distributed a photo illustration of Grant Hardin, 56, with a short beard and a mustache.

"With over a week passing since Hardin escaped the North Central Unit, we are releasing a possible updated headshot which could reflect how he might look today," the department said in a statement.

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Hardin escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. Prison officials said he was seen on security video pushing a cart that carried wooden pallets while wearing a law enforcement-style uniform, apparently to evade the attention of guards.

Hardin was briefly the police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, in 2016. That year, one of his victims, city water department employee James Appleton, criticized Hardin for encouraging police pursuits and handing taxpayers the allegedly increasing bill for police vehicle repairs.

Cheryl Tillman, Appletons sister and the current mayor of Gateway, said in the HBO documentary that her brother and Hardin clashed over the issue in 2016.

Hardin resigned after four months, according to the documentary.

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On Feb. 23, 2017, Hardin fatally shot Appleton, according to a law enforcement affidavit filed in court, earning him a 30-year sentence after he pleaded guilty.

When authorities ran Hardin's DNA, they discovered it was a match for evidence in the 1997 on-campus rape of an elementary school teacher, for which he was eventually also convicted under a guilty plea and then sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Prison officials said Tuesday that the search for Hardin is focused on his native north-central Arkansas region, where his parents still call the town of Garfield home.

The combined reward for information leading to his capture has risen to $25,000 after the FBI doubled its $10,000 contribution last week and then the U.S. Marshals Service contributed $5,000, the Corrections Department said.

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Hardin is white, stands 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs around 259 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes, authorities said. Possible sightings and information about where he might be should be reported to the FBI, the Corrections Department said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
AVOCA, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  New state funding is cleared for takeoff, and its landing in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is set to receive $6,200,000 in state grants.

Polish American restaurant to open in the Poconos

The money will be used to expand the terminal and upgrade the TSA screening area, all aimed at improving security and making passenger travel smoother.

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Similar funding is also headed to Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown for improvements there.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.
UNITED NATIONS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Conflict-related displacement of people and the spread of cholera continue to increase humanitarian needs across Sudan, said a UN spokesman on Wednesday.

Nearly 9,700 people in Khartoum state alone were recently displaced due to conflict, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, citing figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In South Kordofan, more than 9,000 people fled Dibebat town in Al Quoz locality last week due to intense clashes. The situation remains very volatile, he said, quoting the IOM.

At the same time, about 600 people were displaced from Abu Shouk camp and El Fasher town in North Darfur state just last week, he said.

On the cholera outbreak, the spokesman said daily cases are steadily increasing in River Nile state in the north although they are falling in Khartoum state.

In the past two weeks alone, health authorities in River Nile state have reported more than 180 cumulative cases and four deaths. And of the total cases, 55 were reported to have arrived from other states, underscoring the cross-regional spread of the disease, said Dujarric.

Humanitarian partners warn that continued displacement, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to safe water are accelerating transmission, he said.

Meanwhile, thousands of displaced people are now returning to Blue Nile state and need urgent assistance. They lack food, clean water, health care, shelter and education, he said.

Humanitarian organizations are working hard to meet the growing needs of people in Sudan. But insecurity, access constraints and critical funding shortfalls continue to undermine the response, said the spokesman.

"Once again, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, unimpeded humanitarian access across borders and conflict lines, the protection of civilians, as well as increased funding so we can scale up," he said. 
Atlanta police are asking for the publics help in finding the people who shot at a man trying to stop them from breaking into his truck.

Javon Brown died in January after spotting a group of men trying to break into his brand-new truck early one morning.

After he told them to leave, police say the men started firing at him.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Brown wasnt shot, but police say he walked back into the house, said Im sorry to his wife, and collapsed. He later died from a medical emergency.

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Channel 2s Cory James was there as his wife, Tasha Brown, and daughter spoke at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.

My husband worked seven days a week. He was a pipe fitter, Tasha Brown said. He was a provider, he was an awesome husband, an awesome father, and thats how I want him to be remembered. He was just a good, upstanding member of our community.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Tasha Brown said her youngest son, who is just 6, doesnt fully understand what hes lost.

These people, they robbed me of my husband and they robbed my sons of a father, she said.

Police say that, when arrested, the district attorneys office says the suspects may be charged with murder.

Anyone who knows anything that could assist investigators should call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.

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GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (WFRV)  Arizona-based law enforcement technology manufacturer Axon Enterprises massive semi-truck pulled into Grand Chute Police Departments parking lot Tuesday morning ahead of its roadshow, giving officers from agencies across the area the chance to get hands-on with the equipment.

Its up to each agency, whether its local, county or state, to find the appropriate funds and do those long-term contracts and have the capability to have that latest technology in their hands, Axon Enterprise roadshow team lead Andrew Padilla said.

Amid years of increasing scrutiny for law enforcement, Padilla believes that Axons products  particularly body and dash cameras  hold a crucial role in transparency and trust for the public.

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Its about capturing the truth, Padilla said. Its going to give you that angle that the officer was seeing, its going to give you that daytime perception whether the officer is outside, they go into a dark room, they go into a basement, they climb into an attic.

Grand Chute Police Department stands by the significance that high-quality recordings have in the publics eyes, and they are used regularly by officers, according to Corporal Dylan Davis.

That can be used in court, that can be used in investigations, we can refer back to those notes or body camera video if we have to refer back to a specific statement somebody says, Davis said. The incidents that law enforcement deal with is important to capture and release to our public, as well as in the court process, to help gather that evidence, whether good or bad, to help in our investigations.

Davis was excited to welcome Axon and agencies from across Outagamie County and further-away jurisdictions in Wisconsin, as he hopes that it can help other departments make upgrades to their equipment after trying it Tuesday.

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Maybe if some agencies arent using that technology, they can come and see how they can implement that in their agency, he said.

The Grand Chute Police Department uses a system of body cameras and Tasers that Axon makes. A development in recent years is that the cameras are synced with squad car lights and sirens, and also the tools on an officers belt, so that the cameras begin recording as soon as an officer takes action without actually having to physically turn the cameras on.

Now that we have those automated systems in place, our officers can focus on the task at hand rather than worrying about those technologies, Davis said. Technology makes us safer, our community safer, and we like to be able to stay ahead of that.

One item that Grand Chute Police is investing in is the Taser 10, the latest in Axons line. I got to try it myself. After pulling the safety switch, a quick pull of the trigger is all that it takes, and a laser aids in aiming.

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With no training, the instructor said I nailed the target, shooting two prongs at least 12 inches apart on the target. User-friendly, accurate and efficiently deployed within seconds, its officers chosen tool to safely take an individual into custody who is resisting or running.

Once our department officers are fully trained up, were going to move onto the Taser 10s, which Axon has here to demo, Davis said. The Tasers cause whats called neuromuscular incapacitation, so it locks the subject up and allows officers to take control of the subject so that our officers dont get injured as well as the subject.

Axon travels to departments across the country and will be visiting Mequon on Thursday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Santa Ono takes questions from University of Florida trustees before they unanimously approved him as the school's president-elect on May 27, 2025. He was rejected by the state Board of Governors on June 3, 2025. (Photo courtesy UF)

In a stunning move, the panel that oversees Floridas state university system voted against hiring Santa Ono as the next president for the University of Florida during an extended special meeting Tuesday.

The State University System Board of Governors voted 6-10 against Ono following hours of contentious questioning and debate during which they grilled Ono over his past positions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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The vote came a week after UF trustees approved Ono, the immediate past-president of the University of Michigan and sole finalist for the job, which would have paid him a $3 million annual package that included $1.5 million base salary

After conducting a months-long search, UF remains without a permanent president. Former UF President Kent Fuchs has been serving as interim president since former President Ben Sasse resigned last year.

Approving Ono was the only item discussed during the board meeting, which ran nearly two hours longer than originally scheduled. Some members compared the vetting to a courtroom interrogation.

Members mainly asked about Onos changing stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how he could carry out Floridas agenda denouncing DEI, but delved into other topics, like a Christians interpretation of original sin and Gov. Ron DeSantis COVID-19 response.

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Its insidious that it feels like pushing a rope uphill when we establish these policies, if a president doesnt really believe in those policies, Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine said during the meeting in Orlando. And its a powerful position  you can be an inhibitor, or you can help advance. And so I guess so much of your record reflects your deeply held beliefs, that you have been an advocate of DEI up until recently.

State University System Gov. Alan Levine speaks during a Board of Governors meeting in Orlando on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Screenshot via The Florida Channel)

Ono supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the University of Michigan, one of the top-ranked public institutions in the country, guiding its DEI 2.0 initiative and touting benefits of such programs but ultimately closed DEI offices earlier this year.

It looks to me like you got rid of the program because you needed to do what you had to do with the presidents orders and the funding issues. But you didnt really push to get rid of DEI, Levine said.

Ono replied with an answer he repeated several times that he began looking at DEI when he took office at Michigan, rather than an immediate decision after Trumps executive order.

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Ono told UF trustees last week that he developed his new stance on DEI in the past year and a half after talking with students and other members of the university community. Before, he wasnt an expert on the topic, which had been universal in higher education, he said, and told trustees his conviction is rock solid.

Ono said he mirrors Floridas evolution with accepting, and then rejecting, DEI.

For anyone who believes Dr. Onos earlier views on DEI, views that many university leaders and civic organizations once shared, are disqualifying despite his evolution and the changes made under his leadership at Michigan, I would remind you that this body adopted DEI strategic priorities as recently as 2020. Like Michigan, the Board of Governors has evolved since, BOG member Charles Lydecker said, adding that Onos previous positions on the topics governors were concerned about are not meaningfully different from those previously held by this board.

The real question is this: Should we punish someone for evolving beyond a view this very body once held, especially when that person has already led one of the nations most prominent universities to a different course, a course that mirrors our own? Lydecker said.

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Lydecker added, There is something fundamentally unjust about cancel culture, and to cancel Dr. Ono would not only be unjust, it would be a setback for the University of Florida.

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Forum to interrogate

The degree of vetting from governors Tuesday was not typical, and is the first time the Board of Governors has rejected a president, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Ive been on this board for five, six years, and we have never used this as a forum to interrogate. And in this case, it feels to me patently unfair, Lydecker said after former House Speaker and now-BOG member Paul Renner put documents in front of Ono about his past.

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At one point, BOG member Eric Silagy asked if any of the governors had expressed interest in the UF presidency.

UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini (Photo via UF)

Mori Hosseini, the chair of the UF Board of Trustees, said yes.

He acknowledged Renner reached out to him asking about the job. Renner insisted that he reached out to to Hosseini before he was on the BOG. Renner said he would not take the UF job if offered now that hes on the BOG.

Renner did not recuse himself, however, and voted against Ono.

Ono told the BOG he had made 12 commitments, which include ideological neutrality, solely merit-based hiring and admissions, keeping the university aligned with state government, and upholding state laws and university regulations. He said he asked for those provisions to be included in his contract.

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Doctor, your recent reversal on an entire architecture of ideology is nothing short of incredible, BOG member and former House Speaker Jose Oliva said. Oliva also voted against Ono.

Hosseini stood by Onos candidacy, and sat next to him during the interrogation.

The bottom line is that Dr. Ono is globally recognized as one of the most respected leaders in higher education, and we are lucky to have him, Hosseini said.

Ono was previously president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati.

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GOP pushback

The GOP pushback mounted high enough to reject Ono, who had already stepped down as Michigans president.

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U.S. Rep. and GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds posted to X questions related to DEI that he encouraged BOG members to ask, and Rick Scott did the same, Monday evening releasing a statement and questions concerning Onos commitment to protecting Jewish students.

After the vote, Scott called it the right decision, and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis said, Im happy to see the system work.

Donald Trump Jr. posted to X, WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!??? calling on BOG members to vote against Ono.

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube sent a letter to BOG members, asking them to reject Ono and find a suitable replacement who truly represents Florida values. After the UF trustees meeting last week, Steube said, Im not sold on Ono walking back his woke past.

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The governors office appoints six of 13 of the university trustees at each institution and 14 of the 17 BOG members.

The Board of Governors has a strong history of affirming presidential nominees who received unanimous approval from their university boards; to continue this practice sends a message that the Board of Governors values the opinion of their colleagues with the state university system and does not yield to outsiders who post out of context sound bites on social media, Hosseini said.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to Crime Stoppers of Houston on Tuesday to sign four bail reform bills into law.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, bail reform has been a major focus for Abbott during the most recent legislature, claiming in April that it is a deadly and broken bail system.

The bail reform package signed into law by Abbott included Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, House Bill 75, and Senate Joint Resolution 5.

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Senate Bill 9 allows prosecutors to file appeals for bail that is provided to alleged criminals who commit certain crimes while also allowing only elected judges to reduce the conditions of bail set by another elected judge.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 40 prohibits using state funding to help support any nonprofit that helps provide bail to criminals.

House Bill 75 was designed to encourage transparency throughout the early portions of the criminal process. Magistrates will now be required to provide a written explanation about why an arrest was conducted without probable cause.

Finally, Senate Joint Resolution 5 amends the Texas Constitution and requires judges to deny bail for criminals who commit the worst crimes. The state must prove that the defendant would be a threat to society or would not show up for future trials.

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Abbott said while signing these bills that the state was dealing with a revolving door bail system that repeatedly released dangerous criminals back onto the streets.

To the victims and their families, today your pain is answered. Not only are we signing laws that correct the wrongs, your efforts have led to a rewriting of the Constitution of the State of Texas to ensure criminals like those who harmed your families will never be out on the loose again, he added, according to The Office of Gov. Abbott.

Abbott was joined during this event by Aimee Castillo, who has become a bail reform advocate after her brother was murdered by a criminal who was out on bail.

Castillo spoke during the event and echoed many of Abbotts comments, calling the previous bail system a revolving door that allowed criminals to walk the streets.

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There is something deeply, tragically wrong with a system that gives repeat, violent felony offenders chance after chance, while families like mine are given a life sentence of grief. I am proud to have played a small role in getting these bills passed, and I am proud to tell my brother he became a catalyst for change, she added, per The Office of Gov. Abbott.

Abbott was also joined at this event by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Chairman John Smithee, Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Makarious, and Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan.
Business owners in east Charlotte say a visible presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents is scaring away customers and devastating sales.

Group says increase of ICE arrests in Charlotte is leading to more calls for help

Channel 9s Erika Jackson spoke with a business owner in east Charlotte who has been a long advocate for his customers, but he said they arent returning.

The owner of Manolos Bakery said ever since customers spotted ICE along Central Avenue, theyve stayed in their homes instead of going to his shop.

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Manolo Betancur bakes an array of treats at his shop but said the emotions throughout the neighborhood have been anything but sweet.

Theres fear in my community, Betancur said. There is fear in my customers. If ICE is in Central Avenue, and the community knows that ICE is in Central Avenue, nobodys coming here to buy bread.

Betancur said sales are down by about 40% since the start of the year.

If they are creating terror, he said. If they are trying to scare the community, they are creating fear in us.

Amelia Stinson-Wesley lives in Pineville and serves on the town council but works in east Charlotte.

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From my understanding, a lot of the foot traffic has faded in the past few weeks with a lot of fear in the community, Stinson-Wesley said. And I wanted to help support those businesses and keep them economically viable in this time.

She makes it a point to support the businesses.

I try to invest in our immigrant corridor, and Manolos is a yummy place to do that, she said.

Betancur said he hopes others do the same.

If you like immigrants, Im just asking you guys to be mindful where you are spending your money, Betancur said. Our community needs the support.

Betancur said he had to close the doors of the bakerys sister company, Titas Cake House in Salisbury.

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The business owner said he was using money from the bakery to invest in the cake house but with sales down, he had to break the lease and close the business.

New York Magazine reports if ICE arrests someone for an immigration-related offense and they tell the agency theyre a citizen, it might not release them.

Agents often assume IDs, passports or birth certificates are fake.

VIDEO: Chilling: Faith leaders want ICE agents to stay away from places of worship
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  We take it for granted, but a simple flip of a switch is changing lives  not only for the Navajo people in Chinle, Arizona, but in the lives of those responsible for making it happen right here at home.

UPDATE: Federal Bureau of Prisons responds to Todd Chrisleys allegations about FPC Pensacola

Smiles from ear to ear  happiness. They knew the day was coming, but it was still not the same as the moment that it happens, Riviera Utilities lineman Bryan Cook said, describing the moment the lights came on for one family for the first time.

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Richard Sanspree is a lineman with Riveria Utilities and heard about an initiative called Light Up Navajo, where utilities and co-ops volunteer their time to string line, put up poles, and connect the Navajo Nation with something many have never had, electricity.

I just couldnt believe that there were people in the United States with no power, Cook said. That just hit me hard, and it still hits me hard. I got chills now.

Here, everybody would be freaking out. The apocalypse, said lineman Hunter Wilson. But there, its just normal life. They dont think anything of it.

For 10 days, nine Riviera linemen traveled to and worked in the Arizona desert, 12 to 14 hours a day.

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Its a different environment, Cook said. And at the end of the day, its helping people because none of us knew that nobody had power.

They were just as excited as we were to build it to see it built, veteran lineman Paul Shoenight said.

It was hard work. The equipment used to dig through rock is different, and the terrain is unlike anything they had ever encountered.

It is a wide open area and the homes are so far out from town that it takes an hour or so to get to one residence, Shoenight said.

Light Up Navajo began in 2019 with 15 thousand families living without electricity. Now, almost five thousand have power, but there is still a lot of work left to do, according to Shoenight.

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The Navajo Nation people are the nicest, humble people I have ever met in my life, and I would love to go back, he said.

By the end of the trip, nine families had electricity for the first time.

It was actually emotional and hard, Sanspree said. I wish we could have stayed another week.

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The first thing they said, We are going to buy an a/c and a refrigerator,' Wilson laughed.

While the Riviera crew was able to light up at least part of the Navajo Nation, what they got in return will stay with them forever.

It was an experience of a lifetime, Shoenight said. It was more than I thought it was.

UPDATE: 75-year-old man shot, killed by MPD after pointing gun at officers

Making a difference just by flipping a switch.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
France and Belgium, the two largest buyers of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), are refusing to support the European Commission's proposed plan to ban gas supplies from Russia.

Source: European Pravda, citing Politico

Details: The publication writes that these countries are demanding additional guarantees regarding the economic and legal consequences of this step before making a decision.

In particular, France, which buys the most Russian LNG, says it prefers a strategy of seeking alternative supplies.

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Belgium, which ranks second, wants to see a report detailing the economic consequences before making a decision.

"What we're defending is a European strategy of diversification  which is already on the table," French Energy Minister Marc Ferracci said in an interview with Politico, referring to France's plan to replace Russian supplies with Qatari products.

The French minister also raised the issue of the "legal certainty" of Brussels' proposal, fearing that private companies could face Russian lawsuits over unfulfilled contracts.

France's TotalEnergies, for example, is currently bound by a supply contract with Russia's Novatek until 2032 and also owns a 20% stake in the Yamal project, which operates an LNG plant in Siberia.

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Belgium, which intends to continue receiving and storing Russian LNG until 2035, also wants the European Commission to allay its concerns.

Before the EU presents its proposals, "we ask the Commission to present an in-depth impact assessment" of these measures, said Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet.

He said the country would hold technical talks on the measures' impact on Belgium's LNG infrastructure.

France and Belgium's hesitation is at odds with the position of Spain and the Netherlands, other major importers of Russian LNG in the EU. Both countries have said they are ready to support the future plan.

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According to data from the Kpler commodity platform, these four countries imported 16.77 million tonnes of Russian liquefied gas last year, accounting for 97% of total EU imports and more than half of Moscow's global exports. Collectively, they have spent more than 6 billion on LNG purchases from Russia.

Support from all four countries will be crucial for the European Commission, as Hungary and Slovakia are likely to try to block the ban so that they can continue purchasing Russian energy resources.

In addition, many politicians and industry representatives in the EU are calling for a return to Russian energy supplies after the end of Russia's war against Ukraine, complaining about high electricity prices in Europe.

EU countries are currently considering conducting an economic and legal analysis across the Union.

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One EU representative said that the Commission is preparing "a document that will analyse the impact" of these measures.

Background:

The European Commission presented a roadmap for completely stopping Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, as well as minimising Russian oil imports.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto criticised the plan, calling it an attack on Hungary's sovereignty.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also said he did not support the European Commission's proposed roadmap for ending imports of Russian energy.

Hungary and Slovakia are the only EU countries that rely on piped Russian gas and oil as their main source.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  KeyBank is celebrating its 200th anniversary by demonstrating service to the community.

Employees volunteered Wednesday at the Youngstown Community Food Center. They were sorting food items.

KeyBank workers were doing 600 activities in the areas where it has branches. Seven projects were being done in northeast Ohio with community organizations.

Neighbors Make the Difference Day started in 1991 by KeyBank employees in Alaska.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Residents of a small Oregon town are urgently fighting to preserve a historic property that is slated to be torn down.

The Banks Historical Society launched its campaign to save the former Banks Union High School on Tuesday. The 105-year-old building could soon be demolished, more than a year after voters approved a bond measure that allocated $49.3 million toward renovating some parts of the campus and replacing others to construct a new, two-story facility for classrooms.

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Nina Shurts, leader of the organizations Historic High School Committee, told KOIN 6 that many community members werent aware they were voting for the destruction of the property.

We were told it was inferred in the language, but in the bond language, it mentioned seismic upgrades, which we thought meant that it would be seismically upgrading the old historic building, Shurts said.

The committee leader added that officials estimate that the cost of renovating the pre-existing site would exceed the cost of starting anew.

1919 concept drawing of Banks Union High School building (Courtesy Banks Historical Society) Banks Union High School in 1925 (Courtesy Banks Historical Society) 2025 Banks Union High School building (Courtesy Banks Historical Society) 2025 interior of Banks Union High School building (Courtesy Banks Historical Society)

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According to Banks Historical Society, the building opened as Washington Countys first Union High School in 1920  the same year that Banks became an incorporated city. It was replaced with a new building several decades later and has since been used as a junior high school and, most recently, an office space for the school district.

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But it has been vacant since October 2024.

The Save the Historic Banks Union High School campaign is focused on finding private investors who could collaborate with public entities to preserve the facility, which is the citys last remaining original historic brick structure.

There are just so many good reasons to restore a historic building in a community It tells of its roots, its triumphs, its struggles. It preserves and gives people a sense of belonging, Shurts said.

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She added that the building could be utilized for after-school programs, art shows, senior center activities or other community events if it is preserved.

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KOIN 6 has reached out to the City of Banks and Banks School District for comment. Heres the school districts full statement.

The District has thoroughly evaluated all reasonable alternatives to demolition  including renovation, partial deconstruction, adaptive reuse, and long-term maintenance of the unused building (sometimes referred to as mothballing)  in line with its legal obligations and Board policy on capital projects.

With input from licensed architects, structural engineers, cost estimators, and construction managers, and after extensive community outreach, the District has concluded that demolition is the most practical and financially responsible path forward.

On January 28, 2025, the Board of Directors formally adopted a 20-year facilities plan that includes the buildings removal. Work to carry out that plan is now well underway, supported by funds from the bond measure approved by voters in May 2024.

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The District will proceed with abatement and demolition in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Oregons State Historic Preservation Office guidelines and permitting processes required by the City of Banks and Washington County.

To honor the communitys history while planning for the future, the District has also established the Traditions and Innovations Committeea group of students, staff, and community members tasked with identifying meaningful ways to preserve our history without placing undue financial strain on taxpayers.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Businesses along Colfax Avenue have been vocal about concerns that their businesses will suffer while a bus rapid transit project is constructed between Broadway and Yosemite.

On Tuesday, the Colfax Ave. Business Improvement District announced the Bigwig Bar Crawl, a wig-themed bar crawl to five of Denvers favorite bars.

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From bold and bright to sleek and chicall wigs are welcome. And heres the twist: your wig is your drink ticket! the improvement district said in its announcement.

The goal of the crawl is to support small business impacted by the ongoing construction project. Once complete, the project will create a bus lane in each direction along Colfax, designed to increase transit capacity and shorten travel times. BRT projects have been touted as making bus service more reliable and timely, and giving buses priority at intersections.

The crawl will kick off at The Squire Lounge, 1800 E. Colfax Ave., and will include visits to five other bars, according to the district, including Petes Satire Lounge, Lions Lair, DNVR and Bar Max.

Tickets to join the event are $10 and are available here, but interested participants must be 21 and over. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, with registration open from 3 to 4 p.m., and the crawl planned to start at 4 p.m.

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All proceeds from the bar crawl will go to small businesses impacted by the bus rapid transit construction. The event organizers added that participants should drink responsibly and use rideshare, transit or get a sober friend to drive them home.

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KHARTOUM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed on Wednesday in an artillery attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeting a market inside a displacement camp in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan, a local official said.

"Fourteen people were killed, and a number of others were injured when the RSF militia shelled a popular market in the Abu Shouk camp today," Ibrahim Khatir, director-general of North Darfur State's health authorities, told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Room at Abu Shouk Camp, a volunteer group, confirmed in a brief statement on Wednesday that 14 people were killed and others wounded in a heavy artillery attack by the RSF targeting the Nyala Market inside the camp.

The RSF has not yet commented on the attack.

Since May 10, 2024, fierce clashes have raged in El Fasher between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allied forces on one side, and the RSF on the other.

El Fasher serves as the administrative center of the Darfur region, which comprises five states. It is the region's largest city and the only state capital that remains outside RSF control.

Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country's humanitarian crisis. 
MORGAN, Utah (ABC4)  The Weber-Morgan Health Department is reminding residents to ensure their pets vaccinations are up to date and avoid touching bats or other wild animals after a bat tested positive for rabies.

This marks the first report of a rabies-positive bat in Utah for 2025. Health officials warn that as the weather warms up, the chances of coming into contact with rabies increase.

Bats play an important role in our ecosystem and the majority of the bats in our population are healthy and tend to keep to themselves, explained Amy Carter, a communicable disease nurse with the Weber-Morgan Health Department. However, if you see one in the daylight, or if its in a place where you or your pet can pick it up, theres a good chance it is ill.

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Rabies is a viral disease that could be deadly to both pets and humans if left untreated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It primarily spreads to humans and pets through bites and scratches from an infected animal. Common carriers include bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and unvaccinated cats and dogs.

Every year, roughly 60,000 Americans receive medical treatment following a potential rabies exposure, but control measures in the United States have helped reduce the virus as a public health threat.

The good news is that rabies is preventable, Carter said.

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Some recommendations to protect you and your pets include keeping your pets vaccinations up-to-date, as required by Utah law, and staying away from wild animals. If a wild animal appears sick, injured or is acting strangely, the Weber-Morgan Health Department recommends calling animal control for assistance.

Vaccination is important because it is how we prevent rabies in our cats and dogs. It saves time and heartache if your pet is involved in a biting incident or comes in contact with a rabid bat or other animal, said Carter.

If you are bitten or scratched by a bat or any other wild animal, the Weber-Morgan Health Department said you should immediately wash the wound with soap and water and visit your doctor. If possible, safely contain the bat or animal and contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Services so it can be tested for rabies.

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The Weber-Morgan Health Department also recommends reporting any interactions with a bat found in a sleeping area.

More information about bats, animals and rabies can be found through the Utah Department of Health and Human Services website or the CDC website.

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NORFOLK, Neb. (KCAU)  The Norfolk Police and Fire Divisions are back and ready to compete again to help the American Red Cross on Thursday, June 19, at Fire Station 1 in Norfolk.

Fire Chief Tim Wragge said, This drive will once again include a friendly competition between Police and Fire to see who can bring in the most donors, in a press release. Wragge also emphasized the importance of the Red Crosss mission.

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All blood types are needed. According to the release, the key characteristics for someone wanting to donate are: good health, at least 17-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and want to potentially save up to three lives with a single pint of blood.

Channel excitement from summer camp and join the Red Cross for Camp Do Good on June 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Anyone interested in donating blood is asked to visit the Red Cross website and schedule an appointment.

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BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan.  Last week, the city of Baxter Springs sent a letter to residents about a problem with the citys drinking water.

The noticed advised residents that a test done three months ago showed high levels of contaminate called trihalomethane. That contaminate is a by-product of chlorine used to disinfect the water supply, combined with naturally occurring organic matter in the citys water supply.

The violation was reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) as required.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  If youve spent time on social media lately, you may have come across ads or videos selling merchandise claiming to support a charity.

According to the Better Business Bureau, these video ads, often featuring pleading older adults, adorable animals, and touching music, are part of a growing social media scam targeting animal lovers and kind-hearted donors.

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BBBs Cameron Nakashima told KHON2 in reports received by the BBB, theyre seeing an increase in deceptive ads involving the use of AI-generated videos.

Recently, they published a warning specifically about deceptive advertisements on social media, notably TikTok, that allege to be associated with charities or local impact groups.

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However, people are reporting that many of these ads are scams, not actual charities. The reality is that AI-generated videos are getting better by the year  they are convincing and effective. So we dont see them going away anytime soon.

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Nakashima provides these tips to stay safe:

Dont give in to videos that tug at your heartstrings. If you see one of these videos with kittens, puppies, or cows and want to make a purchase to support the cause, resist the urge to do so right away, even if the video relays a sense of urgency. Give locally. Contact your local or state/provincial animal shelters or other agencies directly and ask how you can support them. Only do business with companies you know and trust. If you want to purchase a product or donate, do so through a reputable business or non-profit. If you want to buy something from a company you arent familiar with, do plenty of research first. Look up the company name, website, and contact information. For businesses, read reviews on BBB.org and do a general search with the companys name and the word scam. For charities, you can look them up on Give.org.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

He said not to skip this step, even if youre excited about the product. Its the best way to protect yourself from fraud.

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The BBC rejected White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts claims that the news outlet took the word of Hamas when reporting on casualties in Gaza.

During Tuesdays press briefing, Leavitt claimed the BBC retracted a story that featured statistics on deaths caused by Israeli forces in a story.

The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism. Karoline Leavitt criticised the BBC for changing the number of casualties in the storys headline. The corporation said its coverage was updated with new figures throughout the day, which is totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story, the BBC said in a statement.

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The media company said the number of deaths reported was always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of at least 21 at their field hospital, the statement added.

BBC noted there were conflicting reports describing a violent attack on individuals seeking aid at a distribution center in Rafah on Sunday.

The administration is aware of those reports and we are currently looking into the veracity of them because unfortunately unlike some of those in the media we dont take the word of Hamas with total truth, we like to look into it, unlike the BBC, Leavitt said Tuesday.

Since November, experts have warned that the population in northern Gaza is at imminent risk of starvation. Israel blocked aid from entering Gaza in March with support from the White House after Hamass refusal to agree to a second ceasefire deal.

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The BBC said Israel does not allow international news organizations into Gaza, making it difficult to verify what is happening in the territory. But BBC maintained that it continues to adhere to journalistic standards.

The Washington Post issued a correction to its story regarding the incident in Rafah on social platforms, explaining its article did not meet the Posts fairness standards and lacked proper attribution.

We told you wed hold the Fake News accountable, Leavitt wrote in response to the post.

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The BBC has been forced on the defensive after Donald Trumps White House accused the national broadcaster of taking down a story about the Israel-Hamas war.

Yesterday, Trumps press sec Karoline Leavitt claimed that the BBC had to correct and take down an article about fatalities and injuries near an aid distribution centre in Rafah, Gaza.

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The BBC hit back this morning, saying Leavitt was completely wrong to say the story was removed and had instead been updating its headline through the day.

We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism, said a BBC statement. Our news stories and headlines about Sundays aid distribution centre incident were updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources. These were always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of at least 21 at their field hospital. This is totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story.

The BBC concluded that it would welcome the support of the White House in its call for immediate access to Gaza, with international journalists currently banned from the region.

But this may not be the case anytime soon. Leavitt had earlier criticized some in the media, appearing to refer in part to the BBC, as taking the word of Hamas with total truth.

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BBC reporting on the 20-month-long-war has been consistently under the spotlight, thrown up in the past 24 hours by Leavitts criticism.

At least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire close to the aid point on Tuesday, Hamas-backed local officials said. Speaking earlier to the BBC, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross said Gaza has become worse than hell on Earth.







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BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN)  Beavercreek invites its residents to review current plans and share their ideas for the citys future.

The city of Beavercreek invites residents and business owners to participate in an open house for Plan Beavercreek on June 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees can review land use plans, identify key community issues and share ideas on Beavercreeks future.

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Throughout 2025 and 2026, Beavercreek leaders are working to develop a Land Use Plan and Code Update for the city. This will help guide Beavercreeks future through a strategic framework as the city grows and develops.

Residents are invited to learn more about the initiative and offer feedback during the open house.

The open house will be in the Lofino Plaza Meeting Room, located at 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road.

To learn more about Plan Beavercreek and share feedback, click here.

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The drama between US president Donald Trump and his former buddy-in-chief Elon Musk is far from over.

As ABC reported today, now that he's been summarily retired from the White House, the billionaire SpaceX boss has been privately venting his frustrations at Trump. One particularly stinging betrayal, per the network's reporting: Trump's sudden withdrawal of Musk's buddy and financial benefactor, Jared Isaacman, from consideration to be the next NASA administrator.

As the day progressed, Musk's tension with Trump exploded into public view as history's richest man tweeted or amplified no less than 25 posts blasting Trump's "big, beautiful" tax and spending bill, which takes the form of yet another piece of legislation meant to gut assistance for the poorest Americans while siphoning money to the ultra-wealthy.

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However, that isn't Musk's issue with the package. Instead, his commentary is centered on the bill's impact on the US national deficit  something he tried and failed to curb in any meaningful way during his time as a pay-to-play government operative.

On X-formerly-Twitter, Musk's frenzied posts range from Rand Paul interview clips to hysterical conspiracy peddling. ("America is in the fast lane to debt slavery," he fomented at one point.)

"Call your Senator, call your Congressman, bankrupting America is NOT ok!" Musk urged his 220 million followers on X-formerly-Twitter. "KILL the BILL."

The tech titan also went out of his way to amplify some low-res footage of Warren Buffett explaining his theoretical plan to reduce the deficit. "Anytime there's a deficit of more than 3 percent of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for reelection," the investor suggested, to which Musk replied that "this is the way."

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Needless to say, a month ago  or even a week  this type of assault on Trump by Musk would have been unthinkable. The bill is also a baffling hill for the tech mogul to die on, especially considering that government spending is what made his tech dynasty possible in the first place.

It's more plausible, as Axios notes, that national debt is a smokescreen for other issues nearer to Musk's heart. Most notably, the big beautiful bill is set to cut the electric vehicle tax credits that made Tesla the automotive giant it is today. (Confusingly, as recently as last year, Musk was publicly calling for an end to the tax credit  but that was before his activities in the White House eviscerated Tesla's brand image and sent it deeply into the red.)

Of course, that raises another intriguing possibility: that at least some portion of Musk's rage at Trump is essentially kayfabe, with Musk betting that a break from the president could resuscitate at least some enthusiasm for the Tesla brand among the left-leaning customers that he's successfully turned off over the past year.

If so, it's not hard to imagine Musk instead accidentally alienating more or less everybody  failing to get the environmental left back on board, but also creating a powerful enemy with Trump, who holds immense power over the government contracts and policy that keep Musk's business empire afloat.

More on politics: Elon Musks Dad Slams His Son's Whimpering Failure at Politics
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Here's a cheery headline from the Russian press:

Markov: an attack on Russia's strategic aviation is grounds for the use of nuclear weapons.

That would be Sergey Markov, former advisor to Tsar Vlad, who admittedly is somewhat partial to nuke-rattling: in the early stages of the Ukraine war, he threatened to nuke the UK, for what reason I forget - the exciting new Islamic blasphemy laws? the paedo rape gangs?

This time, however, Mr Markov was responding to the weekend's Ukrainian drone strike deep inside Russia. By "deep", I mean Siberia. Which supposedly took out forty of Putin's 120 strategic bombers using drones smuggled into the country via trucks which then fanned out and parked within range of various air bases.

Which is brilliant and innovative, in the sense that Castro blowing up a third of the USAF during the Cuban missile-crisis negotiations would have been. Right now, the only thing standing between the planet and the Third World War is Vladimir Putin's forbearance. And, as all the smart people assured us in the spring of 2022, the Russian not-so-strongman was "dying" (Christopher Steele, sole proprietor of Dossiers R Us) or dead, either of which condition can make one's nuclear-war judgment a little erratic. Headline from the UK Daily Mirror, almost exactly three years ago:

Vladimir Putin may already be dead with body double taking his place, MI6 chiefs claim

That headline is 100 per cent accurate if you remove the words "Vladimir" and "Putin" and replace them with "Joe" and "Biden" respectively. Incidentally, analyse each nation's advances in body-double technology by comparing "Biden"'s ability to host a G7 with "Putin"'s ability to host a BRICS summit. That's the way to bet if it comes to World War Three. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R - Zakarpattia), was in Kiev to meet with Zelenskyyyy the day before Operation Bring It On. He had the affect of a chap who knew what was coming - although one notes he has yet to make good on his comparatively less ambitious pledge to sink Greta Thunberg's Gaza boat.

Forty years ago, everybody claimed to be super-worried about imminent mushroom clouds. A bestselling poster of the day:

Anyone care to remake the above with Senator Graham and Victoria Nuland, She-Wolf of the Donbass? Ah, but maybe it doesn't work as well with Deep State non-household-names in the leads. It's not so long since Lindsey was telling Zelensky to resign, but he's apparently back on board. And, more generally, most western media were happy to report the drone strike as more of a poke in the eye to Trump than to Putin. Headline from National Review:

Country That Allegedly Had No Cards to Play Keeps Finding New Cards to Play

This is in reference to Trump's jibe from February that Ukraine had "no cards to play". The question then arises: Where did Z find these "new cards"? When Pete Hegseth took over as US Defence Secretary, he quickly confirmed what every sentient creature had long suspected - that the Pentagon had been micro-managing Ukraine's end of the war for the previous three years. Are they still doing so? In defiance of their nominal commander-in-chief?

I am prepared to believe that Kiev could dispatch a crack team of its many fetching male models to firebomb Sir Keir Starmer's homes and former Toyota. I am less certain of the provenance of Sunday's operation. Meanwhile, Z is announcing at least another year of meat-grinding carnage. From The Spectator:

The Ukrainian president said this week he hopes the war will end by next June. Not this summer. Not this year. But in 12 months' time. Sanctions, he believes, and four years of gruesome war will finally hit the Russian economy, pushing it into a deep budget deficit. The IMF's latest forecast sort of backs this up. Russia's GDP growth is set to slow to 0.9 per cent next year, down from over 4 per cent in 2024.

So Russia's economy is set to sink to GDP growth of a mere 0.9 per cent? I thought the Russian economy had collapsed three years ago under the weight of what Biden called the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed. If that led to four per cent growth last year, the developed world should be lining up and begging to be given the Putin treatment. Annual GDP growth for 2024:

United States 2.8% Canada 1.6%; United Kingdom 1.1% France 1.07% Italy 0.7% Germany -0.2%

So good luck banking on Russian economic collapse. As former Steyn Show guest Christopher Caldwell observes en passant:

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Joe Biden got another lesson in American decline. He attempted to bring the Russian economy to its knees with sanctions and boycotts, only to discover that the United States and Europe, even together, lacked the leverage to compel China and India to join them. 'Backward' Russia has manufactured more shells in the course of the war than the advanced West.

We went into rather more detail about this a year ago, via some perceptive remarks by Viktor Orban on the reality that the Ukraine war had revealed. Three years ago, we were told that the world was united against Putin's aggression. In fact, the world is united against the west, and very much on Putin's side. The Kremlin body-double is wanted by the "International" Criminal Court, but, when he hosts a summit on Russian soil, China, India, Brazil, Iran, the Arabs, South Africa et al are happy to fly in for the group photo. So the Ukraine war has accelerated what Mr Caldwell calls "American decline", and the rise of the post-western world: The rest of the planet concluded over three years ago that it was not in their interest to permit Putin to lose. If Lindsey Graham, Ms Nuland and the others panting for World War Three actually get it, China, India and the rest will likewise conclude that it is not in their interest to permit America to win.

And yet the meat-grinder grinds on. Look at the photograph at top right that National Review used to illustrate their story on plucky little Ukraine kicking the arse of the Russian bear. It was taken by Marko Djurica for Reuters in late April, and shows two soldiers of Ukraine's 13th operational NGU Khartiia Brigade prepping a Vampire drone for a test flight. On the left is a boy; on the right is a man in late middle-age.

Ukraine cannot win this war for reasons that have nothing to do with Russian troops, Nato weapons, Victoria Nuland's blood lust or Macron's Pullman-car cocaine. Ukraine cannot win because there are now too few Ukrainians either to triumph on the battlefield or to rebuild the country after victory - and not just because all the fighting-age male models would rather firebomb Keir Starmer's homes than Russian tanks. Ukraine's existential crisis is not a sudden influx of Russians but a huge lack of Ukrainians.

In the three decades between the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the start of the war, Ukraine's population declined from 52 million to 35 million: that's a third smaller. A total fertility rate of 2.1 births per couple is necessary to keep your population not growing but merely stable. A TFR of 1.3 births is what demographers call "lowest-low" fertility, from which no society has ever recovered: a lot of European nations have crossed that line in recent years. Yet, according to a report from the Ministry of Justice, Ukraine has halved that "lowest-low" threshold, with a fertility rate of 0.7 in 2023 headed for 0.6 in 2024.

This war is a disguised massive storewide-clearance sale of a dying country's remaining human capital. It will be the last war Ukraine ever fights. Other than Russia, which has demographic challenges not quite as severe, Ukraine is the largest country in Europe. Poland is half the size but with a bigger population; France is a little smaller but with more than twice as many people.

War till next June? What for? Even if Putin were to surrender everything he's taken, they have no Ukrainians to put in those towns. In the end, it's all demography.

Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR)

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR)
A contestant performs during the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 3, 2025. Two Sri Lankan university students won first prize at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, which was held at Colombo Port City on Tuesday. The event, held by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya in partnership with CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu)

COLOMBO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Two Sri Lankan university students won first prize at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, which was held at Colombo Port City on Tuesday.

The two students are Madhavi Kumari Weerasekara from the University of Peradeniya, who was trained by the Confucius Institute at the University of Colombo, and P. Sathya Jinali Pilapitiya from the University of Colombo. Their achievement gives them the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka at the competition's final stage in China.

The event, held by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya in partnership with CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.

At the award ceremony, Ji Lili, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, highlighted the significance of language education in building cross-cultural understanding. She emphasized that learning Chinese goes beyond language skills, leading to deeper connections between the peoples of both countries.

Speaking on behalf of the University of Kelaniya, which is known for its foreign language teaching, Vice Chancellor Nilanthi de Silva spoke about ongoing discussions to further develop the university's Chinese language program, including plans for a dual degree awarded by both institutions and possible future master's programs for graduates engaged in teaching Chinese.

Wu Hongyuan, co-director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya said that, "We regard the 'Chinese Bridge' competition as an important platform to test the results of Chinese education and promote the development of Chinese teaching. 

A contestant performs during the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 3, 2025. Two Sri Lankan university students won first prize at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, which was held at Colombo Port City on Tuesday. The event, held by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya in partnership with CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu)

A contestant performs during the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 3, 2025. Two Sri Lankan university students won first prize at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, which was held at Colombo Port City on Tuesday. The event, held by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya in partnership with CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu)
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the House of Representatives narrowly approved early in the morning on Thursday, May 22, lives up to its name in at least one respect: It is big, weighing in at 1,037 pages and nearly 200,000 words. Since the bill's final text was not available until 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday, about eight hours before it passed by a single-vote margin shortly before 7 a.m. the next day, it would not be surprising if bleary-eyed legislators overlooked some of its nuances in their hurry to deliver the package that President Donald Trump demanded. As Reason's Liz Wolfe notes, at least two RepublicansReps. Mike Flood (RNeb.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (RGa.)have publicly admitted as much, saying they missed objectionable parts of the bill when they voted for it.

If Flood and Greene had voted no, it would have been enough to change the outcome. Furthermore, it seems safe to assume that at least some of their colleagues had similar regrets but are too embarrassed to admit that they failed to exercise the minimum diligence that should be expected from members of Congress. But the complaints from Flood and Greene are notable for another reason: They have nothing to do with the bill's blatant fiscal irresponsibility, the main flaw highlighted by critics such as Rep. Thomas Massie (RKy.), Sen. Rand Paul (RKy.), and Elon Musk, who on Tuesday condemned "this massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill" as "a disgusting abomination."

That much was clear prior to the House vote. As Reason's Eric Boehm noted the day before Flood and Greene gave their crucial assent to the bill, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that it would add $2.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 yearsan estimate that the CBO upped to $2.4 trillion this week. Boehm added that "other assessments of the bill" by the Yale Budget Lab (originally published on May 16) and the Penn Wharton Budget Project (published three days later) estimated that it would add "more than $3 trillion" to the debt.

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Those are low-ball estimates, based on the unrealistic assumption that Congress will allow Trump-favored tax cuts to lapse toward the end of that period. If "temporary provisions in the bill are made permanent," Boehm reported, the Yale Budget Lab estimated that it would trigger $5 trillion in new borrowing.

The national debt currently exceeds $35 trillion, including about $29 trillion in debt held by the public, which is about the size of the entire U.S. economy. In January, the CBO projected that publicly held debt would hit 119 percent of GDP by 2035. Two months later, Trump promised to do something about that. "In the near future," he told Congress, "I want to do what has not been done in 24 yearsbalance the federal budget. We're gonna balance it." But the glaring gap between that promise and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act did not faze Flood or Greene, whose concerns are much narrower.

Flood belatedly objected to a provision on page 541 of the bill that would limit the authority of federal judges to "enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order." While that would be convenient for an administration that seems bent on defying court orders, it raises clear rule-of-law concerns, and it is not obviously related to taxes or spending, the bill's ostensible subjects. But as The New York Times notes, this provision "was advanced out of committee three weeks before" the House approved the bill.

At a town hall in Nebraska last week, Flood nevertheless admitted that the provision was "unknown to me when I voted for the bill." Although that confession provoked "boos from the crowd," Flood thought he should get points for candor, saying, "I am not going to hide the truth."

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Greene, for her part, was upset about a provision on page 278 of the bill that would impose a 10-year moratorium on local and state regulation of artificial intelligence. "Full transparency, I did not know about this section," Greene admitted in an X post on Tuesday. "I am adamantly OPPOSED to this [because] it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there."

Why did Greene miss that vote-changing detail? "You know," she told the Times, "it's hard to read over 1,000 pages when things keep changing up to the last minute before we voted on it." But the deal-breaking provision that Greene overlooked was not one of the things that changed at the last minute: There it is on page 491 of a report that the House Budget Committee distributed on May 20, two days before the vote on the bill.

"PRO TIP," Rep. Ted Lieu (DCalif.) wrote in response to Greene's confession. "It's helpful to read stuff before voting on it." Many other commenters joined Lieu in mocking Greene's dereliction of duty.

To be fair, however, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was a lot to digest even with two days' notice. It combines the extension of income tax cuts enacted in 2017 with sundry new tax provisions, increases in spending on the military and border control, cuts to welfare programs such as Medicare, and various changes that have little or nothing to do with fiscal policy, including the provisions that bother Flood and Greene. The White House counts "50 Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill," and its list is not exhaustive.

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The challenge of understanding what the bill would do was magnified by Trump's unremitting pressure and House Speaker Mike Johnson's insistence on a vote prior to Memorial Day, which left legislators and their staffs scrambling to read and comprehend the final version in the middle of the night. Although "major provisions of the big beautiful bill are still being negotiated and written," Massie noted on May 21, "we are being told we will vote on it today. Shouldn't we take more than a few hours to read a bill this big and this consequential?"

That wait-and-hurry-up approach has long been par for the course with Congress, where must-pass legislation succeeds by sheer volume and artificial haste, cramming together unrelated provisions that would not have passed on their own. Even if you have trouble mustering sympathy for legislators like Flood and Greene, who by their own account fell down on their jobs, this is no way to make law. Still, it is telling that the post-passage dissents do not even touch upon the looming fiscal crisis that Trump and Congress seem determined to ignore.

The post Belated Republican Objections to the One Big Beautiful Bill Glide Over Its Blatant Fiscal Irresponsibility appeared first on Reason.com.
(LA JUNTA, Colo.)  Bents Old Fort National Historic Site will commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States Army and Flag Day on Saturday, June 14, with a program that will include a military timeline with Living History volunteers, guided tours, a historic weapons demonstration, and discussions led by park rangers.

The program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the following schedule:

9:00 a.m.  4:00 p.m.  Living History volunteers and staff will be stationed near the fort in a timeline illustrating the involvement of the U.S. Army in the Arkansas Valley. Guests can ask them questions, observe equipment demonstrations, and discuss the period the volunteers are representing.

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9 a.m.  Guided Tour of the fort  The tour will be limited to the first 25 visitors to arrive for the program. No reservations will be taken in advance. Guests on the tour will meet the Ranger near the front of the fort.

10 a.m.  Presentation  A Reexamination of Roles: Bents Fort as a Military Installation?

A park ranger-led program that will discuss when the U.S. Army arrived on site in 1846 in preparation for the invasion of New Mexico, converting the fort into a Forward Operating Base on the Mexican Border. This program will take place in the corral at the rear of the fort.

11:00 a.m.  Guided Tour of the fort  The tour will be limited to the first 25 visitors to arrive for the program. No reservations will be taken in advance. Guests on the tour will meet the Ranger near the front of the fort.

12:30 p.m. Presentation  Go for Broke: The Most Decorated Unit in U.S. Military History.

Presented by a Ranger from Amache National Historic Site, the program will discuss the history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion, composed of 12,000 Nisei volunteers recruited out of incarceration centers, including Camp Amache. This program will take place in the corral at the rear of the fort.

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1:30 p.m.  Weapons Demonstration  Let Loose the Dogs of War! A Historic Weapons Demonstration that will discuss the evolution of technology used by the military from the early 19th Century into the middle of the 20th Century, and the importance of those weapons in the region.

2:30 p.m.  Presentation  A Reexamination of Roles: Bents Fort as a Military Installation?

A park ranger-led program that will discuss when the U.S. Army arrived on site in 1846 in preparation for the invasion of New Mexico, converting the fort into a Forward Operating Base on the Mexican Border. This program will take place in La Junta at the Woodruff Memorial Library.

2:30 p.m.  Presentation  From Neighbors to Volunteers.

This program will discuss the service of the New Mexico Volunteers in the region during the American Civil War, specifically their role at the Sand Creek Massacre. This program will take place in the corral at the rear of the fort.

All programs are free to the public. Visitors should plan ahead for the weather, bringing sun or rain protection, and should wear comfortable shoes for walking. For more information, click the link above.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
BERKELEY, Calif. (KRON)  Police and city crews launched a surprise encampment sweep on Wednesday morning, clearing out tents and other items at 8th and Harrison streets in northwest Berkeley. One man told KRON4 hes lived at the encampment for five years and police told him to get out.

He said he only had an hour notice and police did not tell him where to go. A business owner told KRON4 that homeless people ignited fires to cook on the sidewalk, and the encampment caused his insurance provider to cancel his policy.

Problems from the encampment promoted the business owner to spend thousands of dollars on renting a second warehouse thats in a safer location.

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Los Gatos Party Mom makes more jail calls, delays trial

One homeless advocate told KRON4 there are no mental health professionals present at the sweep to help people at the encampment.



This is a lot of trauma, said advocate Paul Taylor Blake, a lot of nowhere to go. And theres no representation whatsoever of mental health help out here today. These are human beings and people, and they need help. They dont need to be moved into the asphalt.

KRON4 saw several officers take off running into the encampment. They detained someone  but could not tell us why.

According to the city, the Homeless Response Team works to get people off the streets and into housing making public spaces safe and clean for everyone.

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The latest homeless count shows that out of the approximately 845 homeless people in Berkeley, a little more than half of them do not have shelter.

KRON4 has reached out to the City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Police Department for more information. We have yet to hear back.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Berlin branch of the German Police Union (GdP) is pushing for a nationwide ban on private fireworks around New Year's Eve, citing growing public support and safety concerns.

"The public is ready to rethink how we celebrate New Year's," Stephan Weh, head of the Berlin GdP, told dpa.

In Germany fireworks can be purchased in the days prior to New Year's Eve for private use.

Weh pointed to the results of an online survey in April that showed overwhelming support for tighter restrictions on fireworks. It was a non-representative poll conducted by the Berlin GdP itself. It showed that 97% of the roughly 178,000 respondents supported banning fireworks for private use, while 93% backed a ban on sales.

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Respondents came from all 16 German states, with 85% of them over the age of 30 and 63% women.

Weh said it was time for policymakers to act. He said he had submitted the survey results to Ulrich Maurer so they can be discussed at the upcoming meeting of state interior ministers next week.

Weh said the atmosphere around New Year's Eve had increasingly been overshadowed by fear, insecurity and frustration.

Around 70% of respondents said they no longer go outside at all on New Year's Eve.

Instead of private fireworks, 91% supported organized public firework displays, with nearly half saying they would attend such events.

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The Berlin police union launched a petition for a fireworks ban in early 2023, which has since gathered more than 2 million signatures.

Other organizations have also backed the call for a ban.

Every year, across Germany, there are debates about injuries, deaths, arrests and property damage from New Year's Eve fireworks.

At least five people were killed in fireworks-related accidents and police arrested hundreds across the country as the nation rang in 2025.
Volunteers flip pork chops and ribs at the Iowa State Fairgrounds during the World Pork Expo June 4, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Despite an ongoing trade war and low profitability the past two years, pork industry leaders and producers at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines said Wednesday they are optimistic about the year.

Lee Schulz, chief economist for Ever.Ag, said 2025 could be the quickest turnaround in pork producer profitability ever  but, he clarified, that statistic says more about how bad the situation was the past two years than it does about 2025.

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High input costs and decreased demand in 2023 caused what Schulz said was the worst year in pork producer profitability to date. That was followed by 2024, which Schulz called a break-even year which, while better than 2023, didnt alleviate producers financial stress.

Schulzs modeling for 2025 profitability, based on USDA statistics, predict $15 per head profitability increases for producers and a return to break even, when accounting for 2020 and 2023 losses, by August.

Schulz said despite continued challenges facing the industry such as increased input costs, labor, and processing and slaughtering costs, pork producers are more efficient each year.

He said trends of increasing litter rates and carcass weight in the industry mean that even with a historically low-breeding herd in December, pork producers are going to produce the most pork per breeding animal ever.

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The efficiency, the productivity of this industry, is tremendous, and that trend is continuing to increase over time  even through challenges like weve seen in 2020, and 2023, Schulz said.

Shulz also said the new sausage production facility slated to be built in Perry by JBS speaks to the health of the industry.

Not afraid of the tariffs

According to National Pork Producers Council, the export market makes up more then 25% of U.S. pork production, and 55% of exported U.S. produced pork variety meats exports go to China.

In April, China posted reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods, which equated to a total tariff of 172% on U.S. pork entering the country. The two countries agreed to a 90-day reduction on the tariffs May 12, which resulted in a 57% tariff on U.S. pork imported to China, according to National Hog Farmer.

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Joseph Kerns, a long term agricultural operations consultant now with AgRubicon, said pork producers should be selfish and take advantage of the current market volatility caused by tariffs and other factors.

You can either hyperventilate or you can do something, Kerns said.

He advises producers to remove themselves from the risk profile by using futures and options contracts to lock in a price while its high.

Its a marketing tool that every producer has at their avail and it is way cheaper than what it should be, in my opinion, and thats to our advantage, Kerns said.

The World Pork Expo brought more than 10,000 pork-industry producers and professionals from around the world to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

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Representatives from the Chinese livestock equipment company Kunlong International said around 40% of their clients are based in the U.S. and they usually add more to the profile at the expo.

Lily Li of Kunlong International said the tariffs, as of yet, have not caused any changes in the companys relationship with American customers. Li said the company hopes to keep stable from last year and maybe expand a little to other countries.

Doug Gruver, an Iowa pork producer from the Sully area, said he did not feel any added pressure at the expo because of the tariffs, but said he felt more optimistic about the upcoming year than he has the past couple of years.

With the future prices the way they are, yes, Gruver said. But well see what Q4 brings.

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Kerns said the past couple of years the expo has seen evidence of hard times, adding that producers had seemed depressed with the situation.

This year, were going to make money, and youre going to see more optimism, he said of the 2025 expo.

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From left, Ashlie Bell, a survivor of childhood cancer and director of Family Voices of Tennessee, and Dr. Megan Schwaim, executive director of the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition, address how federal cuts to food programs will affect Tennesseans. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Advocates for low-income and disabled Tennesseans sounded the alarm Tuesday over federal legislation that could slash an estimated $1.1 trillion over the next decade from federal safety net programs that provide food and healthcare to millions of Americans.

The package includes a $600 billion reduction in federal Medicaid spending over 10 years, impacting TennCare, Tennessees program, which currently covers healthcare costs of 1.4 million people, including two of every five children in the state.

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It also includes nearly $300 million in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, which helps more than 700,000 Tennesseans buy food. Some savings from SNAP cuts would then be used to increase farm subsidies. Both programs would establish new work requirements for adult recipients.

Tennessee counties stand to lose a net $5.3 billion in federal help over 10 years if Congress approves the SNAP cuts even with increases in farm subsidies, one recent analysis found.

Jeannine Carpenter, chief communications officer for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, warned the proposed cuts to SNAP would create a surge in hunger among Tennessee families.

Jeannine Carpenter, chief communications officer for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, addressing food instability that could arise from federal funding cuts at a June 3 press conference in Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Photograph by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout 2025

The food bank provided 17 million meals last year to families in southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia, but, Carpenter noted, those efforts pale in comparison to the role SNAP plays in Tennessee.

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For every meal we provide, SNAP provides eight, she said. So, if we take these benefits away, were talking about a food insecure population that cannot be cared for by our current charitable infrastructure.

Speaking during a downtown Nashville news conference held outside the offices of Tennessees two Republican senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, Carpenter urged the pair to reject the cuts and protect the very people they were elected to protect, she said.

Medicaid cuts in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill would largely come from new work requirements for adults and imposing more paperwork requirements that are expected to disqualify recipients unable to complete them.

The work requirements could have a narrower impact on Tennessee, which has opted not to expand Medicaid, than other states. They apply primarily to non-elderly adults without disabilities. Most TennCare enrollees are children, their parents, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities.

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TennCare has an uneven history for the existing paperwork process it uses to enroll and then periodically verify people enrolled in the program. One government audit found that of the more than 240,000 children cut from TennCare between 2016 and 2019, only 5% were found to be disqualified from the program. Other children lost insurance because families did not fill out paperwork correctly.

Neither Hagerty nor Blackburn responded to requests for comment about the bill left with their offices.

The Senate is expected to take up the package already approved by House Republicans later this month. GOP supporters of the bill say it is designed to root out waste, fraud and abuse from the programs.

Analysis projects SNAP cuts will far outweigh subsidy bumps in Tennessee counties

An analysis by the Environmental Working Group, which has tracked farm subsidies for over the past three decades, found that just three of Tennessees 95 counties would see their net funding increase even with deep cuts to SNAP: Crockett ($32 million increase), Haywood ($32 million increase), and Lake ($1.2 million increase).

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The rest would see farm subsidy bumps far outweighed by SNAP cuts.

The group examined USDA county-level farm subsidy data and federal data for SNAP by county to determine how much funding each county stands to gain or lose should SNAP funding see a $300 billion cut and farm subsidies get a $35 billion boost under the bill.

Tennessees most populous counties would lose the most, with Shelby County expected to see a net $1.2 billion decrease, followed by Davidson ($500 million), Knox ($301 million), Hamilton ($283 million), and Rutherford ($167 million).

But more rural counties will also see significant reductions in overall funding.

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We have thousands of SNAP recipients in a single county that receives support to help their families eat on a daily basis, but that will get cut so that a couple hundred (farmers), maybe, will receive a few extra thousand dollars when it comes to harvest time, said Jared Hayes, senior policy analyst for the Environmental Working Group.

These particular farm subsidies have higher payouts for larger commodity harvests, Hayes said, benefiting large-scale farmers over smaller operations.

No matter what, people are going to be losing out in every single county. Its just who is getting the money, he said.

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Demonstrators gather for a protest organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee calling for the continuation of MinnesotaCare for undocumented adults outside of the Governors Reception Room at the Minnesota State Capitol Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

The Republican budget bill the U.S. House approved last month includes a surprise for the 40 states that have expanded Medicaid: penalties for providing health care to some immigrants who are here legally.

Along with punishing the 14 states that use their own funds to cover immigrants who are here illegally, analysts say last-minute changes to the bill would make it all but impossible for states to continue helping some immigrants who are in the country legally, on humanitarian parole.

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Under the bill, the federal government would slash funding to states that have expanded Medicaid and provide coverage to immigrants who are on humanitarian parole  immigrants who have received permission to temporarily enter the United States due to an emergency or urgent humanitarian reason.

The federal government pays 90% of the cost of covering adults without children who are eligible under Medicaid expansion, but the bill would cut that to 80% for those states, doubling the state portion from 10% to 20%. Thats the same penalty the bill proposes for states that use their own money to help immigrants who are here illegally.

Ironically, states such as Florida that have extended Medicaid coverage to immigrants who are here on humanitarian parole but have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act would not be harmed by the bill, said Leonardo Cuello, a Medicaid law and policy expert and research professor at the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy.

It is wildly nonsensical and unfair to penalize expansion states for covering a population that some non-expansion states, such as Florida, also cover, Cuello said. It would appear that the purpose is more to punish expansion states than address any genuine concern with immigrant coverage.

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West Virginia is one of the states where lawmakers are nervously watching U.S. Senate discussions on the proposed penalty. Republican state Rep. Matt Rohrbach, a deputy House speaker, said West Virginia legislators tabled a proposal that would have ended Medicaid expansion if the federal government reduced its share of the funding, because the states congressional representatives assured them it wasnt going to happen. Now the future is murkier.

Cuello called the proposed penalty basically a gun to the head of the states.

Congress is framing it as a choice, but the state is being coerced and really has no choice, he said.

There are about 1.3 million people in the United States on humanitarian parole, from Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Ukraine and Venezuela as well as some Central American children who have rejoined family here. The Trump administration is trying to end parole from some of those countries. A Supreme Court decision May 30 allows the administration to end humanitarian parole for about 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

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Not many of those parolees qualify for Medicaid, which requires a waiting period or special status, but the 40 states with expanded Medicaid could be penalized if immigrants qualify for the program, said Tanya Broder, senior counsel for health and economic justice policy at the National Immigration Law Center.

It would appear that the purpose is more to punish expansion states than address any genuine concern with immigrant coverage.  Leonardo Cuello, Georgetown University research professor

Meanwhile, an increasing number of states and the District of Columbia already are considering scaling back Medicaid coverage for immigrants because of the costs.

The federal budget bill, named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is now being considered by the Senate, where changes are likely. The fact that so many states could be affected by the last-minute change could mean more scrutiny in that chamber, said Andrea Kovach, senior attorney for health care justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago.

By her count, at least 38 states and the District of Columbia would be affected by the new restrictions, since they accepted some options now offered by Medicaid to cover at least some humanitarian parolees without a five-year waiting period.

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Theyre all going to be penalized because they added in parolees, Kovach said. So thats 38 times two senators who are going to be very interested in this provision to make sure their state doesnt get their reimbursement knocked down.

The change to exclude people with humanitarian parole was included in a May 21 amendment by U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Texas Republican who chairs the House budget committee. Arringtons office did not reply to a request for comment, though he has stressed the importance of withholding Medicaid from immigrants who are here illegally.

[Democrats] want to protect health care and welfare at any cost for illegal immigrants at the expense of hardworking taxpayers, Arrington said in a May 22 floor speech urging passage of the bill. But by the results of this last election, its abundantly clear: The people see through this too and they have totally rejected the Democrats radical agenda.

Some states already are considering cutting Medicaid coverage for immigrants, though Democratic lawmakers and advocates are pushing back.

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Washington, D.C., Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed phasing out a program that provides Medicaid coverage to adults regardless of their immigration status, a move she says would save the District of Columbia $457 million.

Minnesota advocates protested a state budget deal reached last month with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to phase out health care coverage for adults who are here illegally, a condition Republican lawmakers insisted on to avoid a shutdown.

Similarly, Illinois advocates are protesting new state rules that will end a program that has provided Medicaid coverage to immigrants aged 42-64 regardless of their legal status. The program cost $1.6 billion over three years, according to a state audit. The state will continue a separate program that provides coverage for older adults.

Our position is that decision-makers in Illinois shouldnt be doing Trumps work for him, said Kovach, of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Lets preserve health coverage for immigrants and stand up for Illinois immigrant residents who have been paying taxes into this state for years and need this coverage.

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Illinois state Sen. Graciela Guzman, a Democrat whose parents are refugees from El Salvador, said many of her constituents in Chicago may be forced to cancel chemotherapy or lifesaving surgery because of the changes.

It was a state budget, but I think the federal reconciliation bill really set the tone for it, Guzman said. In a tough fiscal environment, it was really hard to set up a defense for this program.

Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek is among the governors holding firm, saying that letting immigrants stay uninsured imposes costs on local hospitals and ends up raising prices for everyone.

The costs will go somewhere. When everyone is insured it is much more helpful to keep costs down and reasonable for everyone. Thats why weve taken this approach to give care to everyone, Kotek said at a news conference last month.

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Medicaid does pay for emergency care for low-income patients, regardless of their immigration status, and that would not change under the federal budget bill.

Franny White, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said her states Medicaid program covers about 105,000 immigrants, some of whom are here illegally. She said the policy, established by a 2021 state law, can save money in the long run.

Uninsured people are less likely to receive preventive care due to cost and often wait until a condition worsens to the point that it requires more advanced, expensive care at an emergency department or hospital, she said.

California was among the first states, along with Oregon, to offer health insurance to immigrants of all ages regardless of their legal status. But it now is considering cutting back, looking to save $5 billion as it seeks to close a $12 billion budget deficit. In May, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed freezing enrollment of immigrant adults who are here illegally, and charging them premiums to save money.

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Its possible that other states will decide to cut back these services because of budgetary concerns, said Drishti Pillai, director of immigrant health policy at KFF, a health policy research organization.

If the federal budget bill passes with the immigrant health care provision intact, states would have more than two years to adjust, since the changes would not take effect until October 2027.

We have time to really understand what the landscape looks like and really create a legal argument to make sure folks are able to maintain their health care coverage, said Enddy Almonord, director for Healthy Illinois, an advocacy group supporting universal health care coverage.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify remarks from Tanya Broder at the National Immigration Law Center. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

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Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.

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Demonstrators gather for a protest organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee calling for the continuation of MinnesotaCare for adults in the country without authorization at the Minnesota State Capitol in May. The Republican budget bill the U.S. House passed last month would penalize Medicaid expansion states that provide health care to immigrants who are here on humanitarian parole. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

The Republican budget bill the U.S. House approved last month includes a surprise for the 40 states that have expanded Medicaid: penalties for providing health care to some immigrants who are here legally.

Along with punishing the 14 states that use their own funds to cover immigrants who are here illegally, analysts say last-minute changes to the bill would make it all but impossible for states to continue helping some immigrants who are in the country legally, on humanitarian parole.

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Under the bill, the federal government would slash funding to states that have expanded Medicaid and provide coverage to immigrants who are on humanitarian parole  immigrants who have received permission to temporarily enter the United States due to an emergency or urgent humanitarian reason.

The federal government pays 90% of the cost of covering adults without children who are eligible under Medicaid expansion, but the bill would cut that to 80% for those states, doubling the state portion from 10% to 20%. Thats the same penalty the bill proposes for states that use their own money to help immigrants who are here illegally.

Ironically, states such as Florida that have extended Medicaid coverage to immigrants who are here on humanitarian parole but have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act would not be harmed by the bill, said Leonardo Cuello, a Medicaid law and policy expert and research professor at the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy.

It is wildly nonsensical and unfair to penalize expansion states for covering a population that some non-expansion states, such as Florida, also cover, Cuello said. It would appear that the purpose is more to punish expansion states than address any genuine concern with immigrant coverage.

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West Virginia is one of the states where lawmakers are nervously watching U.S. Senate discussions on the proposed penalty. Republican state Rep. Matt Rohrbach, a deputy House speaker, said West Virginia legislators tabled a proposal that would have ended Medicaid expansion if the federal government reduced its share of the funding, because the states congressional representatives assured them it wasnt going to happen. Now the future is murkier.

Cuello called the proposed penalty basically a gun to the head of the states.

Congress is framing it as a choice, but the state is being coerced and really has no choice, he said.

There are about 1.3 million people in the United States on humanitarian parole, from Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Ukraine and Venezuela as well as some Central American children who have rejoined family here. The Trump administration is trying to end parole from some of those countries. A Supreme Court decision May 30 allows the administration to end humanitarian parole for about 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

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Not many of those parolees qualify for Medicaid, which requires a waiting period or special status, but the 40 states with expanded Medicaid could be penalized if immigrants qualify for the program, said Tanya Broder, senior counsel for health and economic justice policy at the National Immigration Law Center.

It would appear that the purpose is more to punish expansion states than address any genuine concern with immigrant coverage.

 Leonardo Cuello, Georgetown University research professor

Meanwhile, an increasing number of states and the District of Columbia already are considering scaling back Medicaid coverage for immigrants because of the costs.

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The federal budget bill, named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is now being considered by the Senate, where changes are likely. The fact that so many states could be affected by the last-minute change could mean more scrutiny in that chamber, said Andrea Kovach, senior attorney for health care justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago.

By her count, at least 38 states and the District of Columbia would be affected by the new restrictions, since they accepted some options now offered by Medicaid to cover at least some humanitarian parolees without a five-year waiting period.

Theyre all going to be penalized because they added in parolees, Kovach said. So thats 38 times two senators who are going to be very interested in this provision to make sure their state doesnt get their reimbursement knocked down.

The change to exclude people with humanitarian parole was included in a May 21 amendment by U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Texas Republican who chairs the House budget committee. Arringtons office did not reply to a request for comment, though he has stressed the importance of withholding Medicaid from immigrants who are here illegally.

[Democrats] want to protect health care and welfare at any cost for illegal immigrants at the expense of hardworking taxpayers, Arrington said in a May 22 floor speech urging passage of the bill. But by the results of this last election, its abundantly clear: The people see through this too and they have totally rejected the Democrats radical agenda.

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Some states already are considering cutting Medicaid coverage for immigrants, though Democratic lawmakers and advocates are pushing back.

Washington, D.C., Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed phasing out a program that provides Medicaid coverage to adults regardless of their immigration status, a move she says would save the District of Columbia $457 million.

Minnesota advocates protested a state budget deal reached last month with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to phase out health care coverage for adults who are here illegally, a condition Republican lawmakers insisted on to avoid a shutdown.

Similarly, Illinois advocates are protesting new state rules that will end a program that has provided Medicaid coverage to immigrants aged 42-64 regardless of their legal status. The program cost $1.6 billion over three years, according to a state audit. The state will continue a separate program that provides coverage for older adults.

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Our position is that decision-makers in Illinois shouldnt be doing Trumps work for him, said Kovach, of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Lets preserve health coverage for immigrants and stand up for Illinois immigrant residents who have been paying taxes into this state for years and need this coverage.

Illinois state Sen. Graciela Guzman, a Democrat whose parents are refugees from El Salvador, said many of her constituents in Chicago may be forced to cancel chemotherapy or lifesaving surgery because of the changes.

It was a state budget, but I think the federal reconciliation bill really set the tone for it, Guzman said. In a tough fiscal environment, it was really hard to set up a defense for this program.

Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek is among the governors holding firm, saying that letting immigrants stay uninsured imposes costs on local hospitals and ends up raising prices for everyone.

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The costs will go somewhere. When everyone is insured it is much more helpful to keep costs down and reasonable for everyone. Thats why weve taken this approach to give care to everyone, Kotek said at a news conference last month.

Medicaid does pay for emergency care for low-income patients, regardless of their immigration status, and that would not change under the federal budget bill.

Franny White, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said her states Medicaid program covers about 105,000 immigrants, some of whom are here illegally. She said the policy, established by a 2021 state law, can save money in the long run.

Uninsured people are less likely to receive preventive care due to cost and often wait until a condition worsens to the point that it requires more advanced, expensive care at an emergency department or hospital, she said.

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California was among the first states, along with Oregon, to offer health insurance to immigrants of all ages regardless of their legal status. But it now is considering cutting back, looking to save $5 billion as it seeks to close a $12 billion budget deficit. In May, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed freezing enrollment of immigrant adults who are here illegally, and charging them premiums to save money.

Its possible that other states will decide to cut back these services because of budgetary concerns, said Drishti Pillai, director of immigrant health policy at KFF, a health policy research organization.

If the federal budget bill passes with the immigrant health care provision intact, states would have more than two years to adjust, since the changes would not take effect until October 2027.

We have time to really understand what the landscape looks like and really create a legal argument to make sure folks are able to maintain their health care coverage, said Enddy Almonord, director for Healthy Illinois, an advocacy group supporting universal health care coverage.

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Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify remarks from Tanya Broder at the National Immigration Law Center. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
SINGAPORE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Singapore and China will deepen cooperation in digitalization and sustainability, building on existing joint projects and policy innovations, Singapore's Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said during a visit to Chongqing, southwest China, according to a release from Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry on Wednesday.

Teo made the remarks as Singapore and Chongqing mark the 10th anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) this year.

She noted that Singapore and China will support their companies in seizing new opportunities in the emerging sectors of digitalization and sustainability.

"The CCI continues to be an important platform in positioning Singapore and Chongqing as twin hubs that drive deeper and broader region-to-region connectivity between Southeast Asia and Western China," Teo said during her visit from Monday to Tuesday.

Her visit kicked off a series of bilateral engagements, including a connectivity, trade and finance conference, and a Chongqing culture and heritage showcase in Singapore, as well as the "Experience Singapore Week" in Chongqing, the release said.

Launched in 2015, the CCI focuses on financial services, air transportation, logistics, and information communication. It is the third intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Singapore, following the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern China's Jiangsu Province and the Tianjin Eco-city in northern China's Tianjin Municipality. 
The American Dream is back in reach and our nation is back on the path to prosperity, security, and sanity, thanks to the actions of the House of Representatives last week. With the Houses passage of President Trumps "One Big Beautiful Bill," weve shown that it is possible to return common sense to our government, protect taxpayers, secure our borders, and chart a course for national Golden Age - all in one package.

Its a declaration that the American people - not bureaucrats, radical liberal activists, or unelected judges - are in charge again. This bill delivers on the promises that President Trump and Republicans made to voters last fall.

As it passed the House, the bill includes $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings by slashing waste, fraud, and abuse. It does not touch Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits for anyone entitled to them, but it strengthens Medicaid by imposing work requirements and tightening eligibility to prevent illegal immigrants from gaming the system. We not only restore integrity to the program but ensure it remains sustainable for the future. Crucially, the bill will also remove an estimated 1.4 million illegal aliens from Medicaid, preventing abuse and freeing up resources for American citizens.

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In a move thats vital to our continued economic recovery, the bill continues and expands on the amazing tax cuts from President Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which did so much to boost the economy in his first term. Without this, families and small businesses will face a 24% tax hike when these cuts expire, which would be a gut punch to working Americans. By locking in lower tax rates, doubling the child tax credit, increasing the Death Tax exemption, and closing loopholes that let illegal aliens claim child tax benefits, were standing up for the families who are building this country - not those who are continuously breaking its laws.

The bill fulfills two major promises from President Trump by eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay, putting more money directly into the pockets of millions of working Americans. For those in hospitality, food service, and hourly jobs, this means they finally get to keep what they earn. The bill also slashes taxes on Social Security benefits through deductions, and lets taxpayers fully deduct the interest on car loans for American-made vehicles.

Americas energy dominance took a beating under the Biden administration, but this legislation marks a hard pivot back to sanity on domestic energy policy. We end the coal moratorium, reduce excessive royalty rates, and direct the Secretary of the Interior to lease federal coal resources again. Quarterly oil and gas lease sales are back. The days of begging hostile nations for energy while shutting down American production are over. Were putting our energy workers back on the job and reducing costs for consumers.

To address illegal immigration, we send a clear message in this bill: America is a sovereign nation, and we have the right - and the responsibility - to enforce our borders. We fund the construction of 701 miles of the border wall, provide for one million removals annually, add 10,000 new ICE personnel, and expand detention capacity to hold 100,000 illegal aliens on any given day. We also impose a fee structure on those filing immigration-related applications so that American taxpayers are no longer footing the bill for broken immigration policies.

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This bill also ends the absurd practice of blue states using taxpayer funds to provide healthcare to illegal aliens. Medicaid is for Americans - full stop. We also ensure that the program cannot be used to pay for transgender surgeries, whether for minors or adults, a line that never should have been crossed in the first place.

On the national defense front, we fully fund President Trumps visionary Golden Dome missile defense system. In a world thats growing more dangerous by the day, our nation must remain prepared to defend itself from any threat, foreign or domestic. This investment sends a clear message to our enemies: American strength is back.

Weve also eliminated taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. The American people should not be forced to subsidize the largest abortion provider in the country. This provision alone is a major victory for the sanctity of life and the conscience rights of millions of Americans.

This is what leadership looks like. This is what keeping promises looks like. And this is just the beginning. Im also hopeful that the Senate can add additional savings achieved by the DOGE Commission, which would make a good bill even better.

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Senators should pass this bill without delay, and we must get it to President Trump for his signature. The country cant afford anything less.

Rep. Ben Cline, a Republican, represents Virginias 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hoppe Development's Tallgrass mixed-income housing site, 35 acres in Papillion, will feature a mix of housing types targeting residents paying market rates and others who qualify for some of the affordable housing by making 60% or less of the area median income. (Courtesy of DAA, FoleyShald)

PAPILLION, Nebraska  Nebraskas big demand for affordable housing calls for big ideas, and the new Tallgrass housing project in Sarpy County is one developers novel approach to helping fill that tall order.

Lincoln-based Hoppe Development started out with a blank 35-acre canvas on which it plans to grow an entire mixed-income neighborhood inside a more massive 440-acre multi-use development.

Affordable row houses will be part of the Tallgrass mixed-income neighborhood of about 600 units designed specifically to include both affordable and market rate units. (Courtesy of DAA Architecture and Hoppe Development)

The private developer with help from a nonprofit partner will plant a variety of affordable housing types among Tallgrass 600 dwellings, which also will include market-rate housing for higher incomes. That feat required competitive applications to gain funding from multiple governmental and other sources.

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But perhaps the most atypical element is the location  the Tallgrass neighborhood is rising in Papillion, a suburban city in one of the fastest-growing and wealthiest per capita counties of the state, rather than in a more common inner city setting where most housing for lower income residents is concentrated.

Jake Hoppe, the companys chief executive, said the venture represents a newer approach to building affordable housing in Nebraska  one that integrates affordable units at a larger scale within a specially designed mixed-income suburban neighborhood. A similar Hoppe-led development targeting a residential range of incomes launched a couple of years ago in Lincoln.

Mixed-income success

His company points to research that shows lower-income families have greater success in breaking the cycle of poverty when living in an area with broader access to jobs, schools and opportunity, and amidst a mix of peers and lifestyles representing different levels of income.

Jake Hoppe, chief executive of Hoppe Development. (Courtesy of Hoppe Development)

Said company principal Fred Hoppe: If we are going to address the affordable housing challenges of our communities, we have to build affordable housing at scale alongside market rate housing, in highly desirable areas of town with strong schools and supportive community infrastructure.

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Jake Hoppe is among a lineup of state and national experts set to speak  at a two-day Reignite2Unite symposium beginning June 4  about successes and innovative efforts aimed at growing affordable and diverse housing across Nebraska.

Organized by the Omaha Municipal Land Bank, Spark CDI and Front Porch Investments, the conference at Omaha Marriott Downtown builds on the inaugural Reignite event last year, which offered tools and information to help emerging developers transform infill properties into community assets.

Leah Rothstein, a housing policy expert and co-author of Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted under the Color of Law, is a keynote speaker.

Leah Rothstein, author and keynote speaker at the Reignite2Unite conference on affordable housing. (Courtesy of Michelle Poulin)

Rothstein collaborated with her father, Richard Rothstein, on the book that is a sequel to his The Color of Law, a groundbreaking history of how the U.S. government imposed racial segregation on neighborhoods nationwide.

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In an interview with the Nebraska Examiner, Rothstein offered examples of policies that helped other communities improve access to affordable housing.

Among them: zoning reform that allows a broader range of housing sizes and types in a neighborhood; inclusionary housing policies that call for a certain percentage of new construction projects to be affordable; property tax abatements in return for affordable units, and nonprofit community land trusts that provide affordable housing in perpetuity by owning and leasing land to income-eligible people who live in houses built on the land.

Countering segregation

This years conference comes as officials continue to address whats been called a crisis shortage of affordable housing options in Nebraska, with too many households cost-burdened by spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

A bus tour of selected Omaha Municipal Land Bank lots is an annual event at the Reignite conference, now in its second year. Jeff Spiehs of Lamp Rynearson, guides the 2024 tour. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

State officials have said rising housing costs have impacted the states competitive edge and hampered its ability to fill open jobs. A study led by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and released in 2023 identified a goal to create, by 2028, at least 35,000 affordable and attainable homes across the state for low- to middle-income earners, which authors said would reduce the number of needed housing units by about a third.

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Rothstein said she was heartened to hear of the Tallgrass project she views as an inroad to counter segregation. Building affordable housing in suburban areas often faces the NIMBY (not in my backyard) battle from people who fear such projects could lower property values, she said.

In the case of Tallgrass, Hoppe said NIMBY so far has not been an issue, as the developer controls the tract on which it and partners have plotted out the mix and styles to blend as a neighborhood. He said a key was buying the large undeveloped property early on, allowing his team to design from the ground up.

Well be our own neighbor, he said.

If we are going to address the affordable housing challenges of our communities, we have to build affordable housing at scale alongside market rate housing, in highly desirable areas of town with strong schools and supportive community infrastructure.

 Fred Hoppe, Hoppe Development

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, with a $7 million assist from Cobalt Credit Union, is partnering with Hoppe in building 30 for-sale row houses that Habitat will make available for income-eligible buyers at the Tallgrass site.

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Habitats Lacey Studnicka, who also will speak at the Reignite event, said the nonprofit has a dominant presence in northeast Omaha but provides homeownership opportunities to lower income families in five counties. She said its first new-build project in Papillion came as home prices were rising and teachers, laborers and others were being priced out of the area.

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha to bring affordable housing to Sarpy County reflects our shared belief that everyone deserves a place to build their life and their dreams, said Cobalt CEO Robin Larsen.

Groundbreaking in mid-May at Tallgrass mixed-income neighborhood in Papillion. (Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity)

Site preparation also has started at Tallgrass for 198 rental units affordable to families at 60% of the area median income and below. Those dwellings are funded through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program administered by NIFA and the Community Development Block Grant program administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Ahead are other phases that include upscale market-rate apartments with a fitness center and swimming pool accessible to the whole development, as well as more for-sale homes funded in part by the Nebraska State Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Page from playbook

Hoppe said his team took a page from the playbook of purpose-built mixed-income housing areas steered by Seventy Five North and Canopy South. A difference is that those are inner city infill developments in the eastern part of Omaha, whereas Tallgrass took the model to a greenfield in the suburbs.

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Helping get Tallgrass off the ground was an initial $2 million low-interest loan from the nonprofit Front Porchs innovation fund. Hoppe said the boost triggered the purchase of land at Papillions 72nd Street and Capehart Road, inside the larger Oak Leaf subdivision.

At least one challenge, Hoppe said, is ensuring that supportive services are available for families that otherwise likely would live in older, more established neighborhoods, where child care options are more familiar and public transportation is more accessible.

He said his company has been exploring ways to respond to service gaps. A future elementary school hopefully will be responsive to the needs of the neighborhood as well. A commercial town center and walking trails also are planned.

Hoppe Developments Foxtail Meadows housing development in Lincoln. (Courtesy of Hoppe Development)

The developer had looked at economically thriving Elkhorn as a potential site, but Hoppe said his team chose Papillion partly because of Amazon and other warehouse jobs available in the vicinity.

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Judging from Hoppe Developments similarly designed Lincoln Foxtail Meadows development  which is 650 units targeting a range of income levels and built in a cornfield near a church  Jake Hoppe anticipates a positive response and outcome for Tallgrass.

Each is expected to take five to seven years to build out.

Its been great, he said of the first few phases so far in the Lincoln mixed-income neighborhood, supported by various state and federal affordable housing funds and city-approved tax-increment financing. No one can tell who lives in an affordable or market rate unit.

Former Omaha hotel property is training ground for new developer, future affordable housing site

OMAHA  A vacant downtown Omaha hotel property with an assorted and sometimes sketchy past, is set to be demolished to make way for a $16 million mixed-income residential property.

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A unique element of that venture is its team: Lincoln-based Hoppe Development, seasoned in the affordable housing field, paired up with Omahan Donell Brown, who is learning the industry.

Rendering of a residential building to rise at 2211 Douglas St., with Hoppe Development pairing with emerging developer Donell Brown. Half the units are to be affordable for seniors and the rest will be market rate. (Courtesy of Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture)

Such alliances, which help increase diversity among real estate developers, is a goal of this weeks Reignite2Unite symposium and related efforts by organizers Spark and Omahas Municipal Land Bank.

The conference is expected to draw 250 people over two days starting Wednesday.

Brown is a participant in Sparks co-development apprenticeship that aims to set up budding developers with a project site and experienced team to give them more of a running start.

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Brown recently completed a single-family home project and said he was eager to absorb the expertise of developers accustomed to assembling funding sources for more complicated projects.

With the 2211 Douglas St. project, Brown said he is dealing with a gamut of federal, state and city officials. Hes become aware of how to raise a score on a low-income housing tax credit application and plan a community engagement strategy.

Its pushing the limits of what I know and have done before to keep me growing and learning things, said Brown.

Jake Hoppe, CEO of Hoppe Development, said the plan is for the former hotel property, once the 402 Hotel and EconoLodge, to be razed. Most recently, the structure was used by Together Inc., as a non-congregate shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A downtown Omaha project features affordable housing for seniors. (Courtesy of Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture)

Together Inc. and another nonprofit, Omaha-based Front Porch Investments, sought proposals to redevelop the site. Hoppe Development was selected and received the property for free.

The plan is a new residential building of about 70 units, about half affordable housing for seniors and the rest units at market rate. The development team expects to apply for tax-increment financing and low-income housing tax credits.

Hoppe said adding Brown to the team adds a new perspective. Brown said he appreciates learning method to the madness.

They know the path, Brown said of Hoppe partners. It helps in thinking bigger in what you can perform and do.

 Cindy Gonzalez
ILLINOIS (WCIA)  Legislation aimed at making it easier for residents to obtain a hunting permit  and to help control the deer population  has passed both the Illinois Senate and House, and is headed towards the governors desk.

Under Senate Bill 710, IDNR would implement new rules for the Deer Removal Permit. Landowners would be allowed to let other individuals destroy deer responsible for damage under a permit given to the landowner.

Legislature bumps right up against midnight deadline as they pass $55 billion budget

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And, landowner deer and turkey permits could be given for free to an Illinois resident that owns at least 40 acres of Illinois land and that wishes to hunt on their own land. Tenant deer and turkey permits could be given for free to Illinois residents that are living on at least 40 acres of commercial agricultural land, wishing to hunt on land they live on.

The legislation would also allow for permits to automatically be issued, specifically for those who have effectively reduced the deer population, and other certain conditions. You can read more about those conditions here.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan said this legislation will help farmers and address costly damage from deer.

Prosecutors recommend 12.5 years in prison for ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan

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Illinois farmers know all too well the costly damage nuisance deer can cause to crops and farmland, Duncan said. This legislation will provide farmers with effective tools to help manage deer populations and protect farmland across the state. We thank Sen. Patrick Joyce and Rep. Marcus Evans for championing legislation that provides these practical tools, as well as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources [IDNR] for their efforts.

If Governor JB Pritzker signs Senate Bill 710 into law, it would be effective Jan. 1, 2026. You can read more about the legislation 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 WCIA.com.
A bipartisan bill would allow veterans with health issues caused by exposure to forever chemicals at U.S. military bases to be treated as service-connected disabilities, which would further open the door to health care and benefits compensation for those impacted.

Forever chemicals, more technically known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are long-lasting chemicals that break down slowly. They are found in many everyday objects, food, and in air, water, and soil around the world, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The bill, titled Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act, or the VET PFAS Act, would designate exposure to PFAS as a service-connected condition for veterans, making them eligible for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It would also allow military dependents, including those in utero while the mother resided at a base with PFAS exposures, to be eligible for hospital care and medical services for certain diseases and conditions, according to the text of the bill.

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If passed, the legislation would be a major expansion of health conditions and illnesses for which veterans could receive VA care and disability benefits. The bill was introduced in the House on May 29 by New York Rep. Josh Riley, a Democrat, and Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican, and builds upon measures from the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act. The PACT Act, passed in 2022, was the largest expansion of service-connected health conditions eligible for VA care, including service members exposed to burn pits during Iraq and Afghanistan deployments, for Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange-related chemicals, and very specific instances of base exposures.

The Department of Defense has identified 718 bases with known or suspected PFAS release. The military estimates that PFAS investigation and cleanup costs could come to more than $9.3 billion in fiscal year 2025, which was more than triple the estimate in 2022. Since 2017, the Defense Department has spent around $2.6 billion to address PFAS, according to a Government Accountability report from February.

The bill states that covered health conditions would be identified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the agency administrator of the Department of Health and Human Services registry for toxic substances and diseases. Their suggestions would come from studies directed by Congress in the annual defense bill for fiscal year 2018, which are ongoing from the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDCs website on health investigations states that existing research suggests that high levels of PFAS could lead to increased cholesterol, changes in liver enzymes, pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, decreases in birth weight, and increased risks of kidney and testicular cancers.

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The bill specifically calls for health care coverage of perfluorooctanoic acid exposures for veterans diagnosed with high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Other iterations of the legislation have been previously introduced. Some Democratic senators have expressed interest in crafting their own PFAS bill, but nothing formal has been introduced yet, a spokesperson for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee told Task & Purpose.

The issue of forever chemicals on military bases and their health impacts on military families has been gaining support in Congress. In April, Senate Democrats held an event on the Hill with former service members and their families who called for a broadening of the PACT Act.

At the April event, military families described cancers and other illnesses they believe are the result of PFAS exposures, including former bases like George Air Force Base, California, which later became superfund sites, a designation by the EPA as one of the most polluted sites in the U.S. Despite the designation, the families based there were never notified of their potential exposure.

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The PACT Act also established a framework for the VA to establish presumptive conditions without an act of Congress through the federal rule-making process. The VA began the process for defining PFAS exposure as a presumptive health condition for VA care with a federal register notice in September. However, an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January paused all federal rule-making.

The latest on Task & Purpose
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  A bill developing guidance of artificial intelligence across Illinois schools passed both the House and the Senate.

Illinois Senate Bill 1920 passed out of both Houses on May 31 and will now be headed to Governor JB Pritzkers desk. The bill, first enacted by Sen. Doris Turney on Feb. 6, requires the State Board of Education to develop statewide guidance for school districts and educators on the use of artificial intelligence in elementary and secondary education.

Illinois bill on governors desk would require law enforcement to work with federal gun tracing database

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It also sets a deadline of July 1, 2026, for the State Board of Education to encourage school districts to collect teaching resources in order to support American Sign Language (ASL) programs. The board must always post on its website the process in which the board evaluates content area knowledge tests to determine the validity of content, a lack of bias or the scores needed to pass these tests.

The bill initially passed the House on May 23, and the following alternate co-sponsors were added before the bill headed back to the Senate:

Rep. Nicolle Grasse

Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

Rep. Michael Crawford

Rep. Mary Beth Canty

Additionally, the bill includes recognizing and reporting online harassment and cyber-bullying with respect to the recommendation of an age-appropriate unit of internet safety instruction. This includes making and distributing false representations of people created by AI, such as sexually explicit images and videos.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  A bill helping the states public defenders with a new office in the Judicial Branch is headed to the governors desk.

Public defenders are government appointed lawyers for people accused of criminal charges who cannot afford legal representation.

The new independent office would create rules to establish public defenders appointments, powers and pay. A commission would also be formed to help with operational costs and funding.

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WATCH: Public Defenders take another crack at creating statewide office

County offices would also mimic those new roles.

Supporters of the bill said that would be among the most substantial reforms to the states public defender system since 1949.

Every Illinoisan deserves a strong defense, no matter their income, said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago). Instating this new system would ensure real help reaches people who have been left behind in conversations about criminal justice reform for far too long.

In the current system, judges can hire and fire chief public defenders. The American Bar Association discourages that system as it calls for public defenders to be independent.

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For years, our local public defenders have been doing more with less  handling impossible caseloads and fighting uphill battles, Peters said. This bill gives public defenders the tools to do the job right and truly stand up for their client.

The bill passed the Senate Saturday and now heads to Pritzkers desk. The full text of the bill can be found here.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  If youve been to any gas station, youve mostly seen and used the clips on the pump handle that allow you to pump gas without holding the handle down.

One New York Senator, Joe Griffo, a Republican representing the 53rd District, is working to make these clips universal. Griffo has introduced a bill in the Senate.

According to Griffos office, out of 50 states in the nation, only New York State has some restrictions on locking fuel handles at the gas pump. He said these regulations are decades old and were written because of less safe technology then.

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In 2008, they began in the fire code in the state, were going to implement and enforce the revisions that were done back in the 80s, he said.

News 8 went to 10 gas stations near the Humboldt Street studios  three in Rochester, two along Empire Boulevard, and two in Webster  and all but one had these clips.

$3 for gas is crazy: Why gas prices differ between pumps, experts weigh in

A spokesperson with the city of Rochesters fire marshal says there is currently no ban on the clips. They say if this legislation were passed, it would shift regulation to the Attorney Generals office, rather than through the fire code, and gas stations would then install the clips on the pumps that dont have them already.

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Griffo says new technology makes the clips and hands-free filling safer and easier, and helpful in winter.

People were saying when its 20 below zero, and standing there and holding this gas thing when you can be in your car, is challenging and problematic,

Griffo says there are two weeks left in session, and this bill may not make it to a vote this time around.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The proposed bill that seeks to prevent the defunding of schools in California caused by low attendance rates due to immigration enforcement cleared the California State Assembly on Monday.

Assembly Bill 1348, introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, was approved by the California State Assembly. Ahead of the approval, Bains mentioned the case of the 4-year-old girl from Bakersfield who was facing possible deportation despite needing essential medical care, according to a press release from Bains office.

Her family came here legally; they have followed all of the rules, and yet they are still being targeted for deportation, Bains said in her Floor testimony. The only purpose of allowing ICE to operate around schools is to instill fear and send a message that nowhere is safe.

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Another 2026 congressional candidate? Breaking down Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains healthcare ad

After Bains speech, Assemblymember Carl DeMaio spoke in opposition of the bill, calling it and the rhetoric surrounding the bill dangerous.

When a member whos elected stands in support of a bill and says that nowhere is safe because of these agents that the agents are engaging in quote, psychological warfare against immigrants, it is outrageous, DeMaio said.

You know whats outrageous? Its trying to deport a 4-year-old child that came here legally and could die within days, Bains replied. Instead of putting words and adding more rhetoric, please do the right thing and vote yes to protect our children and protect funding for our schools.

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Late Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security granted humanitarian parole to the 4-year-old girl.

Bakersfield high school students stage walkouts over immigration enforcement

The bill is meant to protect California school districts from risks of defunding as immigration raids at schools discourage some children from attending school.

If passed, the amended bill would include immigration enforcement activity to the list of conditions outside of the schools control that would make the school district eligible for funding protection until July 1, 2029.

The list of conditions previously included natural disasters, safety threats and other issues that would pose challenges for a large number of students to attend schools.

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The funding designated to a school district by the state of California depends on its Average Daily Attendance, which is calculated by dividing the total number of days of student attendance by the total number of school days.

A decrease in a school districts ADA can cause the state to also decrease the funding for that school district.

Twenty percent of Californias school children live in mixed-status homes, meaning they are undocumented or living with someone who is undocumented, EdTrust-West wrote in a letter of support to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, according to the release. Several LEAs (Local Education Agencies) have reported a decrease in attendance because immigrant parents are afraid federal immigration officials will detain children to screen for residency status or question the children about others in their household.

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The California State Senate will now consider the bill, according to the release.

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Children at Mariposa Learning Center in Fitchburg. (2023 file photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

While providers, their supporters and Democratic lawmakers are pressing for a substantial continuing direct state investment in Wisconsins child care sector, Republicans in the Legislature are pursuing another route: expanding a child care tax credit for employers.

So far, child care providers and some small business owners arent interested.

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The legislation circulated in draft form in early May. On Friday, May 30, it was formally introduced in the Assembly (AB 283) and the state Senate (SB 291).

We really think its an important opportunity to reward employers for getting involved in child care, Neil Kline, who says he encouraged GOP lawmakers to draft the tax credit legislation, told the Examiner.

Kline is executive director of Family Friendly Workplaces, a nonprofit based in Woodville that works with businesses in Burnett, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties. The organization certifies employers as family-friendly to support their recruitment and retention efforts, Kline said. To that end, one of its missions is focusing on workforce-related problems such as housing and child care access.

In early May Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Karen Hurd (R-Withee) circulated the proposed bill seeking cosponsors.

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The legislation was written to encourage more businesses to invest in child care in their communities, Marklein and Hurd wrote in their May 12 cosponsor memo. These changes will increase the number of available child care slots and provide more options for families.

Demanding direct support

The legislation has been introduced while child care providers and Democrats are continuing their campaigns to revive direct support for the child care sector.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Evers administration used federal pandemic relief funds to pay child care providers monthly stipends through the Child Care Counts program. The $20 million a month that the state doled out helped providers stabilize child care, increasing workers pay while keeping care more affordable for families.

When Evers tried to use $360 million from the 2023-25 budget to continue Child Care Counts with state money, none of the Legislatures Republican majority got behind the measure. The governor was later able to reallocate other federal dollars to fund Child Care Counts through June 2025, but at half the original amount: $10 million a month.

State Sen. Sarah Keyeski speaks at a press conference held by Democrats in the Legislature on May 22, 2025. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

With lawmakers now writing the 2025-27 budget, Evers, child care providers and their advocates have been campaigning for $480 million to continue the program for the next two years. A survey commissioned by the state and conducted by the University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty forecast closures and tuition hikes if the state payments end.

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At their very first budget vote, however, Republicans on the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee removed the proposal along with more than 600 other items Evers had included in his budget draft. The GOP outnumbers the Democrats 3 to 1 on the committee.

Democratic lawmakers responded by circulating a draft stand-alone bill to reinstate the Evers proposal.

Child care providers are facing increasing cost to operate while still making poverty-level wages, said Sen. Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi) at a May 22 press conference to announce the Democrats bill. This has made it extremely difficult to hire and retain quality staff. [Meanwhile] providers desperately want to avoid rising costs and rates on families already struggling to afford child care.

Child care as business investment

As yet no Republican lawmakers have gotten behind the Child Care Counts proposal.

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Instead, the bills that Marklein and Hurd have introduced would make changes to the Business Development Tax Credit, which is provided through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

That tax credit is granted to reward a variety of business investments and reduces the state income tax that a business pays by the amount of the credit.

Currently, a business that spends money on starting a child care program for its employees can get up to 15% of that cost taken off its tax bill. The credit applies only to capital investments, however  building or remodeling the child care facility.

Sen. Howard Marklein speaks to reporters at a press conference in May 2025. (File photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Unfortunately, we have heard that the current program parameters limit the incentive for businesses to invest in child care programs, Marklein and Hurd wrote in their co-sponsor memo. While many businesses may want to provide child care as a benefit to employees, the current credit limitations reduce the incentive for this investment.

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In addition to capital expenditures, the draft bill would extend the tax credit to cover 15% of several other costs:

An employers spending on child care program operations;

Spending to reimburse employees for their child care expenses;

Spending to buy or reserve openings for its employees at a child care center;

Contributions an employer makes to an employees flexible spending account for dependent care.

The draft bill also allows the tax credit for any other cost or expense incurred due to a benefit provided by an employer to facilitate the provision or utilization by employees of child care services.

The tax credit would be refundable: Even if the credit totals more than the employer pays in taxes, the company would get its full value back from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

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It also would give a refund to nonprofit employers, which dont pay taxes.

While not a silver bullet, these changes are another step in the right direction to address the child care issue in Wisconsin, Marklein and Hurd wrote in their memo.

Neil Kline (Family Friendly Workplaces photo)

Kline, the Family Friendly Workplaces director, said the proposal would help engage employers more directly in addressing child care shortages.

We really think it lays the groundwork for ongoing, self-sustaining support of child care in Wisconsin, he said. The primary goal is to help introduce new money into the child care  really, the child care ecosystem  by rewarding employers to support the ongoing expenses of child care, because the reality is that the sector needs additional money in it.

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Kline said he understands that the ongoing operational economics is a central problem for the child care sector. Thats why we are so focused on helping employers find avenues and be rewarded for helping defray the expenses that are related to child care and helping support that ongoing operational side of child care.

Chilly reception

To date the existing child care employer tax credit hasnt had any takers, according to the WEDC. In January, as part of an overall evaluation of the states business development tax credit, an outside consultant told WEDC that due to the high operational costs of childcare centers, affordability would likely be better achieved through subsidy as opposed to a tax incentive.

The proposal to expand the tax credit isnt gaining traction with providers or small business owners.

Main Street Alliance, which organizes small business owners to advocate for state and national legislation, has already announced objections to the bill.

Shawn Phetteplace, Main Street Alliance

These kinds of programs and tax credits are often advantageous for employers who can afford compliance and the procedural costs and have economies of scale, said Shawn Phetteplace, MSAs national campaign director. That leaves out the typical small business, said Phetteplace, who sent lawmakers a memo calling the proposal deeply unserious.

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Evan Dannells, a chef and owner of two Madison restaurants, questioned how a relatively small business like his would benefit from the tax credit.

Of his eight full-time employees, one has two children. Most of the others are graduate students. Directly paying for the one employees child care, even if receiving a tax credit, doesnt feel fair to the others who dont have that expense, Dannells said.

If you put the onus of taking care of child care on the employer, the employer wont hire people with children, he said.

Dannells considers the cost of child care a legitimate use of his tax dollars. This is why government should be doing this, he said. He observed that children are required to go to school when they reach the age of first grade. Why cant we take care of them from age 1 to 5?

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While the tax credit may make it easier for a particular companys employees to afford child care thanks to the employers support, skeptics of the proposal say that assistance only helps some people  not the system as a whole.

That doesnt help keep the doors open, said Heather Murray, who operates a child care center in Waunakee. Were hitting crisis mode and centers are shutting down now, and a quarter of them will be gone if [Child Care Counts] isnt renewed. We need the investment to go directly to providers to make sure that the doors stay open.

Child care as a public good

National child care analyst Eliot Haspel is also skeptical. Haspel is a fellow at Capita, a think tank that works in the area of family policy. In February 2024, the think tank New America published his report raising questions about the impact of various employer-sponsored child care benefits.

Eliot Haspel (Capita.org photo)

Haspel views child care as a public good that benefits society broadly. For that reason, he contends, it should serve families regardless of whether they work for an employer able to fund a child care benefit.

Small business will never be able to offer a really robust child care workplace benefit, Haspel says. That puts small businesses and small business employees at a disadvantage if supporting child care is primarily an employers responsibility, he argues.

The large number of low-wage workers and gig workers also raises the specter of increasing inequalities, he writes in the New America report.

Haspel says that tying child care to a job also locks people into a job  or strands them from needed care if they lose their job. It also disrupts childrens early education at a time when they need consistent and reliable connections with their caregivers, advocates say.

Its really bad for workers and its really bad for kids for your child care to be tied to your employment, Sen. Kelda Roys said at the Democrats May 22 press conference.

Tying health insurance to employment has been a disaster, Roys said. Health care is rationed based on the job that you have or the wealth that you have, she added, and we do not want to exacerbate the current problems in our child care system by tying it to peoples employment.

In his New America report and in an interview, Haspel says the problem isnt providing child care at the workplace.

Im not against the idea of onsite child care  that can make all the sense in the world, he says. You can have an onsite center as part of a publicly funded system  one to which employers contribute as taxpayers.

Focusing on the employer, however, carries with it an opportunity cost, Haspel says. The more we say child care should be solved primarily through employers, the harder it is to say we need a fully public system that is universal and reaches everyone.

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A staff member demonstrates the autonomous parking function inside an Avatar vehicle during the Road Safety Week events in Bangkok, Thailand, June 4, 2025. Chinese carmakers took center stage at an exhibition on Wednesday during the Road Safety Week events organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, presenting their latest models supported by world-leading intelligent driving technologies and systems. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

BANGKOK, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese carmakers took center stage at an exhibition on Wednesday during the Road Safety Week events organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, presenting their latest models supported by world-leading intelligent driving technologies and systems.

Several leading Chinese carmakers in Thailand -- Changan Automobile, GAC Group, BYD, and Great Wall Motor -- joined global peers like Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover to showcase advanced driver-assistance systems through static displays and dynamic demonstrations, including features such as adaptive cruise control and automatic parking.

The exhibition attracted more than 100 delegates from international organizations and national regulators, including the ESCAP and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the European Union, Germany, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, to experience first-hand how Chinese intelligent driving technologies are being deployed to address road safety challenges.

Richard Damm, chairman of the Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles under UNECE, said China has contributed to the sharing of information and regulatory cooperation. "It's very much appreciated that the colleagues from the Chinese government and the industry partners are contributing by sharing information and developing related regulations," he told Xinhua.

By introducing new technology related to autonomous driving to the market, Chinese carmakers have fostered competition that would bring innovation, which would also help improve road safety, said Damm.

During relevant meetings at the Road Safety Week, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology organized participation of key China automotive institutions, including the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, to present technical proposals related to autonomous driving, driver-assistance systems, and data security, which highlighted China's progress in both technology development and standard-developing, attracting strong interest from global participants. 

Richard Damm, chairman of the Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles under UNECE, speaks during an interview with Xinhua at the Road Safety Week events in Bangkok, Thailand, June 4, 2025.

Chinese carmakers took center stage at an exhibition on Wednesday during the Road Safety Week events organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, presenting their latest models supported by world-leading intelligent driving technologies and systems. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

A staff member demonstrates the barrier-free design of a GAC M8 PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) vehicle during the Road Safety Week events in Bangkok, Thailand, June 4, 2025.

Chinese carmakers took center stage at an exhibition on Wednesday during the Road Safety Week events organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, presenting their latest models supported by world-leading intelligent driving technologies and systems. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

A Denza Z9 GT vehicle is seen during the Road Safety Week events in Bangkok, Thailand, June 4, 2025.

Chinese carmakers took center stage at an exhibition on Wednesday during the Road Safety Week events organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, presenting their latest models supported by world-leading intelligent driving technologies and systems. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)
Jun. 4Lawmakers approved an amended bill this week that would offer grant funding to Maine school districts to explore pushing back high school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later.

The amendment replaced the original version of LD 396, sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, that sought to mandate an 8:30 a.m. or later start time for all high schools.

Daughtry has long advocated for pushing back start times, arguing that research shows teens need more sleep to be safe and productive at school. Her efforts have stalled in the past, and while this year's bill advanced in both the House and Senate this week, it was not without significant changes.

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Following amendments in committee and on the Senate floor, LD 396 no longer mandates a start time for all districts. Instead, it creates a grant-funded pilot program that would support districts financially if they want to explore changing their high school start time to 8:30 a.m. or later, either within their own district or in collaboration with neighboring ones.

The bill has a $206,078 fiscal note, which includes $100,000 for the grant program and $106,078 for the Department of Education, which would be tasked with creating an application process, timeline and criteria for the grant program.

"I've been dreaming about making this happen at the state level since high school. My classmates and I wanted adults to change this back when we were teenagers, struggling through our early mornings," Daughtry said Wednesday. "While this isn't a statewide requirement, it's still a meaningful step forward and a real win for Maine's high schoolers."

The amended bill passed the Senate in a 20-13 vote on Tuesday and passed through the House unanimously Wednesday. It still needs additional votes in both chambers, and approval from the Appropriations Committee, before being sent to Gov. Janet Mills. A spokesperson for the governor did not say whether Mills had a stance on the bill, just that she would review the bill as enacted if it reaches her desk.

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At a public hearing on LD 396 in February, students and parents testified that a later start time would improve safety and academic outcomes. Pediatric health experts said research shows later high school start times lead to improved attendance, better grades, less tardiness and fewer car accidents.

But statewide education groups and the Maine Department of Education submitted testimony in opposition, arguing that a statewide mandate would not acknowledge districts' varied needs.

"(Districts) across Maine vary significantly in their geographic, demographic and logistical realities. Decisions about school start and end times are complex and deeply interconnected with transportation, after-school programming, extracurricular activities, student employment and family schedules," Chief Teaching and Learning Officer Beth Lambert said on behalf of the department. "Each district must be free to determine the start and end times that work best for their students, families, and communities."

The pilot program, called the School Start Time Fund, would provide one-time grants to be used by schools to coordinate start time changes. Districts are also free to push back their start times on their own, and several Maine districts  including Portland, South Portland, Bath and Biddeford  have already implemented their own late-start policies.

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UPDATE: Damon Moon Jr. was found safe, according to the Birmingham Police Department on Wednesday afternoon.

ORIGINAL: Birmingham police searching for missing 8-year-old

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Birmingham Police Department announced it is searching for a missing 8-year-old who was last seen Tuesday.

Damon Moon Jr. was last seen at Ninth Avenue North and Center Street on Tuesday. He was reportedly last seen with his father going to a park and did not return home. They were last seen in a blue/green 2012 Ford Fusion with its tag reading 1A1BD4T.

(Courtesy: Birmingham police)

Moon was last seen wearing a faded pink/red Alabama team shirt with an elephant on it and gray champion shorts. He is 4-foot-11, weighs around 110 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.

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NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH)  We are hearing for the first time from the family of the former New London police officer accused of domestic violence.

Julio Gil-Martinez has made several court appearances since his arrest last year for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend and then allegedly violating the protective order. For many of those appearances, his family has been there.

New London officer arrested for a fourth time; accused of violating protective order

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He is a great uncle, his sister Karen Gil told News 8 on the phone as we stood with their father outside of court. One day, he is going to be a great dad.

Gil-Martinez has been in jail since his arrest in March and has been fired by the New London Police Department. His family says he has never been violent before and was always protective of his sister who now lives in another state.

Thats why Im so shocked of all this happened because he was always telling me to not put up with anything like that, Gil said.

They question his ex-girlfriends intentions and truthfulness.

She did show up at his house, said Gil. I was there.

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But they admit Gil-Martinez never should have violated the protective order, even if one time he said it was to replace the phone he broke.

I think he is a little bit obsessed with her, Gil said. Yeah.

Family members its very hard, Kathy Verano, executive director of Safe Futures, a program that helps victims of domestic violence, said. They dont want to look at their brother their son right or their best friend as being an abuser. But also historically victims do not report the first second or third or fourth or fifth or sixth time of abuse.

That help is free and confidential.

A victim can talk to any of us and know were not telling anyone, Verano said.

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The next court date for Gil-Martinez is July 10. The judge said he does not have to be transported to court for that judicial pre-trial.

Instead, his attorney and the state will be discussing if there is any possibility for him to be released as well as what else could happen next.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A new podcast launched by Living Local 413 plans to bring together voices in the western Mass. community to discuss economic changes and development in the region.

BIZ BUZZ 413 invites listeners to learn about the improvements and challenges that western Mass. communities are facing, with expertise from local leaders. Living Local 413 has launched the four-part pilot episode this week, focusing on how each of the four counties is fueling growth through its Main Streets.

Living Local 413 launches womens health program

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Special guests in this debut episode include Ben Lamb, Vice President of Economic Development at 1Berkshire, Xiomara Alban DeLobato, Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC), Jacob Robinson, Executive Director at the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, and Hannah Rechtschaffen, Director of the Greenfield Business Association (GBA).

Local entrepreneur and owner of POP!more, Jill Monson, serves as the host of BIZ BUZZ 413, bringing with her years of experience in both talk radio and nonprofit and business sectors.

I had a nugget of an idea, said Bill Cole, President of Living Local 413. And then I met with Jill, and well, if you know Jill, the next thing you know, we had a show. I am beyond excited by the topics we have planned, including womens healthcare and the changes in our area, Artificial Intelligence (AI)  friend or foe, women in local government/politics, workforce, succession planning, business resources, and much more.

Episodes will be released regularly on the Living Local 413 website, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. To listen to BIZ BUZ 413s first episode, visit livinglocal413.org.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
(NewsNation)  The drama between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a surprising new turn, as a court filing shows some claims against Baldoni have been withdrawn.

On Monday, the actress filed to dismiss her original claims of emotional distress. On Tuesday, Judge Lewis Liman, who is overseeing the lawsuit, ruled that those claims would not remain active. It was Livelys claims of emotional distress that led to Baldonis lawyers requesting her medical information. This included therapy notes and information on her mental health providers.

Trump pardon for Diddy? 50 Cent says he would stop it: Report

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Liman said Baldonis motion to get medical information is denied based on (Livelys) representation that the relevant claims will be withdrawn. He also said that Lively didnt want to disclose the information but wanted to keep the right to re-file her claims.

However, Liman decided that Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways, and he closed the case completely. Now, Lively cannot change her mind and provide medical records to keep the lawsuit alive.

Blake Livelys attorneys cannot use evidence of alleged distress in court

Following the ruling, Livelys attorneys will be unable to use evidence of her alleged emotional distress in her case. Baldonis attorneys declined to comment on this ruling, according to Variety.

Livelys lawyers have said Baldonis lawyers requesting her medical information is a press stunt and filed their own motion urging the court to sanction attorneys for Baldoni, saying they abused the docket.

This combination of images shows Blake Lively at the London screening of the film It Ends With Us on Aug. 8, 2024, left, and Justin Baldoni at the world premiere of the film in New York on Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo) NEW YORK, NEW YORK  AUGUST 06: (L-R) Hugh Jackman , Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds attend the It Ends With Us New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK  JULY 22: (L-R) Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid and Hugh Jackman attend the Deadpool & Wolverine World Premiere at the David H. Koch Theater on July 22, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Disney) FILE  Blake Lively appears at the screening for the film It Ends With Us' in London on Aug. 8, 2024. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File) Actress Blake Lively attends the LACMA Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, California, on November 2, 2024. (Photo by Etienne LAURENT / AFP) JERSEY CITY, NJ  JANUARY 12: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of It Ends with Us on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) This image released by Sony Pictures shows Justin Baldoni, left, and Blake Lively in a scene from It Ends With Us. (Nicole Rivelli/Sony Pictures via AP) FILE  Blake Lively poses for photographers upon arrival at the UK Gala Screening for the film It Ends With Us on Thursday, Aug, 8, 2024 in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File) LONDON, ENGLAND  AUGUST 08: Blake Lively attends the UK Gala Screening of It Ends With Us at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) Hugh Jackman, from left, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Tammy Reynolds, and Brandon Sklenar attend the world premiere of It Ends with Us at AMC Lincoln Square on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the world premiere of A Simple Favor at The Museum of Modern Art on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) NEW YORK, NY  APRIL 02: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the premiere for A Quiet Place at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on April 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

It is based on two brazenly false assertions. First, they claim that Ms. Lively has refused to disclose medical and mental health information, but as counsel for the Wayfarer Parties concede, that information is relevant only to Ms. Livelys stand-alone tort-based emotional distress claims that she indicated she was withdrawing, the Lively filing argued.

Justin Baldonis foundation closes

As these legal battles continue, it was announced that Baldonis foundation, Wayfarer Foundation, would be closing. Baldoni co-owned the foundation with producing partner Steve Sarowitz.

FILE  Justin Baldoni attends the world premiere of It Ends with Us at AMC Lincoln Square on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Sarowitz announced the closing on Instagram, saying, Upon unanimous decision of the board of directors, today (May 2) we will begin the process of sunsetting the Foundation. We will honor all of our current grant commitments as we carefully wind down operations over the next several weeks.

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Baldoni had been a board member of the foundation since 2016.

Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment

All of this comes after Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment. One insider told NewsNation in February that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, have no idea whats coming down the pike.

King of the Hill voice actor fatally shot: Reports

Another source told NewsNation in February that no one wanted to work with Lively since the lawsuits started.

Then, Baldoni filed a suit that claimed he had to deal with being defamed and alleged extortion attempts. He had also filed a libel suit against The New York Times before it was paused in March. A trial for the Lively suit against Baldoni has been scheduled for March 2026.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.






NEED TO KNOW

Travis Decker is wanted after being accused of murdering his three young daughters

The sisters - Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5 - were found dead on Monday

Decker remains at large as local authorities continue to search for him in Washington







Travis Decker remains at large as police in Wenatchee, Wash., and the surrounding area continue their multi-day manhunt for the missing father suspected of killing his three young girls over the weekend.

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Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead on Monday, June 2 near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Wash., after authorities tracked down their fathers abandoned car near where their bodies were discovered, PEOPLE previously reported.

Decker, a former military man, remains on the loose according to local authorities, who provided a description of the father over the weekend as the search began.

Heres what we know.

When Did the Girls Go Missing?

The Wenatchee Police Department said in a statement over the weekend that Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia were all supposed to be with their father for a planned visitation over the weekend.

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The visitation was part of a parenting plan, but he has since gone outside the parameters of it which is not normal and cause for the alarm, police said. The girls were last seen on May 30 and found dead on Monday, June 2, two days after police first launched their public manhunt.

Wenatchee Police Department Travis Decker Travis Decker

Who Is Travis Decker?

Police have said the 32-year-old Decker has former military experience and should be approached carefully, PEOPLE previously reported. It is unknown whether Decker is currently armed, but he may pose a significant risk, police said in a statement in recent days.

The Wenatchee Police Department said in its May 31 missing persons alert that Decker has recently been homeless and living in his vehicle or at various hotels/motels or at campgrounds in the area. At 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, Decker was last seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts. He was also most recently wearing his black hair in a ponytail, according to police.

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.

What Have Police Found?

Authorities discovered Deckers pickup truck near the Rock Island Campground in Leavenworth, Wash., where the three sisters bodies were discovered, local Fox 13 reported. According to the outlet, investigators found two bloody handprints on Deckers truck while inside there were items like a blanket, food, and car seats for the girls. Police also discovered a wallet on the center console of the vehicle, according to Fox 13.

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Court documents obtained by the outlet also say that Decker's cell phone activity showed "he drove to and left the same campground a day prior to the kidnapping.

Decker has since been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping, police have said. He is also facing custodial interference charges.



Wenatchee Police Department Olivia Decker, Evelyn Decker, Paityn Decker Olivia Decker, Evelyn Decker, Paityn Decker

What Has the Decker Family Said?

A GoFundMe page set up for the girls' mother, Whitney Decker, has described the girls deaths as heartbreaking.

"We are heartbroken to share that the girls have since passed ... the pain of this loss is immeasurable," organizer and friend Amy Edwards wrote. "Ive known Whitney for years, we're both dance moms and theater friends [and I've] had the privilege of teaching Whitneys girls."

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The GoFundMe has raised nearly $400,000 in recent days. Edwards says the funds raised will go directly to Whitney to help cover final expenses, support time off from work, and give her space to heal without financial pressure.

Thank you for keeping Whitney and her girls in your hearts, the family friend added.



Read the original article on People
A jewelry store in Encino on Sunday became the latest to be targeted by burglars using a blowtorch to gain access to its safes.

Surveillance video from Afghan Lapis Jewelry on the 17600 block of Ventura Boulevard shows four burglars crawling on the floor after breaking into the business during the early morning hours.

KTLA reporter Angeli Kakade was at the store Wednesday morning. She could still smell the smoke from inside the ransacked shop, where items were overturned and a blowtorch was used to open two safes.

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The suspects are believed to have spent about an hour and a half inside the shop, getting away with an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, after taking down the alarm system.

Burglars are seen inside an Encino jewelry store on June 1, 2025. (Nelofar Nassiri)

For one second, if you can imagine how would you feel if you built your life and youre at retirement age and everything you saved up is gone to zero, overnight, the store owners brother Amin Nassiri said.

A GoFundMe donation page has been started to help the owner repair and reopen the family-owned store.

The burglary is nearly identical to a break-in that took place at a jewelry store in Glendale last month, in which the suspects dropped through a roof before using a blowtorch to open a safe.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A team of python trackers and removal experts in South Florida have found evidence of a bobcat decapitating and feeding on one of the giant, invasive snakes in a python-infested area near Naples. Judging from the other clues they found, they say its likely that the bobcat also killed the python, a 13-footer that weighed more than 50 pounds.

This would be a promising development  proof that Floridas native critters are, in some cases, adapting to the presence of Burmese pythons, which have few natural predators in the state and are wreaking havoc on wildlife populations in the Everglades.

A trail camera caught the bobcat returning to the site to feed on the giant python. Photo by Ian Bartoszek / Conservancy of Southwest Florida

The list of species [being impacted by these snakes] is up to around 85, says Ian Bartoszek, the lead researcher who along with his team found the python that was fed on (and possibly killed) by a bobcat in December 2022. Its easier to make a list of what pythons are not eating, than it is to list all the animals that have been found inside pythons to date.

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A wildlife biologist and the science coordinator for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Bartoszek has spent more than 12 years tracking and hunting Burmese pythons in the area, so he knows what the predators are capable of. In October his team published the first-ever photographs of a python swallowing a full-sized whitetail deer in Florida. The photos proved his long-held suspicions that the snakes are literally eating their way through the food web of the Everglades. (That long list of species includes alligators, too, as other researchers have found.)

Bartoszek and his team found these bobcat claws inside another Burmese python during a separate necropsy at their lab in Florida. Photo courtesy Conservancy of Southwest Florida

This is why, Bartoszek says, the discovery of a giant python being fed on and potentially killed by a native predator was so encouraging.

Its a score for the home team. The Everglades are fighting back.

Catching the Cat on Camera

The discovery itself took place in December 2022 on some conservation land near Naples, in a region that Bartoszek identifies as the Western Everglades. This is where he and his team at the Conservancy focus their efforts, which entail tracking, killing, and removing as many pythons (especially large females) as possible. They do this primarily during the winter breeding season, and they use telemetry equipment and male pythons fitted with tracking devices  also known as scout snakes  to locate the big females.

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Bartoszek explains that he, fellow researcher Ian Easterling, and some interns were tracking a large male scout snake they named Loki that afternoon in December. Theyd seen Loki just days before and he was in prime condition, Bartoszek says. But as they approached Lokis signal to get a closer look, they realized the 52-pound, 13-foot-long snake was not only dead. It was missing its head.

Ian Bartoszek (right) and his research partner Ian Easterling hold up one of their scout snakes. These male pythons are used to help locate the big females during breeding season. Photo courtesy Conservancy of Southwest Florida

We started seeing the clues around us. And it was like, wait a second, that animal is buried under the pine needles, Bartoszek tells Outdoor Life. This is a kill site.

He says this realization quickly outweighed the initial disappointment he felt when they found the dead male snake, which had been part of the tracking program for over six years and was one of their best scouts.

We started to pull away some of the pine needles, and we realized that the head and neck area had been chewed off and cached  which, to my knowledge, caching is typically a feline behavior in our area, Bartoszek says. So we were pretty sure it was a cat.

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Bartoszeks money was on a Florida panther, or at least thats what he wanted to believe. He contacted David Shindle, the Florida panther coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a former colleague of his at the Conservancy. Shindle went out to the site and set up a cellular trail camera, and the next morning, he emailed Bartoszek a short video clip that the trail cam had captured. It showed an adult bobcat returning to the cache to feed on the giant snake.

The male python was dead and buried in pine needles when the team of researchers found it. The team looked closer at the dead snake and realized it was missing its head. All the signs they found pointed to the snake being cached there, which made the team think that a feline (either a panther or a bobcat) was responsible.

So, I lost the bet, Bartoszek says. But it was probably even more interesting that it was a bobcat, because theyre more common.

As a researcher, Bartoszek is not one to jump to conclusions. He says theyre fairly certain that the bobcat killed the big python, but its also possible that the snake died of other causes and the cat happened to find it soon afterward. Bobcats are primarily hunters, although studies have shown they will occasionally scavenge dead animals.

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Read Next: Florida Python Trackers Remove Two Giant Mating Balls in Record Day of Snake Hunting

Bartoszek says there had been a cold snap in the area between the time they saw Loki in prime condition and when they found the snake decapitated. Because they are cold-blooded, freezing weather can and does kill pythons and other reptiles.

Bartoszek, however, doesnt think it got cold enough to actually kill the python. Whats more likely, he says, is that the snake was cold-stunned and unable to defend itself from the bobcat, even though the cat was only half its size. (A large a bobcat in South Florida could weigh around 25 pounds, according to researchers.)

I would have loved to have seen that encounter, Bartoszek says. The possibility of a 25-pound bobcat taking down and killing a 52-pound, 13-foot Burmese python is impressive. And I like animals that punch above their weight class.
Jun. 4The bodies of two missing hikers from New York have now been found near the summit of Katahdin.

Search teams found the body of Esther Keiderling, 28, of Ulster Park, New York, around 1 p.m. Wednesday in a boulder area between the Cathedral and Saddle trails off the Tablelands north of the summit, Baxter State Park officials said.

She was found approximately 1,000 feet from her father, Tim Keiderling, 58, who was found around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday on the Katahdin Tablelands by a Maine Warden Service K-9 search team.

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The search for Esther resumed by both air and ground around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, officials said, concentrating on the east side of the mountain. The search team included 25 game wardens, four game warden K9 teams, 21 Baxter State Park rangers and more, including helicopter support from the Maine Army Guard and Maine Forest Service.

The pair had been missing since Sunday morning, when they were last seen headed toward the summit. An intense search for the pair began Monday and grew to include dozens of game wardens and park rangers.

Joe Keiderling, Tim's brother, told the Press Herald in an interview Wednesday that the father-daughter duo were close and loved hiking and being outdoors. He said they were both serious about their Christian faith, which sustained them through "whatever life threw at them."

He described his brother as a "remarkable," lively man who had a knack for making friends in unlikely places. He could keep children and adults alike "spellbound" with his humor and storytelling.

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"He was one of a kind," Joe Keiderling said. "There was no one quite like him. He will be sorely missed, as will Esther."

Joe Keiderling said his niece was a soft-spoken, sensitive woman who loved to read and write. The two of them compared reading notes, book recommendations and exchanged poems.

She shared her grandmother's affinity for Russian literature, including works by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Leo Tolstoy, and one of her favorite poets was Gerard Manley Hopkins. She was a "wonderful conversationalist" and a deep thinker, Joe Keiderling said.

Tim Keiderling was married with four daughters, including Esther, and two sons. The family was close, and Joe Keiderling said his brother enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren as well.

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The father and daughter both worked at Rifton Equipment, a company that designs adaptive equipment for people with disabilities.

"Anyone who attended one of these sessions can't help but remember Tim's lively presence and the joy and fulfillment both he and Esther found in helping all of you serve the children and adults in your care," reads a statement posted to Rifton's social media accounts.

The Keiderlings had traveled to Maine for work and planned their hike on Katahdin at the end of the trip, Joe Keiderling said. He said they had collected equipment and researched the climb in preparation for the hike.

"I think it's clear that they ran into unusually difficult weather," Joe Keiderling said, adding that park officials indicated to him that the conditions were "terrible" during their hike.

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Forecasts for Sunday by the National Weather Service office in Caribou called for scattered showers at Katahdin's summit with winds peaking at 30-40 mph and low temperatures in the mid-30s.

THE SEARCH

After recovering Tim Keiderling's body Tuesday, search crews repositioned their resources to the nearby area but initially found no clues about Esther Keiderling's location, park officials said. A helicopter with a thermal imaging device searched the area Tuesday evening.

The search for Esther Keiderling resumed early Wednesday with helicopters. Ground searchers began their search around 8 a.m. and had concentrated their efforts on the Tablelands, a wide plateau west of the summit, as well as the trails and streams on the east side of the mountain.

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The search included 25 game wardens, four game warden K-9 teams and 21 Baxter State Park rangers. Helicopters from the Maine Forest Service and Maine Army National Guard assisted with the search and transported crews to the summit.

Park officials closed the Hunt and Abol trails while the search was ongoing. It was not clear Wednesday when those trails would reopen.

On Saturday, Esther Keiderling posted a blog to Substack saying she and her father planned a sales trip to the area around a weekend so they could hike Katahdin. She said they planned to start hiking the Abol Trail by 7 a.m. Sunday if it wasn't pouring rain.

"I'm a little nervous about everything I've seen about the Abol trail but I'm going to do it if weather permits!" she wrote. "If you don't see me back on Substack notes again, that's where I am."

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The Abol Trail is a popular but challenging hike that ascends the southwest side of the mountain, gaining 3,982 feet in about 4.5 miles. It is the shortest route to Baxter Peak from a roadside trailhead. The trail used to include the prominent Abol Slide but was relocated in 2015 after soil and rock movement increased hazards for hikers. The relocated trail uses the ridge west of the slide. The rocky terrain requires hikers to climb over large boulders.

Carey Kish, a hiker, writer and Registered Maine Guide who writes outdoors columns for the Press Herald, said Katahdin can never be underestimated, even if hikers are experienced and used to a challenge.

"There's no easy way up Katahdin. Every route is very challenging and very steep, rocky and long," he said Wednesday. "No matter when you go up Katahdin, you have to be prepared. Even then, the weather can close in and you can lose your way."

Kish noted that the Abol Trail is particularly challenging, with a 600-foot "big boulder scramble" to reach the Tablelands.

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On the Tablelands, hikers are exposed to the elements, which makes it beautiful on a nice day, Kish said. On the other hand, "if the weather closes in on you, it can be a scary place to be if you don't keep your wits about you," he said.

In October 2020, two hikers died on Katahdin within two days. At the time, park officials issued a reminder that the mountain can be "formidable," especially in the months ahead of winter.

Several people have been rescued via helicopter from the mountain's trails in recent years, including six hikers who spent the night atop the mountain after a woman in their group lost consciousness, as well as a woman who broke her ankle on the same trail one month later.

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MANILA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The possible dismissal of the impeachment case against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte grabbed local media attention on Wednesday, following the Senate's decision to delay the proceedings.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has circulated a draft Senate resolution, seeking to block the impeachment trial in the upper chamber, The Manila Standard reported on Wednesday.

"The document made the rounds in the Senate on Wednesday, which resulted in conflicting accounts from senators who remain undecided as a legislative body on how to deal with the issue," the news outlet said.

The resolution reportedly said that the Senate's failure to act on the Articles of Impeachment within 100 days of transmittal effectively nullifies the case and calls for it to be declared "de facto dismissed."

The Philippine Star reported on Wednesday that Senate President Francis Escudero has "come under public scrutiny" after postponing the reading of the Articles of Impeachment to June 11, just two days before the 19th Congress adjourns on June 13.

Escudero denied allegations that the delay was an attempt to derail the impeachment process, telling reporters that the Senate is currently prioritizing the passage of urgent legislation before the session ends.

Escudero said the Senate operates under its own rules and timeline, stressing that it is not the Senate's job to follow the House of Representatives' wishes on the proceedings.

Senator Imee Marcos, who earlier said the efforts to remove Duterte had "already failed," also told local media on Wednesday that several draft resolutions are circulating within the Senate, aiming to dismiss the impeachment.

The Philippine House of Representatives impeached Duterte on Feb. 5.

Under the Philippine Constitution, the Senate has the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment, with senators as judges. A conviction requires a two-thirds majority in the 24-member chamber. To avoid removal and disqualification from holding future office, Duterte must secure the support of at least nine senators.

Philippine Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday that President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has nothing to do with the impeachment, saying it leaves the issue to the Senate.

"Whether the impeachment will proceed or not, the president has nothing to do with it. I hope they will not involve the president in whatever decision the Senate will make," Castro told a media briefing. 
A Boise man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison Tuesday for a bank robbery in Mountain Home, which resulted in a police chase that went both directions on Interstate 84.

Leon Jason Fortner, 57, entered a Chase Bank in Mountain Home last August and threatened the teller station that his backpack contained an explosive device that he would detonate if they didnt hand over all their cash, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The tellers gave Fortner all the cash in the tills before he fled in a nearby vehicle driven by another individual. Officers disabled the vehicle after a high-speed chase through Mountain Home and on I-84, the release said. According to previous Idaho Statesman reporting, the vehicle drove westbound toward Boise before jumping the median and heading back toward Mountain Home.

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Officers found the stolen money in Fortners possession, but his backpack did not contain any explosives, according to the release. Air Force bomb disposal units were called to assist the search on the day of the robbery.

The original getaway driver, who had no knowledge of the crime, was released, according to officials and previous Statesman reporting. Fortner confirmed to police that the original driver had no idea about the robbery.

Mr. Fortner threatened the lives of bank employees and endangered the lives of law enforcement officers and motorists during his dangerous attempt to avoid capture, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott said. Nine years in federal prison is an appropriate punishment for this crime.

Fortner pleaded guilty in February to bank robbery. In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered him to serve three years of supervised release once he is no longer incarcerated, the release said.
Bombshell Dropped in Karen Read Case Minutes After Defense Mistrial Request Denied originally appeared on L.A. Mag.

Bombshell testimony came from a Dighton, MA Police Sergeant Tuesday in the retrial of Karen Read on murder charges connected to the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, whose body was found in a snowbank on a fellow cop's front lawn on Jan. 29, 2022Charles Krupa via AP Photo

A witness called by the defense for Karen Read - on trial for allegedly smashing into her Boston cop boyfriend with her Lexus SUV in the hours before his body was found in a snowbank during a blizzard - dropped a bombshell during testimony Tuesday about the state of the defendant's taillight before it was taken into evidence.



Dighton police Sergeant Nicholas Barros responded to the home of Read's parents, William and Jan, he told the court, after her father became concerned about her state of mind after she found the body of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, in a snowbank on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022 and called 911 for help getting a ride to a nearby hospital during the blinding storm.



Barros, a 14-year-veteran of the Dighton force, told the court that he was working a day shift when he got a call around 2:30 p.m. from now disgraced and fired Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor saying that they were going to "retrieve a vehicle that was involved in a homicide," in Canton, Massachusetts, he told the court. The sergeant met the troopers, Proctor and his boss Sergeant Yuri Buhkenik, at the Read family home, he told the court.



Barros said while he was in the garage, he observed the rear of Reads SUV for a good amount of time.

Did you observe anything of note about the rear end?" of the SUV, Read defense attorney Alan Jackson asked.



There was a crack missing, but it was not completely damaged, Barros said. A piece was missing, roughly three inches by six inches.



Jackson then presented Barros' with a photo of Read's vehicle taken in the sallyport of Canton Police Department, where the SUV was towed, that showed extensive damage to her taillight, asking, "Is this the condition of the right rear tail light when you showed up at the Read household?"



"Absolutely not," Barros answered. That taillight is completely smashed out in the photo, he added said. That middle section was intact when I was there.

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Barros told Jackson the Lexus was towed from the scene, which he cleared at 4:17 p.m. before Jackson played video footage of the SUV being loaded onto the flatbed in Dighton.



The portion that is intact, does that appear to be bright or red? Jackson asked.



Correct, Barros said.



Jackson asked if that photo was consistent with another photo of the taillight in the Canton police garage.



Absolutely not, Barros said.



The testimony discredits the state's contention that pieces of her taillight left deep gashes in O'Keefe's right arm, which another defense witness Dr. Marie Russell, a U.S.C. Keck School of Medicine faculty member, insists was the result of a dog attack.

USC Keck School of Medicine Professor Dr. Marie Russell, a former police officer and emergency room doctor who lives in Los Angeles testified in Karen Read trial Monday that these marks found on the body of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe is consistent with a dog attack, not a vehicle strike Defense Exhibit Karen Read Retrial

On Monday, former Canton Police Officer Kelly Dever told the court that she was suffering from "distorted memory" when she told FBI agents that she had witnessed a federal agent and her then-chief linger near Read's car when it was towed to the Canton Police garage.



"Did you tell those law enforcement agents on August 9th, 2023, that you saw Brian Higgins and Chief Berkowitz go into the sallyport together and alone with the SUV for a 'wildly long time'?" Jackson asked her."That was my recollection at the time," she replied.



Dever, now a Boston Police Officer, says she was mistaken when spoke to the FBI regarding the men - the former Chief of the Canton Police Department Ken Berkowitz (now deceased) and federal Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Agent Brian Higgins, who was on a task force that turned out of that station - near Read's car after it had been towed as part of the evidence in the case. Higgins had been among the revelers at 34 Fairview Road in Canton before O'Keefe's body was found on the home's front lawn and had been flirting with Read in the weeks before his death.



Barros' testimony came immediately after Judge Beverly Cannone dismissed a defense request for a mistrial after special prosecutor Hank Brennan questioned Russell about dog DNA. Brennan asked Russell if she knew that O'Keefe's clothing was swabbed for dog DNA, prompting a lengthy sidebar and then the defense argument that a mistrial for prejudice should be declared.

This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Mobile man accused of robbing a Bay Minette bank was in court this morning for a bond hearing.

Dondi Jermaine Pettway (Photo courtesy of the Bay Minette Police Department)

UPDATE: Prichard mayor releases statement after 2-year-old shot in face

According to a Bay Minette Police Department news release, bond for 47-year-old Dondi Jermaine Pettway was set at $100,000, and ankle monitoring is ordered if Pettway makes bond.

Pettway is accused of robbing the United Bank on the square in Bay Minette on Monday shortly before 11 a.m.

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Pettway allegedly told the teller he had a gun and demanded money. He then took an undisclosed amount of money and left, according to reports.

Pettway was arrested during a traffic stop in Spanish Fort, and the money was recovered from his car, according to a BMPD news release.

Saenger Theatre homicide suspect pleads not guilty

He is charged with first-degree robbery.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Eugenics, or the pseudoscience of human breeding, reached the height of its notoriety in the early 1900s but never truly disappeared, according to a new book that examines the influence that the debunked movement had on Texas.

The Purifying Knife: The Troubling History of Eugenics in Texas, written by Michael Phillips and Betsy Friauf, was published this week. It examines the history and influence of eugenics in the state.

Co-author and former history professor Dr. Michael Phillips spoke with KXAN about the book on Wednesday.

Courtesy Joseph Michael Phillips

We had mixed feelings doing this book, because this comes in a time when theres so much dangerous rejection of science in terms of vaccines, in terms of climate change and other issues, Phillips said.

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Phillips, who earned his doctorate in 2002 at the University of Texas at Austin, has focused his work on the history of racism in Texas. His first book White Metropolis: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion in Dallas, 18412001 published in 2006 and built off his UT Austin thesis.

His and Friaufs research began in 2014.

Although there were a lot of victims on the way to this science becoming marginalized, the scientific method ultimately did work, and mainstream science did reject it, he said. Eugenics was accepted all across the political spectrum from the very conservative to what were called progressives then, who were the forerunners of liberals today, and it was just accepted scientific wisdom.

Before science moved past eugenics, 36 states passed laws enacting some of the movements ideas. This included forced sterilization of people deemed unfit  at least 60,000 people were victims of these laws.

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Texas was one of 12 states that didnt pass eugenics laws, Phillips said.

Cotton growers in Texas and the big landowners were very much in favor of immigration, because they wanted to exploit Mexican workers as underpaid labor in their fields, he said. Eugenicists were very anti-immigration. So [Texas] had a powerful economic interest that was afraid that if eugenics became law, that immigration from Mexico would stop and that would drive up the cost of their labor.

Fundamentalist Protestantism, which had become a force in Texas politics in the 1920s, was also opposed to eugenicist ideas derived from Darwins theory of evolution.

Phillips said that he sees the emerging pro-natalist movement as a home for discredited eugenics ideas  a natalist conference at UT Austin in March featured speakers who self-described as eugenicists, he said. But also leveled criticism at the environmental movement of the 1960s and 70s for allowing eugenicists.

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I think natalism is easier to sell than outright explicit eugenics. I think a lot of times, modern eugenicists describe themselves as pro-family, Phillips said. But in the 1960s and 1970s  there was a real panic about the world becoming overpopulated. And they really pushed for birth control policy, but they always focused on Africa, Asia and Latin America. It was always places where people of color lived that they wanted to control population.

He warned that people should look critically at anyone who claims the existence of biological differences between racial groups or who believe IQ should determine if a person should be allowed to reproduce.

Theres an assumption that somehow, smarter, whatever that means, is better. And I dont think that necessarily bears up in history, he said. People who had ethics, emotional intelligence, a sense of the need for community, may not have scored well on IQ tests, but they function better in and help contribute to a better society.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

 Booker wades into Virginia attorney general race.  The Hill

 Spanberger is poised to win big in Virginia. But national Democrats could drag her down.  Politico

 Virginia Beach Police Chief to discuss Oceanfront safety ahead of summer.  WAVY

 Grants funded by your car insurance pay for surveillance tech in Virginia.  Cardinal News

 Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation accepts grant applications for parks and outdoor recreation projects.  WRIC

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A war of words between Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and U.S. Attorney Leah Foley is heating up over recent ICE arrests.

Foley criticized Wus comments during a recent interview with WBUR, where Wu referred to immigration officers as a secret police who are wearing masks.

On Wednesday afternoon, Wu fired back at Foley, claiming that ICE arrests undermine public trust.

The U.S. Attorney is attacking me for saying what Bostonians see with their own eyes. Wu said. We know this is happening. We have seen, if not the video of it, we have seen it directly in our communities and it is undermining our efforts at the local level to keep people safe because it is spreading fear that undermines the trust with local police.

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Wu pointed to Bostons track record as the safest major city in the country, saying that officers dont need to wear masks to do their jobs effectively.

They are on the street 24 hours a day, they are in very complicated daily interactions, Wu said. They do all of this without wearing masks...We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks: NSC-131 routinely wears masks, others may do that, but for our law enforcement officers at the local level to do their jobs well, to be the safest major city in the country, it relies on trust.

NC-131, also known as Nationalist Social Club-131, is a neo-Nazi group based in New England, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said officers wear masks for their safety and the safety of their families.

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ICE agents doxed on social media, wear masks after receiving death threats, director says

We have already had officers doxed online  some have had their wives and childrens social media accounts made public and even schools where their children attended," the spokesperson said. There are some sick and crazy people out there who would like to see harm come to our officers and their families.

In closing, Wu said she was proud of how Boston polices its community.

We do things very differently in Boston and we are proud of how we do things, she said. We know there is more work to do and we hold ourselves to the very highest standards of accountability with our community, of being there when people need help, and of building a trust to do that right.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Months after a school bus driver hit a young student and school aide, new dash cam footage shows a video from inside that bus.

The lawsuit is filed on behalf of Cynthia Davis, the guardian of the 8-year-old boy who suffered a broken femur.

Davis attorneys said the boy is now dealing with post traumatic stress from the crash that happened outside of Curley K-8 School back in December.

On the top half of the video, you can see the bus driver appear to wake up from a nap and immediately start driving and on the bottom half of the video, you see the little boy with his aide on the sidewalk seconds before being hit.

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That never should of happened and we need to make sure things like that dont happen, Mayor Michelle Wu said.

Police said the driver claimed there was a steering issue, and another car cut in front of him.

The lawsuit alleges neither of those statements are accurate and blames Transdev for negligence and systematic failures.

Mayor Wu said the crash is part of an independent review, sparked after another Transdev bus crash in April that killed a 5-year-old boy in Hyde Park.

They are one of the few companies in this space that has the capacity to serve a district as large as Boston with 22,000 students who are being bused to and from, said Wu.

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Wu also said the review will look at Transdevs contract and how they perform in relation to it.

In a big picture way we have to understand why other companies are not able to step into this space or if there are other arrangements that we should be looking at, Wu said.

According to Davis attorneys, Transdev has faced at least 15 other personal injury lawsuits since 2013.

Boston 25 reached out to the bus company, Transdev, and the attorney representing them and have not yet heard back.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu volleyed additional criticism against federal law enforcement on Wednesday while speaking about masks worn by federal officers who are enforcing immigration laws.

Acting Director Todd Lyons and U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said this week that federal agents and officers have been doxed on social media, and sometimes wear masks while on duty and making immigration arrests after officers, and their families, have received death threats.

In a recent interview with WBUR, Wu likened ICE immigration officers to secret police.

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Foley, in a video message on social media Wednesday morning, condemned Wus comments, calling them reckless and inflammatory statements. The U.S. Attorney again cited the increasing threats faced by federal law enforcement in doing their job.

It didnt end there.

Wu, when asked later Wednesday about Foleys remarks and while discussing masks worn by some law enforcement, brought up the prominent New England neo-Nazi group Nationalist Social Club, also known as NSC-131.

I dont know of any police department that routinely wears masks, Wu told Boston 25. We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks: NSC-131 routinely wears masks.

Bostons mayor added: The action of ICE officers who are wearing masks are intimidating residents, its undermining safety in our communities and its making it harder for Boston Police to do their jobs effectively as well.

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When asked for comment late Wednesday afternoon, an ICE spokesperson said, Our officers wear masks for their safety and the safety of their families.

We have already had officers doxed online  some have had their wives and childrens social media accounts made public and even schools where their children attended, the ICE spokesperson said. There are some sick and crazy people out there who would like to see harm come to our officers and their families."

Our officers risk their safety every day to prioritize the safety of all Americans, regardless of race or religion, the ICE spokesperson said.

Wednesdays exchange wasnt the first between Wu and a federal official.

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Border czar Tom Homan has criticized Wu and other Massachusetts politicians and communities for not complying with federal authorities who are trying to apprehend hard criminals who are in the country illegally.

In March, Homan traveled to Boston to oversee a federal law enforcement operation over several days.

I made a promise at CPAC that I was going to Boston after reading about numerous illegal alien child rapists walking the streets of Boston and Massachusetts, Homan said in a post on X in March.

ICE had to find and arrest these illegal alien rapists because Massachusetts and Boston are sanctuaries that refuse to cooperate with ICE, Homan said. They would rather release these animals back into the community rather than honor ICE detainers or notify ICE when they are scheduled to be released.

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Mayor Wu later testified that I was lying, Homan said in his March post of Wu, who testified before Congress with other mayors on March 5 about Bostons sanctuary city policies. Wu hired a Boston law firm to prepare for the congressional hearing.

Wu, meanwhile, said Wednesday that Boston Police officers do not wear masks.

Boston Police make arrests, they are on the street 24 hours a day, they are in very complicated daily interactions, Wu said. They do all of this without wearing masks, displaying their badges publicly, with body cameras that document the interactions that take place with full transparency because we have nothing to hide.

Earlier Wednesday, Foley denounced Wus comments targeting federal agents and officers.

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Referring to federal agents as secret police is offensive, Foley said. There are no secret police.

ICE agents along with other federal law enforcement partners are making immigration arrests. That is no secret, Foley said. They are arresting individuals who are here illegally, which is a violation of federal law. Every enforcement action is conducted within the bounds of the Constitution and our laws, with oversight, legal justification and accountability.

To claim otherwise is a gross misrepresentation and a disservice to the public, Foley said.

Foley also spoke about the masks worn by federal agents and officers in her video message on Wednesday.

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Federal agents in marked jackets and vests are masking their faces because people like Mayor Wu have created false narratives about their mission, Foley said. Federal agents and their children are being threatened, doxed and assaulted. That is why they must hide their faces.

Wu, later Wednesday, responded to Foleys remarks.

The US Attorney is attacking me for saying what Bostonians see with their own eyes, Wu said. We know this is happening. We have seen, if not the video of it, we have seen it directly in our communities and it is undermining our efforts at the local level to keep people safe because it is spreading fear that undermines the trust with local police.

We do things very differently in Boston and we are proud of how we do things, Wu said. We know there is more work to do and we hold ourselves to the very highest standards of accountability with our community, of being there when people need help, and of building a trust to do that right.

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Assaults against ICE officers are up 400 percent since this time period last year, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said late last month.

Lyons, a native of South Boston and a graduate of Boston College High School in Dorchester, said the surge in assaults on federal law enforcement officers is, in part, due to politicians who are careless with their politically-motivated rhetoric.

On Monday, he and Foley were among federal officials who announced the arrest of nearly 1,500 people in Massachusetts, in the month of May alone, who are living in the U.S. illegally.

More than half of those arrests, authorities said, were of people with significant criminal backgrounds -- convicted murderers sought by Interpol, child rapists, drug traffickers.

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His comments came weeks after reported assaults on law enforcement officers in a Worcester neighborhood on May 8.

On May 16, the city of Worcester released body camera footage after chaos erupted when a crowd surrounded and assaulted law enforcement officers.

A link to the full Worcester Police body camera video can be found here. ICE agents at the time were trying to detain Brazilian national Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira, 40, who is in the country illegally and faces previous criminal assault charges, federal authorities said.

Several people, including City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj and Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, are seen in the videos shouting angrily at the officers and pushing and shoving the officers. Haxhiaj has since been charged. Spring, 38, was arrested, accused of throwing an unknown substance at an officer.

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Im sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but Im not gonna let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line and their family on the line because people dont like what immigration enforcement is, Lyons said Monday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The guardian of an 8-year-old Boston Public Schools student who was seriously injured when he was struck by a school bus in December 2024 is suing the bus driver and his employer for damages.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Suffolk County Superior Court, accuses 62-year-old Taunton resident Vitony Laguerre  the driver who struck the student  and Transdev  Boston Public Schools bus contractor  of negligence. It argues that Laguerres negligence as a bus driver caused the crash, and that Transdev was negligent in its choice to employ him.

This frightening event almost took my childs life, plaintiff Cynthia Davis, the students guardian, said in a press release about the lawsuit.  ... Transdev must be held to account to protect our children and prevent this from ever happening again.

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Transdev declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the fact that it is still moving through the court system. Boston Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

What happened

Laguerre struck the student on the afternoon of Dec. 6, 2024, as the childs school aide walked him from his school in Jamaica Plain to his bus. Police responded to the crash shortly after 3 p.m., according to the police report.

Dashcam footage of the crash taken from the bus shows both the interior of the bus and the roadway in front of it. In it, Laguerre can be seen sitting in the drivers seat with his eyes closed as the student and his aide walk down the sidewalk towards the stopped bus.

Within seconds of Laguerre opening his eyes, the video shows him driving forward, veering towards the right onto the sidewalk and directly into the student and his aide. The bus can be seen striking the student and his aide before crashing through two fences and onto a grassy area near the school.

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The students aide told police that he heard the bus accelerating rapidly as it moved towards himself and the student, according to the police report. He said he was unable to respond quickly enough to get himself or the student out of the way of the bus.

The crash resulted in the aide being pinned against the fence while the student was thrown under the bus, according to the police report. The aide received only minor injuries, but the students femur bone broke as a result of the crash.

Laguerres explanations for the crash

Laguerre  who declined medical aid after the crash  gave two different explanations for the crash in interviews with police on separate days, according to the police report. On the day of the crash, he told police another car had cut in front of him as he pulled forward.

Laguerre said hed veered towards the sidewalk to avoid the other car, but mistakenly hit the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, according to the police report. He didnt see the aide and the student until it was too late, he told police.

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The bus dashcam footage conflicts with this explanation, as no other cars can be seen passing the bus shortly before, during or after the crash.

On Dec. 9, 2024, Laguerre told officers that the crash had been caused by a mechanical issue with the bus that had impacted his ability to steer, according to the police report. An inspection of the bus recorded by police found no such issue.

The impact of the crash

Boston police ultimately summoned Laguerre to West Roxbury District Court on a charge of negligent operation so as to endanger another person, according to the police report. He was also cited on the same offense, as well as unsafe operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle on a sidewalk.

Laguerre pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment on May 7, according to court records. It is unclear whether he is still a Boston Public Schools bus driver or employed by Transdev in any capacity.

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The student who was struck by the bus underwent multiple surgeries and two months of in-patient hospital and rehabilitation treatments following the crash, according to the lawsuit. He will likely undergo future treatments as part of his physical recovery.

It is expected that [the student] will require extensive psychological treatment to address the additional burden of post-traumatic stress on top of his underlying autism, the lawsuit reads. As a result of the collision described, [the student] suffered great pain of body and anguish of mind, significant medical expenses have been and incurred and will be incurred for his care and treatment, and he has suffered and will suffer a substantial loss of his ability to engage in the normal enjoyment of life.

Transdevs safety record

Transdev has been sued in Suffolk County Superior Court over personal injuries resulting from crashes involving its drivers 15 times since Boston Public Schools first began contracting with it in 2013, according to The Boston Globe.

In late April, a Transdev-employed Boston school bus driver ran over and killed a 5-year-old boy in Bostons Hyde Park neighborhood. In late May, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu launched an independent investigation of Transdev, the Globe reported.

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Transdev clearly has a systemic safety problem, Marc Breakstone, one of the attorneys behind the new lawsuit, said in a press release. When youre a multi-billion-dollar international company getting paid millions of dollars a year to keep the children of Boston safe, you must be held accountable.

More News

Read the original article on MassLive.
VILNIUS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government has approved a measure allowing the purchase of certain defense technologies without public tender, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported Wednesday.

Under a resolution drafted by the defense ministry and approved by the cabinet, exemptions have been granted from the law on public procurement in the fields of defense and security. The move clears the way for direct procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-drone systems, optical surveillance equipment, and laser target designators.

According to the ministry, counter-drone systems from NT Service will be procured for up to 12 million euros (13.68 million U.S. dollars). An additional 9 million euros will fund the acquisition of optical surveillance devices from Brolis Semiconductors, while laser target designators from Aktyvus Photonics will be purchased for up to 1.5 million euros.

The ministry did not disclose specific manufacturers for the UAV acquisitions but said up to 19 million euros will be spent on a variety of drones, including first-person view (FPV) drones, reconnaissance drones, and others intended for military use.

The UAVs will be sourced from domestic companies that manufacture or assemble them in Lithuania, according to BNS. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollar) 
DENVER (KDVR)  Boulder County officials on Wednesday morning said there are now 15 victims in the Sunday attack on Pearl Street of Israeli hostage supporters.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman is due in Boulder County court on dozens of state charges Thursday after authorities allege he threw Molotov cocktails in a Sunday attack on a peaceful gathering of a group from Run for Their Lives. He has also been charged federally, including with a hate crime.

Boulder Terror Attack: Continuing coverage

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The FBI called it a targeted terror attack and said Soliman, 45, had been planning to attack a Zionist group for a year.

After receiving updated information, there are now 15 individual victims, plus one dog (16 total), the 20th Judicial District Attorneys Office said in a press release Wednesday morning. The specific ages of these victims, from youngest to oldest is 25 to 88, eight victims are female, and seven victims are male.

Two people remain in the hospital Wednesday, according to Boulder County officials.

We continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local partners in strong response to this horrific attack, District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated in the press release. We are united in our commitment to pursuing justice for all the victims, their many loved ones, and this community. We stand with the Jewish community and the people of Colorado against hate and terror.

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Dougherty, in a Monday press conference, said investigators uncovered 16 unused Molotov cocktails, and FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said these were within arms reach of Soliman.

The Boulder Jewish Community Center is hosting Coming Together: A Community Vigil to support the victims on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. The Center said it would have increased security measures and security and police presence at the event, and it expected a large crowd 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 FOX31 Denver.
A federal judge has blocked the deportation of the family of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect in Sunday's Boulder, Colorado, Molotov cocktail attack, according to court records.

Federal Judge Gordon P. Gallagher said in a filing that federal authorities "shall not remove" Soliman's wife and their five children from the United States "unless or until this Court or the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacates this Order."

Soliman's wife and five children -- who are all Egyptian citizens -- were taken into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and were being processed for expedited removal, the Department of Homeland Security had said.

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But the family filed a suit contesting their deportation, court records show.

An attorney for the family, Eric Lee, called the attempt to deport the wife and children "collective punishment." He said the youngest children are 4 years old.

"A federal district court granted our request to bar the Trump admin. from deporting this family as collective punishment for a crime allegedly committed by their spouse/father," Lee wrote on social media.

The judge set a deadline of Friday for the plaintiff to submit briefs and set a hearing for June 13.

PHOTO: Booking photo of 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, the man suspected of carrying out an 'act of terrorism' in Boulder, Colorado, June 1, 2025. (Boulder Police Department)

Soliman, also an Egyptian citizen, was arrested after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of marchers advocating for the release of Israeli hostages outside the Boulder courthouse on Sunday, injuring 15 people, prosecutors said.

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He lived in Kuwait for 17 years before moving to Colorado Springs three years ago, according to court documents, and has been in the U.S. on an expired tourist visa, officials said. He was granted a work permit, but that had also expired in March.

Soliman allegedly said he had been planning Sunday's attack for one year but waited until his daughter graduated from high school last Thursday to carry it out, state and federal documents said.

PHOTO: 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, June 1, 2025. (Eli Imadali/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Colorado attack comes amid record incidents of antisemitic and Islamophic hate crimes

Soliman tried to buy a handgun at a sporting goods store in November but was denied, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.He tried to buy the weapon on Nov. 22, 2024, but was denied based on National Instant Criminal Background Check System, according to the bureau.

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The reason for his denial wasnt disclosed. He didnt appeal the denial, the bureau said.

About a month later, on Dec. 30, 2024, CBI denied his application for a concealed handgun permit.

After Soliman was arrested, he allegedly told investigators that he took a concealed carry class to learn how to fire a gun, but "had to use Molotov cocktails [for the attack] after he was denied the purchase of a gun due to him not being a legal citizen," state court documents said.

Soliman said he used YouTube to learn how to make the Molotov cocktails, documents said. Sixteen unused Molotov cocktails were within "arms reach" when he was arrested, the FBI said.

PHOTO: Flowers and a flag at the site of the attack outside the Boulder County Courthouse on June 2, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. (Chet Strange/Getty Images)

MORE: How the Boulder attack highlights the danger to soft targets: Analysis

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Soliman is accused of attacking a group advocating for the hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas.

Soliman has been charged with a federal hate crime and state charges, including 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to court documents. He appeared in court virtually on Monday. He has yet to enter a plea.

PHOTO: A visitor offers a tribute after leaving a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of an attack outside of the Boulder County, Colo., courthouse as a light rain falls, June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (David Zalubowski/AP)

Soliman told police "he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead," court documents said. "SOLIMAN stated he would do it (conduct an attack) again."

He "said this had nothing to do with the Jewish community and was specific in the Zionist group supporting the killings of people on his land (Palestine)," documents said.

ABC News Kevin Shalvey and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

Boulder attack latest: Judge blocks deportation of suspect's family originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DENVER (KDVR)  The family of the suspect in Sundays attack on Israeli hostage supporters in Boulder was to be deported back to Egypt this week, according to a federal official, but a federal judge issued an order to prevent their deportation.

U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher granted a request from the family of 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Farag Soliman to halt deportation proceedings of his wife and five children, who were taken into federal custody Tuesday by U.S. immigration officials.

Boulder Terror Attack: Continuing coverage

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The decision referenced another immigration case ongoing in Denver involving activist Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez, stating that the judge found that deportation without process could work irreparable harm and an order must issue without notice due to the urgency this situation presents. A response from the U.S. is required by Wednesday, June 11, and the familys attorney must file a memorandum of support by Friday, June 6.

A hearing on the temporary restraining order is scheduled for Friday, June 13, at 1 p.m. in the U.S. courthouse in Denver.

Family, all Egyptian nationals, not facing attack charges

The family members have not been charged in the attack, and all are Egyptian citizens. Soliman faces federal hate crime charges and state charges of attempted murder in the Sunday attack in downtown Boulder.

Punishing individuals  including children as young as four years old  for the purported actions of their relatives is a feature of medieval justice systems or police state dictatorships, not democracies, said Eric Lee, the familys lead counsel.

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The family was identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a press release on Wednesday. They are 41-year-old Hayam Salah Alsaid Ahmed Elgamel, Solimans wife; Habiba Mohamed Sabry Farag Soliman, Solimans 18-year-old daughter; and two minor sons and two minor daughters.

DHS said Soliman, his wife and his five children came to the U.S. on Aug. 27, 2022, and were granted entry until Feb. 26, 2023. On Sept. 29, 2022, Soliman filed for asylum, listing his wife and five children as dependents, in Denver.

Officials say Soliman is illegally in the U.S. due to an expired visa, and is accused in both federal and state charges of attacking with Molotov cocktails a group from Run for Their Lives as they were peacefully demonstrating while calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Boulder County officials say 15 people were injured in the attack.

Matthew Barringer, an immigration attorney, told FOX31s Hanna Powers that the underlying criminal investigation makes this situation different from pretty much any other garden variety situation.

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This very very quick process, it deprives the defendants wife and those children their due process to have their proceedings in front of an immigration judge, and its a violation because the executive says well were going to get these people and take them out, well the judicial side says woah woah woahwe need to know what their claim is, Barringer said.

He provided some insight into why the federal judge halted removal proceedings.

It is not typical when someone is the target of a criminal investigation that ICE automatically comes in and arrests and detains family members, Barringer said. To then ship them to a facility in Texas, really in the dead of night, that too is very rare.

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas who serves as chairman emeritus for the House committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Nexstar Washington Correspondent Vinay Simlot in a Wednesday interview that Solimans family is being processed for deportation.

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem on Tuesday confirmed federal agencies had taken Solimans family into custody.

DHS and ICE have taken the family of suspected Boulder, Colorado terrorist, and illegal alien, Mohamed Soliman, into ICE custody. This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a release Wednesday. We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it. I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their families. Justice will be served.

Noem said in the post that the department is investigating whether any of them knew of Solimans plans.

Theyre being processed right now, McCaul said Wednesday morning. They will be deported back to Egypt. When Simlot asked whether it would happen this week, McCaul said, yeah.

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The White House official X account on Tuesday said that his family could have been deported as soon as that night.

Solimans visa overstay leads to crackdown, Noem says

McCaul said he was briefed by the FBI on Tuesday about the attack, reaffirming Solimans status of overstaying a tourist visa.

What to know as investigation builds in Boulders Pearl Street Mall attack

A senior Department of Homeland Security official had already confirmed to FOX31 that Soliman is in the U.S. illegally because he stayed in the country after his August 2022 B2 visa expired in February 2023. DHS said he filed for asylum in September 2022, and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, but that has also expired.

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That raises the whole immigration debate again about people who should be here versus shouldnt be, McCaul said. He shouldnt have been here. He overstayed his visa and shouldnt have been allowed to stay in the country.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in a press release on Wednesday morning, said Noem is directing a crackdown on others who overstay visas following Solimans alleged attack.

There is NO room in the United States for the rest of the worlds terrorist sympathizers, Noem said in the press release. Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism  think again. You are not welcome here. We will find you, deport you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.

Barringer said that federal officials discussed cracking down on visa overstays after 9/11.

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As some of the viewers may recall, that was some of the things that we talked about during 9/11, when they had the terrorist attacks for the towers, most of those individuals were overstays on visas, Barringer said. And so par to parcel when they were looking to pass the patriot act, they said, well, we have to crack down on these overstays, and from my practice for over 18 years, I havent seen a crack down.

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said Tuesday he initially suspected terrorism but wanted to be sure before stating it publicly.

There was no intent to hide what happened, Redfearn said. There was no intent to minimize or lessen what we later, within a couple of hours at the press conference, confirmed was terrorism.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the government to immediately halt deportation proceedings against the family of a man charged in the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, to ensure the protection of the family's constitutional rights.

U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher granted a request from the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who are Egyptian, to block their deportation. U.S. immigration officials took the family into custody Tuesday.

Soliman, 45, has been charged with a federal hate crime and state counts of attempted murder in Sunday's attack in downtown Boulder. Witnesses say he threw two Molotov cocktails at a group demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and authorities say he confessed to the attack in custody.

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His family members have not been charged.

Federal authorities have said Soliman has been living in the U.S. illegally, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said earlier Wednesday that the family was being processed for removal. Its rare that a criminal suspect's family members are detained and threatened with deportation.

It is patently unlawful to punish individuals for the crimes of their relatives," attorneys for the family wrote in the lawsuit.

Eric Lee, one of the attorney's representing the family, said efforts to deport them should not happen in a democracy.

The punishment of a four-year-old child for something their parent allegedly did, who also has a presumption of innocence, is something that should outrage Americans regardless of their citizenship status, he said.

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Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the plaintiffs claims as absurd and an attempt to delay justice.

Just like her criminal husband, she and her children are here illegally and are rightfully in ICE custody for removal as a result, she said in a statement.

Witnesses describe attack at vigil

Around 200 people squeezed into the local Jewish Community Center on Wednesday evening for a vigil that featured prayer, songs, a short speech by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and emotional testimony from a victim and witnesses to the attack.

Rachelle Halpern, who has been walking with the group since 2023, said she remembers thinking it was strange to see a man with a canister looking like he was going to spray pesticide on the grass. Then she heard a crash and screams and saw flames around her feet.

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A woman stood one foot behind me, engulfed in flames from head to toe, lying on the ground with her husband," she said. "People immediately, three or four men immediately rushed to her to smother the flames.

Her description prompted murmurs from the audience members. One womans head dropped into her hands.

I heard a loud noise, and the back of my legs burning, and dont remember those next few moments, said a victim, who didn't want to be identified and spoke off camera, over the event's speakers. Even as I was watching it unfold before my eyes, even then, it didnt seem real.

Defendant's family investigated

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Solimans wife, Hayam El Gamal, a 17-year-old daughter, two minor sons and two minor daughters all are Egyptian citizens, according to El Gamal's lawsuit. They were being held at an immigration detention center in Texas, Lee said.

We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it, Noem said in a statement.

Noem also said federal authorities would immediately crack down on people who overstay their visas, following the Boulder attack.

Soliman told authorities that no one, including his family, knew about his planned attack, according to court documents. El Gamal said she was shocked to learn her husband had been arrested in the attack, according to her lawsuit.

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Victims increase to 15 people and a dog

Earlier Wednesday, authorities raised the number of people injured in the attack to 15 from 12, plus a dog.

Boulder County officials said in a news release that the victims include eight women and seven men ranging in age from 25 to 88. Details about how the victims were impacted would be explained in criminal charges set to be filed Thursday, according to Boulder County District Attorney's office spokesperson Shannon Carbone.

Soliman had planned to kill all of the roughly 20 participants in Sundays demonstration at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, but he threw just two of his 18 Molotov cocktails while yelling Free Palestine, police said. Soliman didnt carry out his full plan because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before, police wrote in an affidavit.

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According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman told police he was driven by a desire to kill all Zionist people  a reference to the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel. Authorities said he expressed no remorse about the attack.

The family's immigration status

Before moving to Colorado Springs three years ago, Soliman spent 17 years in Kuwait, according to court documents.

Soliman arrived in the U.S. in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023, McLaughlin said in a post on X. She said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, but that has also expired.

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Hundreds of thousands of people overstay their visas each year in the United States, according to Department of Homeland Security reports.

Soliman's wife was born in Saudi Arabia and is an Egyptian national, according to her lawsuit. She is a network engineer and has a pending EB-2 visa, which is available to professionals with advanced degrees, the suit said. She and her children all are listed as dependents on Soliman's asylum application.

The case against Soliman

Soliman told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year, the affidavit said.

Soliman is being held in a county jail on a $10 million cash bond and is scheduled to make an appearance in state court on Thursday. His attorney, Kathryn Herold, declined to comment after a state court hearing Monday. Public defenders policy prohibits speaking to the media.

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The attack unfolded against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, which has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. It happened at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and barely a week after a man who also yelled Free Palestine was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington.

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This story has been corrected to show the defendant's oldest daughter is 17, not 18, according to attorneys for the family.

___

Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington, Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City, Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
Ed Victor had just finished the Run for Their Lives walk and was with group members gathering outside the Boulder, Colorado, courthouse on Sunday afternoon when he said he heard a crash, felt heat -- and then saw a woman on fire.

My focus got extremely narrow at that time. I didnt notice anything else," Victor said at a news conference Wednesday with political and faith leaders outside the courthouse.

"I was worried about that woman," he said, "and Ill tell you, when someone is on fire, it takes too long to put them out."

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Victor said he and the other walk participants frantically looked around for what they had to help extinguish the flames: flags and a banner.

Fifteen people ranging in age from 25 to 88 years old were hurt in the Molotov cocktail attack, prosecutors said.

Some victims were "very seriously burned," Rabbi Mark Soloway said at the news conference. Three victims remain in the hospital in serious condition Wednesday, sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News.

Chet Strange/Getty Images - PHOTO: Local faith leaders and members of the community conduct a prayer vigil for the victims of a fire attack outside the Boulder County Courthouse, June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo.

Naor Bitton, visiting from Israel, was walking in Boulder when he saw the demonstrators and joined them in a show of support.

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Soon Bitton saw a "huge ball of flames" engulfing several people, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, he told ABC News.

Bitton said he ran back and forth between the fire and passersby to gather as much water as he could until the blaze on the 88-year-old could be extinguished, which took several minutes.

A crowd then started to gather at the scene, but "there was still active spots of fire" and "the attacker still had two bottles of gasoline in his hands," Bitton said. "I figured if someone gets too close to him, he might throw the bottles," hurting more people.

@opusobscurax/X via Reuters - PHOTO: Law enforcement officers detain a suspect, after an attack that injured multiple people, in Boulder, Colorado, June 1, 2025.

MORE: Boulder attack latest: Number of victims climbs to 15

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The suspect chanted "Free Palestine" and "I did it and Ill do it again," Bitton recalled.

"I made my way to the head of the crowd, trying to create enough space between him and the crowd, pushing away people who tried to get near him and keeping my eyes on him" until police arrived, Bitton said.

The injured 88-year-old has since been released from the hospital.

The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with a federal hate crime and state charges, including 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, officials said.

Boulder Police Department - PHOTO: Booking photo of 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, the man suspected of carrying out an "act of terrorism" in Boulder, Colorado, June 1, 2025.

Soliman allegedly said he intentionally targeted Run for Their Lives, a peaceful group comprised of Jews and non-Jews who participate in weekly walks to raise awareness about the hostages in Gaza, according to court documents.

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Soliman told police "he wanted to kill all Zionist people," court documents said.

He "said this had nothing to do with the Jewish community and was specific in the Zionist group supporting the killings of people on his land (Palestine)," documents said.

Political and faith leaders strongly condemned the attack at Wednesday's news conference.

"Antisemitism, violence and hate have no home in Colorado," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said. "We will not be silenced or scared. We will not let the demons of hate define us."

"The whole Jewish community is reeling, shocked that this hideous hate crime could happen right here in downtown, beautiful Boulder, Colorado," Soloway said. "And yet, we have seen this coming ... Jews here and all over America and all over the world have not been feeling safe."

David Zalubowski/AP - PHOTO: A visitor offers a tribute after leaving a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of an attack outside of the Boulder County, Colo., courthouse as a light rain falls, June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo.

The Boulder attack comes at a time of heightened violence against the Jewish community.

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In April, a suspected arsonist firebombed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's official residence because of "what [the governor] wants to do to the Palestinian people," according to a search warrant signed by Pennsylvania State Police. The suspect was arrested.

On May 21, two Israeli Embassy staff members were killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. When the suspect was arrested, he began to chant, "free, free Palestine," according to police.

MORE: Colorado attack comes amid record incidents of antisemitic and Islamophic hate crimes

Two days after the D.C. attack, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a bulletin that the Israel-Hamas conflict "continues to inspire violence and could spur radicalization or mobilization to violence against targets perceived as supporting Israel."

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The Anti-Defamation League has documented a dramatic rise in acts of hate targeting Jewish people in the U.S. since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. In 2024, the ADL said it recorded a record high of 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the U.S., marking a 344% increase over the past five years and a 893% increase over the past 10 years.

"I am angry," Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, said at Wednesday's news conference.

Mark Makela/Reuters - PHOTO: A woman places flowers at a memorial at the scene of an attack that injured multiple people, outside the Boulder County Courthouse, in Boulder, Colo., June 2, 2025.

Its way past time for our political leaders, community groups, media outlets, tech platforms, faith leaders to take action before more Jewish blood is spilled. And it's way past time to stop excusing antisemitic rhetoric," he said.

Greenblatt urged the public to speak out against hate, sharing small, specific actions people can take.

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"Flag a hateful post, sign a petition, attend a service, make a comment in city council," he said.

Soliman appeared in court virtually on Monday. He has yet to enter a plea. He'll return to court Thursday on the state charges.

ABC News' Jeff Cook and Trevor Ault contributed to this report.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield Police Department asked the community to assist in locating a 14-year-old girl who went missing on Tuesday.

Mia Alexandra Ultreras, 14, was last seen June 3 in the 6900 block of Natchitoches Way, Bakersfield. Ultreras is considered to be at risk due to being a first-time runaway, according to officials.

Mia Alexandra Ultreras, 14 / Photo courtesy of Bakersfield Police Department

BPD described Ultreras as being 4 feet, 11 inches tall and 125 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, burgundy T-shirt and black pants.

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Ultreras also has a scratch on her right cheek, police said.

Anyone with information about Ultreras whereabouts is asked to contact BPD at 661-327-7111.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
As the Trump administration continues its crusade against the institutions of science, the careers of would-be researchers in the US are on the line.

President Donald Trump has suggested slashing NASA's science directorate's budget in half, which could deal a fatal blow to dozens of future science missions and greatly undermine the United States' leadership in space, experts warn.

Trump's outright anti-science agenda could have devastating knock-on effects for anybody looking to make a career in the sciences, preventing the next generation of researchers from flourishing  and likely curtailing decades of cutting-edge research that long distinguished the US on the world stage.

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Researchers are already looking for greener pastures as job opportunities dry up in the US. The troubling trend is kickstarting a brain drain that could massively undercut the nation's supremacy in fields ranging from medicine to biology to physical sciences, as the New York Times reports.

Meanwhile, the US has shut down its borders to some of the brightest minds, denying visas to Chinese students pursuing educations.

With grant money drying up fast, researchers are moving abroad, enticed by the promise of building out a career in a politically more stable place. China and Europe, in particular, are looking to swipe up an immense amount of talent as the number of graduate student or postdoctoral positions in the US continue to crater.

"We are embarking on a major experiment in restructuring the innovative engine in America, and China is the control," geophysicist and the president of the National Academy of Sciences, Marcia McNutt, told the NYT. "China is not going to cut its research budget in half."

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Trump's cabinet seems to have little fear of national brain drain or missing out on international science talent. As the NYT points out, at least half of the workers in the US with doctorates were born abroad.

It all comes in the context of the White House's assault on the most influential academic institutions in the country. Trump has directly targeted international students, going as far as to attempt to prevent Harvard University from enrolling foreign-born students, a horrifying decision that was blocked by a judge last week.

The executive branch also recently temporarily halted student visa appointments, triggering panic among students from around the world.

In short, the Trump administration has made it very clear that the United States is a hostile place to build a career as a scientist, whether you were born within its borders or not.

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"What we see is a full-scale assault on science in America," representative George Whitesides (D-CA) told PBS. "It is probably the biggest attack on our scientific establishment in history."

More on brain drain: Nobel-Winning Scientist Says His Researchers Are Fleeing the Country Because of Trump's Cruelty
BERLIN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The German city of Cologne launched its largest evacuation since World War II on Wednesday after three unexploded U.S. bombs were discovered in its Deutz district.

More than 20,000 residents within a 1,000-meter radius have been ordered to leave their homes, while large parts of the inner city have been sealed off to ensure the safe defusal of the ordnance, according to the City of Cologne.

"The timeline depends entirely on the success of the evacuation," said Kai Kulschewski, head of ordnance disposal for the Dusseldorf district government. Authorities began erecting roadblocks and inspecting properties early Wednesday. Once the area is fully cleared, bomb disposal experts will begin defusal efforts, though no exact start time has been set.

The evacuation zone includes a hospital, two senior care facilities, several museums, and the headquarters of German broadcaster RTL. While Cologne Cathedral and the main train station are outside the danger zone, the adjacent Hohenzollern Bridge -- Germany's busiest rail bridge -- is affected.

Deutsche Bahn warned of major disruptions to regional and long-distance train services across North Rhine-Westphalia. Cologne Messe/Deutz station has been closed, and train traffic across the bridge will be fully suspended once defusal work begins, cutting access to Cologne Central Station from the east.

River traffic on the Rhine and nearby airspace will also be temporarily halted during the operation. 
(WJW)  A 71-year-old woman died after developing a rare and deadly brain infection linked to using tap water from an RVs water system at a Texas campground, federal health officials confirmed.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the woman developed symptoms of primary amebic meningoencephalitis  a severe brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba  just four days after rinsing her sinuses with unboiled tap water from her recreational vehicle.

Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water to clear sinuses: CDC

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Testing at the CDC confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in her cerebrospinal fluid.

Naegleria fowleri, commonly called brain-eating amoeba, is rare. There are only about 10 cases per year, according to the CDC, but its almost always fatal.

Only one way to get it

Naegleria fowleri infects people in only one way: when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose, according to the CDC.

The amoeba then makes a bee line for the brain.

Fresh water

Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri usually happen after a person goes swimming in fresh water during the summer months.

Neti pots

The CDC said few infections have occurred when people used tap water that contained Naegleria fowleri to rinse their sinuses or clean their nasal passages.

Texas investigation

In the Texas case, health officials identified two possible sources of contamination. One was the RVs onboard water tank, which had been filled months earlier from an unknown location. The other was the municipal water supply at the campground, which was connected to the RV system via a hose and water filter.

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The woman rinsed her sinuses multiple times from both sources, according to the report.

Early symptoms were fever, headache and a change in mental function, the CDC report showed.

Ohio girl with brain injury from flu complications returns home

Despite receiving medical treatment, her condition rapidly worsened. She suffered seizures and died eight days after the onset of symptoms.

The woman had no known exposure to freshwater lakes or rivers, which is the most common source of the amoeba.

They like to grow in water, Dr. Christine Alexander, chair of family medicine at MetroHealth Medical Center, told FOX 8 in a previous interview. Especially warm water.

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Naegleria fowleri is naturally found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes and rivers, or hot springs, but can also be found in water discharge from industrial or power plants, geothermal well water, poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated swimming pools, water heaters and soil, according to CDC data.

People who become infected develop primary amebic meningoencephalitis.

This is not like a bacterial infection, which we have antibiotics, or a viral infection where we have antivirals, Alexander said. We dont have medicine to get rid of the amoeba.

Where is it found?

Fresh water

Naegleria fowleri is typically found in warm water with temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the CDC said.

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According to the Cleveland Department of Public Health, Naegleria fowleri grows best in high temperatures of up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Though Lake Erie is a freshwater environment, the lakes temperature rarely gets high enough to create a viable growth environment for the amoeba, and its never been observed there, according to the health department.

Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs sickens dozens across 7 states

Lake Erie water temperatures have reached as high as 85 degrees. However, summertime water temperatures usually stay in the 70s and rarely get above 75 degrees, according to the health department.

Splash pads

In hot, sunny weather, chlorine can break down and be less effective at splash pads and pools, according to the health department.

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Still, the CDC said infections from splash pads are extremely rare.

How many cases?

Cases have been documented in nearly half of all U.S. states, and there were an estimated 160 deaths between 1962 and 2023, the CDC reported.

To this date, no one has ever gotten infected in Ohio.

See the cases here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Gov. Mike Braun speaks to reporters at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indiana has exhausted its supply of lethal injection drugs after carrying out two executions in the past six months  and Gov. Mike Braun said Tuesday he doesnt plan to buy more, at least for now.

The governors remarks followed the states December execution of Joseph Corcoran  Indianas first since 2009  and last months execution of Benjamin Ritchie.

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Recent reporting by the Indiana Capital Chronicle revealed the state spent $900,000 last year to obtain pentobarbital to carry out executions, but officials wouldnt say how much was purchased and refused to provide information on expiration dates, storage or other details.

Braun said the high cost and short shelf life of the drug should prompt new discussions on how the state approaches capital punishment moving forward.

... I'm not going to be for putting it on the shelf and then letting them expire.

 Indiana Gov. Mike Braun

Weve got to address the broad issue of, what are other methods, the discussion of capital punishment in general, and then something that costs, I think, $300,000 a pop that has a 90-day shelf life  Im not going to be for putting it on the shelf and then letting them expire, the governor told reporters at the Indiana Statehouse.

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Braun, a Republican in his first year as governor, said the question of whether Indiana should continue to carry out executions at all is one that lawmakers should weigh in the months ahead.

There are legislators that wonder if its still relevant, Braun continued. Im going to listen to them, the courts, and the broader discussion in general.

Execution methods in other states

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and former Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the states acquisition of pentobarbital in June 2024, but its not clear when the state ultimately received the drugs.

Indiana Department of Correction officials have refused to disclose how many doses of pentobarbital were used for each of recent executions, or how close the drug was to its expiration when it was administered.

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I think we got in a pickle where we stored three, and now it looks like  it will be coming up again, Braun said Tuesday, appearing to refer to execution drug expiration.

Current Indiana law only allows lethal injection as a means of execution. The one-drug method is a departure from the states protocol used since 1995, involving a series of three chemicals.

But with ongoing drug shortages and increasing legal and political complications, some states have revived older execution methods  or approved new ones.

South Carolina recently reinstated the firing squad as an option after years of delays due to its inability to obtain lethal injection drugs. The state has so far carried out two executions by firing squad in 2025  the first in the U.S. in 15 years.

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According to the Death Penalty Information Center, prior to South Carolinas move only three executions by firing squad had taken place nationwide since 1977  all in Utah.

Its expected to be the primary method for executions in Idaho starting in 2026. Mississippi and Oklahoma also permit firing squads, but only as a secondary method to lethal injection.

Braun pointed to South Carolina, specifically, but he didnt endorse any specific execution method.

Nine states permit executions by lethal gas, but only five  Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma  specifically authorize death by nitrogen hypoxia, a process that deprives inmates of oxygen using nitrogen gas.

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So far, Alabama and Louisiana are the only states that have performed executions by nitrogen gas, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Arizona and Mississippi additionally allow gas chambers, a method in which inmates are exposed to a lethal gas  traditionally hydrogen cyanide  inside a sealed chamber. The process can take several minutes, however, and has drawn criticism over the risk of prolonged suffering.

Lawmakers could reexamine Indianas death penalty

Earlier this year, some Indiana lawmakers  from both sides of the aisle  questioned the future of capital punishment in the state.

Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, filed House Bill 1030, which sought to abolish the death penalty altogether in Indiana and replace it with life without parole. He later discussed plans to scale back the bill  and instead focus on execution drug rules and witness guidelines  hoping that a narrowed proposal could give it a better chance at advancing through the legislative process.

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Despite some bipartisan support, Morris bill never received a committee hearing in the House, effectively killing the measure.

Separately, an amendment Morris offered on another bill sought to require that Indiana State Police test pentobarbital between 12 and 24 hours before an execution to ensure the substance is 100% effective before its administered. But that proposal never moved, either.

Other Republican and Democratic lawmakers have previously suggested narrowing the list of crimes eligible for execution or mandating that any new methods meet constitutional and ethical standards.

No one has been added to death row in Indiana since 2013 as many prosecutors choose life in prison without parole over the cost of a death penalty trial.

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The next opportunity for lawmakers to file and debate bills is during next years legislative session, slated to begin in January 2026.

The last person executed in Indiana before Corcoran was Eric Wrinkles in 2009. Six inmates currently remain on Indianas death row, and more than a dozen capital punishment cases are still pending statewide.

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Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy, right, gives victory speech June 3 standing beside her parents, Cuthbert and Norma Braveboy. after declaring victory in special general election for county executive. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Its still unofficial, but with 89% of the vote in early returns theres little doubt: Prince Georges County States Attorney Aisha Braveboy is likely the next county executive.

Braveboy, standing beside her parents, and sporting matching outfits with her boyfriend, Will Anderson, told a crowd of several hundred people at an election night watch party at SoBe Restaurant and Lounge in Seabrook that her victory represents unity for Marylands second-largest jurisdiction.

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This is the first time in a very long time that we have a united executive and legislative branch, Braveboy, 50, said. Everyone who has been elected to serve, we have all agreed that we are going to work together to serve you and not ourselves.

One of the first priorities in the office, Braveboy said, is simply cleaning up the county.

Your roadways, the trees that need to be trimmed, the hedges that need to be cut back, the grass that needs to be mowed, she said. I will prioritize that because this county should look as beautiful as the people in this room.

According to election returns from the countys special general election, as of 10:46 p.m. Tuesday night, the Democrat had received 27,886 or 89% of the votes, against her Republican opponent Jonathan White, who garnered 3,076, or 10%. There are still thousands of votes to count  more than 62,000 ballots had been cast by last Thursday in early voting  but Braveboy backers were confident declaring victory.

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Among those to celebrate and congratulate Braveboys victory was Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), the first person to declare an early victory.

We got a new leader in Prince Georges County, Brown said. We got a county executive whos going to be focused on public safety, public education, public health and economic development opportunity. The people of Prince Georges County [have] spoken tonight.

Prince Georges County States Aisha Braveboy receives roses from members of her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. after her special general election victory for county executive June 3. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Some of the others to congratulate Braveboy included Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel), County Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (D) and former Del. Darryl Barnes.

A few remarks even came from one of Braveboys special primary election opponents, At-Large Councilmember Calvin Hawkins.

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Most of you in this room, if not all of you, supported her to be the next county executive. I was one of those that thought I should be the county executive, Hawkins said. Aisha Braveboy, tonight belongs to you and Prince Georges County.

Braveboys Republican opponent, White, 51, a retired Air Force veteran, said in an email less than five hours before the polls closed Tuesday that he sought the executive position because people are tired of promises that never turn into progress.

I understand that Prince Georges County has long been a Democratic stronghold, and I respect the history and values that many residents associate with that affiliation, he said. But I believe voters are ready to look beyond party labels, especially when the issues affecting our communities are getting worse, not better.

But the voters overwhelmingly chose Braveboy to fill out the remaining two-year term of former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who stepped down in December to take her U.S. Senate seat.

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Besides the voters, Braveboy had the states biggest cheerleader to back her: Gov. Wes Moore (D).

The states attorney won in a crowded special primary election among nine Democrats, including Hawkins, who was endorsed by Alsobrooks, and former County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who had the endorsement of state treasurer and county resident Dereck Davis (D).

The countys chief administrative officer, Tara H. Jackson, who has been acting county executive since Alsobrooks stepped down, chose not to seek the seat.

County Council seat

In terms of working with the County Council, three council members backed Braveboys candidacy: Burroughs, Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha and Councilmember Wala Blegay.

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Voters in Tuesdays special election also chose another Braveboy supporter for a council seat: former school board member Shayla Adams-Stafford, received 2,583, or 92% of the votes against GOP challenger Fred Price Jr., who received 189, or 7% of the votes in the special election for an open District 5 council seat.

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Adams-Stafford will fill the seat vacated last year by Councilmember Jolene Ivey, who won an at-large seat and then briefly sought the Democratic nomination in the county executive race. She withdrew her candidacy, but still came in fourth place. By withdrawing, Ivey spared county residents the prospect of another special election for her at-large council seat.

Adams-Stafford will represent the area that includes Cheverly, Colmar Manor and Glenarden.

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We are in a challenging position when it comes to several of the large projects we were hoping would stay in the county, Adams-Stafford said in an interview at SoBe Restaurant. Having a unified voice, or a cohesive voice around these projects from members of the council and the county executive, I think that really helps our position when were looking outward to bring business here and to bring new ideas here.

The countys Board of Elections is scheduled to have votes certified by June 13. Swearing-in of the new county executive and new council member is scheduled for June 19, the federal holiday of Juneteenth, also observed by the state and county, when government offices will be closed.

Braveboys selection ends this years special primary and general elections that cost about $4.2 million, or $2.1 million each.

But her selection by voters wont cost taxpayers anything because the countys circuit court judges will select a replacement to serve out the remaining two years of her term.

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One person interested in the states attorney position is County Councilmember Wanika Fisher (D), who worked as a prosecutor in the states attorneys office in 2017 and then served as a state delegate from January 2019 to December 2022.

You cant live out your best dreams, or the things you want from your family or yourself or your business, without having safety and justice, Fisher, who turns 37 this month, said in an interview Tuesday. I really am excited to get my hands fully engaged in what that office has to do with when it comes to our criminal justice system and making sure that Prince Georgians are protected.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A trio of vandals, one of whom wearing a mask from the Scream movie franchise, broke into an Irving Park neighborhood restaurant early Tuesday morning, and the owner thinks it may be the same people whove previously targeted the store.

Peter Mihopoulos, the owner of Big League Burgers near West Irving Park Road and North Elston Avenue, said he was at home when he saw the attempted burglary via his security system. Video recorded shortly after 4 a.m. shows a patio door being smashed with a brick, allowing two of the criminals to get inside. Video shows a third remained outside as an apparent look-out.

Timestamps on the surveillance video showed the vandals were in and out within about 45 seconds.

Mihopoulos told WGN the apparent smash-and-grab was the third hes had in the last two years.

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Its a battle to keep open. Its a struggle. Its tough, he said, choking back tears. But youve got to keep going. Its all you can do.

Mihopoulos said the vandals didnt get away with anything but caused significant damage.

He said Big League Burgers would be open for business on Wednesday.

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In early June 2025, also known as Pride Month, rumors circulated that Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, was a ped*ph*le. The claim spread online as Military.com reported U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth had ordered the U.S. Navy to rename one of its ships that bore the name "Harvey Milk."

For example, an X user relayed the rumor (archived):

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed the Navy to rename the ship that was named in honor of gay rights icon and ped*ph*le Harvey Milk.



Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/YHctSs8YQR  AF Post (@AFpost) June 3, 2025

As of this writing, the post had gained nearly 50,000 views and 2,100 likes. The claim further appeared on several other X posts, one of which sought to support its assertion by recounting a relationship Milk, then 33 years old, had started with Jack Galen McKinley, who was 16 years old at the time, in "true groomer fashion" (archived):

On the second day of Pride Month, also known as Shame Month, lets remember Harvey Milk.



He was a gay icon and activist.



He was also a ped*ph*le. At 33 years old, Harvey Milk began a relationship with a 16-year old boy. The boy was a troubled runaway teenager. In true groomer pic.twitter.com/1rgwbI9e8w  Joey Mannarino  (@JoeyMannarinoUS) June 2, 2025

In 2021, the U.S. Navy sought to honor Milk by christening a ship in his name. Milk served in the Navy for four years. He resigned in 1955 following a psychiatric examination that identified him as a homosexual person rather than being court-martialed.

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Hegseth's order revived old rumors that the gay rights leader, who was assassinated in 1978, was a ped*ph*le. Snopes found an instance of the claim in 2011, reportedly shared by a group known as SaveCalifornia, which attacked a successful statewide initiative to celebrate Milk's legacy in schools. The SaveCalifornia website also posted about "Harvey Milk Day" in California's public schools in 2019, calling for an end to the commemoration for the sake of protecting children. On the page, a three-minute YouTube video appeared calling Milk a "predator of teens."

Milk's relationship with Galen McKinley

It is true that in 1964, Milk, then 33 years old, entered a relationship with Galen McKinley, who was 17 years old, according to the Milk biography, "Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death." The relationship started in New York City.

Snopes reached out to the New York State Library to confirm what the age of consent was in the state and city that year and we will update this report should they respond.

Later, the pair spent time in California, where the age of consent has been 18 years old since at least 1920. Their California sojourn occurred around 1969, when Galen McKinley was 23 years old. The two remained a couple until at least 1970 and they stayed in touch for years after that.

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Absent a clear age of consent in the state of New York, however, Snopes examined psychiatric criteria to determine whether Milk would be considered a ped*ph*le for entering into a relationship with Galen McKinley. Pedophilia is not a legal term but a clinical one. In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) treats pedophilia as a mental disorder, defining it as "a paraphilia in which sexual acts or fantasies involving prepubertal children are the persistently preferred or exclusive method of achieving sexual excitement." Prepubertal children can be as old as 11 years old. In other words, a 16-year-old boy is not prepubertal. The APA and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders have yet to define the attraction to children older than 11 years of age.

For example, while California has established the age of consent at 18, it also includes a statute according to which "a person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1, upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years."

In other words, the law of the state makes a distinction between the age of consent and sexual crimes committed against children younger than 14 years old.

In sum, while it is possible Milk's relationship with Galen McKinley may have violated the laws of consent in the state of New York in 1964, it does not appear that modern psychological standards would deem him a ped*ph*le. We will update this report when we can determine what the age of consent was in the state at the time the relationship took place.

Sources:

"A Complete Genealogy and Family History Resource Center." MyTrees.com, 2025, www.mytrees.com/cgi-bin/yaossdirslt?ssdim.dat+2. Accessed 4 June 2025..

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Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20230724214206/https://www.mytrees.com/cgi-bin/yaossdirslt?ssdim.dat+277594075.

Adminstrator 1. "Harvey Milk Day// - SaveCalifornia.com." Savecalifornia.com, 2019, savecalifornia.com/harvey-milk-day.html. Accessed 4 June 2025.

Blanchard, Ray, et al. "Pedophilia, Hebephilia, and the DSM-V." Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 38, no. 3, Aug. 2008, pp. 33550, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9399-9. Accessed 4 June 2025.

"Children and Youth in History | Age of Consent Laws [Table]." Rrchnm.org, 2021, cyh.rrchnm.org/primary-sources/24.html. Accessed 4 June 2025.

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Kratz, Jessie. "Harvey Milk: Veteran." Pieces of History, 28 June 2023, prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2023/06/28/harvey-milk-veteran/. Accessed 4 June 2025.

"Law Section." Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=288.&lawCode=PEN. Accessed 4 June 2025.

Mehta, Kalika. "US Navy to Rename Ship Named after Gay Activist Harvey Milk." Dw.com, Deutsche Welle, 3 June 2025, www.dw.com/en/us-navy-to-rename-ship-named-after-gay-activist-harvey-milk/a-72781710. Accessed 4 June 2025.

Milk, Harvey. "Jewish Lives." Jewish Lives, 2024, www.jewishlives.org/books/milk?srsltid=AfmBOoo6mDRga7smub5F-1It5ZS8ITpBcSLClBmcVK3BZWdDSdn0ef5i. Accessed 4 June 2025.

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"Pedophilia | APA Dictionary of Psychology." Dictionary.apa.org, dictionary.apa.org/pedophilia. Accessed 4 June 2025.

Writers, Staff. "Milk Pedophile Claim." Star Observer, 31 May 2011, www.starobserver.com.au/news/milk-pedophile-claim/53254. Accessed 4 June 2025.
Update June 5, 2025: Monica Holdaway from the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce sent the following statement to ABC4.

Earlier this year, in preparation for the upcoming Peach Days event, the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce made the decision to align with the terms outlined in its existing beverage contract. This contract contains provisions that limit which beverages may be sold during Peach Days. While the beverage vendor, Swire Coca Cola, had previously opted not to enforce these restrictions, the Chamber ultimately chose to bring the event into full compliance, despite the beverage vendors nonenforcement. This decision affected a total of 4 specialty drink vendors out of 211 total vendors participating in Peach Days. Historically, Peach Days was a way for the Chamber of Commerce to raise funds that helped keep membership fees for our members low. Organizing and running Peach Days is a large undertaking with a limited staff of 2 full-time and 1 part-time employee. The rest of the work and organization is thanks to hundreds of volunteers from the business community and citizens. In order to simplify Peach Days for the Chamber of Commerce and promote the vendors that do business at Peach Days beginning in 2025, the Chamber will no longer operate beverage booths during the event. We would like to thank our long-time beverage provider, Swire Coca Cola who has been an outstanding partner and has helped the Chamber be successful. We would also like to thank the hundreds of volunteers that have volunteered working in the trailers throughout the years. All food vendors will be allowed to sell nonalcoholic beverages at their food booths. The Chamber of Commerce will not hold a contract with a beverage provider. To assist vendors with limited freezer access and due to limited electrical outlets, the Chamber will have ice available for purchase. We appreciate the communitys input and look forward to a great Peach Days celebration. Box Elder Chamber of Commerce

Swire Coca-Cola also shared a statement with ABC4. They said that they didnt intend to prohibit local businesses from participating in Peach Days, and wish the festival success.

Swire Coca-Cola has proudly supported Brigham Citys Peach Days for roughly 20 years. As the local bottler, Swires participation has helped with fundraising efforts for the Chamber of Commerce and has been a great way to be involved in a fun community event. We were disappointed to learn of the misunderstanding that implies we are forcing local businesses out of the festival. Swire Coca-Cola has never prohibited local businesses from participating, and we wish Peach Days much success. Swire Coca-Cola statement on Peach Days

Original story:

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Brigham Citys Peach Days draws a large crowd every year, but vendors are concerned about a new restriction on beverage sales. Previously, vendors could sell their own beverages, but this year theyre being told thats not an option.

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In a statement to ABC4, the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce said that this decision was made to align with the terms outlined in its existing beverage contract. The current contract with Swire Coca-Cola requires that other vendors not sell beverages at the event, though they have opted not to enforce these restrictions in previous years.

Just peachy: Northern Utah farmers prepare for incredible harvest after years of drought

According to the chamber, this decision only affects four vendors out of 211. One of those vendors, Cory Anderson, said that this is not the first time theyve had trouble with the Chamber of Commerce, and this decision will impact his business.

Anderson is the manager and co-owner of Andersons Art and Antiques in Brigham City. During Peach Days, theyve sold lemon shakers and kettle corn at the celebration.

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For several years, Anderson worked to be able to sell their lemonade  which they turned into lemon shakers due to restrictions  at the event, but they were often told no due to noncompetes. Instead of selling at Peach Days, Anderson began selling beverages at the car show that was attached to but not part of Peach Days.

When the car show became part of Peach Days, Anderson pushed to stay part of the vendors at the car show, even though it was now overseen by the chamber. In response, he said that they sandwiched his booth between two Coca-Cola trailers.

Idle Isle Cafe up for sale, former employees speak out

Theyve also always had no sales of drinks or even handout of any kind, and that included water. And that didnt make sense, because youre running an event with 70,000 people in the summertime its just kind of disaster waiting to strike, Anderson said. But those were the rules, we were threatened that we would get kicked out if we didnt follow everything.

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Not only was Anderson told he couldnt sell regular lemonade, they were also told not to sell or give out water, even in the event of an emergency. The chamber only allows EMS to give out water at Peach Days, and Anderson said its roughly a mile from where hes located at the car show.

If there were other competitors at Peach Days that sold the same things as us or they gave out water or anything, wed really feel like theres not competition to us. We sell as many lemonades as we can possibly pump out we do 800+ lemonade sales, Anderson stated.

This year, Anderson said the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce has completely disallowed the sale of beverages of any kind. Anderson said he struggles to understand why they would pull away profit for local businesses who depend on Peach Days.

His father attended a board meeting to find out why this year was different, and Anderson said that Councilman Dave Jefferies heard their problems and said he would try to help them get back into the show. A little while later, he said that he couldnt help them anymore.

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It just doesnt even make any sense. Were not looking to make a big problem out of this, weve just asked so many times  and never get an answer that makes sense, Anderson said.

Community worried about poaching at a Brigham City park

Anderson said that they have felt singled out by the Chamber of Commerce over the years, and this felt like a furthering of that. He hopes that the chamber will reverse this decision, and that all they really want is to sell their lemon shakers at the car show, and their exclusion will cost them $6,000 in revenue.

The full statement from the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce is below:

Earlier this year, in preparation for the upcoming Peach Days event, the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce made the decision to align with the terms outlined in its existing beverage contract. This contract contains provisions that limit which beverages may be sold during Peach Days. While the beverage vendor, Swire Coca-Cola, had previously opted not to enforce these restrictions, the Chamber ultimately chose to bring the event into full compliance of the contract. This decision affected a total of 4 vendors out of 211 vendors participating in Peach Days. The Chamber has been looking at potential new beverage contracts and is considering all possible options. Once a decision is made by the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, this decision will be announced. Box Elder Chamber of Commerce

ABC4 has reached out to Swire Coca-Cola and City Councilman Dave Jeffries for more information.

Latest headlines:

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BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  Bristol, Virginia city leaders and members of the Bristol Life Saving Crew met Tuesday evening to further discuss the current status and future operations of the emergency response team. The discussion comes after the rescue squads leadership came to the city last week, warning of their impending closure due to a lack of funds.

Tuesdays meeting was comprised of two members of the Bristol, Virginia City Council, city staff, representatives of the Bristol Life Saving Crew, the crews certified public accountant and a representative from the Southwest Virginia EMS Council.

PREVIOUS: Bristol officials provide update on possible life saving crew closure

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City Manager and Attorney Randall Eads said the discussion consisted of the crews current needs and assistance with planning finances.

Discussions focused on operational needs, financial planning, and long-term strategies to support the organizations mission of delivering life-saving emergency medical services, a release from Eads states.

Eads said the group will meet again in July to continue those conversations, and he noted the City of Bristol, Virginia appreciates the life saving crews work and the role it plays in the community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Fox Newss chief political analyst Brit Hume on Monday pushed back on previous comments made by President Trump about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Ukraines successful drone attack earlier this week.

Trump has claimed more than once that the Ukrainian leader lacked cards when it came to his countrys negotiations amid the over three-years long war with Russia.

Dont tell us what were going to feel. Youre in no position to dictate that. You dont have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards, Trump told Zelensky during a contentious Oval Office meeting in February.

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On Fox Newss Special Report on Monday, Hume objected to the presidents statement after anchor Shannon Bream mentioned the recent drone attack in which Ukraine struck one of its most devastating blows in the war against Russia.

It certainly does establish that this country whose president was being told at the White House that he didnt have any cards to play, that he apparently has quite a few cards to play, including this daring attack, Hume responded in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.

In a thread on the social media platform X on Sunday, Zelensky said a brilliant operation was carried out  on enemy territory that day.

The preparation took over a year and a half. Planning, organi[z]ation, every detail was perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was an absolutely unique operation, Zelensky wrote about the attack.

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Trump, who has recently pushed for an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, was not given a heads-up about the attack by Ukraine, according to The Hills sister network NewsNation.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KIEV, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi had warned of continued nuclear safety concerns in Ukraine, the Ukrainian TSN.ua media outlet reported Wednesday.

"It is clear that the dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present," Grossi was quoted as saying during his visit to Ukraine on Tuesday.

He emphasized that the presence of the agency at the Ukrainian nuclear power plants is essential to helping prevent a severe nuclear accident.

The Chernobyl plant saw one of the worst nuclear accidents in history on April 26, 1986, when a series of explosions ripped through the No. 4 reactor, causing radiation to spread across Ukraine and other European countries. 
Britain will supply 100,000 drones to Ukraine by April 2026, the government has said.

The significant delivery pledge represents a tenfold increase on the number of drones given to Ukraine last year.

The 350 million drone package is part of a broader 4.5 billion military support initiative for Ukraine.

In addition to drones, Britain said it had also already shipped 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January and will spend a further 247 million this year training Ukrainian troops.

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The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year and completing a major milestone in the delivery of critical artillery ammunition, said Defence Secretary John Healey in a statement.

It comes as Ukraine on Sunday pulled off one of its most daring missions inside enemy territory, destroying as many as 40 of Vladimir Putins prized strategic bombers in coordinated drone strikes.

As part of the Strategic Defence Review published on Monday, the government announced more than 4 billion for autonomous systems and drones for the UK Armed Forces, to help learn the lessons from Ukraines more than three-year fight against Russia.

It also called for a more lethal and tech-driven army to counter emerging threats, including Russian aggression.

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Elsewhere, the Kremlin on Wednesday conceded that Ukraine had attacked the Crimean Bridge and that there had been an explosion, but said there was no damage.

On Tuesday, Ukraines SBU security service said it had hit the underbelly of Russias Kerch Bridge, which links occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland.

The SBU said it detonated 1,100kg of explosives, damaging some underwater pillars.

There was an explosion, said Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman. Nothing was damaged. The bridge is working. The Kyiv regime continues its attempts to attack civilian infrastructure.

Keith Kellogg, Donald Trumps Ukraine envoy, warned that the risk of escalation from the war in Ukraine was going way up.

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His caution comes after Ukrainian forces used drones to attack airfields in Siberia and Russias far north over the weekend, striking targets up to 4,300 km (2,670 miles) from the front lines of the conflict.

Im telling you, the risk levels are going way up - I mean, what happened this weekend, Trumps envoy, Mr Kellogg, told Fox News.

People have to understand in the national security space: when you attack an opponents part of their national survival system, which is their triad, the nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you dont know what the other side is going to do. Youre not sure.

On the battlefield, Russian forces captured settlements of Ridkodub in eastern Ukraine and Kindrativka in Ukraines Sumy region, Moscows defence ministry said on Wednesday.

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The battlefield report has not been independently verified.

01:45 PM BST

Thats all for now

Thank you for following todays live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well be back soon with the latest updates.

Heres a reminder of what happened today:

A new study found the overall number of casualties from both sides in the Ukraine war has risen to 1.4 million.

Keith Kellogg, Trumps Ukraine envoy, warned the risk of escalation from the war in Ukraine was going way up.

Sergei Shoigu, Russias top security official, met with Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un for talks in North Korea.

Mark Rutte, Nato chief, confirmed that Ukraine has been invited to the upcoming Nato summit in the Hague later this month.

The Kremlin conceded that Ukraine had attacked the Crimean Bridge and that there had been an explosion, but said there was no damage.

Russia said it has captured two settlements in Ukraines Sumy and Ridkodub region.

North Korea is reportedly supplying 140mm mortars to Russian soldiers.

01:14 PM BST

Pictured: North Korea supplies 140mm mortars to Russia

North Korea is supplying 140mm mortars to Russian soldiers, according to reports.

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The weapon has a maximum range of 8,000 meters and can fire up to 12 rounds per minute.

The mega-system requires a five-person crew to operate it, with each shell weighing almost 37kg.

North Korea has reportedly begun supplying 140mm mortars to Russia

12:30 PM BST

Poland: Ammunition and weapons found stashed near Ukraine border

Containers with ammunition and weapons have been found in a Polish village bordering Ukraine, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

It added that the cargo, which was discovered in the southern Polish village of Laszki, was not the property of the Polish army.

11:52 AM BST

Russian forces capture two settlements in Ukraine, defence ministry says

Russian forces have taken control of the settlements of Ridkodub in eastern Ukraine and Kindrativka in Ukraines Sumy region, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

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The battlefield report has not been independently verified.

Credit: Russian Defence Ministry

11:22 AM BST

Kremlin: Ukraine attacked the Crimean Bridge but there was no damage

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Ukraine had attacked the Crimean Bridge and that there had been an explosion, but said there was no damage.

On Tuesday, Ukraines SBU security service said it had hit the underbelly of Russias Kerch Bridge, which links occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland.

The SBU said it detonated 1,100kg of explosives, damaging some underwater pillars.

There was an explosion, said Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman. Nothing was damaged. The bridge is working. The Kyiv regime continues its attempts to attack civilian infrastructure.

Credit: Ukrainian Security Service

11:05 AM BST

Ukraine invited to upcoming Nato summit, bloc confirms

Ukraine has been invited to the upcoming Nato summit in the Hague, the military blocs chief said on Wednesday.

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The summit will take place between 24 and 25 June.

I invited Ukraine to the summit. We will as soon as possible bring out the program with more details, Mark Rutte told reporters.

Asked whether president Volodymyr Zelensky personally had been invited, Mr Rutte only said the programme would be published in due course.

The move followers speculation that allies might exclude Ukraine from the annual summit following pressure from Donald Trumps administration.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied the claims.

10:53 AM BST

What readers are saying in the comments...

10:29 AM BST

Russias top security official is in North Korea for Ukraine war talks

Russias top security official was in North Korea on Wednesday for talks with the countrys leader, the Russian Tass news agency reported.

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North Koreas Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu, Russian Security Council Secretary, are expected to discuss details on the strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang, which Kim and Putin signed in June 2024.

The talks will also touch on issues on the international agenda, including the situation around Ukraine, Russian media reported.

In April, the Kremlin confirmed that North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russian forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region.

At the time, Putin praised North Korean soldiers who he said shoulder to shoulder with Russian fighters, defended our Motherland as their own.

10:05 AM BST

Pictured: Debris of Russian Shahed 136 drone in Kharkiv

A Ukrainian explosives expert examines parts of a Shahed 136 military drone that fell down following an air-attack in Kharkiv - AFP

09:40 AM BST

Trump envoy says risk levels going way up after Ukraine struck Russian bombers

The risk of escalation from the war in Ukraine was going way up, Donald Trumps Ukraine envoy has said.

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Keith Kelloggs warning comes after Ukrainian forces used drones to attack airfields in Siberia and Russias far north over the weekend, striking targets up to 4,300 km (2,670 miles) from the front lines of the conflict.

Im telling you, the risk levels are going way up - I mean, what happened this weekend, Trumps envoy, Mr Kellogg, told Fox News.

People have to understand in the national security space: when you attack an opponents part of their national survival system, which is their triad, the nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you dont know what the other side is going to do. Youre not sure.

Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg - REUTERS

09:01 AM BST

Total Ukraine war casualties rises to 1.4 million, new study finds

The overall number of casualties from both sides in the Ukraine war has risen to 1.4 million, a new study has found.

Close to 400,000 Ukrainian solders and nearly one million Russian troops have been killed or wounded in fighting, according to a study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.

The study from CSIS used the latest data and estimates from the US and British governments, amongst other sources, it said.

08:29 AM BST

Watch: 24 hours on Ukraines front line

Down the road of death, littered with burning vehicles and covered with drone nets, Fermin Torrano travels into Pokrovsk, home to the most intense fighting of the war.

No one speaks now. The roar of artillery, the rush of wind through open windows, and the steady hum of the tires fill the silence. The road narrows ahead and is lined by the charred skeletons of cars that never made it through.

The anti-drone nets cover just a short stretch of this route. The rest is down to luck.

This is the entrance to Pokrovsk. The Telegraph entered the city to spend 24 hours with a Ukrainian unit defending what is mostly ruins.

The city itself has been all but destroyed after almost a year of fighting.

Remarkably, between 2,000 and 3,000 people still live here, less than 5 per cent of the pre-war population. Water, electricity and gas were cut off months ago.

This devastated city still matters to its last weary people, many of whom have nowhere else to go.

This is an excerpt from an article - read the full story here

08:11 AM BST

Pictured: Russian drones drop explosive laced animal corpse

Russian forces are dropping wild animal corpses stuffed with explosives, according to reports.

Images showed a soldier holding a dead rabbit strapped to a drone in what appeared to be a military bunker.

 Russian barbarism: loading animal corpses with explosives and dropping them from drones



Sounds like a horror film  but it's real life on the front lines. Just when you think they've hit rock bottom  they bring a shovel. This isn't warfare, it's psychological rot turned into pic.twitter.com/FT5C5XTIjJ  NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 3, 2025

07:46 AM BST

Russia says no quick breakthrough in complex Ukraine talks

Russia has said there will be no quick breakthrough in Ukraine talks, a Kremlin spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The settlement issue is extremely complex and involves a large number of nuances, said Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson.

It would be wrong to expect immediate solutions and breakthroughs, he added.

It comes after Moscow rejected Kyivs call for an unconditional ceasefire at negotiations in Istanbul.

Both sides agreed on a large-scale prisoner swap and exchanged their peace plans at the talks, which lasted two hours.

07:33 AM BST

Sumy city under threat as Russian forces advance, Ukraine says

Russian forces have captured another village in Ukraine northern Sumy region, it said on Tuesday.

The advance towards the city of Sumy comes as Kyiv showed its ability to continue fighting by conducting a series of strikes in recent days, hitting Russian strategic bombers and the Crimean Bridge.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Turkey for peace talks on Monday where Moscow said it would only agree to end the war if Kyiv cedes big new chunks of territory and accepts limits on the size of its army.

A small village church in Sumy is destroyed by a Russian strike

07:23 AM BST

Hello and welcome to our live coverage

Were bringing you the latest updates from the Ukraine war.

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.
This is not the first time Dr. Victoria Rose has visited the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, but she said the current situation on the ground is the worst she's ever seen it.

Rose, a London-based consultant plastic surgeon, has been volunteering in weekslong stints at Gaza hospitals since the ongoing Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023. Most recently, she spent the month of May operating on the wounded at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, the largest referral hospital -- and now the only one still functioning -- in southern Gaza.

"I think it's mainly the volume of patients that are coming in now. When we were here in August, we were seeing a lot of bomb victims, but not as many as we're seeing now," Rose told ABC News during an interview at the hospital on Saturday.

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"We are seeing patients, we're getting them on the operating table, we are cleaning the wounds and we are making a plan for their reconstruction," she added. "And then we're sending them back to the ward and then we're not getting a chance to get them back and do the reconstruction because so many more new bomb injuries come in and then we start again. So it's very difficult to keep up with this ongoing workload that's coming through the door."

ABC News - PHOTO: Dr. Victoria Rose, a London-based consultant plastic surgeon, is seen working at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2025.

Rose said Israeli forces have been relentlessly bombing the area in recent weeks and, as a result, Nasser Medical Complex has seen a surge in patients. ABC News was allowed into the hospital's operating room as Rose performed extensive surgery on an 18-year-old patient, who she said "had quite a significant injury to his right arm" from a blast.

"If they just stop bombing us for a couple of days, it would mean that we could catch up with the backload," Rose said. "I woke up this morning at 2 a.m. to nonstop bombing and all I could think about is the number of patients that that's going to bring through the door that we can't cope with here."

The Israel Defense Forces launched an extensive new ground operation in Gaza last month targeting Hamas militants and what it called "terrorist infrastructure sites above and below ground."

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At least 54,381 people in Gaza have been killed and 124,054 have been wounded, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, since the war began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. At least 20 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.

AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A Palestinian youth cries as he waits for news on a relative injured in Israeli strikes in Khan Yunis, at the Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on June 3, 2025.

Bed occupancy at Nasser Medical Complex is currently over 100%, while 47% of essential drugs are out of stock at the hospital along with 65% of all consumable items, according to Rose.

"So we really are on our knees at the moment. We don't have anything," she told ABC News. "And on top of that, we have a really, really depleted health care staff."

"We've lost a lot of them because they've been displaced and they've had to move, so they can't get to the hospital," she continued. "We've a lost a lot them because they have been detained or they've left Gaza. The staff that we have are tired. They've been working nonstop since the war started. So it's a really difficult situation all around."

AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People walk with belongings as displaced Palestinians flee from Khan Yunis westwards to al-Mawasi in the southern Gaza Strip on June 3, 2025.

The hospital is located about a mile from where active fighting is currently taking place between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, according to Rose, who fears that Israeli troops will "encircle us" and "cut us off completely" rather than evacuate the complex.

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"So it's a really dire situation because if Nasser goes out of function, all of the patients that you see here on the ICU department will die -- and this is one of three ICUs that we have at Nasser," Rose said, referring to the critically ill patients lying in beds behind her. "Plus, the fact that none of the other hospitals around us -- even combined -- could take the number of patients that we have here."

AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Displaced people flee from Khan Yunis westwards to al-Mawasi in the southern Gaza Strip on June 3, 2025.

Rose said she's also seen the effects of malnutrition on the civilian population, particularly children, after Israel's 11-week blockade on all food and other essential supplies entering Gaza. Since May 19, Israel has allowed a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the Hamas-governed Palestinian territory, but the United Nations and other organizations have repeatedly warned it's far from enough and that famine is imminent.

"We have had a patient in our operating theater where we've had to cancel the procedure because he was so malnourished and we didn't feel that he would survive the surgery," Rose told ABC News. "The other thing that we are noticing is that people are not able to heal their wounds as effectively as they should do. So because of the malnutrition, they're not getting the essential nutrients and vitamins they need."

Cell turnover -- the process of producing new skin cells -- "is poor, so they're not healing," Rose said.

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She added, "Coupled with that, there's a massive spike in infection this time compared to when we were here in August. Everybody's wounds get infected and that's a real sign of malnutrition."

ABC News' Helena Skinner contributed to this report.
A British tourist has died and another is in critical condition following a jet ski accident in Albania.

The 34-year-old man lost his life after coming off a jet ski near the Kavaja Rock area in Durres on Sunday morning (1 June).

The two British citizens reportedly lost control of the jet ski and fell into the sea.

Emergency services responded to the incident at Durres Port, where the man was declared dead.

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An unidentified 31-year-old British woman was also transported to hospital in serious condition following the incident, said border police.

Durres police told Albania news outlet CNA: At around 11:15, on 01.06.2025, the Port Durres Border Police services were notified that, in the area opposite the Kavaja Rock, two citizens who were sailing on a jet ski, are suspected of having lost control of the vessel during manoeuvres and fallen into the water.

Border Police Services, after receiving the notification, immediately went by watercraft to assist the two citizens who had fallen into the water, transporting them to the port, with the aim of transporting them to the hospital.

According to A2 CNN, Durres police have since arrested the jet ski provider for operating without full documentation and life jackets for customers.

The Foreign Office said that it had not been approached for assistance in this case.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  Brown County and C. Reiss Company have reportedly reached a tentative agreement that could lead to the relocation of the coal piles.

During a meeting on Tuesday, officials announced that the two parties have reached an agreement that is currently being put into writing.

Neenah gears up for music-filled summer with concerts, farmers market

The agreement will be voted on during a special meeting of the Brown County Board of Supervisors on Thursday, June 5, at 7 p.m.

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All parties have said they will not comment further until after the meeting.

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If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

On June 4, the Brown Deer Police Department provided an update regarding its investigation into the death of a man found near the Milwaukee River.

The department said it had determined the death was a suicide, identifying the man as a 24-year-old resident of Brown Deer, according to a June 4 news release.

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At around 1 p.m. June 3, Brown Deer police were notified that a body of a male was found near a foot trail along the Milwaukee River in the 900 block of North Green Bay Road, according to a June 3 news release from the department. With the help of North Shore Fire and Rescue, Brown Deer officers arrived at the location and confirmed the report.

The investigation into the circumstances of the death was undertaken by Brown Deer detectives and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brown Deer police share update on body found near Milwaukee River
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  In todays Buddy Check 3 Report, a breast cancer survivor shares why its important to be your own advocate.

Much of Gail Ewaldsens life has been focused on fitness. She works as a personal trainer at the Islands Family YMCA and is a powerhouse rallying seniors to stay fit.

In February 2021, Ewaldsen got an all clear from her doctor after an annual exam. She went about her life, but a month later, she would find herself back in her doctors office.

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I just persisted because I knew something wasnt right, she said. And I think we have to be an advocate for ourselves. I mean you cant let somebody else call the shots.

Its the third of the month. Dont forget to do your self breast exam and remind your buddy to do theirs too.

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(NewsNation)  The White House is now asking Congress to pass $9.4 billion in DOGE cuts in the big, beautiful bill. Elon Musk criticized the bill earlier, saying it will make the countrys deficit worse.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., says there is a big spending problem in the budget bill and that Elon Musk is correct about the bill not being right.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., says revenue is an important thing to keep in mind when working on the budget bill.

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SARAJEVO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. proposal to impose tariffs on EU goods underscores a broader shift in its policy and could significantly damage transatlantic economic ties, Adnan Huskic, political analyst and associate professor at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, has warned.

"The move reflects a simplistic approach to global trade and deep-rooted mistrust toward Europe," Huskic told Xinhua. Such measures go beyond economics and signal a continued U.S. withdrawal from its security role on the European continent.

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an EU member, Huskic noted that it remains closely tied to EU countries -- especially Germany, its primary export market. "Any economic contraction in Germany or the EU will have serious spillover effects on Bosnia and the entire Western Balkans," he said.

Huskic also expressed concern over the region's fragmented response to global development. "Western Balkan countries often act independently and lack strategic cooperation. This fragmentation leaves them vulnerable to global shocks, and ultimately, they have to adapt to the dynamics created by the major players in this arena."

The U.S. shift in its approach to global engagement has created uncertainty among its partners, Huskic said, adding that the new reality is a United States marked by erratic and unpredictable policies.

"The rest of the world must stand firm in defending free trade," he added.

He also pointed to Europe's lag in emerging technologies and its need for reform. The EU is currently lagging behind in terms of AI and other innovative fields, and its economic model is in dire need of change, the professor said.

The EU must rapidly reform and seek global partners with similar goals to become more autonomous and innovative, Huskic added. 
The non-partisan office that scores the cost of legislation on Capitol Hill warned that more than 10.9 million people could lose their health coverage if President Donald Trumps proposed One Big, Beautiful Bill act passes.

The Congressional Budget Office, the non-partisan office that evaluates the effects of bills being debated, released its comprehensive report on the overall impacts of the legislation, which the House of Representatives passed late last month.

The audit found that under the bill, 10.9 million people in the U.S. would lose their health insurance. Of that number, 7.8 million people would lose their Medicaid coverage.

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Under the original legislation, Republicans required that states would have to determine whether someone is eligible for Medicaid every six months and that able-bodied adults without dependent children would have to work, participate in a community service or in an education program for a minimum of 80 hours per month.

But conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus objected to the fact that work requirements would not go into place until 2029. In a closed-door agreement, Republican leadership changed the bill so that the work requirements would go into place in late 2026.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., left, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., hope to pass President Donald Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill this summer. (AP)

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that nobody would be affected by losing their health care except for able-bodied men playing video games, and immigrants who came to the country illegally.

But the legislation said that only 1.4 million undocumented immigrants would lose their coverage.

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In addition, the legislation would also slash the number of people who receive their coverage under the Affordable Care Act  also known as Obama Care for the law that former president Barack Obama signed in 2010  by 1.3 million.

Republicans have pushed back on scoring from the CBO, saying in the past, the office has underestimated the net positive impacts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the tax legislation that Trump signed in his first term.

The changes in health care come as House Republicans tried to slash spending to pay for an extension of the tax cuts that expire at the end of the year. In addition, Republicans plan to increase spending to enforce immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, oil drilling and the U.S. military.

But the CBO warned that the legislation would explode the debt. The analysis found that the bill would reduce tax revenue by about $3.7 trillion over the next 10 years. It would also increase the debt by $2.4 trillion between 2025 and 2034.

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The Senate is now debating how much to change the legislation.

With only 53 seats, Republicans plan to pass the bill through a process called reconciliation, which would allow them to sidestep a filibuster from Democrats as long as the legislation relates to the budget. Republicans can afford to lose only three senators, which allow for Vice President JD Vance to break a tie.

But the legislation hit a snag after former Trump adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the bill on X, the social media platform he purchased in 2022, calling the massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill a digusting abomination.

Johnson for his part pushed back on Musks words during his weekly press conference on Wednesday.

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I called Elon last night, he didn't answer, he told reporters. Im not upset about this. I think he understands, and he's acknowledged to me before that this is so serious that we can't fool around with it.

Democrats for their part have sought to make hay out of the cuts to Medicaid in their messaging ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, hoping that it can help them win back the House of Representatives. But Johnson said it would not hurt Republicans.

But am I concerned about the effect of this on the midterms? I'm not, he said.  Let me tell you why, because when the big, beautiful bill is done and signed into law, every single American is going to do better.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Musicians are heading to various stages across the Queen City this week as part of Burlingtons 42nd Annual Discover Jazz Festival.

This event started Tuesday and will run through June 8. There will be performances at The 126, The Vermont Comedy Club, as well as the Waterfront Park, City Hall Park, The Flynn Space and more.

Flynn Executive Director Jay Wahl says that artists are traveling from all over the world to perform.

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We have an artist from Nigeria, an artist from Cuba, artist from D.C, Philly, New Orleans, Wahl said. Were really going to take you on a journey of all the places that have influenced jazz in the world.

Wahl says more than 40 school bands will perform up and down Church Street, which is the most theyve ever had play throughout the duration of the festival.

In addition, if you yourself or someone you know is an artist, you can bring your instrument or voice down to Big Joes Late Night and join in on the jam sessions.

Click here to see the full Discover Jazz Festival schedule.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  Tuesdays flooding prompted evacuations in Butler County.

There have been evacuations in southwest El Dorado, with firefighters going from house to house by boat to pull people out of their homes. Even a senior living center was evacuated.

As of 10 p.m., the rain has mostly died down, but waters are still high north of El Dorado. Cars on the streets look more like ships on the ocean. With the raging rapids on what used to be Main Street, reaching homes further down the hill is almost impossible without boats. It has left people like Judy Murray unsure of where to go.

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At my house? It floods at my house, Im from New Jersey, but nothing like this, she said. That water- where did all that water come from?

Murray lives in a senior living apartment complex, which was evacuated Tuesday afternoon.

At first I wasnt going to evacuate, but then I saw how high that water was getting, she said.

She isnt alone, city officials say that early estimates put the number of displaced people just under 50.

It was pretty frantic, because obviously we werent ready  it was pretty hectic for my mom because shes disabled. Shes an amputee, Drako Bell, an evacuee, said.

I started out with 12 people and Im up to 30-something now, Jerry Conyers, the regional sheltering program lead, said.

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The wayward residents ended up in hotels, living with friends and family or seeking shelter at the Red Crosss evacuation center.

Some people come in crying, they are pretty distraught about, you know, what just happened. So we welcome them to know that theyre safe, theyre going to be taken care of, Conyers said.

While it may not be the most comfortable.

I guess Ill stay here, but I wont like it, Murray said.

Residents with flooded homes are grateful to have a place to stay until the water recedes.

Butler County is warning people to prepare for more hazardous flooding conditions. They specifically point to areas along the Whitewater and Walnut rivers as runoff from Tuesdays rain makes its way into them. Butler County Emergency Management is encouraging residents living along those rivers to prepare for rapidly changing hazardous conditions. It also says people should consider relocating out of the danger area before access is cut off.

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WFD rescues stranded drivers in high water during flash flood

Butler County Emergency Management sent out the following statement Tuesday evening:

Citizens Encouraged to Prepare for Hazardous Flooding Conditions As the run-off from todays torrential rainfall makes its way into area rivers, flooding problems are expected to continue, especially along the Whitewater and Walnut Rivers. Water rescues, evacuations, and sheltering operations have been occurring throughout the day in El Dorado, but the threat is expected to shift to downstream communities over the next couple of days. Current NWS forecasts predict the rivers will crest in El Dorado overnight, followed by crests in Augusta the following night, and continuing downriver. County emergency officials encourage citizens along those rivers to prepare now for rapidly changing, hazardous conditions. Those individuals living in areas known to be susceptible to flooding, in particular, should get ready for high waters and consider relocating out of the danger area before access is cut off. Butler County Emergency Management

A map of potential flood zones can be found here: bucoks.com/GIS.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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With the bidding process underway for a buyer to acquire Prospect Medical Holdings three hospitals in the state, three buyers have expressed interest but an official announcement is not expected until later this month.

None of the buyers names have been made public, according to state and health officials.

But there is anticipation and hope that a buyer will be found to keep the hospitals on solid footing after Prospect, a private equity company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past January.

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Bankruptcy court proceedings are occurring in the Northern District of Texas Dallas Division and Yale New Haven Health announced last month that no deal was possible to acquire the hospitals due to mismanagement.

Julia Bergman, a spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont said the governor believes these hospitals are valuable institutions that provide quality health care to the communities they serve.

He looks forward to their continued success in the future under a new operator, she said.

Prospect, which operates Manchester Memorial, Rockville General and Waterbury Hospital, has faced fiscal challenges in many of its hospitals in the state, from delayed payments to physicians and vendors to a shortage of health care providers.

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Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said he learned that there are several bidders interested and expects to know more in the coming weeks.

He said given what has happened with Waterbury Hospital under the ownership of Prospect, it would be helpful if the new buyer is not a private equity company.

There is a call in the legislature to restrict private equity in response to the effect of Prospect Medical Holdings impact on its three hospitals and state officials have raised concerns about profits being maximized over patient care.

Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation to restrict private equitys role in Connecticut hospitals but time is drawing down on the session.

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SB 1507 would prohibit private equity companies and real estate investment trusts from acquiring or increasing direct or indirect ownership interest in or operational or financial control over a hospital or health system, according to the bills analysis.

Sen. Saud Anwar, Senate chairman of the Public Health Committee, said it is integral to pass legislation.

We are trying to get everyone on the same page, he said.We need to make sure we have a plan to protect our citizens from people who are dedicated to making money for themselves at the cost of patients.

Prospect

There was hope for a buyer for Prospects hospitals in 2022 when Yale New Haven Health agreed in a tentative agreement to purchase Prospects three hospitals for $435 million but that deal has been bogged down in lawsuits, with Yale deciding that the deal was not possible.

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Dana Marnane, director of public relations and communications for Yale New Haven Health, declined to comment for this article.

Nurses and unions at several of Prospects hospitals in the state have told the Courant that their hospitals have been decimated, with some continuing to cite concerns about patient care as they wait for a new owner to purchase the hospitals.

This followed a state Department of Public Health consent order issued in November of last year fining Waterbury Hospital $60,000 for violations of state law and called on the hospital to develop, review and revise policies and procedures related to staffing levels, abuse prevention, implementation of physician orders, timely initiation of Emergency Department triage protocol, among other policies. The consent order also called for an independent expert compliance contractor of the hospital.

Brittany Schaefer, public information officer for the Department of Public Health, said in an email Monday that the consent order remains active.

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The independent expert compliance contractor continues to monitor the items outlined in the consent order and submit monthly reports to DPH and Waterbury Hospital leadership regarding this, Schaefer said, adding that the contractor also meets regularly with DPH and Waterbury Hospital leadership to discuss reports/items outlined in the consent order.

Bankruptcy court filing shows recently that Prospect Medical received permission to close two Pennsylvania hospitals trying to sell them but no one was interested.

Robert White, distinguished practitioner in residence at Quinnipiac University School of Law, said in an email that Prospect will need an infusion of cash from somewhere soon.

You may see more closings, he said. They are trying to sell assets.

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Meanwhile, the state Office of Health Strategy approved a settlement allowing Prospect to seek approval of the consolidation of the Rockville General and Manchester Memorial hospital licenses from the Department of Public Health.

The settlement also cleared a path for the operator to permanently shutter all services aside from the emergency and behavioral health at Rockville General Hospital in Vernon, The CT Mirror reported.

This isnt just a failure  its a disgrace, said Sen. Jeff Gordon, R-Woodstock, in a statement. Once again, OHS has shown it is completely out of touch with the real health care needs of Connecticut families and seniors.

Quality of care

Ed Gadomski, Connecticut Healthcare Associates internal union organizer, who represents the nurses and technicians at Waterbury Hospital, continues to state that almost all of its departments are understaffed with nursing to patient ratios well over the appropriate levels set by the Hospital Staffing Committee. He continues to wait on the outcome of a complaint he filed with the Department of Public Health charging that the hospital is violating the Hospital Staffing Law.

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Suzanne Koenig, president of SakHealthcare and the patient care ombudsman for Prospects hospitals, stated in her report, according to court filings, that overall patient care and safety are being maintained at the ECHN hospitals (Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville and Waterbury).

The ombudsman did not observe any staffing issues that put patients in immediate danger or jeopardized their care, Koenig said in her report.

She did however report that staffing remains challenging.

Specifically, MMH and Waterbury have had several registered nurses (each an RN) call out sick or no-show, Koenig said in her report. The hospitals, however, have done a good job finding replacement RNs for shift coverage, often on short notice. The hospitals are also actively recruiting and offering sign-on and referral bonuses as incentives.

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But Gadomski said he continues to hear of staff members leaving the hospital.

Morale is non existent, he said. We are keeping our heads above water and waiting for the new ownership.

Koenig noted in her report that the Emergency Department at Waterbury Hospital was crowded and the need for expansion as planned was evident.

Prospect did not return emails for comment for this story.
Your elected representatives aren't paying attention to what they're passing: "Last week, Representative Mike Flood of Nebraska admitted during a town hall meeting in his district that he did not know that the ["big beautiful"] bill would limit judges' power to hold people in contempt for violating court orders," reports The New York Times. (This provision seems to be a direct MAGA response to the judges who have issued injunctions that block the president's ability to rule by executive order.) "Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said that she had been unaware that the mega-bill she voted for would block states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade." Of course, it's a 1,037-page bill; most lawmakers voting on it will not read it in full. Rep. Thomas Massie (RKy.), for his part, called on his colleagues to "take more than a few hours to read a bill this big and this consequential." Maybe he was right.

Republicans almost universally voted with their party on this bill, rushing to meet the House speaker's Memorial Day deadline to get it through the finish line. "It's hard to read over 1,000 pages when things keep changing up to the last minute before we voted on it," complained Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (RGa.), as if she doesn't have the power to, like Massie, advocate for more time and thoughtfulness.

The bill extends tax cuts passed by Republicans back in 2017 and makes certain tax code changes, "including lower marginal income rates, a larger standard deduction and a higher threshold for the estate tax," per the Times. Americans will soon be able to deduct car loan interest from their taxable income, as long as the cars are manufactured domestically. The child tax credit (with tightened standards) will be enlarged, and newborns born between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2029, will now receive "Trump accounts" with $1,000 deposited in them. University endowment taxes would rise, drastically. SALT deduction caps will be massively raised. Medicaid will have very strict work requirements attached to it.

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But some have been sharply critical of the "big beautiful bill" saying it will add to the budget deficit:

I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

"In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people," wrote Musk, which isodd given that he was President Donald Trump's right-hand man, and this bill has been a huge priority of the Trumpist right, even if they're now claiming they didn't understand what was in it.

Hegseth takes issue with Harvey Milk: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has apparently decided that the renaming of the ship USNS Harvey Milk is a priority in order for the Navy to make inroads "reestablishing the warrior culture." Other ships considered for renaming are the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Dolores Huerta, USNS Lucy Stone, USNS Cesar Chavez, and USNS Medgar Evers. We wouldn't want any DEI ships, you know.

But Hegseth seems to misunderstand that Harvey Milk is not some random gay icon just known for progressive activism; Milk actually served in the Navy and was a freedom-appreciator throughout his life, with somewhat idiosyncratic views.

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He hated commies, he campaigned for Barry Goldwater, and he got pissed off at San Francisco's city bureaucrats who forced him to pay unnecessary fees when trying to open a camera store. "Let me have my tax money go for my protection and not for my prosecution," said Milk once at a rally in San Francisco. "Let my tax money go for the protection of me. Protect my home, protect my streets, protect my car, protect my life, protect my property." Seems pretty freedom-loving to me. (More on this from John Fund at National Review.) Milk's legacy, like many others, is complicated: He befriended and vouched for the heinous Jim Jonesyes, that oneand allied with the Teamsters. At times, he embraced progressive causes that libertarians would chafe at. But he was politically rather interesting, shaped by a wide variety of influences over his life.

Milk's actual career in office was very short: He was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 and was killed (along with Mayor George Moscone) the following year by Dan White, a former city supervisor who had disagreed with Milk's sponsorship of a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations, housing, and employment. (There were other tensions between White and colleagues that also led to White's resignation from the board of supervisors and his violent act.)

To some degree, the naming of the ship after Milk is a small way to right historic wrongs: Milk resigned from the Navy, accepting an "other than honorable" discharge in 1955, because he was in danger of being court-martialed due to his participation in an unspecified "homosexual act." It's unclear how real that was vs. just a means of pushing a gay man out of the service. In 2021, the Navy made efforts to posthumously upgrade this discharge, which were rebuffed by Milk's family members.

Of all the things Hegseth could focus on, this is a strange one that feels like pointless pandering to the MAGA baseassuming they know very little about Milk's actual life and beliefs.

Scenes from New York: For the record, I don't think we should deport politicians with terrible socialist beliefs; I think we should defeat them. Zohran Mamdani has clown beliefs, but there's just no value in stooping to the low "deport!" insult. You can't deport U.S. citizens over their foolish beliefs (yet). And the fact of the matter is, even if you got the actual aspiring politician the heck away from public office, there's still a not-insignificant percentage of New Yorkers who believe his rent freeze and city-owned grocery store ideas are good ones; the actual ideas have to be swatted away with good arguments.

Let's just talk about how insane it is to elect someone to any major office who hasn't even been a US citizen for ten yearsmuch less a radical leftist who actually hates everything about the country and is here specifically to undermine everything we've ever been about. Deport. https://t.co/Xv4bQWUuSI  Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (@VickieforNYC) June 3, 2025

QUICK HITS

"There was pretty clearly an agenda not just to cut contracts, but to do so by bringing some software development in house, which is actually very wiseand long overdue," writes Jennifer Pahlka of the Department of Government Efficiency. "I know of a few teams that have quietly gotten more staff since the start of the Trump term, and are delivering better results by firing poor-performing contractors and writing the software themselves. But those teams are in the minority. For most teams, their contracts have been canceled without much of a plan. Similarly, software (insourced or not) was supposed to replace people, but the people are gone without the software. They cut the workforce without cutting the work."

Why do so few states track and publish the curricula they use? "You would think that states would be hustling to understand the curriculum used in each district, and to publish that information openly," writes Karen Vaites on her Substack. "You would be wrong. In recent years, just six states have published a map of the curriculum used in local districts." Those include Rhode Island, Colorado, Massachusetts, Ohio, Nebraska, and possibly Minnesota soon. (Wisconsin had done this but let the domain expire; the data was scraped and is still available elsewhere.) In Massachusetts, the publicly-available data "spawned a powerful investigation by the Boston Globe," adds Vaites, "which reported that 'nearly half of all Massachusetts public school districts last year used a reading curriculum in their elementary schools that the state considers low quality.'" Meanwhile, The Boston Globe found that "Massachusetts's wealthiest school districts are also, strangely, the most likely to stick with a reading curriculum the state frowns on."

"Trump administration officials delayed and redacted a government forecast because it predicts an increase in the nation's trade deficit in farm goods later this year, according to two people familiar with the matter," reports Politico. "The numbers run counter to President Donald Trump's messaging that his economic policies, including tariffs, will reduce U.S. trade imbalances. The politically inconvenient data prompted administration officials to block publication of the written analysis normally attached to the report because they disliked what it said about the deficit."

"I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!" posted Trump on Truth Social at 2:17 a.m. this morning. This is most likely in response to escalating (and reciprocal) accusations that trade deals have been violated.

Actually yes:

As porn becomes more and more ubiquitous in culture, the archetype of the "noble prostitute" a la Dostoevsky & Balzac continues to disappear from art.  Vincenzo Barney (@BarneysRubble0) June 3, 2025

The post Buyer's Remorse appeared first on Reason.com.
(KTLA)  Concerned teachers and community members are rallying together to help a Southern California fourth grader after he was detained by immigration officials.

On May 29, Martir Garcia Lara, a student at Torrance Elementary School, attended an immigration hearing in Houston, Texas, with his father.

However, instead of receiving an update on his fathers immigration status, the boy and his father were both detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and separated from each other.

Torrance Elementary School in Torrance, California. (KTLA) Torrance Elementary School in Torrance, California. (KTLA)

Hes alone and hes not able to return home, said PTA president Jasmin King.

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Teachers at Torrance Elementary reached out to King and the rest of the PTA, asking them for help in somehow getting the boy and his father released and back to Southern California.

Missing California woman, 31, found dead in Arizona

We have not received any information on why they were detained, King said. All we know is that Martir is just a fourth-grader whos by himself, without his dad, without a parent, and just in a place that he probably doesnt know, so we can only imagine what he might be feeling.

King said the boy has been a student at Torrance Elementary since the first grade.

PTA members have since reached out to federal, state and local leaders to intervene and are asking other parents and community members to help in any way they can.

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King said she and other PTA members are also prepared to help the boy and his father with any legal aid or financial assistance should they need it.

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Move over, MAHA. California has just overtaken President Donald Trumps Make America Healthy Again Commission in the quest to identify which ultraprocessed foods are the most harmful for human health.

Numerous studies have linked an additional serving a day of ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, to a greater risk of developing or dying from dozens of adverse health outcomes, including cancer, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and various mental health conditions.

Which of the thousands of ultraprocessed foods on grocery shelves could be most responsible for such ill health? To date, answers are elusive. Research is in its infancy. Expert advocates and food manufacturers disagree on harms and definitions, while lobbyists battle behind the scenes.

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California, however, intends to offer a solution in just over a year.

On Tuesday, a bipartisan coalition of the California State Assembly voted to pass AB 1264, which lays out a plan to remove particularly harmful ultraprocessed foods from the states school meals.

The legislation requires that the first step, defining which ultraprocessed foods are most detrimental to human health, be completed by July 1, 2026.

Once passed by the California Senate and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, AB 1264 would be the first such legislation in the nation, said Jesse Gabriel, the Democratic California assemblymember who introduced the bill.

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Our understanding is that this would actually be the first statutory definition in the world, not just in the United States, said Gabriel, who represents Californias 46th Assembly District.

Focusing on school lunches will have a significant impact on childrens health, he said.

The busiest restaurant in California is our school cafeterias, Gabriel said. Well serve over a billion school breakfasts, lunches and dinners in 2025 alone. If you want to improve the nutritional health of young people, starting with school lunches is a really powerful way to do it.

Upstaging MAHA

The MAHA Commission, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is also trying to address childrens nutrition.

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In mid-May, the commission released a Trump-mandated report recommending federal agencies reassess the impact of ultraprocessed foods (as well as vaccines, lifestyle, pollutants and the overprescribing of drugs) on the childhood chronic disease crisis.

The document was quickly criticized for errors and citing studies that dont exist, as first reported by NOTUS, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news site. The administration discounted the errors as formatting issues, but some experts who previously spoke with CNN said the mistakes suggest the report was likely created using artificial intelligence.

Regardless, the MAHA Commission is expected to identify more specific actions on ultraprocessed foods and its additional concerns by August 12.

By then, AB 1264 should be close to a signature if all goes well, Gabriel said.

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We hope to have this bill on the Governors desk for a signature in late August or early September, Gabriel said. We are really targeting the worst of the worst UPFs, where there is really strong science and research and data. If federal regulators were doing their job as intended, there wouldnt be a need for states to do this.

In response, the Consumer Brands Association, a national advocacy group that represents food and beverage manufacturers, told CNN the new California bill would create an unnecessary duplicate regulatory framework.

AB1264s attempt to classify certain proven-safe ingredients as unhealthy is so broad that it could limit access to certain nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, salads and soups, cause consumer confusion, and lead to higher prices for Californians, said John Hewitt, CBAs senior vice president of state affairs, in an email.

In response, Gabriel told CNN that suggesting AB 1264 would ban healthy foods or drive up prices is ridiculous.

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On the contrary, the bill would phase out foods with dangerous chemical additives linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and other serious diseases from our schools, Gabriel said via email. Thats why AB 1264 has received broad bipartisan support.

What is a particularly harmful ultraprocessed food?

If passed, AB 1264 will go in effect on January 1, 2026. Then the clock starts ticking. By July 1, a mere six months later, experts from the University of California and the states Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment must establish a subcategory of particularly harmful ultraprocessed foods. Because research on UPFs is exploding, the bill requires that definition to be updated every two years.

Experts deciding how to identify an ultraprocessed food as particularly harmful should use the following criteria, according to the bill:

 Are any of the ingredients linked by established science to cancer, obesity, metabolic or cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or developmental or reproductive harm?

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 Does the food contain additives that have been banned, restricted or required to carry a warning by other local, state, federal or international jurisdictions? (The European Union has banned various UPF additives over health concerns.)

 Has the food been modified to include high levels of sugar, salt or fat? (Thats a key way manufacturers design ultraprocessed foods to meet the bliss point human taste buds yearn for.)

 Can any ingredient contribute to food addiction by being hyperpalatable, or extremely difficult to resist? (The Bert Lahr potato chip commercial from the 1960s said it all: Betcha cant eat just one.)

Foods may also be considered ultraprocessed, the bill says, if they contain additives such as emulsifiers, stabilizers and thickeners, flavor enhancers and non-nutritive sweeteners that arent on the US Food and Drug Administrations radar. (Manufacturers are constantly inventing new ways to make food delicious, and not all of those are reported to the FDA.)

If the bipartisan bill AB 1264 is passed, school meals in California may soon look like these healthy options provided by schools that are EatReal certified. - Icarian Photography/Eat Real

Getting the harmful ultraprocessed food out of schools

Once the harmful ultraprocessed food definition is established, the bill moves on to implementation. Beginning on February 1, 2027, vendors selling food to California schools will be required to submit an annual report listing any UPFs that fall under the new definition.

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Because school districts often create menus up to three years in advance, the bill gives school nutritionists a bit of breathing room  using the information provided by vendors, they must begin phasing out all particularly harmful ultraprocessed foods by January 1, 2028.

The bills momentum then slows. Six years after the bill goes into effect, by January 1, 2032, vendors may no longer offer harmful ultraprocessed foods to school district nutritionists to be included in their menus. Three years later, by January 1, 2035, school districts will no longer be able to provide children any meals containing particularly harmful UPFs. (That restriction, however, does not apply to school fundraising events.)

While the timeline may appear long, we think that change is going to happen right away. Were already seeing schools take action, and this bill is going to help put pedal to the metal on getting schools to make that shift way ahead of 2032, said Bernadette Del Chiaro, the senior vice president for California at the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a health advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, that cosponsored AB 1264.

I can tell you that farmers are really excited about it  nothing would please them more than to be able to deliver food directly to Californias kids and schools, Del Chiaro said.

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And we have strong bipartisan support  a left and right grassroots movement of people saying, Lets correct this. Lets get our schools to be healthy. So theres all of these really great win-win-win elements to this bill.

Grassroots movements already in place

Success stories already exist. One school district in Santa Clara County, California, is now feeding over 8,000 students with grass-fed beef, organic milk, and antibiotic-free chicken and pork from local farmers and ranchers.

However, what the Morgan Hill United School District did to remove added sugars was truly startling, said Nora LaTorre, CEO of Eat Real, a national nonprofit that provides K-12 schools around the country with free tools to transform their menus.

Morgan Hill removed 34 pounds of sugar per student per year by removing foods with hidden added sugar, such as sauces, dressings and condiments, said LaTorre, who gave the school district an Eat Real certification in 2024. Now the children are served items with less than 6 grams of added sugar.

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Replacing ultraprocessed foods with real food is not only possible, but easy, said LaTorre, who has testified in support of AB 1264. One example: a makeover of a school-purchased high-sugar yogurt cup with 13 grams of added sugar and flavors.

The children are now served parfaits out of plain Greek yogurt, which can be purchased through USDA commodities, she said. The parfaits are topped with fresh fruit or house-made fruit compote with zero added sugar.

It really doesnt take that long to make a significant change in childrens school nutrition, LaTorre said. Eat Real is on track to reach 1 million kids in schools across some 20 states. Our average time from initial assessment of a school to certification is about 23 months.

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The California Public Utilities Commission failed to abide by state law when it slashed financial incentives for residential rooftop solar panels in 2022, environmental groups argued before the California Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The commissions policy, which took effect in April 2023, cut the value of the credits that panel owners receive for sending power they dont need to the electric grid by as much as 80%.

In arguments before the court, the environmental groups said the decision has stymied efforts to get homeowners and businesses to install the climate-friendly panels.

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The commission violated state law, the groups argued, by not considering all the benefits of the solar panels in its decision and by not ensuring that rooftop solar systems could continue to expand in disadvantaged communities.

More than 2 million solar systems sit on the roofs of homes, businesses and schools in California  more than any other state. Environmentalists say that number must increase if the state is to meet its goal set by a 2018 law of using only carbon-free energy by 2045.

On the other side of the courtroom battle were lawyers from Atty. Gen. Rob Bontas office, arguing that the commissions five members, all pointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, had followed the law in making their decision.

In briefs filed before Wednesdays oral arguments, the government lawyers sided with those from the states three big for-profit electric utilities  Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric.

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Mica Moore, deputy solicitor general, said at the hearing in downtown Los Angeles that the credits given to the rooftop panel owners on their electric bill have become so valuable that they were resulting in a cost shift of billions of dollars to those who do not own the panels. This was raising electric bills, she said, especially hurting low-income electric customers.

The credits for the energy sent by the rooftop systems to the grid are valued at the retail rate for electricity, which has risen fast as the commissioners have voted in recent years to approve rate increases the utilities have requested.

The environmental groups and other critics of the commissions decision have argued that there is no cost shift. They say that the commission failed to consider in its calculations the many benefits of the rooftop solar panels, including how they lower the amount of transmission lines and other infrastructure the utilities need to build.

The cost shift narrative is a red herring, argued plaintiffs' attorney Malinda Dickenson, representing the Center for Biological Diversity, the Environmental Working Group and the Protect Our Communities Foundation.

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Moore countered by saying the commission doesn't have to consider all the possible societal or private benefits of the rooftop panels.

For example, even though the rooftop panels could result in conserving land that was otherwise needed for industrial scale solar farms, the government lawyers argued in their brief, the commission was not obligated to consider that value in its calculation of the amount of costs the rooftop panels shift to other customers.

The government lawyers also said the commission had created other programs beyond the electric bill credits to help disadvantaged communities afford the solar systems.

The utilities have long complained that electric bills have been rising because owners of the rooftop solar panels are not paying their fair share of the fixed costs required to maintain the electric grid.

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During the oral arguments, the seven justices focused on a legal question of whether a state appeals court erred when it ruled in January 2024 against the environmental groups and said that the court must defer to how the commission interpreted the law because it had more expertise in utility matters.

This deferential standard of review leaves no basis for faulting the Commissions work, the appeals court concluded in its opinion.

The environmental groups argue the appeals court ignored a 1998 law that said the commissions decisions should be held to the same standard of court review as those by other state agencies.

Moore told the seven justices that the appeals court had made the correct decision to defer to the commission.

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Not all justices seemed to agree with that.

But were pretty good about figuring out what the law says, Associate Justice Carol Corrigan said to Moore during the proceeding. Why should we defer on that to the commission?

The justices will weigh the arguments made by both sides and issue a decision in the next 90 days.

The big utilities have for decades tried to reduce the energy credits aimed at incentivizing Californians to invest in the solar panel systems that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The rooftop systems have cut into the utilities sale of electricity.

On another front, the states three big utilities are now lobbying in Sacramento to reduce credits for Californians who installed their panels before April 15, 2023. The commissions decision in 2022 left the incentives in place for those panel owners for 20 years after their purchase.

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Early this year, Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), a former Southern California Edison executive, introduced a bill that would have ended the program for all solar owners who installed their systems by April 2023 after 10 years. In face of opposition and protests by solar owners , Calderon amended the bill so it would end the program  where credits are valued at the retail electric rate  only for those selling their homes.

Calderon said the bill would save the states electric customers $2.5 billion over the next 18 years.

On Monday, Roderick Brewer, an Edison lobbyist, sent an email to Assemblymembers, urging them to vote for the bill known as AB 942. Save Electricity Customers Billions, Promote Equity, he urged in the email.

The Assembly voted 46 to 14 to approve the bill on Tuesday night, sending it to the state Senate for consideration.

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The timing of the vote surprised opponents of the bill. They expected a vote late this week because of rules that allow more time for bills to be reviewed after they are amended. Calderon amended the bill late Monday.

Nick Miller, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, said Calderon had asked for a waiver of the rules so that it could be voted on Tuesday night.

Such waivers, Miller said, are not uncommon.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A man who assisted in the bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, Calif., last month was arrested at JFK Airport after he was located in Poland, officials said Wednesday.

Daniel Park, 32, of Washington State, appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court on Wednesday afternoon before making his way back to the West Coast to face charges in the terror attack.

U.S. federal authorities arrested Park at JFK after he was brought in from the Eastern European nation, where he had fled four days after the explosion, sources said.

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Park is accused of providing material support to 25-year-old Guy Bartkus, who set off a powerful explosion outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic on May 17, killing himself and injuring four other people, officials said.

Park shipped to Bartkus at least 270 pounds of a chemical compound used as an explosive precursor and traveled earlier this year to Bartkus home in Twentynine Palms, Calif., where the two conducted experiments in bomb-making in his room and a garage, said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles field office.

Park allegedly shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus and bought another 90 pounds of the chemical and had it shipped to Bartkus, authorities said. It was not disclosed how Park acquired the chemicals.

Last months detonation was so massive that it gutted the clinic building and could be felt more than a mile away, the FBI said at the time. The explosions blast wave shattered windows in nearby buildings.

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Park and Bartkus met in online forums dedicated to the anti-natalist movement, bonding over a shared belief that people shouldnt exist, Davis said.

Bartkus is a member of the fringe group, which opposes childbirth and population growth and believes people should not procreate.

Witnesses described a loud boom followed by a chaotic scene, with people screaming in terror and glass strewn along the sidewalk and street. A body was found near a charred vehicle outside the clinic.

It was not immediately clear if Park knew what Bartkus was planning, officials said. Authorities in Palm Springs called the incident an intentional act of terror.

Park is expected to be prosecuted in California, officials said.
More than 90% of popular freshwater fish in Southern California are carrying human-infecting parasites, researchers say. This poses a significant danger for those who like to eat freshly caught freshwater fish. But there are ways to protect yourself.

The parasites are called trematodes. Two species of the flatworms were discovered in California's freshwater fish, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The tiny, flattened and sluglike creatures can cause gastrointestinal problems, weight loss and lethargy when a person eats an infected fish.

In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks.

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Americans dont usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasnt historically been an issue here, said Ryan Hechinger, the studys senior author.

In fact, even when a person has fallen ill from a locally caught infected freshwater fish, their healthcare provider will typically ask if the patient has recently traveled outside of the United States, Hechinger said.

California wasn't this parasite's first home

Researchers identified two species of trematode: Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus.

These two parasite species have historically infected people in Southeast Asia who eat raw fish, crustaceans or vegetables that carry the parasite larvae.

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A trematode has a very specific life cycle, leeching onto three hosts that include a freshwater snail, a fish and then a bird or human who ate the infected fish.

The parasite was probably carried to the U.S. by the red-rimmed melania, or Malaysian trumpet snail, which is host to a number of parasitic species and was introduced to the United States, Hechinger estimates, decades ago.

It inhabits "freshwater springs, streams, lakes and swamps," according to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, but can occasionally be found in "brackish and marine habitats, especially mangroves" (think the Everglades).

The snail first popped up in California in 1972 in a Riverside County ditch, according to the center.

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Hechinger, through previous and new research, found that the snail and its associated trematode parasites can be widely found in lakes and reservoirs across the state.

He's identified the snails in Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

Some fish harbor thousands of parasites

In summer and fall 2023, researchers, with the help of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, analyzed fresh fish that were collected at five fishing localities in San Diego County: Miramar, Murray, Lower Otay and San Vicente reservoirs as well as Chollas Lake.

The fish included largemouth bass and bluegill.

Hechinger and his team found that 93% of all the fish in the study were infected with the H. pumilio parasite, with some individual fish harboring thousands of the parasites.

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The second parasite, C. formosanus, was found at two of the five locations, where it occurred in 91% of the fish.

San Vicente Reservoir, north of Lakeside in San Diego County. (Daniel Gaines / Los Angeles Times)

The parasites are each found on different parts of the fish. H. pumilio is found at the base of the fins and C. formosanus is found on the gills.

But the parasites can infect the muscles and connective tissue of the fish, Hechinger said, which is how a person eating it can get sick despite cutting off the head and fins.

"The other thing we have to remember," he said, "is the possibility of contamination on the food preparation surfaces and utensils."

How to protect yourself

The risk is real, but the precautions you can take against illness are straightforward.

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Thorough cooking of any freshwater fish that could potentially be infected can prevent illness, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

If you choose to eat the fish raw, the agency advises you eat freshwater fish that has been previously frozen.

Freezing will kill parasites that may be present. However, the FDA said freezing doesn't kill all harmful germs, so the safest route is to thoroughly cook your seafood.

Some food prep is fishy

As part of this study, researchers conducted a survey of 125 YouTube videos with a total of 5 million views and found that 65% of these videos did not mention proper cooking or freezing of caught fish.

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The lack of proper food preparation not only promotes the transmission of parasites but can also increase the odds of infection, Hechinger said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The British Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that Britain will ramp up its drone supply to Ukraine, raising the target from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025, marking a record investment of 350 million pounds (473.61 million U.S. dollars).

The ministry stated in a statement that this initiative is part of Britain's 4.5-billion-pound military support package to Ukraine for this year.

At a NATO meeting in Brussels with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, British Defense Secretary John Healey will announce an additional 247 million pounds in funding for training the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This includes training Ukrainian recruits on British soil and supporting Operation Interflex, which has provided basic combat training to over 55,000 Ukrainian recruits since 2022.

Healey will also confirm the successful delivery of 140,000 artillery munitions to Ukraine by Britain since the start of 2025.

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations made modest but concrete progress in renewed peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.

Russia believes that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the settlement of the conflict. The Kremlin stated that the West's provision of weapons to Ukraine does not contribute to the negotiations and will have a negative effect. 
Californias High Speed Rail Project Could Lose All of Its Federal Funding, New Report Says originally appeared on L.A. Mag.

Courtesy aapsky via Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation released a report revealing issues with Californias high-speed rail project. The project is in default of its federal grant terms, which consist of $4 billion in taxpayer dollars, according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).



The California High-Speed Rail project surfaced in 2008 as a two-phase system that would cover 800 miles, connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco, and later extending north to Sacramento and south to San Diego.



The report outlines several issues with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)'s project, including construction delays, mismanagement, unsustainability and high costs. The findings are based on the FRAs investigation, where they visited construction sites, contacted CHSRA officials and oversight entities and reviewed thousands of documents. The administration cited missed deadlines, budget shortfalls and overrepresented ridership projections.

According to the report, there has been nearly $7 billion dollars in federal funding put toward the high-speed rail project in the last 15 years, and no track has been laid.



U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has expressed his concern about the direction of the project.



"I promised the American people we would be good stewards of their hard-earned tax dollars, Secretary Duffy said in a statement. This report exposes a cold, hard truth: CHSRA has no viable path to complete this project on time or on budget.



Secretary Duffy also warned the CHSRA, "If they cant deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve President Trumps vision of building great, big, beautiful things again.



CHSRA has just 37 days to respond to the report. If they fail to provide a satisfactory response, they could lose all of their federal grants, and the money would be reallocated to other projects.

This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains how artificial intelligence learns.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Two California bills aimed at tightening regulation of artificial intelligence cleared a major hurdle this week, passing the state Senate amid growing tension between state and federal lawmakers over how  and who  should govern the fast-evolving technology.

The bills, both authored by Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), take direct aim at the mental health risks of AI tools and the lack of transparency in automated decision-making systems. But they may soon run up against a proposed federal moratorium that would block states from enacting AI regulations for the next decade, as reported by the Associated Press.

AI regulation bills explained

First, theres SB 243. It targets the growing use of AI chatbots marketed as companions for mental health support and emotional wellbeing. The bill would ban the use of addictive engagement tactics and require developers to notify users regularly that the chatbot is not human.

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Tech companies are creating these AI products in a regulatory vacuum, Padilla stated on the issue. But, they have proven they cannot be trusted to minimize the risks they pose to the public on their own. The stakes are too high to allow vulnerable users to continue to access this technology without proper guardrails in place to ensure transparency, safety, and accountability.

California senator slams ICE raid at San Diego restaurants: weaponized hate

Meanwhile, SB 420 takes a broader approach, seeking to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework around AI use in both public and private decision-making systems. The legislation would mandate that individuals be informed when AI tools are used to make decisions about them, explain how the systems function, and provide a process for human appeal in some cases. It also calls for impact assessments to measure potential data misuse or algorithmic bias.

Looking ahead

The two bills now move to the State Assembly and, if approved, could be on Governor Gavin Newsoms desk later this year.

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The legislative momentum in Sacramento stands in sharp contrast to efforts in Washington, D.C., where a House Republican-backed reconciliation bill would impose a 10-year freeze on state or local AI regulations. Critics argue the federal proposal could stall crucial oversight during a pivotal time for AI development.

Padilla has strongly opposed the federal moratorium, stating, California has a proud heritage as a home for technological vision while enforcing ethical, safe standards in concert with those values, not in opposition. However, federal mismanagement has left the public vulnerable to the dangers AI poses. California must step in to provide guiderails that create common sense consumer protections while still fostering innovation.

The states push for AI accountability comes on the heels of a March report from a working group appointed by Gov. Newsom, offering policy guidance on responsible AI governance.

This week, 260 lawmakers from all 50 states  Democrats and Republicans alike  signed a joint letter to Congress urging them to reject the proposed moratorium, highlighting a growing bipartisan consensus around the need for state-level action.

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As AI tools become more integrated into daily life, California appears determined to lead the charge  even if it means challenging federal authority.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
California lawmakers on Tuesday moved one step closer to placing more guardrails around artificial intelligence-powered chatbots.

The Senate passed a bill that aims to make chatbots used for companionship safer after parents raised concerns that virtual characters harmed their childrens' mental health.

Read more: Teens are spilling dark thoughts to AI chatbots. Who's to blame when something goes wrong?

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The legislation, which now heads to the California State Assembly, shows how state lawmakers are tackling safety concerns surrounding AI as tech companies release more AI-powered tools.

"The country is watching again for California to lead," said Sen. Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista), one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill, on the Senate floor.

At the same time, lawmakers are trying to balance concerns that they could be hindering innovation. Groups opposed to the bill such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation say the legislation is too broad and would run into free speech issues, according to a Senate floor analysis of the bill.

Under Senate Bill 243, operators of companion chatbot platforms would remind users at least every three hours that the virtual characters arent human. They would also disclose that companion chatbots might not be suitable for some minors.

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Platforms would also need to take other steps such as implementing a protocol for addressing suicidal ideation, suicide or self-harm expressed by users. That includes showing users suicide prevention resources.

The operator of these platforms would also report the number of times a companion chatbot brought up suicide ideation or actions with a user, along with other requirements.

Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson, one of the bill's co-authors, said she supports innovation but it also must come with "ethical responsibility." Chatbots, the senator said, are engineered to hold people's attention including children.

When a child begins to prefer interacting with AI over real human relationships, that is very concerning," said Sen. Weber Pierson (D-La Mesa).

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The bill defines companion chatbots as AI systems capable of meeting the social needs of users. It excludes chatbots that businesses use for customer service.

The legislation garnered support from parents who lost their children after they started chatting with chatbots. One of those parents is Megan Garcia, a Florida mom who sued Google and Character.AI after her son Sewell Setzer III died by suicide last year.

In the lawsuit, she alleges the platforms chatbots harmed her son's mental health and failed to notify her or offer help when he expressed suicidal thoughts to these virtual characters.

Character.AI, based in Menlo Park, Calif., is a platform where people can create and interact with digital characters that mimic real and fictional people. The company has said that it takes teen safety seriously and rolled out a feature that gives parents more information about the amount of time their children are spending with chatbots on the platform.

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Character.AI asked a federal court to dismiss the lawsuit, but a federal judge in May allowed the case to proceed.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A teenager suspected of fatally stabbing a teacher in a California high school more than four decades ago was identified after a relative told authorities about a decades-old confession made immediately after the murder, officials said.

Harry Nickerson, who was 16 when, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said, he killed Diane Peterson at San Jose's Branham High School in 1978, died by suicide in 1993.

Diane Peterson. (Santa Clara District Attorney's Office)

In a news release Monday, the prosecutors office said an earlier witness in the case told investigators he had seen Nickerson carrying a knife with the phrase Teacher Dear written on it.

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That account could not be corroborated, the prosecutor's office said.

Peterson was found lying on the floor near her classroom with a single stab wound to her chest on June 16, 1978, one day after school recessed for the summer, according to the release.

Teachers were clearing their classrooms at the time.

Nickerson was treated as a suspect in the killing, according to the release. In 1983, a student's relatives told police that the student claimed to have seen Nickerson stab Peterson, but the student denied that to authorities.

Left, a composite sketch of the murder suspect made from witness accounts. Right, an image of Harry Nickerson. (Santa Clara District Attorney's Office)

In 1984, a witness told police that Nickerson had implicated himself in the killing, according to the release.

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Nickerson was later convicted of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping, and he was shot and critically injured during a drug robbery, the prosecutor's office said.

Recent efforts to identify Peterson's killer using DNA were unsuccessful, according to the release.

During a meeting with investigators this year, a relative of Nickerson's told authorities that Nickerson had come to the person's home minutes after the killing and confessed.

Rob Baker, a prosecutor with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's cold case unit, said in an email that it was unclear why the relative did not come forward sooner but that the person provided a detailed statement "demonstrating unique knowledge about the crime that could have only come from someone who spoke with the killer."

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In the release, a relative of Peterson's was quoted thanking investigators for not giving up and saying: "Diane was a beautiful and wonderful person who is missed dearly.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The red dust kicks up again as police vans rattle along the narrow rural tracks east of Portugals Praia da Luz, while the global press pack strains to peer beyond the cordons. For many, the scene is painfully familiar.

Eighteen years ago, the search for three-year-old Madeleine McCann dominated news bulletins worldwide after the toddler from Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished from her bedroom at the infamous Ocean Club holiday resort.

But this time, surrounding this search  coming nearly two years after the last search in 2023, and the most extensive since 2008  a different urgency hangs in the dry air. A sense, as experts have phrased it, of a clock ticking.

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The catalyst behind this three-day scramble? One man: German paedophile Christian Brueckner. More specifically, the need to keep him in the German prison from which he is set to walk free on September 17, despite his disturbing back catalogue of sadistic crimes and his status as the prime suspect in Madeleines disappearance. Chillingly, a leading German psychiatrist told a court last year that Brueckner had been tested and scored 99 per cent on a scale of dangerousness.

Some 30 German police officers, joined by forensic experts and supported by Portugals Policia Judiciaria  the national criminal investigation police agency  began fresh searches on Tuesday across a 26-mile area in pursuit of new evidence in Madeleines case. Chainsaws, hedge trimmers and pickaxes are being used to clear thick foliage and access crumbling ruins, while mounds of earth are shifted across the barren fields.

Equipped with radar capable of scanning 15ft below the surface, the team is expected to continue this extraordinary operation  scouring 20 privately owned plots and draining wells  until Friday.

Christian Brueckner, pictured in court in March 2024, for sex charges unrelated to the McCann case - Julian Stratenschulte/AFP via Getty

Currently serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American tourist near where Madeleine vanished, Brueckner has been the official suspect in the British toddlers disappearance since 2020  yet he has always protested his innocence and has never been formally charged.

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Now it seems this heartbreaking British case has become the only means left for German authorities to keep the sex offender behind bars.

Its now or never, read a headline in Germanys Bild newspaper this week. Meanwhile, Brueckner has made his feelings perfectly clear in an extraordinary interview with German journalist Ulrich Oppold, in which he described looking forward to a nice steak and beer upon release. Refusing to answer any questions about Madeleine, he instead admitted he planned to flee if released from prison.

Few offenders are as instantly recognisable as Brueckner, with his ghostly complexion and pale blue-eyed stare. His chequered criminal history makes for disturbing reading.

In 1994, a teenager of 17, he was first convicted of sexual abuse of a child, attempted sexual abuse of a child, and carrying out sexual acts in front of a child. But he fled to Portugal with a girlfriend to avoid completing a youth custody sentence, and a European arrest warrant was issued.

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The pair split, and drifter Brueckner became adept at odd jobs, finally settling in his run-down house on the edge of the Praia da Luz resort in the mid-1990s. He would frequently return there over the years to come, and has since been linked to the disappearances of seven-year-old Jair Soares and 16-year-old Belgian Carola Titze, both of whom went missing during this period.

During his time in Portugal, Brueckner was also linked to the disappearance of 16-year-old Belgian Carola Titze - CHP

In 1999, he was finally arrested by Portuguese police and sent home to serve his youth sentence, begging questions as to how a sex offender known to the Portuguese was not later tracked.

Over the next nearly two decades, he flitted between the two countries, often dodging criminal proceedings ranging from drug dealing and sexual offences to theft. In his later rape trial, witnesses spoke of a life of crime, stealing from tourists and climbing through open windows in one or another holiday flat.

The particularly heinous rape for which he is currently imprisoned occurred in 2005, two years before Madeleines disappearance. His 72-year-old American victim lived in an apartment half a mile from the McCanns. Late one evening, Brueckner broke into her home, where he beat her with a 30cm scimitar  a short, curved sword  before forcing himself on her.

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The rape was investigated in Portugal but police eventually closed the case. Brueckner continued living in his house, returning to Germany frequently, and was staying in a camper van several miles away when Madeleine disappeared. In 2020, police said his phone placed him nearby the night she vanished.

It was only much later that a former co-conspirator of Brueckners, who had stolen diesel with him  for which Brueckner was arrested in 2006  found a video of the rape and went to police. In late 2019, Brueckner was finally sentenced.

The 48-year-old was first linked to Madeleines case in 2013 after the McCanns appealed for information on German televisions version of Crimewatch, Aktenzeichen XY.

Among some 500 calls, federal investigators received a convincing tip-off. A former colleague had linked Brueckner to a photofit of a man spotted near the site where Madeleine had gone missing.

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Then a month after the McCanns television appearance, the local police force in the German town of Braunschweig  where Brueckner was living at the time  sent a letter to Brueckner inviting him to be interviewed as a witness in the missing person case of Madeleine McCann. Journalist Jon Clarke, an expert in the case, who has written the book My Search for Madeleine, explains this was a huge error.

They messed up, they sent a policeman around to his house and told him he had to appear in a police station three days later to answer questions in the case of Madeleine McCann, he explains. They actually wrote it on the letter, so he was completely warned, and in those three days who knows what happened?

Germanys Der Spiegel magazine has also highlighted the error, speaking to an officer who admitted: This should not have happened and in no way complies with common procedure in such a delicate case.

The holiday apartment in Praia da Luz from which Madeleine McCann disappeared in May 2007 - David Rose

Assessing how Brueckner has seemingly slipped through so many cracks, Clarke also believes the number of different police forces involved in Germany, combined with Brueckners moves around the country, as well as to Portugal and back, have complicated investigations. Theyve not been sharing information between different police forces, and its been very difficult therefore to piece things together, he claims.

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Nevertheless, Brueckners crimes started to catch up with him. In 2017, he was convicted of sexual assault of a child in Germany in 2013, the five-year-old daughter of an ex-girlfriend, and sentenced to 15 months in prison. She was assaulted in a public park and graphic photos were later found on a digital camera when police were investigating him for a separate claim of domestic violence.

It was after his release that he is reported to have been in a bar with a friend when televisions showed 10th-anniversary coverage of Madeleines disappearance, allegedly prompting him to confide he knew all about what happened, and then revealing video of himself raping a woman. The friend is understood to have gone to the police.

The same year, another witness, Helge B, who had attended a music festival with Brueckner in 2008, told police the suspect admitted the killing while they were there, adding that Maddie did not scream, although doubts persist about the witnesss credibility.

Detectives search woodland near Praia da Luz as part of a renewed effort to find evidence linking Christian Brueckner to Madeleine McCanns disappearance - Paul Grover For The Telegraph

Brueckner was arrested the year after while in Italy and extradited to Germany, this time on a warrant for drug trafficking. He was jailed for 21 months for dealing and then convicted for rape of his American victim.

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By all accounts, Brueckner is not stupid. Witnesses in that trial described him as a well-presented and intelligent man who drove a Jaguar, while in court he spoke eloquently, often reading from legal texts.

This week, Clarke spoke to Oppold about his interview with Brueckner. He said he was so calm, and knew exactly what he wanted to say. Hes very careful, he explains. If you read his prison records, his psychological records, its very difficult to analyse him because he doesnt let anyone in. He wont say anything. Hes clever and cautious.

In 2020, the German prosecutor announced Madeleine was believed to be dead and identified Brueckner as the official suspect  the first time his name had been made public.

The evidence for this announcement has never been made clear although, last month, a Channel 4 documentary, made in conjunction with The Sun, disclosed a catalogue of grim discoveries it claims were made by police in 2016 at a disused factory Brueckner owned in Neuwegersleben, east Germany.

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Among hordes there are reported to have been toys, childrens clothes  including 75 girls swimsuits  chemicals and firearms, as well as an 80GB hard drive and laptop, USB sticks and memory cards, some enclosed in a Lidl bag found under the remains of his dead dog.

Some of these reportedly contain sickening exchanges with paedophiles, including the wish to capture something small and use it for days and child abuse images. It has even been claimed there is evidence of Madeleines death.

Portuguese authorities made him a suspect in 2022, and Scotland Yard has seemed supportive. The noises point to strong evidence against Brueckner, but Clarke explains the German system, without juries, often hinges on more exacting evidence than British courts.

I think if it went to trial in England on probability [a jury] would convict, he says. [In Germany] you have professional judges and a panel and it makes it very difficult to bring a case forward unless youve got DNA or a confession, or somebody that actually puts him there.

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Unfortunately, although hes confessed to a couple of people, friends, the evidence may not be as good as they would have liked.

Importantly, Clarke adds: They havent got DNA yet.

He also explains that the cache of evidence reported to have been found in Brueckners factory was initially uncovered during investigations in part around another case, the assault of his ex-girlfriends five-year-old daughter, for which he was jailed in 2017. Because they had used the evidence in one case, they couldnt rely on it again for the other, claims Clarke, citing a legal quirk. They couldnt use this whole huge drop of photographic information they found in the factory again, he explains.

They are certain that hes the man who did it, says Clarke, and they do have evidence that they havent revealed. But, he explains, they need every piece in place to play a tactical game with Brueckner, who has heavyweight lawyers on his side.

Undermining his suspect status further, last October, Brueckner was acquitted of five unrelated offences in his latest trial  three counts of rape and two of indecent assault against children in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, which he denied. Accounts of videotape evidence and even a cell confession formed part of the case, but could not be validated. The prosecution is furious says Clarke, and will appeal. This may not be in time to delay Brueckners release.

Brueckner himself never gave evidence, and only spoke once. When asked if he had anything to say he reportedly simply said: No, I would not like to. The impression is of a man who feels in control.

Only last month he is reported to have smirked in court as he was convicted for verbally abusing prison guards. He received probation, but the term is still unspecified and not predicted to extend his sentence for as long as prosecutors hoped. He had later apologised in writing for the insults, but only after claiming he was being treated inhumanely.

In the UK, it is implausible to think a convicted sex offender would be able to simply disappear on release. But more implausible is that dangerous Brueckner, whatever the truth about Madeleine, should be released so soon at all.

Hes not just a dangerous rapist, explains Clarke. Hes what they call 0.1pc of the most dangerous people in the world, because hes someone who likes inflicting pain  he doesnt just get off on the power, he likes torturing people.

That the barren landscape of Praia da Luz and the disappearance of a British toddler 18 years ago should now hold the only key to his cell, is most implausible of all.

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Jun. 4Six Canada geese, including two who lived at Twin Lakes Park, have been treated in recent days at a Youngwood wildlife rehabilitation organization for injuries related to discarded fishing line.

The severe injuries are typically the result of fishing line being wrapped tightly around their legs, said Beth Shoaf, executive director of Wildlife Works and senior rehabilitator.

"I think it's out of the ordinary for me to have six geese here at one time that all are in as a result of fishing line injuries," she said Monday. One of the six was released Tuesday.

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The injuries have prompted Wildlife Works staff members and others to volunteer for hours over the past couple of weeks picking up discarded clumps of fishing line and dozens of lead sinkers and fishing hooks from the banks of Twin Lakes Park.

"I was astonished at the volume, at the sheer magnitude and what all of that could mean for animal suffering because it's out there in the environment," Shoaf said.

The popular fishing spot, which straddles Hempfield and Unity, at one time had PVC pipe receptacles for disposal of line and other tools of the trade, said Brandon Simpson, former Westmoreland County parks director. But they were removed between two and three years ago after staff encountered issues with the receptacles getting stuffed full of trash not related to fishing.

Those PVC receptacles are used as intended at two other county parks, Northmoreland and Mammoth, he said.

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At Twin Lakes, signage remains encouraging fishers to dispose of their waste in nearby trash receptacles, Simpson said. Parks director Mark Katarski, who started the job in the past month, encouraged park users to do their part to help keep it clean.

"It's a good chance for us all to be reminded that our parks are only as good as our citizens and visitors," Katarski said.

Geese and goslings with fishing line injuries have come to Wildlife Works this year from around the area, including Ligonier Township, North Park, Pittsburgh, Washington and Indiana counties and Maryland, Shoaf said. One gosling and one goose came from Twin Lakes, she said, noting that it is a widespread issue and can affect wildlife other than geese as well as park visitors and pets.

Two geese have been euthanized recently as a result of fishing line injuries, Shoaf said.

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Canada geese, which are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, are family-oriented creatures, so any disruption to the unit creates stress. If Wildlife Works staff are able to successfully rehabilitate geese that come into their care, the birds are released in the same area where they were found.

Wildlife Works senior staff members Aislinn Morris and Shannon Sapolich have spent hours combing the banks of small sections of the upper and lower lakes at Twin Lakes Park, coming away with hooks, sinkers, fishing line and other trash.

"It's much worse than we were expecting," Sapolich said. "We were both kind of astounded just by how much there is."

Said Morris: "That's something we'd like to work with ... the county about. Those are very heavily fished areas."

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They plan to eventually move their operations to other parks around the area.

Twin Lakes park staff encounter the discarded line and other trash on a daily basis, Simpson said.

"Our crews do what they can ... but they're only so many people in so many areas of the park," Katarski said.

Westmoreland parks and Wildlife Works staff encouraged park visitors to clean up after themselves and others and be mindful of their impact on their surroundings.

"Everything in an environment is important for the health of an environment," Sapolich said. "We all live here, including the wildlife. It's always good to avoid suffering if we can help prevent it."

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Said Shoaf: "These creatures, they are our wild neighbors. ... We should be treating them with the same respect and giving them the dignity of living their lives as they are intended to be without interference."

Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP)  Marc Garneau, the first Canadian in space and a former foreign minister, died Wednesday after a short illness. He was 76.

Members of Parliament rose for a moment of silence in the House of Commons Wednesday evening at the request of government lawmaker Mark Gerretsen.

An electrical engineer and former Royal Canadian Navy officer, he became the first Canadian in space when he flew aboard the U.S. space shuttle in 1984. Garneau made two other trips to space.

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It is with deep sadness that I share the news of my husband Marc Garneaus passing. Marc faced his final days with the same strength, clarity, and grace that defined his life. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family, Pam Garneau said in a statement.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of support, concern, and kind words received over the past few days. We are especially grateful to the medical team who provided such dedicated and compassionate care during his short illness."

A cause of death was not provided.

Garneau served in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government as minister of foreign affairs and transport minister.

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He was a Liberal member of Parliament for a Montreal-area riding between 2008 and 2023.

I join all Canadians in mourning the passing of Marc Garneau, Carney said in a statement. A naval officer, a history-making astronaut, and a public servant of exceptional distinction ... May we all remember him for the national pride and possibility he represented to all of us.

Former prime minister Trudeau said on social media that it was with much sadness that he had learned about Garneaus passing.

I first met Marc as a schoolboy in the early 1980s, Trudeau said. I was in awe of his service and his courage then, and continued to be as I had the privilege to serve alongside him in Parliament and in government. Marc truly embodied and exemplified Canadian greatness throughout his whole life.

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Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said Garneau was his role model, mentor, longtime friend and a brave and exemplary Canadian for us all.

Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Garneau exceeded every expectation.

Garneau said in a recent interview that his three flights changed the way he saw Earth.

When you see that thin atmosphere and realize were filling it with greenhouse gases and pollutants ...when you see these things, you realize, What are we doing? he said in 2024. If we dont take care of this planet, there is nowhere else to go.

Garneau said that, after flying in space, life was not as intimidating.

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It gave me a sense of confidence and it gave me confidence to move forward in life instead of playing it safe, he said.

Garneau was born in Quebec City and earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering physics at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.

There are a number of schools named after him in Canada.

Garneau lived in the U.S. for nine years and two of his children were born there.
Toronto  At least 33,400 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in three Canadian provinces due to active wildfires that are sending smoke drifting across the border into northern U.S. states and all the way across the Atlantic to Europe. As of Wednesday two deaths were blamed on the blazes.

Officials have declared a state of emergency in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where crews and military forces were battling this week to try to contain dozens of out-of-control fires.

Some 17,000 people got evacuation orders in Manitoba alone, many of them seeking shelter in Winnipeg, while others were put up in hotels in Niagara Falls, in neighboring Ontario province.

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"This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said during a news conference on May 29.

All of Manitoba was under an "extreme fire danger" warning on Tuesday, according to the regional government. The Canadian armed forces were assisting with the evacuation of two separate Indigenous communities in the province.

Kinwew confirmed that two people in the small town of Lac du Bonnet were killed, representing the first civilian casualties from wildfires in Manitoba's recent history, according to regional media reports.

In Saskatchewan, about 15,000 people had been evacuated by Tuesday, according to the province's top public official.

Smoke from a wildfire fills the air as a trailer burns in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 2, 2025, in a screengrab obtained from social media video. / Credit: Bruce Chad Thompson via REUTERS

"We didn't have a very good day yesterday, with the weather the way it was, where the fires are and just how aggressive they are as they bear down on communities," Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe said Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press news agency. "We're probably approaching in the neighborhood of 15,000 people that have been evacuated across the province and being supported in communities throughout Saskatchewan, and more families are leaving their homes as we speak."

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In Alberta, more than 1,400 people were ordered to evacuate to shelters provided in hotels and other temporary accommodations. The province had 56 active wildfires as of Tuesday, 27 of them deemed out of control.

Conditions did improve slightly, with cooler temperatures and higher humidity helping firefighters in Alberta, according to an update shared Tuesday by provincial officials.

As of Tuesday, there were 21 active wildfires in Saskatchewan, according to the province's Public Safety Agency, including eight deemed completely uncontained.

In Manitoba, there were 27 active fires on Tuesday, nine of them considered out of control, which is above the average for this time of year.

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According to the province's fire situation report, most of those fires were caused by human activity. As a precaution, Manitoba parks were advised to prepare for potential evacuations.

Canada's wildfire season typically begins in April and lasts until late September, with most activity occurring in June and July. In recent years, however, it has started as early as February, due to warmer weather and drier conditions.

Smoke from the wildfires has been impacting air quality in several U.S. states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The smoke had reached parts of western Europe, too, according to climate monitoring services.

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"Smoke originating from the wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan has been transported across the Atlantic, reaching Europe during the last few days with forecasts showing further smoke transport this week," according to a statement published Tuesday by the European Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).

Firefighters, emergency crews and aircraft from other provinces, and from the U.S., were on their way to help fight the wildfires in Canada.

"I've never seen anything like it, in the way of the ferocity of the fires, how quickly they're moving, how they're changing and encroaching on communities," Moe, the Saskatchewan premier whose home is lives close to some of the active fires, said according to national broadcaster CBC.

While Alberta was seeing a slightly improved picture, in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the forecast for the coming days was for strong winds and no precipitation, meaning little expected relief for the teams battling the fires.

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Canada faced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023. Eight firefighters were killed and a record 18 million acres scorched, making the blazes the biggest single emitter of carbon in the world that year.

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BARCELONA, Spain, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Spain is heading into another summer of higher-than-normal temperatures, though this year's abundant spring rainfall has ensured stable water reserves, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) said on Wednesday.

"Once again, for June, July, and August, we expect clearly above-normal temperatures," Aemet spokesman Ruben del Campo told Xinhua. He noted that some areas, including Seville and Lleida, saw temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius in late May.

While recent months brought much-needed rain, easing a severe drought that had gripped southern and northeastern Spain for years, Del Campo warned that hot weather could quickly deplete water supplies through evaporation and increased demand. "We must not lower our guard," he said.

As of Wednesday, Spain's reservoirs were at 76 percent capacity, according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition.

Del Campo emphasized that droughts are cyclical in Spain and that improved water management has become a national priority. He also pointed to global climate trends, highlighting that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with average global temperatures exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement. 
Wisconsin could see the affects of wildfire smoke throughout the summer as blazes across Canada rage on, subsequently affecting air quality in the U.S.

Most recently, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality advisory for the entire state from June 3 to June 4. But, the state has already surpassed the total air quality advisory totals from wildfire smoke issued in 2024.

Two advisories were issued in 2024 and three have been issued in 2025 thus far, DNR Air Management Outreach Coordinator Craig Czarnecki told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email.

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Czarnecki added that more advisories are "possible throughout the summer."

"As these wildfires become more frequent, last longer, or burn more intensely, it increases the chances that smoke will impact air quality here in Wisconsin," he said.

Czarnecki said the department encourages Wisconsinites to "stay informed and take appropriate precautions" when air quality advisories are issued.

Here's everything you should know about potential effects of these wildfires in Wisconsin:

Where is the Canadian wildfire smoke coming from?

There are more than 200 wildfires burning across Canada as of June 3, with 104 classified as "out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

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For Wisconsin specifically, the DNR said smoke is coming from wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. These fires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres, resulting in the evacuation of at least 17,000 people as of May 30.

More: What to know about Canadian wildfire smoke's effect on Wisconsin, Milwaukee air quality

Where is Canadian wildfire smoke affecting the U.S.?

The map below shows the locations of wildfires throughout North America and outlines where the smoke from those fires has gone.

Wisconsin is just one of several states affected by the smoke.

How can wildfire smoke affect my health?

Wildfire smoke is a "complex mixture" of pollutants shown to cause a range of health effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These effects can be "relatively minor," like eye irritation, to more serious, including premature death, the agency says.

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Moreover, particle pollution can affect the body's ability to "remove inhaled foreign materials," like viruses or bacteria, the EPA says.

Short-term exposure  classified by the EPA as a few days  can result in respiratory and cardiovascular effects, such as difficulty breathing, reduced lung function and heart attacks.

A study of wildland fire fighters showed "cumulative short-term exposures"  classified as multiple days to a few weeks  led to reduced lung function, per the EPA.

The agency notes studies have not determined health effects from wildfire smoke inhalation "over multiple seasons."

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More: Canadian wildfire smoke is fouling U.S. air quality. We show where.

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from the smoke, according to the DNR:

Check local air quality index

Stay indoors

Keep windows and doors closed

Avoid activities that can increase indoor pollution, like vacuuming or using candles

Install a high-efficiency air filter

Wear an N95 mask if outside for long time periods

What is AQI?

The AQI is the EPA's index for reporting air quality, according to the EPA's AirNow website. It's divided into six categories on a scale of zero to 500, with higher numbers indicating increased air pollution and subsequent health risks.

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For specific categories and totals, you can view an AQI table on the AirNow website.

How to check the air quality in Wisconsin:

The DNR has interactive air quality maps, which show the AQI and any active alerts or advisories by county. You can view them on the department's website.

Wisconsin air quality map:

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What is causing the bad air quality in Wisconsin?
By Patrick Wingrove and Rich McKay

(Reuters) -Smoke from wildfires burning in three Canadian provinces covered about a third of the U.S. on Wednesday, forecasters said, but had little effect on air quality except in New England and parts of New York state and the Midwest.

The haze, which brought hazardous levels of particulate pollution to Minnesota a day earlier, stretched from the Dakotas through the Ohio Valley, into the Northeast and as far south as Georgia, according to the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. It was especially thick in New York and New England.

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"Much of the smoke is aloft in the upper atmosphere, so in a lot of areas there aren't air quality issues," said the National Weather Service's Marc Chenard. "But there are air quality issues as far south as New York and Connecticut where it's thicker and in the lower atmosphere."

Scores of wildfires have spread across Canada since the start of May. More than 212 active fires were burning in the country as of Tuesday afternoon, half of which were out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. So far, 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) have burned. Most of the fires were in the west-central provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Yang Liu, a professor of environmental health at Emory University in Atlanta, said infants, the elderly and other frail people were most susceptible to the smoke, but emphasized that everyone is at risk. "It will affect everyone at some level, all walks of life," Liu said. "It's bad."

He said the smoke is comprised of small particles, some of them toxic, that are smaller than 1/40th of the width of a human hair and can get into the lungs and even dissolve into the bloodstream.

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One of the worst spots for air quality in the U.S. Northeast on Wednesday morning was Williamstown, Massachusetts, near the state's borders with Vermont and New York. It registered a "very unhealthy" reading of 228, according to IQAir, a website that monitors air quality around the world.

An air quality rating of below 50 is considered to be "good," and readings between 100 and 300 are deemed "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy," while higher than that is considered "hazardous," according to the website.

The ratings in other parts of the U.S. Northeast were much lower, with New York City's standing at 56 on Wednesday morning and Washington's registering at 55.

Air quality levels in some parts of the Midwest had also improved on Wednesday morning. Ely, near Minnesota's border with Manitoba, registered a "moderate" reading of 65, down from 336 on Tuesday. Minneapolis, which had ranked as third-worst city in the world for air quality on Tuesday, with a 168 reading, was registering at 96.

(Reporting by Patrick Wingrove in New York, Rich McKay in Atlanta and Amanda Stephenson in Toronto; Editing by Frank McGurty and Nia Williams)






NEED TO KNOW

There were 203 active wildfires in Canada  with 102 of them deemed as out of control.

Air quality alerts went into effect starting on June 4 at 11 a.m. and through 11 p.m. for New York City, New Jersey and a majority of Connecticut

The smoke that covered most of Minnesota was reported to be the worst air quality in the state since 2023







The ongoing Canadian wildfires have reportedly blanketed a third of the United States, affecting millions, with the National Weather Service issuing air quality alerts for several states.

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According to the latest figures from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, as of Wednesday, June 4, there were 203 active wildfires in Canada, with 102 of them deemed as out of control.

Over 27,000 Canadians in three provinces have evacuated from their homes due to the blazes, the Associated Press reported.

Air quality alerts went into effect starting on Wednesday at 11 a.m. and through 11 p.m. for New York City, New Jersey, as well as a majority of Connecticut, according to The New York Times, due to the smoke from the fires.

When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health Effects, according to the National Weather Service air quality alert for New York City and Westchester and Rockland counties.

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People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, and those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease, the alert reads. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.

Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/Bloomberg via Getty Wildfire smoke above Highway 97, north of the Buckinghorse River near Trutch, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2025. Wildfire smoke above Highway 97, north of the Buckinghorse River near Trutch, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2025.

Marc Chenard with the National Weather Service told Reuters that much of the smoke, which the outlet reported has spread to one-third of the U.S., is "aloft in the upper atmosphere, so in a lot of areas there aren't air quality issues. But there are air quality issues as far south as New York and Connecticut, where it's thicker and in the lower atmosphere."

Meanwhile, the air quality index for parts of Illinois, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri has ranged from unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy, as of early Wednesday afternoon, according to AirNow. The air quality index for other parts of the East and Midwest was deemed "moderate."

The smoke that covered most of Minnesota was reported to be the worst air quality in the state since 2023, according to Minnesota Public Radio. An air quality alert for southern, central, north central, and northeast parts of the state went into effect on Tuesday, June 3, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reported.

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As the smoke continues to move across the state Tuesday, air quality will slowly improve from northwest to southeast for the remainder of the alert area, the agency said. The smoke is expected to leave the state by Wednesday [June 4] at noon.

The Environmental Protection Agency said that particle pollution  consisting of a mixture of solid and liquid droplets in the air  is a major part of wildfire smoke, "and the principal public health threat.

Individuals at greater risk of health effects from wildfire smoke include those with cardiovascular or respiratory disease, older adults, children under 18 years of age, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and those of lower socio-economic status, the EPA added.

The smoke from the Canadian wildfires has even been reported to spread to Europe, resulting in hazy skies but not enough to impact surface-air quality, said European climate service Copernicus, according to the AP.

Read the original article on People
As hundreds of wildfires burn across Canada, Americans' health could be impacted.

As of Wednesday, 203 wildfires were burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The smoke forced health officials in the U.S. to send air quality alerts across parts of the Upper Midwest on Tuesday and caused hazy conditions in New York, according to National Weather Service NY.

MORE: Why smoke from wildfires could cause a host of symptoms -- even in healthy people

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Readings from AirNow show air quality alerts in the Northeast, Midwest and Great Plains range from "moderate" to "unhealthy."

Inhaling toxic smoke and ash from wildfires could cause damage to the body -- including the lungs and heart -- and even weaken our immune systems, experts said.

"There's no such thing as safe wildfire smoke; any of it is too much for us. It's important that we get prepared and we're taking this seriously," Helen Christoni, an air quality expert and senior vice president of AirDoctor by Ideal Living, told ABC News.

What wildfire smoke is made up of

Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases, water vapor, air pollutants and fine particulate matter, the latter known as PM2.5, which is at least 30 times smaller in diameter than a human hair.

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Experts say these particles are of concern because they are too small to be seen with the naked eye and can easily enter the nose and throat and can travel to the lungs.

Some of the smallest particles even circulate in the bloodstream, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

ABC News - PHOTO: ABC News

PM2.5 can cause both short-term health effects, even for healthy people, including irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing, sneezing; and shortness of breath and long-term effects such as worsening of conditions such as asthma, heart disease or COPD flare-ups.

Vulnerable groups including children, pregnant women, older adults and those who are immunocompromised or have pre-existing conditions are at increased risk of having negative health effects.

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"You don't want to be breathing heavy concentrations of these [particles]," Ian Shapiro, associate director of building science and community programs at Syracuse University Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, told ABC News. "It could be an acute problem for somebody who's vulnerable, but just not healthy for anyone to be breathing."

Not all PM2.5 particles are the same. One study from California in 2021 found that those from wildfires can be up to 10 times more harmful than the same type of air pollution coming from combustion activity.

MORE: Mix of extreme heat and wildfire smoke can be very dangerous, experts say

Shapiro said fine particles from a wildfire can travel large distances, affecting residents of other states or even other countries.

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Christoni agreed: "Toxic substances and particulate matter from wildfires are sticky. They can adhere to surfaces for up to several years, with hundreds of miles from where that fire started."

How wildfire smoke affects health

Breathing in smoke can cause a host of symptoms right away including coughing; wheezing; itchy, watery eyes; headaches; runny nose; chest pain; and trouble breathing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can also increase the risk of exacerbation of asthma, bronchitis and reduced lung function, the EPA says. Additionally, smoke can cause cardiovascular effects including stroke, heart attack, heart failure and increased risk of premature death.

Tim Evans/Reuters - PHOTO: Pedestrians walk on the Stone Arch Bridge as a haze from Canadian wildfire smoke causes poor air quality in Minneapolis, June 3, 2025.

Christoni said exposure to wildfire smoke can also be correlated with neurological decline along with reproductive and mental health issues.

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Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergency department visits in 2018 in California rose on smoky days, according to a 2018 analysis.

Additionally, a 2015 systematic review of studies involving wildfires and human health in communities found wildfire smoke was significantly associated with risk of respiratory morbidity, meaning diseases and conditions that affect the respiratory system.

Studies have shown a link between poor air quality -- which these wildfires have caused -- and cardiovascular disease, including strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

How to stay safe

Shapiro recommends running portable air cleaners equipped with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, which can reduce airborne particulate concentrations within minutes.

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"If you have particles in your home and you turn it on, you will immediately see a drop in the concentrations, a dramatic drop in the concentrations," he said.

MORE: California wildfires can take mental health toll on residents, firefighters

Shapiro added that people should close windows and doors and limit the use of exhaust fans, which pulls outdoor air into a home.

If possible, Christoni encourages people to create a safe room in their home, where they can "seal everything up and run an air purifier" and eliminate breathing in any of the "volatile organic compounds" found in the smoke like benzine or formaldehyde.

Lastly, if air quality worsens, Shapiro recommends wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask when outside to help filter inhaled particles.
The smoke from Canadian wildfires left a thick haze over West Des Moines' Raccoon River Park this week. (Photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capita Dispatch)

Smoke from the fires currently ravaging the Canadian wilderness arrived at Iowas northern border Monday night and will likely impact air quality throughout the state in the coming days.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has announced an air quality alert across Iowa that will be in effect until 6 a.m., Thursday, June 5. During this time, Iowa DNR expects the air to contain an unhealthy amount of hazardous airborne pollutants from the wildfire smoke.

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Its like predicting snowfall, said Todd Russell, one of the ambient air monitoring staff at Iowa DNR. Its difficult to tell how much smoke is up there, how much smoke will reach the ground and how long its going to last.

Russell said the decision to put the alert in effect came after observing levels of particulates multiple times the federal standard in northern Iowa towns, such as Emmetsburg, for several hours. Areas near the Minnesota border are still seeing high levels of particulates, he said.

Based on several models of smoke movement that mirrored the changes the Iowa DNR observed on Monday night, Russell says his conservative estimate is that the smoke will remain at least through Wednesday evening.

According to AirNow, a central hub of EPA air-quality information at state and national levels, individuals with lung or heart diseases, children, teenagers, pregnant women, adults over the age of 65 and people more likely to be outside for extended periods are at risk of more severe health effects caused by the smoke. However, AirNow recommends everyone reduce their exposure.

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Stay away from it if you can and minimize your exercise or intake of that smoke if you cant get away from it, Russell said.

As of June 3, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center reports 213 active fires, of which 106 are out of control. The area burned by these fires since the start of 2025 is greater than 4.8 million acres of land. The National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho announced 150 federal firefighters would be mobilized to help suppress fires in Alberta and Manitoba provinces.

Minnesota and Wisconsin have similar alerts in effect currently.

Real-time updates on air quality and affected areas are available here.
After years of back-and-forth drama, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in May that she would not submit any more agency director nominations to the state Senate for confirmation. She blamed what she called the "circus" environment for vetting her nominees.

"I'm quite frankly done with Jake Hoffman and his agenda," the governor said in early May. "We're going to move forward in the best way possible in the current environment."

This came after two directors of the state's health care agencies stepped down, saying it was clear they would not be confirmed. Hobbs has been battling the state Senate since she took office for her director nominees, who have gone through a rigorous and unprecedented vetting process.

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Because of this, for the majority of her time in office, the agency heads tasked with implementing her agenda have operated on an interim basis.

State Sen. Jake Hoffman heads the Committee on Direction Nominations, which recommends whether a nominee should get a vote of the full Senate. He self-identified on The Gaggle as "one of the most conservative members of the Legislature."

The Queen Creek Republican is also one of the people indicted in the fake electors case, which charges the electors who broke the law by attempting to falsely certify Donald Trump as Arizona's choice for president in 2020.

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Sen. Hoffman to discuss why he thinks the stiff scrutiny on the governor's picks is justified.

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Later in the episode, Doug Cole, a Republican veteran of state government who knows the process of nominating and selling Cabinet seats to lawmakers, joins to explore this unheard-of situation between the sitting governor and the leader of the Senate committee.

Listen to the episode

The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you can also stream the full episode below.

Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.

Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and Instagram.

Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

Have a question or comment about Arizona politics?

You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here.

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Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. Abby Bessinger assisted with production. You can reach Abby at abby.bessinger@gannett.com.

Catch up on previous Gaggle episodes here:

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Inside Arizona's standoff: Hobbs vs. Hoffman over director nominees
A mom and dad are grieving in Gastonia, North Carolina. Their 7-year-old son, Legend, was tragically killed by a car after running into the street on a walk to the store with his 10-year-old brother.

If you were tasked with determining a punishment for the parents, would you: A) arrest them for manslaughter, set bail at $1.5 million, and forbid them from attending their son's funeral, or B) decide this tragedy has been punishment enough?

Authorities in Gastonia chose option A.

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Jessica Ivey and Samuele Jenkins are facing felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and child neglect, as well as a misdemeanor child neglect charge, according to The NC Beat.

The tragedy occurred on May 27. Ivey claimed it was the first time she allowed the kids to walk to the store. A witness to the accident said the older boy tried to grab his little brother from running, but he broke away.

The Gastonia Police Department issued a statement on its Facebook page, saying that while it extended its "deepest sympathies" to the parents for their "heartbreaking loss," the investigation revealed that the children were unsupervised during their walk.

As if that's a smoking gun. As if no kids have ever walked unsupervised to the store. As if every parent who lets their kids run an errand is guilty of a crime.

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"In such cases, adults must be held accountable for their responsibilities to ensure a safe environment for their children," the department declared.

They must be held accountable for an unpredictable tragedy? Parents aren't prosecuted when their child chokes on dinner or slips in the bathtubbecause accidents happen, even in the safest homes. How can parents ever guarantee a perfectly "safe environment"?

Do they think the parents haven't learned a lesson from this heartbreak? Who is served by this arrest? Has the Gastonia Police Department considered the impact on the surviving brother who will now believe "that his failure to save his brother resulted in sending his parents to prison?" asks David Pimentel, a law professor at the University of Idaho. "Does anyone believe that child will be better off in foster care while his parents rot in jail?"

The parents were arrested because our country has come to believe that any child who is unsupervised anywhere for almost any amount of time is automatically in danger, and therefore, that any parent who trusts their kids to do anything on their own doesn't care if they live or die.

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This delusionthat any parent who doesn't hover doesn't care if their child is safeis what allows the authorities to act as if Legend's parents deliberately did something so evil it warrants felony charges.

But in fact, it was a normal, rational, and common thing the parents did. "Ten-year-olds and 7-year-olds have been walking to and from school, unaccompanied by adults, for over 100 years," says Pimentel.

The implications of this prosecution "are very troubling for parents everywhere who can never provide a guarantee against their kids getting hit by a car, even if they were right there with them," notes Diane Redleaf, author of They Took the Kids Last Night and a legal consultant to Let Grow, the nonprofit I helm.

This isn't an isolated incident either. Across the country, parents are being criminalized for allowing their kids modest independence. These prosecutions reflect a growing distrust in parental judgment and an inflated sense of risk.

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The sad truth is that often when something awful happens to a child, it's not the result of bad parenting. It's the result of bad luck. Blaming parents just means we have a scapegoat and can continue to believe that bad things only happen to the children of bad parents.

Turning tragedy into punishment doesn't make kids safer. It just makes all parents more afraidand all families more vulnerable.

The post A Car Hit and Killed Their 7-Year-Old Son. Now They're Being Charged for Letting Him Walk to the Store. appeared first on Reason.com.
Carbondale is honoring its veterans.

The city is in the midst of overhauling its Hometown Heroes Banner Program, retiring weathered banners for more than 60 veterans, said program administrator Michelle Poyer.

On Tuesday, Poyer and Mayor Michele Bannon also honored three Carbondale Area School District students who were the three local finalists in the American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Poster Contest, said Poyer, who is secretary of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 221 and the patriotic youth chairwoman. The students who placed first, second and third were: Bella Kelsch, McKenna Bogdon and Fallyn Hearst, who received $75, $50 and $25, respectively, Bannon said.

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The poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for the United States in all wars, reminding Americans of the sacrifices made by veterans to protect freedoms, according to the national American Legion Auxiliary website.

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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)

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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)

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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)

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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)

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Poyer set up artwork from 16 Carbondale Area School District students inside the Greater Carbondale YMCA last week, asking the community to vote on their favorite artwork. Auxiliary Unit 221 is the only local unit participating, Poyer said, adding that another local legion contacted her about participating next year.

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Last year, the auxiliary held its inaugural poppy poster contest in Carbondale City Hall. This year, Bannon suggested they hold it at the YMCA.

I loved having an art studio in the foyer of City Hall, Bannon said, laughing. However, I thought that they were such beautiful pieces of art that I wanted more people to see them, so I thought a great partner for that would be the YMCA.

They received 237 votes, which included American Legion members, Poyer said.

The three winners will now be forwarded to the auxiliarys district council, and if there are no other legions participating, they move on to the state level, with those winners then moving to the national level, she said. The national winners artwork would then be made available for any auxiliary to use.

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My passion for the involvement of the children in our patriotic youth programs is to educate the students on what it means to be patriotic in America, Poyer said. I want the children to learn and understand how the freedoms they experience everyday are made possible.

For patriotic imagery decorating the rest of Carbondale, Poyer is working on the citys Hometown Heroes banners.

Carbondale first joined the Hometown Heroes program about a decade ago as part of its Route 6 Task Force, Bannon said. Work included developing the template for the program, the application process and the hardware to mount them on their Victorian lamp poles, she said. The Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce then took over the program, but last year, the city decided it would be best to go through the American Legion, prompting city officials to ask Poyer to be the administrator in the fall, Bannon said. Legion Commander Joe Dick and Senior Vice Commander Frank Lapka approved their participation to operate the program, Poyer said.

Each banner is double-sided with veterans on either side. The city puts them up ahead of Memorial Day and takes them down after Veterans Day, Bannon said.

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When they retire a banner, they burn it during their flag-burning ceremonies, with the families of the veterans welcome to attend, Poyer said.

Carbondale has about 250 veterans on banners right now with the capacity for 500, she said.

The American Legion is now looking for donations to replace broken hardware, Poyer said. They are also accepting applications for reprinted or new banners.

Reprinting an already-designed banner costs $100, and new banners cost $175, she said. The application process was previously limited to Memorial Day through Veterans Day, but they will now accept applications year-round, Poyer said.

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This is is the first time they have worked to revitalize the banners, which can be for living or deceased veterans, Bannon said.

We dont want anybody to be disrespected, so if one side of the banner looks a little tattered, we try to take it down and get it replaced so that they continue to be honored, Bannon said. It honors all the veterans for being the backbone of our community and the nation.

To apply for a Hometown Heroes banner, email Poyer at alapost221@yahoo.com.
CARROLL COUNTY, Ark.  The Carroll County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) in Arkansas says that too often, when deputies are called to take a theft or burglary report, they discover that the victim has not documented their property with model and serial numbers.

This crucial information can make all the difference in recovering stolen items, the CCSO says.

When we are provided with the brand name, model, and serial number of a stolen item, we can enter that information into the Arkansas Crime Information Centers database, the CCSO says in a social media post.

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If the item is later sold to a pawn shop, the CCSO is alerted through a system called LEADS Online, which provides law enforcement with details of the transaction, including the name of the person who pawned the item and a copy of their drivers license.

Additionally, if a law enforcement officer checks an items serial number on scene, and it has been reported as stolen, they will be notified immediately and can begin an investigation on the spot, the CCSO says.

We urge you to take some time  just a day  to document your valuables, the CCSO says. Use a notebook or digital file to record the brand, model, serial number, and estimated value of items such as firearms, tools, electronics, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, and more. For items without identification numbers, like jewelry, take clear photographs. Store this documentation in a secure place.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. Rep. Andre Carson speaks at a rally on Oct. 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

A Wednesday letter from Democrat U.S. Rep. Andre Carson to the federal Department of Homeland Security seeks answers about the possible use of Camp Atterbury in Indiana as an immigration detention facility.

The letter follows recent Indiana Capital Chronicle reporting that federal officials may be eyeing the southern Indiana base as a temporary site for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. The federally owned facility is licensed to and operated by the Indiana National Guard.

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A DHS spokesperson last week declined to confirm any plans but acknowledged the agency is exploring flexible options to respond to capacity issues in its nationwide detention network.

In his letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Carson said the prospect raises serious questions and flagged concerns about legal rights, humane treatment and national security.

Camp Atterbury has historically served as a training base for the Indiana National Guard and has been a vital part of our states military infrastructure, wrote Carson, who represents portions of Marion County. The prospect of repurposing it for migrant detention raises significant issues that warrant thorough examination, including the negative impact this will have on our national security and military readiness.

Carsons letter comes as ICE detention has surged in recent months, approaching 50,000 people nationwide  far above the 41,500 beds funded by Congress  according to the latest federal numbers.

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That strain has reportedly prompted DHS to review underused military and federal facilities across the country, including Camp Atterbury, but no official decisions have been announced.

Carson, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, said hes especially troubled by reports of due process violations at other ICE detention sites.

As a senior Member of the House Intel Committee, I am always thinking about keeping our state and our country safe, Carson said in a statement. Not only does the prospect of using Camp Atterbury raise concerns that our military readiness will be reduced, it also is deeply concerning given numerous reports that detainees across the United States have been denied legal due process.

Camp Atterbury has previously been used to house Afghan evacuees and Ukrainian refugees, but not immigration detainees held under enforcement authority.

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Carson asked DHS to respond to seven specific questions about the potential use of Camp Atterbury by June 13, including what laws and funding would govern its use of the national guard site, and how military operations might be affected.

DHS had not responded publicly to the letter as of Wednesday evening.

Carson Letter  June 4

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WEST MIFFLIN, Pennsylvania  Flanked by a sea of steelworkers dressed in their orange safety jackets and hard hats, President Donald Trump was given a hero's welcome at the Mon Valley Irvin Works to mark the signing of the U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal, the largest investment in state history.

"With the help from patriots like you, we are going to produce our own metal, make our own energy, secure our own future, build our country, control our own destiny, and we are once again going to put Pennsylvania steel into the backbone of America," Trump said of the deal.

The deal to have a Japanese company purchase U.S. Steel has drawn bipartisan support across the state, from Pittsburgh's Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) to Braddock's Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Gov. Josh Shapiro told the Washington Examiner in an interview on Wednesday that it was a "BFD" that Trump got this over the line.

Former President Joe Biden blocked the deal on national security grounds shortly before he left office.

A person familiar with the details said the benefits of the agreement include $14 billion in capital investment projects at U.S. Steel, with approximately $11 billion invested by 2028. These are investments that U.S. Steel could not make as a standalone company.

Those new capital investments include $2.2 billion to revitalize the only remaining blast furnace mill in Pittsburgh, $200 million for a new research and development center in Pennsylvania to bring world-leading technology to U.S. Steel, $1 billion invested by 2028 in a new Greenfield steel mill, and $3.1 billion in Indiana to transform the historic Gary Works mill.

There will also be a $3 billion investment in the Arkansas plant, including $1.8 billion for advanced electrical steel production for power grid transformers, $800 million in Minnesota to enhance iron ore mining, and $500 million in Alabama for tubular upgrades to supply American oil and gas dominance.

The investments and technology transfer will protect and create 100,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, according to an independent analysis by Parker Strategy Group. The analysis estimated that the investment would protect 11,400 jobs, and create and support 14,000 new jobs, including over 10,200 in construction.

The deal preserves U.S. Steel's headquarters in the iconic Pittsburgh skyscraper, the tallest building in Appalachia, and the company will maintain its production locations and capacity in the United States. As part of the agreement, American jobs are protected and cannot be offshored.

The deal also guarantees that the majority of U.S. Steel's board must be U.S. citizens, and key management, including the CEO, will also all be U.S. citizens. The deal outlines that U.S. Steel's trade actions will be determined solely by U.S. citizens, with oversight from the U.S. government, and free from any interference.

As outlined, the deal will improve domestic supply chains in the trucking and rail industries, increase the production of American automobiles, and boost energy production in the natural gas and coal industries, as well as boost the building of pipelines and power grid transformers.

The deal maintains U.S. Steel's stature as an American icon, as well as stabilizes economic development in the Mon Valley, where three of the plants  the Edgar Thomson plant in Braddock, the Clairton Mill Works in Clairton, and the Irvin Works in West Mifflin  are located.

"For generations, the workers here have always been there for our country when we needed them the most," Trump said, pointing to the crowd who rewarded him with cheers.

"You built this country," he emphasized.

"From Pittsburgh to Pottstown from Bethlehem to Hopewell from Washington County to right here in West Mifflin, the foundries, the blast furnaces of Pennsylvania have smashed foreign armies, strengthened the hauls of the world's greatest Navy, raised up majestic cities, won two world wars and made America into the richest, strongest, most powerful country on the face of the Earth," Trump said, noting the contribution men and women in the steel industry have made to the country's economy, infrastructure and national defense for over 100 years.

Many of the steelworkers in the crowd were third-, fourth- and fifth-generation steelworkers whose great-grandparents, grandparents and fathers were the ones who forged that steel.

Trump said that under Biden's policy of putting waivers on the tariffs that Trump placed in his first term, the industry suffered from uncertainty.

"We are going to get it back fast. It is almost back already," he said, noting that the increase in tariffs he announced Friday night on imported steel, going from 25% to 50%, would accelerate the rebound of the domestic industry.

"Under our leadership we are making it richer, stronger and more powerful than ever before, and that is why I thank you very much," he said, pointing to Nippon Steel vice chairman Takahiro Mori and U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt sitting in the front row at the rally held in the nearly 100-year-old Irvin Works plant.

Surrounded by steel coils inside the historic plant, legendary former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier, along with current players Mason Rudolph and Miles Killebrew, joined Trump onstage to present him with a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey with the number "47" on the back.

Trump was also joined onstage by plant manager Don German and USW Local 2227 President Jack Maskil and Vice President Jason Zugai, who all gave emotional speeches praising Trump for closing the deal and saving their lives and the livelihoods of future steelworkers for generations.

Trump candidly admitted to the crowd that he wasn't sold on the deal when it first came to him. "They kept asking me over and over, and I kept rejecting it, no way, no way, no way," he said, explaining that as Nippon kept sweetening the pot, he got more interested in the deal.

"The deal got better and better and better for the workers," Trump said. "I'm going to be watching over it. It's going to be great."

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between.
MEXICO CITY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday described the latest U.S. tariff hikes on steel and aluminum imports, which doubled from 25 percent to 50 percent, as "unfair," "unsustainable," and lacking any "legal basis."

At her daily morning press conference, Sheinbaum said the measure, which applies to all countries except the United Kingdom, is unfair to Mexico because "Mexico imports more steel and aluminum than it exports."

Usually, "a tariff is imposed when there is a deficit," said Sheinbaum, but "we import more steel" so it is "unfair."

In addition, Mexico and the United States are partners to a free trade agreement, so from the Mexican government's perspective, the tariff "has no legal basis."

According to Washington, however, the tariff responds more to national security concerns than trade, noted the president, adding it is still unfair to apply it to Mexico.

"It is being considered for reasons of U.S. national security, and just yesterday, the White House spokesperson said there is very good collaboration on all fronts with Mexico, including the security issue. So, we don't believe it is justified," she said.

Finally, she added, the tariff will prove unsustainable "because just as ... there are many auto parts that cross from one side of the border to the other, the same occurs with steel."

Sheinbaum said she would meet with industry leaders during the day to present strategies, and her economy secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, was preparing negotiations with U.S. authorities this week in anticipation of an agreement.

"Fifty percent tariffs represent a significant impact on the steel and aluminum industry; 25 percent already represented problems," she said.

With no agreement, her administration will announce what measures it will take next week, said Sheinbaum, adding it is not about "an eye for an eye," but about supporting the industry and the jobs it creates, which are "very important."

"We hope to reach an agreement. If we don't, then we will also announce some measures ... it's not a matter of revenge ... it's a matter of protection," the Mexican president said. 
A case of mistaken identity ended with a gang murder. A young mother was gunned down in her car with her baby just inches away as she took her final breaths.

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Jamal Baker made many mistakes on the morning of May 18, 2024, and murder was the biggest. A mistaken identity murder after Baker, Young Slime Lifeor YSL gang member and two co-conspirators, all caught on camera in hoodies, mistook the car in which 21-year-old NeJha Sapphire Cox was riding with her two-year-old son for someone elses car.

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They fired more than three dozen times, says the Fulton County District Attorneys Office Gang Unit Senior Asst. District Attorney Amanda Green.

The child was there the whole time, and he was able to observe his mother bleed out until she was no longer alive, Green said.

She has absolutely nothing to do with gang violence or gang life. Shes not a criminal, District Attorney Fani Willis said.

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Green says almost a year to the day after the shooting, a jury convicted Baker of murder, gang charges and more.

...life without parole. Judge Farmer sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole plus 65 years, Green explained.

Green says intelligence suggests the black Nissan in which Cox, her baby and a driver travelled was mistaken for a blue Nissan used by a man with a hit out on him. A bounty because of suspicions he shot up a music video shoot for music superstar Dominique Jones, known as Lil Baby, on Verbena Street in Atlanta four days earlier.

Green says Lil Baby was not mentioned at trial other than in jury selection and who may have taken it upon themselves to order the possible hit remains a mystery.

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The district attorneys office has absolutely no evidence that Lil Baby had any connection to this hit. Nothing could be corroborated that he knew about it or that he directed it in any way. So we dont have any evidence that he had any part in this young ladys demise or the trauma that her child will suffer for the rest of their life, Willis said.

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Green says video shows Baker in a light colored hoodie and two others as they walk toward an apartment complex to look for their intended target. Then they walked around a corner toward a woodline where they lay in wait and the car carrying Cox came out of the complex into an ambush.

When that vehicle passes that area of the wood line, it is shot up and we have 39 casings, Green explained.

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Records indicate Baker was convicted of two gang charges and acquitted of two more, but all describe YSL as a criminal street gang.

Its no joke when a two-year-old watches their 21-year-old mother die, Willis said.

Green says Bakers two co-defendants are scheduled for trial this month.

A spokesperson for Baker released the following statement to Channel 2 Action News:

The Defender Councils Appellate Office represents Mr. Jamal Runtae Baker. A team of skilled appeals attorneys, investigators, and administrators is working in support of the new trial motion and looks forward to zealously representing Mr. Baker in future filings and court proceedings, but must decline further comment at this time.

Channel 2 Action News has also reached out to Lil Babys attorney, but has not yet heard back.
Johnny Nunez

In this op-ed, Mags Lesiak, a criminologist specializing in domestic violence, takes on criticism of Cassie Ventura after her testimony in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial.

When Casandra Ventura was 19, she met 37-year-old Sean Diddy Combs, a music mogul who seemed to offer her unprecedented avenues for success, according to court filings. Combs signed Ventura, who goes by Cassie professionally, to his label, Bad Boy Records, in 2006, and her debut album was released later that year, court filings indicate. Sometime within that period, Ventura and Combs became romantically involved, making Combs her employer, her label head, her professional future, and her boyfriend. According to several court documents and now to testimony, including Venturas own, in Combss sex trafficking trial, it was the beginning of a nightmare.

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Ventura is one of dozens of individuals who have accused Combs of sexual assault. In fact, in addition to the ongoing federal criminal case, more than 70 civil lawsuits have been filed against him, with a number of accusers claiming they were drugged before being raped or assaulted. (Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in 2023 that was quickly settled.) Combs has repeatedly denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to all charges in his federal sex trafficking trial. He could face 15 years to life in prison if convicted. Ventura, however, served as the star witness in the criminal trial against Combs, detailing the alleged horrors she faced during their relationship. As many women making accusations against powerful men have experienced, this testimony has subjected Ventura to a host of questions  including criticism for staying in an allegedly abusive relationship.

But to me, its clear that this isnt a story about bad choices. Its a story about survival in a world that too often mistakes coercion for consent.

Im a psychological criminologist and doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge who specializes in coercive control, trauma bonding, and how cultural norms shape young womens emotional vulnerability in relationships. Ive studied relationships that involve abuse, as Venturas allegedly did. Though there can be love involved, often what appears from the outside to be love or consent is a strategy for survival on the victims part.

In her testimony during Combss criminal trial, Ventura described falling in love with him, saying she believed his real personality to be "sweet, attentive. This aligns with what I've seen in my work in terms of how many perpetrators establish a connection. They often love-bomb, and flatter, building trust through affection and illusion. Once the victim is emotionally attached, the tone begins to shift. Isolation begins. Control tightens. Autonomy erodes. The baseline of being in love can weaken someones boundaries, as can power. Combs had both.

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When abuse starts, victims often adapt, something I also noticed in Venturas testimony. She testified that the alleged freak offs  drug-fueled sex encounters that she said he often filmed  disgusted and humiliated her. When asked why she agreed to participate, Ventura said, "I wanted to make him happy."

Sean Diddy Combs: A Timeline of Allegations

From what Ive seen in my research on survivors, what may appear outwardly as consent from victims can be an attempt to survive or to appease an abuser. Every choice becomes strategic: keep the perpetrator calm, stay desirable, avoid triggering possible punishment. And in cases where theres also an intense power imbalance professionally or otherwise, the survivor may have even fewer options  if leaving involves the possibility of both physical violence as well as career and financial ruin, what choice is it really?

Ventura seemed to say as much in her testimony. At one point, she said she tried to talk to Combs about stopping the freak offs, but backtracked when he seemed to respond dismissively. "I wouldn't want to make him angry, I really didn't want him to be upset or not trust me," she testified about why she reversed course, calling him a scary person. Combs, Ventura told the court, ultimately controlled many aspects of her life. "Control was everything  from the way that I looked, to what I was working on that day, who I was speaking to," she testified. "Control was an all around thing to a certain point." Where was there to go?

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Within industries that, at times, encourage power imbalances and normalize gatekeeping, women and others trying to break in can be deprived of real choices. (It must be noted that, while data suggests men are most often the perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual abuse, men can of course be victims, too.) What appears voluntary can be the result of constrained conditions. Newcomers are too often asked to trade autonomy for opportunity, and dignity for access. Consent under these conditions becomes a performance  calculated, strategic, seemingly necessary. When the cost of saying no may be exile, poverty, career sabotage, or physical violence, yes can no longer be taken at face value. It becomes a survival tactic. In such a context, the illusion of choice serves not the victim  but the system that exploits them.

But power differences and alleged promises of success aside, Ventura, like many other accusers, says she loved Combs. Understanding why someone might love a person who allegedly hurt them isnt easy. It doesnt fit into common-sense ideas about relationships, and that confusion can quickly turn into judgment. Outsiders may assume the victim is weak, co-dependent, or even choosing the abuse. Decades ago, even some therapists described survivors as masochistic or addicted to pain, but more recent research tells a very different story.

In my experience, whats really happening isnt typically the survivor being in or acting out of love  it can become about survival. Many abusers use something I call coercive emotional regulation: a way of controlling how the victim feels by switching between cruelty and affection. They break their partner down, then offer comfort. They cause the wound, then pretend to be the healer. This kind of manipulation doesnt only have the ability to confuse  it can rewire. When a person experiences cycles of harm and affection, their nervous system adapts to survive, not to judge the perpetrators behavior. The brain begins to link safety to submission, relief to approval. And what feels like love to the survivor isnt really love at all. Its a trauma-coded survival bond, in many cases shaped by isolation, reinforced by hope, and sustained by the cost of leaving.

Ventura testified about feeling like it wouldnt be safe to leave the relationship. Even beyond Combss purported control and the potential career implications she felt she could face if she left the music mogul, she also allegedly experienced physical violence. A now-infamous hotel surveillance video shows what leaving might have looked like: the footage seemingly shows Ventura being grabbed, kicked, shoved, and dragged toward Combss room. Combs also allegedly turned to the threat of revenge porn: there were actually blackmail materials, Ventura testified. To basically make me feel like, if I didn't do it, that it would be hung over my heador that these things would become public. Even the people close to her seemingly werent safe. Rapper Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi) testified that he suspects Combs of blowing up his car while he was dating Ventura during what her lawsuit called a rough patch in her relationship with Diddy.

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Separation does not always mean freedom  a perpetrator might view it as escalation. Estrangement is a leading predictor of femicide. In the UK, data found that 41% of women killed by a current or former partner in 2018 had been separated or were in the process of separating. Leaving often isnt safe. It can be the final trigger. So, is it truly a choice if saying no could cost you your life, your career, or put people you love in danger?

We must stop treating survival strategies as evidence of consent. Ventura didnt consent to any alleged abuse  she adapted to it. According to her testimony and lawsuit, she was groomed, isolated, and dominated. The question we must now ask is not why she stayed so long, but why we allow individuals with power to build cages and call them love the way Ventura suggests Combs did. Like many survivors, she said that she used the tools available to her  silence, compliance, hope, affection  to survive in a system that protected her alleged abuser. Venturas story is not rare. Its just visible now. Countless women live inside similar dynamics, their realities twisted and policed by partners who love just enough to confuse them  and hurt just enough to control them.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
Jun. 3WASHINGTON  In her first public move after retiring from Congress at the end of 2024, former Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers announced Tuesday that she is launching a nonprofit foundation that aims to cultivate a new generation of American leaders.

The Cathy McMorris Rodgers Leadership Institute will "connect people to purpose-driven lives and ensure America's enduring role as a beacon of hope and freedom" through local and national initiatives, according to a news release announcing the launch. In an interview, the Spokane Republican said she wants to help shape future leaders and instill in them the values of freedom, faith, justice, opportunity and equality.

"In my time representing the people of Eastern Washington, I got to see a lot of good, and it's my desire to really help fan the flames on that," she said, adding that one of the institute's guiding principles is "making goodness fashionable again, with acts of kindness that improve the lives of both the giver and the recipient."

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After two decades in the House, McMorris Rodgers stunned Capitol insiders when she announced in February 2024 that she would retire at the relatively young age of 55, soon after attaining one of the most influential positions in Congress as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Back home in Spokane, she said she wants to foster the good that she saw in communities throughout Eastern Washington during her time in office.

"I think a lot of people don't see that," she said. "It just seems like you see a lot of brokenness. You walk the streets of Spokane, and you see a lot of broken lives. You see families that are in crisis. You see this increased homelessness and drugs and just division. Everywhere we turn, we see this division."

The foundation, through a pass-through fund established at the Innovia Foundation in April, will support several programs that align with the former lawmaker's priorities. The institute will conduct research and advocacy for "policies that align with America's founding principles."

Through what it calls the Good American Project, the organization intends to educate citizens through seminars and publications about "the importance of nurturing a nation grounded in virtue, faith, and moral clarity." Those values, according to the announcement, draw on "America's unique religious and moral heritage" and "continue to shape the nation's greatness and future."

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Two annual fellowships will support local and national prayer networks, echoing the prayer groups McMorris Rodgers used to connect with her constituents and fellow lawmakers during her two decades in Congress. The institute will support a fellow at each college and university in Washington, according to the announcement, "to help establish local chapters for national organizations that align with our mission to inspire a rebirth of faith and freedom in this next generation of leaders."

The institute will work with teachers and school districts to celebrate Constitution Day, Sept. 17, which commemorates the signing of the U.S. government's foundational document in 1787. Through the "Flag Project," it will work to ensure that the American flag is "more visible in our communities" as a "powerful representation of American ideals for future generations."

As she often emphasized during her time in office, McMorris Rodgers said there's a need to build greater trust among Americans  both trust in each other and in the country and its institutions.

"America is not perfect, by any means," she said. "We're not perfect individually, we're not perfect as a nation, but I believe that America has been a force for good. America has been the beacon of freedom and hope for so many people  not just Americans, but people around the world."

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To illustrate that point, she mentioned the United States' role fighting fascism in World War II and the values and principles on which the country was built.

"One of them is the rule of law and making sure that the law is equal," she said of those principles, "that we have equal protection under the law, equal application of the law."

Asked what the rule of law means in the context of the Trump administration's expansive view of executive power  including the deportation of migrants without a chance to appear in court  she affirmed that due process is a constitutional right while adding that the government's highest responsibility is to protect the nation.

In her final months on Capitol Hill, McMorris Rodgers lamented that members of Congress have given up much of the authority granted to them by Article I of the Constitution, which establishes the executive, legislative and judicial branches as coequal parts of the federal government.

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"I want people to understand our Constitution," she said. "I believe that Congress  the House and the Senate  needs to exercise their authority as well as responsibility under Article I. I've often celebrated the wisdom of our founders in establishing three branches of government."

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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Ysleta Port of Entry seized 27.1 pounds of cocaine on Monday, June 2, CBP said in a press release.

CBP says the narcotics were hidden in a pickup truck being driven by a 21-year-old man, a U.S. citizen, who was coming from Mexico and arrived at the Ysleta Port of Entry on Monday.

The pickup truck was selected for secondary inspection, and during a scan, anomalies were discovered, CBP said.

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Brown packages were discovered in the truck, and the contents of the packages tested positive for cocaine, CBP said.

The seizure is in addition to the 20.1 pounds of cocaine seized on May 28 at the same port of entry, CBP said.

CBP officers arrested the man, and he was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face importation of controlled substances charges.

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MAINE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Residents are invited to step back in time at the special anniversary celebration of a relocated historic building in Maine.

The Nanticoke Valley Historical Society of Maine is hosting a toast to commemorate the anniversary of Schoolhouse No. 4, a one-room establishment built in 1845 that was relocated to Maine 25 years ago after originally residing in Tioga County.

Beginning on June 16 at 5:30 pm, community members will have the chance to tour the schoolhouse free of charge.

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Followed by events such as a flag ceremony, poem recitation, sing-along, and a tree planting by Maine Memorial PTA members.

As an added bonus, viewers can also enjoy a photography exhibit of the buildings history in the Janet W. Bowers Museum across from the schoolhouse.

For more information, visit NanticokeValleyHistoricalSociety.com.

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The State Department announced on Tuesday that several Central American government officials, who the U.S. government says are linked to Cubas medical mission program, will face visa restrictions.

The government officials, who were not named, are responsible for the Cuban medical mission programs, which include elements of forced labor and exploitation of the countrys workers, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

These steps promote accountability for those who support and perpetuate these exploitative practices, Rubio said in a statement on Tuesday. The Cuban labor export program abuses the participants, enriches the corrupt Cuban regime and deprives everyday Cubans of essential medical care that they desperately need in their homeland.

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The restrictions also apply to family members of government officials.

The State Department rolled out additional visa restrictions in late February on any current or former Cuban government official who is responsible or involved in the countrys labor program that sends workers, particularly those in healthcare, overseas.

Cuba continues to profit from the forced labor of its workers and the regimes abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented, Rubio said at the time. Cubas labor export programs, which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cubas overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country.

Cuba has sent doctors around the world for decades. Defectors and human rights advocates have long warned that the program generates revenue for the government by charging for the individuals services, but the medical professionals only end up getting a small portion.

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Last year, the Biden administration accused Cuba of profiting from forced labor, something that the communist nation has long denied.

Our goal is to support the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom and dignity, all while promoting accountability for those who contribute to a forced labor scheme, Rubio said on Tuesday.

Shortly after taking office, President Trump reinstated Cuba on the governments list of state sponsors of terrorism.

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Distribution of farmers market vouchers for seniors will start this week in Centre County following some uncertainty about the timeline due to federal funding delays.

The vouchers, which are offered annually through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, were scheduled to be distributed starting Monday. But when the Centre County Office of Aging didnt receive the vouchers last week, they announced that distribution would be delayed until further notice. The program for income-eligible seniors was affected as federal funding continues to undergo reappropriations, county officials said last week.

Centre County Office of Aging Director Quentin Burchfield said Tuesday that the vouchers arrived sooner than the Department of Agriculture told him they would, meaning that distribution could start as soon as possible.

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We were informed last week that there was going to be a two-week delay on the vouchers because [the department] had to repackage them, because they were sending out less than what they anticipated. As it turns out though, we did get them this week, Burchfield said.

The county only received 5,315 of the 7,000 vouchers requested, Burchfield said, urging residents to not wait until the last minute, to get the first, come, first served vouchers.

Last year, about 100 vouchers were left unused.

Are you eligible? How to get vouchers

Centre County residents who will be 60 years or older by Dec. 31, 2025 can receive up to five vouchers worth $5 each, as long as they have a valid drivers license or ID and meet income eligibility requirements.

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For a one-person household, the minimum income requirement is $28,953; for a two-person household its $39,128; for a three-person household its $49,303; and for a four-person household, its $59,478.

Distributions will take place at the following times and places:

From 10 a.m. to noon, June 4, at the Madisonburg Senior Center

From 9 a.m. to noon, June 5, at the Philipsburg YMCA

From 10 a.m. to noon, June 10, at the Snow Shoe Senior Center

From 10 a.m. to noon, June 12, at the Centre Hall Senior Center

From 9:30-11:30 a.m., June 16, at the Centre Region Senior Center

The vouchers will also be distributed from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Willowbank Building on June 4-6, in rooms 144, 116 and 144 again, respectively.

Those who have questions about about the voucher program in Centre County can call the Office of Aging at 814-355-6716 or visit the programs website.
CHIPPEWA FALLS  The city of Chippewa Falls is once again looking at purchasing street cameras that can read license plates that are credited with stopping crimes, such as locating stolen cars to halting kidnappings.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Ryan Douglas has requested the city purchase several new Flock cameras that can record license plates as vehicles go through the city.

There are no Flock cameras installed in Chippewa County right now, Douglas told the citys public safety committee. Its a camera that faces the road and takes pictures of the road.

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Former Police Chief Matt Kelm requested the city purchase the Flock cameras two years ago, but it didnt pass at that time.

The Flock cameras are somewhat unique in that they not only detect a license plate number, but the software can also detect type of vehicle, color, unique characteristics, etc., Kelm wrote in his fall 2023 budget request. Vehicles entered into a wanted list, based upon their involvement in reported criminal acts, that are detected by the (cameras) will cause a real-time alert to be sent to officers that a vehicle for which law enforcement is looking for drove by one of the cameras within the city.

Roughly 5,000 communities in 42 states are using the Flock cameras, the company states on its website.

Douglas said he is hopeful of getting six to 10 of the cameras that would be placed along major transportation corridors in city limits.

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We would be connected to this nationwide system, he told the committee. The technology has been there for several years. I do think we are behind the curve in not having this technology in our area.

Douglas said Rice Lake, Menomonie and Eau Claire all have these cameras.

Flock cameras have been credited with the arrest of Jose E. Dominguez-Garcia, who killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend and left her body in a suitcase in the town of Wheaton in July 2020. Dominguez-Garcia was arrested in a suburb of Kansas City, Mo., in November 2023 after a Flock camera recognized he was driving a stolen vehicle. Dominguez-Garcia was sentenced last month to serve 25 years in prison. That arrest took place months after Kelm had requested the city obtain the cameras.

It goes into a nationwide database, he said. Weve had crimes and missing persons located out of state.

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The council members on the committee asked Douglas to set up a meeting with the Flock sales team so they can learn more about how the equipment works, but also to ask questions about how privacy matters are handled.

Im torn because I hate the idea of living in 1984, said Councilwoman Heather Martell. But if they are nationwide, how would we handle The Freedom of Information Act?

Douglas said they are still working on creating a policy for sharing data collected by the cameras.

Mayor Jason Hiess said he also is concerned about privacy.

Councilman Scott Sullivan said his vehicle was stolen when he lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., and he quickly reported it. Because that city had Flock cameras, the car was located within an hour and was returned to Sullivan.

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Douglas said he will contact Flock officials and have them come to a future committee meeting to discuss the proposal.

Preparing for the fair

With the Northern Wisconsin State Fair now just a month away, Douglas said his department has ramped up plans for added security.

Douglas said they have increased from having two officers at the fair to six. Also, the fair has its own private security on the grounds.

Were able to staff it by ourselves right now, Douglas said.

It is common for officers at the fairgrounds to use bicycles, allowing them to get quickly across the fair.

Douglas said they did have an officer injured at the fairgrounds last year.
A man has been formally charged in connection with last weekends shooting in Baldwin Park that killed Officer Samuel Riveros and another man and wounded a second officer.

Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, faces two counts of murder, along with other charges, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Tuesday.

The charges include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and the murder of a peace officer. These special circumstances could make Medina-Berumen eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted.

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Hochman said his office will decide at a later date whether to pursue capital punishment.

Officer Riveros left a lasting impact and loved nothing more than putting on the uniform and protecting the community he served, Hochman said. We should never underestimate the dangers that officers face when they report for work, showing up day after day in service of something larger than themselves.

Officer Samuel Riveros as seen in a photo released by the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The murder charges are linked to the Saturday evening gun battle that resulted in the deaths of Riveros, 35, a nine-year veteran of the Baldwin Park Police Department, and 43-year-old Darius Wong, who was a father of two young daughters.

Medina-Berumen is also charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly firing shots at two other Baldwin Park police officers.

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Officers were dispatched at approximately 7:15 p.m. Saturday to the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, on a report of a man with a rifle. Once they arrived, deputies located Wong suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.

Authorities said Wong had just parked his car and was walking to a social gathering when he was shot.

When officers arrived, prosecutors said Medina-Berumen opened fire, killing Riveros and wounding another officer, who was taken to a nearby hospital.

Medina-Berumen was also shot when officers returned fire, the DAs office said.

Darius Wong

Sam was a dedicated officer who represented our department with dignity and honor, said Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. Lopez. In the face of danger, Sam selflessly put the safety of others before his own and gave his life doing so. We will never forget Sam and we will lean on one another in our shared grief as we move forward.

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Medina-Berumens arraignment has not yet been scheduled.

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Gov. Jeff Landry has established a new government efficiency task force to look at ways to cut state government spending. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate, Pool)

Louisiana lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a set of dramatic changes to state ethics laws Wednesday that will make it much more difficult to charge elected officials and public employees with misconduct.



House Bill 674 alters the process the state ethics board used to bring charges against Gov. Jeff Landry two years ago that are still pending.

Landrys charges wont be affected by the legislation, but he pushed for the bill and is expected to let it pass into law. The governors personal attorney, Stephen Gele, helped craft the language contained in it.

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Beyond making it harder to bring ethics charges, the legislation also loosens limits on elected officials and state employees state travel, weakens restrictions on government contracts with public servants and their families, and reduces requirements for elected officials and political candidates disclosure of financial interests.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, said it is a reaction to the ethics boards overzealous enforcement that has frustrated officials in both parties. The anger toward the board was reflected in lawmakers overwhelming support of the bill.



The Louisiana Senate and House voted 34-2 and 92-1, respectively, for the ethics overhaul this week.

The votes came after ethics board members expressed concerns about the bill during their May meeting. Its top staff member, Ethics Administrator David Bordelon, described it as skewing the ethics investigation process in favor of the person accused of wrongdoing.

The states preeminent government watchdog group, the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), also vociferously opposed the legislation.



This is designed to make sure we dont have ethics investigations, PAR President Steven Procopio told lawmakers at a hearing last week.

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The changes to the ethics boards enforcement mechanisms affects a wide range of public servants, lobbyists and government contractors. The incoming laws will apply to every elected officer and public employee in state and local government  from a local librarian to the governor.

The bill becomes law in about three weeks or whenever the governor signs it, whichever comes first.

New barriers to enforcement

Once enacted, the legislation will create a loophole in the law that might allow any public official, government contractor or lobbyist to block ethics investigations by requesting an advisory opinion on their potential misconduct from the ethics board.

The bill prohibits the ethics board from bringing charges based on information that a person includes in their advisory opinion request, which could allow someone to protect themselves against charges by submitting such a document. If the board suspects there was ethical misconduct based on the advisory opinion request, it wont be able to act on it anymore.



The board will also have to reach a higher standard to refer a matter for investigation. It will have to find probable cause, a legal standard that requires the board to have established it is likely a violation has occurred without the investigation being conducted, said Kathleen Allen, the states former ethics administrator who retired in December after 16 years.

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Also, it could open the Board up to litigation challenging its decision to refer a matter to investigation, wrote Allen in a text Wednesday.

The ethics board will have far less time to investigate and decide whether to bring charges in cases. Under current law, the board has a year to act once an investigation is launched. The legislation would add several more steps to that process by allowing the subject of the complaint to object and respond to accusations more often during the boards deliberations.

They are lopping off a couple of months, minimum, ethics board member Alfred Butch Speer, an appointee of former Gov. John Bel Edwards, said at a May meeting.

If [the persons being investigated] drag their feet long enough, then we run out of time, he added.

Governors influence

Once the bill becomes law, the governor will also have significantly more influence over whether charges are ever brought against someone.



The ethics board will now need to vote with a two-thirds majority multiple times in order for an investigation and charges against a person to go forward.



Following changes Landry pushed last year, the governor now controls nine of the 15 votes on the board. This means investigations and charges cant proceed unless four of the governors appointees vote multiple times in favor of them.

Plane travel from political donors

Another portion of Beaullieus legislation targets the issue that got Landry in trouble with the ethics board  private plane travel. It eases restrictions on legislators travel for state business on private planes that political donors or outside organizations provide.

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Legislators were previously only allowed to accept flights on private planes for public speeches if they were traveling within the United States or Canada. Once the new law takes effect, they will be able to accept private plane travel for government business anywhere in North America or the U.S. territories, including locations in the Caribbean, as long as they are making a public speech, participating in a panel discussion or making a media appearance.

More restrictions possible

Lawmakers are also close to passing a second piece of legislation that would place even more limitations on ethics complaints.



House Bill 160 by Rep, Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, R-Denham Springs, would require the identities of people who provide tips to the ethics board to be revealed to the person accused of misconduct, Currently, the board keeps this information confidential.



People who dont pay to produce a sworn complaint  one made under legal oath attesting to the truthfulness of the allegations  would have to deliver their non-sworn complaint to the ethics board staff in person at their office in downtown Baton Rouge, even if they live hundreds of miles away.

Dickerson also wants to limit materials the ethics board can use to launch an investigation and bring charges solely to complaints and reports state agencies or officials produce. Currently, the board also regularly pursues investigations based on media reports.



Dickerson said she is bringing the legislation based on her personal experience with the ethics board, which fined her $1,500 in 2023.

Public employees are prohibited from being paid for outside work by their agency. The ethics board concluded Dickerson, when she was a member of the Livingston Parish School Board, helped a teacher get paid tens of thousands of extra dollars from the high school where he was works for removing trees and doing some light construction work at the school.



Dickerson said she was only reported to the ethics board because she was in a contentious election for her state representative seat that year.

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Its a very chilling process, she said at a legislative hearing Wednesday of the ethics boards deliberations. Its a very derogatory process once the complaint has been made.

Dickersons bill has already passed the House and only needs approval by the Senate and Landry to become law. The legislative session ends June 12.
LOS ANGELES, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A man in connection with a bombing attack last month on a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has been arrested, authorities said on Wednesday.

Daniel Jongyon Park, of Washington State, is facing charges after allegedly providing material support to the Palm Springs fertility clinic bomber by shipping and paying for significant quantities of ammonium nitrate -- an explosive precursor -- prior to the suicidal terror attack, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.

The 32-year-old was arrested Tuesday night shortly after his flight from Poland arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, said the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California in a press release, adding that Park is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists and expected to make his initial appearance on Wednesday in United States District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said in the press release that Park's contribution to the destructive device detonated on May 17 led to the charges.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of Twentynine Palms, California, drove a car containing a bomb to a fertility clinic in Palm Springs on May 17. Bartkus detonated the bomb, killing himself, injuring numerous victims, destroying the fertility clinic's building and damaging surrounding buildings and areas.

Authorities said that Bartkus's attack was motivated by his pro-mortalism, anti-natalism, and anti-pro-life ideology, which is the belief that individuals should not be born without their consent and that non-existence is best.

Park, who shares Bartkus's extremist views, shipped large quantities of explosive precursor materials to Bartkus, including approximately 180 pounds (81.7 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate. Days before the Palm Springs bombing, Park paid for an additional 90 pounds (40.8 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate that was shipped to Bartkus, according to the press release.

If convicted, Park would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. 
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The City of Charleston is monitoring a low-pressure system off the South Carolina coast that could bring heavy rain and potential flooding to the area Wednesday.

Forecasters say high tide is expected at 4 p.m., and the National Weather Service anticipates 1-3 inches of rain across the region, including downtown Charleston, with locally higher amounts possible.

Minor flooding may occur in areas with poor drainage or where heavy rain coincides with peak tide. Travel during the late afternoon and evening may be affected, and drivers are advised to allow extra time and avoid flooded roadways, the city said.

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To prepare for any flooding impacts, the city has activated some of its flood mitigation plan, including offering free parking for residents at two downtown garages.

The garage at the Charleston Tech Center (997 Morrison Drive) and the 99 WestEdge garage (across from the RiverDogs Stadium, not the Publix garage) will open from 2 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Thursday.

Additionally, stormwater management crews are clearing storm drains and setting up temporary pumps in flood-prone areas. Water levels are also being lowered at Colonial Lake to help manage runoff.

Police will place barricades and close any road that sees flooding.

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The city has asked residents to check and clear storm drains near their homes and reminded people to avoid driving through any standing water.

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Key Points

There is a public health alert for some ground beef because of potential contamination with E. Coli.

A recall was not issued because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.

The affected product was shipped to distribution locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland, and Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.







If you recently purchased ground beef from Whole Foods Market, you may want to check the label. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for some ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. Coli.

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The raw ground beef was produced on May 22, 2025, and May 23, 2025, and shipped to distribution locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland, as well as to Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

The affected product carries the establishment number "EST. 4027" inside the USDA mark of inspection label. The packaging details are as follows:

1-lb. vacuum-packed packages of "ORGANIC RANCHER ORGANIC GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN 15% FAT" with "Use or Freeze By 06-19-25" and "Use or Freeze By 06-20-25" stated on the packaging.

According to the USDA, there have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of the affected products. A recall was not issued because the affected products are no longer available for purchase. However, FSIS is concerned that consumers may still have the product in their fridge or freezer.

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E. Coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) following exposure to the organism. Common symptoms include easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output, according to the USDA. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

If you have the product in your fridge or freezer, dispose of it right away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. For questions or concerns regarding the public health alert, you can contact Danny Desautels, NPC Processing, Inc., President, at 802-660-0496 (office), 802-310-7644 (cell), or ddesautels@npcprocessing.com.



Related: FDA Escalates Tomato Recall Over Lethal RiskHere's What to Know

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Chelsea icon Paul Canoville has been hospitalised after his physical health suffered a serious decline.

Canoville, 63, blazed the trail as Chelseas first black player and became a cult hero for the club, making over 100 appearances during the 1980s.

Post-retirement, he has become renowned for his efforts as a campaigner against racism after suffering abuse as a player.

The Paul Canoville Foundation was launched in 2015 with this cause in mind, working to improve the lives of young people in London.

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The Foundation has today come out to reveal a concerning health update about the former winger.

It is with a heavy heart that I share an update on the health of our founder, Paul Canoville, a statement read.

Paul is currently in hospital due to a serious decline in his physical health, which has also taken a significant toll on his mental well-being.

As someone who has overcome extraordinary challenges throughout his life, Paul remains determined - but he now needs time, care, and space to recover.

Paul Canoville has suffered a serious decline in his physical health (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The statement adds that Canoville has not been able to keep up public appearances due to this latest health setback, something which has impacted his income.

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As such, the Foundation has asked for donations to help support both him and the Foundation.

His recent absence from school visits and, most heartbreakingly, the Show Racism the Red Card reception at Downing Street earlier this week, has been deeply upsetting for him, the statement continues.

We also want to prepare friends and supporters that Paul is very unlikely to attend the premiere of the new documentary about his life tomorrow evening (Thursday) at Regent Street Cinema - something he had been immensely looking forward to.

Canoville has been a vocal campaigner against racism and discrimination (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Out of respect for his need to rest and heal, we kindly ask that people refrain from contacting Paul directly at this time.

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Any messages of support can be shared as comments on our social posts and we will ensure Paul sees these once well enough. Pauls regular public appearances are an important part of his income.

While he takes this time away, were asking for donations to help ease that burden and continue the Foundations impactful work.

Thank you for your compassion, your understanding, and your continued support.

You can donate to the Foundation through its JustGiving page.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  Chesapeake residents against a proposed data center got a chance to hear directly from city officials about the project during a meeting Tuesday night.

Planning Commission recommends against Great Bridge data center

The citys quarterly Town Meeting happened at Oscar Smith Middle School, giving city leaders a chance to meet with constituents about any topic.

The hot topic on the minds of many residents from the Great Bridge part of the city is the data center that could be built on 23 acres near Etheridge Manor Boulevard and Centerville Turnpike.

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Why do they want to put this 350,000-square-foot noise machine butting up right against property lines, said Great Bridge resident Dennis Cashman, a Great Bridge resident, said.

Many who live near the proposed location took the opportunity to come to the town meeting with hopes of getting clarity about the project.

Theyre going to hear everybodys concerns, and theyre certainly going to hear our concerns too, since were all part of Chesapeake, Cashman said.

The facility would be Hampton Roads first industrial scale data center. Some say that Virginia is the industrial center capital of the world.

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We do need data centers, Cashman said. Its all about location.

Chesapeakes Planning Commission voted in May not to recommend the project. The proposal is now set to go before City Council at its June 17 meeting, when there will be a final say on whether it will move forward.

Chesapeake has a lot of already zoned industrial sites, Cashman said. Why dont we build it in an existing zoned industrial site?

The plans for this facility came about a year ago.

Resident Lee Damore feels they have been left in the dark about the project because they just learned about it recently.

We residents found out about it a month ago, Damore said. Ive been door knocking [to get the] petition signed [and] Im still getting people giving me deer in the headlights.

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Mayor Rick West told 10 On Your Side outside of the town meeting that the city has heard from a lot of residents about why they dont want this center. He encouraged them to keep sharing their thoughts ahead of the upcoming meeting.

Talk about the facts, talk about your concern, and then listen and be open to the fact that you know Council is going to make a decision, Deamore said. Chesapeake has a council thats always listening to its citizens, and thats who we are.

Residents who are opposed to the data center are having a community meeting about it at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hickory Ruritan Club, at 2752 S. Battlefield Blvd.

10 On Your Side also reached out to the lead developer of the proposed data center for this story and did not receive a response.

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Jun. 41/5

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Joseph Andrew Keffer, 10, of Chesapeake, competes in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (AP Photo  Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

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Joseph Keffer, a Chesapeake fifth grader, is seen at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, where the Scripps National Spelling Bee took place. (Submitted photo)

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Joseph Keffer, of Chesapeake, with his sister, Margaret, on their trip to Washington, D.C., where Joseph took part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Submitted photo)

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Josepeh Keffer competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland. (Screenshot  Submitted)

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Josepeh Keffer competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland. (Submitted)

Makes it to third round of 100th anniversary event

WASHINGTON, D.C.  It was long road getting there, but a Chesapeake student took part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the outskirts of the nation's capital over the weekend.

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Joseph Keffer, who just finished fifth grade, qualified for the event after winning the district bee for southeast Ohio in Athens in the spring.

Prior to that, he won the Lawrence County Spelling Bee in December, for which he qualified by winning his school's bee.

Keffer was one of 243 regional champions to make it nationals.

The Scripps National Bee, which is in its 100th year, took place from May 25-30 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

"It was awesome," Joseph said of his experience. "And I made a lot of friends."

At the national bee, Keffer made it through Round 1, correctly spelling "furan," then succeeded in Round 2.

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He then moved into Round 3, which was a written test to qualify for the event's quarterfinals.

Keffer's mother, Laura, said he came only two points from that threshold.

"He was close," she said, noting that he and those eliminated at that point tied for 100th place overall. "He was 100th in the 100th. Our goal this year was to make it through rounds 1 and 2 and we accomplished that."

The spelling bee is open to fourth through eighth graders and, with three years of eligibility ahead of him, Joseph has the opportunity to try again.

"Oh, yes," he said, when asked if he plans to compete again in the next school year.

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His mother summed up the family's experience.

"Being here for the 100th spelling bee, being at the national spelling bee is something I never dreamed we'd do and it has been very special to be a part of it," Laura Keffer said. "We are very proud of Joseph and what he has accomplished."

Keffer is the third Lawrence County speller to make it to the national bee this century.

Last year, Meredith Dunlap, of Fairland Middle School, competed in the event as a seventh grader. (Dunlap came in second at this year's county and regional bees).

In 2010, Felicity Jenkins, then a sixth grader at Symmes Valley, made the trip to nationals.

The bee capped off a strong year for Keffer. He was also part of the fifth grade Quiz Bowl team, which won the Lawrence County ESC's talented and gifted tournament at the end of the school year, while, a year prior, he was on the winning team for the ESC's Math Pong event.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A South Carolina community college may lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct funding as Chesterfield County leaders are set to vote on a budget Wednesday.

Council members tell Queen City News they have lost confidence in Northeastern Technical Colleges ability to properly spend public dollars following a scathing report from the state inspector general released in late 2024.

That report came after a whistleblower alleged mismanagement and wrongdoing at the college. That complaint raised issues with the schools dual enrollment program, which allowed high school students to take college courses.

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According to the inspector generals report, Northeastern enrolled students who either lacked the required grades or prior coursework. There were even students enrolled without their knowledge or permission. The IG also detailed cases of eighth graders being enrolled. The boosted enrollment numbers led to increases in federal and state funding, which the report showed personally benefited the college president, Dr. Kyle Wagner.

Northeastern Technical College President Dr. Kyle Wagner

Wagners pay went from $139,691 to $201,018 over eight years. The report stated those raises were in part justified by a spike of more than 1600% in dual enrollment.

The inspector general also detailed how the college negligently destroyed files connected to a predominantly black institutions federal grant and could not provide documentation for how it spent $448,614. The report found administrators also wasted tax dollars on travel and other reimbursements and could not provide investigators with the receipts to justify the spending.

All this prompted Chesterfield County Councilman Ethan Foard to call for stripping the school of its annual $375,000 in funding, money that comes directly from county taxpayers.

Chesterfield County Councilman Ethan Foard

I definitely think its our responsibility to hold them accountable for the money that we collect for them, Foard told Queen City News.

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After multiple emails to Dr. Wagner, and a visit to Northeasterns main campus, Wagner would not agree to an on-camera interview. He instead sent a statement saying in part that he did not know county council members were discussing their funding, despite it being discussed during a public meeting back in April.

Wagner said he is prepared to show council documentation of how he claims the college would spend those county tax dollars moving forward. While the inspector generals report mentioned multiple instances of waste and fraud risks, Wagner pointed out that investigators found no instances of criminal activity or fraud. But six months after the report, the college is still working to implement changes.

Full Wagner Statement:

Northeastern Technical College has not been notified of discussions related to our funding with the Chesterfield County Council. To date, we have not received an official request for information. However, it is our understanding that various recipients of County funding made be required to submit proposals outlining how requested funds would be used, but as of this date this has not been requested from the college. In anticipation of potential inquiries, the college has recently prepared detailed documentation outlining the core operational expenses associated with both our Cheraw and Pageland Campuses, which are located within Chesterfield County. Today, we have forwarded that information to each member of Chesterfield County College. With respect to the closed report from the Office of the Inspector General, we would like to clarify that there were no findings of criminal or fraudulent activity. The college is actively implementing the recommendations outlined in the Inspector Generals final report to strengthen our internal processes and enhance transparency. The colleges formal response from December 2024 is currently linked at the bottom of the Table on Contents (page 2) of the IGs report and attached. We remain committed to serving the students and communities of Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Dillon Counties and continuing our work in a fiscally responsible and mission-driven manner.

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In a response to the report, provided by Northeastern, the college challenged the accuracy of the 1600% spike in dual enrollment. The response also argued the presidents salary increased based on state agency recommendations, not enrollment numbers.

As for Chesterfield County, the council plans to hold a budget vote Wednesday that would strip the schools funding. Foard wants to the council fund future projects for the college on a case-by-case basis and requires the administration to account for every dollar the county provides.

If they want to come to the table and have an honest discussion and you know explain things the way they see it and clarify some things off the OIG report, have honest dialogue, Im open for any of that, said Foard.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  The clock is ticking for Chicago on whether to continue a decades-old tax on groceries, or further dig itself into a billion dollar budget deficit.

The states grocery tax will be phased out January 1, but Springfield is pushing the responsibility onto citys and towns instead.

State lawmakers signed off last year on removing a one percent grocery tax as part of the Gov. JB Pritzkers 2025 budget plan. That takes effect on Jan.1.

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But instead of just disappearing, theres now a caveat about what happens going forward.

The city of Chicago will not enact its own grocery tax. The tax already exists. There is a process in which the collection of the grocery tax is now being placed in the responsibility of municipalities. So it was a function the state of Illinois decided to relinquish, leaving it to the cities to collect the tax, said Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday.

What that means is municipalities have the option to keep the tax going, which is something more than 200 of them have already decided to do across Illinois.

Chicago is not amongst them, yet.

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In order to keep collecting that tax, an ordinance needs to be passed and submitted to the state before Oct. 1.

Mayor Johnson and his budget team spoke favourably Tuesday about keeping the grocery tax in place going forward. Other city leaders adding to that Tuesday morning, saying this is a case of billionaire budgeting, and passing the buck to people on day to day blocks.

The one-percent tax on groceries was enacted back in 1990. It was suspended during Covid and reinstated in 2023.

The following year it was removed under the governors 2025 budget to help ease financial burdens on families, but leaving it optional for local governments to continue. A decision Chicago has to make by Oct. 1.

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The Illinois Municipal League estimates discontinuation of the levy would cost Chicago of between $60 and $80 million of revenue for the 2026 fiscal year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.






NEED TO KNOW

Three young children, ages 1, 3 and 5, were allegedly stabbed by their mother, police said

A tow truck driver took them to a local hospital, where they were listed in serious condition

Aurionah-Rakii-Karie Parker-White, 23, of Chicago, is charged with three counts of attempted murder







A Chicago mother is facing criminal charges in connection with allegations that she stabbed her three young children, police said.

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On Wednesday, May 28, at about 5:45 p.m., a tow truck driver pulled over on South Harvard Avenue the moment he spotted a 1-year-old in the street wearing a blood-covered diaper, Chicago police said, per the Chicago Sun-Times.

The driver then saw Aurionah-Rakii-Karie Parker-White, 23, run out of her apartment building.

"She kept screaming like, 'I need help! Help me! My baby! the driver, DeVaughen Stringfellow, said, CBS News reports.

I called the police, he said. They didn't come. So, at first, I wasn't going to put them in my truck with the blood  but I threw them all in the truck."

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Like the baby, Parker-Whites two older children, 3 and 5, were bleeding from their wrists, police said. Stringfellow then took the three children and their mother to a nearby hospital.

They were later transferred to the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, where they were listed in serious condition.

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Parker-Whites 5-year-old son allegedly told hospital staff his mother had tried to kill him and his siblings.

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The boy told staff that his mother was going to make them go to heaven, prosecutors said Saturday, May 31, NBC Chicago reports.

She was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery to a child.

Prosecutors say Parker-White allegedly admitted on video that she stabbed the children, saying that it was wrong, according to NBC Chicago. They say she said taking care of the children by herself has been stressful and that she wanted to kill herself and kill her kids.

Parker-White is being held at Cook County Jail while she awaits her next hearing on Friday, June 6.

It is unclear whether she has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf.



Read the original article on People
CHICAGO (WGN)  Chicago public officials are raising concerns about whether warrants are being issued and due process is being followed after apparent federal immigration raids in Pilsen.

The arresting video, viral on social media, captured whats believed to be federal law enforcement taking two people into custody Monday morning in Pilsen.

On Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson questioned the legality of the arrests and whether warrants had been issued before the raid.

PREVIOUS: Community outraged as ICE raid sparks questions in Pilsen

These incidents that are happening around the country, theyre disturbing, Johnson said. You know the 5th and 14th Amendments have laid out a due process, and I believe that its important that we hold the constitutionality of our nations laws.

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Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) confirmed that the men detained are Mexican citizens and confirmed an online post on June 3 that when agents showed up in Little Village again on Tuesday, activists chased them away.

We are right now investigating the reason why those neighbors have been detained without a warrant, Sigcho-Lopez said.

The Pilsen community was enraged after an alleged ICE raid in the Southwest Side neighborhood Monday morning. (Photo courtesy of Lizette Garza)

Addressing the incident, Beatrice Ponce de Leon, deputy mayor of immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights for the City of Chicago, said that due process is a right that all individuals have.

We should be able to maintain that in this country, Ponce de Leon said.

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The head of Chicagos immigrant rights office added that the intermittent raids are having a chilling effect on business and life in predominantly immigrant communities in Chicago, such as 26th Street in Little Village, which is among the top sales tax corridors in the city.

This is bringing instability, bringing fear, uncertainty into communities, and people are starting to react and perhaps, go back into the shadows and not be able to go freely to work or send their children to school, Ponce de Leon added.

Johnson said he remains troubled by news of interactions, encounters, or alleged raids that do not adhere to the rule of law.

Thats not the type of nation that weve worked hard to secure, the mayor said.

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Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Illinois Congressman Jesus Chuy Garcias office is now looking into Mondays arrests due to questions of warrants and due process.

Congressman Garcias office tells me it is not getting any cooperation from federal agencies about Mondays arrests. The city has established a website for individuals with questions regarding current immigration issues.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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  After months of talks, a local union representing Chicopees administrative and other municipal employees went public this week with unhappiness over the state of collective bargaining.

Crystal Bouchie, a representative with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459, said the team negotiating for the city is not showing itself to be receptive to the unions demands.

A primary problem for members of the local, she said, is that health insurance rates have recently skyrocketed.

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Our employees who are on a family plan are paying between $400 and $1,000 per month, she said. This contract is make or break for many of these employees.

The citys bargaining team says it is hearing the unions case, Bouchie said. But theyre not listening.

On Tuesday night, employees took to City Hall, right before a City Council meeting, to demand what members term a livable wage.

Jack St. Clair, the citys attorney and lead negotiator for the city, did not respond to a phone request for comment.

When reached for a comment Wednesday, Mayor John Vieau said in an emailed statement that he values municipal employees.

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Throughout the collective bargaining process, we have remained committed to negotiating in good faith and are fully confident in our decisions to negotiate a fair offer, he said.

Bouchie disagrees that the city has been receptive to the employees asks.

Bouchie said the union has been bargaining with the city over employees contracts since October; it has only been discussing wages since the beginning of February.

Its frustrating that nothing seems palatable to them, she said.

In addition to the contract negotiations, Bouchie said most non-administrative employees require a commercial drivers license, which are costly depending on the level. The higher the level  which would allow employees to carry more weight on their vehicles  the more expensive the license is, costing upwards of $5,000, she said.

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Some of the other jobs require degrees, and with the cost of living being so high, thats just not feasible to obtain, she said.

Vieau, the mayor, said the union and city officials will likely be entering a period of mediation to reach an agreement between all parties.

Our focus remains on achieving a balanced agreement that serves the best interests of our employees, residents, and the community as a whole, he said in the statement.

Were not asking for the moon. We just want to bring something back for our workers, Bouchie said.

more news from Western Massachusetts

Read the original article on MassLive.
NEW YORK, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Education sent a warning to the accreditor of Columbia University on Wednesday, accusing that the Ivy League institution violated federal anti-discrimination laws.

A press release posted on the department's official website on Wednesday said that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) notified the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that its member institution, Columbia University, is in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws and therefore fails to meet the standards for accreditation set by the commission.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the release that "After Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia University's leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus. This is not only immoral, but also unlawful."

"We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbia's compliance with accreditation standards including compliance with federal civil rights laws," McMahon said.

On Feb. 3, 2025, OCR initiated a directed investigation of Columbia University to examine whether the university discriminated against, enabled the harassment of, or tolerated violence against students and faculty on the basis of their Jewish ancestry in violation of Title VI and its implementing regulations.

According to the release, Columbia is accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin. 
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  The stadium package for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals has cleared its first hurdle in the Special Session of the Missouri Legislature. A State Senate Committee passed the vote 6-3 Tuesday.

A last-minute change on Monday made it easier for the Fiscal Oversight Committee to pass Senate Bill (SB) 3, one of the proposals read Monday that would try to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.

See the latest forecast, maps and radar for Kansas City

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The bills sponsor, Republican State Senator Kurtis Gregory of Saline County and Marshall was put on the committee Monday. The move ensured one of the five votes was there to pass it out of committee.

After the vote Tuesday, Gregory talked about Republican State Senate President Cindy OLaughlin of Shelby County, Missouri and Shelbina.

That was the President Pro Tems decision, Gregory said when asked if he was put on the committee just to make sure the stadium bill passed. Her and I have talked a lot. Ive asked questions, What do we have to do to get this done? She called one day and [said], Youre going to be on this committee. I said, Okay, thats great. I serve at the bequest of the President Pro Tem just like House members serve at the bequest of the Speaker of the House.

A number of people testified in support of Senate Bill 3, which would allow the state to cover up to 50% of the stadium costs for the Chiefs and the Royals.

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Rich AuBuchon is a lobbyist representing the Chiefs, testified in support of the team renovating GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. He alluded that if the team stayed in Missouri, theyd renovate the current stadium renovate.

It is a plan that costs $1.15 billion for the Chiefs as of today, AuBuchon said to the committee.

At the end of February of 2024, FOX4 told you the renovation plan at the stadium called for the project to cost $800 million. The Hunt family, was supposed to put in $300 million of that, but the April sales tax vote in Jackson County failed that year.

Aubuchon also said if the team stays in Missouri, theyd stay for 30 years, another difference from the just 25 year guarantee they had for the April 2024 vote.

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Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Reardon spoke in favor of the senate bill. SB3 would allow the teams to bond up to the amount in state tax revenue that they generated in the year prior to the application.

Keep being kind: Kansas City bartenders act of kindness saves womans life

The only person to testify against the package Tuesday was the Show-Me Institutes Patrick Tuohey. He told committee members the Chiefs and the Royals are pitting Kansas and Missouri leaders against one another.

Monday, OLaughlin told FOX4 that the full Senate debate on the stadium package would take place Wednesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Veterinarians warned rattlesnakes and dogs shouldn't be friends after an incident sent a Chihuahua to a Gilbert hospital.

Twelve-year-old Murphy was bitten by a venomous rattlesnake in April 2025, according to Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center in Gilbert.

Murphy was enjoying some outside time in his Gold Canyon backyard when his owner realized a rattlesnake had bitten the dog on the right side of his face.

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His face quickly began to swell, and Murphy's owner took him to the animal hospital, where he was treated and received antivenom.

Murphy responded well and went home with his owner the next day, according to the veterinary hospital in a news release.

"Dogs are at an elevated risk for rattlesnake bites because of their curious nature, said Dr. Coyne Hopey, emergency and critical care resident at the animal hospital. "If your pet is bitten by a rattlesnake, immediate medical attention is critical. Severe or life-threatening symptoms may occur immediately after the bite or within a couple of hours."

Murphy the Chihuahua, 12, was treated for a rattlesnake bite in April 2025 at the Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center in Gilbert after being bitten at his home in Gold Canyon.

How to keep your dog safe from rattlesnakes

Snake bites for dogs are life-threatening, painful and typically require numerous visits to a vet to treat, according to the hospital.

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Pet owners should take precautions to prevent a snakebite in the first place, such as keeping a short leash on a dog when walking in areas prone to snakes, the animal hospital said.

Avoiding many of those areas altogether, such as dense brush, rocky and grassy areas, is an even better practice, said the animal hospital.

If a rattlesnake is spotted, calmly back away until out of the snake's striking distance, about the length of the snake's body, according to the veterinary hospital.

Immediate symptoms for pets included swelling, restlessness, panting or drooling. Severe symptoms could include lethargy, weakness, muscle tremors, diarrhea, seizure and slowed or difficult breathing, the animal hospital said.

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If a dog is bitten, carry the dog to a vehicle and limit it from moving, as it will prevent the spread of the venom, according to the animal hospital.

How should humans deal with rattlesnake bites?

Rattlesnakes typically want nothing to do with humans, but it is important to stay prepared in case of a run-in.

Dr. Frank LoVecchio, medical toxicologist at Valleywise Health, recommended the following steps when dealing with a rattlesnake bite:

Remove any close-fitting or tight items. The bite area will begin to swell as the snake's venom begins trying to digest blood, tissue, and muscles.

Do not move the bite area. The more it moves, the worse it hurts.

Elevate the affected body part to prevent the venom from pooling in one part of the body.

Go to the hospital immediately. Call ahead to make sure the facility has antivenom.

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Call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-221-1222 for further guidance.

Recent rattlesnake bites in Arizona

Cara Reed, 2 years old, is recovering in the hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake twice May 16, 2025.

A toddler was bitten twice on the foot by a rattlesnake at her home in Florence on May 16.

Fifteen-month-old Clara Reed was airlifted to the hospital, where 30 vials of antivenom were administered, and she was placed on a breathing tube until May 19.

Doctors removed the entire top of her foot and part of two of her toes, according to a GoFundMe set up to aid the family and provide updates on Reed's recovery. Reed's skin graft surgery was scheduled for June 16, the GoFundMe said.

In 2024, the state poison center reported a 4% increase in the number of rattlesnake bites, totaling 182 bites. The number of cases peaked during August and September, the poison center said.

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Of the 182 reported bites in 2024, 107 cases were reported in Pima County, 22 were reported in Cochise County and 12 in Mohave County. Zero cases were reported in Maricopa County, despite having the largest population in the state.

The Republic's Mary Jo Pitzl contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dog bitten in the face by a rattlesnake; taken to Gilbert hospital
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A 5-year-old child is hospitalized in critical condition after a suspected OVI crash at the intersection of South Main and East Stewart streets.

According to the Dayton Police Department, crews were dispatched to an injury crash around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3.

Police say their initial investigation found that a Ford F-150 Tremor was heading south on Main Street. Officials said the driver ran a red light and then crashed into the rear drivers side of a Honda Odyssey heading east on Stewart Street.

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Officials said the F-150 then crashed into a Toyota RAV4, which was approaching the stoplight north on Main Street.

Man injured in shooting at DeSoto Bass apartments on Monday

The Odyssey had two occupants besides the driver: a 9-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl. All were taken by medics to nearby hospitals. As of Wednesday, the girl is currently in critical condition. The other two people have non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the F-150 was the only person in the vehicle and wasnt taken to a hospital.

None of the three people in the RAV4 were hospitalized.

Officials suspect the cause of the crash is OVI.

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Detectives from the Dayton Police Departments Traffic Services Unit are actively investigating the crash.

2 NEWS will update this article when more information is available.

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BEIJING (Reuters) -China's commerce minister has called on the World Trade Organisation to strengthen supervision over unilateral tariffs, and put forward objective and neutral policy proposals, the ministry said on Wednesday.

At a WTO ministerial meeting in France, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reiterated China's stance on upholding a multilateral trading system and said WTO has the country's backing for a more important role in global economic governance.

Wang also met with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and had a "pragmatic and frank" discussion with his Canadian counterpart.

(Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue)
BEIJING (Reuters) -The United States, in its commemoration of the Tiananmen protests in 1989, "distorted" historical facts and attacked China's political system, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

China has lodged a complaint to the U.S. side, Lin Jian, spokesperson at the Chinese ministry, said at a regular news conference.

Chinese tanks rolled into the square on June 4, 1989, and troops opened fire to end pro-democracy demonstrations. The Communist Party has never released a death toll, though rights groups and witnesses say the figure could run into the thousands.

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"Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.

"The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget," he said.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
China is drawing up plans to order hundreds of Airbus planes as Xi Jinping seeks to build closer ties with Europe.

Beijing is in talks with the European aerospace giant to order up to 500 jets against the backdrop of the trade war with the US.

If completed, the order could be announced at a summit in the Chinese capital next month where Xi will host Friedrich Merz, the new German chancellor, and Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, as first reported by Bloomberg.

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Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, the EU Council chief, are also expected to attend in a sign of the blocs increased willingness to forge a closer relationship with China.

It comes amid heightened trade tensions between China and the US, with Beijing recently banning its airlines from buying jets from Boeing. That followed Donald Trumps decision to impose aggressive tariffs on China.

The potential 500-plane deal between China and Airbus would pile further pressure on Boeing, which has battled to rebuild its reputation after one of its doors blew out last year.

Chinas C919, a rival to the 737 developed by local plane maker Comac, has won only a handful of export deals - Getty Images/AFP

The proposed agreement would be one of the largest single orders of commercial aircraft ever. The current record is held by Indian airline IndiGo, which ordered 500 Airbus planes in 2023.

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It would likely be Chinas largest order ever too, overtaking the $37bn (27bn) spent on 300 Airbus jets three years ago.

The deal highlights Chinas lingering dependence on imported planes despite its attempts to build up its own aerospace industry.

The C919, a rival to the 737 developed by local plane maker Comac, has won only a handful of export deals.

Boeing has what it calls a completion and delivery centre in China but no actual production line there.

That is in contrast to Airbus, which operates two final assembly lines for narrow-body jets in the city of Tianjin, 70 miles from Beijing.

China has long sought to limit its trade with Boeing, notably becoming the first country in the world to ground its 737 Max planes in the wake of two deadly crashes involving the jets in 2019.

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It was also one of the last to allow the plane to re-enter service, which led some Chinese airlines to abandon orders.

Airbus declined to comment.

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Credit: Telegram/ Milinfolive

Russia has been using a Chinese-made laser to shoot down Ukrainian drones despite persistent claims from Beijing that it is not offering military support to Moscow.

New footage shows Russian troops operating the Silent Hunter low-altitude laser defence system, and taking out Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) nearly a mile away.

The weapon would be one of the most significant and sophisticated pieces of equipment that Russia has obtained from China during the three-year war on Ukraine.

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Designed to search for, track and take down enemy drones, the laser can be mounted on top of an SUV and operated from within the vehicle.

From there, it can detect targets 3.1 miles away, blind them at two miles away and shoot them down when they are a mile out.

The 30-kilowatt laser can pierce a 5mm-thick steel plate 1,000m away. It takes just eight seconds between locking onto a target and bringing it down.

In a video shared on Russian Telegram channels, the laser is seen slowly emerging from a camouflage net before shooting towards a steel plate in the distance and piercing it with several holes.

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The video continues with a split screen of the laser shooting down Ukrainian UAVs.

Ukraines Vodohrai Telegram channel claimed the drones in the footage were a Shchedryk-type UAV, a Skywalker X8 and a decoy drone known as the Distractor.

The footage suggests the drones were shot down from distances greater than 0.8 miles, according to Ukrainian military news outlet Militarnyi.

The report also claimed the laser is being operated by a mobile air defence team within the Kochevnik special operations group and has been in use in Russia since at least October last year.

The Silent Hunter was developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and was first put into operation during the G20 summit in Hangzhou, a city in eastern China, in 2016.

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The system includes radar and an optical station for detection, tracking and targeting.

An updated version was revealed in 2024 with an extended hard kill range of 3.7 miles and a soft kill range  the distance needed to blind or interfere  of 6.2 miles.

The cost of operating laser weapons is typically less than 10 per shot, which makes them low-cost alternatives to missiles for certain tasks.

In comparison, the British Sea Viper missiles that were shot from HMS Diamond in the Red Sea to take down the Iranian-backed Houthis drones and missiles cost roughly 1 million each.

The Silent Hunter mounted on top of a military vehicle

Along with Russia, the Silent Hunter is known to be in use in Saudi Arabia and in Iran.

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Saudi Arabia has previously deployed the laser system against reconnaissance UAVs used by the Houthi militia in Yemen.

Houthis have Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, which are the same as the ones that Russia has used against Ukraine.

The Silent Hunter was also spotted in Iran in late 2024 during a public sermon by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Its unclear how many of the laser systems China has manufactured and sold over the years, but so far only one has been reported in use by Russia, becoming the latest in a long list of Chinese equipment allegedly used by Moscow.

In April, two Chinese soldiers were captured in Ukraine fighting alongside Russian forces.

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Western intelligence sources said it was unlikely the soldiers were sent directly by China. Russia routinely recruits foreign nationals into its armed forces through irregular means.

In any case, Volodymyr Zelensky said: Russias involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war. He is looking for ways to continue fighting.

The US called the capture of Chinese citizens fighting for Russia disturbing.

Mr Zelensky further accused China of supplying Russia with weapons and gunpowder.

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A month later, Oleh Ivashchenko, the head of Ukraines intelligence service, said that Ukraine could confirm that China was providing important materials and equipment to 20 Russian military factories.

According to the agency, at least 80 per cent of the electronics used in Russian drones originated from China. This assessment was backed up by the US state department, which said: China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine. China provides nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war.

Beijing denied allegations that it sent weapons and gunpowder, claiming that China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and strictly controls dual-use items.

The foreign ministry refused to respond to questions over the phone about Russias use of the Silent Hunter, instead referring The Telegraph to its daily in-person press conference.

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Britain is developing its own laser weapon. The DragonFire system is scheduled to be installed on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers starting in 2027.

Although the range of the DragonFire is classified, it can engage with any visible target. The precision is equivalent to hitting a pound coin from a kilometre away.

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Federal agents arrested two Chinese researchers for smuggling a fungus into the U.S. that requires a permit. Zunyong Liu was coming to the U.S. to visit his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, who worked at a research lab at the University of Michigan when he was caught with four samples of Fusarium graminearum. A federal investigation found this wasnt the first time theyd done so.

Two Chinese researchers have been charged with multiple federal crimes as part of a monthslong plan to smuggle a biological pathogen into the U.S. that investigators referred to as a potential agroterrorism weapon, according to recently unsealed federal-court filings.

Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China was apprehended in July 2024 at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, smuggling in a fungus known as Fusarium graminearum, with his girlfriend Yunqing Jian, 33, who is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. Fusarium graminearum can cause severe diseases in plants such as wheat, barley, oats, and maize.

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Customs and Border Protection agents found four plastic bags with small clumps of reddish plant material that later turned out to be Fusarium graminearum, as well as a small piece of filter paper with markings indicating it contained samples of different substances, and a note written in Mandarin, all stuffed inside a wad of crumpled-up tissues crammed into a small pocket of Lius backpack. During questioning, Liu originally said he knew nothing of the samples, suggesting they may have been placed into his bag by someone else. When asked why someone would put them into his bag, he replied he didnt know, according to the court filings. Liu later changed his story, admitting to law enforcement officials he planned to clone the samples of Fusarium graminearum at the University of Michigan Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory where Jian worked.

The officers then went through Lius MacBook and two iPhones and found a series of exchanges with Jian, in which they discussed how to get the Fusarium graminearum through customs. On one of Lius iPhones, CBP officers found an article titled 2018 Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions that specifically mentioned Fusarium graminearum.

CBP and the FBIs Detroit Field Office, which conducted the operation investigation, did not respond to requests for comment. The University of Michigan released a statement saying it would cooperate with law enforcement and strongly condemn[ed] any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the universitys critical public mission. The university also specified it had never received funding from the Chinese government related to Jians research.

Fusarium graminearum can cause head blight in plants

Biological pathogens, especially those from overseas, are heavily controlled substances by U.S. customs enforcement because of the risk they pose to crops and people.

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The fact theyre bringing a plant pathogen across international borders is serious, said Eric Olson, a professor of wheat breeding and genetics at Michigan State University.

This is so serious. You cant do that.

Fusarium graminearum is a type of fungus that, if left unchecked, can cause a deadly plant disease known as head blight, which can decimate crop yields, said Gary Bergstrom, professor of plant pathology at Cornell University, who has studied Fusarium graminearum for 40 years.

Despite the problems it can cause, Fusarium graminearum is controlled by regular inspections throughout the food chain and by use of fungicides. However, a foreign strain introduced to the U.S. could be more virulent and leave crops with no immunity to it defenseless, experts told Fortune.

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You could be introducing a strain from outside that is maybe one with resistance to the fungicides we use here, Bergstrom said. The chances of that are probably small, but theyre not zero.

Contaminated grains and flour made from them also pose a risk to humans. The fungal toxins from Fusarium graminearum can cause severe vomiting and liver damage. The sort of slang term is vomit-toxin, Olson said.

A history of smuggling pathogens into the U.S.

As federal agents from the CBP and the FBI continued their investigations, they found evidence that this was not the first time Liu and Jian had planned to bring Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. In February of this year, federal agents questioned Jian over the matter. She, too, denied knowing any knowledge of alleged efforts to bring Fusarium graminearum into the U.S.

WeChat messages from August 2022 found on their phones indicated Jian had smuggled the fungus around that time. In a text conversation between the two, Jian told Liu she had hidden a plastic baggie containing Fusarium graminearum in her shoes when arriving at San Francisco International Airport. I stuffed them in the shoes, Jian wrote.

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Other messages found on Jians phone showed extensive planning between herself and an individual named Xia Chen in messages dating back to January 15. In these messages, Jian instructed Chen on which biological samples to send her and how to do so without getting caught shipping them into the U.S. Jian told Chen to place the samples on cut-up pieces of filter paper, place them into a plastic bag, and then finally hide the bag in a thick book to be mailed to her.

There are usually no problems, Jian wrote to Chen according to messages included in the court filings. Rest assured. I have mailed these before.

The package Chen sent was apprehended by a CBP office in Louisville, Kentucky. Inside was an old statistics textbook containing 15 pieces of parchment paper with unknown biological substances that were subsequently destroyed, according to the filing.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
At the end of last year, a Chinese citizen, who also resided in Brooklyn, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Oklahoma. His co-conspirator was also sentenced to 120 months.

U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced that on June 6, 2023, a federal grand jury charged Jeff Weng and co-defendant Tong Lin with conspiracy to possess marijuana plants with intent to distribute. On Jan. 18, 2024, after a two-day trial, a federal jury deliberated about an hour before it found Weng and Lin guilty of drug conspiracy.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, along with assistance from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, states Troesters announcement. It is also a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation.

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Phil Bacharach, director of Communications in the Oklahoma Attorney Generals office, said that shortly before 2023, there were more than 12,000 licensed marijuana grows in Oklahoma.

Now, there are fewer than 2,800. We do believe a large part of the success in eradicating illegal marijuana grows is the Attorney General Offices Organized Crime Task Force, which AG [Gentner] Drummond established, and its partnerships with federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement, Bacharach said. Since the OCTF formation, that work has resulted in 30 indictments, 49 arrests and the confiscation of nearly 227,000 marijuana plants  nearly 110,000 pounds.

In response to TDPs question as to whether most of the operations are from elsewhere, Bacharach said the OCTF investigators are finding that much of the control and direction of these illegal marijuana grows are coming from out of state.

We credit tips and the OMMA both, Bacharach said. It is worth noting that people can register anonymous tips with the AGs office at https://oklahoma.gov/oag/complaints-tiplines/tiplines.html, Bacharach said.

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He said the cases are all very different, and some multilayered cases can take nearly two years just to fully investigate.

Many of the workers we find are illegal immigrants, but often it is not clear whether they know they are part of an illegal marijuana grow operation, Bacharach said.

District Attorney Jack Thorp, District 27, said his office does not know if there are Chinese operations in the Cherokee County area.

Part of that is a good chunk of that work is being handled by the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Organized Crime Unit and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics unit, Thorp said. When they get a target, they tell us and we get involved.

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Thorp said that in the past, his office has worked on the cases deed-to-deed, but since the AG office put the task force together, his office has stepped back and the AGs office has taken the lead.

We set a specific search parameter and searched actual land deals and deeds that appeared to be potentially suspicious during the initial phase of medical marijuana, Thorp said. Through that process, we believe we identified 63 illegal grows in Cherokee County.

Thorps office works hand-in-hand with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority for information on permitting of operations.

There was an operation we were doing about four years ago, where we positioned a person in the OMMA office just to make sure, because these operators were switching these licenses back and forth so fast, Thorp said. And just as we were getting ready to hit, the license had shifted to a different person.

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What has happened from those days to now is more cooperation between the OBN and OMMA, and they have dual licensing requirements, Thorp said.

You have to have an OBN license and an OMMA license in order to have these operations, Thorp said. There has to be certain inspections made and there is some true tracking from seed-to-sell, when people do it correctly.

Before those agencies were working together, one agency would have to be checked with and then the other, Thorp said.

Thorp said a lot of legislation has been written and passed over the past couple of years on the legal issues of grow operations.

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From the beginning of the legalization  the quote from the Colorado Narcotics investigators that came down and did some of the initial training was, Oklahoma was the wild, wild West as it related to marijuana, Thorp said. We were growing 10 times more than we could ever supply to all of the licensed dispensaries.

Well over half of the grow operations are out of business since the startup of the task force, Thorp said.

There was a situation where a couple of lawyers were investigated and ultimately charged for setting up straw-person operations, Thorp said.

Thorp responded to a question from TDP, as to whether there have been any Chinese operations in his district.

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Im sure there was, yes. I was thinking back on the one we were about to hit  it was Hmong, Thorp said. Weve had allegations and investigations into a large Bulgarian group that has been our focus of investigation that I cant get into because its an ongoing investigation.

Thorps new first assistant district attorney, Rick Incremona, was the Eastern Oklahoma prosecutor for some organized crime cases.

So he had quite a bit of information, Thorp said. We had a pending case in Wagoner involving him as a prosecutor and there are some cases in Muskogee, Ottawa and LeFlore counties, but none in Cherokee, Adair or Sequoyah counties.

Porsha Riley, director of communications with OMMA, said OMMA agents are assigned to the AGs OCTF, and play an active role in combating marijuana-related criminal activity.

We collaborate closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to strengthen enforcement efforts, Riley said.
Picnic in the field with berries, juice, cheese, sausage and sweet croissants. (liuntova (123RF))



Despite being a somewhat picky eater, I still enjoy eating delicious food when on vacation! Back in the day, I painstakingly researched the best restaurants and saved them to my Tripadvisor or Pinterest lists. However, over the years, Ive eased up on the obsessive planning and opted to find restaurants in the moment. Sometimes it works out well; sometimes we pick the next closest spot to avoid my hangry outbursts. (I dont know why my husband still travels with me.) One saving grace has been food tours.

On food tours, we just show up and a local guide takes us to a variety of spots, and we try delicious, local specialties. Over the course of our four years in Europe, we have been on some fantastic food tours that I would like to share with you. Click on the links in the names to learn more about booking these food tours.

Fika Tour in Stockholm

Fika is the beautiful Swedish tradition that makes the seemingly mundane coffee break into a social ritual of enjoying a coffee and a sweet snack with friends or family. We booked a fika tour in Stockholm and ended up with a private tour. Our guide took us to a bunch of adorable cafes that we would not have found on our own. We tried the infamous salty licorice (definitely not my favorite), the Swedish classic cardamom buns and ice cream. The stroll around Stockholm with stops to pause and enjoy tasty treats was a day well spent!

Tapas in Barcelona

When visiting Spain, you must eat tapas! But where??? Booking the tapas tour while visiting Barcelona took the guesswork out of that question. Our small group ventured to a variety of stops where we tried things like vermouth, Manchego cheese, crochets and, for my Southern friends, fried green tomatoes. The latter was my favorite bite of the tour!

Fried Green Tomatoes with breading flaking off tomatoes (Kristen Thoennes)



Tallinn Food Tour

While stopped in Tallinn during a Baltic cruise, we booked a food tour to get a taste of the country we were visiting for the first time. I 100 percent recommend! The first bite of the tour was one of my favorites: lamb dumplings served with a cream made of garlic oil and sour cream.

We also tried Sea Buckhorn juice, uniquely Estonian chocolate combinations, mini pancakes and locally brewed beer and cider. My mouth is watering just thinking about this tour!

Cyprus Wine Tour: Troodos Vino Venture

While visiting Cyprus, we opted not to rent a car and traveled by foot or ride share around Paphos. We booked the Cyprus Wine Tour partly because it included transportation up to the mountains. They picked us up right from our hotel (highly recommend Amavi MadeforTwo if youre traveling without kids. The hotel property is gorgeous, and the service is phenomenal!).

We were whisked away with our small group of travelers to a variety of wineries and concluded with a meze lunch. The guide made it extra special for me. We were traveling to Cyprus for my birthday and during the meze lunch she had arranged for the restaurant to bring out a birthday cake. It was a very sweet gesture and a delicious way to finish up our tour!

Pastries on white floral-printed plates next to a cup of coffee with spoon (Kristen Thoennes)



Taste of Prague

This was one of our first European food tours and was taken while Europe was still experiencing low numbers of tourists, so we ended up with a private tour! I took absolutely zero pictures during this tour, so its harder to remember all the delicious things we tried, but I took a few notes. We, of course, tried Czech beer at the local beer hall.

One restaurant was in an old bank and had the best atmosphere and delicious food. The last stop was a place doing it allcoffee roastery, bakery, restaurant and gin distillery. The extra benefit from this tour is that they provided a complete Prague guide at the end, so we could have other recommendations for visiting the city.

There is a ton of new and delicious foods to try on your travels throughout Europe! If you want to make it easy, I recommend food tours. Youll find delicious spots and meet new and interesting people along the way. Bon appetite!
BLOUNT COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A recent Blount County undercover operation to catch online predators landed two men behind bars.

The Blount County Sheriffs Office arrested Chase Andrew Abercrombie and Kody Ray Smith. Investigators said they were working with Chris Hansen. He hosts Takedown with Chris Hansen and was the face of To Catch a Predator.

Abercrombie and Smith were charged with human trafficking, electronic solicitation, sex offenses involving minors and traveling to meet a child to perform a sexual act.

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Woman found dead outside Birmingham residence

The men thought they were speaking with an underage child online. When they arrived at a sting house, however, deputies met them. Hansen said he found one detail of the sting disturbing.

What surprises me about this particular sting is that one of the men, who is 30 years old, Kody Ray Smith, had just gotten married two weeks before he showed up at the sting house to try to sexually exploit, allegedly, a 15-year-old girl, Hansen said.

Abercrombie posted bond, while Smith was in custody as of Tuesday.

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MADISON - The field is taking shape for next year's Wisconsin Supreme Court election with liberal state Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor launching her bid to unseat conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley in the spring 2026 election.

While state Supreme Court races are officially nonpartisan, justices on the court typically lean liberal or conservative. In recent years, the race has become increasingly polarized, with partisan groups continuing to back their party's preferred candidate.

Liberal candidates have won four of the last five Supreme Court elections. In 2023, the court flipped to a liberal majority for the first time in at least 15 years with the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz.

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Justice-elect Susan Crawford's victory over conservative Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel in the April 1 election cemented the court's 4-3 liberal majority through 2028, during which the court is considering issues including abortion and union rights.

Here's what to know about Taylor, including her legal system experience, positions on key issues, education and more.

What is Chris Taylor's job?

Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor will challenge Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley in the 2026 election.

Taylor has served as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for District IV, headquartered in Madison, since 2023. Her term expires July 31, 2029, according to the court's website.

Over the course of her 30-year legal career, Taylor said she has worked to make sure "the law is used to protect Wisconsinites, their rights and freedoms."

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Before Gov. Tony Evers appointed Taylor to the Dane County Circuit Court in 2020, she served in the state Legislature, where she was known as one of the most liberal members.

Taylor also worked as a private practice attorney in Milwaukee and Madison from 1996 to 2002 before becoming a public policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

How old is Chris Taylor?

Taylor is 57.

Where is Chris Taylor from?

Taylor lives in Madison with her husband, James Feldman, and their two sons. She grew up in Los Angeles.

Where did Chris Taylor go to college and law school?

Taylor received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990. She then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1995.

Who has endorsed Chris Taylor?

Taylor's campaign has officially been endorsed by the liberal majority, Justices Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz. Crawford also endorsed Taylor.

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Having served alongside Judge Taylor on the Circuit Court, I know she cares deeply about the people of Wisconsin and is dedicated to making sure that our justice system protects their fundamental rights," Crawford said in a statement on May 21.

What is Chris Taylor's stance on abortion rights?

Taylor served as a public policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin before joining the state Assembly in 2011. She said whether she would recuse herself from cases involving the organization would depend on the case.

"I would not categorically say because I worked for Planned Parenthood 15 years ago that I can't hear a case on reproductive health care," Taylor told the Journal Sentinel. "That would be like a judge who worked for a law firm 15 years ago who would say, 'Well I can never take a case from that law firm.'"

In Wisconsin, abortion rights have remained a flash point in Wisconsin Supreme Court races with both Protasiewicz and Crawford's campaigns using it as a rallying issue.

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling soon on whether the state's 1849 law specifically bans abortions or whether more recent laws or court rulings override it.

While the court has agreed to hear another case brought by Planned Parenthood seeking to make abortion a constitutional right, the court has yet to schedule a date for oral arguments. The case will most likely be heard before the winner of the spring 2026 election takes their seat.

What is Chris Taylor's stance on 'lame-duck' laws?

As a lawmaker, Taylor weighed in on issues including the "lame-duck" laws that the Republican-controlled Legislature passed to scale back the powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general following Republican losses in the 2018 election.

Litigation over the legislation is before the court.

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As a judge, Taylor said, she is not working as an advocate, and as a justice, she would decide on a case-by-case basis whether to recuse herself from litigation on underlying legislation she had voted on as a lawmaker.

During her time on the Appeals Court, Taylor said she has reviewed laws passed during her time in the state Legislature and hasn't run into issues being fair and impartial.

What is Chris Taylor's stance on voter ID?

During her time in the state Legislature, Taylor called on Republican leadership to release funding for a comprehensive voter ID informational campaign after voters were turned away from the polls in the spring 2016 election. The League of Women Voters joined Taylor in that effort.

Under Wisconsin's voter ID law, the state was required to fund a public information campaign to educate voters on the new law and the identification needed to vote.

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Taylor, a lawmaker at the time, said the spring elections revealed the state failed to fulfill its "obligation to educate voters about this convoluted, nonsensical new law" as many Wisconsinites lacked the proper documentation to successfully vote.

While we know suppressing our ability to vote is the true intention behind this Voter ID legislation, Taylor said in a press release in 2016. As I tell my kids at home, if youre going to change the rules, you need to let everyone else know. The solution here is simple  the GOP just needs to follow the law that they wrote.

What is Chris Taylor's stance on Act 10, union rights?

Taylor has been a vocal opponent of Act 10, a 13-year-old law signed by former Gov. Scott Walker that banned most collective bargaining rights for public employees.

In December, a Dane County judge struck down most of the law and in February, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a petition to bypass the court of appeals and take up the case directly.

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The case now sits in the appeals court and if the ruling is appealed again, it would then go to the state Supreme Court.

Currently, the judge placed his ruling on hold, meaning the law is in effect as it moves through the courts.

When is the next Wisconsin Supreme Court election?

Taylor will face off against incumbent Bradley on April 7, 2026. A primary, if necessary, will be held on Feb. 17.

The winner's 10-year term would begin in August 2026. If Taylor wins the seat, the court's liberal majority will grow to 5-2.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Chris Taylor, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate
Chuck Schumer and Elon Musk sure make strange bedfellows  but this is politics, after all.

The Senate Majority Leader from New York, a fierce critic of DOGE whos called Musk a liar and a hypocrite and accused the Tesla CEO of sabotaging critical benefits and a hostile takeover of federal government, pirouetted on Tuesday, declaring, without irony: Hes right.

This rare moment of political reconciliation is thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, a sweeping federal spending package narrowly passed by the House last month and under consideration in the Senate.

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To put it mildly, Musk is not a fan.

Days after the Space X chief and President Trump revealed at the White House that Musks role at DOGE would be severely narrowed  possibly over his growing dislike of the Republican-backed bill  the X owner could hold his tongue no longer. On Tuesday, he posted a fiery screed against the bill.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore.



This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.



Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

Schumers agreement was so strong that he stepped to a Senate chamber podium and declared on Tuesday: I agree with Elon Musk.

Holding a printed placard of Musks X posts, he read from them, word-for-word.

Within the hour, [Musk] put on X the following, Schumer said. I have it right here so you can all see it  he said, Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it. You did wrong. You know it. It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion, and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.'

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To make it clear he want joking, Schumer added: Hes right.

BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Democratic leadership is capitalizing on Elon Musks public outcry against Donald Trumps reconciliation package. Democrats are ready to fight Trump tooth and nail at every turn. Lets go. pic.twitter.com/Wm9xneM1s4  Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) June 3, 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22, with a narrow vote of 215214 and one member voting present. The vote was largely along party lines, with all Democrats opposing; Republican Representatives Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson voted against it.

If even Elon Musk, whos been part of the whole process and is Trumps buddy, says the bill is bad, you can imagine how bad this bill is, Schumer told reporters. Musk said people shouldnt vote for the bill. Lets hope the Republicans follow him, not Trump.

Schumer wasnt the only Democrat who agreed with Musk, as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Bernie Sanders also echoed his scathing distaste for the package.

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Breaking news: Elon Musk and I agree with each other, Jeffries said in a press conference. The GOP tax scam is a disgusting abomination.

Incidentally, the words disgusting and abomination were certainly having a moment on Tuesday.

Musk is right: this bill IS a disgusting abomination.



We shouldnt give $664 billion in tax breaks to the 1%.



We shouldnt throw 13.7 million people off of Medicaid.



We shouldnt cut $290 billion from programs to feed the hungry.



Lets defeat this disgusting abomination. pic.twitter.com/Hg01E9xcB8  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 3, 2025

Musk is right, Sanders conceded on X. Lets defeat this disgusting abomination.

The post Chuck Schumer Admits He Agrees With Elon Musk: Hes Right | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Thousands of Cigna commercially insured people in the Pittsburgh region could lose in-network access to Allegheny Health Network by the end of June in a dispute over a new contract.

AHN patients who use Cigna were notified this week of the impasse in negotiations on a new contract, meaning most care would be out of network if there isnt a new contract in place by June 30, according to a copy of a letter obtained by the Pittsburgh Business Times. About 20,000 Cigna members have used an AHN provider within the past year. Its the second such dispute in the past two years.

The contract that runs out is for commercially insured members and not for Medicare or Medicare Advantage members. Cigna in March 2025 sold the Medicare-related business to Health Care Service Corp., a Chicago-based insurer. HCSCs coverage of Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients isnt impacted by this dispute and those patients will continue to have in-network access to AHN no matter what happens to the commercial insurance agreement.

Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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Cincinnati police identified a man killed in an early morning stabbing in Over-the-Rhine.

Patrick Heringer, 46, was found by police with a stab wound around 4 a.m. on June 4 near the 100 block of East McMicken Avenue, according to a department news release.

Police were called to the area after a report of a stabbing came in. Heringer was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died of his injuries.

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The investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to called the Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati police: Man killed in stabbing in Over-the-Rhine
ELLSWORTH, Wis. (WFRV)  While its unclear whether it was trying to grab a pint or a book, a group of people in Wisconsin helped rescue a deer on Tuesday morning.

The Ellsworth Police Department said that a deer somehow became stuck in a railing between an old library and a bar on Tuesday morning.

Cops and Bobbers returning to Sheboygan, register now!

Fortunately, local public works employees, two citizens and some police officers were able to help free the animal, as it safely ran away.

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However, it wasnt clear whether the deer was looking for a drink or something to read, or both.

No additional details were provided.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
The approval of a new budget, a rundown of the 2013 bond projects, and a balcony over a city right-of-way were discussed by the Tahlequah City Council during a meeting earlier this week.

The Council approved the FY2025-2026 budget at the June 3 meeting, and in the absence of Mayor Suzanne Myers, Treasurer Marty Hainzinger commented on the final numbers.

This budget prioritizes all of the essential services such as public safety, infrastructure, community development, while holding all the operational spending in line with revenues, Hainzinger said.

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A balance of $2,241,550 carried over from FY 2024-2025; projected revenue is $14,271,113, bringing the total available to appropriate to $16,512,663, states the budget summary. Projected expenses are $12,886,330 and total projected carryover is $3,626,333. A 10% carryover of reserves is $362,633; and a projected general fund total to appropriate for FY 2025-2026 is $16,190,758.

Before the budget was voted on, Ordinance No. 1389-2025 was considered and approved because of how the proposed ordinance could affect the budget, said City Administrator Taylor Tannehill.

This is the second shot of this version of this ordinance; it is drastically different than what was proposed at the last meeting, Tannehill said. The gist of it is in May of each year the finance director will certify projected revenues for next year and during budget time we would only appropriate 95% of those revenues into the next years budget.

The remaining 5% would go to a stabilization fund and as that grows to 15% of any given years projected revenues, the city would budget more than the 95%, Tannehill said.

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City Attorney John Hammons clarified what the ordinance would do.

We would build into the revenue stabilization fund until such time as the revenue stabilization fund reaches 15%; thereafter, that 5% would be allocated to a special cash fund and that could be allocated for whatever purpose the City Council found to be appropriate, Hammons said.

Dr. John Uzzo compiled a list of projects proposed for completion with the 2013 bond and asked the city to comment on their progress. Tannehill said all have been completed, are funded or are in the works.

There were 20 projects listed on the ballot to be completed, and of those 20, its safe to say that 17 have been completed, Tannehill said. One of the three remaining is South Muskogee, so we anticipate that wrapping up later this year.

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Two other projects not completed from that bond issue are the North Grand Road project and the East Allen Road project, Tannehill said.

Each one of the 20 items there [has had money spent on them], Tannehill said. The money spent on East Allen Road and North Grand has been engineering, and we are currently doing right-of-way acquisitions for East Allen Road and will continue to see those expenditures rise in those columns as we proceed.

Ward 1 City Councilor Danny Perry asked if there was a timeline for completion of the construction on South Muskogee.

When we had the bridge change order that [timeline] was about eight weeks from that time, and its been two or three weeks since then, Tannehill said.

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On May 30, the manhole relocation and construction of a sewer line under the bridge next to Lowrys Discount Furniture was almost complete. The crew was finishing up the project and the cones and traffic barriers were being pulled back.

James Murray and Kenna Beckett, owners of property at 334 N. Muskogee Ave., presented a request to the Council to build a balcony over city right-of-way over a sidewalk along Morgan Street, across from Norris Park.

Tannehill said Murray approached the city to do this project but no decision was made. A few weeks later, Tannehill sent an email to Murray that there was interest in the project, and Murray took it to the Board of Adjustment for a variance, which was not authorized.

The city does allow for the construction in the city of right-of-way with the Councils blessing; thats why this is before you today, Hammons said. Ive had numerous conversations with the applicant and we have a draft version of the agreement, which largely meets with my approval.

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Hammons said a policy provision in the agreement, on which he had no position, is the nature of termination of the deal if it was approved by the council.

Ward 3 City Councilor Stephen Highers said the council was not voting on whether the balcony could be built or not, but whether the mayor is allowed to negotiate an agreement with the property owners. Murray had submitted a packet explaining the project, with examples of other businesses in that same area that had balconies and bollards to stop traffic from crashing into the buildings.

Murray said they have spent $50,000 on improvements that didnt need approval and plan to put another $50,000 into it if the city approved their request.

We are trying to make this consistent with the rest of the area, and from my property, I can throw a rock and hit three of them that have posts in the sidewalk, Murray said. And Im just asking to let me do that as well.

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Hammons said the only thing left for him was the policy question that the Council needed to address  that it not remove the structure within five years.

Highers said this project is what Tahlequah is looking for, which is bringing investment and housing downtown.

The item was approved, but with a caveat initiated by Ward 2 City Councilor Keith Baker  that the couple return to the next Council meeting with a revised agreement that reflects the time period the license with the city for these changes could be revoked, if needed.

After the meeting, Murray and Beckett expressed their frustration at the numerous delays in the citys giving approval.

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Karen Murphy, communications and marketing director for the city of Tahlequah, said after the meeting that the administration wanted to make a statement for publication by TDP on the matter.

The city is excited to work with this couple and really pleased with the improvements that have been done, Murphy said. We apologize for the frustration and understand it, but we want to make sure we are doing our due diligence and going through the right steps.

Murphy said Myers is ready to start the negotiations as soon as possible.

It is frustrating, but the city has to do whats right, Murphy said. If there is concern about safety, we just want to make sure we are protecting our citizens and their property.

Whats next

The next Tahlequah City Council meeting is July 7, 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at the City Administration Building.
Annette Kaare-Rasmussen has been volunteering at the Interfaith Community Shelter for the past four years, during which time she has gotten to know many shelter guests intimately.

"I know who wants cheese on their chili beans," she told city councilors at a special meeting Tuesday. "I know who likes the chocolate syrup but not the whipped cream on their ice cream. ... All of us have gathered knowledge, know stories, have connections."

She said she was concerned about the impact to shelter guests if the local nonprofit interfaith group's lease was terminated and operations of the facility at 2801 Cerrillos Road were taken over by a new provider without that accumulated knowledge: "Its going to be hard for them with the changes."

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After hours of discussion at a meeting that ended after 1 a.m. Wednesday, councilors voted 7-1 to terminate the city's month-to-month lease with the Interfaith Community Shelter effective July 31. They then voted to approve two contracts with California-based nonprofit Urban Alchemy  a $7.9 million four-year contract for street outreach and a $1.5 million one-year emergency contract to operate the shelter.

Councilor Michael Garcia was the sole no vote on the three items, saying he thought the termination of the shelter's lease "sends the wrong message to our community-based organizations" and that he had financial concerns about the street outreach contract.

Garcia also introduced a failed measure to amend the contract to only two years from four, saying he had serious concerns about approving a contract that is not fully funded.

"We are committing to a major investment and we are busting at the seams in a quote-unquote 'flat budget' process," he said, referring to how city staff described the city's upcoming fiscal year budget in conversations last month.

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Garcia said he wished Urban Alchemy "all the best" following the votes as they will now be responsible for providing services to some of the city's most vulnerable residents.

Councilor Alma Castro, whose family restaurant Cafe Castro is adjacent to the shelter, recused herself from the votes regarding the Interfaith Community Shelter's lease and the Urban Alchemy contract to run the shelter.

Castro said she has "a lot of personal information regarding why she has personally lost faith in the shelter's leadership but that the special meeting was not the place to share that.

'Angers both sides and fixes nothing'

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The meeting, which featured hours of public comment during which more than 80 people spoke, was preceded by a protest outside City Hall by supporters of the Interfaith Community Shelter organization. The room was standing-room only by the time the meeting started at 5 p.m. and turned raucous at points, with Mayor Alan Webber calling for a 10-minute break around 7:30 p.m. after some members of the audience called out Councilor Pilar Faulkner for wearing AirPods and chewing gum during public comment.

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A large crowd gathered for a special City Council meeting called to terminate the Interfaith Community Shelter's contract wave their hands in the air after The New Mexico Raging Grannies played a song in support of the Interfaith Community Shelter on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Faulkner, who is legally blind, said she was using her AirPods to read the notes she was taking on what people were saying and chewing gum to help make her less anxious.

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She said it was a "very disempowering moment for people in the room and "for that, I am deeply sorry," adding she was not trying to ignore or dismiss anyone speaking with her actions.

Webber also had to ask people repeatedly not to applaud, boo or speak from the audience, with a man at one point yelling at Webber for being on his phone.

Public comment was unusually united, with almost all speakers expressing disappointment with the city's proposals. James O'Connell congratulated the city on putting forth a plan that "angers both sides and fixes nothing."

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A group of supporters of the Interfaith Community Shelter march back to City Hall from the Plaza before a special City Council meeting on Tuesday to decide the groups future at a city-owned building on Cerrillos Road. The council voted to end the groups lease at the Cerrillos Road site and give an out-of-state nonprofit two contracts worth $9.4 million to provide various homeless services and outreach.

Several people said that while the council was giving people the opportunity to speak, the decision to terminate the interfaith group's lease and contract with Urban Alchemy was "a done deal." Others questioned the wisdom of making sure a big decision when the city will have a new mayor and at least two new city councilors in just seven months, as Webber and Councilors Carol Romero-Wirth and Signe Lindell have all announced they don't intend to run again.

During a presentation following public comment, Community Health and Safety Director Henri Hammond-Paul said the city is dealing with a "public health and public safety emergency" regarding homelessness, particularly in the area around the Interfaith Community Shelter, and that the situation has become "untenable."

Business owners express skepticism

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A handful of business owners in the area around the shelter voiced their opinions, most expressing skepticism of the city's plans.

Dan Mulcahy, who operates Black Powder Dispensary a few doors down from the Interfaith Community Shelter on Cerrillos Road, said he has dealt with homeless people defecating and using fentanyl on his doorstep and people threatening his customers in the parking lot.

"Nobody in this room wants to stop the support given by the Interfaith Community," but the issue has outgrown the location on Cerrillos Road, he said.

Naomi Boylan, an employee at Coronado Paint & Decorating on Cerrillos Road, said she was open to the idea of a one-year contract.

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"There is value in a short-term agreement to make this manageable," she said, adding the shelter was an "incredible" idea when it first started but needs a larger facility that is not on Cerrillos.

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Cotton Reichelt makes a sign in support of the Interfaith Community Shelter outside of City Hall before a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Angie Grady, co-owner of Adobe Interlock on Rufina Street, said she is also unhappy with the shelter but was frustrated with a lack of transparency from the city.

"When I looked up this company, I couldnt find anything to brag about, unless you want to brag about lawsuits," she said, referring to Urban Alchemy.

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Urban Alchemy: 'Frivolous lawsuits' a 'hustle'

Louie Hammonds, director of community-based public safety programs for Urban Alchemy, said the organization has faced "frivolous lawsuits that have been unfounded" and described the practice of people filing lawsuits against Urban Alchemy as "a hustle."

The nonprofit has faced claims in lawsuits in other states, including allegations of employees dealing drugs in shelter sites and sexually harassing guests and other employees, along with other issues.

Hammonds said he was "very struck" by the passion in the room during public comment and said the organization is asking for the chance to prove it can be a good partner to the Santa Fe community.

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"We believe in accountability," he said.

Councilor Jamie Cassutt, whose district includes a stretch of the city along Cerrillos Road, pressed Urban Alchemy on what residents in her district can expect to see once street outreach starts.

Chief Operations Officer Bayron Wilson said residents can expect to see a decrease in loitering, car break-ins and drug paraphernalia on the street, which will lead to people feeling more comfortable walking around in their communities. And people will not be able to use illegal drugs on site, he said.

"I can guarantee you this, youre going to see a cleaner community," he said.

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Lelia Rascon, a supporter and volunteer at Interfaith Community Shelter, leads a chant and march with a large group of supporters of the shelter in front of the Santa Fe City Hall building before a special City Council meeting to terminate the Interfaith Community Shelter's contract and approve two contracts with Urban Alchemy on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Ian Clark-Johnson, chief talent and development officer at Urban Alchemy, said the company anticipates hiring about 35 full-time employees and its focus will be on "long-term offenders."

Hammond-Paul said the actions being proposed as part of the city's homelessness emergency action plan are separate from a long-term strategy to reduce homelessness, which will require increasing housing capacity.

"Any meaningful conversation about reducing homelessness needs to start with affordable housing," he said.

He noted city staff will ask the council to approve the creation of a second "microcommunity" of small Pallet shelters next to Fire Station 7 on Richards Avenue at the June 11 council meeting, which he said could house 60 to 70 people in 30 to 40 units.

It's unclear if the city has a long-term strategy for increasing affordable or transitional housing units.

Lindell asked people in the audience to stay engaged in this issue even if they are frustrated by some of the city's actions.

At the end of the day "we all want the same thing," she said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Andrea Watts, a Black woman employed as a senior administrative assistant and social media specialist with the City of Kansas City, is suing the city under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) and Missouris whistleblower statute.

Watts claims she was subjected to ongoing discrimination based on race, sex and disability. She claims she experienced a hostile work environment and retaliation and was wrongly blamed for a controversial tweet made from the citys official account referencing Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and his residence.

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Butker delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College on May 11, 2024, which sparked significant controversy after he promoted traditional gender roles and conservative Catholic views.

On May 15, 2024, the official City of Kansas City X account posted: Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lees Summit.

A screenshot of a post on X from the City of Kansas City about Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker after he gave a controversial speech at Benedictine College in May 2024.

After the tweet about Butker went viral, the lawsuit claims Watts was falsely accused online of posting it.

According to the lawsuit, she became the target of racist, sexist and violent threats, including death threats and doxxing. Despite internal knowledge that Watts did not post the tweet, the city failed to publicly clear her name, the lawsuit claims.

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Her LinkedIn profile, personal address and pictures were circulated online, and someone even uploaded a picture of a Black woman who had been lynched outside of her previous home, along with her name.

According to the lawsuit, Watts reported that she was being discriminated against and harassed through her employment, which is a violation of the law (the MHRA and the citys policy against discrimination and harassment).

The lawsuit says that by the time Watts met with supervisors, dozens of news organizations had written stories about the tweet.

Watts repeatedly asked the city to issue a public statement clearing her name. Watts said, despite knowing she wasnt responsible for the tweet, the city never publicly identified her as innocent.

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The mayor, city manager and assistant city manager made general statements but did not mention her by name, which she argues allowed the threats and harassment to continue.

The lawsuit claims she was not offered protection, housing support or assistance to remove her personal information from the internet.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

According to the lawsuit, she was retaliated against at work, with her duties restricted, communications cut off by supervisors and her mental health accommodation initially denied. Watts said she was also excluded from social media team meetings.

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The lawsuit says she developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the incident and the workplace hostility she experienced.

FOX4 reached out to the city, which said they do not comment on pending litigation. Their response to the lawsuit is due on June 21.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A vast number of ESG ETFs and others removed sustainability-related terms from their names ahead of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) fund naming guidelines deadline on May 21.

A report by independent financial advocacy group Finanzwende, alongside Urgewald and Facing Finance stressed that the simple renaming of funds is evidence of fund promoters evading responsibility through semantic tricks.

The report analyzed 827 ETFs from a total of 15,222 funds. Of these ETFs, 529 included a term in their name suggesting alignment with the Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB) criteria, which means fossil fuel companies should be excluded.

ETFs React to ESMA Guidelines

Since ESMA published the fund-naming guidelines in May 2024, the research found 150 of these products have either removed or replaced sustainability-related terms.

Of the 150 ETFs that removed the term, 113 replaced it with a term that does not require the exclusion of fossil fuel companies and 37 removed the term entirely.

Authors of the recent report warned the previous misalignment of fund names and corresponding baskets has created distrust within the industry.

Alison Schultz, consultant at Finanzwende said, "If a fund calls itself 'sustainable' while simultaneously investing in fossil fuel expansion, that is simply misleading. Such products should have been sanctioned long ago. The financial supervisory authority BaFin is called upon to continue to take consistent action in this regard."

Moving in the Right Direction

Meanwhile, some professional investors have taken a more sanguine view.

Paris Jordan, head of Responsible Investing at Charles Stanley previously told ETF Stream, "At a broad level, this is a good step. It is positive because it means we will finally be speaking the same language and until now, we have not  in the long run, [the fund-naming guidelines] will help us move forward in the right direction."

ETF Stream has reported a regular cadence of issuers cutting the term out of their name in favor of more ambiguous terms, such as "scored and screened."

The largest relabelling sweep came from BlackRock, which removed the "ESG" label from its iShares MSCI ESG Screened UCITS ETF range and BSF Systematic ESG World Equity Fund, which contains 56 strategies housing $51 billion of assets under management.

This article was originally published at etf.com sister publication ETF Stream.





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HONOLULU (KHON2)  The City and County of Honolulu are providing help to Micronesian families who lost loved ones to COVID-19.

HFD outlines dangers of China Walls, Spitting Caves

The Office of Economic Revitalization announced on June 3 the launch of the Ohana Memorial Support: COVID-19 COFA Funeral Assistance Program.

The program seeks to provide $1.5 million in direct reimbursement of burial expenses to Compact of Free Association residents on Oahu.

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This program is about doing right by the families who lost a loved one to COVID-19 and were unjustly excluded from federal assistance, said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. While no amount of funding can ever replace the lives lost, we hope this support demonstrates our deep commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in our community.

The program contractor, We Are Oceania, will reimburse burial expenses up to $9,000 for each household member who passed away due to COVID-19.

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The reimbursement amount for households experiencing multiple deaths in one family is capped at $35,500 per application.

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We Are Oceania is providing both in-person and virtual support sessions for families requiring assistance:

Weekly Virtual Community Sessions: Join Facebook livestreams for community-specific information sessions:

Marshallese Community: Every Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Kosraean Community: Every Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pohnpeian Community: Every Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Chuukese Community: Every Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In-Person Outreach Events in June 2025:

Kosraean Church visits: June 15th at Kalihi Union Church (2214 N. King St.), 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Daily assistance at We Are Oceania Shim Hall (720 N King Street, Honolulu): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding weekends and June 11)

Marshallese Full Gospel Church: June 15 at Kalihi Union Church, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chuukese Church: June 22 at Kalihi Union Church, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Pohnpeian Church: June 29 at Central Union Church (1660 Beretania St.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Community Leader Sessions: June 17 and 19 at Shim Hall

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Eligibility requirements are as follows:

Immediate surviving family members of a COFA Citizen whose death was attributed to COVID-19 between January 20, 2020, and September 30, 2024 The deceased family member must have resided on Oahu and must demonstrate COFA citizenship (FSM, RMI, or ROP). Applicants must prove a relationship to the deceased through official documents.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

For more information, visit the We Are Oceania 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.
NILES, Ohio (WKBN)  The City of Niles is among several communities across Ohio receiving state grants to help modernize outdated zoning regulations.

Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Development announced a total of $1.5 million in grants to assist with these efforts and pave the way for new housing development. The funding comes from the new Housing Technical Assistance Program.

The City of Niles is receiving $50,000 and was the only local community on the list.

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Zoning regulations can shape the future of a community  for better or worse, said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development, in a statement. By helping our local partners modernize these policies, were giving them the tools to attract investment, remove barriers to housing, and support long-term growth that fits the needs of their residents.

Funding can be used for contracting services or internal planning work to update comprehensive plans or zoning codes. Other eligible expenses included public meeting costs, administrative support and fees associated with zoning revisions.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka city leaders will put $291,086 into Hotel Topeka, but not everyone on the governing body was on board with the investment.

Councilmembers Christina Valdivia-Alcala, Sylvia Ortiz and David Banks voted against this resolution.

The city has now invested more than $10 million into the hotel, since buying it almost two years ago for around $7.6 million. The latest investment in the hotel is due to the citys need to cover operational deficits, but Banks was against it.

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Groundbreaking set in Emporia for $43 million internet project

I voted no because my constituents feel that it was an unnecessary purchase and have asked that if were going to consider the fact that we have to keep it, we do not have to make improvements, we dont have to, Banks said. Its important to keep it up if we ever want to get rid of it, but constituents requests is what I do.

Banks told 27 News that he believes the amount of money the city has put into the hotel is a lot more than it should, and that while theyve had interest in the hotel, they dont have a buyer at this time.

A city spokesman told 27 News back in January that the city had seven offers, but Banks said they dont have a timeline on when the hotel will be sold.

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In the end, justice was served: Dana Chandler sentenced to life in prison for 2002 killings

So far, the city has authorized the following resolutions to be used on Hotel Topeka, not including the original purchase price, a $25,000 General Fund transfer and the most recent $291,086 resolution:

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Australias sulphur-crested cockatoos are bringing a new meaning to the term bird-brained, one innovation at a time. A few years ago, it was opening garbage bins to find food, a practice birds across dozens of neighborhoods eventually adopted. But now, the social birds are lining up, waiting their turns, and drinking straight from water fountains in a Sydney park. And, according to researchers, its just the latest evidence of cockatoo culture.

These birds, they constantly surprise me, says Barbara Klump, a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany and lead author on a study of the new behavior in this weeks Biology Letters.

The feat may sound simple to a human. After all, even preschoolers can master water fountains. But these particular fountains require fine motor skills. Picture a tall pipe with a round knob and a rubber spout on top. For water to emerge from the top of the bubbler, the knob must be turned and have continuous pressure. For two-foot-tall birds with no thumbs, that means a complicated dance involving talons, bills, and shifting weight.



Imagine that you don't have fingers and that you have a foot and a beak, says Louis Lefebvre, an emeritus professor of biology and avian researcher at McGill University in Montreal. Whenever we talk about tool use in birds, we have to remember how improperly attired they are towards this kind of behavior, how clumsy they are. So it's all the more amazing when birds can do these complicated things.

Clever cockatoos vs. water fountains

Thats why, even though Klump has studied innovations in these cockatoos for years, she took note when she saw a line of the birds waiting their turn on a chain-link fence, hopping onto the fountain, and twisting the knob. After over a month of observation, the team found that only about 40 percent of the birds that tried to use the fountain were successful, but many more had attempted toaround 70 percent of all the birds they tracked.



This is compared to just 32 percent of observed cockatoos attempting to open trash bins in Klumps 2021 studythe first evidence that parrots could learn from each others behavior. In that case, the behavior spread to new neighborhoods, from just three suburbs to 44 across southern Sydney. (Read more about the cockatoos trash behavior.)



But here, there was no significant spread of the behavior during the study, suggesting the birds had already learned from their pecking peers by the time Klumps team started observing them. The researchers cant be certain how the behavior began, but the birds may have picked up the knowledge that water could be obtained from the fountain from watching humans or other curious cockatoos.

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Sulphur-crested cockatoos arent the first species that has shown the ability to learn from each other, a phenomenon called social learning once thought to be exclusive to humans. They arent even the first birds to come up with novel approaches to access water. In Californias Death Valley, for example, a raven was observed turning on a water faucet, and in Ghana pied crows turned condensed water on air conditioner units into a drinking source.



The connection between these adept avians lies in their bird brains. A cockatoo has more neurons per cubic millimeter in the equivalent of its cortex than many monkeys, Lefebvre says. From chimpanzees to crows, animals that can innovate tend to have more neurons. Some have argued that such innovations and social learning constitute a form of culture.

(Palm cockatoos use tools to make sweet, sweet music.)

The benefits of being a brainiac

Although cockatoos regularly interact with members of neighboring roosts, a key way for behaviors to spread, so far, it seems that other roosts havent yet learned from these bubbler-loving birds. The researchers arent sure why, although it might be because many of the surrounding water fountains in Sydney dont use the same mechanisms as the ones in the park.

Still, through citizen science reports, researchers have already heard of separate cockatoos using water fountains in other parts of the country over 500 miles away. Just last week, somebody contacted me from Brisbane, says Lucy Aplin, a cognitive ecologist at Australian National University and co-author of the study. Reporting that in a park there, the birds have started to open the drinking fountains, and they're of a different design as well.

With Australian population numbers expected to increase by 12 percent over the next decade, urban areas will likely grow, and adapting to these rapidly changing environments can do much more than provide a refreshing sip of waterit can save entire species. Innovation provides resilience against threats that can lead to extinction, Lefebvre says.



Whether city authorities and residents will respond to the birds drinking habits as they did in the so-called battle of the bins in 2021 remains to be seen, although there are no guarantees the cockatoos wont find innovations to use new bird-proof water fountains. These birds are very resilient, and they're very adaptable, Aplin says. Im prepared to be surprised.
2024 was the hottest in at least 125,000 years and the past 10 years have been the 10 hottest in nearly 200 years of record-keeping, the World Meteorological Organization reports. 2024 also has the dubious distinction of being the first calendar year in modern record-keeping in which global average surface temperatures exceed the Paris Agreement's aspirational 1.5C guardrail to prevent disastrous global warming effects.

Why does this matter? Holding long-term warming to the 1.5-degree target compared to the preindustrial era is crucial for lowering the risk of triggering climate change tipping points, beyond which potentially catastrophic impacts have a higher likelihood of occurring, studies show. Holding warming to that target is viewed as necessary for small island states and other extremely vulnerable nations to avoid being wiped out by sea level rise, drought and other threats.

Seven years ago, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that the world wouldnt warm 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels until 2040. Then two years ago, the group predicted the world would pass that threshold between 2030 and 2035.

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Now, new data from the WMO released this month indicates that Earth will cross this point in just two years. The accelerated timeline means that irreversible tipping points in the climate system  like the melting of Arctic ice sheets or the wide-scale collapse of coral reefs  are closer at hand than scientists previously believed.

Culprits of climate change knew the impacts. Then climate denial rolled in.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are the chief culprit, dangerously heating up the planet, imperiling biodiversity, increasing sea level rise and drought and making extreme weather events more common and more destructive. And the oil industry has known this for decades.

The American Petroleum Institute commissioned a study by the Stanford Research Institute in 1968 which found: Significant temperature changes are almost certain to occur by the year 2000, and these could bring about climatic changes. ... there seems to be no doubt that the potential damage to our environment could be severe. ... pollutants which we generally ignore because they have little local effect, CO2 and submicron particles, may be the cause of serious world-wide environmental changes.

Opinion: Congress must fund Farm Bill conservation programs to protect local ranches

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It was the first of dozens of studies the industry paid for or knew about, all predicting climate change dangers, including major reports in 1979, 1982, and 1991.

Then the climate denial began.

In 2015 and again in 2025, the Union of Concerned Scientists documented decades of internal industry memos and strategy sessions that were organizing, funding and detailing roughly four decades of lies foisted on the American public. The industry and its executives efforts were all, apparently, in the service of preserving their profits and avoiding any liability for the deaths and destruction they knew would one day come as a result of their product poisoning our atmosphere.

China pulls ahead in the clean energy race

A child stands unde water at Barnett Field Splash Pad in Edmond, Wednesday, July 28. Columnist argues that the U.S. is rolling back efforts to combat climate change and says Oklahomans will feel the effects as the summer heats up.

The election of Donald Trump is a clear setback to the worlds ability to rein in dangerous levels of warming. Mr. Trump, who has called global warming a hoax, pulled out of the Paris accord on his first day in office. He has also, as requested by the oil industry, reversed or plans to rescind a raft of regulations to clean up climate pollution. These include tail pipe and fuel economy standards, a fee on methane emissions from oil and gas facilities, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver that has allowed California  and 11 other states  to set emissions standards stricter than those at the federal level.

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In addition to largely isolating the United States on the global climate-diplomacy stage, actions like these would also hand a geopolitical win to the countrys main rival, China, which has spent a decade building up a powerful clean-energy industry and is now increasingly exporting it worldwide.

Most damaging, however, we would lose more precious time. If we act now  decisively and dramatically  we still have a chance at avoiding climate changes most catastrophic impacts. Think about this as we suffer through another sweltering summer.

Mike Altshuler

Mike Altshuler is a retired educator and environmental activist who lives in Edmond.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Weather is hot, dangerous here. We can't let it get worse | Opinion
If you stocked up on Topo Chico at Costco recently, it might be time to double-check the label. Coca-Cola has issued a voluntary recall for a batch of the popular sparkling mineral water due to concerns over possible contamination. Costco sent a warning to its customers who've purchased the beverage recently.

According to the company, the issue involves potential exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria that naturally occurs in soil and water. While generally not harmful to healthy individuals, Pseudomonas can pose a risk to those with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, it could cause minor infections if consumed.

The recall, announced June 2, applies to 18-packs of 16.9-ounce (500mL) glass bottles of Topo Chico sold exclusively at select Costco locations in Texas and Louisiana between May 20 and May 29. Consumers can identify the affected product by lot code #13A2541, which appears on the necks of the bottles and the outer packaging. The relevant Costco item number is 1439351.

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No other Coca-Cola or Topo Chico products are impacted, and the company emphasized that this is a targeted recall issued out of an abundance of caution. There have been no reports of illness associated with the recall at this time.

If you have a pack from the affected lot, youre advised to return it to any Costco location for a full refund, and no receipt is required. For more information or questions, customers can contact Coca-Colas consumer support line at 1-800-438-2653.

Topo Chico has built a loyal fanbase over the years for its signature mineral taste, bold carbonation, and versatility in cocktails and mocktails alike. As temperatures rise and summer officially kicks off, it's more important than ever to make sure your beverages are safe, especially if youre stocking up for backyard barbecues, road trips, or beach days. Check your stash and stay hydrated... safely.

Coca-Cola Just Recalled This Batch of Topo Chico Over Bacterial Risk first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON)  Nearly 50 years ago, a young teacher was found stabbed to death inside a California high school on the first day of summer break. On Monday, cold case investigators identified her killer publicly for the first time.

Diane Peterson, a teacher at Branham High School in San Jose, was stabbed to death by 16-year-old Harry Nicky Nickerson on June 16, 1978, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said.

She was killed one day after the 1977-1978 school year ended, while teachers were cleaning their classrooms for summer. A student found Peterson lying on the floor near her classroom with a stab wound in her chest.

Branham High School teacher Diane Peterson (Image courtesy the Peterson family via SCCDAO)

Investigators cracked the cold case after meeting with Nickersons family member this year, according to the DAs office. Minutes after the killing, Nickerson went to their home and confessed to stabbing the teacher, a family member admitted to police.

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Nickerson had a knife with the words Teacher Dear written on it, investigators said.

Just this year, investigators learned that he had confessed the killing to a family member. Nickerson committed suicide in 1993, the DAs office wrote.

Harry Nicky Nickerson is seen as a teenager in an undated photo. (Image via SCCDAO)

Nickerson was not a Branham High School student, Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker told Nexstars KRON. While investigators have never established a firm motive, detectives at the time theorized that Diane inadvertently interrupted a drug deal on campus the day after school let out for the summer, Baker said.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen said, This marks the end of a terrible and tragic mystery. Ms. Peterson would have been a senior citizen today if she had not crossed paths with this violent teenager. I wish she was. I am pleased that we have solved this case, even though the murderer is not alive to face justice. I wish he was.

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Nickerson was arrested four days after the killing for an unrelated incident, Baker said. He spontaneously accused the police of trying to pin the murder on him, he denied killing Diane, and denied owning a knife, Baker said.

Police took a mugshot of the 16-year-old boy in June 1978, and said it bore a strong similarity to a composite sketch based on eyewitness accounts of the high school attack, prosecutors said.

A police sketch of Diane Petersons killer (left). Harry Nicky Nickerson is seen as a teenager in an undated photo (right). (Images via SCCDAO)

In 1983, a Branham High School students family alerted police that their son claimed to have seen Petersons violent death and identified Nickerson as the person responsible. The student, however, later denied making that statement. In 1984, another witness told police that Nickerson confessed to killing Peterson, but police were unable to corroborate the claim.

After high school, Nickerson continued committing more crimes, including kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and armed robbery, prosecutors said.

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He was shot and critically injured in 1984 while attempting to commit a drug robbery. Given the circumstances, no charges were filed. He died in 1993 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, teh DAs office wrote.

Between 2023 and 2024, the DAs Crime Lab conducted extensive DNA work on the case in an attempt to identify Petersons killer. Unlike other recently-solved cold cases in the area, forensic investigators were unable to make a DNA match. Instead, the break in the case came from Nickersons family member coming forward to police.

Nearly five decades have passed since a young teachers life was tragically taken, San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said. While the suspect will never stand trial or face the consequences for his actions, we hope this resolution brings a measure of peace to the victims loved ones and to a community that has carried this loss for far too long. No matter how much time passes, we will continue to seek the truth. Every victim matters, and every life deserves justice.

Dismembered San Jose woman identified in cold case homicide

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The DAs Cold Case Unit was established in 2011 and has solved over 30 cold case murders from as early as 1969. The Peterson case is the fourth cold case homicide solved by the office in 2025.

A family member of the teacher said, Diane was a beautiful and wonderful person who is missed dearly.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 traffic stop made in error upended the life of a 19-year-old woman who was born in Mexico and has lived in Georgia most of her life. It also shows the growing risks undocumented young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as Dreamers, face under President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal is opening up about how being wrongly pulled over by police in the city of Dalton last month put her on immigration authorities' radar and made her susceptible to deportation.

"Theres no way to go back to how my life was before," Arias-Cristobal told NBC News during a virtual conversation with reporters on Tuesday.

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Arias-Cristobal has lived in the U.S. since she was 4 years old. Georgia is my home, she said.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal says she "hopes to have a future here in the United States." (Courtesy Eileen Cunha / NP Agency)

When Dalton police stopped Arias-Cristobal on May 5, they accused her of making an improper turn and driving without a valid drivers license. A week later, all traffic-related charges against her were dropped after dashcam video of the traffic stop showed that the officer meant to stop another vehicle.

Still, Arias-Cristobal spent two days in county jail and two and a half weeks at an immigration detention center in rural Georgia.

Her case shows what nearly 2.5 million Dreamers living in the U.S. face as the Trump administration steps up the pace of deportations of immigrants who dont have criminal charges or convictions, despite the president's campaign vows to prioritize the deportations of violent criminals.

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Dreamers are under attack, said Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, an organization helping Dreamers go to college.

An athlete and a honor student, Arias-Cristobal attended Dalton public schools her whole life.

Arias-Cristobal received a national scholarship from TheDream.US, which runs a highly regarded scholarship program for undocumented youth with financial needs. Shes pursuing a degree in finance and economics at Dalton State Community College.

We have thousands of Dreamers apply to TheDream.US, like Ximena. The reason why Ximena got this scholarship is because she was one of the best, Pacheco said, adding that Arias-Cristobal demonstrated to be a good student at school, a member of the running team and active in her church and community.

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Two weeks ago, Arias-Cristobal was released on the minimal amount of bond possible under the law, $1,500. The Dalton police officer who arrested Arias-Cristobal resigned on May 23, two days after she was released from immigration detention.

The Dalton police officer who arrested Ximena Arias-Cristobal during a mistaken traffic stop on May 5 has resigned. (via WRCB)

Arias-Cristobal said she's in the process of obtaining a visa. To ensure nothing jeopardizes her immigration case, her attorney advised her to avoid going out and to stay indoors as much as possible.

Despite being back in her home, she said she still feels trapped. I am not just an immigrant. I am a human being. I am a Georgian and I am an American without papers, she said.

According to Pacheco, Arias-Cristobal is one of nearly 12,000 TheDream.US scholars who have gone on to pursue college degrees, medical school and even work as nurses, engineers and at Fortune 500 companies.

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In recent months, multiple TheDream.US scholars and alumni have either been arrested, detained and even deported, Pacheco said.

"Dreamers are part of the American community," she said. "If we agree that Dreamers contribute to this country, if we agree they belong, what is stopping us? We need permanent legislative protection for them. We need a path to permanent legal status for them."

Polls and surveys have consistently shown that most U.S. adults favor granting permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers. Trump even told NBC News Meet the Press in December that he wanted to work with Democrats and Republicans on a plan to do something about the Dreamers.

When asked about possible plans for immigration protections for Dreamers, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told NBC News in a statement Wednesday, "The Trump Administrations top priority is deporting criminal illegal aliens from the United States, of which there are many."

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"President Trump is fulfilling his promise to Make America Safe again, secure our border, and remove criminal illegals, Jackson said.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, who's pursuing a college degree in finance and economics, at her high school graduation. (Courtesy Jose Arias Tovar)

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, is one of the few deportation protections that exist for eligible Dreamers, but it's currently available to about 530,000 people who were granted DACA before 2017, according to FWD.us, an immigration advocacy organization.

DACA has been closed for new applicants since legal challenges to end the program began during the first Trump administration, shutting out an estimated 600,000 people like Arias-Cristobal who would have been eligible for it.

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"Not being able to apply for DACA is something that pains me greatly," Arias-Cristobal said in Spanish.

In addition to Arias-Cristobal, other Dreamers have been deported or detained.

One of them is Wualner Sauceda, a middle school science teacher in South Florida who was deported to Honduras in February. On Jan. 7, a couple of weeks before Trump took office, Sauceda was detained following a check-in with immigration officials. He showed up hoping to figure out other legal pathways to remain in the country after his asylum application was denied under the Biden administration.

Wualner Sauceda, a middle school science teacher in South Florida, was deported in February. (NBC6 South Florida)

Sauceda, 24, came to the United States as a young teen, attended public schools in South Florida and got a TheDream.US scholarship that allowed him to attend Florida International University.

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Just last week, Marcelo Gomes Da Silva was pulled over in Milford, Massachusetts, while driving his fathers car. Immigration authorities made the traffic stop because they were looking for Gomes Da Silvas father but, after learning the 18-year-old was unlawfully present in the U.S., they placed him in an immigration detention center.

Gomes Da Silva, who was born in Brazil, had been living in Massachusetts since he was 6 years old, attending public schools in Milford. Community members there described him as an athlete, a musician and an exceptional high school junior with an infectious smile.

In a phone call from detention, the teen told his girlfriend, Julianys Rentas Figueroa, that immigration authorities put chains around his ankles, on his wrists, NBC Boston reported.

Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, with his girlfriend, Julianys Rentas Figueroa, has been in the U.S. since he was 6. (Courtesy Julianys Rentas Figueroa)

Arias-Cristobal related to the experience. "Being shackled at the wrist, waist and ankles," she said, "is something Ill never forget."

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"It left a mark on me emotionally and mentally," Arias-Cristobal added. "Its heartbreaking and its something that changed me forever."

As she fights her case, Arias-Cristobal said she hopes to "have a future here in the United States" and "be a voice" for other undocumented people, students and Dreamers.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Parts of Germany's Cologne turned into a ghost town on Wednesday, after thousands of people were evacuated from the city centre following the discovery of three US World War II bombs in the biggest such operation in the western city since 1945.

Shops remained closed and streets were empty after the affected area was closed off, with the unexploded ordnance set to be defused in the evening.

More than 20,000 people in the evacuation zone in the Deutz district, on the east bank of the Rhine river, are affected.

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The city said on its website: "The evacuation is the largest such measure since the end of World War II. Everyone involved hopes that the defusing can be completed in the course of Wednesday."

A city spokeswoman told dpa that it was not yet possible to say when the defusing operation itself would begin.

Roadblocks have been in place since 8 am (0600 GMT).

Officials are checking that all flats in the danger zone, which covers a radius of some 1,000 metres, are empty, with the spokeswoman saying it could take several hours to ensure that everyone was gone.

Once authorities are certain that no one was left in the exclusion zone, two bomb disposal experts will defuse the ordnance.

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Local resident Julian Lauten-Weiss, who left his flat in the evacuation zone early in the morning, said he was happy with how the operation had been prepared.

He said he had learnt on the news about the discovery of the bombs on Monday and the evacuation order had been posted on the city website the same day.

"Of course I hope they will be done today and I can return home tonight," he told dpa.

In the whole of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, 1,500 to 2,000 unexploded bombs from World War II are found every year. About 200 of these are larger devices, such as those found in Cologne, said Kai Kulschewski, the city's head of explosive ordnance disposal.

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Like many of Germany's major cities, Cologne, now a city of some 1.1 million, was heavily bombed during World War II, which ended in Europe with the surrender of the Nazis on May 8, 1945.

Iconic images dating back to the end of the war show much of the city centre reduced to rubble, with only the cathedral towering above the debris.

Cologne city centre is the most densely populated in all of Europe, Ralf Mayer, head of the local Ordnungsamt - the agency in charge of enforcing rules in public spaces - told public broadcaster ARD.

The evacuation zone encompasses a hospital, two retirement and nursing homes, many museums and the Germany headquarters of broadcaster RTL, which is temporarily broadcasting from Cologne's Ossendorf district and Berlin.

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While they are not directly affected, Cologne's landmark cathedral and the city's main railway station are located just across the Rhine river on the west bank, connected via the Hohenzollern Bridge - Germany's busiest railway bridge - that lies in the evacuation zone.

A concert at Cologne's philharmonic hall, also located across the river, as well as an event at the Lanxess Arena event hall in Deutz have been cancelled.

National operator Deutsche Bahn said it is expecting "considerable restrictions in local and long-distance transport in North Rhine-Westphalia" due to disposal. The train station in Deutz, which also offers long-distance services in addition to local public transport, has been closed.

Ship traffic on the Rhine will also be temporarily halted before the disposal begins, while the airspace above Cologne will be closed off.

Employees from the public order office enter a house during a doorbell call before a bomb disposal operation. Three bombs from the Second World War were discovered in the Deutz district on Monday Henning Kaiser/dpa
It may surprise you to learn that the worlds largest fast-food chain isnt an American staple like McDonalds or Starbucks. Its actually Mixue, an ice cream and boba shop founded in 1997 that has exploded in popularity in China and throughout Asia. Zhang Hongchao was a university student when he created the first Mixue stall; now hes a billionaire.

McDonalds was founded 85 years ago in San Bernardino, Calif. Its the worlds second-largest private employerbehind only Walmart, No. 1 on the Fortune 500 again this yearand has over 40,000 locations worldwide.

Yet, McDonalds still falls behind one company in terms of footprint: Mixue Ice Cream & Tea.

Mixue, as of March, is currently the worlds largest fast-food chain by store locations, with over 46,000 sites across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and South America. Roughly 40,000 of its total locations exist in mainland China, meaning the company has even more room to run globally. And the companys performed well since its March debut on Hong Kongs stock exchange, soaring from its opening price of $290 HKD per share to $584.50 HKD as of Monday morning.

Zhang Hongchao probably didnt expect to be the founder of such a behemoth when he opened his first street-food stall 28 years ago.

Humble beginnings

Zhang was attending the Henan University of Economics and Law when he had the idea to open a food stall, mainly to sell beverages like cold drinks and shaved ice. He asked his grandmother to borrow 3,000 yuanaround $362 back then, or $417 todayto open up a small stall on the streets of Zhengzhou, the capital of Chinas Henan province and a major international transport hub.

The stall was successful, even early on. According to a lengthy profile about Mixue in Chinas state-run outlet Sina News, Zhang was able to sell products worth up to 1.5 yuan for more than 100 yuan; in other words, he could make a drink that cost around 21 cents and sell it for more than $14.

Unfortunately, Zhangs inexperience, and the rapid modernization of Zhengzhou, would become obstacles. The villages of Zhengzhou were constantly subject to demolition efforts as the area grew more urban, which resulted in Zhangs store getting demolished three times in a single year, according to Sina News. And he learned the hard way how difficult it is to sell cold treats during the winter season, which forced him to sell mandarin oranges for extra cash.

Getting the formula right

Despite the setbacks, Zhang kept at it. He bought more machines, added more sugary drinks to his menu, and notably introduced a soft-serve ice cream cone for just 1 yuan, or roughly 14 cents, which solidified the brand among budget-conscious consumers.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  On Wednesday, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) warned Coloradans about fraudulent text messages that impersonate the DMV. These scam texts claim that individuals have unpaid tickets and threaten consequences for not paying them, such as suspension of a vehicle registration.

These scam texts typically:

A scam text example provided by the Colorado DMV.

State that they are from the Colorado DMV or another government agency.

Allege that there are outstanding unpaid tickets or violations.

Threaten with immediate legal action, like prosecution.

Warn of the pending suspension of vehicle registration or driving privileges.

Contain a link to a fake website to resolve the issue or make a payment.

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The Colorado DMV reminds Coloradans that these messages are not from the entity. The DMV does not contact individuals through unsolicited text messages to demand payment or threaten prosecution.

If an individual receives a suspicious text message from the DMV:

Do not click on any links, as they often lead to fake websites.

Do not share any personal or financial information, like a drivers license number or banking information.

Do not reply to the text message.

If an individual is concerned about the status of their drivers license, vehicle registration, or tickets, they should contact the Colorado DMV through its official website at dmv.colorado.gov or by phone at 303-205-5600.

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This warning follows a trend of rising scam activity. Last week, the Grand Junction Police Department issued a warning to Grand Junction residents about fraudulent phone calls and emails from scammers impersonating government agencies or falsely alleging that an individuals loved one is hurt.

Anyone who receives a scam text is encouraged to report it to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.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 WesternSlopeNow.com.
DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado on Wednesday joined a multistate coalition in a court brief defending a Michigan law prohibiting licensed health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors.

Conversion therapy, also known as sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts, has been widely discredited as harmful and ineffective by leading health organizations, according to the Colorado Attorney Generals Office.

So-called conversion therapy is an inhumane and abusive practice overwhelmingly shown to harm young people, said Attorney General Phil Weiser, in a statement.

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We wont tolerate it: Immigration lawyer, AG Weiser weigh in on Boulder attack

A group of Catholic therapists filed a federal lawsuit against the Michigan law last July, arguing the ban is a violation of the First Amendment. The lawsuit is currently in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Colorado, meanwhile, joined 18 other states and the District of Columbia in filing the brief in support of the Michigan law, arguing conversion therapy is not only ineffective and unsafe, but also leads to increased risks of suicide, depression and other serious mental health issues.

2 arrested after shooting near Coors Field on Monday night

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We have a compelling interest in protecting children from this dangerous pseudoscience. Colorado stands firmly with Michigan in protecting professional standards of care to prioritize the well-being of our youth, Weiser said.

Colorado is currently one of 25 states that ban or restrict conversion therapy, according to the attorney generals office, which argues the Michigan ban is consistent with states long history of establishing and regulating professional standards of care.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR)  Azra Taslimi, a civil rights attorney, says the Muslim community in Colorado, including the Islamic Center in Boulder, condemns the attack that took place on Sunday.

Boulder sent reeling after another terrifying attack on the community. Police arrested Mohamed Soliman, who witnesses say was seen throwing Molotov cocktails and screaming things like free Palestine at the crowd of senior citizens on a weekly walk raising awareness for the Israeli hostages.

Rabbi talks about how Boulder attacks have left community reeling: I know all of them

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The Muslim community rejects any suggestion or claim that his actions were carried out in advocacy or support of the Palestinian people and it is our community that understands best that violence and threats. Under my legitimate advocacy and they are absolutely incompatible with our communitys principles, Taslimi said.

Muslim groups from across the state have come together to condemn the attack. In a letter, members of the Muslim community in Colorado said their hearts go out to those impacted, calling the attack cowardly and deplorable.

Taslimi says freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are something she and her community value.

You know, and I think that these are moments that really define communities, right. When something horrific like this happens, it is so important to send out the message that this one  rogue. Individual does not speak for us. He does not represent us, Taslimi said.

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Taslimi adds that the Muslim community stands with the Jewish community in Boulder and across Colorado against this violence.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A Colorado Springs family is suing the owners of a local KFC and Taco Bell, after their father died when he was taken hostage in the drive-thru back in 2023.

The lawsuit claims the chain restaurants ignored the history of crime and violence in the area, which led to his murder. 31-year-old Qualin Campbell was shot and killed by a homeless man while getting lunch at KFC off South Nevada Avenue on June 2, 2023. Now, his family claims none of the employees or security guards came to help.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two killed in murder-suicide on South Nevada identified

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Its awful what happened that day, said John Meyer, the owner of Mountain Wookies, a clothing shop that shares a parking lot with the Taco Bell and KFC.

Both the KFC and Taco Bell still serve customers two years after one of them was killed in their parking lot.

I pulled in as they were, you know, pulling the bodies out of the cars and then all of a sudden it was cops and everything, tape, said Meyer.

Campbell was buying food during his lunch break in June of 2023, and while he was in the drive-thru, a homeless names David Emmanuel Karles got in the car and held him at gunpoint. The homeless man killed Campbell and himself, and now the Campbell family is suing both restaurants for negligence.

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That was, that was hard on a lot of psyches around here, said Meyer.

Meyer said crime has always been in issue in the area.

The junkies have moved from heroin on to fentanyl and most of them smoke it as opposed to shooting it. So, we see way fewer needles, but you know, drugs are still an issue, he said.

But Meyer said since Campbell died, he thinks the area has gotten better.

Everyone in the neighborhood was talking about all the bodies they were finding in the alley back here, and you know, we havent had any of that in this block in a long time now, which is automatically an improvement, said Meyer.

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The lawsuit claims both Taco Bell and KFC, owned by KBP brands, knew about the criminal activity on their premises and surrounding areas, and says Colorado Springs Police received more than 70 reports of crimes happening at the restaurants.

You know, what the grounds are for the lawsuit I just hope its resolved. You know, I feel for the family, said Meyer.

FOX21 News reached out to KBP Brands for a comment and will update this article if we hear back.

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DENVER (KDVR)  The 2026 race for one of the countrys most competitive congressional districts is already looking to be a heated one, and a state official just announced a bid for the seat.

Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young on Wednesday morning announced his candidacy for Colorados 8th Congressional District. As a Democrat, Young joins the growing list of state representatives and the former 8th Congressional District Rep. Yadira Caraveo herself, running to regain her seat after narrowly losing it in 2024 to current Rep. Gabe Evans.

Evans, Boebert tout Big, Beautiful, Bill amid boos from Coloradans

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Young, in a press release, called himself the Democratic candidate best positioned to win this seat back from Republican control in November.

The residents of Colorados 8th District are worried about their economic future  and rightfully so. Ive heard from thousands of people in our home district who are concerned that the federal government does not produce results that improve their lives and the lives of their families. They want the government to either work for them  or get out of the way. Im running for Congress to stand up for working families, protect the programs they count on, and ensure our economy works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. I am running to stand up for Colorados working families and deliver results that matter in a time of uncertainty. Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young

In the press release, Young says he brings unmatched experience in public policy, education and fiscal responsibility to the 8th district. Young, as well as being current state treasurer, is also a former state representative and longtime public educator.

Young in the press release called out incumbent Evans, saying the Republican representatives backing of President Trumps agenda is unacceptable.

Evans and Rep. Lauren Boebert, also a Republican, recently visited the Colorado State Capitol touting Trumps big, beautiful bill after it passed the U.S. House, where they were met with boos and anger from some Coloradans worried about cuts to programs like Medicaid.

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Coloradans react to House passage of Trumps big, beautiful policy bill

This is personal to me, Young said. My sister has severe developmental disabilities, and has been reliant on life sustaining support provided by Medicaid for much of her life. Congressman Gabe Evans and his GOP allies just voted to slash Medicaid benefits, which will impact tens of thousands of people in this district, as well as millions of others including people like my sister.

Young said if elected to Congress, he would work to protect and strengthen Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

So far, Evans is the only Republican set to appear on the 2026 ballot, but the Democratic list is already lengthy.

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As well as Caraveo and now Young, state Reps. Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel also announced their candidacies for the seat, as has a former Republican, John Szemler, who says on his campaign website he hopes to capitalize on activating the Moderate Majority.

The 2026 primary election is about a year away, set for June 20, 2026.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A Colorado emergency medical technician was indicted by a grand jury after he allegedly provided unlicensed medical care to over 100 patients.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Phil Weiser said the statewide grand jury indicted Lauren Wilson, 53, after he allegedly falsely claimed to be a certified paramedic and practiced medicine without a license.

According to the indictment on May 1, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued Wilson a paramedic certificate in 2009 but later found Wilsons criminal history under a different spelling of his name in 2011. Before the department could complete the revocation process, Wilsons certificate expired in 2012, which was the last time he was certified and licensed to provide medical care.

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While the indictment said Wilson couldnt practice medical care since 2012, the department found out that Wilson was reportedly working as an uncertified paramedic in 2022 at an ambulance company, allegedly providing unauthorized care to over 100 patients.

This includes being the only paramedic transporting nursing home patients in critical condition to the hospital and making the decision to transport patients against their will, according to the indictment.

The investigation found that Wilson allegedly reapplied for a paramedic certification in September 2022 and reportedly falsified his birthday and criminal history in his application and background report.

Wilson was employed with medical services companies in 2021 and 2022 after he allegedly said he was a certified paramedic and submitted a forged Colorado drivers license with a different birth date.

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Wilson was indicted on one count of attempting to influence a public servant, two counts of forgery of a government issued document and five counts of unauthorized practice of medicine while fraudulently representing to be a certified professional.

Wilson was arrested on May 29 and released from the Aurora Municipal Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

In Colorado, fraudulently representing oneself as a certified medical professional is a crime. Its also illegal to submit false information to obtain state certification. We are committed to holding accountable those who engage in this harmful conduct and protecting victims and their health care, said Weiser.

The case is being prosecuted in Arapahoe County District Court.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Columbia University violates federal antidiscrimination laws and fails to meet the standards for accreditation, the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights announced on Wednesday.

The OCR notified the agency accrediting degree-granting institutions, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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In February 2025, the OCR initiated an investigation into whether Columbia University discriminated against or tolerated violence against students and faculty based on their Jewish ancestry, in violation of Title VI.

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In May, an investigation by the OCR concluded that Columbia University had acted with indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students, according to the DOE.

After Hamas October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia Universitys leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus. This is not only immoral, but also unlawful. Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants. Just as the Department of Education has an obligation to uphold federal antidiscrimination law, university accreditors have an obligation to ensure member institutions abide by their standards, said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbias compliance with accreditation standards, including compliance with federal civil rights laws.

It remains unclear what steps the Middle States Commission on Higher Education will take in the future.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Columbus City Schools Board of Education and superintendent provided an update on the closure and consolidation of multiple school buildings during Tuesday nights school board meeting.

Its the first major update from the district since board members voted on the closure of five school buildings in December.

Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman spent time talking about each of the five schools during a presentation at the boards meeting Tuesday.

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Lt. Gov. Tressel discusses DEI, states workforce preparedness, and possible gubernatorial run

She said Broadleigh and Moler elementary schools will both close after the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Students currently at Broadleigh could be sent to Eastgate, East Columbus or Fairmoor elementaries; students at Moler will go to either Livingston or Lincoln Park.

Those neighborhoods will have to get new boundaries to decide where each student will attend school.

Youre closing one school, you have to redesign the boundary for that home school, Chapman said. We want to make sure that they have an opportunity to be involved in that boundary process because that boundary process will have a direct impact on them and their choices and their options for the following school year.

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Families will know by late November which school their students will attend in 2026. The superintendent said all the options are newer buildings than Moler and Broadleigh.

Senate makes changes to Ohios budget proposal

The more robust programming that we want to offer our families and we can do that when we have more modernized spaces, Chapman said.

Columbus Alternative High School will have a new site after the 2027-28 school year since the current site at McGuffey is being closed. The Buckeye Middle School building will also close at the end of the 2027-28 school year.

Its still undecided where students at those schools will be housed. Chapman said more engagement will be done during the upcoming school year.

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Theres more time for discussion and involvement with the community, the Buckeye community and CAHS, so both of those school communities, they will be talking with them and spending time really better understanding the needs of the schools, Chapman said.

For West Broad Elementary, the school board only agreed to close the building if a new school can be built in its place, but Chapman said funding is still up in the air.

How violence against officers affects police, first repsonders

Chapman said she understands that the realignment process means a big change for many CCS families. She said she wants those impacted to know this isnt a process the district takes lightly.

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They are big decisions for the families, for the staff members and so we want to make sure that we are being very thoughtful and very intentional as it relates to the planning, Chapman said.

The first phase of the realignment process is starting in the fall with Broadleigh and Moler schools.

Chapman said she will continue to provide frequent updates on the process and timeline at future school board meetings.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Columbus City Council has authorized funding to help a program city leaders said is vital in the fight against domestic violence.

Monday, the city council authorized $345,130 from the general fund to keep the Advocacy Crisis Team for Domestic Violence (ACT-DV), a partnership between Columbus police and Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Center of Family Safety and Healing.

City leaders hope the money will help expand the program.

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How ACT-DV works is when police respond to a domestic violence situation, they will call advocates with Nationwide Childrens Hospital to the scene to focus on the victims.

When surveyed officers shared their confidence in ACT-DV and saying the partnership provides a better response in producing results for victims than other programs, Dr. Joanne Lunceford, deputy director of the Office of Violence Prevention, said at Mondays Columbus City Council meeting.

This allows the Office of Violence Prevention to enter a one-year contract with the center. The money will keep the partnership going between the police department and the hospital instead of having to outsource for advocates.

Expanding ACT-DV services would provide the opportunity to continue building trust and safe options for some of our most vulnerable community members, Lunceford said.

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At Mondays meeting, Lunceford said the hope is to bring on more advocates, having one for each police zone.

ACT-DV started as a pilot program in 2023. Nationwide said it expanded in 2024 and is now fully available in two zones of the city, but can be available in all areas if called.

Once the scene is secured, advocates will arrive. This frees police to focus on the investigation while the advocate can focus on helping the victim.

Our goal is to get out to make sure that person feels grounded at a very chaotic and confusing time, then we work alongside officers knowing we have a different role, Amber Howell, a clinical supervisor for the Center for Family Safety and Healing, said.

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City leaders declared domestic violence an emergency, saying the program has been extremely helpful but noting difficulties with staffing.

The ordinance will officially take effect once signed by Mayor Andrew Ginther.

The team responded to more than 220 calls in 2024.

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Explosions were heard in the city Kharkiv on the night of 3-4 June as the Russians launched a missile strike on civilian business premises and attacked with drones. One person has been injured.

Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov; local media outlets; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote from Terekhov: "Several explosions were heard in Kharkiv.

The city is under enemy UAV attack. Be careful."

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Details: An air-raid warning in Kharkiv was issued at 02:28.

Updated: Later, Syniehubov reported that "a powerful explosion has been heard in Kharkiv".

After that, he confirmed the Russian strike had been recorded in the Novobavarskyi district in Kharkiv, according to early reports.

Terekhov reported a missile strike on civilian business premises.

Quote from Terekhov: "According to updated information from our Situation Centre, missile hits were recorded on civilian business premises in the Novobavarskyi district."

Details: Later, Syniehubov and Terekhov reported that Kharkiv was under Russian UAV attack.

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Terekhov also added that one person had been injured in the strike on the Novobavarskyi district.

"Medical personnel are providing all the necessary treatment to a 30-year-old man," Syniehubov added.

After 03:00, Terekhov and local media outlets reported a series of explosions in the city.

Quote from Terekhov: "A strike on a residential area in the Novobavarskyi district has been recorded."

Quote from Syniehubov: "A house caught fire in the Novobavarskyi district due to the enemy UAV hit."

Details: Terekhov reported that strikes had caused large-scale fires in Kharkiv.

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Quote from Terekhov: "Large-scale fires broke out in industrial zones as a result of several enemy drone strikes on Kharkiv. A house is also burning. All the appropriate services are working at the scenes."

Updated: The all-clear was given in Kharkiv at 04:05.

Syniehubov reported that civilian business premises were affected and a house and car service station building caught fire over an area of 200 sq m in the combined enemy missile and UAV attack on Kharkiv.

Terekhov confirmed that, according to early reports, the Russians had launched 10 drone strikes on Kharkiv, including the Novobavarskyi district.

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Quote from Terekhov: "According to updated information from our Situation Centre, the enemy used nine Shahed drones and two missiles, the type of which is being determined, for the attack on Kharkiv last night.

Fires broke out at four locations in the industrial zone. A house was also on fire.

One person is known to have been injured in the Novobavarskyi district."

Details: The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office published a video of the aftermath of the Russian attack in the morning. Suspilne shared photos of the consequences of the strike on the Novobavarskyi district in Kharkiv.

Terekhov reported that the attack on Kharkiv had lasted an hour and a half at night. The Russians used two missiles and eight Shahed drones, one of which did not explode. The rest reached their targets. The Novobavarskyi district was affected.

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The Russians targeted civilian infrastructure and businesses, including residential buildings, a car service station building and a park. In total, hits were recorded at seven locations.

A workshop belonging to one business and premises belonging to another were damaged. There was a large-scale fire. A 30-year-old man was injured, and doctors stabilised his condition.

A car service station, a house, a garage and an outbuilding were also on fire. Seven more homes nearby were affected.

A warehouse roof was damaged, a Russian target hit the ground, and 600 sq m of grass burned. The power grid was affected and an unexploded Shahed drone was found.

    . :    pic.twitter.com/4276UxxJKE     (@ukrpravda_news) June 4, 2025

Firefighter extinguishing a fire

Photo: Suspilne

Roof burning

Photo: Suspilne

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Car service station building on fire

Photo: Suspilne

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Dividend investing is gaining traction in 2025 as tariffs and macroeconomic uncertainties continue to weigh on market sentiment. Research from S&P Global shows that dividend stocks with a strong history of growth have historically delivered higher returns with lower volatility compared to the S&P 500.

Last month, someone asked investors on r/Dividends  a Reddit community with over 730,000 followers  whether anyone was living off dividend income. The question drew an overwhelming response, with many investors sharing their advice and experience.

Don't Miss:

An investor said that he was living off dividends from a diversified portfolio of stocks and funds. He advised Redditors to first pay off all debts and avoid being a "slave" to banks.

"Life is great and we are blessed with dividends!" he wrote. "Invest in quality dividend stocks in all sectors and dont waste money on material things you dont need but enjoy life!"

The investor, 62, said in a separate comment that he and his wife are retired and their portfolio includes a lot of "qualified" dividend stocks with an average yield of 9%.

"Retired and enjoying dividends without depleting my initial investment. I am diversified across all sectors," he said.

Trending: Invest where it hurts  and help millions heal: Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold.

Let's take a look at some of the top dividend stocks and funds in his portfolio.

Energy Transfer LP Unit

Energy Transfer LP Unit (NYSE:ET) was among the top high-yield energy dividend stocks in the Redditor's portfolio. The Texas-based company has a dividend yield of about 7.4%. The stock is down 12% so far this year.

Enterprise Products Partners

Texas-based Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE:EPD) is a midstream energy company with a dividend yield of about 6.8%. The stock recently fell after the company warned that its ethane and butane exports could be impacted due to a new US government licensing requirement for exports to China.

Dow Inc.

Chemicals giant Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) was among the top holdings of the investor living off dividends. The stock has a dividend yield of about 10%. In April, Bank of America downgraded the stock to Underperform from Buy, citing weakening global demand, rising trade barriers and elevated feedstock costs. The stock has lost about 29% so far this year.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) is expanding his probe into former President Bidens mental acuity by demanding interviews with some of his former top aides.

Comer on Wednesday sent letters to former chief-of-staff Ron Klain, senior adviser Anita Dunn, former counselor Steve Ricchetti, and aides Michael Donilon and Bruce Reed.

The scope of your responsibilities  both official and otherwise  and personal interactions within the Oval Office cannot go without investigation. If White House staff carried out a strategy lasting months or even years to hide the chief executives condition  or to perform his duties  Congress may need to consider a legislative response, Comer wrote in a letter to Klain.

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While the letters demand a transcribed interview, they also ask the recipients if they will require a subpoena to compel your attendance.

The Hill reached out to Klain and a representative for Dunn for comment but was not immediately able to reach the other aides for comment.

Comer during the last Congress requested interviews with three other White House aides, as well as Bidens physician.

New books, including Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, have reignited debate about Bidens mental acuity while in office and whether he experienced cognitive decline.

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Since President Trump took office, the GOP has taken a number of steps focusing on Biden.

The White House confirmed Tuesday that pardon attorney Ed Martin would be reviewing Bidens pardons for his family members, as well as some other clemencies granted during his final days in office.

And the Justice Department last month released the full tapes of Bidens interview with special counsel Robert Hur, one in which the attorney said Biden appeared to have memory lapses. While president, Biden released the full transcript of the conversation.

Biden, through a spokesperson, has rejected claims he did not have the mental acuity to manage the presidency.

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We continue to await anything that shows where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or where national security was threatened or where he was unable to do his job, a spokesperson said in response to the book release.

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BOSTON (SHNS)  Representatives on one legislative committee are not ready to decide whether one of the most controversial proposals on their plate should move forward early in the lawmaking term.

Legislators last week asked for a 30-day extension on a bill that would authorize physician-assisted suicide (H 2505), according to the House clerks office, keeping it idling in the Public Health Committee through a Tuesday event that drew both supporters and opponents of the long-debated policy.

Backers of the proposal, which has stalled out without a House or Senate vote for multiple terms in a row, argued they made historic progress last session by winning support from both the Public Health Committee and Health Care Financing Committee.

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In its first hearing of the 2025-2026 term, the Public Health Committee solicited testimony on the bill, which the panel said started a new 60-day clock for action on all House bills on the agenda. Melissa Stacy, northeast regional advocacy manager for Compassion and Choices, said that early hearing suggests momentum is continuing this session.

Terminally ill people in Massachusetts are dying with needless, unbearable pain and suffering. Hospice and palliative care are incredible programs, but they cannot alleviate all pain and suffering for all people, Stacy said. The end of life options act puts the choice to alleviate unbearable suffering in the hands of the terminally ill patients where it belongs.

Like they did last year, about a dozen opponents of the bill once again gathered at the State House advocacy event attended by roughly 50 supporters. Organizers briefly interacted with one opponent and appeared to attempt to block the view of his sign, which read Say NO to assisted suicide, before backing off when a pair of lawmakers came over to chat.

The protestors stood silently for the duration of the event, holding signs in the corners of Nurses Hall or directly behind the podium so that symbols of both support and opposition were visible to all onlookers.

An opponent of medical aid in dying attempts to hold up a sign criticizing the controversial policy at an event hosted by supporters on June 3, 2025. (Chris Lisinski/SHNS)

As she stepped up to speak, bill co-author Sen. Jo Comerford thanked opponents for their presence.

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This is not an easy conversation to have, yet in this State House, we welcome democratic engagement, we welcome debate, we welcome dissent, the Northampton Democrat said. If we werent asking important questions about whether or not assisted suicide could be made safe  and I do believe its made safe in this bill, I do believe that  we wouldnt be doing our jobs. This is too important a bill for us not to engage seriously with, so you are welcome here.

If there are ways to make this stronger, lets do it together, friends. We are not railroading this bill through the State House, she added.

Some disability advocacy groups continue to fight the idea, arguing that legalizing medical aid in dying could expose vulnerable patients to discrimination or coercion.

Were concerned about medical mistakes, insurance denial, people who feel like a burden. Thats one of the main reasons that people use [medical aid in dying], to save money for their heirs, John Kelly, director of opposition group Second Thoughts MA, said.

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The bill, a version of which is also filed in the Senate (S 1486), would allow mentally sound adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to voluntarily make an oral request for medical aid in dying and a prescription for medication that the patient can choose to self-administer to bring about a peaceful death.

For years, the topic has generated intense, emotional debate. Voters in 2012 narrowly rejected a ballot question by a margin of 51% to 49% that would have authorized an earlier medical aid in dying proposal.

Matt Valliere, executive director of the Patients Rights Action Fund group, said he believes top House and Senate Democrats are actually quite divided about the proposal.

This is not a priority issue for the party, and so why would you split the party in a dogfight on the floor over a non-priority issue? Valliere told the News Service.

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Supporters will need to wait up to a month longer to learn if the House bill will again advance through the Public Health Committee.

The House adopted rules reforms this term instructing House chairs of joint committees to make final reports on timely filed bills within 60 calendar days of a hearing. Those top-ranking representatives can seek an additional 30 days, after which the House would need to grant unanimous consent on a further extension order.

The extension pushes the due date for action under House rules to July 1.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Community advocates want a one-stop shop for domestic violence victims to get the help they need. Advocates believe that there are too many obstacles in the way and that a new building would help.

Harbor House of Central Florida, along with partners like the Alliance for Hope, is continuing the work of bringing a Family Justice Center to Orange County and the City of Orlando.

Wednesday, leaders showed designs for the facility.

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The designs include well-furnished lobbies, collaborative workspaces, forensic medical centers, interview rooms on site, and childrens rooms.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said offering the services in one location is much needed to end the domestic abuse crisis.

The bulk of what we do is domestic violence and elder abuse, human trafficking, and child abuse, Sheriff Mina said. To have the services in one centralized location is something Im supportive of.

In January, a study followed a Central Florida survivor for three days. To get the support they needed, the survivor had to go to 14 different appointments and fill out 150 pages of paperwork.

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A Family Justice Center would eliminate this process and have all of the needed services co-located in one place so that the survivor can share their story once.

The goal is to invite survivors into a community of support and care where there is equality and respect and dignity, Casey Gwinn, the President for Alliance for Hope International, said. They are trying to work with people who are trying to help them.

The project is still very early in the development process. Leaders will continue to discuss designs, funding, locations, and the exact services that would be offered at a Central Florida location.

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse can contact Harbor House online here Harbor House of Central Florida | Domestic Violence Shelters or over the phone at (407) 886-2856.

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Michael Littman, a professor of computer science at Brown University, joined 12 News at 4 Tuesday to discuss the rise of artificial intelligence and its potential implications.

Littman also explains how to determine whether an image or video is authentic or was made using AI.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.

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MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WATE)  Summertown Metals announced Wednesday that it plans to expand operations in Morristown, investing $22.6 million and creating 170 jobs.

Founded in 2006, Summertown Metals is a custom building materials distributer with facilities in Summertown and Hohenwald. This will be the first time it has expanded outside of Southern Middle Tennessee.

New hotel could be coming to Morristown, city council changes height restrictions

We are ecstatic that Summertown Metals has chosen Morristown and Hamblen County to be its latest expansion location. Their leadership has landed in a great location as East Tennessee is an epicenter for growth. The site chosen is adjacent to the interstate and also part of the redevelopment of our Lowland area makes it a great fit for everyone. Summertown Metals, we are glad you are here with your many great products and in the words of Summertown Metals, Building Dreams That Last. Hamblen County Mayor Chris Cutshaw

The company said expanding into East Tennessee will give the company additional space for metal roll forming, steel and wood truss manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. According to its website, the investment is planned come over the next five years.

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Youth sports helping boost hotel demand in Morristown

We are honored by the trust our clients place in our services and products and are excited about the opportunity to serve our clients better with our new East Tennessee location! said Summertown Metals CSO Matt Stoll.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
This story was updated with additional information.

An Oakland County district court judge is facing a public misconduct complaint with accusations that she failed for months to produce a report on a psychological exam she underwent, "bullied" court staff, created "a climate of fear" that obstructed work in the courthouse and improperly dismissed cases.

Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig of 52-4 District Court in Troy was formally accused in a complaint announced June 4 by the Judicial Tenure Commission, the state's judicial oversight body.

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The complaint is the first step in a court-like process, after which the Michigan Supreme Court could decide to suspend or remove a judge, at the most severe.

Hartig could not immediately be reached for comment, but a spokesperson, Daniel Cherrin of Royal Oak-based public affairs and communications firm North Coast Strategies, issued a statement on her behalf, saying the judge respects the important role of the commission and has patiently waited for the chance to address the allegations against her.

After years of inquiry, the Commission has produced a complaint based on disputed claims and a flawed process," he said in the statement, later adding: "The public deserves confidence in both the judiciary and its oversight. That confidence depends on transparency grounded in fact, not fiction.

Judge Hartig has served the public and the bench for more than a decade with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to justice. The Commission is expected to do the same.

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Hartig has 14 days to issue a formal response to the commission.

The filing piles on both new and old allegations on the embattled judge, along with concerns about the judges mental health.

Her list of alleged judicial failings in the complaint begins, Prior to April 2024 the Commission investigated allegations that respondent had committed certain misconduct in her capacity as a judge.

The Commission investigation showed that respondents mental health was in issue.

The commission ordered Hartig to undergo a psychological exam, which she did in May 2024, according to the complaint. The facility completed its report in June that year, but it took six months of probing and extensions for Hartig to hand the report over.

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What the psychological evaluation found is unclear. The commission redacted, or blacked out, a line of the complaint describing that finding. In a footnote, the commission stated the line was redacted at Hartigs request pending a determination by presiding authorities as to whether it should be kept sealed during the pendency of the proceedings.

Cherrin declined to comment on the matter.

The commission also accuses Hartig of misdeeds, including:

Improperly dismissing felony cases with prejudice  so the cases cant be brought again  to punish prosecutors amid a scheduling dispute. In one case, the ruling was tied to a police officer unable to come to court because they had COVID-19. In all cases, the commission says Hartig only had the authority to dismiss the cases without prejudice.

Telling an attorney that his arguments made her want to put a hatchet in his neck.

Berating some court workers with false accusations about mismanaging drug court funds.

Making a pregnant probation officer stand up to display her stomach to Zoom participants.

Telling a magistrate to handle some of her motions, outside of her authority.

Criticizing probation officers, including for seeing anothers probationer, and when she was told the interaction felt like bullying, saying one was no longer allowed in her chambers.

Making false statements in her responses to the commission, including about who filed the request for investigation against her. Shed gotten a copy showing her initial accusers were her chief judge at the time, Judge Joseph Fabrizio, and the regional state court administrator.

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The complaint also reawakens longtime concerns of a former court administrator, Dana ONeal.

As previously reported by the Free Press, ONeal filed a lawsuit against the county, saying she was wrongfully terminated after making complaints about Hartig mistreating staff and the public.

Hartig denied the allegations of creating a hostile work environment and said the administrator was doing a poor job, but the county settled the lawsuit in 2023 with a $100,000 payout

The complaint from the oversight body accuses the judge of telling ONeal in various ways, starting in 2018, that she always had to be available, including during scheduled absences.

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The commission states Hartig criticized ONeal for taking too much time off when she went to a funeral, said she had to tell both judges when she left the building, and also told ONeal she had to let staff know where she was going when she left her personal office.

Hartig also asked ONeal to find substitutes for absent staff, which wasnt her job, the complaint says.

Similar to the O'Neal matter, the dismissal of the felony cases was raised in 2022 by the Oakland County Prosecutors Office.

The office said in a court filing that Hartig was frequently reversed on appeal and has a long-standing practice of seeking to impose her own personal view of what the law should be via the criminal cases before her.

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Hartig, at the time, said prosecutors knew she wanted them to appear in person, and they did not heed the law.

"They didnt do their job and now theyd like to blame the judge for enforcing the law, she said.

A public complaint itself is a rarity for the tenure commission. Even when judges are found to be at fault, their misconduct cases are most often resolved behind closed doors. The process can also take years.

Hartig, however, is the third Michigan judge in recent months to have a formal, public complaint issued against them.

The 52-4 District Court handles cases in Troy and Clawson.

52-4 District Court Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig

More: Taylor judge called chief judge names, flipped off security cameras, complaint says

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The chief judge of Hartigs court ordered that she be restricted to civil, landlord-tenant and small claims cases as of May 27.

Following the chief judge's order but before the announcement by the commission, Bill Mullan, public information officer for Oakland County, said in an email that: "The order was issued to ensure fairness in the courtroom."

On Wednesday, Chief Judge Travis Reeds said in a statement that he removed Hartig from the most serious cases based on the information he had at the time.

"Now that a formal complaint has been filed, further action may be appropriate," he said in the statement. "I believe temporarily removing her from her full docket would be in the best interest of the court and the communities we serve.

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Whether official action had been taken to do so was not immediately clear.

More: Troy court worker who claimed judge was bully, abusive accepts $100K secret settlement

More: No teeth: Cases of 2 embattled Michigan judges highlight concerns with accountability

More: Visitors from Norway, fan pages, gifts: How judges' online fame affects Michigan courts

Hartig was first elected to the bench in 2010 and was elected to her third six-year term in November 2022.

Free Press staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Complaint: Oakland County Judge Hartig created 'climate of fear'
NORTH ALABAMA (WHNT)  Food insecurity is increasing across North Alabama, according to a recent study by Feeding America.

187,180 people are struggling to afford food, including 44,860 children, in the counties the Food Bank of North Alabama serves.

Its continued to increase, said CEO Shirley Schofield. We were kind of hoping that we werent going to see an increase again and to see it continue to increase has cost us a little bit of concern.

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Schofield said she has also seen more children needing food assistance during the summer. In rural areas, like Jackson, Dekalb, and Marshall counties, food insecurity is higher. The groups of people facing hunger are also starting to broaden.

We see a lot of people who are working, its still just hard. she said. Sometimes they dont have benefits. They might be working two jobs but without insurance. If one major thing happens, then that can divert food away from their table.

Despite an increase in demand, she said the food bank has been hit by recent cuts to federal programs. She said the Food Bank will need to rely heavier than ever on private donations and campaigns.

A food bank is really reliant on volunteers and donations and when we have to start using funding to pay for food, it really does kind of get things out of kilter and it makes it more difficult for us in the long run, she said.

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While Schofield said she understands the need for government efficiency, she said shes concerned about the effects of cutting social programs on low-income families.

Its important, you know, right now as were thinking about some of the changes that are happening federally, is to really think about how that can impact us locally and it can really devastate our community, she said. When everything is so expensive right now and theres just so much need in our community, growing need in our community, that this might not be the best time to start looking at ways to really impact the people who need us the most.

To help fight hunger, Schofield recommends contacting local representatives and voicing support for food assistance programs. The Food Bank of North Alabama accepts monetary and food donations and Schofield said even a few dollars can go a long way.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
New satellite imagery and an official video have revealed more about the scale of destruction and damage inflicted on Russian airfields in Ukraines unprecedented drone attacks last weekend. Today, the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, which carried out the drone attacks, published previously unreleased drone footage showing the raid underway. At the same time the SBU video was released, Ukraine also announced more details of the drone attacks, which were carried out under Operation Spiderweb.

You can catch up with our previous reporting about the operation and its aftermath here.

     ,     41     



 https://t.co/OSxqEsI9CDpic.twitter.com/aGSZNEsoX3    (@ServiceSsu) June 4, 2025

A Ukrainian PFV-type drone perspective of a Tu-22M3 and, behind it, an Il-78M Midas aerial refueling tanker. SBU screencap

Front view of a Tu-22M3. SBU screencap

The SBU claims that its drones used artificial intelligence (AI) during at least some aspects of the operation. During the operation, modern UAV control technology was used, which combines autonomous artificial intelligence algorithms and manual operator intervention, the SBU said. In particular, some UAVs, due to signal loss, switched to performing the mission using artificial intelligence along a pre-planned route. After approaching and contacting a specifically designated target, the warhead was automatically triggered.

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While we cannot confirm this, TWZ has, in the past, detailed exactly how AI can be harnessed for lower-end drones.

Ukraine's SBU says its drones used AI during Operation Spiderweb: "During the operation, modern UAV control technology was used, which combines autonomous artificial intelligence algorithms and manual operator intervention.



"In particular, some UAVs, due to signal loss, switched  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) June 4, 2025

Initially, Ukrainian authorities claimed to have hit a total of 41 aircraft, including Tu-95MS Bear-H and Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers, as well as A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft. However, these were clearly not all destroyed or even damaged.

Subsequently, Andriy Kovalenko, an official with Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, said that at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed.

Among those aircraft, the new video confirms that several of the Tu-95MS bombers were already loaded with Kh-101 conventionally armed cruise missiles, ready for launch against Ukraine, as seen in the image below. This fact underlines how big a threat these aircraft are to Ukraine and reinforces the fact that they are legitimate targets.

Rear view of a Tu-95MS with a Kh-101 cruise missile loaded under the wing. SBU screencap

Now, with the new satellite imagery, verification of at least some of these previous claims is becoming somewhat easier. Heres what we know so far for each of the airfields targeted:

Belaya Air Base

Soon after the drone strikes, ground-level videos of Belaya, which is situated in Russias eastern Irkutsk region, began to appear online, showing smoke rising from the base, confirming that at least something was hit.

Footage of a Ukrainian FPV strike drone flying towards Russias Belaya Airbase, already heavily burning.



The base, home to a number of bombers, was hit this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/JYFBqurknE  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025

Thereafter, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery obtained by TWZ from the U.S.-based ICEYE US pointed to at least four Tu-95MS bombers having been destroyed or at least damaged at Belaya. However, the resolution and the nature of SAR, which does not show the same kinds of details that would be available in visual spectrum imagery, made it difficult to definitively determine the state of any of the aircraft. That has since changed.

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Now, with new satellite imagery from Maxar, we can clearly see the remains of three destroyed Tu-95MS and four destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers at Belaya. While we cannot be certain of the operational status of the aircraft that were destroyed, most were arranged along the flight line or in blast pens among active aircraft, so theres a high possibility that these were frontline assets.

An overview of Belaya, after the drone strike, in satellite imagery from June 4. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

A closer view of two destroyed Tu-95MS aircraft at Belaya on June 4. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen

A group of Tu-22Ms aircraft at Belaya on June 4. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

A close-up shows two destroyed Tu-22M3 aircraft at Belaya. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

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Another destroyed Tu-22M3 at Belaya. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen

Additional satellite images of the Russian Belaya Air Base by Planet Labs. https://t.co/uyJVIa7lTb pic.twitter.com/NPOVwsLa5t  Special Kherson Cat   (@bayraktar_1love) June 4, 2025

5/ Additional high-resolution images from @AirbusDefence taken on 4 June over the Belaya airbase show an even clearer picture of destroyed Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft. pic.twitter.com/x1fXugxjDl  Open Source Centre (@osc_london) June 4, 2025

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Olenya Air Base

On June 1, video footage emerged showing Olenya, located in far northwestern Russia near the Barents Sea, from the perspective of cameras on first-person-view (FPV) type drones. This earlier footage suggested that Olenya was among the hardest-hit bases, with the drone videos showing that Tu-95MS bombers and an An-12 Cub cargo aircraft had been targeted.

A Ukrainian PFV-type drone perspective of an An-12 SBU screencap

A satellite image of Olenya taken on June 3 from Planet Labs appeared to show three Tu-95MS and one An-12 damaged and/or destroyed, but was too low-resolution to be conclusive.

Now, additional satellite imagery from Airbus Defense and Space, Maxar, and Planet Labs provides a better understanding of the destruction at Olenya, with telltale burn marks on the tarmac consistent with the destruction of five aircraft, at least three of which can be confirmed as Tu-95MS bombers.

Olenya, seen after the drone strike, in imagery dated June 4. The wreckage of two Tu-95MS aircraft is visible, while the clean-up operation has removed the remains of a third. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen

A closer view of two destroyed Tu-95MS aircraft at Olenya. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen

At opposite ends of the same flight line are further scorch marks, as seen in the oblique image in the embedded tweet below. Here, the nearest aircraft destroyed was likely the An-12, supported by a comparison with previous satellite imagery showing the transport intact in this location. Its not clear what aircraft might have been targeted at the other end of the flight line from the An-12 (the area seen at the very top of the frame in the oblique image). The most likely candidate is another Tu-95MS, which would appear to be consistent with some of the original video footage from the attack.

4/ Imagery taken on 23 May by @Satellogic of the Olenya airbase shows that two Tu-95 were at this location. A possible transport aircraft An-12 also appears to have been destroyed and another unidentified aircraft  both visible on the 3 June @AirbusDefence image posted above. pic.twitter.com/gQjBIraClM  Open Source Centre (@osc_london) June 4, 2025

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New raw footage of Russias Olenya airbase burning today, filmed by a Ukrainian FPV strike drone.



Four Tu-95 bombers and an An-22 transport plane can be seen ablaze. pic.twitter.com/GTki8t2XHl  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025

Ivanovo Air Base

Clear satellite imagery that might definitely show damage to aircraft at Ivanovo has yet to emerge, although a video released today by the SBU shows two A-50 being targeted. The location was presumably Ivanovo, where these radar planes are home-based.

Based on lower-resolution satellite imagery, there have been claims that two A-50s were at least hit at Ivanovo, although its by no means certain that this is the case. If the aircraft were hit, there is currently no evidence that they were destroyed outright.

From new satellite imagesfrom Ivanovo's Severny air base, one A-50 AEW is confirmed to be destroyed and second one is hit, not sure if unrepairable.



Other one was propably not in operational condition and was only parked in the airfield. https://t.co/m1gTQB9MUq pic.twitter.com/IqtewBxek7  Tomi     (@TallbarFIN) June 3, 2025

At the same time, its worth bearing in mind that Russias fleet of A-50s  two examples of which have already been destroyed in the air by Ukraine  normally conducts its wartime operations from forward bases closer to Ukraine. While A-50s rotate in and out of Ivanovo periodically, examples that might have been hit there could also be inactive aircraft, which are known to be stored at the base.

the question is what ac they actually hit.

There are a lot of inoperable A-50 at Ivanovo AB



we need evidence and no guessing https://t.co/HsfJVYNXKG pic.twitter.com/u4HZaPL1p5  ben-reuter (@benreuter_IMINT) June 3, 2025

Indeed, the aircraft seen in the SBU video may well have been non-operational, with highly weathered radomes, while at least one aircraft doesnt have a full set of engines fitted.

A Ukrainian PFV-type drone perspective of the A-50s that were attacked. It is very possible that neither of these aircraft was in active service, with evidence of missing engines. SBU screencap

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Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia was estimated to have nine A-50s, including a number of modernized A-50Us, in active service. As well as the two combat losses since then, one of these aircraft was damaged in a drone attack while on the ground at a base in Belarus, and its current status is unknown. Any further losses to the A-50 fleet will be very keenly felt.



Dyagilevo Air Base

A high-resolution satellite image of Dyagilevo from Planet Labs, taken on June 2 and reviewed by TWZ, showed no obvious signs of damage to any aircraft there. Still, some aircraft may have been damaged by shrapnel, against which relatively thin-skinned aircraft are notably vulnerable, and this would not necessarily be visible even in higher-resolution imagery.

 Satellite images of  Dyagilevo Airbase as of June 2, 8:55 UTC



The airbase housed 3 Tu-95MS (Bear-H), 5 Tu-22M3 (Backfire-C), 14 Il-78M or Il-76MD (Midas or Candid) and 2 Su-30SM (Flanker-C).



There was no serious damage after the Ukrainian special operation. In the right pic.twitter.com/BUz2h0t9aj  AviVector (@avivector) June 2, 2025

Ukrainka Air Base

Clear satellite imagery showing potential damage to aircraft at Ukrainka is yet to emerge. What little visual evidence we have of this airfield after the drone strikes is inconclusive, although there are claims, at least, of a single Tu-95MS having been hit. For now, these claims need to be treated with caution.

Its also worth noting that the tires, frequently scattered over the wings and upper fuselages of Russian bombers and other combat aircraft, and which are employed in this manner to confuse image-matching seekers on incoming munitions, appear to have been misidentified by some observers as evidence of damage or scorch marks.

A Ukrainian FPV-type drone perspective of a Tu-22M3 with tires and rubber matting on the wings. SBU screencap

While cloud cover has hindered the opportunity for more rapid and verifiable analysis of the results of Operation Spiderweb, we can now say, with certainty, that at least six (and more likely seven) Tu-95MS and four Tu-22M3 bombers were destroyed. While far short of some of the earlier Ukrainian claims, this still represents a significant loss to Russia, not least because its impossible to replace the Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3, both of which have been out of production for decades, as you can read more about here.

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While the new SBU video shows multiple drones landing on their targets before presumably exploding, it is possible that some made it to their final destinations and failed to detonate.

Additional satellite imagery could well reveal more aircraft destroyed or damaged, although, with each passing day, Russia is better able to conceal the results of the raid, disposing of wreckage and moving aircraft around to make it that much harder to create an accurate tally.

Clean-up of debris at Olenya Air Base as of June 4. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen

  Russians quickly replaced some of the destroyed aircraft with undamaged aircraft/decoys on their airfields, placing them in the exact same spots. pic.twitter.com/VvB9JgePzI   MilitaryNewsUA  (@front_ukrainian) June 4, 2025

At the same time, Russian aircrews are already making clear their reaction to the drone strikes, referencing the destroyed aircraft in the form of slogans on glide bombs launched by tactical combat aircraft, as seen below:

This is what Russian servicemen are now writing on FAB-500 UMPK guided aerial bombs installed under the wings of a Sukhoi Su-34 bomber:



"For Tu-22M3"



"For Tu-95MS"



"For Long-Range Aviation"



"For the train" pic.twitter.com/6cJRM5wem0  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) June 4, 2025

Whatever the final losses to the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Ukrainian drone strike will also have sent a shockwave all the way to the top of the Russian leadership, as well as military planners around the globe. The carefully planned operation visibly exposed the vulnerability of some of Russias prime strategic assets. For now, at least, there appears to be no quick-fix solution to protecting these high-value aircraft. This may well force Russia toward an even more highly dispersed positioning model, which will severely limit the bombers effectiveness for Ukraine operations.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Theres confusion and concern swirling around Dupont Circle ahead of WorldPride festivities this weekend.

The National Park Service (NPS) announced Monday evening that the neighborhoods central park and fountain would be closed to the public, but some D.C. leaders say that plan could be reversed.

The park has been home to past Pride celebrations, some of which left behind large amounts of litter and damage.

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DC police recinds request to close Dupont Circle park during WorldPride after pushback from DC community

The NPS said the move came at the request of the DC Police Department, and in efforts to stay in line with President Donald Trumps executive order to protect D.C. landmarks and monuments.

Councilmember Brooke Pinto told DC News Now she spoke with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith Tuesday morning and changed her mind.

We talked about some of her safety concerns and asked her to reverse the decision to make sure that the space could be opened to the public. And Im very grateful that she agreed to do so, said Pinto.

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MPD shared Smiths letter rescinding her request for non-scalable fencing and closure of the park Tuesday afternoon, though the letter acknowledges the final decision on the parks status this weekend lies with the NPS and U.S. Park Police (USPP).

Man seen tearing down Dupont Circle Pride decorations; DC police investigating

Confusion surrounding the Circle itself comes as D.C. Police are looking for someone who destroyed Pride decorations there Monday night.

Video filmed Monday evening and shared with DC News Now shows a man tearing down Pride decorations in Dupont Circle. Caleb Files was on a run in the neighborhood when he noticed what the man was doing, started recording and shared the clip on social media.

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Silence is complicity. In a time like this, I really wanted to make sure that we were showing the hate that people have in their hearts. And its sad, as were facing WorldPride, and its supposed to be a time for everybody to feel welcome here in the District, said Files.

Files said he told nearby police officers about what he saw and showed them the video. He said officers immediately began to search for the man and investigate.

MPD told DC News Now it is investigating the incident as a destruction of property crime with hate and bias against the LGBTQ community.

I hope that, if you have hate in your heart, that you can find something that overcomes that hate; we are not a hating people. Queer people need to be visible, especially in a time like this, said Files.

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DC News Now saw crews with the Dupont Circle BID replacing the banners on Tuesday. Neighbors said their Pride celebrations and decorations will not be swayed.

It was upsetting at first, said one neighbor. As I am walking down the street, I just see joy everywhere. One little bad apple tears down one poster, a new poster is going to go up the following day.

As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the NPS had not yet confirmed the reversal of the decision to close Dupont Circle park this weekend.

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CONNEAUT  City council passed an ordinance to issue and sell $225,000 in bonds to pay a portion of costs of work on Broad Street at a special meeting Monday.

The work on Broad Street will extend from just north of the Norfolk Southern underpass to Route 20 and is being paid for by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the city.

Council had passed a similar ordinance issuing and selling $175,000 to pay for the project at a March 24 meeting.

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Conneaut City Manager Nick Sanford informed council at an April 28 meeting they would need to pass another ordinance for bonds after bids for the project came in higher than expected.

There will also be work on Broad Street from Liberty to Route 20 as part of the citys 2025 road projects.

Sanford does not expect work on Broad Street to affect the Soapbox Derby, he said at a work session.

The contractor for that project is at least four to six weeks out on expected delivery of precast inlet basins for the storm sewers, he said. We dont expect to see any activity on that site for a while.

Sanford estimates the project may start around July or August.

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He added at a work session, the city sent out the first advertisement for bids Friday for the 2025 road projects. The second round of bids go out Friday.

Bids open June 12, Sanford said.

Alongside Broad Street, there will also be bids for Main Street from Mill to Harbor streets, Salem Street from its eastern terminus to Rowe Street and Day Street from Lake Road to Erie Street.

There are also an alternate bids to chip and seal South Ridge Road West from Route 7 to the Kingsville Township line and for additional asphalt paving.

Council passed a Community Housing and Preservation Partnership Agreement with the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners.

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Sanford said the agreement is a partnership with the county that the cities of Geneva and Ashtabula also participate in and relates to the states Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program.

Its a very fast turnaround process, he said.

Sanford said at a work session he is reaching out to CSX about the companys railroad underpass on Broad Street.

Ive requested any and all documentation that the railroad may have inspection wise, he said.

Sanford said he is not sure if the company will fulfill the request.

I want to get ahead of this, because I know its been a hot topic in the city of Ashtabula, he said.

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Recently, Ashtabula city residents have raised concerns at Ashtabula City Council meetings and on social media about the conditions of the CSX underpass on Lake Avenue.

Sanford said Conneauts CSX bridge does not appear in the same condition as the one on Lake Avenue in Ashtabula.

Councilperson-at-large Mariana Branch brought up the topic of increasing wages for council members.

The wage increase could only go into effect in 2026 if it was passed this year, she said.

A wage increase for 2026 could not be voted on in 2026.

The city has received a bid from one firm out of Cleveland to conduct a utility rate study, Sanford said.

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They proposed a pretty nice task breakdown, he said. Total fees and expense just under $43,000.

Sanford said last weekends city clean up went well, and the city might have a second tire amnesty in the fall.

Second Ward Councilperson Chris Castrilla raised concerns about Rockwell Street, asking city employees to take a look at it.

Sanford requested the city have a public safety committee meeting.

Committee members at the work session decided to have the meeting before the city council meeting June 23.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -New tariffs on imported commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts could put air safety and the supply chain at risk or trigger other unintended consequences, groups representing global aerospace companies and U.S. airlines warned on Tuesday.

The industry already faces 10% tariffs on nearly all imported planes and parts after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping duties on trade partners in April. Last month, the Commerce Department opened an investigation known as Section 232 looking at risks to U.S. national security from imported goods, which could be used as a basis for even higher tariffs on imported planes, engines and parts.

The Aerospace Industries Association, which represents Boeing, Airbus, RTX, GE Aerospace and hundreds of other companies, urged the Commerce Department in a filing to extend the public comment period on Section 232 by 90 days and impose no new tariffs for at least 180 days.

The group also urged further consultation with industry on "any Section 232 tariffs to ensure they accurately reflect national security concerns and do not put the supply chain and aviation safety at risk."

The AIA highlighted how a fire at a Pennsylvania aerospace fastener supplier in February has impacted production and the difficulties in sourcing parts from new suppliers.

"It may take up to 10 years to establish a new domestic supplier and ensure they meet necessary, rigorous safety certifications," the group wrote.

Airlines for America, the trade group representing American Airlines , United Airlines , Delta Air Lines, and other major carriers warned tariffs could hike plane tickets and shipping rates.

"Injecting higher costs into the commercial aviation sector will weaken our economic and national security and have a material and debilitating impact on the domestic commercial aviation industrys ability to grow, compete, innovate and invest," the airlines wrote in comments seen by Reuters that were filed with the Commerce Department.

The tariffs could dismantle the recovering aviation supply chain, result in more counterfeit parts entering the market and result in a cascade of challenges and unintended consequences, the trade group said.

Airlines and manufacturers have been lobbying Trump to restore a tariff-free regime under the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement, in which the U.S. sector enjoyed a $75 billion annual trade surplus. According to the agreement, parts must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to be deemed tariff-free.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Nia Williams)
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  With a pair of votes late Tuesday evening, Connecticut lawmakers gave final approval to the next two-year $55.8 billion state budget and a sweeping piece of energy legislation that proponents say will deliver modest electricity bill relief to ratepayers around the state.

The two-year budget easily passed through the State Senate with the support of the chambers Democrats, who outnumber Republicans by a 2-1 margin.

Connecticut state lawmakers in last stages of finalizing energy bill

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The GOPs 11-member senate caucus stood in uniform opposition to the spending plan.

The budget includes priorities championed by Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative Democrats.

Key spending initiatives include more than $200 million for a new universal pre-K program, a new tax break for low income families, and tens of millions of additional dollars to aide local school districts and special education programs.

In the state House, legislators gave nearly unanimous approval to the energy bill, which will shift hundreds of millions of dollars of costs currently being borne by ratepayers in the form of the public benefits charge on electricity bills.

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In its current form, the public benefits charge collects hundreds of millions of dollars annually to fund government-directed energy programs including the procurement of renewable energy and initiatives to help low-income ratepayers when they cant pay their bills.

Connecticut House Democrats advance $55.8 billion two-year state budget plan

Instead of asking every ratepayer to share the costs of those programs, the new energy legislation will rely on state borrowing for funding.

Those cost shifts will deliver modest relief to the average ratepayer, legislators said, with reductions estimated at around $100 or more per year depending on the amount of electricity each ratepayer uses.

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Both the budget and the energy legislation have the support of the governor.

He released a statement after the final approval, saying the budget is balanced and sensible.

His full statement is below:

This is a balanced, sensible budget that is under the spending cap, provides predictability and stability for residents, businesses, and municipalities, and holds the line on taxes while keeping us on a sound fiscal path. Importantly, it includes significant investments in our education system, beginning with historic levels of support for early childhood education, up through our K-12 public schools and our higher education institutions. It also protects our social services safety net, prioritizing our health and human services providers and increasing support for our most vulnerable residents, including seniors and those who have disabilities, who receive Medicaid.

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And while we are doing all of this, we are continuing to make historic and long-overdue payments into the pension system, preserve the strength of our fiscal guardrails, and make fiscally responsible investments into the rainy day fund that will protect our state against any potential economic headwinds we may face in the future.

While other states are increasing taxes and cutting services, economic analysts are pointing to Connecticut as an example of a state that has worked hard to maintain fiscal stability and make the smart decisions that are critical for economic growth.

The current legislative session ends on Wednesday at midnight.

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(Photo courtesy of Pixabay | Public domain).

Conservation groups argued in federal court that a forest management project comprising 1,241 acres of timber harvest east of Helena may violate several federal statutes, but the government lawyers said rules were followed and the timber sale has economic and public interest benefits.

Three conservation groups, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Native Ecosystems Council and the Council on Fish and Wildlife filed suit against the U.S. Forest Service in the U.S. District Court in Missoula against the Wood Duck Project and seek a preliminary injunction to halt work.

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On Tuesday, they argued their case before Judge Dana Christensen, alleging the project violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Forest Management Act, that the government had failed to include data showing possible negative impact on wildlife, and that the Forest Service had ignored points of concern from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

This is not just a procedural claim. It is a hard look at substantive environmental protections, Rebecca Smith, counsel for the conservation groups, said during arguments on June 3.

Smith argued two species in particular would be harmed by the logging project  elk and grizzly bears  due to an increased density of temporary roads constructed.

As part of the forest management project, two companies were awarded timber sales.

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One company, Sun Mountain Lumber, which was awarded 356 acres of timber sale, filed as a party to the lawsuit, claiming substantial harm if the project is halted.

Sun Mountain Lumber began its operations on the sale last fall, constructing several miles of temporary road and cutting 199 acres of lumber, according to court documents. Its operations are expected to resume around mid-June.

Judge Christensen raised the timing of the lawsuit as a potential issue to the plaintiffs claims.

I dont understand, when weve got an (environmental assessment) that was issued in April of 2024, a contract that was awarded to Sun Mountain on September 17 of 2024, why we had to wait until logging activities are about to resume up there and come into this court and seek temporary relief? Christensen said. That concerns me.

Mountain big sagebrush near Cabin Gulch in the Big Belt Mountains near Townsend, MT. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

The Wood Duck Project is located in the Townsend Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in the Big Belt Mountains. The total project area is roughly 70,000 acres, of which there will be 1,241 acres of commercial logging, 15 miles of temporary road construction, 10 miles of road reconstruction and 8 miles of road reconditioning.

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A portion of the temporary roads will be constructed in elk wintering grounds, according to the project plan, which the plaintiffs argue will decrease elk habitat effectiveness.

90 to 95% of the elk in this hunting district are already being displaced from public National Forest lands because of poor (habitat) elk security. And these are areas that would otherwise provide good elk habitat if there was security, Smith said, quoting from comments made by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks about the project. There is nowhere in the project (environmental assessment) that the Forest Service disclose to the public that the current status of this area is that already 90 to 95% of elk are being displaced.

The plaintiffs also challenged the logging project on the basis of affecting grizzly bear habitat connectivity. Although there is no known population of grizzlies in the Big Belts, the area provides a possible route between grizzlies in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, centered around the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and Yellowstone National Park. The plaintiffs argued that increased road density harms that connectivity.

(Part of the project area) already has a road density of 2.6 miles per square mile. That is far and away, a road density level that is too high for grizzly bears, Smith said. Its not really possible for the Forest Service to say that its maintaining connectivity for grizzly bears in this area.

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But Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Nordhagen Cziok, said the plaintiffs were mischaracterizing their arguments as a false choice between logging, and elk and grizzly bears.

Really this entire case is meant to work towards vegetative desired conditions, and that means ensuring that theres health in the forest, making sure that the trees are resilient to changes in the environment, like fires, drought, disease, Cziok said, adding that the species of concern would ultimately benefit.

In her arguments, Cziok said the plaintiffs had failed to show they would suffer irreparable harm from the logging, the last-minute timeline showed a lack of urgency, and the Forest Services environmental assessment had correctly weighed possible harms to wildlife.

Cziok added the logging project was substantially changed during the public processes that accompany an environmental assessment, including in response to comments by FWP, cutting it from a 3,000-acre logging operation to one half that size.

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Really, the project we are considering today is not the same project that Fish, Wildlife and Parks wrote to the Forest Service about. Its a very different project, she told the court. Importantly, at the beginning of that letter Fish, Wildlife and Parks said, We are generally in favor of this project. Thats because this project seeks to maintain a healthy, diverse forest.

Tyson McLean, attorney for Sun Mountain Lumber, said the company has made significant investment in the Wood Duck sale, could lose up to $3 million in revenue if the sale is halted, and that the harvested lumber would support operations of the companys lumber mills for months.

At a time where lumber mills in Montana have been closing due to labor shortages and low lumber prices, timber sales like Wood Duck are essential to the remaining mills, McLean said.

Sun Mountain employs approximately 65 people at its Livingston mill whose livelihoods would be jeopardized by the delay or cancellation of harvest activities, he told the court. Sun Mountain is unable to pivot and find another viable option to replace the raw material that they are planning on or the volume of timber from the Wood Duck timber sale.

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Its too late, McLean said.

Smith, on behalf of the conservation groups, said at the end of arguments that because the Sun Mountain timber sale was partially completed, the plaintiffs would be open to allowing the remaining 143 acres to be logged, and would seek an injunction against the remaining timber sales.

Christensen said he would work to deliver an expedient ruling due to the impending restart of Sun Mountains operations, but again took issue with the plaintiffs last-minute actions in the case.

I do not like getting motions for temporary restraining orders days or weeks before a project is to recommence where logging has already taken place, when this claim could have been brought 10 months ago, Christensen said. I am getting overwhelmed with requests for temporary restraining orders  overwhelmed  and every time a temporary restraining order is filed  that takes priority over everything else that Im doing. And when I have a case where the issues could have been brought before me months ago that now has found its way into a temporary restraining order, Im concerned.

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Two of the conservation groups were previously successful in halting a large-scale logging project near Townsend in 2024, settling a suit with the Forest Service. The settlement allowed the government to proceed with a project tens of thousands of acres smaller than originally proposed.

Wood Duck preliminary injunction brief

U.S. Forest Service opposition to motion for injunction
DENVER (KDVR)  Carter Lake reservoir is getting ready to undergo some upgrades. The 1,100-acre reservoir located in the foothills northwest of Berthoud and southwest of Loveland is on the verge of a multi-year construction project.

The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources said on Tuesday that preliminary staging work is being initiated at the reservoir, in preparation for a project the agency says is aimed at improving roads and enhancing visitor access at both Carter Lake and Horsetooth reservoirs.

National Western Center to begin expansion on equestrian center, hotel

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The construction project  which will have multiple phases  is being partially funded by the Colorado Federal Lands Access Program, according to the LCDNR.

Mobilization activities at Carter Lake will include site surveying, staging construction equipment and materials and implementing stormwater mitigation measures, the LCDNR said.

Specific project areas set to undergo construction at Carter Lake include:

Eagle Campground main access road and parking lot repaving

County Road 31 turn lane expansion

Quarry Day Use parking lot construction

Big Thompson Day Use Area parking lot construction

North Pines Campground main access road and parking lot repaving

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Carter Lake and Horsetooth are the two largest and most visited reservoirs in Larimer County, according to the LCDNR, which said the two also rank in the top 10 in Colorado, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors each year.

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Visitors to Carter Lake are asked to follow posted safety protocols while construction is ongoing. Residents who would like more information about the project and to receive regular updates can visit the project website.

Construction at Carter Lake is expected to be completed by early 2026.

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A mixed-use development that will bring thousands of apartments and a grocery store to St. Petersburgs Skyway Marina District is starting to take shape after receiving funding from public and private backers.

The project, dubbed Sky Town, is slated for the former Ceridian office campus at 3201 34th St. S. Coral Gables-based developer Altis Cardinal bought the 32-acre property in 2021 for $40 million.

Were the largest community that has been approved in all of St. Pete, said Frank Guerra, principal of Altis Cardinal. Were putting a 24-hour kind of living situation together on this one 32-acre parcel.

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It will be built in six phases and is expected to cost between $750 and $800 million. Once complete, it will add 2,084 apartments, 69,000 square feet of retail space including a Sprouts Farmers Market and 120,000 square feet of self-storage.

This is the first Sprouts Farmers Market to open in St. Petersburg, and is slated to open in October. It joins four other locations in Pinellas County and 19 around Tampa Bay.

On Tuesday, Altis Cardinal secured a $68 million construction loan from Fifth Third Bank, according to records filed with the Pinellas County Clerks Office.

The developer also got approved for a $4.5 million forgivable loan from the City of St. Petersburg in April and a $5.5 million allocation from Pinellas County through the Penny for Pinellas sales tax.

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All this funding will go toward the first phase, which will feature 401 apartments and 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

Of those apartments, 121 will be designated as workforce housing. About half will be reserved for households that earn up to 120% of the area median income, which is currently about $87,600 for a single person or $125,160 for a family of four. The other half will be for those who earn up to 80% of the area median income  $58,450 for a single person or $83,450 for a family of four.

People could start moving in by the the third quarter of 2027.

Guerra said theyre already in talks to fill the retail space below. He envisions something neighborhood-oriented like a wine bar, restaurant, coffee shop, bakery or day spa.

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Building out the entire project could take eight to 10 years.

The Skyway Marina District is currently undergoing a transformation, with at least four other residential projects popping up within a stones throw of Sky Town.

But Guerra said what sets his development apart is the town-square feel it will have.

We are making a walkable community where people can get everything they need on site, said Guerra. We think our retail will draw people from outside the area.
An elite US consulting group has severed ties with an agency accused of weaponising aid in Gaza.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has launched an internal investigation into its role in helping to establish the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been criticised over its attempt to overhaul aid efforts in the region.

The partner who led the work has also been placed on administrative leave.

It comes amid mounting scrutiny of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation after dozens of Palestinians were shot dead near one of the organisations distribution sites over the weekend.

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Videos of civilians running for their lives to the sound of gunfire have gone viral online, amid accusations  bitterly denied by Israel  that more than 20 were shot dead by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday as order disintegrated at a distribution centre in the south of the Strip.

BCG said its consultants were first hired on a pro bono basis last year to help design the Gaza Humanitarian Foundations programme and run its operations.

Backed by the US and Israel, the agency was set up to serve as an alternative means of distributing aid in Gaza, moving away from current efforts led by the United Nations.

However, the UN has accused the agency of acting as a fig leaf for the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, while also claiming that the project was being used as a deliberate distraction by Israel.

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Jens Laerke, a spokesman for UN aid coordination office OCHA, said.It appears to be a deliberate attempt to weaponise the aid and we have warned against that for a very long time. Aid should be provided based on humanitarian need to whomever needs it.

A months-long Israeli blockade of Gaza has caused severe food shortages - Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images

A spokesman for BCG said: In October 2024, BCG agreed to provide pro bono support to help establish an aid organisation intended to operate alongside multilateral efforts to deliver humanitarian support to Gaza.

Unapproved follow-on work relating to Gaza lacked buy-in from multilateral stakeholders and was stopped on May 30. BCG has not and will not be paid for any of this work.

BCG has begun a formal review of the work, and while that review continues, the partner who led this work has been placed on administrative leave.

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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has also been criticised by charities such as Christian Aid and Cafod for using armed US security contractors at its aid distribution facilities in Gaza.

Jake Wood, a US Army veteran, was previously appointed as the executive director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. However, he stepped down owing to concerns about the agencys ability to adhere to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

The agency has since appointed the Rev Dr. Johnnie Moore Jr as his successor, an evangelical preacher with close ties to the Trump administration.

A spokesman for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation told the Financial Times: We remain focused on one thing: getting food to the people who need it most. And right now, we are the only organisation doing that at scale, with consistency and safety.

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ANDERSON  A contract for expansion of the Lafayette water treatment plant has been approved by the Anderson Board of Public Works.

The board on Tuesday awarded a contract in the amount of $6,016,000 to Patterson Horth to expand the water treatment plant from a capacity of 10 million gallons per day to 14 million.

The engineers estimate on the work was $6.5 million.

Work is expected to start in August, according to Neal McKee, superintendent of the water department.

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The expansion of the plant is expected to be completed in one year.

The city is planning to issue $130 million in bonds over the next three years to upgrade the water system.

The council has already approved $9 million in American Rescue Plan funds, and the Anderson Redevelopment Commission is providing $19 million toward the project.

All the work is scheduled to be completed by September 2029, with the initial phase starting this year.

Included in the first bond is the beginning of a process to replace lead service lines in several neighborhoods and at scattered sites. It also includes the development of two new wells north of the city that will involve a new line to the Lafayette treatment plant and a new transmission line from Cross Street to the water tank on Eighth Street.

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The Anderson City Council has approved a rate increase for the water department. The increase is pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

The last water rate increase was approved by the state in 2015.

If approved, the monthly rate for an average residential customer is expected to increase from $23.51 to $55.25 starting in 2029.

Large customers of the water utility will see an increase from an average of $117,772 monthly to an average of $434,171 starting in 2029.

A second bond, to be issued in 2026, will be used to open a new well field and treatment plant in south Anderson and close the 75-year-old Wheeler treatment plant.

The final bond issue in 2027 will be used to replace lead pipes in the remaining areas of Anderson.
JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa  A contractor is accused of trying to resell equipment and medical supplies worth over $60,000 that he allegedly stole from a new University of Iowa hospital in North Liberty.

According to court documents, between January and May 2025, 56-year-old Kevin Lane Grimm was employed as a contractor at the construction site of a new University of Iowa hospital in North Liberty. During that time, police say Grimm took advantage of his position as a contractor and stole medical supplies, as well as medical and construction equipment. In total, court documents say the stolen items are totaled to be worth around $60,000.

Des Moines man guilty of fatally shooting man at hotel sentenced to prison

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Not only is Grimm accused of stealing the equipment and supplies, but police say he also listed the stolen items on online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, a criminal complaint states. Grimm allegedly advertised the items as new on the online sites, the complaint states.

Some of the items that Grimm allegedly tried to resell include several class two medical devices, which are restricted by the FDA to only physicians, those being supervised by a physician, or a prescription. Court documents say some of the stolen items were a digital hand-held Dynamometer, an AccuVein vein viewing device, a Phillips interview remote patient monitoring device, a scout suction regulator valve, and a Phillips MR 5000 patient monitoring portal.

On Tuesday, Grimm was arrested and booked into the Johnson County Jail. Grimm has been charged with first-degree theft, ongoing criminal conduct  unlawful activity, and several counts of prohibited act  prescription drug violation first offense.

Iowa News:

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Two horrific attacks  one at a Jewish museum in Washington and the most recent in Boulder, Colo.,  remind us that Jewish identity remains a target in America. These attacks are part of a disturbing pattern of hate and violence stretching nationwide.

Antisemitism in the United States is at a generational high. The Anti-Defamation League reported 2024 as the year with the most antisemitic incidents since tracking began in 1979. After the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitic acts  including harassment, vandalism and threats  soared: The incidence in 2024 was 893% higher than a decade earlier. Jewish students are afraid to speak on campus. Families are removing mezuzahs from their doorposts. Business leaders hesitate to speak out.

This is part of a well-worn cycle: Hate speech leads to hate crimes.

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In Los Angeles, we can point to any number of incidents including Kanye Wests antisemitic tweets in October 2022, banners over the 405 shortly thereafter , thousands of horrific fliers , swatting of Jewish institutions and private homes, and worse.

We warned each time where this could lead. Sure enough, in March 2023 two Jewish men were shot in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood . In November 2023, Paul Kessler was killed at a demonstration in support of Israel, and in June 2024, we witnessed violent attacks on the Jewish community at Adas Torah Synagogue .

We cannot wait for more violence to act. The moment demands more than symbolic gestures. We do not need more community meetings, we need results. As a city that claims to be a beacon of progress and pluralism, Los Angeles ought to lead  first, by keeping its promise of supporting security for L.A.s most vulnerable population.

After the Adas Torah violence, leaders of the Jewish community met with elected officials, who promised to better protect Jewish places of worship. This was to include creating bubble zones to deescalate tensions between protesters and worshipers, enforcing demasking ordinances (originally used so Ku Klux Klan perpetrators could be identified) and funding part of the regrettable but necessary costs of security at Jewish institutions.

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That was almost a year ago. All of those promises have evaporated. There are no bubble zones. Demasking is not enforced. There is no supplementary money for private security. The city should keep its word and support Jewish communities so we can safely express our 1st Amendment rights.

Those promises from a year ago should have been the beginning, not the end. Far more action is needed.

Los Angeles schools should foster inclusion, not be places where Jews feel compelled to hide their identity. Unfortunately, too many Jewish students and professionals report being marginalized, gaslit or targeted  often by people who claim to be fighting for justice.

The city should ensure that K-12 schools and universities in L.A. are equipped to recognize antisemitism and respond effectively. State-mandated curricula such as ethnic studies should reflect the true diversity of the Jewish experience, including Sephardic, Mizrahi, Russian and Ethiopian stories. Jewish community leaders offered to help train LAUSD teachers on how to intervene when Jewish students are bullied or isolated  and we were rebuffed.

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There are 50,000 Jewish students enrolled in public schools across the Southland. Their safety and inclusion should be a priority  publicly affirmed and consistently reinforced.

The recent spike in antisemitism is a warning to us all, because hate does not stay in one lane. Antisemitism often signals broader societal decay. That is why the most effective response is to fight all hate  together.

For the past several years, many Jewish leaders in L.A. have invested in civic partnerships in Black, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ+ and faith-based communities. We've built coalitions, trained together and advanced shared policy agendas to lift all communities up. We are immensely proud of this work.

But when it comes to antisemitism, it often feels like the Jewish community has been shouldering the burden alone. Philanthropy, corporations and government should supercharge this alliance so we can build mutual understanding, dispel conspiracy theories and provide rapid response when any group is under threat.

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You do not need to be Jewish to be outraged by antisemitism. You only need to believe that every person deserves to live without fear. This is not a Jewish problem. This is a Los Angeles problem. And like homelessness, racial injustice and violence, it requires a whole-city solution.

Noah Farkas, a rabbi, is president and chief executive of Jewish Federation Los Angeles.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Major airlines said on Monday they oppose a new effort to advance legislation that would reduce fees charged by Visa and Mastercard on transactions, saying it could force them to stop offering rewards credit cards that give consumers frequent flyer miles for making transactions.

American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others including planemakers Boeing , Airbus, RTX and GE Aerospace, said in a letter to senators the legislation sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall could sharply reduce air travel and harm overall tourism. Also signing the letter were aviation unions.

Airlines generate billions of dollars annually in fees for branded credit cards. Durbin has called the airlines "basically credit card companies that own some planes."

The airlines argue the reduction in swipe fees would make it impossible to offer rewards and point to a 2010 law aimed at debit card fees that they say nearly eliminated rewards debit cards.

Airlines successfully defeated efforts in 2023 to pass the measure but it could be attached to a cryptocurrency bill under consideration this week.

Durbin, a Democrat, previously said the measure co-sponsored with Republican Marshall could save merchants and consumers $15 billion annually in fees for credit card transactions, while businesses pay more than $100 billion in so-called swipe fees annually.

Durbin and Marshall did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The letter said over 31 million Americans hold airline travel reward cards and 57% of all frequent flier miles and points issued in 2023 were generated by airline credit card use. Nearly 16 million domestic air visitor trips were awarded from points earned through use of an airline-branded credit card in 2023.

Last year, the Biden administration Transportation Department opened an inquiry ordering American, Delta Air Lines, Southwest and United to provide records and submit reports to ensure consumers do not face unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices.

U.S. carriers relied on these programs, which have tens of millions of members, for revenue and to raise funds during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel demand plunged.

Loyalty programs of Delta, United and American were each valued at more than $20 billion in 2023, according to consulting firm On Point Loyalty.

(Reporting by David Shepardson;Editing by Nick Zieminski and Lincoln Feast.)
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Three years after his conviction, Charles Jones, 42, has been sentenced for raping a 7-year-old multiple times between 2017 and 2018.

Rockford Police say they were notified of the alleged abuse on November 14th, when the victim arrived at Swedish American Hospital for treatment related to sexual abuse. The investigation revealed the incidents had occurred at a residence in the 2900 block of Chatham Lane.

Jones fled the city and was later arrested in Harris County, Texas on Thursday, March 21st, 2019.

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Jones was found guilty of 8 counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child in September 2022.

He was sentenced to 48 years in prison this week, and will be on mandatory supervised release for life after his sentence is served.

If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources.

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CORBIN, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Corbin woman was arrested on Tuesday night and accused of shooting a gun in the air while walking toward a parking lot on KY-1223.

The Laurel County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook that just after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, deputies were dispatched nearly nine miles south of London in response to a complaint about a woman shooting a gun while walking along the highway.

1 stabbed during overnight domestic incident in Lexington

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While heading to the scene of the shooting, deputies were told that Rebecca Warren, 42, of Corbin, had been arrested by the Corbin Police Department.

According to an arrest citation, Warren allegedly admitted to shooting a gun in the air several times in a parking lot and along the highway.

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Warren was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and discharging a firearm across a public road.

The shooting investigation remains ongoing.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Coroners Office identified a man who was assaulted and killed in southeast Bakersfield on Monday.

Coroner officials identified the man as Domingo Trevino, 74, of Bakersfield. He was assaulted in the 4000 block of South Williams Street, the morning of June 2.

Ex-school board member sentenced for attempted statutory rape

Trevino was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Jason Garibay, 30, was arrested in connection tot he killing. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon.

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A Mississippi Coast man drowned Tuesday after a boat capsized near the Gulfport Harbor, authorities said.

Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said the boat was south of Moses Pier when it hit a rough wave and sent four people into the water around 12:15 p.m.

Switzer identified the victim as Dan Reynolds III, 64, of Gulfport.

Switzer said the boat was between 16 and 18 feet long and capsized about 100 yards off the beach. Authorities rushed Reynolds to Memorial Hospital, where he died, Switzer said.

The three others on the boat were not hurt, according to the coroner.
LGBTQ+ pride festivals around the country have lost millions of dollars in corporate sponsorships this year, as more companies fear being targeted by the Trump administration over their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Nearly a fourth of corporate donors to NYC Pride, including Mastercard, Citi, Pepsi, Nissan and PwC, pulled sponsorships totaling an estimated $750,000.

At WorldPride, held this year in Washington, D.C., consulting giants Booz Allen Hamilton and Deloitte dropped their sponsorships and have lost nearly $260,000 in funding.

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Anheuser-Busch, the brewer for the brands Budweiser and Bud Light, withdrew sponsorship from pride events in San Francisco and Columbus, and in St. Louis where the company is headquartered.

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The sharp decline in corporate sponsorship for pride festivals this year comes as President Donald Trump has threatened anything related to DEI and associated with the LGBTQ+ community  and corporations have retreated their support.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order declaring DEI initiatives illegal and immoral discrimination, and announced the termination of all federal offices and grants related to DEI training. In a second order, Trump vowed to end the federal funding of gender ideology, a right-wing term that is used to refer to the existence of transgender people and their rights.

Over the last decade, corporate America began to increasingly support Pride festivals after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in 2015. Pride-themed and rainbow-colored products, from clothing to credit cards, had become so universal at retailers each June that some began to critique corporate support as rainbow capitalism.

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Critics lamented that corporations only supported LGBTQ+ communities with big displays during Pride while being silent the rest of the year  or in some cases donating millions to anti-LGBTQ politicians.

Some have argued that corporate support was at odds with the liberatory origins of the festivities.

The older generation was fighting for acceptance. They said, We want to be part of the whole, we dont want to be separated from everybody. We want to be part of the group, Tim Bennett, the former marketing director at Subaru told Marketplace in 2021. And Pride is, you know, more of a festival and a corporate party in some regards. Its no longer the kind of activism that it used to be.

The first Pride parade was held in 1970 in New York City, one year after trans and queer people spent several days protesting police harassment outside of the Stonewall Inn in what became known as the Stonewall Uprising.

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But now, as the Trump administration has launched a war against LGBTQ+ rights and DEI initiatives, were seeing that corporate America is too scared to don a rainbow flag even outside of the country.

Five prominent American companies  Google, Home Depot, Nissan, Adidas and Clorox  said they were suddenly pulling their financial support of Pride Toronto, Canadas largest pride festival.

These are American companies and they are showing their true colors, Kojo Modest, the executive director of Pride Toronto told the Guardian. We thought they were with the community, but clearly, theyre not.

The corporate exodus from Pride events follows a trend of companies shifting away from publicly supporting LGBTQ+ communities in recent years, as dozens of states have passed laws restricting trans peoples rights to access medical care, play school sports, use bathrooms and participate in public life.

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In the past two years, right-wing social media influencers have targeted specific companies that have publicly supported LGBTQ+ communities. In 2023, conservatives pressured consumers to boycott Anheuser-Buschs beer, Bud Light, after Dylan Mulvaney, a trans TikTok personality, appeared in a short video promoting the beer. Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Marsha Blackburnlater called for a Senate investigation into the companys partnership with Mulvaney, baselessly claiming that the company was marketing products to young audiences.

That same year, conservatives also boycotted Targets line of Pride Month merchandise, and the company saw its first quarterly sales drop in six years. In the aftermath of the boycott, Target officials told investors that the company would have to adapt and learn.

Trumps open hostility toward the trans community coupled with his efforts to reduce government spending and implement tariffs have made this years economic climate less than opportune for investors looking to support Pride events.

The downward trend has even trickled down to local pride events that have already struggled to garner financial support.

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Last year, Stevie Miller helped start up the first pride event in West Plains, a deep red city in southern Missouri. With a shoestring budget, he and his co-organizers were able to host 900 people. Since then they have turned the festival into a nonprofit organization to support drag shows, educational panels and community events throughout the year.

Miller said he tried to get in contact with various corporate sponsors without much luck, and said that the nonprofit is largely supported by LGBTQ+ organizations within Missouri and from funds raised through a drag and art show.

There has been a level of difficulty due to hostility, Miller said to HuffPost. There is a small town mentality that would rather we left than proudly celebrate here so many local businesses have been silent.
Photo of cypress trees in the Atchafalaya River Basin. Environmental groups like the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and Sierra Club worry a new bill will make it easier to develop in isolated wetland areas. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator)

In a stretch of wild land in Iberville Parish, a small dirt dam built across an out-of-the-way bayou is at the center of a lawsuit. Environmental advocates fear cases like this could become more common if a Louisiana proposal to redefine its wetlands becomes law.

Opponents say this proposed change doesnt just open doors for mixed legal interpretations; it could also make it easier to erase valuable wetland habitat and build in flood-prone areas.

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The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in Baton Rouge two years ago by the environmental group Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and the Louisiana Crawfish Producers Association-West. They allege Benjamin Miller of Miller Hunting Club in Eunice illegally dammed Pats Throat Bayou in 2021 to access hunting grounds on the other bank.

The hunting club didnt get a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before Miller built the dam, according to the lawsuit. Instead, the plaintiffs claim the USACE granted a permit after the dam was illegally built.

If the Louisiana Legislature approves a proposed update to its wetlands laws, environmentalists fear property owners and developers will argue that wetlands like these  illegally dammed off from a navigable body of water  shouldnt be protected under state or federal law.

There will be lawsuits, said Margie Vicknair-Pray, conservation coordinator for the Sierra Club Delta chapter. Theyre changing the definition, but that doesnt change reality.

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Mirroring Sackett

Pats Throat Bayou is a window into how a national policy shift could affect Louisiana.

A 2023 Supreme Court decision, Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, narrowed federal protection for wetlands. The case arose from an Idaho family who backfilled their property, which the EPA later determined to be protected wetlands. The Sacketts challenged that determination, arguing successfully their land did not connect to a navigable water body  known in federal law as Waters of the United States (WOTUS).

Before Sackett, developers needed a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge or fill a wetland area protected under the federal Clean Water Act.

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The Sackett ruling also left uncertainty as to where navigable channels under WOTUS begin and end when it comes to wetlands, according to Mark Davis, director of the Tulane Center for Environmental Law.

They didnt define exactly how thats going to play out  and people will agree and disagree where those lines are drawn, Davis said.

This means owners and developers might not need permits from the USACE to build in isolated wetland areas. The grey area has prompted states to step in and try to fill the regulatory gap with their own wetlands laws.

Louisiana state Sen. Big Mike Fesi, R-Houma, has sponsored Senate Bill 94 in response to the Sackett decision. His bill looks to redefine wetlands cut off by levees that break their connection to navigable water bodies as fastlands, disqualifying them from federal protection.

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Fesi said in an interview his bill is meant to bring Louisiana law in line with the Sackett decision.

We try calling everything wetlands just because it has a little water in it, Fesi said. Its gotten way out of hand.

The Sackett ruling does not affect wetlands connected to navigable bodies of water, such as the Mississippi River, or tidal wetlands along Louisianas coast. They would still have federal protection under the Clean Water Act.

Wetlands with levees, either through current or future lawful construction, are left more vulnerable in Fesis proposal. The senator did not give a conclusive answer when asked what will happen to current wetlands cut off by future levees, saying his bill was intended to invite room for individual interpretation

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One size doesnt fit all, he said.

Thats exactly the issue wetlands advocates have with Senate Bill 94  the room for interperetation it leaves for how wetlands are defined.

In the case of Pats Throat Bayou, the argument was over whether wetlands connected to the navigable bayou were cut off legally or illegally when Miller built a dam, said Brennan Spoor, a member of Atchafalaya Basinkeepers. The groups mission is to protect and restore the swamps and waterways of the basin.

The bill applies to all [levees and dams] that are currently existing or future ones that are lawfully constructed, Spoor said.

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You could argue that the dam was lawfully constructed, and therefore the wetlands that they have destroyed since they built the dam were never wetlands at all, he added, explaining that the bill tries to eliminate the need for a federal permit if the property owners want to dredge or fill the landscape.

The exact language of the bill is also concerning to legal experts for the confusion they say it will create in the law.

Fesis bill changes the definition of wetlands under the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the program that regulates contamination released into surface waters. But Louisiana still needs to follow federal law for pollutants.

The notion of a continuous surface connection is not really part of the rule for what a pollution discharge covers, Davis said. If anything, it creates deeper confusion rather than clarification.

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The Louisiana Senate approved Fesis bill Tuesday in a 35-1 vote. It heads next to the governor for his signature.

Flood concerns

As legal arguments mount, environmental advocates say the stakes are high for Louisiana. Building in wetland areas eliminates valuable habitat and increases the risk of flooding in nearby communities, Vicknair-Pray said.

People just want to build where they want to build, and they dont want to think of the long-term consequences like habitat loss and flooding, she said. That water has to go somewhere. We need wetlands for that water to back up into.

When asked about flood concerns, Fesi said he thinks his bill would make it easier to construct and repair levees, aiding with much-needed flood control in some areas and promoting individual property rights for those wanting to build in previously defined wetlands.

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Those arent wetlands, Fesi said, speaking about wetland areas surrounded by levees or cut off from bodies of water.

The 2023 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, a document outlining various coastal restoration and flood protection projects, recommends a combination of wetland resources and manmade levees for flood control. The same document also warns that overengineering rivers like the Mississippi can impact coastal wetlands and undermine their ability to replenish naturally.

The marsh behind a levee is going to die, Vicknair-Pray said.

Aside from just diminished natural flood control, she worries wildlife living in isolated wetland areas, including migrating ducks and native reptiles, will be put at risk with development encouraged under Fesis legislation.

We used to consider this Sportsmans Paradise, she said. I dont think we can say that anymore.
Jun. 4The Decatur City Council majority agreed Monday night to offer the planning director's position to Clifford Cross, of Belleville, Illinois, despite Councilman Billy Jackson's push to interview an additional person.

The council voted 4-1 to approve a resolution offering the planning director's job to Cross, Belleville's director of Economic Development, Planning and Zoning, at an annual salary of $121,241, plus moving expenses and benefits.

Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin said Cross would be available to start on June 23.

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Jackson tried unsuccessfully to get the council to reconsider Chad Bowman, planning and development director for West Memphis, Arkansas. Sandlin attempted to arrange an interview with Bowman two weeks ago, but he wasn't available.

Jackson said Bowman couldn't change his work schedule so quickly to travel to Decatur. The candidate was told they wouldn't do a video conference interview, which the councilman said they should be willing to do.

Jackson pointed out that none of the council members have experience in planning, and the other four don't know what it's like to work with a planning director since the last one employed by the Decatur was Michelle Jordan in 2009.

"My concern is we have a guy who our former planner, who is a star, and she believes that this person, Mr. Bowman, is a star," Jackson said. "Whether he's better than the person we interviewed, we owe him and we owe her, because of her experience, she said we should interview this person."

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However, the rest of the council was afraid they might lose to Cross to another city. Sandlin said Cross told her he has other offers, "'but I want to come to Decatur; I want to come to the South. I'm available, I want to come.'"

Councilman Hunter Pepper said all five councilmen agreed after the May 11 interview that Cross "is a great candidate and has experience for the role." They should hire him immediately and not risk losing him, he added.

Finding a planning director has been a year-long process. After upgrading the position from manager to director in December, the City Council interviewed three people in March, brought back two for an informal reception, reopened the search and finally interviewed Cross.

Pepper said they should move forward since they all agree that Cross is a "fantastic candidate." He pointed out that Jackson also said that Cross "is exactly what we need."

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Jackson said he does like Cross, but he wants to give Bowman a chance because he's "obviously a good candidate." He said he doesn't see the issue with extending the search, at least out of respect for Jordan.

Jackson and Sandlin said Bowman interviewed early last year when the job was for planning manager. Jackson said Bowman applied because the job description appeared to be for a director, and he wasn't interested in being a manager.

"He said he was told that if he came on as a manager there was a possibility that he could become a director in six months, but he wasn't willing to take that risk," Jackson said.

Sandlin said Bowman likely would have been offered the planning manager job at the time but took his name out of consideration.

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The City Council had to upgrade the position to director after having trouble finding candidates interested in the manager-level position.

"I think the city deserves an opportunity to look at that person," Jackson said of Bowman.

Councilman Kyle Pike said he has some concerns about the timing, and Pepper said they're taking a chance that one of the other cities will "jump the gun" and try to outbid Decatur for Cross.

"It doesn't make sense to me to delay when we have somebody who everybody likes," Pepper said.

Council President Jacob Ladner said he talked to Cross and Bowman. He said he got two good references for Cross, so he's ready to move forward with the Illinois candidate.

Sandlin said Cross is agreeable to the terms in the resolution that the council approved, but he doesn't have a formal offer until now.

 bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2432
LANCASTER, Ky. (FOX 56)  A county budget isnt something that just comes together overnight; that shouldnt come as a surprise.

Its a thorough and delicate process to organize and account for every single dollar flowing in and out of a community.

Every county has its process, and that includes Garrard County.

Since taking office three years ago, Judge-Executive Chris Elleman has taken a unique approach to maximizing every dollar. Its a process that typically starts around March.

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Elleman and his team meet with every entity that is impacted by the budget to determine how the county will use the money they have available.

In addition, the county will get all government officials together for what they call a budget workshop, where they will go line by line to discuss how much funding is dedicated to each item on the budget.

Elleman said transparency is the priority.

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We operate off their tax dollars, so they have every right to know where the money is being spent, Elleman explained. If you dont know where the money that in the budget, then you dont know how to cut costs and be productive and save money. So, we broke it down to different line items. That way its transpiring across more. We know where every penny is being spent. Anybody that comes up here thats got questions, I ask, we can point right to the line item and show them.

Elleman said simple measures like these budget workshops have been working thus far and will help set the county up for long-term success.

I want the next person to walk in that door and be able to continue forward instead of taking steps back to try to fix or correct things, Elleman said. Ill give you one example. When we look at, lets say, one line item, last year we had that budgeted for $500. Its interesting money made off of your own money and banks. You know, we take that from $500. Were going to bring in $130,000 this year.

Based on early projections, the county budget in Garrard County will be around $16.5 million for the next fiscal year.

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Elleman said it will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Grocery retailer Aldi has revealed a shift in its executive leadership, with Atty McGrath to become CEO of Aldi US.

The move comes as current CEO Jason Hart transitions to the position of group chief operating officer (COO) for Aldi South, where he will supervise worldwide operations while McGrath assumes charge of the rapidly expanding grocery chain in the US.

Hart will commence his new role based in Salzburg, Austria from 1 September 2025.

During Harts tenure as CEO, the company has seen its US store count almost double from 1,300 stores across 32 states to 2,500 stores in 39 states.

Aldi has established itself as the fastest-growing grocer in the country and is noted for prioritising employees, committing to sustainability efforts and offering the lowest prices among national grocery stores.

Hart stated: "The growth and positive development of the Aldi brand we've achieved together in the US is a tribute to our incredible teams across the business. I look forward to working with Aldi teams around the globe to drive our growth and success."

Atty McGrath has been with Aldi for her entire 20-year career. Her journey includes roles as a district manager, director of operations, division vice-president and most recently, chief operating officer.

McGrath stated: "I am excited to build upon our momentum, expand our footprint and continue adapting to serve our customers."

The company plans to open 800 new stores up to 2030. In 2025, Aldi aims to set a record by opening 225 new locations.

By early June it has already inaugurated 55 new stores and is poised to open another 75 during the summer.

These new stores will be spread across both emerging markets such as Arizona, California, Florida and South Carolina, and established regions, including the Midwest and Northeast.

In May 2025, Aldi began the construction of its third distribution hub in Poland to expand its logistical footprint.

"Aldi strengthens leadership with McGrath as US CEO to drive growth" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Jun. 4A partnership with Freeborn and Rice counties, under the name of Healthy Families Southeast Minnesota, was recently awarded accreditation with Healthy Families America.

In a presentation to the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Public Health Director Sue Yost said county staff have been working on the accreditation for many years and noted the county began a program similar to the Healthy Families program in 1998 with the dream of someday becoming accredited.

With the help of the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Legislature, which awarded funding to help this accreditation be possible, they found out at the end of May the program achieved its goal.

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Yost said initially nine counties were working together on the goal, but the other seven counties decided to pursue a different program, while Freeborn and Faribault counties decided to continue with this one.

She said they had to meet 150 different standards, had a site visit by the national Healthy Families America in November and performed well during the accreditation process, ultimately being approved on the first try.

"I'm very proud of our team that they've accomplished this," she said, noting the program staff have had very little turnover since they created the county's program in 1998.

Since 2018, the combined programs have completed over 13,000 home visits. Staff working through the program conduct intensive home visits starting prenatally and working with children through age 3 and their families  and sometimes with children through age 5 until they enter kindergarten.

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She said they provide support, help families connect with resources and make sure they're getting their proper health care.

The board recognized a handful of staff members in the program in attendance at the meeting.

In other action, the board:

Approved a contract for election services with the Glenville school district for a special election on Aug. 12.

Approved a resolution appointing Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom to a Citizens Advisory Task Force regarding the proposed Midwater Energy Storage project near Glenville.

Decommitted $1 million from the county's Highway Department.

Administrator Melanie Aeschliman said the decommitment is because the department had several low bids that came back for the department's latest projects. While she said it was great there was an opportunity to have extra room in the department's budget, when there is a surplus, it should be brought back to the county's general fund and then the board should look at all departments to offset any budget needs.

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Aeschliman said even with the decommitment of the funds, the Highway Department was able to move forward with three additional projects that it had not originally planned to do this year.

The board voted in a separate resolution to commit $500,000 of that funding toward health insurance.

The county has previously committed $1.8 million in preparation for a potential transition to self-insurance.

The county's insurance advisor has recommended maintaining a reserve of $2.3 million to ensure financial stability under a self-insured health plan, the resolution stated.

Heard an update about the county's search for a new assessor.

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Board Chairman Brad Edwin said an assessor candidate has accepted a tentative agreement.

The name of the individual has not yet been announced.

The county has been without a full-time assessor since mid-October.

Edwin noted later in the meeting during the time the board approved claims that the county had spent over $15,000 with DDA Human Resources Inc. for two search rounds for an assessor, but that process did not turn up anyone for the county. The individual the county has an agreement with came through other means.
Jun. 3SANTA FE  The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday dismissed a landmark lawsuit that could have halted oil and gas drilling in New Mexico, the nation's second-highest oil producing state.

While the ruling is expected to be appealed, it dealt a blow to plaintiffs who claimed the state's failure to enact strict pollution control measures had led to damaging health issues.

Those plaintiffs included Native American activists and several environmental groups who filed the lawsuit and lamented its dismissal.

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"New Mexicans amended our constitution 50 years ago to protect our residents from pollution," said Gail Evans, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "With this terrible ruling, the court has eviscerated our constitutionally protected rights."

She also predicted the Tuesday ruling would lead to more air pollution, more contaminated land and water, and more sickness in New Mexico communities.

"We'll continue our fight against the filthy oil and gas industry on behalf of all New Mexicans and will be appealing this decision to the state Supreme Court," Evans added.

The lawsuit was filed in state District Court in 2023, with plaintiffs attorneys at the time comparing the effort to a court challenge targeting New Mexico's public education system that led to a landmark 2018 ruling.

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But a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals found a constitutional provision declaring the protection of the state's "beautiful and healthful environment" to be of fundamental public interest does not compel certain action by the legislative and executive branches.

"By its plain text, the (pollution control clause) contains no enforceable right, guaranteed to any individual or group, to be free from a given amount of pollution," Court of Appeals Judge Miles Hanisee wrote in his ruling. "Nor can it be inferred to create an enforceable right to a beautiful and healthful environment."

Missi Currier, the president and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, commended the court's ruling to dismiss the lawsuit.

"This decision affirms the importance of maintaining a clear, constitutional separation between policymaking and judicial interpretation," Currier said in a statement.

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She also said the state's oil and gas industry is committed to responsible development, environmental stewardship and economic opportunity for state residents.

"We believe that meaningful progress on climate and energy must come from collaboration, innovation, and respect for the rule of law," Currier added.

Oil production has surged in New Mexico in recent years, driving state revenue collections to record-high levels. Oil and gas revenue make up about 35% of the state's $13.6 billion in projected revenue for the coming fiscal year, according to legislative data.

Specifically, New Mexico crude oil production more than doubled from March 2020 to March of this year, jumping from 34,873 barrels to 69,958 barrels.

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But some New Mexicans say that production boom has come at a high cost, citing elevated methane emissions  even after enactment of a new state methane rule in 2021  and health issues in the Permian Basin and Four Corners region, where much of the oil and natural gas activity is located.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals' ruling comes less than a year after a state judge in Santa Fe allowed the case to move forward.

Attorneys for the state and top state officials, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, had previously filed a motion in September 2023 seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed on the grounds of separation of powers.
COVENTRY, Conn. (WTNH)  Philip Pietras, the owner of Pietras Funeral Home in Coventry, was charged for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from clients.

The investigation has been ongoing since October 2024.

On Tuesday, Pietras appeared in Rockville Superior Court in Vernon, where he pleaded not guilty.

An arrest warrant showed that the victims had been depositing money towards pre-payment funeral funds.

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Coventry funeral home owner suspected of stealing over $80K from clients

An audit showed that Pietras was re-routing the money for his own use.

After court, the alleged victims told News 8 they lost thousands of dollars.

Sheila Lawlor of Vernon said nearly $6,000 was stolen from her, while Galen Beaupre said $20,000 was taken from him.

I have cried every single day since I heard about this, and I am totally devastated that this person that I knew would do something like this not only on me but so many other people, Lawlor said.

According to Lawlor, she planned to use those funds for funeral arrangements so that her family would not have to pay for it.

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The arrest warrant stated that a total of more than $81,000 was unaccounted for in the accounts.

When asked to comment, John OBrien, Pietrass attorney, said, Its an ongoing investigation, thank you.

Pietras is expected to return to court on August 1.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
tazewell, va.  With warm weather outside, wildlife is once again on the move across the region.

This includes bears and coyotes, which have been reported in some areas.

One location that has received reports of coyotes is the town of Tazewell.

The Tazewell Police Department recently reported that coyotes have been seen in the town limits, including in the Buskill Subdivision and Dogwood Road vicinity.

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A police department statement said coyotes typically stay where they have found an easy food source. The police department is urging citizens to secure any garbage, especially any that contains discarded food.

Tazewell Town Manager Leeanne Regon said the town also received a report of a family pet possibly being killed by a coyote.

We just kind of wanted to put something out to make our residents aware that it is getting time where animals are starting to be on the move again, Regon said. We just wanted to make the citizens aware this could be an issue.

Regon said bears also have been a problem in the town.

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Bears will come to your trash, and to see what you are trying to throw out, Regon said. We do encourage everyone to put their trash out on the actual date of the trash pick-up instead of the night before.

Years ago the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors sponsored a coyote bounty as a way to control the coyote population. At the time, the county paid a bounty of $50 per coyote killed on county lands that are dedicated to agricultural use.

But that bounty is no longer in effect, said Tazewell County Administrator Eric Young.

I live in Tazewell and I actually was awakened last night by coyotes in my front yard, Young said. There are some timbering operations on the edge of town that likely have driven the coyotes into town.

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According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, coyotes are found throughout Virginias urban and suburban areas.

The state agency said coyotes are primarily nocturnal, which means they come out mostly at night. However, coyotes are also active during the day, especially during spring and summer months when they search for food.

The best way to prevent coyotes from becoming a problem is to avoid giving them a reason to come near your home. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries recommends the following steps to avoid attracting coyotes near your home.

 If you are feeding wildlife, stop doing so.

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 Keep trash inside until the morning of trash pickup or place trash in an animal proof container.

 If you feed pets outside, make sure their bowls are empty afterwards.

 Remove bird feeders and clean up fallen seed to keep small mammals from being attracted to the area.

 Close up all openings under and into your buildings to prevent their use as den sites.

 Clear fallen fruit from around trees.

 Remove or clean up brushy areas close to your home.

In terms of bears, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has similar recommendations. According to the agency, the highest concentration of bears occurs in the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and around the Great Dismal Swamp, but bears can be seen just about anywhere in Virginia. They have been reported in 92 of Virginias 98 counties and cities.

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Bears are attracted to residential areas by the smell of food that people commonly put out around their homes, according to the state agency. The most common food attractants are bird feeders, garbage, and pet food, but grills, livestock feeds, compost, fruit trees and beehives can also attract bears.

The agency said the most common bear problems have simple solutions. Typical problems involve turned-over garbage containers, trash littered across the yard, damaged bird feeders, or bears coming onto porches to eat pet food or get into coolers or freezers. By removing those garbage containers and food sources, bears are less likely to be attracted to the area.

Contact Charles Owens at

cowens@bdtonline.com
Two construction workers were killed Wednesday when a crane collapsed at the construction site of a new hospital on Merritt Island, a Florida peninsula, according to reports.

The crane was over the unfinished Health Firsts Cape Canaveral Hospital at 255 Borman Dr. when it collapsed around 2 p.m., Spectrum News reported.

The two workers were taken to a nearby hospital, where they died from their injuries, Brevard County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Tod Goodyear told Fox 35. Their names have not been released pending family notification.

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Local weather reports indicated its been a rainy and thunderstorm-filled day in Central Florida. Brevard County recorded strong wind gusts between 50-60 mph on Wednesday.

News 6 meteorologists reported there was a 58 mph wind gust at the time of the accident.

Authorities have not shared an official cause for the cranes collapse.

The hospital, which will replace an existing Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, is slated to open in 2027, Florida Today reported. Construction began on the new $410 million hospital in March 2024.
Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Monday at 11 a.m.

Roger Bedford, 64, of New Albany, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine.

Donale Antonio Brown, 38, no address listed, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, parole violation, possession of a Schedule II drug, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest.

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Jeffery D. Carroll, 66, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, exploitation of children, no hunter orange.

David Branston Clark, 40, of Mantachie, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, trafficking methamphetamine.

David K. Clark, 62, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine.

Patrick L. Levy, 48, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, careless driving.

Tammy J. Miller, 53, of Baldwyn, was arrested by the Baldwyn Police Department, possession of cocaine.

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Monique Marie Moore, 31, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine.

Jeudarian Dental Nalls, 33, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Sherman Police Department, parole violation.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Monday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

A County Road 183, Tupelo, man said there is a large group of 20 or more stray dogs roaming the area. He said they get in the road and cause a traffic hazard. He is concerned they might hurt someone or spread rabies.

A Birmingham Ridge Road, Saltillo, woman said a 60-something white male knocked on her door at 11 p.m. claiming to need help. They are going to kill me," he said. She told him she could not help him, and if he did not leave, she would call the cops. She then shut the door on him. She did not hear from him again.

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A Mooreville man said he saw some stray puppies trying to cross Highway 178. When he checked, there were eight puppies living near an abandoned house. He wanted a deputy to come pick them up. The deputy explained they are not allowed to pick up animals unless they are dangerous or there is a court order.

A Ridgeland Road, Mooreville, man got a letter stating he owed money to the Baton Rouge Community College. He did not know who used his identity to take out the student loans, but it was not him. He contacted the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office and was told to file a crime report and sent it to them,

A Perch Lane, Guntown, woman said a stray beige dog has been wandering around her property for several weeks. About six weeks ago, the dog had puppies under her shed. Since then, the dog has become aggressive, growling and barking at her every time the woman goes outside. The dog tried to bite her husband.

A County Road 1430, Tupelo, man thought someone was on his property around 11 p.m. because he saw a figure in his birdhouse camera. After further review, he said the figure must have been fog or mist.

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A County Road 1349, Tupelo, woman said there was a red-and-white Husky roaming the neighborhood. The dog was walking with a limp and the other dogs in the area were trying to hurt it. She said she would contact rescue groups to assist getting help.

A Nettleton woman said she and her family got lost while hiking at Tombigbee State Park around 7:30 p.m. Deputies responded and found the family walking on Group Camp Road. The woman said they were OK and had only been hiking for about an hour.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
No charges will be filed in connection with a crash involving a dirt bike that took the life of a 15-year-old boy.

The crash between a dirt bike and an SUV happened on April 14 at the intersection of West Chestnut and Washington Street. The teenager riding the dirt bike, Jonathan Gillespie, 15, was flown to Childrens Hospital, but later died of the injuries he sustained in the crash.

The driver of the SUV, who remained on scene and administered CPR before first responders arrived, tested negative for any impairment.

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The Washington Police Department spent over a month investigating the crash, collecting witness statements, video evidence and medical records to understand what happened before and during the incident.

Once the investigation was complete, it was turned over to the DAs office for review, and then the two agencies met to discuss findings.

Both the Washington Police Department and the Washington County District Attorneys Office agreed that criminal charges wouldnt be filed, determining that the driver was not at fault for the crash.

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The records of up to 100,000 taxpayers have been accessed by organised criminals following an attack on HMRC.

The tax authority is thought to have lost 47 million as a result of the breach last year, with officials telling MPs that 0.2 per cent of PAYE taxpayers with personal accounts were affected  representing about 100,000 people.

The raid comes after HMRC pushed millions of workers to file their tax returns online as part of its Making Tax Digital scheme.

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Officials told the Treasury committee that the incident was not a cyber attack but instead took the form of multiple phishing attacks designed to extract money from the tax authority, carried out by several organised crime gangs over an extended period last year.

However, on its website, the authority confirmed it had only just started writing to affected taxpayers, with letters set to arrive between now and June 25.

The news came to light on the same day that HMRCs phone lines were hit by a system outage, which meant only those using the specific phone number in the letters to phishing victims were able to call the organisation.

Those affected have been told they do not need to take any action and HMRC has said it had locked down any accounts impacted by the breach and deleted log-in credentials.

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During the committee meeting, Dame Meg Hillier, the chairman of the Treasury committee, grilled John-Paul Marks, the HMRC chief executive, about the attack after apparently finding out about it through a news story.

Phone outage not connected

Mr Marks told the committee that he believed the phone outage was not connected to the attack and that some arrests had been made last year.

Dame Meg asked Mr Marks: Did HMRC write to the chair of the public accounts committee, which would often be the case in situations where taxpayers money is at risk?

Mr Marks said: No, we have not done that yet. But if the committee would like us to write to you, we are happy to do that.

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Interrupting Mr Marks, Dame Meg said: I think its perhaps a responsibility that you report to us in the House in parliamentary terms, that we would expect to get information about this and not have it emerge because of an announcement while youre in the committee room  it hasnt been mentioned until we picked up the news story.

She later said: I probably dont need to teach you, Mr Marks  because you are permanent secretary  let me nevertheless use my position as chair just to remind you gently, or perhaps not so gently, that it would be normal to advise Parliament of things and if youre appearing in front of a committee, not to have it announced during the committee hearing.

The Telegraph understands that criminals used a variety of methods to obtain login details for taxpayers  including phishing scams and obtaining data stolen from previous leaks.

Criminals then posed as legitimate taxpayers to apply for money such as taxpayer rebates.

HMRC had warned of phishing texts

Phishing attacks occur when a criminal tricks a victim into disclosing personal details, often by pretending to be a trusted figure such as a police officer or HMRC worker.

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The authority warned the public as recently as January, ahead of the tax return deadline, to be on alert for phishing texts, which often included phrases such as you have an outstanding tax refund along with a link to claim it.

HMRC has been repeatedly criticised for rushing to shift customers online. In January this year, MPs on the public accounts committee said the organisation had willingly allowed its phone services to fail to force taxpayers to use the internet.

Average wait times for taxpayers using the telephone helpline jumped to 23 minutes in the first 11 months of 2023-24, according to a National Audit Office report, up from five minutes in 2018-19.

HMRC announced last month that it would no longer process requests for self-assessment refunds over the phone or via webchat because of a rise in suspected fraud.

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In the past, the tax authority has formally disciplined staff for failing to protect taxpayer data. HMRC sacked 40 members of staff for breaches of data security and issued written warnings to 95 in 2020-21, according to figures obtained by The Telegraph in 2021.

An HMRC spokesman said on Wednesday: Weve acted to protect customers after identifying attempts to access a very small minority of tax accounts, and were working with other law enforcement agencies both in the UK and overseas to bring those responsible to justice.

This was not a cyber attack  it involved criminals using personal information from phishing activity or data obtained elsewhere to try to claim money from HMRC.

Were writing to those customers affected to reassure them weve secured their accounts and that they havent lost any money.

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The News in Brief Wednesday, June 4, 2025

The European Parliament may soon adopt a special resolution in support of jailed Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, following growing concerns over media freedom and political repression in the country.Lithuanian MEP Rasa Jukneviciene raised the issue during a session of the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, calling the move both urgent and essential-if backed by other political groups."We wanted to visit Mzia in prison but were denied access," Jukneviciene said. "She's become a symbol of political imprisonment and press freedom under threat. Showing solidarity with her now is more important than ever."Jukneviciene recently returned from a visit to Georgia with fellow MEPs, where the delegation assessed the state of democracy and civil liberties. A report on their findings is expected to be published soon, outlining the challenges facing journalists and opposition voices in the country.If adopted, the resolution would serve as a formal expression of support for Amaghlobeli and a signal to Georgian authorities that the international community is watching closely.Opposition leader and one of the heads of the Coalition for Change, Nika Melia, has once again been charged by authorities, this time for an incident during a court hearing. His lawyer, Beka Kvinikadze, described the charge as absurd and stated that Melia remains unfazed."He met the latest absurd charge with a smile. Honestly, he does not care how many absurd accusations the regime brings against him, so we did not even spend much time discussing it. We do not know when they will decide to officially press charges. One of the issues is the lack of access to information. At the moment, he still does not have his card and cannot purchase a TV or other items," Kvinikadze noted.The new investigation was launched after Melia threw water at Judge Irakli Shvangiradze during a court session. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed that the case is being investigated under Article 366 of the Criminal Code, which relates to contempt of court.If convicted under this article, Melia could face penalties including a fine, community service, or up to one year of imprisonment.
(Reuters) -Amazon.com is investing $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure, further deepening its presence in the state as it seeks to cement its position in the fast-growing technology.

The investment, announced on Wednesday for Richmond County, is expected to create at least 500 high-skilled jobs, including positions for data center engineers and network specialists, Amazon said.

The tech giant already employs about 24,000 full- and part-time staff in North Carolina, where it has also been ramping up its retail operations, with plans to open several new last-mile facilities in the region.

The move is the latest in a series of investments Amazon has pledged in the past few years, as Big Tech companies race to build data centers needed to power AI applications, investing hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide.

Amazon's capital expenditures totaled about $25 billion in the first quarter, and the company has said it expects to maintain that level of spending for the rest of the year. It was not immediately clear whether the $10 billion investment was part of the previously announced capital expenditure plans.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for additional details.

The company's planned outlay comes amid concerns that Big Tech companies might be scaling back their large investments, following reports of canceled data center leases at Microsoft that pointed to excess capacity.

Companies have reaffirmed their commitment to extensive investments, with Amazon's CEO saying earlier this year that the multi-billion-dollar investments in AI were essential to maintain competitiveness.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
A moment from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts Tuesday briefing is going viral, with critics saying it perfectly encapsulates the Trump White Houses approach to foreign affairs.

Leavitt was asked if the White House had a response to the presidential election in South Korea, where liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung defeated conservative rival Kim Moon Soo.

Yes, we do. In fact. Let me find it here for you, Leavitt said, flipping through a binder in front of her.

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Should be somewhere in here, she said, still flipping through.

Q: Does the White House have a reaction to the election in South Korea?



LEAVITT: Yes, we do. Let me find it for you. Thank you. Um. We do not. pic.twitter.com/ROycyonXUn  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 3, 2025

After a pause and more shuffling, she added: Hmm. We do not.

She laughed awkwardly as she said, But I will get you one, before abruptly moving on to a new question from another reporter.

The clip quickly gained traction on social media.

Critics said it showcased the Trump administrations lack of preparation and attention to world events.

A total clown show, remarked the Republicans Against Trump group.

When she gets a question that requires her to give an answer that doesn't involve praising Trump or trashing Biden, she's got nothing. https://t.co/x38FESqzhj  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 3, 2025

A White House run by dumbasses  Sycamores Source (@sycamoressource) June 3, 2025

Q: Does the White House have a reaction to the election results in South Korea?



WH Press Secretary Leavitt: Yes, we do. In fact, Let me find it for you. It should be somewhere here. Thank you. Um. We do not.



A total clown show.

pic.twitter.com/2tR4CGjePM  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 3, 2025

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Karoline saying we do and then immediately following it with we do not is the most honest accidental summary of this administrations foreign policy: confused, unprepared, and trying to fake it with a binder full of nothing.



Pam Bondi did that with Epstein files. Its their  Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) June 3, 2025

Follow up should have been, Does the White House KNOW there was an election in South Korea? https://t.co/GmoXrCQXpw  Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) June 3, 2025

Related...
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia State Police has issued a critically missing adult alert on behalf of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for Angelina Petra Resendiz, who was last seen around 10 a.m. May 29 at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk.

Angelina Petra Resendiz

Resendiz, 21, is 5-feet tall, 110 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing an unknown description of clothing with no known vehicle.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service said her disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety.

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Anyone with information on Resendizs whereabouts is asked to contact the Naval Criminal Investigative Service at (877) 579-3648.

More information is available at https://vsp.virginia.gov/active-alerts. Anyone who sees her can also call 911.

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CROMWELL, Conn. (WTNH)  On Tuesday, the Trump administration launched an investigation into Cromwell Public Schools Title IX policy, specifically regarding transgender athletes.

The Cromwell Board of Education held a meeting Tuesday night, where people were trying to make sense out of a federal investigation challenging their trans policies.

Trump administration probes Cromwell Public Schools on Title IX

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Out front of Cromwell High School, more than 50 protesters gathered in support of trans rights and chanted, What do we want? Trans rights!

After meeting in executive session, the board came out and voted to not respond to the investigations, stating they need more time to review the federal request.

We have informed OCR, that the decision not to sign the agreement as written, should not be interpreted as unwillingness to engage in a respectful discussion and have requested an extension of time to do so, Cromwell Board of Education President Celina Kelleher (R) said.

In February, President Trump signed an executive order keeping men out of womens sports.

Linda McMahon, the U.S. Secretary of Education, is backing it up.

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This administration will fight on every front to protect womens and girls sports, intimate spaces, dormitories, and living quarters, and fraternal and panhellenic organizations, McMahon said.

Cromwell Mayor James Demetriades (D) noted a lot hangs in the balance, nearly $1 million in federal funding.

Theyre holding hostage nearly $1 million of federal funding and putting the board of education in the town of Cromwell and possible situation, capitulating on our core values of community and inclusion, Demetriades said.

In 2018, Andrea Yearwood from Cromwell was one of two transgender athletes that took the top spots in a state track competition, setting new womens records. Their participation sparked protests and later a lawsuit. Now nearly seven years later, a federal investigation.

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Now students are wondering how this will affect their daily lives, as no decision has been made, and policies hang in the balance.

The Board of Ed and the mayor are now looking to the state for guidance.

Reach out to your representatives, ask the state of Connecticut to help enforce its own rules and its own laws and make sure that our most vulnerable children are protected, Demetriades said.

Dr. Enza Macri, the Superintendent of Cromwell Public Schools released a statement saying in part they make it a priority to create a welcoming and nurturing environment for all students. At the same time theyre fully committed to following federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination.

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Read the full letter below issued to Cromwell Superintendent Dr. Enza Macri.

Cromwell-Schools-letterDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is planning to reintroduce a bill that would designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group after the Boulder, Colo., attack perpetrated by Mohamed Soliman.

Soliman, an Egyptian citizen, has publicly supported the group on his social media accounts, according to reports from CNN.

Cruz said Tuesday that he would craft a modernized version of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act he previously backed while blaming Democrats for a lack of constraints.

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The Muslim Brotherhood uses political violence to achieve political ends and destabilize American allies, both within countries and across national boundaries. The Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood is Hamas, a terrorist group which on October 7th committed the largest one day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and which included the murder and kidnapping of dozens of Americans, Cruz said in a statement to The Hill.

The Brotherhood used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence, but the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to avoid the threat they pose to Americans and American national security, he added.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been designated a terrorist organization in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The label was given after members were successfully elected to political positions of power prior to military rule in Egypt, where the group was founded.

Their worldwide reputation is linked to violence, although its originators renounced brutal attacks in the 1970s and earned popular support by providing social services such as pharmacies, hospitals and schools, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

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Lawmakers across the aisle have sided with Cruz, urging President Trump to denounce the Muslim Brotherhood with a terrorist organization designation.

Its history of promoting extremist ideologies and terrorist activities through affiliates like Hamas threatens our national & global security, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) wrote in a Tuesday post on the social platform X.

Trump considered undertaking the measure during his first administration but never designated the organization as a terrorist group.

At the time, lawmakers and national officials did not believe the group met the criteria to be labeled as a foreign terrorist organization.

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The White House and Cruzs office did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment on the matter.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has notified the community of a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) on supervised release and probation in Colorado Springs.

According to CSPD, Ancus Arcius Hoffar Bone is a sex offender whose past behavior has caused him to be officially labeled as an SVP by the Colorado Courts. He was convicted in 2025 of Sexual Assault  No Consent and Sexual Contact  No Consent in El Paso County. In 2019, he was convicted of 3rd-Degree Assault in Arapahoe County, and in 2016, for Felony Menacing and 3rd-Degree Assault in El Paso County.

Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department

Bone is currently registered as homeless in the area of 5 West Las Vegas Street and is described as a 38-year-old white man who is 59 and 185 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.

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Bone is one of 21 SVPs registered with CSPD in the community. CSPD takes his presence in the community very seriously and will monitor to ensure that he conducts himself lawfully by performing the following duties:

Notifying the Colorado Department of Public Safetys Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Notification Team.

Reviewing and confirming Bones residence, employment, access to vehicles, legal status, and past crimes.

Making notifications to neighbors and businesses deemed to be in the immediate area.

Briefing patrol personnel on Bones status, history, appearance, residence, employment, and vehicles.

Notifying surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Providing an online video that describes the SVP community notification process, SVP information, and additional resources for the community.

Posting an online SVP Community Notification video at www.coloradosprings.gov. Click on Public Safety, then click on Police to access the video.

Anyone with questions can call Detective J.R. Brown of the CSPD Registered Sex Offender Unit at (719) 444-7672.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
A teenager faces attempted murder and other felony charges for allegedly attacking someone with a knife during a domestic violence incident in Newtown on Tuesday and trying to flee the area during a carjacking that was thwarted by police.

Officers responded to a report of the domestic incident at a home on Park Lane just before 8:45 p.m., according to Lt. Scott P. Smith of the Newtown Police Department.

Smith said the alleged victim in the incident was attacked with a knife but was able to escape the home before fleeing and calling 911. They were treated at the scene by medics for a minor laceration.

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Officers searched the area for the suspect in the attack after he fled the home before police arrived, according to Smith. As they were combing through the area, police received reports of someone screaming on Apple Blossom Lane, which is not far from Park Lane.

Officers responded to the reports and located the suspect, taking him into custody, Smith said. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Stephen Wengart of Newtown, according to Smith.

Smith said police found that Wengart called a food order in at a local restaurant and asked that it be delivered to a home on Apple Blossom Lane. When the driver arrived and approached the home, a resident informed them that they had not ordered any food. As the driver returned to the vehicle, Wengart allegedly emerged from hiding and struck the driver multiple times, Smith said.

Wengart then allegedly pulled the delivery person from the car and got into the drivers seat of the vehicle, according to Smith. Before he could leave the area, police arrived and ordered Wengart out of the vehicle, Smith said. He was compliant and was taken into custody.

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Smith said Wengart and the delivery driver were injured during the alleged carjacking. The delivery driver was taken to Danbury Hospital for treatment.

Wengart was arrested in connection with the carjacking and the domestic incident. He faces charges of attempted murder, second-degree threatening, second-degree assault, first-degree robbery, robbery by carjacking, larceny of a motor vehicle and two counts of second-degree breach of peace. He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond and was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday in Danbury Superior Court.

Smith noted that Wengarts arrest was unrelated to an incident earlier in the day on Park Lane where a woman barricaded herself in a residence for several hours and was later apprehended.

The Newtown officers worked tirelessly through the afternoon and night to bring multiple major incidents on Park Lane to a safe resolution, Smith said. The suspects in each incident were apprehended swiftly and without injury. These events required many resources and many officers from Newtown and the surrounding towns, which exemplifies the dedication of our officers to protect and serve the community.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Citizens Utility Board is asking Ameren Illinois to work with customers amid utility increases.

Ameren Illinois customers will be facing a 50% power increase, prompting the group to request that the utility work with those who may struggle to pay the increased bill, according to Jim Chilsen, a CUB spokesman.

This will be a difficult summer for far too many customers, said CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz. In this expensive summer, we urge Ameren to do everything possible to work with customers so they can stay connected and keep their homes safe and cool.

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She has requested from Ameren that they offer customer-friendly payment plans which allow customers longer periods to pay off their debt, Chilsen said.

The increase is estimated to raise customers bills by about $38 to $46 each month. This summer, the increase is credited to the rise in cost for reserve power, Chilsen said.

According to CUBs website, reserve power, also called capacity, prices have risen because of poor policies from regional power grid operators such as PJM Interconnection in ComEd territory and MISO in Ameren territory.

CUB has released the following tips to help customers get through expensive utilities this summer:

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Use energy efficiency to soften the blow of the price spike. Simple actions can help, such as weatherizing windows and doors and turning off unnecessary lights. Dont take risks that keep your home too hot. Efficiency is about eliminating waste but staying safe and cool this summer.



Stay in contact with your utility. Consumers who are struggling should contact Ameren to inquire about payment plans and learn about energy efficiency programs.



Consider programs to help ease costs. Amerens Peak Time Rewards program gives customers the opportunity to earn bill credits by reducing electricity usage during high-demand periods, typically summer afternoons. Also, Illinois community solar program offers customers the benefits of solar power without having to install panels on their homes. All offers currently guarantee savings compared to Amerens supply price. CUBs resource, SolarInTheCommunity.com, can help you carefully shop for offers.

Beware of rip-offs. Since 2015, Illinois consumers have lost about $1.8 billion to alternative electricity suppliers. These suppliers are impacted by the same market conditions that are causing utility prices to increase, so its likely, even in this expensive market, that Ameren is your best bet. One exception: If your community has negotiated a power deal with a supplier, its possible the price is lower than Amerens supply rate. Confirm the price and find out when the offer expires.

More tips can be found on CUBs website.

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Short line Cumberland & Knox made its debut last weekend, running its first train over a 56-mile, state-owned former Maine Central branch that hadnt seen any freight action at all in eight months.

The move saw locomotive LTEX 1555, an ex-Canadian Pacific GP9u, pick up 12 covered hoppers from the CSX interchange at Brunswick, Maine, and haul them to Rockland, Maine, on Saturday. The cars were switched to the previously shuttered Dragon Cement plant at nearby Thomaston, Maine, on Sunday.

Cumberland & Knox, a subsidiary of Maine Switching Services, finalized its operating agreement with the states Department of Transportation at the end of April. The previous operator, Midcoast Railservice, canceled its lease after the Dragon plant shut down; the facility provided about 90% of Midcoasts revenue.

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A casualty of the earlier factory closure and Midcoasts exit was a plan to launch a pilot passenger service connecting Rockland with Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority-sponsored Downeaster Amtrak trains at Brunswick. The Maine State Legislature had approved a $3 million grant to help Midcoast get the project started with leased Rail Diesel Cars.

But the money was programmed back into the states multimodal transportation account because there was no scheduled passenger service on the Rockland branch moving forward in the current workplan, according to Nate Moulton, Maine DOTs director of freight and business logistics, in response to a Maine Freedom of Access Act request.

Maine Switchings government affairs manager, Finn Kelly, tells Trains News Wire that passenger trains, probably starting with excursions, arent out of the picture, but Cumberland & Knoxs first priority is to cultivate freight customers to make the line economically viable.

The new Dragon Cement owners want to see if importing material from Pennsylvania on a pilot basis works for them, and were here to support that, Kelly said. After reaching out, weve also had interest expressed from businesses that both previously used rail or are open to trying it now.

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Since the companys late April takeover, workers have been hi-railing the right of way to reconnect and test highway warning devices that had been deactivated for months. Were thankful that there are no immediate track issues, Kelly said during a mid-May News Wire visit. The 120-pound rail this is built with and tie condition is superb on the Rockland Branch; its a beautiful railroad.

No locomotive arrived on the property until last Saturday, when No. 1555 coupled on to 12 cars left by CSX next to the Downeasters Brunswick maintenance facility. Four hoppers from Pennsylvania contained Portland Type III cement and the other eight were filled with ground granulated blast furnace slag, a by-product of the steelmaking process added to cement to give it additional strength.

The original plan to haul all 12 cars together to Rockland was altered by the days driving rainstorm. There are a lot of tight curves on the branch, and you lose momentum going through them, Kelly said. The train weighed over 1,700 tons, which is why due to both rusty and wet rails, we left half of the hoppers at Bath, Maine, 8 miles east of Brunswick. Six cars were first hauled another 30 miles to a siding near Waldoboro, then the locomotive returned light to Bath to pick up the remaining six, arriving late Saturday night at Rockland.

Kelly says the train operated at restricted speed and he led or followed it in a Hi-rail vehicle to address instances of late signal activation or devices that wouldnt immediately shut off after the train passed. It was the first run in almost a year and we were very cautious; we encountered only minor hiccups, he said. Sunday afternoon the cars made the short run to Dragon Cements Thomaston plant.

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An additional locomotive will soon be assigned to the Cumberland & Knox, and the company is expected to announce more customers.

Video by photographer Michael St. Louis South Coast Rail Videos captured both the May 31 and June 1 moves.

The post Cumberland & Knox runs first revenue train on Maines Rockland Branch appeared first on FreightWaves.
With just three weeks to go until New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is on track for a political comeback nearly four years after having resigned his governorship amid allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct -- but a Democratic socialist candidate continues to gain momentum among the crowded slate of contenders. All the while, incumbent mayor Eric Adams is staying off the primary ballot, and is running, instead, as an independent.

Whoever comes out of the June 24 Democratic primary victorious is more than likely New York City's next mayor -- nearly every borough in the overwhelmingly Democratic city voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, per election returns.

MORE: Newark mayor sues Alina Habba for malicious prosecution

Cuomo attempts a comeback

Cuomo announced his entrance into the race in March, saying in an announcement video that he was the best leader for New York City, which he said was "in crisis."

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Cuomo's governorship was derailed after several women accused him of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct. He resigned as governor in 2021, saying that the controversy would cause undue turmoil for the state, but has consistently denied the allegations and recently told the New York Times he regrets resigning. A New York state prosecutor dropped criminal forcible touching charges against Cuomo in 2022.

Cuomo also faced scrutiny for the state's tracking of deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes during his tenure after reports that Cuomo and his team withheld from state legislators the true number of COVID-19 deaths at New York nursing homes.

Frank Franklin Ii/AP - PHOTO: Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during the New York City Mayoral Candidates Forum at Medgar Evers College, April 23, 2025, in New York.

Cuomo has defended his performance and the count, and an independent investigation in 2024 found that Cuomo's nursing home response policy was based on "the best available data at the time."

The Justice Department has begun an inquiry based off of a referral from Congress about Cuomo's handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic, according to congressional documents and a source familiar with the matter. In a statement, Cuomo's spokesperson says the inquiry is "election interference."

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"Governor Cuomo testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the Subcommittee  but from the beginning this was all transparently political," Cuomo's spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi said in a statement in response to the inquiry.

His campaign has not been without roadblocks. The New York City Campaign Finance Board has withheld some matching funds from his campaign, saying that his campaign may have improperly coordinated with an independent group. Cuomo's campaign and the group separately maintain they did not break any rules or do anything wrong, and the campaign expects to eventually receive the full funds. And even still, at the end of May, Cuomo's team announced the campaign raised $3.9 million since Feb. 28.

And while other candidates have brought up the allegations and hit at Cuomo's record, no one attack seems to be sticking, and polling shows that Cuomo remains the front-runner.

MORE: MAGA rage against Justice Barrett has been brewing: ANALYSIS

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Near ubiquitous name recognition and a gubernatorial record that resonates contribute to Cuomo's favorable polling, said Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University.

Some of that record, Moss said, includes Cuomo's actions as governor such as rebuilding the beleaguered LaGuardia Airport and passing a law legalizing same-sex marriage in 2011, before it was legalized nationally.

Cuomo also already had a deep bench of support among Black voters and unions, Moss said, and many New Yorkers see him as aligning with their own values.

"People want a mayor they can connect to emotionally. And it's not just a set of policies you're picking. You're picking a person that you feel represents your values," Moss said.

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For some people, the misconduct allegations against Cuomo are an issue, but many New Yorkers may be willing to look past it, Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political strategist, told ABC News.

"They want somebody who appears nonchaotic, and they're prepared to forgive all his trespasses if he can make the city run," Sheinkopf said.

A Democratic Socialist gains momentum

Among the other 10 candidates on the Democratic primary ballot, Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblymember and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is steadily inching upward in the polls and fundraising.

Mamdani is running on a progressive platform that includes a rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, eliminating fares for New York City buses and opening city-owned grocery stores.

Bing Guan/Reuters - PHOTO: Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assemblyman and mayoral candidate for New York City, speaks at an emergency rally held at Foley Square in New York, New York, May 10, 2025.

He has gained major traction in recent weeks -- raising more than $8 million through donations and matching funds, Mamdani's campaign announced on March 24, and gaining buzz across social media with snappy TikTok videos and social media soundbites about his plans.

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"Mamdani is the one to watch... He is fresh; the others are tired," Sheinkopf said. "The things he's saying have a populist appeal, whether they are realistic to achieve or not."

Sheinkopf also said Mamdani's ads are "very smart  he's captured the generational argument," and that the Democratic Socialists of America have effectively organized their support and outreach for Mamdani.

Yet Mamdani is nowhere near the household name that Cuomo is. And with early voting starting on June 14, the window for candidates to make their case for the job is closing fast.

MORE: Democrats accuse McMahon of stonewalling Department of Education IG

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Mamdani has also faced some scrutiny over the feasibility of some of his plans, as well as his views on Israel, given New York's large Jewish population. He has said that he supports boycotts and pressure on Israel over its conduct in the Israel-Hamas war, but frames that within his general "support for universal human rights", as he told The Forward in April, and he has emphasized policies to combat antisemitism. In May, Mamdani told a reporter that he supports Israel's "right to exist as a state." At a forum held by the UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council in May, he did not answer directly when asked if Israel has the right to exist specifically as a Jewish state.

Other candidates have struggled to break through including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, city councilmember Adrienne Adams, former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson and state Senator Zellnor Myrie.

Most of the candidates will face off head-to-head for the first time during the initial mayoral Democratic debate Wednesday evening.
Apple has filed an appeal to the European Unions General Court in Luxembourg. - adam gray/Reuters

Apple is challenging an order from the European Unions antitrust watchdog specifying how it needs to make its iOS operating system more compatible with rival tech companies products under the Digital Markets Act.

The EU executive last March told Apple what it thinks it should do to make its iOS devices more compatible with rivals products, from apps to headphones to virtual reality headsets, to comply with the DMAs interoperability rules designed to curb Big Techs market power.

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That means giving software developers and device makers access to certain parts of Apples operating system that are typically reserved for the companys own products, such as allowing some notifications to show up on rival companies wearable technology.

Apple filed an appeal against that decision to the European Unions General Court in Luxembourg on May 30. Appeals at the court arent typically made public until a few days after they are filed.

At Apple, we design our technology to work seamlessly together, so it can deliver the unique experience our users love and expect from our products. The EUs interoperability requirements threaten that foundation, while creating a process that is unreasonable, costly, and stifles innovation, a spokesperson for the company said on Monday, calling the rules deeply flawed and adding that the EU executives order obliges Apple to share sensitive information with rivals and poses security risks to European customers.

Companies have already requested our users most sensitive datafrom the content of their notifications, to a full history of every stored WiFi network on their devicegiving them the ability to access personal information that even Apple doesnt see, they said. We are appealing these decisions on their behalf, and in order to preserve the high-quality experience our European customers expect, they said.

Apple criticized an access request from Meta Platforms last December just as the commission initially proposed measures it should adopt to adopt to ensure its operating systems are functional with rivals products.

Companies face fines of up to 10% their worldwide annual turnover if the EU decides they are flouting the rules. The commission can also order them to break up parts of their business in extreme cases.
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities said a cybertip helped lead to the arrest of a man at Nashville International Airport over the weekend.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said special agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Friday, May 30. According to officials, the tip contained information about a woman detailing sexual exploitation and abuse from when she was a child.

U.S. Marshals arrest man wanted for child sex crimes in Clarksville

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Further investigation reportedly revealed that 46-year-old Juan Carlos Barturen raped and sexually exploited the victim multiple times.

TBI special agents with the Internet Crimes Against Children, alongside the Nashville International Airport Police, arrested Barturen on Saturday, May 31, at the airport.

According to authorities, Barturen faces a slew of charges, including: two counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, one count of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor/exploitation of a minor by electronic means, and one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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The 46-year-old was reportedly booked in the Lawrence County Jail and is being held without bond.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Barturen was known to travel between Tennessee and Florida, wrote the TBI.

The agency is asking any other potential victims to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or email tips to TipsToTBI@tn.gov.

No additional details were released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.






NEED TO KNOW

Cynthia Nixon is mourning the loss of Jonathan Joss while demanding answers for his death in an Instagram post shared on Tuesday, June 3

According to the police report obtained by PEOPLE, Joss was allegedly "intentionally and knowingly" shot during a dispute with his neighbor on Sunday, June 1

The Sex and the City star posted, "We will not let this stand," in response to the incident







Cynthia Nixon is mourning the loss of Jonathan Joss and calling for answers after the actor was allegedly shot and killed in San Antonio on Sunday, June 1.

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In a post shared to Instagram on Tuesday, June 3, the Sex and the City actress, 59, said she was devastated to learn that Joss, whom she described as a wonderfully talented actor and musician, was fatally shot on Sunday, June 1.

She added that she and her family were big fans of Parks and Recreation. Joss, also 59, had a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate on the sitcom.

He and his husband had been repeatedly harassed and worse by homophobic neighbors who recently burned their house to the ground, Nixon's post continued.

Hours after the news broke on Sunday, his spouse, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, took to Joss Facebook page to reveal that he was present when Joss was shot, and claimed the issue was rooted in homophobia.

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The men were collecting mail at their old address when a former neighbor came at them shouting homophobic hate and shot Jonathan to death, the Gilded Age actress wrote.

Nixon said Joss died protecting the person he loved: His husband says he would also have been shot had Jonathan not pushed him out of the way.

She ended her post calling out local authorities.

The San Antonio police force is saying there is no evidence that this was a hate crime, Nixon wrote. We will not let this stand.

PEOPLE did not immediately receive a response from the San Antonio Police Department.

NBC Jonathan Joss, season 3 of 'Parks and Recreation' Jonathan Joss, season 3 of 'Parks and Recreation'

In a statement shared to the SAPDs Facebook account on Monday, June 2, the department said there was no evidence to support the theory of Joss death being the result of a hate crime.

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SAPD Homicide is currently investigating the murder of Mr. Jonathan Joss. Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Josss murder was related to his sexual orientation. SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly, their statement read.

Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam, 56, who fled the scene in a vehicle, was later detained by police and named as a suspect. He was subsequently booked for murder, and the investigation is still ongoing, per police.

A police report obtained by PEOPLE on Tuesday, June 3, details that Ceja admitted that he intentionally and knowingly discharged a weapon at Joss.

Jonathan Joss/Facebook Tristan Kern de Gonzales and Jonathan Joss Tristan Kern de Gonzales and Jonathan Joss

According to Kern de Gonzales, before Joss was killed, their former home was "burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire.

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We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times, and nothing was done, he said in his online statement.

He also claimed they were regularly harassed by people who made it clear they "did not accept our relationship.

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.

Joss, who was of Native American ancestry, was also known for his voice role as John Redcorn in King of the Hill, which aired in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Hours before his death, he shared an Instagram video discussing how the reboot is up and moving as he walked around Austin, Texas.



Read the original article on People
Czech defence giant Czechoslovak Group has almost completed the construction of an artillery projectile production line in Ukraine.

Source: Ukrainian military news outlet Militarnyi

Details: The Czechoslovak Group will soon complete the construction of a production line to manufacture 155 mm artillery projectiles as part of a joint project with the Ukrainian government.

"The production site is at the final stage of preparation for launch, but we cannot announce a specific date at this time," the company's representatives said at a briefing at the Czechoslovak Group headquarters.

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Militarnyi reports that the company will produce the main range of ammunition included in the Czechoslovak Group's production offer. The Czech company is solely responsible for preparing the production line, while the Ukrainian side is responsible for all other organisational processes.

In addition, the briefing stressed that the company will be located in an area with a low risk of missile attacks, which will ensure stable and uninterrupted production in the future.

The briefing also revealed the types of ammunition that will be produced in Ukraine under the license. These are 155-mm artillery rounds M107, 155-mm artillery rounds L15 of increased power and 155-mm long-range artillery round HE ER-BT/BB MKM/VMK. Additionally, 105-mm high explosive incendiary artillery rounds M1 NE and 120-mm tank rounds of an unspecified type will be produced as well.

Background:

Ukrainian Armour signed a package of documents on cooperation with the Czech holding Czechoslovak Group (CSG) in October 2024.

One agreement concerns the supply of components, and the other concerns the licensing of ammunition production (transfer of technology and documentation for the production of artillery rounds).

"We plan to produce and supply about 100,000 rounds of ammunition next year and more than 300,000 in 2026. The equipment preparation process has already started," said Vladyslav Belbas, CEO of Ukrainian Armour.

Czechoslovak Group AS reported record sales and profitability for last year as the war in Ukraine boosted demand for heavy ammunition and combat vehicles manufactured by the Prague-based company. Revenue jumped 71% to 1.73 billion (about US$1.9 billion), said the defence conglomerate known as CSG, owned by Czech billionaire Michal Strnad. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rose 130% to 439 million.

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DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  The Danville Area Community College Board extended the contract of its interim president while they work to find a permanent president.

The board announced on Wednesday that they approved the extension of Dr. Randy Fletcher through the end of the year. This will give them more time to find the best candidate to become their 8th president.

City of Danville to vote on acceptance of $350k donation toward Friendly Town Center

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The Board of Trustees will work through a hiring process that will include a search for qualified candidates and a committee to evaluate and interview qualified candidates, with the final decision being made by the Board, board members wrote in a news release.

Dr. Fletcher has acted as president since December, when former President Dr. Stephen Nacco retired. Fletcher is a native of Oakwood with 24 years of experience in the Illinois Community College System, including 12 years at DACC and eight at Parkland College in Champaign.

Without this extension, the interim period of DACCs presidency would have ended on June 30. WCIA previously reported that the board hoped to name Fletcher as its new president at the end of that period, but the boards comments on Wednesday appear to indicate an openness to look at someone else.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Dallas Police Department has paused enforcement of an anti-prostitution ordinance after a city court ruled it unconstitutional.

The department has instructed officers to temporarily pause enforcement of the Dallas City Code against manifesting the purpose of engaging in prostitution, said Corbin Rubinson, Dallas Police senior public information officer, in an email to The Dallas Express. He said officials based this decision on a recent ruling from the City of Dallas Municipal Court.

The Department remains committed to enforcing all laws, and this ruling does not restrict officers from other methods of investigating and enforcing prostitution and trafficking crimes in the City of Dallas, Rubinson said.

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Two municipal court trials for manifesting the purpose of engaging in prostitution were dismissed, as WFAA reported. According to The Dallas Morning News, the ruling found the laws language unconstitutionally vague and broad.

The local law in question bans conduct that manifests the purpose and intent of inducing, enticing, soliciting, or procuring another to commit an act of prostitution in public. Prostitution is also illegal at the state level, and trafficking is illegal at the federal level.

The law sets forth specific factors for determining a violation. A person must be a known prostitute or panderer or be in a location frequented by persons who engage in prostitution or solicitation. The suspect must also be repeatedly beckoning, attempting to stop, or engaging passersby, or trying to stop passing cars with a bodily gesture, or interfering with free passage.

The law also bars officers from arresting suspects for violations unless they give an opportunity to explain the persons conduct, and they have an affirmative defense if they provide a lawful purpose for their behavior.

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In 2023, a Dallas County judge ruled the law unconstitutional and trespasses on the constitutional rights of Dallas citizens, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. This decision followed complaints that the statute was overly broad. That year, Dallas police also stopped enforcing the statute.

Dallas saw sex trafficking and prostitution spike in 2024, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. The city is home to hundreds of escort sites, illicit massage businesses, and brothels. Earlier this year, near Harry Hines Blvd., a 13-year-old girl was forced into prostitution.
A Kansas woman was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for the 2002 murders of her ex-husband and his girlfriend. Judge Cheryl Rios handed down two consecutive life terms to Dana Chandler, 65, who was sentenced in the deaths of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness.

She will not be eligible for parole for 50 years, with credit for about 13 years of time she has already served.

Hailey Seel, Chandler and Sisco's daughter, gave a victim impact statement at sentencing. According to The Kansas Reflector, Seel said about her mother in court, "I truly see her now as the evil killer. I hate it. I don't want to call you evil killer, but I can't live in a fairy tale."

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Seel reportedly recommended the judge to show mercy on Chandler if she confessed to the crime and expressed remorse. But if Chandler continued to deny her involvement, Seel recommended the judge should impose the maximum sentence.

Dana Chandler at her sentencing for the 2002 murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness on June 3, 2025. / Credit: Pool photography by Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal/USA Today Network

The Kansas Reflector reported Chandler continued to deny involvement in the crimes, stating, "I have always maintained my innocence. I continue to maintain my innocence. I was not in Topeka, Kansas, on July 7. I never owned or possessed a 9-millimeter firearm. What is happening in this courtroom is a grave injustice. I was not the one who killed them."

Sisco, 47, and Harkness, 53, were each shot multiple times with a 9mm gun on July 7, 2002, in Harkness' Topeka, Kansas, home. Police quickly suspected Chandler after members of the Harkness and Sisco families said she harassed Sisco with bizarre visits and frequent phone calls following their bitter divorce and custody battle. She was questioned by police but was not charged. Chandler has always maintained her innocence.

"48 Hours" has been covering the case since 2008, and most recently in "My Mother's Murder Trials" reported by contributor Jim Axelrod.

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For years, the couple's families met with law enforcement and even conducted their own investigation looking for additional evidence, such as the murder weapon, which was never found. At that time, Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht reportedly said there was not enough evidence to charge Chandler. In 2011, a new DA, Chad Taylor, was in office and made the decision to move the case forward.

Dana Chandler was arrested in 2011 and entered not guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree murder. A jury convicted Chandler in 2012, and she was sentenced to life in prison.

Six years later, Chandler's convictions were overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that statements made at Chandler's trial by prosecutor Jacqie Spradling was, in at least one instance, "made-up" and "misleading." Spradling was later disbarred for what the court called "intolerable acts of deception" aimed at the jury and the courts. "48 Hours" reached out to Spradling, but did not receive a response.

But the Kansas Supreme Court did not dismiss Chandler's case. It ruled that there was still sufficient evidence for a jury to find Chandler guilty. The decision whether to retry Chandler was up to the new Shawnee County DA Mike Kagay, and he chose to proceed with another trial.

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Chandler's second trial began in July 2022. Defense attorney Tom Bath argued there was no DNA, fingerprint or hair evidence that placed Chandler inside the Harkness residence, or even in the state of Kansas.

Shawnee County Deputy DA Charles Kitt acknowledged the lack of physical evidence and told the jury the case was instead based on jealousy, rage and obsession.

The jury in this trial was unable to reach a unanimous decision. After six days of deliberation, the judge announced a hung jury, reportedly with seven votes to convict and five to acquit.

Following the hung jury, the judge reduced Chandler's bond, and after being incarcerated for more than a decade, she was released from jail with GPS monitoring. The defense also requested a change of venue for the upcoming trial, which the judge granted.

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Chandler's third trial got underway in February 2025, in Pottawatomie County, 60 miles from Topeka. On the morning of opening statements, Chandler dismissed her attorneys and announced she would represent herself.

At trial, Chandler's children, Hailey Seel and Dustin Sisco  who were teenagers at the time of the murders  testified for the prosecution, as they had done previously. They both believe their mother, Dana Chandler, is responsible for murdering their father, Mike Sisco, and Karen Harkness. They were also questioned by their mother.

When it was time to present her case, Chandler testified for approximately 20 hours, spread over seven days. She argued that no one could place her at the scene of the murders, or even in the state of Kansas at the time of the killings, and that she had never owned or possessed a .9mm firearm.

Deputy DA Kitt focused on Chandler's obsessive behavior and told the jury she killed Sisco and Harkness because she had lost control of her ex-husband.



The jury deliberated nearly four hours before finding Chandler guilty.

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Hailey Seel says she was relieved by the verdict but hopes that the lives lost are not forgotten.



"I do feel like the focus of this case has gone almost completely to Dana Chandler and that the  the victims and the families of the victims has really been lost in this case, which is really sad. And I hope that from here out the  the victims and the families can be remembered more," Seel told "48 Hours."

Chandler is filing motions to appeal the conviction. "48 Hours" reached out to Chandler for comment, but did not receive a response.

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"
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Nearly $50,000 is headed to the Illinois Conservation Foundation for the restoration of a national historic landmark in Springfield.

On Wednesday, it was announced that the Dana-Thomas House Foundation donated $48,874 to the Illinois Conservation Foundation to facilitate the purchase and installation of historically appropriate rugs at the Dana-Thomas House.

Urbana City Council approves method to pay millions for previous agreement with Hotel Royer

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The Dana-Thomas House is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a vital piece of our states cultural heritage, said Natalie Phelps Finnie, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Preserving historic sites like this ensures future generations can learn from and experience Illinois rich history.

The Dana-Thomas House is one of the most complete early examples of Frank Lloyd Wrights Prairie-style architecture. Wright designed the house in 1902 for socialite and philanthropist Susan Lawrence Dana.

Additionally, the home contains over 100 pieces of original Wright-designed furniture and more than 250 examples of art glass.

Monticello students build bike racks for park named after fallen Marine

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The Illinois Conservation Foundation will administer the donation to ensure it directly supports the carpet restoration project at the Dana-Thomas House. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources operates this house, as well as 55 other state historic states across the state.

We are proud to work alongside the Dana-Thomas House Foundation on this effort, said Jenny Vaughn, executive director of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Public-private partnerships like this play a critical role in ensuring that Illinois historic sites and state parks are protected and maintained for the future.

This historic site is open to the public for tours year-round. To learn more about the Illinois Conservation Foundation, or to support preservation efforts, visit ilconservation.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Former customers of the late Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff will recoup $498.3 million under a settlement on Wednesday with the liquidators of two Luxembourg funds, boosting their recovery to about $15.26 billion.

The Luxembourg Investment Fund and Luxembourg Investment Fund U.S. Equity Plus had invested exclusively with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities for three years before Madoff's firm collapsed in December 2008.

Irving Picard, the trustee liquidating Madoff's firm, said the $498.3 million represents all transfers that the Luxembourg funds received from the firm.

The funds will also give the Madoff firm's bankruptcy estate 15% of proceeds from their lawsuit in Luxembourg against the Swiss bank UBS.

They are expected to receive $45.1 million on their own claim against the estate. The funds did not admit wrongdoing.

Court approval is required, and a June 25 hearing has been scheduled.

A lawyer for the Luxembourg funds did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Prior to Wednesday's settlement, Picard recovered $14.76 billion for Madoff customers, whose losses he has estimated at $17.5 billion. Payouts go to 2,656 customers whose claims he deemed valid.

The payouts are separate from the $4.3 billion awarded by the U.S. government-created Madoff Victim Fund to 40,930 individuals, schools, charities and pension plans.

These recipients included customers, and victims who lost money indirectly through Madoff, including in "feeder funds."

Madoff concealed his fraud for decades before confessing to his sons one day after his firm's 2008 Christmas party.

He pleaded guilty to 11 criminal charges and was sentenced to 150 years in prison, with the sentencing judge calling Madoff's crimes "extraordinarily evil."

Madoff died in prison at age 82 in April 2021.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Rod Nickel)
Colorado Treasurer Dave Young speaks at the opening of Colorado Democrats' Aurora field office on June 28, 2022. (Faith Miller/Colorado Newsline)

Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young on Wednesday became the fourth prominent Democrat to throw his hat in the ring for Colorados highly competitive 8th Congressional District.

The residents of Colorados 8th District are worried about their economic future  and rightfully so, Young said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Im running for Congress to stand up for working families, protect the programs they count on, and ensure our economy works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. I am running to stand up for Colorados working families and deliver results that matter in a time of uncertainty.

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Young, a former state representative from Greeley, has served as Colorado treasurer since 2019. One of four statewide executive offices elected by voters, the treasurer oversees the management, investment and disbursement of state funds, along with a handful of savings and loan programs and the states Division of Unclaimed Property.

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The 8th District is Colorados newest, most competitive and most diverse congressional seat. Drawn by an independent redistricting commission in 2021, it includes parts of Denvers northern suburbs as well as more rural areas in southern Weld County. Four in 10 residents of the district are Latino.

The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican who unseated former Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo by a margin of fewer than 2,500 votes in the 2024 election. Despite representing one of the nations most evenly divided congressional districts, Evans has remained a steadfast supporter of President Donald Trumps historically extreme anti-immigration agenda, his chaotic efforts to launch a global trade war and a sweeping GOP budget bill that would cut $625 billion from Medicaid.

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Caraveo has launched a bid to win back her seat in 2026, joining a Democratic primary that also includes state Reps. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City and Shannon Bird of Westminster.

Youngs campaign announcement noted that he is the only Democratic primary candidate to hail from the districts more conservative half in Weld County, calling him the Democrat best positioned to win this seat back. And it blasted Evans support for a package of deep cuts to Medicaid, which provides coverage to more than 1 in 4 of the 8th Districts residents.

This is personal to me. My sister has severe developmental disabilities, and has been reliant on life sustaining support provided by Medicaid for much of her life, Young said. Congressman Gabe Evans and his GOP allies just voted to slash Medicaid benefits, which will impact tens of thousands of people in this district, as well as millions of others including people like my sister.

Colorados 8th Congressional District deserves a representative who shows up, listens, and delivers, he added. Ive spent my life making government work better for people, and Im ready to bring that same energy and experience to Washington.

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A Davenport woman accused of striking another woman in the head with a club in December 2024 has been sentenced in the case.

Jazzmenn Bryant (Scott County Jail)

Jazzmenn Bryant entered a guilty plea to a charge of willful injury causing serious injury on February 25. She was sentenced on May 30 in Scott County Court in Davenport to a term not to exceed five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections, with credit for time served. A charge of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon was dismissed at sentencing. Her sentence was suspended and she must serve two years of supervised probation. She was fined $1,025 plus a 15% criminal penalty surcharge, but the fine and surcharge were suspended.

Bryant was arrested in January after Davenport Police responded to a report of an assault that happened in the 1500 block of Perry Street on December 12, 2024. Bryant and the victim were in an argument over medication when Bryant struck her in the head with a club. The victim suffered a concussion, fractured rib and lacerations.

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BOSTON (SHNS)  The House and Senate are aligned on the need to resist attempts by Republicans in Washington, D.C. and other states to restrict reproductive and transgender care here despite any legislative process hiccups along the way, a top House Democrat said Tuesday.

Representatives got a chance to weigh in publicly on legislation that Senate Democrats deemed a top priority weeks ago when a measure (S 2522) updating the 2022 shield law emerged at a Judiciary Committee hearing.

Rep. Michael Day, the panels co-chair, used the opportunity both to point out the less typical path the bill is taking as well as to insist theres agreement between House and Senate Democrats on the substance at play.

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While others and we may have some concern about the process by which this bill got here, that, to me, is really more about internal relationships between the chambers and not about the big picture this bill is, Day replied to testimony by bill author Sen. Cindy Friedman. I think you did a good job of touching upon what the big picture is on this bill: women, womens health and gender-affirming care are under attack from other states and certainly being threatened by the current administration in Washington, D.C.

We in Massachusetts, certainly, I think, are aligned between the chambers here to push back on the idea that women shouldnt be able to make decisions about their own bodies, he added.

The House and Senate initially disagreed on whether the Judiciary Committee or the Health Care Financing Committee, co-chaired by Friedman, should review the measure first.

On Thursday, the Senate acquiesced and allowed the proposal to go to the Judiciary Committee. Day said the arrival of the bill caught us on short notice and that senators on the panel added it to the Tuesday hearing agenda within an hour.

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I say that because I dont know that the committee members, on the House side at least, had an adequate chance to really get into this bill as we did with the other bills that had been noticed, he said of the 16-page proposal.

Much of the substance of the bill already got aired last week  albeit with no representatives directly involved  at a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. Senate President Karen Spilka tasked that Friedman-chaired panel, which had not held a public hearing in years, with leading her chambers response to the Trump administration.

At both hearings, officials in Attorney General Andrea Campbells office as well as reproductive and transgender health care advocates called on lawmakers to expand on a 2022 law designed to shield those services from out-of-state legal action.

Top Senate Democrats including Spilka announced their support for the bill in mid-April when it was first filed.

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The proposal would restrict Massachusetts agencies from cooperating with or providing information for federal or out-of-state investigations, require acute care hospitals to provide abortion services when necessary to address a patients emergency medical condition, and prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against nonprofits that offer reproductive health and transgender care.

One section would require prescription drug labels for reproductive and transgender care to omit the name of the individual prescribing physician and instead list only the broader health care practice.

Supporters pointed to the case of Dr. Maggie Carpenter, a New York doctor facing a felony charge in Louisiana and a penalty in Texas for prescribing medication abortion, as a reason for the proposed change.

Allyson Slater, director of the reproductive justice unit in Attorney General Andrea Campbells office, said the language was designed to protect the provider who may be mailing medication out of state.

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We know that these providers are providing care across state lines, sometimes into hostile states, and certainly that puts them at great risk if their personal information is easily available and being sent across those state lines, Slater said.

Sen. Cindy Friedman (blue sweater) listens from the audience at a June 3, 2025 Judiciary Committee hearing about her reproductive and transgender care shield legislation. (SHNS)

Day rattled off other reforms Beacon Hill has embraced, including a 2017 law increasing access to birth control, the 2020 ROE Act and the 2022 shield law, the latter of which he called a national standard for other states.

He also noted that the House-approved fiscal year 2026 state budget included $2 million for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.

I know the Senate did not include that proposal. Im very hopeful that they will agree to do so in the conference committee and in the final budget that we send to Governor Healey, Day said. The essence, I think, is that we dont want to make womens health a bargaining chip in budget discussions. The challenges were facing from the federal government, I think, are too important for that, and certainly too important for inter-chamber squabbles.

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Friedman told the Judiciary Committee theres simply no time to wait based on the swift and unpredictable actions of the Trump administration.

Ive always felt like both houses have been in sync with this issue, she said. There was nothing in this that putting this forward this quickly was anything except about an incredible sense of urgency and getting it in front of you all so that we could move this along.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Daytons Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims Jr. wrote about his pride for Dayton while hosting the 2025 NATO Spring Parliamentary Assembly.

I want to express how proud I am of Dayton for once again demonstrating its outsized impact on the international stage. Our city, long recognized for its pivotal role in brokering peace through the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, was honored to host global leaders and showcase our continued legacy as a place where diplomacy and progress converge, wrote Mims.

He thanked everyone in our community for their patience and flexibility.

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Your hospitality and sacrifice did not go unnoticed, wrote Mims. With NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello personally thanking Dayton residents for warmly welcoming his international delegation and staff, and for showing the best of our Midwestern spirit.

He highlighted the crucial role Dayton played in helping to end the Bosnian War 30 years ago. He also spoke on both Daytons innovative past and lucrative future.

Dayton Library to host senior pizza parties with college help

Mims then encouraged people to support small businesses.

They are the heartbeat of Dayton, and nows a great time to support and shop local, wrote Mims.

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To read Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims Jr.s full post, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Dozens of unlicensed food trucks near the National Mall were towed on Friday, as the city cracks down in an attempt to improve safety.

One licensed food truck owner who works in downtown D.C. told DC News Now hes thrilled the city took this action, saying its one he hasnt seen on this scale in his decade-plus of food truck ownership.

In total, 32 unlicensed food trucks were towed. An additional 46 citations were issued, and five junk vehicles were removed.

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Complaint: Nonprofit calls for ethics investigation into DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, staff

There were a lot of unlicensed food truck operators who were creating pollution, blocking walkways, endangering pedestrians and parking illegally, and really making it unsafe for our customers at the mall, said Tiffany Crowe, the director of the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

Crowe, who told DC News Now there are about 100-110 licensed food trucks in the National Mall area, said the crackdown will improve safety. In addition to the safety concerns for pedestrians, she also described how the license requirement includes a fire safety evaluation.

Propane and open flames can be very dangerous for consumers, and weve seen that on the mall a few times where food trucks have caught fire, she said.

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As far as prices, she noted that the mayors office has pushed for a crackdown on requiring price transparency.

Confusion, concern around Dupont Circle ahead of big WorldPride weekend

Sam Wanis, who owns Mexicana Grill on Independence Ave., SW, described the crackdown.

They just closed off the road and every food truck had an officers car next to [it], he said.

Wanis said this will help his business and the others who follow the proper regulations.

If you want to work in DC, you gotta have your license and you gotta get all your stuff together, he said.

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DDG and Halle Baileys relationship has been experiencing some intense hurdles over the last year, with their disagreements often involving their son, Halo. The Pontiac, Mich., rapper filed a motion on Wednesday morning (June 4) in an attempt to keep his one-year-old in the United States against the plans of his childs mother.

Per TMZ, DDG filed an emergency motion to stop Halle from taking their infant son out of the country. The 6x nominated songstress reportedly had plans to travel with Halo to Italy on Saturday (June 7) for work, and her ex-boyfriend requested an emergency hearing because he worries about what she might do if she leaves the courts jurisdiction, according to the outlet.

He is claiming Halle poses an imminent emotional and psychological risk to the child.

DDG also cited multiple alleged events that support would his claims. In the motion, he said when Halle was pregnant, she allegedly took his gun and left the house without telling him where she was going. He eventually found her outside holding the weapon, and it remained unused by her. DDG also claims the Little Mermaid actress tried to have an abortion behind his back, but did not go through with it.

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The rapper added Halley once sent a series of alarming text messages threatening to kill herself and suggesting that their infant son, Halo, might also be harmed.

Allegations of negative behavior have come from both sides of the former relationship. The Chloe x Halle member was granted a temporary restraining order against DDG last month after accusing him of physical abuse. In an incident with photos included in her complaint, she alleged DDG once slammed her face on a steering wheel, chipping her tooth, while he came to pick up Halo.

She addressed her Italy travel plans in her complaint, which was approved on May 15. I have family and a nanny who will be traveling with me to care for Halo while I am working, Halle wrote in the court documents.

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A specially designed artificial intelligence program named after a Judaic prophet suggests one of biblical archeologys greatest finds require reexamination. According to an international team of researchers in consultation with Enoch, some of the Dead Sea Scrolls may be a bit older than we thought. Their evidence is laid out in a study published on June 4 in the journal PLOS One.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most remarkable and revolutionary archeological discoveries ever made. Researchers uncovered the first documents within the West Banks Qumrum Caves in 1946, eventually amassing around 15,000 scrolls and parchment fragments over the next decade. Historians and religious studies experts have spent years examining the trove believed to date to the Second Temple era (516 BCE70 CE), in the process learning invaluable details about ancient Jewish and early Christian life. The scrolls also include some of the oldest complete biblically canonical books known to exist, and helped confirm the eras rabbinic culture to maintain remarkably standardized written texts over a roughly 1,000-year period.

Although ancient manuscripts occasionally feature written dates, many others are missing them. This often makes it difficult to easily pinpoint their provenance, but experts have ways to narrow down the possibilities. In addition to radiocarbon dating, scholars frequently study the evolution of ancient handwritinga field of study known as paleography. Understanding these stylistic shifts can help indicate when authors penned certain documents, and thus fill in historical gaps.

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However, theres a catch to this approach. In order to get a sense of a written artifacts age from its script, paleographers require enough accurately dated manuscripts to serve as a reference. Add in the many nuances to historical documentation, and it can get very tricky, very quickly.

Knowing this, a group of experts from universities across the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Italy recently collaborated on a new machine learning program specifically designed to analyze and evaluate scanned images of biblical writings. Enoch, named after the Book of Genesis prophet who did not experience death, is built on two primary datasetsan index of radiocarbon dated historic biblical texts, and an analysis of each manuscripts handwriting. By combining these two databases, Enoch could then analyze a sample text in order to more accurately date it.

Once Enoch was built, the team had it scan 135 non-dated Dead Sea Scrolls and offer an age estimate for each one. A group of paleography experts then compared those results to their own evaluations. They concluded Enoch offered realistic dating estimates for nearly 80 percent of the scrolls, while the remaining conclusions were either too young, too old, or indecisive.

Interestingly, researchers noted that some of Enochs realistic estimates meant that certain Dead Sea Scroll samples were actually older than scholars previously theorized. These revisions were further reinforced by additional radiocarbon testing. In one example, Enoch and scholars agreed a scroll fragment likely dated to the first half of the second century BCEroughly 100 to 150 years older than existing estimates. Whats more, two scroll fragments were dated to the time of their assumed authors, implying they may be primary texts.

While more validation and testing is needed, the team believes Enoch may offer experts a new tool to help investigate, correlate, and date ancient texts.

It is very exciting to set a significant step into solving the dating problem of the Dead Sea Scrolls and also creating a new tool that could be used to study other partially dated manuscript collections from history, the studys authors said in a statement. With the Enoch tool we have opened a new door into the ancient world, like a time machine, that allows us to study the hands that wrote the Bible.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A West Side crash that left a 25-year-old woman dead in late April is now being investigated as a homicide.

Officers say the deadly crash, which claimed the life of 25-year-old Keyana Meeks, unfolded around 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, in the 1300 block of South Lawndale Avenue in North Lawndale.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

An initial report by police indicated that Meeks was on foot when she was struck by an Acura MDX after the driver allegedly struck a curb while making a left turn.

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Photos from the scene show the vehicle involved partially overturned near a building in the area with police tape cordoning off the scene.

Meeks was badly injured in the crash and later died at the hospital, while the driver of the vehicle, an unidentified 21-year-old woman, suffered an injury to her leg.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

The driver of the Acura was taken into custody after receiving medical treatment, however, charges against her were never announced.

An update came in the case on Wednesday when police confirmed that the crash is now being investigated as a homicide.

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The death of grassroots live and electronic music venues in Britain will be the focus of a new review to be conducted by a committee of the U.K. parliaments House of Commons, unveiled at SXSW London on Wednesday.

The review was announced by Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Caroline Dinenage at the inaugural London edition of the popular festival. The goals are supporting a thriving grassroots music scene and building a sustainable talent pipeline that ensures the U.K. music industry remains one of the U.K.s global success stories.

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A review of the challenges and possible solutions was one of the recommendations highlighted by a committee report on grassroots music venues that was published during the last parliamentary term.

Encompassing all aspects of live and electronic music, the review will be chaired by Lord Brennan of Canton,  with the aim of bringing music lovers together to discuss ideas and policies to protect the industry and ensure it works in the best interests of fans, the committee said in a statement. The previous report amplified concerns by venue operators, touring artists and independent promoters regarding the financial precarity of the grassroots music sector, with venues shutting at the rate of two a week.

The review will consider the music fan experience, from the provision of live and electronic music through to considerations of safety, examine the sustainability of venues, and explore the barriers to touring faced by emerging artists, the committee highlighted. It will also look at the effectiveness of existing policies and how different levels of government support live music.

Dinenage, a member of parliament for the Conservative Party, argued that the governing Labour Party needed to do more to support grassroots music. Despite some headway being made on an industry-led levy to support grassroots music, venues are still shutting their doors at an alarming rate, while the government continues to stick its fingers in its ears when it comes to calls for a fan-led review, she said. Its time to put the power in the hands of those who truly understand and love live and electronic music  the fans, artists, DJs and festival goers, as well as those who work behind the scenes.

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The previous committee report found that of the 148 grassroots music venues lost in 2023, approximately 22 percent closed due to operational issues, such as the revocation of premises licences or unachievable license renewal terms. Around 12 percent shut down due to eviction or redevelopment.

Small music venues and nightclubs are already under immense pressure, and the current planning system is only adding to their burden, said Dinenage. Requiring local authorities to properly consider existing venues when approving new developments would be a game-changer. It would help protect the live music ecosystem and give these vital cultural spaces a real chance to survive and thrive.

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You can get Bitcoin at a discount. Here is how. originally appeared on TheStreet.

Bitcoin mining remains fiercely competitive and often out of reach for most investors.

In an interview with TheStreet Roundtable during the Bitcoin 2025 conference, Mitchell Askew, head of Blockware Intelligence, explained that attempting to mine from home quickly becomes impractical. If you want to mine Bitcoin at your house, your electricity rate is going to be too expensive to do it profitably,

Askew noted that home rigs are like running a vacuum cleaner 24-7. Its loud, its hot, its dusty, and its not going to be profitable at your house. Beyond power costs, he pointed out, most investors lack the technical know-how to configure networks, join mining pools and cope with excessive heat and noise.

A turnkey approach

To meet growing demand from investors seeking direct mining exposure, Blockware operates eight data centers across seven states, securing industrial power rates that drastically lower operating expenses.

Askew explains, Every day youre producing Bitcoin at a discount to the market priceif youre mining at a block or site with the latest and greatest Bitcoin miner, your break-even cost is around $60,000 per Bitcoin.

Clients purchase ASIC miners and ship them directly to Blockwares facilities. They can run it at one of our facilities and get access to industrial power rates, allowing them to mine profitably and without doing any of the setup themselves, he said. With these industrial power rates, investors gain daily Bitcoin-denominated cash flows without the hassles of home-based mining.

He also highlighted the tax advantages of acquiring mining equipment. When you purchase ASIC miners, you can depreciate them within each tax year, offsetting a lot of your capital gains at tax, Askew explained.

This depreciation benefit makes mining more appealing than simply buying spot Bitcoin, since investors can reduce taxable income while generating new coins.

On-chain transparency

Central to Blockwares offering is the on-chain Blockware Marketplace, which provides real-time analytics on hash rates, energy consumption and profitability. Investors can review performance metrics before committing capital and pay in Bitcoin or fiat. Askew noted that the platform will soon support purchases of high-performance computing servers alongside mining rigs.

By combining specialized infrastructure, transparent analytics and tax efficiencies, Blockwares hosted solution addresses the steep entry barriers that have long deterred investors from direct Bitcoin mining. With capacity filling fast and institutional interest on the rise, investors have a clear alternative to DIY mining or spot-only exposure.
U.S.-backed bombing in the Gaza Strip, along with aid restrictions by Israel, will accelerate the death toll of Palestinians there, according to new research from aid groups working in the territory.

In a report published Wednesday and led by the nonprofit Humanity and Inclusion, dozens of humanitarian organizations cited the confluence of several factors contributing to the crisis. Israel is continuing to kill and injure people with airstrikes and ground operations, even as Gazas dwindlingstock of operating hospitals lacks supplies like hygiene materials and medical gas.

Israels halt on most aid deliveries is preventing aid workers from giving people sanitation supplies, worsening the spread of disease. And severe shortages of food and water have created widespread dehydration and left the entire population of the Palestinian region in acute food insecurity, per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification famine tracker.

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Gazas health ministry has counted at least 54,600 Palestinian deaths during the war so far, but some outside analysts believe the true toll is tens of thousands higher.

Nineteen months since Israel invaded the strip with U.S. backing, Palestinians in Gaza face simultaneous and intersecting crises across every sector, the report says.

Since March 2, Israel has effectively imposed a full blockade on the region, justifying the policy by saying it is needed to pressure the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which sparked the current round of fighting with a brutal Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed nearly 1,200 people. Issuing sweeping displacement orders and pummeling Gazas cities, particularly in the north, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now confined Gazas population to approximately 19% of its territory, the report noted.

The analysis surveyed 40 humanitarian groups working in the region between March 26 and May 9. Ninety-three percent reported that their aid stocks were nearly or fully exhausted.

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Barring trucks full of supplies from entering the strip, Israel has allowed a limited trickle of supplies into Gaza since May 19. But the aid program it supports  staffed by American contractors without involvement from the humanitarian groups who have worked in the region for decades  has yet to help a significant number of Palestinians, and violence has repeatedly been reported near distribution points.

Palestinian children gather at a hot meal distribution point in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, June 4, 2025. The U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation group operating aid sites in the Gaza Strip announced the temporary closure of the facilities on June 4 following a string of deadly incidents near the distribution sites it operates that have sparked condemnation from the United Nations. EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images

The worsening of Gazas already catastrophic man-made humanitarian crisis will not be prevented by token and piecemeal deliveries of food parcels under any militarized supply distribution scheme, Wednesdays report said. It cites Israeli policies that could be reversed immediately and save lives, like maintaining only one crossing point into Gaza and limiting the inspections process so that fewer than 100 trucks are currently approved to enter the region daily.

Washington has played a major role in enabling Israeli limits on supplies for Gaza, including vital commercial goods. The Trump administration has endorsed Israels controversial new aid program, run by a group calling itself the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and rooted in the idea that supplies were not reaching people in need because of theft by Hamas  an assertion Israeli officials have never demonstrated through major evidence and that most aid groups and some U.S. officials have rejected.

President Donald Trump has also continued sending American bombs and other weapons to Israel, even as he and his aides have claimed they want to end the war, attempting to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and have expressed some frustration with Netanyahu.

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The pattern echoes how President Joe Biden and his administration behaved, even as U.S. officials, lawmakers and independent experts worried that Washingtons approach to Gaza was violating U.S. law and international laws on human rights and warfare. On Monday, Bidens State Department spokesperson said that it is without a doubt true that Israel has committed war crimes in the Palestinian territory.

U.S.-enabled Israeli aid policies are a focus of the ongoing investigations of war crimes and genocide at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court; the latter is also investigating abuses by Hamas. (The ICJ lacks jurisdiction over nonstate actors). Israel denies the charges.

Wednesdays report includes chilling details about Gaza residents living conditions. A Palestinian woman reported that she and others had to cut up their clothes to use as sanitary pads until we no longer had any clothes.

We replaced the diapers for our children with rags and nylon, which caused them to suffer from skin rashes and fungi that ate away at our childrens bodies, resulting in many infections, the woman continued.

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Israel has made it almost impossible for humanitarians to do our jobs to save lives in this manufactured humanitarian catastrophe, James Hoobler, the humanitarian policy adviser at Oxfam America, told HuffPost. The current aid hub distribution model continues to be proven not only woefully insufficient, but deadly  all while our colleagues in Gaza are sharing that children in their families are dizzy from hunger.

Israel is simultaneously exerting greater pressure on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu has approved new settlements in the territory  complicating any future possibility of establishing a Palestinian state there under an Israel-Palestinian peace deal  and appears to be taking steps to annex the region. His government seems increasingly determined to pursue far-right goals that the U.S. and other world powers have condemned, like claiming the two Palestinian territories are absorbed into Israel.

Facing protests over Gaza at home, some global leaders appear willing to exert more pressure on Netanyahu. Later this month, France and Saudi Arabia are hosting a conference on the so-called two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians in New York, where French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce that he recognizes the existence of a Palestinian state.

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Michael C. Rockefeller, son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, disappeared in 1961 while on an expedition in New Guinea

His body was never found and the story of his disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. The story has resurfaced once again now that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has renovated and reopened a wing in his name

His surviving twin, Mary Rockefeller Morgan, spoke to PEOPLE about the weight of the loss in 2014







When his boat capsized 10 miles off the coast of New Guinea back in 1961, Michael C. Rockefeller, 23, decided to swim to land and get help. He was never seen again.

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At the time, Michael, one of the five children born to Nelson Rockefeller, one-time governor of New York, and his wife, Mary, had traveled to the island of New Guinea to collect art and artifacts. Years later, his father, continuing his familys longtime support of the arts, donated much of the collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Over the years, Michael's disappearance became the stuff of legend, including speculation that hed been murdered and eaten by cannibals, a theory his family, who believes he drowned, has long refuted.

Sixty-four years after Michaels disappearance, the Metropolitan Museum has renovated and reopened the Michael C. Rockefeller wing. I feel like the reopening of the wing is the fulfillment of fathers dream, Michael's twin sister Mary Rockefeller Morgan, 87, recently told the New York Times. And Michaels dream.

Back in 2014, she gave a rare and poignant interview to PEOPLE about her twin, as shared below.

T. Nielsen/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Michael C. Rockefeller Michael C. Rockefeller

On Nov. 19, 1961, Michael C. Rockefeller, 23, a son of then-New York Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, vanished off the coast of New Guinea. An heir to the Rockefeller oil fortune, he'd traveled there as part of an anthropological expedition and remained to collect art from the Asmat tribe, hunter-gatherers who lived in virtual isolation from the modern world.

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His disappearance made headlines worldwide  a son of immense privilege gone without a trace. But the loss emotionally shattered his twin sister, Mary. The two youngest of Nelson Rockefeller's five children from his first marriage were so close, says Morgan, "we completed each other." Therapy helped her accept Michael's death, presumed to be from drowning after his catamaran capsized, though clouded in speculation that he was murdered and eaten by cannibals  a theory she disputes.

"There is no direct or conclusive evidence of how Michael died," says Morgan, a psychotherapist specializing in twin bereavement and grief counseling. Her pain resurfaced earlier [in 2014] when Carl Hoffman's book Savage Harvest retold the cannibal story. Her own book, When Grief Calls Forth the Healing, was updated and reissued.

Morgan spoke to PEOPLE's Liz McNeil at her New York City home about her brother, his legacy and the pain of his loss.

AP Michael C. Rockefeller in New Guinea in 1961 Michael C. Rockefeller in New Guinea in 1961

"We were in the same crib until we were about 2, and Michael, the adventurous one, climbed out. Michael was very inquisitive and independent. He was fascinated with beautiful things, pulling me over to look at something: a rock, when we were toddlers, or later a painting.

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"We understood that being from the Rockefeller family was a big responsibility, but also something we felt to be a burden, because we didn't really know who we were as individuals. This desire to express who he was was one of the reasons he went to New Guinea [in April 1961] as part of a Harvard University expedition and why he wanted to find out about people who lived in a totally different way. The expedition was going to make a film on Indigenous people who had never seen White people; he became fascinated with them.

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Members of the Rockefeller Family in 1958 Members of the Rockefeller Family in 1958

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"I had a premonition that he would not come home. But there was no chance of dissuading Michael. In his letters home, he was completely thrilled about what he was doing. He felt very comfortable with the people. He would sit in the fields and talk to the children. He was fascinated by their culture and how their art sprang from everyday life. He bartered for art objects with tobacco and axes. They were a pre-Stone Age culture and had no way of making implements except out of wood, or bones of people or animals.

"On Nov. 20 my father came in with a cablegram for me and my brothers and mother to read. I knew deep down for one terrible moment that Michael was gone. I thought my father was the person who would solve everything, and we would go to New Guinea and find him. I could just picture Michael, disheveled, having surmounted any obstacle and wondering why we were so upset.

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"We left that night. [Nelson Rockefeller chartered a 707 plane to New Guinea.] Father knew the local people would be frightened. They had rarely seen a plane before. He knew if he had any chance of finding Michael, it was going to be that these Indigenous people would find him in their canoes. We were incredibly moved by the amount of people who came out over this vast expanse of jungle from their small villages and went to search for him.

"We were there about 10 days. I accepted that Father and the Dutch officials felt that it was time to call the search off. I wasn't old enough to question their decision. The prevailing thought was that he had drowned. In a seaplane over the dense jungle coastline, I realized how unbelievably difficult it was to make it to shore. Michael's companion, anthropologist Rene Wassing, who survived and was later rescued, told us that their catamaran had begun to get swept out to sea. After a day of trying to paddle, and having lost all their food and water, Michael realized the only thing that could possibly save him was if he swam to shore. Rene didn't swim and knew he would never make it. So Michael started off for the shore. Nobody has ever seen him since.

"There have been many tales over the years about his disappearance  articles, movies, books, a play  all about mainly one story: that he made it to shore and was killed and cannibalized. New archival research makes it clear that the Dutch government didn't want cannibalism talked about. They didn't want to feel like they hadn't been able to control these people. Nobody knows what happened to Michael, and that leaves our family in a terrible place of not knowing.

"At the time I think my father was in shock, just like I was. We held on to each other, but we really didn't talk about it. When I came home and saw my mother, I hugged her. She hugged me back. Then she gently pushed me away and said, 'Mary, the one thing we must understand is that we cannot cry.' She didn't say it, but I knew what she was thinking: We could not fall apart. I think that was part of that sense of responsibility as a member of the Rockefeller family. It was hard, but I followed her lead. I repressed my tears and denied Michael's death for years.

Bridgit Beyer The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art

"I wanted him to be alive so much that sometimes I thought I saw him in a crowd. When you don't know how the person died, it prolongs the grieving and the healing. There were times in my life where I really couldn't function. I had to get therapeutic help. Six years after Michael's death even my therapist told me I had to move on. To him, it was time to move on with my 'wonderful' life  I had so much to look forward to. But it was like half of me was gone. It took me 27 years to heal. Twins feel an enormous bond. I later worked with twins who lost their twin in the 9/11 disaster. Deep down, I wanted to share my story too. I wanted to do some good and show that we can eventually heal.

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"Slowly I began to have memories of Michael that didn't bring tears and pain. Today he feels so present. He left for me his incredible curiosity and his ability to embrace life. I love to go to the Metropolitan Museum and look at the art he collected  it's a wonderful thing when you think he was only 23 years old. And it stands as a tribute to the Asmat people that the sculptures are part of one of the great traditions of art in our world. Michael died doing what he loved. But he is bigger than his death. My family and I hold him in our hearts, and we are so proud of his legacy."

For more information on Michael C. Rockefeller's art collection, please go to metmuseum.org/essays/the-asmat.



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The American Association of School Administrators named City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker to the groups governing board.

The organization is described as the premier organization of more than 10,000 school system leaders that advocates for public education on Capitol Hill.

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Whitaker will be installed on the governing board at the upcoming AASA meeting on July 8-10 in Washington, D.C.

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The school district said her term began on June 1 and will last through June 30, 2026.

Whitakers role on the governing board will give her a decision-making voice. She will help set policy for the group.

Whitaker will also report on the boards work to the Georgia School Superintendents Association, the state affiliate.

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She is serving out the remainder of the term of retiring Baldwin County Superintendent Noris Price.

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I am honored to join the AASA leaders, representing City Schools of Decatur and districts across the southeast, Whitaker said. This will afford me the opportunity to further my commitment to bolster public education on behalf of students locally and nationwide.

The governing board consists of 135 members from seven U.S. regions. Whitaker will represent Georgia in Region 5, which also includes Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Other Georgia-based superintendents serving on the AASA are Superintendent Dr. Morris C. Leis of the Coffee County School District and Superintendent Kenneth Dyer of the Dougherty County School District.

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DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  A Decatur man is facing a charge of animal cruelty after prosecutors said he killed a womans cat last month.

Records from the Macon County Circuit Court show Delbert McGee, 45, is charged with one count of the crime, a Class 4 felony. He made his first appearance for arraignment on May 27 and was ordered to appear again for a preliminary hearing.

These is no indication that the States Attorneys Office filed a petition to ask for pretrial detention and McGee was allowed to walk free ahead of that hearing.

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Decatur approves multi-million micro transit agreement

Diane Couri, the Macon County States Attorney, said in a complaint that the crime happened on May 12. It reads in part:

The said defendant intentionally caused a companion animal to suffer serious injury in that he held a cat belonging to (the owner) down and used both feet to stomp on its head and body, resulting in the cats death.

McGee was arrested the same day as the crime, and he was booked into the Macon County Jail. Records indicate he was there for 30 minutes before being released with a notice to appear in court.

Following his arraignment, McGee was released with conditions, including that he appears again on June 11 for a preliminary hearing. There, Judge Lindsey Shelton will decide whether there is probable cause to continue the case against him.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A woman accused of setting a fire that damaged a two-story house appeared in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for the first time on Wednesday.



Victoria Dobroka pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated arson and arson.



The charges stem from a March fire at the home she was staying at on Homewood Avenue. Warren Fire Chief Ken Nussle previously told First News that firefighters felt it was intentionally set, and a gas can was found on the front porch.

No one was hurt in the fire.



Dobrokas bond was set at $50,000. Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice ordered that she be on pretrial release should she post it. Dobroka is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on June 11.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A Delta flight from Chicago was diverted to CVG Airport in Northern Kentucky Tuesday afternoon.

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Delta Flight 2417 made an emergency landing just after 3 p.m., according to our news partner, WCPO in Cincinnati.

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A Delta spokesperson said the plane had a mechanical issue but did not say what caused it.

The flight landed without incident and taxied to the gate where customers deplaned normally, the spokesperson said.

The flight originated from Chicagos Midway Airport to Atlanta, WCPO said.

The spokesperson added that they reaccommodated the passengers onto a new aircraft to Atlanta.

No one was hurt in the emergency landing.

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BlackRock's (BLK) retreat from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives has it back in good stead with a key Texas official, a victory for CEO Larry Fink, even as the world's largest money manager remains a target of the state's antitrust cops.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced on Tuesday that the Lone Star State had struck BlackRock from a list of financial companies that, by law, are mostly prohibited as state contractors and investments. Texas added BlackRock to that list in 2022, restricting state businesses with the Wall Street giant.

Hegar said in a statement that BlackRock "has acknowledged the real social and economic costs, both here in Texas and globally, that come from limiting investment in the oil and gas industry."

Since 2021, Texas law SB13 has required the comptroller's office to list companies that harm, penalize, or limit commercial relations with companies in the fossil fuel industry, Texas's largest economic driver. It requires state agencies to block and divest state investments in those firms unless they qualify for an exemption.

Hegar said the decision to take BlackRock off the boycott list was "in part because it stepped back from full participation in the Climate Action 100+ and completely exited the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative" and because it "dramatically reduced" its fund offerings that boycotted fossil fuel investments.

"We appreciate the comptroller's resolution of this matter," BlackRock said in a statement. "BlackRock is proud to help millions of Texans retire with dignity and, on behalf of clients, invests over $400 billion in corporations, local governments, energy infrastructure and other private assets throughout the state."

Texas's status change for BlackRock comes after Fink made a series of disengagements from the firm's ESG initiatives as bipartisan concerns spread over the financial giant's power to sway US markets.

Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, at Fox Business Network's studio on April 11 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)  Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images

Fink publicly stated in June 2023 that he would cease using the politically sensitive acronym "ESG" because it had been "weaponized" by both the ideological right and the left.

In January, the financial giant cut ties with UN-backed Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, an environmental advocacy group that pledged net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

But the comptroller's embrace of BlackRock hasn't yet stopped Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from pushing ahead with a legal fight to dilute BlackRock's and two other US financial giants' alleged influence over the fossil fuel industry.
Photo taken from Tamika Lyles campaign website

A Democratic candidate who wants to challenge U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody next year is ripping into the state party, accusing it of unfairly excluding her from the partys upcoming annual fundraiser while at the same time opening the door to another potential Senate candidate.

The Florida Democratic Party strongly disputes the assertion made by Tamika Lyles that the party is violating its bylaws as well as the basic principles of democracy.

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Heres what we know: Lyles filed to run for the U.S. Senate on April 1. Josh Weil is a Democrat who raised a large amount of money in his unsuccessful bid to beat Republican Randy Fine in the special congressional election in District 6 in April. He too, is expected to announce his candidacy in the 2026 Senate race later this month.



The Lyles campaign raised objections when it learned that Weil would be given an opportunity to speak at the partys Leadership Blue Weekend event, which includes a gala, being held at the Hard Rock in Hollywood June 20-22, believing it to be a slight since Weil has yet to announce his candidacy.

Lyles campaign on Tuesday issued a lengthy statement expressing its anger.

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But FDP officials say Lyles isnt telling the whole story, and that the party isnt supporting anybody in next years Senate primary.

The FDP says that Weil is only getting an opportunity to speak at Leadership Blue Weekend because he paid $50,000 to become a title sponsor for the event. Its the highest price point among the four different sponsorships that attendees can donate (the three other sponsorships range between $5,000 to $25,000.)

The $50,000 donation comes with perks, including four reception tickets, two seats at the head table for the event and a speaking opportunity, as listed in an FDP document.

The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Democratic Party, with individual tickets going for $300.

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Lyles said that she was informed by an FDP official that she too, could get a speaking slot similar to Weils if she would pay the $50,000 required to become a title sponsor.

Unequal treatment and exclusion?

The Lyles campaign claims the partys decision to not initially reach out to her highlights a serious issue of unequal treatment and exclusion, adding that it is an act of discrimination, one that mirrors the ongoing marginalization of women, particularly Black women and grassroots candidates nationwide. Lyles is Black.

The FDP says thats not what happened here.

Title sponsorships for our annual Leadership Blue Weekend are available to all candidates, and no title sponsorship opportunities have been extended to any candidates, said FDP spokesperson Matt Dailey.

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However, as the information on how to sign up for a title sponsorship has been publicly available on our website for months, some candidates have reached out to us to sponsor the event. 

Lyles is a U.S. Air Force veteran based in Osceola County who is making her third run for public office. She briefly entered the Democratic primary for Senate in 2018 before withdrawing. In 2020 she finished third in a five-person Democratic primary for a Central Florida House seat.

This is what voter suppression looks like inside the party, she said in a written statement to the Florida Phoenix. I have served this country in uniform, earned multiple degrees, led legal and advocacy efforts for over a decade, and built a campaign powered by people, not political insiders. Yet it still isnt enough to be treated fairly or be given the same access as a man who hasnt even entered the race.

FDP officials say that the only people speaking at the Leadership Blue Gala on Saturday night, June 21, the signature event of the weekend, will be New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Chair Nikki Fried and sitting members of Congress. Weil will be given a speaking slot at some other time during the weekend event, which includes lots of panel discussions.

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This isnt the first time that theres been an issue in regard to who gets to speak among Senate Democratic candidates at the Leadership Blue Weekend. At last years event held in Orlando, the eventual nominee, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, did speak during the evening event.

Her main opponent in the primary election last August, Black tech entrepreneur Stanley Campbell, said he was only invited to speak during a morning session in front of a much smaller group of people (an FDP official tells the Phoenix that they believed that both of those candidates paid to get the chance to address party members at last years event).

When asked if it wasnt a bad look that only candidates who could offer to pay $50,000 could get a speaking slot sometime during the weekend, the FDPs Matt Dailey said that raising money for the party is what the event is essentially all about.

Above all, Leadership Blue is a fundraising event  our largest and most important of the year, he said. The practice of offering a spot in the weekend schedule to incentivize title sponsorship is a long-time and well-advertised practice of the party.

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How do we make democracy a lifelong habit for young voters? Make it easier for them to vote, our columnist opines. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Parents who want to keep their kids away from candy quickly learn to hide the sugary sweets high on a shelf or tucked away in the back of a cabinet.

Its common sense that if you make something harder to access, fewer people are going to access it.

There are plenty of good reasons to prevent toddlers from eating their weight in gummy worms.

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There are no good reasons to prevent people from exercising their ability to vote.

And yet we continue to see more attemptsboth nationally and here in Indianato chip away at the rights of lawfully eligible citizens to cast ballots for their preferred candidates.

In order to understand the big picture, we have to rewind the clock to 2013, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a requirement that places with a history of racial discrimination in voting had to get federal approval to change their voting laws or practices.

In the years since that decision, the Brennan Center for Justice has tracked dozens of states, including Indiana, enacting a total of almost 100 restrictive laws making it harder for eligible voters to register, stay on the voter rolls or actually cast a ballot.

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The latest effort here is Senate Enrolled Act 10, which bans student IDs issued by Indianas public colleges and universities from being used as valid identification to vote. Worth noting: 20 of the 37 states with a voter ID law on the books allow the use of some form of college student ID.

Removing student IDs from the list of acceptable voting identification puts one more roadblock in their path. Young voters already face higher barriers to participation in our democracy: Theyre more likely to have recently moved, to lack access to transportation or to not yet have a drivers license with their current address.

Proponents of these restrictions havent been able to produce a single case of student ID being used to commit voter fraud in Indiana.

Time to make democracy a habit

This years-long push to restrict voting access has had a negative impact. The latest attempt comes at a time when Hoosiers arent exactly showing up and showing out at the polls. In the 2024 general election, Indiana ranked 43rd in voter participation, with fewer than two-thirds of eligible voters casting a ballot.

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Heres the thing: Voting is habit-forming. A 2003 Yale study found voting in one election substantially increases the likelihood of voting in the future. So if we want to improve that dismal turnout percentage, we should be doing everything we can hook young voters on democracy.

One idea lawmakers might consider is voter pre-registration, which allows 16- and 17-year-olds to sign up in advance so that when they turn 18, theyre automatically added to the voter rolls ready to cast a ballot.

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In most states that offer it, pre-registered voters are listed as pending until they reach voting age, at which point their status switches to active without requiring any further action. By making the process easier and more accessible, we could turn first-time voters into lifelong voters.

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That should be the goal.

The conversation about voting is about so much more than Senate Enrolled Act 10, which was a solution in search of a problem from the jump. Its about what happens when we slowly chip away at electoral freedom over time.

Its easy to say, Well, its just one form of ID. Whats the big deal? People need to adapt. And thats how democracy dies by a thousand paper cuts.

Theres bipartisan agreement that young people should be learning more about how government works, including how to get involved and the requirements to vote. To make that shared civics education vision a reality, we need to remove barriers instead of adding them. Let students use college-issued IDs to vote. Make it possible for them to pre-register at 16. Democracy should be attainable, accessible and habit-forming.

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WASHINGTON  Democrats want to know if President Donald Trump ever noticed his former adviser Elon Musk using drugs while working in the White House.

Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, asked Trump in a letter Wednesday about recent reporting that Musk used ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The drastic and erratic nature of Mr. Musks decisions and actions as a government employee, coupled with the reports of his drug use, begs the question whether Mr. Musk was under the influence of illicit substances while working in your White House, Lynch wrote in his letter.

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The American people deserve to know whether Mr. Musk was under the influence while he gleefully took a chainsaw to our federal government, Lynch wrote.

Musk served as a special government employee heading up Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative aimed at tackling wasteful spending. Musk and his team identified a tiny fraction of the $2 trillion of allegedly wasteful spending he once boasted hed eliminate.

Many of the DOGE teams efforts, including mass firings, allegedly improper access of sensitive data systems, and the wholesale elimination of federal agencies, have been tied up in courts. In February, Musk gleefully wielded a chainsaw onstage at a political conference, describing it as a symbol of his efforts to destroy the federal bureaucracy.

Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, seen above in April, is pushing President Donald Trump on whether Elon Musk was using drugs while working in the White House. Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

Lynch first pressed the White House for Musks national security questionnaire form, which includes questions about illicit drug use, after The New York Times reported last week that Musks drug habit went well beyond occasional use. The story did not detail drug use by Musk while working in the White House.

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Given his prominent role in the Trump Administration, the American people deserve to know the history and extent of Mr. Musks drug use and any influence illicit drugs may have had on his efforts to illegally and recklessly dismantle our government, Lynch wrote. If Mr. Musk is struggling with substance abuse, it is our hope he gets the assistance and treatment he needs.

The White House declined to comment.

Musk has denied being a drug user and claimed the Times was lying. He said he had once been prescribed ketamine a few years ago, something hes previously been open about. It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but havent taken it since then, Musk wrote on social media.

Musk left his position, which was limited to 130 days, after that deadline passed last week. This week, in a stunning turn, he harshly criticized the legislation Republicans are moving on Capitol Hill to enact Trumps domestic policy agenda. Musk called the bill a disgusting abomination.

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Democrats have cheered Musks turn against the bill, which combines tax and Medicaid cuts and would widen federal budget deficits, contrary to DOGEs mission of improving the governments finances.

Now even someone on ketamine, mushrooms and Ecstasy can see it, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said online.

Lynch is serving as the top Democrat on the Republican-led Oversight Committee on a temporary basis after the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). Lynch is one of several Democrats vying for the ranking member position that will be decided by an internal party election later this month.
Gov. Andy Beshear appeared before a joint session of the House and Senate on Jan. 8, 2025 to deliver his State of the Commonwealth address. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

Gov. Andy Beshear has signed an executive order to establish an advisory committee to explore support for universal pre-kindergarten programs in Kentucky.

Beshear, a Democrat, has long supported implementing universal pre-K statewide. He again called on Republicans in the state legislature supermajority to fund such initiatives in his State of the Commonwealth Address earlier this year. However, top Republicans said their caucuses dont have a consensus on the matter.

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The executive order creates the Team Kentucky Pre-K for All Advisory Committee with 28 members representing experience in business, workforce development and education. Jamie Link, the secretary of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet is the chair of the committee. Other members include Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher, Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and former state lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican.

Beshear announced the Pre-K for All initiative with local leaders in Louisville Wednesday. The city launched a five-year plan for universal pre-K last year. The governor emphasized a need to offer all Kentucky 4-year-olds pre-K programs to increase kindergarten readiness.

We are here, not as Democrats or Republicans, not as part of the right or the left, Beshear said in a statement. Instead, we are here as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, educators and business leaders. We are here because we want the best for our Kentucky kids, the best for our Kentucky parents and caregivers, and we want to build and maintain the best workforce in America.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says that 53.8% of Kentucky children are not prepared for kindergarten on the first day of school.

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Beshear also said that 18 states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and West Virginia, offer pre-K access to 4-year-olds  further underscoring that he views the issue as nonpartisan.

The advisory committee will hold public meetings throughout Kentucky and create a report on feedback heard by Oct. 15. Thats a few weeks ahead of the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, which is when lawmakers will begin debating the next two-year state budget.

Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and senior adviser Rocky Adkins will travel across the state in the coming days to highlight the Pre-K for All initiative.
The Trump administration and Democrats are locked in a fierce argument over whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should be allowed to continue wearing masks while conducting operations.

National and local Democratic leaders, as well as immigrant advocates, have criticized the practice, comparing the masked immigration agents to figures from repressive fascist and communist regimes of the past.

This is America. This is not the Soviet Union, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Tuesday during a press briefing. Were not behind the Iron Curtain. This is not the 1930s. And every single one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, will of course be identified.

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The comments, which the White House condemned as sick, came after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu compared ICE agents last week to secret police.

Meanwhile, Virginia U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote last month to immigration officials, arguing mask use violates Homeland Security regulations and puts everyone at risk  the targeted individuals, the ICE officers and agents, and bystanders who may misunderstand what is happening and may attempt to intervene.

The government has insisted such disguises are vital, given what the Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday was a 413 percent spike in assaults against immigration agents.

Despite criticisms, Department of Homeland Security has defended practice of ICE agents wearing masks, saying they protect officers from violent threats (AFP via Getty Images)

When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by known and suspected gang members, murders, and rapists, the department wrote in a statement on X.

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Earlier this week, acting ICE director Todd Lyons also defended the practice.

Im sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but Im not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line, because people dont like what immigration enforcement is, he said at a news conference in Massachusetts, where immigration officials have been carrying out large-scale arrest operations over the last month.

Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, announced legislation on Wednesday that would make doxxing law enforcement illegal.

Critics say federal agents wearing masks during immigration enforcement limits oversight and leads to intimidation

Blue city mayors are doing everything they can to obstruct the Trump administrations efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens, she told The New York Post of the bill, a seeming reference to Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell publicly sharing information last month on the identities of Homeland Security conducting operations in his city.

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Blackburns Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act would punish those who name officers with the intent to obstruct a criminal investigation or immigration enforcement operation with up to five years in prison.

The second Trump term is not the first to time masked immigration agents have been active, but masked officers have featured prominently in some of this administrations most controversial moments, including the April arrest of Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, the May shoving match between Democrats and ICE agents at a New Jersey detention center, and ICE arrests at court houses and immigration offices around the country.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association has warned that such arrests at sensitive locations by masked agents will prevent people from accessing their legal rights and reduce government oversight.

Senator Marsha Blackburn wants to make it a crime to doxx law enforcement (Associated Press)

These actions will have a chilling effect if people are too terrified of attending court hearings with the knowledge ICE officers may be waiting to detain them at any given moment, the group wrote in a memo last week. This fear tactic robs noncitizen respondents of accessing a fair hearing process.
The man who shot a person at a pro-Israel rally in Newton last year will avoid prosecution if he follows specific court instructions and avoids any other trouble for the next few months.

Scott Hayes was placed on pre-trial probation Wednesday afternoon, the Middlesex District Attorneys office told Boston 25 News.

The Framingham man is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right following a shooting in Newton last September.

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Prosecutors say the victim approached a pro-Israel group that Hayes was part of and tackled one of the demonstrators.

Thats when officials say Hayes pulled a gun and fired, seriously injuring the victim.

Prosecutors said Hayes had full legal possession of the gun.

As part of his agreement with prosecutors, he has to give up his license to carry for now, must complete a class on civil discourse and cannot enter Newton city limits except for specific reasons.

If he does not violate the rules, the Middlesex DA says his case will be dismissed in September.

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NEED TO KNOW

Jax Gratton, a 34-year-old hairstylist, was last seen leaving her apartment in Denver on Tuesday, April 15

More than a month later, her mom tells PEOPLE she's "terrified" that something awful has happened to her daughter

"At this time, nothing has been recovered that indicates she has been harmed, however, her disappearance is being taken seriously," the Denver Police Department tells PEOPLE







A moms fear has reached new heights now that her daughter, a Denver hairstylist, has been missing for more than a month.

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I am terrified for my daughter, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, 60, tells PEOPLE. I just need to keep her face and her beautiful self out there until we find her.

Gratton-Camis has been actively searching for Jax Gratton, 34, since she was last seen leaving her Denver apartment on Tuesday, April 15.

My fear is that somebody killed her, says Gratton-Camis, who alleges that her daughter had been in abusive relationships in the past. That is my fear.

A Denver Police Department (DPD) spokesperson tells PEOPLE that officials are actively looking into Jax Grattons whereabouts" and that "at this time, nothing has been recovered that indicates she has been harmed."

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This is a priority for our Missing and Exploited Persons Unit and they are working with Jaxs family on this case, the spokesperson continues in a statement. Her disappearance is being taken seriously by DPD.

Jax was last seen near the 4200 block of E. Iliff Avenue, police say.

Friends and family told ABC affiliate KMGH-TV that Jax left her apartment at approximately 10 p.m. local time and told her roommate that shed be out for about three hours  but she never came back.

Courtesy of Cherilynne Camis Jax Gratton. Jax Gratton.

Gratton-Camis, who lives out of state, last talked to her eldest daughter on Friday, April 11, when Jax called to get the address of her 19-year-old sister Monroe, who is in college, so she could send her some hair products.

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She was absolutely beautiful, full makeup and happy, says the mom. She said she'd been super busy, but she would talk to me on Easter.

Nine days later, the promised call never came and Gratton-Camis grew concerned. On Easter morning, she called Jax and left a message. Later that day, she FaceTimed her and texted her about the holiday.

I didn't sleep that night, says Gratton-Camis, who woke up early the next morning and learned Pope Francis had died. When she didnt hear from Jax, who greatly admired the pope, she knew something was amiss  as did one of Jaxs friends, who called Gratton-Camis.

The frantic mom started calling hospitals and jails in Colorado. Days later, she still didnt know what had happened to her daughter.

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At first Gratton-Camis believed that Jaxs roommate, who had last seen her as she was exiting their apartment, had filed a missing persons report. While the roommate did contact police, a report wasnt filed, so Gratton-Camis rushed to get one submitted  and by Wednesday, April 24, over a week after she was last seen, Jax was officially reported as missing.

Even as friends and customers raised the alert in the following weeks  posting on social media and putting up flyers throughout the city  there has been little movement in the case and Jax's mom says that investigators have eliminated the short suspect list she gave them.

Gratton-Camis says that her daughter hasn't touched the money in her bank account  Jax works very, very hard and she would not have left with money behind, she says  and that she also doesn't believe her daughter would have left her cat behind.

Additionally, Gratton-Camis says its out of character for Jax to stop communicating with her or Monroe. Despite Jaxs struggles  she had been to rehab three times for drugs and alcohol, the last of which kicked her out because shes transgender, her mom alleges  the hairstylist was doing well before she disappeared.

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She operated a successful business, says Gratton-Camis. She has friends that she has been friends with since middle school.

The woman donated her time as a stylist to unhoused people in the area and loved her family. Gratton-Camis adds Jax was an integral part of her support system when she was diagnosed with colon and breast cancer a few years ago.

Jax would call me and FaceTime me to put me in a good mood, do a dance, her mom remembers. I could barely speak, but I could hit the phone and watch her do silly things to make me feel better.

Courtesy of Cherilynne Camis The hairstylist made funny faces to make her mom laugh during chemo treatments. The hairstylist made funny faces to make her mom laugh during chemo treatments.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a statement she wrote, Gratton-Camis describes Jax as a daughter of love and a friend like no other.

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An advocate with fire, driven by purpose, a soul full of laughter, and hands never idle, Cherilynne continues. She lives with honesty, shined with truth, and is cherished beyond words.

Authorities urge anyone with information about Jax to call 720-913-7867. Her mom says she is at least 5 feet, 11 inches tall and could have a range of hair colors because she often dyed it. Jax's community has also created a website to assist in the search.



Read the original article on People
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  School is out  and Mark Samuel and April Alexander with Heart Reach Ministries went in-depth this week, discussing summer activities for kids in the area.

Watch part one of the interview in the video player above.

The Heart Reach Ministry started in Campbell and has been serving residents in the area since 1913, originally providing support for families that came to work in the steel mills. Now they help anyone in need.

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Alexander says there will be about 130 students involved in their summer camp, which includes learning and outdoor activities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It is a time for both academic enrichment so that students are not losing, you know, summer learning loss. So, reading and math, and then lots of outdoor activities, because we are accredited by the American Campus Association. And so they require that we spend half of our time outside. So lots of fun. Lots of fun, Alexander said.

The United Way helps fund the agencys summer activities, as well as grants.

But the bulk of our funding comes from churches, individuals that just care about the needs of the community and want to help, Samuel said.

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Organizers will continue this conversation on the Ministrys summer events on Wednesday.

Check back here for more details.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Reuters) - Brazil's wildly popular instant payment system Pix is poised for another leap with the launch of a new recurring payments feature this month, central bank officials said on Wednesday.

Since its launch in late 2020, Pix has rapidly become the leading payment method in Latin America's largest economy, surpassing cash as well as debit and credit cards. Last year it handled more than 26 trillion reais ($4.61 trillion) in transactions.

Initially slated for launch last October, the new feature will go live on June 16, allowing users to authorize recurring charges with a single consent, according to the central bank, which developed and operates Pix.

That will allow for automatic payments of utilities, phone bills, school tuition, gym memberships, and digital or streaming services via the new "Pix Automatico" tool.

"'Boleto' will be overtaken by Pix Automatico when it comes to automatic payments," said Renato Gomes, the central bank's financial system organization director. Boleto is the traditional slip method, which moved 6.2 trillion reais last year, according to banking federation Febraban.

Speaking at a central bank event in Sao Paulo to present the feature, Gomes added that existing automatic debit services via banks are also likely to be disrupted by the new tool.

Companies must sign bank agreements to offer automatic debit, a process central bank regulation director Gilneu Vivan described as burdensome for small businesses. Pix Automatico will simplify the process, allowing small merchants to receive recurring payments with ease.

Vivan also noted that nearly 60 million Brazilians do not own a credit card, a group that will now be able to access subscription-based services previously limited to cardholders.

A study by payments platform EBANX estimates that Pix Automatico could handle at least $30 billion in e-commerce transactions within its first two years of operation.

($1 = 5.6418 reais)

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Richard Chang)
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Denham Springs man was arrested on child sex crimes charges after a months-long investigation.

Investigators from the Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Derek Skelton, 39, on May 27 on charges of one count each of indecent behavior with juveniles and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. His bond was set at $200,000.

We are constantly combating the online dangers awaiting the children of this parish and the State of Louisiana. ICAC Investigators are utilizing all investigative tools and forensic skills to keep predators from preying on innocent juvenile users of social media platforms and gaming servers, Sheriff Jason Ard said.

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The sheriffs office said an investigation is ongoing.

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On June 3, the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) reached out to the Thurston County Sheriffs Office to assist in executing a warrant at a home of suspects actively involved in Nazi white nationalist efforts who were accused of a violent robbery and theft of military weapons.

An FBI SWAT team executed the warrant in Lacey, which resulted in the seizure of short barrel rifles, an MG42 machine gun, fire/gas launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition, and ballistic helmets surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia.

Sheriff Sanders noted that the launches are 37mm launchers can be used to fire gas, concussion, chemical, smoke, or homemade explosive rounds.

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Thankfully, none of those would be useful in a domestic terrorism attack, and extremists gearing up for a race war who are unlawfully in possession of other explosives would NEVER fabricate their own 37mm explosive rounds now that weve established theyre 3mm too small, Sheriff Derek Sanders wrote on Facebook.

Multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence, according to the sheriffs office.

Two suspects were booked into Thurston County Jail on firearm-related offenses, with additional federal charges likely to be filed when the federal investigation is complete, Sanders wrote on Facebook.

Both suspects were seen in court for local firearm charges.

Bail was set at $500,000 each.

The Thurston County Sheriffs Office did not specify if they learned of any intended violent plans from the suspects.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office says dozens of birds and two dogs were abandoned by the owners.

Authorities say, a total of 55 birds and 2 dogs were rescued from a home on SE 51st.

55 birds, 2 dogs were rescued by deputies, Image Oklahoma County Sheriff Office 55 birds, 2 dogs were rescued by deputies, Image Oklahoma County Sheriff Office 55 birds, 2 dogs were rescued by deputies, Image Oklahoma County Sheriff Office 55 birds, 2 dogs were rescued by deputies, Image Oklahoma County Sheriff Office

U.S. Postal Service releases national dog bite rankings

Police and Animal Welfare are working together to locate the owners of the animals to ultimately face accountability.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DES MOINES, Iowa  A Des Moines man who was found guilty of shooting and killing a man at a hotel last year was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday.

In April 2024, officers with the Des Moines Police Department responded to a shooting at a hotel on the southwest side of the city. When first responders arrived, they found 30-year-old Sayvon Propps and 32-year-old Joshua Carmody in a hotel room suffering from gunshot wounds. Carmody was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Propps died from his injuries at the scene.

Change of venue granted for embattled Madison County Treasurer, upcoming trial moved to Boone County

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As the investigation into the shooting unfolded, officers learned that Carmody had forced his way into the hotel room that Propps and a female were staying in. According to the DMPD, Propps fired a gun at Carmody in self-defense and Carmody returned fire. Carmody was later charged with first-degree murder for Propps death.

According to the Polk County Attorneys Office, during the first-degree murder trial the female who was at the hotel with Propps testified, saying that she and Carmody had been in an on-and-off relationship for about a year. She also stated that Carmody was upset when he discovered that she and Propps were at the hotel together.

In April, a Polk County jury found Carmody guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At a sentencing hearing held on Tuesday a Polk County Judge ordered Carmody to serve concurrent sentences of life in prison for the first-degree murder charge, 25 years for burglary charge, and five years for the possession of a firearm charge.

Metro News:

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The Turlington Building, which houses the Florida Department of Education, stands in the foreground, with the Tallahassee skyline, including the Capitol building, beyond. Photo taken from the FAMU campus on Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Anastasios Kamoutsas, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis, received unanimous approval from the Florida Board of Education Wednesday to serve as the states next education commissioner.

Floridas education commissioner plays a major role shaping education policy in a state that has drawn national attention for its contentious policies on library book removals, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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If given this opportunity, you can rest assured that I will take the baton and continue to run the race, Kamoutsas told the Board of Education Wednesday morning.

He started at the Department of Education in 2019, serving as general counsel and eventually as chief of staff, before joining the governors office in 2023.

DeSantis came out in full support of Kamoutsas Tuesday, saying Stasi Kamoutsas has delivered on important issues like parental rights, school choice, and fighting back against radical ideologies in education.

The job opened after Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. was named interim president of the University of West Florida. He will take that job in July, making Wednesdays meeting likely his last as commissioner.

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Kamoutsas approval as commissioner is contingent on Diaz being named the official president of UWF after a search, board Chair Ben Gibson said.

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History

A lot of times in these situations, we are taking somewhat of a leap of faith in having a commissioner come in,  Here we have an opportunity, members, I believe, to choose someone we dont have to guess, really, how theyre going to perform, Gibson said. And someone whos been in the trenches at every level of the department, has been involved in every major education decision that the state of Florida has made over the last six years.

During the public comment period, political figures lined up to praise Kamoutsas, including Florida International University President and former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, New College of Florida President and former Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, former House Speaker Jose Oliva, and Broward County College President Torey Alston.

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If I had to use one world to describe him, Id say hes relentless, Oliva said, while others praised him for his work ethic and family values.

Whats been the gem thats been hiding in the background is coming public, Diaz said, attesting to Kamoutsas involvement in previous policies and actions by the department.

He understands that history because hes been present for a good amount of it inside the department, inside the governors office, but hes heard the battle stories from President Corcoran, from Speaker Oliva, from Chancellor [Ray] Rodrigues, from myself, so he understands the history and where we came from in this reform, and hes perfectly equipped and willing to continue it, Diaz said.

In addition to pledging to fight for parental involvement in the education system, Kamoutsas appealed to teachers, too.

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Teachers, you have my word that I stand in support of you. Whether thats maintaining discipline in your classrooms or working with the governor on continued pay increases, know that I have your back, Kamoutsas said.

The Washington Post reported in 2023 that Kamoutsas, who worked in the governors office, was responsible for denying a pending promotion to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement attorney who advocated for the governors travel records to be public. The attorney was not on our team, the paper reported Kamoutsas as saying.

The push to hide details of the governors travel records came before DeSantis ran to be the GOP nominee for U.S. president.

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DESTIN, Fla. (WKRG)  A Destin Middle School student has earned first place in the 2025 National Civics Bee and is moving forward to the National Finals.

Noah Finkler has earned his way to the National Civics Competition in Washington, D.C., and the chance to win a $100,000 education savings plan. (Courtesy of Okaloosa County Schools)

Woman in audience during Saenger Theatre shooting speaks out

According to an Okaloosa County Schools news release, eighth-grader Noah Finkler began his Civics journey in early March at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerces inaugural National Civics Bee, which earned him a $500 prize and a trophy.

Noah Finkler took home $1,000 and a trophy as the first place winner of Floridas 2025 National Civics Bee. (Courtesy of Okaloosa County Schools)

That win led him to compete and win first as the Florida Champion of the 2025 bee, earning him a $1,000 prize, the release said.

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Noah will now go on to the National Finals, along with other top students from across the country, to compete in the National Civics Bee in Washington D.C. this fall for a chance to win prizes such as a $100,000 education savings plan, according to the release.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has given students a tremendous opportunity to engage in civic education, said President and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Ted Corcoran. We were honored to be the first Chamber in Florida to participate, and it has been inspiring to see students like Noah thrive in this competition.

The National Civics Bee is an initiative founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the goal of which is to promote a passion for civic learning among middle schoolers like Noah, the release said.

Kimberly-Clark plans $130M expansion in Mobile, adds 29 jobs

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This is an incredible achievement for Noah, and we couldnt be prouder, Okaloosa County Schools Superintendent Marcus Chambers said. His dedication to civic education and ability to excel on such a competitive stage speaks volumes. We look forward to cheering him on as he represents Florida at the national level.

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If theres one takeaway from the recent forums for mayoral candidates, its this: Far too many Detroit residents are extremely frustrated and need to vent before they can get down to business and elect the next mayor.

Im not pushing for any candidate in this race. What I am advocating for is less yelling, and more searching for the person who will make this city better.

But I understand the anger.

Lory Parkes, 52, of Detroit, takes part in a rallying cry against the state takeover Belle Isle on Aug. 1, 2012. Columnist Darren Nichols worries that the frustrations of Detroiters going back to the days of state-appointed emergency management may cloud the process of picking Detroits next mayor. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Residents have been frustrated over how their voices were stripped away, as far back as during the bankruptcy proceedings that permeated through nearly every government function in more than a decade.

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Theyre mad because 12 years ago, they were promised that every neighborhood in Detroit had a future, and now they step outside their homes only to see the same mess they saw previously.

I look around my neighborhood, and it's sad that this is the future they felt we deserved, Ken Whittaker said in a recent social media post.

He added downtown and Midtown are great, and credits the city for building four neighborhoods from the ground up, but it still hasnt reached his doorstep.

I've owned a home in this city for 27 years and very little has gotten better around me, Whittaker says. This is the two Detroits we speak of. It's not hyperbole. It's the truth.

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At some of these forums, the frustration of residents takes center stage, more than what candidates have to say. It takes some of the substance away.

Foundational frustration

What were seeing is a byproduct of what happened during the bankruptcy in 2013. (I would also contend that it started even earlier, if you add in the takeover of the Detroit Public Schools in 1999).

During Emergency Manager Kevyn Orrs regime, residents' voices were silenced, despite issues such as city pensions being cut, contracts to outsource services such as trash pickup and Belle Isle being leased to the state for it to run as a state park.

Protesters of the new Detroit Emergency Financial Manager bow in prayer on the 11th floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Monday, Apr. 1, 2013. Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press

Orr essentially stripped the council from a legislative body that could advocate for residents to a group that could only pass contracts under $30,000.

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It didnt help that the bill for 17 firms of restructuring consultants and bankruptcy lawyers soared to more than $63 million.

Thats not to say Mayor Mike Duggan has not done a tremendous job in developing downtown, Midtown and several neighborhood strips during his tenure.

Its just theres still a group of Detroiters who are not reaping the benefits, whether thats real or perceived. Almost everyone on the 11th floor has had to deal with that criticism, including Da Mayor, Coleman Young, for expanding what was then called Cobo Conference Center in 1989 at a $225 million cost.

The frustration were facing is actually in something a little bit even foundational to what people are feeling that goes beyond just the situation of bankruptcy, state intervention in Detroit public schools, because a lot of folks don't have a lot of muscle memory, says political consultant Eric Foster, who adds there had been state intervention in the schools and the city dating back as far as 1937.

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Other residents echo Whittaker's disdain when they hear the police statistics that Detroit has the lowest crime rate since the 1960s, when the city had 1.5 million people and a substantially larger police department.

The crime rate may be lower, but residents dont feel safer, particularly when some had to deal with the aftermath of a mass shooting last summer.

Young folks cant even enjoy their prom send-off  at one such festivity, without 20 rounds being fired at Martin Luther King High School late last month.

The yellow tape around the school says a lot.

The trauma of divorce

Lets also not forget homeowners were overtaxed by at least $600 million between 2010 and 2016.

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And despite the jobless rate being about 7.5%, Detroits poverty rate of 31.5% is more than double the state rate of 13.5%, according to U.S. Census data.

But all it takes is reading the room to know that the frustration is real, which makes public forums a place to vent.

More opinion: Detroit has everything to lose in mayoral race

Foster says its all rooted in that Detroiters have not accepted that the city hasnt remained what it once was.

Weve never really dealt with that trauma, Foster says. It's like a divorce, and you haven't dealt with the trauma of the divorce. You had the white flight, and then you had Black middle class flight.

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Those are traumatic events. Its impacted the city in a lot of ways financially and has negatively impacted services, (which) has led to different tensions from race and the class dynamic. One thing I would hope that everybody running for (office) would invest time in actually ... (dealing with) Detroit and trauma that Detroit has gone through.

Dont believe the trauma is real? Just go back and look at the failed Charter Commission Revision proceedings, or the non-work by the Reparations Commission. Or any given Tuesday during public comment at the Detroit City Council.

The Charter Revision Commissions weekly meetings devolved into shouting matches, and their antics even resulted in a police report being filed. The charter revision sought to address water access, affordable housing and busing, increased citizen input and responsible contracting.

After nearly three years of work, the measure failed.

Understanding the job

Former Congressman John Conyers, City Council member JoAnn Watson and Reparations Ray Jenkins are looking down from above, knowing the commission is dying a slow death in the city that led the charge on the issue.

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Compare that Los Angeles, which brought a significant plan with 115 recommendations to the state to compensate those harmed by slavery. It included a 400-page report on how to deal with the issue.

Instead, the group turned into an ineffective, non-elected body that didnt bring in any experts from Los Angeles, Evanston, Illinois, which came up with a plan to compensate Black residents $25,000 from cannabis sales or Tulsa, whose mayor just announced a plan to launch a $105 million private charitable trust for descendants of the 1921 race massacre. It would provide housing and scholarships.

It was an issue I kept my eye on, knowing what other those places have done. Im left in disgust that a real opportunity in Detroit  one of the Blackest cities in America  couldnt get past infighting to send a report, while Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is in office.

More opinion: Democrats better hope Michigan Gov. Whitmer changes her mind about presidential run

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My worst fear is people will be so caught up in their feelings that they either dont vote, or just simply hold their nose and vote for any candidate, rather than searching for the one that meets their needs.

A more robust voter turnout will help too.

The voter turnout that elected Mike Duggan as mayor in 2013 was 17% in the primary and 20% in the general election.

The trends for municipal elections have remained the same. The primary election turnout in 2021 was 14%.

About 47% voted in the presidential election last year.

Its about moving past the campaign rhetoric and understanding what their elected officials can actually do.

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People have bad information inflow, and that's a part because of the people who have been elected not actually communicating what their actual job is, and the candidates running not communicating what the functions are of the job that they're running for, Foster says. So people have impressions of what the city can and can't do that go beyond just the actual charter ability of a city.

To paraphrase Michelle Obama, stop yelling, find your candidate and vote.

Darren A. Nichols, named one of Michigans most recognized media figures, is a contributing columnist at the Free Press. He can be reached at darren@dnick-media.com or his X (formerly Twitter) handle @dnick12.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroiters are angry, and I'm worried about the mayor's race | Opinion
The British Business Bank has reached 5bn in lending through its ENABLE structured guarantee programmes.

These programmes, including ENABLE Guarantees and ENABLE Build, have delivered more than 3bn to businesses outside London and the South East, supporting smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK, the bank said.

A total of 500m has been allocated to each of the North West, East Midlands and East of England regions.

The ENABLE Guarantees programme is designed to encourage additional lending to SMEs by providing a government-backed guarantee to participating institutions, which support defined portfolios of debt finance in return for a fee.

The structured guarantee programmes provided more than 2.3bn of support to the construction and housing sectors, including approximately 1.2bn under ENABLE Build.

Other sectors such as hospitality and agriculture have also benefitted, receiving more than 270m and 260m, respectively.

Since the first transaction in 2017, these programmes have enabled both bank and non-bank financial institutions to increase lending to SMEs.

The ENABLE Guarantees programme is open to all UK banks, UK branches of foreign banks, asset and asset-based finance providers, and certain other lenders that lend to viable SMEs in the UK.

The ENABLE Build programme operates similarly to ENABLE Guarantees but focuses on encouraging additional lending to smaller and medium-sized housebuilders in the UK.

British Business Bank Structured Financial Institutions managing director Michael Strevens said: It is incredibly rewarding to reflect on the volume of lending to smaller and medium-sized businesses and the number of homes built that we have helped enable over the years.

Our focus has always been on evolving our support to strengthen UK businesses, and it is encouraging to see those efforts bearing fruit. Looking ahead, we are focused on being more proactive  working closely with lenders to understand their challenges and tailor solutions that fit. That is how we will unlock the next 5bn  and do so with greater pace and purpose.

"British Business Bank hits 5bn in structured guarantee programmes" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand.




Progress on the new housing in the Historic Wright Dunbar Village is going well.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00 p.m., there was a ribbon cutting for the townhomes development Tuesday, where city leaders said the housing will help the area in several ways.

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The Townhomes at Wright Dunbar will eventually have 26 units in four buildings, and city leaders said the market rate housing will increase everyones property values.

But the real bottom line is that new homeowners will get a great new place to live.

Aaliyah Lovett is one of the three people who have already bought a home at the Townhomes, but only the model home is completely finished.

Lovett has lived in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood for 8 years and is now invested than ever.

Im really passionate about the development that is happening in West Dayton, so to be a part of it and to help continue to fuel the economy is really nice, Lovett said.

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The developers at the Townhomes, Charles Simms Builders, will have two of the four buildings completed by the end of the year.

Theyve completed projects across Dayton, but this is the first one in the historic West Dayton neighborhood.

Weve been looking at the Wright Dunbar neighborhoods since 2019, and we settled on West Third Street kind of makes the most sense, Robi Simms, with Charles Simms Builders, said.

If you drive up and down Third Street here, you can see all the beautiful old architecture and these buildings thats been preserved wonderfully, and were just happy to be able to add to that, Crosby Simms with Charles Simms Builders said.

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The units are three-story townhomes that have two-car garages on the ground floor and room to park a third vehicle in the driveway.

City leaders say more housing in this neighborhood means more people to support lots of new businesses already there or in the planning stages on the West Third Street Corridor.

Oh, its moving, its moving a lot as you see more and more work. Just five years ago, were thinking about what was happening right here, nothing, Dayton Mayor Jeff Mims said.

City leaders said they would love to see 10 more developments from Simms Builders in Dayton, but like anything real estate related, all parties agreed its about location.

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(COLORADO)  More details about the Boulder Pearl Street Mall suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, are surfacing days after the attack.

Soliman, who lived in El Paso County, entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The visa is used for foreign tourists visits to the U.S. DHS further confirmed that the visa expired in February 2023.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told AP News that Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted work authorization in March 2023, which had also expired.

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On Monday, June 2, Congressman Jeff Crank reported that Soliman had received a Colorado-issued drivers license in July 2024, a year after his visa had expired.

Instead of turning him over to ICE, Colorado lawmakers gave him a sanctuary pass, Crank wrote via X (formerly known as Twitter). Shocker.

FOX21 News reached out to the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which confirmed that Soliman had received a Colorado drivers license.

The DMV has reviewed the history of this individual and confirms that federal law and Colorado law and rule were followed in the issuance of a Standard drivers license, which are authorized under the REAL ID Act and are not REAL ID compliant, the DMV said.

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The DMV further explained that under Colorado law, if a person provides valid proof of temporary lawful presence at the time of issuance, the DMV will issue the person a Standard Credential. Standard credentials are valid for 3 years, and include a black banner that identifies it as a Standard credential and language on its face that states it cannot be used for federal purposes.

The law, C.R.S. 42-2-506, states that an individual who is temporarily present in the U.S. could apply for an identification document if they had any documents that showed the individual is lawfully present in the U.S. and satisfied the department.

DMV law for undocumented Colorado residents changed on March 31, 2025. A Colorado bill signed in 2024, SB24-182, updated issuance requirements for undocumented residents and would allow them to obtain a non-Real ID compliant drivers license.

According to the DMV, effective on March 31, applicants would no longer need a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), proof of Colorado income tax, or printed documentation of Colorado residence for the preceding two years. Applicants would need to provide:

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A completed CO-RCSA affidavit

One proof of current Colorado residential address

One form of identification: passport, consular card, or military identification card from the home country

Colorado lawmakers and our governor gave him a sanctuary pass, Crank said during a meeting. This tragedy could have been avoided.

When Soliman applied in July 2024, the requirements of providing a social security card or ITIN, proof of Colorado income tax, or printed documentation of Colorado residence were still applicable.

Soliman was granted a work permit in 2023, according to DHS; however, they did not say how he obtained it. Asylum seekers become eligible for work authorization 180 days after arrival.

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The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Soliman had tried to purchase a gun in November 2024 at Scheels in Colorado Springs. His application was processed through the CBI InstaCheck and was denied.

He never appealed his denial, CBI said. This denial was based on information from the NCIS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). He would later be denied a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) through the CBI and El Paso County Sheriffs Office on December 30, 2024.

Soliman is accused of committing an attack on a group of protesters who were demonstrating at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. According to an arrest affidavit, Soliman confessed to committing the attack.

He is currently being held in Boulder County Jail on a $10 million cash bond only.

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NEED TO KNOW

Prince William weighed in on the complications of family dynamics at his latest royal engagement

The Prince of Wales spoke about how family can be a "mixed bag" while meeting soldiers in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps

William made the quip amid a deep rift with his brother Prince Harry, as royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in this week's issue that "the underlying issue is trust"











Prince William may have subtly acknowledged his strained relationship with his brother, Prince Harry, during a recent royal outing.

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On June 4, the Prince of Wales opened up about how family can be a "mixed bag" while visiting the Army Air Corps in Wattisham, Suffolk. Prince William, 42, toured the regiments for the first time as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a high-profile role previously believed to have been earmarked for Prince Harry before he stepped back from his royal role in 2020.

During a conversation with soldiers on a water break from combat training, William brought up the topic of family in a moment that some royal watchers saw as pointed.

According to the Daily Mail, the heir to the throne asked: "'Is the pace of life good at the moment [?]"

After one man replied that it was "a mixed bag," William said, "Families okay? See you enough? Some of them might not want to see you that much. It's a mixed bag sometimes."

Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Prince William visits the Army Air Corps on June 4, 2025 in Wattisham, Suffolk. Prince William visits the Army Air Corps on June 4, 2025 in Wattisham, Suffolk.

However lighthearted or serious William's quip may have been, he offered the comment at an interesting time. The Prince of Wales' visit to the Army Air Corps was meaningful as his first visit to the regiments as honorary colonel, a position King Charles held for 32 years and appointed William to in August 2023 in a reshuffling of royal roles following his accession to the throne.

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The move made waves as William became the leader of his estranged brother Harry's former regiment. Prince Harry, 40, trained as an Army Air Corps pilot in 2009 and served with the combat aviation arm of the British Army during his second tour in Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013.

It was widely thought that Harry would take over the prestigious role of Colonel-in-Chief one day, but the Duke of Sussex was forced to relinquish his military appointments when he and Meghan Markle departed their royal roles a few years ago.

Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Prince William visits the Army Air Corps on June 4, 2025 in Wattisham, Suffolk. Prince William visits the Army Air Corps on June 4, 2025 in Wattisham, Suffolk.

A distance continues between King Charles' sons amid an ongoing rift that first became public when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Their relationship further fractured as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke out in several interviews and released their Netflix docuseries, while a bombshell of Prince Harry's memoir Spare alleged a physical altercation with William.

While Prince William remains estranged from his brother and sister-in-law, some royal observers say that the King, 76, should make the first move to help heal the broken bonds  though hesitation reigns behind closed doors.

Jeff J Mitchell - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles and Prince Harry walk behind Queen Elizabeth's coffin on Sept. 14, 2022. King Charles and Prince Harry walk behind Queen Elizabeth's coffin on Sept. 14, 2022.

"The underlying issue is trust," royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in this week's exclusive cover story. "The King and William dont trust Harry and Meghan with any kind of confidential conversation."

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Prince William and Prince Harry last appeared in public together with their wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan, to greet mourners who gathered at Windsor Castle following Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022.

Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on Sept. 10, 2022. Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on Sept. 10, 2022.

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The brothers kept their distance at the King's coronation in May 2023, where William prominently paid homage to his father and Harry immediately left after the ceremony to return to California for his son Prince Archie's 4th birthday.

Prince William and Prince Harry were most recently in the same place at the same time for the memorial service honoring their late uncle Robert Fellowes in Norfolk in August, but reportedly didn't cross paths.

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William and Harry were both there, but we never saw them speak to each other, and they were keeping their distance," an attendee told The Sun.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex recently told the BBC he "can't see a world" where he would bring Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the U.K. after losing a legal appeal to restore the state-funded police protection he lost after departing royal duties in 2020.



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The 20th day of Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial was punctuated by a harrowing story of fear and danger, as the longtime friend of his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura testified the rap mogul attacked her for no reason in 2016, dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony and threw her into a coffee table.

"I was shaking a lot and then I wanted to take a shower because I felt so sick," Bryana Bongolan told the jury while describing the alleged episode.

Bongolan testified that the brutal attack left her bruised and in pain, and the alleged incident underscored prosecutors' consistent theme that, behind the facade of success and talent, Combs is a violent man who allegedly uses fear and threats of physical harm to operate a criminal enterprise dedicated to fulfilling his sexual appetites.

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MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Ventura friend testifies Combs dangled her over balcony

Combs is accused of coercing women like Ventura into prolonged, drug-fueled sex parties called "freak-offs." Combs allegedly used his wealth, status, connections and industry prominence to punish those who would not comply with his whims. Combs has denied those allegations.

"[Combs] came up really close to my face and said something like, 'I'm the devil and I could kill you,'" Bongolan told the jury Combs said, her voice cracking.

Jane Rosenberg/Reuters - PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs watches as prosecutor Madison Smyser questions Cassie Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 4, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and prostitution. He could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on all counts.

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During their cross-examination of Bongolan on Wednesday, Combs' lawyers tried to cast doubt on Bongolan's testimony by highlighting her own drug use, pointing out purported inconsistencies in her testimony, and suggesting she was financially motivated to testify against Combs.

Bongolan sued Combs in 2024 over the alleged balcony episode and testified she was willing to settle her claims for $10 million in damages. Combs has denied the allegations, and the civil suit is ongoing. She acknowledged in court that she struggled with drugs, regularly consumed cocaine and ketamine with Ventura, and sold drugs to both Combs and Ventura.

Bongolan said she was testifying because she was subpoenaed by authorities and that she was granted immunity, so prosecutors would not be able to charge her with any crimes she laid out on the witness stand. She is the third witness to be granted immunity as prosecutors try to secure a guilty verdict against a man who was once one of the leading tastemakers in the worlds of music and fashion. Combs' former personal assistant, George Kaplan, and hotel security guard Eddy Garcia were similarly granted immunity before they walked into the Manhattan courtroom.

Bongolan recounts Combs allegedly attacking her

Bongolan testified that the violent episode happened in September 2016 when she stayed overnight with her ex-girlfriend at Ventura's apartment. She told the jury that Combs began knocking on the door loudly and demanded to be let into the apartment, prompting Bongolan to "hide" her girlfriend in the bathroom.

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"I didn't want to expose her to the things that I'd seen," she testified.

Then, Bongolan testified, she went to the balcony to "act casual," smoking a blunt, when Combs came from behind and tried to lift her over the railing.

"He lifted me and then had me on top of the rail," Bongolan said. "For a split second, I was thinking I was going to fall, but for the most part, he was yelling at me, so I was trying to answer him."

Bongolan said she was held up for about 15 seconds as Combs repeatedly shouted, "You know what the f--- you did."

"Sitting here today, do you have any idea what he was talking about?" prosecutor Madison Smyser asked.

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"Still have no idea," she responded. She testified softly about the incident, occasionally using her hands to demonstrate where Combs grabbed her.

Bongolan told the jury that Combs then threw her into a coffee table on the balcony before Ventura intervened to stop the attack. She said she quickly left the apartment after the alleged attack and later noticed the extent of her injuries.

"I was shaking a lot and then I wanted to take a shower because I felt so sick," she testified, adding that she noticed a large purple bruise on her leg with a small puncture wound in the middle of it. Jurors saw a photo of the bruise as well as other photos of her bandaged back.

Bongolan testified that she spoke with Combs days after the attack, allegedly telling him, "I don't want any problems from you," and she told the court she did not report the incident to authorities because she was "too scared" of Combs.

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"I have nightmares. I have a lot of paranoia, and I used to scream a lot in my sleep sometimes," Bongolan told the jury about the last effects of the alleged attack.

Bongolan describes witnessing other alleged violence between Combs and Ventura

While the focus of Bongolan's testimony was the 2016 incident when she was allegedly injured by Combs, she also told the jury that she noticed Ventura's injuries from time to time while they were working together. Bongolan told jurors that Ventura FaceTimed her in December 2016 to show her a black eye she suffered when Combs assaulted her in a Los Angeles Hotel. Prosecutors have said that the incident was the one captured on security video at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles' Century City.

"I was a little quiet, and I remember saying, 'I'm sorry,'" she told the jury.

She also testified about a separate incident when she said Combs stormed into Ventura's apartment in the middle of the night and threw a knife at her. Hearing that testimony, Combs shook his head and threw up his hands at the defense table.

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"I just remember seeing a knife get thrown in her direction," Bongolan testified. She added that Ventura threw the knife right back at Combs, though it missed him.

Prosecutors enter 10 'sex videos' into evidence

Jurors began their morning by rewatching the CCTV video showing Combs assaulting Ventura in the hallway of the Los Angeles hotel in 2016. Defense lawyers have acknowledged the video shows Combs engaging in domestic violence but argued his actions, however abhorrent, do not amount to racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking.

"I mean, I hit rock bottom  but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable," Combs said in a video posted to social media after the video was first aired on CNN.

The video has served as a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case against Combs and was first shown to the jury in the first week of the trial testimony. It has since been replayed during the testimony of three other witnesses. Garcia testified on Tuesday that Combs paid him $100,000 in cash to purchase what he thought was the only copy of the video in an attempt to prevent it from ever seeing the light of day and ensure his silence.

Jane Rosenberg/Reuters - PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs watches as forensic video expert Frank Piazza testifies about the time stamps on surveillance footage of the 2016 InterContinental Hotel altercation during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 4, 2025.

Prosecutors called forensic analyst Frank Piazza to the stand Wednesday to tell jurors that the video appeared to him to be unaltered from its original form. He walked the jury through specific frames of the video shot, narrating the moments when Combs throws Ventura to the ground and tries to throw a vase at her. He confirmed the videos in evidence were authentic.

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"There are no anomalies going on in the file to indicate it had been manually altered," he testified about the videos, which defense attorneys unsuccessfully fought to keep out of the trial.

Piazza said he reviewed 10 "sex videos" admitted into evidence under seal after they were extracted from one of Ventura's devices. He said he enhanced the audio on a "sexually explicit video" that was also admitted under seal. Prosecutors offered few details of the videos -- which purportedly show freak offs -- that are sealed from the public view in part to protect the alleged victims in the case.

Federal prosecutors have argued that Combs recorded the freak-offs that he later used as blackmail to keep Ventura compliant.
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP)  An adolescent loggerhead sea turtle named Dilly Dally crawled into the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday morning, months after having a front flipper amputated at a Florida turtle hospital.

The turtle was brought to Loggerhead Marinelife Center in January suffering from predator wounds to the front flipper. The veterinary crew at the Juno Beach facility assisted in Dilly Dally's rehabilitation and care.

Every time we can release a turtle back into the wild is special and not just for us but for all the interns and volunteers and everyone that puts an effort to getting these turtles back out there. Its always a really special day, said Marika Weber, a veterinary technician at the center.

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Stormy weather on Wednesday almost caused Dilly Dally's release to be postponed. But they packed the turtle up and drove the short distance to the beach. A crowd of beachgoers cheered as the turtle made its way to the ocean.

A satellite tracking device attached to Dilly Dally's shell will allow the center and the public to follow her journey.

The center partnered with the Smithsonian to get the satellite tag, which was attached on Tuesday.

So now Dilly Dally has an active live satellite tag on her and we can get real-time data on where she goes, which is really exciting because we dont really know what happens to our three flipper turtles once you release them, Weber said. Now we know if their migration or foraging patterns change and itll be really helpful to see what happens to these patients.

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All sea turtles are endangered or threatened species.

So every sea turtle that we can save and get back out there is the win for the species.

Follow Dilly Dally's journey at Marinelife Turtle Tracker.

____

Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Channel 11 News has learned new details about Tuesdays deadly shooting at the Sunoco gas station on Butler Street in Lawrenceville.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Man shot and killed during altercation at Lawrenceville gas station

Channel 11 obtained the dispatch call made to police just moments after shots were fired. A legal expert weighed in on whether this incident may be considered self-defense.

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In the recording, you hear the operator tell police a gun was pulled and the other person fired. The caller is the man who fired the fatal shot.

The victim has been identified as 56-year-old Michael Ehlinger from Stanton Heights. We learned that Ehlinger is the brother of former Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Carol Ehlinger. Channel 11 reached out to her for a comment but did not receive a response.

On Wednesday afternoon, police informed us that the investigation is still ongoing. According to officers, the caller unloaded his gun and waited for police to arrive. He was taken into custody for questioning, but as of now, no charges have been filed, and his name has not been released.

The district attorneys office has stated that it cannot comment on whether this incident may be classified as self-defense while police continue to gather details.

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Legal expert Phil DiLucente told Channel 11 that these details will be critical.

In cases involving guns, its important to determine who drew the weapon first and whether that person believed they were in imminent danger of serious bodily harm, he said.

DiLucente also highlighted that Pennsylvanias Stand-Your-Ground law permits individuals to defend themselves against immediate bodily or deadly harm.

Video evidence in a case like this is very important; it sets the stage and outlines exactly what happened and when, he said.

Police confirmed that the individuals involved had argued near the gas pumps. We requested video footage from Sunoco, but they declined to provide it.

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DiLucente warned that using the Stand-Your-Ground law can be complex, as it may inadvertently encourage violence if misapplied.

We cannot have the Wild West coming to Allegheny County, he said.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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(WAVY)  Did you get a text this week from someone alleging to be the Department of Motor Vehicles? After a swarm of scam texts, Virginians are left wondering how their personal information fell into malicious hands.

Virginia DMV warns customers of text scam after recent messages

10 On Your Side went looking for answers. It turns out, people may have handed over their information willingly, but unknowingly.

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Lena Cohen works with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Cohen said its likely their information was unknowingly sold for profit.

We want to make sure that the rights you have offline come with you when you use the Internet, Cohen said. We live in a country without a comprehensive federal privacy law, so your your personal data has been freely harvested and sold for a long time.

It has become a bigger issue for all consumers. Theres three main ways your information can get into the hands of what are called data brokers, including public records, loyalty programs/commercial transactions and digital footprints/cookies. Data-brokers take your information and sell it to other people like a product. From there, it can be used in a variety of ways.

Phone numbers, relatives, your location history, and more are sold  all up for sale by data-brokers who collect it from the places youd least expect.

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They do collect data from public records like marriage records, housing records, Cohen said. They collect data by scraping social media sites. They also buy data from other companies, grocery stores, retail stores. Even credit card companies have been caught sharing data with data brokers.

If you think the extent of youre information being bought sold or leaked is a spam text, youre wrong. Experts said this secretive broker industry is considerably dangerous, specifically for national security.

To prove a point, in 2023 researchers at Duke University purchased huge amounts of data from brokers. They set up a server in Singapore where brokers sold private data about active-duty service members, veterans and their families. The reports authors didnt buy mental health or location data, though that information was also for sale.

Brokers also sold bulk data for people within geofenced military facilities, such as Fort Bragg and Quantico.

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The pipeline of information varies depending on the initial collector of the data.

Sometimes there are direct partnerships between apps and data brokers to collect your data, Cohen said. Sometimes the connection is a little more distant. Apps share information with an advertising system, and then that advertising system, in order to select what ads to show you, broadcast a lot of information about you to a lot of potential advertisers. But a lot of those potential advertisers are actually data brokers scooping up your data, and theres nothing stopping them.

Only a handful of states are protecting users information online by allowing residents to compel more than 500 data broker organizations to delete their information with the push of a button.

Virginia and North Carolina dont have that option. Its up to residents to find those brokers and secure your information.

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It really just goes to show how under regulated this industry is, Cohen said. We know relatively little about data brokers. Who they are, who theyre selling to, what information they have about us  and they know basically everything about us.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation offers a variety of tools to help you protect your information, and you can find those here. There are always ways to help push for more change on the federal level to protect your personal data online. You can join the efforts by clicking here.

10 On Your Side also put together a simplified tutorial for easy steps you can take right now.

Stay with WAVY.com for more local news, weather and traffic.

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Jun. 3DIXON  Dixon's City Council chambers were filled to capacity Monday evening to applaud the swearing in of the city's new police chief, Ryan Bivins.

"What an incredible night as we honor Ryan Bivins as he begins to lead our Dixon Police Department into this next chapter," Dixon City Manager Danny Langloss said.

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Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes (right) administers the oath of office for Dixon's new chief of police Ryan Bivins (left) at the Dixon City Council meeting Monday, June 2, 2025. (Payton Felix)

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Bivins' appointment as chief comes after former Chief Steve Howell's retirement May 9. Bivins was one of two candidates that went through the interview process conducted by a committee of 10 people and led by Jon Mandrell, vice president of academics and student services at Sauk Valley Community College and a former police officer.

"It is with great pride and confidence that our committee recommends the appointment of Sgt. Ryan Bivins as the next chief of police for Dixon...his integrity, professionalism and dedication to community engagement make him exceptionally well suited to lead the department into the future," Mandrell wrote in a statement that Langloss read at the meeting.

[ Dixon's new police chief plans to prioritize community policing, youth engagement ]

Bivins joined the Dixon Police Department in 2009. He's served in many roles, including detective, street crimes sergeant, and hostage negotiator, among others. He also leads the department's Crisis Prevention Team and was instrumental in launching the Police Chaplain Program, Peer Support Program and First Responder Resiliency Program, according to a May 27 news release from the city of Dixon.
DES MOINES, Iowa  A bill signed by Governor Reynolds to remove DEI initiatives, policies, and programs is impacting law enforcement agencies in Des Moines, as the city announced its withdrawing from a national initiative aimed at recruiting and retaining more women in law enforcement.

To comply with House File 856, which was signed into law on May 27, Des Moines is eliminating its 3030 program. A national initiative to improve and grow the representation of women in law enforcement. The Des Moines Police Department joined the initiative in late 2021, with the goal of growing women in police recruitment classes to 30% by 2030.

The change comes just after the police department celebrated its most diverse class of recruits yet in 2024. Increasing the number of Asian, Black, and Hispanic officers and increasing bilingual officers on the force.

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Currently, the City of Des Moines said that the Des Moines Police Department has 43 sworn female officers, representing roughly 11% of sworn officers.

Forecast: Mild temps and tiny rain chances

City Manager Scott Sanders was unavailable for an on-camera interview on Wednesday, but did provide a list of answers to questions WHO 13 had about the change.

When asked about the importance of diverse officers on the force to better serve the community, Sanders said, There are many important factors to our police departments success serving the Des Moines community. The top of that list is our officers and their passion for helping our residents and visitors. Whether responding to a call or building relationships in the community, it is our officers collective goal to protect both lives and property for every member of our community to the best of their ability.

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When asked about ensuring future law enforcement career opportunities are open to all individuals, Sanders said, The Des Moines police remains committed to providing an attractive workplace for all potential recruits, including women, as it also strives to be a welcoming employer to all officers who are qualified and dedicated to serving the Des Moines community.

When asked about the 3030 initiative and the decision to withdraw, Sanders said, The DMPDs participation in the 3030 initiative was a goal to increase the presence of women in the Des Moines Police Department. The discontinuation of the 3030 program means that there will no longer be a hiring goal for the number of women hired by Des Moines Police to comply with state law.

Metro News:

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British factories have suffered the worst slump in Europe as energy costs weigh heavily on industry.

S&P Globals closely-watched purchasing managers index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector stood at 46.4 in May. Any score below 50 indicates a contraction in activity, with the latest figures marking an eight month downturn.

Factories have been struggling to navigate the global trade war kicked off by Donald Trump. However, British manufacturers face additional problems, ranging from recent increases in tax to high energy prices.

The PMI reading was the worst in Europe. Germany, which reported the lowest level of factory activity in the eurozone, had a manufacturing PMI of 48.3 by comparison.

British bosses blamed higher energy prices for the poor performance. Companies pay the highest electricity prices of anywhere in the developed world, according to government figures.

The cost of power for industrial businesses is now about 50pc more expensive than in Germany and France, and four times as expensive as in the US.

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to dramatically cut factory energy costs amid warnings that huge bills are pushing Britain towards de-industrialisation.

Removing net zero levies would instantly slash the electricity price paid by manufacturers by about one quarter, according to the lobby groups analysis.

Fhaheen Khan, at Make UK said: Unfortunately, when tomorrow is a constant unknown, it becomes nigh on impossible to secure opportunities, which is leading to persistent declines in the sector.

As a result of these material challenges, the manufacturing sector can only expect to continue its path of shrinking unless the Governments upcoming unveiling of the industrial strategy can reignite investment in growth.

Manufacturers continued to cut jobs in May as labour costs climbed, following the increase in the minimum wage and employers National Insurance contributions in April.

0306 British manufacturers are more downbeat

Rob Dobson, the director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: May PMI data indicate that UK manufacturing faces major challenges, including turbulent market conditions, trade uncertainties, low client confidence and rising tax-related wage costs.

It came as Andy Haldane, the former chief economist at the Bank of England, said that Ms Reevess time so far as Chancellor had been disappointing.

On too many measures ... its felt like the fiscal cart has been put in front of the growth horse, Mr Haldane told LBC. He warned that the Government was not even close to doing enough on growth.

To be honest its felt penny-pinching, its felt small, its not been the sort of thing we need to get the animal spirits in the country going and therefore the country growing.

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BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  The Wisconsin DNR is asking for the publics help on the investigation of an illegal elk shooting. On March 18th, the DNR received a report of a dead elk that was found on private property north of Black River Falls. In 2016, the bull elk was brought into Wisconsin from Kentucky to boost the central elk herd.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wisconsin Buck and Bear Club are offering up a total of $5,500 in rewards for information that leads to prosecution. To claim the reward, a tip must be made to the Jackson County Crime Stoppers

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VALPARAISO, Ind.  The man charged in a deadly shooting Monday in Valparaiso targeted the current boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend, prosecutors allege.

Officers responded to the 1900 block of Chicago Street at around 7:30 p.m. on the report of a shooting.

A man, later identified as Jayveon Triplett, 24, of Valparaiso, was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

The 911 caller, Tripletts girlfriend, told police that the suspect, Kuran Kinley, 24, was the shooter, documents allege.

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Kinley was taken into custody within an hour on Indiana Avenue. Documents state he was arrested with a black handgun in his possession.

Kinley was interviewed at the Valparaiso Police Department and he signed a waiver stating he did not want an attorney present.

Previous: Man shot, killed in Valparaiso

Kinley told police on April 23 he took a gun over to his exs apartment and warned Triplett about coming over to the residence while his child was there. He had a child with his ex and the ex was pregnant with a child from Triplett, according to documents.

Triplett was shot as he was about to enter his girlfriends apartment, documents state. Prosecutors allege Kinleys own child opened the door and avoided gunfire.

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Triplett died from six gunshot wounds to his neck and back, according to an autopsy.

Kinley was officially charged with murder, criminal recklessness and possession of a firearm within 15 years. Additionally, a firearm enhancement was added to the murder charge.

His initial hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The South Dakota Department of Health has reported the states first case of measles in 2025.

A man in Meade County developed the infection after traveling internationally.

The most common symptoms of measles start off much like a cold, a cough, a runny nose, and red watery eyes, called conjunctivitis.

That is accompanied by a fever, which is often very high, up to 104 105 degrees. Several days after those symptoms start, 4 or 5 days, is when the characteristic measles rash usually pops up. Its bright red, it starts at the hairline and works its way down the body, said Doctor Ashley Sands, an infectious disease expert.

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Remembering The Children Memorial sculpture honors those who lost their lives

What makes measles so dangerous is that it can cause pneumonia and encephalitis, which can be fatal. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known to man.

To give you an idea of how contagious measles is, if someone in this room had coughed an hour ago. And if I walk through that airspace, I could become infected if Im not vaccinated.

Dr. Sands says the measles vaccine is very safe and very effective, and has been around since the 1960s.

We know that with the first dose of measles given around one year of age, that confers around 93 percent immunity, meaning that of 100 people who receive the measles vaccine, 93 will be fully protected for the rest of their lives, said Dr. Sands.

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Most people are vaccinated at 12 months old and receive a second dose at age 4.

That second dose raises a persons protection from 93 percent to 97 percent.

Even in the rare case of a vaccinated person becoming infected, she says the infection is much less severe and contagious.

If you are unsure if you were vaccinated as a child, doctors suggest talking with your parents.

You can also check with your doctor or request your immunization records from the South Dakota Department of Health. https://doh.sd.gov/topics/immunizations-vaccinations/immunization-records-request/

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It's safe to say that most of us have seen lightning here on Earth plenty of times  some of us have even been struck by it.

But the natural phenomenon is one all but a few select individuals will ever have the chance to see from the vantage of 250 miles in orbit. Fortunately, a few astronauts over the years have been more than willing to generously share a glimpse of crashing lightning as seen from outer space.

And you better believe it looks nothing like what we're used to seeing from the ground.

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The latest images of sky-splitting lightning came courtesy of two NASA astronauts who reached the International Space Station together in March after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. In May, Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain posted photos on social media site X of lightning roiling far, far beneath them.

"This is what lightning looks like from the top down," McClain said in a post shared May 21.

Here's a closer look at just what they managed to capture from above Earth's atmosphere.

NASA astronauts on ISS capture images of lightning from space

The images McClain and Ayers shared show electrostatic discharges  in other words, lightning  from above the clouds as they orbited in the International Space Station.

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In Ayers' post on X, she said she first observed lightning May 1 while suited up for a spacewalk outside the orbital outpost. She then managed to capture a few photos the next day, which she shared May 5.

"I am so amazed by the view we have up here of our Earths weather systems," Ayers posted.

While it was unclear what part of Earth the lightning was striking in Ayers' photos, McClain said her images were captured over Alabama and Georgia.

"Fast and furious, but also an incredible sight!" McClain said.

The photos not only reveal the chaotic beauty of lightning, but could provide valuable orbital data to scientists studying the phenomenon back on Earth.

Here's a look at some of the astronauts' photos from social media

Photo techniques pioneered by astronaut Don Pettit

The photos were captured at speeds of 120 frames per second, with the depicted flashes only taking up one frame. The technique was pioneered by veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who is renowned for his astral photography.

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Pettit, who had arrived in September 2024 for his third and most recent space station stint, departed April 19, 2025, with two cosmonauts before safely landing in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday.

How many people are on the International Space Station?

Ayers and McClain, who also recently made headlines for completing a rare all-female spacewalk, are among seven people living at the International Space Station.

The crew of Expedition 73 includes three Americans, three Russian cosmonauts and one Japanese spacefarer from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa.)

McClain and Ayers are both part of a SpaceX mission known as Crew-10 that reached the space station in March 2025. Their arrival with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov paved the way for the NASA astronauts who crewed the doomed Boeing Starliner to depart with the Crew-9 mission.

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Also at the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the outpost in April 2025 with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Images: Lightning in space from NASA astronauts on ISS
OXON HILL, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 20: CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk holds a chainsaw as he arrives on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Argentinian President Javier Milei gifted Musk the chainsaw that he used as a prop while campaigning. The annual four-day gathering brings together conservative U.S. lawmakers, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen to discuss and champion conservative ideas. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

DOGE claims that it has saved the taxpayer nearly $16 million in grant funds to the University of Minnesota.

It hasnt.

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Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, created and then headed up the Department of Government Efficiency until his recent departure.

He once touted DOGE as the most transparent organization in government ever.

He cited DOGEs website as evidence of this transparency, especially the Wall of Receipts that claims to show exactly what the department has cut.

Among these cuts is a $15.8M grant to the U from the Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the grant is listed as currently unavailable, and the date of the grants cancellation was March 23.

The website neglects to mention that the grant was reinstated by April 7.

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According to U officials, the grant helps fund the Midwest Antiviral Drug Discovery Center, which conducts research on antiviral drugs to treat SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19; Ebola; Lassa; and Zika.

DOGE targeted an array of COVID-19 related grants around the same time. Why these would be considered an example of government waste is unclear, but in any case, the money is still going to the U.

The $15.8 million purportedly cut  but not actually cut from the U  came on March 23. This was just one of 1,339 line items of savings reported that day, all from the Department of Health and Human Services, amounting to $877,628,206.

Its unclear how much of that money has actually been cut because the incident with the Us reinstated grant has become all-too typical with DOGEs accounting. Positions and funding are cut with great fanfare, and then many of those cuts are reinstated. Federal workers are laid off, then re-hired.

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Barely a month into President Trumps second term, a New York Times review of DOGEs receipts found they were riddled with errors:

Some contracts the group claims credit for were double- or triple-counted. Another initially contained an error that inflated the totals by billions of dollars. In at least one instance, the group claimed an entire contract had been canceled when only part of the work had been halted. In others, contracts the group said it had closed were actually ended under the Biden administration.

Early this year, Musk showed up at the Conservative Political Action Conference convention in sunglasses, wielding a chainsaw, in an appearance that had many speculating on his drug use.

The chainsaw was an apt metaphor, just looking at a few days of data.

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March 21-23 show cuts to HHS , bookended by days of cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency. The National Science Foundation and Department of Justice are frequent targets.

A chainsaw is not a precise instrument, and imprecision, when it comes to firing federal workers, is expensive. One group that studies the federal workforce estimated all the firing, severance, rehiring, legal bills, lost productivity and paid time off would cost the government $135 billion this year, wiping out most of the alleged savings.

The Wall of Receipts webpage is headlined by the total reported savings. As of May 23, that was $170 billion. But the total savings listed in the Wall of Receipts adds up to just over $70 billion. Both of these numbers are far from the $2 trillion Musk promised to cut on the campaign trail, or even $1 trillion he claimed once he started DOGE.

Despite all the moving targets, Musk has repeatedly claimed transparency. Any action that we make, we post on the doge.gov website, and we post on our X account, so its extreme transparency, he said to Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini at a meeting of Italys League Party in April.

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Yet the $70 billion savings on the website is just 41% of what the DOGE claims in its headline number  on the very same website.

Belying Musks claims about DOGE being the most transparent government entity in history, all of the data on the DOGE website was already publicly available, and has been since 2004 on the Federal Procurement Data System website.

(The claims of transparency are also belied by a key question about DOGEs actions in government: data security. There is little transparency about what data DOGE has access to, and what that data is being used for.

This is of special concern as the federal government expands its contract with software company Palantir to create an AI-powered data-sharing platform to aid the Trump administrations goal of merging Social Security, IRS, and immigration information into one central database.)

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Even if the math added up, the Wall of Receipts website is difficult to use. The receipt charts are not searchable, and only show 10 line items at a time for sections with tens of thousands of lines.

If you look closely, you can download the data in chunks of 500 lines at a time, which must be combined and then translated into a readable format if its to become meaningfully useful.

Here is that readable chart, with data ranging from the inception of the website through May 23.

DOGE has claimed historic levels of government fraud and waste, and provided this website as the smoking gun.

But the government has not indicted anyone for fraud, nor have investigations been announced or leaked.

Meanwhile, Musks flagship transparency tool would better be described as opaque and is riddled with errors  to the point of uselessness, except as a scorecard of Musks time in government.
The Justice Department on Tuesday agreed to dismiss a lawsuit seeking records from White House senior trade adviser Peter Navarros time in the first Trump administration, brought during President Bidens presidency.

In a short notice, government lawyers stipulated to the dismissal of the 2022 lawsuit seeking emails Navarro sent from a personal encrypted account but refused to produce to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

They agreed to dismiss the action with prejudice, meaning the claim cant be brought again. The court filing gave no explanation for the decision.

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The Presidential Records Act requires any records generated or received while working in an official capacity  including those sent or received on unofficial accounts  be turned over at the end of an administration.

A federal judge ruled against Navarro and ordered him to turn over the records. Then, a three-judge panel on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals found no public interest in his retention of the records.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who oversaw the case, threatened in February 2024 to hold Navarro in contempt of court for defying her order to turn over the documents.

He appealed to the Supreme Court, but the justices in December ultimately declined to weigh his bid to reverse the order.

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In Navarros petition to the justices, he argued he initially planned to comply with NARAs request but later sought immunity to produce the documents after he was criminally charged for evading a congressional subpoena.

Navarro was convicted of two counts of contempt of Congress in 2023 for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. He was sentenced to four months in prison, which he completed in July.

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Texas has scrapped a law enabling undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition after the Justice Department objected to the law and state officials agreed.

The decision came just hours after the Trump administration sued to overturn the decades-old Texas law.

"In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended," Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a post on X. "Texas is permanently enjoined from providing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants."

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The Department of Justice filed the complaint Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. It was part of President Donald Trumps larger effort to reshape both higher education and immigration.

Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. The Justice Department will relentlessly fight to vindicate federal law and ensure that U.S. citizens are not treated like second-class citizens anywhere in the country.

Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a joint motion with the DOJ to rule that the law was unconstitutional.

Today, I entered a joint motion along with the Trump Administration opposing a law that unconstitutionally and unlawfully gave benefits to illegal aliens that were not available to American citizens, Paxton said in a statement. Ending this discriminatory and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas.

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Former Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican who served as Trumps energy secretary during the presidents first term, made Texas the first state in the nation to grant in-state tuition eligibility for certain undocumented students when he signed the Texas Dream Act in 2001. More than 20 states followed suit, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

The Texas law had survived multiple attempts to repeal it in the decades since.

In direct conflict with federal law, Texas law specifically allows an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States to qualify for in-state tuition based on residence within the state, while explicitly denying resident tuition rates to U.S. citizens that do not qualify as Texas residents, the DOJ wrote in its complaint.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board did not immediately respond to a request for comment from POLITICO.

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Some Republicans nationwide have begun to target in-state tuition rates for undocumented students. Florida Republicans earlier this year repealed a measure that granted in-state tuition to undocumented students who attended Florida high schools.

This isnt the first time Trump has looked to crack down on non-U.S. citizens in American colleges.

Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a push to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese international students, specifically for those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. The details behind the measure remain unclear, but Trumps allies spent years preparing the policy.

The White House has also sought to cut off Harvards ability to enroll foreign students, who comprise roughly 27 percent of the universitys student body.
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

First Came The Purges 

Its always the same with Trump. His attacks on his foes usually telegraph not what theyre doing, but what he plans to do himself. So it is with the Deep State.

You have probably seen by now the Trump OPMs new hiring policy which was unveiled last week. It is a road map for creating a politicized federal workforce  a Deep State, if you will. It is a marked departure from decades of efforts to professionalize federal workers and protect them from raw partisan politics. But it is also a logical next step following the mass purges of federal workers: replace them with loyalists.

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Most glaringly problematic in the new policy is the essay-writing requirement for applications for positions at GS-05 and above. One of the four required essays comes with this prompt: How would you help advance the Presidents Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role?

It is a green light for hiring to be done on a politicized basis, as political scientist Don Moynihan notes:

I cannot think of anything like this level of politicization being formally introduced into the hiring process. Under the George W. Bush administration, it was a scandal when appointees in the Justice Department were caught scanning candidate CVs for civil servant positions to try to discern their political leanings. Now they will just ask them to explain how they can serve President Trumps agenda. Within the space of a generation, backdoor politicization practices went from being a source of shame to a formal policy.

What makes the Trump version of politicization arguably worse is that its not pinned to ideology or partisan leanings but to personal loyalty and fealty to him. In that, it is arbitrary, ever changing, and subject to constant re-evaluation.

All of this comes against the backdrop of Trump, with the Roberts Courts blessing, having already neutered the Merit Systems Protection Board and other mechanisms for protecting federal workers. As Moynihan suggests, Trump in breaking the existing merit system is unleashing vast consequences that will take generations to fix.

The Corruption: The New Gilded Age Edition

NBC News: In four months, the Trump administration has dismantled key parts of that law enforcement infrastructure, creating what experts say is the ripest environment for corruption by public officials and business executives in a generation.

The New Yorkers Evan Osnos wanders through the New Gilded Age America like a man in a foreign country: In a matter of weeks, the flood of cash swirling around the White House swamped whatever bulwarks against corruption remained in American law and culture.

NBC News: Trump pardons drive a big, burgeoning business for lobbyists.

Quote Of The Day

Hes dismantling not just the means of prosecuting public corruption, but hes also dismantling all the means of oversight of public corruption. The law is only for his enemies now.Paul Rosenzweig, a George Washington University law professor who was a senior homeland security official in the Bush II administration, on President Trump

Peter Navarro Successfully Runs Out The Clock

The Trump DOJ has abruptly dropped the civil lawsuit to force Trump White House official Peter Navarro to turn over to the National Archives his Proton emails from the Trump I presidency.

Jan. 6 Prosecutor Resigns From DOJ

Greg Rosen, who was the chief of the Capitol Siege Section of the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office, resigned from the Justice Department last week after being demoted by former interim D.C. U.S. attorney Ed Martin.

Good Point

Lisa Rubin, on Trumps one-two punch against the American Bar Association and the Federalist Society:

[I]n an era where fidelity to the whims of Trump is far more important than allegiance to any conservative legal agenda, much less the rule of law, Trump aims to be the sole arbiter of whos qualified and fit for federal judgeships. If Trump can reduce or even eliminate both the ABAs and the Federalist Societys impact on the judicial selection process, hell become the only judge of judges who matters  which is exactly, I would posit, how he wants it.

It Fooled Kristi Noem

A Milwaukee man allegedly tried to get a witness in the armed robbery case against him deported so he wouldnt be able to testify. Seizing on anti-immigrant fervor, the man sent letters in the name of the witness threatening to assassinate President Trump. The witness was arrested, but law enforcement eventually figured out the scheme and have filed new charges against the imposter, but not before DHS Secretary Kristi Noem trumpeted the initial arrest.

Federal Judge Enforces Trans Care In Prisons

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of D.C., an 81-year-old Reagan appointee, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from ending hormone therapy and social accommodations for transgender inmates in federal prisons, while the lawsuit proceeds.

Gratuitous

In a decision reportedly timed to coincide with Pride month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to strip Harvey Milks name from an eponymous naval vessel. The assassinated gay icon was a Navy veteran.

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The Harvey Milk is a John Lewis-class oiler, a group of ships that are to be named after prominent civil rights leaders and activists, Military.com reports.

Other ships in that class are also being targeted by Hegseth for renaming, CBS News reports. They include the:

USNS Thurgood Marshall

USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg

USNS Harriet Tubman

USNS Dolores Huerta

USNS Lucy Stone

USNS Cesar Chavez

USNS Medgar Evers

Clarification

Yesterdays Morning Memo said the National Park Services decision to close D.C.s Dupont Circle event for an upcoming Pride event this month was made on what is clearly a pretextual basis, but its subsequently been confirmed that the request for the closure came from the D.C. police chief, who reversed her position yesterday. It remains up to the U.S. Park Police, which has jurisdiction over the space, to decide whether to keep it open for the Pride event.

Happens In A Flash

The first eruption from Yellowstones Black Diamond Pool captured on video since last summers much larger hydrothermal explosion:

Small eruption from Black Diamond Pool, site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024, captured by new webcam on May 31 at 8:39 pm MDT!



Reported as part of the YVO monthly update (June 2, 2025, 11:04 a.m. MDT): https://t.co/wjXrFVaqdX



Activity remains at background levels. pic.twitter.com/XQ8dUGO90O  USGS Volcanoes (@USGSVolcanoes) June 2, 2025

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
'They Don't Believe People Should Exist,' FBI Says of Palm Springs Bomb Suspects originally appeared on L.A. Mag.

A second man connected to the suicide car bombing was hunted down in Poland Eric Thayer via AP Photo

A second man who helped a domestic terrorist plan what officials call a "suicide car bombing" outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic last month was hunted down in Warsaw, Poland, federal officials announced Wednesday.

Daniel Park, 32, helped build the explosive that killed his alleged co-conspirator, Guy Edward Bartkus, the suspected suicide car bomber who detonated a blast outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic last month, federal officials announced Wednesday Courtesy FBI

Daniel Park, 32, of Kent, Washington left the country four days after his alleged co-conspirator, Guy Edward Bartkus, died in the blast outside American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic on May 17, officials say. Both men shared nihilistic and anti-life ideologies and practiced building the bomb in Bartkus's Twentynine Palms garage in late January and early February, federal officials said at a press conference Wednesday morning.

Guy Edward Bartkus died in the suicide car bombing he detonated outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic FBI

"They do not believe people should exist," FBI Assistant Director for Los Angeles Akil Davis told reporters Wednesday morning. Davis said that Park, like Bartkus, posted nihilistic ideologies on Internet forums dating back to 2016. Park, investigators learned after last month's blast - which left a 250-yard debris field in the bustling Palm Springs block - secured 270 pounds of ammonium nitrate for their planned attack.



Park sent a total of six shipments of bomb making materials from Seattle to Twentynine Palms, officials said, before and after he spent two weeks in Southern California at Bartkus's home in Twentynine Palms. The duo practiced building the car bomb based on the ammonium nitratefuel oil bomb recipe that was used in the 1995 homegrown terror attack in Oklahoma City, the FBI says.



Officials in Poland captured Park on May 30, said United States Attorney Bilal Essayli, and he was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport by U.S. federal officials Tuesday night. He is expected to appear in a Brooklyn federal courtroom Wednesday before his removal to California to face federal charges.

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Davis said the FBI did not have either man on their radar until after the Palm Springs attack and were taken aback that the duo could put "such a destructive device" together without raising any red flags. That raises "fear of the unknown" for homeland security officials, he said. That fear, says the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, is well-founded.



"Those who seek to carry out nihilistic violence often do not fit neatly into the ideologically-based classifications that have been adopted by counterterrorism agencies, creating the potential for them to slip through the cracks,"' the think tank wrote in a report released last month, which also noted that those "engaged with subcultures of nihilistic violence may also interact with ideologically-motivated communities online including neo-Nazis."



The Palm Springs bomb gutted the facility and shattered the windows of nearby buildings along a palm tree-lined street. The suspect was recovered in a burnt-out 2010 Ford Fusion outside the bombing scene, authorities say, but all of the embryos inside were saved by law enforcement officials. Bartkus attempted to livestream the explosion and left behind writings that suggested he believed people should not procreate, the FBI says.



The case is being charged as an act of terrorism. A study released last year by West Point raises alarms about nihilism on the rise in the U.S.

This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
In February, Trump signed executive orders that placed a 10% tariff on oil and energy imports from Canada into the U.S. This will significantly impact oil prices if upheld, since Canada is by far the U.S.s top importer of crude oil  one of the main ingredients in gasoline. The U.S. imported about $97 billion worth of crude oil from Canada in 2023 , outpacing its second-biggest source of crude, Mexico, by nearly $77 billion.

At least in my lifetime, we've not seen this before, and so I don't think we fully understand what to do, he said.

C-store consultant Kevin Farley said that the waiting game with tariffs is creating an unsettled vibe to everything around the industry.

But industry experts disagree, emphasizing that tariffs could significantly raise prices across several areas of the business, resulting in higher operating costs that will likely flow down to customers.

I think this is something that's going to ebb and flow a little bit, said Michael Frisbie, CEO of the 13-location Noble Markets chain. I don't think it's going to [have] a drastic effect on the c-store industry, honestly.

Even some smaller retailers, who have significantly less capital and resources compared to their larger competitors, dont seem worried.

Prices go up and down all the time in the products we have, Carey said. That's why we have a procurement function. That's why we have a marketing function.

Just days before he left his post as CEO of EG America, John Carey said in an interview with C-Store Dive that he doesnt see Trumps tariffs challenging the 1,500 store retailer.

During their companies earnings calls last month, Andrew Clyde and Arie Kotler, CEOs of Murphy USA and Arko Corp., respectively, both said that despite tariff uncertainty, neither company is changing its financial guidance and both are well-positioned to perform. Meanwhile, Mark Romaine, chief operating officer of Global Partners, said that aside from some very short-lived volatility, the Massachusetts retailer isnt expecting any tariff impact from a supply, margin, or optimization perspective.

These back-and-forth rulings are fueling the confusion and worry that has plagued leaders, businesses and consumers since Trump enacted the tariffs earlier this year. But in the convenience store industry, top executives arent too concerned about the impact Trumps tariffs may bring.

President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs on imports hit a roadblock last week after the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked the Commander in Chiefs controversial agenda. However, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has since allowed the president to continue collecting tariffs while he appeals the trade courts decision.

This story was originally published on C-Store Dive . To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter .

Story Continues

With many leading c-store retailers and fuel suppliers based in Canada, convenience operators must address how oil tariffs on the country may impact their businesses, said industry consultant Julie Jackson, whose former roles include president at G&M Oil, COO at Jaco Oil and an executive vice president at H&S Energy.

At least in my lifetime, we've not seen this before, and so I don't think we fully understand what to do."

Kevin Farley

C-store consultant

We haven't been playing nice with Canada, and there could be some ripple effects with that, Jackson said. We just need to be concerned about that a little bit more or hear more about what the plan is.

Tom Kloza, former global head of energy analysis for price-reporting agency Oil Price Information Service, is more optimistic. He said that although the tariffs are likely causing gas prices to rise  the national average has spiked over 10 cents since Trump enacted these tariffs  he doesnt see them sticking around given how dependent the U.S. is on Canadian oil.

I still in my heart of hearts do not believe that we're going to have anything lasting on Canadian oil or Canadian refined products, he said.

Rising construction costs

The U.S.s trade war with Canada is also expected to heavily impact the cost and flow of building materials. In 2024, Canada was the U.S.s top supplier of both cement and steel, which are crucial for building and remodeling convenience stores  one of the industrys biggest trends in recent years. Trump said last week he wants to place a 50% tariff on steel alone.

If the price of cement and steel rises, so will the price to build and remodel stores. For ongoing new builds or remodels that need more cement and steel, tariffs could result in additional costs and delays in both shipments and openings. Once open, the cost to upkeep new or remodeled stores could rise.

Jackson said the potential impact on building is her biggest concern with tariffs.

I really worry about facilities, because that's the one I know where I had so many headaches, Jackson said. You have a project all built, and you're waiting for a certain type of component, you have to wait a year. You can't fire the site up. So there could be a lot of lost revenue if the equipment that they need or the parts are not available.

Kent Companies

Frisbie of Noble Markets admitted that building and remodeling may bring new challenges if the tariffs are upheld.

We need to be smarter about how we buy our real estate and how we build our stores, because some of these tariffs are going to impact the cost of construction, cost of materials, things of that nature, Frisbie said.

Jackson suggests that c-store retailers recall the lessons they learned during the initial supply chain hurdles of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the crisis hit, retailers tightened up their inventory and stockpiled items they considered critical to their business. The pandemic also forced retailers to maintain good communication with vendors to be aware of availability.

Farley concurred that the unknown factor with tariffs should encourage c-store retailers to speak regularly with their suppliers.

If you're going to open up 20 stores in the next 12 months, getting with the main suppliers and talking through all of that It's really just a good time to kind of be more collaborative.

Hits on the customer

Although theyre not overly concerned about a direct impact to their businesses, some c-store retailers are acutely aware of the pricing shock that tariffs may cause for their customers.

If a retailers costs for building materials or products inside the store rise, theyll have to increase their daily prices to combat the pain.

The only thing we're thinking about relative to how tariffs may impact us is, perhaps, as it starts to affect the consumer, it may have some impact on our store sales, but thats yet to be determined, Romaine of Global Partners said during the companys recent earnings call. If it's going to impact us, it'll impact us there.

Frisbie said higher prices for consumers are essentially guaranteed if the tariffs are upheld, due to increasing operating costs.

If it costs us more, it's going to cost the consumer more, he emphasized.

Jackson said that if retailers pass their costs onto customers, store visits are likely to decline, which will ultimately hurt sales. But if operators are open and honest with their most loyal customers about the challenges theyre facing, their recovery might be quicker than anticipated.

Customers can forgive a lot, Jackson said.

A decline in visits and drop in sales might hurt smaller retailers more than the big players, multiple experts say. The same could be true for any incoming supply chain problems.

If it costs us more, it's going to cost the consumer more."

Michael Frisbie

CEO, Noble Markets

Jackson said with tariff uncertainty ahead, the vendors are going to supply their big dogs and will likely create a pecking order of who gets what and when. Smaller retailers may get the short end of this stick because in many cases, they order less often and in smaller amounts than their larger competitors.

I think the level of sophistication and the buying power will give the larger organizations a leg up, Jackson said.

For now, all the industry can do is wait to see if the courts ultimately approve or reject Trumps sweeping tariff agenda. Farley advises retailers to avoid being reactionary, but also recommends that they prepare for what might lie ahead.

It seems like people are going to have less money to spend, and that in general is not a good thing for us as an industry.

Recommended Reading
Texas Governor Greg Abbott will decide whether to enact a bill requiring food manufacturers to add warning labels to products if they contain ingredients like dyes that have been banned or restricted by other countries. Major food conglomerates have opposed the bill, arguing it would add greater uncertainty for consumers in a time of economic unpredictability.

A Texas bill on the brink of becoming law would crack down on major food manufacturers, requiring them to label products with warnings about ingredients not recommended for human consumption under the standards of countries other than the U.S.

Senate Bill 25 would require U.S. food manufacturers to, beginning in 2027, clearly mark products sold in Texas with warning labels that the foods contain certain ingredients like bleached flour and synthetic food dyes that other countries have prohibited or required warnings for. The legislation would impact major food manufacturers like General Mills, whose brands Pillsbury Toaster Strudel contain bleached flour, as well as PepsiCo, the conglomerate behind Doritos and Mountain Dew, which contain dyes.

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The bill also outlines requirements for physical education and nutrition education in schools. The legislation reached the desk of Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sunday.

Supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the bill if enacted would notch a victory for Kennedys Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. The HHS secretary, as part of his MAHA efforts, has advocated for the banning of dyes, additives, and seed oils, arguing that the ingredients increase the risk of cancer, hyperactivity in children, inflammatory bowel diseases, and allergic reactions.

The bipartisan bills enactment would also mark a departure from Texass history of being a deep-red state with a light touch with regulations. Texas is the second-largest state in the U.S. by population, with more than 31 million residents in 2024.

A spokesperson for Abbott did not respond to Fortunes request for comment, but press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement to Bloomberg: Governor Abbott will continue to work with the legislature to ensure Texans have access to healthy foods to care for themselves and their families and will thoughtfully review any legislation they send to his desk.

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The HHS did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

Big Food bites back

In response to the bill, dozens of food manufacturers and distributors wrote a letter on May 19 to the Texas legislature asking it to remove the section of the legislation regarding warning labels.

As currently written, the food labeling provision in this bill casts an incredibly wide nettriggering warning labels on everyday grocery items based on assertions that foreign governments have banned such items, rather than on standards established by Texas regulators or by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the letter said.

The companies argued in the letter that Texas is outpacing national food labeling standards, and the enactment of the bill would destabilize local and regional economies and limit access to foods in times of economic uncertainty.

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According to John Hewitt, senior vice president of state affairs at Consumer Brands Association, which represents several major U.S. food manufacturers, the food industry is committed to tools that increase ingredient transparency, but urges Abbott to veto the bill.

The ingredients used in the U.S. food supply are safe and have been rigorously studied following an objective science and risk-based evaluation process, Hewitt told Fortune in a statement. The labeling requirements of SB 25 mandate inaccurate warning language, create legal risks for brands, and drive consumer confusion and higher costs.

Consumer Brands Association did not respond to Fortunes inquiry about what component of the warning language was inaccurate.

How Big Food has responded to past legislation

In the past following the enactment of food labeling legislation, food manufacturers have had to make sweeping changes to packaging to abide by the laws, according to Jura Liaukonyte, professor of marketing and applied economics at Cornell Universitys SC Johnson College of Business.

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Her research includes analyzing the ramifications of the passage of a Vermont law regarding labels for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Following the laws enactment, several large food companies changed their labeling at the national level, finding it inefficient to only update labels for products in one state. A national law around GMO labels passed about 30 days later, essentially rewarding the companies strategy.

Christina Roberto, director of the University of Pennsylvanias Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, told Fortune that in other cases, food manufacturers resist the legislation by taking legal action.

The industry tends to not want to do something different, not want to do something thats going to incur costs, Roberto said. And certainly this kind of legislationwhere its trying to warn consumers about the harms of aspects of the productits very unlikely that any manufacturer would be on board.

Invoking foreign food standards

Liaukonyte noted another potential layer of uncertainty for food manufacturers is the bills invocation of foreign food standards on U.S. products. Liaukonyte said the labeling mandate would highlight the disparities between food safety standards in the U.S. versus other parts of the world.

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There is a very different principle of how food and cosmetics safety is regulated in [the European Union] and in the U.S., she said.

The EU uses the precautionary principle for food and cosmetics safety that requires rigorous testing, essentially that products are automatically deemed risky until proven safe. Meanwhile, the U.S. generally has a looser framework around safety. Companies can include additives to a product without explicit approval from the Food and Drug Administration, for example, if those additives are generally recognized as safe (GRAS), meaning qualified experts deem the product safe based on past research and use.

Kennedy has advocated for greater scrutiny of the GRAS framework. New York is considering a law that would require the disclosure of evidence for products that are GRAS.

Why deep-red Texas is regulating food labels

Republican support for increased labeling of ingredients largely marks a departure of a decades-old trend of opposing food regulation. Liaukonyte speculated Kennedys MAHA efforts have championed a naturalist movement that equates health decisions with individual rights.

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There is a little bit of reframing health as a conservative value, she said. Reframing the labeling initiative: Its an issue of parental rights, personal responsibility, and its sort of like making your own decisions conditional on being informed.

While Kennedys claims around vaccines causing autism have been proven false and his recent MAHA report misinterpreted and omitted citations, public health experts agree tighter regulation of labels, particularly to align with more stringent European standards, is good news for public health.

For Roberto, her qualm with the legislation in question isnt that it isnt supported by scientific research or oversteps boundaries with food companies, but that it doesnt go far enough in setting standards to protect public health. She would like to see legislation advocating for warnings about salt, sugar, and saturated fats in certain foods, as well as taxing or banning them from schools.

It actually is an exciting time, Roberto said. But I think a lot of these policies could go further to support childrens health by coupling it with other types of policies that we know work.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
OTTAWA  Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging Canadas prime minister to retaliate against the United States after it doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. But Prime Minister Mark Carney is holding off, arguing hes close to striking a new trade deal with President Donald Trump.

Ford and Carney aired their clashing approaches on Wednesday, as the Ontario premier accused the PM of being bullied by the U.S.

Youre either standing up for Canada and protecting peoples jobs, their livelihoods, Ford told reporters in Toronto Wednesday. Or you sit back and get steamrolled. Thats not what Im going to do.

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Carney declined to comment on Fords remarks as he left his national caucus meeting.

Ford told CNNs The Situation Room earlier on Wednesday that he highly recommended to the prime minister directly that we slap another 25 percent on top of our tariffs, to equal President Trumps tariffs on our steel.

Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S., from 25 percent to 50 percent. In March, Canada imposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on a list of U.S. steel and aluminum products totaling C$15.6 billion.

Carney wouldnt say if hes prepared to retaliate again.

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We will take some time, not much, some time because we are in intensive discussions right now with the Americans on the trading relationship, Carney told reporters in Ottawa. Those discussions are progressing. I would note that the American action is a global action. It's not one targeted in Canada, so we will take some time, but not more."

Ford, who is considering a 25 percent tax on electricity exports from Ontario to the United States, cast doubt that a deal is coming.

Deal or no deal, if its coming soon, well, President Trump wouldnt be doing what hes doing, Ford told reporters after Carneys comments.

We cant sit back and let President Trump steamroll us, try to shut down our steel industry, take jobs down to the U.S. He has no regard for jobs here in Ontario.

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Ford is not ruling out his own retaliatory measures, including adding a surcharge on the electricity his province sends to the homes and businesses of 1.5 million Americans in Michigan, Minnesota and New York.

Just seems with President Trump its five steps forward and 10 steps backward, and that doesn't help, Ford said in his CNN interview.

In March, Ford slapped a 25 percent tax on electricity exported to the United States after the U.S. threatened 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada.

The tax caught the attention of the Trump administration, which led to Ford securing a meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Ford described it as an olive branch, and he ultimately dropped the tax.

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Now Ford is considering bringing it back.

Everything is on the table right now, he said in Toronto. We had an agreement before that he was going to take the other 25 percent, to keep it at 25 percent, and unfortunately they broke a verbal agreement.

Ford is expected to speak later on Wednesday with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who just returned from Washington, where he met Lutnick.

Ill be all over him, Ford said of his meeting with LeBlanc.
A new doughnut shop is coming to downtown Gig Harbor.

Fusion Donut Cafe will open its doors at the Peninsula Shopping Center in the next two weeks, according to Shamika David, who co-owns the business with Alberto Pena. Former co-owner Esequiel Lopez is moving on to another opportunity, but is assisting with the cafes interior design, David said.

The businesss existing location in downtown Tacoma is a coffee-and-doughnut-cafe from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week, and a 21+ cocktail lounge after 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, according to its website. Fusions second location in Gig Harbor, at 3110 Judson St, will add to a limited market of sweet, fluffy pastries nearby: Besides Milkvue Handcrafted Donuts + Coffee, which features its own cast of flavors and a selection of mochi doughnuts in Point Fosdick Square, local doughnut spots in Gig Harbor are slim.

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 ... were really excited because we dont see anything similar in the area, David told The News Tribune. So were really excited to bring our product to Gig Harbor, because were really proud of it.

Fusion Donuts & Lounge opened in Tacoma in 2024. It will add a second store in Gig Harbor in June 2025. Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com

Plans to redevelop the Peninsula Shopping Center and bring in a new grocery store have fallen through in recent years, The News Tribune reported. Regional chain Town & Country Markets expressed interest but later decided to withdraw, a company representative told a reporter in July 2022.

Global fitness company Club Pilates also plans to open a Gig Harbor location at Peninsula Shopping Center in June 2025, according to the businesss website.

Fusions cafe-plus-bar model in Tacoma came from a desire to meet the communitys needs on the front and back ends of their day, David told The News Tribune. Its a fusing of two kinds of experiences: starting your day off on a happy note with a sweet treat and specialty coffee from PNW-based roaster Dancing Goats Coffee, and unwinding after a long day with friends, family and coworkers over shareable small plates and handcrafted cocktails, per their website.

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For now, their Gig Harbor location will focus on the coffee-and-doughnuts part and will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. But David said that once they get a feel for running the morning cafe and understand the needs of their customers in Gig Harbor, theyre thinking of adding an evening wine bar and charcuterie. Ideally, theyll add their evening offerings within the next month and a half, according to David.

Whats special about Fusions doughnuts? David said they bake all of their doughnuts fresh daily  theyll have to bake twice as many to supply their Gig Harbor location  and make all of their frostings and most of their fillings in-house. The texture is extremely soft, like croissant dough, due to a special treatment they give their dough, David said.

Peninsula Shopping Center in Gig Harbor, Wash., on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Plans to attract a regional grocery store to the site have fallen through in recent years. Rush Development bought partial stake in the Peninsula Shopping Center on Feb. 25, 2020. Tony Overman/toverman@theolympian.com

Some customer favorites from their Tacoma location include the guava, strawberry or mango-filled doughnuts; their pistachio cream doughnut; and a matcha doughnut that sells out every day, according to David. Their maple bar, Boston cream and old fashioned doughnut staples are also popular, as are their apple fritters, sold alongside some more unique fritter flavors like lemon and banana.

Their matcha drinks also do well, coming in several original recipes including toasted coconut, strawberry shortcake and banana bliss. Their white chocolate pistachio mocha is always popular, hot or cold, David said.

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David told The News Tribune theyve appreciated the support from the Gig Harbor community, both from residents and neighboring businesses, as they prepare to move into their new space.

We couldnt ask for a better community to be a part of ... weve been very fortunate in that way, David said.

Editors note: This story has been updated with the address and business hours for Fusion Donut Cafe in Gig Harbor.
Jun. 3May 21

Cory Wayne Franik Sr., 37, 5031 E. Second St., possession of methamphetamine, no contest plea, 90 days jail, two years of probation, $638.25 fine and court costs.

Lois Elizabeth Pelfrey, 56, 4901 E. Itasca Drive, possession of methamphetamine, deferred prosecution agreement fulfilled, amended to possess amphetamine, no further sentence.

Landan William Swenson, 21, Poplar, two counts fourth-degree sexual assault, probation revoked, nine months jail on each count consecutive.

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May 22

Terrance Justin Franklin, 42, 632 Grand Ave., carrying a concealed knife, no contest plea, 123 days jail, $443 court costs.

May 23

Dustin Pasquale Burke, 42, Proctor, Minnesota, two counts issue of worthless checks, no contest pleas, 90 days jail stayed, one year of probation, $1,830.42 restitution; two additional counts issue of worthless checks, dismissed.

William Curtis Rolfes, 34, Iona, Minnesota, resisting or obstructing an officer, dismissed.

May 28

Hailey Vaughn Griffin, 32, Gordon, disorderly conduct, amended to ordinance violation disorderly conduct, no contest plea, $338.30 fine; bail jumping, domestic disorderly conduct, dismissed.

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May 29

Marty Floyd Boder, 64, South Range, drive or operate vehicle without consent, dismissed.

Ethan Warren Moen, 35, 632 Grand Ave., domestic strangulation and suffocation, probation revoked, two years state prison, 30 months extended supervision.

May 30

Vincent Steven Asher, 41, Duluth, domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, two days jail, $579 fine and court costs.

Ramona Latrice Buchanan, 33, Duluth, possession of narcotic drugs, retail theft-intentionally take, no contest pleas, 25 days jail, additional six months jail stayed, two years of probation, $1,050.02 restitution and court costs, no contact with victim business; disorderly conduct, bail jumping, dismissed.

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Cindy Rae Enders, 43, 632 Grand Ave., disorderly conduct, amended to ordinance violation disorderly conduct, no contest plea, $267.50 fine.

Trevor Simone Feather, 38, 1902 N. 16th St., 7, domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, one day jail, one year of probation, $443 court costs.

Georgia Levette Garrett, 50, Duluth, disorderly conduct, amended to ordinance violation domestic disorderly conduct, guilty plea, $338.30 fine.

Jessie James Kaelin, 41, Duluth, resisting or obstructing an officer, criminal damage to property, no contest pleas, 24 days jail, additional 90 days jail stayed,18 months of probation, $516 court costs; disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon, dismissed.

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June 2

Brandon Henry Berg, 37, 915 1/2 Baxter Ave., domestic strangulation and suffocation, deferred prosecution agreement fulfilled, dismissed.

Jamie Patrick Hall, 50, Poplar, domestic disorderly conduct, deferred prosecution agreement fulfilled, dismissed.

Lisa Denise Harrison, 57, Ashland, possess amphetamine, possess drug paraphernalia, no contest pleas, two-year deferred prosecution agreement.

Christopher J. Munguia, 29, Wilmar, Minnesota, repeater throw or discharge bodily fluid at a safety worker or prosecutor, two counts repeater disorderly conduct, guilty pleas, 58 days jail, three years of probation, 18 months state prison and two years extended supervision stayed; second-offense operating while intoxicated, 45 days jail served, $1,753 fine, 17 months driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; second-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, repeater resisting or obstructing an officer, additional count repeater disorderly conduct, dismissed.

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Susan Louise Peterson, 43, 704 E. Fourth St., criminal damage to property, no contest plea, 12-month deferred prosecution agreement.

Chace Wayde Rostvit, 24, Duluth, possess amphetamine, no contest plea, two-year deferred prosecution agreement.

Troy Orlyn Routley, 43, 1717 N. 53rd St., third-offense operating while intoxicated, no contest plea, 70 days jail, $1,995 fine, 26-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; third-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, dismissed.

Austin Jacob Talamantes, 29, Solon Springs, retail theft-intentionally take, carrying a concealed knife, possession of methamphetamine, no contest pleas, 120 days jail, $1,328.97 restitution and court costs; possess drug paraphernalia, bail jumping, additional counts retail theft-intentionally take, carrying a concealed knife, dismissed.

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Sean David Tyson, 34, Minneapolis, Minnesota, possess amphetamine, no contest plea, one-year deferred prosecution agreement.

Daniel Scott Vicklun, 56, 1925 Susquehanna Ave., possession of methamphetamine, no contest plea, two-year deferred prosecution agreement; possess amphetamine, possess drug paraphernalia, dismissed.

Jessica Doris Lee Williams, 45, 632 Grand Ave., possess amphetamine, possess drug paraphernalia, no contest pleas, 16 days jail, two years of probation, additional 180 days jail stayed, $563.25 fine and court costs.

Lance Dee Young, 22, 1121 Cumming Ave., disorderly conduct, no contest plea, 12-month deferred prosecution agreement.

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Anthony Charles Young, 32, Bayfield, bail jumping, possession of narcotic drugs, no contest pleas, 30 months state prison, one year extended supervision, $591 fine; possession of methamphetamine, dismissed.

Gavin James Ziegler, 20, Poplar, hit-and-run, no contest plea, one-year deferred prosecution agreement; operating while revoked, amended to ordinance violation operate without carrying license, no contest plea, $150.10 fine.

The Superior Telegram publishes court records as part of its obligation to serve as a keeper of the local historical record. All items are public records submitted by the courthouse in Superior. Individual requests for items to be withheld will not be granted.
CEDAR COUNTY, Mo.  Around 35 concerned citizens gathered outside of the Cedar County Courthouse in Stockton on Tuesday, June 3, to protest the countys prosecuting attorney over what they view as a lack of action for a case that stems from an online vigilante groups investigation.

Protest outside of the Cedar County Courthouse. Photo courtesy of Cindy Malone.

The protest was organized by Carissa Conduff against Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither after he declined to file charges against a Cedar County man with information gathered and supplied to law enforcement from an online vigilante group.

I made the protest to show the victims from [the alleged man] that they were not alone, and even though Ty has been pushing it under the rug, that they were seen by the community, Conduff said.

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The case against the Cedar County man comes from a citizen investigation conducted by Operation Soap, a local online vigilante group that says its dedicated to cleaning up our streets by raising awareness about child predators and advocating for safer communities, according to the groups website.

A few months ago, Operation Soap conducted a sting operation against a 26-year-old Cedar County man by using a teenage girl as a decoy in their online conversations.

Operation Soap has been outspoken in recent weeks against Gaither, as they claim they handed their evidence against the accused man over to Cedar County law enforcement, but Gaither ultimately declined to file charges against that man.

According to Operation Soaps screenshots of the investigation against the Cedar County man, the decoy said she was 15 years old.

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However, some Missouri child sex crime laws  including enticement of a child, as well as sexual misconduct with a child  apply to victims who are less than 15 years old.

A person 21 years of age or older commits the offense of enticement of a child if he or she persuades, solicits, coaxes, entices, or lures whether by words, actions or through communication via the internet or any electronic communication, any person who is less than fifteen years of age for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct, a statute says.

Protestors gather outside the Cedar County Courthouse on Tuesday, June 3. Photo courtesy of Cindy Malone.

A social media manager for Operation Soap, speaking on behalf of the group, told Ozarks First that their investigation against the 26-year-old man also used another decoy who was 14 years old, but did not provide screenshots as evidence for this claim after being asked twice for them.

I dont currently have access to those chat logs, Operation Soap said. Everything we have was given to their detectives.

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Additionally, the group took issue with Missouris enticement of a child law.

That statute is poorly written and dangerously vague, Operation Soap said. It leaves room for legal gray areas that, in effect, allow grooming behavior to go unpunished. Its outdated and needs serious revision to actually protect minors.

Cindy Malone, a Cedar County resident who runs a popular citizen watchdog group on Facebook, attended the protest and said she was there not only for Operation Soaps allegations, but also for missed charges in past cases.

My problem is not so much this case that bothers me, its this case and all the other cases before, Malone said. Im happy that Operation Soap has drawn attention to the problem.  But, theres just so much more. Theres such a history.

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Ozarks First reached out to Gaither for comment but has not received a response as of this articles publication.

I hope that the community sees that you dont have to back down, Conduff said. I would consider the protest a success. I do wish more people would have been able to come out. But it was more than one and thats more than I was hoping for. So, Im happy with the outcome.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)On Wednesday, Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor Dr. Amy Acton will launch a four-day listening tour across the state.

The goal is to listen to Ohioans to see how leaders can make communities stronger. She has five stops today, including three in the Valley.

Acton grew up in the Youngstown area and served as director of the Ohio Department of Public Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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She announced that she would be running for governor earlier this year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
For the first time ever, the body that governs Floridas 12 public universities, the Florida Board of governors (BOG), rejected a university trustee board's leadership selection.

Last week, the University of Floridas board of trustees unanimously chose a new president for the university, just shy of a year after the last president stepped down. UFs trustees selected Dr. Santa Ono, who came to Florida from the University of Michigan, where he recently closed the universitys DEI office after spending a good portion of his career supporting DEI efforts.

And in a shocking turn of events for those paying attention to higher education in Florida, the vote to confirm Ono failed (6-10), after a three-hour questioning in which the board pointed out his unclear stances on issues like DEI and merit-based admissions.

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eres why Dr. Ono was rejected by the Florida Board of Governors, what to know about his career and how he ended up as UFs top choice for its 14th president.

More on Ono's rejection: Florida higher ed board stuns UF, blocks Santa Ono from becoming president

Who appoints the University of Florida President? How much does the President of UF make?

Its the Florida Board of Governors job to confirm or deny university president appointments for all of Floridas public universities. Each universitys board of trustees makes a selection and waits for confirmation from the BOG before they can hire the person theyve chosen.

The BOGs rejection of Dr. Ono as the next president of UF was the first time the 17-member governing body has rejected a university BOTs leadership selection.

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Before he was rejected by the governing board this week, Dr. Ono was on track to become one of the highest-paid university presidents in the U.S., The Gainesville Sun reported.

Newly named University of Florida President Dr. Santa Ono is set to receive a five-year compensation package worth up to $15 million, making him one of the highest-paid public university presidents in the country, The Sun reported last week.

The contract, part of the Florida Board of Governors' agenda packet for its June 3 meeting  when it is expected to formally approve the hire  includes an annual base salary of $1.5 million, along with an annual 3% raise and an annual 20% retention bonus.

More on UF and Dr. Ono: Here's how much Dr. Santa Ono would have received as president of the University of Florida

UF president search: Why was Dr. Ono rejected by Florida Board of Governors?

University of Florida president-elect Dr. Santa Ono is shown June 3 during his confirmation hearing in front of the Board of Governors in Orlando.

Just one week after Dr. Santa Ono was unanimously selected by UFs Board of Trustees to become the president-elect, the Florida Board of Governors rejected the selection in a 6-10 vote on Tuesday, June 3.

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Ono was questioned for three hours on his past support of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs during his time leading the University of Michigan, his views on merit-based admissions, gender-affirming care, climate change and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic  all of which have been flashpoints among Florida's ruling conservatives, the Sun reported.

Ono also was asked about an encampment of pro-Palestine protesters that remained on the Michigan campus for a month, and about his position on antisemitism.

Some BOG members bucked against the grilling session, saying that it felt unfair to interrogate somebody who hasn't had a chance to review the materials in advance.

Board Chair Brian Lamb said it would have been appropriate for Ono to receive the materials in advance, and Board of Governors member Charles H. Lydecker, who served on UF's presidential search committee, said "this is not a court of law," The Sun reported.

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UF's Presidential Search Committee will now restart the process to select a new finalist for the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors to either confirm or reject. It's unclear who UF is considering for the position now that Ono has been rejected.

Former UF President Kent Fuchs was appointed as the interim president of the university in August 2024 and will hold the position until a new president is confirmed. Fuchs was the president of UF for a little less than 10 years.

Who is Dr. Santa Ono? Where did Ono go to college?

Santa J. Ono, Ph.D.

Ono was the president of three other universities before being selected by the University of Florida: the University of Michigan, the University of British Columbia in Canada and the University of Cincinnati.

He also previously held faculty appointments at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Harvard University and University College London. Onos doctorate degree is in experimental medicine from McGill University.

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We recognize that, for most of the past year, he was not setting 'policy' in consideration of the best interests of our community but was trashing and burning our institutional values and norms as a performance for University of Florida trustees, Rebekah Modrak, a UM professor who served as Faculty Senate chair from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, told The Gainesville Sun.

On March 27, President Ono, who we now know was being considered to be the next president of the University of Florida, discontinued the DEI 2.0 plan, closed the Office of DEI at UM, and fired valuable staff who led key assessment and strategy work for DEI, among other measures that took the university more than two steps back.

List of past UF presidents

Heres a list of UFs past presidents, from 1904 through present day, from the UF Website:

Andrew Sledd, 1904-1909

Albert Murphree, 1909-1927

James Farr, interim president, 1927-1928

John J. Tigert, 1928-1947

Harold Hume, interim president, 1947-1948

J. Hillis Miller, 1948-1953

John Allen, interim president, 1953-1955

J. Wayne Reitz, 1955-1967

Stephen C. OConnell, 1967-1973

E.T. York, interim president, 1973-1974

Robert Q. Marston, 1974-1984

Marshall Criser, 1984-1989

Robert Bryan, interim president, 1989-1990

John Lombardi, 1990-1999

Charles E. Young, 1999-2003

Bernie Machen, 2004-2014

Kent Fuchs, 2015-2023 (interim 2024-25)

Ben Sasse, 2023-2024

Contributing: Alan Festo, Elliot Tritto, The Gainesville Sun

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida colleges board rejects UF president selection Santa Ono
A 25-year-old driver was arrested and charged on Monday in a deadly hit-and-run that happened last month in west Charlotte, taking the life of a missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, police said.

PAST COVERAGE: 18-year-old missionary on bicycle killed in hit-and-run, officials say

Tyzhaun Carney was driving a Polestar on May 1 when he allegedly struck Aleki Langi, 18, of Utah, on Beatties Ford Road who was riding a bicycle. Witnesses said Langi was on a sidewalk. Another missionary was hurt. Langi died from his injuries.

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Carney was arrested by the South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement Division.

Carney has warrants for involuntary manslaughter, two counts of felony hit-and-run, two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and driving with license revoked.

VIDEO: 18-year-old missionary on bicycle killed in hit-and-run, officials say
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A charge for a woman accused of fleeing the scene of a crash has been upgraded.

The Williamston Police Department announced that 49-year-old Erica Lynn Rosser is now facing a charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death after officers were notified about the passing of Bobby Joe Sims.

Sims was identified as the pedestrian who had been hit by a car, reportedly driven by Rosser, while walking along South Hamilton Street on Wednesday, May 28. The 72-year-old victim was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries on Monday, June 2.

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Rosser was located on the day of the crash and taken into custody. According to police, the suspect allegedly fled the area without providing assistance or notifying emergency services.

The police department previously charged Rosser with leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily injury. Her charge was upgraded after officers consulted with the 10th Judicial Circuit Solicitors Office.

Rosser has also been charged with driving under suspension, according to police.

The fatal crash remains an ongoing investigation by the Williamston PD.

Officers mentioned that any additional information, including potential further charges, will be released as it becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
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Canada Post's struggles with ongoing labor disruptions and protracted contract negotiations are prompting shippers to lean more on private carriers, despite added fees and coverage limitations.

The government-owned carrier reported Wednesday that delivered parcel volumes are down 65% from the same time last year as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers' overtime ban that started in May stokes concerns over reliability. But shipping demand in Canada isn't plummeting  it's just moving elsewhere.

Canada Post-reliant shippers are shifting order volume to alternatives like FedEx, UPS, Purolator and DHL when able. Using these private carriers can come at a cost, however. As delivery providers bring additional volume into their networks, some are imposing surcharges they say will help maintain service quality during the high-demand period.

For businesses shipping in Canada, executing a strategy that limits disruption is key. As eyecare products seller Eye Drop Shop said on its website, "We understand the importance of timely delivery ... and are doing everything possible to maintain a smooth experience."

Canada Post customers roll out mitigation plans

Shippers generally aren't going to one specific carrier as a Canada Post alternative, instead opting for a couple of delivery providers to pick up the slack.

DavidsTea has onboarded two new last-mile delivery providers to reduce its dependency on Canada Post since the previous strike hurt sales, CFO and COO Frank Zitella said on a May 28 earnings call. The tea seller said on its website that its carrier diversity means orders will have less exposure to Canada Post disruptions.

Menopod, which sells a cooling relief device by the same name, is prioritizing other couriers to avoid delays, per its website. The company is only using Canada Post when necessary, such as for PO box deliveries, and is asking customers to provide street addresses to limit those situations.

"While Canada Post is still operating, their ability to handle parcel volumes efficiently may be affectedand delays are likely," Menopod wrote in a shipping update.

Eye Drop Shop is using Purolator and FedEx, save for Canada Post-only coverage areas like PO boxes and some rural locations. Clionadh Cosmetics has opted for FedEx and DHL while removing all Canada Post shipping options from its website. Supplement provider Fullscript has been tapping UPS and Purolator while disabling PO box delivery options.
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  An Aberdeen man was arrested, accused of shooting a gun through his apartment.

Taqueria Gonzalez takes over former Burger Time

A Facebook post from Aberdeen Police says officers were called to an apartment building in the central part of town near the 1000 block of 7th Ave SE for report of a gunshot just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night. The caller says a bullet came through the wall into their apartment.

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Authorities say the bullet had come from a neighboring apartment. Police used a drone to find the man inside the apartment.

The 26-year-old was arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm.

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ST. LOUIS  A drug dealer pleaded guilty Tuesday to shooting at an undercover St. Louis officer while the officer was investigating drug activity.

Anthony Stallworth, 25, admitted guilt to four federal charges, including:

Possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine

Possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl

Distribution of fentanyl

Discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

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Investigators say, on Oct. 10, 2019, Stallworth sold 28 capsules containing fentanyl to an undercover officer. Five days later, the officer contacted Stallworth to arrange another purchase.

Stallworth met with the undercover officer, then had that officer follow him in his Mercedes SUV. At one point, when the officer was stopped at a stop sign, Stallworth suddenly stopped, pointed a gun out of his window and fired two shots in the direction of the officers vehicle before speeding away.

Radar-indicated: Tornado likely rolled through Chesterfield

Investigators say, in the summer of 2023, officers spotted Stallworth engaging in drug transactions in the 4700 block of Wilcox Avenue in St. Louis.

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After that, officers conducted a court-approved search of a nearby apartment and found Stallworth along with 450 grams of meth, 86 grams of fentanyl, a 10mm pistol and drug paraphernalia.

Stallworth is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9. The U.S. Department of Justice says, under mandatory minimum sentences, he will face at least 15 years in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police

Department investigated the case.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The ring leader of a drug trafficking operation out of Lane County was sentenced to 15 years in prison following what authorities say is the largest bust of meth in Oregon state history.

Martin Manzo Negrete, 51, was living in Lane County unlawfully as a Mexican national when he oversaw the operation that brought large amounts of meth from California to Oregon for distribution, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Man allegedly shared stolen intimate Snapchat photos

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In 2021, law enforcement officials executing a federal search warrant uncovered multiple spots in Lane County with illicit material, including a storage unit with 384 pounds of meth, as well as 14 guns, some stolen, and more than $76,000 in cash. Manzo Negrete and four of his associates were arrested as part of the investigation, with a fifth suspect arrested later on.

Manzo Negrete was identified as the drug trafficking cells leader after an investigation by authorities that began in 2020.

Email trail: Portland Fire Bureau contradicts itself

Earlier this year, Manzo Negrete pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth. He was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.

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The five other co-conspirators in the case have also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to federal prison.

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FRANKLIN, Mass. (WWLP)  The mother of the young girl who was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash last week has also died.

Chicopee woman charged with arson following Belcher Street fire

The Memorial Day weekend crash in Franklin killed five-year-old Krisha Patel and badly injured her mother and brother. Police say 21-year-old James Blanchard caused the crash pleaded not guilty to charges of motor vehicle homicide, drunken driving, and negligent operation.

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The death of the mother, 38-year-old Minaben Patel, was announced Tuesday, according to NBC Boston. There was no update on the condition of Patels son, Krishas brother, on Tuesday. The father, who was driving, was also hurt but was released from the hospital after treatment.

Prosecutors say the family was on their way to the sons birthday party at the time of the crash.

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Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn, who won Academy Awards for writing and starring in the 2008 Harvey Milk biopic Milk, are speaking out on orders from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to remove the name of the gay rights activist and late San Francisco Supervisor from a Navy ship.

This is yet another move to distract and to fuel the culture wars that create division, Black, 50, says in a phone call with The Hollywood Reporter. Its meant to get us to react in ways that are self-centered so that we are further distanced from our brothers and sisters in equally important civil rights fights in this country. Its divide and conquer.

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Adds Penn, 64, in an email to THR: Ive never before seen a Secretary of Defense so aggressively demote himself to the rank of Chief PETTY Officer.

News of the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, christened in San Diego in 2021, came through the leak of an internal memo on Tuesday. The Pentagons chief spokesperson later confirmed that the renaming will be announced after internal reviews are complete.

Issued by Navy secretary John Phelan, the memo stated other potential ships currently being reviewed for renaming include ones bearing the monickers of civil rights icons like Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman and Cesar Chavez.

Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the commander in chiefs priorities, our nations history and the warrior ethos, the Pentagon said in a statement.

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These guys are idiots, Black responds. Pete Hegseth does not seem like a smart man, a wise man, a knowledgeable man. He seems small and petty. I would love to introduce him to some LGBTQ folks who are warriors who have had to be warriors our entire life just to live our lives openly as who we are.

Black shot to international attention after Milk, helmed by Gus Van Sant, became a critical and commercial darling, winning two Academy Awards  one for Black and one for Sean Penn, who played the title character.

The film begins with Milks arrival in San Francisco, tracing his political ascendancy as the first out gay man to be elected to public office before being tragically assassinated, along with Mayor George Moscone, by city supervisor Dan White in 1978. White was found guilty of two counts of voluntary manslaughter and served only five years in prison before being released.

Theres a lot that Harvey did before my film fades in, Black tells THR. He worked on Wall Street. He worked on Broadway. He was a school teacher and was in the Navy right here in California. Harvey always excelled at every single thing he did, including his work in the Navy.

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Says Black, Harvey said repeatedly, This is not about ego, this is about the us-es. And when he talked about the us-es, it wasnt just gay people. It was racial minorities, ethnic minorities, people who didnt speak English, seniors who couldnt afford rent in the city that they grew up in and are finding themselves homeless at an old age. Union workers, most importantly, who couldnt afford to feed their children and needed a living wage. These were the us-es. This was the coalition.

Harvey Milk is an icon, a civil rights icon, and for good reason, Black continues. Thats not going to change. Renaming a ship isnt going to change that. If people are pissed off, good, be pissed off  but take the appropriate action. Do what Harvey Milk had said we need to do, and its about bringing back together the coalition of the us-es that helps move the pendulum of progress forward. Stop the infighting and lock arms again. Thats what Harvey would say.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Dutch opposition parties called Wednesday for fresh elections as soon as possible, a day after anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders sparked the collapse of the country's four-party coalition government.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof's 11-month-old administration fell apart when Wilders withdrew his Party for Freedom ministers. Schoof and the ministers of three remaining parties remain in power as a caretaker Cabinet.

The government, with limited powers, now has to lead the country for months before new elections and during what could  again  be protracted talks to cobble together a new coalition in the fragmented Dutch political landscape after the vote.

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Lawmakers can declare some policy areas controversial during the caretaker period. That restricts the government from taking concrete action on those issues.

What happens now?

The Dutch electoral commission will schedule a general election for all 150 seats in the Second Chamber of parliament.

It is very unlikely to happen before the fall because of a parliamentary recess that starts July 4 and runs to Sept. 1 and that will be followed by several weeks of campaigning.

What does Schoof want?

In a statement to lawmakers, Schoof said he wants to keep control, even in caretaker mode, of vital policies over the coming months.

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As far as Im concerned, its about security, both nationally and internationally, including support for Ukraine and everything thats needed for defense," he said.

He also wants to be able to act on the economy, including the global trade war unleashed since the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, "because that can have a direct effect on the Dutch economy and on our business community.

But Schoof acknowledged that some other policies will be put on ice until there is a new coalition.

The last thing we want now is postponement, but it is unavoidable in some cases, he said.

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What do opposition lawmakers want?

They want to go to the polls.

I hope we can organize elections as quickly as possible, in the shortest possible time, said Frans Timmermans, the former European Commissioner who now leads a two-party, center-left bloc.

Timmerman's bloc of the Labor Party and Green Left is challenging Wilders' party for top spot in Dutch polls. Wilders won the last elections in November 2023.

Lawmakers used Wednesday's debate to attack Wilders for failing to make good while in office on his 2023 election pledges  in what sounded like a proxy electoral debate.

You turned your back on these people, Jimmy Dijk of the Socialist Party said, suggesting that Wilders apologize to his voters.

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And it's not just the opposition that wants elections. Wilders also is looking forward to campaigning.

Let's go back to the voter, he said.

What about the NATO summit and support for Ukraine?

The government remains committed to hosting the meeting of government leaders from the NATO alliance in The Hague later this month.

Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp took to X soon after the administration's collapse to stress that the meeting will go ahead despite the political turmoil.

We remain fully committed to organising the #NATOsummit in The Hague. We look forward to welcoming all NATO Allies on 24 June, he wrote.

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He also said the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. The Netherlands has provided key arms to Kyiv, including F-16 fighter jets.

We remain committed to European cooperation and security. Dutch support for Ukraine is a key part of that, he wrote.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Dick Schoof, while asking him to remain in office in a caretaker capacity.

"After all, life goes on in the Netherlands and abroad, and decisions have to be taken that cannot be postponed," Schoof told parliament in The Hague.

The collapse of the unwieldy four-party coalition came after right-wing populist Geert Wilders withdrew his members from the Cabinet in a conflict over migration.

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Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) formed the largest group in parliament after the party emerged victorious in the November 2023 elections.

But PVV ministers and state secretaries have now withdrawn from Schoof's cabinet.

Wilders' move came in for strong criticism in parliament from the coalition parties and from the opposition.

"In my view, the fall of this government was unnecessary and irresponsible," Schoof, an independent, said. "We face large challenges nationally and internationally, and more than ever, decisiveness is required," he added.

He said he would continue to conduct government business with the remaining three parties until fresh elections, which are expected in October or November. A date is likely to be set on Thursday.

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For his part, Wilders accused his former coalition partners of blocking his migration policies.

"We want a complete halt to asylum, We want intensive border controls. We want every  truly every  asylum seeker to be turned back at the border," he said.

"And that has to happen immediately," Wilders added.

He said his party no longer wished to bear responsibility for what he described as "the demise of the Netherlands."
A catalog of arrests from the Collin County Sheriffs Department reviewed by The Dallas Express revealed that 28 aliens were booked on charges ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies in May.

Among the most serious allegations were charges related to violent offenses.

Eduwiges Rodriguez, a 42-year-old man, was booked on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, a first-degree felony. The Collin County Sheriffs Department also alleges that Rodriguez is subject to an immigration detainer, a federal request to hold individuals suspected of violating immigration laws. Another individual, Jairo Oliver Martinez-Rubio, is facing misdemeanor charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, a domestic violence charge. Similar charges were also filed against Brayan Del Rosario Castellanos and Carmen Janeth Rangel-Salazar, the latter being the only woman arrested during the period reviewed.

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The department alleges that a large number of individuals were booked with immigration detainers, which are not criminal charges but administrative requests issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An immigration detainer asks local law enforcement to hold a suspect for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release, giving ICE time to assume custody, according to the DHS website. Detainers are commonly issued for individuals ICE believes may be in the country unlawfully. However, having a detainer does not automatically mean the individual is an illegal immigrant, nor does it imply guilt in any criminal matter.

While most of the detainees were adult menmany with names suggesting Latin American originthe data revealed a few noteworthy outliers. Carmen Janeth Rangel-Salazar, a 24-year-old woman, was booked on May 15 for assault causing bodily injury to a family member, a class A misdemeanor. Her case stands out in a dataset otherwise dominated by male detainees. Another outlier is Thoan Vo, a 51-year-old man the department identifies as Asian, who was arrested on a misdemeanor theft charge. Vos booking information indicates an immigration detainer as well, though again, such detainers do not establish a persons legal status in the U.S.

The most commonly alleged offenses were:

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Related Offenses  7 instances

Theft-Related Offenses (Including Burglary and Property Theft)  7 instances

Assault (Primarily Family Violence Allegations)  3 instances

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At least 13 of the 28 individuals arrested in May faced multiple charges, the Sheriffs data revealed.

One especially unusual case involved Eder Ernesto Potisek-Castellanos, who was charged with invasive visual recording in a bathroom or dressing room, a state jail felony under Texas law. Another, Roman C. Moreno, listed no formal charges other than an immigration detainer, suggesting he may have been held solely for federal immigration purposes.

Collin County, located just north of Dallas, is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. While much of its population commutes to jobs in the Dallas metropolitan area, Collin has seen an increase in crime that mirrors trends across suburban Texas counties.

It is important to note that all individuals listed in this report have been charged, not convicted.

These allegations are based on information provided by the Collin County Sheriffs Department and represent the departments account of events as of the time of booking. Each person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Its going to be tough to miss Juneteenth in Phoenix this year with celebration after celebration from one end of the Valley to the other.

It could cause concern that Black leaders arent cooperating enough, but there seems to be a new level of coordination this year.

The past few years of Juneteenth have been all over the place, said Leandres Christopher, a co-founder of Cactus and Culture, a popular networking organization. And that might work for bigger cities, but it doesnt really work for Phoenix because were already so spread out  Its imperative for us to come together and pool our resources.

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Christopher and her partners, Terren Wortham and Ambra Jordan, are working on what should be a high-profile event in historically Black Eastlake Park, alongside BlackNet Az, BLM Metro Phoenix and Centered.

Juneteenth this year is more of a season

The Family Reunion Juneteenth Celebration started off a few years ago in the parking lot of Grassrootz Bookstore, but now its evolved into an all-day affair on June 19 at the Archwood, a 13,000 square-foot, Black-owned, indoor event space in the heart of the city.

The Family Reunion will be among about a dozen Phoenix-area celebrations of the nations newest federal holiday, which recognizes the end of slavery. (Last year, there were more than 20 Juneteenth events in Phoenix, most of which were clustered on the same day.)

This year, there isnt nearly as much overlap or competition for attendees.

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This year events range from June 10 to June 21. (Call it Juneteenth season?) And they span from Avondale to Gilbert with plenty of stops in between.

Black families should be able to find a way to celebrate without as much fear of missing out.

Phoenix is still trying to figure out the holiday

Theres a reason that things got unwieldy in the past.

Juneteenth had been celebrated in Black communities for decades, but it didnt become a national holiday until 2021.

Cities and community organizers raced to take advantage of the momentum with new events; but collectively, they overdid it.

Opinion: How would you react to a brain tumor? This man chose joy

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Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June and 19th) should be a community celebration, but that can only happen with a concentration of energy in a few strategic places.

Juneteeth is a relatively new holiday, Christopher said. What weve noticed is that as a community were still trying to figure out what that looks like and how we want to go about celebrating it.

The Family Reunion organizers wanted to bring visibility to lesser-known Black Phoenix leaders and to have some fun doing it.

What does Juneteenth celebrate? You feel like family

Some of the ideas came out of me being nostalgic about cookouts and block parties in Chicago, said Kazz Fernandes, who runs BlackNet AZ, a nonprofit aimed at connecting Black people with social services and resources. How do we get to a block party?  Just a cookout.

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He wants to help create an event where everyone is family, even when you dont know folks; people have food, and theyre like, Hey, you can get a bratwurst or hot dog or some ribs or whatever.

I dont know you, but I know you that day; and now weve made a relationship with our neighbors.

Its impossible to overstate the value of these sorts of connections, but the need for opportunities to create them is clear. Family Reunion organizers said that with weeks to go before the event, theyve already gotten more than 1,000 reservations.

I think folks are excited, Fernandes said. He continued, saying that If we have events and opportunities to come together, were all showing up. Were hungry for it.

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Yes, especially when the field of options isnt overcrowded.

Established Black leaders and newcomers seemed to have hit the right balance this year.

Juneteenth events

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Juneteenth events find their purpose in 2025 | Opinion
FAIRMONT  Like many residents in Fairmont, Mayor Anne Bolyard has a personal connection to the dolphin and turtle at Morgantown Avenue Mini Park in East Side.

"I played on that park myself, as a young person when spending summers with my grandmother," Bolyard said. "So to see that generational place in the neighborhood for families and children continue to expand, that would be a paramount takeaway from yesterday for me."

On Monday, the City of Fairmont and the Rotary Club of Fairmont celebrated groundbreaking on improvements for the mini park, for which the Rotary Club donated $25,000. As a result, the park will be known as the Rotary Club of Fairmont Mini Park. The total cost of the improvements will land around $90,000, and represent a portion of roughly $3 million which Bolyard said the City was putting into its park system this fiscal year.

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"This is the latest announcement in our plan to update and revitalize all our municipal parks," City Manager Travis Blosser said in a press release. "This $25,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Fairmont sets a new standard for relationships with our community partners, and we hope to continue this relationship and have other partners follow suit."

What the City will also follow suit on is its preservation of the park's famous dolphin and turtle. Blosser confirmed the dolphin would receive a nice spa day on Facebook, and said the kids from East Park put him on notice that nothing better happen to it or the turtle.

"She is staying!!!" Blosser promised on Facebook. Bolyard said the City is looking at doing one better.

"The City will have something to celebrate their rejuvenation and treatment," she said. "There'll be a contest and events surrounding the dolphin and the turtle. They've been there since the 80s, as long as I can remember as a younger child playing on them."

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Julie Sawyer, Fairmont Rotary Club President, said the club was able to donate because it had excess money from its Fly the Flag fundraising project in Fairmont. She said the group decided to put that money back into the community, and after tossing a few ideas around, they decided a playground would be a good idea. They reached out to the City of Fairmont to see if they could partner on anything the City was doing.

"We were thrilled, we're honored to be able to play a role in this renovation and improvement of the Morgantown Avenue Mini Park, which is now going to be called the Rotary Club of Fairmont Mini Park," Sawyer said.

The park's improvements include two new playsets, new mulch and border, new paved pathways, a replacement water fountain and the installation of a second fountain, a new pavilion and new security cameras. The improvements will allow the park to continue serving the next generation of Fairmont residents.

"The mayor grew up in that area, Travis grew up in that area," Sawyer said. "They talked about how they played in that park and it's a place where children learn and grow and families come together and neighbors can gather. I know they're putting in a pavilion so that's going to be a great gathering spot for the people of the community."
ZURICH (Reuters) -Cartier, the luxury jewellery company owned by Richemont, had its website hacked and some client data stolen, it told customers, according to an email seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The attack is the latest case of a company being targeted by cyber criminals, with several retailers including Marks & Spencer and Victoria's Secret disclosing similar incidents.

Cartier, whose watches, necklaces and bracelets have been worn by Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama, said "an unauthorised party gained temporary access to our system."

"Limited client information", such as names, e-mail addresses and countries, had been obtained, Cartier said in the email. "The affected information did not include any passwords, credit card details or other banking information," it said, noting it had since contained the issue.

The company said it had further enhanced the protection of its systems and data, as well as informed the relevant authorities, and was also working with "leading external cybersecurity experts."

Cartier did not respond to a request for comment.

Julius Cerniauskas, CEO of web intelligence firm Oxylabs, said the breach showed no brand is safe from cybercrime.

"Attackers are becoming more opportunistic and sophisticated, targeting brands that hold valuable customer data, not just credit card numbers," he said.

U.S. lingerie company Victoria's Secret on Tuesday disclosed that a security incident relating to its information technology systems had forced it to temporarily shut down its website for a few days last week.

Victoria's Secret said the breach did not impact its financial results for the first quarter or cause a material disruption to its operations, but warned that its second quarter could be hit by the additional expenses incurred following the incident.

British retailer Marks & Spencer said last month a "highly sophisticated and targeted" cyberattack in April will cost it about 300 million pounds ($405 million) in lost profits.

Fashion brand The North Face, owned by VF Corporation, has also emailed some customers, saying it discovered a "small-scale" attack in April this year.

The company told customers the hackers used "credential stuffing", trying usernames and passwords stolen from another data breach in the hope customers have reused the credentials across multiple accounts, the BBC said on Tuesday.

VF Corp did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

London department store Harrods also said last month hackers had attempted to break into its systems, following incidents at Marks & Spencer, and the Co-op Group.
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  The Texas Senate and House failed to come out of their closed-door negotiations with a compromise on House Bill 4, a bipartisan plan to eliminate STAAR testing in Texas Public schools.

Lindale FFA member among 10 selected for scholars program

The Senate and the House had a conference committee, which is ample people from House and the Senate, and they couldnt come to agreement, unfortunately, State Rep. Joanne Shofner (R), Nacogdoches, said.

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The bill died after both chambers couldnt agree on a final version before the session deadline.

Not only am I disappointed, but my granddaughter is very disappointed, Shofner said.

State Rep. Jay Dean / (R) Longview said the bill still has a chance to be brought back to life.

I believe in trust that well end up going back to special session and get it fixed, Dean said.

Representative Dean said House Bill 4 was included as part of an overall education package and hopes this isnt the end.

Im going to do my best to, you know, try to persuade him to, hey, lets get this fixed, Dean said. Lets get this straight.

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East Texas Food Bank kicks off Summer Food Program in Tyler

However, one organization in support of ending STAAR testing said the proposed changes made by the Texas Senate would actually make things worse than the status quo.

The Senate rewrote the bill near the end of the session and made it worse than we have now, Texas State Teachers Association, Clay Robison said.

The association supported the proposed changes made by the Texas House, which included switching from one test to three tests throughout the year, with a shorter grading process.

Were glad that the Senate bill died, Robison said.

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He said the Senates version gives too much power to the TEAs education commissioner, Mike Morath, allowing him to amend school grading standards without needing approval from the state legislature.

If school districts contested the change in the grading standards or contested their accountability ratings, they would have been subject to state sanctions, including takeover by the state, Robison said.

Robison said the Texas State Teachers Association will not support the bill in its current version from the Senate.

Lindale Fire Department welcomes new chief, officers

We think were better off with the bad, flawed system that we have now than we would have been with the new Senate version, Robison said.

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ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Ector County jury this week convicted an Odessa man on three counts of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child: Victim Under 14. The jury then sentenced Timothy Queen to three life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Queen was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety in October of 2023 after an assault victim came forward. Prosecutors said that between 2007 and 2016, Queen sexually assaulted three young victims; the outcry came from one of the victims years later after Queen sent an inappropriate text message. During the investigation, DPS agents learned that two other children had also been sexually assaulted.

Today, the jury held Timothy Queen accountable for the unthinkable harm he inflicted upon innocent children. We are grateful to the survivors for their strength and courage throughout this process, as well as the Ector County Sheriffs Office for their work in this case, the Ector County District Attorneys Office said of the conviction.

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Its time. Its time. Its past time.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings knows the truth of those words more than most. As the countys elected sheriff, he left his home in the pre-dawn hours of June 12, 2016 to rush to the site of downtown Orlandos Pulse nightclub. Hed stay there for nearly 24 hours, working beside his friend John Mina (who was at the time Orlandos police chief) as law enforcement frantically sought to rescue those trapped inside. Demings will likely never forget that night, nor the weeks and months that followed.

There are so many more Central Floridians who have horrific memories engraved on their souls. The survivors who huddled and hid as a gunman stalked through the club. The emergency-department staffers who worked tirelessly to save as many lives as they could. The family members who pleaded to know if their sons, daughters, spouses, friends or other loved ones were among the dead. Community leaders like Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan, the countys first openly gay elected official, who rushed to the site and tried to comfort family members fear and grief. And the millions of Central Floridians who fought to reconcile the knowledge that their home had become the site of the worst mass shooting in the nations history  up until that point. (Sadly, its been eclipsed).

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Those survivors may not need a memorial to recall the horror of those early dawn hours. But they deserve one, especially if it nurtures the lasting changes that brought Orlando-area residents together in anguish and solidarity. That compassion has centered on the LGBTQ+ community that formed the base of Pulses clientele, and the young Hispanics who came from across Central Florida for a weekly celebration of Latin music. It was an outpouring of acceptance that transcended the political, changing Orlando for good, and for the better. It lives on in many local residentss stubborn resistance to anti-immigrant crusades and attempts to marginalize sexual minorities.

The names and faces of the 49 angels who died that night should never be forgotten. Nor should the terror of another 53 who were wounded but survived. The psychological scars of those who ran for their lives, or who huddled in hiding while waiting for rescue, also deserve acknowledgement.

Most of all, the tragic lessons of this hate crime should be memorialized in the hopes that it avoids a repeat. And the resilience of local residents  their steadfast refusal to let Orlando and its surroundings be redefined by hate  should be celebrated.

Thats why Orange County residents should applaud the leadership of elected county and city leaders, who are joining forces to insist on (and pay for) a memorial on the site of the nightclub at the corner of Orange Avenue and Kaley Street. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer pushed for the city to take the lead after the collapse of the nonprofit foundation that was supposed to build the memorial.

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The wait has been infuriating, stretching the boundaries of trust and raising serious questions about what happened to millions of dollars raised toward the ostensible goal of creating a suitable tribute. Local leaders should continue to push  through any means at their disposal  for a thorough audit of OnePulse, the nonprofit that solicited money toward a memorial yet stumbled again and again.

But the plans for a $12 million memorial, developed under the guidance of Orlando city government, are heartbreakingly beautiful  a glowing tribute of brightly colored glass, flowing water and the names of those angels who now stand as guardians to this communitys resilience, hope and love. Plans unveiled before the County Commission Tuesday show a site that will offer ample opportunity for reflection  both of the tragedy that brought Central Floridians to their knees, and the inspiration leading them to stand together in solidarity and service without prejudice.

Commissioners spent nearly two hours discussing the citys request to contribute $5 million toward the cost of the memorial, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt. The biggest point of strife: Who would make the motion to proceed with the donation.

Demings took that victory by fiat, and its hard to criticize his decision. His early, strong leadership almost certainly broke down barriers among more conservative communities that might otherwise have responded to the massacre with silence  or worse.

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There are still big questions ahead, including a continued probe into the failures of the OnePulse Foundation. City and county leaders should work together to demand answers. Some community members may also criticise the decision to remove most  possibly all  of the nightclub building and its iconic sign as the memorial is constructed. Certainly, their shared financial contribution gives every Orange County resident the right to voice their opinion; for more information, visit https://www.pulseorlando.org/Memorial.

But that should not obscure the victory here, and Orange County and Orlando residents should be rightly proud of their elected leaders for insisting that plans for a memorial move forward  despite the delays and abuse of trust. Once again, this community has chosen to transcend tragedy and hatred with hope and unity. It is the right decision, and within two years this city should have a fitting memorial to the sacrifice of young people who only wanted to dance and have fun, without boundaries or prejudice.

It is time. It is past time.

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.






NEED TO KNOW

Writer Edmund White has died at age 85

The author was widely regarded as a pioneering figure of LGBTQ+ literature, and published over 30 books throughout his career

Some of White's most notable works included the semi-autobiographical novel A Boys Own Story and the nonfiction book The Joy of Gay Sex







Edmund White, the pioneering author who documented the gay experience through acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction, has died. He was 85.



The writers death on June 3 was confirmed by his husband, Michael Carroll, and agent Bill Clegg, The New York Times, The Guardian and NBC News report. White collapsed while waiting for an ambulance after experiencing stomach illness symptoms, though an official cause of death has not yet been released.



White was born on Jan. 13, 1940 in Cincinnati. His parents divorced when he was a child, and White moved around the country with his mother, Delilah, and sister, Margaret. White came out to his mother when he was a teenager, and was sent to a psychiatrist.



Louis MONIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Edmund White in 1986 Edmund White in 1986

"As a young teenager I looked desperately for things to read that might excite me or assure me I wasn't the only one, that might confirm my identity I was unhappily piecing together," the author wrote in his 1991 essay Out of the Closet, On to the Bookshelf.

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Though he was accepted to Harvard for college, White decided to attend the University of Michigan, in order to stay closer to his therapist. He majored in Chinese before he moved to New York in 1962, where he worked at Time-Life Books. White became immersed in the citys LGBTQ+ scene, and recounted seeing the Stonewall Riots.



After leaving the city to live in Rome and work as an editor for The Saturday Review in San Francisco, White returned to New York in 1973.



Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Edmund White in 2002 Edmund White in 2002

I was writing all the time and I was considered a good journalist but I had no idea if I could write a novel, White told The Paris Review in 1988. Part of my problem as a young writer was that I was too much a New Yorker, always second-guessing the market. I became so discouraged that I decided to write something that would please me alone  that became my sole criterion.

White published his debut novel, Forgetting Elena, in 1973. Over the course of his career, White wrote more than 30 books. One of his most notable works was the 1982 semi-autobiographical novel A Boys Own Story, now seen as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ literature. The novel was also the first in trilogy, later followed by The Beautiful Room is Empty (1988) and The Farewell Symphony (1997).



Whites nonfiction also included the 1977 book The Joy of Gay Sex, which he cowrote with his therapist Charles Silverstein. Inspired by Alex Comforts The Joy of Sex, Whites book served as both a manual and a narrative about life in the gay community. His other nonfiction books included States of Desire: Travels in Gay America (1980), City Boy: My Life in New York During the 1960s and '70s (2009) and The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir, published in January 2025.

Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Edmund White in 2010 Edmund White in 2010

White also authored several biographies of notable French writers, including Arthur Rimbaud, Marcel Proust and Jean Genet (Genet: A Biography was a finalist for the 1994 Pulitzer Prize). The author also documented his time living in France in the 2014 memoir Inside a Pearl: My Years in Paris.



White taught creative writing at Brown University and Princeton University. In 2019, he received the National Book Foundations Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.



Its never a day job; its always a tremendous challenge, White said of his work in a 2012 interview with the Los Angeles Review of Books. People always ask me, Do you ever start a book and then put it aside and do something different? And, unfortunately, no, I always write everything right to the bitter end."

Read the original article on People
The educational research community is looking to pick up the pieces after the Trump administration has canceled dozens of studies and ended hundreds of jobs.

In line with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), hundreds of federal contracts have been canceled with education research groups, accused by the administration of either being useless or simply too woke. Longitudinal studies on early childhood education and artificial intelligence literacy are among those that have taken significant hits.

The industry has not given up on the prospect of future collaboration with the Trump White House but fears the long-term effects the cuts could have as teachers are already struggling with learning loss and sinking test scores.

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Weve had a number of projects canceled, including some very long-standing research projects, namely the Regional Education Labs that WestEd has been part of for almost its entire history, so 59 years, said Jannelle Kubinec, CEO of WestEd, adding studies relating to reading, chronic absenteeism and math and numeracy have also been terminated.

In some cases, those are just suspended, and were asking ourselves, whats next? I think the end of these came quite abruptly. So, we didnt have a transition plan in place, Kubinec added.

The Education Departments Institute of Education Sciences, its research arm, faced $900 million in cuts under DOGEs directive, decimating employment both in the agency and among other research groups whose workers relied on federal contracts.

The Department of Education said the contracts failed to focus on student achievement and were rooted in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) directives.

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The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, which has been conducted in 1998, 2011 and began in 2023 to follow kindergarteners through third grade, was abruptly put on hold amid the contract cancelations.

I think they were actually with the field staff to go out and begin collecting information on first graders when the contract was canceled, said Rachel Dinkes, president and CEO of Knowledge Alliance. We are probably past the point of being able to collect information on the first grade cohort, which is really the first national look at a generation of young children postpandemic.

If things can get turned around, Dinkes said, they are not too late to collect information on them in third grade.

An analysis from GrantWatch of which words were found the most in the terminated grants discovered projects with Black in the description or title were most frequently eliminated, The Hechinger Report reported. Other words commonly used in the canceled contracts were climate, student, network, justice, identity, teacher and undergraduate.

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Across the board, were really talking about a complete capacity downsize. Its people, its money, its spaces, its resources. So, its definitely a lot all at once.  Outside of contract cancelations and risk, a lot of the harm is yet to come, said Jinann Bitar, higher education research and data analytics at EdTrust.

Along with interruptions in longer studies, the turbulence in the field has led to hesitation in researchers wanting to start a career in this area, as there are few safe spaces for the studies left.

This is going to be gut-stopping for current researchers, but its actually going to be almost impossible to overcome for early-career researchers if they dont have anywhere stable to be in the meantime on their research, Bitar said.

Kubinec said there are some opportunities through philanthropy for funding that her and other organizations are pursuing, but that its not like funding education research is top of mind for most foundations.

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And, as in several other areas of the federal government, the DOGE cuts are being challenged in court, though definitive relief, if it ever comes, is a long way off.

The most recent point of excitement among the community came with the Education Departments hiring of Amber Northern, senior adviser to the Education secretary, with a focus on reforming the Institute of Education Sciences.

I think well have a lot more knowledge of the direction of the department after she assumes this role, Dinkes said, noting many groups are looking forward to meeting her.

She is a very thoughtful researcher, and Im excited for her to start there and see where this story continues to go, she added.

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Updated at 12:41 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Education Secretary Linda McMahon wants the modern American canon to include alternative histories of some of the worlds most egregious tragedies.

Speaking before the House Education and Workforce Committee Wednesday, amid the White Houses efforts to dismantle her agency, McMahon claimed that the Trump administrations treatment of Harvard Universitywhich includes orders for the university to introduce conservative viewpoints into its curriculumhas been fair.

Youre saying Harvard can have its funding and its international students back if and when it teaches what the Trump administration demands, said California Representative Mark Takano, citing an April 11 letter from the Education Department, which effectively ransomed the universitys federal funding until Harvard abolished all criteria, preferences, and practices  that function as ideological litmus tests.

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Does refusing to hire a Holocaust denier as a member of Harvards history department faculty count as an ideological litmus test? asked Takano.

I believe that there should be diversity of viewpoints relative to teachings and opinions on campuses, McMahon said.

But what about this situation. Would being a Holocaust denier count as that? Takano continued.

But McMahon deflected answering the question directly, pointing instead to Harvards decision to fire the leaders of its center for Middle Eastern studies.

Takano also pressed McMahon on whether the ordinance would compel Harvard to hire faculty that reject the results of the 2020 presidential election or the efficacy of vaccines. In response, the education secretary insisted that there should be different viewpoints in Americas most elite universitieseven if those viewpoints are not based in any matter of science, fact, or proof. McMahon also scolded Takano for impressing a political ideology that she argued was a false narrative.

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Pennsylvania Representative Summer Lee also torched McMahon for using the Education Department to introduce dangerous and unfounded ideas into American history, asking the former professional wrestling promoter to explain what both sides of African American history would be.

During your confirmation hearing you were asked by Senator Chris Murphy if an African American history class violated the administrations position on diversity, equity, and inclusion. You said you would look into it, said Lee. Have you looked into it?

I do not think that African studies or Middle East studies or Chinese studies are part of DEIif they are taught as the total history package, responded McMahon. So that if youre giving the facts on both sides, of course theyre not DEI.

I dont know what both sides of African American history would be, Lee said.

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Well if African American history is part of McMahon started, before Lee interjected to argue that it would be impossible to teach the whole of history in singular semesters.

Do you not agree that it makes sense that there would be separate courses for these courses of study? Lee said, pointing out that the same teaching philosophy exists across areas of study, from literature to music. One wouldnt study baroque music and necessarily have to learn about African studies at the same time.

McMahon eventually conceded that she agreed African history could be taught as an isolated area of study without being considered a DEI course.

McMahon: I do not think that African studies or Middle East studies or Chinese studies are part of DEI if they are part of the total history package so that if you are giving the facts on both sides



Lee: I dont know what both sides of African American history would be pic.twitter.com/SaHvYGmgWI  Acyn (@Acyn) June 4, 2025

Trump signed an executive order to strip the Education Department for parts in March. The order had McMahons approval.

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The agency has historically been responsible for approving, monitoring, and distributing federal financial aid, such as Pell Grants and other aid made available to the public via the FAFSA. Its also been responsible for assessing and analyzing Americas K-12 systems, as well as aggregating data and research on American educational policies. The department also oversaw the implementation of Title IX, and ensured that the American public had equal access to a valuable education.

In the immediate wake of the order, McMahon penned the mass layoff of more than half the agencys staff.

The Education Department was already the smallest Cabinet agency, with just over 4,000 employees. Its budget cost American taxpayers $268 billion in 2024, roughly 4 percent of overall spending.
Donald Trumps education secretary has refused to say if she believes school curricula that correctly state Joe Biden won the 2020 election amount to illegal DEI.

Secretary Linda McMahon instead repeatedly told House lawmakers on Wednesday that social studies should all be taught accurately and that we should hear all sides.

During a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, of Pennsylvania, repeatedly asked McMahon whether she believes certain lesson plans constitute illegal DEI  referring to the Trump administrations threat to withhold federal funding to schools it believes are engaged in illegal DEI practices.

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In a heated back and forth, Lee pressed McMahon to say whether curriculum on the 2020 election and African-American history lessons on the Tulsa race massacre and civil rights activist Ruby Bridges are considered illegal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

McMahon said she would look into them. Asked whether she even knows who and what those people and events are, McMahon fumbled for answers.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, testifying before House committee Wednesday, would not say if students should be taught that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. (House Education Committee)

Do you know what the Tulsa race massacre is? asked Lee, referencing a white mobs bloody destruction of a bustling Black town in Oklahoma in 1921.

Id like to look into it more, McMahon said.

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How about the book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges? Lee asked.

McMahon said she hasnt read it.

Have you learned about Ruby Bridges? said Lee, referring to the first Black child to enter an all-white school in the South during desegregation efforts in 1960.

If you have specific examples, McMahon replied.

That was an incredibly specific example, Lee fired back.

The congresswoman then asked whether social studies standards that teach that Biden won the 2020 presidential election would also be considered illegal DEI.

McMahon said social studies should all be taught accurately.

Lee demanded a yes or no answer. McMahon repeated her reply.

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I think I have said we should teach accurately, she said. We should hear all sides.

Donald Trump has signed an executive order intended to dismantle the Education Department. Secretary Linda McMahon is asking members of Congress to trim billions of dollars from the departments 2026 budget (AP)

Lees questions follow newly established curriculum standards in Oklahoma, where the states controversial schools superintendent ushered through sweeping changes that introduce 2020 election conspiracy theories into school curriculums.

Students will be required to identify discrepancies in the 2020 presidential election, appearing to amplify Trumps baseless narrative that the election was fraudulent.

Students will also learn about the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps and an unforeseen record number of voters, appearing to repeat unsupported claims that bolster conspiracy theories surrounding election results.

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McMahon is appearing before members of Congress this week to present a budget for a department that the president wants to eliminate entirely.

The White House wants to reduce the departments budget by 15 percent in 2026, targeting a range of programs supporting K-12 students and higher education. Advocacy groups fear the cuts will be particularly devastating to students from lower-income families and in rural areas, and ultimately harm schools and the students they serve, according to the School Superintendents Association.
CAIRO (AP)  Egypt says the sovereignty of a famous monastery is assured.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaaty on Wednesday told his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis that the spiritual and religious value of the Saint Catherine Monastery and surrounding archaeological sites will be preserved. That's according to a statement.

The Greek Orthodox Church had been concerned after an administrative court said the state owns the land but affirmed the monks' right to use the site.

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The Patriarchate of Jerusalem last week expressed concern and said it is our sacred obligation to ensure that Christian worship continues on this holy ground, as it has done for 17 centuries. It acknowledged Egypt's assurances there would be no infringement.

Egypt's presidency last week said the ruling consolidates the state's commitment to preserve the monastery's religious status.

Gerapetritis told reporters on Monday that he and Abdelaaty agreed to work toward protecting the monastery and clarifying its legal status.

Both Egypt and Greece are committed to moving forward based on the centuries-old tradition and the established status of this iconic Monastery, which holds great significance for the Greek Orthodox faith, he said.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 31-year-old man was shot and killed after an altercation early Sunday morning, June 1, in the parking lot of a Central El Paso bar, the El Paso Police Department said.

1 person hurt in shooting in Central El Paso

El Paso Police said that at 1 a.m. on Sunday, patrol officers were conducting a bar check at the Chit Chat Bar, 4808 Dyer St., when a gunshot was heard outside the business.

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Upon investigating, officers located Damian Arce, 31, with a gunshot wound in the parking lot. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, EPPD said.

Police are now calling it a murder.

EPPD said the Crimes Against Persons Unit was called, and the initial investigation revealed that the victim was involved in an altercation with another man and, for unknown reasons, was shot.

The shooter fled the scene shortly after, and no arrests have been made, EPPD said.

3 arrested in connection with officer-involved shooting near strip club

Investigators are asking the public to contact police at the non-emergency number at (915) 832-4400, or to remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-8477 if they have any information about this shooting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Three former officers in El Salvadors military have been convicted for the killings of four Dutch journalists during the Central American countrys brutal civil war in 1982.

Former Minister of National Defence Colonel Jose Guillermo Garcia, 91, former police Colonel Francisco Moran, 93, and ex-infantry brigade commander Colonel Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, 85, were found guilty late on Tuesday by a jury in the northern city of Chalatenango, a lawyer said.

The Diario El Salvador news outlet reported that the three former officers  none of whom was present in court  were sentenced to 15 years in prison each for the killings.

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The four Dutch journalists, Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Hans ter Laag and Joop Willemsen, were killed while filming a television documentary on El Salvadors civil war, which saw an estimated 75,000 civilians killed  mostly by United States-backed government security forces  between 1980 and 1992.

The journalists had linked up with leftist rebels and planned to spend several days behind the front lines reporting on the war. But Salvadoran soldiers armed with assault rifles and machineguns ambushed them and the rebels.

We have clearly shown the level of responsibility of the accused, said Oscar Perez, a lawyer for the Foundation Comunicandonos, which represents the victims.

The entire organised power structure that intervened in the political-military decisions that led to the murder of the journalists, he said.

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A United Nations-sponsored Truth Commission in 1993 found that the journalists had walked into an ambush trap that was planned by Reyes, who still lives in the US, and with the knowledge of other officers.

The Salvadoran Supreme Court approved an extradition request for Reyes in March, but there has been no progress in his return from the US so far.

The ageing Garcia and Moran are under police surveillance in a private hospital in the capital, San Salvador.

Garcia was deported from the US in 2016, after a US judge declared him responsible for serious human rights violations during the early years of the war between the military and the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front fighters.

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The prosecution of the men was reopened in 2018 after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a general amnesty passed following the end of the civil war.

The case against the suspects moved slowly, but in March 2022, relatives of the victims and representatives of the Dutch government as well as the European Union demanded that those responsible for the journalists killing face trial.




Toyota Industries, from which Toyota Motor was spun off in 1937, produces forklifts, cars, engines, other auto parts and textile machinery. - Toru Hanai/Bloomberg News

The nearly century-old Japanese company that founded Toyota Motor in the 1930s plans to go private in a deal that values the now-forklift maker at about $34 billion, with backing from the car giants chairman, Akio Toyoda, and other group companies.

Toyota Fudosan, the groups real-estate arm, said Tuesday that it will set up an entity to start a tender offer to acquire shares of Toyota Industries and take it private.

Most Read from The Wall Street Journal

The real-estate firm is privately held by Toyota group companies. Toyoda serves as its chairman.

The company said it expects to control a 99.44% stake in the entity that will fully own Toyota Industries following a series of transactions, with Toyoda holding the remaining share.

Toyota Industries, from which Toyota Motor was spun off in 1937, produces forklifts, cars, engines, other auto parts and textile machinery. It was founded by Sakichi Toyoda, Akio Toyodas great-grandfather.

Today, Toyota Motor is the biggest shareholder in the affiliate, owning about one-quarter of the company. Meanwhile, Toyota Industries has a stake of about 9% in the Japanese automaker.

Toyota Industries, which is focusing on developing autonomous technologies for forklifts and logistics management software, plans to further advance these activities through the privatization while deepening collaboration within the group.

The move comes as some corporate management teams have opted to go private in Tokyo recently as financial regulators press them to boost shareholder returns and shareholder activism gains traction. Attempts are sometimes unsuccessful, as buyouts require large sums of money.

In late April, Toyota Industries said it would oppose proposals by French investment fund Longchamp, represented by Dalton Investments, at its general shareholders meeting next week.

Longchamp is proposing that outside directors make up most of the board to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest between its large and minority shareholders, according to filings by the Japanese company.

The real-estate company, Toyota Fudosan, said Tuesday that it will offer to buy shares of Toyota Industries for 16,300 yen each. It aims to begin the tender offer in early December.
A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to give the hundreds of men deported to El Salvador in March under the Alien Enemies Act the right to challenge their detentions as unlawful.

In a 69-page order issued Wednesday, Judge James Boasberg gave the Trump administration until June 11 to come up with a plan to allow the men currently detained at El Salvador's notorious CECOT mega-prison to practice their due process rights.

"In short, the Government must facilitate the Class's ability to seek habeas relief to contest their removal under the Act. Exactly what such facilitation must entail will be determined in future proceedings," Boasberg wrote.

Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia via Reuters - PHOTO: Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center prison, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, obtained Mar. 16, 2025.

MORE: Judge hears arguments over fate of CECOT detainees

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"Although the Court is mindful that such a remedy may implicate sensitive diplomatic or national-security concerns within the exclusive province of the Executive Branch, it also has a constitutional duty to provide a remedy that will 'make good the wrong done,'" he wrote.

In what could portend the next chapter in a legal battle that has ensnared the Trump administration for nearly three months, Judge Boasberg reached the conclusion that the men -- regardless of their alleged criminal status -- deserve the right to challenge the government's claim.

"Defendants plainly deprived these individuals of their right to seek habeas relief before their summary removal from the United States -- a right that need not itself be vindicated through a habeas petition. Perhaps the President lawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act. Perhaps, moreover, Defendants are correct that Plaintiffs are gang members," Boasberg wrote.

"But -- and this is the critical point -- there is simply no way to know for sure, as the CECOT Plaintiffs never had any opportunity to challenge the Government's say-so," he wrote.

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In a statement Wednesday evening, the White House said the judge lacked the authority to issue his ruling.

"Judge Boasberg has no authority to intervene with immigration or national security  authority that rests squarely with President Trump and the Executive Branch," White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said in a statement. "His current and previous attempts to prevent President Trump from deporting criminal illegal aliens poses a direct threat to the safety of the American people. Fortunately for the American people, Judge Boasberg does not have the last word."

The Trump administration touched off a legal battle in March when it invoked the Alien Enemies Act -- an 18th century wartime authority used to remove noncitizens with little-to-no due process -- to deport two planeloads of alleged migrant gang members to El Salvador by arguing that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is a "hybrid criminal state" that is invading the United States.

An official with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged that "many" of the men deported on March 15 lack criminal records in the United States -- but said that "the lack of specific information about each individual actually highlights the risk they pose" and "demonstrates that they are terrorists with regard to whom we lack a complete profile."
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  A judge in El Salvador ordered a lawyer from a prominent human rights organization who has been an outspoken critic of some of President Nayib Bukeles policies to be jailed Wednesday for six months on illegal enrichment charges.

Earlier, Ruth Leonora Lopez had demanded a public trial as police brought her before the judge. Wednesdays hearing was closed to the public as the case is under seal.

Observers say the case against Lopez is retaliation for her work while authorities allege she aided one of her former employers being prosecuted for embezzlement. Authorities arrested Lopez at her home on May 18.

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The anticorruption lawyer, who works for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, has denied the accusations.

Leaving the court after her hearing, Lopez shouted I am a political prisoner, the accusations are for my legal work, for my reporting this administrations corruption. There are not institutions that guarantee Salvadorans rights. I am innocent.

As she was escorted by police to her hearing Wednesday, a shackled Lopez with a Bible between her hands, shouted: They're not going to silence me, I want a public trial, according to a brief video posted by Cristosal on X. The people have to know.

Earlier, defense attorney Pedro Cruz, surrounded by reporters in the courthouse, said he disagreed with the decision to seal the case. He said prosecutors had done so because they fear they made an unfounded accusation.

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Later he said that her defense team had solid arguments and evidence and hoped for a fair trial.

She had not made her initial appearance before a judge until Monday, more than two weeks after her arrest.

At that hearing, prosecutors announced the illegal enrichment, different from the original embezzlement, and requested that she be held while they continue to investigate.

Cristosal has been an critic of some of Bukeles policies, including the state of emergency giving him special powers that has now been in place for more than three years.

The measure restricts the right to gather, to be informed of rights and to have access to a lawyer. It extends to 15 days the time that someone can be held without charges. Some 86,000 people have been arrested under the state of emergency.

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Lopez is the head of Cristosals Anti-Corruption Unit, which has produced reports and filed legal actions related to government corruption.

Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, said via X that she was closely following Lopezs hearing. The state must guarantee her right to due process. She must be freed.

Lopezs alleged wrongdoing dates to her time as an adviser to Eugenio Chicas, the former president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal during the administration of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren (2014-2019).

Ruth has dedicated her life to the defense of human rights and the fight against corruption, Cristosal said in a statement last week. Hers is not an isolated case: it is part of a pattern of criminalization against critical voices.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Tuesday, June 3, marks the 10th day that residents of the Palace on Main Apartments have gone without a functioning elevator, and for many, this is more than just an inconveniencebut a matter of life and death.

The seven-story building on West Main Street in Clarksburg holds 40 units, and the majority of the residents are elderly and handicapped.

Many have expressed their frustration and distress on social media, though a lot of others fear that speaking out will cost them their home.

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Judy Swiger is a resident of Palace on Main Apartments, who is also currently on hospice and uses an electric scooter to get around. Because of the elevators malfunction, Judy missed a doctors appointment on Monday.

Harrison County community pushes for restoration of Sunset Ellis Drive-In

With my cancer, I dont feel like doing much. I have a scooter, if I could get outside and get some fresh air, itd be wonderful, Swiger said in an interview with 12 News. The hospice nurses are coming four times a week, and they also have to climb these steps. You know, they work hard, and it breaks my heart that they have to climb the steps so much.

After speaking with the property owner, Steve Sadd, the elevators issue appears to be that its driver, which controls the elevators functionality, was burned out due to a power surge.

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The elevator itself is less than 10 years old, though Sadd claims that the elevator has never fallen out of its certification, and currently, the driver is being refurbished in California.

I do not have an update for you as to when the part will be shipped, Sadd told 12 News. Were on top of them twice a day, communicating with them if it hit the ground in the morning here in Clarksburg, it would be installed that day. I know it will be, because this is a super high-priority situation.

WATCH: Disabled woman cooped up for 42 days in a Virginia hotel room freed

Sadd stated that though he preferred to purchase a new driver for the elevator, it would take at least two months to receive, whereas fixing the current driver was faster.

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Though there still is no estimated date as to when the elevator will be fixed, Sadd hopes it will be before the end of this week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
HOWARD COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An 85-year-old man was killed and a woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in Howard County.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash happened around 3 p.m. on June 3 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 87 and Brian Road. 85-year-old William F. Smith of Big Spring was driving a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta southbound on US 87 when he began slowing to make a left turn onto Brian Road.

Preliminary findings indicate Smith failed to yield the right of way at the open intersection and was struck by a northbound 2012 Buick Regal.

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Smith, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Buick Regal, 38-year-old Chelsey M. Yarbar, also of Big Spring, was taken to Scenic Mountain Medical Center with what officials described as minor injuries. She was also wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by Trooper Rains with the Texas Highway Patrol in Big Spring. No further details have been released 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 Yourbasin.
Amid already high, and rising, electricity prices, President Donald Trumps broad domestic policy bill, which is up for debate in the Senate, could make the situation even worse.

If the legislation passes as it currently stands, it would remove federal tax credits from the Biden presidency for sources of electricity such as solar, wind, batteries and geothermal power, The New York Times noted.

Several studies from this year reveal that the energy bill of the average family could rise as much as $400 annually.

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For the first time in decades, demand for electricity is on the rise, in part because of the construction of data centers required for artificial intelligence. And power companies are having difficulties keeping up with the rising needs.

The removal of tax breaks for wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries would make such sources of power more expensive, and their availability would decrease. As a result, the demand for power from natural gas would rise. This could lead to a rise in gas prices, which at the moment is responsible for 43 percent of U.S. electricity.

The Trump administration has also taken action to sell more gas abroad, which could lead to further price rises. Additionally, Trumps levies on steel, aluminum, and other construction materials would increase the cost of transmission lines and other kinds of electrical equipment.

The Clean Energy Buyers Association, which represents companies that have committed to buying renewable energy, commissioned a study that found that the repeal of clean energy credits would lead to a 13 percent increase in electricity in states such as New Jersey, North Carolina, Arizona, and Kansas. It could also lead to the loss of thousands of jobs by 2032.

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Trump administration and gas industry officials push back on such claims, arguing that the presidents measures to make it cheaper to drill and build pipelines will lead to a decrease in electricity prices. They also argue that wind and solar have received subsidies for decades and that their continuing expansion could make the electric grid less dependable.

A spokesperson for the Department of Energy told The Times that the presidents agenda is to lower the cost of oil production in the United States, lower the cost of natural gas production in the United States  that ultimately will lead to lower average prices and at the same time profitability for businesses.

Prices are going to move up and down in the short term, he added, however, noting that the administration would be focusing on policies that will deliver long-lasting prosperity.

Four Republican Senators wrote in a letter in April that, because of the rising demand for energy, it is imperative that any modifications to the tax code avoid worsening the economic pressures that American households and businesses already face.

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For energy credits that provide a direct passthrough benefit to ratepayers, repeals would translate into immediate utility bill increases, placing additional strain on hardworking Americans, they added.

Residential electricity prices have increased by 13 percent on average since 2022 in the U.S. (Getty Images)

The Energy Information Administration found that since 2022, U.S. residential electricity prices have increased by 13 percent on average.

In Ohio, prices are on the rise as data centers are being built in the state. Meanwhile, in California, wildfires are a source of rising costs.

One of the major reasons behind rising prices is the unstable nature of natural gas prices, which rose sharply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. After falling to record lows in 2024, gas prices are set to almost double this year and rise even more next year. This comes as demand is on the rise domestically, even as the U.S. is selling more gas overseas.

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Since 2022, the cost of building gas power plants has almost tripled. Gas companies are now in the midst of wait times of up to half a decade for new gas turbines. Meanwhile, drilling for natural gas has grown more expensive amid rising equipment costs due to tariffs.

As of 2020, 34 million households stated that they struggled to pay their energy bills and kept their homes at unsafe temperatures because of worries about costs.

This comes as the Trump administration has vowed to end the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps 6.2 million people pay for high energy bills.

The executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, Mark Wolfe, told The Times that Weve got millions of families that are already struggling to pay their bills.

Now you bring in extreme temperatures, record heat, and its a very bad situation, he added.
A report from Sen. Warren says Elon Musk abused his role as a "special government employee."

The report flagged over 100 instances that suggest Musk used his role to benefit himself or his businesses.

"In many cases, Musk has violated norms at an astonishing pace," the report reads.

US Sen. Elizabeth Warren is criticizing Elon Musk's work in the White House this year as a vast enrichment campaign for the world's richest person.

Warren's office released a report on Tuesday which said the billionaire CEO used his role as a "special government employee" to benefit himself and his businesses.

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The report outlined 130 instances, which Warren said suggest that Musk and his businesses gained from his role in the Department of Government Efficiency.

The report says that some of the actions explicitly violated rules that prevent federal employees from participating in matters where they have a financial interest, the report said, though some of Musk's actions have simply broken norms for government employees.

"In many cases, Musk has violated norms at an astonishing pace, contributing to the Trump Administration actions that have benefitted his private interests while hurting the American public - scandalous behavior regardless of whether it subjects him to criminal prosecution," the report, which was published by Warren's office, said.

DOGE has said that its mission is to make the government more efficient and transparent, with the goal of saving taxpayers' money by eliminating wasteful spending. It estimates to have saved the government $180 billion so far.

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Here are some of the ways Musk benefited from his work with DOGE, according to the report from Warren's office:

Government contracts. Some of Musk's businesses obtained "new lucrative contracts" with federal agencies after President Donald Trump re-entered the White House. In some cases, Musk's companies are reportedly being considered for deals, or informal arrangements that would benefit Musk's firms over competitors. Some of Musk's family members, like his brother, Kimbal Musk, have also struck deals for their respective businesses after Musk assumed his role in DOGE. Ending regulatory actions. Before Trump entered the White House, Musk's companies faced over $2.3 billion in potential liabilities from pending regulatory actions. But many of those actions have since "stalled or been dismissed," the report said, pointing to several closed investigations and dropped suits against Musk's companies this year. DOGE has also issued steep budget cuts at some agencies that oversee Musk's businesses, like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Policy changes. Some agencies also issued policy changes in recent months that appeared to benefit Musk's firms. The report outlined recent decisions from agencies like the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Securities and Exchange Commission that helped several projects across Musk's companies. Special access to information. Musk had access to government meetings, classified info, and other data that could have potentially benefitted his companies, the report said. Influence over government workers. Musk has selected key personnel and placed them in agencies that could benefit his companies. During his time in DOGE, several SpaceX workers, investors, and other representatives for the company were nominated for roles in the government.

Musk has not filed his financial disclosure form detailing potential conflicts of interest for government employees.

"Elon Musk has done more to improve the lives of Americans and strengthen this country in just over 100 days than Sen. Warren has achieved in her over 10-year career. The Senator excels at producing toothless reports that waste paper and will be read by no one, even if paid to. The President's success through DOGE is undisputed, and his work will continue to yield historic results," Harrison Fields, a spokesperson for the White House, told Business Insider in a statement.

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SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI, which were among Musk's companies mentioned in the report, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

Warren has criticized Musk's conduct in the past, raising concerns in recent years about potential conflicts of interest as the CEO expanded his business empire. Last year she asked Trump to create conflict-of-interest rules for Musk, and said in a letter that Musk working in the White House without any rules was an "invitation for corruption on a scale not seen in our lifetimes."

Meanwhile, Musk has been critical of the GOP budget bill in recent days. He's described Trump's "big, beautiful bill" as an abomination. He said the bill would add to the deficit and undermine the work DOGE has done.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  Former White House advisor Elon Musk escalated his attacks on the big Republican bill cutting taxes and Medicaid, urging Americans to call their lawmakers to kill the bill.

Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL, Musk wrote on his social media platform Wednesday.

The legislation is supposed to encompass the entirety of President Donald Trumps domestic policy agenda for his second term, so Musks aggressive opposition, just one week after leaving his job as a senior adviser to the president, is striking.

HuffPost is here to uncover the real impact of Trumps administration on the economy and everyday lives. Support journalism that holds power accountable. Join our membership program today.

A senior White House official told The Wall Street Journal Trump is losing patience with Musk and confused as to why the Tesla CEO is savaging his biggest legislative priority.

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The billionaire entrepreneur ramped up his attacks on the legislation starting Tuesday, saying Republicans should be ashamed to vote for it. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he was blindsided by Musks change of tone after theyd had a cordial conversation on Monday.

I called Elon last night and he didnt answer, but I hope to talk to him today, Johnson said, adding that hes spoken to the president about the situation.

Hes not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that, Johnson said. But look, I dont know what happened in 24 hours. Everybody can draw their own conclusions about that.

Musk responded to Johnson with more posts on X on Wednesday, saying there should be a new bill before more directly saying the current bill should be killed.

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The legislation combines more than $4 trillion in tax cuts and new spending with less than $2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other social programs, for a net deficit of $2.4 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The deficits would be even wider counting interest expenses, and the likelihood a future Congress would extend several tax cuts is currently written as temporary in the bill.

A new spending bill should be drafted that doesnt massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS, Musk posted on Wednesday.

Several House Republicans who voted for the legislation told HuffPost they didnt think Musks opposition would sway them when it comes time for a final vote after the Senate makes changes. But Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who voted against the bill because of deficit concerns, said Musk has already altered the dynamics on Capitol Hill since the speaker is doing damage control addressing Musks remarks.

I mean, the public trusts a man who can land rockets backwards and get their cars to drive themselves way more than they trust these  these people up here, Massie told HuffPost.

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The House passed the bill last month, and the Senate is expected to pass its version this month. Its not clear how the breakup between Musk and Republican leaders will affect the bills prospects, but there does appear to be a messy breakup going on.

I have all the respect in the world for Elon, all the respect world for him, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told HuffPost. I also love my wife, and every now and then my wife and I disagree, and so sometimes people just have disagreements.

Igor Bobic contributed reporting.
Elon Musk is continuing his attacks on President Donald Trump's signature bill on Wednesday with a barrage of posts on X slamming the megabill, saying in one that no one "should be able to stomach it," while another instructed his more than 200 million followers to call members of Congress to "KILL the BILL."

Musk, who until recently had largely scaled back posting about politics, on Wednesday alone has already posted or helped amplify posts on X criticizing the bill more than 25 times.

"Mammoth spending bills are bankrupting America! ENOUGH," Musk wrote in one post.

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MORE: Elon Musk attacks Trump's funding bill: 'Disgusting abomination'

PHOTO: Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, May 30, 2025. (Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images)

In another, Musk was more forceful, writing, "Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL."

When asked by ABC News' Mary Bruce if he is worried senators will listen to Musk, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Senate Republicans "understand kind of the whole, you know, CBO scoring model game here in Washington."

"At the end of the day, most of our members want to pass a bill that they believe is going to be stimulative," he said. "[The bill is] going to create growth for the economy, create better-paying jobs and therefore generate more government revenue."

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Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday morning that Musk was "flat wrong" about his criticisms on the spending bill and its effect on the deficit -- adding that he tried to call the tech billionaire Tuesday night, but Musk didn't answer.

In a video post on X of Johnson making the comment, Musk responded: "We need a new bill that doesn't grow the deficit."

Musk then replied to another video of Johnson, writing: "No one who actually reads the bill should be able to stomach it"

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference after a House Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 4, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Johnson responded to Musk's demand for a new bill, saying "we don't have time for a brand-new bill."

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"And I want Elon and all my friends to recognize the complexity of what we've accomplished here, this extraordinary piece of legislation, record number of savings, the record tax cuts for the American people, and all the other benefits in it," Johnson said during a gaggle with reporters outside his office Wednesday.

The most recent posts come one day after Musk took to X to lambaste the funding bill to advance Trump's legislative agenda, calling it a "disgusting abomination."

MORE: Trump to shore up support among Senate GOP at White House meeting

Musk's grievances with the Trump administration extend beyond the level of spending in the president's signature bill, sources tell ABC News.

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Multiple people who have spoken to the president and Musk described a widening rift on a range of recent moves by the administration.

Musk has privately expressed frustration about a portion of the spending bill that would cut the electric vehicle tax credit, multiple people who have spoken with the billionaire said.

After the November election, Musk called for ending the tax credit, but more recently, his company, Tesla, has become a vocal opponent of removing the provision.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, May 30, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP)

"Abruptly ending the energy tax credits would threaten America's energy independence and the reliability of our grid," the company posted on social media.

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Musk had also grown increasingly frustrated with the Trump administration striking artificial intelligence deals with his competitor OpenAI, sources tell ABC News.

MORE: Trump ramps up criticism of GOP Sen. Rand Paul amid push to pass his funding bill

Behind the scenes, Musk raised objections about a deal that did not include his AI start-up company, but it ultimately moved forward, sources said.

Another source of tension: the withdrawal of Musk ally Jared Isaacman's nomination as NASA administrator over the weekend, according to sources who stated that Musk was deeply disappointed by the move.

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There have also been deep disagreements on trade policy. In April, Musk called trade advisor Peter Navarro a "moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" in a series of posts on X.

The White House declined to comment. A representative for Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

Some of these details were first reported by Axios.

ABC News' Lauren Peller and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.

'KILL the BILL': Elon Musk continues to blast Trump's bill in barrage of social media posts originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Donald Trumps divisive big, beautiful bill was already facing an uphill battle to pass the Senate and is now being opposed by a powerful new alliance: Elon Musk and Sen. Rand Paul.

Musk, who donated at least $288m to Trumps campaign in 2024, left his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Friday and wasted little time in launching an astonishing broadside against the president over the bill on Tuesday.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, the worlds richest man posted on X. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

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Among those agreeing with Musk is the Kentucky Senator, who responded on social media: I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending, and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better.

Paul subsequently responded to another post by Musk, declaring, Congress is trying to make America bankrupt, by commenting, Some of us are trying to stop that.

Elon Musk (AP)

In return, Musk reposted two of Pauls tweets, the first recirculating an article from Reason headlined, Its Rand Paul and Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump over the Big Beautiful Bill.

The second featured a clip of the senator speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and insisting: Fiscal responsibility isnt a campaign slogan. Its a duty which I take very seriously.

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The Independent has reached out to Paul for further comment on his newfound alliance with Musk.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (Getty)

Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had been asked about the billionaires attack on the spending bill and answered: The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill; it doesnt change the presidents opinion. This is one big beautiful bill and hes sticking to it.

Trump himself took on Paul, issuing two stinging posts on Truth Social that personally attacked the senator.

Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting NO on everything, he thinks its good politics, but its not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!! the president wrote in the first.

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Swiftly following up with a sequel five minutes later, he added: Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky cant stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!

The Republican Party has only 53 votes in the Senate, which is not enough to overcome a Democratic filibuster, so plan to use a process known as budget reconciliation to pass the bill, which allows for the passage of legislation on only 51 votes if it is tied to the budget.

The bill is expected to add at least $3.8 trillion to Americas national debt over the next 10 years, with some estimates placing the total closer to $5 trillion.

Having only slipped through the House of Representatives by the narrowest of margins on May 22, it now faces a treacherous path through the upper chamber, with Republican fiscal hawks, MAGA populists, and moderates alike raising objections to different aspects of its tax and spending provisions.
Customers wait in line during the grand opening of Dave's Hot Chicken Friday, April 25, 2025, in Grand Chute, Wisconsin.

Just eight years after starting in a Los Angeles parking lot, Dave's Hot Chicken has been acquired by private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal worth approximately $1 billion to enter its "next phase of growth and innovation."

A spokesperson for Dave's Hot Chicken confirmed the acquisition to USA TODAY via email on Wednesday, June 4.

Started by three childhood friends in a parking lot in Los Angeles in 2017, the chain primarily offers chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches and expects to end the year with over 400 locations worldwide. According to the company, it has sold the rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations in the U.S., Middle East and Canada and will open 155-plus locations this year.

This is one of the great entrepreneurial journeys of our time, and now we begin the next chapter in the story, said Bill Phelps, Daves Hot Chickens CEO, in a news release. Our entire organization is excited about the fit between Daves Hot Chicken and Roark, and were looking forward to continuing to blow our guests minds and unlocking growth and value for our franchise partners.

According to reporting from CNBC, Phelps, who previously led Wetzels Pretzels for 25 years, joined Daves in 2019, less than two years after its founding. Phelps told the business news outlet Dave's could reach up to 4,000 locations worldwide over the next 10 years.

Dave's leadership team will remain in their roles, according to the news release, continuing to drive the companys "menu innovation, food quality, in-store experience, operations, marketing, branding, digital and more."

More news: Dollar Tree expects to take profit hit from tariffs, shares drop on outlook

What is Roark and which companies do they own?

According to the acquisition announcement, Roark is an Atlanta-based private equity firm with $40 billion in equity under management.

The company has several well-known brands in the restaurant and food industries in its portfolio, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and Sonic, among more.

The company acquired sandwich giant Subway in 2023 for nearly $10 billion in what was one of the biggest fast food acquisitions ever.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Subway owner acquires Dave's Hot Chicken: Here's what to know
Elon Musk has slammed President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" as a "disgusting abomination," going further to condemn lawmakers who supported it.

Musk and Trump are rumored to be at loggerheads, with reports suggesting the tech billionaire still owes the president $100 million out of the $300 million he committed to get him elected.

Elon Musk's latest online outburst comes after he sparked concerns when he attended his send-off at the White House sporting a black eye.

Elon Musk Slams Trump's Bill As 'Disgusting Abomination'

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Musk has unleashed a scathing criticism of President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" days after exiting the administration.

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The Tesla boss slammed the bill as a "disgusting abomination," going on to blast lawmakers who supported it.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk wrote on X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination."

"Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it," he wrote, adding that the bill "will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt."

In a third post, he decried how "Congress is making America bankrupt."

Musk had previously assumed the role of DOGE boss, a department tasked with reducing government spending and downsizing the federal workforce in order to make the government smaller and more efficient.

MAGA Supporters Are Shocked By Elon Musk's Blistering Comments

POOL/EPA / MEGA

Musk's recent remarks came as a shock to many, with several on X voicing surprise at his vocal criticism of Trump's bill.

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One person wrote, "You could also talk privately with President Donald Trump about this. You have no respect. It's not your work, you are not a [politician]. Leave Donald Trump alone!"

"The people voted for the Trump tax cuts. Anyone opposed to those tax cuts is against the will of the people," another person commented, calling out Musk.

Amid the shock, others slammed Musk for backing Trump while working with DOGE.

An X user noted, "Its kinda funny to see you throw shade at Trumps spending now, especially since you were one of his biggest supporters and helped him win. You act shocked, but you backed the whole thing before. Cant be surprised when you helped put the guy in power whos running up the debt."

The Tesla Owner Previously Said He Was 'Disappointed' With The Bill

Aaron Schwartz - CNP / MEGA

During a recent interview on "CBS Sunday Morning," Musk alluded to his disappointment with the bill, stating that it "undermines" everything he has worked to achieve with DOGE.

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"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," Musk said, per CBS News.

The bill would extend Trump's signature 2017 tax cuts, boost border security spending, impose work requirements on Medicaid, and roll back clean energy tax credits. However, according to the Congressional Budget Office, it would increase the deficit by $3.8 trillion by 2034.

"I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful," Musk continued, "but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion."

Elon Musk And Donald Trump's Relationship Is On Shaky Ground

Aaron Schwartz / CNP / MEGA

Musk's stance seemingly puts him at odds with Trump amid reports that he still owes the billionaire politician $100 million out of the $300 million he committed to help him get reelected.

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According to The Wall Street Journal, the SpaceX boss has paused the continuous inflow of the cheques as their relationship seems to be on rocky ground.

Musk was not pleased after learning of a meeting between Trump and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who happens to be one of his most outspoken critics. The meeting was reportedly pushed back to appease the South African-born billionaire.

Over time, Musk has maintained that some of Trump's officials undermined his role at DOGE, and his efforts to reduce government spending have never been taken seriously.

He has frequently clashed with key Trump appointees and was reportedly furious about the president's plans to roll out extreme tariffs, which have caused endless chaos for the global economy.

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Trump has maintained that his relationship with Musk is as healthy as ever.

"Elon is not really leaving," he said during Musk's send-off party last week. "He's going to be back and forth."

White House Defends The Bill

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Amid Musk's scathing remarks, the White House has thrown its weight behind the bill.

The "Big, Beautiful Bill" was passed in late May ahead of Memorial Day, but was met with disapproval from two Republicans, citing insufficient spending cuts and rising national debt, per Fox News.

"Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Tuesday afternoon briefing when asked about Musk's criticism, per Fox News.

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"It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it," she said.

In May, when Trump was asked about Musk's criticism of the bill on CBS, he responded, "Well, our reaction's a lot of things," before pivoting to talk about the votes needed to pass the bill.

"Number one, we have to get a lot of votes, we can't be cutting  we need to get a lot of support, and we have a lot of support," he said. "We had to get it through the House, the House was, we had no Democrats. You know, if it was up to the Democrats, they'll take the 65% increase."
The worlds wealthiest man is using Quentin Tarantinos bloody classic Kill Bill in a call to action against former Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill spending and tax cut package that is now being considered by the U.S. Senate.

Elon Musk on Wednesday sent out a missive to the 220 million people who follow him on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) urging them to contact their members of Congress and voice their displeasure at the legislation, which the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects would add trillions of dollars to the national debt.

Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL, Musk posted.

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A short time later, he put up an image of the iconic poster for the 2003 film, starring Uma Thurman as samurai-trained killer The Bride, to underscore the point.

Musk, who wrapped up his time as a special government employee last week, has emerged as a vocal opponent of the signature legislation of the administration in which he enthusiastically served from President Donald Trumps first day in office until the end of May, when his status as an unpaid special government employee lapsed.

Elon Musk is using Uma Thurmans bloody assassin classic Kill Bill to foment rebellion against Trumps budget. (Getty Images)

On Tuesday, he called the massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill a disgusting abomination and said those whod voted for it had did wrong.

It was a dramatic break from Trump, on whose campaign Musk had spent more than a quarter-billion dollars during last years presidential election cycle.

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With control of X, one of the worlds most widely-used social media platforms, and his essentially unlimited funds, Musk could be a formidable opponent to any officeholder who does not heed his advice on the legislation, which passed the House last month and must be passed by the Senate before it can be signed into law by Trump.

Musk threatened as much on Tuesday, writing: In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.

(X/Elon Musk)

This image is taken from the poster for the 2003 film "Kill Bill: Volume 1" (Miramax)

He also appears to be on the outs with top Republicans in Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that Musk had declined to answer phone calls and texts from the Louisiana Republican.

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I called Elon last night and he didn't answer, but I hope to talk to him today, replied Johnson. It's very friendly ... and we've laughed about our differences on policy before.

Johnson claimed that hes not upset about the situation, adding that Musk has acknowledged to me before that this is so serious that we can't fool around with it.
ELWOOD  The Elwood City Council has approved potential funding for two infrastructure projects.

The council Monday approved an ordinance to borrow up to $9.4 million for a major sewage system upgrade.

Elwood Mayor Todd Jones said the project is the third phase of an agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Attorney Jeff Graham previously said the city will begin seeking the purchase of the bonds from financial institutions.

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Graham said A $9.4 million bond is the maximum amount. Bids for the work are expected to be in the $6 million range.

Elwood is working with Tipton County to upgrade the sewer system.

The work includes a new lift station, two standby generators, new influent screen and internal plumbing, electrical and instrumentation controls, demolition of existing unused structures, building improvements to house treatment components, and piping to connect the treatment to the components.

The council also approved a resolution to seek a $750,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to upgrade the water lines on P Street on the north and south sides of Ind. 13.

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The city will provide $1,650,000 in matching funds and $100,000 from the water operating funds and $1,550,000 from the states revolving loan fund.

Jones said city workers have been called to the location several times for water leaks in the area.

Were going to replace the water lines, he said. Some residents are seeing four or five water line breaks in the same month.

The work will also include an increase in the water lines from three inches to six inches.

Were improving aging infrastructure, Jones said.
WASKOM, Texas (KETK)  The Elysian Fields ISD has announced their new interim superintendent following the resignation of previous superintendent, Monica Simmons.

Amy Dickson, who has over 30 years of experience working in public education, has been named to the position. Dickson had previously served as the superintendent of Karnack ISD for seven years until she retired in 2023.

Silver Alert issued for missing Gilmer 73-year-old man

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Dickson does have strong ties to Elysian Fields as both her mother and father have previously served as superintendents of the district.

Im honored and excited about the opportunity to serve as Interim Superintendent at Elysian Fields ISD. This role holds deep personal significance, as both my mother and father previously served as Superintendents here. In many ways, it feels like a piece of my lifes puzzle is now complete. I look forward to partnering with the community, staff, students, and board throughout the summer and fall. Amy Dickson, interim superintendent

President of the Elysian Fields Board of Trustees, Julie Simmons, spoke about the decision and why Dickson would be the perfect person to lead the district in this time of transition.

After thorough interviews and great consideration related to the needs of Elysian Fields Independent School District, the Board made the decision to hire Mrs. Amy Dickson as our Interim Superintendent, Simmons said She has a wealth of education knowledge and experience, and we look forward to working with her during this period of transition to the next Superintendent of EFISD.

Dickson will begin her tenure on Monday June 9.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
David Roldan-Dimas spent the first day of summer break at Coastal Carolina University working a 13-hour shift at his job. It was June 19, 2023, a Monday, and after work he met his girlfriend and her brother at the Planet Fitness in Carolina Forest.

Minutes later, as he drove away from the gym in his black Camaro, the 20-year-old student was gunned down in the Planet Fitness parking lot, where he died.

The man accused of killing Roldan-Dimas, Abdullah Seifullah, is on trial nearly two years after the students death. Seifullah, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, is charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and criminal conspiracy.

The prosecution and defense gave opening arguments in the the 45-year-old mans trial. The state also called five witnesses.

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Branden Huertas, 43, also of Bridgeport, was scheduled to stand trial Tuesday for his role in Roldan-Dimas killing but pleaded guilty to accessory to murder last week, court officials said. Huertas sentencing will be set at the end of Seifullahs trial.

Horry County Police found the body of Roldan-Dimas with multiple gunshot wounds that evening, according to a police report.

Roldan-Dimas, of York, was inside a black Chevrolet Camaro that had crashed into a Nissan SUV in a Planet Fitness parking lot, 1049 Glenforest Road, in the Myrtle Beach area.

Roldan-Dimas was studying business administration at CCU and was taking summer classes so he could graduate earlier, The Sun News reported.

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David. Remember that name, Assistant Solicitor George Henry Martin said to the jury. He was in the prime of his life, and unlike many of his peers, woke up at the crack of dawn to work when he wasnt studying at Coastal Carolina University.

Martin continued his opening statement, preparing the jury for the testimonies they were about to hear.

June 19, 2023 was the day his life ended, Martin said. The day his life ended and changed his familys life, the lives of people all around him. And theres only one way to serve justice, and that is to find Abdullah Seifullah guilty.

County Council Chairperson Johnny Gardner is representing Seifullah in the trial. He said that in his 19 years of working murder trials, he had never heard a prosecution open with an appeal to emotion.

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Its always sad, we feel for the victims, Gardner said. But were not here to work on emotions, you took an oath and have to make a decision based on the law.

Witnesses included Selda and Berbarin Letaj, who were at the gym when Roldan-Dimas was killed. They called the police, telling the dispatcher they saw a man being shot and killed in a black Camaro.

Daryl Detrick, owner of Detricks Car Wash across the street from the Planet Fitness, walked the jury through security camera footage from his business. The video showed an unidentified Black man run across the field between his car wash and the gym after the two gunshots.

Prosecutors also called girlfriend Isabella Lima and her brother, who were with Roldan-Dimas the night he died.

Isabella Lima, the girlfriend of David Roldan-Dimas testifies at a murder trial. She was with Roldan-Dimas until minutes before he was shot.

They went to the gym together and after they left, Roldan-Dimas was shot and killed, prosecution said.

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Her brother testified that a silver Dodge Charger swerved around his truck and a Black man with a mask on was chasing after it. He asked the man if he needed help.

He stole my car! the man told him.

Limas brother followed the car and reported the make, model and license plate number to police.

What happened the night Roldan-Dimas died?

Lima said she had been dating Roldan-Dimas for around two weeks.

He was the most incredible man I have ever met, Lima testified during the trial on Tuesday.

On June 19, 2023, Roldan-Dimas had worked a 13-hour shift at his job. Lima said he was excited because he had been promoted from working on a machine outside to working inside  with air-conditioning.

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The then 22-year-old had plans to go to the gym with her younger brother, and Roldan-Dimas insisted on coming with. The three of them drove separately, with the couple arriving first at about 9 p.m.

Lima and Roldan-Dimas finished their workout first and she planned to wait at Planet Fitness until her brother was done. Roldan-Dimas insisted on waiting with her, so the pair sat in her car and chatted.

When her brother, who was then 17, finished his workout, Roldan-Dimas left Limas car and went to his Camaro.

(Roldan-Dimas) kissed my forehead, said I love you, Ill see you Friday. He got out, he hugged my brother, they talked and then he got in his car, Lima said, her voice breaking as she finished her sentence.

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Within seconds, Lima and her brother heard a loud popping noise. Neither of them registered it as a gunshot.

While her brother was driving home, he saw a silver Charger speed past him, he testified. Shortly after, he said he saw a Black man running in a nearby field.

He slowed down and tried to speak to the man, who, he said, appeared agitated and yelled that someone had stolen his car. Limas brother offered the man a ride, but he declined it. Limas brother began to follow the silver Charger, called 911 and gave police the cars license plate information.

As Lima was driving home, she called Roldan-Dimas three times, but he did not pick up. She found this odd, as he always picked up her calls.

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Worried about Roldan-Dimas, Lima and her brother, now both in her car, returned to Planet Fitness, where they found a number of police vehicles. Lima said she saw her boyfriends body on the ground and thought he was asleep.

Lima asked police to tell Roldan-Dimas that she was there when he woke up. His family was far away, so she wanted him to know he had someone there.

I was insisting a lot to the cops to let me get close to him because I didnt want him to be alone, Lima said. (An officer) looked at me and was like Maam hes dead.

Seifullahs murder trial will continue at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The trial is expected to take a week.
Packages of the injectable weight-loss medication Wegovy are shown (Photo illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

As a physician assistant in Charlotte, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of new obesity medications on patients battling this disease. These treatments have enabled individuals to achieve significant weight loss, improve their metabolic health, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

In August 2024, North Carolinas Medicaid program expanded coverage to include FDA-approved obesity management medications for beneficiaries aged 12 and older. This policy change recognized obesity as a serious health condition requiring medical intervention and aimed to provide equitable access to effective treatments for low-income residents.

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However, a recent budget proposal circulating within the North Carolina General Assembly threatens to undermine this progress. The state legislature is currently considering significant budget cuts to Medicaid, which would jeopardize coverage for obesity medications. Such cuts could reverse the strides weve made in addressing the obesity epidemic and exacerbate health disparities across our state.

Obesity is not merely a matter of personal responsibility; its a complex health issue influenced by various factors, including genetics, environment, and socioeconomic status. Obesity medications have emerged as a powerful tool in the medical management of obesity, offering hope to patients who have struggled with traditional weight loss methods. By reducing access to these medications, we risk increasing the prevalence of obesity-related complications, leading to higher healthcare costs and diminished quality of life for affected individuals.

Moreover, the proposed Medicaid cuts could disproportionately impact rural communities in North Carolina, where healthcare resources are already limited. Approximately 40% of the states Medicaid beneficiaries reside in rural areas.

It is crucial to recognize that investing in obesity treatment is not only a moral imperative but also a fiscally responsible decision. Research from Global Data shows that obesity costs North Carolina households $1.4 billion in medical expenses and the Medicaid program $404 million in increased spending.

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As healthcare providers, policymakers, and citizens, we must advocate for the preservation of Medicaid coverage for obesity medications. Ensuring access to effective treatments for all North Carolinians, regardless of income, is essential for promoting public health, reducing long-term healthcare costs, and upholding the values of equity and compassion in our healthcare system.

I urge our state legislators to consider the profound implications of these proposed Medicaid cuts on obesity treatment and to take action to protect and expand access to these life-changing medications.
EAU CLAIREThe Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) has announced the creation of an endowment fund to help address the citys only emergency night-by-night homeless shelters long-term needs.

Sojourner House, operated by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, will be the ongoing recipient of a share of this fund which ECCF plans to grow through a conservative long-term investment approach aimed at growth.

By investing in a conservative long-term approach, were able to take those returns [and] build the fund while also distributing a share to a designated agency, which in this case is Sojourner House, said ECCF President and CEO Wesley Escondo.

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As the fund grows through donations and investing those donations, the amount within the share given to the shelter should grow.

If were shooting for very safe six to eight percent returns on the fund, and were only granting four percent, theres going to be natural growth intended to make sure that the fund is still around 50 years from now and at a higher fund balance, Escondo said.

The percentage of return will currently be entrusted to Catholic Charities which operates the shelter, but Escondo said if, for some reason, Sojourner House were to cease to exist for any reason, this fund could still exist to support a similar organization doing similar work, so it truly is perpetual and that is something very specific to Eau Claire and to the Chippewa Valley.

In addition to the endowment fund, ECCF also awarded Sojourner House a $100,000 grant. This, along with donations from other community organizations and municipalities, closed this years funding shortfall which had been pushing Sojourner House toward temporarily shutting down for the summer.

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Eau Claire Community Foundation has really helped us work through this funding gap we found ourselves in for this summer, said Rob Grover, the advancement director for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse. They brought up the idea of establishing an endowment. We thought that was a wonderful way of trying to engage the community even more. We take in lots of funds through donations and we think this could be another vehicle.

To contribute to the endowment fund, visit tinyurl.com/3eyddr83 or contact the Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Information and ways to donate to the Sojourner House can be found at cclse.org/the-sojourner-house.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  Top Trump administration officials  fresh off touring one of the country's largest oil fields in the Alaska Arctic  headlined an energy conference led by the state's Republican governor on Tuesday that environmentalists criticized as promoting new oil and gas drilling and turning away from the climate crisis.

Several dozen protesters were outside Gov. Mike Dunleavy's annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage, where U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin were featured speakers. The federal officials were continuing a multiday trip aimed at highlighting President Donald Trump's push to expand oil and gas drilling, mining and logging in the state.

The trip has included meetings with pro-drilling groups and officials, including some Alaska Native leaders on the petroleum-rich North Slope, and a visit to the Prudhoe Bay oil field near the Arctic Ocean that featured selfies near the 800-mile (1,287-kilometer) trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

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Calls for additional oil and gas drilling  including Trumps renewed focus on getting a massive liquefied natural gas project built  are false solutions to energy needs and climate concerns, protester Sarah Furman said outside the Anchorage convention hall, as people carried signs with slogans such as Alaska is Not for Sale and Protect our Public Lands.

"We find it really disingenuous that theyre hosting this conference and not talking about real solutions, she said.

Topics at the conference, which runs through Thursday, also include mining, carbon management, nuclear energy, renewables and hydrogen. Oil has been Alaskas economic lifeblood for decades, and Dunleavy has continued to embrace fossil fuels even as he has touted other energy opportunities in the state.

Another protester, Rochelle Adams, who is Gwichin, raised concerns about the ongoing push to allow oil and gas drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Gwichin leaders have said they consider the coastal plain sacred, as caribou they rely on calve there. Leaders of the Inupiaq community of Kaktovik, which is within the refuge, support drilling as economically vital and have joined Alaska political leaders in welcoming Trump's interest in reviving a leasing program there.

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When these people come from outside to take and take and take, we are going to be left with the aftereffects, Adams said, adding later: It's our health that will be impacted. Its our wellness, our ways of life.

Zeldin, during a friendly question-and-answer period led by Dunleavy, said wildlife he saw while on the North Slope didn't appear to be victims of their surroundings and seemed happy.

Burgum, addressing a move toward additional drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, said wildlife and development can coexist. His agency during the Alaska trip announced plans to repeal Biden-era restrictions on future leasing and industrial development in portions of the petroleum preserve that are designated as special for their wildlife, subsistence or other values.

Wright bristled at the idea of policy "in the name of climate change that he said would have no impact on climate change. Stopping oil production in Alaska doesn't change demand for oil, he said.

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You know, we hear terms like clean energy and renewable energy. These are inaccurate marketing terms, he said. There is no energy source that does not take significant materials, land and impact on the environment to produce. Zero.

Officials court Asian countries to support gas project

Joining for part of the U.S. officials' trip were representatives from Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan and United Arab Emirates. Asian countries are being courted to sign onto the Alaska gas project, which has floundered for years to gain traction amid cost and other concerns. The project, as proposed, would include a nearly 810-mile (1,300-kilometer) pipeline that would funnel gas from the North Slope to port, with an eye largely on exports of liquefied natural gas.

Wright told reporters a goal in inviting them to the Prudhoe Bay stop was for them to see the oil pipeline infrastructure and environment and meet with residents and business leaders.

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Glenfarne Alaska LNG LLC, which has taken a lead in advancing the project, on Tuesday announced expressions of interest from a number of potential partners." Costs surrounding the project  which have been pegged around $44 billion for the pipeline and other infrastructure  are in the process of being refined before a decision is made on whether to move forward.

___

Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska.
Erie City Council passed an amendment Wednesday morning to the ordinance that has been referred to as the Tenant Bill of Rights.

Council members call it a small change that puts the citys law in line with the commonwealths.

Fire marshals can now give citations to drivers parked by fire hydrants, in fire lanes

It involves a $15 application fee that potential tenants pay landlords when they apply for housing.

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Under the old ordinance, if they were turned down, the tenant would get that fee back.

Erie County Council votes on appropriation of ICE funds

But since landlords do background checks that cost money to conduct, if they turn a tenant down, theyd be taking on that fee regularly.

This ordinance not only is putting everyones rights in one spot, but its also allowed more conversations around the education on what renters need to know and what landlords need to know to work together. Its creating a new collaboration that we didnt see happening before, said Erie City Council member Tyler Titus.

Titus said this was about rectifying an unfair step for landlords and that no other language in the ordinance was impacted.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Sen. Joni Ernsts (R-Iowa) recent controversial remarks on Medicaid are threatening to become a political liability for the incumbent as she faces reelection next year.

Ernst drew the ire of Democrats when she responded to concerns about potential Medicaid cuts by saying we all are going to die. Despite the swift backlash, Ernst doubled down on the remarks in a sarcastic video posted Saturday on social media in which she appeared to be recording from a cemetery.

While the second-term senator has been a formidable candidate and will benefit from the conservative lean of her state, some Republicans acknowledge the comments could follow her into the midterms.

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It is very, very early, but there is no question that that comment from Sen. Ernst will be on Iowa airwaves for the better part of the next 15 months, said one Iowa Republican strategist.

The election handicapper Sabatos Crystal Ball on Tuesday shifted Ernsts race slightly toward Democrats  from safe to likely Republican  citing her recent comments and a new challenge from Democratic state Rep. JD Scholten, who said the senators remarks spurred him to jump in.

Another GOP strategist acknowledged the risk posed by Ernsts comments but added the political climate next year is going to ultimately have a greater impact on the race.

It probably wasnt helpful, and the cleanup wasnt helpful, the strategist said. But the race, presuming its these two candidates on the ballot, isnt going to be decided by Sen. Ernsts comments in 2025. Its going to be more influenced on where the countrys at.

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Ernst had pushed back against constituents who shouted at the Butler, Iowa, town hall event that cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would cause people to die.

Well, we all are going to die, the senator responded, as she defended a House-passed budget reconciliation package that proposes cuts to Medicaid and SNAP funding.

The exchange drew sharp backlash from Democrats. The partys Senate campaign arm called Ernsts remarks stunningly callous, and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin accused her, President Trump and the GOP of being hellbent on putting their own constituents at risk.

Scholten jumped into the race Monday following the backlash to her remarks.

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I wasnt planning on doing this right now, but I just cant sit on the sidelines after Jonis recent town hall justifying gutting Medicaid because were all going to die, he said in his video launch.

He enters the race alongside Democrat Nathan Sage, who said Ernst has stepped in it. State Sen. Zach Wahls, another potential candidate, said we desperately need a new voice for Iowa in the US Senate.

Ernst also faces three long shot primary challengers on the right.

Democrats argue that the comments will play poorly with much of Iowas aging and rural population, which depend on programs like Medicaid.

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But Ernst doubled down on the comments in her sarcastic apology video, saying, I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth.

Even some conservatives took issue with her response.

I wouldnt have posted the follow-up video, said CNN commentator Scott Jennings. In fact, the answer she gave in the town hall, the first 98 percent of it was correct. She was talking about taking illegal immigrants off of Medicaid.

I wouldnt have posted the follow-up video myself, but I think the Republicans can actually win this debate, he added.

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Last weeks events would not be the first time a political candidate in the state has faced backlash for off-the-cuff remarks caught on camera. In fact, when Ernst first ran for Senate in 2014, her opponent, former Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), faced backlash when he was caught on camera at a fundraiser referring to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) as a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school.

Those things can be harmful, said the unnamed GOP strategist. It wont decide the race, but on the periphery and on the edges, sure, it could have a long-term impact.

Still, Republicans are largely brushing off the criticism, arguing Ernsts comments were taken out of context.

Anyone who knows Joni  especially the folks who heard her answer tough questions for over an hour  knows Dems and the mainstream media are purposefully replacing her core message because it helps their fearmongering, said Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann. But the fact is, without Sen. Ernst taking a strong stand to protect the integrity of programs like Medicaid, Iowans would be worse off.

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Democrats, on the other hand, are leaning into the senators comments because theres been nothing for them to really lean into before this point, argued Iowa Republican consultant Luke Martz. This isnt going to win the election for them. Its just giving them something to talk about.

Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa, also acknowledged Ernst doubling down was probably not a good idea but forecasted voters will forget about the incident on the long road to the 2026 midterms.

Ernsts comments give Scholten some opportunity to jump into the race, get some headlines.  I dont think its a big enough deal that its going to have legs, so to speak, Hagle said.

But Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson predicted that, while Republicans will try to ignore the incident and hope it goes away, Democrats are likely to make sure it dogs her.

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This just seems like something that might not go away, something that might sort of linger with her, Peterson said.

Of course, Ernst  who has not yet formally launched a reelection bid  would enter 2026 as the favorite, despite the backlash and her new challengers.

Its been more than a decade since a Democrat represented Iowa in the upper chamber. Ernst won reelection by roughly 7 points back in 2020, and Trump won the state by 13 points in November.

Joni Ernst is Iowas winner in Washington, GOP strategist Michael Zona told The Hill in an email.

But the latest controversy, adding to scrutiny that mounted on Ernst earlier this year over her support for Trumps Cabinet picks, could give Democrats leverage to make inroads in the midterms, Peterson said.

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Its Ernsts race to lose, and the last week has made that a little more likely, he said.

The Iowa Republican strategist said the attention drawn onto Iowa this week opens up the door to resources being put in, and groups on both sides of the aisle will have to make calculations.

However, Democrats argue the state already presented an opportunity for them prior to Ernsts comments, pointing to recent special election victories they say signal a shift in the political environment.

In January, Iowa Democrats flipped the states 35th Senate District, which Trump won by 21 points in November. In March, Democrats overperformed in the special election for the 100th House District.

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Its still a high bar for Democrats trying to win statewide, said Iowa Democratic strategist Jeff Link, but video clips like this have a way of just hanging around.

If Ernst runs next year, were going to see this clip a ton, and thats not good for her, he said.

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By Laurie Chen and Aditi Shah

BEIJING/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Diplomats, automakers and other executives from India, Japan and Europe were urgently seeking meetings with Beijing officials to push for faster approval of rare earth magnet exports, sources said, as shortages threatened to halt global supply chains.

A business delegation from Japan will visit Beijing in early June to meet the Ministry of Commerce over the curbs, according to a source familiar with the visit. European diplomats from countries with big auto industries have also sought "emergency" meetings with MOFCOM in recent weeks, a European official said.

India, where automakers warned last week they were close to shutting down, is organising a trip for auto executives in the next two to three weeks.

"This is an extremely urgent and critical time for the auto and electronics industry," Adam Dunnett, secretary general of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, told Reuters, saying some firms could stop production as soon as this week.

The European Union and Japanese missions in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The possibility of widespread shutdowns across the global auto industry demonstrates the enormous leverage Beijing has built over its decades-long rise to dominance in the rare earth industry.

China - which controls over 90% of global processing capacity for the magnets, used in everything from automobiles and fighter jets to home appliances - imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements and several magnets on April 4, requiring exporters to obtain licenses from Beijing.

The controls are widely viewed as a key source of diplomatic leverage because there are almost no alternatives outside China.

Beijing agreed to suspend or remove non-tariff countermeasures imposed on Washington since April 2 as part of the Geneva truce. But there has only been a slow trickle of approvals since then and Chinese government officials have declined to address the issue publicly.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last week accused Beijing of "slow-rolling" the removal of non-tariff countermeasures.

South Korea's industry ministry has asked China to issue more export licenses, an official told Reuters, as only a handful of companies had received licenses.

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday did not respond to a question on whether Beijing would speed up processing of export license applications. The Ministry of Commerce did not immediately reply to queries sent after business hours.

European firms alone have thousands of applications waiting for approval, said a source familiar with the matter.
Video: Search continues over a week for escaped Arkansas inmate Grant Hardin

IZARD COUNTY, Ark.  The Arkansas State Police were granted a sweeping cell phone data search warrant in pursuit of escaped Arkansas convict Grant Hardin.

The May 29 warrant requires data from all cell towers in Izard County from service providers AT&T, U.S. Cellular, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The affidavit for the warrant states that investigators hope to use cell phone location data to identify where Grant Hardin may be hiding.

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Authorities release updated possible picture of escaped inmate Grant Hardin

The affidavit asked for data between May 24 and May 29, bracketing the time of Hardins May 25 escape from the Board of Corrections North Central Unit in Calico Rock.

A second document confirms investigators received the data from the service providers on May 31.

The affidavit states the state police do not want communication data, only location data. Location data is from cell phones, essentially checking in with the nearest cell tower as they move through the area.

Authorities release updated possible picture of escaped inmate Grant Hardin

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Each time a cell phone checks in, it leaves unique identifying data relative to the particular phone. Cell phone service providers log this data, which, according to the affidavit, can provide relatively precise location information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Dr. Esmeralda Cruz Espino, a respected Geriatric physician, Major in the U.S. Army Reserve and lifelong resident of Youngstown, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at the age of 83.

Born on January 16, 1942, in San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines, Esmeralda was the beloved daughter of Vicente and Angelina Espino.

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She earned her Doctor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 1973 at just 21 years old.

She was fluent in three languages and dedicated her life to the care of others.

Esmeralda is survived by her loving son, Joseph Cruz Espino and his wife, Destiny Espino.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Vicente and Angelina Espino and her grandchild, Baby Espino.

A devoted mother, physician and woman of deep faith, Esmeralda was a member of the Franciscan Third Order and active in her church community. She was instrumental in forming several Filipino social and religious groups in Michigan and Northeast Ohio, including helping to establish the Michigan Santo Nino devotion and the early Youngstown Filipino-American Organization of Northeast Ohio.

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Esmeraldas kindness, spiritual devotion and commitment to community will be deeply missed by her family, friends, patients and all who knew her.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025, from 5:00  7:00 p.m., in Schiavone Funeral Home, 1842 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44504 and on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 12:00  12:45 p.m., in Saint Edward Catholic Church, 238 Tod Lane, Youngstown, OH 44504, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. and Military Honors.

A Franciscan Wake Service will be held at the church at 11:45 a.m., Saturday morning, June 7.

Please visit www.schiavonefh.com to share condolences.

A television tribute will air Thursday, June 5 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:19 p.m. on WYTV and 6:37 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Scientists have developed methods to wipe potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes off of the face of the Earth. But, should they?

The implications of such a monumental call remain unknown and bioethicists say they are not in favor of remaking the world to suit human desires.

The eradication of the mosquito through a genetic technology would have the potential to create global eradication in a way that just felt a little risky, Christopher Preston, a University of Montana environmental philosopher, recently told The Washington Post.

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However, we have the technology, which largely targets the female mosquitoes responsible for biting and spreading malaria, dengue, Zika, and other nasty pathogens.

Using genetic tools, researchers can edit the genetic makeup of mosquitoes and make the females infertile. In January, scientists in Australia said that they were able to alter male mosquitoes to produce venom proteins in their semen that can reduce the lifespan of females.

This week, researchers at the University of Maryland said they have successfully created a sexually transmitted disease that would deliver a deadly fungal infection to the females.

Scientists now have multiple ways to kill blood-sucking and disease-riddled mosquitoes. But, should they? (Getty Images)

Its essentially an arms race between the mosquitoes and us, University of Maryland professor Raymond St. Leger said in a statement. Just as they keep adapting to what we create, we have to continuously develop new and creative ways to fight them.

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The fungus is called Metarhizium. Sprayed on male mosquitoes, it works by producing neurotoxins that kill when they are injected into a female mosquito. It is harmless to humans.

The fungus additionally made infected mosquitoes less able to sense insecticides, and much more susceptible to them, so its really a double blow against them, St. Leger said.

This could be great news in the fight against mosquito-borne illness. Last year, the rare but serious eastern equine encephalitis virus forced New York to declare an imminent threat, a New Hampshire man died, and public parks and other areas closed in Massachusetts as the virus spread. This year, cities across the country have reported cases of West Nile virus, and authorities started spraying adulticide in Houstons Harris County. Malaria also continues to be a leading cause of preventable illness and death, resulting in 608,000 deaths across 85 countries in 2022.

But, just how far should humans take the war against mosquitoes?

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It can be easy to overlook the role they play in our ecosystems. They are an important source of food for fish, frogs, and pollinators, including birds and bats. But, they are also pollinators themselves, and their primary food source is flower nectar  not blood.

Of the more than 3,000 species on Earth, just 400 can transmit diseases to people, and most of them dont actually feed on humans at all, Yvonne-Marie Linton, research director at the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, told Smithsonian Magazine.

Efforts to suppress mosquito populations have been in the works for years. But, the world is becoming increasingly hospitable to the vectors (AFP via Getty Images)

Mosquitoes have been around buzzing around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth some 200 million years ago.

Earth is currently in the middle of a human-fueled biodiversity crisis, including massive insect loss driven by agriculture and related pollution, in addition to climate change-driven disasters and other events. Without insects that pollinate billions of dollars in crops in North America, wed have a lot less food and other products.

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Mosquitoes are one of the only species people have posited should be eliminated.

Still, they are the worlds deadliest animal. And, especially during the hot and wet summer months, the risk for disease is increasing. Human-caused climate change is creating more favorable conditions for mosquitoes, resulting in population expansion. Thats especially true along U.S. coasts. But, even in droughts, they can be extra bitey.

Its believed that they alone, by transmitting disease, have killed half of all human beings who have ever lived, St. Leger noted. Being able to eliminate mosquitoes quickly and effectively will save people all over the world.
By Leigh Thomas and Julia Payne

PARIS (Reuters) -The European Union's trade chief on Wednesday said Brussels and Beijing were working hard to address issues in their trade relationship ahead of a July summit, as Europe joined a chorus of alarm over China's stranglehold on critical minerals.

Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic described talks in Paris with China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao as "focused and in depth", though there was no clear sign of progress in resolving the tit-for-tat dispute over European tariffs on Chinese-made EVs and Chinese anti-dumping measures on European brandy.

U.S. President Donald Trump's upending of global trade has injected energy into EU trade negotiations with countries including China, although the EU still has deep concerns over what it calls market-distorting Chinese state aid and barriers to the Chinese market.

The talks took place against a backdrop of growing concern about China's export restrictions on critical minerals and magnets which have impacted supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers and semi-conductor companies globally.

Europe faces a delicate task to advance its own trading relationship with China without riling the Trump administration, which has hit European steel and aluminium with 50% tariffs and has threatened the bloc with 50% reciprocal tariffs if no trade deal is forthcoming.

Sefcovic held separate meetings in Paris with Wang and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and he said talks with the U.S. were moving in the right direction.

Europe's diversification of raw material supply chains is critical to guaranteeing economic autonomy, EU Industry Commissioner Stephane Sejourne said on Wednesday.

"We must reduce our dependencies on all countries, particularly on countries like China, on which we are more than 100% dependent," Sejourne told a press conference in Brussels.

European and Chinese leaders are due to meet next month at a summit in Beijing to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties. China is the EU's second largest trading partner after the United States, with bilateral trade reaching 793 billion euros in 2023, according to EU data.

Shares in Europe's Airbus rose on Wednesday as evidence of talks to sell hundreds of planes to China gathered pace.

The dispute with Beijing over Chinese duties on brandy is proving tougher to resolve with the French cognac industry bearing the brunt of the levies.

France's trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin told Wang he wanted "responsible dialogue" while Wang said it was necessary to find solutions based on "win-win cooperation", according to a Chinese commerce ministry statement.

(Writing by Richard Lough, editing by Ed Osmond)
The European Union will prolong the temporary protection status for Ukrainians forced to flee their country due to the war until 4 March 2027. The European Commission is also preparing recommendations for member states on further integration of those working or studying and ensuring the possibility of voluntary return.

Source: Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, and Oleksii Chernyshov, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Unity, speaking to journalists in Brussels on 4 June, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU will be extended until 4 March 2027, after which it will end. However, the European Commission will propose recommendations to member states for coordinated follow-up actions, Brunner and Chernyshov said.

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Quote from the European Commission: "With Russia continuing its illegal attacks, and the situation in Ukraine remaining volatile, the Commission is proposing to prolong the temporary protection for people fleeing Russia's aggression against Ukraine for an additional year until 4 March 2027.

To offer a more stable and lasting perspective, the Commission is also proposing to member states to prepare for a coordinated transition out of temporary protection by way of a Council recommendation. The proposed measures address the needs of those residing in the EU as well as the need for Ukraine to rebuild the country, including by supporting safe, voluntary and dignified returns and reintegration."

Details: The next step in approving this decision is for the EU Council to officially adopt the proposal to extend temporary protection for another year, alongside recommendations from the Council of the EU.

The Commissions recommendations prepared for the EU Council include:

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Facilitating and easing the transition of Ukrainians to other legal statuses. Those integrated into host societies, who have learned the language, found work or education, should have the option to switch to a national or European legal status better reflecting their situation, such as a residence permit based on employment, education, research, or long-term resident status. Creating voluntary return programmes, in close coordination with Ukrainian authorities, to ensure a gradual return after temporary protection ends. Permission for familiarisation visits to Ukraine will be available for those considering returning home to make an informed decision. Launching Unity Hubs in EU member states to support both integration of Ukrainians in host countries and their return to Ukraine. These centres may be funded by the Commission through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). The Commission will also appoint a special envoy for Ukrainians in the EU to support member states. Coordinating and exchanging information between member states and Ukraine via the Solidarity Platform and the Temporary Protection Registration Platform.

Background:

Earlier, Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraines Ambassador to the EU, stated that temporary protection would be extended by another year.

The EU Council previously extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2026.

As of 31 March 2025, just over 4.26 million people who are not EU citizens and fled Ukraine due to Russias full-scale invasion were granted temporary protection in the European Union.

It was reported that the EU is also considering the possibility of granting them other statuses to extend their stay in the European Union.

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Tariff negotiations between the US and the European Union are headed in the right direction, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said after meeting with American officials Wednesday, but added that Washingtons decision to hike tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50% complicated the talks.

With barely a month until the 90-day suspension of US President Donald Trumps Liberation Day tariffs expires, negotiations between the two economies have gained little traction: The EU has threatened retaliation against Trumps levies, while accelerating trade discussions with China, India, and Thailand.

Meanwhile, the US has intensified its rhetoric on tariffs across the board, with Trump railing against Chinas leader over the failure to agree a deal, and officially doubling steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.

The tables are sort of turning, a Bloomberg journalist said, Trump is either gonna maintain this leverage or its gonna slowly slip.
Dollar Tree cautioned investors that tariffs and price volatility could result in a profit decline of up to 50% in the current quarter.

The discount retail chain said on Wednesday, June 4, that adjusted profit during the second quarter, which ends Aug. 2, could be down as much as 45% to 50% compared to a year ago.

"Given the volatility of today's operating environment, it is challenging to predict with precision the near-term performance of the business in Q2, especially regarding tariff and other cost mitigation efforts," said Dollar Tree CEO Mike Creedon in a call with investment analysts Wednesday.

For the full year, Dollar Tree assumes it "will be able to mitigate most, if not all of the potential earnings impact from higher tariffs, assuming the current levels remain in place," he said.

National Donut Day 2025 deals: Get free food at Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, more

Dollar Tree was able to offset 90% of the first round of 10% tariffs, which President Donald Trump announced in April, during the first quarter, Creedon said.

However, some purchases made when tariffs on goods from China were 145% will be absorbed during the current quarter, chief financial officer Stewart Glendinning said during the call. Those tariffs will result in increased costs of about $70 million during the second quarter, he said.

Shares of the discount retail chain fell about 8% in early trading on Wednesday, June 4.

Dollar Tree: Tariff situation 'highly fluid'

Family Dollar and Dollar Tree at 350 Marion St. NE are going out of business on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Salem, Ore.

To deal with tariffs, company said it is negotiating with suppliers, opting for new products or dropping products, buying them from other countries or raising prices  since its multi-price format, initiated in March 2024, allows for prices up to $7.

"The tariff landscape is highly fluid and changing week to week, so we are focused on agility and on improving that agility," Creedon said.

Dollar Tree also saw signs of consumer concerns about prices and volatility as the company reported an increase of 2.6 million new customers, a majority with household incomes of $100K or more, Creedon said.

"We believe we've got a unique opportunity here, as these new customers find us," he said. "We want to create a great first impression for that customer. We want to create a sticky relationship with that customer for years and years to come."

Dollar Tree said net sales increased 11.3% to $4.6 billion during the first quarter, which ended May 3. That surpassed the $4.5 billion expected by analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Same-store sales increased 5.4% during the period, with store traffic up 2.5% increase. Shoppers spent 2.8% more, on average, per transaction, the company said.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  There are several events on tap at Dayton Metro Libraries that will celebrate Juneteenth, beginning today.

The following events are for guests of all ages to enjoy and will be happening throughout the month.

Family Storytime: Holidays and Celebrations, Wednesday, June 4, 4-4:45 pm, Burkhardt Branch: Enjoy books, songs, and activities that recognize Juneteenth.

A screening of 12 Years a Slave, Saturday, June 7, 2-4 pm, Southeast Branch: The movie released in 2013 and is rated R.

Teen DIY: Craft Stick Wall Hangings!, Tuesday, June 10, 3-5 pm, Southeast Branch .

Coloring for Adults, Wednesday, June 11, 10-11 am, Northwest Branch: Registration is required.

A screening of Selma, Saturday, June 14, 2-4 pm, Southeast Branch: The movie released in 2015 and is rated PG-13.

Juneteenth Bingo and Crafts, Monday, June 16, 4-5 pm, Trotwood Branch : For students in grades 1-4.

African American Genealogy, Monday, June 16, 7-8 pm, Northwest Branch: A presentation by Shawna Woodward, a DML Genealogy Librarian. Registration is required.

Teen DIY: Juneteenth, Tuesday, June 17, 3-5 pm, Southeast Branch: A craft making session that will also feature a history on Juneteenth.

Juneteenth Paper Freedom Quilt, Tuesday, June 17, 6-7 pm, Trotwood Branch

A Juneteenth Discussion, Tuesday, June 17, 7-8:15 pm, Northwest Branch: Karen D. Brame of DMLs Special Collections Department and community guests will speak about the holiday and its global impact.

Juneteenth Jewelry Making, Wednesday, June 18, 1:30-2:30 pm, West Branch: For students in grades 1-4.

Black is Also a Rainbow Color Storytime, Wednesday, June 18, 4-4:30 pm, Trotwood Branch: A reading of Black is a Rainbow Color, as well as craft making. This event is for babies and toddlers.

Juneteenth: The Hate U Give, Saturday, June 21, 2-4 pm, Southeast Branch: A screening of The Hate U Give, which released in 2018 and is rated PG-13.

Juneteenth Attire Fashion Show, Saturday, June 28, 3-5 pm, West Branch: Those interested in modeling need to register beforehand. Spots are limited.



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All Dayton Metro Library locations will be closed on Thursday, June 19, the day the holiday is observed.

To register for events visit the librarys website or call the help line at 937-463-2665.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Pamela Evette is among the handful of big-name Republicans whose names are tied to next years gubernatorial race, and she spent time in Myrtle Beach on Monday touting her record of success.

The Ohio native has been in office since 2019 when Gov. Henry McMaster selected her as a running mate.

Evette hasnt formally said whether shes planning a run for the states highest office, but has been linked to the job along with other contenders including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

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South Carolinians are more familiar with Mace than other possible 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidates, poll finds

Mace in particular has launched attacks against both.

Gov. McMaster has said that Im the best lieutenant governor in the country. President Trump said I was doing a great job, so Ill take their compliments over Nancy Maces criticisms any day, Evette said following a town hall meeting at Veterans Cafe and Grille. Im going to continue to do what I do. Im going to help business, Im going to work on school choice.

Evette said she hasnt yet committed to running for governor, but hinted at the likelihood as spoke with reporters.

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Now that session is over, this is the time to start to think about whats going to happen but I do believe this legacy that the governor and I have had does need to continue on. I think its been very successful, and its worked very well for the people of South Carolina.

Earlier in the night, Evette said building up technical college systems is the best way to build employee pipeline for manufacturers.

We can do better creating a workforce for tomorrow, and we can do that by, lets start reappropriating some of this money going to big colleges, and lets give it to our technical college system,' she said. It is something that Ive been talking about for the seven years that Ive been in office.

* * *

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

A scholar from the Netherlands used AI to determine that the Dead Sea Scrolls may be older than previously believed.

The new AI model pairs handwriting data with radiocarbon dating information to date ancient manuscripts.

In the future, scientists hope the model will be useful in dating other mysterious ancient texts

Dating ancient artifacts is very difficult. Experts have a number of techniques they can use to get close, but there are limitations that often cant be overcome without additional information. That said, sometimes you get lucky, like the researchers investigating the famous Dead Sea Scrolls did when they realized that the author wrote the dates of creation directly on several of the pages.

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However, not every scroll was labeled, and as a result, the undated Dead Sea Scrolls have been much harder for scientists to pin down. But when new technologies arise, things can change.

According to a new studyin which scientists used AI modeling to study handwriting styles across ancient manuscripts with known datessome of the undated Dead Sea Scrolls may be older than previously believed. Mladen Popovic (from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands) and his research team claim that their work not only re-dates some Dead Sea Scrolls, but could open a new way to place undated manuscripts on the timeline of ancient history. The team published their findings in the open-access journal PLOS One.

It is very exciting to set a significant step in solving the dating problem of the Dead Sea Scrolls and also creating a new tool that could be used to study other partially dated manuscripts from history, the authors wrote in a statement. This would not have been possible without the collaboration between so many different scientific disciplines.

The process started with a bounty of ancient texts used to help build datasets. The team parsed through historic manuscripts from various sites in modern-day Israel and the West Bank and used radiocarbon dating to estimate the ages of the documents. The team then trained a machine-learning model to understand the handwriting styles of each document in direct relation to the historic date of the manuscript.

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The AI modeldubbed Enoch, after the prominent biblical figurethen merged the two datasets. The goal of the work is to be able to objectively determine an approximate age range of a manuscript based solely on the handwriting style on the document.

During testing, the scholars said that Enochs age estimates for the 135 Dead Sea Scrolls were realistic 79 percent of the time, and non-realistic 21 percent of the time (non-realistic here meaning significantly too old, significantly too young, or indecisive).

The Enoch model, paired with radiocarbon dating, estimates older ages for many of the Dead Sea Scrolls than traditional handwriting analysis methods. The authors said that more data and further research could help pinpoint the timelines.

With the Enoch tool we have opened a new door into the ancient world, like a time machine, that allows us to study the hands that wrote the Bible, the authors wrote in the statement, especially now that we have established, for the first time, that two biblical scroll fragments come from the time of their presumed authors.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted two former Cleveland police officers for allegedly taking state Paycheck Protection Program money that they didnt deserve.

Anthony Shumpert and Mackenley Weaver were indicted June 2 on felony charges of grand theft and tampering with records.

I-Team: What weve learned of possible suspect in Metroparks murder

According to Cuyahoga County prosecutors, Weaver claimed he owned a T-Shirt business and got approximately $20,000 in one PPP loan in April 2021, and Anthony Shumpert claimed he owned a barbershop and received about $37,000 in two PPP loans in April and May of 2021.

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Father found dead, daughter missing after they went hiking on mountain in Maine

A Cleveland police spokesperson said both Shumpert and Weaver resigned from the department last year.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned on the charges June 18.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A 24-year-old man from Inglewood has been taken into custody in connection with a violent armed carjacking nearly two years ago in Culver City, officials announced.

Aaron Flenoy, according to a news release from the Culver City Police Department, was identified as a suspect involved in a brutal carjacking involving a semi-automatic handgun in the 5300 block of Sepulveda Boulevard on Aug. 3, 2023.

On parole for robbery at the time of the carjacking, investigators said the 24-year-old has an extensive criminal record with numerous felony convictions for violent offenses.

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Though he managed to elude police in 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office charged him with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. An arrest warrant was issued for Flenoy with bail set at $5.7 million, authorities said.

On June 3, around 10 a.m., CCP officers traveling westbound on Centinela Avenue spotted Flenoy behind the wheel of a vehicle in Inglewood and attempted to stop him.

A pursuit that lasted two minutes was initiated after the 24-year-old refused to pull over, despite the presence of an adult female and two children inside the vehicle.

Flenoy ran a red light at the intersection of Centinela Avenue and La Brea Avenue and struck another vehicle, the release detailed.

A violent crash after a brief police chase ended in a brutal crash that left six people injured and led to two people being detained in Inglewood. Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Sky5) A violent crash after a brief police chase ended in a brutal crash that left six people injured and led to two people being detained in Inglewood. Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Sky5) A violent crash after a brief police chase ended in a brutal crash that left six people injured and led to two people being detained in Inglewood. Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Sky5) Video from the Citizen App shows the aftermath of a crash that occurred during a short pursuit in Inglewood on June 3, 2025. Video from the Citizen App shows the aftermath of a crash that occurred during a short pursuit in Inglewood on June 3, 2025.

Flenoy and the adult female, later identified as 30-year-old Inglewood resident Timberline Davenport, suffered minor injuries during the collision. The innocent motorist involved in the crash did not sustain any injuries.

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Missing California woman, 31, found dead in Arizona

The two children in Flenoys vehicle, according to authorities, were taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available.

In addition to the August 2023 armed carjacking, Flenoy was booked for felony evading causing injury and felony child endangerment. The 30-year-old female, who had several outstanding warrants, was also booked for felony child endangerment, authorities noted.

An investigation into the pursuit that resulted in the crash will be handled by investigators with the California Highway Patrol.

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A Kennewick man has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud to obtain money through federal COVID-19 relief programs.

David Kurt Schneider, who wanted money to develop a solar-powered wheelchair, also is required to repay nearly $122,000 to the federal government.

He was one of three people in the federal court case accused of fraudulently obtaining at least $292,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, funding in 2020 and 2021.

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Kelly Jo Driver, 43, of South Carolina, pleaded guilty to fraudulent claims and was sentenced to five years of probation but no incarceration after preparing falsified documents for Schneider and the owner of a Tri-Cities gun shop to submit with their loan applications. She also is jointly responsible with Schneider for repaying the money.

Leif Gerard Larsen, the owner of Larsen Firearms in Pasco, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced July 30 in the Yakima County Courthouse.

By stealing nearly $300,000 intended for legitimate businesses, these defendants diverted critical resources at a time when many businesses were fighting to survive, said Rich Barker, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

The CARES Act was intended to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kurt Schneider in 2008

The three defendants also applied for additional payments or loans of about $563,600, but those applications were rejected, according to court documents.

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They included Paycheck Protection Program loans to small businesses primarily to cover worker paychecks, which were eligible to be forgiven, with no money paid back. The program also offered low-interest Economic Injury Disaster loans

Solar wheelchair obsession

Schneider applied for CARES Act loans for his businesses Solar Mobility, RealNZ Water and Tempest Tactical Solutions using documents created by Driver that falsified payroll information and federal tax forms to claim he had up to 10 employees.

When Schneider was asked for bank records to confirm his payroll, he said that employees of Solar Mobility, his solar wheelchair company, had asked to be paid in cash during the pandemic.

Schneider and Driver also falsely claimed that RealNZ Water, a company to sell water bottled in New Zealand, had 10 employees.

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The Washington Department of Revenue had no records of the company existing or reporting revenue and no wages were reported to the Washington state Employment Security Department, according to a court document.

Court documents also said that his business Tempest Tactical Solutions had no business operations and had only been registered with the Washington State Secretary of State to apply for CARES Act money.

The only revenue Schneider reported to the Department of Revenue in 2019 and 2020 were from his wages at a Hanford nuclear site job at the vitrification plant, according to a court document.

Schneider was obsessed with the development of a solar wheelchair to be used by veterans, his attorney, Deric Orr, said in a court document.

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He sought a contract for his invention with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, thinking it would make his solar wheelchair a major success and help veterans. But he came to believe the agency was sabotaging his efforts, according to court documents.

Schneider saw the loan money he falsely obtained as a way to keep his business afloat and to fight back against the perceived sabotage, his attorney said.

Other COVID fraud defendants

Driver provided false documents to both Schneider and Larsen for loan applications and then received 10% of the proceeds, according to court documents.

She urged the other defendants in the case to seek higher loan amounts, which also would net her more money, according to court documents filed by Eastern District of Washington U.S. Attorneys Office.

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Drivers attorney, Jennifer Barnes, argued that she had no criminal record and had a noncancerous tumor that could soon require treatment. Barnes asked for no incarceration.

Schneider told Larsen he also could obtain loans under the CARES Act, which could be forgiven, using false payroll documents created by Driver, according to court documents.

He and Driver submitted applications falsely claiming he had 10 employees at Larsen Firearms and Larsen Gunsmithing & Firearms, according to court documents. He withdrew one application after being interviewed by federal agents.

He received a loan of nearly $150,000 for the other application, according to court documents.

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Larsen is scheduled to be sentenced July 30 in the Yakima U.S. Courthouse.

The case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Kelley and Frieda Zimmerman.

U.S. Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima sentenced Schneider and Driver.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Federal authorities have joined the search for a father suspected of murder after his three young daughters were found dead in central Washington.

Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle.

Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with extensive training, was armed.

The Wenatchee Police Department is asking for help locating Travis Decker, a 32-year-old former Army soldier wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. (Wenatchee Police Department via AP)

The girls mother called police on Friday to report them missing, saying they hadnt returned from a custodial visit with Decker. The mother told police that Decker had picked up the girls  Olivia, 5; Evelyn, 8, and Paityn, 9  around 5 p.m. but had not returned them by 8 p.m., court documents said. Calls to his phone also went straight to voicemail.

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Drug trafficker sentenced to 15 years in prison after largest meth bust in Oregon history

The mother also told police that it was unlike Decker not to call if he was going to return the girls late.

The detective said she expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and  is currently experiencing some mental health issues.

Washington State Patrol launched an Endangered Missing Person Alert on Saturday.

Over the weekend, authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates.

Police, along with the FBI, worked to narrow down the search area Monday and found Deckers truck near the Rock Island campground, about 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee. According to an affidavit, Chelan County Sheriffs Office deputies found the girls bodies about 75 to 100 yards away from the truck, The Seattle Times reported. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said.

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Man suffers traumatic injury after excavator bucket falls on him

Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Washington Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren told The Associated Press. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time.

Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge for him, Shagren said.

A reward of up to $20,000 is available for information leading directly to his arrest. Wednesday morning, federal agents joined the search for Decker, Nexstars KOIN reported.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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As Nick Adamski sat in a Milwaukee firehouse watching Diane Pathieu anchor the WTMJ-TV morning news, he turned to his fellow firefighters and set his destiny.

"I'm going to marry that girl some day," he declared.

Maybe it was Adamski's plan all along, but Pathieu was approached by a colleague of Adamski's while at the O.A.R. concert at Summerfest in 2007. He told her Adamski really liked her. Pathieu agreed to pass along her email address.

Nick Adamski, a Milwaukee firefighter from 2001 to 2013, died from brain cancer in May.

About a day later, Adamski emailed Pathieu apologizing for his colleague's approach at the concert and asked if he could take her out. Several phone calls turned into a four-hour lunch date and the couple was inseparable ever since.

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The former Milwaukee firefighter and his Chicago TV anchor wife were together for 18 years and have spent the last four years sharing Adamski's story of courage as he battled glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, after a December 2020 diagnosis.

He lost that battle with cancer on May 27. He was 42.

Adamski worked for seven different units from 2001 to 2013, when he injured himself on the job and had to retire from firefighting.

Adamski was recognized with an award by the Milwaukee Fire Department after saving an infant from a fire in 2003.

"That is a rescue award under extreme fire conditions at tremendous risk to the firefighter himself," Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said June 3.

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"You never know until you're faced with these circumstances if you'll be able to move past how hot and dismal it is inside burning buildings."

Adamski didn't share his award with his wife until they moved in together when they got married in 2012.

"I never talk about it," Pathieu recalled her husband saying. "There was this fire and there was this baby."

Pathieu said Adamski then described finding a baby in the fire who was not breathing before reviving the baby and bringing the baby back to life.

Lipski said that child, at last check, survived severe burn injuries "over much of his body."

Nick Adamski, a Milwaukee firefighter from 2001 to 2013, died from brain cancer in May.

Pathieu said Adamski always "wanted to keep that inside" and that he "cherished it."

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He asked his wife to not share it with others.

Adamski also never told his wife the whole truth of how he injured himself while on the job, ending his firefighting career. A fellow Milwaukee firefighter of Adamski's shared with Pathieu in recent days that Adamski hurt his knee "so bad, it popped" after he bent down to catch a colleague that was falling, putting his own body at risk.

Nick Adamski, a former Milwaukee firefighter, and Diane Pathieu, a former Milwaukee journalist, had been together 18 years until Adamski died from brain cancer in May.

"I learned that after his death," Pathieu said. "That's the type of person Nick is."

Dreamed of being athlete, found a life of service

Adamski didn't dream of being a firefighter but a professional athlete. He was born and raised in Milwaukee and "his whole family" still lives in the area, Pathieu said.

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He attended Milwaukee Tech High School, what is now known as Bradley Tech in Walker's Point.

Nick Adamski, a former Milwaukee firefighter, died from brain cancer in May.

After injuring himself, he could no longer play sports, and Adamski "had to pivot" on career plans and was into cars after studying them in high school, Pathieu said. But he ultimately settled on a life of service.

"I think he was thinking about either the police department or the fire department," Pathieu said. "I think he became more of a person who wanted to help others as he got older."

According to Lipski, Adamski was appointed to the department in October 2001 and went on duty disability in April 2013. He worked at Ladder 15, Engine 11, Engine 23, Ladder 14, Engine 31, Engine 14 and Engine 33.

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Pathieu said she got to know a lot of his fellow firefighters over the years.

"A lot of them were at our wedding," she said. "He had a very strong connection to a lot of his brothers and sisters at the fire department and he would talk about them all the time."

Having dated Adamski since 2007 and after working in the Milwaukee market for several years with WTMJ-TV, Pathieu received a job offer in her native Chicago.

She would split time between Chicago and Milwaukee, working and trying to spend as much time as she could with Adamski. Her Assyrian background forbids her from living with a partner until marriage, she said.

Nick Adamski, a former Milwaukee firefighter, and Diane Pathieu, a former Milwaukee journalist, had been together 18 years until Adamski died from brain cancer in May.

"It was getting a little bit more challenging because I was getting more hours," Pathieu said.

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Adamski proposed on Valentine's Day 2012, the couple got married in October of that year and Adamski moved to Chicago full time in 2014. They'd still often travel back to Milwaukee, Pathieu said.

Adamski suffered seizure around Christmas 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adamski decided to build a gym in the basement of the couple's home, where he and his father-in-law would work out in the morning.

A couple days before Christmas in 2020, Pathieu's father arrived at the home to work out and there was no sign of Adamski.

"Nick wasn't answering the door and all the lights were off and that was very rare for Nick because we both are very early risers," Pathieu said.

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Pathieu, who was anchoring the news at the time, had her dad stay at the house as she furiously called and texted her husband, with no luck.

Then, during a commercial break, Adamski was able to make a call to Pathieu.

"I said, 'Are you OK?' And he said, "No," Pathieu said.

Pathieu called 911 and an ambulance arrived, where Adamski was found having recently suffered from a seizure. He was transported to a hospital. As Pathieu arrived at the hospital, doctors informed her that Adamski received a CAT scan and large tumor on his brain was discovered.

Doctors believed it to be glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.

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"Within the next day, so 24 hours later, he was unconscious with a breathing tube," Pathieu said. "And he had a huge brain bleed and they said, we need to go in and operate. We don't have a choice."

Pathieu sat alone in a hospital waiting room, amid COVID-19 restrictions, "bawling my eyes out" and no comfort from loved ones. The surgeon comes out hours later and delivers the news.

"We got the whole tumor. It's clean," he said.

Nick Adamski, a former Milwaukee firefighter, and Diane Pathieu, a former Milwaukee journalist, had been together 18 years until Adamski died from brain cancer in May.

Relief set in for Pathieu. "They got the tumor, everything's all good," she said.

But that was just the beginning for Adamski. "We quickly learned what kind of beast we were up against," Pathieu said.

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Adamski was in the hospital for a week or two after surgery before starting radiation, then chemotherapy, immunotherapy and different medications.

The couple attempted to fight back the cancer and developed an understanding of methylation profiling, which is genetic testing on the cancer or tumor and finding medications that are not necessarily for that cancer but could work as treatment.

"For example, the gene that they found in Nick's cancer, a drug that tackled bladder cancer, was effective on Nick's brain cancer, and that's because they both had the same gene," Pathieu said.

When Adamski came to an understanding of the disease he was up against, he wanted to share his story.

"He said, 'That's why I became a firefighter. I think that's why this happened to me. I just need to help people," Pathieu said.

From that point forward, Adamski and Pathieu, who already developed an online presence as a journalist, gave speeches and interviews to different podcasts and TV programs, like "Good Morning America."

"I think he felt more empowered and he felt like he was taking control of his health again, and he felt really good connecting with other patients," Pathieu said.

Adamski had a mantra while becoming more known in the medical community  Positive Mental Attitude, or PMA. He adopted it as a way of life after reading "The PMA Effect," a book by motivational speaker John Joseph.

Nick Adamski and wife Diane Pathieu address an audience about his battle with brain cancer.

"People made bracelets. They had T-shirts made," Pathieu said. "It was kind of his way of offering hope in a very hopeless situation."

Everything seemed to be going well until June 2023, when Adamski had another brain surgery, and then second surgery in May 2024.

"A tumor had dug itself deeper, so it started to affect his mobility," Pathieu said, describing how her husband's ability to walk or talk began to deteriorate subtly. Adamski also began to have seizures more often.

The seizures became more intense in January 2025 and soon Adamski was back in the hospital. Adamski would never return home, except for a brief stay in hospice care at-home, before dying in May at a different hospice care facility.

Milwaukee celebration of life planned

Pathieu and her family helped care for Adamski in his final months. She recently took off from her role as traffic anchor with WLS-TV in Chicago and has made several tribute posts to her husband on Instagram.

A service was held for Adamski in Chicago on May 31 and then an Assyrian prayer breakfast was held in his honor on June 1.

A Milwaukee celebration of life is taking place June 6 at The Packing House, 900 E. Layton Ave., where Adamski and Pathieu routinely met for drinks after work on Fridays, near his then-firehouse in Bay View.

Pathieu expects Adamski's favorite orders from the bar to be available and maybe a few of his favorite musicians will be played. Adamski was a big music fan, lover of heavy metal and international bands, especially Ozzy Osbourne.

"People would often tell me they ran into Nick at a concert," Pathieu said.

An honor guard by the fire department will be present.

"Friday is really meant to be what Nick always wanted his memorial to be, which is a bar and good laughter and friends," Pathieu said.

Milwaukee firefighters die of cancer in recent years

Adamski was in the same fire academy class as Doran Kemp Jr., another Milwaukee firefighter who died of the same form of brain cancer in June 2024.

Kemp followed in the footsteps of his father, Doran Kemp Sr., who was also a firefighter.

"Nick was friendly with both (Kemp Jr.) and his father," Pathieu said.

Cancer is a leading cause of death for firefighters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lipski said the firefighters "feel terrible," but are struck by how lucky Adamski was to have a "positive" and "strong" partner in Pathieu. While for Pathieu, it was Adamski that kept her motivated.

"He was the love of my life, my soulmate, that whole cheesy thing, and we were best friends," Pathieu said. "I was just as obsessed with him as he was with me."

Adamski is survived by his wife, Pathieu; his parents; stepfather; in-laws; brother; two sisters-in-law; two nieces and a nephew. Pathieu partnered with a nonprofit researching glioblastoma. To make a donation visit fundraise.gbmresearch.org/campaign/694156/donate.

"He was someone who embodied positivity and just wanted to carry that on," Pathieu said. "And he did it so humbly and so eloquently and so beautifully.

"They just don't make them like Nick anymore. They really don't."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Milwaukee firefighter Adamski dies from brain cancer at 42
By Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is training and advising Syria's armed forces and helping improve its defences, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops stationed there, Defence Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters.

Turkey has emerged as a key foreign ally of Syria's new government since rebels - some of them backed for years by Ankara - ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to end his family's five-decade rule.

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It has promised to help rebuild neighbouring Syria and facilitate the return of millions of Syrian civil war refugees, and played a key role last month getting U.S. and European sanctions on Syria lifted.

The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risked a standoff or worse in Syria between the regional powers.

In written answers to questions from Reuters, Guler said Turkey and Israel - which carried out its latest airstrikes on southern Syria late on Tuesday - are continuing de-confliction talks to avoid military accidents in the country.

Turkey's overall priority in Syria is preserving its territorial integrity and unity, and ridding it of terrorism, he said, adding Ankara was supporting Damascus in these efforts.

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"We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defence capacity," Guler said, without elaborating on those steps.

Named to the post by President Tayyip Erdogan two years ago, Guler said it was too early to discuss possible withdrawal or relocation of the more than 20,000 Turkish troops in Syria.

Ankara controlled swathes of northern Syria and established dozens of bases there after several cross-border operations in recent years against Kurdish militants it deems terrorists.

This can "only be re-evaluated when Syria achieves peace and stability, when the threat of terrorism in the region is fully removed, when our border security is fully ensured, and when the honourable return of people who had to flee is done," he said.

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NATO member Turkey has accused Israel of undermining Syrian peace and rebuilding with its military operations there in recent months and, since late 2023, has also fiercely criticised Israel's assault on Gaza.

But the two regional powers have been quietly working to establish a de-confliction mechanism in Syria.

Guler described the talks as "technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events" or direct conflict, as well as "a communication and coordination structure".

"Our efforts to form this line and make it fully operational continue. Yet it should not be forgotten that the de-confliction mechanism is not a normalisation," he told Reuters.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Toby Chopra)
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States assesses that Ukraine's drone attack over the weekend hit as many as 20 Russian warplanes, destroying around 10 of them, two U.S. officials told Reuters, a figure that is about half the number estimated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Still, the U.S. officials described the attack as highly significant, with one of them cautioning that it could drive Moscow to a far more severe negotiating position in the U.S.-brokered talks to end more than three years of war.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone conversation on Wednesday that Moscow would have to respond to attack, Trump said in a social media post.

Trump added it "was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace."

Ukraine says it targeted four air bases across Russia using 117 unmanned aerial vehicles launched from containers close to the targets, in an operation codenamed "Spider's Web."

It released footage on Wednesday showing its drones striking Russian strategic bombers and landing on the dome antennas of two A-50 military spy planes, of which there are only a handful in Russia's fleet.

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The two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, estimated the Ukrainian strikes destroyed around 10 and hit up to 20 warplanes in total.

That estimate is far lower than the one Zelenskiy offered to reporters in Kyiv earlier on Wednesday. He said half of the 41 Russian aircraft struck were too damaged to be repaired.

Reuters could not independently verify the numbers from Kyiv or the United States.

Russia, which prioritizes its nuclear forces as a deterrent to the United States and NATO, urged the United States and Britain on Wednesday to restrain Kyiv after the attacks. Russia and the United States together hold about 88% of all nuclear weapons.

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The United States says it was not given any notice by Kyiv ahead of the attack.

The war in Ukraine is intensifying despite nearly four months of efforts by Trump, who says he wants peace after the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Russian and Ukrainian embassies also did not immediately reply.

ESCALATION RISK

Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, said the damage to Russia caused by the operation amounted to $7 billion, and 34% of the strategic cruise missile carriers at Russia's main airfields were hit.

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Commercial satellite imagery taken after the Ukrainian drone attack shows what experts told Reuters appear to be damaged Russian Tu-95 heavy bombers and Tu-22 Backfires, long-range, supersonic strategic bombers that Russia has used to launch missile strikes against Ukraine.

Russia's Defence Ministry has acknowledged that Ukraine targeted airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions and were repelled in the last three locations. It has also said several aircraft caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions.

The attack has bolstered Ukrainian morale after months of unrelenting Russian battlefield pressure and numerous powerful missile and drone strikes by Moscow's forces.

It also demonstrated that Kyiv, even as it struggles to halt invading Russian forces, can surprise Moscow deep inside its own territory with attacks up to 4,300 km (2,670 miles) from the front lines.

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Influential Russian military bloggers have accused Russian authorities, especially the aerospace command, of negligence and complacency for allowing the nuclear-capable bombers to be targeted.

Trump's Ukraine envoy said the risk of escalation from the war in Ukraine was "going way up," particularly since Kyiv had struck one leg of Russia's "nuclear triad," or weapons on land, in the air and at sea.

"In the national security space, when you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their triad, the nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side is going to do," Trump's envoy, Keith Kellogg, told Fox News on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Rod Nickel)
Duni Group, a supplier of dining and food packaging solutions, has acquired an 80% stake in LinePack, a Finnish company specialising in automated packaging solutions for the food industry, strengthening Duni's Food Packaging Solutions division.

The acquisition will also enhance Dunis Duniform brand by integrating advanced technology and local Finnish expertise.

LinePack's incorporation into Duni Group is expected to double the latter's food packaging revenue in the Finnish market.

This acquisition will enable Duni Group to offer a more comprehensive and technically sophisticated range of products and services, backed by in-depth technical knowledge.

Duni Group Food Packaging Solutions chief officer Nicklas Lauwell said: "LinePack has built a strong position through technical excellence and close customer relationships. By becoming part of Duni Group, LinePack gains access to resources and networks that can further accelerate its development.

For us, this is a strategically important step to grow in an area where demand for sustainable and efficient solutions is rapidly increasing.

LinePack provides professional design, equipment, installation, maintenance, and provision of spare parts for automated packaging systems.

LinePack CEO Sami Maenpaa said: "Joining Duni Group gives us access to a larger customer base, broader market channels, and resources that will enable us to grow faster and deliver even more value to our customers.

"We look forward to combining our technical expertise with Duni Groups strengths and jointly driving the development of next-generation packaging solutions."

LinePack has an annual turnover of approximately 2m ($2.2m) and a workforce of six employees.

In September 2024, Duni Group announced plans to develop a new warehouse hub in Meppen, Germany.

"Duni Group acquires LinePack to enhance food packaging solutions" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




(Corrects paragraph 14 to clarify the incidents were unintentional)

By Lisa Barrington, Shivansh Tiwary and Joanna Plucinska

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, executives say, as carriers grapple with missiles and drones, airspace closures, location spoofing and the shoot-down of another passenger flight.

Airlines are racking up costs and losing market share from cancelled flights and expensive re-routings, often at short notice. The aviation industry, which prides itself on its safety performance, is investing more in data and security planning.

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"Flight planning in this kind of environment is extremely difficult  The airline industry thrives on predictability, and the absence of this will always drive greater cost," said Guy Murray, who leads aviation security at European carrier TUI Airline.

With increasing airspace closures around Russia and Ukraine, throughout the Middle East, between India and Pakistan and in parts of Africa, airlines are left with fewer route options.

"Compared to five years ago, more than half of the countries being overflown on a typical Europe-Asia flight would now need to be carefully reviewed before each flight," said Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East since October 2023 led to commercial aviation sharing the skies with short-notice barrages of drones and missiles across major flight paths  some of which were reportedly close enough to be seen by pilots and passengers.

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Russian airports, including in Moscow, are now regularly shut down for brief periods due to drone activity, while interference with navigation systems, known as GPS spoofing or jamming, is surging around political fault lines worldwide.

When hostilities broke out between India and Pakistan last month, the neighbours blocked each other's aircraft from their respective airspace.

"Airspace should not be used as a retaliatory tool, but it is," Nick Careen, International Air Transport Association (IATA) senior vice president for operations, safety and security, told reporters at the airline body's annual meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Isidre Porqueras, chief operating officer at Indian carrier IndiGo, said the recent diversions were undoing efforts to reduce emissions and increase airline efficiencies.

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WORST-CASE SCENARIO

Finances aside, civil aviation's worst-case scenario is a plane being hit, accidentally or intentionally, by weaponry.

In December, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. The plane was accidentally shot down by Russian air defences, according to Azerbaijan's president and Reuters sources.

In October, a cargo plane was shot down in Sudan, killing five people.

Six commercial aircraft have been shot down unintentionally, with three near-misses since 2001, according to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions.

Governments need to share information more effectively to keep civil aviation secure as conflict zones proliferate, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said this week.

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Safety statistics used by the commercial aviation industry show a steady decline in accidents over the past two decades, but these do not include security-related incidents such as being hit by weaponry.

IATA said in February that accidents and incidents related to conflict zones were a top concern for aviation safety requiring urgent global coordination.

TOUGH CHOICES

Each airline decides where to travel based on a patchwork of government notices, security advisers, and information-sharing between carriers and states, leading to divergent policies.

The closure of Russian airspace to most Western carriers since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022 put them at a cost disadvantage compared to airlines from places like China, India and the Middle East that continue to take shorter northern routes that need less fuel and fewer crew.

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Shifting risk calculations mean Singapore Airlines' flight SQ326 from Singapore to Amsterdam has used three different routes into Europe in just over a year, Flightradar24 tracking data shows.

When reciprocal missile and drone attacks broke out between Iran and Israel in April 2024, it started crossing previously avoided Afghanistan instead of Iran.

Last month, its route shifted again to avoid Pakistan's airspace as conflict escalated between India and Pakistan. Flight SQ326 now reaches Europe via the Persian Gulf and Iraq. Singapore Airlines did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Pilots and flight attendants are also worried about how the patchwork of shifting risk might impact their safety.

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"IATA says airlines should decide if it's safe to fly over conflict zones, not regulators. But history shows commercial pressures can cloud those decisions," said Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, which represents pilots.

Flight crew typically have the right to refuse a trip due to concerns about airspace, whether over weather or conflict zones, IATA security head Careen said.

"Most airlines, in fact, I would say the vast majority of them, do not want crew on an aircraft if they don't feel comfortable flying," he said.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul, Shivansh Tiwary in New Delhi, Joanna Plucinska in London; Additional reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in New Delhi; Editing by Jamie Freed)
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A driver safety program is scheduled for next week, which local authorities say is aimed at enhancing safety in the Shreveport community.

The Shreveport Police Department (SPD) will conduct a seatbelt safety checkpoint, the effort is funded by a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. In a press release SPD reveals the goal is to identify and ensure compliance with Louisianas occupant protection laws, particularly regarding seatbelt use.

Checkpoint Details:

Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location: Eastern region of Shreveport

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The checkpoint will not be limited to seatbelt violations; officers may also enforce other traffic laws as necessary. The department hopes this operation reduces fatalities and serious injuries from crashes involving unrestrained motorists.

SPD says officers will be fully engaged in their duties during this operation to ensure the safety of all roadway users.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A deadly road rage incident on Monday along a Las Vegas freeway involving a knife and gunfire has renewed focus on Nevadas Stand Your Ground law.

Knife-wielding man killed in road rage incident turned deadly shooting on Las Vegas valley freeway

The person identified by police as the shooter was not expected to face any criminal charges. Nevada has a clear Stand Your Ground law, and killing a man coming at you with a knife falls in that category.

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If you are in your home or your vehicle, and it is occupied, and you believe someone is coming in with some sort of violent intent, then you have a right to use force. Even deadly force, Liz Bauer, who was an attorney at Rosenblum Allen at the time of the interview, said.

Thats what the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said happened on Monday night along the Southern 215 beltway between Jones and Rainbow boulevards. The crash was reportedly a minor fender bender.

According to police, a driver who rear-ended a car exited their vehicle to make sure the other driver was okay.

However, the male driver who was hit reportedly got out of his car with a knife and then began slashing the tires of the car that crashed into him, police said.

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The driver with the firearm came out of the car, told the individual to get away, at which time he lunged forward, causing the driver to fire his firearm, LVMPD Lt. Robert Price said Monday night.

Bauer said self-defense falls under Nevadas Stand Your Ground law. It states what she describes as someone needing to have reasonable fear before taking deadly action.

The law also carves out a difference between self-defense in ones home or vehicle and in a public place, such as a shopping mall.

Stand Your Ground allows you to fight back but not with over-the-top force. So, you cant shoot the person in the head because theyre punching you if you can get away safely, Bauer said.

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The Clark County Coroners office has yet to release the identity of the man who was killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, the shooter rendered aid before emergency responders arrived. Police detained that person for a time but then let them go.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

An analysis of bones from ancient people who once lived in Colombia has discovered DNA that does not directly connect them to any other ancient or modern population in South America.

It is thought that these people might somehow be related to speakers of Chibchan languages, which are spoken in the area where they once lived.

More genomic research will be needed to demystify who these unknown people were and whose ancestors they might be.

Around 6,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers who migrated south settled in the Bogota Altiplano of what is now Colombia, transitioning to an agricultural society over the next 4,000 years. Then they vanished.

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Whoever these people were, they disappeared from the genetic record. The team of researchers who discovered them through fragmented DNA in their skeletal remains have not been able to find any ancient relatives or modern descendants. They are strangely not related to Indigenous Columbians, having more of a connection to people who now live on the Isthmus of Panama and speak Chibchan languages. It could be possible that they spread through the region, mixing with local populations for so long that their genes were diluted, but no one can be sure.

Genetics tell the story of how the Americas were populated by the ancestors of modern Indigenous people. Their origins lie in Siberian and East Asian groups who are thought to have first mixed 20,000 years ago, during the Late Paleolithic, later crossing a bridge of ice to North America some 16,000 years ago. It was then that this lineage split into northern Native American and southern Native American lines. While the northern Native American ancestry is mostly made up of populations that stayed in North America, three more lineages branched into southern Native American ancestry, which would reach further south.

The Isthmo-Colombian area, stretching from the coast of Honduras to the northern Colombian Andes, is critical to understanding the peopling of the Americas, the researchers said in a study recently published in Science Advances. Besides being the land bridge between North and South America, it is at the center of the three major cultural regions of Mesoamerica, Amazonia, and the Andes.

Each southern Native American lineage can be traced back to its earliest ancestors. There is one line descending from the Anzick-1 individual discovered in 1968, when construction workers unearthed the 12,700-year-old skull of a child belonging to the Clovis people, one of the earliest known peoples in the Americas. This young boy is related to modern Indigenous people from North, Central and South America. Another lineage that is found in the Central Andes comes from ancient people living in Californias Channel Islands. Yet another lineage, also descended from the Clovis population, is associated with the oldest Central and South Americans from Belize, Brazil and Chile.

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When exactly these populations appeared in Central and South America is still mostly unknown, but they must have arrived by traveling over the land bridge that connects the southernmost part of Central America to the South American subcontinent. There is also a linguistic connection. Speakers of Chibchan languages share some genetic and cultural aspects with the mysterious people who cannot be traced directly to any population.

When and where the ancestral Proto-Chibchan language originated is unclear, but distinct languages are thought to have started evolving from it several thousand years ago, possibly in southern Central America. Chibchan speakers in this region have kept the largest number of these languages alive. While genetic analysis of local Indigenous people has shown that they are related to more ancient speakers of Chibchan languages, some findings suggest that they are not directly descended from the first people to settle in that part of Colombia.

By studying both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and genome-wide data from 21 ancient individuals who lived in this region from 6,000 to 500 years ago, the researchers were able to find out some information about who they were, but not all the answers. More ancient Panamanians were found to be related to modern Chibchan speakers than ancient Colombians. However, Indigenous Chibchan speakers from Central America are the modern population genetically closest to ancient Colombians who lived after 2,000 years ago.

Many groups who were around at the same time and spoke similar languages to the unknown people still need further investigation.

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Ancient genomic data from neighboring areas along the Northern Andes that have not yet been analyzed through ancient genomics, the researchers said, such as western Colombia, western Venezuela, and Ecuador, will be pivotal to better define the timing and ancestry sources of human migrations into South America.

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A spotted lanternfly sighting in Tennessee has prompted officials to warn residents about the invasive species and the problems that come with them.

What's happening?

According to The Tennessean, Tennessee is one of 18 states to report spotted lanternfly sightings as of January 2025. The Tennessee Division of Natural Areas said the latest sighting came from the state forestry division.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species native to several countries in Asia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the invasive insects, which were first seen in the U.S. in 2014, likely arrived in the country on goods shipped from overseas.

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"This pest is known to attack more than 70 species of plants, including several important agricultural crops and a variety of other fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, and vines," the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas said. "This insect also feeds on maple, walnut, and poplar."

While spotted lanternflies feed on various plant species, the insects prefer another invasive species: the tree of heaven. The Tennessean described spotted lanternflies as plant stressors that make them "more susceptible to other insects and diseases."

Why is slowing the spread of spotted lanternfly important?

Invasive species like the spotted lanternfly can negatively impact the environment, the economy, and even human health. They disrupt ecosystems by reproducing quickly and outcompeting native animals and plants for resources needed to survive. As a result, native species can become endangered or go extinct.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, human activities are primarily responsible for the unintentional spread of invasive species. The overheating planet is also a factor. Warmer temperatures and changes in weather patterns can influence some invasive plant species to move into other regions, per NWF.

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Invasive species also jeopardize the global food supply by reducing food and shelter for pollinators. Pollinators are crucial for crop production and diversity. In fact, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture reported that 35% of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to produce.

What's being done about invasive species?

In regard to the spotted lanternfly, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture urged residents to take pictures, complete pest identification forms, and eliminate the insects. Officials also recommended checking vehicles to make sure there are no spotted lanternflies hidden among belongings.

Researchers and volunteers alike have attempted to curb the spread of various invasive species. Meanwhile, homeowners can also help mitigate the spread by rewilding their yards with native plants.

Native plants are better for pollinators, which is helpful for our food supply. Native plant species also require less water and chemicals, allowing homeowners to save more money.

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.




DENVER (KDVR)  A passenger was pinned inside a sedan after a crash at a Lakewood intersection on Tuesday, leading to firefighters removing the vehicles roof to get them out safely.

The crash occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of West Exposition and South Lee Court and involved a delivery truck and a four-door Honda sedan.

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The driver of the truck had minor injuries. Both people in the sedan were injured; the driver sustained minor injuries while the passenger was in critical condition while pinned inside the car.

West Metro Fire Rescue said that firefighters had to remove the roof of the car to get the cars occupants out safely.

A passenger in a sedan was pinned after a crash involving a delivery truck in Lakewood on Tuesday, June 3. (Courtesy West Metro Fire Rescue) A passenger in a sedan was pinned after a crash involving a delivery truck in Lakewood on Tuesday, June 3. (Courtesy West Metro Fire Rescue) A passenger in a sedan was pinned after a crash involving a delivery truck in Lakewood on Tuesday, June 3. (Courtesy West Metro Fire Rescue)

While we train for this type of extrication, its rare to have to remove a roof to access patients and get them out safely, but the extent of damage to the vehicle made it necessary, West Metro Fire Rescue commented in its post on Facebook.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexicans over age 60 and adults with disabilities who are enrolled in SNAP will receive additional funds to help buy groceries this month.

Story continues below

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The New Mexico Health Care Authority, in partnership with the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, is providing a one-time food benefit of $68. This benefit will be automatically added to 29,444 individuals EBT cards.

Officials said it is part of the states ongoing efforts to reduce hunger and improve access to nutritious food. Using state general funds to create extra benefits for seniors and people with disabilities is a great example of how strong interdepartmental partnerships can better serve New Mexicans in need, said Kyra Ochoa, deputy cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority.

For questions about the supplemental benefit, contact the Health Care Authority at 1-800-283-4465

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EAU CLAIRE  The Chippewa Valley Air Show has announced a new flyover involving the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

The Madison-based 115th Fighter Wing will fly two F-35 Lightning II fighters over the show on Saturday. Among the most advanced fighters anywhere, the F-35 is a supersonic plane with advanced stealth features and a unique profile. It is flown by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, along with several allied nations.

The announcement of the F-35 visit adds to a show that already includes the U.S. Navys Blue Angels and the Air Forces F-16 Viper demonstration team. the show takes place June 28 and 29.
Claim:

A screenshot shared on social media authentically showed a Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump demanding people "stop calling me names" and listing nicknames he "will not tolerate being called."

Rating:

Rating: Fake

On May 31, 2025, social media users shared an image that appeared to be a screenshot of a post from U.S. President Donald Trump's Truth Social account. In the alleged post, Trump demanded that people stop calling him names and listed nicknames he "will not tolerate being called."

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"STOP CALLING ME NAMES!" the first sentence of the alleged post read. The post went on to list a handful of nicknames, including "TACO," "Man-Baby," "Tiny Hands," "Grifter-in-Chief," "Don the Con" and "DonOld."

"Don't make me throw ketchup at the wall, because I will," the alleged post's last sentence read.

The alleged screenshot included Truth Social's verified red check next to Trump's name and more than 4,000 ReTruths, the term Truth Social uses for reposts.

Posts sharing the purported screenshot appeared on X (archived), Facebook (archived) and Reddit (archived). One X post sharing the claim garnered more than 1.5 million views and 30,000 likes, as of this writing.

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However, there is no evidence of this post on Trump's official Truth Social account. Therefore, we've rated this post as a fake.

We searched Trump's account (archived) and did not find any posts that include the text shared in screenshots on social media.

The website Trump's Truth  which archives every post from Trump's official Truth Social account, including deleted ones  also had no record (archive) of Trump ever posting, "Don't make me throw ketchup at the wall, because I will."

A Google search for the phrase "STOP CALLING ME NAMES" limited to links with the URL for Trump's official Truth Social account did not return any results. There's no evidence that the post appeared on any of Trump's other social media accounts, either.

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Snopes reached out to the White House about the post's authenticity. A spokesperson asked whether we had seen the post on the president's Truth Social account but did not provide further comment.

It's unclear who originally posted the fake screenshot on social media.

We have looked into a number of fake Truth Social posts that have been falsely attributed to the president over the years. It is easy for people to create fake posts for Truth Social and other social media platforms using online generators.

Sources:

Truth Social. @realdonaldtrump. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump. Accessed 3 June 2025.

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"Trump's Truth." Trump's Truth, https://trumpstruth.org. Accessed 3 June 2025.

Google search for the phrase "STOP CALLING ME NAMES" limited to links containing truthsocial.com/@realdonaldtrump. Accessed 3 June 2025.

Search of Trump's official social media accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook. Accessed 3 June 2025.
Claim:

A video shows French President Emmanuel Macron removing a bag of cocaine from a table as journalists entered the train cabin where he was meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Rating:

Rating: Miscaptioned

Context:

Enlarged photographs and video footage show the white object Macron removed from the table and stuffed in his pocket was a tissue. This was also confirmed by the French government.

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A persistent rumor claimed French President Emmanuel Macron hid a bag of cocaine from photographers while on a train to Ukraine with the leaders of Germany and the U.K. The rumor began in early May and continued to spread through the month.

A video (archived) showed the three leaders sit down and Macron allegedly hiding a bag of cocaine as journalists entered the cabin to take photographs. He was seated alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The video was shared on X by numerous right-wing figures including Alex Jones and Dinesh D'Souza, as well as pro-Russian accounts. Some of these posts also claimed Merz hid a "spoon" used to ingest the cocaine.

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D'Souza reposted the below video in early May and again on May 27, 2025, stating:

(X user @DineshDSouza)

Reposting this. Three men and a bag of white powder. Notice how Macron sneakily and deftly swipes it out of the camera's view. The German chancellor Merz takes care of the spoon. "We weren't doin' nothin'."

While the video footage is real, the claim is not. We looked closely at the footage and Getty Images photographs of the gathering and found the item was simply a crumpled tissue. As such, we rate the video referred to in this claim as miscaptioned.

According to authentic video footage from AFP, the three leaders were recorded shaking hands aboard a train to Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 9. In the minute before they sit down, they were fully aware of being filmed and no one attempted to hide the white object on the table. It is only when Macron and the others sit down to pose for photographs that he removes the white object from the table. Merz also picks up a small item from the table and appears to fiddle with it.

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These Getty Images photographs of the items on the table were taken by Ludovic Marin and Kay Nietfeld, and showed Macron, Merz and Starmer laughing around the table before they sat down:

(LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP/Getty Images)

(Kay Nietfeld/Getty Images)

We zoomed in on one image and found the large, white item was very clearly a crumpled piece of tissue. We were unable to determine precisely what the item Merz picked up actually was, but some X users described it as a cocktail skewer. In any case, it in no way resembled a spoon.

(LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP/Getty Images)

Not long after the video began circulating, some users, Alex Jones among them, began sharing what appeared to be an enlargement of the image and claiming, again, that it showed "a bag of Blow."

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(X user @RealAlexJones)

However, the image had been digitally edited to add the sort of textures and highlights one would see if the item actually was a plastic bag full of cocaine. The verified X account of Elysee Palace, Macron's official residence, rejected the claim on May 11, releasing a statement and an un-manipulated photograph of the white object:

When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs. This fake news is being spread by France's enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation.

The X post also stated: "This is a tissue. For blowing your nose."

When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.



This fake news is being spread by Frances enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr  Elysee (@Elysee) May 11, 2025

This was not the first time public figures and politicians were accused on social media of using cocaine. We have covered incorrect claims about Donald Trump Jr. and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy using cocaine. Zelenskyy in particular is a common target of such rumors. During the course of the Russia-Ukraine war, we fact-checked digitally edited footage that falsely showed cocaine on his desk during a video call with Elon Musk.

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While the video footage above is real, it is not evidence that the three leaders had cocaine in the room, nor that they attempted to "hide" any materials tied to cocaine.

Sources:

"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Of..." Getty Images, 10 May 2025, https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/dpatop-09-may-2025-poland-przemysl-german-chancellor-news-photo/2213665988. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Ibrahim, Nur. "Was Cocaine on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Desk During Video Chat With Elon Musk?" Snopes, 4 May 2022, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/volodymyr-zelenskyy-cocaine-video/. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Ibrahim, Nur. "Was Zelenskyy High on Cocaine During February 2024 NBC Interview?" Snopes, 26 Feb. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/zelenskyy-cocaine-nbc-interview/. Accessed 12 May 2025.

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Liles, Jordan. "No, Video of Donald Trump Jr. Doesn't Show Him Using Cocaine at Inauguration." Snopes, 24 Jan. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/donald-trump-jr-cocaine-inauguration-video/. Accessed 12 May 2025.

"Macron, Merz and Starmer Meet Aboard a Train to Kyiv." AFP, 9 May 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sz6cIACfB0. Accessed 12 May 2025.

"Macron's Office Hits Back at Claims He Brought Cocaine on Kyiv Train." POLITICO, 12 May 2025, https://www.politico.eu/article/french-presidency-emmanuel-macron-out-cocaine-totting-fake-news/. Accessed 12 May 2025.

"TOPSHOT - Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer Gestures during a..." Getty Images, 9 May 2025, https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/britains-prime-minister-keir-starmer-gestures-during-a-news-photo/2213651245. Accessed 12 May 2025.


Greg Hands served as trade minister before losing his seat in last summers election - Tolga Akmen/AFP

The Czech billionaire who has taken over Royal Mail has hired a former Conservative minister to advise him on his business interests.

Greg Hands, who served as trade minister before losing his seat in last summers election, will take up the role of special adviser to Daniel Kretinsky.

Mr Kretinskys EP Group said Mr Hands would provide strategic counsel focused on regulatory and market developments in the UK and Germany.

It said the appointment would help the company to expand its portfolio across both countries, aligning with the companys commitment to secure and sustainable energy solutions.

It comes just weeks after Mr Kretinsky secured his 3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail in a deal that resulted in the postal service falling into foreign ownership for the first time in its 500-year history.

Daniel Kretinsky recently secured the 3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail - David W Cerny/Reuters

In addition to Royal Mail, EP UK owns a number of energy assets in the UK, including a gas-fired power plant in Stallingborough and the South Humber Bank station, both in Lincolnshire.

EP has enjoyed surging profits in recent years thanks to market turmoil sparked by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It is also one of a handful of energy companies to have cashed in millions of pounds when Britains wind farms are turned off because of congestion on the grid.

Mr Kretinsky said: We are delighted to welcome Greg Hands to EP Group. His deep understanding of the UK and German business and energy landscapes, coupled with his extensive experience in government and international trade, will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving sectors in these key markets.

Greg has unique capabilities for the job, including fluency in German and good Czech, and understands many of our markets very well.

Mr Hands said: I have known Daniel Kretinsky for a long time, and I know that EP Group has a strong track record in energy and infrastructure.

I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and commitment to energy security and sustainable energy solutions in these regions.

While Mr Handss role appears to be focused on Mr Kretinskys energy assets, the appointment comes at a time when much of the billionaires focus is likely to be on Royal Mail.

He has outlined plans to invest heavily in parcels as he attempts to transform Royal Mail into a modern logistics giant. But he will also be required to navigate discussions with ministers and regulators over the future of Royal Mails universal service obligations, which require it to deliver six days a week at a uniform price.

Bosses have argued that stringent rules have left the company financially unsustainable amid a sharp decline in letter sending. Last month Ofcom said Royal Mail had missed its delivery targets in the latest financial year, raising the prospect of a potential fine for the third year running.
A bogus psychiatrist has been ordered to pay back the NHS more than 400,000 or face two-and-a-half more years in prison.

Zholia Alemi, 62, was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a series of fraud offences.

Alemi claimed to have qualified at the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995.

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She moved around England to different posts for more than 20 years to ensure the finger of suspicion did not point at her, the court heard.

Alemi worked more or less continuously for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, earning an estimated 1.3 million.

This week, a judge ordered her to pay 406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody.

Little regard for patient welfare

Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order.

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Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years.

In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk.

Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits of more than 1 million, to which she was not entitled.

She cheated the public purse and 406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.

The forged degree certificate used by Zholia Alemi to register to practise as a psychiatrist in the UK - Cumbria Constabulary/PA

Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient.

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Following her conviction, journalist Phil Coleman, chief reporter for Cumbrian Newspapers, made inquiries into Alemis background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told.

His inquiries led to Cumbria police to investigate Alemis background.

Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, where she failed to complete the degree required to practise as a doctor and was refused permission to resit.

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Jun. 3With the birth of her second child, Leah Lebig's one-bedroom apartment had rapidly become too cramped for her growing family.

Lebig and her husband, Anthony Lill, ended up giving their five-year-old daughter the bedroom. The couple relocated to a bed in the living room, which they shared with their newborn.

"It's small, I moved into it when I was 18, just me, and now there's three other people there. We don't fit," Lebig said.

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Getting the idea from her mom, she applied for an energy-efficient townhome at a below market price being built by volunteers from Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley.

Now the couple, which recently marked their one-year anniversary, is also celebrating becoming homeowners.

Habitat Flathead held a celebration for two newly built duplex-style townhomes on May 30. The new homeowners, their families and Habitat Flathead staff and volunteers convened on the front lawn of the property on the corner of Seventh Street West and Ninth Avenue West in Kalispell on the warm afternoon.

The homes, on which work began in September, are fitted with two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and conjoining garages. The land beneath the townhomes is owned by nonprofit Northwest Community Land Trust, which helped lower the housing cost to $200,000 under market price, according to MaryBeth Morand, executive director of Habitat Flathead.

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"They are homes that were built on faith, hope and charity," Morand said during the ceremony.

She thanked community donors and the contractors who provided their services for free or at low rates, including Ace Heating and Air who installed HVAC systems at a discount.

She also extended appreciation to the roughly dozen people who volunteered to help build the homes.

"They're the people that showed up week after week after week in any weather and built these homes with the homebuyers who were doing their sweat equity." Morand said. "Volunteers are the backbone of Habitat for Humanity."

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While Lebig and Lill are elated to get more breathing space, the road to homeownership was not easy. Habitat Flathead homeowners must log 275 hours of sweat equity, which Lebig did while pregnant with her now 6-week-old.

The two had no prior construction experience, and Lill said it was his first time using a tape measure.

"I had to learn to use power tools," Lebig said. "To do this program, you have to be hungry, you have to want it ... But it's totally worth it."

Having housing organizations like Habitat Flathead is crucial to ensuring low-income earners can continue to live in the valley, Lebig said.

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"If you don't have low-income people, then you don't have people filling low-income jobs," she said. "If you don't keep them here, I feel like the community suffers,"

Hunter D'Antuono, a photojournalist for the Flathead Beacon, is moving into the townhome just next door.

D'Antuono has rented since he moved to the Flathead Valley six years ago. Becoming a homeowner was always a distant dream. "But thanks to Habitat [Flathead], it was a viable path," he said.

D'Antuono currently lives in a 400-square-foot studio apartment west of town, but his environment has turned dangerous.

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"Some of the neighbors across the way were, shall I say, stockpiling quite a pile of meth for a long time there and guns and things like that," he said.

D'Antuono was elated to be chosen from the pool applicants and grateful to the volunteers who taught him how to build a house.

"Everything from painting to hanging drywall," he said. He also tied rebar in the driveway concrete and had lugged 30 wheelbarrows of dirt just before the celebration event began.

"I have a memory associated with every bit of trim," he said.

The homes will be move-in ready within the next couple of weeks.

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Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.

Hunter D'Antuono in front his home built by Habitat Flathead on Friday, May 30. (Jack Underhill/Daily Inter Lake)

Two newly completed townhomes built by Habitat Flathead on Friday, May 30. (Jack Underhill/Daily Inter Lake)
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV)  In a case that has captivated the community and raised profound questions about medical ethics, the trial concerning the wrongful death of 19-year-old Grace Schara commenced on Tuesday in Outagamie County court.

The young woman, who had Down syndrome, died at Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton in 2021 after contracting COVID-19.

The Schara family has launched a civil lawsuit against the hospital, alleging medical negligence, violations of informed consent, and battery.

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Wisconsin DNR: Limit time outside due to Canadian wildfire smoke

As opening statements unfolded Tuesday morning, the parents of Grace argued that their daughter was administered a combination of medicationsprecedex, lorazepam, and morphinewithout their knowledge or consent.

They contend that these drugs, rather than complications from COVID-19, led to Graces respiratory distress and ultimately her untimely death.

The family only discovered a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order had been placed on Graces chart when she was already in critical condition, prompting concerns that medical staff had failed to honor their last-minute request to change her DNR status.

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The case marks a significant moment in legal history, as it is the first to challenge the designation of COVID-19 as the primary cause of death on a death certificate.

The hospital, however, has firmly denied the allegations, asserting that Grace received appropriate care from a team of medical professionals and that her deterioration was a natural progression of her illness.

Nothing is urgent enough to destroy their life: Sheriff in Wisconsin catches driver going 105 mph in a 55 zone

During the trial, plaintiff attorney Warner Mendenhall emphasized the alarming sequence of events leading to Graces decline, stating, Instead of recognizing the life-threatening situation and reducing the medications causing the problems, this medical team did the opposite.

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In contrast, defense attorney Jason John Franckowiak argued that the claims are based on misunderstandings surrounding Graces care, asserting that the medical team acted within the accepted standard of care.

Defense attorney Randall also addressed the court, saying, We believe the evidence will show that Dr. Shokars care and treatment of Grace Schara on October 12th and 13th of 2021, met the standard of care that applied.

The emotional weight of the trial is compounded by the heartbreaking testimony from Graces mother, Cindy Schara, who recalled her daughters vibrant spirit and artistic talents.

She was so talented when it came to coloring, and she loved to leave notes for people, Cindy reflected. She learned how to play violin, she was a dancer, she was an actor, she loved to be in plays, our home-schooled plays.

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Wisconsin Department of Transportation warning residents of fake DMV link scams

As the trial unfolds, it is expected to last up to 3 weeks, drawing attention to critical issues surrounding informed consent and the rights of patients and their families in the healthcare system.

The outcome of this landmark case could have far-reaching implications for how medical decisions are made, especially during a public health crisis.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
June 4 (UPI) -- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were detaining the family of the man accused of injuring 12 in an attack targeting Jewish demonstrators in Colorado over the weekend.

"Today, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are taking the family of suspected Boulder, Colo., terrorist and illegal alien Mohamed Sabry Soliman into ICE custody," she said in a recorded statement published to X.

"Now, Mohamed's despicable actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but we're also investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack, if they had any knowledge of it or if they provided support to it."

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Soliman, an Egyptian national, is facing federal hate crime charges on accusations of wounding 12 people with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails on Sunday. The victims were attending a weekly Boulder event near the county courthouse in support of Jewish hostages held by Hamas. He is accused of shouting "free Palestine" during the attack.

DHS has said that he and his wife and five children were in the country illegally. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said he entered Canada in August 2022 on a B-2 visa that expired in February 2023 and that he filed for asylum in September.

"Six one-way Tickets for Mohamed's Wife and Five Kids," the White House said in a statement on X. "Final Boarding call coming soon.

The White House said they could be deported as soon as Tuesday night.

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The announcement comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, including targeting foreign students and immigrants who have voiced either opposition to Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza or support for Palestinians.

Since the attack, Trump administration officials have pointed to it as justification for their crackdown and plans for mass deportations. Long having blamed the former Biden administration's border policies for undocumented migrants being in the country, they now cite Soliman as an example of the consequences.

"In light of yesterday's horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump administration we will find you, revoke your visa and deport you," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Monday.
Detail of the New Mexico Corrections Department logo painted on a wall inside the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)

The family of a man who died in a New Mexico state prison last month has taken initial steps toward pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.

New Mexico State Police officers responded to the Northeastern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Clayton at 2 a.m. on May 14, according to a spokesperson for the agency.

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A spokesperson for the New Mexico Corrections Department confirmed that a person incarcerated at the prison died that morning; a State Police spokesperson identified the deceased as Eduardo Merino.

Corrections Department spokesperson Brittany Roembach told Source NM in an email that NENMCF Warden John Beaird informed Merinos family about his death at 3:11 a.m. on May 14. Roembach said the department is investigating the death.

Source NM has filed a public records request with the Office of the Medical Investigator for any reports on Merinos death.

Merinos cause of death remains unknown. According to his obituary, he died unexpectedly. The Atrisco High School graduate and father of one was 31 years old.

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Through a lawyer, Merinos fiance Nicole Yazzie on May 16 filed a petition in Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque, asking the court to appoint her as the representative of his estate for the purpose of investigating and potentially prosecuting a wrongful-death suit.

The court assigned the case to Judge Nancy Franchini. There have been no developments in the case since then, court records show.

A voicemail and an email seeking comment from the lawyer representing Yazzie, Carter Harrison, were not returned as of Wednesday.

Merino was serving an 18-year sentence in the Clayton prison because he was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery, stealing a vehicle, fleeing from police and illegally possessing a gun in Las Cruces in 2022, court records show.
A trial was supposed to start Monday, but instead, the family of an Eastern Iowa boy who drowned in a feature at Adventureland reached a settlement with the former owners of the park.

Visitors arrive at the Adventureland Park amusement park, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in Altoona, Iowa. The father of an 11-year-old boy who died following an accident on the popular boat ride at the park said that his son and other family members were trapped by the rides seat belts when the boat carrying them flipped. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died during a ride on the Raging River when a raft tipped over. His family filed a lawsuit, claiming the ride had defects, including outdated rafts and broken computer systems.

The settlement was reached Monday, according to Polk County Court documents. Details of the settlement were not available Tuesday.

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An order filed in Polk County Court on March 28, 2025 rescinded the order entered on December 5, 2023 that changed the trial venue to Scott County. The case remained on the court calendar for Polk County.

Because of pretrial publicity, the trial at one point was scheduled fro Scott County. Adventureland is in Altoona, Iowa, which is in Polk County.

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US immigration authorities have taken the wife and five children of a man suspected of attacking a Jewish demonstration in Colorado into custody for possible expedited deportation, the White House said on Tuesday.

Authorities are investigating whether the suspect's family had prior knowledge of the attack or supported it in any way, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X.

Twelve people were injured on Sunday when a man threw Molotov cocktails at a group of pro-Israel demonstrators in the city of Boulder. Police arrested a 45-year-old Egyptian national at the scene, who according to officials was in the United States illegally.

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His family's immigration status remains unclear. The White House said on X the family could be deported "as early as tonight."

According to police, the attacker targeted a group of around 20 demonstrators rallying for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Investigators said the man had planned the assault well in advance and showed no remorse.

US media reported that the suspect told police after his arrest that he had not informed anyone of his plans.

If convicted, he faces a possible life sentence, according to US law enforcement officials.
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

An openly gay, conservative Christian lawyer sued Lucid Software May 22 for allegedly firing him due to his religious beliefs and because he didnt conform to its stereotyped expectations of gay men, after he posted comments on X critical of transgender policies.

Per the complaint in Maragani v. Lucid Software, Inc., the company partners with Equality Utah, a nonprofit organization advocating for LGBTQ+ legislation. The lawyer alleged that based on his sincerely-held views as a Christian, and outside of and separate from work, he posted comments on X critical of Equality Utahs support for biological men using female locker rooms and gender transition for children, among other issues.

A board member of Equality Utah allegedly complained to Lucid about the posts, leading Lucid to warn the lawyer that they violated its social media policy and were contrary to its commitment to DEI. He was also told he could be terminated if the posts continued, according to the complaint. He was later fired for poor performance, the lawsuit alleged.

Dive Insight:

Following his termination, the lawyer sued Lucid for allegedly violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against him because of his sex, sexual orientation and religious views.

He alleged that when he met with a senior HR exec to discuss the posts, she told him she thought it was confusing that he would not work with Equality Utah, given that he was a gay man.

In an email to HR Dive, a representative for Lucid stated that the plaintiff was terminated for performance-related issues.

The lawsuit spotlights one of the trickier issues employers may face in the current political environment: How do they handle an employees off-work, online post that advocates a potentially controversial political view based on the employees sincerely-held religious beliefs?

At the outset, while people rightly view political speech as protected by the First Amendment, it generally doesnt apply to private workplaces, a Gunster attorney noted in an April 2024 op-ed to HR Dive.

Also, political speech is not a protected class under federal anti-discrimination laws, the attorney pointed out.

However, some state and local laws may still prohibit employers from taking action based on an employees political involvement, she said.

In this case, the plaintiff pointed to Utahs Antidiscrimination Act, which prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees for lawful expression or expressive activity outside of the workplace, with regard to the employees religious, political or personal convictions, according to the lawsuit.
Jonathan Joss is being fondly remembered by the creators of "King of the Hill." The beloved actor was well known for playing the role of John Redcorn on the hit sitcom before his tragic death.

Joss was gunned down near his San Antonio, Texas, home on June 1, in what is suspected to be a hate crime shooting.

In a touching tribute, the team honored their late cast member, but fans believe it is fake, given that Joss was allegedly mistreated by the crew just two days before his passing.

Jonathan Joss Remembered By 'King Of The Hill' Creators

Facebook | Jonathan Joss

On the animated series' official Instagram page, a statement was released to mourn Jonathan Joss' loss. Alongside three photo slides, including an image of his on-screen character, the tribute read:

"Rest in peace, Jonathan Joss. Jonathan brought King of the Hills 'John Redcorn' to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival."

It continued, "His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathans friends and family." The statement was signed by Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson, the creators of "King of the Hill."

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Joss voiced the character of Redcorn after taking over in the late '90s and was set to feature in the reboot, which will premiere in August, before his life was cut short. In one of his final videos, the late Hollywood star gushed that the "reboot is up and moving," showing anticipation for filming.

He Was Sidelined From the ATX TV Festival Panel

Despite Joss' excitement for the reboot, his relationship with the crew didn't seem to be the best. Just two days before he died, he was escorted out of a panel for the series as part of the ATX TV Festival held in Austin, Texas.

While his co-stars Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom, and Toby Huss, alongside writer Patterson, sat on stage to discuss the revival, the late actor was relegated to being in the audience.

While the panel was still ongoing, Joss, as seen in a fan-recorded clip, grabbed the microphone to express his concerns. "I'm an actor. I see a mic, I use it. I see a wrong, I make it right. I take a breath, I want to breathe," he said to nervous laughs from the audience.

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Joss then informed his colleagues that his house had burned down three months prior. According to the deceased actor, the arson was a hate crime "because I'm gay."

While continuing his rant, he was seen walking towards the stage, but not before security approached to escort him out of the panel.

Fans Slam Tribute to Late Joss, Promise To Boycott Reboot

Jonathan Joss we will remember you, and we will FIGHT for you. pic.twitter.com/IU17jE2LzV           (@cowboymaxwell) June 3, 2025

Given the poor treatment the "Parks and Recreation" actor received from his colleagues in his final days, fans were outraged by the tribute post. Many condemned the creators of "King of the Hill" for not listening to Joss' truth about being a victim of a hate crime.

"You people should be ashamed. I love the show, but I won't be watching the revival. Why was he not invited to the panel? Why were his cries for help not taken seriously?" one concerned fan questioned.

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"Weren't you all just laughing at him and dismissing his claims of hate when he was standing in front of the cast panel? While not being invited on stage with the rest of the cast?" a second comment read.

An angry fan urged the creators to apologize for their actions, writing, "He came to you all with his testimony, and you dismissed him. He is owed a very public apology."

A fourth similar remark read, "I love the show, but this looks hella hypocritical! We saw the video of the panel, and I just feel so beyond disappointed. May he rest in power!"

Heartbreaking Details About Jonathan Joss' Shooting

Facebook | Jonathan Joss

As The Blast previously reported, Joss' life was cut short at 59 following an altercation with his neighbor, who has now been identified as Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja.

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Police report confirms that the incident occurred around 7 pm. An unnamed witness who drove Joss from Austin to his burned San Antonio property to check his mail recalled seeing the altercation unfold.

While the actor and a second person, presumably his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, were checking the mail, Ceja allegedly pulled up to the scene in a vehicle. The neighbor then got into an altercation with Joss, where he threatened, "he had a gun and would shoot," the witness claims.

Joss was pronounced dead at the scene while authorities rounded up Ceja and seized his weapon. Upon his arrest, he allegedly told the officers, "I shot him [Joss]." He has since been booked for suspicion of murder and is currently being held on a $200,000 bond.

Joss' Husband Attributes Targeted Shooting To Hate Crime

Facebook | Jonathan Joss

Following the incident, Gonzales broke his silence about his husband's tragic death in a lengthy statement. The heartbroken spouse gave a firsthand account of the altercation, claiming they were targets of homophobia from neighbors.

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According to Gonzales, he and Joss were often threatened. On that fateful day, he alleged seeing the skull of one of their dogs with its harness placed in plain view, causing them to scream in distress.

Their cry was what drew Ceja's attention. He was angry about their noise, which fueled the altercation and resulted in Joss's death. An emotional Gonzales confirmed his late husband stepped in front of the gun to save him.

"When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life," he recalled. "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved."
By Sybille de La Hamaide and Inti Landauro

PARIS/MADRID (Reuters) -French and Spanish farmers warned on Wednesday that a flood of imports under planned European Union trade agreements with South American bloc Mercosur and Ukraine risked severely undermining European agriculture.

The concerns come ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's official visit to France and the expiry on Thursday of a free trade deal with Ukraine, which is expected to shift to import quotas this summer.

Lula said on Tuesday he would discuss the EU-Mercosur deal with President Emmanuel Macron, a strong critic of the agreement in its current form, which was finalised in December but still needs approval from member states.

In a meeting with members of parliament, French farmers' groups urged Macron to rally enough partners to form a blocking minority against the Mercosur deal, which they say would be devastating for the beef, poultry and sugar industries and compromise the EU's ambitions in terms of food sovereignty.

"It would be a real tragedy for our industry," Alain Carre, head of French sugar industry group AIBS said. "We're sounding the alarm."

French farmers held nationwide protests last year over low incomes, rising costs, and competition from cheap imports, particularly from Ukraine and Mercosur countries, demanding fairer trade terms and lighter regulation.

"Our demands (for an EU-Mercosur agreement) are simple: reciprocity of rules, traceability abroad and much clearer labelling," Jean-Michel Schaeffer, head of French poultry industry group Anvol, said.

Meanwhile, a few hundred farmers protested in Madrid against cheap grain imports from Ukraine and other countries, saying prices have fallen below production costs.

Spanish farmers are likely to lose 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) this year, said Javier Fatas, a leader of farmers union COAG from the Aragon region in northeastern Spain.

"This happens because of trade deals signed by Spain and the EU as part of geopolitics, bringing us prices too low to sustain our farms," Fatas said.

He warned that genetically modified grains from Mercosur also created unfair competition, echoing French farmers' concerns.

Wednesday's protest was peaceful, but only the beginning, he added. "Bad times are coming."

Here are the main EU import quotas for Mercosur products in the agreement:

Product Quota Volume Tariff / Note

Beef 99,000 t 7.5% tariff

Poultry 180,000 t 0%, phased in over 5 years

Pork 25,000 t 83 euros/tonne

Sugar 190,000 t 0%
Farmworkers harvest strawberries in Oregon. (Photo by Oregon Department of Agriculture)

Once again, the Maine Legislature is sending a bill to the governors desk that would give farmworkers the right to state minimum wage.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives narrowly passed and then enacted  by a one-vote margin  LD 589, which mirrors a proposal Gov. Janet Mills put forward last session. The Senate enacted the measure later that day, sending it to the governor for her approval.

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By supporting this legislation, we affirm our commitment to fairness and consistency in our labor standards while continuing to honor the invaluable contributions of our agricultural community, said Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) during the House debate Tuesday.

Mills has vetoed multiple similar proposals in the past, including her own last session after the Labor Committee changed it. However, Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said during a committee meeting last month that Mills seems to be on board with the amended version of LD 589.

Similar to the discussion on the Senate floor Monday, some House Republicans raised concerns that this bill would prohibit piecework, which is often used by sectors such as the blueberry industry to pay people based on how much they pick.

Roeder, who co-chairs the Labor Committee, clarified that piecework is not outlawed by the bill.

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Most agricultural employers who spoke to the committee said they already pay more than the states minimum wage of $14.65 an hour, but proponents have said the bill is important because it addresses the historic exclusion of agricultural workers from labor rights.

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The Heartland Flyer pulls into the Norman Station, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  The fate of passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth is on shaky ground after the Texas Legislature declined to fund that states portion.

The state of Oklahoma cannot fund that operation of our own accord, Tim Gatz, Oklahoma Department of Transportation executive director, told his governing board Monday.

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Gatz previously said the rail line would close as early as this month if Texas failed to fund it.

He was not available for comment Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gov. Kevin Stitt said he was disappointed Texas did not provide the funds.

Were not going to pick up their end of that, Stitt said Wednesday. And so were not sure exactly whats going to happen with that connection.

The Heartland Flyer, an Amtrak route between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, is a jointly funded partnership between Texas and Oklahoma City. Oklahomas portion for 2025 was $4.5 million.

The Texas Department of Transportations budget for fiscal year 2025 included $2.81 million for the Heartland Flyer, said Laura Butterbrodt, a spokeswoman. She referred additional questions to Texas lawmakers.

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Oklahoma lawmakers last month passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 urging Texas legislators to continue funding the service.

The service was reestablished in 1999 after ending in 1979.

The Oklahoma State Legislature acknowledges the importance of the continued existence of passenger rail in Oklahoma, and understands that once removed, it would be extraordinarily challenging to restore this service and continue to provide an additional option for Oklahomans, the SCR said.

Nearly 82,000 rode it last year.

Officials were considering expanding it into Kansas allowing travelers to connect to other major routes.

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Kansas recently provided dedicated funding and authority for KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) to support passenger rail for the Heartland Flyer extension, said Philip Harris, a spokesman. If the project were to stall in the study phase, evaluating the future use of those funds could be needed.

If the project continues, its targeted operational date is 2029, he said.

Amtrak did not respond to a request for comment.

Editors note: This story was updated at 5:34 p.m. to accurately reflect the name of the Senate Concurrent Resolution.

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Authorities have identified the man who was found dead Sunday evening in an irrigation canal off Moore Road in Ceres, though questions remain about how he ended up in the water.

Luis Anguiano Calzado, 36, was confirmed as the deceased man by the Stanislaus County Coroners Office, according to an email Tuesday from Lt. Jeffrey Godfrey of the Ceres Police Department. His cause of death is currently listed as undetermined, pending the results of toxicology testing.

First responders from the Ceres Fire Department, American Medical Response and Ceres Police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Moore Road just after 6 p.m. June 1 after reports of a possible drowning. Upon arrival, officials located Anguiano Calzado in the canal and pronounced him dead at the scene.

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At this time, investigators say there is no evidence or witness statement indicating how Anguiano Calzado entered the canal. Police did not immediately release further details about his circumstances or whether foul play is suspected.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ceres Police Department.

A GoFundMe page titled In Loving Memory of Luis Armando Anguiano Funeral Fundraiser says he is survived by five children.






NEED TO KNOW

The body of 58-year-old Tim Keiderling, who went missing along with his daughter Esther, 28, on June 1 after hiking together in Maine, has been found

The pair was last seen heading to Mount Katahdin for their Appalachian trail hike at around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, according to authorities. They announced that they had located Tim's body on Tuesday, June 3

Search and rescue teams are continuing their hunt for Esther







The body of a man who went missing alongside his daughter after the pair set out on an Appalachian trail hike together has been found.

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On Tuesday, June 3, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife announced that Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther, 28, were missing. They had last been seen leaving Abol Campground to hike Mount Katahdin in Maine at around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 1.

In an update posted on Facebook several hours later on Tuesday, rangers at Baxter State Park confirmed that the body of a man positively identified as Tim had been found in their search, but they were continuing the hunt for Esther.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. today, a Maine Warden Service K9 search team located the body of Tim Keiderling on the Tableland, near the summit of Katahdin. Search efforts continue for Esther Keiderling, they wrote.



Christopher R Mazza/Getty Mount Katahdin in Maine Mount Katahdin in Maine

Baxter State Park said in a statement, We know that many of our social media followers share in our deep sadness for the family and friends of Tim Keiderling, and appreciate your support as teams continue the search for Esther."

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According to the parks website, the hike up Katahdin is a very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose. The round-trip time is noted to take on average eight to 12 hours.



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Jonathan Mauer/Getty Trail sign that marks the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail on Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine Trail sign that marks the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail on Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine

Before locating Tims body, the search had expanded to include the Warden Service K9 and Maine Forest Service helicopters. The Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard, who use Blackhawk and Lakota Helicopters, were also assisting by searching in the air.

Rangers began searching for them Monday morning after Tim's vehicle was found in the day-use parking lot, park officials said.

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At this point, searchers from the ground and air have not found any traces of the missing hikers. The search will continue through the daylight hours, the park said initially. Baxter State Park has closed the Hunt and Abol Trails on Katahdin in order to assist with the search. At this time, volunteer searchers are not needed.

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Esther or anyone who was on or around the summit of Katahdin Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., to call Houlton State Police at 207-532-5400.



PEOPLE has contacted the MDIFW and Houlton State Police for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

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(WJW)  A New York man was found dead and his daughter remains missing after the pair went hiking on Mount Katahdin in Maine over the weekend.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 58-year-old Tim Keiderling and his daughter, 28-year-old Esther Keiderling, went missing after leaving the Abol Campground in Baxter State Park to hike to the Mount Katahdin summit.

Courtesy of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

They left the campground around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday.

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Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water to clear sinuses: CDC

Park rangers started a search for the hikers on Monday morning after realizing that their vehicle was still in the same parking lot.

Officials said more than 30 game wardens, a K-9 unit and helicopters flown by Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard joined the widespread search.

In a Tuesday update, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said the 58-year-olds body was discovered by the K-9 unit on the Katahdin Tablelands, near the summit around 2:45 p.m.

3 sisters found dead after planned visitation with dad; Hes still missing

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The search continues for his daughter. Anyone with information should reach out to the Houlton State Police at 207-532-5400.

According to the National Park Service, Mount Katahdin, which means Greatest Mountain, is the highest in the state, peaking at 5,269 feet. Baxter State Park describes the hiking trails there as a very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  It was a scary situation in Frayser, as a man survived a stray bullet to the neck over the weekend.

Cornelius Seals, a father of four, says he walked out and thought he heard fireworks, when instead it was gunfire.

It was just a regular day, he said. My brother got his kids out here, so they just walking around and I hear, like, fireworks and my instincts was like, where did they get fireworks from?

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Police responded to the shooting on Donna Drive near Burnham Avenue just after 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Teen charged with murder in Frayser shooting, robbery

Surveillance footage shows his kids were outside as well, so Seals first instinct as a father was to protect his kids as he was later rushed to the hospital by a neighbor.

And you run outside and you end up getting shot in the neck, and they shooting for real. Where all the kids at? Seals said.

Cornelius Seals holds his neck and rushes into the house after he was shot in Frayser.

Seals, who moved from Denver a few years ago says Frayser has been getting too violent recently, with 20 reported homicides this year alone, and says he plans to move away.

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I have to for the safety of my family. I dont want to move but I have to, I cant take any more shootouts, Seals said. I gotta get far away.

Data says there have been 20 homicides in Frayser this year

The bullet is still in Seals neck, as doctors say it was too close to his spine to remove it.

 A Gofundme account has been set up for Cornelius Seals. Click to donate.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Federal authorities arrested a man they say collaborated with the bomber of a fertility clinic in May, alleging that he supplied chemicals used to make explosives and traveled to California to experiment with them in the bombers garage months before the attack.

The two men connected in fringe online forums over their shared beliefs against human procreation, authorities told reporters Wednesday. The blast gutted the fertility clinic in Palm Springs and shattered the windows of nearby buildings, with officials calling the attack terrorism and possibly the largest bomb scene ever in Southern California. The clinic was closed, and no embryos were damaged.

Guy Edward Bartkus of California, the bomber, died in the May 17 explosion. Authorities arrested Daniel Park, 32, of Washington state on Tuesday after he was extradited from Poland, where he fled to four days after the attack. Park is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists.

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Park spent years stocking up on ammonium nitrate, a chemical that can be used to make explosives, before shipping it to Bartkus and later visiting him in Twentynine Palms, California. He stayed for about two weeks earlier this year, and the two conducted bomb-making experiments in the detached garage of Bartkus family home, said Akil Davis, the FBIs assistant director in charge.

Park, 32, was taken into custody at New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli told reporters. He appeared in federal court Wednesday in Brooklyn and, through his lawyer, waived his right to a detention hearing in New York.

Judge Cheryl Pollak ordered him to remain detained, saying he posed a serious risk. He will be sent to California, and federal defender Jeffrey Dahlberg said Park reserves the right to have a hearing on probable cause there. A date for that hearing has not been set, prosecutors said.

A cache of chemicals

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Authorities searched Parks home in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, and found large quantities of several chemicals and handwritten notes of chemical explosive equations, according to a federal complaint. One was for an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing, Davis said, a reference to the 1995 explosion that killed 168 people and was the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history.

Park shipped 180 pounds (about 82 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus in January and bought another 90 pounds (about 41 kilograms) and had it shipped to him days before the explosion, authorities said. Park purchased ammonium nitrate online in several transactions between October 2022 and May 2025, according to a federal complaint.

Three days before Park visited him in January, Bartkus asked an AI chat application about explosives, detonation velocity, diesel and gasoline mixtures, the complaint said. The discussion centered on how to create the most powerful blast.

In a search of Bartkus' family's home, authorities found large quantities" of explosives material. Bartkus' relatives told investigators the two were running experiments in the garage. Bartkus' family did not raise any concerns to officials, authorities said.

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An analysis of the blast site showed that ammonium nitrate could have been used in the explosive mixture, though it could not be conclusively established, the complaint said.

A shared ideology

Park and Bartkus, 25, met in online forums dedicated to the anti-natalist movement, bonding over a shared belief that people shouldnt exist, Davis said.

Anti-natalism is a fringe theory that opposes childbirth and population growth and contends that people should not continue to procreate. Officials said Bartkus intentionally targeted the American Reproductive Centers, a clinic that provides services to help people get pregnant, including in vitro fertilization and fertility evaluations.

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Bartkus appeared to take responsibility for the attack on a website he set up that contained audio recordings, according to the complaint.

Basically Im anti-life. And IVF is like kind of the epitome of pro-life ideology, he allegedly said in one of the recordings.

Investigators have not said whether Bartkus intended to kill himself in the attack or why he chose that specific facility.

Park appeared to be a frequent poster in an anti-natalist Reddit forum going back nearly a decade, according to court papers. In 2016 he spoke of recruiting others to the movement, which he described as hopeful. When people are lost and distraught, death is always an option, he allegedly wrote.

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Relatives told federal investigators that Park made pro-mortalist statements since high school, according to the complaint.

More recently, in March, he posted in the forum to say he was seeking to find fellow anti-natalists in and around Washington to start some protests or just any in-person events, according to court papers. The post did not receive any public comments.

Park and Bartkus visited each other going back at least a year, their relatives told investigators, according to court records.

___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco, and Offenhartz from New York. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Phillip Marcelo in New York contributed.
SEATTLE (AP)  Law enforcement discovered a cache of weaponry and armor, including a machine gun and grenade launchers, along with Nazi paraphernalia during a raid of a home in Washington state, authorities said Tuesday.

Derek Sanders, the elected sheriff of Thurston County, said in a Facebook post that the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division asked his office for assistance Monday as an FBI special weapons and tactics team executed a search warrant in Lacey, near the state capitol of Olympia, as a result of a violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Seattle said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the search warrant related to an Army CID and FBI investigation into an assault Sunday at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, just north of Olympia.

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Sanders' statement said two people were arrested and booked into Thurston County Jail for investigation of firearms-related offenses.

The suspects identified in this case were actively involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts, he wrote.

Sanders did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday night.

The U.S. Attorneys Office statement said Army investigators had identified suspects in the assault at the military base and the FBI executed the search warrant late Monday night into early Tuesday.

Reached for comment, the FBI said its Seattle office was assisting our partners Thurston County Sheriffs Office and Army Criminal Investigation Division and referred questions to them.

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Additional information was expected to be included in a federal criminal complaint to be unsealed Wednesday. The two people arrested were expected to make initial appearances at U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Wednesday afternoon.

In his post, Sanders said agents had seized 35 firearms at the home, including short barrel rifles and an MG42 machine gun  a type typically supported with a bipod and which was used by German troops during World War II. Other seized gear included grenade launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition and ballistic helmets, and multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence, the sheriff said.

He posted photos from the home showing an array of weapons, ammunition and body armor surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia, including a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika.
June 4 (UPI) -- Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said he plans to review the safety of abortion drug mifepristone after a recent study raised concerns about medical side effects.

In a letter to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Makary revealed the FDA's plan on Monday to review the abortion pill after Hawley alerted the commissioner to the study.

"As the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, I am committed to conducting a review of mifepristone and working with the professional career scientists at the agency who review this data," Makary wrote.

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"As with all drugs, FDA continues to closely monitor the postmarketing safety data on mifepristone for the medical termination of early pregnancy," Makary added.

Hawley referred the FDA commissioner to the recent study, from the Ethics and Public Policy Center, which found 11% of women experienced sepsis, infection or hemorrhaging within 45 days of taking the pill.

While Hawley said that information is listed as a side effect for mifepristone, the numbers are 22 times greater than the label warns. The study was based on insurance claims for 865,727 mifepristone abortions between 2017 and 2023.

"I'm calling on the FDA to reinstate safety regulations on the chemical abortion drug immediately. New data out today show a massive number of severe medical side effects," Hawley said in April. "The time to act is now."

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Makary told senators during his confirmation hearing in March that he would oversee a review of mifepristone, but did not order it until Hawley alerted him to the EPPC study. The FDA commissioner did express concerns earlier this year about the Biden administration's policy, which allowed women to access abortion drugs without making in-person appointments.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the FDA's approval of mifepristone, saying the pro-life doctors who brought the case lacked standing. The court said the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine failed to prove they suffered any harm from the FDA's policies.

President Donald Trump, who supported the Supreme Court's decision, was also urged by Hawley to order a mifepristone review over the EPPC's findings.
Were getting new answers from the Florida Department of Transportation on why the Main Street Bridge was raised ahead of a planned Pride March on Sunday.

The bridge lighting battle has been going on for at least two years, after Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered all state-run bridges be lit red, white and blue last year for the so-called Freedom Summer.

The move prevented cities like Jacksonville from lighting some bridges in rainbow colors for Pride month.

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In response, protestors in 2024 held their own lighting of the Main Street Bridge using flashlights.

This year, after FDOT announced all state run bridges would again be lit red, white, and blue for the countys 250th birthday, Pride activists wanted to repeat last years Main Street Bridge lighting.

But an hour before theyd been told they would need to clear off the bridge ahead of scheduled maintenance, the bridge was raised.

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Hampton Ray with FDOT told Action News Jax the bridge was briefly lifted to get workers into position, and was lowered after marchers had already moved on.

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He claimed work still began at 9 p.m. as scheduled.

We did have to have our crews in place. And this was performed every single night from Thursday night till actually Monday evening. Crews were performing this same high lift from between 7:30 and 8:30 in order to access the point, Ray said.

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In response to the explanation given by FDOT, March Organizer Matt McAllister sent Action News Jax this statement:

I thank Mr. Ray for his detailed and professional explanation. Given our intention to fully comply with 9:00 pm scheduled closure, the 20 minute delay would have made it impossible to place 146 people in precise locations to shine for 20 minutes and then safely and completely evacuate the bridge. When we asked city officials if our 8:00 pm entrance would, for any reason, be impeded, we were assured it would not be, McAllister said. In the end, the bureaucratic lemons served to us made a particularly sweet lemonade. It was important to return Pride lighting, however briefly, to its rightful place on the Acosta Bridge.

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The FDOT spokesperson also said generally, its helpful for groups to have permits to ensure situations like this can be avoided.

McAllister noted permits are not required for gatherings in public spaces with fewer than 500 participants.

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A federal appeals court declined on Wednesday to lift a judges ruling that blocked the Trump administration from effectively shutting down the Department of Education.

The unanimous decision from the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals is another significant legal setback for President Donald Trump, whose efforts to rapidly shrink the federal government  including through dismantling entire agencies  have been tied up in numerous court challenges.

Cutting the Department of Education has been of particular interest to Trump in his second term. Earlier this year, he moved ahead with mass layoffs at the agency, which is tasked with distributing federal aid to schools, managing federal aid for college students and ensuring compliance with civil rights laws.

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The administration, 1st Circuit Chief Judge David Barron wrote for the panel, has not shown that the publics interest lies in permitting a major federal department to be unlawfully disabled from performing its statutorily assigned functions.

The court also said that the administration had not demonstrated that it was likely to ultimately win in the case, with Barron writing that Justice Department attorneys had not put forth evidence showing how the widespread layoffs at the department would not prevent it from carrying out its core functions.

Last month, US District Judge Myong Joun of the federal court in Boston indefinitely halted Trumps plans to dismantle the agency and ordered the administration to reinstate employees who had been fired en masse. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by a teachers union, school districts, states and education groups.

Noting that the department cannot be shut down without Congresss approval, Joun, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, said that the planned layoffs at the agency will likely cripple it.

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The record abundantly reveals that Defendants true intention is to effectively dismantle the Department without an authorizing statute, he wrote in the 88-page ruling.

Attorneys for the Department of Justice quickly asked the Boston-based appeals court to pause Jouns ruling while they appealed it, writing in court papers that it represents an extraordinary incursion on the Executive Branchs authority to manage its workforce.

Beyond that, it requires the government to indefinitely retain and pay employees whose services it no longer requires, and the government cannot recoup those salaries if it prevails on appeal, the DOJ attorneys wrote.

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Federal officials said Wednesday they will be ramping up a crackdown on visa overstays after a terrorist attack in Boulder on Sunday.

The number of victims in a Boulder firebombing attack on a group demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages has climbed to 15, plus a dog, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

This urgent crackdown comes after authorities arrested 45-year-old Mohammed Sabry Soliman for setting at least eight Americans on fire in a shocking terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon.

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Soliman is an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa in the U.S. and remained in the country unlawfully since 2022, officials said. He faces federal hate crime and multiple state felony charges.

There is NO room in the United States for the rest of the worlds terrorist sympathizers, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement on Wednesday.

Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism  think again. You are not welcome here, Noem said.

We will find you, deport you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law, Noem said.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will work together in the review of immigration records and will take immediate appropriate actions to crackdown on visa overstays, officials said.

Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Noems comments came after U.S. Attorney Leah Foley on Wednesday condemned recent comments made by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu who called ICE immigration officers secret police.

Referring to federal agents as secret police is offensive, Foley said in a video statement on social media. There are no secret police.

ICE agents along with other federal law enforcement partners are making immigration arrests. That is no secret, Foley said.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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CALICO ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  More than a week after inmate and former police chief Grant Hardin escaped from a north Arkansas prison, documents have been filed in state and federal courts connected to the escape.

Hardin, 56, a former police officer, police chief and county constable, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25 while serving a decades-long sentence for rape and first-degree murder.

Possible updated headshot of Grant Hardin, 56 (Courtesy: Arkansas Department of Corrections)

Hardin is already facing a new charge in Izard County, one count of second-degree escape, according to court documents. A court filing said Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner, causing the corrections officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit.

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On May 30, a federal case was filed against Hardin in the Eastern District of Arkansas; however, no charges were listed as of Tuesday evening.

Authorities seeking cell tower data near prison

Filings in Izard County Circuit Court dated June 2 say law enforcement is seeking access to cell tower data near the Calico Rock prison, hoping to learn more about Hardins escape and if he had any help.

A search warrant application was filed seeking data related to cell towers near the prison.

The warrant, signed by the judge on the same day, said officials were wanting data from the AT&T, U.S. Cellular, T-Mobile and Verizon towers. It is applied to data from the cell towers up to five miles from the prison between 6 a.m. on May 24 and 11:59 p.m. on May 29.

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It is unknown at this time if Inmate Hardin received assistance from an outside entity or if he was assisted in leaving the area by vehicle, the warrant application said. It is due to these facts that the affiant believes there to be probable cause for a search warrant of all device information captured by the cellular network towers which service the above-mentioned locations for the purpose of identifying any and all common devices, utilized and/or present during the commission of this crime.

The filing said that the date, time, duration, initiating, and destination addresses related to cell communication would be included in the data.

Lawmakers send letter to Board of Corrections

The co-chairs of a legislative subcommittee overseeing the prison system told the head of the state Board of Corrections that they planned to conduct a review of any inadequacies or deviations from security protocols that allowed Hardin to escape, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

On Monday, a pair of state lawmakers, Rep. Howard Beaty (R-Crossett) and Sen. Matt McKee (R-Pearcy) sent a letter to Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness expressing concerns about why Hardin was being held in the Calico Rock prison in the first place.

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Given Hardins background as a former law enforcement officer and his history of working for multiple law enforcement agencies, it is evident that he possesses knowledge and skills that enabled him to exploit weaknesses in our security protocols, Beaty and McKee said. His manipulation of the system by wearing a disguise resembling a uniform is disturbing and speaks to a broader system failure.

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BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV)  The beauty of the coastline is one big reason people come to the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry to visit.

But once again, the federal government is talking about changing that look, by adding equipment to drill in the ocean on our coast.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is redoing its 5-year plan, evaluating the American coastline for potential sites to drill for natural energy resources.

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That includes potential new oil and gas leases on the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina coasts, which by a resolution signed by President Trump in his first term, are supposed to be protected until 2032.

But Trump signed an executive order earlier this year reversing a Biden Administration policy that further protected those same waters.

In this term, Trump has since asked for more natural resources to be found to find more energy, including gas and oil.

Environmental officials said the impact even before the drilling starts could be devastating.

I think that all of the area off our coast is potentially on the table if offshore drilling, if they decide to include the South Atlantic Zone, Coastal Conservation League Energy and Climate Program Director Taylor Allred said. There would be seismic testing. The companies would use sonic cannons that blast very, very high pressure, sound waves through the water in order to survey the ocean floor and get an idea of good areas to do test drilling to see if there actually any oil and gas is there to try and recover.

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Allred said the destructive steps might not yield anything but could kill thousands of marine animals. Test drilling could also destroy critical coral reefs and other underwater habitats.

All along South Carolina and Georgia, we have a really vital ecosystem thats really fueled by the largest known deep-sea coral in the world that sits on the Blake Plateau, Allred said. It takes thousands of years for a large coral like that to grow with only a few millimeters of growth per year. If these companies go in and start drilling, theyre likely to destroy the coral and it could take thousands of years for it to regrow if it ever manages to do so.

South Carolinas coast is responsible for the majority of the states $20 billion tourism industry and a $6 billion marine economy that employs about 80,000 people.

Wed all really not want to see that destroyed for the sake of a little bit of potential oil and gas drilling, said Allred.

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Local and state officials have also expressed that they are against drilling along South Carolinas coast.

Theres been seismic studies done already. Theres very little oil offshore, South Carolina State Senator Tom Davis (R  District 46) said. The risk reward thing just simply doesnt justify it in terms of the environmental disruption and things that would occur.

Alongside politicians such as South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster opposing the idea, 26 different communities, towns, counties and cities have passed resolutions against offshore drilling.

Look, we have abundant sources of natural gas, abundant sources of fossil fuels in America, and we ought to take advantage of those and want to bring them online, Davis said. But they are not present off the shore of South Carolina. Seismic studies have shown that. And when you weigh that particular fact against the fact that youre going to have environmental disruptions, youre going to have disruptions to tourism, I dont think its a good bet for our part of South Carolina to engage in that.

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First District Congresswoman Nancy Mace also made her opinions known on the issue and posted a letter she wrote to BOEM on X.

That letter said in part that drilling threatens tourism and our way of life and that we need to hold the line, keep the ban and protect our coast.

Posted on X June 3, 2025.

In 2018, McMaster advocated against the drilling on behalf of South Carolina.

Every city and town council along the South Carolina coastline has voted to oppose seismic

testing and drilling, and I agree with them, McMaster said in the letter to the Secretary of the Interior. Our commercial fishing industry enjoys a vibrant offshore ecosystem. The habitat disruption and other impacts that marine life could suffer due to seismic testing are simply not worth whatever benefit our state might see from placing oil rigs offshore.

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He also said that as a state located in Hurricane Alley, they cant add more risk by putting offshore drilling platforms in the path of potential storms. McMaster referenced the fact that in 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed 115 oil platforms and damaged 52 others in the Gulf.

The agency is accepting public comment on offshore drilling through June 16. You can click or tap here to write a comment with your thoughts.

Allred said even a short comment against offshore drilling can go a long way to protecting South Carolina.

Read Maces letter in full below:

Read McMasters letter to the Interior from 2018 here:

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2018-01-16-Gov.-McMaster-to-Sec.-Zinke-re-Offshore-DrillingDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
The Joseph Woodrow Hatchett U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Tallahassee, Sept. 27, 2022. Credit: Michael Moline

A federal judge blocked on Tuesday the states enforcement of a 2024 state law requiring social media platforms to delete accounts of kids 15 years old and younger.

The preliminary victory for the two trade associations representing social media giants comes after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker had dismissed the suit in March because the companies had not proven they would be affected. However, Walker barred the state from enforcing the law on Tuesday (HB 3), writing that it stifled minors First Amendment rights and that there were other avenues to combat mental health concerns associated with the use of social media.

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Assuming the significance of the States interest in limiting the exposure of youth to websites with addictive features, the laws restrictions are an extraordinarily blunt instrument for furthering it, Walker wrote.

NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association, representing companies including Google, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, filed the suit against the law in October and the former Attorney General Ashley Moody had agreed not to enforce it while the parties waited for a decision from Walker on whether to temporarily block it or allow fines of up to $50,000 per violation.

The attorney generals office will appeal Walkers block to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, said Jeremy Redfern, the attorney generals director of communications, in an email to Florida Phoenix.

Florida parents voted through their elected representatives for a law protecting kids from the harmful and sometimes lifelong tragic impacts of social media, Redfern wrote. These platforms do not have a constitutional right to addict kids to their products.

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Walker disagreed with the states argument that parental control features werent enough to protect kids from addictive features and that the law only prohibits kids from having accounts and doesnt restrict access to the content altogether.

While it is true that at least one of these platforms, YouTube, does not require users to be account holders to passively view some content, all require users to hold accounts in order to share ones own contentin other words, to speak, Walker wrote.

CCIs president and CEO, Matt Schruers, celebrated the ruling.

This ruling vindicates our argument that Floridas statute violates the First Amendment by blocking and restricting minorsand likely adults as wellfrom using certain websites to view lawful content, he wrote in a press release.

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Hims & Hers (HIMS) is expanding its playbook across the Atlantic  the U.S.-based telehealth company announced Tuesday that it will acquire European telehealth platform Zava. The acquisition grows Hims & Hers presence in the U.K. and gives the company a foothold in Germany, France, and Ireland, marking the companys biggest international move to date.

The terms of the deal werent disclosed, but the translation is an all-cash one expected to close later this year. Hims & Hers stock was up over 17% Tuesday morning  and is up an astounding 165% year to date.

The deal adds more than 1.3 million active users to the companys existing 2.4 million subscriber base and positions Hims & Hers to roll out its digital healthcare model in some of Europes largest healthcare markets. Weight-loss drugs will likely be a central part of that expansion.

Andrew Dudum, Hims & Hers CEO, told The Financial Times that theres a huge opportunity in obesity, noting that Zava already offers branded weight-loss treatments and has seen growing demand. Hims & Hers is perhaps best known in the U.S. for its direct-to-consumer offerings across categories such as hair loss, sexual health, and anxiety  but its compounded GLP-1 medications have become one of its fastest-growing offerings.

The company, which recently struck a deal to offer Novo Nordisks Wegovy, has been threading a regulatory needle: offering custom formulations to a meaningfully smaller group of patients, as CEO Andrew Dudum put it to The Financial Times.

With the Zava deal, similar offerings could be on the horizon for Europe. In the U.K., compounded medications can legally be dispensed under certain conditions, providing an opening for Hims & Hers approach. Lower pharmaceutical prices and public health system constraints could accelerate adoption. And with U.S. compounding regulations tightening and the branded supply stabilizing, international expansion could create a path for further growth.

This isnt Hims & Hers first international foray  the company acquired London-based Honest Health in 2021  but the Zava deal adds an established European presence and could position Hims & Hers to build a branded footprint in key European markets while leveraging Zavas infrastructure.

Early traction in the U.K. gives us confidence that we can scale our platform globally, Dudum said on his companys recent earnings call.

Zava CEO and co-founder David Meinertz will remain on board as general manager of the international business, and the Zava brand will reportedly stay live for a few quarters before rebranding as Hims & Hers. Meinertz said the deal could help ease pressure on Europes strained healthcare systems.
Roughly 300 FedEx pilots picketed the companys executive offices Tuesday in a show of displeasure with ongoing contract negotiations that have lasted more than four years.

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), which represents more than 5,500 pilots at FedEx, met with company officials under federally mediated bargaining sessions as recently as last week. But neither side came to a deal.

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FedEx has had four years to do the right thing, but instead it has chosen to invest in shareholders over its employees, said Capt. Jose Nieves, chair of the FedEx ALPA master executive council, said in a statement. The pilots are done waiting. Weve delivered through crisis and transformation, and we expect to be treated like professionals who enable corporate success.

Pilots began bargaining for a new contract in May 2021, attempting to modernize what the union called an outdated labor agreement signed back in 2015. The parties initially achieved a tentative agreement in May 2023, but the pilots rejected the deal two months later.

At the time, FedEx was offering a 30-percent increase for both pilot pay and legacy pensions. But the union said that was lower than a 40-percent hike the ALPA-represented United Airlines pilots received in a contract earlier that month.

Since the rejection, both sides have made very little headway toward striking a deal, with negotiations having been on and off.

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We remain committed to reaching an agreement through the mediation process that is fair to our pilots, our other team members, and all FedEx stakeholders, a FedEx spokesperson said. Informational picketing is a common occurrence during negotiations and does not impact our service.

A line of pilots standing outside the Memphis, Tenn. offices held up signs that read Were FedUp, Stop profits over people, and Stop outsourcing American jobs as part of the picketing.

Our pilots are taking to the streets outside @FedEx Executive Offices to call for a contract that reflects their value. Four years is too long. Its time for FedEx to invest in its people. pic.twitter.com/IjcUw2MBVl  FedEx Pilots (@FedExPilots) June 3, 2025

The unions grievances target the companys ongoing Drive transformation, which is designed to cut costs at the logistics giant by $4 billion by the end of 2025, and another $2 billion through 2027.

The transformation encompasses the Network 2.0 strategy, which is designed to consolidate the FedEx delivery network with fewer stations and routes and increase shipping efficiency, and the Tricolor redesign of its air operations. The Tricolor strategy broke out FedExs flights into three separate colors purple, orange and whitebased on customer demands, delivery timeliness and product category.

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ALPAs members feel the current contract for the FedEx pilots does not reflect some of these operational shifts.

For example, with the companys partnership with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) expiring last September, FedEx is expected to reduce its daytime flight hours by approximately 60 percent. Before the partnership ended, FedEx identified that it had a surplus of 500 pilots.

The corporation has yet to bring forward basic insights into how it plans to employ the pilot group in the future, a major challenge to scope bargaining efforts, the statement read, with the company saying the current agreement is based on a decades-old operation that FedEx is clearly signaling looks nothing like its future plans under a One FedEx, Tricolor, Network 2.0 operations strategy.

The 79,000-pilot union also has expressed gripes with FedEx after it replaced European 757 pilot flights with third-party contract carriers, taking the ALPA pilots out of rotation. FedEx had previously maintained a pilot base in Cologne, Germany, to complement its European hub at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, before closing it in 2024.

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Although ALPA claims FedEx said the Cologne routes would shift to Memphis-based pilots, the union says company management steadily slashed the mainline European flights, with flights after April all being transitioned to third parties.

The reality is clearEuropean FedEx 757 pilot flights have been completely replaced by third-party contract carriers, said Nieves in a March statement.

Nieves indicated FedEx executive chairman Fred Smith signaled growth in the Far East market, suggesting that a similar scenario could happen to the Oakland, Calif.-based pilots who operate FedExs Far East flights.

One can only wonder whether those will be FedEx pilots flying under our established routes or if they will be outsourced as well, said Nieves.

FedEx has made more of a concerted push to leverage third parties to capture more of what chief customer officer Brie Carere has identified as an $80 billion air freight market, while keeping costs down. During a December earnings call, she said FedEx had a low-single-digit market share in the market.
A judge ordered federal oversight after Lakeland Bank was accused of lending discrimination in 2022 in Newark. Feds now want to end oversight. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

The Trump administration aims to end federal oversight a judge ordered in 2022 of a bank that avoided giving mortgages to people of color and opening bank branches in Black and Hispanic communities in the Newark area.

Lakeland Bank has substantially complied with changes required under the September 2022 consent decree to end such discrimination, which is known as redlining, and agreed to carry out whatever court-ordered reforms that remain unfinished, federal prosecutors said last week in a motion asking to end oversight more than two years early.

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But a nonprofit that advocates for low- and middle-income residents filed an affidavit this week calling for the consent decree to remain in place, because ending it would threaten progress made in the last two years and leave advocates with no remedy if the banks compliance with unfinished remedies falters.

It also sends a very bad message, said Leila Amirhamzeh of New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund, a Newark-based nonprofit that does housing counseling and fair housing investigations.

Our concern with the Department of Justices motion to terminate the consent order really speaks more to the overall message that the administration is sending to financial institutions  that it is not going to enforce fair lending laws, that it is not going to ensure that any bad actors that do engage in discriminatory redlining practices are held accountable, Amirhamzeh said.

Newark officials did not respond to a request for comment.

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Under the decree, Lakeland agreed to open two branches in Newark communities of color and spend $12 million on a loan subsidy fund to offset closing costs, mortgage insurance premiums and down payments for Black and Hispanic residents in Essex, Somerset and Union counties who apply for mortgages and home improvement and refinancing loans. The bank also agreed to spend $1.1 million on outreach, advertising, financial counseling and community development partnerships and assign at least four loan officers to serve neighborhoods they had excluded.

Lakeland merged with Provident Financial Services last year.

Provident opened a new branch this week on the edge of the Ironbound, a Newark neighborhood home to many immigrants and people of color.

Its unclear whether and when it will open a second branch, as ordered under the consent decree, as well as how much of the $13 million for the loan subsidy fund and outreach remains unspent.

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Keith Buscio, a Provident Bank spokesman, referred those questions to the Justice Department, and a spokesman there did not respond to a request for comment.

Provident acknowledges the benefit of the mortgage loan subsidy to underserved communities and, in the event the DOJs motion is granted, will commit to spending the remaining amount under the subsidy, Buscio said.

Despite such assurances, critics remain concerned.

The move to end oversight comes just two months after federal banking regulators announced they would rescind a 2023 update meant to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act, a 1977 law passed to prevent redlining, Amirhamzeh said.

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Ending oversight also fits a pattern of Trump-administration rollbacks of Biden-era policies that protect marginalized people, she added.

The Trump administration is terminating $400 million in funds for states across the country to modernize their unemployment systems, money that was authorized in the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act passed under the Biden administration.

Trump officials also recently dropped a federal civil rights investigation into police brutality and racial profiling in Trenton.

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Flanked by conservative lawmakers and sheriffs, Gov. Kelly Ayotte speaks to reporters before signing two pieces of anti-sanctuary city legislation. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a list of sanctuary jurisdictions  a term for towns and cities that have policies hindering local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials  that included Lebanon and Hanover Thursday, but by the end of the weekend, it had pulled that list offline.

In unveiling the list (which has been archived online by third parties), DHS demanded Lebanon and Hanover, as well as communities in 34 other states and Washington D.C., revise their policies. The list was mandated by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April requiring DHS to produce and publicize such a list.

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Soon after its release, however, law enforcement officials nationwide pushed back. National Sheriffs Association President Sheriff Kieran Donahue called the list an unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement on Saturday, and said it not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House administration.

In a statement to States Newsroom, DHS didnt answer questions as to why the list was removed.

As we have previously stated, the list is being constantly reviewed and can be changed at any time and will be updated regularly, a DHS spokesperson said. 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 saga came after New Hampshire officials themselves demanded the policies be re-written. In May, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed two anti-sanctuary city bills  House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62  into law. When they go into effect in January, the bills will require New Hampshire cities and towns to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers if safe to do so, prohibit policies that would ignore federal immigration-related directives and authorities, forbid local police and sheriffs from investigating the citizenship status of someone in their custody  unless that person is under investigation for violating New Hampshire law  and take away state or local governments authority to prohibit their police or sheriffs from entering into voluntary agreements with ICE.

At the bill signing ceremony in May, Ayotte declared, there will be no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire. Legislators at the ceremony said theyd identified between nine and 12 communities with sanctuary city laws that hinder law enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities.
A 68-year-old Mahtomedi man told the court Tuesday that he thought he was going to die when two men jumped and robbed him of more than $38,000 cash as he arrived home from a casino.

He had just returned from Treasure Island Resort & Casino one early December morning in 2023 when a red pickup truck pulled up.

Shawn Eric Lewis Jr. and another man got out and vigorously kicked and punched my head, and my body felt as though they were going to kill me, the victim said in a statement read in Washington County District Court by Assistant County Attorney Richard Podvin.

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During the attack, the victims girlfriend and her niece came out outside. One of them pointed a gun at the women and said, You two (expletive) better get back inside or I will kill you both, the girlfriend told the court.

Lewis Jr. was among five men, including his father, who were charged in the robbery. In January, he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery after reaching a plea deal with the prosecution that included dismissing two other charges at Tuesdays sentencing.

Judge Siv Mjanger followed the plea deal and gave the 37-year-old from Bloomington the agreed-upon 58-month prison sentence, which is the low end of state sentencing guidelines for the offense.

Mjanger denied a downward departure request from Lewis Jr.s attorney, Chris Zipko, who argued that his client was not brought into the robbery until the end when he was in a dire situation with his fentanyl addiction that was off the charts at the time. Zipko said Lewis has completed drug treatment programs while jailed the past year and a half.

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In handing down the sentence, Mjanger said the attack and robbery was an intentional, very, very violent act that could have ended his life. So although I recognize your addiction, I acknowledge it, and I acknowledge your desire to change your life. It is an explanation, but its not an excuse for the behavior.

Cases against the other men remain pending in court.

Stalked us

According to the criminal complaints, the attack happened about 2:15 a.m. Dec. 10, 2023, in the 700 block of Griffin Court. After the men left in the pickup truck, the victim took after them in his own vehicle.

He pulled over and met up with a sheriffs deputy, while other law enforcement officers pursued and eventually stopped the suspects pickup truck near the intersection of Minnesota 36 and White Bear Avenue.

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The driver was identified as Deangelo Romaine Jacox, while Lewis Jr. and Tristin Tyler Jacox-Mann were the passengers.

MnDOT highway camera footage showed a red SUV following the victim as he pursued the suspects on Highway 36. Lewis Jr. is the registered owner of the SUV, according to the complaint against him.

The victim later told police that he ran into Philip William Davids Sr., a man he knew from his prior gambling, while at the casino on Dec. 9. He said he believed Davids was following him that night, so he went to the bathroom to try to lose him. Davids followed him into the bathroom and struck up a conversation.

When he left the bathroom, he saw Davids make a phone call. When he left the casino, he saw Davids trying to catch up to him, according to the complaints.

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Investigators discovered through analyzing cellphones that Jacox-Mann and Shawn Eric Lewis Sr. had made 20 calls to each other in the hours leading up to and shortly after the robbery.

Additionally, during the pursuit of the three suspects by law enforcement, Jacox-Mann and (Lewis Sr.) were engaged in additional phone calls, the complaints state.

The victim also told investigators he previously had seen the red SUV while at a Festival Foods near his home, and that it followed him home.

Your Honor, the individuals associated with this crime stalked us for over a month before this guy punched and kicked and beat a 68-year-old senior citizen, the mans girlfriend told Judge Mjanger on Tuesday in a statement read by the prosecutor.

I was like a prey

The attack victim and his girlfriend sat in the back of the courtroom gallery during the sentencing.

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Afterward, the man limped out of the courtroom. In an interview, he said he has multiple health issues from the attack.

Headaches  my knees are all gone, he said, then asked not to be identified adding that he remains fearful.

He said law enforcement was able to retrieve the cash stolen from him.

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But lets go back to that night, he said. I was like a prey. They came out of the vehicle and man, it was like horses out of the gate.

In October, Jacox, 33, of Coon Rapids, pleaded guilty to fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Hes scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15.

Jacox-Mann, 35, of Golden Valley, is awaiting a July jury trial on charges of aiding and abetting first- and second-degree robbery and aiding and abetting threats of violence.

Lewis Sr., 53, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty this month to aiding and abetting first-degree robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced July 21.

Davids Sr., 61, of Chisago City, faces the same charge and has a next hearing set for Sept. 26.
Youd like to think the politicians leading the country are actually fit for the job, but President Donald Trumps slew of questionable appointees to the highest positions in the country and the worldhas Americans thinking differently.

Most recently, FEMA Chief David Richardson was blasted after admitting he had no clue the country experienced hurricane season, according to Reuters. He has since came out saying it was all a joke, but was it really?

From Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths shaky personal life to Secretary of Education Linda McMahons former role at WWE, clearly, theres some discrepancies about what makes someone fit to lead. Now, were taking a closer look at Trumps advisors and cabinet members to really unpack the scary trends among the countrys top leadership.

Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. Oz

WASHINGTON, DC  MAY 12: U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Mehmet Oz, speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. During the event, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals by 30% to 80%. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Taking a page from Trumps book, Dr. Oz has transitioned from television to American politics. In his new role as administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, Oz oversees how millions of Americans receive Medicaid and Medicare. He recently said in order to receive benefits, Americans will have to prove that you matter.

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe

WASHINGTON, DC  MARCH 25: Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe appears during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. The hearing to examine worldwide threats comes a day after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic magazine was inadvertently included on a high level Trump administration Signal group chat on bombing plans in Yemen on Houthi targets. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Unlike others on this list, John Ratcliffe served under Trumps first administration. He was previously the director of national intelligence. In January, Trump brought him back as his nominee for director of the CIA, despite his slew of political scandals over the years. Rattcliffe is a Trump loyalist, with a well-documented allegiance to the president as far back as 2019.

FEMA Chief, David Richardson

Image by White House

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appointed David Richardson, a Marine veteran and martial-arts instructor, to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Despite having no previous professional record of handling natural disasters or relief, he joined the FEMA team in early May. On his first day in office, he promised to do Trumps bidding. Richardson even told agency staff he will run right over anyone trying to deter him from carrying out the presidents mission, CNN reported. Sen. Chuck Schumer tweeted about Richardsons hurricane season blunder saying, he was unaware of why he hasnt been fired yet.

Nominee for Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz

WASHINGTON, DC  MAY 01: National Security Advisor Michael Waltz participates in a TV interview at the White House on May 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. This week marks the first 100 days of U.S. President Donald Trumps second term. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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You cant mention Signal Gate and not bring up former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. In his previous role, he was the creator of the infamous channel on Signal where he added a journalist to a group chat spilling classified information although he and Secretary Pete Hegseth refuse to acknowledge this. Waltz has a hefty resume, filled with military and Congressional service, but like the rest of folks on the list, at the top of his qualifications is his loyalty to Trump. After the Signal scandal, Waltz became Trumps new pick to be the ambassador to the United Nations.

Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on as he attends the signing of an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo

When Hegseth was first appointed to serve as the head of the most vital government department, bipartisan rage exploded from politicians nation-wide. And after the bombshell report that he compromised national security in the Signal Gate controversy twice critics of Hegseth havent let up on him yet.

During his confirmation process, he faced several allegations he was drinking on the job and had problems with alcohol. And his own family members have come out alleging he was physically and sexually abusive, according to AP News.

Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testifies before a Senate Appropriations hearing on U.S. President Donald Trumps budget request for the Department of Education, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

President Trump vowed to dismantle the Department of Education, and he started his agenda by appointing Linda McMahon to run the show. McMahon has a brief background in education. In fact, she was nominated to serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009, according to ABC News. But unfortunately, thats where her expertise stops.

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Before she was picked by Trump, McMahon founded WWE with her husband Vincent. The couple is worth more than $3 billion, according to Forbes, which as youll see is a trend among Trump nominees.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. discusses the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network survey, during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

Out of everyone on this list, the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was perhaps the most horrifying and embarrassing for the Trump administration. The nephew of former President John F. Kennedy is an environmental attorney, previously taking on DuPont and Monsanto, according to AP News. But outside of this and his obvious devotion to Trump, RFK Jr.s views on health and vaccines drew massive concerns from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Hes an anti-vaxxer who claimed autism was a direct side effect of receiving vaccines. He also perpetuated the racist and baseless theory that Black people should be on a separate vaccine schedule based on genetic makeup. All of his dangerous theories have been proven wrong by experts around the globe.

Director of FBI, Kash Patel

FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trumps proposed budget request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

A lawyer and former federal prosecutor, Patel has more experience serving in the White House than almost all of Trumps Cabinet picks. However, its his undying devotion to the president that continues to make folks question his real intentions. Its important to note that Trump is largely responsible for propelling Patels career in politics. While serving under Trumps first term, Patel was even set to be named the deputy director of the CIA until former Vice President Mike Pence and other members of Trumps Cabinet intervened, according to the Atlantic.

Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard departs after a closed door meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines, June 2, 2025. Ezra Acayan/Pool via REUTERS

She was once a Democratic, even running for president in 2020 against Trump. But in true MAGA fashion, once Trump began making promises, Tulsi Gabbard changed her tune and shifted to the MAGA right, according to PBS. The veteran and first Hindu woman elected to Congress doesnt have a strong background in intelligence. Even Sen. Dick Durbin said Tulsi Gabbard would not be qualified for an entry-level position within our intelligence community let alone the top of it.

Attorney General, Pam Bondi

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel (not pictured) where they make an announcement in connection with a child sex abuse enforcement action, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

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In November 2024, Trump tapped Pam Bondi for attorney general. She was formally the Florida Attorney General and has her degree in criminal justice, according to NPR. But according to insiders, her chief qualification is her loyalty to Trump. Bondi was previously Trumps personal attorney. She was also involved in Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought

Image by the Center for Reproductive Rights

Arguably Trumps most controversial nominee to date, Russell Voughts confirmation set off an avalanche of backlash from Democrats. Most notably, Vought co-wrote Project 2025, the 999-page MAGA rulebook designed to reshape the country with cuts to the DOE and attacks to the LGBT+ community and DEI.

Vought previously served in Trumps first administration. He left office after Trump was voted out to start the Center for Renewing America, the far-right Christian entity.

Director of DOGE, Elon Musk

FILE PHOTO: Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk, who supports Republican presidential nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump, gestures as he speaks about voting during an America PAC Town Hall in Folsom, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 17, 2024. REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File Photo

Although the Tesla CEO is officially done with the White House, for the strong part of the year, he served as Trumps right hand man. In his position as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk oversaw the mass firing of thousands of government workers in alleged efforts to rid the country of senseless spending and corruption.

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Musk had no political background before being tapped by Trump. He also skipped over the Congressional appointment and questioning process. The most qualifying thing about CEO of SpaceX is his title as Trumps highest campaign donor.

Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 6, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

Howard Lutnick was one of Trumps first nominees for his Cabinet. With a net worth of around $3 billion, according to thestreet.com, Lutnick follows Trumps very clear list of qualifications: wealthy and loyal. He got close to Trump after appearing on his reality show The Apprentice. Since then, the Trump advisor has only strengthened his relationship with the president.

Most recently, Lutnick was grilled in a Senate hearing he has no clue what important laws pertaining to his job were, according to the Daily Beast.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard attend the annual National Memorial Day Observance in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., May 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno

Although he has experience in Congress, Doug Collins first rose to prominence you guessed it coming to Trumps defense. In 2016, after the president was accused of conspiring with Russia to undermine the presidential election, Collins defended the president on the House Judiciary Committee, according to NBC Washington. He even wrote a book, defending Trump from his 2019 impeachment.

Nominee for Director of U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Paul Ingrassia

Image by White House

Most recently, Trump tapped Paul Ingrassia to head the office responsible for protecting whistleblowers and other federal workers from unlawful employment practices. Ingrassia has no real political background, but he is a former far-right podcast and a Jan. 6 apologist. According to MSNBC, Ingrassia has only been a lawyer for three years, and with little investigative experience which the job requires many see his appointment as a slap in the face to those who rely on the government agency.
As the temperatures rose across Louisiana during Memorial Day weekend, the heat index, a measure of air temperature and humidity, approached triple digits. Bayou State residents seeking relief from the extreme temperatures turned up their fans and air conditioners, pushing an aging electrical grid to the breaking point. And by nightfall, more than 100,000 people had been plunged into darkness after a utility company cut off power for some Louisiana customers to keep a system that served 15 states from shutting down because of the demand.

Emergency preparedness advocates say the outage underscored how the threat of being left in the dark is increasingly likely for Black communities across the country this summer because of a confluence of forces, including record heat, a hyperactive hurricane season, and decrepit electrical grids. For Black Americans, researchers and activists say, the consequences of those conditions are magnified by long-standing inequities in housing, infrastructure, and access to resources. The Trump administrations effort to reorganize the nations emergency response system is also threatening to upend vulnerable communities ability to prepare for, withstand, and recover from these events, advocates said.

With meteorologists tracking warmer-than-average ocean temperatures that could fuel intense storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a summer of record-breaking heat and unusually strong hurricanes.

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The forecast is another very active hurricane season combined with these other climate disasters  and then we have these ongoing policy failures, said Chrishelle Palay, a hurricane survivor and former director of the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity. We get all of them coming towards each other on a collision course where the burden will continue to fall on Black and low-income families.

Palay knows the personal toll of extreme weather events firsthand. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, she attempted to help her great aunt, who had stage four chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, navigate the complicated application process for emergency federal assistance. The application was denied  even though her aunts home sustained extensive damage from water and mold. Three months later, her aunt died.

Im not a doctor, so we dont know if that contributed to her quick decline, but the fact is, there are a lot more families that will lose loved ones in similar ways, she said.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Historically, an average season features 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

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This year, the federal government predicts 13 to 19 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes. It expects three to five of those hurricanes to be major hurricanes of category 3, 4 or 5 strength, bringing winds of over 110 mph.

At the same time, President Donald Trump is planning to slash emergency assistance grants by $646 million, even as the agency is projected to run out of disaster relief money by this summer for the third consecutive year.

The total number of storms is not truly what defines a hurricane season. It only takes one landfall to create a devastating season. said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather. Thousands of families and small businesses across America are still struggling to recover from weather disasters over the past year.

In response to a series of questions regarding FEMAs plans to address this summers predicted storms, a spokesperson said in a statement, FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.

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FEMA is fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season, the spokesperson added, and the agency is only cutting wasteful and ineffective programs that are more concerned with climate change than helping Americans affected by natural disasters.

These cuts, as Capital B has reported, included $1 billion meant to prepare Black and low-income communities for weather disasters.

By removing these policies, the government is pretty much saying, Yeah, we do not care about those people and their vulnerabilities, said Anthony Rogers-Wright, former director of environmental justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. And that is a profound proclamation.

Will FEMA still support victims?

As threats from extreme weather intensify, the federal governments capacity to respond to disasters is being systematically taken apart. In addition to the billions of dollars in cuts, the agency has lost approximately 30% of its full-time workforce through layoffs and buyouts, including one-fifth of the officers who manage responses to large-scale disasters.

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Trumps executive order establishing a review council to reimagine FEMA signals a fundamental restructuring of the nations emergency response capabilities. With officials openly discussing renaming or eliminating the agency entirely, communities face the prospect of entering an active hurricane season with significantly reduced federal emergency management resources.

FEMA really hasnt behaved like a good actor for the Black community, but that doesnt mean we havent depended on it, said Rogers-Wright.

Last month, FEMA quietly ended one of its signature post-disaster programs  a door-to-door canvassing effort in damaged areas to meet survivors. For years, this practice had allowed the federal government to interact with survivors directly and help them register for federal aid.

A FEMA worker told a reporter with the technology magazine Wired that this new directive will severely hamper our ability to reach vulnerable people. The assistance, the worker said, usually focused on the most impacted and the most vulnerable communities where there may be people who are elderly or with disabilities or lack of transportation and are unable to reach Disaster Recovery Centers.

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The directive also said FEMA will push for disaster-stricken areas to emphasize assistance from other partners like nonprofit organizations and state agencies rather than federal aid. The agency wants efforts to now rely on local and state-run recovery centers instead of federally directed initiatives, so the agency will no longer need to establish FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.

Acting FEMA chief David Richardson recently reversed his earlier plan to introduce a new disaster response strategy for the 2025 hurricane season, instead telling staff that the agency will revert to last years operational procedures. This abrupt change does not change the agencys plan to end its canvassing program and has caused confusion and concern among FEMA employees, especially given the workforce reductions and the cancellation of a larger four-year strategic plan.

The bottom line is were not set up for success for whatever comes about this summer, when it comes to this hurricane season and heatwaves, even if its light, Palay said.

What to know about hurricane season

Meteorologists are expressing heightened concern about the upcoming hurricane season, with particular emphasis on the increasing likelihood of storms undergoing dramatic strengthening just before making landfall. According to AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, ocean temperatures both at the surface and extending hundreds of feet into the depths are above-average, creating ideal conditions for tropical systems to undergo explosive intensification.

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Recent hurricane seasons have demonstrated that the destructive power of such storms extends far beyond traditional coastal boundaries. As we witnessed last year with significant inland flooding from hurricanes Helene and Debby, the impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities, said acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm.

Hurricane Beryl, which hit Houston last year, also exemplified this phenomenon, generating more than 60 tornadoes as it carved a destructive path spanning nearly 1,200 miles from the Texas coastline all the way to upstate New York. Similarly, Hurricane Helene showcased the multi-faceted nature of modern hurricane threats. After initially battering Florida with powerful winds and dangerous storm surge, the system continued inland, where it unleashed catastrophic flash flooding and destructive winds across the mountainous terrain of western North Carolina.

Over the past five years, water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico have reached levels that surpass all previous measurements in recorded meteorological history. This excess thermal energy serves as a powerful catalyst that can transform relatively modest tropical storms into formidable hurricane systems.

Higher temperatures have become a particular source of concern for emergency management officials and meteorologists alike. When storms strengthen dramatically while approaching the coastline, communities find themselves with dramatically reduced timeframes for implementing safety measures and evacuation procedures. This compressed timeline creates more challenges for emergency response systems, complicating everything from the establishment of emergency shelters to the coordination of traffic along evacuation routes.

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It brings into context the severity of the quickly changing situation at the federal level. Emergency management officials must now account for scenarios where storms can transform from manageable threats to life-threatening emergencies in a matter of hours, often with minimal advance warning for affected communities.

Extreme heat and what to expect this summer

The challenges facing Americas electrical infrastructure extend far beyond isolated incidents like Louisianas Memorial Day blackout. According to the North American Reliability Corporations latest assessment, several regions across the United States face elevated or high risk for resource adequacy shortfalls over the next decade. Most concerning is the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which has less energy capacity than it had last year despite an anticipated rise in demand.

This electrical grid vulnerability comes at a particularly dangerous moment. NOAAs updated summer 2025 forecast predicts that every state will experience warmer-than-normal temperatures, with the highest probability of extreme heat  ranging from 60% to 70%  concentrated across Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico. The combination of record-breaking heat and an increasingly strained power grid creates a recipe for cascading failures that could leave millions without electricity during the most dangerous periods.

These converging crises will hit Black Americans hardest. Research consistently shows that Black households face significantly higher energy burdens, spending disproportionately more of their income on electricity bills even after controlling for income levels. In cities like New York, Black residents die from heat stress at double the rate of white residents, despite constituting only a quarter of the population.

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The legacy of discriminatory housing policies has created urban heat islands in predominantly Black neighborhoods that can be up to 22 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. This drives nighttime temperatures even higher, robbing residents of relief after sunset. In these neighborhoods, air conditioning is often not a given; older housing stock, higher energy costs, and lower average incomes mean that staying cool can be a financial burden or simply out of reach. As energy bills climb in step with the thermometer, the risk of heat-related illness rises, especially for the elderly, children, and those with preexisting health conditions.

If you shut off peoples electricity, it has to be understood, especially for Black people, that is basically akin to a cop kneeling on your neck or shooting you  it is killing us, said Rogers-Wright.

The converging issues highlight the need for Black communities to build neighborhood-level networks, he added. Building real, community-rooted infrastructure where neighbors check on each other, share resources, and proactively plan for crises has become essential, because waiting for outside help can mean the difference between life and death.

To protect each other, we really need to center climate as a major issue for every facet of Black life, he said. From connecting it to economics, education, and social justice, emphasizing how to best handle these disasters will be necessary.

The post FEMA Cuts Hit as 2025 Hurricane Forecast Predicts Brutal Storm Season appeared first on Capital B News.
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.

This is an edition of 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.

Updated at 6:07 p.m. ET on June 6, 2025

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Who manages the disaster if the disaster managers are the disaster?

Thats a question that the people of the United States may have to answer soon. As hurricane season begins in the U.S., the Federal Emergency Management Agency is in disarray.

Reuters reported yesterday that acting FEMA head David Richardson suggested during a meeting with employees that he was unaware of the very existence of a hurricane season. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security dismissed the report: Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season. The spokesperson added, FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens.

FEMA employees, and Americans at large, might be forgiven for having doubts. Richardson has only been on the job since early May, when his predecessor was abruptly fired after telling Congress he did not believe that FEMA should be eliminated, as President Donald Trump has contemplated. Richardson is a Marine veteran who had been leading the DHS office that seeks to prevent attacks on the U.S. involving weapons of mass destruction, but he has no experience with disaster management. The Wall Street Journal reported that he had expressed surprise at how broad FEMAs remit is. (The last time FEMA was led by an administrator whose profession was not emergency management was the mid-2000s, under Michael Brown. If you dont know how that turned out, I recommend my colleague Vann R. Newkirk IIs award-winning podcast on Hurricane Katrina, Floodlines.)

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But Richardson surely is aware of hurricane season. In mid-May, CNN obtained an internal document warning that FEMA was badly behind schedule. As FEMA transforms to a smaller footprint, the intent for this hurricane season is not well understood, thus FEMA is not ready, it read. (DHS, which oversees FEMA, said the information was grossly out of context.) To calm worries at the agency, Richardson held a conference call. I would say were about 80 or 85 percent there, he told staff, according to ABC News. The next week, we will close that gap and get to probably 97 to 98 percent of a plan. Well never have 100 percent of a plan.

That was not the most reassuring answer, and it looks worse now. The Journal reports that in the same meeting yesterday where Richardson suggested unfamiliarity with hurricane season, he also said the agency would return to its 2024 hurricane-preparedness strategy. How that will work is anyones guess, given that FEMA has already slashed programs and staff since last years hurricane season. (FEMA responded to my request for comment with DHSs statement, but did not answer specific questions or make any official available for an interview.)

FEMA is not a large part of the federal government by budget or staff, but it is an important one because it directly affects the lives of ordinary Americans in their worst moments. Washington can seem distant and abstract, but disasters are not, and as Hurricane Helene last year demonstrated, even people living in supposed climate havens are susceptible to extreme weather.

In the aftermath of Helene, Trump grasped the widespread public fury at FEMA, which storm victims felt was not responsive enough, fast enough. (Major disasters are major, and even the best-managed response is going to be slower than anyone wants, but no one seems to think this was the best-managed response.) As a candidate, he was quick to say that the Biden administration should do more, but since becoming president again, he has taken steps to ensure that FEMA can and will do less.

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The administration is also making recovery harder for the victims of past disasters. In April, Trump declined to declare a major disaster in Washington State, which would free up funding for recovery from a bomb cyclone in November 2024; the states entire congressional delegation pleaded with him to reconsider. DHS also denied North Carolina more funding for cleanup after Helene, which Governor Josh Stein estimated would cost state taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The president also refused individual federal assistance to nine Arkansas counties struck by tornadoes in March, only reversing the decision after Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as press secretary in Trumps first administration, called the president directly.

In the post-FEMA future that Trump has floated, states would be responsible for all disaster recovery. Some conservatives have long argued that states need to shoulder more responsibility for smaller disasters, but most states (and territories such as Puerto Rico) simply dont have the resources to respond to large-scale disasters like Helene. This is, after all, one reason the 13 colonies united in the first place: for mutual aid and protection. The federal government has much greater resources and, unlike most states, is not required to balance its budget annually. That makes it a crucial financial backstop. As Brock Long, who led FEMA during Trumps first term, told me last year, All disasters are locally executed, state managed, and federally supported.

FEMA has not, generally, been a partisan agency. Administrators may have different political views, but they try to provide help without consideration for politics. Ive spoken with several administrators over the years, and they are consistently professional, dont take wildly differing approaches to their work, and are dedicated to emergency response. When an employee at FEMA was caught telling workers not to help people with Trump signs in their yards, it was rightly a scandal. Yet in his first term, Trump himself reportedly withheld or delayed disaster funds in multiple cases based on partisanship. His reversal on assistance for Arkansas residents raises the specter of a future in which only states whose governors are close to Trump can hope to obtain relief.

And yet if FEMA isnt prepared for hurricane season, doesnt have sufficient staff, and is laboring under a president who would like to see it gone, the problem may not be that only the presidents allies can get help from the federal governmentbut rather that no one can.

Related:

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DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the family of the man accused of Sundays attack at a Colorado demonstration for Israeli hostages has been taken into ICE custody. Elon Musk posted on X calling President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act a disgusting abomination. Mount Etna, an active volcano in eastern Sicily, erupted. No injuries resulted.

Dispatches

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Nutrition Sciences Most Preposterous Result

By David Merritt Johns

From 2023 Last summer, I got a tip about a curious scientific finding. Im sorry, it cracks me up every time I think about this, my tipster said. Back in 2018, a Harvard doctoral student named Andres Ardisson Korat was presenting his research on the relationship between dairy foods and chronic disease to his thesis committee. One of his studies had led him to an unusual conclusion: Among diabetics, eating half a cup of ice cream a day was associated with a lower risk of heart problems. Needless to say, the idea that a dessert loaded with saturated fat and sugar might actually be good for you raised some eyebrows at the nations most influential department of nutrition.

Read the full article.

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P.S.

Professional emergency managers are some of the most impressive people Ive interviewed. To succeed, they have to be extremely practical, very creative, and totally unflappable. In 2015, while reporting an article on maximums of maximumsthe biggest hypothetical catastrophes the nation could faceI asked some sources what their nightmare was. What keeps me up is another form of a pandemic, respiratory transmitted, highly lethal virus, Anthony Fauci told me. (Good prediction, doc.) But when I asked Craig Fugate, then FEMAs administrator, what kept him up at night, he answered in the way that only a veteran of many disasters could: Nothing.

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This article originally misstated who declined to declare a major disaster in Washington State.

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Article originally published at The Atlantic
CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Many Oklahoma families are still trying to recover from Marchs historic wildfire outbreak, and more help is on the way.

To help some of those families, there will be a one-day pop-up event planned in Cleveland County on Thursday at the Little Axe Middle School cafeteria.

FEMA and the Small Business Administration are teaming together with the state to help wildfire victims get one-on-one assistance.

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RELATED: Wildfires spark across Oklahoma, leaving devastation

The pop-up event will be held in the cafeteria tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

There are also community sites in the other counties that were affected, including Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne Counties, which will stay open until June 7.

Creek County

First Baptist Church of Mannford 105 Greenwood Avenue, Mannford, Oklahoma. Monday through Friday (until June 6), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Cleveland County

Little Axe Public Schools  Cafeteria 2000 168th Avenue NE, Norman, Oklahoma. One Day Only : Thursday, June 5, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Lincoln County

Carney High School 203 Carney Street, Carney, Oklahoma. Monday through Friday (until June 6), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Logan County

Logan County Courthouse Annex Old Girl Scout Room, across the street, North of the courthouse 312 East Harrison Avenue, Guthrie, Oklahoma. Monday through Saturday (until June 7), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Pawnee County

First Baptist Church Cleveland 201 West Crestview Drive, Cleveland, Oklahoma. Monday through Saturday (until June 7), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.



Payne County

Stillwater Community Center  Room 102 315 West 8th Avenue, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Monday through Friday (until June 6), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.



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FEMA officials say those affected do not have to visit these community sites in order to register for FEMA assistance.

Homeowners and renters can apply by using any of the options listed below.

Visit disasterAssistance.gov

Download the FEMA app for mobile devices

Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 Between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Help is available in most languages



Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has entered into a management agreement with Kevit Retreats to establish a Holiday Inn Express & Suites property in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, India.

The property is planned to open in the first quarter of 2028.

The new hotel is part of IHG's strategic expansion in high-demand markets, particularly in India's secondary cities where there is a gap in branded hospitality options.

Kevit Retreats spokesperson Aditya Agarwal said: We are proud to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring the Holiday Inn Express & Suites brand to Pithampur. As the region continues to transform into a core economic zone for central India, we see strong potential for quality accommodation that meets international standards.

With IHGs global expertise and brand recognition, we are confident the hotel will emerge as a preferred choice for business travellers.

Holiday Inn Express brand is expanding its footprint with more than 3,200 hotels globally.

The introduction of the Generation 5 concept by the brand represents a step forward in enhancing guest experiences with its adaptable design and outstanding value. This move consolidates the brand's position across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Pithampur, located in Madhya Pradesh, is known as the industrial hub of central India, hosting automobile and pharmaceutical companies.

Situated in the Indore Metropolitan Region, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel will be component of a mixed-use development. It will include logistics, industrial, and warehousing facilities.

The hotel's location is strategic, serving business travellers visiting the industrial and automotive clusters in the area.

With 150 rooms, meeting spaces, two dining options, a fitness centre, and parking facilities, the hotel is poised to meet the diverse needs of its guests.

IHG Hotels & Resorts South West Asia managing director Sudeep Jain said: The signing of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pithampur reinforces our focus on tapping into new markets and bridging the gap for world class branded hospitality experiences. Pithampur, located in Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as a key industrial powerhouse, particularly in the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.

The growing volume of business travel into the region makes it an ideal location for a brand like Holiday Inn Express, which is designed to meet the needs of todays short-stay, purpose-driven travellers. We are pleased to partner with Kevit Retreats Private Limited for this upcoming project.

IHG's presence in India is robust, with 50 hotels across six brands and a pipeline of 63 hotels set to open in the next three to five years.
Sen. John Fetterman is losing another one of his staff members amid growing, reported concerns over his well-being.

The Pennsylvania Democrats chief of staff, Krysta Sinclair Juris, will be leaving his office soon and will be replaced by Cabelle St. John, who previously worked as his deputy chief of staff, senior adviser, and scheduling director. Axios was the first to report the news on Tuesday.

Cabelle St. John has been a trusted advisor since day 1 in the office. Im lucky to have her taking over as my Chief of Staff and Im confident shell do a great job, Fetterman told Axios in a statement. Im grateful for Krystas work. Shes been an invaluable member of the team for over two years and I wish her all the best.

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Over the past year and a half, a pool of Fettermans staff, including top communication aides and his legislative director, have left his office with two aides even departing as recently as May.

Several of Fetterman's staffers have left over the past year. / Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Fettermans former chief of staff Adam Jentleson, whom Juris succeeded, also left his post and notably expressed his concern over the senators health in an explosive report for New York Magazine last month, where he argued that Fetterman was struggling in a way that shouldnt be hidden from the public.

The senator subsequently brushed off New York Magazines report as a hit piece, and told NBC News in a statement: Its a one-source story, with a couple of anonymous sources, hit piece from a very left publication. Theres really nothing more to say about that.

He again scrutinized the growing, reported concerns over his health as a weird smear campaign against him during a debate in Boston on Monday.

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For me, its very clear. Its just part of this weird, this weird smear, the senator said. Im here. Im doing that job. Im defending all those things, and all of those important votes, Ive always been there.

According to tracking by GovTrack.us, Fetterman missed 174 out of 961 roll call votes, or 18.1 percent of votes from February 2023 to May 2025, and more than 21 percent of the votes in the last Congress. The median of votes senators have missed is 2.9 percent.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A fifth and final arrest has been made for the 2023 shooting death of Chaviz Nguyen, as confirmed by Springfield Police Department (SPD) Public Affairs Officer Cris Swaters.

A year after Chaviz Nguyens murder, two men charged remain on the run

According to Swaters, U.S. Marshals arrested Arshaun Bradley on Tuesday, June 3, in Illinois by the United States Marshals Service in Lake County.

Arshaun Bradley mugshot

Bradley faces charges of first-degree murder, 4 counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault, and 2 counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

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He is being held without bond.

According to previous Ozarks First coverage, on Nov. 14, 2023, Chaviz Nguyen and his girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time, were in a car in downtown Springfield when a car pulled up and began shooting into the vehicle.

Nguyen was able to shield his girlfriend but later died.

Police quickly arrested and charged three people  Elysha Bedell, Timothy Hester and Cesar Bolanos  in connection to the murder.

In 2024, police charged Bradley and Quartze Quartez Washington with first-degree murder. In March this year, Washington was arrested in Illinois.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  South Metro Fire Rescue responded to a commercial structure fire at Alibis Bar & Grill in the 7900 block of South Broadway in Littleton just before noon on Wednesday.

SMFR said on X that the fire was contained to the restaurants kitchen and that no injuries were reported and no other businesses in the building were affected.

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SMFR says fire crews began working on ventilation after getting the fire under control. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  First responders are currently at the scene investigating a fire reported Wednesday afternoon at Haywood Mall.

According to the Greenville Fire Department, they received a call around 1:34 p.m. Wednesday afternoon for flames outside of Haywood Mall. The fire was on the vacant side of the building where the Sears used to be located off Haywood Road. That area is currently under renovation, according to officials.

Tristan Johnson, Chief of administration for Greenville City Fire told us, No injuries. The mall wasnt evacuated and actually the smoke never made it to the occupied structure of the mall.

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Johnson said it took about 50 firefighters. The fire was extinguished relatively quick. For us, thats a big deal. The first thing we think about when we arrive at the mall is life safety and the building being fully occupied.

Greenville City Fire was supported by Wade Hampton, Greenville County EMS and Greenville City PD.

Fire at former Sears store at Haywood Mall in Greenville, S.C., June 4, 2025 (From: Heather Husson)

Smoke and apparent damage to the side of the building can be seen as firefighters continue working on the fire.

Officials are working to determine the cause at this time.

7NEWS will continue to update this story 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Walton County Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service are on the scene of a large brush fire in DeFuniak Springs.

Fire officals said the fire happened on Highway 331 just north of Wagon Wheel Road. However, firefighters were able to contain it.

No injuries have been reported, WCFR confirmed.

Firefighters remain on scene, working to ensure the fire is completely out.

Residents are urged to use caution in that area.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
West Pierce Fire and Rescue says a cat is safe after a fire broke out in its owners apartment.

It happened Wednesday morning at a complex near 58th Street Court West and 73rd Avenue Court West in University Place.

Firefighters quickly controlled the flames to the one unit and prevented the fire from spreading.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

No word on whether anyone was hurt.
Jun. 3State health officials announced on Tuesday that the measles outbreak has reached San Juan County, the seventh county in New Mexico to tally a confirmed case among its residents.

The New Mexico Department of Health said in a news release that a child under the age of 4, who had received one dose of the vaccine, was diagnosed with measles in the county in the Four Corners. The child had contracted the virus on a domestic flight.

The department also reported another measles case in Lea County  an adult with an unknown vaccination history. Statewide, this brings the total number of children under the age of 4 with the disease to 24 and the total number of adults to 37.

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"Travel can increase the risk of exposure," said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for the state Department of Health. "Whether you're traveling within the U.S. or abroad, before you go, make sure you're up-to-date on your vaccines."

DOH warned that there may have been an exposure risk for anyone who was at the San Juan Regional Medical Center Emergency Room May 26 through 28, the center's Health Partners Pediatrics Clinic on Friday or the Nor-Lea Hobbs Medical Clinic on May 27.

Since the measles outbreak, there has been a spike in vaccinations for the disease. Since Feb. 1, 32,296 doses of the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccination have been administered statewide, doubling the total number of vaccinations administered the previous year.

Measles symptoms begin with a cough, runny nose and red eyes before progressing to a fever and rash.

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The San Juan County Public Health Office at 355 South Miller Avenue in Farmington provides a no-cost MMR vaccine, with no appointment necessary, weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

The Lea County Public Health Office in Hobbs, 1923 North Dal Paso Street, is providing MMR vaccinations during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A Springfield police officers routine patrol quickly turned into a rescue mission for a baby deer stuck in an empty pool.

Bodycam footage of the rescue shared on Storyful shows Officer Matthew Vorse climbing into the pool and carrying the tiny fawn back to its mom, who was waiting nearby.

Days like this I feel like Ive made a difference in the world, Vorse said in the video.

Musk says Trump is named in Epstein files

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Sometimes this job is tough. The Springfield Police Department posted on Facebook. Other times, it involves a baby deer and a heartwarming rescue.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson's statement and reporting by RFE/RL.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the June 4 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a U.S. official.

The news agency reported that Hegseth will not arrive in Brussels until the conference is over and will not participate in the event online either. This will be the first meeting of Kyivs roughly 50 military backers in the so-called Ramstein format that the Pentagon chief will not attend.

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According to Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, Hegseth's travel schedule precluded attendance at the meeting.

"The United States is focused on ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on terms that establish an enduring peace," she added.

The U.S. will instead be represented by its ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Hegseth will also not be present at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on June 5, according to the outlet's sources.

The U.K. and Germany will chair the June 4 meeting, which will take place as Russia continues to reject a ceasefire and reportedly prepares new offensives against Ukraine.

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Ukraine has called upon its partners to invest more in its arms production and to provide additional air defenses, namely Patriot systems, to help fend off intensifying Russian aerial attacks.

Hegseth's predecessor, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, launched the UDCG after the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war in 2022 to coordinate assistance among Kyiv's allies.

The last Ramstein-format UDCG meeting took place in Brussels on April 11 under the chairmanship of London and Berlin, with allies committing more than 21 billion euros ($23.8 billion) in long-term military aid to Ukraine.

Hegseth attended the Ramstein summit on Feb. 12, but not as its chairman, a position held by Austin until then. His British counterpart, John Healey, presided over the summit instead. Previous reporting suggested that the defense secretary was to skip the April meeting, but he eventually joined via video link.

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Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has begun scaling down the U.S. presence in various international pro-Ukraine initiatives as he seeks to broker a ceasefire and a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

As the peace talks stall, Trump has signaled he might walk away from the effort. The U.S. president has been notably silent on the most recent war developments, including the most recent peace talks in Istanbul or Ukraine's mass drone attack on the Russian strategic aviation.

Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MARLOWE, W.Va. (WBOY)  FirstEnergy, which operates Mon Power and Potomac Edison in West Virginia, has converted an ash landfill in Berkeley County into a solar site, the third one by the company in West Virginia.

The site has 17,000 solar panels and produces 5.75 megawatts of power, which is enough to power almost 1,000 homes, according to estimates. A press release from FirstEnergy said the site, along with the two other operational sites in Maidsville and Rivesville, will help meet West Virginias electricity needs.

Mon Power and Potomac Edison solar site at Marlowe (FirstEnergy)

Photo of West Virginia Trooper praying with homeless man goes viral

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Our solar projects create construction jobs, support U.S. manufacturing and help us accommodate increased demand for electricity. We are committed to ensuring that our customers have the right mix and amount of generation to support their everyday needs, and our solar facilities are a growing part of that, Dan Rossero, Vice President of FirstEnergys West Virginia Generation, said in the press release.

FirstEnergy has plans to create five total solar sites in West Virginia which will create enough power for more than 8,000 homes and generate more than 87,000 solar renewable energy credits (SREC) that can be purchased by customers in West Virginia.

According to FirstEnergy, at 4 cents per kilowatt hour on top of normal rates, West Virginia customers can purchase and use SREC for as little as $2 per month.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Ivanhoe Mines has announced progress on the Kakula Mine restart plans following a temporary suspension of underground operations.

The company's engineering teams are working on updating plans to resume mining on both the western and eastern sides of the mine, with the western side expected to restart later this month, subject to dewatering progress.

Ivanhoe Mines had declared a halt in mining activities at the Kakula underground mine, part of the Kamoa-Kakula copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), due to recent seismic events.

Following seismic events in the Kakula mine's eastern area, the Kamoa Copper management team decided to cease underground work on 18 May.

The Kamoa-Kakula mining project is managed by Kamoa Copper, a collaboration between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining Group, which both own 39.6% each, Crystal River Global with 0.8%, and the government of the DRC with a 20% share.

Kamoa Copper, the operator of the mine, has initiated a two-stage dewatering plan.

The first stage, completed today, involved installing temporary pumps to manage water inflows, increasing the capacity to approximately 4,400 litres per second.

The second stage, already under way, includes ordering four high-capacity pumps and establishing permanent infrastructure to fully dewater the mine. Delivery of these pumps is expected within 90 days.

The phase one and two concentrators are currently operating at half capacity, processing ore from surface stockpiles.

Once operations on the western side of Kakula resume, ore from this area will be fed into the concentrators.

Despite the temporary suspension, the mine has achieved more than 18 months of underground development ahead of schedule, providing flexibility for safe re-entry into multiple production areas.

Operations at the Kamoa underground mine and the phase three concentrator remain unaffected and continue as planned.

Ivanhoe Mines and Kamoa Copper, along with geotechnical experts, are concluding a comprehensive geotechnical assessment of the mine.

The findings and detailed restart plans for both sides of the Kakula Mine are expected to be announced next week.

"Ivanhoe Mines to restart western section of Kakula Mine" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Fishers and Carmel have passed ordinances limiting rental homes to 10% of a given neighborhood.

City council members fear that corporate investors are buying up homes to manage as rental units, outbidding local families and driving up prices. The cities also claim that landlords invest less in maintenance and improvements, lowering property values.

Their policy reflects a growing national trend of rental housing restrictions intended to protect neighborhood character. But, in doing so, communities risk closing off one of the last viable paths to sufficient housing.

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Not only are city leaders concerns contradictory (investors cant drive up prices and drive down property values at the same time), but this policy emerged from a place with stable prices and few renters to begin with.

Hamilton County's rental problem isn't what it seems

A home for sale photographed on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at a home on Quarterback Drive in Fishers.

Less than 20% of Hamilton County households rent, compared to about 40% in Marion County. According to my calculations using Zillow data, Hamilton County home prices have appreciated the least in the Indianapolis metro area, rising roughly with local incomes. In many parts of Marion County, home prices have risen by an additional 50% or 100%.

Briggs: Fishers, Carmel don't think renters deserve single-family homes

Nevertheless, Fishers and Carmel officials  no doubt informed by passionate, established local homeowners  apparently believe they have a rental problem. Even if thats true, housing restrictions rarely stay local. If this new rule were applied across the whole region, more renters would be pushed into suburbs as options inside Indianapolis dry up.

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Theres always been tension between whats good for a neighborhood or municipality and whats good for the region, but two key events created this battle.

How we got here

First, a century ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities could limit where apartments are located. Since then, cities have confined apartments to exceptionally small areas and apartment construction has generally declined.

For a long time, it was easy not to notice. The 20th century brought expanded access to mortgages, which helped to boost single-family home construction. In the Indianapolis area, by the turn of the century, only about 3,000 apartment units were built each year while 12,000-14,000 single-family homes were built.

Briggs: Fishers' attack on investor-owned homes will lock out families

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As families bought these new single-family homes in the suburbs, some older homes in aging neighborhoods became rentals that could replace apartments. They were frequently managed by local small-scale landlords.

Then, a second major event changed everything: the mortgage collapse in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. As mortgage access was sharply curtailed, families were suddenly less able to buy new single-family homes. Construction of these homes in and around Indianapolis fell to fewer than 4,000 annually. Even today, it remains below 10,000 new units per year as apartments continue to fluctuate around about 3,000.

Without mortgages or rentals, we're running out of options

Ironically, the crackdown has been even worse for renters than buyers. Families unable to get mortgages have created a wave of renter demand thats swept into existing neighborhoods  pushing rents in formerly affordable Indianapolis neighborhoods up by about 25% more than rents in more expensive neighborhoods in places like Fishers.

Rental costs have risen so much that what was just a niche market before 2008  entire single-family neighborhoods built for large investors to rent out  has expanded and caused cities to start responding.

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Opinion: Fishers' rental cap is another way to keep out people with low incomes

What our alarmed leaders fail to see is that we're running out of options. New apartments could have kept rents from rising, but cities long ago limited them. New homes sold to families with mortgages could have done the same, but federal regulators limit them. Building single-family homes for rental purposes could help, but Fishers and Carmel say no. Others will follow.

This is the heart of the matter: If we outlaw renting, we outlaw housing. Without viable paths for renters, we risk shutting people out of entire communities. Homelessness is already rising in many areas across the country. Blocking rentals will push the Indianapolis area in that direction. Given the long history of similarly exclusionary local policies across America, change may need to come from the statehouse.

We all want to protect the character of our neighborhoods, but we cannot preserve a version of community that leaves so many people behind. Surely, there is no room in the inn, and the manger is not code compliant either is not the character we want to protect.

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Kevin Erdmann is a senior affiliated scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Fishers, Carmel rental bans lead to housing crisis | Opinion
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office has arrested five people in connection with the April shooting death of 25-year-old David Turley III on South Harrells Ferry Road.

Deputies responded to a shooting at an apartment complex in the 16400 block, where they found Turley suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso on April 30. He was rushed to the hospital in serious condition but later died.

Man dies in hospital after getting shot in Baton Rouge, EBRSO says

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Investigators said Turley was walking with another person when three armed suspects approached them and attempted to trade firearms. When Turley refused, one suspect grabbed him, shot him, and took his weapon before fleeing.

Detectives later identified one of the suspects as Jayshon Smith, 20, also known as J3, through surveillance footage and witness accounts. During an interview, Smith admitted that he and two others had planned to rob Turley and confirmed that one of the other suspects shot him.

Smith, already in custody on unrelated charges, was rebooked on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Additional arrests include:

Amorian Floyd, 19  Rebooked while in custody on related charges; charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Marlon Ross, 19  Arrested Tuesday; charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Antonio Floyd, 21  Rebooked while in custody; charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and accessory after the fact to armed robbery.

Anthony Floyd, 23  Rebooked while in custody; charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and accessory after the fact to armed robbery.

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The sheriffs office said more arrests are possible and the investigation remains ongoing.

(Left to Right): Amorian Floyd; Jayshon Smith; Marlon Ross; Anthony Floyd; Antonio Floyd

Turleys family started a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. The fundraiser has already raised $1,500.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Welton Street Corridor in Denvers Five Points neighborhood, like many other spots in downtown Denver, is struggling with vacancy rates.

Theyre hoping to get fresh ideas from local college students through a Shark Tank like pitch contest Wednesday morning.

The Five Points Business Improvement District and students at the University of Denvers Daniels College of Business are working together to revitalize historic Welton Street  between 20th & 30th streets.

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The partnership kicks off with a shark tank-style business pitch competition Wednesday morning.

Ten student teams will present strategic proposals to stimulate economic activity, increase foot traffic, and enhance cultural engagement in Five Points.

Each team has been tasked with developing a plan based on a simulated $50,000 budget, grounded in community research and stakeholder interviews. A panel of judges, including local business and community leaders, will evaluate the pitches and select the top proposal.

Student presenters will have about 10 minutes to present with 5 minutes of Q&A after.

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Judging is based on strategic thinking, creativity, feasibility, and professionalism.

It gets started at 8 a.m. Wednesday, then there is an afternoon session as well.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Jun. 3MORGANTOWN  If you spend any amount of time downtown, you're likely aware that one lane of upper Walnut Street, as well as the adjacent sidewalk, has been off limits to some degree since February.

That's when Blue Gold Development showed up to complete a $1, 203, 349 streetscape project that will include extensive lighting upgrades, a new sidewalk and other pedestrian improvements as well as a full asphalt overlay in the one-block stretch between Spruce and High streets.

You may also be aware that progress on the busy thoroughfare came to a grinding halt more than a month ago.

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According to District 4 engineers with the West Virginia Division of Highways, Blue Gold Development is hopeful work is ready to resume.

"The contractor indeed ran into unforeseen complications with vault seven and vault eight on the project, which included problems working around existing utilities, fire suppression systems, etc., " the DOH explained. "The project has been on hold for five weeks as the WVDOH and the contractor worked with the city of Morgantown on solutions. The contractor hopes to begin work again this week."

The potential for complications posed by the subterranean vaults were known prior to construction.

That's a major contributor to why it's costing nearly as much to freshen up a single block of Walnut Street as it did to address three blocks of Pleasant Street  about $1.47 million for improvements from University Avenue to Spruce Street.

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The vaults extend out from the buildings beneath the sidewalks. DOH Regional Construction Engineer Jason Nelson previously explained that there are eight vaults beneath upper Walnut Street. He said some would be reinforced and remain in use while others would need to be backfilled and sealed off.

Factoring in the delay, the DOH anticipates the work will be completed in mid-August, explaining, "The project must be completed before school begins in the fall."

Looking ahead, both the city and DOH are planning another significant project for Walnut Street  but this time vaults won't be a concern.

Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee said the city has submitted comments to DOH consultant, HRG, for a Walnut Street Bridge project currently in the early design phase.

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According to Nelson and District 4 Deputy Manager Aaron Stevens, the bridge rehabilitation project will likely include repairs to the abutments and steel beams as well as replacing the existing concrete deck.

It's anticipated the bridge project won't be let to bid for at least a year, possibly two.
It was a busy day Tuesday for first responders in Wichita and Sedgwick County after torrential rainwater flooded streets, stalled cars and seeped into basements.

The National Weather Service Wichita office is still gathering rainfall reports but had some preliminary amounts Tuesday night. The agency measured 2.94 inches of rainfall at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. The greatest amount in its 26-county coverage area was 6.21 inches at Beech Factory Airport in east Wichita, NWS meteorologist James Cuellar said.

Its not often we get into a flash flood emergency. It is very rare, but it means that we have a lot of roadways that are flooding. A lot of them will have a current to them, and we dont want people driving, Sedgwick County Emergency Management Director Julie Stimson said at a news conference Tuesday evening. Currently, the rain has stopped in Sedgwick County, and the waters are quickly receding. The drainage systems are working the way we want them to work but there are areas that have experienced significant flooding.

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It was just a riptide: Wichita man videotapes rescue from stalled car during flood

Stimson reminded drivers to not go around barricades or emergency vehicles blocking flooded streets.

Gov. Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency due to heavy rainfall impacting portions of the state with the potential of flooding and flash flooding, a state news release said.

The declaration allows local governments to use state assistance and resources during the flooding. Sedgwick County also declared a state of local disaster emergency.

From midnight to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received 119 calls for water rescue, with 95 of them between noon and 4 p.m., 911 director Elora Forshee said.

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Multiple roads that had closed earlier have been reopened. Some county roads that remain closed include Meridian from 109th to 117th, Seneca between 69th and 77th streets north and 127th Street east between 29th and 37th, Sedgwick County Director Public Works and County Engineer Lynn Packer said.

Township roads that remain closed include 117th Street between Meridian and Seneca, Seneca between 125th and 117th streets north and 109th between Meridian and West streets, Packer added.

Adam Runner uses a shovel to clear clogged drains near his home in Eastborough on Tuesday afternoon.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is also warning drivers traveling on U.S. 54 that flooding has affected multiple ramps eastbound and westbound.

While no ramps are currently closed due to floodwater overtaking the ramps, conditions can change rapidly, a KDOT news release said. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time, use alternate routes when possible.

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No rain is expected Wednesday, a detailed NWS forecast shows. The day should be sunny with a high of 76 degrees and a low of 61.

Off-and-on chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected Thursday into the weekend, NWS meteorologist William Iwasko said. But the heaviest rain fell Tuesday.

.

The Red Cross will be in Wichita to assist anyone that was affected or displaced by the floods. Shelters are set up at Griffith Elementary at 1802 S. Bluff. Residents can call (800) 733-2767 to reach the Red Cross to see what resources are available.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Florida League of Cities has recognized City Manager of the City of Panama City, Jonathan Hayes, as a 2025 Home Rule Hero on Wednesday.

According to a news release, the FLC recognized Hayes for his exceptional advocacy during the 2025 Legislative Session.

The prestigious award honors municipal officials who relentlessly defend the principle of home rule, the right of local governments to address community needs with local solutions, free from excessive state interference.

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The 2025 Home Rule Hero Award honors almost 180 municipal officials statewide. The FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs, Casey Cook, commended the leaders for their dedication.

The dedication and effort of these local officials who tirelessly advocated for local decision-making was a difference-maker this legislative session, Cook said.

Hayes was appointed City Manager of Panama City in January 2024. He has a distinguished public service career that includes roles as Director of Public Works and Logistics.

City of Panama said that Hayes role has included managing vital infrastructure and public services, underscoring his commitment to enhancing the Citys resilience and quality of life.

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During the legislative season, Hayes was constantly engaged with state lawmakers, their staff, and senior agency officials, where he provided valuable local perspectives on important issues.

Hayess efforts contributed to the advancement of the Leagues legislative agenda, promoting glocal voices in policymaking.

The City of Panama said that Hayess recognition as a Home Rule Hero emulates his unwavering commitment to empowering the Citys residents and businesses through effective local governance and advocacy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW)  A two-alarm fire destroyed a double-wide mobile home overnight on W. Sumter Street in Florence, authorities said.

Crews from West Florence Fire-Rescue and the Florence Fire Department were called out at 10:35 p.m. to the 1200 block of W. Sumter Street for a structure fire with possible entrapment. They found the mobile home fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.

Crews quickly brought the fire under control and searched the residence but found no one inside. As a precaution, crews also checked nearby residences for any potential occupants.

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Florence County Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene to support the efforts of firefighters. No additional information was immediately available.

It was the second time Florence firefighters were called to W. Sumter Street on Tuesday. One person died and another person was hospitalized after a house fire in the 600 block of W. Sumter Street.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
ORLANDO, Fla.  More than a year after shuttering an Orlando churchs unpermitted homeless shelter, Orange County commissioners approved a rezoning request for the church to build a new shelter on the same site.

So long as Kaleo Ministries can meet the countys conditions, the church may move forward with its plan to build a 240-bed shelter on six acres of residential land it owns in east Orlando, the county board agreed Tuesday.

The church operated a makeshift shelter on the site for years, housing hundreds of people in repurposed shipping containers and a converted garage.

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But the unpermitted shelter near E. Colonial Drive and SR 417 garnered 38 code violations resulting in $4 million dollars in fines before the county shut it down in a March 2024 court filing.

At the time, County Fire Marshal William Farhat testified that the locations lack of fire suppression equipment was an immediate and credible threat to the life, health, safety, and welfare of the public.

In April, Pastor Marcos Diaz appealed to commissioners to rezone the churchs land so it could construct an 18,000 square-foot shelter and drug treatment facility.

After more than an hour of debate  which County Mayor Jerry Demings called not a good use of time  commissioners postponed the vote until June to allow Diaz more time to prepare.

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At the time, Demings said Diaz was somewhat inconsistent in his answers to the county, including not being clear on how the church would fund the project or what agency would run its drug treatment program.

Commissioners also advised Diaz to resolve the millions of dollars in fines hanging over the property and bring it up to code before coming back.

Since that meeting, Diaz has brought the property up to code. He also hired an attorney that negotiated the churchs fines down to $130,000. So far, the church has paid $5,500 of that money.

Diaz also partnered with Asher Capital Investments, a New Jersey investment firm that said it is committed to raising the money needed to build and operate the project.

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I did preliminary underwriting. The project is fundable with no doubt. We already got some commitments, said Edgardo Saldana owner of Asher Capital who stood at the podium alongside Diaz at Tuesdays meeting.

Orange County needs more shelter beds, as the areas homeless population continues to outpace its supply. And a new state law banning camping in public places that took effect in January has put even more pressure on the situation.

But city and county officials have been unable to find a location for a new shelter. Each time they zero in on a possibility, theyve been met with strong opposition from residents worried that a shelter would bring crime to their neighborhoods. That happened on sites along West Washington Street near Camping World Stadium, and in Orlandos SoDo district.

Ahead of Tuesdays meeting, the County received a petition against Kaleos shelter signed by 73 residents who live near the churchs property. Those residents claimed the unpermitted shelter brought increased crime, open drug use and trespassers to their neighborhood. They worry the new shelter will have the same negative impact on the area.

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Despite those concerns, the commission voted 6-1 to rezone the land but laid out 24 conditions that the church must meet before the shelter can open.

Those conditions include paying the remainder of the $130,000 in fines owed to the county, having 24-hour security on site and building a 25-foot buffer zone between the shelter and its neighbors with landscaping, a ditch and a concrete wall.

Diaz and his partners erupted in cheer when the ruling was issued.

We made mistakes but were looking to turn the page, Diaz said.

---------------
Selcuk Acar / Anadolu / Getty Images A Joby air taxi on display at Grand Central Station in New York City





Key Takeaways

Joby Aviation shares rose Tuesday after announcing a partnership with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel.

The companies will "explore distribution and sales collaborations" and the potential launch of Joby's air taxi services in Saudi Arabia.

Joby said it still expects to carry passengers in Dubai sometime in 2026.







Shares of Joby Aviation (JOBY) jumped on Tuesday after the electric air taxi maker announced a deal with Saudi Arabian investment conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel.

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to "explore opportunities to establish a distribution agreement in Saudi Arabia for Jobys electric aircraft," per a Tuesday press release.

The sides laid out potential targets of 200 aircraft and other services valued at about $1 billion to be delivered in the coming years. They also said they see "potential revenue opportunities across the Middle East" in the long term.

The partnerships will begin in Saudi Arabia to "work together to explore distribution and sales collaborations, the launch of local air taxi services, including the establishment of aftermarket services such as MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), and pilot training."

Joby continues to expect its first passengers will be carried in Dubai in 2026. Abdul Latif Jameel has also participated in previous investing rounds for Joby, the company said.

Shares of Joby were up 9% in Tuesday trading after recently pulling back from a rally sparked by the announcement of a $250 million investment from Toyota Motor (TM).

Read the original article on Investopedia
A federal judge in Tallahassee mostly denied requests to temporarily block parts of a new Florida law revising rules for citizen-led ballot initiatives from plaintiffs who say it violates the First Amendment right to free political speech.

The law (HB 1205), signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, was promptly challenged by Florida Decides Healthcare, a group looking to expand Medicaid access in Florida. Other groups also involved in statewide petitions joined the lawsuit, including Smart & Safe Florida, which is proposing an recreational marijuana initiative.

On June 4, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker denied motions to block multiple portions of the new law that toughens regulations on ballot initiatives, coming after DeSantis and state officials claimed fraud in last year's petition gathering. These parts of the law include a requirement for all petitions to be turned in to local elections offices within 10 days and fines for missing voter information and late petition returns.

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Walker did grant one motion from the health care group, which challenged a law change in the racketeering statute to include violations of state election code and petition fraud. The judge sided with the plaintiffs over a "vagueness claim" for the new law's expanded definition for "racketeering activity."

"But such a standardless and discretionary determination only lends itself to the mischief associated with an unconstitutionally vague statute that allows for arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement," says the order on the motion for preliminary injunction. They can be granted early in a lawsuit to temporarily stop something, like enforcement of a law, until the case is fully decided.

Despite the judge's multiple denials, Mitch Emerson of Florida Decides Healthcare called the ruling a "major victory."

"The court put a halt to one of the most dangerous parts of HB 1205  a vague criminal penalty that would have made grassroots participation in the democratic process a potential felony," Emerson said. "Thats not just a win for Florida Decides Healthcare  thats a win for every Floridian who wants to engage in the ballot measure process without fear or intimidation."

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Representatives and attorneys for Smart & Safe Florida did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Plaintiffs says law unfairly burdens citizen-led petitions

The lawsuit ultimately argues that the law violates First Amendment rights to political speech and to petition government with its increased penalties, stricter deadlines and toughened regulations on who can circulate petitions.

For years, groups have collected petitions to successfully pass initiatives that set caps on the number of students in classrooms, approved medical marijuana, restored voting rights to felons and mandated a $15 minimum wage.

On top of the new state regulations that didn't exist in campaigns for last year's amendments, petition groups already face a looming Feb. 1 deadline to submit nearly 900,000 signatures.

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Yet this law comes after two contentious ballot amendments failed to meet the state's threshold of 60% to amend the constitution  one guaranteeing access to abortion and another approving recreational marijuana for adults.

DeSantis campaigned against both initiatives, yet voters supported them by 57.2% and 55.9%, respectively.

2024 marijuana amendment: Recreational marijuana in Florida snuffed out after amendment falls short of 60%

Among the increased penalties and stricter deadlines, the law also requires all petition circulators to be Florida residents. On May 30, Smart & Safe Florida filed an emergency motion claiming that the prohibition on non-resident petition circulators "injured" the group's ability "to carry their message to the public."

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On top of it, the group argued in that motion an already-existing limitation from the law that limits each volunteer to only collect 25 petitions.

In their motion, the organization said that the state law's nonresident provision is "very likely the difference between" the amendment getting on the ballot or not.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Ballot initiative crackdown largely survives First Amendment test
In many Latin American countries, a notary public, or notario publico, is a highly trained legal professional and, in many cases, an attorney.

With notaries public in the United States, thats not always the case.

The similarity in terminology can lead to confusion and open the door to fraud, making immigrants in the United States believe theyre dealing with a qualified lawyer.

A new law (HB 915) will prohibit Florida notaries without the appropriate law license from misrepresenting their legal experience when advertising their services, and bars them from using terms such as immigration specialist, notario publico and immigration consultant.

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The law will take effect July 1 and was sponsored by State Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, and Democratic Reps. Johanna Lopez of Orlando and Marie Paule Woodson of Hollywood. The law also gives victims of fraud a way to seek justice or compensation.

The bill received bipartisan support, though Gov. Ron DeSantis did not make any specific mention of it. Florida has made cracking down on illegal immigration one of its priorities, and DeSantis said the state can serve as an example for others in that effort.

According to the law, notaries who are not lawyers must clearly display a disclaimer, in both English and any other language used in their materials, outlining the limitations of their role, including that they may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice, and that they cannot represent people in immigration matters.

In a statement, Woodson underscored the importance of helping those who are most at risk.

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This bill is about protecting vulnerable communities, about advertisement, misleading advertisement, and unauthorized legal practices, she said. Its about transparency and accountability.

Community advocate Ana Lamb said she receives at least a dozen cases and complaints each month from people who claim to have been victims of fraud by unscrupulous notaries. Lamb, a certified notary public herself, said confusion is especially common among Hispanics.

A notary is not a lawyer, but people still get confused when theyre dealing with immigration problems, Lamb said. In that desperation, people start looking for help and often end up with someone who lies to them and tells them what they want to hear.

Teresita Matos-Post, executive director of the Presbyterian Beth-El Farmworker Ministry in Wimauma, said the recent legislation is an important step in protecting vulnerable communities and immigrants who may not be familiar with how the legal system works in the United States.

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In many Latin American countries, notaries are attorneys with broad legal authority, which can cause confusion and lead to abuse here, Matos-Post added.

Beth-El launched its notary services program last April in response to a growing community need. The organization now has five registered notaries. The program includes educational efforts to help community members clearly understand the role and limitations of a notary public, which helps reduce the risk of fraud.

In Tampa, one of the most severe fraud cases was orchestrated by Elvis Harold Reyes of Brandon. Reyes posed as a pastor, notary and immigration attorney. He collected thousands of dollars from more than 200 immigrants by promising to obtain documents such as drivers licenses, work permits and green cards. In 2021, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Elizabeth Gutierrez, a Hispanic community leader and founder of the Wimauma nonprofit Enterprising Latinas, said it makes sense to define the scope of notary services because there are too many bad actors.

This law will protect people needing professional and experienced legal services, Gutierrez said.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office holds a news conference about a Florida law that is going into effect on July 1, 2025.

Under the new law, juveniles who distribute narcotics that cause a fatal overdose could now be prosecuted for murder, HCSO said.

This update is a direct response to the deaths caused by individuals unknowingly consuming narcotics that are laced with deadly substances.

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According to HCSO, the new law was sparked by the death of Devin Ramos, 17, who died after unknowingly ingesting a fentanyl-laced pill given to him by a juvenile who could not be held accountable at that time.

That day was the worst day of my life, yesterday, June 3rd, made one year since my baby boy went to go be with his Heavenly Father, said the victims mother, Amy Olmdea.

Sheriff Chad Chronister is joined by Devins mother, Amy Olmdea, and State Attorney Suzy Lopez.

Moving forward, Sheriff Chronister said they have worked hard to make sure every drug dealer faces charges.

If you knowingly distribute a deadly substance such as fentanyl and someone dies, your age will no longer shield you from the consequences, he said.

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State Attorney Lopez said their hands were tied with Ramoss case, but now, they hope this new state law acts as a deterrent for drug dealers in the community.

We hope that criminals take note and stop dealing drugs, because no mother, no mother should have to go through what Ms. Olmdea has gone through for the past year, she said.

Olmdea said she was so angry and confused that they person who sold her son these pills couldnt face charges in his death.

She said her son had his whole life ahead of him.

There isnt a day that goes by that I do not think about him and miss him tremendously. Some days this all feels unreal to me, Olmdea said.

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With this new law, the grieving mother said she sees hope and this law is a step forward.

I am at peace now that my sons death is not in vain and because of this new law, other families will get justice now, she said. I dont want to see another mother ever go through what I went through.

State Attorney Lopez said juveniles will be charged with third degree murder if they deal drugs that cause a death, which is punishable up to 15 years in prison.

Florida Representative Traci Foster and Senator Danny Burgess, who Sheriff Chronister said were instrumental in getting the bill passed, shared the following statements:

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The tragic death of a young person in our community due to fentanyl poisoning served as a devastating reminder of the lethal consequences tied to illegal drug distribution. In the wake of that loss, Sheriff Chad Chronister stepped forward to bring this issue to the forefront, urging lawmakers to take decisive action to ensure all who peddle in this deadly and unlawful practice can face justice. Senate Bill 612 reflects that call by updating state law to ensure those who unlawfully distribute controlled illegal substances like fentanyl can be held accountable when those drugs result in death. This legislation is about saving lives and delivering justice. I am deeply grateful to Sheriff Chronister for his leadership and to the law enforcement professionals who work every day to confront this crisis and protect our communities. -Senator Danny Burgess



The scourge of fentanyl is devastating families and destroying communities across our nation. Those who peddle this poison have blood on their hands and should be treated as such in the eyes of the law. To help the brave men and women on the frontlines of this fight, Florida will now be able to hold those who deal in fentanyl to greater account. Im thankful to Sheriff Chronister and Floridas law enforcement professionals for their commitment to the safety of our state and their willingness to help hold these drug dealers accountable for their deadly actions.

-Representative Traci Koster

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Bonus funds offered to school districts for students who pass advanced and career technical courses may no longer be at risk.

Action News Jax State and Local Government Reporter Jake Stofan was first to highlight the revised proposal included in the Senates latest K-12 budget offer.

For months, students have been raising concerns about the legislatures plan to cut the awards in half and calling on lawmakers to maintain funding at current levels.

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Now, Senate K-12 Appropriations Chair Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) has explained the bonus dollars will be fully funded.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Those dollars will however be split up, with districts permitted to spend 20 percent of the funds on discretionary spending, while 80 percent will go into a new categorical fund reserved for teacher bonuses, school bonuses and other district incentives.

Basically, we are staying the course with how things are now, reverting from our original position during regular session and were simply putting that money into a categorical that way we can just account for it more. But the same amount of money will be there, said Burgess.

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House K-12 Budget Chair State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers) also spoke to reporters after Tuesday evenings budget conference meeting.

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She indicated the House is also considering a categorical option like the Senate, though the two sides still need to agree on a final plan.

By creating a categorical, we have transparency. You know what that pot of money looks like, and then were looking at making sure we allocate that in a way that equates to what would be allocated using the add-on weight method, Persons-Mulika said.

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The board that governs Floridas higher education system delivered a stunning rebuke to the states flagship college on Tuesday, blocking Santa Ono from becoming the next president of the University of Florida.

Citing concerns over Onos past statements on diversity, equity, antisemitism and other cultural issues, the board cast aside the former University of Michigan president by a 10-6 vote, with one member absent.

Some state leaders and education figures who had called for the Board of Governors to block Ono applauded the vote on social media.

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This is the right decision for @UF, Sen. Rick Scott posted on X, a day after raising significant concerns about Onos candidacy. UFs students, faculty, and staff deserve a president who will stand for Florida values and against antisemitism.

Christopher Rufo, a prominent conservative voice on education and a trustee at New College of Florida, saluted the boards act of courage, and pledged NO AMNESTY FOR THE ARCHITECTS OF THE DEI REVOLUTION.

There needs to be a real shakeup at the University of Florida board of trustees, which voted unanimously in favor of a man who promoted gender pronouns, land acknowledgements, two-spirit insanity, DEI 2.0, critical race theory, and child sex-change procedures, Rufo wrote.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis called the often contentious Board of Governors meeting incredibly difficult, but said it was necessary.

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Todays vote was tough, but Im happy to see the system work, he posted. I trust @UF will bring back the best and brightest to lead the University of Florida.

Former U.S. Rep. Byron Daniels, who is running to become Floridas next governor, was another politician who spoke out against Ono.

I give credit to the Florida Board of Governors for standing up for Floridas conservative values, he wrote. Woke has NO place in our university system. Its time to restart the presidential search at @UF and find a more qualified candidate to lead our flagship university forward.

And state Rep. Brad Yeager, R-New Port Richey, said the Board of Governors fixed a big mistake and stopped wokeness from leading one of our top Universities!

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On the other end of the spectrum, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a UF alumnus, said the university will have its work cut out for it in attracting top candidates following Tuesdays decision.

Todays vote begs the question: what top tier academic leader will subject themselves to the far-right fanatics running Tallahassee? she said in a statement. UF is vying to be the nations top public research university. Installing right-wing, unqualified partisans at the helm will only delay or derail that ascent.

Times staff writers Divya Kumar and Jeffrey S. Solochek contributed to this report.






NEED TO KNOW

Oliver Fell, a teacher at a Florida middle school, is accused of sending a picture of her breast to a 14-year-old student

She turned herself in on June 2 after a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges of lewd conduct with a student by an authority figure and transmission of harmful material to a minor

Authorities learned about Fell's alleged offenses after the student informed a resource officer with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office about the nude photo he allegedly received







A Florida teacher allegedly sent a nude photo and engaged in sexual activity with a middle school student.

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Oliver Fell, 28, is now facing charges of lewd conduct with a student by an authority figure and transmission of harmful material to a minor, according to a news release from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

That lewd conduct is further defined as soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship with a student.

Authorities said that they first learned of Fell's alleged offenses on March 3, when a middle school student told a school resource deputy from the MCSO that Fell had allegedly been communicating with him on social media for over three months.

That student also alleged that Fell sent him an "explicit photo" on Snapchat in early January, according to the release.

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Those allegations were reported to the school district and the MCSO Crimes Against Children Unit, who promptly launched an investigation into the student's claims.

Detectives with the unit were soon able to confirm the student's allegations, according to the release, and after obtaining a search warrant for his phone, they allegedly found evidence that the communications between Fell and the student led to lewd conduct.

Those detectives also said that an "explicit photo of a nude breast" found on the boy's phone "belonged to the teacher," according to the release.

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The release also said that additional information obtained in early May helped strengthen the case, though no further details were provided by the MCSO.

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On June 2, an arrest warrant was issued and Fell turned herself in later that day.

She remains in custody at the Manatee County Jail and is being held on a $2,500 bond.

The principal at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, Irene Nikitopoulos, spoke out about the charges in a letter to parents on Monday.

She wrote that it "took several weeks of investigation to confirm the allegations of the illegal communications" and said that "once law enforcement had sufficient confirmation, our school and district were informed and Ms. Fell was immediately reassigned to a position away from our school where she had no contact with students."

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She also said the school and the district would fully cooperate with the investigation, which is ongoing.

Fell does not have a lawyer at this time and has yet to enter a plea.

Read the original article on People
HIGH POINT  Food banks in North Carolina, including the one that serves the High Point area, are seeking extra funding from the N.C. General Assembly for the coming fiscal year to cope with greater demand for services and the loss of federal dollars.

The food banks want to maintain the $6.1 million that was provided in the current state budget and receive an additional $3 million related to outreach from the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. The state House and Senate are negotiating over a final state budget after different plans were passed by each chamber.

In light of the current environment and historic numbers of individuals seeking assistance, the food banks requested additional funds for the upcoming year, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest N.C. said in a statement to The High Point Enterprise.

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The states food banks say that they face pressures of greater demand from people in need and a possible increase in requests for assistance if food stamp benefits are cut in the new federal budget being worked out by Congress, as the House has proposed.

The food banks also lost some federal funding when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in March that it was cutting $11 million that food banks in North Carolina had expected to receive through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. The money was used by food banks to purchase food from local farmers. Second Harvest lost $2 million.

The General Assembly has a history of supporting state food banks. The six Feeding America-affiliated food banks in North Carolina  along with Feeding the Carolinas, their state association that serves both Carolinas  have received grants from the state of North Carolina for the past 30 years, according to Second Harvest.

Second Harvest serves a network of 500 food assistance programs in an 18-county region, including 17 agencies serving the High Point and Jamestown areas. The food banks local partners involve 19 food pantries, four shelters and three soup kitchens.

On average, local partners rely on Second Harvest for 80% of the food they provide to people in need, the food bank reports. For the new fiscal year starting July 1, Second Harvest is projecting its network will distribute nearly 40 million meals.
Ford has announced several vehicle recalls in 2025, affecting over 42,000 units. The recalls involve popular models such as the F-150, Bronco, Escape, and multiple Lincoln SUVs, encompassing a wide range of issues.

Read on to know the details of the Ford 2025 recall.

Why did Ford recall over 42,000 vehicles?

Ford recently issued a series of safety recalls covering over 42,000 vehicles due to multiple concerns that could increase the risk of fire, crashes, and engine failure. These recalls, reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 27, affect a wide range of models.

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One major recall affects over 30,000 units of the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. In these vehicles, a software issue could cause the display screens to go blank, leaving drivers without access to crucial information, such as speed and warning alerts. In some cases, the rearview camera may also fail, creating a potential crash risk. Owners will receive a free software fix via dealers or an over-the-air update, with notifications scheduled to go out by June 16.

Another recall affects several models, including the 20232025 Escape, Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport. They are being recalled due to a fault in the engine block heater system. When plugged in while the vehicle is parked, the heater may overheat and potentially start a fire. Ford will replace the heater element and inspect or replace the cord at no cost. Letters will be mailed to affected owners by June 6.

Ford also issued a recall for nearly 1,800 Escape, Corsair, and Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. Improper repairs under a previous recall could lead to engine failure, which in turn might cause fire or injury. Drivers are urged to stop the vehicle immediately if they notice smoke, power loss, or unusual engine sounds. A software update will be provided.

In another case, Ford is recalling 192 of its 2022 F-150 Lightning electric trucks due to improperly completed repairs under a previous recall. The vehicles tire pressure monitoring system may fail to alert drivers to low tire pressure, increasing crash risks. A fresh software update will be issued, and owners will be contacted by June 23.

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Lastly, 154 vehicles from the 2025 F-150, Transit, and Explorer lines are affected by engine defects. This is due to flawed manufacturing of internal components and could result in engine damage or failure. The company is still working on a solution, and owners will be contacted starting June 9.

The post Ford Recalls 2025: Which Models Are Affected by the Recall? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  An Albuquerque Public Schools teacher, accused of having sex with former students, made his first appearance Tuesday afternoon. Court documents show staff at John Adams Middle School reported 33-year-old Patrick Corr for acting inappropriately with two students on the bus last school year. Corr was placed on administrative leave.

APS teacher arrested after accusations of sexual relationships with students

During APS investigation, they found two former students, who were still minors, told police Corr had sex with them. He pled not guilty to two counts of criminal sexual penetration.

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Photo via Andre M. Chang/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

A debit card that lets you take out a line of credit  isnt that just a credit card? Not in 2025, apparently.

Swedish fintech Klarna is piloting its own Visa debit card in the United States, the company announced Tuesday. Unremarkably, it will allow consumers to pay for purchases with their own funds, just like any other debit card. But theyll also have the option of choosing a short-term buy now, pay later (BNPL) loan to be paid back in small installments.

READ ALSO: Just How Much Data Does the Fed Need to Cut Rates? and Europe Delays Stricter Banking Rules to Keep Level Playing Field With US Rivals

Debit Where Due

Stockholm-based Klarna grew its revenue to $2.8 billion last year from $2.3 billion in 2023 as BNPL adoption widened, powered by younger consumers and others more averse to traditional credit with interest charges. This year, Klarna has continued to boost its profile in the consumer economy. In March, it bested rival Affirm to take exclusive control of BNPL at Walmart, Americas largest retailer.

The same month, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski defended a deal to bring Klarnas lightning-fast access to credit to food delivery service DoorDash after critics joked about the idea of $15 burritos on loan as the 2008 housing crisis, but for food and collateralized DoorDash obligations. Those jokes were rooted in real concerns, as BNPL loans have come back to bite some consumers. In an April survey by LendingTree, 41% of BNPL users reported making late payments on a loan in the past year, up from 34% in 2023. A quarter of BNPL users reported taking out loans to pay for groceries, up from 14% a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Klarna reported its consumer credit losses rising to $136 million in the first quarter, up 17% year-over-year. The company, which saw its number of active customers cross 100 million in April, has pointed to the much less dramatic growth in the percentage of unpaid loans, which rose to 0.54% in the first quarter from 0.51% a year earlier. And now, of course, those loans will be accessible for cardholders far and wide via Visa:
Former Austin City Council Member and leading environmentalist Jackie Goodman died during the late afternoon on Tuesday, her sister, Janis Morgan confirmed.

Goodman had been recuperating from major surgery that was performed in March.

She was 79.

Goodman served four consecutive 3-year terms from 1993 to 2005. She was elected Mayor Pro Tem by her council colleagues in 1998.

In addition, Goodman served as a board member of the Save Barton Creek Association for 30 years.

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She was inducted into the Austin Womens Hall of Fame in 2016.

Her Hall of Fame citation reads in part: From land use planning, environmental stewardship, social services and education to animal rights, civil liberties, libraries and neighborhoods, during her tenure at City Council, she found ways to give voice to underserved and underrepresented points of view and sought balance to the challenges.

Former Austin City Council Member Jackie Goodman, photographed on August 1, 1996.

James Yelvington, whom Goodman mentored while he served as election precinct chairman, lives three doors down from where Goodman died on Austin Highlands Boulevard in South Austin. He said that emergency vehicles converged there right before 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Her younger sister who lives across the street had gone to the store and came back to find her in the front yard unresponsive, Yelvington said.

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One of three sisters, Goodman was born in Lakeland, Florida, on May 17, 1946. Her father, Leonard Morgan, retired as a U.S. Army Major.

The family lived all over the place, Janis Morgan said. She graduated from high school in El Paso.

Jackie Goodman attended the University of Texas at El Paso. Her husband, Jack, studied at the University of Texas in Austin. Jack Goodman, also a top environmentalist, served on the board of directors of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District for 22 years. He died in 2022.

"Jack and Jackie were fighting the good enviro fight before Austin even had 'creek protection ordinances,'" said George Cofer, longtime leader of the Hill Country Conservancy. "They were leaders as well in Save Austin's Neighborhoods and Environment in the 1980s. Jackie fought relentlessly, sometimes quietly, for the environment and justice."

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Jackie put many thousands of hours into public service, Yelvington said. She always showed up. Always prepared. She was somewhat shy for a politician. I think her beliefs drove her more than anything else.

She was quiet with a quiet voice, Janis Morgan said. But she was very passionate about the things she believed in. She taught at Open Door Preschool and at First United Methodist Preschool. She taught dozens and dozens of children how to investigate things and explore their curiosity. She believed in them.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Austin City Council Member Jackie Goodman has died at 79
Angie Eberspacher of Beaver Crossing is the first announced 2026 candidate for the District 5 seat on the State Board of Education held by Kirk Penner of Aurora, who says he will not seek a second term on the board. (Candidate photo courtesy of Eberspacher campaign | Penner photo courtesy of the Nebraska Department of Education | School bus photo by Rebecca Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  A former educator announced a campaign Wednesday for the Nebraska State Board of Education to succeed Kirk Penner of Aurora, who helped conservative candidates organize and win more races for the board in recent years.

Angie Eberspacher of Beaver Crossing, a former member of Educational Service Unit 6, seeks to represent District 5 on the Board of Ed. While on the ESU board, Eberspacher said, she was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and an advocate for students and teachers. She eventually served as chair. She said she is dedicated to ensuring a quality education for all students.

The district boundaries of the Nebraska State Board of Education. (Courtesy of Legislative Research Office)

Eberspacher is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with dual degrees in elementary education and early childhood education.

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Im committed to supporting todays students and helping ensure the next generation has every opportunity to succeed, Eberspacher said in a statement.

District 5 on the State Board consists of Butler, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Webster and York Counties, as well as portions of Lancaster County (south Lincoln and surrounding communities including Denton, Sprague, Hallam, Roca, Hickman, Firth, Bennet and Waverly).

The eight members of the State Board of Education generally oversee the Nebraska Department of Education. Terms in office are for four years.

Angie Eberspacher of Beaver Crossing, 2026 candidate for District 5 on the State Board of Education. (Courtesy of Eberspacher campaign)

Eberspacher said she plans to visit communities across her district to listen and focus on how to improve literacy and proficiency scores, recruit and retain quality teachers and strengthen academics. She said she also wants to be a voice for all parents and promote spending restraint.

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In 2023, Eberspacher testified at the Nebraska Legislature in support of a handful of conservative-led proposals, including opening up teachers or librarians to possible criminal penalties for distributing obscenity, prohibiting certain medical care for minors with gender dysphoria, outlawing drag shows for minors, creating a Parents Bill of Rights in education and allowing public dollars to follow students to private K-12 schools (the My Student, My Choice Act).

Eberspacher and her husband of 36 years, Curt, own a farming operation in rural Beaver Crossing. The family has three adult daughters, a son-in-law and a granddaughter.

Penner on Wednesday confirmed to the Examiner that he is not seeking reelection. He has given his full endorsement to Eberspacher and said her experience and dedication make her the right choice to continue advocating for students, parents and educators across the district.

Kirk Penner, a member of the State Board of Education, left, listens to testimony during an Education Committee hearing. July 31, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The race is officially nonpartisan, but Penner and Eberspacher are both Republicans. She previously worked as a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Republican Party. Penner was appointed to the State Board in December 2021 and won election in 2022 with 55% of the vote.

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The State Board of Education is currently split 4-4 between Republicans and Democrats. The split has led some to advocate for giving the governor more control over the education bureaucracy. A January vote for board chair required 54 votes in January.

I am excited to run for the Nebraska State Board of Education and hear from voters across District 5 about their vision for education in Nebraska, Eberspacher said. Im running to support Nebraskas students, teachers and parents, and to work toward a stronger education system for everyone.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  The man accused of stealing from a Trumbull County homeowners association was sentenced Wednesday.

Read next: Troopers investigate rollover crash in Liberty

Randy Rule, 63, of Warren, was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $140,000 to the Surrey Pointe II Homeowners Association.

Rule pleaded guilty in April to attempted grand theft. The crime happened from January 2015 to December 2022 while Rule was president of the Surrey Point II Homeowners Association.

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Prosecutors say Rule falsified numerous invoices appearing to show various bills that had been paid. Rule then sent the falsified documents to the HOAs management company and was reimbursed for $140,218.

Assistant Prosecutor Chris Becker said much of the work Rule claimed to have completed was never done.

Rule will make payments of $250 a month to pay back the homeowners association, according to the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office.

Nadine Grimely contributed to this report.

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MADISON, Ala. (WHNT)  A former Madison City Schools employee turned herself in Tuesday on an outstanding warrant for child abuse, police say.

The Madison Police Department said Jamie Lynn Schwab was arrested and booked into the Madison County Jail on Tuesday for torture/willful abuse of a child after turning herself in.

The department told News 19 that Schwab was a former teachers aide for Madison City Schools. The charge stems from an ongoing investigation conducted by the Madison Police with the full assistance and cooperation of Madison City Schools.

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MPD said Schwab is no longer employed by the MCS and she had been held on a $5,000 bond, but has since been released.

As this is an active investigation, we can comment no further on this case, MPD told News 19.

In a statement to News 19, Madison City Schools said another employee reported possible misconduct by Schwab. During the internal investigation by the school system, MCS said Schwab resigned.

You can read the full statement from MCS below.

Madison City Schools takes the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. Madison City Schools is aware that a former paraprofessional aide was taken into custody. When an employee reported possible misconduct by the paraprofessional aide, the Districts administrative team began an internal investigation. During the course of the investigation, the paraprofessional aide resigned her employment. Thereafter, based on the investigation, Madison City Schools reported the alleged misconduct to the Madison Police Department. Madison City Schools has followed appropriate steps, met the requirements of state and federal law, appropriately communicated with parents, and ensured the employee was removed from the school setting. Going forward, Madison City Schools will cooperate with the Madison Police Department. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, and to protect the privacy of individuals involved, Madison City Schools cannot provide any additional details. For any further information, please contact the Madison Police Department. Dr. Edwin Nichols

Superintendent, Madison City Schools

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Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran has pleaded guilty to charges connected to stealing a gun from a constituent and lying to police about it, the state attorney generals office announced Tuesday.

On Monday, the 49-year-old Fitchburg resident pleaded guilty to larceny of a firearm, misleading law enforcement in a criminal investigation and filing an application for a license to carry containing false information, the attorney generals office said in a press release. Tran is a Republican who served as a Fitchburg city councilor from 2005 to 2017 and represented the Worcester and Middlesex District from 2017 to 2021.

In June 2019, Tran used his position of trust as a public official to take advantage of a constituent by convincing her to sell him her late husbands firearm collection in exchange for $1,500, the attorney generals office said. The constituent soon changed her mind about parting with the guns, and Tran returned them to her.

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But within days, Tran returned to the constituents home when she was there alone and stole a Colt .45 pistol that was part of the collection, the attorney generals office said. When interviewed by police about the theft, he tried to mislead investigators by giving conflicting stories about what happened.

Tran also made false statements on his application to renew his firearms license in May 2019, the attorney generals office said.

When Tran was first charged in the case in 2022, he also faced charges of larceny over $250 from a person over 60, obtaining a signature by false pretenses with intent to defraud and stealing by confining or putting a person in fear. These charges were dropped in exchange for a guilty plea, the attorney generals office said.

Trans jury trial on the charges was set to begin Monday. Instead, he was sentenced to six months in state prison on each of the three charges, but this time will be served concurrently with the federal prison sentences he is in the process of serving time for already, the attorney generals office said.

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In November 2023, Tran was arrested and charged with 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false tax return. He was accused of fraudulently applying for pandemic unemployment benefits and hiding more than $50,000 in income from his paid consulting job from tax authorities, among other misdeeds.

In September 2024, a federal jury convicted Tran on 23 of the charges against him. In February, a judge sentenced him to a year and a half in prison, two years of supervised release and to pay over $50,000 in restitution and fines, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office.

More local crime stories

Read the original article on MassLive.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The man accused of murdering three people in Centerville was back in court Wednesday.

Wednesdays hearing comes a little more than a year after 65 year old Jay Ostrem was accused of shooting and killing three men.

In total, 34 people  20 of them family of the victims  gathered in the courtroom on the 3rd floor of the McCook County Courthouse for Wednesdays status hearing, which began at 12:24 p.m., nearly an hour and a half after its scheduled time.

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The judge on the case apologized to those in attendance for the delay, noting that it was due to time spent with the attorneys working out times and dates for the proceedings going forward.

SD prison task force narrows focus to specific sites

Beginning the status hearing, the judge expressed that the hearing would be to go over details of a proposed order, including scheduling future hearings.

Noteable dates from Wednesdays status hearing

Jury Trial:

The jury trial for Ostrem is tentatively scheduled for March 12-27, 2026. The first two days of the trial would be reserved for jury selection, while opening statements would begin on March 16.

The judge noted that consideration is being given regarding the question of jury selection and venue. Though the alleged crime happened in Turner County, the court house in that county is no longer usable.

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The plan is to hold the trial in McCook County, with a Turner County jury, though the judge stated that plans are being considered in the event that the trial must be held in Turner County.

Pre-Trial Status Hearings:

Status hearings will be held on the following dates:

July 16, 2025 Juror questionnaires are to be agreed upon at this hearing

September 24, 2025

January 14, 2026

February 11, 2026 The court will require jury instructions from both parties by February 6, ahead of this hearing.



The hearing adjourned at 12:46 p.m., with lawyers for the state remaining afterward to speak with the family members gathered.

Ostrem is a former Centerville mayor and was also a law enforcement officer.

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Former University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono was rejected in his bid to be the next president of the University of Florida.

That school's Board of Governors voted down his nomination Tuesday, June 3, after Ono had come under withering criticism from conservatives in Florida and elsewhere who were troubled by his tenure at the University of Michigan, including his previous support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Ono resigned his U-M job last month after being named the sole finalist for the top job at Florida. The Free Press was unable to reach Ono for comment.

University of Florida president-elect Dr. Santa Ono is shown June 3 during his confirmation hearing in front of the Board of Governors in Orlando.

The Free Press also left a message seeking comment from U-M. Several of the school's regents declined to comment.

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Ono served as UC president for four years, from 2012 to 2016. He left to become the 15th president and vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The rejection marked a stunning fall from grace for Ono, who had received unanimous support a week earlier from the Board of Trustees at the university's flagship school in Gainsville. That support included a contract that could have paid him up to $15 million over five years.

The Board of Governors that voted him down oversees the entire University of Florida system, which has 12 public universities, including the Gainesville campus.

Ono had tried to navigate the changing political winds higher education now faces in the second Trump administration. At times, he was criticized for appearing to capitulate to Trump's demands.

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In February, the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal funds from universities that consider race in their admission practices.

In March, Ono announced that U-M would close its expansive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and redirect the funds to more student-focused efforts, such as the expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee, which provides free tuition to students from Michigan who meet income guidelines.

Also in March, the U.S. Department of Education threatened to withhold funding to 60 universities across the country, including U-M, for what the Trump administration considered the schools' insufficient efforts to combat antisemitism.

That charge came after U-M had long faced criticism of its treatment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, including the removal of a protest encampment on the U-M Diag.

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The school's treatment of those protesters prompted lawsuits against U-M, but in the eyes of some people in Florida, Ono was too soft on the encampment.

On June 2, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott blasted Onos nomination in a post on X ahead of the vote.

Clearly, Ono has a concerning record from his time at the University of Michigan, where he allowed an illegal, pro-terrorist encampment to take over the campus for nearly a month, putting Jewish students in danger and failing to uphold even the most basic standards of leadership, Scott wrote. He also has a record of embracing divisive and radical DEI policies, showing he is willing to appease and prioritize far-left activists over ensuring students are protected and receive a quality education.

Alan Festo of the Gainesville Sun contributed to this report.

Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Santa Ono, ex-UC president, rejected for University of Florida job
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A soldier from Fort Bliss was killed in a single-vehicle crash last weekend, officials with the 1st Armored Division said on Tuesday, June 3.

Spc. Brittney Delva, 29, was killed in an early morning crash Sunday, June 1, near Loop 375 and Spur 601, Fort Bliss officials said.

Delva was a field artillery cannon crewmember assigned to the 1st Armored Division Artillery.

Fort Bliss expresses their heartfelt condolences to the soldiers unit and family, Fort Bliss said.

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El Paso Police have not released the identity of the person who was killed, but they have provided more details.

They said at 2 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, they responded to a single-vehicle crash at Spur 601 and Loop 375 near the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

The preliminary investigation showed that the driver failed to negotiate a slight curve in the roadway and struck a curb, police said.

The vehicle ultimately came to rest after striking a concrete barrier and then bursting into flames, police said.

The Fire Department responded to the vehicle fire and put out the blaze.

The Special Traffic Investigations Unit continues its investigation. This is the 25th traffic fatality inside the City limits compared to 27 this same time last year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
LILLINGTON  A Fort Bragg soldier was recently indicted in Harnett County for two counts of murder.

Anthony Rivera, 35, of the 1900 block of Daphne Circle in Fayetteville, was originally charged in relation to the deaths of his two adopted kids, Michael, 3, and Olivia, 2, according to ABC11.com.

Rivera faced a court martial earlier, but the charges were dismissed on March 1, 2023, due a potential conflict of interest, according to the TV station.

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Rivera was arrested May 21, according to eCourts. Superior Court Judge C. Winston Gilchrist issued an order holding Rivera without bond.

The charges were filed by David Hildreth of the Dunn Police Department, formerly of the Harnett County Sheriffs Office.

The offense dates, or death of the children, were listed as Nov. 18, 2017 and Jan. 14, 2018, according to eCourts.

According to ABC11, which cited a medical examiners investigation, Michael died first and then Olivia due to blunt force trauma.
The number of children in foster care in Kansas has steadily declined in recent years, reaching its lowest number in the past five years, according to recent data from the Department for Children and Families that was presented to a legislative oversight committee on June 2, 2025. (Kansas Department for Children and Families)

TOPEKA  A 6-year-old boy in Kansas foster care system has spent 48 nights in an office and 40 nights in a hospital in the past three months.

And most likely will be in my office again tonight, said Brenda Watkins, president of EmberHope Connections, the contracted foster care agency in Sedgwick County.

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She told lawmakers on the child welfare oversight committee Monday that the boy, who entered EmberHopes care in early February, is one of 15 children in recent months who have spent at least one night in an office.

Children spending nights in offices, called failure to place, were explicitly barred under the settlement that came out of a 2018 lawsuit on behalf of Kansas foster children against three state agencies. The agreement outlined benchmarks that state agencies and foster care contractors, including EmberHope, must meet.

Foster care in Sedgwick County, home to Kansas most populous city, has proved more challenging than in the rest of the state. It has the most foster care providers, the most congregate care and the most foster families, but fewer than 50% of foster kids are in stable places, Watkins said.

EmberHope, despite making initial progress, has been unable to reduce its failure to place numbers.

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It previously asked the child welfare committee to help fund a study to figure out how to expand foster care capacity in Sedgwick County, but now we urge the committee to assist with finding and funding immediate solutions, Watkins said in written testimony.

EmberHope took over as the areas contracted case management provider in July after the Kansas Department for Children and Families ditched Saint Francis Ministries, which was plagued with accusations of fraud and inadequate resources. Saint Francis still serves parts of Kansas as one of the states five contractors.

EmberHope serves the largest number of foster children in the state. As of March 30, more than 5,600 were in foster care, according to DCF data. From January through March, EmberHope served 1,770 kids. The organization inherited a pretty bad situation, said Brenna Visocsky, campaign director with advocacy and research organization Kansas Appleseed.

But things need to change, Visocsky said Tuesday in an interview.

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Wichita is home to the highest population of families in the state experiencing poverty, and Visocsky questions what dynamics are causing so many to be placed in foster care in the first place.

Some kids are experiencing some really significant behavioral struggles, and I worry that too often when we have conversations about those kiddos, were putting onus on those children, to some degree, Visocsky said.

Instead of an overwhelmed system, Visocsky would like to see preventative measures so families can get what they need before their children enter the system. Bolstering access to social services such as parenting classes, food assistance, mental health services and housing support can accomplish that, she said. Addressing needs now, Visocsky said, has the potential to halt generational cycles of trauma and poverty.

Kansas Appleseed was involved in the 2018 class action lawsuit against state agencies. It has also been involved in legislative advocacy including the creation of the Office of Child Advocate and supporting the SOUL family program, which allows foster children who are at least 16 years old to select a trusted adult as a caregiver, expanding options for care.

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However, foster home and care facility options are dwindling in Sedgwick County, heightening the states placement crisis. Some facilities have implemented admission holds or decreased services, Watkins said. Those losses are deepened by inadequate staffing, a lack of social workers, an extreme concern for staff and child safety, a rise in cost in liability insurance, long mental health wait lists and inadequate mental health care access.

It is very difficult to find high-quality staff who have the knowledge, skills and tools to be successful with these youth and to want to endure what a typical day may look like, you know, working with some of these kids, Watkins said.

Some committee members and agency heads were sympathetic and eager to facilitate improvements for children in EmberHopes care, but existing strategies to address some of the organizations challenges are continuing to unfold.

More than half of the children who spent nights in an EmberHope office between January and March were 12 years old or younger, signaling a decrease in the ages of children EmberHope is unable to place.

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Certainly, we are very worried at this point about some of the trending that we are seeing, Watkins said.

Another troubling signal was a higher-than-normal bounce rate. Bouncing refers to unstable placements, in which children bounce from place to place each night.

Typically, between 30 and 40 kids daily are in unstable placements. In recent weeks, its been about 60 kids, which is the highest number EmberHope has seen since its contract began last July.

New referrals and emergency removals are also on the rise, Watkins said.

We are concerned that the placement crisis is worsening across the state, she wrote in a report to the committee, most significantly in Sedgwick County.
Kroger paid former CEO Rodney McMullen $15.4 million in 2024  the final year before his abrupt March 3 resignation in the wake of a company ethics investigation. The amount was a slight decrease from his previous years pay, according to a corporate filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

A year before, the former CEO of the nation's largest supermarket retailer was paid $15.5 million, according to the Associated Press' methodology for executive compensation that excludes pension value changes.

A 2016 file photo of Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen in the produce section of the Oakley Kroger Marketplace.

Interim CEO Ron Sargent, a Kroger board member and former Staples CEO, took over at the retailer after the exit of McMullen. CEO for more than 11 years, McMullen resigned amid an investigation into his personal conduct that was inconsistent with the grocers policy of business ethics, the grocer disclosed.

In case you missed it: Investigation finds Kroger overcharging on sale items

Sargent, 69, said on a conference call a few days later that Kroger would conduct a national search for a successor and consider both internal and external candidates for the CEO position. The company hasnt given a timeline for naming McMullens permanent successor.

Kroger's downtown headquarters in Cincinnati.

Median worker saw pay climb amid executive shuffle

In 2024, the typical Kroger worker's pay rose $2,900, climbing 9% in 2024 to $34,213. The ratio of McMullen's pay to the median Kroger worker pay, as required to be reported by the government, was 457 to 1, narrowing from the previous ratio of 502 to 1 the previous year.

Krogers proxy, filed on May 15, also reflected a spate of recent executive turnover as half the named executive officers, whose pay is subject to public disclosure, no longer work for the grocer. The filing listed three current executives still employed at Kroger: Mary Ellen Adcock, the companys chief merchant and marketing officer; Yael Cosset, the retailers head of digital; and Timothy Massa, the associate experience officer (head of human resources and labor relations).

Besides McMullen, the proxy lists two other ex-Kroger executives: former chief financial officers Gary Millerchip (who left Kroger for the same position at Costco in early 2024) and Todd Foley (who served as interim chief of finance until retiring this spring).

A profitable Fortune 500 company doing business in 35 states

A Fortune 500 company, Kroger earned a $2.7 billion profit on $147.1 billion of sales in 2024.

In addition to Kroger stores, the Cincinnati-based grocer operates several regional supermarket chains in 35 states, including Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Mariano's, Fry's, Smith's, King Soopers, QFC and others. The company has more than 2,700 stores and employs 409,000 workers.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kroger's former CEO was paid $15M in 2024, typical worker made $34K
Russian forces struck a grocery shop in the city of Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on 4 June 2025, injuring four people.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Lysak: "In the afternoon, four people were injured in an enemy first-person view drone attack on Nikopol."

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

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Details: Two civilians, a 40-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, have been hospitalised in a serious condition. Two other local residents both aged 34 are receiving outpatient treatment.

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President Donald Trumps bromance with Elon Musk appears to be heading for a breakup after the latter savagely attacked the presidents big, beautiful bill on Tuesday as the legislation faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, the worlds richest man wrote on X. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

The outburst came days after Musk left his role as a special adviser to Trump. These tumultuous four months saw him spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency, which is tasked with cutting waste, excess, and fraud from federal expenditure, and has overseen the mass firing of tens of thousands of officials, bureaucrats and staffers.

The end of a big, beautiful friendship? Donald Trump and Elon Musk (The Independent/Getty)

The First Buddy first came out in support of the Republican during last years presidential election and donated more than $288m to the MAGA cause.

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But the endorsement has taken a brutal toll on Musks businesses, especially Tesla, which suffered a 71 percent decline in its first-quarter profits and has borne the brunt of much of the public backlash.

Despite the signs of discord, Musk and Trump remain friends and allies, according to one White House source cited by Axios. However, another alleges that Musk feels butthurt over how his time in the administration ended. According to the report, there are multiple reasons for the growing distance between Trump and Musk.

1. EV tax credit cut

Trumps signature bill eliminates an important consumer tax credit for EV owners, worth up to $7,500, which Tesla reportedly spent $240,000 lobbying to maintain as of late April.

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Musk reportedly pleaded with Trump for its retention behind the scenes. Still, it was ultimately unsuccessful, a frustration that lingered despite the president turning the White House lawn into a Tesla dealership in March to help promote Musks cars after vandals targeted his showrooms.

Musk and Trump selling Tesla Cybertrucks at the White House on March 11, 2025 (AFP/Getty)

2. Musk wanted to stay on

Axios reports that the billionaire actually wanted to stay on in his role as a special government employee beyond its statutory limit of 130 days, despite numerous reported blowups with members of Trumps cabinet in private.

Ultimately, however, an extension deal could not be reached with the presidents team.

3. Billionaire wanted air traffic controllers to use Starlink

Another reported disagreement concerned Musks appeal to the Federal Aviation Administration to begin using his Starlink satellite technology. This demand was rejected due to both conflict-of-interest concerns and technological reasons.

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You cant have air traffic control just run off satellites, a source told Axios.

Musks presence in the West Wing sparked several other conflict-of-interest concerns, the most recent of which saw 42 Democrats write to the Pentagons inspector general to sound the alarm over SpaceXs potential involvement in Trumps Golden Dome anti-missile defense system.

Musk leaps for joy at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024 (AFP/Getty)

4. Trumps removal of Jared Isaacman as his nominee to be NASAs next administrator

Among the billionaires alleged enemies in the White House was Sergio Gor, director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, with whom he is said to have clashed.

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When Trump abruptly decided over the weekend to withdraw the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to be NASAs next administrator, rumors quickly spread that Gor was behind the decision and intended it as an out-the-door f*** you to Musk.

That claim has been disputed, however, with complaints from Republican senators about Isaacmans track record as a Democratic donor also given as a reason for the decision.

Perception is reality, though, and Im pretty sure Elon thought the NASA situation was a last insult, an official told Axios. So here we are.

Trump abruptly decided over the weekend to withdraw the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to be NASAs next administrator (AP)

Elsewhere, Trumps former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, a bitter enemy of Musk, has suggested that the first schism in their relationship came in March when the president refused to show the billionaire the Pentagons attack plans for a hypothetical war with China.

Speaking to The Atlantic last month, Bannon said of that moment: You could feel it. Everything changed. The fever had been broken.
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  Four more defendants in the murder trial of Robert Brooks had their day in Oneida County Court on Wednesday.

Nicholas Anzalone, David Walters, Michael Fisher, and Michael Mashaw were in court to make motions before Judge Robert Bauer on Wednesday, June 4. Anzalone is the only one of the four who is facing a top charge of murder, while the other three face top charges of manslaughter.

Nicholas Anzalone

The first defendant team to make motions was that of Nicholas Anzalone. His lawyer questioned the use of the Onondaga County District Attorneys office, when lawyers in Oneida County could have been hired and used as special prosecution.

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The prosecution argued that the Attorney Generals office took control of the case and they could do whatever they wanted, including appointing special prosecution. They also argued that the Attorney General properly followed the guidelines of the statutes governing such things and followed all proper procedures.

Judge Bauer denied several of the defenses motions, but granted a motion for several other hearings to determine admissibility of key pieces of evidence.

Michael Fisher

Fishers team came up next and claimed that he was accused of being an accomplice to manslaughter, questioning the theory of prosecution. They also questioned the prosecutions assertion of Fishers sharing of a culpable mental state, which the defense claimed they had not proven. The defense also requested whose mental state that the prosecution claims Fisher shared during the incident.

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The defense also argued that the prosecution had not met their burden of proof, citing the earlier argument given by Tuesdays defendants. They effectively want strict liability, the defense claimed. They dont get strict liability.

The defense also argued that even if medical care had been administered in time, it would not guarantee a different outcome.

The prosecution argued that throughout the video of the attack  while Fisher was still in the room  Fisher watched Brooks get beaten over and over again and did nothing to stop it. Lawyers for the prosecution claimed that all they would need to prove is that Fisher was acting reckless and aided someone who was acting recklessly and more.

Judge Bauer called for several hearings to determine the admissibility of several pieces of evidence.

Michael Mashaw

Michael Mashaws team came to the lectern next, and his team made many of the same arguments as the three on Wednesday  that Mashaw had no duty to intervene in the beating. The defense said in their argument that there is a bill in the New York State legislature to make such inaction a crime, however, it has not yet been passed.

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Prosecutors argued that the definition the defense provided comes from Family Court Law, and that Mashaw had a duty in his role as a corrections officer to intervene in such matters and provide care to the incarcerated.

Judge Bauer, like in Anzalones case, called for hearings to determine the admissibility of evidence.

David Walters

David Walterss legal team cited that in the body-worn camera video, tags that identify the officers involved were added, allegedly by the prosecution. The defense questioned the admissibility of that video, citing it as erroneous and hearsay. One of the tags, according to the defense, was a completely false name.

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The defense also cited that at one point during grand jury proceedings, the grand jury came out multiple times asking who was who in the video.

I think its telling that the people ignore that in their response, Walters lawyer said. He also cited a conversation he alleged had with the prosecution before the case, claiming they said that the court would see the erroneous tags  one of which the defense claimed said David Walrath  as an excusable hiccup.

The defense also claimed that they were never given the original video of the incident, just the tagged video. As the original has allegedly been destroyed, the defense claims that to get it as close to the original as possible, the prosecution would have to further manipulate the video.

The prosecution refuted all of the defenses claims, citing that they had the video and, in fact, had it from the very first day. The defense also found it deeply problematic that Walters attorney made that complaint when six other defense attorneys had the original video.

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In response to the original body worn camera being destroyed, that also is categorically not true, the prosecution claimed. Prosecutors cited that there was an affidavit by a video analyst that it was preserved in the same condition it was in and was removed directly from the camera itself.

The prosecution also claimed the David Walrath tagged in the video was clearly an error and should not disqualify the whole video. The defense also refuted the hearsay claim: Its not hearsay because its just matching what the witness identified. The prosecution acknowledged their error, but reiterated that it should not disqualify the whole video.

Judge Bauer called for admissibility hearings for all of Walters evidence as well.

One last defendant  Anthony Farina  is scheduled to be in court on Monday, June 9.

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Three other defendants  Matthew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer, and David Kingsley  were in Oneida County Court on Tuesday, June 3, to plead their cases. All three of those cases will be back in court to hold more hearings in July.

The four defendants from Wednesdays hearings are expected back in court in August.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com.
UNION, N.J. (PIX11)  Four-year-old Dylan Ramirez of Union, New Jersey, is making a name for himself as a budding young entrepreneur.

Dressed as a cowboy and dubbed Cowboy Dylan, Ramirez sells candy in his local park to help learn the value of money and raise funds for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

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I like to work, said Ramirez.

Ramirezs mom, Sasha Lazo, said she came up with the idea as a way to teach him how to manage money.

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I just wanted to teach him that not everything is given for free, said Lazo. You have to work hard for it.

Lazo said her son has fully embraced the idea. Dylan tells me something, Mom, lets go to work, joked Lazo.

Lazo drives her son to the park and chaperones him as he sells cookies, chocolate, mints, and more. His goal is to raise $1,000 by the end of the summer, with a portion of the proceeds going to St. Jude.

I wanted to show him the importance of having his own money, so Im teaching him responsibility, to save up, and to give a little bit, too, said Lazo.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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Lazo said the cowboy costume was entirely her sons idea.

I actually got him the hat when he was two years old, said Lazo. And hes been wearing it ever since. The only time he does not wear his hat is when we go to church and when he goes to school.

So far, Ramirez has raised $680 toward his $1,000 goal.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 decision presented today was a gift to Hamas and a significant boost to terrorism," Ambassador Danny Danon said.

Fourteen nations voted on Wednesday at the United Nations Security Council for a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian terrorists Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza, where aid has trickled amid chaos and bloodshed after Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on the enclave.

The United States vetoed the decision. "The US refusal of the resolution should not surprise you," Acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea said.

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"The US made it clear that it would not support any effort that does not condemn Hamas. We cannot allow the Council to reward Hamas terrorism."

"The decision presented today was a gift to Hamas and a significant boost to terrorism," Ambassador Danny Danon said.

"You chose appeasement and surrender. You chose a path that leads to more terrorism. This decision sends a dangerous message to Hamas: reject every proposal, and the international community will reward you. Hold hostages  and the UN will legitimize you."

Members of the Security Council cast a vote during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the 3rd anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., February 24, 2025 (photo credit: REUTERS/David Dee Delgado)

"Thank you, America and Donald Trump, for once again showing our enemies that there is no daylight between us," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X/Twitter shortly after the meeting ended.

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"That is the only way to destroy the Hamas terrorists who are still holding 58 innocent hostages in the dungeons of Gaza. The civilized world should demand their immediate and unconditional release."

United Nations refuses to cooperate with GHF

The UN refuses to cooperate with the GHF, and has claimed that "dozens" of people have been injured or killed around the aid sites in Gaza.

The United Nations Secretary General said on Monday he was appalled by reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza on Sunday, and called for an independent investigation.

"It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food," Antonio Guterres said in a statement. The UN official then called for an investigation into the reports and "for the perpetrators to be held accountable," later adding that Israel "has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian aid."

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The GHF and the IDF had both denied that the military attacked a food distribution point near Rafah when Sunday's incident occurred. The military also denied reports of firing on civilians.

"There are many parties who wish to see GHF fail," the humanitarian organization said. "Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza."
France and Belgium are not ready to accept the European Commission's latest proposal to phase out Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), calling for additional assurances, Politico reported on June 3.

The two nations, the largest EU importers of Russian LNG, argue they need stronger legal and economic guarantees before committing to the plan. Russia's energy exports remain a major source of revenue for the Kremlin's military campaign against Ukraine.

The Commission's proposal, unveiled on May 6, outlines a roadmap to end the bloc's dependence on Russian fossil fuels  gas, oil, and nuclear  by 2027.

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Although the EU has slashed its reliance on Russian gas from 45% in 2021 to 19% in early 2025, several key member states remain cautious about cutting LNG ties entirely.

French Energy Minister Marc Ferracci told Politico that Paris supports diversification but prefers to prioritize securing replacement supplies.

France has been sourcing alternative LNG from Qatar and other suppliers, but it remains bound to long-term contracts with Russian firms.

"The stock of existing contracts needs to be legally protected," Ferracci said.

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France's TotalEnergies, which owns a 20% stake in the Yamal LNG project in Siberia, has a supply contract with Russia's Novatek valid through 2032.

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Belgium, Europe's second-largest Russian LNG customer, is seeking an "in-depth impact assessment" before backing the Commission's plan.

Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet said Brussels must evaluate how ending imports would affect its LNG terminals and storage infrastructure, which are expected to handle Russian shipments until 2035.

The cautious stance by France and Belgium diverges from that of Spain and the Netherlands, who have both expressed readiness to endorse the Commission's strategy.

Ukrainian officials and civil society groups have consistently urged the EU to cut these financial lifelines, pointing to the ongoing Russian attacks and occupation.

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The Commission's proposed cutoff forms part of a broader push to safeguard European energy sovereignty and reinforce the EU's sanctions architecture. The internal divisions among member states risk delaying implementation.

Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SHARON, Pa. (WKBN)  A free dental clinic is happening in Mercer County this weekend for anyone in the community.

Buhl Regional Health Foundation and Remote Area Medical Clinic (RAM) have collaborated once again to bring the community a two-day free dental clinic on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, beginning at 6 a.m. at Sharon High School.

The free clinic will focus on cleanings, hygiene, fillings, and extractions and no ID or insurance is required.

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All of the dental professionals doing the work are volunteers. Dr. Nyla Balakrishnan of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, is a volunteer faculty member who brings her students to provide care. She says the clinic is about much more than just teeth.

Every time we return, I think that we are reminded that access to oral healthcareit remains out of reach for many. Providing free care, its not just about filling cavities or pulling teeth. Its about restoring their dignity, relieving pain, making people feel valued and seen, said Dr. Balakrishnan. This is the third time this is happening in Mercer County, and this is the third year we have participated, so we have been with RAM and Buhl Regional Health from the beginning.

Dr. Balakrishnan oversees the students who provide the work.

For me personally, I want to say participating in these clinics has been one of the most formative and rewarding aspects of my professional journey, said Dr. Balakrishnan. These clinics often serve individuals who have lack of access to regular care, and due to a variety of reasons, being financial, geographic, or even systemic barriers.

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The clinic gives the dental professionals the opportunity to deliver urgently needed care, whether its relieving pain, addressing acute conditions, or restoring function, all the while engaging patients in a way that respects them, their circumstances, and their dignity.

The dental students who participate say its deepened their understanding of the social determinants of health while reinforcing their commitment to health equity and affirming the value of community care in dentistry.

The reason Im actually in dental school right now is because of a medical mission trip I took back in high school to Guatemala. And we were doing very similar things at that, said Kathryn Bruce, a fourth-year student at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine. So, pretty much immediate medical attention, dental attention, anything to get patients out of pain, or to address a concern of theirs. Its been really impactful being able to make a difference pretty much immediately. I think thats the biggest reward that weve gotten so far.

I think these clinics are a great demonstration of the dental health care community coming together to deliver this care. And the fact that were able to travel to different parts of the state is also really important, said Brandon Herbst, also a fourth-year student at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine. Us as dental students, were always looking for opportunities to get involved with the community. This is a great place to get more experience while treating people who cant get the care that they need.

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Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Remote Area Medical Dental Clinic is Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, beginning at 6 a.m. at Sharon High School located at 1129 East State Street in Sharon. For more information, visit BuhlRegionalHealthFoundation.org.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The city of Overland Park announced that a new means of transportation will soon arrive in its historic downtown.

According to the city, starting on Saturday, residents and visitors will be able to catch a free ride on the circulator shuttle, which will take passengers from City Hall to the heart of downtown Overland Park.

New comedy club opening at the Legends Outlets this month

The shuttle will run every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. until July 26.

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The city says the new addition offers visitors easier access to downtown, allowing them to spend more time at the farmers market and local businesses.

This shuttle service makes visiting Downtown OP even easier, Mayor Curt Skoog said in a statement. Its my hope that visitors and residents will come for the Farmers Market and stay for our wonderful downtown shops and restaurants before hopping a ride home.

The shuttles route will start and end at City Hall; however, there will be four stops in between:

Overland Park City Hall at 85th and Antioch Santa Fe Drive at Clock Tower Plaza 79th and Marty Mid-block between 79th and 80th on Floyd 80th and Marty

A route map for the downtown Overland Park circulator shuttle.

It will arrive every 15 minutes at these locations, and riders can get on and off at any stop.

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On Saturday, June 14, passengers can expect a slightly different route due to road closures for the Downtown Overland Park Art Fair. That route will still begin and end at City Hall but will make a wider loop through downtown.

A route map of the downtown Overland Park circulator shuttle for Saturday, June 14, 2025.

For more information about downtown Overland Park and its shuttle services, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
ANNISTON  Several school systems in Calhoun County are providing free meals to children 18 years and younger throughout the summer months, school officials announced. These programs aim to ensure that children have access to nutritious food while school is out. Below are the details for each school system's program.

Calhoun County Schools

During June, all elementary schools in the Calhoun County School District will provide free breakfast and lunch. Please note that meals must be eaten in the school lunchroom, as there will be no curbside pickup available.

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Please contact 256-741-7422 for further questions.

 Alexandria Elementary: breakfast from 7:25 - 8 a.m. and lunch from 10:45 - 11:05 a.m.

 Ohatchee Elementary: breakfast from 7:20 - 7:45 a.m. and lunch from 10:40 - 11 a.m.

 Pleasant Valley Elementary: breakfast from 7:30 - 8 a.m. and lunch from 10:45 - 11:15 a.m.

 Saks Elementary: breakfast from 7:15 - 7:25 a.m. and lunch from 12:30 - 12:45 p.m.

 Weaver Elementary: breakfast from 7:30 - 8 a.m. and lunch from 11:05 - 11:30 a.m.

 Wellborn Elementary: breakfast from 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 10:45 - 11:30 a.m.

 White Plains Elementary: breakfast from 7:50 - 8 a.m. and lunch from 11 - 11:30 a.m.

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Oxford City Schools

Oxford City Schools offer free summer meals through the Summer Food Service Program. Available to all children not already receiving meals through school programs, these meals will be served at Oxford Elementary, C.E. Hanna, Oxford Middle and Oxford High. The specific dates for meal service are June 4, June 18, July 2, and July 16, with set start and end times available at each location.

For further questions, contact the Oxford City Schools Child Nutrition Program at 256-241-3940

 Coldwater Elementary: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

 Friendship Community Center: 11 - 11:45 a.m.

 Hobson City Hall: 12:15 - 1 p.m.

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 DeArmanville Elementary: 4 - 6 p.m.

Pre-registration is required and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for June 4th is open now at this link: https://forms.gle/fX1FEM9JFovKN1b6A

Jacksonville City Schools

Jacksonville City Schools provides a summer food program from June to August, offering healthy snacks and produce to children and their families. This program distributes food every two weeks at the Jacksonville Christian Outreach Center. Please note that registration has concluded, and eligibility is restricted to families with children.

Anniston City Schools

Anniston City Schools will provide free meals to kids and teens at Anniston High School and Golden Springs Elementary from June 1 to June 30.

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 Anniston High School: breakfast from 7 - 8 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. - noon

 Golden Springs Elementary: breakfast from 7 - 8 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. - noon

Additional free meal locations outside of the school districts can be found at https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunmeals
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The U.S. Department of Labor has officially rescinded its 2022 guidance that warned against including cryptocurrencies in 401(k) investment menus, marking a dramatic reversal that could unlock billions in retirement savings for digital asset investments.

What Changed

2022 Guidance Eliminated

The original March 2022 release directed plan fiduciaries to exercise extreme care before adding cryptocurrency options to retirement plansa standard the DOL now acknowledges doesnt exist under federal law. This guidance effectively discouraged most employers from offering crypto investment options in their workplace retirement plans.

Don't Miss:

Return to Neutrality

The DOL is reverting to its traditional approach of neither endorsing nor disapproving specific investment types. Plan fiduciaries can now evaluate cryptocurrency investments using standard fiduciary principles rather than an elevated extreme care standard.

Legal Framework

Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, plan fiduciaries must make investment decisions based on whether theyre prudent and in participants best interests. The DOL clarified that these decisions should be context specific and consider all relevant facts and circumstancesthe same standard applied to traditional investments.

Market Impact

Immediate Effects

Plan Sponsor Relief : Employers can now consider crypto options without fear of heightened regulatory scrutiny

Provider Opportunity : Investment companies can develop crypto products for the 401(k) market

Participant Access: Workers may gain exposure to digital assets through employer-sponsored plans

Potential Market Size

The 401(k) market holds approximately $7.4 trillion in assets across nearly 650,000 plans. Even modest allocation to cryptocurrencies could represent significant capital flows into digital assets.

Investment Considerations

For Plan Participants

Potential Benefits:

Portfolio diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds

Exposure to potentially high-growth asset class

Professional oversight through plan fiduciary structure

Key Risks:
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Friends of Frog Ferry is making a last-ditch push to increase the accessibility of river transit in Portland.

The organization has revealed it needs to secure funding this year, or else the effort to connect cities along the Willamette River could fail. Co-founder and President Susan Bladholm emphasized this to Portland City Council on Wednesday morning.

Banks residents fight to preserve 105-year-old building that could be demolished

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The Willamette River, originally named the Multnomah after the Chinook Village, was a life-giving resource and natural travel route for indigenous peoples, Susan Bladholm said. When settlers arrived, they also relied on river transit. But by the 20th century, federal investments heavily favored cars and highways and sidelined our rivers. Once vital water corridors, they became obstacles and neglected.

In May, she told KOIN 6 the finalized ferry would span across 35 miles from Vancouver to Oregon City. But her organization is currently asking public officials to champion a smaller pilot project with transit from Portlands St. Johns neighborhood to downtowns RiverPlace Marina.

Friends of Frog Ferry is asking Oregon leaders for $10 million to cover the cost of vessels and dock upgrades. The group is also applying for the Portland Clean Energy Fund, in hopes of securing another $10 million from the city over the next three years.

According to Bladholms testimony, officials considered the resurgence of river transit in 2005  saying that ferries would be a viable option if the city saw an uptick in traffic, population growth and support of the transportation alternative.

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Astoria Job Corps cuts for government convenience

Twenty years later, our roads are gridlocked, our air quality is worsened, and we have fragile and expensive road and bridge infrastructure, she added.

Bladholm created the organization in 2017 and, since then, it has faced multiple hurdles in attempts to secure funding and partnerships with state and local leaders. The founder hopes the newest slate of city councilors will help bring the project to fruition.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Mike Kehoe announces a plan to give state funding to the MOScholars program during his State of the State speech Jan. 28 in the Missouri House chamber (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Gov. Mike Kehoes first budget proposal launched a tug of war between public-school advocates and those hoping to use state funds for private education. Both sides ultimately came away with what they wanted  but neither expects this to be the final showdown.

State Treasurer Vivek Malek, who oversees the states tax-credit scholarship program, told The Independent in an interview last week that he expects to more than double the number of scholarships administered by MOScholars in the upcoming school year.

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Those students would have a reasonable expectation, he said, to be funded through graduation. And if donor funds continue to come up short, state funds would be required to support them.

In January, Kehoe laid out a budget that did not fully fund public education while giving state funds for private-school scholarships.

His request cut back $300 for the formula that determines state aid for public schools, contrary to the state education departments recommendation. But he added a $50 million appropriation to the State Treasurers budget to help fund private-school scholarships through the MOScholars program. This windfall was not part of the treasurers initial request.

State Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, speaks May 9 at a news conference about the budget, surrounded by other members of the Democratic caucus. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)

The governor made a policy or a budgetary decision to invest in one form of education and not fully invest in the other, said state Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Democrat from Springfield and ranking minority member of the House Budget Committee.

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The House kept the governors recommendations, and the Senate flipped the two priorities: restoring full funding to public schools but axing the $50 million for MOScholars.

In May, state lawmakers reached an agreement to fund both and are awaiting the governors signature.

But the infusion of funds to MOScholars is likely to create more need in the program.

Malek said he expects to use the $50 million to offer more scholarships than the current pot of donations could provide. There are 6,000 students ready to participate in the upcoming year, and he expects more to sign up. This past year, 2,700 students received scholarships.

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Malek hopes to make MOScholars self-sufficient, with enough donations to meet demand. But until then, he will request funds to, at a minimum, sustain aid for students already enrolled.

Ill be working through the years to make sure the tax credits are still utilized and nobody is depending on a direct appropriation from (general revenue), he said.

Fogle told The Independent that the $50 million did not appear to be a one-time request.

The $50 million that was put in general revenue was done, in part, because the tax credit program wasnt very popular, and donors werent giving to that, she contends. And the governor wanted to figure out another solution to privatizing education.

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MOScholars currently operates through taxpayer-directed spending, where state funds are given to scholarship organizations through donations that receive a 100% tax credit. The program has faced issues funding scholarships each fall with the majority of donations coming at the end of the year.

An additional $50 million  more than double the amount of donations received last year  would solve the funding lag, Malek said.

Our calendars were misaligned, so now we will be opening (enrollment) up for next year, starting early in the fall so that people can sign up for next years academic school year, he said. This will give us the flexibility of doing that, which was not possible before.

The program has a $75 million expandable cap thanks to a large education package passed last year.

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State Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Springfield Democrat, said during debate in April that she wondered why the legislature expanded the donation limit from $50 million to $75 million when there have been $23.4 million in donations in 2024.

In 2023, donations totaled $16.6 million.

Donors just are not that excited to give to this program, even at a 100% tax credit, she said.

The program is in its infancy, with just three years of scholarships completed. The increased funding could help grow MOScholars to meet outsized demand  or it could create dependency on general revenue.

Hein said this problem would be exacerbated by tax cutbacks planned by Republican state lawmakers.

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We are setting a precedent, she said. And if we eliminate state income taxes, tax credits go away and we are going to be on the hook with (general revenue) to cover this program.

Even if the appropriation is signed by the governor, it might face legal challenges as some question the constitutionality of using general revenue for MOScholars.

State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks during the Disability Advocacy Day rally in the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

The 2021 law that established MOScholars prescribes that scholarships are funded by tax-deductible donations to educational assistance organizations, which are nonprofits that apply to administer the scholarships.

But 2% of donations are directed to an account dubbed the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Fund overseen by the Treasurers Office. The fund is to be used by the state treasurer for marketing and administrative expenses or the costs incurred in administering the program.

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Some believe the law does not authorize the program to use general revenue. Fogle expects legal challenges that argue that directly appropriating tax dollars to private schools is unconstitutional.

The direct appropriation of general revenue is a completely different foundation than the tax credit, she said. There are people on both sides of the aisle, whether theyre voting in favor of it or not, who have considerable doubts and concerns.

Malek did not speculate on the possibility of a lawsuit.

We will deal with it and when that happens, we will defer that to our general counsel, the attorney general, he said. I cannot predict which course it will take.

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Malek says MOScholars is another tool for educating children, in addition to the public school system.

I dont see why people would be nervous. This is not taking away any funding dollars from our traditional educational institutions, he said.

As State Treasurer, Malek was not part of the governors decision on public-education funding and considers himself a big proponent of public schools.

My focus was just for the MOScholars program, he said. We need some help to strengthen this program and Im glad that need was listened to.

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Funeral arrangements have been announced for a Quincy man who was killed in a double shooting in Boston late last month.

Walter Wilkins, 36, was one of two men who died following a shooting on May 24 in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood, Boston police said previously. Officers responded to 38 Franklin Hill Ave. shortly after 9:45 p.m. for a report of a person shot and found Wilkins and 66-year-old Boston resident Anthony McIntosh with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Both men were taken to a hospital, and Wilkins was soon declared dead, police said. McIntosh died from his wounds a few days later.

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Walter Marcus Wilkins was born in Boston on Nov. 12, 1988, to Larry Williams and Michelle Wilkins, according to his obituary. He is survived by his mother, his son  Jawaun Wilkins, his siblings  Larry, Tyrone, Jakoya, Terrence and Matika Wilkins, and many other beloved friends and relatives.

A visitation for Wilkins is scheduled for Friday, June 6, at 10 a.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church in Bostons Mattapan neighborhood, according to his obituary. A funeral service is set to follow at the church at 11 a.m.

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Boston police have yet to announce any arrests in connection with the double fatal shooting. Anyone with information about the incident is strongly urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.

You can also submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-800-494-TIPS, texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463) or via the Boston Police Departments website.

More News

Read the original article on MassLive.
The fungus labeled a "potential agroterrorism weapon" in a recent arrest touted by the Trump administration likely originated in North America and is already widely prevalent around the country, a researcher who studied the fungus for the federal government says.

University of Michigan researcher Yunqing Jian and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, were charged with trying to smuggle strains of a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the United States. Jian worked at the University of Michigan, according to officials, and Liu works at a Chinese university. The two have co-authored research into the fungus.

"I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country," FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday in a post on X.

While the pathogens in the cultures seen in this photo may look similar, DNA data indicates they represent distinctly different species within the Fusarium graminearum complex. / Credit: Photo by Keith Weller, USDA Agricultural Research Service

According to charging documents in the case, Liu told customs officers he was trying to continue his research with the strains at the University of Michigan lab that Jian worked in, skirting the rules that require paperwork and safeguards to safely import fungi for studies.

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F. graminearum is already widely prevalent across the U.S. in native grasses around the country as well as crops, scientists say. It spreads and thrives usually during wet weather, causing a common crop disease called Fusarium head blight or head scab, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.

"It's extremely prevalent in North America. It likely arose in North America, so it's not like a foreign agent coming in. And it's already causing a lot of problems in U.S. agriculture," Harold Kistler, an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, told CBS News.

On the left, a healthy wheat head stands in contrast to the one on the right, which is inoculated with Fusarium graminearum and shows severe symptoms of Fusarium head blight disease. / Credit: Photo by Keith Weller, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Kistler said scientists believe F. graminearum likely originated in North America because all of its closest relatives have been found on the continent.

"Graminearum itself is distributed worldwide, and likely because of the distribution of grain from North America worldwide," he said.

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Kistler previously worked as a researcher for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, studying fungi like F. graminearum and the crop disease it causes. While at the agency, he co-authored research with Liu and Jian uncovering new molecular clues to how the disease might be mitigated.

"It's a real problem. The problem is because there's no naturally occurring resistance to the disease. And people have been trying for decades to find resistance. It's just a tough nut to crack," Kistler said of the head blight caused by F. graminearum.

Farmers in the U.S. rely on a number of methods to mitigate the risk of F. graminearum, including the use of fungicides, though scientists have worried about the possibility of mutations that could make the fungicides less effective.

"The fungicides are not cheap. So it's extra cost to farmers. But it's worth it because, without it, their crops could be completely lost. Not only due to yield reduction, but because what grain they may have would be contaminated with these toxins," Kistler said.

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Billions of dollars were lost to epidemics caused by the fungus in the 1990s, researchers and agriculture officials estimate. The Food and Drug Administration monitors for the toxins that are produced by fungi like F. graminearum, including deoxynivalenol, also called vomitoxin or DON, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in humans who ingest too much of it.

"It is not possible to completely avoid the presence of DON in wheat. DON is sometimes found in wheat grown under normal weather conditions, however, the fungus thrives in cool, wet conditions," the FDA said in a 2010 advisory to states and grain groups.

Kistler said U.S. distributors also test grain for the presence of the toxins to prevent there being too much of it in the food supply.

"If it's too high, they will reject it. They won't buy it. Or they will reduce the amount that they'll pay for it. If it's just marginal, they can blend it with grain that doesn't have the toxin to get below the limit of what's considered safe," he said.

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What to know about President Trump's travel ban on nationals from 12 countries

Hegseth orders Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk, Jeffries calls it "a complete and total disgrace"

FEMA, Trump administration react to sources saying chief did not know U.S. had a hurricane season
In November 2023, I sat at a bar in Colorado Springs. Survivors of the Club Q mass shooting had gathered with friends and supporters for a night of remembrance before the first anniversary of a night that forever changed their lives.

One survivor hosted the night. There were maybe 20 people there in total. There were drag performances, laughter, tears, and memories shared among this group of people who were acquaintances before Nov. 19, 2022, but were forced to become more after the shared traumatic experience.

I sat at the dimly lit bar, having been invited by one of the survivors I interviewed for a story on the shooting. When I first got there, an activist from Denver who had become a dear friend and support to many of the survivors took me aside before I even walked in.

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Who are you with? they asked, protectively. I told them I worked for The Advocate, and I assured them I was just observing, getting contact information from folks, and wouldnt record what was said inside the bar.

I drank with them.

I danced with them.

I listened to them.

Mental notes were taken, but something that kept piercing through my mind even then was that this is what journalism should be. It connects. It reveals. It honors. It reopens wounds to let them air out.

I wrote in my oft-forgotten notes app: An observer reaching for the impossible idea of objectivity will never be privy to this. So, they lack the story. Its listening and talking and being.

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All journalists have an ethical duty to uphold the truth, and in queer journalism, we have an ethical duty to report and write factually about LGBTQ+ lives and experiences. Us in queer media  to borrow from my colleague Tracy E. Gilchrist  are authentic in our journalism because were approaching our work through sympathetic yet informed lenses (we're often queer ourselves).

I think about (queer) journalism a lot. Are our sources diverse enough? Would this make a good series? How can we get funding for investigative stories? How do we ensure we can keep doing this work for the next month, next year, next decade?

Support queer media. Become an Advocate contributor today.

The Advocate has brought queer news to readers since it was a newsletter in Los Angeles, first drafted after a police raid at a gay bar in 1967. A small group was spurred to act, driven to help LGBTQ+ people in L.A. know what was happening in their community.

Our mission remains largely the same since then: To inform the queer community. While weve grown to a national (and international) audience, that focus has stayed on what news our readers need to know to live their best lives  from the latest Supreme Court ruling to whats happening at local Pride events.

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This is a precarious time for journalism. NPR has sued the Trump administration after the president signed an executive order slashing its funding. CBS News cowered to a lawsuit that experts say it could have won against Trump. The Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have been decimated by cuts of their federal funding. The Trump White House has repeatedly attacked the press  see the Associated Press debacle over the Gulf of Mexico. Its clearly becoming more risky for journalists to criticize this administration.

Just as journalism is under attack, so too are queer lives. The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 588 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S. this legislative session alone. The right-wing backlash against gay and trans rights has led many corporations to pull back from publicly supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. That includes funding things like Pride events, and yes, advertising in LGBTQ+ publications.

Queer media  reported by, reported on, and involving LGBTQ+ people  is needed more than ever. Its a journalism that goes beyond superficial attempts to see the world in binaries and instead accepts the nuances and variety of people and their stories. Its why were asking you, our readers, for your direct support.

Today, we launch a membership program for The Advocate. Your financial support will go directly to the sort of reporting I did in Colorado Springs, and much more.

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When you become a member, youll back the community The Advocate created in 1967  youll also get special perks like a behind-the-scenes newsletter from me, with exclusive insights into our reporting. If you join at The Advocates founding level  for $19.67 a month  youll receive a free print subscription to keep or give to someone, as well as a specially designed enamel pin to show your support of LGBTQ+ journalism. Celebrate this Pride Month by directly supporting The Advocates work. Become a member today, and lets keep providing our community with the news it needs.

I go back to that night in Colorado so often because for me it is what queer journalism is: Empathetic storytelling that reports the real LGBTQ+ experience. Its what we strive for at The Advocate.

Since our founding in 1967, the LGBTQ+ community has been our north star. It continues to be. In this moment, we are fighting to keep bringing audiences the best of queer journalism.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for supporting The Advocate.The Advocate.
A Galena police officer is on administrative leave after he faces child pornography charges, according to Stephenson County Court documents.

Eli Barthel (Stephenson County Jail)

The Illinois Attorney Generals Office says 23-year-old Eli Barthel, of Freeport, faces two counts of Class 2 child sexual assault material possession, each punishable by seven years in prison, and one count of Class 3 child sexual assault material possession, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Investigators say they found the material during a search of his Freeport home.

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Barthel appeared Tuesday in court with his public defender, according to Stephenson County Court documents.

Barthel is being held in the Stephenson County Jail. He is scheduled for arraignment June 18 in Stephenson County Court.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Galesburg has a new permanent police chief.

The city announced that Kevin Legate is the new police chief. Legate has served as deputy police chief since July 2023 and as acting police chief since March 2025. He brings extensive experience and success to the job.

Chief Legate has done an exceptional job leading the Galesburg Police Department through a challenging transition, solidifying his place as a leader of outstanding character and judgment, said City Manager Eric Hanson. Throughout his dedicated career with the Galesburg Police Department, he has earned the confidence of his community and colleagues, and I am certain he will continue to excel in this new role.

Kevin Legate (Galesburg Police Department)

It is a great honor to appoint Acting Chief Legate as Galesburgs next Chief of Police. I am confident he is the right person to lead our department today and into the future, said City Manager Eric Hanson.

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Legate graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration degree. He continued professional development throughout his career, completing senior-level training like the Police Supervisory Role in the 21st Century from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board and the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern Universitys Center for Public Safety. He started working in law enforcement as a patrol officer for Rock Island before joining the Galesburg Police Department in 2001 as a patrol officer. He served as a MEG agent with the Peoria Multi-County Narcotic Unit before returning to the Galesburg Police Department in 2009 as an investigator. He rose through the ranks, serving as a sergeant, lieutenant, deputy police chief and acting police chief with the Galesburg Police Department.

I am honored to have been selected as Galesburg Police Chief, Legate said. Its a privilege to lead an outstanding staff and I am profoundly grateful for their hard work and commitment. I look forward to guiding the department to its full potential, ensuring Galesburg is a community where all citizens feel safe and confidently rely on the Police Department to serve with integrity, transparency, and dedication.

Legate was named acting police chief in March 2025 after the city dismissed Russell Idle following a sexual harassment 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
The federal government handed $7 billion to California to build a high-speed rail line, but the Golden State never laid a single foot of track, according to a new report.

This prompted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to threaten that he may remove federal grants to the states High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA).

The 310-page report states that there were numerous missed deadlines and budget overruns. Duffy handed the authority a deadline of July 11 to respond or risk losing approximately $4 billion in grants.

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I promised the American people we would be good stewards of their hard-earned tax dollars, Duffy said in a statement. This report exposes a cold, hard truth: CHSRA has no viable path to complete this project on time or on budget.

CHSRA is on notice  If they cant deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve President Trumps vision of building great, big, beautiful things again, he added. Our country deserves high-speed rail that makes us proud  not boondoogle [sic] trains to nowhere.

The high-speed rail line was supposed to have been completed in 2020 on a $33 billion budget (AP)

The rail line was passed as a ballot initiative in 2008 and was supposed to run for 800 miles, connecting Sacramento and San Diego. The budget was $33 billion and the work was supposed to have been completed by 2020.

However, in 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said there was nowhere to go after costs had reached $77.3 billion and the rail line had been restricted to run from Merced to Bakersfield.

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Subsequently, officials with the CHSRA applied for grants totaling $8 billion from the funds passed in former President Joe Bidens infrastructure legislation to finish that shorter rail line.

However, in a letter sent Wednesday, the Federal Railroad Administration's acting administrator, Drew Feeley, said that nine months after the first batch of funding was sent in September last year, the authority had crossed a deadline to buy rail cars.

Feeley went through other procurement problems and tallied up as much as $1.6 billion in misspent funding because of changed orders. In the end, its considered unlikely that the project will be finished by its new deadline of 2033.

CHSRA relied on the false hope of an unending spigot of Federal taxpayer dollars, Feeley wrote. In essence, CHSRA has conned the taxpayer out of its $4 billion investment, with no viable plan to deliver even that partial segment on time.

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The California rail authority inspector general found in February that there was a budget shortfall of $7 billion. The federal government had handed the project $6.9 billion since 2010.

Speaking to reporters last month, Newsom noted that a high-speed rail project connecting Dallas and Houston had been abandoned.

You can see the progress weve actually made, he said at the time. Were now on the other side of the environmental reviews; were on the other side of the land acquisition.

But a spokesperson for the rail authority said the findings of the four-month review were misguided and didnt reflect the project.

The Authority will fully address and correct the record in our formal response, a spokesperson said, according to The Los Angeles Times. We remain firmly committed to completing the nations first true high-speed rail system connecting the major population centers in the state.
American gay rights activist Harvey Milk was known for keeping his face and name on the front pages of San Franciscos newspapers.

Now, as Pride Month begins, the Trump administration is set to take the almost unprecedented action of stripping his name from a Navy ship, a defense official told CNN.

The order to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk  christened four years ago  is unusual but is in line with the White House mandate to reverse a number of military initiatives by Democratic presidents.

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The move also comes amid the administrations broader efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in government and education, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths promise to revive the warrior ethos in the military.

Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. His legacy as one of the first openly gay politicians elected to office in the US  and the first openly gay official elected in California  was burnished in history with an Oscar-winning biopic performance from Sean Penn.

Who was Harvey Milk?

Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Before Milk served as a supervisor in San Francisco, the politician followed in the footsteps of his parents and served in the Navy.

His service as a stateside diving instructor during the Korean War was cut short after four years when his Navy supervisors caught him at a park popular for gay men and questioned him about his sexual orientation.

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Decades before the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy prohibited the military from actively investigating its members sexuality, Milk was outed and forced to resign with an other than honorable discharge and the rank of lieutenant junior grade. Gay service members were not allowed to serve openly in the US until 2011.

Milk later set up shop in the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco  the countrys most famous gayborhood  where he helped start the Castro Village Association, one of the first predominantly LGBTQ-owned business groups in the country. In 1977, he was elected to San Franciscos Board of Supervisors after years running his political operation from his camera store in the Castro, where stacks of campaign posters competed for space with stacks of 35mm film.

Harvey Milk (fifth from right) campaigns for a position on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, along Market Street in San Francisco in October 1975. - Janet Fries/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

While serving as a city supervisor, Milk introduced legislation to protect the gay community, including a gay rights ordinance in 1978 to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing or employment. He and other activists also succeeded in striking down Proposition 6, which would have mandated the firing of gay or lesbian teachers in California.

Milks assassination

Milk was a popular figure in San Francisco, but his actions were also controversial at times.

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Milk fervently encouraged gay people not to be secretive about their lives, even with hostile or unsupportive family members.

We are coming out to tell the truths about gays, for I am tired of the conspiracy of silence, so Im going to talk about it, he said at a 1978 gay pride march. And I want you to talk about it.

Milk is believed to have been one of the people behind the forced media outing of Oliver Sipple, a friend and fellow veteran who was credited with saving the life of President Gerald Ford when he grabbed the arm of would-be assassin Sara Jane Moore just as she was firing her second shot in 1975.

Milks biographer Randy Shilts told The Washington Post the politician wanted Sipples homosexuality made public because it was an opportunity for the gay community to be seen in a positive light.

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For once we can show that gays do heroic things, he told Shilts.

Sipple, who had not come out to his parents and didnt want his sexuality revealed, unsuccessfully sued media organizations that reported on it, according to The Washington Post.

San Francisco mayor George Moscone, left, and Milk cut a ribbon in a restaurant-opening ceremony in July 1978. - Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis via Getty Images

Less than a year after Milk became a city supervisor, he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot to death in the San Francisco City Hall by former fellow city supervisor Dan White over a job dispute.

Investigators determined that White was motivated by a political dispute rather than anti-gay animus.

But a jurys decision to convict White of manslaughter rather than murder shocked the gay community and prompted rioting at City Hall, the San Francisco Examiner reported. White argued in the trial that he was not fully responsible for the killings because he was depressed and acted in the heat of passion.

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White was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Milks legacy has never faded in San Francisco, where his bust now sits in City Hall and a school in the Castro is named after him. Milk, who told friends and loved ones he knew he was in danger of being assassinated, according to the Harvey Milk Foundation, hoped his death would inspire the cause he worked for.

If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door, Milk said in an audio message accompanying his will.

Unclear future for the honors of other civil rights leaders

The USNS Harvey Milk is part of a class of oilers that were designated to be named for people who fought for civil rights and human rights. Some of those namesakes are people who never served in the military, including congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis and womens voting rights advocate Lucy Stone.

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The future of those other honors is unclear. A Navy webpage marking the beginning of construction on the USNS Thurgood Marshall has been deleted.

The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk is seen at sea on December 13, 2024. - Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/US Navy

Although much of the administrations LGBTQ rollback has been focused on the transgender community  the federal government even removed the T from the abbreviation  it has also cracked down on affinity groups and barred the flying of the Pride flag at any US embassy or consulate.

The administration also formally declined to recognize Pride Month, instead referring to June as Title IX Month, referencing the civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools. The White House has cited the law in its ban on transgender women participating in womens sports.

Despite the decision falling in line with White House policy, Rep. Nancy Pelosi  whose San Francisco district includes the Castro  said erasing Milk from the military is particularly insulting.

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Our military is the most powerful in the world  but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the warrior ethos, Pelosi said in a statement.

Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.

CNNs Natasha Bertrand and Nicquel Terry Ellis contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Hostage families met with US officials at the White House to push for the release of loved ones. Officials also condemned the recent terror attack in Colorado.

Families of hostages held in Gaza met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for the first time, the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement on Tuesday.

Participants included Tal Shoham, a survivor of Hamas captivity; Ilan, Merav, and Gal Dalal, the father, mother, and brother of hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal; Galia and Ilay David, the mother and brother of hostage Evyatar David; and Orna and Ronen Neutra, the parents of hostage Omer Neutra.

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We are fully committed to securing the release of all the hostages and believe their return is essentialnot only on humanitarian and moral grounds, but also as a critical step toward regional stability, Leavitt said.

The meeting between the president and the captivity survivors had a profound impact on him and reinforced his determination to bring every hostage home.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters (photo credit: Courtesy)

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that "officials also expressed deep shock over the recent terror attack in Colorado. They strongly condemned the violence, stressed that there is no place for such acts on American soil, and extended their full support to the victims and all those affected."

Karoline Leavitt stressed Hamas' pattern of "misinformation," in response to a question at a press conference on the same day on whether or not the administration is taking action regarding Gazans being treated for gunshot wounds allegedly due to Israeli fire.

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She stated, "Unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we don't take the word of Hamas with total truth, unlike the BBC."

She continued by reading out headlines from the BBC that positioned Israel as the aggressor and stated that the BBC had to delete all their reports because they were false.
Russia has lost around 991,820 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on June 4.

The number includes 1,020 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,884 tanks, 22,678 armored fighting vehicles, 50,730 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,711 artillery systems, 1,402 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,176 air defense systems, 413 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 38,924 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

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Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WINDER, Ga. (AP)  Officials in the Georgia school district where four people were killed in a September shooting at Apalachee High School are considering a property tax increase to pay for school-based police officers.

Barrow County Superintendent Dallas LeDuff told school board members Tuesday that the tax increase would be necessary because county government has informed the school district that it will no longer pay for sheriff's deputies, local news outlets reported.

The school district and Barrow County Commission have been splitting the price of deputies assigned as school resource officers since 2017. That number was originally 12, rose to 16 in 2024, and then to 24 after the shooting. That would place at least two officers in the districts high schools and at least one officer in every other school, although officials havent yet been able to hire 24 deputies.

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County commissioners sent a letter to LeDuff last month saying county government will for now pay half only 12 salaries, and eventually stop paying any of the costs.

What they would like to see happen is that we as a school system be responsible for funding 100% of all direct and indirect costs for all 24 officers that we are staffing now, along with future officers we might add, LeDuff said.

The superintendent said the district will cover whatever the officers cost, calling it nonnegotiable. The district has been under intense local pressure since the shooting to improve security, agreeing to install weapons detectors at its high schools and middle schools this year after months of community outcry.

Especially in light of Sept. 4, I am deeply concerned with the Board of Commissioners underlying notion that 2,000-plus Barrow County school system employees and over 15,000 Barrow County students are no longer included in their definition of public safety, Barrow County school board member Kayla Hendrix said. Perhaps we need to ask the county commissioners who qualifies under their definition of public safety.

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Officials have said the believe a quick response by officers at Apalachee prevented more victims. The Sept. 4 shooting killed teachers Richard Ricky Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire. Colt Gray, then a 14-year-old freshman, has been indicted as an adult for murder and other crimes.

Barrow County commissioners wrote in their letter that voters had approved a plan to exempt some senior citizens from paying school property taxes and that the county therefore believes it is inappropriate to use property taxes collected for county government to subsidize school expenses.

It is imperative that Barrow County government ensure that no county general fund dollars  for which there is no senior exemption  are dedicated to areas that would otherwise be funded by school taxes and the associated millage rate, county spokesperson Brian Stewart said.

Paying the expenses for next year would cost the school district more than $1 million. The districts proposed property tax increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 property about $20 a year.

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The issue could come up at a county commission meeting next week. William Philip said he plans to go to that meeting to protest the decision.

This is a serious issue. This has to do with our kids safety, Philip said. Bad politics. Horrible politics. A lot of parents cant wait to go to the commissioners meeting and see.
By Felix Light

TBILISI (Reuters) -The Georgian government is to close its information centre on NATO and the European Union, Georgian media reported on Wednesday, citing the country's foreign ministry, amid souring ties between Tbilisi and the West.

According to its website, the information centre aims "to engage our population in Georgias European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes and to gain their well-informed support".

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The centre, opened in 2005, is based in a large building on Freedom Square in downtown Tbilisi and flies the flags of the EU, the NATO military alliance and Georgia.

Georgia's Interpress news agency reported that the centre is to be merged into the foreign ministry and that some staff have been told they are to be dismissed. The ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Georgia has been an EU candidate member since 2023, while NATO said in 2008 that the mountainous country of 3.6 million would eventually join the alliance.

But though once among the most pro-Western and democratic of the Soviet Union's successor states, Georgia's government has in recent years moved to clamp down on domestic critics, while also rebuilding ties with former imperial overlord, Russia.

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Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire ex-prime minister widely seen as Georgia's de facto leader, has said the EU and NATO are controlled by a shadowy "global war party" that seeks to topple the government and drag his country into war with Russia.

Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream party in November 2024 paused EU accession talks until 2028, abruptly halting a popular national goal that is written into the country's constitution.

The EU has said Tbilisi's application has been frozen over laws on "foreign agents" and LGBT rights that Brussels has criticised as restrictive and influenced by Russian policies .

Georgian Dream says it still wants to eventually join the EU and NATO, but that it also wants to keep the peace with its huge northern neighbour, as well as preserve the country's traditional Christian values.

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The United States imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili last December, accusing him of dismantling Georgian democracy in the interests of Russia.

Tbilisi and Moscow have had no formal diplomatic ties since 2008, when Russia defeated Georgia in a brief war over two Moscow-backed separatist regions.

(Reporting by Felix LightEditing by Gareth Jones)
The German government on Wednesday backed a bill to simplify the process of determining "safe countries of origin" for migrants, a move that could limit applications for asylum.

The measure approved by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Cabinet enables the government to make decisions in future on which countries are listed as safe.

Currently, the categorization must be approved by the Bundesrat, the German upper house of parliament.

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Under German asylum law, "safe countries of origin" are seen as those where people are not subject to political persecution or inhuman punishment.

Migrants from those countries are unlikely to see their applications for asylum approved, apart from in exceptional cases.

In addition, deportations back to safe countries face fewer legal obstacles.

The reform must still be approved by the lower house of parliament, however.

Germany's new government has pledged to tackle irregular migration as one of its main priorities.

The coalition agreement between Merz's conservative bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats set out that India, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia should be categorized as safe countries of origin first.

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The label currently applies to EU member states and a short list of other countries.

In Eastern Europe, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia and Moldova are all deemed safe, along with Senegal and Ghana in western Africa.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz waits for the start of the Federal Cabinet meeting in the Chancellery. Michael Kappeler/dpa
German fighter jets were involved in a cross-NATO training exercise on Wednesday, with four Eurofighter planes taking off from a German airbase to drop off high-precision glide bombs in Sweden.

The figher jets were en route from the the Norvenich in western Germany to northern Sweden, where they were due to drop off the precision-guided GBU-48 bombs on a military site near the village of Vidsel, according to a spokesman.

"They are practising a so-called 'deep strike' - a mission in which a distant target area is precisely engaged and the home base is reached again on the same day," the air force explained.

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"The flight distance is several thousand kilometres and four aerial refuellings per jet are planned," it said, adding that these capabilities are militarily necessary in order to be able to fly missions over long distances in the event of an attack on NATO territory.

Sweden became the latest member to join the western defence alliance last year. Germany has been a member since 1955.

The German Eurofighters are part of the Tactical Air Force Wing 31 "Boelcke," designed to provide close air support for troops fighting on the ground.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has promised Israel further arms deliveries ahead of a visit by his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, despite growing international calls for a weapons embargo amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

"Germany will continue to support the state of Israel, including with arms deliveries," Wadephul told lawmakers in parliament on Wednesday.

He argued that providing weapons to Israel was necessary in view of the terror waged by the Islamist group Hamas as well as the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia.

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Wadephul's latest comments seem to contradict recent remarks he made to the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, suggesting further shipments to Israel were dependent on a government review of whether Israeli actions in Gaza comply with international humanitarian law.

The statements caused a stir among Wadephul's conservative colleagues, who agreed with him on Monday that criticism of Israel should be voiced, but that arms embargos and sanctions were not on the agenda, according to senior lawmaker Steffen Bilger.

In response to a question from the Greens in parliament on Wednesday, Wadephul stressed that the coalition stands united by Israel's side.

However, the fact that German policy is also oriented towards international humanitarian law "applies to all policy areas, including, of course, the area of arms deliveries," he added.

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When asked what impact this would have on arms export policy, the minister once again referred to the Federal Security Council, which meets in secret and decides on arms deliveries.

Wadephul is due to receive his Israeli counterpart in Berlin on Thursday, with both ministers set to visit the Holocaust memorial in the German capital.
Netherlands-based poultry major Plukon Food Group has acquired local vegan and vegetarian products business Vega Insiders.

The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

In a statement announcing the transaction Plukon Food Group CEO Kees Kraijenoord said: This acquisition fits perfectly within our strategy. Plukon has been working on alternative protein concepts for years.

Plukon Food Group has long wanted to have a dedicated vega(n) production location. With this acquisition, that ambition becomes reality and we can actually scale up within a fully plant-based environment."

Part of the Zilverwerf Group, Vega Insiders specialises in fresh and frozen products such as vegan minced meat, bacon and cheese bites. The products are sold to retail and foodservice customers.

The company operates from a modern factory in Udenhout, employing 18 people.

Vega Insiders founder and Zilverwerf Groep owner Mart Beniers said: After years of building Vega Insiders, I was looking for a future-proof place for the company.

In Plukon, I found a partner with the same mentality: enterprising, realistic and with knowledge of the market. There was an immediate click, and that gives me the confidence that Vega Insiders is in good hands.

Vega Insiders will continue to operate under its own name within the Plukon Food Group.

All the employees of the company will be retained by the group to integrate their knowledge and expertise in the field of vega(n) product development, Plukon Food Group said.

A major supplier of meat products, Plukon Food Group operates across 40 locations in seven countries across Europe.

In 2024, the company reported a turnover of 3.4bn ($3.87bn) and employed 11,000 staff.

In January, Plukon Food Group acquired Spanish family-owned poultry business Grupo Avicola Hidalgo.

The business made a series of acquisitions in 2024, including a move for HKScan's Danish unit and Polish peer Algas.

"Meat major Plukon buys vegan business Vega Insiders" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




German police have said they are concerned that border officers might face legal problems after a court blocked the government's efforts to turn away asylum seekers at the country's borders.

Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to step up border checks and turn back irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum.

In the first case to emerge over the controversial move, the Berlin Administrative Court ruled on Monday in favour of three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9, stating that they should have been processed under the European Union's Dublin Regulation for asylum cases.

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Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended the policy in light of the ruling. But the chairman of the GdP police union, Andreas Rosskopf, on Wednesday said he was worried about what consequences the court decision would have for officers who continue to turn back people at the border.

"Of course, it is an individual case decision for now, but it remains to be said that these are cases that we face every day and therefore there is now a certain amount of uncertainty among colleagues," he told public broadcaster WDR.

Police officers are ultimately responsible for their own actions and must answer for them, the union chief noted.

Dobrindt had dismissed concerns that officers could be prosecuted for their actions as "completely absured" in earlier comments to public broadcaster ARD.

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But Rosskopf said he "actually had to disagree to a certain extent."

While the minister was right in arguing that police officers were subject to clear instructions in the matter, Rosskopf said: "If it were clear and is clear that this instruction is ultimately unlawful, then police officers must fulfil so-called remonstration duties," meaning they would have to explicitly criticize the order in order to avoid legal responsibility.

"We need a written clarification that colleagues are clearly acting on instructions in this uncertain situation and cannot be held personally liable for their actions following legal proceedings in this matter," the union boss explained.
By Ludwig Burger

(Reuters) -The German government announced plans on Wednesday to make it easier to declare certain countries of origin safe under a push to reduce the number of asylum seekers by eliminating the need for parliamentary approval.

Under the plan agreed by ministers in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, approval from Germany's two houses of parliament would no longer be required in deciding whether there is persecution in a country that would justify granting asylum to people from there, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said.

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"We will be able to determine safe countries of origin by way of government decree," Dobrindt told a news briefing.

"We are making sure that we will not have situations again, where decisions on safe countries of origin by the government and the lower house never pass the upper house," he said.

Germany's lower house, the Bundestag, is the main legislative body, where the ruling parties have a majority, while the upper house Bundesrat represents Germany's 16 federal states.

No country has yet been assessed under the new scheme, a government spokesman said.

Merz won a national election in February pledging a crackdown on migration and to turn away asylum seekers at the border, but the tougher stance ran into legal obstacles this week and has drawn criticism from opposition parties.

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Migration is among German voters' biggest concerns and a backlash against new arrivals has contributed to a rise in the popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The cabinet also agreed on Wednesday to abolish mandatory legal counsel provided by the state for asylum seekers facing expulsion.

"These are essential steps that are part of a whole raft of measures to bring about the asylum transformation," said Dobrindt.

A Berlin court this week ruled against the expulsion by German border police of three Somali asylum seekers. Merz said on Tuesday the verdict could restrict the migration crackdown but would not stop it.

(Reporting by Ludwig BurgerEditing by Gareth Jones)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Polish counterpart Radosaw Sikorski plan to advance cooperation between their two countries despite the victory of eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki in the Polish presidential election.

"I assume that we will continue to work together very closely and amicably," Wadephul said on Wednesday during a meeting with Sikorski in Berlin.

"Our ties are so strong that democratic elections here or there do not call them into question in any way."

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The cooperation also applies to France within the Weimar Triangle, for example in coordinating support for Ukraine, Wadephul said. The trilateral group, established in 1991, includes France, Germany and Poland, and is designed to promote cooperation among the three.

Nawrocki, who was backed by the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), had campaigned with anti-German and anti-European rhetoric.

But Wadephul said the German-Polish partnership is so close and solid that he has no doubts that joint future and defence projects could be realized. Poland, he said, had held democratic elections. Germans and Poles are friends, "and we want to continue that," the German foreign minister added.

Sikorski: Government controls foreign policy

Sikorski described it as a sign of democracy that a representative of the opposition had won the presidential election in Poland. Similar to Germany, the president in Poland is not the head of government but a representative of the country abroad. He implements the policies set by the government.

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While the Polish president has more powers than the German president, including a veto right, "foreign policy is the responsibility of the government," Sikorski said.

Wadephul: Defence and infrastructure are key topics

Wadephul highlighted European air defence as a security guarantee for citizens and the advancement of European defence cooperation as key areas for expanding collaboration. This, he said, requires "concrete projects, industrial partnerships and political will that does not stop at national borders."

A resilient Europe, he added, also requires efficient infrastructure. Roads, railways and bridges are "not just transport routes but lifelines for our security, including between Germany and Poland." At the same time, these investments would tangibly improve the daily lives of people in Poland, Germany and across Europe, he said.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Polish counterpart Radosaw Sikorski want to advance cooperation between their two countries despite the victory of eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki in the Polish presidential election.

"I assume that we will continue to work together very closely and amicably," Wadephul said on Wednesday during a meeting with Sikorski in Berlin.

"Our ties are so strong that democratic elections here or there do not call them into question in any way."

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The cooperation also applies to France within the Weimar Triangle, for example in coordinating support for Ukraine, Wadephul said. The trilateral group, established in 1991, includes France, Germany and Poland, and is designed to promote cooperation among the three.

Nawrocki, who was backed by the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), had campaigned with anti-German and anti-European rhetoric.

But Wadephul said the German-Polish partnership is so close and solid that he has no doubts that joint future and defence projects could be realized. Poland, he said, had held democratic elections. Germans and Poles are friends, "and we want to continue that," the German foreign minister added.

Sikorski: Government controls foreign policy

Sikorski described it as a sign of democracy that a representative of the opposition had won the presidential election in Poland. Similar to Germany, the president in Poland is not the head of government but a representative of the country abroad. He implements the policies set by the government.

While the Polish president has more powers than the German president, including a veto right, "foreign policy is the responsibility of the government," Sikorski said.
By Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray and Makini Brice

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Germany launched a fresh bid on Wednesday to chase down more air defence systems for Ukraine, which in past weeks has suffered some of the heaviest Russian attacks since the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Berlin aims to potentially surpass the sum of 1 billion euros which it collected with a similar initiative last year, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters in Brussels.

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He was speaking before a meeting of the Ramstein group of some 50 nations set up by the U.S. to coordinate military aid. It has been co-chaired by Germany and Britain since Washington decided to no longer lead the group.

Washington was represented by its NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker, with U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth expected to join a day later for a meeting with his NATO counterparts.

Addressing the gathering at NATO's Brussels headquarters online, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated his calls for more air defences to protect Ukrainians, in particular for Patriot or similar systems.

"The stronger our air defence is, the less value (Russian President Vladimir) Putin sees in attacking our cities and villages, so please let's continue strengthening our air shield," he said.

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"This is the most effective way to force Russia to stop its missile strikes and terror," he added.

British Defence Secretary John Healey said Moscow was routinely firing over 300 drones a day into Ukraine, a rate of fire that could be sustained throughout 2025.

"President Putin continues to prove he's not for peace, he remains set on death, destruction and destabilisation," he said.

Pistorius said Berlin had asked the United States and other allies to donate more Patriots or similar air defences.

"We have also offered, on a case-by-case basis, to look into paying for such systems that could be freed up. We cannot wait for industrial deliveries, this simply takes too long," he said.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Bart Meijer; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meet on Wednesday in Brussels to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is expected to brief his country's allies on the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's most pressing needs.

The talks, once led by the United States, are to be chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey.

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The two politicians are stepping in for former US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who had initiated the format also dubbed Ramstein Group, comprising around 50 countries, before the change of government in Washington.

The new US administration under President Donald Trump has decided to no longer lead the talks. Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense.

Ukraine has been defending itself from a full-scale Russian attack for more than three years, with the help of Western aid.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also scheduled to give a press conference ahead of a meeting by the alliance's defence ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday.
A lawmaker of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was told by the party's leadership to delete a "completely unacceptable" Islamophobic post, a spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.

Nicole Hochst, who leads the AfD's religious policy working group in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, posted an image on social media platform X depicting two men in traditional Arabic clothing standing next to a trailer on the edge of a field.

The image was captioned: "To all Muslims in Germany: Whatever you eat... It's fertilised with pig shit..." in an apparent reference to the Muslim ban on eating pork.

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The post also included a photo of the lawmaker and the words "Nicole Hochst, Member of the Bundestag."

Following instructions by AfD party leaders Timo Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, Hochst deleted the post on Tuesday afternoon, according to the spokesman.

"The post is completely unacceptable and was deleted upon request by the parliamentary group leaders," he told Germany's Bild tabloid.

Hochst has so far not responded to requests for comment, but her office said a statement would be published on Wednesday.

The anti-Islam AfD is the strongest opposition force in parliament after coming second in February's elections.

The party has campaigned for a strict crackdown on migration and is being monitored as a suspected far-right extremist group by domestic intelligence.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is travelling to Washington on Wednesday evening for his first visit since taking office.

He plans to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. A one-to-one meeting and a joint lunch are planned.

The subsequent press conference in the Oval Office is eagerly awaited. Previous visits by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were accompanied by dramatic scenes.

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The meeting is expected to focus on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, NATO's response to growing external threats, and the tariff dispute between the United States and the European Union.

Merz has already made it clear that he is not travelling to Washington as a "supplicant" and will confidently represent European positions there.

The German chancellor is only going to be in the US capital for around 17 hours. He is due to leave Berlin on Wednesday evening after a dinner with Germany's state premiers, and is expected to arrive in Washington after midnight. He is expected to spend the night at the president's guest house, Blair House.

The programme at the White House is scheduled to start late Thursday morning.

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Merz and Trump met briefly in New York many years ago. However, since the chancellor took office four weeks ago, they have already spoken on the phone four times.

One of those calls was a one-to-one conversation, the other three involved a larger group of other European leaders discussing the war in Ukraine.
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  Police are searching for the man accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl as she rode the E subway train in Queens on May 28, according to the NYPD.

Police said it happened around 5:30 p.m. near the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway station. The suspect got off the train at the Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer subway station after the incident, according to authorities.

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Police said the girl was not injured during the incident.

The suspect was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants and black shoes and was carrying a black bookbag, according to authorities.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Reuters) -Merck has held talks to buy Swiss biotech MoonLake Immunotherapeutics for more than $3 billion, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing three people familiar with the matter.

MoonLake's shares rose 19% in extended trading.

Merck submitted a nonbinding offer for MoonLake earlier this year, according to the report, which added that the initial approach was rejected but talks could be revived.

Merck's approach for MoonLake ahead of late-stage clinical data for its flagship drug puts the biotech on a strong footing to get sold, the report said.

There was no guarantee a deal would happen and there was a possibility that other buyers would emerge, the FT reported.

Merck and MoonLake did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Merck has relied on its best-seller Keytruda to fuel its growth for years, but the drug's patents will begin to expire in 2028. It has also been seeing declining revenue in China from its Gardasil vaccine.

(Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
After a protracted controversy that made international headlines, a 4-year-old girl who was faced with a life-threatening deportation has been allowed to stay in the U.S. by the federal government.

The familys legal team confirmed the news in a media release issued Tuesday evening.

The girl, who is going by the pseudonym Sofia to protect her identity, has short bowel syndrome, a condition that doesnt allow her body to absorb nutrition on its own. Sofias family came to the U.S. in 2023 through a temporary humanitarian permission process so that she could receive the care she needs to stay alive, which is not available in her native Mexico.

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That care includes 14 hours of IV nutrition per day along with four gastral tube feedings throughout the day that take about an hour, according to a family spokesperson. The family, who lives in Bakersfield, must travel to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles every six weeks for further treatment.

A 4-year-old girl in the U.S. legally for treatment of a severe medical condition now faces the life-threatening risk of deportation to Mexico. (Deysi Vargas) A 4-year-old girl in the U.S. legally for treatment of a severe medical condition now faces the life-threatening risk of deportation to Mexico. (Deysi Vargas) A 4-year-old girl in the U.S. legally for treatment of a severe medical condition now faces the life-threatening risk of deportation to Mexico. (Deysi Vargas)

Some of the equipment Sofia uses to stay alive is affixed to a special backpack that she wears, but at a press conference late last month, one of the familys lawyers said that the manufacturer of that equipment doesnt allow it to travel outside the U.S., hence why the treatment is not available in Mexico.

Southern California boy detained by ICE at immigration hearing

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But the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration resulted in Sofias medical protection being revoked, and the family was ordered to leave the United States on their own accord. The familys humanitarian parole had originally been valid until July.

I am very scared because Sofia runs the risk of not receiving the treatment that she requires for her condition, and if we return back to our country, she would be back at the hospital day and night, Sofias mother, Deysi Vargas, said at last months press conference via a translator. When we lived in Mexico, my daughter did not get any betternow, with the help that shes received in the United States, my daughter has the opportunity to get out of the hospital, know the world and live like a normal girl of four years.

Deysi Vargas, left, talks to her 4-year-old daughter, who has short bowel syndrome, at a news conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, after their humanitarian parole was terminated and they were ordered to self-deport. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Lawyers for the Vargas family said at the press conference they had written to the Trump administration to make them aware of the case and that the family had filed new documents for humanitarian parole but had yet to hear back.

Sofias fate hung in the balance until Tuesday, when the Vargases received an official notification from the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) that their humanitarian parole was extended for a year and will expire on June 1, 2026. Deysi and Sofia had previously attended an appointment at the USCIS Bakersfield office on May 30.

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We commend USCIS for its responsiveness and for recognizing the urgency of the situation, a statement from the family attorneys reads. While we celebrate this victory, we cannot ignore the systemic challenges that brought Sofia to the brink. Her parole was terminated without warning, and for weeks there was no functional avenue to alert USCIS that a childs life was in danger.

It took an international outcry and pressure from elected officials to get a response  something that used to take a single phone call, the statement continued.

The family has not yet officially commented on the matter but is expected to do so soon.

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WASHINGTON (ABC4)  President Trump signed a law today which overturns a rule that banned the use of certain vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

A Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a National Park Service rule which prohibited the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on 24 miles of park roads in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was introduced by three of Utahs elected officials: Representative Celeste Maloy (UT-02), Senator John Curtis (R-UT), and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT).

PREVIOUSLY: Rule banning off road vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area overturned

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Today, that resolution was signed into law by President Trump, reversing the rule set in place by the National Park Service on February 12th.

The original rule restricted the use of ORVs and street-legal ATVs on 24 miles of park roads in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The route includes an 8-mile segment of the Poison Spring Loop and access roads to Lake Powell.

Its intention was to protect the environment and visitor experience in the park, but many Utahns were not pleased with it, according to Rep. Maloy.

House blocks rule limiting off-road vehicle usage in Glen Canyon

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When Utahns found out that the Glen Canyon National Recreation Areas Travel Management Plan included nonsensical restrictions on motorized access, they reached out for help, Rep. Maloy said in a press release.

Rep. Maloy filed a resolution under the CRA which allows Congress to overturn agency rules with a majority vote in both chambers and within 60 legislative days of the rule being submitted to Congress. It also prohibits the agency from issuing a new rule that is substantially the same as the disapproved rule unless authorized by subsequent legislation.

We took legislative action and, through this CRA, reversed a rule pushed through by the previous administration, Rep. Maloy added. Utahns shouldnt be shut out of decisions that affect their own backyard. Now we can continue to recreate in the National Recreation Area. Thank you to our Senators for working with me to get this done for Utah.

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ODESA, Ukraine, June 4 (UPI) -- Spending four days in Odesa has been remarkable for many reasons. The main purpose was to attend the Black Sea Forum, largely sponsored by the very successful English businessman and philanthropist Lord Michael Ashcroft. This is one of the few if any Black Sea conferences actually held on the Black Sea.

The forum was intended to inform as many people as possible about the reality of this illegal war started by Russia and the consequences, good and ill, for the Ukrainian people.

Odesa is an extraordinary example of the positive side of the war. Ravaged by Russian attacks in early 2022, it is the quintessential example of a city seemingly not at war. Virtually all the damage has been repaired, thanks largely to courageous efforts of its residents, aided by many contributions from outside donors and non-governmental offices.

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The few signs are a couple of bombed-out buildings and the presence of plywood replacements where glass windows were shattered by shrapnel or blasts. The streets, unlike many in the United States, are immaculate. However, it is the spirit and morale of the Odesa public that are extraordinary.

While not necessarily a cross-section of Ukrainian society, the people we met outside the conference, from cab drivers and hotel workers to waiters and barkeeps in restaurants, showed no sign of faltering under the weight of relentless Russian aggression. How long this will last may be an open question. But if Americans saw this city and their inhabitants, it would be impossible not to be impressed.

Given this testimony to human resilience and the can-do spirit, unfortunately, reality must take hold. No matter the courage and endurance Ukraine shows, unless the West and the United States are to expand military and financial support, possibly by an order of magnitude, time and numbers favor Moscow.

While in Odesa, four Russian drones were shot down outside the city and Operation Spider Web was carried out against Moscow's strategic bombers deep inside the country. In tactical terms, this was the equivalent of Jimmy Doolittle's famous raid over Tokyo in April 1942 and the Special Air Services destruction of more Nazi fighters on the ground than had been shot down in the north African desert the same year.

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Apparently, the operation was a year and one-half in planning and brilliantly carried out. No doubt it was more than a pinprick, and it damaged or destroyed a significant percentage of these bombers.

But make no mistake: Vladimir Putin will retaliate. The more likely time frame will be in the so-called Russian summer offensive likely to start within a month or two.

My concern is this: Despite Russian tactical and operational incompetence at every level, that cannot be assumed to be the norm. Russia has made enormous advances in drone technology and other forms of war. The use of extremely light fiber optics to control drones out to 10 miles or more is exceptional. And the Russians have innovated in many other ways regarding improving drone lethality.

If launched properly, this offensive could drive south from Nikolayev in the east through Odesa and then west. In such an attack, the port would be shut and merchant ships attacked. There is evidence that Russia has a drone weapon that can target the bridge and pilot houses of ships, thereby knocking out command and control and effectively disabling each vessel.

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It is impossible to know what the United States and its allies are doing to prepare for this Russian offensive, if anything, and if and how this will affect the thinking and decisions of President Donald Trump, who is, as George W. Bush proclaimed about himself, the "decider."

At the conference, the mayor of Odesa showed a nine-minute film that graphically portrayed the initial destruction of the city in 2022 and its remarkable rebuilding.

Whether it would make a difference if the film could be presented to Trump and his advisers, it is compelling in the extreme. The audience of some 1,000 conference attendees was moved. This film would be a prime candidate for an Academy Award as best short documentary.

The war in Ukraine may be -- and may be is too strong a phrase, perhaps -- at a turning point with the forthcoming offensive looming. If the offensive does not falter as those in the past have, the United States and the West will have to decide: Is it "slava" Ukraine -- glory to Ukraine -- or "dasvidaniya," or goodbye?

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I fear it will be the latter.

Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist; senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, chairman of a private company, and principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. His next book, co-written with General The Lord David Richards, former U.K. chief of defense and due out next year, is Who Thinks Wins: Preventing Strategic Catastrophe. The writer can be reached on X @harlankullman.
Republican leaders championed the One Big Beautiful Bill backed by President Trump, lauded Elon Musk for his work leading the Department of Government Efficiency and blasted Democrats for allowing tens of millions of illegal aliens  like the attacker in Boulder, Colorado  into the country during a Wednesday press conference.

House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Musk during most of his time speaking, saying the Tesla boss had done extraordinary work finding needless government spending while leading DOGE. Musk, Johnson noted, was inside the belly of the beast that is the U.S. government and helped shine a light on waste that was unknowable until now.

Still, Johnson also said President Trump was not delighted that Elon did a 180 on the bill. His comments came after Musk on Tuesday blasted the pork-filled bill as a disgusting abomination. The speakers comments also stand out, considering White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday the president had shrugged off Musks criticism of the bill.

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The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, it doesnt change the presidents opinion, she said.

Johnson on Wednesday said DOGE was the beginning of making government more efficient and that it is going to take us a while to make all the cuts Musk wants to see, considering it took decades for the deficit to reach the point it is at. He also said he called Musk on Tuesday night and was unable to reach him, but was hoping to the two would speak today.

The One Big Beautiful Bill passed the House last month and has moved to the Senate for consideration. Also on Wednesday, an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office noted the same bill could add $2.4 trillion to the nations debt.

GOP leaders then ripped Democrats and the Biden Administration for doing nothing to curb illegal immigration at several points on Wednesday morning.

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Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan said the Biden Administrations open border policies paved the way for the attack against Jews in Colorado last weekend while rallying for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was seen on video yelling we have to end Zionists in a video that went viral on X. The Egyptian national was in the country illegally, Fox News reported; Soliman entered the U.S. in 2022 and his work permit to remain in the country expired in March.

I mean, honestly, whats next? Is a Democrat going to fly to Boulder to visit the illegal who burned Jews alive? Is that whats next for the Democratic Party? McClain said on Wednesday. The contrast between Republicans and Democrats couldnt be more clear.

Shen also said more terrorist attacks could occur because of the tens of millions of people who are in the country illegally thanks to Biden. Johnson then said one main reason the bill needs to pass the Senate is because it includes $45 billion to expand ICE detention capacity.

The post Mike Johnson Says Trump Was Not Delighted by Musk Criticism Over His Big Beautiful Bill | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Republicans are at odds over whether to claw back funding for an anti-HIV program as part of the GOPs effort to pass legislation codifying DOGE cuts.

The White House sent Congress a bill Tuesday that the Office of Management and Budget said would cut at least $9 million from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The total could be much more: A special message sent to lawmakers outlines as much as $900 million in rescissions to global health.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said in an interview that he hadnt seen the text yet, but if PEPFAR is in there, that is a red line. He added that its a noble program; its President [George W.] Bushs legacy.

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Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, also told reporters Tuesday that it appears that it is cutting PEPFAR, and I will not support cutting PEPFAR. Like Bacon, she pointed out that it is a legacy program of President George W. Bush.

Their comments are teeing up a clash with fiscal hawks that GOP leaders can scarce afford. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., plans to introduce the bill in the House next week, a person familiar with the plan said, where it will need most Republicans support to pass it.

If Congress cant deal with NPR, PBS, and a list of crazy expenditures overseas, then theyre not going to rescind anything, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told reporters. You cant send anything to me that Im not going to rescind.


NEW YORK  Two grandsons of the late Gambino crime boss John Gotti were arrested and charged with assaulting a former family friend.

Cops said brothers Frankie Gotti, 27, and John Gotti, 31, were arrested after assaulting Gino Gabrielli, who was accused of breaking into a home associated with one of the brothers and stealing $3,300.

Gabrielli, an alleged mob associate, was arrested Sunday and charged with burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property after the break-in.

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Not satisfied with the arrest, the brothers tracked Gabrielli down to his mothers house in Howard Beach and administered a beatdown in front of his own mother, officials said.

Frankie and John Gotti were arraigned before Judge Sharifa Nasser-Cullar in Queens Criminal Court early Tuesday evening. They were released on their own recognizance without bail and are scheduled to return to court Aug 7. They said nothing as they left court.

In 2015, federal authorities said, Gabrielli accidentally set himself on fire while torching the Mercedes-Benz of a Queens businessman who had stopped making his annual payoffs to an irate mob captain involved in an extortion scheme.

The victims home security video system caught Gabrielli, first seen dousing the year-old car with an accelerant, fleeing the scene with his pants ablaze.

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Gabrielli pleaded guilty to the arson in August 2016.

In 2017, John Gotti, the grandson, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to selling oxycodone pills in New York City.

At the time, his lawyer, Gerard Marrone, said his clients name was a blessing and a curse.

His last name is what his last name is and hes always walking around with a target on his back, Marrone said. Its a double-edge sword, I think sometimes the name is a cross [to bear], but sometimes I think its a blessing. Theyre a beautiful family, theyre very supportive of him since Day One. They really stick together, the entire family.

_______
Two grandsons of the late Gambino crime boss John Teflon Don Gotti were arrested for beating up an in-law during an old-school neighborhood street beatdown, officials said.

Brothers Frankie Gotti, 27, and John Gotti, 31, allegedly assaulted brother-in-law Gino Gabrielli for breaking into a Howard Beach home John Gotti shares with his wife, Eleanor Gabrielli, police said.

Eleanor is Ginos sister, police sources said.

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(They) did the right thing, Frankie Gottis attorney, Gerard Marrone, said of the dust up. They were protecting their home and (Eleanor).

Gino Gabrielli was caught on surveillance camera entering the 157th Ave. home through a window and swiping $3,300 in cash, a watch, a pair of earrings, and a belt and wallet that Eleanor kept in a jewelry box, prosecutors said.

He was arrested shortly after the Sunday afternoon break-in and still had all the stolen loot on him, police said. Cops charged him with burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.

He was released without bail on Monday and an order of protection was issued for Eleanor  but that didnt protect Gino from the Gotti brothers, officials said.

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Not satisfied with the arrest, the brothers tracked Gabrielli down to his mothers house on 84th St. near 162nd Ave. in Howard Beach and administered a beatdown in front of Gabrielli s mom about 3:10 p.m. Monday, according to police.

Cops responding to a 911 call about the street attack witnessed John and Frankie Gotti punching and kicking Gabrielli as he was sprawled out on the sidewalk.

The two brothers, the sons of Peter Gotti and nephew of former Gambino boss John Gotti, were arrested on misdemeanor assault charges.

They were released without bail after they were arraigned before Judge Sharifa Nasser-Cullar in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday evening and are scheduled to return to court Aug 7.

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They said nothing as they left court.

Marrone noted the charges are misdemeanors and said Gabriellis wounds are minor.

It was nothing, he said. It was just scrapes. (Gino) should have kept his hands up.

In 2015, federal authorities said, Gabrielli accidentally set himself on fire while torching the Mercedes-Benz of a Queens businessman who had stopped making his annual payoffs to an irate mob captain involved in an extortion scheme.

The victims home security video system caught Gabrielli, first seen dousing the year-old car with an accelerant, fleeing the scene with his pants ablaze. Gabrielli pleaded guilty to the arson in August 2016.

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In 2002, John Gotti, the Bronx-born tough who shot his way to the top of the Gambino crime family and became the most celebrated mobster since Al Capone, died at a Missouri prison hospital after a long battle with throat cancer at 61.

Gotti, who ruled the Gambino organization for seven years, was convicted in 1992 on the testimony of mob turncoat Salvatore (Sammy Bull) Gravano.

He was serving a life term in solitary confinement at the maximum-security prison in Marion, Ill., when he was diagnosed with cancer in September 1998. Two years later, Gotti was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Mo., where he died.

In 2017, John Gotti, the grandson, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to selling oxycodone pills in New York City.

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At the time Marrone said his clients name was a blessing and a curse.

His last name is what his last name is and hes always walking around with a target on his back, Marrone said. Its a double-edge sword, I think sometimes the name is a cross [to bear], but sometimes I think its a blessing. Theyre a beautiful family, theyre very supportive of him since Day One. They really stick together, the entire family.
HOUSTON (KXAN)  As Gov. Greg Abbott signed key bail reform legislation into law Tuesday, he declined to answer questions about one of this sessions high-profile bills.

Senate Bill 3 would ban all THC products in the state of Texas, including the currently legal hemp-derived THC products. At Tuesdays bill-signing event in Houston, one reporter asked the governor if he would sign SB 3.

It is one of literally more than a thousand bills on my deskI will give all of those pieces of legislation the consideration and time that they deserve, Abbott replied.

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When pressed on the question, the Governor was more direct.

Very nice twist to the question, youre still not going to get an answer, Abbott said.

If he signs the bill, Texas would join a list of three states which have banned hemp-derived THC products entirely, though two of the three  California and Washington  have otherwise legalized marijuana for recreational use. The governor has until June 22 to decide if SB 3 will become law.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  State leaders met in Louisville on Wednesday to celebrate the launch of an initiative that aims to advance the commonwealths public education system and economy.

According to a news release, the Pre-K for All initiative is projected to grow Kentuckys workforce by up to 70,000 people while providing a higher quality education for future generations.

Kentucky educational leaders, like Dr. Aaron Thompson, said academic success can often be determined at a young age.

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Weve known forever that by five years old, 90% of brain development is in place, that you are building the capacity for learning, said Thompson. If we dont prepare people to do that with the right systematic process, then were going to be behind the eight ball forever.

Kentucky AG: Fayette County Public Schools violated law in attempted tax hike

State statistics showed that during the 2023 academic year, 53.8% of Kentuckys children were unprepared when they showed up for their first day of kindergarten.

Before they even step through the door, they are behind. This creates an achievement gap that is nearly impossible to close, Gov. Beshear said. To increase kindergarten-readiness, we need to offer pre-K for every 4-year-old across the state of Kentucky.

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Beshear noted during Wednesdays event in Louisville that 18 states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and West Virginia, offer pre-K access for all 4-year-olds.

The governor reportedly issued an executive order on Wednesday creating the Team Kentucky Pre-K for All Advisory Committee, consisting of 28 members from across the state with a broad range of experience in business, workforce development, and education.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Beshear said that data from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shows that of Kentuckys 120 counties, nearly two-thirds dont have access to enough child care to serve each family who needs it, with the majority of those located in eastern Kentucky.

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Its a real opportunity to get information out there about early childhood education that can occur at home, can occur in childcare, or can occur in a pre-K program in our public schools, Beshear said.

Jamie Rogers, a parent who told FOX 56 she is feeling the pressure as a working mom who has struggled to find childcare for her kid.

I knew as an executive in my job that I was going to have to pause, said Rogers. I was going to have to stop taking clients.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

She spoke about how grateful she was for the help she received from family and friends.

They went to the daycare here on High Street and dropped off a check to pay for childcare, because I knew how much it was going to cost me to step out of work and pay for that childcare, she told FOX 56.

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More information about Beshears June 4 executive order, including those appointed to the PreK for All Advisory Committee, can be found here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has appointed a former Utah Attorney Generals Office attorney to fill a new role that will be a key decision-maker over which government records do  and dont  become public.

Cox picked Lonny Pehrson, who most recently worked as records counsel for the Utah Attorney Generals Office, to be the first director of the states newly created Government Records Office. His nomination will be subject to consent from the Utah Senate.

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We look forward to the Government Records Office streamlining the appeals process and helping Utahns get timely answers to their records requests, Cox said in a prepared statement. Lonny Pehrsons legal expertise and commitment to good governance make him the right person to lead this important effort.

Pehrson said hes honored for Coxs nomination and truly appreciate the trust and responsibility it entails.

I look forward to establishing the Government Records Office which will better facilitate access to government records in accordance with the law, Pehrson said in a prepared statement.

Earlier this year, the Utah Legislature voted to approve SB277, which dissolved and replaced the 30-year-old, seven-member State Records Committee with a single decision-maker. At the time, the bills sponsor, Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, said the change is meant to address inefficiencies, cut down on wait times for records decisions, and replace the State Records Committee with someone with more legal experience.

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Critics, including media professionals, argued the move would consolidate too much power with one person and lead to less transparency. The Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Utah Legislature its annual Black Hole award for the passage SB277, along with another, HB69, which made it difficult for people who challenge the government over public records denials to recoup their attorney fees.

Pehrson, in his new role, will now decide appeals to records requests that have been denied. Hell be responsible for adjudicating records appeals hearings and supervising the Government Records Ombudsman and staff.

He will also serve as a resource to citizens and governmental entities regarding government records management, ensuring lawful access to records and information, and leading a team that conducts statewide training in records and information management, a news release issued Monday by the Division of Archives and Records Service said.

Pehrson, in his previous role as records counsel for then-Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, argued against releasing Reyes calendar in response to requests from local news outlets KSL and The Salt Lake Tribune.

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The State Records Committee ultimately sided with reporters, and in February a judge ruled that Reyes work calendar should be released. The same day as the judges ruling, however, the Utah Legislature passed a bill to allow elected officials and government employees the ability to keep their calendars  including work meetings  private moving forward.

Reyes didnt seek reelection last year after concerns surfaced over his past relationship with the embattled anti-trafficking nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad and its founder, Tim Ballard. Earlier this year, a legislative audit of Reyes administration concluded that insufficient transparency resulted in a lack of accountability for the position of the attorney general.

State leaders, however, applaud Pehrson as an expert in Utahs public records law, the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).

Kenneth Williams, director of the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service and state archivist, said in a statement that his department is thrilled to welcome Pehrson.

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I have worked with Lonny for several years and know that his expertise in records law and dedication to public service will be invaluable as we continue to ensure appropriate and reliable access to government records for the people of Utah, Williams said.

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Victims of a substantial data breach are set to receive a portion of a $20 million settlement. Over five million affected users are in line to receive compensation for their losses.

What Happened: A court has granted preliminary approval for a multi-million dollar settlement to be distributed among victims of a data breach. The breach was linked to the file transfer platform of cybersecurity firm Fortra.

The compromised data includes sensitive details such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information.

Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing  this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.

According to a report, the lawsuit was lodged against Fortra and several other companies, including rail service provider Brightline and healthcare firms Aetna, Community Health, Elevance Health, Imagine360, Intellihartx, NationsBenefits, and Santa Clara Family Health Plan.

Victims who can present reasonable documentation for losses from the 2023 data breach will receive up to $5,000. Without such documentation, class members will receive approximately $85. Claims must be submitted by August 29.

Besides the cash payment, class members are also eligible to receive dark web monitoring services for one year to mitigate potential identity theft and fraud risks.

The payments will be made once the court gives the class action settlement final approval, with a final approval hearing scheduled for mid-September.

See Also: Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year  Here's How You Can Invest In Multiple Pre-IPO AI Startups With Just $1,000.

Why It Matters: This settlement marks a significant victory for victims of data breaches, as it sets a precedent for future cases. It underscores the importance of cybersecurity and the potential financial consequences for companies that fail to adequately protect user data.

The inclusion of dark web monitoring services in the settlement also highlights the growing recognition of the long-term risks associated with data breaches, including identity theft and fraud.

This case serves as a reminder to companies of their responsibility to safeguard user data and the potential legal and financial repercussions of failing to do so.

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ALBANY  Et tu, Antonio?

Some establishment Democrats called for Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado to resign Tuesday  one day after he announced hed run in a party primary against Gov. Kathy Hochul.

He shouldnt be on the payroll of the employer he opposes, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards told The Post.

Hochul has been very good for Queens. Whatever weve asked for, she has delivered, Richards, who has been rumored as a potential new lieutenant governor pick himself, said.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado will not step down even as he campaigns to unseat his boss, per a spokesperson. Hans Pennink

Hochul handpicked Delgado to be her No. 2 in 2022, but its long been expected hed throw his hat in the ring to try to unseat her in the 2026 election.

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I call for the ungrateful Mr. Delgado to IMMEDIATELY RESIGN as Lieutenant Governor, Assemblywoman Yudelka Tapia (D-Bronx) wrote on X Monday night with an endorsement of the governor.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) praised Hochul and pushed back against the idea of a primary in comments to POLITICO though he stopped short of calling for Delgago to step aside.

Governor Hochul has been a strong partner working with me on behalf of all New Yorkers, Heastie said. We need to be united.

A spokesperson for Delgado stamped out any speculation the lieutenant governor will relinquish his title and $210,000 per year paycheck, which are effectively all the perks of the office Hochul has left him with.

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When someone challenges the status quo, the establishment pushes back  we expected that. But Antonio Delgado isnt running to win over insiders, said Steven Ileka, Delgados press secretary. Hes running to fight for everyday New Yorkers, not the powerful few.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is backing Gov. Kathy Hochul and calling for Dems to be united after Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado officially entered the Governors race Monday. Hans Pennink

Delgado also faced calls to turn down the temperature within the party ranks even if he stays put.

I respect the will of the voters, so Im not calling on Delgado to resign  but he needs to chill and stop stirring infighting, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D-Brooklyn), who also chairs the Brooklyn Democratic Committee, told The Post in a statement.

Governor Kathy Hochul is a respected and popular Democratic incumbent with a strong track record and bold leadership on the issues that matteraffordability, public safety, education, immigration, and more, Bichotte Hermelyn added.

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Delgados infant campaign has already taken an approach of attacking Hochul and her growing crew in the capital.

The powerful and well-connected have their champions. Im running for Governor to be yours, Delgado said in a video announcing his candidacy.

The powerful and well-connected have their champions. Im running for Governor to be yours, Delgado said in a video announcing his candidacy. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

On his campaign website, the LG rips Hochul for vetoing two bills that would help expand childcare access and promises to deliver state-funded universal childcare. He also calls for universal healthcare and expanding New Yorks public option.

Hochuls campaign declined to comment.
Gov. Josh Shapiros administration has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its decision to stop funding a food assistance program.

The Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program provides Pennsylvania with $13 million to purchase local food, supporting 189 farms and supplying 14 food banks in the state.

Shapiros administration previously tried to appeal the USDAs decision to end its agreement with Pennsylvania.

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RELATED COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh food bank seeing increase in need as Gov. Shapiro appeals federal funding cut

The legal action was announced during a meeting in Philadelphia with farmers and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

Pennsylvania farmers do the noble work of putting food on our tables, and for the last three years, theyve been paid to provide fresh, local food to food banks across our Commonwealth as part of a successful federal initiative, Shapiro said. When the USDA abruptly terminated our agreement without cause, they ripped away a reliable source of income for 189 Pennsylvania farms and cut off funding that would have helped provide over 4.4 million meals to families across the Commonwealth. Thats not just bad policy, its a broken promise. A deal is a deal, and Ive taken legal action today to ensure the federal government honors its commitment to Pennsylvania.

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The move comes amid what Levin described as an "unprecedented crisis of trust" between the attorney-general and the government.

The coalition is advancing the dismissal of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

According to Israeli media reports, the move comes amid what Levin described as an "unprecedented crisis of trust" between the attorney-general and the government.

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The draft proposes that a ministerial committee be authorized to hold a hearing and, if grounds for dismissal are found, to recommend termination of Baharav-Miara's tenure. A 75% majority in the government would then be sufficient to approve her dismissal.

The attorney-general's office declined to comment on the proposed legislation.

The draft argues that the legal consultation process, traditionally required with the attorney-general's selection committee, has become obsolete due to teh scale of distrust and functional paralysis it claims has gripped the government amid wartime. The existing committee - currently incomplete - was the body that originally selected Baharav-Miara and would typically be involved in dismissal deliberations.

Gali Baharav-Miara. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

"Since the government unanimously expressed no confidence in the attorney-general, cooperation has deteriorated tot he point of dysfunction," the proposal reads. "Given the urgent need for unity during wartime, the government must be free to act decisively and remove officials who obstruct its functioning."

Legal experts anticipate the change will face legal challenges

The new process would replace the independent selection committee with a political ministerial body, a move critics say undermines legal oversight. Legal experts anticipate that the change, if implemented, will face legal challenges in the High Court of Justice due to questions over its constitutionality.

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Former Knesset Constitution Committee Chair MK Gilad Kariv strongly condemned the plan, calling it "a betrayal of the IDF and the public."

"Levin weakened Israel before October 7, and she hasn't changed course," Kariv said. "This is not about governance - it's about caving to political pressure, especially from the ultra-Orthodox over the draft exemption issue."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also responded sharply: "Every time the coalition fails to pass a law exempting the Haredim from military service, they try to fire the attorney-general. It's all connected."

Communications Minister Shlomo Karh, however, praised the move as a long-overdue reform. "The attorney-general was never elected and cannot continue to paralyze an elected government," Karhi said. "This is a necessary correction of the Shamgar Committee's excesses."

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National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir echoed Karhi's sentiment, calling the dismissal proceedings a step toward "defeating the deep state."

"For two and a half years, the attorney-general has blocked every initiative I've tried to promote," Ben Gvir said. "Now the government can act as it was elected to do."

The tension between Baharav-Miara and the government reached a new high in March, when the cabinet approved an 83-page no-confidence proposal prepared by Levin, outlining extensive grievances regarding her conduct. The move formally initiated the process for her potential dismissal.

In response, Baharav-Miara sent a defiant letter to the cabinet, asserting the rule of law: We will not be deterred. The government is not above the law.

If passed, Levins resolution would mark the first time in Israels history that an attorney-general has been removed mid-terma move likely to reshape the balance between the judiciary and the executive branch for years to come.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  Governor Henry McMaster is weighing in on South Carolinas new $14 billion state budget. While he made a few changes, hes mostly giving it the thumbs up.

Its a good budget. Its one of the best, and thats why Ive only got a handful of vetoes, and I dont think any of them, maybe one or two involve money,  said Governor McMaster.

The final budget includes 80% of what McMaster originally proposed. He issued only 11 vetoes, one of which blocked a plan that wouldve let low-income, rural schools hire school police through private companies.

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The governor said school safety should be handled by official Law Enforcement, not private contractors.

All the training is required. Thats where those resource officers must come from. They must be qualified to be a deputy sheriff or a sheriff, he added.

The budget also includes teacher pay raises, funding to put a school resource officer in every school, and an income tax cut. And after years of pushing to eliminate earmarks, which fund individual community projects, the Governor said this years budget finally reflects that transparency.

Every dime needs to be open. Citizens need to know where its going, who proposed it, whos going to be spending it, and what its expected to do. If were not doing that then were not doing our job. 

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Senator Harvey Peeler (R  Cherokee), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said last week that getting rid of earmarks was crucial in this years budget.

It was almost like in the House, it seemed like they funded earmarks and whats left they funded the budget. Just take them out. It was almost that bad here, so weve had a stop, Peeler said.

Lawmakers could return to override any of the governors vetoes with a 2/3 majority vote, but regardless of majority the budget goes into effect July 1st.

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THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  It was a celebration of culture and a day of giving in the Bronx.

New Yorks finest teamed up with Goya Foods and school district twelve to feed thousands of families in need.

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In honor of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City, Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, will donate over 20,000 pounds of non-perishable Goya products to those in need.

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Members of the New York Police Department Hispanic Society, along with students and principals from District 12, will assist in packing and distributing over 2,000 food bags to families and individuals in need.

This effort is part of Goyas #GoyaGives initiative and serves as a celebration of Puerto Rican culture and heritage during the parade week festivities

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APPLETON - The jury trial involving the death of Grace Schara, 19, at an Ascension hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic got underway June 3 in Outagamie County Circuit Court.

The Freedom teen died Oct. 13, 2021, seven days after she was admitted to Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton for symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Scott Schara, her dad, sued the hospital a year and a half later in a wrongful death case that includes claims of medical negligence, violation of informed consent and battery.

Dr. Gavin Shokar, who was the primary doctor in charge of Graces care, and Hollee McInnis, a registered nurse who provided medications to Grace while she was a patient in the intensive care unit, are also named as defendants in the case.

In opening statement, plaintiff's attorney says Grace was given lethal combination of medications, then not saved by staff

In an approximately 30-minute opening statement, Warner Mendenhall, one of Scharas attorneys, said Graces stay at St. Elizabeth was a precautionary measure to provide her with supplementary oxygen and steroids.

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But she quickly began facing issues. On two occasions shortly after she was admitted, on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, Grace was given Precedex, which "dangerously lowered her blood pressure and pulse," Mendenhall claimed. On both occasions, Graces condition improved after medical staff stopped or turned down her dose of the medication, he said.

Scott Schara stayed with his daughter at the hospital for several days, until staff asked him to leave, and he was escorted out of the hospital by security guards on Oct. 10. He was persistent with asking questions of medical staff, but was "doing exactly what he was supposed to do as a dad and power of attorney for health care, Mendenhall said.

The family had lawyers negotiate with the hospital to allow older sister Jessica Vander Heiden to be with Grace.

On the morning of Oct. 13, Shokar spoke with Graces family over the phone saying Grace was stable and they should focus on nutrition and movement so Grace could soon go home.

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Oddly though, despite Graces improving condition, Shokar requested Scott authorize a ventilator, even though there was no need for a ventilator at that time, Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall said Scott Schara did not want his daughter to be placed on a ventilator. But as a result of this conversation, Shokar not only documented that Grace had a Do Not Intubate order, known as a DNI, but also a Do Not Resuscitate Order, known as DNR.

The Schara family did not learn Grace has been labeled DNR until Grace was in respiratory distress shortly before she died later that night.

Dr. Shokar watched this 19-year-old girl breathing fast, and instead of assessing why, without talking to the family before, and Nurse McInnis, injected Grace Schara with morphine, a powerful opioid drug that suppresses breathing, Mendenhall said.

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Scott and Cindy Schara, Graces mother, then had to watch their daughter die over FaceTime, with their cries for medical staff to save their daughter ignored, Mendenhall said.

At this trial, we will show that Grace Schara, a beautiful, gifted 19-year-old girl with Down syndrome, was killed by a deadly injection while dozens of medical personnel stood aside and did nothing, Mendenhall said.

Defense attorneys argue Grace died of severe COVID-19 infection, despite medical staff's best attempts to save her

Attorneys for the defendants painted a very different picture of Graces hospital stay and the events leading up to her death.

Two attorneys delivered opening statements for the defense: Jason Franckowiak, who represents defendants Ascension Health and McInnis; and Randall Guse, who represents Ascension Medical Group  Fox Valley Wisconsin, Inc. and Shokar.

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Grace did not die of any injection she was given by hospital staff, the attorneys argued. She died of a COVID-19 infection, which worsened during her days at the hospital, despite medical staffs best attempts to save her.

Additionally, attorneys said Graces family had consented during a conversation with Shokar to both a "Do Not Intubate" and a "Do Not Resuscitate" order.

Franckowiak said evidence presented at trial will dispute multiple claims made by the plaintiffs, including that the medications and dosages provided to Grace were standard in the intensive care unit.

Specifically, Precedex and lorazepam, both sedatives, were used in an effort reduce her rapid breathing and allow her to take deeper breaths and take in more oxygen.

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After administration of those drugs did little for her vitals, Shokar ordered McInnis, one of Grace's nurses, to administer a small dose of morphine. That drug, Franckowiak said, helped temporarily improve Graces oxygenation, from around 50% to 98%.

"Dr. Shokar reached a reasonable conclusion that the morphine had done exactly what he had intended it to do: it had lowered Graces rate of breathing sufficient to allow her take deeper breaths, therefore increasing her oxygenation level, Franckowiak said.

Grace was stable for about an hour, but then her lungs gave out, Franckowiak said.

He said experts will testify that without the ability to intubate Grace, chest compressions would not have been effective. And a reversal agent like naloxone would not have been effective, as the plaintiffs asserted.

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"The only potential way for Graces emergent pulmonary condition to have been adequately addressed at the point of her arrest would have been mechanical ventilation, but doctors and nurses had been explicitly forbidden by Mr. Schara (from) intubating Grace," Franckowiak said.

Franckowiak also said Scott Schara will be asked to testify about some of his beliefs, which have shaped the allegations he is making. Among them are a belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was planned to create fear and a general distrust of medical personnel.

Cindy Schara takes the stand

Cindy Schara, Grace's mom, was the first witness to testify for the plaintiffs. She detailed how Grace began to show symptoms of COVID-19, which she describes as similar to allergy symptoms, after the family attended a concert in Oshkosh on Sept. 25.

Grace was not vaccinated, and on Oct. 1 she tested positive for the virus. Cindy said she had the same symptoms, which is why she was never able to go to the hospital to be with Grace.

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Cindy Schara also confirmed she and Scott Schara had been researching how to treat COVID-19 prior to seeking medical help for Grace on Oct. 6.

Cindy Schara said they were researching protocols provided by Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance.

The group, now known as the Independent Medical Alliance, was formed in April 2020 by physicians and former journalists who advocated for unapproved treatments, such as ivermectin, for COVID-19. Both its founders have since had their medical board certifications revoked.

She said the organization advised taking supplements, which they did, and to seek medical help if blood-oxygen saturation levels dropped below 94%, which they also did.

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Cindy Schara said the family would never made a decision on a DNR order on its own. If they were, they would want other family members, their pastor, primary care physician and a lawyer to be involved in the conversation.

"It would be a terrible thing to have to decide," she said, indicating she and her husband never made that decision during two separate phone calls with Shokar.

She was questioned at length about her and her husband's views on the medical professional after Grace's death. She acknowledged she believes the COVID-19 vaccine is a bioweapon and young vaccinated men, once vaccinated, became sterile, among other things. None of these theories are supported by research or the scientific community.

The trial is expected to last up to four weeks.

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Jessica Van Egeren is a health care reporter and assistant breaking news editor with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trial begins against Ascension hospital in Appleton over Grace Schara's death
The Scoop

Sen. Lindsey Graham plans to amend his crippling Russia sanctions bill to exempt countries that help Ukraines defense against Russia, he told Semafor on Wednesday.

After senators heard from countries worried about being caught up in 500% sanctions if they trade with Russia  a major energy producer in Europe  Graham said he plans to change the bill to omit levies on countries that have helped the fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Why dont we carve out for countries who are helping Ukraine? If youre providing military economic assistance to Ukraine, you get a carveout. So China, if you dont want to get sanctioned, help Ukraine  that makes sense to me, Graham said in an interview.

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Graham said he spoke to President Donald Trump about his effort on Tuesday night. He declined to say what Trump thought of his latest proposal: Ill let him speak for himself.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week the decision about sanctions is Trumps to make, signaling possible problems with the bill.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., indicated this week the Senate could move this month on a sanctions bill. Graham was more firm, predicting action on his plan in June unless theres some breakthrough.

I appreciate what President Trump has done. Hes gone the extra mile  Putins uninterested. Hes gonna have another invasion soon. Weve got a limited time to act, Graham said.

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Lets put these sanctions out. Lets increase the cost to China and the other bad actors, he added. Its the only way to keep this war from widening.

GOP leaders are closely consulting with the White House, even as many rank-and-file Republicans are tired of waiting for Trumps green light. Despite Leavitts cool response, its possible the Senate could cobble together a veto-proof majority for Grahams bill.

Notable
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is proposing a carveout for his Russia sanctions bill to exempt countries that help Ukraines defense, protecting them from a 500 percent tariff on countries trading with Russia.

The carveout could help insulate countries in Europe that still import Russian gas and have provided military support for Ukraine, as well as other U.S. partners that have straddled the line between maintaining ties with Moscow and providing assistance to Kyiv.

A lot of countries still buy Russian oil and gas but less. Some European countries still have relationships with Russia, but theyve been very helpful to Ukraine. So I want to carve them out, Graham told reporters Wednesday.

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I tell China, if you dont want to have a 500 percent tariff, help Ukraine.

Semafor first reported Grahams proposed carveout.

Grahams sanctions bill on Russia would impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from any country that buys Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. The legislation has more than 80 co-sponsors in the Senate, potentially making it veto-proof.

Graham said he is in constant contact with President Trump about the bill. Republican lawmakers have signaled they are anxious to move but are waiting for a green light from Trump before bringing the bill to the floor.

We are separate entities coordinating with each other, Graham said about whether Trump is dictating when the bill will come to the floor.

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Graham said the carveout would apply to countries that have meaningfully assisted Ukraine.

Theres some of our allies whove really helped Ukraine but would be affected by the bill, theyve earned their way to get a carveout. Those who have helped Ukraine, meaningfully, will get a carveout. In other words youll incentivize people to help Ukraine.

The move could have big implications for India, a close ally of the U.S. that has maintained deep ties with Russia. India is a top purchaser of Russian oil, but has provided Ukraine humanitarian support. While India has not provided direct military support to Ukraine, it has allowed European countries to purchase Indian munitions bound for Kyiv.

Al Weaver contributed reporting.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The effort to renovate and remodel one of downtown Youngstowns historic high-rises is getting some help from the state.

Developers of the 115-year-old former Mahoning National Bank Building in the citys Central Square will receive a $1 million grant through the Vibrant Communities program with JobsOhio.

A New York-based firm is renovating the site to include retail and professional office space on the first four floors, and the top nine will have more than 70 residential apartments.

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JobsOhio does a nice job of using their Vibrant Community grant program that addresses small and medium-sized cities that traditionally are in a distressed community, said Alexa Sweeney Blackman with Lake to River Economic Development.

The building was sold to investors calling themselves 22 Market Street Ohio about two and a half years ago.

Theres no word when the $ 13 million renovation will be ready for occupancy.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said late Tuesday she agrees with Elon Musk to a certain extent after the tech billionaire tore into the GOP megabill full of President Trumps tax and spending priorities.

Greene told NewsNations The Hill she does not take issue with those who call out the government, including Musk, who called the spending bill a disgusting abomination on social media earlier in the day.

Well, you know, I very much support Elon. And I have supported DOGE, Greene said, referring to Trumps Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting initiative.

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Im one of the people that ran for Congress because I was angry at Republicans, she added. I wasnt angry at Democrats  they say what theyre going to do. They support big government. They support massive spending.

So I fully understand what Elon is saying, and I agree with him to a certain extent, Greene added.

Still, the Georgia Republican noted the legislation, known as Trumps big, beautiful bill, is a step toward stopping Congresss use of continuing resolutions (CRs), which are temporary spending bills to keep the federal government open.

However, I dont want to continue this government on a CR thats funding Democrat and Biden policies and funding, and this bill was important to transition to exactly what the American people voted for, she said.

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Greenes comments came hours after Musk, who stepped down from leading DOGE last week, issued a series of posts slamming the bill on the social platform X.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, Musk posted.

The legislation, officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill, extends Trumps 2017 tax cuts and boosts funding for border and defense priorities, while cutting spending on programs such as food assistance and Medicaid.

Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it, Musk added.

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Around the time of Musks comments, Greene also took to X admitting she just learned about a provision included in the bill that would ban state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years.

We dont get the full bill text until very close to the time to vote for it, and so that was one section that was two pages that I didnt see, Greene later told NewsNation, adding, I find it so problematic that Im willing to come forward and admit there are two pages that I didnt read, because I never want to see a situation where state rights are stripped away.

The proposal calls for a 10-year moratorium on state laws regulating AI models, systems or automated decision systems. This includes enforcement of existing and future laws on the state level.

Proponents of the moratorium argue a patchwork of state laws can be confusing or burdensome to technology companies to innovate in multiple parts of the country.

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Several House Republicans supported the measure, though some emphasized the need for a federal framework to preempt state laws.

I am adamantly OPPOSED to this [provision] and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there, Greene wrote on X.

I think thats pretty terrifying, Greene later told NewsNation. We dont know what AI is going to be capable of within one year. We dont know what it will be capable of in five years, let alone 10 years.

And I think we have to protect states rights to be able to regulate and make laws that they need to make for their states, she added.

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When asked whether the White House should have told her about the provision, Greene emphasized her support for the administrations legislative affairs teams.

Well, I want to be clear about this: The White House and their legislative affairs team worked very closely with Congress in writing the bill text for the one big, beautiful bill, she said.

This was an aligned effort, and President Trump fully endorsed the bill and asked all of us, of course, to vote for it. Me included, she added. I have supported President Trump for years and helped him get reelected.

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Xinhua News Agency: According to reports, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at the Nikkei Forum 30th Future of Asia that, Japan must remember the painful memory and lessons of history, so that it will not repeat past mistakes of war. Ishiba said that Japan has taken on a path of peace after the war, and this will not change in the future. By learning from history, Japan will not be an invasive country. Comments say the words by Prime Minister Ishiba demonstrate a positive attitude of learning from history and avoiding wars. Whats Chinas take on this?



Lin Jian: In November 2024, Prime Minister Ishiba said during his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Lima that Japan has upheld a path of peaceful development in the spirit of facing history squarely and looking to the future. This time Prime Minister Ishiba further announced that Japan should reflect on history and remember the lessons so that Japan would not repeat past mistakes of war. We attach importance to his words.

A correct perception and attitude towards history and concrete actions that demonstrate reflection on and apology for the history of aggression are important premises for Japan to rejoin the international community after World War II. They matter to the political foundation of China-Japan relations, to Japans relationship with neighboring countries and to Japans global image. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Japan once again faces the questions posed by history and moral justice. History illuminates the present with stark lessons. The four political documents between China and Japan established the important political principle of learning lessons from history and looking ahead to the future. Japan made serious political commitments. We hope Japan will deeply reflect on its historical crime, fully learn the lessons and, out of a sense of responsibility to history, to the people and to the future, make a clean break with any move that seeks to whitewash or cover up the history of aggression. We hope Japan will stick to the path of peaceful development, and earn through its actions the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.

Channel A: Today, some media in China say that China hopes the ROK President will take a balanced approach in foreign policy. What is Chinas expectation for the ROKs foreign policy towards China, and does China think that the new government of the ROK will improve China-ROK relations?



Lin Jian: China-ROK relations are propelled fundamentally by the two countries common interests. The relations do not target any third party, and should not be disrupted by any third-party factor. China opposes making countries choose sides and bloc confrontation. We stand ready to work with the ROK to pursue sound and steady bilateral ties to the benefit of the two peoples, and play a positive role in making our region more peaceful, stable and prosperous.

News 1 Korea: Today, the White House congratulated Lee Jae-myung on winning the presidency, and expressed its concern over Chinas interference and influence in democracies around the world. Whats Chinas take on this?



Lin Jian: We saw that statement. China always follows the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs, and has never and will never interfere in the internal affairs of any country. We urge the U.S. to change the habit of assuming that China would act in the way that the U.S. does, and stop trying to sow discord between China and the ROK.

CRI: The Pakistani government and the Afghan interim government announced the elevation of the rank of their missions in Islamabad and Kabul from charge daffaires to ambassador. Whats Chinas comment?



Lin Jian: China welcomes the announcement of the Pakistani government and the Afghan interim government to elevate their diplomatic ties to the ambassadorial level. We believe this will help the two countries increase trust and cooperation and work jointly for the regions peace and stability. This is also an important and positive move of the two sides to implement the outcomes of the informal foreign ministers meeting between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in May. China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in the improvement of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

China will work with Pakistan, Afghanistan and other regional countries to uphold the peace, stability and development of the region and stay committed to the building of a community with a shared future with neighbors.

Dragon TV: Its reported that Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the Democratic Party, was elected President of the Republic of Korea, according to the final vote count released on June 4 by the National Election Commission. Do you have any comment? Whats Chinas expectation for its relations with the ROK going forward?



Lin Jian: President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the 21st President of the ROK.

China and the ROK are each others important close neighbors and cooperation partners. China highly values its relations with the ROK and stands ready to work with the ROK to cherish the shared commitment that led to the establishment of diplomatic ties, firmly pursue good neighborliness and friendly ties, stick to the goal of win-win cooperation, and jointly advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership and bring greater benefit to the two countries and peoples.

China Daily: Recently at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a European leader linked the Taiwan question with the Ukraine issue, alluded to so-called China threat on the South China Sea issue, and suggested that NATO has the ground to be involved in the Asia-Pacific. Whats Chinas comment?



Lin Jian: We firmly oppose relevant remarks. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The Taiwan question is entirely Chinas internal affair. The Taiwan question and the Ukraine crisis are not comparable at all. China firmly opposes any remarks and moves that seek to mischaracterize or distort the nature of the Taiwan question, and urges relevant parties to abide by the one-China principle through concrete actions and respect Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. There isnt any problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in accordance with the law. China stands for properly resolving maritime disputes and differences through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts. Countries outside of the region need to respect the efforts of regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, instead of instigating tensions and creating disputes.

As a regional defensive organization, NATO has no right to reach beyond its geographical scope and mandate defined by its treaty. China firmly opposes NATOs attempt to advance eastward into the Asia-Pacific, stir up tensions and create confrontation in the region, and sabotage regional and even global peace and stability. Asia-Pacific countries do not welcome NATO in the Asia-Pacific and the region certainly does not need an Asia-Pacific NATO.

Let me stress that Asia is the common home for China and other Asian countries. In recent years, thanks to the joint effort of regional countries, Asia has maintained rapid growth and become a pacesetter in global growth and peaceful development. China stays committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy, firmly opposes bloc confrontation and never seeks so-called sphere of influence. Relevant parties should not make ill-intentioned speculation or sow discord between Asia-Pacific countries based on Cold War mentality. What they should do is to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.

AFP: The United States Justice Department said Tuesday that two Chinese students have been charged with smuggling a toxic fungus into the United States that they plan to research at an American university. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on the case?



Lin Jian: I am not familiar with that. The Chinese government always asks Chinese nationals overseas to strictly observe local laws and regulations, and protects their legitimate and lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law.
ROME (Reuters) -More than 500 jobs are at risk in Italy after automaker Stellantis changed oil supplier from a local brand owned by Malaysia's Petronas to France's Total, a trade union said on Wednesday.

Stellantis was not immediately available for comment.

Petronas owns the Selenia brand of motor oils, an Italian supplier which was previously part of the Fiat group and marketed products including under the "Olio Fiat" name.

Stellantis was created in 2021 from the merger of Fiat-Chrysler with France's PSA, maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars. The group also includes Opel and Jeep.

Selenia lost its "historic" supply contract with Stellantis after 112 years of production, the Uilm union said in a statement. The change resulted from the outcome of a competitive tender.

Petronas announced it in a meeting with employees, Uilm added, saying this compromised job security for 450 workers in Fiat's hometown of Turin and 70 in Naples, in the south.

The union pledged to use "all available tools" to protect the Petronas workers and other auto suppliers who are "under heavy stress" due to Stellantis' decisions.

Stellantis is Italy's sole major automaker, and last year its production in the country fell to around 475,000 vehicles, the lowest level since 1956, the FIM-CISL union said in January.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari and Alvise Armellini, editing by Keith Weir)
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan has been pushing for a nightlife ordinance to crack down on problem bars, clubs and promoters for years.

Now, shes taking steps to get it done before she leaves office.

The city has released a new survey, hoping to hear from the public.

According to the City of Greensboro, the surveys goal is to shape future policies that support community gatherings while keeping safety a top priority.

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Vaughan said its time to get ahead of the problems, not just respond to them, and this new survey is part of that effort.

This has been a discussion that has been going on for many, many years. It seemed like there would be a flare-up of club bar nightlife issues, and then they would quiet down a little bit, Vaughan said.

Vaughan said the city cant afford to wait. She first introduced the idea of an ordinance targeting nightlife back in 2021. It resurfaced after a record-breaking year for homicides in 2023, nearly half of them happening at or near nightlife venues.

The citys Commercial Activities & Private Events Community Survey is all about outreach. It asks people and business owners how frequently they attend events organized by commercial promoters, what types of events they prefer and what factors influence their decision to attend.

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I feel that its a safe environment. Its a place you can go to have a great time and also be safe knowing that it wont be any l shootings, said Adonis Hayden, 22, a resident.

Hayden said an ordinance wont fix everything, and it depends on the people.

I dont think its going to be a change if they do enforce a law to change the activities that people do. I feel like its based on you as a person. If you are mature now, you will. But the law is not going to change anything. Youre still going to have people that is immature. You still have people that is mature, so its just really up to you and how you move, Hayden said.

For others, the idea of an ordinance makes sense.

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Sometimes, you might have to put its own rules or enforce some type of legalities and put them in place to kind of just protect the public or just protect people from things going on  that could  somewhat impact the city in a way that you dont want to negatively impact stuff in the future, said Wesley Alston, a resident.

Ashley Anyu said she would like to see businesses invest in more inclusive, welcoming events.

Maybe more mixer styles. Maybe more structured things to like actually connect with new people, which is what were really trying to do for young professionals in the city  Give us some more places to dance, some more places to meet new people, Anyu said.

Vaughan said the citys safety committee has helped businesses where violent incidents have occurred in the past stay in compliance, but she wants something more proactive.

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We believe weve got everything in place, but we know that it only takes one bad apple  to ruin all the great work that people have done over the last year, Vaughan said.

The survey is still available on the City of Greensboros website, but it will close on Thursday.

Vaughan said a public hearing will take place after the survey wraps, and she is hopeful an ordinance will be passed.

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A major health alert has been issued for ground beef products due to possible E. coli contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert Wednesday about the one-pound vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher ground beef over contamination concerns.

However, a recall on the beef products was not issued because they are no longer available for purchase, according to the health alert.

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The affected beef had a Use or Freeze by date of either June 19, 2025, or June 20, 2025, on the packaging and the establishment number, EST. 4027. The item was shipped to distributor locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland, and Whole Foods Market retail stores nationwide.

An alert on the beef was issued after NPC Processing Inc., which owns Organic Rancher, told FSIS the shipped beef tested positive for a strain of E. coli known to cause severe illness in humans.

The ground beef was sold at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide (Getty Images)

At the time of writing, there have not been any reports of illness.

Still, the FSIS is concerned that the product is in consumers refrigerators or freezers. So, shoppers are being urged to either throw away the beef or return it to the place of purchase.

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According to the alert from the FSIS, E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps two to eight days after exposure to the organism.

The condition can occur among people of any age, but it is most common in older adults and children under five years old. Early symptoms can include easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output.

The health alert for the ground beef comes days after a popular sparkling water was voluntarily recalled over contamination fears.

Coca-Cola sent a letter to Costco members Monday announcing that they were voluntarily recalling Topo Chico Mineral Water due to the possible presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that occurs naturally in water sources, including mineral water.

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According to the letter, the health risks of consuming mineral water with Pseudomonas are very low in healthy individuals and will only cause minor health consequences in people with weakened immune systems.

The recall specifically applies to bottles that were sold at select Costco warehouses in Texas and Louisiana from May 20 to May 29, 2025.

Last week, an ongoing tomato recall was elevated by the FDA after it found that a possible salmonella risk could lead to death.

The recall of H&C Farms Label tomatoes was announced in May, after Williams Farms Repack LLC distributed the potentially salmonella-contaminated tomatoes to wholesalers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The FDA recently upgraded the recall to a Class I, described as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
Its time to check your meat  or risk foodborne illness . Some ground beef sold at Whole Foods may be contaminated with dangerous E. coli bacteria, U.S. officials warned this week, according to the Associated Press.

The specific product causing concern are the 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef. Images of the packaging can be found here. The contamination was discovered when the company alerted federal food safety officials that certain batches had tested positive for E. coli.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service did not order a recall of this beef as packages are no longer on shelves. However, its possible customers still have them in their homes, as the products have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20 and could have been stored in a freezer to use beyond those dates.

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If you have these packages of beef, its recommended that you toss them, and also clean the area around where they were stored in the fridge or freezer as an extra precaution.

What is E. coli?

E. coli is a type of bacteria that lives in the intestines. However, certain strains  like the one found in contaminated food  can cause serious illness.

Contamination usually happens when feces get into food or water. This can occur if someone doesnt wash their hands properly after using the bathroom before handling food. It can also come from drinking unpasteurized milk (aka raw milk) or coming into contact with animals, such as at a petting zoo.

E. coli was in the news earlier this year, when a deadly outbreak of the bacteria linked to contaminated lettuce hit 15 states. Last year, McDonalds also had an E. coli problem, with more than 75 people sickened by an outbreak linked to the yellow onions in some of their burgers.

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Symptoms of E. coli infection often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It also may lead to more serious complications like kidney failure. If you suspect you were infected with E. coli, drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and contact your doctor.

While E. coli is typically not treated with medication and typically resolves on its own between two days and two weeks, its important to keep track of your symptoms. Diarrhea that persists beyond that time, intense abdominal pain or problems urinating could be a sign of a secondary complication.






Organic Rancher Ground Beef

Sale Dates: May 26, 2025 to June 3, 2025

Product Name: Organic Rancher organic ground beef

Use or Freeze By Dates: 06-19-25 and 06-20-25

Establishment Number: Look for "EST. 4027"









The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public health alert because Organic Rancher ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli. The ground beef was sold at Whole Foods Market stores across the country.

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The FSIS issued this alert because the ground beef could be in consumers' refrigerators and freezers. The beef wasn't officially recalled because its already been pulled from store shelves.

What Is E. Coli?

E. coli is a type of bacteria. The strain of E. coli found in this ground beef can cause bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting.

Symptoms often start within a few days of eating contaminated food. Most healthy adults feel better within a week or so. However, children under five years of age, adults 65 and over, and people with weakened immune systems have a greater chance of becoming seriously ill. If you have symptoms that dont resolve quickly, see your doctor.

How To Identify the Ground Beef

The ground beef was sold at Whole Foods Market locations from May 26 through June 3. To check whether your ground beef is affected by this public health alert, look for the following details on the packaging.

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Name: Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% lean 15% fat

Size: 1-pound vacuum-sealed packages

Dates: "Use or Freeze By 06-19-25" and "Use or Freeze By 06-20-25"

The potentially contaminated packages will have the establishment number "EST. 4027" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the front label. This is what the label looks like.

Simply Recipes / Organic Rancher

Simply Recipes / Organic Rancher

Where Was the Ground Beef Sold?

The ground beef was shipped to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland and was then distributed to Whole Foods Market locations around the country.

Whole Foods sold the raw ground beef in 26 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Organic Rancher website:

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Alabama

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Iowa

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Mississippi

North Carolina

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Wisconsin

The FSIS was made aware of the issue when Whole Foods notified the agency that some ground beef they had shipped had tested positive for E. coli.

What To Do If You Have the Ground Beef

If you have the affected ground beef at home, do not eat it, says the FSIS. Instead, throw the package away or return it to Whole Foods for a refund.



Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES
(WJW)- The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for organic ground beef products that they report could be contaminated with E. coli.

The health alert applies to some Organic Rancher products distributed to Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

According to FSIS, a recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, however, food safety officials are concerned that some of the ground beef could still be in consumers refrigerators or freezers and say that it should not be consumed.

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Americans havent cooked this much at home since 2020: Campbells CEO

Heres what to check for:

1-lb. vacuum-packed packages of ORGANIC RANCHER ORGANIC GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN 15% FAT

Use or Freeze By 06-19-25 and Use or Freeze By 06-20-25 as represented on the packaging.

The product bears establishment number EST. 4027 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The beef products were shipped to distributor locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland and then further distributed to Whole Foods Market locations nationwide, according to the FSIS.

Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba in tap water

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There have been no confirmed reports of illness, however, health officials state E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps after exposure.

While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately, states the FSIS in the health alert.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
U.S. agriculture officials are warning that ground beef sold at Whole Foods markets nationwide may be contaminated with potentially dangerous E. coli bacteria.

Officials on Tuesday issued a public health alert for 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef, produced on May 22 and May 23, by NPC Processing Inc., of Shelburne, Vermont. The products have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. However, they may still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.

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The meat was produced in Australia or Uruguay and processed in the U.S. It was sent to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland and then to Whole Foods stores nationwide. The problem was discovered when company officials notified FSIS that they had shipped beef products that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness.

To date, no illnesses linked to the product have been reported, officials said. Consumers who have the product should throw it away or return it to the store.

E. coli bacteria can cause infections with symptoms that include dehydration, diarrhea and cramps. Most people recover within a week, but some people can become severely ill and develop a dangerous kidney condition. Children under age 5 and older adults are most at risk.

___

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.
Mold-infested walls, exposed electrical wiring and other subpar living conditions at Andersen Air Force Bases military barracks in Guam prompted a recent Navy-wide review of all unaccompanied housing, according to a new investigative report from an independent government watchdog.

After Navy Secretary John Phelan saw Andersens Palau Hall barracks during a May 2 visit, he immediately ordered sailors and Marines to be moved out within 10 days, according to a report published by the Project on Government Oversight, or POGO, last week.

Photos of Palau Hall barracks obtained by POGO show exposed wires, walls with mold that had been painted over and damaged plumbing.

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I actually thought the buildings were condemned, Phelan told POGO. When we pulled up to them and saw what shape theyre in, I was shocked.

By May 22, three weeks after Phelans visit, 25 Marines and 48 sailors had left the barracks.

About 21,000 people affiliated with the U.S. military live in Guam, a U.S. territory that houses Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz.

The report claims Phelans move to open new barracks at Camp Blaz ahead of schedule last month was, in part, a response to the lackluster conditions he witnessed at Andersen.

After Phelans visit, Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander of Navy Installations Command, sent a scathing email to Navy leaders May 5, describing clearly unacceptable living conditions at the barracks, according to an email obtained by POGO.

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Grays email ordered inspections of all barracks housing sailors to be conducted no later than May 27 and demanded service members be moved to more livable quarters if their barracks were found to be poorly maintained.

In the email, Gray instructed inspectors to use the Washington Post test, in which those looking at living conditions should ask themselves whether they could defend the state of the barracks if a report in the legacy paper were published, according to the report.

In an interview with POGO, Gray acknowledged some Navy barracks could be classified as being in poor condition and pledged a colossal effort to improve sailors quality of life.

Im not going to let up until we get to where we need to be, Gray told POGO. Where I can say I am proud of every barracks that we have.

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Conditions in other barracks at Andersen were not markedly different from those of Palau Hall, according to an Air Force spokesperson who spoke to POGO.

There are five permanent party dormitory facilities at the Guam base, according to the Air Force.

When reached for comment, the Air Force reiterated its commitment to providing safe and adequate living conditions for airmen.

Barracks 2030 isnt a fix it and forget it effort, USMC leaders say

We prioritize permanent party unaccompanied housing requirements with dedicated facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization funds in accordance with our 4-year Dorm Master Plan, an Air Force spokesperson told Military Times in an emailed statement.

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Dorm leaders inspect facilities daily, and if degraded conditions are observed, immediate repairs, as well as long-term investments, are provided, according to the spokesperson.

The spokesperson identified damage from Typhoon Mawar in May 2023 as a contributing factor to barracks conditions and said the service was prioritizing funds for renovating dorms and providing alternate housing options to service members.

The Navy also pledged its unwavering dedication to service members.

Sailors well-being is a priority for the Navy and its critical to their wellness to have a safe, comfortable place to call home, whether theyre staying on a Navy base or in barracks belonging to another Service, such as with Andersen Air Force Base, said Destiny Sibert, a Navy spokesperson.

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POGO interviewed a Naval officer, who spoke under the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, about their experience being stationed on the island.

Anybody thats been to Guam can tell you  if youre living on base, youre going to be in crappy quarters, the officer told POGO, according to the report.

Subpar living conditions in military barracks have long been a problem for many junior service members, and the services have taken steps in recent years to address them. The Marine Corps has pledged nearly $11 billion to overhaul its barracks as part of a massive housing renovation effort dubbed Barracks 2030. The program, which Marine Corps leaders said wont officially start until 2026, will add new furniture to housing and repair rooms.

Meanwhile, the Trump administrations recently introduced Big Beautiful Bill, which passed the House on May 22 and is awaiting confirmation in the Senate, includes $1 billion in barracks maintenance for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, the report said.

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The reports author, Rene Kladzyk, told Military Times over the phone that she was still receiving anonymous tips regarding the Guam bases poor conditions after the reports publication.

While sailors and Marines had been moved out of the barracks, 430 airmen and soldiers remained, according to Kladzyk.

I think that its important to emphasize that although we saw a pretty sweeping response from Navy officials to learning about these conditions at Andersen Air Force Base, we didnt see the same response from Air Force officials who I reached out to over email, Kladzyk said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Habitat for Humanity North Central Connecticut celebrates its volunteers on Wednesday with an appreciation breakfast.

Jahaira Rivera turned to the organization for help after struggling to find a home that was affordable. Last year, the single mother of four became the homeowner of a home in North Hartford thanks to Habitat for Humanity.

State police to hand out 1.5K handgun safes to promote safe storage

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I feel grateful, happy, she said. It shows your family anything is possible.

The non-profit has built homes for 300 families in the region over the past 36 years, something that wouldnt be possible without its thousands of volunteers.

They make up the labor that we build these homes with, they help frame and dry wall and make these homes exist, COO Kris McKelvie said.

They are the key to our mission. We need them, volunteer coordinator Marisa Wilson said.

Dennis Dellaccio has been volunteering with the non-profit for 9 years. He says its not just the skills hes learned or the people hes met that have made it worthwhile, but one of the best parts about the position is getting to meet the families hes helping.

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You meet their kids, you meet their spouses, the kids, the excitement to have their own bedroom, its just a really nice event, he said.

The organization says its always welcoming volunteers.

More information can be found here: hfhncc.org

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) attempted to keep Sen. Joni Ernstswere all going to die gaffe alive for at least one more day on Tuesday.

The Iowa Republican came under fire last week during a town hall when she addressed a constituents concern that proposed Medicaid cuts would lead to deaths by callously responding, We all are going to die.

Ernsts snarky response to a voters concerns made for terrible optics, leading to much mockery and inspiring at least one person to run against her.

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Some GOP pollsters predicted the gaffe would have consequences, and especially Ernsts bizarre follow-up video filmed in a graveyard where she told voters the tooth fairy isnt real.

On Tuesday, Jeffries took his own shot at Ernst.

Yes, Joni, we know  the American people know  that at some point in their lives, they are going to pass away, the Houses leading Democrat said during a press briefing.

However, unlike Ernst, Jeffries offered specifics as to what might cause those deaths.

The cause of death should not be Republican cruelty, he said.

Jeffries then referenced Republicans so-called Big Beautiful Bill. The cause of death should not be this disgusting abomination of a bill. The cause of death should not be the reckless Republican effort to rip away health care from millions of people, and rip food out of the mouths of starving children or veterans in the United States of America, he said.

Jeffries: Yes Joni, the American people know that at some point in their lives, they are going to pass away. The cause of death should not be Republican cruelty pic.twitter.com/zcHdqoCfgW  Acyn (@Acyn) June 3, 2025

Many people joined Jeffries in mocking Ernst.

BREAKING: Hakeem Jeffries slams Joni Ernst for belittling the American public.



Yes Joni, the American people know everyone will die. Doesnt mean they have to die sooner.



Spread this everywhere. pic.twitter.com/dysVgi7YQ3  Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) June 3, 2025

Cause of death: GOP  Grim Old Policies.  Kumar Kesineni (@kesinenikumar) June 3, 2025

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Cause of death in : Republican cruelty@GOP@NRCC@NRSC = #GreedOverPeople Party

all to give already *OBSCENELY WEALTHY* people another obscene tax cut#GOPTaxScam 2.0 because the first #GOPTaxScam 1.0 $1.9T still didnt pay for itself and added to our already high deficit https://t.co/QU3DF41leV  Amy Passas  (@AmyP5280) June 3, 2025

Refer to her as Death Panel Joni  AZNLP79 (@Taxman9791) June 3, 2025

Gotta say, that's a good line. https://t.co/INx5hQKxae  Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) June 3, 2025

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NEED TO KNOW

A new report by The Guardian claims that more than half of the top videos under TikTok's #mentalhealthtips hashtag contain inaccurate information

A TikTok spokesperson tells PEOPLE, "There are clear limitations to the methodology of this study"

TikTik has removed two of the videos The Guardian spotlighted as problematic







New research claims that more than half of the top trending videos on TikTok that offer advice under the hashtag #mentalhealthtips contain inaccurate information.

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A report by The Guardian alleges that more than half of the videos found under the hashtag contain inaccurate or misleading tips. The outlet explains it came to this conclusion by taking the top 100 videos under that hashtag and sharing them with academic experts and mental health professionals for review. Examples given by the outlet include claims that you can alleviate anxiety by eating an orange in the shower.

When reached for comment, a TikTok spokesperson tells PEOPLE: "There are clear limitations to the methodology of this study which opposes free expression and suggests that people should not be allowed to share their own stories. At TikTok, we proactively work with health experts at the World Health Organization and others to promote reliable information on our platform and remove 98% of harmful misinformation before it's reported to us."

Getty Stock image of a dejected woman on her phone. Stock image of a dejected woman on her phone.

A second report by The Guardian breaks down what they say are the most common categories of misinformation, like claiming normal emotions signify a mental illness. According to Dan Poulter, a former health minister and NHS psychiatrist, these videos pathologize everyday experiences and emotions, suggesting that they equate to a diagnosis of serious mental illness  This is providing misinformation to impressionable people and can also trivialize the life experiences of people living with serious mental illnesses.

An example, Liam Modlin, a therapist and psychology researcher at Kings College London, told the outlet, is when a video equates feeling tired or having low energy levels with depression. "While some of the symptoms overlap with depression, these can be attributed to a range of afflictions and struggles," he said.



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The outlet also claims these popular videos misuse therapeutic language; The example of categorizing repeated apologizing as abuse, for example, risks encouraging viewers to self-diagnose or mislabel complex relational struggles as abuse, Modlin told the outlet, adding you need sufficient context or diagnostic nuance.

Another issue was with what The Guardian cited as false claims or unproven treatment: For example, instead of therapy, write about traumatic experiences for 15 minutes, which should cure you in an hour. No research suggests this is sufficient for cure, definitely not in an hour, and there is risk of independently forcing oneself back into this traumatic mindset without the support of an experienced therapist, Amber Johnston, an accredited psychotherapist, told the outlet.

Getty Stock image of a person scrolling on their phone. Stock image of a person scrolling on their phone.

Per TikToks guidelines, We do not allow misinformation that may cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent. We rely on independent fact-checking partners, guidance from public health authorities, and our database of previously fact-checked claims to help assess the accuracy of content.

The social media giant has removed two of the articles mentioned in The Guardians report; In September, TikTok and the World Health Organization announced a year-long partnership to create science-based videos on health and well-being.

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The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) in the US has announced John Szczomak as its new president for the 2025-26 term.

Szczomak, a member of the NJCPA since 1990, took over the role from June Toth, principal at WilkinGuttenplan, on 1 June.

In his upcoming term as NJCPA president, Szczomak aims to tackle the challenges of the CPA pipeline by encouraging more individuals to pursue careers in accounting and by mentoring the next generation of professionals.

Szczomaks career spanned the Cooperation with Bankers Committee, Healthcare Committee, Financial Services Resource Group, and Accounting & Auditing Standards Interest Group.

He has also held positions as NJCPA trustee, treasurer, and secretary, as well as being a New Jersey CPA Political Action Committee Trustee, on the Essex Chapter Board, and an NJCPA Scholarship Fund Trustee.

With more than 38 years of experience at Smolin, Lupin & Co, Szczomak has built a career focusing on tax services for high-net-worth individuals and sectors such as healthcare, retail, and professional services.

NJCPA CEO and executive director Aiysha Johnson said: We are pleased to welcome John as president and are very excited by his enthusiasm to connect with younger professionals and inform them about this great profession.

Mentoring is important in all fields, but it is particularly needed in accounting to explain the many opportunities that are available to CPAs.

In May 2025, the New Jersey General Assembly in the US passed legislation aimed at modernising the path to becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state.

The bill, known as A5598, is a response to the difficulties local businesses have encountered in recruiting qualified CPAs.

"NJCPA appoints new president for 2025-26 term" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




A longstanding Hallmark store in Citrus Heights is closing this summer after operating for three decades in the community.

The greeting card and fine gift store inside Sunrise Mall announced the closure Sunday on Facebook .

Owners said the store, at 6170 Sunrise Mall, would remain open through July.

To all of our valued customers, after over 30 years of serving the Sunrise Mall patrons, we regret to announce that our Sunrise Mall Citrus Heights location will be closing, ownership said on Facebook.

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The Sunrise Mall location is one of seven franchise stores in the Sacramento region. Others are in Elk Grove, Folsom, Vacaville, Placerville and Roseville.

A customer and social media user, Katie Pearce, took to Facebook to express disappointment at the development.

So sad to see this, Pearce commented on the stores closing post. Lots of great memories there with Kim Waters and gang.

Hallmark Citrus Heights Facebook post said the Sunrise Mall store will continue to fulfill registered wishlists.

Layaways will no longer be offered at the Sunrise Mall location as it leads up to its closing.

Existing layaway lists must be transferred to the franchises Roseville location or any open location. Transfers can only be made with a notified request by the customer named on the list.

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The Sunrise Mall store will have a closing sale that includes 20% off of everything except items already discounted at a higher percentage, Fathers Day and graduation cards and 2025 keepsakes and ornaments.

Hallmark at Sunrise Mall is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The stores Sunday hours are noon to 6 p.m.
The New Hampshire Senate in session on May 15. Senators will vote on the proposed budget on Thursday, June 5, 2025. (Photo by Ethan DeWitt/New Hampshire Bulletin)

This story was corrected at 6:42 a.m. to reflect that the Senates initial efforts to double the Affordable Housing Fund and the Community Development Finance Authority Tax Credit were bipartisan.

Nearly four months after Gov. Kelly Ayotte pitched a state budget to lawmakers with optimistic revenue projections and few cuts, the two-year spending proposal has seesawed dramatically.

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The House, citing more dour economic predictions, pushed through $643 million in state spending cuts to Ayottes proposal, drawing her criticism. The Senate produced revenue projections that moved closer to Ayottes vision, but not all the way, further frustrating Ayotte.

On Thursday, the 24-member Senate will vote on its final proposal, setting up what will likely be a contentious stretch of negotiations with the House in the next two weeks before the budget bills, House Bill 1 and House Bill 2, must make their way to Ayottes desk. The Senates budget would spend $15.9 billion in state and federal funds over the next two years, compared to $15.5 billion in the Houses budget and $16 billion in Ayottes proposal.

The Senates budget proposal, finalized by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, does not cut as deeply as the Houses proposal from April 10. But there are still reductions, and Senate Democrats are likely to oppose the final measure.

Our job as legislators is to lower the cost of living for our constituents, improve access to health care and safe communities, strengthen kids and grandkids educational opportunities, create our thriving Main Street communities, and so unfortunately, this budget just doesnt address those priorities, said Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, the Senate minority leader and a Portsmouth Democrat, ahead of the Finance Committee vote Tuesday.

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Senate President Sharon Carson praised the final budget, stressing that it came amid a difficult economic reality for the state.

What I think a lot of people forget was, over the last two bienniums, we had a lot of money, and most of it was an infusion of cash from the federal government, she said at the same committee meeting. We spent that money, and we were very smart about how we spent that money, but it was gone.

 I look at this budget as a readjustment from having all that federal money to now were focused on what we have: How much money do we have? I think it keeps us on a path to prosperity.

Heres whats in the final package to be voted on by the full Senate Thursday.

Senate partially restores funding to House cuts, makes reductions in other areas

In general, the Senate budget overturns many of the more drastic cuts made by the House in April, according to an analysis Wednesday by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.

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The Senate budget would restore a number of agencies and boards that were eliminated by the House  including the Office of the Child Advocate, the Housing Appeals Board, the Commission for Human Rights, and the State Commission on Aging  albeit with some modifications and staffing cuts for each entity.

The Senates plan would also roll back the Houses deep cuts to the Department of Corrections. While the House had proposed 190 cuts to positions, the Senate winnowed that down to 60, with many of the proposed positions currently unfilled.

The Senates proposal would increase the amount allotted to the settlement fund for the Youth Development Center lawsuits. The state is currently facing multiple lawsuits from people who allege they were abused by staff members at that center. The Senate budget would include $20 million in the first year and would plan for the state to raise $80 million by selling the Sununu Youth Services Center building in Manchester, all of which would be set aside to pay out any settlements.

But the Senates budget would make some deeper cuts compared to the House budget, such as a reduction in special education funding to public schools. The Senate budget would also impose $32 million in back of the budget cuts  undefined funding reductions that would require the Ayotte administration to find positions or programs to meet the cuts.

Cuts to Medicaid providers reversed, but Medicaid premiums remain

In one of the biggest changes, the Senate reversed course on a controversial piece of the Houses budget: the 3% across-the-board rate cuts to Medicaid providers. The Senate bill includes $52.5 million in funding that the House had taken out and restores the funding.

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The Senate budget also restores funding to developmental services and community mental health programs the House had cut.

The Senate bill does keep in place Ayottes proposal to include premiums for beneficiaries of the Medicaid expansion program  known as the Granite Advantage Health Care Program. But where Ayotte proposed premiums determined by a percentage of recipients income, the Senate bill would make those premiums set amounts: $60 per month for a household of one increasing up to $100 for a household of four.

Democrats have objected to those premiums, calling them an income tax. And they have opposed the repeal of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board in the Senates budget.

Housing advocates disappointed with funding levels

Affordable housing advocates and Democrats have raised objections to the lack of funding for affordable housing efforts in the final budget.

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In a press release Wednesday, Housing Action New Hampshire said the Senates budget falls short in addressing our states housing shortage, and noted that it did not include a proposal to double funding to the states Affordable Housing Fund and the Community Development Finance Authority Tax Credit. Earlier this year, the Senate had unanimously passed bills to double both efforts from $5 million to $10 million a year  but tabled the efforts to add them to the budget. The Senate budget did not add them in the end.

The proposed budget also adds no new funding to the Housing Champion Program, designed to give grants to towns that update their zoning codes to encourage development, though the Senate bills would extend the expiration date of the existing Housing Champion Program funds.

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans argued deregulation, not funding, is most important to housing construction in the state. I think were at a place where we recognize that the role of the state is to facilitate housing construction, maybe not to pay for it, said Sen. Dan Innis, a Bradford Republican.

And Sen. Tim Lang, a Sanbornton Republican, pointed to the $11.55 million allocation from the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund toward local water infrastructure projections as an example of the state supporting housing development needs of communities.

Renewable energy fund near depleted

The Houses budget had fully depleted the states Renewable Energy Fund, which is designed to provide grants to support clean energy projects in the state. The Senates budget would keep $2 million in the fund. Democrats raised concerns that that isnt enough to make a meaningful difference.

Higher education cuts reversed

The Senates budget rolls back a $50 million cut to the University System of New Hampshire included in the House budget. The final Senate budget would allocate $85 million per fiscal year to the university system, which is $67.5 million higher than the Houses numbers over two years, according to NHFPI.

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But Innis, a professor of marketing and hospitality management at the University of New Hampshire, said he wished that funding was higher, even as he praised the budget overall.

Were funding higher education in New Hampshire at half the rate we were 20 years ago. Thats embarrassing, he said Tuesday. It just is.

Anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion language moves ahead

The Senate has preserved language added by the House that seeks to prevent any efforts at the state or local governmental levels to pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

The language reads: No public entity shall implement, promote, or otherwise engage in any DEI-related initiatives, programs, training, or policies. No state funds shall be expended for DEI-related activities, including but not limited to implicit bias training, DEI assessments, critical race theory, or race-based hiring, promotion, or contracting preferences.

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The move aligns with efforts by the Trump administration to withhold federal funding to public school districts that maintain such programs.

Perkins Kwoka denounced the language, and predicted it would invite a lawsuit should it be passed in the budget. Last year, a federal court struck down a 2021 state law that prohibited advocacy on certain topics related to race and gender, after teachers unions sued arguing it was unconstitutionally vague; the state has appealed that ruling to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

It certainly harms our business environment to sort of be behind the curve on embracing an America that is truly inclusive, Perkins Kwoka said.
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  A Hampton University administrator is under investigation in light of a viral social media video in which a student claims grades were withheld in exchange for an inappropriate request.

10 On Your Side tried reaching out to and talking to students at Hampton University about the social media post, but many are too worried to go on camera, concerned about what action the university might take against them if they go public.

Since summer break started last month, there were not many students walking around campus. Of the ones we did find, all of them said they know about the video. One student agreed to speak to us anonymously.

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I did not want this to tarnish the reputation of the university, he said. I felt like the entire situation was unfortunate.

For legal reasons, we cannot show you the social media video. It shows a student confronting a school administrator at their office about the sexual relationship they had to get grades. The administrator said they do not know what they are talking about and walks away.

Monday, the university president sent a letter to students after the video went viral over the weekend. It said they are investigating what happened and are offering up mental health services for students.

10 On Your Side tried calling the administrator in question, but they did not pick up. Likewise, when 10 On Your Side went to their address that showed up on public records, there was no answer.

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When 10 On Your Side reached out to Hampton University, they sent us a statement. It said they will not comment on personnel matters because they are confidential. We asked the university if the school administrator still works there, if police are involved, and if they can release any details about the investigation. They were not able to tell us Tuesday.

I just hope that it gets handled through the proper channels and that we can get back to some normalcy, the student we spoke with said. Even with a bad actor, I dont think that diminishes anything that this university has stood on for over a century.

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As President Donald Trump and his administration continue their systematic attack on trans Americans, both activists and unaffiliated individuals are targeting the FBIs latest attempt to prosecute doctors giving trans youth gender-affirming care. On Monday, the FBI asked for tips on doctors or hospitals who mutilate under the guise of gender-affirming care, which refers to surgical intervention for trans youth. But the criminals the Trump administration is hunting may not even exist  every major American health organization is firm that surgical intervention does not happen for children under 12, and is incredibly rare for minors between 15 and 17. Since this tip line seems most likely to target providers and programs helping trans youth with noninvasive therapies  even as the Trump administration threatens to remove funding  people are onrushing the line with incredibly demeaning and foul-mouthed comments, according to two sources familiar with the matter and a recording shared with Rolling Stone.

The Trump administrations return to the White House has been marked by the dogged targeting of transgender youth and their health care. In January, Trump issued an executive order calling gender affirming care the chemical and surgical mutilation of children and threatening to remove federal funding from hospitals that performed it. In April, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi  who served as one of the lawyers on Trumps first impeachment defense team  issued a memo stating the Justice Departments intention to use several existing U.S. laws to investigate providers of trans health care, including those prohibiting female genital mutilation. So on Monday, the FBI asked anyone who had tips of doctors or practitioners performing gender affirming surgical procedures to report them directly to the FBI tip line. (It doesnt feel coincidental that this request was sent on the second day of Pride month, typically a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.)

Help the FBI protect children, the Trump FBI  fronted by the presidents uber-loyalists Kash Patel and Dan Bongino  posted to X on Monday. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care. Report tips of any hospitals, clinics, or practitioners performing these surgical procedures on children at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

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These assessments of trans health care as mutilation go directly against the opinions of every major medical body in the U.S.  including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. According to reports from both the National Institute of Health and Harvards School of Public Health, researchers could not find any evidence of children under 12 receiving any kind of surgical intervention. For minors 15 to 17 years old, almost all who underwent surgery had procedures focused on their chests  but at a lower rate than cisgender males. But in May, a 400-page report released by the Department of Health and Human Services recommended treatment plans entirely similar to conversion therapy.

So it didnt take long for this social media post and the accompanying contact information to make its way into the group chats of numerous pro-LGBTQ+ allies and advocates.

The two sources say that various concerned citizens, activists, and other individuals immediately began making calls  including anonymous VoIP ones  to the 800 number, delivering profane tirades and insults. At times, pissed-off callers were frustrated they couldnt seem to leave a voicemail and were left chastising what appeared to be just a human operator for the bureau.

One caller tells this magazine that they called the hotline so that they could recommend that the second Trump administration eat my entire asshole.

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An audio file shared with Rolling Stone featured a gay former federal employee, who requested anonymity, simply screaming into the federal tip line: Fuck off, Nazi dickheads!

The other source familiar with the matter says that more than a dozen of their friends and advocates they know in pro-LGBTQ+ political circles were actively crashing the FBI tip line with angry remarks or notes of protest denouncing the administrations targeting of trans Americans and demonization of trans health care.

However cathartic any spamming of the FBI hotline may be for any number of trans rights supporters, some activists and legal experts warn that callers or pranksters should be incredibly careful about what they say on a recorded federal tip line  especially given the uniquely lawless administration that has shown an eager willingness to crack down on Trumps enemies when theres no evidence of any wrongdoing.

There are absolutely a lot of people who want to clog up the snitch line, this person says. My advice is: Dont make anything that can be construed as a threat. Just speak your mind, be short and sweet about it, hang up.

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The FBI did not provide comment on this story.

This isnt the first time this new Trump administration has been subjected to heavy bombardments of mean spam. In late February, top Trump adviser Elon Musk demanded that federal employees reply to an email requesting to understand what they got done last week or face a forced resignation. As Rolling Stone reported at the time, after copies of the email were leaked online, the government inbox was predictably flooded with pranks and what one Trump administration official described as very rude and foul-mouthed emails.

As journalist Jael Holzman, who has covered the Republican Partys vigorous crackdown on trans people for this magazine, has warned, efforts to launch investigations of the parents of trans kids were incubated at the state level. In recent years, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton emerged as a high-profile proponent of wielding state power against these families. More recently, some of Paxtons team have filtered into the new Trump administration.

These decades of established research standards of care that have been empirically validated are now relegated to junk science, and the legitimate science is whatever they want to make up  but thats the Trump administration for you, Douglas C. Haldeman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist whos worked with people recovering from conversion therapy, told Rolling Stone in May.

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Of course, the attempts to clutter up the feds anti-trans tip line will not stop the Trump administrations multipronged onslaught on trans Americans, health care providers, and others. But its not nothing. Raquel Willis, co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement, tells Rolling Stone that building a practice of defiance is an important part of making sure communities dont become complacent to Trump-era harassment attempts  especially those that seem to be attempts at control couched in safety language.

Even though this FBI tip line and the discourse around it seem maybe innocuous to a lot of people, it does speak to the desire to criminalize bodily autonomy for young trans people and also criminalize private decisions that theyre making with their parents and qualified physicians about their care, Willis says. Its very interesting that conservatives have taken on this crusade to infringe on private decisions when for so long they claimed they didnt want state intervention in everyday life. This is not actually about some deeper desire to protect anyone. Its just a desire to control people.

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Mark Halperin, editor-in-chief of 2Way TV and author of Game Change, joins On Balance to discuss President Donald Trump staying out of the spotlight amid Ukraines drone attacks on Russia and Elon Musks critique of his big, beautiful bill.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Harrisburg University of Science and Technology announced Wednesday that it is closing its Philadelphia location.

According to HU, the university is closing its Philadelphia location in an effort to put more resources into enhancing the student experience and strengthening its academic offerings at the main campus in Harrisburg.

The university said the Philadelphia instructional location will close on August 31, 2025.

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The total student population at the University is 6,469, with more than 400 of those students living in University or private housing in Harrisburg, per the University.

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The University said the academic progress of students at the Philadelphia campus will not be interrupted, as all courses offered at the Philadelphia location will be offered in Harrisburg. No credit requirements or curriculum will change.

Additionally, all faculty at the Philadelphia location will also be transferred to Harrisburg, and students will retain their current academic advisor.

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Students looking to transfer to the Harrisburg campus will have information and resources provided to assist with the transition. The University said tuition fees will not change, and financial aid packages will be reviewed.

Harrisburg University recently announced that the largest programs: College in High School and Dual Enrollment, have over 275 students and that program will continue.

There are 26 Full-Time students at Philadelphia, 5 graduated this spring and the remaining 21 are being accommodated to complete their degree at HU.

Students with questions regarding financial aid can contact the University at financialaid@harrisburgu.edu.

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Jules Riegel, a lecturer in History and Literature, planned to teach a course in the fall at Harvard University on global transgender history.

Now they are opting out of teaching the course due to fears of content-based retaliation and fears for their students safety and as an openly transgender individual, according to a Monday court filing.

I have had to reevaluate how I can safely teach courses on topics including global transgender history, World War II and the Holocaust, Riegel said.

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Riegels decision comes at a time when Harvard University says it is fighting in federal court to protect its academic freedom, aiming to push back billions of dollars in funding cuts executed by the federal government.

The Harvard faculty chapter of the American Association of University Professors is also suing the federal government in a separate lawsuit. Riegels commentary is included in court documents on the case.

Both Harvard and the association submitted motions for summary judgment on Monday.

Fearful: Faculty are changing coursework

As a non-tenure-track faculty member, Riegel said they are worried the Trump administrations goal of reducing the power held by students and untenured faculty, as stated in an April 11 letter.

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They are concerned about having even less control around my curriculum, such as hindering my ability to determine my own course content, or being forced to teach content with which I disagree, they said.

I am fearful for the safety of my students, especially international students or students with immigrant backgrounds, including their ability to engage with critical scholarship around the Holocaust and transgender history, Riegel said.

Because of the administrations actions, I could not in good conscience recommend that doctoral applicants attend Harvard right now, they said.

Riegel isnt alone in altering course plans.

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An anonymous faculty member in the court filing also changed their teaching plans for next semester due to fears of harassment.

The professor, a member of the faculty of arts and sciences, planned to teach a course addressing the lead-up to the U.S. Civil War, according to a court filing from Harvard professor Kirsten Weld.

However, they felt like the topic would be considered a part of diversity, equity and inclusion programing due to its focus on slavery, settler colonialism, Indian removal and the U.S.-Mexico War.

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The professor was concerned that they would face false accusations under Title VI  which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin  since the course would explore white supremacy in American history.

They were also nervous that, because they had already experienced public targeting and harassment at Harvard due to being in support of pro-Palestine student protesters, greater emphasis could fall on them.

Faculty are leaving  or needing more support

For other Harvard professors, canceling courses isnt an option.

One anonymous faculty member, who has been working at the medical school and has decades of clinical expertise, said they will be working outside of the U.S. next year and plan to eventually leave the country because they do not feel comfortable being at Harvard anymore. The faculty member said their pro-Palestine advocacy and opinions make them a target at Harvard, according to the court filing.

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Harvard researchers are also being discouraged from publishing in scholarly and public-facing materials on topics opposed by the federal government, according to Welds court filing.

Since the attacks against Harvard, the American Association of University Professors has had to prioritize training on digital surveillance and information security and a Know Your Rights workshop, using up valuable resources for the organization.

They also have had to hold twice as many meetings with members as they typically do to help navigate the Trump administrations actions, according to the court filing.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths decision to strip the name of trailblazing LGBT+ activist Harvey Milk from a U.S. Navy vessel will be followed by the renaming of many more ships, according to reports.

Documents obtained by CBS News indicate that other vessels could be renamed as part of Hegseths purge of woke ideology from the military in addition to the USNS Harvey Milk, including the USNS Thurgood Marshall, the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the USNS Harriet Tubman, the USNS Dolores Huerta, the USNS Lucy Stone, the USNS Cesar Chavez, and the USNS Medgar Evers.

The vessels placed on the Navys recommended list for renaming are all named for liberal icons. The task of renaming the ships will fall to Navy Secretary John Phelan.

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Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all Department of Defense installations and assets are reflective of the commander-in-chiefs priorities, our nations history, and the warrior ethos, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk conducts a replenishment at sea in the Atlantic Ocean in December 2024 (U.S. Navy/AP)

Since being confirmed by the Senate in January, Hegseth has ordered the U.S. military to stamp out diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices in accordance with an executive order from President Donald Trump. The order extends to ending associations with minority awareness events such as Pride Month, Black History Month, and Womens History Month.

These moves caused uproar in March when pages paying tribute to the service of American icons Jackie Robinson, the Navajo Code Talkers and Ira Hayes were removed from the Pentagon website, with his then-spokesperson John Ullyot issuing a statement declaring: DEI is dead at the Department of Defense.

Responding to the decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a replenishment oiler given its name in 2021, California LGBT+ activist Nicole Murray-Ramirez told NBC San Diego: The truth is this administration has made it clear they want to erase the LGBTQ community and its history. It wants to erase a lot of history.

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This does nothing to help crew members prepare for war. Its nothing but a distraction, added James Seddon, a Navy veteran of 20 years experience, who pointed to the logistical problems likely to arise from the name change.

Thousands of things will have to be reprinted or embroidered, from [the] ships ball caps (which are part of the official uniform) to many other uniform parts that contain the ships name.

Not to mention that the ships name isnt simply painted on the hull. Theres raised steel that spells the name. The hull will have to be grinded down to rename the ship.

Slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk remains a protest icon in his home town (Justin Sullivan/Getty)

Seddon also warned of unnecessary controversy between members of the crew arising from potential clashes of views that could undermine unit cohesion and training.

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Milk became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he became a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in January 1978, having won a historic election the previous year.

He was assassinated the following November after the passage of a bill prohibiting housing and employment discrimination because of sexual orientation.

As a young man, Milk joined the Navy in 1951 and served as an operations and diving officer on the submarines USS Kittiwake and USS Chanticleer.

But, in 1954, he was court-martialed after being accused of taking part in a homosexual act, ultimately choosing to resign his commission and accept an Other Than Honorable discharge rather than face trial.

His story was told in Gus Van Sants 2008 biopic Milk starring Sean Penn.
Key Points

Occidental Petroleum is a midsized oil and natural gas company with big aspirations.

Management is hoping to compete with the largest oil companies on the planet.

Buying Oxy shares now will leave you owning a growth-focused business.

10 stocks we like better than Occidental Petroleum 

The one factor that investors need to understand about the energy sector is that it is volatile. Oil and natural gas prices can, and do, move dramatically and quickly at times. Right now, oil prices are a little soft, and Occidental Petroleum's (NYSE: OXY) shares are down around 35% from their 52-week highs. Is this a buying opportunity, or a sign that Occidental Petroleum isn't the best oil stock for your portfolio?

What does Occidental Petroleum do?

Occidental Petroleum, or Oxy for short, is a $40 billion market cap integrated energy company. Both of those facts are important. Although $40 billion is a big number, it pales in comparison to industry leaders like ExxonMobil and Chevron, which have market caps of $440 billion and $235 billion, respectively.

Image source: Getty Images.

On the integrated energy side of things, Oxy produces oil and natural gas, transports it, and processes it. That's the same business model as Exxon and Chevron, just on a much smaller scale. Effectively having exposure to all three segments of the industry (the upstream, midstream, and downstream) helps to soften the peaks and valleys inherent in the commodity-driven energy sector.

The problem for Oxy with regard to the diversification of its energy business is that it lacks the scale of its larger peers. So the stock tends to be driven more by energy prices than Exxon or Chevron. The chart below shows what has happened over the past year, as oil prices have weakened. Notice that Oxy's share price has fallen far more than its larger peers' stock prices:

Occidental Petroleum has a plan

Oxy's management team isn't unaware of the issues it faces when it comes to scale. That's why, with the help of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B), Oxy directly took on Chevron in 2019. The end result of this standoff was that Oxy bought Anadarko Petroleum out from under Chevron, which had been the first to ink a deal with the company.

That event was a clear indication that Oxy wants to play in the big leagues. It ended up being an important warning for investors, too, when oil prices fell and a heavily leveraged Oxy had to cut its dividend so it could focus on mending its balance sheet. But the company didn't just fall back into line after this misstep -- it has since inked two more acquisitions. Oxy's goal is still very obvious -- it wants to grow.
Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein is the poster boy of cancel culture, his defense attorney ranted during erratic closing arguments, insisting the convicted sex pest is the real victim of the women accusing him of rape.

Theyre using their youth, their beauty, their charm, their charisma to get stuff from him, defense attorney Arthur Aidala said Tuesday of the three women who testified against the once-powerful Hollywood kingpin during his ongoing sex-crimes retrial in Manhattan Superior Court.

I know its going to sound crazy, but hes the one whos being abused. Hes the one whos getting used.

Harvey Weinstein at his retrial in Manhattan Superior Court. Steven Hirsch

During the three-hour speech to jurors, Aidala portrayed the relationships between Weinstein and his three accusers  fromer TV production assistant Miriam Mimi Haley, Polish model Kaja Sokola and former actress Jessica Mann  as transactional sexual relationships that were consensual.

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He claimed the victims are women with broken dreams who wanted to cut the line to stardom.

The attorneys animated theatrics balanced a tightrope of absurdity  from mockingly impersonating one of the women to entering the witness stand to discus his own sex life, with his wife in attendance  in an effort to dissuade jurors from reconvicting the one-time movie mogul.

They needed to get the poster boy, the original sinner for the MeToo movement, Aidala said, referring to prosecutors decision for a retrial.

They tried to do it five years ago, and there was a redo, and theyre trying to do it again.

Harvey Weinsteins retrial in a New York courtroom. Steven Hirsch

At one point, Aidala took shots at Weinsteins physical appearance, calling the hulking wheelchair-bound ex-Miramax boss a fat dude incapable of playing naked Twister  a hyperbole to how witnesses have described the Pulp Fiction producers sinister demeanor during the alleged attacks.

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Some of these descriptions from these women sound like Cirque du Soleil! Aidala charged.

The former studio chiefs attorney even posed a hypothetical scenario to jurors about a broken shard of glass falling into his own Grandmas Sunday Sauce  likening it to the prosecutions case and the accusers and whether his grandma would still serve the pasta knowing the risk.

Kaja Sokola testified against the disgraced movie producer during his high-profile Manhattan trial. Steven Hirsch

If theres a doubt about his life, their case  youve got to throw it out, youve got to throw it out, he said.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg fiercely challenged Aidalas spirited remarks, telling the jury that Weinstein  accused of sexual conduct by more than 80 women  wielded his power and influence to trap his victims.

Miriam Mimi Haley, former production assistant on Project Runway, also testified in court. Steven Hirsch

This was not a courting game as Mr. Aidala wants you to believe, Blumberg charged at the jury. This is not a transaction. This is not people the defendant was fooling around with unless fooling around with is a euphemism for rape it wasnt about fooling around  it was rape.

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Blumberg later argued: He never had an interest in their careers. He had an interest in their bodies, where no meant try a little bit harder until he eventually took it anyway.

Witness Jessica Mann leaving court, accompanied by others. Steven Hirsch

Weinstein, 73, who has maintained his innocence, faces up to 25 years in prison on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, and four years in prison on a charge of third-degree rape.

He was originally convicted at trial in 2022, but New Yorks highest court reversed the conviction last year.

Weinstein was separately convicted of rape in California after an Italian model testified that he threw himself on her after appearing uninvited outside her hotel room during an Italian film festival in 2013. The convicted sex fiend was sentenced to 16 years in prison in that case but is appealing.

The prosecution will continue with closing arguments Wednesday morning.
Closing arguments in Harvey Weinsteins rape trial concluded Wednesday with the defense team claiming the former mogul is being scapegoated as the face of the #MeToo movement.

If this guy wasnt Harvey Weinstein, would we even be here? Weinstein attorney Arthur Aidala asked the jury.

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Its not because the defendant is Harvey Weinstein, its because he raped three people, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said at the start of her summations.

Weinstein is being retried on a criminal sexual charge and a rape charge related to respective claims from a former production assistant on Project Runway, Miriam Haley, who alleges he forced oral sex on her at his Manhattan apartment in 2006, as well as from aspiring actress Jessica Mann, who alleges she was raped by Weinstein in 2013 in a Manhattan hotel. Those charges were part of the 2020 trial, but Weinsteins conviction was overturned in April 2024. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said he would retry the former mogul shortly thereafter.

Former model Kaja Sokola is the new accuser to this trial and has alleged Weinstein forcibly had oral sex with her in a hotel in 2006, resulting in another criminal sexual charge.

The #MeToo movement has been in the background of this trial, in part, because witnesses referenced the 2017 New York Times article as the reason they came forward. But this trial has also had less fanfare and fewer protests than in 2020 and comes as some attitudes around #MeToo have been shifting. A number of women who say they had also been sexually assaulted by Weinstein put forward statements in support of the three witnesses in this trial, but added that theres now more cynicism about the movement and that MeToo has fallen under the anti-woke hammer.

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Judge Curtis Farber is set to give charging instructions to the 12-person jury Thursday morning, after which time theyll begin deliberations. This comes after about six weeks of testimony and more than 20 witnesses from the prosecution as well as a few from the defense team. If he is found guilty on any of the charges, Weinstein will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. But even if he is not found guilty, Weinstein would remain in person for his 2022 conviction in California. His legal team has appealed that conviction.

In his closing arguments, Aidala continued to position the encounters between Weinstein and the women as part of consensual and transactional relationships that would help them jumpstart their careers without them having to undergo formal education.

They dont want to do the schooling, they want to cut the line, Aidala said. They want to take the shortcut. And they think Harvey Weinsteins the shortcut.

Haley testified that Weinstein had helped her get the job on Project Runway, and that she had continued to pitch him about a television project after the alleged incident. Weinstein had helped Sokola work as an extra on the Nanny Diaries (though her scene was cut from the film) and he got Mann an audition for Vampire Academy (though the casting director testified that she was too old for the part).

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None of these projects got off the ground or turned into careers, and Aidala posited that if they had, the woman would not have taken part in the criminal trial.

The alleged incident with Sokola happened after Weinstein said he had a script for Sokola to read in his hotel room, and after Haley accepted an invitation from Weinstein to attend the Clerks 2 premiere in Los Angeles and met him at his apartment before leaving. Mann, who testified she entered into a consensual relationship with Weinstein at one point, but did not consent to the sexual encounter in the Manhattan hotel, initially saw meeting with Weinstein as furthering her career.

He never had any interest in their careers. He had interest in their bodies, Blumberg said.

Aidala also pointed to the fact that the three women had previously participated in a settlement fund for sexual assault claimants established after Weinsteins company went bankrupt, and received close to $500,000 each.

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They couldnt get what they wanted when Harvey was on top, so they figured out a way to get what they wanted when he was on the bottom, Aidala said.

In his closing argument, and throughout the trial, Aidala and the defense team have sought to undermine the credibility of the three womens testimony by pointing out what they say are discrepancies in their stories. Additionally, the three women remained in contact with Weinstein to some degree after the alleged incident, with some reaching out on business inquiries in warm messages, and with Mann continuing to meet with Weinstein, per emails Aidala showed to the jury again Tuesday.

Blumberg has countered that the women knew it was necessary to stay on his good side.

She also pointed to Weinsteins power within the industry, showing photos of the former mogul with the Clintons and Michael Bloomberg, as reasons for why the women had stayed in contact and not immediately reported the alleged crimes.

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Its not the person whos sitting here in court today, in a wheelchair, its that man who had influence over all of Hollywood, Blumberg said, in one of the first direct references to Weinsteins health during trial.

One of the large issues hanging over the retrial has been the Molineux rule, which led to the overturning of Weinsteins conviction when the court of appeals ruled that the trial judge improperly allowed testimony from other women about uncharged allegations against Weinstein.

In this trial, no women other than the complaining witnesses testified about sexual assault from Weinstien, but the three women did mention other sexual encounters with Weinstein that were not charged in the case and that they said were unwanted. This included Sokola, who testified that Weinstein had touched her vagina and put her hand on his penis to masturbate when she was 16.

It explains the nature of the relationship. It explains the power dynamic that was going on, Blumberg said about the other encounters.

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In addition to heated back and forths between the two sides, Aidala exhibited a large amount of showmanship during his closing arguments, which included references to his own sex life, imitations of the witnesses and a metaphor involving his grandmothers red sauce. Blumberg, in turn, began by saying Id like to stay away from all the jokes, and bring you back to reality.

A large photo of a younger Weinstein and his then-partner Georgina Chapman was placed in front of the witness box, facing the jury, with Aidala repeating his statements from opening arguments in which he admitted that Weinstein had repeatedly cheated on his wife, but then said: Theres a lot of real estate between immorality and criminality.

Before Blumbergs summations continued Wednesday, Aidala had moved for another mistrial, which he has been calling for several times across the past several weeks.

This is number 11, Farber told Aidala, denying the request, before he then denied Aidalas 12th, 13th and 14th mistrial motions related to the DAs closing argument.

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[Source]

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green enacted legislation on May 27 establishing the countrys first tourist tax designed to fund climate resilience efforts, adding a 0.75 percentage point increase to lodging fees beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

About the law

The legislation, known as Act 96, boosts Hawaiis transient accommodations tax to 11% for hotel guests and vacation rental visitors. Maritime tourists on cruise ships will face the levy for the first time in 2026, with charges calculated based on port stay duration. Travelers will also pay an extra $3 on a $400 nightly room rate.

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State estimates suggest the climate change tax will yield $100 million per year for programs spanning fire prevention measures, technology improvements and responses to shoreline damage and non-native species threats.

Trending on NextShark: Hawaii becomes 1st state to tax tourists for climate change

Why it matters

The fee directly responds to Hawaiis growing climate vulnerabilities, particularly following the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires that killed over 100 people and decimated Lahaina. As an island chain, Hawaii cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action, Green said in a statement. The Climate Advisory Team, which was formed after the fires, identified securing funding for climate mitigation as a key priority.

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The tax places Hawaii among destinations worldwide implementing tourist fees to address climate change and overtourism impacts. Unsurprisingly, it has also raised concerns. Hawaii Hotel Alliance President Jerry Gibson, for one, told Hawaii News Now, I am extremely worried about getting too expensive for the people that come here to Hawaii. Including county fees and general excise taxes, tourists now encounter total accommodation-related taxes nearing 19%, placing Hawaii among Americas most expensive destinations.

Trending on NextShark: Trauma of Japanese American WWII incarceration lasted generations: study

This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

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Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

Trending on NextShark: New report highlights gains and gaps in Asian representation in Hollywood

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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sparred with a legal professor during a Tuesday congressional hearing over nationwide injunctions issued by district court judges against President Trumps administration.

Hawley, during the Senate Judiciary joint subcommittee hearing, presented a graph showing that the number of injunctions issued against Trump is far higher than other recent U.S. presidents.

You dont think this is a little bit anomalous? Hawley asked University of Pennsylvania Law School professor Kate Shaw.

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A very plausible explanation, senator, you have to consider is that he [Trump] is engaged in much more lawless activity than other presidents, right, Shaw said. You must concede that as a possibility.

Hawley argued that nationwide injunctions, which judges have issued in recent months to temporarily halt or slow down the actions of the executive branch, had not been used before the 1960s and that suddenly Democrat judges decide we love the nationwide injunction, and then when Biden comes into office, no, no.

Shaw, a Supreme Court contributor for ABC News, noted that Republican-appointed justices have also imposed injunctions against the administration and added that the 1960s was where some scholars begin  sort of locate the beginning of this.

The professor, who worked in the Obama White House Counsels Office, said that Mila Sohoni, whos another scholar of universal injunction, suggests 1913 is actually the first and others in the 20s.

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The federal government was doing a lot less until 100 years ago, Shaw said. Theres many things that have changed in the last 100 or the last 50 years.

So as long as it is a Democrat president in office, then we should have no nationwide injunctions, Hawley said during the exchange. If its a Republican president, then this is absolutely fine, warranted and called for.

During Trumps second White House term, judges have ruled against the presidents efforts regarding mass deportations, federal funding cuts, efforts to terminate federal workers and tariffs.

Other GOP senators voiced their displeasure with the judges rulings during the Tuesday hearing. Republicans in Congress introduced measures earlier this year that would curb nationwide injunctions, saying it would prevent jurists from overreaching, while Democrats have said that judges are just doing their jobs.

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The Missouri senator also asked, How can our system of law survive on those principles, professor?

I think a system in which there are no constraints on the president is a very dangerous system, Shaw responded.

Hawley fired back at Shaw, saying that it was not the argument she used when former President Biden occupied the Oval Office.

You said it was a travesty for the principles of democracy, notions of judicial impartiality and the rule of law, Hawley said.

You also said when Joe Biden was president, you said the idea that anyone would foreign shop to get a judge who would issue a nationwide objection was just judges looking like politicians in robes, again, it threatened the underlying legal system. It was just trying to get the result they wanted. It was a travesty for the rule of law, the GOP lawmaker added.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  To help parents avoid the back-to-school rush, county health departments in the Coastal Health District are hosting special summer vaccination and screening events for children entering school this fall.

Every August, we get frantic calls from parents who suddenly realize their children need

vaccines or screenings, but appointments are booked up for weeks, said Paige Lightsey,

Immunization Program Manager for the Coastal Health District. We want to help families avoid

that stress by encouraging them to visit their local health department this summer, when

schedules are more flexible.

Students entering pre-K/Kindergarten, 7th grade and 11th grade are required by Georgia law

to receive specific vaccines before attending school. And any child entering a Georgia

school for the first time, regardless of grade, must complete vision, hearing and dental

screenings. Students who dont meet these requirements may be unenrolled from school.

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The locations, dates and times for each county can be found below:

Bryan County  Richmond HIll

July 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vaccines and screenings

66 Captain Matthew Freeman Drive, Richmond Hill

Call 912-756-2611 to make an appointment

Bryan County  Pembroke

July 21, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vaccines and screenings

430 Ledford Street, Pembroke

Call 912-653-4331 to make an appointment

Camden County

July 7, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

July 17, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Vaccines and screenings

101 Winding Road, Kingsland

Call 912-882-8515 to make an appointment (walk-ins also welcome but appointment preferred)

Chatham County

July 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  no appointment needed for school screenings on this date

July 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  no appointment needed for school screenings on this date

School Screenings at no cost

1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah

For school vaccines, call 912-356-2441 to schedule an appointment.

Effingham County

July 10, 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

July 24, 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.  6:15 p.m.

August 7, 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m.

Vaccines and screenings

802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield

Call 912-754-6484 to make an appointment

Glynn County

Back to School vaccination and screening services are available as a walk-in service every day the clinic is open at the Glynn County Health Department. Walk-in hours are:

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Monday-Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed 12-1)

Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed 12-1)

Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Closed the last business day of every month for staff training

No appointment is needed

Liberty County

June 26, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

July 17, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

July 24, 8:30am  6pm

Vaccines and screenings

1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville

Call 912-876-2173 to make an appointment

Long County

June 26, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

July 24, 8:30 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

August 21, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccines and screenings

584 N. Macon Street, Ludowici

Call 912-545-2107 to schedule an appointment

McIntosh County

June 5, 1 p.m.to 6 p.m.

July 24, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Vaccines and screenings

1335 GA Highway 57, Townsend

Call 912-832-5473 for an appointment

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Most health insurance plans cover the cost of required vaccines and health departments accept many insurance plans. Low-cost vaccination programs are available for uninsured children.

If youre not sure if your child needs vaccines or school screenings, we can help, said Lightsey.

Well gladly review your childs immunization record and provide guidance. Now is the best

time to check, so we encourage you to give us a call.

Vaccines and school screenings are routinely available at all health departments in the Coastal Health District by appointment. You do not have to wait until one of the upcoming events for screenings or immunizations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Dr. Aryeh Levin has been accused of the rape and sexual assault of patients, including two minors - females aged 12 and 15.

Israel's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that the license of Dr. Aryeh Levin, a specialist in pediatric gastroenterology, who is accused of a series of serioussexual offenses allegedly committed in his professional capacity, will be suspended for six months. This is the maximum period permitted under Section 44A of the Physicians Ordinance before a criminal conviction has been reached.

Levin was practicing as a pediatric gastroenterologist.

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The decision to suspend the license was made by Dr. Safi Mandelovich, Deputy Director-General of the Health Ministry, following recommendations from the Ministrys special disciplinary committee. According to the Health Ministry, this is a temporary step that will be reviewed again at the end of the suspension period, depending on developments in the case.

Dr. Levin, 64, served until recently as a senior pediatric gastroenterologist at one of Israels leading hospitals. He faces an extensive indictment detailing a series of sexual offenses allegedly committed under the guise of medical care, exploiting the trust and dependence of his patients and their families. The charges include rape using force, rape of a minor under 16, indecent acts, and sexual harassment  some involving minors and others involving adult patients under his medical care.

According to the charges, one of the most severe incidents occurred when Dr. Levin allegedly raped the mother of a hospitalized child, who had come to the clinic to collect medical documents. In other cases, he allegedly called minors in for medical examinations and committed indecent acts under the pretense of routine checkups. In one complaint, a 12-year-old girl described being raped during what was supposed to be a medical treatment.

The investigation began in July 2021 after a woman filed a complaint alleging that, as a child over a decade earlier, she had suffered sexual abuse by the doctor during a series of treatments. Detectives from the Ayalon Police District launched a covert investigation, during which they located additional women who testified that Dr. Levin had sexually abused them, either as patients or as accompanying relatives.

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The investigation became public following his arrest in October 2021, and he was rearrested in December after another complaint was filed by a minor regarding an incident that had occurred only a few months prior. Throughout the investigation, Dr. Levin was held under house arrest by court order.

The indictment, filed by the Tel Aviv District Attorneys Office, details how Dr. Levin exploited his position, medical knowledge, and the power imbalance between him and his patients, some of whom were vulnerable teenage girls needing critical medical care, to commit sexual acts under the guise of medical procedures. The prosecution alleges that he took advantage of the emotional and physical vulnerabilities of his victims, fully aware of their difficult circumstances.

In its statement, the Health Ministry emphasized that it takes any harm to patients very seriously and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual offenses in the healthcare system. At the end of the six-month suspension period, the Ministry will reconsider further steps based on developments in the legal case and professional recommendations. In the meantime, Dr. Levin is prohibited from practicing any medical activity in Israel.
ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4)  Public health officials are now monitoring a potential measles exposure in southwestern Utah after an unvaccinated individual visited the area.

On Monday, June 2, Utah health officials said they were notified about a traveler from out-of-state who visited family in southwestern Utah on May 26 and 27. Dr. Leisha Nolen, the state epidemiologist, said when that person returned to their home state, they were diagnosed with measles.

They were in the southwest while they were in their infectious period, and so we are concerned about a possible transmission in the community, she said.

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Passenger with measles travels through SLC airport, determined low risk for spread

Health officials said that while this individual was in southwestern Utah, they were out in the community and may have exposed others. They also visited with unvaccinated individuals.

While the risk to the general population continues to be low, we want to make the public aware of the increased risk of measles in this region and the increasing number of cases in surrounding states, officials said.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said its team has limited details on who was exposed, but it is working on providing information to those it is able to identify.

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We encourage anyone who has measles-like symptoms to stay at home and away from others for at least four days after the rash appears to limit the risk to others in their community. People who have symptoms should call medical facilities and clinics before they go in to make sure the clinic can protect other patients from potentially being exposed to the measles virus, the department said.

Earlier this week, the Utah DHHS and Salt Lake County Health Department said they were also alerted about an incident where a passenger with measles traveled through the Salt Lake City International Airport in May. That individual was vaccinated and determined to be at low risk of spreading the disease. Health officials have been working to notify those on the flight who may have been in contact with them.

History of measles in southwestern Utah

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, southwestern Utah experienced the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in 1996, which accounted for 25% of all measles cases reported to the CDC at the time.

Dr. Nolen said that southwestern Utah has lower rates of vaccinations compared to the rest of the state.

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That does give us quite a bit of concern. Vaccination is an amazing tool to prevent this infection. Most Utahns are protected. More than 90% of our population has the vaccine to prevent measles, so most of us are well protected. But unfortunately, there are pockets, and a lot of those are in southwest Utah that are vulnerable to this infection, Dr. Nolen said.

A Utah immunization report shows that in the 2023-2024 school year, 16.1% of students in the southwest were missing documentation of the MMR vaccine, the highest number in the data. The second most was central Utah with 15.6%.

Dr. Nolen said that this recent incident gives an idea of what can be expected going forward, especially as cases of measles continue to rise around the U.S.

People travel a lot. Utahns travel a lot. We have a lot of visitors. We should expect we will have people come in who are infectious with measles and might transmit it to our communities, she said. This is something that we should all be aware of. We should take whatever protection we can to avoid getting this infection, because it is not minor.

Measles information

The Utah DHHS said that measles is one of the most contagious diseases. Measles signs and symptoms generally appear about 10-14 days after exposure, with common symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and white spots in the mouth known as Kopliks spots. In addition, a rash with small red spots may appear after 3-5 days.

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The department said measles can often lead to hospitalizations and serious illness. If one person has it, nine out of ten people around that person may also become infected if they are not protected by immunization or prior illness, according to Utah health officials.

The CDC reports that measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, which is described as an absence of the continuous spread of disease for more than 12 months. But, there have been more cases in recent years.

According to the CDC, there are currently 1,088 confirmed measles cases in the United States, including states that neighbor Utah, such as Colorado and New Mexico. There have been three confirmed deaths from measles in the U.S. in 2025.

With the ongoing spread of measles, health officials said the best protection is the MMR vaccine. If you are unsure if youve been vaccinated or need a booster, the Utah Department of Health & Human Services has set up a website where Utahns can request immunization records.

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For years, Utahs early childhood vaccination rates have been declining. (Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / Tatiana Lanzieri, MD, MPH)

After an unvaccinated out-of-state visitor traveled to southwestern Utah while infected with measles, state health officials are watching for any potential of the highly contagious virus spreading in Utah.

The patient came to the state to visit family on May 26 and 27, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release issued Wednesday. During the visit, the individual visited other unvaccinated people, was out in the community and may have infected others.

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While the risk to the general population continues to be low, we want to make the public aware of the increased risk of measles in this region and the increasing number of cases in surrounding states, the department said.

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The potential exposure comes amid measles outbreaks in states across the U.S.

This year the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,088 measles cases nationwide in 33 states. About 96% of them were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. There were 11 cases in Colorado and 81 in New Mexico, according to an NBC News tracker. As of Wednesday, there arent any confirmed cases in Utah.

About 88.8% of Utah kindergarteners were reported to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella in the 2023-2024 school year, lagging behind the national average of 92.7%.

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While there was a small bump in the states immunization registry for a couple of weeks, theres still been a drop in the percentage of Utah children that received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine at 24 months old  from 94.5% of those born in 2019 to 89.8% of children born in 2021, according to state data.

Thats on pace with regional MMR vaccination rate trends, including in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, Rich Lakin, immunization program manager at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, told Utah News Dispatch last week. The percentage in those states have decreased from 98.3% for children born in 2019 to 86.4% for those born in 2021.

The country has seen a pattern of declining immunization rates as skepticism around science and public health was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the death of two children in Texas, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  who has expressed skepticism regarding vaccine safety and efficacy  endorsed the MMR vaccine, saying it is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease. However, he has also promoted unproven remedies for preventing and treating measles, sowing confusion.

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Experts and research widely accept that the vaccine is safe and saves lives.

Let us know what you think...

While it has been difficult to encourage people to vaccinate their children, Lankin said health officials will continue to try to ensure Utahns get accurate information.

Thats what our continued message is  that vaccinations have been one of the greatest public health achievements we have seen, and we want to continue to keep people safe through vaccinations, Lakin said last week.

The state still has limited details on who was exposed, but it is working on providing information and protection to those it can identify, according to the Wednesday release.

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In the meantime, the department advised anyone with measles-like symptoms to remain at home and away from others for at least four days after the start of the rash to avoid further spread.

Those with symptoms  which include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, in addition to the characteristic rash  should contact medical facilities before visiting to confirm whether they can protect other patients from infections.

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Mother Nature is turning up the thermostat in the Pacific Northwest, with record high temperatures in the forecast for through early this week, say AccuWeather meteorologists.

For some areas away from the coast and in valleys, it will be the first time venturing into the 90s this year, while many other communities will make it into the 80s, well above historical averages for early June.

"Those with outdoor plans this weekend will want to schedule their activities in the morning or evenings to avoid the peak heating hours during the day," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. "If you must be outside, drink plenty of water and take as many breaks in the shade and indoors in air conditioning as possible."

The sun sets over the University District in Seattle, May 13, 2023, seen from 520 Bridge View Park in Medina, Wash., during a heat wave. (AP Photo/ Lindsey Wasson, File)

The increase in temperature will be driven by an area of high pressure across the West, replacing an area of low pressure which led to locally heavy showers and thunderstorms earlier last week, especially across the Southwest and Rockies.

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After rather typical early-June days temperature-wise through Thursday, the warmth began to ratchet up on Friday. Record high temperatures were challenged over the weekend and will continue to be through early this week.

AccuWeather.com

The record high temperature in Portland on Saturday of 93 from 1948 was safe, but it the daily record of 94 from 1955 on Sunday went tumbling as temperatures rose to 96. Records on Monday can be challenged with highs in the middle 90s.

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Typically, Portland experiences its first 90-degree reading of the year in mid- to late June, so the intrusion of warmth expected this weekend is a couple of weeks ahead of the historical average. "The historical average first date for 95-degree heat in Portland is July 21," pointed out AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill.

AccuWeather.com

Even places like Seattle will not be exempt from the warmth, as Sunday's high temperature eclipsed 90. High temperatures well into the 80s are on tap Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday's forecast high close to the daily record.

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Smaller towns east of the Cascades will also be roasting through the early week with many places in the interior Northwest approaching daily record-high temperatures.

AccuWeather.com

"Spokane, Washington, will flirt with daily records through Tuesday with highs in the lower 90s expected," added Pydynowski. "Meanwhile, Omak, Washington, will challenge a long-standing record Monday, as the high tops out over 99, which is a mark that has stood for over 100 years, since 1918."

While heat waves of this magnitude are not unusual in the Pacific Northwest, especially during midsummer, they can be impactful and potentially deadly.

AccuWeather.com

Only 53 percent of buildings in Washington state have air conditioning equipment, the second-lowest percentage in the U.S. behind Alaska, according to data from the Haas School of Business at the University of California in Berkeley. In Oregon, only about three-quarters of buildings have such cooling capabilities.

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"In the wake of a deadly heat wave in June 2021, a study by the National Weather Service indicated homes without air conditioning were warmest between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.," said Merrill. "For those without air conditioning, staying at a friend's or relative's home with air conditioning overnights this weekend is advised."

AccuWeather.com

For those looking for a reprieve from the early-season heat, it is forecast to fade by the middle of this week, as the area of high pressure moves east. Temperatures will return to more typical readings in the 60s and 70s.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Hollie Adams/ Bloomberg / Getty Images Palantir shares have been on a tear, surging more than 70% this year.





KEY TAKEAWAYS

Palantir Technologies shares are falling in intraday trading Wednesday, as investors booked profits after the AI-powered analytics software providers stock hit fresh record highs.

Palantir shares are down about 3% after closing Tuesday at a record high of $133.17, buoyed by investor optimism about the companys expanding business with the federal government.

Shares in the company have been on a tear, surging more than 70% this year.







Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares are falling in intraday trading Wednesday, as investors booked profits after the AI-powered analytics software providers stock hit fresh record highs.

Palantir shares are down about 3% after closing Tuesday at a record high of $133.17, buoyed by investor optimism about the companys expanding business with the federal government. The federal government has integrated Foundrya Palantir product that organizes and analyzes datainto at least four agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Health and Human Services Department, The New York Times reported late last week.

Shares in the company have been on a tear since 2023, surging more than 70% this year. The data analytics company is a favorite of retail investors and analysts, with Bank of America analysts calling Palantir a market definer for companies looking to leverage artificial intelligence and Wedbush in March naming it as one of their "top names to own in 2025."



Read the original article on Investopedia
DALLAS (AP)  One person has died after severe weather tore through parts of the central U.S., including heavy rain in Dallas, a tornado that touched down in the Kansas City area and flash flooding in Kansas that forced firefighters to rescue dozens of people, including stranded motorists.

A Dallas man died Wednesday after his vehicle became stuck in high water, authorities said. He was in one of two cars submerged under a bridge on Interstate 635, the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department said. Dallas police said officers were able to rescue one driver, and the body of the other driver was recovered by Dallas-Fire Rescue.

In and around Wichita in south-central Kansas, firefighters made about 70 water rescues after heavy rains caused flash flooding, Robb Lawson, a local National Weather Service meteorologist said.

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Sedgwick County's emergency management director, Julie Stimson, said at a briefing Tuesday night that the county had received anywhere from 1 1/2 inches to 7 inches (4 centimeters to 18 centimeters) of rain since Monday. She warned motorists who run into flooded areas not to drive around barricades or emergency vehicles, and to turn around instead.

The Wichita Fire Department used boats to rescue several motorists trapped in their cars. While the water sometimes reached windshield height, some people still attempted to drive through it.

We have to put ourselves in danger with our life jackets and our boats to get them into a life jacket and into a boat to get them out of the water, Fire Capt. Lance Diffenbaugh told KSN-TV. So theres no sense in it if they can just turn around and wait 10 minutes for the water to go down.

A few roads remained closed Wednesday morning, according to the county's interactive map.

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About 30 miles (48 kilometers) east, the torrential rainfall caused the Walnut River to overflow, flooding several streets in El Dorado and sending people scrambling for safety.

By the time we got most of the stuff out of there and were going to get the last few things, it was already up to our waist, and we were pretty much swimming to get out, resident Michelle Yerge told KAKE-TV.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a disaster emergency declaration to enable state agencies to provide assistance.

Severe storms slammed the Kansas City area on Tuesday, with high winds toppling a tractor-trailer on Interstate 435, overturning portable toilets and barriers at the complex where the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals have side-by-side stadiums, and downing trees. The weather service warned of a tornado and urged people to take cover as rain battered the area. No major damage was reported.

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Brad Temeyer, a weather service meteorologist, said a tornado touched down in Independence, Missouri, which is northeast of the Chiefs' and Royals' complex. He said a weather service survey team was working in the area Wednesday to determine whether that twister hit the sports complex first, or whether a tornado touched down there.

Severe weather on Tuesday also disrupted the Indiana Pacers' travel plans to the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City, where heavy rain and wind interrupted airport arrivals and departures. The teams charter was first diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The plane then took a scenic route around another band of weather before finally landing in Oklahoma City about 3 1/2 hours behind schedule.

Wednesday's forecast for Kansas called for dry conditions, but more storms were forecast for Thursday. Officials warned that the soil in the area is saturated and even an inch or two of rainfall could lead to localized flooding.

We're kind of staying in somewhat of a wet, kind of cool, pattern for the next several days, Lawson said in an interview with AP Radio.

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This story has been corrected to show that the name of the town in Kansas east of Wichita is El Dorado, not Dorado.

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Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. AP Radio's Julie Walker in New York City and Associated Press writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed reporting.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk honoring the slain LGBTQ+ rights icon and military veteran, according to reports.

The timing of the name change, which was reported on the third day of Pride Month, was intentional, a person familiar with the plans told Military.com, which was the first to report Hegseths order.

When reached for comment, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wouldnt confirm the name change but said Hegseth is focused on aligning military institutions with President Donald Trumps views.

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Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chiefs priorities, our nations history, and the warrior ethos. Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete, Parnell said.

A memo obtained by Military.com shows that the name change is scheduled to be announced June 13 aboard the USS Constitution.

Harvey Milk in the San Francisco mayor's office in 1977. via Associated Press

Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. He served less than a year on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before being assassinated in 1978. Prior to his career in politics, Milk joined the Navy during the Korean War and served until 1955 when he was forcibly discharged because of his sexual orientation.

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in his honor in 2016, while President Barack Obama was still in office. It was one of several ships named for civil rights icons that year.

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Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who represents much of San Francisco in Congress, reacted to the reported name change, calling it a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.

Our military is the most powerful in the world  but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the warrior ethos, she said in a statement. Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.

CBS News also reported Tuesday that the Navy is considering changing the names of ships honoring the late Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez, among other civil rights icons.

Related...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend a Wednesday meeting of 50 defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels that has been critical to coordinating military aid for Ukraine, marking the first time in three years a Pentagon chief has skipped the event.

The regular meetings of NATO defense ministers and others have coordinated funding for the Ukraine war, and have emerged as a key component for Western aid for Kyiv as it has battled Russian forces. But the Trump administration has distanced itself from the group, handing over leadership to the U.K. and Germany.

Hegseths absence appears to signal further softening of the Trump administrations relationship with Europe, and Ukraine.

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The Defense secretary will be in Brussels for Thursday's meeting of NATO defense ministers but his place at Wednesdays Ukraine Defense Contact Group will be taken by U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, according to a defense official and two people familiar with their plans, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss internal matters.

The Defense Department cited scheduling issues.

"Secretary Hegseth's travel schedule precluded attendance at tomorrow's UDCG meeting, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement. The United States is focused on ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on terms that establish an enduring peace.

The U.K. and Germany took over leadership of the group in February after Hegseth said the U.S. would no longer play a role in the monthly meetings established by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2022 after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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Since that February meeting, U.K. Defense Minister John Healey, and Germanys defense chief, Boris Pistorius, have run the show, with Hegseth only attending virtually last month. The pair will chair Wednesdays meeting as well.

The Trump administration is continuing to ship weapons and equipment to Ukraine under a $61 billion aid package established by former President Joe Biden.

The Ukraine gathering of defense ministers comes three weeks before many of them will come together once again for NATOs annual summit in The Netherlands on June 24-25. Leaders from across the alliance will attend that two-day event, including President DonaldTrump, who will likely command an outsize presence as European leaders wait for the administrations Europe and Russia policies to come into focus.

Ambassador Whitaker said last month that the U.S. will begin talks with allies later this year about potential troop withdrawals from Europe, but that nothing has been decided. Hegseth, during his first visit to NATO in February,warned that the American military presence in Europe was "not forever," a comment that sent ripples of concern throughout the alliance.

During that meeting, Hegseth also admonished European leaders for not spending enough on defense and controversially laid down a series of preconditions for Ukraine to meet before entering into peace talks with Russia, including forgoing an invitation to join NATO and not asking for a return to its pre-invasion borders.
In a historic first, Washingtons Pentagon chief will skip a crucial meeting of over 50 military leaders that could shape the course of the Ukraine war.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wont be attending Wednesdays gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a source familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.

Its the first time in three yearssince the U.S. created the group under the Biden administration to coordinate military aid to Ukrainethat Americas top defense official will be absent. This follows an earlier snub in April, when President Donald Trumps defense chief dialed in to the groups 27th meeting from the U.S.

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This time, hes skipping the meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels altogether, sending U.S. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker in his place, according to Politico. Hegseth will only arrive in Brussels later that evening to attend the NATO defense ministers summit the following day.

U.S. President Donald Trump spars with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 28, 2025. / Brian Snyder / REUTERS

The Pentagon cited scheduling issues in a statement to Politico.

Secretary Hegseths travel schedule precluded attendance at tomorrows UDCG meeting, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said. The United States is focused on ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on terms that establish an enduring peace.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Pentagon for additional comment.

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The snub comes as Trump, who was inaugurated on Jan. 20, is faltering on his campaign pledge to end the war within 24 hours of taking office. His administration is reportedly stepping back from the group, handing over leadership to the U.K. and Germany.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump before he called Putin and requested that he call for an immediate ceasefire. / Thomas Peter / REUTERS

Trump hasnt unveiled new military aid packages or weapons shipments to Ukraine since taking office, but his administration is continuing to provide the war-torn country with assistance under a $61 billion aid package announced by predecessor Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, official talks between Ukraine and Russia on a potential ceasefire are going nowhere.

Officials from both sides met for a second round of meetings in Istanbul on Monday, but a source close to the Kremlin told independent Russian outlet Verstka that at present, there is absolutely no goal to achieve peace.

The negotiation process was kickstarted because our American partners invited us to it. They believed that the war was going on because we were not talking, the source said.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Hawaii man was sentenced to more than four decades in prison after traveling to Oregon and sexually abusing two children, then sharing video of the abuse online, authorities said.

Benjamin Victor Houghton, 29, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Tuesday to two charges related to child sex abuse. This comes after a 2023 FBI search of his home in Captain Cook, Hawaii, yielded 1,285 images and 135 videos depicting child sex abuse, including one showing him abusing a child, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Neighbors, PBOT fed up with NW 13th outdoor plaza

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Preying on children is unforgivable. Todays lengthy sentence illustrates the heinous nature of Houghtons conduct and sends a strong message to child predators that they will be held accountable, said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the Eugene and Medford Branches of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Oregon. The U.S. Attorneys Office thanks the FBI and HSI for working with us to bring this defendant to justice.

Houghton was originally a virtual piano teacher, operating out of Hawaii, for the two Oregon children, officials said. He then used the online weekly lessons as an opportunity to convince the children to perform sexual acts on several different occasions, which he then recorded.

Then, between 2021 and 2022, Houghton traveled to Oregon from Hawaii and sexually abused the children  in person  on two separate occasions and recorded the abuse, officials said.

In late 2022, the FBI first received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a video depicting child sex abuse. Homeland Security Investigations later found another video in which a man, later identified as Houghton, committed sexual abuse against one of the children. The videos were recorded in August 2021 and shared online in December 2021.

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Suspect sought after SE Portland restaurant fire

In 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene indicted Houghton with five charges related to child sex abuse.

On Tuesday, Houghton pleaded guilty to one count of using a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and one count of aggravated sex abuse.

Houghton was sentenced to 495 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims, the sum of which will be determined later on.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Jun. 3Led by a New Mexico senator and congressman, bipartisan legislation that would allow the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and aircraft parts to be used for wildfire suppression is headed to the president's desk after sailing through the House on Tuesday.

With the president's signature, the legislation could help aerial firefighting companies experiencing shortages in airplane parts, including those based in New Mexico. Several legislators from western states, including New Mexico, Washington, Montana, Arizona and California, were vocal supporters of the bill. Catastrophic wildfires in the West have displaced communities and cost cities millions in recent years, most prominently the Los Angeles fires in January, which killed at least 29.

"This lifesaving authority protects our aerial firefighters and also brings in revenue from military aircraft that are not needed," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., after he called for a suspension of the rules, so the House could vote on the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation will reduce government spending by less than $500,000.

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Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., introduced the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act in the Senate, where it passed unanimously in April. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., authored the bill in the House. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., were both cosponsors.

An Albuquerque-based aerial firefighting company, 10 Tanker Air Carrier, could directly benefit from the bill, Vasquez said.

"They currently don't have a sufficient supply of spare engines and aircraft parts. In particular, there's a shortage of brakes for some of their existing aircraft," Vasquez said.

From 1996 until 2005, DOD had permission to sell its excess aircraft or aircraft parts to people or entities that contract with the government to fight wildfires from the air at a fair market value, as long as the plane parts are used only for wildfire suppression. The authority was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017, then lapsed again. Why it lapsed, Vasquez said he could only guess at.

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Since the authority lapsed, taxpayer-owned aircraft parts that the Defense Department no longer needed were being turned into scrap, Vasquez said. He believes President Donald Trump is likely to sign the bill.

"I urge the president to immediately sign the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, which is urgently needed to expand the operations of very large air tankers that have proven absolutely essential to firefighters battling large wildfires in New Mexico and across the West," Heinrich said in a statement.

Very large air tankers are able to deliver 9,400 gallons of fire retardant at once, and the U.S. Forest Service manages contracts for the airtankers, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

"When we send hotshot crews into a hot, burning fire in places like the Gila National Forest or the Carson or anywhere else across the state, they need that aerial support," Vasquez said.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  June is Pride Month, a time for celebrating and empowering the LGBTQ+ community.

One local organization marked the occasion with a special flag-raising ceremony. The Springfield nonprofit Helix Human Services hosted the flag-raising on Tuesday as a colorful symbol of inclusion, acceptance, and hope.

DCR partners with local LGBTQ+ organizations to host Pride Hikes in Mass.

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Despite progress made in recent years, the LGBTQ+ community still faces political attacks and discrimination. This event is just one example of how Helix is working towards creating safe spaces and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Its also helping to build resilience and strength amongst the LGBTQ+ community.

I think now today its incredibly important to make sure that we recognize individuals, said Helix Human Services CEO Mark Paglia. And under the climate we live in every day, celebrate individuals, celebrate who they are and who they want to be.

Helix has started programs and services for the LGBTQ plus community. This includes their SHARP residential program which is a safe home for young adults to support youth whove experienced trauma with moderate to severe mental-health and behavioral-health challenges and may be struggling with their personal identity.

And during this event, the non-profit also celebrated 160 years of serving the Springfield community.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB)  If youre planning on heading out to grocery shop at any Wegmans in the area now until June 18, you can fill a backpack for a child in need with just $5.

All you have to do is go to the register and when youre checking out your groceries, make a donation, said Wegmans Spokesperson Michele Mehaffy. Three dollars, or $5, or really any amount helps. We are hoping to collect enough to be able to properly give 35,000 backpacks out this year.

Donations go directly to FeedMore WNYs program Fill the Backpack! which provides shelf-stable food for local kids outside of school. This years campaign goal will allow almost half a year of service for 65 schools, if reached.



Because its in schools to students directly, its not an open pantry program, we have to fund all of the backpack program through private funds, through grants, through campaigns like this, through individual donations, said Cait Evans, FeedMore WNY chief development officer. So, youre quite literally allowing us to purchase the food that will go directly to students so that they have those items in their home.



Inside each backpack are nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals like canned tuna or chicken, mac and cheese, and granola bars, helping to fight food insecurity when school meals arent available.



About 1 in 5 children in Western New York, Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua counties are struggling with food insecurity and many of them are going to schools where they may be getting free or reduced lunch options for breakfast and lunch, said Evans. When that weekend comes or the summer months come there may not be that amount of food access there that theyre typically used to, so this type of program really ensures that those grocery items are in the household.



FeedMore has teamed up with Wegmans, WIVB News 4 and Renewal by Andersen to help fill the backpacks. Mehaffy says Wegmans has supported this campaign for over a decade, with the need in the community making it personal.

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Doing your part is as easy as heading to any Western New York Wegmans location and donating at the register before June 18.

Latest Local News

Gwyn Napier is a reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of her work 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 News 4 Buffalo.
Can you help the police?

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The Greenville Police Department has asked for the publics help in finding a wanted man, according to a social media post.

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Bryan Ward, 37, of Versailles, is wanted on warrants connected to domestic violence by the Darke County Sheriffs Office and Adult Parole Authority.

Greenville Police posted a Wards photo on its Facebook page.

If you have information on where he is, contact the Greenville Police at (937) 548-1103.

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Paramount Global's sale to Skydance Media remains out of reach. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

With its sale to Skydance Media still beyond its reach, Paramount Global has nominated three new directors to bolster its small board, which has been racked with drama and churn since early last year.

The debt-laden New York-based company currently has only five board members, including controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, who serves as chairwoman. The Redstone family holds nearly 77% of Paramount's voting shares, giving the heiress tremendous sway.

In a proxy filing Monday, Paramount asked shareholders to elect seven directors at its July 2 annual meeting. The slate includes Redstone and three recruits: attorney Mary Boies (a member of the firm led by her husband David Boies); Silicon Valley venture capital executive Charles E. Ryan ; and former Massachusetts trial court judge Roanne Sragow Licht.

In addition to Redstone, three longtime board members  Linda M. Griego, Susan Schuman and Barbara M. Byrne  will stand for reelection.

Board member Judith A. McHale has decided to step down.

Read more: Trump, 60 Minutes' and corruption allegations put Paramount on edge with sale less certain

The company has grappled with a series of setbacks since it announced its sale to tech scion David Ellison's Skydance Media last July.

The company took a $6-billion write-down on its cable television networks business, in yet another sign that Hollywood is reckoning with the ongoing deterioration of the traditional television business.

Leading independent director Charles Phillips left the board in October. His exit came six months after three other directors  Rob Klieger, Nicole Seligman and Dawn Ostroff  abruptly departed as the panel was struggling over terms of Redstone's planned Paramount sale.

In late October, President Trump filed a lawsuit in Texas over his dismay with edits of a "60 Minutes" interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the closing weeks of the election. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, opened an inquiry to determine whether the edits rose to the level of news distortion.

Trump doubled the amount of damages he was seeking to $20 billion.

Read more: Paramount, Shari Redstone face investor angst over possible Skydance deal

Paramount has been defending against the lawsuit. In a court filing last week, Trump's lawyers asserted the president suffered "mental anguish" due to the "60 Minutes" broadcast.

Redstone's desire to settle Trump's suit over the "60 Minutes" edits has carved deep divides within the company.

1st Amendment experts have called Trump's lawsuit frivolous; CBS News executives and other journalists believe it is a shakedown to exploit the vulnerable company that is desperate to have the FCC approve the sale to Skydance.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  If youre planning on spending summer days on the east side of Maunalua Bay, officials warn to be careful  especially if you plan on diving headfirst into the ocean.

Illegal 3.5-foot-long snake captured in Kaimuki backyard

The Department of Land and Natural Resources urges locals and visitors to play safely when it comes to jumping off the rocks at China Walls and Spitting Caves.

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Video Courtesy: DLNR

According to statistics from the Honolulu Fire Department, as of May 1, HFD and EMS first responders have responded to incidents at Spitting Caves twice and incidents at China Walls six times.

Just last month, a 20-year-old man was rescued after jumping into about 50 feet of water. In February, a 28-year-old man drowned at Spitting Caves.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

And in 2024, statistics showed that HFD responded to China Walls 16 times and Spitting Caves four times.

In a dramatic video, officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement helped depict how easy it is to get swept out to sea and drown.

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Once they panic here, theyre pushed off the point and this current line here will take them all the way to Diamond Head, DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Lt. Vance Lime said.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Lime added that it takes a very strong swimmer to escape the powerful waves and even experienced people have been hurt and killed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
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Who has the highest IQ in history? One answer would be: a 10-year-old girl from Missouri. In 1956, according to lore, she took a version of the Stanford-Binet IQ test and recorded a mental age of 22 years and 10 months, equivalent to an IQ north of 220. (The minimum score needed to get into Mensa is 132 or 148, depending on the test, and the average IQ in the general population is 100.) Her result lay unnoticed for decades, until it turned up in The Guinness Book of World Records, which lauded her as having the highest childhood score ever. Her name, appropriately enough, was Marilyn vos Savant. And she was, by the most common yardstick, a genius.

Ive been thinking about which people attract the genius label for the past few years, because its so clearly a political judgment. You can tell what a culture values by who it labels a geniusand also what it is prepared to tolerate. The Renaissance had its great artists. The Romantics lionized androgynous, tubercular poets. Today we are in thrall to tech innovators and brilliant jerks in Silicon Valley.

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Vos Savant hasnt made any scientific breakthroughs or created a masterpiece. She graduated 178th in her high-school class of 613, according to a 1989 profile in New York magazine. She married at 16, had two children by 19, became a stay-at-home mother, and was divorced in her 20s. She tried to study philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis, but did not graduate. She married again and was divorced again at 35. She became a puzzle enthusiast, joined a high-IQ society, and occasionally wrote an essay or a satirical piece under a pen name for a newspaper. Mostly, she devoted herself to raising her boys.

That all changed in 1985, when The Guinness Book of World Records published her childhood IQ score. How its authors obtained the record is murky: An acquaintance once told the Financial Times that hed urged her to submit her result as a way of making her famous.

[Read: How smart people actually talk about themselves]

Thanks to all the publicity, vos Savant met her third husband, Robert Jarvik, who had developed a pioneering model of an artificial heart. Jarvik had his own story of being overlooked: Before ultimately enrolling in medical school at the University of Utah, he had been rejected by 15 other institutions. He tracked down vos Savant after seeing her on the cover of an airline magazine, and she agreed to a date after finding a picture of him taken by Annie Leibovitz. They quickly became an item, and eventually took up residence in New York.

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At their 1987 wedding, the rings were made of gold and pyrolytic carbon, a material used in Jarviks artificial heart. The science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov gave away the bride. A news report has them telling their guests that they were relieved to meet each other, because they found most people difficult to talk tothe implication being that mere mortals were not on their wavelength. The honeymoon would be spent in Paris, they revealed; vos Savant would write a screenplay for a futuristic satire, and Jarvik would continue researching his grand unification theory of physics. Yet despite their superior brains, vos Savants screenplay was never made into a film, and Jarvikwho, according to a New York profile of the couple, thought the Big Bang theory was wrong and the theory of relativity was probably wrongdid not revolutionize physics.

What did happen, though, is that on the back of her anointment in Guinness, vos Savant built a career as a professional genius. She wrote books such as the Omni I.Q. Quiz Contest and Brain Building in Just 12 Weeks. Billing her as the smartest person in the world, Parade magazine gave her an advice column, where she answered readers queries and published puzzles. (She didnt respond to my attempts to contact her through the magazine.) Her specialty was logic problemswhich showcase the particular type of mental ability most readily identified by IQ tests. In one column, she provided a solution for an apparently insoluble conundrum, the Monty Hall problem. Angry readers wrote in to correct her, but she stood firm.

Vos Savants life perfectly illustrates how genius can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. She was a housewife raising her children in total obscurity, until she was labeled a genius. And then she became one.

She embodied what I call the genius myth, the idea that humanity contains a special sort of person, what Samuel Johnsons dictionary defined in 1755 as a man endowed with superiour faculties.

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Seeing yourself as such can be poisonous: Think of the public intellectuals who embarrass themselves by straying far from their area of expertise. Think of the smart people who twist logic in impressive ways to convince themselves of crankish ideas. Think of, say, a man who has had great success in business, who decides that means he must be equally good at cutting government bureaucracy. One of the cruelest things about the genius myth is that its sufferers cannot understand their failures: Im so clever. I cant possibly have screwed this up. I prefer to talk about moments of genius: beautiful paintings, heartbreaking novels, inspired military or political decisions, scientific breakthroughs, technological marvels.

Nowhere are the downsides of the genius myth more obvious than in ultrahigh-IQ societies. I dont mean Mensa, which began in England after the Second World War; it asks only that members are drawn from the top 2 percent of the population. Even more rarified are groups such as the Mega Society, which was limited to people with one-in-a-million intelligence. Vos Savant made the cut.

The funny thing about ultrahigh-IQ groups is that they quarrel and schism with a frequency otherwise reserved for doomsday cults and fringe political movements. An exhaustive online history of the high-IQ movement, compiled by the blogger Darryl Miyaguchi in the 1990s, recounts the story of the Cincinnatus Society, which admitted only those with an IQ higher than 99.9 percent of the population. It usurped a previous group with the same criteria, called the Triple Nine Society, which was itself a breakaway faction from another group, the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry.

From the start, Mega was riven by infighting. In the 1990s, it merged with another society and announced that members would have to retake the entry test. This prompted something close to a civil war, and by 2003, the various factions in the high-IQ movement were so splintered that a dispute over who could use the groups name ended up in court.

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The loser in that case, Christopher Langan, has a Facebook group where he outlines his Cognitive Theoretical Model of the Universe, as well as his belief that George W. Bush staged the 9/11 attacks to stop people from learning about Langans cognitive-theoretical model of the universe. In another post, he wrote that humanity was failing because rich libtards were pandering like two-dollar whores to the degenerate tastes, preferences, and delusions of the genetic underclass, the future of humanity be damned. Is Langan smart? Yes. Is he insightful about humanity, or at least fun to be around? Perhaps not.

Another onetime member of Mega was Keith Raniere, whose local paper, the Albany Times Union, claimed in 1988 that his self-administered test proved his intellect was one in 10 million. In 2020, he was sentenced to 120 years in prison over the abuse he perpetrated as the leader of a cult called NXIVM. This operated according to a master and slave hierarchy in which no one ranked higher than Raniere, who was known as Vanguard. Some of NXIVMs disciples were branded with Ranieres initials. (Prosecutors also branded the group a pyramid scheme.)

As the cult collapsed, many of Ranieres early claims to genius came under new scrutiny. Had he really learned to read the word homogenized off a milk carton at age 2, and understood quantum physics by 4, as a news reporter had suggested in 1988and was he also an avid juggler who needed only two to four hours of sleep? People began to wonder, and then noticed something potentially important: The Mega test was not supervised, could be taken at home, and had no time limit. Draw your own conclusions.

Today, because of their infighting and their members lack of worldly success, high-IQ groups have become kind of a joke. But their history helps illuminate why intelligence alone does not necessarily yield sublime works. In the 1980s, when some of these groups members were asked to propose a term for the intangible quality that distinguished them from everyone else, none chose genius, according to a contemporaneous account by Grady Towers, a stalwart of the high-IQ community. When asked what it should be called, they produced a number of suggestions, sometimes esoteric, sometimes witty, and often remarkably vulgar, Towers wrote in 1987. But one term was suggested independently again and again. Many thought that the most appropriate term for people like themselves was Outsider.

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[Read: The decline and fall of Elon Musk]

Towers believed that those with unusually high intelligence fell into three groups: the well-adjusted middle class, who were able to use their talents; those living marginal lives, working in manual or low-paid jobs and reading textbooks by night; and finally the dropouts, whose families had had no idea how to support their brilliant children, and might have gone so far as to treat them as a performing animal, or even an experiment.

The first group did not get involved with high-IQ societies, Towers thought, because their intellectual and social lives were already full. Its the exceptionally gifted adult who feels stifled that stands most in need of a high IQ society, he wrote, adding that none of these groups is willing to acknowledge or come to terms with the fact that much of their membership belong to the psychological walking wounded.

The predominance of the lonely, frustrated, and socially awkward in ultrahigh-IQ societies was enough, he wrote, to explain the constant schisms that develop, the frequent vendettas, and the mediocre level of their publications. But those are not immutable facts; they can be changed. And the first step in doing so is to see ourselves as we are.

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Grady Towers was murdered on March 20, 2000, while investigating a break-in at the park in Arizona where he worked as a security guard. He was 55.

In 1990, The Guinness Book of World Records retired the highest-IQ category, conceding that no definitive ranking was possible, given the limitations of and the variation among the available tests. This new mood of caution means that vos Savants Guinness record will remain untouched. If, that is, it was a record at allcritics have been arguing about the validity of her result for decades.

Why does the superlative matter? Because vos Savant couldnt and wouldnt have become a genius without the label being pinned on her first. Attention was paid, and then more attention followed, because if people were looking, then there must have been something worth looking at, surely. That should make us wonder if the same process happens in reverse. Do children who struggle at school get the message that they arent academic, and lose interest and enthusiasm?

By thinking about IQ, I was venturing into one of the most bitter battles in 20th-century social science. In the decades following the development of standardized tests, the IQ wars pitted two factions against each other: the environmentalists and the hereditarians. The first believed that IQ was entirely or largely influenced by surroundingschildhood nutrition, schooling, and so onand the second argued that IQ was largely determined by genes. In America, these became synonymous with two extreme positions: hard-left advocacy for pure blank-slatism and far-right belief in racial hierarchy.

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The hereditarians were tainted by the fact that so many of them dabbled in the murky waters of race and IQextrapolating beyond the observed differences in average IQ scores across various countries to the suggestion that white people are innately and immutably smarter than Black people. One example would be the Nobel Prizewinning engineer William Shockley, who followed what now seems a very modern trajectory: years of real achievements, including his involvement in the invention of the transistor, followed by a second career of provocative statements and complaints about what we would now call cancellation. Shockleys views on white racial superiority were coupled with his advocacy for eugenics. In a 1980 interview with Playboy, he argued that people with defective genes should be paid not to reproduce. As he put it: $30,000 put into a trust for a 70 IQ-moron, who might otherwise produce 20 children, might make the plan very profitable to the taxpayer.

But the environmentalists went too far in their claims too. Most geneticists now acknowledge that IQ is partially heritable, even though progressive activists attack almost anyone who says so out loud. When the geneticist Kathryn Paige Harden began to advance the arguments she would later turn into her 2021 book, The Genetic Lotterywhich argued for social equality but conceded that genes influence educational attainmentThe New Yorker reported that she was subjected to parades of arguments and counterarguments, leaked personal e-mails, and levels of sustained podcasting that were, by anyones standards, extreme.

Fascinated by the dangerous allure of IQits promise to provide a definitive ranking of human intellectual worthI decided to sit for an IQ test myself. At the exam site, I was one of two dozen adults, plus a couple of children. One was reading a book called Why the West RulesFor Now, which didnt assuage my worries about the political overtones of this debate.

The question of what exactly IQ tests measureand how accurately they can deliver judgmentis one thats wrapped around inflammatory questions about group identity, as well as a lively policy debate about the best system of schooling. It is no accident that so many IQ researchers have ended up endorsing scientific racism or sexism. If humans can be reduced to a number, and some numbers are higher than others, it is not a long walk to decide that some humans are better than others too. In 2018, Christopher Langan wrote an obituary for Koko, a celebrated gorilla that he said could sign 1,000 words and therefore had an IQ between 75 and 95. Kokos elevated level of thought would have been all but incomprehensible to nearly half the population of Somalia (average IQ 68), Langan wrote on Facebook, citing dubious research about that African country. Obviously, this raises a question: Why is Western civilization not admitting gorillas? They too are from Africa, and probably have a group mean IQ at least equal to that of Somalia.

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Langan was featured in Malcolm Gladwells book Outliers, which attributed his lack of academic success to his chaotic, violent upbringing and the reluctance of educational authorities to extend him the same sort of grace and understanding a middle-class child might receive. But Langan has found other answers for why he did not fulfill the glorious destiny written in his genes. He blames affirmative action and a society controlled by globalists and banksters. Inevitably, he has a Substack.

As for me, I took two IQ tests that day. The first was a test designed in 1949 to be culture fair, meaning that there were no language- or logic-based questions, only shape rotation. What became immediately apparent is that the test selects heavily for speed. The strict time limits mean you simply dont have time to luxuriate over questions, turning them over in your head. Now, you could argue that quickly grasping concepts is exactly what intelligence is. But youd also have to admit that some of historys greatest breakthroughs came from years of careful observation and rumination.

That first test convinced me that whatever an IQ test is measuring, it cant be geniusthat label we are so keen to bestow on people with singular achievements. It doesnt measure showing up day after day. It doesnt measure the ego necessary to insist that youre right and everyone else is wrong. And it doesnt measure the ability to market yourself as the spirit of the age.

[Read: A reality check for tech oligarchs]

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The second test was more recent, having been updated in 1993, and leaned heavily into verbal reasoning. What I noticed here, first, was how arguable some of these questions were. Is idle a synonym for inactive or a synonym for lazy? Both, surelyit can be used as a pure descriptor, as in an idle engine, or to convey a value judgment, as in the idle rich. My desire to argue with the test maker only increased in the analogies section, where the example given was: Trousers are to boy as skirt is to  ? The supervisor read this out with some embarrassment, assuring us that the language was traditional.

Things got worse. The logic puzzles in the final section included one about an explorer who might have been eaten by either lions or savages. Another question asked me to work out what my surname would be, based on clues about family relationships, and clearly rested on the assumption that women all took their husbands name, and so would their children. Full of feminist zeal, I prissily ticked the box labeled It is not possible to know what my surname is and resigned myself to losing points.

What were my results? SorryIm not saying; we already know Im not a genius, but Im not an outsider either, so they dont matter. My time researching Langan, Raniere, and the others convinced me that IQ testing has narrow scientific uses, but it is a false god.

Vos Savant, who is now 78, made a career of being the smartest person alive, because she had a number to prove it. Once she was hailed as a genius, vos Savant was one. Nothing about her changed, but her life did. As big a brain as Stephen Hawking had little time for this kind of thinking. In a 2004 Q&A with The New York Times Magazine, the physicist was asked what his IQ was. I have no idea, he replied. People who boast about their IQ are losers.

This article was adapted from The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea, which will be published in the United States on June 17.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Tourists are increasingly avoiding Britain because of high taxes and travel fees imposed by Rachel Reeves, an industry chief has warned.

Julia Simpson, the chief executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said an increase in air passenger duty (APD), new visa fees, high VAT and the National Insurance raid on employers were undermining the sector, which contributes 10pc of GDP.

Chinese and Indian tourists are massively on the move and will drive the industry in coming decades, but are being put off visiting the UK because of the so-called tourist tax, she added.

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Ms Simpson, who is a former British Airways executive, said: The UK is absolutely taking travel and tourism for granted. The Treasury is imposing layer upon layer of taxes on a sector that is bringing money into the UK and is not at all a burden.

Were definitely going to miss out. Its not just about money, its about sending a signal that the UK is really a great place to visit and that they welcome visitors.

If the Chancellor is looking for growth, and growth that isnt in the public sector and is outside London, youve got to sell the UK.

Ms Reeves retained increases in APD  a tax unique to Britain  imposed by the Conservatives while announcing a further escalation that will apply from next year, lifting the duty to as much as 253 per person.

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That is on top of airport fees at Heathrow that rank as the worlds most expensive. They are charged to airlines and passed on to customers while being regulated by the Government.

Ms Simpson also questioned the wisdom of including Americans in the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) visa scheme, introduced to strengthen border security, the charge for which was raised to 16 last month.

She said: Americans bring their dollars into the UK and love coming here. Youve got to be smart. Just because someone puts something on you doesnt mean youve got to reciprocate.

Ms Simpson said the tourist tax, a decision to scrap tax-free shopping for international visitors taken by Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor, is proving a serious drag on visitor numbers from some countries.

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The Treasury has claimed that scrapping the exemption, which exposes visitors to a 20pc VAT rate that is itself higher than in most countries with which Britain competes for tourists, would cost 2bn.

But campaigners have argued it may be losing the exchequer 11bn annually as it deters 2m tourists from visiting, according to research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Ms Simpson, who spoke at a tourism event in New Delhi, India, said the joint industry-government Visitor Economy Advisory Council, on which she sits, is making the case to the Treasury for a rethink.

She said that Chinese tourists in particular will choose travel destinations based on shopping opportunities and that tax-free shopping is a big, big draw.

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She said: I really hope they will bring it back. If it is so bad, why does France, which receives more visitors than anywhere else in the world, have tax-free shopping? Why does Italy?

Ms Simpson accused the Treasury of using narrow definitions when assessing the benefits and costs of the situation, adding: Im very sorry to say, but the UK Government is currently being run by Treasury officials instead of politicians who weve elected.

A cut of about 50pc in funding for Visit Britain, the national tourism agency, will compound the situation, she said.

Ms Simpson warned that the Government is putting up barriers to foreign visitors at a time when domestic tourism is struggling to recover to pre-Covid levels.

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She said that boycotts of the US by Canadians and Mexicans amid Donald Trumps trade wars are likely to see China overtake America as the worlds biggest tourism market earlier than expected.

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By David Ljunggren, Andrea Shalal and Julia Payne

OTTAWA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Canada prepared possible reprisals while the European Union reported progress in trade talks on Wednesday as new U.S. metals tariffs triggered more disruption in the global economy and added urgency to negotiations with Washington.

President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports kicked in on Wednesday, the same day his administration sought "best offers" from trading partners to avoid other punishing import levies from taking effect in July.

The move will hit the closest U.S. trading partners - Canada and Mexico - especially hard. Canada is the top exporter of both steel and aluminum to the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is prepared to strike back against the United States if talks with Washington to remove Trump's tariffs did not succeed.

"We are in intensive negotiations with the Americans, and, in parallel, preparing reprisals if those negotiations do not succeed," Carney told the House of Commons.

Canada's labour union Unifor called for retaliatory tariffs, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Carney not to "sit back and let President Trump steamroll us."

Trump has made charging U.S. importers tariffs on goods from foreign countries the central policy of his trade wars, which have severely disrupted global trade flows and roiled financial markets.

The Republican president has long been angered by the massive federal trade deficit, saying it was emblematic of how trading partners "take advantage" of the U.S. He sees tariffs as a tool to bring more manufacturing - and the jobs that go with that - back to the United States.

However, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said on Wednesday that U.S. economic output will fall as a result of Trump's new tariffs on foreign goods that were in place as of May 13.

The U.S. tariff hike on the two metals to 50% from the 25% rate introduced in March took effect at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) Wednesday. It applies to all trading partners except Britain, the only country so far to strike a preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. during a 90-day pause on a wider array of Trump tariffs that ends on July 8.

The 27-nation EU's trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said their meeting in Paris was constructive.

"We both concluded that we are advancing in the right direction, at pace," Sefcovic told reporters. Technical talks were ongoing in Washington, he said, and high-level contacts will follow.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  In healthcare, every second matters.

Highland Hospital is ensuring non-trauma healthcare providers are equipped with the necessary knowledge in the event they have to treat trauma patients.

On Tuesday, News 8s Oran Spitzer attended the Rural Trauma Team Development Course that doctors at Highland Hospital held for providers at non-trauma centers.

Michael Vella, the trauma medical director at URMCs Kessler Trauma Center, told News 8 the course aids healthcare teams in treating traumas as quickly and effectively as possible. Trainers also provide input to non-trauma settings where care is given on how to make the facilities more efficient.

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Fundraiser honors fallen Gates Firefighter Joe Manuse

We know that the sooner we can get people to definitive care, which really means the sooner we can get patients to the trauma center like Strong Memorial Hospital, the better the outcomes, the lower the mortality, the better the functional outcomes, Vella said, Being able to identify when someone is critically ill and when they need to be transferred and learning to do that efficiently is really the key pieces of the course.

The course also serves as a reminder of important skills for emergency providers, such as Derek Sullivan, an Emergency Department Registered Nurse. Building muscle memory is important when treating patients in urgent situations.

In those cases, we just kind of have to act fact and we dont have a lot of time to prepare or think about these things and its not something that we often do so to keep the information fresh in our mind and to keep habits forming is really important, Sullivan said.

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The training course is free and only requires a room with a projector, as practitioners will bring necessary equipment to organizations participating in the course.

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Illustration: HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images

Maria Rojas, a Houston-area midwife, was arrested in March for allegedly violating Texas near-total abortion ban. She was held for 10 days in the samejail where Sandra Bland died after a routine traffic stop in 2015. Rojas was able to post the exorbitant $1.4 million bail with help, but her phone was seized and her license was stripped  and with it her ability to make an income. She was court-ordered to wear a tracking device.

In Texas, life is sacred. I will always do everything in my power to protect the unborn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a leading anti-abortion advocate who recently announced his bid for a U.S. Senate seat, proudly boasted about the arrest.

But three months later, Rojas has not been formally charged with a crime  putting her in an excruciating limbo where shes unable to make money, but forced to pay for a costly legal defense with little public evidence against her.

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Its standard practice for a criminal complaint to be filed shortly after someone is arrested. But in an unusual move, Rojas was held on an arrest warrant. Without a formal indictment or any criminal discovery from the state, Rojas cant begin preparing her defense.

Mrs. Rojas remains unindicted for any crime. Meanwhile, she remains under exceedingly restrictive bond conditions, and she is prohibited from doing the lawful work as a midwife she was doing before these specious allegations against her were made, Nicole Hochglaube, Rojas defense attorney, told HuffPost.

Reproductive rights are under attack. HuffPost is committed to reporting the truth, amplifying voices, and covering this fight with depth and care. Support our work by joining our membership program today.

Its really unusual to be arrested but not indicted, C. Melissa Owen, first vice president at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, told HuffPost.

It was highly unusual 10 days after she had been arrested, and it is exceptionally unusual now, said Owen, who is also the co-chair of the NACDLs task force on policing and overcriminalization of pregnancy.

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The Texas Office of the Attorney General did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Attorneys representing Paxtons office also did not respond to a request for comment.

This has not only been a difficult time for Rojas and her family, but also the primarily Spanish-speaking, low-income community Rojas once served, Hochglaube said. The midwife owned and operated several health clinics in the Houston area, all of which have been temporarily closed by a court order in a civil case brought by Paxtons office.

We look forward to clearing her of these allegations but remain in a damaging holding pattern waiting for any specifics about these claims from the State of Texas, Hochglaube said.

Without an indictment, Rojas is left in a sort of no mans land where due process has been put on hold. There is no possibility of due process for her in this current state, Owen said. Rights only become meaningful through due process. You cant do anything about an arrest unless you can challenge it.

The 30-page arrest affidavit filed by Paxtons office is currently the only evidence from the state outlining Rojas alleged crimes. The investigation into Rojas clinics began with an anonymous complaint to Texas Health and Human Services in January. The attorney generals office investigated and arrested Rojas and another worker on charges of practicing medicine without a license. Weeks later, they were arrested again on charges of performing an illegal abortion.

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State investigators surveilled the clinics for a little over a month earlier this year after the anonymous complaint alleged that two women received illegal abortions from Rojas in September 2023 and January 2025. One of the two women later confirmed to investigators that she received an abortion from Rojas, according to the arrest warrant. A third woman told investigators that Rojas presented herself as a gynecologist and may have provided a medication abortion to the woman after Rojas said she would not be able to carry the pregnancy to term.

The arrest affidavit stated that investigators seized a bottle of misoprostol and $2,900 in cash from Rojas car. The main investigator wrote that he knew, based on training and experience, that misoprostol is an abortifacient commonly used to induce medical abortions.

Last month, Rojas was able to tell her side of the story in an appeal brief in the civil suit. Her attorneys painted a very different picture, accusing Paxtons office of conjecture and a politically motivated investigation that proves nothing.

The Attorney General boasts that he has caught a Houston-Area Abortionist and has shut down Clinics Providing Illegal Abortions. But theres a snag: it isnt true, Rojas attorneys wrote in the brief. In the Attorney General Oces rush to find and prosecute someone for violating the States total abortion ban, it conducted a shoddy investigation and leapt to wild conclusions.

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Witness statements in the arrest warrant do not show that an abortion was knowingly provided or attempted, Rojas attorneys wrote in the civil appeal. They argue that investigators main witness  the third woman who alleges Rojas may have provided a medication abortion  was given one misoprostol tablet, which is one-fourth of the dose needed for a full medication abortion. Rojas likely believed the woman was experiencing a miscarriage and gave her misoprostol, the standard protocol for miscarriage care.

The main investigator, who is a Medicaid fraud investigator, seized a small number of misoprostol pills from Rojas car, but didnt note that misoprostol is commonly used for other medical issues, most notably during labor and delivery of a baby. The affidavit states several times that Rojas had $2,900 in cash and the clinics accepted cash payment. The investigator noted that he knows cash-based and digital peer-to-peer transactions are frequently used in unlicensed medical operations to avoid financial scrutiny and regulatory oversight, but he did not note that people who are uninsured or have immigration concerns are more likely to use cash.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in April that he's running for a U.S. Senate seat. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Marc Hearron, the lead lawyer on Rojas civil case and an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, said hes stunned by whats happening to Rojas.

If the state can do this shoddy investigation, get an arrest warrant and throw you in jail, just by saying the word abortion, without even actually having the evidence to back it up  any health care provider is at risk in the state of Texas, he told HuffPost.

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Owen, from NACDL, speculated that there are likely two main reasons for the states delay in indicting Rojas. The first is that the evidence Paxtons office has gathered wouldnt survive the test of probable cause. The second is that they do have probable cause but there is something suspect about the evidence theyve gathered or how they obtained it.

The lack of formal criminal charges isnt the only exceptional thing about this case. Its also unusual that Paxtons office is directly responsible for investigating Rojas. The attorney generals office in Texas doesnt have the power to prosecute someone on criminal charges; the office needs to be invited by a local district attorney. Rojas was arrested in Waller County, where Sean Whittmore, the local district attorney, is a former employee of Paxtons.

Rafa Kidvai, an attorney with the Repro Legal Defense Fund, pointed to Paxtons involvement in the case, a general lack of evidence against Rojas and the bail amount as reasons that they believe this is a political prosecution.

Abortion criminalization cases often do set higher bail amounts, said Kidvai, because abortion is a politically charged issue. For example, women who miscarry into a toilet and flush fetal remains have been charged with abuse of a corpse. But even within that context, Rojas bail amount for allegedly performing an illegal abortion, a second-degree felony in Texas, was inordinately high, Kidvai said.

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The average bail amount for a second-degree felony in Waller County is around $36,000, according to 2024 public records. Rojas bail was set at $1.4 million.

This sort of cruelty by procedure that happens is exactly what we need to be talking about, Kidvai said. If you lose all your financial support or your income, how do you fight the case? Attorneys cost money, going to court costs money, childcare costs money, therapy costs money. Criminal cases are inordinately expensive for people to take on themselves.

Kidvai has worked on many pregnancy and abortion criminalization cases including several in Texas. When someone is accused of these types of crimes, often because of pregnancy loss, their community turns on them. They lose employment, theyre at risk of losing custody of their children, and sometimes there are immigration consequences.

Rojas spent 10 days in jail before she paid her $1.4 million bail. She was able to pay the bond with the help of bail funds, organizations that provide financial assistance so people can be released from jail before trial.

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The $1.4 million bail amount signals that they want to punish somebody and never actually give this person the opportunity to defend themselves, Owen said.

Absent that bail fund, she would be serving a sentence and having no chance to test whether or not there is even a crime here.
BOSTON (SHNS)  Massachusetts is mired in a work zone safety crisis, and allowing state transportation vehicles to utilize blue lights at sites on high-speed roadways would slow down drivers and save lives, the states top highway official told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Something as simple as the color of a light can save someones life, Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said at a State House hearing. Highway workers spend more time on the ground in high-speed situations than anybody else in Massachusetts, and we deserve that protection.

The Rep. Edward Phillips bill (H 3763) would apply to all vehicles owned by, operated by or under contract with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for construction projects.

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Gulliver said there have been immediate, numerical improvements in driver awareness in states that have implemented similar policies. He added that a past Work Zone Safety Task Force pilot program that allowed blue lights to be displayed at work zones showed a direct decrease in vehicle speeds around the zones.

We are in a crisis regarding work zone safety right now. But regrettably, this is not a new trend, Gulliver continued. It has become an urgent, urgent matter. There has been an incredible increase in transportation investing this last few years. Thats something that we needed and something that we are incredibly grateful for, but it also means that we are asking more of the men and women who do this work every single day. Right now, we have nearly 700 different active construction maintenance projects ongoing across Massachusetts.

Gulliver called the last 12 months amongst the deadliest in a long time for highway workers, calling on lawmakers to think about how they behave when driving. The first thing any driver does when they see blue lights either behind them or ahead of them, is they check their speed, they slow down, Gulliver said at a Transportation Committee hearing. Thats incredibly important when were talking work zones.

There have been 659 crashes reported statewide over the last year that were work zone-related, 80 of which resulted in an injury to someone involved and four of which resulted in a fatality, according to Gulliver.

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While State Police Association Treasurer Brendan Murphy said he agrees safety needs to be improved for highway workers, the association thinks blue lights should be reserved for law enforcement for public safety reasons  namely so that drivers dont falsely perceive MassDOT vehicles as law enforcement officers.

Green is just as effective as blue lights, Murphy told lawmakers, adding that other states use different colored lights than blue for their highway work zones. Green can cut through the fog at just the same percentage youre talking about that blue lights can cut through rain and fog.

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A New York man who went missing while going hiking in Maine over the weekend was found dead on Tuesday--and his daughter remains unaccounted for.

A search team recovered the body of Tim Keiderling, 58, of Ulster Park, N.Y., at around 2:45 p.m. ET yesterday, according to a social media post from Baxter State Park.

Keiderling and his daughter Esther, 28, were last seen around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, the day they left their campground at the Maine state park and attempted to hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin.

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Park rangers began searching for the missing duo on Monday, with game wardens, the Maine Army National Guard, and a search and rescue team with a K-9 crew joining the fold Tuesday, according to CBSNews.com.

Tim's body was found near Mount Katahdin's 5,269-foot summit, but Esther is still missing, with Baxter State Park saying search efforts are still underway to locate her whereabouts.

BAXTER STATE PARK, ME - AUGUST 15: A sign post directs hikers on the Hunt Trail, a section of the Appalachian Trail and popular route to Baxter Peak on Mt. Katahdin. (Staff photo by Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) Portland Press Herald/Getty Images

"We know that many of our social media followers share in our deep sadness for the family and friends of Tim Keiderling, and appreciate your support as a teams continues the search for Esther," the park said in a statement.

The official Baxter State Park website lists the Katahdin Trail as a "very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose." The average round trip time for a Katahdin hike is 8-12 hours.

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Additionally, the park warns that 75% of serious search and rescue incidents, including fatalities, occur because a hiker left the trail. An estimated 80% of all search and rescues happen on a hiker's descent from the summit, rather than on ascent.

All Katahdin trails are currently closed until further notice, the park announced.

Hiker Found Dead in Maine, Daughter Is Still Missing first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (ABC4)  The Mazer Chapel, one of the oldest buildings at the Hill Aerospace Museum, is ready to reopen its doors to the public after completing two years of renovations earlier this week.

The chapel, which was originally built in 1942, closed to the public in 2023 in order to accommodate upgrades and several preservation efforts.

Renovations included a roof and window replacements, pew repairs, new carpet, freshly painted walls, refinished wood, updated restrooms, a new sound system, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Officials said these renovations were necessary after decades of heavy use.

Mazer Chapel (Courtesy: Hill Air Force Base)

Mazer Chapel (Courtesy: Hill Air Force Base)

We are thrilled about this renovation project, said Aaron Clark, museum director. Renovating and preserving World War II-era Army Air Forces chapel ensures the vital stories of local and national history are not forgotten over time.

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Hill Air Force Base officials described the chapel as a vital part of the base and its communities for decades after it originally opened in the 1940s. It was first renovated in 1945 following a major fire and then remodeled just three years later. In 1964, it was replaced by a new base chapel but continued to serve as an education building and office space. That was until 1984, when the base declared the chapel was excess and scheduled it for demolition.

PBS program Antiques Roadshow films at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City

However, instead of demolishing the building, the Cultural Resource Program coordinated with the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah to fund the relocation of the chapel to museum grounds and restore it. It has since become a permanent part of the museums Memorial Park.

Renovating the chapel provides a meaningful community gathering space that blends history with ongoing civic and cultural engagement, said Clark. This unique historic structure serves as a tangible connection to Utahs World War II involvement, offering educational opportunities for future generations to ensure the sacrifices of Airmen from decades ago are not forgotten.

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Jon Tolleys family has been selling lobsters out of his Iroquois Boulevard home in Yarmouth since the 1950s. This year, the towns zoning board shut his home operation down after decades in business.

The board voted 5-0 in favor of denying his petition.

They claimed partly in their town of appeals decision from October, obtained by Boston 25:

The board agreed that the petitioner does not meet the criteria for a Variance because the hardship is not owing to circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape, or topography of such land or structures."

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The board denied another appeal from Tolley in April.

The longtime lobsterman is gearing up his equipment for another Cape Cod summer.

My grandfather was a lobsterman, he said on Wednesday. My father was a lobsterman. My uncles were cod fishermen.

He said this all began when someone reported his sign on Main Street. Hes claimed that his familys operation out of their home was grandfathered in when the town-wide rule changed in 1982.

He explained, In other words, youre trying to tell me that every member of the Tolley family since 1930 are a bunch of crooks!

In April, the zoning board sent town residents who were supporting Tolley out of a meeting.

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Tolley told Boston 25, Have the cops come over and arrest me. But the big problem is they come over and get lobsters with their vehicles when theyre working!

The 66-year-old says hell now bring the Yarmouth Zoning Board to court to continue fighting for his livelihood.

He claims that the towns allowed him to use property on Main Street to continue his business this summer. But, hell have to transport lobsters, live wells, and more from his driveway.

He finished, Every two minutes, I got to wonder whats going to happen. They hold my life in the palm of their hands.

Boston 25 reached out to the town administrator and is awaiting a response.

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Post Holdings is to buy the shares in fellow US manufacturer 8th Avenue Food & Provisions that it does not own for $880m.

8th Avenue was formed in 2018 when Post brought together its private-label businesses in a transaction capitalised by private-equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners.

In 2021, 8th Avenue snapped up the Ronzoni pasta brand from Spains Ebro Foods.

The manufacturer's products include branded and private-label pasta, as well as private-label nut butters and granola.

In a statement, Post said yesterday (3 June) the transaction includes the extinguishment of 8th Avenue's outstanding net debt and the assumption of $111m in finance leases.

Rob Vitale, president and CEO at Post, said: With this acquisition, we further our strategy of tactical private-label positioning alongside leading brands.

Around 1,580 employees will join Post. Through the acquisition, Post will bring in the manufacturing of its Peter Pan peanut butters.

The transaction is anticipated to be concluded on 1 July. Post expects the 8th Avenue acquisition will contribute approximately $115m in adjusted EBITDA in the 12 months following the deal closing, excluding anticipated cost synergies.

These synergies are projected to reach an annual run-rate of around $15m by the end of Post's 2026 fiscal year.

Post also updated its fiscal year 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $1.46bn to $1.5bn, up from its previous forecast of $1.43bn to $1.47bn.

In May, Post, which was recently linked with the possible acquisition of US food peer Lamb Weston, said it adjusted its approach to M&A.

Vitale flagged the prevailing common themes among food manufacturers of late, he also said that uncertainty in the capital markets complicates M&A valuations.

In April, the US food major announced the closure of two of its cereal manufacturing facilities in North America, pointing to a declining market for ready-to-eat cereals.

"Post Holdings to take full ownership of 8th Avenue for $880m" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




BOULDER, Colo.  The 88-year-old Holocaust survivor who was burned during an attack by a man armed with a "makeshift flamethrower" had a message on Tuesday for the rest of America: "We are better than this."

In her first words spoken publicly since Sunday's gruesome attack on a group of demonstrators advocating for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza, Barbara Steinmetz told NBC News that what happened "has nothing to do with the Holocaust, it has to do with a human being that wants to burn other people."

Steinmetz said she and other members of the group Run for Their Lives were "peacefully" demonstrating when they were suddenly attacked.

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During a brief interview, Steinmetz still appeared to be rattled by the ordeal.

"It's about what the hell is going on in our country," Steinmetz said. "What the hell is going on?"

Asked if there was anything more she wanted Americans to know after the attack, Steinmetz said she "wants people to be nice and decent to each other, kind, respectful, encompassing."

"Were Americans," she said. "We are better than this. Thats what I want them to know. That they be kind and decent human beings."

Steinmetz, who was born in Hungary, was among a dozen people who were injured in the attack allegedly carried out by a 45-year-old Egyptian national named Mohamed Sabry Soliman.

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Police said Soliman also hurled Molotov cocktails at the demonstrators.

The attack occurred 11 days after two Israeli Embassy workers were gunned down and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.

In both Boulder and Washington, authorities said, the alleged attackers yelled, Free Palestine.

Rabbi Marc Soloway, the leader of Congregation Bonai Shalom in Boulder, where Steinmetz is a member, said the woman suffered minor burns but is "going to be OK" physically.

Soloway said he was less sure about how someone who escaped the Holocaust could process what happened on Pearl Street.

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"Can you imagine the trauma that that reactivates?" Soloway said. "Its just horrendous."

Soloway said Steinmetz was injured while taking part in a weekly walk "purely to raise awareness of the fact that there are still 58 hostages in tunnels in Gaza."

In addition to Steinmetz, five other members of his congregation were injured and two remain hospitalized, Soloway said.

The rabbi said Soliman, who has been charged with attempted murder and a hate crime, among other offenses, is "deluded and misguided."

"If he thinks that an act of unspeakable brutality and violence is going to help the condition of the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, he is so deluded and so misguided," the rabbi said.

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As for Steinmetz, much of her childhood was spent on an island off the coast of Croatia, which was then part of Italy and where her parents operated a hotel, according to the CU Independent, the student newspaper at the University of Colorado, Boulder, which published an article about her in 2019 for Holocaust remembrance week.

I lived an idyllic childhood on the banks of the Adriatic, Steinmetz recalled in the article.

But after Italian dictator Benito Mussolini stripped the Italian Jews of their citizenship in 1938, Steinmetz's father took the family to Hungary and from there they fled to France two years later.

When the Germans entered France, Steinmetz and her family were forced to flee again, this time to Portugal, where thousands of other refugees were looking for a way to escape from Europe.

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Steinmetz said her father applied for asylum to a dozen countries, including the United States. But only one would take them  the Dominican Republic.

They departed for the DR on a Portuguese cargo ship in 1941 and during a brief stop in New York City she got to see the city's famous skyline, she told the Independent.

Steinmetz said they were resettled in the coastal town of Sosua, and while her parents toiled at menial jobs, she and her sister were sent to a Catholic boarding school where only the Mother Superior knew that they were Jews.

For four years, the convent was our home, Steinmetz recalled in the article. Although formidable, the sisters were kind.

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Once the war was over, the Steinmetz family was able to move to the United States, where her parents went back into the hotel business in New Hampshire.

Steinmetz moved to Boulder in "the mid-2000s," according to the article.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
ELEVA, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  Trempealeau County Court records show 40-year-old Ashley Hove, of Eleva, has been charged with physical abuse of a child. The in-home daycare worker has now been bound over for trial.

The criminal complaint reports that, back in April, a one-year-old was brought to the hospital by helicopter with bleeding on the brain. At the time, Hove was providing daycare services for that child. She reports going to the bathroom and, upon returning, noticed the child had a bump on their head.

The mother of the victim told investigators that she had previously seen unusual bruising on her child after daycare. A consulting pediatrician told investigators that the bruising was consistent with physical abuse. A status conference for Hove is scheduled for July 24th. A $200,000 cash bond continues.

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The Department of Homeland Security has hit back at claims that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has a white supremacist tattoo after footage circulated online during an arrest operation in Marthas Vineyard.

An ICE officer was spotted on the Massachusetts island last week with what appeared to be a Valknot tattoo, a Nordic symbol of the god Odin.

Charlie Giordano confronted the ICE agents and posted the footage on Instagram, the Marthas Vineyard Times first reported.

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When reviewing the images I made of ICE Agents on Marthas Vineyard yesterday, I noticed several had the Valknot tattooed on their arms, Giordano posted on Instagram. Its a symbol often used by white supremacy groups.

The ICE officer was filmed on Marthas Vineyard with what appears to be a tattoo of the Nordic Valknot symbol. The DHS denied that the agent has a white supremacist tattoo. (chezmoto/Instagram)

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin characterized the claim as a smear in a post on X Tuesday and said the officer was a combat veteran.

His tattoo is a tribute to fallen warriors a pretty common tattoo in the military among combat veterans who embrace the Nordic Viking warrior culture, McLaughlin said.

Attempting to smear this ICE officer and pretend his tattoo is meant to be a tribute to White Supremacy is false, pathetic, and insulting to veterans.

The symbol has been appropriated by white supremacists, the Anti-Defamation League says on its website. Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have appropriated the Valknot to use as a racist symbol. But the group also notes that non-racist pagans may also use this symbol. (chezmoto/Instagram)

The symbol has been appropriated by white supremacists, the Anti-Defamation League says on its website. Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have appropriated the Valknot to use as a racist symbol.

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However, the organization also noted that non-racist pagans may also use this symbol, so it should be carefully examine[d] it in context rather than assume that a particular use of the symbol is racist.

Jacob Chansley, dubbed the QAnon Shaman for his role in spearheading the January 6 Capitol riot, has the symbol tattooed on his chest.

Jacob Chansley, dubbed the QAnon Shaman for his role in spearheading the January 6 Capitol riot, has the symbol tattooed on his chest. (AFP/Getty)

ICE acknowledged the symbol had been co-opted by racist organizations, according to the Marthas Vineyard Times, but a spokesperson said that the agent is absolutely not connected with white supremacism in any way.

According to the outlet, an ICE spokesperson said that the officer had the tattoo before joining the agency, and that he was a combat veteran.

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Last week agents arrested 40 people on the popular vacation island, which has a large Brazilian population.

The incident surrounding the agents tattoo follows previous concern over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths Christian motto tattoo, which some perceived as a white nationalist dog whistle.

Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, has the words Deus Vult tattooed on his bicep, which has been associated with white supremacist groups. Deus Vult is a Latin phrase meaning God Wills It, and was a rallying cry for Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages.

Vice President JD Vance said the uproar over the tattoo was disgusting anti-Christian bigotry at the time.
Homeless-service providers in Pierce County are sounding the alarm on the need for healthcare among those living unhoused.

During the Pierce County Councils Health and Human Services Committee meeting June 3, a panel of homeless-outreach workers, healthcare specialists and social workers painted a picture of the high number of elderly and disabled people experiencing homelessness and the lack of resources available to keep them from dying on the streets.

Jake Nau is the homeless outreach manager for St. Vincent DePaul. His job is to develop relationships with people living unhoused with the goal of helping them find housing.

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On June 3, Nau told the committee at least 50% of the unhoused people he meets are either over 55 years of age or are experiencing a physical or mental disability they either were living with before becoming unhoused or have incurred through their experience living on the streets.

During the 2024 survey of those living unhoused in Pierce County, volunteers counted 2,661 people living unhoused in a single night. Of those surveyed, 25% reported having a chronic health condition, and 22% reported having a physical disability.

Homeless seniors and people with disabilities are largely from here, Nau told the committee. This population is not chasing benefits across counties and states. They were housed here, and now they are not.

Nau said the normal process of aging is harmfully accelerated by being unhoused.

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According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), people who experience homelessness have an average life expectancy of around 50, almost 20 years lower than people who are housed. The Center for Disease Control states that people experiencing homelessness are at a greater risk of infectious and chronic illness, poor mental health and substance abuse.

They are also more susceptible to violence, a fact confirmed by over 20 years of reports on bias-motivated crimes, a letter from USICH stated in 2018.

On the street there are perpetrators of harm and victims. Seniors and people with disabilities are almost always the victims, Nau said. Our parents and grandparents get exploited, robbed, beaten and bullied.

Nau said there are simply not enough shelter and housing options to get those folks off the street, specifically not enough Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant shelters. He said many shelters cannot accept individuals who are physically unable to wash themselves or use the bathroom on their own.

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He also said there are not enough senior-specific permanent supportive-housing options for folks who need specialized care.

Amy Decker is a social work case manager for MultiCare Health System. Decker reported that 404 people were discharged from Tacoma General Hospital and Allemore Hospital into homelessness through the first five months of 2025.

Of those known to be unhoused at the time of their discharge, 176 were between the ages of 50-69 and 25 were over the age of 70. One individual discharged from a Tacoma hospital into homelessness was over 90.

Recently the county has obligated funding to increase its medical respite capacity. Medical Respite facilities offer a place for unhoused individuals to stay while they heal after a hospital stay.

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In January 2023, Pierce County awarded the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) over $10 million to support a new shelter project, which would eventually become the acquisition of the Oasis Inn. The former hotel will be converted into 117 units of non-congregate emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing, with at least 51 of the units capable of providing medical-respite services.

John Brown of the LIHI told The News Tribune potential clients at the facility would need to be healed enough for discharge, meaning they can still perform activities of daily living and only be in need of basic nursing services such as wound care and medicine management. If the client regresses in treatment during their stay, they would be moved to a long-term care respite facility.

Once the client heals and progresses through recovery, they could either be referred into one of the long-term rental permanent supportive-housing units in the building or another low-income housing building as openings become available, Brown wrote in an email to The News Tribune.

It is unclear when the facility wound open. Meanwhile the county has made funding available for operation of a temporary medical respite facility in Parkland. The facility will have roughly 16 beds available.

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Jan Runbeck is a registered nurse who provides healthcare at one of Tacomas only operating medical-respite facilities in Tacoma.

Runbeck previously told The News Tribune that Nativity House has 12 beds reserved for medical-respite referrals. She said patients discharged from the hospital can use a bed for 30 days before they have to be treated like everyone else who comes to the shelter and receives a bed on a first come, first served basis.

During the June 3 Health and Human Services Committee meeting, Runbeck said many individuals living unhoused are dying a prolonged death, typically resulting from unmanaged chronic diseases such as diabetes, heat disease, kidney failure and CPD.

She said the deaths would be preventable with access to primary care.

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Runbeck said many individuals she met in Nativity House and in her street-outreach work became homeless in their 50s and 60s. She recalled several cases in which individuals suffered injuries and had jobs without benefits, creating financial pressures leading to homelessness.

Runbeck made the case that medical-respite facilities ultimately save tax payer dollars. She said before Nativity House implemented a medical respite program with nurses who could provide healthcare it had more 911 calls than almost anywhere in the city, averaging more than two emergency calls a day.

After the program was implemented, it reduced calls there by 30%.

When you have prolonged death, it is messy, it is ugly, it is nasty, she told the committee. You go to the [emergency room] way too many times, you go to urgent care way too many times. You have all these other complications of untreated chronic disease.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Mayor Tom McNamara expressed his frustration with Governor JB Pritzkers decision to turn the 1% grocery tax to the municipalities.

I think its really ridiculous and I may not be popular in saying this, but the state of Illinois didnt receive a single penny from the grocery tax, McNamara said. Cutting this and being able to be putting on their mailers and things of that nature, thats fantastic for politics. Its horrible for governance.

Unless the local municipalities choose to continue the grocery tax, it will be eliminated starting January 1 of 2026.

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The tax brings in nearly $8,000,000 in revenue to the citys General Fund, which Mayor McNamara said funds employees for police and fire officials.

This is really taking revenue from the very basic things that residents need and that government should be providing, the mayor said.

For a village like Roscoe, President Carol Gustafson said its general fund would be out $100,000.

Thats equivalent to one police officer to start out, Gustafson said. Its also equivalent to all of the vehicles in Public Works department or if we were to put in a new playground with all of the mulch.

Gustafson and the board of trustees met Tuesday night to discuss the continuation of the tax. The Village President said it would be the first of many meetings on this to come.

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I would like to hope that the board would recognize that maintaining services is important and maintaining those services can come at a minimal cost per family, Gustafson said.

Mayor McNamara said he is proud of the progress Rockford has made in reducing crime and he said he doesnt want the city to move backwards.

Were finally where we need to be when it comes to reducing crime, McNamara said. Were getting there. Nows not the time to start de-funding all of the services.

The municipalities will have to decide by October 1, 2025 if they want to continue a local grocery tax. Otherwise, they are tasked with finding other ways to source those funds.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) An Horry County police officer who took the lead in a dramatic May pursuit that included gunfire through The Market Common was honored this week for his efforts.

Throughout the pursuit, PFC (Private First Class Daniel) Turner stayed calm and collected, maintained good communication with dispatch and other officers and navigated traffic in a safe manner, Horry County police said in a Facebook post.

Turner was recognized at Tuesday nights county council meeting.

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The roughly 20-minute chase began shortly after 8 a.m. on May 22 in the 1700 block of South Ocean Boulevard and ended after the vehicle crashed on 67th Ave. N.

Police said four people in a stolen vehicle opened fire on officers and then sped away.

The four subjects were seen continuing to fire a weapon throughout the city and county, along Kings Highway, Ocean Boulevard and through Market Common while continuing to drive at dangerous speeds and, at times, the wrong way in traffic, Horry County police said in a social media post.

Riley Pegram, 17, of Brown Summit, North Carolina, was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a stolen vehicle and failure to stop for blue lights. Omarion Glass, 20, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and use or employment of a person under 18 to commit certain crimes.

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Omarion Glass, 20, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and use or employment of a person under 18 to commit certain crimes.

Officers at Glasss bond hearing described the scene as something out of a movie.

Christopher White, the lead investigator for the case, said Glass was shooting an AR style rifle during the Thursday incident.

Glass, who was denied bond, is due back in court on July 25.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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TALLAHASSEE  In an early, antagonizing move during the dedicated two-week budget conference that began Tuesday, the Republican House lawmaker investigating Hope Florida is proposing to cut millions from its state funding.

Rep. Alex Andrade is striking funding for 20 Hope navigator positions, state workers who man a hotline and are supposed to direct people in need to nongovernmental programs for help.

Andrade also suggested striking six proposed positions for navigators from the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. The positions were requested in Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed budget and initially funded in the Houses health care offer from March.

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But that was before Andrade began investigating the charity supporting Hope Florida.

The House is proposing to cut from its March health care budget offer $2.5 million. The Senate would have to agree.

Hope Floridas helpline is currently funded by federal child abuse prevention grants through the American Rescue Plan, which is set to expire. DeSantis asked lawmakers for $2 million to continue staffing the call line.

Its not clear how much Hope Florida, a program that spans numerous state agencies, costs the state. DeSantis has said it repurposes existing resources, including by converting at least 150 people to Hope navigators, but the state has also paid a vendor about $6 million to match needy Floridians with local churches and nonprofits under the program.

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Andrade said that while the Hope Florida navigators give him less heartburn than the related charity, he was still concerned about the state program. The program and the charity are linked in their mission to get Floridians off of government aid.

Since Hope Florida has come under scrutiny, the governor and first lady Casey DeSantis have been calling it a philosophy, not a program. Andrade said their inability to define Hope Florida was troubling. And it also worried him that the state official who ran Hope Florida in the Department of Children and Families, Shevaun Harris, didnt know while testifying in his health budget committee earlier this year that there was someone responsible for the entire program.

Shevaun Harris didnt realize shed hired the Hope Florida executive director, Andrade said over text message about why he was making the cuts, and the Governors office cant decide if the program is a philosophy or a movement.

When asked whether the proposed cuts would affect negotiations between the two chambers, Sen. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican and the Senate chairman of the health budget conference, said he didnt see any particular issue being a hang-up at this point.

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Its more of a question of how far we can get before tomorrow at 2, Trumbull told the Times/Herald in a text message. We are working to make as much progress as possible.

Without a resolution by Thursday afternoon, higher-ranking members of the House and Senate will decide what to do with the navigator positions.

A Senate spokeswoman said that while Senate President Ben Albritton supports his chambers offer on the Hope navigators  funding the 20 staffers currently employed and six additional positions in Veterans Affairs  he wasnt going to weigh in at this time on how big a deal the Houses decision is for negotiations.

Albritton generally supports Hope Florida.

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The mission of Hope Florida makes sense to me. I do believe it will help people that need direction to be able to build a better path for their life, Albritton, R-Wauchula, told CBS News Miami on April 13.

Miami Herald religion reporter Lauren Costantino contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed his administration to investigate Joe Bidens actions as president, alleging aides masked his predecessors cognitive decline and casting doubts on the legitimacy of his use of the autopen to sign pardons and other documents.

The order marked a significant escalation in Trumps targeting of political adversaries and could lay the groundwork for arguments by the Republican that a range of Bidens actions as president were invalid.

Biden responded in a statement Wednesday night: Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didnt is ridiculous and false.

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The Justice Department under Democratic and Republican administrations has recognized the use of an autopen to sign legislation and issue pardons for decades, Trump presented no evidence that Biden was unaware of the actions taken in his name, and the presidents absolute pardon power is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history, Trump wrote in a memo. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Bidens signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.

Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington to handle the investigation.

Its unclear how far Trump will push this effort, which would face certain legal challenges. But it reflects his fixation on Biden, who defeated him in 2020, an election that Trump never conceded and continues to falsely claim was rigged against him.

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Trump frequently suggests that Biden was wrong to use an autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a persons authentic signature. Although they've been used in the White House for decades, Trump claims that Biden's aides were usurping presidential authority.

Biden issued pardons for his two brothers and his sister shortly before leaving office, hoping to shield them from potential prosecution under Trump, who had promised retribution during last years campaign. Other pardon recipients included members of a congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump often suggests that his political opponents should be investigated, and he has directed the Justice Department to look into people who have angered him over the years. They include Chris Krebs, a former cybersecurity official who disputed Trumps claims of a stolen election in 2020, and Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who wrote an anonymous op-ed sharply critical of the president in 2018.

Meanwhile, House Oversight Chairman James Comer of Kentucky, a Republican, requested transcribed interviews with five Biden aides, alleging they had participated in a cover-up that amounted to one of the greatest scandals in our nations history.

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These five former senior advisors were eyewitnesses to President Bidens condition and operations within the Biden White House, Comer said in a statement. They must appear before the House Oversight Committee and provide truthful answers about President Bidens cognitive state and who was calling the shots.

Interviews were requested with White House senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn, former White House chief of staff Ron Klain, former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and Steve Ricchetti, a former counselor to the president.

Comer reiterated his call for Biden's physician, Kevin OConnor, and former senior White House aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams and Neera Tanden to appear before the committee. He warned subpoenas would be issued this week if they refuse to schedule voluntary interviews.

I think that people will start coming in the next two weeks, Comer told reporters. He added that the committee would release a report with its findings, and we'll release the transcribed interviews, so it'll be very transparent.

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Democrats have dismissed the effort as a distraction.

Chairman Comer had his big shot in the last Congress to impeach Joe Biden and it was, of course, a spectacular flop, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland Democrat who served as the ranking member on the oversight committee in the previous Congress. And now he's just living off of a spent dream. It's over. And he should give up the whole thing.

Republicans on the committee are eager to pursue the investigation.

The American people didn't elect a bureaucracy to run the country, said Rep. Brandon Gill, a freshman Republican from Texas. I think that the American people deserve to know the truth and they want to know the truth of what happened.

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The Republican inquiry so far has focused on the final executive actions of Biden's administration, which included the issuing of new federal rules and presidential pardons that they claim may be invalid.

Comer cited the book Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson, which details concerns and debates inside the White House and Democratic Party over Biden's mental state and age.

In the book, Tapper and Thompson wrote, Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board.

Biden and members of his family have vigorously denied the book's claims.

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This book is political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class, said Naomi Biden, the former president's granddaughter.

Biden withdrew from the presidential race last summer after a debate against Trump in which he appeared to lose his train of thought multiple times, muttered inaudible answers and misnamed different government programs.

The disastrous debate performance pushed questions about his age and mental acuity to the forefront, ultimately leading Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. He was replaced on the ticket by Kamala Harris, who lost the election to Trump.
POTTSVILLE  U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials toured the city on Wednesday, getting a firsthand perspective on important projects backed by numerous local organizations to revitalize downtown.

Joseph J. DeFelice, HUDs assistant deputy secretary in the Office of Field Policy & Management, Regional Administrator Senior Advisor Elvis Solivan and Regional Administrator Special Assistant Adam Kelly joined local business leaders on a tour of downtown Pottsville, transported by an old-fashioned city trolley. The tour showcased the progress being made with the help of organizations such as the Pottsville Area Development Corp., Barefield Development Corp. and local state legislators.

The delegation met at the newly opened Discovery Park at 3rd and Market streets, then went to the former Miners National Bank, which will become The Rosalia hotel and event space. Bill Metzinger, owner of Metz Properties in Orwigsburg, which is developing the building, presented plans for The Rosalia.

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The tour then moved to the Schuylkill Trust Co. building at 101 N. Centre St., which is being developed into market-rate apartments. Savas Logothetides, executive director of PADCO, pointed out the other white whale of downtown apartment development, the historic Thompson Building across the street. The city seeks conservatorship of that long-vacant building, which is owned by an out-of-town landlord, Logothetides said.

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U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph DeFelice learns about the Miners National Bank becoming a hotel and event space during a tour of Pottsville, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph DeFelice, left, talks with Bill Metzinger inside the Miners National Bank during a tour of Pottsville, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph DeFelice takes a tour of Alvernia University  Pottsville CollegeTowne during a tour of Pottsville, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph DeFelice discusses his tour of Pottsville, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph DeFelice learns about the Miners National Bank becoming a hotel and event space during a tour of Pottsville, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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The tour ended at Alvernia University-Pottsville CollegeTowne, the local campus of the Reading-based university which opened at the former Giant store at 500 Progress Ave.

DeFelice, who started his day with a similar tour in Tamaqua, remarked on the power of collaboration between local organizations to spur economic development. He had previously visited Pottsville in 2019, and was impressed with the progress made since then.

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What I was most impressed with was the collaboration across multiple sectors, whether its housing, hospitality, health, education, DeFelice said. They seem to have kind of everything they need here now.

DeFelice believes the one missing piece is affordable housing, which he acknowledged HUD will continue to address with its public and private partners locally.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph DeFelice takes a tour of Alvernia University  Pottsville CollegeTowne during a tour of Pottsville, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

He noted that many communities, even in rural areas, have urban centers that need vital attention in regard to housing and accessibility.

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The president and (HUD Secretary Scott Turner) have made a strong commitment to rural communities, he said.

Pottsville appears to have all the amenities that they need, he said, but the rents need to be right.

With the price of housing skyrocketing, people need the urban center (in Pottsville)  and thats all here, DeFelice said. Its just a matter of making it affordable for people to live here.

Dave Young, executive director of Schuylkill Community Action, stressed better collaboration between local municipal governments.

I wish there was a way to bring them all together  to really, collectively find solutions, he said. I think that would be the biggest piece here, getting some of the municipal entities involved in that.

Others who attended the tour included State Sen. David G. Argall, members of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, and staff assistants for Argall and U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser.
From an investment standpoint, SoFi Technologies (SOFI) presents a nuanced and somewhat challenging narrative. Wall Street remains divided on the stocks outlook, contributing to uncertainty around its trajectory. For instance, while Bank of America acknowledges ongoing momentum in SoFis core business, it maintains a Sell rating. In contrast, analysts at DBS have reaffirmed a Buy rating, citing the companys strong first-quarter performance as a key factor.

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Overall, expectations for SOFI stock indicate modest growth, making it a challenging name for some investors to fully embrace. However, from an options trading perspective, the situation becomes more intriguing. Market breadth data, which focuses on identifying patterns of accumulation and distribution, suggests that SoFi could be positioned for a potential rebound.

Year-to-date, SOFI stock has declined by nearly 14%, underperforming the S&P 500, which has gained a modest 0.5% over the same period. This relative weakness helps explain the divergence in analyst sentiment.

SoFi Technologies (SOFI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Still, options trading emphasizes the mechanics of price movementfocusing on factors such as magnitude, velocity, and, most critically, probabilityrather than the underlying business rationale alone. Given current market breadth signals, SOFI may warrant closer attention from short-term traders and speculative investors in the weeks ahead.

Presenting the Statistical Backdrop for SOFI Stock

One of the most important concepts to grasp in trading is that the equities market functions as a series of dependent events. In essence, future price movements are influenced by what has occurred previously. This includes prior price patterns, volume dynamics, fundamental developments, investor positioning, sentiment cycles, and numerous other interconnected factors. Ultimately, each new event in the market is shaped by a chain of preceding events, not only from a statistical standpoint but also through behavioral influences.

Therefore, its crucial for traders to avoid viewing the market as if each setup begins with a clean slate, akin to a freshly shuffled deck. In reality, the market is continuously evolving, shaped by all publicly available information and catalysts up to that moment. Each trade setup is part of an ongoing sequence, not an isolated event.

For traders seeking a true edge, its unlikely to be found in generic content from mainstream financial publications. Much of that material consists of recycled opinions that offer little in the way of actionable insight. Instead, the real advantage lies in closely analyzing market behaviorwhat might be called counting the markets cardsand identifying the prevailing sentiment regime.
IKITSUKI, Japan (AP)  On this small island in rural Nagasaki, Japan s Hidden Christians gather to worship what they call the Closet God.

In a special room about the size of a tatami mat is a scroll painting of a kimono-clad Asian woman. She looks like a Buddhist Bodhisattva holding a baby, but for the faithful, this is a concealed version of Mary and the baby Jesus. Another scroll shows a man wearing a kimono covered with camellias, an allusion to John the Baptists beheading and martyrdom.

There are other objects of worship from the days when Japans Christians had to hide from vicious persecution, including a ceramic bottle of holy water from Nakaenoshima, an island where Hidden Christians were martyred in the 1620s.

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Little about the icons in the tiny, easy-to-miss room can be linked directly to Christianity  and thats the point.

After emerging from cloistered isolation in 1865, following more than 200 years of violent harassment by Japans insular warlord rulers, many of the formerly underground Christians converted to mainstream Catholicism.

Some, however, continued to practice not the religion that 16th century foreign missionaries originally taught them, but the idiosyncratic, difficult to detect version theyd nurtured during centuries of clandestine cat-and-mouse with a brutal regime.

On Ikitsuki and other remote sections of Nagasaki prefecture, Hidden Christians still pray to these disguised objects. They still chant in a Latin that hasnt been widely used in centuries. And they still cherish a religion that directly links them to a time of samurai, shoguns and martyred missionaries and believers.

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Now, though, the Hidden Christians are dying out, and there is growing certainty that their unique version of Christianity will die with them. Almost all are now elderly, and as the young move away to cities or turn their backs on the faith, those remaining are desperate to preserve evidence of this offshoot of Christianity  and convey to the world what its loss will mean.

At this point, Im afraid we are going to be the last ones, said Masatsugu Tanimoto, 68, one of the few who can still recite the Latin chants that his ancestors learned 400 years ago. It is sad to see this tradition end with our generation.

Hidden Christians cling to a unique version of the religion

Christianity spread rapidly in 16th century Japan when Jesuit priests had spectacular success converting warlords and peasants alike, most especially on the southern main island of Kyushu, where the foreigners established trading ports in Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands, by some estimates, embraced the religion.

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That changed after the shoguns began to see Christianity as a threat. The crackdown that followed in the early 17th century was fierce, with thousands killed and the remaining believers chased underground.

As Japan opened up to foreign influence, a dozen Hidden Christians clad in kimono cautiously declared their faith, and their remarkable perseverance, to a French Catholic priest in March 1865 in Nagasaki city.

Many became Catholics after Japan formally lifted the ban on Christianity in 1873.

But others chose to stay Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians), continuing to practice what their ancestors preserved during their days underground.

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Their rituals provide a direct link to a vanished Japan

In interviews with The Associated Press, Hidden Christians spoke of a deep communal bond stemming from a time when a lapse could doom a practitioner or their neighbors.

Hidden Christians were forced to hide all visible signs of their religion after the 1614 ban on Christianity and the expulsion of foreign missionaries. Households took turns hiding precious ritual objects and hosting the secret services that celebrated both faith and persistence.

This still happens today, with the observance of rituals unchanged since the 16th century.

The group leader in the Ikitsuki area is called Oji, which means father or elderly man in Japanese. Members take turns in the role, presiding over baptisms, funerals and ceremonies for New Year, Christmas and local festivals.

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Different communities worship different icons and have different ways of performing the rituals.

In Sotome, for instance, people prayed to a statue of what they called Maria Kannon, a genderless Bodhisattva of mercy, as a substitute for Mary.

In Ibaragi, where about 18,000 residents embraced Christianity in the 1580s, a lacquer bowl with a cross painted on it, a statue of the crucified Christ and an ivory statue of Mary were found hidden in what was called a box not to be opened.

Their worship revolves around reverence for ancestors

Many Hidden Christians rejected Catholicism after the persecution ended because Catholic priests refused to recognize them as real Christians unless they agreed to be rebaptized and abandon the Buddhist altars that their ancestors used.

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They are very proud of what they and their ancestors have believed in for hundreds of years, even at the risk of their lives, said Emi Mase-Hasegawa, a religion studies professor at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo.

Tanimoto believes his ancestors continued the Hidden Christian traditions because becoming Catholic meant rejecting the Buddhism and Shintoism that had become a strong part of their daily lives underground.

Im not a Christian, Tanimoto said. Even though some of their Latin chants focus on the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, their prayers are also meant to "ask our ancestors to protect us, to protect our daily lives, he said. We are not doing this to worship Jesus or Mary.  Our responsibility is to faithfully carry on the way our ancestors had practiced.

Archaic Latin chants are an important part of the religion

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Hidden Christians ceremonies often include the recitation of Latin chants, called Orasho.

The Orasho comes from the original Latin or Portuguese prayers brought to Japan by 16th century missionaries.

Recently on Ikitsuki, three men performed a rare Orasho. All wore dark formal kimonos and solemnly made the sign of the cross in front of their faces before starting their prayers  a mix of archaic Japanese and Latin.

Tanimoto, a farmer, is the youngest of only four men who can recite Orasho in his community. As a child, he regularly saw men performing Orasho on tatami mats before an altar when neighbors gathered for funerals and memorials.

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About 40 years ago, in his mid-20s, he took Orasho lessons from his uncle so he could pray to the Closet God that his family has kept for generations.

Tanimoto recently showed the AP a weathered copy of a prayer his grandfather wrote with a brush and ink, like the ones his ancestors had diligently copied from older generations.

As he carefully turned the pages of the Orasho book, Tanimoto said he mostly understands the Japanese but not the Latin. Its difficult, he said, but we just memorize the whole thing.

Today, because funerals are no longer held at homes and younger people are leaving the island, Orasho is only performed two or three times a year.

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Researchers and believers acknowledge the tradition is dying

There are few studies of Hidden Christians so its not clear how many still exist.

There were an estimated 30,000 in Nagasaki, including about 10,000 in Ikitsuki, in the 1940s, according to government figures. But the last confirmed baptism ritual was in 1994, and some estimates say there are less than 100 Hidden Christians left on Ikitsuki.

Hidden Christianity is linked to the communal ties that formed when Japan was a largely agricultural society. Those ties crumbled as the country modernized after WWII, with recent developments revolutionizing peoples lives, even in rural Japan.

The accompanying decline in the population of farmers and young people, along with women increasingly working outside of the home, has made it difficult to maintain the tight networks that nurtured Hidden Christianity.

In a society of growing individualism, it is difficult to keep Hidden Christianity as it is, said Shigeo Nakazono, the head of a local folklore museum who has researched and interviewed Hidden Christians for 30 years. Hidden Christianity has a structural weakness, he said, because there are no professional religious leaders tasked with teaching doctrine and adapting the religion to environmental changes.

Nakazono has started collecting artifacts and archiving video interviews he's done with Hidden Christians since the 1990s, seeking to preserve a record of the endangered religion.

Mase-Hasegawa agreed that Hidden Christianity is on its way to extinction. As a researcher, it will be a huge loss, she said.

Masashi Funabara, 63, a retired town hall official, said most of the nearby groups have disbanded over the last two decades. His group, which now has only two families, is the only one left, down from nine in his district. They meet only a few times a year.

The amount of time we are responsible for these holy icons is only about 20 to 30 years, compared to the long history when our ancestors kept their faith in fear of persecution. When I imagined their suffering, I felt that I should not easily give up, Funabara said.

Just as his father did when memorizing the Orasho, Funabara has written down passages in notebooks; he hopes his son, who works for the local government, will one day agree to be his successor.

Tanimoto also wants his son to keep the tradition alive. Hidden Christianity itself will go extinct sooner or later, and that is inevitable, but I hope it will go on at least in my family, he said. Thats my tiny glimmer of hope.

___

Tokyo photographer Eugene Hoshiko contributed to this story.

___

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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a human smuggler this past Monday, June 2, after he led agents on a short pursuit in Socorro, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a press release.

CBP says at around 8 a.m. that Monday, agents apprehended two undocumented migrants who were waiting to be picked up by a smuggler near Socorro Road.

The Border Patrol Anti-Smuggling Unit from the Ysleta Station and Tigua Police monitored the area after the migrants were apprehended and observed a red Nissan Altima come to a stop, according to CBP.

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Tigua Police attempted to perform a vehicle stop on the Nissan Altima. However, the Nissan failed to yield and fled at a high rate of speed, according to CBP.

U.S. Customs and Border Protections Air and Marine Operations helicopter crew maintained surveillance of the vehicle for 30 minutes before it came to a stop on Carmelita Circle, where the driver fled on foot, according to CBP.

The aircrew then guided agents to the location where the driver was hiding.

During questioning, the driver admitted he was in the area to pick up and transport undocumented migrants, according to CBP.

Record checks later revealed that the driver had a previous charge in January for shooting at or from a vehicle/conspiracy resulting in death.

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The driver, who is a U.S. citizen, was charged with conspiracy to transport undocumented migrants.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man was arrested Tuesday following an investigation into a human trafficking operation based out of Nashville motels.

According to court documents, special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation in December 2023 into a human trafficking operation at Super 8 in the 800 block of Murfreesboro Pike and Somatel Nashville Airport Hotel on Metroplex Drive.

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During this investigation, officials spoke with two women who claimed they were recruited in Venezuela and smuggled to the United States. Once in Tennessee, the women were reportedly forced into engaging in commercial sex to pay off fines of $20,000-$30,000.

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Arrest documents detail how the women were sex trafficked under the direction of several people, including Kleiver Daniel Mota-Rivero and Yilibeth Del Carmen Rivero-De Caldera who were indicted in February for their roles in a Middle Tennessee-based sex trafficking operation.

Tuesday, officers arrested a third person  25-year-old Ramon de Jesus Velasquez-Martinez  for his role in a similar operation involving Mota-Rivero.

According to reports, one of the women said between November 2023 and February 2025 Velasquez-Martinez sent commercial sex clients to her motel rooms, took the money earned from these interactions and frequently took her cellphone to monitor who she was in contact with.

RELATED: Several Venezuelan nationals indicted for role in Middle Tennessee-based sex trafficking ring

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The woman told authorities that in 2024, she escaped the trafficking operation and moved to Miami to work at a restaurant. Velasquez-Martinez reportedly showed up at her workplace and threatened her with a gun to go with him while making comments about her children back in Venezuela. Court documents said after this interaction she returned to Nashville with him and was forced back in to participating in commercial sex acts.

During the investigation authorities reportedly found 26 advertisements for commercial sex posted in Nashville which featured Velasquez-Martinezs phone number as the main point of contact. Authorities said thousands of text messages were recovered between Velasquez-Martinez and other suspects regarding commercial sex clients, advertisements and firearms.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Velasquez-Martinez is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony trafficking for a commercial sex act. According to Davidson County Sheriffs Office records, he is being held on an ICE detainer and a $150,000 bond.

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If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the Tennessee Human Trafficking hotline number at 1-855-55-TNHTH (86484) or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Amid drastic cuts to science programs, grants and funding, Great Lakes scientists are converging in Milwaukee this week to talk about resilience  not just in the lakes, but science itself.

More than 600 scientists from the U.S. and Canada are attending the International Association for Great Lakes Research week-long conference at Baird Center. The theme is creating Great Lakes resilience, which includes hundreds of presentations that cover topics like harmful blue-green algae blooms, coastal erosion, climate change and Indigenous knowledge.

Rebecca Klaper, dean of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, said the conference is a way for scientists to talk about patterns, changes and solutions across the lakes.

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Its the first time in four decades the international conference is in Milwaukee. The conference rotates each year to a different city across the Great Lakes region, alternating between the U.S. and Canada.

Students presenting during the poster session at the International Association for Great Lakes Research annual conference at Baird Center in Milwaukee on June 3, 2025.

Harvey Bootsma, associate dean of UW-Milwaukees School of Freshwater Sciences, said Milwaukees deep connection to Lake Michigan and its three rivers made it a natural choice. He added that having one of the only graduate schools dedicated to freshwater science also helped draw the conference to the city.

While the conference focuses on collaboration, growing uncertainty around Great Lakes research is top of mind for many as the Trump administrations proposed federal budget includes drastic cuts to science funding and programs.

For instance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, which supports a lot of research and long-term monitoring efforts in the Great Lakes, could see 25% of its budget cut from the proposed federal bill. Staffing cuts at the agencys Great Lakes lab in Michigan has already left much of the regions science efforts in limbo.

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More: 800 federal workers fired at NOAA, which impacts weather forecasts, Great Lakes science

More: Death by a thousand cuts: EPA Great Lakes office reeling from surveillance, Trump cuts

The National Health Institute, or NIH, could face a 40% reduction of funding in the proposed federal budget.

Klaper said many grants that support Great Lakes research have already been canceled.

Universities are in a period of transition as they navigate how to adapt to shifting funding landscapes, Bootsma said. At the School of Freshwater Sciences, half of the revenue comes from overhead tied to research grants  money that supports basic operations like building maintenance. Losing that funding, he said, would have serious budget implications.

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"The current administration is driving science out of the U.S.," said Stephen Carpenter, the director of limnology at UW-Madison, adding that proposed budget cuts could slow U.S. progress as a leading nation in science.

Steve Carpenter, University of WisconsinMadison director of the Center for Limnology, speaks at the International Association for Great Lakes Research annual conference at Baird Center in Milwaukee on June 3, 2025.

Despite funding concerns, researchers remain committed to protecting the Great Lakes. For many, the conference offers not just research opportunities, but inspiration and connection.

Even with funding concerns, Kenneth Anderson, a post-doctoral researcher at Kent State University in Ohio, said he's motivated to keep his research going.

As long as there are opportunities out there, we're going to be looking for ways to pursue them," Anderson said.

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More: Invasive mussels drastically altered the Great Lakes. Now, scientists are fighting back.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Great Lakes research conference brings scientists to Milwaukee
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Epic Charter Schools has laid off hundreds of employees.

Now, former employees say they found out with no warning at all.

I just received an email stating that my contract was not going to be renewed for the upcoming school year. They gave no reason whatsoever, no warning, and then literally within minutes my computer was deactivated, said a former employee.

Epic Charter Schools says a total of 357 employees were not renewed for the 2025-2026 school year:

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83 Teachers

274 Administrative Staff

My first initial reaction was just overwhelming sadness because I love the students and I love the people and I love the teachers, and then I was just mad, I was mad because these are peoples lives at stake, like a warning would have been just courteous, said a former employee.

Norman Regional Health System lays off 10% of workforce

The former employee says that they will not be getting severance pay, but will be paid through the end of June.

To my understanding, it was a lot of us that were let go due to mismanaging funds, said a former employee.

Epic says the layoffs were necessary to ensure long-term suitability

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Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Epic will phase out its Learning Center model, no longer offering full-day in-person instruction Monday through Friday. Meal services for breakfast and lunch will also no longer be provided.

News 4 reported on other layoffs and pay cuts in the fall due to a financial shortfall from lower-than-expected enrollment.

Its just a tragic reality and sadly, its something that I predicted four years ago now when we changed the school funding formula, said Rep. Andy Fugate (D-Del City).

In 2021, public schools relied on the most recent enrollment numbers to work up their budgets. Rep. Fugate says Epic used numbers that were inflated due to COVID-19.

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You know, the model itself, charter schools in general here in Oklahoma can be fly-by-night school learning environments. Theres nothing that says they have to remain in business, said Rep. Fugate.

Epic Charter Schools says enrollment is open for next school year.

Last year, they saw a little over 30,000 students; during COVID-19, it was about 60,000.

News 4 stopped by Epic Charter Schools today, but nobody was there.

A statement was sent to News 4 a few hours later.

As we prepare for the 20252026 school year, Epic Charter Schools remains committed to our mission of serving 30,000 students and families across Oklahoma. In order to continue delivering a high-quality educational experience and ensure long-term financial sustainability, our leadership team, working closely with our new Chief Financial Officer, has undertaken a thorough review of all areas of our organization. As a result of this evaluation, it has become necessary to implement significant streamlining measures. This process includes the difficult decision to adjust certain positions within the organization. These changes are not made lightly, but they are essential to align our resources with our educational priorities and to ensure Epics continued success in serving our students and families. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Epic Charter Schools will offer our two most popular models: the Epic One-on-one model and Comet Academy model. As we phase out the Learning Center model, were excited to give our Learning Center families priority in the Comet Academy model, which has a similar face-to-face structure. This will help to serve more students and eliminate the waiting list at Epics largest facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. This change will open up additional space for Epic teachers to book in-person meetings for One-on-one, Comet Academy and clubs. We will no longer offer full-day in-person instruction Monday through Friday. Meal services for breakfast and lunch will no longer be provided. We are grateful to every member of the Epic team for the passion and care they bring to our community, said Superintendent Bart Banfield. This transition is about preserving and strengthening our ability to serve students for years to come. We are committed to supporting those impacted with compassion and transparency. A total of 357 Epic employees were not renewed for the 2025-2026 school year: 83 Teachers of 1,401 (5.92%)

274 Administrative Staff of 732 (37.43%) Enrollment is currently open for the 2025-2026 school year. Founded in 2011, Epic Charter Schools is Oklahomas largest public virtual charter school  and among the largest of its kind in the U.S.  serving approximately 30,000 students from PreK-12th grade in all 77 counties statewide. Epic Charter Schools

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The marriage of same-sex couples tying the knot abroad must be acknowledged in Hungary as a registered partnership, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.

The Budapest-based court gave parliament until October 31 this year to entrench the provision in law. It was responding to legal action brought by a Hungarian-German same-sex couple who had married in Germany.

While same-sex marriage is not permitted in Hungary, the option of a registered partnership was introduced in 2009. In addition, a 2016 government regulation provided for same-sex marriages concluded abroad to be recognized as registered partnerships in Hungary.

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This provision has not been implemented, as the appropriate legislation has not been passed.

The Supreme Court has now decided that this failure is anti-constitutional, ruling that the protection and recognition of same-sex relationships are part of human dignity and the right to self-determination.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, which has been in power since 2010, seeks to restrict the rights of people who are not heterosexual.

In the spring, parliament, where the conservative nationalist Fidesz holds a majority, created the basis for banning the annual Pride Parade celebrating the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people plus the wider queer community LGBT+ through changes to the law and the constitution.

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Fidesz cites the need for protecting children as the grounds for the changes.

Budapest's Pride Parade has been scheduled for Saturday June 28, but whether it will take place is not yet clear, with talks proceeding between police, the government and Budapest's liberal city council.

Justice Minister Bence Tuzson has proposed the city's horseracing track as a venue, as access can be restricted. The proposal drew a response from Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony. "I would like to inform the justice minister that the people demonstrating for freedom and love are people, and not horses," Karacsony said.
The marriage of same-sex couples tying the knot abroad must be acknowledged in Hungary as a registered partnership, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.

The Budapest-based court gave parliament until October 31 this year to entrench the provision in law. It was responding to legal action brought by a Hungarian-German same-sex couple who had married in Germany.

While same-sex marriage is not permitted in Hungary, the option of a registered partnership was introduced in 2009. In addition, a 2016 government regulation provided for same-sex marriages concluded abroad to be recognized as registered partnerships in Hungary.

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This provision has not been implemented, as the appropriate legislation has not been passed.

The Supreme Court has now decided that this failure is anti-constitutional, ruling that the protection and recognition of same-sex relationships are part of human dignity and the right to self-determination.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, which has been in power since 2010, seeks to restrict the rights of people who are not heterosexual.

In the spring, parliament, where the conservative nationalist Fidesz holds a majority, created the basis for banning the annual Pride Parade celebrating the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people plus the wider queer community LGBT+ through changes to the law and the constitution.

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Fidesz cites the need for protecting children as the grounds for the changes.

Budapest's Pride Parade has been scheduled for Saturday June 28, but whether it will take place is not yet clear, with talks proceeding between police, the government and Budapest's liberal city council.
BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary's ruling party has postponed a parliamentary debate and vote set for mid-June on transparency legislation governing foreign-funded groups, a senior party official said, following protests that it seemed aimed at stifling political dissent.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party submitted a bill to parliament on May 14 that would draft a list of organisations that get foreign funding and restrict or even shut them down if deemed to threaten Hungary's sovereignty and its culture.

The bill has been widely criticised by Hungarian news outlets, think tanks and civic rights groups. Street protests have occurred and scores of editors from leading European news outlets signed a petition last month calling for Orban's nationalist government to scrap the legislation.

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In a letter published earlier on Wednesday the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights called on Hungarian lawmakers to reject or amend the bill, citing concerns over human rights violations.

"The (Fidesz) parliamentary group is united in the view that legal instruments must be used to protect sovereignty. However, there is debate over what those instruments should be," Fidesz parliamentary party leader Mate Kocsis told index.hu.

He said that so many proposals had been submitted regarding the bill in recent weeks that the debate needed to be postponed until the autumn session of parliament.

"No decision will be made on the matter before the summer. Parliament will not vote on it," Kocsis said.

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The vote was originally scheduled to take place in mid-June and approval was expected as Fidesz holds a majority.

Orban, in power since 2010, pledged in March to crack down on foreign funding of independent media, opposition politicians and NGOs in what critics said was a move to strengthen his position ahead of elections due in 2026 when he faces an unprecedented challenge from a new opposition party.

(Reporting by Anita Komuves; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Khan Younis, Gaza  Yazan Musleh, 13, lies in a hospital bed set up in a tent on the grounds of Nasser Hospital, his t-shirt pulled up to reveal a large white bandage on his thin torso.

Beside him, his father, Ihab, sits fretfully, still shaken by the bloodied dawn he and his sons lived through on Sunday when Israeli forces opened fire on thousands of people gathered to receive aid from the Israeli-conceived, and United States-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Ihab, 40, had taken Yazan and his 15-year-old brother, Yazid, from their shelter in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, to the Rafah distribution point that the GHF operates.

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They set out before dawn, walking for about an hour and a half to get to the al-Alam Roundabout in Rafah, near the distribution point.

Worried about the size of the gathering, hungry crowd, Ihab told his sons to wait for him on an elevation near the GHF gates.

When I looked behind the hill, I saw several tanks not far away, he says. A feeling of dread came over me. What if they opened fire or something happened? I prayed for Gods protection.

As the crowd moved closer to the gates, heavy gunfire erupted from all directions.





I was terrified. I immediately looked towards my sons on the hill, and saw Yazan get shot and collapse, he recalls.

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Yazid, also sitting by his brothers bedside, describes the moments of terror.

We were standing on the hill as our father told us, and suddenly, the tanks opened fire. He says. My brother was hit in the stomach immediately.

I saw his intestines spilling out  it was horrifying. Then people helped rush him to the hospital in a donkey cart.

Down by the gates, Ihab was struggling to reach his sons, trying to fight against the crowd while avoiding the shots still ringing out.

Shooting was coming from every direction  from tanks, quadcopters.

I saw people helping my son, eventually dragging him away.

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When Ihab managed to get away from the crowd, he ran as best as his malnourished body could manage, towards Nasser Hospital, in hopes that Yazan had been taken there. It felt like more than an hour, he says.

At Nasser Hospital, he learned that Yazan had been taken into surgery.

I finally breathed. I thanked God he was still alive. I had completely lost hope, he says.

Ihab, left, and Iman Musleh hover near their son, Yazans, hospital bed in the makeshift tent ward [Abdullah al-Attar/Al Jazeera]

The bullet that hit Yazan had torn through his intestines and spleen, and the doctors say he needs long and intensive treatment.

Sitting by him is his mother, Iman, who asks despairingly why anyone would shoot at people trying to get food. She and Ihab have five children, the youngest is a seven-month-old girl.

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I went to get food for my children. Hunger is killing us, says Ihab.

These aid distributions are known to be degrading and humiliating  but were desperate. Im desperate because my children are starving, and even then, we are shot at?

He had tried to get aid once before, he says, but both times he came away empty-handed.

The first time, there was a deadly stampede. We barely escaped. This time, my son was wounded and again nothing, he says.

But he knows he cannot stop trying.

Ill risk it for my family. Either I come back alive or I die. Im desperate. Hunger is killing us.

The group distributing aid

The GHF, marketed as a neutral humanitarian mechanism, was launched in early 2025 and uses private US military contractors to secure the distribution points.





The GHFs head, Jake Wood, resigned his post two days before distribution began, citing concerns that the foundation would not be impartial or act in accordance with humanitarian principles.

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Five days later, on May 30, the Boston Consulting Group, which had been part of the planning and implementation of the foundation, withdrew its team and terminated its association with GHF.

International aid organisations have been unanimous in criticising the GHF and its methods.

We went looking for food for our hungry children

Lying nearby in the tent ward is Mohammed al-Homs, 40, a father of five.

He had also headed out early on Sunday to try to get some food for his family, but moments after arriving at the al-Alam Roundabout roundabout, I was shot twice  once in the leg and once in the mouth, shattering my front teeth, he says.

I collapsed, there were so many injured and dead around me. Everyone was screaming and running. Gunfire was coming from tanks, drones everywhere. It felt like the end of the world.

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He lay bleeding on the ground for what felt like an hour, as medical teams were not able to reach the injured.

Mohammed al-Homs, father of five, was shot in the mouth and leg [Abdullah al-Attar/Al Jazeera]

Then, word spread that the gates had opened for distribution, and those who could move started heading towards the centre.

It was only then that people could start moving the wounded to a nearby medical point.

This was my first time trying to get aid, and it will be my last, Mohammed says.

I didnt expect to survive. We went looking for food for our hungry children and were met with drones and tanks.

I never imagined Id face death for a box of food

Also in the tent is someone who had succeeded in getting an aid package on the first day of distribution, on May 27, and decided to try again on Sunday: 36-year-old Khaled al-Lahham.

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Al-Lahham is taking care of 10 family members: his parents, one aunt, and seven siblings, all of whom are displaced in the tents of al-Mawasi.

He had managed to catch a ride with five friends that morning, driving as close as they could to the al-Alam Roundabout roundabout.

Khaled al-Lahham went to the distribution point to try to secure food for the 10 family members he supports [Abdullah al-Attar/Al Jazeera]

As the distribution time approached, the six friends started getting out of the car.

Suddenly, there was loud gunfire all around and people screaming. I felt a sharp pain in my leg  a bullet had passed clean through my thigh, says Khaled, who did not make it fully out of the car.

I was screaming and bleeding while people around me ran and screamed. The shooting was frenzied, he adds. There were tanks, quadcopters  fire came from every direction.

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Injured, Khaled could not get out of the car and huddled there until one of his friends managed to return and drive him to the hospital.

I never imagined Id face death for a box of food, Khaled says.

If they dont want to distribute the aid, why do they lie to people and kill them like this?

This is all deliberate. Humiliate us, degrade us, then kill us  for food?




BANGKOK (AP)  A hungry wild elephant caused havoc in a grocery store in Thailand on Monday when he strolled in from a nearby national park and helped himself to food on the shelves.

Videos of the incident showed the huge male elephant, known as Plai Biang Lek, briefly stopping in front of the shop, located next to a main road near the Khao Yai National Park in northeastern Thailand, before ducking his whole body inside.

The elephant stopped in front of the shops counter, calmly snatching and chomping snacks, and did not flinch as the national park workers tried to shoo him away.

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The elephant later backed out of the shop still holding a bag of snacks with his trunk. He left little damage behind, except mud tracks on the floor and the ceiling of the shop.

In a video posted on social media, Kamploy Kakaew, the shop owner, appeared amused as she described the moment the elephant rifled her shop. She said he ate about nine bags of sweet rice crackers, a sandwich and some dried bananas she had bought that morning.

Kamploy said the elephant left without hurting anyone after getting his snacks.

Danai Sookkanthachat, a volunteer park worker familiar with the elephant, said Plai Biang Lek, who is about 30 years old, is a familiar sight in the area and has been known to enter peoples houses in search of food. This was the first time he had seen him going into a grocery store.

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After he left the shop, he went on to open a bedroom window of another house, he told The Associated Press.

Danai said wild elephants in the Khao Yai National Park area have been coming out of the woods to ransack peoples kitchens for many years, but this year he has started seeing them going into more random places to find food.

There were an estimated 4,000 wild elephants in Thailand in 2024, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. As farmers push into forests for agriculture, elephants have been forced to venture out of their shrinking habitats in search of food, leading to confrontations that can turn deadly.
Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE:THO) shares are trading higher on Wednesday after the company reported third-quarter EPS of $2.53 beating the street consensus of $1.83.

Quarterly sales of $2.89 billion, up 3.3% year over year (Y/Y), outpaced the analyst consensus estimate of $2.48 billion.

Gross profit margin in the quarter under review expanded by 20 basis points year over year to 15.3%.

Also Read: Dollar Tree Q1 Same-Store Sales Jump 5.4%, Warns Of Near-Term Profit Drop On Tariff Pressure, Transition Costs

Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.9% Y/Y to $254.8 million in the quarter.

North American Towable Recreational Vehicle (RV) net sales increased 9.1% Y/Y, while North American Motorized RV net sales rose 3.1% Y/Y in the quarter.

North American Towable RV net sales benefitted from 5.5% higher unit shipments and a 3.6% increase in net price per unit.

Gross profit margin improved 200 basis points to 14.9%, attributed to higher sales, less discounting, better warranty costs, and ongoing savings.

North American Motorized RV net sales increased due to a 10.9% rise in unit shipments (partly from promotions), though a 7.8% decrease in net price per unit (due to product mix shift and higher discounting) partially offset this.

Gross profit margin fell to 10.5% from 11.1%, primarily owing to increased sales discounting.

As of April 30, the order backlog for North American Towable RV stood at $634.3 million (-14.4%) and North American Motorized RV came in at $883.7 million (-4.5%).

European RV net sales decreased 5.1% Y/Y for the quarter, led by a 12.2% decrease in unit shipments, which was offset in part by a 7.1% Y/Y increase in the overall net price per unit.

European RV net sales fell due to a 12.2% drop in unit shipments, partially offset by a 7.1% increase in net price per unit. The price increase included a 6.8% rise from product mix and pricing changes, plus a 0.3% benefit from foreign currency exchange rates.

European RV gross profit margin contracted 130 basis points to 16.2% on increased sales discounting.

As of April 30, the order backlog for European RV came in at $1.34 billion (-30.6%).

The company exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents worth $508.3 million, with net inventories worth $1.35 billion. Long-term debt (net) at the end of the quarter stood at $1.01 billion.

Todd Woelfer, senior VP and COO, said, As we anticipated and messaged at the beginning of our fiscal year, our North American Motorized and European segments have both seen year-over-year declines in gross margin but still achieved resilient results considering the challenging environments facing those segments.
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii (KHON2)  The Army soldier involved in the disappearance of his wife, Mischa Johnson, appeared in a military courtroom for the first time on Tuesday, June 3.

During the hearing, Private First Class Dewayne Johnson, who is charged with his wifes murder, admitted he killed her during an argument in July 2024.

Army soldier to plead guilty in case of missing pregnant woman

Nineteen-year-old Mischa Johnson was first reported missing in August 2024, prompting several searches by family and friends. She was six months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

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In Mondays hearing, PFC Johnson said that on July 12, Mischa accused him of cheating and threatened to keep him out of their babys life.

He added that the argument made him overwhelmed with rage. He then grabbed a machete he kept next to his bed and struck Mischa in the left temple.

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PFC Johnson said he did want to hurt her, but he did not intend to kill her. Mischas body was never found.

He told the court he dismembered the body and dumped it in trash bags, which he knew would be taken to the incinerator.

Prosecutors and the defense counsel are working to finalize details of the plea agreement, where PFC Johnson has agreed to voluntary manslaughter instead of murder.

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He faces several other charges in connection with Mischas death, including obstruction of justice.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species from Asia, is making a 2025 appearance across the U.S. even before the official start of summer on June 20.

According to the World Population Review tracker, the pest has been spotted in 17 states as the weather is consistently warmer: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

Heres what the spotted lantern flies look like and why you should destroy them at any stage, including as egg masses.

What do these pests look like?

A display of the different phases of the spotted lanternfly, from egg mass to adult lantern fly. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Egg mass

Usually found September through June

Egg masses look like smears of flat mud. Over time, the mass darkens to a yellowish-brown color.

A mass can hold around 30 to 50 eggs

Eggs hatch in the spring and early summer, from April through October

Early-stage nymphs

Typically found in late April through July

The newly hatched nymphs are black with white spots

Their size ranges from  inch to  inch

Late-stage nymphs

Can be found from July to September

Red with black and white spots

About  inch in size

Adult

Usually seen from July to December

About 1 inch long and  inch wide

Their tan forewings have black spots. Their hindwings, which are mostly hidden unless the wings are spread, have lower red and upper black patches, separated by a white section.

What should I do if I spot an egg mass, nymph or adult spotted lanternfly?

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service advises people to destroy egg masses by smashing and scraping them into a plastic zip bag filled with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol to kill them. Zip the bag shut and throw it in the trash.

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If you spot a lanternfly, kill it by stepping on it or squishing it to help prevent them from spreading, and report the sighting to your state department of agriculture.

But Im a pacifist! Why should I kill it?

The spotted lanternfly poses a significant threat to the U.S. agricultural and forestry industries, according to the USDA. They cause infestations in hardwood trees and destroy grapevines and fruit trees, like apples, peaches and nectarines.

The nymphs feed on host plants by sucking sap from young stems and branches. When the adults feed, they excrete a sugar-rich fluid called honeydew that builds up under plants and can cause the growth of sooty mold to form, damaging them.

Spotted lanternflies perch on a tree at Inwood Hill Park on Sept. 26, 2022, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

What about natural predators?

Spotted lanternflies are native to southeastern Asia. They hitched a ride to the U.S. on imported goods and were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. While parasitic wasps are natural predators that keep them in check in southeastern Asia, the lanternflies initially lacked native predators in the U.S., which is why their populations have become a problem.

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But research has identified some possibilities. A recent Pennsylvania State University study found that spined soldier bugs native to North America, in addition to Carolina and Chinese mantises, were effective natural predators at destroying the invasive spotted lanternfly.

The spotted lanternflys ability to sequester toxins from its preferred host, the tree of heaven, raises concerns about its vulnerability to predators, said lead researcher Anne Johnson. We hypothesized that the spotted lanternfly might harness the trees bitter-tasting chemical compounds as a defense mechanism that could protect them against predation.

How can we stop the spread of spotted lanternflies?

These pests can travel across state borders by attaching themselves to outdoor equipment, vehicles and bicycles. The USDA asks people to check these items as well as outdoor furniture, tents, tarps and coolers before moving from an area thats known to be populated by the pest to help stop the spread.

Spotted lanternflies can lay eggs on pretty much anything, including: light bulbs, fence posts, tires, outdoor furniture and cushions. This handy checklist from the USDA provides a bigger list of items to check before you leave for a new location.

If you see egg masses, nymphs or adults: Destroy them.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday warned of the ongoing risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine following a recent surge in Russian airstrikes.

"It is clear that the dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present. My teams report that this was the most intense day of air raid alarms they had experienced since late last year," IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said during his one-day visit to Kiev.

He said the agency's presence at nuclear facilities remains essential to help prevent a nuclear incident. IAEA expert teams based at two of Ukraine's operating nuclear power plants had to take shelter up to three times during a day with an unusually high number of air raid warnings.

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Grossi also said it was critical to begin preparing for the future reconstruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a process in which the IAEA could play an important role.

The IAEA has played a central part in monitoring and safeguarding the condition and safety of Ukraine's nuclear power plants since the start of Russia's invasion.

It regularly sends expert teams to the operating reactor sites in Rivne and Khmelnytskyi and has a permanent presence at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by Russian troops since 2022 and was shut down for safety reasons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that any Russian efforts to restart the Zaporizhzhya plant without Ukraine's involvement were "absurd and dangerous" and called for unhindered IAEA access to the site.

Ukraine relies on nuclear power for more than half of its electricity needs. Russia has repeatedly targeted the country's power plants and energy infrastructure in an effort to disrupt supply.
In March, the Trump administration raided what they called a Tren de Arauga gang gathering in Texas, arresting dozens of people at five in the morning.

Two months later, The Texas Tribune reports that none of the people they arrested had any gang ties or even criminal records, and that the Tren de Aragua gathering they busted was in fact a birthday party. Forty-seven people were arrested in total, including nine children, although its unclear if every person taken in was at the birthday party.

The ICE agents and Texas police who raided the birthday party even went so far as to attack the families with flash grenades, scaring them and their children.

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We all started shouting that there were babiesBabies, theres babies, said one of the arrested men, who said he was celebrating the fifth birthday of his son and the 28th birthday of his best friend at a house they rented for the weekend. They were like bombs, like boom.

ICE also profiled one of the party attendees for his tattoos, based on a thoroughly debunked theory that Tren de Aragua members have specific ink.

They told me to my face: You know what those stars mean? Those stars are styled by gangsters in your country, he told the Tribune. I said, no. I got these stars whenno kiddingI was starting to leave adolescence, started working. I got them because I liked them and I wanted to get them.

While ICE has refused to name the detained Venezuelans, the Tribune identified 35 of them. Some were in ICE detention for weeks and were released with ankle monitors. One of the children was even kicked out of school due to missing too many days in detainment. Again, none were charged criminally.

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This is about something much bigger. If it happens to a person who is accused of being a (gang member) today, tomorrow it could happen to you and me, said Migration Policy Institute director Muzaffar Chishti. And if the alleged member of this gang does not have the right to contest [charges against them], how can you know Ill have it? The next person will have it?

ICE has been putting innocent people through hellish, traumatic arrest events for months now, as Trump, border czar Tom Homan, and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller march blindly ahead with trying to deport as many people as they possibly can, truth be damned.
ICE issues statement in response to raids at 2 Twin Cities restaurants originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a statement in response to the law enforcement operation at two Twin Cities restaurants on Tuesday, one of which drew a large crowd of protesters.

A large crowd gathered outside Las Cuatro Milpas at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in south Minneapolis late Tuesday morning as it quickly emerged that masked ICE agents were on the scene, sparking concerns that an immigration enforcement operation was ongoing.

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As the crowd grew, with pepper spray at one point being used by police on protesters, The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office issued a statement clarifying that the search warrants being executed were not related to immigration.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who was not at the scene, issued a quick statement a short time after, saying the "incident was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs & money laundering and was not related to immigration enforcement."

ICE has since acknowledged the operation and provided a little information regarding the nature of Tuesday's action, describing it as a "groundbreaking criminal operation" that was "Minnesotas first under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) umbrella" that is designed to "confront complex, multidimensional threats."

The Las Cuatro Milpas restaurant in Bloomington was also raided as part of the operation, but as of Wednesday no details have been released concerning why the restaurants were targeted for search warrants, nor have any allegations been publicly issued relating to the investigation.

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The ICE statement continued to say:

"This HSI led investigation wouldnt have been possible without the extraordinary collaboration of our state partners and federal HSTF partners, including the U.S. Attorneys Office, FBI, IRS-CI, DEA, ERO, ATF, USMS, DSS, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, TSA and local law enforcement. Together, we are safeguarding communities, protecting national security, and setting a new standard of joint enforcement efforts."

There has been scrutiny over the involvement of Minneapolis Police Department in Tuesday's operation, with activists and some local council members raising concern that MPD officers were at the scene given the department's hands-off policy towards ICE enforcement.

MPD's policy said that it will not interfere with ICE investigations, but will not be involved in the enforcement of federal immigration law. Tuesday's operation featured agents from HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), a division of ICE, which investigates a "wide range of crimes, including narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, and financial crimes."

MPD said it "responded to a request to assist with crowd control and to help ensure public safety," adding: "Officers supported federal law enforcement in safely departing the area."

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The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office confirmed it partnered with federal agencies, which also included the FBI, DEA and ATF, on the investigation that led to Tuesday's search warrants, but said it has no involvement in civil immigration enforcement.

"HCSO enforces criminal statutes and works on criminal investigations. We work with federal partners regularly on those criminal investigations," it said.

Council Member Jason Chavez

In a statement on Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Frey accused some of the politicians at the scene  which included several of his opponents for mayor this November  of making "inflammatory statements ... before the facts were known," saying these statements "spread fear and panic instead of countering it."

"Some falsely implied that MPD was helping ICE deport residents," he added.

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"Stoking panic can be a tempting short-term social media strategy in politics  its a good recipe for viral content. But it also erodes trust in government," he continued. Over the long term, it makes it easier for people like Donald Trump to tear down the institutions and norms that we need to defend the rule of law."

Irene Fernando, the Hennepin County Commissioner for the 2nd District, said it should not be surprising that the presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis sparked immigration crackdown concerns given the mass deportation efforts currently being undertaken by the Trump administration.

"While there are conflicting reports on the purpose of this joint action, the presence of ICE agents indicates the clear potential of a raid. And with the horrifyingly and historically high Air Quality Index, the use of chemical irritants is truly unconscionable and disgusting," she said.

"I have requested an after-action report from the Sheriff on the use of Hennepin resources and the taskforce that was deployed today. I also requested information on deployments of employees, equipment, and weaponry that occurred today."

Bring Me The News has reached out to Las Cuatro Milpas for comment on Tuesday's operation.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched the Trump administrations largest deportation crackdown yet, calling for more than 5,000 federal agents and 21,000 National Guard troops to join the arrest effort, according to a report.

Operation at Large calls for 3,000 ICE agents, 2,000 Justice Department employees, including from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency, 500 Customs and Border Protection staff, and 250 from the IRS, NBC News reports.

It follows a tense meeting with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller last month, where he reportedly berated staff and threatened to fire ICE field office leaders who are in the lowest 10 percent of monthly arrest numbers, according to the outlet.

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The 21,000 National Guard members the administration wants to support ICE have not yet been approved by the Defense Department, NBC reports.

Operation at Large calls for 3,000 ICE agents, 2,000 Justice Department employees, including from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency, 500 Customs and Border Protection staff, and 250 from the IRS, according to a report. It follows a tense meeting with ICE officials and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Deploying those officials has been a source of tension among some, according to the outlet, who feel they have been taken off other core national security missions.

At a meeting in mid-May, Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanded immigration agents significantly increase daily arrests to 3,000.

Miller, President Donald Trumps top adviser and architect of the administrations aggressive immigration policies, and Noem told agents they needed to up daily arrests and deportations during the meeting at ICEs headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 21, according to Axios.

Miller reportedly berated staff and threatened to fire ICE field office leaders who are in the lowest 10 percent of monthly arrest numbers, according to NBC News. (AP)

The figure is approximately triple the number of daily arrests that ICE agents were making at the beginning of the Trump administration, the outlet noted.

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While Noem took a milder approach during the meeting, Miller adopted a harsh tone with agents and had people leaving the meeting feeling their jobs could be in jeopardy if the new targets aren't reached, Axios previously reported.

Responding to the latest claims about Millers threats, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Independent: Keeping President Trumps promise to deport illegal aliens is something the Administration takes seriously.

We are committed to aggressively and efficiently removing illegal aliens from the United States, and ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources necessary to do so, she added.
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  The 15-year-old victim in a Sunday shooting in Aurora has been identified.

On Sunday morning around 12:30 a.m., Aurora police responded to reports of a shooting at Hoffman Park, next to Aurora Fire Station No. 2. They found two victims, a 20-year-old and a 15-year-old girl, with serious injuries. The 15-year-old was taken to the hospital, but died shortly after arriving. She has been identified as Ktahna Jordin Smith.

Man sentenced to life without parole after deadly rock throwing spree

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Firefighters were the first to find the victims after returning from a call. One 15-year-old was grazed by a bullet but refused medical care. Social media shows Smith went by Jordin. Youth violence prevention advocate Jason McBride says hes had many people in his office speaking highly of her.

Some of these young people are outstanding and are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this girl, by all accounts, had a bright future, was loved by almost everyone, and now its just this tremendous loss, McBride said.

McBride says it is less common to see girls be victims, but something that could be a new trend as violence escalates overall. He says hes recently seen more young girls involved in gang activities, even as leaders.

It is going to be more prevalent coming up. Young ladies as victims is just something thats going to continue because a lot of these people are caught up in this lifestyle, he said.

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There is no suspect information, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers 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.
During the incident in which Farkas was killed, another reservist in the same battalion and brigade was severely wounded.

Staff-Sergeant-Major (St.-Sgt.-Maj.) (res.) Alon Farkas was killed in combat in northern Gaza on Tuesday, the IDF announced Wednesday.

His funeral will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Pardes Hanna Cemetery, Maariv reported.

St.-Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Farkas, 27, from Kibbutz Kabri, served in the 6646th Reconnaissance Battalion, in the 646th Brigade.

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During the incident in which Farkas was killed, another reservist in the same battalion and brigade was severely wounded.

The soldier was evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment.

Farkas's funeral will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in Pardes Hanna-Karkur, according to his kibbutz.

IDF operates in northern Gaza Strip, June 3, 2025. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

"Kibbutz Kabri mourns together with Sylvia and Bernardo Shilman over the death of their grandson, Alon Farkas. Our hearts are with Daniela and Javier, sister Noa, and all the Shilman, Peretz, and Farkas families."

"Alon was a very dear person. He grew up here on the kibbutz his whole life, and a few years ago, his parents left the community, but he continued to keep in touch," a Kibbutz Kabri spokesperson said.

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"He graduated from the theater program at Manor Kabri. He was an excellent athlete and a good student. Just two months ago, he accompanied us on the high school annual trip to the Eilat Mountains. Our graduates come back to help with the annual trips, and its important to them."

Farkas said that he was going to reserve duty because "it's what needs to be done, there's no choice," according to the spokesperson. Farkas studied at Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva and lived there.

Moshe Davidovitz, head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council and chairman of the Confrontation Line Forum, said, "This morning we received the news of the death in combat in Gaza of Kibbutz Kabri resident St.-Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Alon Farkas, 27. All of Mateh Asher is in pain and shares in the family's grief."

IDF announced the deaths of three soldiers the day before

On Tuesday, the IDF announced that St.-Sgt. Lior Steinberg, St.-Sgt. Ofek Barhana, and St.-Sgt. Omer Van Gelder were killed in Jabalya when an improvised explosive device hit their vehicle.

Two other soldiers were seriously wounded, and nine other soldiers were moderately or lightly wounded in the same incident.

This is a developing story.
Following reports that Israeli forces killed people near a food distribution site in Gaza, all aid centres in the enclave remain closed on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced.

Avichay Adraee, Arabic spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said on X that facilities would remain shut for "renovation, organization and efficiency improvement works," citing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which runs the aid operations.

The military warned civilians to avoid approaching the centres, declaring the surrounding roads as combat zones. "It is strictly prohibited to enter the distribution centre areas," the spokesman added.

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The centres are expected to reopen on Thursday.

The closure comes after the Hamas-run health ministry said Israeli troops opened fire on civilians near a distribution point on Tuesday, killing at least 27 people and wounding about 90.

The Israeli army said its soldiers, stationed about 500 metres from the site, spotted individuals approaching who they deemed a threat. Troops initially fired warning shots before shooting at individual suspects who didn't retreat. The claims could not be independently verified.

The GHF had launched its distribution network just over a week ago after Israel, under international pressure, allowed limited humanitarian access following nearly three months of blockade.
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.



Top Upgrades:



B. Riley upgraded Kymera Therapeutics (KYMR) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $60, up from $38. The company released the first-in-human data for KT-621, its oral STAT6 degrader, and it is "fair to say the program passed a key test," not just in terms of target engagement, but, importantly, safety, the firm tells investors in a research note.

Redburn Atlantic upgraded Advance Auto Parts (AAP) to Neutral from Sell with a price target of $45, up from $28. Although Advance is yet to make meaningful progress with its turnaround and concerns regarding its investment plan and balance sheet remain, the company will benefit from the favorable second half of 2025 backdrop, the firm tells investors in a research note.

Wells Fargo upgraded Cardinal Health (CAH) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $179, up from $136. The firm sees the improved valuation as justified by strong industry backdrop, improving mix, and execution.

Evercore ISI upgraded Block (XYZ) to Outperform from In Line with a price target of $75, up from $58, implying 21% upside. The firm says Cash App lending will not be as aggressive as it thought coming out of the company's Q1 earnings.

JPMorgan upgraded Pinterest (PINS) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $40, up from $35. The firm believes the company has made solid progress across its 2023 investor day priorities to grow users and deepen engagement, improve monetization, and drive profitable growth.

Top Downgrades:



JPMorgan downgraded Bumble (BMBL) to Underweight from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $5. The shares have traded up 50% since President Trump's "Liberation Day" and are now 10% above the price target, the firm notes, adding that it struggles to justify raising the price target given its expectation for Bumble's revenue and payer declines to accelerate, regardless of the macro environment.

Citizens JMP downgraded Blueprint Medicines (BPMC) to Market Perform from Outperform without a price target given the proposed acquisition by Sanofi (SNY). Shareholders should vote in favor of this acquisition as the offer is fair and competing bids are unlikely, the firm tells investors in a research note. Stephens also downgraded Blueprint Medicines to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $135, down from $150.

Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded Sprout Social (SPT) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $24, down from $38, following a transfer in analyst coverage. The company is already building broad capabilities to enable greater integration with networks and commerce capabilities, but to date, the Social Networks are "still in a holding pattern, trying to figure out their own strategies for how much to open platforms up to third-party platforms," the firm tells investors.
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA)  Michele L. Pankow will be the first woman to serve as Illinois State Fire Marshal, the governor announced on Wednesday.

On June 4, Governor JB Pritzker announced the appointment of Pankow, a public safety expert and seasoned Fire Chief, pending Senate confirmation. She has spent more than 32 years in the Illinois fire service and will be the first woman to serve as the Illinois State Fire Marshal starting this July.

Bill creating guidance for AI in Illinois schools heading to Pritzkers desk

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With 32 years of exemplary service, Chief Pankows unique knowledge and skillset have more than earned her this new role as Illinois State Fire Marshal, Pritzker said. Having risen in the ranks since her first day on the job, she understands the needs of Illinois firefighters, and is versed in the public safety functions of our state. I am grateful for her ongoing commitment to Illinois, and look forward to seeing her strengthen our team.

She started her career in fire service with the Rockford Fire Department in 1992, beginning as a firefighter, paramedic and EMT. Over the years, Pankow was promoted to Training Officer where she implemented state and federal regulations. She later served as the EMS Operations Chief, where she coordinated with agencies on education and recruitment.

Pankow was promoted to Lieutenant at the department in 2002, and by 2010, she was assigned as Captain. In 2016, she was promoted to District Chief where she supervised day-to-day firefighting and emergency services, managed staffing for response operations and conducted response functions to include operations, planning, logistics, safety and public information.

From 2017-2021, Pankow served as the Division Chief of Operations, which included being the Emergency Services Disaster Agency Coordinator for the City of Rockford. In this role, she had the responsibility of planning and organizing fire suppression and emergency medical operations, as well as overseeing the Emergency Operations Center.

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Illinois bill on governors desk would require law enforcement to work with federal gun tracing database

Pankow was sworn in as the 11th Fire Chief of the Rockford Fire Department in 2021, becoming the first woman chief in the history of the department.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was awarded the American Red Cross Disaster Services Hero Award. This honors recipients for great acts of bravery, dedication and community service.

The appointed Fire Marshal also holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University.

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I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed as the Illinois State Fire Marshal. After more than three decades of service with the Rockford Fire Department, I am proud to continue serving the people of Illinois in this new capacity, Pankow said. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated team at the Office of the State Fire Marshal, as well as fire service professionals, state leaders, and community partners to advance public safety, support our first responders, and strengthen fire prevention efforts across the 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 WCIA.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  When law enforcement finds a gun while investigating a crime scene, they can track its history on a national database called eTrace. A bill that passed both chambers of the statehouse would require all law enforcement agencies to use it.

Illinois law enforcement agencies have been encouraged to partner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives software in the past. But now a bill on the governors desk would make that mandatory.

Illinois bill strengthening rules on gun storage heads to Pritzkers desk

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Law enforcement leaders like Kenny Winslow, the Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said many of the smallest departments didnt have the resources to participate before.

It requires a lot of staffing hours to try to back trace this, he said.

Winslow said his organization is neutral on the final proposal. While the tool can be helpful for police to connect suspects to evidence and crime scenes, he said eTrace is not perfect.

When people think that this is simple, that you put the information into a system that spits back all the information that you want, thats not how it works, Winslow said. The eTrace system spits back information and potential, what we call hits, and then you follow up those hits on potential leads, and then those leads potentially lead you to somebody else that may have owned a gun.

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Even with the flaws Winslow feels the eTrace system has, law enforcement said its worth the effort to try to prevent violent crime in their communities.

When you talk about gun violence, I think its important that we do every step we can in order to try to curb that violence, Winslow added.

Bill heading to Pritzkers desk to prevent time limit on anesthesia

Gun control advocates said tracing guns is an important part to prevent gun trafficking.

If we have data on these recovered crime guns about who the original purchasers are, we can use that as a deterrent and to hold these folks accountable so that these guns are not moved into a secondary illegal market, Kathleen Sances, the President of G-PAC, said.

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Sances added requiring more participation with eTrace will help it be successful.

Well be able to do a better job solving these crimes, tracing these crime guns and keeping our community safe, she said.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul was a major force behind the bill.

We cannot truly prevent gun violence in our state unless we make sure all Illinois law enforcement agencies are using the best resources to trace crime guns, Raoul said in a statement.

The Illinois Attorney General also runs a statewide gun tracing database called Crime Gun Connect. Sances said half of all law enforcement agencies participate in that database.

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More information on eTrace can be found on the ATFs website.

A previous version of this article used a misquote of Winslow. We regret the error.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
When law enforcement finds a gun while investigating a crime scene, they can track its history on a national database called eTrace.

HB1373, a bill advancing in Illinois, would require all law enforcement agencies to use it. Our Quad Cities News correspondent Danny Connolly explains.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
CHICAGO  A new report on hemp-derived THC highlights growing concerns over its safety, legality and impact on health  even as Illinois lawmakers have failed again to keep the products away from children.

The report by the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs notes that the lack of regulation of hemp means there is no state oversight of ingredients, potency or marketing to kids.

The report cites studies showing many hemp products had different amounts of THC than labeled, while some were well above the package limits for licensed cannabis products, and contained toxic solvents left over from processing.

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Some products also mimicked popular candy or snack packaging that could appeal to kids. Several incidents have occurred in the Chicago area of school-age children going to hospitals after ingesting hemp products.

But as in previous years, state lawmakers failed to take any significant action on hemp in its latest session, which ended Saturday.

Hemp is caught in a Catch-22 repeating cycle of inaction. The 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized hemp, defined as cannabis plants that have less than 0.3% by weight of Delta-9 THC, the primary component of the plant that gets users high. Although the Farm Bill allowed production of non-intoxicating hemp derivatives such as CBD, it also inadvertantly set off an explosion of intoxicating products now available across the nation at smoke shops and gas stations.

Hemp processors found ways to use chemical solvents or other methods to produce variants such as Delta-8, Delta-10, and THCO, which can get users high like marijuana. And with little enforcement, many hemp products contain Delta-9 THC anyway. The federal law also set no age restriction for hemp products.

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While cannabis, which is the same plant but with high levels of Delta-9, remains federally illegal, its legal for recreational use in Illinois and 23 other states. But getting a business license is extremely difficult and expensive, and regulations make it much more expensive to open and run a cannabis business than a hemp shop.

As a result, hemp shops have proliferated, while many who hold cannabis business licenses have failed to get up and running. Cannabis industry leaders want to shut down their competition, saying unlicensed hemp undercuts those who went through arduous cannabis licensing.

Hemp business owners say they want to be regulated instead. Proposed hemp legislation set guidelines that would have been similar to those on cannabis businesses: sales only to those 21 and over, and testing and labeling of products for potency and contaminants, but without the expensive licensing.

The chief proponent of allowing hemp businesses to operate with further regulations in Springfield, Rep. La Shawn Ford, said lawmakers could not reach agreement over whether to ban or regulate hemp. But since the spring legislative session ended, Ford has had joint meetings with cannabis and hemp operators in an attempt to reach some compromise.

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With the lack of licensing and taxation for hemp, and continued problems for cannabis, the state is losing out on millions in potential tax revenue, Ford said. Its always been industry against industry, so now everyone has made a commitment to work together to regulate hemp and make some improvements to cannabis, he said.

At least 14 states have made intoxicating hemp products illegal, and numerous municipalities in Illinois have done so.

Despite Gov. JB Pritzker calling last year for hemp restrictions, state lawmakers have been stuck between the two sides, unable to reach a consensus, and as a result have done nothing. Both cannabis and hemp businesses have made significant campaign contributions to legislators.

Rachel Berry, president of the Illinois Hemp Growers Association, said the lack of legislation allows business to continue as usual, but again misses an opportunity for common-sense regulation.

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It seems like theres been a lack of leadership amongst lawmakers to get this issue taken care of, she said. This is something that the community has been asking for for years.

She also took issue with the hemp studys characterization of intoxicating hemp as a loophole in the law. She noted that federal law explicitly allows for all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers from hemp, which opened the door to Delta-8 and other intoxicating products.

From the other side of the issue, the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois argues that intoxicating hemp products are flooding the market, undercutting licensed operators, evading health and safety regulations, and generating minimal state revenue because they arent taxed at the high rate applied to licensed cannabis.

Hemp and cannabis come from the same plant, association Executive Director Tiffany Chappell Ingram said. Both products can get users high. Its time Illinois regulate intoxicating hemp in a manner similar to cannabis.

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The National Poison Center reported about 5,000 cases of Delta-8, Delta-10 or THC-O acetate accidental or abusive ingestion, representing an 89% increase from 2021 to 2022. A 2022 national survey found that 10% of Illinois youths age 12 to 17 had used a hemp product in the past year.

The University of Illinois hemp study concluded that producers would likely find new ways to get around a ban on intoxicating hemp products, which could merely drive customers online. Instead, requiring limits on hemp packaging amounts, and testing hemp products for potency, accuracy in labeling, and contaminants could best serve the public interest.

Tomasz Gliszewski, founder of Chicago Cannabis Co., which sells hemp products, has grown to three stores on the citys North Side since 2018, said lawmakers should approve a 21 and older age limit for hemp, with a 3% sales tax. Responsible hemp store operators already restrict sales to adults, he said, and sell tested products.

His stores are described as Your neighborhood weed shop. The company offers joints, vapes and edibles with THC or CBD, available by online ordering and same-day home delivery via DoorDash  something state-licensed cannabis companies cant do.

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Its been rough not having clarity, Gliszewski said. Instead of trying to ban this stuff, they should pass common-sense legislation.

More companies are moving into the hemp business. Even Edible Brands, the parent company that makes Edible Arrangements fruit bouquets, has entered the market, with hemp-derived THC-infused products at edibles.com.

Meanwhile, lawmakers took no major action to help struggling state-licensed cannabis businesses and their customers. A bill that would have expanded medical marijuana to all dispensaries, lowered licensing fees and allowed curbside pickup and drive-thru windows died again in Springfield this session.

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MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV (WVNS)  A man from Illinois pleaded guilty to being involved in a scheme to get contraband into FCI McDowell.

According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, on Monday, June 2, 2025, 22-year-old Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit the felony crime of attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison.

Two people plead guilty to role in trying to get contraband into FCI McDowell with a drone

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The press release stated that according to court documents, Aleman-Piceno and co-defendant Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez reportedly walked to the fence around Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell on February 1, 2024. Gonzalez and Aleman-Piceno had a duffle bag and backpack in their possession that held two camouflaged packages containing four cell phones, chargers, phone cards, marijuana, and tobacco, as well as a drone.

According to the press release, Aleman-Piceno revealed as part of the guilty plea, that the plan was to use the drone to fly the packages into FCI McDowell, however law enforcement reportedly stopped them before they could launch the drone.

The United States Department of Justices press release stated that Aleman-Piceno admitted to traveling with Gonzalez and co-defendant Arturo Joel Gallegos from Chicago, Illinois to McDowell County, West Virginia due to thinking he would be paid $3,000 to use the drone to get the packages into FCI McDowell.

Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to role in attempting to get contraband into FCI McDowell with a drone

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According to the press release, Aleman-Piceno further revealed that he, Gonzalez, and Gallegos, stayed at a hotel in the area, where members of law enforcement later reportedly found and seized materials used to make the camouflaged packages, tobacco, and marijuana.

Aleman-Picenos sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2025, and he faces up to five years in prison, a maximum of three years of parole, and a $250,000 fine.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the McDowell County Sheriffs Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for their work on the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
An immigration lawyer spoke to BI about how employers are faring as visa scrutiny increases.

Attorney Jason Finkelman says many deportation fears are unfounded, but he does advise caution.

Finkelman offers foreign workers and their employers tips on navigating the current environment.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation in mid-May with 44-year-old Jason Finkelman, a business immigration lawyer in Austin. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

These days, I feel like I'm half lawyer, half therapist for my clients.

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I help foreign nationals with employment and family immigration. On the employment side, I'm working with clients across a range of industries, including tech, semiconductor, energy, oil and gas, research, and video gaming. Many of these are international entrepreneurs or investors looking to get a visa to start a business in the US.

There is an unfounded fear among so many people right now about being deported. I'm having calls with foreign workers, many of whom have highly advanced degrees and are being sponsored by Fortune 500 companies and top startups, including some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, concerned about being deported for simply traveling abroad for work.

I'm even having calls with naturalized US citizens and people with green cards who have lived their lives for decades in this country without ever having committed a crime, or even received a parking ticket, but are seriously anxious about making routine international travel plans.

I have to keep reminding people that unless you have committed a major crime, it is extremely unlikely you'll be detained or removed from the US, no matter what status you are in, and no matter what you are hearing and seeing in the news.

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I tell clients to "live your life." But it's not one or two people calling. It's dozens.

The Trump administration is bringing stricter scrutiny to visa applications

The Trump administration is picking up where it left off, making sure to be as strict as possible in adjudicating legal immigration to protect American jobs. It means stricter scrutiny of work visa applications and even routine travel.

When Joe Biden was president, we would get a Request for Evidence when there was something that was objectively missing from the visa application. The current administration is scrutinizing the subjective parts of an application to an extremely high degree.

H-1B visas are a classic example.

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In my experience, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officer will question whether the job being offered to the foreign national really requires a bachelor's degree or whether the candidate's education really prepared them for the position.

I've gotten notices essentially saying a cybersecurity analyst role might not require a degree, or questioning whether a software engineer really needs a bachelor's. We respond with letters from industry experts and even information from government websites to show that these jobs indeed require degrees.

With the increased scrutiny, I also want to include in the visa petition proof that the applicant's sponsoring company really exists: an office floor plan and photographs of the signage and the people at their desks.

My clients look at me like, "You're kidding." I'm not, and I'm sorry.

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This is kind of ridiculous, but it's going to take you 30 seconds to snap some pictures around the office and send them to me, as opposed to getting a Request for Evidence when the USCIS officer says, "No, this isn't a real company. Where is this person really going to work?"

So, we play this game. I believe it's designed to frustrate US employers into giving up. Employers need the most skilled worker, no matter who that person is. Sometimes, they happen to be a foreign worker. But there's so much effort and so many hoops to jump through that employers say, "Forget it, let's just hire an American worker."

I'm advising visa holders to be overly cautious when traveling

The way I advise my clients lately in preparation for international travel, including work-related trips, is very different.

Six months ago, if a client had a valid work visa  say an H-1B, L-1, or O-1  I'd say, "Maybe you get some verbal questions from the Customs and Border Protection officer, but OK. You can prove that you work. You're done."

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I've started seeing border officers apply extreme scrutiny to foreign nationals reentering the country with work visas. They'll ask questions like, "Is there actually a job waiting for you? Is this a real company? Are you sure you're going to go back home after?"

In this environment where Customs and Border Protection officers are being stricter with foreign nationals traveling in, I'm advising all my clients to carry significant documentation with them to prove that they're currently employed and that they have this nonimmigrant intent to return to their home country.

They should carry with them not only their visa but also three recent paycheck stubs to show they're employed. I would also travel with a letter from their employer that says, "This person took a vacation or is traveling for business for a couple of weeks, and we expect them back in the office on this date."

Then, they need proof that they have a life back in the country they intend to return to, such as a property deed or lease, bank statements, or tax returns.

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You want to be able to say to that border officer, "Look, I'm not playing any games. I'm employed, here's what I do. Here's my diploma." A mountain of evidence to get back in is prudent practice.

Not everybody crossing over is being scrutinized to this level, but we're seeing that happen more frequently, so better to be safe than sorry.

Any person entering the United States needs to be subject to a reasonable amount of scrutiny. I get that there are bad actors and fraud that goes on. But, it's getting to a point now where these roadblocks are making it significantly more difficult for foreign professionals to come into this country.

More importantly, it's making it harder for US employers to hire the best global talent they need, to innovate and grow their business, and to ultimately benefit our country as a whole.

Matthew J. Tragesser, a spokesperson for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, told Business Insider in a statement:

"The Trump Administration remains committed to protecting national security and American workers. USCIS is enhancing screening and vetting to comply with President Trump's Executive Orders. These efforts will aid the prosecution of program violators and ensure American workers aren't overlooked or replaced in the process. This is what the American people voted for, and DHS is delivering on it."

A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection told Business Insider in a statement:

"Under the leadership of the Trump Administration, we have seen a sharp decline in illegal immigration. This reduction has allowed our law enforcement personnel to get back to doing law enforcement work, like conducting thorough vetting and interviews. Lawful travelers have nothing to fear from these measures, which are designed to protect our nation's security. However, those intending to enter the US with fraudulent purposes or malicious intent are offered the following advice: Don't even try. If statutes or visa terms are violated, travelers may be subject to detention and removal. A visa is a privilege, not a right, and only those who respect our laws and follow the proper procedures will be welcomed."

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Have an immigration story to tell? Contact the reporter via email at mrussell@businessinsider.com or Signal at @MeliaRussell.01. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely .

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The immigration cases of some of the Venezuelan migrants who were deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act in March have been dismissed, their attorneys said, raising concern from advocates and lawyers who say the move is a violation of due process.

For more than two months, John Dutton, a Houston-based immigration attorney, fought to keep one of his client's immigration case open. Henrry Albornoz Quintero, who was detained in Dallas in January after showing up to a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was deported to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador in March.

After Quintero was deported, Dutton continued to show up to his client's immigration hearings where he says the government attorneys declined to answer questions about his client and pushed for dismissal. Quintero's case was dismissed "due to a lack of jurisdiction," Dutton said.

PHOTO: An ICE agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed upon entering the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023 in New York City. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

"There's just nothing [the judge] could do," Dutton said. "Henrry is not here because the president shipped him out of the country. What's an immigration judge going to do to stop that?"

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Dutton previously told ABC News that Quintero's wife, who entered the U.S. with him last year, had a baby in April.

MORE: Trump administration asks SCOTUS for permission to deport nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants

Michelle Brane, the executive director of the immigration support group Together and Free, told ABC News that her team has tracked at least 15 immigration cases of migrants who were sent to CECOT that were recently dismissed. Some of the cases include active pending asylum applications.

Brane said she believes immigration courts should "administratively close" the cases, which would allow them to be reopened "if and when" the person is brought back.

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"Dismissing as opposed to administratively closing is sort of making an assumption that these people will never come back," Brane said. "And I think that's premature and certainly based on the court decisions, so far, they should be brought back to receive some kind of due process."

If the Venezuelan migrants were to be brought back, there is no process for reopening their immigration cases, Brane said.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Mark Prada, an attorney representing a 24-year-old Venezuelan, said he was able to have his client's case administratively closed.

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"I was able to cut the head off the snake before it could poke out of its hole," he told ABC News.

Isabel Carlota Roby, an attorney for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, told ABC News that at least seven of the 10 men her group represents had some form of legal protection in the U.S., including Temporary Protected Status or pending asylum applications before being deported to CECOT in El Salvador.

MORE: Judge hears arguments over fate of CECOT detainees

Roby said her group represents them internationally -- filing habeus petitions in El Salvador and other types of advocacy -- but does not represent them in U.S. immigration court. However, she said many of them have had their cases dismissed recently. She told ABC News that most of the migrants her group represents do not have immigration attorneys.

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"They basically represented themselves in court and presented their own asylum cases," Carlota Roby said. "Most of them simply were deported and their cases were just left behind and that was it."

"They were denied due process, they are disappeared, and they are now in this legal limbo where they remain in a prison with no legal protections, excluded from the protection of the law, and they don't know if they'll ever have a chance at a fair trial," she added.

The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act -- an 18th century wartime authority used to remove noncitizens with little-to-no due process -- to deport more than 200 alleged migrant gang members to CECOT by arguing that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is a "hybrid criminal state" that is invading the United States.

An official with the ICE acknowledged that "many" of the men deported on March 15 lack criminal records in the United States -- but said that "the lack of specific information about each individual actually highlights the risk they pose." Many of their families have also denied gang involvement.

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The government is temporarily barred from removing migrants under the proclamation after the Supreme Court extended its injunction last month and remanded the case to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to resolve the question of how much time should be afforded for detainees to contest their removals.

Some attorneys told ABC News they are appealing the dismissals.

The lawyer for Jose Franco Caraballo Tiapa, a 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant who was seeking asylum in the U.S., and was detained after showing up to his routine check-in with ICE, filed an appeal after his client's case was dismissed.

"The dismissal results in what can be construed as a violation of due process, as he was not given the opportunity to be heard on his asylum claim," said Martin Rosenow.

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Lindsay Toczylowski, the attorney who represents Andry Hernandez Romero, a gay makeup artist who was sent to CECOT in El Salvador, said in a statement that her client was denied due process.

"DHS is doing everything it can to erase the fact that Andry came to the United States seeking asylum and he was denied due process as required by our Constitution," Toczylowski said. "The idea that the government can disappear you because of your tattoos, and never even give you a day in court, should send a chill down the spine of every American."

In the statement posted by Immigrant Defenders Law Center, the group said the dismissal of Hernandez's dismissal is "not the end." The group said it will file an appeal and continue its advocacy to bring the 32-year-old back to the U.S.

Immigration courts dismissing cases of Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador: Attorneys originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
An immigration judge on Wednesday said she needed more time to review the case of an undocumented immigrant who police investigators say was set up and delayed a hearing for a week.

The man, Ramon Morales-Reyes, appeared before immigration Judge Carla Espinoza Wednesday morning over video conferencing, calling in from the Wisconsin jail hes currently being held in.

In late May, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Morales-Reyes after receiving a letter purporting to be from him threatening to kill President Donald Trump before self-deporting. Police quickly suspected a setup and, from reviewing jailhouse phone calls, discovered that a man who allegedly assaulted Morales-Reyes in 2023 had orchestrated the letters in order to have the migrant deported, court records allege.

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That man, Demetric Scott, has now been charged with several new counts including identity theft.

Judge Espinoza said she needed more time to review evidence filed by Morales-Reyes over the letter, which was submitted last night by his attorney.

A different individual has now confessed to writing that letter, Morales-Reyes attorney, Cain Oulahan, told the judge.

Department of Homeland Security attorney Caitlin Corcoran told the judge that Morales-Reyes is eligible for a bond while his immigration proceedings play out.

Im not going to argue that hes ineligible for bond, Corcoran said. Hes bond eligible.

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Corcoran also said she needed more time to review evidence around the letter, to which Oulahan quipped that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem already posted about the letter and accusation.

I think the department should be aware of it, Oulahan said, referring to Noems previous post that accused Morales-Reyes of threatening the president.

DHS has not removed or retracted Noems statement accusing Morales-Reyes.

Judge Espinoza said she would only be weighing whether Morales-Reyes is a danger to the community or a flight risk during the next hearing, scheduled for June 10.

That is what Ill be analyzing during the next court hearing, the judge said, noting that despite the case garnering news coverage, the court will look at the evidence before it. Not anything else.

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In the aftermath of what was deemed the largest immigration raid in Florida so far in 2025, family members and friends of the more than 100 construction workers detained say they have had trouble locating their loved ones.

Some of the laborers were sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Baker County, while some went to Miami's Krome Detention Center. Others were quickly flown to El Paso, Texas, and were still there awaiting removal as of June 3.

And some are already in Mexico, just five days after being detained and bused away from their job site in Tallahassee, Florida.

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But others are still silent, and their friends and family are worried and waiting for a call to know where they are  and if they're safe.

Questions about where the detainees were headed and in which detention facilities they would be held have been pending with federal authorities since May 29. Questions about how often detainees are transferred are also pending.

"There's no apparent rhyme or reason to where people are sent," Florida-based immigration attorney Elizabeth Ricci said. Her firm, Rambana & Ricci, is representing clients who were detained in a May 29 ICE raid at a construction site of a seven-story mixed-use development called Perla at the Enclave in Tallahassee, the state capital.

It could be geography  a close location that's easy to send detainees to  but many of the county detention facilities in the state are at capacity, according to state records.

Texas seen as better to send detainees to

As for the feds sending people to Texas, immigration lawyers generally say it's because judges there are tougher and it's closer to the U.S.-Mexico border, making it easier for removal and harder for lawyers and families to track people down.

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Some of the laborers were on their way to Texas as soon as the day after the raid, but not everyone could find friends and family, as ICE's Online Detainee Locator System has been unreliable in recent months, according to Ricci.

"It's very possible that we are on the (telephone) waiting to have a bond hearing that was scheduled, and unbeknownst to us, the person has been sent to another facility," Ricci said. If a detainee is sent to another court jurisdiction, the attorney has to file the client's paperwork in that district all over again.

A large crowd gathered at the Florida Capitol on Friday, May 30, 2025 to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest takes place a day after a major anti-illegal immigration raid in Tallahassee that occurred May 29.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican leaders have criticized federal judges who have ruled against President Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda, calling it lawfare, referring to the use (or misuse) of legal systems to attack, discredit, or obstruct an opponent.

Theyve publicly denounced one Florida judge, who ruled one of the states latest immigration laws unconstitutional, saying she ruled beyond her jurisdiction.

Florida's reputation as 'toughest' on illegal immigration

In the name of being the "toughest" state on immigration, Florida officials also asked the federal government for more leeway to establish its own brick-and-mortar facilities to detain and house more immigrants.

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Waiving federal standards for detention would allow the state to house more people and for longer, they say, as ICE currently does not have the capability to keep up with the president's and Florida governors mass deportation mandates.

According to the states immigration enforcement operations plan: There is  a major chokepoint in terms of detention. At its current state, ICE is overwhelmed with the number of detainees that have been arrested prior to the state assisting with the process.

Advocates say this has led to some detained immigrants being moved, some up to five times, from ICE detention to county jails, out of state and back in, because of occupancy issues in Florida facilities.

There were 1,984 open jail beds in county detention facilities at the end of March, according to a report on vacant beds from Larry Keefe, the executive director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, to Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.

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But 27 of the facilities, some of which are the only detention facilities in their counties, have no vacant beds, according to the March 26, 2025, report.

A large crowd gathered at the Florida Capitol on Friday, May 30, 2025 to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest takes place a day after a major anti-illegal immigration raid in Tallahassee that occurred May 29.

Mariana Blanco, director of operations of the Guatemalan-Mayan Center in Palm Beach County, has been tracking detentions of people in her community since March. Blanco keeps track of their names, country of origin, where they were detained, if they had a criminal record or removal orders, and where they are being held.

At least one person fills out the form or calls Blanco to report another detention every day.

Blanco said many detainees are held at Krome, recognized as Americas oldest immigration detention facility, for weeks and even months. But there is a growing number of detainees who are constantly being transferred from one detention facility to another, making it difficult to alert family or their lawyers, if they have one.

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We have folks who have been detained for months, and we have folks who, within 24 hours, them and their U.S. born-kids were already sent back to their country, Blanco said.

There is no way to keep track of the detentions and deportation work."

For example, according to Blanco's data, one client was held at Krome, then moved to a Broward County detention facility, and is now at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center. Another was held in Stuart, Florida, moved to Louisiana, then brought back to Krome to later be deported.

One client has been transferred nine times, Blanco said.

A bed inside a large room intended to be used by families at a migrant reception center for Mexican deportees sits empty in Juarez as very families have been deported throught the port of entry of El Paso, Texas.

The constant transfers have allowed the government to place some immigrants on deportation flights before they could speak with family members or attorneys, Blanco added.

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Most of her daily calls come from desperate families seeking help to locate their detained family members.

Before 8 a.m. many day, Ricci also gets frantic calls from clients who say a family member's hearing has been rescheduled for that day and they just found out, which leaves little time to prepare.

"That's all part of this intentional system to make it more difficult for people to have a defense," Ricci said.

Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. Valentina Palm covers immigration in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, a member of the the USA TODAY Network  Florida. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: After Tallahassee ICE raid, families struggle to locate loved ones
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- County leaders have stepped in to help the community of Pleasant Farms after an early morning storm destroyed homes and left many people displaced.

Theres nothing left: Pleasant Farms couple thrown from bed amid storm that destroyed their home

Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett, who issued an Emergency Declaration for the impacted community, said he and his team are working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to efficiently and effectively address the damage.

This will be an all hands on deck situation to assist the citizens. This will include the Sheriff, Odessa Fire Rescue, Ector County Public Works, Ector County Environmental Enforcement, Ector County Constable Precinct 1, Jonathan Campbell, Constable PCT. 4 , South Ector County Volunteer Fire Department, and West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department, Fawcett said.

If you need help, heres what you need to know:

The Ector County Public Works Department will be streamlining emergency cleanup

services/assistance beginning on Wednesday, June 4th. All affected homeowners are directed to call Marcie Molina with the Public Works Department at (432) 381-0098 to request assistance

homeowners must provide their names and addresses so that cleanup efforts may be facilitated.

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Fawcett said County staff members will be available to answer questions and provide support at the South Ector Volunteer Fire Department building located at 4454 W Apple Street, Odessa, TX 79766, June 4th, 2025, at 8:00 am.

We are truly devastated for the members of our community that have been affected by this storm. We will continue to work diligently to provide support and services to those in need, he said.

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STOCKHOLM, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Thai Air Force has today confirmed its selection of the Saab Gripen E/F as its new future multi-role fighter. Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) will now follow the next steps in the procurement process with the Kingdom of Thailand.

At this point Saab has not signed a contract nor received an order relating to this announcement.

In addition to Gripen E/F fighter aircraft and associated equipment, Saab's offer also includes a long-term offset package. This will benefit the national security and strategic independence of Thailand, while also bringing new jobs and investments to a range of Thai society sectors. The details are yet to be determined.

"We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force's selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process. Gripen E/F is the best solution to provide Thailand with independent airpower for the future which will contribute significantly to the nation's safety and security," says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

Thailand has been operating Gripen C/D since 2011.

Contact

Saab Press Centre

+46 (0)734 180 018

presscentre@saabgroup.com

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 25,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One person is hurt after a house fire in Independence Wednesday morning.

According to the Independence Fire Department, around 3:20 a.m., units were sent to a home on East 29th Street.

Damage reported across Kansas City metro after Tuesdays storms

When responders arrived, they said fire was coming from a garage, and they initiated an aggressive attack.

The firefighters were able to put out the fire, but one person was treated for minor injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Nearly eight months after tenants at Independence Towers initiated a rent strike, a union announced that an agreement was reached between the residents and the apartment complexs new landlord on Tuesday.

According to a spokesperson for KC Tenants, the Independence Towers Tenant Union held a two-hour bargaining session with its new landlord, Vijai Ponnezhan of Dynasty Properties.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

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The debate resulted in a historic agreement, ensuring that all current residents receive new leases with rent set at negotiable rates, zero retaliation for the strike, and major repairs with a November 2025 deadline.

We are pleased to report a positive outcome from our first bargaining session with Dynasty Properties, resulting in a historic agreement that will protect and improve our homes, the tenant union said.

The stability we celebrate today is the direct result of steadfast organizing: We came together to form a union, we fought for our homes, we took the ultimate collective risk by launching and sustaining a rent strike. Now that we know the power of our union, we will remain active in the months and years to come, continuing the work to ensure that Independence Towers is the healthy, safe community we deserve.

Since October 2024, several tenants at Independence Towers have been on strike, resulting in nearly $290,000 withheld in rent.

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However, Tuesdays settlement allows the union to consider de-escalating from the strike and start rent payments in June.

The new agreement is as follows:

Dynasty Properties will offer lease renewal to all current tenants at the rates listed below, and offer an option to sign for a second year with a 5% rent increase cap.

The rent and utility rates (including water, sewer, trash, gas) will be: Studio: $730 Large Studio: $755 One Bed: $855 Two Bed: $965

Tenants will receive an automatic rent discount ($75) for the months prior to full HVAC repair.

The lease will not charge any extraneous fees.

In the event that a tenant is late on rent, Dynasty will charge a flat $50 late fee on the first of the month, but will offer a three-week grace period before an eviction filing is initiated.

Dynasty has committed to permanent HVAC repair by the end of November 2025.

Dynasty has committed to comprehensive pest extermination, plumbing repairs, and in-unit repairs, to be complete by the end of 2025.

In the event of repair-related displacement, Dynasty Properties has agreed to relocate tenants to another unit in the building on the same terms (no rent increase) OR to allow the tenant to end the lease at no cost

Dynasty will provide regular updates on repairs, in the form of newsletters to tenants.

Dynasty will repair and re-open the parking garage and community room by the end of 2025.

Dynasty has recognized the Independence Towers Tenant Union and there will be no retaliation, including evictions or lease non-renewals, for organizing.

Dynasty has committed to renegotiate terms with the tenant union at the end of the initial renewal period.

Before being purchased by Dynasty Properties, Independence Towers was owned by Parker Webb and financed with a loan from Fannie Mae.

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Damage reported across Kansas City metro after Tuesdays storms

Throughout Parker Webbs ownership, multiple reports of inadequate living conditions were made.

However, this new agreement, along with its negotiated utility rates, might bring peace and comfort for the tenants, allowing for a safe living condition inside their units, stabilized costs, and even the chance for some residents to see their monthly bills go down.

All decisions will be formalized at a Wednesday night meeting, the union said.

Read the full agreement below:

Independence Towers Final Terms June 3 2025Download

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita warned Butler University and DePauw University that he may take legal action that could complicate their nonprofit tax-exempt status if he finds their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies could violate state and federal law.

In letters sent to the university presidents May 28, Rokita argued the institution's DEI-friendly policies could constitute racial discrimination and violate civil rights laws.

Both Butler and DePauw still list DEI as priorities within their strategic plans. Rokita largely pointed to those goals and adjoining policies as the basis for his letters. In those plans, the universities say they seek to attract more diverse faculty and staff, provide improved support to those communities and build a campus promoting DEI principles.

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"Hoosiers are rightfully concerned that some education institutions treat students, faculty, staff and others differently based on race under the guise of DEI or other," Rokita said in a release.

The colleges have until June 27 to respond to Rokita's letter with answers to his questions and requested data. Whether he takes further action, he said in a news release, depends on the colleges' responses and if they are following a "legal and moral commitment to racial equality."

Several of Indiana's public universities have shuttered its DEI programs to comply with new state and federal anti-DEI mandates. So far, that includes Indiana University, Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and Ball State University.

Rokita also sent a similar May 9 letter to the University of Notre Dame requesting DEI information to ensure its compliance with federal and state law. Rokita said the university must respond with requested materials by June 9. Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the university have responded to IndyStar requests for an update.

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If a university doesn't comply, his letters threaten challenges to the institution's nonprofit status. However, the Internal Revenue Service, if it chooses, would still need to investigate and decide to revoke a school's tax-exempt status. President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University's nonprofit status, which the university claims is illegal, if it does not conform to his demands.

DePauw President Lori White has also previously been vocally supportive of such policies, which Rokita criticizes in his letter. In May 2023, White was one of 27 liberal arts college presidents to sign a letter stating they intend to continue prioritizing inclusive policies following the Supreme Court's decision to make race-conscious admissions illegal.

"It seems DePauw University may have met that moment and the Courts decision with evasion, circumvention, and obstruction, rather than a good faith desire to respect the civil rights of students and faculty," Rokita's letter reads.

In a statement sent to IndyStar, DePauw said "we uphold high ethical standards and do not engage in unlawful discrimination in our admissions and hiring practices."

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Butler spokesperson Mark Apple said the university is reviewing Rokita's requests and "takes seriously its commitment to compliance with all state and federal laws." The university will respond to his request by the stated deadline, the statement said.

Rokita largely leans on the the U.S. Supreme Courts Students for Fair Admissions decision, which barred universities from enrolling students using affirmative action.

Since taking office, Trump has stripped diversity practices and efforts out of the federal government, and his administration has begun focusing its anti-DEI efforts on higher education and the private sector.

Gov. Mike Braun has done the same in Indiana. On his second full day in office, he signed an executive order to remove DEI initiatives and policies from state government, including closing the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity created by then-Gov. Holcomb in 2020.

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Braun also signed a bill into law May 6 to allow individuals to sue publicly funded schools or government entities for DEI policies and programs. Senate Enrolled Act 289 prohibits public institutions from taking actions based on an individual's "personal characteristic," such as race, religion, color and sex.

The USA TODAY Network - Indiana's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

Have a story to tell? Reach Cate Charron by email at ccharron@indystar.com or message her on Signal at @cate.charron.28.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: AG Rokita says Butler, DePauw DEI policies may violate law
Indiana Bible College is suing a renowned composer and her music publisher, claiming defamation after they alleged the school unlawfully based its viral hit song on her composition.

In a complaint filed June 2 in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, the Indianapolis-based college said statements made by Fred Bock Music Co. and choral music composer Rosephanye Powell have damaged the school's reputation and led it to lose business.

Indiana Bible College drew attention with the late April debut of John 1, and a video of the song being performed by the college choir went viral.

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Powell and California-based Gentry Publication maintain that John 1 is derivative of the classical a cappella The Word Was God, a popular piece in choral circles that Powell wrote in 1996.

Composer says school infringed copyright

In late May, Powell took to social media to claim the school infringed on her copyrighted work.

Powell claimed IBC copied, altered and performed her song without permission in producing John 1. This was after she and Gentry denied the college permission to use the song in 2024, she said.

Song dispute: 'No credit or consent.' Composer says Indiana Bible College stole her song for streaming

After Gentry made a copyright claim against a John 1 video on YouTube, the platform removed the video. IBC still has the video of the spring performance of the song on Facebook.

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"John 1" debuted on Apple Music on May 2, 2025, and its sheet music was made available for sale.

This song is undeniably a derivative of my work, Powell, a music professor at Auburn University in Alabama, said in a May 23 Facebook post, adding that the Indiana choir made minor alterations to notes, rests and rhythms to "The Word Was God."

Fred Block Music Co. owns Gentry Publication, the publisher of The Word Was God, which is based on the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the Bible.

College says 'it's 'John 1' is an original composition

Indiana Bible College in its lawsuit says John 1 is an original composition and does not infringe on any protectable elements of "The Word Was God," and that it owns the music in the new song, with the significant musical elements  independently composed in the summer of 2024.

The college claims Powell and Gentry published and amplified false statements across Dr. Powells and Fred Bocks social-media channels, encouraged others to renounce John 1 and IBC, and used IndyStar to publish an article accusing IBC and its writers of unauthorized derivative, copyright infringement, and intellectual dishonesty.

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College leaders did not respond to IndyStar's request for comment prior to publication of a May 30 story detailing Powell's concerns over "John 1."

Indiana Bible College said the statements made by Powell and Gentry hurt its reputation, resulted in loss of prospective contracts, and led to those listed as writers and composers garnering hostility.

Composer Rosephanye Powell.

The defendants influenced third parties from doing business with the school, which had prospective business relationships with students, composers, worship communities, venues, and publishers for the use of John 1 and other compositions, the lawsuit states.

IndyStar left messages with the college and its lawyer for comment on the lawsuit, but had not heard back by the time of publication.

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The college's filing also lists unidentified defendants who have published or republished defamatory statements or induced business interference.

Third parties have viewed, shared, or reposted Defendants statements, further damaging Plaintiffs business and personal reputations, and the defendants are inducing venues, publishers, and worship communities to cease using or promoting John 1, the complaint says.

Powell has seen a lot of support from the choral music community on social media, including statements from state choral associations and businesses. She is the 2025 recipient of the American Choral Directors Association's prestigious Raymond Brock Memorial Commission.

J. W. Pepper, the worlds largest sheet music retailer on May 28 posted to its Facebook page, We stand with Rosephanye Powell. As a champion of original music, we support the artists whose work we distribute, the company posted on May 28.  We applaud Dr. Powells courage in speaking out to defend her intellectual property. Creative work is not only labor  its legacy.

Indiana Bible College seeks damages, apologies

Indiana Bible College is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and asking the court to declare John 1 does not infringe on and is not derivative of The Word Was God.

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The school also wants the court to order Powell and her publisher not to make defamatory statements, remove defamatory statements from websites and social media and issue public retractions.

It requests a trial by jury.

Both Powell and Gentry Publication said they are standing by their claims that John 1 was derived from The Word Was God.

In the strongest terms we disagree with all of their allegations and will continue to defend Dr. Powell's work and reputation as well as our copyright ownership in The Word Was God, Gentry Publication said in a statement provided to IndyStar June 4.

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Powell said she has no plans to back off of claims that the bible college used "The Word Was God" to create "John 1."

Youre going to tell me to be quiet because youre losing money over something based on my work? she said. We're speaking truth. ... They want this to go away.

Theyve got the wrong one."

About Indiana Bible College

Indiana Bible College, headed by Rev. Joshua Carson, is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International.

Founded in 1981 and currently located at 1502 E. Sumner Ave., the school posted to its social media accounts on May 25 that it was working on clearing up the matter in private.

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The release of the choral arrangement 'John 1' has been met with claims of copyright infringement," it said. "Establishing whether copyright infringement has occurred is extraordinarily fact sensitive, and parties to copyright infringement disputes frequently genuinely disagree whether the legal standard for infringement has been met. We are actively discussing the matter privately with the only party that has a legal standing to dispute the matter.

The schools filing follows the May 29 receipt of a letter from Gentry and Powell alleging copyright infringement and threatening a lawsuit if the college did not comply with their demands.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Bible College files defamation lawsuit against choral composer
NICHOLAS COUNTY, WV (WVNS)  A man wanted for attempted murder in Indiana was arrested in West Virginia.

According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service, 56-year-old Marvin Starcher, of Garrett, Indiana, was arrested at around 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Nicholas County by members of the U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force.

Nurse charged in Raleigh County after a child was taken to a hospital with a broken femur

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The press release stated that Starcher was arrested on WV Route 16 in Nicholas County near the Nicholas and Fayette County line. Starcher was reportedly wanted by the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office and DeKalb County Superior Court due to not showing up for a scheduled trial for charges related to distribution of methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon on May 3, 2025.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Starcher reportedly kidnapped, stabbed, and left a trial witness on the side of the road in a rural part of DeKalb County, Indiana on May 24, 2025, before allegedly leaving the area after stealing the victims car.

The press release stated that warrants were gathered for Starcher for attempted murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, intimidation, and criminal confinement by the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office.

Texas man sentenced for multiple crimes in Fayette County

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According to the U.S. Marshals press release, Starcher was thought to be armed and dangerous and was believed to be purposefully avoiding arrest. Information that Starcher was avoiding arrest in West Virginia was gathered by U.S. Marshals in Indiana, and U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force members found Starcher driving the stolen car on Monday, June 2, 2025.

A felony traffic stop was held in Nicholas County on WV Route 16, and Starcher was arrested by members of the CUFFED Task Force, the release stated. He was taken to Central Regional Jail after being booked on a fugitive from justice warrant, and is in jail waiting for extradition to Indiana.

The press release stated that agencies involved in the arrest included the Nicholas County Sheriffs Office, the Fayette County Sheriffs Office, and the Montgomery 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 WVNS.
By Prasto Wardoyo

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Reuters) -An Indonesian convicted in the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub bombings has launched his own coffee business after being released on parole, and has said he will use some of the earnings to help survivors of the attacks.

Umar Patek, a member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, was jailed for 20 years in 2012 after he was found guilty of making bombs that ripped through two Bali nightclubs, killing 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians. He was released on parole in 2022 and has apologised to the victims.

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Patek's release sparked anger in Australia and Indonesia.

At the launch of the coffee business on Tuesday, a banner with Patek's face festooned a cafe in the Indonesian city of Surabaya on Java island. It is owned by dentist David Andreasmito and will use the beans Patek supplies and roasts.

"I was still shell-shocked by the outside world," Patek said, adding he had trouble finding work after his release and was worried his image would affect the business.

"The stigma of a former terrorism convict made it hard for me to find work," he said.

Patek said he understood that many people were still angry with him but pleaded to them "not to let that doubt stick", adding he would give portions of his earnings to survivors.

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David said he went into business with Patek because he had apologised and wanted people to give him a second chance.

Since Patek's release, Indonesian authorities have highlighted him as an example of the deradicalisation efforts launched by the world's most populous Muslim-majority country to counter a resurgence in Islamic militancy.

Chusnul Chotimah, a survivor of the Bali attacks who is covered in burn scars and says she struggles to pay for life-saving treatments, jostled in front of the crowd to speak to Patek at the launch.

"I used to have grudges against you," she said. I forgive you for what you did. I know youve changed for the better."

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Chusnul later said she hoped Patek could help out the survivors. "Don't just say sorry," she said.

Tumini, another survivor, said in Bali's capital Denpasar that she is still struggling to pay for her treatment and that government aid should be prioritised for victims still in recovery.

(Additional reporting by Sultan Anshori in Denpasar; Writing by Stanley Widianto)
WARWICK, Mass. (WWLP)  An injured individual was rescued from the woods near Gale Road in Warwick Wednesday afternoon.

Chicopee woman charged with arson following Belcher Street fire

The Warwick Fire Department shared in a social media post that crews were called to a report of an injured person approximately a half mile into the woods on Gale Road Wednesday afternoon. A UTV with the Orange Fire Department was requested to assist with the incident.

Courtesy of the Warwick Fire Department.

Emergency crews worked together to remove the individual from the woods, who was then brought to the hospital by the Orange Fire Department to be treated.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Its shaping up to be the year from hell for Ron DeSantis.

The Florida governor has been in a war of words and blame with the Republican state House speaker. A drawn-out budget dispute has left him frozen on filling key positions. Allies are streaming out the door, and its unclear whether a successor in the governors mansion will continue his legacy initiatives.

Floridas current unsettled political landscape is a reminder that DeSantis  about 17 months removed from his unsuccessful bid for president  no longer has an iron grip on his states politics. And it's a long cry from the once-rising conservative star whose handling of Covid-19 and his battles over education, race and gender identity garnered widespread attention  and have been replicated to some extent by the Trump administration.

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I think hes flailing. He is alienating even the people he thinks are his friends, said one longtime top Florida Republican operative who was granted anonymity to talk about DeSantis frankly. I think hes a man without an island.

DeSantis, who is term-limited and cannot run again next year, has declined to endorse Rep. Byron Donalds for governor, even though Donalds has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. First lady Casey DeSantis has been mulling her own gubernatorial run, but she has not moved ahead even as Donalds picks up additional endorsements and financial support. The DeSantises have also been playing defense after the House probed a foundation linked to Hope Florida, an initiative launched by the first lady to help steer people away from government welfare programs.

Amid all this, a messy presidential battle has exploded at the University of Florida. Donalds and other conservative Republicans called on the board that governs universities to reject the hiring of Santa Ono, who had already won the backing of the UF board and its DeSantis-allied chair. The board ended up doing just that, as the governor, who has championed an overhaul of the states higher education system, tried to remain neutral in the fight.

Another Tallahassee lobbyist said bluntly: There is no plan. Its just chaos all the time.

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Taryn Fenske, a longtime aide for DeSantis who remains part of his political operation, pushed back on this description of DeSantis.

Governor DeSantis keeps people guessing  and winning, she said in an email. Decisions will be made when it best serves Floridas interests. Not a moment sooner, not a moment later. Hes playing the long game. And so far, he hasnt missed.

DeSantis remains popular among Republican voters in the state. But for now, his own political prospects beyond 2026 are murky. The same GOP operative who said DeSantis is alienating people said it got in [DeSantis] craw when Trump recently mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio  a fellow Floridian  as potential Republican candidates for president. DeSantis has continued to raise money, but it has not been anywhere near what he amassed ahead of his successful 2022 reelection.

Cabinet and future unsettled

Another looming decision DeSantis has not yet moved on: Who to tap as lieutenant governor after Jeanette Nunez stepped down to become president of Florida International University  an arrangement pushed by the governors office.

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POLITICO talked to more than a dozen operatives, consultants and top Republicans about the vacancy and DeSantis future. Names that have emerged for lieutenant governor include former state House Speakers Jose Oliva, Paul Renner and Richard Corcoran. Oliva has been a longtime ally of DeSantis, but he also has been a sharp critic of state House Speaker Daniel Perez, and his appointment may only increase tensions with the House as DeSantis heads into his final year. Another DeSantis ally  state Sen. Jay Collins  has expressed interest.

Floridas lieutenant governor is not a high-profile position, with few of its own specific responsibilities. But DeSantis pick is being closely watched to see whether he installs a placeholder or someone who has ambitions to run in 2026. If DeSantis goes with someone who may run, it would be the strongest signal yet that Casey DeSantis may not seek the job herself.

Floridas first lady has largely sidestepped that question, and when asked nearly two weeks ago, she said, We literally just went through an election cycle.

She added, You talk to a lot of people around the state, and they are so tired of politics. They want people to actually do their jobs.

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In Tallahassee, meanwhile, people are steadily streaming out of top government jobs. Manny Diaz, Floridas education commissioner who was hand-picked by DeSantis, accepted the job of interim president at the University of West Florida. DeSantis legislative affairs director also departed last week.

One of DeSantis most trusted allies is no longer working side by side with the governor. Earlier this year, DeSantis appointed his chief of staff James Uthmeier to become attorney general after he named Ashley Moody to replace Rubio in the Senate. The move has been seen as a testament to Uthmeiers steadfast loyalty to DeSantis, but since taking the position, Uthmeier has been focused on his new job and his own campaign for 2026.

But another key vacancy is that of chief financial officer.

POLITICO previously reported that state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia is the leading contender for that post, but installing Ingoglia brings the risk of drawing the ire of Trump supporters. Trump has already endorsed state Sen. Joe Gruters  who has an icy relationship with DeSantis  for the post.

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Former state Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican who would chide fellow GOP legislators for bowing too much to DeSantis, said he understands why DeSantis has not acted on some of his appointments.

The governor actually prefers delaying these appointments as it maximizes his options and gives him additional control, he said.

In prior years, DeSantis has bent the state Legislature to his will. But he has clashed with it for most of the year, starting with a dust-up over immigration that took three special sessions before legislators and the governor put together a measure designed to help Trumps mass deportation efforts. He has been at odds with Perez for months now and has sharply criticized the state Houses legislative agenda. Its been the House that has held hearings on Hope Florida. But hes also seen the Senate fail to confirm agency heads and reject some of his appointments to college boards.

This all needs to get done

Then there was an ongoing budget dispute that kept the governor from filling some of his major appointments, since those could take some of his key allies out of the Legislature.

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Perez and state Senate President Ben Albritton in early May announced the outlines of a deal on a state budget, but Albritton walked away from the agreement to cut $2.8 billion in taxes. He did so in part because DeSantis said a push to permanently reduce sales taxes would be dead on arrival, as the governor said it would undermine his push to cut local property taxes.

Lately, DeSantis has remained mostly out of the fray as budget negotiations slogged on. He did take some swipes at legislators Friday for failing to act before hurricane season, since his budget recommendations included a sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness supplies and replenishing a program that helps homeowners hurricane-proof their homes.

Legislative leaders did late Friday come to a framework for a deal and are scheduled to resume work this week on crafting a new budget.

He acts like he runs this state when hes taking credit for other peoples work, said one longtime GOP Tallahassee insider. If anything could show hes not running the state, this is it.

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Ingoglia bristled at the suggestion that DeSantis is a lame duck and lacks clout now.

I still think hes a dominant force in Florida politics, said Ingoglia. The people of Florida think hes doing a great job. In my mind, he has a mandate. I dont think hes going to take his foot off the gas.

Kimberly Leonard contributed to this report.
Every few years, I get a notice from my insurance company informing me that  usually unbeknownst to me  an inspector has strolled around my property looking for potential hazards or issues of concern to my insurer. The notice will sometimes include a list of things they want me to address, perhaps like a tree branch thats too close to the roof.

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Recently, I realized that my insurance company may be keeping tabs on my property in a way I never expected, by checking out my home from the air  and your insurance may be doing it, too.

Some insurance companies are now using drones to do property inspections from the air. In some cases, insurers are using the results of these inspections to refuse to insure the property altogether. This may be especially concerning for property owners in certain areas at high risk of natural disasters, where insurance options may already be limited as insurers have been dropping customers.

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I talked to experts to find out why insurance companies are using drone inspections  and what you can do if an aerial inspection impacts you.

Drone inspections are becoming more common.

The use of drones for inspections on a widespread basis is becoming more routine.

Property insurers have been using drone technology for many years in assessing damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires to process claims quicker, said Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute. The technology is now being used by many national and regional insurers to inspect the exterior condition of homes in making underwriting decisions for the property.

Heres why insurance companies use drone inspections.

For insurance companies, drone inspections offer several benefits. Friedlander noted that this approach is more efficient and precise than inspections performed by humans and avoids the risks or potential hazards involved when an inspector must physically walk around a property.

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Related: This Republican Lawmaker's Embarrassing Lack Of Knowledge Of The Term "Intersex" Went Viral After He Proposed An Amendment To Cut LGBTQ+ Funding

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When enlisting a drone to help with a property inspection, insurers are especially interested in checking out parts of the property that are difficult to see from ground level. In particular, this is a great way for an insurer to get a birds eye view of the roof.

They would see if theres any patches or cuts into the roof that will lead to a claim tomorrow, Mike Koba, of Koba Capital Insurance Brokerage, said.

Insurance companies have often used Google Maps to assess properties  but while those images may be several years old, a drone allows for real-time views of a propertys current condition. Koba says insurers will sometimes perform an aerial inspection before deciding whether to insure a property at all  this is especially common with large commercial properties  but may also use this as part of the routine ongoing process to decide whether to renew an existing policy.

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In addition to checking out the condition of the roof or other major components, drone inspections can also reveal something on the property that your insurance company didnt know about.

While the focus is primarily on roof condition, aerial inspections may also capture unreported additions to homes such as swimming pools, gazebos, and trampolines, says Friedlander. In some cases, this type of discovery could result in a premium adjustment or disqualify your property from being insured if it no longer meets the carriers underwriting criteria.

Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing"  11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It

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What if a drone inspection finds an issue?

If your insurer notifies you that a drone inspection revealed an issue, that doesnt necessarily mean you should panic or prepare for higher insurance premiums. Koba says insurance companies will typically give the property owner a short period of time  often around 45 days  to correct the issue. If you believe the insurance companys information is incorrect, you can also present evidence or documentation to prove the accurate condition of the property.

Know your rights and options as a property owner.

If youre like me, the idea of a drone checking out your property without your knowledge might give you Big Brother vibes, but experts say it is most likely perfectly legal for an insurer to inspect your property this way.

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Candise Shanbron, managing partner of Cernitz Law, says there are a variety of federal, state and local laws regarding the use of drones which in some cases prohibit drone users from conducting surveillance that would violate a reasonable expectation of privacy without the property owners consent. However, she notes that there are often exceptions for licensed business entities that have a legitimate interest in the property  which would typically include insurance companies and insurance adjusters.

While laws about what  if any  disclosures or advance warning an insurer must provide about drone inspections are in many cases vague and vary by location, Shanbron says insurers will often make customers aware of this possibility out of an abundance of caution to avoid any legal liability.

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Unfortunately, if an insurer decides to raise your premiums or cancel your policy based on issues found via a drone inspection, theres probably not much you can do about it from a legal standpoint, Shanbron said, as long as the insurer complies with any applicable laws regarding rates and coverage. If, however, an insurer tries to deny coverage of a claim based on a drone inspection (or any other grounds), she does encourage property owners to consult with an attorney specializing in insurance claims.

This article originally appeared in HuffPost.

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Also in In the News: People Can't Believe This "Disgusting" Donald Trump Jr. Post About Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Is Real

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Defend the Faith in Truth and Spirit: New Book Aims to Fill a Glaring Gap in Todays Catholic Apologetics

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic Answers

June 4, 2025

SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2025 /Standard Newswire/  We live in a new golden age of apologetics. From our screens to our bookshelves, there is a richness of accessible resources to help believers defend and explain their faith in God, Christ, and the Church. But in all the arguments, Bible verses, and historical references we have at our fingertips, could there be something missing?

Catholic Answers, the worlds largest lay apologetics ministry, is concerned that defending the Faith has gotten so focused on the mind that its in danger of losing its soul. And so, in the unique new book The Soul of Apologetics, the Catholic Answers team offers a reminder of and a shot of adrenaline for the all-important but oft-neglected spiritual side of apologetics.

It has become too common, when doing apologetics, to reduce our faith to something clinical and abstract, says Todd Aglialoro, director of publishing for Catholic Answers and general editor of The Soul of Apologetics. This in turn makes it easy to view the other person in an argument as just an ideological foesomeone to be owned or destroyed on social media rather than brought to understanding of the truth.

The Soul of Apologetics is designed to reverse these tendencies by re-ordering our perspective and priorities when we give reasons for our hope (1 Pet. 3:15). It trains us to view even hostile unbelievers as persons with a right to truth and charity. And most of all, it gently draws us back from the tendency to view doctrines of the Faith as mere data or propositions. Through directed prayers, meditations, and instruction, it teaches us afresh how to approach Gods saving mysteries in the way they deserve: with eyes of wonder, gratitude, and love.

About the Author:

The Soul of Apologetics is a collaborative work of Catholic Answers staff and contributors.

SOURCE: Catholic Answers Press

CONTACT: Kerry Beck, 619-387-7200, kbeck@catholic.com


This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter.

Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman is expected to remain with the company now that he won't be running NASA, according to analysts who follow the payment processor.

While the company had named Taylor Lauber as his replacement, that succession plan was only set to kick in if Isaacman shifted to NASA. But President Donald Trump over the weekend nixed Isaacman as a nominee to lead NASA, so there may be no need for Shift4 to change CEOs.

Isaacman will stay at Shift4 in some capacity, predicted Stephens analyst Charles Nabhan. "The big question is whether he's going to be CEO or if he's going to be chairman," Nabhan said.

Isaacman, who founded the company, has also served as Shift4s board chairman. He has been a close associate of SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who was part of Trump's cabinet until exiting last week.

Isaacman was also set to give up his super-voting shares upon his confirmation as NASA administrator, but now that he won't be joining the space agency, he can maintain his controlling stake in the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based payments firm, according to Hal Goetsch, an analyst for B. Riley Securities.

Isaacman has been the controlling shareholder for the payment processor since it went public in 2020. Lauber, who is president, said in a May earnings call that Isaacman would convert his class C and class B shares into class A shares  a move that would give him one vote per share  after which the CEO would have 25% of outstanding class A shares.

Even if he doesn't return to his duties as CEO, he will still control the company, Goetsch said. Between his Class A, B and C shares, Isaacman had a 76% voting power stake in Shift4, according to an April 30 proxy filing.

"Anything that happens at Shift4 has to go through him," Goetsch said in an interview.

Not everyone, however, is convinced Isaacman will maintain his extra voting rights. "That's another topic of debate," Nabhan said. "I still think it's a possibility (that he will give up his super-voting shares), and I've spoken to some investors who believe that as well."

Trump picked Isaacman to lead NASA in December, but abruptly pulled his nomination over the weekend with little explanation.

Trump reversed course on Isaacman after reviewing the CEOs past donations to Democrats, such as former Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, according to a report from the New York Times.
Nearly 300,000 Marylanders who bought individual plans on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange could be affected by proposed premium rate increases. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.)

State insurance officials warn that thousands of Marylanders who bought health insurance on the state marketplace could see the cost of coverage increase an average of 17% next year unless Congress extends federal subsidies that are set to expire in December.

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) said in a press release Tuesday that health insurers are asking the state to raise premiums between 8.1% and 18.7% for individual plans offered under the Affordable Care Act for 2026. The increase would hit nearly 300,000 Marylanders who buy their health insurance through the state marketplace.

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Insurers say the rate increases are needed to account for the impending expiration of federal insurance premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire at the end of the year. If the tax credit remained, insurers would only be seeking an overall average rate change of 7.9%, with most carriers filing for an increase between 5% and 7% for individual plans, the MIA statement said.

The tax credit expiration is just one of the changes under discussion at the federal level that state officials fear could upend Marylands insurance marketplace and lead to higher premium costs.

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant said the budget reconciliation bill recently passed by the House of Representatives could lead further increases insurance premiums and make it harder to enroll in an ACA individual plan.

There are many changes in the House budget reconciliation bill on the federal level that will impact the ability of Marylanders to  enroll in our exchange, as well changes in the calculations that would lower the amount of tax credits further for Marylanders, Grant said in a virtual press conference Tuesday.

Proposed premium hikes would vary by plan, but the Maryland Insurance Administration showed how they might look for a 40-year-old living in Baltimore. (Chart courtesy the Maryland Insurance Administration)

The insurers are also asking for premium increases for small group plans with an overall average rate increase of 5.5%, with the averages by carrier ranging from 3.3% to 12.2%, according to the MIA press release, though state officials were more focused on the increases in the individual market Tuesday.

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The House narrowly passed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill last month to carry out much of the Trump administrations policy plans, including massive changes to Medicaid and the ACA. The current bill does not include language to extend the premium tax credit, leaving it to expire in December unless the U.S. Senate decides to extend it.

That wild uncertainty at the federal level is driving the need for rate increase requests by Marylands insurance companies, said Matthew Celentano, executive director of the League of Life & Health Insurers of Maryland, which includes major providers such as CareFirst, Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthCare.

The budget reconciliation package that passed the House of Representatives last week would have dramatic impacts on Maryland insurance markets, and the loss of subsidies would create affordability challenges across the board for Maryland consumers that would lead to a reversal of progress over the years to drastically reduce the number of uninsured Marylanders, Celentano said in a written statement.

We hope that the Senate realizes and reverses course on the negative consequences of reducing premium tax credits and the concerning impacts it will have on the entire health care ecosystem including our most vulnerable neighbors, his statement said.

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Grant said the proposed premium rate increases are not final and will go through a really careful review by MIA, with public hearings and public comments over the next couple months before new rates are set for next year.

But legislators and state officials say that the potential expiration of premium tax credits is just the tip of the possible impacts on the insurance market from the federal level.

We dont know at this point the exact impact on Marylanders of all those changes, but I think that we can anticipate that they could further lower subsidies and further lead to increases in the market, if they are not addressed by the Senate, Grant said.

Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, said that one of the proposals in the House bill would cut a month off the open enrollment period when people shop around for health care plans  running from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, instead of through Jan. 15. Eberle noted that many young people who enroll in private health plans tend to enroll in the later weeks of the current open enrollment period.

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SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

We know that younger, healthier people in the risk pool is good for everyone, as it lowers the rates, she said.

Eberle said that some provisions in the reconciliation bill would also reduce the states ability to automatically re-enroll individuals by requiring more upfront eligibility checks. Other language in the bill would prohibit tax credits for many undocumented individuals who are lawfully present, including those with asylum protections.

The collective impact of these changes will not only destabilize the private health insurance market place, but we anticipate we could go back to pre-pandemic levels of enrollment  a loss of about 30% of our enrollees, Eberle said.

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Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) said during the virtual press conference that the current bill language will skyrocket prices for average working people, calling the One Big Beautiful bill is one big, brazen betrayal of working Marylanders and Americans.

In the 2025 General Assembly session, lawmakers passed legislation aiming to mitigate potential disruptions in the state marketplace due to federal decisions.

Among those was a proposal to give the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange authority to create a state subsidy if the federal premium tax credit comes to an end. That authority would only be available for 2026 through 2028 under this law sponsored by Del. Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel), chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.

Sen. Pam Beidle (D-Anne Arundel), chair of the Maryland Senate Finance Committee, fears the changes will take a toll on the states relatively low 6% uninsurance rate for health care, backsliding on legislative efforts to boost insurance coverage across the state.

To me, health care is like food and water. Its one of the most important benefits we can provide to people, Beidle said. Seeing the changes this bill (budget reconciliation bill) will bring  weve seen our numbers go down to where its just a small percentage of people who dont have health insurance, and now were going to see that number increase exponentially, she said.
Its not quite clear what is happening with former Missouri Congressman Billy Long and his associates at the federal Office of Personnel Management, where he has been a senior advisor to the director since March.

And Longs internal OPM calendar, which was obtained and reviewed by TPM, doesnt exactly shed light on the situation. In fact, multiple former OPM employees who discussed the matter with us said Longs schedule  which shows him averaging less than three items per week over the past three months  only adds to the questions about his workload and whether he is complying with recordkeeping requirements.

In a statement to TPM, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, who is the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, suggested the calendar data from OPM indicates Long and some of his associates were taking advantage of the agency, which plays a crucial part in the federal bureaucracy.

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If you ask me, it sure looks like Congressman Long got himself and some pals no-show jobs with maxed-out federal salaries, Wyden said, adding, Somebody who abuses taxpayer dollars like that shouldnt come within 100 miles of the IRS.

Long and an OPM spokesperson did not respond to detailed questions from TPM about his schedule and role at the agency. OPM, which essentially serves as the chief human resources office and personnel policy manager for the federal government, is not the most high profile agency, but it is an influential one. During the second Trump administration, it has played a particularly central role, working closely with the Department of Government Efficiency  the initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk  to slash the federal workforce.

Even as his current job is raising eyebrows, Long is on his way to taking a more powerful post. On Tuesday, members of the Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to advance Longs nomination to become commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. That sets the stage for a Senate floor vote that could end in Longs confirmation.

President Trump announced his intention to have Long lead the tax agency on Dec. 4, 2024. Long, who represented Missouris Seventh Congressional District from 2011 until 2023, previously pushed to abolish the IRS and earned a reputation as a staunch Trump loyalist. As TPM has previously reported, Long was one of the members of Congress who promoted bogus conspiracy theories in texts with Trumps former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, during the presidents fight to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. In the announcement about the nomination, which came before Trump took office for his second term, the president boasted of Longs past work as an auctioneer and described him as the consummate people person.

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Since then, Long has been installed at OPM as his nomination has worked its way through the Senate. In that time, various controversies have erupted around his nomination to lead the IRS. These include questions about Longs tax credentials, which seem to come from a Florida business that offers a three-day seminar, and about his past private-sector work promoting a non-existent tax credit as well as another credit that has been described as riddled with fraud.

And, in recent weeks, Longs stint at the OPM has added to those concerns. On May 23, shortly after Long appeared before the Senate Finance Committee, members provided him with additional written questions for the record. Wyden, who cited the internal OPM calendars, took the opportunity to ask Long about the work that he and three associates  Ben Elleson, Karen Meads, and Mark Czuchry  are doing at OPM.

According to Wyden, Longs in-person answer about the role that he and his associates play at the agency left much to be desired.

If Congressman Long and his associates had real jobs doing serious work at OPM theyd have proven it to us when we gave him the opportunity, Wyden said. The best he could do when staff questioned him on this was to read aloud a printout of a random press release and garble a few brief answers about proofreading and retirement issues, and it wasnt believable at all.

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In his written questions to Long, Wyden claimed that both Long and Elleson, who was previously deputy chief of staff and legislative director in Longs House office, were both earning $195,200, which is the maximum salary for a federal worker in Washington D.C. Wyden also referenced the calendars as he asked Long, How many hours per week do you work?

Longs response did not directly answer that question or several others that were asked by the senator about his specific accomplishments and schedule. Instead, Long offered a terse three sentence reply.

As a Senior Advisor at OPM, I work with the Acting Administrator in modernizing and digitizing the federal government retirement system, Long wrote. This includes identifying improvements and discussing options to better serve federal employees. I work at OPM in the Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) speaks at a press conference with members of Senate Democratic leadership following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC May 6, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

TPM obtained and reviewed internal OPM calendars that were provided by a source involved in Longs confirmation. They show Long had a total of 34 items on his schedule during March, April, and May, a period that included thirteen weeks and 64 working days. The calendars did not detail the appointments on Longs schedule, but none appeared to last a full day. And many of the items on Longs calendar may not have been work at all. Eleven of them were identified as tentative, rather than scheduled commitments, and one of the blocked off periods was explicitly listed as free.

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Longs associates at the agency had similarly open schedules. The calendars show Elleson, whose title at OPM is reportedly senior adviser, had 65 items scheduled, an average of slightly more than one thing per day for the three-month period. Of these, eight were listed as tentative and three were identified as free.

According to Wydens questions for the record, Meads, who spent a dozen years serving as the scheduler in Longs district office, is earning a salary of $175,000. Her OPM calendar shows just six items for all of March and April. Everything on Meads schedule during that two month period was identified as either tentative or free. Meads calendar for the month of May was completely empty.

In his written responses to Wyden, Long defended the work of both of his associates while providing few details.

Mr. Elleson is a trusted and respected employee with years of experience. He was brought on following normal hiring practices and procedures, Long wrote, later adding, Ms. Meads is a seasoned employee with extensive government experience. She was brought on following normal hiring practices and procedures.

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Elleson and Meads did not respond to requests for comment from TPM.

A former senior OPM staffer who left the agency prior to Trumps second term and requested anonymity to avoid retaliation said the lack of activity on these calendars is unusual.

I cant imagine a day that I had less than six or seven meetings when I was at OPM  or more  that were back to back. Thats especially true for senior directors, the former senior staffer said.

The ex-staffer went on to point out that DOGE, the so-called government efficiency agency, has extensively focused on OPM and placed personnel inside the agency. One of the items highlighted by DOGE as part of efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse is a decommissioned mine in Pennsylvania that OPM has used to warehouse retirement records. Because many of the retirement functions that Long has suggested he is focused on are based there rather than in D.C., the former staffer suggested his work should include an abundance of online meetings that would crop up on the calendar.

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As DOGE mocked or made clear, retirement services is based in a mine in Pennsylvania, so your work cannot be done in person, the former staffer said.

Obviously, it is possible that Long and his associates are simply not inputting all of their activity on the internal calendar system. However, the former senior staffer suggested this would raise other issues since federal recordkeeping requirements call for detailed tracking.

Longs third associate at OPM, Mark Czuchry, brings up a whole host of other issues unrelated to workload and bookkeeping. Czuchry is a Minnesota lawyer and partner at the financial firm Lifetime Advisors, which employed Long after he left Congress in 2023. Czuchry, a member of his family, and other employees at Lifetime Advisors were among a group of donors who provided Long with an influx of campaign donations after Trump announced his nomination. Long used that cash to reimburse himself for a personal loan he had made to the failed Senate bid that led him to abandon his House seat. And, last month, the news outlet The Lever surfaced a recording where the CEO of a financial services company touted his relationship with Long and asserted that, if he was confirmed, Long planned to bring Czuchry on board at the IRS.

In his written questions to Long, Wyden said Czuchry is also earning a $195,200 salary at OPM. Wyden also noted the fact Czuchry was one of many individuals who recently contributed to your Senate campaign fund. Wyden went on to ask about Czuchrys role at OPM and whether Long wanted to have the attorney join him at the IRS.

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Mr. Czuchry is not employed at OPM and does not plan on being employed by the IRS, Long wrote in his response, which was submitted on Friday.

However, OPM records obtained by the Project on Government Oversight last month described Czuchry as a senior advisor at OPM. While Czuchry seems to have worked at the agency in the past, an OPM spokesperson told Bloomberg for a May 15 story that he had left.

Czuchry also had an internal OPM calendar. Like the others belonging to Long and his associates, it was conspicuously empty. There were 27 items on Cuzchrys calendar in March and April of this year. Of those, ten were listed as tentative and one was identified as free. In May, Czuchrys calendar displayed six items, all of which were listed as either tentative or free.

A second former OPM employee who left the agency earlier this year and declined to be named for fear of retaliation described Long and his associates calendars as pristine and said the absence of appointments on them was incredibly unusual and disturbing. The employee had firsthand knowledge of the calendars and said they had raised concerns among others at the agency.

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To be a senior adviser and not be having meetings with various teams  particularly for these sweeping policy initiatives  is strange. Theyre trying to reimagine the federal workforce, the employee said. They would be meeting with multiple teams. You would be seeing advising or fact finding scheduled throughout the day.

The employee also stressed that, due to its role providing oversight to other agencies, OPM is especially concerned with maintaining standards and procedures. Because of this, the person said, it was particularly problematic to have a pocket of four people who arent contributing to personnel policy in any way but are taking salary. They also echoed the concerns about recordkeeping and suggested the situation with Long and his associates is even more troubling given the Trump administrations supposed commitment to government efficiency.

What are these people adding? Why are the American taxpayers paying for him and these three people? What are the taxpayers getting for this time that they have purchased? It doesnt look like anything and thats incredibly disturbing, the former employee said, adding, Talk about waste, fraud, and abuse. What is going on at the government personnel agency?  We always talk about the tone being set, so if this is happening at the personnel agency, what else is happening?
Originally appeared on E! Online

Donald Trump had an unexpected visitor at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

During the early hours of June 3, Anthony Reyes, a 23-year-old man from Texas, attempted to break into the presidents beach club in Palm Beach, Florida.

An adult male was arrested early Tuesday morning by the Palm Beach Police Department for unlawfully entering the Mar-A-Lago Club property in Florida, a spokesperson for the Secret Service told E! News in a June 4 statement. Shortly after midnight, the individual scaled a perimeter fence and triggered alarms.

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U.S. Secret Service personnel detained him without incident at the scene, the statement continued. Palm Beach Police officers responded to the scene and took the individual into custody, charging him with occupied trespassing.

Officials also confirmed that, at the time of the incident, no Secret Service protectees were present.

But once police arrived on the scene, Reyes allegedly told them, per a police report obtained by NBC News, that his goal in trespassing was to spread the gospel to Trump and to marry his 18-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump.

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Reyeswho was also previously arrested for trespassing on the same property during New Years Eve, per the police reportwas then detained at the Palm Beach County Jail with bond set at $50,000 and an order to avoid contact with Trump or any of his family members.

For her part, Kaithe eldest of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trumps five kidshas never been shy in showing her support for her grandfather. During the presidents January inauguration, she even shared a behind-the-scenes look into her familys celebrations.

Thank you all for the support the past decade, Kai said onstage at Trumps Jan. 19 rally in Arlington, as seen in a video posted to her YouTube channel, were looking forward to the next few years and God bless America.

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

And along with showing her support for her grandpa during the inauguration events, Kai had been proudly celebrating the 47th presidents victory since his election win.

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For America and I think for our family, I think its just so important that he won, she said in later on in the vlog. I think these next four years are going to be the best four years America has had in a very long time.

For more about the Trump family, keep reading.

(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Ivana Trump

Ivana Trump was the first wife of President-elect Donald Trump. Born in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakianow Zlin of the Czech Republicin 1949, she rose to fame as a competitive skier. And, thanks to her marriage to Austrian ski instructor Alfred Winklmayr in 1971, Ivana was able to travel often outside of Czechoslovakia.



According to her book Raising Trump, the model met Donald three years after her 1973 divorce during a New York trip, where she'd traveled for a Canadian fashion show ahead of the Montreal Olympics. They wed in 1977 and welcomed three kids: Donald Trump Jr. born in 1977, Ivanka Trump born in 1981 and Eric Trump born in 1984.



The pair's divorce was finalized in 1992 following his affair with Marla Maples, whom he later married.



However, Ivanawho then married Riccardo Mazzucchelli for two years followed by Rossano Rubicondi for less than a yearand Donald remained on good terms.



Donald during the divorce was brutal, she told ABC News in 2017. He took the divorce as a business deal, and he cannot lose. He has to win. So he took about two years. And after the final situation was straightened up, we would just talk and we are friends.



Ivana died in 2022 at age 73. According to NBC News, the New York City Medical Examiner said she died of blunt impact injuries and that her manner of death was an accident. A senior NYC official with direct knowledge added the circumstances were consistent with a fall on the stairs in her New York apartment.





Donald Trump Jr.

In 1977, Ivana and Donald welcomed their eldest son Donald Trump Jr. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in finance and real estate from the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School in 2000 and began working for his fathers company The Trump Organization in 2001, where he now serves as the executive vice president.



Don Jr. is also a director for both Trump Media & Technology Group Corp and PublicSquare Holdings and part of 1789 Capital firm. In addition, he's been involved in his dads political campaigns, including speaking at rallies and the Republican National Convention during his father's presidential runs.



Don Jr. shares five children with his ex-wife, model Vanessa Haydon: Kai (who also made a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention) Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe.



Don Jr. was previously engaged to Fox News alum Kimberly Guilfoyle. However, he recently confirmed their split.



"Kimberly and I will never stop caring for each other," he told Page Six Dec. 13, "and will always keep a special bond."



Don Jr. has been sparking romance rumors with socialite Bettina Anderson; however, they have not publicly commented on the dating speculation.





Ivanka Trump

Four years after the arrival of Don Jr., Donald and Ivana became parents to daughter Ivanka Trump.



Before her fathers presidency, the University of Pennsylvania alum worked at The Trump Organization. But after he was elected in 2016, the fashion brand founderwho had her own eponymous linetook on the role of Advisor to the President.



After her dad announced he would be running for president again in 2024, Ivanka revealed she would be stepping out of the political arena to focus on her family with husband, former White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, and their children Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.



I love my father very much, she said in part of a 2022 statement obtained by NBC News. This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.





Eric Trump

Born in 1984, Eric Trump is the third child of Ivana and Donald. He graduated with a degree in finance and management from Georgetown University.



Like his brother, Eric works as executive vice president of The Trump Organization, which he joined in 2007. He is also president of Trump Winery.



Eric is married to Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, with whom he shares kids Luke and Carolina.

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Marla Maples

Marla Maples is Donalds second wife, whom he met while still married to Ivana. In Raising Trump, Ivana wrote the actress approached her about the affair during a trip to Aspen in 1989. Still, Marla said on a 2018 episode of the ABC podcast Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris that she never considered herself a mistress.



"My intention was to never bring hurt," she continued. "Do I wish more than anything that we could have had this relationship after his divorce papers were signed? Absolutely. I mean, with all my heart. How much heartache would it have saved so many people if I had seen that piece of paper before we got involved? But it didn't happen that way."



Marla and Donald welcomed daughter Tiffany Trump in 1993, and the couple wed later that year. However, the Dancing With the Stars alum and the 47th commander in chief announced their separation four years later and finalized their divorce in 1999.





Tiffany Trump

After her parents breakup, Tiffany Trump relocated with her mother to California.



"She moved us out of New York to get out of the spotlight and let me grow up and find my own identity versus being in the shadow of a name or growing up very young with all that pressure, Tiffany told People in 2016. So, she wanted me to have a chance to have a normal childhood. As normal as possible. I think that she did well in that.



She released her 2011 single Like a Bird" and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with a B.A. in sociology, focusing on law and society. She then went to Georgetown Law School, where she graduated with a JD in 2020.



In 2022, Tiffany wed Michael Boulos. Her father announced they're expecting their first baby during an October 2024 speech at the Detroit Economic Club. "Shes an exceptional young woman," he said during his remarks. "And shes going to have a baby. So thats nice.





Melania Trump

Melania Trump is Donalds third wife and current First Lady of the United States. Born in Mesto, Slovenia in 1970, she is the second First Lady to be born outside of the U.S. and the only First Lady to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.



Melania met Donald in New York in 1996 while she was working as a model.



It was a big fashion party that my friend organized, fashion week, and he invited me, she recalled on a 2016 episode of On the Record With Greta Van Susteren. Thats how we met with Donald.



Melania and Donald married in 2005, and they welcomed son Barron Trump the following year.



In 2024, she released her memoir Melania and she's set to appear in a documentary. Melania has also spoken about where she will spend her time during her husband's second presidency.



"I will be in the White House," she told Fox & Friends in an interview that aired Jan. 13. "When I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach. My first priority is to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we're in on January 20, you serve the country."





Barron Trump

Born in 2006, Barron Trump is Donald and Melanias only child. While he has lived a more private liferelocating with his parents from New York to live in Washington, D.C. and then Floridait looked like he might enter the political world after he was selected in May 2024 as a Florida delegate to the Republican National Convention. However, Barron declined the offer.



"While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, a statement from Melanias office shared with NBC News at the time said, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments.



Like studying, perhaps, with Barron starting his freshman year at New York University in 2024. "He was accepted to a lot of colleges," his father told the Daily Mail in an interview published Sept. 4. "He's a very smart guy, and he'll be going to Stern, the business school, which is a great school at NYU."



However, Melania told Fox & Friends in her interview that Barron will come and visit his family at the White House.

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LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo.  A former investigator in the high-profile 2011 murder case of Betsy Faria  later linked to Pam Hupp  is now accused of lying under oath during testimony in Lincoln County, prosecutors say.

On Tuesday, the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Michael A. Merkel, 46, of Troy, Missouri, with two felony counts of perjury in criminal trial to secure conviction of murder.

Court documents allege that Merkel provided false testimony during a criminal trial to secure the conviction of Russ Faria in the murder of Betsy Faria, his wife, who was found dead in her home on December 27, 2011.

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Musk says Trump is named in Epstein files

During the course of the murder investigation, authorities learned that Betsy changed the beneficiary of her $150,000 life insurance policy to Hupp just days before her death. While this raised suspicions around the time of Russ retrial, Hupp was off the hook from charges at the time. Russ would ultimately serve three years behind bars before he was acquitted in a 2016 retrial.

Hupp later came under renewed scrutiny in the 2016 murder of Louis Gumpenberger, a man with disabilities. While she claimed he was a home intruder, police determined she had lured him to her home and staged the scene to divert attention from the Faria case.

According to new court documents obtained by FOX 2 over Merkels charges, investigators used a Bluestar luminescence test to evaluate blood evidence at the crime scene, but the results were disputed during the trial. Merkel testified that photographs taken during the Bluestar test showed absolutely nothing due to a camera malfunction, but forensic review later contradicted that claim.

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The defense argued that the photographs were not provided during pretrial discovery, raising questions about the integrity of the evidence presented. During the retrial, Merkel clarified that his earlier testimony meant the photographs did not show any chemical luminescence, not that they were entirely blank.

Court documents also cited a media inquiry from an investigative reporter in connection with Merkels charges, one believed to be related to at least two reports from FOX Files investigators Chris Hayes (STORY 1 & STORY 2).

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Lincoln County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Krehmeyer requested a $250,000 cash-only bond for Merkel. A document with that request reads: One of the pillars of our criminal justice system is that the citizens of this country can depend upon honesty and integrity of those individuals that are entrusted with the responsibility of investigating potential criminal conduct.

As of Wednesday, court documents have not listed an attorney for Merkel.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa  Small business owners in the Historic Valley Junction held a press conference on Tuesday morning to highlight how tariffs have hurt their businesses.

The biggest concern for me is the cost increase that Im having to pass on to consumers. And then not knowing if Im going to get merchandise and how much merchandise is going to cost me, said Val Veiock, the owner of Bings. Its extremely chaotic, its hard to keep track of.

The owners speaking to members of the media to outline how the unpredictability of these tariffs are impacting a firm bottom line. Veiock said that the business usually hires seasonal staff, students who are out of school for the summer, but this year the business is not.

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Were also on a hiring freeze as well too, said Meredith Wells, co-owner of MoMere. So were making do with our team.for instance we had a dress that we ordered back in March and arrived in early March, we bought the same dress just in a different color that arrived last week and its $10 more than the other dress. So customers are like its the same dress, just a different color. This dress has tariffs, this one does not.

Wells and Veiock said that preparing for the holiday season has become a nightmare as both businesses have tried to get as much stock in back in January; but suppliers have been fluctuating price points as tariffs are added or retracted. Suppliers have told them both that costs could go up in a range from 10-30%.

Wells said her business stock relies on 75-80% of goods from overseas. Veiock said Bings gets about 80% of the stores products from overseas.

The President of the Iowa Farmers Union also spoke at the press conference, showcasing how small family farms are being impacted while buying and selling.

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Our input costs are continuing to go up because of it and unfortunately for what we sell other countries are putting a retaliatory tariff on us, said Aaron Lehman, who is also a farmer. It means its hard for us to sell our product at the cost it costs us to produce it. So were more likely to sell for a loss because other countries have retaliated against us.

The group is asking for help from Iowas Congressional delegation, asking the elected officials to take back congressional authority over the use of tariffs.

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This story will be updated.

Some Indianapolis Public Schools families will start having to pay for pre-K for the 2025-26 school year after this latest state budget didnt include increases to childcare grant funding and the districts pandemic relief funding is now gone.

The district alerted families to the change on June 3 and said it came after much consideration of the financial impact on IPS caused by alterations in the state budget this legislative session and loss of COVID money.

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In this latest state budget passed in April, lawmakers did not include an increase in funding for Indiana's popular child care subsidy programs, known as On My Way Pre-K, which helps give low-income families vouchers to use for child care.

IPS had been heavily relying on those vouchers, as well as COVID-19 relief money sent to districts in the past few years, to fund its pre-K program, making it free for every family in the district for at least the past two school years.

However, school districts had to spend those pandemic relief dollars by the end of 2024, and the state announced in December that it would have to bring back its waitlist for the On My Way Pre-K program due to significant growth and not enough funding.

More on the waitlists: Indiana lawmakers expanded access to child care aid. Now there's not enough money

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This latest state budget passed by lawmakers did not address those waitlists and instead funded them just enough so families currently using the vouchers wouldnt be affected.

Starting with the upcoming school year, IPS is implementing an income-based sliding scale to help ensure the program can remain funded.

If families qualify and apply for the On My Way Pre-K program, they could still access a pre-K seat in IPS for free, if the voucher program has enough funding. Some families may find themselves on the waitlist for this upcoming school year.

Here is the sliding scale that IPS is implementing for the next school year:

Income-Based Sliding Scale Cost (Per week) Free (Qualifies for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid Free  below 130% of Federal Poverty Level) $0 (MUST complete On My Way Pre-K application to be eligible or have a CCDF voucher) Reduced (Qualifies for Medicaid Free at 130% to 185% of Federal Poverty Level) $100/week Full Pay (Does not qualify for any of the above) $150/week

To qualify for a voucher, a familys household income must be below 150% of the federal poverty level, or for a family of two, earn below $2,644 per month before taxes.

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More on IPS using the vouchers: A new requirement for IPS families seeking pre-K seats is coming next school year

For a family of four, the household's monthly income before tax must be less than $4,019 to qualify for the pre-K voucher. The child's guardian must also be working, going to school, attending job training or looking for a job.

The child must also be four years old by Aug. 1 and plan to start kindergarten next school year.

Get help filling out an On My Way Pre-K application

For families who need help filing out an On My Way Pre-K application, they can email reach out by emailing earlylearningdept@myips.org or call 317-391-1897 or 317-391-7643.

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For families needing Spanish-speaking assistance, they should call 317-619-4279.

The district will also be holding an application assistance event from 2-4 p.m. on June 10-11 at the IPS Education Center located at 120 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis schools ends free pre-k for all families after budget cuts
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pledged that Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment, rejecting a key demand in a United States proposal aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over Irans nuclear programme.

The comments were delivered in a speech on Wednesday as the US and Iran continue to negotiate the details of a possible new nuclear deal. The issue of uranium enrichment has remained a sticking point in the talks, with the US reportedly demanding a complete halt or low-level enrichment in exchange for the lifting of Western sanctions against Tehran.

The US nuclear proposal contradicts our nations belief in self-reliance and the principle of We Can,' Khamenei said in his speech delivered on the commemoration of the death of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.

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Khamenei said the issue of uranium enrichment remained key to Irans pursuit of energy independence.

Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America, he said, adding that the US proposal was 100 percent against the ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

He said Tehran would not seek Washingtons approval for its decisions.

Some people think that rationality means bowing down to America and surrendering to the oppressive power; this is not rationality, Khamenei said.

Why are you interfering in whether Iran should have enrichment or not? You cannot have a say.





On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said that Tehran would not abandon the countrys scientific and nuclear rights, while disavowing nuclear weapons.

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He said that those accusing Iran are proliferating weapons of mass destruction and destabilising the region with deadly weapons.

On Monday, the Reuters news agency had reported that Tehran was poised to reject the latest US proposal to end a decades-old nuclear dispute, quoting an unnamed diplomat as saying the proposal was a non-starter that fails to soften Washingtons stance on uranium enrichment or to address Tehrans interests.

Tehran said it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

US envoy Steve Witkoff, who heads the American delegation in talks with Iran, has said President Donald Trump opposes Tehran continuing any enrichment, calling it a red line.

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A leaked United Nations report shows that Iran has ramped up production of enriched uranium near weapons-grade by 50 percent in the last three months. It is still short, however, of the roughly 90 percent required for atomic weapons, but still significantly above the 4 percent or so needed for power production.

Iran, however, has rejected the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying it is politically motivated and repeates baseless accusations.
This is an important meeting because it shows Iran is seeking to redouble efforts to involve itself in Lebanon after it saw setbacks last year in Israels war on Hezbollah and the fall of Assad.

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, in Beirut this week. This was an important meeting because it showed that Iran is seeking to redouble efforts to involve itself in Lebanon after it saw setbacks last year in Israels war on Hezbollah and the fall of the Assad regime.

Irans state media noted that upon Araghchis arrival at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Tuesday morning, he told reporters that in its foreign policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran prioritizes its relations with neighboring states, West Asian nations, and friendly countries.

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The Iranian foreign minister flew into Beirut after his meetings in Cairo. It should be clear that Iran wants to surround Israel on this trip, as it is visiting countries that border Israel. Egypt has ties to Israel. Lebanon does not. However, Israel has been carrying out strikes on Hezbollah since a ceasefire in November 2024.

Araghchi said that Iranian companies are ready to assist in Lebanons reconstruction and that if the Lebanese administration wishes, it will be conducted through its government, reaffirming Irans support for Lebanons sovereignty and unity against occupation.

IRNA also noted that Iran is ready to take part in reconstruction efforts and to improve economic ties with Lebanon. This comes after Lebanons president was in Iraq and after Lebanons prime minister made comments about having arms in Lebanon in the hands of the state. Lebanon appears to be trying to confront Hezbollah, slowly, bit by bit. Iran doesnt want that to happen.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi lays a wreath as he visits the burial site of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, June 3, 2025. (photo credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

During a press conference in Beirut on Tuesday, Araghchi reiterated Irans strong backing for Lebanons independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, highlighting Irans commitment to fostering relations built on mutual respect, common interests, non-interference in domestic affairs, and regional stability, IRNA added.

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Iran also slammed Israel for occupying part of Lebanon and said that it gives support for all efforts by Lebanons government and people to end the occupation through diplomatic or other means.

Iranian companies are ready to help Lebanon rebuild

Irans top diplomat also met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and paid tribute to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

As reported by IRNA: The foreign minister said that the final victory will belong to the Lebanese people and the resistance front, and that the defeat of the Israeli regime is certain and inevitable.

He pointed out that the martyrdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will not only not disrupt the path of resistance but will also further strengthen its power and determination, and that Irans late leader Ayatollah Khomeini had taught us that blood triumphs over the sword.

Araghchi went on to say, Accordingly, I believe that the final victory will belong to the Lebanese people and the resistance front, and the defeat of the Zionist regime is certain and inevitable.
Irans supreme leader has denounced a proposal by the United States aimed at curbing Tehrans nuclear efforts and demanded that his country retains independence amid reports of Washington offering to become involved in Tehrans nuclear program.

Despite several rounds of talks between the two sides to thrash out a new nuclear deal major sticking points remain, with Iran insisting on its right to nuclear enrichment.

The first word of the US is that Iran should not have a nuclear industry and should rely on the United States, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a crowd gathered in Tehran to commemorate the death of Imam Khomeini, the founder of Irans Islamic Republic.

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Our response to the US nonsense is clear: they cannot do a damn thing in this matter, he said.

The US sent a nuclear deal proposal to Iran on Saturday. CNN has learned this suggests the US could invest in Irans civilian nuclear power program and join a consortium that would oversee the enrichment of low-level uranium inside Iran for an unspecified amount of time. That potential consortium would be expected to include Middle Eastern nations and the UNs nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Khamenei said Wednesday that Iran is refusing to allow the United States to give a green or red light with its nuclear program and stressed on national independence.

A senior Iranian official told CNN on Monday that the US proposal is incoherent and disjointed, very unrealistic, and with excessive demands.

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US President Donald Trump said on Monday, seemingly contrary to what was proposed to Iran, that the deal will not allow uranium enrichment.

Under our potential Agreement  WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM, Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Irans supreme leader added on Wednesday that his country has been able to achieve a complete nuclear energy cycle, a feat only achieved by a few countries.

Uranium enrichment is an essential part of the Islamic Republics nuclear program, and we will not abandon it, Khamenei said.

Iran and the US concluded a fifth round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome on May 23 amid growing skepticism in Tehran about the chances of a deal. After that round of discussions, the two sides agreed to meet again in the near future, a senior US administration official said at the time.

Previous reporting by Kylie Atwood and Frederik Pleitgen.

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Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday dismissed US calls for Tehran to stop enriching uranium.

"The key to nuclear technology is uranium enrichment, and our enemies want to prevent precisely this in order to undermine our independence and our scientific potential," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on state television.

The United States, Israel and their allies want to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

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Several rounds of negotiations between Washington and Tehran have taken place in recent months, without producing tangible results.

Khamenei said his country would not bow to US demands, as it must remain independent and preserve its "culture of resistance."

The Iranian leader was giving a speech in the mausoleum of his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, marking the 36th anniversary of his death.

The comments came one day after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described independent uranium enrichment as a red line for Tehran.

He accused the United States of "many ambiguities" in its positions and of contradicting previous agreements reached in the negotiations, threatening to lead the talks to fail.
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

A year after its move to take out most of its self-checkout, Dollar General reported that lower shrink and higher inventory markup were major factors in boosting Q1 gross margin by 78 basis points to 31%. Net income rose nearly 8% to $392 million.

Net sales in the period rose 5.3% year over year to $10.4 billion. Despite a 0.3% traffic decline, comps rose 2.4%, thanks to a 2.7% bump in average transaction amount, the discounter said Tuesday.

In Q1, Dollar General opened 156 stores, remodeled 668 as part of Project Elevate and 559 as part of Project Renovate. The company, which as of May 2 runs more than 20,000 locations, aims to overhaul 20% of its fleet each year, CEO Todd Vasos told analysts Tuesday. Plans for 2025 include opening about 575 stores in the U.S. and up to 15 in Mexico and remodeling about 4,250.

Dive Insight:

Not long ago, shrink was an obsession of major retail industry groups and some major chains, though visibility into the issue has decreased since the National Retail Federation stopped publishing its shrink report. A year ago Vasos called shrink the most significant headwind in our business.

But on Tuesday, Dollar General Chief Financial Officer Kelly Dilts told analysts that improvement in shrink rates will be a tailwind throughout the year and that should be the gift that just keeps on giving here.

As we think about gross margin, we are just really pleased with where shrink came in, she said.

Major changes to Dollar General stores have entailed not just pulling self-checkout kiosks from stores but also improving layout, merchandising and staffing.

Our store standards are much, much better than they've been in quite a long time, and every single quarter that goes by continues to get better and better, Vasos said Tuesday.

That is backed up by GlobalData channel checks, which found that fewer Dollar General locations suffer from inferior standards. While there are still some issues like cages and boxes cluttering up aisles, Dollar General seems to have minimized this issue with better scheduling and a modest investment in labor, GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders said in emailed comments.

Tariffs and the economy are likely to be the big challenges looming over Dollar Generals performance, according to Saunders.

Direct imports are a relatively small percentage of Dollar Generals business and tend to be in the mid- to high-single digit range of its overall purchases, with indirect imports varying, Vasos said. The company has diversified its supply chain  reducing its direct imports from China to less than 70% and indirect imports from China to less than 40%  and worked with vendors to share costs and found substitute merchandise where possible.
By Parisa Hafezi, Elwely Elwelly and Jana Choukeir

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that abandoning uranium enrichment was "100%" against the country's interests, rejecting a central U.S. demand in talks to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The U.S. proposal for a new nuclear deal was presented to Iran on Saturday by Oman, which has mediated talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

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After five rounds of talks, several hard-to-bridge issues remain, including Iran's insistence on maintaining uranium enrichment on its soil and Tehran's refusal to ship abroad its entire existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium - possible raw material for nuclear bombs.

Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, said nothing about halting the talks, but said the U.S. proposal "contradicts our nation's belief in self-reliance and the principle of 'We Can'".

"Uranium enrichment is the key to our nuclear programme and the enemies have focused on the enrichment," Khamenei said during a televised speech marking the anniversary of the death of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

"The proposal that the Americans have presented is 100% against our interests ... The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear programme. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?," he added.

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Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

'MAXIMUM PRESSURE'

Reuters reported on Monday that Tehran was poised to reject the U.S. proposal as a "non-starter" that failed to soften Washington's stance on uranium enrichment or to address Tehran's interests.

Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran since his return to the White House in January, which included tightening sanctions and threatening to bomb Iran if the negotiations yield no deal.

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Trump wants to curtail Tehran's potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. Iran's clerical establishment, for its part, wants to be rid of devastating sanctions.

During his first term, Trump ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond the pact's limits.

Iran's clerical establishment is grappling with multiple crises  energy and water shortages, a plunging currency, losses among regional militia proxies in conflicts with Israel, and rising fears of an Israeli strike on its nuclear sites  all intensified by Trump's hardline stance.

Iran's arch-foe Israel, which sees Tehran's nuclear programme as an existential threat, has repeatedly threatened to bomb the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Tehran has vowed a harsh response.

(Writing by Nayera Abdallah and Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Andrew Heavens and Aidan Lewis)
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP)  Ivory Coast 's main opposition leader Tidjane Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse, has been excluded from the final list of presidential candidates along with three other prominent opposition candidates, the electoral commission said Wednesday.

Ivory Coast is set to hold a highly contested vote in October.

Earlier this year, a court ruled that Thiam was not eligible to run because of his dual Ivorian-French nationality, a decision that Thiam vowed to fight. Born in Ivory Coast, Thiam received French nationality in 1987 but gave it up in March.

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Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert, president of the electoral commission, told reporters on Monday: "If the courts have ordered removal, we will comply.

Thiam, president of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, won the partys primary in an uncontested vote. He was widely seen as the main challenger to President Alassane Ouattara, who won in 2020 after a disputed election left dozens dead and opposition candidates boycotted the election.

Other prominent opposition candidates excluded from the vote include former president Laurent Gbagbo, his close ally Charles Ble Goude, who was charged with crimes against humanity related to the civil war, and the former prime minister and rebel leader Guillaume Soro, who was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for organizing a coup.

The Democratic Party of Ivory Coast said the exclusion was unfair and called for national demonstrations to defend democracy."
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  The Jackson County Sheriffs Office has joined other western Wisconsin law enforcement departments in utilizing Flock Safety cameras. Six new Flock cameras are now placed around the county to help the sheriffs office investigate crimes.

Sheriff Duane Waldera reports there have been some privacy concerns about the Flock cameras from some Jackson County citizens. He says Flock cameras dont gather information on the person driving, the speed the vehicle is traveling, or how many people are in the car. They take pictures of the license plate that deputies can then use in their investigations. Sheriff Waldera explained, There are certain cases that would be really extreme crisis-type cases, lets call it a homicide or some major event that happened in our community. That if we would have had flat cameras, we would have had another layer or a lead and a possibility of solving something.

The purchase of the Fock Safety cameras came from previously budgeted money. However, if the department is going to continue its involvement in the program, they would need it to be included in and approved by the Jackson County budgetary process.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud.
Israel-based startup Speedata has secured $44m (NIS154m) in a Series B funding round to advance its chip technology tailored for data analytics workloads.

The latest investment brings the companys total capital raised to $114m.

The round saw participation from investors including Walden Catalyst Ventures, 83North, Koch Disruptive Technologies, Pitango First, and Viola Ventures.

Strategic investors also joined the round, among them Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel and managing partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures, and Eyal Waldman, co-founder and former CEO of Mellanox Technologies.

Speedata is known for its Analytics Processing Unit (APU), which is designed to significantly accelerate big data analytic workloads across various industries.

Concurrently, the company also announced the launch of a new chip aimed at enhancing big data analytics.

The APU, powered by Speedata's custom-designed Callisto chip, addresses longstanding bottlenecks in data pipelines, offering substantial acceleration for complex analytics tasks.

The chip has been tested by companies in sectors such as finance, healthcare, insurance, and AdTech, the company said.

The newly introduced C200 PCIe card features a PCIe Gen5 x16 interface and is designed to be compatible with a range of server environments.

It is integrated with Speedatas Dash software stack for Apache Spark, allowing job redirection to the APU without requiring modifications to existing applications or infrastructure.

Adi Gelvan, Speedata's incoming CEO, said: Everyone knows that AI inference will transform our lives, but none of that happens without data analytics first.

To paraphrase the well-known saying: 'Diamonds in, diamonds out'  in other words, before AI value can be maximised, the data must be ready. Speedata's APU is the missing link, unlocking scalable, real-time analytics that power everything from business intelligence to medical breakthroughs to next-gen AI applications. It's the catalyst AI needed to get to the next era.

"Speedata raises $44m in Series B funding round" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




There will be a great wailing and a gnashing of teeth in parts of the Conservative Party tonight when former foreign secretary, former home secretary and former Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly takes the stage.

Speaking at an event organised by the Conservative Environment Network, Cleverly will don the mantle of moderate conservatism and make the case for his party to embrace the drive towards net zero. This is a direct challenge to the party leader, Kemi Badenoch, who has been trying to woo Reform supporters back to the Tories by rejecting the Governments ambition to achieve a fully carbon-neutral UK by 2050.

Its an act of political courage by Cleverly, who, had it not been for last-minute strategic shenanigans by his fellow MPs in the final round of voting in last years leadership election, might now be sitting in the leader of the oppositions offices at Westminster. Cleverly already has a USP as a Tory politician: he sounds reasonable, down-to-earth and self-effacing, and was one of the partys more effective ministers in government.

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Taking a brave and principled stand in the face of public and party opinion doesnt necessarily make one right, however. But give Cleverly his due: no other MP has dared raise the standard for moderate conservatism since the partys well-deserved humiliation at the polls last year, despite its long and honourable tradition of centrism. It was only Margaret Thatchers arrival as leader in 1975 that transformed the former one nation Conservatives into a more radical, Right-wing, ideological and  for a time, at least  electorally dominant party.

That moderate tradition, most recently and effectively represented by the former chancellor and three-times leadership contender, Ken Clarke, remains a serious and respected strand within the party. Without it, the Tories might as well rebrand themselves Reform and invite Nigel Farage to take over as leader. The last Conservative leader of the opposition to succeed in becoming prime minister was that well-known green Tory, husky-hugging David Cameron. True, he only won the keys to Number 10 with the help of the Liberal Democrats, but he also won 37 per cent of the electorates support  significantly more than the victorious Labour Party won last year.

Alas, I fear, for Cleverly, times are very different today. The Conservatives still need to be a broad coalition that includes the likes of Cleverly sitting alongside, not behind, Badenoch on the green benches. But the nations focus has shifted in the last 15 years, hence the apparent advance of Farage and his party. In 2010 there was a degree of consensus across the main parties that the science of climate change was unarguable and that the outcome of elections would decide to what extent we might avoid global catastrophe.

Cynicism has set in since then. People still believe the science, but have heard the increasingly dire warnings so often that they no longer believe theres much that mere mortals in Whitehall can do about it. There is certainly a much higher degree of scepticism in the UK about the wisdom of sacrificing personal income (in the shape of higher taxes), jobs and our standard of living in order to slow a chemical process that is largely being caused by much larger countries who are doing much less to prevent it.

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Even Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister, has warned that net zero is doomed to fail and that it was wrong that people were being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal.

Arguably, when Cleverly has deliberately chosen to ally himself with the Governments chief net zero evangelist, climate change secretary Ed Miliband, courageous is understating the case. Still, Cleverly is a big beast in the political jungle of Westminster, and the Conservative Party, reduced to barely 120 Commons seats, can hardly afford to reject his counsel entirely.

Voters are naturally suspicious of parties that confine themselves to a narrow bandwidth of political opinion  it restricts their ability to appeal to as broad a slice of the electorate as is necessary to win elections. Thatcher solved that problem by having the likes of Jim Prior and Ian Gilmour in her cabinet. Cameron did it by keeping colleagues such as Iain Duncan Smith and Liam Fox within his centrist embrace, as well as Ken Clarke himself.

Strategically, I suspect Cleverly is wrong and Badenoch is right on net zero: public anger about domestic bill prices is real at a time when the government is making life ever more difficult and expensive for our domestic oil and gas industry. That is a political reality that would still exist even without challenge on the Conservatives Right flank from Reform, and there seems little public appetite for more concessions by UK consumers to compensate for the inaction of the US, China and India.

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Some will criticise Cleverly for timing his intervention on the eve of the Hamilton by-election for the Scottish Parliament. I hate to break it to them, but not only were the Conservatives never in contention in this former Labour heartland seat, but they are nowhere near challenging for office at next years Holyrood elections. The best the party was ever likely to do in tomorrows contest was to trail in fourth place, behind the SNP, Reform and Labour. Cleverlys choice to delay his speech would not have changed that outcome.

But the Braintree MP is an asset to the party and ought to be seen as one. Hes wasted on the back benches. If his disagreement with his leadership over net zero cannot be navigated and accommodated, the Conservative Party is in an even worse condition than I thought.

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June 4 (UPI) -- Japan's imperial family honored the war dead in Okinawa on Wednesday, where the last major battle of World War II occurred 80 years ago, from April 1 to June 22, 1945.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako brought their daughter, Princess Aiko, with them during a two-day visit to the Okinawa Prefecture, The Japan Times reported.

The trip is to remember the deaths of an estimated 110,000 Japanese soldiers, 12,520 U.S. soldiers and an unknown number of Okinawan civilians who died during the battle.

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"I hope it will be an opportunity to reflect deeply on the value of peace and renew our resolve to uphold it," Naruhito told media before embarking on the trip.

The royal family's visit also underscores its commitment to peace while making planned visits to place flowers at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum in Itoman on Wednesday.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko laid flowers at the National Cemetery within the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

The mausoleum contains the remains of an estimated 180,000 civilians and soldiers who died during the long and bloody battle.

Japan's royal family afterward visited the Cornerstone of Peace, which has the engraved names of 240,000 war victims, and then the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (R), Empress Masako (C), and Princess Aiko bow at the National Cemetery within the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

While there, the royal family spoke with some of the family members whose forebears died during the battle, Kyodo News reported.

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A 91-year-old survivor of the battle for Okinawa told reporters that Princess Aiko told her she "felt the importance of peace" during the visit.

From L to R, Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko walk past after offering flowers at the National Cemetery within the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa-Prefecture, Japan on Wednesday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

Emperor Naruhito has been a staunch supporter of peace and is a direct descendant of Emperor Hirohito, who led Japan before and during World War II.

The royal family also visited with Okinawans in their 20s and 30s who help to preserve wartime stories and share them with visitors at the memorial museum.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (from L to R), Empress Masako and Princess Aiko arrive at National Cemetery within the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa-Prefecture, Japan on Wednesday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

The royal family on Thursday will visit the Tsushima Maru Memorial Museum to lay flowers for the victims of the Tsushima Maru evacuation ship, which a U.S. Navy submarine torpedoed and sank on Aug. 22, 1944.

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The vessel was carrying 1,800 civilians who were being evacuated, and 1,484 died when it was sunk near the island of Akusekijima in the Kagoshima Prefecture.

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko also will visit Shuri Castle on Okinawa.

The castle's main hall is being rebuilt after a 2019 fire destroyed it.

The royal family will return to Japan on Thursday night after completing their tour of Okinawan sites.

They also have a memorial visit to Hiroshima on June 19 to remember the victims of the Aug. 6, 1945, atomic bombing by the United States that killed up to an estimated 135,000, including between 60,000 and 80,000 who died when the bomb detonated over the city.

The U.S. Army Air Force dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days later, which killed an estimated 40,000 people upon detonation over the city.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family prayed on Wednesday in Okinawa for all the war dead in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II that was fought on the southern Japanese island 80 years ago.

The commemoration comes as many residents of Okinawa and the nearby islands are increasingly concerned about the possibility of another war as regional tensions with China escalate.

Naruhito's father, the 91-year-old former Emperor Akihito, cared especially about Okinawa because of its difficult history, setting an example for his son.

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The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, asked their 23-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, to accompany them on Wednesday's trip in an apparent effort to convey their attention for history on the next generation. It is Aikos first visit to Okinawa.

The three first headed to the island's last battlefield of Itoman and laid white flowers before an ossuary at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, where the remains of most of the victims are placed.

The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 when the U.S. troops, in their push for mainland Japan, landed on the island. It lasted until late June, killing more than 200,000 people. Nearly half of them were civilian residents of Okinawa, including students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, which waged the war in the name of Naruhitos grandfather, late Emperor Hirohito.

On June 23, the island will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which led to heavy American troop presence on the island, even after the nearly 30 years of U.S. occupation ended in 1972.

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Naruhito, in his birthday remarks in February, stressed the importance of telling the tragedy of World War II to younger generations, pledging to contribute to efforts to promote the understanding of history and the determination for peace.

The imperial family later on Wednesday visited the Cornerstone of Peace memorial, which has the engraved names of about a quarter million war dead on the Mabuni Hill where the battle ended. They also visited a permanent war exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and met with the survivors and families of those bereaved in the battle.

Wednesday's visit was Naruhito's seventh visit to Okinawa. He last visited in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
The letter-writer called themselves a devil. The city called them the Axeman. And for one night in 1919, New Orleans danced not out of joy  but to stay alive.

That night, March 19, came after the Times-Picayune published a chilling letter allegedly from the Axeman. The writer promised to spare any home playing jazz at 12:15 a.m. If everyone has a jazz band going, the writer wrote, so much the better... those who do not jazz it out... will get the axe.

The city responded with music. Homes, bars, and dance halls pulsed with sound in a discordant, desperate attempt to stave off death.

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Between 1918 and 1919, at least four people were killed  many of them Italian grocers  and up to 17 attacked. Victims were often bludgeoned in their sleep with their own axes. Entry was usually gained by removing a small door panel, suggesting a physically slight intruder. No clear motive emerged. No arrest stuck.

The Mysterious Axeman's Jazz sheet music cover by, Joseph John Davilla

The attacks were brutal.

Joseph Maggios throat was slashed and skull fractured; his wife, Catherine, choked on her own blood. On March 9, 1919, a 2-year-old girl was killed and her parents were injured in another attack.

Some believe the Axemans letter was genuine. Others think it was a prank  or a publicity stunt. Its deliberately theatrical and fully aware of the city's superstitions, says local historian Bond Ruggles, who runs Hottest Hell Tours, a company that offers macabre walking tours of New Orleans' haunted past.

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Ruggles tells PEOPLE the letter, whether authentic or not, reflected deeper tensions  it came just after the city shut down Storyville, New Orleans' red-light district and a hub for jazz, at a time when Black musicians were being criminalized for performing.

HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty New Orleans' Canal Street is pictured in 1918 New Orleans' Canal Street is pictured in 1918

If the letter wasnt from the killer, Ruggles says, maybe it was a ploy to get the city to embrace jazz again  and by extension, the people who created it.

The Axeman remains one of New Orleans most enduring legends, inspiring books, jazz ballads and even an appearance in American Horror Story, the FX series.

For all the mythologizing, real people were attacked, Ruggles says. Real families were destroyed. And we still dont know who did it.

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Shes spent years studying the case  and now believes the Axeman may not have been a man at all. I dont know that I believe anymore there was an Axeman, she says. I think a woman outsmarted everyone.

Her theory points to the survivors  many struck repeatedly but left alive. If a man had done it, theyd be dead, she says. She also cites the small entry points cut into doors: That tells you something about size and strength.



Bettmann Archive/Getty The Old Court building in New Orleans' Jackson Square is pictured in 1915 The Old Court building in New Orleans' Jackson Square is pictured in 1915

A 1921 article in the Los Angeles Times reported that Esther Albano  widow of Mike Pepitone, believed to be the Axemans final victim  shot a man named Joseph Manfre in California. She claimed he had confessed to her husbands murder.

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Manfre, also known by the names Mumfre or Monfre, had a criminal record and was once suspected in similar crimes. Some true crime authors believe he was the Axeman. But the evidence is speculative.

Ruggles proposes a twist: What if Esther and Manfre had been lovers? She runs off with him, and then when its convenient, says, It was him, Ruggles says. And thats the end of the story.

In her view, Esther may have killed her husband and framed Manfre to avoid scandal  and inherit everything. It was a smart move, Ruggles says. If you were a widow in Louisiana, you kept everything.

Her theory is not widely accepted. But, she says, thats part of the point.

A woman like that  with motive and opportunity  wouldve been overlooked because of her gender, she says. We were all looking for a man.



Read the original article on People
Vice President JD Vance jokingly slammed an interviewer as an a**hole for calling him an intellectual during an event hosted by the conservative think tank American Compass on Tuesday night.

The Hillbilly Elegy author-turned-Donald Trump bulldog was being interviewed by the think tanks founder, Oren Cass, who worked on the presidential campaigns of the former Massachusetts governor and Utah senator, Mitt Romney, in 2008 and 2012.

The think tank hosted its New World Gala in Washington D.C. on June 3.

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Cass noted that theYale Law School-grad Vance has written for the conservative magazine National Review in the past, when he was fiercely opposed to President Donald Trump. But Vance made a public turnaround and secured the presidents endorsement as he ran for Senate in 2022, and was selected as his running mate last year.

We are thrilled to have you here, said Cass at the black-tie event. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to talk with you and so grateful that the work youre doing and, in a sense, so in awe of it because there are politicians out there who are  theyve just been politicians.

Vance joked around with Oren Cass at The New World Gala hosted by the think tank American Compass on Tuesday night (AP)

But you are someone who was an intellectual first, he added.

Some people dont like the word intellectual. But I mean it in the good sense of the term. You were writing for National Review. You were at the bar late at night arguing about and helping shape these ideas that you are now

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Vance interrupted to express sarcastic outrage at Casss comments.

I come here for free, and you insult me, said Vance.

And you call me an intellectual, remind me that I wrote for National Review. What an a**hole this guy is! he added to cheers and applause from the audience.

Thats fair. I will admit that I, too, wrote for National Review, said Cass.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Jefferson County Coroners Office is requesting the assistance of the public in locating family of the following decedents who recently died in Jefferson County:

Sidney James Gipson, Jr.

Gipson, 67, was found dead under the Hwy. 280 overpass near University Boulevard on May 18. At the time of his death, Gipson was homeless, but had previously lived in Birmingham, Gadsden, Hayden, Pell City as well as four different cities in Missouri: Kansas City, Koshkonong, Thayer and Tipton.

It is believed that Gipson died from natural causes.

Russell Kemp Acton

Acton, 73, was found dead inside his home in Leeds during a welfare check. He previously lived in Birmingham and Leeds. He reportedly died from natural causes.

Robert James Meeks

Meeks, 62, was killed by a car while he was walking along the road near UAB Hospital. Reportedly homeless, it is believed that Meeks was originally from New Jersey

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If you are family or have knowledge of family, please call the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiners Office at 205-930-3603.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  A Jefferson County, Missouri, man has been ordered to appear in court next month after being caught masturbating in the middle of an intersection in De Soto.

According to the De Soto Police Departments probable cause statement, the incident occurred just after 8:40 p.m. on March 27 at the intersection of East Main and East Pratt streets.

Police said an officer arrived at the scene and found Ryan A. Burgess laying in the roadway with his genitals exposed and performing a sex act on himself.

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Musk says Trump is named in Epstein files

That officer spoke with the victim who called authorities. She told the officer that she and another victim were driving on East Main toward a local business when they noticed Burgess in the road. The woman said Burgess pulled his pants down and began masturbating in front of her and the second victim.

The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Burgess with first-degree sexual misconduct. Burgess was issued a criminal summons to appear in court on Wednesday, July 16.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
This is an adapted excerpt from the May 29 episode of The Briefing with Jen Psaki.

For years, Donald Trump has bragged that he only hires the best people. But almost six months into his second term, many members of his administration are proving they just arent up for the job.

Take former WWE executive Linda McMahon, whom Trump inexplicably put in charge of the Department of Education. On Tuesday, during a Senate hearing, Republican senators did their level best to lob McMahon softball questions to make it look like she knows what shes doing.

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Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma tried to tee up an easy one, asking the secretary, What was we ranked nationally in math and reading in 1979? McMahon responded that the U.S. was very, very low on the totem pole. Mullin then had to inform her that we were actually ranked No. 1 in 1979.

In McMahons (limited) defense, Mullins question was garbled nonsense. I mean, setting aside the strange verb conjugation of what was we ranked, he asked how the U.S. ranked nationally when he apparently meant globally. So clearly neither of these people is getting an A in reading comprehension or grammar.

But what about math? After Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said the U.S. spends $1.5 billion a year on federal grants for disadvantaged students, the senator claimed that the numbers added up to be over a trillion dollars over 10 years.

After McMahon failed to correct the senators estimation, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island had to jump in to educate the pair, pointing out that $1.5 billion multiplied by 10 is not over a trillion dollars but actually $15 billion.

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Republican senators and Trumps education secretary failed spectacularly at a math and reading quiz of their own making, while they complained about America falling behind in math and reading.

Unfortunately, McMahon is not the only one of Trumps best people making embarrassing mistakes. This week, David Richardson, the acting chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told staff he had not been aware the country has a hurricane season, four sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

The Trump administration has said those comments were meant as a joke, but that was definitely not clear to the people in the room. FEMA is now heading into a new hurricane season with a staff thats been gutted by Trumps cuts, and the agencys staff is reportedly worried about Richardsons lack of experience.

Maybe Richardson should have Googled his job first to see what it entails. After all, thats what Trumps equally unqualified Social Security commissioner reportedly did.

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Honestly, a little Googling might serve some of them well. Take Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who, last month, released his much-anticipated The MAHA Report: Make Our Children Healthy Again. We soon learned that the report was riddled with errors and cited at least seven studies that do not exist.

Kennedy then updated his report in an effort to fix those mistakes, but, as it turns out, they actually added more errors to that revised version. The secretary has now somehow managed to screw up the same report twice.

So things arent going great at FEMA, or Social Security, or HHS. But surely the Department of Homeland Security is running like a Swiss watch.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent out a press release that claimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement had arrested an Illegal Alien who Threatened to Assassinate President Donald J. Trump. It included an image of a threatening handwritten letter that Noem claimed had been sent by an undocumented immigrant in Milwaukee named Ramon Morales Reyes.

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But it turns out local law enforcement officials do not think Morales Reyes sent that letter. In fact, they think that he was being set up. As The New York Times reports, Not long after the announcement, the governments story began to look shaky.  And as detectives in Wisconsin began looking deeper, they came to believe Reyes had been framed.

Milwaukee County prosecutors have now filed identity theft and witness intimidation charges against another man, a lifelong Wisconsin resident. They said the man had written several threatening letters that included Reyes name in the return address. Prosecutors said it was an attempt to catch the attention of the Trump administration and weaponize the threat of deportation against Mr. Reyes, who was scheduled to testify against the man at a robbery trial next month, the Times reports.

So this guy, who is set to go on trial next month, allegedly tried to trick the Trump administration into going after the witness who would testify against him, and the Department of Homeland Security appears to have fallen for it.

Meanwhile, Trumps intelligence chief appears to be struggling with her job as well. As director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard is responsible for making sure that Trump is up to date on the latest intelligence, which includes his presidential daily brief.

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But apparently that is proving difficult. Since taking office, Trump has taken his daily intelligence briefing, on average, less than once a week, according to his public schedule, which is far less than previous presidents (including his own first term).

So Gabbard is now reportedly resorting to what I would call creative methods. According to NBC News, one idea thats been discussed is possibly creating a video version of the PDB that looks and feels like a Fox News broadcast. NBC News reports, A new PDB could include not only graphics and pictures but also maps with animated representations of exploding bombs, similar to a video game.

In other words, because Gabbard is bad at her job and the president of the United States doesnt like to read, career intelligence staffers may be forced to put on some kind of Fox News puppet show to get the president to pay attention.

Thats the real problem with all of this: We all know that when it comes to people, Trump is not sending his best. There is a whole system of dedicated federal workers who actually make the government function, and who in turn can make even the most incompetent bureaucrat look vaguely competent. But Trump is making it impossible for them to do their jobs.

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The Washington Post recently dug into all the ways Trumps efforts to increase government efficiency have, ironically, buried federal workers under red tape. The report cites interviews with more than three dozen federal workers across 19 agencies, as well as records obtained by the outlet. Among the findings were:

At NASA, employees had to write several detailed paragraphs, across multiple rounds of emails, to win approval to buy fastening bolts.

At the Food and Drug Administration, once-routine tests on food, including monitoring for accuracy in labeling, coloring and exposure to heavy metals, have been significantly delayed because the agency began requiring department-level approval for expenses at every step.

At the Federal Aviation Administration, officials at air traffic control towers across two dozen West Coast airports are unable to easily pay to have the windows washed or shades cleaned.

At the Social Security Administration, Trump officials and DOGE have pushed thousands of central office workers to take lower-level positions answering phones in field offices. They also threatened to fire whoever didnt make the jump.

Government officials cannot purchase bolts for rockets, do food-safety testing or wash the windows at air traffic control towers without wading through layers and layers of new Trump-approved red tape.

All of the real people who make our government run are being squeezed, and all were left with is the bizarre and clueless leadership of Trumps so-called very best people.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Four of the candidates hoping to succeed a term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy have capped out their matching primary funds, receiving $5.5 million each. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor)

With less than a week left before the June 10 gubernatorial primaries, the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has disbursed nearly $37.5 million in public matching dollars to eight of the 11 candidates, the agency said Wednesday.

Four of those hoping to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy  Democrats Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, plus Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli  have capped out their matching primary funds, receiving $5.5 million each.

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Democrats Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and ex-state Sen. Steve Sweeney and Republicans Sen. Jon Bramnick and former radio host Bill Spadea have not raised enough to receive the maximum amount of matching primary funds, according to the election law commission.

Of those four, Sweeney has received the most public dollars, just under $5.3 million. Barakas matching funds total $4.2 million. Bramnick, the only sitting legislator in the race, has received about $3.2 million from the program, while Spadea has gotten roughly $2.8 million.

The gubernatorial public finance program offers candidates who meet fundraising and spending thresholds matching public dollars at a rate of 2-to-1 for every dollar candidates raise. In exchange, gubernatorial hopefuls agree to participate in debates hosted by the election law commission and observe spending limits.

This year, candidates who participate in the program can spend no more than $8.7 million on primaries and up to $18.5 million for the general election.

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The amount of matching funds already disbursed this year exceeds all primary spending in 2017, New Jerseys last gubernatorial election with no incumbent seeking reelection.

Then, all candidates spent just under $34.5 million. Most of that spending came from Murphy, who did not participate in the public financing program during the 2017 primary and spent $22 million, including more than $16 million he loaned to his campaign.

Murphy, who participated in the gubernatorial fund match in 2017s general election and through the entire 2021 cycle, is barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

Three candidates did not qualify for matching funds. Teachers union president Sean Spiller was the only Democrat who did not raise and spend the $580,000 needed to qualify by the March 24 deadline. Spillers candidacy is getting a major boost from an independent expenditure group with ties to his union that has spent $37.5 million so far urging voters to support Spiller in the primary.

On the Republican side, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac and contractor Justin Barbera did not qualify for matching funds.

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MORTON GROVE, Ill. (WGN)  The largest Jewish cultural event in the area is set for this weekend, right on the heels of two violent anti-Semitic attacks.

On Sunday, a forest preserve in Morton Grove will be hosting a Jewish festival, featuring three music stages, 50 artists booths and numerous food options.

It is in that regard the longest-running Jewish festival in America and the largest Jewish cultural event in the area, Michael Lorge, founder and chair of the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival, said. The philosophy is to share Jewish culture, food, dance music with everyone.

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Chicago officials raise concerns over federal immigration raids in Pilsen

The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival started in 1980 and runs every two years. It will be held at St. Paul Woods in Morton Grove this Sunday, June 8.

It draws from around the area, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan people come, Steve Franklin, a member of the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival Steering Committee, said. Weve had as many as 15,000 people or more come to the event.

This years event comes on the heels of two violent anti-Semitic attacks.

Two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. were shot and killed outside a D.C. museum last month.

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On Sunday, June 1, a man threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd of demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, taking part in a walk bringing attention to Israelis still being held hostage in Gaza. A total of 12 people were injured.

Suspect in DC Jewish museum shooting faces murder, firearm charges in death penalty eligible case

Its terrible. People feel angry. At the same time, people feel resolved. We do not back down on this, Lorge said.

With incidents like these taking place throughout the country, there is concern people might not feel safe taking part in Jewish events.

We are not going to be afraid. We are not going to cancel the festival or say to people, Be careful. Dont come. Were saying come. Its a time of solidarity. This is a time to share our culture in the most positive way, Lorge said.

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SEE ALSO: 4 more victims IDd in Colorado fire attack, bringing number of injured to 12

Festival organizers said this year they are working with seven different law enforcement agencies and their own security staff to keep the event safe.

We have the festival itself, our own officers, Chicago off-duty police with a bomb sniffing dog, all kinds of resources that are part of our planning, Lorge said. The grounds will be fenced. There will only be one entrance in and out. We are telling people there will be metal detectors. We want people to get inside and feel comfortable and celebrate, because were sharing this event, not just with the Jewish community, but the whole community.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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Organizers told WGN-TV no vendors or musical acts have canceled.

The event will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Sranan Gold Corp. (CSE: SRAN) (FSE: P84) (Tradegate: P84) ("Sranan" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated May 30, 2025, Sranan has increased its Offering to up to 20,000,000 shares (the "Shares") at a price of C$0.40 per Share for proceeds of up to C$8 million (the "Offering"). The net proceeds will be used for general working capital and the Company's expanded drilling program of up to 10,000 meters at the Tapanahony Gold Project in Suriname.

All securities issued will be subject to a four-month and a day hold period from any closing date. Sranan may pay finder's fees to arm's length finders (each a "Finder") on the Shares sold by such Finder. The Offering is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and any finder's fees payable will be issued in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws.

About Sranan Gold

Sranan Gold Corp. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Suriname. The highly prospective Tapanahony Project is located in the heart of Suriname's modern-day gold rush. Tapanahony covers 29,000 hectares in one of the oldest and largest small-scale mining areas in Suriname. There is significant production from saprolite by local miners along a 4.5-kilometre trend, where several areas of mining have been opened.

Sranan Gold is also exploring its Aida Property consisting of five mineral claims covering an area of 2,335.42 hectares on the Shuswap Highland within the Kamloops Mining Division.

For more information, visit sranangold.com.

Information contact

Oscar Louzada, CEO

+31 6 25438975

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Jewish Democratic senators are fearing for their safety after a rash of ultra-violent antisemitic attacks in the past month.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst, said her synagogue, Temple Beth-El has faced increased threats.

They are antisemitic to their core, and it's domestic terrorism, and it needs to treated appropriately, she told The Independent.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that ICE agents had taken the wife and children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman into custody. This came after police in Boulder, Colorado arrested Soliman for allegedly throwing molotov cocktails at a peaceful demonstration for Israeli hostages on Sunday.

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FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said that Soliman allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device and chanted Free Palestine. The attack left six victims, ranging from 67 to 88, including one Holocaust survivor.

A woman places a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of the flamethrower attack outside the Boulder County, Colo., courthouse. (AP)

The Boulder attack came only days after a shooting at a Jewish museum left two staffers at the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC dead. Elias Rodriguez later told police, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.

And in April, police arrested and charged a man with murder and terrorism after he allgedly firebombed the mansion of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish. The man accused of arson allegedly did so because of Shapiros views about Israels war in Gaza after the attack on October 7, 2023.

I think as a senator and as a Jewish senator, I've always lived with a heightened threat perception, and we've had people convicted of threatening me so but certainly we watch for that special category of anti semitic hate, since there's lots of people who like to use that as another reason to threaten, Slotkin said.

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California Sen. Adam Schiff, a felloww Democrat, said that as a Jewish politician with a high level of visibility during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, he had a heightened sense of the need for security.

I think probably all the Jewish legislators are thinking about our personal safety, Schiff told The Independent. Sadly for for me, that has always been pretty high, so thats not a new phenomenon.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he and other Jewish politicians on Capitol Hill are on edge. (Getty)

For some, the attacks conjure painful memories. The father of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), escaped Nazi Germany for the United States in the 1930s.

Those are horrifying examples, got to draw clear a line, not acceptable, he told The Independent. Certainly I remember hearing my folks about anti semitism.

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Jewish voters historically tend to vote Democratic, though divisions exist within the party on Israel. Some progressive Democratic lawmakers in the House have said that Israels assault on Gaza after October 7 that has led to more than 50,000 deaths amounts to a genocide or war crimes.

At the same time, some Jewish senators have loudly criticized Israels government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even while condemning Hamas for the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel that saw some 250 people taken hostage and 1,200 people brutally murdered.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who spent some of his youth on a kibbutz in Israel, has regularly criticized the Netanyahu government and has sponsored legislation to block the sale of weapons to the Israeli government.

But Sanders also had family who died in the Holocaust in Poland and criticized antisemitic attacks.

Antisemitism is a disgusting ideology and weve got to do everything we can to combat it, he told The Independent.
HORN LAKE, Miss.  Jimmy Stokes was elected as the new mayor of Horn Lake, Mississippi, marking the first leadership change for the city since 2013.

Commissioner Stokes, a Democrat, beat out Daniel Klein Sr. in the mayoral race with a lead of only 83 votes. Only 18.2% of eligible voters cast ballots in the election.

He previously ran for mayor in 2021, but lost to Mayor Allen Latimer. He has also served on Horn Lakes Planning Commission since 2017.

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Stokes will now be taking Latimers place as the first African American mayor of Horn Lake.

Stokes released a statement on social media following his win. The statement reads in part:

Im deeply honored and humbled to be elected as your next mayor To the people of Horn Lake: Im ready to get to work and begin implementing the goals we set throughout this campaign  promoting transparency, uplifting our youth, embracing diversity, and building a better Horn Lake for all.

Were moving up. All of Horn Lake should be excited, no matter who you are, your religion. Look, Horn Lake is about to move up. I serve all people. Im not just a Democratic mayor. Im the mayor of all people, said Stokes.

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This election was also notable for another reason. Prior to yesterdays vote, Republicans controlled every seat on the Board of Aldermen except Ward 5. Democrats now hold five of the seven seats, giving them their first-ever majority.

The journey doesnt end here  its just the beginning. Lets move forward together, said Stokes.

Below is a list of the 2025 Horn Lake unofficial election results.

Mayor:

Jimmy Stokes (Democrat)  1,479 votes

Alderman At-Large:

Larry McKinney (Democrat)  1,403 votes

Alderman Ward 1:

Joshua Langston (Democrat)  285 votes

Alderman Ward 2:

Tommy Bledsoe (Republican)  406 votes

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Alderman Ward 3:

Jackie Bostick (Republican)  176 votes

Alderman Ward 4:

Kelly Lee Smith (Democrat)  210 votes

Alderman Ward 5:

LaShonda Johnson (Democrat)  271 votes

Alderman Ward 6:

Charlotte Armstrong (Democrat)  313 votes

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The U.S. Department of Labors plan to pause 99 Job Corps centers across the nation may cost students in El Paso not only their access to formal education, but also a place to live.

Pause of David L. Carrasco Job Corps center shocks alumni, trades professionals

Were trying to find these students a place to live and another career path. Because we can find them a place to live, but we dont want them living in shelters forever. That was the whole reason they came to this program to begin with, said Wayland Chisolm, a career counselor at the David L. Carrasco Job Corps in El Paso.

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So were trying to do both, but the issue is the limited amount of time. How can you find somebody a shelter and a new career path in less than a week? And thats what were dealing with right now, Chisolm said.

Chisholm said the David L. Carrasco Job Corps in El Paso has 285 students, all of whom he said are expected to leave campus by the end of this week. He added that 200 of those students are residential students, meaning they live on campus.

Among those 200 residential students, Chisolm said there are students who are essentially homeless without the Job Corps.

The community has stepped up for our students who dont have a place to live. We have contacted different organizations here in the city and theyre going to meet with our students to see how they can help them out. But this isnt just something thats affecting us. Its something thats happening all across the country, Chisolm said.

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Chisolm said Workforce Solutions Borderplex is also assisting them in finding new programs for affected students, as well finding new jobs for affected employees.

Job Zuniga Munoz, the student body president at the David L. Carrasco Job Corps, said he was set to leave for a Job Corps center in Utah within a month. He had been accepted there to complete his advanced training certifications in welding. He said that opportunity is now gone, but that hes had to put his own feelings aside to comfort his own classmates.

It would be completely free to attend the advanced training program. And I believe that it would be around $60,000 out of pocket if I would like to pursue those certifications. Unfortunately, I wont be able to do that anymore, Zuniga said. And with that, Im still not concerned about myself. Im still more worried about the people living here in the center full time. I have friends that are unfortunately homeless. Theres people that dont have a warm meal to go to.

Meanwhile, the National Job Corps Association (NJCA) filed a motion in a federal court on Tuesday, June 3, seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the Department of Labor from carrying out its pause of 99 Job Corps centers across the country. The NJCA is a professional trade association that advocates for the Job Corps.

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Chisolm is urging people who support the Job Corps to visit savejobcorps.com, where they can learn how to contact elected officials and urge them to advocate in favor of the Job Corps.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson sees his moment to push his survival of the fittest philosophy with major cutbacks to programs and regulations of critical importance to the health of his constituents being implemented by the Trump administration and by Congress in the budget bill.

In his address to the Milwaukee Press Club and in other recent statements, Johnson sees no role for the federal government to protect the citizens of this state from lead contamination and wants the technical and financial burden to be borne by Wisconsin taxpayers ("Johnson backs lifting measles vaccine mandate, May 30).

He says the drastic cuts to Medicaid contained in the House budget bill  which may make tens of thousands of constituents lose coverage and close rural hospitals  are inadequate and more substantial cuts are needed.

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Opinion: We asked readers about wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. Here's what you said.

And his misguided call to end the measles and other vaccine requirements is scientifically unsound. Vaccines work. Public health and sanitation, along with his voodoo remedies for dangerous diseases with unproven and dangerous treatments, will not. But we should not be surprised. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson bemoaned the impact of the steps taken to address this deadly disease because of their negative impact on the economy.

Johnsons positions on health, if adopted, will result in serious illness with lifetime consequences or death for Wisconsin residents. He is putting us all at risk.

Michael Davis, Washington Island

For Johnson, saving country means saving Donald Trump

Sen. Ron Johnson now claims he's not going to vote for President Donald Trumps "big, beautiful bill" because he is trying to "save this country" (Johnson says Trump cant push him, May 30).

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This from the same guy who voted for massive tax cuts in 2017 that significantly increased future deficits; who voted to not convict an impeached president who sicced a violent mob on the Capitol to try and hold onto office; and who, after promising he wouldn't, ran for a third Senate term because  wait for it  he felt a responsibility "to save the country."

Watch what this man does, not what he says. He has caved before and will cave again, because he has made it clear that, for him, "saving this country" means "saving Donald Trump."

Christopher Hanks, Milwaukee

Letters: Making Canada 51st state is a great idea, but not for reason Trump thinks

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin senator's position on health will lead to deaths | Letters
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  A Johnstown-area man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday for his role in a money-laundering scheme totaling more than $700,000.

John M. Trabert, 55, faces 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his conviction of conspiracy to commit money laundering, Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti said in a release.

Between January 2020 and March 2022, Trabert conspired with others to act as a money mule in a variety of scams at the direction of a person outside the United States, according to court documents.

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The person outside the United Stateswould get victims to send money to one of Traberts bank accounts and, at the direction of the co-conspirator, Trabert would conduct financial transactions using proceeds of the scams, officials said.

The victims believed they were investing in gold, financial support for a fictional love interest or real estate, authorities said, and Trabert would retain a portion of each transaction as personal profit.

The scheme ended after federal agents in Pittsburgh were contacted by a bank about suspicious deposits.

Trabert waived his right to trial and entered a guilty plea to a sole charge in September.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. prosecuted the case, and U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence.

Rivetti commended the work of the U.S. Secret Service for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Trabert.
The truth about what transpired between Jonathan Joss and his former neighbor appears to be far from what the late entertainer's husband claims.

The "King Of The Hill" voice actor took his final breath on Sunday, June 1, after allegedly getting into a heated dispute at his old neighborhood in Texas. His partner, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged he was gunned down in a hate crime, but new reports beg to differ.

Jonathan Joss' former neighbors recently debunked his husband's claims of homophobic attacks, stressing that they never threatened or harassed the couple. Instead, the late TV personality was a menace in their peaceful neighborhood, leading to a years-long feud with the man who shot him.

Jonathan Joss' Shooter Proudly Declared He Killed Him

Facebook | Jonathan Joss

According to a police report, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, the man arrested and charged for ending Joss' life, did very little to help his case. He allegedly showed no remorse, even proudly declaring, "I shot him" after authorities caught him while fleeing the crime scene.

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The report shed more light on what transpired between Joss and Alvarez, revealing the unfortunate incident began around 7 PM after a woman drove the late actor from Austin to his old home in San Antonio.

He and another man, whom his husband claimed to be, visited the South Side residence to see if they had mail. According to the report obtained by TMZ, the woman remained in the car while the duo checked their mail.

During this moment, Alvarez came over in a vehicle with a second occupant and confronted Joss. They got into a heated argument, with the latter threatening to shoot Joss before carrying out his promise.

The Shooting Had Nothing To Do With Homophobia

Following news of Joss' death by gunshot, his husband penned a lengthy post about what allegedly happened. He painted the murder as a hate crime, claiming the shooter yelled "homophobic slurs" at them before killing his partner.

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However, neighbors recently refuted these claims and implied the tragic incident stemmed from years-long tension. These eyewitnesses stressed that they never heard the shooter make any remarks about Gonzales and Joss' same-sex relationship.

Instead, they claimed Joss and Alvarez had beef over the late actor's "antics." He allegedly tormented their peaceful neighborhood by harassing people during his random, angry episodes, where he would hurl insults at passersby.

Inside Joss' Alleged Troubling Behavior

Besides verbally abusing innocent people during his random outbursts, Joss' former neighbors claimed he would behave bizarrely, like banging pots and pans from his rooftop at night. Surprisingly, after these alleged episodes, the late actor apologized to his neighbors.

His former neighbors suspected his anger issues stemmed from a mental breakdown and appeared to let him off easily. Unfortunately, Ceja seemed more interested in getting even with Joss than brushing off their differences.

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Authorities also echoed similar sentiments, claiming they found no evidence linking the shooter's actions to a hate crime. As stated, Ceja was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody on a $200K bond after confessing to the crime, as noted in a police report.

The Late Entertainer's Husband's Story Negates The Neighbors'

While Joss' former neighbors claim he was the menace in their South Side block, his husband shared a different story. The Blast reported that Gonzales gave a firsthand account of what happened on June 1, dropping a lengthy statement on the late actor's Facebook page.

Gonzales implied that he and Joss' old residence in Texas wasn't burned down in a natural fire. He alleged their home was destroyed in January, two years after homophobic neighbors threatened to do so. He stressed that their persistent hate attacks were repeatedly reported to the police to no avail.

Things reached a breaking point that Sunday when he and Joss returned to the neighborhood to check their mail only to find the skull of one of their dogs. Gonzales recalled the deceased pet's harness was displayed for them to see, causing the couple to suffer "severe emotional distress."

Jonathan Joss' Partner Choosing To Focus On His Legacy

Facebook | Jonathan Joss

While yelling and crying over the loss of their dog, Gonzales claimed they were approached by a man who "started yelling violent homophobic slurs." He emphasized that he and Joss were processing their grief and held no weapons, nor did they provoke this man to react the way he did.

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"When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life," Gonzales recalled. "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved."

The grieving husband noted that he and Joss did not deserve the injustice they received for loving each other and vowed to keep his partner's legacy alive. Gonzales' words sparked a wave of support from fans who condemned the shooter's actions while penning their condolences.

Given the different narratives about what happened to Jonathan Joss, only time will unveil the truth.






NEED TO KNOW

56-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez was released one day after he allegedly shot and killed Jonathan Joss on Sunday, June 1

Alvarez posted a $200,000 bond on June 2 and was ordered to full house arrest, according to records obtained by PEOPLE

He has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly admitting to shooting Joss following a dispute at his San Antonio, Texas home







The suspect in Jonathan Joss shooting death is out on bail.

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Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, the 56-year-old man charged with first-degree murder after police allege he admitted that he shot and killed the Parks and Recreation actor on June 1, is no longer in police custody. According to records obtained by PEOPLE, Alvarez was released after posting a $200,000 special condition bond one day after his arrest.

The court has ordered Alvarez to full house arrest and placed conditions for him to not purchase, possess, own or use any firearms. A judge also issued Avlarez a no-contact order, although it is unclear to whom that applies.

A pre-indictment hearing has been set for August.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez

As PEOPLE previously reported, a witness told police that she drove Joss and a man presumed to be his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, to their property in San Antonio, Texas, to check their mail at around 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. The couple hadnt been living there because their house burned down three months prior.

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Per the police report, the shooter believed to be Alvarez parked his car directly behind the womans vehicle and she watched him begin to argue with Joss through her rearview mirror. She alleged that Alvarez then said he had a gun and would shoot the King of the Hill star before doing so.

Officers responded to a call of a shooting in progress, but found Joss, who was just 59, lying near the roadway. He was pronounced dead at 7:20 p.m., according to EMS on the scene.

The report further stated that Alvarez, who PEOPLE can confirm was a neighbor of Joss, was detained by police shortly after fleeing in a vehicle and allegedly "immediately told them, I shot him. It also listed a rifle as the weapon used to intentionally and knowingly shoot the actor.

NBC Jonathan Joss Jonathan Joss

Gonzales, who married Joss on Valentines Day this year, shared a post on Joss Facebook page on June 2 claiming the incident was a hate crime.

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My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home, the statement began. That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.

Throughout that time we were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship, he went on to share. Much of the harassment was openly homophobic.

Gonzales went on to allege that he and Joss found the skull of one of their deceased dogs seemingly left out for them to see when they arrived at the property, causing "severe emotional distress."

We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw," he explained. "While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.

Jonathan Joss/Facebook Jonathan Joss and Tristan Kern de Gonzales Jonathan Joss and Tristan Kern de Gonzales

He continued: Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.

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He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other, Gonzales concluded. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved. To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathans legacy and honoring the life we built together.

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In a statement shared with PEOPLE on June 3, the San Antonio Police Department addressed speculation that the shooting was tied to Joss sexuality.

Our investigation has found no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Josss murder was related to his sexual orientation, a public information officer wrote. We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly.



Read the original article on People
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, certainly has absorbed the first rule of MAGA: You're never in the wrong as long as you're "triggering" the liberals. On Friday, she drew outrage from her constituents at a town hall in Butler County, Iowa, with her bizarre defense of taking away people's medical care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires: "Well, were all going to die." The crowd, furious about her plans to vote for drastic cuts to Medicaid that will deprive millions of health care, booed her. Ernst, having absorbed Donald Trump's philosophy of always doubling down, responded on Saturday with a favorite lady MAGA trick: pretending to be stupid.

New Yorks hottest club is Joni Ernsts Instagram Apology Video.



This place has everything. The tooth fairy. A shaky camera. Visible disdain for her constituents. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

pic.twitter.com/szFMzpcwlZ  Rich Luchette (@richluchette) May 31, 2025

"I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth," she sneered while walking in a cemetery. "So I apologize, and Im really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well."

Ernst may play the mean bimbo for the camera, but she is aware that people aren't asking to live forever. They just don't want to die decades before their time, due to a lack of basic health care. But while most of the media focused on her act, her follow-up spin was, if anything, even more callous. She invoked Jesus Christ as the reason it's okay to let people die from easily preventable causes. "But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ," she smugly declared.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Sign up for her free newsletter, Standing Room Only.

To those whose understanding of Christianity is based on compassion and love, this comment was jarring. But Ernst understands the second rule of MAGA: their version of Christian "love" is cruelty. When Ernst was asked again about her comments by a CBS News reporter on Monday, she snapped. "I'm very compassionate," she barked while running for an elevator.

Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark speculated on MSNBC that Ernst "must be having a nervous breakdown." That's doubtful, as Ernst drove to the cemetery, recorded herself, and likely had a younger staffer edit and post the video to Instagram. This was a deliberate choice, which makes more sense in light of the larger trend in white evangelical circles to redefine empathy as a "sin" and insist that unfeelingness is a higher form of compassion. As David French explained in the New York Times:

At the same time, hard-right Christians began to turn against the very idea of empathy. Last year a popular right-wing podcaster, Allie Beth Stuckey, published a best-selling book called Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion. This month, a right-wing theologian, Joe Rigney, is publishing a book called The Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits.

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These Christians claim that true compassion comes from rejecting empathy, arguing that empathy gets in the way of speaking what they believe are "hard truths" they need to browbeat alleged sinners with. This is how the conservative Christian convinces himself it's love to deny LGBTQ people their freedom, because compelling heterosexuality will get them into heaven. Or to believe it's compassion to scream invective at a woman entering an abortion clinic, which gets reimagined as "counseling" the women to stop sinning.

These are the rationalizations of people who want to hate while denying they are hateful. Ernst's behavior also shows how it can be used to justify opposition to Republican hostility towards Jesus' call to care for the poor and the disabled, especially if doing so means a slightly higher tax rate for the wealthy. Holly Berkley Fletcher, the author of the upcoming book "The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism," explained this in her Monday newsletter. Evangelicals tell themselves they "prioritize saving souls for eternity over helping bodies in the here and now," she wrote. In reality, of course, it's a way "to avoid responsibility and reform and to serve their own interests."

Ernst's implication that people should welcome suffering and death has a long and ignoble history. Fletcher notes slave owners used this message to bully enslaved people in the 19th century. In recent years, the idea was revived due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to justify Republican opposition to life-saving measures like social distancing, masks, and eventually, vaccination. By October 2020, Tucker Carlson of Fox News was sounding this message, declaring, "At some point we are all going to die. Dying is the central fact of life," and suggesting that was reason enough to pull back all public health measures.

It was a message that got a huge boost from evangelicals, especially pastors at megachurches who didn't want to put church services online, depriving them of the adulation of the adoring crowd. Rev. Tony Spell of Louisiana drew headlines in early 2020 by declaring, "True Christians do not mind dying." Caleb Mathis, pastor at the enormous Crossroads Church of Ohio, wrote at the time, "I hope it's the end of the world," because he believes heaven "sounds pretty freakin amazing." Even after the vaccine, Joy Pullman of The Federalist wrote an article titled, "For Christians, Dying From COVID (Or Anything Else) Is A Good Thing." In it, she argued, "There is nothing we can do to make our days on earth one second longer or shorter," and also "death is good."

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None of these folks live by their own pro-death rules, of course. They see a doctor or take other measures to protect their health. It's only when they're asked to help others, whether through vaccination or paying slightly more in taxes, that they find this duty in others to welcome death with a smile. But this is worse than the usual Republican hypocrisy. It also reflects the increasingly Christian nationalist bent of the GOP. They are explicitly arguing that everyone else has to live by their fundamentalist religious belief that death is good. You may be an atheist, a non-Christian, or a more liberal Christian who believes in healing the sick. Too bad for you. In the MAGA view, we're all members of their fanatical death cult, whether we like it or not.

The good news is that Ernst's shut-up-and-die ideology is not popular, even with a lot of people who consider themselves conservative Christians. On Monday, Democratic state Rep. J.D. Scholten announced that he's challenging Ernst in the 2026 election. Scholten told the Des Moines Register, "When she doubled down on Saturday with her, I felt, very disrespectful comments, I was like, 'OK, game on.'" It's a long shot in a deep-red state, but Scholten has some advantages, including being the pitcher for the Sioux City Explorers. He also has a long history of advocating for universal health care, drawing a contrast with Ernst's nihilistic views. Iowa is considered conservative, but its voting population has a significantly higher percentage of elderly individuals compared to the rest of the country. They may be especially hostile to Ernst's suck-it-up-and-die message.
BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Joseph A. Melia, 66, passed away peacefully Sunday afternoon, June 1, 2025.

Joseph was born July 3, 1958, in Youngstown, the son of Rocco and Mary (Buffone) Melia.

Find obituaries from your high school

He received his fine arts degree from Youngstown State University. His passion and talents led him to draw and paint for many years.

Joe was an avid reader. He would read the Bible and loved sci-fi comic books. He enjoyed going out to dinner and the time spent with his family, especially his nieces.

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He was a devout catholic and a member of St. Luke Church where he would regularly attend Sunday mass and daily masses.

Joe leaves behind to cherish his memory, his brother, Michael (Michele) Melia; two nieces, Nicole (Jess) Melia Shaw and Angela Melia and great-niece, Paisley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rocco and Mary.

There will be calling hours from 10:00  10:50 a.m., on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, St. Luke Church, 5235 South Avenue in Boardman followed by a 11:00 a.m., Mass of Christian Burial with Rev. Msgr. John Zuraw as celebrant.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Avenue in Boardman.

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Family and Friends are encouraged to offer prayers for the family and support via phone call, text or email or you may visit the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph A. Melia, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

A television tribute will air Thursday, June 5 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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The Josh Kraft campaign is alleging Boston Mayor Michelle Wu violated state campaign finance law by using public funds for political purposes.

The Boston mayoral candidate sent a letter to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance on Wednesday alleging that Wu and her staffers are doing campaign work inside City Hall during work hours.

Kraft wrote he has received reports of staffers, including her Chief of Policy and Planning and members of her press staff, pitching campaign stories and responding to media inquiries about campaign matters during office hours and using public resources and collecting signatures.

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Kraft further alleges that Wus campaign team only has three staff members, 26 fewer than his own and 15 less than her original campaign staff in 2021.

Additionally, Kraft alleges that Wu and her staff are regular users of third-party messaging apps - including Signal - to allow for them to engage in political activity during office hours.

Signal is the app that senior national security officials were using to discuss war plans in a chat that included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

Krafts letter continues, stating: Members of Mayor Wus staff calling non-profits leaders, community leaders, and business leaders, during office hours and using public resources to demand they support mayor wus campaign and avoid appearing with, or meeting with josh kraft, and threatening to pull city grant funding if they dont comply.

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Krafts campaign is asking OCPF to launch an investigation into these allegations.

Boston 25 News has reached out to Mayor Wus office for comment.

The Kraft campaigns full letter to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance can be read below:

Josh Kraft alleges Mayor Wu in violation of law by doing campaign work during public work hours by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Stocks resumed trading in Damascus, a promising sign for Syrias recovery. With a new government in place and U.S. sanctions, leaders push to turn Syria into the sort of free-market economy that can attract the investments it needs to rebuild itself.

On Monday, the Syrian stock exchange reopened for the first time since President Bashar Al-Assad was deposed.

After a six-month hiatus, instituted just days before the toppling of Assads regime, the Damascus Securities Exchange resumed trading. The stock exchange closed in earlier December in the lead-up to the swift and clinical rebel offensive that ultimately took the capital and forced Assad into exile.

The Syrian finance minister Mohammad Yusr Barniyeh attended the opening ceremony in Damascus. At the event, he pointed to the stock exchange as a sign of Syrias widespread economic recovery. The stock exchange will operate as a private company and serve as a genuine hub for Syrias economic development, with a strong focus on digital, Barniyeh said according to comments reported by the state-run news agency SANA.

Reopening the stock market is part of Syrias plans to rebuild the country and its economy after 14 years of civil war. The new Syrian government, helmed by former al Qaeda member Ahmed Al-Sharaa, pledged to operate under free-market principles rather than the state-controlled economy of Assads rule.

Barniyeh reiterated the importance of the private sector during his comments on Monday.

Our approach is centered on fairness, equity, private sector leadership, and investment attraction, he said. We will facilitate business operations and open doors to promising investment opportunities.

In an effort to ease Syrias rebuilding, the U.S. and Europe both lifted the extensive sanctions it had placed on the country. Among the restrictions lifted were those banning U.S. citizens and companies from doing any business at all in Syria.

In recent weeks, Syria has already succeeded in securing some initial investments in the country, which was ravaged by more than a decade of war. A group of investors from the U.S., Qatar, and Turkey signed a $7 billion deal with the new Syrian government to develop an energy project projected to deliver about 5,000 megawatts. The deal, though, does not include direct involvement of U.S. companies; instead, the American subsidiary of Qatari energy company Power International will participate in the project.

The signing of the agreement featured the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Syria Thomas Barrack, who urged the countries represented to weave a tapestry of commerce and cooperation, starting with the lifting of sanctions.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  U.S. District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher blocked the Trump administration from deporting the family of Mohamed Soliman, who is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE took Solimans family into custody and officials were processing the family members for expedited removal.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.), the former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said he expected the family to be deported this week.

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Judge Gallagher said the administration cant deport the family unless he or a court of appeals rules they can.

The Department of Homeland Security said Soliman overstayed his visa. They said he entered the United States in August of 2022 on a tourist visa. He filed for asylum in September and was granted a work permit in March of 2023.

The authorities are going to need to run that to the ground, said Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). Ive long believed that this country would be a lot better off if we updated our immigration laws.

The Congressional Research Service said in 2023, 42% of the 11 million people in the U.S. illegally had overstayed their visas.

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He shouldnt have been here. He overstayed. And he certainly shouldnt have been allowed to stay, McCaul said.

The Department of Homeland Security said, in the wake of the attack, it is cracking down on people with expired visas.

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LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP)  A judge on Wednesday barred a major U.S. private prison operator from housing immigrants facing possible deportation in a shuttered Kansas City area detention center unless it can get a permit from frustrated city officials.

Leavenworth County Judge John Bryant agreed after a packed hearing to grant the city of Leavenworth's request for a temporary restraining order against CoreCivic, one of the nation's largest private prison operators.

CoreCivic had claimed in legal filings that halting the opening of the 1,033-bed facility on the northwest outskirts of the Kansas City area would cost it $4.2 million in revenue each month. City officials said they anticipated the arrival of detainees apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was imminent under a Trump administration crackdown on illegal immigration.

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Leavenworth isnt the first city where controversy has surrounded the reopening of a private prison as an ICE detention facility. In Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka sued the states top federal prosecutor on Tuesday over his recent arrest on a trespassing charge at a federal immigration detention facility in that state, saying the Trump-appointed attorney had pursued the case out of political spite.

Scott Peterson, the city manager for Leavenworth, said he didnt know if the case in Kansas marked the first time a municipality had prevailed in court.

I would point out that maybe the reason we have seen some success here today is this is not about immigration, Peterson said. This is not about private prisons. This is about land use.

In late 2021, CoreCivic stopped housing pretrial detainees for the U.S. Marshals Service in the Leavenworth facility after then-President Joe Biden called on the Justice Department to curb the use of private prisons. In the months leading up to the closure, the American Civil Liberties Union and federal public defenders urged the White House to speed up the closure, citing inmate rights violations there along with stabbings, suicides and even one homicide.

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But with President Donald Trump pushing for mass deportations under a wide-ranging crackdown on illegal immigration, the facility that CoreCivic now calls the Midwest Regional Reception Center is in demand again. It is located just 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of the Kansas City International Airport. As part of his crackdown, Trump has vowed to sharply increase detention beds nationwide from the budgeted 41,000 beds this year.

Tennessee-based CoreCivic initially applied for a special use permit from the city in February but then withdrew that application the next month, arguing in court filings that it didnt need the permit and that the process would take too long.

It became clear to CoreCivic that there was not a cooperative relationship, said Taylor Concannon Hausmann, an attorney for the private prison operator, speaking in court.

The city sued CoreCivic, the lawsuit claiming that CoreCivic impeded the city police forces ability to investigate sexual assaults and other violent crimes. The lawsuit contended that the permitting process was needed to safeguard itself from future problems.

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Just follow our rules," an attorney for the city, Joe Hatley, said in court. Go get a permit.

The first version of the lawsuit, filed in March in federal court, was tossed out in May on technical grounds. But Bryant sided with Hatley in the case refiled the same month in state court, finding that the proper procedures weren't followed.

Concannon Hausmann, CoreCivic's attorney, declined to comment as the crowd filtered out of the courtroom Wednesday. Norman Mallicoat held a sign reading, CoreCivic Doesnt Run Leavenworth as he left.

I see this as basically a large company trying to bully a small city into getting what it wants and not having to follow the rules and ordinances of the city, Mallicoat said.
A federal judge in Colorado on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from quickly deporting the family of the accused fire bomber who injured multiple people last weekend at a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado.

Colorado District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher, a Biden appointee, ruled that the U.S. government cannot remove Hayem El Gamal and her five children from Colorado pending further notice from him or the court of appeals.

El Gamal is the wife of Mohamad Sabry Soliman, the 45-year-old from Colorado Springs charged with federal and state hate crime charges for throwing Molotov cocktails and using a makeshift flamethrower on pro-Israel protestors at an event organized by Run For Their Lives, which met weekly at a pedestrian street in Boulder.

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The attack earlier this week was the latest incident of high-profile violence against Jewish Americans, and one that the Trump administration quickly described as fueled by a rise of antisemitism.

His wife and children were taken into ICE custody and were facing expedited removal on Tuesday, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it, Noem said in the announcement.

Sabry Soliman planned the attack for more than a year, and had no regrets about his actions, acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado said Monday in a press conference.

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Since the attack, details about Sabry Solimans immigration status  hes an Egyptian national who has been living in the U.S. illegally since overstaying his visa after February 2023, administration officials have said  have tied the Boulder attack to President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policy denouncing illegal migration in the U.S.

These individuals are going to be deported, and were not going to tolerate such violence in our country, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing on Monday.

A hearing on a temporary restraining order request in their case is set for late next week.
(Photo courtesy of Travel Nevada/Sydney Martinez)

The City of Mesquites messy firing of its chief of police earlier this year has resulted in contempt of court findings by a Clark County judge against the city, former City Attorney Mike Branum, and outside counsel Marcus Lee.

Clark County District Judge Nadia Krall ordered the city to pay $500 as well as attorney fees incurred by MaQuade Chesley, the citys former chief of police.

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Chesley was terminated in January by then-City Manager Edward Owen Dickie, who initially cited a vote of no confidence by the Mesquite police union as the reason for Chesleys firing. He later said Chesley was fired for recording a conversation, which is not illegal in Nevada.

Mesquite residents and Chesley provided the Current with recordings they made of Dickie, in which he makes racially-charged statements regarding the hiring of the citys next police chief.

The council, by a vote of four to one, terminated Dickie in late April, citing the recordings.

Councilwoman Patti Gallo noted a string of bad decisions by Dickie, including firing Chesley at the behest of the local police union. Its time for this city to start healing, she said before making the motion to terminate Dickie.

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In March, Krall granted Chesleys request for a restraining order and injunction, prohibiting the city from holding a public investigation into Chesleys termination because he was not afforded rights due police officers under Nevada law.

The city council ignored the order and ratified Chesleys termination in March. Chesley then filed a motion for the city to show cause as to why it violated the order.

Krall, in her order Tuesday, noted the city had more than a month to respond, but failed to file an opposition.

The City of Mesquite, notwithstanding the Courts clear and unambiguous order, willfully disobeyed and violated the Courts order by calling and holding this prohibited agenda item, Krall wrote, adding the city tried to relabel the agenda item in an attempt to flout and circumvent the Courts order.

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The city took the action even though two council members stated that hearing the item would violate Kralls order, the judge wrote.

Krall called the citys subsequent effort to lodge a criminal allegation against Chesley a bad faith attempt to harass him and relieve the city of its legal obligations regarding terminating police officers under Nevada law. This is part of an ongoing pattern of bad faith defenses by the city, Krall wrote.

I am very grateful Judge Krall saw the injustice and found them in contempt, Chesley, who is suing the city for wrongful termination, said via text Tuesday.

Mayor Jesse Whipple and Lee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Last week, Branum, the city attorney, resigned hours before the city council was scheduled to review his performance.

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There is a small group of people who are upset that Joseph [MaQuade] Chesley was terminated from his position as Chief of Police, Branum wrote in an email to city staff a week before the meeting. For those of you who I have worked with, whether you think I am competent or not, I request that you provide your feedback to Council next Tuesday evening.

In a subsequent email, Branum told staff he could not in good conscience ask anyone to speak on his behalf, and would resign. The last thing I would want is for any of you to be the next with a target on your back.
Donald Trumps use of an 18th century law to summarily deport dozens of Venezuelan immigrants who never got a chance to challenge their removal was like something from a surreal Franz Kafka story, a federal judge wrote on Wednesday.

The Trump administration plunged those men into a brutal Salvadoran prison after swiftly deporting them from a detention center in Texas on March 15  despite a mandate from District Judge James Boasberg that was ignored, the judge wrote.

Following a lengthy court battle, Boasberg gave the government one week to explain how officials will facilitate giving all 137 of those men a chance to challenge their removals in court.

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The judges order opens with an extended riff on Kafkas novel The Trial, in which protagonist Josef K. is arrested and prosecuted without knowing by whom or for what reason.

In our nation  unlike the one into which K. awakes  the governments mere promise that there has been no mistake does not suffice, Boasberg wrote. Any government confident of the legal or evidentiary basis for its actions has nothing to fear from that requirement. It is, after all, central to our system of ordered liberty.

A photo provided by the Salvadoran government shows masked agents moving a Venezuelan man into the countrys notorious CECOT prison after dozens of alleged gang members were summarily deported from the United States on March 15 (EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE)

Nearly two months after deporting dozens of Venezuelans to a notorious Salvadoran prison, the Trump administration is embroiled in courtroom battles across the country  and at the nations highest court  following challenges to the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act to rapidly deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members.

In his proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, Trump stated that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of [Tren de Aragua], are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.

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But government officials later admitted that many of them did not have criminal records, and attorneys and family members say their clients and relatives  some of whom were in the country with legal permission and have upcoming court hearings on their asylum claims  have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua.

Significant evidence has come to light indicating that many of those currently entombed in CECOT have no connection to the gang and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations, Boasberg wrote on Wednesday.

A group of Venezuelan immigrants detained in Texas are at the center of another legal battle over Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily send them to CECOT without a court hearing challenging allegations against them (Getty Images)

The Supreme Court has issued several orders stemming from those cases.

Justices agreed that the president could rely on the centuries-old wartime law to remove immigrants from the country  provided they first have an opportunity to challenge those claims in court  and then temporarily blocked the government from deporting another group of Venezuelans in Texas while their lawyers scrambled to challenge the allegations against them.

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Last month, the courts 7-2 decision states that the immigrants detained in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act must have sufficient time and information to reasonably be able to get in touch with lawyers and file legal challenges.

Lawyers for immigrants detained in El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison argued for class-action relief, which would allow all the men deported to the jail under the Alien Enemies Act a chance to challenge the allegations against them.

In short, the government must facilitate the Classs ability to seek habeas relief to contest their removal under the Act, Boasberg wrote. Exactly what such facilitation must entail will be determined in future proceedings.

Boasberg says he is mindful that those proceedings could implicate sensitive diplomatic or national-security concerns after furious objections from the president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has fought to conceal discussions with the Salvadoran government about jailing deportees from the courts.

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But the government also has a constitutional duty to provide a remedy that will make good the wrong done, according to Boasberg.

The judge is separately considering holding administration officials in contempt for defying his orders to return those deportation flights to the United States before they touched down in El Salvador.

His ruling on Wednesday affirms what every American knows: in the United States, people are entitled to due process and no one should be removed from the country without it, according to Democracy Forward president Skye Perryman, among the groups representing plaintiffs in the case.

What has long separated the United States from autocratic regimes is the recognition of this process, she added. We will continue to oppose this administrations attempts to re-write the protections afforded under the Constitution.
A federal judge ruled that a former Atlanta police officer acted in self-defense when he shot and killed an unarmed man six years ago.

A Fulton County grand jury indicted Officer Sung Kim in the death of Jimmy Atchison. The 21-year-old was killed after investigators say he ran from officers of a FBI task force in January 2019.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Judge Michael Brown wrote that Kims actions were textbook self-defense.

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Indeed, the evidence for self-defense is so overwhelming it is hard to understand how Georgia could have brought these charges in the first place, much less continued with them over the two and a half years since, Brown wrote.

The judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter and violation of oath charges against Kim.

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On Jan. 22, 2019, Kim worked with the FBIs Atlanta Metropolitan Major Offender Task Force that tried to arrest Atchison on an armed robbery warrant.

Investigators said Atchison ran from the scene and officers eventually found him hiding in an apartments closet.

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Kim testified that he thought Atchison had a gun that he was going to shoot and that is when he fired a single shot that killed Atchison.

Family members said that Atchison had his hands in the air and was attempting to surrender when he was shot in the face.

Investigators say no weapon was ever found at the scene.

Kim was not wearing a body camera because a FBI policy did not allow agents and task force members to wear them at the time. Kim retired from the Atlanta Police Department several months after the shooting.

Kims attorney, Don Samuel, sent Channel 2 Action News the following statement about Tuesdays ruling.

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It is hard to celebrate when a young man died; but there is no doubt that the decision of the Fulton County DAs office to compound the tragedy by prosecuting Sung Kim was an inexcusable abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Judge Browns decision was unambiguous: Sung Kims acted in self-defense. In fact, the prosecutions expert witness testified that Sung Kim acted legitimately in self-defense.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Fulton DAs office for a statement.

Atchisons family filed a lawsuit seeking $20 million in damages.

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Vin Diesel on May 28, 2019 in Hollywood, CA. - Credit: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

Vin Diesel had four claims dismissed on Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by his former assistant, but still faces sexual battery and wrongful termination allegations.

Asta Jonasson sued Diesel in 2023 and accused the actor of groping her, forcibly kissed her, and masturbating in front of her in his hotel room in Atlanta in 2010. The former assistant claimed the alleged assault took place just over a week after Diesel and his production company, One Race Productions, hired her while filming Fast Five. Jonasson also claimed the production company fired her the next day in retaliation for resisting Diesels advances.

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Diesels lawyers previously stated that the actor denied generally and specifically, each and every allegation leveled by Jonasson.

Per the suit, Jonasson cited Californias AB 2777, which, like New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, allows some sexual misconduct claims to be filed in civil court regardless of whether the statute of limitations had passed. In addition to claims of sexual battery, wrongful termination, claims of retaliation, negligent supervision and retention, and infliction of emotional distress, Jonasson also sued Diesel for four claims under Californias Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

However, plaintiffs must first file an administrative complaint with the state Civil Rights Department (CRD) before they can file a lawsuit under the state FEHA. This gives the CRD time to evaluate the allegations and decide whether to accept the case for investigation.

Diesels attorneys argued that Jonassons administrative complaint, required under FEHA, was submitted after the one-year deadline, and claimed Californias extension of the statute of limitations for sexual assault lawsuits does not apply to administrative filings.

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Judge Daniel M. Crowley agreed with Diesels lawyers and dismissed the four FEHA claims. Plaintiffs FEHA claims are time-barred because she failed to timely exhaust her administrative remedies by filing a CRD complaint within one year of the alleged adverse action, a jurisdictional requirement for a FEHA lawsuit, Crowley wrote in Tuesdays ruling.

Following the dismissal, Diesels attorney Bryan Freedman told People, It is unfortunate that a person who worked for the company for less than two weeks 15 years ago in another state is allowed to use the California court system to assert such baseless claims. He added, Next, we will present irrefutable evidence that the remaining fictitious allegations alleged herein did not occur and finally end what remains of this maliciously filed lawsuit.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Matthew T. Hale, an attorney for Jonasson, said, While we respectfully disagree with the courts decision on this limited legal issue, the Court made no factual findings that impact the remaining causes of action in this case. We will continue to advocate vigorously on behalf of our client, who remains committed to seeking justice.







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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A federal judge has largely denied requests by grassroots campaigners to block portions of a new Florida law that restricts the state's citizen-driven process for getting constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Organizers of separate campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana had urged U.S. District Mark Walker to block implementation of parts of the law, arguing that the new requirements violate their First Amendment rights. But in an order issued Wednesday, Walker granted a narrow injunction, barring state officials from enforcing one section of the law criminalizing ballot petition fraud against one campaign staffer.

The order means that at least for now, the campaigns will largely have to operate under the new restrictions as they try to gather enough signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot.

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Legislatures in dozens of states have advanced bills recently to crack down on the publics ability to put measures up for a vote, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Voting rights advocates say the trend betrays the promise of direct democracy.

Under Floridas new law, an individual could be charged with a felony if they collect more than 25 signed ballot petitions, other than their own or those of immediate family members, and dont register with the state as a petition circulator. The law signed last month by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis also gives campaigns just 10 days instead of the previous 30 to return signed petition forms to local elections officials. Petitioners could also face stiff fines if they dont return the petitions on time, or send them to the wrong county.

Lawmakers argue that the new restrictions are needed to reform a process they claim has been tainted by fraud. The Republican-controlled Legislature pushed the changes months after a majority of Florida voters supported ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana, though the measures fell short of the 60% needed to pass.

Attorneys for the campaigns Florida Decides Healthcare and Smart & Safe Florida have argued the new law makes gathering enough petitions from voters prohibitively expensive and effectively impossible.

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In his order, Walker wrote that the new provisions have caused an immediate reduction in protected speech by constraining the campaigns' ability to collect petitions  and volunteers' willingness to help. But Walker said the campaigners didn't prove that their free speech rights had been severely burdened."

Instead, the record shows that these provisions simply make the process of getting their proposed initiatives on the ballot more expensive and less efficient for Plaintiffs, Walker wrote.

But there are still free speech concerns to address as the lawsuit moves forward, Walker noted: this Court is not suggesting that Plaintiffs are not likely to succeed on their First Amendment challenges to the new deadline and associated fines."

In a statement, Mitch Emerson, the executive director for Florida Decides Healthcare, said he remains optimistic for the legal challenge ahead.

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While the Court did not grant every part of our motion for preliminary relief, this is far from the final word," Emerson said.

A spokesperson for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
June 4 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Maryland on Wednesday ordered seven documents to be unsealed in the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador the government said was an administrative error.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, in a five-page opinion, said the records must be publicly available after a request from 14 media organizations. One of the documents will include redactions.

Xinis, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, separately granted a request from Abrego Garcia's legal team to file a motion by June 11 for sanctions against the Trump administration for not returning their client to the United States.

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Xinis, who said in May she would decide on "privilege," also ordered that a April 30 hearing will be unsealed but include redactions that aim to protect potentially classified information or other sensitive material.

In the April hearing, the judge ordered the Trump administration to comply with expedited discovery to determine whether they were complying with the directive to return Abrego Garcia to the United States, which was upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

The government and Abrego Garcia's attorneys disagree what it means to "facilitate" his return.

Xinis has not decided whether to begin contempt proceedings against the administration.

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The judge said media outlets "rightly contend that, at common law, the public enjoys a presumptive right to access court records, overcome only when outweighed by competing interests."

The Justice Department opposed making the documents public because they are discovery materials typically not available to the press and the public. Also, government lawyers say the sealing protects national security, including sensitive information from being disseminated.

Xinis said "neither withstand scrutiny."

"The right to public access of court records remains critical to promoting 'trustworthiness of the judicial process, to curb judicial abuses, and to provide the public with a more complete understanding of the judicial system, including a better perception of fairness,' " she wrote Wednesday.

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The records are:

Abrego Garcia's attorneys requested discovery on how the Trump administration was facilitating his return from El Salvador. There are three documents related in this matter.

Trump administration seeking more time in the discovery proceedings. There are two short documents.

Abrego Garcia's attorneys objecting to the Trump administration's attempt to pause discovery, some of which is redacted.

Abrego Garcia was living in Maryland since he arrived in the United States in 2011.

Trump officials have repeatedly alleged that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, though formal ties have not been proven. The government cites a confidential informant and says his clothes had with alleged gang markings when he was arrested in 2019.

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His attorneys say he has never been charged or convicted of a crime in the United States or El Salvador.

Abrego Garcia was arrested in March and deported to El Salvador to the maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, with a group of more than 230 men, mostly Venezuelans, accused of being gang members. In April, the State Department said Abrego Garica was moved to a lower-security facility in Santa Ana.

The Trump administration has acknowledged that Abrego Garcia's deportation was a mistake because he had been granted a legal status in 2019. The Department of Homeland Security is banned from removing him to his home country of El Salvador because he was likely to face persecution by local gangs. He didn't have a hearing before his deportation.

The government has utilized the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime immigration law, to quickly deport migrants from the United States.

Migrants have not been returned to the United States for a hearing on due process despite earlier court orders from Xinis, Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and others.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Saying she had no choice, a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge Wednesday granted a request to continue the trial of an Alliance man accused of the 2009 murder of a missing Smith Township teen.

Judge Maureen Sweeney granted the request by Assistant Attorney General Dan Kasaris to continue the murder trial of Robert L. Moore, 55, who is charged with murder. Prosecutors say he killed Glenna Jean White, 17, who had been missing since 2009.

Judge Sweeney made her decision over the objection of defense attorney Lou DeFabio, who said his client has been sitting in jail since late 2021 on a $1 million bond and was already tried once, only to have the jury deadlock.

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Kasaris received the case in January after Prosecutor Lynn Maro asked that a special prosecutor be appointed to avoid a conflict of interest. Very early on in the proceedings against Moore, who was indicted in December 2021, she consulted with Moores family while she was still a defense attorney before he was indicted.

Kasaris told the judge Wednesday he needs more time to prepare for the case.

DeFabio said he understands how complex the case is and attorneys needing time to prepare, but he added Kasaris has had five months to prepare, and my client is sitting in jail with a bond he cant make.

Saying the court has no choice, Judge Sweeney granted Kasaris motion.

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Moore was tried in 2022, and a jury failed to reach a verdict. Prosecutors opted to retry him, and the case has seen several mistrials and continuances.

White went missing June 2, 2009. Her body has never been found.

The case was reopened after the Portage County Drug Task Force received a tip on the case, and a grand jury indicted Moore in December 2021 for Whites death.

A new trial date is not yet available.

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(Inserts missing letter in paragraph 5 in ZBS Partners)

By Krystal Hu

-Crete Professionals Alliance, an accounting platform backed by Thrive Capital, plans to invest over $500 million to acquire U.S.-based accounting firms in the next two years, and equip them with OpenAI-powered artificial intelligence technology to boost efficiency, company executives told Reuters.

Crete PA is the latest example of how venture capital firms are going after traditional industries and funding a buying spree to transform local businesses with AI in a roll-up play, from healthcare to property management.

Founded in 2023, the company has grown to over $300 million in annual revenue with over 20 accounting businesses, making it one of the fastest-growing accounting firms in the U.S. Crete now has 900 employees across 17 offices, and operations in Asia.

The firm has raised a few hundred million from investors such as Thrive, ZBS Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners. It plans to use its cash flow and external capital to fund more roll-ups, through which it acquires majority stakes in local firms and supports them with recruiting and administrative work.

Jake Sloane, co-founder of Crete PA and ZBS Partners, has previously built roll-up businesses from veterinary to plumbing. Believing AI tools could help accountants expand their customer base and take on more workloads, he partnered with Thrive to take advantage of the tech investor's expertise and network in May 2024.

Since then, Thrive, known for its big bets in Silicon Valley companies such as Stripe, OpenAI and Databricks, has its in-house tech team working with OpenAI to build customized tools and models for the accounting industry, from data mapping and memo writing.

Bennie Lewis, President at Assurance Dimensions, one of Crete-owned accounting firms in Tampa, Florida, said that in audit testing, the AI tools saved his team hundreds of hours every month, freeing them up for more client-facing work.

Sloane said the roll-up diverges from the traditional private equity approach in allowing accounting practices to maintain a minority equity stake in the local business, ensuring original shareholders remain actively involved.

Traditional services like accounting have become a hotbed for venture capital investment, which is typically known for ambitious bets on nascent startups in Silicon Valley.

Kareem Zaki, a partner at Thrive, said it takes more than selling the software to create value in a complex industry like accounting, so the fund decided to pursue roll-ups that give it more ownership and control of the businesses.
The judge overseeing the case of wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Wednesday granted a request from his attorneys to file a motion seeking sanctions against the government for failing to comply with discovery requests.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in April ordered the Trump administration to provide discovery evidence showing the process by which Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador despite him being issued a 2019 court order barring his deportation to his home country due to the fear of persecution.

Wednesday's order from Xinis comes after Abrego Garcia's attorneys said in a court filing that some of the discovery productions by the government include "highly redacted internal messages" and other materials that were classified as "Confidential or Attorney's Eyes Only" -- without a motion to designate the items as being under seal.

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MORE: In unsealed declaration, Rubio claims disclosing some information about Abrego Garcia case would cause 'significant harm' to national security

The judge directed the government to file its response within seven days of the motion's filing.

In a separate order Wednesday, Judge Xinis ordered the unsealing of several filings related to the court's order for expedited discovery, including the transcript of a nonpublic hearing that was held on April 30.

Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native who had been living with his wife and children in Maryland, was deported in March to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison after the Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13. His wife and attorneys deny that he is an MS-13 member.

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Judge Xinis ruled in April that the Trump administration must "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return to the United States, and the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously affirmed that ruling, "with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs."

Abrego Garcia Family via Reuters - PHOTO: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025.

On Monday, Abrego Garcia's attorneys filed a response to a motion by the government to dismiss the case, calling the argument for dismissal a "jurisdictional gambit."

"The Government asks this Court to accept a shocking proposition: that federal officers may snatch residents of this country and deposit them in foreign prisons in admitted violation of federal law, while no court in the United States has jurisdiction to do anything about it," the attorneys said in the filing.

"This Court, the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court each rejected that jurisdictional gambit," the attorneys said. "All three courts unanimously affirmed a preliminary injunction that the Government must facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia from El Salvador to the United States."

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In their 26-page filing, Abrego Garcia's attorneys also said there is no indication to date that the government has tried to take all available steps in good faith to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

"History shows that when the Government makes good faith efforts to facilitate someone's return, it succeeds," they said. "Defendants' refusal to seek Abrego Garcia's return in good faith, while simultaneously claiming his return is out of their hands, does not negate redressability."

The attorneys asked the court to shorten the government's time to file a reply brief from 14 days to seven days, saying that "further briefing on recycled arguments should not prolong a case that has already dragged on far too long for Abrego Garcia and his family."
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that nearly 140 Venezuelan men flown from the U.S. to El Salvador in March based on a wartime power invoked by President Donald Trump were deported illegally, but the court stopped short of ordering the Trump administration to seek to bring the men back.

Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg gave the administration a week to propose a plan for how the men  believed to currently be in a notorious anti-terrorism prison in El Salvador  can pursue cases in U.S. courts challenging their deportations.

Mindful of national-security and foreign-policy concerns, the Court will not  at least yet  order the Government to take any specific steps. It will instead allow Defendants to submit proposals regarding the appropriate actions, Boasberg wrote in a 69-page opinion.

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But Boasberg said the Trump administration had plainly violated the rights of the men it summarily deported to El Salvador on March 15 just hours after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act. The 1798 statute has been used just three other times in U.S. history and is meant to hasten deportations during wartime.

Those men, who Trump claimed were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, had no chance to contest their designations  a fact that several courts, including the Supreme Court, have determined violated their due process rights.

For the men in El Salvadors infamous prison, known as CECOT, that violation is most egregious, Boasberg said.

Significant evidence has come to light indicating that many of those entombed in CECOT have no connection to the gang and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations, Boasberg wrote.

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On the day the men were deported in March, Boasberg issued an emergency order for U.S. officials to keep the men in their custody and to turn the planes carrying them around, if necessary. However, the planes continued to their destination and  under Hollywood-style lights and rolling cameras  the men were turned over to Salvadoran authorities who made a spectacle of shaving the prisoners heads and stripping them.

In April, Boasberg ruled that there was probable cause to believe that Trump administration officials deliberately flouted his order. He ordered the first phases of contempt-of-court proceedings that could result in criminal charges for individual officials who allegedly defied his directive, but an appeals court paused that process.

As a result of his handling of the high-profile deportation dispute, Boasberg has become a lightning rod for criticism from Trump and his allies. In March, Trump called for Boasbergs impeachment and denounced him on social media as a Radical Left Lunatic, although the Obama appointee is widely viewed as moderate and mild-mannered.

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled, apparently unanimously, that Alien Enemies Act deportees are entitled to enough notice and time to actually seek relief in court to block their deportations. However, the high court voted, 5-4, that Boasberg should not have handled the original lawsuit brought by the March 15 deportees. Rather, they should have filed in the Texas district in which they were confined in the days before they were sent to El Salvador.

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But those already deported no longer have a geographically obvious U.S. court to take up their claims, so lawyers for the men have pressed Boasberg to allow them to continue to seek relief from him in Washington, D.C. In the ruling Wednesday, he agreed.

Several other courts have backed up Boasbergs concerns about the administrations handling of deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. Judges in Texas, Colorado and New York have agreed that the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act was flawed because the United States is not at war with Venezuela, nor is Tren de Aragua plausibly an arm of the Venezuelan government. Judges in Pennsylvania and California backed Trumps invocation of the law but said the Trump administration had nevertheless failed to give its targets enough time to contest their designations.

"The court properly ruled that the Trump administration must fix its blatant constitutional violations and cannot simply chose to leave these individuals in a foreign gulag-type prison, perhaps incommunicado for the remainder of their lives," ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said after Boasberg's Wednesday ruling.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration must give more than 100 migrants sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador a chance to challenge their deportations.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg said that people who were sent to the prison in March under an 18th-century wartime law havent been able to formally contest the removals or allegations that they are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He ordered the administration to work toward giving them a way to file those challenges.

The judge wrote that significant evidence has surfaced indicating that many of the migrants imprisoned in El Salvador are not connected to the gang and thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous, accusations.

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Boasberg gave the administration one week to come up with a manner in which the "at least 137" people can make those claims, even while they're formally in the custody of El Salvador. It's the latest milestone in the monthslong legal saga over the fate of deportees imprisoned at El Salvadors notorious Terrorism Confinement Center.

After Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in March and prepared to fly planeloads of accused gang members to El Salvador and out of the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, Boasberg ordered them to turn the planes around. This demand was ignored. Boasberg has found probable cause that the administration committed contempt of court after the flight landed. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele posted a taunting message on social media  reposted by some of Trump's top aides  that read Oopsie, too late.

The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that anyone targeted under the AEA has the right to appeal to a judge to contest their designation as an enemy of the state. Boasberg, in his latest, ruling wrote that he was simply applying that principle to those who'd been removed.

Boasberg said the administration plainly deprived the immigrants of a chance to challenge their removals before they were put on flights. Therefore, he says the government must handle the migrants cases now as if they would have been if the Government had not provided constitutionally inadequate process.

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The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The administration and its supporters have targeted Boasberg for his initial order halting deportations and his contempt inquiry, part of their growing battle with the judiciary as it puts the brakes on Trump's efforts to unilaterally remake government. The fight has been particularly harsh in the realm of immigration, where Trump has repeatedly said it'd be impossible to protect the country from dangerous immigrants if each one has his or her day in court.

We cannot give everyone a trial! the president posted on his social media site, Truth Social, after the Supreme Court intervened a second time in the AEA saga, halting a possible effort to evade its initial ruling by temporarily freezing deportations from northern Texas.

Boasberg wrote that he accepted the administration's declaration, filed under seal, providing details of the government's deal with El Salvador to house deportees and how that means the Venezuelans are technically under the legal control of El Salvador and not the United States. He added, while noting there is a criminal penalty for providing false testimony, that believing those representations was rendered more difficult given the Governments troubling conduct throughout this case.

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He also noted parallels with another case where the Trump administration admitted it mistakenly deported a Maryland man to El Salvador and has been ordered by a judge, appellate judges and the U.S. Supreme Court to facilitate his return.

That man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, remains in El Salvador more than two months later.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt welcomed Boasbergs ruling.

This is a significant step forward to getting these men the chance to show that they should not ever have been removed under a wartime authority, Gelernt told reporters in San Diego after a hearing in a separate, unrelated case.

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In that case, a federal judge Wednesday found the Trump administration violated a settlement to provide legal advice to thousands of families that were separated at the border. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw said he would likely decide on concrete steps by early next week.

In the AEA case, Boasberg's order is only the latest of a blizzard of legal rulings.

Several judges have temporarily halted deportations under the act in parts of Texas, New York, California, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, finding the administration's 24 hour window that it gave detainees to challenge their designation under the act did not meet the Supreme Court's requirement of providing a reasonable chance to seek relief. Deportations of people in the country illegally can continue in those areas under laws other than the AEA,

Some of the judges in those cases have also found that Trump cannot use the act to target a criminal gang rather than a state, noting that the act has only been invoked three prior times in history  during the War of 1812 and during World Wars I and II.

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The Supreme Court will likely eventually decide those issues. The Trump administration contends that the gang is acting as a shadow arm of Venezuela's government.

_______

Riccardi reported from Denver. Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington, D.C., and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
A federal judge has dismissed a Democratic Party lawsuit claiming an executive order issued by President Donald Trump was intruding on the independence of the Federal Election Commission.

In a ruling Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali said the Democratic Party groups case was simply too speculative to justify emergency intervention from the court. The FEC had pledged to remain independent, had received no directive from the White House to change its practices and vowed to abide by the law. Without evidence undermining those promises, Ali said he was compelled to dismiss the suit.

The Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed the suit in February after Trump issued an executive order that sought to assert greater control over executive branch agencies that have traditionally operated with considerable independence from the White House.

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Alis decision is a setback for Democrats as they guard against efforts by Trump to dramatically shift the nations election infrastructure and voting systems in ways they say are geared toward suppressing their voters turnout and justifying the presidents long-discredited claims of election fraud.

The ruling landed on the same day the Republican National Committee moved to participate in separate lawsuits that Democrats and voting rights groups have filed over other Trump efforts to rewrite federal election policies and force states to bend to his will. The GOP committee said it wants to defend Trumps plans.

Ali, a Biden appointee based in Washington, has notably been vilified by Trump and his allies for one of the earliest significant rulings against Trumps second-term agenda  blocking the mass termination of U.S. Agency for International Development contracts amid a headlong rush by Elon Musk and DOGE to dismantle the agency. His ruling resulted in one of the earliest decisions by the Supreme Court in Trumps second term, a determination by the justices not to block Alis decision to require USAID to distribute billions of dollars in funding.

The Democrats FEC lawsuit targeted a particular provision in Trumps executive order that says independent agencies have to obey legal opinions issued by the president or the attorney general and that executive branch employees, in their official capacities, cannot advance any legal position at odds with the president or AGs view.

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The Democratic organizations contended that Trumps order had already caused them harm, forcing them to strategically avoid interactions with the FEC and take precautionary measures to guard against politicized decisions from the commission. But commission lawyers said the panel did not intend to accede to the White Houses view on legal matters, and lawyers for Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi said there was no plan to try to impact the FEC interpretation on federal election law.

Given those assurances, Ali said, the Democratic committees needed to point to a concrete basis for [the] conclusion that the FECs independence had been undermined or facing a looming threat of such interference.

They have not done so here, he concluded.

While Ali dismissed the case, he emphasized that he was not precluding authorizing relief in the future if there was evidence that the administration was leaning on the FEC or about to do so.

This Courts doors are open to the parties if changed circumstances show concrete action or impact on the FECs or its Commissioners independence, the judge wrote.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge is weighing a request from the Trump administration to unseal records of the FBIs surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr.  files that the civil rights leaders relatives want to keep under wraps in the national archives.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., said during a hearing on Wednesday that he wants to see an inventory of the records before deciding whether the government can review them for possible release to the public.

This is delicate stuff, Leon said. We're going to go slowly. Little steps.

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Justice Department attorneys have asked Leon to end a sealing order for the records nearly two years ahead of its expiration date. A department attorney said the administration is only interested in releasing files related to King's assassination.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King led, is opposed to unsealing any of the records for privacy reasons. The organizations lawyers said Kings relatives also want to keep the files under seal.

In 1977, a court order directed the FBI to collect records about its surveillance and monitoring of King and turn them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. The order required the records to remain under seal for 50 years  until Jan. 31, 2027.

In January, President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to review and publicly release documents about Kings assassination because the American people have an interest in full transparency about this key historic event, government lawyers wrote.

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To maximize this transparency objective, the records sealed in this case should be part of the Attorney Generals review, they added.

SCLC attorneys said the FBI tried to discredit King and their organization by illegally wiretapping Kings home, SCLC offices and hotel rooms where King met with other SCLC officials. Unsealing records of those recordings is contrary to the interests of SCLC, the King family and the public, the lawyers argued.

Since its inception, this case has been about government overreach, said SCLC attorney Sumayya Saleh.

Justice Department attorney Johnny Walker said the administration has no intention of releasing any personal communications or privileged records contained in the files.

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Thankfully, I am not here to defend the allegations in the underlying complaint, Walker told the judge.

Nobody involved in the litigation knows what's in the archives and whether any of it relates to King's assassination.

It could be easy. There could be nothing, and then we just all go away, Walker said.

It's not going to happen overnight, the judge said. The court is going to move very carefully.

King was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of a motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1976, the SCLC and Bernard Lee, who was Kings executive assistant at the organization, filed a lawsuit to challenge the legality of the FBIs surveillance. The 1977 court order required the FBI to compile records of its telephone wiretapping operations, between 1963 and 1968, at Kings home and at the SCLC offices in Atlanta and New York.

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Bernice King, the civil rights leaders youngest daughter, said in a court filing that she hopes the files are permanently sealed or destroyed.

It is unquestionable that my father was a private citizen, not an elected official, who enjoyed the right to privacy that should be afforded to all private citizens of this country, she said. To not only be unjustifiably surveilled, but to have the purported surveillance files made public would be a travesty of justice.

Trumps Jan. 23 executive order also called for declassifying records about the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The first round of President Donald Trumps judicial nominees made their case to the U.S. Senate Wednesday about why they deserve lifetime appointments to the federal bench.

With that power comes great responsibility, said Whitney Hermandorfer, the current director of the Tennessee attorney generals Strategic Litigation Unit.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wanted to know how the candidates would judge certain cases, including how their records would impact reproductive rights.

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You defended the states near total ban on abortion, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) told Hermandorfer.

You have referred to yourself as a zealot for the anti-choice movement, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told Josh Divine, the current Missouri solicitor general.

Divine stressed to the committee he would continue to act with integrity, saying, I set aside my own personal beliefs every single time Im advocating the interests of my clients.

However, thats not stopping some reproductive rights groups from sounding the alarm about these lifetime appointments, which the full Senate could consider as early as next month.

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Donald Trump wants to stack the judiciary with extremists who will work together at every level to decimate abortion access, said Mini Timmaraju, the president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All.

The U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision sent the abortion issue to the states, but Timmaraju argues there are still efforts to restrict access at the federal level.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday it will no longer enforce a law requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions.

Senate Republicans introduced a resolution Wednesday that would designate the month of June as Life Month to commemorate the Dobbs decision.

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America's Second Independence Day is coming soon.

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It's the longest-running African American holiday, and it became a federal holiday a few years ago.

Here's what to know about the holiday.

When is Juneteenth observed in 2025?

Juneteenth will be marked on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Unlike other federal holidays, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, that are observed on a specific day of the week, Juneteenth is celebrated on the actual day.

What is Juneteenth celebrating?

Juneteenth commemorates the day  June 19, 1865  when federal soldiers arrived in Galveston to take control of Texas and ensure the slaves were freed per the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the History Channel. Juneteenth  short for June nineteenth  marks the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

When did Abraham Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation?

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. But its effect was limited, according to the National Archives. It only applied to states that seceded during the Civil War, leaving slavery intact for slave states that stayed with the Union.

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It also could not be enforced until Confederate states were under Union control, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Therefore, it took until June 19, 1865, for slaves in Texas to be freed.

Slavery in America was formally abolished with the 13th Amendment, which was ratified Dec. 6, 1865.

Valerie Boyer, dressed as Lady Liberty, leads the procession during the Juneteenth Jubilee Day Festival in the Ohio Village on the grounds of the Ohio History Center on June 18, 2023.

When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. President Joe Biden signed legislation on June 17, 2021, according to USA TODAY, after Congress passed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act that same month.

Juneteenth began rising to prominence in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, sparked protests across the country against police brutality, USA TODAY reports.

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Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., first introduced the Juneteenth bill in 2020 following the killings of Floyd and Breonna Taylor of Louisville, Kentucky. His initial attempt to pass the bill was unsuccessful.

Is there mail delivery on Juneteenth? Is the post office open? Does FedEx deliver?

No. As a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service is closed that day, and there will be no mail delivered.

FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available on June 19, according to the company's website. FedEx Office locations will also be open, USA TODAY is reporting.

Are banks open on Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a Federal Reserve bank holiday, meaning the organization that regulates the nation's banking system is closed, according to Bankrate.com.

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Banks aren't required to close for Federal Reserve holidays, but they often do. Transactions made during these holidays won't be posted until the next business day.

Branches of Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, CitiBank and JPMorgan Chase will be closed on Juneteenth, USA TODAY is reporting. Capital One Cafes will remain open.

Is the stock market open or closed on Juneteenth?

The New York Stock Exchange is closed on federal holidays and will be closed on Juneteenth, according to its website.

Is trash pickup delayed for Juneteenth?

Trash pickup may be delayed because of Juneteenth, depending on the hauler. Contact your municipality or private provider to learn more.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is Juneteenth 2025 observed? Will banks be open? What to know
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)  A Wisconsin man doing time for trying to kill his mother was convicted Wednesday of strangling his cellmate to death.

A jury found Jackson Vogel, 25, guilty of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the death of 19-year-old Micah Laureano at the Green Bay Correctional Institution last year, WLUK-TV reported. Vogel told investigators he killed Laureano because Laureano was Black and gay.

Vogel's attorneys, public defenders Ann Larson and Luke Harrison, didn't immediately return voicemail messages seeking comment. He faces a mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on June 27.

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He is already serving a 20-year prison term handed down in 2018 for repeatedly stabbing his mother, strangling her and attempting to snap her neck, according to an appellate opinion upholding that conviction.

A guard found Laureano's body hanging from the top bunk of the cell he shared with Vogel on Aug. 27, according to a criminal complaint. Laureano's hands and feet were tied together with orange material.

Vogel, who is white, told the guard that he killed Laureano because Laureano was Black and gay, the complaint said. He said he knocked Laureano out, tied his hands and feet and strangled him.

Investigators discovered numerous cut strips of orange cloth around the cell as well as a handwritten note that said, Kill all humans! followed by profanities directed at Black people and gay people, according to the complaint.

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Laureano was serving a three-year sentence in battery and robbery cases. His mother, Phyllis Laureano, filed a federal lawsuit in February accusing prison officials of failing to protect him from Vogel. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Green Bay Correctional Institution, a maximum security facility, opened in 1898. Republicans have been calling for years to close the prison along with the Waupun Correctional Institution, another maximum security facility where seven inmates have died since 2023. But concerns over job losses and the cost of building a new prison have stymied any progress on either front.
Jun. 4A jury this week awarded more than $40 million in damages to a couple who argued that personnel at Presbyterian Healthcare Services failed to diagnose a condition that resulted in brain damage to their infant child.

The couple argued in a lawsuit that Presbyterian personnel failed to diagnose the infant's low blood glucose levels after the child's birth in April 2019, resulting in permanent developmental effects.

The award included $15 million in punitive damages against Presbyterian. Jurors also awarded nearly $25 million to the child, now 6, and a total of $825,000 to the boy's parents, Samantha and Patrick Leonard.

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Jurors also found that the conduct of four Presbyterian personnel, including two physicians and two registered nurses, showed "reckless or wanton" behavior on the part of the health care system, 2nd Judicial District Court records show.

Jurors handed down the verdict on Monday following a two-week trial before state District Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd.

Presbyterian called the judgment "excessive" in a statement issued Tuesday.

"While we respect the judicial process, we have serious concerns about this outcome and the unprecedented size of the damages awarded," the statement said. "We intend to pursue legal options to address what we consider to be an excessive judgment."

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"Presbyterian is committed to providing safe, high-quality care to our communities," it said.

The verdict comes about six months after a Bernalillo County jury awarded nearly $17 million in damages to a woman who carried a 13-inch metal instrument in her abdomen for two months following a 2019 surgery at Presbyterian Hospital. That Jan. 14 verdict included $15 million in punitive damages against Presbyterian.

Earlier this year, lawmakers failed to approve a bill that sought to counter the shortage of health care providers in New Mexico by changing the state's Medical Malpractice Act, including limiting attorney fees in medical malpractice cases. Senate Bill 176 died in committee after drawing strong opposition from trial lawyers and patients injured by medical malpractice.

Supporters of the bill argued that New Mexico's medical malpractice laws have made the state a magnet for out-of-state attorneys and discouraged doctors from practicing here.

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In 2022, New Mexico had the highest medical malpractice insurance loss ratio in the country, according to a recent Think New Mexico report, meaning insurers paid out 183% of the premiums they took in. New Mexico was one of only seven states where insurers lost money, making it much more expensive for them to function in this market.

Lisa Curtis, an Albuquerque attorney who represented the Leonard family, said jurors awarded $15 million in punitive damages as a warning to Presbyterian.

"It's clear they were just trying to send a message  take better care of our children," Curtis said Tuesday.

An attorney for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Colleen Koch, did not immediately return phone messages Tuesday seeking comment.

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The boy, who was born about three weeks prematurely at Presbyterian Hospital in April 2019, had undetected hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, due to high insulin levels, according to the 2022 lawsuit. The boy was discharged from the hospital two days after birth.

Seven days after discharge, the boy became "fussy and febrile with less active feeding" and was readmitted to Presbyterian. Eight days after the boy's birth, his brain and heart shut down, Curtis said.

"They started testing his blood sugar after that," she said. "His blood sugars were super low. They figured it out in a day once he had crashed and they tested him."

Presbyterian violated its own policies that require blood-sugar testing for all babies born prematurely within 24 hours of birth, Curtis argued.

The boy "suffered undetected hypoglycemia with subsequent seizure activity and respiratory arrest when he was only (8) days old," the lawsuit said. The boy "is suffering the long-term consequences of developmental delay/sensory disorder, abnormal vision and behavioral effects."
By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. federal prosecutors have accused two Chinese nationals of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon into the United States for research.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday identified the pathogen as Fusarium graminearum, a fungus it said was classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon. In a statement it said that the fungus causes "head blight" in some crops and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year.

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According to an FBI criminal complaint, Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024.

He admitted to smuggling in the fungus so he could conduct research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend worked, according to the complaint.

The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the complaint, an examination of electronic communications between the two indicated that they discussed shipping biological materials and research being done in the laboratory prior to Liu's arrival.

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Jian and Liu were accused in the complaint of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements and visa fraud.

Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the pair's actions "posed an imminent threat to public safety."

Jian was expected to appear in court in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday. A judge appointed a public defender, who could not be immediately reached for comment, to represent Jian.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Donna Bryson and Jamie Freed)
Toyota Group has launched a series of transactions to privatise Toyota Industries Corporation through a tender offer for its shares and related restructuring moves.

A new holding company will be established to facilitate this process, the Japanese conglomerate said in a press statement.

Toyota Fudosan, a company held by Toyota Group entities, will invest approximately Y180bn to foster collaboration within the group.

Akio Toyoda, Toyotas chairman, will contribute Y1bn.

Additionally, Toyota Motor will invest around Y700bn in non-voting preferred shares.

These investments will be funded by reinvesting proceeds from the sale of Toyota Industries shares held by Toyota Fudosan, Akio Toyoda and Toyota Motor since the companys listing.

As part of the transactions, Toyota Motor, AISIN, Denso and Toyota Tsusho will sell their Toyota Industries shares while acquiring their own shares held by Toyota Industries through tender offers for treasury stock.

This move will dissolve cross-shareholding arrangements between Toyota Industries and these four companies, although Toyota Motor will maintain its investment in Toyota Industries via the aforementioned preferred shares.

Toyota Group noted it is shifting its focus towards becoming a mobility company, encompassing the movement of people, goods, information and energy.

Toyota Industries is specifically concentrating on goods, developing autonomous technologies for logistics equipment like forklifts, logistics management software and eco-friendly powertrains, alongside leveraging data related to goods movement.

The privatisation, according to the company, is aimed at strengthening collaboration within the Toyota Group, enabling faster and more dynamic progress in these areas to position Toyota Industries as a key player in the mobility sector for goods.

Since fiscal year 2023, Toyota Group companies have been reviewing their capital relationships to support sustained growth.

In its press release, the group indicated ongoing discussions to determine the optimal structure for its transformation into a mobility company and to refine its capital relationships to enhance competitiveness.

"Toyota Group initiates privatisation of Toyota Industries" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand.




Editors note: Following an agreement with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Wednesday night, undocumented college students in Texas are no longer eligible for in-state tuition. The video above reflects Wednesday nights new detail.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Texas on Wednesday over a state law that allows undocumented residents to pay in-state tuition at the states public universities.

By law, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office represents the state in cases involving the federal government. KXAN reached out to his office for a statement about the lawsuit.

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The lawsuit cites a 1996 federal law, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IRRIRA), as preempting the 2001 Texas Dream Act.

As written, Texas law allows undocumented immigrants residing in the state to access in-state tuition rates. Former Governor Rick Perry signed the Texas Dream Act, a decision that later served to derail his presidential ambitions in 2012.

[Texas] had a choice to make economically: Are you going to put these people in a position of having to rely upon government to take care of themselves, or are you going to let them be educated and be contributing members of society, obviously working towards their citizenship, said Perry in 2001, according to a 2015 report by The Texas Tribune.

However, US Attorney General Pam Bondis framing of the IRRIRA argues this is a public benefit that isnt accessible to other US citizens residing outside of Texas. The lawsuit calls the Texas Dream Act a blatant violation:

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Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens, Bondi said. The Justice Department will relentlessly fight to vindicate federal law and ensure that U.S. citizens are not treated like second-class citizens anywhere in the country.

The lawsuit is in the Northern District Court of Texas, home to a few judges favored by Paxton and other Texas Conservatives. It has not yet been assigned to a judge.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon responding to the lawsuit, calling it meritless, cruel and vindictive. He also called on Paxton to defend Texas laws.

Republicans in Texas created this program in 2001 to establish parity so all tax-paying folks, regardless of status, can receive the benefits they are owed, Castro said. Legislation to strip in-state tuition in Texas also just died during the legislative session. Texans have made it clear where they stand on this.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that for decades has given college students without legal residency access to reduced in-state tuition, swiftly ruling in favor of the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration.

The order came just hours after the Justice Department sued to block the tuition policy, which was the first of its kind in the U.S. when it began in Texas in 2001. Instead of fighting a lawsuit brought against Texas, state Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton quickly told the court that his office supported it, paving the way for U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor to issue the injunction.

The result was a court abruptly blocking a Texas a law that some conservatives have sought to repeal for years.

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The judge's ruling said that the Texas law as applied to someone not lawfully present in the United States ... (is) unconstitutional and invalid.

The order only applies to Texas, but it could prompt conservatives to challenge similar laws in two dozen states.

Ending this discriminatory and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas, Paxton said.

The Texas law was intended to help Dreamers, or young adults without legal status, to be eligible for in-state tuition if they meet certain residency criteria.

Half the country now has similar laws, but the Trump administration filed the lawsuit in conservative Texas, where Paxton, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and state lawmakers have long sought to support the president's hard-line goals on the border.

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The lawsuit and ruling also come just two days after the end of the state legislative session, during which a repeal bill pushed by group of Republicans was considered but ultimately did not come up for a vote.

The lawsuit leaned heavily into recent executive orders signed by Trump designed to stop any state or local laws or regulations the administration feels discriminate against legal residents.

Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said. The Justice Department will relentlessly fight to vindicate federal law and ensure that U.S. citizens are not treated like second-class citizens anywhere in the country.

Texas has about 57,000 undocumented students enrolled in its public universities and colleges, according to the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a nonpartisan nonprofit group of university leaders focused on immigration policy. The state has about 690,000 students overall at its public universities.

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"In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended, Abbott posted in a short statement on X.

The lawsuit was filed in the Wichita Falls division of the Northern District of Texas, where Paxton and conservative litigants have often challenged the federal government and issues such as health care and gay and transgender rights.

The Texas tuition policy was initially passed by sweeping majorities in the state Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, as a way to open access to higher education for students without legal residency already living in the state. Supporters then and now say it boosts the states economy by creating a better educated and better prepared workforce.

Targeted attacks on Texas students who are seeking an affordable college education, led by the Trump administration, wont help anyone, they only hurt us all, said Luis Figueroa of Every Texan, a left-leaning public policy group.

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The difference in tuition rates is substantial. For example, at the flagship University of Texas at Austin, a state resident paid about $11,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year compared with about $41,000 for students from outside of Texas. Other expenses for housing, supplies and transportation can add nearly $20,000 more, according to school estimates.

The law allowed for students without legal resident status to qualify for in-state tuition if they have lived in the state for three years before graduating from high school, and for a year before enrolling in college. They must also sign an affidavit promising to apply for legal resident status as soon as possible.

But the policy soon came under fire as debates over illegal immigration intensified, and critics called it unfair to legal residents. In the 2012 Republican presidential primary, Perry ended up apologizing after saying critics of the law did not have a heart.

Legislative efforts to repeal the Texas law have repeatedly failed, but have started to gain traction elsewhere. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed a bill this year that will repeal that states in-state tuition law in July.

Ending Texass in-state tuition policy is a direct attack on the educational aspirations of thousands of students who have grown up in our communities and call Texas home, said Judith Cruz, Assistant Director for the Houston Region for EdTrust in Texas, which advocates for education access for minority and low-income students.
KENT, Ohio (WJW)  A traffic stop by a K-9 unit in Kent led to a major drug bust Saturday after a police dog helped uncover more than 80 grams of cocaine, authorities said.

According to the Portage County Sheriffs Office, K-9 Hulk and his handler pulled over a vehicle on May 31 on Mogadore Road for equipment and registration violations.

Ground beef sold nationwide possibly contaminated with E. Coli

Portage County Sheriffs Office

The sheriffs office said the driver, who was identified as Michael Lewis, 26, of Mogadore, showed signs of criminal activity, prompting a further investigation.

Michael Lewis

Deputies say a search of Lewis person turned up a bundle of cocaine and two loaded Glock pistol magazines.

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Lewis reportedly told deputies he had a lot of cocaine in the vehicle but said he had left his firearm at home.

Father found dead, daughter missing after they went hiking on mountain in Maine

A subsequent search of the car revealed approximately 82 grams of cocaine in total. That included one bag with about 24 grams and 16 smaller baggies containing another 58 grams, according to the sheriffs office.

Portage County Sheriffs Office Portage County Sheriffs Office Portage County Sheriffs Office Portage County Sheriffs Office

Lewis was arrested and charged with first-degree felony trafficking in drugs and first-degree felony possession of drugs. His vehicle was also seized.

Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water to clear sinuses: CDC

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We think he probably should have left his cocaine at home too, the sheriffs office wrote in a statement.

Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski added a warning: Whether you travel on our highways or roads, or in our cities or townships, we are watching and looking for you.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
*Editors note: A video previously attached to this article has been removed because it inadvertently contained profanity. We apologize for the error.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD)  Pride month began June 1 and organizers around West Michigan are gearing up for a month of events to celebrate.

OutFront Kalamazoo, a nonprofit organization offering resources for the LGBTQ+ community, has Pride events scheduled for this weekend.

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The organizations Executive Director Christopher Terkos told News 8 that this years tone feels a little different.

I have been involved in Kalamazoo Pride since about 2009 and it does have a different feel this year but that again is that community peace and queer joy, he said. The community is a happy community, we take care of one another, we take care of other communities.

White House: No plans for Trump to issue Pride Month proclamation

Terkos said this years Pride events, like every year, focus on bringing the community together while also protesting the hardships that the LGBTQ+ community has faced over the years.

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This year, he said, comes at a time when rhetoric and threats to their community have heightened.

The community has a lot of fear, he said. We have had a funding loss, which has been difficult to manage and along with that, Pride sponsorships are down. We have hired a queer security firm that is owned and operated by queer people to make sure that we provide the level of protection that is necessary.

Its a feeling that is shared by other staff members like Michael Cleggs-Arnott. Cleggs-Arnott serves as the organizations director of programs and outreach. He is the longest-serving tenured position there, having worked for OutFront for 10 years.

I come from a community where I did not really connect with the LGBTQ+ community because I have a religious background and things like that, so we didnt talk a lot about that stuff back in the day. So being able to work at a place like this has helped me become more like myself, he said.

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Even though the tone feels different this year, ultimately both say Pride is always about celebration, and this year is no different.

List: Pride Month events in West Michigan 2025

Even in difficult times we come together and celebrate and have a good time for who we are, Terkos said. Pride is a protest, but more importantly queer joy is a protest. It shows that were here and that we wont let times like this make us shrink back make us go back in the closet. Those are things that are not happening. We will make sure that we have a presence and that we are seen and that we are visible and that we celebrate who we are.

Kalamazoo Pride takes place June 6-7 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. For a full schedule of events, visit OutFront Kalamazoos website.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Hailey Seel, the daughter of convicted murderer Dana Chandler, returns to her seat by passing her mother at the defense table in the Pottawatomie County Courthouse, after delivering a victim impact statement at Chandler's sentencing for shooting to death Mike Sisco, Seel's father and Chandler's ex-husband, and Sisco's fiancee, Karen Harkness, in 2002. Chandler, who tried to hide from photographers, was sentenced to consecutive life sentences without a chance for parole for 50 years. (Pool photo Evert Nelson/Topeka Capital-Journal)

WESTMORELAND  Family and friends of the late Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness packed rows in a courtroom gallery Tuesday for the sentencing of Dana Chandler to consecutive life sentences without an opportunity for parole for 50 years for shooting the couple to death while they slept.

It was an emotional closure to a legal odyssey that began July 7, 2002, with the murder of Chandlers ex-husband, Sisco, and his fiancee, Harkness, in Topeka. The murders fractured the respective families and frustrated Shawnee County investigators until Chandler was charged in 2011 after detectives built a case anchored in circumstantial evidence.

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Chandlers first conviction in the double-homicide was overturned by the Kansas Supreme Court due to prosecutor misconduct that culminated with disbarment of an attorney. A second trial ended in a hung jury. The third  moved to Pottawatomie County in search of an untainted jury pool  led to a conviction in March on two counts of first-degree murder.

Chandlers daughter Hailey Seel, who was 17 at the time of her fathers death, faced her mother in court to offer a personal accounting of the torment she endured for a majority of her life. She said Chandler had a controlling, narcissistic personality that ended her parents marriage and harmed their children.

I truly see her now as the evil killer, Seel said. I hate it. I dont want to call you evil killer, but I cant live in a fairy tale.

Boy, was I fooled. I believed that she loved me. She stole my dad. She stole my identity. She stole my strength. She stole my peace. My heart was torn out and stomped, she said.

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Seel urged Shawnee County District Court Judge Cheryl Rios to have mercy on Chandler, 65, if the defendant expressed remorse after denying for decades responsibility for the deaths. If Chandler refused to express guilt, Seel said, the judge should apply the maximum sentence.

Dana Chandler, who tried to shield herself from photographers, sat at the defense table during her sentencing hearing while an image of 2002 murder victims Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness was displayed in Pottawatomie County District Court. Chandler was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of her ex-husband, Sisco, and his fiancee, Harkness. (Pool photo by Evert Nelson/Topeka Capital-Journal)

Innocence

During Seels remarks, Chandler shot out of her seat to put in the court record that the judge was glaring at me, shooting me daggers. Chandler said Rios had permitted the sentencing hearing, which Chandler unsuccessfully sought to postpone, to devolve into a three-ring circus by allowing cameras in the courtroom. She said the video and still photographers were detrimental to the legal process, and were driven merely by profit motives.

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I refuse to sit here and be treated like a piece of meat, Chandler said. I choose not to be made a spectacle of.

Chandler, who held a handful of papers against the left side of her face throughout the proceeding in an attempt to block the view of photographers, delivered about two hours of combative and bombastic remarks after condemned in victim impact statements by Seel and her brother, Dustin Sisco, as well as others who knew the deceased couple well.

Chandlers minutiae-filled presentation, which featured a series of comments denying guilt and revealed her intent to appeal, included allegations Judge Rios as well as Topeka prosecutors and police investigators, witnesses at trial and even a court reporter engaged in unethical behavior to bring about the convictions.

I have always maintained my innocence, Chandler said. I continue to maintain my innocence. I was not in Topeka, Kansas, on July 7. I never owned or possessed a 9 millimeter firearm. What is happening in this courtroom is a grave injustice. I was not the one who killed them.

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At one point, Chandler tried to blame the slaying on attorney Jeff Sutton, who was Harkness son-in-law and was, in her view, greedy and mean.

Erin Sutton, Harkness daughter, said during the hearing Chandler deserved two life sentences without the possibility of parole from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

My moms absence leaves an unfillable hole in my heart, Erin Sutton said. Time for all of us to have some semblance of peace.

Dana Chandler, convicted by a jury of murder in the shooting death of her ex-husband and his fiancee in 2002, stands inside the Pottawatomie County courtroom in Westmoreland before security personnel removed her handcuffs. She was in court for sentencing, and a judge gave her two life terms without a chance of parole for 50 years. (Pool photo by Evert Nelson/Topeka Capital-Journal)

Sense of justice

Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt requested a pair of consecutive life sentences with a minimum of 25 years in prison on each count before eligible for parole. That matched the sentence handed down by Rios.

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This was cold-blooded and calculated, Kitt said. What this defendant has demonstrated throughout this proceeding is she will not reform. Every witness who didnt agree with her was lying, according to her.

Rios said she didnt personally know the victims, but said she saw them through the eyes of participants in the hearing.

I understand that there are no words that this court can say to change what happened, to bring back Mike and Karen, to be able to live all those missed moments, Rios said. I understand that there is no justice in that sense.

Before Rios pronounced the sentence, Chandler said she didnt want to remain in the courtroom if Rios was going to say disparaging things about her. This was the same judge that Chandler had accused during the hearing of losing her impartiality during the trial, placing her thumb on the scale to benefit the state and managing the courtroom in a way that made it so I didnt get a fair trial.

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I have no intention of saying nasty, hateful things about you, Rios replied. Chandler remained in the courtroom.

Murders lacking a clear-cut perpetrator and the resulting courtroom drama was presented to a national audience by 48 Hours in a series of broadcasts. The lack of physical evidence connecting Chandler to the crimes raised doubts, but Chandlers behavior did raise suspicions.

Shawnee County prosecutor Jacqie Spradling nevertheless won the initial 2012 trial, but did so by lying to the jury about nonexistent evidence. In 2018, the state Supreme Court overturned that conviction and disbarred Spradling from the practice of law.

Mike Kagay, the Shawnee County district attorney who inherited the Chandler case, said justice prevailed despite decades of evasion, delay and doubt.

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We extend our deepest condolences to the victims families, he said. Their strength, dignity and trust have been a source of inspiration throughout this process. We never wavered in our belief that truth matters  and that these victims deserved justice. When the path became difficult, we pressed forward because justice demanded it.

He said the district attorneys office had confidence in the evidence, judicial process and the ability of jurors to see the truth.

Let it be clear: We do not retreat. We do not bend. We pursue justice relentlessly. The rule of law endures only when it is upheld with integrity, diligence and resolve, Kagay said.
Jurors in Karen Reads murder retrial will get an unexpected break on Thursday after Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone announced the cancellation of a planned day of witness testimony.

Read, 45, is accused of striking John OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party in Canton at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking.

Wednesday marked a half day in the Mansfield womans second trial, featuring testimony from two defense witnesses: Canton snowplow driver Brian Lucky Loughran and Canton resident Karina Kolokithas.

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After Day 27 of testimony wrapped up, Cannone told the jury that she would see them on Friday due to extreme heat forecasted for Thursday.

I am assured that not only are we on schedule, were ahead of schedule, Cannone informed the jury. I understand tomorrow is supposed to be very hot. Court officers are concerned about how were going to keep the fans and air conditioners going, and be allowed to hear the witnesses.

Boston 25s Shiri Spear said in her latest forecast that temperatures are expected to soar past 90 degrees.

Cannone continued, Ive talked to the lawyers. Everybodys in agreement that because were ahead of schedule, well give you tomorrow off. We wont be in session tomorrow.

Judge tells jury that the trial is ahead of schedule and due to hot weather predicted for Thursday, there will be no court that day. Jury returns for a full day Friday.

Done for the day.  Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) June 4, 2025

Cannone said proceedings will resume Friday with a full day of testimony.

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Before the court broke for the day, Loughran, who works for the town of Canton, testified that he was out plowing overnight before OKeefe was found dead outside Alberts home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton.

Just like in Reads first trial, Loughran said that his route took him by Alberts home and that he didnt see anything on the lawn.

The prosecution alleges Read struck OKeefe around 12:45 a.m. and that OKeefes body was on the lawn until about 6 a.m. that morning. Loughran said he drove by the home at 2:45 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., noticing nothing suspicious.

Did you see the area on the ground near the flagpole at 2:45 a.m.? Read attorney David Yannetti asked.

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Loughran responded, Yes.

Yannetti asked," What did you see?"

I saw nothing, Loughran said.

Karina Kolokithas, a Canton resident who was out with OKeefe and Read the night before he was found dead, was called to the stand by the defense after Loughran was dismissed.

Kolokithas testified that she was invited out to the Waterfall Bar and Grill with the couple. She recalled drinking water that night due to her propensity for migraines.

While speaking with Read at the Waterfall, Kolokithas said Read praised OKeefe for stepping in for his niece and nephew. She also said she saw Read and OKeefe lovingly embracing each other at the bar, kissing and hugging.

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It just stood out to me, I was like, wow, thats the sweetest thing Ive ever seen, Kolokithas said.

Prosecutors allege Read intentionally backed into OKeefe after she dropped him off at the house party and returned hours later to find him dead. The defense has claimed that she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party.

Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile.

Get caught up with all of the latest in Karen Reads retrial.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Karen Read answered several questions outside of Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon, most notably revealing when her lawyers could rest their case in her murder retrial.

Read, 45, is accused of striking John OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party in Canton at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking.

Wednesday marked Day 27 of her second murder trial. It was a half day for the jury, and witness testimony wrapped up before 1 p.m.

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After Canton snowplow driver Brian Lucky Loughran and Canton resident Karina Kolokithas testified on behalf of the defense, Read was swarmed by a gaggle of reporters outside of court before slipping into an awaiting black SUV.

Kolokithas told the court she saw Read and OKeefe lovingly embracing each other at the Waterfall Bar and Grill on the night before his death. Jurors were also shown a video of the couple inside the bar.

The witness [Kolokithas] was talking about your relationship with John that night. What more can you share? a reporter asked.

I think the video speaks for itself. Happy, loving, affectionate, no tension, Read answered.

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When asked if she thought OKeefe and ATF Agent Brian Higgins were at odds, Read responded, It appears that way.

Higgins was at the Waterfall with OKeefe and Read. He later went to the party at Alberts home.

When asked, When do you think youll [defense] wrap? Read said, Tuesday, give or take.

Since the prosecution rested its case last week, Reads legal team has called seven witnesses to the stand: Motor vehicle accident reconstructionist Matt DiSogra, Michael Proctors childhood friend Jonathan Diamandis, dog bite expert Dr. Marie Russell, former Canton Police Officer Kelly Dever, and Dighton Police Sgt. Nicholas Barros, in addition to Loughlan and Kolokithas.

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Read previously said it could take anywhere from seven days to two weeks for the defense to present its case.

The court will not be in session on Thursday due to concerns about the expected 90-degree heat, Judge Beverly Cannone said. Testimony resumes on Friday.

Prosecutors allege Read intentionally backed into OKeefe after she dropped him off at the house party and returned hours later to find him dead. The defense has claimed that she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party.

Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

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A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile.

Get caught up with all of the latest in Karen Reads retrial.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Former Biden administration Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been slammed after announcing shes leaving the Democratic party and writing a tell-all book about her time inside the broken White House.

On Wednesday, Jean-Pierre, who served as both press secretary and a senior Biden advisor, announced the October 21 publication of Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, using the occasion to reveal she had left the party after serving in the two past Democratic administrations.

Publishers notes said the book would feature provocative evidence as an insider and detail the three weeks that led to Bidens abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision.

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In an era of misinformation, disinformation, the regressiveness of social policy, what were seeing currently, what I have decided to do, and I really have thought long and hard about this, is to follow my own compass, Jean-Pierre said in a video statement on Instagram.

Critics laid into Jean-Pierre, pointing to her former role as a staunch defender of the White House, including against allegations that President Biden was in mental decline, which Jean-Pierre repeatedly dismissed.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced she is becoming an independent and plans a tell-all book about her time in the Biden White House (Getty Images)

In a post on X, conservative activist Charlie Kirk accused Jean-Pierre of trying to trick everybody into forgetting the central role she played in perpetuating the Biden cover-up.

Her former colleagues in the White House and Democratic party also savaged the move, arguing that keeping Biden off the ticket was not a betrayal but rather a key move that kept Democrats from further losses in Congress, cementing their ability to at least partially impede Trump cuts to liberal priorities.

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People will literally die because of Republican Medicaid cuts. Kids will go hungry because of SNAP cuts, former Biden official Caitlin Legacki told Politico. The only reason we stand a chance to reduce the harm inflicted is the Democratic Party did the right thing here. Its completely nuts to be more upset that the Party didnt prioritize Joe Bidens ego and keep him on the ticket than to thank god we averted complete and total disaster.

A Democratic operative, meanwhile, told the outlet the book and party change was the most grift-y thing Ive seen in a long time, and thats saying something in Washington.

The Independent has contacted Jean-Pierre for comment.

Jean-Pierre isnt the only high-profile staffer to distance themselves from the Biden administration in recent days.

Her former colleagues in the White House and Democratic party savaged the move (Getty Images)

On Monday, former State Department spokesman Matt Miller, often the face of the Biden administrations defense of Israel during its ongoing war with Hamas, admitted in an interview with Sky News that he believed the U.S. ally had committed war crimes.

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I dont think its a genocide, but I think the  I think it is, without a doubt, true that Israel has committed war crimes, he said, adding, When youre at the podium, youre not expressing your personal opinion. Youre expressing the conclusions of the United States government.

The torrent of bad press follows the May release of Original Sin, from CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, in which former officials, including cabinet members, described what they said was an extensive attempt to conceal the presidents mental and physical decline from the public and members of government.

Biden and his family members have pushed back against the claims in the book.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen without her cross necklace following the mockery of Daily Show host Jon Stewart.

Leavitt appeared for her briefing on Tuesday in a navy blazer, but she had chosen to forego her signature jewelry.

On Monday night, Stewart skewered Leavitt, saying, By the way, I think that the more she lies, the bigger her cross gets. Is that possible? Its like some sort of weird Pinocchio cross.

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The host also noted that Leavitt is likely to be the only one who will be able to leave the administration unscathed  Because I dont think that she has any principles in there left to die.

Stewart went on to say hes "not even upset with this lady. Because just rolling with the punches is clearly the only strategy for happiness when youre working for Trump.

Jon Stewart mocked Karoline Leavitt's crucifix necklace during Monday's episode of his show (Comedy Central)

"Trumps very open secret has always been: He doesnt believe in or care about any policy issue at all. He wants attention, he wants his ego stroked, and he wants money. He wants f***wads and f***wads of money, he added.

Leavitt, 27, told the Christian Broadcasting Network earlier this year that "My faith is incredibly important to me, I would argue, now more than ever, being in a role that is very demanding and at times controversial, and there's a lot of public pressure and discussion online about who you are and your family.

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She added that it could be difficult for someone who doesn't have faith, but with faith, all things are possible.

Karoline Leavitt was seen without her cross necklace during her press briefing on Tuesday (EPA)

Leavitt faced criticism in April for her comments about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year.

She attempted to connect Garcia to the 2023 rape and murder of a Maryland woman, whose killer was convicted that same month.

He will never live in the United States again, Leavitt said of Garcia.

She gets up there, and, with a cross around her neck, she lies. She violates the ninth commandment about not bearing false witness, Andy Levy said on The New Abnormal podcast. She sits up there and says over and over again that Garcia was a member of the MS 13 gang. She takes it a step further, and she says that this was a finding of an immigration court. It absolutely was not.
June 4 is a big day for one royal family member. It's Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday. The youngest of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's children (and the youngest grandchild to King Charles) hit a milestone today. The Duchess of Sussex took to social media to celebrate the big day sharing two stunning black-and-white photos (Thank you, Meghan). And other royals have also taken to social media today...just not about Princess Lilibet's birthday.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Instagram account shared a snapshot today from William's visit to the Wattisham Airfield. The photos feature the Prince of Wales decked out in camo gear for the official visit to spend time with the 4 Regiment Army Air Corps and get a closer look at what they do.

Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram

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For the record, this is also a big day for William as it is his first official visit as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. The role was officially handed over to him by King Charles in May 2024. The role was once expected to go to Prince Harry, who served in the Army Air Corps during his time in Afghanistan, but he stepped down as a senior royal in 2020.

Getting back to Princess Lilibet, the photos Meghan shared are far from any she's shared in recent memory. The first image shows the Suits alum and her daughter cuddling on what appears to be a boat and the second looks to have been taken moments after Lilibet's birth. The kicker here is that the young princess is facing the camera in the first photo, whereas other recent videos and photos have only featured her red hair or her voice.

Meghan captioned the post, "Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!"

Happy birthday, Princess Lilibet!

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Meghan Markle Talks Possible Future Collab with Princess Lilibetand Tina Knowles Weighs In
FRONTENAC, Kan.  Folks in southeast Kansas are getting the opportunity to learn more about proposed improvements to 69 Highway in Crawford County.

KDOT is hosting a series of open houses this week. One was held Wednesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Catholic Chuch in Frontenac.

Project team members answered questions about the proposed improvements to the 18-mile stretch of highway, from east 650th avenue, just north of Arma, south to K-103.

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The first phase of this corridor study began early last year. The goal: improve safety and mobility.

We have 15 boards identifying each location and gives their concept. And on that board, project board, we have identified this project as committed. Its committed for construction between 2026 and 2029. The others, probably for construction, going to be after 2029, said Darrin Petrowsky, KDOT District Engineer.

Two more are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday). One during the day at the Homer Cole Community Center in Pittsburg. The other, tomorrow night at Northeast High School in Arma.

A virtual open house will happen on Friday and runs from 11 a.m to noon.

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Attorney Hugh Keating has defeated former state Rep. Sonya Williams Barnes in a contentious and high-profile race for Gulfport mayor that saw what she described early Wednesday as a historic level of voter participation.

While we didnt win the election, what we accomplished together was nothing short of extraordinary, Williams Barnes said in a news release. In past elections, about 2,000 voters would determine who leads our city. But this time, over 13,000 citizens made their voices heard.

That kind of turnout is not only historic  its transformative.

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Keating greeted supporters Tuesday night at Centennial Plaza after his initial reports showed him edging Sonya Williams Barnes by a little more than 1,100 votes with all precincts counted. While 1,404 absentee ballots remained to be counted, he felt confident that he would be victorious.

I want to be the mayor for all of Gulfport, and that means every persuasion, he said during a speech Tuesday night.

Mayor Billy Hewes passes Hugh Keating a microphone at an election party for Keating at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Keating is projected to win the mayoral race.

Later, the city released unofficial returns, including absentee ballots, that showed Keating with 6,902 votes, or 53.19%, to 6,073 votes, or 46.81%, for Williams Barnes. Keatings campaign shared vote totals early in the evening that did not include absentee votes cast ahead of the election. Willilams Barnes was unwilling to concede the race at around 10 p.m.

Instead, she headed to city hall to check on the vote.

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City officials did not release vote totals until around midnight Tuesday. At 1 a.m., city officials confirmed there were 491 affidavit votes to count and officials were waiting to see how many of 109 ballots mailed out would be returned within the required five business days from the election. Even if all 600 votes were for Williams Barnes, it would not be enough to catch Keating.

After receiving the initial results, Keating told the Sun Herald from his packed campaign party: Its been a learning experience, to say the least. Its been a wonderful experience with the opportunity to meet the citizens of Gulfport as I traveled the neighborhoods and learned what the needs and concerns are.

Turnout was high, compared to the 2021 mayors race, when 4,204 residents cast ballots. In 2021, Mayor Billy Hewes won the mayors race with 2,680 votes, or 63.27% of the total. Williams Barnes received more votes in the 2025 Democratic primary: 3,316, or 84.3%. Both primary races featured one challenger.

Williams Barnes high primary vote total galvanized Keating supporters, including state Sen. Joel Carter, who urged Gulfport residents on social media to avoid assuming that Keating was a shoo-in, saying they needed to get out and vote.

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Supporters on both sides hurled allegations of wrongdoing in the campaigns waning days, while both candidates welcomed well-known politicians to boost their chances.

Hugh Keating, the Republican candidate for Gulfport mayor, poses for a portrait outside the Orange Grove Community Center voting precinct on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Election probes and candidate endorsements

The Mississippi Attorney Generals Office said last week that it is investigating accusations that Williams Barnes campaign handed out meal vouchers in exchange for votes. Williams Barnes denied any affiliation with illegal voter activity, while a pastor said he came up with the voucher idea as a way to increase voter turnout, adding that he is not a member of either campaign.

The Mississippi Democratic Party on Monday called for a state investigation into voter intimidation, or an attempt to influence the election, over a letter Island View Casino managing partner Rick Carter, Joel Carters father, sent out about the race. In the letter, Carter told employees that he supported Keating and thought he was best for the job.

Nationally known politicians visited Gulfport to lend their support, with Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina campaigning for Keating, while Democrat Stacey Abrams of Georgia returned to Gulfport, her childhood home, to support Williams Barnes.

Sonya Williams Barnes, the Democratic candidate for Gulfport mayor, campaigns outside a polling place at the Orange Grove Community Center in Gulfport during party primaries on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Campaign pledges

During her campaign, Williams Barnes emphasized inclusiveness, saying she would work for one Gulfport. She feels that past administrations have favored pet projects rather than funding improvements for all wards. She said that she would work across party lines and wanted to see collaboration on city issues such as economic opportunities, housing and health care.

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Keating, the citys outside general counsel from 2013 until he resigned to run for mayor, also said he would work on improvements citywide. He further noted the citys need for more police officers, and said he would continue to develop the citys blue economy of business affiliated with the coastal environment.

Keating said after his vote totals came in that he knew absentee ballots still needed to be counted. But he felt he would still win the race.

The reason why we are confident is because weve analyzed the absentee vote and the voting records of those who have voted absentee, he told the Sun Herald. We are confident that we are going to have plenty of votes to carry the day.

Williams Barnes released her statement after dawn Wednesday.

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This campaign was about more than just one seat  it was about the people of Gulfport standing up for themselves and their future, she said. Because of what weve built, no mayor will ever again be able to ignore the voices of thousands who are now awake, engaged, and paying attention.

Hugh Keating, left, poses for a selfie at his election party at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Keating was leading in the mayoral race.

Visual journalist Hannah Ruhoff contributed to this report.
AU SABLE, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44)  The hamlet of Keeseville, which lies directly on the line between Essex and Clinton Counties in New York, announced Tuesday that the new Keeseville Waterfront Park on Ausable Street will open to the public at 10:00 a.m. on June 4. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include light refreshments.

Plattsburgh town supervisor says mausoleum was vandalized

The park sites on the site of on old mill, known as the Red Mill, owned by Prescott and Sons which, according to the Radiomuseum website, employed more than a hundred people in Keeseville in 1864 during the Civil War and later made products that included cabinets for early radios. The mill had been vacant for years before the Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), a non-profit organization with the goal of preserving old and historic buildings in the region, bought the site in 2018.

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The park will include a playground, picnic area, pedestrian path, and interpretive signs. According to AARCH, the projects $700,000 budget was not enough to fill in the foundation and basement of the old Red Mill, but they hope that a continuation of the project will allow it to eventually happen.

Controversial bills face end-of-session push in NYS

AARCH director Erin Tobin said, The Keeseville Waterfront Park represents a true community effort that honors Keesevilles industrial past while creating a vibrant public place for its future.

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ST. LOUIS  Two weeks ago, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe requested President Donald Trump issue a federal emergency declaration for the state of Missouri in response to the May 16 tornadoes and severe storms. Last week, Kehoe asked the president to approve a federal disaster declaration. Neither have been approved yet.

No city is equipped to deal with a disaster the size of this tornado, period. And we need FEMA; we need FEMAs help, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said.

But Spencer noted Monday that getting FEMAs help is a process.

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We are not the oldest, in fact, we are the newest application, she said. We do have the support of our governor, and I am going to remain constructive and hopeful through this process, because I believe its the best way for us to move forward in the best shot at getting the federal partnership that we need to be able to best serve our community.

FEMA representatives have been in St. Louis as part of joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs). The teams are tasked with surveying and verifying damage to determine if individual and public assistance can be requested from FEMA.

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For those that dont have insurance, if theres a major disaster declaration that is approved, then FEMA can come in and provide some additional assistance, along with a host of other voluntary organizations, state partners, other federal partners, FEMA spokesperson Ryan Lowry-Lee said in a May 28 interview.

FEMA PDAs are a key step in determining whether St. Louis will qualify for a major disaster declaration. FEMA tells me Gov. Kehoe submitted his request for federal assistance to the agencys regional office. They then sent their recommendations to FEMA headquarters. FEMA headquarters sent its recommendations to President Trump. Now, its up to the presidentand only the presidentto issue the federal declaration.

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The governors office tells FOX 2 News that Kehoe and his team continue to be in discussions with the White House as well as Missouris federal delegation regarding this FEMA request. They do not have any further updates at this time.

FOX 2 also contacted the White House for an update. A White House official responded with the following statement:

The President responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplementnot substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters. While the Presidents decisions are communicated directly to the Governor of an affected State, the Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with State and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged. White House statement

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Kent State University. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Kent State University is closing its LGBTQ+ Center, Womens Center and Student Multicultural Center because of a new state law banning diversity efforts that is set to take effect at the end of the month.

Kent States LBGTQ+ Living-Learning Community will cease to exist because of Senate Bill 1 going into effect, according to a statement from KSU. Kent States Stark Campus will also close its LGBTQ Resource Center.

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Although the centers are closing, the Division of Student Life remains deeply committed to fostering student success, student belonging and ensuring continued access to resources, benefits students have consistently associated with the centers, Senior Vice President for Student Life Eboni Pringle said in a statement Monday.

Senate Bill 1 also prohibits faculty strikes, regulates classroom discussion of controversial topics, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, shortens university board of trustees terms from nine years down to six years, and requires students take an American history course, among other things.

S.B. 1 has affected other public and community colleges in Ohio, where some are taking administrative action and others are attempting to fight the measure.

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Ohio University is closing its Pride Center, the Womens Center and the Multicultural Center.

Ohio State University is closing its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Lifes Center for Belonging and Social Change.

The University of Toledo is suspending nine undergraduate programs in response to S.B. 1.

Miami University announced it will close the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence and the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion.

Youngstown State University faculty are collecting signatures to get a referendum on the November ballot to block S.B. 1.

Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.

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Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, discusses her resolution to establish a Make America Healthy Again Kentucky Task Force to implement the Trump administration's health policies. Feb. 27, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

During the first meeting of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Kentucky Task Force, lawmakers said they want to address food deserts and food quality, childhood obesity, mental health and health care costs, among other things.

Members and non members had a slew of ideas for what the task force should focus on  including education, diabetes, personal responsibility around health, the importance of physical fitness, agricultural partnerships, chronic illnesses, dental care, cancer and other topics.

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Co-chair Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, said the task force could chase a lot of rabbits but should stay focused. She and co-chair Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, want to place emphasis on food quality and availability.

In 2023, 753,410 Kentuckians were food insecure, meaning they dont have enough to eat and may not know where their next meal will come from. Meanwhile, the big beautiful bill Republicans in the U.S. House passed in May shifts to state governments some of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food to low-income Americans.

The Kentucky General Assembly created the MAHA Kentucky Task Force this year as a way to implement the Trump administrations principles in the commonwealth.

Hot button topics like fluoridated water will come up during the interim, Funke Frommeyer said, but I dont think youll hear that in our committee. In the 2025 session, a bill to make fluoride in water optional in Kentucky passed the House but not the Senate.

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Task force members, in addition to Funke Frommeyer and Lockett, are Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville; Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville; Sen. Craig Richardson, R-Hopkinsville; Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville; Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville; Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green; Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington; and Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union.

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, who is not a task force member but shared his thoughts during the Wednesday meeting, said the work that will be done here will touch every committee that we have in the legislature.

We forget that we dont live and work in a vacuum, and everybodys going to be impacted by this, said Meredith, a retired hospital executive. Ive been preaching for the last year about the unsustainable growth in health care costs, particularly in the United States. If we dont get control of this, I truly believe its going to cause our economy to collapse.

The next task force meeting is July 10 at 3 p.m.

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Legislative meetings are beginning to pick back up in Frankfort as Tuesday marked the start of the Commonwealths Interim Session.

Owensboro neighborhood USPS mail delivery suspended for over a month

The Interim Session is a time for lawmakers to discuss police ideas that could become bills during the next legislative session in 2026. The first topic on the agenda was education. Lawmakers heard a presentation on a new accountability model, which the Kentucky Department of Education has been working on for two years. The goal of the new model is to create more vibrant learning experiences with state testing that meets students where they are. The new model could be approved as soon as next summer.

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The Interim Session is scheduled to continue through the end of the year, and you can find the updated schedule here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  It was an embrace this time last week that Erin Harrell wasnt sure would happen.

He said, I love you, and Im coming home, Harrell shared with reporters of that moment shortly after her husband, Jeremy Harrell, was released.

Two days ago, she took a leap of faith, posting on X that Harrell had been eligible for release since May 25, but couldnt get any answers from the halfway house where he was held. The post caught the attention of Savannah Chrisley, whose parents were just pardoned by President Trump, and from there, the issue escalated to the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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This is one of those things I should have never had a problem leaving that building, and it shouldnt matter who I talked to. Especially when you have the director of the BOP himself who gives me permission to speak to you, Jeremy Harrell told reporters shortly after his release.

Harrell is an Iraq combat veteran diagnosed with PTSD who began receiving unemployment benefits in 2011. In 2019, he founded the nonprofit Veterans Club, and last year, a court ruled he wasnt eligible for the benefits he continued receiving after the organizations creation, ruling that there was evidence he could work despite his diagnosis.

The reality is this. I got really good as a disabled veteran of helping other disabled veterans, Harrell said. I think they just dont understand that someone could be successful but also have these disabilities and limitations.

Harrell maintained he was wrongfully convicted and said the work he did with the non-profit, for him, was therapy. Mrs. Harrell also told FOX 56 her husband did not collect any compensation. Harrell is now seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

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Im very hopeful; I mean, you saw just a week ago there were over 25 pardons given; this president really believes in second chances, Harrell said. Until that is determined, Harrell will be serving a six-month home detention and another 6 months on probation.

No one was available to speak on the matter when FOX 56 contacted Dismas Charities, Inc. over Harrells delayed release.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  A Cleveland teenager is still missing, and nearly two years later, investigators are making another push to bring him home.

Keshaun Williams was just 15 years old when he disappeared in June of 2023. Today, hed be 17.

VIDEO: Cleveland firefighters rescue workers from side of building after scaffolding collapses

Federal authorities and Cleveland police are once again urging the public to keep his case top of mind, and theyre hoping a boosted reward and community attention can lead to new answers.

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Vinny Piccoli, a U.S. deputy marshal and one of the lead investigators on the case, said this one hits hard.

Thats probably the single most frustrating part of this, Piccoli said. There are people that absolutely know what happened.

Williams was last seen attending a house party on Clevelands west side. Since then, there have been no verified sightings and no major breakthroughs.

Still, Piccoli said the search is very much active.

We work this case like it happened yesterday, he said. Every tip matters.

As the two-year mark approaches, the U.S. Marshals and Cleveland Division of Police have increased the reward for information to $27,500  one of the largest rewards ever offered in this region for a missing child.

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Piccoli said there have been a few recent credible tips  a rarity in this case. Authorities are urging anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward.

Cleveland police Sgt. Freddy Diaz emphasized that detectives are following up on every single lead.

We are 100% looking at them, Diaz said. Our detectives take every lead seriously and follow up on them.

Look to see all the Goodyear blimps together over NE Ohio today

For the U.S. Marshals, the goal is simple: keep Keshauns name in the public eye, and keep pressure on the people who may know something.

Main thing for us is to keep his story out there, Piccoli said. We are in touch with the family every step of the way. They just want answers.

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And that message, investigators said, is what this case is all about  a family still waiting for answers, a community that can still help and a team that refuses to give up.

Its very frustrating on all sides, Piccoli added. For us, Cleveland police  and especially the family. All they want is answers. We want the same thing.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Keshaun Williams, contact Cleveland police at 216-623-5400 or the U.S. Marshals tip line at 1-866-4-WANTED (1-866-492-6833). That $27,500 reward remains 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
General summer safety video above.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The annual Kettering Block Party is a free community celebration and a summer staple.

It will be held on Wednesday, June 4, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Civic Commons and Fraze Pavilion.

There will be live music, fun activities, and food, including chips, hot dogs and the beloved Dairy Queen Dilly Bars, while supplies last. The Safety Section of Kettering will be providing free bicycle helmet fittings for kids and teens from 5 to 16 years old, while supplies last.

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Dayton Library to host senior pizza parties with college help

Multiple organizations will have booths available to visit around Lincoln Park. These booths have information and many have games. Some of the organizations present will be as follows:

Kettering City Schools

Kettering Economic Development

Kettering Engineering

Kettering Fire

Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts

Kettering Planning and Development

Kettering Police

Kettering Volunteer Program

Kettering/Moraine/Oakwood Chamber of Commerce

Partners for Healthy Youth

The city reminds guests that there is a no pets, coolers or large bag/purse policy. To read the full Fraze bag policy, click here.

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To learn more about events in Kettering, call (937) 296-2454 or visit here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
EAU CLAIRE  An Eau Claire man charged with kidnapping failed in a bid to have his bond lowered, and appears to have rejected a plea offer from prosecutors.

Mohamed Iman, 40, faces charges of kidnapping, second degree recklessly endangering safety and telephone harassment. He has pleaded not guilty.

Iman has remained in the Eau Claire County Jail on a $75,000 cash bond since October 2024. This was not the first attempt by the defense to modify the bond. A similar request in April failed as well.

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Court records show prosecutors objected to the defense request, noting that the charges are violent offenses. Prosecutors also said the victim in the case would object to any modification.

A look at the criminal complaint likely shows why the victim would object. The kidnapping charge stems from when he told police Iman held a knife to his neck and forced him into a vehicle.

The incident began when the victim went to Imans house to retrieve a dog for a friend. Iman had been caring for the dog, but when the man arrived Iman accused the dogs owner of stealing from him.

Iman came uncomfortably close to the man and, when asked to back up, pulled out the knife and put it against his neck. He threatened to kill the man where you stand.

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After forcing the man into the car, authorities say he demanded to drive to the dog owners house. When the man didnt get out of the drivers seat, Iman climbed over him into the car. The man ran a couple minutes later, slamming the car door behind him and catching Imans arm in it.

A witness backed up the victims account and Iman retreated into his apartment. The situation led two Eau Claire schools to go on a soft lockdown and the standoff with police lasted about two hours.

Court records make it clear prosecutors offered Iman a plea agreement. On Tuesday the defense said they plan to head to trial, though. Prosecutors, who had previously warned that the offer of an agreement would be withdrawn if the defense chose to go to trial, reiterated that position during the hearing.

A final status and scheduling conference is set for August 21, and a three-day trial begins Sept. 8.
Elon Musk is still trying to rally Republicans against the big beautiful bill that he spent most of Tuesday bashing and which caused an uproar among GOP lawmakers.

Call you Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! Musk wrote on X on Wednesday. KILL the BILL.

The effort from Musk against the megabill marks an escalation of the biggest rift yet between Musk and the White House, which he departed from just last week as his role as special adviser came to an anticlimactic close. Its also the most public break between the tech mogul and President Donald Trump, who has called the bill arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country.

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The White House was perplexed, unenthused, and disappointed by Musks bashing of the bill, a senior official told POLITICO on Tuesday. Allies of the Trump administration argue that Musks criticism  and his less-than-veiled threat of retaliation  is tied to his business interests with car company Tesla, which will take a hit after the bill axes tax credits for electric vehicles.

But Musk received more evidence to help hammer home his larger point about the bill increasing spending: the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office announced Wednesday that the megabill could add over two trillion dollars to the federal deficit over the next decade.

A new spending bill should be drafted that doesnt massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS, Musk wrote on X on Wednesday.

Republican congressional leadership has been pushing back against Musks missives, after the billionaires comments came up at a closed-door meeting early Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson said that he has tried to call Musk, and said following the House GOP conference meeting that they cant go back to the drawing board.

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We dont have time for a brand new bill," he said. "And I want Elon and all my friends to recognize the complexity of what were doing.

But other Republicans, including some deficit hawks, are aligning themselves with Musk, with the SpaceX founder reposting comments from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rep. Scott Perry (R-Penn.) and Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) about Congress wasteful spending.

Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Senior U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson, who for two decades presided over cases in the federal court division in Johnstown, died Friday in Somerset. He had turned 77 the day before.

As a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Gibson heard civil and criminal cases at the federal courthouse in downtown Johnstown starting in 2003. He moved to senior judge status in 2016, but continued to handle a full caseload until recently.

Gibson, an Army veteran, practiced law in Somerset from 1978 to 1997. He was elected as a judge of the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas in 1997 and served in that role until he was nominated to the federal bench by President George W. Bush. In Somerset County, he helped establish victim impact panels and one of the first juvenile drug courts in Pennsylvania.

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U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines, Gibsons successor as the local federal district judge, remembered him this week as the quintessential embodiment of a dedicated public servant whose lifelong commitment to our nation, to our judicial system and to our community has created an extraordinary and enduring legacy.

Haines was formerly the assistant U.S. attorney stationed in Johnstown. She prosecuted federal criminal cases in front of Gibson from 2007 until she was appointed to the bench in 2019, then spent several years working alongside him as a federal judge. He treated everyone who came before him with respect, while also commanding respect himself and maintaining control over his courtroom, she recalled.

He was calm, he was organized, he was kind, he was fair, he listened, Haines said. You never felt intimidated by him. He spoke quietly but confidently. 

Whether he was talking to the attorney or whether he was talking to the defendant, he would use sir and maam, and when he would address the defendant, it was always with the utmost respect  and he was very genuine about it. Ive tried to utilize that demeanor and that decorum because I was always so impressed with that.

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U.S. Magistrate Judge Chris Brown, of Pittsburgh, was a federal public defender in Johnstown for much of Gibsons tenure and remembered him similarly.

For over 15 years I had the good fortune to appear regularly before Judge Gibson, Brown said. He was a soft-spoken and calm presence on the bench. He was also a kind man who was respectful and patient with everyone that appeared before him.

Everyone walked out of his courtroom with the feeling they were heard and the result was fair even when it didnt go their way. Thats all you can ask for in a judge. In my view, he was one of the best.

Haines recalled that Gibson usually had two new law clerks every year because, she said: He felt so strongly that he wanted those brand-new lawyers to have this experience of working for the court, and he wanted to give that experience to as many young lawyers as he could.

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Some of his former law clerks called or visited Gibson during his illness, she said.

They have called, they have contacted, they have come to visit from far away, Haines said. Just a couple weeks ago, he had law clerks visiting him from Texas and Washington, D.C., because of the impact not only professionally, but personally, Judge Gibson has had on them throughout the years.

Gibson, born in Trenton, New Jersey, graduated in 1970 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. He completed Airborne and Ranger training and served on active duty as an armor officer until 1975.

He graduated in 1975 from Dickinson Law School, where he was an editor of the Dickinson Law Review. He was a graduate of the Judge Advocate General School at the University of Virginia and remained on active duty in the Army JAG Corps until 1978.

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He served in the Army on active and reserve duty for 26 years, including being recalled to active duty during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and retired as a colonel in the JAG Corps in 1996.

During his time practicing law in Somerset, he was a county public defender, solicitor for Somerset Area School District and Somerset County, and counsel to the Children and Youth Services office.

Gibson was involved in the development of Flight 93 National Memorial as a co-chair of the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force. He was an adjunct law professor and a member of the Board of Counselors at Penn State Dickinson School of Law.

U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, said in an email to judges announcing Gibsons death that his life and career were marked by service and thoughtfulness, always.

His courtesy to lawyers and especially litigants and the public set the standard for any judge, Hornak said, and his gentle chuckle and good cheer, coupled with his constant courtesy and consideration for others, were his hallmarks.
The suspect accused of fatally gunning down Jonathan Joss, an actor best known for TV roles on King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation, is out of jail after posting $200,000 bond and will await trial at home  less than 75 yards from the scene of the crime.

Police arrested Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, on first-degree murder charges shortly after Joss was shot dead Sunday evening in front of his San Antonio home. He made bail a day later, and was released Tuesday afternoon, court records show. Ceja is now under full house arrest, with a slew of conditions that include GPS monitoring, random drug and alcohol testing and a ban on firearms possession.

Following his release, Joss husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales told The Independent that he is not surprised that Ceja was set free, and doubled down on his assertion that the killing qualifies as a hate crime.

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That gentleman was probably the worst one when it came to threats and harassment, Kern de Gonzales said on Wednesday.

Murdering the 59-year-old Joss was a very grave mistake, he went on.

He thought he would silence him and get rid of him, but all he did was make him more powerful, Kern de Gonzales asserted. Now, he maintained, Joss will be remembered as a martyr and a legend to many in the LGBT+ and Native American communities.

Joss was of Comanche and White Mountain Apache descent.

A makeshift memorial stands near the spot where Jonathan Joss was killed (AP)

People may have deemed Joss eccentric, at best, according to Kern de Gonzales. But, he continued, they also declined to consider how much he was hurting.

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Ive been in mental health crisis and acted just as Jonathan did, even worse, Kern de Gonzales said. The difference was, I was given medical attention and was treated as someone who needed help instead of being seen as a violent threat. Jonathan was never violent, he never went after anybody or threatened anybodys person.

Although police say they have no evidence Joss killing was a hate crime, Kern de Gonzales claimed Ceja, who lives two doors down from the couple, directed homophobic slurs at the two as Joss lay dying.

Everything was really close range. It was in the head, Kern de Gonzales told The Independent in a previous interview. I held his face together while I told him how much I loved him. He could still hear me, he looked up at me and he wasn't able to talk because of the extent [of his injuries], but I could tell he was trying to say, I love you.

At the same time, Ceja, who had reportedly been engaged in a long-running feud with Joss, laughed coldly and sneered, Oh, you love him? Joto, according to Kern de Gonzales, a South Carolina native.

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Joto is Spanish for f****t, he said. I never knew the word until I came to Texas, and then I heard it a lot.

Tristan Kern de Gonzales (right) and actor Jonathan Joss were married this past Valentine's Day (Facebook/Tristan Kern de Gonzales)

The deadly clash occurred after Joss and Kern de Gonzales showed up at their home, which burned down in January, to collect their mail. The two had been living in Austin, about 90 miles away, following the blaze. Kern de Gonzalez said he is certain the blaze was arson. Authorities, on the other hand, have said the cause remains undetermined.

Joss clashed frequently with others on the block, who Kern de Gonzales claimed had subjected the pair to ongoing anti-LGBT harassment over the past two years. One neighbor shared a video with local CBS affiliate KENS, purportedly showing Joss walking back and forth with a pitchfork, screaming. However, while Joss may have at times annoyed people by ranting and raving in public, Kern de Gonzales said insisted he was not a threat.

I don't care if me and my husband were walking around with one pitchfork in our hand and another pitchfork up our a**, we didn't point any weapons at anybody, Kern de Gonzales told The Independent. When the man rolled up with the gun, we were checking the mail.

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A police log shared with The Independent by the San Antonio police lists more than 50 calls between January 26, 2024, and February 9, 2025, to the house Joss and Kern de Gonzales shared.

Officers showed up at the address in response to disturbance reports, to conduct mental health and welfare checks, complaints of theft and criminal mischief, and one incident last year allegedly involving a knife. (Further details were not immediately available on the episode, or exactly who was involved, but Kern de Gonzales related an anecdote on Wednesday about once having driven their Hummer in circles in their yard while Joss threw knives at trees from the window.)

The final entry is for a shooting in progress at 7:02 p.m. on June 1, the incident that ended Joss life.

Kern de Gonzalez said finds it really sad how people treat other people when they're having a mental health crisis or going through trauma, and that no one wants to consider what led to that point.

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It's OK to be a little sad, but if youre in a state where youre yelling or whatever, that doesn't get the same grace, Kern de Gonzales said.

Ceja is due back in court on August 19. His court-appointed lawyer, Alfonso Otero, did not respond to a request for comment.
Its been three days since Jonathan Joss was shot to death by a neighbor in San Antonio, but tributes continue to roll in for 59-year-old actor.

Ahead of the King of the Hill Season 14 premiere on August 4, the team behind the Hulu revival paid tribute to the late voice actor on Tuesday.

Jonathan brought King of the Hills John Redcorn to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival. His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathans friends and family, creators Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and co-showrunner Saladin Patterson said in a joint statement.

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Meanwhile, Joss Parks and Recreation co-star Chris Pratt also shares a message in his honor. Damn. RIP Jonathan, he wrote on Instagram on Monday. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.

The cast has been texting together about it all day and were just heartbroken, fellow co-star Nick Offerman told People. Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.

Joss husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales previously explained that the shooting was caused by a homophobic neighbor who had allegedly accosted the newlywed couple in the past.

My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home. That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done, he wrote on Facebook. Throughout that time we were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship. Much of the harassment was openly homophobic.

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When we returned to the site to check our mail we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view. This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw, Kern de Gonzales continued. While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired. Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.

The suspected shooter was detained at the scene and has been charged with murder. However, despite Joss family statement, the San Antonio Police have stated: Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Josss murder was related to his sexual orientation.

The post King of the Hill Creators Pay Tribute to Jonathan Joss: His Voice Will Be Missed appeared first on TheWrap.






NEED TO KNOW

Dutch King Willem-Alexander has cut his planned visit to the Czech Republic short after his country's government collapsed

The Royal House of the Netherlands announced that the King would be returning home early because of "the political situation that has arisen in the Netherlands," but said the Queen would stay a second day

The King's quick departure was prompted by populist Geert Wilders' withdrawal of his party from the ruling coalition over the Dutch government's asylum policy









King Willem-Alexander left his visit to the Czech Republic early on Wednesday, June 4, citing "the political situation that has arisen in the Netherlands."

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A statement shared on Tuesday, June 3, by the Royal House of the Netherlands said the King would return home after the first day of his visit to the Czech Republic, where he was joined by his wife, Queen Maxima.

The statement referenced the collapse of the Dutch government, which was prompted by populist Geert Wilders' withdrawal of his party from the ruling coalition, per The New York Times. Wilders, a member of the Netherlands House of Representatives, pulled his party, known as the Party for Freedom (PVV), from the coalition "over a dispute about migration policy," the Times reported.

The Royal House of the Netherlands said the King was retuning home after PVV's resignation, but noted that the Queen would remain in the Czech Republic for the second day of the visit as planned.

"After the resignation of a government it is customary for the King to consult with his permanent advisers: the vice president of the Council of State and the presidents of the Senate and the House of Representatives," the statement read.

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PVV left the government in The Hague over a dispute about the Dutch governments asylum policies, according to Politico. On the afternoon of June 3, Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he would give the government's resignation to the King after PVV's withdrawal.

Although PVV is stepping away, Schoof and other members of the government will oversee the country in a "caretaker capacity" until new leaders are elected, Politico reports.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands

At the start of their visit to the Czech Republic, the King and Queen were greeted by President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva Pavlova at the Presidential Palace in Prague, according to Hello!. While attending a state banquet during their visit, the Dutch royals gave President Pavel and his wife the Order of the Dutch Lion and the Order of the Royal Household.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!



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In a statement posted to X on June 4, the president said The Netherlands was the Czech Republic's "stable partner" and the country's "largest foreign investor."

"Our joint efforts in support of Ukraine are crucial for the security and resilience of Europe," he wrote. "We are also linked by historical figures such as Jan Amos Komensky and Minister Max van der Stoel, who supported Czech anti-communist dissent."



Read the original article on People
Property owners in Kissimmee will soon start paying a special fee to help their fire department recruit additional firefighters and allow them to work less-rigorous schedules.

After a public hearing Tuesday evening that lasted more than an hour, commissioners voted 4-1 to assess all property owners $105 per parcel of land plus 56 cents per $1,000 of improvements made.

I cant compromise public safety to save a dollar, Commissioner Angela Eady said. I cant do that to someone thats willing to risk their lives to save a life.

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Commissioner Carlos Alvarez cast the sole dissenting vote, saying it would be a burden to homeowners.

The assessment will raise the approximately $6 million needed annually to fund 49 new positions (firefighters and support staff) in the Fire Department. The funds will be part of the departments budget for the fiscal year starting in October.

Fire Chief Jim Walls said Monday in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel that the funds will allow hiring roughly 39 firefighters  an entire second shift  and double the total number in the department. Expanding the ranks of firefighters will allow them to work a 42-hour workweek instead of the current 56  making it the first department in Central Florida to adopt that schedule.

Walls said adding personnel is not about improving response times  the rapidly growing city of just over 70,000 has already worked to add new fire stations on the growing east side  but about recruiting firefighters.

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Weve had a hard time hiring and Kissimmee isnt any different from the rest of the state, he said. So this will help us with recruitment, retention, morale, mental and physical health.

Roughly a dozen residents spoke during the meeting  with most opposing the fee  but three city firefighters said their mental health and the quality of service they provide would deteriorate if they keep working 56 hours a week.

Joshua Clark, a KPD firefighter and president of its union, said the city is growing quickly and so are the departments calls.

Every year the population rises, the buildings go higher, the calls get more complex and we meet these challenges head on time and time again, Clark said. But to keep doing that to stay ahead of the curve we need the proper tools and resources. The fire fee gives us exactly that.

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But Ana Mendez, a mother of two and first-time homeowner, told commissioners she opposes the assessment because it would cause her financial hardship. Mendez said she understands firefighters protect the community but asked if taxes she currently pays could support the departments effort.

Im a survivor of domestic violence and left that situation to go to a shelter, she told them in Spanish with Mayor Jackie Espinosa translating. To finally have a house is a big achievement for me, its not fully paid for because I just got it, but the implication to have this fee as an additional expense will not be easy for me.

For me this wont be easy and Im sure that it wont be for other women who are in my same situation.

The assessment comes as a bill in the Legislature, House Bill 929, encourages a 42-hour workweek, Walls said. The legislation, in combination with Kissimmees decision to adopt it, will likely push other cities and counties to implement the shorter workweek.

Its just a matter of when people do make that switch, he said. Now it only encourages, so its not mandated  and so that to me it usually starts as encouraging but at some point down the road it usually will lead to having to do it.
Meet Ally, an eight-week-old community kitten who was found living under a shipping container at a Charlestown construction site.

Ally was found when a resident of an apartment building overlooking the construction site at 75 Alford Avenue (Ryan Playground) in Charlestown contacted ARLs Field Services Department after witnessing the kitten coming in and out from underneath a shipping container placed on the site.

ARL was able to gain access to the site and began the trapping process.

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It took two days, and in the end, Ally overcame her fear and gave in to her hunger.

She was transported to ARLs Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center to undergo veterinary care. Ally is in excellent heath, is under socialized but friendly, and she will likely be made available for adoption this week.

ARLs Community Cat Program focuses on this particularly vulnerable group of animals in Massachusetts,  ARL said. Community cats are feral, stray, and abandoned cats who live outdoors in harsh elements. ARL has seen a dramatic rise in the number of community cats who need help in recent years and is offering a $20,000 donation match challenge to allow the organization to help even more community cats and kittens.

For more information, visit the link here.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Global supply chain traceability and compliance platform TrusTrace released its new framework to streamline data collection and comply with industry regulations. Playbook: The Data AdvantageA Practical Guide to Building De-risked, Compliant and Future-Ready Supply Chains launched at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen.

The playbook introduces the TrusTrace Compliance Canvas, a framework designed to help brands and manufacturers more effectively collaborate on streamlined, standardized supply chain data. TrusTrace worked with brands such as Adidas, Hugo Boss and Primark to gain insights into their processes and needs for data collection and traceability.

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At Primark, weve focused on creating clarity for our suppliers by aligning on the data that matters most and building the internal systems and skills to use it well, said Cari Atkinson, head of product traceability and assurance at Primark. Working with TrusTrace has helped us turn complex data requirements into something more manageable for our teams and suppliers.

TrusTraces playbook is structured around four pillars. The minimum data package of the TrusTrace Compliance Canvas offers a streamlined summary of essential data points for compliance with industry regulations, creating a common foundation for collaboration to reduce the data collection and reporting burden. The second pillar is understanding data requirements, which is a clear breakdown of current and upcoming environmental, social and governance regulations, outlining data needed, why it matters and how to comply.

The third pillar, practical insights from industry leaders, includes the input from fashion brands, as well as perspectives from Epic Group, Impetus Group and Karacasu Tekstil, ranging from raw material sourcing to garment finishing.

This work is going to create a demand for dataand the lack of harmonization across countries means we need a taxonomy..besides just the [rule of] law, said Tercio Pinto, head of innovation at Impetus Group.

And finally, the executive briefing and future risk outlook includes insights from AAFA, Policy Hub, TrusTrace and the London School of Economics on the growing legal, financial and reputational risks companies face and how robust supply chain data can help mitigate that risk.

My north star is to get supply chain-related data to the same robustness as financial data, said Sigrid Buehrle, senior vice president of sustainability and ESG at Adidas. Thats where we need to get to, with an effective data landscape and a standardized approach to data collection and evaluation.
CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA)  A fifth child has died after a woman drove through the YNOT after school kids camp in Chatham.

The Sangamon County Coroner said 8-year-old Bradley Lund died Monday morning after hed been fighting for his life at the hospital following the April 28 accident. The crash also took the lives of 7-year-old Kathryn Corley, 7-year-old Alma Buhnerkempe, 8-year-old Ainsley Johnson and 18-year-old Rylee Britton.

Hurting very, very badly: YNOT founder shares statement on Chatham tragedy

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A little more than a month after the tragedy, the community is still coming to terms with the losses. Red ribbons continue to wrap around trees and signs while the words Chatham Strong remain plastered nearly everywhere in sight.

Countless local businesses, organizations, schools and churches have hosted memorial events and fundraisers for the victims.

Timothy Welch, Bank of Springfield vice president and branch manager, said a fund started by a family friend of the Lunds has been collecting money ever since the accident.

Its something thats on peoples minds all the time, Welch said. Small or large, whatever [people] can do to support, it all comes together and creates something like we have now which is a huge fund.

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Minutes down the road, Wheel Fast Bicycle Company helped plan a ride to raise money for Bradleys family.

Investigation into fatal Chatham crash moves to Sangamon Co. States Attorneys Office

We knew he was fighting and battling, owner Matthew Saner said. Its tragic what happened.

Both businesses said its a privilege to help support a community thats been through so much.

When something terrible happens, the way you measure a group of people is how they come together and support each other, Welch said. I dont know if any place could have ever done a better job supporting each other than Chatham has.

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Although the walls of the kids camp have since been patched up, the memory of the tragedy remains.

Chatham Police have posted three other children who were hurt in the accident have gone home to their families. WCIA is unable to confirm if any children or adults still remain in the hospital recovering.

Events are ongoing to support those impacted. On July 6, Chatham Strong Fest is hosting six bands at Chatham Community Park to raise money.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  With her signature, Gov. Kay Ivey changed the way schools are funded in Alabama and created some new regulations.

Several of those laws have gone into effect this week. Lawmakers said theres a few things to know about these acts.

One law drops the grocery tax from 3% to 2%, which will start in September. State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said it would be an extra dollar off of a $100 grocery tab. Including 2023s tax cut, thats a 50% slash on what used to be a 4% tax on groceries overall.

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Obviously, everyone has to eat, and they eat groceries, consume groceries, Orr said. Therefore, the grocery tax seemed like the most logical place to continue letting Alabamians keep more of their hard-earned dollars.

Grocery shoppers arent the only ones who will get more bang for their buck. The RAISE Act will now fund schools based on the kinds of needs students have.

No active shooter incidents reported in Alabama in 2024: FBI

Before, schools were just funded based on headcount. The needs now considered for school funding include English-language learners, gifted students, those with special needs and low-income students.

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Those schools are going to get more money just for your child to try to make a difference in their education, and thats the exciting part said state Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur.

State Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, agrees. She said students need this change.

Thats our future, Drummond said. Its time that we invest. We know where the problems are, and the RAISE Act is going to help us address those issues.

Drummonds effort to crack down on nicotine products also went into effect this week.

The law requires tobacco retailers to purchase a license to sell products. Drummond said it also requires students to learn about the harms of vaping.

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I want us to save lives and to prevent young people from hurting their bodies in the future, Drummond said. So this is all about welfare of our young people in the state of Alabama.

Another law thats gone into effect allows the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer health care plans to its members. The original sponsor of the bill, state Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, said it will lower health care costs for farmers.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
MADISON  A set of proposals backed by Democratic lawmakers would push back against the Trump administration if it unlawfully withholds federal funds designated for Wisconsin.

Here's what to know about the bills:

Bills seek to offer recourse against blocked federal funding

Since Republican President Donald Trump began his second term in January, thousands of federal employees have been fired, and states and organizations have seen disruption in millions of dollars in grant funding. On June 3, Trump submitted an official request to Congress to claw back $9.4 billion in federal funds to codify cuts made by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. The proposal "contains BILLIONS in wasteful foreign aid and federal funding for NPR and PBS," the White House Office of Management and Budget wrote on X.

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"These bills  are proactive measures to protect Wisconsinites," Rep. Renuka Mayadev, D-Madison, said during a June 4 news conference. "We, all of us, believe in the rule of law, and since Trump and his billionaire buddies don't, we need to speak the only language they understand  and thats money. For every dollar the Trump administration holds back from Wisconsin illegally, Wisconsin will hold back a dollar until they correct their actions."

The proposals are "about protecting our neighbors from extreme overreach and broken promises from the federal government," said Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee.

The package includes four bills:

The first proposal would allow the state to hold back payments to the federal government if the administration fails to provide funds that have been approved by Congress. As federal dollars are given to the state, the state funds would be released to the federal government.

A second bill would allow the state to place a temporary lien on federal properties within Wisconsin if the administration blocks congressionally approved funds from going to the state. The lien would be lifted when those federal funds are given to Wisconsin.

Another proposal would expand Wisconsin residents' ability to sue for "violations of rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or law or those under the state constitution and laws."

The final bill would bar the state government from sharing personally identifiable information with the federal government, unless necessary to comply with the law or to carry out the administration of a government program.

Wisconsin's attorney general is also fighting federal funding cuts

Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, has joined other states' attorneys general in several lawsuits against the Trump administration.

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Those lawsuits are challenging Trump actions, including massive staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, cuts to funding streams for public libraries and museums, withholding transportation and emergency preparedness funding, cutting funding for scientific research, and freezing federal grants and loans.

Mayadev told reporters she ran the legislation past Kaul's office. Spokespeople for the state Department of Justice declined to comment on the bills.

28% of the state's current budget comes from federal aid

The state's 2023-25 budget, which ends June 30, includes $28 billion in federal dollars. Nearly two-thirds of that money goes to the state Department of Health Services, primarily for Medicaid programs.

Asked what the proposals' fiscal effect would be on the federal government, Mayadev said the secretary of the Department of Administration would be in charge of keeping a ledger tracking money flowing in and out of the state.

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The state sends $69 billion a year to the federal goverment, said Rep. Andrew Hysell, D-Sun Prairie.

It's unlikely these bills will become law in Wisconsin

Republicans hold a majority in the state Legislature, making it unlikely these bills will progress beyond their introduction.

Similar legislation has been introduced in at least one other state; a bill that would allow the state of New York to withhold federal payments was introduced in March.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Democrats offer bills to push back on possible Trump cuts
House Speaker Sherman Packard (center) is expected to bring forward a floor amendment to SB 72 on Thursday. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Thursday brings a major deadline: the final day in which the House and Senate can pass remaining legislation. And Republicans in both chambers will be pushing to achieve a long-sought priority and finally approve a parental bill of rights.

In past years, those votes have failed, often defeated by a handful of votes in the House. This week, the House and the Senate are considering two separate bills: House Bill 10 and Senate Bill 72. Each looks slightly different from past versions.

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Heres what to know.

What are the bills intended to do?

Supporters of the bills say they are meant to give parents a toolkit to assert control over their childs education in public schools. The laws outline a number of rights the parents have over that education.

Many of those rights already exist in law, such as the right for a parent to choose whether to send their child to a charter school, private school, or to home school them; to learn about school disciplinary procedures and class curriculum; to opt their child out of sex education courses by providing alternative instruction; to receive a report card; to review medical records; and to exempt their child from immunization with a doctors note or because of religious beliefs.

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Other provisions of the bills would be new. School boards would be required to develop policies to promote parental involvement in school around homework, attendance, and discipline. They would also be required to pass policies making it easy for parents to examine instructional materials and to withdraw their child from any lesson or material being taught.

And the bills would clarify in law that no school may infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of his or her minor child.

But the legislation has inspired fierce pushback from teachers and LGBTQ groups, who say it puts too many burdens on teachers and staff, and that it could force them to divulge to parents details about students sexual orientation or gender identity against the students will.

Do this years bills require teachers to tell parents about a students sexual orientation or gender identity?

Unlike past attempts at a parental bill of rights, this years bills do not explicitly require school staff and teachers to divulge to inquiring parents details about their childs sexual orientation or gender identity. Some bills in the past have included that explicit language, sparking opposition from LGBTQ rights groups and driving some Republicans to vote against them on the House floor.

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But this years versions of the legislation do include a catch-all phrase that opponents argue achieves a similar result.

Language in a floor amendment to SB 72 expected to be brought forward by House Speaker Sherman Packard Thursday provides parents the right to inquire of the school or school personnel and promptly receive accurate, truthful, and complete disclosure regarding any and all matters related to their minor child, unless an immediate answer cannot be provided when the initial request is made. If an immediate answer is not available, the school employee must provide one within 10 business days.

The bill provides an exception to providing the information if there is a compelling state interest against doing so, and it defines that interest as an actual and objectively reasonable belief, supported by clear and convincing evidence, that the infringement upon parental rights is necessary to prevent the child from being abused, under the states abuse laws.

HB 10 includes similar language.

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Republicans say the requirement is necessary to prevent teachers from withholding information from parents and to allow parents full information about their children. Democrats and LGBTQ advocates say the requirement that the disclosure complete could be difficult to follow, and that the standard that must be met to constitute a fear of abuse, clear and convincing, is too high to meet in most situations.

How would the bills affect health care services for students?

While Republicans broadly support the parental bill of rights, they have disagreed over one key area: medical care for students.

A version of SB 72 recommended by the House Children and Family Law Committee would have included language requiring parents to consent in writing before any biometric scans are conducted by a medical provider on a child, or before any DNA or blood is drawn. That version would also give parents the right to make health care decisions unless otherwise provided by law and to be physically present at any health care facility providing care.

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However, Democrats and advocates had raised concerns that the medical provisions would violate teenagers health care and reproductive rights by impeding their ability to receive birth control and pre- and post-natal care without getting parental permission. And House Republican leadership appears aware: The floor amendment from Packard expected to be introduced on Thursday would strike those parental medical rights from the final bill.

Meanwhile, both of this years House and Senate versions of the bills include language to protect confidential conversations between children and counselors. Both bills protect school counselors, psychologists, nurses, or other health care providers from being required to disclose information about children to parents that was reasonably expected to be privileged.

What could be the consequences of noncompliance for schools or teachers?

Past parental bill of rights legislation has made teachers personally accountable for failing to follow the law, in some cases opening teachers up to litigation or potential disciplinary action by the State Board of Education against their license. But this year, the House and Senate bills do not include direct consequences for teachers.

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The bills do provide that a parent who claims a violation may sue the school district for injunctive relief or for damages.

What should be expected on Thursday?

In their current versions, the two bills up for a vote Thursday  HB 10 in the Senate and SB 72 in the House  are largely identical. Both bills include parental rights over medical care that have attracted debate.

But Packards floor amendment, which removes those medical rights, would make SB 72 more moderate, and potentially more palatable for Gov. Kelly Ayotte to sign.

Should the House Republican caucus vote to pass that floor amendment, as well as the underlying bill, SB 72 would return to the Senate, which would decide next week whether to accept the moderating changes and send the bill to Ayotte.

But if conservative-leaning House Republicans join with Democrats to reject the floor amendment, SB 72 and HB 10 could head to the governors office in their most robust form yet.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Here are the top headlines from this morning.

More than 80 local veterans returned to Sioux City after their trip to Washington D.C.

Operation Welcome Home: Veterans have landed

The City of Sergeant Bluff has hired its first full-time fire chief.

Sergeant Bluff hires first full-time fire chief

The Sioux City Police Department has issued a scam alert.

Traffic violation scam alarms Siouxlanders; police issue alert

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Meta have wrapped up a six-week trial over the Facebook and Instagram parents alleged social networking monopoly, leaving the final decision in the hands of the judge.

The trial, which came to a close last week, seeks to determine whether Meta has a monopoly over personal social networking that the company entrenched with its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Heres what to know about the trial and what comes next:

Full-circle moment for Trump administration

The FTCs trial with Meta represented a full-circle moment for the second Trump administration, after the agency originally brought the case at the tail end of President Trumps first administration.

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The agency sued Meta, then known as Facebook, in December 2020. The case came as part of a push by the Trump administration to take aim at major tech firms, following the Department of Justices (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit against Google.

Big Tech scrutiny has been an area of rare continuity between both Trump administrations and the Biden administration.

Under former President Biden, the DOJ brought a second antitrust case against Google, as well as a lawsuit against Apple. The FTC also sued Amazon.

While Trumps firing of two Democratic FTC commissioners has raised questions about his commitment to aggressive antitrust enforcement, the agency notably did not step away from the Meta trial in the face of CEO Mark Zuckerbergs lobbying for a settlement.

Zuckerberg tries to settle, ends up on stand

The Meta CEO reportedly courted Trump and White House officials to settle the case in the weeks leading up to the trial.

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Zuckerberg, who had a contentious relationship with the president in the wake of Metas decision to ban Trump from its platforms following the Jan. 6 riots, seemed eager to mend fences after Novembers election.

Like numerous other tech leaders, Zuckerberg traveled to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., to visit Trump before he took office, contributed $1 million to his inaugural fund and received a front-row seat at his inauguration.

However, these efforts dont appear to have paid dividends. The Meta CEOs initial offer of $450 million was brushed aside, with the FTC demanding at least $18 billion and a consent decree, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Zuckerberg reportedly upped his offer to $1 billion, but to no avail. The Meta trial began mid-April, and the FTC immediately called Zuckerberg to the stand, where he spent three days facing questions.

Who is Metas competition?

At the heart of the trial is the FTCs claim that Meta has a monopoly over personal social networking  a market that includes Metas apps, Snapchat and MeWe and is centered on sharing between family and friends.

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Meta has pushed back on this market definition, arguing it faces competition from a much broader swath of social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, X and iMessage.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has seemed skeptical of the FTCs proposed market, noted Geoffrey Manne, president and founder of the International Center for Law & Economics.

The judge has expressed some reservations about the way the FTC is trying to demonstrate its market definition, but obviously the underlying issue is monopoly power, Manne told The Hill.

Its a really tough case in this regard because  there seems to be no qualitative evidence thats really going to answer the question, he added.

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Boasbergs concerns about the market have been a recurring theme in his comments going back to November, when he refused to dismiss the case, said former FTC Commissioner William Kovacic.

He nonetheless cautioned that the government had important hurdles to clear, and one of them was the relevant market, Kovacic said.

Its always a little bit risky to infer a specific point of view from questions that are posed or comments that are made in the courtroom, but it seems to me that the judge still has doubts about the delineation of the relevant market, and the FTC has to defend its definition or the case founders, he continued.

Because most social media platforms are free, its not possible to identify Metas competitors using price data, as antitrust cases often do, Manne noted.

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Instead, the FTC and Meta have had to rely on other forms of evidence to back up their claims. The government has used advertising load, contending Meta has placed more advertisements on Instagram than it would otherwise, degrading the user experience.

Meta, on the other hand, has relied on user data, showing that users move between TikTok and Metas platforms interchangeably. For instance, the company pointed to data finding that when TikTok briefly went dark in January, it drove users to Facebook and Instagram.

After six weeks trying their case to undo acquisitions made over a decade ago and show that no deal is ever truly final, the only thing the FTC showed was the dynamic, hyper-competitive nature of the past, present and future of the technology industry, a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.

Meta is a proud American success story, and we look forward to continuing to innovate and serve the people and businesses who love our services, they continued.

Meta acquisitions under scrutiny, threatening breakup

The FTC has accused Meta of violating antitrust law by attempting to eliminate potential competitors with two key acquisitions  its purchases of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.

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The focus on Metas acquisitions creates a real risk for the social media giant that a loss could result in a breakup.

However, the FTC may also be facing an uphill battle as it tries to prove the Instagram and WhatsApp purchases were anticompetitive, blocking the two once independent companies from developing into Facebook competitors.

This results in a highly speculative world that relies heavily on Metas intent at the time, Manne said.

You have an entity like Instagram that may or may not have been in any way successful, that may or may not have evolved in a way to actually be a challenge to Facebook, that may or may not have evolved in any way to become bigger than it was when Facebook bought it, he told The Hill.

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Its never going to be dispositive, and I guess Im afraid, from the FTC perspective, that they dont have a lot more than that, he added.

The FTC has presented numerous emails and messages from Meta executives, including Zuckerberg, suggesting they had real concerns about Instagram and WhatsApp becoming threats to Facebook prior to the acquisition.

I thought The FTC did a good job of  reconstructing Facebooks state of mind when the mergers took place, and I think they did a good job of underscoring Metas anxiety that the transactions were necessary in order to forestall the emergence of competitive rivals, Kovacic said.

Yet, even so, it seemed to me that the real core issue in the case is not so much what Meta has perceived at the time, but rather the actual consequence of the mergers as they unfold throughout the decade, he added.

Whats next?

The trial has wrapped, but the two sides have a post-trial briefing schedule that stretches into September, meaning any decision is unlikely before the fall.

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If the judge rules against Meta, the case would progress to a second phase to determine the proper remedies.

Google, which was found last August to have an illegal monopoly over online search, overlapped with Meta at the Washington courthouse in April and May, where it appeared for a three-week remedies hearing.

The search giant is seeking to keep its company together as the DOJ pushes for a breakup that would split off its Chrome browser.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Its time to put the cellphone down.

Beginning Thursday, police in Pennsylvania can issue written warnings for using hand-held devices while driving  even if youre stopped temporarily in traffic, at a red light or other brief delay.

Gov. Josh Shapiro last June signed the measure, known as Paul Millers Law. Miller was killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer in 2010 in Monroe County as the result of a distracted driver who reached for their phone while driving, officials said.

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Paul Miller Jr. was killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer in 2010 in Monroe County as the result of a distracted driver who reached for their phone while driving. (Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)

Pennsylvania already had been enforcing a texting-while-driving ban that prohibits drivers from using mobile devices to send, read or write text-based communications while their vehicle is in motion.

The new law, in addition to prescribing the written warnings, allows law enforcement to issue summary citations for cellphone use beginning June 6, 2026.

Paul Millers Law is about saving lives, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll announced following an event last week drawing attention to the effective date of the ban. Your choices behind the wheel can change lives forever. Make the safe choice. Put your phone out of reach and dont text and drive. One text, one glance down  it could kill someone. And its not worth it.

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Under the law, drivers can still use their phones to alert emergency responders and if they are using hands-free technology to make phone calls, use a navigation program and listen to music.

In 2024, there were 9,950 crashes involving a distracted driver, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities, according to PennDOT. Officials note that distracted-driving crash data is likely underreported because many drivers are reluctant to admit to being distracted at the time of a crash.

Police perspective

Cumru Township Police Chief Madison Winchester, drawing on his experience as a parent of a young driver as well as his work as a policeman, recommends turning off your cellphone and putting it out of view to avoid the temptation to read a text or answer a call.

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Theres just too much of a temptation to look at it, he said. I think the safest way is to turn it off and put it away.

Cumru Township Police Chief Madison Winchester

The law will make it easier to enforce the prohibition of texting while driving because drivers seen holding a cellphone while driving can no longer claim they were talking instead of texting, Winchester said. Now both are illegal uses of hand-held devices.

Winchester said the law is a step in the right direction but doesnt eliminate all distractions drivers face from using cellular communication in a vehicle. He said drivers can still be distracted by talking on the phone using hands-free technology.

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Its still a distraction to talk or have any communication away from driving, Winchester said.

Amity Township Police Chief Jeffrey Smith said its common to see people holding a phone while stopped at a red light. Theyre going to have to change their behavior or face potential consequences because the law says you cant use a hand-held device while behind the wheel, even if the vehicle is stationary, he said.

Amity Township Police Chief Jeffrey Smith (READING EAGLE)

I think its going to be a learning curve for everyone, Smith said. Just like when the seat belt law went into effect. And you still have people who dont wear seat belts.

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Exeter Township Police Lt. Sean Fullerton said hes hoping people get on board with the law. They should be at least familiar with it from their travels in nearby states, including New Jersey, that already ban the use of hand-held devices while driving.

A mothers cause

Since Millers death, his mother, Eileen, has become a national advocate for stronger laws to curb distracted driving.

Eileen Miller, national advocate and mother of Paul Miller Jr., during a conference in Harrisburg on May 27 urges drivers to put down the phone while driving. (Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)

Nearly 15 years ago, two Dunmore state troopers knocked on my door to tell me that my son was killed, she said at the PennDOT event publicizing the law. My son did everything right  he was killed by someone elses unsafe choices behind the wheel.

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This law is for every family in Pennsylvania that doesnt have to experience two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by distracted driving. Paul Millers Law will be a beacon of protection for every driver and passenger in Pennsylvania.

The law, penalties

PennDOT provided the following breakdown of the law and the penalties:

The law:

 Defines an interactive mobile device as a hand-held wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, portable or mobile computer or similar device that can be used for voice communication, texting, emailing, browsing the Internet, instant messaging, playing games, taking or transmitting images, recording or broadcasting videos, creating or sharing social media or otherwise sending or receiving electronic data.

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 Defines driving as operating a motor vehicle on a highway, including anytime the vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device (e.g., a traffic light or stop sign), or other momentary delay.

 Defines the use of an interactive mobile device as using at least one hand to hold, or supporting with another part of the body, an interactive mobile device, dialing or answering an interactive mobile device by pressing more than a single button, or reaching for an interactive mobile device that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt.

Penalties:

This is a primary offense, meaning drivers can be stopped by police who observe them with a mobile device in their hand while driving.

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 For the first 12 months, the penalty is a written warning.

 Effective June 5, 2026, the penalty is a summary offense with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.

 If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.

A driver may use an interactive mobile device if the driver moves the vehicle to the side of or off a highway and stops where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.

The hands-free law allows for an emergency use exception if it is necessary to communicate with a law enforcement official or other emergency service to prevent injury to persons or property.

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In the nation

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association:

 Hand-held cellphone use: 30 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cellphones while driving. All but Alabama and Missouri are primary enforcement laws  an officer may cite a driver for using a hand-held cellphone without any other traffic offense taking place.

 All cellphone use: No state bans all cellphone use for all drivers, but 36 states and D.C. ban all cellphone use by novice drivers, and 25 states and D.C. prohibit it for school bus drivers.

 Text messaging: Washington was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007. There are text-messaging bans for all drivers in 49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All but six have primary enforcement.
CHICAGO (AP)  A man falsely accused of threatening President Donald Trumps life faces deportation even as Wisconsin authorities say the Mexican immigrant was framed and is a victim of a violent 2023 attack.

Ramon Morales Reyes was thrust into the national spotlight last week when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of writing letters threatening Trump.

Agency officials quietly acknowledged Wednesday that Morales Reyes is no longer a suspect in that threat, a day after another man was charged in Wisconsin for forging the letters. But Trump administration social media posts blasting Morales Reyes as a potential presidential assassin remained online.

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Attorneys for Morales Reyes say he isn't a danger to the public, and activists believe hes a scapegoat in an increasingly hostile environment for immigrants. Meanwhile, federal authorities say theyre pushing ahead with deportation in part because the 54-year-old doesnt have legal permission to live in the country.

Here are things to know about the case:

What's he accused of?

Morales Reyes immigrated from Mexico in the 1980s, according to his attorney. A married man with three U.S. citizen children, he worked as a dishwasher in Milwaukee.

Federal immigration agents took him into custody last month after he dropped his daughter at school.

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Days later, Noem blasted his photo on social media, along with an excerpt of a letter he purportedly wrote in English calling for Trump to be shot at a rally. The arrest was held up by the White House and Trump supporters as a success in the administrations aggressive crackdown on immigration.

But the details quickly unraveled, including the fact that Morales Reyes doesnt speak English well and cant write in the language.

On Tuesday, authorities in Wisconsin charged Demetric D. Scott with forging the letter in an effort to blame Morales Reyes, a potential witness against him in a 2023 attack. Scott is accused of knocking Morales Reyes off his bicycle, injuring him with a box cutter and then taking the bike, according to court records.

Court documents said law enforcement officials listened to calls Scott made about the letters and a plot to have someone picked up by immigration agents, all aiming to have the armed robbery and aggravated battery charges dismissed. He also admitted to police that he wrote the letters, documents say.

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Scott, who is in the Milwaukee County Jail, is awaiting a July trial. He's due in court Tuesday on the newer charges, including felony witness intimidation and identity theft.

A message left Tuesday for the state public defenders office wasnt immediately returned. Scott's attorneys have previously declined comment.

What's his immigration status?

Earlier this year, Morales Reyes applied for a U visa, which is for people in the country illegally who become victims of serious crimes. The application was pending, according to his attorneys.

Morales Reyes has been detained at Dodge Detention Center in Juneau, which is about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) north of Milwaukee.

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Homeland Security officials have not publicly corrected the information on the presidential threat.

Instead, theyve doubled down on pursuing an immigration case against him. They allege Morales Reyes entered the country illegally at least nine times between 1998 and 2005 and that he has a criminal background.

This criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, but will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, DHS said in a statement Wednesday.

Morales Reyes is accused of two incidents in 1996, according to his attorneys.

In one, he was arrested for damaging property in a hit-and-run but not charged. In another, he was ticketed for disorderly conduct and criminal damage after a dispute with his wife. No one was injured, according to his attorney.

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Attorneys for Morales Reyes said the information on the threat should be corrected quickly, as their client and his family are facing harassment and threats.

This administration has jumped quickly to make announcements that they think will play well to their narrative of immigrants being dangerous, said attorney Cain Oulahan.

Congresswoman meets with Morales Reyes

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, of Wisconsin, met in jail with Morales Reyes on Friday and said he is praying for the man accused of setting him up.

He said he felt no animus toward the man who victimized him twice," Moore said. "Not only stabbed and robbed him, but put forward the horrific lie that he had sent a death threat to the president of the United States.

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Moore said she planned to ask that the original news release about Morales Reyes be removed from the DHS website. She said she feared that pursuing his deportation would make it less likely that other immigrants would assist in efforts to identify and assist with deporting people here illegally who have committed crimes.

What's next?

Immigrant rights advocates have rallied around Morales Reyes, including a group that stood outside a downtown Chicago immigration court Wednesday ahead of a brief hearing in the deportation case. Several held a large banner that read, Stop Scapegoating Immigrants.

Morales Reyes, wearing a green jail jumpsuit, appeared via livestream. He spoke through a Spanish interpreter, saying he understood the case.

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Oulahan told the judge that he was hoping for a quick resolution, considering the public accusations made against Morales Reyes. Hes seeking for Morales Reyes to be released on bond.

A government attorney told the judge she didnt have any information about the threat accusation.

Immigration Judge Carla Espinoza said more time was needed to review documents. She set another hearing for June 10.

The situation has been difficult for Morales Reyes and his relatives.

Hes a family man. This has been extremely stressful on him, said Oulahan. Hes very worried."

___

Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this report from Madison, Wisconsin.
MADISON - The field is set for next year's Wisconsin Supreme Court election with incumbent conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley facing off against challenger liberal state Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor in the spring 2026 election.

Bradley announced her reelection bid just days after liberals secured control of the court until at least 2028 with the election of Susan Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge. The court is expected to take up key issues including abortion, collective bargaining and potentially the state's congressional maps.

While Wisconsin Supreme Court races are officially nonpartisan, justices on the court typically lean liberal or conservative. In recent years, the race has become increasingly polarized, with partisan groups continuing to back their party's preferred candidate.

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Liberal candidates have won four of the last five Supreme Court elections. In 2023, the court flipped to a liberal majority for the first time in 15 years with the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz.

Here's what to know about Bradley, including her legal system experience, positions on key issues, education and more.

What is Rebecca Bradley's job?

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley speaks to the press at the end of the WISN 12 Commitment 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Debate at the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law Schools Eckstein Hall on Wednesday March 12, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Bradley was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a full 10-year term in 2016 after being appointed by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2015. Bradley chairs the Supreme Court Legislative Committee as the chief justice's designee.

Before joining the state's high court, Bradley was appointed to and served as a District I Court of Appeals judge in 2015, headquartered in Milwaukee, and was a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge from 2012 to 2015. She is the first Wisconsin Supreme Court justice to have served as an intermediate appellate court judge and a circuit court judge.

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Bradley also worked as a private practice attorney at several Milwaukee law firms from 1996 to 2012, specializing in commercial litigation and intellectual property law. She also served as a vice president of legal operations for global software company RedPrairie Corp.

Bradley is considered a conservative judge and has served as president of the Milwaukee Federalist Society chapter and participated in the Thomas More Society and the Republican National Lawyers Association.

How old is Rebecca Bradley?

Bradley is 53.

Where is Rebecca Bradley from?

Bradley is a Milwaukee native.

Where did Rebecca Bradley go to college and law school?

Bradley received her bachelor's degree in business administration and business economics from Marquette University in 1993. She then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1996.

Who has endorsed Rebecca Bradley?

Bradley has yet to receive endorsements from fellow conservative judges on the Supreme Court, however, it is still very early in the race.

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When Bradley ran in 2016, she was endorsed by Milwaukee-area law enforcement and former state Supreme Court Justices Jon P. Wilcox and Michael Gableman.

What is Rebecca Bradley's stance on abortion rights?

Bradley has strongly opposed abortion rights in the past but has not yet weighed in on a case involving abortion as a Supreme Court justice.

In college, Bradley compared abortion to the Holocaust and slavery, equating abortion to "a time in history when Jews were treated as non-humans and tortured and murdered" and "a time in history when Blacks were treated as something less than human" while writing for the Marquette Tribune in 1992.

During Bradley's 2016 race, both Bradley and her opponent, Court of Appeals Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg, shied away from sharing their views on the issue while campaigning, as abortion rights was likely to appear before the Supreme Court.

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In recent Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, abortion rights have remained a crucial flash point with both Protasiewicz and Crawford's campaigns using it as a rallying issue.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling soon on whether the state's 1849 law specifically bans abortions or whether more recent laws or court rulings override it. The court had a liberal majority at the time of oral arguments and typically issues its opinions by the end of June.

While the court has agreed to hear another case brought by Planned Parenthood seeking to make abortion a constitutional right, the court has yet to schedule a date for oral arguments. The case will most likely be heard before the winner of the spring 2026 election takes their seat.

What is Rebecca Bradley's stance on 'lame-duck' laws?

Shortly after Democrats swept statewide races in 2018, the Republican-controlled Legislature passed "lame-duck" laws to scale back the powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general.

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The "lame-duck" laws have been litigated for years. In 2019 and again in 2020, the Supreme Court's conservative majority sided with Republicans.

In 2019, the court ruled lawmakers were allowed to bring themselves into session in December to trim Evers' and Attorney General Josh Kaul's power before they look office.

"The Wisconsin Constitution mandates that the Legislature meet 'at such time as shall be provided by law.' The Legislature did so," Bradley wrote for the majority in 2019.

In 2020, the court found that "in at least some cases" the state Legislature can give itself the power to approve or reject Department of Justice civil cases and settlements, upholding most of the "lame duck" laws but leaving the door open to future challenges.

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Now that the Supreme Court has a 4-3 liberal majority, Kaul has asked the justices to decide whether the Joint Finance Committee has the power to approve or reject DOJ civil cases and settlements.

What is Rebecca Bradley's stance on voter ID?

The Republican-controlled state Legislature passed a law in 2011 that requires voters to show their ID at the polls, a measure that was stalled for years by court rulings.

In 2014, the Supreme Court's conservative majority issued a pair of decisions that upheld the law and tweaked it to ensure there are no fees to get a state-issued ID card.

While running for her first term on the court, Bradley declined to say whether she agreed with those rulings.

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Bradley emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity and has raised concerns about the election system.

Bradley wrote for the majority that state law does not permit drop boxes anywhere other than election clerk offices in its 2022 ruling on ballot drop boxes.

"WEC's staff may have been trying to make voting as easy as possible during the pandemic, but whatever their motivations, WEC must follow Wisconsin statutes. Good intentions never override the law," Bradley wrote.

When that decision was ultimately overturned by the newly liberal-controlled court in 2024, Bradley authored the dissenting opinion, writing the liberal majority "again forsakes the rule of law in an attempt to advance its political agenda," citing the court's previous ruling tossing the state's electoral maps.

What is Rebecca Bradley's stance on Act 10?

Bradley has consistently sided with the Supreme Court's conservative bloc on key issues, including upholding Act 10, a 13-year-old law signed by Walker that banned most collective bargaining rights for public employees.

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In December, a Dane County judge struck down most of the law and in February, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a petition to bypass the court of appeals and take up the case directly.

The case now sits in the appeals court and if the ruling is appealed again, it would then go to the state Supreme Court.

Currently, the judge placed his ruling on hold, meaning the law is in effect as it moves through the courts.

When is the next Supreme Court election?

Bradley will face off against Taylor on April 7, 2026. The winner's 10-year term would begin in August 2026. If Bradley retains her seat, the court's liberal majority will remain 4-3.

Bradley's current term expires July 31, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Rebecca Bradley before Wisconsin Supreme Court race
Evangelical Leader Dr. Robert J. Pacienza Condemns Rising Flood of Antisemitic Violence

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Coral Ridge Ministries

June 3, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 3, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, President and CEO of Coral Ridge Ministries, and Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, released the following statement in response to recent antisemitic attacks.

Along with all people of goodwill, I am shocked, appalled, and angered at the growing level of poisonous hate and senseless violence targeting Jewish people in our nation.

As a Christian, pastor, and evangelical leader, I stand in support of the Jewish community, and I unreservedly condemn all expressions of antisemitism and, especially, antisemitic violence. I call on the evangelical community nationwide to join me and others in likewise condemning antisemitism and standing with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

I also urge all local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities to use every means at their disposal to better protect the Jewish community, to suppress antisemitic violence aggressively, and to vigorously prosecute those who commit criminal antisemitic acts, including those that have just taken place:

The evil murder on May 21 of two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, by a militant pro-Palestinian partisan. In this reprehensible act, the man charged with the murder shouted Free Palestine! after ambushing a beautiful young couple set to be engaged the following week in Jerusalem.

Another sickening attack took place Sunday, June 1, when an Egyptian national used fire bombs and an improvised flamethrower to attack a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado. Among the 12 people wounded in the assault was an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. The assailant told authorities he wanted to kill all Zionists.

Eighty years after the horrors of the Holocaust, which killed six million Jews in Europe, a new, rising, and toxic tide of venomous hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish state is washing up on our shores. While the ugliness of antisemitism has erupted at times in our nations past, we have never witnessed what we are seeing today: pro-Hamas campus riots; open antisemitic bigotry; and deadly violence targeting Jews on our nations streets.

Instead, America has been a haven and friend to the Jewish people from our earliest days. At the outset of our national existence, President George Washington wrote the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island in 1790, telling them the U.S. government gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. Washington closed with these radiant words, to which we must speedily return as a society:

May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land . . . enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May God bless and protect the Jewish people, and may the dark curse of antisemitism be driven from our land.

ABOUT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES

Coral Ridge Ministries was founded in response to the demand for an intelligent, relevant, uncompromising proclamation of the gospel using media to reach the most people possible for Christ. This founding purpose included reclaiming the Cultural Mandate, equipping the laity for engagement with the world, advancing Americas Christian heritage, and a passion for evangelism all under the Sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ. CRM.tv

SOURCE Coral Ridge Ministries

CONTACT: Sarah Kittle, sarahpublicitypr@gmail.com
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -The U.S. government will require Keysight Technologies to divest three of Spirent Communications' businesses to resolve antitrust concerns before it buys the British company, a purchase originally valued at $1.5 billion.

In filings on Monday in the Washington, D.C., federal court, the U.S. Department of Justice said the divested assets include Spirent's high-speed ethernet testing, network security testing, and radio frequency channel emulation businesses.

Keysight said in March it planned to sell those businesses to Viavi Solutions, once known as JDS Uniphase, for as much as $425 million in cash.

The Justice Department said Keysight and Spirent together account for 85% of the high-speed ethernet testing market, more than 60% of the network security market, and more than 50% of radio frequency channel emulation.

It said a merger without the divestitures might substantially lessen competition and harm customers.

Keysight and Spirent did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Based in Santa Rosa, California, Keysight agreed in March 2024 to buy Crawley, U.K.-based Spirent for 1.16 billion British pounds, now about $1.57 billion.

Viavi had agreed earlier that month to buy Spirent, but was outbid by Keysight.

($1 = 0.74 pounds)

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
CORBIN, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Knox County woman has been charged after allegedly attacking her daughter with a butcher knife.

An arrest citation said officers were dispatched on May 31 to a home on North Kentucky 11 in Barbourville after a reported dispute.

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An officer noted finding 60-year-old Susan Foley, from Corbin, standing outside the home, allegedly slurring speech, smelling of alcohol, and being unsteady.

Foleys daughter told Knox County Sheriffs Department deputies that a verbal argument escalated when her mother went to the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife. Foley allegedly swung the knife at her.

According to the citation, the daughter said she tried to grab the knife, but Foley yanked it away, cutting her hand, then allegedly continued to cut her daughters hand.

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The victim was taken to the Appalachian Regional Hospital for treatment.

Foley was charged with first-degree assault and alcohol intoxication in a public place.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The Knoxville Jewish Alliance is implementing additional security measures amid a national rise in antisemitic incidents.

We have seen several attacks on the Jewish community in recent months. On Sunday, a man was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails during a pro-Israel demonstration. Two weeks ago, two Israeli embassy staffers were shot and killed leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.

In 2024, the Anti-Defamation League, which is a primary organization that tracks antisemitic incidents in the United States, recorded over 9,500 incidents, which was a 5% increase over 2023 and that was the highest total, Knoxville Jewish Alliance President Judith Rosenberg.

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4 more victims IDd in Colorado fire attack, bringing number of injured to 12

Rosenberg believes the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 has only perpetuated antisemitism.

I dont think that anyone can look at whats happening on the ground in Israel and in Gaza right now and think that situation is good, Rosenberg said. I find it hard to rationalize how the killing of Americans and the killing of Jews in the name of Freeing Palestine in the United States does anything to help free Palestine. And again, it just heightens our fear and also our anguish.

As fear has heightened, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance has taken additional security measures at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center.

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We have seen a drastic increase in the amount of money and budget that we devote both in security personnel and to actual what we would call physical hardening, which is the stuff you can see like gates and cameras and all the things that are just absolutely ensuring that we keep a safe facility and that were vigilant about everyone who comes through our doors and through our gate, Rosenberg said.

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This story was initially published on MyNorthwest.com

A Kodiak fisherman has been sentenced to one year in jail for illegally shipping thousands of pounds of tanner crab infected with parasites from Alaska to Washington.

Corey Potter, 64, owned and operated two crab catcher vessels and caught tanner crab and golden king crab in Southeast Alaskan waters during February and March of 2024, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Alaska.

Kodiak fishermen co-defendants

The co-defendants, Kyle Potter, 30, and Justin Welch, 34, followed directions from Corey Potter and transported the harvested crab to Seattle, intending to sell the crabs at a higher price than would be received in Alaska, according to the news release.

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One of the vessels had more than 4,200 pounds of live tanner crab aboard, and the other vessel had more than 2,900 pounds of live golden king crab.

Infected tanner crab

A portion of the Tanner crab was infected with Bitter Crab Syndrome (BCS), a parasitic disease that is fatal to crustaceans, the release stated. Roughly 42% of the king crab died and was unmarketable. Since the other vessel had BCS contaminated crabs, the entire catch of Tanner crab was transferred to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to dispose of in a landfill.

Law enforcement served a search warrant on Welch and his fishing vessel in March 2024, which prompted Welch to inform Corey Potter and Kyle Potter of the search, and both deleted text messages detailing their plans to sell the crab for better prices in Seattle, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Kodiak fishermens illegal crab sentencing

Corey Potter pled guilty to two counts of violating the Lacey Act on Feb. 7, 2025, according to the attorneys office. Corey was also ordered to a worldwide commercial fishing ban throughout the duration of his supervised release.

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Kyle Potter pled guilty and was sentenced on July 10, 2024, to five years probation, including a five-year worldwide commercial fishing ban concurrent with probation, and a $20,000 fine, according to the release.

Welch pled guilty and was sentenced on June 25, 2024, to three years probation and a $10,000 fine.

Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, mentioned in the news release the importance of abiding by federal laws and factually reporting a harvest.

Mr. Potter blatantly disregarded state and federal fishing laws and ignored the concerns of other fisherman when he directed his two captains to execute the illegal transport, resulting in the reckless loss of over 5,000 pounds of crab, Heyman said.
Kremlins press secretary Dmitry Peskov has acknowledged that an explosion occurred near the Crimean Bridge built by the Russians, but claimed that it was not damaged.

Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet

Quote: "Well, there was indeed an explosion [near the Crimean Bridge  ed.], nothing was damaged, and the bridge is working."

Background: Prior to this, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said that on the morning of 3 June, they carried out a unique special operation and struck the Crimean Bridge for the third time, this time underwater. The operation lasted several months.

At 04:44, the SSU activated underwater explosive devices placed beneath the bridge supports. The SSU reported that the explosives with a power of 1,100 kg in TNT equivalent caused significant structural damage at the seabed level. As a result of the explosion, the bridge is now in an emergency condition.

    .



:  pic.twitter.com/dWS9M2XVnX     (@ukrpravda_news) June 3, 2025

The SSU noted that the operation was meticulously planned and caused no civilian casualties. The planning and coordination were personally overseen by the head of the SSU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk.

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An explosion recently occurred at the Crimean Bridge, but caused "no damage," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on June 4, accusing Ukraine of attempted attacks on Russia's infrastructure.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for the explosion that rocked the bridge in the early hours of June 3. The agency said that more than a ton of explosives in TNT equivalent damaged the underwater supports of the structure.

"There indeed was an explosion. There was no damage, the bridge continues to function," Peskov said, according to the Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti. "Kyiv continues in its attempts to attack infrastructure facilities."

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Constructed after Russias illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Crimean Bridge  also known as the Kerch Bridge  is a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces to the occupied Ukrainian territories. It connects the occupied peninsula to Russia's Krasnodar Krai via the Kerch Strait.

The Russian state media reported on June 3 that a "Ukrainian intelligence agent" who had constructed a bomb on "orders from Kyiv" had been detained by Russia's FSB.

In comments later on June 3, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said the "key and most complex" part of the bridge had been damaged in the attack.

The operation, which follows the SBU's mass drone strike against Russia's strategic aviation on June 1, was personally supervised by the agency's chief, Vasyl Maliuk.

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The bridge suffered significant damage during two previous Ukrainian attacks in October 2022 and July 2023, though neither managed to take the bridge out of commission.

Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The community of Baldwin Park held a procession led by 27 motorcycle officers Tuesday evening to honor fallen Baldwin Park Police Department Officer Samuel Riveros, killed in the line of duty over the weekend.

Riveros, 35, was shot and killed after officers were dispatched to the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue on reports of a man with a rifle May 31 at around 7:15 p.m.

Once they arrived, deputies located 43-year-old Darius Wong, a father of two daughters, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead. Authorities said Wong had just parked his car when he was shot.

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When officers arrived, the gunman, now identified as 22-year-old Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, opened fire, killing Riveros and wounding another officer, who was taken to a nearby hospital and survived.

Medina-Berumen has since been charged by the L.A. County DAs Office with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder for reportedly firing shots at other Baldwin Park officers.

Officer Samuel Riveros as seen in a photo released by the Baldwin Park Police Department. Law enforcement procession held for Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, killed in the line of duty on May 31, 2025. (KTLA) Law enforcement procession held for Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, killed in the line of duty on May 31, 2025. (KTLA) A heart carrying the body Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, 35, ahead of a law enforcement procession on June 3, 2025. (KTLA) Officer Samuel Riveros as seen in a photo released by the Baldwin Park Police Department. Law enforcement procession held for Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, killed in the line of duty on May 31, 2025. (KTLA) Law enforcement procession held for Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, killed in the line of duty on May 31, 2025. (KTLA)

Sam was a dedicated officer who represented our department with dignity and honor, said Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. Lopez. In the face of danger, Sam selflessly put the safety of others before his own and gave his life doing so. We will never forget Sam and we will lean on one another in our shared grief as we move forward.

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Missing California woman, 31, found dead in Arizona

Tuesday evenings procession traveled from Los Angeles to Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Covina via the northbound 605 Freeway to eastbound Ramona Boulevard to Pacific Avenue and onto the 10 Freeway.

Sky5 was over the somber remembrance as Officer Riveros was driven to the Baldwin Park Police Department one last time, where he was saluted by fellow officers and applauded by onlookers who lined the streets in his honor.

We deeply appreciate the communitys support as we honor the life, service and sacrifice of Officer Samuel Riveros, officials said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The central offices of Fayette County Public Schools are housed in the John D. Price Administration Building in Lexington. (Fayette County Public Schools)

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Colemans office says the Fayette County Public Schools board failed to give proper public notice before voting to increase occupational taxes within the district.

The opinion released Wednesday said the board violated state open meetings laws, which says school districts must publish a notice about tax proposals in a local newspaper at least a week before meeting to vote on the proposal. The attorney generals office also refuted a recent claim by the school district to local media outlets that the state law doesnt apply to the tax increase because it is a county-level tax also needing approval from the Fayette County Fiscal Court.

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In a Wednesday afternoon statement, FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said the district disagrees with the attorney generals interpretation, but would be honoring the spirit of the opinion.

The opinion said state law expressly recognizes that levying an occupational license tax is a power shared jointly by the School Board and the Fiscal Court. It adds that a fiscal court vote could not happen unless the school board certified the new tax rate.

Accordingly, when the School Board properly certifies a new rate, the Fiscal Courts role is ministerial; the discretion and decision-making power lies with the School Board  which is why it is the body that must give public notice prior to voting on whether to impose the additional tax, the opinion said. Therefore, it is the opinion of this Office that the Fayette County School Boards May 27 vote to increase the occupational license tax was unlawful.

The board voted 3-2 to approve the tax increase of 0.25% about a week ago. The tax rate would have taken effect in January. The board approved a $848 million proposed budget with the tax increase that would cost residents an average of $13 more per month, local media outlets reported.

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However, Colemans office wrote the resolution for the tax increase is void and of no effect.

Tax and spend government is a danger to Kentuckys future, especially when officials who should be accountable to Fayette County voters try to ignore the rules to raise taxes, Coleman said in a statement. If the Fayette County School Board members believe they need more of Kentuckians hard-earned dollars, they should clearly and publicly make their case before their own constituents.

Based in Lexington, Fayette County Public Schools is the second largest school district in the state with more than 41,000 students.

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, a Lexington Republican, requested Colemans office review the legality of the school boards vote.

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This validates what so many in our community, including myself, felt: Taxpayers were shut out of a huge decision about their own tax dollars, Bledsoe said. Im calling on the Fiscal Court to take no action today and for the school board to remedy this misuse of its authority. The board should table any further discussion of a tax increase until trust can be restored.

Consideration of the school boards tax increase request was on the agenda for the fiscal courts Thursday meeting. However, Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb told the Lexington Herald-Leader the fiscal court would not vote on the request during the meeting.

In his statement, Liggins said we respectfully but strongly disagree with the conclusions drawn, particularly because the opinion does not reference the relevant statute that governs this matter. He added that the districts legal counsel believes the attorney generals opinion raises more questions than it resolves, and we believe there are reasonable differences in interpretation.

That said, we remain committed to honoring the spirit of the opinion, Liggins said. We have documented the public comments received at the May 27 meeting and will offer an additional opportunity for public comment at our upcoming June 23 Board meeting.

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He continued: While others may be focused on political maneuvering, our focus remains squarely on student achievement and fulfilling our communitys expectation that we provide a world-class education to every child. We will continue working closely with the Fiscal Court and ensure that our efforts follow both the letter and spirit of the law, especially as we navigate this complex process that blends local and state policy.

Liggins thanked the community for continued support of our public schools and our shared responsibility to invest in the future of our students.

Bledsoe said in a statement to the Lantern responding to the districts interpretation of the opinion that attempting to pass a tax increase without the input and transparency of the taxpayers it affects is the ultimate political maneuverespecially when done quietly over Memorial Day weekend.

The Attorney Generals opinion is unequivocal: the Fayette County School Boards vote to raise the occupational tax was unlawful due to a failure to provide the required public notice, the senator said. This is about upholding the law and respecting the voices of our community. Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability, not maneuvering made behind closed doors. Its imperative that we restore public trust by ensuring all future actions are conducted openly and in full compliance with the law.

This story was updated Wednesday afternoon with additional comments.

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Jun. 3Kyle Walter received Great Bend's Exemplary Citizen Award at Monday's city council meeting, recognizing his heroic actions in rescuing a mail carrier when she was viciously attacked by two dogs on May 9.

Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark spoke about the reason for the award.

Shortly after 11 a.m. on May 9, as the U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was delivering mail in the 1400 block of Lakin Avenue, she was viciously attacked by two large, unrestrained dogs, Haulmark said.

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The dogs pulled her to the ground and began biting her multiple times, inflicting serious injuries. During this terrifying incident, Walter, a Great Bend resident who was nearby preparing a roofing estimate, heard the commotion and immediately sprang into action.

"Without hesitation and with no regard for his own safety, Mr. Walter retrieved a shovel from his truck and ran to the scene. Using the shovel, he struck one of the attacking dogs, successfully stopping the assault and causing both animals to flee," Haulmark said. "Due to Mr. Walter's swift and courageous response, the life-threatening situation was brought to an end before even more serious injuries could occur."

The mail carrier's wounds required several hundred stitches and ongoing medical treatment, Haulmark continued.

"But it was without question that Mr. Walter's actions prevented even graver harm. For his bravery, selflessness and decisive action in defense of his fellow citizen, Mr. Kyle Walter is hereby recognized with an Exemplary Citizen Award. His actions reflect the highest standards of civic responsibility and human compassion and serve as an inspiration to our entire community."

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The City Council members and others in the room stood and applauded as Walter came forward to receive the award without comment.

City Administrator Logan Burns commended Walter and said citizens continue to pray for the mail carrier's recovery.

Mayor Cody Schmidt also thanked Walter on behalf of himself and the City, telling Walter citizens like him are what make Great Bend a great place.

The dog's owner, Dakota M. Procopio, 23, was arrested on May 12 on Great Bend Municipal Court charges of dog at large, vicious dog and no rabies vaccination, as well as interference with a law enforcement officer. According to a news release, a Crimestoppers tip led investigators to Procopio's residence in Great Bend. He confirmed he was the owner of the dogs and that he had moved them to another residence in Raymond.

The dogs were taken into custody by Animal Control for the state-mandated observation period.
A court in Kyrgyzstan has sentenced in absentia exiled former President Almazbek Atambayev to more than 11 years in prison on charges of corruption and participating in mass unrest in the Central Asian country.

Atambayevs conviction and sentencing came on Tuesday after the countrys Supreme Court ordered a retrial of an earlier lower court conviction.

In a new case, a court found him guilty of illicit enrichment, illegally acquiring land, and of participating in mass unrest in August 2019, when resistance to a special forces operation to arrest him left one person dead and many injured, Kyrgyz media reported on Wednesday.

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Atambayev, president from 2011 to 2017, oversaw the republics first peaceful handover of power between elected presidents, but troubles mounted after he quickly fell out with his hand-picked successor.

Kyrgyzstan has been rocked by political turmoil, having seen three revolutions since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Atambayev was first arrested in a chaotic raid of his residence in August 2019, then temporarily freed amid a 2020 revolution, only to be rearrested months later.





He was eventually released from prison in 2023 on health grounds, travelled to Spain for medical treatment, and has lived abroad since.

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Kyrgyzstans current president, Sadyr Japarov, said on Wednesday he would consider granting amnesty to Atambayev if he requested it.

Six years have passed since the events. The situation has calmed down. I think the court could have been less harsh, Japarov told the Kabar official news agency.

Japarov came to power as a result of the 2020 revolution.

The country had long been seen as one of the freest and most democratic in Central Asia, a region characterised by autocratic regimes.

But in recent years, rights groups have criticised democratic backsliding and an escalating crackdown on independent civil society and media outlets.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Memories fade over time, but June 4, 2010 remains vivid for Kaine Horman.

Going down to meet him at the bus stop and hes not there, and then it progresses very quickly, Horman told KOIN 6 News. The stress, the panic, I think the general traumatization of the whole scenario.

Wednesday marks 15 years since his 7-year-old son Kyron was last seen at Portlands Skyline Elementary science fair with his stepmother, Terri Horman.

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He vanished.

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) Kaine Horman on Kyron, Terri, life after 5 years

Despite dozens of searches, hundreds of law enforcement personnel and thousands of investigative hours on the case, Kyron has never been found and no arrests have ever been made.

Days go to weeks and its a blur, honestly, Kaine Horman said. But no, I didnt think wed ever be at this point.

Previous KOIN Coverage: The Kyron Horman Disappearance

Those initial June days were frantic, emotional, and grueling. Kaine was quickly cleared of any involvement in his sons disappearance, but detectives were less inclined to clear Terri.

When other people involved werent clearing, then I was starting to get different feelings about things going on, he said.

Terri Horman accompanied by attorneys Peter Bunch and Stephen Houze , right. leaves the Multnomah County Courthouse after a brief hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Ross William Hamilton, Pool)

Kaine and Terri soon divorced.

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Obviously, she was a person of interest, said Norm Frink, who was the top Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney at that time. The investigation uncovered some very, what I would call, some odd things about her behavior.

Terri was never arrested, and always denied involvement in the disappearance.

Frink has since retired, so he isnt clued into any possible recent developments.

But he recalled to KOIN 6 News a chaotic scene when he arrived to the command post during that first week, and says there mustve been a dozen different agencies trying to coordinate next steps.

That, coupled with the hours long gap before anyone officially reported Kyron missing, proved tough to overcome.

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There were certain things that happened on the first day that made the subsequent investigation very difficult, said Frink.

When he left office, he thought the only way it could eventually be solved was by someone stumbling onto something by accident, or if someone connected to the crime talked, and law enforcement learned new information.

I thought we were really close. I mean there was one day when I thought we were gonna solve it, but it just didnt happen, he told KOIN 6 News. In my 35 years of prosecution, Ive never seen more resources devoted, but it just didnt happen.

Norm Frink in an undated file photo when he was Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney (KOIN, file)

Former Multnomah County Chief Deputy District Attorney Norm Frink, October 22, 2021 (KOIN)

Now, the current District Attorney Nathan Vasquez and his office are putting fresh eyes on the disappearance, as detectives work to digitize evidence and get help from the FBI.

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This amount of time later, most cases dont get these types of resources so were extremely grateful for the continued work theyre doing, Horman said.

There is still a $50,000 reward in this case.

For Horman, the most important thing remains bringing Kyron home, and he still firmly believes that can happen.

Kaine Horman at the KOIN Studios, June 2, 2025 (KOIN)

Were coming for you. Were definitely still working, Kaine said. Were not giving up and if youre out there alive and somehow you hear this, everyone is still looking, everyone is hoping for the best outcome. And youre not home and were not done.

Sunday night, Kyrons mother, Desiree Young, and other friends and family held a candlelight vigil.

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Multnomah County has launched a website featuring Kyrons case, which can be found here. It includes age-progressed images of what Kyron may look like as a young adult.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
By Suzanne McGee

(Reuters) -Asset management giant Vanguard Group plans to launch a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) that will target emerging markets while excluding China, joining a growing niche shaped by investor debate over China's role in global portfolios.

The Vanguard Emerging Markets ex-China ETF will make its debut later this summer. Many investors have been unsettled by turmoil surrounding China's trade relationship with the United States, even as better performance from Chinese stocks means some are reluctant to remove them from funds altogether.

The Vanguard offering would bring to 13 the number of emerging markets ETFs that exclude Chinese stocks, according to Morningstar data. Two-thirds of those have been launched since 2023, a year that saw China's CSI300 index record its third straight year of losses.

The growing interest in rolling out these ex-China funds is logical, said Bryan Armour, ETF strategist at Morningstar.

"Investors may be worried about geopolitical risk, state intervention in private markets, or just want to manage their China allocation separately from broader emerging markets," he said.

Even so, in the last month or two, flows into most broad emerging markets have begun to look stronger than those into ex-China alternatives, he said.

Sammy Suzuki, head of emerging markets equities at AllianceBernstein, said he believes that interest in ex-China emerging markets funds is dwindling as Chinese stocks stage a recovery.

In the last 12 months, the iShares China Large-Cap ETF has gained 35.34%, and the returns on Chinese stocks contributed to the 9.7% gain by the broad iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China ETF is up only 4.8%.

"China is both too large and too controversial to not be its own allocation," said Jason Hsu, chief investment officer of Rayliant Global Advisors, adding both dedicated China ETFs and emerging markets ex-China products will coexist.

Vanguard, which has $10.1 trillion in total assets, submitted the new filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last Friday. It already offers investors the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF, which has about $85.9 billion in assets, with 30% invested in Chinese stocks, according to estimates from Jeff DeMaso, editor of the Independent Vanguard Adviser, who analyzes the firm's fund offerings.

DeMaso said that investors who buy the new ETF when it launches will swap an outsize position in China for hefty exposure to companies in Taiwan and India, which account for nearly 60% of the underlying index.
Lakeshore Public Media will likely lay off and shift some employees to part-time positions, which will impact two-thirds of its employees amid state and federal funding cuts, said president and CEO Chuck Roberts.

The reduction in workforce will translate to a reduction in local TV and radio production, Roberts said.

The public news organization has been facing an uphill battle for support, as viewers and listeners shift the way they consume television and radio broadcasts, Roberts said. While public support remains strong, it represents about a third of the funding the organization needs to remain on the air, he said.

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In the final hours of the 2025 session, the Indiana legislature passed a biennial budget that cuts funding to all Indiana PBS and NPR stations, Roberts said. Lakeshore Public Media will lose approximately $380,000 per year of the biennial budget, he said, which represents nearly 30% of its annual budget.

The Trump Administration will likely ask Congress to rescind two years of approved funding  which Lakeshore Public Media has already budgeted for  allocated for Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Roberts said.

If the federal funds are cut, Roberts said Lakeshore Public Media will lose another approximately $560,000, or another 30% of its annual budget, Roberts said.

With these shortages in mind and the goal of continued operations, Lakeshore has had to make some tough choices and undertake a reduction in force. This will mean a reduction in local production on TV and radio, Roberts said. We will strive to continue serving the people of Northwest Indiana with content creation and community engagement while exploring partnership opportunities to ensure that public media is accessible to our communities.

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The state legislature passed a $44 billion two-year budget in April, which Democrats voiced many concerns about including the defunding of public broadcasting.

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, said he was disappointed the budget cut funding to public broadcasting, especially as legislators are often interviewed by public broadcasting journalists about what is taking place during the session.

Public broadcasting allowed us to speak directly to Hoosiers, informing them of what is important to us, informing them of what is happening in this building and informing them of whats happening on a platform that is nonpartisan, Pol said.

Roberts said the state funding cuts came with no warning and with no opportunity for public comment. The state and federal cuts will be a big budgetary hit, he said.

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This all marks the most serious threat to public media funding in decades. Rolling it back will devastate Lakeshores ability to bring you local news, information and local programming. These cuts will mean over half our annual budget gone, Roberts said.

akukulka@post-trib.com
DENVER (KDVR)  A Lakewood child caretaker was sentenced to 18 years in the Department of Corrections on Tuesday, according to a press release from the 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office.

A seven-day trial led to a jury finding McKinley Slone Hernandez, 26, guilty on one count of child abuse-recklessly causing serious bodily injury. Hernandez faced a sentence ranging from 10 to 32 years.

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Childs hospital trip sparks investigation

On Sept. 1, 2023, Lakewood police began an investigation into suspected child abuse after a two-year-old was brought to the hospital by Hernandez and her boyfriend. The child had to be airlifted to the Childrens Hospital for life-saving surgery.

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The child suffered severe injuries, including:

Traumatic brain injury, brain tissue damage

Subdural hemorrhaging

Reduced oxygen and blood flow to the brain

Retinal hemorrhaging leading to tissue displacement behind the eyes

Significant body bruising

Investigators discovered that the child was under the care of Hernandez at her home in Lakewood between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 in 2023.

Surveillance video evidence of child abuse: DA

Surveillance footage from Sept. 1 showed the child falling or being pushed from a camper trailer, with Hernandez immediately picking him up and carrying him back inside. Video then showed her bite the childs arm as they stepped back inside the home, the DAs office said.

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Between 7:30 p.m. and 7:44 p.m., the child became unconscious and unresponsive. Hernandez did not leave for the hospital until 7:56 p.m., despite the child needing emergency care, according to the release.

The investigation found that Hernandez operated an unlicensed, home-based daycare, and the child had regularly been under her care for over a year.

Childs health impacted for life

Prosecutors argued that the child suffered multiple injuries between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, which could not be solely attributed to the fall from the trailer seen in the video footage.

The mother of the victim said that her son spent 32 days in the hospital, where he was intubated, sedated, placed on and off a ventilator and fed through a tube. He had to relearn basic functions such as breathing, eating, walking and still faces challenges with gross motor skills.

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The possibility of playing sports, wrestling with his brothers, following in his fathers footsteps into the militarythese are things that will never happen. Not because he didnt want them, but because someone made a choice to take them away, she said in the press release.

The boys father said that his sons once promising future is now full of uncertainty, medical appointments and constant vigilance.

The fact that Ms. Hernandez hesitated to seek medical attention for the victim is incredibly aggravated, said Special Victims Chief Prosecutor Tyra Forbes.

Forbes also said that evidence suggested that Hernandez prioritized not getting in trouble over securing life-saving care for the child and credited the survival of the victim to Hernandezs boyfriend, who performed CPR and ensured the child was taken to the hospital for treatment.

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As a caregiver, your job, first and foremost, is to get that little boy help, stated District Court Judge Contiguglia.

Peyton Manning latest sports celebrity to join NWSL Denvers ownership group

Contiguglia pointed to several mitigating factors in the sentencing, which included a lack of prior criminal history, mental health history and full compliance with pre-trial conditions.

Hernandez was sentenced to 18 years and must serve a mandatory three-year parole after her sentence. She was credited with 242 days of presentence confinement.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
(WHTM)  Lancaster County celebrated its first permanent, year-round low-barrier emergency shelter since 2009 with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday.

The Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities opened the Clay Street Emergency shelter in late 2024 in the Otterbein United Methodist Church.

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This is a true definition of a public-private partnership and a community, a community project, a community ownership that all residents of our county deserve to have a place to sleep at night and to have a roof over their head, said Justin Eby, executive director of the organization.

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According to the shelters website, a low-barrier shelter means it accepts adults in crisis without prerequisites such as sobriety, income, or mandatory participation in services.

Lancaster County retirement community soon under new ownership

The shelter has 80 beds, and it averages near capacity.

The development comes after the county declared a state of emergency last year due to a lack of housing and shelter.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BERLIN (Reuters) -Some 73% of Germans want tighter controls on arms exports to Israel, including 30% who favour a total ban, a poll showed on Wednesday, reflecting growing public unease over the government's Israel policy.

Since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Germany has remained one of Israel's staunchest allies and its second largest arms supplier, despite Israel's increasing international isolation and rising criticism over its devastating war in Gaza.

Between Hamas' attack and mid-May this year, Germany approved military equipment exports to Israel worth 485 million euros ($553.72 million), according to a response to a parliamentary inquiry published on Tuesday.

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The deliveries included firearms, ammunition, weapons parts, special equipment for the army and navy, electronic equipment, and special armoured vehicles.

No lawsuit challenging German arms exports to Israel has yet succeeded, including a case brought by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice.

But Germany's stance shifted last week when new Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Israel's intensified airstrikes in Gaza, calling them no longer justified or comprehensible. His foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, warned of possible consequences - hinting at steps towards arms export sanctions.

Three out of four Germans back Merz's criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza, according to a poll by public broadcaster ARD.

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The survey, conducted among 1,292 respondents on June 2-3, also found that 55% reject the idea that Germany bears a special responsibility to protect Israel due to the legacy of the Nazi-era Holocaust of European Jews.

Thirteen percent of those surveyed believe Germany should stand unconditionally with Israel in the Middle East conflict, while 74% opposed such a stance.

Additionally, 63% said Israel's military response in Gaza has gone too far, an increase of six percentage points since August, while 73% consider Israeli military actions unjustified.

($1 = 0.8759 euros)

(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; editing by Mark Heinrich)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas will soon be welcoming 1.9 million visitors a year, which convention officials say wouldnt be possible without their newest multimillion-dollar renovation.

A tour of the $600 million investment into the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Central Hall showcased the new lights, LED screens, and roofing budgeted ten years ago.

We stayed within budget, Steve Hill, LVCVA president and CEO, said. But we did that by cutting out some of the work that we still need to do.

The eye-catching feature of the expansion, the ribbon roof, spreads from the West Hall to the Central Hall which covers the new 30 percent increase in space, according to Hill.

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When we have the full renovation done, we will have moved from 1.9 million square feet to two and a half million square feet, he said. Its about a 30% increase in space, and we want to at least have a 30% increase in the economic activity.

Hill said the job creation which will come from the renovation is attributed to the thousands of construction positions and ancillary hospitality positions in the community.

We employ about 300,000 people directly in the hospitality industry, he said. The meetings part of the hospitality industry is about a quarter of that employment, about 70,000 jobs.

Amid overall decreasing visitation numbers for Las Vegas, Hill balked at any doubt of continued long-term growth for convention visitors.

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The convention group-trade show industry is about a sixth of the visitation to Las Vegas, he said. And it has held its own this year, it has been a foundation for the city to build from.

Work on the Central Hall is expected to be completed by September with overall convention campus work done by December of 2025.

Hill said the numbers show the better return of investment for Las Vegas is in convention visitorspointing to averages spent per visit.

The average visitor to Las Vegas spends about $1,200 per trip, he said. The average convention attendee spends about a third more than that, theyre in the $1,600 range Ive said this often, if we didnt have the strength of the meeting industry here, Las Vegas couldnt look like what Las Vegas looks like.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Metro police will soon hold undocumented immigrants already in their custody and who have committed crimes for an additional 48 hours as part of an agreement with federal officials.

The 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allows Metro officers to serve a federal warrant on an inmate and keep that person in the Clark County Detention Center for no more than two additional days.

I dont want them in my community anymore, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill said about undocumented criminals already in his jail during an exclusive interview Wednesday with the 8 News Now Investigators.

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We had child pornographers being released; folks that had shot people being released, McMahill said. Yesterday we had a guy that shot at a bunch of people get released  assault with a deadly weapon  and that was also a part of the catalyst to do this that these are people that have committed very serious offenses and were in the country illegally and because of manpower issues and the timing we couldnt turn them over to ICE.

Metro applied to the program last week, McMahill said. He believed the approval was imminent.

Metro alerts ICE during booking and release for violent felonies and crimes that fall in line with the Laken Riley Act, which includes theft and shoplifting. However, ICE must obtain a warrant and pick up the inmate. The program essentially means ICE will have two additional days to pick up the inmate.

As of Tuesday, 350 inmates were ICE-notification eligible, McMahill said. In an interview earlier this year, McMahill said ICE routinely picks up about 40% of the inmates whom Metro has notified them about. He added Wednesday that ICE makes daily pickups at the jail.

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These individuals that have criminal complaints and conduct and have been convicted and/or charged, and theyre being released from our jail, were making notifications, and were going to continue to do that, McMahill said.

Metro will not partake in mass deportation roundups, McMahill said earlier this year.

The immigration issue is personal to McMahill. A previously deported undocumented immigrant driving drunk killed LVMPD Officer Colton Pulsipher last December.

Metro police previously took part in 287(g) until 2019, when a federal court ruling ended the partnership.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security listed Las Vegas as a sanctuary jurisdiction, though there is no city or Metro policy on the matter, and both the sheriff and Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley have publicly said otherwise. The department later removed the entire list.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
President Donald Trump is resurrecting the travel ban policy from his first term, signing a proclamation Wednesday night preventing people from a dozen countries from entering the United States.

In addition to the ban, which takes effect on Monday, there will be heightened restrictions on visitors from seven other countries.

Here's the latest:

A travel ban reminiscent of Trumps first term

Some but not all of the 12 countries banned in the new proclamation also appeared on the list of banned countries in Trumps first term.

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Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries  Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

The ban was retooled amid legal challenges until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Trump appears to be on firmer ground with the bans this time after the Supreme Court sided with him.

Trump releases video on new travel ban

In a video released on social media explaining the travel restrictions, Trump tied them to the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, in which police say an Egyptian man injured a dozen people assembled to raise attention for Israeli hostages in Gaza.

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Trump said the attack underscored the dangers posed by some foreign nationals and visitors who overstay visas. Federal authorities have said the Boulder attack suspect has been living in the U.S. illegally. Egypt is not on Trumps restricted list.

Trump said the severity of the restrictions on each country depended on how strong the threat was. He said the list could be updated to reflect improvements or additional threats around the world.

The list of countries impacted by Trumps travel ban

People from a dozen countries will be banned from entering the United States under Trumps ban. Those countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

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There will also be heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people, Trump said in his proclamation.

Ten of the 19 countries under the bans and restrictions are in Africa, nine of those from majority-Black African countries. Several of those, including Sierra Leone, Togo and Equatorial Guinea, are not known for hosting armed groups that pose a major threat to the West.

Trump moves to block US entry for Harvard-bound foreigners

In an executive order signed Wednesday, Trump declared that it would jeopardize national security to allow Harvard to continue hosting foreign students on its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. International students account for a quarter of the universitys student body.

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Its his latest attempt to choke the Ivy League school and stems from Harvards refusal to submit to a series of demands made by the federal government.

 Read more about Trumps move to block foreigners from Harvard

Trump orders investigation into Bidens actions as president, alleging cover-up of cognitive decline

Trump is ordering his administration to investigate former President Joe Bidens use of an autopen to sign pardons and other documents.

An autopen is a mechanical device that is used to replicate a persons authentic signature, and presidents have used them for decades. Trump has frequently suggested that some of Bidens actions are invalid because his aides were usurping presidential authority to cover up what Trump claims is Bidens cognitive decline.

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The memo Wednesday came after House Republicans requested transcribed interviews with five former Biden aides, alleging that they had participated in a cover-up concerning Bidens cognitive state and who was calling the shots.

Biden and members of his family have vigorously denied the claims, and Democrats have dismissed the effort as a distraction.

 Read more about the investigations

Trump announce s travel ban affecting a dozen countries

Trump is again banning people from countries his administration deems dangerous from coming to America.

The travel ban issued Wednesday is a repeat of an order of his first administration that led to widespread confusion at airports. This version includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

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Trumps first travel ban was issued in 2017 and banned travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries. Trump has said the ban was aimed at protecting the country.

 Read more about the new ban

Trump muses about third term during White House event

After Trump finished speaking at the event for political appointees, the crowd chanted, Eight more years!

A third term would breach a constitutional limit on how long presidents can remain in office.

He referred to the political appointees as patriots and said, We have the hottest, most talked-about country anywhere in the world.

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Trump also suggested that a future president could be among them.

Theres greatness in this crowd, he said.

Letter outlines drastic cuts at Voice of America

Sharp job cuts at the state-run Voice of America have been outlined in a letter to Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press.

The cuts would reduce personnel at the state-run service that provides news to other countries from more than 1,000 to 81, according to the letter.

Voice of America has been largely silent since mid-March, when the administration put most of its staff on administrative leave and terminated the arrangements of contract workers. Trump says he believes the service speaks with a liberal bias.

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An employee who is suing the government to keep the service operational says its absurd to think it can run with these staffing levels.

 Read more about the cuts

Army leaders defend parade and border spending

Army leaders are defending spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the services 250th birthday celebration on June 14, saying it will help boost recruitment.

They are responding to members of Congress who argue that the money could be better spent on troops barracks or other priorities.

Members of the House Armed Services Committee also said during Wednesdays hearing they are concerned that the Defense Department is shifting about $1 billion from a variety of accounts  including base housing  to cover the costs of shoring up the defense of the southern border.

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 Read more about spending for the parade and border

Trump administration violated a settlement to provide legal advice to families separated at the border, judge says

A federal judge in San Diego says the Trump administration violated a settlement to provide legal advice to thousands of families that were separated at the border.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt says the legal advice could be critical for families as they seek to renew humanitarian parole, which began expiring in May 2024 under the settlement.

Justice Department attorneys argued that a new service from its immigration courts fulfills its obligations, but the ACLU countered that they failed to show even a single person signed up. The ACLU wants the government to rehire the Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract for the free legal advice was ended in April.

U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw said he would likely decide on concrete steps by early next week.

GOP senators say failure is not an option on budget bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that Republican senators had a very positive discussion about the path forward with Trump on his big, beautiful bill.

Thune said Republicans were moving in the same direction to get this across the finish line.

He did not offer details about the hour-plus discussion with the president but said: Failure is not an option.

Justice Department pushes to unseal FBIs surveillance records of Martin Luther King Jr.

A federal judge is weighing a request from the Trump administration to unseal records of the FBIs surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr.  files that the civil rights leaders relatives want to keep in the national archives.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., said during a hearing Wednesday that he wants to see an inventory of the records before deciding whether the government can review them for possible public release.

Justice Department attorneys have asked Leon to end a sealing order for the records nearly two years ahead of its expiration date. A department attorney said the administration is only interested in releasing files related to Kings assassination.

 Read more about the administrations request to unseal the records

House panel expands inquiry into Bidens health in office

The House Oversight Committee is requesting interviews with members of former President Joe Bidens innermost circle as Republicans ramp up their investigation into the final moves of the Biden administration.

Oversight Chairman James Comer of Kentucky requested transcribed interviews with five former Biden aides, alleging that they had participated in a cover-up over Bidens cognitive state and who was calling the shots.

Comer also requested interviews with Bidens physician and four other senior aides.

He cited a new book that details concerns and debates inside the White House and Democratic Party over Bidens mental state and age. Biden and members of his family have vigorously denied the books claims.

 Read more about the inquiry into Bidens condition

Trump once promised green cards to international students. Now, they feel targeted

To attract the brightest minds to America, Trump proposed a novel idea while campaigning: If elected, he would grant green cards to all foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges.

Its so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools, Trump said in June, during an interview with the podcast All-In.

Trump was asked if he could promise to give companies more ability to import the best and brightest students.

I do promise, Trump answered. Green cards, he said, would be handed out with diplomas to any foreign student who gets a college or graduate degree.

That promise never came to pass. Instead, international students have found themselves at the center of an escalating campaign to kick them out or keep them from coming to the U.S. Trumps administration has merged a crackdown on immigration with an effort to reshape higher education.

 Read more about how international students say it feels to study in America

Migrants sent to El Salvador prison must get a chance to challenge their removal, judge says

Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled Wednesday that the administration has to give people a way to contest their deportations under an 18th-century wartime law. He said they must also be able to dispute allegations that they are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The ruling is the latest milestone in a monthslong legal saga over the fate of deportees imprisoned at El Salvadors notorious Terrorism Confinement Center.

 Read more about the ruling

Trump names nominees to take over Middle East and Africa commands

Trump is nominating Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to take over as the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that Trump also is nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to head U.S. Africa Command.

Cooper is currently deputy commander of U.S. Central Command and has extensive experience serving and leading troops in the Middle East.

Its a crucial role as the region has been shaken by conflict, with the Trump administration pushing to broker a ceasefire deal after 20 months of war in Gaza and holding nuclear talks with Iran.

 Read more about the nominees

US vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire

The United States on Wednesday said the move was because the immediate and permanent ceasefire wasnt linked to the release of hostages.

The resolution before the U.N.s most powerful body also didnt condemn Hamas deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza  two other U.S. demands.

The 14 other members of the 15-nation council voted in favor. The resolution described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid.

Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea said the resolution would undermine the security of Israel and diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire, while emboldening Hamas.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren agrees with the president on the debt ceiling; and Elon Musk on the Trump tax bill

After the president took to his Truth Social platform Wednesday to say he agrees with Sen. Elizabeth Warren that the Debt Limit should be entirely scrapped to prevent an Economic catastrophe, Warren issued a statement calling for Republicans to scrap the statutory debt ceiling.

Ive argued for years that a default on the national debt would be an economic catastrophe that must be avoided by getting rid of the debt limit permanently, Warren said. If Republicans in Congress were serious about preventing that economic disaster, they would scrap the debt limit entirely like President Donald Trump has called for  not increase it by $4 trillion dollars to finance tax cuts for billionaires and billionaire corporations.

Citing the Congressional Budget Offices analysis released Wednesday of Trumps big bill  which estimates a spike in deficits by $2.4 trillion over the next decade and would leave some 10.9 million more people without health insurance  Warren said thats a disgusting abomination, as Elon Musk made clear.

Homeland Security investigating whether Egyptian mans family knew of attack

The Homeland Security Secretary says the department is investigating what the family of an Egyptian man arrested in the Colorado firebombing attack knew about the attack ahead of time.

Kristi Noem said in a statement Wednesday that theyre also looking into whether the family provided any support to the attack.

Noem said Immigration and Customs Enforcement has taken Mohamed Sabry Solimans wife and five children into custody and is processing them so they can be removed from the country.

Homeland Security said his wife was a 41-year-old Egyptian citizen and that he had three daughters and two sons. The Department said all of them are Egyptian citizens and arrived with him when he arrived in the U.S. Aug. 27, 2022.

Government goes after Columbias accreditation

The Education Department is pressuring Columbia Universitys accreditor to take action against the Ivy League school over findings that it failed to protect Jewish students from harassment.

The department on Wednesday told the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that Columbia should face action because it has been found in violation of antidiscrimination laws.

Accreditors work on behalf of the federal government to decide which colleges can accept federal financial aid. Without an accreditors seal of approval, Columbia could no longer accept students federal grants or loans.

Just as the Department of Education has an obligation to uphold federal antidiscrimination law, university accreditors have an obligation to ensure member institutions abide by their standards, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

The announcement says the accreditor must take action against Columbia if it doesnt come into compliance.

Columbia and its accreditor did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bishop who stood up to Trump preaches hope and joy at World Pride

Mariann Budde, Bishop of Washington, on Wednesday decried leaders trying to turn back the clock on LGBTQ+ rights and urged people to embrace hope and joy amid hardship as they come to the nations capital for World Pride during a time of mounting political anxiety for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Were not in the 1960s and 70s anymore, Budde, who is a bishop within the Episcopal church, told a crowd at World Pride.

Ahead of her Wednesday remarks at World Pride, Budde told The Associated Press shed leave the calls to action to activists and organizers and would instead focus on love, joy and community as the antidotes to fear.

It prevents us from being so paralyzed by fear that we forget who we are and our history in the struggle for equal rights, she said.

Judge tosses Democratic committees lawsuit over the Federal Election Commissions independence

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block Trumps administration from implementing an executive order that Democratic Party officials claim could undermine the independence of the Federal Election Commission.

U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali in Washington ruled late Tuesday that theres insufficient evidence that the Republican administration intends to apply a key portion of Trumps executive order to the FEC or its commissioners.

This Courts doors are open to the parties if changed circumstances show concrete action or impact on the FECs or its Commissioners independence, the judge wrote.

The Democratic Partys three national political committees sued after Trump signed the executive order in February. The order was intended to increase his control of the entire executive branch, including over agencies such as the FEC, a six-person bipartisan board created by Congress to independently enforce campaign finance law.

 Read more about Federal Elections Commission

Trump renegotiating CHIPS Act awards

The Trump administration is renegotiating some grants previously awarded to companies under a law design to reinvigorate semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed in a hearing Wednesday.

When asked at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about delays in doling out CHIPS Act funding awarded to some companies, Lutnick said they have been reworking some agreements to try and generate additional domestic investment.

Are we renegotiating? Absolutely, for the benefit of the American taxpayer, for sure, Lutnick said. All the deals are getting better. And the only deals that are not getting done are deals that should have never been done in the first place.

The CHIPS Act, a law passed in 2022 with bipartisan support, was designed to revive U.S. semiconductor manufacturing while sharpening the U.S. edge in military technology and minimizing future supply chain disruptions.

But recent tariffs and export limitations paired with the administrations threats against the CHIPS Act, could dramatically slow its goal of ensuring the U.S. maintains a competitive edge in artificial intelligence development.

Homeland Security says its cracking down on visa overstays after attack left several injured in Boulder, Colorado

The Department of Homeland Security says it will be going after people who stay in the U.S. once their visas expire after an Egyptian man who overstayed his visa was charged with injuring several people in Boulder, Colorado.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is among hundreds of thousands of people known to overstay their visas each year in the United States.

In a statement Wednesday, Homeland Security said that U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are ramping up their reviews of immigration records.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned that anyone aiming to come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism was not welcome and would be prosecuted.

Trump says he spoke about Iran with Putin and they agreed the country cannot have a nuclear weapon

Trump says part of his call with Putin was focused on Iran and the fact that time is running out on Irans decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!

Trump said in a post on his social media site that he told Russias president that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.

He said Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and could perhaps be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.

Trump previously boasted that a major announcement on Iran was coming, but none has materialized.

He suggested in his latest post that Iran has been slow-walking their decision and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!

British Prime Minister says deal exempting UK from US metals tariffs will be in place before deadline

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is confident a trade deal exempting the U.K. from U.S. metals tariffs will be in force before a July 9 deadline set by Trump.

Starmer and Trump announced a trade agreement May 8 that will eliminate import taxes on U.K. steel and aluminum, but it has yet to come into force. Trump raised the tax on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% starting Wednesday but said it would stay at 25% for the U.K.

He reserved the right to hike the rate if the deal isnt in force by July 9.

Starmer told lawmakers in the House of Commons that the agreement would be implemented in just a couple of weeks.

We are the only country in the world that isnt paying the 50% tax on steel and that will be coming down, Starmer said. We are working on it to bring it down to zero, that is going to happen.

Gareth Stace, head of the industry body U.K. Steel, said Trumps decision to keep tariffs on British steel at 25% was a welcome pause but warned that continuing uncertainty was making American customers dubious over whether they should even risk making U.K. orders.

Trump says Putin told him Russia will respond to Ukrainian attack on airfields

Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him very strongly in a phone call Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraines weekend drone attack on Russian airfields.

The U.S. president said in a social media post that It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.

The call that lasted for an hour and 15 minutes was Trumps first known with Putin since May 19.

 Read more about Russias war in Ukraine

African history classes are safe if they teach both sides, McMahon says

Education Secretary Linda McMahon made the comment Wednesday while facing questions by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Asking about the Trump administrations push to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Democratic Rep. Summer Lee asked if courses on African American history should be permitted.

I do not think that African studies or Middle East studies or Chinese studies are part of DEI if they are taught as part of the total history package, McMahon said. If youre giving the facts on both sides, of course theyre not DEI.

Lee responded, I dont know what both sides of African American history would be.

Lee posed the same question about lessons on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Id have to get back to you on that, McMahon said.

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has a book coming out this fall

The book promises a close look at President Joe Bidens decision not to run for reelection and calls for thinking beyond the two-party system.

Jean-Pierre herself has switched her affiliation to independent after working in two Democratic administrations, according to Legacy Lit, a Hachette Book Group imprint that will publish Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines on Oct. 21.

Wednesdays announcement from Legacy Lit says shell take readers through the three weeks that led to Bidens abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision.

 Read more about Karine Jean-Pierres upcoming book

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he called Elon Musk to discuss his posts criticizing tax bill

I called Elon last night and he didnt answer, but I hope to talk to him today, Johnson told reporters Wednesday, adding, I hope he comes around. Id love to talk to him this week and I hope he calls me back today.

Johnson said he and Musk spoke at length Monday about the bill.

Elon was encouraged by that conversation. We had a great, it was a very friendly, very fruitful conversation together, and he and I talked about the midterm elections, and he said, Im going to help, Johnson said.

Then yesterday, you know, 24 hours later, he does a 180 and he comes out and opposed the bill and it surprised me, frankly, he added.

A Democrat responds to the Congressional Budget Offices forecast on Trumps tax bill

Republicans cry crocodile tears over the debt when Democrats are in charge  but explode it when theyre in power, said Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee.

In the words of Elon Musk, Boyle said, reviving the billionaire and former Trump aides criticism of the package, this bill is a disgusting abomination.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise criticizes the Congressional Budget Office

At a news conference Wednesday with House leadership, Scalise said the office has continuously failed to take economic growth into account.

You dont need to go back that far to see how wrong the CBO has been, Scalise said. When it comes time to make prognostications on economic growth, theyve always been wrong.

Asked later if the budget office should be done away with, Scalise did not shoot down the idea.

I think its very valid to raise these concerns that CBO has missed the problems that come with making false estimates, he said. Economic growth has been their Achilles' heel.

Pennsylvania sues the USDA over cutting funding to $1 billion food aid program

The state says the agency under Trump illegally cut off funding to it through a program designed to distribute more than $1 billion in aid to states to buy food from farms for schools, child care centers and food banks.

The lawsuit in federal court was announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and comes three months after states received notices of termination from the Department of Agriculture saying the pandemic-era assistance program no longer reflects agency priorities.

I dont get what the hell their priorities are if not feeding people and taking care of our farmers, Shapiro said at a news conference at a food bank warehouse in Philadelphia.

The loss to Pennsylvania is $13 million under a three-year contract, money the state planned to use to buy food from farms to stock food banks. States also use the money to buy food from farms for school nutrition programs and child care centers.

World Pride opening speaker says she was denied entry to US ahead of human rights conference

Just days before she was set to give opening remarks at World Prides human rights conference in Washington, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, the co-founder of UK Black Pride widely known as Lady Phyll, said she was denied entry to the U.S. after her visa was revoked due to her travels to Cuba earlier this year.

Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip the gathering due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political environment. Several countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, issued cautions for LGBTQ+ travelers visiting the U.S. for World Pride.

Speaking over a livestream, Opoku-Gyimah said she applied immediately for a nonimmigrant visa, but the earliest date she was given was in September.

Ive called. Ive written. Ive pleaded, she said. And the answer was a cold, bureaucratic No.

Budget office estimates increase of 10.9 million people without health insurance under Trumps bill

That would include 1.4 million who are in the country without legal status in state-funded programs. The package would reduce federal outlays, or spending, by $1.3 trillion over that period, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said.

Trumps big bill will cut taxes by $3.7T and add $2.4T to deficit, nonpartisan budget office says

The analysis comes at a crucial moment as Trump is pushing to have the final product on his desk by Fourth of July.

The White House and GOP leaders have been sowing doubt on the Congressional Budget Offices work. But its findings as the official scorekeeper of legislation will be weighed by lawmakers and others seeking to understand the budgetary effects of the sprawling 1,000-page plus package.

 Read more about Trump's bill in Congress

Wall Street stalls following a potentially discouraging report on the US job market

U.S. stocks are drifting in tentative trading following a potentially discouraging signal on the job market and economy.

The S&P 500 edged up 0.2% Wednesday and lost some momentum after a big rally drove it back within 3% of its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 53 points, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.3%.

The action was stronger in the bond market, where Treasury yields fell after a report suggested employers outside the government hired far fewer workers than expected last month. That could bode ill for Fridays more comprehensive jobs report coming from the Labor Department.

Wall Street ticks quietly higher in premarket as Trumps steel and aluminum tariffs due to kick in

Futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq all rose 0.2% in light trading before the bell Wednesday morning.

The European Unions top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, met Wednesday with his American counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Sefcovic said talks were advancing in the right direction at pace.

Theres been no official update on the status of the steel and aluminum tariffs as of early Wednesday morning. Those tariffs are expected to hit a broad range of businesses hard and likely push up prices for consumers.

 Read more about the financial markets

Ukraines backers meet to drum up arms and ammo. The Pentagon chief is absent

Senior officials from nearly 50 nations gathered Wednesday, with the Pentagons chief absent for the first time since the group organizing the military aid was set up three years ago.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters is going to be chaired by the United Kingdom and Germany. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would only arrive in Brussels after its over. Hell participate in a meeting of NATO defense ministers Thursday.

His absence is the latest in a series of steps Washington has taken to distance itself from Ukraines efforts to repel Russias full-scale invasion, which began Feb. 24, 2022.

Before Wednesdays meeting, the U.K. said it plans a tenfold increase in drone production to help Ukraine. Drones have become a decisive factor in the war.

 Read more about efforts to support Ukraine

Europe and the US are meeting in Paris to negotiate a settlement of a tense tariff spat

The European Unions top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, met Wednesday with his American counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Were advancing in the right direction at pace, Sefcovic said at a news conference. He said ongoing technical meetings between EU and U.S. negotiators in Washington would be soon followed by a video conference between himself and Greer to then assess the progress and charter the way forward.

Brussels and Washington are unlikely to reach a substantive trade agreement in Paris. The issues dividing them are too difficult to resolve quickly.

 Read more about tariff negotiations between the U.S. and Europe
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (ABC4)  A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was recognized by the president of Mongolia for her humanitarian efforts in February.

Tuvshinjargal Gombo, director of the Churchs Mongolia office, received the Polar Star medal from President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh following a number of community-enriching accomplishments.

Gombo leads interfaith humanitarian efforts. Humanitarian efforts by Gombo lead improvements in health care in Mongolia. Gombo leads Latter-day Saint humanitarian and religious efforts.

Gombo has taken initiative in a number of programs and activities like self-reliance, addiction recovery, and English language learning programs. Gombos humanitarian efforts have also included increasing access to education, health, child protection, and disaster relief. The church also notes her efforts collaborating with BYU on international law and religion symposiums and food preservation.

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According to the LDS Church, Gombo spoke on behalf of the Church during Pope Francis visit to Mongolia in 2023. Gombo also played a major role in 12 significant interfaith meetings, including services during Pope Francis visit.

BYU study says drinking sugar may be worse than eating it

The award was given during a ceremony on February 28, 2025, at the Citizens Hall of Bayanzurkh District. Created in 1936, the medal, commonly referred to as the Order of the Polar Star, is one of the highest national awards in Mongolia for civilians.

The medal is meant to commemorate the country of Mongolia overcoming the geographical handicap as a landlocked country through investing in human capital and recognize individuals for their services to the nation.

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Latvia was elected on June 3 to the United Nations Security Council for the first time in its history.

Along with four other countries  Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Liberia  Latvia will serve a two-year term, beginning in January 2026, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Reacting to the vote, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze called it a "historic day for Latvia."

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"We are honored by the trust placed in us and ready to take on this responsibility to defend the rules-based international order," she wrote on X.



With the exception of Latvia  which is taking a seat on the council for the first time  all the elected countries have previously served.

The newly elected countries will take the place of Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms will end in December 2025. They will join the five non-permanent members that were elected last year  Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.

The UN Security Council is the main UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It is composed of 15 members, including five permanent members  China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The permanent members hold veto power.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has repeatedly used its veto power to block resolutions concerning its actions in Ukraine. Latvia, a vocal critic of Russia, has consistently pushed for stronger Western support for Ukraine.

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The Baltic nation has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine  it recently delivered 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine and has committed providing military support at the level of 0.25% of its GDP every year.



Latvia has also urged the European Union to adopt tougher measures against Russia, including an EU-wide ban on issuing visas to Russian citizens.

Read also: Ukrainian delegation arrives in US to discuss defense support, Russia sanctions

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  A man charged in connection with a deadly head-on crash in 2023 has pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Court documents show that around 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2023, Wesley Allen was driving a pickup truck on West KY-192 when he allegedly crossed into the opposite lane and hit Fred Johnson, 64, who was driving a 1996 Honda Civic head-on.

Johnson was declared dead at the scene, according to deputies with the Laurel County Sheriffs Office.

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An arrest citation shows Allen was taken to a hospital, where a breathalyzer test allegedly showed that his blood level was twice the legal limit at 0.197.

Allen was arrested and faced multiple charges, including murder. But deputies announced on Wednesday, June 4, that the charges were amended to one count of vehicular homicide and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol

The recommended sentence is 15 years in prison.

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(Reuters) -Victoria's Secret on Tuesday disclosed that a security incident relating to its information technology systems had led it to temporarily shut down its website for a few days last week.

The company said it shut down corporate systems and e-commerce website on May 26 and immediately enacted response protocols to contain and prevent unauthorized network access. Its website was restored on May 29.

The lingerie maker said the breach did not impact its financial results for the first quarter or cause a material disruption to its operations, but the second quarter could be hit by the additional expenses incurred following the incident.

It even said it expects first-quarter sales and adjusted diluted earnings per share to meet or exceed the higher-end of its previously issued forecast.

Victoria's Secret, however, delayed its first-quarter results, scheduled on June 5, saying the restoration process of its website prevented employees from accessing certain systems and information needed for the release of the results.

The cyber incident at Victoria's Secret follows several such incidents at fashion and retail brands including Richemont-owned Cartier as well as Marks & Spencer.

Cartier told customers on Tuesday it had its website hacked and some client data stolen, according to an email seen by Reuters.

The incident at Victoria's Secret also affected some functions in its namesake and PINK stores, the company said, adding that these have now been restored.

Shares of the company were up about 2% in early trading on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Shinjini Ganguli)
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Despite a wet week ahead, law enforcement officials are warning residents that hot weather is here to stay and that its time to stress hot car safety.

So far this summer, arrests have already been made. On Saturday, May 31, a 26-year-old man from Houston was arrested in Walton County after leaving a small dog in a hot car. When sheriffs deputies arrived on the scene, the car was off and the windows were slightly cracked open. Walton County Animal Services tested the cars internal temperature, which read at 120 degrees.

Walton County deputies arrests owner for dog left in hot car

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In Florida, obviously, it gets extremely hot. Its not uncommon to get up above 100 degrees. You turn a car off, air conditioner is no longer running. The vehicle heats up very fast, said Bay County Corporal Jason Ruthven.

The suspect, Andy Villatoro, was charged with animal cruelty.

Leaving children in hot cars can threaten the lives of victims and perpetrators alike. In February, a Holmes County mother was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2023 death of her young child, who was stuck in her car for 14 hours after a drug-fueled night.

Panama City Beach Police Lieutenant Tommy Anderson, however, said most deaths are caused by honest parents who simply made a mistake.

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Most of the parents involved were good parents. They were caring, they were attentive, they were loving. They had something just called massive memory failure. So whether thats stresses at work, whether thats stresses is at home, something that changes your routine that day, and they simply forgot, and I can guarantee you, it just takes a second to check that back seat, said Anderson.

Even the smallest changes can make a huge difference.

Set up a reminder system. Put your backpack or your purse, maybe your wallet. I mean, put your cell phone in the backseat. We know were not going to forget our cell phones, right? Anderson added. And that things really worthless, but your child is priceless.

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Lagos, a large Nigerian city home to more than 20 million people, has banned single-use plastics.

As Business Day reported, the government will start enforcing its plastic ban July 1.

Single-use straws, cutlery, bags, and other plastic items have contributed to environmental degradation in Lagos and other cities, especially on coasts, around the world. When plastics are discarded into the trash, they often end up in drainage systems and impact marine animal habitats.

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Lagos' plastic ban follows its Styrofoam ban, which the city introduced in January 2024. Since then, city officials have worked with plastic-alternative producers and marketers to ease the transition for residents and businesses.

Officials are committed to enforcing the plastic ban with measurable compliance standards and penalizing those who violate it.

"This is about environmental responsibility. We have given ample time to align with global best practices. What is unacceptable elsewhere cannot become standard in Lagos," Tokunbo Wahab, a city commissioner, said.

This news is encouraging because of the huge impact it will have on people living in the region. Megacities such as Lagos generate excessive amounts of plastic trash. When well-enforced, single-use plastic bans can make beaches, parks, waterways, and neighborhoods cleaner and safer for people and animals.

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Plastic straws, for example, take approximately 200 years to decompose.

Banning plastics helps reduce pollution and limit the amount of microplastics that leach into the environment and infiltrate bodies. Many cities have passed single-use plastic bans to curb plastic waste in their communities.

Fortunately, excellent plastic alternatives are available instead of the throw-away products you've grown accustomed to using. It is also now easier than ever before to buy items you need from brands offering plastic-free packaging.

With Lagos' plastic ban in place, the city can serve as an example for other cities in Africa and worldwide. As Africa's largest city, Lagos has emerged as a leader in fighting global plastic pollution.

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Lagos' government clarified that its single-use plastic ban "will not include PET bottles, water sachets, or nylon bags thicker than 40 microns."

"Hotel and restaurant operators, retailers, and street vendors will be required to switch to approved eco-friendly packaging or face penalties, including fines up to 50,000 per offense and possible suspension of operating licenses," Blueprint News wrote in a Facebook post. "Residents are encouraged to adopt reusable bags, stainless steel or bamboo straws, and compostable food packaging."

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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio lawmaker said a bill that would prohibit counseling and healthcare services to minors without guardian consent would solidify parental rights, while other legislators argue the measure could stifle youth experiencing abuse at home.

Introduced by Rep. Johnathan Newman (R-Troy) in March, House Bill 172 reiterates regulations set by Ohios Parents Bill of Rights law requiring schools to notify a parent of a students change in counseling services, emotional or physical health, or well-being. Educators also must provide parents the opportunity to review instructional material that includes sexuality content. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the Parents Bill of Rights in the video player above.

H.B. 172 additionally bans a mental health professional from treating a minor who presents for the diagnosis or treatment of a gender-related condition without first obtaining consent from a parent.

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Ohio bill that would require free feminine hygiene products in prisons moves forward

During H.B. 172s first hearing on May 21 in the Ohio House Health Committee, Newman said the legislation is needed, given that part of Ohios Revised Code is not in compliance with the Parents Bill of Rights, which went into effect in April. Should the states revised code remain as is, Newman said it could cause confusion in Ohio schools and make them think they should or could promote children keeping the knowledge of mental health treatment from their parents.

We all should want to see students who suffer with mental health issues receive the help they need, Newman said during the hearing. This bill seeks to do that, maintaining that the students parents cannot be left out of the picture because the parents are the childs authority and most important and essential part of the students recovery.

However, Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) voiced concern for how H.B. 172 might impact a student facing abuse from a parent or relative. Somani argued there is not safe space for that child if they need to get permission before seeking help, and asked how a teacher is expected to identify abuse without communicating with the student.

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Newman said he expects a student would seek counseling services after reporting an abusive parent, not the other way around. The lawmaker noted H.B. 172 would not interfere with school employees obligation to report to law enforcement if theres evidence of a child suffering a crime of abuse or neglect.

Ohio lawmakers push for stricter rules on obscene drag queens, indecent exposure

Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Township) said she has worked through such situations as a clinical social worker in Cincinnati. Brownlee said there were many times parents werent readily available when she, or other school staff, had to send a student to the hospital for a medical emergency. Are you suggesting that we do not get them that immediate care because of this parental consent need? Brownlee asked.

Newman reiterated that many of these provisions are already law because of the Parents Bill of Rights and said that if a child needs help and a school employee is aware, then parents must absolutely be notified and informed. If theres a crisis at the school and parents cannot be reached, certainly we address the emergency, Newman said.

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This bill seeks to uphold what the law currently says, that if there are mental health services to be provided, parents are to be notified. Parents cant be written out of the mental health or behavioral care of their children, Newman said. Parents must be a part of the solution for care.

Brownlee also said it would completely go against, not only code of ethics, but would impede the safety of the child for a social worker or educator to discern a gender-related condition or any diagnostic or mental health issue, before that student received treatment.

Pilot program testing tasers in Ohios prisons; may expand statewide

H.B. 172s provision banning mental health professionals from treating minors who present for the diagnosis or treatment of a gender-related condition is one of several reasons the proposal has been condemned by Ohio LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.

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Equality Ohio argued in March that both H.B. 172 and the Parents Bill of Rights will cut off a crucial lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth who live in unsupportive homes and confide in their therapist or school counselor. Dwayne Steward, Equality Ohios executive director, said H.B. 172 continues the Ohio Statehouses trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and that the measure would force youth out of the closet in very, very dangerous situations where theyre already experiencing crisis.

The bill would remove the confidentiality of a trans student who was experiencing mental health needs, and it could delay or keep a child from going and getting the mental health care that they need, Steward said. Its extremely dangerous and another way in which our legislature is failing trans students.

H.B. 172 could receive additional hearings in the Ohio House Health Committee, which would be open for public testimony.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Elon Musk is rallying the troops online to kill the presidents big, beautiful bill.

In his latest post on X, he encouraged voters to call their Republican senators to object.

Elon Musks latest posts online have caught many Republicans off guard but are providing cover for Republicans skeptical of the plan.

Despite the divide Republican leadership remains determined to pass the bill.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) attempted to brush off criticism from Musk.

We were texting one another happy texts on Monday and then yesterday, 24 hours later, he does a 180 and opposed the bill, said Johnson.

Days after leaving the Trump White House, Musk took to X to bash the presidents tax and spending plan writing, This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.

Democrats on a mission to tank the presidents big, beautiful bill are welcoming the unlikely ally.

Were happy to have him on our side now, said Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.).

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However, opposition to the plan is about all Musk and Democrats have in common.

Hes not my cup of tea, to put it mildly. But Republicans are already listening to him, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

AT A WEDNESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER SAID REPUBLICANS CANT IGNORE THE DAMAGE THE BILL WILL CAUSE.

A new estimate from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office finds as many as 10.9 million Americans would lose their health insurance under the current plan and while the package cuts taxes by $3.75 trillion it would balloon the federal deficit by more than $2 trillion over the next decade.

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The more you look at the bill, at the House bill, the worse it gets, said Schumer.

Fiscal hawks like Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who voted against the package in the House, say Musk is right.

He started to figure out these guys arent serious about cutting spending, said Massie.

Senators plan to meet with President Trump at the White House Wednesday to discuss changes to the bill.

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Donald Trump has so far kept silent on former special government employee Elon Musks criticism of his big, beautiful spending bill as a disgusting abomination.

On Tuesday, MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell suggested why the typically explosively rageful president has not yet said a thing.

It boils down to Trump actually being afraid of Musk and the way he could weaponize his vast wealth against him, said The Last Word anchor.

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That is how you know who Donald Trump fears in this world, he said. If you attack Donald Trump and Donald Trump says nothing, Donald Trumps silence is the biggest expression of fear that he has.

Musk, the worlds richest person, pumped a fortune into Trumps 2024 election campaign. Trump rewarded him with the top role at the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, which was tasked with slashing public spending. Musk left last week.

The president likely now fears Musk may use his cash against Trump-backed candidates in GOP primaries, said ODonnell.

Trump fears the richest person in the world convincing Republican members of the Senate and the House not to vote for Donald Trumps budget bill that Elon Musk now calls a disgusting abomination, he added.

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Watch ODonnells full monologue here:

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center has been under scrutiny following reports that two employees were fired after reporting issues at the center. In this weeks Ask Isaacs, 6 News Lori Tucker sits down with Attorney Greg Isaacs and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs to discuss what has happened at the center and what the next steps are.

On Thursday, May 29, Jacobs released a video statement calling out apparent retaliation by superintendent Richard Bean, saying that two employees had been fired after they reported problems at the center. Jacobs said that one of those employees was the centers only nurse, meaning that the juvenile detention center was left without the qualified medical personnel required by law.

Department of Justice comments on Zakai Zeigler lawsuit

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In the video, Jacobs said he and Knox County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin met with Bean to demand that the dismissed employees be rehired, which Bean agreed to do.

On May 30, 6 News obtained a letter from Jacobs to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee stating that he had learned from talking to the nurse that there had been issues with medication going missing, issues with medication reporting, a lack of medical protocols and documentation and even medication going to the wrong detainees.

Following the mayors statement, Bean announced that he would be retiring, effective August 1, 2025. Beans statement said his intent to retire was hastened by Jacobs loss of confidence.

Read Beans full statement below.

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According to the Isaacs Law Firm, most juvenile detention facilities in Tennessee are overseen by county governments, but the center in Knox County is different.

The current structure of oversight for the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center includes a Board of Trustees that has three members, appointed by the Knox County Juvenile Court Judge and Knox County Commission, and seven ex officio members, appointed by the Juvenile Court Advisory Board, East Tennessee Development District Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, Knoxville city mayor, and the County General Assembly.

Lawsuit: Detention center unlawfully locked minors in solitary confinement for days

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Jacobs said in his video statement that he had no confidence that the issues, including other potentially serious issues, would be addressed by the juvenile detention centers leadership or governing board. Instead, he recommended the Knox County Commission to put the center under the Knox County Sheriffs Offices control and requested state intervention from Lee.

Jacobs acknowledged that he did not have authority to address the issues happening at the center, however, he would do everything possible to make sure they were addressed. An emergency motion regarding the centers operation and control is on the Knox County Commissions agenda for its June meeting.

If you have a legal question, send it to AskIsaacs@wate.com. To watch full episodes of Ask Isaacs, click here.

WATEs Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs answer your legal questions from the WATE Alert Desk on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. and on WATE Channel 6 at 5:30 p.m. Ask Isaacs is also streamed live on WATE6+.

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No one was checking IDs or for weapons before a party boat cruise that ended with a shooting that hurt 11 people in South Carolina over Memorial Day weekend, a lawyer for one of the victims said.

Police have announced a second arrest in the May 25 shooting at a dock in Little River, taking a 16-year-old from North Carolina into custody. He and a 19-year-old man from Illinois have been charged with attempted murder, Horry County Police said.

Officials said 120 people partied on the boat and were leaving on the dock when the shooting happened. Ten people were wounded by gunfire, mostly on the lower parts of their bodies, and one person was hurt by a falling speaker, authorities said.

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Investigators have not said how many people they think were firing shots or released details about the weapons used. They said more arrests are possible.

No one appeared to be checking IDs as people got on the boat and there didn't appear to be any security looking for weapons, said attorney Tyler Bailey, who is representing a shooting victim.

There was somebody who did pat people down. Were not sure at this time if he was registered with a security company or if he was just a guy with a shirt on, Bailey said at a Wednesday news conference on the boat dock.

Bailey said he is doing his own investigation because he wants full justice and accountability.

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We know that there were alcoholic beverages being sold, nobody was checking IDs and you had minors on the boat with firearms, Bailey said.

Bailey's client is Jeremy Evans, who was wounded in the ankle and has undergone surgery. He used crutches Wednesday and said he remains in almost unbearable pain. He said six of the 10 people shot were his friends.

In one single moment my entire world was flipped upside down, Evans said. This incident traumatized not only me but the lives of others.

Little River is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Myrtle Beach. The fishing village is known for its docks and marinas where fishing expeditions, casino boats and several dolphin cruises leave daily.
A $2 million verdict was reached in a lawsuit filed against the Barstow Unified School District that claimed a teacher sexually assaulted an elementary school student in 1984, and lawyers representing victims state that the district has a long and sordid history of allowing sexual predators to molest children in its schools.

According to the firm representing the victim in the 1984 case, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, a Cameron Elementary School student listed as Jane BNS Doe was 12 years old when she was sexually abused, molested and harassed by a teacher named John Chiarella.

It was alleged that Chiarella rubbed and touched the child over and under her clothes in a sexual manner, the firm said in a statement.

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Chiarella taught at Cameron Elementary from 1980 until he was arrested in 1999.

Girl, 4, allowed to stay in U.S. for lifesaving care after deportation controversy

He was placed on probation and served no jail time but had to register as a sex offender, the statement reads. Jane BNS Doe is one of 10 of his alleged victims represented by [the firm, and] nine other cases are awaiting trial.

Legal documents indicate that Chiarella is now deceased; he was 68 when he was arrested in 1999, according to a report from the Desert Dispatch, which also indicated no charges were immediately filed against him.

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The lawsuit alleged that Barstow Unified could not provide any evidence that they conducted a background check prior to hiring Chiarella nor train their staff to recognize the grooming behavior conducted in the open by Chiarella in his classroom and on school grounds, the firm representing the victims said.

The suit named 15 different teachers alleged to have sexually abused and molested children within the districts elementary, middle and high schools. John Manly, the 1984 victims attorney, said that a school official lashed out at lawyers during the court proceedings, calling them dogs in open court.

2 California hotel guests awarded $2 million in bed bug lawsuit

This utter disregard for the judicial process and the safety of children explains why Barstow Unified has allowed at least 15 predators to molest children during the past 40 years, Manly said. This jury sent a message that change is mandatory.

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Manly, Stewart & Finaldi has represented many victims of high-profile sex abuse lawsuits, including cases involving ex-Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar, former USC gynecologist George Tyndall and former UCLA gynecologist/oncologist James Heaps. They were also the lead attorneys for Miramonte Elementary School sex abuse scandal victims.

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The leaders of Canada and Mexico have criticised the latest hike in steel and aluminium tariffs under United States President Donald Trump, who increased import taxes on the metal from 25 to 50 percent.

The international condemnation came just hours after the latest tariff increase went into effect early on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the tariff increases were unjustified.

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Theyre illegal. Theyre bad for American workers, bad for American industry and, of course, for Canadian industry, he said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, meanwhile, pledged to pursue countermeasures if the Trump administration refuses to grant tariff relief. She warned that the tariffs would have a huge impact on Mexicos steel and aluminium industries.

This isnt about an eye for an eye, but rather about protecting our industry and our jobs, she added, without specifying what steps her government might take.





Canada calls for action

Wednesdays tariff hike had been unveiled last Friday, when Trump held a rally with steelworkers outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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That region of the US is a part of the Rust Belt, an area that has been heavily affected by the decline in US manufacturing. Trump pledged to use tariffs and other measures to bring jobs and investments back to the area.

Previously, in March, Trump set tariffs on steel and aluminium at 25 percent. But he threatened to lift that rate to 50 percent specifically for Canadian imports of the metals, a plan he later appeared to walk back.

Those threats, however, roiled relations between the US and its northern neighbour in particular. Canada is the top supplier of steel to the US, followed by Brazil and then Mexico. South Korea and China also top the list.

Canada is also responsible for about 40 percent of aluminium imports to the US, followed by the UAE, Russia and Mexico. Carneys government has pledged to pursue retaliatory measures so long as Trumps tariffs remain in place.

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On Wednesday, one of Canadas largest labour unions, Unifor, called on Carney to take immediate action against the latest tariff hike, including by limiting the countrys exports of critical metals to the US.

Unifor is urging the federal government to act without delay to defend Canadas manufacturing sector and counter the escalating trade assault, the union said in a statement.

Premier Doug Ford  who leads the top manufacturing province in Canada, Ontario  also called for Canada to respond in kind and slap another 25 percent on US steel imports.

Its tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar. We need to tariff the steel coming into Canada an additional 25 percent, totalling 50 percent, Ford told reporters. Everythings on the table right now.

Navigating global trade pacts

Both Canada and Mexico have been hard hit by Trumps aggressive tariffs, which include a blanket 25-percent tax on all imports not subject to the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA), as well as a separate 25-percent levy on automobile imports.

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The three countries have highly integrated economies, with products like automobiles being built using supplies and factories from multiple locations.

The USMCA pact was agreed upon during Trumps first term, from 2017 to 2021. But he has since signalled he hopes to renegotiate the free-trade deal to get more favourable terms for the US.

But the doubling of the US steel and aluminium tariffs is expected to have a global impact, well beyond North America.

The European Union is also bracing for the increase. The blocs trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of a meeting for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday.

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Were advancing in the right direction at pace  and staying in close contact to maintain the momentum, Sefcovic wrote on X afterwards.

UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds also met with Greer, and he said steel and aluminium tariffs would remain at 25 percent for his country. The two countries have been in the process of forging a post-Brexit bilateral trade agreement, announcing a breakthrough last month.

Were pleased that as a result of our agreement with the US, UK steel will not be subject to these additional tariffs, a British government spokesperson said.

Extremely hard to make a deal

Trumps latest tariff hike comes days after a federal court ruled that his so-called reciprocal tariffs  which imposed customised taxes on nearly all US trading partners  were illegal.

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Trump had imposed those tariffs in April, only to pause them for 90 days. The courts ruling was quickly paused while legal proceedings continued, and Trumps tariffs have been allowed to remain in place for now.

One of the hardest hit countries has been China, which saw US tariffs against its exports skyrocket to 145 percent earlier this year.

The Trump administration, however, has since sought to reach a deal with China to end the trade war between the worlds two largest economies.

The White House said on Monday that Trump would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, raising hopes the duo could soothe tensions and speed up negotiations.





But on Wednesday, Trump appeared to dampen hopes for a quick deal.

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I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! he posted on his Truth Social platform.

When asked about the remarks during a regular news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijings principles and stance on developing Sino-US relations are consistent.
VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Vincennes University will be making two key leadership changes for the upcoming school year, as Tim Eaton, Vice President of Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer, and Dr. Laura Treanor, Provost, Senior Vice President of Instructional Services and Dean of Faculty, will be leaving the university.

Tim Eaton leaving after 36 years:

Eaton will be retiring at the end of June and will be replaced by Conya Wampler, the current Assistant Vice President of Financial Services and Controller.

Eaton has been with the university since 1989 and has been instrumental in securing critical state funding, including biennial capital and operating budget requests, and ensuring long-term financial health, said Vincennes University.

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For nearly four decades, Tim Eaton has provided steady, insightful leadership at the helm of VUs budgets and financial management, skillfully guiding the University through periods of economic uncertainty, demographic shifts, and changing public funding landscapes, said Vincennes University President Dr. Chuck Johnson.

Travis Linneweber, currently Vincennes Universitys Budget Director, will transition to replace Wampler as the universitys Assistant Vice President of Financial Services.

Dr. Laura Treanor leaving for new university:

Dr. Treanor will also be leaving the university, as she has been named the next President of Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Virginia.

Dr. Treanor joined Vincennes University in 2018, and since then has launched Leadership Lunch and Learn sessions, created the Trailblazer Teaching Academy and lead the American Council on Education Womens Network Indiana.

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Few have matched the tireless dedication and transformative leadership of Dr. Laura Treanor. Her extraordinary impact over the past seven years has significantly advanced Vincennes University and will be felt for decades to come, said Johnson.

Jaci Lederman will serve as Interim Provost, Vice President for Instructional Services and Dean of Faculty in Dr. Treanors absence.

We will soon celebrate and bid farewell to two exceptional leaders whose dedicated service and countless contributions have significantly strengthened Vincennes University; fortunately, we are also blessed to have talented colleagues ready to step into new roles, ensuring continued stability and success through these transitions and into the future, said Johnson.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Between Buffett dumping Berkshires S&P 500 ETFs and other stocks, plus his growing cash pile, investors may worry he's anticipating a near-term market crash. After all, recent market volatility due to U.S. tariff rollouts has caused many investors and analysts to question if the country is headed for a recession.

"Given Warren Buffett's history of emphasizing long-term investing, this isn't necessarily a warning sign for retail investors to panic," Milks said.

Collectively the shares were a relatively small position for Berkshire at only $45.3 million of a $267 billion portfolio. It's possible that the exit was a means of cleaning up Berkshires portfolio, something it has reportedly done before.

"This could indicate concerns about market valuations, increased volatility, or even a shift toward individual stock selection over broad index exposure," Daniel Milks, founder of Fiduciary Organization & Woodmark Advisors, told etf.com.

Buffett didnt say why his company chose to completely exit two established S&P 500 ETFs last quarter. But there are a number of reasons why he might have gone this route.

Thats a move that may be spooking investors and causing them to question their own portfolios.

But SEC filings data from March revealed that Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway unloaded its entire positions in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust  two low-cost exchange-traded funds the company had previously held for years.

Buffett also once said that 90% of his wife's inheritance will go into an S&P 500 index fund.

"Theres huge amounts of money that people pay for advice they really dont need  In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is to own the S&P 500 index," he said in May 2020.

The veteran investor has long been an advocate of investing in as simple a manner as possible.

Powered by Money.com - Yahoo may earn commission from the links above.

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BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

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

The Oracle of Omaha, who announced on May 5 that he plans to retire as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year, now has an estimated net worth of over $160 billion.

Warren Buffett is not only one of the savviest investors of our time, but also one of the wealthiest.

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Story Continues

In Q1 of 2025, Berkshire also sold its entire stake in Ulta Beauty, and trimmed holdings in Bank of America, Citigroup, Nu Holdings, Charter Communication and Capital One.

If youre worried about a stock market crash it can pay to remind yourself of your long-term investing goals and your investment horizon.

If youre investing for retirement in 20 or 30 years, reacting to imminent market events  hypothetical or actual  can distract from long-term wealth management.

Planning your financial future over the decades might be intimidating, but the right wealth expert can help you chart a course.

With Vanguard, you can connect with a personal advisor who can help assess how youre doing so far and make sure you've got the right portfolio to meet your goals on time.

Vanguards hybrid advisory system combines advice from professional advisers and automated portfolio management to make sure your investments are working to achieve your financial goals.

All you have to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial goals, and Vanguards advisers will help you set a tailored plan, and stick to it.

Once youre set, you can sit back as Vanguards advisors manage your portfolio. Because theyre fiduciaries, they dont earn commissions, so you can trust that the advice youre getting is unbiased.

Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market  here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead

Diversify your portfolio

No matter what the rest of the year has in store for the NYSE, you can protect yourself by shepherding your money to less volatile pastures. While many investors are looking at stock markets in Canada and the EU, you can also consider diversifying outside of the markets with commodities, real estate and passion assets like art or fine wine.

For instance, gold has seen strong growth in the last five years. One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.

Real estate is another asset with growth potential in 2025. Though some markets are beginning to cool, experts agree that a falling interest rate could get buyers back in the game.

New investing platforms are making it easier than ever to tap into the real estate market.

For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund  without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted internal returns ranging from 12% to 18%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

If youre not an accredited investor, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allows you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.

Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process allows accredited and non-accredited investors to take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class without any extra work on your part.

For accredited investors, you could instead consider opportunities in commercial real estate. First National Realty Partners (FNRP) gives you the opportunity to diversify your portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial real estate properties.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to triple net leases you can invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into potential returns.

Finally, alternative assets like fine art have traditionally been out of reach for everyday investors But now with Masterworks you can access the growth potential of this market.

Masterworks helps non-accredited and accredited investors purchase fractional shares of artwork by iconic artists like Banksy and Basquiat.

Fine art has consistently outperformed the stock market in the long-run. In fact, contemporary art outperformed the S&P 500 with a compound annual growth rate of 12.6% between 1995 and 2022, according to a report from Fortune magazine.

As such, art can sometimes be used to diversify and potentially safeguard your investments with Masterworks. Whats more, Masterworks investors have realized representative annualized net returns like +17.6%, +17.8%, and +21.5% among assets held for longer than one year.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Haredi leader hints at coalition exit over IDF draft bill delays, potentially collapsing the government.

In a significant political development on Wednesday, leading haredi Lithuanian Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch said in a statement that he would likely instruct the Degel Hatorah faction to leave the coalition soon over the governments failure to pass a law that would exempt a majority of eligible haredi men from IDF service.

According to the statement, MKs updated Hirsch on Tuesday night that from a meeting with Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud), who is responsible for advancing the bill, It is clear that there is no progress at all on the subject of the [IDF] draft.

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As such, the Rosh Yeshiva [Hirsch] will likely order to leave the coalition in the near future. According to a spokesperson for Hirsch, the statement also represented the view of the second leading Lithuanian haredi rabbi, Dov Lando.

The Lithuanian rabbis thus appeared to join the position of United Torah Judaisms Hassidic faction led by Housing Minister Yizhak Goldknopf, who represents Hassidut Gur. Goldknopf has been threatening to leave the government over the draft issue since March. However, while Goldknopf advocated on Tuesday to pass a bill to disperse the Knesset, which will automatically lead to an election, the statement by Hirsch did not mention this.

A spokesperson for Hirsch clarified to the Post that the directive to leave the coalition would include supporting such a bill and heading to an election.

Anti-draft protests erupt in Jerusalem, May, 2025. (photo credit: JERUSALEM POST STAFF)

The Sephardic-haredi party Shas did not comment on Hirschs statement on Wednesday morning. Still, it was highly unlikely that Shas would remain in government if UTJ left, according to a source.

Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu will launch legislation to disperse the Knesset

Following Hirschs statement, the opposition parties Yesh Atid, Democrats, and Yisrael Beytenu announced that early next week, they will launch legislation to disperse the Knesset. The legislation would require passing a preliminary vote, after which it would require passing three additional votes in the Knesset plenum. This process could take weeks, but if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decides to support it and head to an election, it would pass far quicker.

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Edelsteins office put out a statement close to midnight on Tuesday night that a meeting between him and haredi representatives had ended. The meeting was held in good spirits, and additional meetings were set on the matter, Edelstein said.

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees legal team has been working on formulating the text of a bill, which will reach the committee in the coming weeks. However, this may not leave enough time for the bill proposal to pass into law by the end of the Knesset summer session in late July, in which case the current law, which requires that all eligible haredi men serve in the IDF, will continue to apply as is at least until October. In any case, if the Knesset disperses, the bill cannot proceed.

The bill proposal will likely include draft quotas from the haredi sector that will increase annually, eventually reaching 50% of each graduating class, as well as sanctions on individuals who ignore draft orders.

Despite the fact that the previous legal exemption expired in June 2024, a vast majority of the approximately 24,000 draft orders to haredi men since then have been ignored. The IDF has already stated that it will not meet the goal it committed to in the High Court, of 4,800 haredi draftees in the 2024-2025 draft year, which will end on June 30.

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Supporters have argued that the bill will lead to an immediate increase in the number of draftees and bring thousands more haredim into the army.

Critics, however, have countered that there is no guarantee that even with new sanctions, those who receive orders with the new law in place will actually respect them; and that there is no legal justification to enable 50% of haredim to continue being exempt from service, while secular and religious-Zionist Israelis do not enjoy the same privilege.

Channel 12's Amit Segal quoted a 'senior Likud official' as saying that Edelstein's political resistance is dragging Israel into elections during a significant operation in Gaza, when Hamas is still holding the hostages, and Iran's nuclear threat remains.

"This is madness and complete irresponsibility, all due to narrow political considerations and personal vendetta," the official said.

Edelstein's spokesperson, Maayan Samun, responded on X, "If drafting haredim in a reality where there's a war for our home  when my brothers are worn out from reserve duty, when their families are collapsing, and when couples are getting divorced because they can't handle the burden of reserve duty  is considered 'personal revenge,' then I am in favor of revenge."
As a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 631 children have been killed and more than 1,975 injured, according to data as of 4 June 2025.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor General

Details: According to juvenile prosecutors, the largest number of children were affected in:

Donetsk Oblast  646,

Kharkiv Oblast  495,

Kherson Oblast  214,

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast  242,

Kyiv Oblast  146,

Zaporizhzhia Oblast  185,

Mykolaiv Oblast  120,

Sumy Oblast  142.

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According to the Interior Ministry, at least 2,244 children are missing. Russia has deported or forcibly moved 19,546 kids. Over 1,6 million children remain on the occupied territories of Ukraine, where they undergo forced Russification, militarisation and indoctrination via propaganda.

Background:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that during talks in Istanbul on 2 June, the Russian delegation effectively acknowledged that Russia had abducted Ukrainian children, but refused to give exact numbers.

In May, a group of US senators introduced a resolution demanding the return of all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

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Scott Peterson (center), Leavenworth city manager, and attorneys for the city David Waters, left, and Joseph Hatley, spoke to the media after winning a victory in Leavenworth County District Court against CoreCivic. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

LEAVENWORTH  A Kansas district court barred CoreCivic Wednesday from reopening its shuttered prison until the company goes through Leavenworths development process to receive a special use permit.

Judge John Bryant, Leavenworth County District Court, was unconvinced by arguments from CoreCivic attorneys that the company was grandfathered into the citys zoning codes and did not need a special use permit to hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees.

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He ruled in favor of the city of Leavenworth, which had asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the reopening of CoreCivics prison, the Midwest Regional Reception Center.

After nearly two hours of arguments in front of a courtroom packed with Leavenworth city officials and community activists, Bryant made an immediate ruling. He said his decision was not affected by CoreCivics history in the community, which has been openly criticized by former employees, inmates and residents, and in submitted court documents.

The request for a restraining order was a procedural issue, he said.

The posture of this case is a little bit different in that the city has acted here because CoreCivic has stated its intent to ignore or not give any effect to the March 25 administrative decision, Bryant said, referring to the citys requirement that CoreCivic get a special use permit before reopening.

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Bryant said that if CoreCivic disagreed, company attorneys could have gone through the Kansas judicial review process to argue zoning decisions. Such a move needed to be made within 30 days, he said, and CoreCivic did not take that action.

Whats next?

We are reviewing the courts decision and considering next steps, said CoreCivic spokesman Steve Owen in response to emailed questions. We maintain the position that our facility, which weve operated for almost 30 years, does not require a special use permit to care for detainees in partnership with ICE. We look forward to presenting our arguments to the court.

He did not answer questions about whether the company is housing any ICE detainees in Leavenworth or what is happening at the facility, which had a parking lot full of cars on Wednesday.

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Leavenworth city manager Scott Peterson was pleased with the courts decision. Although CoreCivic could continue litigation on the issue, he said the company was welcome o go through the citys planning and zoning process to get a special use permit.

Joseph Hatley, attorney for Leavenworth, said the next step today would be writing the temporary restraining order and then circulating it to all parties.

If we have a disagreement about it, the judge can resolve the disagreement, but essentially it will say they cannot house detainees without a special use permit, he said.

Three months

The typical special use permit process in Leavenworth takes about three months, Peterson said, in part to allow time to set up public hearings to allow Leavenworth area residents to have input.

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In its motion to the court asking for the temporary restraining order, the citys attorneys laid out significant issues they had when CoreCivic previously operated a prison in Leavenworth. The national private prison company operated the Leavenworth Detention Center from 1986 to 2021, when CoreCivics federal contract was not renewed.

The city opened its petition with quotes from a 2021 court transcript. U.S. District Court Judge Julie Robinson called CoreCivics Leavenworth prison a hell hole.

All thats going on there and causing trauma to everybody  guards are being traumatized. Guards have been almost killed. Detainees are being traumatized with assaults and batteries, and not long ago a detainee was killed. So Im well aware of the situation at CoreCivic and very troubled by it as well, Robinson said at the time.

Leavenworth County District Court Judge John Bryant found in favor of Leavenworth city, ruling CoreCivic must obtain a special use permit before reopening its prison. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

In the petition, the city also noted the Leavenworth Police Department had issues with CoreCivic in the final years before the prison closed, citing roadblocks when investigating violent crimes within the facility, lack of planning for major crises such as riots or hostage situations and difficulty getting access.

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The citys special use permitting process would allow the city to set guidelines that would address those situations, Peterson said.

Cities generally have broad abilities to impose additional requirements on a special use permit, so long as they are applicable to the use that were discussing, he said. Obviously, property owners are protected in some regards in that we cant make outlandish requirements.

If CoreCivic would disagree with city requirements, Peterson added, they could then access the judicial review process to argue those points.

CoreCivic had initially applied for a special use permit in March but withdrew that application. Peterson said the process had begun and CoreCivic and city officials were meeting.

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I would note that with internal conversations the city was having with CoreCivic, we were in agreement with the things the city was going to propose in terms of protecting the city services moving forward, he said.

In the hearing, CoreCivic attorney Taylor Hausmann said the company withdrew from those proceedings because the city did not schedule a hearing within a 60-day period, as required.

It became clear to CoreCivic that there was not a cooperative relationship happening there, and thus CoreCivic fell back on its position that it was not required to have it (the special use permit), and that this was not going to work, to move together cooperatively, she said.

City officials are adamant that the city is not stalling the prisons reopening.

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From the perspective of the city, this was never about stopping something from happening, said David Waters, an attorney for the city. This is about following the citys rules and regulations and going through those processes, giving everybody the same fair hearing that we afford all special use permits.

Community concerns

Esmie Tseng, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, attended the hearing. She was pleased the judge heard the citys concerns but is worried about what will happen in the future.

I think thats the core of the case, she said. There is a lot of distrust. And CoreCivic definitely hammered very hard on past conduct should not be an indicator of future conduct, but I dont think we have to rely on past conduct.

We have cases across the country of CoreCivics current conduct that sort of speak to concerns about local distress, about their business practices, about shortcuts, Tseng said.
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of South Korea, arrives during a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul in the early hours of June 4, 2025, after he was certain to win the election after the vote count surpassed the halfway point. Credit - Chung Sung-JunGetty Images

The result was never really in doubt. Lee Jae-myung is the new President of South Korea after winning a commanding 49% of the vote in Tuesdays snap election, which was called following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who plunged Asias fourth biggest economy into turmoil with his December declaration of martial law.

The real question is which version of Lee will now govern this highly polarized East Asian nation of 50 million. The former labor-rights lawyer and activist is a political chameleon who has lurched from being a U.S.-skeptic, China-friendly progressive to a pragmatic moderate on the campaign trail, lavishing praise on U.S. President Donald Trump in an exclusive interview with TIME.

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At the least, South Koreans will hope Lee, 61, can restore stability following six months of political paralysis that has hampered efforts to negotiate a vital reprieve for this export-reliant economy from Aprils reciprocal U.S. tariffs. Lee has promised a fiscal stimulus package to boost growth from just 2% last year, though tackling chaos in schoolsboth empty classrooms and teachers quitting in drovesand reversing the worlds lowest fertility rate of just 0.75 births per woman wont have easy fixes.

Speaking to around 5,000 supporters gathered near Seouls National Assembly, Lee promised to restore democracy, focus on mending a riven society, and work to alleviate rising costs of living to prevent peoples livelihoods from further worsening.

Other than reasserting South Koreas democratic foundation following the martial law debacle, Lees victory has huge implications for Americas East Asian security alliances, as well as South Koreas ties with China and relations with estranged, nuclear-armed sibling North Korea across the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that has split the peninsula since the 195053 Korean war.

Its critical that we secure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Lee told TIME in his only media interview on the campaign trail. And in so doing, the cornerstone is the military alliance between South Korea and the United States.

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In hailing links with Washington, Lee is going against Democratic Party orthodoxy, which has typically been skeptical of U.S. ties. Indeed, historically Lee had been colder towards the U.S. and more positive toward China, though he tempered these views on the campaign trail to keep his tent as wide as possible, declaring at the stump that the Democratic Party is originally center-right, not progressive.

While domestic issues such as a cost of living crisis, stagnant economy, and record youth unemployment dominated the vote, inter-Korean relations as ever loom in the background. North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has sent troops, weapons, and ammunition to aid Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, while Pyongyang conducted 47 missile tests last year alone and has an estimated arsenal of some 70 nuclear bombs.

The security environment in Northeast Asia is unfolding very unfavorably for us, said Lee. South Korea and the U.S. need to keep a very close watch and make sure that we build on our deterrence and eventually move to disarmament of nuclear and missile capabilities and to denuclearization.

Trump has indicated his willingness to restart negotiations with Kim following their failed 2019 Hanoi summit and Lee will want to ensure that his government doesnt get squeezed out of talks as happened under his Democratic Party predecessor, former President Moon Jae-in.

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When it comes to the U.S. and North Korea, the role the South Korean government can render regarding dialogue and cooperation will be required, said Lee. I don't think there will be any need to sideline South Korea.

Its not the only Moon misstep that Lee will be keen to avoid. A son of refugees from the North, Moon was so personally invested in rapprochement across the DMZ that he plowed endless time and political capital into that ultimately fruitless endeavor. The result was his own citizens felt overlooked and ignored, especially as the country was gripped by soaring real estate prices just as government officials were accused of leveraging insider information to profit from state land sales.

A lot of people lost confidence in Moons leadership because of the real estate issues, says Youngmi Kim, a senior lecturer in the department of Asian studies at Edinburgh University. Lee Jae-myung wont want to repeat those mistakes and will likely focus more on economic sectors rather than North Korean politics.

Another issue will be healing a nation that feels as polarized as at any time in living memory. When TIME sat down with Lee on May 25, the meeting room had to be swept for explosives by a sniffer dog, and the future President showed off the neck scar where he had been stabbed by a would-be assassin in January last year.

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During campaign events, Lee, who grew up in an impoverished farming household and toiled in factories as a child, spoke from behind bullet-proof glass to crowds, which were surveyed by rooftop police snipers.

While Lee stressed the importance of engaging in dialogue and really understanding the differences of one another while speaking to TIME, at the stump he attacked Yoons People Power Party (PPP) as a far-right criminal organization and warned how the return of rebellion forces would lead to the destruction of democracy, the deprival of peoples human rights, the normalization of martial law, and our countrys downfall into a backward, third-world nation.

Lee led the charge for Yoons impeachment and successfully segued that perceived moral high ground into the subsequent presidential campaign despite himself being embroiled in a slew of criminal cases, including for alleged bribery, violating the nations election law during his 2022 campaign for President, and corruption linked to a $1 billion property development scandal. (Lee denies any wrongdoing.)

Though Yoon was the first President in South Korean history to be detained on criminal charges while still in office, the position has long been a poisoned chalice, with four South Korean Presidents imprisoned, one killing himself amid a corruption investigation, and three now impeached.

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After losing control of the National Assembly in April 2024 legislative elections, Yoon, a former prosecutor general, found it impossible to enact his agenda, even to pass a budget. This prompted him on Dec. 3 to declare martial law, calling the opposition-controlled legislature an anti-state monster allied to North Korea that had paralyzed his administration. The folly of his autogolpe, or self-coup, shouldnt disguise the fact that South Korean politics requires urgent reform.

South Korean Presidents serve a single five-year term, with lawmakers elected every four years. While separation of powers is a vital feature of democracies, critics argue that the propensity of South Korean leaders to quickly become lame ducks without any hope of redemption engenders a hyper-polarized system whereby the legislature is incentivized to thwart executive power at every turn.

Lee, who will enjoy a healthy legislative majority for at least three years, has advocated amending the constitution to allow two, four-year presidential terms mirroring the U.S., though this is a deeply contentious issue despite a constitutional provision barring an incumbent from benefiting from any amendments.

But looming in the background is Lees case for violating South Koreas election law that could potentially bar him from politics for at least five years. In March, an appeals court cleared Lee only for the Supreme Court to overrule its verdict and send the case back for judgement, which is expected in coming months.

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The potential for South Korea to be plunged into yet another constitutional crisis is deeply unsettling for a nation longing for a return to stability and the addressing of pocketbook issues. Theres a lot of a lot of legal issues that will be parsed over the next six or eight months and well just have to see how the chips fall and if that has a great effect on Lee, says Sean OMalley, a professor and political scientist at Dongseo University in Busan.

The Democratic Party is trying to push through a new law that will protect Presidents from undergoing investigation and criminal prosecution during their term, which would solve Lees problems but risks deepening fissures in South Korean society, especially as his predecessor is due in the dock over subsequent months to answer charges of insurrection.

On the final day of campaigning, Lees PPP opponent Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister under Yoon, told supporters in the southeastern city of Busan that Lee planned to seize all power in South Korea and establish a Hitler-like dictatorship by using his partys legislative majority to shield him from prosecution while retaliating against his political opponents.

Speaking to TIME, Lee insisted that he has a very firm commitment not to resort to any retaliation. I will not be doing things that they have done to us. While that sentiment is laudable, elections are no panacea, and Lees evocation of they and us may portend tempestuous waters ahead.

Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Lees Summit police officer injured in a shooting late Sunday night has been released from the hospital.

Lees Summit Police Sgt. Chris Depue said Officer Jared Timbrook was shot Sunday evening while chasing a suspect on foot while responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex. He was treated by fellow officers on scene and taken to an area trauma center.

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Officer Timbrook was shot four times, his medical team did an amazing job of caring for him, Depue said.

Depue said Timbrook will continue his healing journey at home.

On behalf of Officer Timbrook and his family along with the men and women of the LSPD, we are thankful for the amazing care that he received and the outpouring of support for him from this amazing community, Depue aded.

Timbrook has been with the police department for approximately 18 months.

Thomas Eugene Tolbert, the man suspected of shooting Timbrook, was found and arrested in Ellis, Kansas early Tuesday morning.

Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said Tolbert received a ride from someone who didnt know Tolbert was wanted. He made it to a hotel about 300 miles west of the Kansas City metro area before he was arrested.

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Around 4:50 a.m., KBI agents, Ellis County Sheriffs Office deputies, and Hays Police Department officers arrived at the hotel and safely took Tolbert into custody, per KBI.

Depue says the Blue Alert helped speed up the process of locating and arresting Tolbert.

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Tolbert was arrested on a Missouri warrant for first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest or detention by fleeing, and second-degree domestic assault. The charges were filed Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court in connection to the shooting.

Tolbert has been booked into the Ellis County jail, according to the KBI.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) stands with other lawmakers during the official swearing in of the 132nd Maine Legislature on Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)

After the Maine House of Representatives worked until 10 p.m. on Monday, when the Senate reconvened just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday there were bets on how long it would take to get through the remainder of the chambers work.

It ended up being one hour, four minutes and 32 seconds. Take that, two-hour camp, Senate President Mattie Daughtry joked.

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A lot of consequential decisions were packed into that last hour, pushing legislation closer to its final disposition than just hours earlier. Here are some takeaways from Tuesday:

Both chambers

As the chambers move through votes, they often pause as lawmakers interject to voice opinions or request clarity on an issue or bill.

One such request came Tuesday from Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) regarding LD 1626, which would establish annual training requirements for schools to provide education technicians and support staff.

The reason we tabled this  I dont even know what day we tabled it on, yesterday, they all blend together  was because the fiscal note currently reads that there is the potential for a mandate, Stewart said, referring to the requirement such a change would put on schools.

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The fiscal note of the bill currently states that, as written, this would be an unfunded mandate. So, if passed, the bill will inevitably land on the appropriations table, where bills backed by the full Legislature are placed to vie for remaining funds after the budget is set.

While the bill passed the House last week and then Senate Tuesday, Stewart said that support was with the expectation that a more complete funding picture would be available before enactment votes.

Sometimes enactment votes are crucial, most often with emergency legislation, which needs a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

For example, while the House enacted LD 1323, an emergency measure to prohibit the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and the use and sale of neonicotinoid-treated seeds, the Senate failed to enact it with a 22-9 vote. This leaves the bill in nonconcurrence, meaning it will bounce between the chambers until they can agree, or not and then the bill dies.

Other nonconcurrent matters after Tuesdays votes:

The House voted against LD 544, aimed to create parity in the taxation of medicine by exempting sales of cannabis for medical use, bucking the committee recommendation. But Sen. Craig Hickman, co-chair of the committee, moved that the Senate accept the majority report and pass the measure. His motion prevailed 17-15, which now sends the bill back to the House in nonconcurrence.

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Another example is a bill (LD 723) that would direct the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to study the feasibility of establishing a nonresidential law enforcement training program. The House failed to finally pass the bill on Tuesday, while the Senate did finally pass it. While the lower chamber attempted again on Wednesday to secure enough votes for final passage, it failed to do so with a 71-74 vote.

The chambers also failed to agree on LD 1255, which would limit eligibility for the free community college program, which Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield) described as placing a one-year guardrail on free community college, and argued its protecting the taxpayers of Maine. The House insisted on its position rejecting the bill, which the Senate supported.

In revisiting a matter that had sat unfinished for almost a month, the House rejected LD 588  a move that goes against the recommendation of the Labor Committee. The bill seeks to grant agricultural workers the right to engage in concerted activity. The bill then headed back to the Senate in nonconcurrence, as it had passed the upper chamber 21-13 in late April. Later Tuesday evening the Senate insisted on its position.

Current law prohibits the sale of a beverage to a consumer in a container composed of one or more plastics if the basic structure of the container, exclusive of the closure device, also includes aluminum or steel. LD 1582 seeks to establish a definition of closure device. The House passed the bill but on Tuesday the Senate voted it down.

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The chambers also cant agree on a bill submitted by the the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (LD 402), which would move the Natural Areas Program from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, among other technical tweaks. The House passed the bill with one amendment, while the Senate passed it with another.

The House followed the Senate by passing LD 598, which would require some pay for employees who report to work and the employer cancels or reduces the number of hours in their scheduled shift. But the bill is now in nonconcurrence because the House further altered it with a floor amendment introduced by Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford).

Though Drinkwater said he was skeptical of this bill when it was introduced to the Labor Committee, he said he received a call from a relative who is employed by the local public works department who said he could benefit from it because he is often called in on nights and weekends. The amendment, which committee co-chair Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) said she likes, would add an exception to the definition of employee for an employee of a public employer who is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

The chambers also cant agree on LD 277. The bill originally sought to repeal restrictions on certain places of business from being open on most Sundays but an amended version is being considered that would instead alter restrictions for grocery stores on Thanksgiving Day.

The following bills been initially approved by both chambers, but have not been fully enacted:

The following bills have been passed to be enacted by both chambers:

LD 1584: An Act to Establish Municipal Cost Components for Unorganized Territory Services to Be Rendered in Fiscal Year 2025-26 (Emergency)

LD 494: An Act to Update and Clarify Certain Provisions of State Liquor and Lottery Laws (Emergency)

LD 1406: An Act to Amend Certain Definitions in the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act (Emergency)

LD 1564: An Act to Delay Implementation of Certain Recent Changes to the Beverage Container Redemption Law and to Make Other Necessary Changes to That Law (Emergency)

LD 1584: An Act to Establish Municipal Cost Components for Unorganized Territory Services to Be Rendered in Fiscal Year 2025-26 (Emergency)

LD 269: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 375: No Adverse Environmental Effect Standards of the Site Location of Development Act, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Environmental Protection (Emergency)

LD 730: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 132: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education (Emergency)

LD 197: Resolve, to Direct the Governors Energy Office to Conduct a Study Regarding the Future of Electric Transmission Infrastructure in the State

The following bills have been rejected by both chambers:

Growing tables

The number of bills on legislative tables now abound.

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As mentioned earlier, the appropriations table, which is managed by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee that sets the budget, is where bills that need to be funded are placed for that committee to decide how to appropriate remaining money.

For example, LD 820, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to establish the right to hunt and fish, was placed on the table by the Senate on Tuesday after being supported by both chambers. Such a change would ultimately have to be approved by voters, and all ballot measures have associated costs.

The House took back its initial vote against LD 331, which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure timely MaineCare reimbursements for hospital cost reports. While the Health and Human Services Committee opposed the bill, the Senate passed it and the House on Tuesday receded and concurred. It also cleared enactment in the lower chamber, securing the two-thirds vote needed to pass as an emergency measure, but the Senate placed it on the table.

Other bills placed on the table include: LDs 34, 366, 434, 496, 876, 896, 996, 1226, 1287, 1588, 324, 1279.

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TEXARKANA, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS)  A political advocacy group invited the community to a legislative town hall on Monday.

Federal agencies come to Texarkana to provide in-person storm recovery aid

Were doing town halls across the state to help educate people about the Arkansas Legislature, which just adjourned, about all the new laws that they passed and educating people about how their legislators voted on some of those key bills that came up, said Bill Kopsky, Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, who organized the event along with Citizens First Congress.

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They are applauding legislation passed concerning maternal health and childhood nutrition.

Were excited about students getting free breakfast, and now were saying, how about lunch? said April Reisma, President of the Arkansas Education Association.

However, they feel other new pieces of legislation, such as DEI restrictions, are a step backward for the state.

Our view is that if youre in a community thats 60% black and the school staff doesnt look like that, then thats an issue that the school district should be able to at least talk about, said Kopsky.

Changes coming to downtown Texarkana in the name of pedestrian safety

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Looking to the future, they hope to find support for securing access to ballot measures after several new laws were passed that make the process more difficult.

I mean its been in the Arkansas constitution for over 100 years. Arkansans have used it to do really important things that legislators just arent capable of doing, so like passing ethics and term limit laws, for example, or campaign finance reform laws, or raising the states minimum wage. Those are issues that politicians are never going to really take much action on, but theyre not very controversial with the public, said Kopsky.

They say the main purpose of these town halls is to keep citizens engaged in the political process.

Over 1 million meals served by Texarkana Resource Center during first year

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Legislators or politicians go up to Little Rock and they make decisions on a lot of laws that the public doesnt really have any idea about, and our whole view is that when the public knows more about whats happening at the Capitol and they can talk to the legislators about it, those legislators do a better job, said Kopsky.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Even though it's gotten off to a rainy start in Wisconsin, summer is finally here.

This year is expected to be scorching hot in the Badger State, so you might want to get your air conditioners out ahead of time (if you haven't already).

But, what's the best temperature to set it to without breaking the bank? Wisconsin's We Energies and the U.S. Department of Energy have some tips, but we also want to know what temperature is most popular among Wisconsin households.

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So, whether saving money or comfort is your priority, tell us what you plan on setting your AC to as summer kicks off.

Poll: What temperature do you set your AC to?

What do experts say is the best thermostat setting?

Wisconsin's We Energies recommends the ideal summer thermostat temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, similar to other energy companies throughout the U.S.

Temperatures should be raised eight degrees when you're away from home and four degrees overnight, the company says.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends keeping temperatures comfortable at levels that provide humidity control, while trying to keep indoor and outdoor temperature differences low.

More: What will summer weather be like in Wisconsin in 2025? Here's what the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts

How can I stay cool and keep my electric bill low?

Here are some tips for staying cool on a budget this summer, according to USA TODAY:

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Install window coverings to prevent heat through windows during the day.

Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms, per the Department of Energy.

Use a bathroom fan when taking a shower or bath.

More: What's the best temperature to set your thermostat this summer? What experts say

Greta Cross of USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What is the best thermostat temperature for summer in Wisconsin?
Im writing in response to The time to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania is at hand (Reading Eagle, May 31). While one sympathizes with Vicki and Sylvester Schieber, whose daughter died at the hands of a serial rapist, their opposition to the death penalty may have been grounded in the teaching of the Catholic Church, but it was not based on the Bible.

If anything, it is not capital punishment that is an assault on human dignity (Pope John Paul II), but murder itself; it is because life is sacred and people are made in the image of God that he called for the death penalty in Genesis 9:6 (Whoever sheds mans blood, by man his blood shall be shed), just after he had destroyed the world by a flood because the earth was filled with violence (Genesis 6:11).

The intent of the regulations in the Law of Moses was to see to it that justice was done. If restitution was possible  as in the case of robbery or neglect  it was demanded; if not, the penalty was death. When a killing was premeditated (Exodus 21:14), or a rape was committed (Deuteronomy 22:25), there was no way someones life or virginity could be restored, so the death of the perpetrator was required.

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The apostle Paul in his explanation of the role of human government (Romans 13:1-7) stated that ruling authorities do not bear the sword in vain (verse 4); he is, in fact, Gods minister, an instrument in Gods hand to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Greg Wasser

Colebrookdale Township
LEWISBURG  Bree Jun did not expect the ninth time to be a charm when she arrived at Lewisburg Area School District.

Jun, one of Lewisburg Area High Schools 147 graduating seniors on Tuesday night, was born in Texas, raised in China and lived in the echo of her parents Korean culture. When she arrived at Lewisburg  her ninth school  she thought it would be another place to be lonely, but she ended up finding her community.

This rural Pennsylvania town has meant more to me than I ever thought it could, Jun said during the high schools 160th annual commencement ceremony at Sojka Pavilion at Bucknell University. Being at Lewisburg has, for so long, felt like being in one big family. I wish I could say there was one big defining moment when I felt it click for me, but that wouldnt be true. It was little moments, the almost trivial ones.

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Over the last few years, Jun said she learned that a community provided her with the bravery to try, to fail, to shape herself, to develop, and eventually to succeed.

It gives you room to grow without the fear of being left behind, she said. It gives you something to hold on to when everything else is shifting. And when you finally do succeed, it will become something shared. Something earned together, making it all the more meaningful. As we leave this place, we will undoubtedly find ourselves in new spaces. And in those moments, we might feel a little out of place, uncertain of who we are and what we want.

She hopes that Lewisburg taught her classmates that community never ends.

We carry its value with us, and we have the power to create it wherever we go, Jun said. So, as you move on, build your own unique community. Learn to rely on them and let them rely on you. Its very normal to be scared, but try to be even more excited, to look for your place and your people. Congratulations, class of 2025, lets go build our next community.

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Mariah Drexler encouraged her classmates to focus on the present.

In thinking so much about the past, its only natural to think about the big, scary yet exciting future ahead of us, Drexler said. But then we would forget about this incredibly special moment right now. So I wont tell you the world is your oyster or go on about your unlimited potential. I have no doubt Lewisburgs class of 2025 will figure that out later.

Instead, she said, Be here. Be fully here in this moment and this upcoming summer. Take a deep breath because you did it, and you deserve to savor it.

Take pride in the accomplishments, she added.

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For every lesson you have learned, someone else has been there with you, she said. For every bad day, remember the friend who lifted you up. Remember the teacher who gave you grace or the lunch lady who called you honey with a smile that brightened your day. Its these moments that matter and make high school special as well as life. These are the things we will carry with us and pass on to others.

Class President Haneef Shavers said the class of 2025 is growing its wings to fly.

Some of us will be doctors. Some will be scientists. Athletes. Teachers. Wherever the wind takes you. We cant pause time and we have to adapt. The future is scary and we all fear the unknown, but its inevitable.

Genesis Vazquez Ramos, a senior who attended SUN Area Technical School in New Berlin, who studied Patient Care and Technology, highlighted the importance of recognizing that career and technical education and showing that college-ready and career-ready are not competing goals but parallel paths to a brighter future.

SUN Tech offered more than industry-recognized credentials; it offered the confidence that comes from mastering real tools in real time, Vazquez Ramos said. Whether youre heading straight into the workforce, enlisting, or continuing your studies, the certifications dangling from your resume arent just paper  theyre proof you have set your achievements in motion towards your future success.
Key Points

IonQ shares soared last month as the CEO compared it to Nvidia.

The company also got a boost from its first-quarter earnings report and its acquisition of Lightsynq.

Trading at a lofty price-to-sales ratio of over 100, the stock could easily fall from here.

10 stocks we like better than IonQ 

Shares of IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a developer of quantum computers and related platforms, were soaring last month, primarily in response to favorable coverage in Barron's, and an article that said it was aiming to be "the Nvidia of quantum computing."

Additionally, the company reported first-quarter earnings that were generally in line with estimates and benefited from a broader risk-on sentiment in the market as worries about a trade war and a weakening economy faded.

According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock finished the month up 47%. As you can see from the chart, shares surged on the Barron's report on May 22, but then gave up some of those gains the following week as bullishness in the stock seemed to fade following an Nvidia's earnings report that did not highlight quantum computing.

IONQ data by YCharts

Image source: Getty Images.

IonQ gets some positive attention

Quantum stocks generally rallied last month, as some investors bet that it could be the next big technology after artificial intelligence (AI), but IonQ, which is the most valuable of the group of quantum stocks, got a particular boost on May 22 thanks to the coverage in Barron's, as IonQ soared 37% that day.

In an interview with Barron's, CEO Niccolo de Masi said, "We're in the business of quantum just like Nvidia and Broadcom are in the business of classical GPUs," adding, "I believe IonQ will be the Nvidia player. There will be other people that copy us and follow us; they have always copied and followed us."

It was a bold statement coming from a company that earlier in May reported just $7.6 million in revenue in its first quarter, or less than 0.1% of what Nvidia and Broadcom reported.

IonQ also continues to lose money as it invests in its technology. In the first quarter, the company reported a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net loss of $32.3 million, and an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) loss of $35.8 million.

Last month, the company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KISTI), a technology research institute and supercomputing center. According to the MOU, the two companies will work together to collaborate in multiple areas to advance quantum computing.
Pamela Hemphill  a self-described ex-MAGA Granny who was convicted for her role in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack  said Tuesday that she declined President Donald Trumps pardon because she didnt want to be part of his narrative.

Hemphill  in an interview with CNNs Pamela Brown  pointed to Trumps talk of a weaponization of the Justice Department, adding that other convicted rioters have since tagged along and claimed they werent allowed due process.

And its all a lie, said Hemphill, who spent two months in a federal prison and remains on probation for participating in the riot. Shes one of 1,500 people the president pardoned on his first day in office for their roles in the attack.

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Among those who received pardons were hundreds of rioters convicted of assaulting officers, roughly 1,000 nonviolent offenders and around 200 people accused of assaulting police. Their cases are pending. A number of those pardoned have sincebeen rearrested.

Hemphill has distanced herself from her unofficial MAGA moniker and hit back at Trump in 2023 for using her cancer battle in a Truth Social post.

On Tuesday, she emphasized that she had due process and was ultimately guilty of her crimes.

Im not going to be a part of Trumps lying narrative, and plus, you know, itd be a slap [to] the Capitol police officers, the rule of law, she said. No, I couldnt dare live with myself taking a pardon. I wouldnt be able to sleep at night.

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Hemphill  when asked how shes done a 180 since the insurrection  said she noticed social media users in a Jan. 6 group on X, formerly Twitter, playing the victim role and felt like people had gaslighted her using disinformation.

So, I just discovered one lie after another, and I thought this narrative is false, said Hemphill, noting that she started a separate J6 gaslighting group where she uncovered a numberof claims she later learned to be false.

I thought, You know, this is insane. Im done. Im done with these people. And Im going to do my own research, she added.

She explained that she didnt realize a president could ever become a cult leader and realized through leading cult expert Steven Hassans 2019 book on Trump that she was in a cult.

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Hemphill stressed that there was nothing I could lose by being honest and pushing back against Trump.

It doesnt matter, she said. The cost of continuing to lie or be dishonest with yourself, its not worth it. Its not worth  anything they want to do to me, its OK. Im not worried about nothing.

Related...
Education Secretary Linda McMahons Senate budget hearing on Tuesday featured falsehoods that were either personally uttered by the secretary or went unchecked as a senator spread them.

McMahon, the former professional wrestling executive who was roundly mocked recently for referring to artificial intelligence  or AI  as A1, has struggled to slough off accusations that shes out of her depth and ill-informed about the department shes leading. And Tuesday didnt help her cause.

In one instance, McMahon and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., appeared to flub a simple math equation while discussing funding for TRIO, a federal program that helps low-income students afford college. Kennedy asked McMahon about $1.58 billion he said was being spent annually on the program, which he then calculated as amounting to more than $1 trillion over 10 years. This glaring error  which Kennedy repeated several times in his line of questioning  went unchecked by McMahon.

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But Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., didnt let either of them slide on the faulty math.

Im not a great mathematician, but I think you were talking about $1 trillion? I believe $1.5 billion times 10 is $15 billion. Thats a little bit off from $1 trillion, he said.

McMahon interrupted to say, I think the budget cuts $1.2 billion. A seemingly unimpressed Reed responded by saying that would mean $12 billion had been spent over a decade  not $1 trillion.

OK, McMahon said.

Reed: Im not a great mathematician but I think you were talking about a trillion dollars. I believe 1.5 billion times ten is 15 billion.



McMahon: I think the cut is 1.2 billion



Reed: That would be 12 billion not a trillion



McMahon: Okay pic.twitter.com/pLBlsO5ziy  Acyn (@Acyn) June 3, 2025

In another instance, during questioning from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., McMahon said that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which specifically bars discrimination on the basis of race, skin color or national origin, is the statute thats allowing the Trump administration to try to force Harvard University to hire more conservatives.

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Murphy sounded taken aback by her attempt to elaborate.

I dont understand any conception of civil rights law to give you the authorization to micromanage viewpoint diversity on campus, he said.

Chris Murphy asks Linda McMahon what statute gives the federal government the authority to demand that Harvard hire and admit more conservatives



McMahon says Title VI of the Civil Rights Act pic.twitter.com/1loZ3oq8Er  Tyler Kingkade (@tylerkingkade) June 3, 2025

The Trump administration has no shortage of individuals who seem to lack a basic understanding of the departments they lead, but McMahon  with her repeated public missteps  arguably tops the list. Certainly, this is not an ideal trait for an agency head, particularly when that person is tasked with ensuring the proper, fair and effective teaching of Americas students.

If youre looking for an expert on pile drivers and Stone Cold Stunners, Linda McMahon may be the one to call. But when it comes to knowledge of the U.S. education system, it seems abundantly clear shes lacking in that department.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
LINDALE, Texas (KETK)  The Lindale Fire Department swore in Jeremy Larue as their new fire chief alongside several officers during a ceremony on Monday.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Joe Yeakley for his years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to the Lindale community, the Lindale Fire Department said. His impact on this department and the lives hes touched along the way will not be forgotten. We will truly miss his steady presence, and we wish him all the best in his well-deserved next chapter.

Courtesy of the Lindale Fire Department

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Several other officers were sworn into the fire department this week, including:

Assistant Chief Troy Pritchard,

Captain Jordan Hicks

Lieutenants Brad Brown and Elijah Krajewski.

As we look ahead, we are excited and confident in the future under Chief Larues leadership. His experience, passion, and dedication to serving our community make him the right person to guide our department forward, the Lindale Fire Department 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today funding for projects recommended to occur will be dispersed over the next few fiscal years.

According to DeWine, the funding is part of the states Transportation Alternatives Program. Funding is distributed for recommended projects which boost pedestrian safety and bike infrastructure.

Seven projects were recommended within the Dayton region:

Fiscal Year County Name Grant ($) Overview 2028 Champaign $120,000 Update pedestrian traffic signals at Urbana intersections 2026 Greene $1,250,000  Fairborn shared-use path on S. Broad Street: Highview Drive to Sandhill Road;

 Bike lanes on S. Broad St.: Highview Drive to Central Avenue 2027 Logan $2,890,000 16-mile asphalt paving: Between Urbana and Bellefontaine on Simon Kenton Trail 2026 Montgomery $500,000 Evaluate right-of-way, direct environment work for Wolf Creek Trail future projects 2028 Montgomery $1,200,000 Remove and replace northbound curb lane on Far Hills Avenue between Dorothy Lane and Stroop Road in Kettering with shared-use path 2028 Preble $275,303 Upgrade curb ramps, sidewalks on Maple Street in Eaton 2028 Shelby $2,000,000 Improve inside and outside of Big-Four Passenger Station in Sidney

Biking and walking are great modes of transportation that are not only fun, but foster connections, support local economies, and contribute to a healthier lifestyle, said Pamela Boratyn, director of ODOT.

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Learn more about the program here.

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The Lithuanian government has eased requirements for state defence procurement in order to speed up and simplify procedures for local manufacturers.

Source: a statement by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Lithuanian government has decided that purchases of drones, anti-drone systems, optical equipment and laser target designators from domestic manufacturers will be exempt from the requirements of the Law on Defence and Security Procurement.

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"The aim of procuring this military equipment is to supply both the Ukrainian and Lithuanian armed forces with equipment manufactured or finally assembled in Lithuania," the statement reads.

Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported that following the changes, Lithuanias Ministry of Defence will spend 12 million on anti-drone systems, 9 million on optical equipment and 1.5 million on laser target designators.

The ministry aims to encourage Lithuanian manufacturers to develop their technical capabilities so that by 2027, the Lithuanian Armed Forces will have achieved operational capability in unmanned aerial systems.

Background:

In mid-January, Lithuanias State Defence Council decided that the country should spend 5 to 6% of its GDP on defence, or about 12 billion over the next five years.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has announced that the country will allocate 5.25% of its GDP to defence in 2026.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
LITTLE RIVER, S.C. (WBTW)  One of the victims of last months party-boat mass shooting in Little River held a news conference Wednesday morning with his attorney, who says the incident happened for no reason.

Jeremy Evans, who was one of 10 people shot in the May 25 incident, has retained civil rights attorney Tyler Bailey of the Bailey Law Firm.

Back on May 25, when this shooting happened  for no reason  this shouldve been a good night, a good day, Bailey said. Then, for no reason that justified a firearm being pulled, you have multiple shots that went off. Ten people who were hit, including Mr. Evans.

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Evans was on the boat with more than 100 people when an altercation broke out and shots were fired. He was shot in the lower extremity, with a bullet lodging in his ankle and striking a main artery.

What happened on May 25 completely changed every aspect of my life. In one single moment, my entire world was flipped upside down and it hasnt been the same since, Evans said. As a result of this mass shooting, Ive had to undergo surgery. As you can see, my foot was injured, and I face unbearable pain.

Horry County police on Tuesday arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the shooting. He was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia.

The boy is the second person charged in the shooting after Shawon Shamarion Williams, 19, was arrested Thursday in Lake County, Illinois, near Chicago. Williams, who graduated from North Myrtle Beach High School in 2023 and was in the Navy, waived his extradition and will return to Horry County to face his charges.

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Bailey provided an update on his firms own independent investigation into the shooting. He questioned how a gun was able to get into the event.

Were asking, how did these guns get on the boat? How did these shooters have access to these firearms when everybody else was being patted down? Bailey said. Theres also some conflicting reports out there. Theres information that says there was no alcohol provided on the boat, but thats not the case. We know that there were bottles of tequila being sold, there were alcoholic beverages being sold. There was nobody checking IDs, and you have minors on the boat with firearms.

The full news conference is in the video player at the top of this story.

* * *

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Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

Shelby Martin is a multimedia journalist who joined the News13 team in May 2025. Shelby is from Orange County, California, and graduated in 2023 from California State University, Fullerton. You can read more of her work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
(NewsNation)  Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.

His testimony comes in the wake of Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russian territory that have raised fears about whether the United States would be prepared to deal with similar attacks.

This week, we witnessed a stark illustration of modern warfare in Ukraine and Russia. Reports indicate a coordinated strike against Russias strategic bomber force, using a swarm of over 100 inexpensive drones. At a cost of mere tens of thousands of dollars, Ukraine inflicted billions in damage, potentially setting back Russias bomber capabilities for years, Driscoll said. The world saw, in real-time, how readily available technology can disrupt established power dynamics. Drones are but one example of a broader shift, and honestly, the Army is not keeping pace.

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White House tapping into federal, state, local databases for immigrant info, report says

Driscoll referred to the Army as calcified by bureaucracy and emphasized the need for an agile force that embraces innovation and partners with private industry.

A significant number of Russian warplanes were destroyed in the attack, dealing a blow to the country and pushing the limits of what drone warfare can accomplish.

Ukraine did not give the U.S. advance notice of the operation, which included drones that were smuggled into U.S. territory.

Russia is expected to launch a counterattack, though there has not yet been any sign of what form the retaliation may take.

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In addition to questions on the readiness of the U.S. Army and the proposed budget, Driscoll was also asked about a planned military parade to celebrate the Armys birthday, a date that coincides with the birthday of President Donald Trump, who has long expressed his admiration for such displays.

Driscoll said the parade would serve as a recruiting tool when asked about the substantial costs of the display, which comes amid pushes for steep cuts to other government agencies and programs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Previous coverage of the Dayton Metro Library.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Dayton Metro Library is now receiving applications for its 2025 Writer and Authors Symposium. This is an exciting opportunity for writers to engage with the vibrant local community.

There are two open roles for the event.

Featured Writers : These writers will be able to directly engage with readers, promote and sell their books.

Facilitators: A collection of writers, publishers, and editors who will critique the first ten pages of an emerging writers work. This will help them improve their work and give them vital feedback.

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Any writer in the Miami Valley interested in either position for the Symposium can apply here, by of before Friday, July 11.

Dayton Library to host senior pizza parties with college help

If selected, the DML will contact the writer with additional information.

Anyone can visit the Symposium, which will be held on Saturday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout the Main Library downtown. There will be workshops, mini writing-themed activities and an exploration of local authors. Registration is not required.

To learn more or call the Librarys Ask Me Line at 937-463-2665 or click here.

If you need a sign language interpreter, assistive device, language translation, or accessibility services, please call the Ask Me Line or click here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
It's a morbid yet common worry: What happens to credit card debt when you die?

The average credit card debt among those who carry a balance currently sits around $6,730 according to Experian , which means you could leave behind a significant amount if you pass away unexpectedly.

In most cases, credit card debt doesnt just go away when a person dies. But what actually happens can depend on several variables, including where you live, the value of your estate, and whether or not you have a joint account.

What happens to credit card debt when you die?

Your credit card debt doesn't disappear when you die. Instead, it must be repaid from your estate.

A deceased persons estate consists of the individual assets they leave behind, such as real estate property, bank accounts, and other valuables accumulated during their lifetime.

When you die, your estate typically enters probate, which is a legal process that handles the transfer of your assets. It ensures that all of your debts and taxes are paid before the remaining funds are passed on to family and friends. And if you owe a significant amount of debt, your beneficiaries may receive a reduced inheritance or no inheritance at all.

In most cases, the executor of the estate  the person listed in the will as responsible for carrying out the deceased's wishes  is responsible for settling any outstanding debts from the estate. If there isn't a will, the court may appoint an administrator or personal representative to handle it.

State laws differ, but creditors and lenders are paid by the deceaseds estate in a certain order throughout the probate process. Typically, unsecured debt like credit card balances is a lower priority than other payments and types of debt (like medical debt), and it's repaid last.

If your estate's assets are exhausted before repayment, your credit card accounts may be left unpaid. Similarly, if there is no estate (and no one else is responsible for the debt), then the debt may go unpaid.

Related: What happens to a bank account when somebody dies?

Who is responsible for paying debts after a death?

Except in some specific cases, family members are typically not responsible for a loved one's credit card debt. Heres a closer look at specific cases when debt liability could extend beyond a deceased persons estate:

Youre married and live in a community property state: In community property states, the deceased's spouse is responsible for repaying credit card debt that their partner accrued. This applies to debt accrued while you are married, not any debts one spouse took on before the marriage. Community property states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

You had a joint credit card: If you have a joint credit card shared with a partner or relative, both joint account holders are responsible for the full outstanding balance. This differs from authorized users ; if your loved one is an authorized user on your individual card account, they are not legally responsible for the balance (though they should stop using the card after the primary account holder dies).

Someone co-signed your account: Just like with a joint credit card account, anyone who co-signs with you for a credit card can be liable to pay debt on that card account after your death. Both joint accounts and co-signers are uncommon among major credit card issuers today.

The important thing to remember is this: Your spouse, parents, children, or other loved ones are generally not responsible for paying the debt themselves after you die.

According to the Federal Trade Commission , specific people like surviving spouses or executors of a deceased persons estate may be contacted by debt collectors under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. But unless you fall into one of the above categories, they cannot state or imply that you are personally responsible for the debt.

Read more: Am I responsible for my spouses credit card debt when they die?

6 steps to dealing with credit card debt after a death

If a loved one has passed away and you think they may have outstanding credit card debt, there are six things you should do:

1. Stop using any cards

Do not use a deceased persons credit cards after they die.

They may have ongoing expenses, such as their home's utility bills or funeral costs. But while using their credit card is a convenient way to pay for those expenses, the cards should not be used once the primary cardholder passes away.

This is true for authorized users, too. You cannot use the cards after the primary cardholder's death; if you do, it can be considered credit card fraud.

2. Review the deceased's credit reports

Your loved one may have had credit cards or loans in their name you didn't know about (or that they forgot about). You can request a copy of their credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. The credit reports will show what accounts are open in their name, and what the balance is on each account.

Related: How to check your credit score for free

3. Notify credit card companies

Using your loved one's credit report, contact the creditors of any open accounts about the deceased's passing. The credit report will list the creditor's name and contact information, including their mailing addresses and phone numbers.

The creditor may require you to submit documentation to close the accounts, including:

A copy of the deceased's death certificate

Proof that you are legally authorized to handle their estate, such as a legal document listing you as the estate's executor

4. Alert the credit bureaus

Next, notify the credit bureaus  Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion  of your loved one's passing. You'll need to submit a notification in writing along with the following information:

A copy of the deceased's death certificate

The deceased's Social Security number

Proof that you are authorized to act on their behalf, such as a copy of a legal document that names you as executor

Your mailing address

A copy of your driver's license or other government-issued ID

You only have to submit that information to one of the credit bureaus; that credit bureau will then notify the other two on your behalf.

You can mail that information to one of the following addresses:

Equifax: Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 105139 Atlanta, GA 30348-5139

Experian: Experian P.O. Box 9701 Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016

5. Talk to a lawyer

Laws can vary significantly by state; If you aren't sure if you are responsible for a loved one's debt after their death, consider getting legal advice. It's a good idea to consult with a lawyer in your area who specializes in consumer law, estate planning, probate issues, or debt collection. It's wise to meet with a lawyer before speaking with or confirming an account with a debt collector.

You can find lawyers through your state bar association . The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has resources for finding lawyers and legal aid in your area.

6. Get details about outstanding debt in writing

If a debt collector reaches out to you about a deceased loved one's death, they are legally required to provide you with specific information about the debt during the first communication with them or within five days of the first communication.

If the debt collector claims you owe a loved one's credit card balance, the notice  known as a debt validation notice  must include the following details:

A statement that it comes from a debt collector

The name of the deceased and your name

The name of the creditor who is owed

The account number associated with the debt

Itemization of the current debt, including late fees and interest

The current amount of debt at the time of the notice

Instructions on how to respond if you think you don't owe the debt

An end date to the 30-day period when you can dispute the debt account

You have 30 days after receiving the notice to dispute the debt.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A local university leader is getting a second chance at life, after receiving a terminal diagnosis and being given six months to live.

In one way, the diagnosis was truth, Dr. Will Smallwood, Vice President for Advancement at Cedarville University said. It was an answer to why Im experiencing these things. But as you can imagine, a diagnosis of cancer instantly hits the heart and it hits the mind.

By all rights, Smallwood shouldnt be sitting here today.

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In December of 2023 after a litany of health issues he learned he had multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the blood.

Our minds go to the worst possible things, Smallwood said. And that is cancer is going to take my life.

Doctors said he had just six months to live.

We have a verse all over the place Psalm 90:12, Smallwood said. Teach us to number our days, right, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. That that really was already a framework in my mind.

A framework that guided his attitude, both then and now.

Life is short and I know that, Smallwood said. And whether I get diagnosed with cancer or Im in a car accident or walking across the street or whatever, we dont have a guarantee of tomorrow.

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He says he had a choice: Give up, or trust God the same way he had for the last 40 years.

Is that all suddenly just thrown out the window? Smallwood said. It wasnt. And so in that very early time period as we began to just trust that, okay, if its six months, its okay. I know whats going to come next. And Im not fearful of that and Im okay with that. And so lets take advantage of the six months that we had.

He and his family leaned into that notion. They took advantage of every available treatment.

By August of 2024, the doctors declared my cancer in whats called durable remission, Smallwood said. So the cancer is still there and someday it will come back. It will rear its ugly head. And we may have to walk through this process again and again. I understand that, and Im okay with that.

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But in the meantime, he says he will use his experience to send a simple message to others facing similar trials:

Theres never a bad time to begin trusting in God, Smallwood said. Theres never a bad moment to begin that relationship. And even in the midst of cancer, its a good time and trusting and sort of His sovereign grace and rule over my life and whether that six months or whatever the case may be.

Dr. Smallwood also credits his cancer team at Soin Cancer Center and the James Cancer Center in Columbus.

He has since been able to return to his work at Cedarville and is leading the schools 175 million dollar 1000 Days Transformed campaign.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)  One local shrimper is finding a mysterious seagrass out on the open waters near Shem Creek.

Rocky Magwood, a fourth-generation shrimp captain, has been fishing the Lowcountry waters for decades. He typically fishes near Charleston, around five miles offshore of Shem Creek. However, in the past month, hes encountered something brand new.

Its crazy, Ive never seen this grass before  nothing like this. I mean we see some grass sometimes, but nothing like this. I mean its unbelievable how bad this stuff is, said Magwood.

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The unusual seagrass is getting caught in shrimpers nets and has caused them to move their operations elsewhere.

The guys shook the nets for around two and half hours on our ride down south to go back to where we were to start with. It took them a long time to get it all out, but it was kind of rough on the way home to get it shook out, Magwood said. Its crazy its like a matte. I guess it makes a rug out of the net, clogs up all the holes. You cant move the net no more, just makes the net go to the bottom. Just cant work there.

Magwood said other shrimpers have told him theyve spotted it as well. Those areas include Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, and Mars Island. His operation has now moved towards south of the Charleston Harbor, causing him to run out of fuel and take longer to get back to his customers.

Ive heard there was a case of it down near Key West is what Ive kind of heard from somebody. But, were not sure if its the same grass or not. Were just curious to get to the bottom of what grass is it and where its actually came from, Magwood said.

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News 2 reached out to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. They are not commenting at this time, but confirmed a report of the grass. SCDNR has not confirmed what it is or taken samples. The shrimper doesnt know how long it will linger, but hopes he can get answers soon.

Around here we havent been able to work at all because you cant make a tow long enough because of this grass. You know everywhere else but around here  the grass is just terrible here, Magwood said. You can make drags around off of Folly and up at Bulls Bay, but here this grass just showed up and we cant hardly work here at all.

As his operations shift, Magwood is not giving up on his normal spot just yet. He said he will try again next week to see if theres any improvements.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
A Long Beach school aide who worked with disabled children was arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography.

The suspect was identified as Jaylee Brackman, 22, of Long Beach, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Brackman was employed as a school aide with the Long Beach Unified School District. She reportedly had access to and worked with children with disabilities.

Jaylee Brackman, 22, of Long Beach, is seen in a booking photo from the Los Angeles Police Department.

A district spokesperson told the Long Beach Post that Brackman was a contractor, and not an employee of the district, who had been providing services at Hughes Middle School since January 2025.

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Her alleged crimes were discovered following an investigation into a separate child pornography case, police said.

On June 3, she was located and taken into custody for the alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.

Detectives are searching for more possible victims due to Brackman holding a position of trust working with children who are disabled, LAPD said.

Brackman is being held without bail until her arraignment. The investigation will be presented to the L.A. District Attorneys Office for filing consideration.

Anyone who may be a victim or has information on the case is urged to call LAPDs Harbor Vice Division at 213-280-1501.

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The public can also call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(KRON)  The end is near for a beloved steakhouse in Antioch that has served the greater East Bay community for decades. After 42 years, Macs Old House is having its last day of business on Sunday, June 22, which was announced by the restaurant back in April.

As the last day gets closer, it seems more and more customers are lining up to get a taste of Macs Old House one last time. KRON4 visited the establishment on Sunday, and it was at full capacity with long lines that went across the block.

The long lines tell the story of how much Macs Old House has meant to the Antioch community since first opening in 1983. Support from its customers allowed Macs Old House to survive recessions and a global pandemic for more than four decades, Macs Old House writes on its website.

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In todays age of mostly digitized payments, Macs Old House has remained a cash-only establishment. The restaurant, located at 3100 E 18th St., might be best known for its consumer-friendly deals  especially for the prime rib. A prime rib starts at $17.95, and a pasta dinner is listed at $9.95.

Curry-approved Bay Area cookie shop opens 2 new locations

A large crowd lines up before the opening of Macs Old House at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (KRON4 Photo) A large crowd lines up before the opening of Macs Old House at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The restaurant has had long lines since its closure was announced a couple months ago. (KRON Photo)

Walnut Creek pizzeria closes after 25 years, sells building to move elsewhere

Macs Old House, located at 3100 E 18th St., is closing after 42 years in Antioch. (KRON4 Photo) Macs Old House is closing after 42 years in Antioch. (KRON4 Photo) Macs Old House is closing after 42 years in Antioch. (KRON4 Photo)

New rooftop bar in downtown Walnut Creek set to open later this summer

Hundreds of loyal patrons are saddened by the closure. Comments on Macs Old Houses Instagram and Facebook pages have even clamored for the business to stay open.

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I so hope someone decides to take over and save this gem for the community and all the patrons who love this institution, one comment on Facebook reads.

A Macs Old House fan even said they will be making a trip to the restaurant from Montana one last time before the closure.

Thank you guys for amazing food and so many great memories with family and friends. Truly my favorite restaurant ever since I was a little one. Hoping someone will purchase and keep the legacy alive!! Ill be making a trip from Montana to have one more of my favorite meals, another Facebook comment reads.

The good news?

Macs Old House says, there is still hope for the future. The business did not rule out the possibility of staying open under new ownership and management. The restaurant and property are up for sale.

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Macs Old House is open every day from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. The restaurant does not take reservations and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Cattle gather around a watering hole on federal land near Monticello, Utah. Utah is among several Western states seeking to reduce federal land ownership. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Public outcry was swift and forceful after a U.S. House committee last month hastily approved an amendment directing the federal government to sell off more than half a million acres of public land.

A few days later, lawmakers advanced the larger bill  a sweeping list of President Donald Trumps priorities  but stripped the federal lands provision.

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Yet leaders on both sides of the issue say the battle over selling off federal lands is likely just heating up.

Some conservatives in Western states have complained for decades that the feds control too much of the land within their borders. They see a long-awaited opportunity in a Trump administration thats sympathetic to their cause. Public lands advocates are bracing for more attempts to turn land over to states, industry groups and developers.

The threat level is red alert, said Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental nonprofit. Some of these states have been champing at the bit for decades to privatize. Theyre certainly not going to let this opportunity pass without an aggressive effort.

The balance sheet

In Western states, where most federally owned lands are located, some leaders view these lands as a treasured inheritance  places reserved for all Americans and critical for wildlife, tourism and outdoor recreation. Others feel that too much of the land in their states is controlled by officials in Washington, D.C., leaving it off-limits for development and curtailing its economic value.

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Some of these states have been champing at the bit for decades to privatize. They're certainly not going to let this opportunity pass without an aggressive effort.

 Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity

Trump officials and allies have embraced the latter view. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has repeatedly called federal lands Americas balance sheet, describing them as untapped assets worth trillions of dollars. He has launched an effort to identify federal lands suitable for housing development.

Other proposals have centered around using land sales to pay for tax breaks or to finance Trumps proposed government-run fund that could invest in stocks or real estate.

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For some state leaders, the newfound interest at the federal level to turn public lands into cash  along with Trumps cuts to land management agency staff  aligns with a long-standing movement to reduce federal ownership.

I look at it as an opportunity to say, Hey, turn it over to the state, said Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, a Republican.

Utah leaders have made the most forceful push to challenge federal land ownership. The state filed a legal challenge last year seeking to take control of more than 18 million acres of unappropriated lands  parcels held by the federal government without a specific designation such as a national park or monument. That effort hit a roadblock earlier this year when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

But with Trump in the White House, state leaders may pivot from challenging the feds in court to seeking their cooperation.

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We would love if the federal government just turned it over to us and said, Here, manage these lands, Schultz said. Thats an option as well. Those are discussions that are happening. Everything is on the table.

A billboard along Interstate 80 in South Salt Lake promotes Utahs lawsuit trying to claim control of federally managed land. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Schultz declined to say which federal officials have been involved in discussions about transferring lands to the state.

Some lawmakers in Wyoming backed a state resolution this year  which ultimately failed  calling on Congress to hand over all federal lands except for Yellowstone National Park. Idaho lawmakers passed a measure calling on the feds to turn over a wildlife refuge to the state. And Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, has called for a systematic release of federal land in the state.

But public lands also have many supporters in Western states, including some prominent Republican members of Congress, such as Reps. Mike Simpson of Idaho and Ryan Zinke of Montana. Zinke was Interior secretary for two years during the first Trump administration.

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John Leshy, who served as solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Clinton administration, said proposals to dispose of federal lands tend to be stymied by fierce public backlash.

Federal lands are really popular, he said. Its political poison [to sell off public land]. Its a different West now. Public attitudes have changed.

Leshy also noted that livestock ranchers especially benefit from discounted lease rates offered by the federal government.

Housing arguments

The most recent clash over the future of federal lands was the amendment sponsored by a pair of congressional Republicans last month. The measure would have directed the Bureau of Land Management to sell more than 500,000 acres of land in Nevada and Utah. Local governments would have been able to buy the land at market value, with no restrictions on how they used it.

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Backers said the sale would bring in revenue to cover Trumps proposed tax cuts, while allowing local governments to build much-needed housing on the parcels. Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee said he will try to revive the measure as the Senate considers the bill this month, E&E News reported.

In Nevada, where 85% of land is owned by the federal government, some leaders say their communities are hemmed in by a checkerboard of public lands that constrain development. The city of Fernley, which is growing rapidly, would have acquired 12,000 acres under the proposal.

We need housing, said Benjamin Marchant, Fernleys city manager. The city cant plan roads and water lines, sewer lines and gas lines, when you have federal land between two parcels that want to develop. This will bring a practical and helpful consolidation of all these lands into one developable area.

Nevada leaders have long worked on proposals to transfer some federal lands to local governments and allow for increased growth. But some lawmakers say the latest push bypassed that collaborative process  and failed to include safeguards that the money raised from the sale of the lands would be reinvested into conserving public lands elsewhere.

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It was a complete betrayal of everything weve worked on in this state, said Assemblymember Howard Watts, a Democrat. This amendment is trying to sell off half a million acres of Nevadas public lands in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. This is not going to address our housing problem. These lands are positioned to be sold off for other forms of development and extraction.

Similar debates are happening in Utah. In southwestern Utahs Washington County, local officials say the disposal of federally controlled land could help alleviate the regions housing crisis and increasingly strained infrastructure.

The county is experiencing rapid population growth  in 2022, St. George, the county seat, was the fastest-growing metro area in America. County and city leaders hoped the amendment would have helped them manage the growth. The measure would have disposed of roughly 11,500 acres of federally controlled land in Utah, selling it at market value to local governments.

The proposal received pushback from all sides, including environmentalists, hunting and fishing groups, House Democrats and even conservatives.

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[The amendment] is consistent with how U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum thinks about federal public lands, as simply assets on a ledger to be sold off, said Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental nonprofit.   Its just antithetical to how Westerners think about the federal public lands that make up so much of our landscape.

A sign welcomes visitors to Bureau of Land Management land near Cedar City, Utah. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Washington County Commissioner Adam Snow, a Republican, said a lot of the opposition was misguided. The county would have acquired almost half of the land earmarked for disposal, and Snow said much of that would have been used to widen existing roads and construct new ones that are bordered by Bureau of Land Management property.

These were not pristine wilderness lands. Some of the environmental groups tried to make it sound like were selling off Zion National Park, and thats not even close to true, Snow said. If we can just not have to deal with the federal government every time we want to chip seal a road or improve an intersection, that would be really nice. Because we have to ask Mother, may I? for everything out here.

Local leaders say federal parcels could help ease housing pressures as well. Snow said transferring parcels to the city or county is one of the only ways to stop the area from becoming wildly expensive.

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Were running out of room real quick, he said.   There is still private land to develop, but theyre going to charge an absolute premium.

The amendment that was stripped from the House bill was widely criticized for not having any restrictions on what could be done with the land.

There was no language whatsoever that would require Washington County or St. George to do anything with these lands. They could lease them for development. They could sell them outright, said Bloch.

The costs of management

In Utah, lawmakers have created a state Department of Land Management  essentially a placeholder agency that would be funded and staffed only if their effort to assume control of large swaths of federal land succeeds. Schultz, the House speaker, said the state is committed to keeping the lands in the public domain, reopening roads and campgrounds closed by the feds.

Wed just take over the job from the federal government, he said. It is something that the state absolutely would do, and wed do it more efficiently, more effectively and wed have better outcomes.

Schultz said the state could bring in the revenues needed to manage the land by raising lease prices for oil and gas operations on parcels currently managed for drilling.

But some public lands advocates say thats not realistic. The federal Bureau of Land Management employed more than 950 people in the state as of 2024, and feds also assume the expensive task of wildfire management on their lands.

If you look at the history of what Utah has done with their lands, theyve sold more than half of them, said Devin ODea, Western policy and conservation manager with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Were certainly of the perspective that states could not handle the economic costs of managing these lands. Their hand would be forced; they would have to sell these lands in order to deal with those costs.

John Robison, Idaho Conservation League public lands and wildlife director, said Simpson  the Idaho congressman  and the states two senators have all won praise from constituents for their work on public lands compromises.

Savvy Idaho politicians know that public lands are popular, he said.

But other state leaders insist their governments are better equipped to manage the lands. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, a Republican, was among the officials who signed an amicus brief in support of Utahs lawsuit against the feds.

We live here, we work here, and we are far better stewards of our forests and resources than federal bureaucrats in Washington, Labrador said in a statement.   If Idaho owned this land, we could lease it for timber, grazing, and mining  just like the federal government does  but reinvest that revenue right here in Idaho.

Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org , Idaho Capital Sun reporter Clark Corbin can be reached at ccorbin@idahocapitalsun.com, and Utah News Dispatch reporter Kyle Dunphey can be reached at kdunphey@utahnewsdispatch.com.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Cattle gather around a watering hole on federal land near Monticello, Utah. Utah is among several Western states seeking to reduce federal land ownership. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Public outcry was swift and forceful after a U.S. House committee last month hastily approved an amendment directing the federal government to sell off more than half a million acres of public land.

A few days later, lawmakers advanced the larger bill  a sweeping list of President Donald Trumps priorities  but stripped the federal lands provision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Yet leaders on both sides of the issue say the battle over selling off federal lands is likely just heating up.

Some conservatives in Western states have complained for decades that the feds control too much of the land within their borders. They see a long-awaited opportunity in a Trump administration thats sympathetic to their cause. Public lands advocates are bracing for more attempts to turn land over to states, industry groups and developers.

The threat level is red alert, said Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental nonprofit. Some of these states have been champing at the bit for decades to privatize. Theyre certainly not going to let this opportunity pass without an aggressive effort.

The balance sheet

In Western states, where most federally owned lands are located, some leaders view these lands as a treasured inheritance  places reserved for all Americans and critical for wildlife, tourism and outdoor recreation. Others feel that too much of the land in their states is controlled by officials in Washington, D.C., leaving it off-limits for development and curtailing its economic value.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump officials and allies have embraced the latter view. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has repeatedly called federal lands Americas balance sheet, describing them as untapped assets worth trillions of dollars. He has launched an effort to identify federal lands suitable for housing development.

Other proposals have centered around using land sales to pay for tax breaks or to finance Trumps proposed government-run fund that could invest in stocks or real estate.

For some state leaders, the newfound interest at the federal level to turn public lands into cash  along with Trumps cuts to land management agency staff  aligns with a long-standing movement to reduce federal ownership.

I look at it as an opportunity to say, Hey, turn it over to the state, said Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, a Republican.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Utah leaders have made the most forceful push to challenge federal land ownership. The state filed a legal challenge last year seeking to take control of more than 18 million acres of unappropriated lands  parcels held by the federal government without a specific designation such as a national park or monument. That effort hit a roadblock earlier this year when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

But with Trump in the White House, state leaders may pivot from challenging the feds in court to seeking their cooperation.

We would love if the federal government just turned it over to us and said, Here, manage these lands, Schultz said. Thats an option as well. Those are discussions that are happening. Everything is on the table.

A billboard along Interstate 80 in South Salt Lake promotes Utahs lawsuit trying to claim control of federally managed land. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Schultz declined to say which federal officials have been involved in discussions about transferring lands to the state.

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Some lawmakers in Wyoming backed a state resolution this year  which ultimately failed  calling on Congress to hand over all federal lands except for Yellowstone National Park. Idaho lawmakers passed a measure calling on the feds to turn over a wildlife refuge to the state. And Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, has called for a systematic release of federal land in the state.

But public lands also have many supporters in Western states, including some prominent Republican members of Congress, such as Reps. Mike Simpson of Idaho and Ryan Zinke of Montana. Zinke was Interior secretary for two years during the first Trump administration.

John Leshy, who served as solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Clinton administration, said proposals to dispose of federal lands tend to be stymied by fierce public backlash.

Federal lands are really popular, he said. Its political poison [to sell off public land]. Its a different West now. Public attitudes have changed.

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Leshy also noted that livestock ranchers especially benefit from discounted lease rates offered by the federal government.

Housing arguments

The most recent clash over the future of federal lands was the amendment sponsored by a pair of congressional Republicans last month. The measure would have directed the Bureau of Land Management to sell more than 500,000 acres of land in Nevada and Utah. Local governments would have been able to buy the land at market value, with no restrictions on how they used it.

Backers said the sale would bring in revenue to cover Trumps proposed tax cuts, while allowing local governments to build much-needed housing on the parcels. Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee said he will try to revive the measure as the Senate considers the bill this month, E&E News reported.

In Nevada, where 85% of land is owned by the federal government, some leaders say their communities are hemmed in by a checkerboard of public lands that constrain development. The city of Fernley, which is growing rapidly, would have acquired 12,000 acres under the proposal.

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We need housing, said Benjamin Marchant, Fernleys city manager. The city cant plan roads and water lines, sewer lines and gas lines, when you have federal land between two parcels that want to develop. This will bring a practical and helpful consolidation of all these lands into one developable area.

Nevada leaders have long worked on proposals to transfer some federal lands to local governments and allow for increased growth. But some lawmakers say the latest push bypassed that collaborative process  and failed to include safeguards that the money raised from the sale of the lands would be reinvested into conserving public lands elsewhere.

It was a complete betrayal of everything weve worked on in this state, said Assemblymember Howard Watts, a Democrat. This amendment is trying to sell off half a million acres of Nevadas public lands in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. This is not going to address our housing problem. These lands are positioned to be sold off for other forms of development and extraction.

Similar debates are happening in Utah. In southwestern Utahs Washington County, local officials say the disposal of federally controlled land could help alleviate the regions housing crisis and increasingly strained infrastructure.

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The county is experiencing rapid population growth  in 2022, St. George, the county seat, was the fastest-growing metro area in America. County and city leaders hoped the amendment would have helped them manage the growth. The measure would have disposed of roughly 11,500 acres of federally controlled land in Utah, selling it at market value to local governments.

The proposal received pushback from all sides, including environmentalists, hunting and fishing groups, House Democrats and even conservatives.

[The amendment] is consistent with how U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum thinks about federal public lands, as simply assets on a ledger to be sold off, said Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental nonprofit.   Its just antithetical to how Westerners think about the federal public lands that make up so much of our landscape.

A sign welcomes visitors to Bureau of Land Management land near Cedar City, Utah. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Washington County Commissioner Adam Snow, a Republican, said a lot of the opposition was misguided. The county would have acquired almost half of the land earmarked for disposal, and Snow said much of that would have been used to widen existing roads and construct new ones that are bordered by Bureau of Land Management property.

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These were not pristine wilderness lands. Some of the environmental groups tried to make it sound like were selling off Zion National Park, and thats not even close to true, Snow said. If we can just not have to deal with the federal government every time we want to chip seal a road or improve an intersection, that would be really nice. Because we have to ask Mother, may I? for everything out here.

Local leaders say federal parcels could help ease housing pressures as well. Snow said transferring parcels to the city or county is one of the only ways to stop the area from becoming wildly expensive.

Were running out of room real quick, he said.   There is still private land to develop, but theyre going to charge an absolute premium.

The amendment that was stripped from the House bill was widely criticized for not having any restrictions on what could be done with the land.

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There was no language whatsoever that would require Washington County or St. George to do anything with these lands. They could lease them for development. They could sell them outright, said Bloch.

The costs of management

In Utah, lawmakers have created a state Department of Land Management  essentially a placeholder agency that would be funded and staffed only if their effort to assume control of large swaths of federal land succeeds. Schultz, the House speaker, said the state is committed to keeping the lands in the public domain, reopening roads and campgrounds closed by the feds.

Wed just take over the job from the federal government, he said. It is something that the state absolutely would do, and wed do it more efficiently, more effectively and wed have better outcomes.

Schultz said the state could bring in the revenues needed to manage the land by raising lease prices for oil and gas operations on parcels currently managed for drilling.

But some public lands advocates say thats not realistic. The federal Bureau of Land Management employed more than 950 people in the state as of 2024, and feds also assume the expensive task of wildfire management on their lands.

If you look at the history of what Utah has done with their lands, theyve sold more than half of them, said Devin ODea, Western policy and conservation manager with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Were certainly of the perspective that states could not handle the economic costs of managing these lands. Their hand would be forced; they would have to sell these lands in order to deal with those costs.

John Robison, Idaho Conservation League public lands and wildlife director, said Simpson  the Idaho congressman  and the states two senators have all won praise from constituents for their work on public lands compromises.

Savvy Idaho politicians know that public lands are popular, he said.

But other state leaders insist their governments are better equipped to manage the lands. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, a Republican, was among the officials who signed an amicus brief in support of Utahs lawsuit against the feds.

We live here, we work here, and we are far better stewards of our forests and resources than federal bureaucrats in Washington, Labrador said in a statement.   If Idaho owned this land, we could lease it for timber, grazing, and mining  just like the federal government does  but reinvest that revenue right here in Idaho.

Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org , Idaho Capital Sun reporter Clark Corbin can be reached at ccorbin@idahocapitalsun.com, and Utah News Dispatch reporter Kyle Dunphey can be reached at kdunphey@utahnewsdispatch.com.

This article was first published by Stateline, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
Jun. 4Public outcry was swift and forceful after a U.S. House committee last month hastily approved an amendment directing the federal government to sell off more than half a million acres of public land.

A few days later, lawmakers advanced the larger bill  a sweeping list of President Donald Trump's priorities  but stripped the federal lands provision.

Yet leaders on both sides of the issue say the battle over selling off federal lands is likely just heating up.

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Some conservatives in Western states have complained for decades that the feds control too much of the land within their borders. They see a long-awaited opportunity in a Trump administration that's sympathetic to their cause. Public lands advocates are bracing for more attempts to turn land over to states, industry groups and developers.

"The threat level is red alert," said Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental nonprofit. "Some of these states have been champing at the bit for decades to privatize. They're certainly not going to let this opportunity pass without an aggressive effort."

The 'balance sheet'

In Western states, where most federally owned lands are located, some leaders view these lands as a treasured inheritance  places reserved for all Americans and critical for wildlife, tourism and outdoor recreation. Others feel that too much of the land in their states is controlled by officials in Washington, D.C., leaving it off-limits for development and curtailing its economic value.

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Some of these states have been champing at the bit for decades to privatize. They're certainly not going to let this opportunity pass without an aggressive effort.  Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity

Trump officials and allies have embraced the latter view. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has repeatedly called federal lands America's "balance sheet," describing them as untapped assets worth trillions of dollars. He has launched an effort to identify federal lands suitable for housing development.

Other proposals have centered around using land sales to pay for tax breaks or to finance Trump's proposed government-run fund that could invest in stocks or real estate.

For some state leaders, the newfound interest at the federal level to turn public lands into cash  along with Trump's cuts to land management agency staff  aligns with a long-standing movement to reduce federal ownership.

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"I look at it as an opportunity to say, 'Hey, turn it over to the state,'" said Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, a Republican.

Utah leaders have made the most forceful push to challenge federal land ownership. The state filed a legal challenge last year seeking to take control of more than 18 million acres of "unappropriated" lands  parcels held by the federal government without a specific designation such as a national park or monument. That effort hit a roadblock earlier this year when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

But with Trump in the White House, state leaders may pivot from challenging the feds in court to seeking their cooperation.

"We would love if the federal government just turned it over to us and said, 'Here, manage these lands,'" Schultz said. "That's an option as well. Those are discussions that are happening. Everything is on the table."

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A billboard along Interstate 80. A billboard along Interstate 80 in South Salt Lake promotes Utah's lawsuit trying to claim control of federally managed land. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Schultz declined to say which federal officials have been involved in discussions about transferring lands to the state.

Some lawmakers in Wyoming backed a state resolution this year  which ultimately failed  calling on Congress to hand over all federal lands except for Yellowstone National Park. Idaho lawmakers passed a measure calling on the feds to turn over a wildlife refuge to the state. And Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, has called for a "systematic release" of federal land in the state.

But public lands also have many supporters in Western states, including some prominent Republican members of Congress, such as Reps. Mike Simpson of Idaho and Ryan Zinke of Montana. Zinke was Interior secretary for two years during the first Trump administration.

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John Leshy, who served as solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Clinton administration, said proposals to dispose of federal lands tend to be stymied by fierce public backlash.

"Federal lands are really popular," he said. "It's political poison [to sell off public land]. It's a different West now. Public attitudes have changed."

Leshy also noted that livestock ranchers especially benefit from discounted lease rates offered by the federal government.

Housing arguments

The most recent clash over the future of federal lands was the amendment sponsored by a pair of congressional Republicans last month. The measure would have directed the Bureau of Land Management to sell more than 500,000 acres of land in Nevada and Utah. Local governments would have been able to buy the land at market value, with no restrictions on how they used it.

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Backers said the sale would bring in revenue to cover Trump's proposed tax cuts, while allowing local governments to build much-needed housing on the parcels. Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee said he will try to revive the measure as the Senate considers the bill this month, E&E News reported.

In Nevada, where 85% of land is owned by the federal government, some leaders say their communities are hemmed in by a checkerboard of public lands that constrain development. The city of Fernley, which is growing rapidly, would have acquired 12,000 acres under the proposal.

"We need housing," said Benjamin Marchant, Fernley's city manager. "The city can't plan roads and water lines, sewer lines and gas lines, when you have federal land between two parcels that want to develop. This will bring a practical and helpful consolidation of all these lands into one developable area."

Nevada leaders have long worked on proposals to transfer some federal lands to local governments and allow for increased growth. But some lawmakers say the latest push bypassed that collaborative process  and failed to include safeguards that the money raised from the sale of the lands would be reinvested into conserving public lands elsewhere.

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"It was a complete betrayal of everything we've worked on in this state," said Assemblymember Howard Watts, a Democrat. "This amendment is trying to sell off half a million acres of Nevada's public lands in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. This is not going to address our housing problem. These lands are positioned to be sold off for other forms of development and extraction."

Similar debates are happening in Utah. In southwestern Utah's Washington County, local officials say the disposal of federally controlled land could help alleviate the region's housing crisis and increasingly strained infrastructure.

The county is experiencing rapid population growth  in 2022, St. George, the county seat, was the fastest-growing metro area in America. County and city leaders hoped the amendment would have helped them manage the growth. The measure would have disposed of roughly 11,500 acres of federally controlled land in Utah, selling it at market value to local governments.

The proposal received pushback from all sides, including environmentalists, hunting and fishing groups, House Democrats and even conservatives.

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"[The amendment] is consistent with how U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum thinks about federal public lands, as simply assets on a ledger to be sold off," said Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental nonprofit. " ... It's just antithetical to how Westerners think about the federal public lands that make up so much of our landscape."

A sign welcomes visitors to Bureau of Land Management land. A sign welcomes visitors to Bureau of Land Management land near Cedar City, Utah. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Washington County Commissioner Adam Snow, a Republican, said a lot of the opposition was misguided. The county would have acquired almost half of the land earmarked for disposal, and Snow said much of that would have been used to widen existing roads and construct new ones that are bordered by Bureau of Land Management property.

"These were not pristine wilderness lands. Some of the environmental groups tried to make it sound like we're selling off Zion National Park, and that's not even close to true," Snow said. "If we can just not have to deal with the federal government every time we want to chip seal a road or improve an intersection, that would be really nice. Because we have to ask 'Mother, may I?' for everything out here."

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Local leaders say federal parcels could help ease housing pressures as well. Snow said transferring parcels to the city or county is one of the only ways to stop the area from becoming wildly expensive.

"We're running out of room real quick," he said. " ... There is still private land to develop, but they're going to charge an absolute premium."

The amendment that was stripped from the House bill was widely criticized for not having any restrictions on what could be done with the land.

"There was no language whatsoever that would require Washington County or St. George to do anything with these lands. They could lease them for development. They could sell them outright," said Bloch.

The costs of management

In Utah, lawmakers have created a state Department of Land Management  essentially a placeholder agency that would be funded and staffed only if their effort to assume control of large swaths of federal land succeeds. Schultz, the House speaker, said the state is committed to keeping the lands in the public domain, reopening roads and campgrounds closed by the feds.

"We'd just take over the job from the federal government," he said. "It is something that the state absolutely would do, and we'd do it more efficiently, more effectively and we'd have better outcomes."

Schultz said the state could bring in the revenues needed to manage the land by raising lease prices for oil and gas operations on parcels currently managed for drilling.

But some public lands advocates say that's not realistic. The federal Bureau of Land Management employed more than 950 people in the state as of 2024, and feds also assume the expensive task of wildfire management on their lands.

"If you look at the history of what Utah has done with their lands, they've sold more than half of them," said Devin O'Dea, Western policy and conservation manager with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. "We're certainly of the perspective that states could not handle the economic costs of managing these lands. Their hand would be forced; they would have to sell these lands in order to deal with those costs."

John Robison, Idaho Conservation League public lands and wildlife director, said Simpson  the Idaho congressman  and the state's two senators have all won praise from constituents for their work on public lands compromises.

"Savvy Idaho politicians know that public lands are popular," he said.

But other state leaders insist their governments are better equipped to manage the lands. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, a Republican, was among the officials who signed an amicus brief in support of Utah's lawsuit against the feds.

"We live here, we work here, and we are far better stewards of our forests and resources than federal bureaucrats in Washington," Labrador said in a statement. " ... If Idaho owned this land, we could lease it for timber, grazing, and mining  just like the federal government does  but reinvest that revenue right here in Idaho."

Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at [email protected] , Idaho Capital Sun reporter Clark Corbin can be reached at [email protected], and Utah News Dispatch reporter Kyle Dunphey can be reached at [email protected].

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Lori Vallow Daybells second trial in Arizona was scheduled to begin Monday but the proceedings faced delays after Vallow Daybell showed up to court in a wheelchair.

Vallow Daybell told Superior Court Judge Justin Beresky, You are putting a lot of pressure on me to be better by Wednesday, before breaking down in tears.

The trial is being held in Maricopa County. Vallow Daybell, who has already been convicted on murder charges in two states, faces one charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

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Vallow Daybell told the judge she was sick all weekend, and declined to sit in a regular seat, instead remaining in the wheelchair. When the judge characterized it as her feeling under the weather, she pushed back and said she felt very ill, listing out her symptoms: headaches, nausea, chills, fever and vomiting.

Meanwhile, a group of potential jurors waited outside the courtroom.

On Wednesday, the defendant insisted she was still sick. But since jury selection had already been pushed back twice, the judge ordered the prosecutor and Vallow Daybell to finish selecting jury members Wednesday and hold opening statements Thursday.

What charges does Lori Vallow Daybell face?

In her latest trial, Vallow Daybell faces charges of conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux, her nieces husband. Boudreaux alleged that someone drove by his home in Gilbert, Arizona, and shot at him.

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He survived the incident. Vallow Daybell has pleaded not guilty and is representing herself in the trial.

Boudreaux and his wife sat in the front row during the proceedings.

The judge finally told Vallow Daybell that he was instructed to complete the second trial no matter what.

Even if, for some reason your sickness worsens, even if this case got delayed into June or July or August, Id still be your trial judge, he said.

Lori Vallow Daybells previous record

Vallow Daybell is currently awaiting sentencing for her trial in Arizona earlier this year, where she was found guilty of conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow.

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Vallow Daybell never took the stand while representing herself in the trial.

She plans to adopt the same strategy while representing herself in the latest trial.

Vallow Daybell denied playing a role in her late husbands murder for life insurance money.

In 2019, Alex Cox, Vallow Daybells brother, killed Vallow and later said he acted in self-defense. Cox died of a blood clot a year later, as the Deseret News previously reported.

Vallow Daybell was also convicted in Idaho for killing her children  Tylee and JJ  and Tammy Daybell, her husband Chad Daybells first wife. She is serving several life sentences without the possibility of parole.

In the latest trial, prosecutors will attempt to prove that Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell conspired to kill Boudreaux for insurance money.
LOS GATOS, Calif. (KRON)  A Los Gatos family loses everything after their home of almost 30 years catches fire. Then, thieves targeted the home  looting what was left.

The family of five is now displaced, and the home is locked up. Walls have kept anyone from entering the home, and the community is now rallying around the family to help.

Raising three kids here, living our life here, its actually surreal, said homeowner Jeff Burdsall.

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Last Thursday, just after noon, the Burdsalls family home of 29 years quickly went up in flames. The home and almost everything in it  wiped out.

Worst thing you can ever hear is your son screaming the house is on fire, and the first thing I thought was he was inside, Burdsall said. Its memories, and its hard to replace those memories that were lost, but its just memories, and well keep it with us, and its just physical things that we can replace.

Another food business in SF Ferry Building to close

Jeff Burdsall and his family lost everything after a fire destroyed their Los Gatos home on May 29. (Photo: GoFundMe)

Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The next day, Burdsall went to see if anything could be saved and was shocked to find he wasnt the only one who had been inside.

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I noticed when I opened the makeshift door that things were moved around, and it didnt make things and somebody had looted us, Burdsall said. I just stood here, and at one point, I just started bawling because youre down, and then somebody does thi,s and it just feels like a swift kick in the head.

The thieves took his wifes jewelry, his melted headphones, his daughters old phone, her grandfathers guitar, and whatever else was spared by the fire.

Burdsall says the heartbreak is unimaginable, but the silver lining has been a wave of support as they figure out what to do next.

Its amazing  the outpouring of love for people you never met before and your neighbors and the community, Burdsall said. Im grateful.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the Burdsall family. It has raised nearly $5,000 as of 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 KRON4.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON)  Shannon OConnor, also known as the Los Gatos Party Mom, was slated to stand trial in May, nearly four years after her arrest. The mother of two is accused of organizing and hosting alcohol-fueled parties for underage teenagers and encouraging minors to have sex with each other while the mom watched.

According to prosecutors, OConnor organized the disturbing secret sex parties between 2020-2021 for Los Gatos High School students. Parents of the alleged victims said OConnor wanted teens to think of her as the fun mom so she could manipulate and control them.

Last month, her jury trial was delayed once again because defense attorneys argued that they need more time to prepare for such a large case.

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A grand jury indicted the Party Mom on 63 felony and misdemeanor charges. The grand jurys transcript is 2,223 pages, and evidence compiled by prosecutors for the case contains more than 23,000 pages of discovery files.

Shannon OConnors 2021 mugshot was released by the Ada County Sheriffs Office.

Defense attorney Stephen Prekoski convinced a Santa Clara County judge in April to delay the trial until July. Prekoski wrote in court documents, Because of substantial number of charges filed against Ms. OConnor, and because of the novel and complex nature of this case, a continuance of at least 60 days is now requested.

Shannon OConnor appears in court in 2021. (Pool photo / Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)

OConnor has been locked up in jail for 44 months. During that time, she made a series of jail calls that will likely be used against her in front of a jury. After she was arrested in late 2021, OConnor called her then-15-year-old son and repeatedly ordered him to not cooperate with investigators, court documents state. Her son, identified as a victim in the case as John Doe 3, promised to follow his mothers instructions, according to documents describing the call.

Recently filed court documents state that OConnor made more phone calls from jail in March 2023 and February 2025 that were recorded and seized by prosecutors for their case.

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Female victims said OConnor befriended them through her sons. During a 2023 hearing, Jane Doe 8 appeared in court and said, This woman tore my life apart. I have suffered and had to deal with the reputation of being the girl that got raped. I will live my high school years with this cloud over me.

Jane Doe 8 said, She continues to show signs of no remorse. I will never have the life I once had. And neither should she.

Shannon OConnor walks into a courtroom on Nov. 6, 2023. (Pool image)

OConnor made more jail calls to her husband, Robert Amaral, in 2021 urging him to hide finances by transferring ownership of their $4-million Los Gatos mansion, prosecutors wrote. According to reports, the wealthy Silicon Valley tech company executive was completely unaware of his wifes boozy parties because he traveled out of town frequently for work. Investigators also confirmed that Amaral was kept in the dark.

Amaral later filed for divorce.

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Los Gatos party mom is a menace to society, ex-husband says

The Party Mom is now 51 years old. Her defense attorney did not respond to KRON4s request for comment Monday.

Shannon OConnor talks to her defense attorney in court on Nov. 6, 2023. (Pool image)

Prosecutors are trying to avoid more delays that will push the trial past this summer. Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise provided the court with a timeline showing how slowly the case has unfolded:

October 2021: The Santa Clara County District Attorney charged OConnor with 39 counts for crime committed against 15 minor victims. Brian Madden was hired as OConnors private defense attorney.

February 2022: Judge Johnny Gogo ordered the mother to remain in custody without bail.

March 2023  August 2023: A preliminary hearing was delayed six times.

April 2023: An emotional hearing was held where Los Gatos High School students and their parents spoke about how they were allegedly victimized by OConnor.

October 2023: The DA presented the case to a grand jury. The grand jury returned with an indictment on 63 charges, including 20 felonies including child endangerment, child sex crimes, and furnishing alcohol to minors.

November 2023: OConnor pleaded not guilty.

March 2024: OConnor switched up her defense team and Stephen Prekoski stepped in lead defense attorney.

Spring of 2024: Prosecutors handed a mountain of evidence over to OConnors defense attorneys as both sides prepared for a trial.

May 5, 2025: The trial was scheduled to begin, however, a judge granted the defense teams motion to delay it by at least 60 days.

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OConnor is scheduled to appear in court on June 11.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Human trafficking is an issue across the nation, but especially in Northwest Louisiana.

Northwest Louisiana, in particular Caddo Parish, is the third highest in the state of Louisiana, according to the 2024 Louisiana Office of Human Trafficking Prevention Data report.

WATCH: Beyond the Headline: Human Trafficking in Our Community

Courtesy of The Governors Office of Human Trafficking Prevention

The 2023 data shows that for all ages, the parishes with the highest number of origin locations were as follows:

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Unknown (239, 14%)

Orleans (212, 12%)

East Baton Rouge (206, 12%)

Caddo (146, 8%)

Jefferson (103, 6%)

Calcasieu (90, 5%)

Human trafficking is defined as the crime of using force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against his or her will. And it happens here in our community.

KTAL News Now had the opportunity to interview Laurie McGehee, the Executive Director of the FREE: The Coalition to End Human Trafficking in NW Louisiana.

The FREE Coalition is dedicated to restoring and empowering victims and survivors, educating the community, and empowering its coalition members. The Coalition realized how vital it was to inform the community about human trafficking issues, misperception, resources, solutions, awareness, prevention, and support.

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So much so that they started a one-day workshop in 2015, and 10 years later, it has grown to a two-day conference. The 2025 South Central U.S. Human Trafficking Conference is approaching soon, and various breakout sessions are offered to anyone interested in attending.

The conference is free to anyone interested in learning, networking, and understanding how to better prevent, identify, support, report, and respond to victims.

Continuing education units (LPC-CEUs, Social work CEUs, Attorneys CLEs) are also available for attending the conference. Registration is free, and you can customize your agenda according to your interests.

Its easy: download the WHOVA APP, search for the 2025 South Central U.S. Human Trafficking Conference, build your agenda, and attend the conference!

For specific information about the human trafficking response in Louisiana or to find services for victims and survivors, please visit the Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Center of Louisiana

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To report suspected human trafficking activity:

Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.

Call the Louisiana State Police Hotline at 800-434-8007 or file a report of suspicious or criminal activity

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Louisiana Board of Ethics is pushing back against legislation that would eliminate confidentiality for people for provide tips about misconduct. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator).

The Louisiana Senate approved last-minute amendments to a bill that would shield the personal information of state lawmakers, statewide elected officials and public service commissioners from being shared with the public.

In its original state, House Bill 681 by Rep. Marcus Bryant, D-New Iberia, would have added retired district attorneys, assistant district attorneys and district attorney investigators to an existing law that shields certain personal information of protected individuals from public disclosure. Existing law currently only lists judges, retired judges, current and retired judicial commissioners and hearing officers as protected individuals.

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Bryants bill passed the Senate as amended on a unanimous vote and has to return to the House for approval of those changes. The bill is scheduled for a final vote Wednesday.

Tacking on the amendments with no opportunity for public input is troubling to government watchdogs.

While its reasonable to protect certain sensitive information about elected officials, quietly adding these provisions to a bill about district attorneys and other judicial officers, without public debate, is not the right way to do it, Steven Procopio, president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, said in an emailed comment. Especially when the law threatens violators with jail time

The law shields home addresses, phone numbers, personal email address, Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, federal tax identification numbers, bank account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, license plate numbers, marital records and date of birth.

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An officials church, the school or daycare of their child attends and the employment location of their spouse, children or dependents would also be shielded.

The existing law creates a process for protected individuals to have their personal information taken down from public view and allows for them to sue if their request is not followed. Violators can be charged with a misdemeanor and could face jail time.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The Louisiana Senate approved a bill that expands upon current state law that prevents texting and driving.

The current law outlaws texting while driving, but HB 519, introduced by State Rep. Brian Glorioso, would also make it illegal to post or scroll through social media while driving. The bill would also outlaw accessing, posting, or creating a video or photograph while behind the wheel.

The bill does make an exception for contacting law enforcement to report a crash, medical emergency, or to report a crime in progress.

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The Louisiana House of Representatives approved the bill in May.

The bill was adopted in House concurrence in a 94 to 1 vote and now heads to the governors desk for his signature.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (LSU Manship School News Service)  The Louisiana Senate is reining in several major proposals pushed by Gov. Jeff Landry and House conservatives, rejecting additional tax cuts and scaling back spending on private school vouchers amid caution over the states longer-term financial outlook.

Despite clearing the House with little resistance, two key tax bills were effectively shelved by the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee earlier this week.

The committee declined to take up a plan to further phase down personal income taxes, and it slashed funding for a Landry plan to expand state funding for parents to send their children to private schools.

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The moves mark a shift in the sessions power dynamics and highlight tension between the governors office and Senate leaders as the legislative session heads toward a close on June 12.

Senate leaders said they did not see any way to offset the revenue losses from further tax cuts. Some lawmakers fear that the state could face hundreds of millions in additional costs if Congress and the Trump administration follow through on proposals to cut federal Medicaid spending and shift much of the responsibility for disaster relief to the states.

Two bills by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, were at the center of the Houses tax-cutting agenda. House Bill 578 would have dropped the states portion of the sales tax rate from 5% to 4.75%, while House Bill 667 aimed to lower individual income taxes from the 3% flat rate approved in November to 2.75%.

The bill also would have doubled the standard deduction for seniors.

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Legislative analysts estimated that the sales tax bill would have reduced general fund revenue by about $266 million in fiscal 2028. Emersons income-tax bill would have cut another $378 million in the same year.

Emerson said her goal was to eventually eliminate the state income tax altogether. She also had proposed a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Revenue Stabilization Fund and redirect corporate tax surpluses to help pay for the cuts, but legislative economists said that would have offset only a portion of the lost revenue.

Senators, led by Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committee chair Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, said they were not ready to move forward without more data.

Referring to tax cuts in 2008 that later led to a $2 billion state funding shortfall, Foil said: In hindsight, we moved too quickly in enacting those tax reductions.

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He added: Im all for trying to reduce taxes if we have excess revenue, but we have to do it in a responsible way.

National conservative groups have poured money into lobbying for the LA GATOR program and similar school vouchers in other states to help families pay private school tuition.

Landry had asked for $93.5 million, and the House had included that amount in its version of the budget for fiscal 2026, which starts July 1. But the Senate Finance Committee slashed that amount to $43.5 million.

The increase would have nearly doubled the number of students receiving vouchers to about 11,300.

The cut reflects a clear political divide between Landry and Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who has said since April that the Senate would only fund LA GATOR at the same level as an older voucher program it is replacing, and he has not budged.

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Some lawmakers also are concerned that there are few private schools in rural areas and that the LA GATOR program could eventually lead to a reduction in funding for public schools

The reduced GATOR funding would cover about 6,000 students already receiving state-funded tuition assistance.

Earlier this year, State Superintendent of Education Kade Brumley opened applications for the program statewide, assuming the number of available vouchers would grow. Nearly 40,000 families applied.

Henry and other senators also voiced concerns about how fast LA GATORs costs could grow and whether private school vouchers improve student outcomes.

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The difference in LA GATOR funding levels between the House and the Senate bills will have to be ironed out by a conference committee with members from both parties.

The Senate budget also includes several education-related amendments:

 Restores $30 million for high-dosage tutoring.

 Allocates $20 million to pay off the University of New Orleans debts so it can merge into the LSU System.

 Keeps $198 million for teacher stipends, $2,000 for certified educators and $1,000 for support staff, by offsetting costs elsewhere.

Senators also added hundreds of millions in federal funding to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals and physicians. The request still needs federal approval, but if approved, it would raise Louisianas Medicaid funding by $500 million in the budget year starting June 1. Lawmakers are also hoping to get retroactive payments for the current fiscal year.

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The request comes as President Donald Trump and House Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, push to reduce federal Medicaid spending. State leaders hope those efforts to affect the reimbursement rates theyre trying to secure.

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WEBSTER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- An Auxiliary Police Officer in Cullen, Louisiana, was arrested for illegal use of weapons. He was held at Bayou Dorcheat Detention Center until posting bond.

The incident occurred on June 1st, when Officer Reginald Ferguson made a traffic stop. Webster Parish Sheriff told us, He was not dispatched by any of the PDs as far as he never radioed communications. He made a traffic stop during which he became aware of an incident that occurred that morning. He then went to investigate.

When he arrived at the home, the homeowner started videotaping him.

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In the video, a dog approaches the officer, and the woman is heard on video saying the dog is not aggressive; it is just protecting her. As the dog gets closer, the officer shoots the dog twice, hitting it in the shoulder.

Webster Parish Sheriffs Office, Jason Parker, emphasized that the officer was not arrested for shooting the dog. He was arrested for illegal use of weapons because of the close proximity of the woman to the dog as he fired, and after the dog was not a threat, he continued to point his gun at the woman.

Ferguson was not charged with animal cruelty in this case. Sheriff Parker confirmed that he previously faced five counts of simple cruelty to animals and three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals after some neighbors complained.

Parker said, I personally went up there myself alone with animal control and several other deputies, where we located two dead horses on his property that were just lying out in the pasture and some other horses and animals on the property that were in very, very bad health and poor condition.

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The dog that was shot was taken to a local vet and is recovering at home.

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Whole Foods is increasing the number of its grocery stores in 2025, including a couple in Florida.

As of June 3, Whole Foods had 524 stores in the United States, along with 14 in Canada and six in the United Kingdom.

Six new locations have opened so far this year, including one in Florida and another slated to open in the Sunshine State later in June.

New Whole Foods stores opening in Florida

On Feb. 11, Whole Foods opened a new grocery store in Boca Raton. Another new store, this one in Miami, is scheduled to open June 26.

New Whole Foods grocery store in Miami to feature coffee bar, 500 local items

Whole Foods Market will open a new 53,400-square-foot store at 2910 Biscayne Blvd., on June 26.

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Opening morning, customers will enjoy complimentary coffee from Wells Coffee and breakfast treats from Zak the Baker.

The first 300 customers in line will receive a custom tote bag and Secret Saver coupon featuring offers up to $100 off, the company said in a news release. Later in the day, Gelatys will pass out complimentary gelato pops to afternoon shoppers.

The store will feature more than 500 local items from more than 130 Florida suppliers, according to its website. Additional feature include:

Full-service seafood counter.

Full-service coffee bar featuring Cuban-style coffee drinks.

An array of certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good produce.

Specialty department dedicated to celebrating cheesemakers and artisan producers.

Curated grocery section filled with exclusive brand favorites and local products.

Full-service meat counter, with butchers available to cut steaks and poultry to order.

Extensive selection of more than 240 craft beers and ready to drink cocktails, more than 700 wines and local beer options.

A prepared foods department featuring fresh pizza, food bars, soup selections, made-to-order sandwiches and sushi.

Bakery department.

Whole Body department with a large assortment of wellness, beauty and lifestyle items.

New Florida Whole Foods in Boca Raton features more than 700 local products

On Feb. 11, Whole Foods opened a 35,000-square-foot store on Glades Road in the Uptown Boca shopping center.

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This store is a celebration of Floridas incredible local producers and artisans, featuring fresh seafood, produce, and specialty items that highlight the best of the state," said Nick Ayoub, store team leader.

Where has Whole Foods opened new stores in 2025?

Whole Foods has opened six new stores so far in 2025, five of them in the U.S.:

Where will Whole Foods open other new stores this year?

Locations opening in June listed on Whole Foods' website include:

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What's special about Whole Foods?

Whole Foods said its mission is "to nourish people and the planet" and said it is the "first and only certified organic national grocer."

"We're a purpose-driven company that aims to set the standards of excellence for food retailers."

"All food at Whole Foods Market must meet the companys rigorous quality standards, which prohibit hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup and more than 300 flavors, colors, sweeteners and other ingredients commonly found in food."

The company was founded in Texas in September 1980, opening the first store in Austin.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Whole Foods opening new stores Boca Raton, Miami, Florida
LSUs Memorial Tower displays the time on Monday, March 20, 2023, on Tower Drive in Baton Rouge, La. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

After former LSU President William Tate abruptly departed campus for the same job at Rutgers University in New Jersey, political forces began jockeying to posture their preferred replacements to take the prized office.

LSUs faculty will expect Tates replacement to have an academic background, including the highest degree, a body of research and time as a faculty member. But politically-appointed university board members are mulling names without this pedigree, including those at the highest echelons of elected office in Louisiana.

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Before the LSU Board of Supervisors can take action on a replacement, two questions must be settled: Will Tate, who served as both president of the LSU System and chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus, be replaced by one person or two? And what kind of search will the board undertake?

Earlier this year, two board members confirmed to the Illuminator the possibility of splitting the president and chancellor roles is being discussed. The two positions were combined in 2012. The uncertainty could impact the pool of candidates, as some applicants might not want to take a job that could be split in two.

The effort to split the job is spearheaded by LSU Board Vice Chairman Lee Mallett, a Republican mega-donor from Lake Charles. He said the combined roles have not served the university well.

Weve tried it for over a decade, and I believe the results speak for themselves, Mallett said in an emailed statement. When a university is large, complex, and multifaceted, leadership must be distributed.

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LSU Board Chairman Scott Ballard, who was a member of the board in 2012 when the merger occurred, is generally opposed to splitting the roles again. He said in an interview he might consider dividing the jobs as there may be a reason to, though he did not elaborate on what that reason would be.

Ballard said the board will soon announce a search committee, which he predicted would work over the next six months or so to conduct a nationwide search for Tates replacement. Such a move could ease fears among some faculty who thought the board might choose and coronate a successor without their input.

Though Tates successor could very well be a top administrator at an out-of-state university, there are some in-state names circulating.

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Matt Lee

Matt Lee, LSUs vice president for agriculture and dean of its College of Agriculture, currently serves as interim president while the search plays out. An academic with an aptitude for politics, he could be seen as the compromise candidate.

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Lee got his Ph.D. from LSU before joining the faculty at Mississippi State for five years, after which he returned to LSU. In Baton Rouge, he earned the rank of full professor before making the jump to administration.

Lees work as a sociologist has mostly focused on crime, and his publications have touched on Louisiana themes, including the aftermath of the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Hurricane Katrina.

Lee previously served as interim provost before Tate ultimately hired Roy Haggerty, who is also on his way out to take the same job at Oregon State University. Though being made vice president for agriculture might have been a consolation prize, the position better serves him if his goal is to replace Tate.

Lee has not responded to questions about whether he intends to apply for the job.

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Leading the LSU AgCenter, which has a presence in all 64 parishes  and by extension, every legislative district  means Lee has had the opportunity to form connections with lawmakers and other public officials.

His political clout, his academic pedigree and his general affability could make him the choice who would make the most people happy.

Wade Rousse

Wade Rousse has served as president of McNeese State in Lake Charles for just over a year. Before taking the job, he had worked several other administrative jobs at the school since 2019.

Rousse is the candidate favored by Mallett, who is a Lake Charles resident.

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Dr. Rousse will stand on his own two feet, Mallett said. If he chooses to enter this process, I am confident in his ability to rise to the top based on merit, leadership, and qualifications.

In an emailed comment, Rousse did not confirm or deny his interest in the position.

While I am flattered that my name was mentioned as a candidate for its presidency, I remain laser-focused on building on our successes at McNeese State, where we have right-sized the university, stabilized our finances and reversed a 14-year enrollment decline, Rousse said.

While Rousse has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois Chicago and some experience as an adjunct professor, he does not have the typical academic background expected of the president of a major research institution. And with just one year of experience running a regional university  with very different goals than an institution that spends over $500 million annually on research - higher education observers question whether his administrative knowledge is enough to make up for his lack of academic experience.

Julia Letlow

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Start, is rumored to be the most-favored political candidate for the job.

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Letlow has represented Louisianas 5th Congressional district since 2021. Her district was redrawn in 2024 to include LSU, where she held her re-election victory party last year.

Letlow has a Ph.D. in communications from the University of South Florida and worked in administrative jobs at the University of Louisiana at Monroe before joining Congress. A finalist for the ULM presidency in 2020, she was passed over for Ronald Berry.

In remarks to students visiting her during Washington Mardi Gras earlier this year, Letlow described applying for the job as one of the most terrifying experiences of her life.

It was horrible and the faculty were terrible to me, Letlow said. I didnt get it, and that was so good  because it was preparing me for the next step.

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Letlow spokesman Matt Smith declined to comment for this story.

Like McNeese, UL-Monroe is a regional non-research university. While Letlow might have the favor of the political class, the fact she was passed over for that job raises questions for faculty as to what makes her qualified to lead a much larger, much more research-focused institution.

That could change if the LSU board ends up splitting the two jobs. While faculty would be unlikely to back Letlow for chancellor, she wouldnt necessarily need to win their support to be successful as the system president, which is a much more political and administrative position.

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Bill Cassidy

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, is another rumored political pick for the job. He is currently in a fight for his political life in next years election after voting to convict President Donald Trump for his actions in the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

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Though Cassidy might find an easy out  and a much higher paycheck  leading his alma mater, he said in an interview that hes focused on re-election.

A two-time LSU graduate, Cassidy is a physician and was on its medical school faculty for many years before starting his political career.

The theory of Cassidy as a potential successor is predicated on the idea that getting Cassidy out of the U.S. Senate race would be a political boon for Trump-aligned conservatives who want to replace him with a more favorable Republican.

The desired political domino effect is not unprecedented in Louisiana higher education. Just last year, Gov. Jeff Landry threw his support behind state Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Genovese to become president of Northwestern State University. That allowed a Landry-backed candidate to run and win Genoveses seat on the high court.

Other rumored names

Though they were both finalists for the job in 2021, former Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and current Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson are very unlikely to enter the fray again.

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While Dardenne is a Republican, his endorsement of former democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Landry foe, and a subsequent eight years of service as Edwards budget chief, makes him a non-starter with the Landry-controlled LSU Board of Supervisors. If his political disadvantage wasnt enough, Dardennes lack of an academic background also puts him at odds with faculty expectations.

Dardenne is a two time LSU graduate, earning his undergraduate in mass communications and a J.D. from the Law Center.

Though he was passed over for the job previously, Dardenne, who was previously LSU student body president and a student member on the board of supervisors, has remained ubiquitous at LSU events, always dressed in purple and gold. That is unlikely to change.

Henderson served as president of the University of Louisiana System from 2017-23 and has been president of Louisiana Tech since then. He laughed when contacted about the possibility of him succeeding Tate and said he was happy where he is.

Though Henderson has experience running a research institution and plenty of political allies, his candidacy would come at the same time LSU is taking back control of the fiscally embattled University of New Orleans from the University of Louisiana System. That could prompt uncomfortable questions for Henderson about his knowledge of the crisis when he led the UL System.

And though he has a doctor of management from the University of Maryland, Henderson is not an academic and has never held a faculty job. He was also handed the Tech job under unusual circumstances, without a search committee or faculty feedback. Both factors could impact his standing in the eyes of LSU faculty.
Jun. 3New Mexico's senators are urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to improve its response to catastrophes in Western states.

Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FEMA Acting Administrator David Richardson to improve FEMA's response to wildfires and the subsequent disasters, like flooding or mudslides, that so often follow.

Richardson was appointed interim director in early May and made headlines Monday when he commented that he was not aware the country has a hurricane season, according to a report from Reuters. Spokespeople from the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, the agency overseeing FEMA, have said the comment was a joke.

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"Western states face a distinct and growing threat: namely, catastrophic wildfires followed by cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding, and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery," the letter reads. "These cascading events  which can happen years after an initial fire  are devastating, and FEMA has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively."

In January, President Donald Trump created a council to review FEMA and suggest changes, including whether "FEMA can serve its functions as a support agency, providing supplemental federal assistance," to states, and Trump has suggested eliminating the agency. More than 2,000 FEMA employees have left the agency or have been laid off since Trump began his second term.

The senators urged the administration not to weaken FEMA's authority.

"Weakening or eliminating federal disaster assistance when state and local resources across the West are overwhelmed and depleted would be a dangerous step backwards," the letter says.

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Northern New Mexico communities have struggled with flooding in years after the 2022 Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire destabilized watersheds and caused soil degradation and vegetation loss. The senators point to 2024 flooding in Las Vegas, which disrupted the city's annual Fiestas.

The senators are calling for FEMA's reimbursement formulas to be updated to reflect that infrastructure like bridges being rebuilt after fires may need to be more robust, given the risk of post-fire floods.

They're also calling for FEMA's policies to adapt to the reality that some people living in areas at high-risk of catastrophic natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes are no longer able to acquire private insurance coverage, asking the agency to "meet the needs of those who fall into this widening gap."
(Stock photo from Getty Images)

Recently, I received a message from my sons teacher, excitedly letting me know he passed his Math Ohio state test. When my son was diagnosed with a neurological disability, I worried about the ways he might struggle, not only physically and emotionally, but academically. I found peace in knowing that Ohios public schools would support him through protections provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

What I didnt expect was the depth of care, commitment and expertise his public school teachers would bring. They see him. They celebrate his brilliance, advocate for his growth, and make sure I am part of a team.

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This is why it is devastating to watch our state systematically strip resources from public education while funneling hundreds of millions of dollars more into private and charter schools that are not held to the same standards. This isnt just a financing shift. Its a shift in values.

Early in my career, I worked in charter schools, and while that experience shaped me as an educator, it also exposed me to harsh realities. I saw how poor accountability led to inefficiency and blatant disregard for students. These schools prioritized profit over people, with faceless management sending impersonal directives from beach homes in Florida.

I watched students be discarded for not fitting an image and dedicated educators penalized for speaking up. My experiences confirm these are not the schools that best serve Ohios children, yet our state continues to prioritize them over public schools that educate all students  no exceptions.

Our public schools dont pick and choose. They dont push out students who need more support. They dont quietly ignore civil rights protections like IDEA. My child thrives today because of this commitment, but I worryfor how much longer?

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Proposed education budget changes feign a preference for school choice, but reflect a deeper truth: Ohio is abandoning its responsibility to educate all children.

Underfunding public education puts supports like my sons at risk. As an educator and a parent, I know what questions to ask and what rights to fight for, but many parents do not. Without the legal oversight and rules public schools must follow, too many students with disabilities may receive inadequate support, or be denied support, and their families may not even realize it. My child, and every child, deserves an education that meets their needs, not one that depends on whether a school chooses to serve them.

Voucher and charter schools are not bound by the same transparency, equity, or admissions requirements as public schools. They can, and do, exclude students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students in poverty and students with disabilities, further damaging how these students feel seen and valued in the world. Yet, theyre receiving hundreds of millions more in taxpayer dollars.

Meanwhile, public schools are expected to do more with less. Because Ohio refuses to fund public education fully, districts are forced to rely on local property taxes. When those levies fail, as they did recently in my own communities of Twinsburg and Stow-Munroe Falls, students pay the price. Teachers stretch their resources, families scramble for support, and achievement gaps widen, particularly for rural and urban districts already struggling.

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Im proud to be Ohios Teacher of the Year, but this title means little if I dont speak up. My colleagues in my district, the educators so tenderly caring for my baby in his, and those across the state working every day to make public schools places of learning, belonging, and possibility for every child cant do it alone, and shouldnt have to.

Ohios children deserve betterall of them.

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Amid speculation that people close to Donald Trump have grown weary of right-wing activist Laura Loomer, NBC News reported that she was welcomed back to the White House complex this week for her latest high-level meeting.

Vice President JD Vance met [Tuesday] with the far-right activist Laura Loomer in a one-on-one meeting inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, two sources familiar with the meeting confirmed to NBC News. ... The meeting was first reported by CNN.

Shortly after the report was published, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged during a briefing that the vice president and Loomer did have a private discussion, though she didnt elaborate on the details of the meeting.

And while its certainly of interest to know what the two talked about, that Loomer was even offered the opportunity for high-level access is extraordinary.

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Loomer might not be a household name, but in political circles, she has earned an unfortunate reputation. Loomer is a right-wing activist, a failed Republican congressional candidate who has described herself as pro-white nationalism and a radical conspiracy theorist who has claimed that deadly school shootings were staged and the Sept. 11 attacks were an inside job.

She was also a close confidant to Trump during the 2024 campaign  whose access and influence appears to have grown.

Last month, for example, Loomer reportedly had a hand in derailing Dr. Janette Nesheiwats surgeon general nomination. Around the same time, Mike Waltz was ousted from his national security adviser position after getting on Loomers bad side. Two weeks earlier, Loomer was also reportedly involved in the firing of a U.S. attorney in California.

But perhaps the most important example came to the fore in early April.

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It was striking enough to see the president oust several members of the National Security Council and the two top leaders at the National Security Agency, but the story became even more dramatic when the public learned that the firings came on the heels of a meeting with Loomer, who promptly took credit for the developments. The New York Times published a striking behind-the-scenes look at what transpired at the White House.

Sitting directly across from the president in the Oval Office, Ms. Loomer, the far-right agitator and conspiracy theorist, held a stack of papers that detailed a litany of accusations about disloyal members of the National Security Council. The national security adviser, Michael Waltz, had arrived late and could only watch as Ms. Loomer ripped into his staff. Fire them, Mr. Trump instructed Mr. Waltz, according to people with knowledge of the meeting on Wednesday. The president was furious and demanded to know why these people had been hired in the first place.

The Times report, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, added that the situation perfectly encapsulates Mr. Trumps longtime penchant for soliciting information from dubious sources. The difference now, in Mr. Trumps second term, is that he has fewer people around him who try to keep those voices away.

In a normal and healthy White House, such a cartoonish scenario wouldnt even be possible. The idea that a sitting president would not only meet with someone like Loomer but would take her recommendations about national security personnel  as the actual White House national security adviser watches helplessly  sounds like the script of an unrealistic television show.

But if the Times account is accurate, that is what happened two months ago, before Loomer was rewarded again with one-on-one access to the vice president.

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The Times report from April added that during the presidents first term, officials spent a large portion of their days blocking off people they described as the crazies. Those aides have been replaced by others who approach their gatekeeping role very differently.

And therein lies the point: It is hardly a secret that both parties have fringes, but only one party offers the fringe this kind of access and influence.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The American Bar Association, which has scrutinized federal judicial nominations since 1948, determined that many of Donald Trumps picks were unqualified for the bench. Given that feedback, the White House had a decision to make: The president and his team could choose better nominees; they could encourage senators to ignore the ABAs independent assessments; or they could cut off ABA detailed access to judicial nominees records.

Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi chose Door #3, slamming the American Bar Association for making assessments the White House didnt like and cutting off the ABAs access to nonpublic information about would-be jurists.

Around the same time, the Trump administration also signaled that it was dissatisfied with the nations leading medical journals for publishing scientific findings the White House also didnt like, reportedly leading the Department of Veterans Affairs to order scientists not to publish in journals without approval from presidential appointees.

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While these stories are notable in their own right, together they reflect a larger offensive against entities that many Republicans see as independent obstacles.

But to fully appreciate the scope of the offensive, consider the partisan campaign against the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Reminded of the CBOs recent analysis of the Republicans domestic policy megabill, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the Congressional Budget Office has been historically wrong, adding, I dont think many people know this, there hasnt been a single staffer in the entire Congressional Budget Office that has contributed to a Republican since the year 2000.

A Washington Post fact-check report gave Leavitts claim the dreaded Four Pinocchios, while noting, [T]he White Houses campaign against the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan agency that vets the cost of major legislation, is veering into the ridiculous.

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Thats an easy assessment to agree with. The CBOs current director worked in George W. Bushs Treasury Department, has donated to Republican candidates and, perhaps most importantly, was chosen for his current position by Republican lawmakers. The idea that hes overseeing some left-wing operation hellbent on tarnishing GOP proposals is plainly silly.

As for the idea that CBO scores have historically been wrong, the offices track record on forecasting future budget deficits has been pretty impressive in recent years.

And yet the Republican offensive against the CBO and its credibility has been relentless as the party has tried desperately to advance its inaptly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent helping to lead the charge with claims that have immediately collapsed under scrutiny.

Even the president himself joined the pile-on last week, claiming that the CBO is inspired and controlled by Democrats, which is plainly false. To bolster his point, Trump pointed to a recent CBO report on economic growth forecasts that was not, in reality, released by the CBO. (Trump apparently confused the CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation.)

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If recent history is any guide, these partisan tactics wont end anytime soon. But for the public, the fact that too many Republicans see independent sources of information as obstacles worthy of attack speaks volumes about the quality of the partys ideas.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* Why do polls show Sen. John Cornyn trailing state Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Republican primary? According to the incumbent, its primarily name identification, which seems like an odd thing for a 23-year incumbent to say.

* In South Carolina, Democrat Keishan Scott, a 24-year-old minister, won a state House special election this week by 42 points, which is notable in part because Kamala Harris only carried this same district by five points last fall.

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* In case Rep. Elise Stefaniks interest in New Yorks gubernatorial race werent obvious already, the Republican congresswoman has created a new political action committee that will focus on supporting GOP candidates across the Empire State in this years elections.

* Seizing on Donald Trumps anger about recent TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) criticisms, the Democratic National Committee this week served free tacos near the Republican National Committees headquarters in Washington, D.C.

* In Pennsylvanias 2026 gubernatorial race, Republican Rep. Dan Meuser hasnt yet launched a statewide campaign, but the congressman has already picked up public support from Trump.

* Adam Jentleson, Democratic Sen. John Fettermans former chief of staff, is leading a new effort called Searchlight, which will reportedly serve as a new party think tank, policy outlet and messaging hub.

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* And in Rhode Island, the latest poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found Democratic Gov. Dan McKee with an approval rating of just 19%  no, thats not a typo  prompting another round of questions about whether the governor should run for re-election next year. (Click the link for more information on the polls methodology and margin of error.)

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* If Trump has a new plan to resolve Russias war in Ukraine, Im eager to hear it: President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Moscow would retaliate against Ukraines major drone attack over the weekend, casting doubt that a peace deal to end the war could come soon.

* In related news: The Russian military will likely surpass 1 million casualties in its war on Ukraine this summer, according to one of the worlds leading think tanks, reflecting the staggering human toll of President Vladimir Putins assault on his neighbor.

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* In Gaza: Roads leading to Gazas aid distribution centers will be considered combat zones Wednesday, the Israeli military warned shortly after the controversial organization tasked with running the sites announced they would close for the day.

* Columbias appeasement strategy didnt work: The Trump administration said Wednesday that it has notified the accreditor for Columbia University that the school violated Title VI, threatening the universitys accreditation status by saying it no longer appears to meet the Commissions accreditation standards.

* Speaking of the partisan campaign against higher education: Florida officials on Tuesday rejected the candidacy of Santa Ono to lead the University of Florida, after he had been accused of leniency toward pro-Palestinian protesters while serving as president of the University of Michigan. The University of Floridas board unanimously approved Dr. Ono last week, but the states Board of Governors, which oversees the sprawling State University System of Florida, voted against him, 10 to 6.

* Yet another significant loss at the CDC: Pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos of the U.S. CDC resigned on Tuesday as co-leader of a working group that advises outside experts on COVID-19 vaccines and is leaving the agency, two sources familiar with the move told Reuters. Panagiotakopoulos said in an email to work group colleagues that her decision to step down was based on the belief she is no longer able to help the most vulnerable members of the U.S. population.

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* The latest from Foggy Bottom: The U.S. State Department has moved $250 million to the Department of Homeland Security for voluntary deportations by migrants without legal status, a spokesperson said, an unprecedented repurposing of funds that have been used to aid refugees uprooted by war and natural disasters.

* Some news can be both predictable and disappointing simultaneously: The Justice Department is dropping a lawsuit that it filed against White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, a case in which he was accused of using an unofficial email account for government work and wrongfully retaining presidential records during the first Trump administration, according to a Tuesday court filing.

* After having seen the clip, Im glad to see Morales' segment gain national traction: A Florida weatherman stopped his show mid-air to sound the alarm about a looming national disaster  one thats entirely manmade. As the country prepares for the next hurricane season, Miami newscaster John Morales issued an ominous warning about how the steep federal government cuts are impacting meteorologists ability to predict and track threats.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A mail carrier in Kill Devil Hills was charged in connection to the death of an elderly man after hitting him with her vehicle on May 19, according to the Kill Devil Hills Police Department.

Amy Hudler, 53, was driving a 2021 Mercedes-Benz mail carrier vehicle when she proceeded to back up on Portsmouth Street. While backing up, Hudler hit 84-year-old James Hofler while he was crossing the road to check his mailbox.

Hofler sustained serious injuries and was then transferred to the Outer Banks Health Hospital in Nags Head. Police say Hudler immediately contacted emergency services and remained on scene.

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Hofler later died as a result of his injuries on May 22.

An investigation was launched into the incident, in which Hudler was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

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Tina Hallenbeck, of Alma, rallies at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Male legislators in Kansas use women as political pawns and defy the will of voters.

In Kansas, the go-to move for some members of the Legislature is to ignore the will of the people and criticize, restrict or oppress the personal, legal behaviors of women.

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Even with their recent increase in pay, certain state House and Senate members still advocate for rushing through the session despite their own colleagues being critical of this action, or they promote bills contradictory to voters wants and needs.

In the most recent legislative session, women were used as political pawns by inexperienced legislator Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a Democrat, who gambled on womens health care rights because he viewed himself as some kind of political mastermind and champion for women.

To be clear, most women do not view men who voluntarily attempt to make their lives harder as their champions.

Other legislators, like Republican Rep. Pat Proctor, who recently announced his bid to oversee our states elections, scrutinized the legal voting behavior of young women he claimed he was watching.

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Proctor is captured in a video Loud Light posted to Instagram stating: Theres, like, all these, like, women, like 20- to 30-year-old women who, you know, that you never saw at the polls before.

He adds: Theyre stealing it far and square.

To be clear, it is your fundamental right to vote regardless of your gender or sex as long as you are registered appropriately, according to the laws of your state. If these women were not registered, they would not have been allowed to vote. They stole nothing.

It is beyond concerning that Proctor, who also can be seen here discussing how hes chipping away at issues regarding voting rights, does not appear to respect the right to vote, particularly as for young women.

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These women were exercising their fundamental rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. That legal activity alone does not merit the personal monitoring or the hysterical outcries of a state representative.

In Kansas, women face extreme challenges that are unlikely to change without meaningful policy designed to promote the health and well-being of all women, especially women of color. The Status of Women in the States report paints a bleak picture for the women of Kansas.

Research on the projects website indicates women in Kansas are not projected to see equal pay until 2074, 30% of women work in low-wage jobs, and women disproportionately experience mental health issues in comparison to their male counterparts. These numbers are even more staggering when we examine the effects on women of color.

Where are the bills addressing these issues?

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Women endure so much, both publicly and privately, and Kansas women deserve legislators who view them as whole people, not dehumanized versions of an archetype produced by a patriarchy bent on subjugating women for their benefit.

Women have held the hands of their sisters in the aftermath of rape by men who see us as objects for the taking.

We have offered shelter and washed the blood off of our sisters when theyve been beaten by men who claim to love them.

We cook meals to nourish other womens families in times of illness or crisis.

We work multiple jobs, we clean messes we didnt make, we appease, we follow orders, we submit out of fear or survival, we carry the emotional loads for our households and communities  a womans walk is never to be understood until you walk it.

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The beautiful, innocent women of Kansas deserve better.

Perhaps, moving forward, members of the Legislature should consider consulting with the women they are so hyper-focused on regulating in an inappropriate, terrifying way. What these legislators might find is that policies designed to burden women are unfair and unimaginable to most of the decent, good-hearted women and men Kansas is known for. That is, if legislators are truly interested in helping women.

The forced positioning of women as pawns in elected officials political games is wicked and vile. Either support us appropriately, or leave us alone.

Amber Dickinson holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Man, 27, gets life without parole for double murder inside Dinkytown shop originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the killing of two men in a Dinkytown shop.

Maleek Jabril Conley, 27, opened fire at Royal Cigar & Tobacco on Dec. 2, 2023, killing Jamartre M. Sanders and Bryson L Haskell, both 24, in what prosecutors at the time described as gang-related violence.

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He will now spend the rest of his life in prison, having been convicted on two counts of premeditated 1st-degree murder, as well as two counts of intentional 2nd-degree murder and three other charges.

"My thoughts are with the loved ones of the people killed, as well as with those who survived this shooting," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.

"Mr. Conley fired at the victims at close range in a tobacco shop, killing two people and injuring two others. We are holding Mr. Conley accountable for his actions and ensuring that he is not able to perpetrate any future violence in our community."

Hennepin County Jail

At the time he was charged, the criminal complaint states investigators suspected "gang-related rivalries" motivated the murders, pointing to rivalries between the Crazi Boyz street gang in south Minneapolis and the Lowz street gang in north Minneapolis.

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Charges state a verbal altercation between a group of men inside the store turned into a physical fight before Conley "entered the store and repeatedly shot a semiautomatic handgun at specific members of the group," killing Sanders and Haskell and wounding a store employee who'd attempted to stop the fight.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
CAMPBELL, Ohio (WKBN)  A man is in the Mahoning County Jail after police said dogs were found in deplorable conditions at his Campbell home in 2024.

Jose Uribe-Bravo, 34, is charged with two misdemeanor counts, each of prohibitions concerning companion animals and neglect of animals. He was also charged with three primary enclosure violations.

In May 2024, officers were called to Uribe-Bravos residence in the 400 block of Blossom Ave., where they found two dogs in a fenced-in area with no food or water. Police said the area was also covered in feces. Police said that the fenced-in area was significantly smaller than what is required for someone having two companion animals.

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Police reports said that officers revisited the area six more times and found the fenced-in area in similar condition. Police said over the course of the month, the dogs were in the fenced-in area or a shed as the heat became dangerously high. On one of the visits, the heat index was up to 97 degrees.

According to court records, Uribe-Bravo failed to appear at his arraignment on January 17. He turned himself in at the police department on Friday.

The report states that during processing, he told police that he had entered the U.S. illegally and that he was not a U.S. citizen.

At his arraignment on Tuesday, his $5,000 bond was continued. He has a pretrial hearing on July 1 at 11 a.m.

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SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A man who admitted to stabbing two people to death in Spartanburg County may avoid prison time  or even a criminal trial  due to what officials call an outdated state law.

In October 2018, deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office were called to a home on Crawford Road in Chesnee for a welfare check. When they arrived, deputies said they were met on a front porch by Casey Allen Douglas who admitted to killing his on-again-off-again girlfriend Stephanie Leigh Jenkins and her father, Craig Matthew Jenkins.

Douglas, who has previous convictions for armed robbery, attempted robbery, burglary and domestic violence was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. After spending two years in the Spartanburg County Detention Center, he was found mentally incapable of being tried in 2020 and sent to a state mental health hospital.

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Now, a May ruling by a circuit court judge could soon see him reenter public life without ever going before a jury.

Current state law says if a person found unfit for trial is determined to no longer require hospitalization, they must be released from the state hospitals custody.

According to court documents the judge determined Douglas had reached the limits of his care in the state facility and, in following with state law, ordered him to be sent to a residential care facility in Monetta, where he will continue to be treated by mental health professionals from the Aiken-Barnell Mental Health Center.

The order comes with several requirements for Douglas, including that he continue to take his prescribed medication, undergo treatment from Aiken-Barnell mental health professionals as well as Department of Mental Health doctors and to wear an ankle monitor when outside the facility.

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Barry Barnette, 7th Circuit Court Solicitor, who represents Spartanburg and Cherokee counties, said he disagrees with the courts decision.

(SC Department of Mental Healths) position is he is still incompetent but they want him to be independent and get work. To me if you are at that level you are competent and should be able to go to trial, said Barnette.

According to a motion filed by Barnettes office asking the judge to reconsider his decision, two doctors and a threat assessment expert with the State Law Enforcement Division testified Douglas required additional hospitalization and was still suffering from delusions and remained a threat to others.

The solicitors office also expressed concerns the assisted living facility in Monetta was not equipped to take in Douglas and provide him care.

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It appears, per the information online, that the facility is a retirement or assisted living facility oriented for older adults; it is not a facility designed for persons with compelling mental health issues, reads the motion.

The judged declined Barnettes request to reconsider the matter, as well as one from the Department of Mental Health asking to loosen the restrictions placed on Douglas at the mental health center.

The solicitors office and the state attorney generals office have each filed an appeal regarding the ruling.

The decision to send Douglas to Monetta has also raised concerns for community members there.

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In response to an article in The State newspaper, state Rep. Bill Taylor, who represents Aiken County, took to Facebook to tell residents Douglas is not in Monetta nor would be sent there.

He remains in a secure facility in Spartanburg awaiting the resolution of an appeal by the Solicitor objecting to the order he be released to the SC Department of Mental Health (DMH). The Generations Nursing Home in Monetta is not a typical nursing home. It is operated by DMH and staffed with trained DMH employees. It serves as a bridge back to society. When the appeal is resolved, if DMH retains custody of the inmate, for his safety, he will be transferred to another DMH facility elsewhere in South Carolina, wrote Taylor on Facebook.

7NEWS reached out to the state Department of Mental Health for this story. In a statement a spokesperson said Due to state and federal privacy laws, Mental Health cannot discuss whether someone is/isnt receiving or has/hasnt received services from the Agency.

Outdated laws

While courts continue to weigh what should happen in Douglas case, Barnette said the state needs to reevaluate laws regarding mental health and its intersection with the justice system.

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The state law was made in 60s and 70s and needs to be expanded, he said.

Facilities have changed, treatments available have changed. The law needs to keep pace with that, added Amy Goulding, assistant solicitor in the 7th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Barnette said the current state law which concerns people who are deemed mentally unfit for trial only considers whether or not the mental health system has determined if a person has reached a maximum level of care, at which point they can be released to an assisted living facility.

The law does define what a maximum level of care is, and it does not consider what crimes the person may have committed before they were found incompetent.

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As a result, Barnette said, many criminal cases are simply dismissed once the state determines a person has reached maximum level of care.

Thats the concern Ive got now. If you are releasing them in the public, they should be competent enough to be tried for their charges, he said.

Failings in the state law have led to issues in other jurisdictions as well.

Kevin Brackett, 16th circuit solicitor serving York and Union counties, said a case not dissimilar from Douglas nearly resulted in a man who killed two people in 2019 being sent to an assisted living facility in Spartanburg County.

In 2019, two people in York County were sitting in a truck waiting on building supplies to be delivered to them when Jimar Neely approached them and shot them with a rifle. Neely then went to and shot at a family members house and later a third persons home where he exchanged gunfire with police before being arrested.

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Brackett said Neely had been diagnosed with schizophrenia prior to the shooting, and was supposed to be undergoing a course of treatment.

He wasnt being monitored, no one was paying attention to if he was taking his medicine or where he was, he said.

Neely was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a state mental hospital. Earlier this year his doctors requested Neely be released from the states care and sent to an assisted living facility in Spartanburg County, Brackett said.

While looking into his behavior while in the hospital, solicitors discovered Neely had been caught on at least one occasion smoking marijuana with other residents, something which undermines his care plan and the efficacy of his medications.

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It raised our concerns that these facilities, they can get day passes, they can get employment, they can come back to this community to visit, Brackett said. Our concern is they couldnt control him in a secure facility. Ff he is in a less secure facility, what are they going to do if he starts using drugs again?

A judge ultimately ruled Neely would have to remain in the states mental health hospital.

Still, Barnette said it is concerning someone like Neely was nearly sent to live in Spartanburg County without any kind of local notification.

We need to change the law to address these more dangerous individuals, he said.

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Brackett has also encountered issues with the way the state handles people who have been medically committed for mental illnesses.

In 2017, Christopher Mendez went to the emergency room at a Lancaster hospital and told physicians he had been fantasizing about killing someone. Hospital staff examined him and medically committed him for treatment.

A few weeks later, a judge ruled Mendez, who by the time of his hearing had begun taking medications, did not need to be committed to a mental institution, and instead ordered him to continue taking his prescribed medications and regularly attend therapy.

Mendez returned to York County, where Brackett said no one made sure he attended therapy or filled his prescriptions as ordered by a judge.

In 2018, Mendez bought a handgun then drove to a convenience store where he shot and killed a 17-year-old girl, then waited for police to arrive and arrest him. He is currently serving a life sentence in prison.

To me, that young girl should still be alive. Somebody should have just said did Mr. Mendez ever come to Catawba and get that prescription filled? There should have been a more robust method of monitoring Mr. Mendez, said Brackett.

Brackett said Mendez was able to purchase the gun because state laws dont require medical commitments to appear in a background check.

What we are finding out, obviously we have the Casey Douglas case, looking at this and speaking to other solicitors we have a lot more (cases), said Brackett. The law is just outdated on this issue.

Barnette and Brackett said they want to see significant changes to state laws, and for lawmakers to properly fund state mental health resources.

We need to be more engaged as a state not just in policy but in funding. Once upon a time we had a pretty strong mental health systemwe had bed space, said Brackett. Now, the Department of Mental Health has a very limited, finite amount of bed space for people so it becomes they have to make this hard choice of who is the least crazy, we need to get this person out of here because we need more bed space. That is the sense I get from my involvement.

Family denied justice

As appeals play out and amid the discussions of whether or not state laws should be updated or how, the families of Douglas victims have been left frustrated.

Who wouldnt be? He murdered two people and said I did this on body camera footage, said George Jenkins, Craigs older brother and Stephanies uncle.

Since his brother and niece were killed, George has gone to every hearing involving Douglas. Hes tried to let the judicial process play out in hopes it would deliver justice, but currently feels the courts have failed his family.

To me this is the state mental health facility wanting a bed, so theyve got to get him out, said George. I dont now where else to go with this. We kept out of the papers because we wanted the judicial system to handle this but I dont feel that they did, I dont feel that justice has been done for this family.

If things continue the way they have and Douglas is sent to live in an assisted living facility, George said he has no doubts it will end in tragedy.

If he gets into a nursing home, he is going to leave it without any monitoring and he is going to kill again. That is my thoughts, he said.

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In Brevard County, the State Attorneys Office has upgraded charges against a man recently arrested in connection to a deadly shooting.

It happened May 11 in downtown Melbourne on Vernon Place near East New Haven Avenue.

Stephan Dieujuste, 24, now faces a charge of second-degree murder.

Melbourne police said he was responsible for shooting death of 19-year-old Nathanial Jennings.

Dieujuste was initially charged with manslaughter.

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Investigators said Dieujuste claimed he fired on Jennings in self-defense, after the teen allegedly started a fist fight.

Jennings was unarmed, according to prosecutors.

Dieujuste was released on bond following his arrest in mid-May.

The State Attorneys Office said it will request that his bond be revoked and reset to a higher amount.

Dieujuste could face life in prison if convicted on the upgraded charge.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man is now facing charges after shooting his coworker back in March, Memphis Police say.

On March 14, officers say they responded to an aggravated assault call at PPG Coating Services on 4569 West Distriplex Drive around 9 a.m.

An employee was found at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound to his back. He told police that he and another employee, later identified as Nathan Starks, had an exchange of words while on the production line at work.

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That is when the man says Starks walked to his car and returned with his hand in his pocket.

As another employee attempted to hold Starks back, he allegedly pulled out a small, black handgun.

Ex-property management employee charged with burglarizing homes

The victim says he turned around and heard a pop followed by the smell of gunfire. When he stepped back, he said he realized he had been shot.

He was then taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses at the scene also corroborated the victims statement about the shooting.

Starks was then positively identified in a six-person photo lineup as the person who shot his coworker in the back.

Nathan Starks, 38, is charged with criminal attempt first-degree murder, possession of a firearm/dangerous felony, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

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Starks is held in jail on a $250,000 bond. He is due in court on Wednesday morning.

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PINE PRAIRIE, La. (KLFY)  Man faced with an assault charge after he threatened a Pine Prairie Catholic priest and terrorized a Lafayette church, deputies said.

Kenneth Vicknair Sr. was charged with simple assault after he allegedly made verbal threats of harm to a Catholic priest of St. Peters Catholic Church in Pine Prairie on May 20, deputies said.

According to deputies, the victim stated that he contacted deputies in fear that an escalated incident was about to occur due to Mr. Vicknairs behavior and body language.

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Vicknair was later arrested and transported to the Evangeline Parish Jail, where he was booked without incident and charged.

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During investigation, it was also learned that prior to this incident, Vicknair allegedly went to the diocese in Lafayette and demanded to see the one of the clergy members there. If his demand was not met, he threatened he was going to shoot every person that exits the front door of the building, deputies said.

Family of six-year-old Korbin awaits justice as bond hearing is moved

Upon his release from the Evangeline Parish Jail, he was transported to the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center for pending terrorizing charges.

Kenneth Vicknair

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A Tennessee man was arrested for allegedly trying to steal a train that was occupied by Amtrak employees Tuesday night, police said.

Joseph Seigle, 43, broke into the conductors car of a train at the Amtrak station on North Tryon Street just before midnight.

Two Amtrak employees were sitting in their office when they heard the train horn go off, according to court documents.

It was then that the station supervisor, Nicholas Pope, sprang into action and called police.

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Documents say once police caught up to to Seigle, he claimed all he did was press the button to sound the train horn.

Pope disagreed saying that a brake lever had been moved, indicating the man tried to move the train while a cleaning crew was still on board.

ALSO READ >> NCDOT celebrates 35 years of trains running between Charlotte, New York

Desiree Swann told Channel 9s Eli Brand that she had just taken a trip on an Amtrak Wednesday when she heard the news. She said the biggest issue is that someone was able to get into the conductors car in the first place.

A sane person wouldnt just try to go and steal a train, Swann said. Thats not common sense.

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Seigle was charged with attempted kidnapping and trespass on railroad right of way, according to the police report.

Amtrak responded to the incident by saying, there was no attempted train theft, however, someone was trespassing onboard an empty train while it was being cleaned and was promptly asked to leave by a crew member.

There were no injuries or issues, according to Amtrak.

Regardless, Swann says the entire situation is unusual.

Whoever he is, hes going through something, he said. That aint normal.

VIDEO: CATS to shut down all transit center businesses in effort to curb violence
The man accused of killing a woman in Santa Paula on Saturday has been captured in Mexico, officials say.

Christian Hillairet, 24, was arrested in Rosarito, Baja California, on Monday, the Ventura County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Hillairet was identified by the VCSO as the suspected killer of 26-year-old Carolyn Nino De Rivera of Ojai, who was found dead in a residence in the 12000 block of Sisar Road over the weekend.

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United States and Mexican authorities are working on repatriating Hillairet back to the United States where he will be taken into custody by local authorities, the VCSO said.

Anyone with further information about the case has been asked to contact Detective Marco at 805-384-4739.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man was taken into police custody Wednesday morning after allegedly lighting a church roof on fire.

The pastor of University United Methodist Church, on Maryland Parkway near Flamingo Road, called Las Vegas Metropolitan police around 5:30 a.m. to report that a man was on the church roof and burning items.

Weve had vandalism before. Weve had rocks run through our windows. We have had a trash can set on fire, and its part of being where we are. We do have a preschool, and so we have had to lock it down today. Our main concern is safety of the children that are trusted to our care, Pastor Stephen Govett said.

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The man did suffer some injuries and was removed from the roof. Govett said the extent of damage hasnt been determined, but the air conditioner isnt working, so it was decided to close the churchs preschool for the day.

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One man has been arrested on suspicion of taking part in a string of violent hate crimes against a transgender shopkeeper in Westlake who was sexually assaulted, pepper-sprayed, punched and hit with a skateboard, authorities said. Two other suspects remain at large.

Sabrina de la Pena, 61, told The Times that she operated her convenience store across the street from MacArthur Park for nearly three decades without feeling threatened by a customer.

That was until April 8, when a man sexually assaulted her after she rejected his advances, and upon discovering she was transgender, he threatened to kill her, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. After the initial assault, police say, he returned to her store and attacked her multiple times alongside two other suspects.

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My life has changed a lot. For almost 30 years, I felt safe, De la Pena said. Now, I am full of so many fears, so much panic. I dont think I will ever be the same again.

Read more: String of unsolved 'transphobic' attacks target MacArthur Park shopkeeper

The LAPD announced Tuesday that Samuel Parros, 30, had been arrested in connection with the attacks and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Police have released photos of the remaining two suspects and are seeking the public's help in identifying them.

After the first transphobic encounter on April 8, De la Pena said, she thought her nightmare was over, but the following night the man and two others attacked her at her shop. Surveillance camera footage of the incident shows the men repeatedly punching her and striking her with a skateboard.

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On April 16, De la Pena was pepper-sprayed by the same attackers. On April 19, one man threw an unknown liquid on her, while another attempted to tase her.

The LAPD initially released surveillance camera photos of the three men on April 28, asking the public's help in identifying them.

On May 27, police arrested Parros, but the attacks did not stop.

While Parros was in custody, De la Pena was assaulted yet again at her store Saturday. LAPD investigators believe the two remaining suspects are responsible for the most recent attack, which left the shopkeeper with serious injuries.

Anyone with information or who may have been a victim of other attacks can call LAPDs Rampart Division detectives at (213) 484-3495 or call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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Times reporting fellow Cerys Davies contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.






NEED TO KNOW

A Boston man rescued his blind neighbor from their apartment building after it caught fire in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 3

Socrate Joseph said the woman initially "did not want to come out," but was able to hoist her over his shoulder and bring her to safety

It was just the right thing to do, he explained







A Boston man is being praised for his heroics after rescuing a blind woman from an early morning fire inside their apartment building.

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Fire crews responded to the burning building on the 900 block of Tremont Street on Wednesday, June 3, and saw fire showing from 3rd & 4th floors around 3:30 a.m. local time, according to a social media post from the Boston Fire Department (BFD).

Socrate Joseph, a resident on the third floor of the building, was escaping the blaze when he came across one of his neighbors on the second floor, FOX affiliate WFXT reported.

Although he quickly moved to help the woman, who is legally blind, at first she just "did not want to come out."

"I proceeded to grab her hand, but she was fighting back, Joseph recalled, according to independent station WHDH and ABC affiliate WCVB-TV. So in that moment, I just yanked her, put her over my shoulders, [and began] climbing down the steps with her.

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Then, Joseph said a firefighter arrived and took her from me.

It was just the right thing to do, even though she was really stubborn, Joseph explained. I couldn't just leave her there.

The woman was later transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to WCVB-TV.

In a statement shared on social media , BFD Fire Commissioner Paul Burke thanked Joseph for his heroics.

His quick actions of carrying his neighbor to an exit and passing her to responding firefighters were heroic and undoubtedly saved her life in a rapidly progressing fire, Burke said. As always, thank you to our firefighters for quickly extinguishing this fire at great personal risk as they do every day they come to work.

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The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, according to the BFD.

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A total of 14 people, 12 adults and two children, were displaced by the blaze, which caused an estimated $500,000 in damage, fire officials said.

The Red Cross of Massachusetts is assisting those displaced by the fire.

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An El Paso County judge incorrectly dismissed a domestic violence case after the alleged victim did not appear on the morning of trial, when she should have instead granted the prosecution's request to issue a warrant, Colorado's second-highest court ruled last week.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A New Lebanon teen has been charged in the death of his juvenile passenger last November.

The Montgomery County Prosecutors Office announced the indictment of 18-year-old Dominick Parlett after his passenger died in a crash while he was fleeing police.

Child critically injured in suspected OVI crash Tuesday night

On Nov. 19, 2024, Moraine police spotted a stolen vehicle out of Fairborn. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the SUV fled.

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After several attempts to locate and stop the vehicle, Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies saw the vehicle in Jefferson Township. The defendant once again fled law enforcement, before crashing into another vehicle in Trotwood at Little Richmond and North Snyder roads.

The defendant fled on foot briefly before officers apprehended him.

One of the passengers in the stolen SUV was 15-year-old Jaden McClaskey, who was critically injured in the crash. He died from his injuries two days later. Another juvenile passenger was also injured in the crash but recovered.

Officials also note Parlett had been arrested for receiving stolen property after he wrecked another stolen vehicle just days earlier.

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This week, the Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Parlett on the following charges:

One count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide

One count of Involuntary Manslaughter

Three counts of Failure to Comply

One count of Receiving Stolen Property  motor vehicle

Two counts of Vehicular Assault

A warrant has been issued for Parletts arrest. He is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, June 24.

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WELLSVILLE, Ohio (WKBN)  A man is facing charges for what was reported in an affidavit as a road rage incident in Wellsville.

Anthony Carosiello, 38, is charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

According to an affidavit filed in Columbiana County Municipal Court, an 18-year-old was hit by a vehicle near the southbound Aten Avenue exit ramp at 11:16 p.m. Tuesday. The teenager told officers that he had been standing in the grass next to the exit ramp when Carosiello drove a vehicle over the curb, hitting him.

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Police said the conflict reportedly started after a road rage incident on Route 7 south and that a witness recorded the incident on her cell phone, according to the affidavit.

A police report was not available on Wednesday afternoon.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Carosiello was not in custody, but a warrant was issued in the case.

Michael Reiner contributed to this report.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 26-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man is facing charges in connection with a deadly shooting from Sunday night.

Jackson County prosecutors on Wednesday charged Shawn Allen Jr. with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, discharge/shoot firearm at or from motor vehicle/shoot at person/another motor vehicle/building, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Man receives Hard 25 sentence in killing of boyfriend in Johnson County

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According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers responded to a shooting on Sunday, June 1, just after 8:30 p.m. in the area of E. 29th Street and Wabash Avenue.

When officers arrived on the scene, they located the victim, identified as 31-year-old Juvonie E. Minor, lying on the ground inside the doorway of a home with a woman standing over him attempting to render aid.

The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after.

Detectives determined, based on multiple witness reports, that Allen walked up to the residence and fired into the front door of the residence, then left the scene in his vehicle, according to court documents.

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Allen is being held in the Jackson County jail without bond.

A check of Allens criminal history showed him to have a conviction for second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm in Jackson County District Court on Dec. 18, 2023. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison and 3 years of probation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A man died early Wednesday after his truck became trapped and submerged in rapidly rising floodwaters under an Interstate 635 bridge in north Dallas, authorities said.

Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a 911 call just after midnight reporting that a vehicle was stuck in high water near 12900 Park Central Drive, close to Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway at Hillcrest Road. First responders, including a Swift Water Rescue team, found two vehicles in floodwaters near White Rock Creek.

One man escaped his submerged car and swam to safety, but dangerous conditions prevented immediate rescue efforts for the second vehicle. Once water levels receded, crews discovered an adult male deceased inside the truck. The Dallas County Medical Examiner, who arrived on the scene around 5:30 a.m., has not yet released the victims identity.

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The National Weather Service, which issued a Flash Flood Warning for Dallas County until 3 a.m., reiterated its turn around, dont drown guideline, cautioning against driving through flooded roads due to unknown conditions beneath the water. Parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area saw over four inches of rain in a few hours, contributing to hazardous road conditions.

Dallas Fire-Rescue reported five water rescues overnight, including three involving multiple stranded vehicles and one stalled car. The department, equipped with two dedicated swift water stations and additional rescue gear, trains year-round for such emergencies.

Authorities have not disclosed how long the vehicles were stuck or what led the drivers into the floodwaters.
KIHEI, Hawaii (KHON2)  On Monday, June 2, a Maui man died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle crash in Kihei last week.

Kenneth Gricus, 62, was identified as the driver who passed away. On May 28, around 10 a.m., he was traveling north on Liloa Drive when he lost control and began to weave while approaching a roundabout at the intersection of Piikea Avenue and Liloa Drive.

Kaiser purchases Maui News building, newspaper to move out

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According to the Maui Police Department, Gricus moped overturned and ejected him after he hit a curb near the southern crosswalk. The investigation revealed he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The investigation is ongoing.

Gricus was taken to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition, where he later died in the early morning hours on Monday, June 2.

The Maui Police Department extends our deepest condolences to Mr. Gricus family and friends, officials said Tuesday.

MPD said Gricus was the 12th traffic death in Maui County for 2025. At this time last year, there were only seven reported traffic deaths in the county.

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One of the men hit during a daytime double shooting in Winton Hills died in the hospital this week as Cincinnati police have only announced charges against one of the apparent gunmen.

Terence Yett, 19, is accused of killing Stefone Bellamy, 26, during a shooting at an apartment complex near the Winton Hills Recreation Center on March 26, according to a department news release.

Yett was one of two gunmen seen in surveillance footage of the shooting. In the footage provided to Enquirer media partner Fox19, at least two gunmen are seen firing more than 12 shots.

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As the shooting breaks out, one man is seen falling to the ground after being shot in the neck. Other people nearby scatter.

One man shooting his gun follows a second person, who he shoots in the arm as he runs away.

Police were called to the shooting off the 5200 block of Vivian Place around 5:35 p.m. Bellamy and the other person injured in the shooting went to the Cincinnati Medical Center, where they were hospitalized.

Bellamy died of his injures on June 3, a news release says.

Yett was previously arrested in April on a felonious assault charge after being identified in a photo lineup. Court documents say Yett fired at two people, causing serious physical injuries. Police say Yett's charge has now been upgraded to murder.

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Cincinnati police have not announced whether the second person seen shooting in the footage has been charged. Spokespeople for the department did not return messages from The Enquirer asking for more information.

Yett remains in custody at the Hamilton County Justice Center, according to jail records.

The department said in a news release the investigation is ongoing by its homicide unit. Anyone with information is asked to call them at 513-352-3542.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati police: Man dies months after Winton Hills double shooting
Jun. 3The man who was shot dead in an alleged gun fight outside a Lawrenceville gas station early Tuesday evening in Pittsburgh has been identified.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office identified the victim as Michael Ehlinger, 56, of Pittsburgh's Stanton Heights neighborhood.

TribLive news partner WTAE reported that two men were allegedly shooting at one another just before 4 p.m. near the Sunoco gas station on the 5000 block of Butler Street.

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Ehlinger was pronounced dead at the scene, according to medical examiner. WTAE reported that he'd been shot at multiple times, and the other man called 911 after the shooting.

He was taken into custody and is being interviewed at police headquarters, according to Pittsburgh public safety officials.

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.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A search is underway on Wednesday morning for the person who stabbed a man during a fight on a Chicago Transit Authority platform in the Loop overnight.

According to police, the incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday night on the platform of the Clark/Lake Blue Line station in the 100 block of West Lake Street.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Officers say the victim, a 42-year-old man, got into an argument with an unknown male on the platform but when things escalated, the argument became physical.

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Police say amid the fight, the perpetrator pulled out a sharp object and lunged toward the victim, leaving him with a laceration to his right hand.

Following the incident, the person responsible fled the scene while the victim was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in good condition.

It remains unclear what led up to the argument and an investigation is now underway.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information on the stabbing is asked to contact CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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By Laman Ismayilova

A round table "Intercultural cooperation: A Path Toward Sustainable Development" has taken place within the Lachin-CIS Cultural Capital 2025 initiative, Azernews reports.

The event brought together cultural and academic representatives from seven countries, including Azerbaijan.

In their opening remarks, key speakers such as the head of the International Relations Department at the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, Farrukh Jumayev, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Nurlan Seytimov, stressed the symbolic significance of declaring Lachin the CIS Cultural Capital 2025. They highlighted this designation as a sign of cultural revival in the region and a strong impetus for international cooperation.

During the round table, participants discussed several key topics, including the expansion of cultural partnerships among different countries, the strengthening of intercultural dialogue, and the development of joint approaches to global challenges in the cultural sphere.

It was underlined that over the past decade, Azerbaijan has opened cultural centers in cultural centres in six foreign countries. These centres have played a pivotal role in promoting Azerbaijan's national culture and advancing international cultural exchange.

Through these platforms, Azerbaijani culture has become more familiar to the global community, while simultaneously contributing to humanitarian dialogue between nations.

In addition to promoting Azerbaijan's literature, history, music, painting, folk crafts, and heritage, these centres actively enhance cultural bridges by organising joint exhibitions, concerts, literary evenings, and academic discussions.

Speakers also emphasised the importance of these cultural centres in strengthening ties with Azerbaijani communities residing abroad. At the same time, they serve to create an environment of dialogue with the cultures of other peoples, promote mutual understanding and tolerance.

The round table participants highly appreciated the attention and care shown by the Azerbaijani state to the development of the cultural sphere, as well as the strategic steps taken to expand international cooperation in this area.

They emphasised that these efforts not only benefit Azerbaijan but also significantly contribute to regional cultural integration and sustainable development.

It is worth noting that, according to a decision by the CIS Council for Humanitarian Cooperation dated October 8, 2024, the city of Lachin, located in Azerbaijan's Eastern Zangazur region, has officially been designated as the CIS Cultural Capital 2025.

This honour recognises Lachin's rich cultural heritage and its significance to Azerbaijan's national identity.

The city is home to ancient monuments, offering a unique insight into the region's history.
Last year, the Colorado Supreme Court indicated it would wait until it decided a handful of pending cases alleging racial bias in jury selection before it took action on a proposal that would make it more difficult for prosecutors to remove jurors of color for reasons that, while not explicitly racial, nonetheless correlate to race.
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE)  An Alamogordo man received more prison time connected to the murder of Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson in July 2023.

United States District Judge Margaret Strickland ordered Dominic De La Os latest eight year federal sentence for federal firearms offenses to run consecutive to his state life sentence following a request by United States Attorney Ryan Ellison.

Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson faithfully served the people of Alamogordo for over 11 yearsI know because I am one of them. My family still lives in Alamogordo and my mother attended Officer Fergusons funeral. An 8-year federal sentence for violations of federal firearms laws running consecutive to De La Os state life sentence guarantees that he will never again see the outside of a prison cell. Acts of violence against those who serve and protect our communities will not be tolerated and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It was my great privilege to meet with Officer Fergusons family and to personally prosecute this case to ensure that justice was served. United States Attorney Ryan Ellison

De La O shot Ferguson after fleeing from a traffic stop and leading police on a pursuit in Alamogordo on July 15, 2023. Ferguson, a 11-year veteran of the Alamogordo Police Department and a field training officer, died one day later as a result of his injuries.

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Teen charged in Albuquerque bicyclists death will stay in custody

Investigators learned De La O used a sawed-off, unregistered shotgun supplied by Jonah Apodaca to kill the officer.

De La O was previously found guilty of first-degree murder and related state charges and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional six and a half years for tampering with evidence, aggravated fleeing, criminal trespass, and resisting or evading an officer.

Apodaca pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for providing the weapon used in the fatal shooting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Prince Georges County police have released the name of a man who was killed in a double shooting in Suitland Tuesday afternoon.

At around 12:35 p.m., officers were called to the 5600 block of Regency Park Court for a shooting. There, they found two men inside an apartment suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the Prince Georges County Police Department.

Responders took one of the men, who was seriously injured, to the hospital for treatment. However, police said the other man, Myandre McBride, 32, of Suitland, died at the scene.

Police were on the scene of a double shooting in Suitland on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Anthony Deng/DC News Now)

As of Wednesday afternoon, detectives are working to identify a suspect and motive in the deadly shooting. Police also noted that the man who was injured remains hospitalized with critical injuries as of Wednesday.

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Investigators urge anyone with information who would like to speak to a homicide detective to call 301-516-2512. Tipsters can also contact Crime Solvers online or leave a tip through the P3 Tips app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
EAU CLAIRE  A man facing sexual assault and strangulation charges pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Joseph Pope, 22, now of Mendota Heights, Minn., is charged with second degree sexual assault, strangulation and suffocation, physical abuse of a child  intentionally causing bodily harm, and false imprisonment. The case was filed in February.

According to the criminal complaint, police found the victim on the sidewalk outside, crying, after being called to Popes Eau Claire residence. They took her to the hospital and interviewed her there.

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The woman told investigators she had asked Pope for permission to sleep at his apartment, using his bed instead of the couch because he has roommates. He agreed. When she went to bed, she said Pope began biting her neck.

When she told him to stop, he replied stop being a baby. He quit and she fell asleep. She awoke about 15 minutes later to Pope again biting her neck. He pulled at her hair and choked her, which she told police caused everything to go black for 10 seconds.

Pope sexually assaulted her, and she began gathering her things to leave when Pope left the room for a moment. He blocked the door and refused to let her leave. When she threatened to call police, he replied that no one would believe her.

Police did, though, in part because she still had bite marks on her neck when they spoke with her at the hospital.

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Each of the charges is a felony. Second degree sexual assault is a Class C felony, which carries the potential for up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. The remaining charges are all Class H felonies. Each carries up to six years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Court records indicate a status conference is scheduled for July 30 in the case.
KANSAS CITY, Mo  A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for premeditated first-degree murder in Johnson County for the 2024 killing of his boyfriend.

The defendant, Joseph Wacaster, received a Hard 25 sentence on Tuesday in Johnson County District Court, meaning he will be expected to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in the Kansas Department of Corrections.

56-year-old man convicted of manslaughter in 2024 Kansas City shooting

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The sentencing comes after deputies found 27-year-old Cade Blackburn dead inside a home on March 30, 2024, near 5th and Edgewood Drive in Edgerton. It appeared the victim had been stabbed, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Family members told deputies that the victim lived with Wacaster, and that they had received cryptic messages from their sons phone that they believed were sent by Wacaster.

Deputies contacted Wacaster, and he was soon taken into custody in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and brought back to Johnson County to face the murder charge.

In April, the Johnson County District Attorneys Office announced that Wacaster agreed to plead guilty to the first-degree murder charge.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Two suspects are wanted after a man was robbed inside a Brooklyn playground on May 10, according to the NYPD.

Police said it happened at Grace Playground at Belmont and New Jersey avenues around 7:10 p.m. The 20-year-old victim was approached by three suspects, which is when one allegedly pulled out a gun, according to authorities.

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Police said the two other suspects are accused of surrounding the victim and stealing cash, iPhones and other items.

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The group fled the playground going south on New Jersey Avenue, according to authorities. Police said the victim was not injured.

One of the suspects was arrested, according to authorities. Police said the other two are still at large.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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NEED TO KNOW

A Milwaukee man allegedly confessed to framing a Mexican immigrant by writing fake death threats in his name against President Donald Trump and members of ICE.

Demetric Deshawn Scott, who will soon go on trial in an armed robbery case, is accused of trying to get trial witness Ramon Morales Reyes deported so that he wouldn't be able to testify.

Police listened in on multiple jail calls in which Scott allegedly detailed his plan to sabotage the trial, including enlisting his mother to mail the threatening letters from her home.









A Wisconsin defendant faked assassination threats against President Donald Trump in order to get the star witness in his criminal trial deported, prosecutors claim.



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Demetric Deshawn Scott was charged with identity theft, bail jumping and felony intimidation of a witness in a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Monday, June 2, and obtained by The Washington Post.



Scott, 52, is accused of writing several letters to U.S. officials under someone else's name that threatened the lives of Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, saying things like, I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him.

One letter allegedly reads, "I will self deport myself back to Mexico but not before I use my 30 yard 6 to shoot your precious president in his head. I will see him at one of his big ralleys."



Another allegedly reads, My family is with the Mexican Mafia how would you like it if we use a bomb to blow up the white house while your precious president is still inside... Somone [sic] need to blow this entire country up like 911 in New York. Cant you white understand we are tired of running its time to kill ICE Agents or be killed.

Department of Homeland Security One of the allegedly fake threats sent to government officials One of the allegedly fake threats sent to government officials

In the complaint against Scott, prosecutors allege that he wrote the letters in order to impersonate and frame Ramon Morales Reyes, 54, who is set to testify against him in a case of armed robbery and aggravated battery in July.

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Scotts plan, the complaint alleges  citing multiple calls made from the Milwaukee County Jail using Scotts inmate ID number  was to get Reyes deported before he could testify against him by getting the Trump administration's attention.

This dude is a goddamn illegal immigrant and they just need to pick his ass up, Scott allegedly said, according to one call transcript. Im dead serious, cause I got jury trial on July 15. I got final pretrial on June 16, so if he is apprehended by the 16th, we can go into court and say, Hey, hes in custody now. There is no reason for us to even continue the July 15 jury date. And the judge will agree cause if he gets picked up by ICE, there wont be a jury trial so they will probably dismiss it that day. Thats my plan.



In other calls made to his mother, Arnita Scott, the defendant allegedly tells her that hes mailed her letters in a manila envelope, and asks her to drop them in the mailbox for him. The complaint alleges that Scott's mother later confirmed to police that she had mailed letters for her son, but said she didnt know what was in them.



Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty ICE agents join fellow law enforcement agencies to carry out a raid in Chicago in January ICE agents join fellow law enforcement agencies to carry out a raid in Chicago in January

The mailed assassination threats succeeded in catching the attention of the Trump administration, which has reportedly given ICE orders to arrest 3,000 immigrants each day.

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Morales Reyes was apprehended by ICE officials on May 22, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described him at the time as an illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump.



However, the complaint explains that Milwaukee investigators quickly realized Morales Reyes does not read, write or fluently speak English. They also tested his handwriting against the threatening letters and found it to be completely different.



According to the complaint, Scott was then interviewed by a police detective on May 30, in which he allegedly confessed to writing the letters and said his goal was freedom. Authorities also searched his jail cell and allegedly discovered the blue pen used to write the letters as well as contact information for the Wisconsin Attorney Generals Office and the Milwaukee ICE office, both recipients of the forged threats.

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.



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Despite Scotts alleged confession, Morales Reyes remained in ICE custody and is expected to appear before an immigration judge on June 4.



In an email to The Associated Press, Morales Reyes attorney, Cain Oulahan, said he is exploring all legal avenues to get his client released.



While he has a U visa pending, those are unfortunately backlogged for years, so we will be looking at other options to keep him here with his family, which includes his three U.S. citizen children, Oulahan wrote.



On Tuesday, June 3, the Department of Homeland Security told The Washington Post in an emailed statement, The investigation into the threat is ongoing. Over the course of the investigation, this individual was determined to be in the country illegally and that he had a criminal record. He will remain in custody.

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The City of Milwaukee Common Council released a joint statement, written in both English and Spanish, from all 15 of its members on May 30, in which they condemned the DHS detention of Morales Reyes.



The Department of Homeland Securitys top priority should be protecting the people of this country. In this instance, they did the exact opposite, the statement read. Their quick-triggered incorrect statement caused a man and his family to receive death threats and for him to be detained for something he did not do, while further fueling the anti-immigrant sentiment being pushed at the national level. All things that undermine what should be the departments chief priority of promoting public safety.



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GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WNCT)  According to the North Carolina Department of Justice, Jesus Anibal Gutierrez had been sentenced to twelve and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing crystal methamphetamine in Goldsboro.

According to the court documents and other information presented in court, the investigation began in July 2023, when law enforcement learned that a Mexico-based drug trafficker had arranged to send significant quantities of narcotics to the Eastern District of North Carolina.\

With the assistance of a confidential informant, law enforcement located the couriers car and conducted a traffic stop. A K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the car, and law enforcement seized approximately 20.74 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, as well as three cellular telephones.

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Gutierrez was a passenger in the car and admitted to law enforcement that he coordinated the shipment of narcotics and was traveling to the Goldsboro area to deliver them. The driver, Rosendo Salazar, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 10, 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
A man was hospitalized Tuesday night after he was shot in the head, according to Jacksonville police. The shooting occurred at about 9:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of W. 21st Street.

Officers responded to the area in response to a person shot. When they arrived, the found the victim, a male in his 30s, suffering from a gunshot wound to his head, a police news release states.

The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, the news release states.

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" ... At this time no witnesses have been located, and due to the victims condition he has been unable to speak to detectives," the news release states.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at (904) 630-0500 or at jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org.

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Sen. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, speaks during a press conference on HB 1149, which requires the state Board of Education to adopt standards on Black historical and cultural studies.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A worker in Woodland was taken to a hospital via Life Flight helicopter after he was injured at a construction site, authorities said.

Ex-miltary father at large after 3 daughters found dead

The worker was in a 15-foot trench when a piece of heavy machinery fell on him, Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue said. The fire department responded alongside other agencies around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Rescue workers extricated a man from a trench after piece of heavy equipment fell on him in Woodland. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue). Rescue workers extricated a man from a trench after piece of heavy equipment fell on him in Woodland. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue). A man was taken to a hosptial via Life Flight helicopter after a piece of heavy equipment fell on him at a construction site in Woodland. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue). Rescue workers extricated a man from a trench after piece of heavy equipment fell on him in Woodland. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue). Rescue workers extricated a man from a trench after piece of heavy equipment fell on him in Woodland. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue). Rescue workers extricated a man from a trench after piece of heavy equipment fell on him in Woodland. June 3, 2025 (courtesy Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue).

With the assistance of Vancouver Fire, Fire District 6, and Portland Fire & Rescues Technical Rescue Teams, the individual was able to be extricated, and life-flighted out, sustaining injuries to his lower extremities, Clark-Cowlitz Fire said in a press release.

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According to officials, the piece of equipment that landed on the man was an excavator bucket, causing the traumatic injury.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police in Covington, Tennessee, say a man and a juvenile were arrested after they robbed an ice cream truck driver.

Covington Police responded to a disturbance around 7:30 Saturday evening at the Broadmeadows Apartments, 150 Peeler Road.

Once there, police say a beloved ice cream man told them two suspects tried to rob him of his tip jar, then came inside his truck and took an unknown amount of cash from the jar.

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Bond denied for 18-year-old charged with killing 2 students

One of the suspects, a 17-year-old, was found by police after he attempted to run away. He is charged with Robbery, Criminal Impersonation, Evading Arrest, and Possession of Tobacco as a minor, and will wear an ankle monitor until his appearance in Tipton County Juvenile Court later this month.

The other suspect is Larenzion Cooper, 25, of Memphis. He was found at a Covington gas station as he allegedly tried to shoplift an alcoholic cocktail and a phone charger. He allegedly tried to run but was caught.

Cooper is charged with Robbery, Evading Arrest, Shoplifting, and Vandalism.

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It started out as a friendship, but prosecutors allege it quickly turned into a nightmare kidnapping after Ian Edard Kroe held a 74-year-old woman captive in a hotel for two years, repeatedly raping her and threatening to torture her if she tried to escape.

On Tuesday, 58-year-old Kroe was sentenced to 394 years to life in prison in a case that San Mateo County Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe said was unlike anything he or his prosecutors had seen. Kroe was convicted Feb. 20 of 33 felony counts.

"It just started out as a friendship with the victim," Wagstaffe said, "then suddenly this guy turns into a beast."

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Kroe, who lived in Minnesota, became friends with the victim in 2016 after his mother died and she reached out to offer her condolences, according to a statement from the San Mateo County district attorney's office. Prosecutors did not explain what relationship the victim had to Kroe's mother.

At one point, Kroe flew to New Mexico, where the victim lived, and the two started what would become a four-year road trip along the West Coast, Belmont Police Cpl. Brian Vogel told the Palo Alto Daily Post.

Officials said the relationship was not romantic. The victim was not identified by prosecutors.

Kroe's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Read more: The man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie on stage has been sentenced to 25 years in prison

Then in August 2020, Kroe began to hold the woman prisoner in Hyatt House Belmont, repeatedly raping her and forcing her to perform sexual acts.

According to prosecutors, Kroe not only threatened to kill her if she tried to escape but also said he would torture her for weeks before doing so.

Kroe took over the woman's finances, drained her bank accounts and refused to let her out of the hotel room, according to prosecutors.

The woman told Kroe repeatedly she wanted to go back home to New Mexico, but he refused to let her free.

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In 2021, according to the statement, she broke her ankle and Kroe refused to get her medical treatment despite the fact that she was in intense pain.

In August 2022, the victim secretly contacted a friend in New Mexico. The friend called authorities, and Belmont police discovered her in the hotel room.

According to prosecutors, the woman was found naked, with several bruises on her body, a broken finger, and unable to move on her own.

Kroe faced multiple felonies, including intentional infliction of torture, 10 counts of forcible sodomy, felony threats and false imprisonment.

Wagstaffe said it was unclear what led to the crimes after the two had developed a years-long friendship. He pointed out that Kroe had no serious encounters with law enforcement before he was arrested.

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"Nothing that would give a sign, or tell you to watch out," he said.

Read more: California surfer makes narrow escape after shark chomps his board. 'My lucky day'

But Wagstaffe described Kroe as a "master manipulator" who tried to delay the trial with antics such as faking medical emergencies on several occasions.

At multiple times, including during sentencing, Kroe said he was feeling chest pains and believed he was having a heart attack.

"He would say he can't go on," he said. "For him, it was just game playing."

At one point, Kroe said he was having a heart attack and was treated by a jail nurse. He was given pain medication, but he didn't seem to be having a medical emergency.

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"He truly does believe he's the victim," Wagstaffe said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Burlington Police received a report at 8:28 p.m. Tuesday evening of an assault in progress with a knife at an encampment north of Waterfront Park. They arrived to find Robert Jessup, 44, restrained on the ground by other residents of the encampment.

Robert Jessup, 44, has active warrants in three states. (Courtesy: Burlington PD)

Police said that Jessup had inflicted injury on another resident with a knife after accusing that person of stealing from him, as well as on a third person who intervened.

Inmate reportedly cited for assaulting correctional officer

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Jessup was found to have an out-of-state criminal history. He has an active warrant in Vermont for failing to appear in court, as well as active warrants in Texas and Kentucky for not complying with the sex offender registry.

He was arraigned Wednesday in Chittenden Superior Criminal Court and is being held without bail. The investigation is ongoing, and police say Jessup may be extradited to other states.

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SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  A man and woman have been arrested in connection with a criminal act officers are calling jugging.

The Simpsonville Police Department identified 34-year-old Chelsea Deon River and 24-year-old Roland Charles III as suspects in reported jugging incidents in the Upstate.

Officers described jugging as a targeted crime where a victim is observed withdrawing cash from a bank or ATM and followed to another location. The suspects will then rob the person or break into their vehicle a short time after it is unoccupied.

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On Thursday, May 29, police responded to a home on Spring Leaf Court in reference to an auto break-in. It was reported that an undisclosed amount of money that the victim had just withdrawn from a nearby bank was stolen during the crime.

With a collaboration with several agencies, police discovered multiple auto break-in occurrences in different parts of Greenville County after victims had just withdrawn cash from a bank and left the money in their vehicles.

The multi-agency investigation led to identifying River and Charles as the suspects in all reported incidents.

The police department charged both suspects with autobreaking, conspiracy and petit larceny.

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Officers did not share whether the individuals are facing any charges from other agencies.

River and Charles were arrested and booked into the Greenville County Detention Center, where they both received a $52,100 bond.

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June 3 (UPI) -- Alleged murderer Luigi Mangione's attorneys want the court to allow him to attend court proceedings without wearing handcuffs or body armor.

Lead defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo on Tuesday filed a motion asking New York County Court of Claims Judge Gregory Carro to allow the court to remove the shackles and body armor when Mangione is seated at the defense table.

"The authorities -- both state and federal -- have already prejudiced Mr. Mangione in the media more than virtually any defendant in recent memory," Agnifilo said in the motion filing that she shared with UPI.

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"This commenced with the [New York City] mayor-led staged perp walk, and it continues until today."

She said the handcuffs and body armor "perpetuate a false narrative" that Mangione is unusually dangerous and requires special security measures.

Mangione has been a "model prisoner" and a "model defendant in court" by treating court and prison staff with respect and cooperation, Agnifilo said.

"These deeply prejudicial security measures, which are invariably photographed and circulated to the public, including potential jurors, are unnecessary and should not continue as they are damaging to Mr. Mangione's right to a fair trial," she added.

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Agnifilo said there is "no justifiable reason" to require Mangione to wear handcuffs and a visible bulletproof vest in court, which "unfairly prejudices Mr. Mangione and impedes his right to effectively defend himself."

Mangione's legal defense team during a court proceeding on Feb. 21 asked the court to remove the handcuffs, which Carro initially allowed, Agnifilo said.

An off-the-record conversation between the court staff and Carro caused the judge to rescind the permission due to unstated "security reasons," she said.

Mangione remains in federal custody due federal charges accusing him of two counts of stalking, one count of murder through the use of a firearm and one count of a firearms offense for using a suppressor during his alleged shooting death of former United Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson on a New York City sidewalk on the morning of Dec. 4.

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Mangione is scheduled in court next on June 26, and Agnifilo wants him to appear in civilian clothing without wearing handcuffs or body armor.

He is charged with first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, two counts of second-degree murder, firearms charges and using a forged instrument in the New York Court system.

He also is charged with offenses in Pennsylvania that are related to Thompson's shooting death.
The manhunt continued on Wednesday for 32-year-old Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his three young daughters near a campground in Washington, with officials saying he could be "anywhere within the nation."

Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were killed after they left home for a "planned visitation" with Decker at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, according to the Wenatchee Police Department.

At approximately 3 p.m. on Monday, officials located Decker's vehicle unoccupied near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, police said in a press release on Tuesday. Additional law enforcement officers responded to the scene and found the bodies of the three girls, but "Decker was not located," police said.

Wenatchee Police Department via AP - PHOTO: Undated photo of Travis Caleb Decker who the police are asking the public for help in locating the Washington state father who is wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead.

A $20,00 reward has been offered for any information leading to Decker's arrest, police said during a press conference on Tuesday evening.

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Local officials are working with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshal's Office in their search for Decker.

"We will not rest until we have located him," Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said during the press conference. "He can be anywhere within the nation, so that's why we have our federal partners on scene helping us bring in additional resources."

MORE: 3 young sisters found dead after being reported missing in Washington, police searching for father

Decker, who is homeless and has been living in his vehicle or at various motels or campgrounds in the area, is currently wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping, police said. He is a former member of the military with "extensive training," but it is unknown whether he is currently armed, officials said.

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"Travis, if you're listening, this is your opportunity to turn yourself in, do the right thing, do what you need to do and take accountability for your actions. We're not going to rest, and we're going to make sure we find you. You will be brought to justice, those young ladies deserve it," Morrison said.

Prior to discovering the girls' bodies, police said visitation had been a part of the family's parenting plan, but Decker went "outside the parameters of it which is not normal and cause for the alarm."

Wenatchee Police Department - PHOTO: Three young sisters in Washington, Olivia Decker, 5, Paityn Decker, 9, and Evelyn Decker, 8 who had not been seen since they left home for a scheduled visitation with their father have been found dead, according to the Wenatchee Police Department.

On Tuesday, officials revealed the mother of the girls, Whitney Decker, contacted police on Friday with a civil complaint, saying there were concerns of Decker being "financially stressed recently" and gave authorities information on the his vehicle. In a statement provided to ABC News, Whitney Decker said she was "concerned" about the safety of her children and that she "just wants the girls back home safe and sound."

Detectives later learned Travis Decker and his daughters did not arrive at a "planned 5K running event" on Saturday.

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At the time, the investigation had not met Amber Alert criteria, officials said, but an Endangered Missing Persons Alert had been issued through the Washington State Patrol. Before the discovery of the girls' bodies, officials said they were granted arrest warrants for Decker on three counts of custodial interference.

Details regarding the daughters' cause of death will be kept private until officials said they can "ensure that the information we are sharing is not going to compromise the investigation."

Decker, who is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts, according to police. Decker's father is flying in to speak with detectives, officials said.

Officials said anyone who has any information on Decker or knows of his whereabouts should call 911 immediately. Another press conference regarding the search for Decker will be held on Wednesday evening, officials said.
Editors Note: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing.

WENATCHEE, Wash. (WFRV)  Three sisters under the age of 10 were found dead in Washington on Monday, and a manhunt is underway for their father, a Wisconsin native.

According to the Wenatchee Police Department, officers responded to a civil complaint at 9:45 p.m. on Friday, May 30. The mother of three young girls reported that her daughters were not returned following a scheduled visitation with their father.

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Essentially became a missile: 19-year-old De Pere woman faces 25 charges, $500,000 cash bond for allegedly going 80mph in downtown Fond du Lac

The girlsages 9, 8, and 5were last seen with their father, identified as 32-year-old Travis Decker of the Wenatchee area. According to WFRVs CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, Decker previously lived in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Officers began searching for Decker and the children immediately. Decker was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck with Washington license plate D20165C. Local motels in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee were checked without success. The vehicles information was entered into the local Flock camera database, which showed the truck had traveled west on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on May 30.

An AMBER Alert request was initially denied by the Washington State Patrol, but an Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued the next day after police provided additional information.

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Over the weekend, Wenatchee Police worked with local law enforcement and the FBI to investigate possible locations in Chelan County. By June 2, the search had narrowed to an area between Icicle Road and Chumstick Road near Leavenworth. That same day, an arrest warrant was issued for Decker on three counts of first-degree custodial interference.

(Wenatchee Police Department) (Wenatchee Police Department)

At approximately 3:45 p.m. Monday, a Chelan County deputy located Deckers vehicle near the Rock Island Campground off Icicle Road. The truck was unoccupied.

While searching the area, authorities found the bodies of the three missing girls. According to the criminal complaint, each was found with a plastic bag over their head, and their wrists were zip-tied. Decker was not located.

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Authorities say that the preliminary examination suggests the likely cause of death for the three children was affixation.

A SWAT team and Washington State Patrols Crime Scene Response Team responded to assist in processing the scene and searching for Decker.

As of now, Decker remains at large. He is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Meth supplier, 2 suspected Wisconsin dealers arrested after traffic stop prompts larger investigation, seizure of 350+ grams

Police say Decker is a former military member with extensive training. It is unknown whether he is currently armed, but authorities warn he may pose a significant threat if approached.

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Anyone who has seen Decker since May 30 or knows his whereabouts is urged to contact law enforcement immediately.

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The Israeli military says it shelled targets in Syria in response to a pair of projectiles that fell in open areas in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday.

Since December 10, 2024, just two days after the stunning collapse of more than 53 years of the al-Assad family, Israel has waged a campaign of aerial bombardment that has destroyed much of Syrias military infrastructure, including major airports, air defence facilities, fighter jets and other strategic infrastructure.

Over the past six months, Israeli forces have launched more than 200 air, drone or artillery attacks across Syria, averaging an assault roughly every three to four days, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED).

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The map below shows the ACLED-recorded Israeli attacks between December 8 and May 30.

The bulk of the Israeli attacks have been concentrated in the southern Syrian governorates of Deraa, Damascus and Quneitra, which account for nearly 60 percent of all recorded Israeli attacks.

Deraa was the most targeted governorate, with 57 recorded attacks, focusing on former regime military sites and suspected arms convoys.

Damascus governorate , which hosts key military highways and logistics hubs, was attacked at least 49 times. Whereas Damascus city, the capital was attacked 18 times.

Quneitra, adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, was attacked at least 25 times; many attacks were aimed at radar and surveillance infrastructure.

Israels movement on the ground

In the immediate aftermath of al-Assads ouster, Israeli troops advanced into the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, including areas within the United Nations-monitored demilitarised zone, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria.

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The incursion drew widespread international criticism. The UN, along with several Arab nations, condemned Israels actions as breaches of international law and violations of Syrias sovereignty.

Despite these condemnations, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in February that Israeli forces would remain in the area indefinitely to protect Israeli citizens and prevent hostile entities from gaining a foothold near the border.

(Al Jazeera)

Satellite imagery captured in February and analysed by Al Jazeeras Sanad verification unit showed six military bases were being constructed in the UN-supervised buffer zone on the border with Syria.

Since taking power following the overthrow of al-Assad, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has consistently stated that his government seeks no conflict with Israel and will not permit Syria to be used by foreign actors to launch attacks.

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He has condemned Israels continuing strikes on Syrian territory and its gradual expansion beyond the already-occupied Golan Heights.

(Al Jazeera)

A history of Israeli air strikes on Syria

While Israels air attacks on Syria have escalated in recent months, Israel has been attacking targets in Syria for years.

ACLED data collected since January 2017 shows how Israeli attacks have been steadily increasing.

The animated chart below shows the frequency of Israeli attacks from January 2017 to May 2025.
U.S. Rep. Schaffer seeks to tackle increase in drug use during pregnancy, more | A LOOK BACK
MARCY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  A truck-versus-motorcycle accident in the Town of Marcy on Wednesday has sent two people to the hospital, according to Oneida County Sheriffs.

Officers were called to Fox Road in the Town of Marcy at approximately 12:12 pm on Wednesday, June 4. Further investigation found that the driver of the motorcycle  67-year-old Mark Polmatier of Holland Patent  was driving southbound on Fox Road.

At the same time, a pickup truck  being driven by 39-year-old Rebecca Hayes of Marcy  was backing out of a driveway into the road. The truck then pulled into Polmatiers lane where he was struck by the truck.

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Polmatier and another passenger  68-year-old Candice Polmatier of Holland Patent  were transported to the Wynn Hospital. Oneida County Sheriffs say their injuries are non-life-threatening.

Hayes was issued a ticket for unsafe backing and is due back in court at a later date.

The Oneida County Sheriffs were assisted on the scene by the New York State Police, the Maynard Fire Department and Kunkel Ambulance.

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Weeks after she voted to advance President Donald Trumps multitrillion-dollar tax cut and spending package, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sided with White House defector Elon Musk, who called it a disgusting abomination, saying: I agree with him.

Greene, who also chairs the Houses DOGE oversight subcommittee, was asked by NewsNation Tuesday evening about Musks criticisms of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in which the billionaire SpaceX and Tesla boss called shame on those who voted for the centerpiece legislation of Trumps agenda in a series of posts on his X platform, formerly Twitter.

The far-right firebrand said she supports Musk calling out the government and recalled how she initially ran for Congress because shed been angry at Republicans over their spending habits.

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I ran in 2020 because I was angry at Republicans, so I fully understand what Elon is saying and, you know, I agree with him to a certain extent, she said.

But Greene also defended the spending bill  even though she was roasted by critics after admitting to not having read it  by claiming she doesnt want the government to continue to be funded by a continuing resolution, or CR, that essentially extends funding levels set by the previous Congress during the Biden administration.

This bill was important to transition over to exactly what the American people voted for, she said.

The congressional rabble-rousers criticism of Trumps signature legislation came just hours after the worlds wealthiest man Musk began arguing against the bill on social media.

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Musk, who donated at least $288 million to Trumps campaign in 2024, had only just left his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Friday. Days into being just a private citizen again, he launched an astonishing broadside against the president over the bill on Tuesday.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, the worlds richest man posted. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

His opposition to the mega-bill also drew praise from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who posted in agreement, writing: I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending, and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better.

The bill is expected to add at least $3.8 trillion to Americas national debt over the next 10 years, with some estimates placing the total closer to $5 trillion.

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Having only slipped through the House of Representatives by the narrowest of margins on May 22, it now faces a treacherous path through the upper chamber, with Republican fiscal hawks, MAGA populists, and moderates alike raising objections to different aspects of its tax and spending provisions.

Senate Republicans are planning to write their version of the massive domestic legislation bill that includes extending the 2017 tax cuts Trump signed, beefed up spending at the U.S.-Mexico border and oil drilling as well as massive changes to the social safety net in the United States.
MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene offered an explanation for why she didnt read parts of Donald Trumps signature spending bill before giving it the green light.

The Georgia congresswoman said on Tuesday that despite voting in favor of the presidents One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which narrowly passed the House on May 22, she will now vote against it during the reconciliation process unless a provision on artificial intelligence is removed.

Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years, Greene wrote on X Tuesday. I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there.

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Asked Tuesday by NewsNation host Blake Burman how she could have not known what was in the bill, Greene said she had received the 1,038-page bills text at the last minute and hadnt read the section on AI.

We dont the full bill text until very close to the time to vote for it, she said. That was one section that was two pages that I didnt see.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has long been an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, but has now threatened to vote against his budget bill over an AI provision. / ELIJAH NOUVELAGE / AFP via Getty Images

The congresswoman said she was being transparent and honest about the fact she didnt read those two pages because she believes the AI provisions are pretty terrifying.

We dont know what AI is going to be capable of within one year, she said. We dont know what it will be capable of in five years, let alone 10 years, and I think we have to protect states rights to be able to regulate and make laws that they need to make for their states.

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The bill passed the House by a single vote, meaning that Greenes change of heart could be significant if the bill makes it through the Senate, which will inevitably make changes that will need to then be reconciled by the House.

The president tasked House Speaker Mike Johnson with passing

While lawmakers themselves often dont have time to read lengthy bills before voting, their staff typically vet the legislation for potential sticking points.

It was a rare point of departure between Trump and Greene, who is usually an ardent cheerleader for the president. The White House on Tuesday declined to comment on Greenes criticism of the bill.

A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers has signed on to a letter protesting the clause, which they worry will make it harder to address AI-generated scams.
Its not often that you find uber-progressive U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a MAGA loyalist, on the same side of an issue.

But when it comes to language thats now in President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, that would ban states from regulating artificial intelligence, the conservative firebrand from Georgia and the Malden lawmaker are  surprisingly  onside.

And on Wednesday, Markey, of Malden, convened a roundtable discussion of tech and civil liberties experts to warn against the dangerous and unprecedented language in the House-passed bill thats now before the Senate.

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If its approved finally, the language would open the door to algorithm-driven housing and job discrimination and further the growth of deep-fake pornography and child sexual abuse material, they warned.

" It would be devastating if we did not act," Markey, whos sponsoring legislation that would put guardrails on the AI industry, said.

In a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Markey blasted the provision, even as he argued that the nation can have an AI revolution while also protecting the civil rights and liberties of everyday Americans.

Greene, an ardent loyalist for President Donald Trump, has said she was unaware that the language was in the bill the Republican-controlled House approved by a single vote last month.

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Shes now calling on the majority-Republican Senate to remove the language, and has threatened to vote against the Republican presidents signature domestic policy proposal if the provision stays in, according to published reports.

And thats just fine with Markey and the other advocates who gathered for Wednesdays call. They stressed the need for legislation that balances innovation against vigorous regulation of an exploding industry.

Alondra Nelson, a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, noted that the iPhone has been on the market for not quite 10 years, and has grown and changed exponentially in that time.

Then she asked her fellow panelists and the audience to imagine how much AI, which is already growing by leaps and bounds, could further grow and change during a similar interval  but without any oversight from state governments.

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The moratorium in the mega-bill is an unprecedented and dangerous attempt to strip states of their constitutional authority to protect their citizens from at precisely [the] moment when such protection is most urgently needed, she said.

Wednesdays panelists also rejected what they described as industry arguments that state laws would create a regulatory patchwork that would make it difficult for companies to operate from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Recent polling from Common Sense Media/Echelon Insights found that a majority of Americans are against the moratorium, including 50% of self-identified Republican respondents.

And more than 7 in 10 respondents (73%) to the poll of 1,022 voters said they want both the state and federal governments to have a hand in regulating artificial intelligence.

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The public hates this on a bipartisan basis, pollster James P. Steyer, who participated in Wednesdays forum, observed.

Damon Hewitt, the president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, offered a similar sentiment, noting that communities of color and underrepresented communities could be particularly impacted.

Those same communities have often found themselves foreclosed from equal opportunities in housing and employment because of discrimination. Unregulated artificial intelligence could only exacerbate it, he said.

We live in a world today where much of our lives are actually lived ... through online interactions, including looking for jobs, applying for college, looking for vital information, sometimes information about ourselves. And so it is critical that we have online protections.

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And " to the extent that extant federal civil rights laws at the federal and state level can still be [applied] to AI, absent comprehensive legislation, we suspect that there are some in the industry who would actually try to block general enforcement of civil rights laws that are already on the books," he continued. That is something we cannot have.

On Tuesday, a group of 260 state lawmakers wrote to House and Senate members to alert them to the AI provision, warning it would undermine ongoing work in the states on tech regulation, The Hill reported.

Some Senate lawmakers also are warning that the language wont pass whats known as The Byrd Rule, which prohibits extraneous matters from being included in reconciliation packages, according to The Hill.

That includes provisions that do not change outlays or revenues, the online news outlet reported.

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For Steyer, thats the bottom line: This is not a budget matter, he said. The Senate parliamentarian should strip it from the bill.

More political news

Read the original article on MassLive.
HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Henry County Sheriffs Office has announced the arrest of a man after allegedly being found asleep with a teenage girl in a car late in Collinsville on May 31.

The sheriff said that a deputy who was patrolling the area near 2400 Virginia Avenue allegedly witnessed a suspicious red Dodge Charger with the engine running behind the AutoZone store around 5:08 a.m. on Saturday.

The deputy approached the Charger and allegedly saw a man in the drivers seat, as well as a 14-year-old girl in the passenger seat, according to the sheriff. Both occupants appeared to be sleeping. The man was allegedly shirtless, and the teenage girl appeared to be unclothed, with several open containers of alcoholic beverages visible inside the vehicle, the sheriff said.

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Infant found safe in Franklin County

While investigating, it was allegedly determined that the man, who was later identified as 33-year-old Roniticus Lamar Wilson of Martinsville, and the teenage girl, knew each other and had been attempting to engage in a romantic relationship.

Roniticus Lamar Wilson has been arrested and charged with the following:

Carnal Knowledge of a Child in violation of (Virginia Code  18.2-63)

Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (Virginia Code  18.2-371)

Wilson is currently being held at the Henry County Adult Detention Center without bond.

The Henry County Sheriff said the investigation is ongoing. If you have any information regarding the incident, please contact the Henry County Sheriffs Office at 276-638-8751. You can also leave an anonymous tip with contact CrimeStoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463).

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The CrimeStoppers program offers rewards of up to $2,500.00 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in criminal activity. The reward amount is determined based on the nature of the crime and the value of the information provided.

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An expansive bill to restructure the embattled Cannabis Control Commission, regulate and tax hemp-based drinks and gummies that have proliferated in convenience stores, and open the door to retail-only medical marijuana businesses will go before the House of Representatives on Wednesday, having now cleared two committees without opposition.

Frustration with the CCCs slow pace of regulatory changes, headline-grabbing internal conflicts and a plea from the inspector general for the Legislature to intervene at the rudderless agency and revisit its unclear and self-contradictory 2017 enabling statute combined last summer to get lawmakers thinking more seriously about a response. The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday reported out the bill (H 4160) that last week unanimously cleared the Cannabis Policy Committee, and officials said Ways and Means made no substantive changes.

This legislation not only makes needed changes to the structure of the Cannabis Control Commission, its also representative of the Houses commitment to ensuring that the cannabis industry in Massachusetts is regulated in a manner that bolsters economic opportunity, especially for communities that were disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of marijuana, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said. I look forward to hearing more from my colleagues in the House about this issue, and to ultimately voting to pass these critical reforms tomorrow.

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Created by the Legislature in 2017 after voters legalized non-medical marijuana in 2016, the CCC is a five-commissioner independent body, with appointments made singularly and jointly by the governor, attorney general and treasurer, with the treasurer selecting the chair. Under the bill the House will debate Wednesday, the CCC would be consolidated entirely under the governor. The states executive would appoint all three commissioners and select one of them to serve as chair (who would be the only full-time commissioner). The CCC would be subject to the laws applicable to agencies under the control of the governor.

The chair would serve conterminously with the governor, according to the bill, and the other two commissioners would each serve terms of four years, or until a successor is appointed.

The bill extends beyond cannabis products that are already under the CCCs purview to address intoxicating hemp-based products that largely fall into a gray area of the law and between the regulatory cracks. Since hemp-based gummies, energy shot-like drink bottles and seltzers became ubiquitous across Massachusetts convenience store checkout counters and social media feeds in recent years, lawmakers and regulators have flagged the need to straighten out what is and is not cannabis, and how it should all be regulated.

The committee bill would ban the sale of hemp-based beverages and consumable CBD products unless the product is registered with the CCC and complies with regulations that the CCC would be required to promulgate to deal with things like product testing, labeling requirements and more. Those products would also be subject to a new tax (5.35% for CBD consumables and $4.05 per gallon for hemp-based drinks).

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The bill adjusts the existing cap on retail licenses any one operator can hold. The current limit is three, but some business owners have said the cap prevents them from selling their businesses. Under the bill advancing towards the House, the cap on retail licenses would be raised to six over a three-year period (increasing first to four, a year later to five and finally to six), and the existing three-license caps would remain in place for cultivation and manufacturing.

Opponents, including Equitable Opportunities Now and the Massachusetts Cannabis Equity Council, have warned that multistate operators are able to spend heavily to increase their market share and that allowing them to grow even more will hurt small and equity-owned businesses.

This bill is a gift to corporate cannabis and a death sentence for local and social equity businesses. How is someone with one, two, or three stores supposed to compete with someone buying for six or more stores? EON co-founder Shanel Lindsay said. It will undermine everything Massachusetts has worked so hard to achieve in building the most equitable cannabis industry in the country.

The bill also contemplates the possibility that Massachusetts might want to cap the total number of licenses granted by the CCC. It would require the CCC to conduct an economic analysis of the entire cannabis industry and gives the CCC the power to limit the total number of licenses issued based on that study.

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EON pointed to a number of the bills provisions that it views as positive steps for the industry, including medical vertical deintegration and increasing the daily purchase limit to two ounces, but the group said it would prefer no legislative action to a flawed bill that gives control of the market and policymaking to the largest, most profitable businesses.

We appreciate action on medical deintegration, enforcing ownership limits, and other overdue reforms  but handing more power to big cannabis and gutting the CCCs independence are poison pills, EON Deputy Director Kevin Gilnack said. Most cannabis businesses would be better off if the Legislature did nothing.

On the medical side of the legal marijuana world, the bill eliminates the requirement that medical marijuana businesses be vertically integrated, meaning they must grow and process all the marijuana they sell. Patients and advocates have been calling for that change for years, saying the medical-only options have become scarce across Massachusetts since cannabis was legalized for non-medical use.

It includes language that would let the CCC establish and provide for issuance of additional types or classes of licenses to operate medical use of marijuana-related businesses and would change the standard terminology in state law from medical marijuana treatment center to medical marijuana establishment. Medical marijuana retail licenses would be available exclusively to social equity applicants for at least the first three years they are available.

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The House Ways and Means Committee advanced the bill with 23 Democrats in support, no committee members opposed, eight Republicans electing to essentially abstain from the committee vote, and five Boston Democrats taking no action on the committee poll.

Asked about the Cannabis Policy Committees bill last week, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz said he was hopeful to do it soon and that the House would make it a priority to kind of get through it as quickly as we can.

Top Senate Democrats havent expressed the same sense of urgency on the CCC.

I will talk to senators and the chair of the Cannabis Committee, and well see. Well take a look at whatever the House sends over, of course, Senate President Karen Spilka said Thursday.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  The case against a Masury man charged in connection with a Weathersfield assault is heading to trial.

Michael Houser was back in court Wednesday, where the judge was informed there wasnt a resolution in the case.

His trial is slated to begin on July 14.

Houser is charged with attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault.

It stems from an August 2024 assault in an area known as Honda Hills.

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According to a police report, two people received serious head wounds and were bleeding heavily.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The trolleys may be back on track soon  well, sorta.

Memphis Area Transit Authority is aiming to roll out rubber-wheeled trolleys on Main Street soon.

MATA said they are ready for service after the trolley service was halted this summer, following MATAs millions of dollars in budget woes and the need for expensive upgrades.

MATA owes more than $10 million to 200 vendors

MATA Main Street Trolley Photo by WREG MATA Main Street Trolley Photo by WREG MATA Main Street Trolley Photo by WREG

Im hoping that will help a little bit more, being a little more comfortable, a little more modern, sort of push Memphis into a new era as well, said Juel Triggs, a downtown worker.

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This wont be the first time these rubber-wheeled trolleys take to the streets. In 2015, WREG gave you a look at the cars.

This was after the classic trolley service was halted after several streetcars caught fire.

Trolley fire in 2014 Photo by WREG Trolley fire in 2014 Photo by WREG

Another MATA Trolley Goes Up In Flames

A few years ago, many rejoiced that the original trolleys had come back. But last summer, once again, the service stopped for expensive upgrades and MATA budget problems.

Triggs said that she notices that the trolleys help with tourism downtown.

MATAs interim CEO told WREG in April he anticipated trolleys with the rubber wheels to come back to Main Street in May for festivals, but it did not happen.

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And Im just getting questions by riders about when exactly theyre going to be out there, said Cynthia Bailey, MATA Board Commissioner.

Former MATA CEO traveled across the globe on taxpayer money

We just dont want the vehicles to show up and no one know about them, but were working through a notification plan now, said Interim CEO Lewis.

On May 28, Lewis said they planned to have things ironed out in seven to 10 days, but MATA said people should expect an adjusted service. Currently, trolley buses run about half as frequently as before.

I definitely hope they actually bring them back, I think it would be a huge, huge increase in morale in the downtown area, said Triggs, a downtown worker.

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WREG has reached out to MATA for a statement. We will let you know when we hear back.

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MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA)  Six people were displaced, and one firefighter was injured after an apartment fire on Tuesday in Mattoon.

The Mattoon Fire Department responded to a structure fire near the area of 20th St. and Champaign Ave. at 10 a.m.

One airlifted after rollover crash on I-57 in Coles County

When they arrived, they found a garage, which had been converted into an apartment, with heavy smoke and fire coming out. Firefighters were told that residents had safely exited the structure.

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Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly and brought the fire under control in less than 10 minutes. Six adults were displaced, and the electricity was shut off due to several code violations that were found in the apartments, the fire department said.

One firefighter received a minor hand injury. The firefighter was treated and has since been released from a local hospital.

Water survey analyzing flood risks in Central Illinois counties

Fire officials are still investigating how the fire started. The Mattoon Police Department, Charleston Fire Department, Ameren gas and electric and American Red Cross assisted in the response.

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Firefighters were able to clear the scene just after noon.

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All of the victims in Sundays attack in Boulder are expected to recover, law enforcement officials said on Tuesday.

As of yesterday, the chief said theyre all expected to survive and three are still in the hospital, Dionne Waugh, a spokesperson for the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, told The Denver Gazette.

Waugh provided no additional details.

Law enforcement officials have been tight lipped about the details. None of the victims names have been released.

One of the eight victims, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, is beloved and well-known in the community. She and her daughter had been faithfully attending weekly Run for Their Lives events. Run for Their Lives is a global group calling for the release of the hostages held by Hamas since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, Hamas launched a surprise, large-scale attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages.

The attack near a music festival triggered a full-scale war in Gaza with Israel launching airstrikes and a ground invasion aimed at dismantling Hamas. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, fueling a humanitarian crisis and global protests.

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According to the American Jewish Committee, Hamas is still holding 58 hostages.

An affidavit details how Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is alleged to have prepared for and carried out an attack with Molotov cocktails that injured 12 people in Boulder on Sunday. The attack occurred near 13th and Pearl streets during a weekly event demanding Hamas release its hostages.

Soliman, who lives in the Colorado Springs area, came to the U.S. in 2022 from Egypt and overstayed his initial tourist visa, according to the federal officials.

Organizers for Run for Their Lives event told The Times of Israel that the event will still be held this coming Sunday.

We will not be deterred or stopped by this kind of action, Bruce Shaffer, co-lead for the Boulder chapter, said. Canceling the march is exactly what these people want us to do.

Denver Gazette reporter Kyla Pearce contributed to this report.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Mauldin police are seeking information after a jugging that happened in April.

Jugging is an act of crime where suspects will watch unsuspecting victims make a ATM withdrawal, follow them, and break into their vehicle hoping the victim left the cash inside.

On April 26, a victim left a Wells Fargo Bank, on Woodruff Road at around 11 a.m., after making a cash withdrawal of over $6,600, according to the Mauldin Police Department. The victim stopped at a QuikTrip on E. Butler Road shortly after to grab a drink, leaving the envelope of cash in the drivers side door.

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WHAT IS JUGGING?: Be vigilant: Simpsonville police share tips to avoid ATM thefts

Police said that the jugging suspects broke into the victims vehicle, a Toyota Tundra, and stole the envelope while the victim was inside.

The suspects were driving a silver, 2024 or 2025 Chevy Traverse. They fled the QuikTrip at around 11:17 a.m., police said.

If you have any information regarding this crime, please contact the Mauldin Police Department at (864) 289-8900, option 3.

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Gov. Dan McKee has tapped two out-of-state political staffers to work for his 2026 reelection campaign. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Fresh off new, unfavorable polling numbers on his job performance, Gov. Dan McKee has tapped out-of-state talent to aid in his 2026 reelection campaign, including a former staffer to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Rob Silverstein, who most recently served as Hochuls policy director, and before that, as her deputy campaign manager, will now manage McKees 2026 campaign. Neil Spencer will serve as his campaign finance director, following eight years with the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee.

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Im excited to have a strong team of talented operatives to run my re-election campaign, McKee said in a statement. Nobody will outwork us on the trail, and Rob and Neil embody that ethos. With their experiences on highly competitive races and excellent track records of success in state campaigns, I am confident that we are well-positioned to continue delivering results for Rhode Island for years to come.

The sitting governor is the only candidate to confirm their intent to run in the 2026 gubernatorial race, with a two-minute spot released on March 3. His 2022 Democratic primary rival, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, appears to be readying for a comeback challenge against McKee, having already begun growing her campaign war chest.

Other rumored, but unconfirmed candidates include House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus, who bought a home in Providence this year, WPRI-TV 12 reported.

McKees new campaign hires were announced Monday, four days after a University of New Hampshire poll in which McKee scored a 19% approval rating among a survey of 653 Rhode Island residents. The dismal view of his job performance was accompanied by weak support for his reelection bid; just 11% of those surveyed thought the four-year incumbent deserved to win the 2026 race, compared with 74% who thought he did not deserve to win re-election.

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Even among his own party, fewer than one in five survey respondents supported McKees reelection campaign, according to the UNH poll. Meanwhile, 39% of Democrats surveyed expressed support for Foulkes to run, while 32% backed former Gov. Gina Raimondo, who left during her second term as governor to become U.S. Commerce Secretary.

Since leaving the federal administration in January, Raimondo has joined the Council on Foreign Relations in D.C. as a distinguished fellow and co-chair of a task force on economic security. She also expressed interest in a 2028 presidential run during an interview with David Axelrod in Chicago in April.

Silverstein declined to comment on the UNH poll results in a brief interview Wednesday, referring to the governors previous comments to other news outlets in which he shrugged off the survey as an outlying poll.

A New York native, Silverstein has nearly a decade of political experience in campaigns in local, state and federal races across the country. He earned high marks from Hochul for his work on her campaign and in elected office over the past four years.

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Rob Silverstein has been a key member of our team, bringing sharp political instincts, tireless commitment, and a deep understanding of what it takes to win tough races, Hochul said in a statement. Rob has been instrumental in building a stronger Democratic Party in New York and played a critical role in our success flipping key House seats last year. Governor McKee is gaining a skilled and strategic leader, and Im proud to call Rob a trusted former member of my team.

Like McKee, Hochul was thrust into the top state leadership role from lieutenant governor in 2021. Her ascension to the governor seat was prompted by the unexpected resignation of Andrew Cuomo.

Silverstein has a bachelors degree from Georgetown University and a masters degree in public administration from Columbia University.

Spencer comes to Rhode Island from his native Florida, where he attended Florida State University for his bachelors degree and a masters in the universitys Applied American Politics and Policy program. During his eight years working for Florida House Democrats, he set multiple fundraising records, including $5 million raised in 2022 and more than $9 million raised in 2024.

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The institutional knowledge Neil built up with the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee allowed us to build momentum and set new fundraising records cycle after cycle, and Neils strategic vision and dedication have made him one of the most successful finance directors in Florida legislative politics, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said in a statement.

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A Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office deputy accused of attacking a woman he met at the popular Miami nightclub E11even in late April is now cleared of his criminal charges.

On Monday, the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office announced 54-year-old Lt. Daniel Chala would not be prosecuted due to the victims not cooperating with the police investigation.

After numerous attempts to get the victim to cooperate with the SAO for the necessary pre-filing conference (a necessary part of every filed felony prosecution), the victim refused to assist with the case investigation. This resulted in the dropping of the pending criminal case, said the statement released by the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade deputy accused of attacking woman he met at E11even nightclub, police say

On April 28, Chala was taken into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional on charges of battery and false imprisonment. Earlier that morning, Miami Police were called to the deputys apartment after a neighbor reported hearing knocking and cries for help at her door, an arrest report detailed.

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The witness let the woman in and alerted authorities and the buildings front desk when she saw her bleeding and battered state.

The woman told police that she met Chala earlier that morning at E11even Nightclub, 29 NE 11th St., where they struck up a conversation at the bar before being invited back to his apartment. Once inside, the two began kissing on his bed, with Chala wrapping an arm around the victims neck and tightening his grip to the point of pain.

The woman collapsed to the floor before escaping out the door after several minutes of struggling to find help, the report read.

The deputy agreed to speak to detectives and told a different version of events. His claim: after inviting the woman up to his apartment, she allegedly suggested they lie in bed together. Chala, who insisted he was tired, reportedly refused and asked her to leave, denying the two had made any physical contact outside of him kissing her hand.
KAYSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  There are three senior activity centers in Davis County, and all three need volunteers. The volunteers are needed particularly to help Meals on Wheels, which is seeing a higher demand for its services, less funding and fewer volunteers.

One of the centers that needs help is the Central Davis Senior Activity Center in Kaysville. Monday through Friday, a small group of volunteers meets at the center to pack around 100 meals to deliver to seniors nearby.

In total, the three senior activity centers deliver about 350 meals daily.

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The route that I do takes about two and a half hours because its quite a long route, but I figure two and a half hours one day a week is nothing, Marci Harvey told ABC4.

Upcoming Ogden car show to raise funds for program that helps at-risk youth

Harvey volunteers at the front desk on Mondays and does Meals on Wheels every Friday. Shes been doing it for two years.

I like it, stated Harvey. Ive kind of formed some kind of a relationship with the people we take the meals to. They look forward to seeing me. Theyre homebound, so sometimes Im the only person they see each day.

The volunteers at this center deliver meals on three different routes. Each route needs two people. One person drives the county-owned vehicle, and the other runs the meals into the seniors homes. Homes like that of Janice and Don Heninger.

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He had a seizure, apparently, and passed out while we were on the freeway, Mrs. Heninger said. We both could have been killed, but we werent.

She told ABC4 that the car wreck was about a year ago. Her husband, Don, moved his head around to show the limited mobility he now has as a result.

Pres. Nelson to dedicate Syracuse LDS Temple on Sunday

The problem was that we had no car after the accident, Mr. Heninger stated. It totaled the car.

And I didnt want to drive. I havent been driving for years, and he couldnt drive. They wouldnt allow him to, his wife added.

They clipped my wings, Mr. Heninger said. I couldnt believe it.

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Mrs. Heniger laughed at this, and her husband later told ABC4 that not driving anymore is what is safest. He couldnt help but joke, though, and explained the moral of the story.

I tell people dont get old, dont have birthdays, and whatever you do, dont have accidents, Mr. Heniger shared.

The couple said that good neighbors have been helpful over the last year. As for Meals on Wheels, it has been a necessity in their lives.

Utah ranks as second best economy in the United States, per report

That has been a great service and as a result, we havent died, Mr. Heninger said of Meals on Wheels with a laugh. With more seriousness, he added, I am so grateful.

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The best part of getting the meals delivered to their home may not be the food.

How could you say whos favorite? questioned Mrs. Heninger. They all seem to say, Have a good day, before they leave, and they all have a big smile. Theyre wonderful people.

However, behind the smiles, the program is facing some uncertainty.

We have an increase in individuals looking for home-delivered [meals] or Meals on Wheels. Plus, we have a growing population of older adults, less volunteers and less funding, Senior Services Director Rachelle Blackham explained. It is causing quite a problem for our program.

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Blackham told ABC4 that people can donate to the program to help make up for the lack of funding. However, the biggest need currently is more volunteers.

NORTHERN UTAH: Brine flies make their home at the Great Salt Lake

Our volunteers are crucial for our Meals on Wheels program, she added. We have about 70 volunteers that help us now but were looking but were looking for about 20 to 30 volunteers, Blackham said.

She noted that all meals are delivered 100 percent through volunteers. Not only are volunteers crucial for the program, but the program is crucial for those they serve.

Theyre unable to get out and about and get nutritious meals for themselves, stated Blackham. As well as, we have high malnutrition rates amongst our older adults in Utah and in Davis County.

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Volunteers need to be 18 years or older and are asked to commit to volunteering one day a week (Monday through Friday). Shifts are three hours from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. People can volunteer for more than one day a week if they want, as is the case with Marci Harvey. Find out more about volunteering on their website.

I would just say, if you have a couple extra hours every week, please consider it, Harvey said. Its easy to do, its rewarding, you go out with someone so youre not driving alone, its very worth it.

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Centrist Democrats are trying to replicate the movement politics that drive the progressive wing of the party, but its not clear that the partys moderates  boosted by billionaire donors  can build the same sort of grassroots support that has driven more left-wing campaigns.

A political consultant and co-founder of the Welcome Party, Lauren Harper Pope, told Salon that WelcomeFest, kicking off Wednesday in Washington, D.C., is the largest public gathering of centrist Democrats. The goal, she said, is to seek advice from Democrats who overperformed this cycle and discuss "what it means to be a partisan centrist."

We respect the very robust and multifaceted effort on the progressive faction of the party over the last few years. They had a lot of clear coherency behind it, and there was a lot of action, Harper Pope told Salon. We are essentially just trying to emulate that faction of the party.

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The 2025 event, the theme of which is responsibility to win, features elected Democrats such as Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.

The event also includes some notable figures from the party, like Adam Jentleson, Sen. John Fettermans, D-Penn., former chief of staff; Derek Thompson, a columnist at The Atlantic and co-author of Abundance; and Matt Yglesias, proprietor of Slow Boring on Substack.

Harper Pope described the Welcome Party and an associated PAC as an attempt to organize and support centrists in the Democratic Party, mirroring efforts by those on the more left-leaning side of the party.

In terms of strategy, Harper Pope described a formation similar to that of the Justice Democrats, except instead of supporting progressives, the Welcome Party would support centrists. And, instead of putting up primary challengers against incumbents in deep blue districts, the Welcome Party would support candidates in purple districts where they think a more liberal candidate, who might prevail in a Democratic primary, would be at a disadvantage in a general election and might also be a mismatch for the district.

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Another key point of comparison is the funding behind the groups. While the Justice Democrats PAC received over 25,000 donations in 2024, a cycle when they were not even supporting new candidates, the Welcome PAC received just a few hundred.

Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The bulk of the PACs money came from a handful of donors with familiar names, like James Murdoch, the liberal-leaning son of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Combined, James Murdoch and his wife, Kathryn Murdoch, donated $2.5 million to the Welcome PAC in 2024, according to FEC filings.

Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn founder and critic of former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, donated $671,000 to Welcome PAC in 2024.

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Samuel Walton, the grandson of Walmart founder Samuel Walton, donated $825,000 to Welcome PAC.

Joshua Bekenstein, a co-chairman of Bain Capital, alongside his wife, Anita Bekenstein, donated a collective $375,000.

Harper Pope said the goal, shared by centrist think tanks like Third Way, is to win by meeting voters where they are. A recent Gallup poll found that 45% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning moderates want the party to move toward the center.

We want to be representative of the party overall, and I think the majority of those voters are people who are less progressive, Harper Pope told Salon. If the centrist faction of the Democratic party can be strong, robust and vibrant, it can help us not only win more elections but also help us have the liberal democracy we aspire to.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Mecklenburg County leaders adopted the FY26 budget ordinance Tuesday night, establishing an operating budget of $2.5 billion.

The budget includes $65 million in new funding for programs that align with the Boards priorities, like economic development and education.

Among the many services and programs receiving funding, here are some key takeaways:

Impact on taxpayers

The budget sets a property tax rate of 49.27 cents per $100 of assessed value. That represents a .96-cent increase in the tax rate over FY2025. The average homeowner will pay $36.19 a year more or $3.02 a month.

Education

The budget fully funds Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with $666.1 million in operating funds for CMS, which is a 4.4% increase over the previous year. The increase will primarily supplement teachers salaries.

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$9.9 million for salary increases for locally funded staff

$8.3 million to address below-market salaries and increase compensation based on years of service

$8.1 million to increase in local supplements

$2 million to fund the second year of a four-year plan to provide students with technology or devices needed

$33 million in capital spending for repairs and maintenance

Other education investments include $3.4 million for 10 new MECK Pre-K classrooms and $1.7 million in additional operating funds for Central Piedmont Community College, plus $3.6 million in capital maintenance.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library will also receive $2 million to add 15 library branch positions and support planning for the opening of the new Main Library.

Employee investments

Mecklenburg County has more than 6,000 employees, and the budget invests $38.7 million in new funding for employees.

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$15.7 million for a 3% across-the-board pay increase.

$11.4 million for a performance-based pay increase, up to 5%.

$5.3 million for an expected 8.75% increase in medical premiums.

$3.3 million for the Countys contribution to the Local Government Employee Retirement System.

$389,000 for law enforcement for special separation pay.

Medic

$7.9 million was allocated to fund Medics request for additional ambulances and equipment, which will enable Medic to increase its staffing by 78 positions.

Nonprofits and other services

The budget distributes more than $53 million in funding to a wide variety of nonprofit partners that offer services to address the Board of County Commissioners priorities.

$14.3 million for more than 20 organizations that work to address homelessness and housing, such as Legal Aid of N.C., the Salvation Army, Roof Above, the Relatives, United Way of Greater Charlotte, and others.

$12.5 million for 16 organizations that address the Boards mental and behavioral health priorities, such as Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center, Promise Resource Network, Teen Health Connection, Alliance Health, and others.

$9 million for the Arts and Science Council, plus nearly $1 million in additional arts funding.

$3.1 million to more than 30 organizations that work to reduce or eliminate health disparities, such as the Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center, Care Ring, InReach, RAIN Charlotte, and others.

$2.6 million for Crisis Assistance Ministry.

$1.6 million for Unified Workforce Development.

Child, Family, and Adult Services

$1.4 million to annualize the operating costs for the Youth and Family Services emergency shelter.

$2.3 million to expand in-home aide subsidies to serve an additional 60 clients, and to expand adult day care to serve an additional 50 clients.

$416,000 in one-time funding for additional vehicles.

$357,000 to increase meal, guardianship, and interpreting services.

$250,000 to support phase one of the implementation of the Behavioral Health Strategic Plan.

$226,000 for three new social workers within Adult Protective Services.

Community Support Services

$1.1 million to annualize the operating costs for Forest Point Place permanent supportive housing for seniors.

$464,000 for housing placement and navigation, and a subsidy increase for Keeping Families Together.

$75,000 to fund new locations for homeless meal services.

$60,000 in one-time funding for Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte to complete an ARPA-funded program.

Park and Recreation

$996,000 to fund the operations of newly opened greenway and park amenities

$355,000 for an increase in contracted mowing services for County properties

$261,000 for three new, full-time employees to support existing demand for park services

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The budget goes into effect on July 1.

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NATO is considering how to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit of Alliance leaders in The Hague without irritating US President Donald Trump.

Source: AFP, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This week, Zelenskyy said he had received an invitation from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to attend the summit. NATO also confirmed that "Ukraine will be with us in The Hague".

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Meanwhile, diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Zelenskyy may attend a dinner organised by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands for NATO leaders, but there will most likely be no official talks between Ukraine and the Alliance.

"It will be a PR disaster if he [Zelenskyy  ed.] is not there," said one European diplomat on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the agency notes that how Zelenskyy will be treated in The Hague largely depends on progress in negotiations with Russia, if any. So far, two rounds of meetings in Istanbul have yielded insufficient results.

Meanwhile, Rutte insists that Ukraine remains a "priority" issue at the summit.

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Diplomats, however, say that the main focus will be on reaching an agreement on increasing defence spending that will satisfy Trump.

Officials predict that the Alliance will reach a compromise on Rutte's proposal: 3.5% of GDP for core defence and 1.5% for broader spending.

"Defence spending is the most important part and no one wants to jeopardise that," said another diplomat.

In addition, NATO wants to keep the summit's final declaration short and not mention Ukraine's possible membership so as not to cause a split.

"There will be nothing on that. My expectation is we will be absolutely silent," said one diplomat.

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Also, as the agency points out, there will be no joint statement on military support from the 32 Alliance countries, given that Trump is not providing any assistance to Ukraine.

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Meghan Markle is celebrating her daughter Lilibet's fourth birthday with something deeply personal.

The Duchess of Sussex shared a never-before-seen photo from the delivery room, giving royal watchers a rare glimpse into the moment her youngest child arrived.

Since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has experienced a whirlwind transformation from a working royal in the U.K. to a mother of two living a more private life across the Atlantic.

Meghan Markle Pens Sweet Tribute To Her Daughter

Meghan Markle's daughter Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, born on June 4, 2021, was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. She gave fans a rare and touching glimpse into her life as a mom to celebrate her daughter Lilibet's fourth birthday.

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The 43-year-old posted two black-and-white photos in honor of her youngest child. The first image shows Meghan cuddling Lilibet during a breezy boat ride, shielding her daughter from the sun as the little girl peeks at the camera from beneath her mom's arm.

The second photo, taken shortly after Lilibet's birth, captures a quiet moment between mother and newborn. Baby Lili reaches toward Meghan's face as she gazes down at her daughter. Meghan shared the images in the two-photo carousel on Instagram, along with a heartfelt birthday message that read:

"Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today, she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!"

Harry And Meghan Explained The Inspiration Behind Their Daughter's Name

When Meghan and Harry welcomed their second child in 2021, they chose a name rooted deeply in family history and meaning. As Harper's Bazaar reported at the time, the proud parents announced the birth of their daughter, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, just days after her arrival.

Born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, Lili weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces. In their statement, the couple shared that both Meghan and the newborn were healthy and settling in at home.

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Lili's birth came after Meghan and Harry stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the U.S., seeking a more private life away from the public eye. Even so, they made it clear that their daughter's name would reflect their ties to the royal family.

For her first name, the royal couple explained, "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet." The middle name, Diana, was a tribute to Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997.

The Sussexes' Use Of 'Lilibet' Reportedly Upset The Late Queen Elizabeth

James Whatling / MEGA

Naming their daughter Lilibet Diana stirred controversy for Harry and Meghan, and according to royal insiders, did not sit well with the late Queen. As The Mirror reported, the name Lilibet held deep personal meaning for the late monarch.

It originated when she was a toddler struggling to pronounce "Elizabeth," and her grandfather, King George V, affectionately began calling her "Lilibet." The nickname became an intimate part of her identity throughout her life.

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So when Meghan and Harry chose to name their daughter after her private childhood nickname, royal tensions reportedly flared behind the scenes.

In "Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story," author Robert Hardman wrote that one royal aide recalled the Queen being "as angry as I'd ever seen her" following the announcement.

At the time, it was publicly suggested that the Queen had been consulted and had given her blessing, but conflicting views quickly surfaced. According to reports, a Palace source claimed she had not been asked. Other insiders indicated the Queen felt she could not say no.

Meghan Markle On The Unexpected Reality Of Motherhood

Before celebrating Lilibet's fourth birthday with heartfelt photos, Meghan opened up about how motherhood had changed her life and how it hadn't unfolded the way she once imagined.

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The Blast highlighted Meghan's candid reflections during a podcast episode, where she spoke about raising her son, Prince Archie, and daughter. She recalled once envisioning herself giving public speeches with a baby on her hip, balancing parenting with her professional life.

"I will say, for myself, especially when they are baby babies and before I was a momI've always wanted to be a momI was like, 'Oh gosh I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip. I had a whole vision," she said.

Meghan explained that various outside factors shaped both of her pregnancies and early motherhood. Despite the unexpected turns, she made it clear that being a hands-on, working parent remains a core part of her identity. "For me, it's so important my kids see me as a working mom," she shared.

The Mother-Of-Two Shared How She Documented Her Kids' Childhood

MEGA

Meghan also offered a glimpse into her personal world as a mother, one built on everyday routines and meaningful gestures. The entrepreneur shared her morning routine, which included preparing breakfast and dropping off her two children at school.

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But it was her nighttime habit that revealed a deeper connection. Each evening, Meghan admitted she wrote emails to her children, messages she described as digital time capsules.

The TV personality noted that she set up private email accounts for both kids, where she sent everything from snapshots of daily life to thoughtful notes filled with love.

She said she plans to hand over the accounts when her children become teenagers, imagining thousands of emails waiting for them at 18. Meghan explained that the intention behind it was to make sure her children always feel seen and valued.

Happy birthday to Princess Lilibet!
Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., is reportedly "struggling" after relocating to the Philippines earlier this year.

Thomas, who has been estranged from Meghan, explained that he was looking for a fresh start as he'd "felt stuck in a rut" for some time.

He's yet to meet his grandkids, Archie and Lilibet, as his pleas to mend his strained relationship with Meghan Markle seem to have been ignored by the royal.

Thomas Markle Is 'Struggling' With Life In The Philippines

MEGA

The estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex is reportedly experiencing difficulties after relocating to the Philippines earlier this year.

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Thomas lived in a cliffside property near the US border in Rosarito, Mexico, before relocating to the Asian country in search of a fresh start alongside his son and Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Jr.

He was initially at a 3-star hotel when he landed in the country, but he recently moved into a $670-per-month high-rise apartment in the densely populated island of Cebu.

However, things have seemingly not picked up well for him with sources saying he has been "struggling" to get acclimated to the climate, language, and lifestyle over there.

"Thomas and his son took the plunge and moved to Southeast Asia," a source told the New York Post. "It's been hard, but they have each other."

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The insider added that the father and son "only recently" moved into their new abode.

Weather Conditions In Cebu Are 'Brutal'

MEGA

The island of Cebu is known for its "brutal" weather conditions with temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degrees and humidity levels often reaching 90%.

The local terrain also seems to be an issue for Thomas as he's resorted to the help of a cane to navigate the area's uneven roads.

"There are only two types of weather in Cebu: hot and humid, and hot and humid and raining. It's brutal even for men half his age, but it's still sad to see him looking as though he's struggling," a source told The Mirror last month.

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The source went on: "Thomas and his son only recently moved into the property and they are still finding their feet in Cebu after the big move abroad, but they're here together and are firmly supporting each other."

Thomas And Meghan Markle's Strained Relationship

MEGA

Thomas' condition is a far cry from that of his estranged daughter Meghan, who lives in Montecito, California, with her husband, Prince Harry, as well as their children, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet.

Their father-daughter relationship has remained non-existent as they fell out shortly before Meghan's wedding to Harry in 2018. Things are seemingly so bad between them that Thomas is yet to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children despite making several pleas to.

Amid several health emergencies in 2023, he made a "deathbed plea" to his daughter in a TV documentary, asking how he could "fix" their broken bond. However, his constant pleas have been seemingly ignored.

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"I've never been one for birthdays, but I know the one person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won't be in touch," he told the Daily Mail before his 80th birthday last year. "I would love to meet my grandchildren, but I would be happy with a photograph at this stage."

"They have two grandpas who want to see them, one of whom is the King of England," he said. "I never in my 80 years thought I'd be in the same boat as the king."

Thomas Markle Moved In Search Of A Fresh Start

MEGA

Explaining his decision to relocate to the Philippines, Thomas claimed he wasn't "running away" but was looking to escape the "awful drama" he's been wrapped up in relating to his daughter. He claimed that he made the move in a desperate bid to have a "fresh start."

"I am ready for a change," he told the Daily Mail at the time. "I have felt stuck in a rut for some time, and I am ready to meet new people and experience kindness."

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"I'm not running away. I am going in search of a more positive life," he said of his move in January. "Every day, I see something about Meghan. I wish her no ill will."

"My dream is that one day I could bring my whole family together, like a 'normal family,'" he added.

Meghan Markle Begged Her Dad To Stop Exploiting Her Marriage To Prince Harry

MEGA

The "Suits" actress initially released a statement begging her father to stop exploiting her relationship with the Royal family.

This came after Thomas bailed on attending her wedding to Harry, following the revelation that he had faked photos of himself preparing for the nuptials for the paparazzi. Due to this, Meghan, in a letter, accused her father of using her marriage to Prince Harry to gain money and fame.

She also begged Thomas to consider the "pain" he was causing her. The letter read, per People magazine, "...Please stop exploiting my relationship with my husband  I realize you are so far down this rabbit hole that you feel (or may feel) there's no way out, but if you take a moment to pause, I think you'll see that being able to live with a clear conscience is more valuable than any payment in the world."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to Rome with a firm handshake on Tuesday, a meeting that many interpreted as a sign of diplomatic rapprochement.

Following a three-hour discussion, the two leaders issued a joint statement pledged their "unwavering" support for Ukraine, calling it necessary for achieving a "just and lasting solution" to the conflict.

Ahead of the meeting, the Elysee Palace had said that there were points between Macron and Meloni that needed to be clarified, particularly regarding support for Ukraine.

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The statement also underscored the need for an "ambitious change in scale" in European defence, while adding that the two leaders also discussed topics including the situation in the Middle East and European cooperation on migration policy.

The meeting at Chigi Palace, the seat of Italian government, was considered a diplomatic reset between Paris and Rome, even though both sides stressed that there had never been a cold spell.

The leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party said last week that they have many commonalities but also differences. She said it is important to talk, even in the face of disagreements.

Italy is an important partner, the Elysee Palace said, adding that Meloni would not be ostracized in any way.

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The relationship between the two has recently seemed tense. In Rome, Macron's trip to Kiev with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer caused irritation as Meloni was not included.

Even in the "coalition of the willing" initiated by Macron to support Ukraine after a ceasefire, the positions diverge: Italy strictly opposes sending troops.

The strategies of the two leaders also differ in their stance towards US President Donald Trump: Rome focuses on closeness and mediation, while Paris emphasizes European independence.

The next bilateral meeting between Italy and France is scheduled to take place in France in early 2026.
Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday signed a bill to address the growing backlog of sexual assault kit testing in the state.

Senate Bill 304, sponsored by Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Reps. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, creates a grant program to pay for an independent sexual assault coordinator at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The coordinator would provide annual reports to the legislature on the state's capacity to complete sexual assault kit tests.

The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to notify sexual assault victims at least once every 90 days if they have not yet received the results of their sexual assault kit and requires crime labs to "endeavor" to analyze forensic medical evidence within 60 days of receipt.

SB 304 also sets up a "Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board" within the Department of Law.

The board's charge would be to "review and monitor the effectiveness of current protocols, standards, and training practices in the criminal legal system response to sexual assault." It would also be required to make victim-centered recommendations to the General Assembly by Nov. 1, 2026 on improvements and in accordance with the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994.

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"Everyone who has experienced sexual assault deserves justice and this new law moves us closer to ensuring that," Polis said. "I thank the bill sponsors for their work to address this urgent situation and help hold perpetrators accountable."

Willford, who claims she was sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver in February 2024, brought the CBI's sexual assault backlog to the attention of the legislature.

More than a year later, she said her rape kit is still awaiting testing, and it could be months before she gets results  the average waiting time for rape kit testing in Colorado is more than 500 days.

SB 304 is one of three bills passed this legislative session that seek to address issues within CBI related to the misconduct allegations tied to Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a nearly 30-year employee of the investigation lab accused of deleting data and manipulating DNA evidence in more than 1,000 instances.

Those errors are estimated to have cost CBI more than $11 million. Woods has been indicted on 102 felony charges.
A sign in support of Jeanette Vizguerra, a nationally known immigration rights activist who is detained in the ICE facility in Aurora. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline

Few Trump administration agencies are so out of control as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE in recent months has disappeared people from American communities, a hallmark of unaccountable authoritarianism. The agency releases scant information to the public about its activities, and it withholds information even in court proceedings. Its agents wield the awesome power to deprive people of their liberty, and theyve used that power to deposit hundreds of people in a brutal foreign prison, likely for life.

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Demand for oversight has rarely been so great, and no tool of ICE oversight should be left unused.

Members of Congress have at least one method by which to oversee the agency  they can show up at ICE detention centers unannounced and perform inspections. But U.S. representatives and senators in Colorado exercise this authority too infrequently.

ICE this year has undertaken aggressive immigration enforcement efforts as part of President Donald Trumps plan for mass deportations. In Colorado, which Trump made a particular focus of his anti-immigration program, the agency has undertaken several raids and other operations that have resulted in scores of people being held at its detention center in Aurora, operated by private prison company the GEO Group.

People there are often denied constitutionally guaranteed due process, targeted for their exercise of First Amendment rights, and held without being charged with a crime, according to court documents and immigration advocates. About 12 detainees were removed from the Aurora facility to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador.

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Federal authorities have gone about this business with essentially no transparency. Thats where oversight comes in.

In 2019, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, tried to inspect the ICE facility after learning about poor health conditions there. He was denied entry, prompting him to pursue on-site oversight authority, which he helped secure in law. Members of Congress, according to language that is included annually in appropriations legislation, now have the authority to conduct unannounced oversight visits at Department of Homeland Security facilities.

This was no empty gesture. Crow has routinely invoked the authority ever since, and he posts to his website reports about visits to the detention center in Aurora. His office has already completed two oversight visits this month.

This is the same authority by which three U.S. representatives from New Jersey recently tried to conduct oversight at an ICE facility in that state. They were denied entry, and the Trump administration charged one of the lawmakers with a crime.

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But ICEs refusal to respect oversight authority is no cause to idle it. Its reason to assert it to its fullest extent.

Crow should not be alone in conducting inspections in Aurora. Democratic U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper of Colorado should also show up. Hickenlooper has expressed anger over the Trump administrations lawless approach to immigration enforcement, even suggesting in April that the countrys going to rise up in response. But to a reporters question about what senators like him could do, he said, You want me to get my pitchfork?

No. But lawmakers can get inside a facility where Colorado residents, snatched off the streets by the federal government, now face unconstitutional removal to prisons run by foreign dictators, and at least demonstrate to ICE and the people of Colorado that theyve got their eye on MAGA malfeasance in Denvers backyard.

Other members of the U.S. House from Colorado can also exercise oversight of ICE. The detention center in Aurora sits in Crows district, and territorial deference is doubtless a factor, especially among fellow Democrats. But Crow could arrange a multimember visit. The detention center in New Jersey sits in U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIvers district, and two other members of Congress from neighboring districts had arrived to inspect the facility with McIver when they were denied entry. Strength in numbers sends a message that the members will do everything they can to hold an outpost of authoritarianism in Colorado to account.

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A member of Hickenloopers staff accompanied a Crow staff member during one inspection in March. In response to questions from Newsline about whether theyd visited the Aurora facility, the six Democratic members of the Colorado congressional delegation  Bennet, Hickenlooper, Crow and Reps. Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen  responded in a joint statement: Oversight is a key part of our jobs, and a responsibility we dont take lightly. The Trump Administrations recent attempts to intimidate Members of Congress from conducting oversight of ICE detention facilities are alarming  and we will not back down. We are fully committed to providing the necessary oversight and transparency of the GEO ICE facility in Aurora to ensure these facilities are run in full accordance with the law, and our offices will continue to perform the critical casework to ensure detainees are treated fairly.

The oversight authority alone wont enable members of Congress to stop the abuses that ICE commits in Aurora. Crow helped establish the authority at a time when immigration advocates were most concerned about health conditions, not cancellation of basic rights. No facility walk-through can remedy the profound injustices at work there.

But at a time when Democrats seem overwhelmed and impotent as the Trump administration dismantles constitutional order, every available counterweight should be applied with maximum force.

This commentary was originally published by Colorado Newsline. Like Maine Morning Star, Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com.

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Elon Musk dropped a rhetorical bomb on President Trumps plans to pass a massive budget bill on Tuesday.

Musk, the worlds richest man, excoriated legislation that Trump calls big and beautiful as a disgusting abomination.

He also called the legislation outrageous and pork-filled. Referring to members of the House who had passed the bill and sent it along to the Senate, Musk added, Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

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The remarks were all the more striking for coming just days after Musk departed from his role with the quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His departure was marked by a joint appearance with Trump in the Oval Office, at which they paid tribute to one another.

Musk had expressed misgivings about the spending legislation in an interview broadcast on CBS Sunday Morning this past weekend, musing that while such a bill could indeed be either big or beautiful, I dont know if it can be both.

GOP leaders on Capitol Hill thought they had been able to assuage Musks concerns. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday that he had spoken to Musk for 20 minutes the previous day.

Johnson, who had to go through arduous efforts to get the bill passed in the House, said that in his Monday conversation, I extolled all the virtues of the bill, and he seemed to understand that. We had a very friendly conversation about it.

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That left Johnson blindsided by the billionaires rhetorical barrage on Tuesday. Musks latest remarks were very disappointing and terribly wrong, Johnson lamented.

But Musks characteristically combative intervention raises two bigger questions.

One is whether it will land so hard among Republican senators that it could capsize the bill itself.

The other is whether it presages a larger willingness on Musks behalf to go against the wishes of Trump, the president whom Musk spent more than $250 million getting elected  and who gave him enormous power at the heart of government.

The Trump-backed budget bill, which also includes a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling, already faced uncertain prospects in the Senate.

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Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member body, but fiscal hawks and more moderate members alike have yet to signal they are willing to back the legislation.

Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Mike Lee (Utah) are all in the first category, expressing concern that the bill fails to curb the long stretch of budget deficits that have created an astronomical national debt. The debt currently stands at around $36 trillion.

At the other end of the GOP ideological spectrum, many insiders are watching Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) for signs of how hard they will resist proposed changes to Medicaid that are projected to cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance.

Musk is aligned with the first camp.

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After Musks initial blast on Tuesday, Paul took to social media to write, I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. Musk, in turn, amplified Pauls message to his 220 million followers on the social platform X, which he owns.

Musk also reposted critiques of the legislation from Lee, who said the Senate must make the bill better, and from Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), one of two House Republicans to vote against the legislation in the lower chamber.

Musks alignment with Paul was especially notable on a day when Trump had lambasted the Kentucky senator for his reluctance to back the legislation.

Trump had written on social media Tuesday morning that Paul had very little understanding of what was in the spending bill, adding, He loves voting NO on everything, he thinks its good politics, but its not.

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In a second post, Trump complained that Paul never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky cant stand him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to swat aside Musks criticisms during Tuesdays media briefing.

The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, Leavitt said. It doesnt change the presidents opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and hes sticking to it.

But GOP senators are not quite so nonchalant. Johnson, the Wisconsin senator and fiscal hawk, told Politico that Musks social media blasts got spread around pretty quickly within the Republican conference.

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GOP senators will also not have missed the implicit threat in a later social media post from Musk.

In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people, he wrote.

Such a message raises the specter of Musk using some of his enormous wealth to finance primary challenges to incumbents  despite a recent statement that he was likely to curb his political spending.

For Trump, the danger is that Musk will grow increasingly willing to voice his discontent.

Trump, of course, has no more elections to run. But Musks enormous X megaphone and his influential position near the apex of the online right makes him a highly dangerous potential critic.

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Relations between Trump and Musk have not fully degraded yet, of course.

But Tuesdays messages from Musk will disconcert the White House as much as GOP leaders on Capitol Hill.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

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WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  FOX 44s focus on Mens Health Awareness Month is all about the heart for this story.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States.

Baylor Scott & White-Hillcrest registered nurse Glenn Dutton paid a visit to our studio to shed some light on heart disease and how to prevent it. You can watch our interview in the video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
ALHAMBRA, Ill.  Authorities in a Metro East community are investigating reports of a swastika appearing on a grassy lot.

Residents in Alhambra, Illinois, a tiny village of under 700 people in Madison County, said in off-camera discussions that they dont want that kind of message or rhetoric coming of their town.

A spokesperson for the Madison County Sheriffs Department said investigators had no information to give out at this time.

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FOX 2s DroneFOX was deployed over the area where residents said the hate symbol was mowed into the grass. The remnants of the symbol are faintly visible.

We dont want to see this kind of hate in our town, one Alhambra resident said.

On Wednesday, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the act and said the American Muslim community stands in solidarity against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.

The Nazi swastika is a symbol of hate and genocide that have no place in a civilized society, Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago, 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 FOX 2.
An aerial view of the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. (Constellation Energy photo)

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Facebooks parent company Meta locked in 20 years of nuclear power on Tuesday from Constellation Energy to help meet the tech giants surging energy demand for artificial intelligence and its other power-intensive computing needs.

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Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions, Urvi Parekh, head of global energy at Meta, said in a statement.

The agreement, which calls for Constellation to provide Meta with 1.1 gigawatts of power from its Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, is the latest in a slew of deals tying large tech companies to nuclear energy.

Google signed the first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Kairos Power in October. Amazon anchored a $500 million investment into X-energy Reactor Co.s research and development of SMRs and is working with Dominion Energy to advance nuclear development in Virginia.

Microsoft entered into a power purchase agreement with Constellation in September to restart the energy companys Three Mile Island nuclear unit in Pennsylvania. The 20-year deal is slated to contribute to Microsofts goal of matching the power its data centers use with carbon-free energy.

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Constellations Clinton Clean Energy Center, about 160 miles southwest of Chicago, was slated to close in 2017 after years of financial losses. But a zero-emission credit program saved the plant after legislation in Illinois provided financial support into mid-2027.

The agreement announced Tuesday with Meta takes effect in June 2027, when the states taxpayer credit program expires. It essentially replaces the credit program and ensures long-term operations of the plant without ratepayer support, according to Constellation.

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This partnership keeps Clinton at the forefront of clean energy while securing jobs and driving local growth, said Illinois state Rep. Sally Turner, a Republican representing the 44th district, which includes Clinton. Its the kind of smart, private investment that strengthens communities without adding taxpayer burden.

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The Clinton power purchase agreement is set to preserve more than 1,000 local jobs and deliver $13.5 million in annual tax revenue, according to the Baltimore-based energy company. Bobby Wendell, an official at a unit of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said in a statement that the agreement will deliver a stable work environment for workers at the plant.

The Energy Center generates enough clean electricity to power some 800,000 homes, according to Constellation. The deal with Meta will relicense and continue the operations in Clinton, while expanding its output by 30 megawatts from its current 1,121 megawatts. The financial details of the deal between Meta and Constellation were not disclosed.

The power purchase agreement comes as nuclear regains traction. Some see the energy source as an answer for the increasing power demands from data centers and AI as long as the technology can scale.

A coalition of large energy users like Amazon, Google, Dow and Meta pledged in March to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Financial institutions like Bank of America, Citi, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley also endorsed the commitment for nuclear expansion.

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Constellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez said the deal with Meta ensures prior mistakes arent repeated by allowing a valuable energy plant to shut down as demand soars.

Sometimes the most important part of our journey forward is to stop taking steps backwards, Dominguez said.

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PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (WFRV)  A supplier of methamphetamine and two suspected dealers in Wisconsin were recently arrested after a traffic stop prompted a large-scale investigation, leading to authorities confiscating over 350 grams of meth.

The investigation, led by the Prairie du Chien Police Department, began with a traffic stop on February 28 in the 1400 block of South Marquette Road after what officers called suspicious activity. A K9 was called in to perform an open-air sniff on the outside of the vehicle and gave a positive alert.

During the traffic stop, officers were made aware that the passenger had methamphetamine concealed inside a body cavity. That suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Derek D. White of Prairie du Chien, was taken to a local hospital where roughly four grams of meth was ecentually found by medical staff and seized by officers.

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Search warrant leads to seizure of firearms, 3D printers, drugs in Wisconsin

The Prairie du Chien Police Departments investigation did not stop there. With help from the Clayton County Sheriffs Office, a residential search warrant was executed in the 1000 block of South 10th Street in Prairie du Chien later that same day.

During that search, officers reportedly seized a total of 103.52 grams of meth, THC, digital scales, and other items of drug paraphernalia, along with numerous plastic baggies of methamphetamine.

The search warrant resulted in the arrest of 43-year-old David E. Judge IV, who was also taken to the Crawford County Jail on multiple charges.

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As the investigation unfolded, officers got information that a larger supplier of meth was planning on delivering more meth to Prairie du Chien. That information ultimately led to a high-risk traffic stop on US Highway 35 in Ferryville.

With help from the Clayton County Sheriffs Office, Crawford County Sheriffs Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the same K9 from the earlier traffic stop, 252 grams of meth were found and seized from the alleged suppliers vehicle. La Crosse resident Eugene J. Spears, 44, was arrested as a result.

Wisconsin woman arrested for alleged ninth operating while intoxicated offense

Prairie du Chien Police K9 Unit Prairie du Chien Police K9 Unit Prairie du Chien Police K9 Unit Prairie du Chien Police K9 Unit Prairie du Chien Police K9 Unit

The release noted that other users and local meth suppliers have reportedly been identified as part of the ongoing investigation.

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All three suspects have been charged with the following:

Derek D. White, 28, Prairie du Chien Possession of methamphetamine Possession with methamphetamine with intent to deliver (>50g) Party to a crime Conspiracy to commit

David E. Judge IV, 43, Prairie du Chien Possession of drug paraphernalia Maintaining a drug trafficking place Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine (>50g) Party to a crime Conspiracy to commit

Eugene J. Spears, 44, La Crosse Possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver (>50g)



No additional information was provided.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Nashville is one day away from the 52nd annual CMA Fest, which is expected to bring close to a million people to Music City. As a result, safety remains a top priority.

The Metro Nashville Police Department hosted a press conference outside of Nissan Stadium on Wednesday, June 4 to discuss the hundreds of officers and other first responders that will work this weekend. Local authorities are also working with federal law enforcement partners to maintain a safe environment.

Downtown Nashville businesses gear up for 2025 CMA Fest

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Weve been in contact with Homeland Security and FBI Right now, we dont have any credible threats, but well continue to monitor that, Metro Police Chief John Drake said.

With the next three days bringing a risk of severe thunderstorms in parts of Middle Tennessee, there is also a plan in place to help people find shelter at CMA Fest if theres any severe weather.

CMA Fest 2025: See which roads plan to close in downtown Nashville

Metro police also encourage everyone to stay hydrated, drink responsibly, and avoid wandering away from your group. In addition to law enforcement and other emergency responders, Red Frogs will be out and about to help visitors.

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For a full list of recommendations for CMA Fest, follow this link.

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Startup Mexican airline Awesome Cargo, which provides dedicated aircraft and flight service to logistics companies and other customers, has taken delivery of its first fully capable freighter aircraft after operating two light-duty freighters since its inception 18 months ago.

Airbus affiliate Elbe Flugzeugwerke announced Tuesday it has completed the first conversion of an Airbus A330 passenger jet to cargo configuration for Air Lease Corp., which is leasing the plane to Awesome Cargo. The A330-200 converted by EFW is an ex-Alitalia airframe that was operated until last year by ITA Airways.

After some training flights on Wednesday, the aircraft will depart Dresden, Germany, for another facility where it will be painted, EFW spokeswoman Anke Lemke said in an email. Awesome couldnt be reached by press time to determine a specific entry-into-service date, but the company is likely to carry out training and other procedures before flying commences later this summer.

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Awesome Cargo, incorporated as TM Aerolineas S.A., currently leases two Airbus A330-200 aircraft that were temporarily modified with a Class E cargo compartment to carry light boxes in the main cabin. The partial modification, which is less capital-intensive than a full overhaul but quicker to complete, involved removing the seats and other cabin structures and adding a smoke detection system. The use of auxiliary passenger-freighters was common during the COVID crisis, when travel dried up and airlines yanked seats from some aircraft to take advantage of soaring cargo demand to earn revenue. Industry experts say the planes dont make economic sense at normal cargo rates, especially when fuel prices are high, because the capacity is much less than a heavy-duty freighter and manually loading through the narrow cabin door is labor intensive.

Only one of Awesomes aircraft is currently in service, according to Flightradar24 tracking data. Awesome and Air Lease plan to fully retrofit the two aircraft with a cargo door, reinforced floors and walls, and a cargo loading system so they can handle large containers on the main deck.

Based at Felipe Angeles International Airport outside Mexico City, Awesome Cargo operates twice weekly to China, via Los Angeles International Airport (returning via Seoul, South Korea, and Anchorage, Alaska), and to Latin America for e-commerce platforms and logistics providers. On May 6, it began a weekly service focused on perishable goods from Tijuana Airport in Mexico to Zhengzhou, China, under a contract with California-based ARC Global Logistics, according to a LinkedIn post. Flight data only shows two Tijuana-China flights so far.

The A330-200 converted freighter has a gross payload of 61 tons at a maximum range of 4,200 nautical miles. It is more suited for heavier, general cargo, whereas the A330-300 is the preferred choice for lighter e-commerce shipments because of its extra volume.

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We are adopting a strategic approach that balances fleet expansion with market demand and operational efficiency, said Awesome Cargo CEO and founder Luis Ramos in the EFW news release.

Ramos previously held a senior management position at Mexican carrier Aerounion before taking over as CEO of Mexican ground handling and sales agent Aerocharter de Mexico in 2016. Aerocharter established a U.S. subsidiary at Los Angeles International Airport and then established Awesome Cargo. In 2024, Aerocharter formed a joint venture with PrimeFlight Aviation Services.

It typically takes about nine months to convert an A330 to cargo configuration. EFW has fallen behind schedule with A330 deliveries since 2023 because of labor, engine and supply chain challenges, as well as some management missteps. But all aircraft manufacturers and conversion shops are experiencing some level of delay these days for similar reasons.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

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Judicial candidates closely linked to Mexicos ruling party have swept every position on the nation's newly transformed Supreme Court, according to final results released Wednesday from the controversial judicial vote.

The nine incoming justices on the high court have strong ties to the dominant Morena bloc headed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, and their election signals a radical shift in Mexico's balance of power.

Among them is a new chief justice, Hugo Aguilar, who would become the country's first top jurist of Indigenous origin since the legendary Benito Juarez, who also served as president, more than a century and a half ago.

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Electoral regulators still must validate the vote, though that is viewed as a formality. The Supreme Court justices, along with almost 900 other newly elected federal jurists, are scheduled to take office Sept. 1.

Mexican authorities have been tallying the results from Sunday's controversial national balloting  championed by Morena  in which only 13% of eligible voters went to the polls. Despite the paltry turnout, Sheinbaum has lauded the election as "marvelous" and "a great success." She has hailed the replacement of the entire federal judiciary as a victory of democracy over corruption and nepotism.

Read more: Sheinbaum calls Mexico's judicial election 'extraordinary' despite turnout of less than 13%

The president has been especially effusive about the likely emergence of a chief justice from one of Mexico's long-marginalized Indigenous communities. "It's a profound change," she said. Indigenous Mexicans, comprising about 10% of the population, have long been among the country's poorest residents and are often subject to racism.

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Some detractors have mocked the desire of Aguilar to don Indigenous dress instead of the traditional black robes. Sheinbaum said she supports his effort to honor his cultural roots.

Mexico has became the first country worldwide to elect all of its judges, from Supreme Court justices down to thousands of local magistrates.

Many independent observers have assailed the exercise as a triumph of politics over justice  and a potentially fatal blow for the separation of powers, a crucial pillar of democratic rule.

"This is a setback for democracy in Mexico," said Stephanie Brewer, who heads the Mexico analysis section of the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights research group. "When you have concentration of power over all three branches of government, you start to erode democratic rule."

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Sheinbaum's Morena party already has super-majorities in the Mexican Congress and dominates many state and local governments.

Coparmex, a Mexican business group, said it had detected "multiple irregularities" in the vote and declared that the new judiciary could hamper investment in Mexico, the United States' leading trading partner.

"Without independent justice, there is no sustainable investment," Coparmex said in a statement. "Mexico cannot aspire to progress without legality."

Read more: Mexico judicial elections: Government calls it essential reform. Critics say it's a farce

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The revamped Supreme Court will have nine judges, compared to 11 in the current high court. The Supreme Court will also have reduced ability to challenge congressional and presidential actions.

Sheinbaum has dismissed much of the the criticism of the election as "classism and racism," and has celebrated the rise of Aguilar, the apparent chief justice-elect, who hails from the Mixtec ethnic group in southern Oaxaca state. She accused opponents of fomenting "hate."

Aguilar, who currently oversees human rights affairs for the government's National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, garnered 6 million votes, more than any other Supreme Court contender, results showed. Second highest in Supreme Court balloting was Lenia Batres Guardarrama, 5.7 million votes.

From humble origins, Aguilar has said that a desire to defend Indigenous rights inspired him to study law. He has been widely praised for his legal acumen and dedication to the poor.

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"Hugo seems to be a brilliant lawyer," said Joaquin Galvan, a human rights attorney in Oaxaca state. "But I would advise against idealizing him like he is the new Benito Juarez, or to say thatjust because he is Indigenoushe cannot be criticized."

Some critics have also accused Aguilar of selling out to win Indigenous support for controversial development projects promoted by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, notably the $25-billion Maya Train, which some Indigenous groups resisted as destructive of the environment and of native communities.

"Without doubt Aguilar has been a promoter and defender of the government of Morena," Galvan said.

Among the other candidates leading in the voting for seats on the Supreme Court are three sitting justices appointed by Lopez Obrador, who founded Morena, and was Sheinbaum's mentor. Those three are: Batres, Yasim Esquivel and Loretta Ortiz. By law, the new court will be composed of five women and four men.

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For years, Lopez Obrador battled with the country's Supreme Court about a number of contentious issues, notably his plan to overhaul the nation's electoral system. Nearing the end of his six-year term, he championed the controversial reform that led to Sunday's judicial overhaul.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mexicos ruling party Morena will gain control of the Supreme Court following the countrys first-ever judicial elections, which were marred by low voter turnout and allegations of a power grab.

Preliminary results from Sundays race showed candidates linked with Morena winning most seats on the judiciary. With the victory, the party will now have a firm grip over every branch of government, a change that democracy advocates say weakens the countrys checks and balances.

Critics have also warned that the election itself poses a risk to democracy, arguing that by having judges elected through popular vote, the independent authority of the courts could be compromised, and with it, their ability to uphold the law and keep other powers in check at a time of rampant crime and corruption.

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Around 100 million citizens were eligible to participate in Sundays event, but only about 13% showed up to vote. Experts say the figures reflected confusion among voters who were overwhelmed by the large number of positions and candidates to choose from.

Victor Manuel Alarcon Olguin, a research professor at the university UAM-Iztapalapa who focuses on political parties and elections, also faulted the way the process was designed. He said legislators did not provide the electoral authority with a sufficiently well-defined method, and the electoral authority had to resolve many of these technical problems on the fly in order, at least, to try to make this system work.

Among the nine projected winners in the Supreme Court race are three sitting justices who had been nominated by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the founder of Morena. Others include a former legal adviser to Lopez Obrador, the current human rights prosecutor of the Attorney Generals Office, and an indigenous lawyer who is expected to become the courts next president.

Many of these people, at best, do not show an affiliation or such an obvious participation with the ruling party, but they do have very diverse interests or connections, or at least ideological or manifest affinities, lets say, in terms of their profiles and professional activities that place them in a circle very close to the government, said Alarcon Olguin.

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All nine candidates appeared in pamphlets that Morena members were accused of handing out to voters to suggest which candidates they should vote for. Election rules prohibit political parties from promoting or supporting judicial candidates.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the leader of Morena, has tried to distance herself from the pamphlets, condemning their use and calling for an investigation into the matter.

A member of the National Electoral Institute arranges votes after polling stations closed in Mexico City on Sunday. - Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Sundays race marked the first time any country has held elections at every level of the judiciary. Almost 900 federal posts were in play, including all nine seats on the Supreme Court, as well as some 1,800 local positions in 19 states. Votes are still being counted across the country, with results expected to be announced gradually over the next week. A second vote for hundreds of other judicial positions will be held in 2027.

Sheinbaum labeled Sundays election a success.

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In Mexico, voting is voluntary. It is not mandatory. There are countries where it is mandatory, but not here  here it is free, direct, universal, and secret. So, 13 million people decided to vote in an exercise for the judiciary. That is very good, she said.

Lopez Obrador and his party approved the judicial election in September, arguing that a popular vote would help stem corruption and impunity within the courts.

But critics say Morena was seizing on its popularity to get like-minded justices elected, with the goal of passing through reforms that the previous, more-balanced courts had blocked. They also fear that the vote could be influenced by political actors and criminal groups.

Eight justices on the then-11-seat Supreme Court announced their resignations in October, declining to participate in Sundays election. Most resignations are effective August 31, 2025, a day before the new court is set to begin.

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Gov. Jared Polis has signed a bill requiring the state's Department of Education to develop a statewide K-12 curriculum on Black history and cultural studies.

House Bill 1149, sponsored by Colorado Springs Democrats Rep. Regina English and Sen. Tony Exum, establishes the Black Historical and Cultural Studies Advisory Committee. This 17-member group will provide recommendations for standards and materials for Colorado public and charter schools featuring "factual accounts of the struggles and contributions of Black Americans in all fields of endeavor."

The bill expands upon a law passed in 2019 requiring schools to teach students about the history, cultural, and social contributions of minorities in America.

Using the committee's recommendations, the Department of Education will be responsible for creating a resource bank of scholarly articles and program materials about Black history and cultural studies.

The bill's sponsors said it is necessary to require specific standards on Black history education, particularly in light of the federal government's crackdowns on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Black history is American history, and without a comprehensive Black history curriculum in our public schools, students arent receiving the full scope of achievements and contributions of Black Americans, said English. We can help our students achieve a well-rounded education by developing and standardizing a comprehensive Black history curriculum in Colorados public schools. From politics to engineering, Black Americans contributions to society are vast. Our law helps ensure that students learn about the influential Black leaders who changed the course of history and our nation.

Here in Colorado, we understand the importance of teaching a full, honest history  one that recognizes the achievements, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans, added Exum. Implementing a standardized Black history curriculum in our public schools ensures that students of all races and backgrounds receive a more complete education that prepares them to be informed, engaged citizens and honors the extensive contributions of Black Americans in shaping our state and nation.

The bill passed on a 24-11 vote in the Senate and a 45-20 vote in the House.
MEXICO CITY  Mexicos ruling Morena party appeared to be heading toward control over the Supreme Court, preliminary vote tallies of the countrys first judicial election indicated.

While votes were still being counted Tuesday for the majority of the 2,600 federal, state and local judge positions up for grabs in Sundays elections, results rolled in for the nine Supreme Court positions.

The majority of the newly elected justices share strong ties and ideological alignments with the ruling party, shifting a once fairly balanced high court into the hands of the very party that overhauled the judicial system to elect judges for the first time.

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Experts warned the shift would undercut checks and balances in the Latin American nation: The governing party would now be close to controlling all three branches of government, and President Claudia Sheinbaum and her party would have an easier path to push through their agenda.

Were watching as power is falling almost entirely into the hands of one party, said Georgina De la Fuente, election specialist with the Mexican consulting firm Strategia Electoral. There isnt any balance of power.

Despite that, officials have continued to fiercely reject democratic concerns.

Some of those headed toward election were members or former members of the party. A number of them, who were Supreme Court justices prior to the election, were appointed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaums mentor who pushed through the judicial overhaul last year.

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Others were advisers to the president or the party or campaigned with politically aligned visions for the judiciary.

Not all of the prospective winners were explicitly aligned with Morena. One standout was Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, an Indigenous lawyer from the southern state of Oaxaca. He has no clear party affiliation, though Sheinbaum said repeatedly she hoped to have an Indigenous judge on the court and said on Tuesday she was happy to see he would be.

Critics had feared that Morena would emerge from the election with control of the judiciary.

The vote came after months of fierce debate, prompted when Lopez Obrador and the party jammed through the reforms for judges to be elected instead of being appointed based on merits. The overhaul will notably limit the Supreme Court as a counterweight to the president.

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Judges, experts and political opposition say the reform was an attempt to take advantage of high popularity levels to stack courts in favor of Morena. Sheinbaum and her mentor have insisted that electing judges will root out corruption in a system most Mexicans agree is broken.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum brushed off complaints by Mexicos opposition  which called for a boycott of the vote  that the Supreme Court was now unfairly stacked against them, saying theyre the ones who decided not to participate in the election.

The elections were marred by low participation  about 13%  and confusion by voters who struggled to understand the new system, something opponents quickly latched onto as a failure.

De la Fuente said Morena is likely to use its new lack of counterweight in the high court to push through rounds of reforms, including reforms to Mexicos electoral systems, a proposal that has stirred controversy and was previously blocked by courts.

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Guadalupe Taddei Zavala, chief counselor of Mexicos electoral authority, on Tuesday rejected democratic concerns. I dont see any (constitutional) crisis after the election, she said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 93% of the ballots had been tallied.




John Morales warns viewers - WTVJ

WTVJ chief meteorologist John Morales is warning viewers that Trumps budget cuts could affect their safety at the start of this years hurricane season.

Morales said that the sledgehammer attacks on science and cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would mean he wouldnt be able to accurately predict hurricanes.

Urging the Miami NBC owned stations viewers to call their Senators to stop the cuts, Morales said the cuts could have a "a multigenerational impact on science in this country.

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In his blog post on the station website, Morales said the cuts come at a bad time for coastal dwellers, Never have we faced the combustible mix of a lack of meteorological data and the less accurate forecasts that follow, with an elevated propensity for the rapidly intensifying hurricanes of the manmade climate change era.

Am I worried? You bet I am! And so are hundreds of other scientists, including all living former U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) directors, who fear a "needless loss of life" as a result of the loss of staff and resources at NWS brought on since January. Central and southern Florida's NWS offices are currently 19 to 39 percent understaffed. While that might be barely enough on a sunny day, long stretches of impending severe weather-like a hurricane-could lead to mistakes by tired skeleton crews can only work so many back-to-back shifts. Across the country, less data is being collected by fewer weather balloon launches as a result of the staff shortages. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) isn't facing such a severe scarcity of employees. But there are critical departments linked to NHC's mission that have been seriously impacted. Namely, NOAA's Hurricane Hunters saw two flight directors and one electronic engineer terminated in late February. Hurricane flights also include the Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. But should NOAA be unable to fly as many missions, there is a real risk of hurricane specialists occasionally "flying blind. WTVJ

Morales started his career at WLTV in Miami, where he served as chief meteorologist from 1991 through 2002. From 2003 through 2008 he served as chief meteorologist for WSCV Telemundo 51. While there, he became the first Latino to substitute as meteorologist on NBC's Weekend Today show, and did so multiple times. In 2009, Morales became chief meteorologist for NBC's Miami station WTVJ.
MIAMISBURG, Ohio (WDTN)  Another local city has made the call to ban marijuana sales, following dozens of other jurisdictions within the Miami Valley.

Miamisburg city leaders voted unanimously Tuesday night to immediately ban commercial cultivators, processors and retail dispensaries. Home-grow will still be allowed within state law.

Ohioans can soon buy over twice as much nonmedical marijuana

City leadership says the decision has been in the works for a year, as they have been closely watching state legislators to see what theyll do.

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Weve discussed it several times throughout the past year, said Miamisburg Mayor Michelle Collins. There was always pending legislation on the state level that could change regulations on the city level, we just dont know what those are.

Banning marijuana sales has the city of Miamisburg divided. While some residents agree with the ban, others say the decision was misinformed.

One resident says shes frustrated that a commodity has been pushed out of the city.

I think thats a hasty decision, said Miamisburg resident Destinye McLean. Do some more research and give it some more time instead of just making this cut.

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Another Miamisburg resident says money is one of the main factors.

Going to the recreational stores saves a lot of money compared to the cost of medication, said Sarah Martin. And just the issues with getting to that doctor, theyre only thinking about themselves and theyre not seeing the bigger picture.

Why driving to Michigan for recreational marijuana is cheaper than buying it in Ohio

Collins tells 2 NEWS that the ambiguity from state lawmakers on the issue of selling and growing as well as revenue was the breaking point.

We know that there are surrounding communities that are doing that and our residents can choose to go to those if need be, said Collins.

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The mayor says that with at least the current city council, there will be no consideration on repealing the moratorium on marijuana sales in Miamisburg.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Actor Michael Rapaport unleashed a blistering, profanity-laced tirade warning Jewish people that the cavalry aint coming to save them  calling out the broader public for not doing st  following Sundays antisemitic terror attack in Colorado.

The comedian, who has become an outspoken critic since Hamas launched a deadly terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, said he feels like a sucker for advocating for other marginalized communities that suffered atrocities while the Jewish population remains vulnerable against an influx of violent extremists.

Ill tell you something, Jewish people, the cavalry aint coming, the 55-year-old cautioned on his I Am Rapaport podcast Tuesday.

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The cavalry is not coming for us. They dont give a fk.

Actor Michael Rapaport among pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators during a rally calling for a cease-fire in Gaza at Columbia University on April 30, 2024. James Keivom

The True Romance actors explosive rant comes just days after terror suspect Mohamed Soliman  an Egyptian national who was living in the US illegally  was accused of injuring 12 people with a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails in a chilling attack in Boulder.

Soliman, 45, allegedly told police he hated Jewish people and wanted to kill all Zionist people as he targeted participants of the Run For Their Lives event, which was organized to show solidarity with the Israeli hostages in Gaza.

He was charged with federal hate crimes and 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder and faces up to 624 years behind bars if convicted.

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The hate-fueled incident unfolded less than two weeks after a pair of Israeli Embassy workers were viciously gunned down outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, by a crazed suspect who shouted, Free, free Palestine! as he was taken into custody.

A Mothers Against College Antisemitism rally at Washington Square Park. John Roca

Elias Rodriguez, 31, faces multiple life sentences and the death penalty after he was charged with executing Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26  a soon-to-be-engaged couple  during the targeted attack.

Rapaport called it sad and frustrating that the public has remained silent in the wake of the horrific acts of terror  urging members of the Jewish faith to stay alert and protect themselves, cautioning that help wont be coming from anyone else.

Dont you feel like an ass- now for putting up a black square during Black Lives Matter when nobody is coming and saying anything on our behalf? he asked, referring to the viral 2020 social media movement that mobilized millions to speak out against injustice following the death of George Floyd.

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Nobody is coming and saying anything on our behalf, Jewish people, Zionist people. Theyre not calling, theyre not texting, theyre not tweeting. Theyre not leaving comments. Theyre not DMing. Theyre not doing st, he continued.

Its sad, its frustrating. You feel used. You feel manipulated. You feel like a sucker. I feel like it, too!
A renowned chef and the owner of the lone Michelin-starred restaurant in West Palm Beach is facing domestic battery charges after police alleged he assaulted a woman during an incident at his home.

Jacob Bickelhaupt, the chef and owner of Konro restaurant, is facing one count each of domestic battery causing bodily harm and domestic battery following his arrest June 2 by West Palm Beach police.

According to his arrest report, Bickelhaupt repeatedly punched and kicked the woman, leaving her with two black eyes, and with swelling and bruising on her face.

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The woman reportedly went to Palm Beach International Airport after the attack to try to buy a flight to her family's home but suffered a seizure at the ticket counter. She received emergency care at St. Mary's Medical Center.

During a hearing June 3 at the Palm Beach County Jail, Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss ruled that Bickelhaupt, 41, is indigent and assigned a public defender to represent him. She set his bail at $90,000 and ordered that he be placed on in-house arrest with an ankle monitor if he is released.

As a matter of policy, the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on active cases. After his arrest, Bickelhaupt requested to speak to an attorney and did not make other statements to investigators, his arrest report said.

More: Dwyer student accused of torching classmate's car faces 2 more 'retaliation' arson charges

Konro chef previously ran renowned restaurant in Chicago

The arrest marks the second time within the past decade Bickelhaupt has faced an allegation of domestic violence. In June 2017, Chicago police arrested him on charges that he assaulted a woman, throwing her to the ground and striking her in the head with a bottle, according to multiple published reports.

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He pleaded guilty to a charge of simple battery and was ordered to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing, complete a domestic violence program and pay fines. Shortly after the Chicago arrest, Bickelhaupt closed 42 Grams, his popular restaurant on Chicago's north side that at one time also earned Michelin-star status.

In 2023, he opened Konro in West Palm Beach, on Park Place off South Dixie Highway near the Norton Museum of Art. It is a menu-free tasting restaurant with 10 counter seats and a steep, three-figure per person price tag for admission.

In 2024, the Michelin Guide announced it would be rating Palm Beach County's restaurants, and in April, Konro was awarded a single Michelin star, making it the county's first and only restaurant to carry a star from the vaunted guide.

According to Bickelhaupt's arrest report, his current accuser told investigators that he repeatedly attacked her over the span of two hours, even as she tried to leave the home. Once the attack stopped, the woman packed a bag and called for a ride to PBIA, where she collapsed, the arrest report said.

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Officers detained Bickelhaupt that night and took him to police headquarters for questioning.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Michelin-star chef arrested on domestic violence charges in West Palm
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Another Michigan man has been convicted for trying to provide support the Islamic State militant group.

Aws Mohammed Naser, a 37-year-old from Westland, was convicted following a five-week trial in federal court. He was convicted of attempting to provide material support for a foreign terrorist organization and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device.

Prosecutors claim Naser tried to travel and fight for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known as ISIS, but was turned away. So instead, he gathered drones and built a bomb in his basement.

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19-year-old accused of working for ISIS, plotting attack at Michigan military base

Jerome Gorgon Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said Nasers actions made it clear he is a threat to the country.

(Naser) is a bombmaker and self-avowed son of the Islamic State  a vicious foreign terrorist organization hell-bent on murdering Americans and destroying our way of life, Gorgon said in a statement. Our office is dedicated to finding and applying the full force of the law against any terrorist, like Naser, plotting to harm Americans.

Prosecutors say Naser was radicalized years ago and posted extreme content on his YouTube channel. He traveled to Iraq in 2012 and returned to the U.S. months later. He was set to head back to Iraq in January 2013 but was arrested and charged for robbing a gas station, resulting in prison time. When he was released from prison, he could no longer travel to join ISIS.

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Naser surreptitiously created social media accounts and joined invitation-only ISIS supporters chatrooms, groups and private rooms where he obtained and viewed official ISIS media reports, publications and other jihadi propaganda, Gorgon stated. In October 2017, FBI searched Nasers home and vehicle and recovered a readily assembleable destructive device.

US says it broke up effort to bring toxic fungus to Michigan lab from China

Naser faces up to 35 years in prison for the two charges. His conviction happened less than a month after another person from Michigan was arrested for planning an attack on a Michigan military base in support of ISIS.

Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, was arrested last month on two federal charges for plotting an attack on the Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command facility in Warren. He allegedly bought armor-piercing ammo and magazines for the attack, used a drone to conduct recon work over the facility and trained undercover employees how to use firearms and make Molotov cocktails.

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By Supantha Mukherjee

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Microsoft is offering free of charge to European governments a cybersecurity programme, launched on Wednesday, to bolster their defences against cyber threats, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, it said.

After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the programme aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks.

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"If we can bring more to Europe of what we have developed in the United States, that will strengthen cybersecurity protection for more European institutions," Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters in an interview.

"You're going to see other things we are doing later in the month."

Increasingly, attackers employ generative AI to amplify the scale and impact of their operations that range from disrupting critical infrastructure to spreading disinformation.

Although malicious actors have weaponised AI, Smith said AI also offered defensive tools.

"We don't feel that we have seen AI that has evaded our ability to detect the use of AI or the threats more broadly," Smith said.

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"Our goal needs to be to keep AI advancing as a defensive tool faster than it advances as an offensive weapon," he said.

Microsoft tracks any malicious use of AI models it releases and prevents known cybercriminals from using its AI products.

AI-driven deepfakes have included a portrayal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy capitulating to Russian demands in 2022 and a fake audio recording in 2023 that influenced the Slovakian election.

Smith said so far audio had been easier to fake than video.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; editing by Barbara Lewis)
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  If youve recently received a text that seems like it is from the DMV, dont open it. WRBLs Teresa Whitaker spoke to Sgt. Jane Edenfield from the Columbus Police Department about another scam circulating throughout the state.

Sgt. Edenfield warns that the link is a false link and to notice that the number sending the text message has an international area code. The Department of Driver Services will not text you and if there was an issue, you will get something in letter format.

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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced charges for an Assistant District Attorney accused of assaulting a woman multiple times.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

On Tuesday, the TBI opened an investigation into allegations of domestic and aggravated domestic assault against an Assistant District Attorney in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

Quinn Rodriguez (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office)

The investigation found that on at least one occasion, 34-year-old Quinn Rodriguez brandished a gun, threatened to kill a woman and struck her with a weapon. He was charged with two counts of domestic assault and two counts of aggravated assault, according to the TBI.

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Rodriguez has been booked into the Rutherford County jail on a $10,000 bond.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

I am deeply disappointed with the allegations against Mr. Rodriguez and have contacted the District Attorneys Conference to request that a Pro Tempore prosecutor be assigned to this case, 16th Judicial District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones said in a statement Wednesday. Effective immediately, Mr. Rodriguez is no longer employed by or associated with the District Attorneys Office for Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

No additional details have been released about this case.

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Editors Note: This story has been updated to add a response from the defense attorney for the accused.

MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man was arrested Monday morning, months after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriends home, stabbing her with a fork, and beating her new boyfriend.

28-year-old Indiana Colby Davis was taken into custody around 9 a.m. on June 2 by the Midland County Sheriffs Office. He is charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony.

According to an arrest affidavit, the attack happened around 12:30 a.m. on March 21 at a residence on South County Road 118. Deputies were dispatched to Signature Care ER after the victims, identified as a woman and her boyfriend, arrived with visible injuries.

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The woman told investigators that she and her boyfriend were asleep when Davis, her ex-boyfriend, entered the home uninvited through an unlocked back door. She said Davis had moved out roughly five months earlier and was not welcome in the home.

Once inside, Davis allegedly turned on the bedroom light and began shouting before attacking. The male victim told deputies that Davis punched him in the face around 30 times while he lay in bed. Deputies noted swelling, abrasions, and what they described as a visibly disfigured nose. The man later provided medical records showing a diagnosed nasal fracture.

The woman added that after Davis allegedly punched her boyfriend, she saw him leave the room briefly, before returning with a fork, and stabbing her in the right thigh. Deputies said they observed swelling and four red puncture marks consistent with being stabbed with a fork.

He and the woman both indicated they wanted to press charges.

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Photographs of the victims injuries were taken at the scene, and investigators later collected a written statement and medical documentation from the male victim confirming the injuries.

After further investigation, a warrant for Davis arrest was issued on the charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

As of Tuesday, June 3, Davis does not appear in the public inmate roster for the Midland County Detention Center. Its unclear whether he has since posted bond or if booking information has not yet been updated.

Isaiah Roby Jackson, the attorney for the accused, said in an email, The Office of the District Attorney for Midland County has shared its casefile with my office. After reviewing the officers body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and photographs taken at the medical facility, I have found several inaccuracies in your article.

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Jackson said the time line of events as described in the original article are inaccurate and wanted to stress that the suspect allegedly entered the home, punched the boyfriend, and then allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend with a fork. Our initial report said that the suspect allegedly attacked the woman first, and then the man.

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Note: The video above first aired in late April.

MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland woman was arrested late last month after investigators said she recklessly allowed two young children to ride an ATV that later crashed and rolled. Hazel Perez-Camacho, 20, has been charged with two counts of Endangering a Child.

According to a Midland County Sheriffs Office report, on May 31, deputies were called to the intersection of SCR 1160 and ECR 171 in reference to an ATV roll over and a three-year-old who was going in and out of consciousness. At the scene, investigators met with Perez-Camacho, who said she was driving an ATV when she hit a pothole and lost control of the vehicle. She said the ATV then rolled over and that her eight-year-old sister fell out of the vehicle.

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Perez-Camacho then said that the accident had not been severe, that there was no need for EMS, and that her sibling had been the only other occupant. However, investigators said that the 911 call described three people with injuries.

According to deputies, Perez-Camacho had a bruise and bleeding laceration; they asked to speak with the eight-year-old passenger and said she was nauseous and vomiting. Investigators then asked to see Perez-Camachos three-year-old and said she began acting nervous at the request and stated that her son was sleeping. After obtaining permission to enter the familys home, they found her three-year-old lying in bed with a bloody nose, a laceration on his head, a swollen lip, and a bruise on his cheek.

Deputies then called EMS to evaluate the boys injuries and thats when Perez-Camacho admitted that her son had also been involved in the crash. Because the child showed signs of a possible concussion, including dilated pupils, paramedics said they were going to take him to the hospital for an evaluation.

Investigators said that Perez-Camacho intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly engaged in conduct that would place two young children in danger, and they arrested her at the scene. She was taken to the Midland County Law Enforcement Center where she remained as of Tuesday afternoon on a combined $300,000 bond.

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President Donald Trump marked Wednesdays 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Midway, calling the 1942 naval clash a watershed moment that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific.

The White House released a statement commemorating the battle in June 1942 that decimated Japans carrier fleet.

The anniversary comes as the U.S. strengthens Pacific alliances to counter growing Chinese military assertiveness. Trump emphasized how former enemies have become partners, with Japan now a cornerstone ally.

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The epic Battle of Midway stands to this day as a glorious reminder that, even in the face of long odds, perilous danger, and tremendous uncertainty, no challenge is too great for the strength of the American spirit, the President said. He honored servicemembers who secured victory over tyranny in the Pacific 80 years ago.

The battle marked a stunning reversal after months of Japanese victories. Following Pearl Harbors devastation in December 1941, Imperial forces swept across the Pacific, capturing the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

By the summer of 1942, Japan targeted Midway Islanda strategic outpost 1,000 miles from Hawaii. They planned to destroy Americas remaining Pacific fleet and launch deeper offensives.

But American codebreakers cracked Japanese communications, giving Admiral Chester Nimitz crucial intelligence. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered Nimitz to prepare the battered fleet for a decisive confrontation.

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On June 4, U.S. carrier planes struck at dawn. American forces under Admirals Jack Fletcher and Raymond Spruance fought relentlessly despite facing superior numbers.

Within 24 hours, they sank four Japanese carriers and a heavy cruiser. The losses shattered Japans offensive capabilities and began Americas island-hopping campaign toward Tokyo.

The Presidential message noted the transformation since the 1945 surrender.

The United States and Japan have forged an enduring partnership built on the shared values of freedom, sovereignty, and an abiding commitment to peace across the Indo-Pacific, it read.

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That partnership faces new tests. Trump cited threats from China and North Korea as reasons for continued U.S.-Japan cooperation on safety, security, prosperity, and liberty.

The Presidents message reflects broader administration efforts to strengthen Pacific alliances. Still, the Midway anniversary serves as both a historical remembrance and a contemporary reminder of American resolve in the region.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  More than 80 local veterans are due back in Sioux City around 8:30 p.m. after spending the day in the nations capital, where they saw memorials built in their honor.

The end of Mission 26 of Midwest Honor Flight completes a multi-year effort to have veterans depart from Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City.

Community-wide fundraising has been ongoing, helping to make this dream a reality.

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Siouxlanders helped Midwest Honor Flight raise nearly $200K to pay for this trip. This was the nonprofits first flight out of Sioux City since 2010.

Story continues below

Aaron Van Beek, president of the Midwest Honor Flight, said getting these folks the closure and honor they deserve makes it all worth it. He said, Its the least we can do for our veterans. At one point in their lives, they were willing to give up their life for those around the world, including the freedoms we enjoy here today in America. And so its the least we can do as Americans is to give this trip of a lifetime. This day of honor in Washington, D.C., to see the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

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Veterans, including Michael Simoni, who served in the army during the Vietnam War, were looking forward to what was expected to be a welcoming experience. This welcoming experience is different from how he was welcomed home after the Vietnam War.

It means an awful lot. It was different when we came home from Vietnam. We flew into California, and there were a lot of protests. Truthfully, this is an honor. There are a lot of veterans here. Its an honor to be with them, said Simoni. Simoni is traveling with his son, who is also a veteran.

The veterans will return to Hawthorn Aviation tonight around 9 p.m. Hawthorne is located just north of Sioux Gateway Airport on Mitchell Street. Everyone is encouraged to come and join in for the Operation Welcome Home ceremony honoring the veterans and capping the emotional day.

Doors at the Hawthorne will be opening at 7:30 p.m. If you are unable to take part in person, KCAU 9 will also live stream Operation Welcome Home on our website.

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A Wisconsin inmate is facing charges over allegations he forged threatening letters against President Trump in an effort to frame a potential witness in an upcoming criminal trial and get him deported before he could testify.

Demetric Deshawn Scott was charged on Monday with identity theft, bail jumping and felony intimidation of a witness, according to a court filing.

Prosecutors say Scott is responsible for several letters sent to U.S. officials that included threats to kill the president and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The letters purported to be from Ramon Morales Reyes, whose name and return address were written in blue ink on each letter.

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The letters were all handwritten and, although not exactly the same, all wrote about immigration policy and threatening to kill ICE agents or President Donald Trump. Those letters also appeared to be written by the same person, prosecutors said in the filing.

Morales Reyes was arrested by ICE agents, and his arrest was publicized online by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which posted his image as well as one of the letters. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also issued a statement describing him as an illegal alien and said he would remain in custody pending his removal proceedings.

We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans  we have done more for this count[r]y than you white people  you have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald Trump get what he has coming to him, one of the letters read, according to prosecutors. I will self deport myself back to Mexico but not before I use my 30 yard 6 to shoot your precious president in his head  I will see him at one of his big rall[ie]s

But, prosecutors say, after Morales Reyes was taken into custody, it soon became clear he could not have written the letters. Morales Reyes required translation assistance during the interview because he does not read, write, or fluently speak English.

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Officials also compared a handwriting sample from Morales Reyes to the letter and there was no match.

According to the court filing, investigators asked Morales Reyes, through a translator, who would want to get him in trouble. Morales Reyes said the only person would be Scott, who was facing charges for robbing Morales Reyes.

Investigators later listened to several calls from jail where Scott allegedly described plans to frame Morales Reyes.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was let down by Elon Musks bombshell rebuke of the Trump administrations signature legislation as lawmakers swiftly took sides on the debate.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Johnson launched into a defense of President Donald Trumps One, Big, Beautiful Bill after the recently departed DOGE chief branded it a disgusting abomination that would massively increase the budget deficit.

Let me say this: Its very disappointing, Johnson said of Musks comments. Ive come to consider Elon a good friend. Hes obviously a very intelligent person, and hes done a lot of great work But with all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong.

President Donald Trump showed up to Capitol Hill last month to rally support his signature bill amid Republican infighting. / MANDEL NGAN / MANDEL NGAN/AFP

Johnson maintained that the mega bill delivers on Trumps campaign promise of putting America first and saves the government more than $1.6 trilliondespite analyses from nonpartisan organizations like the Congressional Budget Office and the Penn-Wharton Budget Model estimating that the measure would cause the deficit to soar by about $4 trillion.

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The House Speaker said he and Musk spoke at length over the phone on Monday to discuss the bill, which the tech mogul blasted in an earlier interview with CBS News.

I extolled all the virtues of the bill, and he seemed to understand that, Johnson said. We had a very friendly conversation about it.

It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt https://t.co/dHCj3pprJO  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

Musk has become increasingly vocal about his opposition to the bill since leaving the Trump administration. He told CBS last week that the measure undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing, and wrote in X posts on Tuesday that the massive, outrageous, pork-filled legislation would burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, he said. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

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House Republicans narrowly passed the bill last month in a 215 to 214 vote, with all Democrats uniting against what they described as a giveaway to billionaires at the expense of vulnerable American families.

Musks comments divided GOP lawmakers and appeared to unite Democrats.

Four Republican senators were exasperated when they spoke to Politico about Musks latest jab.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said Musk was entitled to his opinion, while North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said: I like Elon Musk, but hes one man.

Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said lawmakers would continue to work on the measure.

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We need spending reductions, no doubt, Schmitt said.

I think the Senate should make the bill substantially better, and I hope and believe well do that, Cruz added.

Several other Republicans joined their Democratic colleagues in agreeing with Musks take.

I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake.



We can and must do better. https://t.co/LwPNJZv5zo  Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 3, 2025

I agree with Elon, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said on X. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee wrote in a reply to Musks post that the Senate must make this bill better.

Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna threatened to withhold votes if the bill fails to codify the sweeping cuts made by DOGE.

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NO CODIFY VOTES? Then guess what: NO VOTES, she said. Half the reason GOP took the majority is because of Trump and Elon and now they are too scared to codify!

Several Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, echoed Musks scathing criticism of the bill.

If even Elon Musk, whos been part of the whole process and is Trumps buddy, says the bill is bad, you can imagine how bad this bill is, Schumer told reporters. Musk said people shouldnt vote for the bill. Lets hope the Republicans follow him, not Trump.

Breaking news: Elon Musk and I agree with each other, Jeffries said in a press conference. The GOP tax scam is a disgusting abomination.

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders similarly agreed with Musk.

Musk is right, he said on X. Lets defeat this disgusting abomination.
Elon Musk called the GOP's signature tax bill a "disgusting abomination."

But House Speaker Mike Johnson says Musk is "terribly wrong."

House Republicans passed President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" on May 22.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was disappointed to hear Elon Musk's critique of President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill."

"Let me say this. It's very disappointing. I have come to consider Elon a good friend. He's obviously a very intelligent person, and he's done a lot of great work," Johnson told reporters on Tuesday.

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"But with all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big beautiful bill," Johnson added.

Johnson said he had a "friendly conversation" with Musk on Monday, where he pitched the bill's merits to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.

"He and I spoke for, I think, more than 20 minutes on the telephone, and I extolled all the virtues of the bill and he seemed to understand that," Johnson said on Tuesday.

Johnson was speaking at a doorstop interview when he was asked about Musk's X post on Tuesday afternoon. In his post, Musk called Trump's signature tax bill a "massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill" and a "disgusting abomination."

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"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk wrote.

"Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it," he added.

On May 22, House Republicans passed Trump's "big beautiful bill" and sent it to the Senate. GOP lawmakers hope the bill will be sent to Trump's desk on July 4.

Trump's bill, in its current form, will raise the US deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years, per the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

This isn't the first time Musk has criticized Trump's signature tax bill. Musk told "CBS Sunday Morning" in an interview that aired on June 1 that he was disappointed with the bill.

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"I was like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing," Musk said.

"I think a bill can be big, or it could be beautiful. I don't know if it could be both," he added.

Musk's pointed criticism of the GOP comes just days after he announced his departure from the Trump administration. Musk said on May 28 that he was wrapping up his 130-day tenure as a special government employee leading the White House DOGE office.

In his interview with CBS, Musk said he did have "differences of opinion" with the Trump administration but did not specify what they were.

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"But it's difficult for me to bring that up in an interview because then it creates a bone of contention," Musk told CBS.

"So then, I'm a little stuck in a bind, where I'm like, well, I don't wanna, you know, speak up against the administration. But I also don't wanna take responsibility for everything the administration's doing," he added.

Musk did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MILFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  An 18-year-old Milford High School student who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend is due in court on Thursday.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva was driving to volleyball practice on Saturday when he was pulled over and arrested.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons confirmed that agents were searching for Gomes da Silvas father, 38-year-old Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, who owns the vehicle that Gomes da Silva was driving at the time.

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BACKGROUND: Milford student detained by ICE was not the target

Now, Gomes da Silva is being held at a detention center in Burlington, Mass., and his attorney, Robin Nice, is demanding that he be released.

Marcelo has no criminal history, Nice told CBS News. His strong community ties, consistent academic achievement, and involvement in positive extracurricular and faith-based activities underscore the fact that he poses no danger to the community and is not a flight risk.

When asked why ICE would detain an 18-year-old with no criminal record, Lyons said, I didnt say he was dangerous. I said hes in this country illegally and were not going to walk away from anybody.

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Nice said Gomes da Silva came to the United States from Brazil on a visitor visa in 2013 and was later issued a student visa that has since lapsed, according to the Associated Press.

His family, including his father, released a video on Wednesday in which they pleaded for the government to set him free.

I miss my son. I love my son. We need Marcelo back home, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira said.

Please bring my son back. I miss my son so much, his mother said.

I just really miss having him with me, one of his siblings added.

In a video posted on X, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey described Gomes da Silva as an honors student who played in the high school band and is a member of the volleyball team.

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They need to let him go, Healey said. Marcelo belongs in school, not in a detention center.

Multiple rallies have been held in his honor since his arrest, including at the boys volleyball game at Milford High School on Tuesday.

We are hopeful the court will recognize this and grant his release on bond so Marcelo can return to his family and community, Nice said. The actions by ICE do not make the community safer, they just sow fear among fear among immigrants and their loved ones.

MORE: Massachusetts high school volleyball team rallies around teammate detained by ICE

Another one of Gomes da Silvas attorneys, Miriam Conrad, told 12 News the teenager is not doing well physically in detention. She said hes sleeping on a concrete floor, theres insufficient food, and he doesnt have access to medical treatment.

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A federal court judge in Boston denied a request from ICE to transfer Gomes da Silva from the Burlington facility to Rhode Island, the Boston Globe reports.

He has an introductory hearing to start the removal process scheduled for Thursday. That will be followed by a bond hearing, where a judge will evaluate whether Gomes da Silva can be released from custody as the process continues.

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Last month The Telegraph published three related articles detailing: how landlords could force tenants to pay for the costs of insulation and other energy-related building improvements demanded by the Government; how grants for heat pumps might be cut as a result of the upcoming spending review; and the fact that Ed Miliband is considering recovering renewable energy subsidies from gas bills, rather than electricity bills.

Collectively, these stories shine a light on how Labour is fundamentally reshaping Britains energy market. Yet its hard to describe just how harmful these policies would be.

The worst of the lot would be to move green levies from electricity to gas. At the moment, most subsidy costs are loaded on to electricity. This is because they support renewable electricity generation. Subsidies for green gas are already added to gas bills, but they are much lower.

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Supporters of the idea of shifting more levies on to gas claim it would push people to adopt greener technology, such as electrically powered heat pumps.

Yet the logic of this argument rests on a flawed ideology known as polluter pays. The idea is to make polluting  ie. using fossil fuels  so expensive that consumers would be forced to adopt other alternatives.

Except it doesnt work that way in practice. Many consumers have little or no choice over the type of fuel they use. More likely, they will face the unpalatable choice between heating and eating.

If you dont own your own home, you cannot replace the windows, upgrade the insulation or install solar panels. If you do own your own home but dont have a lot of money for major home improvements, you also wont be able to do any of these things.

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As a result, putting green levies on bills is regressive: those least able to make changes end up shouldering more than their fair share of the costs as wealthier people invest in energy-saving measures and on-site generation.

So why move renewable generation subsidies on to gas? Well, these subsidies represent quite a lot of money, and contribute to the large premium electricity has over gas. Since the Government wants people to electrify their heating, making it structurally much more expensive than gas is unhelpful.

Putting all of the subsidies on to gas bills should make electrification more attractive. And it might  were it not for the fact that the Government is also considering cutting grants for heat pumps, which would be a step in the opposite direction.

What about the people who cant afford a heat pump? Or the improved insulation, larger radiators and new pipework that often goes with it? What about people who rent and might see rent going up beyond what they can afford if their landlord does all this work for them?

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What will happen is that the people least able to pay will be left shouldering an ever-growing share of the costs. Because if the policy is successful in getting some (more affluent) people to electrify, it would mean recovering the renewable electricity subsidies from a shrinking base of gas consumers.

The people left in that shrinking base will be the poorest, the least able to buy their way out.

And there is even more bad news because the cost of renewables subsidies is actually going up. The subsidy level for offshore wind in the most recent auction, held in 2024, was 83 per megawatt hour (MWh) in todays money against an average, gas-based wholesale price of 73 per MWh for electricity last year.

Its widely expected that the next auction will see even higher prices, just as gas costs start to trend back towards pre-crisis levels.

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The cost of this policy blunder will be counted in more than simply pounds. Until 2021, the Office for National Statistics published excess winter mortality associated with fuel poverty.

When I asked why these data had not been published in the past few years I was told that it was under review. However, when it was available it showed that on average between 6,000 and 8,000 people died each year as a result of being unable to adequately heat their homes.

Of course these people were not freezing to death. But living in cold homes meant they succumbed to respiratory illnesses and died before their time.

It is something of a scandal not just because so many people have been dying prematurely as a result of being unable to afford adequate heating but that this has been so under-reported. Where is the outrage?

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Of course, halting publication of these data makes it harder to see the true impact of Britains deliberately high energy prices. Because despite what Miliband wants us to believe, our electricity bills are not high because of gas, but because of the subsidies and carbon taxes he loads on to them.

Miliband could choose to make both gas and electricity bills lower by moving all of the levies and subsidies to taxation. This would be much less regressive since the poorest people tend not to pay income tax.

And it would expose the costs to greater scrutiny by bodies such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Currently there is minimal oversight of these stealth taxes and little in the way of value-for-money analysis of renewables subsidies and backup costs.

Moving renewables subsidies to gas would be a disaster for the most vulnerable households, and with subsidies set to rise, still more people will be pulled into energy hardship.

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Instead of faffing around trying to dim the sun, Miliband should have a proper think about how to reduce fuel poverty, and move subsidy costs to taxation where they belong.

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Ed Miliband must ramp up energy bills across London and southern England to hit net zero targets, a parliamentary committee has said.

The Energy Secretary is likely to miss his target of making the electricity grid 95pc carbon free by the end of the decade unless he embraces so-called zonal pricing, a new report from the Lords industry committee warned.

Such a change would mean splitting Britains single electricity market into almost a dozen regions, with the price of power determined by supply and demand within each area rather than set nationally.

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In practice, prices would surge in London, southern England and the Midlands where renewables are in short supply, but plummet in Scotland because of its plentiful wind farms.

The change would therefore be hugely controversial. However, it would encourage companies to build renewable power infrastructure nearer to where prices are high, cutting down the amount of new pylons, cables and transformers needed to achieve a decarbonised grid.

Regional zonal pricing should enable better use of existing grid capacity and lower the cost of electricity, provided that the transition and its risks are managed well, the report said.

Even with such changes, Mr Milibands clean power by 2030 pledge looks increasingly likely to fail, the Lords warned.

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Baroness Taylor of Bolton, the committees chairman, said: Given the scale of changes needed to the planning, regulation and delivery of energy infrastructure, and the UKs historic [poor] record of delivering major infrastructure projects, our report questions the feasibility of meeting the clean power target.

Time is already running out, and there is no room for complacency. The Government and the sector must ramp up their efforts to have a chance of success.

Zonal pricing has been under consideration in the review of electricity market arrangements initiated by the previous government three years ago. An announcement is now imminent.

Government officials have advised Mr Miliband to press ahead with the policy, but the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz) has refused to say if he favours the idea. Mr Miliband has insisted he will not make any change that leads to higher bills for people.

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Regardless, the machinery for zonal pricing is already being put in place.

Ofgem recently announced plans for 11 Regional Energy Strategy Boards. Nine would be in England with one each in Scotland and Wales, all overseen by the National Energy System Operator (Neso).

The boards would be similar to the municipal electricity and gas boards that oversaw energy supplies before privatisation, comprising local councillors and energy company representatives.

Julian Leslie, Nesos chief engineer and director of strategic energy planning, said the boards would ensure that local communities play a central role in planning how they decarbonise and how their contributions support national strategic energy planning.

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Sam Richards, of Britain Remade, a pro-growth campaign group, said the UK needed a clean energy revolution to lower bills and create high-quality jobs.

He added: Moving to zonal pricing is a crucial step in achieving this ... It would help make smarter use of our existing grid, bring down electricity costs and attract the investment needed to build clean energy where its most abundant.

A Desnz spokesman said: We need new infrastructure to protect family and national finances with energy security, through clean home-grown power we control.

The three years of discussions around zonal pricing have generated growing tensions in the UK energy industry.

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John Pettigrew, the National Grid chief executive, last month spoke out against it, warning the disruption would be a huge distraction. Hitachi, suppliers of half the transformers, inverters and switch gear vital to the UKs great grid upgrade, have issued similar warnings. Others are strongly in favour, including Greg Jackson, the Octopus Energy boss.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is telling the community not to be alarmed if they see military or law enforcement activity near Memorial Park, as military training is taking place.

According to CSPD, the U.S. military will be conducting training exercises near Memorial Park and the old St. Francis Hospital near Pikes Peak Avenue and South Institute Street from June 3  June 6.

CSPD said this is a planned training exercise conducted in coordination with local authorities to ensure safety and minimal disruption to the community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The Colorado Springs-area man facing both state and federal charges after he allegedly set several people on fire Sunday in Boulder previously drove for Uber, a spokesperson for the ride-sharing and on-demand delivery service confirmed Tuesday.

Mohamed Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national with a recent residence in an unincorporated area of El Paso County east of Colorado Springs, started driving for the company in spring of 2023.

Uber officials did not state the exact date Soliman began driving for the company, but according to Gazette reporting, he had been granted a work visa in March 2023 after filing an asylum claim the previous September.

Soliman initially arrived in the U.S. in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired the following February. After filing the asylum claim, he was granted the work authorization, but once that expired, DHS officials say he did not leave and remained in the U.S. illegally.

All drivers with Uber must meet numerous eligibility requirements, including passing a criminal and driving history background check, providing a photo ID and holding a valid Social Security number.

According to the Uber spokesperson, Soliman had met all the requirements to drive for the company in accordance with Colorado law at the time.

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Soliman had not received any "concerning" feedback, but once the news broke and Soliman was identified as a suspect, Uber said it banned his account and now is in contact with law enforcement.

Mohammad Khizri, a member at the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs, said Soliman and his family attended the city's only mosque. He said Soliman was very quiet and kept to himself and showed up irregularly.

"He didn't really interact with people. He just came in to pray and visit his kids and wife," Khizri said. "He seemed like a good guy  very humble ... everyone was very shocked."

Khizri said that he heard Soliman would live out of his car for three or four days out of the week while working for Uber in Denver and then come back to Colorado Springs to see his family.

According to Khizri, the last time Soliman visited the mosque was 2 months ago during Ramadan, a month of fasting and communal prayer in the Islam faith.

The Boulder attack occurred just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday near 13th and Pearl streets during a weekly event called the peaceful humanitarian walk for hostages, organized by the group Run for Their Lives, which raises awareness about Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Millionaires will not be eligible for winter fuel payments this year, the pensions minister has told MPs, in a decision which threatens to punish households in the South of England.

Torsten Bell said there will be no return to the system under which all pensioners were given as much as 300 per year to help cover the cost of heating in the cold months.

Is there any prospect of a universal winter fuel payment? The answer is no, he told the Commons work and pensions committee.

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Most people  95pc of people  agree that it is not a good idea that we have a system paying a few hundred pounds to millionaires. But we will be looking at making more pensioners eligible.

More than a fifth of all households aged over 65 have assets worth 1m or more, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), including their homes, pensions and other wealth.

Mr Bells comments indicate that, if millionaire status is the qualifying criteria, more than 2.5m pensioner households stand to miss out on the restoration of winter fuel payments as a result.

These retirees are particularly likely to live in the South East, where the average households wealth stands at 489,800, versus 179,900 in the North East of England.

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Pensioners in London and the surrounding counties typically have more assets than those in the North. The house-price bonanza of the past 30 years means the typical detached property in London is now worth almost 1.1m  yet critics argue this wealth on paper does not always come with extra cash to pay heating bills.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, sparked a backlash last summer when she announced restrictions on payments shortly after Labour won the general election.

The party had not made any reference to the idea in its manifesto or election campaign, but the policy was cited as evidence Labour was serious about reining in excessive public borrowing.

Millions of pensioners are expected to get the winter fuel payment of up to 300 restored next week when Ms Reeves updates MPs on her spending plans. Downing Street insiders suggested that details of who will qualify will also be revealed.

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Mr Bell declined to set out the exact terms of the loosened means test which will replace the current system, under which pensioners only receive the winter fuel payments if they also claim pension credit.

He also said that income, not just wealth, could form a part of the qualifying criteria.

We are committed to the principle that there should be some means testing, and that those on the highest incomes shouldnt be receiving winter fuel payments, he said.

Fairness is an important part of it. My priority is those who are on lower incomes but have missed out.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell said the Government is committed to means-testing winter fuel payments - Belinda Jiao/Getty Images

Well-off on paper

Baroness Altmann, who served as a pensions minister under the Conservatives, said such a move would risk penalising those who are well-off on paper but have little cash to cover energy bills.

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She said: Very often people are asset-rich and income-poor. Just because you live in a house worth 1m in London, which you might have bought for 20,000, does not mean you have got plenty of money to spend. You can still be on a very low income.

If you have big expenses for a house, if your house is not very well insulated, and especially if you are poorer and have not been able to spend a lot of money on updating, then they will need more money for heating than younger families.

The average home in London sold for 552,000 March, according to the ONS, with the typical detached property worth 1.1m  up from less than 180,000 in 1995, three decades ago.

She favours offering winter fuel payments to all pensioners whose income is below the higher rate tax threshold of 50,271 per year.

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The most logical decision would be to treat it like child benefit, and if you pay higher rate tax then you do not get it, Baroness Altmann said.

If you pay higher rate tax, the Inland Revenue knows, so could adjust your tax code or find some other way to make sure you do not get the money.

It came as Ms Reeves confirmed that the new arrangements will be in place to give the payments to more pensioners this winter than last.

People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter, the Chancellor said.

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MILTON, Fla. (WKRG)  An anonymous 9-1-1 call Sunday evening called officers to a Milton home for a domestic dispute call, but one officer ended up being assaulted as well.

Kimberly-Clark plans $130M expansion in Mobile, adds 29 jobs

The officers were called to a home on Ticonderoga Street at about 9:27 p.m. in response to a domestic violence complaint between a husband and wife.

In contact with the male party, he refused to identify himself, Milton Police Chief Jen Frank said. Wed received earlier information that there may have been a firearm involved in the incident, and as such, certainly, our officers were being aware to both the safety of the victim, to the offender and to themselves as well.

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Frank said the husband, 54-year-old Herbert Dillard, tried to resist arrest and charged back towards his home, attempting to grab the firearm.

Officers did engage with that subject, the subject resisted arrest, and in that process of arrest, did end up assaulting one of my officers, Frank said.

Dillard then put the officer in a headlock, and the officer used pepper spray to break free.

Police arrested Dillard on charges of domestic battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer with violence.

I want to take a moment here to really praise the way that the officers handled the incident despite the fact that they were being physically assaulted. They were able to de-escalate the incident and respond with nonlethal force to take the individual into custody, Frank said.

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According to the chief, Dillards wife told officers that there had been previous domestic violence assault incidents.

Whether or not those were criminally handled, Im not aware of, but certainly, regardless of whether its the first time or there have been many incidents, we encourage anyone who believes that theyre in a volatile situation where their safetys at risk to please call the police department, she added.

UPDATE: 75-year-old man shot, killed by MPD after pointing gun at officers

Jail records show Dillard was released from the Santa Rosa County Jail Tuesday evening.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Milwaukee, get ready to celebrate Independence Day with a slight tech-savvy twist this year.

Milwaukee County, in collaboration with the Milwaukee Parks Foundation, plans to use drones instead of fireworks for its long-standing McKinley Beach July 3 celebration. The drone show will blend "cutting-edge drone technology with an original synchronized soundtrack for a dazzling 45-minute performance," featuring images of Milwaukee's iconic landmarks as well as patriotic and local themes, according to the county.

Milwaukee County is at its best when we come together to create memorable, inclusive experiences for everyone," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in a news release. "Were proud to bring the community together for this first-of-its-kind drone show, highlighting not just our beautiful lakefront but the creativity and collaboration that make Milwaukee County so special."

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The switch marks a national shift in other cities across the country, including Napa, Tahoe City, and Salt Lake City, that have chosen drone shows over fireworks for July 4 celebrations. For many cities, the use of drones offers a safer, eco-friendly and noise-free spectacle. The City of Wauwatosa has also decided to ditch traditional fireworks, replacing them with a drone show July 2.

This drone show is an exciting and environmentally conscious way to celebrate our community," Guy Smith, executive director of Milwaukee County Parks, said in the release. "Unlike traditional fireworks, drone shows reduce noise and air pollution while still delivering an unforgettable experience ... Its about making memories and ensuring everyone feels welcome in these shared spaces.

Map for Milwaukee County's July 3, 2025, drone show.

The display is expected to start around 9:15 p.m., with public viewing areas available at McKinley Beach and McKinley Park.

In 2024, Milwaukee County canceled its annual July 3 lakefront fireworks show due to a lack of sponsorship funding. The county's parks department previously shared that the fireworks display usually cost roughly $350,000 for pyrotechnics and $20,000 for additional staffing and service costs related to the event. The event typically draws in over 100,000 people from across Wisconsin.

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Bridget Fogarty of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County trades fireworks for drones for its July 3 celebration
CHICAGO  An undocumented immigrant who police say was framed and wrongly accused of mailing a threat to shoot President Donald Trump will remain in detention for now.

An immigration judge postponed a bond hearing for Ramon Morales-Reyes, 54, of Milwaukee, on June 4 and rescheduled it for June 10.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera condemns Homeland Security's accusation of Ramon Morales-Reyes and demands for his release from immigration detention outside of the Chicago Immigration Court on June 4.

The decision means Morales-Reyes will remain in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, at Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau.

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Immigration Judge Carla Espinoza said she and Caitlin Corcoran, an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security, needed more time to review the evidence submitted by Morales-Reyes' attorney Cain Oulahan. At the next hearing, she is expected to review whether Morales-Reyes poses a threat to the community and whether he is a flight risk.

Morales-Reyes was detained on May 22 after immigration agents received a handwritten letter in English threatening to shoot Trump that arrived in an envelope with Morales-Reyes' name and address. Agents arrested him after he dropped off his child at school on Milwaukee's south side.

Investigators quickly ruled out Morales-Reyes as a suspect in the letter since he cannot read, write, or fluently speak English.

Six days later, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a public statement accusing Morales-Reyes of sending the threat, a claim that came under immediate scrutiny from his family and attorneys. On June 2, prosecutors in Milwaukee charged Demetric Scott with sending the letter in the hopes Morales-Reyers would be deported and unavailable to testify against him in a separate robbery case.

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TIMELINE: Police quickly suspected a man detained by ICE was framed for Trump death threat. Then Kristi Noem accused him of the crime.

Despite Noem's news release and ongoing media coverage, Corcoran, the DHS attorney, said she was not familiar with any information about the letter and needed time to review the evidence.

"It just seems hard to believe, given the secretary publicized it and all the (media) coverage," said Oulahan, Morales-Reyes' deportation attorney, after the hearing.

Morales-Reyes appeared by video for the hearing, which took place in a small courtroom in downtown Chicago. A few reporters and a sketch artist sat in the gallery observing the proceedings. Two other rooms in the courthouse were filled with people waiting for their cases to be called.

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Oulahan and Corcoran, the attorneys, agreed Morales-Reyes is likely bond-eligible, meaning he has not been convicted of certain crimes that make his detention mandatory. His arrests in 1996 do not make him ineligible given the available information, they said.

In response to questions after the hearing, DHS released a statement on June 4, confirming that Morales-Reyes is no longer under investigation for threats against Trump.

(He) will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings as he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier, DHS said in an email.

Publicly available records in Wisconsin connect a man named Ramon Morales Reyes to two incidents in 1996, one where he was accused of a hit-and-run and another where he was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, related to domestic violence.

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Based on available records, prosecutors did not charge the alleged hit-and-run and dismissed the criminal damage charge. The disorderly conduct charge resulted in a non-criminal conviction, which usually refers to a ticket.

Voces de la Frontera, along with Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, demand Milwaukee immigrant be released after being wrongly accused of threatening Trump.

Before the immigration hearing, about 10 people with Milwaukee immigration advocacy organization Voces de la Frontera and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights gathered to support Morales-Reyes outside the court.

"We are standing behind him and his family because he is innocent," said Clara Nielsen, who came with Voces de la Frontera.

"What is happening to him is wrong, and people need to know about it," she said.

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Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director at Voces de la Frontera, said family members and lawyers have shared that Morales-Reyes suffers from anxiety and has been bullied at the detention center because of the DHS allegations.

She also stressed the importance for Morales-Reyes to be reunited with his family and to be able to testify against the man accused of framing him in an upcoming jury trial.

Morales-Reyes is a victim and witness of an armed robbery and assault case in 2023. He cooperated with law enforcement and has applied for a U visa.

A U visa allows undocumented victims and witnesses of certain crimes to stay in the U.S. for up to four years if they help law enforcement investigate the crime. It is intended to encourage crime reporting from undocumented immigrant communities.

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Morales-Reyes' application was sent out over a month ago, but he has yet to receive an acknowledgment of receipt from the responsible agency, his attorneys said.

The pending U visa does not protect Morales-Reyes from deportation unless the court grants some other form of protection.

Oulahan, his deportation defense lawyer, said he is planning to ask for a cancellation of removal at a future hearing. That order would protect him from deportation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Immigrant framed in Trump death threat case to remain in ICE custody
A program that helps minority and women business owners has been suspended in the city of Orlando, as well as the Greater Orlando Airport Authority.

We dont have a choice. We do have to follow the law, said program director Janerro Coulter.

Coulter talked about why the citys Minority Woman and Business Enterprise program was suspended. He said its what the city had to do to accept a $37 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for airport improvements.

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Under the Trump administration, the certification language changed to where no program should discriminate either positively or negatively on the basis of race or gender.

We are going to implement a small business program and then everybody currently in our MWBE program is going to be in the small business program, Coulter said.

Orlandos Minority and Women Business Enterprise offers contracting opportunities to 616 business owners in the city. Many are shocked that its being suspended.

Shawn Ford of the Ford Design Group said, It scares me. For one thing, if its going to be suspended on a local level and other municipalities and entities follow suit, it could pretty much put me and other businesses like me out of business.

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I think its really sad to do that, suspend it like that. Its our only backbone for getting jobs, said James Goins, owner of ABC Land Clearing and Development.

Coulter says those in the Minority and Women Business Enterprise program wont have to do a thing. They will be automatically enrolled into the new business program with other small businesses.

For the incoming businesses theyll have access to opportunities that they didnt have before. Its a win-win for them.

But Ford is concerned, saying, Without minority requirements, we wouldnt get invited to be a part of large local and national projects.

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Orange County officials say Mayor Jerry Demings will meet with senior staff about the same issue in the next few weeks.

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Stephanie Evans, left, director of the Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot, holds an all-hands meeting with students and faculty on May 30, 2025, to announce a pause in operations that will go into effect June 30. (Tom Ross/Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center)

Less than a week after receiving word that Job Corps centers across the country will pause operations by the end of June, students, faculty and administrative staff in Minot have already begun packing up for the inevitable move off campus.

On May 29, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot, along with nearly 100 other contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide, will pause operations by June 30 because of operational deficits, low graduation rates and a high number of incident reports involving students.

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I was just saying goodbye to a gentleman today who was offered a job as a welder and before he came to Job Corps, probably 15-16 months ago, he had no idea what welding was, Tom Ross, workforce development officer for the Burdick Job Corps Center, said Wednesday.

The Job Corps program has about 25,000 enrolled students nationwide between ages 16-24, many from low-income families. Ross said the Burdick Job Corps Center graduates 25 to 40 students every year and employs outreach staff who serve Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks.

Students take courses to get their GEDs and learn skills and certifications in the electrical, plumbing and construction trades, among others.

Ross said two other students recently went through the welding program and are living in Mississippi, welding ships for the U.S. Navy.

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For all of the bad news thats out there, I can match it with a good news story of students who are just rocking it, he said. What I have seen every day since Ive been here is a group of professionals that are focused on the success of students.

It does not make sense to beat the we need workforce drum over and over again, and then close one of the leading workforce development sites in North Dakota, Ross said.

To me, those two pieces of the puzzle will never fit together, he said.

In a statement from Sen. John Hoevens office, the Republican said he has always supported the mission of the Job Corps program and the Burdick Job Corps Center, but recent statistics have shown performance levels are not where Americans expect them to be. He added more data is needed to determine what reforms and changes are necessary.

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North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer also raised concerns about the program costs.

While Im a big fan of Job Corps centers, the average cost per student each year is over $80,000 while only graduating 38%, Cramer said in a text message. We cant ignore the broader fiscal reality and the need to set priorities. We have a $37 trillion debt and its headed for $50 trillion.

The Job Corps program operated at a $140 million deficit in 2024 and the deficit was expected to increase to $213 million in 2025, according to Labor Department data.

Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community, said U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, in a statement. 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.

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Examples of incidents are drug use, violence, or an accident requiring a trip to the hospital.

Chavez-DeRemer said the department will be evaluating the long-term possibilities of the program and is committed to assisting students as they transition back into their communities.

The National Job Corps Association, a professional trade association comprised of business, labor, volunteer, advocacy, academic and community organizations, filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a temporary restraining order against the Department of Labor in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to prevent the nationwide closures.

Closing Job Corps campuses would not only jeopardize the lives and futures of tens of thousands of students currently in training, but it would also eliminate a workforce pipeline that many industries depend on, needlessly weakening our labor market and economy, said Marty Walsh, former labor secretary under President Joe Biden, in a statement from the association.

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Addie Nelson worked as an administrative assistant at the Burdick Job Corps Center for nearly 30 years. She said the program has always helped students find their futures and she worries there wont be another place like the Job Corps program to help them along their career paths.

Its so rewarding to see them succeed when they didnt think they were anybody, Nelson said. When they come and they think they are not worth anything and they start achieving these small little goals that theyve set themselves.  They see results and I think thats what hurts me the most is that Ive seen so many kids come and see what a world of difference Burdick (Job Corps Center) did for them. It just gave them hope.

She added that she had planned to retire in August to enjoy some early-morning cups of coffee on her front porch, but the pausing of the program sped up her timetable.

Ross said there are about 20 Job Corps centers across the country run by the Department of Labor that are not closing.

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He said hes hopeful the pause announced by the department will only be a pause and the skills-training program will restart in some form in the future.

The Job Corps program is not a perfect program, but  show me a federal program that is perfect, he said.

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(KTLA)  The body of a 31-year-old woman from California was discovered near a hiking trail in Scottsdale, Ariz., late last month, officials announced.

Hannah Moody, described as a social media influencer by the Los Angeles Times, was first reported missing on May 21 just before 8 p.m. after friends said they had not heard from her and had been unable to reach her after she set off on a hike that day.

In a news release, authorities with the Scottsdale Police Department responded to the trailhead where the 31-year-old had last been seen and found her vehicle still in the parking lot.

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Officers began search efforts on foot, with drones and assistance from a Phoenix Police Department helicopter, the release stated. Search efforts continued for Hannah for approximately four and a half hours until around 11:30 p.m., when the search was called off for the evening.

Dating apps tied to U.S. citizens kidnapped in Mexico, officials warn

More than 20 officers on bikes, on foot, with drones and with help from the Maricopa County Sheriffs Department search and rescue and air unit picked up the search the following morning, officials said.

The sheriffs air unit spotted Moodys body about 600 feet from the Gateway Trailhead of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale at around 12 p.m.

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On her Instagram account, where she had amassed more than 45,000 followers, Moodys posts focused on what appeared to be a passion for hiking, fitness and her Christian beliefs.

In reporting by The Times, the 31-year-old had lived in Los Angeles, Orange and Alameda counties, as well as in South Carolina.

Scottsdale detectives and crime scene personnel will now conduct a thorough investigation to piece together what happened to Hannah and how she died, officials said in the release. Our investigation will be in cooperation with the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, which will ultimately determine the cause of death.

Temperatures in the area where her body was found, including on the day she was discovered, routinely exceed 100 degrees by noon.

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Investigators said that while the death investigation is in its early stages, Moodys body showed no signs of trauma or foul play.

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NEED TO KNOW

The bodies of a father and daughter who went hiking in Maine days ago have now been recovered

Esther Keiderling, 28, and her father Tim, 58, were last seen on Sunday, June 1

Tim was found dead on Tuesday, June 3  and his daughter's body was found the next day







The body of a daughter who went missing along with her father after they set off on an Appalachian trail hike together has been located.

Esther Keiderling, 28, and her father Tim, 58 were declared missing on Tuesday, June 3. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said the pair were last seen around 10:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 1, when they set out from Abol Campground to hike Mount Katahdin.

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A few hours later on June 3, authorities announced in a statement that a Maine Warden Service K9 search team found Tim's body near the summit of the mountain, but that his daughter remained missing.

The next day, they updated the statement with a grim announcement that searchers had found Esther's body.

It is with deep regret that we share the news that today, at approximately 1:00 p.m. (June 4), search teams discovered the body of Esther Keiderling off the Tablelands, in a wooded area between two known trails, authorities wrote, sharing that additional details would be provided later, after searchers returned to the base of the mountain.

The father and daughter were both from Ulster Park, N.Y., according to authorities.

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Baxter State Park Rangers launched a search for the Keiderlings after their car was found still parked at the trailhead on the morning of Monday, June 2.

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The Baxter State Park website describes the Katahdin trail as a very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose, noting that it can take an average of eight to 12 hours to hike round-trip.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Rescue personnel found Esther and Tim Keiderling dead days after they started their hike. Rescue personnel found Esther and Tim Keiderling dead days after they started their hike.

In addition to the rangers, the search expanded to include other rescue personnel like game wardens, K9 teams, helicopters from the Maine Forest Service, and the Maine Association of Search and Rescue Volunteers.

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The Maine Army National Guard and their helicopters also assisted with the transportation of searchers, and searching trails, streams and the Tablelands from the air, officials said.



Read the original article on People
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WJTV)  A house fire killed three people in Mississippi, officials said.

The fire occurred at a home in the 2000 block of Brooksville Road around 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2.

As firefighters responded to the scene, they spotted a large column of smoke visible from the center of the City of Louisville. When crews arrived, they found a fully involved structure with heavy fire through the roof.

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Louisville Fire Chief Robert Hutto said several bystanders from a nearby construction site had already broken windows on the east side of the home, reporting that victims might be in the bedrooms.

Mississippi man, woman charged with abusing 1-year-old

Firefighters entered two bedrooms through the east side windows. Hutto said one firefighter located an unresponsive victim in the back bedroom, and the victim was passed out through the window to waiting responders, who began CPR.

EMS arrived on scene and took over medical care of the rescued victim, who was transported to Winston Medical Center and later airlifted to a hospital in the Jackson area. However, the victim was pronounced deceased later that evening.

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Hutto said two other victims, an adult and a minor, were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. The investigation has been turned over to the State Fire Marshals Office.

Our hearts are heavy for the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy, said Hutto. We are incredibly grateful to our firefighters, EMS teams, and volunteer departments for their bravery and quick response under extremely hazardous conditions.

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One doesnt have to look far to find a success story at Eastlake High School.

Community members gathered to celebrate the alternative charter schools 20th year of operations Tuesday afternoon. Featuring music performances, a homestyle barbecue cookout, a ceremonial cake and a time capsule, the packed little building brought together colleagues-turned-friends through the schools unique offerings.

I would recommend this school to anyone, Class of 2021 graduate Camreyon Andrew said. There are resources here that arent in regular public schools.

Andrew, like many Eastlake students, says he struggled in traditional public schools and was on the verge of dropping out because of declining attendance. It wasnt until he learned about the school through his older brother that he committed to graduating at a ramped-up pace.

He would go on to earn his certificates in diesel technology at Pikes Peak State College and start his own towing company.

I don't think I would have learned that's what I wanted to do if I never came here," he said. "This school gave me what I needed."

The school, founded in 2004 as the Life Skills Learning Center, offers high-risk students the chance to graduate at their own pace. Tailoring a learning plan for each of its students, the school offers two daily sessions during a shorter school day to provide them different paths to success.

As an alternative education campus, Eastlake provides flexible schedules to high-risk students who may not be able to attend typical school hours because of circumstances like caring for their families or working multiple jobs. Students under 18 attend classes from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., while students over 18 attend classes in the afternoon four times a week.

As a charter school, it can also provide nontraditional approaches to instruction, like self-paced learning determined by an initial assessment to meet them where they are academically.

So, we build their schedules around them. Not the other way around, Principal Cassandra Berry said.

In early 2024, the school also enacted a policy limiting student cellphone use during school hours aimed at improving class engagement. The policy proved to be so successful that the schools chartering district, Colorado Springs School District 11, would adopt a similar policy the following year.

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Among the schools founders are former Colorado Springs Police Chief Luis Velez, former Chief Judge Gilbert Martinez and local real estate developer Steve Schuck, who recognized the need for alternatives to students dropping out and quickly ending up in the judicial system.

Berry said the school's scope would evolve and develop to include support for students who struggle with larger student bodies or who move at a faster pace through coursework. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school, which has served 100-300 students since opening, expanded offerings from 16- to 21-year-olds to younger ninth graders who may have struggled returning to a large school environment.

Older kids are provided greater autonomy through blended learning separate from the younger students. Because the focus is on graduating rather than measured achievement, students are afforded more time to complete their education at their suitable pace. Berry said one student reenrolled six times before finally earning their diploma.

Conversely, students are now able to graduate at a much faster pace, with their youngest student receiving their diploma at age 16.

Claudia Salomon attended Eastlake for only one year in 2008-09, but this was because she earned three years worth of credits during this time. The reason she came to the school was to graduate early and care for her 2-year-old child at the time.

Despite her brief tenure as a student, the bonds made during this time would stay strong as she returned to Eastlake as a staff member eight years ago. She said that the schools teachers and staff have consistently been able to meet the needs of all their students, no matter what they are.

These students have had difficult lives, she said. And I think it really helps them to have people who understand that.

Beyond the classrooms, staff and faculty have remained in touch with students over the years and continued their support through a series of community partnerships. These include offering concurrent enrollment (earning high school and college credit at the same time) and certification opportunities with PPSC, connecting students with local businesses and providing overall community resources like a food pantry and a clothing bank.

Going forward, the school plans to introduce a new peer-mentorship program with the Colorado Health Foundation for mental health and substance abuse support.

The new grant-funded program stems from recognizing a greater need for these services in recent years.

So, thats why I said its constantly evolving, Berry said of the school. Were constantly changing, depending on whos here.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Several County Health Departments (CHD) in Mississippi will hold special walk-in immunization clinics for school registration this summer.

The walk-in clinics are for incoming kindergarten and 7th grade students, both of whom have required vaccinations before starting school in the fall. Parents must provide the school with a Certificate of Immunization Compliance (Form 121) prior to school entry. College students can also receive vaccinations during the clinics.

Doctors urge Mississippians to brace for Sahara dust effects

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Clinic hours are 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on designated days. For a complete list of CHDs holding walk-in clinics and the dates, click here.

There is a $10 administration fee per shot if a child does not have insurance; the cost is $20 for college students.

Parents should bring a copy of their childs immunization record. Form 121 can be obtained from your childs immunization provider, but the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) now offers MyIR Mobile to check your childs immunizations record online. Only immunization records of Mississippi residents are accessible through the portal.

Childhood vaccinations are available at any CHD by appointment. If your child is not up to date on vaccinations, call (855) 767-0170 to schedule an appointment. If you would like to request a medical or religious exemption, review the MSDH process online.

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ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis Circuit Court judge signed an arrest warrant for a southwest Missouri man accused of stealing grease from a popular Soulard restaurant.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, John D. McGurks Irish Pub first contacted police on May 1 to report grease thefts.

Restaurant management had surveillance video from April 14, showing a man taking approximately $944 worth of grease from the restaurants grease containers. A second theft occurred on May 1, with an estimated $783 worth of grease stolen.

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Following the initial police report, McGurks management reported a third grease theft on May 7, with an estimated $380 of grease taken.

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Thanks to informants, police said investigators were eventually able to identify the grease thief as Ronald D. Braden, 39. The informants told police that Braden lived in Republic, Missouri.

On May 14, an officer with the Republic Police Department pulled Braden over for a traffic stop, which allowed authorities in St. Louis to identify him from McGurks security video.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Braden with two counts of stealing  $750 or more and one count of stealing.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department announced that a man wanted in connection with a deadly shooting on Woodale Lane last month was arrested in Texas Tuesday night.

PREVIOUS: Woman dead, boyfriend injured following shooting on Woodale Lane, Metro police say

The MNPD said that on Sunday, May 18, Kelveonna Holmes, her 24-year-old boyfriend and their 3-year-old son went to a residence in the 2400 block of Woodale Lane to visit. The three were still in their vehicle when another car passed in front of the home and fired shots. Metro Nashville dispatch told News 2 the incident was called in at about 12:22 p.m.

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Arriving officers rendered aid to Holmes before she was transported to Skyline Medical Center where she died from her injuries. Her boyfriend sustained a graze wound and was treated and released from the hospital. The child was not physically harmed.

An investigation by the MNPDs Homicide Unit led to the recovery of the involved car in Cheatham County. They also developed 21-year-old Dhaeton Hodge as a suspect.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Police said that Hodge was taken into custody at a Fort Worth-area motel and hes been charged with criminal homicide as well as two counts of attempted criminal homicide. As of publication, hes being held as a fugitive pending his return to Nashville.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  There are some Kentucky areas with less access to healthcare, but state leaders are working to get help to those who need it.

The Kentucky Primary Care Association (KPCA) is an organization with the mission of making sure everyone has access to healthcare. Thats made easier by their newly acquired mobile health units. KPCA chief financial officer Rick Grant said this is a momentous moment.

Heres where Laurel, Pulaski County residents can get Social Security card replaced following tornadoes

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This project has been three years in the making, and so this contract and total was for 12 of these. This is five of the 12. After today, we only have one more to be delivered by the end of June, so were excited to be close to the end, Grant said.

These units will be delivered to areas like Warren and Whitley counties, for example, where theyll offer a bunch of services while eliminating the transportation barrier. Ryan Wiggington is the chief financial officer for Fairview Community Health Center in Bowling Green.

One of the big populations of the underserved community that we have, its kind of unique to Bowling Green, is the international center that we have in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I think one of the big benefits that well have is transportation. Thats a big difficulty for them once they relocate to Bowling Green, Wiggington said.

Larry Rector is the CEO of Dayspring Health, serving the Whitley County area.

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We are in Whitley County, which is one of the five poorest counties in Kentucky. For many of the youth in our area, their caregivers dont have the capabilities to take them to the clinic, so we look forward to using this for both primary care vaccinations and dental care in our communities, Rector said.

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Officials said the key thing here is accessibility. Anyone with insurance will have it billed, but even those who dont will still get a price worked out based on their income, making sure no one has to miss out on crucial care.

A lot of our state officials, including Gov. Beshears office and then Andy Barr, were also instrumental in helping us obtain the funding and protect the funding to make this happen. The goal of these units is to take healthcare to people who either cant or have an aversion to going to a brick-and-mortar clinic, Grant said.

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Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean has stated that Russia seeks to deploy 10,000 troops in the separatist Transnistria region of Moldova and to establish a pro-Kremlin government in Chisinau.

Source: Recean in an interview with the Financial Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The prime minister said Russia is interfering in Moldovas parliamentary elections, scheduled for the end of September 2025, hoping that the future government will be more sympathetic to Moscow and will allow a larger Russian military presence in Transnistria.

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"This is a huge effort to undermine Moldovan democracy They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistrian region," Recean said.

He stated that the estimate of 10,000 troops that Russia could deploy in Transnistria is based on intelligence from Moldovan security services.

"Currently, their forces there are almost meaningless. But with a higher military presence in Transnistria that a Russia-leaning government can allow for, they can consolidate," Recean warned.

"You can imagine with 10,000 troops, what the leverage and pressure would be on the southwestern part of Ukraine. But also close to Romania, which is a NATO member state," the Moldovan prime minister added.

Background:

Estimates suggest there are currently about 1,500 troops sporting the Russian flag in Transnistria, most of whom are local residents.

Moldova consistently maintains that the presence of Russian troops in Transnistria is illegal and Chisinau expects their unconditional withdrawal.

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MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA)  Some high school students are honoring a fallen Marine by making some new bike racks for the park that bears his name.

PFC Robert C. Burke Memorial Park in Monticello was named in honor of a local teen who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and who was killed in action during the Vietnam War. At the age of 18, Burke was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the firefight that resulted in his death.

Movie filmed in Monticello brings Hollywood close to home

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The new bike racks are being made by students at Monticello High School, and they are themed around Burke. One rack features a metal sign bearing his name. Another racks sign reads 327th Marines  the battalion Burke served in.

The teacher who led the project said this was one design he didnt want to miss.

I love doing projects for the community, Ryan Woodham said. My students really get involved and get excited about it because its something they can take pride in. Its something they can drive around and show their parents and their friends that they were involved in it.

The bike racks are waiting to be painted. Once that happens, the city will find a date to place them out at the park.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Jun. 3ROCK FALLS  Montmorency School student registration for the 2025-26 school year will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 14.

Proof of residency is required by presenting two forms of legal identification. Fees are $65 for students in kindergarten through third grade and $70 for students in fourth through eighth grades. An optional Chromebook fee also is available for $20.

School begins at 8:45 a.m., when the first bell rings to signal the beginning of morning classes. Lunch and recess are from 11:56 a.m. to 12:41 p.m. Afternoon classes begin at 12:43 p.m. School is dismissed at 3:25 p.m.

The school year begins Wednesday, Aug. 13, and students will be dismissed at 11:44 a.m. The first full day will be Thursday, Aug. 14. Hot lunch will be served.
Jun. 3A 37-year-old Moraine man accused of downloading child pornography pleaded guilty to nine charges.

On Monday, Zachary Simmons pleaded guilty to one count of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and eight counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

Fourteen remaining charges were dismissed.

Simmons is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14. He is facing up to 18 months in prison and could be ordered to register as a Tier II sex offender, according to court documents.

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Moraine police opened an investigation into Simmons after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force sent them a tip claiming Simmons had downloaded child porn on April 12, 2024, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

None of the images included children known to Simmons, the prosecutor's office said.

Staff writer Daniel Susco contributed to this report.
ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP)  More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, a government spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it.

Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this years pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.

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On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly.

People paused to sit on the ground to rest or eat before heading to their camps.

Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj.

According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins.

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Pilgrims remain in Arafat, in prayer and reflection, from after midnight until after sunset. After sunset Thursday, pilgrims will go to the desert plain of Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, which they will use in a ritual.

Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures, but the mass of participants makes ensuring their safety difficult. One of the greatest challenges at the Hajj in recent years has been the heat.

Earlier in the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel told The Associated Press that 10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade, there is increased hospital bed capacity, and the number of paramedics has tripled.
New data shows that there are more people living with Alzheimers Disease than ever before.

Channel 2s Linda Stouffer spoke with a doctor about the urgent effort to get people to pay attention to the warning signs.

New public awareness public service announcements draw attention to what the Alzheimers Association calls a public health crisis.

There are now more than 7 million Americans living with Alzheimers. In Georgia, 188,000 people have the brain disease.

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Dr. Carl Hill is from the Morehouse School of Medicine and is now with the Alzheimers Association.

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Treatment here is really, really pivotal. Because you know, for the first time, you know there are what we call disease-modifying treatments that slow cognitive decline. Theyre only available to individuals in the early stages of the disease, making early detection and diagnosis critically important, Hill said.

The Alzheimers Association has a guide for the top 10 signs of Alzheimers, like confusion, and how to tell if its different from normal signs of aging.

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Hill said Black Americans face higher rates of the disease.

Nineteen percent of Black adults aged 65 and older have Alzheimers dementia compared with 10% of White older adults, Hill said. Research has shown us that there are important factors related to cardiovascular health. Whats good for the heart is good for the brain. And Black African Americans are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular health outcomes like diabetes, or stroke, or high cholesterol.

Healthy nutrition and physical activity are great for healthy aging.

For the top 10 signs to look for, visit www.alz.org.

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The Colorado Springs Police Department announced Tuesday evening that the US Military will be conducting training exercises in Colorado Springs this week.

According to the department's social media announcement, the training exercises, conducted in coordination with local authorities, will take place "from June 3 through June 6" and will take place near Memorial Park and the old St. Francis Hospital at Pikes Peak Avenue and South Institute Street.

The post did not include mention of the time, nature, branch of the military involved or size of the training exercises, nor whether park or street closures would be involved.
GALION, Ohio (WCMH)  A long line of people, many wearing their law enforcement uniforms, stretched out of the Northmor High School gymnasium Tuesday afternoon.

Another line with hundreds more formed in the school cafeteria, waiting to get into the gym where Morrow County Deputy Daniel Sherrers family stood by his side.

Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton greeted many of those people at the door, shaking their hands and offering hugs, hugs he never thought he would have to give.

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Were hurting, you know, that that is to, to be expected, you know, but everyone has still came to work every day, he said. Theyve pulled together, theyve supported each other. Theres so many things going on at once, because nothing ever prepares you for this, you know, theres, Im calling people, you know? Hey, whats my next step?

Morrow County Deputy Daniel Sherrer was gunned down on Memorial Day while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Marengo.

The community hasnt been the same since.

You never know how much youre appreciated or loved until something like this happens, Hinton said. I wish there was a way I could pay them back. I probably know I never will be able to, but I just want everyone in Morrow County to know that I am proud to be born and raised here.

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Over the last week, a lot of tears have been cried for Sherrer. He was 31 years old, engaged to be married, and by all accounts, a joy to be around.

Always had a smile on his face, Hinton said. He was never in a bad mood, you know? Always happy to be at work, never missed work, always smiling,

Hinton hired Sherrer in 2021.

Sherrers death has been hard on everyone in the community, including the other deputies and staff at the sheriffs office and jail.

You know, God love them, most of them have, you know, said, Hey, yeah, Im going to work my shift, you know, and, and I appreciate that, Hinton said.

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Other law enforcement officers and loved ones traveled from all over Ohio Tuesday to show the Morrow County community they are loved, and theyve got their back.

Hinton has been blown away by the support his office has received in the last week, which is why he made it a point to greet and shake the hand of every person who came to the vigil last Thursday and again at the visitation Tuesday.

Its more of a way to the only way I can think to give back right now to the community that has, he said. You know what? When we brought him home from Dayton, you know, the amount of people that showed up. And I was standing there trying, I was like, how can I pay the people back? You know, the only thing I could think of at the time was go out and thank them and tell them how much you appreciate them for being there. And, and I decided I would, I would do that, today as well, you know, to, to make sure they know that we do love and appreciate everything theyve done for us.

Sherrers family and loved ones stood at the front of the gym for hours, shaking hands, hugging, and crying with people. Many folks they didnt know and had never met. For the family, they knew this day was always a possibility, as is the same for all law enforcement families.

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His dad told me since he was three years old, you know, that was, that was what he wanted to do, Hinton said.

Sherrer, who was called Weston by his parents, knew he wanted to be a police officer since he was a child. He even wrote it down in elementary school when his class was writing out their Big Dreams. His read, My big dream is to be a policeman. I want to catch the villains and Im willing to risk my life for the people in the United States.

Hinton saw a bright future and career in law enforcement for Sherrer. It was job or career for some, but for Sherrer, it was his calling.

Honestly, who knows? Hinton said. He could have been the next sheriff of Morrow County, you know, or a police chief somewhere. He was just that great of a guy.

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Hinton has plans to build a permanent memorial for Sherrer at the sheriffs office but also wants to rename Route 42 in front of the office in his honor.

The big thing is that we never forget his family, his fiancee, well celebrate him, and well hold him up high and honor him, he said. Im going to look at getting 42 in front of the sheriffs office renamed in honor of him. Hes up there looking down, smiling for sure.

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The post a-has Morten Harket Diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease appeared first on Consequence.

Morten Harket, frontman of Norwegian synth-pop legends a-ha, has revealed that hes been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

Harket, 65, disclosed his illness in an interview with a-has biographer Jan Omdahl that was published to the bands website on Wednesday. As Omdahl reports, Harket underwent advanced brain surgery in 2024, during which electrodes were implanted deep within his brain. These are connected to a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin of his upper chest, which sends electrical impulses to help regulate brain activity. Combined with medication, the device has helped reduce the symptoms associated with Parkinsons disease.

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However, even with such treatment, the condition still reguarly impacts Harkets sleep and energy levels, as well as his voice. I dont feel like singing, and for me thats a sign, Harket told Omdahl. Im broadminded in terms of what I think works; I dont expect to be able to achieve full technical control. The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, thats out of the question. But I dont know whether Ill be able to manage it at some point in the future.

When we tune the frequencies and direction of the electrodes, it is also able to affect the region of the voice, but were not yet able to capture and control it, he added. The voice problem comes especially when I take dopamine supplements. If I dont take dopamine, my voice settles down  but then the general underlying symptoms become more pronounced.

Despite his diagnosis, Harket is keeping a positive attitude. Ive got no problem accepting the diagnosis, he told Omdahl. With time Ive taken to heart my 94-year-old fathers attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: I use whatever works.' And hes also not ruling out music completely.

For a few years now Ive been working on songs that Ive got great belief in, and I feel the lyrics, especially, have something of a different aspect of me in them. Im not sure if Ill be able to finish them for release. Time will tell if they make it. I really like the idea of just going for it, as a Parkinsons patient and an artist, with something completely outside the box. Its all up to me, I just have to get this out of the way first.

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Two people are recovering after a crash with an alligator on a Florida highway over the weekend

The victims were a 67-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, who both veered off the road after striking the alligator

They were later transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries







A man is recounting an unusual crash on a Florida highway that sent him and another motorcyclist to the hospital.

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A Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson tells PEOPLE the incident happened shortly after 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 31. The victims, identified as a 67-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, both veered off a highway in Orange City after striking an alligator in the middle of the lanes. Afterwards, the man ended up hitting a tree.

Video from the accident circulating online shows the other motorcycle riders narrowly avoiding the gator in the middle of the road as well as an image of the bloodied animal on the asphalt.

Afterwards, both individuals were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Cameron Gilmore, the man who was injured, told local news station WKMG that he was riding with a group of motorcyclists at the time.

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I just remember one of my friends swerving, and Im looking at him swerving, and the gators like 10 feet in front of me, he said.

Speaking with NBC affiliate WESH, Gilmore said that as soon as he saw how close he was to the animal, he knew there was nothing he could do. "I was going to hit it," he said. "I didn't even have a second to do anything. Couldn't put on the brakes or not. And I just had to hold on."

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson told the Daytona Beach News-Journal the alligator was about six feet long.

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.

Gilmore said that one of his friends saw the entire crash go down in his mirror.

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"When he passed the gator, he saw me hit it, go up in the air, and flip over the handlebars. I hit head-first and rolled, Gilmore told WKMG.

Still, speaking with the station from his hospital bed, Gilmore said that he felt "blessed" to have survived with just some broken bones and road rash.



According to the FHP spokesperson, dispatchers sent the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to help with the alligator, who was injured in the crash, but survived.

Florida Highway Patrol said the crash remains under investigation.



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FLOYD COUNTY, Iowa  A Motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a semi on a Floyd County highway Wednesday morning.

Contractor tried to resell stolen medical equipment worth $60k from new UI hospital online, police say

According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, the collision occurred at around 9:10 a.m. on US Highway 18 near Charles City. The report states that the motorcyclist pulled out in front of a semi and the two collided.

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The motorcyclist, identified as a 66-year-old, died from injuries sustained in the crash. The names of the motorcyclist and the semi driver have not been released.

Iowa News:

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A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash in Middlefield on Tuesday.

Emergency crews responded to Main Street in the Rockfall section of town, near the Middletown line, around 7:06 p.m. and found a motorcycle and the operator on the ground, according to the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company.

The victim, a 54-year-old East Hampton man, suffered serious injuries and was unconscious, according to Connecticut State Police and fire officials. He received medical attention at the scene and was taken via Life Star to Hartford Hospital, officials said. His condition remains unclear.

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State police said the man was riding a 2011 Harley-Davidson FLTRX north on Main Street when he approached a curve in the road and struck a wood beam guardrail in the right shoulder.

Main Street was closed between Ross Road and Forest Street in Middletown while crews were at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Connecticut State Police Collision, Analysis and Reconstruction Squad. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Trooper Connor Hourigan at 860-399-2100 or Connor.Hourigan@ct.gov.
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Mount Etna tours have resumed following the Sicilian volcano's eruption on Monday, June 2, that sent hikers fleeing from its large plumes of smoke and ash.

The scene, while dramatic, is not an unusual occurrence for the Italian island, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported. The June 2 eruption was the largest in four years, but posed no danger to visitors or the local population, according to officials.

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As every Sicilian knows, since the dawn of time, Mount Etna does erupt few times a year, resulting mainly in ashfall, Conde Nast Traveler travel specialist Marcello Giancoli, who specializes in planning trips to Italy, says. This means that the volcano activity is a regular part of local life, that, with safety measures in place, is a natural hazard as well as a wonderful attraction to experience.

If you have an upcoming trip planned to Sicily, here's everything you need to know about the recent eruption.

How often does Mount Etna erupt?

Monday's eruption lasted several hours and produced lava fountains, bursts of gas, and ash clouds visible across much of eastern Sicily, according to the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. This was the volcanos fourteenth eruption since mid-March.

Volcanic activity at Mount Etna is predominantly effusive, characterized mainly by the emission of lava flows that do not impact surrounding populations, Ernesto Fucci, a trip designer for Sicily and Puglia at Butterfield&Robinson, tells Conde Nast Traveler. Eruptions characterized by lava flows, which are harmless, are frequent and occur at regular periods, and also represent a remarkable attraction."

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There is no major impact on a day-to-day life in the surrounding cities, but when explosive activity happens there could be inconvenience due to ash accumulation, he adds.

Will it impact my flight?

An aviation warning was put in place at Catania Airport on Monday, the Associated Press reported, but the airport did not close and flights were not significantly disrupted. In the past, ash from the volcano has occasionally shut down flights to Sicily for several hours or days.

The alert level has soon dropped to yellow and will drop to normal in the coming days, Fucci says." There has been a slight impact on flights to and from Catania airport, but it lasted only a few hours, and the situation is completely back to normal now."

What resources can I check?

Scientists have developed automatic alert tools that predict Mount Etnas eruptions hours to days in advance by monitoring gas emissions, earthquakes, and ground changes, Giancoli says. As of Wednesday, June 4, the Italian government has the alert level for Mount Etna listed as yellow, which means signs of volcanic activity are slightly above normal (orange means there are significant signs of an imminent eruption, and red indicates an ongoing eruption).

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Etna's volcanic activity is highly monitored by Civil Protection Department and the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Fucci says. The latter is the most important authority on the matter, and it constantly issues information and updates regarding the volcanic activities.

Is it safe to hike Mount Etna?

Mount Etna, whose stunning peak rises 11,014 feet tall and slopes toward the Ionian Sea, is a popular attraction for both hikers and tourists. Video footage obtained by CNN shows a tour group running downhill away from the explosion on June 2; Italian officials have confirmed that all hikers were evacuated safely.

Hikers have since returned to the volcanos slopes following the eruption, but officials are advising tourists to check for warnings before venturing towards the summit, Reuters reports. Trekkers are required to be accompanied by an authorized guide in order to hike Mount Etna above 2500m (8202 feet).

There are many activities that can be organized, always in safety, on Mt. Etna, from helicopter tours to guided jeep excursions, from mountain biking to very immersive hiking in the company of experienced volcanologists, says Fucci, who notes there are also several winery visits and tastings offered in the area.

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This is a developing news story and will be updated with information as it becomes available.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler

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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) The town of Mount Pleasant is considering updating its e-bike ordinance, amid safety concerns in some neighborhoods.

South Carolina state law says if an electric vehicle goes above 20 mph you have to be 15 or older to ride it.



We have people from 90 to 9 months who live here. The initial issue became one first of noise, then of safety, said Margaret Popper, a Mount Pleasant resident. Its just too congested too many people get disturbed and hopefully we can find a better solution.

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Mount Pleasant Police report 79 bike incidents in the last 5 months. Town leaders are considering updating their town ordinance on e-bikes: by stricter sidewalks guidelines, enforcing the speed limit of 10 mph for juveniles and expanding their ability to hold juveniles accountable.



We see young people that are going over 20 mph which makes it a moped and theyre under the age to operate those, so were looking at getting better enforcement of that and what the state penalties are for that, said Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie.



Some residents at the Mount Pleasant committee meeting spoke out about how helpful their e-bikes have been for their kids, insisting that their kids act responsibly on them.

Mayor Will Haynie says those using the bikes properly wont be penalized,



Were talking about the ones that are driving over 20 mph, were talking about the ones on the sidewalk doing 20-30 mph when the law says if youre a juvenile and youre on a pedal assisted e-bike, you can be there, you can get to school or practice, but you cant go over 10 mph, said Haynie.

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Some solutions Mount Pleasant leaders are considering are requiring e-bikes to be registered. They are also looking at adopting part of a state ordinance that says e-bike violations by minors could lead to a longer wait for a drivers license.



Leaders added discussion on amending the e-bike ordinance to the next town council agenda.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Ms. Rachel  the bubbly, sing-songy children's YouTuber personality who has probably caught the affection of a child you know and love  has made it clear that she won't stop speaking up about the children in Gaza, even if it means risking her career.

NBC / Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Known off-screen as Rachel Accurso, Ms. Rachel has built a massive brand with over 15 million YouTube subscribers, a Netflix deal, and a line of merchandise.

Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

In a recent interview with NPR, when asked if she's received pushback from financial backers about her outspoken stance, she said, "There has been, but I wouldn't be Ms. Rachel if I didn't deeply care about all kids. And I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them. It's all about the kids for me."

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Ms. Rachel has been speaking out for the kids affected by the tragedy in Gaza since 2024, when she first shared a video fundraising for children in war zones, including those in Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine.

Since then, she's only gotten more outspoken, especially in the last month. In May, she shared a series of posts and videos of her meeting Rahaf, a 3-year-old girl who lost both her legs in an airstrike. Rahaf was able to be medically evacuated thanks to the help of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

"When I saw pictures of Rahaf in Gaza on the hospital floor, I saw the devastating consequences of endless bombing and continuous violations of children's human rights," Ms. Rachel wrote. "Rahaf is now thriving because she has access to medical care, food, water and a safe place to live. It's so clear what we need to give children so they can grow up into healthy, happy adults."

Ms. Rachel shared that Rahaf's father and two younger brothers are still in Gaza. Ms. Rachel said Rahaf and her mother, Israa, also a teacher, avoid eating during FaceTime calls with them because the family has so little food.

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In another post, Ms. Rachel sings and dances with Rahaf in her signature pink T-shirt, blue jean overalls, and ever-cheerful tone. But her caption is somber: "We both love our children with all of our hearts. We want the same thing for them. But my son will have dinner tonight, a story and snuggle with me, school in the morning and hers won't. If the situation was the other way around, what would I hope Israa would do for me?"

Related: This Republican Lawmaker's Embarrassing Lack Of Knowledge Of The Term "Intersex" Went Viral After He Proposed An Amendment To Cut LGBTQ+ Funding

This past week, Ms. Rachel addressed world leaders, calling out their silence. "Leaders, be so ashamed of your silence. Be so ashamed that you've seen the same images and videos that we've all seen, but they haven't moved you to do the right thing," she said. "Be so ashamed that you normally speak out for human rights. You normally speak out for children everywhere, but you won't know because they're Palestinian."

Ms. Rachel has received some criticism, like from pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism, who asked the DoJ to investigate Ms. Rachel over her posts about Palestinian children, arguing Ms. Rachel has been "remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers."

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Ms. Rachel did not respond to the allegations, but made her stance clear in recent posts. "It's not a crime to say the children of Gaza should have food and medical care  it's a crime to keep it from them," she posted.

Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing"  11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It

She also reiterated her stance against all hate. In a post this week, she wrote, "I stand against all forms of hate and violence  including antisemitism, anti-Palestinian hate, anti-Arab hate, anti-Muslim hate and all hate meant to divide us and cause harm rather than bring us together. Every child, person and every family deserves to feel valued, loved and safe."

To NPR, she said the criticism is "painful," but she sticks to her faith and advocacy. "I have to remind myself that people don't know my heart, and people try to tell you who you are, but you know who you are. And I know how deeply and equally I care for all children, and I do lean on my faith in that situation," she said.

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"I recently sat down with someone who has a family member that was taken hostage, and sitting with her and hearing the harrowing accounts. Feeling her pain, the anguish, the desperation to get that loved one home, where that loved one belongs, and have the family be complete. If you sat with her as well, if you just sat with her, you would want more than anything for that family to be whole again and them to not be suffering immensely."

On social media, her voice does not go unnoticed.

"God bless Ms. Rachel. A true inheritor of Mr. Rogers's legacy," one person wrote after another applauded Ms. Rachel for speaking out against leaders who have stayed silent on tragedies in Gaza.

"Thank you for using your voice when so many with power choose silence. The childrenand all Palestiniansdeserve better. May more hearts follow your lead ," another wrote in her comments.

"Thank you for being so human," someone else wrote on her video dancing with Rahaf.

"As a Jew I just want to say thank you. This shows nothing but insane kindness and compassion. Sending so much love," another said.

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According to UN agencies, of the 40,717 Palestinian bodies identified as of January, one-third  13,319  were children. An additional 25,000 have been estimated injured, and another 25,000 hospitalized for malnutrition.

You can support and donate to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund here.

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: "We Don't Import Food": 31 Americans Who Are Just So, So Confused About Tariffs And US Trade

Also in In the News: Republicans Are Calling Tim Walz "Tampon Tim," And The Backlash From Women Is Too Good Not To Share
This weekends attack in Boulder, Colorado by a man shouting Free Palestine and throwing molotov cocktails comes 10 days after two Israeli embassy staffers were killed by a man who yelled the same thing after shooting them, reloading, and firing more at the woman who tried to crawl away. Earlier this spring, a pro-Palestinian activist also threw molotov cocktails into the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who he had planned to attack with a hammer.

A statistical picture of antisemitic violence from 2025 so far isnt available. But what we know from 2024 is enough cause for concern. Since the October 7th, 2023 massacre in Israel sparked a brutal battle between Hamas and Israel, available metrics nationally and globally show the same pattern:

Within the U.S., the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports a massive spike in antisemitic incidents over the last two years, with numbers exceeding any other annual tally in the past 46 years. They report 2024 as the fourth year in a row that antisemitic incidents increased and broke the previous all-time high. For instance, FBI data in the fall showed that anti-Jewish hate crimes had increased by 63% since 2023.

Looking internationally, Combat Antisemitism Movement likewise reports an unprecedented rise in global antisemitism - with a surprising 107.7% increase in incidents tracked by their Antisemitism Research Center compared to 2023, which had already experienced a record-breaking 58.6% increase over 2022. The Combat Antisemitism Movement calls this the most severe wave of antisemitism since the end of the Second World War.

Are critiques of Israel being counted as antisemitic?

This mounting hostility is often attributed to emotions generated by the conflict in Israel, which began with public outrage towards Hamas vicious attacks on Israeli Jews - but has shifted over time towards frustrations at Israeli war tactics that have wreaked devastation upon Palestinian homes, families and children.

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The influence of the war has been significant, but it can be overstated when it comes to the influence on worsening antisemitism. For instance, most countries with large Jewish minorities saw measurable increases in antisemitic hostility in the year preceding the 2023 Hamas attacks.

Nonetheless, the wars huge relevance highlights one of the major concerns about data tracking - namely, whether incidents of critique against Israel are being counted as antisemitic in a way that would inflate the numbers.

The Anti-Defamation League reports that it does not include criticism of Israel in their incident data - and has insisted elsewhere that they are careful not to conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism.

But the organization draws a line when public rhetoric rises to the level of justifying the Hamas attacks or calls for the destruction of Israel. Since October 7th, the Anti-Defamation League now counts as antisemitism rallies that include support for Hamas or justify its attacks, calls to globalize the intifada or by all means necessary, and expressions of anti-Zionism such as the phrases Zionism is terrorism, or From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

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Critics of the ADL methodology still argue that the organization is too quick to classify legitimate critique of Israel as antisemitic. In a reanalysis of the 2024 ADL report by the magazine Jewish Currents, they pointed to over a thousand incidents they believe were misclassified as antisemitic in the 2024 ADL reportall of which were cases of speech critical of Israel or Zionism.

For instance, they ask whether it was justified to label as antisemitic phrases such as respect existence or expect resistance and when people are occupied, resistance is justified, which were flagged 56 times in a 2023 report.

Coming from both the far left and the far right

Whereas antisemitic hostility has historically been associated with the far-right, recent years have found far-left hostility towards Jews surging. According to the Antisemitism Research Center, just over 68% of incidents recorded globally in 2024 (4,329 of 6,326) were linked to far-left ideology - which they now call the dominant ideological camp of antisemitic incidents.

However, far-right incidents stand out as slightly more likely to involve violence compared to far-left incidents, which tends towards aggressive speech. That includes language such as settler-colonialism, Israeli apartheid, and genocide - reflecting what the Combat Antisemitism Movement describes as leveraging anticolonial narratives, certain critical theories, and anti-Zionist propaganda to fuel hostility toward the Jewish state and Jewish communities worldwide.

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Marc Soloway, a rabbi in Boulder, Colorado, wrote earlier this year in an open letter to the city council: Jews in America have mostly felt the threats of antisemitism from the far right in the form of White Supremacy, yet now many of us have experienced hatred, bigotry and intolerance from progressives, those who many of us have considered friends and allies.

The Antisemitism Research Center reports that 96.4% (4,174 of 4,329) of left-wing antisemitic incidents recorded in 2024 across the world manifested as Israel-related and/or anti-Zionist antisemitism. According to the ADL, a majority (58%) of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. during the same year contained elements related to Israel or Zionism - especially associated with anti-Israel protests.

Competing definitions of antisemitism

Part of the confusion boils down to competing debates over what qualifies as antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League relies on the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition - which emphasizes antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews - manifest in both rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks by an image of a yellow Star of David that reads "Jude," or Jew in German, resembling the one Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany, that is projected on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on the eve of annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sunday, May 5, 2024. | Ohad Zwigenberg

Some have expressed concern that this definition may be overly broad, allowing legitimate criticisms of Israel or Zionism to be classified as antisemitism - comparable to reasonable differences in perspective about LGBT issues all being classified as homophobic.

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Others advocate for the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA), which emphasizes discrimination, prejudice, hostility or violence against Jews as Jews (or Jewish institutions as Jewish). This alternative was created by scholars to more narrowly and tightly define antisemitism in a way that more clearly excludes strong critiques of Zionism.

Three types of antisemitic hostility

There are three main categories of antisemitic aggression tracked by ADL and other organizations: (1) harassment directed at individual Jews or Jewish institutions (2) vandalism of Jewish institutions, including Jewish cemeteries and (3) the attempt to physically harm Jews due to antisemitic hatred.

Across the world, the majority of antisemitic incidents according to the Antisemitism Research Center involved some kind of verbal attack - including 74% (1,898 of 2,553) of incidents recorded in the United States and 81% (1,555 of 1,916) of incidents in Western Europe. In total, 78% of the 2024 antisemitic incidents around the world (4,907 of 6,326) centered on verbal attacks.

Hezbollah supporters burn a poster with the Star of David as they block a road link to the international airport during a protest against statements made by U.S. deputy special envoy for Middle East peace Morgan Ortagus after she met with the country's president, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. | Bilal Hussein

The remaining incidents were more physical, with 13% (822 of 6,326) involving vandalism and just over 9% (597 of 6,326) involving physical violence or threats.

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In the United States, physical assaults according to the ADL increased by 21% in 2024 to 196 incidents that harmed 250 victims. U.S. antisemitic vandalism increased by 20% in 2024 to 2,606 incidents.

Similar to global trends, the majority of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. involved verbal harassment, including 6,552 incidents. There is good reason to believe these numbers substantially undercount the real figures, though, since only an estimated 66% of hate speech gets reported to law enforcement, with 78% of agencies reporting their numbers to the FBI (and 79% of cities claiming there were zero hate crimes in their city.)

Violence against all faiths is rising

If current trends continue, warned professor Uriya Shavit last year, Head of The Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry, the curtain will descend on the ability to lead Jewish lives in the West  to wear a Star of David, attend synagogues and community centers, send kids to Jewish schools, frequent a Jewish club on campus, or speak Hebrew.

Shavit added: With bomb threats against synagogues becoming a daily occurrence, Jewish existence in the West is forced to fortify itself, and the more it does so, the more the sense of security and normalcy is undermined.

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A U.S. News poll last year shows two-thirds of students enrolled at elite U.S. schools saying antisemitism was a problem on their campus. And a fall survey of adult Jews in the U.S. by the American Jewish Committee likewise found 93 percent of respondents saying antisemitism was at least somewhat of a problem, and about the same number expressing a belief that it had increased in recent years.

In an analysis of the Colorado attack, Georgetown University professor Bruce Hoffman highlights the even larger context where violence against all faiths is rising. He cites the Council on American-Islamic Relations report of historic numbers of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents - along with CatholicVote finding hundreds of instances of vandalism in the U.S since 2020, including more serious attacks on Catholic churches.

To stop it, Hoffman argues about any such violence against people of faith, our society must take more seriously not just bomb throwing, but the messages that light the fuse.
Federal judge dismisses California's challenge to Trump tariffs in jurisdictional ruling

Xinhua) 08:52, June 04, 2025

SACRAMENTO, the United States, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge has dismissed California's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's tariffs, based on jurisdictional grounds, while allowing the state to pursue an appeal in a court seen as more favorable to its arguments.

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco ruled late Monday that the case belonged in the specialized U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) in New York, which handles tariff disputes. However, she granted California's request to dismiss the case entirely rather than transferring it, enabling the state to appeal directly to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as the state requested.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated in a press release Monday night that the move is a "critical step" to protect the state's economy, which faces an estimated 25 billion U.S. dollars in consumer costs and 64,000 job losses due to the tariffs.

"We strongly believe this case belongs in federal district court," Bonta said in the statement, arguing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize tariffs. "Trump doesn't have the authority to impose these destructive tariffs."

The dismissal reflects California's legal strategy to avoid the CIT, where Trump's tariffs have faced mixed rulings. Last week, CIT blocked the tariffs in a separate case brought by 12 states led by Oregon, ruling that Trump exceeded his authority under the IEEPA. That decision is paused pending appeal.

The Monday ruling also marked a strategic pivot in a high-stakes legal clash over presidential authority and trade policy.

Corley's ruling did not address the tariffs' legality but emphasized jurisdictional protocol. "This action arises out of laws providing for tariffs, and this court is divested of jurisdiction," she wrote. Legal experts noted the Ninth Circuit, known for liberal-leaning decisions, could reinstate the case in district court if it sides with California's constitutional arguments.

Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, announced in April, imposed a 10 percent baseline duty on imports from most trading partners, with rates as high as 145 percent for China. The policies have triggered market volatility, with businesses criticizing erratic adjustments. The Port of Los Angeles reported a 30 percent drop in May shipments, while Central Valley farmers in California faced retaliatory tariffs on 23 billion dollars in U.S. agricultural exports.

The legal battles now span three appellate courts, with the Supreme Court likely to resolve conflicting rulings. Legal scholars argued that the cases test Congress's constitutional authority over trade, which has been increasingly delegated to the president since the 1930s.

California's appeal to the Ninth Circuit is expected within days, setting up a separation-of-powers debate.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on the occasion of Independence Day.

According to Azernews, the letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President, Dear friend,

I extend my warmest congratulations to you, your family and the people of Azerbaijan as you celebrate Independence Day on May 28th.

The bond between Israel and Azerbaijan is deeply rooted in history, strengthened by our shared values and the enduring friendship between our nations. Over the years, we have cultivated a partnership built on mutual trust, goodwill, and genuine respect between our governments and peoples.

I deeply appreciate Azerbaijan's unwavering support for its Jewish community and culture, as well as its steadfast solidarity with Israel in the aftermath of Hamas's heinous attack on October 7th. Your country has set a remarkable example of compassion and friendship that will not be forgotten. I also wish to express my gratitude for Azerbaijan's role in facilitating dialogue between Israel and Turkiye, helping to foster regional cooperation.

Under your leadership, Azerbaijan has become a pillar of stability and strength, a beacon of prosperity, and a model for successful economic development across the region.

I regret that unforeseen circumstances have necessitated a change in my schedule, forcing me to postpone my highly anticipated visit to Azerbaijan. However, I sincerely hope to reschedule our meeting-whether in Israel or Azerbaijan-at your earliest convenience so that we may continue discussing our shared interests and aspirations.

With best wishes for many more years of prosperity, friendship and success,

Sincerely,

Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister of the State of Israel
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell posted to his X account from inside a federal courtroom seven times during the first day of his defamation trial, which ignores strict rules in place to prevent such activity, according to a late-night court filing on Tuesday.

Lawyers for the plaintiff, ex-Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer, notified U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang about Lindell's non-compliance, which could potentially result in sanctions against him.

In addition, Lindell, who is facing civil claims of defamation, has been broadcasting live stream interviews and opinions on his personal television network, Lindell TV, on the front steps of the federal court building in downtown Denver.

The area is considered public property. He has walked outside to the front of the courthouse under a tarp where a media team interviews him during lunchtime.

According to the plaintiff's filing, Lindell told an interviewer who works for his network that the proceedings were boring.

If Im the jury, Im kind of bored," Lindell said. Coomer is "talking about the insides of the (voting) machines and stuff that weve never been able to see, right?

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"Tweeting" and "real-time communication" from inside the courtroom and from the buildings hallways are strictly forbidden, pursuant to Wang's pretrial order issued on May 20.

In one X post, made at 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Lindell wrote that he "didn't even know who this guy (Coomer) was until after MyPillow got attacked."

Coomers attorneys suggested civil contempt sanctions or some kind of penalty could keep Lindell from breaking the rules of the court.

On Wednesday morning, Wang reminded Lindell not to post to social media, issue public statements or give any further interviews about the trial. She said she was concerned about the effect such communications could have on witnesses and jurors.

Lindell verbally agreed to refrain from that conduct.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Colorado Politics reporter Michael Karlik contributed to this report.
Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) cheer supporters of paid family and medical leave who rallied at the Maine State House in May 2023. The bill was signed into law a month later. (Courtesy of Maine Paid Family Leave campaign)

Following the Senate earlier this week, the House on Wednesday passed LD 894, which proposes a series of amendments to the states paid family and medical leave program to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave.

But the vote was not without significant debate.

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Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) introduced the bill on behalf of the Labor Department to make specific refinements to the policy that were noticed during the rulemaking process.

However, during the House floor debate, Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips) called it legislation that threatens the very foundation of Maines economic landscape.

But underscoring the human rather than economic impacts, Rep. Valli Geiger (D-Rockland) said, We are not just a series of businesses. We are not just a series of workers.

She went on to say that we thrive when there is a blend of work and life, and all of us age, all of us fall into illness, many of us have children, and when we do, it is part of our culture and a decent society to give us time to recover, to allow us to take care of our elderly, our frail, our beloved ones.

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Though it isnt expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child.

Others supportive of the overall program argued that LD 894 does not do enough to ensure it will be effective. While LD 894 focuses on infrastructure, it leaves behind the operational reforms that matter most to the people on the ground, said Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick).

Rep. Nathan Carlow (R-Buxton) attempted two floor amendments to the bill, which both failed.

One amendment sought to require an employee to be employed with an employer for a minimum of 120 days before being eligible for paid leave. Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) said the Department of Labor is opposed to any change that would delay the implementation of the program. Rep. Charles Skold (D-Portland) argued the amendment would prevent people from taking leave when they need it. A motion to indefinitely postpone the amendment narrowly prevailed, 72-70.

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Carlow then presented another floor amendment that would allow workers and businesses who have contributed to the state fund but choose to adopt a qualifying private plan before the start of 2026 to be eligible for a refund from the Department of Labor. A motion to indefinitely postpone also narrowly prevailed 71-70.

The Senate had its own, albeit smaller, debate on paid family and medical leave Wednesday. Despite urging from Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) to back LD 1712, which hopes to strike a better balance between employee and employer interests by modifying how much an employer is required to contribute, when an employee needs to apply for the benefit and how much is paid out.

He described it as a reasonable compromise and a responsible compromise, the upper chamber voted against it 20-14. The House rejected the bill earlier this week, so it is now effectively killed.

That bill joined a series of other proposals to modify or repeal the program that were also rejected earlier this week, including LD 406, LD 1273, LD 1333, LD 952 and LD 1307.

Reporter AnnMarie Hilton contributed to this story.

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People living in a Miami Valley community told their leaders they are sick of the gun violence.

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As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, David Rose lost his son, Randy Graham, in a shooting on Elder and Buckeye Streets last month.

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He spoke at Tuesdays Springfield City Commission meeting.

Rose led a moment of silence for all the people shot and killed in the last several weeks.

They began a conversation about the effects of gun violence.

You guys dont understand the hurt until it hits home, said Rose.

Commissioner Krystal Brown said she saw one of her brothers friends die in a shooting as a child.

I so deeply apologize, sir, for your loss, Brown told Rose. I have no words that I can even imagine to comfort you at this time.

Rose said he doesnt think there is much for kids in Springfield to do, so they end up getting involved in violence.

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However, city commissioners listed several things kids can do for free this summer and are working to get a full list together.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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Context: The above video initially aired on June 1, 2025.

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Prosecutors have filed a charge against a local man accused of killing a Topekan in 2022.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced on this week that his office is charging Kayden M. Smith, 22, of Topeka with murder in the second degree. This comes after police arrested him for the second time in connection to the death of 35-year-old Dustin Clayton in 2022.

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Topeka Police Department (TPD) officers were called around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022 to the 500 block of Southwest Lane regarding reports of a shooting. Officers arriving at the scene found Clayton dead from a gunshot wound.

A part of my soul was stolen from me: Emotions run high as Dana Chandler is sentenced in 2002 double-murder case

The TPD later arrested Smith in connection to Claytons death on a charge of first-degree murder in 2022. Officers would arrest him for the second time on a charge of second-degree murder on June 2, 2025

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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(FOX40.COM)  On its ninth day, the murder trial of Daniel Serafini is uncovering deep-rooted tensions and long-standing disputes within his family.

The prosecution says dysfunction, accusations, and financial strife all culminated in the 2021 fatal shooting of his father-in-law, Robert Spohr, and the critical injury of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood.

During Tuesdays proceedings at Placer County Superior Court, jurors were presented with pages of emails exchanged between family members in the years and months leading up to the shooting.

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The prosecutor argues that these messages support his theory: that Daniel was motivated by family tension and financial strain.

The emails revealed intense arguments over vacation plans in Hawaii, business arrangements, and claims that Serafini and his wife, Erin, owed Wendy and Robert roughly $1.3 million. The tone of the emails ranged from bitter to explosive-laced with insults, profanity, and emotional outbursts.

In one exchange, Wendy accused Daniel of being vicious and belligerent.

Daniel fired back, saying that if Robert continued to insult him, he would Knock him the (expletive) out..

Erin, Serafinis wife, expressed to her mother in one email that the family disputes had grown so severe, she was seeking a therapist to present the emails to and have them weigh in on whether it was safe to continue allowing her son to spend time with his grandparents.

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These email exchanges were mostly dated from 2016 to 2021 and show how tensions escalated in the months leading up to the shooting in the couples Lake Tahoe area home.

Justin Infante, a Placer County District Attorney Investigator, also testified about sexually explicit messages between Serafini and Samantha Scott, his alleged accomplice, sent in the years following the shooting. Some of the text messages referenced the use of molly (MDMA), cocaine and Adderall when the two planned to meet up or go on dates.

In addition, the court reviewed cell phone activity logs. They showed that Serafini regularly sent numerous messages in the 30 days prior to, and 30 days after the shooting, sometimes more than 100.

However, the day of the shooting, June 5, 2021, is what stood out. On that date, records show Serafini had sent zero messages. His phone also registered no steps or physical movement, raising questions about his whereabouts and activities during the time of the murder.

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The trial is set to resume on Thursday at 8:30 am.

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The richest man in the world began his feud with the most powerful man in the world right in the middle of the news cycle. Elon Musk called the One Big Beautiful Bill, the vehicle for President Trumps sprawling policy agenda, a "disgusting abomination."

"The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill," replied White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. "It doesnt change the presidents opinion."

It could, however, change the timing.

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When he broke ranks with the president, Musk gave conservative critics of the bill a bit more breathing room on Capitol Hill by interrupting the regular White House drumbeat to pass the legislation as soon as possible. "It is an invitation to lock-in even harder," one senior Senate aide told RealClearPolitics. "Nobody can control him," the aide added of Musk. "I dont even think Trump can."

That means a headache for Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Republicans can only lose two votes and still pass the mega bill through reconciliation. At least half a dozen GOP senators have already registered their strong dissatisfaction with the version of the bill passed by the House. Moderates, like Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, balk at changes to Medicaid. Fiscal conservatives, like Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky, complain that the bill explodes deficits.

Musk is in the latter camp.

"Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore," Musk wrote on X less than a week after leaving his post in the administration. He called the legislation "massive, outrageous, pork-filled," arguing that it would "massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit" and that "Congress is making America bankrupt."

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It was a remarkable bit of criticism from a former White House official, especially after his much-celebrated crusade to cut waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal bureaucracy - to say nothing of the $280 million he spent helping to get Trump elected a second time. The president has not flamed Musk. For now. There was little daylight between the two during Trumps first 100 days, a fact that led Sean Hannity of Fox News to remark during those early weeks that the pair was like "two brothers."

Musk never had the same kind of bromance with Speaker Mike Johnson or Leader Thune. Both Republican leaders pushed back with Johnson telling reporters Musk was "flat wrong" about the deficit effects of the bill and Thune likening the Musk broadside to little more than "commentary."

Fiscal hawks saw a new ally and were delighted as Musk amplified their concerns on X. "I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake," Paul wrote on the social media website. "We can and must do better."

Musk, despite his billions, doesnt have a vote in the coming debate. He does have a megaphone, and he has adoring fans who now find themselves split between believing the richest man and the most powerful man in the world.

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A second senior Senate aide doubted whether Musk could change the bill from afar. Not long ago, after all, he mounted a grassroots campaign to keep Thune from succeeding Sen. Mitch McConnell as GOP leader. That failed. The new criticism of legislation, the aide said, serves as a sort of shot in the arm to the conservative insurgents: "Elon can make them more comfortable disagreeing with Trump."

Musk arrived in Washington as a political novice but a hot commodity on the right. Republicans on Capitol Hill rushed to take selfies with the eccentric billionaire entrepreneur early on, but he may have lost some of his shine after Democrats made him the face of the opposition. "DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything," he said during an interview with the Washington Post. "So, like, something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it." He shared similar sentiments in interviews with the New York Times and CBS News, outlets that Trump notably harbors a particular grudge against.

"I have long thought that Elon taking the blows and being the only conservative still in the room gave a permission structure for conservatives on the hill to push back against Trump," said the leader of one prominent GOP grassroots operation, "but now I am not sure." The operative noted that Musk lost favor in opinion polls even as he gained power. Notably, he tried to boost a conservative candidate in a race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in March, only to have that effort backfire.

His popularity may be waning with middle-of-the-road voters, the operative added, but that doesnt mean he is wrong on the merits. The big, beautiful bill assumed 4.5% economic growth to reach cuts and savings, they said before adding, "That is insane. No one is telling the truth anymore. Except Elon."

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The White House insists that the bill would ultimately shrink the national debt. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, as well as several outside analysts, estimate that the tax and spend package would increase deficits by more than a trillion dollars.

A senior Senate aide said that the challenge for the White House is that Musk "obviously is not wrong. He is saying something that a lot of GOP folks believe, and it is building momentum." Republicans may have miscalculated with Musk, the aide added, saying that the hope that the billionaire would play political operative permanently for Republicans was "always a fantasy."

"It isnt that he doesnt understand politics, he just doesnt care and can turn on a dime at any point," the aide said of Musk. That unpredictably means breathing room for critics of the bill. If the richest man in the world can defy the president, some are starting to conclude, so can members of Congress. Or, that is, they can hold out long enough to try and change the bill to their liking.

Philip Wegmann is White House correspondent for RealClearPolitics.
Elon Musk has escalated his MAGA civil warfor a third timewith a promise to fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.

Mere weeks ago, many would have interpreted Musks Tuesday rebuke to be about Democratic lawmakers. However, he made it explicit earlier in the day that his disgust lies with House Republicans who voted for President Donald Trumps massive spending bill.

Musk, 53, said Republicans who voted in favor of the bill, which is the vast majority, should be ousted from Congress next fall in the midterm elections. He did not call out any lawmakers by name, but House Speaker Mike Johnson took immediate offense.

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My friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one Big Beautiful Bill, Johnson told reporters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has spent the last two weeks fending off claims that President Donald Trumps mega bill will add trillions to the U.S. deficit, which he claims is not true. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Republican leaders reaction came shortly after Musk sent a pair of blistering posts, in which he called Trumps beloved spending bill outrageous, pork-filled, and a disgusting abomination that will increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.

Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong, Musk added. You know it.

Removing any doubts about who his fire threat was intended for, Musks post on X was a quote-tweet of another statement that criticized Republicans.

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That post read, OK LET ME JUST GET THIS STRAIGHT. THE GOP ARE OUT THERE: 1) SPENDING MILLIONS ON LUXURY HOTELS IN UKRAINE 2) NOT VOTING ON ANY DOGE CUTS 3) SPENDING 60% OF THEIR TIME ON VACATION 4) NOT CODIFYING EXECUTIVE ORDERS. IS THIS THE MAJOR REFORM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE VOTED FOR?

In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people https://t.co/GTRc9Rjled  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

Multiple reports allege that Musk fell out of favor with the White House, culminating in his official departure from the Department of Government Efficiency last week. His tumultuous reign at DOGE saw it underperform a promise to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. DOGEs official savings figure, which has been criticized as likely being higher than the actual amount, was $180 billion as of Tuesday.

Even Trump was reportedly baffled by DOGEs inefficiency.

Was it all bulls--t? Trump once asked advisers about Musks cost-cutting in DOGE, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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Trump has, at least so far, kept a relatively straight face regarding Musk, who shelled out more than $250 million to help him win re-election last year. He sat next to him in the Oval Office last week for a bizarre press conference, where Musks mysterious black eye made an appearance, and the president gifted him with a ceremonial, oversized key.

Asked about Musks post that attacked the mega bill, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing that the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill.

It doesnt change the presidents opinion, she added. This is one big beautiful bill, and hes sticking to it.

Musk is not the only conservative voicing displeasure with the bill. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who voted against the bill, reshared Musks post that claimed it would add trillions to the deficit and said, Hes right.

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Republican Senator Rand Paul also sided with the worlds richest man.

I agree with Elon, he said. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending, and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake.

The Daily Beast reached out to Musk for comment.
Elon Musk ramped up his attacks on Donald Trumps massive tax and spending bill, even as the president reportedly was furious at his former advisers stunning intervention.

The gloves came off when the richest man in the world on Tuesday torched the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, calling it a disgusting abomination.

On Tuesday night and into Wednesday, the Tesla boss, whose mission at the White House was to slash federal government spending, continued to post his disgust at a bill that would expand budget deficits by more than $2 trillion.

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In one message on X, formerly Twitter, the billionaire appeared to set up an electoral showdown with the GOP.

In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people, wrote Musk, suggesting Republican politicians should be kicked out of Congress at the midterms.

Musk was the biggest donor in the 2024 political cycle, lavishing $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates.

He recently said he was scaling back his efforts unless theres a reason to do political spending in the future.

In his barrage of tweets, Musk, who left his temporary position at the White House just days ago, made repeated references to the damaging impact of the spiraling U.S. national debt.

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This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery! he said above a post of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warning in a 2024 interview that the current rate of spending is unsustainable.

In another post, Musk wrote, Mammoth spending bills are bankrupting America! ENOUGH.

He also responded with a 100 emoji when an X poster wrote that Musk had reminded everyone: Its not about Right vs Left. Its about the Establishment vs the People.

Trump has yet to publicly comment on Musks maneuvers.

On Tuesday night, the president said he wants his signature bill on his desk to be signed into law by the Fourth of July, yet made no reference to his former aide.

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But behind the scenes, Trump reportedly is livid.

On Fox News Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning, co-host Brian Kilmeade said, I think the Elon Musk thing really caught the president by surprise. And I hear he is furious!

I think hes so smart to keep his powder dry, Kilmeade added. Because it just plays into what critics would have to say, The right cant get out of their own way. Instead, you have a goal: Pass it. Elon Musk is not in the Senate or the House. Dont worry about it.

The legislation includes nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts, mostly benefiting wealthy households. The cost is only partially offset by more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and federal food benefits.

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The House passed the legislation last month, and the Senate is working on its own version of the bill.

Two Republican senators, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.), signaled their agreement with Musk, who in turn shared posts from Republicans in Congress who publicly aligned with him.

Related...
For years, congressional Republicans have dealt with a president in Donald Trump who isnt terribly engaged in (or often seemingly aware of) the day-to-day legislative battles  right up until the point he decides to make a splash.

Sometimes, theyll gently suggest he might get involved in the process a little earlier. Often, he waits and then just blows up the whole thing, forcing lawmakers to scramble to address his whims. As far back as 2018, I compared Trump to a legislative arsonist.

Its a tough enough situation for GOP lawmakers as it is.

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But now they apparently have two billionaire legislative arsonists leading their movement.

Elon Musk on Tuesday afternoon lit into what Trumps calling his Big, Beautiful Bill, which is largely devoted to extending his tax cuts. The bill has tested the tolerance of both fiscal conservatives who are worried about it ballooning the national debt and Republicans who want to protect Medicaid, which the House GOPs version targets for significant cuts.

And Musk wasnt content to just express his opposition. He went so far as to call it a disgusting abomination that explodes the debt  contrary to GOP leaders and the White Houses claims. He accused Republicans who support it of knowing better. And he even suggested those who run afoul of him could find themselves targeted in the 2026 election.

It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt, Musk posted on his social media platform X. He also wrote: Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

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While Musk has gently expressed his concerns about Trumps tariffs, broken with some Trump allies on visas for highly skilled workers, and even said he was disappointed by the Big, Beautiful Bill before, this is something else entirely. Its Musk taking his chainsaw to what is likely to be the GOPs most significant legislative effort of the current Congress  and Trumps agenda  out of nowhere.

Musk, who left his role as a special government employee just days ago, has a lot at stake as a businessman  something House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested could be behind the Tesla CEOs outburst.

I know that the [electric vehicle] mandate  very important to him. That is going away, because the government should not be subsidizing these things as part of the Green New Deal. And I know that has an effect on his business. And I lament that, he said.

This is the second time Musk has done something like this.

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After Trumps election in November, Musk played perhaps the biggest role in abruptly torpedoing a bipartisan bill to prevent a government shutdown.

The billionaire did this even as Trump had been keeping his powder dry up until that point. It led plenty to wonder who was really in charge. The Trump team claimed it was aligned with Musk, but why had Musk suddenly taken the lead on this?

Musks missive back then was remarkable for how quickly it marshalled conservative opposition and caused Republican officeholders to respond  often pleadingly. It called to mind the many instances in which Trump suddenly inserted himself into legislative battles at the 11th hour and shook them up.

(Indeed, even on that specific bill, Trump decided very late in the process to demand the package include a debt-ceiling increase  a request that came out of left field and left Republicans wondering why he didnt speak up earlier.)

President Donald Trump during an appearance with Elon Musk in the Oval Office on May 30, 2025. - Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images

But this is different than in December. This time, Republicans have pursued their own bill focused on Trumps tax cuts (rather than a must-pass bill to keep the government open) that is aimed at winning the presidents approval. And Trump has praised their efforts. Earlier on Tuesday, he saw fit to go hard after one of the bills chief GOP critics, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, whose concerns align with Musks.

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Trumps push for the bill has created a situation in which there is a much more in-your-face tension between his and Musks positions than ever before  with no obvious way forward for the MAGA movement.

There is plenty to play out with the bill, and virtually nobody thought the House-passed package that Musk was criticizing Tuesday would be the final result. But his fiery rhetoric suggests modest changes around the edges wont be enough for him.

Musks opposition comes at a particularly inopportune time, after House Republicans mustered the votes and Senate Republicans were just starting to take up the issue in earnest. And it makes it a whole lot harder for the GOP to argue this is somehow fiscally responsible.

Musks opposition is also a big deal because it provides a high-profile face to the existing conservative concerns about the cost of the package. A handful of Republicans like Paul, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and House Freedom Caucus members have been making that case, but none of them come close to Musks heft. Its not difficult to see this awakening some of what remains of the GOPs recent tea party past. Similar to the December showdown, on Tuesday we saw all kinds of Republicans suddenly feel compelled to reckon with Musks attack. A few critics and skeptics of the bill doubled down.

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It remains to be seen how much pull Musks efforts have with individual senators, given his and DOGEs unpopularity and the fact that hes no longer officially part of the administration. Hes also a relative newcomer to conservative politics, and his effort to go at Trump could alienate some of his newfound allies. But polling also shows he retains significant pull within the GOP base; a late-April New York Times/Siena College poll showed 77% of Republicans had a favorable opinion of him, and 44% were very favorable. He has also proven willing to unleash many tens of millions of dollars on political campaigns.

It certainly throws a wrench in the GOPs attempts to unify behind Trumps legislative agenda. Republicans already have narrow majorities, especially in the House. But they seemed to be moving past the gridlock that dogged their side during the Biden administration (see: ousting then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy), thanks to the common causes that are loyalty to Trump and their fear of running afoul of him.

Now, though, they have two rather unwieldy and unpredictable billionaires with relatively little legislative know-how, huge followings and unsteady whims to worry about.

(A case in point: Musk called the package a pork-filled Congressional spending bill, but the reason the bill is expensive isnt earmarks or pork, but rather the tax-cut extension.)

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And those two figures goals increasingly appear to be at cross purposes.

It was always a somewhat uneasy marriage between Trump and Musk. Musks whole thing is cutting spending and reining in the federal government; hes basically fashioned himself a throwback to the tea party conservatives of the 2010 era. But thats never been much of a priority for Trump, who talks about cutting spending but rarely makes it a priority. (Even while saying goodbye to Musk last week, Trump decided to talk about abolishing the debt ceiling.)

The two seemed to meet in the middle because Musks efforts to wreck shop with his DOGE cuts overlapped with Trumps efforts to transform the federal government into a more Trump-loyal institution. But DOGE quickly became a liability, and now the two mens relationship is being tested.

Musk hasnt been terribly subtle about the fact that he disagrees with much of what Trump is doing. In a CBS News interview that aired Sunday, he suggested he was holding back on saying too much.

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Im a little stuck in a bind, where Im like, well, I dont want to, you know, speak up against the administration, Musk said, but I also dont want to take responsibility for everything this administrations doing.

In the course of a few days, Musk decided not just to speak up, but to severely complicate the GOPs legislative prospects. And to the extent he plans to keep wielding his influence like this, the party now needs contend with two huge variables that can suddenly change the calculation at any given time.

And it was hard enough with just one.

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(NewsNation)  The mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, believes Elon Musks xAI supercomputer facility will help a community that is desperately in need of investment, though some residents say otherwise.

The project will occupy an empty Electrolux factory located on the citys south side. It runs gas turbines, which release chemicals like formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides, in the process of powering his AI chatbot, Grok.

Some Memphians have said the tech facility is polluting the air and water in a historically Black, working-class neighborhood and have joined the NAACP to call for its closure.

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We are urging you again to ensure that xAI stops operating its unpermitted turbines in violation of clean air and open meeting act laws and to order xAI to pay penalties for operating in violation of the law, the NAACP told county officials in a letter.

President Trump, Palantirs possible partnership: What to know

But Memphis Mayor Paul Young sees it as an opportunity for us to benefit as a city. The project is forecasted to generate $15 to $20 million in property taxes annually and is expected to create more than 300 jobs.

Its in a community where 75 of the properties on the list for condemnation are located in that community  the second highest in our city, Young told NewsNation. [Theres] one grocery store. So, there are some conditions in that community that require investment.

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Those unpermitted turbines, according to Young, are a work in progress.

Well, they have 365 days to get the temporary turbines permitted, and they filed for the permits in January, Young said. Theyre expected to have those permits by September.

Utah lawyer sanctioned for court filing that used ChatGPT

Musk also wants to build a second, even more powerful data center about 10 miles away. Young told NewsNation he welcomes the investment, even with the billionaires controversial name attached.

My goal is to separate the project from the person and really look at what the value proposition is for our community, Young said, adding: I certainly believe that the visibility that he has contributes to a lot of the pushback that were seeing.

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In February, a man was arrested and charged with an act of terrorism for saying he was going to burn down the facility.

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EVER SINCE DONALD TRUMP RETURNED to the White House, the darnedest thing has been happening in Ukraine. Every day or so, Trump says Russia wouldnt have attacked Ukraine if he were president. And every time he says it, Russia attacks Ukraine.

You might have thought that by now, Trump would stop saying it, since Russias continuing onslaught makes a mockery of his boasts. But hes no more fazed by this falsification than he is by the evidence that he lost the 2020 election. He just keeps repeating his story.

In March, Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine accepted the proposal, but Russia didnt. Russian forces pushed into eastern Ukraine, and on April 13, Russia fired missiles into Sumy, a Ukrainian city, killing at least 34 civilians and injuring more than 100.

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When reporters asked Trump about the missile strike, he excused it as a mistake and said the war had started only because Vladimir Putin had so little respect for [Joe] Biden. If I were president, said Trump, that war would have never started.

The next day, Trump claimed that in his first term, he had deterred Putin from invading Ukraine. I told him, Dont do it, said Trump. But now that Trump was back in office, Putin seemed strangely undeterred. While Trump was touting his magical ability to rein in Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeated that Russia wouldnt accept Trumps ceasefire plan. Meanwhile, along the front, Russian troops continued their assaults on Ukraine.

On April 17, Trump bragged again that he had deterred Russia in his first term. I spoke to President Putin about it a lot, said Trump. Theres no way he wouldve ever gone in if I were president.

The next day, Russia fired missiles into Kharkiv, killing a civilian and injuring more than 100 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a moratorium on strikes against civilian targets. Putin rejected it.

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On April 22, in an interview with Time, Trump was pressed about a promise he had made in his 2024 campaign. You said you would end the war in Ukraine on Day One, the interviewer reminded him. Trump dismissed the quote. I said that as an exaggeration, he scoffed. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest. But he repeated that the war would have never happened if I was president.

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Again, Putin defied him. A day after the Time interview, Russia launched a missile and drone barrage against Kyiv, hitting five neighborhoods and killing a dozen people.

Trump, in response, tried to do what he claimed to have done in his first term: talk Putin out of further aggression. Vladimir, STOP! he wrote on Truth Social. Lets [sic] get the Peace Deal DONE! Despite Russias persistent bombardment, Trump insisted that Putin wanted peace:

Reporter: This proposal that you put on the table, its a 30-day ceasefire proposal. Your national security team presented it to both Ukraine and Russia. Two months ago, Ukraine agreed to that ceasefire proposal immediately. Russia has not. And my question is: Is Russia the obstacle to peace. . . . Trump: I dont think so. I think that they both want peace right now.

Again, Trump said the war would have never happened if I were president, since Putin understood that I would not be happy if Russia were to attack Ukraine. The next day, April 25, Trump announced, Work on the overall Peace Deal between Russia and Ukraine is going smoothly. He added, They are very close to a deal. . . . Most of the major points are agreed to.

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No such deal materialized. Four days later, as Russian forces continued to advance, another Putin mouthpieceDmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of the Russian Security Councildeclared that the only acceptable outcome of the war was the destruction of Ukraines government.

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In an interview on April 29, Trump assured ABCs Terry Moran, Because of me, I do believe that hes [Putin] willing to stop the fighting. Moran was incredulous: You think Vladimir Putin wants peace? Trump stood by his man: I think he does, yes. I think he does.

On May 2, Trump told NBCs Kristen Welker that his magic chemistry with Putin was already working. If I didnt get involved, they [Russia] would be fighting right now for all of Ukraine, said Trump. If it werent me, they would keep going.

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But Russia did keep going. From one town to another, its troops continued to advance.

On May 6, a reporter asked Trump what type of progress his overtures to Putin had achieved. A lot, said Trump. I think Russia wanted to take all of Ukraine, and theyve stopped.

They hadnt stopped. Again, Trump proposed an unconditional ceasefire. And again, the Kremlin rejected it, insisting on impossible conditions.

Trump responded by welcoming Russias demands and shifting the burden to Ukraine. President Putin of Russia doesnt want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.

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Trump refused to punish Russia. On May 12, a reporter asked him whether he would impose sanctions on Russia if Putin doesnt agree with the 30-day ceasefire. Trump reaffirmed his faith in Putins regime: I have a feeling theyre going to agree. I do. I have a feeling.

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They didnt. Zelensky offered to meet with Putin in Istanbul, but Putin spurned the invitation. Again, Trump made excuses for Putin. Nothings going to happen until Putin and I get together, Trump told reporters. And obviously, he wasnt going to go.

On May 16, Fox News host Bret Baier reminded Trump: You said, Stop bombing. He [Putin] hasnt stopped bombing. Hes not at the table. But Trumpwith the same delusional confidence he routinely expresses about massive fraud in the 2020 electioninsisted, He is at the table. Throughout the interview, Trump tried to shift blame to Zelensky.

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The next day, Russia launched its biggest drone attack of the three-year war.

On May 19, Trump had a two-hour phone call with Putin. The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent, Trump declared on Truth Social. As a result, he promised, Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire.

The ceasefire didnt happen. Instead, last week, Russia launched more than 300 drones and missiles into Ukraine, killing more civilians.

By this point, it was clear that Trumps boasts about deterring Putin were empty. He doesnt seem willing to do anything that you want him to do, a reporter told Trump. Do you still believe that, that he wouldnt have launched the war?

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Trump clung to his intertwined myths: If I were presidentif the election werent riggedyou wouldnt have had the war.

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THE SADDEST THING about Trumps Ukraine delusion is that he really could have deterred Putin from extending or escalating the war. But that would have required action, not braggadocio. At every turn, Trump refused to antagonize the dictator he thought was his friend.

Last Wednesday, after another barrage of Russian missiles and drones, a reporter asked Trump, What stopped you from imposing new sanctions on Russia? Trump answered that peace might be at hand. If I think Im close to getting a deal, he explained, I dont want to screw it up by doing that.

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Then, on Friday, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy tried to ask Trump about the challenges of dealing with a very stubborn Vladimir Putin. Trump, offended that Putin was being singled out, interrupted the question. And Zelensky, Trump added. Very stubborn Zelensky, too.

What Trump doesnt understand is that the worlds crises and tragediesthe war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, the October 2023 massacre in Israel, the plight of Afghans abandoned by the United Statesarent a stage for his ego. He treats these scenes of suffering as opportunities to promote himself, by crowing that if he had been president, they never would have happened. He doesnt understand that being president is a job, and the job is to alleviate crises, not exploit them.

Putin recognizes that this is how Trump thinks. He knows that the American president, while yapping that the war never would have happened on his watch, wont lift a finger against the aggressor.

And thats why the war goes on.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT)  The North Carolina House of Representatives honored former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole Wednesday, June 4th.

According to a press statement, Senator Dole was in attendance for the tribute, which recognized her decades of leadership and enduring impact on both North Carolina and the nation.

Senator Dole is a Salisbury native and represented N.C. in the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2009. Speaker Destin Hall said, Senator Dole is a trailblazer with an unwavering commitment to the people of North Carolina. Our state is proud to call her one of our own, and we will always remember her example.



Rep. Harry Warren, who represents Senator Doles hometown of Salisbury, said, I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the General Assemblys recognition of Senator Elizabeth Doles lifetime of outstanding public service. Sen. Doles record of accomplishments in the political, business, and professional arenas is remarkable; her actions have saved and improved lives for thousands of people and will continue to impact thousands going forward.

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The military said that the Nahal Brigade had struck several pieces of terror infrastructure in northern Gaza.

The IDF struck several Hamas terror targets in Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, the military announced on Wednesday.

The military said that the Nahal Brigade, under the command of the IDF's 162nd Division, had struck several pieces of terror infrastructure in northern Gaza.

"In recent weeks, numerous terror targets have been attacked from the air and ground, including terrorists, weapons depots, booby-trapped structures, launchers, and tunnel shafts," the release noted.

Hamas terror materials seized by the IDF in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMANS UNIT)

The IDF said that the brigade destroyed a booby-trapped building that was identified using a drone. The military revealed that the building contained a bag of explosives intended to harm IDF soldiers.

IDF widens operations in Gaza Strip

The strikes come in the midst of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which began in mid-May.

To date, the IDF has seized nearly 50% of the territory in Gaza, according to past reporting from The Jerusalem Post.
DONELSON, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Nashville Cat Rescue is taking a big step towards expansion: they want to buy the Donelson Animal Hospital.

According to NCR Director Eva McCallister, the decision has been more than a year in the making, and having the clinic in their name will help give the organization a permanent location to treat animals and even get them adopted.

The group has been partnered with the animal hospital for many years, according to McCallisterthey take all their cats there for pre-adoption medical needs like spays and neuters.

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We are coming up on our 20th anniversary this fall, so kind of as we are growing, the next step has been, We need our own clinic,' McCallister told News 2.

Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More

But now, the main veterinarian at the hospital would like to wind down his business and focus on his main clinic in Alabama, which has offered NCR the chance to buy the facility and outfit it to their needs.

Were finally ready to make the next step and go ahead and buy it and transition our way into there, McCallister said.

The main hurdle is financing and the state of the facility.

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According to McCallister, the building needs multiple repairs and cosmetic touchups, so raising enough money for the down payment and then future costs is the first step.

The first big fix will be the roof, which has a leak in it, McCallister told News 2. Once thats repaired, focus will shift to electrical updates and HVAC work.

Theres a lot on the outside, McCallister said of the needed cosmetic upgrades. One of our board members is out there doing yard work trying to get the curb appeal up to shape. Then inside needs a lot of work too. With the roof leaking, theres some water damage, so we need to go through, and everything needs a fresh coat of paint.

Once NCR owns the facility and has cleaned up what needs cleaning, McCallister said she hoped they could one day make one of the rooms a formal adoption center for the cats currently being housed in foster homes. She also hoped to be able to keep the dog kennels outfitted for boarding options in the future.

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The clinics primary veterinarian, Dr. William Keith Lee, has agreed to stay on with NCR on a part-time basis, according to McCallister, but they will be looking for relief vets to add to the clinic.

By keeping the facility in their orbit, NCR can also help keep veterinary care in that area of Nashville.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

We do want to help our area of Donelson. Theres not a whole of of vets in our area, and as it grows we definitely want to give back to the community and help everybody else out, too, McCallister said.

Besides Donelson Animal Hospital, McCallister said there is only one other larger animal clinic in the Donelson area. Most of the animal hospitals are further into East Nashville or down south in the Grassmere area, she told News 2.

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As Donelson grows, there is a need for a vet more in the local area, she said. We just want to be part of the community.

NCR is going on 20 years in business, and McCallister said trying to help everyone in the community by purchasing the animal hospital helps keep needed veterinary care in the area for local pet owners.

The ideal timeline for the purchase would be closing some time this fall, according to McCallister. Until then, NCR is doing all it can to try to raise as much money as they can to take this next step.

For those wanting to donate, visit NashvilleCatRescue.org for more information. The organization takes donations through multiple means, including PayPal, Venmo, cash and checks. They also have a Give Butter campaign on their Facebook page.

Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com.

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An unsteady truce between Nashvilles Democratic mayor and Tennessee's Republican leaders just collapsed after an ICE dragnet in the city.

Tension began to build in early May, when ICE started making traffic stops in partnership with the state highway patrol in the immigrant-heavy neighborhood of South Nashville, leading to the arrests of nearly 200 suspected undocumented immigrants.

Mayor Freddie OConnell quickly condemned the action as damaging to the community. And a GOP firestorm resulted, with Republicans accusing OConnell of interfering with federal immigration enforcement.

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Four weeks later, a simple public policy spat has turned into a major conflict between some of the most powerful leaders in Tennessee, breaking a fragile peace between the city and the GOP supermajority legislature  and exposing Nashville to the wrath of the Trump administration. The feud, which shows no signs of ending soon, comes with real potential consequences for Nashville and other blue cities in red states being targeted over their immigration policies.

It's unfortunate that he's willing to support the law breakers instead of supporting us as the lawmakers, state Rep. Rusty Grills, a Republican, said of the mayor.



OConnell, who has worked to calm long-running tensions with Republicans since his election in 2023, is the latest target of GOP ire over perceived threats to President Donald Trumps deportations, and the onslaught against the mayor also represents a further escalation in the administrations attack on local officials. In New Jersey, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested in May on a trespassing charge outside an ICE facility. That charge was later dropped, but U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver is facing assault charges from the same confrontation.

In Tennessee, Republicans in the state legislature told POLITICO that OConnell was putting officers at risk by updating a longstanding executive order mandating that city officials disclose interactions with ICE to the mayors office within 24 hours. They have latched onto that as evidence the mayor is impeding law enforcement operations.

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OConnell, speaking at a press conference following the raids, said the city does not have the authority to enforce immigration laws, and noted that Nashvilles crime rates are down. He has maintained that the city did not interfere with the ICE operation in early May.

Yet GOP outrage has spread from Tennessee to Washington. OConnell is facing a federal investigation from House Republicans announced last week, and a call for another from the Department of Justice by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who all argue that OConnell is impeding law enforcements ability to crack down on crime committed by illegal immigrants.

U.S. border czar Tom Homan has warned that Nashville could see larger immigration crackdowns as a result of OConnells opposition.

Well flood the zone in the neighborhoods to find the bad guy, Homan said on Fox News last week. Well flood the zone at work sites to find the bad guy, but were going to do it, and [OConnells] not going to stop us.

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Republicans have also gone after OConnell for highlighting a donations fund that supports individuals affected by the arrests, like children whose parents were detained. Republicans say the fund is an improper use of taxpayer dollars, although the fund was created by a nonprofit that says it exclusively uses private donations.

Tennessee Democrats and immigrant advocates say that Republicans are cheering ICEs involvement because of a bad-faith view of immigrant communities and that the criticism of OConnell is purely GOP rhetoric lacking any basis. They also say the sweep shows how the Department of Homeland Security is taking in people that pose no threat to the public. DHS said about half of the people arrested have criminal records, but only identified four of them  leading Democrats to demand more information about those detained.

For the politicians who care about nothing but the national news, this is a symbolic story, said Democratic State Sen. Jeff Yarbro. But for those of us who represent communities where we've seen lawless dragnet policing, there are real life consequences to our community and to our neighbors.

The raids scale and scope was unlike anything we've ever seen before, said Lisa Sherman Luna, the executive director of the Tennessee Immigrants & Refugee Rights Coalition.



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The Tennessee Highway Patrols cooperation with ICE underscores the role states will play in carrying out the Trump administrations immigration agenda  especially as DHS struggles to hit its deportation goals. GOP leaders eager to impress the president have taken steps in recent months to deputize local law enforcement as immigration enforcers, like in Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed a law requiring law enforcement to check the immigration status of detainees.

They are building an infrastructure that we've never seen, especially for a non-border state, to really carry out the President's agenda of mass deportations, Luna said of the ICE operation in Nashville. The devastation for families and local communities is going to be deep and broad, because everyone is a target now, and so it's really alarming to see our state government being used in this manner.

Tennessee Republicans have framed the conflict as a matter of law and order  arguing that the ICE raids were a necessary use of force to crack down on crime they blame on illegal immigrants. Under the leadership of Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee has emerged as one of the most aggressive non-border states on immigration in the second Trump era.

Lee, to the surprise of many Tennesseans, was the first Republican governor to say in January before Trumps inauguration he was readying the National Guard should they be called upon to aid in deportations. In January, a few days after attending a governors meeting at Mar-A-Lago, Lee tacked onto immigration legislation as part of a special session on school vouchers. Lawmakers then passed a sweeping law expanding local law enforcements immigration purview and making it a felony for state officials to establish sanctuary cities.

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Nashville is not a sanctuary city. But Democrats there still view the law as a warning shot from the legislature, which has clashed with city leaders over a range of issues  from control of the airport to representation in Congress.

We wanted to send a signal that Tennessee was ready to cooperate and welcomed ICE coming into our communities to get these violent people out, said state Sen. Jack Johnson, a Republican. So I'm very, very happy with it and excited, and I hope they do more.

And many want to see ICE return. State Sen. Brent Taylor has asked Homan to send ICE to Memphis to address the violent crime epidemic that he says is exacerbated by poor local leadership.

Shelby County, where Memphis is located, was included on a list of sanctuary cities and counties published by DHS last week that was soon taken down. Leaders of Shelby County, Memphis and Nashville  which was also on the list  disputed their designation as sanctuary cities, which have been outlawed by the Tennessee legislature.

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State Sen. Jody Barrett described relations between Nashville and the GOP legislature as a forced marriage, complicated by the fact that Nashville serves as the states economic engine. Nashvilles population has exploded in recent years, and the citys tourism industry keeps the state coffers filled.

And because of that, its kind of a love-hate relationship, he said.
The family of a man whose murder by arson conviction was overturned will be paid $300,000 after the Metro Nashville Council approved a settlement.

Claude Francis Garrett spent decades in prison in the 1992 death of his girlfriend, Lorrie Lee Lance, before a judge dismissed all charges against him in May 2022. Just five months after his release, Garrett died in his sleep.

The settlement was approved June 3, more than a year after Garretts daughter Deana Watson filed suit against the United States, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent James Cooper, two Nashville Fire Department firefighters, an NFD investigator, a Metro Nashville Police Department supervisor and two MNPD detectives.

Claude Francis Garrett

Due to the time since the original events, including the retirement of these individuals, as well as the evolution of fire investigation and police investigation techniques, it may be difficult for Metro to prevail at trial, the council's agenda analysis reads.

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Although the council meeting focused mostly on the city's budget, the importance of the settlement was emphasized by At-large Council Member Quin Evans Segall.

This money, whether in his life or now in his death, will never make up for the stolen life that we took from him and that we took from his daughter, Segall said at the meeting. But I hope that she, and her son, find some peace with this.

Lance was just 24 when she died of smoke inhalation in the house she shared alongside Garrett in Old Hickory. Garrett, on the other hand, managed to escape, suffering burns.

When Garrett's case was reviewed in 2022, it was found that updated fire science standards indicated the fire was not set intentionally.

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His years in prison saw him appeal numerous times for his release. His first conviction was vacated when an appellate court found prosecutors violated the Brady law by failing to disclose evidence to the defense. However, in 2003 he was retried by a jury and convicted of felony murder.

The settlement with Garretts estate alongside an unrelated $40,000 settlement also included on the June 3 council agenda were the 10th and 11th payments allocated from the citys judgment and losses fund since October.

In total, the city of Nashville has spent more than $2.27 million since then, with a total of nearly $14.94 million remaining in the fund, per the council's agenda analysis.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville pays $300K to family of man with overturned arson conviction
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A procession honoring nearly 30 first responders killed in the line of duty made a stop in Albuquerque on Wednesday. The Bernalillo County Fire Department hosted the National EMS Memorial Service as it makes its way to Arlington, Virginia. The procession began Sunday in Riverside, California, and will make 29 stops in 19 states. The one thing we hear from the families every year is that their loved ones are always going to be forgotten. And being able to tell those families by showing the support that you all have shown and the love that you all have shown by just showing up today, that their loved ones are never going to be forgotten, said Megan Haverkamp, Moving Honors Crew Chief, National EMS Memorial Service.

Summer of Nonviolence initiative officially kicks off in Albuquerque

So, having the honor of getting to host such an amazing event as it criss-crosses through the country on its way to Arlington is extremely meaningful. And meaningful for us as Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue, having lost a member of our own almost three years ago this July, said Chief Greg Perez, Bernalillo County Fire Rescue.

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The procession features a tree of life, honoring the 29 first responders who died last year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Navajo Nation leaders took turns hiking alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in April to detail the tribal nations priorities to improve access to health care and clean water. They also advocated for the preservation and reestablishment of U.S. government programs that have far-reaching impacts for their nation. (Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News)

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.  Navajo Nation leaders took turns talking with the U.S. governments top health official as they hiked along a sandstone ridge overlooking their rural, high-desert town before the morning sun grew too hot.

Buu Nygren, president of the Navajo Nation, paused at the edge with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Below them, tribal government buildings, homes, and juniper trees dotted the tan and deep-red landscape.

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Nygren said he wanted Kennedy to look at the capital for the nation of about 400,000 enrolled members. The tribal president pointed toward an antiquated health center that he hoped federal funding would help replace and described life for the thousands of locals without running water due to delayed government projects.

Nygren said Kennedy had already done a lot, primarily saving the Indian Health Service from a round of staffing cuts rippling through the federal government.

When we started hearing about the layoffs and the freezes, you were the first one to stand up for Indian Country, he told Kennedy, of his move to spare the federal agency charged with providing health care to Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren talk on the edge of a ridge in Window Rock, Arizona, about the nations list of health priorities. (Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News)

But Nygren and other Navajo leaders said cuts to federal health programs outside the Indian Health Service are hurting Native Americans.

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Youre disrupting real lives, Cherilyn Yazzie, a Navajo council delegate, told KFF Health News as she described recent changes.

Kennedy has repeatedly promised to prioritize Native Americans health care. But Native Americans and health officials across tribal nations say those overtures are overshadowed by the collateral harm from massive cuts to federal health programs.

The sweeping reductions have resulted in cuts to funding directed toward or disproportionately relied on by Native Americans. Staffing cuts, tribal health leaders say, have led to missing data and poor communication.

The Indian Health Service provides free health care at its hospitals and clinics to Native Americans, who, as a group, face higher rates of chronic diseases and die younger than other populations. Those inequities are attributable to centuries of systemic discrimination. But many tribal members dont live near an agency clinic or hospital. And those who do may face limited services, chronic underfunding, and staffing shortages. To work around those gaps, health organizations lean on other federally funded programs.

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There may be a misconception among some of the administration that Indian Country is only impacted by changes to the Indian Health Service, said Liz Malerba, a tribal policy expert and citizen of the Mohegan Tribe. Thats simply not true.

Tribes have lost more than $6 million in grants from other HHS agencies, the National Indian Health Board wrote in a May letter to Kennedy.

Janet Alkire, chairperson of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas, said at a May 14 Senate committee hearing that those grants paid for community health workers, vaccinations, data modernization, and other public health efforts.

The government also canceled funding for programs it said violated President Donald Trumps ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion, including one aimed at Native American youth interested in science and medicine and another that helps several tribes increase access to healthy food  something Kennedy has said he wants to prioritize.

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Tribal health officials say slashed federal staffing has made it harder to get technical support and money for federally funded health projects they run.

The firings have cut or eliminated staff at programs related to preventing overdoses in tribal communities, using traditional food and medicine to fight chronic disease, and helping low-income people afford to heat and cool their homes through the Low Income Home Energy Program.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe is in South Dakota, where Native Americans who struggle to heat their homes have died of hypothermia. Through mid-May the tribe hadnt been able to access its latest funding installment from the energy program, said John Long, the tribes chief of staff.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, director of the Urban Indian Health Institute at the Seattle Indian Health Board, said the government has sent her organization incomplete health data. That includes statistics about Native Americans at risk for suicide and substance use disorders, which the center uses to shape public health policy and programs.

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People are going to die because we dont have access to the data, Echo-Hawk said.

Her organization is also having trouble administering a $2.2 million federal grant, she said, because the agency handling the money fired staffers she worked with. The grant pays for public health initiatives such as smoking cessation and vaccinations.

It is very confusing to say chronic disease prevention is the No. 1 priority and then to eradicate the support needed to address chronic disease prevention in Indian Country, Echo-Hawk said.

HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said Kennedy aims to combat chronic diseases and improve well-being among Native Americans through culturally relevant, community-driven solutions.

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Hilliard did not respond to questions about Kennedys specific plans for Native American health or concerns about existing and proposed funding and staffing changes.

As Kennedy hiked alongside Navajo Nation leaders, KFF Health News asked how he would improve and protect access to care for tribal communities amid rollbacks within his department.

Thats exactly what Im doing, Kennedy responded. Making sure that all the cuts do not affect these communities.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as Navajo tribal council delegates describe concerns about federal cuts affecting people in their community. (Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News)

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren summit Window Rock, the sandstone formation and namesake of the Navajo Nations capital. (Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News)

Kennedy has said his focus on Native American health stems from personal and family experience, something he repeated to Navajo leadership. As an attorney, he worked with tribes on environmental health lawsuits. He also served as an editor at ICT, a major Native American news outlet.

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The secretary said he was also influenced by his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who were both assassinated when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a child.

They thought that America would never live up to its moral authority and its role as an exemplary nation around the world if we didnt first look back and remediate or mitigate the original sin of the American experience  the genocide of the Native people, Kennedy said during his visit.

Some tribal leaders say the recent cuts, and the way the administration made them, violate treaties in which the U.S. promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for taking their land.

We have not been consulted with meaningfully on any of these actions, said Malerba, director of policy and legislative affairs for the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, which advocates for tribes from Texas to Maine.

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Alkire said at the congressional hearing that many Native American health organizations sent letters to the health department asking for consultations but none has received a response.

Tribal consultation is legally required when federal agencies pursue changes that would have a significant impact on tribal nations.

This is not just a moral question of what we owe Native people, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said at the hearing. It is also a question of the law.

Tribal leaders are worried about additional proposed changes, including funding cuts to the Indian Health Service and a reorganization of the federal health department.

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Esther Lucero, president and CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board, said the maneuvers remind her of the level of daily uncertainty she felt working through the covid-19 pandemic  only with fewer resources.

Our ability to serve those who are desperately in need feels at risk, Lucero said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks to Navajo Nation leaders and community members after hiking with officials to hear about their health priorities. Im going to give you my commitment today that I am available and listening to you, Kennedy said. (Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News)

Among the most pressing concerns are congressional Republicans proposed cuts to Medicaid, the primary government health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities.

About 30% of Native American and Alaska Native people younger than 65 are enrolled in Medicaid, and the program helps keep Indian Health Service and other tribal health facilities afloat.

Native American adults would be exempt from Medicaid work requirements approved by House Republicans last month.

After Kennedy summited Window Rock with Navajo Nation leaders, the tribe held a prayer ceremony in which they blessed him in Dine Bizaad, the Navajo language. President Nygren stressed how meaningful it was for the countrys health secretary to walk alongside them. He also reminded Kennedy of the list of priorities theyd discussed. That included maintaining the federal low-income energy assistance program.

We look forward to reestablishing and protecting some of the services that your department provides, Nygren said.

As of mid-May, the Trump administration had proposed eliminating the energy program, which remains unstaffed.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
NATO has announced that Ukraine has been invited to attend the summit of Alliance leaders, which will take place on 24-25 June in The Hague.

Source: NATO official in a comment to European Pravda

Details: The official stated that information about the agenda of the summit in The Hague will be made public at the appropriate time.

However, he added that he could confirm that Ukraine will be in The Hague.

Background:

The day before, ANP reported that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had officially invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the upcoming Alliance summit in The Hague, which had been in question for some time.

The media wrote that the American side supposedly opposed inviting Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the NATO summit. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied this information.

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NATO members are to agree on new defence capability targets at the upcoming meeting of the alliance's defence ministers, Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Wednesday.

"These targets set out what forces and concrete capabilities the allies need to provide to strengthen our deterrence and defence," Rutte said.

"Air and missile defence, long-range weapons, logistics, large land manoeuvre formations are among our top priorities," he added.

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"We need more resources, forces and capabilities so that we are prepared to face any threat and to implement our collective defence plans in full."

NATO defence ministers gathering in Brussels on Thursday are expected to formally adopt the top-secret plans.

The new targets are "a huge leap forward" towards a "stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance," Rutte said.

In order to ensure that the NATO targets are met, Germany and the other member states will now be assigned new national targets for their military capabilities, including weaponry.

Under the plans, the current targets are to be increased by around 30%, sources told dpa.

Gaps in collective defence

The new targets are considered to be a particularly difficult challenge because the existing goals are far from being met. Senior military officials recently spoke of a gap of 30%.

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"Obviously there is still a lot to be done on the current capability targets," said Rutte, adding that much more was needed to protect the alliance.

"The world is becoming more dangerous," said Rutte, listing Russia's war against Ukraine, terrorism and global competition as threats.

To deliver on the new targets, NATO members will have to increase their defence spending, he added.

Allies are expected to take a decision on higher military expenditure at an upcoming leaders' summit later this month in The Hague.

US President Donald Trump is demanding that the alliance partners spend 5% of their economic output on defence.

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Rutte recently proposed a compromise formula of increasing defence-related spending to 3.5% and spending an additional 1.5% on infrastructure. He assumes that the NATO states would agree to this.

"A new defence investment plan will be at the heart of the NATO summit," Rutte stressed.

Targets are classified as top secret

The specific new national planning targets are currently still classified as top secret.

However, it is expected that some details will be made public once the targets have been approved by the defence ministers.

For Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, experts assume that the number of active soldiers - currently around 182,000 - will have to grow by a high five-digit figure if Berlin wants to achieve the planning targets.

Considerable investments in the German military are to be needed, including in new air defence systems.
The North Atlantic Alliance has hailed the Security Service of Ukraines operation targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful.

Source: a senior NATO official, speaking anonymously, cited by European Pravda correspondent

Details: The official described the operation as "the most successful" based on NATOs independent calculations, which largely align with Ukrainian estimates.

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Quote: "We see that at least 40 aircraft were damaged. Between 10 and 13 aircraft were completely destroyed."

More details: NATO has identified 15 Tu-95 strategic bombers, 20 Tu-22 aircraft and at least one A-50 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)  a scarce asset in Russias arsenal  among the damaged assets.

The Alliance estimates that the attack has destroyed 34% of Russia's existing missile carriers.

"This has a critical impact on Russian capabilities," the person noted.

NATO acknowledges that some damaged or destroyed aircraft may serve as "spare parts donors" rather than active combat assets, but it lacks data to distinguish their operational status, the official explained.

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"We cannot confirm that all were fully operational," they added. "It does not eliminate Russian forces ability to launch airstrikes, but it significantly reduces their capacity for missile strikes, including those early-morning attacks familiar to Ukrainians." The person also highlighted that the operation demonstrates Ukraines ability to target Russian military assets anywhere in Russian territory.

Background:

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has previously commented on Ukraines Operation Spider's Web targeting airfields housing Russian strategic aircraft.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed leaders of several NATO states that Operation Spiders Web demonstrated Ukraines advanced strike capabilities.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, commenting on the Ukrainian attack that destroyed and damaged Russian strategic bombers, said that Ukraine is successfully defending itself.

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Intelligence from NATO member states has suggested that Russian forces are not planning a major offensive in either Sumy or Dnipropetrovsk oblasts of Ukraine.

Source: a senior NATO official at a briefing with journalists in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The official explained that NATO is closely monitoring Russias troop build-up near Sumy Oblast border and the hostilities that have shifted from Russias Kursk Oblast to border villages in the Ukrainian region.

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Quote: "We see an expansion of the front line in the north and northeast of Sumy Oblast. But there is no evidence that Russian forces are preparing a serious offensive on the Sumy front."

"This could suggest preparation for an attack on the city of Sumy itself, but we see no evidence of this. We assess it as an attempt to create a buffer zone, which, to our knowledge, Russian forces have long planned," the official emphasised

"In addition, the recent destruction of bridges in Russian territory complicates logistics for Russian forces on the Sumy front," they added.

The official also stated that Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast, which have neared the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, are unlikely to lead to a major offensive.

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"We see an increase in intensity, but there are no signs that they are preparing a significant offensive operation," the NATO official stressed.

Background:

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NATO is planning to significantly expand its military capabilities to strengthen deterrence and defence against the continued threat from Russia, with plans to boost existing targets by about 30%, dpa has learned from alliance sources.

The new objectives include increasing stockpiles of long-range cruise missiles and drones, as well as strengthening air defence and artillery systems, according to sources.

To meet these goals, NATO member states are expected to receive updated national planning targets, according to the information. The targets are due to be formally adopted at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday.

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However, reaching the new targets will be challenging, with senior military officials saying member states are already falling about 30% short of existing goals.

The exact national targets remain classified, though some details are expected to be released after Thursday's meeting.

In Germany, military sources estimate that the Bundeswehr, as the German armed forces are called, may need to grow by a high five-digit number from its current size of around 182,000 troops to meet requirements. Significant investments in air defence systems are also expected.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has promised to discuss Ukraine and its presence at the summit in The Hague.

Source: Rutte at a meeting with journalists in Brussels on the eve of a joint meeting of Alliance defence ministers, as reported by a correspondent of European Pravda

Details: This statement was the first official confirmation from the Alliance regarding the invitation of the Ukrainian president to the leaders' meeting. Until now, this had only been reported unofficially, including by sources of European Pravda.

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"I invited Ukraine to the summit. We will, as soon as possible, bring out the programme," the secretary general said.

It should be noted that partner countries are invited to the Alliance leaders' meeting only at the leadership level, i.e. the invitation is for Zelenskyy. However, the secretary general declined to comment on the format of Ukraine's participation, stressing that this would be disclosed in the official programme.

Mark Rutte also noted that this is not only about Ukraine's participation, but also about its presence on the agenda. "Of course, Ukraine will be discussed on the agenda of the summit", he said.

Background:

European Pravda reported that NATO wants to include aid to Ukraine in defence spending.

Moreover, this week, the White House confirmed Trump's participation in the NATO summit.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has commented on Ukraines Operation Spider's Web targeting airfields housing Russian strategic aircraft.

Source: Rutte's statement ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Speaking about the Ukrainian strikes, Rutte pointed out that Russia had used its strategic aircraft to launch attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities.

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Quote: "Let's not forget that the capabilities they hit were the capabilities the Russians were using to attack innocent people going about their daily lives in Ukrainian cities and communities. So I think we should take note of that."

Details: However, Rutte declined to comment on the Ukrainian operation in further detail or to assess how it might influence the course of the war launched by Russia, saying that this is "not always helpful".

Background:

Russian aircraft was hit in a series of strikes on 1 June, when at least four airfields were targeted.

Sources of Ukrainska Pravda say this was a special operation carried out by Ukraines Security Service (SSU), during which around 40 aircraft, including strategic bombers, were damaged.

A source within the SSU told UP that Operation Spider's Web had been in preparation for more than a year and a half. As part of it, the security service first smuggled FPV drones into Russia, followed later by mobile wooden cabins in which the drones were hidden.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal compared Ukraines recent drone strikes on military facilities deep inside Russian territory to the operation that eliminated "terrorist number one" Osama bin Laden.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Operation Spider's Web demonstrated Ukraines ability to make effective tactical decisions in the war.

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is urging European member nations to increase their ground-based air defense capacities by five times in order to mount a more effective response to the threat of Russian aggression, Bloomberg reported on June 3, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The reported request is NATO's latest bid to shore up European security amid heightened tensions with Russia and an increasingly uncertain U.S. commitment to Europe's defense.

NATO defense ministers will discuss the air defense boost at a gathering in Brussels on June 5, sources told Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity. A number of proposed defense increases are on the agenda for the meeting, which will set the stage for the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25.

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The air defense target is a collective goal for NATO's European members, with varying levels from individual states, sources said. The timeframe for the fivefold increase is not yet clear.

According to one senior European military official, NATO members face a shortage of ground-based air-defense systems to protect against drones, missiles, and fighter jets, having shifted away from these systems after the end of the Cold War.

"We are not at war, but we're not at peace either," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during the Vilnius summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) and the Nordic countries on June 2.

"We must continue to strengthen our deterrence and defense and that means pivoting toward a full war-fighting readiness."

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Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted European countries to hike defense spending in order to revive their military capabilities following decades of disarmament.

Ukrainian and Western officials have sounded the alarm on Russia's threat to both NATO and Europe, warning that an open clash between Moscow and NATO could break out two to four years after the full-scale war against Ukraine ends.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv attacks Crimean bridge for 3rd time since beginning of Russias full-scale invasion

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(Reuters) -NATO'S Baltic drills are part of the alliance's preparations for a potential military clash with Russia, TASS news agency cited Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying in remarks published on Wednesday.

"We assess NATO's military activity as part of preparations for military clashes with Russia," TASS cited Grushko as saying.

"If we look at the focus of these exercises, the concept, the structure of the deployment of forces, the forces themselves, their quality, the tasks that are formulated for these exercises, then this is a fight against a comparable adversary," Grushko said according to TASS.

BALTOPS - NATO's annual exercise in the Baltic Sea and the regions surrounding it - is being held this month.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Tom Hogue)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Naval Base San Diego was briefly put under a shelter in place order on Wednesday over a reported threat, according to authorities. It has since been cleared.

The shelter in place was issued around 12:40 p.m. in the area of Gate 6, located adjacent to 32nd Street and Harbor Drive, base officials said in a post on Facebook.

The gate reopened and base operations resumed about an hour later, just before 1:50 p.m.

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San Diego police confirmed they were at the scene assisting Naval Base security, but did not provide any additional details.

No further information was immediately available about the nature of the supposed threat and whether it had been determined to be credible.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename a ship named after gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Officials say its in an effort to re-establish the warrior culture.

Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War before he was forced out for being gay. He later became one of the first openly gay candidates elected to public office, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors until his assassination in 1978.

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Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that Secretary Pete Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chiefs priorities, our nations history, and the warrior ethos.

California Democrats are speaking out against the potential change, with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it cruel.

Really a disservice to the Navy and all who serve, Pelosi said.

The ship, a replenishment oiler, was named after Milk in 2016 as part of a class of ships honoring civil rights leaders.

Rep. John Garamendi says he knew Milk when he was in California state government.

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And the appropriate action was taken by the Obama administration to honor a veteran of the Korean war who also happened to be the first elected gay man in California, Garamendi said.

Garamendi criticized Hegseth for the move.

What is in this mans mind that he set out to somehow erase from our population men and women, LGBTQ+? I mean, come on, Garamendi said.

The Pentagons statement said: Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.

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The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk conducts a replenishment at sea on December 13, 2024. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. Navy to rename the ship, honoring gay rights activist Harvey Milk, in order to reestablish "the warrior culture." File Photo from U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky

June 3 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the U.S. Navy to rename one of its ships, honoring the late gay rights activist Harvey Milk, as Pride month gets underway.

The Office of the Secretary of the Navy was instructed to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk, according to a memorandum reviewed by military.com and confirmed by ABC News and CBS News. A defense official confirmed the timing of the announcement during Pride month was intentional.

According to the memo, the reason for renaming the ship is to provide "alignment with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture."

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While a new name for the ship was not revealed, Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan are expected to announce the ship's new moniker aboard the Navy's oldest commissioned ship, the USS Constitution, on June 13, according to the memo.

The USNS Harvey Milk was the first Navy ship to be named after an openly gay person. The ship is a John Lewis-class oiler, a group of ships named after prominent civil rights leaders. It was officially named in 2016 at a ceremony in San Francisco, before it was built, and was launched from San Diego Bay in November 2021.

The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp, unveiled in a dedication ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) in Washington, D.C., on May 22, 2014. Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. He was assassinated in 1978. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

Milk served as a lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War. He received an other-than-honorable discharge and resigned, instead of facing a court martial over his homosexuality.

Milk became the first openly gay person in the country to be elected to public office when he won a San Francisco supervisor seat in 1977. Milk and Mayor George Moscone were both assassinated a year later. Milk became a San Francisco and LGBTQ icon, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

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The renaming of USNS Harvey Milk would not be the first time the Navy has renamed a ship. In 2023, a Congressionally mandated commission changed the names of two vessels as they removed Confederate ties throughout the military. The USS Chancellorsville was changed to USS Robert Smalls and the research ship USNS Maury became USNS Marie Tharp.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Tuesday that changes were underway for several other ships.

"Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the commander-in-chief's priorities, our nation's history and the warrior ethos," Parnell said in a statement. "Any potential renaming will be announced after internal reviews are complete."

Among those ships being considered for renaming are the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman and USNS Cesar Chavez, according to CBS News.

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the decision to rename the ships "shameful."

"The reported decision by the Trump administration to change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream," Pelosi wrote Tuesday in a post on X.

"Our military is the most powerful in the world -- but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the 'warrior' ethos," she added. "Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country."
Small business owner Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins speaks of the importance of preserving the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at a May 29 press conference outside of U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis's Raleigh office. (Photo: Rob Schofield)

Among the most important public policy developments in North Carolina over the last several decades was the rise of one of the nations strongest networks of consumer advocacy nonprofits.

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Together with elected leaders from both major parties, these advocates helped make North Carolina a state to avoid for predatory lenders who target consumers with high interest loans and fees and abusive collection tactics.

Indeed, the successes in this area were so numerous that following the Great Recession, they helped inspire the establishment of a federal government agency known as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Unfortunately, as you might expect, laws and lawyers that target scammers and predators are anathema to President Trump, and he and Republicans in the U.S. House are working hard to gut or abolish the agency.

The bottom line: Last week, a coalition of activists and small business owners pleaded with Senator Thom Tillis to help protect the agency. Their simple message: stand with the people of North Carolina, not the billionaires. Lets fervently hope he was listening.

For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Most of the recipients of North Carolinas Opportunity Scholarships werent from public schools.

Thats according to data from the NC Department of Public Instruction.

Staff presented the new data at the State Board of Education meeting Wednesday. It shows that of the 80,325 opportunity scholarship recipients, 6,710 came from public schools, thats about 8.4% of recipients.

The Opportunity Scholarships are vouchers given to North Carolina families to pay for private schools.

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Last September, state lawmakers decided to funnel more than half a billion dollars into the program and removed income limits.

Republicans argued it promoted school choice, while Democrats who voted against it said the funding would largely go to families that can already afford private school.

NC lawmakers pass $463 million school voucher bill

Of those 6,710 students who came from public schools, 5,955 were enrolled in the fall or full year, which contributed to just over $34.3 million in vouchers. If the students had stayed in public school, the state would have been awarded just over $44.4 million.

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This data does not include the remaining 755 students who enrolled in the Spring.

Also, the data did not say if the other over 73,000 students who received vouchers were already attending private schools or were new students.

All this comes after NC Board of Education members called for a moratorium on new voucher spending earlier this year in hopes of reinvesting the funds into traditional public schools.

Wednesday staff made a recommendation to the board, which includes reinvesting the $10 million difference.

They also recommended using a Uniform Identification system to better track data.

The board is expected to make a decision at their meeting on Thursday.

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The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis will hold its first meeting in July. (Photo: Getty Images)

Governor Josh Stein signed an executive order Wednesday establishing the new North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis. The Council will study and recommend options for a comprehensive statewide approach to cannabis that is grounded in public health and public safety considerations. Steins order says the new council will learn from lessons in other states and experts and focus on the protection and safety of all North Carolinians, especially the states youth.

The council announced Wednesday includes 24 members and will be co-chaired by State Health Director Lawrence Greenblatt and Robeson County District attorney Matt Scott. Other who will serve on the board will be representatives from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Public Safety, the state Department of Justice, local law enforcement officials, as well as North Carolina farmers. Notably, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians would also have a seat at the table. The Eastern Band first approved the use of medicinal cannabis in 2021, launching recreational marijuana sales on its tribal land last year.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

In an interview with WRAL on Tuesday, Gov. Stein likened the current situation surrounding cannabis and THC products to the wild, wild West.

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The idea that we have a system where this product, which is a drug that can get you high, is for sale out there without any restrictions on how its sold to me is insane, said Stein.

Legislators have been grappling with whether to legalize medical marijuana for several sessions as well as how to address the growing number of vape stores that sell THC-infused products.

Stein said he hopes the new council can bring Republicans and Democrats from both chambers together to work with health professionals and law enforcement to find common ground.

Whats clear, said the governor, is that the unregulated marketplace is not working.

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Just go into a vape shop, ask the clerk what product will get me the most high and they will give you something. And it would get you high if you were to take it. So thats not acceptable, Stein said. So, if we dont accept the status quo, what do we want the reality to actually be?

According to the governors office the rate of emergency department visits in North Carolina for intoxicating cannabis ingestion among children and youth ages 17 and under has increased more than 600 percent in recent years, and among older teens, the rate has increased more than 1,000 percent.

Senator Bill Rabon, a cancer survivor and the primary sponsor of the Compassionate Care Act, has been a leading voice for medical marijuana legislation. He is one of four legislators asked to serve on the advisory council.

Rabon (R-Brunswick) told his colleagues last year that there was very little difference between products like Delta 9 and marijuana and the state would be wise to craft its own regulatory framework. Legislation to regulate hemp-derive consumables and medicinal marijuana passed the NC Senate last June, only to languish in the House.

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The new Council will consider public health considerations, potential marijuana prescriptions for certain conditions, as well as what regulatory guardrails are needed regarding potency and purity standards.

Another consideration would be the possibility of expunging past convictions that do not align with the recommendations of the Council, including for simple possession of marijuana.

According to Pew Research, nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) believe that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational purposes. USA Today, citing the group DISA Global Solutions, reported in April that North Carolina is one of a tiny minority of just six states in which marijuana is fully illegal for both recreational and medicinal purposes.

The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis will hold its first meeting in July submitting preliminary recommendations for a comprehensive cannabis policy to the Stein by March 15, 2026.

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In the meantime, the governor said he would like the General Assembly to prohibit the sales of products that contain intoxicating THC to anyone under 21 by requiring photo ID age-verification, while requiring packaging that lets adults know what is actually in the cannabis products they may be buying.

Read Steins Executive Order below:

EO16-Cannabis-Advisory-Council
NC Treasurer Brad Briner tells the House Oversight Committee about the state pension plan deficit. (Screenshot from NCGA video feed)

Back in Raleigh after a weeklong break, North Carolina lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that changes how the state oversees its investments.

House Bill 506 would create a five-person board to oversee the states $127 billion pension fund. It marks an expansion of a responsibility currently held solely by the state treasurer.

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The House unanimously agreed to the Senates changes to the bill Tuesday, sending it to Gov. Josh Steins desk. Stein, a Democrat, has said he supports the measure; so has Treasurer Brad Briner, a Republican. It received bipartisan support from lawmakers.

Four of the five members of the board would be appointees. Two will be appointed by the heads of the House and Senate. Stein and Briner will also appoint one member each; their appointees would be subject to approval of the legislature.

Members of the board will serve staggered six-year terms. They must have expert knowledge of investments and a minimum decade of experience in the field.

The bill is one of multiple attempts by lawmakers to reform the state pension fund. The system has a $16 billion deficit, Briner has told lawmakers. Another bill, also backed by Briner, would allow the state to invest up to 5% of the pension fund in digital cryptocurrencies.

Also in the Legislative Building on Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill requiring school boards to adopt internet access policies for students. House Bill 959 will go back to the House for final agreement or a conference committee.
MOMENCE, Ill.  A packing plant in the far south suburbs has closed, putting nearly 300 employees out of work.

The Momence Packing Company, located at 334 North Street in Momence, was shuttered as of Monday, a spokesperson for Johnsonville, the Wisconsin-based sausage manufacturer, has confirmed.

Ground beef sold nationwide possibly contaminated with E. coli

The Momence facility was built in 1962 and began producing Johnsonville products in 1995. According to Johnsonville, the closing impacts 274 employees, who were notified Monday and will receive continued pay and benefits for 60 days.

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We made the difficult decision after evaluating how best to optimize our operations network to address current and future growth, the spokesperson said in a statement. The work from this facility will transition to three other production facilities in Wisconsin and Kansas.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Johnsonville said it plans to demolish the Momence facility by the end of this year.

The company also says about 100 new jobs will be created between two of its Wisconsin plants by the third quarter of this year, 20 to 25 new jobs in Sheboygan Falls and 70 to 75 new jobs in Watertown.

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Nearly 8K pounds of meth found during South Bay narcotics investigation

Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains the different schedules of drugs.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A joint narcotics investigation in the South Bay ended in a major drug bust on Monday after nearly 8,000 pounds of methamphetamine was found in three separate vehicles, authorities said.

According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Office, detectives with its Border Crimes Suppression Team (BCST) and agents with the United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation around 7 p.m.

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Carlsbad police seize drugs, cash and car in major narcotics operation

Investigators reportedly observed three vehicles being loaded with suspected bundles of narcotics. Two of those vehicles were then driven to a motel in San Ysidro, while the third vehicle traveled to a motel in Chula Vista.

All three vehicles were ultimately searched and three suspects were detained. Detectives found a total of 61 bundles containing what appeared to be narcotics. After testing the substance, authorities confirmed it was methamphetamine.

A drug testing device is displayed. (Courtesy of San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

Weighing in at 7,704 pounds, the estimated street value of the drugs is approximately $5.5 million, according to the sheriffs office.

Bundles of meth. (Courtesy of San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

All three suspects were arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail for charges related to conspiracy, transportation and possession of a controlled substances for sale.

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An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

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LUTTRELL, Tenn. (WATE)  A new YMCA of East Tennessee program is bringing free meals to students this summer. In partnership with the national nonprofit No Kid Hungry, they are providing thousands of meals to students in Grainger and Union County.

On Wednesday YMCA headed out meals at the Luttrell Elementary School. They said while school is out for the summer, some kids dont know where their next meal will come from.

Knoxville Jewish Alliance increasing security amid national rise in antisemitic incidents

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We know that food insecurity is a real issue for a lot of families in our community and that increases so much in the summer because we have all these kids that are getting breakfast and lunch at school, said Bekah Grace, Director of Marketing for the YMCA of East Tennessee. But when school ends, families are having to feed those kids and they eat all day long.

As a way to supplement this, they are offering seven breakfasts and seven lunches for students each week, and parents said this takes some of the burden away.

The prices of everything is going up, so to take away that little bit of cost helps. Every little penny helps, said parent Kayla Weaver.

I think that there is a lot of families who do depend on this food, and to have this as an option for them, I think is a wonderful thing for our community.

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Repaving set for East Tennessee roads after TDOT gets $1 billion boost

While they are serving thousands of meals a week, Grace also said the need is apparent.

There was one family as we handed them the food through the window, they immediately started grabbing items out of the bag, and even the mom driving the car said give me something out of there right now, she said. Families are hungry. This is not necessarily an extra. This is a necessity.

As this is the first year they are handing out food for the summer, Grace added they hope to grow the program.

 See more top stories on WATE.com

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So many great nonprofits are out there helping meet food insecurities, and the Y is happy to come alongside them and kind of fill in the gaps where families need a little bit more help, she said.

The YMCA has three distribution sites: one in Union County at Luttrell Elementary and two in Grainger County at Rutledge Elementary and Washburn School. To find out how to help or what times and days they are distributing, you can visit their website here.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Memphis woman says shes been without a working air conditioner for more than three weeks due to issues with her home warranty company.

Sharron Finney, a retired school teacher, has been trying to get her home warranty company to help, but they continue to give her the runaround, so she turned to WREG for help.

Finney and her dog Annie do what they can to stay cool, blinds, curtains drawn, its dark in their home. The 71-year-old retired teacher of 33 years said she finally broke down on Monday.

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Church announces $310 million redevelopment plan for Midtown

Were getting into the summer months, said Finney. I mean, it could be unbearable right now.

She is waiting for answers from the warranty company, American Home Shield, after she says she contacted them nearly a month ago. She has been a customer for 20 years.

Finney said she was initially told she needed a compressor, telling WREG the company said they couldnt find the part, then continued to give her the runaround. They did not offer her any options except to pay $5,000.

Memphis court rules on future of Infiniti Sports Bar

Michael Highfill, with Highfill HVAC Repair and Service, whom Finney met through a friend, says he looked into the issue himself and is now trying to help her with warranty issues.

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And they keep emailing or calling or saying, were looking for a compressor, were looking for something, were looking for this. Were looking for that. I sent my technician over here, said Highfill. He found out the compressor was shorted to ground. I made a phone call and found two compressors in the same day. But this is a really old system. So shes wanted replaced, which is what they should do.

Its very nerve-wracking and upsetting, said Finney.

Shes paid for this home warranty for 20 years and used it less than a handful of times, said Highfill. And then this is the response she gets after paying for an insurance policy for the time shes owned this house.

WREG made contact with American Home Shield about the issue they said they are looking into it. They sent this response:

We sincerely apologize for the delay and frustration this situation has caused Ms. Finney. We take great pride in providing quality service and valuable protection to our members. If we fail to meet these expectations, we work to do the right thing and ensure the situation is properly resolved. In Ms. Finneys situation, it was determined that the compressor on her AC unit was faulty. In accordance with the coverage outlined in her contract, we approved replacement of the compressor. However, there are other costs associated with the repair that are not covered by her contract. Our customer care team is working with Ms. Finney now to determine how she would like to move forward, given the available options. In the interim, as a gesture of goodwill, we are refunding Ms. Finneys service fee and will reimburse her for the cost of the portable AC unit.

WREG will continue to stay on top of this issue to make sure it is fully and fairly resolved.

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The prosecutions questioning, led by attorney Yehonatan Tadmor, focused on the depth and extent of Netanyahus friendship with Arnon Milchan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus rebuttal to the prosecutions notions insinuating otherwise during the cross-examination hearing of his criminal trial testimony on Wednesday was that his friendship with billionaire and Hollywood producer-turned states witness Arnon Milchan between 1999 and 2002 was purely personal.

I was a political carcass back then, Netanyahu said in answer to the prosecutions line of questioning to indicate that he and Milchan were not working together in pursuit of ulterior motives.

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At the hearing in the Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday, the prosecution, led by attorney Yehonatan Tadmor, focused on the depth and extent of Netanyahus friendship with Milchan.

Its thesis is that Netanyahus friendship was tied into political manifestations, laying out the basis for Case 1000  one of the three cases levied against the prime minister.

He, however, insists that the friendship was deeply personal and that the insinuation that it was political was beneath it.

Unlike on Tuesday, the prosecution on Wednesday moved its questioning further along and elicited more information from them, though the defense objected wherever possible. The judges showed a little less leniency towards the delays on Wednesday, preferring in most cases to move the questioning along.

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In Case 1000, or the Illegal Gifts affair, Netanyahu is on trial for allegedly advancing legislation favorable to Milchan while receiving gifts from him in the form of cigars and champagne worth thousands of shekels.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Tel Aviv court for criminal trial, June 3, 2025. (photo credit: CHAIM GOLDBEG/FLASH90)

Tadmor asked about what has come to be known as the Bibi Law  a bill that was passed in 2002 permitting former prime ministers to run for reelection again. At the time, this would only have applied to Netanyahu. However, the coalition back then fell soon after, making the law irrelevant.

Much like the day before, every time the prosecution tried to present new information with which to base questions off to Netanyahu, the defense objected on the same legal grounds as it did on Tuesday: The materials were contradictory and external to those already presented in the case, and so they were deemed invalid.

Judge Oded Shaham reminded that the decision issued on the matter on Tuesday  which we all remember clearly  specified that submitting evidence during cross-examination is not within the accepted legal framework.

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The judges later permitted the presentation of such materials, starting from next week, not to be submitted as evidence but rather to gauge an answer from Netanyahu.

What is valuable to the prosecution in this regard has more to do with the prime ministers answers and less to do with the materials themselves.

Tadmor argued the 'Bibi Law' was advanced just for Netanyahu

Tadmor argued that the Bibi Law, which was proposed as an amendment to the Basic Law: The Government, was advanced with Netanyahu in mind. It passed initial readings in the Knesset on December 18, 2000, in a 63-45 vote. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon won the elections that took place shortly thereafter.

The attorney said that Netanyahu was the only relevant public figure this law would have applied to at the time. The question then, regarding those years, was the relevance of the friendship with Milchan at that time, around 1999, when it would have carried political consequences.

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TADMOR ASKED Netanyahu what he knew of the publics perception of the law itself.

I understood at the time that some people wanted me back, but I knew that I had no such intention, a sentiment I shared with Milchan, the prime minister answered. He added, pointedly, I told you this yesterday: I had no intention of returning to politics.

From 1999 until 2002, I was out of the political picture, both because I could not get back in, and because I did not want to, Netanyahu reiterated.

Tadmor pointed out that Netanyahu calling himself a political carcass throughout this series of questions was not aligned with what he told police during his interrogations.

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Also, the lawyer continued, one month after Netanyahu lost the Likud primaries in 2002 to Sharon, he was appointed as a foreign minister and a finance minister in his government, so how could he have asserted that his political career was over when he jumped right back into it?

Netanyahu insisted that between 1999 and 2002, he never wanted to return to politics, and that this was clear to his closest circle, to people like Milchan. Tadmor insisted, in turn, that this assertion could not be true, specifically in regard to 2002, around election time.

The prime minister said that he had no political horizon to return to. Israel was in the worst financial position it had been in in years. I knew that these positions would bury me, and even more so, that I never stood a chance to become the prime minister.

He continued, So I asked myself: If I were to become prime minister again, why would that be? The answers for me were the financial mess and Iran, though I knew that the price for it would be massive. But I figured I would fulfill at least one of my goals  to shift Israel financially.

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Netanyahu added that he knew, going into the process, that it was political suicide.

This underscores the prosecutions position that his political reality changed or was influenced by his friendship with Milchan.

In 2005, Netanyahu was elected leader of the opposition, a position he held until 2009, when he became the prime minister.

In what was presumably an attempt to challenge Netanyahus credibility as a witness, Tadmor proposed that being the head of the opposition was a far cry from being a political carcass, and that Netanyahu had indeed planned his return to politics.

My understanding at the time, at least during those first two years [1999-2001], was that my political life span was over. It took time for that to change, explained Netanyahu.

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Tadmor presented a poll from the time showing that Ehud Olmerts party, Kadima, was sinking. Olmert won the elections in 2006 and served as prime minister until 2009.

One year before the elections, a Smith Institute poll commissioned by Ynet found that Netanyahu was the most appropriate figure to lead the country, Tadmor showed.

Netanyahu dismissed this, saying that other polls reflected the exact opposite and that, in fact, Kadima bounced back.

My friendship with Milchan was completely disconnected from politics and had no effect on my political ups and downs, the prime minister charged.

He said that politically, he was beaten from 2006 to 2009, and that his friendship with Milchan became even stronger throughout these intense political losses.

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Netanyahu then lashed out at Tadmor, telling him that he was pushing a specific narrative that had nothing to do with reality.

Netanyahus outburst gave Tadmor the opportunity to call the prime ministers reliability into question.

In response to Netanyahus: This whole narrative is absurd, Tadmor's answer was: The way in which you described your closeness and the development of your friendship [with Milchan] is what does not reflect reality.

The opposite is true, Netanyahu said, we had a true and real friendship right off the bat; a friendship that bled into our family relations as well.
Sources within ultra-Orthodox parties told Kan News that Netanyahu is attempting to puppeteer the government's collapse to delay his cross-examination as part of his trial.

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties have threatened to dissolve the government in recent weeks because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to delay his cross-examination as part of his trial, a senior official in the ultra-Orthodox parties told Kan News on Tuesday.

"Based on this, we threatened to dissolve the government after the Shavuot holiday," the senior official said. "In recent days, we received a message that things would continue as normal, and now we are stuck," he added.

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Several haredi rabbis instructed parties in the coalition to leave the government, and Shas is expected to support a motion to dissolve the Knesset, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.

Netanyahu is expected to lead a meeting on Thursday afternoon that Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein will also attend, in addition to Shas MK Ariel Attias and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fox, the Prime Ministers Office confirmed.

Edelstien stated he was in favor of seeking a solution

Edelstein addressed the developments in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday, writing that he did not support dissolving the Knesset and that he was seeking a solution.

I am not in favor of disbanding the coalition or dissolving the government, and I do not share in the hatred of our haredi brothers, he wrote.

Sources in the haredi parties told Kan News that theUnited Torah Judaism Knesset members would ultimately not withdraw from the coalition.

"If we go to elections over this crisis, they'll come after us. In the best-case scenario, we'll end up with the same government," the sources said.

Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.
The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with a large military aid package in the field of maritime security, including ships, boats and naval drones, worth a total of 400 million.

Source: Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans ahead of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting (also known as the Ramstein Format) on 4 June in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "For today, for today's Ukraine Defence Contact Group, I announce a new support package [for Ukraine  ed.], a new support package of 400 million in maritime security. This will include more than 100 vessels, patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft. So a broad array of more than 100 vessels."

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Details: Brekelmans reported that the package also includes over 50 naval drones, weapons systems, sensors, spare parts and training for Ukrainian specialists.

Quote: "So a full package to strengthen the maritime security of Ukraine. This is very important because we do see that the Russian threats in both the Black Sea, but also around Kherson, are increasing. So this is very important for Ukraine to protect itself against that."

Details: He added that the Netherlands seeks to support Ukraine in ensuring freedom of shipping and preserving maritime trade routes.

Background:

At the end of May, the Dutch Ministry of Defence confirmed the dispatch of the final batch of 24 F-16 fighter jets allocated for Ukraine.

Romania and the Netherlands will jointly establish a centre to train Ukrainian technical personnel for the F-16 fighter jets.

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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Prime Minister Dick Schoof, acting in a caretaker status after his resignation, sought parliamentary support on Wednesday for security and defense matters, a day after far-right leader Geert Wilders abruptly abandoned the coalition government.

While no date was set for a snap election, it will likely be in the autumn based on previous election cycles.

The timing of Wilders' exit - which he blamed on slow government progress in imposing immigration restrictions - is awkward, just three weeks before the Dutch are due to host a NATO summit. There, world leaders will be asked to more than double their defense and security-related spending target from 2% to 5% of GDP.

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"The fall of this cabinet, in my view, was unnecessary and irresponsible," Schoof, who resigned hours after Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition, told the 150-seat lower house.

"Nationally and internationally, we face major challenges, and more than ever, decisiveness is required for our security, resilience, and the economy in a rapidly changing world."

Schoof asked legislators to back key policy decisions relating to military support for Ukraine, defense spending, cost of living, housing, migration and tariffs.

Wilders, who reiterated his plans to freeze all immigration, said he aimed to become the next prime minister, even as his party steadily lost popularity while in power.

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"I proposed a plan to close the borders to asylum seekers, to stop them, to send them away, to stop building asylum centers and instead to shut them down," Wilders said during a debate convened to address the political crisis.

"I asked my coalition partners to sign off on it, but they didnt," he said, explaining the timing of his exit decision.

Frans Timmermans, a former EU commissioner who leads the left-wing opposition, said he would work with the caretaker government, which no longer includes Wilders' Freedom Party, on matters of security, and accused Wilders of causing political disagreement and paralysis.

"When responsibility must be taken, when difficult decisions need to be made, Mr. Wilders is nowhere to be found," he said.

(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch and Bart MeijerEditing by Bernadette Baum)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Monday was the last day of the 120-day legislative session in Nevada and late that night, Nevada lawmakers passed Rebas Law, an animal cruelty measure.

The proposal, Assembly Bill 381, was aimed at strengthening penalties against animal abusers after the death of an English bulldog who died in July 2024 after she was left sealed inside a plastic tub in 110-degree heat.

She initially survived, but died days later as a result of heat stroke.

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Republican Assem. Melissa Hardy proposed the bill, which also establishes a wider range of penalties so prosecutors can more easily make the punishment fit the crime, she said.

As I stated from the beginning, the intent was to seek justice for Reba and to be the voice for the voiceless, those that are harmed, abused and killed that cant speak for themselves, Hardy said in April when the bill, which missed a deadline to move out of committee, was granted an excemption to be revived.

Current law allows only misdemeanors to punish people involved in a wide variety of animal cruelty cases. The sentences range from one to four years in prison, even when the animal dies. This bill calls for tougher penalties in more extreme cases, including when an animal is killed or when a police animal is disabled or killed.

The bill lists the punishment in both cases as imprisonment for a minimum term of not less than one year and a maximum term of not more than six years.

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Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo had not signed the bill as of Tuesday afternoon.

RELATED: Dog dies in extreme Las Vegas heat after woman says she fell asleep, forgot about dog for 20 hours

Rebas death made national headlines in 2024 as people called for Justice for Reba. In December, police arrested Issac Laushaul Jr., 32; and Markeisha Foster, 30, on animal abuse charges. A grand jury later voted to indict them on similar charges.

On Monday, the 8 News Now Investigators reported that Laushaul wanted his trial to happen outside of Las Vegas because of intense media coverage.

The media has followed this case/story extensively, Laushauls attorney wrote in court documents filed May 16, citing 8 News Nows reporting. Media coverage has included photographs, articles all about Reba, interviews with individuals who know the defendant, coverage of in-court proceedings, pending motions, comments by prosecutors, police, and defense attorneys, and interviews and analyses of veterinarians as to how this could have all happened.

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The filing indicates Laushaul and his attorney believe they will be unable to find an impartial jury.

While not asking for a venue change, Fosters attorney asked the judge to sever her case from Laushauls. Clark County District Court Judge Ron Israel was scheduled to hear arguments on both issues Wednesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Nevada man pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to heading an Oregon-based drug trafficking organization, then laundering millions in profits through a Washington County business, authorities said.

Luis Antonio Beltran Arredondo was a Mexican national unlawfully living in North Las Vegas when he led a drug trafficking ring that brought pounds of heroin, fentanyl and meth into Oregon, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

15 years later: Kyrons not home, were not done

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Investigators seized more than 52 pounds of heroin, seven pounds of fentanyl pills and nearly six pounds of methamphetamine in connection with the Portland metro area drug trafficking operation between October 2021 and January 2022, according to court documents.

Arredondo then conspired to launder $4.63 million in drug trafficking profits through a Tualatin-based beauty salon, officials said. He then bought nine properties using the money, converting them to income-generating rentals. The properties were forfeited to the United States and will be sold.

On Monday, Arredondo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, distribution of heroin and fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is slated to be sentenced on August 18, where he faces a maximum life sentence in prison, with five years supervised release and $10 million in fines.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Jessie Pang and Yimou Lee

HONG KONG/TAIPEI (Reuters) -Security was tight in Hong Kong and activists faced pressure from police on the 36th anniversary of China's bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, which Taiwan and the United States said must never be forgotten.

The events on and around the central Beijing square on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire to end student-led pro-democracy protests, are not publicly discussed in China, which treats the date as taboo and allows no public remembrance.

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Rights groups and witnesses say thousands may have died when Chinese tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square before dawn, crushing weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers. China blamed the protests on counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the Communist Party.

Ahead of the anniversary, security around the square in Beijing was tightened with increased police presence. Police officers set up multiple checkpoints for identification checks on motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, and also prevented people from taking photographs near the square.

Commemorations in Hong Kong, which once drew tens of thousands of people annually, have been shut down since a new security law took effect in 2020.

Hundreds of police officers patrolled Victoria Park, the site of previous mass candlelight vigils. Officers searched passers-by, and at least half a dozen people, some wearing black T-shirts and holding flowers, were taken away.

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Several pro-democracy activists told Reuters they had been called by national security police several times over the past week and followed in public by unknown individuals in what they described as intimidation by authorities.

Hong Kong's leader John Lee said enforcement action would be taken against acts endangering national security. Hong Kong police did not reply to questions from Reuters on whether activists had been targeted.

"I don't think commentating on June 4th is illegal," said Derek Chu, the owner of a pro-democracy shop that displayed candles and was visited by police. "I don't think speaking up for the deceased, the survivors and the families is illegal."

One jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, Chow Hang-tung, staged a 36-hour hunger strike in prison, while another recently released former democratic lawmaker, Claudia Mo, posted a picture of a candle online.

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'PERPETUATE THIS MEMORY'

Public commemorations were held in over 30 cities in Europe, North America and Asia, including Taipei, where several hundred people gathered in a vigil, with chants including, "Retake Hong Kong. Revolution of our time".

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, in a post on Facebook, praised the courage of those who took part in the 1989 protests, saying human rights are a concept shared by Taiwan and other democracies that transcend generations and borders.

"The commemoration of the June 4 Tiananmen incident is not only to mourn history, but also to perpetuate this memory," said Lai, who is described as a "separatist" by Beijing.

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"Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who gave their lives - and their dreams - to the idea of human rights," he added.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said China's ruling Communist Party "actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget".

"Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4."

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China had lodged a complaint against Rubio whose "wrong comments maliciously distort the facts of history" and seriously interfered in China's internal affairs.

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"With regard to the political turmoil that took place in the late 1980s, the Chinese government has long since come to the clear conclusion that the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the choice of history and the people."

British, European, U.S. and Australian diplomatic missions in Hong Kong and China marked the anniversary with various gestures including placing candles in windows, light projections and social media posts.

"We join communities around the world to remember the loss of life at Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989," Australia's Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau, Gareth Williams, said in a post on X.

Some attempts were made to mention the event on Chinese social media, including by the British embassy, which posted on China's microblogging site Weibo an animation of a man standing before tanks near Tiananmen Square, an image which has come to symbolise the event. Such posts were censored by authorities.

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The Tiananmen Mothers, which represents relatives of those killed, put out this week their annual statement calling for a public accounting of what happened.

"The executioners of that year have passed away one after another, but as the continuation of the ruling party, the current government has a responsibility to respond to and address the Tiananmen Massacre," Zhang Xianling, whose son Wang Nan was killed, said in a video message.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Alessandro Diviggiano and Liz Lee in Beijing; Jessie Pang and James Pomfret in Hong Kong; Writing by Ben Blanchard and James Pomfret; Editing by Michael Perry, Kim Coghill, Peter Graff)
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?
The victim count in the attack on Jewish group Run for their lives Sunday grew to 15 people and a dog Wednesday as Boulder police announced taking increased steps to protect community members.

The group, which raises awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza, holds a weekly march through Pearl Street Mall every Sunday.

Despite last week's firebomb attack targeted at the group, they will proceed with their regularly scheduled march at noon this Sunday, June 8.

Despite varying levels of injury, all of the victims are expected to survive, according to law enforcement officials.

The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is set for a hearing at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Boulder County Jail courtroom.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, We continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local partners in strong response to this horrific attack. We are united in our commitment to pursuing justice for all the victims, their many loved ones, and this community. We stand with the Jewish community and the people of Colorado against hate and terror.

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Sunday's march coincides with the Boulder Jewish Festival, which is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. between 13th & 14th streets at the mall that same day.

According to a spokesperson from Boulder police, Visitors should expect enhanced security measures and increased police presence. We encourage the public to 'see something, say something' - report any suspicious activity to an officer in the area or to dispatch. For safety in public spaces, it is important to be aware of your surroundings, let others know where you are, and follow your gut-instinct.

Officials at the Boulder Jewish Community Center, which hosts the festival, said that they are increasing security measures as well.

We are working closely with JEWISHcolorados Secure Community Network, Boulder police, and the FBI to ensure that the Boulder JCC, local synagogues, and all community events have appropriate security, they said in a joint statement. You may see an increased security presence at the Boulder JCC and other Jewish community events in the days ahead. These measures are precautionary, they do not indicate any known threat to the community.

Tonight, the Boulder JCC will host a community vigil at 5 p.m. to heal after the targeted attack.

In moments like these, our strength is in our unity. Thank you for standing together, they said in the statement.
Dover, Rochester, and 10 residents filed a lawsuit against the State of New Hampshire and Secretary of State David Scanlan alleging that the states maps violated the New Hampshire Constitution. (Photo by Dave Cummings/New Hampshire Bulletin)

The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the House district maps created by the Republican-controlled state Legislature in 2020 are not illegal, despite allegations made by the cities of Dover and Rochester and a number of residents from throughout New Hampshire.

In 2022, Dover, Rochester, and 10 residents filed a lawsuit against the State of New Hampshire and Secretary of State David Scanlan alleging that the states maps violated the New Hampshire Constitution. They argued that the constitution requires Dover Ward 4, Rochester Ward 5, New Ipswich, Wilton, Hooksett, Lee, Barrington, and several other towns to have their own state House districts because their populations are large enough to warrant them. The maps currently in use do not give those wards and towns their own districts. They also alleged the maps population configuration deviates more than 10%, which is a violation of the 14th Amendments one-person-one-vote requirement. They ask the court to forbid the state from using the maps and to ostensibly fix them. They provided a map they deemed to be more legal.

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In 2024, a trial court in Strafford County ruled against Dover and Rochester, agreeing with the state and Scanlan that creating maps where every city, town, or ward with the necessary population had their own districts would be impossible to accomplish. It also ruled previous case law determined that presumptive violations of the one-person-one-vote requirement may be justified by efforts to make districts compact, respect municipal boundaries, preserve the cores of prior districts, and avoid contests between incumbent representatives. Citing a previous court decision, the court declared that a legislatively enacted redistricting plan is not unconstitutional simply because some resourceful mind has come up with a better one.

Dover, Rochester, and the rest of the plaintiffs promptly appealed the ruling and the state Supreme Court considered the case. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that because they did not sufficiently show that the Legislature had no rational or legitimate basis to enact the map, they denied the appeal.

We are pleased that the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the states redistricting plan for the State House of Representatives, Attorney General John Formella, who represented the state, said in a statement Wednesday. Todays decision reaffirms the Courts prior precedent recognizing the Legislatures broad discretion in the area of redistricting and recognizes that the Legislature must balance complex constitutional requirements when determining the most appropriate map. We are delighted that the Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts finding that the Legislature acted within its constitutional authority, and I thank our litigation and appeals teams for their excellent work in achieving this important outcome.

Jennifer Perez, Dovers deputy city attorney wrote in an email to the Bulletin, We are disappointed in the result but respect the Courts determination. Officials from Rochester did not immediately respond to the Bulletins requests for comment.
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  Nicholasville police are investigating what they believe to be an armed robbery that happened overnight.

Nicholasville Police Department Public Information Officer Sam Wade told FOX 56 that the call came in just after midnight on Wednesday, June 4. When officers arrived at the intersection of Nottaway Drive and Shun Pike, they found a man whod been shot in the abdomen.

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Wade said it is believed to be an isolated incident and is being investigated as an armed robbery.

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According to Nicholasville police, the victim is in stable condition.

No arrests have been made, and 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 56 News.
Nigerian drone startup Terra Industries beat out a rival bid from an Israeli consortium to provide security for two hydropower plants in a $1.2 million contract.

Terra Industries, earlier called TerraHaptix, will supply a dozen drones and more than 35 towers for a local security company to boost surveillance of the plants, the companys 22-year-old chief executive Nathan Nwachuku told Semafor. The plants, the location of which was not shared, have been used as hideouts by bandits and even some terrorists, Nwachuku said. The first drone deployments are set to begin in a few weeks.

The deal comes amid growing drone adoption across Africa in sectors spanning the military to health care delivery. Terra began producing drones in Abuja in April 2024, banking more than $1 million in revenue from commercial customers in the oil, mining, and agriculture industries in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Right now, our fastest growing market is the power sector, Nwachuku said.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  C.E. Byrd High School is inviting the community to celebrate their centennial late-night art party.

The free event features a live DJ, free art activities, and refreshing flavored waters, said the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC).

On June 6, patrons will have the opportunity to take a selfie with Byrd Centennials logo and the last chance to view the Critical Mass 13 artwork.

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ShrevePrides Q-Prom honors queer history, fashion and more

The block party takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., but the gallery is open all day, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Onos Hawaiian restaurant will be available, serving food and cocktails right next door.

Artspace is located at 708 Texas Street.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
We all have our own chronotype  a tendency to sleep at certain times, with early birds and night owls at opposite ends of the scale. A new study suggests this chronotype has some relationship to cognitive decline in those who have completed higher education.

Led by a team from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the study dug into the data on 23,798 individuals aged 40 and over in a public health research database. Sleeping habits were charted against scores on the Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT), measuring cognitive ability, across the course of a decade.

Night owls who stayed up late and had a university-level education had a higher risk of cognitive decline, the data showed. The findings add important new information to efforts to understand aging and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

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"In the high-educational group each one-hour increase in chronotype corresponded to a 0.80-point decline in cognition per decade," write the researchers in their published paper.

"In this group, sleep quality and current smoking mediated 13.52 percent and 18.64 percent of the association, respectively."

In other words, the quality of the sleep these people were getting, and whether or not they were smokers, affected the cognitive decline risk somewhat  but only to a relatively small degree. Smoking and reduced sleep are known to be linked to dementia.

The study isn't thorough enough to show direct cause and effect between being a night owl and having a more rapid rate of cognitive decline  there are just too many variables to consider. However, it does show a relationship that's worth investigating, and certain key factors were accounted for in the statistics.

Certain health habits were factored into the research. (Wenzler et al., J. Prev. Alzheimers Dis., 2025)

"Physical activity, past smoking, and alcohol consumption did not explain the association between chronotype and cognitive decline," write the researchers.

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"In the low and middle-educational attainment subgroups, no significant total and direct effects were observed."

Results from previous studies into this particular association have been mixed, and were based on varying approaches, but there is plenty of past research on the relationship between sleep and our well-being  night shift workers are more at risk of numerous health issues, for example.

The researchers put forward some suggestions for why well-educated night owls may see more cognitive decline, including having working hours that are more fixed and regular  so still having to get up early in the morning, even if they've stayed up late, and thus not giving the brain time to fully rest.

That more well-educated people have a higher cognitive level to begin with  which means a drop-off could be more noticeable  is something else mentioned in the study. The researchers also note that their study sample involved a low number of early bird chronotypes, which may have influenced the results.

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As populations get older across the world, there are estimated to be around 57 million cases of dementia globally  a number expected to more than double by 2050  which makes efforts to find out the causes of cognitive decline an increasingly urgent one.

"With rising life expectancies and aging populations worldwide, preserving cognitive health is an urgent global priority," write the researchers.

The research has been published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

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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 rocket will potentially launch a SiriusXM geostationary communications satellite.

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.

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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? Friday, June 6: SpaceX SiriusXM SXM-10

Mission: SpaceX will launch a SiriusXM geostationary communications satellite, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.

Launch window: 11:19 p.m. EDT Friday, June 6, 2025, to 3:48 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2025

Launch location: Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Trajectory : TBA

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.

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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.

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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
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Therese Testorf said her son, Christian, and his friend were riding dirt bikes on Memorial Day in Clyde.

They were just riding around, and he, at one point, took the lead, and it was kind of close to where this ditch was, Therese said. She explained Christians friend tried to warn him about a ditch but it was obscured by the grass. But he couldnt hear because of the dirt bike, and he had his helmet on and all of his gear on.

Christian went into the ditch.

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It was about a maybe eight to 10 foot drainage ditch, Therese said. And [my sons friend] went down and helped him and got his phone, and Christian was able to give him his password to get into his phone, and he called me and my husband, but we didnt answer the phone. So then he called 911, and he gave them like excellent directions. So they were able to get to Christian very quickly within just a couple minutes.

Christian was airlifted by first responders to SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. There, he underwent emergency surgery.

He had broken his spine in the T7 and T8 area, and with a complete transection of his spinal cord, Therese said. So, they did emergency surgery and stabilized him.

Therese told News 8 Wednesday when she was able to get ahold of her daughter and first responders, it was terrifying.

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Its just like your life is like panic, and you just fall apart in that moment, trying not to, trying to be strong, she said. The only thing I could think of is Ive got to get to my child as soon as possible, you know, because he needs me.

The Testorf family, especially Christian is facing these unimaginable challenges with hope.

My sons attitude [] somebody asked him, How do you feel? This is going to change your life. And he said, Im okay with it. Ive accepted it. I know Gods with me, so thats what gives me strength, Therese said. And I think thats what could give other people strength in this situation, is knowing that people love you and support you, and most of all, that God is always with you, and He will never leave you or forsake you.

The family has also received the communitys support, after setting up a GiveSendGo, to help with medical expenses for the necessary steps to get Christian into rehabilitation.

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Having people around that are positive and that are helping is amazing, Therese said. It just helps your mental state, and helps you to be able to continue in this its like, basically a nightmare. Ive thought about this stuff before this happened, and I was like, I dont even know how people do it. She says now she knows its with the help of God and the support of people surrounding them.

Christian was just weeks away from graduating from Finger Lakes Christian School. With the help of the staff, he will still be able to celebrate that achievement as he recuperates in the hospital.

The very first day after his surgery, his principal came in and he said, We want to do a ceremony for him for his graduation. Hes got everything he needs. All the ducks are in the row. The districts already approved our plan. Therese says theyll have that ceremony on Friday.

After that, Christian will be headed to Spaulding Rehabilitation in Boston. Therese said everything is moving quickly, but wanted to make sure her son received the best care possible.

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Hes young and a strong person, Therese said. They do believe that hes going to be able to live independently, and that its going to be a good outcome for him. So thats what were all praying for.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  Several jobs at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown have been officially restored following certification earlier this week that Reductions in Force (RIF) at the institution would not happen. So whats next?

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent out a court document certifying that the RIFs have been rescinded, a move that fully restores the Respiratory Health Division (RHD). This move is in compliance with a court injunction ordered in mid-May as part of a larger case against the cuts.

The plaintiffs original suit sought the restoration of RHD, saying that RHD facilitates federally mandated coal miner lung screening programs and job transfer rights. The plaintiffs legal counsel, Samuel Petsonk, told 12 News that even despite this restoration, he is still concerned that NIOSH still doesnt have the ability to perform all of its federally mandated services as well as it did before the RIFs. He added that his office and client are weighing their options.

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Elderly and disabled residents trapped without functioning elevator in Clarksburg apartment building

The rescinded RIFs for RHD accounted for 51 RHD employees, while hundreds of other NIOSH employees were originally impacted.

The President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3430 Cathy Tinney-Zara, which represents the Morgantown NIOSH office, told 12 News that they were pleased with this rescinding of the RIFs, but that there are components of NIOSH still missing, such as the Health Effects Laboratory Division, which does research focused on evaluating, controlling, and preventing workplace safety and health hazards.

Tinney-Zara added that AFGE is waiting for the Supreme Court decision on the broader legality of the federal downsizing.

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In the statement to 12 News, she said: While we await the courts decision, we are ready to return to work and continue our mission of protecting the health and safety of Americas workers. We firmly believe that the value we provide to the government, to workers, and to their families will be recognized.

Tinney-Zara added that NIOSHs efforts significantly reduce financial burdens on the federal government by lowering Social Security payments, workers compensation claims and healthcare expenses. She said that by keeping the workforce safer and healthier, we not only save money but also safeguard lives.

You can read the full document certifying the restoration of RHD below.

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The NIOSH Coal Worker's Health Surveillance Program offered periodic black lung screenings at no cost to coal miners in the U.S. (NIOSH photo)

A certification was entered in federal court this week proving that at least 50 employees at the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safetys Respiratory Health Division have had their terminations rescinded, meeting requirements set in a court order last month.

Those returning to work include most employees who worked within the RHD before April 1, which is when reduction in force notices were issued throughout multiple NIOSH divisions as a result of the new federal Department of Government Efficiencys cost-saving measures.

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Many of those workers were slated to be terminated on Monday, the same day NIOSH director John J. Howard signed and filed the certification in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The certification was entered to meet requirements in a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Irene Berger last month. That injunction came from a class action lawsuit filed on April 7 against the federal government and led by Harry Wiley, a Raleigh County coal miner.

In May, Wileys attorneys argued in a hearing that the closure of the CWHSP by DOGE meant responsibilities mandated by congress for coal worker health and safety were illegally going undone, robbing Wiley and other coal miners of their hard-fought rights. The federal government argued that the stoppage at the CWHSP and other NIOSH divisions was only temporary as the federal Department of Health and Human Services worked through a reorganization.

Berger ruled in favor of Wiley and the other coal miners. She ordered that all RHD employees return to work and that the division  including the CWHSP  continue all work congressionally mandated by the federal Mine Safety and Health Act. If there are future moves to reorganize the agency, Berger ordered that there must be no pause, stoppage, or gap in the protections and services mandated to be performed by the RHD.

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That work includes providing free black lung screenings and certifying black lung X-ray results for miners like Wiley who have been diagnosed with black lung disease so they can exercise their Part 90 rights. Part 90 allows miners who have black lung to be transferred to a different, less dusty part of a coal mine without facing repercussions from their employers. NIOSH is the only agency that can certify test results for miners to receive a Part 90 transfer.

In the certification declaration on Monday, Howard said that the agency is once again accepting test results necessary to certify Part 90 transfer requests.

But other work, according to the certification declaration, has yet to return completely.

Howard wrote that NIOSH was working through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal DHHS to fully restore several of the RHDs functions.

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Those functions include reestablishing contracts necessary for RHD to offer, review and manage chest X-rays through its mobile clinic; promoting events to alert miners of the free testing opportunities and ensuring funding can be accessed and spent for the agency to meet its requirements.

On Tuesday, according to WV MetroNews, Sam Petsonk  one of several attorneys representing the miners in the case  told Talk of the Town on WAJR Radio that its critical for all CWHSP services to return as soon as possible.

They say theyre trying. They say that they understand the court has ordered them to do this, but they have not restored the X-ray reading programs, the mobile unit that travels around the coal mines, Petsonk said.  We are experiencing hundreds of layoffs across the mining industry right now. This is just the moment where miners often look to see what kind of lung damage they have so that they can take stock before they find their next job. And we really need these programs right now, and we dont have them.

The CDC estimates that about 20% of coal miners in Central Appalachia are suffering from black lung  the highest rate detected in more than 25 years. One in 20 of the regions coal miners are living with the most severe form of the condition.

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And the resurgence of black lung is hitting coal miners at younger ages than ever before. This is due to miners, because of a lack of easily accessible coal, being forced to dig through more silica-rich sandstone than their predecessors in order to reach what little coal remains.

Other fights unfold against federal DOGE cuts

While the RHD employees are back to work, other fights are continuing against the federal governments cuts. Workers and those affected by the services they provide have been decrying the cuts for weeks now, saying theyll leave people in certain industries  including mining, firefighting and more  vulnerable to preventable accidents and illnesses.

Some of these fights, like that for the CWHSP, have already proven successful.

Last week, following continued pushback from black lung organizations and other mining advocates, the Trump administration reversed its plan to close 34 Mine Safety and Health Administration offices nationwide. Those offices employ mine inspectors whose jobs are to ensure that coal mine operators are meeting industry standards known to lower the risks of accidents and injuries for coal miners.

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But other battles have proven more difficult.

In Pennsylvania, workers at the Pittsburgh-based Mining Research Division within NIOSH  which studies the best ways to prevent injuries, illnesses and death in coal mines  are still slated to be terminated.

Several of the services that are now going undone at NIOSH as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are congressionally mandated through the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

Multiple labor unions  including the United Mine Workers of America  filed suit on May 14 against DHHS and the federal government.

Theyre using similar arguments to Wileys attorneys, which proved successful in getting services started back up: since the cuts are stopping work that is required by Congress, they say, they are illegal and should be reversed.

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A pharmacy manager retrieves a bottle of antibiotics. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Under settlement agreements reached earlier this year and announced by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez on Wednesday, two insulin manufacturers have committed to make the diabetes treatment cheaper for New Mexicans.

These are huge wins for New Mexicans who have struggled with the outrageous cost of insulin, Torrez said in a statement. These agreements will help people stop rationing medication, avoid financial hardship, and focus on staying healthy. We are holding drug manufacturers accountable and making access to life-saving treatment more equitable.

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New Mexico Department of Justice spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez told Source NM that the agreements provide insured patients who might have a high deductible or copay the option to pay cash instead of using their insurance, and to pay no more than $35 for a monthly supply of insulin, Rodriguez said.

The New Mexico state law enacted in 2020 that caps insulin costs at $25 remains in full force and is not preempted or replaced by the new settlements, Rodriguez said.

Instead, the agreements are additive protections mainly aimed at helping cash-paying and uninsured patients, while deferring to state law when it offers better pricing, she said.

As many as 207,600 adults in New Mexico, or approximately 11% of the states adult population, have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

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Without the caps, patients in other states could pay $150 per month or more, especially if they require multiple variations of the drug, Stateline reports.

High out-of-pocket costs have historically forced many patients to choose between buying insulin and meeting other basic needs, NMDOJ said in a news release. The settlements result from the agencys independent investigations into insulin pricing practices, NMDOJ said.

The states agreement with Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, signed on April 18, requires the company to maintain its Insulins ValYou Savings Program, which allows patients who pay out-of-pocket to receive a months supply for $35.

The Sanofi settlement also requires it to maintain its Patient Connection Program, which allows uninsured patients who arent eligible for Medicaid and whose annual household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty line to receive insulin for free.

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Under the settlement, Sanofi must also provide patients live phone and translation support in Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Mandarin Chinese; and participating pharmacies will receive training to help patients enroll in affordability programs.

The settlement with Novo Nordisk Inc., signed on May 19, requires the company to maintain its MyInsulinRX Program, which offers diabetes patients the option to pay $35 or less for a monthly prescription. Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk must also continue its Patient Assistance Program, which offers insulin for free.

The settlement also requires Novo Nordisk to notify pharmacies about available discounts at the point of sale, help patients enroll on the spot and offer live phone and website chat support in Spanish.

Reporter Danielle Prokop contributed reporting to this story.

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  No charges have been filed in a shooting which left one person dead and others injured over the weekend in Asheville.

According to Asheville Police Department at around 12:07 a.m. Sunday officers were called to Rankin Avenue near College Street for a reported shooting. At the scene they found Andy Garcia Porras dead in the roadway and multiple others who were hit or grazed by gunfire.

After investigating the shooting, police, with consultation with the Buncombe County District Attorneys Office, determined the shooting was in self-defense.

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According to police, the incident began when the bouncer of a nightclub saw two men, including Porras, harassing a group of women and then denied those men entry into the club.

Police said Poras friend argued with the bouncer and the argument turned physical. Someone else at the club came to help the bouncer and tried to de-escalate the situation. Porras was reportedly heard by witnesses saying he was going to get a gun from his car and left the scene.

Police said Porras returned with a gun in hand and after a scuffle, the patron drew his own gun and both he and Porras reportedly shot at each each, resulting in several people being hit.

The patron left the scene but later turned himself into police.

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North Carolina law states a person may use deadly force if they believe it necessary to save themselves from death or serious injury provided they are not the aggressor.

The evidence indicates that the patron was not the aggressor and acted to defend himself during a rapidly escalating and dangerous situation, police said in a news release. Both firearms used during the shooting have been recovered. This terrible incident underscores the danger of mixing guns and alcohol. While the investigation determined the use of force was legally justified under the circumstances, the outcome is a profound loss of life. Mr. Porras death is a tragedy. We believe that all life is precious and no individual deserves to die. This unfortunate event is a stark reminder of how quickly situations can escalate when people make rash decisions involving firearms, leading to irreversible, heartbreaking, and lasting consequences for all involved.

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SALINA, Kan. (KSNW)  Firefighters responded to a fire in a hotel early Wednesday morning at the Country Inn and Suites in south Salina.

Crews were dispatched just before 2 a.m. to the hotel at 2760 S. 9th Street after reports of a fire in a second-floor storage room. When they arrived, firefighters found flames coming from the exterior of an HVAC unit, with fire extending into the nearby room.

Wichita police make arrest in deadly convenience store shooting

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The buildings sprinkler system activated and helped contain the fire to its point of origin. Fire crews extinguished the remaining flames and had the blaze under control within 10 minutes of arrival.

All hotel guests and staff were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported, the Salina Fire Department said.

A preliminary investigation indicates the fire was likely caused by a faulty HVAC unit. The Salina Police Department assisted at the scene with evacuation efforts and traffic control.

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By Nathan Vifflin

(Reuters) -A consortium of more than 42 organizations, led by Nokia, will work on an unmanned drone project aimed at protecting and bolstering the resilience of Europe's most critical infrastructures, the Finnish network equipment maker said on Wednesday.

The member organizations, which include start-ups and universities, will build new capabilities such as laser or radar sensors on top of hardware platforms like drones built by defence companies.

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Russia's invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the European Union's inability to protect its vital systems, a vulnerability starkly underscored by drone warfare's increasing capacity to inflict devastation deep within adverse territory.

"Safeguarding of our critical infrastructure has not always been a first priority," project leader Thomas Eder at Nokia said in an interview with Reuters, adding that EU-funding for a similar venture did not come through only a few years earlier.

The project is funded in part by participating countries, companies and the EU under its Chips Joint Undertaking programme, which also allows non-EU countries such as Israel to participate.

Among companies involved in the venture were Nvidia and European defence firms Safran, Leonardo and Saab.

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Nokia is looking to do more around defence as its new CEO has identified the sector as one of the company's priority areas, alongside data centres and AI, a Nokia spokesperson said.

The aerial, ground and underwater robot project, initially scheduled to run for three years, is expected to generate 90 million euros ($102.7 million) in revenue by 2035, according to a statement seen by Reuters.

Nokia was not able to confirm the total funding numbers for the project.

While the initiative is targeted for civil security, when asked if it could be later spun-off into a dual-use project for defence purposes, Eder said, "I think it is highly possible."

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"But for the time being, this is a critical infrastructure project for power lines, for power plants, for railways, for ports, for any type of power grid applications," he said.

($1 = 0.8767 euros)

(Reporting by Nathan Vifflin in Amsterdam, additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
ANDERSON  The program Tuesday for the Anderson Exchange Clubs Book of Golden Deeds luncheon described Paula Bivens as tireless in her volunteer efforts and on the go for Madison County.

Upon being presented with one of the organizations most prominent awards, Bivens allowed herself to pause and reflect.

I am overwhelmed, she said. All of my friends have all turned out for methey have touched my heart. I have always felt appreciated for what I do, it is just all of it coming together in one setting.

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I cannot always be as supportive as I like financially, but at least I can give generously with my time, she added. I wish I could do more.

A 16-year Exchange Club member, Bivens also sits on several nonprofit boards and is a former member of the Madison County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force.

Gloria Dunaway-Harlett, the president of the Indiana District Exchange Clubs, said Bivens is always ready to help with anything she can in the community.

She is always just being who she is, and that is a caring heart with deep love for her community, and for the people she meets along the way, Dunaway-Harlett said. Ive known her for 14 years, and with all the things I have been involved with or have led, she is right there by my side saying, What can I do?

That is someone that is very deserving of the Book of Golden Deeds. She lives with a golden heart to do the things that need to be done.
Democratic congressional leaders, including Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Newport News), on Tuesday morning heard accounts from local leaders and experts on the effects to veterans from Trump administrations policies.

The testimony at the event at Norfolk State University centered on the staffing levels at the recently opened North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic, cuts to Veterans Affairs, and uncertainty in veterans health care and benefits.

The VA has plans to lay off as many as 80,000 staff by the end of the year. The federal government instituted a hiring freeze earlier this year and has also laid off thousands of probationary employees.

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Dr. Sheila Elliott, a pharmacist who has worked at the Hampton VA Medical Center for 35 years and serves as the president of Local 2328 AFGE union that represents direct patient care staff, told the group that workers who are essential to veterans health care have lived in fear for their jobs since the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began making cuts to the federal government.

She said the list of VA employees that are exempt from layoffs, such as recreation therapists shows the unnuanced approach to how the VA functions.

Recreational therapists work with veterans to improve physical fitness, reduce stress, anxiety, ultimately leading to a higher quality of life, Elliott said. I have seen first hand the impact of indiscriminate cuts on veterans access to services.

Susan Hippen, a retired Navy Master Chief who represents the Veterans of Military Families Caucus, said in her recent visit to the North Battlefield Clinic, which opened in April at less than 30% of its full staffing level, that it is a ghost town and is failing to meet the needs of veterans on the Southside.

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Among the services not being provided at the new clinic are dentistry and radiology, on top of mental health appointments already taking months to schedule, according to Hippen.

Expressing my concern about the careless dismissal of the people who provide our care, process our claims, or assist with benefits should not be referred to as political fearmongering  it is a fact, she said.

Scott closed the event by quoting President George Washington who reportedly said, The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive our veterans in early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.

We owe it to our veterans to provide the health care they need, Scott said. Not only is it the right thing to do, its a national imperative.

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VA Secretary Doug Collins has insisted that the job cuts will not be a detriment.

The departments history shows that adding more employees to the system doesnt automatically equal better results, Collins told Congress last month.

Collins has said that the personnel changes would not hurt VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries, and that mission-critical positions were exempt from the reductions. The cuts, he said, would increase productivity and eliminate waste.

Gavin Stone, 757-412-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com
NORFOLK, Neb. (KCAU)  Humanities Nebraska just funded a new speakers series at Norfolk Public Library.

Starting June 10, the series includes speakers every second and fourth Tuesday in June, July, and August at 6:30 p.m. The press release stated that the topics will include journalists, artists, and historians.

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The schedule includes the following dates at 6:30 p.m. at Norfolk Public Library:

June 10 Jerry Bockoven presents Stories and Rhymes for Difficult Times: Cultivating our Emotional Heritage

June 24 Gail Shaffer Blankenau presents Journey to Freedom: The Escape of Celia and Eliza Grayson

July 8 Theodore Wheeler presents From the Plains to Paris: Literary Community, Female Journalists, and the Exploits of Midwesterners Abroad

July 22 Christine Erlander Beard presents The Role of Music During the Holocaust

August 12 Barney McCoy presents Running Towards the Fire: A War Correspondents Story

August 26 Lucy Adkins presents Diaries and Letters of Early Nebraska Settlers



To learn more about each unique detail, visit the Norfolk Public Library events calendar.

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NEWTON, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina local law enforcement expressed frustration on Wednesday that a man charged in connection with last weekend's shooting around a house party that left one person dead and 11 others injured had been out of jail for unrelated charges lodged against him in April.

Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20, of Lenoir, was arrested Tuesday and accused of one count of attempted first-degree murder related to the shooting in a residential neighborhood about 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of Hickory. Killian remained in the Catawba County jail after a hearing Wednesday before a district court judge who said he could be released awaiting trial if a $200,000 bond was posted. Prosecutors had requested that no bond be allowed, media outlets reported.

By late Wednesday, authorities announced they were seeking to apprehend two additional suspects, each wanted on a charge of attempted first-degree murder. And two other men each faced three counts of helping someone under age 21 by allowing the possession of alcoholic beverages were arrested, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. Killian was also expected to face additional charges, sheriffs Maj. Aaron Turk said.

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A previous Hickory Police Department press release said Killian and another young man had been charged with several counts  including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill  for an April 6 altercation in a parking lot that led to shots being fired into a crowd. No one was injured.

The Charlotte Observer, citing court records, said that Killian had been free on a $100,000 bond. Killian's attorney now and for the April case didn't respond to phone and email messages Wednesday.

Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown told reporters that he was outraged by Wednesday's $200,000 bond.

I believe he should have never went back on the street after Hickory Police Department charged him with those crimes, Brown said. This is frustrating. Its infuriating.

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Hickory police Chief Reed Baer also expressed similar concerns.

At least 80 shots were fired beginning early Sunday shortly after midnight in a crime scene that spanned several properties along a neighborhood road, authorities said. People reported running, ducking for cover and scrambling to their cars for safety. FBI agents were still at the scene Wednesday working to determine the trajectories of the bullets that were fired.

Shawn Patrick Hood, 58, of Lenoir, was killed in the gunfire. He was the oldest of the victims, who ranged in age from as young as 16, the sheriffs office said. Turk said that most of those injured were shot, but he didn't immediately have information Wednesday on whether any of the injured were still in the hospital.

Turk said the investigation has determined that the shooting began from an elevated area in a yard neighboring the house where the party was happening. Other gunfire then erupted around the home, the home's front yard and by the road.

The pending alcohol-related charges against two suspects are related to the planning and promotion of the house party, the sheriff's office said.
Seth O'Neill, executive director of CAWS North Dakota, delivers remarks during a meeting of the Interim Human Services Committee on July 11, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

A record number of people sought services from North Dakota domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy centers in 2024, a statewide coalition reported this week.

The statistics include more than 6,300 victims of domestic violence and nearly 1,400 victims of sexual assault, according to the North Dakota Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalition.

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That represents a 3.3% increase in reports of domestic violence over 2023 and a 5.8% increase in reports of sexual assault. Seth ONeill, executive director for the coalition, added he believes cases of domestic violence and sexual assault continue to be underreported. About one in four women and one in nine men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More people are being served, so that is a good thing, said ONeill, who oversees the coalition that includes 18 advocacy centers across the state.

The coalition received an increase in state funding in the legislative session that ended last month. The advocacy center will receive $11.7 million from the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2025-27 biennium, an increase of about $4.1 million over the previous biennium. The organization had requested $19.1 million from the Legislature.

ONeill said some of that funding will go to increase wages for case advocates across the state. He added those frontline workers make about $21 per hour on average and some need to take additional jobs to make ends meet.

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No one is making a ton of money at this, he said. Were hopeful this increase will allow people to be paid a living wage and take care of their families, but I still think we have a long way to go in that area.

While ONeill said the coalition is grateful for the state funding increase, hes concerned about the potential of federal budget cuts. North Dakotas advocacy service centers receive about 30% of their budgets from federal funds and the coalition receives about 95% of its money from federal sources, he said.

Were certainly reliant on federal funds, ONeill said. We are in a holding pattern and were doing our best to apply for grants and different things, but we dont know what the future will hold.

Rep. Emily OBrien, R-Grand Forks, said state lawmakers are monitoring the federal budget negotiations.

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We definitely are very cautious and thoughtful in the decision-making, and what we need to do to ensure these programs are still running because the needs are there, said OBrien, who served on the House Appropriations Committee. Its something that we have to do to make sure that those people are being served.

In 2024, North Dakota advocacy centers secured 481 emergency orders for protection for domestic violence victims, an increase of 50 over the previous year.

ONeill said increasing the number of protection orders for domestic violence victims is important because that means law enforcement can provide protection to the victims.

During the 2023 legislative session, OBrien said the Legislature passed a series of laws, including House Bill 1268 and House Bill 1269, that made it easier to serve court papers for people with protective order hearings and mandated intervention programs for domestic abuse offenders.

State Rep. Emily OBrien, R-Grand Forks, speaks during a meeting of the Legislative Management Committee from the House Floor on Nov. 13, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

To see the work that weve done previously come to fruition is huge, OBrien said.

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According to the 2024 data, 81% of North Dakota domestic violence victims were women, including 150 who were pregnant when they were assaulted. About 4,700 children were impacted by domestic violence last year.

About 38% of the total victims of sexual assault reported the incidents to law enforcement, according to the coalition.

ONeill also said he believes the stigma around not reporting domestic and sexual violence is beginning to be chipped away.

Our goal is to make North Dakota a place where people feel they can report these things and they will be taken seriously by law enforcement and the criminal justice system, as well as our program, ONeill said.

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OBrien said lawmakers focusing on providing services for victims, rehabilitation programs for offenders and preventative education for the public are long-term structures that can correct behaviors.

Weve started to see an improvement, but there is so much more work that needs to be done, OBrien said.

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Jun. 3GRAND FORKS  Several people and a health care facility in northeastern North Dakota will be among those receiving awards later this month at the 40th Annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health in Bismarck.

The award recipients will include:

* Alan O'Neil, CEO of Unity Medical Center in Grafton, who will receive the Outstanding Rural Health Career Award;

* Linda Conneran, of Grand Forks, who has been named Outstanding Rural Health Volunteer of the Year for her work with Hospice of the Red River Valley;

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* State Rep. Jon Nelson, of Rugby, serving District 14 in the North Dakota House, who has been named Rural Health Legislator of the Year, in recognition of his work, especially, on developing more local behavioral health and addiction services in underserved rural communities during the 2025 legislative session; and

* Langdon Prairie Health Clinic and Hospital in Langdon, North Dakota, which will receive the Flex Quality Reporting Award.

The outstanding rural and public health advocates will be honored during the Rural and Public Health Awards Banquet, which is set for 11:50 a.m. June 18 at the Bismarck Event Center.

Tickets for the awards banquet are free for conference participants and $30 for those who are not registered for the conference. Registration is mandatory for those who wish to attend. For more information on obtaining tickets, go to

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https://ruralhealth.und.edu/dakota-conference/awards

.

The Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health is an opportunity for health care professionals, educators and students to share strategies for sustaining healthy North Dakota communities. In addition to the awards banquet, the conference features workshops, keynote speakers and poster presentations.

The conference is a joint effort of the North Dakota Rural Health Association; the North Dakota Public Health Association; Altru Health System; the UND College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines; and the Center for Rural Health at UND.
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Russia's Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday, state media KCNA reported.

Kim pledged unconditional support for Russia's position on Ukraine and other international issues, the report said on Thursday.

"Kim Jong Un affirmed that the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will, in the future, too, unconditionally support the stand of Russia and its foreign policies," it said, using the North's official name.

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North Korea will responsibly observe the articles of the treaty between the two countries, Kim was quoted as saying.

The two men also discussed strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership and mutual cooperation in different fields.

The treaty was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang last year and a summit with North Korea's Kim, and includes a mutual defence pact for immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Rod Nickel)
(FOX40.COM)  Police in Northern California issued a stern warning about the consequences of using illegal fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Yes, theyve already startedillegal fireworks are being heard and seen around Woodland, the Woodland Police Department said on social media.

Northern California police issue $120,000 fine for illegal fireworks

To combat illegal fireworks throughout the area, the WPD warned that each illegal firework will result in a $1,000 fine or arrest. Additionally, the agency activated an anonymous tip line for reporting individuals who use illegal fireworks.

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We understand its difficult to report a neighbor, WPD said. You may not want to cause conflict, but the noise, risk of fire and danger to people, pets and property cant be ignored.

When a report is made, police said a courtesy door hanger will be delivered to the responsible household. The hanger will inform the household that they have been reported for illegal firework use.

WPD said that illegal fireworks pose safety risks to the community and issuing fines is the best way to reduce their usage. To report illegal fireworks in Woodland, you can use the Nail Em App or email fireworks@cityofwoodland.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 FOX40 News.
BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport heard from a Highfill City Council member at its board meeting Tuesday, during an ongoing litigation between the two entities.

In 2023, XNA was reported to be considering separating from the City of Highfill.

The airport had originally stated in March 2023 that it would not separate unless the change made sense for both the customer experience and the region.

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Around the same time, Arkansas enacted Act 769 into legislation, which allows airport authorities to make decisions regarding attachment to the city it resides, as long as its in the best interest of the authority and city.

However, if the city has unpaid bonds, the sales tax remains collected and used towards those payments.

In October 2023, the City of Highfill filed a lawsuit against XNA, claiming the 2023 law is unconstitutional.

A Benton County judge denied the citys attempts at a de-annexation lawsuit in September 2024, ruling in favor of the airport.

Tickets now available for 2025 NW Arkansas Championship

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In October 2024, XNA filed a petition to detach from the City of Highfill under Act 769.

According to state law, once a petition is filed, all the sales tax revenue that goes to the municipality must be used to pay off or prepay bonds.

In November, XNAs original proposal was rejected by the city, with changes made when it was proposed again in March 2025.

Separately, XNA claims that since the petition was filed, the city has used the sales tax revenue for operational needs, leading to an ongoing lawsuit filed in April against city officials.

While we have filed a lawsuit against the mayor and the city administrative assistant and one other city council member, were doing that in their official capacity. Were not seeking any money damages from them. Were seeking a court order directing them to follow the law, Brian Burke, director of compliance for XNA, said.

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With state lawmakers present, the two parties came to an agreement, but after the board of directors meeting Tuesday morning, it appeared that the two had misinterpreted the verbal agreement.

Highfill City Council member Justin Allen said that the city believed they would be receiving $900,000 for municipal needs that did not have to go to bond payments, while Burke claimed that the moneys sole purpose was to go towards the debt.

Due to the misinterpretation, the board decided to scrap the agreement and start from scratch.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Shreveport, LA (KTAL/KMSS)  Basic Necessities, the ArkLaTex regions only nationally certified diaper and period supply bank, celebrates five years of service, advocacy, and growth in addressing hygiene insecurity for families and individuals across Northwest Louisiana.

According to a release, since its founding in 2020, Basic Necessities has distributed over 750,000 diapers, 250,000 period products, and more than 125,000 incontinence supplies to low-income families, students, and seniors at no cost.

Basic Necessities began as a grassroots movement and has since expanded its partnerships with over 18 community agencies, including CADA, The Hub, and Providence House.

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Five years ago, we saw a gap in access to essential items that most people take for

granted; diapers, pads, toilet paper, and we decided to fill it, said Meagan Banai, Executive

Director of Basic Necessities. Today, were not just filling gaps, were building systems of care and dignity.

To mark this milestone, Basic Necessities will host a 5-Year birthday celebration and open house on Thursday, June 5, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at its main office located at 520 Olive Street in Shreveport

The event will feature a community gratitude wall, volunteer sign-up opportunities, a birthday cake, and the distribution of free supplies.

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The celebration is open to the public.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jun. 3BEMIDJI  The

Bemidji Heritage Preservation Commission

is set to hold its first ceremony honoring a 100-year-old Bemidji building at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation building on the northwest corner of Third Street and Beltrami Avenue.

All are welcome to the ceremony.

The commission first announced its 100-year-old building program during a

March 4 Bemidji City Council meeting.

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It exists to honor historic buildings that have stood for a century or longer. Buildings that qualify will receive a decal that Kevin Johnson of

myBemidji

designed.

Homeowners and property owners who believe they own a building that is 100 years or older can apply. A successful application leads to the building being entered into the commission's online registrar; however, a successful application does not enter the building into a national registrar.

Those who suspect they have a 100-year-old building but are not sure can reach out to the commission for help.

Three other buildings have applied for the honor and are awaiting approval by the commission. Once officially approved, three more ceremonies will take place on-site.

Applications cost $10 and are available on the commission's

Facebook page

and at

ci.bemidji.mn.us.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Nevada DMV rejected a personalized license plate in February when someone with a Woman Veteran specialty plate asked for WAF  presumably, a salute to the Womens Air Force program that ran from 1948 to 1976.

The DMV reasoned that WAF might stand for weird as f***.

That was just one among the 1,054 decisions issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles from April 24 to the end of March 2025. Most were clearly attempts to sneak phrases past the people who screen requests for personalized plates.

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2023 LIST: See the license plates the Nevada DMV rejected in 2022

The DMV denied 885 requests and approved 120, including some with restrictions. The DMV couldnt decide without a tiebreaking vote on five requests:

YEETIT (denied)

HIGGS B (approved

GPASMF (denied)

DNGRSS (approved)

FP2WDW (approved)

And 35 plates were recalled after they were initially issued. Among those: 10 plates deemed confusing to law enforcement because of repeated numbers that made them hard to read.

Nevadans showed their creativity in coming up with those special plates. The DMV identified plates that fall into categories seen as vulgar, racist, sexual and gang-related, among others. They even stopped some plates because they were perceived references to British slang, Portuguese slang and gay mens slang. Plates with 69 were rejected as sexual references; 88 was flagged as a Nazi reference.

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Sometimes theyre in different languages, slang references, stuff like that. So its really kind of incredible to see what theyre able to pick out and either approve or reject, Hailey Foster with the Nevada DMV told 8 News Now.

2022 LIST: Custom license plates approved and rejected by Nevadas DMV

We have broken the list into smaller pieces below, each with their own theme. We have tried to obscure profanity and vulgar language, and we want to say thank you to anyone whos making that effort to put a license plate on their vehicle.

Angry much? Its crazy the things people want to put on their license plates. Here are 73 personalized plates that went before the DMV judges from April 2024 to the end of March 2025:

Cute-sexy works, but most of these 254 tries crossed the line:

Profane or vulgar references were turned away almost every time, with 338 requests hitting this wall. People are sure to keep trying to get them past the DMV:

Drug-related references will get your personalized plate denied, even if you dont realize youve done it. Those references arent the type of fun DMV wants to see. Here are 62 examples:

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Gang-related covers a lot of ground for the DMV, which put 168 requests in this category. Anything that has even a hint of a connection of support for Nazis falls here. Sometimes, just a G in the request for a personalized plate will be seen as gangster, and OG isnt likely to slide:

Some people like to repeat letters or numbers. It might not be their intention, but those license plates can be difficult for police or first responders to read quickly when theres a need. Here are some examples (93), along with cases in which the DMV said the plate would have made it unclear if it might be a police vehicle:

So whether youre an Elon hater (ELONSUX) or youre just asleep at the wheel (ZZZZ3), good luck next time with your request.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) has gained access to sensitive data of Russia's strategic aircraft manufacturer Tupolev, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent on June 4.

Tupolev, a Soviet-era aerospace firm now fully integrated into Russia's defense-industrial complex, has been under international sanctions since 2022 for its role in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Its bombers have been widely used to launch long-range cruise missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

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According to the source, HUR's cyber corps accessed over 4.4 gigabytes (GB) of internal data, including official correspondence, personnel files, home addresses, resumes, purchase records, and closed meeting minutes.

"The significance of the data obtained cannot be overestimated," the source said. "Now, in fact, there is nothing secret left in Tupolev's activities for Ukrainian intelligence."

The intelligence includes detailed information about engineers and staff responsible for maintaining Russia's strategic bombers, such as the Tu-95 and Tu-160, which form a key part of Russia's nuclear triad.

"In particular, we have obtained comprehensive information about individuals directly involved in servicing Russian strategic aviation," the source added. "The result will obviously be noticeable both on the ground and in the sky."

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Ukrainian cyber operatives also replaced the Tupolev website's homepage with an image of an owl clutching a Russian aircraft, likely referencing HUR's insignia and cyber warfare skills.

Homepage of Tupolevs official website features an image of an owl clutching a Russian aircraft. (HUR)

The breach comes days after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) crippled over a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet in a major drone operation codenamed Spiderweb, which targeted four Russian air bases.

That attack reportedly damaged 41 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, using drones launched from trucks hidden deep inside Russian territory.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the number of aircraft reportedly hit by the SBU or some of the claims regarding the cyberattack.

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The source shared excerpts of internal data obtained during the breach, including what appeared to be internal documents and personnel files of staff, as proof.

The combination of physical strikes on Russia's strategic aviation and now the exposure of its internal architecture marks a significant blow to Moscow's long-range aerial warfare.

Read also: Kremlin confirms explosion at Russias Crimean Bridge after Ukraines sabotage, claims no damage

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  An investigation is underway, and one man was arrested on Tuesday after numerous resting places were vandalized over the weekend at a Whitley County cemetery.

The Whitley County Sheriffs Department announced on Facebook that just before 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, investigators were called to the Hamblin Cemetery, where multiple graves, monuments, headstones, and ornaments were reportedly defaced and destroyed.

Officials said the destruction took place between the afternoon of Sunday, June 1, and the morning hours of Tuesday, June 3.

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Pictures shared by the sheriffs department include a lot of derogatory remarks and illustrations on numerous tombstones.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Whitley County cemetery vandalism (Whitley County Sheriffs Department) Whitley County cemetery vandalism (Whitley County Sheriffs Department)

Court documents show that Loyle Garfield Griffith, 48, of Williamsburg, was identified as a suspect in the grave violation after investigators found a stolen Cumberland Mint gaming card at the cemetery, and its owner accused him of taking it.

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Kentucky AG: Fayette County Public Schools violated law in attempted tax hike

Deputies wrote in an arrest citation that when law enforcement found him at the cemetery, Griffith was attempting to clean the headstones.

Loyle Garfield Griffith, 48, was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center on Tuesday, June 3. (Whitley County Detention Center)

WCSO deputies said in an arrest report that Griffith allegedly admitted to vandalizing the gravesites and was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center, where he is being held on a $7,500 cash bond.

He was charged with first-degree possession of methamphetamine  third offense or higherand violating graves.

The investigation at Hamblin Cemetery remains ongoing.

Corey Elam contributed to this story.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  Nurses held an informational picket outside of Cooley Dickinson Hospital Tuesday evening.

Helix Human Services holds Pride flag-raising ceremony in Springfield

They are calling on Mass General Brigham to invest in safer staffing, fair wages, and full benefits.

According to the Massachusetts Nurses Association, contract negotiations with the parent company have lasted for six months now, since the contract expired earlier this year. They tell 22News that nurses have not received a wage proposal despite the health care system reporting more than $20 billion in revenue last year.

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Nurses are also sounding the alarm on MGBs plan to reclassify some staff as part-time, which would remove their full-time health benefits.

RN and MNA Co-Chair Aaron Winston told 22News, Cooley Dickinson as a facility is in a recruitment and retention crisis right now.

Bad things can happen when nursing staff is overburdened, understaffed, and I think it also erodes our profession, adds Rosie Tottser, RN and MNA Co-Chair.

Contract negotiations will continue on Wednesday. 22News has reached out to Mass General Brigham to respond, but has not heard back. We will update this story as soon as new information becomes available.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams encouraged asylum-seekers Tuesday to continue showing up for immigration court hearings, even as the citys Law Department blasted President Trumps administration for creating a culture of fear by using such proceedings as ICE hunting grounds for Trumps mass deportation efforts.

Anxiety in New Yorks immigrant communities has been heightened since last month, when ICE agents detained Dylan, a 20-year-old Bronx public school student from Venezuela, after he attended a routine hearing in Manhattan related to his asylum claim.

The detention of Dylan, whose last names being withheld at the request of his relatives who fear retaliation, is part of a broader national effort by Trumps administration to ensnare immigrants in deportation roundups as they appear for routine court checkups.

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Naveed Hasan, a New York City public school parent and immigration advocate, said its absolutely not realistic to think immigrants wont be scared of going to court at the moment.

Nobody can be certain what exactly is happening. Its created an environment of fear and people hiding that has gone completely unaddressed, he said.

That theme was a key element of an amicus brief filed Monday by the city Law Department in Dylans habeas corpus case, alleging his detention is unlawful. The brief excoriates Trumps administration for creating a culture of fear around court appearances that deters people from participating in judicial proceedings.

Asked Tuesday afternoon at his weekly press briefing to elaborate on that filing and whether he believes immigrants should show up in court, Adams still encouraged new arrivals to appear for their routine proceedings.

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I dont want people to be deterred from going to court, because if you deter people from following out the process, then you can create a level of people being fearful of our court system, he said at City Hall. The mayor also affirmed his administration will not and we have not collaborated with ICE on any civil enforcement.

Pressed on what message he has for immigrants who are nonetheless scared amid the Trump administrations targeted court crackdown, Adams said, they should seek their counsel.

Thats what lawyers are for. They should seek their counsel, if someone is going to court, they should sit down with their counsel and be guided by their counsel on what actions they should take, said Adams, who has faced pushback for declining to publicly criticize Trump.

Like many asylum-seekers in immigration court proceedings, Dylan wasnt represented by a lawyer when he showed up at 26 Federal Plaza on May 21 for his routine check-in. Since then, the New York Legal Assistance Group has started representing Dylan on a pro bono basis.

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In a statement, a rep for the assistance group said there must be a way for asylum-seekers to get real protections as they show up for hearings.

Sadly, not everyone is able to have a NYLAG attorney available to prep them and be there to support them during their credible fear interviews like Dylan was fortunate enough to have, the rep said.

Power Malu, a migrant advocate who has been in touch daily with Dylans family, said Adams administration should perhaps step in to provide such protections.

If he is encouraging people to continue using public services and attending their court hearings, he should also have some protections in place so that people arent afraid of being punished for following the law, Malu said.

Advocates have recently called on the city to invest $180 million in immigration legal services for families like Dylans.

_____
Bad Apple.

New Yorkers rate the Big Apples quality of life  on issues such as public safety, cleanliness and mass transit  significantly worse than the pre-pandemic times and just slightly better than two years ago, a Citizens Budget Commission survey of more than 1,700 residents found.

Just over a third of residents said quality of life in the five boroughs was good or excellent  a significant drop from 2017, when about half of New Yorkers surveyed gave it the top rating.

Buildings in Midtown Manhattan shine during the sunset on May 31, 2024. Christopher Sadowski

The deep level of displeasure regarding crime and government services presents a challenge to whoever the next New York City mayor will be next year, according to the CBCs Straight from New Yorkers 2025 poll.

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`Straight from New Yorkers 2025 paints a stark picture: New Yorkers remain much more

dissatisfied with the quality of life, City services, and public safety than they were before

the pandemic, the business-funded CBC said.

If New York City is to remain competitive and continue attracting residents and businesses, people have to feel much more positively about many of the aspects of their life in the city.

The quality of life ratings fall considerably below the rankings residents gave in the same survey conducted in 2017  though it noted some real progress from a more recent post-pandemic 2023 survey.

The findings about Bronx residents and among Black and Hispanic New Yorkers  where dissatisfaction levels are the highest  are particularly troubling, CBC said in an analysis of the findings.

Nearly a hundred bags of garbage pile up at the curb for pickup in NYC on Oct. 5, 2024. Christopher Sadowski

A homeless man begs for money on the street outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in NYC on May 21, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

The poll found:

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Only 34% of respondents rate the citys quality of life as excellent or good in 2025, a substantial decrease from 51% in 2017 and slightly better than 30% in 2023

The proportion of residents who rate their neighborhood as an excellent or good place to live fell from 63% in 2017 to 56% in 2025, although the rating is higher than 50% in 2023.

Only 42% rate public safety in their neighborhood excellent or good  up from 37% in 2023, but still down from 50% in 2017  even though Mayor Eric Adams this week announced historically low numbers of murders and shootings thus far this year.

Subway safety ratings are alarmingly low, despite decreases in serious felony crimes: only 50% of New Yorkers feel safe during the day and only 22% feel safe at night, down substantially from 46% in 2017.

Only 27% of residents rate the overall quality of government services as excellent or good, up from 23% in 2023 but lower than 44% in 2017.

Just 11% of New Yorkers said their tax dollars are spent wisely, down from 21% in 2017.

36% of respondents said their neighborhoods were clean, up from 34% in 2023 but well below 47% approval in 2017.

Subway services were rated 19% lower than in 2017, bus service 11% lower and rat control 18% lower, despite Adams war on vermin.

Residents rate public education 8% lower than in 2017.

City residents continue to be dissatisfied with many facets of city life and services. The citys post-pandemic satisfaction recovery is nowhere near complete, the CBC analysis said.

Still, there are important bright spots, indicating some post-COVID recovery.

An NYPD officer takes an overnight patrol ride on an L Train on Jan. 21, 2025. Michael Nagle

Pedestrians cross Fifth Avenue on Dec. 8, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

For example, ratings for neighborhood parks and ease of travel within the city, have rebounded to 2017 levels.

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Neighborhood services like libraries, fire protection, and EMS maintain higher ratings, particularly in Manhattan and Staten Island.

But there was another troubling trend. Wealthier New Yorkers gave lower grades to the quality of life in their neighborhoods than they did two years ago.

Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference inside the Herald Square station to discuss subway safety on March 20, 2025. Matthew McDermott

A NYPD patrol car is parked at the scene of a stabbing at Wooster Street and Broome Street in SoHo on April 7, 2025. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

As for the future, 55% of New Yorkers plan to remain in the city over the next five years, up from 50% in 2023 but down from 58% in 2017.

The top three reasons New Yorkers cite for wanting to flee New York City are lack of affordability (76%), safety concerns (73%), and living space (60%).

New Yorkers want the city administration to focus on safety, housing, infrastructure, and cleanliness.

The CBC survey of 1,750 city residents was conducted by the data research firm Polco in March and April. It has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.

New York Citys 2024-25 school calendar was set more than a year ago.

But the Education Department made a scheduling error for this weeks Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha and didnt communicate about it until Tuesday morning, frustrating some principals as the school year entered the June homestretch.

New York City schools faced a particularly strange week: All schools are closed on Thursday for Eid al-adha/Anniversary Day. On Friday, though 6-12 and high schools are open, elementary and middle schools are closed to students while their staffers were expected to show up for a clerical day.

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Schools typically use the day for grading and collaborating on planning for the year ahead. They often use the time to take tech inventory or address other classroom housekeeping issues. Some schools schedule kindergarten or sixth-grade student orientations and tours.

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But in Tuesdays weekly email from the Education Department to principals, amid a litany of other news, officials included a brief note that Friday would not be an in-person staff day as planned because of Eid. The holiday starts Thursday evening and goes into Friday. Several principals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, expressed annoyance at the last-minute change, questioning why it had not been communicated earlier or in a direct and transparent manner with officials owning up to their mistake.

One Manhattan elementary school principal wondered whether the Education Department failed to understand when the Muslim holiday began. The observance of the holiday is dependent on moon sightings, and it can shift year-to-year, officials said.

The change was made to provide greater flexibility for educators to complete various end-of-year tasks, Education Department spokesperson Chyann Tull said in a statement. We are working closely with school leaders to support them in adjusting plans as needed.

Students in grades 6-12 schools who need to be absent, late or depart early for observance of Eid may be excused, Education Department officials said.

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We had already planned a full day, including an in-person orientation for our incoming sixth graders, said one Manhattan middle school principal, who scrambled on Tuesday to find teachers willing to volunteer to come in person to avoid canceling the orientation while also reworking the other staff activities for the day.

Most of what we planned wont translate to remote, or at least wont translate without significant changes, the principal said.

A Brooklyn middle school principal echoed similar concerns.

We had a planned-out day dedicated to June-planning on teams and class list-making, the principal said. While that can technically happen remotely, it will greatly diminish productivity and actual preparedness for the close of the year and the start of next year. Its a real shame.

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Some school leaders, however, were pleased with the change  even if they were critical of the way it was communicated.

I think the impact is relieved happiness overall and for some staff members who are observing Eid, overall relief, one Bronx assistant principal said. I anticipated this was going to be a low staff attendance day anyway.

This isnt the first time New York City schools made a last-minute pivot to remote on this particular day. Two years ago, air pollution from Canadian wildfires forced schools to go remote for staffers on clerical day as well as students in schools that run from grades 6-12.

But that was an external and last-minute thing due to an emergency, one Manhattan elementary school principal said, unlike this years switcheroo.

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Another Manhattan elementary principal recalled having to cancel a kindergarten orientation that day of the wildfires  and having to do damage control the entire next year for the parents who were still upset over not being able to have an in-person tour. That principal no longer uses that day for orientations, but was still scrambling on Tuesday to come up with a Plan B for school staffers, including office staff, whose work is harder to do remotely.

The last-minute scramble and the gaps in communication  its a frustrating pattern that has happened over multiple chancellors, the principal said. Its a whole ripple effect.

Many principals were pleased, however, that the Education Department has already addressed an issue with next years calendar, making Friday, Jan. 2 a day off so there isnt a one-day week after winter break.

This isnt the biggest thing, but it just doesnt inspire a lot of confidence, the Manhattan middle school principal said of this weeks last-minute change. On the positive side, they did take away Jan. 2 but at least with that one there is plenty of advance warning so everyone can plan accordingly.

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
TOWN OF CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 41-year-old Rensselaer Falls man was killed as a result of a Tuesday night motorcycle crash in St. Lawrence County.

Around 10 p.m. Tuesday, state police responded to a car-versus-motorcycle collision on Stiles Road in the town of Canton. The investigation revealed that an uninvolved vehicle was traveling north on Stiles Road when the driver noticed a motorcycle behind them and attempted to pass the vehicle while approaching a hillcrest.

Massena woman charged in alleged domestic dispute

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At that moment, a Dodge Dakota pickup truck was traveling south on Stiles Road and crested the hill, colliding head-on with the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was ejected from the bike and sustained severe injuries. The operator and passenger of the pickup truck exited their vehicle to check on the operator of the motorcycle. However, the operator of the pickup truck then fled the accident scene into a wooded area.

The motorcycle operator was identified as James McLean, 41. He was transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities established a secure perimeter around the scene. They utilized specialty units such as, the Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) for the accident scene, and the K9 unit searched the wooded areas. The St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department used a drone in an attempt to locate the trucks operator.

A subsequent investigation has revealed that the operator of the pickup truck is 44-year-old Herbert Planty, 44, of Canton. The NYSP are requesting assistance from the public to find Planty for questioning.

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If anyone has information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the State Police at SP Canton at 315 379-0012.

State troopers were assisted by Canton Fire and Rescue, Potsdam Rescue, St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department, Canton Police Department, and Potsdam 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Natalia Paiva-Neves, the owner of O Dinis in East Providence, appeared as a guest Wednesday on Spotlight New England.

The third-generation, family-owned restaurant serves traditional Portuguese cuisine. Paiva-Neves, who emigrated from Portugal at the age of 7, encourages diners to move away from modern American takeout spots and experience an authentic reflection of the Portuguese lifestyle.

O Dinis also features Fado, a form of Portuguese singing, and hosts live music on Monday nights.

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Check out O Diniss hours, menu, music and more on their website. Reservations can be made by phone.

Spotlight New England airs weekdays on the WPRI 12+ TV app and WPRI.com.

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OAKLAND  An Oakland resident was seriously injured late Tuesday in a residential fire on Loch Deer Road, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

The victim was flown to the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh after receiving initial care at Garrett Regional Medical Center.

A resident discovered the blaze around 9 p.m. The cause of the fire was determined as accidental and related to a barbecue grill on the rear deck of the single-family dwelling, officials said.

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Investigators said the home at 112 Loch Deer Road is owned by Donald and Andrea Shaffer.

Oakland Volunteer Fire Department controlled the fire 25 minutes into its response that brought 40 volunteer firefighters to the scene.

The fire marshal's office estimated damage to the structure at $300,000 and the loss in contents at $100,000.

The family was being provided emergency assistance by the American Red Cross.

Several pet dogs escaped the fire without injuries.
Jun. 4---- The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the man who died during the police response to a reported domestic assault Monday night in Paynesville.

Larry Dale Alstead, 80, of Paynesville, suffered multiple gunshot injuries but died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, the BCA reported in a news release.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also identified the Stearns County sheriff's deputy who discharged his handgun as Sgt. Paul Orvis. He has been put on critical incident leave. Orvis has 23 years of law enforcement experience, according to the news release.

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According to the preliminary investigation, officers were attempting to take Alstead into custody in the alleged assault of an adult female at a home in Paynesville when he appeared at the bottom of the basement stairs with a handgun.

Orvis fired his weapon twice, according to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Alstead then fired a single, self-inflicted gunshot. Officers rendered aid, but Alstead was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crime scene personnel recovered a handgun and casings at the scene. Officers were also wearing body cameras during the incident, according to the news release.

Police were dispatched just after 9 p.m. Monday to a home on the 600 block of Stearns Avenue on a report of a domestic assault. An initial

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from the Paynesville Police Department stated that the officers were told the male suspect was armed.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with an adult female. The initial news release from Paynesville police said she was able to safely exit.

She suffered visible, non-life-threatening injuries to her head and neck, according to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. She reported to officers that Alstead had assaulted her and locked himself in the basement of the home with a handgun.

The investigation is ongoing. When complete, the findings of the BCA will be presented without charging recommendations to the Stearns County Attorney's Office for further review.
DENVER (KDVR)  A moose that several residents spotted wandering around Arvada last week has been relocated to the mountains.

The moose was spotted on Thursday, May 29, around West 75th Avenue and Simms Street. The Arvada Police Department said it contacted CPW for help, and the agency determined that the moose was too far east and needed to be tranquilized to be relocated.

Did you know? Dogs can be an official witness at weddings in Colorado

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Crews spent most of the day looking for the 3-year-old female moose, police said.

Several people called reporting seeing the moose, and she was safely captured and transported back to the mountains.

Crews spent most of the day on May 29, 2025 looking for a moose that was spotted wandering around Arvada, Colorado. Crews spent most of the day on May 29, 2025 looking for a moose that was spotted wandering around Arvada, Colorado. Crews spent most of the day on May 29, 2025 looking for a moose that was spotted wandering around Arvada, Colorado.

The Arvada Police Department said in the post on Facebook:

Our Animal Management Officers stated, She really did lead us on a wild Moose chase! (They made us write that.)

The police department thanked the community for giving the moose space and not approaching her, and reminded residents to keep dogs safe on leashes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The White Houses official X account posted a tweet threatening to deport the family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused of carrying out a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday.

Wife and Kids of Illegal Alien Behind Antisemitic Firebombing Could Be Deported as Soon as Tonight, the account posted on Tuesday, alongside two images of Soliman.

It was accompanied by a caption, complete with an airplane emoji, that read: Six One-Way Tickets for Mohameds Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon.

The White House's tweet threatening the deportation of Mohamed Sabry Soliman's family on Tuesday June 3 2025 (White House/X)

Soliman, 45, was charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder after being detained at the scene of the attack on a Run For Their Lives event, which was attended by peaceful demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas since October 7, 2023.

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Fifteen people and a dog were wounded when an attacker bearing Molotov cocktails and what the FBI described as a makeshift flamethrower attacked the activists at the weekly demonstration, shouting Free Palestine! as he did so, according to eyewitnesses.

The victims were aged between 25 and 88 and were taken to hospitals in the Denver metro area for treatment. One of their number was a Holocaust survivor.

It subsequently emerged that Soliman, an Egyptian national who investigators said was planning the assault for over a year, had been in the United States illegally, his visa having expired two years earlier, and a subsequent work authorization expiring this March.

On Tuesday, Fox News reported that Solimans wife and five children had been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and entered into proceedings for expedited removal.

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said that her agency was investigating the extent to which Solimans family had known about his intentions in advance of Sundays atrocity.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman (Boulder Police Department/Reuters)

This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Noem said in a video posted on X. We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it.

Among those criticizing the White Houses post on X for being in poor taste was Grok, Elon Musks own artificial intelligence tool.

Asked if it was fascist for Donald Trumps administration to round up the families of criminals and punish them also, it replied simply: Yes.

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Pressed to elaborate, it answered more fully: Deporting illegal aliens who committed terrorism in the USA is legally permissible under laws like the Antiterrorism Act of 1996, but deporting their families, if also undocumented, is controversial.

Its not explicitly mandated and raises ethical issues, like collective punishment and family separation, impacting children most. Some label it fascist for resembling authoritarian tactics, while others see it as lawful security enforcement.

The term fascist depends on intent and execution  mass deportation without due process leans authoritarian, but targeted, legal deportation doesnt inherently fit. Evidence shows both security needs and human rights concerns, leaving the debate unresolved.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will start aggressively revoking Chinese students visas; experts warn it likely wont pay off.

Aggressively revoking individual students visas simply on the ground of their national origin and their field of study is an unwise move, to say the least, Zhiguo Xie, Ohio State instructor of Chinese linguistics and an expert in China and democracy, said.

Lawmakers clash over Ohio bill to ban therapy for minors without parent consent

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On May 28, Rubio announced the State Department and Department of Homeland Security will collaborate to revoke Chinese students visas and said new visa applications from the Peoples Republic of China and Hong Kong will face additional scrutiny. According to Open Doors, a data collection service through the Institute of International Education supported by federal funding, 23.1% of Ohios nearly 37,000 international students hail from China.

Its no small contribution. According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, international students contributed $1.3 billion to Ohios economy alone during the 2023-2024 school year. If each international student contributes the same amount to the economy, then Ohio would lose more than $300 million annually without Chinese students.

Ohio State professor Oded Shenkar, an expert in international strategy and China, called Rubios announcement a tough call. He said that although China poses a larger threat to national security than many people realize, the economic and talent losses would be difficult to manage. He said its hard to determine who poses a threat, especially in a country where the government is closely intertwined with daily life.

A rare COVID-19 strain disappeared overnight. We still dont know which Ohioan had it.

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Shenkar said China incentivizes people who have studied and done well in the U.S. to move to China and share their knowledge at a high salary, allowing the country to make massive innovative strides. However, Shenkar said this happens across nationalities and is not limited to Chinese students. Shenkar pointed to American-born Charles Lieber, a former Harvard chemist who was convicted in 2023 of lying to federal agents about his ties to China and now teaches at a Chinese university.

Theres a lot of copying that is actually legal, and its a great way to catch up, which is exactly what China has been doing through both legal and illegal ways, Shenkar said.

Ohio State professor Christopher McKnight Nichols, an expert in U.S. foreign relations, said revoking student visas based on their passports nationality is a major concern and not the most effective way to protect American intellectual property.

In my view, and as numerous studies make clear, some of the best paths forward for enhancing peaceful diplomacy and connections between nations, and in minimizing tensions, come in what is known as people-to-people diplomacy, which often productively involves crosscultural exchanges such as by students and scholars involved in higher education, Nichols said.

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Shenkar said many Chinese students also choose to stay in the U.S. and contribute to STEM fields, including those that could theoretically strengthen U.S. security. Xie said losing international students would pose a major detriment to American innovation, and that it was inconceivable the U.S. would deem anyone a threat because of their major.

Ohio lawmakers push for stricter rules on obscene drag queens

This countrys innovation and competitiveness in the past several decades is partly attributable to talents from foreign countries, including China, Xie said. In the face of the new announcement, Chinese families and students will most likely consider other countries such as Australia, Canada and U.K. as their study abroad destinations.

Even when Chinese students do not join the American workforce, they support jobs while living in the U.S. NAFSA found international students supported 10,937 jobs in Ohio last year, mostly in higher education, accommodations and dining service sectors.

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Many of these jobs come to central Ohio, as Ohio State University hosts a large portion of the states Chinese students. Around 54% of OSUs international students are Chinese, driving most of the universitys international program.

An Ohio State spokesperson said the university is closely monitoring federal updates and sharing them with students when they can. The spokesperson also pointed to a letter from the American Council on Education, where Ohio State President Ted Carter sits on the board. The letter pushes back against Rubios announcement and is supported by many other higher education groups, including several that Ohio State is a part of.

We are concerned that imposing a broad pause on all student visas would send a message that our nation no longer welcomes talented students and scholars from other countries, the letter reads. Such a pause will also hinder our ability to compete for the worlds best and brightest minds to study in the United States.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio lawmaker is proposing a bill to mark Love Makes a Family Week, after other legislators introduced plans to designate a month celebrating natural families.

Put forward by Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), the bill would recognize the first full week of June as Love Makes a Family Week. The designation is meant to celebrate all families formed through love, like those built through adoption, fosterhood, surrogacy and IVF; single-parent families, blended families and multigenerational households; and families of every race, sexual orientation, faith, structure and origin.

If Ohio is indeed the heart of it all, it is important that Ohio has a heart for all her people, Antonio said in a statement. This bill affirms a simple truth: what makes a family is not how it was formed, but the love and support that strengthens it.

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The proposal comes after another bill was introduced in May to recognize the weeks between Mothers Day and Fathers Day as Natural Family Month. The proposal is backed by the Natural Family Foundation, a Westerville-based organization that defines a natural family as one man and one woman committed in a lifelong monogamous relationship with their biological or adopted children.

Reps. Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) introduced the Natural Family Month bill with the support of 26 Republican lawmakers and argue the designation is needed given the U.S. fertility rate recently reached a historic low.

At a time when marriage is trending downward and young couples are often choosing to remain childless, its important for the state of Ohio to make a statement that marriage and families are the cornerstone of civil society, and absolutely imperative if we want to maintain a healthy and stable republic, Lear said.

Antonio introduced the Love Makes a Family Week bill as part of an effort by Statehouse Democrats to combat Natural Family Month and other legislation that opponents deem anti-LGBTQ+, like a law banning gender-affirming care for trans youth that is currently in effect while litigation continues. Another is a measure that went into effect in February requiring academic institutions to set separate bathrooms based on students biological sex.

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As Ohios first openly gay Statehouse lawmaker, Antonio joined other Democrats for a news conference at the Statehouse on Tuesday marking the start of LGBTQ+ Pride month. The lawmakers touted recently reintroduced proposals to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) also announced the reintroduction of the Marriage Equality Act, a bill to codify same-sex marriage and interracial marriage into Ohios constitution. LGBTQ+ advocates have long argued the act is needed given the Supreme Court has signaled it would like to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case legalizing same-sex marriage.

The hateful culture wars that we have going on in this state and across the country only succeed if we let it, Antonio said during the news conference. We are all here today to say no, we do not accept it, we have an alternative, a better way.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Government requirements and culture can make upgrading aging computer systems difficult, experts say. (Getty Images)

Ohio House lawmakers got a stark warning Tuesday from a leading cybersecurity firm: potential threats are changing dramatically in terms of sophistication, speed and complexity.

The presentation came on the heels of lawmakers introducing a bill requiring municipalities to develop their own cybersecurity policies.

Whats in the bill?

House Bill 283 is a response to wave of cyber-attacks aimed at relatively low-level government agencies. The bills co-sponsor, state Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg, explained in April last year, the state auditor reported at least 23 cyberattacks against government offices in the last 12 months.

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In Licking County, Ghanbari added, just one attack resulted in the theft of more than $700,000.

The measure directs local governments to review their systems and identity risks and detection strategies. The also have to develop training programs and create plans for repair, and response and in the event of an attack.

Ghanbaris co-sponsor, state Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, said locals would have to inform state safety officials within seven days and the state auditor within 30.

This will ensure prompt and accurate information is relayed to the proper authorities involved in the response, he said.

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The proposal also puts added pressure on local response to ransomware attacks. Under the proposal, Matthews said, municipal governments would be prohibited from paying a ransom unless it formally and out in the open approved legislation to that effect.

This requirement bolsters transparency and ensures constituents are both aware of the incidents occurrence and have an opportunity to provide feedback on the best use of their taxpayer dollars, he said.

Threat potential

Thomas MacLellan from the cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks, told lawmakers that governments, agencies and businesses arent defending against a random hacker.

Ransomware is now a business, he said. It is a business where they actually have help desks.

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And just as the sophistication of attacks has grown, so has the speed.

In 2021, it took about nine days to exfiltrate data, he said of bad actors removing information. In the latest attacks now leveraging artificial intelligence, it literally only takes hours.

Beyond these kinds of ransom attacks, where an actor holds critical data or access hostage in exchange for money, MacLellan described several other threats, including attackers exploiting industrial control systems.

Those are the things, the switches that turn on things that are connected to the internet, MacLellan said, that turn on bridges and dams and traffic lights and hospital systems.

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In terms of preparing for attacks, he suggested state lawmakers get a security firm on retainer. You need a bat phone, MacLellan said, to be able to pick up and say, we need some help, because we are overwhelmed, weve been hit by something. Notably, Palo Alto Networks could be the one on the other end of that phone line.

He also argued the state needs to be aggressive about understanding and monitoring its exposure  what MacLellan termed attack surface management. A computer, router or other piece of hardware running out-of-date software could be a vulnerability, he said, and organizations need to make sure to find and fix those problems.

MacLellan added that some states have begun developing joint security operations, effectively a state-run cybersecurity team to protect state and local governments in the event of an attack. He repeatedly argued the biggest challenge in cybersecurity is workforce; centralizing talent could allow for greater reach and impact.

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State Reps. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, and Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville, asked HB 283s sponsors about a statewide approach to cybersecurity planning.

Why isnt there a centralized place, Mohamed asked, instead of requiring each subdivision to have their own cyber program?

Ghanbari and Matthews said they would leave the finer points up to local governments to maintain local control and allow greater flexibility.

Highlighting a well-publicized cyberattack against Columbus last year, Rep. Christine Cockley, D-Columbus, asked about the cost prevention compared to the cost of response and recovery. She noted the city has faced significant costs investigating what happened and providing safeguards for people impacted by the breach.

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MacLellan acknowledged he didnt have hard and fast numbers to offer, but said when you begin to look at the cost of remediation versus the cost of actually putting together a good system, the delta is pretty significant.

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(WKBN) -With June being National Homeownership Month, the Ohio Department of Commerce is warning about foreclosure scams targeting people who may be struggling to make their mortgage payments.

Foreclosure rescue scammers promise to save homeowners from foreclosure, but instead convince them to do things that are not in their best interest. The fraudsters can take homeowners money, ruin their credit and wipe out their home equity.

The scammers find victims through false advertisements on various platforms, including online, as well as in newspapers and on TV. Sometimes they create phony government websites to trick homeowners, or they may send personalized letters to homeowners they find by searching public records, like an auditors website.

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Many of the scams involve signing a document that looks like you are making your mortgage current, but you are really transferring the deed to your house to the scammer. Another is the rent-to-own or bailout scam that requires you to sign over your deed to the scammer and they rent your house back to you, but the terms or so burdensome to buy back the house that you could eventually get evicted. More scams are listed on the Ohio Department of Commerce website.

Red flags for these scammers are the tactics they use, such as:

Guaranteeing to save your home

Insisting that you NOT contact your lender

Collecting a fee before providing the service

Accepting payment only by cashiers check or wire transfer

Directing you to make mortgage payments to them

Encourage you to lease your home and buy it back over time

Ask you to transfer your property or deed or title to them

Offer to fill out your paperwork for you

Pressure you to sign paperwork you have not read thoroughly or dont understand

According to ATTOM, a real estate data curator, there were 35,890 properties with foreclosure filings in March 2025, up 11% from the previous month and up 9% from one year ago.

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Lenders repossessed 9,691 U.S. properties through foreclosure (REO) in Q1 2025, up 8% from the previous quarter but down 4% from a year ago.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  News 4 recently reported on a those in the beauty industry urging lawmakers to override Governor Kevin Stitts veto, which essentially abolished the Board of Cosmetology. The veto was withheld, leaving license holders wondering what happens next.

I get to do my passion and make an income from it, said Miranda Augusta, owner of M Salon in Edmond.

RELATED STORY: Cosmetologists try to convince lawmakers to override governors veto

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Augusta has been a licensed cosmetologist for 27 years. During the last 11, shes managed M Salon, making sure everything is up to code. Its important because this profession isnt just about styling and trends.

It is like chemistry mixed with geometry, mixed with psychology, said Augusta. Just anybody doing hair off the streets or on YouTube, or anything like that, are not going to know. And it can be very, very damaging,

Thats why she said it is vital to be trained and licensed.

Right now, you need a license by the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology to cut hair, do nails, or offer massage therapy professionally.

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The future of the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology is in question, after the governor vetoed new legislation. In effect, it dissolved the board and directed lawmakers to find a new agency to oversee the industry. The governors staff told News 4, ideally an agency like Service Oklahoma.

Two weeks ago, those in the beauty industry urged lawmakers to override Governor Stitts veto. Since they didnt, cosmetologists and students are concerned their licenses are in limbo.

Weve been told that our licenses will be no longer. Will be abolished, said Heather Sinclair, The chair of the State Board of Cosmetology during the protest.

We all have busted our butts and put in hours, said Jaylynn Taylor, a cosmetology student.

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The veto was not overridden. However, it was superseded by SB676 that was signed into law. That bill extended the board.

Now, on July 1, 2025, the board and all licenses will enter a wind down period that lasts for one year. This means licenses are active until July 2026.

During this time, lawmakers and the board plan to discuss language during the next legislative session.

The board is committed to continuously enhancing regulations and improving customer service to ensure a seamless licensing experience as we vigorously advocate for the best interests of our industry, said Heather Sinclair in a statement to News 4.

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Back at M Salon, Augusta believes regulation and licensing are vital and needs to be improved not abolished.

RELATED STORY: Hairstylists plan Capitol protest after Stitt veto eliminates state cosmetology board

We pay our license fee, said Augusta. [The board doesnt] do any updates.

She also believes in increased license fees and mandatory advanced education.

Other states are mandatory that you have advanced education in order to maintain your license. But, the state of Oklahoma has never done that, said Augusta.

During this wind down time, she urges students to continue working on their license.

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Because it is going to set you apart from those that just want to maybe do it at home or dont have a license, said Augusta.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma City Council announced on Tuesday the adoption of the 2026 budget highlighting its $930 million plan to keep the city running.

Oklahoma City leaders cited slow revenue growth and department-wide cuts in the Police and Fire Departments.

This is the second year in a row that sluggish revenue growth triggered a budget reduction,

City Manager Craig Freeman said. Despite this, Im encouraged that departments could make

adjustments to stay within available resources while continuing to focus on services for our residents.

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Hundreds of teachers, administrative staff laid off from Epic Charter Schools

Currently, Oklahoma Citys largest single source of revenue is sales tax, which pays for day-to-day services, according to City officials.

Oklahomans are urged to shop in locally including online. The City gets 4.125% of taxable sales made in Oklahoma City or when people from Oklahoma City buy something online, says City leaders.

For the budget overview and highlights click here.

Visit okc.gov/council to find your Council members contact information. Visit okc.gov/WardMap to see who represents you. Visit okc.gov/agenda for City Council meeting agendas, including instructions on how to sign up to speak. Visit okc.gov/tax for an overview of revenue.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at a media briefing March 5 at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday he had apologized to a state senator after making disparaging remarks about him and his wife last week.

Stitt also defended his choice for interim commissioner of the state mental health department, despite his lack of experience in mental health.

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Stitt drew the ire of lawmakers Thursday as they worked late into the night and into the early hours of Friday morning to overturn over 40 of his vetoes.

He posted a video Thursday afternoon calling on voters to closely watch how lawmakers vote on veto overrides and said the bills he had vetoed were bad for Oklahoma.

Later in the evening as lawmakers prepared a measure to fire mental health Commissioner Allie Friesen, the governor, who had appointed and ardently supported Friesen throughout the agencys financial disarray, put out a statement that drew a senators wife into the mix.

Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, awaits votes on a veto override during the Senate session on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, were the authors of the measure to fire Friesen. It said the Legislature had lost confidence in her ability to lead the state agency.

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Stitt called Friesens firing a politically motivated witch hunt and questioned if Rosino and West had something to gain by firing her.

Josh West and Paul Rosino need to first answer what they stand to gain from Allie Friesen being removed, he said in his Thursday statement. What are they trying to keep covered up? What conflicts of interest are they trying to hide? Is Senator Rosino trying to help his wife avoid responsibility for her role in the finance department there? Oklahomans deserve answers.

Rosino, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and co-chairs a select committee investigating the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services finances, said Thursday his wife works as a low level, part-time employee at the agency.

Stitts statement, compounded with his video calling on Oklahomans to vote out lawmakers who voted to overturn his vetoes, led to dozens of lawmakers publicly calling Stitt out Thursday night.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, right, shake hands during an announcement of a 2026 budget deal on May 14. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said Friday morning the video Stitt had posted frustrated lawmakers and disrupted good faith negotiations between the Legislature and the Governors Office.

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He also said it was beneath the dignity of his office to attack a senators wife.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said Friday he was disappointed by the governors comments.

You know, we all say things sometimes that we wish we could take back. But this wasnt something that was said out of context, Paxton said Friday. It was something written down and approved that was put out. And in my nine years here, Ive seen lots of things where theres lots of criticism of members. Ive never seen something like that on a members spouse.

When discussing the measure to fire Friesen in the Senate, senators were unified in speaking against Stitts comments  all but one of the senators who rose to debate the measure spoke against the statement. The Senate voted 43-1 to fire Friesen and the House voted 81-5.

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But Wednesday afternoon, Stitt apologized and said it was my fault for letting emotions run high.

I do regret that. I called and apologized to him and his wife, Stitt said. I let the emotions get the better of me and I should not have done that.  Im just trying to point out any kind of conflict. We have to make sure that, you know, if youre in the pharmaceutical business, you shouldnt be running pharmaceutical bills. If youre in this industry, you shouldnt be running this bill.

Rosino could not be reached for comment, but a Senate spokesperson confirmed he and his wife had accepted Stitts apology.

The Republican governor also defended Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic as his choice to temporarily fill Friesens position as head of the mental health department.

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Slavonic has a long history working in government and previously ran the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs, but has no experience in mental health.

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Hes not a mental health expert, hes more of a business person, Stitt said Wednesday. Hes somebody that I think can do the job.

The agency needed supplemental funding from the Legislature for this budget year and has been embroiled in investigations and audits following reports of financial disarray, including being unable to make payroll.

Stitt took a victory lap as he celebrated successes from the legislative session.

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He said Oklahoma is now on the path to eliminating the income tax after the Legislature passed a .25% income tax cut, with further cuts when revenue reaches specified levels.

Stitt also applauded legislation he said eliminated various fines, fees and court costs for people recently released from incarceration, a priority he mentioned during his State of the State address at the beginning of session.

Expanding apprenticeship and internship programs in Oklahoma was another victory Stitt brought up Wednesday.

This was an amazing session, he said. I thought it was one of my best sessions weve ever had in seven years.

Reporter Ylleana Berryhill contributed to this report.

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SWEETWATER, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Hundreds of residents from the Big Country gathered in Sweetwater on Tuesday for the second of three open house events hosted by Oncor. The purpose of these events is to address questions and assess community concerns regarding a proposed large-scale transmission line that is planned for construction across an eight-county area of the state. While multiple routes for the transmission line have been proposed, one option would pass directly through the heart of the Big Country.

This project dates back to 2023, when Governor Abbott signed Texas House Bill 5066. The bill was designed to address the states increasing energy demands, with a specific focus on expanding the reliable transmission of electricity to areas expected to require more power in the coming years.

HB 5066 requires the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to develop a Reliability Plan for regions experiencing rapid electrical load growth. The bill specifically identifies the Permian Basin as one of the areas that needs such a reliability plan. ERCOT submitted the plan for the Permian Basin on July 25, 2024, and it was subsequently approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).

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MAP: Large transmission line could cut through Big Country, public meetings taking place

This project is larger than those previously seen in the state, and PUCT calls its approval a landmark decision. It would see the Dinosaur switch near Glen Rose connected to the Longshore switch just west of Forsan through the use of extra high voltage transmission lines. It would be the first of its kind to be built in the ERCOT region.

According to Oncor, the 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines would run approximately 235-270 miles long, depending on the route chosen.

In response to the question of why extra high-voltage lines are used over others, PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson stated in a news release on April 24, Extra high-voltage lines are more efficient and strengthen reliability. Because each line can carry more power, fewer lines are necessary to serve the needs of the Permian Basin Region, meaning less disruption to Texas landowners, natural habitats, and landscapes. Our priority now is ensuring utilities execute these projects quickly and at the lowest possible cost to Texas consumers.

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Although the use of larger capacity power lines would take up less overall space, residents like Randyll and Gail Baker of Tuscola, whose home is located on property that a potential line would pass through, strongly oppose the construction of such large towers in their neighborhood.

Map of routes proposed for the new power line. The black dotted line indicates the proposed routes.

The people that moved out to Tuscola area wanted it for that good family living. To have that size of a tower come through a neighborhood, thats a concern, said Gail.

It would definitely be, in our view. I built our house facing the northeast for the view of Cedar Gap, and its gonna go right through there, Randyll added.

The Bakers shared their concerns with many online. Some residents of Buffalo Gap have organized to oppose the route, which would affect the areas natural beauty.

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Its not gonna be a single little line. Itll be a row of towers and clearing out a lot of land. And Buffalo Gaps a beautiful area, so it would be a shame if they routed it through some of the prettier areas, said Tuscola resident Mark Burkett.

But concerns arent purely visual. Both the Bakers and Burkett voice displeasure with the potential impact on their property value if the line is constructed along the Buffalo Gap route.

Our big concerns are: how is that gonna impact the value of our property? I assume there will be compensation, but I also doubt the compensation would compensate you adequately for the loss of value, Burkett said

KTAB/KRBC discussed these concerns with Oncor Senior Media Relations Specialist Roxana Rubio, who says PUCT will consider them all. The purpose of the open house events is to gather community input to guide PUCTs decision.

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We really appreciate hearing from our customers Any time that we build a new transmission, a new transmission line, no matter the voltage, we follow a very thorough process. Part of that process is to make sure that were engaging with the local communities, said Rubio.

At the Sweetwater event, residents not only had their questions answered but also filled out forms to detail their concerns and express their feelings about the proposed routes.

So that information will be submitted to the PUCT, and the potential routes will ultimately be submitted to the PUCT, who will have their own community input before determining which route we should begin construction on, Rubio said.

The next Oncor open house is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4. It will be held in Stephenville at the Cross Timbers Legacy Center, 830 S. Graham Avenue, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event is open to the public.

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The Oncor website has more information on the Dinosaur-Longshore project and downloadable forms for public participation and outreach.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  One year from South Dakotas gubernatorial primary in 2026, the race is beginning to take shape.

Ive been there advocating for the people, for their rights, for their families, for their freedoms, and I dont back down, Republican Jon Hansen of the Dell Rapids area said May 28.

Hansen, who serves as speaker of the House of Representatives in Pierre, has officially thrown his name in the ring.

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Structure damage, split trees left behind after storm

As we go out and we spread the message about putting the people first in South Dakota again, the reception is just overwhelmingly positive, Hansen said. Were really happy to see it.

The 39-year-old lawyer, who formally announced his candidacy in late April, says voters want relief from property taxes.

The people of the state want to see their government trimmed down, trim the fat, Hansen said. They see whats going on in Washington with DOGE, and they want a South Dakota DOGE, and thats something that weve committed to doing.

Toby Doeden of Aberdeen, chair of the conservative political action committee Dakota First Action, has also filed paperwork to run for the governors office. He has not responded to interview requests from KELOLAND News to talk with him about his gubernatorial plans. His website describes him as a proven conservative, and Doeden Investment Groups website lists him as its president.

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As far as who might join Doeden and Hansen, some bigger names in South Dakota politics are potentially in the mix. For one, theres the current occupant of the governors office: 66-year-old Republican Larry Rhoden. He rose to the position following former Gov. Kristi Noems departure to become secretary of the Department of Homeland Security with the federal government.

I think campaigns are too long and too expensive, and I think people get really tired of them, Rhoden said May 29. So, Ive really focused on just doing a good job and getting around the state and meeting people. So, were not going to make any announcements anytime soon.

The man whom Noem defeated in South Dakotas Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, 54-year-old Marty Jackley of Pierre who is currently the states attorney general, is also on the record as a potential candidate.

Im considering it, but right now Im focused on doing the job that South Dakotans elected me to do, and that is to be the best attorney general I can be to keep our streets and communities safe, Jackley said May 27.

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Another possible candidate is the man who has held South Dakotas only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington since 2019: 48-year-old Republican Dusty Johnson of Mitchell.

Certainly getting a lot of encouragement across the state to run for governor, Johnson said April 22. Im not worried about that right now. I do give it a little bit of consideration every once in a while, but day in and day out, I really need to be focused on my day job.

No Democratic candidates have yet announced their candidacy for South Dakota governor. After the primary election of June 2, 2026, the general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

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One teenager is dead, with at least three other teenagers and one adult injured after a reckless rollover crash in Pierce County.

According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Office (PCSO), multiple 911 calls came in regarding a reckless vehicle.

The vehicle wrecked out at a high rate of speed rolling multiple times before hitting a civilian vehicle and power pole, stated PCSO.

Police say there were five teenage boys, ages ranging from 15 to 17 years old, in the reckless vehicle.

Officers arrived at the intersection of Portland Avenue East and 112th Street East in Clover Creek, where they found one of the teenage boys dead. Another teen was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, and a third was brought to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. A fourth teen was also in the vehicle as a passenger, but his injuries are unknown.

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The teen who was driving the reckless vehicle was arrested on the scene. His injuries are unknown.

The driver of the civilian car that was hit, a 24-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries.

The large main power pole is hot and the Power Company is currently working on shutting off power so crews can safely work the scene.

PCSO confirmed 112th Street East will be shut down in both directions for several hours while they safely process this scene, asking community members to stay out of the area while they do so.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  One of Northeast Ohios most notorious killers is making a bid to get out of prison, again.

Doug Prade, a former Akron police captain convicted of killing his ex-wife, Dr. Margo Prade, will have his first parole hearing Wednesday, June 4.

Ground beef sold nationwide possibly contaminated with E. Coli

Prade is serving 20 years to life at the Marion Correctional Institution.

He was convicted of his-ex-wifes murder in 1998.

Douglas Prade

Last week, Fox 8s Dave Nethers, spoke with one of the Prades dearest friends.

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Donzella Anuszkiewicz, who also is a former federal investigator said, Theres no doubt in my mind that he did it.

Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba in tap water

The Prades had divorced, but friends, family, and court testimony show he continued to harass and threaten his ex-wife.

We were very afraid for Margo, said Anuszkiewicz.

Dr. Margo Prade (Obtained by WJW)

On the day before Thanksgiving 1997, Margo was shot six times inside her minivan parked outside of her Akron medical office.

Doug Prade has maintained his innocence and in 2013 his conviction was overturned.

Your Ohio electric bills are probably going up in June

He was released from prison based on DNA evidence related to a bite mark on Dr. Prades lab coat.

Douglas Prade released from custody

Eighteen months later, he was back behind bars. That evidence was rejected.

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Wednesday, Prade will go before a parole committee, a small group of parole board members, who will hear his plea for release.

Within days, they will make a recommendation to the full board. If they recommend parole, there will be a full hearing with lawyers and victims permitted to speak.

Six years ago, when Doug Prades appeals were rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court, then Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said the former police captain was right where he belonged.

It was just a vicious murder and he deserves to serve a very long time in prison, said Walsh. He had been harassing her, He had been illegally wiretapping her phone, threatening her, and assaulting her. She was terrified of him.

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Traditionally, the inmate is allowed to have an attorney present at the parole committee hearing, however, only Doug Prade will be permitted to speak.

The committee will then make a recommendation to the full parole board in the coming days.

If they favor release, theyll hold the larger hearing before making a final decision.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

CSIR UGC NET June 2025 Registration Starts, Last Date June 23

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started Online Registration for CSIR UGC NET June 2025 through the official website csirnet.nta.ac.in

Wednesday June 4, 2025 11:54 AM , ummid.com News Network

CSIR NTA UGC NET June 2025 Registration: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started Online Registration for CSIR UGC NET June 2025 through the official website csirnet.nta.ac.in.

Candidates appearing for NTA UGC NET June 2025 should note that the registration started on June 03, 2025. The last date of application is June 23, 2025.

According to the NTA Schedule, CSIR UGC NET June 2025 will be held on July 26, 27 and 28, 2025.

Steps for CSIR UGC NET December 2025 Online Registration

Go to the official website: " csirhrdg.res.in ".

". Click on the link marked for CSIR UGC NET Online Registration.

Fill the necessary details and complete the application form.

Pay the exam fees and take a printout.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) had on June 03, 2025 announced the schedule of CSIR UGC National Eligibility Test (CSIR UGC NET) 2025 to be held in the month of July. Candidates should note that CSIR NTA UGC NET June 2025 will be held only in Online Mode.

CSIR UGC NET June 2025 Important Dates

Examination: CSIR UGC-National Eligibility Test(UGC-NET) - June 2025

Mode of Examination: Computer Based Examination

Registration Dates: June 03 to 23, 2025

Downloading of Admit Cards: Will be notified later

Dates of Examinations: July 26, 27 and 28, 2025

Date of Announcing Result: Will be notified later

Upper Age Limit & Relaxation

Maximum 28 years as on 01-01-2025 for JRF(NET) {upper age limit is relaxable up to 5 years for SC/ST/Persons with Disability(PwD)/female applicants and 03 years for OBC (non creamy layer) applicants}. No upper age limit for Lectureship (NET).

The award of Junior Research Fellowship to the successful eligible candidates will depend on their finding admission/placement in a University/ National laboratory/ Institution of higher learning and research, as applicable.

Essential Qualification

M.Sc or equivalent degree/ Integrated BS-MS/BS-4 years/BE/BTech/BPharma/MBBS with at least 55% marks for General (UR) and OBC candidates and 50% for SC/ST, Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates.

CSIR and UGC provide Research Fellowships for training in methods of research under expert guidance of faculty members/scientists working in University Department/ National Laboratories and Institutions in various fields of Science.

Joint CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship programme is aimed at National Science & Technology Human Resource Development. A large number of JRFs are awarded each year by CSIR to candidates after qualifying the Test conducted by it.

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University of Florida President Santa Ono takes questions from trustees before they unanimously approved him as the schools president-elect on May 27, 2025. He was rejected by the state Board of Governors on June 3, 2025. (Photo courtesy of University of Florida)

In a stunning move, the panel that oversees Floridas state university system voted against hiring Santa Ono as the next president for the University of Florida during an extended special meeting Tuesday.

The State University System Board of Governors voted against Ono in a 6-10 vote that followed hours of contentious questioning and debate where Ono was grilled over his past positions on diversity equity and inclusion.

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The vote comes a week after UF trustees approved Ono, the immediate past-president of the University of Michigan and sole finalist for the job, which would have paid him a $3 million annual package that included $1.5 million base salary

After conducting a months-long search, UF remains without a permanent president. Former UF President Kent Fuchs has been serving as interim president since former President Ben Sasse resigned last year.

Approving Ono was the only item discussed during the board meeting, which ran nearly two hours longer than originally scheduled. Some members compared the vetting to a court interrogation.

Members mainly asked about Onos changing stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how he could carry out Floridas agenda denouncing DEI, but delved into other topics, like a Christians interpretation of original sin and Gov. Ron DeSantis COVID-19 response.

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Its insidious that it feels like pushing a rope uphill when we establish these policies, if a president doesnt really believe in those policies, Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine said during the meeting in Orlando. And its a powerful position, you can be an inhibitor, or you can help advance. And so I guess so much of your record reflects your deeply held beliefs, that you have been an advocate of DEI up until recently.

State University System Gov. Alan Levine speaks during a Board of Governors meeting in Orlando on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Screenshot via The Florida Channel)

Ono supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the University of Michigan, one of the top-ranked public institutions in the country, guiding its DEI 2.0 initiative and touting benefits of such programs but ultimately closed DEI offices earlier this year.

It looks to me like you got rid of the program because you needed to do what you had to do with the presidents orders and the funding issues. But you didnt really push to get rid of DEI, Levine said.

Ono replied with an answer he uttered several times, that he began looking at DEI when he took office at Michigan, rather than an immediate decision after Trumps executive order.

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Ono told UF trustees last week that he developed his new stance on DEI in the last year and a half after talking with students and other members of the university community. Before, he wasnt an expert on the topic, which had been universal in higher education, he said, and told trustees his conviction is rock solid.

Ono said he mirrors Floridas evolution with accepting, and then rejecting, DEI.

For anyone who believes Dr. Onos earlier views on DEI, views that many university leaders and civic organizations once shared, are disqualifying despite his evolution and the changes made under his leadership at Michigan, I would remind you that this body adopted DEI strategic priorities as recently as 2020. Like Michigan, the Board of Governors has evolved since, BOG member Charles Lydecker said, adding that Onos previous positions on the topics governors were concerned about are not meaningfully different from those previously held by this board.

The real question is this: Should we punish someone for evolving beyond a view this very body once held, especially when that person has already led one of the nations most prominent universities to a different course, a course that mirrors our own? Lydecker said.

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Lydecker added that There is something fundamentally unjust about cancel culture, and to cancel Dr. Ono would not only be unjust, it would be a setback for the University of Florida.

Forum to interrogate

The degree of vetting from governors Tuesday was not typical, and is the first time the Board of Governors has rejected a president, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Ive been on this board for five, six years, and we have never used this as a forum to interrogate. And in this case, it feels to me patently unfair, Lydecker said after former House Speaker and now-BOG member Paul Renner put documents in front of Ono about his past.

At one point, BOG member Eric Silagy asked if any of the governors had expressed interest in the UF presidency.

UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini (Photo via UF)

Mori Hosseini, the chair of the UF Board of Trustees, said yes.

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He acknowledged Renner reached out to him asking about the job. Renner insisted that he reached out to to Hosseini before he was on the BOG. Renner said he would not take the UF job if offered now that hes on the BOG.

Renner did not recuse himself, although, and voted against Ono.

Ono told the BOG he had made 12 commitments, which include ideological neutrality, solely merit-based hiring and admissions, keeping the university aligned with state government, and upholding state laws and university regulations. He said he asked for those provisions to be included in his contract.

Doctor, your recent reversal on an entire architecture of ideology is nothing short of incredible, BOG member and former House Speaker Jose Oliva said. Oliva also voted against Ono.

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Hosseini, stood by Onos candidacy, and sat next to him during the interrogation.

The bottom line is that Dr. Ono is globally recognized as one of the most respected leaders in higher education, and we are lucky to have him, Hosseini said.

Ono was previously president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati.

GOP pushback

The GOP pushback mounted high enough to reject Ono, who had already stepped down as Michigans president.

U.S. Rep. and GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds posted to X questions related to DEI that he encouraged BOG members to ask, and Rick Scott did the same, Monday evening releasing a statement and questions concerning Onos commitment to protecting Jewish students.

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After the vote, Scott called the vote the right decision, and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis said Im happy to see the system work.

Donald Trump Jr. posted to X WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!??? calling on BOG members to vote against Ono.

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube sent a letter to BOG members, asking them to reject Ono, and find a suitable replacement who truly represents Florida values. After the UF trustees meeting last week, Steube said Im not sold on Ono walking back his woke past.

The governors office appoints six of 13 of the university trustees at each institution and 14 of the 17 BOG members.

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The Board of Governors has a strong history of affirming presidential nominees who received unanimous approval from their university boards to continue this practice sends a message that the Board of Governors values the opinion of their colleagues with the state university system and does not yield to outsiders who post out of context sound bites on social media, Hosseini said.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
The Trump administration is acting to keep international students from enrolling at Harvard. In addition, it is targeting all visa holders at the university, with the possibility that many must return to their home countries. So far, a federal judge has blocked the administrations actions.

Keeping international students from enrolling at Harvard, or any university for that matter, is ill-conceived, and inadvertently creates a national security threat that will live on far beyond the current administration.

U.S. universities are a national treasure. Any ranking of the top worldwide institutions of higher education is filled with U.S. schools. Places like Harvard, MIT and Stanford consistently rank among the very best in the world. Many of our nations public schools, such as the University of Michigan, the University of California-Berkeley and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, are also internationally recognized.

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All such schools are magnets for the brightest minds and talent in the world, including domestic students. All students compete for a place in such schools, gaining not only a superb education but the chance to contribute to society and the nations economy for many decades in the future. The number of seats available in such schools exceeds domestic student demand, giving international students the opportunity to succeed in ways that their home countries may not provide. In 2023-2024, over 1.2 million international students were enrolled at U.S. universities and colleges, an all-time record, contributing $44 billion to the national economy and the U.S. service trade surplus.

The vice president has opined that that international students are preventing domestic students from enrolling, taking their place in classrooms. This is simply not true. The very best and brightest domestic students always have a place to enroll. The challenge that the nation faces is that the domestic demand for human capital talent in numerous fields far exceeds the domestic talent supply available. Without international students, the research and discovery infrastructure at many universities would grind to a stop. This in turn would create headwinds on economic growth for many years to come.

Creating barriers to enroll international students is a recipe for economic self-destruction. More than 40 percent of the international students who come to study in the U.S. remain in the nation after graduation, filling vital needs in healthcare, engineering and science. For example, many international medical graduates who do their residency training in the U.S. end up practicing in underserved (rural) areas where it is difficult to attract domestic physicians. Many international grads end up working in STEM fields, contributing technical expertise that is needed to support and advance our digital economy. And many start and/or grow businesses that create jobs and contribute to a growing economy.

Shahid Khan came to the U.S. from Pakistan to study engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He eventually bought the automotive manufacturing company Flex-N-Gate, which he grew into a multibillion-dollar enterprise with over 27,000 employees. If he had been kept out of the U.S. and not permitted to study here, the value that he has brought to the nation would never have accrued.

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An American Council Study reported in 2023 that over 44 percent of the Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Note that the vice presidents wife, Usha Bala Chilukuri Vance, is the daughter of two Indian immigrants. The presidents wife, Melania Trump, immigrated to the U.S. in 1996.

Though the economic ramifications of keeping international students from enrolling in the U.S. are significant, the threat to our national security is even greater.

To illustrate this point, when young people from China apply to study in the U.S., typically they are among the brightest in China. When they are admitted to U.S. schools, they add to the human capital talent pool available domestically. Many remain in the U.S. and participate in the American dream. But those who return to their native country bring the American dream mindset home with them.

If no students from China ever come to study in the U.S., these bright, talented, young people add to Chinas human capital talent. This gives China a competitive advantage, as China benefits from the talent pipeline that they retain. Over time, such talent will create economic value that will accrue in China, not the U.S.

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As a global economic powerhouse and adversary, any advantage that China gains in human capital talent becomes a national security threat to the U.S. But by attracting and retaining such talent here, our nation is better positioned to stay ahead of China in the global economic warfare in which we are engaged.

Building bridges with other countries by enrolling their young people in our universities is a pathway to improve international relations. Education shared is one of the greatest contributions that our nation can give to world, facilitating greater prosperity, fostering greater stability and, ultimately, making life better for all.

Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor of computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He applies his expertise in data-driven risk-based decision-making to evaluate and inform public policy.

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On March 25, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the categorical parole programs the Biden administration established for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Three weeks later, a U.S. district court judge issued an order staying the termination of the program. Then, on May 30, the Supreme Court stayed the district court judges order pending the outcome of a decision on the merits of the termination.

This is just one of many lawsuits that have been filed to prevent President Trump from implementing his policies.

People have a right to oppose a presidents policies, but there has to be a limit. After all, he was duly elected by the people  as was his agenda.

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The ACLU is the most aggressive of the litigants. During Trumps first term, it filed 434 legal challenges against his administration. According to the ACLU, this succeeded in blocking some of Trumps most egregious measures, such as his travel ban. When the ACLU learned that Trump was going to run again, it prepared a roadmap for another barrage of lawsuits.

Trump had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to prevail in the travel ban fight. The high court held that it was a lawful exercise of his authority to suspend the entry of illegal immigrants into the United States. I expect the same outcome for the challenge to Noems termination of this parole program.

The program granted parole for up to two years to 532,000 aliens whose continued presence in the United States the Secretary deems contrary to U.S. interests.

The parole provision, provides the DHS secretary with unconditional authority to terminate parole when she thinks it is no longer needed. It states that when the purposes of such parole shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of Homeland Security, have been served the alien shall forthwith return or be returned to the custody from which he was paroled and thereafter his case shall continue to be dealt with in the same manner as that of any other applicant for admission to the United States.

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This delegation of authority is similar to the delegation in the provision that was the basis for the travel ban. The pertinent part of the travel-ban provision states that:

Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may  suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants.

The Supreme Court held that the sole prerequisite for the exercise of this authority is that the president has found that the entry of the covered aliens would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.

Likewise, if this case reaches the Supreme Court for a decision on the merits, I expect the court to find that the sole prerequisite for terminating parole is that the DHS secretary thinks the purposes of such parole have been served or that it has failed to serve those purposes.

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Noem terminated the parole program for these countries because, in her opinion, it was not serving its intended purpose.

Moreover, the main objective was to reduce illegal border crossings by offering the migrants from these countries a legal way to migrate to the United States, and border czar Tom Homan has secured the border without offering illegal crossers a legal way to enter the country by deterring and preventing the entry of illegal aliens into the United States.

The district court judge granted a stay of the administrations termination order for the parole program insofar as it revokes, without case-by-case review, the previously granted parole and work authorization issued to participants before the expiration of their parole period.

But the parole provision only mentions the case-by-case requirement with regard to granting parole. It doesnt mention it with regard to terminating parole.

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Moreover, although the Biden administration issued the 532,000 parole grants at issue on a case-by-case basis, its case-by-case determination was not based on an evaluation of whether parole was needed for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. It screened applicants to determine whether they met the following eligibility requirements:

The applicant is a national of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua or Venezuela;

has a supporter in the U.S. who has filed a Declaration of Financial Support on his or her behalf that has been approved by Citizenship and Immigration Services;

can pay for a ticket to fly to a U.S. airport; and

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has passed background checks.

The Biden administration claimed that its CHNV program met the significant public benefit requirement by reducing illegal entries along the southwest border, and that it met the urgent humanitarian reasons requirement by addressing the circumstances that caused migrants to flee from those four countries.

Maybe, but that isnt a case-by-case determination of whether parole is needed. It just establishes a categorical basis for granting parole to nationals of four different countries.

According to U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer, the district court ruling creates a perverse one-way rachet. He permits the parole programs categorical basis for granting parole but rejects Noems attempt to restore the traditional case-by-case process by undoing the categorical grant of CHNV parole. The judge is requiring Homeland Security to make individualized parole determinations for every one of the 532,000 parolees under [the programs]  a colossal undertaking.

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The Supreme Court granted Noems stay request with a brief unsigned order.

Trump faced more than 220 lawsuits in the first five months of his second term in office, and he was impeached twice in his first term without a conviction in the Senate.

Can our democracy survive such determined efforts to undermine the person the voters choose to be our president?

Nolan Rappaport was detailed to the House Judiciary Committee as an Executive Branch Immigration Law Expert for three years. He subsequently served as an immigration counsel for the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims for four years. Prior to working on the Judiciary Committee, he wrote decisions for the Board of Immigration Appeals for 20 years.

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An open hand with a bullet wound in the middle probably lies somewhere in the dark security storage of the Sanhe Public Security Bureau.

The hand  a painting, not literal rotting flesh  is the artwork of the Gao Brothers titled, Memory 1989 or Pierced Memory, a memorial honoring the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre that took place 36 years ago today.

Like that piece of art, Gao Zhen, one half of the artist duo, sits locked away in a prison cell in Beijing, awaiting sentencing on charges of slandering Chinas heroes and martyrs. All for drawing attention through art to what Beijing has been trying to erase from history for nearly four decades  the moment when those who fought for freedom were shot down by state bullets.

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On June 4, 1989, the Chinese Communist Party answered a generations call for reform, first with silence, then steel, crushing not just bodies but the very idea of political possibility. What began as a tribute to reformist leader Hu Yaobangs death blossomed into a peaceful student-led movement calling for dialogue: press freedom, transparency, anti-corruption measures, and modest democratic reforms.

It became one of the largest acts of civil resistance in modern Chinese history, reverberating across 400 cities. At the heart of it all, more than a million people filled Tiananmen Square, their hunger strikes, banners, and speeches illuminating a fragile hope that the system might bend.

Instead, the system broke them. Martial law was declared at midnight.

In the immediate aftermath of the massacre, some Chinese leaders feared Tiananmen would leave an indelible blemish on the countrys history, a lasting memory of the free world that would exclude China from the global order. The fear of isolation never really materialized. At the time, many Western policymakers believed that market reforms would eventually usher in political liberalization.

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In the years since, the Chinese Communist Party has been debunking the assumption that capitalism necessarily breeds democracy. It has carved out a space on the global stage to accommodate its China model and infiltrate democratic institutions. Far from being a red line others dare to cross, Tiananmen revealed just how much the world was willing to overlook in exchange for market access and profit. Authoritarian regimes have learned they dont need to come out with tanks and guns blazing to debilitate national movements of resistance.

The Chinese Communists do it more discreetly now. Like taking quiet but great measures to suppress creative dissent, a form of speech that is filled with illusion and thus difficult to censor, and powerfully evocative, and thus difficult to sanitize.

Sanmu Chan, a performance artist and friend of Gao who has continuously posted on Facebook each day since his friend was detained, has faced massive censorship in Hong Kong. In 2024, he was detained for writing 8964 in the air and miming the act of pouring wine onto the ground to symbolize mourning for those massacred during the Tiananmen Square protests.

In Hong Kong, Beijing has deployed legal instruments in place of tanks, replacing open violence with legal warfare. What was once a sanctuary for memory is now a place of fear and enforced silence. The annual June 4 vigil at Victoria Park, once the worlds largest public remembrance of Tiananmen, has been outlawed and its organizers imprisoned.

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From Tehran to Moscow, authoritarian leaders across the globe have increasingly employed vaguely worded laws to erase inconvenient history. In Russia, memory laws ban criticism of the Soviet past. In Bangladesh, the rebranded Digital Security Act continues to jail critics for hurting national sentiment. And in Iran, mourning itself became rebellion: on the anniversary of Mahsa Jina Aminis death, her father was detained to prevent a graveside vigil; families of other slain protesters were arrested under vague charges of propaganda against the state.

On the other hand, authoritarian states are keen to dictate what should be remembered. Indonesias government introduced a proposal to name the countrys former dictator, Suharto, a national hero despite his record of anti-communist purges that left more than 500,000 dead.

The lesson from Tiananmen hasnt been caution, its coordination. Mass repression, theyve realized, need not isolate a regime; it can consolidate alliances.

They saw China suffer no lasting consequences for slaughtering its people and how quickly the world resumed business. Now, they are doubling down: partnering not only in repression, but in its global legitimation, so that the next Tiananmen elicits not outrage but a shrug. From voting down a United Nations debate on the Uyghur genocide to shielding Iran from accountability over its crackdown on women protesters from marshalling authoritarian allies to pass Human Rights Council resolutions that shift focus away from civil liberties to advancing the non-interference doctrine, the worlds dictatorial regimes are coordinating to resist democratic norms and deflect any scrutiny of their abuses.

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With Beijings shift from authoritarian apprentice to global enabler, autocrats are now proactively offering to enforce one anothers repressive techniques.

However, behind the projection of strength lies a quieter truth: authoritarians govern with deep paranoia. Authoritarianism lacks the feedback loops that allow it to democratically correct itself in open societies. Without the ability to trust its citizens or to distinguish loyalty with silence, it relies on excessive surveillance to preempt any challenges to its rule, and even then, its failing. The sudden eruption of the White Paper protests during mainland Chinas zero-COVID era and the unexpected unfurling of pro-democracy banners in Chengdu show that dissent is still possible, even under extreme restrictions. This overreliance on mass surveillance will blind the Chinese Communist Party to genuine social undercurrents that will disrupt its legitimacy as a ruling party.

While the regime refines repression, people refine resistance. There is a limit to what software can suppress  and suppression breeds creativity. When authorities silenced slogans, protesters raised blank signs; when images of state violence were scrubbed from the Internet, diaspora artists, technologists, and archivists reassembled them through AI, immersive installations, and blockchain repositories.

While the streets of Hong Kong may now fall silent on June 4, Tiananmens memory has not vanished  it has gone global. From candlelight vigils in Taipei and Vancouver to art installations in Berlin and blockchain memorials hosted on GitHub and IPFS, young members of the diaspora are transforming remembrance into resistance. Even under erasure, memory adapts, resisting disappearance not through defiance alone, but through reinvention. What drove the protesters of 1989  the demand for dignity, truth, and political voice  now pulses through a generation born after the massacre but unwilling to let it be buried.

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Attitudes are changing, and the youth are watching.

Elisha Maldonado is the director of communications at the Human Rights Foundation.

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In Miami, Julio David Perez Rodriguez, a Cuban national who last month went to his immigration hearing to seek his legal right to asylum, was arrested by plainclothes officers at an elevator, as first reported by Noticias Telemundo.

Were coming to this country to seek freedom.... What is happening with this country? he said in that moment.

As Suzanne Gamboas NBC News story from last week notes, Perez Rodriguez is one of dozens of immigrants caught in similar dragnets drawn in cities around the country since last week, as the reality of President Donald Trumps mass deportation operation penetrates further into American families consciousness.

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In January, Stephanie Alis family met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in the New Orleans suburb where they lived. They were reportedly told they were not under arrest and not being deported, but would need to accompany agents to an immigration court hearing in Houston.

Once in Houston, though, they werent taken to court, but put on a flight for the first leg of their deportation to Honduras. The 24-year-old woman, whod been living in the U.S. since she was 10, told Verite News by phone that when she saw they were being led to another plane she got very scared. Even just to think of it right now, I start to cry because its so horrible, she said.

ICE lying and using ruses is neither new nor illegal but were becoming increasingly aware of them now because the Trump administration is trying to deport people at an unprecedented scale. A new and aggressive Operation at Large plan is promising to detain at least 3,000 migrants daily.

Immigrants are still told to trust the system: Show up for your hearing, obey notices, follow the orders and wait for your chance to do right. But what good is a system that pretends to offer protection but is designed to fail you?

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ICE agents have been waiting inside courthouses, ready to detain immigrants the moment their cases are resolved or purposely dismissed so they can be detained. If judges try to resist such tactics, they might be met with grand jury indictments, as in the case of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who now faces charges of obstruction, impeding a federal department and concealing an undocumented individual from arrest.

But not only have ICE agents been hiding out in courthouses, theyve been hiding behind masks (which the new ICE head defends) and, according to some reports, sometimes wearing tattoos associated with white supremacists (which the Department of Homeland Security vehemently denies), these agents stop people in courthouses, on their way to work, on their way to church, on their way to high school volleyball practice. It no longer matters if you appear in court for your case, if you stay out of trouble, or if you follow the rules as the system asks you to.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an 18-year-old high school student, was driving to volleyball practice this weekend in Milford, Massachusetts, when ICE agents pulled him over. They were looking for his father. It didnt matter. Once agents realized he was undocumented, they took him, too.

Most Americans are NOT anti-immigrant; theyre just anti-chaos, Immigration Hub Co-Executive Director Beatriz Lopez said in an email about what we are all seeing in real time.

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So far, though, Trump is driving the chaos, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

When we go into the community and find others who are unlawfully here, were going to arrest them, Patricia Hyde, Bostons acting ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field director, said Monday. Hes 18 years old and hes illegally in this country. We had to go to Milford looking for someone else and if we come across someone else who is here illegally, were going to arrest them.

If you are undocumented, the Trump administration has determined that you are a criminal, no matter your status or situation. There is no way out. Full stop.

As of May 23, a NBC News tracker of ICE data notes that 48,674 migrants are currently detained. Just 30.6% of them have criminal convictions, 26.5% have pending criminal charges, 43.2% are listed with the vague other immigration violator label, and 9.9% are fast-tracked for deportation.

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The American people are already starting to recoil from Trumps immigration agenda, including the way hes weaponizing immigration as the tip of the spear for a broader assault on core constitutional pillars such as due process and the separation of powers, Vanessa Cardenas, Americas Voice executive director, said in an email. She added, Trumps overreach and ugliness are moving us in the wrong direction on immigration, away from the real solutions America needs.

The fight for immigrants continues because giving up would mean accepting that this is all America will ever be. And giving up is something such activists refuse to do. The erosion of due process is a national crisis, but the Trump deportation machine keeps going and shows no sign of stopping. It is all normalized now. Courts, which once stood as symbols of fairness and protection, are now just another stage for people showing up expecting due process to have it denied.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Editors note: This piece was updated to note the election of Polish political officials. We regret the error.

Since Polands new president and prime minister are strong on defense, questions about the countrys nuclear future may come more to the fore. In response, Poland could seek its own nuclear weapons, become a host for NATO weapons or turn to France and the United Kingdom for protection.

In March, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland must pursue capabilities related to nuclear weapons, and Andrzej Duda, the current president, has urged that U.S. nuclear arms be based in the country. Polands seeking to become nuclear armed would upset the West, but the other two options could be viable.

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For over a decade, President Vladimir Putin has heightened nuclear threats to Europe. In 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine, he said he was ready to bring nuclear arms into play. In 2018, Putin displayed on large video screens a simulated nuclear attack on Florida and a super torpedo that could render coastal cities uninhabitable.

In 2019, a new Russian ground-launched cruise missile led the U.S. to withdraw from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, with the support of NATO allies. In 2023, Russia began moving Iskander missiles into Belarus, and last June, the two states conducted joint nuclear exercises. In November, Putin said he had lowered the threshold for nuclear use.

NATO has called Russias nuclear rhetoric dangerous and said it was considering whether to put more stored missiles on standby. (The U.S. has no nuclear-armed missiles in Europe.) These modest responses could lead the Kremlin to wonder about the strength of the nuclear umbrella over NATO allies.

U.S. nuclear bombs in Europe are a visible expression of the umbrella. They are stored in five NATO states: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Under the alliances nuclear sharing program, the bombs would be delivered by allied aircraft (stealthy F-35s, except F-16s for Turkey). Only the U.S. could authorize nuclear release.

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Like West Germany in the Cold War, Poland today is the main NATO ally on the Central Front. In the Soviet era, NATO judged that U.S. nuclear-armed forces in West Germany were vital to deterring and defending against potential aggression. Similar logic is relevant to Poland today.

Poland and its nuclear-armed allies might choose among three options. It could try to acquire its own nuclear arms. Poland might join NATOs nuclear sharing program as a basing country. And Warsaw might seek nuclear protection from France and the U.K.

The West would oppose Poland obtaining its own nuclear weapons. This would violate its obligations as a non-nuclear weapon state under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. With 191 adherents, it is a centerpiece of the global security order.

Thus, the West assisted Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine in eliminating their leftover Soviet strategic arms and associated infrastructure, and the international community has condemned Iran and North Koreas nuclear quests.

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Polish acquisition of its own nuclear forces could also spur other states in complex security environments to seek nuclear arsenals. This could increase dangers to them, from deficiencies in warning, command and control, or survivable basing, and to neighbors through collateral damage.

The second option, becoming a basing country in NATOs nuclear sharing program, has much to recommend it. Most importantly, it could reduce the risks that Russian leaders might misperceive Poland as vulnerable or unprotected.

Poland flies F-35s, which could be configured to deliver B-61 bombs. Unrefueled, Polands F-35s could penetrate deeper into Russia than aircraft from some other allies. Poland has sufficient geographic expanse for a survivable force.

Russias nuclear threats and full-scale war on Ukraine justify NATOs suspending its 1997 assurance of no intention, plan, or reason to place nuclear arms in new member states. At that time, NATO said it and Russia did not consider each other adversaries. The security environment today is far different.

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A third option has been gaining attention, in part because of uncertainty about the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Duda has voiced a recurring interest in a French nuclear umbrella. The new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has called for nuclear talks with France and the U.K.

Past French attempts to develop concerted deterrence with Germany have been challenging. Unlike France, the UK participates in NATOs Nuclear Planning Group and has assigned its nuclear forces to the defense of the alliance. Poland benefits from this.

France has a more ambiguous role in Europes nuclear deterrence. While France has long made clear that its vital interests have a European dimension, Paris is not interested in offering a nuclear sharing program similar to NATOs. Providing nuclear reassurance to Poland could boost financial costs. Perhaps Poland could assist the French nuclear aviation mission, such as with training, refueling, or post-attack recovery.

Given these obstacles, some have suggested the creation of a French-U.K. joint venture to reassure Poland. A foundation exists. Since the Chequers Declaration of 1995, France and the U.K. have deepened nuclear cooperation.

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Poland could decide to pursue both NATO nuclear sharing and protection from France and the U.K. From a military perspective, combined efforts might complicate Russian targeting and be a hedge against political disruptions.

William Courtney is an adjunct senior fellow at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. In a career in the foreign service, he was deputy U.S. negotiator in U.S.-Soviet Defense and Space talks in Geneva and ambassador in negotiations there to implement the Threshold Test Ban Treaty.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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As an immigrant from Quito, Ecuador, my dream as a child was to study abroad  a dream that came true in 1999, when I came to Nashville, Tennessee, as a high school exchange student. My host family helped me enroll at their alma mater, a Christian college, and eventually, I earned a Ph.D. focused on public opinion and migration.

I now serve as director of research at the Public Religion Research Institute, where I study how Americans view immigrants and immigration policy.

Integrating into American society was not easy, but it was enriching. I learned to value democracy, freedom of expression, the rule of law, tolerance and minority rights. I also became an informal ambassador of my own country, sharing my culture while learning about other cultures.

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I felt safe studying in the U.S. and never feared deportation. I cant imagine how international students feel today, with visas increasingly being revoked. I also ache for asylum seekers fleeing criminal violence in their home countries.

My research shows that crime victimization is a key driver for migration from northern Central America. These individuals dont have time to wait years for a visa. They either flee or face death.

Recent efforts to reduce both documented and undocumented immigration raise serious questions: Who counts as American? What are our priorities? Do we still value the rule of law?

I see deep polarization along political and religious lines. A majority of Republicans support stricter limits on legal immigration, whereas only one-third of Democrats do.

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Trumps anti-immigration rhetoric resonates strongly among some groups. For example, a disturbing number of Republicans (67 percent) and white evangelical Protestants (62 percent) agree with the idea that undocumented immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country.

But even among these groups, not all policies enjoy support. Only a minority, including among Republicans and evangelicals, support the use of internment camps for undocumented immigrants, like the 42 currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.

The Trump administration is also pushing the limits of legal and humane immigration policy. In one striking case, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, was wrongly deported to El Salvador. Though the Supreme Court unanimously ruled he must be returned, the administration claims it has no obligation to bring him back. This sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the rule of law.

Social science shows that contact with people different from us reduces prejudice. During my exchange experiences, I formed close bonds with people not expected to accept me, like Republicans and white evangelicals.

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These interactions were powerful. But when political leaders frame immigrants as threats, even personal connections can be outweighed.

After 20 years in this country, I ask: Who benefits from this hostility? When immigrant families live in fear, unable to go about their lives, who wins?

Deportations dont just break families apart; they erode trust, social cohesion and the economy. Cities report falling sales and labor shortages in industries that rely on immigrants.

My story is just one of millions. Immigrants are not threats. We are students, professors, workers, business owners and neighbors. We enrich the fabric of this country.

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I was fortunate to have the safety and support that many are denied today. But todays policies dehumanize immigrants and corrode the democratic ideals that drew me here.

When fear and mistrust dominate and legal protections weaken, we all lose. The real question is not just how we treat immigrants, but what kind of society we want to be.

We must demand immigration policies that reflect American values of fairness, dignity and justice. Its time for each of us  citizens, communities and leaders  to speak out and support humane immigration reforms that strengthen, rather than undermine, our democracy.

Diana Orces, Ph.D., is the director of research at the Public Religion Research Institute. Originally from Quito, Ecuador, she holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University and teaches graduate-level research design and methods at American University.

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President Donald Trump may be the only person standing between Iran, Israel and an apocalyptic war of biblical proportions. At the outset of such a war, strikes on nuclear facilities would expose entire populations to toxic chemical plumes and radioactive materials. Nuclear disasters know no boundaries: think Chernobyl and Fukushima on steroids.

At a press conference in late May, President Trump confirmed rumors that he called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay military strikes against Iran. Citing progress in the nuclear negotiations, he characterized strikes at this juncture as very inappropriate.

No one can claim that Trumps resistance to war and his moral revulsion at bloodshed lack a foundation in fact, faith, reason or history. As he told Esquire magazine in August 2004, a year after the Iraq invasion:

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What was the purpose of this whole thing? Hundreds and hundreds of young people killed. And what about the people coming back with no arms and legs? Not to mention the other side. All those Iraqi kids whove been blown to pieces. And it turns out that all of the reasons for the war were blatantly wrong. All this for nothing!

A similar antipathy for war is evident in Trumps approach to a nuclear deal with Iran. While not opposed to strikes as a last resort, Trump told reporters that he prefers an agreement that includes a rigorous verification regime to prevent Tehran from acquiring a bomb.

I want it [to be a] very strong agreement where we can go in with inspectors, we can take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want, but nobody getting killed. We can blow up a lab, but nobody is gonna be in a lab, as opposed to everybody being in the lab and blowing it up.

If only the leaders of Iran and Israel were as concerned as Trump about the costs and precedents set by strikes on nuclear sites.

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In The Ayatollahs Nuclear Gamble: The Human Cost of Military Strikes, a study published by Omid for Iran and the Hinckley Institute, Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was warned about the human cost of his nuclear gamble. Based on the available information, the study estimated that between 7,000 and 11,000 people  scientists, workers, soldiers and staff  at Irans nuclear facilities would be killed or injured immediately. If only 5% of the 371 metric tons of uranium hexafluoride held at the Isfahan facility were to become airborne, with prevailing winds at 9.4 miles per hour, a toxic plume could expose approximately 240,000 residents in Isfahan alone within an hour. It concluded that the contamination of air, water, and soil from the thermal impact of strikes on nuclear plants would be immediate, vast, and, for the most part, irreversible.

The regional effects would be catastrophic. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed told journalist Tucker Carlson that strikes on the Bushehr nuclear plant would render the sea entirely contaminated and put all Gulf countries at risk: No water, no fish  nothing. No life! he warned.

Israel is also at risk. In December 2021, the Jerusalem Post reported that the Islamic Republic claimed to have successfully simulated attacks on the Dimona nuclear plant using 16 ballistic missiles and five suicide drones.

Bemoaning the specter of the first radiological war in history, Bennet Ramberg, a former State Department official, likened the effects of a successful strike on the Dimona reactor to a substantial radiological weapon or dirty bomb. In his seminal study, he noted that the relative economic dislocation, population relocation, and immediate and lingering psychological trauma could be significant.

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In a major address in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, 2025, President Trump offered Iran, Israel and the other players in the region an exit ramp. He lamented the disastrous Western interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq  the hubris of neo-cons and nation-builders  promising an era of peace and prosperity rooted in pragmatism and profit:

Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired division of the past, and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions and creeds are building cities together  not bombing each other out of existence.

President Trump may never win the Nobel Peace Prize. However, he has captured the imagination of Iranians and Israelis who want an end to the regions wars. Rather than rushing into a war, Iranians, held hostage by a cult of death and martyrdom, want Trump to prioritize peace and prosperity. With a national trucker strike spreading across 150 cities in Iran, the Iranian people would say yes to a broader Iran deal that would enable them to reclaim their stolen sovereignty, security, democracy and dignity.

As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeated time and time again, the Iranian people are our friends and partners. They are the ones who hold the keys to regional peace and stability that can save the lives of innocent Israelis and Palestinians, not the radical Shia clerics who seek war and destruction.
Narcan dispensing boxes are becoming more common across Missouri. Medicines like Narcan, also known as naloxone, help fight opioid overdose deaths, but officials say more investment is needed to treat addiction (Suzanne King/The Beacon).

After years of exponential growth, opioid overdose deaths in Missouri are dropping.

While health care workers, community groups and other officials say many factors may contribute to the drop in opioid overdose deaths, they agree that access to overdose-reversing drugs like naloxone, often provided under the brand name Narcan, is saving lives.

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I do think that Narcan is the reason for those trends statistically dropping, said Cooper County Ambulance Chief Brandon Hicks. I see Narcan in a lot more homes than I used to, and I do see family members administering Narcan prior to us getting there.

In 2014, the state saw 360 opioid overdose deaths from drugs other than heroin. By 2021, that figure rose to 1,493, state data shows.

After increasing through 2021, the trend started changing. The number of deaths flattened in 2022 and began dropping in 2023. By 2024, non-heroin opioid overdose deaths had fallen to 876.

Central Missouri and the St. Louis area saw the largest drop in drug overdose deaths, dropping 38% and 35%, respectively.

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But after responding to opioid overdose calls for years, Hicks sees the need for more access to treatment and better coordination between emergency services and long-term care, especially in rural areas.

That belief is shared across community health organizations. Access to things like peer support specialists and community resources is an essential piece of the puzzle, according to Derek Wilson, who runs harm reduction at the AIDS Project of the Ozarks, which serves 29 counties in southwest Missouri.

I think there is a particular bit of challenge when you come up against some of these societal things, Wilson said. When you get into a more rural area  theres a ton of stigma. Theres still a lot of shaming, whether its self-shaming or from outside sources.

Wilson hopes that a continued focus on naloxone distribution, coupled with community support and more access to medication-assisted long-term treatment, can continue making inroads in rural communities.

Did Missouris naloxone distribution plan lead to the drop in overdose rates?

In 2016, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration began a new grant program for states to receive federal funds for addiction treatment, recovery and harm reduction services.

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The federal money and state settlement dollars from opioid litigation allowed Missouri to increase investment in addiction treatment and overdose prevention. Early funds were mostly used to support treatment efforts. But as the response evolved, the state began investing more heavily in distributing naloxone across the state.

From 2017 to 2023, the Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH) distributed nearly 430,000 naloxone kits across the state. In 2023 alone, nearly 250,000 kits were given out, including more kits shipped off to local health departments, social services and first responders, according to a report from researchers at MIMH.

In their report, researchers connect the drop in overdose deaths with the availability of naloxone across the state. But other rural health researchers think more time is needed to truly understand the drop in deaths.

Its encouraging, but I dont think we know exactly why its changed, said Kelly Price, a rural addiction researcher in Vermont. Itll be interesting to see how it plays out over time  It does sometimes seem like it takes a little bit longer to see those effects that you see nationally in some of these more isolated rural communities.

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MIMH researchers also pointed to the westward movement of fentanyl across the country. Data show that eastern parts of the country see lower levels of fentanyl-related deaths, while they are rising in western parts of the country.

Hicks sees the need for better data collection for health officials to truly understand the trends, especially in smaller counties where funds for autopsies may not align with death rates. He pointed to the prevalence of opioid-related cardiac events.

We just did a community health assessment, Hicks said. We identified that theres really not been any opioid deaths in Cooper County for quite some time. The problem is that theyre getting ruled cardiac arrest.

At the end of the day this is a true statement, their heart stopped, he added. When it comes to pulling statistics, nobody sees the opioid deaths that we do have.

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If someones heart stops as a result of an overdose, naloxone wont revive them without chest compressions. Researchers at the American Heart Association found that of the 360,000 cardiac arrests from 2017 to 2021, 8% were caused by drug overdoses.

Part of the problem in collecting that data, Hicks said, was funding for autopsies. If the county only budgets for a certain number of autopsies, it can be difficult to determine whether a death was related to drugs in other ways besides an overdose.

I have one gentleman that I have (used Narcan on) three times thats been in cardiac arrest, and after the third time, he literally told me: See, I can do whatever I want. Youre going to be here to save me, Hicks said. We cant save somebody who is dead, and they cant save themselves either. But if they get Narcan before we get there, usually they refuse care.

But Stephanie Malita, a health educator at the St. Joseph Health Department, says peer support specialists who are active in the area report that the number of overdoses someone experiences isnt relevant to their recovery outcomes.

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Peers will say time and time again that some of them overdosed multiple times, Malita said. But eventually they got to the point in their lives where they were ready and had a support team around them to make that very scary leap into non-use.

Addressing fear of law enforcement when treating overdoses

Studies show that despite Good Samaritan laws, which offer legal protection for people who are witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose, skepticism remains when it comes to calling first responders in the event of an overdose.

Missouris Good Samaritan law provides immunity from things like possession of controlled and synthetic substances or paraphernalia, as long as someone is actively seeking medical assistance. It also requires law enforcement to provide treatment resources. It does not protect against other crimes like distributing a controlled substance or active warrants.

Hicks regularly runs into that fear when he responds to overdose calls. If 911 is called, the person overdosing often has already gotten a dose of naloxone, and law enforcement almost always arrives at the scene before EMS.

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People dont want law enforcement, they feel like theyve done something wrong, Hicks said. So we usually encounter somebody who is angry and upset  because theyre scared of getting arrested. They didnt want to go to jail, they just wanted to live.

He and his staff take extra steps to differentiate themselves from law enforcement when responding to overdose calls. They dont wear button-up shirts or badges to try and make people feel more comfortable.

I appreciate law enforcement, Hicks said. But I dont want to be associated with them in these scenarios, because then I cant help somebody like were supposed to help them.

How to address the need for long-term care in rural Missouri

Wilson and the AIDS Project of the Ozarks are working on ways to make naloxone more available across their coverage area. The group places drop boxes with naloxone kits in places like libraries and other public settings, so it is available to the community 24/7.

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To find where to access free naloxone, click here.

Its an investment that Malita and the health department, which was one of the top county recipients for naloxone kits from the MIMH, are looking at making as they continue naloxone outreach.

But more attention is needed when it comes to connecting naloxone recipients with longer-term addiction care. Things like distance to a provider, income, transportation and child care are often cited as roadblocks for rural patients seeking care.

Hicks said he hopes to see more investment in things like transportation to crisis centers. He also pointed to integrating 911 and 988, the national suicide and crisis hotline, as a way to ensure Missourians are getting the care they need.

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The emergency room is just not the place for a lot of people in these situations, Hicks said. More mental health support (is needed), not a physician that tells them to go seek care elsewhere once theyve fixed a very temporary problem.

Price pointed to data that shows starting people on medication-assisted treatment, including buprenorphine or naltrexone, after an overdose and then connecting them with a long-term provider has been shown to be an effective approach.

Things like expanded access to telehealth, where people can meet with providers in the privacy of their own homes, can also help people in smaller communities seek care in ways that are more fitting for them.

Wilson said reducing stigma so everyone feels comfortable seeking care is a priority.

I do think it is something that is thicker in rural areas, the idea of not wanting to get into it, and: Why dont those people just go take care of themselves? Why dont they stop? Wilson said. Its just not that simple, not with the way that substances interfere with our brain chemistry.

Its just a human being and things get away from them, Wilson said. Then they find themselves in very, very horrible situations.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
More than a year after shuttering an Orlando-area churchs unpermitted homeless shelter, Orange County commissioners approved a rezoning request for the church to build a new shelter on the same site.

It is the first such facility to win support in the region since Florida passed its tough new homelessness law in the spring of 2024.

So long as Kaleo Ministries can meet the countys conditions, the church may move forward with its plan to build a 240-bed shelter on six acres of residential land it owns in east Orange County, the county board agreed Tuesday.

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Governments not able to move fast enough to address it, said Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who voted in favor of the shelter. Im hopeful that this is a perfect example of private partnerships that are going to help with this challenge.

The church operated a makeshift shelter on the site for years, housing hundreds of people in repurposed shipping containers and a converted garage.

But the unpermitted shelter near E. Colonial Drive and SR 417 garnered 38 code violations resulting in $4 million dollars in fines before the county shut it down in a March 2024 court filing.

At the time, County Fire Marshal William Farhat testified that the locations lack of fire suppression equipment was an immediate and credible threat to the life, health, safety, and welfare of the public.

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In April, Pastor Marcos Diaz appealed to commissioners to rezone the churchs land so it could construct an 18,000 square-foot shelter and drug treatment facility.

After more than an hour of debate in that meeting  which County Mayor Jerry Demings called not a good use of time  commissioners postponed the vote until June to allow Diaz more time to prepare.

At the time, Demings said Diaz was somewhat inconsistent in his answers to the county, including not being clear on how the church would fund the project or what agency would run its drug treatment program.

Commissioners also advised Diaz to resolve the millions of dollars in fines hanging over the property and bring it up to code before coming back.

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Since that meeting, Diaz has brought the property up to code. He also hired an attorney that negotiated the churchs fines down to $130,000. So far, the church has paid $5,500 of that money.

Diaz also partnered with Asher Capital Investments, a New Jersey investment firm that said it is committed to raising the money needed to build and operate the project.

I did preliminary underwriting. The project is fundable with no doubt. We already got some commitments, said Edgardo Saldana, owner of Asher Capital, who stood at the podium alongside Diaz at Tuesdays meeting.

Central Florida needs more shelter beds, as the areas homeless population continues to outpace its supply. And the new state homelessness law, which bans camping in public places and took effect in January, has put even more pressure on the situation.

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But city and county officials have struggled to find a location for a new shelter. Each time they zero in on a possibility, theyve been met with strong opposition from residents worried that a shelter would bring crime to their neighborhoods. That happened on sites along West Washington Street near Camping World Stadium, and in Orlandos SoDo district.

Ahead of Tuesdays meeting, the County received a petition against Kaleos shelter signed by 73 residents who live near the churchs property. Those residents claimed the unpermitted shelter brought increased crime, open drug use and trespassers to their neighborhood. They worry the new shelter will have the same negative impact on the area.

Commissioner Uribe brought residents and pastor Diaz together to in hopes of finding a compromise before commissioners cast their votes.

It didnt go well. It got confrontational, Uribe said.

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After that tense meeting, Uribe invited residents to voice their concerns without the pastor present.

I said we have to kind of bring this down, because it might pass. And if it passes, what are some of the things you want to protect the neighborhood, Uribe said.

Despite the concerns, the commission voted 6-1 to rezone the land, with Commissioner Nicole Wilson opposed, but laid out 24 conditions that the church must meet before the shelter can open.

Those conditions include paying the remainder of the $130,000 in fines owed to the county, having 24-hour security on site and building a 25-foot buffer zone between the shelter and its neighbors with landscaping, a ditch and a concrete wall.

Diaz and his partners erupted in cheers when the vote came down.

We made mistakes but were looking to turn the page, Diaz said.
The Orange County Sheriffs Office has finished an investigation into Kissimmee police officers involved in an excessive force incident.

The findings of that investigation have not been released, but 9 Investigates has confirmed that multiple officers were sustained in those findings.

The city is not yet releasing details, saying on May 27, the Kissimmee Police Department received the findings from the independent investigation conducted by the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

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The investigation was initiated after an Oct. 21, 2024 letter from the state attorneys office that outlined concerns regarding the truthfulness and/or conduct of several officers.

The investigation began after the state attorney reviewed this story Channel 9 broke back in 2023. In that case, body camera video showed an officer kneeing a man in the face.

The Orange County Sheriffs Offices investigation into those officers comes months after that grand jury report and a letter sent to the city. In it, 11 officers, including the former chief, are named.

Officer Andrew Baseggio was indicted. In April, he entered a guilty plea on a count of felony battery, two counts witness tampering and a count of official misconduct. He no longer works at the Kissimmee Police Department.

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Kissimmees police chief at the time, Betty Holland, resigned.

The state raised concerns about truthfulness and conduct.

In October, the city of Kissimmee moved quickly and asked for Orange Countys assistance, even loaning them interim Chief Bobby Anzueto until a new chief was hired.

Chief Chuck Broadway took over in March.

In accordance with Florida law, the investigative findings will remain confidential until the departments internal review is complete and formal notifications have been made to the affected employees.

In a statement, the department said, The Kissimmee Police Department remains committed to upholding transparency, integrity, and public trust. We are currently reviewing the findings to determine the appropriate next steps. This careful and deliberate process is essential to ensure a fair and thorough response.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After passing in the Oregon House, a bill that aims to improve healthcare access for Oregonians with developmental disabilities is now headed to the governors desk.

Senate Bill 729 will mandate that public bodies never deny mental health assessments or treatment to patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Raspberries arrive a few weeks early at U-Pick farm in Canby

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For too long, people with I/DD have faced gaps in care and fragmented services, Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Inner SE Portland) said. This bill ensures we finally hold our system accountable for delivering the care these Oregonians deserve.

This bill would apply to the Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, the Oregon Medical Board, and other health licensing agencies. It would not apply to the Oregon Youth Authority, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education.

Ex-military father at large after 3 daughters found dead in central Washington

Supporters of the bill say people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have long faced challenges while seeking much-needed mental health care.

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Access to mental health care is a basic human right. No one should be excluded from treatment simply because of a disability, this bill is about equity, dignity, and doing whats right, Rep. Travis Nelson (D-N & NE Portland) said.

SB 729 is headed to Gov. Tina Koteks desk, where it awaits her signature.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A bill passed the Oregon Senate on Tuesday that would shield Oregonians from paying higher utility costs to cover electricity usage by Big Tech facilities in the state.

House Bill 3546, known as the Protecting Oregonians with Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act, would hold companies behind facilities such as data centers or cryptocurrency operations, responsible for their own utility bills, the Democratic Majority Office announced in a press release.

The bill would establish a separate pricing system for electricity users that use more than 20 megawatts  which is roughly the same amount used to power a small city, the lawmakers explained.

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Neighbors, PBOT fed up with NW 13th outdoor plaza

Data centers play an important role in our growing technology needs in the United States, and they need to pay their fair share for infrastructure required to meet their energy needs, rather than passing the costs on to residential ratepayers, said Senator Janeen Sollman (D  Hillsboro, Forest Grove & Rock Creek), a chief sponsor of the measure in the Senate. Large energy users have the potential to place significant strain on the grid, especially in regions where energy capacity is already stretched thin.

Since 2021, electric rates from some power companies have risen by nearly 50% and thousands of families have had their power shut off because they could not afford the bill, the Democratic office said, noting large industrial users pay about two cents per kilowatt hour, while households are charged more than triple that rate.

The cost to serve certain large energy users is spilling on to other ratepayers, said Rep. Pam Marsh (D  Southern Jackson County), a chief sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives. This bill will help state regulators assign these high costs to the data centers and crypto mining entities that are consuming the energy.

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Oregon hurdler somersaults over finish line to win state title

Traditionally, growth in energy demand was relatively balanced across all users, justifying roughly equal distribution of costs. But the explosion of huge technology facilities has upended that traditional metric, Marsh explained in a March House hearing for the bill. Without intervention, the costs created by the disproportionate demand of big energy users will be borne by residential consumers who are already struggling.

The bill helps protect everyday users, like families and small businesses, from paying the costs that big businesses are running up, Sen. Deb Patterson (D  Salem), a cosponsor of HB 3546, added in a statement after the bills passage. Household budgets are stretched far enough as they are. They shouldnt be covering corporate costs, too.

The POWER Act passed the Senate in an 18-12 vote, moving the bill back to the Oregon House of Representatives for final passage.

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ICE used deceptive practices to detain asylum seeker at Portland courthouse, attorneys say

In written testimony against the bill, Rep. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) raised concerns that the bill would discourage tech companies from growing their presence in Oregon.

In his letter  which was supported by industry advocates such as the Data Center Coalition along with unions IBEW 48, IBEW 280 and UA 290  Brock Smith said, data centers strengthen grid reliability through infrastructure investments and help stabilize residential electricity rates by providing consistent demand. The current proposed legislation, with its misaligned regulations, threatened these widespread community benefits and could discourage future development that supports our digital economy.

The bill comes as large technology companies are facing two growing demands to raise their energy supply for artificial intelligence and data centers, while meeting long-term goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by the Associated Press.

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AI uses vast amounts of energy, AP said, noting a 2024 report from the United States Department of Energy estimated that the electricity needed for data centers in the U.S. tripled in the last decade and is anticipated to double or triple again in 2028, when tech companies could consumer 12% of the nations energy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hundreds of educators, parents and students joined a rally Nov. 1. 2023 at Roosevelt High School in north Portland. A new bill would extend unemployment benefits to them during work stoppages. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon could soon become the first state in the nation to extend unemployment benefits to most striking workers.

House lawmakers passed Senate Bill 916 Wednesday in a 33-23 vote along party lines with one dissenting Democrat, a decision that followed an hours-long debate about the bills potential impact on schools, health care, and private businesses. The bill already cleared the Senate in May in a 16-12 vote, but will need to go back to that chamber before months end for a re-vote to clear further amendments. If the bill clears the Senate, it will head to Gov. Tina Koteks desk for final consideration.

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The legislation would allow striking workers  including most public employees  to collect unemployment benefits after their first two weeks of striking and up until the eighth week of a strike, pending the financial stability of the states unemployment fund. New Jersey and New York already extend unemployment benefits and payments to striking private sector workers but not to public employees.

Washington passed a law this year to begin providing unemployment benefits to striking workers in 2026. Public employees are barred from striking in Washington  though Washington teachers have gone on strike  and that states law spells out that benefits wont be allowed if a strike is prohibited under federal or state law. Washingtons law also caps benefits at six weeks.

If unemployment funding is available, striking workers in Oregon could collect benefits for up to 26 weeks after the first two weeks of striking. Payments range from $196 to a maximum of $836 weekly, according to a 2024 policy from the Oregon Employment Department.

After the House voted down a scaled-back proposal by Republicans Wednesday morning, lawmakers debated the extent to which Senate Bill 916 would lengthen or shorten strikes, and the potential strain it could impose on schools and private business.

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I also firmly believe that this policy will help our businesses, education and healthcare communities by bringing these strikes to a close sooner and with greater certainty, said state Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, on the House floor.

Republicans, led by state Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, sought to derail the proposal with their own measure that would have capped benefits to six weeks of payments after the first two weeks of a strike.

We can have the conversation about making sure that employees are paid well and they are protected and their voices heard, Elmer said. This bill isnt the way  this is too much and too far.

Prior to the vote, opposition to the measure was piling up in testimony from school board leaders and business groups concerned that the bill could allow strikes to drag on and put a wrench in day-to-day operations.

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Leaders of teacher unions and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, a statewide coalition of unions that represents over 300,000 workers, have testified in support of the bill, as have nurses, teachers and state workers.

Regardless of income level or industry, Oregon workers all want the same things  to work hard, support themselves, and build a better life, the Oregon AFL-CIO, a statewide federation of labor unions, said in a social media post prior to the vote. Senate Bill 916 is an opportunity for our state to support working class Oregonians by strengthening their right to strike through expanding unemployment benefit access.

The Oregon Employment Department told the Legislature in April that the bill wouldnt result in any changes to unemployment taxes paid by employers.

The bill was amended in the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards in May to allow school districts to deduct the cost of benefits from back pay some teachers receive after a strike has ended, under union contracts.

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Multiple Democrats reiterated their argument following the vote that the bill would not raise costs for businesses and schools.

SB 916 wont encourage strikes  it will shorten them, state Rep. Travis Nelson, D-Portland, wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday. It will bring employers to the table faster, and let workers stand up without having to worry that their families will starve should they choose to exercise their right to strike. Fundamentally, this legislation is about dignity and fairness for workers.

Updated at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 with more information about Washingtons law.

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Jun. 3On Monday night, during the Austin City Council meeting, the Austin Police Department honored an original member of APD's Chaplain Program, Victor Ordonez.

Sgt. Daniel Osborn presented Ordonez with a plaque during the meeting and lauded Ordonez for his dedication to community.

"He has responded to several critical incidents, ride-alongs, community events and has served the public diligently," Osborne said. "Victor is a model citizen and exceptional chaplain. We are saddened to see Victor leave the program and he will be missed."

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Ordonez added, "It's been a blessing for me."

Ordonez will be replaced by Pastor Dan Mielke of Grace Baptist Church here in Austin.

Mielke played a critical role during a July standoff in 2024 that freed the daughter of Kristofer Luiken and ending the incident.
The City of Orlando has scrapped a four-decade-old program meant to help businesses owned by women and minorities land a piece of its millions of dollars in contracts, citing new federal rules against such initiatives.

City officials decision Friday to suspend the Minority and Women Business Enterprise program was purportedly in order to receive four federal grants totaling $37 million for renovations to the Orlando International Airport, including updates to Terminal C and bathroom renovations in Terminals A and B. A similar MWBE program offered by the airport was also axed on Tuesday.

The move comes amid a push by the Trump Administration to rid the U.S. of what President Trump calls radical and wasteful government DEI programs following his Jan. 20 executive order banning all programs fostering diversity, equity and inclusion.

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The city program, originally established in the early 1980s, allowed minority groups often lucrative contracting opportunities to work within the city, including on multi-million dollar projects such as the construction of the Amway Center, now the Kia Center, and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Its goal was to support 18% of minority-owned businesses and 6% of women-owned businesses, but at its conclusion had reached 12% participation, said Janeiro Coulter, who oversaw the program.

In an email sent to the city council Friday, Orlando City Attorney Mayanne Downs explained that because the city sponsors the airport, but doesnt operate it, the pre-approved $37 million grant could be at risk with the program in place.

She said that in the past the council had no problem complying with Federal Aviation Administration requirements, but because of Trumps executive orders, the landscape has changed.

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While no court has ever held our MWBE program to be invalid, I cannot in good faith certify that our MWBE program, in its present form, fully complies with these new FAA grant requirements, she said in the email.

She recommended that any race- or gender-based programs within Orlando be immediately or temporarily suspended, to assure the council doesnt violate Trumps executive order.

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board members were alerted to the airport suspending its own program on Tuesday evening.

A letter from CEO Lance Lyttle was sent to board members, stating hed decided to immediately and temporarily suspend GOAAs program. He added hes attempting to craft a new program expected to have a focus on local and small businesses, as opposed to being specialized for those owned by women and minorities.

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The immediate need to secure funding for the airport and this community has sped this process up and requires us to act quickly, said Lyttle, who was hired earlier this year.

He said he formed a working group of staffers to study the issue and bring forth recommendations to the board in the next 60 days. In the meantime, our Senior Staff and attorneys will address procurements on an ad hoc basis.

The airport is owned by the city, but operated by a board comprised of Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and five appointees by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

City Commissioner Bakari Burns said he isnt sure if other programs like My Brothers Keeper, a mentoring program for young Orlando men, will be affected. But he said the council and program officials will still provide support to small, minority-owned Orlando businesses, just in a new way.

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We need to look at what we can get established within the city that will stand the test of time, [and] that will not raise a flag by the Trump Administration, he said. Its going to be a fine line.

Of the 616 minority and women-owned businesses affected, all will still receive support, just not from the Minority and Women Business Enterprise program, Coulter said. Hes working on a new, race-neutral program to fill the void.

And while hes not sure when this new program will be implemented, he claimed the process will be as streamlined as possible. For previous businesses that had been supported, no applications will be needed and no current contracts for work will be affected.

Were going to make it very easy, Coulter said in a press conference Wednesday.

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While it was not his choice to suspend the almost half-century-old program, which he said allowed Orlando to move past discrimination and exclusion, he said hes been expecting it since Trump took office.

Im a product and a participant of the civil rights movement, so it wouldnt have been my choice, Coulter said. You dont have a choice.

klowery@orlandosentinel.com, rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
Parents and teachers in southern California are urgently asking for support for a fourth grader who is being held captive by immigration authorities in Texas.

Torrance Elementary School student Martir Garcia Lara, age 9, attended an immigration court appointment with his father in Houston on May 29 when suddenly they were detained and separated from each other, according to a message from the schools Parent Teacher Association.

The boy and his father are in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, pending removal to Honduras, an ICE spokesperson told The Independent.

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Martir Garcia-Banegas entered the United States without legal permission in 2021 with his son Martir.

An immigration judge ordered the family removed to Honduras in 2022. Garcia appealed the decision, which was dismissed. They exhausted due process and has no legal remedies left to pursue, ICE told The Independent.

They were taken into custody at an ICE field office and will remain in custody pending removal to Honduras, according to ICE.

Hes alone and hes not able to return home, PTA president Jasmin King told KTLA.

We have not received any information on why they were detained, she said. All we know is that Martir is just a fourth grader whos by himself, without his dad, without a parent, and just in a place that he probably doesnt know, so we can only imagine what he might be feeling.

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A spokesperson for the Torrance Unified School District told The Independent that officials are unable to confirm details of the familys case and are actively working with the family and authorities to understand the facts of the situation.

We remain committed to the safety and well-being of all our students and will continue to follow proper protocols as more information becomes available, the statement added.

Federal authorities have taken roughly 500 children into government custody since President Donald Trump took office, according to CNN.

Those children were either in homes considered to be unsafe or because the government arrested their family members or placed them in removal proceedings.

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The boys alleged arrest follows a wave of immigration enforcement actions inside courthouses across the country in recent weeks, with masked officers from as many as 20 different law enforcement agencies patrolling entrances, lobbies and hallways to arrest immigrants moments after their scheduled hearings and appointments.

Courthouse operations and arrests at other immigration offices have been reported in more than a dozen cities, which advocacy groups and immigration attorneys have labelled a dragnet operation sweeping up immigrants who are following the law.

In New York City, protests erupted after ICE arrested a high school student seeking asylum during his court appearance and after federal agents swarmed a Manhattan immigration office, where officers also arrested a congressional staffer.

Similar operations have been reported across the country, from Seattle and Los Angeles to Phoenix and Miami.

The Trump administration has deployed federal officers across the country to arrest immigrants moments after their immigration court hearings and appointments (Reuters)

After taking office, the president issued an executive order that greenlights fast-track deportation proceedings for immigrants who cannot prove that they have continuously lived in the United States for more than two years.

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That expedited removal process  historically used at the U.S.-Mexico border  is now being expanded across the country. The American Civil Liberties Union sued to block the measure, arguing people seeking asylum would get less due process contesting their deportation than they would contesting a traffic ticket.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association says courthouse arrests are a flagrant betrayal of basic fairness and due process for people who are simply following the rules.

Immigration courts are being weaponized, judges are coordinating with ICE to dismiss cases and immediately funnel individuals into the fast-track deportation pipeline known as expedited removal, the group said in a statement. These are not fugitives. They are individuals, many who are seeking protection from torture in their countries, complying with the law.

Immigration attorneys argue the arrests of immigrants by masked federal agents undermines due process for people who are simply following the rules (AP)

The group has collected dozens of reports from immigration attorneys whose clients were immediately arrested after their court appearances only to be placed into expedited removal proceedings where they can be rapidly deported without an opportunity to appear before a judge.

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Detainees include immigrants of all ages, including families with young children and toddlers as young as two and three years old, according to the groups analysis of recent arrests.

In at least one case, ICE agents detained children who were in court with their parents and attempted to arrest a mother with a nursing infant, the report found.

These arrests appear not to be based on a need to detain individuals due to concerns over them being a flight or public safety risk, according to the group. This raises serious due process concerns as these chaotic detentions will likely make people, who are otherwise trying to comply with the law, scared to appear for their court hearings.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Hundreds of voters cast their ballots ahead of the June 7 runoff election, voting on who should be the final member of the new San Angelo City Council administration as the day of the election draws near.

The runoff election is for the City Councils single-member district two councilmember seat, which is currently being sought by Dudra Butler and Joe Self after neither candidate garnered enough votes to secure the position during the May 3 election. Cumulative results published by Tom Green County state that during the May 3 election, Butler received 432 votes, or 33.7% of the total votes, while Self received 485 votes, or 37.83% of the total votes.

City Council Candidate: Dudra Butler

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A representative of the Tom Green County Elections Office reported that a cumulative total of 248 ballots were cast in person during the early voting period, which lasted from May 27 to June 3. Thirty absentee ballots were also submitted during early voting.

The representative stated that 8,700 voters in Tom Green County are eligible to vote in the runoff election.

City Council Candidate: Joe M. Self, Jr.

The runoff election will be held on June 7 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at several polling places across San Angelo. Below is a list of polling places, as provided by the Tom Green County Elections Office:

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Angelo Bible Church , lobby  3506 Sherwood Way

Calvary Baptist Church , fellowship center  2401 Armstrong St.

Concho Valley Transit District (Bus Depot), Annex Building  506 N. Chadbourne St.

SAF First Assembly of God , fellowship hall  1442 Edmund Blvd.

Keating Paint and Body , reception area  5050 N. Chadbourne St.

Oak Grove Senior Apartments , multipurpose room  4359 Oak Grove Blvd.

MHMR Services of the Concho Valley (Administration Building), Jack Ray Room  1501 W. Beauregard Ave.

Wesley Trinity United Methodist Church, fellowship hall  301 W. 18th St.

For more information on local elections, visit Concho Valley Homepages Your Local Election HQ webpage.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
SHREVEDPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Shreveport police are on the scene of a shooting that injured at least one person.

Around 3:20 p.m., Caddo 911 records show a reported shooting in the 3900 block of Dilg League Drive. As many as eight police units and one Shreveport Fire Department medical unit were dispatched to the location.

Shreveport Police Departments public information officer said the victim is a 21-year-old male, and their wounds appeared life-threatening.

SPD squad car on scene of shooting on Dilg League Drive (Source: KTAL/KMSS Staff Tony Neal) Shooting 3900 block Dilg League Drive (Source: Tony Neal KTAL/KMSS) Shreveport police markers show multiple shots fired in Lakeside shooting (Source: KTAL/KMSS Tony Neal)

This is an ongoing investigation. The story will be updated with additional details as they become available from the Shreveport Police Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT)  In Owensboro, residents are demanding answers after their mail delivery suddenly stopped for several weeks. People living near Texas Avenue say they now have to drive several miles just to get their mail. Postal officials say itll be that way until an investigation wraps up.

Ebach Street is one of three roads in a neighborhood where mail delivery just stopped without warning. Many didnt even know there was an issue until they arrived at the post office. They say they were told they would have to pick up their mail at the post office until further notice.

Two sentenced on plea agreements in 2024 bust

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Neighbors say they first noticed the change during Derby weekend the first weekend in May.

The Kentucky representative for USPS, Susan Wright, says its all due to reports in April that a mail carrier was hit by BB gun pellets while delivering on Texas Avenue.

They say everyone on Nelson Avenue, Ebach Street and Texas Avenue are affected.

While several say they had no notification of the change, one person shared they received an email with instructions.

She says after careful consideration and guidance from the United states postal inspection service, they decided to suspend delivery until further notice.



I talked to the the postmaster this morning and he said when the inspector makes his decision. I said its been five weeks shouldnt somebody have made a decision, says Charles Harrison

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Harrison went on to share there are older residents who no longer have the ability to drive. One resident taking care of her father even mentioned in the grey area of figuring out what was happening, his insurance almost lapsed.

Roderick Crite says without a car himself its a huge inconvenience but he has a family member drive him at least two times a week to pick up the mail.

He says he spoke with the inspector before entering his home one day.



Probably about two or three weeks ago, and he was saying that he was trying to get the mail started back up, but he needed to know what was going on. I told him that I wouldnt think that any kids around here would do it, says Crite.

He says it may have been kids passing through the neighborhood, but either way he looks forward to getting his mail delivered again.

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Officials say they are working hard to find a solution to get service back to normal, while ensuring a safe working environment for their carriers.

There is no official word on when exactly that may be.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
MIAMI, Okla.  A Kansas City man involved in an officer-related shooting on Saturday had no criminal history and no ties to the Miami area, Miami Police Chief Stephen Sigmon confirmed on Tuesday.

Michael Anthony Cook III, 25, is charged in Ottawa County District Court in Miami with discharging a firearm into a dwelling, felony pointing a firearm, and two counts of shooting with intent to kill.

Sigmon said Cooks weapon was a 9mm Glock handgun that was legally registered to him. It is believed he has had the weapon for several years, he said.

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Online court records show that the district attorneys office requested that his $100,000 bail be reduced to $10,000.

Cook is accused of firing a weapon into the restaurant, Mia Bella Italian Kitchen, on Saturday after an apparent disagreement with a 7brew employee around 9 p.m.

According to the arrest affidavit, several Miami police officers have responded to the scene.

Body camera footage shows several officers giving Cook several commands to drop the pistol, the affidavit states.

Cook is sitting with his back near the south wall of the house, a gun can clearly be seen in the area between his legs and in his hand. Arrest Affidavit, CF-25-112

Officer C.J. Weaver can be seen standing on the southeast corner of the house, at which time Cook is observed pointing the firearm towards Officer Weaver and firing the pistol in his direction.

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Several Officers on the scene return fire. Afterwards, officers once again told Cook to drop the gun, Cook picked up the pistol again and pointed it at the officers.

Officers return fire while on the scene, wounding Cook, the affidavit states. Cook was taken to a Tulsa hospital, where he remains in custody.

Michael Cook  DMV Photo

The motive behind the shooting is under investigation, and due to Cooks lack of a criminal history background, Sigmon said, We think it might be a possible mental health episode.

Cook has no known ties to the Miami area. Police located his vehicle at the Starbucks parking lot, which is about a mile and a half from Mia Bella Italian Kitchen. Cook was shot several times by Miami officers and sustained injuries to his left hand and the upper and lower left side of his torso.

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Hes had a couple of surgeries, and another surgery is scheduled for Thursday, Sigmon said. Currently, they (physicians) are evaluating his leg.

We are still trying to determine the objective, Sigmon said of the shooting. We know he came into the city on Friday.

Sigmon said just before the shooting, Miami police received a telephone call of Cook beating on the window of a womans car.

We showed up just as the shooting began, Sigmon said.

Two police officers started pursuing Cook on foot as gunfire ensued, while the other two police officers tried to head off the Kansas City man in their police units, he said. Sigmon praised the officers, citing their bravery and professionalism.

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I want to commend the officers running toward the gunfire, Sigmon said.

Four Miami police officers are on paid administrative leave during the investigation into the shooting. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations is handling the case due to officer involvement.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The owner of a Utah-based outdoor retailer was sentenced to five months imprisonment after he evaded paying taxes for six years.

In February, Phyllip Hallman Heaton, 43, of Washington City, the owner of Zion Outfitter, pleaded guilty to charges related to tax evasion.

In addition to the prison sentence, Heaton was also sentenced to 18 months of supervised release, including six months of home detention. The court also ordered Heaton to pay a $95,000 fine and $1,947,906 in restitution, which the Department of Justice said he paid in full at his sentencing.

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According to court documents, Heaton evaded taxes by underreporting his income to the IRS by more than $5.4 million between 2017 and 2022. The Department of Justice said Heatons actions resulted in him evading nearly $2 million in taxes.

Suspect hides in trap door during SWAT raid in Murray

No one can decide they are not going to pay their fair share of taxes without serious consequences, said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. Mr. Heatons sentence is one such consequence and also serves as a deterrence to others by demonstrating that tax evasion comes with serious penalties from the Department of Justice.

Zion Outfitter, a southern Utah rental company, is situated near the pedestrian entrance of Zion National Park. The business provides rentals for bikes, tubes, and gear for canyoneering.

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According to the website, Zion Outfitters doors are still open and the company is operating as usual. ABC4 has reached out to Zion Outfitter and will update this story with any new information.

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.
OXFORD  A Lafayette County man has been arrested for reportedly stealing a trailer in Oxford and then abandoning it.

The Oxford Police Department responded to Monroe Avenue on May 29 to take a report on a stolen trailer. The trailer was eventually found in the area of County Road 225 along with the suspects vehicle. A check revealed the vehicle belonged to Lucas John Fisher, 46, of Oxford.

Fisher was arrested, charged with grand larceny and carried before a municipal court judge for his initial bond hearing.
GLP-1 users taking drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are spending less on eating at restaurants and on take-out dinners, according to a new report from Bloomberg Intelligence. Changing eating habits add to a growing number of headwinds the hospitality industry faces as a result of slow pandemic recovery and tariff-induced economic uncertainty.

As restaurants grapple with how diners are responding to economic uncertainty, they may also have to contend with consumer pullbacks as a result of the rise of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

GLP-1 users are significantly cutting back on dining in and ordering takeout, according to a report published this week by Bloomberg Intelligence. A survey of 1,000 GLP-1 users in the U.S. found 54% of respondents said they dined out significantly less or less frequently since starting the medication. Nearly the same percentage reported ordering less takeout.

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Respondents instead are choosing to eat at home, with 70% reporting theyre cooking at home significantly more or more frequently since taking GLP-1 drugs; about half reported purchasing more groceries.

GLP-1 drugs, with the ability to help some users lose weight quickly, have skyrocketed in popularity. About 4% of Americans are taking some form of GLP-1 drug for weight-loss or to treat type 2 diabetes, a 600% increase in usage from six years ago, according to May data from FAIR Health.

The drugs increase insulin levels and decrease glucose levels, slowing how quickly food is digested and suppressing users appetites. Suppressed hunger has led to some users cutting down portion sizes or needing to focus on eating nutrient-dense foods, which may deter them from dining in restaurants.

Bloomberg Intelligences research adds to growing evidence that GLP-1 users are losing their appetite for dining out. A Morgan Stanley survey from April 2024 found that nearly two-thirds of GLP-1 users said they spent less money at restaurants, while 31% said they cut back on groceries.

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The trends have led to some food companies making changes to products to account for GLP-1 users changing appetites. In October 2024, Smoothie King added a line of high-protein and fiber products particularly for those on the medication. The year before, Nestle announced it would develop companion products for GLP-1 users, should those consumers need to cut calories.

GLP-1 drugmakers have taken note of some companies anxiety. In February 2024, Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen, the CEO of Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk, said he was fielding calls from scared food-company executives about the impact of the drug on the industry.

Restaurant headwinds

The Bloomberg Intelligence report notes that the dining-out slowdown among GLP-1 users could be exacerbated by other economic pressures. The decrease in away-from-home dining was reported significantly across incomes, from those earning less than $50,000 to those with $150,000-or-greater annual salaries, indicating a broader shift in dining trends. The report also posited that restaurants serving fewer healthy options, like fast-food establishments, could be impacted most by changing eating habits.

Indeed, its not just evolving dining habits that the restaurant industry has had to contend with. The hospitality sector has had to navigate the impact of greater economic headwinds, including a widespread labor shortage that never quite recovered from the pandemic, as well as growing uncertainty about tariffs, which has led consumer confidence to plunge.

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Campbells CEO Mick Beekhuizen said in an earnings call this week that canned soup sales are soaring, likely as a result of tighter food budgets and consumers deciding to cook at home instead of going out to eat.

We started to see consumer sentiment softening in January, he said. This continued throughout [the quarter] with consumers making more deliberate choices with their spending on food. A key outcome is a growing preference for home-cooked meals, leading to the highest levels of meals prepared at home since early 2020.

Hospitality industry experts have noted that Gen Z is also cutting back on order sizes by splitting appetizers, ordering kids meals, and skipping out on alcohol to save money.

Despite evidence that GLP-1 users are significantly cutting back on restaurant dining, some restaurateurs have shrugged off concerns about the drugs impact on business. Michael Osanloo, president and CEO of Portillos Restaurant Group, told Bloomberg TV last year GLP-1 use taking a bite out of the restaurant business could be a coastal problem, not one for the U.S. Midwest.

Its totally overblown, Osanloo said. I think its a fun narrative to propose, but I dont see any impact on our business.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan is "ready but not desperate" for talks with arch-rival India, its foreign minister said on Wednesday, underlining the lack of a thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours following their worst military conflict in decades.

Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery last month in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire the U.S. said it brokered on May 10. India has denied any third party role in the ceasefire.

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"Whenever they ask for a dialogue, at whatever level, we are ready but we are not desperate," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told a news conference in Islamabad.

The spark for the fighting was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on "terrorists" backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

Dar said Pakistan wanted a comprehensive dialogue on a range of issues including water, whereas India wanted to focus only on terrorism.

"That's not on. Nobody else is more serious than us. It takes two to tango," he said, referring to comments by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that the talks should only cover the issue of terrorism.

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The Indian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Dar's remarks.

New Delhi has previously said the only matter left to discuss with Pakistan was the vacation of what India describes as Pakistani-held territory in Kashmir - a disputed Himalayan region that both nations claim in full but rule in part.

Pakistan is keen to discuss water rights after India held "in abeyance" the Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 attack. The treaty guarantees water for 80% of Pakistan's farms from three rivers that flow from India.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Additional reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi, Editing by Gareth Jones and Ed Osmond)
ISLAMABAD (AP)  A Pakistani man accused of killing a 17-year-old TikTok influencer after she rejected his offer of friendship made his first court appearance Wednesday, officials and police said.

Suspect Umar Hayat, 22, who also creates content on TikTok, was arrested Tuesday by Islamabad police in Faisalabad, an industrial city in eastern Punjab province.

He is accused of shooting Sana Yousuf, who had more than one million followers on social media. The killing earlier this week in Islamabad drew widespread condemnation.

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TV footage showed Hayat with his face covered as he was brought to court, where police requested additional time to complete their investigation and file formal murder charges.

The judge ordered that Hayat be presented again on June 18 for pretrial proceedings.

Yousuf, originally from the scenic northern region of Chitral, was known for promoting traditional Chitrali music and dress through her videos. She also advocated for girls education. TikTok has more than 60 million users in Pakistan, many of them young women and teenagers.

Hours before her murder, she had posted a photo celebrating her birthday with friends.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistans security forces raided a militant hideout and killed 14 insurgents during a shootout in the country's northwest, the military said Wednesday.

The overnight raid was conducted on parts of the Pakistani Taliban that reportedly belonged to an Indian proxy in North Waziristan, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said in a statement.

New Delhi did not immediately comment.

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Pakistans military said sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate Pakistani Taliban groups it says are sponsored by India.

Pakistani authorities often accuse India of backing outlawed Baloch Liberation Army or BLA and Pakistani Taliban groups that commit violence in Pakistan.

The accusations have intensified since May in the wake of heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed nations. Cross-border tensions have escalated over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is divided between the two but sought in its entirety by each.

On Wednesday, insurgents kidnapped a government administrator, Hanif Noorzai, as he traveled in a car with his family members from the southwestern city of Turbat to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, district police chief Zohaib Hassan said.

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In a statement, BLA claimed responsibility and said it was holding Noorzai. His family members were allowed to continue the journey.

The Pakistani Taliban, which calls itself Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, has been emboldened since its allies, the Afghan Taliban, returned to power in 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters have taken sanctuary in Afghanistan.
MINERAL WELLS  A Palo Pinto County man pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting a woman when she ended their consensual relationship.

Warren Marshall Thigpen, 49, was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication probation and must register as a sex offender the rest of his life.

Thigpen also was fined $1,000 by 29th District Judge Mike Moore.

The deferred adjudication means a finding of guilt was withheld pending Thigpens completion of the decade of probation terms. He still will have to register lifelong as a sex offender, however.

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District Attorney Jett Smith and Assistant D.A. Kason Mobley said Thigpen assaulted the woman one day after she broke off the sexual relationship.

The prosecutors said given the nature of that long-term relationship there was no evidence Thigpen is a serial offender but acted specifically against this woman.

The event for which Thigpen was indicted on the second-degree felony occurred April 13, 2024 just north of the Mineral Wells city limits.

He was arrested the following day and had spent 319 days under $100,000 bond in the Palo Pinto County Jail.

As far as concerned the facts and circumstances surrounding the case ... this was an appropriate punishment to this case, Smith said.

He also said the plea arrangement was made in consultation with the victim, who did not want to testify.

A trial date was to be set later this week had Thigpen not agreed to the plea, Smith said.
Bill Bolin, left, and members of the Hartland Cromaine District Library Board of Trustees discuss policy at a special meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis

Picture, if you will, a library with its books behind a plated glass cabinet, locked and out of reach to patrons of all ages, accessible only upon request to a library employee who has the appropriate key.

Imagine a row of childrens books and educational materials, deemed inappropriate or controversial by some, shoved away in an adults only section  further out of reach than that imaginary cabinet  each with a warning that disseminating those books to a minor could be a crime.

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In some cities and townships across Michigan, library officials or the members of boards that oversee them, especially those who have expressed hostility to the LGBTQ+ community, are toying with the idea of making those barriers a reality.

The effort has become a second front, so to speak, in the culture war over childrens books and particularly those with LGBTQ+ content or themes.

Much like the battles over prohibiting library books or criminalizing them for minors that have played out over the last few years, activists and attorneys across Michigan have said that similarly sequestering or restricting access to books runs afoul of the First Amendment.

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Jay Kaplan, a long-time staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan staff specializing in LGBTQ+ rights, said in an interview with Michigan Advance that right-wing culture warriors were employing this new tactic because they were losing the overall campaign on outright book bans.

Theyre losing in terms of the public opinion, [because] a vast majority of people disfavor this type of thing, Kaplan said. And so they feel, Well just try to move it to another place in the library. Well try to put a label on it. Well try and discourage people from being able to take them out.

But federal courts have looked at the issue, and they have found, Kaplan said, that even when a community is not just removing the book entirely from the library, the act of putting a burden on the First Amendment right to receive information based on content amounted to the same.

Particulary if whats motivating you to want to limit them is your disapproval of the subject matter of the book, or some of the contents of the book, he said. That also violates the First Amendment.

The crusade in Hartland

For the Hartland Cromaine District Library in Livingston County, the conversation on labeling books started in 2022. Over time and with the election of new library Board of Trustees members, the conversation became much more pointed.

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Much of that had to do with the election of Bill Bolin, the pastor of the FloodGate Church in Brighton, and his elevation to the president of the Cromaine District Library board in January. Bolin and his church have been written about by various publications, including The Atlantics Tim Alberta, detailing Bolins mixture of right-wing conspiratorial politics and Christianity. Bolin also features throughout Albertas 2023 book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism.

Some board members questioned Bolins experience and qualifications for running the library board in a breezy rural district just before he was selected as its leader in January. But the board voted 5-2 to install him at the top.

In February, Bolin, as the congregants of the FloodGate Church know him to do, began to speak out of order to introduce himself and detail exactly why it was that he sought the library board position and its leadership post, according to the approved minutes of the boards February 20 meeting.

For those who do not know why I ran for this position, I desire to protect children from the harm that can befall them over coercive behavior, Bolin said in a statement to the crowd. The approach I am suggesting, along with certain colleagues, is a commonsense approach to changing the sexual tone and nature of some library policies and practices.

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Bolin said that the board would then discuss controversial items on the agenda, including the removal of June LGBTQ+ Pride displays, labeling certain books that may be deemed controversial, moving books to an age restricted area, providing supervision in the teen area to monitor behavior and returning the Pledge of Allegiance to monthly meetings.

Bolin then read from Michigan law regarding the displaying or disseminating of sexually explicit materials to minors, followed by a recitation of a potential warning label he had created warning adults of the dangers of providing such material to children.

But Bolin wasnt talking about dirty magazines in a seedy retail store: he was talking about books within the communitys public library.

The Hartland Cromaine District Library located in Hartland, Michigan | Photo by Ben Solis

Someone needs to stand up for the children, Bolin said. Those who serve on the library board and want to implement policies that restrict access to certain books and place content warning labels will be able to enact policies that reflect the community in which they serve the people of Cromaine Library District, either tonight by vote or later after referral to the appropriate committee for refinement of language and crafting of policies that state intention of the people.

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Bolin added that a list of books that could be recommended for labeling was being compiled with at least 80 titles, minimum, to be presented to the librarian for labeling and movement into an age-appropriate section of the library.

Members of the community present at the February 20 meeting noted that the Top 10 challenged books in that list had LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Some questioned if the board had the legal authority to deem what was and wasnt sexual in nature about these books, while others praised the move.

Among the latter was Livingston County Commissioner Wes Nakagiri, one of the architects of the conservative Tea Party movement in Michigan, which undoubtedly built the framework of the America First and MAGA movement that propelled President Donald Trump to power in 2016 and again in 2024.

Attorneys advise against censorship

A day before that meeting, on February 19, the board sought and received a legal opinion from its corporate counsel at the Foster Swift law firm on whether it could move forward with restricting access to books or otherwise discouraging minor patrons from getting to them.

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In a memo provided to Michigan Advance, the law firm expressed concern that the library would be on shaky constitutional ground if it moved forward with a policy that would move books to an adult-only section, placing them behind glass, creating a separate section for controversial books or placing on them labels identifying them as obscene.

The firm said each one of those actions might be unconstitutional based on similar policies already deemed unconstitutional by the courts.

Community members hold up pieces of paper with shows of support and opposition for a proposed library policy to label restrict access to books deemed inappropriate by the Hartland Cromaine District Library Board of Trustees on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | Photos by Ben Solis

Although each of those actions came with significant risk of opening the library up to a lawsuit, the move to place warning labels on books indicating sexually explicit content and the possibility of criminal prosecution if the material was provided to a minor was noted as having several practical shortcomings that could lead to further violations of the law.

Not only would the labels constitute a burden on access to materials, the firm said courts would undoubtedly analyze the motives behind labeling some materials and not others. The firm added that the library would likely lose that challenge.



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Some community members have noted that communications between board members and residents or allies in the push to have some books labeled would only help a suing party win a case against the library.

For example, if the sexually explicit material labels tended to stigmatize protected speech or one viewpoint more heavily than another, like anti-LBGTQ+ messages vs. pro-LBGTQ+ messages, the library may be subject to liability, the firm said in the February legal memo. Lastly, we note that there is current litigation in federal court involving an Alabama librarys use of labels that signaled that a material contained adult themes and the librarys prohibition on minors accessing those materials. In that case, the parties are awaiting a hearing and/or decision on the plaintiffs motion for preliminary injunction.

Yet Bolin and members of the board who supported the push continued on, and eventually sought a separate opinion from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group that works primarily to seed Christian religious beliefs, practices and customs in public schools or other government bodies.

Bolin eventually brought a refined version of the proposed policy with labeling as the main avenue to keep LGBTQ+ themed and other materials deemed inappropriate to library staff and the board with notes from ADF attorney Paul Spena. Bolin was wary to name Spena as the attorney he was now working with to craft the policy but later relented when pressed on the issue.

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When asked to talk about the legal theory behind the labels and what case law they could point to show that it was legally sound, Spena and the ADF declined to comment or be interviewed for this story.

Letter to Board of Trustees

The ACLU of Michigan formally chimed in on the policy last week, and sent the board a letter drafted by Kaplan warning members that what they were pursuing was an act of censorship, even if the titles are not banned from the library and remain within its walls, located in special sections or with new labels affixed to the covers.

Doing so impedes the rights of library patrons and runs afoul of the First Amendment, Kaplan wrote. It can also harm marginalized communities who may come to places like public libraries hoping for an inclusive space, and in this particular instance, doing so with regard to LGBTQ+ titles will exacerbate that harm.

Opposition mounts as board moves forward

Several community members who spoke to Michigan Advance in the course of reporting this story said that Bolin and his allies on the board were moving closer to adopting the policy despite those warnings, in essence inviting a lawsuit to be pioneers on the issue here in Michigan. Among them was Stand Against Extremism LivCo (SAGE) co-founder Julie Ohashi, who has been vocal in her opposition to the boards actions thus far.

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On Tuesday evening, Spena was expected to speak at the library boards special meeting to discuss the policy in full. No such discussion with Spena or another attorney from the ADF occurred, and it was not clear if Spena or another member of the group were present at the meeting.

Bolin mentioned, however, that the legal discourse was changing in America, indicating that courts in the era of Trump might be turning the tide to support measures much like the one being discussed by the Cromaine District Library board.

Present at the meeting, however, were several community members, some in support of Bolin and the boards majority on the label issue and plenty of others who said they were disheartened, dismayed and angry that the board would continue moving toward a policy they called discriminatory and clearly illegal.

Hartland Cromaine District Library staff speak to deputies with the Livingston County Sheriffs Office during a special meeting of the librarys Board of Trustees on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis

As the board moved through the policy line by line, softening it due to objections from several board members out of fear of being sued and settling more on labeling as the possible avenue, those opposed to the move held signs calling on the board to not mix religion and politics. But those silent protests quickly turned vocal, with shouts and jeers rising above the din of what started as a calm meeting.

Board Vice President Jeannine Gogoleski was appointed as the sergeant at arms for the meeting, and she and her husband, Glenn Gogoleski, a member of the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education, began removing disruptive members of the meeting.

Tensions rose further when the Livingston County Sheriffs Office was called to ensure there were no further outbursts. The meeting went into recess until deputies could sort out the situation, and they remained there until it ended.

Although the board did not adopt a policy on Tuesday, it is expected to do so at its next meeting.

During public comment, some read lengthy diatribes laden with Christian scripture, while others lambasted the board inviting what they called a hate group to give the board legal advice and defend them if they are forced into court. One woman held up Albertas book while speaking, noting that Bolins name appeared in it multiple times, to which Bolin smiled.

Ohashi called ADF a hate group that has described LGBTQ+ rights as a principal threat to religious freedom, and attacking those rights was at the center of their work.

Their goal is to trigger as many lawsuits that can get to the U.S. Supreme Court as fast as possible, she said. That is precisely the point. They want this to go to court, because ADFs ultimate goal is eliminating LGBTQ+ Americans status as a protected class of citizens.

Kate Mazzara of Hartland said she feared that the nation was tiptoeing toward religious fascism and that the small district library in her hometown was sliding on the same path.

Make no mistake about it, thats what this is, Mazara said. It starts with baby steps, and then its over.
The parents of a 7-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a car while trying to cross a street in North Carolina have been charged with manslaughter and remain in jail on $1.5 million bond, police said.

The child was hit by a Jeep Cherokee on May 27 in Gastonia, located west of Charlotte, police said.

He was attempting to cross the street outside of a crosswalk with a 10-year-old boy when the crash occurred, according to the Gastonia Police Department. He suffered life-threatening injuries and died at a hospital.

Gastonia County Sheriff's Office - PHOTO: The booking photos for Samuele Alexio Treyvan Jenkins and Jessica Marie Ivey.

His parents -- Jessica Ivey, 30, and Samuele Jenkins, 31 -- were charged two days after the deadly collision with felony involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect and misdemeanor child neglect, police said.

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The parents said the older child was the boy's brother, ABC Charlotte affiliate WSOC reported.

The Gastonia Police Department said in a press release that its investigation "revealed that the children involved were unsupervised at the time the boy stepped into traffic."

"In such cases, adults must be held accountable for their responsibilities to ensure a safe environment for their children," the department added.

A judge set the parents' bond at $1.5 million during a court appearance on Friday. They remain in custody in the Gaston County Jail, online jail records show. They have not yet entered a plea to the charges.

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MORE: 6-year-old boy killed during alleged exorcism, mother charged with murder: Sheriff

Ivey's public defender told ABC News he has no comment this early in the case. Jenkins' attorney said he was appointed to the case on Wednesday and had not received any documents yet.

The 76-year-old female driver of the Jeep has not been charged, police said.

"At this time, there is no evidence of speeding or wrongdoing on the part of the driver, therefore no charges have been filed," the Gastonia Police Department said. "The driver continues to be cooperative and the incident remains under active investigation by the Gastonia Police Department's Traffic Division."

WSOC - PHOTO: Balloons are placed at the site of a deadly car collision that occurred on May 27, 2025, in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Police did not release the name of the boy who was fatally struck, though his parents said his first name was Legend in an interview with WSOC prior to their arrest.

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Ivey told the station that her two sons were walking the two blocks home from a shopping center for the first time on their own when the accident occurred, WSOC reported.

"It was just devastating. I'm still in shock," she told WSOC.

"It's hard. I haven't stopped crying. My husband hasn't stopped crying," she told the station.

MORE: 3 young sisters found dead after being reported missing in Washington, police searching for father

Ivey added that she wanted "justice for my baby" against the driver, whose name has not been publicly released.

"I just don't feel like she should still be able to drive," Ivey told WSOC.

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Jenkins told WSOC he was on the phone with his sons when the crash occurred.

"I heard my oldest son, he was like, 'Oh my God, Legend, no, no,'" he told the station. "So I hung up and ... I ran to find them."

The parents are next scheduled to appear in court on June 20.
At a busy intersection a couple blocks from the Franklin Pierce School District office, more than a dozen parents, staff and students held colorful signs calling for district support and accountability in a time of budget cuts and allegations of discrimination.

Cars passing by honked in support as the group marched to the district office Tuesday evening ahead of the school board meeting. There, more than 60 people crowded into the board room, standing, sitting on the floor and overflowing into another room. Twenty-nine people spoke at the public hearing.

Last year the Franklin-Pierce School Board laid off 60 full-time staff, including 41 teachers amid declining enrollment and a projection of expenses higher than revenues, as previously reported by The News Tribune. On May 6 this year, the district cut 9.5 additional full-time positions, and staff were notified May 15. Most of those positions were at the high school level, said Joel Zylstra, public information officer for the district.

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Teachers of color are the most impacted by the reductions in force due to seniority, Zylstra said. More than 60% of the students in the district are people of color, and many students and staff said Tuesday the districts cuts have broken trust and damaged valuable student-mentor relationships.

A group of students from the Franklin Pierce School District, including, from left, Viviana, Boston Chang, AJ, Eli Chang and Elmer Umana, sit with signs at the intersection of Garfield Street South and Pacific Avenue South with a group gathered to call attention to issues like discrimination and budgetary cuts in the district. Photographed on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Pierce County.

In addition, the district announced in May it would be cutting its arts programs, several months after unveiling a new $12.6 million Performing Arts Center in January. Zylstra confirmed Wednesday that Washington High Schools and Franklin Pierce High Schools choir teachers positions were cut, and the band teachers would be teaching both band and choir next school year.

Zylstra said those staffing cuts were made based on student-registration rates for those classes. The number of students who signed up for choir made it hard to justify having an entire staff member dedicated to teaching five class periods, he said. Any student who wanted to sign up for choir will still be able to take the class, Zylstra said.

The Franklin Pierce School District includes an early-learning center, eight elementary schools, two middle schools and three high schools. There were 7,030 students and 568 certified instructional staff in the district in the 2023-2024 school year, and the district expected to spend about $127 million on personnel costs that biennial, according to a May 2024 school district presentation. Zylstra said the districts preliminary budget figures for 2024-2025 are between $138 million and $140 million.

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Zylstra said the district tries keep a fund balance at least 5% over its operating budget.

We are under that, he said Tuesday. So part of our desire is to get that fund balance up so that in the future well be able to have more savings going from one year to the next.

Signs calling attention to discrimination and budgetary cuts are laid against chairs as people sit on the ground of the board room for a Franklin Pierce School District school board meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the districts administrative center in Pierce County. More people stood near the entrance and sat in an overflow room.

Theyre cutting ... the ones making the biggest impact

Several dozen teachers, students and parents spoke at the public hearing Tuesday, denouncing the cuts to the arts, saying music education is essential to students growth and sense of community. Others said the choice to force band teachers to teach both band and choir was unfair, and they begged the board not to do it.

Savannah Willis, a junior at Franklin Pierce High School and former president of the Black Student Union, said, The staff this year that theyre cutting are the ones making the biggest impact.

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The place that those staff members hold is too important, and I cant afford to lose that, she said. Those are the people that have definitely inspired a lot of kids to want to come back to our community. But I feel if they continue making actions like this, there wont be a community to go back to.

As a Black student, Willis said, It really hurts to see Black women like dean Marcisa Johnson be laid off after spending so much time making positive changes and connecting with students.

I feel like a lot of these decisions are really reckless, and theyre just not comprehending the deeper effect, she said. My brother just graduated [Washington State University] with a degree in social studies. He went to Franklin Pierce High School as well  it was always his dream to come back as a teacher to FP, but if they cant hold their promises to the staff that they have now, how do I expect them to protect my brother, not just as an employee, but as a Black man?

Alton McDonald, right, a Franklin Pierce School District parent, speaks during a public comment portion of a school board meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the districts administrative center. McDonald was one of roughly 30 people to speak that night, calling attention to issues like discrimination and budgetary cuts in the district.

District cites funding, enrollment issues

Zylstra said the cuts have been a result of the district using a staffing model based on higher enrollment than reality. The cuts also come at a time when federal money it received during the pandemic via the American Rescue Plan fund is going away, he said.

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Franklin Pierce School Districts budget issues arent unique. The Tacoma Public Schools District is contending with a $30 million budget deficit for the 2025-2026 school year and didnt renew the contracts for 105 employees, as previously reported by The News Tribune. Rosalind Medina, that districts chief financial officer, told The News Tribune that unless the state changes the way it funds public education, Tacoma Public Schools will never have enough money to maintain its current level of offerings to students, faculty and staff.

About 70% of the Franklin Pierce School Districts operating budget comes from the state, 14% from local tax levies and about 7%-9% from federal grants, Zylstra said.

The state model for funding, it doesnt really account for, 1) the basic level of infrastructure that schools require in this era, and 2) when there are increases in investment, it doesnt trend at the same rate as cost of living and [the implicit price deflator] that impacts how much property tax revenue local governments can collect, Zylstra said.

Seats are filled in the board room for a Franklin Pierce School District school board meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the districts administrative center. More stood near the entrance and sat in an overflow room.

Compared to other parts of Pierce County, the birth rate in Parkland is trending down and more students are transferring out of the Franklin Pierce School District to other districts that have more options for virtual school and specialized programs like trades, he said.

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And then weve also got certain social, familial circumstances. Some of the data that we often see is the lack of child care options in our area. So if youve got family in another district, it might be more convenient for them to be your child care, and then also have your kids enroll in school closer to them, Zylstra said. Also with employment, a lot of people leave our area to go work every day elsewhere, and so sometimes its easier for people to drop their kid off at school on their way to work. Theres a number of factors that go into [declining enrollment].

Zylstra said he doesnt anticipate there will be more cuts in the 2025-2026 school year, but the district will assess the situation again in 2027-2028.

We certainly dont want to make any promises from year to year, especially given the kind of the trend that weve seen, he said. Theres a mutual concern as to the impact of limited resources.

Parents say they are frustrated

Some of the teachers, parents and students at the rally Tuesday said they were frustrated and felt like the school district and school board has heard their concerns but hasnt implemented tangible changes.

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Sharon Gold recently resigned as a clerical staffer with Franklin Pierce High School because she thought shed face discipline for speaking out.

Gold said, There are a lot of people who dont realize that whats happening is so severe because weve been dealing with it for so long, so its just like the norm.

Data collected by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction shows that Ford Middle School has the highest Black student discipline rate in the county, at 32.5% in 2023-2024. Gold said that rate is alarming and denounced Ford Middle School policies like a lunch-detention policy that requires students to silently face a wall for the duration of lunch in front of their peers.

On paper, our school district says a lot of things, and then in practice, whats really happening is not that, said Gold, who is running for school board in November.

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Alisha Chang is a substitute teacher in the district and the parent of four children in the district, one of whom recently graduated. She served as the president of the Parent Teacher Association and is the director of the Summit-Parkland Youth Association.

I just find that there are a lot of barriers and unwelcome doors. Parents dont feel comfortable coming on campus. Communication isnt great, theres not a lot of personal contact from the principal, Chang said. My intention this year was just to ride out the last two years that my family has at Ford. But then, you know, hearing about individual students experiences with what goes on at the school just kind of ignited me a little bit. Ive never really liked the culture at Ford and the way they treat the kids, the way they talk about the kids, the way they talk about families, parents, students, just never sat well with me.

Chang said she feels like the lunch-detention policy is very punitive and knows of families who have pulled their kids out of the district due to feeling unwelcome.

I feel like [school administrators] are not holding themselves accountable, she said.

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When asked about Ford Middle Schools lunch-detention policy, Zylstra said he wasnt very familiar with the situation and said the district doesnt have one policy on how to enforce discipline. He said the district would be open to hearing from students and families and staff about their concerns and find the best solution.

Zylstra said the district is certainly aware of concerns about racism and discrimination in the district, which many speakers alluded to on Tuesday night. He said the district needs to pay attention to peoples experiences and said the disproportionate student discipline rates have been a focus of the district for the past couple of years. Zylstra said that rate has gone down pretty significantly.

When asked what the district is doing to increase enrollment and get families to stay in the district, Zylstra said theres more the district could do.

In the daily grind of managing schools, its kind of a hard thing to prioritize sometimes, but its vitally important. Something I think we can do better is to understand for those people that are choosing to leave their circumstances better, he said. And in the case of some of the familial situations that I mentioned earlier, could we be partnering with child care providers to provide child care alternatives in our district, or could we be working with workforce development to be able to create more opportunities?

For students who might be leaving for concerns related to academics or behavior happening in their school, we need to do some work, to hear from them and understand what conditions led to them wanting to leave and be focusing on what we can do to create a better learning environment for them.
North Korea looks to be making progress in recovering the second in its Choi Hyun class of frigates, which rolled over and was partially submerged after an incident at its launch ceremony last month. Recent imagery of the warship indicates that it has now returned to an upright position, although the target of restoring the frigate before the end of this month remains highly dubious.

38 North, a website devoted to the analysis of North Korea, today published satellite imagery from Airbus Defense and Space, of the scene at Chongjin Shipyard on June 2, as seen in the social media post below. This appears to show the warship upright for the first time since the failed launch on May 21. Though there is light cloud cover overhead, the flight deck  specifically the markings for the helipad  looks to be visible at the stern, and the ships overall profile has changed.

This is quite incredible speed. The image is partially obscured by cloud, but the capsized North Korean warship is now upright again. What makes it even more impressive is they apparently did it all manually.  : Airbus Space and Defence/38 North, June 2www.38north.org/2025/06/quic  Martyn Williams (@martynw.bsky.social) 2025-06-03T18:28:44.771Z

The vessel, which has an estimated displacement of 5,000 tons, is the second of its class, following the Choi Hyon, which was officially unveiled in April. You can read all about the heavily armed class of frigates in our previous detailed analysis and follow-up report.

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38 North notes that workers can be seen pulling ropes from the quay, in an attempt to manually right the warship, in a separate satellite image from Airbus Defense and Space taken on May 29. At least 30 buoys and/or airbags can be seen alongside the vessel, presumably to help stabilize it. Some reports have suggested these were barrage balloons, although that doesnt appear to make any sense in this case.

At this stage, its not possible to determine the level of damage that the frigate sustained during its abortive launch. 38 North suggests that the launch mechanism may have become stuck in the ships bow, pinning it onto the land while the stern slipped into the water, after which the boat overturned. In the May 29 imagery, there appears to be damage around the bow section.

If the ship has been successfully righted, what the next steps might be in the repair process are unclear. There is not a dry dock that the vessel could be moved into readily at Chongjin if that level of work is required. At the same time, taking it to another yard could be a challenge, especially if there is serious damage to the hull. Seeking outside help, including from Russia or China, could be an option. A floating dry dock could be especially useful in this instance.

The ship as it appeared on May 20, before the accident. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

North Koreas latest naval destroyer has been significantly damaged prior to its launch. In a rare acknowledgment, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported yesterday an incident occurred with a new destroyer in Chongjin, which was close to being launched. pic.twitter.com/0PfuqehYnF  Open Source Centre (@osc_london) May 22, 2025

I made a .gif showing the DPRK frigate in position to launch and then, er, "toes up" in the water. pic.twitter.com/Urflog6LEo  Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) May 22, 2025

North Korean state media has previously claimed that there is no serious damage to the warship, which is at best highly questionable if not impossible.

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Detailed underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warships bottom, the hull starboard was scratched, and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel, per a report from KCNA on May 23. The extent of damage to the warship is not serious, and the result of the flooding process immediately after the accident is only information necessary to take practical rehabilitation measures. The above-said data have no connection with the cause of the accident and the identification of its responsibility.

At the very least, the North Korean shipyard appears to have made significant progress on the initial recovery of the ship, more or less in line with official estimates. Experts estimated that it will take two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway, and 10-odd days to restore the warships side, KCNA also said in its May 23 report.

On that same day, TWZ obtained satellite imagery showing the stricken vessel still covered with blue tarps, but now with two steel cables connecting it to a shipyard dock, as the recovery effort began to take shape.

Another view of the unnamed North Korean warship as it appeared on May 23. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

Bearing in mind the embarrassing and highly public nature of the incident, and the fact that the launch ceremony was attended by dictator Kim Jong Un, there is very much an imperative to get the warship repaired, at least outwardly, as soon as possible.

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Kim called the incident a criminal act and promised that the officials found responsible would be dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee this month. This is a high-level meeting of North Koreas ruling Workers Party. At least three shipyard officials have been detained as part of a subsequent investigation. The head of the Chongjin Shipyard, Hong Kil Ho, was initially summoned by state law enforcement officials, but does not appear to have been detained. A senior North Korean Communist Party official, Ri Hyong Son, was also summoned.

Looks like Ri Hyong Son, a senior party official, is also taking the fall. pic.twitter.com/2Ck1LYwdwq  Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) May 25, 2025

Earlier this month, Kim also called for the frigate to be restored before this same meeting, something that was met with widespread skepticism outside of North Korea.

An overall view of the Choi Hyon, the sister vessel of the frigate involved in the mishap. KCNA

While returning the frigate to an upright position would be an achievement, there will very likely be a lot more less obvious but critical work ahead. How it sits now upright, with one part in the water and the other on shore, is also a precarious situation in itself.

The degree to which the incident and its aftermath have been played out in view of the public is certainly noteworthy. Unusually, Pyongyang announced details of the incident soon after it happened, including comments from Kim, in an apparent effort to control the narrative. Coupled with the availability of satellite imagery, this now means that there will be an even greater focus on the recovery efforts, especially given Kims fantastical timeline for its restoration.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A party that was advertised on social media later ended in a shooting that left one man dead and 11 others hurt.

On Sunday, June 1, deputies first responded to the home on Walnut Acres Drive in the Mountain View community in Catawba County around 11 p.m. in reference to a noise complaint.

Our deputies responded to that complaint, addressed the controlling parties there at the residence about the noise, and left a short time later, said Maj. Aaron Turk with the Catawba County Sheriffs Office.

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Then, around 12:45 a.m., 911 calls reported multiple people shot at the residence. Authorities said more than 80 shots were fired.

The FBI confirmed that the shooting started on a hill behind the next-door neighbors house.

The sole confirmed fatality was Shawn Patrick Hood, 58, of Lenoir. Among the 11 injured, some were shot, while others were hurt trying to escape the chaos, the sheriffs office said.

Victims range in age from just 16 to 57 years old.

Authorities say the late-night party was advertised on social media, and they are investigating whether it was a paid event.

Alcohol Law Enforcement is currently investigating whether there was underage drinking at the party. Although it was speculated, officials say there was no off-duty law enforcement at the party.

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While four people were still hospitalized on Monday, the FBI confirmed on Tuesday with Queen City News that only one person remains under medical care.

Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants as part of the ongoing investigation. They would not provide specific locations where the warrants were executed.

Authorities seek videos and photos from the party

Now, law enforcement is asking for the communitys help.

Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown is urging homeowners and businesses near the scene to check their surveillance cameras for anything unusual from the night of May 31 into the early hours of June 1. Officials are especially interested in video from:

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Highway 127

Huffman Farm Road

Pittstown Road

Bethel Church Road

If you have footage from those areas, the sheriffs office asks that you call 828-464-3112.

FBI offering a $15,000 reward

The FBI has also launched a secure website for anyone with photos or videos from the party to upload digital evidence. Theyre hoping that cellphone clips, security footage, or even social media posts might help them identify those responsible. A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooters.

QCNEWS.COM

CATAWBA COUNTY MASS SHOOTING

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Pasadena man was sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of children across the U.S.

Alvaro Maldonado Deza, 40, was sentenced to 23 years to life in state prison, the Pasadena Police Department announced Tuesday.

In August 2023, a sexual assault investigation involving Deza was launched by the departments Special Victims Unit.

Deza was arrested on June 26, 2024, and a search of his electronic devices revealed thousands of items of child pornography.

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Police also found videos of his sexual assaults on numerous children and sexual acts that were committed while remote viewing with juveniles, court documents said.

Detectives later identified multiple young victims across several states throughout the country. Police believe there are additional victims living abroad.

On July 10, 2024, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office charged Deza with eight counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 years. He remained in custody on $1.8 million bail.

On May 8, Deza agreed to a plea deal and was convicted of three counts of lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 years. He was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison.

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In addition to being convicted on the previously mentioned charges, the case against Deza is being reviewed by the United States Attorneys Office, Pasadena police said.

No further details were released. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Pasadena police at 626-744-4241.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A passenger traveling in the Salt Lake City International Airport in late May who was diagnosed with measles was determined to be vaccinated and of low risk of spreading the disease.

This individual had previously been vaccinated and posed a low risk of infection to others. The person rented a car in Salt Lake City and drove to Idaho, where they developed symptoms and were diagnosed, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. They made no stops in Utah, and the exposures of concern were all in Idaho.

Summit County Nursing Director Derek Moss said in a Summit County Board of Health meeting Monday night that the passenger flew in from Canada to the Salt Lake City International Airport on May 19.

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The passenger reportedly drove to southern Idaho without making any stops along the route. On May 23, Moss said that the same passenger drove back to Salt Lake City and boarded another plane at the airport.

Report: Sen. Mike Lee to return public land sale to big, beautiful bill

Idahos agreed to let us know of any suspect cases related to this individual so that we know what kind of concern we should have, and I havent heard anything since they left Utah, he said.

Moss said that the individual was vaccinated, though one of the vaccinations was not approved in the U.S. However, the Utah DHHS said its important to keep in mind that a dose of any MMR vaccine significantly decreases the risk of this individual spreading measles.

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Individuals at risk of infection on the flight were contacted by the Salt Lake County Health Department and connected to services to prevent infection.

The Utah DHHS statement said that state and local health officials are staying in touch with those individuals, and none have developed measles. The typical incubation period is around 1-3 weeks.

Following this individuals time in Idaho, they returned to Utah to fly home and were cleared by public health to fly because they were past their infectious period, the statement said.

Nancy Volmer, the spokesperson with the SLC International Airport, shared the approach the airport takes when it comes to communicable diseases, saying its first priority is passenger safety.

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Im glad I didnt hit you: Utah Highway Patrol trooper nearly struck in close call with truck on SR-40

When SLC becomes aware of a passenger traveling through the airport with a communicable disease or infection, we immediately notify the county and/or state health departments to make them aware of the situation and to follow their recommended protocols, Volmer said. In addition, SLC informs the air carrier and others involved and work together to contain the impacted area, when possible. The airport also collects information about passengers who may have been impacted and shares this with the health department for future communication.

She said if a passenger is aware that they have a communicable disease or infection, they should contact their airline to understand possible travel restrictions. Passengers are also advised to practice healthy habits, such as washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and taking necessary precautions to protect themselves from illness.

The South Central Public Health District said it is currently investigating the situation. They have tracked the locations in Idaho that the individual visited during their trip, which are:

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Monday, May 19  EdgeWater Dining and Spirits at 530 Hampton Dr. between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.



Tuesday, May 20  Urgent Care of Idaho  Burley Clinic at 382 Overland Ave. between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 pm.



Tuesday, May 20  Intermountain Health Cassia Regional Hospital at 1501 Hiland Ave. between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The hotel that the individual was staying at is using its internal communication systems to notify any guests who were staying at the hotel during that time. The SCPHD said that those who are susceptible to measles and were exposed could have developed symptoms between Saturday, May 24, and Saturday, June 14. The SCPHD and other health organizations are working to notify those who may have been exposed.

We are focused on working with state and local health organizations in this ongoing investigation, said Tanis Maxwell, SCPHD Family and Childrens Health Director. Our priority is to keep the public informed and to support anyone who may have been exposed. If you are concerned about measles, its important to take preventive steps and be aware of any symptoms.

Measles Information

The CDC says that measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through coughing or sneezing. It can contaminate nine out of 10 unprotected people who come into proximity with an infected person.

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The CDC reports that measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, but there have been more cases in recent years. Utah has not had a reported case of measles since 2023.

According to the CDC, there are currently 1,088 confirmed measles cases in the United States reported by 33 jurisdictions, including states that neighbor Utah, such as Colorado and New Mexico. There have been three confirmed deaths from measles in the U.S. in 2025.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said that the most effective way to prevent the disease is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. They report that two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective, and one dose is 93% effective.

Though this incident presented a very limited risk to our community, its important to highlight that due to the ongoing spread of measles cases throughout the United States, public health and medical providers recommend the MMR vaccine. Its incredibly effective and has been one of the most powerful tools for reducing the spread of measles for many years, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said.

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The department said that with the spread of measles in North and South America, Utahns are encouraged to speak with a pharmacist or healthcare provider to verify their vaccination status prior to travel.

If you are unsure if youve been vaccinated or need a booster, the Utah Department of Health & Human Services has set up a website where Utahns can request immunization records.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Over 100 celebrities, including Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter, Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa, and others, have co-signed a letter for suicide prevention amongst LGBTQ+ youth. The note highlights the negative impact of the Trump administrations proposal to scrap a suicide hotline for LGBTQ young people.

Without further ado, heres everything to know about this initiative and the celebrities who have joined in.

Pedro Pascal sign letter for protection of LGBTQ+

Ariana Grande, Daniel Radcliffe, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter, and many others have signed a letter shared by an LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization.

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The letter by The Trevor Project slams the Trump Administrations proposal of removing a suicide helpline number for queer youth. In it, the artists stated, We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelines LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. They further stated that the decision to remove the hotline can have devastating and life-threatening consequences.

Moreover, the celebrities unitedly said, As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. And today, that responsibility is clear: we must speak out to protect the mental health and lives of LGBTQ+ youth. We will not stay silent.

As per the letter, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has connected over 1.3 million crisis contacts with life-saving, affirming care to LGBTQ+ young people. Considering suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is a public health crisis, the artists have urged the administration to consider the people and not politics.

Let this be something we as people can all agree on: no young person should be left without help in their darkest moment. Stripping away this lifeline leaves LGBTQ+ youth with the message that their lives are not worth saving. We refuse to accept that message, the letter stated.

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Previously, reports claimed the Trump administration has slashed more than $800 million worth of research into LGBTQ+ health. Over 323 research grants regarding queer health issues also lost their funding. (via The New York Times)

The administration also proposed removing the suicide helpline number for LGBTQ+ youth. Elsewhere, the University of Michigan lost several funding sources for clinical trials involving LGBTQ+ people. Additionally, several academics have condemned the budget cuts that halt the progressive work on many life-threatening diseases.

Originally reported by Arpita Adhya on ComingSoon.net.

The post Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter & More Sign Letter for LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention appeared first on Mandatory.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ)  A $1.1 million gift is set to open new doors for local students at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, thanks to a newly announced endowment that will fund full-tuition scholarships beginning in Fall 2026.

The Margaret J. Pardee Scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition and fees for full-time Penn Highlands students for one academic year, with the option to reapply the following year. The college expects to award six of these scholarships annually.

Eligibility requires applicants to enroll full time in a degree-seeking program and show financial need, academic excellence, and extracurricular involvement. Priority consideration will be given to students graduating from Northern Cambria or Cambria Heights high schools who live within the service areas of the Hope Fire Company or Hastings Fire Company.

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Applications for the scholarship will open in March 2026.

To honor the legacy of Margaret J. Pardee, the college plans to install commemorative plaques at both Northern Cambria and Cambria Heights high schools, pending approval from each district.

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The scholarship is managed by the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, which supports student opportunities through private donations, events and grants. Since its founding in 1995, the Foundation has worked to advance the colleges mission of providing accessible, high-quality education.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jun. 3WILKES-BARRE  The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced a $10 million state investment in projects at five public use airports  including $6.2 million for upgrades at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.

The funding for seven airports in four counties will be used for facility improvements, infrastructure preservation and development  supporting safe, reliable infrastructure, while growing the Commonwealth's economy.

Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport received the largest single allocation in this round of funding.

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Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, said the state funding at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will go toward expanding the terminal and modernizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening area.

Carl Beardsley, executive director at the airport, said the total project cost estimate is $18.3 million. He said in addition to the $6.2 million announced Tuesday, the airport has received other funding from IIJA-AIG, AIP, Supplemental AIP, PFC.

"The primary goals of the project are to improve the passenger's experience and well-being at the airport," Beardsley said. "These goals will be accomplished by expanding the terminal space approximately 10,000 square feet and incorporating the latest screening technology, increasing queuing space for security screening, providing space for social distancing, improving air quality and other public health measures."

Additionally, Beardsley said implementing a separate exit lane for off-boarding passengers will reduce the conflict that currently exists with inbound and outbound passengers crossing each other near the stairs/escalators.

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"These improvements will help minimize the spread of pathogens," Beardsley said. "The secondary goal of this project is to minimize impacts to passengers and airport operations while constructing these improvements."

Beardsley said a strategic phasing plan will be developed that focuses on the safe movement of passengers within the terminal and clearly identifies staging areas on the airfield side.

He said all work associated with this project is AIP eligible and will not permanently impact existing aircraft movement areas.

Sen. Flynn said the investment is part of a larger initiative by the Shapiro Administration to improve airport infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

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"This funding marks a long-term investment in the future of Northeastern Pennsylvania," said Sen. Flynn. "As demand for air travel and commerce in our region continues to rise, it's essential that our infrastructure keeps pace. These upgrades will ensure our airport remains a modern, accessible, and secure gateway for residents, businesses and visitors alike."

Sen. Flynn said the project will be financed through the state Capital Budget via the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, which is supported by bonds. Once completed, the upgrades will improve passenger flow, enhance security operations, and support continued growth at one of northeastern Pennsylvania's busiest airports.

According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania's robust aviation industry employs more than 226,000 people, provides nearly $12.5 billion in payroll and employment benefits, and has a $34 billion annual economic impact.

In addition to providing travel options, airports also facilitate services such as air cargo and freight, police and law enforcement, emergency medical services, firefighting and disaster and emergency response.

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"Pennsylvania's aviation industry provides good-paying jobs while linking communities to a larger transportation system that moves goods and people around the world," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "These investments are another example of Governor Shapiro's focus on maintaining our infrastructure while also expanding business opportunities."

Other airports receiving funding:

Bucks County

Quakertown Airport  $1.1 million to construct three new hangars.

Doylestown Airport  $525,000 for the continued rehabilitation of hangars.

Doylestown Airport  $157,500 to demolish four structures on airport property.

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Doylestown Airport  $360,000 to extend public water access to the terminal area of the airport.

Jefferson County

DuBois Regional Airport  $225,000 for the continued renovations of their administration building.

Lehigh County

Lehigh Valley International Airport  $1.5 million to construct a parking structure to enhance terminal commercial development.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
The U.S. penny will no longer be minted, leaving many people wondering if it's time to get rid of extra coins or boost their collection before fewer are found in circulation.

President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Treasury to stop minting pennies because their production cost exceeds their face value. While scrapping pennies is illegal, you can check in with your bank or other institutions to cash in pennies, although they will remain legal to spend.

Here's what to know.

Can I still spend old pennies?

Generally speaking, it's U.S. government policy that all designs of Federal Reserve notes remain legal tender, or legally valid for payments, regardless of when they were issued. This policy includes all denominations of Federal Reserve notes, from 1914 to present.

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The same applies to old coins. Old coins can be spent just like any other currency. In the U.S. for example, coins and banknotes issued by the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing retain their face value regardless of age. While some older coins may hold additional appeal to collectors due to their rarity or condition, they technically can still be used for their original intended purpose of transactions.

Where can I cash in my pennies?

Here are some places to cash in your pennies in Michigan:

Bank of America

Chase Bank

Citibank

Coinstar

Comerica Bank

Fifth Third Bank

Huntington Bank

JP Morgan Chase

TCF Bank

Wells Fargo

How did the coin come to be called 'penny?'

The American 1-cent coin iscommonly known as a penny, and was first issued in 1793, the U.S. Mint said. The name penny traces back to England, from the Old English word pennige, Time Magazine says.

Do you own an old penny worth up to $1 million?

Experts say it's highly unlikely.

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In rare cases, some 1943 pennies have sold for $1 million, while one went for more than $200,000 at an auction in 2019. Depending on their condition, those 1943 Lincoln wheat pennies would be worth at most between $100,000 and $250,000, John Feigenbaum, publisher of rare coin price guide Greysheet, told USA TODAY.

But the likelihood of having a near-priceless penny is similar to "saying your lottery ticket might be worth $100,000. Of course, anything is possible, right? But not likely," said Feigenbaum, who is also the executive director of the Professional Numismatists Guild, a nonprofit organization composed of many of the nation's rare coin experts

What Michigan coin dealers can tell me if I have a $1 million penny?

The American Numismatic Association, a congressionally chartered nonprofit dedicated to the study, collection, and appreciation of coins, paper currency, and other forms of numismatic items, operates the Money Museum, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which houses an extensive collection of rare and historically significant coins, paper currency, and related artifacts, providing visitors with an immersive experience into the fascinating world of money.The group maintains a list of coin dealers in Michigan that are members. There are 36 member shops in Michigan, among them:

What are pennies made of?

Pennies are made of copper-plated zinc, according to the U.S. Mint, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury. Modern pennies contain only 2.5% copper.

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The first penny was 100% copper, per the U.S. Mint. Then, in 1856 the Flying Eagle scent started production with 88% copper, the American Plating Company says. In 1864, after the Civil War, the design changed again with a 95% copper and 5% zinc makeup.

In 1982, the coin switched to 5% copper and 95% zinc. The modern penny has the least amount of copper with a small 2.5% copper plating and a 97.5% zinc base.

Is it legal to scrap copper pennies for metal value?

No, under federal law, in the U.S. it is illegal to export, melt or treat pennies, according to the U.S. Mint.

Did the US mint any pennies in honor of Michigan?

No, the U.S. Mint has not issued special pennies for Michigan, although there are pennies that include variations honoring Abraham Lincoln.

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USA TODAY contributed.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pennies are being discontinued: Are yours worth money as they go away?
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  Police and PennDOT are reminding drivers to Put down the phone and make it home.

Paul Millers law goes into effect across Pennsylvania Thursday. It means anyone using a cellphone or other hand-held device behind the wheel can be pulled over by police and issued a warning. The law defines cellphone use as holding it in one hand, supporting it with any body part, pressing more than a single button to answer a phone call or otherwise operate it and reaching for a hand-held device in a way that makes the driver move from a proper seated position.

Starting in June 2026, drivers will be issued a summary traffic violation and a $50 fine for distracted driving.

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At a press conference Wednesday, police from many Blair County departments said this law couldnt come soon enough as in 2024 alone, distracted driving killed 49 people and injured more than 6,000 others in the state.

Pennsylvania Representative aims to repeal Johnstown Flood Tax

Studies show that people are on the phones checking the phones 100, 200 times a day and roughly on them 4 to 6 hours. And theyre doing that whether theyre in a car, at home or anywhere else. And obviously being behind the wheel doing that is extremely unsafe, said Sergeant Patrick Tomassetti, Public Relations Officer with the Altoona Police Department.

The new law is named after Paul Miller who was killed in 2010 after a distracted driver of a semi-truck crossed a center divider and hit Millers car head-on.

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This is a long time coming. We always complain about doing the right enforcement and getting the right bills in there, getting the right laws made. This is one thats been, should have been done years and years ago, said patrol officer Jeff Ketner with Duncansville Borough Police Department.

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Police said they will be taking the new law very serious and that drivers may see an increase in police presence along roadways while officers work to inform drivers of the new changes.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  The Pennsylvania House passed an attempt to limit the amount school districts have to pay to cyber charter schools today.

There are more than 65,000 students in Pennsylvania cyber charter schools. Their home school districts pick up the tab, which wildly varies. Thats why Governor Shapiro called for an $8,000 cap on cyber charter tuition.

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House Bill 1500, which offers several reforms and accountability measures, will pass the House on Wednesday. However, the bill will cap cyber charters at $8,000, meaning school districts would have to write smaller checks.

Advocates of cyber charter schools argue it would be crippling and harmful for the families that chose them.

What were looking at here is money and funding, said Marcus Hite, the Executive Director of the PA ASSOC of Public Cyber Charter Schools. What about the kids? What about the families that are leaving school districts for bullying, for lack of services, for mental issues? Were worried about the money. Yes, the money is one thing, but nobody is taking into consideration the impact of the 65,000-plus students and families.

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Republicans see it as an assault on school choice.

Lets do the math, said Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia). Were setting a tuition rate too low for schools to operate. Plus, confiscating the reserve funds equals shutting down cyber charter schools.

Let me be very clear, said Senate Majority Leader Jesse Topper (R). If we destroy cyber charters in Pennsylvania, the high school dropout rate will skyrocket. Where will those students go?

Eileen Cannistraci runs Insight Cyber Charter, and she says many of her students are vulnerable with special needs, are bullied, and even homeless.

I think its unfair. I do. said Cannistraci. Trying to make cuts that help school districts off the backs of cyber school students attending public schools, and thats very disheartening to me.

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Since 2010, Auditors General have called for tuition reimbursement reforms. A recent report highlighted excesses in spending and reserve accounts. Democrats ask about its accountability.

The largest cyber school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a 4.7% proficiency rating in mathematics, said Rep. Peter Schweyer (D), the Chair of the Education Committee. Thats what were paying for, and not even 6% of their kids can pass basic math. Im not even asking for double digits at this point in time. Can we get to six?

When I go to a Phillies game, the first 5 minutes is in a commercial for some cyber charter school, said Rep. Matt Bradford (D). I dont know if they educated a single child.

The bill passed mostly along party lines and now goes to the Senate where it could be part of budget negotiations.

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Two other reforms include a residency check, making sure the student actually lives in the district. Another is a wellness check, making sure teachers are actually seeing the student on the other end of that computer.

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(WHTM)  The Johnstown Flood Tax, originally intended to help rebuild the city of Johnstown after the 1936 flood, is still in effect today, and this Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes repealing it.

The bill, circulated by State Representative Joseph DOrsie (R-47), proposes to repeal the Johnstown Flood Tax, which was initially implemented to provide aid to a city that suffered a natural disaster nearly a century ago.

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The memo says that despite Johnstown being rebuilt in 1942, the tax still applies an 18% tax on liquor sold in Pennsylvania.

The memo adds that the tax has increased over the years, putting additional strain on liquor sellers. DOrsie argues that repealing the tax is a step toward supporting Pennsylvanias restaurants and stores.

The bill has not yet been introduced for consideration.

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(WHTM)  Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the Pennsylvania Senate has unanimously confirmed the nomination of Darryl Lawrence as the states Consumer Advocate.

Lawrence has served as interim Consumer Advocate since February 4, after serving as the Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate. He has worked in the department for nearly 20 years and will now represent Commonwealth consumers in public utility service quality and pricing matters.

I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed my appointment of Darryl Lawrence as Pennsylvanias Consumer Advocate, and am confident that Darryl will serve Pennsylvanians well in that capacity, Attorney General Sunday said. Darryl dedicated his career to advocating on behalf of Pennsylvanians who may not have a voice in the regulatory, judicial, and legislative processes attached to public utilities. He has proven himself as an experienced, tough, fair, and honest advocate.

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It has been an honor to work for the Office of Consumer Advocate and to serve the public utility customers of Pennsylvania for the past 20 years, Consumer Advocate Darryl Lawrence said. I look forward to continuing this important work as the new Consumer Advocate of Pennsylvania. My heartfelt thanks to Attorney General Dave Sunday, the Pennsylvania Senate, and the incredible staff at the Office of Consumer Advocate who have provided support and encouragement throughout this process. I am deeply honored to take on this new role.

The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to serve the interests of utility ratepayers in Pennsylvania.

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For the first time in the three years since the establishment of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein Format, the US secretary of defence will not take part in its meeting.

Source: Associated Press, citing a US official

Details: For the first time since the US created the international group to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine three years ago, the Pentagon chief will not be present at a meeting of over 50 other defence leaders on Wednesday 4 June.

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US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who returned from a national security conference in Singapore on Sunday, will not arrive in Brussels until Wednesday evening, after the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting has concluded.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AP that Hegseth would not participate by video link either.

Quote from : "It is the latest in a series of steps that the US has taken to distance itself from the Ukraine war effort.

And it comes on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron's warning at the security conference last weekend that the US and others risk a dangerous double standard if their concentration on a potential conflict with China is done at the cost of abandoning Ukraine."

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Background:

Hegseth's predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the contact group after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since then, more than 50 member countries have jointly provided Ukraine with around US$126 billion in military assistance, including over US$66.5 billion from the US.

Under Austin's leadership, the US chaired the group, while he and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended the monthly meetings, held both in person and via video.

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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will not attend the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting to be held as part of the meeting of Alliance defence ministers in Brussels.

Source: several independent European Pravda sources in Brussels

Details: Hegseth will attend the ministers' meeting on Thursday 3 June, but the United States will be represented at the Ukraine-NATO Council not by the minister, but by Ambassador Matthew Whitaker.

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It became known earlier that Hegseth would not attend the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein format) meeting at NATO headquarters on 4 June. The Pentagon explained that his participation was impossible due to his schedule.

It should be noted that the Ramstein meeting will take place on Wednesday, and the ministerial meeting on Thursday morning. The Ukraine-NATO Council will meet for a working lunch at noon, immediately after the ministerial meeting, so Hegseth will be in Brussels at the time of the Council meeting but will not attend the meeting with Ukraine.

Hegseth's place at Wednesday's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group will also be taken by US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker.

The AP reported that Hegseth will arrive in Brussels late on Wednesday evening, when the Ramstein meeting will already be over.

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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein) meeting at NATO headquarters on 4 June because his schedule made it impossible.

Source: a Pentagon spokesperson, as reported by Politico

Details: The Pentagon chief will be in Brussels for a meeting of NATO defence ministers on Thursday 5 June, but his place at Wednesday's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group will be taken by US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. It was reported by a Pentagon representative and two people familiar with the plans.

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The US Department of Defense explained that Hegseth would be unable to attend in person due to a busy schedule.

"Secretary Hegseths travel schedule precluded attendance at tomorrows UDCG meeting," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement. "The United States is focused on ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on terms that establish an enduring peace."

The United Kingdom and Germany took over the leadership of Ramstein in February after Hegseth said the United States would no longer play a key role in the regular meetings initiated by former US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2022.

Background:

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The AP reported that Hegseth would arrive in Brussels late on 4 June, after the Ramstein meeting had ended.

Hegseth was not physically present at the April Ramstein meeting in Brussels, but participated online. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius explained that the US minister had not arrived due to a busy schedule.

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A Pentagon official begged her bosses not to cancel a Harvard University grant aimed at curtailing biological threats, arguing that pulling it would pose grave and immediate harm to national security.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys (DARPA) director of contracting said the grant funded a Harvard research team that had reached a pivotal juncture in a project addressing the biological threat landscape, according to Monday court filings in the universitys lawsuit against the Trump administration, first reported by The Boston Globe.

The official was unnamed in the filings.

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Harvard, which is suing the administration over roughly $2.5 billion in frozen funding, has declared the cuts to be illegal and haphazard and obtained government records to prove their case.

In the filing, the lawyers detail the risk of cutting off funding to projects related to public health and national security concerns.

In one instance, Harvard researchers were working on a military project known as the AMPHORA program, aimed at increasing awareness of emerging biological threats, when the Department of Defense (DOD) on May 12 informed the university it had terminated the grant funding the effort, according to a memorandum filed by Harvards lawyers in federal court.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the cancellation of that military grant, as well as others, the filing notes.

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After learning the DOD grant was terminated by senior officials, the DARPA contracting official pleaded to save it, noting that Harvard was the critical and top performing team on the program, and that [i]nadequate knowledge of the biological threat landscape poses grave and immediate harm to national security and threatens military servicemember safety, the memo states.

The Governments thoughtless and retaliatory strategy meant that contracting officers and policy experts took a back seat in deciding whether to terminate grants that continued to benefit the public.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment from The Hill as to whether the Harvard grant for the AMPHORA program remains terminated.

The White House has frozen the funding after Harvard would not acquiesce to demands such as changing its hiring and admissions process and eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

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The Trump administration accuses the university of being deliberately indifferent to antisemitic harassment on campus, favoring others over white people and men in its hiring and admissions processes and creating a culture intolerant of conservative viewpoints.

Harvards lawyers, meanwhile, say the administration has failed to acknowledge the dozens of steps Harvard has taken and committed to take to address antisemitism and bias.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A deadly crash in Logan County that killed two sisters has communities across the state grieving the loss.

After hearing the news that his classmate and best friend, Mackenzie Arthur, died in a car wreck, Fernando Flores said this loss is felt across the state.

It was not centralized. It was not localized. It was a big community affected, Flores said.

Two sisters killed in three-vehicle crash in Logan County

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According to a crash report, Mackenzie and her younger sister Maddie were driving over Morrison Bluff bridge when a vehicle crashed into them from behind  causing them to cross into the other lane and collide with another vehicle.

Maddie was an incoming senior at Scranton High School. Flores said Mackenzie often talked about her close relationship with her sister.

She had her whole life ahead of her. And she definitely would have done great things, Flores said.

Mackenzie had just finished her junior year at Arkansas Tech. She was studying agriculture and loved taking care of animals.

She would stay up all night to be with her siblings  to work on the fair animals that they were going to show, Flores said, I really want to one day immortalize the things that she loved. Like, create a scholarship in her name.

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Harding University mourns loss of two students killed in crash

A memorial service will be held at the Scranton High School gym on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

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Republicans are currently having a PR nightmare while bending over backwards to convince Americans that Donald Trump's proposed cuts to Medicaid in his "Big, beautiful bill" are a good thing. (Spoiler alert: They're not.)

Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

At least $880 billion in cuts have been proposed, largely from Medicaid, to fund tax breaks. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that under Trump's bill, 8.6 million people would lose healthcare over a decade.

In a recent town hall, voters raised concerns about Trump's proposed Medicaid cuts potentially allowing people to die from lack of coverage. Republican Iowa Senator Joni Ernst flippantly told voters, "Well, we are all going to die."

And most recently, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is going viral for his out-of-touch "advice" about the best way for Americans to get healthcare under Trump's proposed Medicaid cuts:

Top Republican Senator on Trump's cuts to Medicaid: "The best health care is a job." pic.twitter.com/ftzJNObXSz  FactPost (@factpostnews) June 2, 2025

ABC / Twitter: @factpostnews

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"A rising tide lifts all boats. And, uh, you know, the best for the people looking for healthcare, the best healthcare is a job."

Related: This Republican Lawmaker's Embarrassing Lack Of Knowledge Of The Term "Intersex" Went Viral After He Proposed An Amendment To Cut LGBTQ+ Funding

"And a lot of times, healthcare comes with a job, and so creating those better-paying jobs that come with benefits is ultimately the goal here."

Obviously, people are pissed at Thune's comments.

Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing"  11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It

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"Cool Ill just tell the literally [nearly] 40 million children on Medicaid this," one person wrote.

"'The best health care is a job' = 'You are only valuable to us if youre able-bodied and work full time to make us richer and if you cant then you should just die.'"

"This assumption that people on Medicaid dont want to work is just wrong. For folks like my constituent Emmanuel, Medicaid is the lifeline they need to get and hold a job. The best health care is health care," lawmaker Lisa Blunt Rochester wrote.

"i work over 40 hours per week, our health insurance barely covers anything, and i WORK IN HEALTHCARE"

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"There are a lot of jobs that don't offer health care coverage, and dont pay enough to afford health care premiums. But John Thune doesn't care about that. His job offers health care coverage, and he's got plenty of cash."

Needless to say, the midterms should be interesting!

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: "We Don't Import Food": 31 Americans Who Are Just So, So Confused About Tariffs And US Trade

Also in In the News: Republicans Are Calling Tim Walz "Tampon Tim," And The Backlash From Women Is Too Good Not To Share
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A Peoria attorney faces up to five years in prison after being indicted Tuesday for voting more than once.

A no-bond, no-extradition warrant was issued for Thorn M. Smith, 67, whose last known address was near the Mt. Hawley Country Club in North Peoria.

Little information was contained in the charge. Hes accused of voting more than once in the April 1 general election. He allegedly after having voted once, knowingly accepted another ballot.

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According to Anna Perales of the States Attorneys office, Smith voted using a mail-in ballot and on April 1, when he arrived at his polling place, an election judges computer indicated he had already gotten mail-in ballot.

Despite this, Smith signed a form stating that he had not previously voted and proceeded to submit a second provisional ballot, Perales said. Processes in place through the Election Commission noted this second illegal ballot, and it was not counted in the final certified election results.

According to state statute:, a person is in violation if they having voted once, knowingly during any election where the ballot or machine lists any of the same candidates and issues listed on the ballot or machine previously used for voting by that person.

A date for Smith to appear in court has not yet been set.

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They may look cute and cuddly, but river otters can be dangerous.

One person visiting Seminole Countys Wekiva Island found that out last week when they were bit by one, according to a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC responded to the bite report on May 29. The individual was evaluated by emergency personnel on site and transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to the report.

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An FWC officer worked with Wekiva Island management to search for the otter, but was unable to locate it, and no further sightings of the otter have been reported since the incident.

Native to the state, otters are found throughout Florida except in the Keys, according to FWC.

They are mostly nocturnal and feed on crayfish and fish, although at least one took on a small alligator in 2014 as captured in a series of eye-opening photos by Geoff Walsh posted to the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page.

And they have on occasion gone up against humans.

In 2010, a rabid otter attacked a 96-year-old Venice man for nearly six minutes as two good Samaritans tried to pry it off.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person was seriously hurt after an incident Wednesday afternoon, June 4, in South-Central El Paso, according to the El Paso Police.

The Fire Department added that the call came in at 1:13 p.m. on Wednesday near the intersection of Piedras Street and Paisano Drive.

One person was transported with serious injuries (Code 3), El Paso Fire said.

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LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government has restored formal mining operations in northern parts of the country that were affected by violence, Defense Minister Walter Astudillo said on Wednesday.

Last month, President Dina Boluarte suspended local mining operations after 13 gold mine workers in the northern district of Pataz were kidnapped and killed by illegal miners.

Peru is the world's third-largest copper producer and most of its deposits of the key red metal are located in southern parts of the Andean nation, while gold and silver are mined further to the north.

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Astudillo said the decision to resume operations followed discussions with formal mining companies and Pataz authorities, noting the sector's importance to the local economy.

"There was a clamor from the population for mining activities to be carried out," he said at a press conference following a cabinet meeting.

The minister also said the government had extended the state of emergency in Pataz for another 60 days, allowing the armed forces to take control of the area.

Mining operations will resume for companies and artisanal or small-scale miners with valid permits under the REINFO program, which allows temporary activity while operations are formalized. Activities will be permitted from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, he added.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Sarah Morland and Alistair Bell)
LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government has significantly reduced the protected area around its famed Nazca Lines, a move critics and archaeologists fear could leave the ancient geoglyphs vulnerable to hundreds of nearby informal mining operations.

Peru's Culture Ministry last week slashed the protected zone from 5,600 to 3,200 square kilometers, attributing the move to topographical and archaeological studies that more precisely demarcated areas with "real patrimonial value."

The Nazca Lines, located about 400 km (250 miles) south of Lima, are over 800 giant desert etchings of animals, plants and geometric figures created more than 1,500 years ago. UNESCO declared them a World Heritage site in 1994.minist

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According to data from the Energy and Mines ministry, 362 small-scale gold miners operate in the Nazca district as part of a program to regularize their status. Authorities have previously conducted operations against illegal mining in the area.

"The main threats to the Nazca Lines are informal mining operations in the surroundings and even within the protected area," Pieter Van Dalen, head of Peru's archaeologists' association, told Reuters. He called the reduction "very regrettable," challenging the justification that the original area was too large to control.

With gold prices near record highs, police and industry sources allege that the government program to regularize small-scale mining, known as REINFO, is rife with irregularities and is often exploited by illegal miners, sometimes in collusion with criminal gangs.

The REINFO program is set to expire at the end of this year, with Congress and the administration scrambling to work on a replacement scheme which closes operating loopholes. Small-scale miners had previously protested ahead of an earlier deadline, arguing they would have little time to regularize their activities.

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The government estimates illegal mining in Peru generates more than $3 billion annually, surpassing drug trafficking revenue.

Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero acknowledged on Tuesday that small-scale miners operate in Nazca. He said the government is "evaluating how this (reduction) impacts the status of small-scale and artisanal mining working in the zone that was formerly part of Nazca's (protected area) and now is not."

Peru's gold exports amounted to $15.5 billion in 2024, up from $11 billion the prior year. Around 40% of Peru's gold exports are estimated to come from illegal sources, according to industry data and Peru's financial regulator.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
A pet zebra has been wreaking havoc in Tennessee after escaping from its owner over the weekend, according to local officials.

The zebra was spotted in a residential neighborhood and along Interstate 24, which had to be closed on Saturday because the zebra was running through traffic on both sides of the highway, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office wrote on social media.

Eventually, the zebra escaped into a wooded area off Interstate 24, south of Nashville, and was still missing as of Monday, per the sheriffs office.

A pet zebra remains on the loose after it was seen running along a road in Christiana, Tennessee, over the weekend.



A bystander recorded video of the zebra galloping along a road on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/3DpqTqf82J  The Associated Press (@AP) June 3, 2025

It was also filmed by a home security camera in a residential neighborhood, where it can be seen running down a street, People magazine reported.

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The zebras owner acquired it on Friday night, the sheriffs office said. The owner told the sheriffs office Monday afternoon that he is using several professional tracking groups and K9s to search for the missing zebra.

ZEBRA UPDATE:

The missing zebra's owner told @RCTNSheriff the animal remains at large Monday afternoonSeveral professional tracking groups are involved in the search and a K9 search is scheduled Tuesday.

People who spot the zebra may call the Sheriffs Office at 615-898-7777. pic.twitter.com/OOwYjUgJPX  RCTNSheriff (@RCTNSheriff) June 2, 2025

Although a zebra may be an uncommon pet, it is legal to own a zebra in Tennessee and no special permit is required to keep one, per USA Today.

However, the Library of Congress says that zebras unpredictable nature and tendency to attack preclude them from being good candidates for domestication, USA Today reported.

This isnt the first time an uncommon animal has escaped its enclosure and been spotted roaming the South. A kangaroo escaped from its owner in Florida last August, while 43 monkeys broke out of a research facility in South Carolina in November.

Anyone who spots the runaway zebra is asked to contact the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office.
ST. LOUIS  Lindell Briscoe lives on East Adelaide, a north St. Louis street where a tornado blew a roof off a home last month.

There are noticeable improvements on the block. At the same time, there are signs recovery is a long way away.

Once it gets dark outside, this street is completely dark because we still dont have streetlights, Briscoe said.

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He said a resident recently approached him asking for help paying her phone bill. That interaction prompted Briscoe to launch a petition asking utility and telecom companies to suspend customer bill payments for affected residents.

Give them a month or two grace period so that they can catch up on their bills, said Briscoe.

Ella Peterson is a longtime resident of the same neighborhood. She said bills are piling up for residents faced with making tornado repairs.

Its depressing, she said.

Peterson believes the neighborhood will bounce.

We contacted several utility and telecom providers about what help for customers living in tornado-damaged areas.

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AT&T included this link with a host of ways the company has been helping customers and the community.

Verizon also provided FOX 2 a link about its support for customers and the community.

A spokesperson for Spectrum tells customers in the affected area will receive an automatic credit covering the days that they didnt have service after power was restored. The credit will appear on their next bill with no action required by them.

PHOTOS: Severe storm hits STL region

Spire recently announced that it will suspend disconnections for non-payment, as well as service initiation and reconnection fees for customers impacted by the tornadoes through Sept. 2025. The company is offering extended payment arrangements.

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Spire customers in the St. Louis region impacted by the recent severe weather are encouraged to call 800-887-4173 for more information.

Spire also donated $15,000 to the American Red Cross Greater St. Louis chapter and $10,000 to United Way of Greater St. Louis toward their disaster relief efforts.

Ameren tells us in heavily impacted areas, the company paused disconnections, is waiving upfront deposits for new service for 90 days, making available a special payment arrangement requiring 20% down for 90 days, and increasing available funds through a variety of programs.

Eligible households may receive up to $500 and may bundle with other assistance programs.

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The company also made a combined $1 million donation to agencies providing disaster relief.

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Democrats who were once vocal critics of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo are sitting on the sidelines of the New York mayoral primary, and insiders think its because Cuomos victory appears inevitable. At the same time, critics argue that theyre letting Cuomo off the hook.

Democrats who vocally criticized Cuomo in the past, like Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., have declined to remind the public why they called on Cuomo to step down. Hochul called the allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo repulsive in 2021 and now says that shell deal with whatever the voters decide to deal with. Gillibrand, who called the allegations against Cuomo serious and deeply concerning, now compliments Cuomo, saying that He has a lot of talent as an executive.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., called for Cuomos resignation in 2021, issuing a joint statement with other New York Democrats saying, It is clear that he engaged in inappropriate, unlawful and abusive behavior. He has since endorsed the former governor in the mayoral primary, saying we need not a nice guy, but a tough guy like Andrew Cuomo.

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Gillibrand's office responded to a request for comment from Salon by referencing comments the senator made in an appearance on WNYC, when she said: "The question being asked today is what's my opinion about someone after they've resigned, after they've taken the penalty that I called on them to take? Do they have any say from you one way or the other? And my answer to that is everyone gets to decide in this election who they want to vote for. It's up to New Yorkers. It is not up to me. And that's it."

Hochul's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Former New York Gov. David Paterson, who immediately preceded Cuomo as the states chief executive, told Salon that elected Democrats coming out against Cuomo at this stage of the race probably wont matter. Given many Democrats unpopularity in New York, he argued that criticism might even help Cuomo in the primary.

Paterson said that the bigger question in his mind is why havent voters in New York City taken him to task.

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I'm not advocating that they should, Im just wondering why they havent done that," Paterson said. "Somebody has a commercial: Andrew Cuomo spent $60 million of your money defending himself against allegations. Now that's a pretty significant amount of money, and it's a pretty significant amount of money and it's to review someone now running for office, and the public paid for all his legal bills. That's an interesting subject, but it doesn't seem to matter."

In Patersons view, Cuomo is almost certain to win the New York City mayoral primary, which discourages elected Democrats who have spoken out against Cuomo in the past from doing so again.

New York state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat, was first elected in 2010, the same year Cuomo was elected governor. He said that Cuomos personal and political style helps explain Democrats reluctance to speak out.

He was vengeful and petty, and certainly politically popular and politically powerful, Rivera said. He's somebody who's been an abusive bully, who only cares about himself, how people perceive him, and how people view him, and he does not particularly care about well-being, regardless of what he says. His actions say something different.

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Rivera said that Cuomo has held a grudge against him because of his outspoken criticism of him, alleging that the former governor even moved an early COVID vaccine distribution site from his district because it was the district he represented. Cuomo has denied the allegation.

For the sake of a political slap on my face, because I was one of the only people who stood up to him publicly, he made the decision to put it someplace else and that means that theres people in my district who died because they did not have early enough access to the vaccine, based on a political decision that he made to be some sort of payback, Rivera said.

Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, told Salon that there is deep irony in Cuomo promising to fix the citys problems as a mayoral candidate, because many of the citys problems stem from Cuomos time as governor. The Working Families Party previously endorsed Cuomo in the 2018 New York gubernatorial general election, even after backing activist Cynthia Nixon in the Democratic primary and criticizing Cuomo as a corporate Democrat. The endorsement, however, came after Nixon declined to run on the Working Families Party line in the general election.

The party, which had to receive 50,000 votes in November or else lose its party line, ultimately decided to endorse Cuomo at the last minute. It is not likely to ever do so again.

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New York City lost hundreds of mental health beds while Andrew Cuomo was governor. He is the reason why our mental health infrastructure in the city was decimated and, as a result, we see the people in our streets with nowhere to go, and the people experiencing homelessness  that is Andrew Cuomo, Gripper said. The reason why our subways are delayed and flooding, and not up to date, is because of Andrew Cuomo.

Gripper pointed to Cuomos record working with Republicans in the state Senate to sideline Democrats in the upper chamber as another topic that deserves to be discussed in the mayor's race. Gripper said that, working with the IDC, Cuomo was able to sideline priorities for many New Yorkers, like investments in transit, public edcation, healthcare and housing, while simultaneously raiding the MTA budget and cutting funding for schools.

"Andrew Cuomo helped orchestrate a coup where a group of Democrats decided to conference with Republicans, and so Republicans, plus what they call the IDC, the Independent Democratic Conference, gave Republicans control of our state Senate and that structure existed for many years, Gripper said. He was holding the line for the wealthy, for the billionaires, for the developers, and at the expense of everyday working people. And he really was holding the line against New York City and not adequately funding the city the way he should have been.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, told Salon that Cuomo had nothing to do with the formation of the IDC. Politico has, however, reported as far back as 2014 that, while the IDC was not the governor's idea, Cuomo and top aides made it "very clear they wanted the IDC to work with Republicans to run the Senate."

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In response to Gipper's statements, Azzopardi said, "Those are empty advocate talking points with no relation to reality." He said that the mental health care beds that were cut were non-forensic beds, set aside for people who are not considered dangerous and who are not involved in the criminal legal system; he added that the cut beds had been unoccupied for six months.

Responding to Gripper's other criticisms, Azzopardi said that Cuomo oversaw an increase in operational funding for the MTA by $2.4 billion annually and a $54.8 billion Capital Plan, which represented the largest investment in the authority's history. He also claimed that Cuomo's administration never cut school funding.

Susan Kang, a professor of political science at John Jay College who has written extensively on New York under Cuomo and the IDC, told Salon that this sort of maneuvering to prevent a Democratic-controlled legislature was typical of Cuomo during his time as governor.

Kang also referenced the post-2010 Census redistricting process, in which Cuomo signed off on maps drawn by the state legislature, with the then Republican-controlled state Senate proposing legislative districts designed to help them retain control of the chamber. The same deal allowed Assembly Democrats to draw maps that helped protect their incumbents.

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The maps Cuomo signed off on carefully underrepresented voters in New York City by packing more voters into the city's state Senate districts compared to upstate, Republican-dominated districts. When Cuomo was sued over the issue, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York found that population distortion across the state Senate districts had fallen just within the legal limit courts have allowed under the 14th Amendment.

In practical terms, this means that, despite campaigning on independent redistricting, Cuomo signed off on a carefully-calculated maximal gerrymander designed to reduce the power of New York City's largely Democratic voters and help Republicans maintain control of the state Senate. Thirteen years later, Cuomo is running for mayor of New York City, pitching himself as the candidate who will stand up against a Republican administration in Washington.

Kang said that, politically speaking, having a Republican-controlled state Senate was useful for the former governor because it meant he got to control the spigot of changes coming out of Albany.

I think he wants to present himself as sort of like a bipartisan compromise-maker in a state where you don't have to do that, Kang said. But he wouldnt have to do that, if he hadnt propped up this artificial division."

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While the exact effects on what legislation made it into law are hard to quantify and still debated, critics blame the conference for blocking major legislation on ethics in government, reproductive health care and health care more broadly, voting rights, climate change and even earlier versions of the Child Victims Act, which extended the period that victims of child sexual assault have to bring civil cases.

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On the topic of redistricting, Azzopardi pointed to the passage of New York's independent redistricting amendment, which was passed during Cuomo's tenure.

Other critics have highlighted Cuomos handling of COVID as an area ripe for scrutiny, especially his handling of nursing homes during the crisis, which has received renewed interest given the Justice Departments investigation into his congressional testimony on the topic.

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Denis Nash, a professor of epidemiology at the City University of New York, told Salon that the full impact of Cuomo's COVID-era policy of discharging recovering COVID patients into nursing homes is unknown, but that it likely contributed to new infections in nursing homes. Nash also criticized the subsequent effort from the administration to undercount the number of deaths among nursing home residents by excluding residents who were infected in nursing homes but who died in hospitals from official tallies. A 2022 state audit conducted by the comptroller's office found that New York's health agency undercounted COVID-related deaths in nursing homes by at least 4,100.

This greatly obscured the scale of the crisis. It also compromised the ability to learn from what happened in a very high-stakes situation. We cant evaluate the effectiveness or harm of policies if our government officials and agencies are not transparent about the outcomes. New York eventually corrected the death count, but I think really only after external investigations forced its hand, Nash said.

Paterson said that the nursing home fiasco and its subsequent cover-up point to one of Cuomos core political instincts: Dont ever admit to anything.

He just doesn't do it. Somewhere, he must have read a book that said, Dont ever admit to anything. And that has largely worked in his favor, Paterson said.

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Cuomo has publicly admitted that there was a "delay" in the reporting of some nursing home-related deaths during the pandemic, though he has stopped short of apologizing for either the policy or the undercount. In congressional testimony in 2024, Cuomo said he did not review a State Health Department report on nursing home deaths, a statement that appears to be contradicted by emails between Cuomo's aides, according to the New York Times.

Azzopardi, Cuomo's spokesperson, told Salon that New York's nursing home policy was consistent with federal guidance and that the issue had been "weaponized and politicized for purely electoral purposes for years." Azzopardi referenced a report from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, obtained by ABC News in early January of 2025, which found that DOJ officials were directed to "focus specifically on New Jersey and New York despite having been provided data indicating that the nursing homes with the most significant quality of care issues were in other states."

The same report found that in October of 2020, a Justice Department Office of Public Affairs official proposed a plan to leak information to the New York Post pertaining to information related to nursing home deaths in New York and New Jersey. That official texted another OPA official in mid-October 2020 that the leak would "be our last play on them before the election but it's a big one."

Paterson said that hes advised Cuomo to reflect on his record, whether it be relating to the nursing home issue or his multiple sexual harassment scandals, and say, If something such as this came up again, Im pretty sure I would handle it differently. In Patersons view, such reflection would open the door for people to embrace your humanity.

And this is a conversation that he and I have had over the years. He agrees with me when we have the general conversation, but he never seems to adapt it. And I guess the reason that he's never adapted is that it's never actually come back to bite him, Paterson said.

Editor's note: This piece was updated with additional comments from the Cuomo campaign.






NEED TO KNOW

The housemate of missing 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop has reportedly been taken into custody nearly three weeks after the teenager vanished while heading to the airport to catch a booked flight in Bundaberg, Australia

James Wood, 34, has been assisting police with their investigation, but hasn't been charged, according to multiple reports

Hours before he was taken into custody, Wood spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the day he and his partner took Bishop to the airport on May 15







The housemate of missing Australian teenager Pheobe Bishop has been taken into custody almost three weeks after she disappeared after failing to check in for a booked flight, according to reports.

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On Wednesday, June 4, Queensland Police confirmed James Wood, 34, had been taken into custody, but no charges against him have been made, per local outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), news.com.au and 9 News.

"A 34-year-old man has been taken into custody and is currently assisting police with enquiries as part of ongoing investigations into the disappearance of Pheobe Bishop," Queensland Police told PEOPLE in an email.

"No charges have been laid," they continued, adding that they could not confirm the identity of the man who had been placed into custody.

The update came shortly after police paused the physical search for Bishop, news.com.au reported, after she was last seen on Thursday, May 15 at around 8:30 a.m. local time after being dropped off to catch a flight at Bundaberg Airport in Queensland.

Queensland Police Pheobe Bishop Pheobe Bishop

Queensland Police Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson previously said that the teen was dropped off near the airport by "associates" but didn't enter the terminal, according to the ABC, adding that she "had a flight booked to Brisbane and then on to WA [Western Australia] to visit a friend."

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According to Daily Mail Australia, Wood spoke to the outlet just hours before his police custody about driving Bishop toward the airport with his partner, Tanika Bromley, on the morning of Bishop's disappearance.

Wood claimed that Bishop, who was reportedly planning to get on a flight to see her boyfriend, had been "furious" after sleeping "through her alarm" on the morning of her trip.

Wood said Bishop had been worried about what to wear, adding that "she was so worked up about seeing her boyfriend for the first time and she wanted to look good," per the outlet, so he said he gave her a pair of new gray tracksuit bottoms to wear.

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He said Bishop had been concerned about missing the flight, the outlet reported.

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"We just wanted to get her checked in and thought if we can just get there she will calm down," Wood told Daily Mail Australia of the drive. "Tanika grabbed her makeup bag next to her and passed it back and told her to take anything she needed."

"Her plane was stopping in Brisbane and we told her that the airport had everything she needed and she can take her time and do the makeup in the toilets," Wood added, per the outlet, stating that they ended up stopping the car on Airport Drive, just over half a mile from the terminal.

"We wanted to give her five minutes - give her her own space to do what she needed to do," he told the outlet, adding, "We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that's about how long we were gone."

Queensland Police Police previously searched Good Night Scrub National Park today while looking for Pheobe Bishop Police previously searched Good Night Scrub National Park today while looking for Pheobe Bishop

He claimed that when the pair returned to the vehicle, Bishop and her bag were gone, according to the publication. Wood stated that they looked for the teen for a while, but when they couldn't find her, they assumed she'd boarded the flight.

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The Gin Gin home where Bishop had been living prior to her disappearance was previously declared a crime scene, according to police.

Police also said that a gray Hyundai ix35 was also an active crime scene, with officers previously asking the public for help finding dashcam and CCTV footage of the car, license plate number 414EW3, near the Airport Drive and Samuels Road area in Bundaberg and also the Gin Gin area on May 15.

Bishop's mom, Kylie Johnson, has been posting multiple updates on Facebook amid her daughter's disappearance, as well as reading an official family statement in a video recently released by police.

Hi, Im Kylie. Im Pheobes mom. Our lives have been changed for the worse after the sudden disappearance of my daughter, who was last seen on May 15, she began in the video, which was posted on a crime watch Facebook group for the Queensland area on Saturday, May 31.

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This is a pain no person or family should ever have to experience, she continued. Pheobe was a beautiful, loving, kind person, and every day not knowing where she has been is devastating for us.

Johnson thanked police for their investigation and her community for its support during the speech, as well as making a final, emotional plea, while publicly considering the chance that her daughter was no longer alive.

"I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also wont, she said in the video. If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she is resting. I need to know where Pheobe is. My daughter wouldnt just disappear.

Someone knows something and as a mom, I am asking you to come forward with your information, Johnson added.

Read the original article on People
Philly Pride 365 declined to work with the nationally boycotted retailer, Target. According to Axios, the Philadelphia organization turned down the mega-corporations sponsorship for its Pride Month Kickoff. Target confirmed the organization rejected its offer, stating that they were not entering agreements with corporate entities this year.

Philly Pride 365 has secured multiple sponsors, many of which are local. The organization is working with NRG, Penn Medicine, and the Philadelphia Union. Deciding against working with the brand comes as no surprise to many. Target has been the target of a national boycott since doing away with its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in 2025.

While Target hopes to lure patronage with the gesture, other companies are stepping back. Nationwide, 39% of corporations are scaling back external Pride Month engagements this year, according to Gravity Research data.

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Dangling dollars during Pride may appear supportive, yet the continued elimination of DEI initiatives is even more so. As the company sends a message that inclusion is not a priority, Black, POC, and LGBTQIA organizations have decided to fall back. The company has seen a 7% decrease in sales over the course of the first quarter of 2025.

This Pride season, the company has decided not to feature Pride merchandise as it has done in previous years. Similarly, the company has removed many of its Black-owned merchandise from shelves.

While many Black businesses have fully supported the boycott, brand influencer Tabitha Brown has received backlash for her seemingly continued support of Target.

The author and actress was caught in a firestorm of backlash after encouraging her fans to continue shopping at the retailer. While Browns message emphasized supporting the remaining Black brands at Target, many took offense at the suggestion.

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Not to be deterred, the Donnas Recipe founder posted a video doubling down on her statements. Ironically, she believes her support of the conglomerate is a byproduct of uplifting Black people.

To all the people in the comments and my DMS with your uneducated hate messagesThere is no amount of hate and ignorance that is going to stop me from using my platform and my voice to support and uplift small businesses, Black-owned businesses, Black content creators, and Black authors, Brown said.

As many companies drop their commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, those communities are dropping their allegiance to these companies. Not all money is good money, and organizations like Philly Pride 365 are making that abundantly clear.

RELATED CONTENT: Tabitha Brown Claps Back At Haters: No Amount Of Hate Will Stop Me From Uplifting Black Creators As Target Boycott Impacts Authors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  In a twist, the state of Floridas top higher education board voted Tuesday against a contract for Santa Ono, who was set to be the next president of the University of Florida. The decision came after growing opposition on the right to Ono's past statements about diversity, equity and inclusion, Covid and transgender rights, among other issues.

Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has prided itself on being at the vanguard of the national conservative movement. But the rejection of Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, put DeSantis in a thorny political position, and it was a notable outcome in a state Republican ecosystem generally defined by donors and influential figures getting their way.

One of DeSantis longtime biggest political supporters  Mori Hosseini, the billionaire chair of the University of Florida Board of Trustees  strongly backed Onos bid to become president of the states flagship university.

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On the other hand, national conservatives, including Christopher Rufo, an activist who built his reputation fighting racial sensitivity trainings and critical race theory courses; Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a Trump ally running for governor; and Donald Trump Jr. argued that Onos past support for DEI policies made him unqualified for the job.

WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!??? Trump Jr. wrote on X last month. This woke psycho might be a perfect fit for a Communist school in California, but how is he even being considered for this role in Florida?

Every single member of the Florida Board of Governors should vote against him!!! he continued.

Two Trump advisers familiar with the issue said his post did not speak for the White House, which was not officially engaged in the fight.

Donald Trump Jr. spoke out against Ono's going to the University of Florida. (Jeenah Moon / Pool via AP file)

Trump Jr.s post amplified one from Rufo, whom DeSantis has praised and whom he appointed to a separate university board in the state in 2023. Rufo's message blasted Ono for a video in which he promoted "equity and inclusion ... embedded in all areas of academic work when he was president and vice chancellor at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

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Onos record on DEI policies, the handling of the Covid pandemic and issues like environmental justice were heavily scrutinized Tuesday at the meeting of the Florida Board of Governors, the states top education board, which needed to vote to ratify Onos new contract.

Ono said repeatedly that he had evolved on those issues at a hearing that lasted nearly four hours. But the board ultimately rejected him in a 10-6 vote, with notable no votes from DeSantis allies, including former state House Speakers Jose Oliva and Paul Renner, along with the outgoing leader of the state Education Department, Manny Diaz, whom DeSantis recently appointed to lead the University of West Florida.

There is no way those guys vote against him without getting some signal from the governor, a longtime DeSantis adviser said. I dont know if anyone expected this, but if you look at the votes, I think that tells you where the governor is at.

Four Florida Republicans told NBC News that their understanding was that DeSantis was initially behind Ono but that the national conservative backlash forced him to not fully put his support behind him publicly or make direct calls to the Board of Governors.

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But behind the scenes, his team was quietly discussing how to give him a push, according to two people familiar with the matter. One of them said DeSantis' chief of staff, Jason Weida, was making calls in support of Ono ahead of the vote.

Underscoring the politically sensitive nature of the vote, DeSantis political operation tried to claim some victory after it.

Santa Ono is OUT, posted Jordan Schachtel, a newly hired DeSantis political staffer. The Florida Board of Governors has voted to Reject Ono as President of the University of Florida.

Florida has voted to reject wokeness, DEI, CRT, at our flagship university, he continued.

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Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., also praised the vote, saying it was the "right decision."

Donalds, who has Trump's backing in his 2026 bid for governor, was an Ono skeptic from the start. Notably, DeSantis wife, Casey, is also considering a run for governor, and the two prominent Florida Republicans are seen as being on a political collision course if Casey DeSantis ultimately decides to run.

I give credit to the Florida Board of Governors for standing up for Floridas conservative values, Donalds told NBC News. Woke has no place in our university system. Its time to restart the presidential search at UF.

Other longtime Florida operatives said Donalds and other conservative groups amplifying the fight to the Republican political base nationally helped keep DeSantis out of the conversation in a more public way.

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The governor was obviously all in, a DeSantis ally said. Then Byron Donalds and [the conservative group] Turning Point came out against. The governor in the end does the one thing he knows how to do: run away and protect himself.

DeSantis office did not respond to a request for comment.

During the contentious meeting, Ono tried to explain that he has had an evolution of thought on issues like DEI and that he was both aligned with and attracted to Floridas brand of governance, which has cracked down on both.

Those sorts of programs will not have a place at the University of Florida, he told the board.

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Still, it wasn't enough to convince the skeptics on the board.

I really, really want to try to get to a yes, board member Carson Good said. I cant give a [yes vote], but I wish you the very best and will support you if you win.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  What started as a sweet summertime tradition in Pittsfield to connect police officers with the community has now inspired a similar initiative nearly 2,000 miles away in San Antonio, Texas.

Operation Copsicle delivers smiles, free treats in Pittsfield

San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) recently launched its ice cream truck initiative, Police, Popsicles, and Prayer, aimed at fostering trust, dialogue, and inclusion in neighborhoods across the city.

Operation_Copsicle_delivers_smiles__free_0_20180705153537

The effort takes its cues from Operation Copsicle, a Pittsfield Police Department program that has gained national recognition for using frozen treats to engage with local youth and families. The connection between the two departments came about last year when SAPD Community Officer Greene met Pittsfield Officer Derby at a Community Policing Conference. There, Officer Greene learned about Operation Copsicle and brought the concept back to Texas.

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Working in partnership with Unite SA Network, a local faith-based organization, SAPD officially rolled out its ice cream truck program earlier this year. A photo shared by Pittsfield Police shows SAPD officers standing with residentsincluding Pittsfield locals Kayla and Catie, who coincidentally encountered the truck while visiting San Antonio a few months ago.

Courtesy of Pittsfield Police Department

This is now the fifth police department in the U.S. and Canada to implement their version of a police ice cream truck after connecting with us, Pittsfield Police said in a social media post.

From Massachusetts to Texas, the mission remains the same: building community trust, one popsicle at a time.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  People flying into Tweed-New Haven Airport will be reminded of Connecticuts title as pizza capital of the U.S.

Connecticut pokes the bear with new pizza billboards trolling New York

Tweed, along with the New Haven Pizza Club, unveiled a new piece of art at the airport, celebrating New Havens legendary pizza.

We have more than the best damn pizza in the world. We have culture around pizza, Anthony Anthony, Connecticut chief marketing officer, said. Its more than just food. Its art and soul and people coming together at the table. Its about a bigger table, not a smaller one.

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The sculpture is part of a multi-tiered initiative launched in February to capitalize on the Elm Citys world famous pies.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Karol Nawrockis narrow victory in Polands presidential election on Sunday signals a seismic shift in the countrys politics. Backed by the nationalist Law and Justice, or PiS, party and endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trumps MAGA movement, the hard-right and Euroskeptic Nawrocki edged out his liberal rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, with 50.9 percent of the vote.

Although the Polish presidency has limited formal powers, its veto authority means Nawrockis win will be felt keenly, both in Poland and across Europe. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a longtime supporter of the European Union who previously served as EU Council president, has already been forced to navigate a fractious cohabitation with outgoing President Andrzej Dudaalso aligned with PiSsince taking office in December 2023. Nawrockis tenure promises more of the same at home and a possible reorientation of Polands place in Europe, especially if he uses his veto powers to stymie pro-democratic reforms and prepare the ground for a PiS return in legislative elections that must take place by 2027.

Tusk took office promising to enact a reform agenda to restore democracy and rule of law after nine years of PiS rule. But Duda spent the past year blocking key legislation, including much-needed judicial reforms, using the presidential veto to grind governance to a halt. Nawrocki has signaled he will double down on that strategy to frustrate Tusks every move.

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Nawrockis victory shows that PiS long game has worked. During its tenure, PiS embedded loyalists throughout state institutions, ensuring that even after losing power it could sabotage the new administration. Nawrocki is the capstone of that strategy. By vetoing laws and creating gridlock, he will allow PiS to portray Tusks team as ineffective. It is a grim irony that a government elected to restore democracy is now hamstrung by holdovers from the illiberal regime it defeated.

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One immediate flashpoint is social policy. Nawrocki has vowed to veto any attempt to liberalize Polands near-total ban on abortion, which allows the procedure only if a mothers life is in danger or in the case of incest. Despite mass protests and international condemnation against the draconian restrictions, they were further tightened in October 2020, when Polands Constitutional Tribunal outlawed abortion in the case of fetal abnormalities, a move that was promoted by the countrys strong anti-abortion rights movement. In addition to endorsing such hardline views, Nawrocki also opposes legalizing same-sex partnerships. In short, any law that clashes with the conservative worldview of PiS and its core supporters is likely doomed during his term in office.

Another battleground is the judiciary. PiSs politicization of the courts must be reversed to fully unlock the EU funds that were withheld when the party began moving the country away from its democratic values. But Duda has thwarted every such effort since the 2023 parliamentary election that brought Tusk to power. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar has laid out a roadmap for restoring judicial independence, but most steps require presidential approval, and it is unlikely Nawrocki will cooperate any more than Duda has. With reforms stalled, millions of euros in EU funds will remain frozen, allowing PiS and Nawrocki to portray the delays as proof of government inefficiency in order to win back public support.

Nawrockis presidency demonstrates how difficult democratic restoration can be even after populists have been ostensibly removed from government.

Nawrockis triumph has exhilarated far-right populist forces across Central Europe, where regional leaders often rail against Brussels and champion illiberal democracy. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban openly cheered Nawrocki on as a like-minded ally in Warsaw, while Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico likewise sees Polands vote as validation of his own anti-liberal agenda. Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances far-right National Rally, called Nawrockis victory a rebuff to the Brussels oligarchy. The message to Europes far right is unmistakable: One of the EUs largest countries is tilting back into their camp.

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Nawrockis victory will also boost the already tightening trans-Atlantic links among the far right. As a Trump admirer, Nawrocki won glowing praise from MAGA figures; speaking at CPAC Poland days before the presidential vote, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Nawrocki a leader that would turn Europe back to democratic values. The ideological kinship is not just rhetorical, but also strategic. The Polish far right has studied the U.S. culture wars and now exports its version of them across Europe, echoing fears about migration and the threat to so-called traditional family values.

Another flashpoint is Ukraine. Since Russias all-out invasion in 2022, Poland has been one of Kyivs staunchest champions. By contrast, Nawrocki ran on a Poland first message that cast Ukrainian refugees as a burden and promoted a national preference policy, by which Poles would have priority access to schools and doctors over Ukrainians in the country. He also signed a pledge to block Ukraines NATO bid and is lukewarm about Kyiv joining the EU. Though he does endorse continued military aid for the war against Russian aggression, his hard-edged nationalism signals a cooler posture toward Ukraine.

This shift raises concerns about Polands reliability as a linchpin of regional security. Western unity is crucial as tentative peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow continue in Turkey, but Warsaws commitment could now waver. Nawrocki insists his skepticism toward Ukraines integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions and hostility to Ukrainian refugees is not to be confused with a pro-Russian stance, but his positions nevertheless risk undermining the united front against Moscow. Any weakening of Polish resolve would be a dramatic turn, potentially splitting NATOs eastern flank at the worst moment and handing the Kremlin an opportunity to exploit cracks in the alliance.

His stance also threatens the stability of Polands internal consensus on Ukraine. Until now, support for Kyiv had been a rare point of bipartisan agreement, and PiS last-ditch attempt to mobilize tensions over Ukrainian grain exports to rally support weeks before the 2023 election backfired among voters. Nawrockis rhetoric framing Ukrainian refugees as taking resources from Poles taps into a broader nationalist resentment and could further polarize the issue. With public attitudes shifting, Tusks government may find it increasingly difficult to sustain the level of assistance it has offered Kyiv until now.

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For Brussels and its allies, Polands predicament is a warning. A key member state that only recently returned to the pro-EU fold is now lurching back toward Euroskeptic nationalism. Neighbors like Hungary and Slovakia have already gone down this road, while Romania only barely resisted the trend, and capitals across the bloc are feeling the strain. Nawrockis presidency demonstrates how difficult democratic restoration can be even after populists have been ostensibly removed from government.

As a result, Polands place at Europes top table and its dependability on issues like Ukraine can no longer be taken for granted. Tusks government has positioned Warsaw as a pillar of the EU mainstream and even an emerging leader in Brussels. Now, however, it is clear that a substantial proportion of Polish voters remains aligned with the blocs nationalist fringe.

The coming months will test the EUs willingness to support Polands pro-European majority and uphold core values. If there is a silver lining, it lies in the clarity of the lesson offered by Sundays outcome. The fight for liberal democracy in Europe is far from over, and it must be waged with renewed urgency and unity. The price of complacency has just been made painfully clear.

Amanda Coakley is a strategic adviser and Europes Futures Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. In 2024 she was named an Aspen U.K. Rising Leaders Fellow. Her monthly WPR column appears on Wednesdays.

The post In Poland, Nawrockis Win Complicates Tusks Reform Agenda appeared first on World Politics Review.
Warsaw - The mood here on Monday was subdued. Political signs supporting Warsaws progressive mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski, for president of Poland still littered the capital city, hanging from apartment balconies and highway overpasses. But Trzaskowski had lost Sundays runoff election to Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by Trump.

With a Trumpian flair for political invincibility, Nawrocki overcame a bundle of scandals (including reports he had hired sex workers and defrauded an elderly pensioner), eventually outperforming opinion polls and even exit polls to win the presidency.

The first exit poll - published immediately after voting ended at 9:00 p.m. local time on Sunday - showed Trzaskowski winning by just over half a point. He declared an early victory. "We won, although the phrase razor's edge will forever enter the Polish language and politics," Trzaskowski told his supporters in Warsaw.

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Meanwhile, Nawrocki told his supporters to remain hopeful. "I believe that we will wake up tomorrow with President Karol Nawrocki." Sure enough, by the time votes were officially tallied, Nawrocki had won by nearly two points, ending Trzaskowskis second presidential bid in failure.

The result will affect European politics at a time when security concerns grip the continent. Donald Tusk, Polands center-right prime minister and the former president of the European Council, backed Trzaskowskis campaign in hopes that the mayors pro-Europe inclinations would lead to expanded influence for Poland in Brussels. But Nawrocki, who is backed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, can stymie Tusks domestic and foreign policy agendas through veto power.

Nawrocki opposes EU ambitions to further integrate, share the burdens of immigration, and address climate change collectively. Though Tusk will continue to represent Poland at EU summits, Nawrocki and PiS can challenge the prime ministers legitimacy abroad by tactfully fracturing his coalition at home.

Nawrocki may also work to alter the generally pro-Ukraine stance of both Poland and PiS. Since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Poland has received nearly 1 million Ukrainian refugees and given the equivalent of over $5 billion in aid (in the form of cash and military equipment) to Ukraines war effort. But some Poles are growing weary of all the refugees and the spending. And theyre giving voice to that frustration with their vote.

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Slawomir Mentzen, a far-right activist from the Confederation party who finished third on the first presidential ballot with nearly 15% of the vote, has been critical of Ukraine. Before the runoff between Trzaskowski and Nawrocki, Mentzen asked both candidates to sign a declaration that included a pledge to, among other things, resist the EU and oppose Ukraines accession to NATO. Nawrocki signed the declaration despite broad support for Ukraine among PiS leaders and supporters.

Though Mentzen never formally endorsed Nawrocki, an analysis of Sundays vote found that nearly 90% of Mentzens first-round voters backed Nawrocki in the presidential runoff.

Progressive unity proved much more elusive. Multiple voters told me of friends and colleagues who had voted for some of the most liberal candidates in round one only to vote for Nawrocki in the runoff as a way of sticking it to Prime Minister Tusk, whom they believe has neglected his 2023 campaign promise to expand abortion rights.

Nawrocki, by contrast, garnered overwhelming support in rural areas by focusing on conservative Catholic values and anti-abortion policies. PiS has also cultivated support in farming communities by championing government subsidies for farmers and parents. A major question moving forward is whether these voters simply care more about issues like abortion than foreign policy or are willfully shifting their support away from Ukraine.

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In Warsaw, Polands second tallest building is easily spotted from almost anywhere in the city. The Palace of Culture and Science, built in 1952 above the rubble caused by Nazi bombs, was commissioned by Joseph Stalin as "a gift of the Soviet people for the Poles." Its socialist-realist architectural style hovers above the city as a persistent reminder of former stifling Soviet occupation.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, Poland has experienced steady economic growth, especially recently. The nation now boasts the sixth largest economy in Europe, and the government spent more on defense as a percent of GDP in 2024 than any other EU country. But some Poles fear their countrymen dont fully recognize Putins ambitions to rehang the iron curtain.

"I have hope for Polands future," said Patryk Andrysiak in front of Polands presidential palace on Monday. "I moved back here from England recently because the economy is getting really good. But the election worries me. I dont think Nawrocki will be able to affect Ukraine a lot through his position. But the fact that so many voters chose Nawrocki means that people in Poland are not as worried about Russia attacking Ukraine as they should be. Thats a problem."

Addison Graham is global affairs correspondent for RealClearPolitics.
An 18-year-old is facing felony charges after he was found with a gun during Perry Meridian High Schools graduation ceremony on May 31.

Police say they arrested the man after he was found carrying a gun after a fight involving 30 people broke out at the end of the graduation ceremony held at Southport High School, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Officers at the scene heard reports that someone in the crowd might be armed. Once police arrived near the fight, the crowd dispersed, according to the report.

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Once officers located the man who fit the description of the person possibly carrying a weapon, they detained him and found a fully loaded Glock handgun in his waistband.

The suspect denied involvement in the fight and told police that his gun was initially stored in his vehicle, but he retrieved it after hearing threats of violence following a disturbance, the report says. The suspect also said he did not intend to use the weapon and was attempting to leave the area safely.

More Public safety news: 'We have to protect Gabe:' Brownsburg day care abuse investigation leads to more charges

Possessing a firearm on school property is against state law and could result in felony charges, something that the suspect said he was unaware of. He also voluntarily said that he had a prior juvenile firearm-related offense from June 2024.

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Perry Townships director of communications, Elizabeth Choi, told IndyStar that the gun never entered the school building and wasnt present during the graduation ceremony.

The fight happened outside of the school building after the graduation ceremony, Choi said.

Choi also said that the suspect was not a student at Perry Meridian.

More school news: IPS: Some families must pay for pre-K after budget cuts

The district also had its AI weapons detection system at the event and used it to screen spectators as they entered for the ceremony.

Our weapons detection systems functioned as intended, Choi said. Law enforcement acted diligently in identifying and apprehending the suspect. Safety at major school events, such as graduation, is never taken lightly  these events are the result of months of detailed planning and coordination. We find the recent allegations disheartening and continue to urge our leaders and community to promote greater awareness and use of effective conflict resolution skills.

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IndyStar uses discretion in naming people accused of crimes, considering the severity of charges and available information, among other factors. Suspects may not be named if ongoing reporting of the associated court proceedings is not immediately planned.

Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Man with loaded gun arrested after Perry Meridian graduation fight
LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  The possibility of another regional police department in our area is coming soon.

The Wyoming Area Regional Police Chief is in full support of regionalization for other departments looking to make the change.

He says it creates a more efficient, effective, and resourceful police force; one he now leads.

Rain Rally raises money for Special Olympics

Chief Michael Turner is still finding ways to utilize all the space in his police department.

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In the basement are rooms with resources hes never had before in a police station. Upstairs, most of his leadership team even have their own offices.

It is the best thing that has happened in this area by far.

That best thing happened in 2023, thats when the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department formed, combining five individual police departments -Exeter Township, Exeter Borough, West Pittston, West Wyoming, and Wyoming Borough.

Chief Turner says its provided a stronger foundation for his guys and the nearly 20,000 residents they serve.

The regional department is now stacked with 19 officers who are equipped with more tools, assigned to specific areas of crime, and designated to serve in specific zoning areas across 37 square miles.

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Its a no-brainer. The end game is to provide the best services you can to your community. The best thing to see is when departments work together.

Some reports indicate Edwardsville Borough Police and Larksville Police Department could be coming together in the near future, and Chief Turner gives the idea the thumbs up.

But with change comes challenge, and Chief Turner says staying within the budget is the toughest challenge.

There are challenges with everything, but we spend on what we need, not what we want.

Five stars for five communities, green and gold to represent a local school district, and the Water Street Bridge make up the patch ironed on Chief Turners sleeve. A reminder of the new commitment to service.

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Regionalize, its the answer to law enforcement.

We reached out to both Edwardsville and Larksville police departments, who told us the regionalization plan is in the early stages and couldnt release details.

Chief Turner says after securing more funding, he purchased body cameras, dash cameras, stun guns, and new vehicles.

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The post Police Dispute That Jonathan Joss Was Victim of Hate Crime appeared first on Consequence.

Police in San Antonio say they have found no evidence to suggest King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss was the victim of a hate crime.

Joss was shot and killed on Sunday following a dispute with a neighbor. In a subsequent statement posted to Facebook, Joss husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claimed the shooting was a hate crime. He alleged that during their time living in the neighborhood, the couple had been harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship and had even received threats that their home would be set on fire. That home was, in fact, destroyed in a fire earlier this year. This past weekend, Joss and de Gonzales returned to San Antonio to check their mail when, according to de Gonzales, a neighbor began started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us before opening fire and killing Joss.

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However, in a statement released Tuesday, the San Antonio Police Department said it has found no evidence to indicate that the [sic] Mr. Josss murder was related to his sexual orientation. SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly.

Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez was arrested and charged with Joss murder. He reportedly admitted to police that he shot Joss, but a motive has not yet been established. The two apparently had a previous run-in in 2024, according to a police report.

Several neighbors told KSAT.com that Joss frequently got into disputes with people in the neighborhood over issues involving his dogs, trash, property, and traffic. However, another neighbor told News 4 San Antonio that Joss and de Gonzales were regularly harassed by neighbors because they were gay.

According to San Antonio Express-News, police had been called to Joss San Antonio home a total of 74 times since January  including 11 responses for disturbances, nine for shootings, six for fires, six mental health-related calls, and five welfare checks. There is also some discrepancy surrounding the cause of the fire that destroyed Joss home. In a previous interview with the San Antonio Express-News, Joss himself stated that the blaze may have started after he lit a barbecue grill inside the house. I told them it was my fault, he said at the time. Very easily, it could have started because of my stupidity.

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Joss voiced John Redcorn on King of the Hill from seasons 2 to 13, and had recorded lines for the series upcoming revival set to air on Hulu this summer. He also notably played Chief Ken Hotate on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.

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(Photo by Fish n Fins)



Just a few hours flight from military bases in Japan, South Korea, and Guam lies one of the worlds premier diving destinations Palau. For service members stationed across the Western Pacific, this archipelago of over 300 islands offers an accessible escape to extraordinary underwater adventures that rival destinations requiring much longer journeys.

A Pristine Haven Just Hours Away

For military personnel based in the Pacific, Palau represents an accessible tropical getaway that doesnt require extensive leave time. With United Airlines operating daily flights connecting Guam to Palau in just 90 minutes, and convenient connections from major military hubs in Japan and South Korea, this diving paradise is surprisingly within reach. Service members can take advantage of military rates and special offers that make this world-class destination more affordable than many realize.

Many of our military visitors are amazed that such a renowned diving destination is practically in their backyard, says a representative from Fish n Fins, Palaus premier dive operator. We regularly welcome divers from bases across Japan, Korea, and Guam who come for long weekends or short leaves.

(Photo by Fish n Fins)



Underwater Wonders That Justify the Trip

Palaus waters host an incredibly diverse marine ecosystem that few places on Earth can match. The archipelago boasts over 1,500 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral, creating vibrant underwater landscapes teeming with life.

What truly sets Palau apart is its commitment to marine conservation. In 2015, Palau designated its waters as a marine sanctuary, creating one of the worlds largest protected marine areas. This conservation effort has allowed marine life to flourish, providing divers with extraordinary encounters with sharks, manta rays, turtles, and vast schools of fish.

The diving conditions in Palau are generally excellent year-round, with water visibility often exceeding 100 feet and comfortable temperatures ranging from 82-86F (28-30C). This means service members can plan trips during short leave periods throughout the year without worrying about seasonal limitations.

(Photo by Fish n Fins)



Legendary Dive Sites Within Easy Reach

Blue Corner stands as Palaus most famous dive site, featuring strong currents that attract an astounding concentration of pelagic life. Divers typically hook into the reef and float in the current while observing gray reef sharks, napoleons, barracudas, and massive schools of jacks and snappers swirling in the blue. The experience is often described as flying underwater and represents the pinnacle of Palau diving.

German Channel rivals Blue Corner in fame, offering a corridor where manta rays come to cleaning stations, providing divers with intimate encounters with these gentle giants. Patient divers may also spot reef sharks and occasionally leopard sharks resting on the sandy bottom.

Other must-visit sites include:

Ulong Channel: A thrilling drift dive through a coral-lined channel with vibrant reef life

Blue Holes: A series of caverns with ethereal light effects from sunlight filtering through ceiling openings

Jellyfish Lake: A unique snorkeling experience among millions of non-stinging jellyfish

Peleliu Wall: A dramatic vertical drop-off with incredible visibility and opportunities to spot larger pelagics

(Photo by Fish n Fins)



Planning Your Palau Diving Adventure

For service members looking to maximize limited leave time, working with operators familiar with military schedules is key. Fish n Fins offers the most comprehensive service in Palau, with hotel and dive packages that simplify planning. Their experienced guides - many with decades of experience navigating Palaus currents and reefs - ensure safety and enhance wildlife encounters.

Daily diving typically ranges from $190-250 for two-tank dives, with 5-day packages (10 dives) costing approximately $950-1,250. These packages include boat transportation, tanks, weights, lunch, and professional guides. For those with limited time, even a 3-4 day trip can provide access to many of Palaus iconic sites.

Additional costs to consider include:

Koror State Permit: $50 (valid for 5 days), includes access to the Rock Islands

Jellyfish Lake entry: $100 (includes the $50 Koror State Permit)

Equipment rental: $35-50 per day for full packages, with discounts for longer rentals

(Photo by Fish n Fins)



Military-Friendly Travel Options

United Airlines daily service between Guam and Palau makes the destination particularly accessible for service members. Flights from mainland Japan and South Korea typically connect through Guam, allowing for relatively straightforward itineraries. Many service members take advantage of Space-A travel to Guam when available, then connect commercially to Palau.

Several hotels in Palau offer military discounts, and Fish n Fins provides special rates for service members with valid military ID. These discounts can significantly reduce the overall cost of a diving vacation.

Worth Every Mile

Despite being just a short flight away, Palau delivers an exotic diving experience that rivals much more distant destinations. The combination of exceptional marine life, crystal-clear waters, and world-class dive operations makes it an ideal choice for service members looking to make the most of limited leave time.

Whether youre a seasoned diver or planning your first tropical dive trip, Palau offers unparalleled underwater adventures that are remarkably accessible from military bases throughout the Western Pacific. As one Navy diver stationed in Yokosuka put it, Having Palau just a few hours away makes me appreciate my Pacific assignment even more. Its the diving equivalent of being stationed next to Yellowstone.

For those serving in the Pacific, Palau represents not just a world-class diving destination, but an accessible adventure that can turn even a short leave period into an extraordinary underwater experience.
A 17-year-old high school student killed in an Ohio shooting has been identified.

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Cincinnati Police said Jayshawn Cornelius, 17, died after being shot several times inside a home early Tuesday morning, according to our news partner, WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.

As previously reported by News Center 7, officers found Cornelius shot at the 3000 block of Percy Avenue.

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They found over a dozen bullet holes scattered across the front of the home, WCPO said.

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Police told WCPO that they received a Shotspotter alert around 1:30 a.m.

Shell casings were discovered outside, and police said that this indicated that Cornelius was shot from outside the home, and the bullets went inside, WPOC reported.

Cincinnati Public Schools released a statement on Tuesday.

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Cincinnati Public Schools mourns the death of a Hughes STEM High School student, Jayshawn Cornelius. We recognize this tragic event, and our sympathy and support remain with the family, friends and school community. CPS has counselors available, encouraging families to contact the school for assistance if needed.

The shooting remains under investigation.

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A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with an SUV in a town in New Hampshire on Tuesday, authorities said.

Officers responding to a report of a collision on Charles Bancroft Highway in Litchfield found a damaged Toyota Rav4 and a Harley-Davidson resting in a southbound travel lane, and the motorcycle driver unresponsive on the ground, according to the Litchfield Police Department.

The motorcyclist, who police identified as 41-year-old Jean Lopes, of Hudson, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Preliminary findings indicated that the motorcycle driver struck the rear of the Rav4, police noted.

The New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been tasked with examining Lopes.

An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Voters in Austintown will once again be asked to pay more in property taxes to support its police department.

Austintown Trustees unanimously voted Monday night to place a 2.22 mill, 5-year levy on the November ballot. If passed, it will cost an extra $77 a year for every $100,000 of a propertys valuation  and will bring the police department an additional $2 million a year.

We are at a point where our vehicles are being serviced and its costing a fortune. We need to stay on that capital budget and replace these cars every few years, said Trustee Bruce Shepas.

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When tax levies like these go onto a ballot, one question often asked is why cant they just cut more?

There is nowhere else to cut. Weve done it all. Weve reviewed it line by line. I mean, even the little things, said Shepas.

And weve made the cuts that our residents asked us to, and theres just no more cuts to make without sacrificing the safety and security of our residents, said Trustee Robert Santos.

Austintown had 43 police officers. Now it has 34 because no new ones have been hired in two years.

This levy is about providing safety and security to our public and our officers working that shift, said Shepas.

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This will be the second time Austintown trustees have asked for a police levy. A similar levy failed last November with 52 percent voting no.

I know we had one or two town halls. Well go ahead and expand that to as many as we can, whether one person shows up or 100, Santos said.

Santos said they believe they will get more support from the community this time.

So far, its been split 50/50, but we do believe were going to get a little bit more support, Santos said.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa man is facing two separate felony charges after investigators say he assaulted both a woman and her five-year-old daughter during a visit to a Midland home earlier this month.

32-year-old Pete Anthony Gonzales was arrested on May 20 on two active warrants out of Midland County: one for assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and another for injury to a child due to criminal negligence.

According to multiple affidavits obtained from the Midland Police Department, the incident occurred on May 8, 2025, when Gonzales visited the home of a woman he shares a child with. The woman told officers that Gonzales began playing too roughly with two of her children. When she attempted to intervene, she said Gonzales pushed her to the ground twice and then punched her in the face approximately five times.

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She later sought medical attention and reported pain and swelling in her jaw and cheek. Officers photographed the injuries and forwarded the case to detectives for further investigation.

In a follow-up investigation, Detectives arranged forensic interviews with the womans 5-year-old daughter, who was allegedly assaulted, and an 11-year-old juvenile witness.

According to the 5-year-olds forensic interview, Gonzales slapped her across the face and hit her in the back, causing visible bruises. She also stated that he had thrown her, but did not provide specific details.

Reports showed that the 11-year-old witness told investigators he saw the five-year-old victim run to her mother in distress. He further stated Gonzales followed her to the kitchen, struck the 5-year-old twice, once in the face and once in the back, before grabbing her by the right arm and leg and throwing her across the kitchen and into a wall. He also reported hearing Gonzales physically assault the girls mother.

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Detectives reviewed photographs of the childs injuries and confirmed that her bruises were consistent with the statements given by both juveniles.

Gonzales now faces a Class A misdemeanor for the assault on the woman and a state jail felony for injury to a child. His combined bond was set at $55,000. Gonzales was taken into custody at the Ector County Jail and later transferred to Midland County Jail, where he remains as of June 4, 2025.

Both cases remain pending in Midland County Precinct 3 Justice Court.

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HUBBARD, TWP. Ohio (WKBN)  A woman was taken into custody after a Hubbard Township police officer was injured in a crash early Wednesday morning, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers said Latoya Gibson, 37, of Farrell, was charged with OVI and cited for not keeping an assured clear distance.

Troopers were called to the intersection of Chestnut Ridge Road and Wick Campbell Road in Hubbard Township around 3 a.m.

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According to the Highway Patrol, Gibson was traveling northbound on Wick Campbell Road when the vehicle she was driving hit the back end of a police cruiser. The officer driving the cruiser was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Troopers said drugs and alcohol are suspected to be a factor in the crash.

Troopers were assisted by both Hubbard City and Hubbard Township Police, the Hubbard Fire Department, and towing services.

Gibson awaits her next court date.

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Within a day of Ramon Morales-Reyes' arrest, investigators had concluded he almost certainly was not the person responsible for writing a letter threatening to shoot President Donald Trump.

But that did nothing to prevent Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from touting his arrest, releasing his photo and sharing a copy of the handwritten letter on social media six days later.

The arrest of Morales-Reyes, a 54-year-old Mexican immigrant living in Milwaukee, sparked intense scrutiny from the start.

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He was arrested after dropping off his daughter at school, once considered a sensitive location where immigration arrests should be avoided under earlier administrations. The Trump administration reversed that guidance in January.

After Noem issued the news release, Morales-Reyes' attorneys and family said it was impossible for him to have penned the letter, given his lack of proficiency writing in either English or Spanish.

On June 2, Milwaukee County prosecutors charged someone else with sending the letters. The suspect, Demetric Scott, confessed to forging the letters in the hopes Morales-Reyes would be deported and unavailable to testify against him in a separate robbery case, according to a criminal complaint.

As of June 4, Noem's original statement that described Morales-Reyes as an "illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump" remained online without any correction or additional information.

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Here is a timeline of how the case unfolded, based on court records, and what is coming next:

September 26, 2023: Ramon Morales-Reyes tells police he was robbed of a bicycle

Morales-Reyes tells police he was riding his bicycle on the city's south side when a man approached him and started shouting. He pedaled faster to get away but the man caught up to him and attacked him with a corkscrew, cutting him under his left armpit.

Morales-Reyes described the suspect to police, and officers arrest Demetric Scott in the same area hours later.

Ramon Morales-Reyes

September 28, 2023: Prosecutors charge Demetric Scott with robbery, other counts

Scott is charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, and bail jumping. He also had an open warrant for skipping court in a burglary case from 2022.

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His bail is set at $10,000.

January 24, 2024: Morales-Reyes testifies against Scott

During a jury trial, Morales-Reyes testifies and identifies Scott as the man who robbed and assaulted him. Much of the attack was captured on a nearby Ring doorbell camera.

Scott later testifies in his defense, saying the bicycle was his and had been stolen days earlier. He also says Morales-Reyes threatened him while they were out of view of the Ring camera.

Morales-Reyes denied ever hitting or kicking Scott, telling the prosecutor: "I never wanted to. I never hurt him."

January 26, 2024: Jury fails to reach a verdict in robbery case

The jury is not able to reach a unanimous decision. The court orders a mistrial and scheduled a new trial.

April 27, 2025: Scott remains in jail and a forgery plot takes shape

Scott starts to make calls from the jail to ask people to mail letters on his behalf. The calls are recorded, which is routine in prisons and jails. Investigators did not review the calls until after Morales-Reyes' immigration arrest.

May 21, 2025: ICE receives a letter threatening to shoot Trump

An ICE field intelligence officer receives a handwritten letter in English threatening to assassinate Trump. Morales-Reyes' name and address are on the envelope.

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The Wisconsin Attorney General's Office and the Milwaukee Police Department receive similar letters.

Photo of a letter published by the Department of Homeland Security, allegedly written by Ramon Morales Reyes

May 22, 2025: ICE arrests Morales-Reyes after he drops his child off at school

Immigration agents arrest Morales-Reyes and take him to Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau.

May 22, 2025: Detective interviews Morales-Reyes about the letter threatening Trump

Milwaukee detective Timothy Keller, who is assigned to the FBI-Milwaukee Joint Task Force, interviews Morales-Reyes.

He learns Morales-Reyes cannot read, write, or fluently speak English. He also notices Morales-Reyes' handwriting is "completely different" from what is on the letters.

Keller asks Morales-Reyes who might want to get him in trouble. Morales-Reyes tells him the only person he can think of is Scott, the person he would be testifying against in an upcoming trial scheduled for July 14.

May 23, 2025: Morales-Reyes' attorney says her client is a crime victim in open case

Immigration attorney Kime Abduli tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Morales-Reyes has been in the U.S. for at least 25 years and had recently applied for a U-visa.

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U-visas allow undocumented victims of certain crimes to stay in the U.S. for up to four years if they agree to help law enforcement in the investigation of the crime.

Immigration attorney Kime Abduli speaks at a press conference regarding the arrest of Ramon Morales Reyes by immigration agents on May 30, 2025 in Milwaukee.

May 28, 2025: Homeland Security accuses Morales-Reyes of threatening Trump

Noem, the DHS secretary, issues a statement accusing Morales-Reyes of writing the letter and threatening Trump. She shares his photo and a copy of the letter.

May 28, 2025: Judge signs warrant to search Scott's jail cell

Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Susan Roth signs off on a warrant for investigators to search Scott's jail cell.

May 29, 2025: Supporters call DHS allegation false, say Morales-Reyes' family has received death threats

Morales-Reyes' attorneys and family say it was impossible for him to have penned the letter, given his lack of proficiency writing in either English or Spanish.

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They say since the DHS news release, his family has received death threats.

May 29, 2025: DHS defends arrest of Morales-Reyes

The Journal Sentinel asks DHS why the agency believes the letter was sent from Morales-Reyes.

In response, a DHS senior official said it was an ongoing investigation.

"Over the course of the investigation, this individual was determined to be in the country illegally and that he had a criminal record," the official said in an email. "He will remain in custody."

According to the DHS statement, Morales Reyes entered the U.S. without authorization at least nine times between 1998 and 2005, and had prior arrests for felony hit-and-run, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier.

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Publicly available records in Wisconsin connect a man named Ramon Morales Reyes to two incidents in 1996, one where he was accused of a hit-and-run and another where he was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, related to domestic violence.

Based on available records, prosecutors did not charge the alleged hit-and-run and dismissed the criminal damage charge. The disorderly conduct charge resulted in a non-criminal conviction, which usually refers to a ticket.

May 30, 2025: Suspect confesses to forgery plot to try to get Morales-Reyes deported

Keller, the detective, interviews Scott. Scott admits he wrote the letters and envelopes and that he did so to try to prevent Morales-Reyes from testifying, the complaint says.

That same day, investigators search Scott's jail cell and find a blue pen, an envelope with ICE's contact information and a pink paper note stating that he needed the address for the attorney general's office.

May 30, 2025: Attorneys, advocates for Morales-Reyes call for DHS to retract statement

Attorneys and advocates for Morales-Reyes call for DHS to retract what they describe as a false allegation. The DHS statement remains up.

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"Every minute that passes without the DHS issuing a correction to the serious allegation represents a real threat and danger to the family," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera.

(Left to right) Immigration attorney Cain Oulahan, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director at Voces de la Frontera, immigration attorney Kime Abduli speak at a press conference regarding the arrest of Ramon Morales Reyes by immigration agents on Friday May 30, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wis.

June 2, 2025: Prosecutors charge Scott with witness intimidation, accuse him of forging letters to try to get victim deported

Prosecutors charge Scott with identity theft, felony witness intimidation and two counts of felony bail jumping.

The Journal Sentinel reached out to DHS again and in response, received the same statement the agency released on May 29.

June 4, 2025: Morales-Reyes appears by video in immigration court, DHS releases new statement

Morales-Reyes is scheduled to appear in immigration court in Chicago. The hearing is postponed until June 10, meaning he will remain in ICE custody.

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In response to questions after the hearing, DHS released a statement on June 4, confirming that Morales-Reyes is no longer under investigation for threats against Trump.

(He) will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings as he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier, DHS said in an email.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kristi Noem said man sent Trump death threat. Police say he was framed
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Police arrested Pierre Watson, 31, for weapons possession by a felon, among other charges.

On June 1, around 1:41 a.m., officers pulled over Watsons Chevrolet Monte Carlo when he did not use a turn signal, according to court records. Authorities determined Watson had a suspended drivers license in Illinois.

When officials approached the car, they could smell cannabis and saw an open bottle of Hennessy.

Pierre Watson. Photo: Winnebago County Jail

The suspect was taken into custody but attempted to run away, causing an officer to be injured.

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Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded pistol.

Watson was previously convicted of intending to deliver controlled substances in 2017 and 2020.

He is charged with possession of a firearm without a FOID, transporting an open alcohol container, unlawful possession of cannabis, driving on a suspended license, driving an uninsured vehicle, improper turn signal use, possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of a firearm by a repeat felon, resisting an officer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Prince William County police are searching for a 14-year-old girl they said could be endangered.

25-year-old sentenced to 18 years for series of armed robberies near Anacostia Park

Emma Elise Anderson left her home on Admiral Baker Circle in Haymarket during the early morning on June 1, police said.

Courtesy: Prince William County police

During the ongoing investigation, detectives received additional information which has prompted her to now be considered endangered. She is describe as a 14-year-old girl, 5 feet 5 inches, 102 pounds with long blonde hair, brown eyes and pierced ears.

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Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this person is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or your local 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
A man in central Washington state is wanted on suspicion of murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead.

Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle.

Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with extensive training, was armed.

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On Friday, the mother of the girls, ages 9, 8 and 5, reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said.

Over the weekend authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates.

Police said Deckers unoccupied truck was found Monday near a campground west of the city of Leavenworth, which is about 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee. According to an affidavit, Chelan County Sheriffs Office deputies found the girls bodies about 75 to 100 yards away from the truck, The Seattle Times reported.

Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said.

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Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911. Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker, police said.

The Wenatchee School District said the girls were students of Lincoln Elementary and that counseling services were available.

The mother told police that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. but had not returned them by 8 p.m., and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said.

The detective said she expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and  is currently experiencing some mental health issues.

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What prompted her to call us was that  he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary, Capt. Brian Chance said.

Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not meet the required criteria, Wenatchee police said. The following day Wenatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional information that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert.

The lacking criteria was suspected abduction and imminent peril of death or serious injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.

In this case, it was a parent with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But thats a rather common occurrence and not something where you just automatically assume abduction, he said, adding that there was no indication Decker, a custodial parent who had the children for a visit, would harm them.

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Were people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is  devastating, Loftis said. Everybody always looks to how we can improve.

The alert systems are constantly evolving and this could prompt further change, Loftis said: Obviously it didnt work this time. Obviously, we have three children that are dead.

Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Washington Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren told The Associated Press. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time.

Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge for him, Shagren said.

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This is an absolute tragedy, Shagren said. We are mourning along with the community.

The Chelan County Sheriffs Office, which found the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on potential credible information and tips regarding Deckers location, the agency said in a statement.

The agency was working with US Marshals to locate and apprehend Decker and the search continued Tuesday evening. A reward of up to $20,000 was available for information leading directly to his arrest.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  As Tuesday nights mayoral debate unfolded, WIVB News 4 sat down with political analysts Carl Calabrese and Len Lenihan to dissect the evenings most impactful exchanges and see which candidates made the strongest impression.

According to Calabrese and Lenihan, the defining moments of the night came from State Senator Sean Ryan and Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon. Ryan emphasized a vision for revitalizing Buffalo, while Scanlon laid out his plan to address the citys budget crisis.

Scanlons strongest moment was trying to put forth a plan that, yes, we have a fiscal deficit, but he said, Ive got a plan to do something about it,' Lenihan said. Ryans primary objective was to present a vision for change.

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Both analysts agreed that Ryan and Scanlon emerged as the front-runners in the debate, as they exchanged pointed jabs early on.

One of the most contentious moments came when Ryan linked Scanlon to controversial Republican figure Carl Paladino.

Chris Scanlon has received tens of thousands of dollars from Carl Paladino, Ryan claimed. And Carl Paladino has received tens of millions of dollars from the City of Buffalo. That ratio, Chris  Id say youre a cheap date on this one.

Scanlon quickly pushed back.

That didnt take long. I thought that would come up soon tonight, he said. I have not received $1 in this campaign from Carl Paladino. Who is fueling and funding my campaign are the 1,700 donors in Buffalo and Western New York.

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Calabrese noted Ryans aggressive approach throughout the debate.

He started off with the Paladino issue, ended with the MAGA issue, and went after Scanlon for being chairman of the Budget Committee, Calabrese said. Scanlon, though, landed some strong counterpunches.

While Calabrese and Lenihan said no one really took the edge Tuesday, one candidate that stood out to them was Rasheed Wyatt.

The guy that surprised me was Rasheed Wyatt, Calabrese said. He looked really good tonight. Not only did he have a command of the issues, but his personality came through.

Lenihan agreed, highlighting Wyatts stance on the citys fiscal missteps.

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I think his strongest argument was, Hey, these budgets that ran up the deficit  I didnt vote for them.'

However, Calabrese believed Scanlon missed opportunities to go on the offensive, particularly regarding public safety and bail reform.

If you recall, Senator Ryan supported India Walton for mayor over Byron Brown. India Walton ran on a campaign of cutting 100 police officers and millions from the police budget, Calabrese said. I would have been all over that if I were Scanlon. When the issue of public safety came up, and on bail reform, Scanlon could have cited real examples of crimes committed by individuals released under reforms that Ryan supported.

As the race heads into its final three weeks, both analysts emphasized that this race is very much in the voters hands.

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I think who is going to win this election is going to be the person who puts forth the strongest vision for change in the coming weeks, Lenihan said. Theres still time  three weeks in politics is a lifetime.

Overall, Scanlon looked like he could be mayor, Calabrese said. Ryan looked like he could be mayor and I think Rasheed Wyatt elevated himself up to that level.

Latest Local News

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Popular Japanese store Daiso opening third Twin Cities location this weekend originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

Japanese bargain store Daiso will open its third Twin Cities location this weekend, less than two months after the popular retailer arrived in Minnesota.

The excitement is headed to Woodbury, with the store's grand opening at the Woodbury Village shopping center planned for Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8.

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Shoppers are expected to line-up early for the festivities. Doors open at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday and the first 100 customers to spend at least $30 will receive an exclusive goodie bag.

Daiso at Woodbury Village. Photo by Christine Schuster | Bring Me The News.

Minnesota's first Daiso store opened in Crystal in mid-April and another Daiso opened May 17 in Maplewood's Birch Run Station development.

The variety store sells a wide range of household goods, decor, stationery and office supplies, accessories, beauty products, toys and Asian snacks, candy and beverages - all of which is often priced at less than five bucks.

Photo courtesy of Daiso.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
A popular brand of sparkling water has issued a recall over possible contamination fears.

On Monday, Coca-Cola sent a letter to Costco members announcing that they were voluntarily recalling Topo Chico Mineral Water due to the possible presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that occurs naturally in water sources, including mineral water.

According to the letter sent to customers, the health risks of consuming mineral water with Pseudomonas are very low in healthy individuals and will only cause minor health consequences in people with weakened immune systems.

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The safety and quality of the products we offer our consumers is our top priority, the letter read.

The recall specifically applies to bottles that were sold at select Costco warehouses in Texas and Louisiana from May 20 to May 29, 2025.

The water was sold in Costco locations in Texas and Louisiana (Coca-Cola)

The water bottles were sold in 18-packs and have the lot number 13A2541 printed on both the cases packaging and the neck of the individual bottles.

Customers who have purchased the affected water bottles are urged to return them to their local Costco in exchange for a full refund. Any questions regarding the recall can be directed to Coca-Cola using the phone number 1-800-GET-COKE.

Customers are encouraged to return the affected bottles to their local Costco for a full refund (Getty/iStock)

The news of the recall comes a few days after an ongoing tomato recall had been elevated by the FDA after it found the contamination could lead to death.

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The initial voluntary recall of H&C Farms Label tomatoes was announced at the beginning of May when Williams Farms Repack LLC distributed the potentially contaminated tomatoes to wholesalers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Sold in different-sized packages, ranging from three-packs to 25-pound bags, the tomatoes were distributed between April 23 and 28, according to the FDAs notice.

No illnesses were reported at the time.

The New York Times reported that the FDA upgraded the recall last week to a Class I, described as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

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At this time, the FDA doesnt expect that customers will come into contact with fresh tomatoes from the contaminated batch. However, customers may have frozen the tomatoes for future consumption. Salmonella bacteria can survive for weeks in a wet environment like a freezer.

Customers are urged to throw away any affected tomatoes immediately. The source of the contamination is not known.
Mineral water sold at Costco was voluntarily recalled by Coca-Cola over contamination concerns.

Affected bottles may be contaminated with bacteria called Pseudomonas.

Below, find a list of impacted lots.

Before you crack open a bubbly Topo Chico to beat the heat, check the bottle. Costco recently informed members that bulk cases of the mineral water sold in its warehouses in two states are being voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination with Pseudomonas, a group of bacteria commonly found in soil and water.

Keep reading for all the recall details, including exactly which Topo Chico products are affected and what to do if you purchased them.

Recall details

The potentially contaminated Topo Chico Mineral Waters (item number 1439351) were sold in 18-packs of 16.9-ounce glass bottles in select Costco stores in Texas and Louisiana from May 20 to May 29, 2025, a notice to Costco customers said. Impacted product can be identified by the lot code 13A2541, which is printed on both the bottles cardboard cases and their necks. The beverages were voluntarily recalled by Coca-Cola, their manufacturer. If you have recalled product, do not drink it.

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Pseudomonas poses a low health risk to people with strong immune systems. People most at risk for health consequences are those with low immunity and those who are hospitalized or use medical devices, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most types of the bacteria are highly resistant to antibiotics, and the most common type to cause infections among humans is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the CDC says. Infections can occur throughout the bodyin the blood, lungs, urinary tract, digestive tract, and moredepending on physical exposure, and symptoms vary depending on the infection location, but may include fever, pain, inflammation, discharge from the affected area, itchiness, discomfort, and more, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If you have a weakened immune system and become infected, you can grow sick very quickly. Otherwise, minor cases usually clear up within a few days with proper treatment.

What to do with recalled product

The notice from Costco told customers to return the recalled product to their local Costco for a full refund. If you have questions or concerns regarding the recall, you can direct them to Coca-Cola at 1-800-438-2653. The safety and quality of the products we offer our consumers is our top priority, the statement from Costco reads.

If you or someone in your household becomes ill after being exposed to a recalled product, contact a medical provider immediately.

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Port of Long Beach COO Noel Hacegaba shown in a photo from an interview he conducted with FreightWaves in 2022. (Photo: FreightWaves)

NEW YORK  With the impending formal death of Californias Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, it would be easy to assume efforts to position the states ports at the forefront of adopting a growing percentage of zero-emission vehicles are running into huge headwinds.

But monthly data from the Port of Long Beach continues to show that the number of ZEVs operating at the states largest port is rising. The growth goes on even without the ACF mandate that, had it been implemented, was going to have its biggest initial impact on purchases of new drayage trucks.





In an interview on the sidelines of a presentation by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Noel Hacegaba, the Port of Long Beachs chief operating officer, expressed little concern that the demise of the ACF would mean the end of the ports plan to transition to an all-ZEV fleet by 2035.

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We never expected this journey to be a smooth, seamless one, Hacegabe, who has a doctorate in public administration, said in an interview with FreightWaves. As all of us are learning on different fronts, things can change on a dime, but were not going to deviate from our goals, and were not going to deviate from our plans.

The shift to ZEV drayage vehicles was long planned as one of the first concrete steps the state would take when the ACF was to be implemented at the start of 2024. Under the rule, any new vehicles entered into the states drayage registry would need to be ZEVs. There was no leeway for a low-emission vehicle, like a natural gas-powered truck. The drayage truck would need to be propelled by batteries or hydrogen to be considered a ZEV. If it wasnt, it couldnt be registered.

But when California decided in late 2023 not to begin enforcing the ACF because of the legal battle over whether the state needed a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to implement the rule, that registry mandate was put on hold. With the state withdrawing its request for a waiver during the waning days of the Biden administration, the drayage rule suddenly had no future.





That did not stop some drayage operators from adding ZEVs to their fleet. The Port of Long Beach publishes monthly data on the number of ZEVs operating there and recently also has reported how many are battery-electric vehicles and how many operate on hydrogen. As the graph in the below post on X shows, that growth has not stopped: Total ZEVs have been up every month since the start of 2024. What cannot be known is how high the number would be had the mandate gone into effect.

The end of the California Advanced Clean Fleets rule is still not showing up in data on zero emission vehicles at the port of Long Beach, which is still rising. They are up 92.6% from a year ago. Split this month was 465 battery electric vehicles, 80 #hydrogen. pic.twitter.com/X8xHGoIHL8  John Kingston (@JohnHKingston) May 29, 2025

In the interview, Hacegaba noted that the port has been collecting a $10 fee per twenty-foot equivalent unit since April 2022 to create a pool of money that would help the transition to more ZEV drayage vehicles. That fund is still in place, even if the ACF is not.

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Right from the very beginning, it was always intended to help incentivize the industry transition to zero-emission trucks, Hacegaba said. In light of some of the developments on the policy front, our intent is to look for ways to accelerate the transition.

Growth in charging infrastructure

An early push, according to Hacegaba, was to install more charging facilities at the port. He said as a result of that initiative, there are now 100 charging stations within the port. The plan is to increase that to 300 within 18 months. As a result, he said, the supply of charging stations is now adequate.

Now were going to pivot once again and look for ways to help incentivize the transition of cleaner trucks through incentives, Hacegaba said in discussing how the clean truck assessment money will be used next.

The ACF was always meant to work hand in hand with the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which did receive a waiver from the Biden administration EPA. (That waiver is now threatened by congressional action.)

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ACF was to mandate that fleets buy ZEVs, not just for drayage but for other trucking uses. And with that mandate in place, ACT was to lay out how OEMs would need to supply California with ZEVs to meet the demand coming out of the ACF.

Will the trucks be available?

With the ACF now dead in all but name, the question since January has been whether OEMs will build the ZEVs the state continues to seek in the absence of the ACF.





Hacegaba was cautiously optimistic about OEMs delivering enough ZEVs to meet the goals of the California ports to free themselves from internal combustion engines.

He noted that there are still subsidies and incentives funded by the state, and that its programs could be expanded. There is an opportunity for ports like ours and the state to step in and see how we could potentially close the gap and make these trucks more affordable, he said.

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And if that happens, he added, that will give comfort to these manufacturers that there is still market interest. That will go a long way.

Hacegaba also suggested that the ongoing bankruptcy of hydrogen truck manufacturer Nikola could present an opportunity for the state to step in and acquire assets from the company. Were looking at ways to help incentivize the utilization of these hydrogen assets, he said.

Although the number of ZEV trucks is rising, other data in the ports monthly report shows how tough it will be to get to a full ZEV fleet, especially without a mandate.

In the latest report for April, even with the number of ZEVs up 92.5% from April 2024, the percentage of all moves within the port carried out by a ZEV rose only to 1.78%. It was 1.25% a year ago.

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And while natural gas-powered drayage trucks are not seen as having a long-term future in an all-ZEV port, some advocates believe they do have a role in cleaning up emissions.

But natural gas vehicles in April accounted for 4% of all port moves. A year earlier, in April 2024, it was 7%.

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The post Port of Long Beach fully behind push for ZEV trucks despite ACF failure: COO appeared first on FreightWaves.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A former preschool worker at a Rockford church is heading to prison for stealing thousands of dollars over several years.

Susan Kacsits, who worked as a bookkeeper and accountant at St. Peters Lutheran Preschool, was sentenced Wednesday to 1.5 to 20 years in prison.

Former preschool bookkeeper pleads in embezzlement case

Kent County Circuit Court Judge Christina Mims also ordered that Kacsits pay $209,619 in restitution.

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The embezzlement was discovered a year ago. Some 50 instances of siphoning going back several years came to light amid the probe.

Kacsits, 61, wrote checks from the school and deposited them into her own accounts, according to a police report and court records.

She could not articulate why she thought it was okay to take the money, a Rockford police officer wrote in a June 2024 police report. She stated she had no excuse and no reason for taking the money.

Woman charged with embezzling thousands from Rockford preschool

Kacsits was hired as bookkeeper in 2008 and was a paid employee, according to a police report.

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She pleaded no contest in April to embezzlement of more than $100,000, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Kacsits is at the Kent County jail, awaiting transfer to the state prison system.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Washington has doubled its tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50% as President Donald Trump seeks to exclude foreign producers from the US market.

The directive, which the White House shared on X, claimed that the rise would provide greater support to US industries, and would eliminate the national security threat posed by imported steel and aluminium.

Nobody is going to get around that, Trump said when first discussing the raise at a rally in Pennsylvania last Friday. At 25%, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50% they can no longer get over the fence.

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While Washington claims that excluding foreign producers will support employment in the US, critics argue that it also jeopardises domestic jobs. As materials become more expensive and the cost of production rises, US firms may let go of staff to trim costs.

Its estimated that steel and aluminium tariffs introduced during Trumps first term in 2018 destroyed 75,000 US manufacturing jobs, while creating 1,000 extra jobs in the steel industry.

Wednesdays tariff hike also creates added friction with international trade partners ahead of Trumps 9 July deadline, when his so-called reciprocal tariff pause will end. In April, Trump temporarily halted proposed duties on a number of countries. The presidents team at the time said they were aiming for 90 deals in 90 days.

So far, the US has only managed to secure a trade deal with the UK, meaning that British steel and aluminium producers will continue to pay a rate of 25%  at least for now.

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Related

The presidents tariff proposals also faced a significant legal blow last week. The New York-based Court of International Trade and a federal court in Washington ruled that Trump did not have the authority to impose tariffs on nearly every one of the world's countries  a battle predicted to end up in the Supreme Court.

Steel and aluminium levies were not part of that ruling, although Washington will likely want to show its determination to push ahead with duties.

As the latest hike comes into effect, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will meet his US counterpart Ambassador Jamieson Greer on Wednesday on the sidelines of an OECD meeting in Paris.
By Alexander Cornwell

TEL AVIV (Reuters) -A member of Israel's right-wing coalition threatened to quit the cabinet on Wednesday and support an opposition motion to dissolve parliament tabled for next week, piling pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Latest opinion polls suggest that Netanyahu's coalition would lose power if an election was held today, with many voters unhappy over the continued war in Gaza prompted by the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel in October 2023.

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United Torah Judaism, one of two ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, said it would withdraw from the government unless it secured last-minute concessions formalising an exemption for ultra-Orthodox men from military service.

The opposition party Yesh Atid, led by former prime minister Yair Lapid, put forward a parliamentary vote for next week to topple the government, even as the Israeli army continues battling Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It would require the support of 61 out of the 120 members of the parliament to succeed.

"This Knesset (parliament) is finished. It has nowhere to go," Lapid said.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has remained silent on the looming crisis.

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A spokesperson for United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf told Reuters the party would vote in favour of dissolving parliament unless exemption legislation was passed.

With a week until the vote, Netanyahu and his allies still have time to negotiate over an issue that has dogged the coalition for months.

A source close to the government said, on condition of anonymity, that negotiations within the coalition were continuing.

Netanyahu's coalition of secular right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties holds an 8-seat majority in parliament. United Torah Judaism has 7 seats while its ally, Shas, the other ultra-Orthodox party, has 11.

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BETTING ON A BLUFF

The coalition is sharply divided over whether young ultra-Orthodox men who are studying in religious seminaries should be exempt from mandatory military service.

Failing to pass an exemption risks a walkout by ultra-Orthodox lawmakers, while approving it could trigger a protest exit by secular parties.

Coalition member Ohad Tal of Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party criticized Goldknopf for threatening to trigger elections and called on the ultra-Orthodox lawmaker to resign.

He urged others to negotiate a new arrangement but that a blanket exemption from military service could no longer stand.

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Former Knesset member Ofer Shelah said Netanyahu was likely betting the ultra-Orthodox lawmakers were bluffing, given the polls suggested they faced defeat in any early election.

In March, ultra-Orthodox lawmakers threatened to bring down the government over the same issue, but time passed without any action. Resentment over the informal exemption given to religious seminary students is growing and lawmakers from the ruling coalition and opposition ranks say it is no longer tenable.

Netanyahu won election in 2022 and does not have to return to the polls until 2026. Historically, few Israeli governments serve a full term.

He has faced widespread criticism for failing to prevent the surprise October 2023 Hamas attack that killed roughly 1,200 people, and is facing growing calls from protesters and families of hostages still held in Gaza to end the war to secure their release.

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But some in his coalition say the war must continue until Hamas is eradicated.

Political analysts say that the ultra-Orthodox lawmakers could simply quit the government to protest their failure to secure concessions, without toppling the ruling coalition.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Tel Aviv, additional reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Philippa Fletcher)
The world is facing daunting health challenges with the rise of zoonotic diseases  infections that are transmissible from animals to humans. These diseases  which include Ebola, avian flu, COVID-19 and HIV  show how the health and wellbeing of humans, animals and ecosystems are closely connected.

Zoonotic diseases have become more and more common due to factors such as urbanisation, deforestation, climate change and wildlife exploitation. These dangers are not limited by borders: they are global and demand a coordinated response.

By looking at health holistically, countries can address the full spectrum of disease control  from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and management  and contribute to global health security.

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The World Health Organization has a basis for such an approach: One Health. This recognises the interdependence of the health of people, animals and the environment and integrates these fields, rather than keeping them separate.

I lead the health programme at the International Livestock Research Institute, where we are looking for ways to effectively manage or eliminate livestock-related diseases, zoonotic infections and foodborne illnesses that disproportionately affect impoverished communities.

My work focuses on the link between health and agriculture, food safety, and infectious and zoonotic diseases.

For example in Kenya we are part of an initiative of the One Health Centre in Africa to roll out canine vaccination and have so far vaccinated 146,000 animals in Machakos county.

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In Ethiopia and Vietnam we worked in a programme to improve the hygiene practices of butchers in traditional markets.

In another project we work in 11 countries to strengthen One Health curricula in universities.

The lessons from the One Health projects implemented with partners across Asia and Africa are that theres an urgent need for action on three fronts. These are: stronger cross-sectoral collaboration; greater engagement with policymakers to translate research findings into actionable strategies; and the development of adaptable and context-specific interventions.

But, having been active in this area for the last decade, I am impatient with the slow pace of investment. We know that prevention is better than cure. The cost of prevention is significantly lower than that of managing pandemics once they occur. Urgent steps, including much higher levels of investment, need to be taken.

Whats in place

In 2022 the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Organisation for Animal Health developed a joint One Health plan of action. They identified key areas to respond more efficiently to health threats. These included:

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Reducing risks from emerging and re-emerging zoonotic epidemics. Actions include, for example, tightening regulations around farming and trade in wildlife and wild animal products.

Controlling and eliminating endemic, zoonotic, neglected tropical and vector-borne diseases by understanding the attitudes and knowledge of communities bearing the greatest burdens of these diseases. And boosting their capacity to fight them.

Strengthening action against food safety risks by monitoring new and emerging foodborne infections.

Curbing the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance, one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.

Other collaborations include the Prezode (Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence) initiative to research all aspects of diseases of animal origin. This was launched in 2021 by French president Emmanuel Macron.

The Africa One Health University Network operates in ten African countries to address One Health workforce strengthening in Africa.

One Health has gained traction globally. But theres still a great deal to be done.

The cost of inaction

According to a 2022 World Bank estimate, preventing a pandemic would cost approximately US$11 billion per year, while managing a pandemic can run up to US$31 billion annually. So the investment return of 3:1 is an important reason to call for investment in One Health.

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The Pandemic Fund was launched in November 2022 by leaders of the Group of 20 nations and hosted by the World Bank Group to help low- and middle-income countries prepare better for emerging pandemic threats. US$885 million has been awarded to 47 projects to date through the two rounds in the last three years.

However, relative to the US$11 billion per year required for prevention, this investment is modest. Urgent investment in One Health needs to be made by countries themselves, in particular low- and middle-income countries.

The last two World One Health congresses (in Singapore in 2022, and in Cape Town in 2024) called for investment in One Health. There were also calls for investment in One Health at regional level to prevent zoonotic diseases and the next pandemic.

At the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) formally adopted by consensus the worlds first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This is major global progress in One Health and disease prevention.

But the lessons of COVID-19 have shown us that the cost of inaction is incalculable in terms of lives lost, economic turmoil and societal disruption. To date, there have been over 777 million cases of COVID-19, including more than 7 million deaths worldwide.

According to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, COVID will have caused a cumulative production loss of US$13.8 trillion by 2024.

The choice is clear: invest today to prevent tomorrows pandemics, or pay a heavy price in the future.

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: Hung Nguyen-Viet, International Livestock Research Institute

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Hung Nguyen-Viet does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
UPDATE (3:43 p.m.): The Prichard Police Department has begun an internal investigation after one of its police officers was arrested in Orange County, Florida.

According to a news release from PPD, the department learned of David Cunninghams involvement in the May 24 incident on June 2.

We are currently awaiting an investigative report from the Harrison County Sheriffs Office to gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances, the release said. It has been brought to our attention that Officer Cunningham was operating a city vehicle across state lines at the time of the incident, which is a potential violation of departmental policy.

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The release continued, saying an internal investigation has begun to determine whether Cunningham violated any department policies in this incident.

We take these matters seriously and are committed to ensuring full accountability and transparency throughout the process, the release said.

Prichard Mayor Jimmie Gardner and Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight confirmed to News 5 that Cunningham has since been fired.

UPDATE (3:02 p.m.): The Harrison County (Miss.) Sheriffs Office has provided more information after a Prichard police officer was arrested in Orange County, Florida.

According to an HCSO news release, 22-year-old David Cunningham of Mobile, Alabama, was arrested on a felony count of kidnapping. Kristin Allen of Gulfport, Mississippi, was arrested on a charge of hindering prosecution.

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Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley said the sheriffs office received a call on May 24 about possible shots fired at a house party on the 14000 block of Audubon Lake Blvd.

LOCATION:

On the scene, deputies learned the homeowners dog was accidentally shot during recreational gunfire, and the person responsible left the scene in the back seat of a marked Prichard police vehicle. Other deputies found the vehicle leaving the area and conducted a traffic stop, HCSO officials said.

Deputies identified the driver of the Prichard police vehicle as Cunningham, an off-duty Prichard police officer. He was wearing his firearm and PPD badge. They also identified Allen as a passenger.

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According to HCSO, deputies learned a 21-year-old man was handcuffed in the backseat of the police vehicle. The deputies removed the handcuffs and released the man from the vehicle.

HCSO officials said further investigation determined Cunningham received a phone call from the party and went to the house. After arriving, Cunningham saw the 21-year-old man arguing with the homeowner, handcuffed him, put him in the patrol vehicle and left.

At no time was local law enforcement notified by Cunningham or Allen, the HCSO release said.

A warrant was then issued for Cunninghams arrest for kidnapping as he was out of state with no enforcement powers, detained an individual and removed him from the scene, according to HCSO.

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Sheriffs office officials said Allen helped Cunningham create multiple versions of the event to help justify detaining the 21-year-old man, which led to a warrant being issued for Allen hindering prosecution.

Allen turned herself in on Monday, June 2, to the Harrison County Adult Detention Facility. Her bond is $50,000.

Cunningham was arrested on Tuesday, June 3, in Orlando, Florida, by Orange County deputies. His bond will be $500,000 once he is extradited to Mississippi, according to HCSO.

UPDATE (11:50 a.m.): Mobile Police Department officials have released information regarding Prichard Police Department Officer David Cunninghams previous employment.

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According to MPD, Cunningham resigned from his position on the force in February 2025 while under administrative investigation.

Cunningham was arrested Wednesday in Orange County, Florida, and was charged with kidnapping a minor.

PREVIOUS REPORTING

PRICHARD, Ala. (WKRG)  A Prichard Police Department officer has been arrested in Orange County, Florida.

According to the jail log, 22-year-old David DeWayne Cunningham was arrested on a charge of kidnapping a minor out of Harrison County, Miss.

A mugshot of David Cunningham (Orange County Sheriffs Office).

We are working to gather more information at this time.

This story is developing. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Amid the rift thats going on with Harry and King Charles, Prince William has taken up the reins on a role that was meant for Harry. The Prince of Wales took up a traditional military role recently.

Prince William was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps (ACC) in 2024 after his fathers coronation. The King handed him the position at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. Its widely thought that Prince Harry would get this role since in 2012, he served as an Apache helicopter commander and co-pilot gunner with the Army Air Corps. Since the latter stepped down from his Royal duties, William was responsible for taking over.

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Prince William also served in the British Army with the Blues and Royals and as an RAF search and rescue pilot. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry opened up about his experience in flying the Apache helicopter and how he described killing 25 people as removing chess pieces.

Related: William Is Done With Harry After His Abhorrent Behavior Toward CharlesHe Caused Irreparable Harm

He was criticized by British military officials, but defended his choice to share his story with the public. He told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, I made a choice to share it because having spent nearly two decades working with veterans all around the world, I think the most important thing is to be honest and be able to give space to others to be able to share their experiences without any shame.

Prince Williams visit to the ACC comes weeks after there were reports that the future King wont be easy on his brother when he takes the throne. An insider told The Daily Beast that the Prince of Wales wants to strip his brother and sister-in-law of their HRH titles , Its no secret William wants Harry more harshly dealt with. He thinks he has betrayed the family from top to bottom, which is the ultimate Windsor crime. It wouldnt take much to provoke him to flex his muscles when he is king.

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The source explained that Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, has a different approach to Harry and Meghan that William wants to change when he ascends to the throne. Charles isnt going to open a new front in the civil war on the basis of one Instagram post, and its not as if they are calling themselves HRH. I think everyone is pretty clear, at this stage, what the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs position in the family is, the insider said.



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Prince William Takes Over King Charles' Title in Royal First Amid Cancer Battle originally appeared on Parade.

Prince William officially took over the title of King Charles in a royal first amid the British monarch's cancer battle.

On Wednesday, June 4, the Prince of Wales, 42, made his first visit to 4 Regiment Army Air Corps at Wattisham as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, GB News reported.

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Prince William officially took over the role in May 2024 when King Charles, 76, handed it down to him at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop.

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However, he had yet to travel to the 4 Regiment Army Air Corps after his father passed down the title.

Prince William, Prince of Wales (R) meets members of the 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (4AAC) at the Army Air Corps, in Wattisham, eastern England, on June 4, 2025. (Photo by Arthur Edwards/POOL/ FP via Getty Images)

After his trip, the future king took to Instagram to thank the soldiers for their time and service.

"Proud to visit the Army Air Corps as its Colonel-in-Chief. Great to spend time with the soldiers and their families here at Wattisham Air Base," Prince William captioned his update. "Thank you for the warm welcome and heartening to see the strength of the regiments community."

The husband of Kate Middleton and father of three continued, "Very impressed by the relentless commitment, physical capability and mental acuity on display at the combat PT session. An excellent reflection of the Army Air Corps readiness and professionalism!"

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To conclude his update, Prince William wrote, "A huge thank you to the soldiers and families of the AAC for the warm welcomeand for everything you do."

In February 2024, King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis. Prince William and other members of the royal family have stepped up to take on more responsibilities as the reigning monarch continues treatment.

Prince William and Middleton's son, Prince George, 11, is the next heir to the throne after his father. His siblings, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, follow him in the line of succession.

After that, the line jumps to William's brother, Prince Harry, and his children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

Next: Meghan Markle Reveals Daughter Princess Lilibet's Face in Rare Photo & Fans Are Saying the Same Thing

Prince William Takes Over King Charles' Title in Royal First Amid Cancer Battle first appeared on Parade on Jun 4, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are saying goodbye to the toddler years with their younger child.

On June 4, 2025, the couple's daughter, Lilibet Lili Diana Mountbatten Windsor, now Princess Lilibet of Sussex, celebrated her 4th birthday, with her mom sharing new photos of her to mark the occasion.

Lilibet was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 2021, two years after her big brother, Archie Harrison, in May 2019.

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During a November 2022 episode of her Archetypes podcast, Meghan said that she was in the thick of it" with two toddlers.

Despite the demands of parenthood, Prince Harry told Today host Hoda Kotb while promoting the Invictus Games in 2022 that he is greatly enjoying fatherhood.

I love it. I love every part of it. Ive always wanted to be a dad, he said. Ive always wanted to have my own kids, and now I got two little people who Im responsible for."

Lili is the youngest grandchild of King Charles. Even though Harry and Meghan have a strained relationship with the royal family, they hope their children will have a close connection with them.

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"I've said before that I've wanted a family, not an institution  so of course, I would love nothing more than for our children to have relationships with members of my family, and they do with some, which brings me great joy," Harry said in a 2023 PEOPLE cover story.

Here's everything to know about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter, Lilibet Diana.

She was born in June 2021 in Santa Barbara

Netflix Meghan Markle and Lilibet

The couple welcomed Lili on June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif. She was born at 11:40 a.m. and weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz.

On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family," the second-time parents wrote on their Archewell website shortly after her arrival.

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Members of the royal family also congratulated the couple on their new addition, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, who wrote a congratulatory message on their official Instagram account.

"We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie," they captioned a photo of a pregnant Markle holding Archie in her arms with Harry embracing them from behind.

She is named after Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana

Netflix Meghan Markle and Lilibet

In a statement released after Lilis birth, which was during Queen Elizabeths reign, the couple detailed the special meaning behind their daughters name.

Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

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The name Lilibet was affectionately used by Queen Elizabeth's father King George VI, who once said of his two daughters, "Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy." It was a pet name used by other family members, most notably her late husband, Prince Philip.

When Prince Philip died in 2021, his casket was adorned with a handwritten note from Queen Elizabeth signed Lilibet.

Prince Harry and Meghan sought Queen Elizabeths approval for using her nickname as their daughters moniker.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told PEOPLE in a statement, "The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement, in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called. During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honor. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name."

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Lili also serves as a tribute to Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who gave Meghan the childhood nickname "Flower."

She is a princess

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 2021 holiday card

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, Harrys father, King Charles, immediately became monarch. As grandchildren to the monarch, Archie and Lili were afforded the titles of prince and princess under a 20th-century rule.

The rule, established by King George V after he issued a Letters Patent in 1917, read: "  the grandchildren of the sons of any such sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes of these our realms."

The siblings did not have these titles at birth since their grandfather was not a monarch then. PEOPLE understands that the titles will be used in more formal settings and not in everyday use.

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In February 2024, Lili became Princess Lilibet of Sussex when her parents adopted Sussex as the family's last name.

She is the first grandchild of King Charles to be born in the U.S.

Netflix Newborn Lilibet

After stepping back as working royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan left the U.K. and temporarily moved to Canada before settling in the United States, specifically Montecito, Calif.

Although Lili wasnt the first royal baby to be born in America  Lord Frederick Windsor (the son of Queen Elizabeths cousin, Prince Michael of Kent) and his wife Sophie Winkleman welcomed their daughter, Maud Windsor, in California in 2013  she did make history by being the first great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth and the first grandchild of King Charles to be born in the U.S.

She is 7th in line to the throne

Netflix Meghan Markle with Lilibet and Archie

Both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are in the line of succession to the British throne. Their father is currently fifth in line to the throne, behind Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, with Archie is sixth and Lilibet seventh.

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However, if any of Prince William and Kate Middletons children have kids, the succession order will change with Prince Harry and his children moving down in the list.

Her godfather is Tyler Perry

Netflix Tyler Perry, Lilibet

In the final episode of the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, Tyler Perry  who offered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex his California home to move into after they stepped back from royal duties temporarily  revealed that the couple called him and asked him to be Lilis godfather after she was born.

The filmmaker shared that while their chats are more lighthearted, they "were pretty serious on the phone" when they called to ask.

"I go, 'Okay, what's going on?' They said, 'Well, we'd like for you to be Lili's godfather.' I go, 'Whoa,' " Perry said. "I had to take a minute to take that in. And I thought, 'I'd be honored. I'd absolutely be honored.' "

She has red hair like her father and brother

Netflix Lilibet crawling in the grass

Even though the world first got a glimpse of Lili when she was a few months old on the front of the family's 2021 holiday card, it wasnt until her first birthday when the parents released a portrait of their daughter that it was noticeable she took after her dad in the hair department.

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While promoting his memoir Spare on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Harry joked that the ginger gene is a strong one, as their son Archie also has a tint of red hair.

"The Spencer gene is very, very strong," Harry said, referring to his mothers side of the family as all three of her siblings  Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Charles, 9th Earl Spencer  have naturally red hair.

I actually really, genuinely thought at the beginning of my relationship [with Meghan] that should this go the distance and we have kids that there's no way the ginger gene will stand up to my wife's genes, but I was wrong!"

She started walking shortly after her first birthday

Netflix Lilibet's first birthday

According to Prince Harry, Lili took her first steps around 10 months old.

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"Her current priorities are trying to keep up with her brother; she took her first step just a few days ago!" the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview in April 2022. Proud papa, here."

A few months later, the Duchess of Sussex revealed during a November 2022 Archetypes podcast that Lili was officially walking.

"Lili has just started walking," Meghan told her guest, actress Pamela Adlon, in a conversation about being a wife and mother. "She's a year and a couple of months old."

She got to meet her namesake, Queen Elizabeth, before the monarchs death in 2022

Netflix/Youtube Prince Harry, Lili, Archie and Meghan Markle

Shortly after Lilis birth, the newborn had a very important family engagement to attend  meeting her namesake and great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

The prompt introduction, which happened via a video call, highlights the bond Harry shared with his grandmother, which grew stronger after his mothers tragic death in 1997.

"My grandmother and I were very close, and we very much did have a special relationship," he told PEOPLE in an exclusive cover story in 2023.

It is believed Queen Elizabeth got to meet her great-granddaughter in person when the Sussexes traveled to the U.K. for the Queens Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.

The Duke of Sussex recalled fond memories he has of his late grandmother spending time with his children in his memoir, Spare.

"I couldn't stop picturing them with Granny, he wrote. The final visit. Archie making deep, chivalrous bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch's shins. Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused. She'd expected them to be a bit more ... American, I think? Meaning, in her mind, more rambunctious."



Meghan shared new photos of her in honor of her 4th birthday

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram Meghan Markle and Lili Meghan Markle and Lili

When Lilibet turned 4 on June 4, her proud mom shared previously unseen photos of her and Harry with their daughter on Instagram. In one photo, the two snuggled together on a boat. The second photo appeared to have been taken shortly after Lili's birth as she lay on her mom's chest.

"Happy birthday to our beautiful girl!" Meghan wrote. "Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!"

In another post, Meghan shared photos of Harry with a newborn Lili and the two walking through the sand together.

"The sweetest bond to watch unfold  Daddys little girl and favorite adventurer. Happy birthday Lili!" she wrote.

Read the original article on People
Princetons President Christopher Eisgruber has positioned himself as perhaps the leading academic defender against the Trump administrations crackdown on universities, citing the importance of universities and academic freedom, as well as his belief that the administration has greatly overreached in its attacks, especially against Harvard.

Yet his ability to lead credibly this defense was challenged in April by an event at Princeton featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is considered one of the favorites to succeed Benjamin Netanyahu next year. Demonstrators inside McCosh Hall shouted Bennett down and a fire alarm was pulled, apparently by a protester, ending the event. Outside, Jewish attendees were called "inbred swine," among other slurs, and told to "go back to Europe." President Eisgruber apologized to Bennett and university officials promised a serious investigation. A number of observers noted the importance of Princeton enforcing its rules in this situation. I attended the April 7 event, and I volunteered to speak as a witness to university investigators, with whom I met twice for over two hours.

I was therefore shocked when on May 19 I received the results of that investigation in a letter from a university official: No students would be disciplined for their premeditated disruption and blatant antisemitism. As a result, seniors who participated in breaking the rules have now graduated without consequence. Whats more, no meaningful actions would be taken to preclude the same type of disruption and antisemitism from occurring in the future. For all his public statements about how good things are at Princeton, Eisgrubers system failed its first test.

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In a written report sent to me and signed by Michele Minter, Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity, the university admitted that the protestors "created a hostile environment that unreasonably interfered with [my] educational experience [as an attendee] relating to the April 7th event in violation of [Princetons] Policy on Discrimination and/or Harassment." Yet my personal experience is not the real point. The real point is that Princeton allowed a visiting speaker, a high-ranking Jewish leader, to be shut down, and allowed masked protesters to shout antisemitic slurs at Jewish students with complete impunity.

It is most interesting that the report on the investigation was sent to me, and it seems only to me, on May 19, apparently because the university had chosen to treat my letter, with another student, to Eisgruber about the event as a formal "complaint" by me. The report was only made public, barely, on May 21, after I had indicated to officials that I might make it public. Its results were evidently sent to a very few outlets, via email. As far as I can tell, this important report was never formally announced to the public, was not in a press release, and appears nowhere on the Princeton website. It sure looks as though the university is trying to hide its own report.

The university says it cannot punish people who were shouting antisemitic slurs because it cannot identify them since it was dark and they were wearing masks. Yet the university says nothing about implementing a policy banning masks in certain situations, even though I specifically requested it do so and even though many universities are doing so, including the entire University of California system. Princetons report says nothing about implementing meaningful policies that would prevent the same spectacle from occurring in the future. Thus, Princeton is sending a clear signal to those who would violate its rules and the law: Wear a mask and you can abuse Jews on campus. This is absurd.

At the event, protesters were given multiple warnings before they were told to leave, thus enabling the disruptions to last longer. After I raised this issue with officials, they did change that policy to limit the number of warnings, but this was too little too late.

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As if all this is not bad enough, the letter from Dean Minter says nothing about prosecuting an outside agitator - a non-student - who separately disrupted the event by shouting awful slurs at the speaker for several minutes. First, he should not have been allowed into the event; it was limited to students. Second, he not only broke Princeton rules, but he also clearly violated New Jersey law relating to a "defiant trespasser." Instead of prosecution, the university said it was declaring him "persona non grata" and banning him from the school for a year. This looks like a joke, but it isnt. This is someone who has nothing to do with Princeton. It is a penalty without meaning.

Amazingly, last week at Princetons reunions, all speaking events were required to have a statement read at the beginning telling the audience that disruptions could be subject to prosecution under a New Jersey law; yet only a few days before, Princeton had indicated that someone who clearly broke that law would not be prosecuted.

Eisgruber pledged after the April 7 event to "pursue disciplinary measures, as appropriate, to the extent any members of the Princeton University community are implicated" and spoke against the "reprehensible and intolerable" antisemitism.I suppose that "as appropriate" is meaningful only insofar as the university can maintain plausible deniability.

Princetons president constantly talks about Princetons free speech rules, and yet when tested, the university will not enforce them. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires universities that receive federal funding to provide a learning environment free from racial and ethnic harassment. The Trump administration has already suspended a reported $210 million in grants to Princeton over previous concerns about antisemitism. If Princeton wont take basic steps to protect its students and enforce its rules, the Department of Education must.

Danielle Shapiro recently graduated from Princeton University with a degree in politics. She is a former president of the Princeton Open Campus Coalition, Princetons sole club committed to the Truth-seeking mission.
Mike Quinn and Mike Conder of Arrington Watkins consultants in Phoenix, speak to members of the Project Prison Reset work group on June 3, 2025 in Pierre, SD. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  After years of political upheaval, court battles and legislative tugs-of-war, the plan to build a new mens prison in Lincoln County south of Harrisburg is dead.

Members of the Project Prison Reset work group spent more than eight hours at the Capitol on Tuesday running through possible site locations, building designs, budget needs and public comments before voting unanimously to scratch the original site from its list of replacement options for the aging state penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

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Also gone? The former Citibank site in Sioux Falls, a patch of land outside of Huron, a former cheese plant in Grant County  and more than $50 million in cash, spent to prepare the Lincoln County site for a prison that now wont be built.

The members set a $600 million cap on a penitentiary replacement, budgeting for between 1,500 and 1,700 beds  about the same capacity as the original Lincoln County site, but $125 million under that versions guaranteed maximum price.

The legislature spent three years dumping money into an incarceration construction fund in the run up to February, the month lawmakers balked at the Lincoln County projects location and price tag. The project needed but couldnt secure two-thirds majority support. The failure spurred the creation of the prison reset group by Gov. Larry Rhoden, whod pushed for the Lincoln County prison.

Now, the task force has asked the states contractor, JE Dunn, to study a site in Mitchell, another near Worthing, and state-owned land on the grounds of the Mike Durfee Prison in Springfield and at the penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

South Dakota Speaker of the House Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, speaks at a meeting of the Project Prison Reset work group on June 3, 2025 in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

House Speaker and task force member Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, said the new parameters are a departure from the original plan, but a necessary step to find consensus.

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The Legislature has already said we dont need that big of a prison, we dont want to spend that much money all in one big shot, Hansen said.

You need to build beds now

In a report presented to the group Tuesday, consultants with Phoenix-based Arrington Watkins Architects projected that the states total prison population will grow by 31.7% by 2036  from 3,926 in 2025 to 5,172 in 2036. Thats largely driven by the states truth in sentencing law, which requires people convicted of violent offenses to serve between 85% and 100% of their sentences, depending on the category of their crime.

Even without considering projected growth in prison population, the consultants said, every correctional facility in South Dakota is beyond its capacity now. The state needs more than 1,500 beds to deal with current capacity issues at Durfee and the penitentiary are needed immediately.

You need to build beds now, said Mike Quinn, managing principal at Arrington Watkins.

The parameters set Tuesday significantly restrict the projects scope, said Vance McMillan, senior vice president of JE Dunn. That includes additions to existing facilities or building cheaper, steel-celled options thatll last 50 years. The original campus-style prison was meant to stand for 100 years.

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A hundred years is out the door with the new budget challenge, in my opinion, McMillan said.

That is not really a responsible use of taxpayer funds, Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, told South Dakota Searchlight. But its politically necessary.

The $600 million cap is more palatable, he said, since its roughly the amount of money the state has on hand to fund the project already.

We have nearly 800 inmates living in a medieval setting, Mehlhaff said, referencing the penitentiary in Sioux Falls, which opened in 1881 and predates statehood. We have to do something to correct that as soon as possible.

Lawmakers prefer building on existing Corrections land

The state engineer and contractors are expected to present designs that meet the new parameters by the task forces July 8 meeting. Legislators will convene for a special session at the state Capitol on July 22.

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JE Dunn will present options, but McMillan said they might not be able to pull together many details in five weeks.

Members of the task force, especially the lawmakers, want to build on or expand upon existing prison sites. Increasing capacity on land the state already uses for prisons avoids the publics general distaste for a new location, said Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton. Lems was an outspoken opponent of the original Lincoln County site.

You take some of the heartburn away, she said. Then you just deal with the money.

JE Dunn representatives said the state could expand capacity at Springfield with new dorms or barracks facilities for around $55 million. A barracks would fit another 420 minimum security beds in an open space filled with bunkbeds.

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Members also considered building a compact facility on unused acres at the state penitentiary and adding a second floor to the Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls.

Options to build on existing Department of Corrections land is limited and more costly, because it would limit a construction workforce to non-felons, take more time to get in and out of the site, and impact operational hours, said Sen. Ernie Otten, R-Tea. JE Dunn representatives estimated itd cost more than $130 million to build 192 beds on top of the facility.

Modifying Jameson is a no-go, Otten said.

Mitchell Area Housings Terry Sabers, left, and Mike Lauritsen of the Mitchell Area Economic Development Corp. pose on Oct. 20, 2023 near the Corn Palace in Mitchell. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Mitchell leaders pitch site as leading contender

Business and local government leaders from Mitchell enthusiastically pitched their site to the task force. The city brought letters and resolutions of support and said a prison would drive economic growth.

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The site got a tepid recommendation from consultants because its about an hours drive from Sioux Falls. Its also located next to several possible escape routes: the interstate, the James River and a railroad.

The Mitchell City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the prison being built in Davison County.

But division is already surfacing in the community. Mitchell residents voiced concerns at its Monday city council meeting. According to reporting from the Mitchell Republic, some residents are concerned about the prisons location, parolees released in the city, property taxes and a lack of a citywide vote on the matter.

Sen. Joy Hohn, R-Hartford, said she listened to the city council meeting and said residents are just becoming aware of the proposal.

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City officials plan to hold community forums to increase awareness, educate residents about the impacts, and listen to concerns from community members.

The Department of Corrections plans to survey its staff to determine if theyre willing to commute to Mitchell or Worthing.

The Worthing site in Lincoln County received a slightly more positive response from consultants, but the only speaker during public testimony who spoke to the location raised concerns about drainage and flooding at the site.

Members remain skeptical of budget restraints, administrative oversight

Several members said theyd vote for the budget restrictions and new plan, but added they might not be able to support a decision next month.

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Rep. Tim Reisch, R-Howard, is a former Department of Corrections secretary. He aired serious operational concerns about the current administrations handling of the prison in recent months and years due to recent suicides, overdoses, attacks on correctional officers and gang activity.

Reisch recalled walking through the minimum custody unit during a penitentiary tour and observing that of 230 inmates in the unit, only nine of them had jobs, and the rest of them were sitting around watching Oprah Winfrey every day.

These are inmates that are getting ready to go out and rejoin society, Reisch said, and we are failing them.

Venhuizen told reporters after the meeting he believes it would be easier to manage such issues in a more modern facility.

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Sioux Falls Democrats Sen. Jamie Smith and Erin Healy both expressed hesitancy. The budget could limit space needed for rehabilitation and education efforts, they both said.

Healy emphasized that her number one goal is to build a safe prison with proper rehabilitation space.

We absolutely need to ensure that our responsibility for taking care of people is of our greatest concern, Healy said.

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Matryoshka, a pro-Kremlin bot network, has launched a campaign on Twitter and BlueSky against Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Source: The Insider, a Russian news outlet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Since 16 April, bots have been posting fake graffiti depicting Sandu's "execution"  by hanging, shooting or electric chair  and promising to "end" her on 1 June. It was not clear from the numerous posts what exactly was supposed to happen on that day.

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On 30 May, the website of the Fund for Combating Repression, founded by the late Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, published a fake investigation about Sandu's alleged involvement in the trafficking of Ukrainian children, supposedly to the West and for paedophile networks.

The fake story claimed that Sandu, through the mediation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife, was supposedly organising the sale of Ukrainian refugee children. The authors cited an anonymous Polish activist and an article from the website Life.ru.

A disinformation researcher and founder of the X-account Bot Blocker (antibot4navalny) noticed the fake campaign. They compared its scale to the information operation carried out by the Storm-1516 group before the 2025 Bundestag elections, in which more than a hundred pseudo-news sites took part.

Analysts have no direct evidence that Storm-1516 is behind the attack on Sandu, but they note similarities in the tools used: fake sources, "witnesses", disinformation via English-language resources, the use of AI, and the Fund for Combating Repression platform.

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According to The Insider, the fund has no legal status, and its head, Mira Terada, is linked to other pro-Kremlin structures.

Background:

Earlier, AFP, citing data collected by antibot4navalny, reported on the Matryoshka bot network, which spreads anti-Ukrainian propaganda on social media: they not only spread disinformation, like other pro-Kremlin bots, but also directly contacted Western journalists asking them to verify some of these fakes.

French services believed that Russia was behind the operation.

Recently, the administration of the President of Moldova had to refute a fake news story about expensive clothes from Sandu's wardrobe that was spread on Telegram channels.

Also in Moldova, unknown individuals sent out a mass mailing purportedly on behalf of the tax service, urging recipients to support President Sandu's party and donate 2% of their income tax to it.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  At-home sexual assault evidence collection kits are a scam sold online. Now a bill on the governors desk would ban the sale, marketing and distribution of them.

While companies selling those kits claim they offer privacy and control, the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul warned consumers against these kits since 2019, because they likely would not be able to be used in criminal court proceedings for improper evidence collection and chain of custody.

I am concerned that these products are being marketed as an alternative to medical forensic exams and could result in survivors not seeking the medical care they need or having a false sense of security that the evidence they collect will be used in criminal prosecutions, Raoul said.

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Illinois House passes bill to offer medical assist in dying to the terminally ill

Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) said there are more reasons survivors should seek healthcare.

People might need emotional support or further medical care, so the place to get a forensic test would be a place that does that: a clinic or a hospital, Glowiak Hilton said.

The senator added medical forensic exams are free to the survivor in Illinois.

We need to put an end to companies profiting off of someone elses trauma, she said.

The bill was unanimous in both chambers. If signed into law, the proposal would go into effect Jan. 1. After that date, anyone who buys a kit could also sue the seller for damages.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
An ICE officer coordinates with other officials during an enforcement operation in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 5, 2025. (Photo via U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

The Judiciary Committee pushed off deciding on whether to ban local law enforcement agreements with federal immigration authorities until next year. But the majority of its members voted against a conflicting proposal that would make it illegal to restrict compliance with immigration enforcement.

These decisions were made on Wednesday as members ran back and forth between the committee room and their respective chambers amid a busy session day.

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The committee decided to carry over into next year LD 1259, which would explicitly prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from entering into contracts with federal immigration enforcement authorities.

On the other hand, a motion to pass LD 1656, which would prevent local agencies from adopting any policies that restrict them from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration law, failed 4-8, with two members absent. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Michael Soboleski of Phillips and co-sponsored by nine other Republicans.

However, the committee has yet to decide on LD 1971, which would place restrictions on enforcement activities absent formal agreements with federal authorities.

The committee did discuss an amendment to clarify what would and would not be permitted under the bill as a means to address pushback from police groups. Auburn Police Chief Jason Moen, who is president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, raised concerns about the bill hindering federal task forces that are not primarily for immigration enforcement but sometimes touch on some immigration issues, such as drug enforcement partnerships.

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Moen said the proposed changes assuage those concerns to some extent. Another work session on LD 1971 is scheduled for Monday.

Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor), who sponsored LD 1259, requested that the bill be carried over to next year, telling her colleagues Wednesday that she believes it is necessary but would benefit from more time to allow for greater community engagement and to study its implications before lawmakers vote.

Participation in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements 287(g) program has grown across the country after President Donald Trump revived it to bolster ICEs capacity by deputizing local police officers to detain immigrants, an authority otherwise generally reserved to federal authorities. The program was discontinued in 2012 due to the discovery of discriminatory practices such as racial profiling.

Wells Police Department is the only Maine agency that has opted to join. However, Wells paused its agreement to see if the Legislature votes to ban such contracts.

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Some law enforcement officials expressed concerns about the bills unintended impacts, which I take seriously, Rana told Maine Morning Star after the vote.

Noting that six states have laws or policies that prohibit participation, Rana said, Additional time in our legislative process allows us to study the impacts in those states while individual communities continue to advocate for municipalities that stand for the safety of all residents.

Wells residents have been voicing both support and opposition to their local police force contracting with ICE at Select Board meetings. Those calling for the police force to terminate the contract have collected more than 350 signatures.

Monmouth Winthrop Police Department, a combination of departments that serve central Maine communities, also initially submitted an application to join the program but withdrew it after community pushback, with their Police Chief Paul Ferland citing the division it caused in the community as the main reason.

Carrying the bill over keeps it alive while we continue to build support across the state, Rana said.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Lawmakers are considering a bill that aims to regulate hemp-derived products like delta-9. Its an issue the state has grappled with for years.

Chris Karazin has opened three Carolindica locations since starting his business in 2020.

The popularity has been tremendous for these products, said Karazin.

He specializes in manufacturing hemp-derived products. Those products are different from marijuana as they do not contain the same level of THC.

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So the lines are somewhat blurry, as you can imagine, but the base concept is that theyre both the same plant, Karazin explained.

Part of the reason the lines are blurred is that the hemp industry is largely unregulated in North Carolina. Federal law only requires hemp products to contain less than 0.3% THC.

We do our best to be an example of third-party lab tests and safety, security, all of those types of things, said Karazin, and there is always going to be some bad players that, without some of these bills like were here to talk about today going into effect, its difficult for us to truly help the consumers and the regulatory decision makers.

Karazin only allows people 21 and over to purchase from his stores and sends products off for third-party testing. Neither of those practices are required by law.

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There isnt a designated body of regulatory oversight that would essentially be in charge of all of this. We follow all the standard laws. In fact, were almost creating some of our own, Karazin said.

PREVIOUSLY: Two North Carolina bills filed to legalize marijuana

Proposed Senate Bill 265 aims to wrangle in the cannabis industry. It calls for sellers to be licensed and for buyers to be age 21 and over. The bill would also require childproof packaging and clear labeling of THC content.

Governor Josh Stein this week announced the creation of a State Advisory Council on Cannabis.

I am charging this group with studying and recommending a comprehensive approach to regulate cannabis sales. They will study best practices and learn from other states to develop a system that protects youth, allows adult sales, ensures public safety, promotes public health, supports North Carolina agriculture, expunges past convictions of simple THC possession, and invests the revenues in resources for addiction, mental health, and drugged driving detection, said Stein.

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With no current age minimum to purchase cannabis products, the governor says children are at risk.

Our states unregulated cannabis market is the wild west and is cying for order. Lets get this right and create a safe, legal market for adults that protects kids, Stein said.

When you have some bad apples out there, it can spoil the sack, right? So our goal is to try and get this bill into action and that should help us kind of clean up our industry a little bit, Karazin said.

The governors council will submit its preliminary recommendations for a comprehensive cannabis policy, including any proposed legislation, to the governor by March 15, 2026, and its final recommendations by December 31, 2026.

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With some support from the Governor for regulations, Karazin is hopeful to finally have a solid framework to move his industry forward.

Senate Bill 265 cleared the state Senate on first reading and is now referred to the Senate Rules Committee for review. Theres no scheduled date yet for lawmakers will hear the bill again.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Trumbull County Prosecutors Office is asking commissioners to allocate unspent funds to the office.

The county has about $300,000 in unspent monies since the public defenders office reduced the amount of its contract. The contract was reduced after the public defenders office received additional funding from the state.

The prosecutors office asked commissioners to consider moving those dollars into its budget.

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Commissioners had approved a $4,350,000 budget for the prosecutors office. Attorney Bill Danso says its $120,000 less than the offices necessary budget.

If it turns out that its not the prosecutors office, then so be it, but I think that for what our mandated functions are, I think that this money really is going to be necessary to keep our services at the level that theyve historically been, Danso said.

Danso told commissioners the office has been operating on bare bones, adding that there is an open position due to retirement that hasnt been filled.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A prosecutor on Wednesday told jurors in Harvey Weinstein's Manhattan retrial that the evidence clearly showed the former movie mogul raped three women, pushing back on a defense lawyer's efforts to paint the accusers as liars.

Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg picked up where she left off during closing arguments the previous day, seeking to show that Weinstein forced himself on the women despite their pleading with him to stop.

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The Academy Award-winning producer and Miramax studio co-founder is accused of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and assaulting the two other women in 2006 and 2002. Weinstein, who has denied ever having non-consensual sex or assaulting anyone, has pleaded not guilty. The trial began in April.

"Members of the jury, he raped three women. They all said, 'no,'" Blumberg said.

Weinstein, 73, is on trial for a second time after a New York state appeals court threw out his conviction in April 2024. Experiencing a litany of health problems, Weinstein was present in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, wearing a dark suit and tie.

Before Blumberg's pitch to jurors Wednesday, defense lawyer Arthur Aidala twice moved for a mistrial based on the prosecutor's arguments the previous day, but the motions were swiftly denied by state Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber.

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The 12 jurors are due to begin deliberations after closing arguments are completed and Farber instructs them on the law.

Blumberg on Tuesday called Weinstein a serial predator who promised career advancement in Hollywood to women, only to then coax them into private settings where he attacked them. She urged jurors Wednesday to disregard the defense's claim the Weinstein was on trial because he was famous and that prosecutors were trying to criminalize consensual sex.

"We heard a lot about 'policing the bedroom' yesterday," Blumberg said, referring to Aidala's closing argument on Tuesday. "We don't want to police bedrooms either - unless you're forcibly raping someone inside them."

Aidala on Tuesday accused the three alleged victims of lying on the witness stand out of spite after consensual sexual encounters with Weinstein failed to deliver them Hollywood stardom.

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"They are lying about what happened. Not about everything, but about a small slice - just enough to turn their regret, their buyers' remorse, into criminality," Aidala said of the accusers.

The lawyer hoisted a dozen poster-sized placards showing emails from the accusers where they seek Weinstein's company after the alleged attacks, saying they showed the women were lying.

Weinstein faces a maximum sentence of up to 29 years in prison if convicted on all charges. He already will likely spend the rest of his life in prison due to a 16-year prison sentence given to him after being found guilty in December 2022 of rape in California.

He was convicted of rape by a jury in the previous trial in Manhattan in February 2020, but the New York Court of Appeals threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial, citing errors by the trial judge. Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence in a prison in upstate Rome, New York, when the conviction was overturned.

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That conviction was a milestone for the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men. More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct.

Weinstein has been held at New York City's Rikers Island jail since his conviction was overturned. He has experienced several health scares while being held at Rikers, and in September was rushed to a hospital for emergency heart surgery.

(Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
Plumes of smoke are blanketing large swaths of the U.S. and parts of Europe, which presents risks for those breathing it.

The Midwest, Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. have very unhealthy air quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and experts say people should take precautions.

What counts as bad air?

The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better.

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Anything below 50 is classified as healthy. Fifty to 100 is moderate" while 100-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and anything above 150 is bad for everyone. The Air Quality Index was around 160 in many parts of the Upper Midwest on Wednesday.

Sensitive groups include people with asthma, lung disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said Dr. Sanjay Sethi, chief of the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the University of Buffalo's medical school.

If you have heart or lung problems, then youve got to be definitely more careful," Sethi said. "I would either avoid going outside or wear an N95 (mask) or at least a dust mask.

Is my air unhealthy?

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Sometimes the air is bad enough to see or smell the smoke. Even if you don't see the pollution, it can be unhealthy to breathe.

The EPA maintains a website with up-to-date, regional air quality information. PurpleAir, a company that sells air quality sensors and publishes real-time air quality data, has a citizen scientist, air quality monitoring network with a more granular map of street-by-street air quality readings.

The best way to get indoor air quality readings is to buy a monitor, said Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University's Healthy Buildings Program.

You can find these low-cost, indoor air quality monitors just about everywhere online now. They dont cost all that much anymore, he said.

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What if I have to go outside?

For most people, going outside for just a short time won't have a negative long-term impact, said Sethi.

Wearing an N95 mask, which became common during the coronavirus pandemic, will help filter out the pollution.

N95 is going to get rid of 90-95% of the particles, said Jennifer Stowell, a research scientist at Boston Universitys Center for Climate and Health. If you have access to a mask that has a respirator-type attachment to it, then thats the very best.

If you must be outside and you experience symptoms, experts say you should head indoors or somewhere else with better air quality. Even if you are healthy, its good to take precautions.

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"If you start wheezing, which is like this whistling sound of the chest, or if youre feeling short of breath, thats definitely more concerning, Sethi said.

How do I make my air cleaner?

Close the windows and turn on the air conditioner, if you have one, setting it to circulate the indoor air. Use blankets to cover cracks that allow outside air into your home, such as under doors.

Finally, swapping the air conditioner's filter for a MERV 13 filter can help, though you should make sure it's installed correctly.

If you happen to have access to an air purifier, even if its just a room air purifier, try to keep it running and in the room that youre doing most of your activities in, said Stowell.

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The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Providence City Council President Rachel Miller wants to amend a city ordinance that would exempt striking union workers from receiving costly noise violations.

The amendment to the ordinance will be introduced at Thursday nights council meeting.

Workers at Butler Hospital, represented by SEIU 1199NE, have been on strike since May 15. Staff are demanding higher wages, stronger job safety measures and better benefits, and continue to walk the picket line amid a contract dispute with Butler and its parent company, Care New England.

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Earlier this week, the hospital started posting job listings to permanently replace the unionized workers, which hospital leadership said was a necessary decision amid the ongoing indefinite labor strike.

Last month, 12 News learned several striking union workers had been handed $500 fines for violating the citys noise ordinance.

In a May 21 interview with 12 News, Mayor Brett Smiley said the fines were issued after workers had been informed about the noise ordinance and were asked not to use amplified sound, but did not comply.

Unlike a strike outside of Rhode Island Hospital or some other institutional zone, this is in the heart of a neighborhood with an abutting childcare center, an assisted living facility, and residential neighbors, Smiley said last month.

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Miller herself picketed with union workers outside Butler Hospital at least three times since the strike began, according to Providence City Council spokesperson Marc Boyd.

In a statement to 12 News on Wednesday, Miller said the ordinance was never intended to quiet people fighting for their families.

Butlers workers are eager to return to the jobs they loveas soon as they win a fair contract that ends poverty-level wages and unsafe conditions. We wont punish them in the meantime, Miller said. This amendment makes it clear: Providence will not use selective enforcement of the noise ordinance to silence workers standing up for their rights.

The city has issued six violations to date, according to Smiley spokesperson Josh Estrella.

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Estrella said that while the mayor absolutely supports the rights of workers to protest and picket, the amendment as its currently written would limit the citys ability to protect public health and mitigate harmful speech.

At a time when radical groups are proliferating across the country, the ability for city and state governments to place reasonable boundaries to ensure public safety and quality of life is an important tool that helps public officials balance the priorities of all stakeholders in our community, Estrella explained. It should also be noted that this amendment creates an unequal application of the law as it exempts a particular group, while another individual outside of this group engaging in the same act would fall subject to a summons.

Councilors are also scheduled to vote on a resolution in solidarity with union workers, who have been invited to City Hall for Thursday nights meeting.

The resolution calls on both Care New England and Butler Hospital leadership to immediately return to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract that protects worker dignity and public health.

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The ordinance was presented at Thursday nights City Council meeting and referred to the Ordinance Committee.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The Providence Police Department has referred a complaint over alleged financial misconduct at the NAACP Providence branch to federal investigators, Target 12 has learned.

The disclosure by Deputy Chief Tim OHara comes after national NAACP leaders announced Tuesday evening they had suspended the local branchs leadership and filed a complaint with city police that OHara described as financial in nature. Police referred the complaint to the FBI after determining it was multijurisdictional, he said.

OHara declined to confirm any other details, and said detectives have not reviewed any documents.

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FBI spokesperson Kristen Setera told Target 12 on Wednesday that the agency does not confirm or deny investigations.

Dominik Whitehead, a senior NAACP official, said in a statement Tuesday that the Providence branch has not complied with NAACPs bylaws, procedures and legal obligations, and that the board of directors had made the difficult decision to remove all branch officers in Providence as of Monday.

In addition, NAACPs Office of the General Counsel has filed a police report with the Providence Police Department for further investigation into the former branch leaderships actions, Whitehead said. We are committed to working with membership and local stakeholders to continue to move forward during these critical times. To that end, the Branch will remain under the administratorship of the State Conference, with the support of the National Office.

The NAACP National Board of Directors placed the branch under administratorship back in March and suspended Gerard Catala, who had been serving as the branchs president. Catala defeated Jim Vincent, the branchs longtime president, in an online election in 2022.

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In 2024, a judge convicted Catala of two counts of failing to file campaign finance reports as required by state law. The charges stemmed from his unsuccessful run for Providence City Council in 2022.

Catala, who was ordered to perform 20 hours of public service, immediately appealed the judges decision. The case is now at Providence Superior Court.

OHard would not confirm if Catala was named in the complaint.

Reached by phone on Wednesday, Catala told Target 12 he was unaware of the developments with the Providence branch.

We dont discuss the details of internal disciplinary matters, but we can say that we are treating this situation with all due seriousness in accordance with our bylaws, procedures, and legal obligations, Whitehead said Tuesday.

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In the face of our nations unprecedented challenges  from the economy to threats on voting rights and more  the NAACP is needed now more than ever, he said. We will continue to support our Branches, Units, and members efforts to uphold the mission of the Association across the country.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregons Public Defense Commission is rolling out a 12-month plan to tackle the states ongoing public defender shortage.

At Gov. Tina Koteks request, the plan ramps things up with more lawyers, bigger caseloads for top attorneys, and fast-tracked court dockets.

Ex-military father at large after 3 daughters found dead in central Washington

The state says the number of people in custody without a lawyer is already down 30% since January, but nearly 4,400 others are still facing charges without a lawyer.

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For years, Oregon has struggled with a public defender shortage, which experts say is a root cause for issues like delayed trials and overcrowded jails.

Incident at Battle Ground home leaves two dead, one critically injured

The proposal outlines ways to increase the public defense systems capacity by hiring newly graduated lawyers, strengthening contracts, collaborating with public safety partners, and compensating attorneys for voluntarily taking cases beyond their contract.

This plan reflects the urgency with which OPDC is working to ensure that every eligible individual has access to timely and adequate legal representation, Executive Director Ken Sanchagrin said. As champions of the Sixth Amendment, we are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Oregonians.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Beginning in July, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) will host in-person and virtual public hearings for Liberty Utilities customers in Southwest Missouri regarding Libertys request for an electric rate increase.

Liberty is looking for an increase of $152.8 million per year from rate revenues and to raise the monthly fixed residential customer charge from $13 to $16, PSC says.

The hearings will consist of a public information and Q&A session, followed by the Commission taking public comments. Those interested in attending are encouraged to go to the meeting location closest to their service area.

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Missouri Public Service Commission investigating Liberty Utilities billing

The in-person public hearing schedule is as follows:

July 21 at 6 p.m.: Joplin, Missouri Southern State University, Corley Hall, 3950 Newman Road

July 22 at noon: Nixa, City Council Chambers, 715 West Mount Vernon Street

July 22 at 6 p.m.: Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University, McClelland Joe Roberts Room, 1600 University Avenue

July 23 at noon: Branson, City Council Chambers, 110 West Maddux Street

July 24 at noon: Aurora, Recreation Center, 126 West Hadley Street

There will also be two virtual local public hearings on July 23 at 6 p.m. and July 25 at noon. To attend the hearing by telephone, you can call toll-free at 1-855-718-6621 and enter the access code 2861 936 9973 when prompted for the July 23 meeting and access code 2866 586 9948 when prompted for the July 25 hearing, then press #. If prompted for a password, enter 0261.

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To attend a virtual hearing online, visit webex.com or download the Cisco WebEx application on your mobile device, computer or tablet and join the meeting by the hearing time and entering the access code and password above.

Individuals who cannot make the hearings can also submit a written comment through the methods on the PSC website.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy was convicted of a felony connection to his violent actions against a Black woman in 2023 outside a supermarket. Despite having faced a decade in prison, his sentence just got turned into a slap on the wrist.

Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputy Trevor Kirk was seen on video yanking a Black woman by her shirt and neck onto the ground outside the WinCo supermarket in Lancaster. As he pinned her on the ground with his knee to her groin, he mushed her face and called for backup. Kirk was reportedly responding to an alleged burglary and matched a man to the description of the suspect. The woman got into the mix after she announced to the police that she was recording the arrest and demanded they tell the man why he was being arrested, per CBS News.

Kirk then walked up to the woman and immediately got physical. He also pressed his knee into the womans neck and pepper-sprayed her twice in the face, body camera footage shows.

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Prosecutors accused him of using his LASD radio to mislead his colleagues that he was in a fight when he was obviously dominating the woman per the videos, the report says. As a result, the lady suffered head trauma and injuries to her arms and wrists.

Following a three-day trial, he was found guilty of a felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law, putting him at risk of 10 years in prison. However, upon the swearing in of a new U.S. attorney, the government doubled back and hired a third party to review the case, per The Los Angeles Times. They then asked the court to allow them to offer the deputy a misdemeanor plea deal despite the jury verdict. Kirk was then facing only a year in prison.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson granted the request Monday, sentencing Kirk to only four measly months in prison. This decision comes around the same time President Donald Trump released an executive order vowing to unleash high-impact local police forces and protect and defend law enforcement officers wrongly accused and abused by State or local officials.

Were not saying politics influenced the governments change of heart in the case. Though, even the judge was taken aback by the sudden shift.

In my view, the jury verdict was fully supported and the case was not unfairly argued, as the government at some early point argued, said Judge Wilson, via the Los Angeles Times. The job of a police officer is a very difficult one  but with those factors in mind, there is a responsibility to act appropriately.
There was rally on May 31 at the Arizona Biltmore to promote Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs campaign for Arizona governor.

At least, thats how it was advertised.

In fact, it was more of a Turning Point Action rally, meant to demonstrate how the MAGA organization and its political action committee can quickly and efficiently put together an enthusiastic crowd, and to demonstrate as well the kingmaking power of the head of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk.

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Kirk has transformed himself through his organization into a political puppeteer of the highest order.

For the Biggs event (16 months before the election), he pulled the strings on eight useful marionettes to sing the praises of Biggs, the most recent political Pinocchio that Kirk hopes to transform into a real-life governor.

Kirk summoned outside politicians to praise Biggs

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs speaks during a rally hosted by Turning Point Action at Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix on May 31, 2025. Biggs is running for governor in the 2026 election.

Speakers included Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Utah U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, Florida U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and even former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a good friend of Kirks.

Gaetz was going to be Trumps choice for attorney general until it was determined that he might have trouble being confirmed, given that the bipartisan House Ethics Committee said he paid $90,000 to 12 women, violating conduct standards involving prostitution, illicit drug use and more.

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The out-of-state political speakers werent there for Biggs, however, as much as they were for Kirk. Which is perhaps why there was a lot of joking about Biggs transforming Arizona into the Florida of the West.

Opinion: Biggs owns the MAGA brand for Arizona governor

Biggs said at the rally, 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.

Kirk, who took a moment at the rally to trash the late-U.S. Sen. John McCain, also praised the notion of transforming Arizona into the new Florida.

Does Arizona really want to be the 'new Florida?'

But is that what Arizonans want?

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I suppose it would make Arizona a place where, like Florida, our low ranking for public education would go even lower.

A place where housing would be difficult to attain and homeowners insurance can be impossible.

Would Arizona, as the new Florida, be host to as many as 43 hate and 71 anti-government organizations, as has been reported about the old Florida?

A researcher with the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism said that the ADL tracked more than 400 instances of white nationalist literature being disseminated in Florida, looking to gain a foothold there.

Turning Point rally pointed out Arizona's problem

Florida is also home to alligators, invasive pythons, enormous cockroaches, 46 species of snakes and  in addition to its politics  has an enormous reptile and insect problem.

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(You had to see that coming.)

Of course, Arizona has troubles of its own.

Like, for instance, we have a gubernatorial candidate who has put his future in the hands of a political kingmaker who likes the idea of transforming our desert paradise into the new Florida.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Charlie Kirk wants Andy Biggs to turn Arizona into Florida | Opinion
WASHINGTON  Theres a wide divide between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Maybe dogs can bridge the gap?

Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, will reintroduce a bill on Wednesday that would allow pet stores to donate expired food and kibble to animal shelters. Rep. Young Kim, a California Republican, will join as its Republican sponsor. The legislations Senate companion is expected to be reintroduced by Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, and Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican.

Every day, viable pet food goes to waste and blankets, crates and other supplies end up in the trash, Raskin told The Baltimore Sun in a statement. Our legislation helps suppliers and people donate leftover food and supplies rather than toss them out. Im glad to partner with Rep. Kim to ensure perfectly good pet supplies go to shelter animals in need.

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Appropriately titled the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act, the idea originated from a constituent after she spent years watching an employer dump millions of pounds of pet food in the garbage, rather than donating it to shelters, for fear of potential litigation.

Were really hoping we can get this thing passed, Sally Tom, a Silver Spring resident, said. Its kind of a no-brainer.

Congress is full of common-sense solutions that are rarely implemented. Thousands of bills are introduced each session, and most of them never receive a vote on the House floor. Thats particularly the case when a bill is introduced by a lawmaker in the minority party, like Raskin.

But his office remains optimistic, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances the bill faces, that it can be passed this session.

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The bill has strong bipartisan support, an office spokesperson said. We expect to add more co-sponsors of both parties to the bill once we introduce.

The legislation has a few things in its favor. It already has the backing of two key Republicans  a frontline House member in Kim and an influential senator in Tillis. It would now function as a standalone law, differing from previous versions that would have amended a current law. And, most importantly, it concerns mans best friend. Who doesnt love dogs?

Its helping shelter animals get food and supplies that they need, the spokesperson said. Especially at a time where shelters across the country are facing rising operation costs, it should be bipartisan common sense.

The current atmosphere of the Republican-controlled Congress (specifically the House) means getting anything passed is an uphill battle  even legislation on dogs. While President Donald Trump has blitzed through hundreds of executive orders, the House has hardly done anything since passing a government funding bill in March. Until recently, it had been bogged down with a large spending bill that contained most of Trumps legislative agenda. The House passed the bill in late May.

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Why is it not already passed? Because this is the U.S. Congress, Tillis told The Sun, adding that hes optimistic it passes this session. Ive seen I dont know how many bills like that take two or three Congresses to get done. Its just a matter of timing, prioritization. People are distracted by other things, so its on me and the co-sponsors to keep pressing the issue.

Its possible that the Senate could eventually pass the bill via unanimous consent, if no member objects on the floor. The bill would still have to pass the House and be signed by the president to become law.

Tom, 75, loves dogs. She has a five-year-old Golden Retriever named Angus and previously cared for three rescues  Robbie, Meggie and Mackenzie. It bothered her to see large quantities of seemingly OK pet food being thrown away at the store where she worked.

And when I asked the manager, Why do we throw all this stuff away when its perfectly usable? the manager told her it was either past the sell-by date or returned, Tom said. In either case, they couldnt sell it.

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Tom asked about donating it to a shelter. Her manager said that if they did donate it, and an animal happened to get sick, the store could be sued by the shelter or rescue group that received it.

So it was a liability issue, Tom said.

But a lawyer friend who previously worked on Capitol Hill suggested that Congress could fix that. The friend cited a 1990s law that protected restaurants and caterers who donate food to people in need.

If it can be done for human food, certainly it can be done for animals, Tom said.

In February of 2020, she visited Raskin. His staff crafted the bill, and Raskin introduced it for the first time.

The idea of all these millions of pounds of kibble  not to mention everything else  going in a landfill every year is just horrifying, Tom said.

---------------
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of terrorism in relation to two fatal train accidents in Russia over the weekend.

"The blow was deliberately aimed at the civilian population," Putin said during a government session in Moscow, according to the state-run TASS news agency. He accused Ukraine of seeking to block talks on an end to the war.

Last weekend, two trains suffered accidents in the Kursk and Bryansk regions bordering Ukraine after bridges were blown up. Seven people died and dozens were injured in the passenger train derailed near the city of Bryansk.

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While these accidents were discussed in detail, there was no information on Russian media about the Ukrainian attacks on military airbases using remotely targeted drones.

Putin once again rejected calls for a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, whether for 30 or for 60 days.

"Why should they be emboldened by allowing them a break from fighting?" he queried. He also backed Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who has said Russia should continue to hold talks with a view to achieving its war aims.

In Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered an immediate ceasefire that should last at least until a meeting with Putin. If no de-escalation emerged from a meeting of this kind, "the ceasefire will end on the same day," he told journalists.

Zelensky rejected the memorandum put forward by the Russian side in talks in Istanbul on Monday in which it listed demands for an end to the war. He termed it an ultimatum. Russia's demands could not be met, in particular its territorial demands, he said.
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has accused the Ukrainian authorities of orchestrating recent explosions on railways in Russias Bryansk and Kursk oblasts, describing them as planned terrorist attacks aimed at derailing the peace talks in Istanbul. He also questioned the feasibility of a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Source: Putin in a statement, as reported by the Russian state-owned news agency TASS

Details: This was the first time Putin had commented on the explosions that occurred on 31 May and 1 June 2025 at railway bridges in Russias Bryansk and Kursk oblasts.

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He branded the explosions "terrorist acts", claiming that they had been authorised by Kyiv to disrupt ongoing negotiations.

Putin referred to the Ukrainian government as "illegitimate" and suggested that it is "degenerating into a terrorist organisation".

Quote from Putin: "All the crimes committed against civilians, particularly women and children, on the eve of the latest round of peace talks we proposed in Istanbul were clearly intended to disrupt the negotiation process."

Details: Putin also commented on Zelenskyys proposal for an in-person meeting, potentially in a trilateral format with US President Donald Trump. He argued that such talks are untenable while "terrorist attacks" are going on.

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"The Kyiv elite has resorted to organising terrorist attacks. Yet they are requesting a meeting at the highest level. How can such meetings occur under these conditions? What is there to discuss? Who negotiates with those who rely on terrorism? Why encourage them by offering a pause in the fighting?"

Putin accused Ukraines Western allies of "sponsoring terrorism" and claimed that for Kyiv, "power is more important than people".

"Ukraine does not seek peace. Kyivs leaders lack basic political decorum  they resort to direct insults against those they claim to negotiate with," he added.

Notably, Putin made no mention of Operation Spiders Web, in which Ukraines Security Service attacked Russian strategic airfields on 1 June 2025, reportedly striking 41 aircraft.

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Background:

On the night of 31 May-1 June 2025, a road bridge in Russias Bryansk Oblast collapsed, reportedly while a passenger train was passing underneath, resulting in 7 deaths and approximately 70 injuries.

On Monday 2 June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye hopes to organise a meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin in Istanbul or Ankara.

Zelenskyy stated that he supports Erdogan's proposal.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 questioned the value of ongoing peace talks with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of orchestrating deadly attacks on infrastructure in Russia that killed seven people and injured 115 others.

Two bridges in Russias Bryansk and Kursk regions collapsed overnight on May 31 in what Russian authorities have described as terrorist attacks.

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Putin blamed Ukraines top leadership for the attacks: "The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"

He added that the attacks showed Kyiv is "degenerating into a terrorist organisation, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists."

Putins remarks signaled that Russia has no plans to declare an immediate ceasefire or agree to a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky  two key demands put forward by Ukraine during June 2 peace talks.

According to Russian investigators, a bridge in Bryansk region was blown up overnight on May 31 just as a passenger train carrying 388 people passed underneath. A second bridge in Kursk was also reportedly targeted. The explosions occurred just days before Ukraine and Russia met in Turkey the latest round of negotiations.

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Bryansk Oblast, located in Russia's far-west, borders Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy Oblast, and has been the target of various Ukrainian strikes.

Putin also de-facto rejected the idea of a full ceasefire in Ukraine, arguing that any pause in fighting would allow Kyiv to regroup and rearm with Western weapons.

Ukraine has been calling for an immediate and unconditional 30-day truce, presenting its latest proposal during peace talks in Istanbul on June 2.

"Why reward them by giving them a break from the combat, which will be used to pump the regime with Western arms, to continue their forced mobilization and to prepare different terrorist attacks," Putin said during a televised government meeting.

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Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

During the Istanbul talks, Russia proposed a temporary two- to three-day ceasefire in specific areas of the front line to allow for the retrieval of fallen soldiers' bodies, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said on June 2.

Zelensky criticized Russias proposal for a 23-day local ceasefire to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers, speaking during an online press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent.

"They just dont see a ceasefire as such at the moment," Zelensky said of Russia's proposal. "As they said regarding a ceasefire, they are ready for a 23-day ceasefire to retrieve the dead from the battlefield. I think theyre idiots, because, fundamentally, a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead."

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Putin said the Ukraine's position "does not surprise us" and added that "power for (Kyiv), apparently, is more important than peace and than the lives of people whom they apparently do not consider their own."

During the cabinet meeting, Putin never mentioned Ukraines recent drone strikes that destroyed dozens of Russian strategic bombers  despite the attack marking one of the most significant blows to Russias military infrastructure since the start of the full-scale war.



The strikes, part of Ukraines covert Operation Spiderweb, were carried out on June 1 using first-person-view (FPV) drones that had been smuggled into Russia and hidden in trucks. The drones successfully targeted four major airfields  Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya  used by Russias long-range aviation fleet, responsible for regular missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that 41 aircraft were hit, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes, causing an estimated $7 billion in damage. Many of the bombers were destroyed beyond repair, while others may take years to restore.

Read also: Exclusive: Ukraine could face 500+ Russian drones a night as Kremlin builds new launch sites

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Vladimir Putin is planning revenge for Ukraines drone strikes on Russias bomber fleet, Donald Trump has warned.

The US president said he had a good conversation with his Russian counterpart, after an unexpected phone call, but that it was not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social network: President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

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His comments came after Putin finally broke his silence following Kyivs co-ordinated drone assaults to once again rule out a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Russian leader said that Kyiv would exploit the break in the fighting to rearm and remobilise and carry out further terrorist attacks.

In a televised government meeting on Wednesday, Putin said: Why reward them by giving them a break from the combat, which will be used to pump the regime with Western arms, to continue their forced mobilisation and to prepare different terrorist acts.

Since March, Ukraine has fully backed a US-proposed unconditional and an immediate 30-day truce, pushing for it once again at peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.

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Despite Washingtons pleading, Moscow has consistently refused.

Putin had stayed quiet since Ukraine struck deep into the Russian heartland on June 1, damaging or destroying up to 20 of his prized strategic bombers, according to Western intelligence estimates.

A Russian air base was hit by Ukrainian drone strikes - Shutterstock

The White House has insisted that it was not warned in advance of the attack.

The co-ordinated drone strikes are likely to have stoked fears in the Kremlin that Ukraine can strike its most prized military assets anywhere and unnerved Putins projected image of invincibility.

Russias foreign ministry on Wednesday said all options were on the table in response to Ukraines attacks on Russian territory and accused the West of being involved in them.

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Sergei Ryabkov, Russias deputy foreign minister said: We urge London and Washington to react in such a way as to stop further escalation.

Putin has not mentioned the assault, which Moscow has sought to downplay, claiming that only several planes caught fire.

Instead, the Russian leader questioned the point of peace talks as he accused Ukraine of being behind attacks on bridges in its border regions over the weekend that caused a train to derail, killing seven people.

Putin claimed that the attack, which Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for, was directed at thwarting the negotiation process.

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He said: How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?

The Russian president also dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskys calls for a meeting after the Ukrainian president argued that direct top-level negotiations were the only way to end the three-year war.

Mr Zelensky told a briefing in Kyiv: My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet.

Conditions for peace are ultimatum

He also called Russias conditions for peace an ultimatum.

During the unsuccessful peace talks in Turkey, Russia presented a peace settlement that largely reflected Putins goals from the outset of the invasion and which Kyiv said was tantamount to surrender.

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Moscow had listed maximalist demands including complete control over four partially occupied Ukrainian regions and that international recognition of Russian sovereignty over them and Crimea must be granted.

The sharply conflicting demands from both sides leave little hope for any quick progress in talks.

Russia instead proposed on Monday a short two-three day ceasefire, which it said was a chance to let both armies collect the bodies of dead soldiers from the battlefield.

This idea was reportedly rejected by Kyiv as Russia has previously used similar pauses to prepare for fresh assaults.

Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, on Wednesday called the rejection a gross mistake.

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However, it is still expected that a large-scale prisoner exchange agreed during the talks will go ahead this weekend.

Call between Putin and Pope

Putin on Wednesday also held his first telephone call with Pope Leo, in which the pair exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

Keeping the contents of the call vague, the Kremlin claimed that Putin reiterated his interest in achieving peace but that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed first.

The new pontiff has been vocal in his demands for an end to the fighting and for a lasting peace. In a resurfaced 2022 interview, he condemned Russias aggression, calling it a true invasion, imperialism in nature.

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His predecessor Pope Francis did not speak directly to Putin following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their last known call was held in December 2021, but the pair had met three times before the war.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin cast doubt on holding peace talks with Ukraine Wednesday, accusing Kyiv of being behind attacks on two bridges in Russia that killed seven.

How can meetings be held under these conditions? Putin said in a televised meeting with Russian officials. Who negotiates with those who rely on terror?

The comments appeared to dash Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyys offer of an immediate ceasefire followed by direct negotiations with Putin.

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US President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that there will be no immediate peace after a phone call with Putin who said he would have to respond forcefully to Ukraines attack on Russian airfields.

Ukraine has pulled off a string of attacks deep into Russia in recent weeks, but has not commented on the bridge explosions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Russia and Ukraine will schedule further peace talks after negotiations earlier this week.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the recent Ukrainian drone attack that destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft, and the Russian leader said he will respond to Ukraines drone strikes.

It remains unclear exactly how Russia would respond.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said his phone call with Putin lasted about one hour and 15 minutes. In addition to the most recent Ukrainian attack, Trump said, the two also discussed various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides, as well as Iran and a general understanding that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. The post was later deleted and then re-posted.

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It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace, Trump wrote. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.

Neither the Kremlin nor the White House has yet to issue a formal readout of the call.

According to Ukrainian officials, Sundays attack on Russia took 18 months to plan. More than 100 aerial drones were smuggled into parts of Russia, including Siberia. The drones were then placed around the perimeter of four Russian air bases. Nearly one-third of the Russian bomber fleet was destroyed, according to the Associated Press.

The attack came one day before the two nations were scheduled for another round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. The two countries agreed to a further prisoner swap, but failed to achieve any major breakthroughs.

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The strikes over the weekend on Russian nuclear-capable bombers were seen by the Kremlin as an "existential threat," said Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, who said Russia's response to the strikes would likely be significant.

"Putin wants the West to accept the logic of calling what comes next a 'Russian response,' but that's not accurate," said Michael Carpenter, who served as senior director of Europe on the National Security Council during the Biden administration. "Ukraine is the party responding to the massive air assaults that Russia has been waging on its cities and towns," he said.

On Tuesday, Ukraine said that it had struck a bridge connecting the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula to Russia using underwater explosives. Putin described the incident as an act of terrorism in a call with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, according to a Kremlin summary of the call.

On Iran, Trump said Putin could possibly be involved in ongoing talks.

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President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion, Trump said. It is my opinion that Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!

Analysts said that Putin likely raised nuclear talks with Iran in a bid to keep Trump on his side.

"This is one of the key areas where Russia believes it can 'offer' something to the United States," said Carpenter.

The U.S. and Iran have met for five rounds of talks since Trump sent Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a letter in March asking to negotiate over its nuclear program and threatening consequences if a deal is not reached quickly. Trump has repeatedly said he prefers to negotiate with Iran over its program but has threatened military action if Iran refuses.

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How helpful Russia could be in the current round of negotiations remains unclear, as the dynamic between Tehran and Moscow has changed considerably since the 2015 nuclear deal was reached.

Russia and Iran have grown much closer as Tehran has helped arm Moscow in its war against Ukraine, providing the country with thousands of drones as well as artillery shells.

While Moscow doesn't want to see Iran gain a nuclear weapon and destabilize the Middle East, continued sanctions on Iran keep the country dependent on Moscow, giving Putin a reliable ally.

Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program, said Russia hasn't been helpful on Iran since Trump left the 2015 deal.

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"Putin might be able to help prod Iran on certain aspects around the margins due to the nature of their increasingly deepening relationship, but hes unlikely to be able to move Tehran on core issues such as its claim to a right of domestic enrichment," he said.

"At the same time, theres reason to be concerned that if Putin does help on Iran, it will be used as quid pro quo with the U.S. to try to garner more space and time for Russian operations against Ukraine."
Editor's Note: This story is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "will have to respond" to Ukraine's recent drone attack on military airfields, U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 4 after holding a call with the Russian president.

Trump said he spoke to Putin over the phone for approximately an hour and 15 minutes on June 4.

"We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account after the call.

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"It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields."

Trump made no further comments regarding the "response" and did not say whether the U.S. had urged restraint.

Ukraine on June 1 launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes.

The operation, dubbed Spiderweb, took 18 months to plan and was overseen directly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions  including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Kremlin was initially quiet about the operation. Days after the attack, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on June 3 said that Putin had been informed of the "incident" and that an investigation had been launched.

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Trump was also uncharacteristically silent about the attack, which was hailed in Ukraine as a major success. The White House confirmed on June 3 that Ukraine did not inform Trump in advance about the operation.

Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, warned that the attack could lead to escalations in the full-scale war.

"I'm telling you the risk levels are going way up," Kellogg told Fox News on June 3. "When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do."

Ukraine's drone strike followed several days of Russian escalation as Moscow launched some of the heaviest aerial attacks in the full-scale war over a span of three nights. Operation Spiderweb targeted some of the very bombers that rained destruction on Ukrainian cities and civilian targets.

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Zelensky said on June 4 that Ukraine would not have carried out the attack on Russia's airfields if Moscow had agreed to the many proposals for a ceasefire put forth since March.

Operation Spiderweb struck Russia the day before the second round of direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow took place in Istanbul on June 2. The U.S. has praised the talks as a sign of Trump's successful intervention in the peace process  even though Russia continues to reject a ceasefire.

Putin said on June 4 that Russia was no longer interested in negotiating with Ukraine.

"The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"

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Despite the Kremlin's persistent refusal to impose a ceasefire or make significant steps towards peace, Trump has not followed through on threats to sanction Russia. While Republican lawmakers, including staunch Trump allies, have rallied around legislation sanctioning Russia, Trump has shied away from pressuring Moscow.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv hacks Russian bomber maker; Putins disregard for troops highlighted as Russian losses near 1 million

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention Ukraines recent drone strikes that destroyed dozens of Russian strategic bombers during a lengthy televised cabinet meeting on June 4  despite the attack marking one of the most significant blows to Russias military infrastructure since the start of the full-scale war.

The strikes, part of Ukraines covert Operation Spiderweb, were carried out on June 1 using first-person-view (FPV) drones that had been smuggled into Russia and hidden in trucks. The drones successfully targeted four major airfields  Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya  used by Russias long-range aviation fleet, responsible for regular missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that 41 aircraft were hit, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes, causing an estimated $7 billion in damage. Many of the bombers were destroyed beyond repair, while others may take years to restore. President Volodymyr Zelensky and SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk personally oversaw the operation.

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On June 4, the SBU released high-resolution footage of the strikes, highlighting the precision and scale of the operation.

On June 4, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the incident, saying Putin had been informed and that Russias Investigative Committee had launched a probe. The president received information about the incident online, Peskov told reporters. There was also a corresponding statement from the Defense Ministry.

Despite the scale of the attack, Putin avoided addressing the matter during his first public appearance following the strikes. Instead, he focused on other incidents, including a railway bridge bombing that killed at least seven and injured over 100 people in the Bryansk region, which he blamed on Ukraine.

The Kremlins silence stands in stark contrast to celebrations in Kyiv, where Zelensky called the operation brilliant and said it dealt significant losses  entirely justified and deserved.

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In the meantime, Russian forces are attempting to downplay the scale of losses to their strategic aviation following Operation Spiderweb by replacing damaged aircraft with intact ones, a source in SBU told the Kyiv Independent.

After the operation, Moscow has been trying to obscure the true extent of its losses. According to the SBU source, the Russian military is bringing undamaged planes to the airfields to replace the destroyed ones so that satellite imagery does not show the burned-out aircraft.

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OSINT analysts have also observed this tactic. For example, on June 2, satellite images showed a burned Tu-95 bomber at one of the targeted airfields, but by June 4, a fully intact Tu-95 appeared in the same spot.

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Russia wants the Vatican to "take a more active role" in advocating for what it described as freedom of religion in Ukraine, specifically for members of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Kremlin said in a statement on June 4 following recent diplomatic contacts.

Russia's war and occupation of large swaths of Ukraine have led to hundreds of churches being damaged or destroyed, dozens of priests killed or kidnapped, and entire religious groups that don't conform to Moscow's brand of Orthodoxy being banned - all while promoting the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church.

Sixty-seven clergy members of various faiths have been killed between the start of Russia's all-out war in 2022 and February 2025, the Foreign Ministry said in April, citing the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.

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Moscow has also been suppressing independent Ukrainian churches and other religions, including the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant and Muslim groups, and Jehovah's Witnesses, according to Ukrainian officials.

Putin also noted that "that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory," the statement read.

The Kremlin also expressed gratitude to the Pope for the Vatican's readiness to assist in resolving what it called the "crisis" (referring to Russia's war against Ukraine) particularly on humanitarian issues handled "on a depoliticised basis."

Putin also reportedly noted a progress in recent direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials regarding prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers' bodies.

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Pope Leo XIV urged Russia to make "a gesture that would favor peace " during the call, according to Vatican News.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the Pope emphasized "the importance of dialogue" and encouraged Moscow to support prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers' remains.

The Vatican said the Pope and Putin also discussed ongoing humanitarian efforts led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna and papal envoy for Ukraine.

The pontiff reportedly expressed hope that shared Christian values could help promote peace, defend life, and support genuine religious freedom.

The Kyiv Independent's latest documentary "No God but Theirs" examines the systematic persecution of Ukrainian Christians in Melitopol  a city in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast, occupied by Russia since February 2022.

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The film details how both Protestant and Catholic churches were banned and dispossessed of all property by occupying Russian forces. Clergy were either deported or compelled to flee under threat, while others were falsely accused by Russian propaganda of storing weapons and ammunition. As a result, many members of the religious community were forced to practice their faith in secrecy.

The Kyiv Independent spoke with four Christian leaders from Melitopol: Bishop Dmytro Bodyu of the Pentecostal Church "Word of Life," Father Oleksandr Bohomaz of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Pastors Mykhailo Brytsyn and Ihor Ivashchuk of the Baptist Church "Grace" whose testimonies provide new details of Russia's targeted repression of Ukrainian Christians.

Watch more here:

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Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus that hasnt been reported in Montana in nearly three decades, continues to ripple across the state, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 17 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Montana health officials validated there have been cases in four counties  two in Yellowstone, two in Flathead, three in Hill and 10 in Gallatin. Two people have been hospitalized as a result of their illness.

All patients are state residents and are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination statuses. Health experts say vaccines are the the most effective way to prevent contracting the virus, which can be fatal for people who are not immunized or have vulnerable immune systems.

The first cluster of cases was confirmed in Gallatin County in April as cases popped up nationwide. Five people who had traveled out of state returned home having contracted measles.

Despite isolating as soon as they received positive tests, the virus spread to three other people. Gallatin's other two confirmed cases are believed to have been community acquired, meaning they cant be tied to previous exposures, according to the county.

Measles can stay in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves an area. Symptoms  like a red rash, fever and cough  typically develop one to two weeks after exposure but can take up to three to show up. A person is considered infectious for four days before most obvious signs appear.

Think you have measles? DPHHS advises anyone who believes they might have measles or might have been exposed to someone with measles, to contact their county or tribal health department or primary care provider before seeking care, if safe to do so, for instructions about how to avoid exposing others.

State code requires health care facilities, schools and day care providers to notify local health authorities if measles is suspected or reported. At that point, local health officials report the information to the state health department, and the two work together to issue guidance and address potential transmission to more people.

A spokesperson from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said in an email that the agency has plans to publish a dashboard that displays measles activity county-by-county in the near future.

Because of the pervasive way that measles spreads, health officials say community tracking is paramount to preventing large outbreaks.

Gallatin County has a running list of the places where people might have been exposed to carriers of the virus and how long to be on the lookout for symptoms. Currently, anyone who was at the Casey's Corner at 4135 Valley Drive in Bozeman on May 20 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. should be on the lookout for symptoms for the next week.

Hill County, where there are three confirmed cases, says public exposure could have taken place at the Havre Walmart on May 23 between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

A May 29 Flathead County announcement said the origin of the most recent case there  the second in the county  had not yet been pinpointed but only that there was no connection with the previous case. The health department found that members of the public could have been exposed at Logan Health at 350 Heritage Way or the emergency department at 350 Conway Drive.

The most recently announced cases were the two in Yellowstone County, information about which was released in a press release Tuesday. One unvaccinated adult and one unvaccinated child contracted measles while traveling out of the country, the county said, but were fully recovered and no longer contagious by the time they arrived back in Montana.

As a result, there is no risk of measles spreading in the local community from these cases, according to the press release.

Measles usually begins with a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and white spots inside the cheeks. Its hallmark red rash typically starts on the face and spreads downward to the rest of the body.

Vaccination is the best defense against measles, according to public health experts. Infants too young to get their shots, people who can't be vaccinated due to medical conditions and anyone with compromised immune systems, such as pregnant moms, are considered more vulnerable.

Schools and child care facilities raise concerns

The first dose of the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) shot is typically administered when a child is between 12 and 15 months old. Most Montana cases have been among those who are unvaccinated.

But the resurgence of measles has worried child care providers who oversee children too young to receive the full dose of shots, as well as schools where kids with medical or religious exemptions from vaccine requirements congregate.

At licensed child care facilities, a confirmed measles case kickstarts a mandatory removal of the child or staff member until four days after the onset of measles tell-tale rash. But providers are not able to exclude students or staff if only exposed due to a provision in the states anti-discrimination law.

Should a measles case be confirmed at a school, county health officials will advise schools to exclude students who arent vaccinated or otherwise immune because of a previous diagnosis or as shown by a blood test, according to the letter.

Montana DPHHS affirmed in a June 2 memo that state law allows schools to exclude any student not immunized for measles if theres good cause to believe the student has measles, has been exposed to measles or will be exposed to measles by attending school for as long as local health officials see fit.

School districts already collect vaccination information, but do not share it with the state health department. House Bill 364, which failed in the most recent legislative session, would have required school districts to submit to DPHHS annual vaccination reports on measles, among other immunizations, as well as data about medical and religious exemptions. It would have been anonymized and aggregated to protect privacy.

With the school-level reports, DPHHS could better anticipate where future outbreaks might occur and move more nimbly to respond and prevent spread if a case is confirmed, according to the bill sponsor Rep. Melody Cunningham, D-Missoula, a pediatrician who said she remains highly concerned about the steady uptick in measles cases statewide.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday that a second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine was useful despite Kyiv's attempt to disrupt them by staging attacks Putin considered terrorism, a Kremlin foreign policy aide said.

Yuri Ushakov also said that the two presidents discussed other international issues, particularly the Middle East conflict and how Russia could help deal with Iran and its nuclear programme.

Ushakov told reporters after Putin and Trump spoke by telephone for more than an hour that Ukrainian attacks on bridges and other civilian infrastructure were an attempt to torpedo the negotiations.

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"It was stressed that Ukraine tried to disrupt these talks by carrying out, on the direct orders of the Kyiv regime, deliberate attacks on civilian targets, on peaceful civilians," Ushakov told reporters.

"The Kyiv regime has in essence degenerated into a terrorist organisation. The Russian side did not give in to provocations ... Let me stress that our president described in detail the content of the talks and that these talks on the whole were useful."

Memorandums outlining peace plans were exchanged and will be analysed, Ushakov said, "and we hope that afterwards the two sides will be able to continue their talks."

He said the issue of a possible meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had not been raised at this stage.

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But talks with Ukraine were possible despite what Moscow denounced as terrorist acts as "on the whole they are vital to achieve some sort of settlement."

Ushakov said Trump "listened intently" to Putin's description of events in Ukraine. "I think it was very useful for Trump to hear our assessment of what has been happening."

Both presidents, he said, described their exchanges as "positive and very productive. Both President Trump and our president confirmed their readiness to remain in contact."

On Iran, Ushakov said the United States believed Russia could play an important role in helping with the difficulties over Tehran's nuclear programme.

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"Donald Trump believes that Russian assistance is possible and vital and he would be grateful if Russia could help in an appropriate fashion by working with the Iranian side," he said.

The two presidents, he said, also discussed the Middle East and tensions between India and Pakistan.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov and Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Maxim Rodionov and Ron Popeski; Editing by Alex Richardson and Matthew Lewis)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed gratitude for the Vatican's mediation in humanitarian issues related to the Ukraine war in a first phone call with Pope Leo XIV.

Putin advocated for the deepening of relations with the Holy See, which he said were based on "shared spiritual and ethical values," the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

The Vatican stated later that the conversation "particularly focused on the situation in Ukraine and peace."

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The pope called on Russia to make a gesture promoting peace and emphasized the importance of dialogue between the parties and the search for solutions to the conflict, according to the Holy See.

They also discussed the humanitarian situation and the necessity of providing aid where needed.

According to a Kremlin statement, Putin wished the new pope success and conveyed congratulations from the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.

Leo XIV has clearly condemned the war as an act of aggression and called for its end. His predecessor, Francis, was often criticized for calling for peace without distinguishing between aggressor and victim.

Putin complains about Ukraine's church policy

Putin asked the leader of the Catholic Church to advocate for religious freedom in Ukraine. He sees this as being threatened by the ban on the former Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was loyal to Moscow.

The Ukrainian leadership, on the other hand, views this church as a security risk because many of its bishops and priests are closely connected to Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed gratitude for the Vatican's mediation in humanitarian issues related to the Ukraine war in a first phone call with Pope Leo XIV.

Putin advocated for the deepening of relations with the Holy See, which he said were based on "shared spiritual and ethical values," the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

The Vatican stated later that the conversation "particularly focused on the situation in Ukraine and peace."

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The pope called on Russia to make a gesture promoting peace and emphasized the importance of dialogue between the parties and the search for solutions to the conflict, according to the Holy See.

They also discussed the humanitarian situation and the necessity of providing aid where needed.

According to a Kremlin statement, Putin wished the new pope success and conveyed congratulations from the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.

Leo XIV has clearly condemned the war as an act of aggression and called for its end. His predecessor, Francis, was often criticized for calling for peace without distinguishing between aggressor and victim.

Putin complains about Ukraine's church policy

Putin asked the leader of the Catholic Church to advocate for religious freedom in Ukraine. He sees this as being threatened by the ban on the former Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was loyal to Moscow.

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The Ukrainian leadership, on the other hand, views this church as a security risk because many of its bishops and priests are closely connected to Moscow.

Putin informed the pope about the upcoming exchange of prisoners and deceased soldiers, which both sides agreed upon on Monday in Istanbul.

"It was emphasized that Russia is taking all possible steps to reunite children with their families," the statement said. The abduction of Ukrainian children, a suspected war crime, has led to an arrest warrant for Putin from the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Moscow did not want Vatican as meeting place

US President Donald Trump had proposed the Vatican as a venue for peace talks in the Ukraine war, and Leo XIV was willing, but Moscow rejected the idea because two Orthodox countries should not resolve their conflict on the grounds of the Catholic Church, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had stated.
US President Donald Trump has said he had a "good conversation" with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin on Wednesday 4 June, though not one that would "lead to immediate peace".

Source: Trump on Truth Social, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Trump stated that his phone conversation with Putin "lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes".

Quote: "We discussed the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace."

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Details: Trump added that Putin "did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields".

The US and Russian leaders also discussed Iran.

Quote: "I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president  ed.]

Background:

The last time the US president spoke with the Kremlin leader was on 19 May, after which Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia would "immediately start" peace negotiations.

NATO has hailed the Security Service of Ukraine operation targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful.

However, the White House stated that Ukraine has increased the level of risk through its actions.

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Russian military casualties in Ukraine are approaching 1 million and are likely to surpass that figure by summer 2025, according to a new report by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published on June 3.

The total number of military casualties on both sides is nearing 1.4 million, including approximately 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed or injured.

The think tank estimates that more than 950,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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Of those, as many as 250,000 have died on the battlefield  losses CSIS says underscore Russian President Vladimir Putins "blatant disregard" for his forces.

Despite its staggering losses, Russia continues to rely on mass wave assaults. According to CSIS, this approach has allowed Russian forces to capture less than 1% of Ukrainian territory since January 2024, often advancing by only 50 meters per day.

The cost in equipment has also been severe. According to the think tank, Russian losses across land, air, and sea domains have vastly outpaced Ukraines, with some battlefield loss ratios reaching 5:1.

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As of June 4, Ukraines General Staff put Russias cumulative troop losses at 991,820. While Kyiv does not disclose its own casualty numbers, Ukraines Armed Forces report Russian losses on a daily basis.

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The full human toll remains difficult to confirm due to the opacity on both sides. CSIS used estimates compiled from U.S. and U.K. defense officials, as well as satellite imagery and battlefield assessments.

Independent Russian outlet Mediazona and the BBC Russian service have confirmed the identities of at least 109,625 Russian troops killed, based on open-source data such as obituaries, local news, and social media posts.

Russias monthly recruitment ranges from 30,000 to 40,000 new soldiers, Western intelligence officials told the Wall Street Journal in April. Rather than announce another mass mobilization, the Kremlin has relied heavily on financial incentives, offering lucrative contracts to new recruits.

Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine. Despite repeated attempts to seize additional territory, Russias campaign remains mired in high casualties with little strategic gain.

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Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

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PWHL expansion draft: These 3 Minnesota Frost stars aren't going anywhere originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

The Minnesota Frost announced that they will be protecting Kendall Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein, and Taylor Heise ahead of the PWHL expansion draft next week.

Frozen in place 



Kendall Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein, and Taylor Heise have been protected as part of the PWHL Expansion Roster building process.

https://t.co/9PQIT6C0Vq pic.twitter.com/kf8jHLbbUW  x - Minnesota Frost (@PWHL_Minnesota) June 3, 2025

The league is adding teams in Seattle and Vancouver for the 202526 season. The six current teams are allowed to protect three players each, but all remaining players in the league will be available in an expansion draft on June 9.

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Before the traditional expansion draft, Seattle and Vancouver will be granted a five-day exclusive window to sign a maximum of five players. Any unprotected player or free agent is eligible to sign with either team, though there is no minimum. This window runs from June 4 to June 8.

After one of the six inaugural teams has lost two playerseither in the signing window or the expansion draftthat team will be allowed to protect one additional player, increasing its protected list to four, according to a release from the league.

Seattle and Vancouver are required to draft at least seven players each, continuing until both teams have 12-player rosters.

Coyne and Heise were Minnesotas top two scorers last season with 24 and 22 points, respectively, and Stecklein is one of the teams top defenders.

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Sophie Jaques, Michela Cava, and Claire Thompson are among several of Minnesotas top players left exposed in the expansion process.

 Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reports of damage from last nights storm are starting to come in as residents get a good look at things in daylight.

East Moline was hit hard by the storm; this video of street flooding was shot by Patty Gilbert, a WHBF staff member.

Trees were uprooted on Campbells Island.

(Sharon Wren)

(Sharon Wren)

(Sharon Wren)

Trees in Silvis were damaged.

(Bryan Bobb)

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(Bryan Bobb)

(Bryan Bobb)

(Bryan Bobb)

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Over 4,300 people on the Illinois side are still without power at 11 a.m., according to the MidAmerican Energy outage map.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Queen Camilla is reportedly distancing herself amid escalating tensions between King Charles and Prince Harry, intensified by the duke's bombshell BBC interview and memoir "Spare."

Sources also recently shared that Charles lacks trusted advisers who can encourage reconciliation, while Prince William reportedly opposes mending ties.

Prince Harry has since been urged by royal commentators to keep a "dignified silence," warning his public comments damage trust.

Queen Camilla Is Staying Out Of The Growing Rift Between King Charles And Prince Harry

MEGA

Queen Camilla is avoiding the growing tensions between King Charles and his estranged son, Prince Harry.

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According to palace insiders who spoke to People Magazine, the 77-year-old queen "stays out of" the ongoing family feud, especially after coming under heavy criticism in Harry's explosive memoir "Spare."

In the book, the Duke of Sussex described his stepmother as "dangerous" and "the villain," accusing her of leaking stories to the media to protect her public image.

Additionally, sources suggest the rift between Harry and his family recently intensified following a BBC interview in which Harry's remarks were seen as damaging to any remaining trust between him and his ailing father.

Although the interview may not have been intended as a direct attack, royal commentator Valentine Low noted, "it would be seen as one." She added that "It makes Charles reaching out even harder."

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Royal expert Sally Bedell Smith also noted that both Charles and Prince William "don't trust Harry and Meghan with any kind of confidential conversation."

Catherine Mayer, author of "Charles: The Heart of a King," echoed this sentiment, warning that "If you have that level of breach in a family, and you are estranged, you run that risk every day of having something unfathomable to deal with."

Royal Expert Says King Charles 'Doesn't Have A Good Angel In His Ear' To Encourage Him To Be A Good Dad

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According to People, Charles isn't expected to make the first move to reconcile with Harry largely because he's not surrounded by advisers pushing for reconciliation.

Royal commentator Valentine Low shared that the monarch lacks a "good angel in his ear to say, 'Be a good dad and make the first move.'"

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Further complicating the situation is William, who, after being heavily criticized in Harry's memoir "Spare," reportedly has no interest in repairing their relationship.

Sources suggest that the Prince of Wales is firmly against any efforts to reconnect.

Prince Harry Urged To Keep A 'Dignified Silence' After BBC Interview

MEGA

Meanwhile, royal commentator Joe Little believes Harry's chances of mending his fractured relationship with the royal family may be slipping away, and suggests the Duke of Sussex would be better served by keeping a "dignified silence."

Speaking to the PA news agency via the Mirror, Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, described Harry's remarks about Charles' health in the BBC interview as "quite alarming," especially given Harry's admission that he hasn't spoken to his father in some time.

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"From what Harry is saying, despite admitting that he has not spoken to his father for some time, I thought it sent out a bit of a mixed message, really," Little said. "Is Harry suggesting that the King isn't as well as we are led to believe?"

The Duke's Public Outbursts Undermine Hopes For Reconciliation

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Joe Little further criticized Harry's continued tendency to air grievances publicly rather than resolve them privately.

"I think for somebody who is seeking reconciliation with his father, his brother, and his family, his royal family as a whole, I think the very last thing that he should have been doing was talking publicly," Little argued.

He added that Harry's repeated public disclosures have made it difficult for the royal family to place their trust in him again.

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"There is a great deal to be gained by maintaining a dignified silence  sadly, as we know from past events, this isn't Harry's way of doing things," he noted.

Little concluded by suggesting that "Maybe lessons just haven't been learned from previous occasions where also silence would have been the very best thing to maintain."

Prince Harry Considered Dropping His Royal Surname For 'Spencer' In Symbolic Break From Monarchy

MEGA

Meanwhile, Harry is reportedly exploring the possibility of legally changing his surname to "Spencer," his late mother Princess Diana's family name, in a dramatic symbolic gesture to further distance himself from the royal family.

According to the Daily Mail, the Duke of Sussex is believed to have consulted his maternal uncle, Earl Spencer, about the idea during a recent visit to the UK. While the conversation was said to be amicable, sources claim the Earl ultimately advised Harry against "such a step."

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The change would have meant abandoning the royal surname Mountbatten-Windsor, the name currently used by both of Harry's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Though Buckingham Palace has remained publicly silent on the matter, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Express that the idea "deeply hurt" Charles. Quoting Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Fitzwilliams emphasized that "someone's family name is a pivotal and public link to the other family members."

"This news will be deeply hurtful to King Charles, especially as it would have been a very public renunciation of the Royal Family only a relatively short time after he (Charles) had become king," Fitzwilliams explained.






NEED TO KNOW

Bhutan's Queen Jetsun Pema celebrated her 35th birthday on June 4

To mark the occasion, she shared a rare family portrait with her husband, King Jigme, and their three children: Prince Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, and Princess Sonam Yangden

The King and Queen wed in 2011 and have been referred to as the Himalayan William and Kate because of their similarities to the British royal couple







Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan is marking a milestone birthday.

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The royal celebrated turning 35 years old on Wednesday, June 4, and shared a new photo of herself and her family to mark the occasion.

In an image shared to the Queen's official Instagram account, she and her husband, King Jigme, smiled while seated behind their three children: Prince Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel, 9, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, 5, and Princess Sonam Yangden, 20 months.

"On the occasion of Her Majesty The Gyaltsuens birthday, we are pleased to share this portrait of the Royal Family, taken last month at Tashichho Dzong by the renowned French photographer Stephan Gladieu," the caption read.

"We join the people of Bhutan in offering our warmest wishes and gratitude to Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, whose wisdom, grace, and compassion continue to inspire and uplift us all," it continued. "Happy Birthday Your Majesty!"

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The royal couple rarely shares family portraits, but prior to the princess' arrival in 2023, the King and Queen posted a family photo with their two sons to commemorate their 10th anniversary in 2021.



The pair has been referred to in the past as the "Prince William and Kate Middleton of the Himalayas" because of the many similarities between the two couples.

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan

Bhutan's royals  known as the Dragon King and Dragon Queen  both attended college in England, and Kate and the Queen both have parents with ties to the airline industry. The Queen's father Dhondup Gyaltshen was an airline pilot, according to the Washington Post, while the Princess of Wales' father was a flight dispatcher and her mother worked as a flight attendant.

In another link between the couples, both royal pairs wed for love and shared public kisses following their wedding ceremonies. And, much like Will and Kate, the Bhutanese royals have a young family with three children, with each pair sharing two sons and one daughter.

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Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!



The two royal couples met in 2016, when the Dragon King and Dragon Queen invited William and Kate to visit Bhutan to strengthen the relationship between their two countries.

While there, William and Kate visited the Bhutanese palace and were greeted with a traditional Bhutanese welcoming ceremony.

Read the original article on People
DECATUR  Leslie Hunt has a job many kids will want to add to their list of career goals.

I'm an ice cream operator, she said. Its a dream job.

Hunts job is to make ice cream at the local Tillamook ice cream plant.

And everybody loves ice cream, she said. Its hard to have a top five, but my number one is butter pecan.

Hunt greeted approximately 200 community members who were invited to visit the new Tillamook ice cream plant in Decatur.

Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony, local officials and Tillamook representatives hosted a ceremonial scooping adding different flavors of ice cream into a Tillamook bowl.

Ruben Urrutia, director of plant operations, added the finishing touch  a cherry.

So with the cherry on top it's now official, said Mike Bever, Tillamooks chief supply chain officer. And so Reuben, we officially turn the plant over to you and ask you to get it to full capacity as soon as possible.

Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe admits she has become a Tillamook addict.

I love ice cream, but I dont like fruit in my ice cream, she said. And their cheese has made a huge difference in my hot dish recipes.

Although having ice cream made in the center of the city is exciting to city officials, the impact it is having in the area around the plant is refreshing as well.

You drive down the street and you get happy, Moore Wolfe said. The transformation it has made to this neighborhood is huge.

The plant is located along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, between Marietta Street and Wabash Avenue, in a more than 100-year-old building that most recently had been used for the same purpose by Prairie Farms.

The base blends of ice cream flavors begin with vanilla, chocolate and extra chocolate. Nearly three dozen flavors of ice cream will eventually be produced at the plant. They will be packaged in three-gallon tubs used by scoop shops as well as "family-sized" cartons that are found in grocery stores.

Based in Oregon, the farmer-owned Tillamook County Creamery Association purchased the facility from Prairie Farms. Two years later, ice cream is being packaged and shipped from Decatur, distributed to stores throughout the country.

The plant transformation took more than $67 million to complete. It employs more the 30 workers, some 40 more in the next year or two.

The plant is expected to ship 15.5 million gallons of ice cream annually by the end of 2026, feeding the growing popularity of Tillamook products.

The company began producing ice cream in the 1940s. Cheese, the companys original product, began production more than 100 years ago.

Quite honestly, today, we sell more households in the eastern part of the U.S. than we do in the western part of the U.S., Tillamooks President and CEO David Booth said about its ice cream sales. We have the fastest growing ice cream brand in the family size section in the United States, and we're the third largest brand out there today.

According to Bever, the move to Decatur was not an easy project. There were so many unknowns, so many challenges, he said.

Factors included the condition of the existing facility. It wasnt just about the building, but it was about the surrounding area as well, he said. We knew that that was going to require a very different and unique relationship with the city.

Having worked with his local economic development corporation, Bever said one of his first calls was to the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County.

Now I know how an EDC is supposed to work, he said. Nicole (Bateman) knows what she's doing, and that started a relationship with the city and the city management that has been absolutely fantastic.

Nicole Bateman, president of the Decatur EDC and a German chocolate ice cream fan, was one of the first people Tillamook approached before deciding to add a facility to the area.

Oftentimes in communities, they reach out to the economic development office, because were the great connectors, she said.

Confidentiality is important to the EDC, as well as the potential business.

They try to get the real scoop on whats going on in the community. I know that sounds cheesy, Bateman said, pun intended.

The community is also important to Tillamook. Where we have plants, we like to be heavily involved in the community and be a part of the fabric of the community, Bever said.

Tillamook announced Wednesday it is partnering with the general contractor JP Cullen to provide $50,000 in donations to local charities. The Decatur Park District will receive $20,000 for local youth recreation and community events, such as Trees on Tees. Another $20,000 will be given to the food security efforts of the Good Samaritan Inn. The Macon County Fair will receive $5,000 to support its livestock and open class shows. The ice cream company also is committing $5,000 to the Northeast Community Fund, located across the street from the plant, to support its farm-to-fund events. They're obviously a good neighbor for us, and we're excited to help support them as well, Bever said.

The new addition already has begun to change the neighborhood, officials said.

We know that their unique culture is really going to bring a new vibe to Decatur, Bateman said.

Along with free scoops of ice cream, including the flavors Orange and Cream, Oregon Strawberry, Mudslide, and Salty Caramel Pretzel, samples of the companys various cheese selections and cream cheese choices were available during Wednesday's ceremony.

We are just so proud of this heritage of 116 years on the Oregon coast making cheese, and still following those same processes, said Josh Archibald, executive chef of culinary development. But ice cream is so fun and so exciting.

Tillamooks plans are to add more factory space for the other products.

The mayor said she has a difficult time explaining to school children the various products made in Decatur. When I go to schools and I talk about the ice cream company that's coming here, they get it, Moore Wolfe said. This is something people can embrace and taste and get excited about, and we all do.

Mark Denzler, Illinois Manufacturers Association president and CEO, is a fan of the butter pecan ice cream. But Ive been told the Peaches and Cream is amazing, he said.

Denzler is a Decatur native and understands the importance of Tillamooks addition to the area. This is an amazing success story for Decatur and Macon County. Decaturs such a welcoming community to them, he said. Its jobs, its economic development for the city. And who doesnt love ice cream.

During the ceremony, Bateman recognized June as National Dairy Month. She also revealed she grew up on a dairy farm. It was a very exciting moment when my childhood and professional career collided, she said. I also knew how well their culture would resonate with the community.

In 2022, shortly before the news broke of Tillamooks arrival, Bateman checked the ice cream shelves at a local grocery store to find a fully stocked freezer.

Then when I stopped by on my way home to see how widely the news had circulated, only a few containers remained. They were tipped over and was completely disheveled, she said. That was the response I had hoped for. Decatur got the message.
A Queens middle school teacher was busted Tuesday morning for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenager, cops said.

David Ospino, 36, who teaches at Intermediate School 204 Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School in Long Island City, faces charges of rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

The alleged victim was not a student at the school where Ospino taught, sources said.

The teenager came forward to police and accused Ospino of sexually assaulting her at his home last year, according to AMNewYork.

Ospinos arraignment at Queens Criminal Court was pending Tuesday.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Shreveport Fire Department responded to a commercial building fire in the 1200 block of North Hearne Avenue on Tuesday.

Upon arrival, the SFD reportedly observed smoke coming from the front of a one-story commercial building. Once inside, firefighters found a machine on fire in the back of the warehouse.

Firefighters rescue multiple dogs, newborn kittens from house fire

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Thanks to the quick actions of one employee, who used a fire extinguisher prior to the fire departments arrival, the fire remained confined to one machine inside the warehouse and allowed firefighters to fully extinguish the flames using a second extinguisher. The official cause of the fire remains under investigation by the SFD Fire Prevention Bureau (FPB), a press release stated.

All 38 employees of the business evacuated safely with no reported injuries. Free extinguisher training is offered by the SFDFPB to local businesses. To learn more or request training, call 318-673-6740 or go to shreveportfire.org.

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BEIJING (AP)  For most Chinese, the 36th anniversary of a bloody crackdown that ended pro-democracy protests in China passed like any other weekday. And that's just how the ruling Communist Party wants it.

Security was tight Wednesday around Beijing's Tiananmen Square, where weeks of student-led protests shook the party in 1989. Under then-leader Deng Xiaoping, the military was sent in to end the protest on the night of June 3-4. Using live ammunition, soldiers forced their way through crowds that tried to block them from reaching the square. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed, including dozens of soldiers.

The party has tried, with some success, to erase what it calls the political turmoil of 1989 from the collective memory. It bans any public commemoration or mention of the June 4 crackdown, scrubbing references from the internet.

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In recent years, that ban has been extended to Hong Kong, where a once-massive annual candlelight vigil is no longer permitted. Police said they brought 10 people on suspicion of breaching public peace to a police station for investigation. Three were still detained late Wednesday, while the rest were allowed to leave. Police also arrested a woman for failing to show her identity document and a man for obstructing police officers from performing their duties.

It is only in Taiwan, a self-governing island that is claimed by China but runs its own affairs, that large June 4 gatherings can still take place.

The crackdown reinforced Communist Party control

Tiananmen Square is a vast space in the center of Beijing with monumental, communist-era buildings along two sides and the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, who founded the communist era in 1949, on the south end.

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University students occupied this symbolically important site in the spring of 1989. Their calls for freedoms divided the party leadership. The decision to send in troops marked a decisive turning point in the evolution of modern China, keeping the party firmly in control as it loosened economic restrictions.

Chinese officials have said the countrys rapid economic development since then proves the decisions made at the time were correct.

On the political turmoil that happened in the late 1980s, the Chinese government has already reached a clear conclusion," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday. He added that China would continue along its current path of what it calls socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Tiananmen Mothers, a group formed by relatives of the victims, made an annual online appeal to the government. Signed by 108 members, it called for an independent investigation into what happened on June 4, 1989, including a list of all who died. The group also demanded compensation for the families and a legal case against those responsible for the deaths.

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The British and German Embassies in Beijing posted videos commemorating the anniversary on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, but they were later taken down, presumably by censors. The Canadian and German Embassies displayed images of a single lit candle on large screens facing the main street.

Hong Kong's once outspoken populace has been cowed

In Hong Kong, a carnival showcasing Chinese food and products was held in Victoria Park, where tens of thousands of people used to gather for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary.

Hong Kong authorities first shut down the vigil during the COVID-19 pandemic and arrested the organizers in 2021. The moves were part of a broader crackdown on dissent following monthslong anti-government protests in 2019 that turned violent and paralyzed parts of the city.

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A former district council member, Chan Kim-kam, said customs officers questioned her at her shop on the eve of June 4 after she advertised small white candles for sale in an Instagram post titled June, we dont forget.

You know, Hong Kongers have become silent lambs after 2019, said King Ng, who was at the park on Wednesday.

Police were out in force to try to prevent any protest, and took several people away from the park on Wednesday. They included a young woman wearing a school uniform and holding flowers, a man who lowered his head in apparent prayer, and a man wearing a white T-shirt reading Vindication for June 4. Its getting closer and closer." Police also questioned a woman who lit up a mosquito lamp, but eventually let her go.

Rows of electronic candles lit up the windows of the U.S. consulate, and the British consulate projected VIIV  Roman numerals in reference to June 4  on one of its walls.

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The British and Canadian consulates earlier posted social media messages about remembering June 4. Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997. The U.S. consulate posted a message from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on its website.

The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, Rubio said, referring to China's Communist Party. "But the world will never forget.

Taiwan seeks support from democracies against China

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te used the anniversary to position the island he leads on the frontline of defending democracy against authoritarianism. In a Facebook post, he drew a distinction between Taiwan's multiparty democracy and China's one-party rule.

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Authoritarian governments often choose to remain silent and forget about history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who have contributed to the ideals of human rights and the dreams they embrace, Lai wrote.

Taiwan transitioned from authoritarianism to democracy in a process that began in the late 1980s. It relies on support principally from the U.S., along with other democratic partners, to deter China from an invasion.

Several hundred people gathered Wednesday evening for a candlelight vigil in downtown Taipei's Freedom Square. In the center stood a scaled-down model of the Pillar of Shame," a sculpture commemorating the protests that once stood on the campus of the University of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong authorities have placed bounties on some activists who have moved abroad. Other democracy advocates in the semi-autonomous Chinese city remain in jail or intimidated into silence.

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Wu Lang-huang, a Taiwanese professor who was present when troops arrived on the square in 1989, said he will continue to document what happened and collect related artifacts.

It's not just about remembering what happened then but also for the lessons it tells us about modern Hong Kong and Taiwan, Wu said.

One of the vigil's organizers, who went by the name Mimi for fear of repercussions, said some may question why people born years after the 1989 protests still care.

Its about memory, which is itself a form of resistance, she said.

___

The year in which British colonial rule ended in Hong Kong has been corrected in this story to 1997. ___

Leung reported from Hong Kong. AP journalist Christopher Bodeen contributed reporting from Taipei, Taiwan.
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  Did you know that Rhode Island is home to an exclusive aircraft simulator that attracts pilots from around the world?

The Weapons Systems Trainer-Reconfigurable, situated within the Quonset Point Air National Guard Base, provides intensive training for pilots learning to fly C-130Js, which are described as the militarys most utilized transport aircrafts.

Were really thankful to have the only C-130J electric simulator in the Air National Guard right here in Rhode Island, said Col. Adam Wiggins, commander of the 143rd Airlift Wing.

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Wiggins told 12 News the flight simulator trains pilots how to navigate various weather and combat conditions. It also provides training for loadmasters on how to communicate effectively with the cockpit.

Inside the cockpit of a C-130J (Ryan Welch/WPRI-TV)

Since it is the only flight simulator for this type of aircraft in the world, Wiggins said it is a popular training tool for pilots learning how to operate these specialized aircrafts.

Wiggins couldnt show 12 News the flight simulator because the building its in requires security clearance.

But he said the one-of-a-kind training tool attracts pilots from around the country and the world.

We recently trained the [Royal] New Zealand Airforce to receive their own C-130Js, Wiggins said, adding that the Ocean State plays a key role in connecting the United States with its foreign military partners.

Inside Rhode Islands C-130Js

The Rhode Island Air National Guard owns eight C-130Js, which Wiggins described as the pride and joys of Quonset Point.

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Wiggins said the C-130J is versatile and utilized for a variety of missions. Those missions, he explained, include delivering cargo, passengers, equipment, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Staff Sgt. Samuel Miller showed 12 News around one of Quonset Points C-130Js.

C-130Js lined up at the Quonset Point Air National Guard Base (Ryan Welch/WPRI-TV)

Miller, who is a trained loadmaster, said his job is to keep tabs on the aircrafts inventory, which can range from supplies and food to weapons, ammunition and even combat vehicles.

We are the authority in the back of the aircraft, Miller explained. We must know exactly what is coming on the plane.

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Rep. Jason Knight, second from left, explains his bill banning the sale and manufacture of assault-style weapons in Rhode Island before the House Committee on Judiciary on June 3, 2025. To his left: Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat who voted against advancing the bill. To Knight's right: Committee Chairman Robert Craven and Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, a South Kingstown Democrat. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

After years of stalling at the committee level, legislation banning the sale and manufacturing of assault-style weapons in Rhode Island starting in July 2026 is headed to the House floor for the first time in legislative history.

The House Committee on Judiciary voted 12-6 Tuesday to advance the amended bill by Rep. Jason Knight, a Barrington Democrat, for consideration by the full chamber on Thursday.

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The historic vote drew rare attendance from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski, who used their ex-officio role on all House Committees to participate in the vote. All of the states general officers have already expressed support for the bill.

This is a very historic and important bill, Shekarchi told reporters after the meeting. Its a bill that accomplishes what we wanted to do: To take these weapons off the street.

Knights bill would prohibit the sale and manufacturing of assault-style shotguns, handguns, and rifles beginning July 1, 2026. Violators of the proposed ban would face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and forfeiting their assault-style weapons.

The bill applies to any semiautomatic firearm that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one attachment such as stocks, pistol grips, and barrel shrouds.

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Certain .22 caliber rimfire rifles and Olympic-style target pistols would remain exempt from the proposed ban.

How the committee voted on the proposed assault weapons ban

Yes votes came from Chairman Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat; Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, a South Kingstown Democrat; Rep. Jason Knight, a Barrington Democrat; Rep. Edith Ajello, a Providence Democrat; Rep. Jose Batista, a Providence Democrat; Rep. Justine Caldwell, an East Greenwich Democrat; Rep. Julie Casimiro, a North Kingstown Democrat; Rep. Cherie Cruz, a Pawtucket Democrat; Rep. Matthew Dawson, an East Providence Democrat; Rep. Leonela Felix, a Pawtucket Democrat; House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat; and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat.

No votes came from Rep. David Bennett, a Warwick Democrat; Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat; Rep. Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican; Rep Thomas Noret, a Coventry, Democrat; Rep. David Place; a Burrillville Republican; and House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale, a Foster Republican.

Knight said the latest definition was based on feedback the committee received during the bills initial hearing on March 29. But lawmakers  both Republican and Democrat  still voiced numerous concerns with the amended legislation Tuesday, while gun rights advocates in yellow T-shirts listened silently in the audience.

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Rep. David Bennett, a Warwick Democrat, asked if there were any carveouts for orthopedic pistol grips. No, Knight responded.

Thats too bad, Bennett said.

But Knight said gun owners can still purchase firearms with any of the outlawed features if they are purchased ahead of the proposed ban, along with any firearm passed down through a family.

Firearm owners can voluntarily register their weapons with state and local police in order to receive a certificate of possession. Knights original bill had mandated that grandfathered weapons be registered, which Second Amendment advocates called unconstitutional.

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The voluntary certification did not appease House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, a Foster Republican. He argued that certification would be necessary to prove ownership in the event of a police arrest.

That sounds like a registry with a different name, Chippendale said.

Rep. Thomas Noret, a Coventry Democrat, said he was concerned that the bill could criminalize people who post photos of themselves with guns they dont own on social media.

That mere second that they possess it  it could potentially ruin their lives, he said.

Knight responded that law enforcement already uses social media posts as evidence and that police always have the discretion to not file charges.

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Rep. David Place, a Burrillville Republican, argued that passing the bill will not reduce gun violence, and suggested it would disproportionately penalize people of color.

No one that looks like me is going to be sent to jail for this bill unless I fire on somebody who comes to my door, he said. We move this bill out of fear at the expense of individual liberty.

Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Joe Powers called Knights legislation a political Trojan horse.

Its designed to look like public safety, but its nothing more than government overreach wrapped in fear-mongering, Powers said in a statement. Theyre hoping you wont notice your rights being stripped away, one inch at a time.

Left to right are House Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat; House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi; Rep. Matthew Dawson, an East Providence Democrat; Rep. David Bennett, a Warwick Democrat; and Rep. Julie Casimiro, a North Kingstown Democrat, during the House Committee on Judiciarys June 3, 2025 meeting. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Gun safety advocates celebrated the committees vote.

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Our advocates and partners have worked tirelessly for more than a decade in the name of public safety and we are thrilled to have made it this far in the legislative process, Melissa Carden, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, said in a statement.

Tony Morettini, legislative chapter lead for Moms Demand Action, said hes hopeful the bill will clear the full House.

A chamber passing it sends a big message, he said.

That message, he said, will be directed across the rotunda to the Rhode Island Senate where the proposal remains uncertain.

Companion legislation filed in the Senate by Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, has 23 additional sponsors, including Senate President Valarie Lawson.

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DiPalmas bill was heard by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on May 14 where it was held for further study. Three Democrats who serve on the committee voiced opposition to the proposal during the initial hearing on DiPalmas bill.

Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat and federal firearms dealer, has also voiced opposition to banning assault-style weapons as initially drafted.

Lawson did not immediately respond to request for comment on where the proposed ban lies on her list of priorities.

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According to Rafael, a major advantage of its lasers is that they can shoot down enemy rockets and drones much earlier in the threat process.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems new family of lasers, which started to be rolled out last week and will continue to be presented to the public by the end of 2025, could eliminate the need for Israelis to run to bomb shelters during most aerial threats, the defense company revealed on Wednesday.

According to Rafael, a major advantage of its lasers  Iron Beam, Iron Beam M, and Lite Beam  is that they can shoot down enemy rockets and drones much earlier in the threat process, such that most of the time, no sirens or bomb shelters would be necessary.

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This is because the light energy of the laser travels much faster than any interceptor in Israels arsenal and would already potentially destroy the enemy aerial threat shortly after it launches, invariably while it is still in enemy territory.

Only in those rare cases where the laser system missed its target, and likely missed it multiple times  since there should be time for multiple shoot-down attempts  would a siren and running to bomb shelters be necessary.

Rafaels presentation of the three different laser systems comes as it expects to display the lasers capabilities at a defense technology conference in Paris in 10 days, and it is the first time that it has formally mentioned the Iron Beam M  a mobile version of the Iron Beam.

Specific details of various laser models

In addition, Rafael also discussed a variety of specific details regarding these various laser models.

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The Lite Beam is the smallest and most local short-range system, which can be placed on individual ground forces vehicles and fires a 10 kW beam. Iron Beam M fires a 250 mm. 50 kW beam and can be mounted on large trucks for mobility but cannot be placed as a minor additional system on individual vehicles.

Finally, the full-size Iron Beam fires a 450 mm. 100 kW beam and is designed to remain stationary for periods of time, though it can, with advance planning, be moved around just as Iron Dome batteries, over time, can be moved around.

Although Raytheon in the US, as well as the UK, Russia, China, Germany, and Japan, are all at various stages of developing laser defense systems, Rafael said it is the only company that has moved beyond test firings to actual use in the field.

Last week, the Defense Ministry revealed that a version of Lite Beam had been used close to 40 times to shoot down Hezbollah drones during the course of the war, and especially in fall 2024.

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Questioned about future applications, Rafael sources said it would take a significant amount of time to adapt lasers for use by Israeli aircraft. There are many challenges with using lasers relating to turbulence, dust, clouds, and smoke, which are a partial issue even when the end target is in the sky but are a larger issue when the starting point is also in the sky.

Also, if laser systems firing at enemy aerial threats must consider somewhat additional objects that could get hit by the laser after it continues through the object it hits, those considerations are much more complex for any aircraft firing on ground targets.

For this reason and due to other considerations, the impression was that the IDF has not even made it a priority to achieve such laser aircraft capabilities for the foreseeable future; however, this could all change once the IDF sees more laser defense systems in action at the end of 2025.

It was unclear how quickly Rafael could roll out a larger volume of lasers, something that took years with the Iron Dome, even after the initial defense batteries were produced and deployed.

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While laser systems are a big improvement over the Iron Dome for reducing the cost of each shootdown attempt  the Iron Dome costs around $40,000 per interceptor, and each laser shot should cost around $3  building each laser defense battery is still very expensive.

Another major advantage of laser systems over the Iron Dome, according to Rafael, is that there are far fewer logistics.

Iron Dome interceptors are not just a cost; they are a huge separate logistical operation to move around and store.

In contrast, laser defense systems do not need additional physical storage space for their interceptor because it is just made up of light energy created when the system fires.

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Rafael chairman Yuval Steinitz said, Israel is the first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system  and to execute actual combat interceptions. We are extremely proud of Rafaels achievement in leading this operational and technological breakthrough. Based on its unique development of adaptive optics, Rafaels Iron Beam system will undoubtedly be a game-changer with an unprecedented impact on the modern battlefield.

In addition, Rafael sources said the laser breakthrough was larger than that of the Iron Dome because it is a multidisciplinary scientific human breakthrough with wide applications in many fields. In other words, lasers have been used for some decades for very short-range functions, like eye surgery at a range of a matter of centimeters.

But now that Israel has shown that lasers can be used at a much farther distance, there will be many other military and non-military applications.

Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman stated, Rafael is leading the energy weapon revolution, with operational laser systems among the most advanced of their kind worldwide. The ingenuity and boldness of Rafaels top scientists and the companys massive investment in R&D have resulted in a monumental operational and technological accomplishment.

Later this year, we will deliver the first Iron Beam system from Rafaels production lines to the [Defense Ministry]. This system will fundamentally change the defense equation by enabling fast, precise, cost-effective interceptions, unmatched by any existing system.
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Students in the Poconos are making a splash for a great cause.

The 4th annual end-of-the-year Rain Rally kicked off today at East Stroudsburg High School South.

Students from local school districts gathered at the stadium parking and ran under the water hoses of the local fire department.

Indraloka expanding low-cost vet services

East Stroudsburg High School is one of the original schools in PA to hold the Rain Rally event, which is an offshoot of the Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics.

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This is something Ive been doing ever since I started teaching here, so its just something thats near and dear to my heart. I guess I want everybody to feel the same way that I do about working with Special Olympics, and we have an inclusive club here for Special Olympics that has almost 300 members, said Aimee Ellison, a special education teacher at East Stroudsburg High School South.

The event helped raise nearly $13,000.

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Much cooler air has moved into central Iowa behind a cold front that passed through midday. Your weather timeline keeps us in cooler temperatures and spotty rain chances:

Rain totals have been on the low end of what was forecast. Below, totals as of 7PM Tuesday. We may see minor accumulations in spots before rain pulls out this evening.

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The DNR has issued an air quality alert, in effect until Thursday morning as things stand. Current air quality as of this evening and the forecast can be found below.

It will be a cool night, and temperatures stay mostly in the 70s into early next week.

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Precipitation chances get a little murky at this point beyond Wednesday. It appears we could see a spotty shower pretty much every day Thursday through Sunday, though none of them look like washouts and amounts look light.

Highs for the next six days are above, and your WHO 13 7-day forecasts below. Have a good evening!

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BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Members of the Raleigh County Commission are moving forward with plans to clean up the county.



Several bids were accepted during Tuesday mornings meeting of the Raleigh County Commission for the demolition of dilapidated structures throughout the county. In recent months, commission members have been vocal about their efforts to address issues of litter and rundown structures in the area. Commissioners have said this not only affects residents of Raleigh County, but also potential visitors who could be deterred from the area.



Since were so close to the New River Gorge National Park, we have a lot more tourism here, says Raleigh County Commissioner, Daniel Hall. Were trying to clean it up. Its really bad in some places of the county.

Raleigh County Commission President, Greg Duckworth told 59News 10 dilapidated structures will be demolished as a result of the most recent bid award.



We accepted bids for those to be torn down so its just more of that commitment of cleaning up the county and picking up the litter, he said. Tearing down the old buildings and getting to a place where the neighbors dont have to look at something next to them thats run down.

Commissioners said they hope to look into bringing down structures in smaller local communities in the area such as Eccles and Stickney as part of the program. Anyone with information on dilapidated structures that needs addressed has been encouraged to contact the Raleigh County Commission.

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Ralph Rosado has defeated Jose Regalado in Miamis District 4 race, concluding a special election that promises to tip the scales of power on the City Commission.

Preliminary election night results show Rosado led with about 55% of the vote.

Its completely surreal, Rosado told the Miami Herald.

Rosado celebrated his victory Tuesday night at the Salvadorian restaurant El Atlacatl. In a victory speech, he thanked Mayor Francis Suarez, who is away on vacation in Italy, and Commissioner Joe Carollo.

Ralph Rosado, left, talks to Commissioner Joe Carollo and Carollos wife, Marjorie, after Rosados victory on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at El Atlacatl restaurant in Miami.

Carollo backed Rosados campaign, and Carollos political committee, Miami First, paid for a flurry of anti-Regalado mailers. Rosado said Tuesday night that he thinks Carollos support helped him, but he emphasized that he will be his own man on the commission.

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I am my own person, and I get to prove it very soon, Rosado told the Herald.

Victoria Mendez, former Miami city attorney, center, congratulates Ralph Rosados wife, Mari, left, and his family during Rosados watch party on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at El Atlacatl restaurant in Miami.

Other guests included former City Attorney Victoria Mendez, who is a friend of Rosados, as well former Mayor Xavier Suarez and current Commissioners Christine King and Damian Pardo.

The winner of the special election was slated to be sworn in on Saturday, according to the city clerk, but Rosado said Mayor Francis Suarez has been insistent that he be present for the swearing-in and that he may not be available Saturday.

The mayor wants to be here, so I got to see when hes back, Rosado said.

Ralph Rosado gives a victory speech during his watch party on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at El Atlacatl restaurant in Miami.

Rosado will succeed Commissioner Manolo Reyes, who died in April, and will serve out the remainder of Reyes term, which runs through late 2027.

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Rosado, 52, is an urban planner and former North Bay Village manager who previously ran for the District 4 seat in 2017, losing to Reyes.

Ralph Rosado is interviewed by the press with the election results in the background during his watch party on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at El Atlacatl restaurant in Miami.

Regalado, 40, is a former assistant building director and interim building director in the city of Miami. He resigned from his position in the city to run for the District 4 seat. Regalado had the backing of the Reyes family, as well as Reyes staff, whom Regalado promised to retain should he be elected. He was also supported by former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla.

While Regalado had never run for elected office before, he likely benefited from name recognition on the ballot. His father is former Miami mayor and current Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Tomas Regalado, and his sister is Raquel Regalado, a county commissioner who was also Joses campaign manager.

Rosado took aim at Regalados position as a member of one of Miamis political dynasties, whereas Regalado has argued that a Rosado win would ensure Joe Carollo keeps his grip of power.

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Speaking to the Herald after his loss, Regalado said he was proud of the campaign he ran, which he said honored Reyes legacy.

I stayed to my principles, I spoke to the issues, and I didnt let any of the falsehoods trip me up or sink to that level of intimidation, Regalado said.

Jose Regalado, right, shakes hands with supporters during his watch party at Our Lady of Lebanon Church on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

On the other hand, he said his opponent went negative by attacking Regalados character and not denouncing attacks from Carollo, who Regalado said fabricated, distracted, intimidated, retaliated against those who supported me.







That is the only way he knows how to operate, Regalado said of Carollo. And that has unfortunately now been given an outsized voice in the city of Miami.

READ MORE: Political dynasties battle behind the scenes in Miami special election

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Standing outside Rosados watch party, Carollo celebrated Rosados win and took aim at Regalado.

I feel good for the city of Miami, Carollo said. And I feel very proud of the District 4 voters. ... They saw through how fake the Regalados were. They saw how theyve been lied to for so many years by this clan. They saw who the real people behind the Regalados are, and were.

Key issues ahead

Rosado has little time to rest now that the brief 43-day special election cycle has concluded. After being sworn in, he will attend his first City Commission meeting next week, on June 12.

That meetings agenda is expected to include controversial items, including a proposal to create stricter term limits for elected officials. The item would need to pass two City Commission votes in order to go on the November ballot for Miami voters to give final approval.

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Another item that could go before the commission on June 12 is an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would deputize city police officers with immigration enforcement powers. The commission was scheduled to vote on it in April but decided to wait until after the special election when there would be five commissioners instead of four.

There is also a proposal circulating City Hall to push the upcoming November 2025 election to 2026. The stated reason behind the proposal is to align the city with the national even-year election cycle, but the fine print is that it would extend the city commissioners terms, as well as the mayors term, by one year.

That item may not go before the City Commission until the following meeting on June 26 or a subsequent meeting in July.

Miami City Commission Chairwoman Christine King, center, and Commissioner Damian Pardo, left, speak to Ralph Rosado during his watch party on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at El Atlacatl restaurant in Miami.

Ralph Rosados wife, Mari, center, daughter Mia, center right, and son Matias, right, clap during Ralph Rosados watch party on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at El Atlacatl restaurant in Miami.
ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY)  The West Virginia Board of Education could declare a state of emergency in Randolph County Schools at its meeting next week.

At its June 11 meeting, the state board will decide whether to make that declaration.

A state of emergency is a probationary period that allows a county to correct issues outside of a formal state intervention or takeover of the system. That probationary period typically lasts six months, according to a spokesperson for the West Virginia Department of Education.

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Following that period, the West Virginia Board of Education could lift the state of emergency, extend it or decide if additional action or intervention is required.

Previous Coverage: Randolph County superintendent: forecast is pretty dark

State officials notified Superintendent Shawn Dilly and Randolph County Board of Education President Rachel Anger via email about two hours prior to Tuesdays regularly-scheduled meeting.

The Randolph County Board of Education added the correspondence as an emergency item to the end of its Tuesday agenda. You can see that portion of the meeting here.

The Randolph County school system has struggled over the past few years with a number of operational challenges including declining enrollment, failure to approve a consolidation plan, personnel overages and a budget shortfall.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is launching an investigation into the charges filed against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) and the mayor of Newark, N.J., saying the moves appears to violate Justice Department policy.

McIver was charged last month after a scuffle with Department of Homeland Security officers outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility after they began to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D).

Alina Habba, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey and former personal attorney to President Trump, charged McIver with assaulting law enforcement, saying she used her forearms to push back against agents.

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Habbas office has already moved to dismiss the trespassing charges initially filed against Baraka, earning a reprimand from the judge in the case who cited an apparent rush in this case, culminating  in the embarrassing retraction of charges.

Ms. Habbas unprecedented charging decision is a blatant attempt to intimidate Members of Congress and to deter us from carrying out our constitutional oversight duties. It appears Ms. Habba brought these charges in violation of long-standing Department of Justice (DOJ) policies designed to prevent exactly this type of politically motivated abuse of prosecutorial power, Raskin wrote.

Raskin fired off a series of questions about the charges brought against both McIver and Baraka.

That includes whether there was any contact with the Public Integrity Section of the DOJ.

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DOJ prosecutors must consult with the Public Integrity Section before initiating an investigation of Members of Congress and must seek the Sections approval before bringing charges. 21 Reports suggest, however, that Ms. Habba did not, Raskin wrote.

The consultation requirement is designed to guard against a rampant Executive Branch weaponizing the vast apparatus of federal law enforcement against the Presidents perceived enemies, or even the perception that a DOJ investigation or prosecution was motivated by improper political purpose. The Justice Manual is clear that approval from the Public Integrity Section is required before charging a Member of Congress with a crime based on actions taken in their official capacity.

The Justice Department said it is considering removing the requirement that prosecutors first consult with the Public Integrity Section.

Raskin asks the DOJ whom Habba consulted before bringing charges, if she coordinated with Trump or any White House staff, and to turn over all communications regarding the charges.

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For her part, McIver has denied any wrongdoing and noted she rejected a plea deal from Habba, saying it pushed her to admit to doing something that I did not do.

I came there to do my job and conduct an oversight visit, and they wanted me to say something differently, and Im not doing that. Im not going to roll over and stop doing my job because they dont want me to, or they want to neglect the fact that we needed to be in there to see what was going on and that detention center, and so, absolutely, no, I was not going to do that, McIver said last month during an appearance on CNN.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Reuters) -RTX's defense arm Raytheon said on Wednesday it has been awarded a $1.1 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to produce more of its short-range AIM-9X Block II missiles.

The contract would help ramp production of the air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles to 2,500 per year, which are used by over 30 of the United States' allies and partners.

Demand for missiles and military equipment has remained strong and is expected to increase further as geopolitical tensions rise across the world.

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Meanwhile, last month, U.S. President Donald Trump requested for a national defense budget of $892.6 billion for fiscal year 2026 from Congress, matching the 2025 budget, with a focus on rebuilding the military, re-establishing deterrence and promoting national security.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Razor Clams on the Central Coast have been deemed safe by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Oregon department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and are now available for harvesting.

Razor clam harvesting is now open from Cascade Head to Cape Blanco, but remains closed from Cape Blanco to the California border for the publics safety. Harvesting of mussels, bay clams, and crabs remains open along the entirety of the Oregon Coast.

Ex-military father at large after 3 daughters found dead in central Washington

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Closures have been maintained due to the presence of domoic acid in razor clams at unhealthy levels, and regular closings and openings can be expected throughout the year.

Marine biotoxins such as domoic acid are produced by microscopic plankton, and typically exist at low levels. These toxins can affect shellfish, which are filter-feeders and ingest any and all particles they come into contact with.

While the biotoxins do not affect the shellfish negatively, they can be very harmful to humans and animals that consume them.

Levels of biotoxins periodically rise and fall, but now that the domoic acid levels in razor clams have dropped, the ODFW has ruled them safe for consumption. The ODA will continue to monitor the shellfish toxin levels weekly.

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Jury rules in favor of Black firefighters racial discrimination case against City of Portland

Domoic acid has been proven to contribute to short and long-term memory loss. Even in shellfish with low levels of the acid, large quantities eaten per year may cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, and health officials recommend that people eat no more than 15 razor clams per month for 12 consecutive months. This is an interim advisory while more data is collected.

A license is required to harvest shellfish. Daily and yearly passes can be purchased online or in-person from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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Anti-Semitic incidents in Germany were up by 77% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to figures published by a monitoring organization on Wednesday, with the increase being partially attributed to the ongoing war in Gaza and the far right.

"Never before have we been aware of more attacks against Jews in a calendar year than in the past year," said Benjamin Steinitz, managing director of the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS).

The 2024 report details 8,627 anti-Semitic incidents, including eight cases of extreme violence, 186 attacks, 443 cases of property damage and 300 cases involving threats.

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Cases classified as "offensive behaviour" were reported most frequently with 7,541 incidents, including 1,802 cases recorded at public gatherings.

Meanwhile, 5,857 cases were classified as "anti-Semitism related to Israel" - meaning incidents in which Jews living in Germany are held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, or where Israel's right to exist is disputed.

The figure was more than twice as many as recorded in 2023.

Steinitz stressed that the category did not include cases of mere criticism of the Israeli government.

The rise in anti-Semitic attacks since the October 7 attacks in Israel recorded by RIAS, which documents cases reported by victims or eyewitnesses, is also reflected in official data.

However, a recently published report by the German-Israeli journalist Itay Mashiach on behalf of the Diaspora Alliance, an organization that fights anti-Semitism, accuses RIAS of "opaque methods," criticizing it for overemphasizing "Israel-related anti-Semitism."
Anti-Semitic incidents in Germany were up by 77% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to figures published by a monitoring organization on Wednesday, with the increase being partially attributed to the ongoing war in Gaza and the far right.

"Never before have we been aware of more attacks against Jews in a calendar year than in the past year," said Benjamin Steinitz, managing director of the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS).

The 2024 report details 8,627 anti-Semitic incidents, including eight cases of extreme violence, 186 attacks, 443 cases of property damage and 300 cases involving threats.

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Cases classified as "offensive behaviour" were reported most frequently with 7,541 incidents, including 1,802 cases recorded at public gatherings.

The latter category defined incidents as anti-Semitic based on the content of speeches or other material used as calls to action.

A total of 544 cases were attributed to right-wing extremist views, a record since RIAS began documenting cases nationwide in 2020.

Meanwhile, 5,857 cases were classified as "anti-Semitism related to Israel" - meaning incidents in which Jews living in Germany are held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, or where Israel's right to exist is disputed.

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The figure was more than twice as many as recorded in 2023.

Steinitz stressed that the category did not include cases of mere criticism of the Israeli government.

The rise in anti-Semitic attacks since the October 7 attacks in Israel recorded by RIAS, which documents cases reported by victims or eyewitnesses, is also reflected in official data.

However, a recently published report by the German-Israeli journalist Itay Mashiach on behalf of the Diaspora Alliance, an organization that fights anti-Semitism, accuses RIAS of "opaque methods," criticizing it for overemphasizing "Israel-related anti-Semitism."

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RIAS recorded a total of 450 anti-Semitic incidents at universities last year, followed by 284 at schools, including 19 attacks.

Steinitz described the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023, which triggered Israel's devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip, as a turning point.

"The risk of being attacked as a Jew in Germany has objectively increased since October 7," he said.

Among the cases of extreme anti-Semitic violence recorded by RIAS last year is that of a Jewish student who was attacked by a fellow student outside a bar in Berlin.

In the same category, the association also included a terrorist attack on a city festival in the western city of Solingen, which left three dead, as well as an attack by a suspected Islamist on the Israeli consulate general in Munich.

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Among the 186 registered attacks was the case of a Jewish pupil who was held by two men on her way to school who called her a "dirty Jew."

In another incident in a park in the eastern city of Leipzig, 10 to 15 right-wing extremists attacked three men who had been talking about anti-Semitism.

Among the cases of property damages, 50 incidents were recorded in residential areas.

In March 2024, unknown perpetrators daubed two swastikas next to the front door of the home of a Jewish couple in Hamburg, while in April, a Star of David was smeared onto the house of a Jewish person living in Leipzig.

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Steinitz rejected the accusations levelled against the association, and the German government's anti-Semitism commissioner Felix Klein said he has "great confidence in the work of RIAS."

Klein described the new figures as shocking and stressed the need for the fight against anti-Semitism to become "even more focused, intensive and successful."

Cooperation with states, municipalities, associations, organizations and individuals is necessary "so that we can ideally see the numbers of anti-Semitic incidents fall again as soon as possible."
Israel Police, in a joint 24-hour crackdown with IDF and Border Police, arrested nine suspects in the West Bank for serious crimes, seizing weapons and stolen vehicles.

Israel Police officers in the West Bank arrested nine suspects during a 24-hour crackdown in an operation titled "Red Stop," which targeted weapons, ammunition, stolen vehicles, and suspects involved in serious crimes, the police announced Wednesday.

The operation, which District Commander Commissioner Moshe Pinchi led, was carried out in collaboration with IDF forces and Border Police units across several areas in the West Bank. According to police, the coordinated effort yielded significant results in combating crime and strengthening governance.

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In Hebron, local officers, together with Yehuda Brigade troops, seized a 9mm handgun, 50 bullets, a hunting rifle, and six shotgun shells during a search guided by station intelligence. Two Hebron residents were arrested and taken in for questioning.

In Beit Awwa, near Hebron, an offensive operation led by the Yehuda Special Patrol Unit and detectives from the Yehuda subdistrict crime-fighting unit, with IDF forces, resulted in the discovery of a Carlo-type submachine gun and a matching magazine. A local resident was arrested and taken for further investigation.

In the village of Kabalan, near Nablus, a combined intelligence and detective operation by the Ariel station and IDF forces from the Shomron Brigade led to the arrest of four suspects believed to be part of a vehicle-theft ring. Police seized a stolen 2023 vehicle, a Mash-tova vehicle, break-in tools, and a tow cable. The suspects were transferred to the Ariel station for further questioning.

Items confiscated by Israel Police (photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE)

What was found by the Modi'in Illit station police officers?

Modiin Illit station police officers located a stolen vehicle from the Holon area near the entrance to Rantis. A suspect from Kabatiya was arrested and transferred to the Holon station in the Tel Aviv district for investigation.

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In Hebron, Border Police tactical units, along with Shahar Battalion forces from the Yehuda Brigade and Hebron station officers, arrested a suspect considered a main target for property crimes and vehicle theft. The suspect, a resident of Idhna, was taken to the Border Polices southern district Yamar unit and Kiryat Malachi station for further questioning.

Elsewhere, police officers conducted a large-scale traffic operation, including six license suspensions, 10 vehicle seizures, and 16 citations for weight violations. A truck found with a 62% overload was seized, the drivers license was revoked, and a criminal case was opened. Another driver was found driving while disqualified  for the second time  with additional violations, and was sent to Ofer Prison.

The West Bank District Police said they would continue to act decisively, in cooperation with all security branches, to fight serious crime, seize weapons, and enhance the sense of security for residents of the region.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Social media company Reddit has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for breach of contract. The lawsuit, which was filed in San Francisco on Wednesday, accused the AI company of scraping Reddit user comments to train its chatbot Claude.

The suit alleges that Anthropic has been training its AI models using the personal data of Reddit users without their consent. Reddit alleges it has been harmed by the unauthorized use of its content and user data.

Bay Area tech layoffs: Google, Microsoft, Cruise all announce job cuts

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In the lawsuit, Reddit refers to Anthropic as a late-blooming artificial intelligence company that bills itself as the white knight of the AI industry.

Reddit-lawsuitDownload

It is anything but, the lawsuit states before going on to allege that the AI startup is intentionally trained on the personal data of Reddit users without ever requesting their consent. The lawsuit also alleges that despite Anthropic saying it had blocked its bots from accessing Reddit, the bots have hit Reddits servers over 100,000 times since July of 2024.

Reddit also alleges that unlike its competitors, Anthropic has refused to agree to respect Reddit users basic privacy rights. The suit further alleges that Anthropic has trained its AI on one of the most robust online discussion platforms in the world  Reddit.com.

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Reddit has entered into formal partnership with some of Anthropics competitors, namely Google and OpenAI. This partnership, the suit explains, allows them to use public Reddit content after agreeing to Reddits licensing terms.

In the lawsuit, Reddit said it is seeking compensation for damages and to prohibit Anthropic from using any Reddit data or content for its commercial offerings or profit. The lawsuit is demanding a jury trial.

KRON4 reached out to Anthropic and received the following response:

We disagree with Reddits claims and will defend ourselves vigorously.

Reddit and Anthropic both have their headquarters in San Francisco.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that Taiwan "refuses to forget history" and the marking of the anniversary of China's June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square crackdown is to perpetuate its memory.

"Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who gave their lives - and their dreams - to the idea of human rights," he said in a post on his Facebook page.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Tom Hogue)
TOWN OF DENMARK, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 63-year-old Denmark man that is a convicted sex offender is facing charges after allegedly failing to report his address change.

According to the Lewis County Sheriffs Department, Albert Therrien was charged for allegedly violating sex offender registry requirements.

NYSP seek help in locating driver who reportedly fled fatal crash in Canton

Therrien allegedly failed to report his address as required by law. State law says that registered sex offenders need to report their addresses every 90 days.

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The states sex offender registry lists that Therrien was convicted in March 2008 for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl. Hes also listed as a Level 3 offender.

Therrien was ticketed and slated to appear in the Lowville Town Court at a later date.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  James Jim Allen taught himself how to take photographs, and it became a second career. For decades, Allen could be found front and center at the concerts of some of the worlds most recognizable jazz artists or up-and-coming musicians.

I like this one he took right here of Al Jarreau. It was coming out of the darkness. Its my favorite, said Johnny Allen, Jims brother. I always looked up to him,  he said.

From a room in their home, affectionately called Jimmys Room, John and his wife Carmen say they remain in awe of Jimmys talent, his work ethic, and good nature. The room is filled with more than a dozen black and white photos of artists like Diana Ross, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Boney James, Trombone Shorty, India Arie, and Bobby McFerrin.

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Allen passed away Monday, May 26th, at the age of 93. The retired educator, jazz drummer, writer, and jazz photographer was a community compass, sharing his knowledge about Rochester, photography, and jazz with anyone looking to learn.

He had an eye, he would always talk about looking at it from a different angle as if youre on the other side, Carmen explained Jims approach to photography. He rarely, if ever, used flash to capture his subject and preferred black and white over color photos. If you look at each one, theres not a standard pose. He really captures the essence at just the right point. He would always say, Get them at the pinnacle of their performance,' she said.

Allens work has been featured on album covers, in music publications, local newspapers, museums, and exhibits. In 2003, his photos were displayed at the George Eastman Museum in a solo exhibition called Jazz: A New Millennium.

We were in awe because he was the first African American to have his pictures hanging up in Eastman, John said.

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One of the founders of the Clarissa Street Reunion, Jim was the oldest of four children who grew up in the neighborhood that was destroyed by urban renewal by 1972. He sat in on jam sessions at the famed Pythodd Club alongside jazz greats, like George Benson.

It was like a natural to him, said John, who explained it was their older sister Joan who introduced them to jazz as children. In recent years, Jim would share his knowledge of Rochester with teens looking to learn about the areas rich history.

As the Rochester International Jazz Festival approaches, Carmen says it will be sad to know Jim will not be there, as he was at nearly every jazz performance in the Rochester area.

Hanging out with him when he was at those concerts was the best! Carmen explained. Whenever we would go to a jazz festival, all these photographers with thousands of cameras on their backs would run up to him and ask, How do you do this, or do that?' said John. Or they would show him (Jim) their photo, Carmen added.

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In addition to his brother and sister-in-law, James Allen is survived by his sister, two daughters, granddaughter, and former wife.

In spite of all of his accomplishments, a noted teacher, principal, writer, photographer, and musician, the most important thing to Jimmy was his family, said Carmen.

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VIDEO: Little Rock City Directors remove two Metropolitan Housing Alliance commissioners after years of management concerns (September 2023)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Rep. French Hill (AR-02) is pushing for an investigation into the Little Rock Housing Authority.

Hill wrote a letter to Stephen Begg, the acting Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to address what officials call continued troubled operations at the Little Rock Housing Authority, also known as the Metropolitan Housing Alliance (MHA).

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After years of broken promises, shameful mismanagement, and questionable expenditures  including multiple Corrective Action Plan findings by HUD and a Federal law enforcement raid  it is clear that MHA has lost both my and the publics trust, Hill said in the letter.

Little Rock City Directors remove two Metropolitan Housing Alliance commissioners after years of management concerns

In the letter, Hill requested that Beggs office launch an investigation into mismanagement at MHA and its nonprofit affiliate, the Central Arkansas Housing Corps (CAHC).

Most concerning is the pending foreclosure action at the Madison Heights apartment complex stemming from defaults on questionable loans connected to CAHC from 2019, Hill said. As a result, Arkansans might end up on the hook for a $7.5 million MHA bailout to avoid foreclosure, which could affect the housing for residents of more than 240 Federally-assisted affordable housing units.

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Hill stated MHA and CACH have refused to provide any required audited financial statements since 2018, which he added resulted in nearly $30 million in questionable or potentially disallowed expenses.

Specifically, please address why HUD did not more aggressively seek to intervene earlier to spare taxpayers and Little Rock residents from this unacceptable situation, including using its Sanctions for Troubled Performer PHAs authorities under 24 CFR 902.83, Hill requested of Begg in the letter.

Trump is swiftly undoing transgender protections in HUDs housing policies

The full letter can be read here.

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SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  Repaving work began on State Route 338/Boyds Creek Highway in Sevier County Tuesday. The road is just one of many in East Tennessee to be repaved over the next few years after additional funding for the Tennessee Department of Transportation was included in the state budget that passed in April.

A one time $1 billion infusion of funding to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, along with $80 million in recurring funds, thats the first time theyve ever done that and thats going to allow us to get a lot of different things done, Mark Nagi with TDOT said.

Tellico Plains families fighting to regain full access to historic cemetery

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The work includes bridge and pavement repairs. Nagi said the funding will allow more of this work to be done and done faster.

Youre going to have an additional 130 miles each year thats going to be able to have resurfacing activities, he said.

TDOT already has a list of roadways set to be repaved during the fiscal years 2025-2027.

We are trying to resurface our interstates on an eight-10 year cycle and our state routes on a 12-14 year cycle, however, here on the eastern side of the state we get more winter weather than perhaps other spots in Tennessee, and that means that our roadways take a beating. So there are times that we have to accelerate that schedule, Nagi said.

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New Tennessee law criminalizes AI technology for child pornography creation

Nagi also said this funding will help them keep up with those cycles.

This is all about the State of Good Repair; maintaining what we have is so important to our overall mission. As a pay-as-you-go state, we operate with no transportation debt. The more that we can fix things as we go, the better off we will be in the future, he said.

These are the roadways in 6 News viewing area that are set to be repaved during the fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). This schedule is subject to change.

Anderson County: SR95 From Roane County Line to near West Vanderbilt Drive SR9 From I-75 to near Industrial Park Road SR 116 From LM 19.25  19.42

Blount County: SR35 From near SR115 to near Ellis Ave SR33 From near Clarks Grove Road to Knox County Line SR33 From near SR 35 to near Clarks Grove Road

Campbell County: SR 63 From Scott County Line to Near I-75

Cocke County: I-40 From near Foothills Parkway to North Carolina State Line SR 35 From SR 9 to near St. Tide Hollow Road

Cumberland County: I-40 From near Parking Area Exit to East of Plateau Road Interchange SR1 From Near Deep Water Rd to Pomona Rd SR28 From South of Diden Loop to Fentress County Line SR28 From Near SR-392 to Near SR-24

Grainger County: SR375 From SR 92 to near White Oak Lane SR1 From near Helton Road to near bridge over Briar Fork Creek

Greene County: SR107 Cocke Line to SR 70 SR93 From SR351 to Washington County Line SR172 From SR34 to I-81

Hamblen County: SR160 From Cocke County Line to near I-81

Jefferson County: SR139 From Sevier County Line to SR 92

Knox County: I-275 From near I-40 to near I-640 I-75 From near SR 131 to Anderson County Line SR9 From near Schaad Road to near I-640 SR62 From near SR 162 to near Beaver Ridge Road SR1 From near Historic Preservation Drive to SR 168 SR9 From near SR168 to near Strawberry Plains Road SR331 From SR 131 to SR 61 SR33 From near SR 71 to near Central Street SR33 From Blount County Line to near SR 71

Loudon County: SR2 From near N Street to Near SR-73 SR2 From near Engel Rd to Near N Street SR72 From Monroe County Line to near Get Good Hollow Road

Monroe County: S360 From near SR-165 to near Ballplay Road SR165 From SR 68 to near Bridge over Tellico River SR68 From near Avalon Dr to near Old State Road

Morgan County: SR62 From SR-298 to SR-29

Roane County: SR304 From near Meigs County Line to near SR-58

Scott County: SR 29 From near Underpass Drive to near Sand Cut Road SR456 Near Leaman Ln to Near SR29

Sevier County: SR71 Smokey Mtn. Park Boundary to Dudley Creek



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Kenneth Dehart back in court for motion hearing

While there is a tentative schedule of roadways to repair, drivers are encouraged to report any interstates or state routes in need of attention. You can call 1-833-TDOT-FIX or fill out a maintenance form online.

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(Photo Courtesy of Victoria Hunt campaign)

Democratic state Rep. Victoria Hunt will move from the House to the Senate in the Washington Legislature after the King County Council appointed her on Tuesday to replace the late Sen. Bill Ramos.

The council also chose Zach Hall, an Issaquah City Council member, as Hunts replacement in the state House.

The Senate seat will be on the ballot in a special election in November, with the winner serving through 2026. Hunt is a candidate. Republican Chad Magendanz, a former two-term state representative for the district, is opposing her.

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Hall will serve through the 2026 election because the appointment is occurring after the filing period for this years elections closed.

Ramos passed away unexpectedly while on a trail run near his home in Issaquah on April 19, a week before the legislative session ended. He was 69.

He was elected to the House in 2018 then won a Senate seat last year. Ramos was one of the Legislatures leading voices on transportation issues in the 2025 session.

Hunt, a Democrat, was sworn into the Senate shortly after being selected for the seat in the 5th Legislative District which includes parts of Issaquah, Black Diamond, Covington, and part of Snoqualmie.

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Hunt was elected to the House in 2024. She is a scientist who holds a doctorate in ecology and previously served on the Issaquah City Council. Her seatmate Rep. Lisa Callan, D-Issaquah, endorsed her.

With these tools and experiences I have been able to advance policies at the state level to meet the needs of our growing community, Hunt said.

Hall was elected to the Issaquah City Council in 2019. Prior to that he was a legislative assistant and a campaign manager for Callan.

I have the background needed in the district, in the legislature, and in local government, Hall said, adding that he wants to help build a Washington thats safe, affordable, green and full of opportunities.

Bill Ramos set a high bar for public service and he had an unstoppable drive for the people of our district and we are all united in our commitment to honor his legacy, Hall said.
Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) is joined by his wife Meshawn Maddock in the Michigan state House on the first session day on Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Department of Justice pardon attorney Ed Martin Jr. not only has plans to pardon the men convicted in planning to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, he also has a framework for granting clemency to the 2020 Republican false electors, according to a report released Wednesday.

Martin has now indicated that he is eyeing federal pardons for Republican state-level electors who allegedly helped President Donald Trump attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, according to a report from Mother Jones.

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In Michigan, 15 of Trumps 16 presidential electors were charged with state forgery and conspiracy crimes and are awaiting word from a Lansing district court judge on whether they will stand trial. One of those electors had his charges dropped and assisted the Michigan Department of Attorney General with its investigation and prosecution. Despite those charges coming from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a person familiar with Martins plans said that the state electors could be next for consideration.

The plan was framed as a wide-ranging effort to wipe away the memory of Trumps attempts to overturn the election, which has included pardons for January 6 U.S. Capitol insurrectionists. The plan is also meant to elevate the departments actions in a highly public way, showing that the federal government is working to gloss over the Trump campaigns actions following his loss to former President Joe Biden.

Well be a little bit more outward-facing in terms of talking about whats happening, Mother Jones reported Martin as saying at a May press conference outlining his plans. The law can be taken up, but the starting point is to make sure that the public sees that were doing it.

The 2020 Trump electors charged in the matter include former Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock and former Republican National Committeewoman Kathleen Berden.

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Martin said, quite candidly, in May that Barry Croft and Adam Fox, who were convicted of planning to kidnap Whitmer from her Elk Rapids vacation home along with a cadre of militia recruits, were also on the list for consideration.

Trump later acknowledged that he would take a look at Croft and Foxs case. The Detroit News is reporting that Whitmer said she spoke with Trump this week about the idea of giving Fox and Croft pardons.

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This story was updated to reflect that one of the electors had his charges dropped as part of a cooperation agreement.
Dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing medical sources.

Since the morning, 41 people have been killed across the territory, the agency said, with several fatalities, including a 12-year-old child, coming from drone strikes in the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military initially did not comment on the report when asked.

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The Israeli army has repeatedly stated that it is targeting Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza. It consistently emphasizes that it seeks to avoid harming uninvolved civilians during strikes on the groups' targets.
Dozens of Israeli settlers have reportedly set fire to a house and several cars in a Palestinian town in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

The Red Crescent treated seven residents of Deir Dibwan, who said they were beaten by settlers. The settlers also threw stones at the residents, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Citing security sources, the Israeli news site ynet reported that around 40 Israeli youths had entered the town near Ramallah. Some settlers were reportedly masked. Israel's army was dispatched to the scene, it reported.

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The Israeli military stated upon request that they were investigating the reports.

The situation in the occupied West Bank has escalated since the massacre led by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the resulting Gaza war. There are repeated attacks by Palestinian extremists. At the same time, radical Israeli settlers regularly commit violence against Palestinian civilians.

In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem. Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live there amidst 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians claim the territories for their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Dozens of Israeli settlers have reportedly set fire to several houses and cars in Deir Dibwan, a small town in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

The Red Crescent said it treated seven residents of town, who said they were beaten by settlers. The settlers also threw stones at the residents, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The WAFA report said 10 were injured, two of whom were taken to a clinic.

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Citing security sources, the Israeli news site ynet reported that around 40 Israeli youths had entered the town near Ramallah. Some settlers were reportedly masked. Israel's army was dispatched to the scene, it reported.

The Israeli military stated upon request that they were investigating the reports.

The situation in the occupied West Bank has escalated since the massacre led by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the resulting Gaza war. There are repeated attacks by Palestinian extremists. At the same time, radical Israeli settlers regularly commit violence against Palestinian civilians.

In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem. Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live there amidst 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians claim the territories for their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The family of a four-year-old girl from California who is suffering from a rare disease will be spared deportation so that she can continue to receive life-saving medical treatment in the U.S.

The family was granted temporary humanitarian permission to enter the U.S. from her home country of Mexico in 2023 after the little girl, Sofia, urgently needed treatment for short bowel syndrome, a rare condition that stops her from absorbing nutrients in food. The treatment she required was not available in Mexico and she condition was worsening, according to the family's lawyers.

Sofia has short bowel syndrome and will die without receiving regular medical treatment that she cannot access in her home country of Mexico (Deysi Vargas)

The family was targeted for deportation by the Trump administration, according to their lawyers. However, following media reports highlighting her case, lawmakers organized to demand she be given the chance to stay for humanitarian reasons.

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In April, the girl's mother, Deysi Vargas, learned that her humanitarian protections and her own permission to legally work in the U.S. was being revoked by the Trump administration, and a letter informing of her of that change advised her to voluntarily leave or else "the federal government will find you."

Sofia's condition requires her to receive regular medical treatments that force her to be hooked up to an intravenous feeding system for 14 hours at night. Only a specialist team from Children's Hospital Los Angeles can oversee her medical needs. Her doctors at the hospital told the Los Angeles Times that she could die within days of stopping her treatments.

By moving quickly, the agency has ensured that a fouryearold girl can continue receiving the specialized medical treatment that keeps her alive, the familys attorney, Rebecca Brown of the nonprofit Public Counsel, told the LA Times. However, many families still face harm under the sweeping policy to do away with humanitarian parole. We ask the government to ensure that no one be put in harms way.

A group of 38 congressional Democrats, including California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, gathered to condemn her scheduled deportation and advocate on the family's behalf.

The family will now be allowed to stay in the U.S. and continue Sofias treatment (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The family learned on Monday via a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service that they had been granted "Humanitarian Parole for a period of one year."

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The Trump administration previously denied that the girl was being deported after her story became national news. Last week, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent via email that the family's application for humanitarian parole was "still being considered."

Any reporting that Vargas and her family are actively being deported are FALSE, the official said. This family applied with USCIS for humanitarian parole on May 14, 2025, and the application is still being considered.

An online fundraiser for the girl's care has raised more than $40,000 since it was started on Monday.
A key Republican senator is pushing back against President Donald Trump's major spending bill, warning that it would add trillions to the nation's debt.

On Wednesday, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told ABC News he cannot support what Trump calls his "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," despite pressure from the White House to pass it by July 4.

"I refuse to accept $2 trillion-plus deficits as far as the eye can see as the new normal," Johnson said. "We have to address that problem, and, unfortunately, this bill doesn't do so."

ABC News - PHOTO: Sen. Ron Johnson blasts new normal of Trumps spending bill, June 4, 2025.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit. While Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought claimed there are "massive levels of savings in this bill," Johnson disagreed.

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MORE: Trump admin live updates: Johnson says Elon Musk is 'flat wrong' about spending bill

"We went from $4.4 trillion in spending in 2019 to over $7 trillion this year," he said, adding that the slight reduction proposed in the bill is "barely a rounding error in this massive spending."

The senator told ABC News he isn't worried about political fallout from opposing Trump's bill.

"I'm worried about our kids and grandkids, the fact that we're mortgaging their future. It is wrong. It's immoral," Johnson said.

Instead of one large bill, Johnson wants to split it into two smaller pieces. His plan would first deal with matters like border security, defense and extending current tax laws. Then, he wants Congress to take time to carefully review government spending and find ways to cut waste.

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MORE: CBO estimates Trump's bill could add $2.4T to deficit, leave 11 million without health insurance

On possible criticism from Trump, Johnson said he had a "very cordial conversation" with the president about his concerns.

"I want to see President Trump succeed. I'm a big supporter," Johnson said, but he added that fixing the budget "is going to take time."

The bill also faces criticism over its impact on healthcare, with CBO estimates showing around 11 million people could lose health insurance coverage.

As the July 4 deadline approaches, Johnson remained firm in his position.

"You have to do the things we agree on," he said, listing border security, defense and extending current tax law as priorities. "Then come back, do the hard work of forensically auditing spending on these programs, and get serious about reducing that deficit trajectory, bending it down, rather than having it skyrocket upward."
A person holds a "Protect Medicaid" sign in front of Oregon State Capital in Salem on May 1, 2025. (Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle)

A Republican tax bill passed in the U.S. House and headed for a vote in the Senate would slash billions in federal Medicaid funding across the country  leaving an outsized mark on states like Oregon that offer health care policies centered on inclusivity.

The state relies on more than $11 billion in federal funding each year to cover about 75% of its Medicaid program, known as the Oregon Health Plan.

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That funding could be more than cut in half if the Republican tax bill passes, according to Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. State officials say the bill also has the potential to leave hundreds of thousands of low-income Oregonians without health insurance.

Republicans behind the bill say it will deliver large tax cuts, increase immigration security and impose welfare reform. Oregon leaders have called the bill financially irresponsible and a way to punish states that provide Medicaid regardless of citizenship status, and to patients seeking gender-affirming care and reproductive health care, including abortion.

Oregon Health Plan benefits have not changed at this time, and the Oregon Health Authority is still assessing the bills potential impacts, agency spokesperson Amy Bacher told the Capital Chronicle.

One in three Oregonians are enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan. This includes more than half of the states kids, as well as seniors who rely on Medicaid-funded nursing home support and individuals with caregiving needs.

Work requirements would push Oregonians off Medicaid

The bill would mandate that twice a year state officials verify all adults enrolled in Medicaid have worked or participated in community service for at least 80 hours each month.

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These requirements would create unnecessary paperwork burdens for low-income people already working, and disincentivize people from enrolling, resulting in 100,000 to 200,000 Oregonians losing their insurance for not complying with the policy, Oregon Health Authoritys Medicaid director, Emma Sandoe, told the Oregon Senate Health Care Committee on Tuesday afternoon.

When people lose coverage, that also means reduced federal dollars coming into Oregon, Sandoe said.

The work requirements alone could reduce federal funding by $1.4 billion per year, she said. Over 10 years, that would result in a loss of up to $16 billion in federal funding for the Oregon Health Plan. These estimates do not include additional funding cuts caused by other provisions in the bill.

No federal funds for gender-affirming care

Another provision of the bill would prohibit federal funds from Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, from going toward gender transition procedures for minors. Beginning in 2026, that prohibition would expand to adults.

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LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non LGBTQ+ adults to have Medicaid as their primary source of insurance, according to the Williams Institute at University of California, Los Angeles. About 7,000 Oregonians use Medicaid to receive gender-affirming care, Sandoe said.

LGBTQ+ advocates in Oregon said the bill is another aggressive step from the Trump administration to target transgender Americans.

If this bill passes, more transgender people will die, Blair Stenvick, a spokesperson for the nonprofit advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon, told the Capital Chronicle. Gender-affirming care costs are a minuscule fraction of all Medicaid costs, and singling out transgender people  both youth and adults  is an intentional, ideological move from a fascist government obsessed with controlling peoples bodies and personal decisions at all costs.

Immigration status policies tied to federal funds

The federal government would match 80% rather than 90% of Oregons Medicaid funding unless the state ends its program insuring people regardless of citizenship status.

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That drop in matching funds would amount to a $1 billion loss each year, Sandoe told the committee.

Oregon is one of seven states that offers Medicaid to eligible adults regardless of immigration status and one of 14 states, plus Washington, D.C., that covers children regardless of immigration status.

In 2017, the state passed a Cover All Kids program to extend Oregon Health Plan benefits to children regardless of immigration status. In 2022, the state allowed all eligible adults regardless of their immigration status access to health coverage through Healthier Oregon. About 100,000 people are enrolled in the program.

Prohibiting Medicaid funds for reproductive health nonprofits

The bill would prohibit Medicaid reimbursement for 10 years to organizations that provide abortions. Federal funding for abortion has been prohibited for decades under the Hyde Amendment, but the bill would block organizations like Planned Parenthood and other nonprofit providers from receiving reimbursements for other reproductive health services, such as family planning and cancer screenings.

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There are 12 Planned Parenthood centers in Oregon, Sandoe said, providing pap smears, cervical and breast cancer screenings and STD treatments, among other services to mostly low-income Oregonians.

About 70% of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette patients use Medicaid, the nonprofits CEO and President Sara Kennedy told the committee. The nonprofit operates clinics in Vancouver, Washington, the Portland metro area, Salem, Bend and Ontario.

Abortion access will absolutely suffer, she said, noting that only 10% of patients visiting the nonprofit receive abortions.

Planned Parenthood affiliates in Oregon already operate with a budget deficit because Medicaid reimbursement rates do not cover the full costs of providing care, she said. The federal bill would only exacerbate the nonprofits deficit.

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If this bill passes, cancers will go undetected and untreated, she said. Pregnancies will become more dangerous  not just for Planned Parenthood patients  but for our entire population, and that is even here in a state that has incredible protections for reproductive health care.

Tax limits on medical providers

The bill would also cap or freeze the taxes states can impose on medical providers  a strategy all states except Alaska use to increase the number of state dollars for Medicaid that can then be matched by federal dollars.

States rely on provider taxes to fund 17% of their Medicaid spending, according to most recent data available from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

In March, Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill into law extending its taxes on medical providers through 2032. These taxes fund about a quarter of the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

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States will be forced to take on a larger share of the burden of paying for Medicaid  an impossible task, given that Oregon is already dealing with a budget deficit, Oregons U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat representing the states 6th Congressional District, told the Capital Chronicle.

All five of Oregons Democratic U.S. House Representatives opposed the bill. Oregons sole Republican congressman, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, representing the states 2nd District, voted in favor of the bill.

Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, said the stakes for the bill are truly life and death for Americans.

Taking away health insurance and benefits like home care and mental health care from seniors, people with disabilities, kids, and working families will be deadly, he said in a news release.

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Months ago, Elon Musk helped tank a government funding bill.

Now, Republicans are mostly shrugging off his criticism of their "Big Beautiful Bill."

"I don't think it's gonna move the needle in any direction," one House Republican told BI.

Elon Musk says President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" is a "disgusting abomination." Republicans on Capitol Hill are making clear that they don't really care.

"I think he's flat wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. "I think he's way off on this."

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"We have a difference of opinion," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Tuesday. "He's entitled to that opinion, we're going to proceed full speed ahead."

It's a far cry from December, when Musk, then the incoming de facto leader of the White House DOGE Office, helped generate an online pressure campaign that swiftly tanked a government funding bill. That episode was a dramatic sign of the tech titan's burgeoning influence in Washington, suggesting that GOP lawmakers would be taking his cues  perhaps as much as they took Trump's  in the months to come.

Now no longer leading DOGE, Musk has returned to being another outside voice. Fiscal hawks who agree with him don't mind getting a little backup. Other Republicans are happy to brush him off.

"Elon, of course, is the wealthiest man in the world, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's wrong or he's right. He has an opinion, just like the rest of us," Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told BI. "I don't think it's gonna move the needle in any direction."

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Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump has continued to pressure Republicans to support the bill, and the White House has said that those who vote against it should face primary challenges.

Trump himself has not yet responded to Musk, though Johnson told reporters that the president is "not delighted that Elon did a 180" on the bill.

Musk's broadside against the bill, according to him, is about its impact on the debt.

Multiple forecasters who have analyzed the bill, including the Congressional Budget Office and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, have estimated that the current version of the bill would add more than $2 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years. Musk has argued that this undermines DOGE, which has been trying to significantly reduce federal spending.

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Republicans were already arguing about this amongst themselves. Fiscal conservatives like Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin say that the version of the bill that passed the House last month adds too much to the debt, and they're now seeking to amend it.

Most Republicans, however, have argued that outside projections about the bill's impact on the debt are flawed and don't account for potential economic growth as a result of the bill's eventual passage.

Even those who agree with Musk don't seem to believe that his comments will strengthen their hand that much. "Sure, it helps bolster the case," Sen. Ron Johnson told reporters of Musk's tweet. "But again, the President wants to balance the budget as well."

Perhaps the biggest reason why Musk's comments are unlikely to tank the bill: It's the centerpiece of Trump's legislative agenda, and it's simply too important to them.

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The bill includes a permanent extension of tax cuts that Trump and Republicans first enacted in 2017, contains new funding for border security and immigration enforcement, and is chock full of other GOP priorities that they're not going to give up simply because of Musk's concern about the deficit.

"All the things that are in this bill are so important for the US economy, it's going to be jet fuel for the US economy," Speaker Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. "The risk of not getting it done is enormous, not just for the Republican Party, but for the country. We've got to do this."

The government funding bill that Musk helped tank in December, on the other hand, was a bipartisan piece of legislation that included all kinds of provisions that Republicans don't agree with. Plenty of fiscal conservatives planned to vote against it anyway, and Musk's involvement strengthened their case, eventually making it untenable for Speaker Johnson to move forward with it.

Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, the chairman of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, voted "present" when the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed the House last month.

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He told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes senators keep Musk's criticism "in mind" as they make changes to the bill, but he didn't predict that it would change much.

"He doesn't have to change the dynamic," Harris told BI. "I'm glad that he reminded people that the federal deficit is of grave concern."

Read the original article on Business Insider
When Elon Musk declared Tuesday that President Donald Trumps signature legislation was a disgusting abomination, it caught the West Wing by surprise and sent Republican leaders in Congress scrambling, unsuccessfully, to get Musk on the phone.

A day later, both GOP leaders and White House officials are downplaying the actual impact of the tech billionaires outburst, even as some vent frustration with Musk behind the scenes. White House officials, while annoyed by the matter, said they ultimately did not believe the comments would impact how senators vote on Trumps prized bill. Two administration officials even went as far as suggesting Musks opposition could actually help Trumps measure, given how toxic the Tesla CEO has become over the course of his time in Trumps orbit.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune both evinced no worry whatsoever that it would change Republicans minds or sink the massive border, tax and spending cuts package. While several GOP senators had been expressing doubts about the bill for weeks, none cited new concerns over Musks comments. Republican leaders remain bullish that they can deliver the legislation to Trumps desk by July 4  an ambitious timeline.

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Whatever happens, one thing did seem clear: While Trump and Musks alliance is not broken, the two are slowly growing apart as their interests diverge and their relationship becomes more distant. People close to the president view the situation as something of an inevitability: they braced for potential conflicts once Musk no longer enjoyed close proximity with Trump  and the outsized power that goes along with it.

The one-time government employees recent claims that he would be less involved in politics, coupled with his departure from the White House last week, almost instantly shifted some of the influence he had held for the past several months.

Musk continued blasting the bill Wednesday on his social media platform X, pinning to the top of his profile a post from another user that said commentators on Fox News are almost all in agreement with Elonto see so many vehemently disagreeing with Trump is wild.

Musk also on Wednesday called on Congress to draft a new spending bill that wouldnt massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS. When CNNs Kaitlan Collins asked Thune about the possibility of rewriting the bill at the White House that evening, he replied: Were a long ways down this track.

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Failure is not an option, he added.

Trump was unhappy and somewhat confused on Tuesday after Musks initial missive, according to two sources who spoke with him, but opted to not publicly address the criticism, hoping to avoid fueling a storyline that he is feuding with his onetime shadow. One of the sources noted Trump had speculated that Musks pushback must be related to how the bill might impact the billionaires business ventures, including the repealing of electric vehicle subsidies.

Still, the timing of his criticism irritated the White House and Senate Republican leaders, aides said, because it threatened to further complicate efforts to unite a fractious congressional coalition.

Trump was not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that, Johnson said Wednesday after a conversation with the president about Musks renewed criticism.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks about his discussions with Elon Musk this week as he meets with reporters to discuss work on President Donald Trump's bill of tax breaks and spending cuts, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. - J. Scott Applewhite/AP

One fear among Trump advisers was that Musks comments could provide ammunition to Republican senators who already oppose the bill, like Rand Paul, and amplify their concerns.

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Even if no senators withdraw their support for Trumps big policy bill in the wake of Musks blistering assessment of its price tag, a half-dozen GOP strategists and advisers complained to CNN that it added another layer of criticism to the bill and provided another opening to critics.

The bill was fragile enough before Elon starting weighing in, a senior Republican Senate official told CNN. Unhelpful doesnt begin to describe this.

Musks comments appeared to embolden some of the bills critics in the House, which passed the legislation last month on a narrow margin. If the Senate makes any changes to the legislation, which is likely, it will have to go back through the House.

Arizona Rep. Eli Crane, a conservative Republican who criticized the legislation for not cutting enough spending, said he was frustrated with Musk for not voicing his disapproval sooner.

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Those of us that were actually trying to make cuts, we could have used his support, Crane said Wednesday. Thats what frustrates me  hey, if youre going to be in this fight, be in this fight when we need you.

Some White House officials and several top Republicans sought to blame Musks criticism simply on the legislations planned repeal of certain electric vehicle subsidies  and the impact it would have on his own struggling company, Tesla.

But one Republican strategist who has worked closely with the tech billionaire downplayed that, telling CNN that Musk was genuinely troubled by projections of how much the bill would add to the deficit  the reasoning Musk has publicly cited on multiple occasions. Other people who know Musk agreed that his opposition to the bill is not just about the electric vehicle credits or solar energy subsidies, noting he sees the bill as a slap in the face to what he was trying to accomplish with the Department of Government Efficiency.

Elon is big mission, not small mission, and EV credits are small mission, said one person who speaks to Musk. He fully believes its a bad deal. All this work on DOGE [would be] a waste of effort.

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Despite the consternation, some White House officials and people close to Musk doubted the dust up would have much effect on Musks complicated relationship with the president long term.

Trump does not view Musk  a fellow billionaire and the head of several companies  as an ordinary underling, people familiar with their dynamic said. Instead, he regards Musk as essentially a Democrat who came to love Trump and helped get him elected, despite policy differences.

While Trump was not eager to pour fuel on the fire after Musks comments Tuesday, one administration official said he expected the president to fire back if Musk kept up his criticism. If Musk were to start individually lobbying senators, that could also change the White House posture, one official told CNN.

So far, Musk has avoided criticizing the president directly. Mostly, his ire has been directed toward members of Congress, despite Trump personally championing and lobbying for the bill.

US President-elect Donald Trump, left, and Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., during a rally at Capital One Arena ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, US, on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. - Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

But many werent sure how seriously to take a threat in one of Musks Tuesday posts: In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.

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The worlds richest man has made clear he intends to play far less of a role in the 2026 midterm elections than he did in the 2024 presidential race, when he spent $275 million to help Trump win. The strategist who works closely with Musk said a decision has not been made about whether he will follow through on his threat of trying to unseat Republicans who supported the bill.

How effective Musk will be in changing minds remains an open question, as Republicans weigh that warning. Johnson, who spoke to Musk on Monday ahead of his critical messages, said the two spoke about the midterm elections and Musk said he would help Republicans keep the House majority. The speaker said that conversation ended on a great note.

When Johnson tried to call Musk on Tuesday evening, he didnt pick up.

Still, Johnson insisted there were no hard feelings.

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Policy differences are not personal, he said. I think hes flat wrong. I think hes way off on this.

Thune similarly predicted the Senate would pass the bill, despite Musks opposition. While Thune acknowledged Musk has influence, he said Republicans understand defeat of the bill is not acceptable.

He has some influence. Hes got a big following in social media. But at the end of the day, this is a 51-vote exercise here in the Senate, he said. The question for our members is going to be: Would you prefer the alternative? And the alternative isnt a good one.

Alayna Treene, Manu Raju and David Wright contributed to this report.

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I helped write, pass, and protect the nations first law to regulate artificial intelligence. As part of Donald Trumps tax bill, Republicans in Washington are now trying to overturn our law in Colorado and preempt any other similar efforts around the country  as the need to regulate AI only grows.

The Biden administration formed the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI) in 2023 to identify potential major risks AI could cause. These federal guidelines ushered tech companies to move toward embracing regulation. Understanding the pattern of inaction by Congress, in 2024, Colorado collaborated with lawmakers in more than 30 other states, attempting to pass a new uniform AI regulation.

In the final days of the 2024 Colorados Legislative Session, I was scrambling to whip votes for what would become the first artificial intelligence regulation in the nation, SB24-205, led by state Senator Robert Rodriguez. We realized an increased use of artificial intelligence, often unseen by the consumer, in important aspects of daily life, like health care, finance, and criminal justice should be a significant concern due to its inherent potential for bias.

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AI systems learn from wide datasets, and if these datasets reflect existing societal prejudices  whether in gender stereotypes, historical lending practices, or medical research  the AI will not only replicate but often magnify these biases, potentially leading to discriminatory outcomes. This can result in unfair loan denials, misdiagnoses, wrongful arrests, or limited opportunities for just about anybody.

Republicans One Big Beautiful Bill  their effort to extend and expand Trumps 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy  has a dangerous provision to prevent states from enacting any AI regulation of any kind for 10 years. The measure would preempt our state law in Colorado, and have the federal government solely handle regulating AI  which it wont do.

That should have you very concerned because the enormous AI growth weve witnessed in just the last couple years will just get exponentially greater over the next decade.

As the Chair of the Joint Technology Committee in Colorados General Assembly, I know what will happen if Republicans enact such a provision into law. Big corporations and tech bros will get uber rich, and well become victims of their AI experiments.

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Its not easy convincing colleagues to show interest in a wonky, nuanced topic like AI, especially with the legislative clock running out, but with carefully negotiated amendments and the support of the Colorado AFL-CIO, we mustered enough votes to become the first and only state to pass the new law.

But state lawmakers knew very well that we had to take action because the Feds are notorious for inaction. Colorados bill and other legislative efforts happening in tandem were supposed to set up a uniform policy any state could adopt to avoid the dreaded patchwork of legislative laws in lieu of federal policy.

After our bill passed in 2024, we created a task force, prepared a report, had stakeholder meetings, and drafted legislation, specifically bill SB25-318, to improve compliance, accountability, and processes. We were intent on making a great law other states could model. When the second Trump administration gutted the Biden-initiated AISI guidelines, the tech industry was no longer interested in collaborating. The safety first approach was lost and the free-for-all attitude was embraced.

On the third to last day of the 2025 session, we tried to push forward a bill to improve the AI law  but it became apparent that the tech industry was intent on derailing our effort.

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Led by the venture capitalists, or VCs, and their lobbyists, they created a panic among scapegoats in industries like health care and education and small businesses, to call for us to do something about AI. By doing something, they meant extending the implementation of the current law an additional year so they would have more time for compliance. As a seasoned legislator, I immediately saw this as an obvious lobbying tactic to have more time to create a scheme to prevent the law from ever being enacted.

With my legislative colleagues shaken and convinced by the onslaught of the lobbying efforts, Senator Robert Rodriguez was unable to fend off the implementation deadline change, and he was forced to kill the bill. Unsatisfied, the tech industry was still searching for a way out of any regulation.

The next day, a seemingly minor bill, SB25-322, was on the calendar for debate. It was basically a simple provision the Attorney General needed for a lawsuit. I got called into several meetings with legislative leaders to talk about how to quell the manufactured VC panic. They proposed I become the hero by running an amendment to SB25-322 to again attempt to push out implementation of our original law on AI regulations.

I am no hero to big corporations. I fight for the underdog, the worker, and everyday citizens who dont have billions of dollars to manipulate the legislative process. I said no to their proposal and offered a two month extension to give us time in 2026 to try another bill. That wasnt acceptable, so I went to war. I was not going to let anyone attach an amendment, and if they did, Id kill the bill.

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The unwritten rule in the state House and the Senate is the midnight deadline. Every day stops at midnight. Nobody knows what actually happens if we dont end work a minute after 12 a.m. and nobody has ever attempted to find out. The penultimate day of the session embodies the expression, If it werent for the last minute, nothing would get done. We finally got to SB25-322 at 10:40pm. They called for a vote to limit debate for one hour, which passed.

A representative quickly attached the amendment I swore to fight. If I filibustered for the hour, I still needed to fill up the remaining 20 minutes to kill the bill. I blathered for the whole hour and now it was 11:40pm. When time was up, they were successful in getting their amendment on the bill, and the bill passed. Most people dont know that the work of our legislative debate is not complete until we adopt the Committee of the Whole Report which we endearingly call, the COW.

The COW is intended for fixing mistakes. It has been often used nefariously. I dont take this lightly, but this was my final strategy for success. Using amendments I ran during my filibuster, I would say the bill actually didnt pass. In order to stop me, the Majority Leader moved for Rule 16 which calls the question. This means that anything and everything that was about to go down would be done without any debate. It would allow them to just do quick votes on all of it, and 15 minutes was sufficient time. I felt a moment of despair. My efforts would all be for naught if Rule 16 passed. Then, we voted, and it failed. I was now able to bring my amendments, run the clock to midnight, and kill the bill.

Just seconds before the clock hit midnight, I was interrupted by the Majority Leader to call to adjourn the days work. The bill was dead. I had saved the countrys only AI law from certain demise. The Speaker was angry. There was a buzz of puzzlement and excitement. In the later days and weeks, those who paid attention recalled the events as legislative heroism.

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Do I believe that Congress will ever pass meaningful AI regulation? No. There is a lack of courage to stand up for whats right, especially when big money gets involved. But it can be done. I know, because I did it. Unfortunately, not all elected officials have the intestinal fortitude to filibuster their own party to do whats right. So next time theres an election, do your homework so you can distinguish between the true public servants and the self-serving politicians.

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The Miami Herald has reported some good evolutionary news about Cape Verde. A once-declared-extinct insect has been found throughout the mountains on one of its islands.

The archipelago nation sits 300 miles off the coast of West Africa and boasts over 2,000 species of known terrestrial fauna, per Visit Santo Antao.

Among that number is a new species of grasshopper called a "living fossil"  the Eyprepocprifas insularis or the Monte Gordo grasshopper  originally found in Monte Gordo Natural Park in 1980. Researcher Michel Lecoq discovered a single male but declared the species extinct years later after failing to find another.

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However, two researchers recorded the presence of this species at high elevations in the mountains, including the first recorded female in 2023. It all happened in the same park as the initial discovery 40 years before.

This grasshopper species, which is only on Sao Nicolau island, stands out with reduced wings highly unlikely to fly, super long legs, and a very thick exoskeleton.

The outer skeleton is so thick that researchers noted "an exceptional amount of force was required" to mount specimens. They suggest declaring it vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List  meaning a high risk for extinction in the wild, but not endangered.

Why is this species vulnerable? Existing only on a single island means a limited range, not helped by an inability to fly. The Cape Verde archipelago has experienced prolonged droughts and winds blowing elements from the nearby mainland that can threaten its survival, per Bioengineer.

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Per the Journal of Orthoptera Research study, which marked the rediscovery, "Rain may be absent for several years, causing catastrophic droughts" on the island.

As Willy Goncalves, a Cape Verde farmer, told Africa News, "From 2017 onwards, we began to feel these climate changes more strongly here in Cabo Verde  more pests, more difficulties, and since then everything we've planted has been a struggle."

With vegetation losses, humans, animals, and insects seeking habitats and food can be affected, especially herbivores like grasshoppers.

However, with conservation efforts like planting native plants, watch lists, wildlife corridors, and new laws, such species have a better chance for survival and removal of such lists.

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Another species, the rare San Francisco leaf-cutter bee, was spotted for the first time since 1980 by the Tamalpais Bee Lab. The golden lion tamarin is thriving again in Brazil after once only numbering 200.

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.




(AP/WSPA)  A residential treatment school for girls in the North Carolina mountains has closed after a state investigation and the deaths of two of its students who took their own lives.

Asheville Academy announced Tuesday that it released all of its students from its Weaverville campus this past weekend, saying the decision to voluntarily close was difficult.

The closing came a few days after North Carolina mental health officials ordered the academy to stop taking in new students until the school could show it was protecting girls from harm, abuse and neglect and was properly supervising employees.

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That order came after the launch of a state investigation into Asheville Academy that began May 8, five days after a 13-year-old girl killed herself at the school, officials said.

The letter from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services did not detail the problems the agency found, and officials have not released additional information, including the investigations findings.

Asheville_Academy_011-398_SOA_5-27-25

The state ordered Asheville Academy to stop taking new patients on May 27. Two days later, authorities said a 12-year-old girl killed herself at the school  the second death in less than four weeks. The academy said it released all of its students two days after that.

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We are utterly heartbroken by the loss of a young life and share our deepest condolences with the family and everyone touched by this tragedy. Out of respect for those grieving and in deference to ongoing investigations, we cannot provide further comment at this time, Asheville Academy said in a statement Saturday.

The school has 27 girls and was licensed to hold up to 90 students, according to the last state report on the school released to the public in March.

The owner of Asheville Academy had a nature-based residential therapy program for boys closed by North Carolina officials last year. The license for Trails Carolina in Transylvania County was revoked after a 12-year-old boy was found dead in a cabin in February 2024, the day after he arrived.

Prosecutors announced in November that they would not pursue involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Clark Harman at Trails Carolina.

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The Trails Carolina property in Lake Toxaway has been up for sale since August 2024.

Family Help & Wellness in Oregon, which owns both North Carolina schools, declined to comment Tuesday.

NCDHHS officials said they were on site Friday and Monday conducting their investigation but declined to comment further.

The Buncombe County Sheriffs Office released a statement on the deaths Tuesday, stating that they responded to the deaths on May 3 and May 29.

Our hearts are with the families of the two young girls at Asheville Academy, the statement said. We understand that there are many questions. BCSO is in contact with NCDHHS, the agency that regulates the facility. And our priority is ensuring the families have everything they need.

This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Residents near British airports are living in fear as the Government prepares to overhaul flight paths for the first time in 70 years.

The Department for Transport (DfT) says the plans to modernise UK airspace will deliver quicker, quieter flights and promote growth in the aviation sector.

However, campaign groups say that the changes could create more noise pollution for communities near airports, including areas that do not currently fall beneath existing flight paths.

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Here is everything we know about the proposed skyways, including how they could impact holidaymakers and residents.

Why are flight paths being redrawn?

Britains air corridors date back to a time when aircraft navigated the skies using ground-based beacons.

In the 1960s, Britains air traffic grew from one million to 15 million passengers per year, meaning airports had to establish set arrival and departure routes. Many of these are still in place today, meaning flight routes designed for Comets are now being flown by Airbus A380s and Boeing 787s.

Some of the problems in UK airspace include a requirement for aircraft to ascend in steps after take-off, complex routing, and pilots having to delay descents to manage the workload of their air traffic control colleagues on the ground.

In theory, a modernised airspace system will equate to fewer delays and quicker flight times - Stephen Barnes

Announcing plans to overhaul the UKs air corridors, Mike Kane, the Aviation Minister, said: Redesigned skyways will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry, not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.

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Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term, sustainable future.

What will this mean for holidaymakers?

If delivered as promised, a modernised airspace system will equate to fewer delays and quicker flight times.

It is also potentially good news for passengers with an eye on their carbon footprint. The DfT says that allowing aircraft to use modern navigation technologies will boost efficiency and reduce the need for pilots to enter holding patterns before getting permission to land on busy runways.

In September 2024, easyJet released a report on the ineffectiveness of the UKs airspace systems. The airline said that seven of its 10 least efficient routes occur inbound into London Gatwick, and that its UK operations had the greatest inefficiencies of anywhere in Europe.

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In total, easyJet predicts that airspace inefficiencies across Europe increased CO2 emissions by 663,710 tonnes per year.

Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS (National Air Traffic Services), said: The UKs airspace network is one of the busiest and most complex in the world. We handle a quarter of Europes traffic despite having only 11 per cent of its airspace, with one of the best safety and delay records anywhere. However, we have to modernise airspace if we are to maintain this level of performance as traffic grows towards 3 million flights per year.

Could my local area be negatively impacted?

It is unknown how the new skyways will be drawn. One possibility is that aircraft approaching airports could be channelled into new, relatively narrow highways in the sky. If this is the case, some communities near airports might see a greater number of planes flying overhead.

But groups close to the process say hard information is thin on the ground.

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A spokesperson for Stop Heathrow Expansion told The Telegraph: The only documents we have seen recently relate to the outcome of the consultation on a UK airspace design service, which appear to be concerned with the way changes will be made, rather than the changes themselves.

Stop Heathrow Expansion is a resident-led group established in 2014 - Getty

Sally Pavey, the chair of the campaign group Campaign Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), says: There is a real lack of transparency in this process. Residents currently overflown, and those not, are totally unaware of the motorways being designed above their homes that will purely benefit aviation as no compensation being offered with this process.

Residents must live in fear of what is being planned for above their heads and homes, she added.

Paul Beckford, Policy Director at Heathrow Noise Action Plan (HACAN) says: This announcement means even longer periods of uncertainty before overflown communities receive any clarity on what changes will take place to flight paths.

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The development of new flight paths will mean communities across London and the South East [will be] adversely impacted by aircraft noise for the first time. It is also possible that currently overflown communities experience an increase in the intensity of noise they endure as well as more frequent noise disturbances, particularly if expansion at Heathrow goes ahead.

All airports taking part in the airspace change process are following a process which includes stakeholder input and public consultation, details of which are published on the Civil Aviation Authoritys website.

When will the airspace redesign happen?

The latest announcement (made on June 2, 2025) confirms that the DfT will develop a UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) alongside the CAA, to be managed by the UKs air traffic management service NATS. This is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

It is understood that changes to Londons airspace are unlikely to be complete until the 2030s, although new skyways around airports outside of the capital could be in operation before the end of the decade.

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 restaurant specializing in tacos is adding another location in Tacoma.

Taco Street is now listed on the Tacoma Malls merchant page as Coming Soon. Its location is in the Food Court across from The Drop.

Taco Street also operates at the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston, 5101 Yacht Club Road.

Elonka Perez is executive chef, owner and founder of Taco Street. Perez told The News Tribune in May in response to questions that the brand was planning a new location in Tacoma. Timing is closer to August/September.

Signage hangs over the future location of Taco Street, according to the mall directory, at the Tacoma Mall Food Court, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com

Taco Street is among several new merchants joining the malls roster this year, including Seoul Bowl (also in the Food Court), Pop Mart and Lovesac (in the upcoming mall Village).

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New York-based Gregorys Coffee opened its first Pierce County location at the mall this spring.

The mall continues work on its new Village concept outside the main building and is set to open later this fall. The Village will include Daves Hot Chicken, Shake Shack, Supreme Dumplings, Simply Thai restaurant, Happy Lamb Hot Pot and Gong Cha bubble tea.

In May, a notice on Taco Streets website said that the brands Seattle location, in operation for eight years, would transform into a commissary kitchen effective immediately.

The restaurants announcement cited issues with parking, staff safety and rising costs that made it unsustainable to keep operating as a quick-service restaurant.

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The notice added, While the doors may be closing to regular public service, we will still be offering catering and private event hosting upon request.

As for a second Tacoma location, the notice stated, With change, comes new opportunity! We are thrilled to announce that we will be opening a new location in Tacoma this fall.
Jun. 4Donato Giovine recalls the "shock" he experienced in 2011 after learning that Brunswick-based Gelato Fiasco was opening a new location on Fore Street.

Giovine and his wife, Mariagrazia Zanardi, had opened their own gelateria, Gorgeous Gelato, at 434 Fore St. in late 2010. Gelato Fiasco's new space would be diagonally across the street, a mere cone's throw away.

"At the beginning, we couldn't believe our eyes," he said. "It didn't make any sense, given the amount of gelato customers, to have two places, one so close to the other. It was like suicide  we were splitting a small amount of customers at the time."

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Giovine said he could understand two gelato shops located so closely in a major metropolitan city like New York or San Francisco. "But Portland, Maine, with 68,000 people? It was almost funny."

Today, Giovine and Zanardi may not look back and laugh, but they can certainly see the situation with better humor. This city turned out to be big enough for the both of them. Portland's reputation as a foodie destination  bolstered by national publicity starting in the mid-2010s  drew more and more visitors nearly every year. Both shops are currently thriving; since the pandemic, they've been busier than ever.

Local food industry insiders say Portland's volume of visitors makes the notion of business territory almost outdated.

"In the past, another restaurant opening nearby with even a remotely similar menu or style could be seen as an affront, like, 'They're coming for our business,'" said Peter Bissell, co-owner of Low Stakes Lodge, a western-style steakhouse located just up Exchange Street from chef-owner Harding Lee Smith's steakhouse, The Grill Room & Bar. "But Portland for decades now has been a major food destination. It's a small town with a big-city assortment of food and bev. And when you hit that point, there's enough to go around."

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"There's too much competition to think that way, to isolate yourself and say, 'We're the only game in town,'" agreed Smith, who also owns The Front Room and The Corner Room. "When I started the Front Room, there were like 85 restaurants in town. There's over 300 now. You have to keep your head down and worry about what you're doing and keep your quality where it needs to be."

CLOSE COMPETITION

The local food and beverage scene has several other examples of neighbors who have been friendly competitors for years, like Saigon restaurant and Thanh Thanh 2 on Forest Avenue, or Coffee By Design on Diamond Street, just around the corner from Tandem Coffee Roasters on Anderson Street. Craft breweries and beverage businesses have clustered together on Industrial Way and in East Bayside, forming drinking districts that seem to benefit all the operations.

"We see lots of cross-pollination that happens, and it's really pretty positive for everybody involved," said Nathan Sanborn, founder of Rising Tide on Fox Street. "It doesn't feel like we're cannibalizing each other so much as supporting."

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And in Old Orchard Beach, three pizza stands located within a couple blocks of each other  Bill's, Rocco's and Lisa's  have coexisted peacefully for decades, each attracting its share of the throngs of summer visitors.

"In a touristy area, it may not matter," said Chris Boucher, a marketing professor in the University of New England College of Business. "If there's a line at one place, tourists will go to the next place. There's going to be enough demand that, overall, I think it actually helps all the businesses."

Jason S. Entsminger, assistant professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Maine Business School, notes that businesses in other sectors often group together, like car dealerships, gas stations and fast food restaurants. Still, some independent food business owners, especially in less tourist-based areas, feel the concept of territory still applies.

"Donuts aren't like car dealerships," said Shelby Omdal, co-owner of Frosty's Donuts in Brunswick, the town's go-to donut shop for 60 years. "Car dealerships can open right next door to each other and they can all be successful. This isn't that type of business, or town."

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The Omdals were dismayed to learn in late 2023 that Holy Donut planned to open a Brunswick location less than a mile away from Frosty's, as the gull flies. "It was a bold move on their part," Shelby Omdal said. "We've opened other stores, and I wouldn't go to Wells next to Congdon's and think I'm going to open a shop and be as successful as they are."

Holy Donut launched in Brunswick last May, and the Omdals recently learned that two other donut shops are considering opening in town, including Portland's former HiFi Donuts. "I think maybe people see the lines coming out the door (at Frosty's) most days, and it's easy to say, 'If they can do that, we can too,'" Omdal said.

Entsminger said entrepreneurs may look at a "legacy competitor" like Frosty's and think, "We're going to be offering something that's just different enough that there are going to be people in that market that will want the new thing."

Holy Donut's CEO and co-owner Jeff Buckwalter said his company's customers had been requesting they open a Brunswick store for years, and the location they eventually found  a former Tim Horton's on Pleasant Street just off Interstate 295  was ideal.

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"For us, a lot of tourists coming to Maine are driving right past that location on Route 1 as they head up the coast, and so we also wanted to make sure we could get in front of them," he said. "It's a great location with high traffic. I don't think it's hit its full stride yet, but given the economic climate, it's meeting our expectations."

Meanwhile, Frosty's business is booming. "Our sales have never been so high," said co-owner Nels Omdal, Shelby's husband, noting that the store sold almost 150 dozen donuts in a little over five hours on Mother's Day. "The lines just don't stop."

Entsminger said just as customers are often drawn to a new product in a given market, they can also rally around a legacy brand. "The threat of a new competitor entering a marketplace where there's a really well-established brand can drive customer loyalty."

NOT A ZERO-SUM GAME

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Buckwalter said he feels the Brunswick market is big enough to support both Frosty's and Holy Donut. "Provided you can differentiate yourself versus your competition, there's plenty of business to go around," he said.

While Frosty's prides itself on time-tested recipes and light, airy donuts baked fresh within hours of purchase, Holy Donut offers Maine potato donuts in a variety of creative flavors, with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options.

Other owners agreed that distinguishing their businesses from nearby competition is crucial. Giovine and Zanardi are natives of Italy who say Gorgeous Gelato offers an authentic, top-quality gelato experience.

"We have very simple, almost boring flavors  hazelnut, coconut, panna cotta," Giovine said. "When you go into the master gelaterias in Italy, they have 12, 16 flavors, and no more. Our gelato is more traditional, because it has centuries of culture behind it. And it's made using Italian taste buds. When it satisfies our taste buds, it's delicious for others. That may be reductive, but that is the key."

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Gelato Fiasco's website includes a "flavor vault" of more than 1,500 flavors they've offered over the years. Gelato Fiasco co-owner Mitch Newlin said Gorgeous Gelato offers baked goods that his store doesn't have, while he feels Gelato Fiasco may have better vegan options.

When Gelato Fiasco was looking to expand in 2012 after five years in business in Brunswick, Newlin said a Portland location "seemed like the next logical step." While they looked at other locations in Old Port, the Fore Street space ticked all the right boxes.

"It was not that we wanted to be right across the street from the competition as much as we wanted to be in the Old Port with outdoor seating and a 1,200- to 1,500-square-foot space," Newlin said.

He believes there's plenty of overlap in the customer bases of the two gelato shops, and that they're not playing a zero-sum game.

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"There are a lot of people who will try both of our stores," he said. "They may be here on a three-day weekend. The first day they go to Gorgeous Gelato, the second day they come try us, and they'll compare."

Coffee By Design owner and co-founder Mary Allen Lindemann said there's inherent separation between her business and Tandem. "We have different flavor profiles, we source our coffee differently, we have different histories and different stories to tell," she said.

Like Newlin, she doesn't feel being located nearby a competitor necessarily cuts into each other's business. "If anything, it brings people to the neighborhood," she said. "People will come and check us both out, and we each have our own loyal followings."

Harding noted that the Low Stakes Lodge space had previously hosted another another steakhouse, Timber, for eight years. "I don't think it really affected (The Grill Room) at all," he said. "I've always thought that the more people in the neighborhood the better."

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"The only thing that Low Stakes and The Grill Room have in common is that there is a steak section on the menu," said Bissell. "There's a difference in ambience, and the other items on the menu." Smith agreed, pointing out that the Grill Room specializes in wood-grilled steaks and has a "clubby, old-school feel" to it, compared to the more casual, fun vibe at Low Stakes.

"If people crave a steak, and Low Stakes has a wait and they can get into the Grill Room, I'd expect them to do so, and vice-versa," Bissell said. "Having more options isn't necessarily bad for any one business. It just means that more people are coming to town every year, primarily for eating and drinking, and that's a good thing for everybody."

Of course, there's a limit. Boucher, the UNE professor, said if another gelato shop were to open in Old Port, for instance, it might saturate the market, causing one of the three to fail and close. And another donut shop or two opening in Brunswick would further stress-test Frosty's and Holy Donut.

"Competition is always good, because it makes you try harder to do better," said Shelby Omdal. "At the end of the day, if you have a superior product that people can't get anywhere else, you've got the magic."

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June 4 (UPI) -- The Trump administration's new policy to revoke the visas of Chinese students has advocates for the Asian American community fearful of the potential for broad discrimination.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy to "aggressively revoke" visas in a two-sentence statement last week. With that, roughly 25% of international students are forced to reassess their academic plans and consider continuing their education and pursuing their careers outside of the United States.

Nearly 300,000 international students studying in the United States on visas come from China each school year, the second most of any country, according to the Institute of International Education. A majority of them are studying in STEM fields.

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Rubio's announcement has Rekha Sharma-Crawford, an immigration attorney at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law, wondering why Chinese students are being targeted.

Sharma-Crawford told UPI that the lack of information provided by Rubio leaves advocates like her with only speculation.

"They really don't indicate what they're looking at. What their concerns are," Sharma-Crawford said. "They don't really indicate why only the Chinese students."

Sharma-Crawford has been helping clients navigate what she calls a "flurry" of actions by the Trump administration targeting immigrants. In the spring, there was also a flurry of Student and Exchange Visitor Program revocations, putting the eligibility of international students in doubt.

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Then there were threats to block funding from universities, namely Harvard University.

"It doesn't seem tied truly to a student issue," Sharma-Crawford said. "It feels more like a show of economic might. 'How do we use students as a way to make universities kneel to the will of this administration?'"

Rubio added slight clarification outside of his press statement, posting on X that visas will be targeted for students "with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields."

Martin Kim, director of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC's immigration advocacy program, told UPI this clarification paints all Chinese students as a threat. Kim said his organization and others are in the information gathering phase as they determine who to respond and support students and others who are affected.

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Without more details, Rubio's broad statements are left to interpretation. The interpretation that Kim and other advocates have found is that the broad policy is a deliberate catch-all to exclude all Chinese students, however its effects will be broader still.

"One of the things we are trying to emphasize is what they do want and what they often want with these kinds of announcements is to create fear," Kim said. "Unfortunately we have seen this and from our perspective it's obviously bad for our community members but it is just bad for the U.S. and national security more generally. A climate of fear and mistrust among students, among scholars, professors, whoever, is ultimately bad for the United States."

"It causes people not to want to come to the U.S. It creates pressure that can lead to loss of talent in critical fields and fields that are critical to national security," he added.

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates is a nonprofit organization that has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. Thu Nguyen, executive director of the organization, told UPI that policy, the revocation of visas and several other moves by the Trump administration harken back to the United States' history of oppressing or othering Chinese and Japanese people and Asian Americans as a whole.

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Nguyen's organization works to change the narratives around the Asian American community to combat hate, racism and xenophobia. In light of the Trump administrations' unwelcoming policies toward those communities and people of Asian descent in general, OCA is exploring more strategies to protect those it advocates for.

"With the way this administration and some of their policies are headed, especially the immigration policies, who is being deemed American at this point?" Nguyen said. "It just reminds us of the time of Japanese-American incarceration here in the U.S. And really a lot of our community members are wondering, 'What if that's what's next for us again?'"

More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were detained in internment camps in the United States during World War II.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a law that restricted Chinese immigrants from coming to the United States, and the racist 19th century term "Yellow Peril" -- marking Asian Americans as unsuitable for citizenship -- also echo as Nguyen surveys the current landscape.

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Incidents of violence against Chinese immigrants were prevalent in the 19th century. Nineteen were killed by a mob in the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre in 1871. In 1885, Chinese miners were attacked and their homes were burned during the Rock Springs Massacre in Rock Springs, Wyo., driving more than 500 out of the town.

The COVID-19 pandemic ignited a more recent surge of racist acts and violence against Asian Americans.

From 2019 to 2020, hate crimes against Asian Americans increased significantly in cities observed in a study published by the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. In Seattle, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 129% and in New York they increased from one to 33.

"The blanket assumptions connecting anyone with an Asian face to the [People's Republic of China] -- that's kind of what we saw in 2020 post-COVID-19 with the rise of anti-Asian hate incidents," Nguyen said. "We're really concerned that will come around again with more waves of anti-Asian hate incidents on the streets."

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OCA has had undergrad students who were signed up for its summer internship program withdraw from the program in response to the Trump administration's policies.

"They've decided to stay in their home country and not further pursue higher education here because the opportunities here in the country, it seems like the country is cutting off all the opportunities," Nguyen said. "The broader Asian American community who have come to this country for the opportunity to achieve the American dream, it feels like the U.S. is walking back on its promise as a country where you can pursue life, liberty and happiness."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A controversial proposal to ban assault weapons in Rhode Island overcame a pivotal hurdle Tuesday, advancing out of the House Judiciary Committee in a 12-6 vote.

The vote comes after months of debate and years of failed attempts to pass similar legislation.

In the final moments of Gov. Dan McKees annual State of the State address, he pledged to increase efforts to outlaw assault-style weapons, and later included a ban in his FY26 budget proposal.

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While fully automatic weapons, such as machine guns, are already illegal in Rhode Island, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 (H5436) would prohibit the purchase, sale, manufacturing, and possession of certain weapons, including semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols that meet a specific feature test.

What guns are included in Gov. McKees assault weapons ban?

Rep. Jason Knight, a sponsor of the bill, said the long-term goal is to reduce the number of such weapons in circulation.

If a person owns a weapon already or by the date the ban goes into effect has bought one by then, those weapons are grandfathered. Those people dont need to do anything at all to remain legal, Knight said.

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He also pointed to a new grandfather clause added to the legislation, which allows Rhode Islanders who own assault-style weapons as of July 1, 2026, to legally keep them without having to register.

Owners will have the option to voluntarily register their weapons with police in order to receive a certificate of possession, though Knight emphasized law enforcement wont keep any official record.

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but in one year, five years, ten years, it would make it harder for people with evil intent and to get their hands on those weapons, and to misuse them, Knight said.

RELATED: Gun control advocates hold rally to push for stricter laws in RI

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A previous version of the bill included a mandatory registry, but Knight said that was scrapped after pushback from critics.

There were strong feelings in opposition of the registry, he said. So, we just went back to the drawing board and said, Is there another mechanism that we can use to accomplish the same thing?'

The legislation also carves out exemptions for Olympic-grade pistols and does not apply to standard handguns, shotguns or hunting rifles. Knight reiterated that the intent is not to infringe on gun owners rights, but to prevent potential mass violence.

These weapons are the preferred weapons of mass shooters, he explained. I think its up to the legislature to do everything we can to minimize the chance of, God forbid, something like that happening here in Rhode Island.

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Knight also dismissed concerns about the bills constitutionality, citing similar laws upheld in other states, including Marylands, which the U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to review.

He expressed confidence in the Houses decision hopes the Senate follows their footsteps to approve the measure, adding that public opinion is increasingly on their side.

Im glad that the politics are finally catching up to where the voters are, he said.

Or at least, theyre catching up to where some of the voters are. Others, not so much.

House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale criticized the bill, describing it as an overreach of government authority and warned it would trigger costly legal battles at the taxpayers expense.

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The cost of defending this constitutionally questionable law could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with no guarantee of success, Chippendale said in a statement.

He also claimed the bill fails to address the root causes of gun violence, and targets law-abiding citizens instead. According to Chippendale, the new ban would further reduce federal conservation funds and simultaneously damage state businesses who manufacture parts for firearms.

This legislation is misguided, legally vulnerable, economically harmful, and publicly unpopular, he said in a statement, calling on the full House to reject the proposal when it comes to the floor.

Will Worthy, president of Big Bear Hunting and Fishing as well as the Range RI, argued that lawmakers havent fully clarified how the law would work in practice or how it aligns with federal firearm regulations.

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They make laws without understanding how its going to be played live with the citizens of Rhode Island, Worthy said, adding that people still enter his store, confused about the ongoing high-capacity magazine ban.

He also voiced concern that the public hasnt been properly informed about the proposal.

I bet you the majority of Rhode Islanders have no idea this is going on right now, he said. This is going to affect hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders, and not everybody is going to understand whats happening with this bill.

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) celebrated the passage out of the House Judiciary Committee.

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Our advocates and partners have worked tirelessly for more than a decade in the name of public safety and we are thrilled to have made it this far in the legislative process, RICAGV Executive Director Melissa Carden said. We are grateful to Rep. Knight and the entire House leadership team for their support of this life-saving legislation.

Everytown for Gun Safety also praised the committees decision, urging lawmakers to quickly pass the critical measure.

Its really quite simple: keeping weapons of war out of our communities will help prevent mass shootings, Tony Morettini, a volunteer with the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action, said. Weve seen time and again the devastation that follows when a shooter is armed with an assault weapon  How lawmakers vote on this bill will make one thing clear: whether they care more about protecting our children or appeasing the gun lobby.

The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote scheduled for Thursday, where it is expected to pass. The real test lies in the hands of new Senate President Val Lawson, who will determine if the legislation lands on the Senate floor.

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WATCH: What does RIs proposed assault weapons ban mean for current gun owners?

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CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is alerting drivers to a recent surge in fraudulent text messages regarding unpaid traffic violations.

The fraudulent text messages appear to alert the recipient of unpaid traffic violations. The scammers also urge the recipient to make a payment in order to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes.

The so-called smishing messages are designed to deceive recipients into clicking on a malicious link, according to the DMV.

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Scammers are continually preying on peoples fears to manipulate them into revealing personal and financial information, DMV Administrator Walter Craddock warned. We encourage all Rhode Islanders to stay alert and verify their driving privileges only through reliable, official sources.

The DMV stressed that it does not send payment demands or threats via text message, adding that drivers are typically notified of unpaid traffic violations by mail.

Rhode Islanders concerned about their DMV records can access and review them using the Online Customer Portal.

SEE ALSO: EZ-Pass text message scam still circulating in RI

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  It looks like another giant troll may soon be moving to Rhode Island.

East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva announced in a social media post Tuesday that Danish artist Thomas Dambo is looking to bringing one of his famous trolls to the city.

Dambo first brought his trolls, which are made of recycled wood, to Rhode Island back in May 2024. There are currently two trolls, named Erik Rock and Greta Granit, at Ninigret Park in Charlestown.

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SEE ALSO: 2 giant troll sculptures unveiled in Rhode Island

Those sculptures marked the beginning of a so-called Rhode Island troll trail, which will feature five trolls in total.

DaSilva joined Dambo and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Tuesday to scout potential locations for the states next giant troll.

But he also stressed that the giant troll may be coming to East Providence and that nothing is set in stone at the moment.

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Ukraine's drone assault on Russia's strategic bomber fleet, known as Operation Spiderweb, could escalate the war and provoke unpredictable responses from Moscow, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said in an interview with Fox News on June 3.

The operation, launched by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reportedly targeted four airfields deep inside Russian territory, striking 41 aircraft and inflicting what Kyiv claims is $7 billion in damage.

The targeted air bases reportedly housed Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, essential carriers of long-range cruise missiles used in Moscow's air strikes on Ukrainian cities.

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"I'm telling you the risk levels are going way up," Kellogg said. "When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do."

According to the SBU, 117 drones were launched from mobile platforms across Russia, enabling simultaneous strikes on targets located thousands of kilometers from Ukraine's borders.

Kellogg also pointed to reports of explosions at the Severomorsk naval base, home to some of Russia's most advanced submarines. Kyiv has not confirmed targeting Russia's Northern Fleet.

"The one that really concerned me was the fact that there have been reports that they attacked the naval, the Northern Fleet headquarters in Severomorsk," Kellogg said. "And if that's the case  when you attack two legs of a triad  it's very clear the risk levels will go up."

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Russian officials have denied that the base was hit, and no independent confirmation has emerged.

According to Kellogg, the attacks showed that Kyiv "is not lying down on that."

"Ukraine is basically, 'We can play this game, too.' And they can raise the risk level to levels that are basically, to me, they've got to be unacceptable," he added.

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Despite the scale and strategic implications of the Ukrainian operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly addressed the strike. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a would-be peacemaker, has also remained silent.

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Pressed by reporters on June 3, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump was not informed in advance about the operation.

"I would like to let the president speak on that himself," Leavitt said. She later added, "The president does not want to see this war prolonged. He wants this war to stop."

Ukrainian officials say the operation took 18 months to plan. While Kyiv says the strike dealt a serious blow to Russia's strategic air capabilities, the full extent of the damage remains unverified.

Operation Spiderweb marks one of the most sophisticated and far-reaching Ukrainian operations since the start of the full-scale war in 2022  and a stark signal of Ukraine's growing capacity to strike deep inside Russian territory.

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Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  You could call it a cold case  Police are looking for a flexible robber who crawled through a Walgreens fridge to get to a back office and steal $5,000 from the store safe at gunpoint.

In the video, a man wearing a surgical mask, a black beanie, black gloves, a cream-colored hoodie, and dark jeans is seen walking through the cooler section of the Walgreens located in the 6700 block of Macon Road.

The man finds an empty case and dives through it headfirst.

Robbery at Walgreens in the 6700 block of Macon. Courtesy: MPD

According to police, the robber waited for an employee to leave the office, at which time he pulled out a gun and demanded money from the safe from another worker at gunpoint.

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You can see the female victim hand over the cash. The suspect fled the business with approximately $5,000.

Courtesy: MPD

The suspect is believed to be in his late 20s to early 30s. He was armed with a black handgun.

If you recognize the suspect or have any information that can help police, call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH.

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A 24-year-old man who faces charges in connection with a road-rage incident in Davenport has been arrested on a warrant, according to Scott County Court records.

Juan Jinez faces a felony charge of dominion/control of a firearm/offensive weapon by a felon and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, according to Scott County Court documents.

Juan Jinez (Scott County Jail)

Shortly after 8:30 a.m. April 14, Davenport Police responded to the area of West River Drive and Gaines Street, Davenport, for a weapons call, according to Scott County arrest affidavits.

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In affidavits, Davenport police say Jinez did knowingly and willfully possess a firearm and displayed it during an assault resulting from a road rage incident. Police say he got out of the front seat of a suspect vehicle, brandished a black semi-automatic gun and threatened to shoot a victim.

Affidavits show Jinez is prohibited from having a gun because of previous felony convictions:

Trafficking in stolen weapons- felony  Scott County  2018

Possession stolen firearm- felony  Rock Island County  2018

Reckless discharge of a firearm  felony  Cook County  2020

Assault family member impeding blood flow  Harris County, Texas  2021

Willful injury  felony  Scott County  2023

Jinez, who was being held Wednesday on a total $12,000 bond in Scott County Jail, is scheduled for arraignment July 3 in Scott County Court.

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CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Fire Chief Michele Pankow has been named as Illinois next State Fire Marshal, Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Wednesday.

With 32 years of exemplary service, Chief Pankows unique knowledge and skillset have more than earned her this new role as Illinois State Fire Marshal, said Pritzker. Having risen in the ranks since her first day on the job, she understands the needs of Illinois firefighters, and is versed in the public safety functions of our state. I am grateful for her ongoing commitment to Illinois, and look forward to seeing her strengthen our team.

Pankow has served with the Rockford Fire Department since 1992.

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Rockford names two women to lead police and fire

In 2016, she became the first female Division Chief, and in 2021 was sworn in as the citys first female Fire Chief, replacing outgoing Chief Derek Bergsten.

I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed as the Illinois State Fire Marshal. After more than three decades of service with the Rockford Fire Department, I am proud to continue serving the people of Illinois in this new capacity, saidPankow. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated team at the Office of the State Fire Marshal, as well as fire service professionals, state leaders, and community partners to advance public safety, support our first responders, and strengthen fire prevention efforts across the state.

Pankows appointment is pending Senate confirmation. If confirmed, she will begin serving as State Fire Marshal in mid-July.

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Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara released a statement saying, While we are sad to be losing an incredible leader in Chief Pankow, we are thrilled that she has been selected by Governor Pritzker to serve as the next Fire Marshal for the State of Illinois. This is not only a tremendous honor for her, but also a proud moment for our entire City. Michele joined the Rockford Fire Department in 1992 and rose through the ranks to become its first female Chief in 2021. We have no doubt she will do an outstanding job serving all the residents of Illinois.

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CHICAGO (WMBD)  Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed Rockford Fire Chief Michele L. Pankow as the next Illinois State Fire Marshall on Wednesday.

If her appointment is approved by the Illinois Senate, she will become the first woman to serve as the Illinois State Fire Marshal, according to Pritzker.

Pritzker said that with 32 years of experience, her knowledge and skill set have earned her the new role as fire marshal.

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Having risen in the ranks since her first day on the job, she understands the needs of Illinois firefighters, and is versed in the public safety functions of our state, Pritzker said. I am grateful for her ongoing commitment to Illinois, and look forward to seeing her strengthen our team.

Pankow started her career in the Rockford Fire Department in 1992. She was promoted to hold various positions over the years, culminating in her appointment as the 11th Rockford Fire Chief in 2021. She was also the first woman to hold the position in the department.

She said she was honored to be appointed to the position.

I look forward to working alongside the dedicated team at the Office of the State Fire Marshal, as well as fire service professionals, state leaders, and community partners to advance public safety, support our first responders, and strengthen fire prevention efforts across the state, Pankow said.

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If her appointment is approved, she will officially take the position sometime in mid-July.

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Two Palm Beach County restaurants temporarily shut by the state last week had one common issue: rodent droppings on top of their ice machines. Other violations included flies buzzing around a dish-washing area, a lack of hand washing, and floors covered with a slime-like substance.

Meanwhile, in Broward County, no restaurants were forced to close because of emergency orders.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for high-priority violations, such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.

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Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please dont contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesnt inspect restaurants.)

PALM BEACH COUNTY

AJs American Grill

6316 Lantana Road, Lake Worth

Ordered shut: May 28

Why: 20 violations (10 high-priority), including:

About four rodent droppings in kitchen on top of ice machine and under sink in dish-washing area.

About 10 live flies in kitchen in dish-washing area landing on trash can, walls and shelves used to store clean and sanitized dishes and in dry storage area landing on sealed boxes.

Server wiped mouth with hand and, without washing hands, server handled tin foil lid to cover to-go container of cooked lobster.

Employee handled visibly soiled sanitizer cloth to wipe down table and, without washing hands, employee handled clean and sanitized dishes.

Employee entered kitchen through back door and, without washing hands, employee began to handle containers of food at cook line.

Time/temperature issues involved mozzarella, Swiss, cheddar and American cheeses, cooked pasta and rice, Philly steak meat, raw steak, cooked chicken, cooked peppers, cooked mashed potatoes and french onion soup.

Floors under dish-washing areas covered with a slime-like substance.

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Status: Reopened May 29 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.

CocoCabana Bar & Grill

2944 S. Jog Road, Greenacres

Ordered shut: May 27

Why: Six violations (three high-priority), including:

About 17 rodent droppings in kitchen under canned goods storage shelves and on top of and under ice machine, as well as at the bar on drip mat with clean and sanitized mini buckets used to serve iced beers and under soda dispenser gun station.

Rodent rub marks in kitchen hole in the wall next to ice machine and canned goods storage rack.

Raw pork stored directly above open bucket of plantains in reach-in cooler.

Time/temperature issue involved large bin of white rice in reach-in cooler.

Status: Reopened May 28 after a follow-up visit found no violations.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Another week of graduation ceremonies has commenced here in western Massachusetts!

College for Kids returns this summer at STCC with hands-on STEM programs

On Tuesday, for Springfield Public Schools, the Class of 2025 at Roger L. Putnam received their diplomas at Springfield Symphony Hall.

In the past, the school has been named one of the states models of educational excellence and economic relevance by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Ahead of the ceremony, 22News spoke with some students about their plans.

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Im going to HCC for 2 years and then Bay Path, says one student. Another telling 22News, I plan on joining the union, construction work.

Another student sharing, Im gonna go to STCC probably for 2 years and do computer science. Another student shared that they will also be attending STCC for 2 years for cybersecurity.

Graduation, for other Springfield schools, is taking place throughout this week and next week, all happening at Symphony Hall.

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A Romanian citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to leading a years-long conspiracy targeting dozens of individuals  including members of Congress, places of worship, and a former United States president  with swatting calls and bomb threats intended to provoke fear and solicit a police response.

Thomasz Szabo, 26, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C., to one count of conspiracy and one count of threats and false information regarding explosives. The sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23.

Federal prosecutors say Szabo was the leader of an online community that engaged in bomb threats and swatting  a term that refers to making false reports of an ongoing threat of violence  since late 2020.

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He was extradited from Romania in November 2024, the DOJ said.

This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nations security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

This case reflects our continued focus on protecting the American people and working with international partners to stop these threats at their source, she continued.

Szabo made numerous false reports to law enforcement, including in December 2020, when he threatened to commit a mass shooting at New York City synagogues and, in January 2021, when he threatened to detonate explosives at the U.S. Capitol and to kill then-President-elect Biden, according to a DOJ press release.

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Members of Szabos group then engaged in a spree of swatting and bomb threats from Dec. 24, 2023, to early January 2024, the DOJ said. During that time, the group targeted at least 25 members of Congress or their family members; at least six officials who were, either then or previously, serving as a senior Executive Branch official, including multiple Cabinet-level officials; at least 13 senior federal law enforcement officials; and various members of the judiciary, according to the DOJ.

The DOJ said the group also targeted at least 27 officials who were serving at the time, or who previously served, as state government officials or their family members; four religious institutions; and multiple members of the media.

In recent years, political violence and swatting incidents have been on the rise, in particular targeting members of Congress and other high-profile public figures.

Local Georgia news outlets reported that among the officials targeted by Szabo are Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Georgia State Sen. Clint Dixon.

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The man accused in a Rostraver murder in April has been transferred to the Westmoreland County Prison, and is set to face a judge next week.

Dorian Jeri-Greene appeared for a preliminary hearing in Washington County by video Wednesday morning. He was charged in a Donora incident in February and was arrested in Florida last month on those charges.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Person of interest in Rostraver womans murder in custody on unrelated charges

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According to court documents, Jeri-Greene broke into his ex-girlfriends home by destroying a door frame. Police said he strangled the woman before running out of the home with a hatchet.

In court Wednesday, the victim told the judge she no longer wanted to move forward with the prosecution and refused to testify.

So, the district attorney dropped the charges against him in that case. But, Jeri-Greene is still behind bars.

Westmoreland County Deputies picked him up from the Washington County Jail and brought him to the Westmoreland County Prison after those charges were dropped.

Jeri-Greene is accused of killing Jennah Seibert in her Rostraver home in April.

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RELATED COVERAGE >>> Woman found shot, killed inside Rostraver house; death ruled a homicide, sources say

Police said he walked nearly three miles from Monongahela, hid behind a shed on Seiberts property, and waited for her fiance, Bryan Murray, to leave for work.

Channel 11 saw Murray at the hearing Wednesday morning, but he did not want to speak about the dropped charges.

Police said Jeri-Greene pulled the electric meter from the home, knocking out the power to the security system and the house.

Police said he shot Seibert in her bed, stole jewelry, and left.

They tracked him to a home in Florida after searching pawn shops across several states, and finding the stolen jewelry at a pawn shop in Tampa.

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Jeri-Greene was set to face a judge for the murder of Seibert on Friday. The Westmoreland County Sheriffs Office tells Channel 11s Andrew Havranek the hearing was moved to Monday, and will now be held at the county courthouse instead of district court because they can provide better security there.

That hearing is set for 1 p.m.

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Residents will be moving in soon because a new Clark County Land Bank program is transforming rundown lots into new affordable housing solutions.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, Clark County is fighting against homelessness and creating affordable housing solutions as rent and housing demand continue to increase.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Four foreclosed lots in Springfield are being remodeled so they are no longer an eyesore for neighbors.

When the porches are built and the cement driveways harden, new residents will call these properties home for a more affordable price.

Springfield resident Nicolas told News Center 7s Amber Jenkins that hes watched people settle into Springfield for eight years.

As the population grows and housing becomes scarce, the rent is going up.

Now its so high. I think its very difficult for people right now to get a house, Nicolas said.

The new homes will range from two to three bedrooms with a couple of bathrooms.

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Were definitely committed to revitalizing the neighborhood, not only here, but throughout Clark County. So weve done a number of different demolitions, as well as turning over vacant lots to neighbors, Land Reutilization Corporation Official Kara Van Zant said.

County commissioners and Springfield City Officials gave the land bank $2 million to combat the growing population by focusing on housing for couple and small families.

The nonprofit is starting its affordable homes program with four lots for now, but is looking at more.

Weve got a number of lots weve already identified. The next ten are identified for the West Grand, southern area, Van Zant said.

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Clark County Land Bank is now accepting applications to determine eligible applicants for these new homes.

Editors Note: The previous version of this story used the word tenant, however, these homes are not rental properties. The Clark County Land Bank is the agency overseeing the process of accepting eligible applicants. Additionally, these are new homes built on tax forfeited lots, they are not rehabilitated homes.

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Warner Bros. Discovery has been sued by Russell Simmons, who alleges that the filmmakers behind On the Record defamed him by turning a blind eye to evidence disputing accusations that he sexually assaulted women in his orbit.

In a lawsuit filed in New York state court on Tuesday, Simmons brings claims for defamation, invasion of privacy and false advertising, among others. He seeks $20 million and a court order that would force WBD to remove the title from its platforms.

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On the Record tells the stories of Simmons accusers  including former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon, domestic violence awareness activist Sil Lai Abrams and screenwriter Jenny Lumet  as they decide to go public with allegations of sexual assault. It was produced by Oscar-nominated directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering via their production banner Jane Doe Films, all of whom are named in the complaint, with Dan Cogan for Impact Partners.

A distribution deal with Apple TV+ was severed when Oprah Winfrey publicly announced that she was pulling out as executive producer, citing creative differences with the filmmakers. It was later picked up by HBO Max as its first-ever festival acquisition.

In Tuesdays complaint, Simmons alleges that the filmmakers intentionally ignored information, including interviews from over 20 witnesses across media and politics, that challenged their narrative that the music mogul assaulted and harassed various women. The evidence was presented to John Stankey, then-CEO of Warner Media, and Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, both of whom disregarded the materials, the lawsuit says.

WBD and the documentarys producers additionally ignored ignored nine polygraph tests, as well as other information that would have been discovered with due diligence and adherence to accepted journalistic standards, writes Imran Ansari, a lawyer from Simmons, in the complaint.

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Also at issue: Apple withdrawing from distributing the documentary and certain media outlets, including CNN, the New York Post and MSNBC, declining to cover the allegedly defamatory content.

The majority of the title follows Dixon, who last year filed a defamation lawsuit against Simmons for allegedly trying to undermine her sexual assault accusations against him. The former Def Jam Recording executive has alleged that she was raped by the music mogul in 1995.

The complaint was filed on the heels of another suit against Simmons for sexual assault and battery from an ex-executive at the label he cofounded, who sued as a Jane Doe.

At the On the Records Sundance premiere, the audience gave the title multiple standing ovations. With its festival reviews, On the Record currently sits at a 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while The Hollywood Reporters Beandrea July called the film a stunning feat of complexity thats both contained and expansive.

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Ansari, Simmons lawyers, is a partner at Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins. Arthur Aidala, another partner at the New York law firm, is lead counsel for Harvey Weinstein in his New York sexual assault trial.

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Russia on Wednesday criticized a two-week NATO naval exercise in the Baltic Sea as "provocative," one day before it was to begin.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko accused the Western alliance of preparing a confrontation with Russia with its annual BALTOPS exercise.

"It's about achieving superiority in all areas: on land, on the sea and in the air," he said. "Of course exercises of this kind are extremely provocative," Grushko told the Russian state news agency TASS.

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"We assess NATO's military activities as part of preparations for military conflict with Russia," Grushko said.

The 54th edition of the BALTOPs exercises is being held in the eastern German port of Rostock, for the first time.

Around 50 vessels, more than 25 aircraft and around 9,000 troops from 17 countries are participating in the US-led exercise that will run from Thursday to June 20.

Russia is the sole country among the nine with a Baltic Sea coastline that is not a NATO member.

Moscow is itself currently conducting an exercise in the region with more than 20 naval ships, gunboats and support vessels.

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"The exercises are being conducted to test the actions of the fleet forces in defending the bases," the Russian navy said.

According to state television, the exercise, which began on May 27, is continuing into this week.

It involves corvettes, frigates, small missile ships, small submarines and minesweepers, around 25 aircraft, including helicopters, around 3,000 troops and up to 70 specialist units.
Russian forces have targeted residential buildings in the village of Rodynske, Donetsk Oblast, with a FAB-250 aerial bomb, injuring four residents.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Facebook

Quote: "As a result of the attack, three women aged 56, 67 and 84, and a 66-year-old man were injured. The victims were diagnosed with multiple shrapnel wounds, fractures and mine-blast injuries. They were provided with medical assistance."

Details: Four apartment buildings and six garages were also damaged in the city.

A pre-trial investigation has been launched in criminal proceedings on the grounds of a war crime. Prosecutors are documenting the consequences of the Russian attack on the civilian population.

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There were 41 calls placed to the Catawba County 911 Communications Center on Sunday referencing a mass shooting in the Mountain View community.

Eleven people were injured and one person died in the shooting at a house party on Walnut Acres Drive.

Some of the 911 calls include people yelling and praying, Catawba County Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould said.

A Superior Court judge sealed the 911 calls on Tuesday, allowing the county to not release the recordings.

Calls placed to 911 are considered public records under North Carolina General Statues. Gould said the reason District Attorney Scott Reillys office motioned to have the 911 calls sealed was to protect the rights of any potential defendants and prevent any undermining of the active investigation.

Part of our job at the DAs office is to ensure the rights of defendants, Gould said. Some of these are very harsh 911 calls to be heard. Theres screaming, yelling, praying, people potentially bleeding out and dying.

A hearing was held on Tuesday in Catawba County Superior Court to determine if the calls would be sealed. Judge Donald Cureton presided over the hearing. Cureton said he reviewed 41 calls connected to the case.

Gould was joined in court by attorney Josh Teague, who was representing Catawba County. Maj. Aaron Turk with the Catawba County Sheriffs Office was also present in the courtroom.

There are things, statements, things on those recordings that I would argue are pertinent to the investigation that are not known to the public at large, Teague said. I would argue that as the investigation proceeds, having those things come out into the public light could likely impede the investigation or undermine this investigation.

Teague said more than four news outlets had requested the 911 calls prior to the hearing. The district attorneys office filed the motion to seal the calls on Monday.

We have a party here with somewhere between 70 to 100 people, witnesses, shooters, also included in that number. A lot of people have not been interviewed, Gould said. We have people on these 911 calls that have also not been interviewed.

Cureton said he decided to seal the calls to protect the investigation and the future defendants rights, but also to protect the identities of witnesses since the shooter or shooters are still at large.

Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20, of Lenoir, is charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest around 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The sheriff's office said more arrests and charges are anticipated.

Details, new information on Mountain View shooting

Catawba County deputies were called to 1125 Walnut Acres Drive around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday in reference to an active shooting. The shooting killed one person and caused injuries to 11 others.

Catawba County Sheriffs Office Maj. Aaron Turk spoke at a press conference on Tuesday. Turk said the initial shots appeared to have been fired from an elevated area near the tree line of a neighboring yard to where the party was being held. Partygoers who were armed also fired shots.

Turk said the party was advertised on social media and party promoters were taking money for entry into the event. A flyer posted on the social media platform Snapchat advertised the event as a topless pool party. Turk said the sheriff's office has seen similar flyers.

More than 80 shell casings were found at the scene. Around 100 people were at the party at the time of the shooting. Turk said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was still processing the scene as of Tuesday afternoon.

The sheriffs office was called to the house earlier in the night for a noise complaint. Deputies left after the music was turned down, Turk said previously.

Turk said the sheriffs office, along with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are making significant progress in the case.

Only one victim has been identified as of Tuesday afternoon. The victim who died was 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood, of Lenoir. Turk said Tuesday that Hood was there helping with party promotion.

The sheriffs office said not all the injured victims were shot. Some were injured while trying to get away from the shooting, Turk said. The victims ages ranged from 16 to 58. Four were still in the hospital as of Monday.

Investigators asked area residents and business owners to send security camera footage from the evening of May 31 to the morning of June 1 to the sheriff's office. The sheriffs office specifically requested footage from N.C. Highway 127, Huffman Farm Road and Pittstown Road. The request was extended on Tuesday to include all of Bethel Chapel Road.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has set up a digital tip line and is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to charges in this case.

The sheriffs office can be reached at 828-464-3112.
Russian forces launched an air attack on Ukraine on the night of 3-4 June, using 95 strike UAVs of the Shahed type and various decoy drones.

Source: Air Force Command of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: As of 09:00, Ukraine's air defence has destroyed 61 Russian drones, including Shahed UAVs and others, in the eastern, southern and northern parts of the country. Of these, 36 were shot down and 25 were suppressed by electronic warfare or disappeared from radar (without causing any adverse effects).

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The main targets of the air assault were Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and Donetsk oblasts.

Strikes were recorded at seven locations.

Ukrainian aircraft, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units and UAV units, as well as mobile fire groups from the Ukrainian defence forces, all took part in repelling the attack.

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Nearly 1 million Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in the countrys full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a new study, a grisly measure of the human cost of Russian President Vladimir Putins unprovoked three-year assault on his neighbor.

Russia will likely hit the 1 million casualty mark this summer, said the study, published Tuesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think tank in Washington, DC. It said the stunning milestone was a sign of Putins blatant disregard for his soldiers.

Of the estimated 950,000 Russian casualties so far, as many as 250,000 are dead, according to the study. No Soviet or Russian war since World War II has even come close to Ukraine in terms of fatality rate, it said. Ukraine has sustained nearly 400,000 casualties, it added, with between 60,000 and 100,000 deaths.

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Although Kyiv does not disclose its own combat losses in any detail and Moscow is believed to drastically underestimate its own casualties, the CSIS figures are in line with British and United States intelligence assessments.

In March, the British defense ministry estimated that Russia had sustained around 900,000 casualties since 2022. For months, it has judged that Russia is losing about 1,000 soldiers each day, whether killed or wounded. Based on that trend, Russia would be expected to surpass the 1 million threshold in the coming weeks.

Rebutting claims from some Western lawmakers that Russia holds all the cards in the war in Ukraine, the CSIS study used Russian casualty figures  as well as estimates of its heavy equipment losses and sluggish territorial gains  as evidence that Moscows military has performed relatively poorly on the battlefield and failed to achieve its main war goals.

A Ukrainian soldier sets up his weapon in Kharkiv region in May. - Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

After Ukraine repelled Russias initial blitzkrieg assault in 2022, the war has since become attritional. While Kyiv dug in with trenches and mines, Moscow funneled more and more troops into what have become known as meat grinder assaults, throwing soldiers into campaigns for only marginal territorial gains, the study said.

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In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Russian forces have advanced an average of only 50 meters per day, according to the study. That is slower than the British and French advance in the Battle of the Somme in the trench warfare of World War I.

The slow rate of advance has meant Russia has seized only 1% of Ukrainian territory since January 2024, which the authors called a paltry amount. Russia now occupies around 20% of Ukraines territory, including the Crimean peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014.

But Russias dwindling territorial gains have not led to a change in strategy. To sustain Russias staggering rate of casualties, the Kremlin has enlisted convicts from its prisons and welcomed more than 10,000 troops from its ally North Korea, but it has left the children of Moscow and St. Petersburg elites largely untouched.

Russian conscripts line up at a recruitment headquarters in the Leningrad region in April. - Anastasia Barashkova/Reuters

Pedestrians walk past a billboard advertising contract army service in St. Petersburg in January. - Olga Maltseva/AFP/Getty Images

Instead, Moscow has recruited in the far north and far east of the country, where men have been lured by pay packages that are life-changing among poorer communities in those regions. Putin likely considers these types of soldiers more expendable and less likely to undermine his domestic support base, the study noted.

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Whereas Ukraine, a democracy with a population less than a quarter the size of Russias, has faced some pushback in its attempts to mobilize more troops, Russia, where criticism of the war has been outlawed, has faced no significant dissent. But, with the war now well into its fourth year, the authors warned that the blood cost of its protracted campaign was a potential vulnerability for Putin.

Although Russia has had the initiative in the conflict since early 2024, the authors said the attritional nature of the war has left few opportunities for decisive breakthroughs.

Instead, Russias main hope to win is for the United States to cut off aid to Ukraine  as President Donald Trump briefly did earlier this year  and walk away from the conflict  as officials in his administration have threatened to do.

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Russia aims to deploy 10,000 troops to Transnistria and install a pro-Kremlin government in Moldova to enable it, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean told the Financial Times in an interview published June 4.

They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistrian region, Recean said, adding that Russias goal is to increase leverage not only near Ukraines southwest but also close to NATO member Romania.

Although Russia has maintained a limited military presence in Transnistria since the 1990s, only 1,000-1,500 troops remain today.

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Currently, their forces there are almost meaningless, Recean noted.

However, he warned that a Russia-leaning government in Chisinau could authorize a buildup, citing Moldovan intelligence estimates for the 10,000-troop target.

Recean accused Russia of meddling in Moldovas upcoming parliamentary elections through propaganda, illegal financing, and spending the equivalent of 1% of Moldovas GDP on influence operations in 2024.

He said Moldovan authorities had intercepted citizens carrying large sums of Russian cash and discovered that 130,000 voters in the previous election received money from Russian sources.

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This is a huge effort to undermine Moldovan democracy, Recean said, affirming that Moldova remains committed to becoming an EU member.

The Kremlin has not publicly responded to these allegations.

Transnistria is a Russia-controlled breakaway region of Moldova that Moscow occupied in the early 1990s under the pretext of protecting the Russian population.

The region borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast and is internationally recognized as part of Moldova.

Read also: Polish PM Tusk blames Russian hackers for cyberattacks ahead of presidential election

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Russia launched a missile attack against a military training facility in Poltava Oblast on June 4, resulting in injuries among the personnel, the Ground Forces' press service reported.

"Thanks to timely and carefully planned security measures... the worst has been avoided," the press service said, saying that no soldiers have been killed in the attack against the central region, which lies about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Kyiv.

The strike follows a string of Russian attacks against Ukrainian military facilities across Ukraine.

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A deadly missile strike on a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on June 1 killed at least 12 soldiers and led to the resignation of then-Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, who was later appointed the commander of the Joint Forces.

The casualties sustained in Russian attacks deep in the rear sparked backlash, with military leadership facing criticism for failing to provide adequate security for soldiers and recruits.

Security protocols, including dispersal of personnel and the use of shelters, "saved the lives of service members who were at the training facility at the time of the strike" on June 4, the Ground Force said.

"Unfortunately, there are wounded. All victims are receiving care in specialized medical institutions." The press service did not specify the number of victims or the exact location of the targeted military facility.

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A special commission has been established to clarify the circumstances of the attack and the resulting damage, according to the statement.

Read also: In western Ukraine, ethnic Romanians grapple with war, identity, and displacement

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By Guy Faulconbridge and Dmitry Antonov

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Moscow said on Wednesday that military options were "on the table" for its response to Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia and accused the West of being involved in them.

Russia also urged the United States and Britain to restrain Kyiv after the attacks, which Ukrainian officials have lauded as showing Kyiv can still fight back after more than three years of war.

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British and U.S. officials have said they had no prior knowledge of Ukraine's attacks on Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at military bases over the weekend.

Ukraine also tried to blow up a rail and road link with Crimea on Tuesday, and Russia says Kyiv blew up a highway bridge over a passenger train late on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy said the risk of escalation from the war "going way up" after the attacks on the nuclear-capable bombers. A week earlier, Trump rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin over a fierce aerial attack on Ukraine.

"We urge London and Washington to react in such a way as to stop further escalation," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who oversees relations with the U.S. and arms control, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.

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"All options are on the table," Ryabkov said, when asked what Russia's response to Ukraine's attacks would be. "This is a question for our military."

Russia and the U.S. together hold about 88% of all nuclear weapons.

Asked whether Russia thought the West was involved in the recent attacks, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the West supplied weapons, gave target coordinates, refused to condemn such attacks and actively incited them.

"These are several areas that prove the fact of the involvement, both direct and indirect, and the guilt of the West for the terrorist attacks that are taking place against civilians and civilian infrastructure facilities by the Kyiv regime," Zakharova said.

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Kyiv has not commented on the bridge attacks. Each side has accused the other of carrying out acts of terrorism during the conflict and each blames the other for a lack of progress at peace talks.

Trump was not informed in advance of Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday. A British government official said the government was not informed ahead of time.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Timothy Heritage)
LONDON (AP)  The trial has started of six men accused of arson at an east London business with links to Ukraines war effort against Russia, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that the evidence against them was overwhelming.

At the start of the trial at London's Central Criminal Court, which is better known as the Old Bailey, prosecutors said the March 20, 2024 attack was planned by agents of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, which the British government has deemed a terrorist organization.

Prosecutors said the Wagner Group recruited four men  Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, Nii Mensah, 23 and Paul English, 61  who have been charged with setting fire to the industrial unit in Leyton, in the east of the capital, which supplied StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine.

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An additional two other men  Ashton Evans, 20, and Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 23  are facing charges that they withheld information about upcoming terrorist attacks.

The court was told that around 1 million pounds ($1.35 million) worth of damage was caused by the blaze. Prosecutors also said there were plans for similar attacks on two other businesses in the upmarket London neighborhood of Mayfair  a wine shop called Hedonism and a restaurant called Hide. Both are owned by an unidentified Russian dissident who has been vocal in his criticism of President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. He has, prosecutors said, driven aid trucks from the U.K. to Ukraine.

This was deliberate and calculated criminality, at the behest of foreign influence," said prosecutor Duncan Penny. "In the case of these defendants at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial  good old-fashioned greed. For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.

Jurors heard the attack was orchestrated by Dylan Earl, 20, and Jake Reeves, 23, who have already admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group. Earl has also admitted to plotting to set fire to the two Mayfair businesses.

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Earl, he said, was the architect of the attack and had come into contact with the Wagner Group via a channel on the Telegram messaging app.

It appears that Dylan Earl expressed a willingness to undertake missions of which the Leyton arson attack was the first, said Penny. It is apparent that Dylan Earl knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian, interests.

Earl was the first person to be charged under the U.K.'s National Security Act 2023, which created new measures to combat espionage, political interference and benefiting from foreign intelligence services. It also gave authorities additional powers to search and seize property and detain and arrest suspects.

Penny said the evidence against those facing charges was overwhelming and that CCTV, traffic cameras and phone evidence will be presented to the jury. He said one of the suspects, Mensah, filmed the arson attack on his mobile phone and livestreamed it on FaceTime.
Ukraine said it hit 41 Russian aircraft in a daring attack on multiple airfields.

The aircraft Ukraine said that it hit fire missiles at Ukraine and execute other critical missions.

Many of them cannot be easily replaced as Russia has stopped making them.

Ukraine launched a daring attack on multiple Russian airfields on Sunday, claiming hits on 41 Russian aircraft, including certain strategic planes that aren't easily replaced.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that its operatives positioned drones close to airfields in trucks before releasing them to target Russian aircraft in "Operation Spiderweb." Videos, including drone footage obtained by Business Insider, showed burning Russian bombers.

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The SBU said aircraft hit included the A-50 airborne early warning and control plane, Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 bombers, An-12 transport aircraft, and the Il-78 refueling tanker.

Many of the Russian aircraft Ukraine said it hit have been seen damaged, destroyed, or burning in videos of the attack from the SBU and satellite images of the Russian bases. The SBU said that some of the planes were "irretrievably destroyed" while others will "take many years to rebuild."

Key Russian aircraft

Any A-50 loss means a loss of situational awareness for Russia's air force. These important air assets amplify the effectiveness of Russia's air force by detecting enemy aircraft, missiles, air defense systems, and ground targets. They also act as mobile command-and-control centers for directing attacks.

Ukraine has shot down multiple A-50s during Russia's invasion, meaning Russia likely only has a handful left. These aircraft are estimated to cost around $300 million each.

A Russian Beriev A-50. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File

Among the other planes that Ukraine said it hit are ones Russia has used to fire missiles in its invasion.

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The Tu-22M is a Soviet-era bomber that its manufacturer, Tupolev, describes as a "long-range supersonic missile carrier bomber" designed to strike ground and sea targets using guided missiles and aerial bombs.

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence service told BBC Ukraine last year that it carries the Kh-22 missiles, which have caused tremendous damage to Ukrainian cities like Odesa.

Ukraine has previously claimed to have destroyed some Tu-22Ms, both in the air and at an airfield deep inside Russia. Ukraine estimates the planes cost around $100 million each.

The Tu-95 is a Cold War-era long-range turboprop bomber that can carry eight long-range cruise missiles armed with either conventional or nuclear warheads. Russia has also used it for attacks on Ukraine.

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Russia also uses the Tu-160  a heavy supersonic long-range strategic bomber first introduced during the Soviet era that is able to carry nuclear and conventional cruise missiles  in its attacks.

Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute, told Business Insider that both the Tu-95 and the Tu-160 had been "heavily tasked" with firing Kh-101 missiles at Ukraine.

The SBU said the damage inflicted by its attack could be $7 billion, a figure that has not been independently verified. The head of the agency, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, said that the attack was meant to curb Russian attacks on Ukraine.

"The adversary bombed our country almost every night from these aircraft, and today they have felt that retribution is inevitable," Maliuk said. The general said the security agency "is doing and will do everything possible to protect Ukraine."

Hard to replace

Dollar figures are tossed around for the planes Ukraine hit, but Russia can't replace some of these aircraft easily.

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Production of the Tu-95 and Tu-22M stopped after the USSR collapsed in 1991. Russia also no longer makes A-50s, though it said last year that production may restart. Tu-160s are still made, but slowly. Reports indicate only two have been made since 2022.

Bronk said replacing the losses will be "very challenging" for Russia.

"The Tu-95 has not been produced for more than 30 years and production/modernisation of the Tu-160 is at a very limited scale," he said in emailed comments to BI.

A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

Maliuk said that "34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main Russian airfields were hit." Imagery from the sites confirms some of the reported destruction.

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Satellite images from company Capella Space and seen by Reuters show what experts told the outlet appeared to be several destroyed and damaged Tu-95s and Tu-22s.

A win for Ukraine

Bronk said that the destruction that can be seen visually shows "this is a stunning success for Ukraine's special services." He pointed to confirmation of the destruction of around eight Tu-95 bombers, a Tu-22M3, and several other aircraft.

The 41 aircraft figure given by Ukraine is being debated. Some analyses based on visual evidence that is available so far have pointed to a lower figure.

Bronk said that if even half of Ukraine's claim of 41 aircraft were damaged or destroyed, "it will have a significant impact" on Russia's ability to "keep up its regular large scale cruise missile salvos against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure" while also keeping up its nuclear deterrence and signaling patrols against NATO and Japan.

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How the attack affects the battlefield, where Ukraine is facing a relentless push from Russia's larger military and dampening US support, remains to be seen.

Dan Grazier, a security expert at the Stimson Center, told BI that he was skeptical that it was "really going to move the needle in one way or the other" on the battlefield.

That said, the attack is still significant and rewrites the rules of warfare, experts say.

The SBU said the attack hit four Russian airfields simultaneously across three time zones, explaining that the plan allowed it to hit the largest number of Russian aircraft at the same time.

A satellite view shows military aircraft, some sitting destroyed, at the Belaya air base, near Stepnoy, Irkutsk region, Russia after Ukraine's attack. 2025 Planet Labs PBC/via REUTERS

It said it brought drones in mobile containers into Russia, hiding the drones on trucks. The container roofs were opened remotely "at the right moment" and the drones struck their targets. The details of the operation have not been independently verified.

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It said the operation was planned for more than a year and a half.

Tim Robinson, a military aviation specialist at the UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, told BI the attack will spook Western air forces. "If you're an Air Force chief and you are not lying awake at night thinking about how to protect you, you're going to lose the next war."

And it's a statement of intent from Ukraine.

Maliuk said "the enemy thought it could bomb Ukraine and kill Ukrainians endlessly and with impunity. This is not the case. We will respond to russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere  at sea, in the air and on land."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two months ago, 25-year-old Ilia Chernov beat long odds and convinced an immigration judge to grant him political asylum in the U.S.

Normally, that finding would have been enough for Chernov to obtain legal status and live freely in the U.S. Chernovs judge told him that he would soon be released.

But Immigration and Customs Enforcement has refused to free Chernov, stranding him in detention.

Immigration law experts that TPM spoke with could not recall another case that matches this set of facts. ICE will, on rare occasions, keep people who have received asylum detained during appeal if they have a criminal record or present an alleged threat to public safety. But ICE isnt claiming that here. The only suggestion that Chernov has a criminal record comes not from the United States, but from Russia, his home country: there, Russian cops raided his apartment as part of an investigation relating to Chernovs support for the now-dead opposition leader Alexei Navalny and opposition to the war in Ukraine.

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Keeping him detained is extremely unusual, Maryellen Fullerton, a professor of immigration law at Brooklyn Law School, told TPM.

Chernovs background is what you might expect from a political asylum seeker. In Russia, he says that he staged a series of demonstrations that put him on the radar of local law enforcement.

What prompted him to flee was a 2023 incident that Chernov recounted to immigration officials and to TPM: he placed anti-war flyers at a military recruitment office, attracting the attention of Russian prosecutors.

Hes buttressed his asylum claim with other episodes: traffic police once threatened him with prosecution for extremism over a pro-Navalny sticker on his car. Chernov is resourceful and a quick learner: he applied for asylum himself while he was being held in immigration detention in the U.S. and commissioned translations to bolster his case; when a national immigration nonprofit took up his case, its lawyers declined to amend his asylum petition because they found the work he did on his own sufficient.

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All this helped persuade an immigration judge, in March, to buck the Trump II trend of declining asylum grants and approve Chernovs claim. But ICE soon appealed his case  and, unusually, kept him in detention while it did it. Its emblematic of the new, hardline approach that the Trump administration is bringing to cases it loses, and to high-profile detentions: in cases like the Alien Enemies Act removals and green card revocations over political beliefs, government officials have pushed as hard as possible against the line set by the courts and administrative law judges, making an example both of the people affected and of their unwillingness to help migrants enter the U.S.

To understand Chernovs case  and his continued detention despite a successful asylum claim  TPM reviewed Russian and American court records, spoke with immigration attorneys and former ICE officials, and interviewed Chernov over hours of phone calls placed from the privately run detention center where he is being held.

An ICE spokesman declined to comment.

Road to America

Chernov arrived at the San Ysidro border crossing  located along the highway between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California  for his pre-scheduled CBP One appointment with U.S. immigration authorities in May 2024.

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It was a long journey to get there.

Though he fled Russia when he was 22 years old, Chernov told TPM he had first run afoul of the Russian state while he was in high school. He posted a video made by Navalnys team criticizing corruption in the Russian government; school officials reported him to law enforcement, Chernov said. After that, he was required to check in regularly with a local police officer.

Chernov grew up in the south Russian city of Krasnodar. Its balmy, by Russian standards: home to some resorts, the city sits around 150 miles from the bridge connecting Russia to the illegally annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea and, beyond that, to Ukraine.

For Chernov, opposition to the government wasnt entirely a choice. The way he tells it, the government came to oppose him: Chernov identifies as non-binary. That put his gender expression in conflict with Russian society, including a Kremlin set on prosecuting members of LGBT organizations as extremists.

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Because of the fear that all these laws would be used against me, at first I didnt go out of my way to reveal myself, Chernov said. But some friends were still able to guess about me.

In 2020, Chernov visited the headquarters of an organization run by Navalny in Moscow and joined. He later attended protests organized to support the opposition politician.

Ilias car, with pro-Navalny and anti-mobilization stickers on it. (Courtesy Ilia Chernov)

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the political atmosphere in the country became more tense. Chernov opposed the war, and stuck Free Navalny and No Mobilization stickers on his car. Traffic police eventually pulled him over and demanded that he remove them, while threatening him with extremism charges; he did. He appeared alone in the city center carrying anti-war and pro-Navalny signs for solitary protests, a means of evading the governments near-impossible-to-meet permitting requirements for mass demonstrations.

The next year, Chernov received a draft notice for the countrys mandatory military service. He was ordered to appear at a military recruiting center for a fitness check.

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Instead, Chernov told TPM, he decided to stage a mini-protest in the recruitment office. He printed out flyers that read, Lets think before signing a contract with the Russian Army. Youll kill or be killed.

I decided to put up an alternative so that people might think about what they were about to go do, he said.

At the same time, friends of Chernovs were coming under increasing pressure from law enforcement. One friend, Chernov said, was hauled in for questioning over a tattoo of a dog with a pride flag labeled gay dog.

Weeks after his recruitment center protest, Russian police raided Chernovs home and seized his laptop.

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A Russian search warrant reviewed by TPM said that investigators were searching for records that would confirm Chernovs involvement in an extremist organization, namely Navalnys Headquarters, and discrediting the activities of the Russian Armed Forces. Charges stemming from those accusations could yield a 15-year prison sentence. Chernov was asked to appear before investigators: there, Chernov said, he was fingerprinted and told that if law enforcement could prove that he was the one who placed the flyers, he would be charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces.

For Chernov, that was the sign that it was time to leave. Fearing that his fingerprints on the flyers would match those that investigators took, he hid out for a month in a hotel and sold as many of his belongings as he could to raise money for the trip to come. After a few weeks, he and a friend traveled by train to Belarus, a neighboring country that has limited border controls with Russia but which is governed separately, making it easier to leave without detection. From there, he flew to Dubai, and then to Mexico. In May 2024, after eight months in Tijuana, he arrived for a CPB One appointment at the U.S. border.

Indefinite Detention

Chernov was immediately detained.

Which asylum-seekers ICE detains at entry remains a mystery. Chernov traveled with a friend whose CBP One appointment was a few months earlier; that friend was not detained. The government had, for a time, been letting many Russian asylum seekers through without detaining them. ICE statistics show that detentions spiked in summer 2024.

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Since then, the Trump administration has also pressured immigration judges, administrative magistrates who work for DOJ, to approve fewer asylum applications. The administration entered office by firing dozens of the judges. In April, after Chernovs petition was granted, the DOJ directed immigration judges to fast-track dismissals of asylum cases. According to TRAC reports, an immigration monitoring website, less than one quarter of asylum claims heard in March 2025 were granted. Data from the same source shows that immigration judges granted around half of asylum claims heard in March 2024.

Nevertheless, Chernov won his asylum case in March. ICE signaled that it would appeal.

I just want to tell you good luck and that I hope that you do take the opportunity thats been given to you and use it wisely, the judge told him at the hearing, reminding him that the decision was not final as ICE was appealing, and that he needed to check in with the government after his release until the case concluded.

But then something happened that surprised Chernov, his lawyers, and independent experts TPM spoke with: Chernov was never released, stranding him in detention in Louisianas Winn Correctional Facility.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations patch is displayed at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Headquarters on May 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

His continued detention raises a simple question: Why? Chernov has legal status per the judges ruling. The Board of Immigration Appeals can take months to hear a case; why keep him inside?

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Some immigration law practitioners said that DHS had been known to detain people who won asylum cases  but only if they had a criminal record or were otherwise deemed a threat to public safety. If someone is let go and commits a crime, lawyers explained, DHS wouldnt want to be on the hook for having released them.

But there isnt anything like that in Chernovs case. The only accusations of criminality are those coming from the Russian government: a search warrant saying hes being investigated for supporting Navalny and discrediting the Russian armed forces.

I cant see any possible justification to keep holding this guy, David Leopold, an immigration attorney and past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told TPM.

Staying Captive

Chernov told TPM that he tries to stop the days from blurring into one by studying English in the detention centers library, and by following whatever news he can get. The facility shows CNN and Fox News.

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The conditions are poor. Privately operated, Winn is one of ICEs largest detention facilities  and among its most notorious. A series of exposes, including one in 2016 by a Mother Jones reporter who went undercover as a guard at the facility, documented systemic abuse and failures to provide basic hygiene, clean water, and unspoiled food to inmates.

Chernov described leaving his belongings on the floor in his first week at Winn, and noticing that, within days, black mold had begun to spread across books and clothing. Water flows yellow from the taps, he said; food sometimes appears spoiled. He described worsening, increasingly crowded conditions as the government detained more people while releasing and deporting fewer than previous administrations.

After a long time, people start to go crazy here, Chernov said.

The immigration judge did not find that Chernov had been persecuted during the portion of his life that he spent in Russia. Rather, she ruled that he faced a credible risk of future persecution if he returned.

ICE has tried to undermine that conclusion in its appeal by arguing that Chernov wasnt credible for two reasons: he allegedly omitted key evidence, and his testimony allegedly conflicted with evidence in his file.

The omission argument focuses on Chernov purportedly failing to disclose a second raid that Russian law enforcement conducted on his home after Chernov had fled, and a supposed omission that he feared persecution based on his non-binary orientation. Chernov mentioned his fear of gender-based persecution in his asylum application.

Ilia holds a sign reading No Mobilization during a solitary protest near the monument to Catherine the Great in Krosnodor, Russia. (Courtesy Ilia Chernov)

Some other claims by ICE here are similar in scope: they accuse Chernov of failing to mark the hotel he hid out in for one month before fleeing as a place of residence, for example.

ICE also alleges that Chernov has told one critical part of his story inconsistently, to different people.

That claim goes to the core of his petition: whether he was charged, and whether he placed anti-war flyers in the military recruitment office. Chernov provided his attorneys with a Russian search warrant for discrediting the armed forces; the document does not provide details about what event prosecutors were investigating.

Interview transcripts in Chernovs case indicate that he told DHS officials during a credible fear interview that he was charged over the incident. Chernov blames this on a translation error, and a transcript shows other communication issues between Chernov and the translator; early on in the interview, Chernov told his translator that he was feeling a little uncomfortable because you were saying you couldnt hear me.

Later, he told the immigration judge in his case that Russian authorities did not reach the point of charging him. He was only investigated, he told the judge.

ICE has seized on this difference in the record.

The question of whether Chernov was or wasnt charged aside, what helped persuade the immigration judge was that Chernov made a key admission about the facts Russian prosecutors had been interested in: while Chernov denied to Russian law enforcement that he placed the fliers, he admitted to U.S. immigration officials that he had. He would later, also, admit it to TPM.

The immigration judge cited Chernovs admission in her decision granting him asylum.

They have threatened him specifically with prosecution, the judge wrote. And in fact, he himself admits that he has taken steps that would be a violation of these laws, and that he has distributed pamphlets.

In some ways, these admissions are an act of desperation, given what the future may hold for Chernov: He fears that the U.S. government will, eventually, deport him to Russia. If it does, all of his efforts to secure asylum in the U.S. by telling his own story would then backfire: his admission to spreading the flyers, his open support of Navalny  Russian authorities could use it all against him upon return.

TPM asked Chernov why he was taking such a big risk.

He had no choice, he replied: Theres no way back at this point.
A local resident has been killed in the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson by a Russian drone.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: Prokudin said that a 49-year-old man had been fatally injured by explosives dropped from a drone. Prokudin expressed his condolences to the victims family.

Over the past day, 34 settlements in Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson were subjected to Russian drone strikes, artillery shelling and airstrikes.

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Russian troops targeted social infrastructure and residential areas in the oblast, damaging three high-rise buildings and ten houses. The Russians also destroyed gas pipelines and an emergency medical centre.

Eight people were injured as a result of Russian aggression.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told a visiting top Russian official that his country will unconditionally support Russia's war against Ukraine, the North's state media reported Thursday, the latest sign of expanding cooperation between the two nations.

In April, the two countries officially confirmed North Korean troops' deployment to Russia for the first time, saying that soldiers of the two countries were fighting alongside each other to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. At the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea's participation in the war and promised not to forget their sacrifices.

In a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang on Wednesday, Kim affirmed that North Korea will unconditionally support the stand of Russia and its foreign policies in all the crucial international political issues including the Ukrainian issue, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

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The two discussed how to solidify strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia and reached a consensus on the Ukraine issue and other unspecified international situations, KCNA said. It didn't elaborate.

Russias state Tass news agency, citing the Russian Security Council's press service, reported that Shoigu and Kim also discussed prospects for rebuilding the Kursk region and outlined steps to commemorate the contribution made by North Korean soldiers.

Russia claimed in April 2025 that it had fully reclaimed the Kursk region, though Ukraine insists it still has troops present there. Ukraines top army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reiterated Saturday that Ukrainian forces were still holding territory in Russias Kursk region.

Shoigu last visited North Korea in March for a meeting with Kim.

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North Korea and Russia haven't said how many North Korean troops are in Russia. But U.S., South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials earlier said North Korea dispatched 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia last fall in its first participation in a major armed conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korean authorities recently said North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia earlier this year.

North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia as well.

South Korean, U.S. and their partners believe Russia has provided economic and military assistance to North Korea in return. They worry Russia might also transfer sophisticated technologies to help North Korea enhance its nuclear weapons program targeting its rivals.
A unanimous Rutherford County Library System Board voted June 2 to rescind a March decision to remove books promoting "transgenderism or 'gender confusion' in minors."

Pending new board chairman Cody York called for the vote after he had persuaded the majority in March to remove the books on transgender topics "to protect children."

York prior to the June 2 vote said the board could face First Amendment legal challenges to the March decision. Those opposing include the National Coalition Against Censorship in New York.

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First Amendment issues for students: ACLU warns Rutherford school board about removing 'Beloved,' other books from libraries

Legal counsel has advised the board about potentially losing a lawsuit based on the library system's policy to oppose censorship by the officials and allow parents to decide what books are permitted for their children, York suggested.

The book removing policy divided the board and audience members, including one holding a "No more book bans" sign. Heather Ahmie held a sign saying, "Literacy & Justice for All," to promote free speech during the meeting with over 70 people in attendance at Murfreesboro City Hall in Council Chambers.

York promised he'd lead the board in crafting new policies to protect children when he begins his term as chairman by July to replace outgoing chairman Phil King.

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The roll call vote had two board members abstaining: Dina Piazza and King.

First Amendment issue: Divided Rutherford County Library System Board bans transgender books 'to protect children'

Transgender speaker questions board's previous decision

Wonderland Rogers, a transgender male, speaks out against banning books with trans characters during a Rutherford County Library System Board meeting June 2, 2025, that was held in the Council Chambers of Murfreesboro City Hall.

Before rescinding the March decision on removing books on transgender topics to protect children, the board heard about six speeches from audience members opposed to censorship.

There were audience members present who showed support for York and his position, but none of them came to the lectern to speak.

The speakers included Wonderland Rogers, who identifies as a transgender male. He questioned the majority's previous decision to remove books.

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'You made it clear you want me to disappear," Rogers told the board.

Rogers also made an insulting remark alluding to York being in a white shirt, which is also what many audience members wear to show support for the book removal decisions.

Chairman King responded by saying he won't tolerate anyone making insults again.

April 2025 library board meeting: Rutherford Library Board delays vote to possibly rescinding vote to remove transgender books

Another speaker: 'Your actions are not protecting any child'

Hannah Stromgren speaks out about banning books during the Rutherford County Library System Board meeting June 2, 2025, that was held in the Council Chambers of Murfreesboro City Hall.

Speaker Hannah Stromgren also questioned the board's previous decision to protect children as if "fearful that reading a book with a trans or gay character will turn kids trans or gay."

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"When you read the Bible, did it make you want to throw babies against rocks?" said Stromgren, who noted the biblical scriptures include descriptions of incest, human sacrifice and murder.

"Reading a book with material that you personally don't agree with doesn't automatically create children that mirror those attributes," Stromgren said.

Free speech scholar Nadine Strossen: Rutherford school board violates law by removing books

Speaker Jessica Bruce urged the library board members to focus on the mission of the library system "to improve lives and empower its communities to explore, imagine and engage by providing information and technology."

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"Your job is to represent the community and everyone in it," Bruce told the board.

"Everyone. That includes those of us in opposition. Each book the board has banned has been because of that book's LGBTQIA+ relationship and ties to the community. Your actions are not protecting any child. In fact, you are actually putting an entire demographic of children at danger."

Free speech issue: Rutherford library officials draw national opposition for removing books on transgender issues

Stewarts Creek HS English teacher questions censorship

The library board also heard from Tatiana Silvas, a 10-year English teacher for Rutherford County Schools.

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"I am a passionate lover of books and their impact," said Silvas, who teaches at Stewarts Creek High in southwest Smyrna.

"However, I am always in support of a parent's right to choose what their child reads in my classroom."

Censorship: Rutherford schools removal of 160 more books draws opposition from 1st Amendment advocates

Although a supporter of parents making decisions on what their children read, Silvas said board members making decisions on removing books "seems excessive."

"The narrative of obscene content in our libraires is one perpetuated by certain board members and their army of community members," Silvas said.

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"This group has also pushed the Rutherford County School Board into a legal battle with the ACLU, something they were warned of by a letter on September 16, 2024."

'We are banished' Rutherford schools book banning upsets free speech advocates

Speaker worries about 11% of library budget funding lawsuit costs

Silvas noted that the library board members have received warnings from national free speech organizations about the March decision to remove books.

Other communities, Silvas said, have faced thousands of dollars in costs to defend censorship decisions, including in Escambia County, Florida, and Crawford County, Arkansas.

"With our budget of $4.2 million each year, just one lawsuit could pull over 11% of our annual budget," Silvas said.

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"This means that Rutherford County taxpayers will foot the bill if you choose to go to trial with this lawsuit and lose."

Censorship lawsuit: ACLU files First Amendment lawsuit against Rutherford school board for book bans

York wins majority support to be next chairman

Cody York was voted as the new chairman of the Rutherford County Library System Board during the board meeting that was held in the Council Chambers of Murfreesboro City Hall, on Tuesday, June 2, 2025.

Prior to rescinding the March decision on removing books on transgender topics to protect children, the majority of the board in a 5-3 vote backed York to be the next chairman.

York had the support of board members Marzee Woodward, Susan Quesenberry, Piazza and Sam Huddleston, who's also Murfreesboro assistant city manager. All of them previously voted in favor of the March decision to remove books on transgender topics to protect children.

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Fellow board member Kory Wells called for the minority position of having Lisa Brewer, who's also the elected Smyrna Town Court clerk, become the chairwoman of the board. Brewer also had the backing of vice chairman Rollie Holden to be the next leader of the board.

Wells suggested that York and herself as outspoken advocates on opposite sides of the transgender book issue would not make for the best leaders of the board.

'Deeply concerned': Removing transgender books affects Rutherford library director search

Wells calls for 'Treating each other as neighbors'

Rutherford County Library System Board member Kory Wells tells those in attendance of the meeting that people have more in common than differences and wished people on both sides of the book banning agenda could speak to one another during a meeting that was held in the Council Chambers of Murfreesboro City Hall, on Tuesday, June 2, 2025.

Board members and audience members should be "treating each other as neighbors" and "go sit with somebody on the other side," Wells said.

"That's our job," Wells said.

Wells also noted that the board has already faced $8,000 in legal fees because of the March decision to remove books on transgender topics to protect children.

Board member opposes 'unconstitutional' book bans

Ann Smith listens to Josh Walker speak out against book bans during the Rutherford County Library System Board meeting June 2, 2025, that was held in the Council Chambers of Murfreesboro City Hall.

King, the board's current chairman, abstained from voting on his successor for the library board.

Board member Benjamin Groce of Murfreesboro was absent from the June 2 meeting because of his legal work with the Smyrna government.

In March, Groce joined Wells and other members of the minority vote to oppose removing books on transgender topics.

Groce mentioned being an attorney and officer of the court with concerns about supporting unconstitutional positions.

August 2023 decisions by library board: Library supporters upset by board pulling 4 books say they're 'fighting against censorship'

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com.To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford library board rescinds decision to remove transgender books
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Wednesday that allies are to agree on new defence capability targets at the upcoming meeting of the alliance's defence ministers.

"These targets set out what forces and concrete capabilities the allies need to provide to strengthen our deterrence and defence," Rutte said.

"Air and missile defence, long-range weapons, logistics, large land manoeuvre formations are among our top priorities," he added.

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"We need more resources, forces and capabilities so that we are prepared to face any threat and to implement our collective defence plans in full."

NATO defence ministers gathering in Brussels on Thursday are expected to formally adopt the top-secret plans.

The new targets are "a huge leap forward" towards a "stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance," Rutte said.

In order to ensure that the NATO targets are met, Germany and the other member states will now be assigned new national targets for their military capabilities, including weaponry.

Under the plans, the currents targets are to be increased by around 30%, sources told dpa.

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The new targets are considered to be a particularly difficult challenge because the existing goals are far from being met. Senior military officials recently spoke of a gap of 30%.

"The world is becoming more dangerous," said Rutte, listing Russia's war against Ukraine, terrorism and global competition as threats.

To deliver on the new targets, NATO members will have to increase their defence spending, he added.

Allies are expected to take a decision on higher military expenditure at an upcoming leaders' summit later this month in The Hague.
(FOX40.COM)  Newly released statistics show that the Sacramento Postal District is ranked at number 16 for the worst city for dog attacks, according to the United States Postal Service.

Video Above: Officials condemn lack of security of USPS mailboxes amid audit

In 2024, there were 21 attacks in Sacramento, with more than 6,000 postal employees attacked nationwide.

USPS released a list of tips and reminders on how dog owners can ensure their pet does not attack anyone.

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Officials said that dogs act without warning in defense of their territory, when they feel anxious or when theyre sick. Therefore, it is important for dog owners to help with the process of safe mail delivery.

According to USPS, most people know around what time their carrier arrives every day.

Because of this, dog owners are asked to:

Secure dogs before the carrier approaches your property to decrease the risk of an attack.

Keep dogs in separate rooms or areas away from the door when the mail carrier arrives.

Close the door firmly before going outside to make sure no dogs slip through.

If already outside, make sure any dogs are secured away from the mail carrier and on a leash.

Never accept mail from a carrier in front of dogs.

Remind children to not take mail from a carrier as dogs may see that as a threat.

Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery to see incoming mail before it arrives.

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USPS officials also remind dog owners that mail carriers have guidelines when coming face to face with a dog.

Mail carriers are trained to:

Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert dogs

Never startle a dog

Keep their eyes on any dog

Never assume a dog will not bite

Never attempt to pet or feed a dog

Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping

Protect their body by placing something in between them and the dog during an attack

Use dog repellent during an attack if necessary

Mail carriers have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes, said USPS officials. A dog alert feature on carriers handheld scanners can remind them of a possible dog hazard, and dog warning cards must be used during mail sorting to alert carriers to addresses where a dog may interfere with delivery.

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Officials also want owners to know that if a dog attack were to occur, it can cost them thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs and pain and suffering.

Customers may not consider their dog a danger to others, however, to a letter carrier like me, all dogs can be considered a threat when delivering the mail, said Jonah Helfrich, a Blue Bell, PA, letter carrier. I was recently delivering mail and a dog barged through a door and bit me on the wrist, which required me to seek medical treatment. I strongly encourage all dog owners to take precautions to make sure their dog is secure when mail is being delivered.

Additionally, mail delivery can be stopped until the carrier feels safe enough to restart the delivery. USPS said that until then, mail would have to be picked up at the local Post Office.

Pilot program launched to help lost pets find their way back home

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For the resident to be informed of the mail delivery suspension, they must contact the local Post Office for more information. According to officials, if the dangerous dog issue is not resolved, then the owner may be required to rent a Post Office box.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles was ranked at number one for the most dog bite incidents, with 77 dog bites in 2024. Houston, Texas is at number two with 65 dog bites, and Chicago, Illinois takes third place with 57 dog bites in 2024.

California was the state with the most dog bites in 2024, with 701, while Texas had 438 and Ohio had 350 dog bites in 2024.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A stretch of Glenwood Avenue is looking a little brighter these days thanks to a program from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Program aimed at improving lighting and cutting crime.

Back in January, a pedestrian was hit at the intersection along Glenwood across from the Salvation Army and Southern Tavern. Its something the YNDC is trying to shine a light on to avoid any more dark situations.

It was really, really dark, said Ebony Billups, an employee of the tavern. You could hardly see people crossing the street. It makes a big difference, especially at night.

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From High Street to the Youngstown-Boardman border, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation has been installing new exterior lighting on businesses and providing more than 200 doorbell cameras to residents. Its all a part of their Community Safety Program to improve security along the Glenwood Corridor.

Security lighting and doorbell cameras are actually evidence-based practices for helping to solve evidence-based crime, said Jack Daugherty, YNDC Neighborhood Stabilization director. They also help to give folks in our neighborhoods over the safety in our neighborhoods.

The safety push took on a new urgency in January when a pedestrian was hit near the intersection of Glenwood and Cleveland Street. Local business owners say its already making a difference.

Its lit up like Friday night lights, Billups said. You can see really good, and then our cameras and the Salvation Armys Cameras, you can see everybody better.

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YNDC says data drives the project. Partnering with YSU, theyve looked at crime patterns and lighting gaps, identifying various businesses along Glenwood as a top priority.

The project came to light after speaking directly to residents who addressed safety and speed concerns along the busy road.

The 80th percentile speed, I think, in this portion of Glenwood, last I checked, was like 45 mph. The speed limit is 35, Daugherty said. That means 80% of people traveling on this road are going 10 miles above the speed limit on a typical day.

Over the last year, YNDC has installed lighting at more than two-dozen businesses along the corridor, lighting up Glenwood one block at a time.

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Having that extra light makes people feel safer crossing the street. Safer waiting for the bus. Safer in their businesses. Safer in their neighborhoods, Daugherty said.

YNDC says this program is far from over and its looking at expanding it to other areas of the city.

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After making its way across the Atlantic Ocean, a massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert is expected to reach the U.S. on Wednesday afternoon.

The cloud of dust, which is believed to stretch 2,000 miles west to east and 750 miles from north to south, will first hit Florida and then spread to other states, according to USA Today. When it reaches Florida it will have traveled over 5,000 miles from North Africa.

This is the largest Saharan dust cloud so far this year to travel across the Atlantic.

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It is expected to have little effect on air quality, as it will remain high in the atmosphere, but Floridians should see hazy skies or colorful sunrises and sunsets midweek.

Typically we have nice blue skies, but with the dust, the whole sky looks soft and warm because the particles themselves are red, said Joseph Prospero, professor emeritus at the University of Miami Center for Aerosol Science and Technology, according to The New York Times.

Everything looks muted, he added.

How does this Saharan dust cloud occur?

This dust is technically known as the Saharan Air Layer, or SAL, and is a relatively common feature, according to The Washington Post. It is more unusual to see the SAL stay so strong after journeying across the ocean.

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The SAL is a very dry and dusty mass of air that forms above the Sahara Desert in late spring, summer and early fall, according to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Every few days the dust clouds move over the Atlantic Ocean.

Ships sit in the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blankets most of the Caribbean, Monday, June 2, 2025. | Alejandro Granadillo

According to The New York Times, the dry layer of air that makes up the SAL hovers around a mile above the Earths surface and can be up to 2.5 miles deep.

The SAL is carried west by the same winds that kick up hurricane season. These dust events can happen year-round but the largest occur from mid-June to late July and after early August the plumes of dust tend not to travel as far.

Earlier this year a few smaller SALs crossed the ocean but this is the first significant plume of the year.

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It happens every year; some years have more dust transportation across the Atlantic than others, said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Miami, per The New York Times.

Its like rinse and repeat every year, its part of a normal cycle of Earths oscillations.

Since the SAL is brought on by the same winds that drive tropical disturbances, excessive levels of dust can suppress and stifle tropical storms. This happens because the dust clouds are so dry and tropical storms require moisture to grow, per The Washington Post.

The dust cloud is formed by light dry sands and other minerals, but they require a jet stream positioned correctly to send them westward. The SAL can also be shot northward toward Europe.

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This particular cloud that will reach the U.S. stirred up over Africa near Chad in late May.

Meteorologists get plenty of notice for when an SAL is headed to the U.S., since the dust storms are visible by satellite developing over the Sahara seven to 10 days before reaching the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico, per The New York Times.

Where and when will the dust cloud hit the U.S.?

Earlier this week, the dust cloud covered the Caribbean islands on its way to the U.S. The cloud was dense and caused hazy skies in Puerto Rico, and early Wednesday morning the cloud was affecting Cuba, per USA Today.

The plume of dust should reach south Florida by Wednesday afternoon or evening, and then on Thursday it is expected to spread to the rest of Florida going north into parts of Georgia and South Carolina.

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By the weekend, it is predicted to reach other Gulf Coast and Southeastern states such as Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, reported AccuWeather. It is then expected to dissipate.

Jason Dunion, a meteorologist who monitors Saharan dust and hurricanes, has been in Puerto Rico during a Saharan dust event before, per The New York Times.

Theres a lot of dry air, and you dont feel that dry air, but the clouds feel it because as they grow and form thunderstorms, they run into that dry air and they just collapse, he said. They get stifled. So as this comes through to a place like Puerto Rico, youre going to tend to have fewer thunderstorms. Its going to probably be one of our hotter days. And very hazy. The haze is incredible.

The Saharan dust could collide with wildfire smoke

It is possible that the Saharan dust could collide with smoke which made its way to the U.S. from wildfires burning in Canada, per USA Today.

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The smoke has caused unhealthy air quality in several states over the last week, including Minnesota and Wisconsin. It has also caused moderate air quality across most of the eastern half of the country.

Later in the week, there could be a small area where the smoke and dust come together over the southeast, per USA Today. It should not cause health or safety issues, except for sensitive groups.
A San Bernardino County man has been charged with three counts of threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump.

The Department of Justice announced that Thomas Eugene Streavel, 73, of Yucca Valley, was arrested on Monday and arraigned on Tuesday in Riverside on a three-count federal grand jury indictment.

The indictment alleges several instances in which Streavel knowingly and willfully threatened to kill and inflict bodily harm on Donald Trump, who then was the President-elect of the United States, the DOJ said in a release.

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According to the indictment, Streavel allegedly posted multiple messages on Facebook containing deadly threats during the weeks surrounding, but especially following, the highly anticipated Nov. 5, 2024, Presidential Election.

The DOJ noted that for an undisclosed amount of time before the election, Streavel purportedly posted messages to Facebook, expressing his desire to harm or have others harm President Trump.

However, the charges he now faces mainly concern the explicit messages he posted after the election about assassinating Trump.

Starting the day after the election, Streavel allegedly posted a message that read, [T]rump is a dead man walking for the time being until a patriot like myself blows his [expletive] brains out in the very near future.

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The DOJ then provided the following list detailing more of Streavels messages:

On Nov. 12, 2024, Streavel posted a message on Facebook that read, in part, that he was willing to make America great again and blow his [expletive] brains out. On Nov. 19, 2024, Streavel posted a Facebook message that read, in part, Let me put a bullet right between the ears of your president-electThats my purpose for living. On Nov. 28, 2024, Streavel wrote on Facebook, Im praying for a successful assassination of your president-elect and My lifes mission is killing the worthless LOSER [expletive] and my mission starts tonight so watch yourself trump [sic], you are a dead [expletive] and I am your assassin.

Tuesdays announcement did not say whether there is any current proof that Streavel planned to follow through with the threats.

During his arraignment, Streavel pleaded not guilty to all charges, which, if convicted, could mean a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.

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This defendant is charged with threatening the life of our President  a man who has already survived two deranged attempts on his life, said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

A judge ordered Streavel to be released on $10,000 bond, and a trial date was scheduled for July 28.

The type of rhetoric and threats made by this defendant are similar to those that led to an attempt on the Presidents life last year, said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. There is no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States. We will not hesitate to arrest and charge others who engage in similar criminal conduct.

The DOJ said the U.S. Secret Service is investigating this case.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  More than 400 San Diego Job Corps students will be displaced and more than 200 staff members after the U.S. Department of Labor called for a pause to the programs by June 30.

San Diego Job Corps has been offering life and job skill training to at risk, vulnerable youth for about 50 years, and, as of last Friday, the center closed.

Labor Department suspends Job Corps centers operations, drawing bipartisan pushback

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This scares me. I have 200 plus staff members who will be unemployed, not by choice, not because theyre lazy and dont want to work. Its because theyve been forced on the streets just because of a budget cut, said Career Success Director, Twyla Dunham.

Dunham says about 99 centers across the country are being forced to shutter and the U.S. Department of Labor says the decision aligns with the Trump Administrations proposed budget.

Can you get unemployment benefits if you quit a job?

Im from Compton, California, said Dunham. I graduated from high school and when I graduated my parents said, we have done our due diligence with you. You have 3 months to leave our house. I was not ready. Job Corps took me in and I have been working in the workforce ever since. Ive never been without a job in my life. Ive never applied for unemployment, I dont even know how to do that. But within the next two weeks, I will have to learn how to do that.

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On Tuesday, some Job Corps contractors filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor calling the pause illegal and fundamentally irrational in that it will displace tens of thousands of vulnerable young people and destroy businesses who have relied on the governments support.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Labor union leaders and elected officials gathered Tuesday outside the downtown federal building in San Diego to denounce aggressive immigration raids conducted last week at two South Park restaurants.

The rally comes in response to a Friday afternoon operation in which federal agents, armed and dressed in tactical gear, used flashbang grenades while executing search warrants at Buona Forchetta and its nearby sister restaurant Enoteca Buona Forchetta.

Federal documents on Buona Forchetta ICE raid released

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The warrants were based on allegations that the restaurants owner knowingly employed at least 19 undocumented workers using false names and immigration documents. Four individuals were arrested during the raids.

This is terror  agents in military garb acting like San Diego is a war zone, said Brigette Browning, president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. They handcuffed workers, fired explosives near families, and left workers and families trembling. This is what happens when politicians treat human beings like targets.

Buona Forchetta to close temporarily following ICE raid in South Park

The raids, officials say, were prompted by tips received as far back as five years ago, and another more recent tip from January. According to federal authorities, the investigation led to the discovery of workers allegedly using fraudulent identification.

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Homeland Security officials confirmed the four people arrested were in the U.S. illegally, but their criminal or immigration histories have not been disclosed.

California senator slams ICE raid at South Park restaurants: weaponized hate

On Monday, local, state and federal leaders also rallied outside the courthouse to condemn what they describe as the Trump administrations escalating immigration enforcement tactics.

This is outrageous, said U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif. This is not following the law. This is terror.

San Diego mayor releases statement on smoky ICE raid in South Park

Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the contributions of undocumented workers.

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These are people who are making our communities strong, making our families strong, whose kids go to our schools, who live next-door to us, and who clean up after us, feed us, take care of our kids, and make sure that this city, county and state continue to work, Gonzalez said.

Outrage and solidarity after ICE raid shakes South Park restaurant

San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents District 9, criticized what he called acts of power and dominance.

Fathers ripped out of their cars while dropping kids off at school, people are being dragged out of courtrooms while following legal processes, he said. This is not about law and order. This is about power and dominance, and we will not succumb.

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Christian Ramirez of the Service Employees International Union vowed continued resistance. This show of power is meant to send a message, he said. But our message is clear: we will fight back with everything that we have.

Elo-Rivera added, We are going to win this fight because we are on the right side of history.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A San Felipe man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old. Vernon Chavez, 62, will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender upon completion of his sentence, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico.

VIDEO: Albuquerque man accused of killing 14 dogs denies accusations

Court records show Chavez inappropriately touched the 11-year-old girl over her clothing on Aug. 1 and Aug. 15 of 2022, the U.S. Attorneys Office confirmed. Chavez acknowledged that he knew the victim was about 11-years-old at that time. Chavez is an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is an initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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Chavezs plea agreement can be viewed on the U.S. Department of Justice 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Leaders in San Francisco are blasting the Trump administration for stripping the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk from a U.S. naval ship, and especially during Pride Month, when people gather to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Milk is a revered figure in San Francisco history, a former city supervisor and gay rights advocate who was fatally shot along with Mayor George Moscone in 1978 by disgruntled former supervisor Dan White. Just last month, California marked what would have been Milk's 95th birthday with proclamations heralding his authenticity, kindness and calls for unity.

He served for four years in the Navy during the Korean War, before he was forced out for being gay. Milk later moved to San Francisco, where he became one of the first out gay politicians in the world with his election to the Board of Supervisors in 1977.

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Cleve Jones, a close friend and LGBTQ+ activist, dismissed the renaming as an attempt by the Trump administration to distract the American public from far more serious concerns, including the ongoing war in Gaza and looming cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.

"Yes, this is cruel and petty and stupid, and yes, its an insult to my community," Jones said. I would be willing to wager a considerable sum that American families sitting around that proverbial kitchen table this evening are not going to be talking about how much safer they feel now that Harvey's name is going to be taken off that ship.

The Pentagon has not confirmed news of the renaming, a highly rare move, but unnamed officials say the change was laid out in an internal memo. It is in keeping with attempts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the broader Trump administration to purge all programs, policies, books and social media mentions of references to diversity, equity and inclusion. A new name has not yet been selected for the USNS Harvey Milk.

Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, said in a phone call Wednesday that he and the Harvey Milk Foundation have reached out to the Pentagon, which confirmed there is a proposed name change on the table.

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And our hope is that the recommendation is put aside, but if it's not, it will be a rallying cry not just for our community but for all minority communities, said Stuart Milk, who is executive chair of the foundation, adding that his uncle always said that gay rights, and those of other marginalized communities, required constant vigilance.

So I dont think he'd be surprised," Milk said, but hed be calling on us to remain vigilant, to stay active.

Elected officials, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, called the move a shameful attempt to erase the contributions of LGBTQ+ people and an insult to fundamental American values of honoring veterans and those who worked to build a better country. Pelosi and Newsom are both San Francisco Democrats.

Newsom took aim at Hegseth, calling the attempt A cowardly act from a man desperate to distract us from his inability to lead the Pentagon" on the social platform X.

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In a statement, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said Milk dedicated his life to serving the city and country, and is a role model for all Americans. He did not mention Trump or Hegseth.

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who said at the time that the John Lewis-class of oilers would be named after leaders who fought for civil and human rights.

Sean Penn portrayed Milk in an Oscar-winning 2008 movie depicting his audacious rise in politics and his death by a supervisor who cast the sole "no" vote on his legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Penn said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that hed never before seen a Secretary of Defense so aggressively demote himself to the rank of Chief PETTY Officer.

While the renaming attempt is rare, the Biden administration also changed the names of two Navy ships in 2023 as part of the effort to remove Confederate names from U.S. military installations.
Police in Pakistans capital Islamabad have arrested a man accused of murdering a 17-year-old social media influencer, Sana Yousaf.

Yousaf, who had hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, was shot dead at her home on Monday, the latest high-profile instance of suspected femicide in Pakistan.

What happened to Sana Yousaf?

Local media reported that Yousaf was shot dead at her home in Islamabad at about 5pm (12:00 GMT), according to a police report filed by Yousafs mother, Farzana Yousaf, seen by Pakistani news outlet, Dawn.

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The report added that Yousaf was shot twice in her chest and was taken to a hospital but died of her injuries.

Who was Sana Yousaf?

Yousaf was a social media influencer, originally from Chitral, a city about 400km (250 miles) north of Islamabad.

As of Wednesday, her TikTok account had 1.1 million followers. She often posted videos of herself lip syncing to songs. The last video posted on her account is a montage of her celebrating her birthday with her friends.

On Tuesday, Yousaf was buried in her ancestral graveyard in Chitrals Chuinj village, according to Dawn.

What do we know about the murder suspect?

On Tuesday, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, Islamabads inspector general of police (IGP), told a media briefing that the police had arrested a suspect from Faisalabad, a city about 320km (200 miles) south of Islamabad, within 20 hours of the murder.

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The accused is a 22-year-old unemployed man who repeatedly attempted to contact the victim. Upon her refusal to respond, he committed the murder, said Rizvi.

He added that the suspect took Yousafs phone with him to destroy evidence, but that police had seized her phone as well as the murder weapon from the suspect.

Dawn reported, quoting unnamed sources close to the investigation, that the suspect and Yousaf had known each other for one year. The suspect had travelled to Islamabad between May 28 and 29 to wish Yousaf well on her birthday, but the two could not meet, for unspecified reasons.

The suspect and Yousaf then spoke by phone and decided to meet on June 2. When the suspect reached Yousafs house, she did not come out. However, he still managed to enter and an argument ensued, escalating into Yousafs murder.

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Yousafs parents were not at home when the murder took place, but her aunt was present.

What are the reactions to Yousafs murder?

The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), a statutory body established to examine government policies affecting women, has demanded a detailed investigation into the crime.

We will not let this case be buried under social stigma, false narratives of honour, or procedural loopholes. This senseless killing highlights the vulnerability of women and girls, even in their own homes. We demand justice for Sana and her family, and expect the state to ensure accountability of the perpetrators, said NCSW chairperson Ume Laila Azhar.

Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the suspects arrest in an X post on Tuesday. Police has recovered the pistol and the i phone [iPhone] of the deceased girl and accused has confessed the murder as well, he wrote. Al Jazeera has not been able to independently confirm whether the suspect has confessed to killing Yousaf.

Well Done Islamabad Police. Sana Yousaf murder case traced, accused arrested and weapon recovered within 20 hours The incident occurred yesterday in Islamabad when a young girl was murdered by a masked accused. The accused has been arrested just an hour back. Police has pic.twitter.com/jmQx9xAlhm  Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) June 3, 2025

Aurat March, the feminist group which organises Pakistans largest annual womens march in multiple cities  usually coinciding with International Womens Day on March 8  posted a statement on Tuesday. We, the Aurat March chapters across the country, demand justice for Sana a 17-year-old girl and TikToker who tragically lost her life to patriarchal violence, the account wrote in the caption.

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Patriarchy feels most threatened when women & gender minorities claim voice and visibility in public by challenging the stand pat norms. In response, it turns to violence the ultimate tool to silence, control, and erase.

This is exactly what happened to Sana who was killed inside her own home by a violent man who couldnt take no for an answer. This wasnt a random hit, this was a planned attack where a minor girls privacy and home were invaded by a man who thought he would get away with it.

This is exactly what happened to Sana who was killed inside her own home by a violent man who couldnt take no for an answer. This wasnt a random hit, this was a planned attack where a minor girls privacy and home were invaded by a man who thought he would get away with it. pic.twitter.com/aUOrJL3koE  Aurat March    (@AuratMarchKHI) June 3, 2025

Actor Mahira Khan also posted a story on Instagram, sharing the news of Yousafs murder. Disgusted to the core, Khan wrote in the caption.

How common is an incident like this in Pakistan?

In recent years, several incidents have occurred involving young women being subject to violent crimes at the hands of men they know. Many of these women also had a social media presence on platforms such as TikTok.

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Sana Yousafs murder is part of a horrifying, ongoing pattern of violence against women in Pakistan, especially those who dare to exist with autonomy, Nighat Dad, the executive director of a nongovernmental, research-based advocacy organisation, Digital Rights Foundation, told Al Jazeera. These are not isolated incidents. What connects them is a culture where women are punished for visibility, independence, and saying no.

At the heart of this pattern is fragile masculinity and deeply rooted misogyny. When young women assert boundaries or say no to romantic or sexual advances, it bruises the male ego, especially in a society that teaches men entitlement over womens bodies and choices. This entitlement, when left unchecked by law, culture, and platforms, turns deadly, Dad added.

On January 28, a man named Anwar ul-Haq was charged with murder after he confessed to shooting his 14-year-old daughter Hira Anwar in Quetta, a city in Pakistans southwest. The man, who had recently moved his family back to Pakistan from the US, told the police he found TikTok videos made by his daughter objectionable. His daughter had been posting videos to the social platform before she had moved to Pakistan with her family.

In October 2024, police in Pakistans southern city Karachi said they had arrested a man for killing four members of his family. The four women, aged 60, 21, 20, 20 and 12 were found with slit throats in separate rooms of their apartment, according to the police.

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In 2022, Pakistani American woman Sania Khan was 29 when she was shot and killed by her former husband, Raheel Ahmad, in Chicago after she had posted about her divorce on her TikTok account. When the police arrived, Ahmad, 36 at the time, shot himself with the gun he used to kill Khan.

Possibly the most high-profile murder case of a Pakistani woman took place in 2016, when social media star Qandeel Baloch was killed by her brother when she was 26 years old.

Women who are visible online, particularly those who challenge social norms or exist outside the mold of respectability politics, face disproportionate abuse and threats, Dad said. The backlash isnt just digital, its physical. When platforms fail to act against hate and harassment, they enable a culture where violence becomes the consequence of women simply being seen and heard.

In all, 346 women in Pakistan were killed in 2024 in the name of honour, up from 324 in 2023, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

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But this statistic likely does not include cases like Yousafs, where the accused man is not from the victims family and committed murder after his advances were rejected.

In July 2021, 27-year-old Noor Mukadam was killed in Islamabad by Zahir Jaffer, whose family was known to Mukadams. In 2022, a judge sentenced Jaffer to death for the rape, murder and beheading of Mukadam. Last week, Pakistans Supreme Court upheld Jaffers death penalty.

We need systemic change. The state must treat online misogyny and gender-based violence as connected threats and not separate issues, Dad said. When a woman says no, and a man responds with violence, thats not heartbreak, its abuse.
Editors note: The Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) enables access to public records of governmental entities in New Mexico, according to the New Mexico Department of Justice. Public Records Watch is an occasional series from The Santa Fe New Mexican that documents how public agencies respond to IPRA requests.

Police have been sparse on details regarding two downtown shootings in recent months and have still provided no reports from their investigations of either incident.

041723 md crespin.jpg (copy)

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Alvin Crespin enters a plea during a hearing in 2023 in the First Judicial District Court. He was shot to death April 25 in De Vargas Park.

Records staff from the city of Santa Fe have estimated it will take two months to provide any police reports related to the fatal shooting of Alvin Crespin at De Vargas Park in late April. The city also has yet to provide any reports on another fatal shooting in early May in downtown Santa Fe.

A man was charged with shooting and killing Crespin at the downtown Santa Fe park April 25, and a woman was accused of conspiring in the homicide and acting as a getaway driver. Police arrested the suspects, Pierre Cheykaychi and Alexis Chavez, in the week after the shooting.

A request for police reports related to the investigation was submitted April 28. Records staff have estimated they will be able to produce the reports June 27.

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City staff have pushed back the expected date to provide the reports twice, deeming the request for police reports in a single murder investigation "excessively burdensome or broad," a designation that allows city staff to take longer than 15 days to produce records in response to a request.

Little is still known about the shooting death of Raven Iron Lightning Scott on May 12 in downtown Santa Fe  including whether Scott's death was a homicide. Police have declined to answer questions about the fatal shooting, including those seeking details about the circumstances of his death.

Raven Scott.jpg

Raven Iron Lightning Scott

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Scott died from his injuries from at least one gunshot wound, police said, and he was found at a city-owned parking lot at Water Street and Don Gaspar Avenue in the early hours. Police have not filed any criminal charges in the shooting.

The New Mexican submitted a request for reports from the death investigation May 22. After 12 days, city records staff have not given an estimated date for producing the records.

City spokesperson Regina Ruiz did not respond to an email seeking an explanation for the delays in providing the public records. Deputy police Chief Ben Valdez wrote back Tuesday saying he would check on the requests with the city's records staff.
June 3 (UPI) -- Dr. Santa Ono, the former president at the University of Michigan, was rejected Tuesday as the next president at the University of Florida amid backlash from Republicans over his earlier support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Tuesday's decision by the 17-member Board of Governors comes one week after UF's Board of Trustees unanimously approved Ono as the finalist.

Ono was on track to become one of the highest paid public university presidents in the country. He was due to sign a five-year contract with a base salary of $1.5 million and incentives to earn as much as $15 million over the life of the deal.

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Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the 2023 bill banning DEI initiatives in public colleges, delivered a lukewarm response when Ono became the presidential pick, saying Ono's statements made him "cringe."

Other Republicans, including Sen. Rick Scott and Reps. Byron Donalds and Greg Steube expressed outrage.

"The UF Board of Trustees has made a grave mistake," Steube wrote in a post last week. "Dr. Ono gave it his best 'college try' walking back his woke past, claiming he's now 'evolved.' But I'm not sold. This role is too important to gamble on convenient conversions."

Republican state Rep. Jimmy Patronis also questioned the presidential search committee's decision to make Ono the sole finalist.

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"UF sets the benchmark for education nationwide. There's too much smoke with Santa Ono. We need a leader, not a DEI acolyte. Leave the Ann Arbor thinking in Ann Arbor," Patronis wrote on X.

During questioning for the role, Ono stated he believed DEI programs do more harm than good. He said he closed the University of Michigan's DEI offices in March and vowed DEI would not return to Florida's campus, if he were president.

"The fact is some of my past remarks about DEI do not reflect what I believe, and that evolution did not take place overnight and it was shaped over a year and a half of thinking, discussions, listening to faculty, staff and students and their thoughts on the DEI program," Ono said.

Ono, who was criticized for allowing an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters to remain at the University of Michigan for a month, vowed last week during questioning to fight anti-Semitism at the University of Florida.

"Let me be very clear: based on my experience, I believe that anti-Semitism is not just one form of hatred among many," Ono said. "It is a uniquely virulent and persistent threat, especially on college campuses today."
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Santa Teresa Industrial Arsenic Treatment Facility (STIATF) has passed its most recent arsenic test, the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) said in a press release on Wednesday, June 4.

The CRRUA says the STIATFs most recent arsenic tests are at 6.9 parts per billion (ppb), which is below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contaminate Level (MCL) for arsenic of 10 ppb.

The CRRUA says the latest result is from samples taken on Wednesday, May 21.

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In CRRUAs voluntary monthly arsenic tests for April, results for the STIATF were at 12 ppb. Two voluntary follow-up tests by CRRUA were 12 ppb on May 6 and 8 ppb on May 14, the utility said.

The STIATF is one of four arsenic treatment facilities operated by the CRRUA.

CRRUA says its four Arsenic Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are currently compliant based on the New Mexico Environment Departments Running Annual Average (RAA).

It is a proactive process we undertake to keep our customers constantly informed about water quality, said CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby. We post arsenic test results on the CRRUA website at crrua.org and on the CRRUA Facebook page.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The owner and operator of a trucking company in Santee is accused of bank fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft in a $2 million credit card scheme, per federal officials.

Hasan Korkmaz, 44, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was arraigned in federal court Tuesday on an 18-count indictment, the United States Department of Justice said in a news release.

Korkmaz, who owns and operates San Diego Logistics Group Inc., allegedly executed a credit card bust-out scheme in 2022 and 2023 by establishing seemingly legitimate credit card accounts and then maxing out the credit line with no intention of paying the balance, according to the indictment.

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Federal documents on Buona Forchetta ICE raid released

The indictment alleges that Korkmaz obtained names, dates of birth, social security numbers and other personally identifiable information corresponding with real individuals. Korkmaz then applied for numerous credit card accounts with that information, the DOJ said.

Korkmaz is suspected of using the credit cards to incur charges at various businesses, including San Diego Logistics Group Inc., with some charges as high as $18,500 in a single transaction, prosecutors said.

Korkmaz also allegedly made fraudulent payments with checks drawn on accounts with insufficient funds or drawn on non-existent accounts to the credit card accounts, which temporarily restored the available credit limits, per the indictment.

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As alleged in the indictment, Korkmaz laundered the bank fraud proceeds, including by transferring proceeds from the fraud scheme to a Turkish bank account controlled by Korkmaz. In total, Korkmaz caused over $2,103,000 in losses to two banks, the DOJ 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Sarah Milgrim's family says her life was full of love before she was fatally shot last month alongside her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The young couple, who both worked for the Israeli Embassy, were leaving a diplomatic event discussing how to get more aid into Gaza when they were killed.

"She wasn't against the Palestinians. She wasn't against the people in Gaza. She was in all her heart working towards finding a way for everyone to live together peacefully," her mother, Nancy Milgrim, told CBS News as the family sat down for their first network TV interview since the fatal shooting.

"Sarah molded us"

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Family members described Sarah as the "perfect child," a lover of the environment and people  especially her family and community. But something her father admired even more was her incredible strength.

"You know, usually a parent tries to mold her child. Sarah molded us. She was a stronger person than I ever was," her father, Robert Milgrim, said of the 26-year-old, who grew up in Johnson County, Kansas. "I'm a different person now than before this happened from learning so much about what Sarah did and her courage and her striving for peace."

Sarah Milgrim made several trips to Israel, first for her bat mitzvah in Jerusalem and again in college. Then she joined Tech2Peace, a work-study program for Israelis and Palestinians. She started working for the Israeli Embassy in November 2023 after graduating with a master's degree in International Affairs from American University, where she fell in love with Yaron.

"We saw their love blossom for each other. And we knew how strong it was," her father said.

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It wasn't until after their deaths that the Milgrims learned the couple had even bigger life plans. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., revealed that Lischinsky, 30, was planning to propose to Milgrim on their upcoming trip to Israel. In the days after the shooting, Sarah's mom also learned from a friend that Sarah went ring shopping to give Yaron some tips.

"We didn't know that he was going to propose then," Mr. Milgrim previously told CBS News. "And the ambassador told us that he knew that he'd bought the ring and was going to present it to her in Jerusalem."

"What does it accomplish?"

Antisemitism and safety fears among Jewish-Americans rose in the U.S. following Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, taking 250 hostage and igniting a deadly war in the Gaza Strip. Protests over the Israel-Hamas war emerged in cities and college campuses across the country  with some ending in violence.

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On Sunday, at least 12 people were injured in an attack on a march in support of Israeli hostages at the outdoor Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado. Witnesses said the suspect hurled Molotov cocktails and was allegedly heard shouting "Free Palestine." Sarah Milgrim's alleged killer also shouted "Free, free Palestine" before he was taken into custody, according to law enforcement officials, who called it a targeted attack.

Her older brother, Jacob, called the violence senseless.

"There is nothing more important in Judaism than life and the sanctity of life  and to what end is this fighting and sacrifice? What does it accomplish?" he said. "Taking my sister ... it's not going to accomplish anything."

Now Sarah Milgrim's family is left with a hole in their hearts.

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"Right now, I'm hurt. I'm too hurt to say it's anger or frustration. I don't know what I'm going to feel later on, to be honest with you," Mr. Milgrim said.

The Milgrims are planning a trip to Israel in the fall to meet with Lischinsky's family and visit his grave.

Watch more of CBS News' interview with the Milgrim family on the "CBS Evening News."

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"
Context: The above video initially aired on May 29.

TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Satanic Grotto has announced a new protest after a Black Mass demonstration in the Kansas Statehouse resulted in its leader, Michael Stewart, being arrested.

The new protest The Satanic Grotto has planned for the Statehouse will be called the Witching Hour Protest, according to the event listing. The Satanic Grotto said that it will include live music and speeches from community leaders.

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The Grotto calls to all that walk the paths of magic, the moon, and the night, the Satanic Grotto wrote on social media. We will gather together at the halls of power and together our spirit will shatter their walls.

City has spent over $10 million on Hotel Topeka

The event will last for three hours and start at 9 p.m. on Aug. 2, according to the event listing. The Satanic Grotto reported that permits are pending and some details may change.

The goal behind this new one [Witching Hour Protest] I think is to start getting solidarity between these fringe religions and groups here in Kansas that might feel isolated and feel like they dont have any power on their own, Stewart told 27 News in late May.

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Officers tackled Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, to the floor inside the Kansas Statehouse rotunda on March 28 as he attempted to hold a Black Mass ceremony. He entered the building to hold the event after being warned by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to move the ceremony to the outer grounds. An officer told Stewart as he entered the Kansas Statehouse that he was welcome to enter the building, but could not hold an event or cause a disruption, or he would be arrested.

Another individual who was involved in the physical altercation with Stewart, a 21-year-old man, was also arrested, in addition to a handful of other Satanic Grotto members. Prosecutors havent filed charges against Stewart at this time.

Rainfall reports for northeast Kansas

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay told 27 News that his office has yet to make a decision on whether or not charges will be filed in connection to the Black Mass event on March 28. A total of four people, including Stewart, were arrested as Stewart tried to hold the ceremony inside the Statehouse building.

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Dozens of Catholics and Christians gathered at the Kansas Statehouse to protest the planned Black Mass. Both Kansas lawmakers and the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City condemned the Black Mass in the days leading up allegedly due to the anti-Catholic nature of the ceremony.

For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Ukraine carried out a massive drone attack on Russian airbases on Sunday.

Kyiv said dozens of Russian aircraft, including its strategic bombers, were struck.

New satellite imagery appears to show extensive damage at two of the airbases that were attacked.

Newly captured satellite imagery captures the aftermath of the wide-scale Ukrainian drone attack that targeted multiple Russian airbases on Sunday.

The photos, taken on Wednesday by US commercial satellite imaging company Maxar Technologies and obtained by Business Insider, appear to show damaged and destroyed bomber aircraft at the Belaya airbase in Russia's central Irkutsk region, more than 2,500 miles from the Ukrainian border.

An image taken on May 22, 2025, shows four Tu-95 aircraft at the Belaya airbase. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

This June 4, 2025, image appears to show three destroyed Tu-95s. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

Ukraine's internal security agency, known as the SBU, said it used small quadcopter-style drones to strike 41 Russian aircraft. The targeted aircraft included Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control planes, An-12 transport aircraft, Il-78 refueling tankers, and Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers, the agency said.

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The SBU said the attack impacted a third of Moscow's strategic cruise missile carriers and caused over $7 billion in losses.

Three Tu-22M aircraft are seen at Belaya on May 22, 2025. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies.

Two apparently destroyed Tu-22 aircraft seen on June 4, 2025. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies.

Beyond Belaya, the operation known as Spiderweb, which was over 18 months in the making, struck three other airbases across Russia: Olenya in the Murmansk region, Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, and Ivanovo in the Ivanovo region.

Maxar's images also show what appear to be destroyed aircraft at the northern Olenya base.

Three apparently destroyed aircraft are seen at the Olenya airbase on June 4, 2025. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies.

Imagery of the airbases captured in the days and weeks leading up to the attack shows that Russia had covered many of its bombers with tires and unidentifiable objects. Moscow also painted fake aircraft on the tarmac and used debris to create decoy planes.

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The extensive use of deception has long been seen as an attempt by the Russians to try to confuse Ukrainian weapons systems, like drones and missiles, that are hunting its aircraft. Moscow has used this tactic at its airbases throughout the war.

A 'unique operation'

The Ukrainian attack on the Russian bases was as audacious as it was complex and far different from any other deep strike Kyiv has carried out during the war.

Planning for the operation started more than a year and a half ago, the SBU shared. The agency transported small, explosive-laden quadcopter drones to Russia, and those were followed by wooden containers that resemble shipping crates. On Russian soil, operatives hid the drones in the containers, which were placed on trucks and driven to positions near the different airbases.

Then, on Sunday, the tops of the containers were remotely opened, and the drones simultaneously flew out to attack their targets in swarms, striking dozens of aircraft. Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk, the SBU chief, called it a "devastating blow" to Russian aviation.

What appears to be a destroyed Tu-22M aircraft at Belaya on June 4, 2025. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

Video footage obtained by BI showed several Russian aircraft burning after they had been hit by drones. The bombers, which can travel long distances and carry heavy payloads, have been used in devastating strikes against Ukraine, Kyiv said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 117 first-person view (FPV) drones and as many operators were involved in the operation, which was coordinated in a field office directly next to an FSB headquarters in one of the Russian regions.

"Planning, organization, every detail was perfectly executed. I can say with certainty that this is an absolutely unique operation," Zelenskyy said. He added that the operatives left Russian territory before the attack and are safe.

Debris seen at the Olenya airbase on June 4, 2025. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies

The attack further highlights how cheap drones have become an invaluable, asymmetric weapon of war with growing reach. Belaya is farther than any of Ukraine's previous long-range strikes inside Russia.

BI could not independently verify all the reported details of the operation, including how many aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Russia's defense ministry has acknowledged the attack but downplayed its severity.

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It's unclear how the attack will impact the Russian bomber fleet in the short and long term. Experts have said that even taking out a handful of the aircraft could have significant implications on Moscow's strike campaigns, which have intensified in recent weeks.

Zelenskyy said that "before this operation was carried out, we had intelligence indicating that Russia was preparing another massive strike."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Satellite images of Russian air bases released Wednesday appear to show the aftermath of what Ukraine called "Operation Spider's Web"  a long-planned drone attack deep inside Russian territory, which Ukrainian security officials claim destroyed 41 military bombers.

Debris and what appear to be burn scars, along with some intact aircraft, can be seen in photos of Belaya and Oleya air bases, which were provided by Maxar Technologies, an American space technology company.

Some of the aircraft were untouched and seemed to have unusual items placed on top of them, close-ups of the images show.

Maxar imagery appears to show destruction of two bombers at Belaya Airbase. / Credit: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies

SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said in a statement that Ukraine hit aircraft at four Russian bases, inflicting more than $7 billion worth of damage on Russia's bomber fleet over the weekend. CBS News has not been able to confirm the full extent of the damage.

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Russia has claimed Ukraine's estimates are exaggerated.

The Russian Defense Ministry said several warplanes at air bases in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions were set on fire during the attack, but the fires were extinguished, according to The Associated Press. It also said Ukraine unsuccessfully tried to hit two air bases in western Russia and another in the Amur region, in Russia's Far East, AP reported.

The attacks come as delegates from the two countries meet in Istanbul for the second round of negotiations in a bid for peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had no public response to the attack before Wednesday, when he spoke to President Trump by phone for over an hour.

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"We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides," Mr. Trump wrote on social media. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields."

A Kremlin spokesperson said Tuesday that Putin was updated in real time about the attack, but is waiting for the results of an investigation into the assault.

Aftermath of a drone strike shows what appear to be destroyed bombers on the tarmac at Belaya Airbase. / Credit: Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies

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Saudi Arabia has revamped its safety plans for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, hoping technology and tighter controls will help avoid a repeat of last year, when 1,301 people died in extreme heat.

Some 1.4 million people arrived in the Kingdom to complete the sacred five-day journey around Islams holiest sites, which began on Wednesday.

The gathering of so many people in the Arabian desert presents a formidable challenge.

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Temperatures are again forecast to hit 50 degrees during the pilgrimage, and by Monday 44 cases of heat stroke had already been reported in Mecca.

As well as the heat, there is also the threat of outbreaks of infectious diseases including Mers (Middle East respiratory syndrome), nine cases of which have been reported in the country in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabias annual Hajj preparations ranks among the most complex public health operations, but will the revamped plans be enough to prevent another disaster?

Large crowds can be a breeding ground for infectious disease. Many worshippers return home from Mecca with a hajj cough contracted from fellow pilgrims - AFP via Getty Images

Threat of disease

With such large numbers of people coming together, Hajj can be a breeding ground for diseases including respiratory infections, meningitis and even cholera. Many worshippers come back with a hajj cough contracted from fellow pilgrims.

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While the days of tens of thousands of pilgrims dying of cholera are long gone, there have been numerous outbreaks of meningitis in Mecca and it remains a threat this year.

In 2004, polio was carried into Hajj by pilgrims from northern Nigeria.

In a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19, authorities closed Hajj to foreign travellers for the first time in modern history in 2020. Only Saudis and a limited number of expats living in the Kingdom were allowed to attend.

This year, the Saudi authorities also have to contend with the threat of Mers, a much deadlier cousin of Covid spread primarily by camels which appears to be spiking in Saudi Arabia at the moment. Two deaths have been reported since March, prompting numerous national health agencies to issue warnings and guidance for travellers.

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To keep the virus out, camels have been banned from entering Mecca and the holy sites, even for slaughter, since 2015.

Pilgrims must also present vaccine certificates for quadruple meningitis, polio and yellow fever before entering the country during Hajj season.

An official from Saudi Arabias Ministry of Health source The Telegraph that the Kingdom is more than ready to deal with a potential disease outbreak.

Muslim worshippers use cardboard to shield from the sun as they walk on the streets of Mecca - HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images

Extreme heat

But perhaps the most significant threat to worshippers is the searing heat.

The authorities have planted 20,000 trees to create shade and cool the air, installed 400 water coolers, and thousands of misting fans at key points along the pilgrimage route, which runs from the city of Mina through a series of holy sites to Mecca.

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One of the worlds largest cooling systems is used to keep temperatures in Meccas Grand Mosque between 22 and 24 degrees.

Roads on the pilgrimage route have been paved with reflective white material to reduce heat absorption. These so-called white roads include a new four kilometre pathway leading to Mount Arafat, or the Mountain of Mercy, where pilgrims traditionally assemble on the second day of Hajj to pray and recite the Koran for hours.

An official Hajj safety kit emphasises the importance of light-coloured clothing and umbrellas and has details on how to treat symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion.

Saudi authorities have asked pilgrims to remain in their tents between 10am and 4pm during the Day of Arafat on Thursday. There is little to no shade on the 230-ft hill on the outskirts of Mecca.

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You dont have to be outside your tent during [the climb of] Arafat. You dont have to climb the mountain, Abdullah Asiri, Saudis deputy minister for population health, told AFP, adding that there was no religious obligation to do so.

A total of 50,000 healthcare workers have been mobilised, up 25 per cent from last year, as well as 7,500 paramedics.

These health workers are spread between 71 emergency points and 15 field hospitals, each with a capacity of more than 1,200 beds.

Last year, medical staff treated nearly 2,800 pilgrims for heat stroke and other related conditions, said the health ministry. They said they are expecting a higher volume of patients this year.

Drones will be used to monitor the large crowds, using AI to spot signs of an impending crush - AFP via Getty Images

Technology

The Saudi authorities are keen to publicise high-tech ways of keeping pilgrims safe.

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Drones are being deployed for the first time across the holy sites, Saudi Arabias Civil Defence said on Sunday.

One fleet of drones will be used to monitor the large crowds, using AI to monitor video for signs of an impending crush.

In 2015, a stampede during the stoning the devil ritual in Mina killed around 2,300 people.

A new falcon drone, enhanced with AI and thermal cameras, will also be used to identify and extinguish fires.

In one of the most significant policy changes in recent years, Saudi Arabia has also banned children under 12, who have proved vulnerable in crowd situations, from attending this years Hajj.

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Hundreds of large-scale simulations and drills have been conducted, including training on how to cope with mass casualty events, fires and hospital evacuations.

To further minimise the time pilgrims spend outside, hourly high-speed electric trains will also run from the main King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Mecca.

Pilgrims have also been given a smart bracelet, known as Nusk. The device monitors peoples heart rate and blood oxygen levels in real time and sends automatic alerts to the authorities if abnormalities are detected.

Saudi security forces stand beneath a portrait of Saudi Arabias Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as pilgrims arrive - AFP via Getty Images

Tighter controls

Extortionate prices  the cost of an official Hajj permit ranges from $2,000 (1,480) to $18,000 (13,300) excluding flights  means that many pilgrims arrive in Mecca on personal visit visas instead.

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But arriving without a permit means being unable to access facilities like air-conditioned tents, transportation and rehydration centres.

Many of those who died during the pilgrimage last year are thought to have been unregistered attendees. Heat stress caused many of the deaths, which Human Rights Watch (HRW) called a completely preventable event.

In response to criticism, organisers have cracked down on unregistered worshippers.

Saudi Arabia suspended issuing short-term visas to 14 countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt and Nigeria in April.

Pilgrims caught without official Hajj documentation now face a $5,000 fine  twice as high as last year  and a 10-year entry ban.

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Saudi security officials say they have already stopped nearly 270,000 people from entering Mecca without permits and stripped licences from 400 companies offering unofficial Hajj packages.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The mayor of Savannah spoke out about the police departments use of force policy Tuesday after he was made aware of an incident involving officers and two suspects.

While Mayor Van Johnson wouldnt name the specific incident he was referencing, WSAV confirmed that the incident under investigation took place on May 20, 2025 at the McDonalds located on 2025 Skidaway Rd.

The incident report showed that several officers responded to a 911 call alleging a man was armed with two metal pipes.

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According to the report, the suspects were resisting arrest. One officer specified that the mother was using her body weight to try and pull away from one of the officers. Another officer then grabbed the mother by the upper body and executed a controlled takedown.

2 hotel employees charged with false imprisonment, terroristic threats

The report shows that officers then rolled the suspect to her stomach and handcuffed her. You can view the video taken by a bystander here.

Note: The video below was originally posted on Facebook. The video below is shortened for privacy purposes.

Mayor Johnson said the video of the incident is only a snippet, which is why an investigation is needed.

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While I recognize that video clips dont tell the whole story, our use of body worn cameras and written reports will allow us to add essential context and determine whether the use of force was appropriate, Johnson said. This process ensures accountability and enables swift corrective action, when necessary.

Johnson also requested a written statement from the chief of police on the recommendations made by the Savannah Citizens Accountability and Review of Emergency Services Task Force, created in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAMBERG, S.C. (WJBF)  Job Corps Centers across the country are shutting down  and for those in Bamberg, its not just a facility closing. Its a hit to jobs, opportunity, and the future of some young people.

The closure of Job Corps could very well cost some young man, some young woman, their future, Mayor Cory Ramsey said.

Ramsey says he found out just days ago that the Bamberg Job Corps  the only one in the state  is closing for good by June 30. Even if its five jobs, its the impact of those lost jobs. Not only to the students, but to those individuals for whom this is their livelihood. thats a great loss that I hate that we have to endure, he added.

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Hes worried not just about jobs  but about the lives changed here. They could look at their lives and see where they want to go. What could they do with their life so that their life wouldnt look like what was behind them?, he shared.

Ramsey says the center gave students structure, mentoring, and a new path forward  often when no one else could or would. Too often do we lose our children to systematic, marginalization systematic things that seems as if others are trying to serve themselves rather than serve others. And so thats not acceptable, the mayor added.

The Labor Department blames low graduation rates and a $213 million shortfall.

But Ramsey says the numbers dont tell the whole story. Beneath all of the black and white, they are those individual stories that their lives changed drastically because of Job Corps, Ramsey said.

He also fears the ripple effect. SC Works just opened a connection center here to help folks find jobs. You may remember  we showed it to you last year. What if that connection center, the next lawyer, the next, CEO of a company, they were going there for just their get their resume online.

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Mayor Ramsey says he plans to meet with Job Corps leadership within the next week  to offer support and learn more about whats next for the students.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
The mystery of what happened to Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, a pregnant 19-year-old Army spouse who was reported missing by her 28-year-old soldier husband on Aug. 1, has finally been solved.

The Army arrested her husband, Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson, at Schofield Barracks within weeks of him filing the report and charged him with her murder in November. But despite tireless work by investigators, no one could find a body. In a courtroom at Wheeler Army Airfield on Tuesday, Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson confessed to killing her, as part of a plea agreement.

Mischa Johnson was born and raised on Oahu and grew up in Ewa Beach, and the case has been watched closely by the local community. The courtroom was packed as military police redirected dozens of friends, family and supporters to another building at Schofield Barracks where the court proceedings were streamed.

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In the courtroom, a row of Mischa Johnsons family and friends sat in the back as Dewayne Johnson described in gruesome detail how he fatally struck her in the head with a machete on July 12, dismembered her body with a chain saw and disposed of her remains in a dumpster that was bound for an incinerator in Kapolei. As he recounted his crimes, occasionally gasps and sobs could be heard from the audience.

He also confessed to impersonating her on social media before reporting her missing and trying to convince Army investigators that she had run away and possibly killed herself, to throw them off his scent.

Under the agreement, he accepts a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, and a charge of intentionally killing an unborn child was also reduced to causing the death of an unborn child. But in a military court martial, a plea agreement must be reviewed by a panel or by a single judge.

Johnson requested a single judge forum, presided over by military judge Col. Rebecca Farrell, who questioned him and walked him through each step of the charges. She ultimately accepted the guilty plea Tuesday, and the court martial will continue today with a pre-sentencing preamble. The plea also will go to military appellate court, where it will be reviewed.

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Dewayne Johnson has the option of withdrawing his guilty plea any time before a final sentence is announced.

Dewayne Johnson hails from Maryland and enlisted in 2022. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks as a cavalry scout in June 2023. He met and married Mischa Johnson on Oahu. At the time he reported her missing, she was six months pregnant with their baby girl.

In his testimony, Dewayne Johnson said that he came home from work on the night of July 12 to their home at the Schofield Barracks and that the two were getting ready for a gathering with her family. He testified that Netflix was on the TV and that as he was scrolling it, a preview of one of the movies featured a Japanese girl. He said that angered Mischa Johnson, who suspected Dewayne Johnson of cheating on her with someone that kind of looked like her.

He said that the two got into an escalating shouting match. Dewayne Johnson portrayed himself as trying to calm her down and said that she kept bringing up the past  and getting in my face,  though he also admitted that at no point did he feel threatened or in danger. He said that Mischa Johnson brought up a past miscarriage and told him he had caused it from stress he subjected her to.

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The soldier testified that the two ended up in their bedroom, where he says he grabbed a machete. When questioned by Farrell as to why he grabbed the machete, he said it was to get Mischa Johnson to chill out.

He asserted that he had never hit her in the past and that she thought I wasnt going to do nothing with it. Dewayne Johnson said that when his wife told him that she would see to it that he would never know my child  that he snapped  and struck her in the left temple with the machete. He testified that she fell to the ground and hit the floor dead.

I couldnt believe what I did,  he said.

He immediately went to work trying to hide what hed done.

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Dewayne Johnson testified that at first he attempted to cut up his wifes body with the machete but it was too much of a hassle, it was too hard to do.

The next day, he bought a chainsaw. He described in gruesome detail how he took it home to dismember the dead 19-year-old, sawing off her head, arms and legs and stuffing different pieces into trash bags, which he took to his units dumpster.

I knew that our dumpster went straight to the incinerator,  he testified. But he didnt do it all at once. Rather than take all the bags at once, he said he brought them in small batches between July 13 and 16 to avoid anyone noticing as he hid them among the units garbage as it made its way to be destroyed.

Back at their house, he stocked up on cleaning products to clean up the blood that the killing and bloody dismemberment had left on the houses floor, walls and bathroom. He said that the process of scrubbing the house lasted from July 12 to July 22.

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Eventually there was going to be a search for her and police would be involved,  Dewayne Johnson testified. I did this to deceive the police.

He also admitted to deleting texts between the two of them so police didnt see how tumultuous their marriage had been, telling the court that the texts showed his wife was constantly having issues with me looking at other girls and stuff.

Dewayne Johnson also immediately began impersonating Mischa Johnson on her phone and social media. He testified that since he and Mischa Johnson were expected on a family gathering the night he killed her, as soon as she was dead I picked up her phone and texted her family.

He would continue texting family and friends on her phone, as well as use her social media accounts to keep them seemingly active for several days. He said that Id message her friends, keep the conversation going to make it seem like she was still alive.

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Between July 13 and 16, he also began getting ready to stage her disappearance as something other than him having killed her. He testified that I got rid of things to make it look like she took stuff with her. He collected some of her favorite clothes items and pawned off some of her bags, and disposed of makeup and other items to get them out of the house.

More than two weeks after killing her, chopping her up and having her body incinerated, he re-uploaded old videos of his wife to his phone to make them appear as new files created in the days after he killed her. He also entered several wrong passwords into her phone to lock it up and make it harder for investigators to access. Then, on Aug. 1, he called 911 and reported Mischa Johnson missing.

The Army quickly put out a notice that she was missing and asked the community for help, offering a $10, 000 reward. Members of Dewayne Johnsons unit sent out search parties to look for werewhich he joined. He testified that he worked hard to portray himself as a distraught and deeply concerned husband desperate to help his fellow soldiers and investigators find his wife, but admitted to the court none of that was true.

Still, he said that he knew he was a prime suspect. Many of Mischa Johnsons relatives and friends were already suspicious of him and though Army investigators didnt tell him he was a suspect, he was certain they were watching him closely. When asked if he knew the password to his wifes phone he lied, repeatedly giving them guesses  he testified that he knew were wrong.

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He also told investigators that Mischa had a history of cutting herself and that she had spoken to him about it, but in court Tuesday he admitted that was completely untrue.

I wanted to lead them on,  said Dewayne Johnson. (To ) make them think she hurt herself, killed herself, that I had nothing to do with it.

Before the end of August, Army investigators, drawn by holes and inconsistencies in his story, detained Dewayne Johnson and told Mischa Johnsons family they believed she was no longer alive, but still did not have a body to show for it. The family made an emotional plea in late August on the podcast Always Always Support Local  to help Army investigators find her remains so they could find closure.

For the charges Dewayne Johnson currently facesincluding manslaughter, killing an unborn child, making false statements and obstruction of justicehe faces up to 100 years in prison, forfeiture of his Army payments, a reduction in rank to private and dishonorable discharge. Under the plea agreement, he could face 18 to 23 years in prison.

Correction : The charges Johnson faces have been updated to reflect his plea agreement.
RALEIGH  A state advisory council plans to recommend that all North Carolina public schools ban student phone use during the entire school day, including during non-instructional time such as breaks and lunch.

The draft recommendation from the Governors Advisory Council for Student Safety and Well-Being says eliminating use of those devices during the school day will help create healthy learning environments for students that contribute to increased academic achievement and improved student well-being.

We believe that North Carolina must blaze a trail in its efforts to improve student academic achievement and well-being by eliminating the use of personal communication devices in schools, the councils co-chairs say in the introduction letter to the report.

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Lets give our students eight hours a day Monday through Friday where they can focus on being students, engaging actively with their friends and teachers in-person without the constant pressure of a device. Our students most certainly deserve it.

The report, which was to be published this week, will include guidance on how schools can implement student phone policies.

Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order in April creating the advisory council. Developing guidance on school phone policies was the first job given to the new council.

The council was formed amid growing national concerns about how social media addiction is distracting students from learning. The council report cites statistics such as that students are on their phones for a median of 43 minutes during the school day.

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At least 22 states have laws or policies that ban or restrict students use of cellphones in schools or recommend local districts enact their own bans or restrictive policies, according to an Education Week analysis.

Both the state House and Senate have passed their own bills to restrict cellphone use in schools and included the language in their budget proposals. The Senate added its phone restrictions this week to a House bill on social media literacy.

Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, a council co-chair, told the members May 22 that the council probably will approve a formal recommendation, which in turn will help shape any final legislation.

One of the questions facing school districts is how complete to make the ban. For instance, some districts ban students from using their phones while theyre at school while others allow them to be used during non-instructional time.

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A district should consider student age and grade ranges for these considerations and may consider different policies for different grade levels, such as elementary, middle and high school, the council said in its report. As outlined previously, it is important to note that it remains this Advisory Councils recommendation that personal communication devices are removed from student use from the beginning to the end of each school day.

The council recognized though that there will have to be some exemptions. Examples of legitimate exemptions include emergencies, instructional, medical and accommodations for students with special needs.

For instance, some students use their phones to monitor their glucose levels. Students with disabilities may need to use their phones as part of their individualized education programs.

The report recognizes that it wont be easy getting parents out of the habit of calling or texting their children during the school day.

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Students, staff and families have become accustomed to having quick and easy access to communication throughout the day, according to the council report. Public school units must consider what processes will be used and clearly detail how students and parents can communicate with one another during the school day if their personal communication devices are not permitted.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
President Donald Trump wants a deal. The Iranian government wants a deal. The American and Iranian people all want a deal. And there's a deal on the table. But Sen. Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) is not happy with it.

"When it comes to negotiating with the terrorist government of Iran, Trump's all over the lot. One day he sounds tough, the next day he's backing off," Schumer said in a video message posted to X on Monday night. He accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff of negotiating "a secret side deal" that "lets Iran get away with everything" and claimed that "TACO Trump"an acronym for "Trump Always Chickens Out"is "already folding."

Schumer clarified on Facebook that he was responding to a report in Axios, confirmed on Tuesday by The New York Times, that the Trump administration had proposed an interim deal to avoid a nuclear crisis. Under the reported terms of the offer, Iran would give up its domestic nuclear program in exchange for joining an international uranium enrichment consortium.

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It's not even likely that Iran will accept the deal currently on the table. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told an audience on Wednesday that "the plan that the Americans have presented is 100 percent opposed to [the slogan] we can do it." But Schumer seems to oppose negotiations on a deeper level. His video sounded awfully similar to attacks levied by hawkish Republicans against the Obama and Biden administrations during their negotiations with Iran.

When Iran diluted its enriched uranium and released American hostages in August 2023, three Republican members of Congress accused then-President Joe Biden of a "secret agreement" that "threatens U.S. national security." And when former President Barack Obama reached his own deal to restrain the Iranian nuclear program, Republican lawmakers claimed that he was being "fleeced" in "secret side-deals."

To be fair to Schumer, he has consistently been on Republicans' side, stating in 2015 that "the very real risk that Iran will not moderate and will, instead, use the agreement to pursue its nefarious goals is too great." Some Republican opponents of the deal at the time insisted that they only wanted a better deal, only to come out in favor of war in later years.

The dilemma that Trump, Biden, and Obama all faced is the same. Iran has a nuclear program that could be used to build weapons in the futureit is the "only non-nuclear-weapon state" to produce large quantities of 60 percent enriched uranium, according to a recent report by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agencyan outcome the United States has promised to stop by force. Getting Iran to voluntarily give up its nuclear capabilities would require offering serious incentives, and many members of Congress clearly prefer war over concessions.

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But the American people prefer a deal over a war. A poll published by the University of Maryland last month shows that 69 percent of Americans, including 64 percent of Republicans, prefer to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis with a negotiated deal, and only 14 percent of Americans want a war with Iran. So do Iranians, for that matter. Polling from last year shows that Iranians want a nuclear deal due to the economic cost of isolation.

The issue is partially self-inflicted for Trump. Obama had successfully negotiated a deal in 2015 that would put the Iranian nuclear program under international control in exchange for lifting the U.S. economic embargo against Iran. Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018, claiming that he could get a better deal through pressure. Instead, the U.S. and Iran escalated to the brink of war, and the Iranian nuclear program has continued with no limits for nearly a decade.

Unlike in 2015, when congressional Republicans voted unanimously against the deal, a large part of the Republican coalition now seems to favor diplomacy. Conservative media personalities such as Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, and Charlie Kirk have been loudly warning against the threat of war.

"Didn't we learn our lesson when we went to war in Iraq and killed Saddam Hussein because of 'weapons of mass destruction?' Did we ever find any?" asked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (RGa.) in a long screed on X last month.

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On the other hand, some Democrats have taken up a strategy of trying to out-hawk Trump on foreign policy. During the 2024 election, Kamala Harris' campaign attacked Trump for failing to "respond" hard enough to Iran during his first term and criticizing economic sanctions. During the confirmation hearing for Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby in March, several Democrats joined Sen. Tom Cotton (RArk.) in attacking Trump's diplomatic "capitulations."

Another wrinkle is that Iran's archenemy, Israel, has reportedly prepared to attack the Iranian nuclear program no matter what the U.S. does. The Iranian government has said that it would consider the U.S. a "participant" in any Israeli attack and respond accordingly. Trump publicly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Iran "because we're very close to a solution."

Attacking Trump's diplomacy makes sense for Schumer from both perspectives. On one hand, he's portraying Democrats as the tougher party on national security. On the other, he's shoring up his pro-Israel credentials. ("My job is to keep the left pro-Israel," Schumer told The New York Times earlier this year.) Yet he's swimming against the tide of his own baseand overwhelming public opinionto do so.

Harris' former foreign policy adviser, Phil Gordon, had a slightly different view on how Democrats should approach the issue: "We should focus our outrage on the many genuinely outrageous aspects of Trump's foreign policy, and if he happens to get a nuclear deal that is in our interest we should support it."

The post Schumer Attacks Trump for Repeating Obama's Iran Diplomacy appeared first on Reason.com.
A top aide on Scott Stringers campaign recently sent out misleading text message blasts to voters instructing them its prohibited to put multiple selections on their Democratic mayoral primary ballots, according to screengrabs obtained by the Daily News.

Elaine Fan, the chief of staff on Stringers mayoral campaign, posted the messages on several WeChat forums popular with Chinese communities in New York City last weekend.

The messages urged people on the forums to vote only for Scott Stringer.

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Multiple selections are prohibited, added Fans messages, which were in Simplified Chinese and included a graphic of a mock mayoral primary ballot with only Stringers name penciled in on it. A native Chinese speaker provided The News with an independent translation of the messages.

One of the forums she posted the graphic in, dubbed the Asian Wave Alliance NYC, has 240 members, per the screengrabs. A second group she posted it in has 396 members, a third one has 456 and a fourth one has 266.

Despite what Fan posted, voters in the June 24 Democratic primary can rank five candidates in order of preference on their ballots. The ranked-choice process was first used in New York City during the 2021 local elections. State law prohibits acts of intimidation, deception, or obstruction that affects the right of voters to cast their ballots.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Fan said there are different interpretations of her messages, but declined further comment.

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In a statement, Stringer spokesman Sam Raskin said his boss wasnt aware of the creation or distribution of this graphic.

He supports ranked-choice votingalways has and always willand encourages New Yorkers to use it during this months election, Raskin continued. Our campaign is committed to ensuring New Yorkers only receive accurate information and encourages all voters to participate in the upcoming election.

Stringers campaign also pointed to a message Fan sent in one of the forums apparently attempting to clean up her comments. According to a translation of that message provided by Stringers camp, she replied to a chat member who had accused her of being misleading:

That is not what I meant. Many Andrew Yang supporters voted for him five times, which is multiple choices, and that resulted in invalid ballot, a reference to the 2021 mayoral candidate.

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But when a member of another forum called her graphic misleading, Fan shot back saying it was not misleading, according to screengrabs verified by The News independent source.

Fan, who used to be the director Asian affairs in Gov. Hochuls office, is one of Stringers top aides on his mayoral campaign. Campaign finance records show she has pulled in more than $120,000 in salary from the Stringer team since August 2024.

Fans text blasts come as Stringer has struggled to gain momentum for his mayoral bid. Most recent polls have shown him with single digits of support, trailing far behind front-runner Andrew Cuomo and the No. 2 candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado joins The Weeknight to discuss the real-life impact of Trumps budget bill.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  The evolving story of where a replacement for the South Dakota State Penitentiary could go appears to have some clarity.

Structure damage, split trees left behind after storm

Project Prison Resets task force voted Tuesday in support of building a 1,500 to 1,700-bed facility or facilities at a maximum cost of $600 million. As far as where to build, the stated preferences are at existing state Department of Corrections facilities or proposed sites in the Mitchell or Worthing areas. And while a bill to appropriate money to build a new mens prison for a guaranteed maximum price of $825 million had already failed in Pierre in 2025, the weight of that figure was still felt Tuesday.

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Just a few months ago, we were asked as legislators to pass $825 million for this project, and we said no, in essence, Republican Rep. Greg Jamison of Sioux Falls said at the task forces meeting Tuesday in Pierre.

The task force, launched by South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden following the legislative failure, has already unanimously voted in support of replacing the state penitentiary. Now, they are looking at where and how. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach of the Spearfish area, who like Jamison sits on the task force, made the motion to support building for 1,500-1,700 beds at no more than $600 million.

That $600 million number is maybe more likely to be palatable to a two-thirds majority of the legislature, and we have to consider that, Odenbach said. So, thats why Ive done it that way.

That proposal eventually earned unanimous support among the task forces members. Both the Worthing- and Mitchell-area sites are near an interstate and relatively close to Sioux Falls.

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I think its good to provide some direction and criteria that meets what is affordable for South Dakota and for what the people of South Dakota expect from us, said Republican Sen. Chris Karr of Sioux Falls, who is also on the task force. Theres whats ideal, and then theres the reality of what we can afford. I think this is a good starting point. In this motion, it says that the office of the state engineer and their contractors shall develop options.

This allows us to at least get that information, task force member and Republican Rep. Jon Hansen of the Dell Rapids area said. Whats possible within the budget parameters that were setting now, and then we can get that information and make our decision from there.

And options are all they are right now. No plans were finalized Tuesday night in Pierre, and there will be no shovels digging into dirt on Wednesday. And while a possible path forward has come into focus, the mood among the task force is not totally enthusiastic.

Im going to support this motion today because I do think we owe ourselves these answers, said Democratic Rep. Erin Healy of Sioux Falls, who sits on the task force as well. Im nervous about what were going to find.

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Yes, Ill support it, task force member and Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls said. But its hard to support spending that much money when theres other things I know that we could do that keep people out of prison.

The task forces next meeting is scheduled for July 8. Eventually, the plan is for a special session of the state legislature to learn about the groups recommendations.

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A Miami Fire Rescue captain was arrested early Monday morning after allegedly becoming irate during a missing persons investigation and throwing a case card at a responding deputy, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office.

CBS Miami reported Maximo Vasquez Jr., 42, faces four misdemeanor charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer or firefighter, misuse of the 911 system, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence, according to the report.

Incident began with missing person call

The report states that deputies were dispatched at 3:42 a.m. Monday in response to a missing person call.

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Upon arrival, deputies encountered Vasquez, who was reportedly visibly irate and shouting over the disappearance of his wife.

A deputy told Vasquez that a report would be generated and presented him with a Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office case card. Vasquez allegedly became more agitated and threw the card at the deputy, according to the report. He was taken into custody at the scene.

Repeated 911 calls cited in report

Prior to the arrest, Vasquez had called 911 twice during the night, the report states. On both occasions, deputies said he demeaned them and demanded they locate his wife.

Following his arrest, Vasquez was booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Miami Fire Rescue responds

In a statement, Miami Fire Rescue confirmed the arrest and said the department is aware of the incident involving a 15-year veteran firefighter.

At this time, we have not been in contact with the individual, the statement read. Once contact is established, the department will initiate a thorough internal investigation in accordance with our policies and procedures.
Jun. 3Editor's note: We posted an update Wednesday afternoon on the discovery of Esther Keiderling's body. Read the story here: Body of second missing hiker found on Katahdin

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A Maine Warden Service K-9 team found the body of a 58-year-old New York man near the summit of Katahdin on Tuesday, two days after he and his daughter went missing while hiking the 5,267-foot peak in Baxter State Park.

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Tim Keiderling's body was found in the Katahdin Tablelands at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The search for his daughter, Esther Keiderling, 28, continues.

Park officials say the Keiderlings, both of Ulster Park, New York, left Abol Campground on Sunday morning to hike up Katahdin. They were last seen around 10:15 a.m. that day as they headed toward the summit.

Rangers began searching for the pair Monday morning after finding their vehicle in a day-use parking lot. They searched the Abol Trail, the Hunt Trail and the Katahdin Tablelands, a level area near the summit, officials said.

Searchers found no signs of the pair and on Tuesday expanded the search to include helicopters, more than 30 game wardens and K-9 teams.

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The Hunt and Abol trails on Katahdin are closed while the search is ongoing.

The Maine Forest Service is assisting in the search with three helicopters. The Maine Army National Guard responded with a Blackhawk and a Lakota helicopter equipped with an infrared thermal imaging device.

The Abol Trail, a popular but challenging hike with 3,982 feet in elevation gain, is the shortest route to Baxter Peak from a roadside trailhead. The trail used to include the prominent Abol Slide but was relocated in 2015 after soil and rock movement increased hazards for hikers. The relocated trail uses the ridge west of the slide. The rocky terrain requires hikers to climb over large boulders.

Forecasts for Sunday by the National Weather Service in Caribou called for scattered showers at Katahdin's summit with winds peaking at 30-40 mph and low temperatures in the mid-30s. The low temperature was expected to hit the mid-30s again on Monday night, when scattered showers were also predicted.

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A representative at the Caribou office on Tuesday said the agency only provides forecasts for the summit and doesn't track temperatures and wind speeds.

Nearby Millinocket, which is roughly 350 feet above sea level, saw a low of 36 degrees Monday night. Temperatures were likely much colder on Katahdin's summit, which is nearly 5,000 feet higher.

In a blog post shared to Substack on Saturday, Esther Keiderling wrote that she and her father planned a sales trip around a weekend so they could hike Katahdin. In other posts, she talked about working with her father at Rifton Equipment, where she is a customer service representative, and documented a recent trip they took to Niagara Falls.

In her most recent post, Esther Keiderling said she and her father planned to start hiking up the Abol Trail between 6-7 a.m. Sunday if it wasn't pouring rain.

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"I'm a little nervous about everything I've seen about the Abol trail but I'm going to do it if weather permits!" she wrote. "If you don't see me back on Substack notes again, that's where I am."

The search for Esther Keiderling will continue through daylight hours. Volunteer searchers are not needed, park officials said.

Anyone who was on or around the Katahdin summit on Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. or has any information about the Keiderlings is asked to call state police in Houlton at 207-532-5400.

Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed to this report.

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A second missing hiker has been found dead on a hiking trail in Maine, one day after search crews found her fathers body, state officials said Wednesday.

Esther Keiderling of New York had gone missing Sunday while hiking near the summit of Mount Katahdin with her father Tim Keiderling, also of New York, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officials said in a statement.

Her body was found around 1 p.m. Wednesday off the Tablelands, in a wooded area between two known trails.

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Tim Keiderlings body was located Tuesday on the Tablelands area of Mount Katahdin.

Esther Keiderling had gone missing Sunday while hiking near the summit of Mount Katahdin with her father Tim Keiderling, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officials said in a statement.

A massive search for the missing father and daughter began earlier this week. Crews searched Mount Katahdin both on the ground and from the air.

Wednesdays search involved 25 game wardens, four game warden K9 teams, and 21 Baxter State Park rangers who searched the mountain.

Maine Forest Service helicopters and Maine Army Guard helicopters also assisted in the search and with transporting crews to the summit.

On Tuesday night, the Maine Army National Guard used a Lokota helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging device (FLIR unit) to search from early evening well into the night.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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June 4 (UPI) -- A 23-year-old Texas man has been arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents after jumping the wall at President Donald Trump's Florida Mar-a-Lago estate, according to reports.

Anthony Thomas Reyes had entered the property early Tuesday and told law enforcement that he was there to "spread the gospel" to the president and marry his teenage granddaughter, Kai Madison Trump, Florida Today reported, citing a Palm Beach Police arrest report.

A Secret Service spokesperson told CBS News in a statement that the suspect had "scaled a perimeter fence and triggered alarms" shortly after midnight Tuesday.

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The suspect was taken into custody without incident, the spokesperson said.

Jail records state Reyes has been charged with a misdemeanor trespassing offense and is being held at Palm Beach County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty later Tuesday during his first appearance in court.

Trump was in Washington at the time of the incident.

The police report also states that Reyes was arrested and accused of trespassing at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve.

In April, 58-year-old Adrienne Tajirian was arrested on a misdemeanor trespassing charge for allegedly trying to enter Trump's Mar-a-Lago club to have dinner with the president.

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And in January, Bijan Arceo was arrested on the same charge after allegedly jumping over the outer wall at Mar-a-Lago.

A security zone was erected around Trump's estate following an assassination attempt on Trump's life during a campaign rally in July.

Kai Madison Trump is the 18-year-old daughter of the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped two more big cocaine smuggling attempts at Texas ports of entry this week, seizing a combined total of more than 43 pounds of white powder, with an estimated street value exceeding $800,000.

At the Ysleta Port of Entry near El Paso, CBP officers on May 28 found 20 pounds of cocaine concealed within a vehicle driven by a 22-year-old U.S. citizen. Officers found some irregularities during an inspection of the car, leading to the discovery of hidden compartments in the dashboard hiding the cocaine.

Meanwhile, at the Laredo Port of Entry, CBP officers seized 23 pounds of cocaine hidden in a 2010 Ford F-150 driven by a 51-year-old U.S. citizen. The incident occurred at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge on May 26 after officers referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection and a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. The packages, concealed in the vehicles firewall and dashboard, had a street value estimated at $318,497.

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The combination of officer experience, canine enforcement, tools and technology all play a role in stopping drugs at our ports of entry, said CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnie Gomez. This case illustrates how the various layers of enforcement CBP employs are an effective strategy in stopping contraband at the border.

Both cases are still under investigation by Homeland Security.

These two cocaine busts last week in The Lone Star state are just a drop in the bucket.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, officers intercepted another cocaine smuggling operation near El Paso at the Bridge of the Americas last week.

During that bust, 45.2 pounds of cocaine was discovered, enough to cause tens of thousands of overdoses. The drugs were hidden in a vehicle driven by a U.S. citizen on May 27. In total, officers uncovered 19 bundles of cocaine hidden in the vehicles compartments and arrested the woman driving. She was then handed over to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office on felony charges.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Sedgwick County Zoo welcomed its third baby elephant this week.

The African elephant calf was born early Tuesday morning to mother Arusi after 651 days of gestation. The average gestation period for an elephant is 18-22 months. The zoo has confirmed that the baby is a girl, and her name is Asali.

Our matriarch of our herd is turning 54 this year, and we all know her by the name of Stephanie, but when she was in Africa, her name was Asali. So its something we are honored to continue her legacy throughout the future of our barn, said Erica Oneil, zookeeper at the Sedgwick County Zoo.

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The announcement was made on NBCs Today Show.

We are thrilled to welcome a third healthy calf, said Katie Muninger, elephant manager at Sedgwick County Zoo. Three calves and three first-time moms have us all on our toes, but were learning so much about the herds social structure and each individual personality as we all settle into the new dynamic.

Baby born to Arusi (Courtesy: Sedgwick County Zoo)

Asali joins Bomani, born April 10, and Kijani, born April 14. The zoo says Bomani is already excited and curious about his new herdmate.

Bomani, along with mom Talia and Simunye were present for the birth and have been a supportive presence for Arusi, the zoo said in a news release. Kijani, his mother Xolani, and other herd members have had the opportunity to see the new arrival, but they are not together in the same space at this time.

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Meet Chili: Lee Richardson Zoo welcomes giant anteater

In April 2024, the SCZ announced that five elephants were pregnant after introducing Callee, a new male, to the herd in May 2023.

While paternity tests take time, the zoo says theres a good chance all three calves share the same father and are half-siblings.

In alignment with breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Elephant Species Survival Plan, these additions to SCZs herd are a reflection of the Zoos commitment to support the health and sustainability of African elephant populations in North America, the zoo said in the news release.

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Scott Newland, the zoos president and CEO, previously said that if the pregnancies were successful, not only would they be the first elephants ever born in Kansas, but they would be the first zoo to have five African elephant births in a single year. Even though one of the pregnancies ended in a stillbirth in March, it is still believed to be the case with four.

Visitors can expect to see at least one calf in the outdoor habitat daily, weather permitting.

For more information about the SCZ, visit their website or follow the zoo on Facebook.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Tuesday, Travis County Judge Andy Brown hosted the Fifth Annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the Travis County Administrative Building.

Participants raised the Progress Pride Flag at the ceremony, a press release stated.

The Progress Pride Flag featured a chevron of white, pink, light blue, brown and black to symbolize transgender rights, people of color and those living with or lost to HIV/AIDS, said the release. This was the fifth year the Pride Flag flew over Travis County.

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In 2021, the commissioners court voted for the first time ever to approve flying the flag over the Travis County Administration Building, said the release.

According to the release, this was part of a resolution that adopted comprehensive policies that prohibit contractors from discriminating against race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression or veteran status.

Travis County Gay Pride Event (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Travis County Gay Pride Event (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Travis County Gay Pride Event (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Travis County Gay Pride Event (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Travis County Gay Pride Event (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

Brown spoke on the importance of the flags flight over Travis County.

Now more than ever, we need to reaffirm our commitment to the LGBTQIA community, Brown expressed. In raising the Progress Pride Flag, which is still legal in Texas, Travis County acknowledges the trailblazers, activists, friends and family who paved the way for inclusion and equality throughout history, Brown added.

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Pride Month is observed in June. It is a time to honor the resilience and contributions of our LGBTQIA community members, said Brown.

Brown said raising the Pride Flag is a powerful reminder that every person is seen, celebrated and supported.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Jun. 3WILKES-BARRE  Sen. Lisa Baker on Tuesday said law enforcement officers put themselves on the line every time they serve a PFA.

"It's only right that the agencies performing this vital work receive the support and reimbursement they deserve," said Sen. Baker, R-Lehman Township. "This bill ensures that fairness is built into the process."

The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Baker to improve the enforcement of Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions and orders and ensure law enforcement agencies are properly reimbursed.

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Sen. Baker said Senate Bill 302 corrects a longstanding imbalance in the law that directs a portion of PFA-related court fees exclusively to county sheriffs  even in cases where local police departments or state troopers carry out the service of the paperwork.

Sen. Baker said the legislation stems from concerns raised by Dallas Township Police Chief Doug Higgins and an audit conducted by Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith, which highlighted that municipal departments were absorbing the cost of serving PFA orders without compensation.

The bill also clarifies that only sheriffs or trained law enforcement officers  not private individuals  should be authorized to serve PFAs, addressing a critical safety concern and reinforcing professional standards in enforcement.

Sen. Baker said the bill outlines the reimbursement process  while the $25 service fee will continue to be collected through the existing surcharge, sheriffs will be required to transfer the fee to the agency completing the service.

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"We are working to make sure no victim faces unnecessary delays or uncertainty when seeking protection," Sen. Baker said. "This reform is about accountability, safety and making sure the system functions the way it was intended."

Senate Bill 302 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

The North Carolina Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee reviewed Reid Wilsons appointment as secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality during its hearing on Wednesday.

The hearing was billed as discussion only. Lawmakers will take a vote at their next meeting.

NC Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson (Photo: NC DEQ)

Wilson formerly served as secretary for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources from 2021 to 2024. Before that, he was DNCRs chief deputy secretary from 2017 to 2020.

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Following his appointment earlier this year by Gov. Josh Stein, hes been serving as DEQ secretary on an interim basis while awaiting confirmation.

At the national level, Congress has been working on a federal budget that would include cuts to some of the areas under DEQs purview.

Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) asked what the cuts would mean to DEQ and how Wilson would respond.

About half of DEQs budget comes from federal sources, Wilson said. In particular, the proposed budget would remove $31.5 million from operating grants.

We would have to let a whole lot of people go, and the consequences of that are that our permitting processes would take longer, our responses to spills and other problems would take longer, our responsiveness and assistance to businesses would not be as strong, Wilson said. Everything we do, we would do less well.

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Chaudhuri jokingly followed up with, Do you still want this job? Wilson answered in the affirmative.

Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Lee, Sampson) asked about water quality, specifically microplastics.

Wilson said DEQ staff are looking into the issue, and the department also collaborates with others like university researchers to learn more.

Water quality is a huge priority, he said. It is a significant health concern, so were gonna be involved with that.

After Hurricane Helene swept through the western portion of the state, DEQ worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide mobile programs testing the quality of drinking wells.

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Wilson said the agencies found out how polluted the drinking water was, how to get it cleaned, and tested it to make sure it was healthy before people drank it again.

For folks with a well in the yard or on their property, theyre more vulnerable, so we want to make sure we are doing as much testing, Wilson said. We have a [fund] which helps pay for additional private well tests around the state when we determine that that is needed.

Lawmakers also voted to approve two pieces of legislation at Tuesdays meeting, which they discussed yesterday: House Bill 247 (8-1-1 Amendments) and House Bill 694 (Study Water/Wastewater Regionalization).

The former heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the latter proceeds to the Senate Rules Committee.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio Senators made several changes to the states two-year, $60 billion spending bill on Tuesday afternoon.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine introduced an executive budget at the start of the year, which became House Bill 96. The House worked on it, made changes and passed it in April. Since then, the Senate has been hearing testimony on different aspects of the proposal; Tuesday marked the Senates first round of changes, with another likely coming next week.

After that, Senate and House members will have until the end of June to come to an agreement on the multi-billion-dollar spending bill.

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Some of the Senates key changes target property tax relief, school funding, Cleveland Browns stadium funding, and iGaming.

Income Tax Cuts and Property Tax Relief

Ohio Senators added a provision in the budget to create a flat income tax rate. If passed, the flat income tax rate of 2.75% would become effective starting in tax year 2026.

Right now, income tax rates are in three brackets. This is the second budget in a row to change the states income tax structure.

We are going to continue down that path and finally get to a flat income tax rate here in the state of Ohio, Senate President Rob McColley (R-Lima) said.

The income tax debate has long been had at the Ohio Statehouse, with some even proposing eliminating the tax completely.

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On the property tax front, Ohio Senate leaders increased a budget carry-over cap for public school districts to 50% as a way to provide Ohioans property tax relief.

However, there is going to be an ability for school districts to go over and above and beyond that 50% cap, put money into a capital fund that they can use for maintenance of their buildings, they can use for debt service, they can use for a variety of things, McColley said.

This is how it works: if the school district you are living in carries over more than 50% of its budget from year to year, then the excess money will go back to homeowners in a new form of property tax relief. This is estimated to help Ohioans in 292 of the states 600+ districts.

The Ohio House first added this provision to the budget, but House leaders initially wanted the cap to sit at 30%.

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While Democratic leaders in the Senate said 30% is certainly better than 50%, Ranking Member of Senate Finance Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) said too many school districts have urged lawmakers not to impose any cap. Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) added that this is the legislature micromanaging school districts and punting the responsibility of property tax relief off to public schools.

There is another form of property tax relief in the budget, through an expansion of the homestead exemption program. Homestead exemption decreases the total taxable amount of someones home. If the Senate budget passes as written, the reduction amount goes from $28,000 to $32,000 and increases the income threshold to qualify from $40,000 to $42,500.

We are taking steps to reduce this trauma that higher valuations are causing, Ohio Senate Finance Chair Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said.

School Funding

Public school funding is also a big piece of the budget. Senators decided to reimplement what has become known as the fair school funding plan after House members stripped it, calling it unsustainable.

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That was something that many of our members of our caucus thought was important, they felt it was a deal we entered into years ago and we owed it to the communities to continue with the implementation, McColley said.

In the Senates plan, K-12 public schools in the state will see an increase in funding of more than $600 million over the next two years.

There are districts that will get less as they did in 2025, but no one will get less as they did in 2021, as the fair school funding plan was meant to do, Cirino said.

The fair school funding plan was created back in 2021 to be phased in over three budget cycles.

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Antonio said the Senate bill is following some of the ideas of fair school funding plan, but it is very much manipulated.

Cleveland Browns and iGaming

The Cleveland Browns asked lawmakers for money for a new stadium early on in the process. Senate members gave the greenlight for a $600 million to the Browns through the use of unclaimed funds.

The state has $3.7 billion in unclaimed funds. Cirino said $1.7 billion of that will be taken out now, to be used for stadium and other development/culture projects. Out of that $1.7 billion will come the $600 million for the Cleveland Browns.

Cirino said the funds will only be removed if and put into that pot of money if they have not been claimed for ten years. About $100 million gets added into unclaimed funds each year, so Cirino said this will always be solvent.

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With the addition coming in every year, well be able to support other projects going forward in the state, Cirino said. What this does is it takes idle money and puts it to work.

The Browns will still need to make an investment in order to get that money  a deposit of $50 million to start as well as a $50 million line of credit in case it is needed to make up for lost costs.

As for something that did not make the cut: iGaming. Lawmakers have been working on a proposal to legalize iGaming in the state. Despite work in both chambers, no proposal ended up in this version of the budget. Still, McColley said it is not completely out of the picture.

No expansion of gambling is in the bill; it remains to be seen whether it will be put in the budget at all, he said. We would rather take the time to get this right if we are going to do it at all. Its obviously a big policy shift. We dont need [to legalize iGaming] to balance our budget as it currently stands, so I wouldnt view [this] as an indication one way or another, other than we need more time.

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(WHTM)  Pennsylvanias two first-term senators sat in stark contrast to each other as they shared a stage Monday, but they found common ground.

Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dave McCormick participated in FOX Nations The Senate Project, an Oxford-style debate that brings legislators together to discuss topics. The event took place in Boston.

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McCormick and Fetterman both expressed support for Nippon Steels proposed investment in U.S. Steel. Previously, both senators were vocal about their opposition to the Japanese companys initial proposal to purchase the company.

They also agreed on getting tough on Russia and Iran, as well as sealing the border. Fetterman took aim at his own party for its handling of the issue.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., right, participate in a debate, Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., right, display hoodies presented by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate after participating in a debate Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., smiles after he and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., not shown, were presented with hoodies from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate after participating in a debate, Monday, June 2, 2025, at the institute, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., right, greet before participating in a debate, Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

In recent days, the Democratic Senator has found himself on the receiving end of party attacks.

Fetterman dismissed criticism from former staffers over missed votes in the Senate. He said he missed those votes because they were on Mondays.

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Those are travel days, Fetterman said. I have three young kids, and those are throwaway procedural votes that were never determinative, or they werent important, and thats a choice that I made. If you want to attack me for that, go ahead, but Id like to point out that Bernie and Senator Murray missed more, so why arent the left media yelling and demanding them or claiming theyre not doing their job? Be genuine on that.

Fetterman claims media trying to smear him over missed votes, absences

Sen. Fetterman said he will be present to vote on President Donald Trumps spending plan. He said he is a likely no because of its changes to SNAP benefits.

McCormick said he will vote yes on the bill because it will root out waste, fraud and abuse.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Transgender members of the US Military service now face a daunting choice: self-disclose their sexual identity, or be subjected to a medical exam to reveal their sexual identity.

For Ohio National Guard Master Sgt. Nick Wright, an 18-year military veteran, its an easy choice.

Community CloseUp: Were in your neighborhood

Wright speaks exclusively with PIX11 CloseUp with Jay Dow about the governments decision to forcibly end his military service.

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Watch the video player for the full story.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A serial shoplifter accused of robbing the same store 16 times between October of last year to May 2025 was nabbed by detectives, the San Francisco Police Department announced on Tuesday.

Arrest in unprovoked back-to-back assaults at SF Fort Mason Park

SFPD said Neil Peck (aka Kevin Peck), 51, was arrested on May 25 for burglary and attempted grand theft at a retail store on the 700 block of Mission Street. Police said an astute officer figured out that Peck was involved in dozens of other thefts at that same location and quickly alerted investigators. Police did not disclose the exact retail store.

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SFPD DART (Defend Against Retail Theft) investigators began investigating Peck for the prior theft incidents and determined that he was the suspect in 16 additional chargeable cases from October 7, 2024, to May 22, 2025, said police. The total loss for the incidents totaled nearly $8,000.

Peck faces several felony and misdemeanor charges, including petty theft, commercial burglary, grand theft and shoplifting, said San Francisco police.

Due to voters passing Proposition 36 in December 2024, Pecks petty theft crimes can be charged as misdemeanors or felony since he has several prior theft convictions, SFPD confirmed.

Wine theft led to felony charge under Prop 36

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Despite an arrest in the case, this remains an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, starting the message with SFPD.

SFPD said its Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force also assisted in the probe.

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MIDDLEFIELD, Conn. (WTNH)  A motorcyclist is in serious condition following a crash Tuesday evening on Main Street in the Rockfall section of Middlefield, just before the Middletown line, according to the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company.

Officials said the crash happened around 7:06 p.m. The Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company, Hunters Ambulance, and a Middlesex Hospital paramedic were dispatched to the scene.

Man, 27, charged with manslaughter in August 2024 rollover crash that killed 2

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First responders said they found a 2011 Harley-Davidson FLTRX motorcycle on the ground with the operator unconscious.

The 54-year-old male operator was treated for serious injuries and transported via LIFE STAR to Hartford Hospital for further treatment, according to officials.

Preliminary investigation shows the motorcycle struck a wood beam guardrail in the right shoulder while navigating a curve.

Main Street was closed between Ross Road and Forrest Street following the crash.

The Connecticut State Police C.A.R.S. unit is investigating the incident. State police are asking anyone with information to contact Troop F at 860-399-2100.

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An Iowa dentist who served a prison sentence on drug and weapons charges has had his license restored by state regulators.

Iowa Dental Board records indicate Shawn Kerby was issued a dental license in 2004. Ten years later, in 2014, Kerby was charged by the board with indiscriminate or promiscuous prescribing or dispensing drugs for unlawful purposes.

The board alleged that it had subpoenaed nine of Kerbys patient files, and in seven of those cases there were multiple prescriptions issued by Kerby that were never recorded in the patients files. On multiple occasions, the board alleged, Kerby had prescribed controlled substances for patients he hadnt seen for more than a year.

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According to the board, Kerby explained his actions by saying he was unaware of the regulations pertaining to prescribing medications. The board allowed Kerby to continue practicing, but fined him $2,500 and placed his license on probation for two years.

In December 2015, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration served search warrants at Kerbys dental practice and home. Five months later, in April 2016, Kerby agreed to have his license placed on inactive status.

In February 2017, Kerby was indicted on 11 federal criminal charges, including knowingly prescribing hydrocodone and other drugs for other individuals in order to obtain the drugs for his own personal use. The offenses allegedly were committed while Kerby was operating two central Iowa dental clinics, Kerby Family Dental and Bright Smiles Family Dental.

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Prosecutors alleged that through his dental practice, Kerby had prescribed patients hydrocodone despite the lack of any medical need for the drug. He would then arrange for the patients to route the hydrocodone pills to him once they had filled the prescription at a local pharmacy.

While awaiting trial in July 2017, Kerby was alleged to have violated his pretrial release agreement by testing positive for opiates.

In January 2018, with the federal charges still pending, Kerby was arrested by police in Marengo on charges of serious domestic abuse assault and interference with official acts. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.

In February 2018, a plea agreement in the federal case was reached in which nine of the charges were dismissed and Kerby pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining hydrocodone by deception or fraud and being an unlawful user of drugs while in possession of firearms. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, according to court records.

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Shortly after his sentencing but before he began serving his sentence, Kerby was pulled over by police in Marengo. Court records indicate a search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of a Crown Royal bag in which a glass methamphetamine pipe was located. Kerby subsequently tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine and allegedly admitted using meth, according to court records.

After Kerby began serving his federal prison sentence in Leavenworth, Kansas, he voluntarily surrendered his Iowa dental license. In November 2020, after Kerbys release from prison, the Iowa Dental Board reinstated his license subject to five years of probation, during which he would have to abstain from drug use and submit to practice monitoring.

Recently, the board agreed to terminate the probation agreement early, restoring Kerbys license to full privileges, free and clear of any restrictions.

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The rising costs associated with operating a restaurant have become too much for many business owners around the country to bear, and multiple establishments are set to close their doors this summer in one major college town.

Business can be especially hard when restaurants don't see the influx of customers throughout the entire year, and the loss in business has proven to be too much for a number of eateries in Knoxville, Tennessee.

South Press, a coffee shop that served as a welcoming space for many LGBTQ members of the local community, announced that it would be closing in late June.

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Frothy Monkey, another coffee shop with multiple stores around Tennessee, closed its location on Gay Street last month.

Barbecue restaurant Sweet P's Downtown Dive is also set to close in a few weeks, and its owner says competition in the area is the reason.

Today, there are many more places to eat in downtown Knoxville than there were when we opened a decade ago, owner Chris Ford told NBC 10 News.

Michele Hummel, executive director of the Downtown Knoxville Alliance, says that the number of restaurants closing is not typical.

"About 5 years ago or so, I know we saw a pop of closures," Hummel said, likely pointing to restaurants forced to end business due to the pandemic.

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"Typically, we'll just have one or two here and there. It's something you don't like to see."

Another restaurant owner, Zach Land, cited the rising costs of ingredients as a major factor for the rise in closures.

"A case of eggs was $20 six months ago. Now theyre $70, Land said. He owns the Asian restaurant Landing House in South Knoxville, which recently closed after eight years.

Chicken and beef and everything, its all gone up. The margins on restaurants are so slim to begin with, and they get slimmer every time something goes up.

The list of restaurants in Knoxville that are either set to close or have already done so includes coffee shop Golden Roast and tapas restaurant Babalu.

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Despite the closures, some owners are reflecting positively on the memories they have of the communities they served in Knoxville.

"I am so proud of the lives we've changed for the better. It has truly been a gift to be able to hold the space for you," said South Press owner Joslynn Fish.

"We have the next 29 days to make memories together, make art, laugh, and strengthen the ties that bind. I love you all so, so, so much."

'Several' Downtown Restaurants in Knoxville Forced to Close first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2025
Peoria, Ill. (WMBD)  The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Central Illinois, mainly west of the Illinois River.

Key Takeaways

Strong to severe storms possible Tuesday evening Damaging wind gusts the primary threat, brief tornado possible

Periods of rain showers through Wednesday morning

Additional rounds of rain Thursday night through Friday

A line of thunderstorms will move out of Missouri and into Illinois this evening. These storms should be on a weakening trend as they move into Fulton and Knox Counties, but may still produce severe wind gusts over 58 mph and perhaps an isolated tornado. The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a Level 2 Risk (Slight Risk) west of the Illinois River while areas further east remain in a Level 1 Risk (Marginal Risk). Overall the risk for severe weather for most of our area remains low.

These storms will begin to move into western portions of our area between 6 pm and 8 pm then reach the Illinois River between 8 pm and 10pm then I-55 between 10 pm and midnight in a much weaker state. The risk of severe weather is done by 10 pm, but rain and thunderstorms will continue throughout much of the night.

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Rainfall amounts through Wednesday evening will generally range from 0.50 to 2.00 with locally higher amounts up to 4.00 possible. The heaviest totals are generally favored to fall along and west of the Illinois River.

Weather Radio Outage

The NWS Office in Lincoln is conducting a computer system update that will keep weather radios off air in Central Illinois through 4 pm on Thursday. If any warnings need to be issued during this update they will come from the NWS Office in Chicago.

Download the CiProud 2 Go Weather App to receive warnings. Make sure your location settings are turned on.

Here is a map that shows where weather radios are working and not working.

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A Severe TStorm Watch has just been issued for the Quad Cities until 11 p.m. on Tuesday (June 3rd.)

60 mile per hour winds and frequent lightning are possible with storms as they roll through our area tonight.

Heavy rain is also possible this evening.

These storms are currently moving through Missouri and heading into our area. The best estimate for storm arrival in the Quad Cities is between 6 and 7 p.m.

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Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his administration has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its cancellation of millions of dollars in federal funding to farmers who supply food banks throughout the state. (Commonwealth Media Services)

PHILADELPHIA  Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his administration has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its cancellation of millions of dollars in federal funding to farmers who supply food banks throughout the state.

Im tired of waiting for someone to stand up for our farmers and our food banks. That task falls to us, Shapiro said Wednesday in Philadelphia. The USDA and the Trump administration ignored our farmers, and they ignored folks who are hungry here in Pennsylvania.

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Shapiro said his administration filed a lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg asking a judge to reverse the USDAs decision to cancel its contract with the commonwealth.

The program, known as the Local Food Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), was established by President Joe Bidens administration in response to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. In December, Bidens administration renewed the contract with Pennsylvania for three years and $13 million. In March, the Trump administration announced that the program was ending.

This lawsuit calls on the USDA to simply honor its commitment to our farmers, to honor its commitment to folks who are hungry and to simply follow the contract that they signed, Shapiro said

In Pennsylvania, LFPA provides funding that supports 189 farms and 14 food banks. Shapiro said it represented between 10% and 15% of the annual market share for many of the farmers participating in the program.

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The back-and-forth between Shapiro and the Trump administration over the matter has spanned multiple months. In March, Shapiro held a press conference at a food bank in Harrisburg sounding an alarm on the programs cancellation. He said his administration appealed to get the money and wrote a letter to Trumps administration in late March.

In April, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made a trip to multiple central Pennsylvania farms where she claimed the money for food banks was, in fact, available. She said Shapiro and other officials either didnt have their facts right, or were playing political games.

Shapiro disputed the claim at the time and re-upped his criticism of Rollins explanation Wednesday in Philadelphia.

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The LFPA initiative works as a reimbursement program, Shapiro said, so the state doesnt get the money until after it pays farmers and provides receipts.

A USDA spokesperson told the Capital-Star that they do not comment on pending litigation, and directed inquiries to the U.S. Department of Justice.

George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program in Philadelphia, said the food bank serves more than 500,000 people per month in the greater Philadelphia area and demand has risen over 120% in the last three years.

The LFPA program was designed to provide some level of relief for the 14 food banks like us across the commonwealth who are serving that rising need, Matysik said.

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He addressed Trump directly, criticizing his administrations decision to cancel the program.

You had a deal with food banks serving 67 counties trying to alleviate poverty, Matysik said. And above all, Mr. President, you had a deal with the American people and you broke your word.

The art of the deal, he scoffed.

Julie McCabe, executive director of Pennypack Farm & Education Center, explained her 13 acre vegetable farm in Montgomery County participated in the LFPA program to provide products to local food banks.

Our produce giving program has grown tremendously, McCabe said. From just over 8,000 pounds donated in 2017 to more than 26,000 pounds given in 2024.

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While Shapiro said his administration has increased investments to connect farmers with hungry people, he said the state doesnt have the money to backfill the federal cuts, if the lawsuit is unsuccessful.

Still, Shapiro said he has reasons to be optimistic that he would succeed.

Ive got a pretty good track record when I take Donald Trump to court, said Shapiro, who served as the states attorney general during Trumps first term. Were going to win this, and were going to get our money back for the good people of Pennsylvania.

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Railroad tracks run along the Colorado River as it flows along Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon near Glenwood Springs. (William Woody for Colorado Newsline)

A version of this story originally appeared in Big Pivots.

Even-steven. That was the intent of delegates from the seven basin states in 1922 when they met near Santa Fe to forge a compact governing the Colorado River.

But what exactly did they agree upon? That has become a sticking point in 2025 as states have squared off about rules governing the river in the drought-afflicted and climate-changed 21st century. The negotiations between the states, according to many accounts, have been fraught with tensions. Becky Mitchell, Colorados lead negotiator, delivered a peek into that dispute at a forum on May 22 in Silverthorne along the headwaters of the river.

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The Colorado River Compact was a quid pro quo. California, in particular, but also Arizona, was ready to see the highs and lows of the rivers smoothed out. They, as well as Nevada, wanted a giant reservoir in Boulder Canyon in Nevada near the small town of Las Vegas, which then had a population of 2,300. Those Southwestern states couldnt do it alone, though. They needed the federal government to build the dam later called Hoover. For that, they needed the support of Colorado and the three other upper-basin states.

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Colorado, represented by Delph Carpenter, and the three other headwaters states realized that they had best reach a compromise, as they would more slowly develop the rivers. If the doctrine of prior appropriation that they had all adopted within their own states prevailed on the Colorado River, the water would be gone by the time they found need for it.

This was the foundation for Article III of the Colorado River Compact. It apportions 7.5 million acre-feet in perpetuity for the exclusive beneficial consumption by each of the two basins. On top of this 15 million acre-feet, they knew there would be water lost to evaporation, now calculated at 1.5 million acre-feet annually, plus some sort of delivery obligation to Mexico, which later turned out to be 1.5 million acre-feet.

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In Santa Fe, delegates had assumed bounteous flows in the river, as had occurred in the years prior to their meeting. And so, embracing that short-term view of history, they believed the river would deliver 20 million acre-feet.

A map of the Colorado River and the seven compact states. (Colorado Water Conservation Board)

It has not done so routinely. Even when there was lots of water, during the 1990s and even before, as Eric Kuhn and John Fleck explained in their 2019 book, Science be Dammed, troubles ahead could be discerned. And by 1993, when the Central Arizona Project began hoisting water to Phoenix and Tucson, the river ceased absolutely to reach the ocean.

Then came the 21st century drought. Those framing the compact understood drought as a temporary affliction, not the multi-decade phenomenon now perplexing the states in the Colorado River Basin.

Nor did they contemplate a warming, drying climate called aridification. Similar to drought in effects, it is rooted in accumulating atmospheric gases. Unlike drought, it has little to no chance of breaking.

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Now, faced with creating new rules governing the sharing of this river, delegates from the seven states are at odds in various ways, but perhaps none so much as in their interpretation of compacts Article D. It says that the upper-division states will not cause the flow of the river at Lee Ferry to be depleted below an aggregate of 75,000,000 acre-feet for any period of ten consecutive years.

The lower division states have so far received 75 million acre-feet over every revolving 10-year period. The upper-basin states have not fully developed their apportionment, although Colorado has come close. In the last 25 years, the upper-basin states have been using 3.5 million to 4.5 million acre-feet. The lower-basin states that a decade ago were still using 10 million acre-feet have cut back their use to 7.5 million acre-feet.

A marine at Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, in December 2021. (Allen Best/Big Pivots)

Lake Powell serves as a water bank for the upper basin states. The storage in 2022 had declined to 22%, although a good snow winter in 2022-23 restored levels somewhat. Today, the two reservoirs are at a combined 34% of full.

That means 66% empty, said Mitchell at the forum along the Blue River in Silverthorne at a state of the river forum organized by the Colorado River Water Conservation District.

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Mitchell, an engineer by training, has a large on-stage presence. Shes not one to mince words, sometimes straying into the colloquial. This outspokenness is more evident when she speaks exclusively to a home-town crowd. Silverthorne certainly counted as one.

Shared risk is at the heart of the dispute. Colorado and other upper-basin states want the lower-basin states to accept that the river will not always satisfy all needs.

How do we handle drought? We know how to do that in the upper basin, and most of the people in this room know that you get less, said Mitchell, Colorados representative on the Upper Colorado River Commission. That hasnt been the case in the lower basin.

The two basins differ in three fundamental ways. One is the pace of development. The lower basin developed quickly. The upper basin still has not used its full allocation. From the upper-basin perspective, that does not mean that the lower-basins states should expect something beyond a 50-50 split.

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The main thing that we got from the compact was the principle of equity and the ability to develop at our own pace, said Mitchell. We shouldnt be punished because we didnt develop to a certain number. The conversation now, she added, is what does equity look like right now?

Another difference is that the upper basin has thousands of individual users. Sure, there are a few big ones, like Denver Water and the other Front Range transmountain water diverters who collectively draw 400,000 to 450,000 acre-feet annually across the Continental Divide. The lower basin has just a handful of diverters, and the diversions are massive.

Also different  as alluded to by Mitchell  is that the lower basin has the big reservoirs lying upstream. The largest is Mead, with a capacity of almost 29 million acre-feet, followed closely by Powell at a little more than 25 million acre-feet. Mead was created expressly to meet needs of irrigators and cities in the desert southwest.

Colorado River water use by basin, expressed in millions of acre-feet. (Colorado Water Conservation Board)

Powell was created essentially to ensure that the upper-basin states could meet their delivery obligations. Mitchell shared a telling statistic: More water has been released from Powell in 8 of the last 10 years than has arrived into it.

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Upper-basin states must live within that hydrologic reality, said Mitchell. If its a particularly bad snow year in the upper basin, the farms and ranches with junior water rights and even the cities can get shorted. The lower basin states? Not a problem. They always get their water  at least so far. But the two big reservoirs have together lost 50 million acre-feet of stored water.

Were negotiating how to move forward in a way different place than we were negotiating 20 years ago, said Mitchell.

Upper-basin states have managed to deliver the 75 million acre-feet across 10 years that the compact specifies, but what exactly is the obligation? That has long been a gray area.

At a forum two days before Mitchell spoke in Colorado, her counterpart in Arizona, Tom Buschatzke, reiterated at a conference in Tucson that they see the compact spelling out a clear obligation of upper-basin states to deliver 75 million acre-feet plus one-half of the water obligated to Mexico.

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What if the water isnt there? Thats the crux of this dispute as the upper and lower basin states negotiate in advance of a September deadline set by the Bureau of Reclamation.

In theory, if the situation were dire enough, Colorado could stop all its post-1922 diversions to allow the water to flow downstream. But is that what those gathered in Santa Fe in the shortening days of November 1922 had in mind?

Will lawsuits toss this into the court system for resolution? That process might take decades and, if it ended up at the Supreme Court, it might not yield a nuanced outcome. Mitchell didnt address that directly, although she did say everybody on the river wants to avoid litigation.

The situation described by Mitchell and other upper-basin proponents is perhaps analogous to a divorce settlement. The settlement may call for a 50-50 split of all earnings between the partners, but what if one becomes destitute and has no money to pool?

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Upper-basin states do have reservoirs to help buffer them from short-term droughts. Altogether, however, they dont come close to matching the capacity of Powell.

Again, from the perspective of upper-basin states, California and Nevada have a sense of entitlement. Not that the upper basin states are angelic, said Mitchell. Its because they have no choice.

I say we use three to four million acre-feet less than our apportionment. It varies. You know why? Because hydrology varies. And so we respond to hydrology. Its all based on snowpack and its all gravity. Most of it is gravity dependent. We dont have those two big reservoirs above us like the lower basin does. We dont have those reservoirs to equal out the flows or allow us to overuse. We have to live with variable hydrology, and we take cuts every single year.

Upper-basin states want a willingness in this settlement for agreement that focuses on the water supply, not the demand. Common sense would tell you, maybe Mother Nature should drive how we operate the system. That, she said, is the bedrock principle of the proposal from the upper division.

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With plentiful snowfall, greater releases from Powell might be possible, said Mitchell, and in times of extreme duress, water from Flaming Gore and perhaps the Blue Mesa and Navajo too. She said there might be room for greater conservation measures in the upper basin states.

But there must be real work happening down in the lower basin, she said.

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Because of the government's lack of progress on the haredi draft bill, some coalition parties are expected to leave the government.

Shas is expected to support a motion to dissolve the Knesset, the media reported on Wednesday.

This came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded a meeting with Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein on Wednesday evening, during which the two discussed advancing the draft exemption bill, which has largely stalled, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement.

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Netanyahu will lead a meeting on Thursday afternoon that Edelstein will also attend, in addition to Shas MK Ariel Attias and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fox, the Prime Ministers Office confirmed.

This follows several haredi (ultra-Orthodox) rabbis reportedly instructing parties in the coalition to leave the government, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, pictured in 2014. (photo credit: WIKIMEDIA/Bentzionbb)

Edelstein addressed the developments in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday, writing that he did not support dissolving the Knesset and that he was seeking a solution.

I am not in favor of disbanding the coalition or dissolving the government, and I do not share in the hatred of our haredi brothers, he wrote.

Haredi parties consider leaving government

Some haredi parties are considering leaving the government over its failure to pass a law that would exempt a majority of eligible haredi men from IDF service.

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Edelstein did not reach an agreement during a meeting with representatives from the ultra-Orthodox community on Tuesday, angering the haredi faction Degel Hatorah and prompting rabbis to issue a directive to escalate threats against the government and coalition.

Haredi Lithuanian Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch said in a statement that he would likely instruct the Degel Hatorah faction to leave the coalition in the near future.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Shayla Adams-Stafford (D) will now represent District 5 on the Prince Georges County Council after defeating her republican counterpart in the countys special election, according to unofficial results from the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The special race was held to fill the District 5 seat, previously held by Jolene Ivey before she won the At-Large seat in November. The special election also elected a new county executive, a position that was left vacant when voters elected Angela Alsobrooks to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate.

As of Tuesday night, the unofficial results showed Adams-Stafford had secured 2,606 votes, or roughly 93% of the votes, with her Republican challenger, Fred Price Jr., receiving 191 votes, which is about 7%.

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Roughly 1% of the votes were write-ins, according to the results.

Aisha Braveboy projected winner for Prince Georges County executive

As Councilmember for District 5, Adams-Stafford will represent Bladensburg, Cheverly, Edmonston, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Landover, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Springdale and portions of Mitchellville, Bowie, Lanham, Hyattsville, and Landover Hills.

During her campaign, Adams-Stafford, an educator turned businesswoman, outlined her vision of lowering taxes and expanding services for seniors, pursuing community-based development, fostering union partnerships and addressing the root causes of crime.

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I am so excited for the future of our County Council and the direction we are heading with the addition of Shayla Adams-Stafford, said Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8). I was honored to serve alongside her on the Prince Georges County Board of Education where her work ethic was unmatched. I know her bold ideas and commitment to positive change will continue to shape our county for the better, and that she is prepared to hit the ground running.

Adams-Stafford is set to be sworn in on the morning of June 17, according to the Council.

DC News Now reached out to the Adams-Stafford campaign for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

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A federal sex-trafficking lawsuit against the owner/operator of a former South End Tacoma hotel has been voluntarily dismissed, court records show.

The lawsuit, filed in August, alleged that the Quality Inn & Suites failed to protect a woman, born in 1999, who was repeatedly forced between 2019 and 2021 to have sex for money at the lodging establishment on South Hosmer Street.

Attorneys for the woman and the former hotel business recently filed a notice in U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, to dismiss the case, court records show.

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The May 27 filing said that the plaintiff and the defendant, Tacoma Hotel Motel LLC, hereby give notice of voluntarily dismissal of this action without prejudice  a legal term that means the case could technically be filed again.

An attorney representing the plaintiff declined to comment this week when asked to discuss the decision to dismiss the matter. A message left for lawyers for Tacoma Hotel Motel LLC was not returned.

There was no indication in court records that the case had reached a settlement. As of January, it was anticipated to head to trial late next year.

The suit accused Tacoma Hotel Motel LLC of not timely or properly implementing industry accepted anti-trafficking policies. It also alleged that the victims trafficker had paid or compensated one or more employees to act as lookouts or informants for police activity.

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Other victims were allegedly forced to have sex for money at the hotel by the plaintiffs trafficker, who used proceeds from the illicit activity to pay for the room(s), according to the suit.

Tacoma Hotel Motel LLC denied wrongdoing and sought to dismiss the complaint in October, court records show. It said it acted at all times in accordance with federal anti-trafficking law, and it cited more than a dozen defenses, including that it had no control over actions of third parties nor any responsibility for the intentional criminal acts of another.

The former hotel at 8810 S. Hosmer St. is on a stretch of street in Tacoma that once had been clustered with lodging establishments and had grown notorious for crime. While other lodging sites have shifted to affordable housing in recent years, the Quality Inn & Suites has been used since at least September to house asylum-seeking refugees. It is being planned to be bought by the refugee advocacy organization Thrive International, The News Tribune reported last month.
LEESBURG, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said they arrested two men who robbed a Sheetz convenience store Tuesday, hours after the crime took place.

The Leesburg Police Department (LPD) said Fidel Ordonez Molina, 19, and Jose A. Rosa Munoz, 19, both of Leesburg, went into the business, located at 915 Edwards Ferry Rd., around 3:30 a.m. Investigators said one of the men implied he had a gun and that the men left the store after they got money during the robbery.

$30K in candles stolen from Fairfax County stores; 3 people arrested

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LPD said detectives were able to identify the men and arrested them around 9:30 a.m. on Plaza Street NE. Police took them to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, where they were being held without bond Tuesday afternoon.

In sharing the news of the arrests on the X platform, LPD said it was investigating similar robberies that took place in May. The first happened on May 8, around 3:45 a.m., at the same Sheetz. The second took place on May 18, around 1:10 a.m., at the Sheetz located at 601 California Dr. NE.

The Leesburg Police Department encouraged anyone with information about any of the incidetns to call 703-771-4500. People who want to remain anonymous have the option of calling the Leesburg Crime Line at 703-443-TIPS (8477) or emailing tips to PoliceInvestigations@LeesburgVA.gov.

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LITTLE BLACK, Wis. (WFRV)  One man is dead following a crash Sunday morning in Wisconsin that authorities say was caused by speed and alcohol.

According to a release from the Taylor County Sheriffs Office, Deputies responded at 6:15 a.m. to reports of a single-vehicle crash on Gibson Drive in the Town of Little Black with an injured man appearing to be ejected from his vehicle.

Deputies and other emergency responders arrived at the scene, where they found a black Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck overturned on its roof in a ditch with extensive damage to all areas.

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Langlade County Sheriffs Office looking for 14-year-old runaway

Nearby, officials say they found the driver of the vehicle, 28-year-old Eric James Doberstein from Withee, dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation determined that the Dodge truck had been going north on Gibson Drive at a high rate of speed when it veered into the east ditch and hit a driveway embankment before going airborne and landing in a field where it overturned and came to a rest on its top.

Deputies suggest speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. No other information is available, and an investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

UPDATE: As of Wednesday, June 4, Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office have an arrest warrant for the suspect who severely injured a man at a gas station in Shreveport.

CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Authorities have identified the man caught on surveillance video punching another man in the face at a gas station on Hollywood Avenue, and an arrest warrant has been issued.

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According to the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office, 33-year-old Johnathan B. Melton is the man captured on video punching a man in the face just after 8:00 p.m. on May 28.

The Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office reported that a Melton attacked a Hispanic male at a gas station located in the 1400 block of Hollywood Avenue. The suspect approached the victim from behind and punched him on the right side of the mans face while he was on the phone.

Ark-La-Tex most wanted

Investigators said that the suspect may have fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV. The Hispanic male sustained severe facial trauma and was transported to the LSU Health Science Center.

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CPSO Investigator Matthew Purgerson has obtained an arrest warrant for Melton on charges of second-degree battery after the preliminary investigation of the incident. No bond has been established for the arrest warrant.

(Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office)

If anyone recognizes the suspect in the video, please call the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Investigator, Sgt. Daniel at 318-681-0700 or Caddo/Shreveport Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Shreveport Q-Proms annual event is returning, celebrating past queers and inviting attendees to dress in their favorite outfits representing iconic figures from those times.

ShrevePride is a North Louisiana nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive and safer environment in Shreveport.

Q-Prom is a night of celebrating queerness through the ages. To gather, get loud, take up space, and carry the torch of a proud history. Expect the unexpected and come ready to create the kind of beautiful chaos that only chosen family can, details the organization.

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On Saturday, June 21st, Q-Prom guests can expect live performances from local bands, including DJ Static Shock and special guests, as well as local drag queens strutting their stuff on the runway.

ShrevePrides Q-Prom celebrates LGBTQ+, boosts local economy

They says there is no dress code this year; however, you can dress in queercore femme, drag, camp  or in the style of your favorite queer icon.

Embody that spirit by coming dressed in your favorite era, be it 1980s or 1880s. Whether you dig Debonair, Clone, Queercore, Vogue, Dilly, Drag, minimalist, maximalist  or come in the style of your favorite queer icon, ShrevePride notes this year is also anti-prom, if you do not want to dress up, they encourages attendees to come as you are.

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Q-Prom 2025 will be held at Eleven Events LLC, 1529 Texas Avenue, for a HAUS PARTY to remember. Early bird tickets are on sale for $37.10. The early bird sale ends on June 20th.

A full schedule is forthcoming, but doors will open at 7 p.m. and remain open until midnight.

While we strive to keep all ShrevePride events financially accessible, we understand that not everyone is in a position to pay for their experience. For those individuals, we have an application you can submit for consideration for the Q-Prom Scholarship Ticket program, details ShrevePride.

Their scholarship ticket applications will open soon. For the latest updates, follow ShrevePride.

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Attendees must be 16 years or older, and IDs will be checked for access to the bar.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Center, which was recently removed from a remedial program for nursing homes. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Six of South Dakotas 96 nursing homes are on the newest monthly federal list of the nations worst-rated care facilities.

Five of the facilities are eligible for a special program to improve quality of care through increased regulatory oversight, and one is already in the program.

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The eligible South Dakota facilities as of the April report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are Avantara Norton in Sioux Falls, Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau, Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village, Lake Andes Senior Living and Wilmot Care Center.

One facility, Dells Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dell Rapids, has been in the Special Focus Facility program for nearly two years. Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Center  separate from the societys similarly named Sioux Falls Village  graduated in July 2023, after spending 27 months in the program.

Nursing homes are identified by the state as special-focus facilities based on their last three standard health survey inspections. Special-focus facilities must meet more stringent criteria two times in a row to be eligible for graduation. Dells Nursing and Rehabilitation Center did not pass its most recent inspection in January, so it will restart the process toward graduation.

Because the number of special-focus facilities is capped, eligible facilities  even those that have earned CMS lowest ratings for quality  cant be named a special-focus facility until other homes in the same state already in the program are terminated from Medicare and Medicaid or improve and graduate from the program.

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Thats a process that can take several years. As a result, there are homes in each state that are eligible for special-focus status due to ongoing quality-of-care problems, but cant enroll in the program. Its also why two of the five eligible South Dakota facilities have waited more than three years as candidates: Avantara Norton and Riverview Healthcare Center.

Typically, the homes that are deemed eligible for special-focus designation have about twice the average number of violations cited by inspectors; they have more serious problems than most other nursing homes, including harm or injury to residents; and they have an established pattern of serious problems that has persisted over a long period of time.

Facility summaries

The five South Dakota homes eligible for inclusion in the Special Focus Facility program all have 1-out-of-5-star ratings from CMS.

The federal agency penalizes and fines nursing homes for serious citations or if the facility fails to correct a citation for a long period of time. A portion of fines collected are returned to the state, which can be reinvested to support nursing home residents and improve their quality of life and care.

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Following are summaries of the problems cited at each of those facilities, along with the one South Dakota facility already in the program and a facility that graduated in 2023.

Dells Nursing and Rehab Center: The 48-bed facility, operated as a for-profit corporation, has participated in the SFF program for 22 months. The home has been cited for 19 deficiencies since the start of 2024 and has been fined $67,773 in the last three years.

It was flagged for immediate jeopardy to its residents in February 2024 after a resident left the facility without staff knowledge for a third time in a year. The last two times, the patient was found wandering the facility parking lot. The first time, in June 2023, the resident was found a mile away. An alarm was set on the residents tracking device to alert staff if the resident left the facility. The home was cited for 19 deficiencies since the beginning of 2024, with about $67,800 in fines during that time.

The facility was found noncompliant for infection control in its latest state survey inspection report in March.

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Avantara Norton: The 110-bed facility in Sioux Falls is owned by for-profit company Legacy Healthcare. The home has been cited for 15 deficiencies since the start of 2024 and has been fined $175,402 in the last three years. Its been a special focus candidate for 39 months.

The home received a serious deficiency in its November 2024 report for failing to protect a resident from neglect by a certified nursing assistant. The resident was not cared for in a timely manner, possibly contributing to two skin sores. The staff member was disciplined and educated, according to the report.

The facilitys most recent inspection report in March included several citations, including a quality of life citation affecting several residents primarily due to poor call light response times and aid. In an interview, one resident told the state inspector no one cared at the facility, that he did not receive timely showers or help out of bed, and that staff response times to call lights vary from five minutes to three hours.

He and other residents said they would sometimes have to call the receptionists desk on the phone to ask her to send staff for help. Residents also said there were not enough staff to meet their needs, according to the report. Staff confirmed they occasionally experience staffing shortages. Administrators said they would require regular call light audits to review progress.

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The facilitys most recent complaint inspection in April found a registered nurse was stealing controlled substances from the facility for four months. The nurse tested positive for hydrocodone and oxycodone and admitted to the accusation.

Riverview Healthcare Center: The 49-bed facility in Flandreau, owned by for-profit company EmpRes Healthcare Management, has been cited for eight deficiencies since the beginning of 2024, including an immediate jeopardy flag for failing to respond and report abuse allegations. It has been fined $81,568 in the last three years and been a special focus candidate for 37 months.

According to the January 2025 report, a certified nursing assistant kicked a resident in the shin twice and covered another residents mouth with a washcloth to quiet them. Several staff reported their suspicions but the staff member continued working and the nursing home did not conduct an investigation or follow its abuse and neglect policy. According to the facilitys correction plan, the staff member was put on administrative leave, the administration educated staff on its abuse and neglect policy, and staff interviewed residents randomly and on a weekly basis to hear concerns or look for signs of abuse and neglect.

In its most recent state recertification inspection report from February, citations included improper ulcer prevention and improper food preparation and storage. In a complaint inspection in February, the facility was cited for quality of care problems and failing to provide a safe, clean environment, among other citations. An inspector also found hazards including rusty, exposed edges of an emergency exit door, chunks of missing floor, baseboards, wallpaper and paint, and a hole in a ceiling.

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Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village: The 177-bed nonprofit facility in Sioux Falls has been a special-focus candidate for eight months. The home has been cited three times since the start of 2024 and fined $67,504 in the last three years. It has been a special focus candidate for nine months.

The facility was flagged for immediate jeopardy to resident health in its June 2024 report because a resident left the facility without staffs knowledge twice within a few days and because another resident fell multiple times without receiving prompt assistance.

In its most recent complaint inspection report in September, the facility was investigated for alleged abuse and neglect. A staff member was written up for lack of care and false charting, for saying theyd checked in on residents and changed them when they hadnt. The staff members charting will be audited, administration said in their correction plan, and the facility will randomly audit to ensure residents received scheduled baths, toileting and repositioning according to their care plan.

Lake Andes Senior Living: The 43-bed for-profit facility in Lake Andes is affiliated with Accura Healthcare. The home has been cited 18 times since the start of 2024 and was fined $91,601 in the last three years. It has been a special focus candidate for six months.

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The home was flagged for immediate jeopardy to patient health in two citations in the September report, including not notifying four diabetic residents doctors when their blood sugar levels veered outside a normal range and failing to manage and prevent a COVID outbreak among residents. The report does not provide details on the size or results of the outbreak.

It was also cited in a September complaint inspection when a resident left the facility without supervision. The facility reviewed its policy for missing residents, ran drills among staff and audited alerting technology used by the facility.

Wilmot Care Center: The 29-bed nonprofit nursing home has been cited 17 times since the beginning of 2024 and has paid $10,377 in the last three years. The facility has been a special-focus candidate for two months.

The facility was flagged for immediate jeopardy to residents in its February 2024 report and its March 2025 report both for quality of life and care deficiencies. In March, an inspector found a water leak from the facilitys whirlpool tub next to an electrical box, which increased the risk of electrical shock to residents and staff. In February last year, a resident left the facility without staffs knowledge and was retrieved by a staff member about a half-mile away. Staff left the facilitys front door unlocked and the resident cut off their tracking and alert device before leaving the facility.

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Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Center: The 98-bed nonprofit nursing home graduated from the special-focus program in July 2023, after spending over two years on the list. It was cited for four deficiencies since the beginning of 2024 and has been fined twice for a total of $38,301 in the last three years.

The home was found noncompliant during its last state inspection report in June last year for infection prevention and control, food storage and preparation, and using expired medications.
By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) -Six men went on trial on Wednesday over an arson attack that prosecutors say was carried out on behalf of Russias Wagner mercenary group on a business in London involved in shipping goods to Ukraine.

The warehouse units torched in March last year on an industrial estate in east London belonged to Oddisey, a company that delivered packages and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including satellite equipment from Elon Musk's Starlink. Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, deny charges of aggravated arson. Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 23, and Ashton Evans, 20, deny knowing about terrorist acts but failing to disclose the information.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny told London's Old Bailey court that the arson was criminality "at the behest of foreign influence".

He said it was organised by Dylan Earl, who was "knowingly acting at the behest of the Wagner Group", banned by Britain as a terrorist organisation.

Last October, Earl admitted aggravated arson and also pleaded guilty to preparing conduct for acts which endangered life under a new National Security Act (NSA), brought in to crack down on hostile activity by foreign states.

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"It appears that Dylan Earl expressed a willingness to undertake missions of which the Leyton arson attack was the first. It is apparent that (he) knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian, interests," Penny said.

Another man, Jake Reeves, 23, pleaded guilty in November to charges of aggravated arson and admitted a charge under the NSA of obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence agency, meaning he accepted taking money from Wagner that was to be provided by Russian security services, Penny said.

He said Earl and Reeves were also involved in a plot to carry out arson attacks on the Hedonism wine shop and Hide restaurant in the upmarket Mayfair district of London, together valued in excess of 30 million pounds ($40.7 million).

Penny said the plot also involved kidnapping the owner, a high-profile Russian dissident and vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had personally driven aid trucks from Britain to Ukraine.

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In messages to the two men shown to the court, Earl said the target should be brought to him so he could be "exhiled (sic) to Russia to face prison".

In recent years, British authorities have accused Russia or its agents of being behind a number of spy plots and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe. The UK's domestic spy chief said Russian operatives were trying to cause "mayhem".

The Kremlin has denied these accusations, and its embassy in London has rejected any part in the warehouse fire, saying the British government repeatedly blames Russia for anything "bad" that happens in Britain.

WAGNER

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Wagner had been heavily engaged in the earlier part of Russia's war effort in Ukraine, until its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny against Russia's defence establishment in 2023.

Penny said the jury would hear expert evidence that the group and its activities, which included sabotage in Europe, were now under the direct command of the Russian government.

He told the court the six men on trial might have been ignorant of the political dimension and motivated by greed over the warehouse blaze, which led to an insurance claim estimated at over 1 million pounds ($1.36 million).

The jury was shown messages between the men which Penny said showed their involvement, as well as footage from security cameras and their own phones which he said showed the men travelling to the warehouse and starting the fire with petrol.

The trial, which is due to last up to five weeks, continues.

($1 = 0.7377 pounds)

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Timothy Heritage and Mark Heinrich)
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Family members of an Abilene man are pleading for help 2 months after he went missing.

Its been more than sixty days since Jeremy Neves was last seen leaving an Abilene nightclub, only to miss his shift at work the next day, prompting man-hunts across the City for weeks.

The following message was posted to social media Tuesday to mark his 2-month disappearance:

Two months.

Sixty days without answers.

Sixty mornings waking up hoping today is the day we find him.

Sixty nights spent praying for his safety, his return, and for peace.

Its been two months since Jeremy went missing, and not a single moment has passed without him in our thoughts. Every day without him is a day filled with worry, love, and a growing determination to bring him home.

Jeremy is not just a missing person. Hes a son, a brother, a friend. Hes someone who fills a room with laughter, someone whose presence brings comfort, whose absence has left a space that cant be filled.



We will not give up.

We will not stop searching.

We will not stop hoping.



But we still need your help.



Please keep sharing his story. Keep his name out there. Keep talking about him. You never know who might see something, remember something, or come forward with the one piece of information we desperately need.

Even the smallest tip could be the key to bringing him home.

If you know anything, anything at all please contact:

Abilene Police Department: 325-673-8331

Abilene Crime Stoppers: 325-676-8477

Reference Case #: 25-027158

Please help us bring Jeremy home. We miss him more than words can say.

Jeremy is described as standing 56 tall and weighs around 160 pounds. He may be wearing dark-rimmed glasses and could be driving a light colored 2002 Oldsmobile Alero.

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Anyone who knows where Neves or his vehicle may be located or who has more information on this case is asked to contact the Abilene Police Department at (325)673-8331 or Abilene Crime Stoppers at (325)676-8477. Just reference case 25-027158 for additional information.

Good information could lead to a cash reward!

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Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond. (Photo courtesy of AIRVA Photography)

As budget talks heat up in Washington, Southside Richmond resident Dana Wyatt is bracing for impact. After years of waiting for a housing choice voucher  a federally-funded program that operates like a rent coupon for qualifying tenants  she now fears she could lose it and once again become rent-burdened.

This is because a series of White House budget requests sent to Congress in May proposes deep cuts for housing programs that Virginia has long relied on to help struggling renters, first-time homebuyers, and those who are unhoused and in need of shelter. Federal housing funds also support organizations that fight housing discrimination.

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Its like a smack in the face, Wyatt said.



Federal fallout

As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and

whether to make up the difference.



Read the latest >



Even after finally receiving her voucher last year, Wyatt found it didnt offer much choice at all. She said multiple landlords turned her away, highlighting what she called the irony of the programs name. Her case is now being investigated by Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), a Richmond-based housing advocacy organization.

She worries not just for herself, but for others who could lose critical safety nets if the federal government slashes its housing support to state and local agencies.

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Thats a concern that U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, plans to raise with her congressional colleagues.

If enacted, the Trump administrations budget would eliminate or reduce funding streams from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including Community Development Block Grants, the Fair Housing Initiative Program, and the vouchers that people like Wyatt depend on.

The housing cuts are among other proposed changes to federal agencies like HUD, as Congress also explores cuts to Medicaid  which supports health insurance for low-income and disabled residents. The wishes from the White House are part of President Donald Trumps plan to reduce taxes across all income levels.

McClellan emphasized that while Trump and his Republican allies in Congress may celebrate the tax cuts for the wealthiest few at the federal level, states and localities will be forced to make up for lost federal funds  often by raising taxes themselves.

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Its all just going to flow downhill, McClellan said. States and localities are going to have to raise taxes.

The budget proposals are moving on parallel tracks in Congress. While Trumps big beautiful bill  a reconciliation package that includes Medicaid cuts  has passed the House and awaits Senate deliberation, his formal request, which includes housing aid cuts, is already under review in the Senate.

During his 2024 reelection campaign, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, a sweeping policy blueprint published by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Still, the Foundation had praised Trumps first-term record and many of the current budget proposals mirror the projects recommendations.

Chapter 15 of the project, which focuses on housing, calls for Congress to consider a wholesale overhaul of HUD that contemplates devolving many HUD functions to states and localities with any remaining federal functions consolidated to other federal agencies.

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Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) spokesman Lance Warren called the requests from the Trump administration a radical reshaping of the social safety net.

In practical terms, Warren said, it would leave localities holding the bag on promises made  from vouchers and downpayment assistance to homelessness services.

The federal government is pulling the rug out from communities like ours even as they claim to be setting the table, he said.

What HUD helps with in Virginia

(From left to right) Housing Opportunities Made Equal Director Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, and Virginia Housing Alliance Policy Director Isabel McClain discuss policy in McClellans district office in Richmond on June 2, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Nearly 200,000 homes in Virginia receive some form of support from HUD, according to an analysis from the Virginia Housing Alliance. About 50,000 of those residents use vouchers like Wyatts.

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Beyond programs for renters or first-time homebuyers, localities in Virginia also rely on federal funding to meet the temporary housing needs of residents. Nearly 6,000 Virginians receive housing and support in HUD-funded shelters. In the 2024 fiscal year, HUD allocated nearly $60 million for homelessness services in Virginia, while the state contributed about $30 million.

Other streams of federal housing funding also enable housing organizations to work with vulnerable populations. Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick, director of HOME, expressed concerns about the long-term viability of some of them.

HOME will be around to fight the fight, but we have partners around the country that are unsure what their outcomes are going to look like, he said.

To offset the $550,000 cut his organization is facing, Fitzpatrick explained that HOME has scaled back some office operations to trim costs.

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Laura Dobbs, a policy director with HOME, also shared anecdotes of clients served by the organization  assistance that could be jeopardized for others like them if HUD cuts come to fruition. For instance, she explained how HOME and Commonwealth Catholic Charities advocated for an unhoused military veteran who had been denied housing vouchers. From sleeping in a tent behind a movie theater to his legal battle to obtain a voucher, hes now celebrating a year living in his Richmond apartment, Dobbs said.

Likewise, a Community Development Block Grant supported a fund through HOME that helped with downpayment assistance for a Black first-time home owner. Reports have indicated disparities in homeownership for people of color due to a variety of factors, including the lingering impact of historically racist housing policies. Though the individual was able to afford her monthly mortgage payments, the upfront cost required to purchase a home had been a barrier until she was able to access down payment assistance through HOME.

This is because HOMEs Investment Partnership program both supports first-time homebuyers and localities efforts to build or preserve affordable housing units. Localities also utilize Community Development Block Grants for a variety of infrastructure projects, ranging from maintaining existing public housing units to creating other types of affordable housing.

What could happen if cuts are enacted?

While federal lawmakers like McClellan continue to push for or against the Trump administrations proposed funding cuts, Virginias state lawmakers are bracing for the potential fallout.

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Last month, Gov. Glenn Youngkin carved out $900 million from Virginias budget surplus as a cushion for uncertainties at the federal level. Meanwhile, members of the legislatures appropriations committees have pondered whether they will need to reconvene for a special session later this year to address federal funding shortfalls  or if those issues will dominate the 2026 legislative session.

Its possible lawmakers will focus on how to allocate the surplus Youngking withheld during negotiations over the most recent state budget.

A member of the House of Delegates Appropriations committee, Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, is working to determine what he and his colleagues might need to address.

Whats troubling is that even before this potential cut was announced, we were in a housing crisis at all levels, he added.

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Though local governments have direct influence over housing supply and affordability through tools like zoning codes and development approvals, state lawmakers from both parties have explored what levers they can pull to support or encourage local efforts. Many of those proposals, however, did not survive this legislative session  either failing in committee or falling to Youngkins veto pen.

Wyatt, the Richmond resident, is flustered by the proposal from the White House but remains hopeful that her state and local officials can keep their promises to constituents like herself.

I just hope that everything turns out okay, she said.

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says Wednesdays plane crash in Brevard County yielded no casualties.

The Brevard County Sheriffs Office confirmed the small plane went down in the Indian River around 2 p.m. It was near the Beachwood condos along River Villa Way in Melbourne Beach.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aided deputies in the rescue.

The commission says preliminary reports show two people and a dog were on board the single-engine plane. They wee all rescued safely and made it to shore.

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The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash

WFTV is gathering more information. Check back for updates.

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The U.S. Air Force says it has tested a modified 500-pound-class GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, optimized for use as an anti-ship munition as part of its Quicksink program. The service has already demonstrated a 2,000-pound-class Quicksink bomb, and the new version could offer a valuable lower-cost anti-ship weapon that bombers and tactical jets could also carry more of on a single sortie. At the same time, there are questions about the exact scope of maritime targets that a Quicksink GBU-38 might be effective against.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced the test of the GBU-38-based Quicksink munition today, but did not say when exactly it had occurred. A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber dropped the weapon over the Gulf Test Range, which the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida manages. The Air Force first unveiled the Quicksink program in 2021 after a test of the 2,000-pound-class type, which is a modified GBU-31/B JDAM.

A picture that the Air Force released of GBU-38 JDAMs being prepared for loading onto a B-2 bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri ahead of the latest Quicksink test. USAF

A picture of two 2,000-pound-class GBU-31 JDAMs loaded onto an F-15E Strike Eagle that the Air Force released in relation to past Quicksink testing. USAF

This new 500-pound [Quicksink] variant expands the B-2s targeting capabilities, providing combatant commanders with an expanded complement of innovative warfighting solutions, a press release from AFRL states. A collaborative effort between Air Force Materiel Commands Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Air Force Test Center (AFTC), and Air Combat Commands 53rd Wing enabled execution of the Quicksink live-fire tests.

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How much the 500-pound-class Quicksink munition may differ from the 2,000-pound-class type is not immediately clear.

Typical JDAMs consist of a low-drag bomb body combined with a new tail section that contains a GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance package, as well as clamp-on aerodynamic strakes. JDAM kits exist for 1,000-pound-class bombs, as well as 500 and 2,000-pound-class types. JDAMs, which can only hit static targets, can be built around various types of unguided bombs, including general-purpose high explosive and bunker-buster types.

A typical GBU-38 JDAM about to be loaded onto an Air Force F-16 somewhere in the Middle East circa 2004. USAF

A graphic showing, from left to right, a pair of 2,000-pound class JDAMs, a 1,000-pound-class version, and a 500-pound-class-type. The guidance and control tail section is also shown separately at the top. USAF

At least when it comes to the 2,000-pound-class version, the Quicksink bomb combines the JDAM kit with a new imaging infrared seeker fitted to the nose. The Air Force has said in the past that the resulting munition, which is capable of engaging moving targets, navigates to a designated area first via GPS-assisted INS before switching over to the seeker. The weapon then finds and categorizes the target by checking its length against a detailed internal reference database. The seeker then provides additional course correction data to put the bomb on a path where it is intended to detonate right next to the target ships hull, just below the waterline. Initial cueing to the target, which the launch platform or offboard sources could provide, is required. The computer-generated video below depicts a full engagement cycle.

The GBU-31-based Quicksink munition already presented a notably lower-cost option for engaging enemy ships, especially compared to traditional air-launched anti-ship cruise missiles. JDAM kits have historically cost between $20,000 and $30,000 apiece, with the unguided bombs that they are paired with adding a minimal increase to the overall price tag. AFRL has said in the past that each Quicksink seeker unit costs around $200,000, and that the goal was to drive that price point down to some $50,000 as production ramped up. For comparison, the unit cost for the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), the U.S. militarys premier air-launched anti-ship cruise missile, is around $3 million. Past U.S. military cost data has also pegged the price point of current generation AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles at around $1.4 million.

A model of the Quicksink seeker section. Joseph Trevithick

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A GBU-38-based Quicksink munition also offers important magazine depth benefits for both bombers and tactical jets. A B-2 like the one used in the latest Quicksink test can carry up to a whopping 80 500-pound-class JDAMs on a single sortie.

Loadouts for F-15E Strike Eagles, which have also been used extensively in past Quicksink testing, can often include up to nine GBU-38s. Strike Eagles have also been test loaded with as many as 15 500-pound-class JDAMs, but not necessarily with the intention to drop them all during a single mission, as you can read more about here. As a comparison, F-15Es have also been tested loaded with five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) cruise missiles, from which the LRASM is derived.

An F-15E Strike Eagle carrying 15 500-pound-class JDAMs during a test. USAF

An F-15E Strike Eagle loaded with five JASSMs. USAF An F-15E Strike Eagle loaded with five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) cruise missiles at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on May 11, 2021, as part of Project Strike Rodeo. USAF

Smaller jets like the F-16 Viper, which have more limited payload capacity overall, could also benefit greatly from access to a 500-pound-class anti-ship weapon. For instance, a typical anti-ship loadout for the Viper today includes just two Harpoons.

A Taiwanese F-16D carrying two Harpoons, as well as other missiles. Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images

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Any increased magazine depth translates to more engagement opportunities per sortie for an individual aircraft. It also means more munitions are available during a mission to employ against a single target, which could help overwhelm enemy point defenses.

For years now, there has been great interest within the Air Force and elsewhere across the U.S. military in new, lower-cost precision bombs and missiles, in general, particularly amid planning for a potential future high-end fight across the Pacific against China. Acquiring cheaper precision munitions as complements to more exquisite types is seen as essential for ensuring stockpiles are sufficiently full before such a conflict breaks out, and also to help replenish them in the event of protracted fighting. Lessons learned from recent U.S. operations in and around the Middle East, as well as observations from the ongoing war in Ukraine, have only validated this viewpoint and provided new impetus for programs like Quicksink.

The prospect of a large-scale conflict in the Pacific has also driven a broad push across Americas armed forces to expand anti-ship capabilities and capacity across the board, again with capabilities like Quicksink.

Another picture of an F-15E during previous testing of 2,000-pound-class Quicksink bombs.

Its also interesting to note here that Quicksink seeker technology is already known to have migrated to the Air Forces separate Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) effort. ERAM has been centered on the development of a low-cost cruise missile, primarily for Ukraines armed forces.

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At the same time, though far lower cost than something like the AGM-158C, modified JDAMs do not offer anywhere near the same standoff range capability to help keep the launch platform away from threats. A low-observable (stealth) platform like a B-2 or an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) would have added the ability to bring Quicksink munitions closer to their intended targets with lower risk (but not no risk) in the face of limited defenses. Non-stealthy aircraft could use Quicksink munitions to help finish off damaged small surface combatants with already degraded defenses, or employ them against targets that are less-well-defended, or even essentially defenseless, to begin with. These could include vital sealift assets and civilian cargo vessels pressed into military service. Hitting ships at anchor in port or other littoral areas, especially if they are densely congregations, could be another application for Quicksink.

Wing kits that can extend the range of JDAMs from around 15 miles up to 45 miles, depending on the weapons exact configuration and release envelope, also exist. The JDAM-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) is now a combat-proven capability as a result of their employment by Ukraines Air Force in recent years. However, this is something the U.S. military has curiously not invested significantly in for its own use. Quickstrike-ER air-launched naval mines, which leverage the JDAM-ER kit, are the only example of this capability known to be in American service today. JDAM prime contractor Boeing has also been developing a cruise missile derivative, or Powered JDAM (PJDAM), which you can learn more about here.

The 2,000-pound-class Quicksink bomb has at least demonstrated its ability to sink a civilian-type cargo ship, but the smaller size of the new version might present limitations in terms of effectiveness. At the same time, it is worth noting that 500-pound-class Quickstrike mines are in service now, and are expected to detonate further away from a targets hull. The magazine depth benefits of the GBU-38-based Quicksink munition also means that a single aircraft could more readily release a salvo of the bombs at a ship for increased effect. There are smaller maritime assets, including landing craft and other types of ship-to-shore connectors, that Quicksink bombs based on the GBU-38 could be used against, as well.

Overall, Quicksink bombs offer a way to help free up weapons like LRASM for use against targets that demand higher-end capabilities to tackle.

The Air Force is clearly interested in the potential cost and other benefits that a 500-pound-class version of the Quicksink anti-ship munition could offer, and more details about its capabilities may now begin to emerge.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
   
A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea sheds light on how the regime tightly censors content. Measures include automatically replacing popular South Korean words with regime-approved terms and recording screenshots of user activity for officials to review.

A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea has given a glimpse into how Kim Jong Uns regime censors information in the isolated and secretive country.

The phone, which was smuggled out of the country late last year by a Seoul-based media organization, Daily NK, and later obtained by the BBC, was programmed to censor certain language and record screenshots of the users activity. The smartphone does not have access to the internet as North Korea blocks information from outside the country.

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According to a BBC report, the smartphone takes screenshots of the users actions every five minutes and saves them in a file the user can see but not open. Only the North Korean authorities can open the files, allowing them to review what users are looking at.

Popular South Korean words like oppa, which literally translates to big brother but has become South Korean slang for a boyfriend, are automatically replaced with the word comrade. Users also receive a warning; in this example, it said: This word can only be used to describe your siblings.

The Korean word for South Korea is also replaced with puppet state.

This reflects a broader effort by the regime to eliminate South Korean cultural influence and control citizens, even down to how people speak.

An information war between North and South Korea

North Korea is one of the most isolated and authoritarian countries in the world and has been ruled by the Kim dynasty since its founding in 1948.

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The regime maintains strict control over its population through surveillance, propaganda, and an extensive network of informants. Citizens are cut off from the global internet, and even minor infractions, such as watching foreign media, can result in severe punishment.

Recently, South Korea has been smuggling more foreign content into the neighboring state as part of a covert information war. The aim is to expose North Koreans to the outside world, especially what life is like for people in South Korea, who experience more freedom and wealth.

South Korea and various NGOs employ multiple tactics to do this, including blaring loudspeakers at the border and secretly distributing USB sticks and SD cards filled with K-dramas, pop songs, and pro-democracy material into North Korea. The underground effort is run by NGOs like Unification Media Group (UMG).

North Korea has intensified its crackdowns in response, enforcing stricter laws, surveillance, executions, and youth crackdown squads that police citizens behavior and language.

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Efforts to smuggle the restricted information into North Korea have also been impacted by President Trumps cuts to foreign aid projects.

The administration has reduced funding for key media projects that are working on getting information into the country, like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Defense attorneys in Karen Reads second murder trial brought in a snowplow driver on Wednesday as they continue making their argument she was framed for killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe.

Read, 45, is accused of fatally striking OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow outside another officers home when she dropped him off at a party in January 2022 after the two had been drinking. Shes charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene outside Boston.

Her lawyers say OKeefe, 46, was beaten inside the home, bitten by a family dog and then left outside as part of a conspiracy by the police that included planting evidence against Read.

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A mistrial was declared last year and so far, Reads second trial has followed similar contours to the first.

SEE ALSO: Dog bite expert quizzed over officers injuries in Karen Read trial

Snowplow driver says he doesnt remember seeing a body

Snowplow driver Brian Loughran, who was on his regular route during a storm early on Jan. 29, 2022, told the defense that he saw nothing when he passed by the house several hours after OKeefe was allegedly struck by Reads vehicle around 12:30 a.m.

Canton DPW snowplow driver Brian Loughran on the witness stand during the Karen Read retrial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

OKeefe was found unresponsive outside Brian Alberts home in Canton, Massachusetts, and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy found OKeefe died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma.

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Loughran said he passed by the house several times starting around 2:45 a.m. and could see several feet in front of him inside his trucks due to its strong lights.

On the second pass, Loughran said he did see a car parked in the road in front of the house. He said he knew Albert and his family, and decided not to report the car for violating snowstorm parking restrictions as a courtesy for being a first responder.

Under cross examination, prosecutors attempted to undermine Loughrans memory, saying that the times he provided Wednesday contradict his initial testimony during the first trial. For example, prosecutor Hank Brennan pointed out that Loughran originally said he remembered the street where OKeefe was found blocked off by first responders around 5:30 a.m. but on Wednesday, Loughran said it was closer to 6:15 a.m.

RELATED: Defense continues calling witnesses in Karen Read trial

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When Brennan asked if Loughran had a foggy memory, Loughran said he did not  only that he had made a mistake.

Brennan also asked if Loughran had been threatened by a confrontational blogger known as Turtleboy to help the defenses case. Aidan Timothy Kearney, who was in the courtroom on Wednesday, has advocated heavily in support of Reads innocence. He has been charged with harassing, threatening and intimidating witnesses in the case.

Loughran said Kearney never threatened him, but the blogger did call him and did not disclose he was recording the conversation. The call was later posted online.

MORE: Karen Read Trial

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Welcome back to the Social Rundown, where you can learn about the online trends happening globally and in Texoma, too!

Want to get the latest tea or news on whats trending on social media? Tune in daily!

Elephant gets munchies in Thailand.

This is the moment a hungry wild elephant strolled into a grocery store to help himself to food on the shelves. Big Boy can be seen calmly snatching snacks and chomping away as bystanders and even the shop owner try to shoo him away. Locals in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, claim that elephants have been doing this for many years, including raiding peoples kitchens.

Goating in Oakland

Okland, California, is getting creative in hopes of preventing wildfires by coating! The boating process involves releasing hundreds of goats into an area where they can freely roam and graze on the grass.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Mecca

Starting Wednesday, June 4, the Muslim community has begun immersing themselves in religious rituals that originated over 1,400 years ago in the Saudi City of Mecca for Hajj.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has processed over 2.5 million retroactive payments for teachers, firefighters, police officers and others with public pensions who were previously locked out of retirement benefits, the agency said last week.

Signed into law by President Biden in January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act requires the agency to adjust benefits for 3.2 million people, including future and past benefits. Social Security has completed 90% of its caseload, according to its May 27 update.

Payments are going to public pension holders previously barred from collecting full benefits under the federal retirement program due to two federal policies: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Social Security Fairness Act ended these provisions, opening the door for millions to receive retroactive payments dating back to January 2024. December 2023 was the last month the WEP and GPO applied, according to the SSA.

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If you're eligible for these payments, read on for the latest from the SSA.

When will I get my retroactive payment?

The agency started issuing payments on Feb. 25. According to the SSA, beneficiaries should have received a one-time retroactive payment deposited into the bank account the agency has on file for them by the end of March 2025.

In terms of the new monthly benefits, most eligible parties should have seen payment increases starting in April. There's a one-month lag for Social Security payments, so the April payments reflected March's benefit.

What if I haven't gotten my payment yet?

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The SSA previously said that most Americans would have to wait up to a year or longer to receive their benefits. While the agency has been able to expedite payments using automation, more complicated cases need to be processed manually and will take longer as a result, according to its website.

There are about 200,000 cases that could not be processed by automation, according to the agency's spokesperson. The SSA said it expects all beneficiary records to be updated by November 2025.

Those eligible who have still not received their payment can check www.ssa.gov/myaccount or call 1-800-772-1213 to make sure the SSA has the right address and direct deposit information for them on file.

"Ensuring that SSA has the correct information allows you to get any retroactive benefits and your new benefit amount quicker," the agency says in its update.

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Social Security employees told USA Today that they have been directed to prioritize Social Security Fairness Act cases over their other work, which they warned could lead to payment delays, a claim refuted by the agency.

"SSA is not setting aside or deferring work as it prioritizes the SSFA cases," the agency's spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. "There have been no disruptions to service. SSA is committed to pay the right person the right amount at the right time."

How much will benefits increase?

The amount of the added payments hinges on a few factors, such as the type of Social Security benefit and pension a person receives. Some people will see "very little" adjustments, while others could see over $1,000 each month, according to the SSA website.

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How will I know if my monthly benefit was adjusted?

Any beneficiaries who receive a retroactive payment, or a monthly benefit adjustment, will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the change.

To learn more about your eligibility and how the Social Security payments work, visit the Social Security Fairness Act website.

What if I never applied for retirement?

If you never applied for retirement  or a spouse's benefits  due to the federal laws in place before the Social Security Fairness Act was passed, you may need to file an application. To do so, visit www.ssa.gov/apply.

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As of the week ending May 23, the agency has received over 200,000 new applications for benefits since the law passed, and has processed 87% of them, according to the SSA website.

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(NewsNation)  A study published on May 27 found that 25% of the nations population has over an hour-long drive to the nearest Social Security field office.

A Center for Budget and Policy Priorities study showed that 13.5 million seniors are affected by the lack of closer field offices, with some being further away when factoring in traffic. The previously proposed phone cuts were stopped. However, if you dont pass the anti-fraud check, you will have to go to an office.

It is estimated that these changes will require over 1.93 million additional trips to Social Security offices each year. The CBPP said that, without traffic, half of seniors are at least 33 minutes from a Social Security office.

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Family earning under $200K can only afford to live comfortably in 7 states: Report

Where seniors could face the longest driving times to Social Security offices

According to the CBPP study, in 31 states, more than 25% of seniors will face travel times of over one hour to get to a local Social Security office. In some less-populated states, this number jumps to over 40% of seniors who would need to drive more than an hour.

Growing number of Americans say tipping culture is out of control

The states in that over 40% category include:

There are other states where 25% to 39% of seniors would have to travel over an hour. Some of those states include Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.

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The driving times listed in this study dont factor in how long it can take to get an appointment or the time spent waiting for that appointment to start, according to CBPP.

Social Security staffing cuts could make appointments take longer

Back in February, it was reported that there would be major cuts in Social Security. However, the Trump administration did limit what Elon Musk could accomplish in terms of firing federal employees in March. Social Security did say that it planned on cutting 7,000 employees at one point.

Trump tax bill would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over a decade: CBO

It had been reported previously that the Department of Government Efficiency planned on closing some Social Security offices across the nation. However, at this point, that hasnt happened. The Social Security Administration also denied plans to close local field offices.

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The agency is already dealing with slower wait times. Online data from the SSA shows that only 43% of individuals are able to get a benefits appointment within 28 days. There have also been reports that the agency plans to add artificial intelligence to its phone systems. It is unclear how that could affect wait times.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are at the U.S.-Mexico border tracking drones with the same kinds of radar systems that the U.S. funded for Ukraine to help the country counter aerial threats from Russia. The presence of these radar systems on the southern border highlights the proliferation of drones and their use by Mexico-based cartels.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say that the agencys personnel have witnessed reconnaissance drones surveilling border personnel and that the agency continues to receive reporting of Mexico-based cartels utilizing armed drones against rival cartels, a spokesperson for CBP told Task & Purpose.

Because of this evolving threat, CBP works with the Department [of] Defense to maximize domain awareness for border security and officer safety of all threats, to include armed small unmanned aerial systems (drones). CBP continues to assess that currently, Mexico-based groups utilize drones to fuel intra and inter-cartel violence, the spokesperson said.

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The Department of Defense currently has around 8,500 troops supporting the Joint Task Force  Southern Border mission, providing assistance to Customs and Border personnel for logistics, vehicle maintenance, transportation, intelligence analysis, and aviation aerial reconnaissance.

A small fraction of those, anywhere from 28 to 34 soldiers who are part of a 10th Mountain Division target acquisition platoon, are manning four radars across 2,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border to detect a growing number of drones that are suspected to be used by Mexico-based cartels. The commander of U.S. Northern Command told Congress in March that there are likely more than 1,000 drones spotted every month along the border.

Across the border, drone sightings are in the thousands, so its not unusual for us to see anywhere from 30 to 50 a day, Maj. Sean Thomas, the 10th Mountain Divisions deputy fire support coordinator and the senior effects operations officer for the Joint Task Force  Southern Border mission, told Task & Purpose.

Thomas said that their role in providing CBP with air domain awareness, like drone detection and tracking, is to protect U.S. territorial integrity and JTF-SB personnel.

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Brian Finucane, a senior adviser for the U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group, a non-profit think tank, said deploying combat radar systems is a type of escalation but noted that hes not aware of any drone attacks on U.S. personnel along the border that necessitate sending them as an operational necessity.

This is a very different sort of scenario than defending U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria from drone attacks or defending Ukraine from Russian drone attacks. Were talking about a very different environment, Finucane said. It has to be seen in the broader context of the administration trying to cast immigration in military or counterterrorism terms  deploying additional troops and other military assets to the border, sending migrants to Guantanamo Bay, using military aircraft for deportation flights, invoking wartime authorities to deport or rendition migrants. This has to be seen in the broader attempt to sort of cast migrations as some sort of wartime emergency.

The radar platoon is tracking and detecting small drones along the border and developing a pattern of life analysis. The radar systems help soldiers identify information like the drones altitude, speed and size, which they send to local CPB units for awareness. The unit is also doing a more thorough analysis of how the drones are being used and where theyre going next, Thomas said.

To do this analysis, the platoon is using artillery and air defense radars that have traditionally been used in combat, some of which have even been sent to Ukraine. The radars have long been used to detect enemy artillery, like rockets and mortars, but more recently, the systems are being used in military exercises and training events to track unmanned aerial systems, UAS, or drones.

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The size of the border is unlike anything that a normal division or target acquisition platoon ever looks at and considers, so the variations in terrain and type of operating area is massive and then just the sheer volume, Thomas said.

The platoon is learning more about terrain masking and how the radars work in a range of environments: green terrain, humidity, 5,000 ft mountain elevations, arid deserts and even near larger cities, like San Diego, California or El Paso, Texas. Doing detection near more populated areas, is teaching them more about radar interference, he said.

Theres significant mountains, theres urban population centers that were as familiar with fighting in or training in so thats been an increase in what were allowed to do and see, Thomas said.

Meant for combat

The platoon operates Lockheed Martins AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar, which is used in combat to detect rockets, mortars, and artillery.

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The Q-53 is traditionally counter fire or weapons locating radar, so we use those in a defense role so that if somebody fires a missile or artillery shell at us, well see where they shot from and where its gonna land, Thomas said.

Upon arriving at the border, the platoons radar was upgraded for small UAS detection and tracking instead of just a ballistic flight path projectile, he said.

Ukraine received 20 quick reaction radars back in 2015 when Russian-backed separatists began arriving in eastern Ukraine and helped bring down units casualty rates from 47% to about 18%, Defense News reported in 2019. New contracts for Q-53 radars, $372 million worth, were included in 2023 U.S. military aid packages for Ukraine after its full-scale war with Russia began.

Soldiers are also using the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar system which is used for short-range air defense and can detect hostile planes, helicopters, drones or missiles, according to RTX (formerly Raytheon). The difference between using the Sentinel in combat and at the border, Thomas said, is that theyre purely using this to find and detect and not linking it to a Stinger missile or another weapons system meant to engage a threat.

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According to RTX, there are 300 Sentinels deployed around the world by U.S. and allied forces. Social media posts show that Ukrainians have even resorted to using mock-up versions of the American Sentinel system as decoys to deceive Russian forces.

Army Sgt. Nick Ormonde, assigned to 10th Mountain Division, completes a training exercise on the AN/TPQ-53 radar system in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Army photo by Sgt. Chase Murray.

Who are the soldiers on the border?

The dozens of soldiers who operate the radars hail from field artillery military occupational specialties for the Q-53 quick reaction radar and air defense soldiers on the Q-64 Sentinel. There are also a handful of soldiers who do maintenance and communications support assigned to the platoon.

Before heading down to the border, the soldiers took part in live drone tracking exercises at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. But it wasnt the first time that the soldiers encountered drones.

Some of the soldiers served in combat teams that were deployed to bases in Iraq and Syria, for Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. militarys ongoing mission against the Islamic State, but found themselves in the crossfire of regional escalations after Israel declared war on Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, Maj. Rachel Jeffcoat, a spokesperson for the 10th Mountain Division, told Task & Purpose.

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For months, American troops came under hundreds of rocket, mortar and drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias, including the Tower 22 drone attack in Jordan, which killed three Reserve soldiers and injured over 100 troops. Three of the divisions soldiers were recognized for shooting down at least 28 one-way attack drones during their deployment, with each getting five kills to earn ace status.

The radar platoon at the border had also practiced flying, tracking and shooting drones down and testing the radar systems in a November exercise at their home base at Fort Drum, New York.

We constantly provide a home station kind of a training download and update across the division every time one of the brigades comes back of hey this is what were seeing this is the new system we use, this is how it worked, Thomas said.

The latest on Task & Purpose
SOMERSET, Pa.  Six residents from across Somerset County have been selected to review requests for help from a newly created disaster recovery fund.

They all have reputations for serving their communities  in many cases, providing help in times of need, the Somerset County commissioners said.

The list includes business leaders, longtime fire department volunteers, a pastor and two local emergency management coordinators. They will review grant applications to select residents and businesses eligible for flood recovery aid, the board said.

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The review board approved by the commissioners Tuesday includes:

 David Berkey, of Jenner Township, is a Somerset County Fair board president who owns an excavating business and is active in Jenner Township Baptist Church.

 Lance Bittner, of Berlin, is a local Boy Scouts of America leader who has spearheaded toy drives and assisted with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in South Carolina.

 The Rev. Matthew Deal, of Somerset, is the pastor at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, serves on the United Way of the Southern Alleghenies board and previously served as president of the outreach group Somerset Area Ministries.

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 Gerald Parry, of Berlin, is a former fire chief in his hometown and a founding member of the countys hazardous materials team who serves as Berlins local emergency management coordinator.

 Robert Statler, of Windber, retired this month as fire chief with the city of Johnstown and is a longtime member of Windbers fire department. A longtime paramedic, he also serves on the Cambria County Swift Water Rescue Team.

 Harvey Wetzler, of Addison, serves as emergency management coordinator for Addison Borough and the surrounding township. He is also a Somerset County Swift Water Rescue Team member, hazmat team member and Community Organizations Active in Disasters member.

The county commissioners each selected one member, while Somerset County Emergency Management Agency officials selected the other three  Bittner, Statler and Wetzler.

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A history of community service was a key consideration for us. We wanted people who understand the need to support their community, said Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes, who selected Deal to serve on the committee.

Commissioner Irv Kimmel Jr., who nominated Berkey, said the goal was to get people involved from all ends of the county. He described the committee as a great group of individuals.

The commissioners established the recovery fund to support southern Somerset County in the aftermath of a devastating May 13 flood  but said they wanted to leave the application review and award process to the community itself to manage.

The six-member committee will work alongside the nonprofit Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, which is accepting donations and grant applications. The Community Foundation will also manage the fund as it continues to grow, the commissioners have said.

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As planned, committee members could begin reviewing requests for aid and issue awards in the next few weeks, the commissioners said.

Municipal leaders in eight communities that have issued disaster declarations will be able to file applications on behalf of residents and businesses in their communities that sustained losses, the commissioners have said.

Kimmel said there is no specific limit on the amount an entity can request  but the review committee is working with a limited amount of funds and will likely have a goal of supporting as many qualified people as possible.

Now that the county has received approval for state and federal emergency loans and grants, including low-interest Small Business Administration loans, there are multiple levels of support available for properties that suffered damages and losses in the flood.

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Each government program has its own unique stipulations for how money can be spent  such as for home repairs or temporary housing assistance  and who is eligible. The state Disaster Relief Program, for example, has income eligibility requirements.

But even with multiple sources of aid, in addition to property owners insurance plans, the commissioners said they know there will be gaps where people will have to absorb losses from the flood.

There are going to be unmet needs, Tokar-Ickes said, and thats what this fund is intended for.

As of Tuesday, Tokar-Ickes said approximately $40,000 was raised through the disaster recovery fund, including $10,000 from the CFA and a $10,000 pledge from Somerset County through hotel tax and Act 13 natural gas impact fee revenues.

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The commissioners have designated the countys $10,000 contribution to municipal agencies  such as borough or township governments  in communities that are working to recover from the flood.

The hope is that the relief funds total will continue to grow, Kimmel, Tokar-Ickes and President Commissioner Brian Fochtman said.

They said an annual fundraiser event is being considered to raise awareness and support for the fund, which will be ongoing to provide support after future disasters.

Hopefully, theres never a next time,  Kimmel said, but unfortunately, there probably will be.

Contributions to the Disaster Recovery Fund can be made at www.cfalleghenies.org/fund/somerset-county-recovery.

Tokar-Ickes said a link will also be posted online in the near future to apply for funds.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Two North Carolina widows say theyre heartbroken and frustrated after filing a federal lawsuit in February against a Myrtle Beach-based aviation company that may be liable for the deaths of their husbands.

As much as we dont want to go to trial, we will do anything for justice, widow Toni Titone said.

Terry Druffel and Barrie McMurtrie died in a single-engine plane crash in a wooded area outside of Conway in September 2022.

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Almost six hours after the crash, widow Linda Druffel says the Horry County coroner called her and Toni Titone to tell them their husbands died at the scene. The widows told News13 the plane was in flames when it crashed.

They say authorities could not identify their husbands until they found McMurtries logbook.

This is the only thing I have left of my husband, Linda said, holding the center of her necklace. Its his wedding ring from that crash.

The widows wrongful death and negligence lawsuit says Druffel and McMurtrie flew McMurtries single-engine Piper PA-28R on September 14, 2022. The lawsuit claims Myrtle Beach-based Executive Helijet Aviation worked on that plane months earlier.

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Linda says experts who examined the plane told her, within about 10 minutes of the flight, oil started leaking from the engine.

When Druffel and McMurtrie tried to land in a landfill area, their right wing hit a tree.

Titone and Linda say their husbands were experienced pilots. McMurtrie flew for 30 years.

Druffel spent 24 years in the Navy as a helicopter pilot and 25 years with his commercial pilots license.

My nephews, today, just got their private pilots licenses because of Uncle Terry, who started flying with them when they were little boys, Linda said.

In its final report in December 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board said the probable cause of the crash was the mechanics failure to install a required gasket on the vacuum pump drive pad, which led to a loss of engine power.

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Linda said 16 months before Druffel and McMurtrie died, another pilot crashed and died after Executive Helijet Aviation allegedly put equipment into his plane upside down.

Three wonderful pilots, three wonderful men, were killed because of their negligence, Linda said.

Titone says Executive Helijets insurance company initially offered her and Linda a $2 million policy. However, the insurance company eventually told the widows they would not be getting that money.

Linda and Titone are suing the aviation company for more than $75,000.

We didnt just lose our husbands, Titone said. We lost a lot of financial stability, and we lost love.

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We lost something you can never replace, Linda added.

In response to the widows complaint, Executive Helijet Aviation denies any liability for the crash.

News13 reached out to Executive Helijets lawyer, but we have not heard back.

Court records show jury selection is set for March 2, 2026.

* * *

Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The son of a New Albany churchs leaders pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to additional charges including rape, according to court documents.

Gary Keesee Jr., the son of Faith Life Church senior pastors Gary and Drenda Keesee, pleaded not guilty to charges contained in a superseding indictment that was filed in May. He previously pleaded not guilty to the original charges in April. Watch previous coverage in the player above.

Keesee Jr.s previously issued $2 million bond with no 10% provision was continued, according to the documents. He must deposit $5,000 to the Clerks office for a GPS monitoring device before he can leave jail, and is not allowed to have contact with the alleged victims. He must also surrender his drivers license and passport.

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A rare COVID-19 strain disappeared overnight. We still dont know which Ohioan had it

On April 21, Keesee Jr., 36, was indicted on 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Keesee Jr., a former member of the church staff, was arrested 10 days prior in Johnstown by deputies with the Licking County Sheriffs Office. At the time of his arrest, he was charged with two counts of rape out of Mount Vernon Municipal Court.

The date range for the charges spans from 2001 to 2012 with a Licking County prosecutor saying the ages of the victims ranged from 6 to 15 at the time of the alleged offenses.

The superseding indictment lists the 32 total allegations along with the following date ranges:

Dates Charge (counts) Nov. 2001-May 2004 Rape (5) Nov. 2001-May 2004 Gross sexual imposition (5) Oct. 2002  Nov. 2006 Rape (5) Oct. 2002  Nov. 2006 Gross sexual imposition (3) Dec. 2004  Nov. 2006 Gross sexual imposition (1) Nov. 2006  Oct. 2008 Rape (1) Nov. 2006  Oct. 2008 Gross sexual imposition (2) Oct. 2008  Oct. 2011 Unlawful sexual conduct with minor (5) June 2008  June 2012 Rape (2) June 2008  June 2012 Gross sexual imposition (3)

In February, the Knox County Sheriffs Office asked the Licking County Sheriffs Office to investigate the church for allegations of sexual abuse of minors because Drenda Keesee serves as a Knox County commissioner.

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Ohioans can soon buy over twice as much nonmedical marijuana

Drenda Keesee has also published several books, including one titled They Are Coming For Your Children, which is described as a wake-up call to parents and the nation to confront and combat what is nothing less than every offensive evil that hell can unleash against the children of this generation. From transgenderism, to critical race theory to sex-trafficking, satan is bent on destroying this generation because they are destined to bring in worldwide revival and usher in the return of Jesus Christ.

Keesee Jr.s jury trial is expected to begin on July 1, according to the Knox County Clerks 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Dutch telco KPN claims to be the first European telecoms provider to offer native Real Time Text (RTT) technology to its mobile customers during phone calls.

RTT is text transmitted instantly as it is typed or created, enabling recipients to immediately read the message while it is being written, without waiting.

The technology allows users to send text messages during an ongoing phone call, without the need to wait for the recipient to pick up.

However, in order to successfully implement RTT across networks without the need for separate apps or data connections, service providers need to build it directly into devices and networks - Native RTT.

Native RTT has been deployed in North America since late 2023, and KPN is the first to offer it in the Netherlands.

RTT callers press a Real Time Text button during or before a call, bringing up an on-screen keyboard, enabling both the caller and recipient to send live text messages, without needing to press a send button.

"By introducing RTT, KPN is taking proactive steps to meet the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which aims to enhance the accessibility of telecommunications services," the Dutch telco says.

"Since not all device manufacturers and providers are ready to support RTT yet, the feature is currently available only for KPN customers."

Marieke Snoep, member of the Board of Directors at KPN, said RTT is a valuable addition to the telco's accessibility services.

"It supports our mission for a Better Internet  one that is not only fast and stable but also safe, green, and inclusive," Snoep said.

"Everyone must be able to participate, and RTT ensures that.

Samsung devices will be the first cab off the rank to receive the new texting feature, with KPN promising RTT will be available for handsets from other manufacturers soon.
Indias recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, alongside Chinas growing dominance over regional water resources and infrastructure, has heightened tensions in South Asia, one of the worlds most water-stressed regions. Those geopolitical strains are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which have altered weather patterns in an area that is home to nearly a quarter of the worlds population.

Most of those inhabitants depend heavily on rivers fed by the mountains of the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan system. Those ranges are collectively known as the worlds Third Pole for their vast frozen reserves of glaciers, which are second only to the Arctic and Antarctic. But their glaciers are vanishing, with downstream implications for the rivers they feed.

A report released last month by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, or ICIMOD, showed that the region recorded its lowest snow persistencethe duration that snow remains on the groundin 23 years, threatening water availability in major arteries like the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. Earlier, ICIMOD also warned that up to 80 percent of the regions glaciers could disappear by the start of the next century, affecting the long-term stability of South Asias water systems.

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The findings underscore the rising climate stress on a region already facing rapid glacial retreat, erratic weather patterns and recurrent floods. South Asia is a global climate hot spot, and the regions children may be the ones who will have to pay the price. Astaggering 347 million children under the age of 18 are already exposed to high or extremely high water scarcity in South Asia, the highest number among all regions in the world, according to a UNICEF report.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

As climate change and geopolitical tensions converge, experts warn that the regions fragile hydro-politics could be entering a dangerous new era.

According to a recently published study, a total of 1,158 water conflicts, including domestic and international, occurred in transboundary river basins in Asia from 1948 to 2022. Among these, the Jordan and Tigris-Euphrates/Shatt Al-Arab River basins in West Asia had the highest number of conflicts, followed by South Asias Indus River basin. The study, which looks at water resources as a trigger for and casualty of conflict, also noted a significant upward trend across the period studied, with a positive correlation between water stress and conflict.

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And as the recent tensions between India and Pakistan as well as broader trends in Chinas hydro-politics show, water is also becoming increasingly weaponized in the context of geopolitical rivalry.

Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty

On April 22, a horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam in India-controlled Kashmir killed 26 civilians, most of them male Hindu tourists. In addition to launching military strikes in response, the Indian government announced that it will be putting the Indus Waters Treaty, or IWT, in abeyance, accusing Pakistan of failing to prevent cross-border terrorist attacks originating from its territory.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Indias water must serve India first, while Islamabad warned that any move to restrict water flow would be treated as an act of war.

Tensions de-escalated after the nuclear-armed neighbors and bitter rivals reached a mutual understanding on May 10 to halt all military actions. Yet, the IWTone of the rare examples of cooperation between India and Pakistan, even during past periods of open hostility and warremains suspended.

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In the short term, this will not drastically affect Pakistans water supply. India lacks sufficient storage capacity on the western Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers to cut off the flow of their waters immediately. However, New Delhi is reportedly actively exploring infrastructure projects that could reduce downstream flows over time.

Such projects could have profound consequences. Pakistan depends on the Indus River system for nearly 80 percent of its agriculture. It also relies on upstream data provided by India to manage floods, forecast droughts and plan irrigation cycles. Without timely information on river flows and dam releases, Pakistans ability to generate hydropower, ensure drinking water supplies and maintain food security could be severely compromised.

Regional Precedent?

The suspension of the IWT has also raised alarm bells about the status of other water-sharing agreements in South Asia. India has multiple bilateral treaties, including the Mahakali Treaty and Kosi River accord with Nepal, and the Teesta water-sharing deal with Bangladesh. While these arrangements differ in scope and legal architecture, many are politically sensitive and depend on goodwill rather than enforceable international norms.

Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst, told World Politics Review that other neighboring states will likely see the suspension of the IWT through the prism of Indias unique relationship with Pakistan. Still, he pointed to the precedent this could set as a source of at least some fear. If India is willing to back out of a World Bank-mediated treaty, something thats viewed as such a big success story, he added, what could it then do when it comes to other treaties that are not seen through such a prestigious, high-stakes lens?

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That fear looms especially large in Bangladesh, where tensions with India over water-sharing have been brewing for years. The Ganga Water Treaty, signed in 1996, is due for renewal in 2026. But relations between the two neighbors have soured since the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in 2024 amid popular protests over her increasingly authoritarian rule.

As the recent tensions between India and Pakistan as well as broader trends in Chinas hydro-politics show, water is becoming increasingly weaponized in the context of South Asias geopolitical rivalries.

Water tensions are also rising in drought-prone Afghanistan, where the Taliban-led government has revived dam and canal construction projects on key rivers like the Helmand, Amu Darya, Harirud, Kabul and Kunar. These initiatives have drawn sharp criticism from downstream neighbors like Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan, which have accused Kabul of using water as a bargaining chip in other negotiations over energy, trade and security.

With Afghanistans water insecurity growing and diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime still limitedeven as climate change disrupts water resources in South and Central Asiathe risk of water disputes escalating into broader confrontations remains high, as was already seen in the 2023 border clashes between Afghanistan and Iran.

Looming China

Meanwhile, a far more powerful upstream player continues to shape South Asias hydro-politics: China. Beijing has refused to join any regional water-sharing frameworks, while investing heavily in dam-building, hydropower and infrastructure projects across the region.

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As such, it has positioned itself as a key actor in the management of the Teesta River, which flows from India into Bangladesh and remains a source of vexation between New Delhi and Dhaka. China is also involved in several hydroelectric projects in Nepal, despite Indian opposition, as it jostles for influence in the region.

Beijing, which enjoys longstanding military and economic ties with Islamabad, has also ramped up the construction of its flagship Mohmand Dam in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwestern Pakistan, according to a report by SCMP.

Though India is upstream from Pakistan on the Indus River, the river originates in Tibet, under Chinese control, sparking concerns of China using water as a geopolitical tool, something it has done in the past. For instance, after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, China blocked the Galwan River, an Indus tributary, causing water shortages in parts of India.

Beijings most ambitious project, however, lies on the Yarlung Zangbo, known downstream in India as the Brahmaputra River. Late last year, Beijing announced plans to construct the worlds largest hydroelectric dam on the river. Once operational, the dam will give China unprecedented control over water flows into northeast India and Bangladesh, triggering fears about flash floods, droughts and even strategic manipulation of river flows in times of tension.

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In response, India has revived its own plans to construct a mega-dam on the Siang River, a major Brahmaputra tributary in Arunachal Pradesh that also feeds the Yarlung Zangbo. While framed as a defensive measure to counteract Chinese infrastructure, the race to dam Himalayan rivers carries enormous ecological risks. The region is prone to devastating earthquakes and landslides, and major dam failures could threaten millions of lives.

As the effects of climate change intensify and political tensions deepen, the failure to strengthen regional institutions and modernize treaties could push already fragile arrangements past their breaking point. Water has long been a shared lifeline in South Asia. But unless it is protected, it may also become a fuse leading to conflict.

Bansari Kamdar is an India-based journalist and researcher. Prior to this, she was the Europe, Middle East and Africa editor at Reuters, and she has also written for The Boston Globe, The Diplomat and Huffington Post, among other outlets.

The post South Asias Rivals Are Weaponizing Water for Geopolitical Gain appeared first on World Politics Review.
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW)  A South Carolina man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to shooting at police during 2023s Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach, the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office said.

Chance Benson, 20, of Spartanburg, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, first-degree assault and battery, and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. Circuit Court Judge David P. Caraker sentenced Benson to 10 years in prison.

Police responded to a call about individuals brandishing guns at about 11 p.m. on June 10, 2023, according to the solicitors office. When officers arrived, Benson and a co-defendant ran from a police vehicle.

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When police found them, Benson and his co-defendant fired almost 30 shots at officers with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the solicitors office said. One officer was shot during the incident but has since recovered.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A male ring-necked pheasant. (Photo by Travel South Dakota)

Hunters bagged more pheasants last fall in South Dakota than they have for 13 years, the state department of Game, Fish and Parks said Thursday.

More than 1.3 million roosters were harvested during the 2024 pheasant hunting season, the department said, with another 380,000 harvested within defined shooting preserves.

The 2024 South Dakota pheasant season was absolutely spectacular, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden said in a press release.

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South Dakota, the governor said, is truly the greatest state to pheasant hunt. The state saw more roosters harvested in two weeks of October 2024 than any other state during their entire season, the release says.

South Dakotas postseason pheasant harvest figures come from 15,000 random surveys of resident hunters and 13,000 nonresident hunters, the Mitchell Daily Republic reported Tuesday. Questions include the number of days hunted, areas hunted and how many birds were harvested are all part of the survey.

More than a million birds have been harvested in each of the past five years in South Dakota, but Upland Game Biologist Alex Solem of the parks department told the Republic that 2024 stood out.

Our over-winter survival was absolutely phenomenal, Solem told the Mitchell publication. It was certainly evident just driving around this spring, tons of roosters crowing everywhere, lots of hens selecting those roosters for mating purposes.

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Pheasant hunting is an economic engine for South Dakota. Pheasants Forever, a private conservation organization, put the financial impact of the 2023 pheasant season on the states economy at $281 million.

The release from Game, Fish and Parks on Tuesday did not include a financial impact estimate of the 2024 pheasant season, instead focusing on bird harvest numbers. Hunters averaged approximately nine birds per hunter, said Kevin Robling, secretary for the parks department.

Habitat and access have been a top priority for the department, and that has played a key role in both abundant bird numbers and ample locations for hunters to target them, Robling said in the press release.

Landowners and farmers partner through habitat programs to open conservation land, using programs offered by the State of South Dakota, the federal government, and multiple conservation groups.

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Pheasants Forever partnered with the state in 2023 to pay landowners additional stipends for enrolling land in conservation programs, with the goal of adding 10,000 acres a year.

In the press release on the 2024 pheasant harvest, Robling pointed specifically to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on the James River and Big Sioux River valleys, which provides the benefits of the long-standing Conservation Reserve Program, but also ensures access for hunters.

These CREP lands are directly in the primary pheasant range and provide high quality grassland habitat and access as well, added Robling.

The 2025 pheasant season in South Dakota will take place Oct. 18 to Jan. 31, 2026.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Images from the election of South Korea's new president, liberal Lee Jae-myung, are everything youd expect to see in one of the worlds most vibrant democracies.

Peaceful. Orderly. And, because this is South Korea, compulsively eye-catching, with crowds singing raucously along to blaring K-pop, dancers bouncing in closely choreographed sequences, and color-coordinated outfits for the two front-runners and their supporters  blue for Lee, who was inaugurated Wednesday for a single, five-year term, red for the distant runner-up, conservative Kim Moon Soo.

What the pictures dont capture is the absolute turmoil of the past six months, making Tuesday one of the strangest  and, possibly, most momentous -- election days since the country emerged in the late 1980s from decades of dictatorship.

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Since Dec. 3, South Koreans have watched, stunned, as an extraordinary sequence of events unfolded: Then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, a first since the dictatorship. In response, lawmakers, leaping fences and jostling with heavily armed soldiers, elbowed their way into a besieged parliament to vote the declaration down. Yoon was then impeached and removed from office and now, just two months after his fall, another president has taken office.

Here is a look at Lees victory, the startling events that set up the election, and the challenges Lee faces to heal a nation split along a host of political and social fault lines.

Where do these divisions come from?

They are, in a way, older than the nation.

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The Korean Peninsula was initially divided into a Soviet-backed north and U.S.-backed south after World War II. The states formalized the division in 1948, and the 1950-53 Korean War made it permanent, dividing the rivals along the Demilitarized Zone, one of the most heavily armed borders in the world.

But the tensions go beyond geography. During the long fight for democracy during South Korea's dictatorships, several fractures arose that persist today: the contentions between liberals and conservatives, but also gaps between rich and poor, old and young and men and women.

Since the end of dictatorship, over and over the country has seen its democracy tested.

By its own leaders.

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By its antagonistic neighbor to the north.

By each new generations reaction to a tumultuous history of forced geographic division, war, dictatorship, and one of the most breakneck economic turnarounds in world history.

Preceding Tuesdays election, thousands of protesters took to the streets, both supporting the deposed Yoon and denouncing him.

Above all, the president must bring unity among a divided and confused public, which was caused by the martial law declaration, Park Soo Hyun, a 22-year-old student, said Wednesday.

What can we expect from a Lee administration?

Lee's party has a majority in parliament that will presumably allow the new president a freer hand in pushing through liberal legislation, including more funding for welfare programs and policies to address high living costs, joblessness and corruption.

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Typically, liberals like Lee have been more wary of South Korea's traditional allies, the United States and Japan, than conservatives. They have also often looked for reconciliation with North Korea.

The United States sees South Korea as a crucial buttress against China and Russia and North Koreas growing nuclear capabilitie s. The South hosts nearly 30,000 U.S. troops.

Lee, however, will have to find a way to keep his liberal base happy while managing the relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened Seoul with tariffs and has generally been lukewarm about the importance of the alliance.

Lee has also been dogged by a raft of corruption cases, and its not yet clear how much of a drag those will be on his presidency.

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"I will make sure there is no more military coup detat, in which the power entrusted by the people would never be used to intimidate people, Lee said in his victory speech early Wednesday morning, referring to the martial law decree.

So is South Korea past the worst or can we expect more turmoil?

Experts say it's a little of both. The last half-year has worsened already raw divisions, even as it highlighted the underlying strength of a rough-and-tumble democratic process.

Fierce ideological divisions still infuse politics, which could impede South Koreas chances to grow into a truly mature democracy," Duyeon Kim, a visiting professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, wrote recently for the Council on Foreign Relations.

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But Tuesdays vote and Wednesdays inauguration signaled a return to a more normal democracy.

And even the crisis itself showed the resiliency of South Korea's institutions.

A crowd helped lawmakers get past troops and into parliament to overturn the martial law decree. The soldiers who carried out Yoons orders did so without enthusiasm and didnt use force against the people, John Delury, a Korea expert and visiting professor at John Cabot University, said Tuesday.

Korean democracy is in the peoples hands, he said, not any one persons, even the new president's. Lee enters office with a strong mandate. But he is not the savior of democracy," said Delury. "Korean people saved it themselves. Now they are entrusting him not to do any more damage to it for the next five years.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas new President Lee Jae-myung vowed Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan, as he laid out key policy goals for his single, five-year term.

Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Koreas leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year.

In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with North Korean nuclear threats and its potential military aggressions with strong deterrence based on the South Korea-U.S. military alliance. But he said he would open a communication channel with North Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.

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He said hell pursue pragmatic diplomacy with neighboring countries and boost trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation.

"Through pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, we will turn the crisis posed by the major shift in global economic and security landscapes into an opportunity to maximize our national interests, Lee said.

Security and economic challenges lie ahead

It was unclear whether Lees election would cause any major, immediate shift in South Koreas foreign policy. Lee, previously accused by critics of tilting toward China and North Korea and away from the U.S. and Japan, has recently repeatedly stressed South Koreas alliance with the U.S. as the foundation of its foreign policy and avoided any contentious remarks that would raise questions on his views on the U.S. and Japan.

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Well have to now see if the pressures of office will cause Lee Jae-myung to govern from the center  at least when it comes to matters of national security and the alliance with the United States, said Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Its hard to predict with absolute certainty how he will deal with the U.S., North Korea, Japan and China because hes changed his position so much, said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Washington-based Center for a New American Security. We can expect tensions if his government doesnt align with Washingtons approach to China and Japan.

The toughest external challenges awaiting Lee are U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff policy and North Koreas expanding military partnerships with Russia. But experts earlier said whoever becomes president cant do much to secure major progress in South Koreas favor on those issues.

US, Japan and China react

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The U.S. and Japan said they congratulated Lees election and expressed their commitments to developing three-way cooperation.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he wants to hold summit talks with Lee as early as possible, saying he hopes to further promote bilateral ties, both public and commercial. The U.S. State Department said that Seoul and Washington share an ironclad commitment to the alliance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent a congratulatory message to Lee, saying that Beijing is willing to work with Seoul to advance their cooperative partnership for the benefit of the countries peoples, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Its unclear how North Korea would react to Lees speech, as it has shunned any talks with South Korea and the U.S. since 2019. North Korea in recent years has supplied weapons and troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine, and South Korea, the U.S. and their partners suspect Russia might in return transfer high-tech technologies to North Korea to help it perfect its nuclear weapons program.

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Russias Tass news agency said Wednesday that top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu has arrived in Pyongyang for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in the latest sign of the countries booming exchanges.

Lee has said he would support Trump's moves to restart nuclear diplomacy with Kim Jong Un as part of efforts to engage with North Korea. North Korea hasn't publicly responded to Trump's outreach.

Lee and Trump would personally want to resume dialogue with Kim Jong Un. But North Korea has no incentive to talk to Washington or Seoul, said Duyeon Kim, the analyst. Pyongyang has Beijing and Moscows support both politically and economically, and can buy a lot of time to further perfect its nuclear weapons.

Later Wednesday, Lee nominated former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, a dove who favors greater rapprochement with North Korea, as his spy chief. The nomination is likely related to Lee Jae-myung's hopes to reopen talks, as the National Intelligence Service previously played a behind-the-scene role to promote ties with North Korea, observers say.

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Lee Jae-myung also nominated his key political ally and veteran lawmaker Kim Min-seok as prime minister, the government's No. 2 job. Lee is expected to nominate other top Cabinet members in coming days.

South Korea still faces political divide

Lee called for unity to address the countrys stark political divide deepened after Yoon's martial law debacle, saying that he will answer the peoples solemn call to let hope bloom over deep and painful wounds."

Lee still promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Yoons martial law imposition, describing it as a rebellion that seized peoples sovereignty with arms.

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Lee said revitalizing a slowing domestic economy would be his top priority and that his government would immediately launch an emergency task force to wage a head-on battle against the threats of recession. He also promised more aggressive government spending to help spur economic activity.

South Koreas central bank last week cut its key interest rate and sharply lowered its growth outlook for 2025 to 0.8%, as it moved to counter Trumps tariff hikes and weak domestic demand worsened by recent political turmoil.

Lee also reiterated his campaign vows to reduce inequality, saying that the polarization fueled by inequality is now hindering further growth.

Lees term began immediately without the usual two-month transition period after the National Election Commission formally confirmed his election victory. Before his inauguration, Lee visited the national cemetery in Seoul to pay his respects to late Korean leaders, patriots and war dead who are buried there, and he had a telephone call with Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Kim Myung-soo to call for military readiness against possible North Korean aggression.

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Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Winning a tense election that capped off months of political turmoil, new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung described his victory as the start of the countrys return to normalcy following the crisis sparked by then-conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeols imposition of martial law in December.

But the outspoken liberal, who assumed office immediately on Wednesday without a transition period, takes the helm during a highly challenging time for the country, which has struggled mightily to revive a faltering economy battered by months of political paralysis and compounded by U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff hikes.

Lee also inherits from Yoon the escalating threat of North Koreas nuclear ambitions, now further complicated by Pyongyangs deepening alignment with Moscow over Russian President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine.

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Heres a look at the key challenges facing Lees government:

Addressing a slow economy and Trumps tariffs

In his inauguration speech, Lee identified the economy as his top priority, vowing to immediately launch an emergency task force to wage a head-on battle against the looming threat of recession and to boost government spending to jumpstart economic activity.

South Korean economic institutions have repeatedly sounded the alarm in recent months over the state of the economy, citing sluggish business investment, weak consumer spending, a deteriorating job market and a trade environment worsened by Trumps tariffs and other America-first policies.

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Despite the countrys strikingly high household debt, the central bank last week lowered borrowing costs in a desperate bid to inject more money into the economy and slashed its 2025 growth forecast to 0.8%, which would be the weakest since a 0.7% contraction during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

Lee wont have much time to negotiate with Washington before July 9, when Trumps 90-day pause in global reciprocal tariffs is set to expire, potentially exposing South Korean products to 25% tax rates.

Although a U.S. federal court recently ruled that Trump lacks authority to impose his planned tariffs, the White House has appealed, leaving the outcome uncertain. Trump has also pushed for product-specific tariffs on key sectors like autos and semiconductors, which make up a major share of South Korean exports. Trump could also seek a broader deal requiring Seoul to pay significantly more for the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to deter North Korean threats.

While Seouls previous government had aimed to reach a package deal with Trump by early July, Lee has preached patience on tariffs, saying it would be against national interests to obsess with an early agreement.

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Navigating North Koreas nuclear threat

In his inaugural address, Lee promised to reopen a communication channel with North Korea to ease tensions. But prospects for the early resumption of dialogue between the rival Koreas are dim, as North Korea has been constantly rejecting dialogue offers by South Korea and the U.S. since 2019, when talks between Washington and Pyongyang collapsed over disagreements on economic sanctions.

North Koreas priority in foreign policy is now firmly Russia, which has received thousands of North Korean troops and large amounts of military equipment in recent months for its warfighting in Ukraine.

During campaigning, Lee acknowledged that it would be very difficult to arrange a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un anytime soon, though its something he will seek. Lee said he would support Trumps efforts to restart nuclear diplomacy with Kim, saying that improved ties between Pyongyang and Washington could allow aid projects for the impoverished North that will likely require South Korean support.

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Lee nominated former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, a dove who espouses reconciliation with North Korea, as his spy chief. The nomination likely reflects Lee Jae-myungs hopes to revive inter-Korean dialogue, given the behind-the-scene roles of the National Intelligence Service played to reach out to Pyongyang under the past liberal governments.

However, many experts also note that Lee Jae-myung does not share the same level of Korean nationalist zeal as his liberal predecessors, and they question how firmly he would stick to his appeasement approach if provocative actions by North Korea, such as high-profile missile tests or border incursions, undermine public support for his policy at home.

Committing to US alliance and pragmatic diplomacy

Lee was previously accused by his critics of tilting toward Pyongyang and Beijing and away from Washington and Tokyo. He once slammed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea as a source of tensions and likened strengthening U.S.-Japan ties to a 1905 Washington-Tokyo agreement that he said eventually helped Japan colonize the Korean Peninsula.

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But Lee has recently refrained from making similar contentious comments, instead repeatedly pledging to pursue pragmatic diplomacy. He has vowed to enhance South Koreas alliance with the U.S. and their trilateral cooperation with Japan, while also emphasizing the need to reduce tensions with North Korea and avoid frictions with China and Russia.

While Lee may eventually take steps to improve ties with North Korea and China  relations that deteriorated under Yoon, who prioritized the U.S. and Japan  experts say Lee is unlikely to take drastic actions that might undermine the alliance with Washington or negatively impact South Korea's financial markets.

Lee has stated that he will address thorny historical disputes with Japan separately from matters of security, trade, and other issues. However, many experts believe he is unlikely to completely reverse the progress made in Seoul-Tokyo relations in recent years. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday that he hopes to hold summit talks with Lee as early as possible and expressed a desire to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Cleaning the mess at home

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Long accused by critics of being a divisive populist, Lee pledged unity throughout his campaign, vowing not to target conservatives and calling for an end to South Koreas deep political polarization and a return to dialogue and compromise.

However, he has also pledged a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Yoons martial law stunt  a saga that could continue to overshadow Lees presidency and spark tensions with conservatives, especially as the ousted conservative faces a high-stakes criminal trial on rebellion charges punishable by death or life imprisonment.

While Yoon defended his martial law decree as a necessary response to what he called the Democratic Partys abuse of its legislative majority to obstruct his agenda, that same majority now gives Lee a far more favorable environment to advance his policies. Conservatives have voiced concern that this could give Lee partially unchecked power and enable him to advance legislation that shields his presidency from his own legal troubles.

Lee faces five separate trials on corruption and other charges, but the hearings were suspended ahead of Tuesdays election. While South Koreas constitution shields sitting presidents from most criminal prosecution aside of rebellion or treason, it doesnt clearly state whether this protection extends to preelection indictments. The Democrats have been pushing to revise the criminal procedure law to keep Lees trials suspended during his term, drawing criticism from conservatives.
(Reuters) -South Korea has elected liberal Lee Jae-myung as president to lead the country through a tumultuous period that will require negotiating trade tariffs with the U.S. and mending the scars from his ousted predecessor's shock martial law declaration.

Following are some reactions to his victory:

XI JINPING, PRESIDENT OF CHINA

"On 4 June, President Xi Jinping called Lee Jae-myung to congratulate him on his election as president of South Korea," according to a readout published by China's state broadcaster CCTV.

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"Xi Jinping pointed out that China and South Korea are each other's important close neighbours and partners. Over the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have transcended differences in ideologies and social systems, joined hands and made mutual achievements to achieve a smooth and healthy development of relations between the two countries."

"As an important global and regional country, China is willing to work with the ROK (Republic of Korea) to adhere to the original spirit of when relations were established, strengthen the direction of good-neighbourliness and friendship, and adhere to the goal of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation."

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE

"We congratulate President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the next president of the Republic of Korea (ROK)."

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"The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties. We are also modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of todays strategic environment and address new economic challenges."

"We will also continue to deepen U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles."

SHIGERU ISHIBA, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN

"Japan and South Korea are important neighbours that should cooperate as partners on various international issues,"

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"The importance of Japan-South Korea relations remains unchanged under the current strategic environment. The cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States is also important."

Ishiba also told reporters that the two countries should hold a bilateral summit as soon as possible.

ANTONIO COSTA, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

"Looking forward to deepening our strategic partnership as key allies in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. We share a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and we highly value South Korea's global role."

DAVID LAMMY, UK FOREIGN MINISTER

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"Congratulations Lee Jae-myung on your election victory. Across defence, energy security and economic growth, South Korea is one of the UKs closest partners in Asia. I look forward to working with you to deepen our collaboration."

(Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
GUEST OPINION: Manufacturing environments expose both equipment and processes to constant stress. Heat, vibration, airborne particulates, moisture, and noise all affect how people work and how well operations run. Even in these tough conditions, manufacturers push to improve speed, accuracy and system responsiveness.

Rugged devices support these efforts by reducing delays, improving visibility and connecting decision-making directly to the point of action, according to Getac.

Frank Baldrighi, business development manager  Australia and New Zealand, Getac, said, Work no longer depends on desktop access or end-of-shift reporting to progress. Rugged devices provide mobile, durable access to the tools and data that workers require in real time. Teams can track workflow progress, review equipment histories, update maintenance logs, and verify task details onsite, all without leaving the immediate work area. This removes unnecessary downtime, compresses feedback cycles, and improves responsiveness across teams."

Access to live data at the point of use eliminates ambiguity so workers can verify specifications, update quality data, and escalate emerging issues without interrupting production. Many of these tasks would have involved manual paperwork or communication through supervisory layers in traditional environments. However, rugged devices reduce those handovers and bring execution and oversight closer together, letting operators make better, faster decisions based on current conditions and clear instructions.

Training also improves when workers interact with real systems while guided by context-specific instructions. Augmented and mixed reality applications help new employees follow correct procedures while completing actual tasks. This approach accelerates learning and reduces reliance on legacy knowledge held by a small group of experienced staff.

Sustainability efforts similarly benefit from this shift in visibility. Workers can identify avoidable waste, inefficiencies, and asset fatigue during the task, not after production has ended. Energy usage, cycle timing, material flow, and process deviations become measurable and actionable in real time. Maintenance teams can use live readings instead of relying on fixed schedules, helping them act sooner and reduce equipment strain.

Frank Baldrighi said, Rugged devices connect directly to enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution systems (MES), and warehouse management platforms (WMS), so the information captured in the field drives real outcomes. Stock levels update in real time, maintenance logs trigger parts reordering, and repair records link straight to compliance documentation. This kind of integration removes double handling, reduces errors, and keeps execution consistent across teams.

Rugged devices also support advanced manufacturing techniques such as remote computer numerical control, 3D printing task initiation, and edge analytics. The right application layer can help operators modify machine settings, run diagnostic checks, and initiate production adjustments in real time. These capabilities provide greater flexibility and help reduce the time required for setup, handover, or shift transition.

Manufacturers can realise these benefits by matching device specifications to operational conditions. Resistance to heat, shock, dust, and moisture must be balanced with long battery life, daylight-readable displays, and secure connectivity. Devices must support the manufacturers current application stack and provide room for future upgrades. Reliability across environmental extremes is essential, as is compatibility with both general business software and industry-specific systems.

Real-time data capture also supports compliance with clear, trackable documentation. Time-stamped photos, procedural checklists, and asset scans provide a defensible trail of activity to improve traceability, support audit requirements, and contribute to ongoing process improvement.

Frank Baldrighi said, Rugged devices put critical information in the hands of the people doing the work, where and when its needed. That means fewer mistakes, faster decisions, and more consistent results for gains that make a real difference in high-pressure environments where downtime hurts."
Concerned teachers and community members are rallying together to help a Southern California fourth grader after he was detained by immigration officials.

Martir Garcia Lara is a student at Torrance Elementary School. On May 29, he attended an immigration hearing in Houston, Texas, with his father.

However, instead of receiving an update on his fathers immigration status, the boy and his father were both detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and separated from each other.

Martir Garcia Lara is seen in a photo from Torrance Elementary School. A letter sent by PTA leaders to parents at Torrance Elementary School about the detainment of Martir Lara and his father. (Jasmin King) Torrance Elementary School in Torrance, California. (KTLA) Torrance Elementary School in Torrance, California. (KTLA)

Hes alone and hes not able to return home, said PTA president Jasmin King.

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Teachers at Torrance Elementary reached out to King and the rest of the PTA, asking them for help in somehow getting the young boy and his father released and back to Southern California.

We have not received any information on why they were detained, King said. All we know is that Martir is just a fourth-grader whos by himself, without his dad, without a parent, and just in a place that he probably doesnt know, so we can only imagine what he might be feeling.

King said the boy has been a student at Torrance Elementary since the first grade.

PTA members have since reached out to federal, state and local leaders to intervene and are asking other parents and community members to help in any way they can.

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King said she and other PTA members are also prepared to help the boy and his father with any legal aid or financial assistance should they need 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 KTLA.
Magistrates Court Judge Anat Choleta found that the defendant exploited Bank Hapoalims Deposit Envelope service to commit fraud totalling nearly NIS 1 million.

A resident of southern Israel has been convicted of aggravatedfraud and transactions in prohibited property, the Magistrates Court ruled Wednesday morning.

Magistrates Court Judge Anat Choleta found that the defendant exploited Bank Hapoalims Deposit Envelope service to commit fraud totalling nearly one million shekels.

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According to the verdict, the defendant made 14 cash deposits using the banks envelope service at four different branches. The service allows customers to declare a deposit amount online, place the cash in an envelope, and insert it into a machine at the branch. The declared amount is credited to the customers account immediately, while the actual cash is counted within 48 hours.

The court found that the defendant declared deposits totalling NIS 977,088.30 but actually deposited only NIS 50,129.50a shortfall exceeding NIS 926,000. Immediately after his account was credited, he transferred a total of NIS 1,005,430 via Zahav transfers to various suppliers.

Judge Choleta ruled that a series of circumstantial pieces of evidence formed a clear and incriminating picture. Security footage showed the defendants son depositing envelopes that were visibly thinner than expected for the declared amounts. The gap between the declared and actual amounts exceeded NIS 900,000, with each envelope supposedly containing tens of thousands of shekels but actually containing only thousands.

New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021 (photo credit: REUTERS/NIR ELIAS)

Three cash counters testified that every envelope contained significant discrepancies after triple counting. The testimonies regarding the counting process at the cash centre rule out any possibility of a counting error on the banks part, Choleta wrote.

Depositing envelopes at different branches delayed detection of the discrepancies

The southern district security officer for Bank Hapoalim testified that he reviewed the deposit videos and saw the depositor is holding an envelope that is far too thin compared to the declared amount. He added that depositing envelopes at different branches delayed the detection of the discrepancies.

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The defendant claimed he placed the correct sums in the envelopes and gave them to his son to deposit, saying he did not know how the shortfall arose. A defense witness demonstrated how an envelope could be cut open and resealed to appear intact.

Judge Choleta rejected claims of bank procedure violations or counting errors, concluding that the circumstantial evidence leads to one clear and reasonable conclusion: the defendants guilt. She noted that the defence did not present any real alternative scenario, nor did it provide any evidence or even preliminary evidence to support one.

During cross-examination, the defendant was asked about the thickness of the envelopes seen in the videos. When asked by the judge how thick a bundle of 300 one-hundred-shekel notes would be, he compared it to a pack of cigarettes and admitted the envelopes in the footage were thinner.

Company employees testified that the defendant was financially motivated. The companys account had been restricted for several months, preventing payments by cheque or overdraft. Suppliers demanded immediate ZAHAV transfers to continue doing business, supporting the prosecutions case.
Exira is one of several cities in southwestern Iowa that have been impacted by a stressed rural water supply after years of drought conditions. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

EXIRA  We did run out of water at our house  and thats not the first time weve had dry pipes, Emmy Benton said to State Auditor Rob Sand at the Exira Public Library during a discussion about recent water system shortages and boil advisories.

Sand listened to the concerns as part of a gubernatorial campaign swing through rural Iowa, but problems for Exira, and other customers on Regional Water Rural Water Associations system, have been ongoing for several years.

A display sign in Exira City Park informs citizens that the boil advisory has been lifted. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Tom Kallman, the associations general manager, said since the flood of 2019 water tables in the region have been 10-12 inches below average, and the persistent drought conditions have meant no replenishment for groundwater stores.

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Customers in the system have been on water conservation advisories during most of this time, and since May 14 have been on advisories to boil all drinking water after shortages created a loss of pressure from the systems. The recent advisory has led to frustration with the system, especially in Exira.

Boil advisories for almost all of the system have been lifted following negative sampling results, and Regional Water is now looking to a nearly completed pipeline connection to Council Bluffs to adequately supply water to the system. Exira officials and residents, however, are skeptical that this will be the end of their water-related problems.

Hindsight on a stressed water supply

Exira officials allege Regional Water oversold the system, which has led to their perennial water issues.

Kellman said that was not the case but that drought conditions in eight of the last 10 years have created a situation which no one predicted.

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If they had known (then) what you know now, 20 years later, they would have probably made a different decision, said Kellman, who has been with the association for nearly four years, referring to previous management.

The National Integrated Drought Information System shows approximated long-term drought conditions, over the past five years. Southwestern Iowa is colored to show moderate (tan) to extreme(red) drought conditions. (Map courtesy of Drought.gov)

Regional Water Rural Water Association has 2,600 connections and serves around 750 square miles in Shelby, Pottawattamie, Audubon, Cass and Harrison Counties.

Exira is the newest addition to the system, according to Kellman, and came on in 2005 after an engineering study revealed it would be more cost effective for the town to join the rural water district than to rehabilitate its failing water treatment system.

Meg Andersen, Exiras city clerk, said the city of 763 people could not fund a solution without the help of funds from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development office which were only available if the city decided to join Regional Water, to which they signed a 40-year agreement.

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You have no option, Andersen said. And now all of a sudden, were realizing this is an unsustainable source.

But the past three years, especially, have left the town frustrated with their perennial water issues.

Were not trying to fight  we want to make sure that the people in this town have water, Andersen said. Its a right and a basic human need.

Connecting to Council Bluffs

Kellman said the system has relied almost entirely on its shallow well field, which has made the most sense, given that the region does not have a surface-water source sufficient enough to tap. The association explored drilling a deep well, but found it would require drilling down between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, with just a 40% chance of striking water.

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The other option, which the system decided to pursue, involves an 18-mile pipeline to connect with the system in Council Bluffs and pump water into Regional Waters system.

Kellman said the pipeline project was approved for federal funding and construction began last October. A temporary pump for the station is projected to be completed on or about June 11th and will bring some respite to the wells and customers in the system. The permanent pump for the system should be completed by October 2025.

Well be able to serve everybody without having to be in any kind of water restrictions, Kellman said of the expected result of the pipeline project.

Kellman said drought was the primary reason the wells are no longer able to meet demand, but he also pointed to the consistent use and installation of drainage tile to agricultural fields as part of the problem.

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He said tile is great for farmers, as it drains excess water from their fields, but in doing so, it stops the natural process of water filtering through the soil to replenish the stores from which utilities can draw water.

Council Bluffs has an abundance of water, as its source is the Missouri River.

Andersen said that while the town of Exira hopes the Council Bluffs project will be successful in alleviating their water problems, she is skeptical.

The questions weve asked in the past three years  we have never been given transparent, clear, concise answers to, and they change, Andersen said.

Her mistrust of the association has been exacerbated by a lack of clear, or consistent communication between Regional Water and the city.

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Were told you have to communicate, but they dont even give us a call when we get put into a boil advisory, Andersen said.

She said the association has also given conflicting answers on how Exira rates would be impacted by the pipeline expansion, which makes it difficult for a city with slim margins to plan its budgets.

Weve said we want to work towards a solution, to negotiate these things, but it doesnt seem like much is coming to the table from the other side, Andersen said.

Since the town is locked into a 40-year contract with Regional Water, and its own water treatment facility has been sold, Exira is left with few options. The city sent a demand letter to Regional Water and is exploring legal options to leave the contract.

Sand says Exira matters

In the meantime, some residents, like Benton, who lives west of the city limits, have decided to reactivate their own wells.

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Other residents, like Claire and Blake Asberry, wonder whether theyll be able to realize their plans of opening a coffee shop and mercantile in town, or if theyll be able to find tenants for the adjoining apartments when potable water is a question.

Democratic candidate for governor and State Auditor Rob Sand speaks with residents of Exira about water shortages on June 3, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/ Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Sand, a Democrat from Decorah, listened to the experiences of the Exira residents and said it should be a crisis to which state leaders pay more attention.

Exira matters, Sand said. I think anyone in Iowa thats facing problems like this should have their problems fixed. Government is supposed to work for everybody.

Sand took issue with the expensive steps city officials said they would have to complete in order to change the current situation.

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Instead of prioritizing the process, prioritize the people, Sand said.

Kellman said customers have been under water restrictions for the better part of three years and he understands the frustration.

It gets old after a while, and I get that because Im on this system, Kellman said. Its not our intention to try and deny people water. On the contrary, we want everybody to have as much water as they need, as much water as they would like.

The towns impacted by the May 14 boil advisory included Avoca, Persia, Panama, Portsmouth, Westphalia, Kirkman, Tennant, Earling, Exira and Brayton.

While boil advisories for all of the impacted towns aside from Panama and Portsmouth had been lifted as of Tuesday afternoon, the customers are still under level yellow water-use restrictions which means they are asked to avoid watering lawns, washing cars, filling pools, cleaning streets or sidewalks, and school physical education activities that require showering.

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Kellman said the system is almost there.

Id love for people to be able to fill their pools in their backyard for their kids, Kellman said. At some point were going to be able to do that, and its a lot closer now than it was two years ago.

Andersen said the Council Bluffs pipeline would be a best-case scenario.

We havent had a best-case scenario in over three years, Andersen said. Were not opposed to it working  were looking for a solution that ensures sustainability and longevity of a safe water source for the city.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Space Force this week revealed a new model for upgrading its East and West Coast ranges, shifting upfront costs that used to be borne by the government to the commercial launch companies that rely on the infrastructure.

Under a new $4 billion Space Force Range Contract, which will be managed by advisory and consulting firm Jacobs Technology, commercial launch firms will place task orders and pay directly for various services required to support their launches. That includes things like costly maintenance, sustainment, operations and systems engineering for aging range infrastructure.

Historically, the government has fronted these costs, Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, Space Launch Delta 45 Command and Eastern Range Director, said in a statement Tuesday. The ability of our commercial partners to directly fund their own task orders will lessen the financial and administrative burden on the government and is in line with Congressionally mandated Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness requirements.

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As commercial space launch demand has grown in recent years, the Space Forces ranges at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California have become the worlds busiest launch hubs. The ranges have seen a 30% annual increase in business for several years in a row and conducted 114 missions in 2024, the bulk of them from Cape Canaveral.

Those launch rates have put strain on range infrastructure, and the service has been weighing options for addressing the issue. The Space Force is investing nearly $1.4 billion through 2028 to widen roads to accommodate larger rockets, improve airfields, secure communication lines and increase power redundancy  part of an effort called Spaceport of the Future, which aims to run the ranges more like a commercial airport.

Shifting to this new cost construct, the service said, also supports that goal.

This contract will transform the way operations, maintenance, sustainment, and systems engineering and integration services are provided at the Eastern and Western Ranges, to enable their eventual transformation into efficient, high-capacity multi-user spaceports, the service said in the statement.

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The service has been working with Congress in recent years to get approval for various policy changes to enable the spaceport transition. One such change allows the Space Force to collect fees from companies for the indirect costs of using its ranges, similar to what a port authority might impose on its users.

In the Fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers passed a provision requiring launch firms to reimburse the Defense Department for those costs.

The bill also included language directing the Space Force to consider options for commercial providers to perform day of launch services, which includes things like payload processing and integration.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing some difficult choices in the upcoming Spending Review, which sets the budgets for all government departments over the next few years.

The review will confirm how much taxpayers' money will be spent on the NHS and other public services used by millions, as well as how much money the government plans to invest in projects like new public transport schemes.

What is the Spending Review and when is it?

The Spending Review will be delivered by Reeves on Wednesday, 11 June.

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In October she set department budgets for 2025-26, and will now confirm spending allocations for the following three to four years.

Reeves has already set out what is known as the "spending envelope" - how much total government spending will rise by over the period.

On Wednesday this will be broken down by department.

The review covers two categories of spending:

day-to-day spending which includes things like salaries, supplies and other administration costs. This is known as "resource" spending

investment which includes funding for infrastructure as well as building things like new schools, hospitals and roads. This called "capital" spending

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Wednesday's Spending Review will set out day-to-day expenditure for three years and investment spending for four years.

How is the UK economy doing and how much room for manoeuvre does Reeves have?

Government borrowing - which is the difference between how much it spends and how much it raises from taxes - grew to 20.2bn in April.

That was 1bn higher than the same month in 2024, and more than some economists expected.

Although tax revenue increased in April, notably as a result of the increase in the amount of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) paid by employers, so did spending.

This was largely because of increases in pensions and other benefits and other pay rises as well as higher borrowing costs.

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Meanwhile, the financial buffer that allows Reeves to meet the government's two self-imposed fiscal rules is very slim.

The rules are that:

day-to-day government spending should be paid for with tax revenue, not borrowing, and

the amount of government debt should fall as a share of national income by the end of the current parliament in 2029-30

The government is currently forecast to have a budget surplus of 9.9bn at that point - which is the third-smallest on record.

This surplus is often referred to as "headroom" and theoretically acts as buffer against an economic shock or an increase in spending.

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But because the projected surplus is so small, it is very vulnerable, Between the Autumn Budget and Spring Statement in March, it was wiped out mostly because of higher debt interest payments as well as sluggish economic growth.

As a result, Reeves announced a 14bn package of savings in March, including 4.8bn of welfare cuts.

The latest official data suggests that the UK economy could be strengthening. It grew by 0.7% between January and March, which was better than expected.

However, it is not clear whether that growth will continue, especially as US President Donald Trump's US tariffs hit the UK and wider global economy.

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What has already been announced ahead of the Spending Review?

The government has already announced how much total spending on day-to-day running costs and on investment will increase by over the years covered by the Spending Review.

The "relatively modest" rise could mean that "sharp trade-offs are unavoidable", according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank.

For example, the government has said that the overseas aid budget will be cut to fund a sharp increase in defence spending.

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Spending on defence will rise from 2.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) to 2.5% by 2027. That's around an extra 5bn a year. Ministers want to increase defence spending further to 3% by 2034.

As yet, there are no details about how much money will be allocated to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which oversees the NHS.

But due to its size - nearly 40% of total departmental expenditure this year will go to DHSC - its budget can have a considerable impact on those of other departments.

What is known is the government will extend free school meals to around 500,000 children whose parents are receiving Universal Credit, regardless of their income. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government has set aside 1bn to fund this.

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Schools in England are set to receive an extra 4.5bn, the Observer has reported, which will help pay for this expansion of free school meals, as well as repair buildings and increase funding for children with special needs.

Reeves has confirmed that the government will revise its controversial decision to limit Winter Fuel Payments to those in receipt of means-tested benefits.

But while the government will share some information about who will receive the payment as part of the Spending Review, full details will not be released until the Budget later in the year.

Also unknown is whether Reeves will say anything about the two-child benefit cap. Phillipson has said the government is looking at scrapping it but admitted doing so would "cost a lot of money".

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The government has said it wants to increase investment.

Reeves has tinkered with the way that debt is measured to free up more than 100bn to fund building, research and development as well as other major projects.

On Wednesday, the chancellor announced a 15.6bn package to fund extensions to trams, trains and buses in Greater Manchester, the Midlands as well as Tyne-and-Wear, after criticism that too much infrastructure spending targeted London and the south-east.

An 86bn package has also been announced for the science and technology sector for this Parliament, which is aimed at funding research into areas such as drug treatments and longer-lasting batteries.

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There have been reports that Reeves could announce a new nuclear power station in Suffolk.

Sizewell C, a project that is jointly owned by the UK government and the French state-owned energy giant EDF, wants to begin construction of a power station that will be funded by taxpayers and private investors.

The government may also set out detailed plans to build small modular reactors (SMRs) - mini nuclear power stations - in England and Wales.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, commenting on the potential threat to US forces from enemy drones, has said that the United States is learning lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Source: Whitaker during an online chat with journalists before the start of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday 4 June

Details: Whitaker was responding to a question about the potential threat posed by enemy drones to the US and NATO, given the ease with which this type of weapon can be used, as demonstrated by Ukraine's special operation Pavutyna (Spider's Web).

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He noted that NATO recognises that adversaries are acquiring or developing new systems, including large numbers of small and inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles.

"NATO continues to take all necessary steps to ensure that its air and missile defene are coherent, resilient and adaptable to the evolving security environment," Whitaker stressed.

He added that the United States is closely monitoring developments on the battlefield in Ukraine.

"We are trying to learn every single lesson that can possibly be learned about modern war fighting and how quickly it can evolve and how we must innovate and be technologically nimble to address those threats that evolve over time," Whitaker said.

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In addition, commenting on Ukraine's special operation Pavutyna, Whitaker stated that the Russo-Ukrainian war must end.

Background: Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trumps special envoy for Ukraine, said that with the special operation, Ukraine has increased the level of risk in the war with Russia, although he acknowledged the courage of the move.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Springfield is cracking down on illegal Gas Station Weed throughout the city.

On Wednesday, Mayor Domenic Sarno, along with other city officials, announced a new ordinance thats aimed at illegal Gas Station Weed. This type is targeting youth and putting the publics health at risk.

Gas Station Weed has unregulated artificial THC in it that is being used and packaged as chip bags or candy bars in gas stations and bodegas. The Commissioners Office teamed up with the Mayors Office to warn the public.

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Springfield woman turns herself in for Old Navy merchandise theft in South Windsor

Last year, the states Public Health Commissioner said that Massachusetts has seen an increasing number of youth that are being hospitalized due to these products. In Wednesdays news conference, city officials shared their concerns and are pushing for consequences, such as fines.

Three hundred dollars each, you got ten pieces, thats three thousand gs, said Springfield Mayor Sarno. You got a hundred, thats thirty thousand dollars.

Mayor Sarno recommends that parents watch the products that their children are grabbing, and make sure that theyre with a trusted adult. The city plans to bring this ordinance in front of the city council as soon as possible.

What is Gas Station Weed?

The State House News Service states that Gas Station Weed is not the same cannabis that is sold at licensed dispensaries, and is often unregulated. They are advertised as a legal hemp product under federal law, but they offer the same kind of high as cannabis. Hemp is defined as cannabis that has no more than 0.3% Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the primary psychoactive compound of marijuana, by dry weight at the time of harvest.

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This type of hemp-based product has been around for about six years, but has become more popular recently. They are marked as things like Delta-8, Delta-10 or THC In A Bottle, and often come in bright packaging, which is sometimes meant to mimic the look of legal products.

Marijuana in Springfield

The City of Springfield states that no one should manufacture, sell, or dispose of synthetically derived cannabinoids and synthetically derived cannabinoid products. A $300 fine will be imposed on those illegally selling these products.

Statements provided by Springfield officials

First off, I want to thank HHS Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Deputy Health Commissioner Ann Kissel and Cannabis Compliance Coordinator Xavier Williams for their efforts in identifying this public health and safety issue and working with my administration to create a local ordinance to crack down on this illegal product that is putting our families and children at risk. This illegal cannabis being sold, better known as Gas Station Weed, is dangerous and possesses a significant risk to our residents, especially our children, as the packaging for these items are often labeled to look like candy. On top of that, these dangerous items are placed in easy to reach locations where one can grab them off the shelf and counters, sometime right next to candy bars and bags of chips. These dangerous products, which even the State Cannabis Control Commission has deemed illegal, need to be removed from our neighborhoods in the name of public health and safety, and the establishments that peddle such illegal products will be held accountable to the full extent of the law allowed by this ordinance, said Mayor Sarno.

The Department of Health and Human Services is committed to overseeing our local regulatory compliance of all applicable state and local laws and ordinances in this new growing marijuana sector. This so called Gas Station Weed is a public nuisance that poses a serious public health and safety risk for our residents and especially our youth and children. In short, these products are unregulated and are illegal and as such, the City of Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Mayor Sarno and with the assistance from the Springfield Police Department, will support the passage of this ordinance to crack down on this dangerous and illegal product, said HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris.

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I want to thank Mayor Sarno, Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and the team for their efforts to keeping our neighborhoods and children safe from this dangerous and illegal cannabis product. This illegal cannabis product is unregulated and poses a serious health risk to residents and children. Imagine if a child accidently grabbed one of these packages thinking they were eating candy and their parents had to rush them to the hospital because the marijuana content far exceeds what is legally allowed. As the Ward 1 City Councilor and as a mother, I will work with Mayor Sarno and co-sponsor this ordinance for passage before the City Council in the name of public health and safety, said City Councilor Maria Perez.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man was arrested in Springfield on Tuesday for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

The Springfield Police Department stated in a news release that on Friday, May 30, officers received a report of a sexual assault. A 17-year-old boy reported to police that at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Friday, he was walking on Hancock Street and was forcibly dragged to Johnny Appleseed Park by an unknown man.

Springfield woman turns herself in for Old Navy merchandise theft in South Windsor

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The man allegedly sexually assaulted the victim, who was eventually able to escape. He reportedly ran about one mile home as the suspect chased him. Springfield Police Special Victims Unit (SVU) detectives began investigating the incident by reviewing city cameras and speaking with the victim and witnesses.

Courtesy of Catherine Ross Courtesy of Catherine Ross

On Tuesday, SVU Detectives were granted a warrant for the arrest of the suspect, 53-year-old Ahmed Ahmed. At approximately 4:00 p.m., Ahmed was found on the 700 block of State Street and arrested.

Now, the boys family says he is recovering at the hospital. The family tells 22News that the 17 year old boy was dragged into the woods off of Hancock Street in Springfield. The victims family decided to take the investigation into their own hands.. To help Springfield police identify the suspect.

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Catherine Ross, the Aunt of the 17-year-old boy, told 22News, We walked in the place and the guy had it barricaded, I was like, no, were going in. We went in, we looked to the right, and we saw my nephews sneaker, which he described to us. We took a picture, we took the hospital where he was, and he said,  Thats my sneaker.

According to Springfield police, stranger assaults do not happen often. Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh states, We see this 1-2 times a year in Springfield. Theyre extremely rare, and of those reported stranger assaults, our SVU detectives can apprehend the suspects more often than not.

Springfield police are crediting the victims aunt and uncle with helping identify the suspect. Mayor Domenic Sarno, calling the incident a despicable act of violence, I hope due justice is done and my thoughts and prayers go out to the young man and family members, he says.

Mugshots of Ahmed Ahmen

Ahmed Ahmed (Homeless) was charged with:

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Kidnapping

Aggravated Rape during the Commission of a Felony

Witness Intimidation

Stalking

Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon

Statement from Police Superintendent

This type of assault by a stranger is extremely rare in our city, yet undoubtedly alarming, said Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. Id like to thank our Special Victims Unit Detectives who worked tirelessly on this case with a thorough investigation that will hopefully bring some justice to this victim and his family. Id also like to urge our residents to always be aware of their surroundings and walk in a group if possible. While I cant recall an incident similar to this, it is a painful reminder that these horrendous events can happen ever so quickly. By this victim courageously coming forward and allowing our Detectives to do their job and arrest Mr. Ahmed, hopefully this will prevent any future acts of violence.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  On Tuesday, June 3, residents were invited to voice their opinions on the Sunshine Street Corridor Study, between Kansas Expressway and Glenstone Avenue.

The purpose of this plan is to analyze existing conditions and work with the public to help set the vision of the street and the surrounding neighborhoods.

There are five for the study: Engagement, Safety, Revitalization, Place, and Balance Community Needs.

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The City of Springfield hopes that the feedback will help create a Sunshine Street that will:

Balances mobility & local needs

Prioritizes safety for everyone traveling on streets and sidewalks in the study area

Guides improvements

Supports neighborhood goals and vision defined in Forward SGF

A presentation was given to attendees, providing more insight into the project and how their feedback will play a part in it.

Afterwards, people could move freely around to board stations that provided more information on Sunshine, as well as sticky notes where they could pin their feedback.

Why Midnight Rodeo is suddenly closing its longtime location

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This is kind of a unique approach the city is taking with multiple departments, with multiple disciplines coming together to look at not just the traffic and transportation corridor, but also looking at quality of life, quality of place and what its really like to live in and around the area as well, says Cora Scott, spokesperson for the City of Springfield.

According to Scott, one of the main reasons for the study is to improve safety.

Its becoming more heavily trafficked in. Also were having more crashes, particularly at access areas as people in and out of driveways and such along that corridor, Scott said. So thats the number one reason to look at what could be some infrastructure improvements to help with that. Not necessarily to constantly speed up traffic, but just to make it safer for people, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers along the route.

Ozarks First spoke to some Springfield residents attending the event who expressed their own opinions on the project.

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Im hopeful that this is going to go the right way and I plan to be part of it to try to ensure that it is steered in the right way, said Donell Dunbar about the project, I live in University Heights neighborhood, which is kind of known as a contested neighborhood. And I want this to go right because its on our doorstep and we need it to go right for the city as well to preserve the history that we have and to provide a very welcoming place for visitors, residents, everyone who comes to our city.

Dunbar believes that older buildings should be torn down to make way for new ones.

I would like to see the vacant businesses addressed. Lets tear them down and build something more useful. If theyre not going to be used before we start tearing historical homes down, for instance.

Springfield schools raises 67,000 meals in Ozarks Food Harvest competition

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For Rick and Sally Keen, the biggest issue is traffic.

Theres too many cars going in and out on Sunshine Street, said Sally Keen. I think itd be nice if they had alleys behind the building of some sort.

Something needs to be done for the traffic, the speeders. And thats a major problem, especially late at night shifts, added Rick Keen.

Scott states that there will be at least two to three more times to engage with residents in the future, saying the next survey will include a design charrette, where the designers will sit at tables and the public can discuss further details on the project.

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A completed plan for the project is expected to be finished 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  The Springfield community is calling for action after recent gun violence.

Springfield community members and city leaders spoke on several recent shootings that occurred in the city during Tuesdays commissioner meeting.

Springfield grappling with 3 homicides within a week: Police

According to the annual crime report in Springfield, six people died of gun violence in 2024, and 11 died in 2023.

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So far in 2025, seven people have died of gunshot injuries in Springfield, with three shootings happening just last month.

Both residents and commissioners spoke on the topic during Tuesdays commission meeting, including one man who says his son died because of gun violence two weeks ago.

We need to come up with, stop trying to be part of the problem, and be part of the solution, said David Rose, Springfield father. We need to put down the guns. We need to come up with solutions.

Some city leaders believe gun violence stems from larger issues that need to be addressed.

As a nation, as a community, as a state, we continue to put band-aids on things, and we talk about all the things in the room except for the elephant in the room, said Krystal Brown, Springfield commissioner. And the elephant in the room is the fact that we dont address poverty.

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Anyone with information regarding the recent shootings is asked to contact the Springfield Police Division.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GUEST RESEARCH: This article shares initial findings from internal Bitdefender Labs research into Living off the Land (LOTL) techniques. Our team at Bitdefender Labs, comprised of hundreds of security researchers with close ties to academia, conducted this analysis as foundational research during the development of our GravityZone Proactive Hardening and Attack Surface Reduction (PHASR) technology. techniques. Our team at Bitdefender Labs, comprised of hundreds of security researchers with close ties to academia, conducted this analysis as foundational research during the development of our GravityZone Proactive Hardening and Attack Surface Reduction (PHASR) technology.

The results reveal adversaries persistent and widespread use of trusted system tools in most significant security incidents. While this research was primarily for our internal development efforts, we believe these initial insights from Bitdefender Labs are valuable for broader understanding and we are sharing them now, ahead of a more comprehensive report.

Data Analysis and Initial Findings

To figure out exactly how common LOTL binaries are, we analysed 700,000 security incidents from our Bitdefender GravityZone platform along with telemetry data (legitimate usage) from the last 90 days. Security incidents were not simple alerts, but correlated events, and we analysed the whole chain of commands to identify how frequently attackers are using LOTL binaries. The result? 84 per cent of major attacks (incidents with high severity) involved the use of LOTL binaries. For validation, we also examined our MDR data and found a consistent trend: 85 per cent of incidents involved LOTL techniques.

The Most Abused Tool? Netsh.exe

While LOTL tools are a well-covered topic (including our tech explainer), most prior analysis has been based on experience, not hard data. We based our analysis on the frequency of tools usage, instead of how much damage they could cause. We were hoping to discover binaries that are frequently abused yet rarely used for legitimate purposes.

What was quite visible immediately is that the tools popular with attackers are also very popular with administrators. The usual suspects like powershell.exe, wscript.exe, and cscript.exe were all present. However, one of the more surprising findings was that netsh.exe was the most frequently abused tool, appearing in one-third of major attacks. While checking firewall configurations is a logical initial step for attackers, this clearly demonstrates how data analysis can spotlight trends that human operators might instinctively disregard.

Netsh.exe - Administrators use this command-line utility for management of network configuration, including firewalls, interfaces, and routing. PowerShell.exe  Often referred to as the Swiss Army Knife of Windows management, PowerShell is a versatile command-line shell and scripting language. Reg.exe  This command-line tool allows administrator to query, change, add, or remove registry entries, and threat actors frequently use it to establish persistence. Csc.exe - The Microsoft C# Compiler is a command-line tool for compiling C# source code into executable assemblies (.exe files) or dynamic link libraries (.dll files). Rundll32.exe  This system utility loads and executes functions exported from DLL files. Often used for DLL sideloading attacks.

As mentioned earlier, the popularity of tools among attackers often reflects their popularity with legitimate administrators. This general trend held true for the most part, but some notable exceptions appeared. Specifically, threat actors leverage tools like mshta.exe, pwsh.exe, and bitsadmin.exe but administrators rarely use them.

While most LOLBins are very familiar to those experienced in system administration, there is another category of abused tools that is not so well understood. These tools, such as csc.exe, msbuild.exe (Microsoft Build Engine), or ngen.exe (.NET Native Image Generator), are primarily used by developers, and can fly under the radar of security monitoring focused solely on traditional system administration binaries.

The Temptation of Simple Solutions

Our research revealed another unexpected observation: The widespread use of PowerShell.exe in business environments. While nearly 96 per cent of organisations in our dataset legitimately utilise PowerShell, our initial expectation was that its execution would be limited primarily to administrators. To our surprise, we detected PowerShell activity on a staggering 73 per cent of all endpoints. Further investigation revealed that PowerShell is frequently invoked not only by administrators (and their pesky logon/logoff scripts), but also by third-party applications running PowerShell code without a visible interface.

A similar pattern emerged with wmic.exe. This tool, popular around the year 2000, has largely been superseded by PowerShell for administrative purposes  and is slated for decommissioning by Microsoft. However, we were surprised to find its regular usage across many workstations. Analysing the data, it became clear that wmic.exe is still commonly employed by a multitude of third-party applications to gather system information.

Geographical analysis also revealed intriguing differences in tool usage. For example, PowerShell.exe showed a notably lower presence in APAC (Asia-Pacific), at just 53.3 per cent of organisations in our dataset. This stands in sharp contrast to EMEA, where our analysis indicated a much higher adoption rate of 97.3 per cent. Conversely, while PowerShell usage was lower in APAC, reg.exe was more frequently present in this region compared to all other geographical areas.

This underscores the importance of nuanced understanding, as even tools appearing outdated or unused can be critical for specific functions and disabling them can cause unforeseen disruptions.

You Cant Live with Them, You Cant Live Without Them

The LOTL reality that we can't live with them, and can't live without them directly informed the development of our Bitdefender GravityZone Proactive Hardening and Attack Surface Reduction (PHASR) technology. Recognising the inherent risks and potential for disruption in simply blocking these essential tools, PHASR adopts a more nuanced and intelligent approach: individualised endpoint hardening through action-based control.

PHASR goes beyond blocking entire tools, it also monitors and stops the specific actions attackers use within them. By analysing the behaviour of processes like powershell.exe, wmic.exe, or certutil.exe, PHASR distinguishes malicious intent from legitimate use. For instance, PHASR allows PowerShell to execute regular script while proactively blocking its attempts to run encrypted commands or tamper with critical system configurations.

Consider WMIC.exe again. Instead of blocking the entire tool, which could disrupt legitimate operations, PHASR differentiates between its legitimate use for system information retrieval and its abuse for lateral movement or process manipulation. This action-level blocking, combined with the layered analysis of user and attacker behaviour, enables tailored protection without business disruption.

PHASR's effectiveness lies in its architecture, which incorporates hundreds of granular rules informed by known attacker playbooks and our extensive threat intelligence. The engine continuously learns by establishing a baseline of typical user and application behaviour on each endpoint. This learned behaviour is then constantly compared against known malicious patterns and emerging threats. Intelligent analysis allows PHASR to not only detect and report suspicious activity but also to proactively block access to specific tools or even parts of their functionality when their use deviates from the established baseline and aligns with malicious indicators. This proactive blocking occurs seamlessly, without requiring constant manual policy adjustments or fine-tuning, ensuring robust protection against even novel LOTL attacks.
St. Johns County leaders are considering how to regulate e-bikes in the county after two middle school students were hurt in separate e-bike crashes.

Attorney Rich Komando presented his proposed draft ordinance to county commissioners.

But the county leaders had more questions about some of the items in the draft proposal.

The amended e-bike ordinance would do some things like:

Ban people younger than 14 from riding the e-bikes

Require those under 18 to wear helmets when operating the e-bikes

And require e-bikes to go no more than 10 mph on a sidewalk

Some of the Commissioners argued that some points of the proposed draft items, like wearing a helmet while operating the bikes, are already law by state statute, though.

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I dont think having a draft for e-bikes is a bad thing, but what I would love to do is workshops, Commissioner Clay Murphy said.

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Murphy and some other county leaders on the board said that they would rather see more education around the e-bikes instead of more redundant laws.

Other leaders like Commissioner Sarah Arnold believe that a draft ordinance would do no good without the accountability and collaboration of parents.

It does come to being a parenting issue. And as a parent of four, I can say that. And when my kids screw up on their motorized vehicles they lose the keys, she said.

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In the end, county leaders decided on a resolution in the case of an amended e-bike ordinance.

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The county leaders will likely revisit this conversation.

Action News Jax will be sure to bring you the latest here online and on air.

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Residents at Clarence and Labadie Avenues assess the damage to their home after the May 16 tornado rolled through the Ville neighborhood of north St. Louis. (Wiley Price/ St. Louis American)

When a tornado struck Joplin on May 22, 2011, killing 161 people and causing about $2 billion in damage, President Barack Obama issued a major disaster declaration the next day.

That action immediately made help available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, for people to pay for temporary housing and begin repairs. The declaration also made state and local governments, as well as some not-for-profit aid agencies, eligible for reimbursement of 75% of the cost of recovery and rebuilding.

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By the time the books were closed, FEMA had distributed $37.1 million to individuals for recovery needs and provided $161.6 million for public recovery and rebuilding costs.

In St. Louis, a May 16 tornado cut a 22-mile path across the region, damaging or destroying 16,000 structures and killing five people. Damage is estimated at $1.6 billion, making it the biggest weather disaster for Missouri since the Joplin tornado.

Gov. Mike Kehoe made a formal request on May 26 for President Donald Trump to extend similar help. Thirteen days later, that request is still pending as Trump waits for the results of a formal assessment of damages.

It is part of a pattern in Trumps second term of longer waits and, oftentimes, denials of state requests for disaster declarations.

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Kehoe on April 2 requested a declaration for help following severe storms and flooding in southeast Missouri. Trump issued the declaration May 21, 49 days later. That is the longest period from request to approval in the past 15 years.

A May 1 request, for storms and flooding from March 30 to April 8, was also approved May 21.

Another disaster declaration request from Missouri, submitted May 19, is also awaiting action by the president.

The 20-day wait for the May 1 request was longer than all but six of the 20 federal disaster requests submitted by Missouri governors from the start of 2010 through the end of 2024. The average wait during that period, from a governors request to a presidential declaration, was 16 days.

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St. Louis area state lawmakers, called to Jefferson City for a special session, said the delay is adding to the hardship thousands face, with some people camping outside destroyed homes because they have no money for shelter.

Some people are staying in homes that are completely unsafe to stay in after the storm has wiped out their entire neighborhood, state Sen. Brian Williams, a Democrat from University City, said in an interview with The Independent. Its saddening, its disheartening, and Im not interested in any conversation outside of ensuring that storm victims are taken care of.

A federal disaster declaration can make help available for individuals and public needs, or it can be limited to assisting with public recovery costs.

Nationally, over the last four years, FEMA has provided more than $12 billion to individuals and $133 billion to state and local governments, tribal nations, territories and some nonprofits to help in recovery efforts, Stateline reported in February.

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When individual assistance is provided, victims can receive up to $770 for immediate emergency needs, plus up to $43,600 to assist with home repair costs and $43,600 for other recovery costs.

A federal disaster declaration also provides emergency SNAP and unemployment benefits.

The main purpose of the special session is to consider legislation offering tax incentives for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to remain in Missouri.

The bill providing stadium aid also includes a tax credit of up to $5,000 for payments against an insurance deductible in a disaster area. A spending bill requested by Kehoe includes $25 million, to be spent by the Missouri Housing Development Commission to assist in repairs.

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But with 37 Missouri counties covered by disaster requests submitted this year, lawmakers from both St. Louis and rural areas say the money is inadequate.

State Sen. Jason Bean, a Republican from Holcomb, said the $25 million is a drop in the bucket for disaster needs. Bean represents 10 southeast Missouri counties that include the three with the highest poverty rates in the state.

Eight of the 10 counties in Beans district were included in Trumps disaster declaration for storms and flooding on March 14 and 15. All 10 were included in the disaster declaration for the March 31 to April 8 storms and flooding.

The delay in receiving help is frustrating, Bean said during a hearing on the spending bill.

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We need to realize that people have been living in shelters, Bean said. Theyve been living in other homes for some time. So once again, the speed of our response, I think, is something weve just got to address.

Massive, obvious disasters like Joplin no longer get quick responses from FEMA. Since taking office, Trump has tried to push more costs to state and local agencies, even suggesting that FEMA be abolished.

Now, every disaster must go through the formal assessment process to determine if it meets the standards for federal assistance.

FEMA uses cost per capita to gauge whether local and state governments can handle recovery themselves, or if theyll need federal help. Those thresholds currently stand at $4.72 per capita for counties and $1.89 per capita for states.

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But just meeting those thresholds isnt enough. Trump can accept or deny applications at his discretion.

After a thorough assessment, FEMA will approve a disaster declaration request if the assessment shows the events damage exceeds the state, local governments, and voluntary organizations capacity to respond, a FEMA spokesperson wrote in an email to The Independent. Just like all declaration requests, this decision is based on policy, not politics.

During testimony on the special session legislation, Casey Millburg, policy director for St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, said Kehoe and the states congressional delegation have all been pushing for action on the disaster request.

Theres certainly a tremendous amount of uncertainty in our minds, she said. We are certainly hopeful.

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The congressional delegation push began the day after Kehoe requested aid for tornado response.

Missourians are still recovering from the recent tornado, and our communities are in desperate need of federal assistance, U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from St. Louis County, said in a news release May 27, the day after Kehoe made his request.

Wagner, five of Missouris eight U.S. House members and both U.S. Senators signed a letter to Trump on May 27 urging swift action.

These resources are essential to stabilizing affected communities and safeguarding public health and safety, the letter stated. Given the scale of devastation and the urgent need for federal assistance, we respectfully request swift approval of Missouris disaster declaration. We appreciate your attention to this matter and stand ready to support efforts to ensure resources reach those who need them most.

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During a hearing on the special session legislation, state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Democrat from Kansas City, asked budget director Dan Haug whether FEMA would approve the request to help St. Louis.

Have we received notice that FEMA is going to help? she said. Because there are other states that have been denied assistance from FEMA, and so have we received any guarantee that were actually going to receive funding from FEMA to help?

Haug said no assurances have been received.

I think the governors office, in communication with our federal officials, feel confident in the result, Haug said.

Williams, however, said the state shouldnt count on it.

I am not optimistic, he said, that FEMA is going to step in and do anything.

This article was updated June 8 to say it has been 11 days since the request for tornado assistance and at 11 p.m. June 4 to clarify that the 49-day period between request and approval of a disaster declaration was the longest in 15 years.

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WEST PALM BEACH  A Boca Raton man who stabbed his sleeping father to death in a beachside parking garage will spend the rest of his life in prison, capping a murder trial where the suspected killer torpedoed his own self-defense claim from the witness stand.

Circuit Judge James Nutt sentenced Jared Noiman, 31, to life in prison for first-degree murder on June 3. Though he testified at length during his May murder trial  recalling the moment he chose to end his father's life and the careful steps he took to do it  Noiman declined Nutt's invitation to speak at the sentencing hearing.

His mandatory life sentence comes more than five years after a passerby discovered the bloodied body of 59-year-old Jay Noiman between two parking spaces in the One Ocean Plaza parking garage.

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Jay Noiman's friends described the elder Noiman as a devoted father who had drained his finances trying to support his son, who had a history of mental illness, drug use and violent outbursts.

"Jay would have done anything for Jared," Linda Sakkal, an ex-girlfriend of Jay, said in a 2020 interview with The Palm Beach Post. "He was a dedicated father who ended up giving his life trying to help his son."

Boca Raton son said his father began saying 'weird things' weeks before the killing

Noiman's team of public defenders told a different story. Assistant Public Defender Courtney Wilson said Noiman had learned to fear his father after years of disturbing behavior and emotional abuse. In a moment of distress, she said, he believed he had no choice but to kill him.

The attorney said Jay Noiman kept his son isolated from friends and family, mocked his efforts to find work, controlled his money and once left him stranded at a park with no way home. Noiman added that his father began making inappropriate comments in the weeks before the killing  a shift that he said made him feel unsafe.

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He started saying weird things, Noiman testified in May. About special relationships between a father and son. I didnt want that. I didnt know what he was going to do.

Boca Raton police have said Jay Noiman, shown at left in an undated photo with childhood friend Kenny Spahn, was murdered by his son Jared on Feb. 3, 2020.

His self-defense argument appeared to falter under-cross examination. Assistant State Attorney Daniel Reiter prodded Noiman into walking jurors through each step he took to prepare for his father's murder, contradicting his attorneys' claims that the killing was not premeditated.

Noiman said he bought a knife and garbage bags that he hoped were big enough to carry a corpse. He dug a hole on the beach to bury the body. He drank coffee to stay awake after his father fell asleep. He took off his shoes to creep toward the mat where Jay Noiman lay. He stabbed his dad until the handle of his knife broke off, then strangled him with gloved hands.

"I didn't want to leave fingerprints," Noiman said, to which Reiter responded: "Right. You don't want to get caught when you kill him in self-defense  right?"

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"Right," Noiman said.

'I was insane!': South Florida man sentenced to prison for mother's murder, says he 'snapped'

Surveillance-camera footage recorded Noiman walking slowly toward the area where his fathers body was found shortly before 2:40 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2020. Ten minutes later, he was seen running away.

That same morning, Delray Beach police pulled Noiman over for driving without a license. He blamed the blood that covered his arms, face and bare feet on a nosebleed. He wasnt arrested until the next day, after he walked into the Boca Raton Police Department and confessed.

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Though several friends and associates watched the sentencing hearing, none spoke. This time, neither did Noiman.

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca man who stabbed sleeping father 27 times sentenced to life in prison
A wall in Tel Aviv, Israel, is covered with photos of hostages held in Gaza. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Ever since 251 people were taken hostage during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a group of residents in Boulder have refused to let the community forget the people who were abducted.

The group is the local chapter of the global Run For Their Lives, which organizes events calling for the release of the hostages. Participants in the Boulder chapter have demonstrated by walking in the citys downtown area every week  80 weeks so far  since November 2023.

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Their walk on Sunday came on the 604th day since the hostages were taken. It also marked the first time they encountered violence. An assailant attacked the demonstrators with a flamethrower and crude homemade bombs in what federal prosecutors say was an antisemitic hate crime.

The attack came amid rising antisemitism throughout the country and followed other recent acts of violence against Jews. The threat of more violence is real. Its uncertain when the group will walk again.

The tragedy is compounded to the extent terror muzzles the groups message.

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Run For Their Lives is nonviolent and nonpolitical. It is not pro-Israel. It is not anti-Palestine. It has a single purpose, which no person of conscience should find objectionable: to raise awareness and call for the release of hostages. There are still 58 hostages in Gaza, including four Americans. Roughly 20 are believed to be alive, and group members want the remains of the rest to be given a proper burial.

This is an international humanitarian crisis, where people from many varying backgrounds and religions and ethnicities were taken hostage. They were not just Israelis, Shari Weiss, global coordinator of Run For Their Lives, said during an interview this week on WBUR.

She acknowledged the horrors that have befallen Gaza as Israeli forces continue military operations that have resulted in more than 50,000 deaths, most of the territory destroyed, and unspeakable hardship among survivors.

The same people do understand the suffering of the Palestinian people and do understand that they are going through something extremely traumatic. You can absolutely hold space for that at the same time, Weiss said.

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When members of the group demonstrate in Boulder, they walk silently for 18 minutes, the number value of the word chai, Hebrew for life. Many of the participants are older adults (the age range of victims is 52 to 88). They carry photos of the hostages.

Tara Winer, a member of the Boulder City Council, sometimes joins the group on their walks.

Its not a protest, its not a march. Nobody talks, nobody does anything except walk, said Winer, who is Jewish. Im upset about the hostages, who are still there. So its just a way to remind myself about them and also to remind my community about them.

Many participants have friends and family in Israel.

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They do not want people to forget these hostages  And this is their way of keeping their memory alive, Winer said. I know on the walks I go to sometimes they mention all the people who have died in captivity. They mention the hostages by name. They say them by name, so people wont forget.

She was not on the walk Sunday. She described the victims as good friends.

Police said 12 people were injured in the attack, and at least one was in critical condition, but all are expected to survive.

Run For Their Lives organizers intend to continue the walks, though they might stop for a time until adequate security can be ensured. Whatever the groups future, the Boulder and Colorado communities can sustain its humanitarian message. Terrorism succeeds only when its target is cowed or diminished.

There is a way everyone who is horrified by the attack in Boulder can honor the victims and take a stand against terror: Remember the hostages.

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Northern transport schemes have become something of a panic button for prime ministers worried about falling popularity in the polls.

With Sir Keir Starmer less popular than Sir Ed Davey, his Liberal Democrat counterpart, the Labour leader sent his Chancellor out to bat for him with Wednesdays announcement.

Yet close watchers of politics might feel that some of the numbers unveiled by Rachel Reeves, as part of what she described as the biggest ever investment by a British government in transport links in our city regions and the surrounding towns, are suspiciously similar to previous pledges.

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Those include 978 million for transport projects in the Tees Valley region, a sum previously announced in 2023 by the Tories and then placed under review by Labour after last years general election.

A similar situation holds true for the Liverpool city region, which was awarded 1.581 billion in 2023 under the city region sustainable transport settlement, after Wednesdays 1.581 billion award under Labours newly unveiled transport for city regions funding settlements.

Gareth Davies, the shadow treasury minister, said: Rachel Reeves is scrambling to salvage her failing economic plan after the Prime Minister has made U-turn after U-turn, punching holes in her credibility.

She needed to do better than copying and pasting announcements made by the previous Conservative government. The country is not falling for their lies any more. Britain deserves better.

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Here are some of the times in the recent past when prime ministers have reached for northern transport funding announcements to shore up their sagging popularity.

Gordon Browns 2009 light-rail systems

Mr Brown, who succeeded Sir Tony Blair as prime minister, said he would improve public transport in Sunderland if his party won the 2010 general election.

His manifesto that year also promised upgrades to Tyne and Wear light-rail systems and electronic ticketing to promote cheap and easy public transport across the country.

It wasnt the first time Mr Brown had fallen back on promises of boosting transport spending outside London and the South East.

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The previous December, he opened the HS1 railway line in Kent while promising that it would become a blueprint for the future of high-speed rail travel in the United Kingdom. He added, referring to the then not-yet-started project, that HS2 was going to make the case for a national high-speed rail network across this country.

Not long after Sir Tony handed over the premiership to Mr Brown, an act followed by a slump in the opinion polls and strong rumours of a 2008 snap election, the new prime minister was forced to deny that transport spending was skewed towards London and the South East.

The Government has doubled expenditure on transport. It continues to move forward with its road programme, but also its rail and infrastructure programme, Mr Brown said that year.

And I dont think its true to say that transport spending has been skewed to one particular area. In every part of the country, we are expanding transport according to the needs of these different areas.

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The important thing to recognise about transport is that we are investing in every part of the country.

Cameron on northern roads and railways

In October 2010, the Tory-Lib Dem government announced deep public spending cuts as part of George Osbornes austerity programme, with the transport budget set for cuts of around 15 per cent.

Mr Osborne spearheaded the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, a slogan that promised a lateral high-speed railway line across northern England, alongside plans for HS2 to move off the drawing board and into reality.

As the 2015 general election loomed, however, David Cameron  now Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton  started adopting the familiar refrain of North-centric transport announcements in an attempt to woo voters.

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I think it is important that to reassure people in the next parliament were going to spend three times more on other transport schemes, road and rail schemes, as well spend on HS2, he told ITV News in 2014, ahead of the following years general election.

A year later, the prime minister was back out on the stump, promising in a YouTube video addressed to voters in Accrington, Lancashire: Today Im here in the North West talking about how were going to invest in our universities, in our science base, how were going to build the roads and railways and infrastructure that we need for our future so we get a balanced recovery right across our country.

The promise may have worked: in 2015 the Conservatives secured a clear majority, meaning they could govern without their erstwhile Lib Dem coalition partners.

A year after that, Mr Cameron dramatically stepped down after losing the 2016 EU membership referendum.

Theresa Mays transforming cities

Mr Camerons 2016 successor was Theresa May, who felt the heat of unpopularity as early as two years into her premiership.

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As part of a policy intended to help spread growth beyond London, a total of ten city regions around the country  including Greater Manchester, Cambridge, Peterborough, Plymouth, Southampton and Sheffield, among others  were handed a total of 1.7 billion for transport projects.

Our great cities and their suburbs are home to millions of people and world-beating businesses, Mrs May said at the time.

Faced with growing calls for a general election in 2019, she went on to reassure Midlands political and business leaders that the Tories were backing the full length of HS2s northern leg.

She said in a letter to the Midlands Connect trade association: I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that the Government remains committed to delivering the whole of HS2 Phase 2, and will continue to work closely with you to ensure that the project meets your aspirations for growth and regeneration.

Boris Johnson promises lots to Leeds

After Mrs May stepped down in 2019, Boris Johnson won the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election  and called a general election in the same year.

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Having been mayor of London, the one-time Telegraph correspondent was already firmly linked in the public imagination with transport projects  but that did not stop him from reaching for the familiar northern transport announcements when the polls were down.

Mr Johnson said in an early 2020 speech: I want to be the prime minister who does with Northern Powerhouse Rail what we did for Crossrail in London, and today I am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the Leeds to Manchester route.

That route has, so far, not materialised.

 and Liz Truss repeats his pledges

During her 45 days in office, Liz Truss had little time to say much. Yet in the run-up to her abortive prime ministerial term, she renewed the Conservatives pledge to build Northern Powerhouse Rail.

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Leeds is still the largest city in Europe without its own metro network and I would work to fix that. And I will get Northern Powerhouse Rail built, she told a Tory leadership hustings in July 2022.

She did not, in fact, get the train project onto the tracks during her two months in No 10.

Rishi Sunak and HS2

Mr Sunak took a much bolder stance than his predecessors, being best remembered in transport circles for cancelling the northern leg of HS2 and freezing National Highways smart motorways rollout.

Yet by 2024, paving the ground for that years general election, the Tory leader was keen to position himself as a generous benefactor for northern transport projects.

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Through reallocating HS2 funding, were not only investing billions of pounds directly back into our smaller cities, towns and rural areas across the North and Midlands, but we are also empowering their local leaders to invest in the transport projects that matter most to their communities  this is levelling up in action, he said in a statement that February.

His governments 2023 announcement that HS2 Phase 2 funding was being redirected into various northern transport projects formed the basis of Wednesdays announcement by Ms Reeves.

Keen observers of politics watching Ms Reevess speech could be forgiven for believing they had become trapped in the film Groundhog Day.

But the refrain is so familiar from prime ministers in political hot water that it has become a predictable staple of these types of set-piece speech.

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SPRINGFIELD  The state Attorney Generals office has reportedly revived an investigation into whether former mayoral candidate of Justin Hurst paid for votes in 2023.

City officials confirmed that a prosecutor and a Massachusetts state trooper visited City Hall May 28 and quizzed Elections Office staff and requested voter records related to the mayoral race that pitted Hurst against longtime incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

State investigators showed up at City Hall two days before Hurst pulled papers to run for City Council once again.

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Hurst said he believes his work in city government is not done.

The issues that I campaigned on when I ran for mayor are more present now than ever before. Time and time again, we are failing to meet the moment. And we, the people, feel the pain, Hurst said.

Days before the November election in 2023, campaign workers for Hurst were captured on building video outside City Hall carting local voters back and forth to the polls. While Hurst was in the convoy of cars, the footage did not show him providing $10 bills for votes, unlike some of his workers.

The voters also were promised a fish dinner once they presented their I voted early stickers to Hurst people standing outside City Hall. About a half dozen city officials, as well as a police officer, said in sworn affidavits at the time that they witnessed the distribution of $10 bills.

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When the video footage emerged, Hurst claimed it was a last-minute smear campaign from Sarnos camp and denied paying for votes.

Around 130 voters registered to vote and cast their ballots early on the same day, according to City Solicitor Stephen J. Buoniconti. Many of those voters logged their addresses as the Worthington Street homeless shelter.

The Republican at the time interviewed a man who confirmed he was paid $10 to vote for Hurst. The city solicitor at the time, retired judge John Payne, called for the Hampden District Attorneys Office to launch a criminal investigation.

It is extremely troubling. This is a fraud upon the elections process, Payne said in 2023. Before I became a judge, I was active in elections for 30 years, and Ive never heard of anyone being paid for a vote. It is very serious, he said at the time.

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A state law concerning voter bribery provides penalties of up to a year in jail. A state elections official told The Republican in 2023 that there is no scenario under which it would be permissible to pay a voter to cast a ballot.

A deeper dive

Buoniconti on Tuesday confirmed that investigators came May 28 with specific questions regarding alleged improprieties by Hursts camp during that mayoral race.

Theyre doing a deeper dive in the investigation but it appears to us theres been a staff change in the AGs office and theyre going back to start the investigation all over, he said, identifying the lead prosecutor in the case as Karen Bell.

Bell was an assistant district attorney in Hampden County before leaving for the same role in Berkshire County in 2018, and then moving on to the statewide office.

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The Republican has for months been asking Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbells office about the status of the voting probe. The agency has resisted releasing records, citing the ongoing investigation exemption under state law.

We have determined that because the exempt information is so interwoven within the text of these records, proper redaction would render them meaningless and therefore, withholding them in their entirety is appropriate in this instance, reads a response from the office in November.

In response to a request for comment on overcoming questions about voting impropriety, Hurst said he intends to devote his attention to what he sees as the issues of the day.

Ill stay focused on what I can control, which is ensuring that our message for a better Springfield gets out to as many voters as possible, Hurst said.

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Buoniconti, the city solicitor, said he is hopeful the matter can be resolved one way or another before the next election cycle in the fall. He also expressed frustration over the length of time it has taken Campbells office to address the situation, despite the fact that the city turned over all records that were requested and made its staff available for interviews.

He said the attorney generals office has obtained records on which voters registered and cast their ballots the same day.

Theres a cloud that is hanging over the electoral process in the city and we need to resolve that so people have confidence in the integrity of the electoral process, Buoniconti said.

He noted a climate of political violence across the nation and recalled that Sarnos tires were slashed outside City Hall last year, and the suspect was a man identified as one of the people on the same-day voting list.

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Court records show the alleged tire slasher, Steven Kostorizos, was charged with the crime. The case is stayed because he was deemed by a judge as not competent to stand trial.

Hurst said he is running for the council again after pleas from supporters that I would not stop fighting for them, for their children and families, and for a better Springfield.

Read the original article on MassLive.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders discusses an outdoor education pilot program during a press conference on June 4, 2025 in Little Rock. (Screenshot from livestream)

The governor announced on Wednesday the creation of a new outdoor education pilot program that will accept up to 30 Arkansas school districts that apply to participate.

A partnership between the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the program will help equip students for a career in outdoor recreation, according to a press release from the governors office.

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During Wednesdays announcement at AGFCs Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in Little Rock, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said if the pilot is successful, the program could be expanded to schools across the state and provide a model for the entire country. Getting kids outdoors will help improve their education, health and quality of life, Sanders said.

Starting today, districts across our state can apply to be one of 30 schools to offer outdoor education built around the standards taught in core and elective content areas, experiences in outdoor learning engagement and projects that empower students to think critically and solve problems about the world around them, she said.

Doug Schoenrock, who was named AGFCs 20th director in April, said the truly unique pilot program will bring the outdoors into the classroom and vice versa.

And most importantly, this program will bring outdoors to the hearts and minds of our students, and build a connection with the Natural State, which we as Arkansans hold so dear, Schoenrock said.

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The new initiative combines several of the governors priorities, including education, workforce development and outdoor recreation. The pilot program responds to a recommendation made by the Natural State Initiative Advisory Council in its 2023 report to expand outdoor recreation programs to schools.

Sanders launched the Natural State Initiative in an effort to expand Arkansas outdoor economy, and its advisory council is chaired by her husband, Bryan.

Tourism is the states second largest industry behind agriculture. In the most recent year for which data is available, Arkansas welcomed more than 50 million visitors who spent nearly $10 billion, much of which went to outdoor recreation, according to the press release.

Applications for the outdoor education pilot program are available on AGFCs website.

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The Florida Board of Governors rejected Santa Ono to serve as the president of the University of Florida on Tuesday amid backlash from conservatives over Onos past stances on diversity, equity and inclusion on (DEI) college campuses.

The board, which oversees the states university system, voted 10-6 to block the former University of Michigan president from serving as the University of Florida president weeks after the universitys board of trustees voted unanimously in favor of Ono.

The move from the states Board of Governors marks the first time in its 22-year history that it has rejected a universitys presidential selection.

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The boards rejection means that the university will have to start its presidential selection process over.

Ono faced pushback from conservatives, as well as members of Floridas congressional delegation, over his past stances on DEI, which has become a target of the Trump administration. Last week, the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. called on every single member of the Board of Governors to vote against Ono.

However, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who appointed most of the states Board of Governors, avoided jumping directly into the fray over Onos nomination.

We have expectations about what we want in higher education. We dont want it to be a fountain of activism and leftist indoctrination and if you go in that direction, then you will not have support to continue, DeSantis said at a press conference last week. People have pointed out a lot of statements that he has made that are not exactly what were looking for in a state where woke goes to die and I cringe at some of these statements.

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The chair of the universitys board of trustees, Mori Hosseini, a DeSantis ally, backed Ono as the pick to lead the university.

Ono wrote in a recent op-ed that his views on the issue have evolved.

Like many, I supported what I believed to be the original intent of DEI  ensuring equal opportunity and fairness for every student, he wrote in Inside Higher Ed earlier this month. Thats something on which most everyone agrees. But over time, I saw how DEI became something else  more about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A new Maryland law will make teacher licensing more streamlined, education officials say.

Before House Bill 888 was signed into law last month by Gov. Wes Moore, colleges and universities in Maryland were required to administer one of two performance-based assessments to students seeking a teaching license.

One assessment is the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), which is created by the Educational Testing Service, and will be retired in December.

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The other is the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), which is created by Pearson, an education company, and is currently being redeveloped.

Completing one of those assessments became mandatory after an omnibus state bill intending to make teacher certification more efficient was signed last year.

Faculty members at the Mount St. Marys University School of Education said the bill instead created a financial and time-consuming barrier for their students to receive certification, since the universitys program already has a nationally accredited performance-based assessment.

House Bill 888, sponsored by Delegates Kris Fair (D-3A), Ken Kerr (D-3) and Eric Ebersole (D-44A) from Baltimore County, makes administering the assessment optional for colleges and universities that have a nationally accredited educator program.

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The Mounts teacher preparation program, which includes a portfolio assessment, was accredited through 2029 by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.

Stacey Brown-Hobbs, who was recently promoted from the chair and director of teacher education to the dean of the School of Education at the Mount, said in an interview that the universitys assessments go through a very rigorous process during the accreditation process.

We were like, why are we making our students do this other assessment when we already are doing something, and were accredited? she said.

Brown-Hobbs added that states such as New York, Georgia and New Jersey were moving away from the PPAT and edTPA assessments because research is showing us that this is not an effective tool. This is not a good predictor.

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This is a licensure test thats very time consuming for our students at a time when they are trying to begin to learn about the practice of teaching in their internship setting, she said. Its distracting them from really concentrating on the feedback that theyre getting from their mentors and supervisors.

Barbara Marinak, the former dean of the Mounts education school who was recently appointed as interim provost, said in an interview that Maryland is in a dramatic teacher shortage.

She said the intention of legislation mandating the assessments was never to make the process more onerous. The intent was to fully support and recognize rigorous paths to licensure.

Marinak added that schools in Maryland can still choose to administer edTPA for their students to receive teaching licenses, and that this bill gives colleges and universities options.

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Marinak said she and Brown-Hobbs spoke with Darren Hornbeck, a longtime Frederick County Public Schools educator and the chair of the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board under the Maryland State Department of Education. Hornbeck helped drive the change.

Hornbeck also discussed with Fair how local legislation could remove that barrier for aspiring educators.

In the 2001-02 school year, Fair was Hornbecks teaching assistant at Linganore High School, which Hornbeck said in an interview was just such a gratifying thing.

Who would have known, like 20 years later, that student who I had sitting three rows back would be producing very meaningful legislation that would help future teachers, he said.

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Hornbeck said some schools see the performance assessment as useful because it requires technical writing skill.

But not all schools were in that boat, he said. Other schools thought they were achieving it in other ways, so we wanted to remove it as a barrier to teachers coming into the profession because of its cost and potential redundancy.

Hornbeck added that the legislation is not meant to decrease standards to receive a teaching license, but to reduce costs and redundancy to students in teacher programs that are nationally accredited.

Fair in an interview said working with Hornbeck, who he considers a mentor, felt like a full circle moment.

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It was just really cool to be able to take a challenge that he brought to me and be able to help him fix it, he said.

Fair said while Maryland works hard to certify teachers and encourage them to work in the state, we really need to be looking holistically at any barrier to employment for teachers here.
Barracuda Networks, Inc., a leading cybersecurity company providing complete protection against complex threats for all-sized businesses, today unveiled the BarracudaONE AI-powered cybersecurity platform. BarracudaONE maximises threat protection and cyber resilience by unifying layered security defences and providing deep, intelligent threat detection and response for managed service providers (MSPs), other channel partners and end users.

Barracuda today also announced the findings of a global survey highlighting the growing risk posed by security tool sprawl. According to the study conducted by Vanson Bourne, 67% of Australian IT and security professionals say their organisations are juggling too many security tools. More than half of Australian respondents (62%) also say their security tools cannot be integrated  creating fragmented environments that are difficult to manage and secure. 84% of Australian respondents report that this lack of integration increases the time required to manage security, while 84% cited higher overall costs. Additionally, it significantly weakens threat defence capabilities, with 75% saying it hinders detection and 77% citing challenges in threat mitigation. Only a minority (40%) of respondents are fully confident their tools are properly configured, leaving organisations vulnerable to breaches caused by hidden misconfigurations.

This research serves as a stark wake-up call for organisations still relying on disconnected, siloed security tools, said Neal Bradbury, chief product officer at Barracuda. Managing a patchwork of solutions drives up costs and complexity while creating blind spots that attackers are quick to exploit. Security teams simply cannot afford to waste time switching between systems while critical threats go undetected. The path forward is clear: consolidation and integration are essential for cyber resilience. That is exactly why we built BarracudaONE  to improve security operations, reduce risk and enable teams to secure their environments faster and more effectively. We are cutting through the complexity, closing critical gaps and empowering organisations with the confidence and control they need to stay ahead of evolving threats.

The sprawl of disconnected security tools is placing significant strain on IT teams in Australia, said Dan McLean, Country Manager, ANZ, Barracuda Networks. Our research shows that security environments have become fragmented, making it harder for teams to manage threats and respond quickly when incidents occur. The launch of BarracudaONE will help local organisations  and their managed service providers - streamline operations through tighter integration, unlocking greater visibility across their environments and strengthening their ability to mitigate risks with greater speed and assurance.

BarracudaONE simplifies and strengthens security operations by unifying Barracudas comprehensive portfolio of solutions into a single, integrated platform. It delivers layered threat protection, managed through a centralised dashboard, reducing operational complexity and improving visibility. By consolidating key security functions, BarracudaONE minimises the administrative burden and enhances overall cyber resilience.

Advanced, battle-tested AI  integrated across Barracudas solutions and fine-tuned over years of real-world application  enables precise threat detection, rapid response and intelligence automation. At the core of this AI-driven platform are robust reporting capabilities that deliver clear, actionable insights. These reports help security teams and channel partners demonstrate the effectiveness of the AI threat layer in identifying and neutralising attacks, while also highlighting ROI and operational impact. By making threat data easy to interpret and communicate, the platform empowers organisations to validate their cybersecurity posture and make informed decisions with confidence.

BarracudaONE is a shields-up force multiplier that helps us safeguard critical municipal services  including our police dispatcher centre, police and fire departments, as well as wastewater, finance and other essential operations, said William Mann, chief information security officer (CISO) at the Borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania. The ability to manage multiple security modules through a single, centralised dashboard is transformational. Barracuda Email Protections incident response capabilities are mission-critical, and with BarracudaONE, theyre more accessible, faster and easier to manage. The streamlined experience of having fewer clicks and faster insights enables us to prioritise threats and respond with the speed and precision our first responders, government teams and community depend on.

As an MSP, BarracudaONE isnt just another tool  its a strategic differentiator for our business, said Tyler Bracken, director of network operations at OpX Networks. Were already using BarracudaONE as a powerful sales asset to clearly demonstrate the value we deliver and make ROI tangible for our customers. Cybersecurity can sometimes be a challenging sell, clouded by misconceptions around complexity and cost. BarracudaONE helps shift that narrative. Its rich telemetry and real-time insights enable us to show exactly what threats were neutralising and the protection were providing. That level of transparency builds trust with our customers and gives us a strong advantage in a crowded market.

BarracudaONE brings all our Barracuda solutions into a unified, powerful platform  delivering centralised visibility, real-time alerts and actionable reporting, said Adam Butler, principal cyber solutions architect at ARO. It represents a major step forward for our customers, and an even greater advantage for us as an MSP overseeing thousands of customer environments. With BarracudaONE, we can pinpoint security gaps faster, prioritise alerts with greater accuracy and generate high-value reports in seconds.

Availability

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MSPs, partners and end users can further strengthen their security posture with Barracuda Managed XDR, a 24/7 service that delivers expert threat detection and response backed by Barracudas award-winning security operations centre (SOC).
(WHTM)  State agriculture and dairy industry leaders met in Harrisburg today to celebrate National Dairy Month.

Pennsylvania is home to over 5,000 dairy farms, and the states dairy industry supports 47,000 jobs and generates over $11 billion in annual state economic revenue.

Every dairy farmer in each of our 67 counties contributes to our states leading industrys production and economic success, said Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47). Our dairy farmers, and all farmers for that matter, are depended upon 24/7, 365 days a year, and serve as the cornerstone of our nation. Their knowledge and expertise allow Pennsylvania families to enjoy the common dairy staples like ice cream, cheese, and yogurt in the comfort of their homes. We thank these farmers not just today but every day for keeping Pennsylvania as well as our nation fed.

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Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Lisa Graybeal and Center for Dairy Excellence Executive Director Jayne Sebright joined Sen. Vogel Jr. to detail the industrys positive impacts on Pennsylvania communities, businesses, and residents.

Pennsylvania dairy farmers are intensely proud of what they do and how well they do it, Graybeal said. During Dairy Month and year-round, the Shapiro Administration is proud to support Pennsylvania dairy farmers in their ongoing pursuit of excellence in breeding, herd management, cow care, and conservation. The Administration is committed to partnering with the General Assembly to invest in a future of ever-increasing innovation and excellence for the industry that feeds our nation and our world quality, nutritious, and delicious products every day, all year, every year.

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Lancaster, Franklin, Lebanon, Berks and Blair counties are the top five dairy producing counties in Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Jimmy Hill is determined to continue his fight for justice after a federal judge decided Tuesday to drop the charges against retired Atlanta police officer Sung Kim, who shot and killed his son Jimmy Atchison in 2019.

Change aint going to come if we sit back and wait on others, Hill told Capital B Atlanta the morning after the judge issued his ruling. You know, we gotta be able to have the courage to step out on faith and be the change weve been looking for.

Atchison, a 21-year-old father of two, was accused of stealing a womans purse and cellphone at gunpoint; however, after he was killed, a witness said he didnt have a gun. He had already evaded Kim and federal task force members on foot twice that day when they followed him into an Adamsville apartment, where he was hiding in a closet under a pile of clothes. According to the subsequent investigation, officers yelled conflicting commands at Atchison, like Dont move and Show me your hands.

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Other officers who were in the room told investigators that Atchison raised one or both hands quickly in the seconds before Kim fired his weapon. Last month, Kim  who was charged with murder, aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, and violation of oath  testified during an evidentiary hearing that he thought Atchison had a firearm and was going to shoot him.

In his order dismissing the charges, U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown wrote that the shooting was textbook self-defense.

In the months following his sons death, Hills family and Atlantas activist community led dozens of protests that led to the Atlanta Police Department pulling out of federal task forces entirely in 2019 because, at the time, they banned officers from wearing body cameras.

The following year, the Department of Justice changed its policy to allow local and state law enforcement to wear body cameras while serving on a federal task force.

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Victories like APDs withdrawal from federal task forces have bolstered Hills willingness to continue to fight for justice for his son.

Read More: Judge to Decide Whether to Move Forward With Trial in Fatal Police Shooting of Jimmy Atchison

People respond to pressure, Hill said. I refuse to sit back, I refuse to be tired.

Next on his agenda is to have the Fulton County District Attorneys office appeal the judges decision up to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Assisting Hill in this quest is Gerald Griggs, a local attorney and president of the Georgia NAACP. Griggs told Capital B Atlanta that he wrote a letter to the district attorneys office Wednesday morning to stress the importance of appealing this case because Atchison was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

Were not gonna remain silent, were just going to keep going.

Jimmy Hill, father of Jimmy Atchison

We believe that [this] sets a dangerous precedent in the 11th Circuit, which covers most of the Southern states, that an officer can shoot an unarmed individual whos been given several conflicting commands and in the face, Griggs said.

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A spokesperson for District Attorney Fani Willis office told Capital B Atlanta in a statement Wednesday afternoon that they are reviewing the decision and considering next steps. The office has 30 days to notify the court of appeals; after which, there is then time allotted for it to file documents with the court explaining why it is appealing and what specifically it disagrees with in the judges order.

According to Griggs, the 11th Circuit can take anywhere from six months to several years to decide whether to accept an appeal. If it agrees to take the case, it will order a briefing and the case will be assigned to either a single judge or a three-judge panel.

Griggs said he isnt certain what the outcome will be because hes seen the 11th Circuit deny appeals when the victim was armed, but hasnt seen many where theyve upheld the lower courts decision when the victim was unarmed.

Its hard to say because it is one of the more conservative circuits in the United States, but I think based on these facts there needs to be an appeal, otherwise this sets a very dangerous precedent for the South and for the nation, Griggs continued.

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Regardless, Hill plans to continue to fight until he gets justice for his son.

On Mothers Day weekend, Hill protested in honor of his sons late mother, Cynthia Atchison, outside the megachurch of a local pastor who told Black parents to stop blaming white cops for killing their children. Hill said he believes Cynthias death in 2022 was due to a broken heart.

Read More: Viral Sermon Blaming Black Parents for Police Killings Sparks Mothers Day Protest

Ill get out there and fight in the rain, in the heat, whatever, Hill said. I get out there and fight on days I didnt want to fight. But I knew it had to be done because thats my son and I love him. So were not gonna remain silent, were just going to keep going.

The post State NAACP Calls for Appeal in Fatal Atlanta Police Shooting After Judge Drops Charges appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, center, meets with State Sens. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, from left. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  After two months of speculation, State Sen. John Cavanaugh is throwing his hat into the ring Wednesday and running for Congress in Nebraskas 2nd District.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., addresses supporters outside of his west Omaha campaign office after claiming victory in 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

The Omaha-based lawmaker joins one high-profile local candidate in PAC co-founder and small business owner Denise Powell, along with Mark Johnston and Evangelos Argyrakis.

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The winner of the May 2026 Democratic primary will try to do what former Omaha State Sen. Tony Vargas fell short of doing so two times  becoming the first non-Republican to represent Nebraska in Congress since the late former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford served in early 2017.

Cavanaugh said he is banking on his record of being a leader in the Legislature to separate himself from Powell. He said he has a record of standing up for working people and protecting access to reproductive health care, including abortion rights.

Bacon has long described himself as pro-life. He has supported abortion restrictions, with some exceptions, and previously bans, in a district where a majority supports abortion access.

An Omaha name

The Cavanaugh name also holds weight in Omaha, as John is part of a state political dynasty. His father, in the late 1970s, held the congressional seat that he hopes to win, and his sister, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, serves in the statehouse with him.

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Cavanaughs pitch: The country is in crisis. [We] need strong leadership to help us correct course from this chaotic president and Congress.

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The attorney and former Douglas County Public Defender points to his experience in government as a contrast to Powells campaign. Powell has argued people want a fresh face in political office. She said she would prioritize protecting Medicaid and Social Security, vote to ensure the federal government does its part to boost quality K-12 education and push back against the Trump administration.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated the Omaha-based 2nd District seat held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., as a Republican toss-up. National and state Democrats are using the recent Omaha mayoral race as evidence of growing voter energy against President Donald Trump and political fuel for the congressional midterms.

But the fundamentals of the district havent changed. It remains Nebraskas most politically divided and diverse district, with a slight GOP tilt. The 2nd District contains Democratic-leaning Douglas County, home to Omaha, Republican-leaning slices of western Sarpy County, largely suburbs and exurbs, and rural Saunders County.

A complex district

The 2nd District voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and former President Joe Biden in 2020 after voting for President Donald Trump in 2016 and Mitt Romney in 2012. It backed then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in 2008.

Denise Powell, known for her work helping new candidates run for office, is running for Congress in Nebraskas Omaha-based 2nd District. (Courtesy of Denise Powell for Congress)

Bacon has fended off Democrats in close races five times in previous years and bucked the blue dot voting trend in the past two presidential elections. The retired Air Force brigadier general is a reliable Republican vote on most matters. But he has again stepped into the national spotlight as one of the few House Republicans willing to criticize the Trump administration.

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Bacon hasnt announced a decision yet on whether to retire from Congress, though he said that decision would come this summer. Nebraska Democrats, who view Bacons seat as vulnerable with him in it or not, have multiple candidates to choose from. Republicans could have a 2nd District primary regardless of what Bacon decides.

Former 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom has told people in conservative political circles that he might be interested in a bid if Bacon retires. Another candidate that has been discussed is Dan Frei, who lost a bid to challenge Bacon in the 2024 GOP primary.

Dems keep eyeing NE-02

If Cavanaugh emerges from the Democratic primary, he would be the second Democratic-aligned state senator to run against Bacon, following Vargas.

Cavanaugh said the difference between Vargas and him is that he was born and raised in Omaha and has a stronger record of being a leader in the Legislature.

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Bacon has already criticized Cavanaughs voting record earlier this year, saying that outside political groups would easily use it against him.

I personally like John, but his left-wing voting record will sink him in his run for Congress, Bacon said Wednesday. His voting record is indistinguishable from (State Sen.) Megan Hunt and his sister. It will be a huge buffet for those who dont want far-left policies.

Cavanaugh said the biggest motivation for him to run is that the federal government is currently populated by people who are self-interested and self-dealing.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)

That starts with the president and includes Congress, but we saw it in the Legislature this year, Cavanaugh said.

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Cavanaugh spent much of the most recent legislative session arguing against efforts by the GOP-majority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature to resist ballot measures passed by Nebraska voters, including new laws requiring paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage, repealing school vouchers, and legalizing medical marijuana.

He was often one of the Democratic-aligned lawmakers filibustering the majoritys proposed changes to what voters approved.

I dont shy away from a fight, but Im not trying to be combative with people just for the sake of being combative, Cavanaugh said. We need that kind of principled strength representing us in Congress.

This story has been revised to include comments from other candidates in the 2nd District House race.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Tuesday was the deadline set by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals for the prosecution to file its response to the self-defense appeal of former Decatur Police Department Officer Mac Marquette.

But the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, which handles criminal appeals, asked the appeals court for 21 additional days to submit its filing.

Help Ronnies kids find joy amidst tragedy: Dumas family PI sets up GoFundMe for kids to attend summer camp

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Marquette is charged with murder in the on-duty shooting death of Stephen Perkins outside Perkins Decatur home in September 2023 during a botched truck repossession. Perkins had reportedly pulled a gun on the truck driver earlier that evening. After that, the driver asked police to escort him, according to testimony at Marquettes immunity self-defense hearing in March. Testimony also showed officers agreed to go to Perkins house, but they did not go to the door or make their presence known.

Security footage from a neighbors home shows Marquette hid near the side of Perkins house and emerged as Perkins was pointing his gun at the repo truck driver. He yelled police and ordered Perkins to get on the ground, body camera footage shows. Perkins turned toward Marquette and the then-officer fired multiple shots within two seconds of issuing the command.

The defense has argued that Marquette was acting in self-defense when he shot Perkins. A Morgan County Circuit Court judge in late March denied Marquettes self-defense claim, finding that officers were not conducting an investigation at the time of the deadly encounter with Perkins.

Under Alabama law, a person is justified in using deadly force if they have a reasonable belief that deadly force is about to be used against them or someone else. If the trial court had found Marquette acted in self-defense, the murder case would be over.

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Muscle Shoals man sentenced for stealing over $600,000 as pool contractor

Marquette appealed the trial courts ruling to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in May. In that filing, his lawyers argue Perkins pointed his gun at Marquette, that Marquette feared for his life and that an ALEA investigator found Perkins was the aggressor that evening.

In requesting more time for its response to Marquettes appeal, the Alabama Attorney Generals Office said it is currently involved in complex cases before the Alabama Supreme Court and the courts of Civil Appeals and Criminal Appeals.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On the eve of a critical House vote about the future of risk pool groups that manage insurance plans for units of government, lawyers for Secretary of State David Scanlan argued the head of HealthTrust, the states largest pool, had lied or misled during a recent court deposition.

Scanlan's lawyer accuses HealthTrust of giving misleading deposition

A lawyer representing Secretary of State David Scanlan (pictured) hass accused the chief executive of HealthTrust of misrepresenting the group's legal authority during a recent court deposition.

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Richard Gagliuso of the BernsteinShur firm accused HealthTrust Executive Director Scott DeRoche of misrepresenting the makeup of his organization.

We continue to be troubled by your clients dissemination of statements that appear to be knowingly, if not intentionally, misleading with respect to the nature of the coverage offered by HealthTrust and the ultimate responsibility of the political subdivision members for the liabilities of the program, Gagliuso wrote to lawyers for HealthTrust.

In that deposition, DeRoche said HealthTrust is a self-insurer that provides fully insured coverage to member towns, cities, school districts and other governmental bodies.

HealthTrust is not offering such coverage by 'obtaining insurance' from an insurance carrier. Your argument further begs the question of where such coverage is provided by law, Gagliuso responded.

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To the contrary, HealthTrust apparently contends that it is self-insuring for fully insured health coverage.

Scanlans legal team maintains HealthTrust and all the risk pools are self-insured plans under RSA 5-B, the 2010 state law that put them under regulatory control of the secretary of states office.

The House of Representatives on Thursday will vote on amended legislation (SB 297) that would allow HealthTrust and the three other risk pool groups to decide if they would rather come under the supervision of the Insurance Department.

HealthTrust executives came out in support of the legislation.

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We view the amendment as ensuring a viable and valuable risk pool environment for the benefit of New Hampshires political subdivisions and taxpayers, the group said in a statement.

Scanlan strongly opposes the change and supports the original measure from Senate President Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, to give his office more sweeping powers over the finances of these groups.

In pursuing the original legislation, Scanlan charged that HealthTrust and a second risk pool had been close to insolvent because they failed to raise rates so they wouldn't lose any business.

HealthTrust officials insisted those statements were untrue.

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The other risk pool Scanlan named, the New Hampshire Interlocal Trust, voted to leave the market, and a judge named a receiver to take over its finances.

HealthTrusts board has threatened that it would dissolve the organization if Scanlans proposal became law.

Accordingly, we call upon your client once again to cease and desist from making false statements about the nature of the coverage offered to New Hampshire political subdivisions through HealthTrusts pooled risk management program and to withdraw or correct such statements as may circulating in the public, Gagliuso added.

In a statement, DeRoche insisted that he hasnt misrepresented the groups mission.

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HealthTrust has served the public sector of New Hampshire for four decades. Over this time, we have offered the same model of coverage, which provides for fixed health coverage costs during a plan year. This model provides the predictability that public sector employers, employees, and taxpayers rely upon, DeRoche said.

Last month, HealthTrust's lawyer defended DeRoche's statements in a separate court filing.

The deposition arose after the city of Rochester filed for information under the state's Right-to-Know Law about HealthTrusts specific claims data as it considered whether it wished to self-insure on its own.

HealthTrust denied the request, saying to reveal this information would compromise its competitive position in the risk pool marketplace.

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Last week, the Senate Finance Committee voted to tack into its proposed trailer bill to the state budget (HB 2) a requirement that risk pools and insurers provide deidentified information about such claims.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Arroyos are a natural drainage system commonly found throughout the southwest, including here in Albuquerque. They move water from where people are living and deliver that water to the river. Though they serve a vital function, residents are encouraged to be cautious of Albuquerques arroyos, on dry and damp days alike. As Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority Executive Director Kevin Troutman says, Rain or shine, you should always stay out of the arroyos. We spoke to him after a body was recovered in an arroyo following a flash flooding event on Monday.

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As an arroyos primary function is drainage, it can move water pretty fast and efficiently. This could lead to an unexpected washout, even on a sunny day. While you may not have rain on your location, water could be coming down from rain occurring further up the watershed. Particularly on the east side of town, they are line channels, so they do move very quick, especially with the grades coming off of the mountains said Troutman. Sometimes a water main can break, or you could even get just normal water system maintenance, [which] can put water in these channels that concur on a sunny day.

Although residents are encouraged to be cautious year-round, monsoon seasons increased rainfall does bring an increased risk of arroyos washing out. On the flipside, Troutman believes people are more aware of the water in the arroyos during that time, thus making them more wary to enter the arroyos at all.

If you see someone caught in a flash flood, Troutman says you should never go in after them. Instead, call 911. First responders with Albuquerque Fire Rescue are trained for these incidents. They have stations throughout the city, locations where they have the ability to anchor themselves to the side of the channel, said Troutman. And then they also have location devices that theyre wearing and try and provide to anyone caught in the arroyos. They can also throw lines to try and rescue them as well. I think the most important part is that they have a significant amount of training on how to do these types of rescues. If you yourself are trapped, Troutman says you should try and make it to the side of the arroyos and attempt to get out as quick as possible.

In January of 2024, Bernalillo County approved an ordinance to keep unhoused individuals off arroyos and ditches. At that time, the county said enforcement would focus on encouraging compliance rather than arresting the unhoused. In 2024, a research team in San Diego began exploring how to create a flood warning system for unhoused individuals living by local waterways after three people died in a flood event. Some ideas included flashing lights or siren-blasting horns.

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Albuquerque does not have an alarm system in the arroyos. When the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning on Monday, they notified AFRs Alarm room, who then placed AFRs Flood Channel response stations in standby status.

The arroyos have also seen their fair share of skaters, with one skater being cited in 2014 for doing some construction work to make the arroyo more skateable. Skateboarder Tony Hawk recommended that skaters put Indian School Ditch, officially known as Embudo Arroyo, at the top of their skating bucket lists in 2016.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A small hydrothermal eruption was captured on camera at Yellowstone National Park last weekend at the same site where a massive explosion destroyed a section of boardwalk last summer.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the eruption occurred at 8:39 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 31, at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, just north of Old Faithful. It was recorded by a newly installed webcam set up on May 14 to monitor activity at the site.

"It is likely that these small eruptions are a result of the hydrothermal plumbing system for the pool adjusting after the major disruption of the larger explosion last summer," USGS Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland told USA TODAY.

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Hydrothermal explosions occur when superheated water rapidly turns to steam underground, triggering sudden bursts of steam, rock and debris.

The July 2024 explosion at the same pool scattered boulders, destroyed nearby infrastructure and altered the shape of the pool itself. No injuries were reported.

As of June 3, the parking lot and boardwalk at Biscuit Basin remain closed due to continued risk of hydrothermal activity.
A US Steel logo is seen on a vehicle loaded with rolls of steel during a visit by the U.S. President to U.S. Steel - Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, May 30, 2025 Credit - Saul LoebAFP via Getty Images

Canned foods, cars, houses, and a range of other goods could soon get more expensive as businesses face a newly doubled tariff rate of 50% for steel and aluminum imports.

President Donald Trump described the increase, which raised the levies from the 25% rate announced in February beginning on Wednesday, as an effort to further secure the steel industry in the United States during a Friday rally at a steel mill in Pittsburgh, Penn.once the heart of the domestic steel industry.

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But while American steel industry groups have hailed the tariff hike, economic experts have sounded alarms, saying it could further disrupt the already volatile global supply chain and put more strain on businessesand Americans wallets.

Consumers will have to pay the price, says Virginia Tech economics professor David Beiri. The continued uncertainty that is created by the government is poisoning business plans.

How will steel and aluminum tariff hikes impact businesses?

The United States is highly reliant on steel imports, bringing in more of the material from abroad than any other country in the world, according to the International Trade Administration. More than 26 million metric tons of steel were imported last year, most of which came from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and China.

We are equally dependent on aluminum, says Jonathan Colehower, managing director at consulting company UST.

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The domestic steel industry has voiced support for the increased tariffs, saying they will help it weather increased competition from foreign steel manufacturers. Chinese steel exports to the world have more than doubled since 2020, surging to 118 million MT in 2024more than total North American steel production, the American Iron and Steel Institute, one of several trade associations representing the American steel industry, said in a statement after Trump announced the higher rate. This tariff action will help prevent new surges in imports that would injure American steel producers and their workers.

But experts worry about the industrys ability to meet increased demand as businesses, facing the additional import costs, seek cheaper alternatives for their products. While the U.S. once dominated the steel industry, the boom has died down in the last century. With domestic capacity not necessarily being able to produce what we might need  there is going to be a transitory effect, says Beiri, referring to the adjustment period the steel industry will have to navigate as the supply chain changes.

Colehower says the domestic steel supply may tighten as a result of the increased tariffs, which could cause domestic prices to rise amid high demand. There's absolutely no way it's going to be able to make up the difference immediately, he says of the domestic steel industry.

The Aluminum Association, a trade group that represents both U.S.-based and foreign companies, said it supports tariff-free Canadian aluminum, pointing to the American aluminum industrys reliance on the countrys northern neighbor. Aluminum is a critical material for our economy and national defense  used in everything from cars to beverage cans to fighter jets. Today, the United States is investing significantly and will need both smelted and recycled aluminum to meet growing demand, the association said. In the years if not decades it will take to build new U.S. smelter capacity, our metal needs must be met by importing.

How will the higher tariffs impact the prices of goods?

Steel and aluminum are used in various products, from beer cans and office supplies to automobilesthe prices for all of which are likely to rise as a result of the doubled import taxes.

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The Can Manufacturers Institute, the trade association of the metal can manufacturing industry, opposed the tariff increase in a statement after Trump announced the coming change in the rate, saying it would further increase the cost of canned goods at the grocery store. The can manufacturing industry imports nearly 80% of its tin-mill steel from foreign countries.

Doubling steel tariffs will inflate domestic canned food prices, and it plays into the hands of China and other foreign canned food producers, which are more than happy to undercut American farmers and food producers, the trade association said.

Beer companies and other beverage businesses are also set to be impacted.

The real estate and construction industries, both of which use steel to build homes, warehouses, and other structures, will be footing a bigger bill, as well, Colehower says. He predicts businesses such as Lowes and Home Depot, the latter of which vowed before the tariff hike that it would not be increasing the cost of its goods, will be severely affected. Farm equipment and transportation vehicles, including cars, bicycles, and others, will also likely cost more as a result of the new tariff rate, Colehower says.

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Some companies could seek to adjust their business models in the face of increased costs. Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, for instance, said in February that the company would consider making more beverages in plastic bottles to offset aluminum price hikes under the tariffs announced that month.

Negotiations over the tariffs are ongoing between the U.S. and its trading partners, several of which have expressed ire at the increased import taxes.

Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, called the steel tariffs a direct attack on Canadian workers. A European Commission official on Friday said the decision adds further uncertainty to the global economy and increases costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

The U.K. has been spared from the tariff hike; Mexico announced Wednesday that it plans to ask for a similar exemption.

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Canada, Mexico, and the European Union were previously exempt from steel and aluminum tariffs Trump imposed during his first term in 2016, but are subject to the current levies.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN)  The Pittsburgh Steelers officially announced the schedule for 2025 Training Camp at Saint Vincent College on Wednesday.

It is the 58th year that Saint Vince College will host the Steelers for summer practices.

Players are slated to report on Wednesday, July 23.

The first practice open to the public will be held on Thursday, July 24 at 1:55 p.m.

Pittsburghs first padded practice will take place on Tuesday, July 29, also scheduled for 1:55 p.m.

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The annual Friday Night Lights practice will be held on Aug. 1 at Latrobe Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.

The final practice open to the public at Saint Vincent College will be on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 10:30 a.m.

The team will hold a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday, April 14 at Acrisure Stadium, and the practice is not open to the public.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COMPANY NEWS: End of financial year sales are the perfect time to pick-up a new laptop. Whats more, the bargains are even better in 2025 as the sales coincide with the launch of the latest and greatest new laptop technologies. Even more than that, new purchases of select MSI laptops will get you a $45 Steam Gift Card or a $45 Giftpay Gift Card to use at multiple retailers!

MSI teamed up with High Performance Laptops and iTWire to give you the lowdown on whats available  and there are plenty of models to choose from! So, if youve been looking for an excuse to buy a new top-tier gaming laptop (with the latest Nvidia RTX50 Series graphics), a budget gaming laptop, a gaming handheld, a business and productivity notebook, an ultraportable or a more-wallet-friendly laptop, heres what you need to know:

Nvidia RTX 50 Series Gaming Laptops

Need a top-tier gaming laptop with Nvidias brand-new RTX 50-Series graphics? Or do you want hardware that can power demanding, AI-based, LLM workloads? Maybe you want both? Here are the top, Nvidia RTX 50-based options in MSIs EoFY sale

MSI Titan 18 HX AI

The MSI Titan 18 HX AI is the ultimate gaming laptop for hardcore gamers who demand the very best performance. Its unfettered power and advanced cooling system provides peerless performance to the point where it can even be used by engineers to run corporate, AI-based LLM workloads. It looks great too!

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Strong, lightweight, magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis.





Can simultaneously deliver 95-Watts to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor and up to 270-Watts to the Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU for superlative performance.





Amazing 120Hz, UHD+, MiniLED, HDR screen.





SteelSeries Cherry Mechanical keyboard with per-key RGB lighting.

Get yours here.

MSI Raider 18/A18 HX A9WJG

MSIs multi-award-winning Raider series of gaming laptops has long been a favourite of ours. The new, 18-inch Raider 18 HX AI (Intel) and Raider A18 HX (AMD) models, once again, deliver ultimate power and look phenomenal thanks to design flourishes that include the show-stopping Mystic Light bar.

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MSI OverBoost Ultra Technology simultaneously delivers up to 260-Watts to the Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Intel processor (or AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D) CPU.





Exclusive, high-performance cooling tech even cools its fast, PCIe 5.0 SSDs.





Superb 120Hz, UHD+, MiniLED, HDR screen.

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MSI Stealth A16 AI+ & Stealth 16 AI

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While Donald Trump largely remains silent after Ukraines daring Spiderweb drone operation in Russia, one of the presidents fiercest loyalists is calling for a top Republican critic of the Kremlin to be arrested for stirring it up in Kyiv.

Over the weekend, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)  who cosponsored a Senate measure that would slap 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy products  visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I would expect next week that the Senate will start moving the sanctions bill," Graham declared on Friday during a news conference in Ukraine. There are House members that are ready to move in the House and you will see congressional action.

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Russia indiscriminately kills men, women and children. It's time for the world to act decisively against Russia's aggression by holding China and others accountable for buying cheap Russian oil that props up Putin's war machine, Graham added during his Ukraine trip.

The meeting with Zelensky, meanwhile, comes as Ukraine and Russia s till remain far apart on ceasefire talks, resulting in Trump growing increasingly frustrated over his own efforts to bring peace to a war that he previously promised hed end in 24 hours. This has resulted in Trump expressing his annoyance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has largely sympathized with throughout the war, while suggesting the administration could just walk away from peace negotiations.

With MAGA raging over the Ukraine drone attacks and suggesting the Deep State could be responsible for the stunning raids, Steve Bannon has directed much of his ire towards Graham. Besides saying that the White House needs to openly denounce Zelensky for the military strikes, the former Trump chief strategist is also urging Trump to punish the South Carolina lawmaker for his diplomatic trip.

Steve Bannon calls for Donald Trump to arrest Lindsey Graham or toss him out of the country over the senator's diplomatic trip to Ukraine. (NewsNation)

The White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support, Bannon exclaimed during Mondays broadcast of his War Room program. And tell Lindsey Graham to come home, or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. Youre stirring it up!

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The far-right provocateur further accused Graham of working against Trump behind the scenes, claiming the senator promised Zelensky that hed get the sanctions measure passed regardless of the presidents support for the bill.

Hes stirring it up over there, Bannon reiterated.

Meanwhile, with Graham applauding the ever-resourceful Ukraine for using creative drone warfare tactics to successfully attack Russian bombers and military assets, Bannon has continued to call for the president to toss the longtime Trump ally in prison or even kick him out of the country.

Two things ought to happen: either cancel his passport and dont let him back in the country, or put him in jail if he comes back, Bannon told NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo on Monday night. Lindsey Graham is stirring it up right now, and people better wake up to the fact that were getting sucked into this war, and if we get sucked in much more, its going to be tough [to get out].

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Still not done railing against the senator, Bannon brought it back up on Tuesday during the show handover with Real Americas Voice host Eric Bolling.

Asked by Bolling what the hell is Lindsey Graham doing in Ukraine right now, Bannon repeated that the hawkish lawmaker was stirring it up overseas before once again calling for Graham to be imprisoned.

This is why I say he should be arrested, he fumed. Either cut his passport off so he can never come back to the country, or arrest him. Hes a troublemaker, and this now, hes egging the deep state on and misleading the Ukrainian people that were all in on this.He went on to say that the Ukrainian people understand the American people dont support this, and were not gonna be there, adding that we want to cut all the money off to aiding Ukraine. At the same time, Bannon insisted that the United States is sympathetic towards Russia.

The American people and the Russian people have no problem, he concluded. We dont want to fight each other.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain all made an impact across parts of southeastern KELOLAND yesterday. Meteorologist Brian Karstens shows us the reports.

June is typically a busy month of severe weather in KELOLAND. And it only took 2 days into the new month to find ourselves dealing with the first taste of what will likely be more storms ahead.

Minnesota Ave sees extra 10,000 cars a day

Just after 3 pm, storms started to fire south of Sioux Falls. This is what it looked like from my vantage point just north of Canton.

With 90-degree heat and a strong cold front approaching from the west, the clash of the air masses resulted in a number of severe thunderstorms.

One of the storms near Hospers, Iowa, produced very strong winds, enough to create a trail of debris from a hog barn facility on Highway 60.

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Other storms produced a swath of hail, damaging winds, and over 2 inches of rain between Vermillion and Elk Point.

A 3D scan of the storm using our VIPIR system shows large hail in the purple and black colors suspended in the cloud before falling to the ground between 5 pm and 6 pm. The strong heating of the day helped support those strong updrafts needed to produce the hail.

While we may be done with the storms for now, its June and it wont be long before more severe weather arrives. Fortunately for us, that wont be happening for most of us the rest of this week

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Two months after Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams returned from space, the duo are discussing their perilous journey.

In an new interview with BBC, Wilmore wondered if he and Williams would ever return to Earth, starting the possibility of never coming home definitely went through their minds.

"Docking was imperative, Wilmore said. If we weren't able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn't know.

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Last year, the astronauts eight-day test flight took a harrowing turn, leaving them unexpectedly stuck in space from June 2024 to March 2025. During that time, the pair considered the possibility of a future in which they would never see their families again.

However, despite this scary thought in their minds, the duo did not vocalize their doubts to one another.

You sort of read each other's mind and know where we're going with all the failures, Williams told the BBC. These were not expected. At the same time, you know, we're like, what do we have? What can we do?'"

Prior to their ordeal, Williams recounted the day-to-day travails of space travel in a press conference.

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Every day is interesting because we're up in space and it's a lot of fun, she said at the time. "The hardest part is having the folks on the ground have to not know exactly when we're coming back.

During their time in space, Wilmore and Williams spoke with the media and were able to vote in the latest presidential election.

Stranded NASA Astronauts Reveal Scariest Moment of Being Stuck in Space first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

But after the department cut $3.5 million, the Community-Based Public Safety Collective was forced to lay off 20 staff members.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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 is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
A Worcester street was renamed in honor of a teen who tragically lost his life attempting a social media challenge.

14-year-old Harris Wolobah passed away in 2023 after taking part in the One Chip Challenge, which involves eating an extremely spicy chip made from some of the hottest peppers in the world.

On Tuesday, family and loved ones gathered at the intersection of Shore Drive and South Frontage Road near the Greendale YMCA to dedicate a street in his honor.

The intersection will now be called Harris Wolobah Way.

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Large colored barriers and street murals sit at the intersection of Virginia Ave and S College Ave to reduce serious traffic crashes and fatalities. (Madelyn Hanes/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Hundreds of Hoosiers die each year in traffic collisions and thousands more are seriously injured. Numbers have fallen slightly but Indiana traffic safety groups are working to bring that number down even further statewide.

According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, traffic fatalities decreased to 894 in 2023 compared to 985 fatalities in 2022. Another 4,232 Hoosiers were seriously injured in traffic crashes in 2023 while 5443 were seriously injured in traffic crashes in 2022.

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Indianapolis-based nonprofit Health by Design is partnering with the Institute to expand its Indiana Road to Zero Academy, aiming to reduce serious traffic crashes and fatalities across the state.

Solutions include tactical urbanism, which uses street murals, separators and pedestrian-only lanes to slow down traffic and accommodate bikes, wheelchairs and strollers.

Streets need to be rebuilt every year, said Andrea Watts, Health by Designs communications and policy manager. We want to rebuild them right, but not just car orientated infrastructure  safe streets for everyone.

Launched in 2022 with funding from the National Safety Council and Road to Zero Coalition, the academy initially offered virtual training over several weeks, spreading awareness and knowledge to various stakeholders working to improve Indianas roadway. Now backed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Traffic Safety Improvement Program, the program is shifting gears.

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The Indiana Road to Zero Academy plans to offer two in-person regional training workshops  one in northern Indiana and one in southern Indiana  in mid- or late September. These hands-on sessions will teach the safe system approach: safe roads, safe speeds, and safe road users. It is designed for municipal staff, planners, engineers, safety advocates, and residents.

Northern and southern Indiana were hungry to get this rolling, Watts said.

The expanded academy also introduces a statewide Vision Zero Working Group, building on the Indianapolis Vision Zero Ordinance adopted in August 2024. Vision Zero prioritizes eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries through smarter road designs that ensure safe travel for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.

Health by Design will provide customized crash analysis and technical assistance to high-risk areas, partnering with data experts and EMS records to track fatal crashes and identify solutions.

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The group has also teamed up with the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Department of Health to improve community safety. One of their initiatives, the Safe Routes to School program, is open to all Indiana schools  regardless of federal funding  and encourages more students to walk or bike safely to class.

Through this program, the organization supports schools through grants such as one for bike helmets. Most recently, they supported Fort Wayne students participating in Bike-to-School Day, Watts said.

Despite challenges from recent federal funding cuts and changes, the organization remains committed to enhancing traffic safety. Proposed federal funding cuts on green infrastructure attacks a lot of the work the nonprofit does, Watts said. Following threats to federal funding, state partnerships are becoming even more important.

It has impacted us and we had to get more creative, Watts said. Theres an attack on a lot of the work we do and it feels like a step backward or we are stuck in time.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  A bill expanding access to contraception options, including medication abortion, on Illinois college campuses is heading to the governors desk.

On Monday, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) announced the passage of House Bill 3709/Senate Bill 2444, which began with a PPIA GenAction University of Illinois student-led movement. This bill amends the Public Higher Education Act to mandate that public colleges in Illinois with health services and a pharmacy have the ability to prescribe and dispense contraception and medication abortion.

Meta, Constellation ink 20-year deal based around Clinton nuclear plant

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This initiative started with the PPIA Generation Action (GenAction) chapter at the U of I. This change will go into effect in the 2025-26 school year.

Im so proud of the UIUC GenAction students for recognizing where there was inequity and taking action to make a positive change that benefits all Illinois college kids at public institutions, said Jess Sturges, PPIA program manager who oversees student activities. The UIUC chapter got all the other GenAction students across the state involved. These students lobbied in Springfield, testified in Springfield and called for witness slips to ensure the legislation passed. It was an important lesson in how democracy should work and that their voices matter.

This legislation was inspired in part by a spring 2024 U of I campus-wide student election referendum question that asked about student support for increasing access to contraception and medication abortion on campus through McKinley Health Center.

While the referendum received strong support, the health center needed a requirement from the state prior to implementing the new policy. Governor JB Pritzkers Office became involved after the UIUC co-President, Emma Darbro, spoke at a patient experience panel at the Illinois Department of Public Health Women and Families Health Conference.

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Meta, Constellation ink 20-year deal based around Clinton nuclear plant

Additionally, Darbro also testified before the House Higher Education Committee on March 19, 2025, and the bill passed. Darbro and UIUC co-President Grace Hosey testified before the Senate Executive Committee on May 21, 2021, and the bill passed again.

Two years ago, the UIUC GenAction Chapter wrote, campaigned for and successfully passed a student referendum for our campus pharmacy to provide emergency contraception, Hosey said. The student support was overwhelming, and the Governor signed legislation for all public Illinois universities to offer wellness kiosks providing emergency contraception. But we knew we couldnt stop there. While abortion is legal in Illinois, access is still a barrier for students, so we knew getting medication abortion options on campuses was critical. This is time-sensitive care that students deserve to have.

GenAction is Planned Parenthoods nationwide program geared towards young people across the country who are organizers and activists in their communities and on college campuses.

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PPIA has eight GenAction Chapters in colleges across Illinois. For more information on PPGenAction, 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 WCIA.com.
Planet-warming pollution isn't a future threat to amphibians  it's a problem impacting their survival right now. A recent study published in Nature found that the planet has already heated so much that around 2% of amphibian species are already subject to overheating events in their native homes. If warming remains unchecked, researchers say that number could rise to 7.5% of species pushed past their heat-tolerance limits by the end of the century.

What's happening?

As detailed in the study, amphibians  including frogs and salamanders  rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. If it gets too hot, they experience impacts or simply can't survive  as Mongabay summarized. Heat-trapping pollution has already made the globe unbearable for some species.

"We found that currently, about 100 species [104 out of 5,203 studied] are likely experiencing overheating events right now, where environmental temperatures exceed their physiological heat limits," study co-author Alex Gunderson, an ecologist at Tulane University, told Mongabay.

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To evaluate the climate's impact on amphibians, the researchers used experiment-based heat tolerance data for 524 species and statistical estimates for more than 5,000 species. Altogether, their research covered about 60% of all known amphibian species.

They pinpointed global "hotspots" where many amphibians are already overheating, including the southeastern U.S., northern Australia, and the Amazon Rainforest, as Mongabay detailed. However, it's not just geography that matters. Where an amphibian lives within its habitat also plays a role. The study found that aquatic species are generally safest from the effects of planet-warming pollution, while ground-dwelling species face the highest risk of overheating.

The study also identified a dangerous tipping point for amphibians  between 2 and 4 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) of planetary warming over preindustrial levels. Gunderson told Mongabay that as the average temperature gets closer to that range, the number of days with heat beyond what amphibians can handle starts to significantly climb.

Alarmingly, the United Nations Environment Programme estimated in late 2023 that the planet was on track for about 2.5 to 2.9 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100 without additional reductions in planet-warming pollution.

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The researchers indicated to Mongabay that their estimates are on the conservative side since they assumed all amphibians can find shade.

"Therefore, the impacts of global warming will likely exceed our projections," lead author Patrice Pottier, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, told the news outlet.

Why is it important to protect amphibian species?

Amphibians are an essential part of their ecosystems, so any threat to their well-being has the potential to disrupt an area's entire food web  as well as have impacts on humans.

A decline in amphibian populations can have negative human health impacts. Amphibians eat insects that transmit diseases, including mosquitoes. Mongabay cited a 2020 study that showed that the decline of amphibian species in Central America was linked to an increase in malaria.

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Amphibians help control insect populations in their ecosystems, cycle nutrients, and serve as food for many other species. Their decline is a direct trigger for broader environmental consequences.

"They're sort of the potato chips of the forest in many of these ecosystems where they serve as food for birds and bats and mammals and fish," Gunderson told Mongabay.

What's being done to support amphibians struggling to adapt?

One scientist unaffiliated with the study told Mongabay that research of this kind is often used to help decide where to focus conservation work by identifying at-risk species and triaging where the greatest impact can be made.

In the study, the researchers called for increased conservation efforts to protect amphibian habitats worldwide, especially focused on maintaining dense vegetation for shade and abundant water for hydration.

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"If you provide amphibians with enough water and enough shade, a lot of them can survive extreme heat events," Pottier told Mongabay. "We must protect and restore the environments that allow them to regulate their body temperature."

Along with conservation efforts, scientists are employing captive breeding and, in some cases, assisted migration to help vulnerable species survive. In the end, however, none of that will be enough without bigger action to address the root cause  pollution itself.

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.
Since before Ronald Reagans time as governor, Californians have considered their rich and bountiful home something of a "nation-state." Its a phrase Gov. Gavin Newsom has employed repeatedly - and a description he seems to have taken literally: California has fostered its own diplomatic relationship with China for years.

The stated rationale is the need for energy and economic collaboration. But some critics believe that Chinas own motivations are not so high-minded. One such critic, Brigham McCown, a scholar from the Hudson Institute, fears that the relationship will lead to Californians becoming "unwitting instruments in Chinas propaganda efforts."

The subnational diplomatic ties between California and China are well established. A 2014 report details Californias longstanding work with China in the energy sector. But they are not without controversy, particularly in recent years.

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In 2023, Newsom was criticized for "cozying up to" the CCP on his 2023 trip to China, during which he signed five memoranda of understanding (MOUs) regarding climate change.

MOUs are nonbinding agreements between a state and a country, and California currently shares 17 with China, a much higher number than it shares with most other countries. For reference, the next comparable numbers are the 12 MOUs California shares with Mexico and the nine it shares with Japan. Besides those countries, Californias MOUs per country hover around the one-to-five range.

While it is difficult to obtain the exact numbers, Ryan Scoville, a professor of law at Marquette University, compiled a list of U.S. state commitments with foreign governments, including MOUs, and found that California leads with at least 94 agreements, with Maryland coming in second place with 68.

There is evidence for a subversive type of Chinese influence in California as well. The late Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator in history and a key figure in Californian politics, made headlines after it was revealed that her driver was a Chinese spy. California Rep. Eric Swalwell was embarrassed by revelations that a Chinese operative had been targeting him and working on his campaign.

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Meanwhile, several California universities have received scrutiny for being the beneficiaries of large donations from CCP-linked organizations.

Most recently, California and the federal government have been embroiled in a lawsuit over President Trumps tariffs. The lawsuit "argues that President Trump lacks the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs against Mexico, China, and Canada or create an across-the-board 10% tariff."

The California governors official website notes that "Californias economy and workers rely heavily on this trade activity, particularly with Mexico, Canada, and China - our top 3 trade partners. Over 40% of California imports come from these countries, totaling $203 billion of the more than $491 billion in goods imported by California in 2024."

Though state leaders are insistent that their diplomatic efforts are for the good of Californians, scholars remain divided over whether such diplomacy is necessary, or if it creates a national security threat.

Does Subnational Diplomacy Undermine U.S. Policy?

Yuichiro Kakutani, a policy advisor at the China and Indo-Pacific Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, told RCP, "Widespread malign Chinese influence in California presents a concrete national security risk to the United States."

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Kakutani explained that the CCP is more dangerous to engage with than other countries since it "has proven adept at manipulating state-level officials," and listed several examples, including Chinas efforts to influence California elections and UC Berkleys tech deal that gave the Chinese access to U.S. research.

Brigham McCown, a senior fellow and director of the Initiative on American Energy Security at the Hudson Institute, another conservative think tank, offered a similar, though more nuanced, perspective to RCP. "While Californias activities may not directly undermine an administrations agenda in a legal sense, its actions can complicate Americas diplomatic posture, especially when unity is vital to facing strategic challenges," McCown said.

McCown explained that not only has China learned how to manipulate politicians, but it also has a long history of discreetly "exploiting internal divisions" among Americans. "Californians should be cautious not to become unwitting instruments in Chinas propaganda efforts," he warned.

McCown also touched on the tariff lawsuit, which has been ruled in favor of California, though an appeals court paused the decision, allowing the tariffs to remain in effect. He explained that the case is particularly relevant as it dictates the boundaries of state and federal authority.

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"These types of cases raise an important constitutional standing issue which is: Who has standing to challenge federal decisions in matters of foreign policy?" McCown said.

McCown admitted that California may have ground to oppose the tariffs on an economic level, but that it does not have the authority to rise against the federal government on the matter. He explained, "While states may object to the economic consequences of federal action, under our federal system, states must defer to the national government in areas where the Constitution clearly delegates authority - particularly foreign commerce and international relations."

The Benefits to California

Not every scholar sees a problem. Kal Raustiala, the director of the UCLA Ronald W. Burkle Center for International Relations and a professor of comparative and international law at UCLA Law School, believes that subnational diplomacy is vital for Californias flourishing.

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"In our system the federal government takes the lead on foreign affairs. But that doesnt mean that states have no role," Raustiala said. As long as states are not actively contradicting or undermining federal foreign policy, Raustiala adds that the federal government has no real reason to intervene.

"As a nation known for liberty and freedom, I think sometimes having multiple voices and opinions is good," he said. "I think other nations around the world understand that we are a big, varied nation with many views on key issues."

In addressing the tariff lawsuit, Raustiala stated that California is both protecting its own people and its foreign interests.

"California is the most economically dynamic state in the union," he told RCP. "We are big traders, big exporters, and have big, active ports. Trade is important, and California is seeking to ensure that trade continues to bring prosperity - prosperity that allows California to be a major net donor to the federal government year after year."

Madelynn McLaughlin is an intern at RealClearPolitics. She graduated from Liberty University in 2025 with a degree in Government: Politics and Policy.
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP)  Sudans former prime minister on Wednesday dismissed the military's moves to form a new government as fake, saying its recent victories in recapturing the capital Khartoum and other territory will not end the country's two-year civil war.

In a rare interview with The Associated Press, Abdalla Hamdok said no military victory, in Khartoum or elsewhere, could end the war that has killed tens of thousands and driven millions from their homes.

Whether Khartoum is captured or not captured, its irrelevant, Hamdok said on the sidelines of the Mo Ibrahim Foundations governance conference in Morocco. There is no military solution to this. No side will be able to have outright victory.

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Hamdok became Sudan's first civilian prime minister after decades of military rule in 2019, trying to lead a democratic transition. He resigned in January 2022 after a turbulent stretch in which he was ousted in a coup and briefly reinstated amid international pressure.

The following year, warring generals plunged the country into civil war. Sudan today bears the grim distinction of being home to some of the worlds worst humanitarian crises.

Fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left at least 24,000 dead, though many believe the true toll is far worse.

Both sides stand accused of war crimes.

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The RSF, with roots in Darfurs notorious Janjaweed militia, has been accused of carrying out genocide. The army is accused of unleashing chemical weapons and targeting civilians where they live.

The war has driven about 13 million people from their homes, including 4 million who have crossed into neighboring countries. Famine is setting in and cholera is sweeping through.

The military recaptured the Khartoum area from the RSF in March, as well as some surrounding territory. Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan has framed the advances as a major turning point in the conflict.

Last month, he appointed a new prime minister, Kamil al-Taib Idris, for the first time since the war began, tasked with forming a new government. But the fighting has continued. The RSF has regrouped in its stronghold in Darfur and made advances elsewhere, including in Kordofan.

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Hamdok, a 69-year-old former economist who now leads a civilian coalition from exile, called the idea that the conflict was drawing down total nonsense. The idea that reconstruction can begin in Khartoum while fighting rages elsewhere is absolutely ridiculous, he said.

Any attempt at creating a government in Sudan today is fake. It is irrelevant, he said, arguing that lasting peace can't be secured without addressing the root causes of the war.

Hamdok said a ceasefire and a credible process to restore democratic, civilian rule would need to confront Sudans deep inequalities, including uneven development, issues among different identity groups and questions about the role of religion in government.

Trusting the soldiers to bring democracy is a false pretense, he added.

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Though rooted in longstanding divisions, the war has been supercharged by foreign powers accused of arming both sides.

Pro-democracy groups, including Hamdoks Somoud coalition, have condemned atrocities committed by both the army and the RSF. Hamdok, however, has avoided accusing the United Arab Emirates of supplying weapons to the RSF, even amid international scrutiny and an investigation from a U.N. panel of experts.

On Wednesday, he rebuffed AP questions about weapons coming from the UAE. He said those who singled out the Gulf state while ignoring others accused of backing the army, including Iran, were pushing a narrative.

What we would like to see is anybody who is supplying arms to any side to stop, he said.
SNAP and EBT Accepted here sign. SNAP and Food Stamps provide nutrition benefits to supplement the budgets of disadvantaged families. (Getty Images)

While some Republican-led states have opted out of the federal initiative, West Virginia has launched the 2025 Summer EBT program to help low-income families pay for food during the summer months when children are home from school.

This year, 11 states decided not to offer the federal program, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service. All 11 non-participating states  Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Wyoming  are led by Republican governors.

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A 12th Republican-led state, Oklahoma, will offer the program only to tribal nations.

Recognizing the importance of ensuring children have access to nutritious meals year-round, [West Virginia] opted to participate in this federally funded initiative to combat food insecurity among its youth, Angel Hightower, a communications specialist for the state Department of Human Services, said in a statement.

The federal program provides families with $120 in grocery benefits per each eligible school-age child during the summer.

The Department of Human Services estimates the program will benefit 165,000 children in the state this year. Most existing participants received their first benefits by June 1, Hightower said. The state will continue processing new applicants through Aug. 20.

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Those with school-age children who already receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are automatically enrolled in the program.

Families are also eligible if their child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and the household makes up to 185% of the federal poverty level. For 2025, a family of four can make up to about $59,000 and be eligible for the program.

Families can apply online at http://schoolcafe.com or download an application at http://dhhr.wv.gov/bfa/programs/Pages/Summer-EBT.aspx. Applications are also available at any Department of Human Services county office.

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Summertown Metals, a major building materials supplier headquartered in Summertown, Tenn., is set to expand its operations to East Tennessee for the first time.

The Southern Middle Tennessee company will invest $22.6 million and create 170 new jobs through its expansion of distribution and manufacturing operations in Morristown in Hamblen County.

Upon completion, Summertown Metals will employ nearly 600 people across its facilities in Summertown, Hohenwald and Morristown.

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Summertown Metals is a leading provider of metal building solutions for pole barns and barndominiums, "committed to delivering quality craftsmanship, customer service and value," the company touts.

Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Summertown Metals officials made the announcement June 4, through a state media release.

Summertown Metals is located in Southern Middle Tennessee with plans to open a new location in Morristown, Hamblen County in East Tennessee.

The expansion marks the company's first time to add additional locations outside of Southern Middle Tennessee.

We are ecstatic that Summertown Metals has chosen Morristown and Hamblen County to be its latest expansion location," Hamblen County Mayor Chris Cutshaw said.

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"East Tennessee is an epicenter for growth. The site chosen is adjacent to the interstate and also part of the redevelopment of our Lowland area, making it a great fit for everyone. We are glad you are here with your many great products and, in the words of Summertown Metals, Building Dreams That Last.

Founded in 2006, Summertown Metals is a Tennessee-based company that has expanded from a single building materials supplier into a custom building materials distributor.

Business: Mersen workers file complaint, fight for jobs after layoffs, sweeping furloughs

The expansion to East Tennessee will allow the company to better meet customer demand, providing additional space for metal roll forming, wood and steel truss manufacturing and warehousing and distribution, the state media release said.

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We are honored by the trust our clients place in our services and products and are excited about the opportunity to serve our clients better with our new East Tennessee location," Matt Stoll, CEO Summertown Metals, said.

"We are committed to continuing to provide exceptional value to everyone we are privileged to serve, along with providing so many new career opportunities.

The company mission is "to maximize the teams God-given abilities and experience in ways that positively benefit customers, team members, and the community by providing exceptional and affordable building products and services," the media release said.

Morristown Mayor Gary Chesney welcomed continued industrial growth.

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It is always exciting when Morristown is chosen to be part of new journeys in present-day industrial growth. Summertown Metals embodies a company tuned into the needs of both small and large operations representing a wide variety of interests."

Ripple effect: How a boom in manufacturing is building Maury County's future

Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, attributed the state's business-friendly environment to the expansion decision.

Tennessees conservative policies and hard-working residents continue to attract and retain quality businesses, strengthening our states economy," Faison said.

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Since 2020, TNECD has supported 61 economic development projects in East Tennessee, resulting in nearly 11,000 job commitments and approximately $3.4 billion in capital investment.

Kerri Bartlett is Middle Tennessee Region Editor.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Summertown Metals building supplier to expand to Morristown East TN
DENVER (KDVR)  The Summit County Sheriffs Office is reminding recreationists that Colorados waters can quickly turn dangerous due to fast-building storm cells after rescuing multiple people from Dillon Reservoir on Sunday.

The storm cells are common in Colorado throughout the summer, and can cause boaters issues, such as on Sunday, when a storm system brought winds between 20 to 30 mph to the area alongside gusts of up to 40 mph that created 2- to 4-foot waves on the reservoir.

As tubers flock to Colorado rivers, rescue crews urge safety and awareness

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Summit County Sheriffs Office boat rangers were called to six separate emergencies in a short time. The agency said that all the rescues were successful, with no injuries reported.

However, the incidents highlight the need for water recreationists to be prepared for inclement weather. Anyone heading out on the water in Colorado should check the local radar and monitor the skies while enjoying the water.

If youre waiting until the storm hits to turn back, youve waited too long, said Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons on Facebook. The Dillon Reservoir demands constant awareness, quick action, and respect.

The Summit County Sheriffs Office said that similar rescues occurred on June 1 last year as well. A windstorm triggered multiple emergencies simultaneously, including a hypothermic kayaker, a swamped pontoon with 13 passengers and a capsized canoe with two people in the 43-degree water. Personal flotation devices also aided in the recreationists safe rescues.

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Weve seen how cold water paralyzes muscleseven in strong swimmers. A PFD is the only reason some of those individuals are alive today, said FitzSimons.

The agency told reservoir visitors to stay alert and that if you or another person requires assistance, contact Summit County dispatch by calling 911 for emergencies or 970-668-8600 for non-emergency responses.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian forces on Wednesday advanced further into Ukraine's northern region of Sumy, threatening the regional capital after taking more than 150 square km (58 sq miles) of the area in less than two weeks, according to Russian officials and Ukrainian open source mapping.

Despite the relaunch of peace talks, the war has been heating up and Russian forces, which already control just under a fifth of Ukraine, advanced in May at their fastest pace for at least six months, according to Ukraine's authoritative Deep State online map project.

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Russia in April said it had ejected Ukrainian forces from the western Russian region of Kursk, and President Vladimir Putin has ordered his forces to follow up by carving out a "buffer zone" in the adjoining Sumy region of Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry said its troops had taken the settlement of Kindrativka and were now 25-30 km (15-20 miles) from the city of Sumy, which is now within artillery and drone range.

"The Russian Armed Forces continue their successful offensive north of Sumy," said Yuri Podolyaka, one of the most influential pro-Russian military bloggers.

The Ukrainian Deep State map of the battlefield showed Russia with control over 154.4 square km (60 square miles) of Sumy region and attacking it from different directions.

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Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, said that Russia was using small assault groups -rather than armoured vehicles - to penetrate into Sumy, Interfax Ukraine reported.

Kyiv said a Russian artillery attack on the city of Sumy killed four people and injured 28.

Military analysts say the Russian advance, with fierce frontline fighting and missile and drone strikes in Sumy, stretches Ukraine's ability to simultaneously defend its southern Donbas region, of which Moscow is seeking full control.

But while defending its own territory, Ukraine has repeatedly shown that it is still capable of inflicting painful blows inside Russia. Within the past few days, it has attacked Russian strategic bomber planes at their bases and the Crimean Bridge and, Moscow says, blown up a highway bridge over a train. Ukraine has not commented on the latter attack, in which Russia says seven civilians were killed.

(Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, and Reuters in Kyiv; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration, has reported that the most intense fighting is taking place near the Yunakivka and Khotin hromadas. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration citing Hryhorov at a meeting of the Sumy Oblast Defence Council

Details: Sumy Oblast Military Administration says the situation in the border areas of Sumy Oblast remains difficult and dynamic, but under control.

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Quote: "The most intense fighting is near the Yunakivka and Khotin hromadas, where the enemy is trying to operate in small groups and gain a foothold. The civilian population from these areas has been evacuated a long time ago.

Our units are holding the lines, thwarting all attempts by the Russians to advance."

Details: Sumy Oblast Military Administration added that Russian forces are constantly firing on border villages, targeting houses, farms and civilian infrastructure even in hromadas in the rear.

Evacuation continues in order to protect the civilian population. A total of 113 residents have been evacuated from the Sumy and Shostka districts over the past day.

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Quote: "The Russians have dropped nearly 200 guided aerial bombs (KABs) on Sumy Oblast over the past two weeks."

Previously: On the night of 3-4 June, DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, updated its data and reported that the Russians had occupied the settlements of Andriivka and Vodolahy in Sumy Oblast.

Background:

On 1 June, State Border Guard Service spokesman Andrii Demchenko said during the national joint 24/7 newscast that the Russians were continuing to press forward in Sumy Oblast, expanding the territory for their troops to advance.

Demchenko explained that Russian assault groups, often using all-terrain vehicles or motorcycles, are attempting to penetrate deep into Ukrainian territory, waiting for reinforcements and then attacking Ukrainian positions.

On the night of 31 May-1 June, DeepState analysts reported that Russian forces had occupied the village of Volodymyrivka in Sumy Oblast.

On the night of 2-3 June, DeepState reported that Russian forces had occupied the village of Kostiantynivka in the north of Sumy Oblast. The situation regarding three other settlements  Kindrativka, Vodolaha and Oleksiivka  is being confirmed, as they may also have come under Russian control.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Springfield residents will get a first look at some results of a months-long corridor study of Sunshine, from Glenstone out west to Kansas Expressway.

The study carries a price tag of $702,000, but around $217,000 of that comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, and $485,000 of the effort is funded by the citys 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax.

The study revealed five goals of the project overall: Engagement, Safety, Revitalization, Place, and trying to balance the needs of those in the community, like drivers, businesses and those who live nearby.

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Ozarks First drove to several businesses along Sunshine Street, asking what some owners want to see done with the project.

Levi Grant, owner of The Big Slice Pizza, which has been on Sunshine for nearly 12 years, says safety is the biggest issue.

Theres constantly wrecks outside. Obviously, theres a lot of traffic down there. People drive down the middle or around middle lane, often we see traffic back up, back past us quite a bit from Glenstone, actually. You know, it goes both directions, Grant said. Its nearly impossible to go left, out of the parking lot. You have to usually have to wait it out a good couple of minutes or I go right along and go down Delaware and turn around.

His suggestion would be to better time traffic lights to reduce traffic.

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Id say try to get, lets get lights synced up could help a bit drastically here. Theres not a whole lot they could do about widening everything just because we dont have a whole lot of room here. Its just going to have to sync everything together to make everything change at the same time, Grant said. [The project] will probably have its ups and downs. Every time they do construction site on the side, it will dramatically affect [businesses here], and you cant even get into a lot of these businesses when they shut down the lanes that would resurface and stuff like that.

On the west side of Sunshine, Kyndall Martin with Sunshine Lanes also says safety is the biggest issue.

The traffic down at this Kansas/Sunshine intersection; its brutal. Id like to say most of its probably just bad drivers. I hate to say that, but theres countless wrecks. I leave here all the time, and theres always some sort of wreck, Martin said. I feel like when going down sunshine, people dont pay attention. Traffics always backed up and then you start heading farther east towards like the hospitals and Mercy and all the way down to like Glenstone, you know, its all backed up, but I think Sunshine is one of the most iconic streets in town personally, and I think theres a lot of good that come with trying to make Sunshine better.

He suggests the city not only improve the roadway, but also invest in local options for stores or food.

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I think the cornerstone is getting local people and bringing local businesses. I mean, everybody loves it. You know, Buffalo Wild Wings or, you know, P.F. Changs as big, cool places. They want to see them in town, but some of the best places in town personally are the local places, Martin said. If were trying to revitalize some of these areas that are starting to get a little rundown to encourage somehow small businesses in Springfield to fill those spaces.

The final plans are expected to be announced by early 2026.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
SALEM, Ohio (WKBN)  A summer tradition rolls back into Salem this weekend, bringing with it the roar of engines, live music and thousands of visitors.

The Salem Super Cruise is set to take over town as one of the citys largest events.

Its held every year in June, drawing tens of thousands of car lovers to downtown Salem.

More: Valley summer events

From antique classics to muscle cars, the streets will be packed with vehicles on display, alongside vendors, food stands and live music.

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City leaders say this years event includes even more than before, thanks to ongoing efforts to expand and improve the experience.

Salem is ever-changing and growing, and we love to have people come and see what we have here. The hope is that theyll come back. Weve expanded so much this year, that Im really excited to see what the input will be from visitors, Mayor Cyndi Dickey said.

The multi-day event starts Thursday with a Start Your Engines ceremony at 7 p.m. and continues through the entire weekend.

And if youd like to check out the Columbiana Wine Festival this weekend as well, there will be a free shuttle service to take you there.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CHIPPEWA FALLS  A Superior man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase on Highway 29 with speeds reaching 137 mph has been convicted, but will avoid serving any time in jail.

Matthew D. Plesko, 20, was charged in December in Chippewa County Court with one count of fleeing or eluding an officer. He also was cited for under-age drinking and speeding on an expressway in excess of 35 mph.

On Tuesday, Plesko pleaded guilty to fleeing or eluding, as well as disorderly conduct. However, Judge Benjamin Lane didnt accept the plea on the felony-level fleeing charge. Instead, Lane placed Plesko on probation for one year and ordered him to pay $463 in court costs. Plesko must complete 40 hours of community service and submit a DNA sample. Plesko also was ordered to take a drivers safety course. While on probation, Plesko cannot consume alcohol or drugs.

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According to the criminal complaint, a Wisconsin State Trooper observed Plesko driving westbound on Highway 29 in the town of Edson at 113 mph on Dec. 14, according to the radar in her squad car. That area is posted at 65 mph.

The vehicle continued westbound on Hwy 29, accelerating to speeds of 100 mph to 137 mph, the criminal complaint reads. (The officer) noted the other traffic traveling on Hwy 29 pulled over to the right shoulder as she approached,

However, the suspect vehicle continued westbound and refused to pull over. After attempting to stop the vehicle for 19 miles with emergency lights and siren on, the vehicle finally pulled over to the median side shoulder and parked around mile post 77.

Plesko got out of the car but dove back in as it started to roll over.

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When instructed to exit the vehicle, Plesko showed his hands and exited. Officers searched Pleskos vehicle and located one bottle of beer, three bottles of champagne, and one bottle of vodka, the complaint reads.

Plesko admitted to officers the alcohol belonged to him but he had not consumed any drugs or alcohol.

He stated that he did not pull over for 19 miles because he did not see (the trooper) and claimed he pulled over when he saw her. (The) trooper explained all other vehicles on Hwy 29 pulled over and she saw him looking at her in his mirrors. Plesko continued to state that he did not see (her).

Plesko had no other criminal record in Wisconsin, a state database showed.
The Supreme Court heard arguments this week that could reshape how federal courts block executive actions. On the surface, the justices seem prepared to rein in nationwide injunctions, the increasingly common tool used by lower courts to halt policies not only for the plaintiffs before them, but across all 50 states. In just the first five months of 2025, federal judges have issued such injunctions to block President Trumps executive order on birthright citizenship, his attempt to defund hospitals hospitals providing "gender-affirming" care to minors, and his sweeping pause on federal grants tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Conservatives have long criticized the practice as lawless and unmoored from the limits of Article III of the Constitution. Progressives, now more reliant on such relief to block Trump-era policies, argue its sometimes the only way to prevent constitutional harm from spreading while litigation unfolds.

Whats likely to emerge, though, is not a bold doctrinal ruling but a narrow, compromise opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts. If that happens, the decision will offer a cautionary tale in judicial self-protection, in which institutional preservation is masked as constitutional principle, leaving the underlying structural problem untouched.

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The case, Trump v. CASA, centers on President Trumps executive order to limit birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. Lower courts have blocked the policy through nationwide injunctions, prompting the administration to challenge their legitimacy.

During oral argument, Roberts and several justices expressed concern about the expanding use of nationwide relief. Justice Alito called it a "disease" spreading through the federal courts. Justice Gorsuch warned about turning single judges into de facto national policymakers. But what was just as telling were the breadcrumbs dropped about a likely off-ramp: class certification. That means that instead of issuing an order that halts a federal policy "nationwide," a district judge could define a class - say, all U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants - and enjoin enforcement of the policy against the entire group. The end result would be practically identical.

If the court rules that nationwide injunctions are unconstitutional, lower courts may simply respond by certifying plaintiff classes broad enough to justify system-wide relief. In effect, judges will achieve the same outcome under a different procedural theory. Executive policies will still be blocked nationwide, but the mechanism will be dressed in new robes.

Thats not judicial restraint. Thats a judicial workaround.

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And the impulse to allow it without acknowledging it seems likely to come from the courts center. Roberts, ever the institutionalist, is clearly sensitive to the perception that the judiciary is inserting itself into national policymaking. But his instinct is to manage appearances, not confront structure.

The problem with nationwide injunctions is not just that theyre controversial. Its that they enable a single unelected district judge to dictate federal policy far beyond their jurisdiction. Thats not a political complaint; its a constitutional one. When trial courts routinely bind nonparties and issue system-wide relief, they exceed the role Article III envisions.

A real ruling would address that head-on. It would clarify whether and when courts can bind the federal government outside the scope of the parties before them. It would not tinker with the tools while ignoring the incentives.

Whats needed is not just a change in doctrine. Its a change in expectations. The first federal judge to issue a sweeping order shouldnt dictate national policy while appellate review drags on. A healthier structure would encourage narrow, party-specific relief until questions of law are settled by circuit courts or, ultimately, the Supreme Court.

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Instead, Roberts seems poised to split the baby. Hell signal disapproval of nationwide injunctions in form, while leaving the door wide open to class-wide relief that functions identically. The court will protect its image without restoring the actual boundaries of judicial power.

To be clear, institutional legitimacy is worth caring about. But it doesnt come from a neutral tone or procedural sleight of hand. It comes from the courage to decide structural questions clearly, even when the result is politically uncomfortable. Roberts wants to preserve the courts reputation - but preservation isnt the mission. Judgment is.

In the short term, the Trump administrations birthright order may still be blocked, just not by a "nationwide injunction." In the long term, lower courts will read between the lines. Theyll continue to halt national policy from the trial bench, using slightly different procedural tools, with a nod and a wink from the Supreme Court.

The court may technically strike down nationwide injunctions. But it wont stop them.

Justin Evan Smith is a law student, business strategist, and contributor with Young Voices. Follow him on X @thejustinevan.
BALTIMORE  Its not clear if the Supreme Courts decision to deny two gun cases, including a challenge to a Maryland ban on AR-15s, a semi-automatic rifle, will influence how other gun cases are determined. However, gun owners say the split-courts case rejection reflects skepticism from some justices that the ban is constitutional.

Four members of the Court, including Justice Kavanaugh, have made clear that the Fourth Circuit incorrectly decided the case, said Mark Pennak, president of Maryland Shall Issue, a group advocating for gun owner rights expansion. In his view, the courts rejection only temporarily allows the ban to hold. Once the Court grants review of the issue, the decision in that case will be controlling precedent in MD and elsewhere. If plaintiffs win on this issue in that case, the Maryland law will fail as well, he said.

The ban was enacted in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newton, Connecticut, where 20 children and six school staff members were killed. The Maryland case, Snope v. Brown, was declined alongside a Rhode Island case which contested a ban on high-capacity gun magazines.

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While Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas said they would hear the case, four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree to hear a case. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said he expects the court will address the issue of AR-15 legality in the next Term or two. Kavanaugh also said that AR15s are legal in 41 of the 50 States, which makes Marylands law, relatively, something of an outlier.

Gun control advocates, including several Maryland elected officials, felt relieved at the high courts decision, saying that Marylanders are safer with the ban in place.

Daniel Webster, Bloomberg Professor of American Health in Violence Prevention at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that he views the courts rejection of the case favorably.

I think itll mean that assault weapon ban will stay in, and I think that thats generally a good thing in terms of public safety, Webster said. And I think that that is a policy that most Marylanders support for sure. He also said that there are other states where similar bans have been challenged on Second Amendment grounds, but most courts have supported the bans.

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Maryland Congressman Glenn Ivey, a Democrat, posted on X, This decision sends a clear message: states can take bold action to protect their communities from gun violence. Marylanders shouldnt have to live in fear of weapons of war on our streets. He also expressed his commitment to supporting common-sense gun laws that save lives and uphold our Constitution in the future.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, also voiced support for the Courts decision. Maryland passed its ban on military-style assault weapons after the Sandy Hook massacre, he posted on X. SCOTUS should continue to allow lifesaving laws like Marylands to remain in place.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, the defendant in Snope v. Brown, said in a statement that the Supreme Courts case rejection means the states ban that prevents senseless and preventable deaths will remain in effect. Our Office will continue to advocate for gun safety laws at the General Assembly and will defend Marylands common-sense gun reforms in court. We will do whatever we can to protect Marylanders from this horrific violence, the statement said.

________
A reintroduced wolf is seen shortly after release in Grand County on Dec. 19, 2023. (Courtesy of CPW)

Its been a week of bad news for supporters of Colorados voter-mandated efforts to reintroduce gray wolves.

Connecting the news in Colorado to the big picture.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials announced Friday that agents had shot and killed wolf 2405, a yearling male belonging to the first litter of wolf pups born in the state since reintroduction, after a series of livestock attacks in Pitkin County. That news was followed Monday by CPWs announcement of the death of a recently reintroduced wolf, 2507-BC, in northwest Colorado on May 31.

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The latest confirmed death means at least five of the 15 wolves relocated from Canada in January have now died. Two of the animals traveled north into Wyoming, where wolves are largely unprotected under federal and state laws; one was killed by federal officials after livestock attacks, and the other is widely assumed to have been legally hunted  Wyoming wildlife officials have invoked a hunter confidentiality law when asked for details. The causes of death for three wolves found dead in Colorado are all under investigation by CPW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Roughly 20 other adult or yearling gray wolves remain alive and in the wild across the state, and advocates and CPW officials hope that an unknown number of pups born this spring can soon be confirmed and added to the total.

But for now, with a small population working to establish itself in the early stages of the program, the deaths of one-third of the individuals reintroduced this year have pushed Colorado wolves survival rate below a critical threshold outlined in CPWs formal reintroduction plan.

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Citing research derived from other states wolf management plans and the federally-led effort to restore wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, that plan, adopted by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission in 2023, anticipated that survival rates for reintroduced wolves would range between 70% and 85% in the early years of the program. Early survival rates were listed among the benchmarks CPW said it would use to measure short-term success.

A survival rate of less than 70% for reintroduced wolves within six months of release, the plan says, would initiate protocol review.

An unusually large number of losses during the first year of releases or following any modification to established protocols will prompt a full review of management procedures, the document continues. To assure high initial post-release survival, the project may be suspended at any time until likely cause(s) of problems are identified, and acceptable solutions can be implemented to resolve the problem(s).

CPW spokesperson Travis Duncan confirmed to Newsline Tuesday that the agency would review its procedures, but not until causes of death for the animals are established.

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Out of an abundance of caution, CPW will assess the mortalities of wolves translocated in 2025 to determine if any translocation protocols should be modified, Duncan said. This cannot occur until final determinations from the USFWS necropsies have been made on the cause of the mortalities.

A decades-old benchmark

The 70% target in CPWs plan comes from a 2015 technical report by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife assessing that states wolf population. The Oregon report, in turn, cited three previous studies from wildlife biologists who found that wolf populations can be sustained with mortality rates as high as 25% to 30%. Crossing that threshold, the reports authors wrote, results in an increased risk of conservation failure and biological extinction.

The target also roughly aligns with benchmarks set by planners of the first-ever managed wolf reintroduction program, undertaken by the USFWS in and around Yellowstone National Park beginning in 1995. Federal officials projected that the restoration effort would be successful if overall mortality could be limited to 20%  10% from authorized killings of wolves due to livestock conflicts and another 10% from natural causes, accidents, or illegal killing.

The 1990s efforts near Yellowstone met or exceeded those expectations, successfully reestablishing sustainable wolf population in two different areas ahead of the predicted schedule of three to five years. In the Yellowstone area, 24 of 31 relocated wolves survived the programs first two calendar years, along with 19 of 23 their pups, for a total mortality rate of 20%. In a parallel effort in central Idaho, wolves fared even better. Although no pups were born within the first year of reintroduction, 30 of 35 relocated individuals survived the programs first 20 months, a 14% mortality rate.

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CPW biologists will have a better understanding of the state of reintroduction once the number of pups born in Colorado in 2025 is confirmed. The agency says its monitoring four potential dens of breeding pairs.

But its clear now that Colorados restoration effort is falling short of the successes experienced in the northern Rockies in the 1990s: Including three deaths confirmed in 2024, eight of the states first 25 relocated wolves have died, a mortality rate of 32%  with more than half of calendar year 2025 left to go.

The states plan calls for winter releases of 10 to 15 wolves annually in the programs first three to five years, with an initial target of a stable population of at least 50 animals within the state. Without a turnaround in survival rates and pup production, however, that timeline could be in jeopardy.

CPW is developing plans for the coming years translocation efforts, so Colorados wolf population will continue to grow, leading toward a self-sustaining population, the agency promised in a press release this week.

The Trendline offers analysis on public policy in Colorado. Articles explore ways to think about the news based on research, history and other important context, helping Coloradans connect the headlines to the big picture.

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U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, arrives for a Republican luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

After a campaign promise to bring in outsized federal dollars for Maine, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins won reelection during Trumps first term, overcoming a record amount of spending against her and defying public polls. At the start of the presidents second term, Collins rose to the helm of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the first time a Mainer has chaired one of the upper chambers most powerful committees in 92 years.

However, Maines longest-serving member of Congress has reached this pinnacle of authority as President Donald Trump is attempting to flip the system on its head. His administration, by Collins own admission, has unjustly rescinded congressionally appropriated funds, at times singling out Maine in what are widely considered retaliatory actions over the states defiance of his executive order rolling back transgender rights.

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During Trumps second term so far, Collins, a Republican, has bucked the executive periodically, particularly with attempts to rein in tariffs by reasserting congressional control and voting against a budget framework passed by the Senate in April because of possible cuts to Medicaid, the state-federal health program for low-income people and some people with disabilities. Though, in the budget currently being considered, she is supportive of adding work requirements to limit Medicaid eligibility.

Some of her constituents want to see more public pushback.

I focus on results, not rhetoric, Collins said in an interview. My goal is not to get on Fox News and MSNBC and rant and rave.

Outlining her strategy for Maine Morning Star, Collins said shes had success restoring some funding largely due to conversations outside of public view, relying on her long-developed relationships.

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It is far more effective for me to, for example, restore the funding that the administration wants to cut for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, LIHEAP, which is so important to the state of Maine, than it is to go make a fiery speech to anywhere that doesnt result in any change, Collins said.

But some constituents argue a piecemeal approach to restoring funds will ultimately be ineffective as overall democratic checks and balances are tested.

Collins public use of power

During Trumps first few weeks back in office, Collins said she hoped the courts would side with Congress if the presidents attempts to control spending were litigated.

Now, with numerous cases in the courts, Collins said, some of the actions taken by the administration have and will be overturned in court, and others Congress will overturn through the appropriations process.

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She added, When I disagree with the actions of the administration, I have not hesitated to intervene.

Collins said she consulted with the Trump administration in order to restore the U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to the University of Maine, renegotiate the Maine Sea Grant, secure an exception to the hiring freeze at Acadia National Park and reverse the cancellation of a decades-old program that allows parents to register their newborns for a Social Security number while at hospitals. Though Collins spokesperson told Maine Morning Star that Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek told the senator it was an error but reporting later revealed that he deliberately sought to punish Maine after Gov. Janet Mills heated exchange with Trump over the states transgender protections.

But some Maine voters argue Collins should be using her seniority  as the seventh most senior member of the Senate and the most senior Republican woman  for more than piecemeal fixes.

Falmouth resident Anne Scheer  who carried a sign during a Tax Day protest in Augusta that read Wheres Susan?  said she wants the senator to rally her caucus to stand up for democracy, adding that she doesnt think that has to be an anti-Trump message.

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She needs to talk with her fellow Republicans and say, This is enough, Scheer said.

Cape Elizabeth resident Jerry Kaufman, an independent who protested against Collins in Biddeford in April, said hed vote for Collins if she could convince her colleagues to confront the president to say stop the foolishness.

Show some leadership and bring some people along with you, Kaufman said.

At that same protest, Biddeford resident Anthony Burgess, a registered Democrat who voted for Collins once in 2014, criticized her statements of concern and disappointment about some of the Trump administrations actions as lacking conviction.

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He said independent U.S. Sen. Angus Kings attendance at the Hands Off rally in Portland in April demonstrated for him a refusal to cow to Trump.

Her vote is the mechanism of government but she has a platform that she could be speaking from, Burgess said.

When asked what her response is to those who say she should be doing more to ensure the separation of powers remains, Collins pointed to her questioning officials in subcommittee hearings.

One main purpose of subcommittees is to hold hearings on spending proposals during which members can directly question agency heads. Collins has questioned several, including U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the proposed elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

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Were actually holding these subcommittee hearings at a breakneck pace to evaluate spending requests and reductions, as well as to assess compliance with congressional intent and enacted laws, Collins said.

Falmouth resident Anne Scheer says she wants U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to rally her caucus to stand up for democracy during a Tax Day rally on April 15, 2025, in Augusta. (By Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Exercising private influence

However, Collins said the public does not see what she feels is her most efficient tactic.

My goal is to get things fixed and to get problems solved, and I do that through the federal hearings where Im laying the foundation for restoration of the cuts in biomedical research, which is an extraordinarily high priority for me, Collins said, as an example. But also I do it privately by calling up Cabinet members.

Collins said she is so far largely approaching her qualms with the administration through these one-on-one conversations.

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This tactic has burned her at times in the past, notably when Collins voted for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after she said he gave her private assurances he wasnt a threat to Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion ruling that he later voted to overturn.

More recently, ahead of the deadline to avoid a government shutdown, Collins said she started texting with Trumps billionaire adviser Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency. That outreach does not appear to have gone as planned, at least for the immediate outcome.

While Collins initially said she was absolutely opposed to a full-year stop gap approach, she told Politico that Republican leaders instructed her to start writing a plan for that approach anyway. The version that passed, drafted by House GOP leadership, was ultimately pushed through with limited input from spending leaders of either chamber.

But in other cases, shes touted success that shes had with these conversations that happen behind closed doors, such as with the restoration of the USDA funding and renegotiation of the Maine Sea Grant.

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Because I have these relationships with the presidents Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and with Cabinet members, I have been able to restore funding that was in jeopardy, Collins said.

Mark Brewer, chair of the political science department at the University of Maine, sees this as a strength unique to Collins.

Given that shes the only Republican member of the current Maine delegation and shes the only person with a committee chair, I think shes better positioned to have those communications than any of the other members, Brewer said.

But while Collins sees these behind-the-scenes negotiations as the most effective way to restore funding that, as she puts it, has been arbitrarily and unfairly cut from Maine, when it comes to attempts to gut entire programs, thats going to take legislation, she said.

Republicans big, beautiful bill

The sprawling budget bill is the main vehicle where such attempts are currently being made.

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Cokie Giles, a registered nurse at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, protested with National Nurses United outside Collins office in Portland in March to demand the senator oppose the possible cuts to Medicaid in the budget.

While Collins often talks about her ability to work across the aisle, Giles said, Well, work on your own side, and dont let these cuts go through.

After Collins, citing concerns about possible Medicaid cuts, was one of two Senate Republicans to vote against the budget framework that the chamber passed in early April, Giles told Maine Morning Star she was pleased but not confident the senators opposition would remain as budget debates continues, nor that her vote would make a difference in the end.

Late last month, the U.S. House narrowly approved the massive tax and spending plan. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where Republican lawmakers are expected to rewrite much of it, now taking into consideration the more detailed budget plan Trump released on Friday. The bill will then have to head back to the House for final approval, with a goal to get it to the presidents desk by the Fourth of July.

As passed by the House, the 1,116-page package combines 11 bills. Among its many components, the current plan would overhaul Medicaid, reducing the program by $625 billion over 10 years under the latest estimate by the Congressional Budget Office.

Mainers gather on April 11, 2025 in Biddeford to protest President Donald Trumps actions. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Collins did not provide specific red lines that would lead her to not support the budget package, but she described Medicaid as critically important for Maines health care system and a vital resource for many seniors, low-income families, disabled patients and those who cannot work. She told Maine Morning Star she cannot support proposals that would create more duress for our hospitals and providers that are already teetering on the edge of insolvency.

However, Collins is supportive of placing further limits on program eligibility, specifically work requirements for able-bodied men and women who are capable of working and do not have obligations that preclude them from participating in the workforce, she said.

As passed by the House, people who are between the ages of 19 and 65 would be required to work, participate in community service, or attend an educational program at least 80 hours a month to be eligible. The language has numerous exceptions, including for pregnant people, parents of dependent children and people who have complex medical conditions, among others.

Under these requirements, 34,000 Mainers would be expected to lose their Medicaid coverage, reducing federal funding by $215 million, according to the progressive Maine Center for Economic Policy.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills warned in a radio address on Friday about these cuts, as well as others that would limit access to the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces.

If you receive health care through MaineCare or CoverME.gov, which is the Affordable Care Act, I encourage you to contact Members of Congress to share what that coverage means to you, Mills said. They need to hear your story.

Some shared their stories at a protest against Collins organized by the Maine Democratic Party in Bangor on Saturday, which drew almost 200 attendees who demanded the senator block the health care and other program cuts in the budget.

In 2020, [Collins] told us that her seniority would protect us, that chairing Appropriations would give her the power to defend Maines interests, said Shawn Yardley. Her party now controls the White House and both chambers of Congress, but the cuts and the cruelty keep coming.

While Collins emphasized some possible future impacts on MaineCare at the federal level, she said, the state has not been perfect on this issue. The senator called out the Maine Legislature for being unable to reach a compromise on its state budget.

The state is holding up more than $100 million in emergency supplemental funding that would draw down nearly $400 million federal funds, Collins said.

Maine Senate Republicans held out their support for the supplemental budget plan, and later the two-year budget, because theyd wanted it to include structural reform to Medicaid  notably the work requirements Collins is supportive of adding on the federal level.

Last month, the Maine House failed to secure enough support to get the now already allocated Medicaid funding out sooner. Some Republicans, though not ultimately enough for passage, supported that effort, arguing the state needs to pay its bills owed to providers, but others called it a blank check they wouldnt sign.

With Maine hospitals already struggling to keep services available, state groups are calling on Collins in particular to reject federal health care cuts as well as cuts to childcare and food assistance in a digital ad campaign launched this week by Family Values @ Work Action, a national network of state and local coalitions aimed at promoting family-friendly workplace policies.

This package takes food and medicine from the mouths of Maine families to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, Destie Hohman Sprague, executive director of the Maine Womens Lobby, said in a statement on Monday.

Among many other components, the federal budget bill proposes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, through expanded work requirements and shifting some program costs to state governments. Maine would also lose federal matching funds as a penalty for providing coverage to some immigrant populations.

The budget plan would also raise the debt limit by $4 trillion.

We have an enormous deficit and debt, Collins said, and we do need to evaluate programs.

As the Senate negotiates what to keep and do away with in the big, beautiful bill that represents the heart of Trumps domestic agenda, how Maines senior senator chooses to use her influence, whether in public or not, will be put to the test.

This story was originally published by Maine Morning Star, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A suspect has been arrested in connection with the Christmas Eve murder outside a York County Sheetz, according to the York County Regional Police Department.

Police said Tajai Markeise Robert Scott, of York, was apprehended in California by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force on June 3. Scott is being held in California and will be extradited to York County to face charges.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

The second suspect, Ajanii Lemar Barnes, of Philadelphia, remains at large, police said.

York County Regional Police said officers responded to a Sheetz in the 4300 block of North George Street in East Manchester Township for a reported shooting that left one person dead on December 24, 2024. Police say Tivory Bartlet was killed during the shooting.

Scott was charged with first and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, robbery-inflict serious bodily injury, and other related charges.

Barnes was charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, robbery-inflict serious bodily injury, and other related charges.

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Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ajanii Barnes is asked to contact the York County Regional Police Department at 717-741-1259 or 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 ABC27.
The FBI has arrested a co-conspirator in last month's car bombing outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic, with officials saying he provided large quantities of ammonium nitrate to the suspect killed in the blast.

Daniel Jongyon Park, 32, has been charged with conspiracy to manufacture an unregistered device and terrorism, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. Park was arrested Tuesday night at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York after being detained in Poland on May 30, officials said at a press conference Wednesday. Park allegedly fled to Europe four days after the bombing, officials said.

The primary suspect in the case, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, was found dead next to the detonated vehicle, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's LA field office said last month.

PHOTO: Undated photo provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on June 4, 2025, shows a photo of Daniel Jongyon Park, 32, following his arrest in New York. (FBI/AFP via Getty Images)

Park allegedly shipped approximately 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate, an explosive precursor commonly used to construct homemade bombs, from Seattle to Bartkus in California as part of a plot related to the pair's nihilist beliefs, according to officials. Park also allegedly paid for an additional 90 pounds of the substance in the days leading up to the Palm Springs attack, officials said.

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Federal investigators allege the materials were used in the car bombing. Investigators have already conducted searches at Park's home, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Park also allegedly spent two weeks visiting the main suspect's home in late January and early February of this year, the officials said. The two are believed to have been conducting experiments together in the main suspect's garage.

MORE: Suspect identified in deadly blast outside Palm Springs fertility clinic, per FBI

Park and Bartkus followed a "pro-mortalism, anti-natalism, and anti-pro-life ideology," officials said Wednesday, adding the pair believed people should not be born without their consent and "nonexistence is best."

"Park's social media posts indicate that he was attempting to recruit others of like-minded ideology and discuss these things on internet forums," Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said in a press conference Wednesday.

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"We must strive to prevent anything like this from happening again. We wanna learn everything about the ideology involved in this," Davis said.

The FBI alleged Park had recipes to create a bomb similar to the one used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and that he knew how to make fuel oil bombs.

PHOTO: Two bomb squad officers walk near near the scene of a bomb blast which damaged a fertility clinic and left one person dead, May 17, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. (Gabriel Osorio/AFP via Getty Images)

Investigators said there is no indication there were other targets. FBI analysts are still working to determine how much explosives were used in the bombing outside the clinic, officials said at the press conference.

The suspect and co-conspirator appear to have found each other in chat forums online as like-minded individuals, according to officials.

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Park is expected to appear in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday afternoon before he's transported to California, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Prosecutors are asking that he be held without release. The suspects targeted the fertility clinic because they believed new life should not be created, investigators said at the press conference Wednesday.

MORE: Extremist suspected in deadly Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing

"The subject had nihilistic ideations, and this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility," Davis said last month. "Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism."

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While Park allegedly traveled to Bartkus' house in January and February, investigators do not believe he was in the area at the time of the bombing.

At least four other people were injured in the explosion last month. The explosion led to a fire and the collapse of a nearby building.

PHOTO: The damaged front of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic stands following a bomb blast on May 17, 2025, in Palm Springs, Calif. (David Mcnew/Getty Images, FILE)

The clinic, the American Reproductive Center of Palm Springs, said no members of its staff were harmed, and its lab -- including all eggs, embryos and reproductive materials -- were undamaged in the attack.

The clinic is currently seeing patients at a temporary location across the street from its main building.

"We're grateful to share that consultations, follow-ups, and ultrasounds are continuing with minimal disruption, and our team has made a nearly seamless transition. We're also in the process of finalizing our new IVF lab and surgery center, and we look forward to resuming those services very soon," the clinic said in a statement on social media last week.

Alleged co-conspirator in fertility clinic bombing shipped nearly 300 pounds of ammonium nitrate: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A man who was accused of killing an Austin father and daughter in a 2023 hit-and-run in east Austin has been charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, according to a Travis County arrest warrant affidavit.

On June 23, 2023, the driver of a 2010 red Chevrolet was involved in a two-vehicle crash in the 5500 block of Delta Post Drive. Deputies identified the suspect as Luis Rodolfo Mata Limon, said the affidavit.

KXAN will reach out to Luis attorney once it is provided. We will update this if a statement is received.

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According to the affidavit, Limon failed to give half of the roadway and struck a black ATV. The ATV was operated by Jonathan Gomez-Guajardo, who was with his daughter Azeneth Gomez-Rodriguez. Sadly, both were killed as a result of the crash.

Troopers obtained crash video from nearby Tesla

A video from a parked Tesla nearby captured the crash and was obtained by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers, according to the affidavit.

The video showed the pickup truck traveling southwest on Delta Post Drive and the ATV traveling northeast also on Delta Post Drive. Both vehicles eventually collided head-on.

The pickup truck dragged the ATV across the roadway, onto the sidewalk area and into the grass, the affidavit detailed. The truck continued traveling southwest and eventually made a complete stop. That was when Limon left the scene on foot.

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Additionally, Travis County deputies had spoken with witnesses in the area and one resident even captured a Hispanic man running away from the scene of the crash.

Through investigation, an iPhone and cans of alcohol were left inside the truck. The affidavit stated that only the drivers side airbag was deployed and was later used as DNA evidence. The phone left inside the vehicle also provided evidence for law enforcement.

Following the crash investigation, troopers showed up at the residence where the vehicle was registeredwhich was under his fathers name, Salvador Mata Garcia.

When DPS arrived at the residence, they were unsuccessful in locating Luis and Salvador. However, on June 24, DPS was able to get in contact with Salvador, the affidavit stated.

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The affidavit said Salvador made a stolen [car] report with Travis County, but could not confirm his whereabouts during the crash time. Salvador also told troopers that Luis was not answering his calls, nor did he show up to work since the time of the crash.

The days following the crash, troopers had no luck in contacting Luis. When they asked Salvador why he hadnt reported his son missing, he told officers that his son is a little dumb and that he was not worried for him, the affidavit stated.

On July 17, 2023, a search warrant was issued for the vehicle and a DNA search warrant was issued for both men. The airbag was taken from the vehicle and was submitted to DPS Austin Crime Lab for evidence and DNA collection, the affidavit stated.

According to the affidavit, the DNA search warrant was issued to possibly identify the driver from the DNA in the airbag. However, DNA was only collected from Salvador.

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Further details revealed the night before [the crash], [Luis] was at a party and did not return home and that the truck was lent to Luis, the affidavit stated.

Officials believe Luis was possibly drinking and driving when the crash happened and ran away from the scene to avoid an arrest because he didnt have a valid drivers license at the time, the affidavit detailed. It was confirmed in the affidavit that Luis had open alcohol containers inside the truck.

Additionally, deputies said Luis did not attempt to call 911, nor did he attempt to return to the scene of the crash to render aid to the victims.

KXAN previously covered in September 2023, the family of Gomez-Guajardo and Azeneth had sued two men whom they believed were responsible for the east Austin fatal crash. They hoped this wouldve put pressure on the men to come forward at the time.

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As of Monday, there is still no information on his whereabouts, the affidavit 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 KXAN Austin.
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  A Murray man is in police custody after a SWAT raid revealed a number of illegal narcotics and weapons.

Shannon Ashcraft, 52, was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail on multiple drug distribution charges Tuesday morning. Court documents show that just after 5 a.m., SWAT from the West Jordan Police Department carried out a no-knock search warrant at Ashcrafts home in Murray.

According to police, Ashcraft was located hiding in a trap door located in a back bedroom of the home. Officers also found keys lying on the ground inside the trap door.

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They stripped her of her humanity: Former nurse dies in assisted living facility after being left unattended for 6 hours

Rebekah Adams/KTVX Rebekah Adams/KTVX Rebekah Adams/KTVX

After further examination, police found the keys to match a black safe located inside of a closet which was also connected to the back bedroom.

Inside the safe, police allegedly found large amounts of meth, heroin, and morphine pills. According to a probable cause statement, officers also found four very large swords which were straight-blades and longer than 18 inches.

Court documents also allege that officers found a bat in the home which had a sword that detached from it.

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Ashcraft was arrested for three counts of illegal drug possession with intent to distribute, interfering with a peace officer, and four counts of dangerous weapon conduct by a restricted person.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman wanted in connection with a nearly decade-old homicide in the Pacific Northwest was arrested at a womens shelter in Phillips County, Arkansas.

The Phillips County Sheriffs Department said Tina Alcorn, 54, was working at the shelter when she was taken into custody Tuesday morning.

According to the Associated Press, Alcorn is accused of killing George David, 65, in 2016.

David, who was a Native American master carver, was found beaten to death at a Port Angeles apartment. An autopsy showed he died from head injuries.

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Alcorn is awaiting extradition to Washington to face charges.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Jun. 3A traffic violation in the Flathead Valley in March led to the arrest of a pair of suspected drug dealers and the seizure of more than 47 grams of methamphetamine, prosecutors say.

Charles John Arthur Cislo, 36, faces felony counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia in Flathead County District Court following his March 21 arrest. Held in the county jail with bail set at $60,000, Cislo is scheduled to appear before Judge Dan Wilson on June 12 for his arraignment.

Tanita Jo Anderson, 33, faces felony charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. Currently held on $135,000 bail, Anderson is expected to appear before Judge Danni Coffman on June 5 for arraignment.

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Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies pulled over Anderson's vehicle after it allegedly stayed in the left-hand lane of U.S. 2 for four-and-a-half miles as it headed south from the intersection with Montana 40 just after 1 a.m. During the subsequent traffic stop, the deputy identified the driver as Anderson and the passenger as Cislo, court documents said.

Anderson allegedly was driving with a suspended license, and Cislo had a warrant out for his arrest. As he placed Cislo under arrest, the deputy received permission from Anderson to search the vehicle, court documents said.

Investigators later turned up a black case containing a bag filled with large rocks of a white crystalline substance that authorities suspected was methamphetamine, court documents. The black case, which also allegedly contained a cache of small plastic bags, was found on the floor where Cislo was sitting at the time of the traffic stop.

Other items found during the search included a plastic bottle with two pipes extending outward, a makeup mirror with white powder on it, and a gray zipper bag with additional drug paraphernalia, court documents said.

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During a subsequent interview with deputies, Anderson allegedly admitted knowing that the black case contained methamphetamine and that it belonged to Cislo. The white powder on the mirror was methamphetamine as well, she said, and she told investigators that the pair used it to take the drug earlier the night of the stop, according to court documents.

She indicated that a search of the gray zipper bag would uncover the psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine, better known as DMT, according to court documents.

As part of the investigation, deputies contacted the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. Both Anderson and Cislo were known to the group and were suspected of dealing drugs, particularly methamphetamine and fentanyl, court documents said.

After reviewing the deputies' findings, agents with the task force concluded that the methamphetamine in the vehicle was intended for sale rather than personal use, according to court documents.

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Cislo is facing a felony drug possession charge in a separate ongoing case and has a prior drug possession conviction from a case that was brought against him in 2017.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.
Two suspects are in custody and a third is at home out-of-state after Enumclaw police feared a school shooting plot was in the making following a break-in at Enumclaw High School Saturday.

Two of the suspects are students at the high school, the third is a friend or family member of theirs who lives in California, EPD Chief Tim Floyd said.

Looking at it through the lens of not just myself, but multiple members of my command staff, and school resource officers, it appeared to us that they were doing a dry run, a rehearsal for possibly an active shooter event, he said.

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In interviews with the oldest suspect, an 18-year-old not named at this time, he revealed he was scouting for a senior prank, not a shooting. That suspect turned himself into police Monday night after hordes of tips and media stories reacted to the suspicions of police.

They had planned a senior prank to break into the school overnight to fill up the auditorium lunchroom area with balloons, Floyd said, so this was kind of their reconnaissance to get into the school and exit the school.

Their break-in, which meant pulling repeatedly on a door until it broke open, triggered an alarm to police, who responded as the three males fled the building. Surveillance video captured the three going through the building, sometimes separately, then meeting up in conversation. In one moment, the younger Enumclaw student pulled out what looked like a pistol, pointing it around the corner of a hallway. It turns out that was an airsoft gun. That student, Floyd said, had the plastic gun in hand when they fled the building. Floyd is thankful that the situation didnt end up worse, given that its hard to discern the difference between an actual firearm versus an airsoft gun in the dark of night.

He has that gun in his hand. Our officer was too far away to see that but had that officer been 20 seconds faster, theyd of been face-to-face, and it potentially could have been bad. All over the planning of a senior prank, Floyd said.

The 18-year-old was booked under a count of criminal trespass. The younger student was arrested in school on Tuesday and brought to the King County Juvenile Detention Facility. Floyd is working with prosecutors on charges for all three, including the California boy. The Enumclaw School District says students will face penalties in accordance with state law.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The suspects in the deadly Makaha shooting made their first court appearance after being charged.

Styren Stevens, Matthew Moon and Olsen Burrows-Fonoimonana are charged with second degree murder, first degree attempted murder, three counts of attempted murder in the second degree and multiple firearms offenses.

Four suspects in Makaha shooting have been charged

According to court documents, the violence erupted around 9 p.m. on May 28 at a home on Lahaina Street in Makaha.

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Detectives said the suspects, including a juvenile male, arrived at the home and approached the group yelling, You ready to die boys? before opening fire. The victims tried to run into the house and at some point, one of them also fired a gun.

Marcus Araneta, who was at the home, was fatally shot in the chest. Four others, including Stevens himself, were hit.

According to police, Araneta was pronounced dead just over an hour later. An autopsy confirmed his death as a homicide.

Police believe Stevens, who was shot in the back of the leg, may have been accidentally shot by one of his own companions.

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The family of one of the suspects who asked not to be identified, told us outside the courtroom they understand it began as a disagreement and the groups had agreed to meet up at the house, but they dont know how it turned deadly.

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You cannot just walk around judging these kids, and you never had a conversation with these kids. You dont know these kids. Ive been around these kids, and theyre good kids. nothing but respect I ever got from all of them, said the Stevens family member.

Stevens family tells us they have received hateful messages and fears for the safety of their loved ones.

You know how hurtful that is. He belonged to one family that loved him. He belonged to one family that could stand behind him. And we not going nowhere, said the family member.

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All three are being held on $1 million bail and are expected back in court on Thursday. The fourth suspect, a 17-year-old, is being handled separately in Family Court.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Video captured a couple who were seen dumping a cage full of kittens in San Bernardino as temperatures reached triple digits.

On May 30, Elisabeth Lomeli was driving with a friend when she spotted a man and woman dumping the cats near a remote dirt lot near East 40th and Harrison streets.

Thats not humane, Lomeli told KTLAs Shelby Nelson. Imagine yourself sitting out there with no water, no shade.

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Lomeli recorded the incident on her cellphone. When the cats did not immediately leave, the female suspect is seen tipping the cage on its side to get the animals out.

Inside the cage were four kittens around six weeks old and an adult cat that was believed to be their mother.

Lomeli and her friend decided to pull over and confront the couple. The female suspect claimed her local shelter wouldnt accept the cats, which prompted her to dump them. She also claimed the cats were all strays that she had taken in.

A man and woman who were seen dumping a cage full of kittens in a remote San Bernardino dirt lot as temperatures reached triple digits on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) Two good Samaritans confront the female suspect (in a gray shirt) about dumping a cage of kittens in a remote lot in San Bernardino on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) The male suspect appeared irritated after being confronted about dumping kittens in San Bernardino on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) A female suspect seen dumping a cage full of kittens in a remote San Bernardino dirt lot as temperatures reached triple digits on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) Two good Samaritans confront the suspects (wearing red and gray shirts) about dumping a cage of kittens in a remote lot in San Bernardino on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) The female suspect drags her empty cage away after dumping a family of kittens in San Bernardino on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) The male and female suspect pack up and drive away after dumping a family of kittens in San Bernardino on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli) Two good Samaritans confront the female suspects (in red and gray shirts) about dumping a cage of kittens in a remote lot in San Bernardino on May 30, 2025. (Elisabeth Lomeli)

Lomelis friend, Kossondra Villasenor, recorded the incident on her phone. At one point, the suspects became combative, leading to a heated verbal exchange.

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Youre mad because we called you out about the cats, Villasenor is heard saying. You guys came to dump cats. Its hot. This is not humane at all!

Lomeli said she decided to take the cats instead of allowing the couple to abandon them.

I had to run and get a box because they didnt even want to give us the cage, Lomeli said.

As they went to retrieve boxes from the car, the adult cat, believed to be the mother, ran away from the area. The suspects, who appeared irritated, packed up their cage and drove away.

Lomeli and Villasenor reported the incident with San Bernardino City Animal Services. An out-of-state rescue shelter has since accepted the kittens into their care.

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However, the kittens mother remains missing. Workers with another rescue organization, Cats of San Bernardino, have been searching for the cat have had no luck in finding her.

Weve been going on foot, using a drone, passing out flyers, said Jaina Spagis, director of Cats of San Bernardino. Weve been able to find three friendly kittens and a cat in that area while we were searching, so we believe that either someone else is dumping cats here or that couple had dumped some other cats in the area.

Kris Watson, Director of San Bernardino City Animal Shelter, reminds the public that it is a criminal act to dump animals in public spaces.

This is illegal abandonment of animals, said Watson. It is illegal to abandon any domestic animal, a cat or a dog. You could be facing prison time, high fines and/or probation.

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The San Bernardino Police Department told KTLA they have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A senior Conservative has urged Labour to suspend his partys second home council tax premium.

Sir Grant Shapps has called for the double council tax to be paused in areas where markets are seizing up and tourism is taking a kicking.

The former housing minister has also piled pressure on Angela Rayner to conduct an impact assessment and stop making decisions in the dark.

He is the latest politician to back The Telegraphs campaign against the 100pc council tax surcharge on second homes, which came into effect in 230 town halls on April 1.

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Kevin Hollinrake, shadow housing minister, said: This tax should be used to keep council tax bills down, or to build affordable housing. Labour is doing neither of these.

There has been a cavalier approach to implementing it, with Labour doing no research on its effect on the housing market and leaving local residents to pick up the tab.

Labour is using this tax as a club to hammer middle England, and trying to pull the wool over the eyes of hard-working families while theyre at it.

Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, said: Owning property used to be a right and a freedom. Today it is an excuse for the Government to use extortion.

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Mrs Rayners department has previously refused to investigate the impact of the second home council tax raid on local economies, housing markets or tourism. Instead, the Government said it was up to individual councils to decide whether it was effective.

Despite this, The Telegraph revealed that eight in 10 local authorities with the second home premium failed to carry out impact assessments.

Sir Grant, who served as housing minister between 2010 and 2012, said: Labours cack-handed council tax whack on second homes is walloping ordinary families with four-figure bills while doing absolutely nothing to get roofs over peoples heads.

I spent my time as housing minister cutting red tape and backing aspiration, not penalising it. So heres my three-point common-sense fix: first, commission an independent impact assessment  no more decisions in the dark.

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Second, hit pause on that 100pc premium in areas where markets are seizing up and tourisms taking a kicking. Third, hand power back to councils to target genuinely empty or derelict properties instead of clobbering every granny annexe in sight.

Do that, and well help communities thrive instead of driving them into the ground.

The second homes premium was introduced in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act by Michael Gove in 2023 to fix the housing crisis. But it has since been utilised by town halls as a way of boosting depleted coffers.

Since its introduction in 2017, the property market has crashed in areas of Wales. Pembrokeshire suffered an 8.9pc decline in house prices after owners raced to sell up their properties and avoid the tax raid.

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Despite pushing prices down, the properties being sold remain out of the budget of locals, Carol Peett, a buying agent at West Wales Property Finders said.

During his tenure as housing minister, Sir Grant overhauled social housing. He abolished the Tenant Services Authority, which was responsible for regulating social landlords. The powers were passed to the Homes and Communities Agency.

In 2012, the Conservative government introduced the affordable rent regime, to give housing associations a way to increase their income and carry on building new homes during the era of austerity.

He left the role when he was appointed chairman of the Conservative Party.

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A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: We are determined to fix the housing crisis we have inherited through our Plan for Change, and we know that having too many second and empty homes in an area can drive up housing costs for local people and damage public services.

That is why local authorities have powers introduced by the previous government to choose to add up to 100pc extra on the council tax bills of second homes and up to 300pc on empty homes.

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When Julie Uribe steps into the home in the Eastridge neighborhood, she doesnt just see the results of her hard work, she steps back into her childhood.

The longtime designer and Lincoln native has brought her personal history into the renovation of a mid-century modern home at 5941 Margo Drive, breathing new life into the house built in 1960.

Every time I come in here, I really feel connected to my childhood, and now Ive surrounded myself with things that were owned by my parents, Uribe said.

Uribe, an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, spent 30 years in Los Angeles working in television and design before returning to Lincoln in 2016 to care for her parents.

Last year, her real estate agent, Josh Sand, asked her to help revive a 65-year-old home to reflect the time period in which she grew up.

The house was purchased last October by Sand and Andrew McNeely, agents at BancWise Realty and owners of Sand-McNeely Construction. While the pair has flipped more than 40 houses in the past six years, this was their first restoration.

When the house flippers first laid eyes on the house, it was in rough shape, but it was unique. They planned to gut it, open up the walls and install new cabinets.

We looked at it from a certain perspective of, this was an investment. Buy it and flip it. Do it in a way we know how to do it, and then move on, McNeely said. But the more people we brought in and got involved in it  they had such strong opinions about keeping the character and trying to go back to the original look.

Over the past seven months, more than 30 people have collaborated on restoring the house, including neighbors who have walked by and urged the team to preserve features like the brick exterior and built-in cabinetry.

Then, Uribe and her husband, Tom Rajkovich, began working on the design and landscaping as in-house designers for Sand-McNeely in February.

The homes standout feature is a newly designed atrium between the two-stall garage and window-framed dining room. The room once held green carpet and pink walls but was replaced with California-inspired elements, such as tropical plants, succulents, and stones accented by marble and concrete.

I wanted it to have that California Palm Springs feel, Uribe said. I really wanted to bring the outside in and the atrium to feel like its own room.

The house also features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large basement and a sprawling backyard. In general, the house is based in a neutral black, white and wood palette, but color comes through with pillows, bright paintings and accessories.

When it came to staging the house, Uribe really focused on bringing in items from the 1960s period. Drawing on her childhood memories and design experience, she brought in a mixture of new and vintage items for staging, such as her own strawberry glasses, ashtrays and books. On Monday, a family even stopped by to pose in mid-century fashion for staging photos.

A lot of times when you see homes staged, its not personalized, and it was really important for me to bring it to life, Uribe said. You dont want it to feel old, because if its a new home in 1960, its new. So that was my goal, to make it feel fresh and new, as if were in 1960.

Sand and McNeely said the project on Margo Drive has changed the way they approach other renovation projects.

Were spending more money than we normally do to make it very unique, Sand said. The goal going forward is to take something from scratch and make it extremely unique or take something thats existing and restore it in a unique way, instead of the same old flips that everybodys doing.

But making a home unique comes with its own set of difficulties.

It takes more money because so much research is involved. How does this come together to create an environment where someone can literally walk back in time? Sand said.

McNeely said there are people who want a modern home with all the modern amenities, but hes also found people who prefer older homes that are far more unique and built to last.

Theres something beautiful about restoring something that was done well in its time, McNeely said.

Now that the house is finished, the team isnt exactly sure what will come next. McNeely and Sand have discussed keeping it as an Airbnb or selling it. Interest has been high to say the least.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Uribe said mid-century modern homes have become more popular because of their practicality and wood and nature features.

One reason why this look is so popular is a sense to nest, be cozy and connect, and not only to each other, but to our past, Uribe said. Its truly a privilege to take a home that was built in 1960 and really bring it to life.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden will send up to 600 criminals to serve their sentences in an Estonian prison under an agreement announced by the government on Wednesday aimed at reducing pressure on the country's overcrowded jails.

From July next year, Sweden will be able to send men over 18 who are convicted of crimes ranging from murder to sexual offences to the prison in the Estonian city of Tartu. The agreement needs to be approved by parliament in both countries.

"The whole prison will be placed at Sweden's disposal," Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told reporters.

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"Sweden's prison system .. is under tremendous pressures and in that situation needs a plan for expansion to deal with that."

Sweden will pay 8,500 euros ($9,680) a month per inmate, a saving on the average 11,500 euros a month cost in Sweden.

A wave of gang-related violence over the last decade has led to tougher laws and sentencing in Sweden pushing up the prison population.

In May, around 7,300 inmates were held in 5,235 cells - an occupancy rate of 141%, figures from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service showed. Including standby accommodation, the occupancy rate was 96%.

The Prison Service reckons 30,000 people could be locked up in Sweden in 10 years.

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Belgium and Norway have hired prison places in the Netherlands. Denmark has an agreement with Kosovo, a move heavily criticised by Danish human rights experts.

($1 = 0.8783 euros)

(Reporting by Simon Johnson, editing by Ed Osmond)
The Hampton Health District warned against swimming near the James T. Wilson Fishing Pier in Buckroe Beach South after detecting unsafe levels of bacteria in the water on Tuesday.

The water at the end of South Resort Boulevard contained enterococci bacteria that exceeded state water quality standards, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The warning will be lifted when the bacteria returns to a safe level. Health officials routinely collect samples of swimming waters during warmer weather.

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Enterococci is an indicator of how much fecal contamination is in recreational water. Swimming in contaminated water increases risk of developing gastrointestinal illnesses.

We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory, said Mary Wainwright, Environmental Health Manager of the Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts, in a news release. Typically, an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to a safe level.
Disposable e-cigarettes are set to be banned in Switzerland after the second chamber of parliament voted in favour of the measure on Wednesday.

The government must now present a corresponding draft law. Rechargeable e-cigarettes are not affected.

Colourful vapes are particularly popular among young people. The nicotine products often come in flavours like gummy bears or candy floss. They are addictive, and besides that, they pollute the environment, as they contain environmentally harmful substances, it was argued in parliament.

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A member of parliament said that teachers had reported 12-year-olds who could barely wait until the next break without taking a puff on their e-cigarette.

The disposable products have been available in Switzerland since 2020. The import volume increases by almost 30% annually.

In Germany, disposable e-cigarettes are still available for purchase. The European Union is planning a regulation to ban them by the end of 2026. In the UK, they have already been banned.
The IDF's Northern Command believes that Hamas terrorists based in Syria, encouraged by Hamas leadership, launched the rockets.

Syria's foreign ministry condemned an Israeli strike on the Syrian province of Daraa, saying that it caused "significant human and material losses," state news agency SANA reported early on Wednesday.

The strike came after a barrage of rockets fired from southern Syria on Tuesday evening, which Defense Minister Israel Katz said he held Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa "directly responsible for.

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The IDF's Northern Command believes that Hamas terrorists based in Syria, encouraged by Hamas leadership, launched the rockets, Walla reported.

Hamas leadership has been exerting heavy pressure on operatives in Lebanon and in the West Bank to carry out attacks against Israel.

The Syrian foreign ministry stated it had not verified the accuracy of the IDFs claims of rockets.

Blasts from IDF strikes in Syria, February 26, 2025. (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X)

We believe that there are many parties that may seek to destabilize the region to achieve their own interests, the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement.

We affirm that Syria has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region, and that the top priority in southern Syria lies in extending the authority of the state and ending the presence of weapons outside the framework of official institutions, in a way that ensures the achievement of security and stability for all citizens, the statement read.

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The ministry stated that Israel's response constituted a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and increases tension in the region at a time when we are most in need of calm and peaceful solutions.

It is unclear if missiles from Syria, Yemen were coordinated

The IDF confirmed that initial rocket fire from Syria fell in an open area, causing no harm or damage. Minutes later, a second barrage of rockets was fired into northern Israel. It was unclear whether the second barrage towards northern Israel was fired from Syria.

Defense sources told The Jerusalem Post that as of now, it is unclear whether the missile launch from Yemen and the rocket launch from Syria were coordinated, and sources noted that the military is investigating.

Additionally, the sources said that the rockets were fired from deep in Syria, beyond the buffer zone with Israel, indicating that the entity that launched the rockets used a medium-range rocket. Sources also told the Post that it is still unclear which group was behind the attack.

Later, a Palestinian terror organization calling itself the Martyr Muhammad al-Deif Brigades claimed the rocket barrage.

The IDF reported that it later struck in separate parts in southern Syria.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria's new government has agreed to give inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog access to suspected former nuclear sites immediately, the agencys head told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The International Atomic Energy Agencys director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, spoke in an exclusive interview in Damascus, where he met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other officials.

He also said al-Sharaa expressed an interest in pursuing nuclear energy for Syria in the future, adding, Why not?

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The agencys aim is to bring total clarity over certain activities that took place in the past that were, in the judgment of the agency, probably related to nuclear weapons, Grossi said. He described the new government as committed to opening up to the world, to international cooperation and said he is hopeful of finishing the inspection process within months.

An IAEA team in 2024 visited some sites of interest while former President Bashar Assad was still in power. Since the fall of Assad in December, the IAEA has been seeking to restore access to sites associated with Syria's nuclear program.

Syria under Assad is believed to have operated an extensive clandestine nuclear program, which included an undeclared nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province.

The IAEA described the reactor as being not configured to produce electricity  raising the concern that Damascus sought a nuclear weapon there by producing weapons-grade plutonium.

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The reactor site only became public knowledge after Israel, the Mideasts only nuclear power, launched airstrikes in 2007 destroying the facility. Syria later leveled the site and never responded fully to the IAEAs questions.

Grossi said inspectors plan to return to the reactor in Deir el-Zour as well as to three other related sites. Other sites under IAEA safeguards include a miniature neutron source reactor in Damascus and a facility in Homs that can process yellow-cake uranium.

We are trying to narrow down the focus, to those or that one that could be of a real interest, he said.

While there are no indications that there have been releases of radiation from the sites, he said, the watchdog is concerned that enriched uranium can be lying somewhere and could be reused, could be smuggled, could be trafficked.

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He said al-Sharaa  who has courted Western governments since taking power  had shown a very positive disposition to talk to us and to allow us to carry out the activities we need to.

Apart from resuming inspections, Grossi said the IAEA is prepared to transfer equipment for nuclear medicine and to help rebuild the radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and oncology infrastructure in a health system severely weakened by nearly 14 years of civil war.

And the president has expressed to me hes interested in exploring, in the future, nuclear energy as well, Grossi said.

A number of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan, are pursuing nuclear energy in some form. Grossi said Syria would most likely be looking into small modular reactors, which are cheaper and easier to deploy than traditional large ones.

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Talks on Iran

Regarding the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran for a deal over Tehrans nuclear program, Grossi said he has been in constant contact with the parties.

They are negotiating, its not us, but it is obvious that the IAEA will have to be the guarantor of whichever agreement they come to, he said.

While there continue to be major areas of contention between the two sides  particularly over uranium enrichment  Grossi said he is encouraged that they are negotiating directly, and he believes both sides are serious about reaching a deal.

I think they both want an agreement, which doesnt mean that its easy to get, but, simple and obvious as this may sound, having two sides that want an agreement is an enormous advantage, he said. In my long diplomatic career, I have participated in negotiations where it was not necessarily the case that the sides wanted an agreement.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
Syrias new government has agreed to give inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to suspected former nuclear sites immediately, according to the agencys chief, as Damascus makes further inroads to rejoining the international fold.

Rafael Grossi, the United Nations nuclear watchdogs director-general, was speaking Wednesday to The Associated Press news agency in Damascus, where he met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa and other officials.

The visit was a key part of the IAEAs efforts to restore access to sites associated with Syrias nuclear programme since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

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The agencys aim is to bring total clarity over certain activities that took place in the past that were, in the judgement of the agency, probably related to nuclear weapons, Grossi said. He described the new government as committed to opening up to the world, to international cooperation and said he is hopeful of finishing the inspection process within months.

Grossis visit also marks another step towards international acceptance of Syrias new government after the United States and European Union lifted sanctions on the country last month. Israel has taken an opposite approach to its Western allies, launching more than 200 air, drone or artillery attacks across Syria over the past six months, despite the two countries holding indirect talks in early May.

An IAEA team visited some sites of interest last year. Syria under al-Assad is believed to have operated an extensive clandestine nuclear programme, which included an undeclared nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir ez-Zor province.

The IAEA described the reactor as being not configured to produce electricity  raising the concern that Damascus sought a nuclear weapon there by producing weapons-grade plutonium.

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The reactor site only became public knowledge after Israel, the regions only nuclear power, launched air strikes in 2007, destroying the facility. Syria later levelled the site and never responded fully to the IAEAs questions.

Grossi said inspectors plan to return to the reactor in Deir az Zor and three other related sites. Other sites under IAEA safeguards include a miniature neutron source reactor in Damascus and a facility in Homs that can process yellow-cake uranium.

While there are no indications that there have been releases of radiation from the sites, Grossi said, the watchdog is concerned that enriched uranium can be lying somewhere and could be reused, could be smuggled, could be trafficked.

He said al-Sharaa had shown a very positive disposition to talk to us and to allow us to carry out the activities we need to.

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Grossi revealed that the IAEA is also prepared to transfer equipment for nuclear medicine and help rebuild the radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and oncology infrastructure in a health system severely weakened by nearly 14 years of civil war.

And the president has expressed to me hes interested in exploring, in the future, nuclear energy as well, Grossi added.

A number of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan, are pursuing nuclear energy in some form.
IKITSUKI, Japan (AP)  On the rural islands of Nagasaki a handful of believers practice a version of Christianity that has direct links to a time of samurai, shoguns and martyred missionaries and believers.

After emerging from hiding in 1865, following centuries of violent persecution by Japans insular warlord rulers, many of the formerly underground Christians converted to mainstream Catholicism.

Some Hidden Christians, however, continued to follow not the religion that 16th century foreign missionaries originally taught them, but the idiosyncratic, difficult to detect version theyd nurtured during centuries of clandestine cat-and-mouse with a brutal regime.

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On Ikitsuki and other remote sections of Nagasaki prefecture, Hidden Christians still pray to what they call the Closet God  scroll paintings of Mary and Jesus, disguised as a Buddhist Bodhisattva and hidden in special closets. They still chant in a Latin that hasnt been widely used in centuries.

Now, though, the Hidden Christians are disappearing. Almost all are elderly, and as the young move to cities or turn their backs on the faith, those remaining are desperate to preserve evidence of this unique offshoot of Christianity  and convey to the world what its loss will mean.

At this point, Im afraid we are going to be the last ones, said Masatsugu Tanimoto, 68, one of the few who can recite the Latin chants his ancestors learned 400 years ago.

Here are some key takeaways from The Associated Press' extensive reporting on a dwindling group of faithful who still worship today as their ancestors did when forced underground in the 17th century.

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They rejected Catholicism even after the persecution ended

Christianity spread rapidly in 16th century Japan when Jesuit priests converted warlords and peasants alike, most especially on the southern main island of Kyushu, where the foreigners established trading ports in Nagasaki.

Hundreds of thousands, by some estimates, embraced the religion.

That changed after the shoguns began to see the religion as a threat. The crackdown that followed in the early 17th century was fierce.

Many continued to practice in hiding, and when Japan opened up and allowed Christianity, they emerged and became Catholics.

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But others chose to stay Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians), continuing to worship as their ancestors did underground.

Hidden Christianity developed when a lapse in secrecy could be deadly

Catholics have churches, priests and centuries of hard-fought dogma. But Hidden Christians were forced to hide all visible signs of their religion after the 1614 ban on Christianity and the expulsion of foreign missionaries.

Households took turns keeping precious ritual objects hidden safely and hosting the secret services that celebrated both faith and persistence.

This still happens today, and one of the most remarkable things about the religion is the ease with which an observer can feel unmoored from time, transported by rituals unchanged since the 16th century.

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Different communities worship different icons and have different ways of performing the rituals.

In Sotome, for instance, people prayed to a statue of what they called Maria Kannon, a genderless Bodhisattva of mercy, as a substitute for Mary.

They take pride in clinging to the old ways

Many Hidden Christians rejected Catholicism after the persecution ended because Catholic priests refused to recognize them as real Christians unless they agreed to be rebaptized and abandon the Buddhist altars that their ancestors used.

Tanimoto believes his ancestors continued the Hidden Christian traditions because becoming Catholic meant rejecting the Buddhism and Shintoism that had become such a strong part of their daily lives underground.

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We are not doing this to worship Jesus or Mary," he said. "Our responsibility is to faithfully carry on the way our ancestors had practiced.

An important part of Hidden Christians ceremonies is the recitation of Latin chants, called Orasho.

The Orasho comes from the original Latin or Portuguese prayers brought to Japan by 16th century missionaries.

Tanimoto recently showed AP a weathered copy of a prayer his grandfather wrote with a brush and ink, just like the ones his ancestors had diligently copied from older generations.

Today, because funerals are no longer held at homes and younger people are leaving the island for work and school, Orasho is only performed two or three times a year.

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Hidden Christianity is dying, and the faithful know it

There were an estimated 30,000 in Nagasaki, including about 10,000 in Ikitsuki, in the 1940s, according to government figures, but nobody has been baptized since 1994.

Hidden Christianity is linked to the communal ties that formed when Japan was a largely agricultural society. Those ties crumbled as the country rapidly modernized after WWII, with recent developments revolutionizing peoples lives, even in rural Japan.

Hidden Christianity has a structural weakness, experts say, because there are no professional religious leaders tasked with teaching doctrine and adapting the religion to environmental changes.

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Researchers are collecting artifacts and archiving video interviews with Hidden Christians in an attempt to preserve a record of the endangered religion.

Masashi Funabara, 63, a retired town hall official, said most of the nearby groups have disbanded over the last two decades. His group, which now has only two families, is the only one left, down from nine in his district. They used to perform prayers almost every month; now they meet only a few times a year.

The amount of time we are responsible for these holy icons is only about 20 to 30 years, compared to the long history when our ancestors kept their faith in fear of persecution. When I imagined their suffering, I felt that I should not easily give up, Funabara said.

Just as his father did when memorizing the Orasho, Funabara has written down passages in notebooks. He hopes the notes will help convince his son, who works for the local government, to one day be his successor.

___

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.
JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS)  Wanda Beavers, better known in Jackson as Mama Tutu, has been well-known in the community for years, always offering support to others and asking for nothing in return. Now, as she grieves the loss of her 44-year-old son Anthony Owens Jr., shot and killed in May, the community is reciprocating that care.

Wanda Beavers, also known as Mama Tutu (WLNS)

They know of my son, you know. They know of me and what I do with the homeless, so therefore the community really responded really, really fast to reach out and help us at a helping needy time,  Beavers said.

Beavers son, 44-year-old Anthony Owens Jr., was shot and killed in May, and she spoke out Tuesday about the need for the community to tackle gun violence.

Anthony Owens Jr. (Photo courtesy of Wanda Beavers)

It takes a village to take care of children. So, its going to take a village to get all of this gun violence and knives and just the violence itself together, Beavers said.

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Beavers says she is grateful for the communitys support.

They really reached out, and Bella Notte, the community, really came through, Beavers said. True credit unionAmerican Onethe community, the mayor, the city council. It was a lot of them.

(WLNS)

Beavers says she wants the world to know that her son is at peace.

I want the world to know that hes in a better place. No more suffering, no more pain, or anything, worrying about anything, Beavers said. He dont have to do that because hes in the house, in the home of the Lord now. So, I thank God for that.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Tampa Bay leaders are back here at the Capitol in Tallahassee to finish what they started: the state budget.

Lawmakers said they have mixed emotions heading into this week, and as they fight for local priorities and allocations, theres some uncertainty about whats in and whats out.

So, whats being discussed?

House and Senate leadership reached an agreement that includes $2.25 billion in recurring revenue reductions. It would also include a state debt reduction, permanent sales tax exemptions for Florida families, while the same time getting rid of the businesses rent tax.

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I think that they split it, said State Sen. Jay Collins, R-Hillsborough. They ended up in a good space. Do I love everything in it? No, I dont. Do I hate everything in it? No, absolutely not. I think we found a compromise.

A compromise that some state leaders believe could change as budget conferences continue.

I wouldnt be surprised if we saw maybe some additional legislation pop up this week if we saw certain priorities of the Speaker or Senate president or Governor come back into play, said State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa.

From stormwater improvements to public safety to infrastructure projects, healthcare and education, leaders in the bay area continue to push for their local priorities.



Im looking forward to having those conversations with the Governor and his team as to how important those are for my constituents in Pinellas County because as the Governor well knows, we went through quite the hurricane season in 2024. And anything we can do to be more resilient, to make us stronger in the future, I think will be taxpayer money well spent, said State Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach.



On June 16, House and Senate leadership hope to sine die and vote on the final budget before sending it off to the governor. However, that date could change.

Tuesday, June 3:

Conference meetings authorized from 9:00 a.m.  8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 4:

Conference meetings authorized from 8:00 a.m.  8:00 p.m.

Legislative Budget Commission Meeting: 11:00 a.m.  12:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 5:

Conference meetings authorized from 8:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m., at which time all unresolved issues to be addressed by Chairs Hooper and McClure.

Senate Sitting: 10:00 a.m.  11:00 a.m.

Meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations: 2:30 p.m.  5:00 p.m.

Senate Sitting: 5:30 p.m.  6:00 p.m.

Tentative: Monday, June 16:

Senate Sitting: 1:00 p.m. (Time of Senate sitting will be finalized depending on the 72-hour cooling off period.)

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Tampa dog bar announced it will close its doors on Saturday.

The businesss owners said the Florida Department of Health reversed a judges ruling favorable for the local dog bar.

In 2023, a judge ruled that the health department had not evenly applied a rule to Pups Pub after previously permitting the bar to allow dogs inside.

On Tuesday, the dog bars owners said the Florida Department of Health changed their mind and decided that operating an indoor/outdoor dog bar was suddenly prohibited.

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Alligator on I-4 causes motorcyclists to crash: I flipped over the handlebars

As this ruling is enforced, every dog bar in Florida operating under previously approved models now faces the same fate as Pups Pub, the owners said.

Pups Pub said it will hold a farewell party on Saturday, June 7, from noon to 11 p.m.

It is with great sadness and frustration that Pups Pub Tampa will be forced by the state of Florida to close its doors, not because of any wrongdoing, but because of an unjust reversal by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and a rubber-stamp decision by the appellate court, the dog bar posted on Facebook.

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Sheila and I are incredibly grateful for all the wonderful people weve worked with to create and operate a fun and safe place for thousands of amazing VIP members and both people and pup visitors over the past 5 years, the Facebook post read. This week, we hope to see everyone come out and help us celebrate all the good times and memories shared.

WFLA.com reached out to the Florida Department of Health for a statement.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Alaska Airlines is canceling more than a dozen flights a day as tariffs hinder its ability to accept delivery of new aircraft, according to the carrier.

The Seattle, Washington-based airline said it wouldn't immediately accept delivery of two Embraer 175 regional jets in order to avoid incurring the extra tariff-related costs. The aircraft were meant to serve Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines.

President Trump's tariff agenda has upended supply chains for a range of businesses, and has forced many companies to raise prices on consumers in order to protect their margins. The aviation industry has also warned that the levies will affect its business.

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"We deeply regret the impact this situation will have on our guests this summer," Alaska Airlines said in a statement to CBS News Wednesday.

"Amid the ongoing uncertain economic environment, we are focused on controlling what we can control  including costs, productivity, operational performance and taking care of our guests to the best of our ability. As part of this effort to control our costs, Alaska will not accept additional costs imposed by tariffs throughout our supply chain," it added.

Without the new aircraft, Alaska said it must cancel 14 flights a day through the end of July. Horizon operates all of its flights on Embraer jets. Alaska operates an all-Boeing fleet.

The delayed aircraft were expected to arrive from Brazil in May. Brazilian imports to the United States have been subject to a 10% tariff since April.

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Delta Air Lines also took steps to avoid paying tariffs on new aircraft earlier this year. In April, it had new Airbus A350 airlines delivered from France to Japan, and flew the planes internationally first, before bringing them to the U.S. Because the aircraft were not new on arrival in the U.S., the airline was not on the hook for paying tariffs on them.

Which routes is Alaska canceling?

The new planes had been scheduled to arrive by the end of May and were expected to go into service during the summer season for Horizon, which serves the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, California, Colorado, Utah and western Canada.

Alaska said it is cutting routes that are served by multiple flights, so that no single route is eliminated entirely, even temporarily.

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"When deciding which flights to cancel, we put our guests at the center of consideration. We don't take these decisions lightly as we know it means disruption for our guests and their travel plans. We assessed our network and protected the communities we serve that already have limited service. Our teams are working to reaccommodate all impacted guests on the next best option for their travel plans," Alaska said in a statement.

Musk alleges Trump's name appeared in Epstein files as feud escalates

What to know about President Trump's travel ban on nationals from 12 countries

Trump says he's disappointed by Musk criticism of budget bill, Musk says he got Trump elected
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -Global trade tensions could disrupt ocean goods trade and will push up the price of seafood in the United States, a major importer of fish, according to a report from the United Nations trade agency published on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed 10% tariffs on nearly all seafood, with China facing tariffs of 30%, according to the report by the U.N. Trade and Development agency.

"Prices on fish products are likely to rise due to limited capacity to scale up local production," the report found.

Wild fish stocks in the U.S. are limited due to overfishing and it takes time to scale up domestic aquaculture production, the report said. For example, salmon farms have a three-year production cycle.

The U.S. exports $4.5 billion and imports $16 billion worth of fish each year, according to UNCTAD data.

Brazil, which exports 55% of its primary fish products to the U.S., and China, is likely to redirect its seafood to domestic markets or alternative trading partners, UNCTAD predicted.

Some maritime freight transport services may also face weaker demand due to changes in trade routes as countries seek different markets to export their goods.

"Higher or volatile tariffs on ocean goods are likely to disrupt traditional trade flows, affecting both consumers and exporters," the U.N. report found.

Tariffs on steel and aluminium are already driving up shipbuilding costs, as well as fish prices, UNCTAD stated.

The report also found that climate change, overfishing, and biodiversity loss are increasingly threatening global ocean trade.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Tarrant County Commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt a new district map, giving Republicans an advantage on the county commissioners court.

I dont apologize for being a Republican; I dont apologize for conservative values, said Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare in the June 3 commissioners meeting, attended by The Dallas Express. I never ever, on anything I vote on, think Im doing this for the Republicans. I think the things that I stand for and ask for are good for everyone.

After hours of public comment and deliberation, the Tarrant County Commissioners passed a redistricting measure on June 3. OHare and County Commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez voted in favor, and County Commissioners Roderick Miles Jr. and Alisa Simmons voted against.

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The commissioners adopted map 7 out of multiple possible options. District 1  which previously ran from Tarrant Countys southwest corner to north of Arlington  now reaches from south-central Tarrant County to north of Arlington, then across the countys southeast border. The map also reshapes District 2  which previously contained Arlington and Mansfield  to reach from Arlington, across the south side of the county, and up to Benbrook.

The county commissioners met on June 3 at 10 a.m. to consider the redistricting proposal. So many residents showed up that they filled the room, and deputies had to keep crowds  including several local journalists  waiting in the hall outside until there was enough space.

Racist Maps Or Good Government?

Public comment started close to 11 a.m. and lasted until after 2:15 p.m. Many residents opposed the redistricting plan, claiming it was racist and gerrymandering.

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Even Stevie Wonder can see that these maps are racist, said Ebony Turner, who unsuccessfully ran for the Texas state House in 2024.

Turner called the maps gerrymandering and suggested they could violate the Voting Rights Act and 14th Amendment. Another young lady approached the microphone to call the commissioners supporting redistricting sore Confederate losers with no shame.

When you disenfranchise voters by gerrymandering, you undermine our democracy, said League of Women Voters Tarrant County President Janet Mattern at the meeting. When the people have no say in creating these maps, then you cannot say that they are created in the interests of the people.

OHare ordered deputies to remove several attendees who violated decorum or spoke over their time, including a young woman wearing a keffiyeh  the black and white garment associated with Palestine and the terror group Hamas.

The woman in the pro-Hamas garb called the commissioners racist, claimed they use Christianity for oppression, and wished karma would get them back. Officers showed her the door. 12/ pic.twitter.com/vyDgRv01Qb  Logan Washburn (@loganwashburn76) June 3, 2025

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Many others, however, supported the redistricting measure as a way to ensure conservative governance.

A man who identified himself as Joe Jordan said he supported whatever turns out to be the most conservative map. Another said the redistricting plan will ensure that our elected officials are truly accountable to the people and will help compensate for the countys growth as the population recently surpassed 2.2 million. True Texas Project President Fran Rhodes supported redistricting as important and suggested Map 7.

A statement on behalf of State Rep. Nate Schatzline was delivered by his district director: It is only right that our county representation reflects that conservative majority. We must ensure our voices are accurately represented, Schatzlines statement read. We urge the commissioners to continue supporting this fair and transparent redistricting effort and encourage all conservatives to stay engaged and help secure strong, accurate representation for our future.

FORT WORTH, TX  Tarrant County hasnt updated its precinct lines in over a decade, despite rapid growth since the 2010 Census. That changes now. I fully support the current redistricting effort led by County Judge Tim OHare and Commissioners Manny Ramirez and Matt Krause. pic.twitter.com/gqYXN3xU3Q  Nate Schatzline (@NateSchatzline) June 3, 2025

Debating The Merits

Miles and Simmons were the measures most vocal opponents on the commission.

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Miles called for further deliberation, adding that other commissioners could have called to speak with him about the proposed maps.

It appears that race discrimination against blacks, Hispanics, and other racial minorities in Tarrant County is a substantial factor in the decision to redistrict mid-decade and to adopt this map, Miles said.

Simmons explained that the proposed maps would put the majority of the communities of color in one precinct and remove the key economic engines.

Its racial gerrymandering. Its intentional discrimination, Simmons said.

County commissioners approved an agreement in April to consult with the conservative law firm Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) on redistricting. PILF lawyers were in the building at the time of the meeting but had planned to be in a back room for the commissioners consultation.

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Simmons demanded the PILF lawyers come before the public meeting for questioning. She apparently attempted to filibuster the meeting until OHare called a recess.

Theyre going to bring their butts out here, and stand at that podium, and answer my questions, she said. Im going to continue speaking until they make their way out here.

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross and Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans expressed concerns over the plan, suggesting future legal challenges. Ross said he was concerned the plan could violate state and federal law. Evans said he agreed with commissioners that redistricting is important but not by any means necessary.

My concern is with ensuring that the current county process is compliant with the law, Evans said. The current proposal maps could be subject to challenges at both the state and federal level.

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Fort Worth passed a resolution last month condemning Tarrant Countys redistricting efforts, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. Ten mayorsincluding Ross, Evans, and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parkeralso signed a letter opposing the redistricting plan on May 10.

Two of the mayors later withdrew their signatures after conducting further research, and several others have continued to support the redistricting plan.

Krause thanked those mayors for the courageous move, adding that the letter operated on flawed information. He also explained the legal basis for the redistricting proposal in the state election code.

Its a simple read. Its a simple exception that they should have been able to find really clearly, Krause said. So to me, when you get something that obvious, that clear, wrong  that puts into doubt all their other analysis.

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Ramirez said he did his due diligence independently and ran the plan through multiple lawyers. He thanked anyone with legitimate concern about the legal issues for voicing their objections.

I wanted to make sure that what we were doing was absolutely legally justified, Ramirez said. I hoped that we could have had some ideas presented from our other colleagues up here, but that was not the case. So we are where we are.

In a previous article for The Dallas Express, Ramirez explained that Democrats used redistricting to gain an advantage in Dallas and Harris counties, but it can help maintain Republican governance in Tarrant County.

Changing Tune

After the federal census of 2020, Dallas conducted redistricting, but Tarrant County refrained from the process.

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When Dallas County redrew its district lines to give Democrats an advantage in 2021, The Dallas Morning News admitted this would dilute Republican voting power while solidifying Democratic control  but said it would improve the voting power of Hispanics and keep cities grouped in single districts. The sole Republican county commissioner, J.J. Koch, was then ousted in the next election.

However, when Tarrant County planned redistricting for a Republican advantage, The Dallas Morning News published several articles criticizing the plan. The papers editorial staff wrote an article titled Tarrant County redistricting proposal is bad government, which claimed, hyperpartisan gerrymandering weakens the diversity of viewpoints among our elected leaders, eroding the resilience of our democracy.

Chris Putnam, CEO of The Dallas Express, explained on X that this is a stark change from The Dallas Morning News approach to Dallas redistricting plan in 2021:

The far-left Dallas Morning News couldn't be a bigger, more hypocritical joke. In 2021 they were cheerleading gerrymandering the sole remaining Republican off the Dallas County commissioner's court. It's now a 5-0 D court. But now they want to mansplain to Tarrant County (as pic.twitter.com/ZgMrHz21ji  Chris Putnam (@DallasXCEO) May 28, 2025

The only difference of course is that one is a D controlled commissioners court and the other is R controlled, Putnam wrote. And the Dallas Morning News is literally the daily newsletter for the woke, far-left.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Members of Gov. Larry Rhodens Project Prison Reset task force have ruled out various sites for a new mens prison, including the Lincoln County site where work had already begun.

The group instead now wants proposals for 1,500 to 1,700 mens beds, capped at $600 million for everything, including furnishings and possibly land, at or near the current state Department of Corrections sites in Sioux Falls and Springfield, as well as at possible new locations in Mitchell and Worthing.

Prison consultant does Q and A on Tuesday

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The task force made those decisions in a meeting Tuesday that started at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:59 p.m. The proposals from the Office of State Engineer and the Lincoln County sites contractor, JE Dunn Construction, are to be delivered in time for the task forces next meeting on July 8, when its members are supposed to decide on a final recommendation.

Gov. Rhoden has been planning to call a special legislative session on July 22 for state lawmakers to consider the recommendation. Whether that can still happen no longer is clear. Several times on Tuesday, Republican Rep. Greg Jamison asked whether the governors timeline can be met, and the task forces chair, Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, put off answering him.

A JE Dunn official guaranteed that new proposals would be delivered for July 8 but he acknowledged they might lack detail. Its a tall order, no doubt, Vance McMillen said.

Republican Sen. Steve Kolbeck asked whether the new proposals could include things such as steel cells fabricated by Trussbilt in Huron. Youre going to solve the problem now, but youre kicking the can, McMillen answered, saying that legislators would have a repeat of the current overcrowding problems in 40 years.

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The $600 million ceiling is less than the $825 guaranteed maximum price that JE Dunn Construction and Henry Carlson Construction had given in a joint proposal for the Lincoln County site. Their offer was the only one received. The project was designed to last 100 years, but it was derailed during the 2025 legislative session when the House of Representatives refused to authorize spending for it.

Former Gov. Kristi Noems administration had planned for several years to build a replacement for the outdated and overcrowded State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, and the Legislature established an incarceration replacement account to fund it. A 320-acre plot of farm ground in Lincoln County appraised at $7,910,000 was purchased from the state Office of School and Public Lands. A group of local landowners opposed to the plan quickly formed and tried various ways to block it.

In January, Noem resigned as governor to become the new federal Homeland Security secretary and Lt. Gov. Rhoden automatically became governor. Days after that, the House refused to authorize the funding. Rather than try again, Rhoden issued the executive order establishing the task force.

JE Dunns McMillen said on Tuesday that a 100-year approach was now out the door, given the task forces decision to see what can be done on a $600 million budget. He said the proposals would instead be designed for 50 years.

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Mitchell remains in the running despite its location 70 miles west of Sioux Falls. Mitchell Area Development Corporation and Chamber CEO Mike Lauritsen spoke, as did Davison County Commission member John Claggett and Mitchell Area Housing president Terry Sabers.

We have a unified leadership group in Mitchell who would like to see the prison come to Mitchell, Lauritsen told the task force. We would like to do a formal presentation at your next meeting.

Current DOC employees will be surveyed to see whether they are willing to drive from the Sioux Falls area to Mitchell or Worthing.

House Republican leader Scott Odenbach made the motion to seek the $600 million proposals and indicated that getting acceptance from the Legislature is key. Part of this bows to the political, he said. We know that whatever we do, we have to get to two-thirds.

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Thelma Buchholdt's book on Filipino history in Alaska (Photo by Brian Venua/KMXT)

Alaska school districts are hiring teachers from the Philippines, but its not the first time employers in the state have looked to the island nation to address a labor shortage. In part 4 of a five part audio series, Mabuhay sa Alaska, KMXTs Brian Venua reports that this is just the latest wave in more than a century of ebb and flow.

The first Filipino known to visit Alaska came in 1788, aboard a Spanish trading ship called the Iphigenia Nubiana. The ship passed by Kodiak Island, where Russia had founded one of its first permanent settlements in Alaska a few years earlier.

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Thats according to research by Thelma Buchholdt, the founder of the Filipino Heritage Council of Alaska and the first female Filipino American legislator in Alaska and the U.S.

According to Buchholdt, that sailors name was lost to time. Hes listed in the captains journals only as Manilla man.

Ship records note a handful of Manilla men coming to trade with Alaska Natives before the 1800s. At least 27 more came on whaling ships through the 1800s.

The Alaskeros establish the first organized communities

The U.S. bought Alaska in 1867, and the first big waves of Filipinos to make the territory their home came late in the century, when the salmon business went industrial.

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They were coming for education, they wanted to follow the American dream, said Katherine Ringsmuth, Alaskas state historian.

In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, cutting off a source of cheap labor. In 1898, Filipinos became U.S. nationals when the United States annexed the Philippines as a colony after the Philippine-American War.

By then, Ringsmuth said pre-Exclusion Act Chinese migrants were aging out of the workforce. That set the stage for American companies to hire Filipino people.

So the Filipinos, who could speak English, who understood American ways of doing things, fit right in there perfectly and really began to dominate the cannery workforce right up through the 21st century, she said.

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In the early days of the territorys commercial fisheries, one of the first groups to organize were the Alaskeros, or Filipino salmon cannery workers

Filipinos would be the ones to really lead the way in organizing labor and unionizing, Ringsmuth said.

Even though they were seasonal workers, the unions fought for better food, working conditions, and more equitable hiring practices. The Filipino cannery workers later sued to end segregation in cannery bunkhouses.

This kind of racialized segregation of the canneries  is it constitutional? Ringsmuth said And they end up winning that case.

Canneries used to separate workers by country of origin but switched to numbers after the union won its lawsuit. The legacy of the Alaskeros set the foundations of organized Filipino communities in Alaska  now the states largest group of Asian Americans.

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The number of new Alaskeros cannery workers wound down after Congress further curbed immigration from Asia with new restrictions in 1924 . Still, the Filipino diaspora reaches everywhere across the state.

The Kodiak Island Borough has some of the highest concentrations  about a quarter of the population has some kind of Filipino heritage. Anchorage has a population of 18,000 Filipino people, with thousands more across the state totaling to around 35,000 people.

World War II created a new labor shortage

During World War II, the United States asked for assistance with the Filipinos to help them, said Gabriel Garcia, a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Hes teaching a course on Filipino history and community, which starts in the fall.

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Under the Second War Powers Act of 1942, military service gave U.S. nationals, who cant vote or run for office, a path to citizenship.

That was one of the perks that was promised to the Filipinos at that point, Garcia said. And so many Filipinos from all over the Philippines enlisted as members of the military here in the U.S.

After WWII, the Philippines received its independence, becoming its own nation in 1945.

Immigration after Independence

Filipino immigration boomed again about 20 years after that, when the federal government lifted immigration restrictions from Asia.

The ban was lifted in 1965, so post-1965, thats when immigration numbers again significantly increases, specifically in the Filipino community, Garcia said.

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Many of these new immigrants were engineers, doctors, educators, and other professionals. Filipino nurses in particular immigrated in droves through the Exchange Visitor Program .

Schools there primarily teach in English, which makes an immigrants transition easier than it might be from many other countries.

(The) Philippines is a good country to look into particularly because the type of educational system they have in the Philippines is very much Westernized, Garcia said.

Now, as the U.S. faces a national teacher shortage, school districts are looking at the Philippines once again. Garcia said its not surprising that the island nation is supplementing another U.S. workforce, largely for the same reasons as for nurses and other skilled professions.

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With the historical connection of the Philippines and the United States, and the educational system being very close to the United States, I think the Philippines is a natural choice for labor shortages, he said.

Jobs in America tend to pay better, so many emigrate to send money to their families back home.

The natural choice is to look for better opportunities for them  financial specifically  so that they can provide for their family back home in the Philippines, Garcia said.

This story was originally published by KMXT, as part four of a five part audio series, Mabuhay sa Alaska.
DENVER (KDVR)  Over 1,000 Teamsters employed at Dairy Farmers of America facilities voted to authorize strikes in Colorado, California, Minnesota, New Mexico and Utah.

The Teamsters are demanding that DFA, the largest dairy cooperative in North America, come to terms on 19 collective bargaining agreements that expired on May 5.

Safeway and Albertsons union members vote to strike

The DFA Teamsters are seeking higher wages, improved health care and retirement benefits, as well as protections against job loss caused by automation and a common expiration date for about 2,000 workers covered by the contracts, according to a Teamsters release.

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DFA supplies nearly one-third of all milk in this country. This employer has more than enough resources to reach fair agreements, said Jesse Case, director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, in a release. Its in the best interest of the co-op to settle these agreements quickly.

The Teamsters said that if they strike at even one or two DFA locations, they could create major supply chain problems.

We know how much money DFA makes, and we know what we deserve, said Peter Rosales, a Local 630 shop steward at Alta Dena Dairy in California, in a union release. This company is only successful because of us, and we take pride in our work. All were asking for is our fair share.

In April, the Teamsters Union noted that after May 5, the union can immediately call for a work stoppage at any of the 35 DFA locations that were in bargaining. The union held practice pickets outside of a DFA facility in Englewood, as well as in Milwaukee, Salt Lake City and throughout southern California.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A computer science professor from Oklahoma State University is warning that artificial intelligence could trigger a massive population collapse, leaving Earth with just 100 million people by the year 2300. And it wouldnt happen through nuclear war or robot uprisings, he says. Just pure, relentless obsolescence.

Its going to be devastating for society, said Subhash Kak, author of The Age of Artificial Intelligence, in an interview with The Sun. I think people really dont have a clue.

Kak believes that while robots will never become conscious, they will replace most human jobs, including those in law, education, and even relationships. That widespread redundancy, combined with the high cost of raising children, could convince future generations to stop having kids altogether.

Related: Experts Warn of AIs Self-Preservation Tactics in New Tests

There are demographers who are suggesting that as a consequence, the world population will collapse, he explained. It could go down to as low as just 100 million people on the entire planet Earth in 2300 or 2380.

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Thats roughly the population of the United Kingdom today, meaning massive cities like New York or Tokyo could become ghost towns. Currently, roughly eight billion humans live on the planet, so that's a dramatic change in the next few centuries.

Kak pointed to current birthrate trends in developed nations as a warning sign. People have stopped having babies, he said. Europe, China, Japanand the most rapid fall in population right now is taking place in Korea.

Echoing Elon Musks concerns about population collapse, Kak even floated the idea of building colonies in space to ensure humanitys survival. Should such a tragedy hit Earth, then it could be reseeded, he said.

Whether were headed for extinction or just dramatic downsizing, Kak insists the shift is already happening. What is absolutely certain, he said, is that there is a population collapse occurring right before our eyes.

Related: Nvidia CEO Issues Serious Warning About AI and JobsHeres How to Keep Yours

Tech Professor Issues Stark Warning: AI May Slash Global Population to 100 Million first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  For the second time in a month, a Peoria County judge will consider whether a teenager, convicted of a lesser crime than initially charged with, should be sentenced as an adult or a juvenile.

But a sentencing hearing for Avion Tapia, convicted in March of strangling his mother to death, didnt happen. Rather, the matter was set for June 18 for attorneys to hash out the legalities of his sentencing situation.

The issue is this: Should the 18-year-old be sentenced as an adult for the charge of second-degree murder or as a juvenile, as those charges would not be automatically transferred out of juvenile court?

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Tapia was found guilty not of first-degree murder but of second-degree in connection with the Aug. 22, 2023, death of Vanessa Tucker after a two-day bench trial in March.

Gormans verdict means shes found that Tapia did murder Tucker but felt he had to act in a way to defend himself. However, his belief was unreasonable, thus opening the door for the less onerous verdict of second-degree murder.

In explaining her verdict, the judge said Tapia had faced physical abuse from his mother in the past. And as such, when she approached him on the night of Aug. 22, 2023, he felt he had to defend himself. However, the judge found, that was not reasonable given the circumstances.

Tapias age at the time and the murder charge meant his case was automatically transferred from the juvenile division to adult court. But second-degree murder isnt and as such, it appears that prosecutors were to file a motion within 10 days of Gormans verdict to retransfer the case.

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That didnt happen and Public Defender Kevin Lowe said, citing a 2017 Illinois Supreme Court case with a similar fact pattern, that his client should be sentenced as a juvenile, which limits any sentence until his 21st birthday, instead of being tried as an adult.

It was never in doubt that Tapia killed Tucker.

On Aug. 22, 2023, Tucker was found by first responders without a pulse and not breathing. She was rushed to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 5:33 a.m., roughly an hour after the 911 call came.

Tapia had called 911 at about 4 a.m. which was after he and his mother had gotten into a fight. Lowe argued at his bench trial that his client was defending himself from his mother and didnt realize he was killing her.

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The a similar thing happened last month in the case of Jared Williams who was 17 at the time of the Aug. 23, 2023, fatal shooting outside of the Laramie Liquors store on the border of South Peoria and Peoria County.

He too was convicted not first-degree murder as initially charged but of second-degree murder. The case was delayed, like Tapias, to allow attorneys to delve into the legal nuances. He will return to court on June 6.

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SPRINGFIELD  Springfield police arrested a 53-year-old man who they say pulled a teenage boy into a park Friday evening and sexually assaulted him.

After obtaining a warrant for his arrest, detectives with the Springfield Police Departments special victims unit arrested Ahmed Ahmed Tuesday around 4 p.m.

Around 8 p.m. Friday, a man forcibly dragged a 17-year-old walking on Hancock Street into Johnny Appleseed Park, police said in a statement. The boy said he was sexually assaulted, according to police.

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The boy was able to escape, the statement said, by running about a mile to his home as the man chased him.

The boy reported the assault to the police a few hours later, according to the statement, and the special victims unit began investigating, reviewing city cameras, speaking with the boy and other witnesses. Detectives identified Ahmed, who is homeless, as the suspect.

After police obtained a warrant for Ahmeds arrest, they began scouring the city for Ahmeds possible whereabouts, the statement says. They detained him on the 700 block of State Street.

Ahmed was charged with kidnapping, aggravated rape during the commission of a felony, witness intimidation, stalking, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

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This type of assault by a stranger is extremely rare in our city, yet undoubtedly alarming, said Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers in a statement.

Akers urged residents to be aware of their surroundings and to walk in groups if possible. He also thanked the teenager for coming forward.

While I cant recall an incident similar to this, it is a painful reminder that these horrendous events can happen ever so quickly, he said.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno also commended the Special Victims Unit and said he is keeping the boy and his family in his thoughts.

I remain hopeful that justice will be served, he said.

more news from Western Massachusetts

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 14-year-old boy was shot at least once and killed while sitting in the backseat of a vehicle in what Las Cruces Police are calling a road rage incident.

Las Cruces Police said that Alejandro Roman was shot and killed at about 9 p.m. Monday night, June 2, near the intersection of Solano Drive and Spruce Avenue.

Las Cruces Police: 14-year-old dead after alleged road rage shooting

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No arrests have been made at this time.



Life-saving measures were attempted, but Roman was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.



Detectives are continuing their investigation and trying to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting.



Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795. Information can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Las Cruces-Dona Ana County at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also be provided through the Las Cruces Crime Stoppers app, P3 TIPS. The app is available through the App Store on most devices.

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CHICAGO  A teenager is in custody after crashing into a man driving a scooter in the Little Village neighborhood.

The crash happened just after 9 p.m. Tuesday on the 2600 block of South Lawndale.

According to police, a 56-year-old man was traveling eastbound on a scooter when a 17-year-old boy driving a white sedan turned northbound at the intersection and struck the victim.

The man sustained trauma to the body and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition.

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Police said officers placed the teen into custody and citations will be issued.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Two teens are accused of breaking into the Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.

The Greenville Police Department said they responded to the break in on May 23 at the theater located near the corner of South Main Street and Broad Street.

Officers said two teens broke through a chain-link fence and forced open a plywood door in a construction area at the Peace Center.

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The teens then used construction ladders to get to the rooftop and enter the theatre, police said.

Several thousand dollars worth of damage was done to the Gunter Theatre, including destroyed control boards, projectors, laptops, routers. Damage was also done to drywall and frames.

Officers said they even found blood on some of the vandalized equipment.

Investigators were able to identify two suspects, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, who confessed to the crime, according to police.

During an interview, officers said the 16-year-old had an arm injury consistent with the blood found at the scene.

Both teens were charged with burglary.

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Jun. 4Ohio veterinarians are one step closer to being cleared to hold telehealth consultations under state law following the Senate's 33-0 vote this week.

Senate Bill 60, joint sponsored by local Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, will now head to the Ohio House for further consideration.

Huffman, a physician, told this outlet in January that he wanted to modernize the state's guidelines on veterinary medicine after seeing the benefits of telehealth in the medical field.

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"You know, it became very rapid and very successful in medicine because of COVID," Huffman said. "And to me, it sped up (progress); what was going to happen within 10 years we did within one year."

He noted that veterinary telehealth visits, which currently are not permitted under Ohio law, could benefit Ohioans, particularly the elderly, who might "find it hard to get your cat to the veterinarian."

In committee testimony, the bill received both support and opposition from individual vets and clinics, with detractors like veterinarian Andrea Miller concerned that "virtual care cannot replicate in-person evaluations."

"As a practicing veterinarian, I've encountered countless cases where verbal symptom descriptions pointed to one diagnosis, but physical examination revealed a different condition  or multiple concurrent problems," Miller told the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in May.

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The protected refugee status of Ukrainians in the European Union should be extended for another year, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

In light of the ongoing war and the volatile situation in Ukraine, the EU's executive body proposed an extension until March 2027.

The member states could seal the proposal at a meeting next week.

The status of Ukrainian refugees is currently regulated by the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

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They do not have to go through the usual asylum procedures and have comparatively good access to the labour market and social benefits.

According to the commission, over 4.3 million people have fled from Ukraine to the European Union since the start of the war.

Germany has taken in the highest number of refugees, with over 1.2 million people.

Member states should also prepare for a time when the Ukrainian refugees are able to return home, the commission said.

Governments should ensure there are other prospects for Ukrainian nationals, such as in the form of work or student visas.

Refugees should also receive more information about return options and be able to visit their home country more easily, the commission stated.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would support Ukraine for "as long as it takes."

"Today, we propose to extend EU protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war," she posted on X. "Were also supporting Ukrainians in their choices and paving the way for their safe return home."

Magnus Brenner, the European commissioner for internal affairs and migration, announced the creation of a special EU envoy for Ukrainians.

He said that the temporary protection status for Ukrainian nationals could also be terminated before March 2027 in the event of a stable ceasefire.

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At a press conference, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov encouraged Ukrainians to return to their homeland as soon as conditions allow.

"They are very much needed on the Ukrainian labour market to build a new, strong economy," he argued.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The District is decorated for WorldPride with rainbow bunting and banners everywhere. But theres conflict and confusion at an apartment building in Northwest.

Renters at 2014 13th Street said they got a reprieve to keep their decorations, only to see them ripped down.

We just decided its WorldPride. So I asked the girlsits a three-unit buildingI asked them if they were interested in doing it. They were really excited about it. So I bought some decorations and I put them up, said tenant Jay Richards.

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Confusion, concern around Dupont Circle ahead of big WorldPride weekend

Hours after Richards put them up, management company EJF Rentals told the renters they had to take them down by June 1 because the decorations were not in line with property guidelines.

Richards pushed back, but EJF said there was a provision in the lease that they couldnt decorate in shared exterior spaces. They were given a deadline of Tuesday, June 3, at 1 p.m. to take down the decorations or have them removed.

I want to be a good neighbor. You know, we are willing to take them down right after Pride, Richards said. I wanted to leave them up all month.

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After DC News Now reached out, EJF said they could keep it up through Monday as a compromise.

EJF Real Estate Services is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community. Weve been an official sponsor of the DC Pride Parade for many years and will be out there again this Saturday with our staff and company van, standing for inclusion, respect, and community. We manage 2014 13th Street NW on behalf of the adjacent church, which owns the property. As the property manager, we are responsible for enforcing the lease, which includes a provision restricting decorations in shared exterior spaces. Weve heard directly from residents who requested to keep their Pride decorations up through the weekend in celebration of the parade, with a commitment to remove them by Monday. While we remain mindful of our responsibility to both the lease and our client, we believe this is a respectful and reasonable approach. EJF will not be removing the decorations ourselves and is honoring the residents plan, trusting they will follow through as promised. We respect the rights of our clients and the obligations of the lease, and we also believe in supporting thoughtful, inclusive communities. In this case, we are doing our best to navigate both. EJF stands with our owners, residents, and broader community as we continue to work towards fostering respectful and inclusive environments. Matthew Greeves, Founder, EJF

Man seen tearing down Dupont Circle Pride decorations; DC police investigating

But the building is owned by Walker Memorial Church, right next door. Tuesday night at 7:20 p.m., the churchs custodian walked over and cut down the decorations that extended from the front door to the fence and along the fence.

Richards took video as it happened.

Weve been really friendly with the custodian himself. And I just feel awful, Richards said. I feel awful for him. I mean, I guess he had to do his job, but that was, it was just awful to see.

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Richards said its important to celebrate who he is and the community at large, especially when many people in the LGBTQ community are under attack.

The management company told us that they wouldnt tear it down. But I guess the church decided they had to tear it down and they tore it down, Richards said.

Richards said they also put these American flags in the ground along with the Pride decorations. The American flags were left behind.

Richards is looking forward to the weekend with friends from out of town.

Im just looking forward to a good energy in a time that feels like a lot of people, including myself, are under attack, Richards said.

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Walker Memorial Baptist Church sent an email late Tuesday night to renters:

Good evening Tenants of 2014 13th Street, NW: We write to notify you that the decorations placed outside of the property are in the process of being and will be removed. Decorations on the outside of the property or common areas regardless of the event, holiday, season, occasion, or reason violate the lease terms. You were notified of this violation on Thursday, May 29, 2025, and asked to remove the decorations by June 1, 2025. You refused to remove the decorations. You were then provided an extension to remove the decorations by Tuesday, June 3, 2025, by 1 pm. You again refused to comply, and instead interfered with and obstructed the process of removal. This is not about subject matter. The mission of the Walker Memorial Baptist Church is a prayerful congregation, walking in the spirit, bringing souls to Christ. That is our focus. We seek unity, not division, through our lease requirement that there be no decorations on the outside of the property or common areas. In doing so, we avoid arbitrary decision-making and the need to distinguish between the content or subject matter of any decorations. Otherwise, this would necessarily distract from our mission, tenants peace (including future tenants) at the property, neighbors, and our work and presence in the community. Going forward, we kindly request that you abide by the lease terms. Walker Memorial Baptist Church

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A Tennessee high school student is suing a religious Tennessee private school after she was suspended in May following a post on social media in which she came out as gay.

Morgan Armstrong, a graduating senior at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School, posted photos on social media of her girlfriend and herself in late April. Days later, the private Cleveland, Tennessee school suspended her for the rest of the school year, banned her from campus and campus events, including her final exams and high school graduation, and terminated Armstrongs student records, according to the lawsuit.

The school accused her of slander and of violating the schools social media policy by posting a disparaging remark reflecting the people at Tennessee Christian, on Instagram, according to her suspension letter included in the lawsuit.

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Included as evidence in the letter was a screenshot of a private Snapchat message that Morgan had sent to some of her friends asking them to like and comment on her post, expressing fear over potential Facebook comments from people because she had some ruthless Trump supporting Jesus (expletives) on there.

Nothing in her message referred to the school, or involved Instagram.

She is not talking about the school, said Daniel Horwitz, a prominent Nashville attorney representing Armstrong. It's about a family member. So what they have done is copied that message into this suspension letter, but it's paired with these assertions of fact that are not accurate.

The school did not respond to requests for comment and had not filed any legal response at the time of publication.

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While the school's handbook states its organizational opposition to sexual immorality, including homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct and more, calling it sinful and offensive to God, it only explicitly requires employees to adhere to the beliefs, and is not cited in Armstrong's suspension letter.

In the suspension letter, the school also demanded that Armstrong not comment about the school or people associated with the school, and stated that If online slander continues, records of posts and messages will be forwarded to colleges and universities as part of a comprehensive student file.

"Private schools are not government agencies, so they can use school discipline to regulate student speech more strictly than the First Amendment permits at public schools, said Robert Shibley, special counsel for campus advocacy at Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. However, being a private school student does not strip you of your First Amendment protection against being unlawfully punished by the government for your speech, whether at school or elsewhere."

The letter concluded stating that the school would withhold her diploma it if its demands are not adhered too.

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A bulk of the lawsuit rests on the schools alleged breach of contract against Armstrong, with Horwitz stating that the school did not follow its own disciplinary policies that Armstrong contractually agreed too.

A first-time offense like Armstrongs, according to the school handbook, should result in a one day in-school suspension.

Armstrongs lawsuit seeks to have her suspension expunged, or at least changed to be a one-day suspension in accordance with the school's written policy for first-time social media violations, and that she be allowed to take her finals and receive her diploma without stipulation.

This is her first claimed violation of the social media policy, Horwitz said. It does not permit them to do what they have done hereshe knows the underlying facts here. It's her (coming out) post. It was not about the school. The only post that that she put on Instagram was the one about the cats out of the bag with photos with her girlfriend. So it's pretty clear to everybody on our side of the fence what is actually going on here, which is that they did not want to be associated with her anymore. They did not like the fact that she was gay.

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The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham

This story was updated to add a gallery.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee teen sues Christian school after suspension following LGBTQ post
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  More witnesses for the state took the stand Wednesday on Day 2 of the murder trial for one of the suspects accused of killing a 20-year-old outside of a Carolina Forest Planet Fitness in 2023.

Abdullah Seifullah, 45, is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and criminal conspiracy in the June 2023 death of David Roldan-Dimas, 20, of York County. Opening statements took place on Tuesday.

Seifullah and Branden Huertas were arrested on unrelated charges in February 2024 in Connecticut. Seifullah was returned to Horry County and booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center last February, according to online records.

Branden Huertas / Photo: J. Reuben Long Detention Center

Huertas was extradited to Horry County in November and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, accessory before the fact and accessory after the fact. He was scheduled to stand trial in March but has since entered a plea and is waiting to be sentenced, according to Horry Countys online public records.

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Seifullah and Huertas allegedly shot and killed Rolden-Dimas while he was sitting in his car in the gyms parking lot.

Witnesses examined several phones related to the case during Wednesdays testimony.

The trial is set to pick up again at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The Texas Comptrollers office removed international investment giant BlackRock Inc. from a list of companies public agencies were required to divest from as the company has realigned with state law by withdrawing from key clean energy initiatives.

Senate Bill 13, passed in 2021, requires the comptrollers office to maintain a list of financial firms that boycott the fossil fuel industry, and included BlackRock, several other companies and roughly 350 investment funds before Tuesdays update. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar called the removal of BlackRock and over a dozen investment funds a meaningful victory for Texas energy economy but clarified in a statement that the list or divestment proceedings were not done to intentionally target companies.

We never set out to punish any of these firms, and the hope was always that any firm we included on the list would eventually take steps to ensure they were removed, Hegar said.

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SB 13 defines boycotting as refusing, terminating or penalizing business with a company that works in the fossil fuel industry without ordinary business purpose. Known as an anti-ESG (environment, social and governance) law, the bill led the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and the Texas Permanent School Fund to divest billions from BlackRock in 2023 and 2024.

The firm was placed on the initial list in 2022 for its involvement in initiatives like Climate Action 100+, which aims to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions. Direct investment into fossil fuel companies does not preclude firms from being considered as boycotting, according to an information sheet from the state comptrollers office. BlackRock has since stepped back from Climate Action 100+ and completely removed itself from another initiative, Net Zero Asset Managers, which the comptrollers office attributed to the companys removal.

In a statement to the Texas Tribune, John Kelly, BlackRock global head of corporate affairs, said they appreciated the comptrollers resolution and touted the firms investment in other state affairs.

BlackRock is proud to help millions of Texans retire with dignity and, on behalf of clients, invests over $400 billion in corporations, local governments, energy infrastructure and other private assets throughout the state, Kelly said. These investments support the continued growth of the Texas economy.

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Among the firms in-state investments is assistance in creating a Texas-based Stock Exchange, which aims to launch in February 2026 with a boost from new legislation signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in mid-May. BlackRock was one of the initial investors, and Hegar said that while the investment in the stock exchange plan was unrelated to the list update, it represented a real commitment to overall policy changes.

BlackRocks removal from the divestment list has not completely withdrawn the business from scrutiny by Texas officials. Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the company and two others in November 2024, claiming they comprised an investment cartel that intentionally bought shares in coal companies to reduce output and achieve clean energy standards. The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice submitted a joint statement of interest in the case in late May.

Hegar touched on the suit briefly in his remarks, but said the companys move away from clean energy initiatives is a signal of good favor.

Even as legislators and state leaders continue to address lingering concerns about proxy voting and other policies that prioritize politics over profits, I am hopeful these actions represent a long-term shift, Hegar said.

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Hegar and Paxton are facing their own lawsuit over SB 13 in federal court from the American Sustainable Business Council, a progressive business group. The suit claims the law violates companies First and Fourteenth Amendment rights by discriminating against firms viewpoints and circumventing due process. That suit is scheduled for a motion hearing on June 18.

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!
AUSTIN (KXAN)  On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 150, which creates a state-based cybersecurity department, into law.

The Texas Cyber Command was passed during the 89th regular legislative session and is expected to help protect Texans against cyber threats.

RELATED | Lawmakers file bills to create Texas Cyber Command

Our state is under constant attack by cyber criminals, attacks that occur thousands of times every single second of every single day, Abbott said. Im signing a law that creates the Texas Cyber Command. Its ultimate mission is to prevent and protect against cyber breaches. Working together with the Texas Cyber Command, Texas will be on the path to be a national leader in cybersecurity.

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According to the governors office, the Texas Cyber Command will:

Launch a cyber threat intelligence center to identify and repair weaknesses and to educate users on preventing cyber breaches

Coordinate with governments on responses to cyberattacks

Collaborate with local, state and federal partners to establish the gold standard for cybersecurity

RELATED | Is your data safe? Lawmakers say its time for a Texas Cyber Command

The department, which is headquartered in San Antonio, was funded through a $135 million investment, according to the governors office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
This article was originally published in The Texas Tribune.

The state takeover of the Houston Independent School District will continue for two more years, the Texas Education Agency announced Monday.

Education Commissioner Mike Morath had until June 1 to decide next steps for the states largest school district, whose former superintendent and elected school board members were ousted and replaced in 2023 due to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus and allegations of leadership misconduct.

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Since then, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles has led the district, a controversial figure in Houston who has ushered improvements on state exams while struggling to win over community support.

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Still, Morath decided to extend the intervention until June 1, 2027, applauding the district for its improvements but citing the need for more progress. That progress, he said, will have to include no school campuses with failing accountability scores across multiple years, compliance with special education requirements and improved school board governance.

Morath on Monday also announced the appointment of four new school board members, replacing four he selected in 2023.

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With the changes made in the last two years, Houston ISD is well on its way to being a district where all of its schools provide students with the educational opportunities that will allow them to access the American Dream, the commissioner said in a statement. Ultimately, two years has not been enough time to fix district systems that were broken for decades. The extension of this intervention will allow the district to build on its progress and achieve lasting success for students once the board transitions back to elected leadership.

The Houston Chronicle first reported the extension of the takeover.

Under Miles leadership, the district has experienced extraordinary staff turnover and plummeting student enrollment. Miles, who inherited a district that for years ran an overall well-performing school system, has faced accusations of shepherding a militaristic educational environment where teachers have limited freedom to teach in ways they see fit and children are exhausted and disengaged from learning.

Miles, on the other hand, has touted student improvement on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test, and progress in the districts A-F accountability ratings as proof that his model is effective, an achievement that Morath and state lawmakers have publicly commended.

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During the November election, Houston voters shot down a plan to approve $4.4 billion in academic and infrastructure improvements for the school district  the largest proposal of its kind in state history  which many saw as a litmus test for Miles support.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-houston-isd-takeover/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Texas lawmakers hear concerns about bill to require proof of citizenship for voting

Democratic lawmakers and Texas voters spent nearly four hours at a legislative hearing on April 24 demanding to know how a GOP-backed bill to require citizenship proof from voters would work, and warning that it could disenfranchise eligible Texans.

Houston voter Jacqueline Altman told members of the House Election Committee that it recently took her two days to obtain a copy of her birth certificate from the county, a process that required her to miss work to sit in county offices.

When decisions are being made about these kinds of documentation, I ask that we take all of that into consideration, said Altman, one of around a dozen Texans who testified in opposition to the bill.

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House Bill 5337 goes further than the laws and proposals in some other states, in that it would apply retroactively to already-registered voters in Texas, not just new applicants, Votebeat says. Texas has more than 18 million registered voters.

Officials with the Texas Secretary of States Office told lawmakers on April 24 that they estimate around 500,000 currently registered voters who dont have a drivers license number or Social Security number in their voter registration record would have to provide proof of citizenship.

That group could include many people who registered before the early 2000s, when federal voting laws began requiring people obtaining state-issued IDs or drivers licenses to provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. Election officials said many are likely elderly.

How big a problem is noncitizen voting in Texas?

HB 5337 is identical to Senate Bill 16, which passed the state Senate along party lines and with little debate earlier this month. The House version of the legislation is co-sponsored by 50 Republican lawmakers.

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The legislation is modeled after an Arizona law that requires proof of citizenship to vote in state and local elections. The Texas legislation would also bar voters who dont provide citizenship proof from voting in presidential elections; a similar restriction in Arizona has so far been blocked by federal courts.

The Texas bills would also require local election officials to continually check the citizenship status of voters on their rollsand subject the officials to potential felony charges if they lapse. In Arizona, a state error tracking proof of citizenship recently left election officials struggling to consistently administer the requirement.

Republican lawmakers in Texas have for months been responding to a nationwide GOP campaign to raise alarm about the threat of noncitizen voting, even though available evidence shows it is extremely rare.

In December, the Texas Secretary of State told the Legislature that in 2024, election officials cancelled 63 registrations for noncitizenship and 124 for failing to respond to a notice requesting proof of citizenship. Voters who failed to respond to a notice could still be citizens.

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During the Elections Committee hearing on April 24, state Rep. Carrie Isaac, a Dripping Springs Republican leading the push for the House version of the legislation, said the goal is to prevent all noncitizens from registering to vote.

Isaac cited an announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott last fall that 6,500 noncitizens had been removed from Texas voter rolls prior to 2024. An investigation by Votebeat, Texas Tribune and ProPublica found Abbotts numbers were inflated and, in some instances, wrong.

In a span of three years, the state actually removed 581 people as noncitizens. The remaining 6,000 or so were people who had failed to respond to a notice asking to confirm their citizenship, which doesnt mean they werent citizens. The investigation indeed found that some eligible citizens had been flagged as potential noncitizens and removed from the rolls.

State Rep. John Bucy, a Democrat from Austin and vice chair of the Elections Committee, described the data Isaac cited as misleading and pointed out that election officials already check the rolls for potential noncitizens.

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The system we have is working, Bucy told Isaac. Were catching people. Were cleaning the rolls, and theyre not voting.

Isaac said the number of documented cases of noncitizens voting may seem small, but said there was no reliable way to measure the scope of it because the current system doesnt require documentation of citizenship.

The bill would cost state officials nearly $2 million over the next five years to implement, according to the bills fiscal note. That number doesnt include the costs for local election officials.

Some Texans dont have access to citizenship documents

Research suggests that lack of accessible citizenship documentation could be a more widespread issue than noncitizen voting.

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In Texas, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to lack documented proof of citizenship, a 2024 study by the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland found. One percent of Republicans do not have it, the researchers found, and 7% cannot easily access their documents, while nearly all Texas Democrats have documented proof, and 4% cannot easily access it.

The study also found that younger Texans are three times more likely to have trouble accessing their documented proof of citizenship than older Texans.

Under the legislation, voters could fulfill the requirement by providing any of the following:

a copy of a U.S. passport;

a passport card;

a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory;

United States citizenship papers;

identification issued by the U.S. agency responsible for citizenship and immigration; or

for citizens born outside the U.S., a consular report of birth abroad.

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Anyone who shows up to the polls who has yet to provide proof of citizenship will have six days to provide it in order for their full ballot to count. If a voter does not provide it, only the votes in congressional races will be counted.

The list of accepted documents does not include tribal documents, which Arizona does accept. Cecilia Flores, the tribal council chairwoman for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, which is located in East Texas, asked lawmakers on April 24 to include tribal documents in that list. In Arizona, a Votebeat analysis found voters living on tribal land were more likely to wind up on the federal-only voter list, signaling they may struggle to provide citizenship proof.

While many of our tribal citizens may possess a proper birth certificate, my mother was born in 1928 and I have never seen her birth certificate, Flores said.

Bucy asked Isaac and other Republicans on the committee to consider amendments to the bill that would expand the type of acceptable IDs and documents.

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The House bill was left pending on April 24. The House and Senate must both pass the same version of the legislation, which would then go to Abbott for his signature.

This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Those who would attack, harass or impede utility workers following a natural disaster will face enhanced criminal charges when a recently passed bill becomes law in September.

Senate Bill 482 would apply higher charges to any person who, with criminal negligence, interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes with utility workers performing their duties. The bill passed out of the Texas Legislature on May 20.

These protections already apply to emergency services workers and their service animals, animal control workers and public health inspectors while they perform their duties. The law neatly adds utility workers to that list.

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Under Texas law, a misdemeanor assault against one of these workers gets enhanced to a third-degree felony. Also, charges of harassment or obstruction of public duties would also be enhanced under SB 482.

This bill is bipartisan, pro-worker, and common sense, said Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy in a press release. Our utility workers shouldnt be subject to threats and harassment on the job  no one should. These front-line workers deserve our respect and protection.

Utility workers went through hell after Beryl

SB 482 author Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, cited incidents that occurred during recovery efforts after Hurricane Beryl as to why she filed the bill this session.

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, utility workers restoring power faced not only the physical challenges of repairing downed power lines but also alarming hostility from some members of the public, she wrote in her statement of intent. These workers were met with harassment, verbal threats and, in some cases, physical assaults that put their safety at risk. They persisted in their essential work despite these dangers, highlighting the need for stronger legal protections for utility workers during emergencies.

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AP: Anger over Houston power outages after Beryl has repair crews facing threats from some residents

Hundreds of workers, including Austin Energy crews, responded to Houston following Beryl.

Utility crews work to restore electricity in Houston, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Officials say about 500,000 customers still wont have electricity into next week as wide outages from Hurricane Beryl persist. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)

Ed Allen, financial secretary for the Houston local of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW 66), said the unions members went through hell in the aftermath of Beryl.

Our members went through hell following Hurricane Beryl  enduring threats and even assault  all while trying to get the power back on for folks, said Allen in a press release. This is about safety. Our repair crews work tirelessly during natural disasters, and this bill will keep them a bit more protected.

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Texas AFL-CIO Financial Secretary Leonard Aguilar said utility workers were assaulted, and some had guns pointed at them by residents.

It took a while for the power to come back on, no fault of IBEW local 66, it was just, it was such a large area that had to have power restored. The people were getting upset, and rightfully so, but they didnt have to take it out on those workers that were out there every day, basically 24 hours a day, he said. Just many different ways of just being difficult with the workers and making it difficult for them to do their jobs.

Workers restored power to 98% of Houston after 10 days, according to electric company CenterPoint Energy. That outpaced recovery efforts following Hurricane Ike in 2008; power was restored to only 74% of customers by the 10-day mark.

Bills bipartisan support needed for more safeguards

No one testified against the bill when it was in the Texas Senates Criminal Justice Committee, according to legislative records. Representatives from utility companies and labor unions testified alongside each other in support of the bill.

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The bill ultimately passed 30-1 in the Texas Senate and 130-16 in the Texas House of Representatives  Aguilar said this is whats necessary to help keep Texas workers safe.

This is the way its supposed to be done across the street at the Texas Capitol. This should be an example of how we should be moving forward to protect workers, Aguilar said.

Aguilar also said the bill is a good step towards protecting Texas workers, but that more is needed as the state can be difficult for workers.

Workers are putting it on the line, day in and day out; not just during disasters, but just when they wake up every day to go to work. Texas is a difficult state to work in, he said. We have to do better as a state to make sure we are protecting the workers. Without the workers, we cant keep the state running.

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The bill is now before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Unless vetoed, SB 482 takes effect Sept. 1.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A Texas man was booked into the Peoria County Jail on allegations he sent explicit messages on social media to a minor.

Mario E. Davis, 34, whose address is listed in Peoria County Jail records as being in Arlington, Texas, was booked on charges of grooming, indecent solicitation of a child and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.

A parent in mid-February reported that her child had gotten the illicit messages, said Semone Roth, a Peoria Police Department spokeswoman.

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After serving several search warrants on several social media accounts, they arrested Davis Tuesday at an address in the 7700 block of North Grand Prairie Drive.

While it wasnt clear where he was arrested, Davis runs a tattoo shop called Ink Capital, which is located on that block.

The disorderly conduct charge, police said, relates to him allegedly filing a false police report.

He remains at the county jail and could appear as early as Wednesday in court to be formally charged.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PALM BEACH, Fla. (WFLA)  A Texas man was arrested overnight Tuesday after investigators said he jumped a wall at Mar-a-Lago with intentions of winning the heart of one of Trumps granddaughters.

The U.S. Secret Service detained 23-year-old Anthony Reyes shortly after midnight at the Mar-a-Lago property, according to court records obtained by NBC affiliate WPTV.

Disgusting abomination: Elon Musk tears into Trump megabill

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Agents said Reyes openly admitted to trespassing and told them that he wanted to get inside the presidents Palm Beach home to marry Kai, Trumps 18-year-old granddaughter.

He also said he wanted to spread the Gospel to the POTUS, according to court documents.

Tuesday nights incident wasnt the first time Reyes made a visit to Mar-a-Lago. Arrest records show Reyes was previously arrested for trespassing at the property in December 2024.

Reyes now faces another charge for occupied trespassing. His bond was set at $50,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with the president or any of his family members, NBC News reported.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Texas police have arrested a man wanted in Tennessee after a mother was shot to death and her boyfriend was grazed by gunfire while they and her three-year-old son were in their car outside a North Nashville home.

Police in Fort Worth captured 21-year-old Dhaeton Hodge at a motel June 3 on warrants charging him with criminal homicide and two counts of attempted criminal homicide, Nashville police said in a statement.

Kelveonna Holmes, 22, was with her 24-year-old boyfriend and son outside 2417 Woodale Lane May 18 to visit that afternoon with people who lived there, police said. While they were outside, someone fired shots at the car and home in the second drive-by shooting in two days, police said in May.

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Holmes was rushed to Skyline Medical Center after police and medics arrived on the scene. She died there. Holmes' boyfriend was treated and released for a non-life threatening injury and the child was uninjured, police said.

Police later found the vehicle the shots came from in Cheatham County, which led them to Hodge as a suspect, according to the June 3 statement.

Hodge remains in Texas until authorities can extradite him back to Nashville to face the charges, the statement said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Police: Man captured in Texas after mom shot to death in May
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Tampa General Hospital employee has been arrested on charges of child pornography possession, according to deputies.

The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said David Scott Farber, 42, was charged with 79 counts of possession of child pornography after detectives investigated suspicious activity on social media.

Hillsborough assistant state attorney arrested on child porn charges: HCSO

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During a search of Farbers home, detectives found dozens of images and videos of children being sexually abused  with the victims being 5 years old and younger, a release stated.

The sheriffs office said Farber also took inappropriate photos and videos of himself in operating rooms and patient care areas. He would share these files with others on social media.

Officials said no other individuals were present when the inappropriate photos were taken.

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This arrest is both disturbing and appalling, Sheriff Chad Chronister said. The exploitation of innocent children is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. And to learn this suspect had access to vulnerable individuals while employed in a health care setting makes his actions even more reprehensible. We will ensure he is held fully accountable under the law.

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More charges are expected, according to the sheriffs office. Jail records state that he works in the radiology department.

Tampa General Hospital provided the following statement regarding Farbers arrest:

In accordance with our policy, the individual is not currently working at our facilities. We are cooperating with authorities on the investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Soaring egg prices and concerns about bird flu spreading from wild birds and cattle to humans were top of mind for many Americans at the beginning of 2025. The topic recently made its way back into headlines when Moderna announced that the Trump administration was canceling a $766 million contract to develop a bird flu vaccine for humans.

Over the past 15 months, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 70 human cases of bird flu across 13 states. The last known cases were reported nearly four months ago, in February, in Nevada, Ohio and Wyoming.

California was a hot spot for human bird flu cases, with 38 infections confirmed by January this year. No cases have been reported in the state since. The Associated Press has reported, citing state records, that testing efforts have fallen off. During 2024 at least 50 people were tested per month, compared with three people tested in March, one in April and none in May.

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In recent weeks, the overall number of new animal H5N1 virus infections reported by [the U.S. Department of Agriculture] has declined, reducing the number of people exposed to infected animals, and human cases have declined as well, a CDC spokesperson told Yahoo News in an email.

While theres the possibility that the H5N1 virus is waning in the U.S. for the time being, experts are worried that the efforts to monitor bird flu infections is the factor thats actually waning. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, is worried because while these latest cases have been relatively mild, the virus has been quite deadly, historically speaking.

Of the known human cases that have been identified, about half of them have died, Nuzzo told Yahoo News, and that is a truly staggering percentage.

Yahoo News spoke to Nuzzo and Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, in an effort to gain some insight as to why those CDC case numbers havent budged in humans.

Why havent we seen an increase in human bird flu infections since February?

The short answer is, we dont know, Nuzzo said. But experts like her have offered some possibilities:

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1. Migratory bird patterns have changed: Wild birds are primary spreaders of avian flu. The United States could be experiencing a natural and temporary decline in human cases, which tend to peak in the fall and early winter, possibly because migration patterns have seasonally changed as well, a CDC official noted during a May call with U.S. doctors.

As we expect to see bird migration patterns rev back up here in the next few months, I suspect we're going to see increased levels of H5N1 in migratory birds, Hopkins said. That's probably going to result in more poultry flocks and more other animals infected. I think that again raises our risk.

2. Its possible that less of the virus is circulating: Humans can become infected with bird flu through exposure to sick wild birds, poultry, backyard flocks or cattle. Avian flu infections are still being detected in birds and cattle but not as frequently as they were several months ago. Since February 2025, there have been fewer affected dairy herds and commercial poultry flocks in the United States, and we believe, fewer workers are being exposed to sick animals, a CDC spokesperson told Yahoo News in an email.

3. Testing at the state and local levels for H5N1 has decreased: Nuzzo suggested that perhaps there has been an overall reduction in human testing for H5N1, rather than a decrease in viral spread. One of the concerns that I have is that states have appeared to be conducting just less general testing for H5N1, Nuzzo said. Those things coupled with a general lack of any communication from federal agencies about H5N1 leaves us very concerned that what we might be seeing is just a contraction of surveillance and not necessarily an abatement of the virus.

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A CDC spokesperson told Yahoo News that the agencys guidance and surveillance efforts for human cases of H5N1 virus infections have not changed. State and local health departments continue to monitor for illness in persons exposed to sick animals. However, no new human cases of H5N1 virus infections have been identified and reported to CDC in recent months.

4. Less prevalence in wastewater surveillance: People who contract bird flu can shed pieces of the virus through wastewater, like from handwashing, bathing or laundering clothes.

But as the CDC website notes, Wastewater data cannot determine the source of influenza A viruses. Nuzzo agrees that wastewater surveillance alone isnt the best method in determining whether human bird flu infections are waning but probably the best thing we have in terms of figuring out how much virologic activity is occurring.

Hopkins says the presence of H5N1 showing up in wastewater surveillance has slowed. So less virus means less transmission, Hopkins said. They are positive factors for right now, and they don't mean that we won't have greater problems going forward, he cautioned.

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For the week ending May 24, out of 340 sites nationwide as part of the CDCs National Wastewater Surveillance System, there were 17 sites, in New Jersey and Oregon, that reported any detection of H5N1, according to the CDC.

5. The current virus strain isnt good at infecting humans: The CDC has confirmed instances of bird flu that have passed from birds to animals, from birds to humans and from animals to humans. What about human to human?

It appears that this H5 virus has not developed the mutations necessary to easily transmit to humans and to easily transmit from person to person because we don't have any confirmed person-to-person spread either, Hopkins said.

Experts worry federal government cuts could decrease bird flu monitoring in humans

Thats my deep fear, Nuzzo said. I do know there have been concerns about attention on [bird flu] from the agricultural sector, in part due to USDA cuts and letting go of the staff who worked on H5N1.

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With the Trump administrations efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce, more than 15,000 USDA employees have taken one of two financial incentives to leave the agency. Three of 14 experts responding to disease outbreaks at the National Animal Health Laboratory Network are among the staff that have accepted the offers.

Nuzzo said even before the cuts, experts like herself were concerned that states werent being aggressive enough in responding to H5N1 either because they didnt think it was a problem or because it was on the back burner.

In 2024, federal agencies regularly held briefings on the topic with both outside experts like myself, but also state and local health officials, Nuzzo said. I think absent that, it's just hard to know what is going on, and it's hard to not assume that things aren't going on. It also makes it hard to say, one way or another, how much of an issue [bird flu] is.

Should the general public be concerned about bird flu right now?

The CDC says the current risk to the general public is low, although it is higher for people who work with cattle and poultry or who are in contact with wild birds.

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Right at this moment, Nuzzo said, the general public shouldnt be worried about bird flu.

The people that I'm worried about are people who are being exposed to infected animals, Nuzzo said, and that's largely people in the agricultural sector, the farm workers who have disincentives for coming forward if they become infected.

Immigration labor accounts for 51% of all dairy labor, according to the National Milk Producers Federation. Experts are concerned that undocumented workers are avoiding bird flu testing out of fear of coming forward and being deported under President Trumps immigration crackdown.

The fear among undocumented workers  especially in the current climate  is real and can significantly impact public health efforts, Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern, told the Telegraph.

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If people dont feel safe coming forward for testing or care, we risk missing early signs of spread, especially in high-risk populations like dairy farm workers, she added.

A CDC spokesperson told Yahoo News: Farmworkers are typically a hard population to reach, and CDC continues to do outreach through trusted partners.

Will bird flu be the next pandemic?

I do think it's important for people to realize that even before COVID, pandemics happened regularly, Nuzzo said, adding that there were three influenza pandemics in the 20th century: 1918, 1957 and 1968.

There was also an influenza pandemic in 2009. The fact that most people don't even remember that we had a pandemic in 2009 is because of investments that were made by [then-President] George Bush in 2004, 2005, Nuzzo said, referring to investments in vaccine development, virus surveillance and people on the ground to respond to a pandemic.

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Nuzzo said she isnt certain if H5N1 will trigger the next flu pandemic. However, she is certain there will be another pandemic, and it will likely be an influenza pandemic.

The good news is that we can make flu vaccines; we do have tools to address it, but they're only going to be helpful if we have them when we need them, Nuzzo said.

When asked about the Trump administrations decision to cancel the Moderna bird flu vaccine contract, she said: Shutting down the investments today is a very short-sighted move that we very likely will regret in the future.
From the station at Balloch where the train from Glasgow terminates, its a short stroll through delightful woodland to the famous bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, Scotland. Yet during the walk, Lynne Somerville becomes increasingly agitated.

This, she points out as a family walks past with a toddler in a pushchair, is where the monorail would run.

Here, she says as two dog walkers amble by, are the trees that would be cut down to make room for the lodges.

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Where the woods end abruptly, a beach overlooks one of Scotlands finest and most recognisable panoramas: the vast expanse of the loch, stretching northwards to the towering peak of Ben Lomond. Fringed with hills as far as the eye can see, the water is dotted with kayakers, paddleboarders, yachts berthed at a distant marina and cruise boats carrying tourists.

And this, Somerville explains, is where they want to build the hotel and water park.

This place, this view Its a national treasure. What theyre planning here is just an act of vandalism.

Somerville claims the proposed resort would destroy the essence of Loch Lomond - Stuart Nicol

Her anger is directed at a divisive proposal by theme park operator Flamingo Land to build a holiday resort on the southern shores of Loch Lomond.

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Known as Lomond Banks, the project has been described as the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history, after a petition against it gathered more than 155,000 signatures.

While it is only the latest attempt by business to capitalise on Loch Lomonds enduring appeal  the area has drawn mass tourism for more than 200 years  it is certainly the most controversial.

Planning permission was denied last year after the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority ruled the resort was incompatible with environmental and conservation policies.

But last month, a planning official appointed by the Scottish Government overruled that decision and granted the resort provisional approval.

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Objectors  including Somerville, who lives nearby and sits on the local community council  are outraged, and are stepping up their campaign to block the development through political pressure and even the threat of legal action.

Inevitably, though, Lomond Banks also has supporters  who believe the 40 million project will deliver a much-needed boost to tourism, create jobs and attract investment.

With a final decision expected later this year, both sides have shared with The Telegraph their strong views on the subject  sparking a debate not only about Loch Lomond but also about the role of national parks and, more broadly, about how to manage development in Britains scenic areas in a way that balances the often-competing aims of conservation and economic growth, the needs of local residents and the demands of visitors.

Billed as a world-class family tourism destination, Lomond Banks is being proposed by Flamingo Land, which also runs a theme park and zoo in North Yorkshire named after the brightly coloured birds that were introduced to the site when it opened in the 1950s.

A visualisation of Lomond Banks, the proposed resort village with a hotel, hostel, 100 lodges, water park, brewery and monorail - UNPIXS

After initial plans in 2018 were met with strong opposition, the company submitted new proposals in 2020 for a resort village featuring a 60-room hotel, budget hostel with 32 beds and 100 self-catering holiday lodges.

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The proposed resort would include a swimming pool, water park and spa, along with restaurants, a cafe, craft brewery and beer hall, plus picnic and barbecue areas  all connected by a monorail. It is set to be built in the village of Balloch, long regarded as the gateway to Loch Lomond.

Masterplan image of the proposed Lomond Banks resort, taken from Flamingo Lands planning application documents

Tourists first began flocking to the area in the 18th century, drawn by the romantic allure of Highland scenery. By the 19th century, it had become a popular escape for Glaswegians seeking respite from the citys industrial smog  just 25 miles away.

Fittingly, the proposed development would sit beside a striking symbol of tourisms evolution: the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer. In its 1950s heyday, the vessel carried up to 1,000 visitors at a time across the loch. Now retired and resting at the waters edge, it awaits long-promised restoration.

Flamingo Lands plans for Lomond Banks have cleared a key hurdle after the Scottish Government granted provisional approval - UNPIXS

At present, the main draw in Balloch is the Loch Lomond Shores visitor centre, opened in 2002. It features a viewing platform, aquarium, shopping mall with cafes, outdoor clothing stores, gift shops and a small branch of Frasers  all set beside a sprawling car park.

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The new resort would straddle this existing hub, with one half built in the wooded West Riverside area between the train station and the loch, and the other in the grounds of the ruined Woodbank House. The mansion would be restored to provide self-catering accommodation, surrounded by a cluster of holiday lodges.

Flamingo Land insists the resort would reflect its beautiful natural surroundings and complement the scenic landscape.

Loch Lomond Shores, Ballochs main visitor hub, includes shops, cafes and an aquarium  and sits beside the site of the planned resort - Stuart Nicol

But the Balloch and Haldane community council argues the development would undermine the very qualities that draw visitors to the area.

Somerville explains: The company is trying to profit from selling Bonnie Scotland to the tourists. People have always come here for the scenery, to get away from the city and to enjoy nature and fresh air. But these plans would mean losing the essence of the place, destroying its character.

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Loch Lomond has a national identity  but that would be lost for ever, for the sake of a development that wont create value for local people and would buckle the areas infrastructure.

A petition against the project has gathered more than 155,000 signatures - Stuart Nicol

The community council has warned the resort would make life a living hell for locals, citing a dramatic rise in traffic and fears it would siphon trade away from existing hotels and restaurants.

Somerville adds: The resort is just too big. If it went ahead, it would completely swamp the village.

Not all residents are firmly opposed. Some, such as Debbie Savage  who runs a fitness business and walks her dog, Ruby, in the woods  remain undecided.

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She says: Theres a danger the area could be ruined if the development is too commercial, or done in a way that isnt sensitive. I understand the need for investment, but it has to be done in a way that is mindful of local residents.

Debbie Savage remains undecided about the project but says any development would need to consider the local residents - Stuart Nicol

Some, however, are firmly in favour  including Neil Mayles, who runs a business selling boats and marine equipment. He says: The national park authority hasnt always been the friend of business and enterprise, so something is desperately needed in the area to bring employment and investment. The planned resort would bring nothing but benefits.

The developers are keen to emphasise that Lomond Banks would create hundreds of local jobs during construction, followed by 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal roles once the resort opens.

In overturning the national park authoritys decision to reject the plans, the Scottish Governments planning reporter also concluded that the project could deliver locally significant benefits in terms of employment and economic growth.

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The company argues that those opposed to the development represent only a vocal minority.

Jim Paterson, the projects development director, says: Our vision to bring about plans that create economic growth, investment, jobs and an infrastructure that will benefit the local community and beyond, is unwavering.

The reality is that Lomond Banks has undergone extensive scrutiny. Following an independent and detailed review, the Governments planning reporter has issued a notice of intention to recommend our proposals for approval, recognising that they align with planning policy and will deliver significant public benefits. These include the restoration of the historic Woodbank House ruin, enhancements to biodiversity, and much-needed economic regeneration.

Scottish Green Party members join local campaigners outside Holyrood to protest against Flamingo Lands controversial resort plans - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Paterson insists the resort would encroach on just 306 yards of Loch Lomonds 95-mile shoreline, and says it would be sympathetically designed to reflect the scale, character and natural beauty of the area.

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Even so, fallout from the reporters provisional approval continues. The National Park authority has described the decision as deeply disappointing, and says it stands by its original reasons for rejecting the plan. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has declined to comment, stating only that the decision was made on its behalf by an independent planning expert.

Opponents have been far more outspoken. The Scottish Green Party has urged the SNP Government to put the natural environment ahead of corporate profit and reconsider the ruling, while the local community council remains resolute in its campaign to block Lomond Banks.

Somerville adds: Whats happened is grossly undemocratic. Whats the point of having a national park authority with planning powers if the Government simply overrules it? As far as were concerned, the future of one of Scotlands most beautiful places is at stake. This resort mustnt be allowed to go ahead.

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More than a dozen people were forced out into the street after a fire broke out in their Boston apartment building.

One woman was rushed to the hospital from the scene after a neighbor carried her out of her apartment.

It was really smokey, like I pretty much had to crawl, said Socrate Joseph, one of the residents in the building that caught fire.

Residents in the apartment building at the corner of Tremont and Hammond streets in the citys Roxbury neighborhood were woken up by smoke, flames, and the fire alarm around 3:30 Wednesday morning.

Initially it came in as a medical alert, but when companies got here they saw the fire showing out the window, they struck the box and made an aggressive attack on the fire, Boston Fire District Chief Rayshawn Johnson said.

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Joseph lives on the third floor and was on his way out when he came across his neighbor on the second floor.

She was trying to come out, but she was hesitant, kept walking back and forth, said Joseph.

Joseph says the elderly woman is blind, and despite the worsening conditions, he knew he needed to help her.

I ran back upstairs on the third floor and got my phone so I could use it as a flashlight, went back downstairs, looked for her, grabbed her hand, she was pulling back, said Joseph. Picked her up, put her over my shoulder, proceeded to go down the steps with her.

As Joseph was carrying her down the stairs, firefighters were coming up.

Socrate Joseph

Companies were making their way up to the stairwell to attack the fire, they saw her up there and brought her down to the ambulance and EMS, Johnson said.

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In a statement, Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke thanked Joseph for his heroic action.

Thank you to Socrate Joseph for rescuing his neighbor at todays early morning fire on Tremont Street. His quick actions of carrying his neighbor to an exit and passing her to responding firefighters were heroic and undoubtedly saved her life in a rapidly progressing fire, Burke said. As always, thank you to our firefighters for quickly extinguishing this fire at great personal risk as they do every day they come to work.

The woman was taken to the hospital and is going to be OK, thanks to the help of first responders and Joseph.

It was just the right thing to do, even though she was being hesitant, Joseph said. But I just couldnt leave her there. If I did not, it would be on my conscience. I dont know her, but it was the right thing to do. She is a neighbor, Ive seen her before, I know shes an elderly lady, a handicap, I would want someone to do that for my grandmother.

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A total of 12 adults and two kids were displaced and are being helped out by the Red Cross.

The building sustained about $500,000 worth of damage. The adjoining buildings were not damaged.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department announced that a third suspect has been booked on indictments related to a deadly September 2023 shooting in the Bellshire neighborhood.

MARCH 2024: 2 arrested for deadly shooting from September 2023

On Friday, September 15, 2023, officers were sent to the 3000 block of Moonlight Drive following reports about a shooting. Authorities arrived to find 22-year-old Kyle Martin Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. He was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

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In March 2024, the MNPD arrested Nathaniel Harris, now 20, and Thomas Wade, now 22, for their indictments in connection with Martins death. A continued investigation by the MNPDs Homicide Unit found that Jaymes Greer, now 25, was also involved in Martins homicide.

ORIGINAL STORY: Man dead after being shot multiple times, crashing car in Bellshire neighborhood

Greer was already in custody on an unrelated case, but now faces charges of first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a weapon and use of a weapon during a dangerous felony. As of publication, Greer is being held without bond.

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GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  One person was arrested Tuesday morning after a high-speed pursuit throughout Greene County and Johnson City.

Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) reports that around 10:30 a.m., a white Chevrolet Sonic was driving at 90 mph near mile marker 47 on Interstate 81 in Greene County.

The vehicle refused to stop for troopers and fled north on I-81, THP stated.

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As the pursuit continued, a citizen reportedly used their vehicle to block the fleeing Chevrolet around mile marker 17 on Interstate 26 in Washington County.

The Chevrolet then drove around the vehicle and continued towards exit 19.

At exit 19, multiple Johnson City Police Department units and THP troopers were set up with tire deflation devices, according to the report.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop at the bottom of the exit 19 ramp.

The driver, identified by THP as Tonya Richards, 52, was arrested and charged with felony evading arrest, speeding and driving on a revoked third offense.

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No injuries were reported.

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DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Three Houston County residents were arrested after a drug raid on Friday.

Officials with the Houston County Sheriffs Office say a traffic stop on Friday left deputies and investigators to search a home in the 1000 block of South Brannon Stand Road in Dothan.

After the search, 55-year-old David Bolick, 42-year-old Ashley Worth, and 30-year-old Andrew Thomley were arrested and all charged with one count of trafficking fentanyl.

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Bolick and Worth were booked into the Houston County Jail, each with a $1.5 million bond. Thomley is being held on a $150,000 bond.

The search was conducted by the HCSO and the ALEA SBI Region B Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force.

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  An investigation into a multi-million-dollar suspected staged crash scheme has led to the arrest of three men.

On March 25, officials with the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit Breaux Bridge Field Office, launched an investigation that led to the arrests of Justin Ledet, 45, of Rayne, Steven Thomas, 38, of Lafayette and Alfred Onezine, 37, of Breaux Bridge.

The investigation began after authorities received a criminal complaint from the Louisiana Department of Insurance, following a report from a trucking company which suspected fraudulent activity related to a crash that occurred on Jan. 19, in Lafayette Parish.

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Officials determined that Ledet, Thomas and Onezine conspired to stage a crash at the intersection of Willow Street and Teurlings Drive. They said Ledet, while operating the companys truck, intentionally struck the rear of a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Thomas, who was accompanied by Onezine and three juvenile passengers.

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Officials said following the crash, all five occupants of the Silverado filed insurance claims against the trucking company, seeking a combined potential fraud amount of approximately $10 million in damages.

On May 2, officials arrested Ledet and Thomas for automobile insurance fraud. Both were processed into a Lafayette Parish jail without incident.

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On May 29, authorities arrested Onezine on a warrant for three counts of cruelty to juveniles and four counts of automobile insurance fraud. Officials said during the arrest, Onezine resisted police and was additionally charged with resisting an officer. He was processed into a St. Martin Parish jail without further incident.

This investigation remains ongoing.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Three people have been taken into custody following a shooting outside an Oklahoma City restaurant on May 5.

According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers responded to a restaurant near NW 10th St. and Hudson Ave. around 11 p.m. on Monday, May 5.

Police say 23-year-old Ahoneste Walker, 24-year-old Malcome Barnes and 25-year-old Terrance Britton have been taken into custody regarding the shooting.

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Officials say there was an altercation outside of the restaurant between Walker and other patrons. Walker then reached out to Britton who arrived alongside Barnes when shots were fired into the crowd. Seven people were shot and two people were injured by broken glass.

LOCAL NEWS: Police investigating fatal officer-involved shooting in SE Oklahoma City

According to OKCPD, Britton was stopped in traffic in Moore on May 12 and arrested for weapons charges. He has been in jail since then and his charges have now been changed to include charges related to the shooting. During the investigation, detectives learned the names of the two other suspects. They were both taken into custody at a home in Moore on June 3. Barnes and Walker were interviewed and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail.

All three suspects are facing charges including Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Use of a Vehicle to Facilitate a Shooting, Third Degree Arson, and Destroying Evidence.

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Anyone with more information regarding the shooting is asked to contact OKC Crime Stoppers by calling 405-235-7300 or submitting an anonymous tip online.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Fallen Bloomfield Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros has saved the lives of others through organ donation, according to New Mexico Donor Services.

Officer killed in line of duty receives police procession

Donor Services says three people received life saving organ donations from Ontiveros. They say all three recipients are recovering and doing well. The University of New Mexico Hospital and Donor Services recognized Officer Ontiveros with an honor walk, saying his legacy will live on.

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Officer 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.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police arrested three teenage boys accused of carjacking someone in Southeast early Tuesday.

Minutes before 7:30 a.m. on June 3, officers were sent to the 1500 block of Butler St. in Anacostia for a reported carjacking.

There, the victim told officers that while she was reversing her car to park, three teens wearing ski masks approached her and told her to get out of the car, according to a police report.

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Tenants say church took down Pride decorations at DC apartment building

The three teens then reportedly pulled her from her car and snatched her key fob before driving away in the stolen vehicle.

Officers canvassed the area and found the carjacked vehicle, along with the three suspects.

As a result, authorities charged two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy with unarmed carjacking.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
Three women aged 71, 74, and 75 have died in a serious traffic accident near the town of Uberlingen on Lake Constance in southern Germany.

Three older men were seriously injured, the police said on Wednesday.

A 75-year-old male driver reportedly veered slowly to the left onto the oncoming lane in a long right-hand bend for reasons yet to be clarified. There, the car collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle. Each vehicle had three occupants, the police said.

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Some of those involved were trapped in the vehicles and had to be freed from the wrecks by the fire brigade. The three women died at the scene of the accident, the police said.

The 75-year-old driver involved in the accident, the 86-year-old male driver of the oncoming vehicle, and his 75-year-old male passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The B31 federal highway was closed in both directions.

The affected stretch is located on a heavily trafficked route and the accident occurred during peak traffic hours, police said.

A local diversion was set up. The closure was still in place on Wednesday evening.
ALBANY  The New York State Thruway Authority has selected a Buffalo-based engineering firm to lead a $1.6 million federally funded study of the four Grand Island bridges and the I-190 corridor.

During a meeting on Tuesday, the Thruway Authoritys board of directors unanimously agreed to hire WSP USA, Inc., formerly Parsons Brinckherhoff, to conduct a planning and environmental linkages study.

The assessment will include, an analysis of the bridges against the regional transportation networks current and future needs, an investigation of feasible project alternatives and an examination of social, economic and environmental conditions. In addition, the study will involve a Life Cycle Cost Analysis and result in the development of a forecast for future toll revenue.

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The study will be conducted under a two-year contract that includes an option for a third year and will be performed in cooperation with the Greater Buffalo Regional Transportation Council, a metropolitan planning organization covering Erie and Niagara counties.

The finished product is expected to help guide future maintenance, rehabilitation and potential reconstruction activities involving the bridges and the thruway corridor.

The cost of the study will be covered under a planning grant awarded to the Thruway Authority last year under the Bridge Investment Program, which is funded through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law.

In an announcement on the awarding of the grant, Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare noted that the original Grand Island bridges were built in the 1930s and have become increasingly expensive to maintain due to both their age and structural complexity. He said at the time that the funding would allow the authority to enhance the safety and improve the efficiency and reliability of the bridges for all who travel over them for generations to come.

The Grand Island Bridges serve more than 47.5 million vehicles annually and are part of a commercial corridor that links an estimated $23.7 billion in US-Canada freight trade. They are also the only connection points between the 21,000 residents of Grand Island and the mainland.
A Thurmont man on Monday was arrested after he allegedly set off multiple homemade explosive devices in public, including in a roadway and near a playground where five children were playing. No one was injured.

John Michael Cintron Jr., 34, is charged with three felony counts of manufacturing, possessing or distributing a destructive device. He also faces five misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment.

During a bail hearing on Tuesday, Cintron appeared from the Frederick County Adult Detention through a video connection, but did not speak.

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On May 27, charging documents say, Cintron was captured on a garage surveillance camera walking along Locust Street in Thurmont.

In the video, Cintron could allegedly be seen reaching into a black bag and removing an object that later exploded, emitting a white cloud of vapor.

Something else exploded as Cintron was reaching into the bag, charging documents say.

The objects that exploded were believed to be bombs made by placing small chunks or pieces of dry ice inside a sealed plastic container.

When a device goes off, the container can shatter, causing pieces of dry ice and shrapnel to scatter, charging documents say.

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Two days after the incident was captured on the garage door camera, some of Cintrons neighbors reportedly visited the Thurmont Police Department to express concerns about his behavior.

One neighbor of Cintrons said they saw him on multiple occasions throw firecrackers and other explosives at all hours of the day and night.

On one such occasion  New Years Eve  Cintron almost hit the neighbors porch while they were sitting on it, charging documents say.

The same neighbor said that, on Memorial Day, Cintron walked past a playground carrying a homemade explosive device emitting a vapor.

A short time later, the device went off, which frightened their child and four others who were in the area at the time, the neighbor said.

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A video of the incident reportedly shows Cintron walking past the playground and into the woods while carrying a bottle. The sound of an explosion can then be heard, and the children can be seen covering their ears while looking in Cintrons direction.

A second person reportedly told Thurmont Police that they had conversations with Cintron in which he admitted to possessing dry ice and other potentially dangerous items such as crossbow arrows, trip wires and kunai, a type of blade.

The second person also said Cintron is known to be combative and makes frequent threats against others, including his neighbors and police officers, according to charging documents.

Online court records show that Cintron is currently subject to a domestic violence protective order that required him to surrender his firearms and abide by several other conditions.

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On Monday, members of Thurmont Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshals Office searched Cintrons residence, where they reportedly found several items consistent with the manufacture of pressure plates and trip wires.

Also found in Cintrons residence were two bags, with one containing 10 to 15 red wrapped firecrackers and the other containing black powder. The black powder was confirmed through a burn test to be energetic, charging documents say.

Held without bail

During a bail review hearing in Frederick County District Court on Tuesday, Jason Shoemaker of the States Attorneys Office argued that Cintron posed a danger to himself and others and should be held without bail pending trial.

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This defendant terrorized his community, Shoemaker told the court.

Shoemaker said it would be difficult to prevent Cintron from making more explosive devices, given that the materials to do so can be purchased from most home improvement stores.

According to Shoemaker, Cintron told police that he has access to dry ice through his job, but he is not authorized to take it.

Online court records show that Cintron was convicted in Florida in 2019 of threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device, and for possessing or discharging a destructive device.

In that case, Shoemaker said during the bail hearing on Tuesday, Cintron targeted a former friend of his with a homemade grenade.

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Following his 2019 conviction, court records show that Cintron was ordered to serve six years in prison. He received credit for 476 days he already served.

Cintron was also ordered to serve nine years on probation, but a Florida court in December 2023 granted a motion to terminate his probation early, records show.

Ricardo Flores, a public defender who represented Cintron during the bail review hearing, argued that Cintron should be placed on home detention while awaiting trial.

Flores said much of the conduct alleged in charging documents went unreported for months, and the court should not weigh those allegations heavily in deciding whether or not Cintron should be granted bail.

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Regarding the alleged incidents late last month, Flores said Cintron was not injured, and neither was anyone else.

Flores said Cintron had been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions, including autism and bipolar disorder, but he appeared to be relatively high-functioning. He said Cintron recently started a new job, which he relies on to support his wife and their three children.

According to Flores, Cintron is concerned that remaining in jail could cause him to lose his job, as he is still in his 90-day probationary period. He asked the court to place Cintron on home detention pending trial.

Washington County District Judge Victoria Lobley, who presided over Cintrons bail hearing in Frederick County District Court on Tuesday, ordered that he be held without bail at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center pending trial.

Lobley cited Cintrons prior conviction for similar conduct in her reasoning for holding him without bail. His next hearing is scheduled for July 2.
Pakistani TikTok star and influencer Sana Yousaf has reportedly died. Yousaf was a prominent social media personality in Pakistan and had garnered over a million followers on TikTok and several hundred thousand followers on Instagram.

TikTok star Sana Yousafs cause of death explained

17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf was reportedly shot dead at her home in Islamabad, Pakistan, around 5 p.m. local time on June 2, 2025. Her mother and aunt were near her when the incident took place. According to the authorities, Yousaf was killed because she declined a mans advances (via USA Today).

Islamabad Police apprehended 22-year-old Umar Hayat, the reported main suspect in the killing, a day after the incident. Hayat lived around 200 miles away from Islamabad in the city of Faisalabad. Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistans Interior Minister, took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that the authorities had recovered the murder weapon as well as Yousafs iPhone and that the main suspect had confessed to the murder.

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In a June 3 press conference, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, the Inspector General of Islamabad, offered details about the case. He called the accused a monster, cold-blooded murderer before adding that he was now in the laws grip. Rizvi noted that the accused wanted to become friends with Yousaf, but the latter rejected him multiple times. First, it was a cellular rejection. Now, it was a physical mode of rejection, Rizvi elaborated.

Per the authorities, the suspect planned Yousafs murder. He broke into her home and shot her before fleeing the scene. Rizvi stated that the accused took Yousafs phone to erase any possible indications of his involvement. It was a blind murder; there were no leads, and things were not clear, he said. Attempts were made to give the incident another angle, even though the aim of taking the mobile was to wipe out the clues.

The authorities also mentioned that the accused hail from an impoverished background. He had completed his matriculation, which is the equivalent to high school in the US, with no source of income.

Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.

The post TikTok Star Sana Yousaf Passes Away at 17 appeared first on Mandatory.
CANTON, Miss. (WJTV)  Tim Taylor (D) is the apparent winner of the Canton mayoral race.

The unofficial results showed Taylor defeated Chip Matthews (R) and Walter Peeples (I).

Comelia Walker, who lost to Taylor in the Democratic primary runoff election on April 22, is taking her election challenge to the Mississippi Supreme Court. She lost by less than 50 votes and asked for a recount.

Taylor was certified as the winner and was on the ballot on Tuesday. Walker filed a petition claiming recently annexed areas of the city were not able to vote.

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Over the weekend, a judge dismissed her petition saying there was no evidence any voter was disenfranchised. Walker appealed the judges decision on Monday.

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Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 4, according to the Tribunes archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 97 degrees (1977)

Low temperature: 35 degrees (1945)

Precipitation: 2.28 inches (2002)

Snowfall: Trace (1905)

1873: Alta May Hulett then just 19 years old  became the first woman admitted to the Illinois bar and allowed to practice law in Illinois, according to the Illinois Supreme Court.

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The Chicago-based attorney received the first judgment in her clients favor on June 21, 1873. The case involved nothing very tragic nor pathetic, the Tribune reported.

It was not a case of a beautiful heiress seeking a divorce from a coal-heaver, or was there a widow and five children,  two at the breast,  and all staying, before the Court; nor was it a case in which a brutal husband broke all the china on the head of an afflicted, but affectionate, wife; it was not any of these; there was not a tear or a sigh, or a drop of blood, or a particle of sentiment, or a taste of lager in it from Alpha to Omega,  nothing to excite the sympathies or make the blood course faster, or the heart beat quicker, or the hair to stand on end. No, Frichka vs. Durkin was an exceedingly quiet case indeed.

Washerwoman Martha Frichka rented space in her home on Madison Street to Mr. Durkin (no first name was given), who was a butcher. But when Durkins partner left his business, he refused to pay rent. His reason: Why should a butcher pay money to a washerwoman?

After Hulett spoke just 10 minutes at the start of the case and another 15 minutes during closing arguments, the jury of six men disappeared for just two minutes before returning with a verdict for the washerwoman.

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The Tribune praised Huletts work in the courtroom but also noted the venue itself could use a good tidying-up.

Now they are nothing but roofed spittoons. The floors are flooded with tobacco juice, and an odor of stale smoke, interspersed by beer and whisky fumes.

Hulett died of consumption (tuberculosis) just four years later. The Chicago Bar Associations award for outstanding lawyer is named in her honor.

1944: Germanys U-505 submarine was taken by American Task Group 22.3, near Africa. It was the first time since the 19th century the U.S. Navy had captured an enemy vessel at sea.

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Vintage Chicago Tribune: Move it, move it!!! Relocating houses, streets and even a submarine around the city.

A decade later, the sub became a major exhibit at Chicagos Museum of Science and Industry.

1977: At least two people were killed and 15 Chicago police officers were hurt when a Puerto Rican celebration in Humboldt Park turned into a two-day riot along Division Street. Witnesses said trouble broke out after a Latin Kings street gang member was shot in the leg by a rival.

When police tried to close the park, crowds hurled bricks, bottles, rocks, sticks, chairs and other debris, the Tribune reported.

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It was the worst violence in the area since 1966, when seven people were shot, dozens were hurt and 37 arrested during two nights of rioting.

1986: Vicious, an independently produced play that reimagined what happened the night Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious murdered his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre. Tribune critic Sid Smith panned the drama as no way fascinating. But Smith admired the smooth, streetwise swagger of a prostitute/dealer character named Champ, who was played by George Clooney.

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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
Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ has formally announced hes running for a second term in 2026.

Russ, a Republican whos from Cordell, made the announcement on Wednesday, June 4, becoming the first person to enter the race for treasurer. He first won election to the office in 2022, capturing 64.8% of the vote to succeed Randy McDaniel, who chose not to run for re-election.

Russ, a former banker, registered with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission last September to begin raising money for his 2026 reelection effort. His most recent campaign finance report, for the first quarter of 2025, indicated he had $14,429 in that account.

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Before being elected as treasurer, Russ represented District 55 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2009 to 2022. During his tenure, he served as chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations and Budget subcommittee and was a member of former House Speaker Charles McCalls leadership team.

As Treasurer, I use my extensive background in banking and business, along with more than a decade of mastering the inner workings of state government, to help conservatively manage Oklahomas money and financial resources, significantly improving the states financial position, Russ said in a statement.

State Treasurer Todd Russ (right) is running for re-election in 2026.

The state treasurer serves on ten boards: the State Board of Equalization, the Council of Bond Oversight, the Teachers Retirement System, the Public Employees Retirement System, the State Pension Oversight Commission, the Oklahoma College Savings Plan, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, the Capitol Improvement Authority, the Industrial Finance Authority and the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board.

Russ has more than 30 years of banking and business experience. He once served as president and chief executive officer of the Washita State Bank in Burns Flat and he also has worked in management consulting. He has served on the Oklahoma Bankers Association Board of Directors and as chairman of that organizations Small Bank Council.

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During Russ first 2 years as treasurer, the states bond rating has twice been upgraded by Standard & Poors and Moodys, the nations two largest credit rating agencies and Oklahomas investment portfolio has posted the highest earnings in the states history. The states education savings program, known as Oklahoma 529, is administered by Russ office and has grown by 21.6%, passing the $1 billion mark in account withdrawals in October 2023.

Russ tenure has not been completely smooth sailing, though. Russ and another statewide elected official, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, have gotten crossways over multiple issues, including legal representation in a case involving a controversial law that blocks Oklahoma from contracting with financial firms that limit oil and gas investments.

More recently, a board led by Russ, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Investors, sued Drummond over who has the final say when the state enters into contracts or other legal agreements with investment managers. The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit on Monday, with Russ and Drummond exchanging sharply worded statements criticizing the other.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Todd Russ, Oklahoma's state treasurer, announces re-election bid
Vice President JD Vance, introduced warmly by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressed what previously would have been described as an unusual group of Republicans.

The pair attended the black-tie gala of the American Compass institute to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the think tank that best encapsulates, and has most advanced, the New Right, a kind of conservatism defined by skepticism of corporate capital, adoration of union labor, wariness of foreign entanglements, a belief in a more muscular America, and an appetite for bigger government.

None of this was Republican orthodoxy a few short years ago, but now the apostates are ascendent.

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Vance was interviewed Tuesday by Oren Cass, the former Mitt Romney advisor now despised by the business-friendly Wall Street Journal editorial board, a fact the American Compass founder proudly referenced throughout the evening. From the main stage of the National Building Museum, a center devoted to American architecture, Cass surveyed the movement he helped built.

And the vice president agreed.

"This is a 20-year project to actually get America back to commonsense economic policy," Vance told a crowd decidedly on the younger side. How should this project, the one the Trump administration is pursuing, be judged? The working-class standard he offered: "I just want normal people who work hard and play by the rules to have a good life."

What "worries the hell out of" Vance is the fact that life expectancy has dropped in the United States over the last 40 years when at the same time, at least in his estimation, the same sort of people "have been calling the shots." Read that: a cabal of global elites. They are the ones, these new conservatives complain, who pursued market efficiency overall, even if it meant gutting and offshoring domestic industry at the expense of national interest. "We were governed by complete morons," said the VP.

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Hence the need to move on from some of the old conservative ideas.

Abigail Ball summarized the general idea. Said the executive director of the organization, "This country was built with an understanding that markets are for people, not ends in themselves." The populism of the last five years, defined by the first and second Trump seasons, represented "a paradigm shift" and "a rediscovery of that core conservative principle."

It is also a kind of revolution. So said Vance. "Ive given up hope that we can persuade most of the think-tank intellectuals in Washington, D.C., to change," he told the crowd. "We can't change them. What we can do is replace them with all of you. And thats exactly what we aim to do."

A new kind of elite listened to intellectualized MAGA boilerplate from Vance about the need to achieve fairer trade, reorient higher education to the national interest, and reshore manufacturing. They were the same themes of any Trump rally. But like the president, they are also ascendent in influence across normally crossways interests.

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The American Iron and Steel Institute sponsored the event featuring a heavy dose of protectionism. So did the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a somewhat unusual development considering previous Republican suspicion of labor. The corporate money was similarly ironic; BlackRock, Google, and Walmart all underwrote the evening.

Fresh from a fight with the Wall Street Journal, Vance was the undeniable draw of the evening. Referencing the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a recent op-ed, the vice president had defended calling the markets "a tool" for government ends, something that more libertarian conservatives find anathema and was music to American Compass ears.

Vance is different than the rest of the political class, Cass previously told RCP. The vice president, he said of his longtime friend, was "a founding member" of the New Right, he said, recalling late-night online debates from before his time in politics. "Vance brings a depth of understanding and eagerness to fight and win on the issues," he said, "that goes far beyond what you get from a typical politician."

The same goes for Secretary of State Marco Rubio who pioneered much of the populism that now dominates the GOP. President Trump governs by gut. While in the Senate, Rubio tried to categorize and intellectualize MAGA. He called it "common good conservatism." He was first, not Vance, a genealogy the diplomat referenced playfully onstage.

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Rubio recalled meeting Vance "back when he was only a best-selling author and not even a political figure." Since joining the administration, his respect for the vice president has only grown, he added, saying that Vance was "doing a phenomenal job" and "my admiration for him has grown tremendously." The vice president later gushed that "Marco is, if anything, more impressive privately than he is publicly." More than just niceties, senior administration officials tell RCP that the friendship is genuine.

Unspoken was the fact that there can only be one Republican presidential nominee in 2028. Both men have expressed interest in the job previously. But life after Trump will arrive at some point, and Republicans will have to have answer for what Trumpism means without Trump. Some conservatives, like Ben Shapiro, said that question is akin to saying "Whats compassionate conservatism outside of George W. Bush." The answer, that conservative once told RCP, was "not much."

Vance, Rubio, and the ascendent GOP apostates say otherwise.

Philip Wegmann is White House correspondent for RealClearPolitics.
John Thune is wasting no time moving President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill through the Senate.

The Senate majority leader laid out a rat-a-tat tempo for the coming weeks in an exclusive interview with POLITICO that he hopes will culminate in final passage of the party-line megabill by Republicans July 4 deadline.

Senate committees will fully release revised text of the bill by the end of next week, Thune said. Panel markups where that text might be debated and potentially amended will be highly optional. And he is already in close consultation with Trump about targeting key senators who will need to be persuaded to back the sprawling legislation.

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He's been very engaged, the South Dakota Republican said. I think he would do that whether we asked [or not], but we tried to give him some direction, yeah.

Thune laid out the detailed timeline after POLITICO first reported Monday that some Senate panels will start releasing their tweaks this week  starting with the Armed Services Committee Tuesday night.

Next week, panels writing the trickiest and most substantial parts  including the Senate Finance Committee  will release text. Trump will meet with other Republican members of the tax-writing panel at the White House Wednesday and lay out kind of what he wants to see, Thune said.

Now five months into his longtime dream job, Thune is tasked with shepherding his partys biggest legislative priority to fruition with little margin for error. Republicans need to figure out how to corral nearly all their members while bridging internal divides on thorny issues such as the size of spending cuts, the future of social safety net programs and the architecture of major tax policies.

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It's striking the right balance, Thune said. Without getting into the particulars, there are a ton of tradeoffs you have to make.

He compared trying to lock down the bill to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole but added that he believes he has a handle on what the dials are and how they can be turned and what the various options are to try to get to 51.

Thune has at least one guaranteed no vote in Sen. Rand Paul, with the Kentucky Republican vowing to oppose the bill as long as an increase in the debt ceiling is included. Thune noted that hes spoken extensively with Sen. Ron Johnson, a deficit hawk whom leadership views as their second-most-likely opponent. Meeting the Wisconsin Republicans public demands of trillions of dollars in additional spending cuts will be a tall order, Thune acknowledged.

I never give up, Thune said, and leaders are doing everything we can to move the bill in a direction that he would be more predisposed to be for. But, you know, he's made some fairly strong statements out there.

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At the end of the day, everybody's going to have to make a decision about whether or not this is better than the status quo, and, do I really want to take this down? he added.

Trump has already started calling some senators who will be Thunes toughest votes to lock down, with Thune calling him the closer. Its not just conservative hard-liners who need attention: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters on Tuesday that she has spoken with administration officials about her concerns about the potential impact on rural hospitals. Trump also called Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has raised concern about the Houses changes to Medicaid. Thune and Hawley have met to discuss his position.

Thune is also trying to coordinate with Speaker Mike Johnson, who has urged the Senate to make as few changes as possible to the House bill. But Thune said that was an unrealistic expectation  particularly on the state-and-local-tax deduction, an especially tough issue in the House.

It would be very, very hard to get the Senate to vote for what the House did on SALT, Thune said. Weve just got some people that feel really strongly on this.

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Other areas that could see changes include SNAP, the nutrition program formerly known as food stamps. Thune acknowledged a concern among some of our members about the Houses plan to require states to carry some of the programs cost.

Thune met with Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) Tuesday, and leadership has given the panel a list of potential savings options that would not require shifting costs to the states.

The process of tweaking the bill will largely happen behind closed doors in the coming weeks. Thune said it will be up to each Senate committee to decide whether to hold votes on their piece of the bill. While he said he believes some will, no panel has yet announced it will do so.

After the Finance panel  which has jurisdiction over both the tax and Medicare provisions  releases its text sometime next week, Senate Republicans will fine tune the bill, Thune said, during the third week of the month to ensure it can get 51 votes  possibly including a tie-breaker from Vice President JD Vance.

Probably in the last two weeks of [June], we really start homing in on, you know, getting ready to get it to the floor the last week, he said.
South Koreas new President Lee vows to pursue talks with North and bolster ties with US and Japan

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas new President Lee Jae-myung vowed Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan, as he laid out key policy goals for his single, five-year term. Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Koreas leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year. In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with North Korean nuclear threats and its potential military aggressions with strong deterrence based on the South Korea-U.S.
Adm. Sam Paparo says leaders need to assume risk for their teams if they want to move fast.

He said they can't rely on middle managers, often blamed as the "frozen middle," to decide.

Leaders wanting change should give their teams official leeway to "go break the rules," he said.

A leader's job is to take responsibility for risks, instead of leaving middle managers to shoulder the question of whether to try new things, a top Navy commander said.

Speaking during a Saturday Q&A at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Adm. Sam Paparo said the US military needed to abandon its work culture of "operating at the speed of committee instead of the speed of combat."

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To do that, he told delegates and reporters, the military needs someone to take innovative risks.

"And if we are putting that risk on middle management and expecting them to take that risk, then, you know, we're not leading," said Paparo, who's the commander of US forces in the Indo-Pacific.

The admiral said middle managers are often blamed for a resistance to change.

"This is how the young people and the old people gang up on the middle-aged people, by calling them the frozen middle," said Paparo.

Leaders need to be the ones to "eat risk," he added.

"So, if you are in a leadership position, and you want your team to innovate faster, to move fast, and to break things, you have to assume their risk. You have to eat it," Paparo said. "Give them some letter that has your name on the bottom of it that allows them to go break the rules and do this thing."

The US military has to speed up

The admiral was addressing the topic of how the US military  America's single largest employer by far  is now taking on new technologies from private venture-backed research and development, instead of the traditional defense acquisition model.

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Palmer Luckey's Anduril, for example, recently announced a joint effort with Meta to create extended reality headsets for the US military. The firms said development would be funded by "private capital, without taxpayer support."

At the panel, Paparo repeatedly warned that the US military must radically speed up its processes and decision-making to succeed in the next few decades. Washington's main concern in Paparo's jurisdiction, the Indo-Pacific, has been China's rapidly advancing and expanding military.

Paparo didn't specifically name China as a threat at the panel. Earlier that day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had publicly warned at the same conference that China's military buildup signaled that it could go to war soon.

"Nobody knows what China will ultimately do, but they are preparing, and therefore we must be ready as well," Hegseth told military leaders and representatives of 47 countries.

A rear admiral from China later said Hegseth's statements were "groundless accusations."

Read the original article on Business Insider
SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -A jury in El Salvador sentenced three retired high-ranking military officers to 15 years in prison for the murder of four Dutch journalists in 1982, one of the highest profile cases of the Central American nation's civil war.

The three were charged on Tuesday for the killings of journalists Koos Joster, Jan Kuiper Joop, Johannes Jan Wilemsen and Hans ter Laag, who were reporting for IKON Television during a 1982 military ambush on a group of former Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) guerrillas - some of whom were armed.

A U.N. truth commission 11 years later found the ambush was "deliberately planned to surprise and kill the journalists."

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The trial was closed and details about the defendants' pleas and arguments were not made public.

El Salvador's civil war stretched from 1980 to 1992, pitting leftist guerrillas against the U.S.-backed Salvadoran army and leaving 75,000 people dead and 8,000 more missing.

Former Defense Minister General Jose Guillermo Garcia was sentenced by a jury in the northern town of Chalatenango, alongside two colonels: former Treasury Police chief Francisco Moran and former infantry brigade commander Mario Reyes.

All three - respectively aged 91, 93 and 85 - were sentenced in absentia. Garcia and Moran are in hospital under custody and Reyes currently lives in the United States though El Salvador is in the process of seeking his return.

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"Truth and justice have prevailed, we have won," Oscar Perez, a representative of the Comunicandonos Foundation that represents some of the relatives, told reporters. "The victims are the focus now; not the perpetrators."

Prosecutors had requested the 15-year sentence, taking into account the military officers' age and health conditions.

The jury also issued a civil condemnation to the Salvadoran state over the delay in delivering justice, a symbolic measure that obliges the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, President Nayib Bukele, to publicly ask for forgiveness from the victims' families.

(Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Sharon Singleton)






Key Points

One of the largest ever auctions of Princess Dianas belongings is set to take place later this month in Beverly Hills.

Over 300 items will be up for grabs in the sale, called Princess Dianas Style & A Royal Collection and put on by Juliens Auctions.

One item that you wont find in this auction (or any other)? Winter coatsfor a thoughtful and poignant reason.







Over 300 pieces from Princess Dianas personal collection are going up for auction this monthbut one item bidders wont find? The late Princess of Wales winter coats.

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The auctionset to take place on June 26 at 10 a.m. PST at The Peninsula Beverly Hillswill feature Dianas clothes, shoes, accessories, and handbags, but no winter coats. Juliens Auctions is putting on the sale, called Princess Dianas Style & A Royal Collection, and the auction houses co-founder and executive director Martin Nolan explained why to Peopleand what it says about the late royal.

Getty Princess Diana and Prince William on December 25, 1994 Princess Diana and Prince William on December 25, 1994

We learned through this how generous Diana was, always giving items, he said. And you never see a coat from Diana come to auction, because she used to get her butler or her staff or friends to drive around London, [in] January, February, [in the] freezing cold.

Shed find homeless people, and she would give her coats away, Nolan continued. Thats how she waswithout any spectacle or whatever.

Getty Princess Diana Princess Diana

Living in the U.K., Diana certainly had no shortage of coatsbut, alluding to her passion for helping the homeless, she donated them all. Eradicating homelessness is a cause shes passed down to her sons Prince William and Prince Harry, as they have taken up the mantle since her death on August 31, 1997 at just 36 years old.

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Though there wont be any winter coats, there will be plenty of other items in the sale to choose from, including pieces from Dianas enviable wardrobe. She worked with Anna Harvey from British Vogue, an editor, and other designers because she always wanted to spotlight British designers and up-and-coming designers, Nolan said. But then the people that she [had] advising her said, Diana, youre more than just a British royal. Youre a global icon.

So then she started wearing Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Versace, he added. So she wore more of the internationally known brands.

Getty Images Princess Diana wearing Chanel

Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images Princess Diana in Versace

One item up for auction is Princess Dianas Lady Dior purse, named for Dianawho was Lady Diana Spencer before her 1981 marriageand gifted to her by Bernadette Chirac, the First Lady of France, in September 1995. Originally known as the Chouchou bag, the bag was renamed in her honor after Diana wore it on her arm in Argentina in November 1995 and popularized it.

Courtesy of Dior Princess Diana carrying a Lady Dior bag Princess Diana carrying a Lady Dior bag

And its the most talked about, sought-after item that we could have in this entire lot, Nolan told People. People just love, love, love this bag. If you were to buy it in the high street today, [it would] cost you somewhere between $6,500 and $7,000, if you could get it. We estimate this one, Princess Dianas, [will go for] $20,000 to $40,000but itll go to the roof.

Read the original article on InStyle
Can Touring Truly Go Green? Five Takeways from SXSW London

At the inaugural SXSW London taking place June 2-7, with nearly 900 speakers participating in some 500 sessions, one specific topic was of sharp relevance to the music industry  indeed, every industry and every attendee.

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The climate crisis.

The past year saw extreme weather drive fires across the music capital of Los Angeles; a cyclone prompt cancellations of some two dozen live events in Australia in a single week; and more than 50 festivals in the U.K. either postponed or canceled due to forces including higher weather-related insurance costs.

Climate change is not some distant threat, said Leila Toplic, chief communications and trust officer of Carbonfuture, which provides verification of efforts to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

The business case for taking action is still there, remarked Helen Clarkson, CEO of the the Climate Group, a non-profit whiich has worked with more than 500 multinational businesses in 175 markets. (She spoke during a panel provocatively entitled Canceling Sustainabilty, about efforts to purse a green agenda in the face of new anti-environmental rhetoric in Washington, D.C.)

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SXSW London organizers tapped the Bellwethers Group, which is focused on building a green economy, as its the official sustainability partner and the company hosted several days of panels at the Nature and Cimate House.

One of those panels focused on the role that advertising and public relations agencies can play in guiding businesses which claim to be concerned about the climate. Lameya Chaudhury, head of social impact for the mission-driven creative agency Luck Generals, remarked: The question were asking of clients in 2025 is  did you really fking mean it?

SXSW London builds on the four-decade legacy of the South By Southwest music, arts, film and tech conference and festival launched in Austin, Texas, in 1987. Two years ago, Penske Media (the owner of Billboard) took a majority interest in the company which now presents conferences in Austin; Sydney, Australia; and now in the formerly industry district of Shoreditch in East London.

The climate-focused discussion that hit closest to home for the music industry took place Wednesday morning. Billed as The Future of Sustainable Live Events, it was moderated by Claire ONeill, CEO and co-founder of the international nonprofit A Greener Future and co-founder of green energy specialists, Grid Faeries.

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Panel participants included Sam Booth, director of sustainability for AEG Europe; Alex Bruford, founder, managing director and agent with ATC Live, whose clients include The Lumineers and Fontaines DC; and Mark Stevenson, co-founder of CUR8, whose mission is to remove 1 billion tons of carbon a year from the atmosphere.

Here are five key takeaways from their discussion.

Follow The Leaders

Artists including Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Massive Attack and The 1975 are at the forefront of efforts to reduce the climate impact of their live performances, panelists said. Coldplay has reported that carbon emissions  from show production, freight, band and crew travel  on the first two years of its Music of the Spheres Tour were 59% less than its previous stadium tour (2016-2017) on a show-by-show basis, with its figures verified by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative. Eilish has partnered with REVERB to reduce the environmental footprint of her touring. Massive Attacks hometown show in Bristol last year set a new standard for low carbon emissions by being fully battery powered and selling only vegan food, one of several such initiatives by the group. At Londons O2 Arena in February of last year, The 1975 worked with A Greener Future, CUR8 and venue manager AEG to remove a reported 545.9 tons of carbon from the atmosphere over its four-night stand.

Climate Focus Needed Earlier

Despite the almost daily drumbeat of dire news about the state of the climate, when it comes to how touring practices must change, The majority of people in the music industry are not focused on it, said Bruford at ATC Live. Not enough people are having that discussion. And when artists or their teams do ask how they can reduce the carbon impact of tours, they are doing so too late in the day, saiid ONeill of A Greener Future, when the scale of production is set and shows are routed.

The Green Triumph of The 1975

Three of the panelists  ONeill, Stevenson of CUR8 and Booth of AEG  were involved in the ground-breaking move last year by The 1975 to not only reduce the carbon imprint of their live show but remove carbon from the atmosphere during the bands four shows at the O2 Arena. Its amazing what can happen when you apply a cost to carbon, said Booth, explaining how The 1975 made decisions affecting everything from the merchandise available at the shows to the food at its concessions, with an eye toward carbon impact at the shows in February 2024. A small surcharge on tickets paid to offset the cost of carbon emissions from fan travel. At the time, the O2 announced that the concerts drew upon a portfolio of carbon removal methods to physically extract the carbon generated by the events from the atmosphere and durably store it out of harms way  a game-changing step on the path to helping the global live events industry reach genuine net-zero.

Starting The Conversation

As much as artists may be concerned about the future of the climate, These guys are busy creating art, said AEGs Booth. For that reason, suggested ATCs Bruford, Thats where the [artists] team needs to step up. I think it comes down to the managers, the agents, the tour production staff to raise the topic of reducing a tours climate impact very early in the planning process. Its our responsibility to say to the artist, We can do this!

Staying Home is Not An Option

Despite the massive energy required to transport and stage a major concert tour, panelists agreed that the greatest climate impact of the live music business comes from fans themselves traveling to shows. For her summer U.K. tour, Eilish partnered with Trainline to offer discounted train tickets for fans who travel to her shows by rail. For Stevenson of CUR8, even as his venture focuses on removing carbon from the atmosphere, giving up travel for concerts is not a life well lived on a planet well loved, he said.

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Weather forecasters said a flood watch would remain in effect through the evening of June 4 for parts of northwest Arizona, including the village of Supai and a nearby campground on the Havasupai reservation in the Havasu Canyon portion of the Grand Canyon.

The National Weather Service on June 3 issued a flood warning for the remote area, which is widely known for its blue-green waterfalls and the rugged hike to get there, just before 5 p.m. Law enforcement reported that hikers had been stranded near Havasu Creek, according to the weather service. Havasu Creek is a Colorado River tributary that runs through the Havasupai reservation.

Abbie Fink, a spokesperson for the Havasupai Tribe, said there had been flooding on June 3 and that all tourists and tribe members were accounted for and all right. Fink said campers were advised to move to higher ground because of the flooding.

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Fink said that the trail into Havasu Canyon is passable, and the campground is open, with no plans to close either. The tribe's tourism office continues to monitor the situation, Fink said. Visitors should proceed with caution and follow all park ranger instructions.

The weather service kept a flood watch in place after previously extending a flash flood warning. The watch means flash flooding is possible in areas including creeks and normally dry washes, as well as low-water crossings and side and narrow slot canyons. Other Arizona cities covered by the watch include Sedona, Tuba City, Flagstaff and Prescott.

One to two inches of rain had fallen near Supai on June 3, with an additional two to four inches of rainfall hitting the upper Havasu Creek basin, according to the weather service.

High water moved down Cataract Creek and into Havasu Creek from heavy rainfall overnight, the weather service said. The weather service had advised campers to head to higher ground and avoid footbridges that could be washed out.

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While the extent of any damage from the flooding was not immediately clear, the floodwaters did not appear to prompt a public safety response on the scale of the year prior. Flooding in the remote canyon in August 2024 killed a hiker and prompted the rescue of about 100 tourists and tribe members.

Two agencies that helped lead that response  the Coconino County Sheriff's Office and Arizona National Guard  confirmed June 3 that they had not been called in to assist after the more recent rainfall.

(This article was updated to add new information and a photo gallery.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: All tourists at Havasupai Falls are accounted for after flooding
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Traceys bar was a fixture in the Irish Channel for years on Magazine Street.

Recently, the bar moved to a new location, but the business struggled. So, it made the tough decision to close down at the end of May.

Owners of Traceys Bar involved in fight over name of popular Irish Channel spot

Now, the business is selling its furniture. Chairs, barstools and tables are all for sale.

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In a post on Instagram, the owners say prices range from $80 to $350.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  As Henderson County battles flash flooding, some roads have been shut down for the safety of East Texans.

According to Henderson County, flash flooding is possible with heavy rains, so the county encourages residents to turn around if they encounter a flooded road.

Never walk, swim, or drive through still or moving floodwaters, the county said. The water may be hiding dangers such as debris, tree branches, power lines or damage to the road. As little as six inches of fast-moving water can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle, even a pickup truck or SUV.

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A flash flood warning has been issued till June 8 at 9:25 p.m. in Henderson County. KETK has compiled the following list of road closures in the area:

County Road 1500 East and West is closed

The bridge on County Road 1507 is flooded and not passable

County Road 1113 is flooded at the creek and is not passable

County Road 2448 is under water

Pritchett Road in Seven Points is closed from Jess Hinton to County Road 2105

County Road 2139 south of 85 is closed

County Road 2428 east is closed

The bridge on County Road 3918 was washed over and is not passable

The bridge on FM 316 by Purtis Creek is flooded

County Road 3822

County Road 3715 has since reopened.

Emergency Management said they received reports of stranded vehicles due to high water this morning, but all has cleared out as of now and no injuries were reported.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
AT&T was among the corporations getting tax rebates from the state of Tennessee. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Tennessees newly-released listing of companies netting a business tax refund creates the appearance of transparency without providing the public a true picture, according to an open government advocate.

Deborah Fisher, executive director of Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, said Tuesday the information posted May 31 on the Department of Revenue website should contain more exact amounts of refunds to the 60,000 companies that received an estimated total of $1.5 billion. The lists also should remain available for more than 30 days because removal lends itself to secrecy, Fisher said.

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When lawmakers passed the Republican-backed measure in 2024 at the request of Gov. Bill Lee, senators were loath to put out any public information. But the House demanded a modicum of openness before supporting Senate Bill 2103.

These are people threatening to sue the state, and they got $1.5 billion in refunds. Tell me who they are, tell me how much they got.

 Deborah Fisher, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

That included posting the names of companies that receive the refunds in categories of less than $750, between $750 and $10,000 and more than $10,000.

To say something is above $10,000 is not transparent, because it could be $10,500 or $100,000. This covers three years of tax payments that were calculated  and it is not inconceivable that some companies might get a lot of money back, Fisher said. Thats why (businesses) got the legislature to change the law.

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In addition, Fisher said the governor should release the amount that Lee Company received in the refund and that any lawmaker who applied for a refund should disclose the amount. Lee has consistently said his interest in the family company was placed in a blind trust during his governorship, which will run out in late 2026.

Most proponents of the legislation said last year it was necessary because of the threat of litigation, though state officials never revealed the names of companies challenging the legality of the states franchise and excise tax. Others who supported the measure said it was good tax policy to slash the property tax for businesses statewide.

Was it truly a legal threat or did they just want to give more money away to corporations who contribute to their campaign or who theyre connected with? Fisher said.

Besides the refunds, lawmakers cut the franchise tax  which is levied on companies in amounts based on net worth of capital  by $410 million annually, a move critics say is putting a dent in revenues to the tune of $335 million so far this year.

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Lawmakers and state officials argued against listing more specific information on the rebates by saying taxpayer information is confidential. Fisher, though, said if the matter had gone to court, the information would have become public record, and the public would have had a better indication of how the states franchise tax was faulty.

Maybe it was cheaper to change the law, Fisher said. But still, these are people threatening to sue the state, and they got $1.5 billion in refunds. Tell me who they are, tell me how much they got.

Rep. Jeremy Faison of Cosby, chairman of the House Republican Caucus, defended the law Tuesday by saying every recipient of the significant tax cut is listed on the state site for the public to search and save.

I believe in transparency, and so do my fellow Republicans. Thats exactly why the House made sure the public has easy access to this information, Faison said via text message.

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Only one Republican, Rep. Gino Bulso of Brentwood, voted against the bill, and only one Democrat, Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar, voted for the bill last year. Otherwise, the measure passed along party lines with supermajority Republicans supporting it.

Democratic Rep. Sam McKenzie of Knoxville said Tuesday the list doesnt provide enough transparency and called it a self-serving measure to keep the rich folks rich and hurt working-class Tennesseans. He added that the policy enables businesses such as Lee Company to hide behind the refund ranges, even though they could have received much more than $10,000.

Its obvious that theyre ashamed of it. If theyre not ashamed of it, they wouldnt allow it to sit out there for just 20 or 30 days, McKenzie. Its an indictment.

Democratic Rep. Caleb Hemmer of Nashville echoed those comments, saying the ranges of money are worthless as far as transparency when Fortune 500 companies are lumped in with mom-and-pop businesses.

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They didnt want to put targets on some peoples backs, but theyre asking for pretty significant (refunds), $2 billion of tax revenue in a very odd and unique situation, and I think the more transparency the better, Hemmer said.

Democratic lawmakers, Rep. John Ray Clemmons and Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville proposed an alternative bill last year that they said would have enabled the state to avoid a lawsuit and continue to collect the business tax. Republican lawmakers declined to consider it. Yarbros law firm, Bass, Berry & Sims, received a refund.

Several Senate Republicans declared a conflict of interest when voting for the bill in March 2024, including Sen. Shane Reeves of Murfreesboro, CEO of TwelveStone Health Partners, which is listed as receiving a refund.

Reeves said via text message Tuesday he was comfortable with the reporting ranges in regard to the franchise and excise tax law and said they seemed like a fair compromise.

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A West Virginia University study has revealed that Japanese American women who were likely incarcerated in World War II detention camps as children gave birth to less healthy babies decades later, demonstrating how trauma from forced displacement can ripple across generations.

Key findings

The research, published in the Journal of Public Economics in February, found that Japanese American mothers born on the West Coast before 1946 gave birth to babies weighing 81 grams less on average than babies born to Japanese American mothers from Hawaii. The study documented one additional low birth weight baby per 100 births, equivalent to a 15% increase, among mothers who had been incarcerated.

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Using birth data from 1970 to 1988, researchers analyzed outcomes for women born between 1925 and 1956. Effects persisted even for Japanese American mothers born between 1947 and 1956  a decade after camps closed  with babies 50 to 56 grams lighter. The research used Hawaii as a comparison group since only 1% of Japanese Americans there were incarcerated, compared to nearly complete imprisonment on the mainland West Coast.

Trending on NextShark: Hawaii becomes 1st state to tax tourists for climate change

Why this matters

The research examined the effects of President Franklin Roosevelts 1942 executive order that led to the forced evacuation of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans to prison camps. Lead researcher Daniel Grossman emphasized the studys broader implications about intergenerational trauma.

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Forced migration uproots communities, Grossman told WVU Today. The trauma, loss of assets and displacement have long-lasting effects  Decades after exposure to incarceration, the nutritional, psychological and economic deprivations incarcerees experienced still harm their offspring.

Trending on NextShark: Trauma of Japanese American WWII incarceration lasted generations: study

The findings contribute to growing understanding of how historical injustices can affect multiple generations, potentially informing policies for current displaced populations worldwide.

This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

Trending on NextShark: New report highlights gains and gaps in Asian representation in Hollywood

Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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PITTSBORO  What began as a frightening moment for two travelers passing through Chatham County soon turned into an example of calm, compassionate professionalism, thanks to the quick response of two Chatham County Sheriffs Office deputies.

On April 28, a grandmother and her teenage grandson were driving from Fuquay-Varina to Charlotte when the passenger-side window of their vehicle suddenly shattered as they traveled along U.S. 64.

Alarmed by the sudden noise and damage  and unsure whether they had been shot at  the pair stopped their car and called for help, a release states.

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Deputy Kyle Kothstein was the first to arrive, calmly directing the shaken pair to a safer side road where he ensured no one was injured and assessed the damage to the vehicle. Deputy Tyler Clark soon arrived to assist.

After a thorough inspection, Deputy Kothstein determined that the damage was not caused by gunfire, but was most likely the result of a rock or similar object kicked up from another vehicle.

Even so, he remained on scene for an extended period to ensure the family felt safe and supported. Before sending them on their way, he used a brush he keeps in his patrol vehicle to sweep away the remaining shards of glass to prevent stray pieces from becoming a hazard during the remainder of their drive.

In a letter to Sheriff Mike Roberson, Virginia Dickens of Fuquay-Varina praised both deputies for their patience and professionalism.
A line of storms that rolled through the Ozarks Tuesday evening and into the night dealt damage to communities around the northern Lake of the Ozarks region.

Ozarks First has confirmed the worst damage is centered around Laurie, Missouri in northern Camden County and southern Morgan County, a town of about 1,000 people.

Damage is also being reported in the Gravois Mills area, a town of about 130 people, located less than 10 miles north of Laurie.

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Camden County Emergency Management Director John Scheper tells Ozarks First the storms caused damaged to structures and power poles in the northern part of the county.

At the peak of the outage, nearly 3,000 customer were without power in Miller County, more than 1,000 were out in Camden County, and upwards of 1,500 were out in Morgan County.

By Wednesday morning, crews had made progress to restore power. As of Wednesday at noon, about 500 customers were still out in Miller County and 700 were out in Morgan County.

He mentioned the worst hit areas were just east of Laurie along Highway O.

Photo from Michael Tuha Photo from Michael Tuha Photo from Michael Tuha Photo from Michael Tuha Photo from Michael Tuha

Camden County Emergency Management reports crews will will continue with well-being checks and assessing storm damage.

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Scheper says crews with the National Weather Service will be coming to assess the damage on Wednesday.

The Gravois Mills Fire Protection District reports the severe storms hit the area around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night, causing significant damage across their service area.

The District says fire crews worked through the night until 4:00 AM clearing roads, securing power to affected homes, and reporting downed trees and power lines.

Areas seeing damage around Laurie include:

Chelsie Rd

Purvis Rd

Bass Point

Green Hills

All roads intersecting Highway O

The district asks people to be alert for:

Downed trees on homes, docks, and roadways

Power lines on or near the ground

Damage to electrical service at boat docks

If youre on the water, please reduce your wake.

Many docks have broken ramps, damaged cables, or structural issues that could be made worse by boat traffic.

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Emergency officials ask residents in and around Gravois Mills to email damage@gravoisfire.org to report storm damage. The District asks you to include your address and photos of the damage to help us prioritize response.

Another update is expected by the Gravois Mills Fire Protection District later on Wednesday.

Ozarks First crews are in the area Wednesday working to learn more about the people impacted.

Be sure to check back for updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
A San Diego-area owner-operator was arraigned on Tuesday in an 18-count indictment charging him with bank fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

Hasan Korkmaz, who owns San Diego Logistics Group Inc. based in Santee, California, carried out a credit card bust-out scam in which seemingly legitimate credit card accounts are established and then are busted out by maxing out the credit line with no intention of paying the balance, according to the U.S. attorneys office representing the Southern District of California.

Prosecutors allege that Korkmaz obtained names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and other personal information linked to real people and used the information to apply for numerous credit card accounts.

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After opening the fraudulent accounts, he allegedly used the cards to charge various businesses, including his own trucking company, with some charges as high as $18,500 for a single transaction.





To perpetuate the scheme, Korkmaz also made fraudulent payments, with checks drawn on accounts with insufficient funds or drawn on non-existent accounts, to the credit card accounts, thereby temporarily restoring the available credit limits, according to the attorneys office.

Korkmaz would then incur additional charges on the credit card accounts at or near the maximum credit limits for the accounts.

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Korkmaz is also alleged to have laundered the bank fraud proceeds, including by transferring them to a Turkish bank account he controlled, causing two banks to lose $2.1 million.

According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration registration data, San Diego Logistics Group specializes in hauling refrigerated meat and fresh produce with three tractors and five drivers. It is listed as having an inactive USDOT number.





If convicted, Korkmaz faces maximum sentences of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud, 20 years and $500,000 for money laundering, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.

Related articles:

Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.

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Tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum to the U.S. doubled to 50% starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, after President Donald Trump followed through on his plan to increase the duties.

Trump said on Friday during a visit to a Pittsburgh-area steel mill that he would increase the tariff to 50%, upping the levy to protect steelworker jobs in the U.S. He signed an executive order formalizing the tax increase on Tuesday.

We dont want Americas future to be built with shoddy steel from Shanghai, we want it built with the strength and the pride of Pittsburgh, Trump said from the U.S. Steel facility in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

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The 50% tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries, the executive order said.





In addition to raising steel and aluminum import tariffs to 50%, Trump said he would sign off on a deal in which Japans Nippon Steel will acquire U.S. Steel for $14 billion.

The U.S. is the worlds largest steel importer, with imports accounting for about 25% of the steel used in the country annually, according to the International Trade Administration.

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CNN reported that in 2024, the U.S. imported $31.3 billion worth of iron and steel and $27.4 billion of aluminum, according to the Commerce Department. Canada is the largest supplier of steel to the U.S., followed by Brazil, Mexico and South Korea.

Canadian authorities said they are working to have the tariffs on steel and aluminum removed.





Canadas new government is engaged in intensive and live negotiations to have these and other tariffs removed as part of a new economic and security partnership with the United States, the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement to CTV News on Tuesday.

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Unifor, Canadas largest labor union, called for retaliatory tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminium to match the 50% tariff imposed by Trump.

These tariffs are killing investment in our steel, aluminum, and auto sectors, and we are already seeing the consequences in lost jobs and economic instability, Unifor National President Lana Payne said Wednesday in a news release. We need immediate and forceful action to defend good jobs and safeguard our national economic security.

The 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum apply to all countries, except the United Kingdom, which announced a preliminary trade deal with the Trump administration in May.

The rate for steel and aluminum imports from the U.K. remains at 25% until at least July 9.

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The tariff hike arrives about three months after Trump implemented 25% duties on all imported steel and aluminum, including Mexico and Canada, its partners in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the 50% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum are in violation of the USMCA.

Its an unfair measure, Sheinbaum said Wednesday during her daily morning news conference. In Mexicos case, its unfair because Mexico imports more steel and aluminum than it exports. Formally, a tariff is imposed when theres a deficit for the United States, in other words, as if Mexico were exporting more than it was importing. It has no legal basis because theres a national treaty. Its being considered for U.S. security reasons. Its unsustainable.





The post Trumps 50% tariffs on imported steel, aluminum go into effect appeared first on FreightWaves.
WASHINGTON (NewsNation)  The White House on Wednesday is expecting final offers from its trade partners as President Donald Trumps pause on reciprocal tariffs is set to expire in the coming weeks.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative sent a friendly reminder to countries Tuesday urging them to submit their best offers, in a signal that the administration is preparing to resume global tariffs first imposed on so-called Liberation Day, then paused for 90 days shortly afterward.

Trump admin rescinds emergency abortion guidance

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This letter was simply to remind these countries that the deadline is approaching and the president expects good deals, and we are on track for that, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump: China hard to make a deal with

Trump weighed in on U.S.-China trade talks on social media early Wednesday morning.

I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is very tough, and extremely hard to make a deal with, he wrote.

The White House said a call between Trump and Xi is expected sometime this week, though no hard date has been set.

EU-US trade talks heat up in Paris

Meanwhile, the European Union, which says it did not receive the administrations letter, is set to meet with U.S. trade representatives Wednesday in Paris.

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The EU has warned it may speed up its retaliatory measures if Trump follows through with his tariff threats.

US doubles steel, aluminum tariffs

Trump announced at a rally in Pennsylvania last month that the U.S. would double tariffs on steel and aluminum, increasing them from 25% to 50%, starting today.

WH tapping local, state, fed databases for immigrant info: Report

The decision was met with cheers from steelworkers but has some concerned that manufacturers will pass higher costs on to consumers.

Experts estimate cars could cost up to $4,000 more due to pricier steel, and aluminum cans for soda, beer and canned food may also become more expensive.

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The White House has defended the move and said the tariffs are crucial to national security and the U.S. economy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Republicans in Congress are anxious that the Trump administration is spending beyond its means to meet the presidents ambitious deportation goals. The White House is moving ahead anyway.

The showdown over one of President Donald Trumps signature priorities is the latest fight between the two branches over who has the power of the purse. It comes as the administration is pressuring lawmakers to pass a megabill that would add billions in funding for border security  with appropriators quietly urging Trump officials to slow down and not act based on the hype of potential legislation of which passage is not guaranteed.

And even as lawmakers publicly and privately plead for the administration to stick within its budget, top White House officials, including senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, have instead intensified efforts to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.

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You think that Stephen Miller is going to accept, sorry Stephen, Im just waiting on my annual appropriation, Ill get back to you? said an administration official, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. Thats not a response you give him.

Trumps top aides are pressing ICE for higher arrest numbers, with Miller calling for at least 3,000 apprehensions a day  double what the agency was tasked with during Trumps first month in office. Acting ICE director Todd Lyons said the agency is currently averaging 1,600.

Concerns on Capitol Hill spilled into the open during a hearing last month. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) chair of the House appropriations subcommittee overseeing resources to the Department of Homeland Security, said his office lacked the information it needed to ensure the agency was spending funds approved by Congress. The administration, he said, could be risking a violation of the Antideficiency Act, which bars federal agencies from using resources before Congress has greenlit the spending.

I would appreciate it if you, for your part, would let folks know up your chain of command that this information, if its not coming in real time, is not useful, Amodei told Lyons, who was on hand to testify. [We] have to keep in mind things like the Antideficiency Act  and Ill just be honest with you, speaking for me, I dont know that I have the information that I need to make sure that were doing our job in the context of that.

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Republicans widely support spending on border enforcement, detainment and deportations. They are also expected to back the White Houses request to Congress to claw back Congressionally appropriated funding, even if it could pose a political liability for some moderate GOP lawmakers. But the administrations brazen tactics are poised to test whether Hill Republicans can stomach losing even more of their power over federal government operations.

Its not just the Democrats saying theyll throw a wrench in this, the administration official said. Its the Republicans, too, questioning why were spending beyond our means.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican appropriator from Florida, said getting information about the administrations spending has been an issue writ large and that there have been some growing pains given how quickly the president has moved to enact new policy.

Things are happening really fast, and were not always getting the information on a timely basis, he said in an interview, while declining to comment on concerns about DHS spending specifically.

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When asked about the tensions between Congress and the White House, administration officials told POLITICO that Senate Republicans must advance the House-passed tax and spending package so the agency can hire more Border Patrol and ICE agents, and fund border wall construction and new technology. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, in a statement, said with the most secure border in American history, the administration cant let up now.

The White House echoed DHS and said Trump is keeping his promises to secure the Southern Border and deport illegal aliens.

All of the tremendous success were already seeing in such a short time can be locked in and made permanent with final passage of The One, Big, Beautiful Bill  it will provide the funding needed to deport the millions of illegals who entered under Joe Biden and permanently secure the border, said spokesperson Abigail Jackson.

Democrats are unsurprisingly more blunt in their criticism of what they see as an administration running roughshod over Congress. They are spending beyond their means, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in an interview. They are going to run out of money two months prior to the end of the fiscal year.

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Despite Congressional concerns, the White House is signaling its impatience with even the current progress. ICE last week underwent another leadership shake-up, underscoring the administrations frustrations with the arrest and deportation numbers. Robert Hammer, the acting head of Homeland Security Investigations, was reassigned after just four months in the role, and Kenneth Genalo, who was acting chief of enforcement and removal operations, announced he was retiring.

And while ICEs importance to the Trump agenda is unparalleled, the administrations insistence that it can control what it spends is not. Proposals from the Office of Management and Budget suggest that some agencies have been directed to execute the White Houses fiscal 2026 budget request now  as opposed to adhering to the current enacted funding levels.

A proposal from the White House budget office, obtained by POLITICOs E&E News , directs the Commerce Department to align its 2025 spending with the plan that it lays out for the following year. The OMB proposal for NASA also contains language that states the directive to begin 2026 plans explicitly, according to two people familiar with NASAs budget.

If the administration continues to press the potential limits of its funding power, it could set up a looming confrontation with Republican appropriators. Rep. David Joyce, an Ohio Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, said it would be an issue if the administration was playing around with funds Congress had not yet approved.

If youre taking money that, from other pockets, and then going to backfill it when you get your allocation, thats a problem, he said.

Chelsea Harvey and Sam Skove contributed to this report.
The Department of Education on Wednesday announced that Columbia University no longer appears to meet accreditation standards due to student protests over Israels ongoing war in Gaza, threatening the Ivy League institutions accreditation status.

President Donald Trump and his administration argue that the protests constitute antisemitism and have been using the issue as ammunition in a culture war against elite institutions of higher education.

The Department of Education does not issue accreditation itself. Rather, it recognizes accrediting agencies, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, of which Columbia is a member.

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Education Secretary Linda McMahon pressured the Middle States Commission in a statement.

Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants, she said.

The Middle States Commission will now have to come up with a plan to address the issues. If Columbia does not cooperate, its accreditation could be revoked.

We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbias compliance with accreditation standards including compliance with federal civil rights laws, McMahon said.

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The commission confirmed that it received a letter from the Department of Education but declined to comment any further.

A spokesperson for Columbia said the university was aware of the concerns and has addressed them directly with Middle States.

Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus. We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it, the spokesperson said.

The Education Departments civil rights office announced last week that it had determined Columbias leadership acted with deliberate indifference toward the harassment of Jewish students, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that programs receiving federal funds cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin.

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Since retaking office, Trump has been targeting Columbia and other top-tier schools like Harvard for alleged antisemitism as Israel continues to raze the Gaza Strip and starve its inhabitants.

Trump canceled a whopping $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University back in March. While the school capitulated to the presidents demands, it did not result in a restoration of the funding; an additional $250 million in funds from the National Institutes of Health were frozen later.

Related...
The Trump administration has rescinded Biden-era guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions when necessary to stabilize a patients health - even in states that ban the procedure.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the change Tuesday, saying the guidance did not reflect the policy of this Administration.

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The Biden administration had issued the guidance in July 2022, weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the national right to abortion, to clarify that a federal law guaranteeing emergency care for patients in peril took precedence over state abortion bans. It later sued Idaho in federal court to enforce penalties against hospitals that disregarded the federal policy to adhere to the states strict abortion ban.

The Trump administrations decision is not unexpected, but it will probably make health-care providers uneasy, especially if they practice in states with severe abortion bans, said Kelly Gillespie, director of the Center for Health Law Studies at St. Louis University. The Biden-era guidance was intended not only to protect pregnant patients but also to offer clarity to health-care providers in states with strict abortion laws.

The providers are only human, she said. Its very natural for them to avoid anything that could lead them into serious legal jeopardy.

When the Department of Health and Human Services issued the guidance in 2022, it was intended to reinforce that health care providers could terminate a pregnancy in emergent situations amid a new patchwork of state abortion bans. The law at hand, the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act - known as EMTALA - was enacted in 1986 and requires federally funded hospitals to stabilize or transfer patients needing emergency care.

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In a statement Tuesday, CMS said it would continue enforcing EMTALA, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy. The agency added that it would work to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administrations actions.

- - -

What does the repeal mean?

The emergency-care requirements under EMTALA have not changed - but experts said the Trump administrations decision has once again introduced uncertainty around emergency abortions for hospitals and providers.

EMTALAs definitions of emergency medical conditions for pregnant patients include those that jeopardize the health of the woman or her unborn child. In cases that conflict with other legal measures, the statute says that federal law preempts state and local requirements.

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Neither the Biden-era guidance nor the Trump administrations decision to rescind it modify the legal obligations under EMTALA. Hospitals found in violation of EMTALA can face civil penalties. In some cases, hospitals could be excluded from Medicare and Medicaid.

HHSs 2022 memo to health-care providers specified that the law protects your clinical judgment and the action that you take to provide stabilizing medical treatment to your pregnant patients, regardless of the restrictions in the state where you practice. It clarified that emergency medical conditions for pregnant patients could include ectopic pregnancy - when the embryo implants outside the womb - and preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure. Both can be fatal if left untreated. The memo added that legal stabilizing procedures could include abortion and the removal of one or both fallopian tubes.

The Trump administration decision to rescind the guidance leaves open the question of how the government would interpret the statute in future legal cases involving EMTALA, said Katie Keith, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at Georgetown Laws ONeill Institute.

It will only add and continue to make doctors terrified to provide what is life- or health-saving care for women, said Keith, who served as deputy director of the White House Gender Policy Council during the Biden administration. I think it will just continue the chilling effect and make them scared to offer this, even more scared than they already are.

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The revocation of the guidance appears to be already shifting the legal landscape on EMTALA.

This year, the Catholic Medical Association sued HHS and CMS over the 2022 guidance, describing it as essentially a mandate to perform abortions. On Tuesday, the group commended its cancellation and moved to voluntarily dismiss the case.

HHSs announcement Tuesday is correct, both medically and morally, Tim Millea, chairman of the groups Health Care Policy Committee, said in a statement Tuesday.

- - -

How did EMTALA become a post-Roe flash point?

The focus on EMTALA emerged after the Supreme Courts 2022 verdict in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Within weeks, the Biden administration began using the statute to protect abortion access across the country for emergent pregnant patients.

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HHS cited the Dobbs decision in its memo clarifying abortion care under EMTALA. Days later, Texas sued the government, saying that the guidance sought to transform every emergency room in the country into a walk-in abortion clinic.

Texas has a near-total ban on abortion, prohibiting it after six weeks of pregnancy, before most people know they are pregnant. Its law, like most abortion bans, includes an exception to save the life of the mother.

But the broad language of the abortion ban in Texas and those in other states raised doubts among providers about when they could legally perform the procedure for patients with life-threatening complications. That confusion has imperiled the lives of some patients, according to women who have filed lawsuits after they were denied abortions.

In Texas, state lawmakers in April advanced legislation to clarify the exceptions to the abortion bill. It was an attempt to make them crystal clear for providers, the measures sponsor said.

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The Biden administration sued Idaho, arguing that its abortion ban conflicted with federal law in a case that made its way to the Supreme Court. The justices ruled that hospitals in the state could perform emergency abortions without being subject to prosecution and sent the case back to lower courts without weighing in on whether EMTALA preempted Idahos ban. In March, the Trump administration moved to dismiss the case entirely.

In a statement Wednesday, Mehmet Oz, the CMS administrator, said the Biden-era guidance had created confusion. He added that women will still receive care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and medical emergencies under EMTALA.

This has not and will never change in the Trump Administration, Oz said.

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The Trump administration has rescinded guidance telling health care workers who provide abortions to save their patients lives that they are protected under federal law.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Tuesday that it is rescinding guidance issued during the Biden administration, reinforcing to hospitals that under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), they must provide emergency abortions to pregnant patients if they are needed to save their lives.

Legally, it means nothing, Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) Reproductive Freedom Project, told The Hill. The obligation to provide emergency care comes from a federal statute  and as much as they might like to, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy can not erase 40 years of law with this press release.

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CMS said in a statement that the agency will continue to enforce EMTALA, which protects all emergency room patients seeking treatment, including identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy.

CMS will work to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administrations actions, the statement adds.

The guidance change comes about two months after the Trump administration dropped a high-profile case over the right to an emergency abortion in Idaho, which health care policy experts said signaled an imminent reversal of EMTALA guidance issued by the Biden administration.

EMTALA was passed in 1986 to protect Americans from patient dumping, a practice at hospitals and other clinics where patients are transferred to other facilities without their consent due to their inability to pay. The Biden administration in 2022 issued guidance on abortion specifically, following the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade. A cascade of state laws quickly banned abortion, but the guidance allowed for emergency procedures and protected physicians in those cases.

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The move does not change the law, but it does make it more confusing for doctors to know what care they can legally provide regarding pregnancy terminations, especially if they practice in states with abortion bans, according to Kolbi-Molinas. Reproductive rights groups and health care providers are bashing the move, arguing that it will profoundly hurt the health of pregnant people in the United States.

By rescinding this guidance, the Trump administration has sent a clear signal that it is siding not with the majority, but with its anti-abortion allies  and that will come at the expense of womens lives, Kolbi-Molinas said. The ACLU will use every lever we have to keep President Trump and his administration from endangering our health and lives.

Jamila Perritt, president and CEO of the group Physicians for Reproductive Health, said that she is deeply troubled by the Trump administrations decision to change the guidance, arguing that it is abandoning its responsibility to people who need emergency medical care.

This action sends a clear message: the lives and health of pregnant people are not worth protecting, she said in a statement. Complying with this law can mean the difference between life and death for pregnant people, forcing providers like me to choose between caring for someone in their time of need and turning my back on them to comply with cruel and dangerous laws.

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Meanwhile, some anti-abortion groups lauded CMSs move, calling it a victory.

Led by Dr. Oz, the Trump administration has delivered another win for life and truth  stopping Bidens attack on emergency care for both pregnant moms and their unborn children, wrote Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

We call on more states to follow the Trump administrations lead and pass Med Ed laws to protect women from abortion lobby misinformation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Trump administration announced on Tuesday it is rescinding Biden-era guidance that uses a federal law to require hospitals to stabilize patients in need of emergency care -- including by providing an abortion.

In July 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance that, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), doctors must perform abortions in emergency departments -- even in states where the procedure is illegal -- particularly if it serves as a "stabilizing medical treatment" for an emergency medical condition.

Emergency medical conditions included, but were not limited to, "ectopic pregnancy, complications of pregnancy loss, or emergent hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia with severe features."

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MORE: Biden administration announces new steps to protect contraceptives, abortion medication on Roe anniversary

EMTALA, which was passed in 1986, ensures that emergency patients receive services and treatment regardless of ability to pay. Hospitals that refuse to provide "necessary stabilizing care" or "an appropriate transfer" can face civil monetary penalties.

The HHS guidance was one of the attempts of the Biden administration to preserve abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections for abortion rights.

Aashish Kiphayet/Middle East Images via AFP via Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: In this June 24, 2024, file photo, abortion rights activists protest in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

However, HHS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rescinded the guidance, as well as an accompanying letter from former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, saying they "do not reflect the policy of this Administration."

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"CMS will continue to enforce EMTALA, which protects all individuals who present to a hospital emergency department seeking examination or treatment, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy," a press release from the agency read.

"CMS will work to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administration's actions," the press release continued.

MORE: Woman sues Kansas hospital over alleged denial of emergency abortion

Abortion rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, criticized the administration and accused President Donald Trump of walking back on a campaign promise not to interfere with abortion access.

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"By rescinding this guidance, the Trump administration has sent a clear signal that it is siding not with the majority, but with its anti-abortion allies -- and that will come at the expense of women's lives," Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement. "The ACLU will use every lever we have to keep President Trump and his administration from endangering our health and lives."

The Biden administration's guidance has faced legal challenges in the past. In January 2024, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas hospitals and doctors are not required to perform emergency abortions despite the guidance.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the Department of Justice dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Biden administration against the state of Idaho, claiming its near-total abortion ban violated EMTALA.
The Trump administration has rescinded a Biden-era policy that protected emergency room abortions, stripping away a critical legal shield for doctors and pregnant women who live in states that ban the procedure. Photo by Tetra Images | Getty Images

The Trump administration has rescinded a Biden-era policy that protected emergency room abortions, stripping away a critical legal shield for doctors and pregnant women who live in states that ban the procedure.

Three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Many states, including Arizona, responded by passing restrictive laws or outright bans. While Arizonans last year voted to enshrine a fundamental right to abortion in the state Constitution, as many as 13 other states currently outlaw abortion in all cases. Shortly after the fall of Roe v. Wade, efforts to restore the right stalled in Congress, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at former President Joe Bidens direction, circumvented that gridlock by issuing guidance that sought to assuage the fear of criminalization among health care providers and prevent delays in care for women facing pregnancy complications.

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In a July 2022 letter, then Secretary Xavier Becerra underscored the responsibility of virtually every hospital  even those in states with abortion bans  to perform an abortion if one is necessary to keep a pregnant patient stable. While the majority of abortions occur in abortion clinics, some are performed in hospitals, when women dealing with immediate pregnancy complications seek help at their local emergency rooms. In 2023, the latest year for which there is data, 33 of 12,705 abortions performed in Arizona occurred in hospitals.

In his letter, Becerra wrote that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, which governs how hospitals treat patients dealing with medical emergencies, supersedes state law. Known as EMTALA, the act has long required hospitals that participate in Medicare ensure patients are medically stable before transferring or discharging them. Expanding the acts protections to abortions was a bid to create one last line of defense for women in hostile states who were confronting the life-endangering consequences of abortion bans. One woman in Oklahoma with an unviable pregnancy was told by hospital staff they couldnt help her until she was crashing out, and advised her to wait in the parking lot until that happened. And a Tennessee woman whose local hospital refused to perform an emergency abortion was transported by ambulance six hours away to North Carolina to receive care, where she arrived with dangerously high blood pressure and signs of kidney failure.

That legal shield was revoked on Tuesday, with a statement posted to the website of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services saying that the Biden-era interpretation does not reflect the policy of this Administration. EMTALA will still be enforced, according to the update, including for emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy.

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The change is the latest move from the administration to solidify its pro-life stance and drop the previous administrations resistance against state-level abortion bans, effectively greenlighting their continued existence. Along with expanding the role of EMTALA, the Justice Department under Biden sued Idaho over its abortion ban, arguing that it was a violation of federal law. In March, however, the Trump administration abandoned that lawsuit. A related lawsuit headed by Idahos largest healthcare provider is on its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and has successfully won a ruling that prevents Idaho from enforcing its abortion ban in emergency rooms, for now. Its unclear where the justices will land on the conflict when it it goes before the high court; a hearing in the lawsuit brought by the Biden administration showed them split on the issue last year, and the court later dismissed the case as mistakenly granted, leaving in place a previous ruling that froze Idahos law in medical emergencies, rather than consider the problem.

Reproductive rights advocates decried the decision to walk back the Biden guidance as callous. Amy Friedrich-Karnik, the director of federal policy for the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that advocates for abortion access, noted that while federal law still directs doctors to provide stabilizing care for their patients, even if that means an abortion, the elimination of the guidance that clearly spells that out is worrying.

While this action by the Trump administration does not change the law and providers obligation to guarantee patients access to abortion care in an emergency, it does tell us everything we need to know about the anti-abortion movement: They would rather let pregnant people suffer life-threatening health consequences than allow them to receive stabilizing abortion care, she said, in a written statement.

Skye Perryman, the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, a legal group that defended Bidens interpretation of EMTALA in court, said that erasing the guidance would prove dangerous for pregnant women seeking reproductive healthcare in states with abortion bans on the books.

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The Trump administrations decision to withdraw EMTALA guidance guaranteeing pregnant people medical care in emergency situations will sow confusion for providers and endanger the lives and health of pregnant people, she said, in a written statement. Every American deserves the right to access the necessary care in emergency scenarios, including pregnant people, without political interference.

Arizona Democratic leaders, too, lambasted the recission. Gov. Katie Hobbs, who campaigned on protecting abortion access while the state grappled with abortion bans, echoed concerns that removing the guidance would harm women.

Politicians should not make decisions for women and their doctors, she wrote, in a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter. This cruel and reckless policy will put womens lives at risk.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who has also been a strong advocate of reproductive rights and has mobilized her office to defend against the criminalization of health care providers, added that doctors shouldnt be worried about treating their patients.

Doctors shouldnt have to guess if theyre allowed to save a womans life, Mayes wrote, in a post on X.

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The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Tuesday that they were rescinding 2022 federal guidance to health care providers specifying that people should be able to access an abortion in the event of a medical emergency, even if state laws restrict such procedures.

The previous guidance from the Biden administration does not reflect the policy of this Administration, according to an announcement of the policy change.

CMS added that it will continue to enforce the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, known as EMTALA, and it specified that the policy included identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy. However, it remains unclear exactly what the change will mean for emergency care, particularly in states with highly restrictive abortion laws.

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EMTALA requires all US hospitals that have received Medicare money  essentially nearly all of them  to screen everyone who comes into their emergency rooms to determine whether the person has an emergency medical condition without regard for their ability to pay for services.

The 1986 law also requires hospitals, to the best of their ability, to stabilize anyone who has an emergency medical condition or to transfer them to another facility that has that capacity. The hospitals must also treat these patients until the emergency medical condition is resolved or stabilized.

Pregnant people were singled out in 1989, after reports that some hospitals were refusing to care for uninsured women in labor. Congress expanded EMTALA to specify that it included people who were pregnant and having contractions.

In 2021, the Biden administration released the Reinforcement of EMTALA Obligation, which says it is a doctors duty to provide stabilizing treatment that preempts any directly conflicting state law or mandated that might otherwise prohibit or prevent such treatment, although it did not specify whether an abortion had to be provided.

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In July 2022, weeks after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that gave pregnant people a constitutional right to an abortion, the Biden administrations guidance further clarified that EMTALA included the need to perform stabilization abortion care if it is medically necessary to treat an emergency medical condition. If a state law banned abortion and did not include an exception for the life or health of the pregnant person, that law was preempted by the federal statute.

After Roe was overturned, several states passed highly restrictive abortion bans. Thirteen have total abortion bans, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health that supports abortion rights. Twenty-eight states have abortion bans based on gestational duration: seven ban it at or before 18 weeks gestation, and 21 states ban abortion at some point after 18 weeks.

Idaho has one of the more restrictive laws, making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy unless it was necessary to save the life of a pregnant person.

In 2024, the US Supreme Court formally dismissed an appeal over Idahos strict abortion ban. The decision was interpreted as meaning that pregnant people should be able to access an abortion in a medical emergency under EMTALA, but experts said that in reality, pregnant people were still being denied care. Some doctors even advised pregnant patients to buy life flight insurance in case they had an emergency complication that the doctors could not treat and the patient had to be flown out of state.

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In March, the Trump administration took a major step in support of states with abortion bans when it dropped a Biden-era lawsuit against Idaho that sought to protect abortion access in medical emergencies.

Tuesdays announcement from CMS says the agency will work to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administrations actions.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a professional organization that represents the majority of practitioners in the United States, was critical of the move.

Rescinding guidance clarifying protections for the care of pregnant people experiencing emergencies is a poor decision that will undoubtedly endanger the lives and health of pregnant women, who are already facing difficulties accessing needed abortion care during obstetrical complications, Molly Meegan, the groups chief legal officer and general counsel, said in an email Tuesday.

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She said the announcement will deepen confusion about when emergency care is legal and exacerbate overwhelming barriers to care for people across the US.

Abortion is an essential part of medical care, and EMTALA protections should be afforded to all patients in need of emergency care, including abortion, Meegan said.

The ACLU, Democracy Forward and the National Womens Law Center, organizations that have advocated for pregnant peoples right to an abortion, were also critical of the new decision, characterizing it as caving to its anti-abortion allies and saying its a reversal of Trumps campaign pledge that he wouldnt interfere with abortion access.

The Trump administration cannot simply erase four decades of law protecting patients lives with the stroke of a pen, Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement.

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No matter where a person lives in the United States, Kolbi-Molinas said, they should have access to emergency care, and the ACLU will use every lever we have to keep President Trump and his administration from endangering our health and lives.

Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center, called the administration hypocritical for its push for a new American baby boom while making a decision that the group says will put peoples lives at risk.

To be clear: this action doesnt change hospitals legal obligations, but it does add to the fear, confusion, and dangerous delays patients and providers have faced since the fall of Roe v. Wade, Graves said in a statement.

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The Trump administration found no viable path forward to complete Californias high-speed rail project following a nearly four-month investigation that jeopardizes $4 billion in federal funding.

In a 310-page compliance review released Wednesday, the Department of Transportation cited budget shortfalls, missed deadlines and a misleading projected ridership to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles via fast rail. The review targets federal grants for construction in the Central Valley. Those funds could be pulled within the next 37 days following the high-speed rail authoritys response.

CHSRA relied on the false hope of an unending spigot of Federal taxpayer dollars, the Federal Railroad Administration's acting administrator Drew Feeley wrote. In essence, CHSRA has conned the taxpayer out of its $4 billion investment, with no viable plan to deliver even that partial segment on time.

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The high-speed rail authority disagreed with the findings, which it called "misguided" and an inaccurate reflection of the project.

"The Authority will fully address and correct the record in our formal response," a spokesperson said. "We remain firmly committed to completing the nations first true high-speed rail system connecting the major population centers in the state."

Authority leaders previously sounded the alarm over the potential loss in federal funding while voting on new contracts to move forward on construction and design in the Central Valley. CEO Ian Choudri has also said that public-private partnerships will be key to the projects future  an idea that has also been raised by a state-appointed advisory committee. And the latest state budget proposal extends at least $1 billion per year in funding toward the project for the next 20 years.

Roughly $14 billion has been spent on the project. The bulk of that funding  82%  has been supplied by the state and 18% has been granted by the federal government. The Trump administration is not currently seeking repayment of past federal funds, according to the review.

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Lou Thompson, who sat on the authority's peer review group for 15 years before retiring last year, said that the project has long faced issues over budget and timeline that he and others have publicly addressed under multiple administrations.

"It's obvious that there are serious problems with the project  that has been clear," he said.

The project has faced massive challenges since its inception. The budget is roughly $100 billion more than the authoritys original $33-billion estimate in 2008, with tens of billions of dollars yet to be identified. The train was initially proposed with a 2020 completion date, but construction has been limited to a 171-mile stretch in the Central Valley. And although the entire line between San Francisco and Los Angeles was environmentally cleared for construction last year, no portion has been completed.

Many of the problems stem from the highly criticized decision to route the rail through the east side of the San Joaquin Valley, instead of taking a more direct and cheaper course through the west side along Interstate 5. Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom said past decisions couldn't be undone, and stressed the need to move forward instead. He and other transit leaders also tied the project's future to the privately owned Brightline West high-speed rail project, which would connect from Las Vegas to Southern California.

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Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched the review in February days after Republican lawmakers urged President Trump to investigate California's project.

We cant just say were going to give money and then not hold states accountable to how they spend that money  how they spend it per the agreements that they made with the federal government, Duffy said. If California wants to continue to invest, thats fine, but we in the Trump administration are going to take a look at whether this project is worthy of a continual investment.

Last month, Trump said that the federal government will not pay for the project.

Transit advocates protested Duffys announcement, and Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who sits on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, raised concerns over whether a possible withdrawal of federal dollars on this mega project could signal similar action for other transit projects awaiting commitments from the Trump administration.

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State Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach), who vice chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, supported the Trump administration's findings and called the project a failure.

"We should pull the plug on this and realize that we've already wasted billions of dollars," Strickland said. He pointed to other transit projects, including Metro's Olympics plans, as "more worthy for California citizens" when it comes to investments and said that the jobs high-speed rail has created could shift to other projects.

A recent poll commissioned by Politico and UC Berkeley found that 67% of a sampling of more than 1,000 registered voters supported the project, which has created more than 15,000 jobs in the Central Valley and has been considered integral to the revitalization of some business districts there.

California voters are tired of traffic jams and airport delays, said Andy Kunz, president and chief executive of the U.S. High Speed Rail Assn. "Support for the California High Speed Rail project is growing as the states transportation system continues to grind to a halt.

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Rick Harnish, the executive director for the High Speed Rail Alliance, called the review "angering" and said it would only create further roadblocks for the project he believes is critical for the state.

"This isn't just about the Bay Area to L.A. Basin. This is about transportation for the whole state, and it would be the catalyst for making truly financially viable communities, for making families  giving them more economic opportunity. It would just be huge."

Democratic lawmakers have also generally supported the project.

This announcement is a rejection of the future. California has been a leader in realizing the vision of high-speed rail to meet the needs of working families with respect for consumers, labor and the environment," U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said in a statement.

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It is unfortunate that the Secretary has misrepresented the facts and lacks understanding of how California High-Speed Rail promotes commerce, improves quality of life for Californians and creates good-paying jobs  while also lowering the cost of housing by shortening the distance to commute from home to work."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says Sen. Jeanne Shaheen interceded to keep her husband, Bill, from being put on a terrorist watch list because he had taken three flights with an unnamed suspected terrorist.

In an unusual statement released to the press, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said this was only one of many examples of politicization of the Transportation Safety Administrations Silent Partners Quiet Skies program that monitors air travel.

Homeland Security (DHS) accused the New Hampshire Democrat of directly lobbying former TSA Administrator David Pekoske to exclude her husband from the list; Bill Shaheen was given a blanket exemption for 18 months.

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Meanwhile, Noem charged that TSA, at the Biden administrations urging, had added Tulsi Gabbard, a political opponent and now President Donald Trumps director of national intelligence, to the same list.

It is clear that this program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration  weaponized against its political foes and to benefit their well-heeled friends, Noem said in the statement. This program should have been about the equal application of security, instead it was corrupted to be about political targeting. The Trump Administration will restore the integrity, privacy, and equal application of the law for all Americans, including aviation screening.

According to a timeline provided by Homeland Security, Bill Shaheen was randomly selected for surveillance for two flights in July 2023 from Boston to Washington and then back again.

DHS officials claim Sen. Shaheens office made an inquiry to the TSA about her husband being subjected to enhanced screening.

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Then Bill Shaheen was flagged a second time as a traveler with this suspected terrorist in October 2023.

After Shaheens office made a second inquiry, DHS said, the TSA put her husband on the exclusion list.

Shaheens office has issued a statement denying the senator played any role but said her office did inquire with the TSA after her husband was subjected to inquiries the office called extensive, invasive and degrading.

Senator Shaheen contacted the Transportation Security Administration after her husband was subjected to several extensive, invasive and degrading searches at airport checkpoints," the statement said.

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"Senator Shaheen sought to understand the nature and cause of these searches. Any suggestion that the Senators husband was supposedly included on a Quiet Skies list is news to her and had never been raised before yesterday, nor was she aware of any action taken following her call to remove him from such a list."

According to Shaheen's office, her husband was stopped for additional searches at least five times.

Bill Shaheen told WMUR Wednesday that it was his complaints about these incidents that prompted his removal from the list, not anything his wife did.

I didnt ask my wife to put me on the (exemption) list. Who put me on the list (to be watched)? I wanted to know that. When I started pushing on that they took me off the list, Bill Shaheen said.

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Bill Shaheen is a Lebanese American who has been politically active in that community.

Shaheens office confirmed that the person Bill Shaheen had been flying with was an attorney associate who was also an Arab American.

CBS News reported Wednesday that the associate flying with Bill Shaheen was removed from a watch list in 2023.

Hours later Wednesday, CBS reported that the Trump administration will soon announce it is cancelling this surveillance program that has at times caused "inconvenient or invasive" searches of Americans at U.S. airports.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
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In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court is likely to release decisions in a number of cases that will fundamentally impact the lives of millions. But we dont need to wait until nine elite lawyers in robes weigh in to know some basics about our rights and freedoms here in the US.

For example, we know that stripping people born in the United States of their citizenship, as the Trump administration has proposed doing, is unconstitutional. Its right there in the Fourteenth Amendment: All persons born in the United States are citizens of the United States. You dont need to be a Supreme Court justice to understand what that means. You dont even need a law degree to know without a doubt that the Constitution makes it clear that people born in the United States are citizens from birth.

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You also dont need to be a lawyer to say that the separation of church and state guaranteed by the First Amendment means that parents shouldnt be able to use their religion to justify banning books from schools with LGBTQ+ characters.

And you dont need any specialized training to know that when the Constitution says all people are entitled to equal protection under the law, that should apply to trans people, who should not be denied health care based on their gender identity.

In the United States, were all governed by the 7,591 words in the Constitution and its amendments. But who decides what those words mean? The answer is us. We, the people, decide what the Constitution means and when its being violated.

This might not be what you were taught in school, where most of us were told that interpreting the Constitution is the exclusive job of judges and the Supreme Court justices. Thats because Americans, conservatives and liberals alike, have largely embraced the idea of judicial supremacy: that judges are the ultimate authority when it comes to interpreting the Constitution. Under that view, the law is what judges say it is, leaving the people with almost no role at all in making meaning of the law.

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Letting judges and justices take exclusive control of interpreting the Constitution hasnt worked out well for most of us. Historically, white men have dominated the judiciary. And while it actually isnt a requirement that federal judges have law degrees, the last time a Supreme Court Justice was appointed without having attended law school was 1941. This matters because people who go to law school are disproportionately wealthy: a study by UCLA law professor Richard Sander found that 2% of law students come from the poorest quarter of American families, while 75% come from the richest quarter.

The result of this unrepresentative judiciary is centuries of decision-making that have not served the people well. In just the last few years, the Supreme Court has decided the Constitution doesnt protect the right to abortion but does hold that guns should be easily accessible in our communities and that states can change their voting laws in ways that disproportionately impact Black voters and voters of color. As Harvard Law professor Niko Bowie summarizes it: People say that federal courts are critical for protecting the rights of minorities, but the truth is that throughout American history, the principal minority most often protected by the Court is the wealthy.

Fortunately, we dont have to accept judicial supremacy. In fact, many of Americas most admired leaders have rejected it, like Thomas Jefferson, himself a wealthy white man, wrote that the idea of judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions [is] a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. And Abraham Lincoln argued that if we let judges make the most important decisions about what our Constitution requires, it would mean the people will have ceased to be their own rulers.

The opposite of judicial supremacy is defined by Larry Kramer of Stanford Law School as popular constitutionalism, giving the people active and ongoing control over the interpretation and enforcement of constitutional law. In other words, the people interpret the meaning of the Constitution  the foundational principles that govern every aspect of how we build this country  and ensure that meaning is enforced.

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This isnt an easy task under the best of circumstances, and it got significantly harder when Donald Trump retook power on January 20. It requires us to read and understand the Constitution and to make values-based judgements about what it requires, allows, and prohibits. Even harder, it then means we have to enforce our understanding of the Constitution by building the political power to act when we see the Constitution being violated and to ensure our meaning is the one that ultimately wins out.

In a democracy, this requires building popular support for our views, and there are no shortcuts. And even reaching majority support for our constitutional interpretation isnt enough without action. Professor Kramer, in his book The People Themselves, describes how, since the early days of the United States, the people have enforced the Constitution against errant rulers in a number of ways, many of which apply directly to our current moment. Enforcing the Constitution against our current errant rulers looks like voting them out of office, petitioning (calling and writing your elected representatives) and assembling (protesting), defending the rights of people unjustly targeted by law enforcement, engaging in jury nullification (finding somebody not guilty if they broke a law but the law was unjust), participating in consumer boycotts, and more. As we confront arguably the most errant ruler in the history of the United States, it is our obligation as citizens of a democracy to use these tactics to organize our communities around a vision of what the Constitution means and how it should shape our lives.

We dont need to say that our Constitution is perfect in order to do this. Instead, embracing a constitutional vision for a true democracy enables us to do the work of building a better world in the here and now by fighting for whats best in the Constitution, like the promise of equal protection under the law for all people and the freedom to chart our own political future. At the same time, it also points us toward the structural reform that will eventually be needed to make the promises of our Constitution real. Its the difference between saying, This is the best we can ever do, and saying, This is the very best that we can do now. And here is how we will change in order to do even better in the future.

Over the coming months and years, were going to hear a lot about what Donald Trump thinks the Constitution means and what it lets him do, and a lot about what the Supreme Court thinks about those same things. But none of that matters as much as what we think the Constitution means  as long as we commit to making our meaning the one that prevails.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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Allies of President Trump are attempting a takeover of the D.C. Bar Association as voting ends Wednesday in the election to lead the prestigious organization.

The two-way race for president is between Diane Seltzer and Brad Bondi, the brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

It comes at a moment of heightened tension between the White House and the legal profession, which has come under attack by a president unafraid to punish prominent law firms, attack judges and clear house in his own Department of Justice.

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The association does not decide attorney discipline matters, but anti-Trump attorneys and pundits are sounding the alarm about what a Make America Great Again takeover would mean for the group  the largest unified bar in the country, with roughly 119,000 members.

Ordinarily, I wouldnt hold the views or conduct of someones relative against them. Indeed, Im pretty much the last person who should be doing that, George Conway said in a video published just before voting began, seemingly referencing his ex-wife, Kellyanne Conway, Trumps former campaign manager and White House counselor.

But these are not ordinary times.

Already, the contentious race has rocketed voter turnout. The D.C. Bar said in a press release Tuesday that nearly 37,000 members, or 41 percent of eligible voters, had cast ballots so far  a significant jump from last years 7,563 votes, about 8.5 percent turnout.

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Brad Bondi is global co-chair of the investigations and white-collar defense practice at the law firm Paul Hastings. In the past, hes represented billionaire Elon Musk and Tesla, the Trump Media & Technology Group and a group linked to YouTuber MrBeast in its bid to purchase TikTok.

Hes emphasized improved technology and a desire to see stronger participation in the D.C. Bar as touchpoints of his campaign, vowing in a candidate statement to ensure the group remains nonpartisan.

The D.C. Bar is not, and must not become, a political organization, he said. I will fight vigorously against any attempts externally or internally to change that.

Though the association does not handle attorney discipline, the group has gotten caught up in political crosshairs after the D.C. Bar permanently disbarred former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and began pursuing the same punishment for Jeffrey Clark, both of whom provided legal advice to Trump in his efforts to overturn President Bidens 2020 election victory.

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The ordeal Ive had to endure broke many laws and has repeatedly denied me due process. And all I did was take a firm and zealous stand in giving private, privileged advice to the President of the United States, Clark wrote on X last week.

Seltzer runs an eponymous employment law firm and is endorsed by nearly two dozen former D.C. Bar Association presidents.

My priority is making sure that the rule of law is upheld, that we feel that we are safe to do our jobs and that we can go forward every day representing the clients we choose, Seltzer said at a meet-the-candidates event last month, according to NPR.

And its not just the presidential race. Alicia Long, a top deputy to interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, is running for treasurer.

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The results are expected to be announced Monday.

Welcome to The Gavel, The Hills weekly courts newsletter from Ella Lee (elee@thehill.com) and Zach Schonfeld (zschonfeld@thehill.com). Email us tips, or reach out to us on X (@ByEllaLee, @ZachASchonfeld) or Signal (elee.03, zachschonfeld.48).

Feds crack down hard on attacks against Jews

In the wake of two violent attacks against Jews, the Justice Department has swiftly cracked down on suspects while decrying the incidents as a symptom of rising antisemitism.

Last month, two Israeli Embassy staffers were gunned down outside a Jewish museum in Washington. The suspect in that incident, Elias Rodriguez, was slapped with an array of charges the next day, including murder of foreign officials and causing death through the use of a firearm  both which carry a possible sentence of death or life in prison.

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Then, Sunday, 12 people were injured in Boulder, Colo., when Molotov cocktails were hurled at demonstrators calling for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Mohamed Soliman, the suspect, was charged with a federal hate crime Monday that carries a sentence up to life in prison. He faces dozens of state charges, as well, and federal law enforcement signaled additional charges are being weighed.

Weve moved swiftly to charge quickly, just to send a message to the community that no acts of antisemitism are going to be tolerated, said J. Bishop Grewell, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado. There are severe consequences.

Since returning to the White House, the Trump administration has said battling antisemitism is a top priority. The president has stripped the legal status of pro-Palestinian protesters, cut federal funding for universities he claims breed antisemitism and issued an executive order directing his administration to fight back.

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Little time was wasted condemning the attacks.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi decried the shooting as brutal, anti-Semitic violence and vowed to secure the most severe possible punishment for Rodriguez. She called the Boulder attack vile anti-Semitic violence and said the government would refuse to accept a world in which Jewish Americans are targeted for who they are and what they believe.

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said hateful violence against Jewish Americans will be met with the full force of the Justice Department after the shooting and vowed zero tolerance for such acts after the attack in Colorado.

Soliman is slated to appear in state court Thursday and federal court Friday. Rodriguez is due back in court June 18.

Trump splinters with Federal Society

Trump and his allies are waging a war against the Federalist Society as parts of his second-term agenda are blocked by some of his own judicial nominees.

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The boiling point  which came when Trump called longtime Federalist leader Leonard Leo a sleazebag after a court blocked the bulk of his tariffs  has unleashed a rebellion pitting the MAGA movement against the conservative legal stronghold that helped Trump reshape the courts during his first term by offering up conservative judges as suggestions to fill benches across the country.

As the president embarks on choosing his next set of judicial nominees in his second-term, his decisions are now being shaped by a new, MAGA-branded team.

Inside the White House, judicial appointments are being spearheaded by chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House counsel David Warrington and Deputy White House counsel Steve Kenny.

But with the Federalist Society on the outs, the process has shifted to include outside influence from the Article III Project, which is spearheaded by close Trump legal ally Mike Davis.

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Davis served as chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during Trumps first term, where in that role he helped clear the way for the presidents judicial nominees. He also previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trumps first nominee to the high court.

His relationship with Trump grew closer after the FBI raided the presidents Mar-a-Lago resort and he defended the president in the press.

Meanwhile, the Federalist Society looked the other way, Davis said in an interview.

They abandoned President Trump during the lawfare against him, he said. And not only did they abandon him  they had several FedSoc leaders who participated in the lawfare and threw gas on the fire.

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Its a major shift from Trumps first term, when Trumps alliance with Leo was bountiful.

Read more about the splintering relationship and new dynamic here.

Order List

Read the full order list here.

IN: Ballot deadlines

The Supreme Court took up four new cases at its recent conference. We highlighted three of them in last weeks edition.

Illinois ballot deadline challenge: In Bost v. Illinois Board of Elections, the court will decide whether Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and two of Trumps 2020 electors have legal standing to challenge Illinoiss acceptance of ballots received after Election Day, so long as they were postmarked by then. The court is not directly examining the merits of the law, but Republicans have broadly looked to crack down on the practice.

Government contractor immunity: In The GEO Group v. Menocal, the court will decide if government contractors can immediately appeal a ruling denying them sovereign immunity from a lawsuit without waiting for the trial proceedings to conclude. The dispute arises from The GEO Groups operation of an immigration detention facility in Aurora, Colo.

Military injury lawsuit: In another case implicating government contractors, the court in Hencely v. Fluor Corp. will weigh reviving a former Army specialists lawsuit against a defense contractor, which employed a suicide bomber who critically injured the specialist in Afghanistan. A lower court held the lawsuit was preempted by federal law.

The court also granted a fourth case we outlined the week prior:

4th Amendments emergency exception: Law enforcement can get around the 4th Amendments search warrant requirement if they believe an emergency is occurring inside a home. In Case v. Montana, the court will decide if police must have probable cause to believe an emergency is occurring or some lesser standard.

OUT: AR-15 bans (for now)

Though the court took up a series of new cases, its simultaneous refusal to take up two others has attracted just as much attention.

After considering challenges to Marylands AR-15 ban and Rhode Islands high-capacity magazine ban at 15 consecutive conferences, the justices finally turned away the cases, Snope v. Brown and Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island.

For both petitions, the court fell one vote short of the four justices required to take up a case. Only Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch voted to do so.

They may have a fourth vote soon enough. In a separate statement, Justice Brett Kavanaugh told gun rights advocates to come back in a year or two.

Additional petitions for certiorari will likely be before this Court shortly and, in my view, this Court should and presumably will address the AR15 issue soon, in the next Term or two, Kavanaugh wrote.

Separately, the court also turned away a petition we highlighted in April, Nicholson v. W.L. York, Inc., in which adult entertainer Chanel Nicholson sought to revive her racial discrimination lawsuit against various Houston-area clubs she claims barred her from entering because she is Black. A lower court ruled she waited too long to file her suit.

We now know why the court has been sitting on the case: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, was cooking up a dissent.

Jackson wrote that the lower decision flouts the Supreme Courts clear precedent, saying she wouldve summarily reversed the ruling and allowed Nicholsons suit to proceed.

MAYBE: Monopolies

The court asked the Justice Department to weigh in on whether the justices should take up three pending petitions, known as a call for the views of the solicitor general, or CVSG.

The justices often go with the solicitor generals recommendation, so these are ones to watch.

Antitrust: Duke Energy, which sells electricity in North Carolina, is attempting to reverse a ruling that revived NTEs antitrust suit against the company. In Duke Energy Carolinas LLC v. NTE Carolinas II LLC, a lower court ruled a companys series of independently lawful acts can together add up to an illegal monopoly under the Sherman Act.

Chabads suit against Russia: In Agudas Chasidei Chabad of United States v. Russian Federation, Chabad is appealing a lower ruling granting the Russian government immunity from a lawsuit over the groups sacred religious library that ended up in Soviet hands at the end of the Holocaust. The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act generally protects foreign states from being hauled into U.S. courts, but Chabad believes its case falls under an exception.

Hertzs bankruptcy: Car-rental company Hertz, which filed for bankruptcy after COVID-19 curtailed travel spending, is appealing a ruling that it must pay $272 million in interest to bondholders. They were paid off early, but the bondholders believe they were underpaid now that Hertz has emerged from bankruptcy as a solvent company. Hertz argues the Bankruptcy Code doesnt allow the payment, but a lower court ruled it is overridden by a common law rule dating back to before the codes existence.

Petition Pile

The court has relisted five petitions for the first time.

RNCs fight over PA ballots: The Republican National Committee (RNC) is seeking to overturn a ruling providing Pennsylvania voters with an in-person, do-over option when they return a defective mail ballot. The justices declined to intervene on an emergency basis just before the 2024 election, but the case, RNC v. Genser, has now arrived at their normal docket. Its the latest case to implicate the independent state legislature theory.

Oil lawsuit: In Chevron USA v. Plaquemines Parish, a group of energy companies that includes Chevron and ExxonMobil are seeking to move a lawsuit filed by Louisiana parishes to federal court under what is known as the federal officer removal statute. The parishes won $745 million in state court earlier this year by holding the companies liable for production of crude oil along the Louisiana coast during World War II.

Personal jurisdiction: Federal procedure authorizes federal courts to wipe a void judgment, but the motion must be made within a reasonable time. In Coney Island Auto Parts Unlimited, Inc. v. Burton, a dispute arising from an automotive companys bankruptcy, the court is asked to review whether the timeliness requirement applies when the court didnt have personal jurisdiction, meaning its power to make rulings concerning a party.

Compassionate release, again (x2): Last week, we discussed the court taking up what discretion judges have in granting compassionate release, which allows courts to reduce a defendants sentence for extraordinary and compelling reasons. The court has relisted two new defendants petitions, Rutherford v. United States and Carter v. United States, that concern whether judges may consider sentencing disparities created by the First Step Act, the major criminal justice reform law passed in 2018. The Justice Department is backing both defendants, telling the court they should take up Carter and hold Rutherford until they reach a decision.

SIDEBAR

Catch Up

5 docket updates you need to know from the last week.

Tariffs invalidated: The U.S. Court of International Trade and a federal judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the bulk of Trumps tariffs as unlawful. Neither ruling is currently in effect as the cases quickly head to the appeals courts.

Environmental reviews narrowed: The Supreme Court in an 8-0 opinion narrowed the scope of environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act. Read more from our colleague Rachel Frazin.

Parole revoked: The Supreme Court in an emergency ruling allowed the Trump administration to revoke humanitarian parole the Biden administration extended to 532,000 migrants from four Latin American countries.

RIFs boomerang at SCOTUS: The Trump administration filed a new emergency application at the Supreme Court seeking to resume mass layoffs across the federal government. The justices refused to act at an earlier stage of the case by sitting on a previous request from the administration until it became moot.

CFPB lawsuit dropped: Baltimore dropped its lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations efforts to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In other news

Europe steps up: As the Trump administration looks to downsize the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which funds Voice of America and other media groups, new court filings reveal the European Union (EU) is working on filling the gaps in funding to Radio Free Europe. The EU announced an intent to provide $6.2 million.

Menendez pardon watch: Former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is set to report to prison in less than two weeks for his bribery conviction, in two series of posts on X accused former President Obama of weaponizing the Justice Department when it brought an earlier indictment against Menendez that ended in a mistrial. His comments came as Trump issued a flurry of pardons and expressed a willingness to do so for anyone who was mistreated whether they like me or dislike me.

Rubbing salt in the wound: According to a new lawsuit filed by a group of fired Department of Health and Human Services workers, a young man in business attire shouted, This is DOGE and this is your Last Supper! at one employee as she was leaving work. The next morning, the employee received her layoff notice.

ON THE DOCKET

Dont be surprised if additional hearings are scheduled throughout the week. But heres what were watching for now:

Today

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit will hold oral arguments in an appeal of Trumps executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a challenge by various local Planned Parenthood arms to the Department of Health and Human Servicess efforts to upend the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a hearing considering some of Trumps second term judicial nominees.

Thursday

The Supreme Court will announce opinions.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is set to hold a second preliminary injunction hearing in the Project of Government Oversights lawsuit against Trump and DOGE over its recordkeeping practices.

Friday

Shane Lamond, the ex-D.C. police lieutenant convicted of warning Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio he was being investigated and later lying about their communication, is set to be sentenced.

A federal judge in Boston is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in 19 Democratic state attorneys generals challenge to Trumps executive order on elections.

A Maryland judge is set to hold a summary judgment hearing in a challenge by three Biden appointees to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) who were fired by Trump.

Monday

The Supreme Court will announce orders.

The D.C. Bar Association is expected to announce the results of its election.

WHAT WERE READING

The Wall Street Journals Erin Mulvaney, Emily Glazer, C. Ryan Barber and Josh Dawsey: The Law Firms That Appeased Trumpand Angered Their Clients

The Detroit Newss Robert Snell and Craig Mauger: Chinese student who voted in Michigan election fled U.S., feds say

CNNs Kristen Holmes and John Fritze: Trump privately complains about Amy Coney Barrett and other Supreme Court justices he nominated

Heatmaps Robinson Meyer: The Supreme Court Just Started a Permitting Revolution

Michael Cohen, Warren Ballentine, Jesse Jackson Jr., Michael Rothenberg and Dr. Michael Jones in The Hill: With new questions about his acuity, Bidens pardon choices should be revisited

Well be back next Wednesday with additional reporting and insights. In the meantime, keep up with our coverage here.

Questions? Tips? Love letters, hate mail, pet pics?

Email us: elee@thehill.com and zschonfeld@thehill.com.

On Signal: @elee.03 and @zachschonfeld.48.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Donald Trump appears to be lowering the bar on trade negotiations with China as he complained that President Xi Jinping is hard to make a deal with.

The president softened his tone in a Truth Social post shared in the early hours of Wednesday. I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, Trump said. But he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!

Last week Trump accused China of violating the terms of the agreement between the two countries. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY! he said.

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But his latest approach comes as the president is obsessed with having a call with Xi, a person familiar with the talks told Politico. The leaders of the worlds two largest economies are yet to speak on the phone to thrash out a deal.

Meanwhile, a former Trump official who remains close to the White House told Politico that the president feels like a call between principals is a way to cut through a lot of this noise, and get right to the heart of the matter.

President Donald Trump complained that Chinese President Xi Jinping is hard to make a deal with in a Truth Social post. Trump has struggled to get the Chinese leader on the phone to thrash out a deal. (REUTERS)

Obamas assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, told Politico that China has a sharp nose for weakness, and for all his bravado, Trump is signaling eagerness, even desperation, to cut a direct deal with Xi.

That only stiffens Beijings resolve, he added.

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The trade war between the two countries has resumed after Trump accused China of violating the terms of the agreement. Beijing hit back Monday, accusing the U.S. of doing the same. The Trump administration revealed plans to revoke the visas of Chinese students and attempts to curb Chinas access to the most advanced computer chips, which did not go down well.

These practices seriously violate the consensus of what was agreed in talks in Geneva two weeks ago, the Commerce Ministry said.

The leaders of the worlds two largest economies are yet to speak on the phone to thrash out a deal but Trump is signaling eagerness, even desperation, to cut a direct deal with Xi, according to a former Trump official. (Getty Images)

Now the talks are at somewhat of a standstill.

Trump believes he can break through to the Chinese leader, though the U.S. is trying to change a trade relationship worth $600 billion and doing so without losing too much political capital in the U.S.

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The administration is under a lot of pressure following Chinas critical minerals blockade, which blocks U.S. access to essential components in auto and electronics manufacturing as well as the production of munitions, a person familiar with the conversations told Politico.

Trump reduced tariffs on China last month from 145 percent to 30 percent.
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -A former clerk to three conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices who was chosen by President Donald Trump to become a federal appeals court judge faced questions from U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday about her youth and her support of the Republican president's order curtailing birthright citizenship.

Whitney Hermandorfer, 37, tapped to serve on the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, defended her record at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's first hearing on judicial nominees since Trump returned to office in January.

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"The cases have come fast and furiously, and I've been privileged to handle a number of nationally significant matters," Hermandorfer, a lawyer serving under Tennessee's Republican attorney general, said.

The hearing comes as judges in dozens of cases have slowed or blocked some of Trump's initiatives to dramatically expand presidential authority and slash the federal bureaucracy, prompting calls from Trump and his allies for judges to be impeached or accusing them of being part of a "judicial coup."

Hermandorfer is the first of Trump's 11 judicial nominees so far to appear before the Republican panel, as the White House looks to further reshape a judiciary whose members have stymied key parts of his agenda. Four nominees to serve as trial court judges in Missouri appeared before the panel later on Wednesday.

Trump shifted the ideological balance of the judiciary to the right in his first term with a near-record 234 appointments, including three members of the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority.

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Hermandorfer clerked for Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett, and clerked for Justice Brett Kavanaugh while he was a judge on a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.

Today, she heads a strategic litigation unit in Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office, where she has defended the state's near-total abortion ban and challenged a rule adopted under former Democratic President Joe Biden barring discrimination against transgender students.

Republican senators appeared likely to advance her nomination to the full Senate for its consideration, even as Democrats raised questions about the positions she'd taken in court and the 37-year-old's level of experience just a decade out of law school.

"I am concerned about the striking brevity of your professional record," Democratic Senator Chris Coons said.

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He noted that the American Bar Association had long had a standard deeming judicial nominees qualified only if they had at least 12 years of experience.

Several Democrats criticized the Trump administration for deciding last week to cut off the legal organization's decades-old ability to vet judicial nominees as part of its ratings process. Republicans welcomed the move, accusing the nonpartisan group of bias against conservatives.

Hermandorfer said that while as an appellate lawyer she had never tried a case to a jury verdict, she had litigated over 100 appellate cases and argued four federal appeals.

"That sounds like quite a bit of experience," Republican Senator Josh Hawley said.

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Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee, questioned Hermandorfer on a recent brief she filed on behalf of the state of Tennessee to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the Trump administration's bid to let his executive order on birthright citizenship to take effect.

Trump's order directed federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident.

The Supreme Court is weighing whether to narrow nationwide injunctions blocking enforcement of that order that were issued by three judges who concluded it clearly violated the citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

Hermandorfer told Durbin that her office felt the justices should be provided information about evidence that she said showed that the 14th Amendment as originally interpreted after it was ratified in 1868 called into question whether the constitutionality of Trump's order was an "open and shut case."

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"I stand by completely those arguments and the historical sources that we advanced to the court," she said.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Diane Craft)
Americas two big public broadcasters, PBS and NPR, have 45 days to salvage their federal funding  starting now.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration sent Congress a long-awaited request for lawmakers to cancel more than $1 billion in federal funds earmarked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CPB for short, the entity that disburses taxpayer funds to local NPR and PBS stations across the country.

The unusual request, known as a rescission package, starts a 45-day clock for Congress to either approve or ignore the proposal. Rescinding the funds only requires a simple majority, which means in this case that no Democratic votes are needed.

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However, Republicans only have slim majorities in both the House and Senate, and public media executives are cautiously hopeful that they can convince some Republican moderates to ignore the White Houses proposal, thereby killing it.

One Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, is already on the record as opposing President Trumps effort to claw back CPBs funding.

Last month, she called the public media system an invaluable resource that saves lives in Alaska and pledged to protect the roughly $12 million that her states stations receive.

Many other Republican lawmakers are eager to strip the funding, however. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday night that he will put the rescission proposal on the floor next week.

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Earlier in the day, White House budget director Russ Vought appeared on Fox News to promote the proposal and warn any possibly wayward Republicans, If it doesnt pass, we have to then release the funds and it has to be spent.

The 45-day period for passage will end on July 18. Until then, PBS and NPR officials will be lobbying lawmakers and counting votes. In fact, the lobbying effort is already underway, starting on the House side, where we expect the memo to be first taken up, NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in a memo to staffers.

During this fight we will demonstrate our value to Congress, PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement, as we have over the last 50 years, in providing educational, enriching programs and critical services to all Americans every day for free.

Some of the local TV and radio stations that rely on the federal funding are also mobilizing.

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New York Public Radio, which operates WNYC and other stations, sent an email labeled URGENT to supporters on Tuesday night.

The House is expected to move quickly, and we must respond immediately and in lockstep to prevent its passage, the email stated, linking to ways that listeners can contact members of Congress.

The public media funds being targeted now were allocated by the Republican-controlled Congress in a bill that Trump signed into law earlier this spring but havent been spent yet because the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is budgeted two years in advance.

Trump, tapping into long-held conservative beliefs that NPR and PBS are biased in favor of liberals, is now trying to strip away the future funding and score a political win.

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Kerger said it would be a loss for the public at large. The proposed rescissions would have a devastating impact on PBS member stations and the essential role they play in communities, she said, particularly smaller and rural stations that rely on federal funding for a larger portion of their budgets. Without PBS member stations, Americans will lose unique local programming and emergency services in times of crisis.

Generally speaking, big stations in major metro areas would weather the loss of taxpayer support because they rely more heavily on donor contributions and other sources of revenue.

Some smaller stations would be forced off the airwaves altogether, operators have said.

Even the bigger stations would suffer because the federal funds help pay for the proverbial foundation of public radio and TV, like the connections between stations across the country.

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To put it bluntly, this is the funding that keeps the lights on, keeps our signals on the air, and keeps the entire public media system working as a whole, New York Public Radios email to supporters stated.

The Trump White House has targeted public media on multiple fronts in recent weeks.

The president signed an executive order in early May directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding PBS and NPR. He also tried to fire three of the corporations board members.

The corporation has essentially ignored him, however, because it is a private nonprofit entity set up by Congress and historically insulated from presidential interference. The entity has filed suit with the hopes that a federal court will affirm its independence.

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Both NPR and PBS have also filed separate lawsuits accusing the administration of violating the First Amendment.

All three cases have been assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss, who has yet to issue any rulings.

Furthermore, the Federal Communications Commission is conducting a probe into NPR and PBS member stations, citing concerns that public media underwriting messages may be violating federal law.

But of all the attempts to target public media this year, Tuesdays proposal stands out.

This rescission proposal is the most serious threat ever faced by public broadcasting, Maher wrote in her statement. We urge Congress to act in the interest of their constituents and save public broadcasting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
President Donald Trump asked Congress on Tuesday to rescind more than $9 billion in funding it already approved for public broadcasters, foreign aid and global health efforts, taking aim at those initiatives as wasteful and woke.

The requested cuts are part of a process known as rescission, in which the president can ask Congress to remove funding commitments from the budget.

They have 45 days to codify these massive cuts to woke, wasteful, and weaponized spending via a simple majority vote, the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

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The single biggest cut Trump is requesting is a $1.1 billion funding commitment to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. Leaders of both news outlets said the rescission would strip Americans of vital sources of information while cutting very little in costs.

This rescission would have a negligible impact on reducing the deficit and provide little-to-no savings for taxpayers, yet it would harm all Americans, shutting off access to local news, national reporting, music and regional culture, and emergency alerting, NPRs CEO Katherine Maher said in a lengthy statement.

NPR is responsible for receiving and distributing Presidential-level emergency alerts within minutes, she noted.

Rescission would irreparably harm communities across America who count on public media for 24/7 news, music, cultural and educational programming, and emergency alerting services, she said, noting that private media companies have not been willing to take on those commitments.

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Paula Kerger, the president and CEO of PBS, raised similar concerns, saying the impacts will especially be felt at smaller and rural stations that rely on federal funding for a larger portion of their budgets.

The proposed funding removals would write into law some of the cuts initiated by Elon Musk when he was running the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which he stepped down from last week.

Other requested cuts include millions to the Presidents Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, orPEPFAR, a Bush-era program credited with saving 25 million lives.

Rep. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters she wouldnt support any reductions to PEPFAR, calling it possibly the most successful public health program that has ever been used in Africa and other parts of the world.

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Skepticism from more Republicans could spell trouble for the rescission package given the GOPs slim majority in the Senate. But Trumps staff is already preparing to ask for more cuts.

If they pass this, well send up many more, White House budget director Russ Vought said on Fox News, referring to rescission packages.
President Trumps big, beautiful bill took unfriendly fire from several White House allies Tuesday, including Elon Musk, complicating its path out of the Senate and to the presidents desk.

Musk offered stinging criticism of the bill just days after he left the administration, calling it a disgusting abomination.

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, Musk posted on his social platform X.

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Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it, the tech mogul continued, taking direct aim at House Republicans and drawing rebukes from GOP leaders in Congress.

Its all a matter of bad timing for the president, who just went into overdrive seeking to win over GOP critics of the House bill. Trump made a series of calls in recent days as he begins the effort to get the bill through the Senate, where it faces calls for more spending cuts from the likes of Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).

Separately, GOP senators such as Josh Hawley (Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) have other worries, ranging from what the bill would do to those on Medicaid to green tax credits.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had to react to the Musk missive in real time, as a reporter read her his post.

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The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, she said, brushing off Musks bruising commentary. It doesnt change the presidents opinion. This is one, big, beautiful bill and hes sticking to it.

A few GOP senators, though, quickly sided with Musk.

Paul backed the billionaires comments after he had doubled down on his own objections to the bill, saying that he strongly opposes raising the debt ceiling, which would be hiked by $4 trillion under the current legislation.

The president earlier Tuesday had directly slammed Paul, accusing the Kentucky lawmaker of voting NO on everything and never having practical or constructive ideas.

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Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) also backed Musk, calling the deficit increase nothing short of stunning.

Johnson, another Trump ally, has harped on the need for the bill to be slashed in size in a series of cable news interviews.

The White House signaled it wasnt worried about the GOP criticism Tuesday.

Those senators, its not news that they disagree with this president on policy, and the president has vocally called them out for it and for not having their facts together, Leavitt said, calling the Congressional Budget Office historically wrong over its cost projections of the GOP plan.

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[Musk is] entitled to his opinion. I think thats a bit strong, added Tillis, who told The Hill earlier in the day that he would oppose the House bill if that were the final version.

I think theres a fair amount of policy in the bill. I think what Elon is talking about is a fraction of the bill. I dont believe hes focusing on a number of the things that even the American peoples not focused on.

The airing of grievances comes at a make-or-break moment for the GOP, as it tries to complete work by July Fourth, which members have laid out as a goal date as they attempt to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent and eliminate taxes on tips, among other things.

Trump is getting in on the action, speaking over the phone or meeting in person with Hawley, Johnson, Paul and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in recent days.

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He knows the list, said one source familiar with the Senate state of play, referring to the members who must be won over.

According to Johnson, Trump called him recently after his multiple TV appearances where he has heaped criticism on the House bill and talked up the needed spending cuts.

He understands my concerns. He would love to return to reasonable, prepandemic spending, Johnson said of Trump. [Thats] hard to accomplish in the House, I recognize that fact as well.  He expressed his concerns, and I expressed mine. Theyre legitimate concerns on both sides.

The Wisconsin Republican also noted he spoke Monday night with White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, who subsequently appeared at the weekly Senate GOP luncheon Tuesday.

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Trump is deeply involved with personally advocating for the bill, and there will be additional meetings going forward between the administration and lawmakers to get it passed, a White House official told The Hill.

Hawley told The Hill that their discussion is part of a rolling one centered on his opposition to Medicaid benefit cuts  an opposition Trump shares.

We talk on a pretty consistent basis, he said. Hes so involved. On the House side, they wouldnt have landed the plane without him.

Hes very  to put it mildly  very, very involved, and I think hell be, as the bill comes into focus on this side, I think hell get more involved, Hawley continued. Hes how [Speaker] Mike Johnson passed it. Without him, they would never have passed it.

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Scott said he met with Trump at the White House at the presidents behest to discuss the avenue to getting it done. The Florida Republican has been aligned with Sens. Johnson and Lee in the hopes of increasing spending cuts.

Paul also said he had a lengthy call with the president in recent days. The Kentucky Republican has long been believed to be the toughest GOP member to win over, given his opposition to the debt ceiling hike.

He did most of the talking, Paul said.

Although members concede Trumps impact is more acute with House members, given the political dynamics in the chamber, they still see the president as having real sway to get the package over the finish line.

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Hes the closer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told The Hill. The president clearly is very dialed in right 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 The Hill.
A band of wild horses in the Northern Nevada Virginia Range. (Photo courtesy of the American Wild Horse Campaign)

Advocates for Americas wild horses are fearing the worst from President Donald Trumps Budget request, which would slash funding for the Bureau of Land Managements Wild Horse and Burro program by 25% and allow the slaughter of some 64,000 federally protected wild horses in government holding facilities.

The Presidents budget will greatly endanger wild horses and burros, Rep. Dina Titus, a Democrat from Nevada, said in a statement to the Current. I am deeply concerned by how these cuts will impact the care of these beloved creatures. Even more worrying is the omission of the long-standing provision against horse slaughter.

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The proposal, horse and burro advocates note, mirrors Trumps 2017 budget, which initially called for a 30% cut to the programs funding and the elimination of protections against slaughter. Congress restored the protections against killing the animals and augmented funding.

Typically, the presidents appropriations bill contains a provision prohibiting horse slaughter. The Trump budget bill does not have this provision, opening the door to animals being sold off for slaughter, said Dick Cooper, a spokesman for Titus.

The budget proposal is straight from the pages of Project 2025, the ultra-conservative manifesto of which Trump once claimed ignorance, but has since adopted de facto as a blueprint for his policies.

What is happening to these once-proud beasts of burden is neither compassionate nor humane, and what these animals are doing to federal lands and fragile ecosystems is unacceptable, says Project 2025, which asserted the uncontrolled growth of wild horses and burros poses an existential threat to public lands.

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More than half of the nations wild horses, estimated between 70,000 and 95,000, are in Nevada, notes Project 2025. Congress must enact laws permitting the BLM to dispose humanely of these animals.

The policy is an attack on animal welfare and Americas public lands, according to American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), a wild horse advocacy organization.

This budget would be a bullet to the head of Americas wild horses if passed by Congress, said Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC. Slaughter is a barbaric solution to a fundamentally broken federal program.

The current program is focused on what critics contend are inhumane roundups that end in the warehousing of the creatures in government holding facilities.

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A better solution, say horse advocates, is increasing fertility control efforts and restoring habitat.

Last month, Titus announced the formation of the Wild Horse Congressional Caucus, to encourage federal policies for more humane treatment of wild horses and burros, according to a news release.

Days later, Titus and 82 members of Congress urged a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee to craft legislation requiring the BLM to spend at least 10% of the Wild Horse and Burro programs $140 million budget on fertility control in additional herd management areas.

The letter included several requests but notably included language maintaining the prohibition on the sale or adoption of healthy wild horses and burros that results in their destruction, Titus said in a news release.

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Titus has opposed the BLMs use of aircraft in roundups. The U.S. has paid helicopter companies $57.4 million for roundups since 2006, according to Titus, a process she has attempted to ban.

Scientific research has shown that more humane and cost-effective alternatives, like fertility control, are equally effective in controlling equine populations, according to the May statement from Titus announcing the Wild Horse caucus. The BLMs Wild Horse and Burro Program, however, currently spends less than four percent of its budget on these methods.

Diverse interests, ranging from cattle ranchers to animal activists, have called for vast reductions to wild horse populations, which they contend are three times the number public lands can accommodate.

The greatest threat to our wild horses and burros and our public lands right now isnt the BLM, its not cattle, ranching or mining interests. Its not animal advocates. Its climate change and the new reality is fast settling in, Stephanie Boyles Griffin, the chief scientist of the Humane Society of the United States (now Humane World for Animals) wildlife protection department, told Reuters in 2021.

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Americans, deeply divided on a plethora of topics, are on common ground when it comes to wild horses, says AWHC, which commissioned a 2017 poll that revealed 83% of Trump voters supported protecting wild horses and burros from slaughter, compared with 77% of Hillary Clintons supporters.

After decades of costly and ineffective roundups, the BLM now stockpiles more wild horses in government pens than remain free on the range, said Roy in a news release. Americans deserve a better federal plan that genuinely tackles off-range holding issues without resorting to slaughter.

Correction: The provision is in Trumps budget bill, not the Big Beautiful Act, as originally reported.
US President Donald Trump says Chinese leader Xi Jinping is extremely hard to make a deal with in a comment that comes as frictions rise between the two countries, weeks after they reached an agreement to de-escalate trade tensions.

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! Trump wrote in a post on his platform Truth Social in the early hours of Wednesday morning Washington time.

Tensions have ratcheted up between the United States and China as expected trade talks between the two sides appeared to stall just weeks into a 90-day tariff truce agreed to last month in Geneva.

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That truce hit pause on a damaging tit-for-tat escalation of tariffs sparked by Washingtons raising of duties on Chinese imports into the US. Trump has since accused China of violating the agreement  a charge Beijing has denied, while it accuses the US of taking measures that seriously undermine their consensus.

Trumps latest remarks come as a long-awaited call between the US president and Xi has yet to materialize, despite repeated suggestions from the White House that such talks, which Washington sees as key to jump-starting progress, were imminent.

Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Monday said the two leaders would likely speak this week, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an interview with CBS Face the Nation that aired Sunday said he believed that issues between the two sides would be ironed out in a leader-level call very soon. Chinas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said it had no information to share when asked about the potential call at a regular media briefing. The two leaders are not known to have had a call since days before Trumps inauguration in January.

The presidents latest comments, expressing that he likes Xi, however, appear more conciliatory than a missive posted on social media Friday where he wrote that China TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. Then, Trump said that he made a fast deal with China to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation. He added: So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!

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Trump had in recent months repeatedly raised tariffs on Chinese goods, part of his broader efforts aimed at reshaping the US role in global trade and reversing the offshoring of American jobs and decline of US manufacturing. US tariffs on steel and aluminum doubled to 50% as of 12:01 am ET on Wednesday, while the White House also negotiates with a host of countries on tariffs.

The presidents Wednesday message about Xi echoes some of his past friendly and even admiring language toward the Chinese leader  one of a handful of strongmen that Trump has praised or lauded close relations with throughout his political career.

A container terminal in eastern China's city of Nanjing on Tuesday. - Fang Dongxu/FeatureChina/AP

It also follows a meeting on Tuesday in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and newly arrived US ambassador to China David Perdue, where Wang urged the US to work with China to return relations to the right track.

When asked about Trumps Wednesday comments during a regular briefing in Beijing Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Chinas principles and position of developing China-US relations are consistent.

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Frictions have emerged in the wake of the Geneva agreement over Beijings export controls on rare earth minerals and associated products and US moves targeting Chinas tech industry and its international students.

Following the Geneva talks, US officials had expected China to ease export restrictions of those minerals, which were imposed in retaliation against Trumps reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods. The minerals are an essential part of everything from iPhones and electric vehicles to big-ticket weapons like F-35 fighter jets and missile systems.

But the restrictions havent been lifted, causing intense displeasure inside the Trump administration and prompting a recent series of measures imposed on China, three administration officials told CNN last week.

Beijing, meanwhile, has bristled as Washington warned to companies against using AI chips made by Chinas national tech champion Huawei, moved to limit critical technology sales to China and announced that the US would aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students in the US with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.

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By Nate Raymond

BOSTON (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Wednesday declined to lift a judge's order blocking President Donald Trump's administration from carrying out his executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and requiring it to reinstate employees who were terminated in a mass layoff.

The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's request to put on hold an injunction issued by a lower-court judge at the urging of several Democratic-led states, school districts and teachers' unions.

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The U.S. Department of Justice had asked for a swift ruling from the 1st Circuit so that it could promptly take the case up to the 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court if the appeals court did not rule in its favor.

But Chief U.S. Circuit Judge David Barron, writing for a panel of three judges who were all appointed by Democratic presidents, said a stay was not warranted given the extensive findings a trial judge made about the impact mass firings at the department would have on its ability to function.

"What is at stake in this case, the district court found, was whether a nearly half-century-old cabinet department would be permitted to carry out its statutorily assigned functions or prevented from doing so by a mass termination of employees aimed at implementing the effective closure of that department," he said.

The Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The lawsuits were filed after Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in March announced plans to carry out a mass termination of over 1,300 employees, which would cut the department's staff by half as part of what it said was its "final mission."

Those job cuts were announced a week before Trump signed an executive order calling for the department's closure, following a campaign promise to conservatives aimed at leaving school policy almost entirely in the hands of states and local school boards.

Trump later announced plans to transfer the department's student loan portfolio to the Small Business Administration and its special education, nutrition, and related services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In combination with 600 employees who took buyout offers, the Education Department said the job cuts once implemented would leave it with 2,183 workers, down from 4,133 when Trump took office on January 20.

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Affected employees were placed on administrative leave on March 21 and were told they would continue receiving full pay and benefits until June 9. The administration argued the cuts were a lawful effort to streamline the agency and cut bloat.

But U.S. District Judge Myong Joun on May 22 concluded that the job cuts were in fact an effort by the administration to shut down the department without the necessary approval of Congress, which created the agency in 1979.

The Education Department subsequently notified those employees about the judge's ruling in an effort to comply with it.

The administration also appealed, saying that while Trump has made no secret of his desire to abolish the department, his administration understood that only Congress could do so and that the case ultimately concerned a personnel action.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the architect behind Donald Trumps chaotic tariff policy, admitted in a Senate hearing Wednesday that theres no real logic in how the trade talks are being conducted.

In a damning line of questioning, Republican Senator John Kennedy exposed that the Trump administration doesnt even have a clear goal in mind, in terms of what it wants to see from other countries in the trade talks.

If Vietnam, for example, came to you tomorrow and said, OK, Mr. Secretary, you win. Were gonna remove all tariffs and all trade barriers. Would the U.S. please do the same? Would you accept that deal? Kennedy asked Lutnick.

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Absolutely not, Lutnick quickly replied. That would be the silliest thing we could do.

Vietnam has $125 billion exports to us, he continued, his voice rising. It imports from us $12.5 million. And youre thinking, Vietnam exports $125 billion? But where do they get it from? They buy $90 billion from China, then they mark it up and send it to us. Its just a pathway from China to us.

So you wouldnt accept that deal? Kennedy pressed.

No, its a terrible deal. Were the one with the money, Lutnick said.

Whats the purpose of reciprocity then? Kennedy asked, surprised by Lutnicks confession. Is reciprocity not one of your goals? Are you telling the president that we shouldnt seek reciprocity? If thats what youre telling me, why are you trying to do these trade deals?

KENNEDY: If Vietnam came to you and said, 'You win. We're gonna remove all tariffs and all trade barriers. Would the US please do the same?" Would you accept that deal?



LUTNICK: Absolutely not. That would be the silliest thing we could do



KENNEDY: What's the purpose of pic.twitter.com/oR7B84MhZq  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 4, 2025

What do we want? Lunick asked in response, trying to answer Kennedys question as if he had never thought about it before. We want to encourage Vietnam to get back to producing products theyre great at producing.

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But I want to get back to reciprocity, Kennedy pushed. You just said you dont believe in, you dont accept reciprocity as a goal. What are you negotiating in these trade deals?

Why would we open our bank account and their bank account when ours is 10 times bigger?

Why are you negotiating trade deals? Youre trying to get other countries to lower their tariffs and trade barriers in return for us lowering ours. Thats called reciprocity, Kennedy repeated, trying to explain to Trumps commerce secretary the administrations own talking point.

Of course, Lutnick replied.

So are you or are you not seeking reciprocity in these trade deals?

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Kennedys line of questioning continued for a bit longer, until Lutnick said the Trump administration would consider a deal from Vietnam if they said theyd stop purchasing products from China.

The pivot is certainly different from what Trump said in April when he announced his tariffs on countries around the world (as well as uninhabited islands near Africa). At the time, Trump called his tariffs reciprocal and said they would remain in place until other countries remove their trade barriers for the U.S. Now it seems Trumps logic has changed entirelyif there is any logic at all.
When or if Donald Trump gets on the phone with Xi Jinping, the tone between the two men is likely to be frosty.

The US and China have in recent days both accused each other of violating their fragile, three-week-old trade truce. The two presidents are expected to speak this week in an effort to rescue the deal.

But Trump has a tough pill to swallow: it is his arch-rival who looks to have the better negotiating hand.

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Chinas near-total dominance of the worlds supply of rare-earth metals  which are used in the manufacture of everything from cars and computer chips to F-35 fighter jets and nuclear-powered submarines  means Xi can squeeze the US where it hurts.

Critical minerals are one of the most important bargaining chips for China in its negotiations with Washington. China will really hold on to this, as a significant point of leverage, says Matilda Buchan, a senior analyst at Asia House, a London think tank.

Beijings willingness to weaponise the rare-earths supply chain is so potent a threat to the US economy and military that it has already pushed the White House into de-escalating its planned trade war with China.

After Trumps April 2 liberation day announcement raised tariffs on US imports from China to an eventual peak of 145pc, Beijings retaliation included a ban on exports to the US of magnet alloys containing key rare-earth materials.

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The impact was quickly felt. On May 9, some of the biggest carmakers in the US  including General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai  wrote to the White House warning that unless Chinas export ban was lifted, they would soon have to start cutting back production.

That same day, Trump told his Truth Social followers that he was ready to make big concessions to get a deal with China. Negotiations in Geneva took place over the ensuing weekend, and the tariffs came tumbling down.

It emerged, more quietly, in subsequent days that China would allow rare-earths exports to the US to resume.

Major disruption

Last Friday, though, Trump was back on Truth Social claiming that China had TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US.

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Jamieson Greer, the presidents trade envoy, told CNBC that Beijing was slow-rolling its issuance of licences to export products containing rare earths.

We havent seen the flow of some of those critical minerals as they were supposed to be doing, he said.

The question is whether China is actively frustrating the deal, as some White House officials reportedly suspect, or whether the explanation is more mundane: not a grand conspiracy but simply a system coming to grips with new red tape.

Back in April, Beijing did not just slap a ban on exports, it built a new bureaucratic structure to underpin future rare-earths trade.

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China-based companies wanting to export metal alloys containing more than a trace of seven key rare earths  samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, yttrium and scandium  now need to apply for a licence from the commerce ministry.

It was not initially clear which shipments would be caught by the new rules, and there was plenty of precautionary laboratory testing, even of exports that were below the rare-earth content threshold.

What initially looked like an almost total freezing of exports from China was really just a response to this need for testing of all the material, and of any material which contained more than 0.1pc of any of these elements, says David Merriman, the research director at Project Blue, a critical minerals analysis and advisory firm.

Project Blues analysis suggests the application process is taking about 45 days, which may explain why exports to the US have been slower than expected.

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By mid-May, six large companies had received export licences, and at least another three were in the process of doing so.

We are seeing some approvals come through, certainly slower than industry would like, Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told Bloomberg this week.

Some of the delay is related to China working through their new system to approve exports, not that they are not allowing exports.

As part of the Geneva trade deal between the US and China, the commerce ministry has taken 28 US businesses off its export-control blacklist. But exports will still have to be approved on a shipment-by-shipment basis, and none is so far bound for the US.

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Volkswagens European operations appear to have been an early beneficiary of an export licence, but not in sufficient quantities to ease supply concerns.

There are a few approvals coming through, but they are far from being sufficient to prevent imminent production halts, Jens Eskelund, the president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, told the New York Times.

We are still facing a major disruption of supply chains.

Trump cornered

The threat of factory production lines grinding to a halt highlights the immense power of China in this crucial market, and the power of its hand in negotiations.

Chinas mines churn out about 61pc of the worlds rare earths, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Chinese refiners and manufacturers also hoover up most of the rare earths from elsewhere, processing 92pc of the worlds supply.

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It is refining that is key, as this is the process that turns the material into a usable product.

The country has a particular stranglehold on the manufacture of magnet alloys containing rare earths, which have near-ubiquitous application in computing, vehicular and electrical systems.

Particularly as you move further down the supply chain, from mined products towards downstream highly engineered products, Chinas market share only grows, Merriman says. Its grip only gets tighter.

Rare earths are used in very small quantities, which means it has long been uneconomic for most countries to mine or refine them  most, that is, except China, where the industry is under state control.

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The US has been spearheading sporadic efforts to restart rare-earths production and magnet manufacture either at home or in friendlier countries. But these efforts are yet to bear real fruit. The IEA estimates that a decade from now, China will still account for 85pc of refined rare-earths output.

This leaves Trump cornered. He has been talking up the prospects of Ukraine and Greenland as alternatives, but his presidency will be long gone before either of those becomes a realistic option. Tariffs are no use here either.

His only weapon is semiconductors. Over the past month, the US has been gradually tightening controls over China-bound exports of chips and associated software, particularly those used in artificial intelligence.

The chips squeeze is partly motivated by the White Houses long-term strategic desire to retain technological supremacy over China. But it also has some immediate tactical trade leverage  as Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, admitted on Sunday.

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[We are] taking certain actions to show them [the Chinese] what it feels like on the other side of that [export ban] equation, he told Fox News.

This has riled Beijing. The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions, the Chinese commerce industry said in a statement on Monday. These practices seriously violate the consensus.

Despite the war of words, Lutnick claimed he was confident that Trump would work it out with Xi.

Perhaps his confidence is well-founded. With the US and Chinese tech and manufacturing industries hanging in the balance, a deal looks essential for both sides.

But Trump is in no position to dictate terms  and he wont like that one bit.

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Chaos in the White House is preventing federal disaster relief from reaching its recipients, sparking fears that the government may face more delays and lapses during the upcoming hurricane season.

The Trump administration issued millions of dollars in relief to Virginia in early April after the state was battered by severe winter storms, but in doing so, the West Wing failed to alert a key player responsible for actually distributing the relief: the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Unidentified FEMA officials told CNN Wednesday that they only knew of the order thanks to newspaper headlines. Direct and official communication from the White House, according to the sources, did not reach FEMA for another four days. That left Old Dominion communities waiting an extra week for direly needed assistance.

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Officials at FEMA claim that this is just one instance in a troubling pattern of miscommunication between the disaster relief agency and the Trump administration.

Typically, FEMA advises the White House as to which sites around the nation require federal assistance. Thats been true for practically every other administration, as well as Donald Trumps first term. But since the MAGA leader has returned to the Oval Office, that relationship has been flipped.

This is more than just who gets to tell who, one longtime FEMA official told CNN. There are regulatory timelines, especially for individual assistance, that are in play, and these delays do affect the delivery of assistance. It is very frustrating to the state and local partners because they think we should be doing things, but without the paperwork we cannot execute on the declaration.

A similar slipup happened in early May, when the Trump administration failed to notify FEMA officials that it had reversed course on Arkansass aid request, approving distribution to the state. That stalled the process for an additional five days.

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A five-day lag is unheard of, as it prevents FEMA from fulfilling its statutory roles, another longtime FEMA official told CNN. It feels like a way to make it look like FEMA is being slow when were not yet authorized to act.

Exactly who receives FEMA aidand when they receive itis no longer a guarantee under Trumps direction.

In April, FEMA rejected North Carolinas application for an emergency aid extension as the state grappled with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that killed 250 people in September. It was the deadliest hurricane in state history.

Even Trumps voting base has been left in the lurch. Months into his presidency, residents of devastated communities are still begging the president to send relief.

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Since Helene, Trump and his allies have spread unfounded conspiracies that the lead response agency had run out of money and that the Biden administration had diverted funds from FEMA to assist undocumented immigrants enter the country. (FEMA administrators have fervently and repeatedly denied this.) Conservatives, at the time of the storm, claimed that working with the Biden White House to expedite disaster relief seemed political and even conspiratorially suggested that the hurricanes were a government manipulation.

Days after his inauguration, Trump pitched that it would be better to do away with FEMA altogether, in favor of handing the money directly to the states, though that plan never seemed to gain traction.

Since then, Trump has actively worked to dismantle the agency. The administration has blocked states across the nation, including California and Michigan, from accessing preapproved relief. A coalition of Democratic-led states have sued the federal government, claiming that hundreds of millions of dollars in FEMA grants are still inaccessible.
Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing recent drone attacks by Ukraine on Russia and the situation in Iran.

In the conversation, Putin expressed to Trump that Russia finds it necessary to respond to the Ukrainian drone attacks. Trump shared this in a Wednesday post on Truth Social.

"President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump said.

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The U.S. President characterized the discussion as positive, albeit not one that would result in immediate peace. He also mentioned that he emphasized to Putin that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon. On this point, he believes there was consensus between them.

Trump stated that the call with Putin lasted about one hour and 15 minutes.

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday doubling global tariffs on steel and aluminum from across the globe.

The Commander in Chief said that the duties on the metals would increase from 25 percent to 50 percent beginning at 12:01am on Wednesday. After considering industry research provided by his cabinet, the president said, I have determined that it is necessary to increase the previously described steel and aluminum tariffs so that such imports will not threaten to impair the national security.

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In my judgment, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries, he added.

While the levies on metals were already significant, the 25-percent rate has not yet enabled the steel and aluminum industries in the U.S. to up their production capacity, he explained. The United Kingdom will be spared from the duty increase, with steel and aluminum exports remaining at a 25-percent tariff rate.

The news comes hours ahead of the administrations reported deadline for trade partners to submit their best offers to the U.S. in trade negotiations. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday that a letter was sent to trade officials across the globe by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners, just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up, and they are in talks, she said. The president expects good deals, and we are on track for that.

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Meanwhile, California leaders have vowed to appeal a federal judges decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed in April that challenged the presidents tariff regime, citing the harm new duties have caused and will continue to perpetuate on the states businesses.

U.S. District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley ruled Monday that California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed the motion, did not have jurisdiction to do so in the Northern District of California, saying that the case belongs in the New York-based Court of International Trade (CIT)the same body that ruled against the legality of Trumps tariffs last week.

The Attorney General filed an appeal in San Franciscos Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals shortly after the decision. Newsom said the case was dismissed on procedural grounds, adding, We disagreeas did a federal court in D.C.and have already appealed.

One of the presidents most vocal detractors, Newsom has said that Trumps tariffs will cost California consumers a minimum of $25 billion and result in the loss of 64,000 jobs across the Golden State. The total cost of the administrations new tariff regime to California households could be upwards of $40 billion, his office asserted.

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California led a growing contingent of states including New York, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Illinois, Nevada, Vermont, New Mexico and Minnesota, that have challenged the presidents executive orders, which were justified utilizing a little-known trade law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The law allows the president to intervene in international commerce when the country is subject to an unusual or extraordinary threat from a foreign actor.

While the other states filed their motion together in the CIT, California filed its lawsuit on its home turf. The CIT ruled in favor of the statesalong with several businesses that sued the presidentand wrote that the tariffs were invalid under IEEPA, but a D.C. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit put a stay on that decision one day later.
1. Yes. Odom seems sincere about the plan and has assembled a strong network to help.

2. Yes. He has name recognition and shows a willingness to make a difference in the area.

3. No. For all the enthusiastic talk and hype, this project seems more like a pipe dream.

4. No. Residents should be skeptical, since he plans a reality show about running for mayor.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It may be a legitimate initiative, or it may be all smoke and mirrors.

Vote

View Results
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media after signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, May 23, 2025. Credit - Samuel Corum/SipaBloomberg/Getty Image

A federal judge has blocked the Trump Administrations attempts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Lawsuits have been filed against the Administration for slashing the staff and budget of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the federal education departments research arm. Massive cancelations of education-related research grants also are being contested in the courts.

Given all this, I fully anticipated that the Trump Administration would eventually get around to firing the National Board for Education Sciences (NBES). It finally happened four months into President Donald Trumps second term when he removed 13 Biden appointees from the National Board for Education Sciences on May 23.

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On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Board for Education Sciences is terminated, effective immediately, the email read. Thank you for your service.

As just one of the Americans who received this two-sentence message, I wonder if the sender or anyone else in the Trump Administration even knows who we are or what our service entailed.

President Joe Biden appointed 13 of us to this bipartisan White House Board in October 2022. We were selected because of our deep expertise on education research, evaluation, and development. Members included three past presidents of the American Educational Research Association, National Academy of Education inductees (including the Academys current president who chaired NBES), a dean of two academic schools at a Historically Black University, and a mayor who worked for two decades as a teacher and school administrator and served five terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

We committed to spending four years in the unpaid role because we all want the best for our democracy, we value the production and use of research, and we understand how high-quality studies and evidence-informed tools can improve educational opportunities, experiences, and outcomes for all students. Nothing about what we were asked to do qualifies as any version of wokeness or extremism. We approached our work as experts, not as politically-polarizing activists who somehow sought to advance anti-American agendas.

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The voting NBES members met with and served alongside nine ex-officio members: Director of IES, Director of the National Science Foundation, Director of the Census, Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and commissioners of the four National Education Centers. It was a brilliant group of people who were united by our deep appreciation for rigorous, useful research.

During the second year of George W. Bushs presidency, Congress established NBES as part of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. We were responsible for advising the IES Director on policies and procedures, collaboratively establishing priorities for the Institutes roughly $900 million annual budget, soliciting and providing input from educators and researchers, and strengthening peer review for grant-funded research projects, plus several other responsibilities related to scientific inquiry and innovation.

The IES website specifies another role for NBES: Advise the Director on opportunities for the participation in, and the advancement of, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in education research, statistics, and evaluation activities of the Institute.

Without knowing or even asking what this entailed, it is possible that the Trump Administration presumed this to be a hotbed of DEI activities that privileged wokeness over merit and somehow discriminated against white men who applied for IES research grants. I never participated in nor witnessed this. There is no evidence of such wrongdoing.

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Being invited by a U.S. president to serve on a White House board was a significant honor; I will forever appreciate the faith that the Biden-Harris Administration placed in me as a citizen and scholar. I do not wear termination by the Trump Administration from my position as a badge of honor. It is disgraceful.

Again, I anticipated that the Trump Administration would terminate my position prior to the conclusion of my four-year term. And I also anticipate that eliminating the federal education department, defunding IES, and ousting its law-abiding NBES partners will weaken the production and quality of education-focused studies and evaluation activities.

Consequently, students with disabilities will be even more underserved. Inequities between rich and poor, as well as white and racially diverse learners will widen. Solutions to antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexism in schools will be stifled. Also, new educational disparities will emerge but will not be systematically tracked, communicated, studied, and addressed. Congress and educational leaders will have even less access to trustworthy, high-quality research on what works, what undermines excellence and innovation, and where the U.S. is falling short in fulfilling its educational promises to students and taxpaying families.

Terminating NBES members is yet another example of the Trump Administrations attack on research, researchers, and research universities. Yanking hundreds of millions in federal research grants from Harvard and Columbia, two of the worlds highest-impact producers of science and innovation, is indeed an assault on research itself. These actions are anti-American, as they will surely place our nation further behind others that pursue solutions to educational inequities, climate change, disease and health disparities, poverty, and other vexing problems.

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I accepted Bidens invitation to serve on NBES because I wanted better for our country and the people educated in its schools, colleges, and universities. I also said yes because I value research. Inasmuch as I despise our undeserved and unjustified dismissal, I have greater grief for IES leaders and staff who lost their paid full-time jobs its national statistics unit reportedly has just three remaining employees, down from around 100 before Trump began his second term.

These hardworking, law-abiding professionals are far more negatively affected by the Administrations actions than are other NBES members and me. We will be fine.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order about dismantling the Education Department alongside Education Secretary Linda McMahon at the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2025. Credit - Chen MengtongChina News Service/VCG via Getty Images

The Trump Administration fired all 13 Biden-appointed members of a key federal education research board last month, a move that drew sharp rebuke from former members amid the Administrations ongoing campaign to dismantle the Department of Education.

The firings, carried out on May 23, targeted the National Board for Education Sciences (NBES), which Congress established in 2002 to advise the Department of Educations research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The boardwhose members include researchers, educators, and civic leadershad been tasked with shaping the Departments $900 million research agenda, including approving priorities, overseeing peer-reviewed grants, and advising on efforts to close achievement gaps across race, income, and disability status. The future of that work is now unclear, as the new Administration has slashed much of that spending.

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The dismissals are the latest blow to a board that has struggled for more than a decade to maintain its statutory role. For much of President Donald Trumps first term, he did not appoint enough members to NBES to fill the 15-member board. They didn't hold any meetings over those four years, according to the board's web page.

We can confirm that the Department fired thirteen Biden appointees to the National Board for Education Sciences on May 23, said Madi Biedermann, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications under Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a statement to TIME. One of the core duties of a board member is to ensure that activities are objective, nonideological, and free of partisan influencethey failed.

Biedermann cited poor student outcomes, excessive spending on research contracts, and the alleged politicization of federal research as justification for the purge. She said new appointees will be announced to drive forward President Trump and Secretary McMahons vision for education reform, which emphasizes decentralization and a sharp reduction in the federal governments role.

As reflected in the dismal results of the recent Nations Report Card, these board members stood by as student outcomes declined nationwide, oversaw research contracts that took gross advantage of the American taxpayer without delivering improvements in teaching and learning, and allowed partisan ideologies to seep into taxpayer-funded research and development, Biedermann said.

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But former board members and education advocates say the firings are part of a broader and deeply political effort to discredit scientific research and roll back protections for vulnerable student populations.

Shaun Harper, a University of Southern California professor who was among those dismissed, said he wasnt surprised by the Trump Administrations decision but disagreed with how they have characterized the boards work. We committed to spending four years in the unpaid role because we all want the best for our democracy, he wrote in an op-ed for TIME published Wednesday. We approached our work as experts, not as politically-polarizing activists who somehow sought to advance anti-American agendas.

Without knowing or even asking what this entailed, it is possible that the Trump Administration presumed this to be a hotbed of DEI activities that privileged wokeness over merit, he added. I never participated in nor witnessed this. There is no evidence of such wrongdoing.

The Trump Administration has made no secret of its disdain for the Department of Education itself. Trump has vowed repeatedly to abolish the agency, though a recent federal court ruling temporarily blocked his executive order aimed at doing just that. Judge Myong J. Joun of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction ordering the reinstatement of thousands of department employees fired as part of the Administrations downsizing campaign.

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In testimony before Congress, Education Secretary McMahon acknowledged that as many as three-fourths of the roughly 2,000 staff members who had been fired at the agency had been dismissed under restructuring efforts led by Elon Musk, who formerly led the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The NBES firings come amid mounting concern over the future of the Institute of Education Sciences itself. According to department employees and internal emails reviewed by NPR, many IES contracts were canceled within the first two months of Trumps second term. These include long-term studies on math interventions, data collection on homeschooling, and surveys related to private education and career training. One canceled program had already been deployed in classrooms across multiple states.

Founded under President George W. Bush as part of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, the IES and its advisory board were created to bring scientific rigor to the education field. The NBES in particular was tasked with ensuring that federal education research is objective, equitable, and informed by practitioners and scientists alike.

Harper warned of the long-term implications of terminating members of the board without replacements: Consequently, students with disabilities will be even more underserved. Inequities between rich and poor, as well as white and racially diverse learners, will widen. Congress and educational leaders will have even less access to trustworthy, high-quality research on what works.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade revealed Wednesday morning that Donald Trump is privately seething over his first buddy Elon Musk publicly blasting the One Big Beautiful Bill as a disgusting abomination, but that the president is so smart to stay silent for now.

Musk, who wrapped up his time as a special government employee last week, tore into the presidents signature spending legislation Tuesday, saying he cant stand it anymore and had to speak out against the bill that a non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects would add trillions of dollars to the national debt.

This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination, the Tesla CEO tweeted. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

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Musk added: It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America (sic) citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.

Shortly after the one-time DOGE chief blasted the spending bill online, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked to respond during Tuesdays press briefing. The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, it doesnt change the presidents opinion, she reacted. This is one big beautiful bill, and hes sticking to it.

Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade says Donald Trump is privately furious that Elon Musk is attacking his signature spending bill. (Fox News)

With some Republicans on Capitol Hill coming out in support of Musks attacks on the presidents legacy legislation, including MAGA lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene, the president has remained silent over his top allys takedown of the Big, Beautiful Bill. However, according to the presidents favorite morning show, Trump is absolutely beside himself over Musks public disavowal of the spending measure.

I think the Elon Musk thing really caught the president by surprise, Kilmeade declared during Wednesdays broadcast of Fox & Friends. And I hear he is furious!

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Knowing the president was almost certainly watching him live, the veteran Fox host then praised Trump for not returning fire at Musk as the Senate debates the bill.

I think hes so smart to keep his powder dry, Kilmeade continued. Because it just plays into what critics would have to say, The right cant get out of their own way. Instead, you have a goal: Pass it. Elon Musk is not in the Senate or the House. Dont worry about it.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Fox & Friends crew attempted to thread the needle between maintaining the close relationship between Trump and Musk intact while asserting that the president has every right to be angry.

I dont think Elon is anti-MAGA now, or anti-the president now. He worked so hard, put a lot of stuff on the line to get a lot wasteful stuff cut, co-host Lawrence Jones noted.

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I was shocked to hear him say that, Ainsley Earhardt added. I can understand why the president would not be happy about that.

During a press conference later on Wednesday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson  who was barely able to get the bill passed through the lower chamber of Congress  also insisted that the president was upset with Musk for coming out against the legislation this week.

At the same time, Johnson revealed that Musk had essentially ghosted him after the two had been in constant conversations over the previous few days.

I called Elon last night and he didn't answer, but I hope to talk to him today, the speaker sighed. I talked to President Trump He's not delighted that Elon did a 180.

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According to Axios, the main reason why the worlds richest man  who had expressed reservations about the legislation before  came out so forcefully against the measure this week is that hes frustrated at failing to win favorable treatment in the bill and the administration at large.

Elon was butthurt, one source told Axios.

The report laid out four inflection points that spurred Musks attacks, which involved the legislation cutting elective vehicle tax credits, the White House not extending his role as a special government employee, the administration not tapping Starlink for national air traffic control and Trump withdrawing the nomination of a Musk ally to lead NASA.
President Donald Trump, whos been hit with TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) taunts on his tariff threats, appeared to gripe about his bargaining difficulties with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Truth Social early Wednesday.

The U.S. and China are in the midst of a 90-day ceasefire of sorts in their tariff war. (Trump and China each accused the other of violating the agreement last week.)

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! Trump wrote on Wednesday.

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When Trumps imposed tariffs on China reached 145% in April, he said they would come down substantially and that the U.S. would be very good to China while noting his great relationship with Xi.

Sounds like the president wasnt feeling it in his wee-hours whine.

Donald Trump and his "extremely hard to deal with" counterpart Xi Jinping. Getty

Related...
President Donald Trump has doubled down on what appears to be his new favorite conspiracy theory in a late-night, all-caps Truth Social meltdown.

Last week, Trump sounded off about the Biggest Scandal in American Historyother than the rigged 2020 electionclaiming someone had usurped a mentally declining Joe Biden and used an autopen to push through a radical-left agenda while Biden was president.

An autopen is a machine used to replicate signatures which has become the center of a MAGA conspiracy theory focused on the pardons Biden granted in his last weeks in office. Its not known whether Biden even used the device to sign pardons.

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Early on Wednesday, Trump was at it again. With the exception of the RIGGED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020, he began, as he did in his previous post.

Then, smashing the caps-lock button, he raged: THE AUTOPEN IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!

Martin's reported inquiry comes amid heightened scrutiny of Bidens health and decision-making. / Valerie Plesch/The Washington Post via Getty Im

Some figures in the movement believe, as Trump has now suggested twice, that Biden did not call the shots during his presidency and that someone else undercut him and wielded presidential power with the clandestine use of an autopen.

Trumps Department of Justice has even launched a probe into Bidens pardons, which came at the end of his term last year. The investigation, headed by Ed Martin, the departments pardon attorney, will also examine whether an autopen was used nefariously.

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According to an email seen by Reuters, Martin said the probe aims to find out whether Biden was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of AutoPen or other means.

Trump has taken aim at the Biden administration's use of an autopen. / Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

Legal experts point out that the U.S. Constitution grants the president broad clemency powers and states that there is no requirement for a handwritten signature on pardons.

A 2005 Department of Justice memo supports the use of autopen for signing official documents, stating that the president may direct a subordinate to affix his signature using such a device.

Martin himself, in soft-launching the probe last month, even admitted there was no issue. If you use the autopen for pardon power, I dont think that thats necessarily a problem, he said. His new move, however, seems to be an attempt to get around that.

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Martins email did not state who instigated the probe, or exactly which of Bidens family members will be investigated.

The 82-year-old pardoned his son Hunter in November after he pleaded guilty to tax violations and was convicted on firearms-related charges. His pardon drew bipartisan criticism.

The then-president also pre-emptively pardoned his brothers James and Frank and his sister Valerie Biden Owens. Their respective spouses were also shielded.

In delivering the pardons, Joe Biden cited a desire to shield family members from future politically motivated prosecutions.

White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told the Daily Beast on Tuesday that the probe was fair, given Bidens apparent condition by the time his term ended.

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The American people deserve to know the extent to which unelected staffers and an autopen acted as a proxy president due to the incompetence and infirmity of the previous president, he said in a statement.

President Trump was elected to restore the integrity and transparency of the office, and answering the question of who was actually running this country for four years is well within the presidents rights.

The Department of Justice declined to respond. A Biden spokesperson was also contacted for comment.
Less than 200 days into Trump 2.0, amid an unrelenting wave of scandals, its easy to forget his first term. But we are still feeling its shockwaves every day through the lasting impact of his judicial appointments. Were reminded again this week of the importance of judges with the Senate Judiciary Committees consideration of Trumps first group of judicial nominees in this second term.

Talk about the Trump administrations unprecedented assault on our fundamental freedoms has revolved around the breathtaking corruption and flouting of our law being committed in plain sight, including fancy dinners for foreign interests who buy Trumps cryptocurrency, a $400 million flying bribe from Qatar, and abusive immigration enforcement tactics that include snatching a college student off the street with no due process.

But the people who are likely to have the most lasting impact on our lives and future are those Trump has nominated to serve lifetime appointments on the federal bench. If confirmed, these nominees would be expected to not only look the other way as the building blocks of Americas democracy are gutted, but to pave the way for Trumps radical agenda  gutting reproductive freedoms and allowing the administration to take health care away from millions.

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This isnt hyperbole. Just look at the records of the first slate he nominated. Many of them have histories of defending anti-choice legislation and other radical policies championed by Trump and his MAGA allies in Congress.

Whitney Hermandorfer, Trumps nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, has a history of arguing for extreme positions in court, including defending abortion bans that even lack exceptions for rape and incest.

Josh Divine, Trumps nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Western District of Missouri, is Missouris Solicitor General and has tried to undo the FDAs approval of mifepristone and neutralize the results of Missouris voter-approved Amendment 3, which overturned the states abortion ban. New reporting also revealed that in a 2010 opinion piece, Divine called for literacy tests for voters despite the racially discriminatory practice being banned in the 1960s.

Some of the nominees in this first slate have also supported Trumps attack on birthright citizenship, which has been widely viewed as unconstitutional. And in true loyalist fashion, one worked to defend Trump by seeking to interfere in New Yorks attempt to hold Trump accountable for state crimes.

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To understand the current environment we must remember how we got here. The far-rights weaponization of the judiciary started long before Trump took office and paved the way for him to install 234 lifetime appointees to the federal courts, including one-third of the Supreme Court, during his first term.

The results have been catastrophic.

The Supreme Court has stripped away womens rights and emboldened Trump to evade accountability. In the lower courts, judges dangerously distort legal standards to arrive at certain policy outcomes while others repeatedly appeared to put personal loyalty to Trump above the rule of law.

This is what the far-right wants: a judiciary that functions as another arm of the MAGA movement. And Trumps allies have promised that his second-term nominees will be even more extreme than the first.

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Given what we are seeing out of the administration, there is no acceptable reason for Senate Democrats to assist their Republican colleagues in pushing through Trumps judicial nominees. The desire for compromise is human and, in many cases, necessary. But this is not the time to capitulate. Anyone who believes in our democracy cannot just cast a vote and hope for the best. Doing so would lend a dangerous legitimacy to the corrosive behavior of the administration and its supporters when it comes to the rule of law.

Recently, some Senate Democrats have voiced regret for supporting Trumps cabinet nominees, including those who were seen as mainstream picks before going full MAGA once confirmed. Senators should not set themselves up for the same feelings of shame in voting for those who Trump nominates for lifetime appointments.

We at Demand Justice will be tracking every vote, and calling attention to every nominee set to bolster far-right interests from the bench. America deserves better than judges gutting healthcare, endangering our kids schools, and rolling back our rights. America deserves better than judges serving the whims of the President.

There is far too much at stake to support this administrations crusade to endlessly expand its own power and assert it over the courts.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is nominating Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to take over as the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Wednesday. If he is confirmed, it would mark just the second time that a Navy admiral has held the job.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that Trump also is nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to head U.S. Africa Command. Anderson would be the first Air Force general to lead the command, which was created in 2007.

Cooper is currently deputy commander of U.S. Central Command and has extensive experience serving and leading troops in the Middle East. The current head of the command, Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, is slated to retire after more than three years in the post.

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It is a crucial role as the region has been shaken by conflict, with the Trump administration pushing to broker a ceasefire deal after 20 months of war in Gaza and pressing for an agreement with Iran in negotiations over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program.

A 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Cooper commanded naval forces in the Middle East for close to three years as the head of the Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain. He left in February 2024 to take over as deputy at Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and is based in Tampa.

Army and Marine generals have largely held the Middle East job since it was created in 1983. And two of the recent leaders  former Army Gen. Lloyd Austin and former Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, went on to serve as defense secretary. Central Command covers 21 countries across central and south Asia and northeast Africa and has overseen the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Syria and Yemen.

The only Navy officer to ever lead Central Command was Adm. William Fallon, who resigned after a year and retired. At the time, Fallon said he was stepping down due to press reports that suggested he was opposed to then-President George W. Bush's Iran policies. He said the reports were wrong but the perception had become a distraction.

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Cooper is a surface warfare officer and served on guided-missile cruisers, destroyers, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. He commanded a destroyer and a cruiser.

During his time leading the 5th Fleet, Cooper set up the Navy's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, and he led naval operations against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. He also oversaw the Navy's role in Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led coalition created in late 2023 to counter Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

He previously served as commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. Cooper is the son of a career Army officer and got his masters degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University.

Anderson, nominated to lead operations in Africa, is a pilot who has flown the KC-135 tanker, the C-130 transport aircraft and the U-28A surveillance aircraft used largely by special operations forces. He has flown more than 3,400 flight hours, including 738 in combat.

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He is currently serving as the director of joint force development on the Joint Staff.

According to the Air Force, he commanded a special operations squadron, an expeditionary squadron, an operations group and a special operations wing. He also led the task force that coordinated the repositioning of U.S. forces from Somalia and headed Special Operations Command, Africa, from 2019 to 2021.

Africa Command is the newest of the Pentagon's geographic commands and covers the bulk of the African continent. Much of the U.S. military's efforts there have focused on combatting extremist groups and training local forces.

Anderson would be the seventh general to head Africa Command. To date, four of the previous leaders were Army generals and two were Marines.

Anderson is from Ypsilanti, Michigan, and graduated from the ROTC program at Washington University in St. Louis.
A Trump official who dismantled a counter-disinformation office in the United States government has links to the Kremlin, the Telegraph reported on June 3.

Darren Beattie, who was appointed to the State Department in February 2025 as under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, has come under scrutiny for his pro-Russian views. According to the Telegraph, Beattie is married to a Russian woman with links to the Kremlin.

His wife  Yulia Kirillova  is the niece of Sergei Chernikov, a former Russian official who reportedly helped Russian President Vladimir Putin in the election campaign which first brought him to power in 2000.

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Beattie notably played a role in dismantling the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office, or R/FIMI, which was previously tasked with tracking and countering disinformation from Russia, China, and Iran.

R/FIMI was officially shut down in April 2025, according to a press statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who claimed that the office "spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving."

According to sources cited by the Telegraph, Beattie relentlessly pursued R/FIMI after his appointment to the State Department. Secretary Rubio confirmed that Beattie played a significant role in dismantling the agency.

Beattie also showed a keen interest in classified materials related to Russia, raising concerns about granting him access to sensitive information. The sources also expressed concerns about whether he had been adequately vetted  a process that can take anywhere from a couple of months to over a year to complete.

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Beattie previously served in the first Trump administration but was ousted after allegedly attending a white nationalist conference in 2018. Since then, he reinvented himself as an "alt-right media" figure and founded the news outlet Revolver.

Through Revolver, Beattie has long criticized R/FIMI and promoted narratives aligned with Kremlin disinformation. He has argued that the U.S. orchestrates "color revolutions" around the world, including in Ukraine  a common narrative used in Kremlin propaganda to delegitimize pro-democracy movements as Western-backed coups.

Beattie has also written social media posts suggesting that Western institutions should be "infiltrated" by the Kremlin, and has attacked the so-called "globalist American empire."

Two months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Beattie wrote on X: "Imagine the whining from the Globalist American Empire if Putin 'invades' Ukraine... love it when our national security bureaucrats fail!"

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The Trump administration has repeatedly come under fire for its perceived sympathies toward Russia. It has also been criticized for shuttering R/FIMI, particularly amidst a global "information war."

According to the National Endowment for Democracy, Russia spends an estimated $1.5 billion annually on disinformation and foreign influence campaigns. In Europe alone, the Kremlin is believed to be behind 80% of disinformation operations.

Read also: US House Speaker Johnson backs Senate bill to toughen sanctions on Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
To attract the brightest minds to America, President Donald Trump proposed a novel idea while campaigning: If elected, he would grant green cards to all foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges.

Its so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools, Trump said during a podcast interview last June. That is going to end on Day One.

That promise never came to pass. Trumps stance on welcoming foreign students has shifted dramatically. International students have found themselves at the center of an escalating campaign to kick them out or keep them from coming as his administration merges a crackdown on immigration with an effort to reshape higher education.

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An avalanche of policies from the Trump administration  such as terminating students ability to study in the U.S., halting all new student visa interviews and moving to block foreign enrollment at Harvard  have triggered lawsuits, countersuits and confusion. Foreign students say they feel targeted on multiple fronts. Late Wednesday, Trump himself took the latest action against international students, signing a proclamation barring nearly all foreigners from entering the country to attend Harvard. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order the following day.

In interviews, students from around the world described how it feels to be an international student today in America. Their accounts highlight pervasive feelings of fear, anxiety and insecurity that have made them more cautious in their daily lives, distracted them from schoolwork and prompted many to cancel trips home because they fear not being allowed to return.

For many, the last few months have forced them to rethink their dreams of building a life in America.

A standout student from Latvia feels expendable

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Markuss Saule, a freshman at Brigham Young University-Idaho, took a recent trip home to Latvia and spent the entire flight back to the U.S. in a state of panic.

For hours, he scrubbed his phone, uninstalling all social media, deleting anything that touched on politics or could be construed as anti-Trump.

That whole 10-hour flight, where I was debating, Will they let me in?  it definitely killed me a little bit, said Saule, a business analytics major. It was terrifying.

Saule is the type of international student the U.S. has coveted. As a high schooler in Latvia, he qualified for a competitive, merit-based exchange program funded by the U.S. State Department. He spent a year of high school in Minnesota, falling in love with America and a classmate who is now his fiancee. He just ended his freshman year in college with a 4.0 GPA.

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But the alarm he felt on that flight crushed what was left of his American dream.

If you had asked me at the end of 2024 what my plans were, it was to get married, find a great job here in the U.S. and start a family, said Saule, who hopes to work as a business data analyst. Those plans are not applicable anymore. Ask me now, and the plan to leave this place as soon as possible.

Saule and his fiancee plan to marry this summer, graduate a year early and move to Europe.

This spring the Trump administration abruptly revoked permission to study in the U.S. for thousands of international students before reversing itself. A federal judge has blocked further status terminations, but for many, the damage is done. Saule has a constant fear he could be next.

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As a student in Minnesota just three years ago, he felt like a proud ambassador for his country.

Now I feel a sense of inferiority. I feel that I am expendable, that I am purely an appendage that is maybe getting cut off soon, he said. Trumps policies carry a clear subtext. The policies, what they tell me is simple. It is one word: Leave.

From dreaming of working at NASA to doomscrolling job listings in India

A concern for attracting the worlds top students was raised in the interview Trump gave last June on the podcast All-In. Can you promise, Trump was asked, to give companies more ability to import the best and brightest" students?

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I do promise, Trump answered. Green cards, he said, would be handed out with diplomas to any foreign student who gets a college or graduate degree.

Trump said he knew stories of brilliant graduates who wanted to stay in the U.S. to work but couldnt. They go back to India, they go back to China and become multi-billionaires, employing thousands of people. That is going to end on Day One.

Had Trump followed through with that pledge, a 24-year-old Indian physics major named Avi would not be afraid of losing everything he has worked toward.

After six years in Arizona, where Avi attended college and is now working as an engineer, the U.S. feels like a second home. He dreams of working at NASA or in a national lab and staying in America where he has several relatives.

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But now he is too afraid to fly to Chicago to see them, rattled by news of foreigners being harassed at immigration centers and airports.

Do I risk seeing my family or risk deportation? said Avi, who asked to be identified by his first name, fearing retribution.

Avi is one of about 240,000 people on student visas in the U.S. on Optional Practical Training  a postgraduation period where students are authorized to work in fields related to their degrees for up to three years. A key Trump nominee has said he would like to see an end to postgraduate work authorization for international students.

Avis visa is valid until next year but he feels a massive amount of uncertainty.

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He wonders if he can sign a lease on a new apartment. Even his daily commute feels different.

I drive to work every morning, 10 miles an hour under speed limit to avoid getting pulled over, said Avi, who hopes to stay in the U.S. but is casting a wider net. I spend a lot of time doomscrolling job listings in India and other places.

A Ukrainian chose college in America over joining the fight at home  for now

Vladyslav Plyaka came to the U.S. from Ukraine as an exchange student in high school. As war broke out at home, he stayed to attend the University of Wisconsin.

He was planning to visit Poland to see his mother but if he leaves the U.S., he would need to reapply for a visa. He doesnt know when that will be possible now that visa appointments are suspended, and he doesnt feel safe leaving the country anyway.

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He feels grateful for the education, but without renewing his visa, hell be stuck in the U.S. at least two more years while he finishes his degree. He sometimes wonders if he would be willing to risk leaving his education in the United States  something he worked for years to achieve  if something happened to his family.

Its hard because every day I have to think about my family, if everything is going to be all right, he said.

It took him three tries to win a scholarship to study in the U.S. Having that cut short because of visa problems would undermine the sacrifice he made to be here. He sometimes feels guilty that he isnt at home fighting for his country, but he knows theres value in gaining an education in America.

I decided to stay here just because of how good the college education is, he said. If it was not good, I probably would be on the front lines.

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___

AP Education Writer Collin Binkley contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
U.S. President Donald Trump hiked nearly all of his tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to a punishing 50% on Wednesday in a move thats set to hammer businesses from automakers to home builders, and likely push up prices for consumers even further.

Foreign-made steel and aluminum is used in household products like soup cans and paper clips, as well as big-ticket items like a stainless-steel refrigerators and cars. Economists warn that such heightened levies could significantly squeeze the wallets of both companies and shoppers alike. But Trump argues that his latest import taxes are necessary to protect U.S. industries.

The 50% tariffs went into effect just after the clock struck midnight on Wednesday. The two metals had previously faced 25% tariffs worldwide since mid-March, when Trumps order to remove steel exemptions and raise aluminums levy from his previously-imposed 2018 import taxes went into effect.

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Steel and aluminum from the U.K. is the exception. British imports of these metals are still levied at 25%, per a proclamation issued by Trump on Tuesday afternoon, which pointed to a recent trade deal reached between the two countries.

Heres what else we know.

Why is Trump raising these tariffs?

Trump says its all about protecting U.S. industries. He reiterated that argument on Friday, when he first announced the 50% tariff on imported steel during a visit with steelworkers in Pennsylvania, where he also discussed a planned partnership between U.S. Steel and Japans Nippon Steel.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> President Trump announces new tariffs at U.S. Steel facility in West Mifflin

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In his speech at U.S. Steels Mon Valley WorksIrvin Plant in suburban Pittsburgh, Trump said that the tariff hike would further secure the steel industry in the U.S. Shortly after, he took the same tone when sharing plans to also raise tariffs on imported aluminum.

In Tuesdays proclamation, Trump also said that the higher tariffs would ensure that imported steel and aluminum would not threaten to impair the national security.

In my judgment, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States, he said in the proclamation.

How is the industry responding?

While some analysts have credited the tariffs Trump imposed during his first term with strengthening domestic production of steel and aluminum, many others have warned that stark new levies can make it difficult for the industry to adjust.

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Some organizations representing metal workers also note that tariffs arent the only solution needed to boost U.S. manufacturing.

While tariffs, used strategically, serve as a valuable tool in balancing the scales, its essential that we also pursue wider reforms of our global trading system, David McCall, international president of the United Steelworkers union said in a statement, noting that work must be done in collaboration with trusted allies like Canada  the top exporter of steel and aluminum to the U.S.  to help contain the bad actors.

Matt Meenan, vice president of external affairs at the Aluminum Association, added that the trade group appreciates President Trumps continued focus on strengthening the U.S. aluminum industry, but that tariffs alone will not increase U.S. primary aluminum production.

We also need consistent, predictable trade and tariff policy to plan for current and future investment, Meenan said.

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Meanwhile, the American Primary Aluminum Association, which advocates for stronger trade enforcement, applauded Trumps latest tariff increase on foreign aluminum.

For decades, subsidized foreign producers have hollowed out domestic aluminum manufacturing, APAA President Mark Duffy said in a statement, calling Trump a strong leader who is fighting to rebuild domestic manufacturing and protect thousands of American aluminum jobs.

What kinds of products could be impacted by heightened steel and aluminum tariffs?

A range of businesses that rely on foreign-made steel and aluminum have already begun feeling the impacts of Trumps previously-imposed levies. But the latest anticipated hikes could drive up costs even more.

Steel and aluminum are used in a range of products like washing machines, consumer electronics and cars. Much of the auto industry relies on a global supply chain. And even if you arent in the market to buy a new vehicle, repairs could involve parts that use imports of either metal, driving up overall maintenance and ownership costs.

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In the grocery aisle, steel and aluminum are ubiquitous in the packaging for many foods, including canned tuna, soup and nuts. Experts warn that hiking import taxes on these materials could led to higher grocery prices overall, further straining consumers wallets.

The aluminum and metal tariffs also carry wider implications for construction and transportation as a whole, as many key building parts and materials are made with these metals. Economists further warn of spillover impacts. Even if a product isnt directly packaged in steel or aluminum, there could be higher costs to build the shelf its sold on, for example, or truck used to transport it to the store. And all of that could trickle down to the consumer down the road.

If foreign competition becomes priced out due to these new tariffs, U.S. steel and aluminum producers may also find room to raise their own prices. As a result, even companies that dont buy these foreign metals could end up paying more.

Steel prices have already climbed 16% since Trump became president in mid-January, according to the governments Producer Price Index. And as of March 2025, steel cost $984 a metric ton in the U.S., significantly higher than than in Europe ($690) or China ($392), per the U.S. Commerce Department.

Why is the UK excluded from the 50% rates?

As part of trade deal reached on May 8, the U.K. said that the U.S. had agreed to exempt the country from its then-universal 25% duties, which would allow British steel and aluminum to come into the U.S. duty-free. That has yet to happen. But in his proclamation issued Tuesday, Trump acknowledged that it was necessary and appropriate to implement the deal.

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The duty on British steel and aluminum will now stay at 25% instead of zero. But that rate could go up starting on July 9 if the U.S. government determines that Britain has not held up its end of the bargain, the details of which remain unclear.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that he is confident a trade deal exempting the U.K. from U.S. metals tariffs entirely will be in force before Trumps July 9 deadline.

We are the only country in the world that isnt paying the 50% tax on steel and that will be coming down, Starmer told lawmakers in the House of Commons on Wednesday. We are working on it to bring it down to zero, that is going to happen.

Gareth Stace, head of the industry body U.K. Steel, added that Trumps decision to keep tariffs on British steel at 25% was a welcome pause but warned that continuing uncertainty was making American customers dubious over whether they should even risk making U.K. orders.

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Other countries may also seek reprieve  or retaliation.

Late Tuesday, Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard said that doubling the tariff rate on imported steel and aluminum it is unfair and unsustainable because it will damage both countries economies. Ebrard added that he will be in Washington on Friday to meet with top U.S. officials and plans to present Mexicos arguments to be excluded from this measure, because it does not make sense.

Meanwhile, the European Union has outlined countermeasures in response to levies imposed on aluminum and steel earlier in the year. The 27-nation bloc later delayed those actions until July 14 in efforts to ease negotiations, but recently said that was preparing a list of measures to enact if a trade deal with the U.S. crumbles.

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U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 3 to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, raising duties from 25% to 50%, the White House announced.

Trump's new order builds on a Feb. 10 executive action that imposed a flat 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports. Steel production is one of Ukraine's core industrial sectors and its second-largest source of foreign currency after agriculture.

The White House cited the earlier rate's failure to "develop and maintain the rates of capacity production utilization that are necessary for the industries' sustained health and for projected national defense needs."

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Trump defended the new duties as essential to national security, claiming they will "reduce or eliminate the threat posed by imports" and ensure self-sufficiency in strategic industries.

Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said earlier this year that the share of Ukrainian steel in the U.S. market remains small and poses no threat to domestic U.S. producers.

However, tariffs further jeopardize Ukraine's key metallurgical exports, particularly ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Interpipe, which are already suffering due to the war.

Ukraine's metallurgical products make up 57.9% of Ukraine's exports to the U.S., or in dollar amounts, $503 million out of $869 million, according to Svyrydenko. It is unclear what time frame those figures represent.

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The U.K. is the only exception to the new tariffs, which will remain at the 25% level for British imports, according to Bloomberg.

Trump defended the tariffs as a way to simplify duties on metals and hinted at retaliatory measures against countries imposing tariffs on American goods.

Read also: Risk level goes up  Ukraines strike on Russian bombers could escalate war, US envoy Kellogg says

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June 4 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will respond to the Ukrainian drone strikes that destroyed Russian military aircraft in several locations on Sunday, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.

Trump spoke with Putin by phone for more than an hour on Wednesday and said it was "not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace," CNBC reported the president saying in a Truth Social post.

Putin told Trump the Russian military will retaliate against Ukraine for the drone strikes conducted during a long-planned operation dubbed "spiderweb."

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The drone strikes destroyed more than 40 Russian heavy bombers that are capable of deploying missiles that contain nuclear warheads.

Putin said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is disrupting peace talks with such attacks.

Ukraine launched "Operation Spiderweb" on Sunday, targeting Belaya Air Base in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia, approximately 3,000 miles from Ukraine, using drones to strike its enemy's strategic bombers. This image, taken from a video released by Ukraine, shows Tu-95 Bear and Tu-22 Backfire bombers, as well as A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft under attack. Screenshot via Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

Putin aide Yury Ushakov said the conversation lasted about 70 minutes and was the fourth between the two world leaders.

"It was emphasized that Ukraine tried to derail these talks by carrying out targeted attacks on entirely civilian targets and civilians on direct orders from the Kiev regime," Ushakov said in an online announcement.

Ukraine launched "Operation Spiderweb" on Sunday, targeting Belaya Air Base in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia, approximately 3,000 miles from Ukraine, using drones to strike its enemy's strategic bombers. This image, taken from a video released by Ukraine, shows Tu-95 Bear and Tu-22 Backfire bombers, as well as A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft under attack. Screenshot via Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

"These attacks unequivocally constitute an act of terrorism under international law," Ushakov said. "The Kiev regime has essentially degenerated into a terrorist organization."

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Trump said the United States had no advance knowledge of the drone strikes, Ushakov said, adding that the two presidents agreed to continue working to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine peace talks, Iranian nuclear weapons and other matters during a 70-minute phone conversation on Wednesday. File Photo by Michael Klimentyev/Sputnick/Kremlin Pool Photo for EPA-EFE

Putin and Trump also discussed matters in the Middle East, the conflict between India and Pakistan, and a potential restoration of cooperation between Russia and the United States regarding various global issues.

"We also discussed Iran and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!" Trump said in his Truth Social post.

Ukraine launched "Operation Spiderweb" on Sunday, targeting Belaya Air Base in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia, approximately 3,000 miles from Ukraine, using drones to strike its enemy's strategic bombers. This image, taken from a video released by Ukraine, shows Tu-95 Bear and Tu-22 Backfire bombers, as well as A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft under attack. Screenshot via Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

Putin said he could assist with nuclear talks with Iran, which Trump is working to stop from developing nuclear weapons, the BBC reported.

Ushakov credited Trump with halting the recent armed conflict between India and Pakistan and said both agreed their phone conversation was "positive and highly productive."
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Moscow would retaliate against Ukraine's major drone attack over the weekend, casting doubt that a peace deal to end the war could come soon.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he and Putin spoke for about an hour and 15 minutes and conveyed that it wasn't going to lead to "immediate" peace between Russia and Ukraine.

"We discussed the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump wrote, referring to Ukraine's massive drone attack on Russian air bases that took place Sunday.

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Trump said they also discussed negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. "President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion," he said. "It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!"

Putin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters during a phone briefing that the Russian president accused Ukraine of trying to thwart peace talks. Ushakov also said Trump told Putin that the U.S. was not made aware in advance of Ukraine's massive drone attack Sunday.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

A delegation of Ukrainian officials held meetings this week with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, as well as Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

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Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul on Tuesday for peace talks during which they discussed exchanges of prisoners of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. Zelenskyy said that Russia gave Ukraine an "ultimatum," not a memorandum for a cease-fire agreement. He also said he's ready to meet with Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the coming days.

Despite these negotiations over ending the war that began in 2022, the conflict has continued. In addition to the massive drone attack Ukraine launched against Russia over the weekend, Ukraine has also attacked key Russian bridges, including a critical one that connects Russia to Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Russia, meanwhile, has continued launching strikes against civilians in Ukraine. In the last 24 hours in Ukraine, four civilians were killed and more than a dozen were injured as a result of Russian strikes.

Trump has in recent months publicly expressed frustration with the Russian leader, with whom he has long bragged about having an amicable relationship. Trump said last week that the U.S. would know within two weeks whether Putin was serious about ending the war in Ukraine.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 10, 2025 Credit - Dilara Irem SancarAnadolu/Getty Images

Will you call President Xi if he doesnt call you? TIME asked Donald Trump during an interview in April.

No, the U.S. President responded.

You wont?

Nope.

Has he called you yet?

Yep.

When did he call you?

Hes called. And I dont think thats a sign of weakness on his behalf, Trump said of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

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But you would think its a sign of weakness if you called him?

I dontI just look

Its unclear what Trump was referring to at the time. Beijing denied that any recent conversation between the two leaders took place. The latest acknowledgement of direct contact was before Trump took office in January, when he posted on Truth Social that he just spoke to Xi and that the pair would solve many problems together and do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!

Now, however, White House officials suggest a call between Trump and Xi may be imminent.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that he expected the two leaders will hold a call very soon. Trump is going to have a wonderful conversation about the trade negotiations this week with Xi, said National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, a timeline reiterated by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to reporters on Monday: I can confirm that the two leaders will likely talk this week.

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Heres what to know about a potential call between Trump and Xi.

What would be on the agenda?

Trade will undoubtedly be the focus of any conversation between Trump and Xi.

The worlds two largest economies have been engaged in a trade war since Trumps first term, though it dramatically escalated when Trump hiked reciprocal tariffs on China in April, raising the baseline levy on imports from China to 145%, while Beijing retaliated with a 125% tax on U.S. goods.

Both countries accused the other of playing unfairly, but in May, representatives from each side met in Geneva, where they reached a truce, temporarily reducing the tariffs amid continuing negotiations.

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Read More: With Tariff Retreat, Trump Cedes Leverage to China

Another topic, albeit related, that is anticipated to come up is critical minerals, the rare earths used to manufacture a gamut of goods from auto parts and chips to munitions.

In a May 30 post on Truth Social, Trump referred to the Geneva agreement, claiming it was a gesture of kindness from the U.S.: I saw what was happening and didnt like it, for them, not for us. I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didnt want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!! The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!

Speaking to CBS on Sunday, Bessent said that China had breached some of the terms of the Geneva agreement, particularly regarding export controls over rare earths and critical minerals. I am confident that when President Trump and [Chinese Communist] Party Chairman Xi have a call, that this will be ironed out, Bessent said. But the fact that they are withholding some of the products that they agreed to release during our agreementmaybe it's a glitch in the Chinese system, maybe its intentional.

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When Press Secretary Leavitt was asked Tuesday about whether the U.S. was pressuring China to release its hold on rare earths, she referred to the leader-to-leader talk very soon.

Read More: How Rare Earths Are Playing a Pivotal Role in the U.S.-China Trade War

Education policy may also be discussed. Recently the Trump Administration has made moves to restrict Chinese students at U.S. universities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 28 that the U.S. will aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese students, including those with ties to the CCP and those studying in critical fields, because of national security concerns. Beijing firmly opposed the move, calling the policy fully unjustified.

Chinas Ministry of Commerce on June 2 accused the U.S. of violating its side of the Geneva deal, saying that since the agreement the U.S. has successively introduced a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China. According to the ministry, these include issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China, and announcing the revocation of Chinese student visas.

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Read More: How Trumps Crackdown on International Students Could Escalate Trade Tensions With China

The inflow of fentanyl into the U.S. may also be a point of discussion, as the illegal narcotic that has been tied to some 48,000 deaths in 2024 in the U.S. was ostensibly the initial motivation behind Trumps second-term tariff war.

What has each side said about the other?

I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH, Trump said Wednesday in a post on Truth Social.

A person familiar with the trade talks told Politico that Trump is obsessed with getting Xi on the line, especially since relations have been strained by Chinas alleged violations of the Geneva agreement.

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A former official close to the White House also told Politico that Trump feels that a call between principles is a way to cut through a lot of this noise, and get right to the heart of the matter.

For China, the Trump Administrations recent actionson trade and student visasseriously violate the consensus reached by the two heads of state on January 17, seriously undermine the existing consensus of the Geneva economic and trade talks, and seriously damage Chinas legitimate rights and interests, said a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson on June 2.

Beijing, however, has also consistently repeated the need for equal-footed dialogue and consultation with mutual respect to iron out the trade dispute. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, after meeting with newly installed U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, said on Tuesday that the U.S. should create the necessary conditions for China-U.S. relations to return to the right track after it introduced a series of negative measures on unfounded grounds.

But analysts say that Xi is less inclined to approach deals via a call. Donald Trumps way of pick[ing] up the phone  to resolve issues, Pang Zhongying, a former visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, told the South China Morning Post in February, is not the Chinese way.

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According to Bloombergs John Liu, direct talks with Trump may not play well for Xi domestically, especially if hes seen as bowing to American pressure. The Chinese President doesnt need the embarrassment of making nice with Trump, wrote Liu in February. Plus, keeping Trump at arms length has its benefits, as the U.S. loses international standing over issues like the tariffs as well as continued support for Israel in its deadly war in Gaza, it makes China appear like the more responsible global power.

I dont think [China] wants to be caught unaware or caught by surprise with demands or things that it wasn't expecting over the course of this phone conversation, Huang Chin-hao of the National University of Singapores Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy tells TIME.

Trump might fancy himself as a dealmaker, but Xi is not one to make sudden decisions on the fly, says Kevin Chen Xian An, an associate research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. The best we can hope for is that the two leaders can reach an understanding on certain principles that provide a modest boost to trade talks.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
On May 27, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins visited with first responders in Clinton, Maine and reviewed plans for an upgraded facility built with the help of $2 million secured in Congressionally Directed Spending. (Photo via Sen. Susan Collins/ Facebook)

Editors Note: This story is part of a series about U.S. Sen. Susan Collins role during the second Trump presidency.

As Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins approaches three decades in Congress, the self-described moderates balancing act has meant shes angered both the left and right. However, even Mainers otherwise critical of Collins commend her ability to secure federal funding for Maine.

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I think her big goal has been what it always has been and thats delivering economically for the state, said Jim Melcher, a professor of political science at University of Maine Farmington. I think [that] really interests her a lot more than being an ideological vote, honestly, for anybody.

Though, the bounds of that unifier are now being tested by the Trump administration.

Since President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding unless Maine complies with his executive order banning transgender girls from playing girls sports, the state has been the subject of several probes and funding cuts that have been widely interpreted as retaliatory.

Some Mainers say these terminations underscore why Maine needs Collins, one of Congress most senior members and top appropriators. Others argue the executives actions reveal a crack in Collins power.

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When asked whether she believes she can still ensure Maine receives both the funding its owed and continued appropriations for new initiatives, Collins did not hesitate to say, I do.

Her record

Both Republican leaders of the Maine Legislature, Sen. Trey Stewart of Aroostook County and Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor, said, without a doubt, that Collins should not face a primary challenger. Why? Federal funding.

I think its absolutely insane to vote out Susan Collins, who brings so much money into the state of Maine, Faulkingham said.

In fiscal year 2022, Congress reinstated earmarks, formally referred to as Congressionally Directed Spending in the Senate, where individual members have the ability to request funds for specific projects in their home states. Collins has secured more than $1 billion for Maine using this method since.

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Collins secured more than $200 million for 105 projects in fiscal year 2022, more than $308 million for 108 projects in fiscal year 2023, and more than $577 million for 231 projects in fiscal year 2024. Her 2024 total was the most secured by any senator that year.

Throughout the years, these have gone toward initiatives related to infrastructure, medical services and affordable housing, among others.

The University of Maine System received $125.45 million from Congressionally Directed Spending secured by Collins between fiscal year 2022 and 2024, according to Chief External and Governmental Affairs Officer Samantha Warren, who called the funding transformational.

Though, Warren added, these earmarks dont reflect all of the funding that Collins has helped funnel to the system, both since the earmark process was restored and before, noting Collins longtime championing of investments for Maines public universities including through need-based federal Pell grants and TRIO programs.

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Another key funding source outside the earmark process is defense spending, which Collins has helped secure for Maine-based contractors such as Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Do you think were going to be building ships at Bath Iron Works if we have a freshman legislator in the Senate? No, I dont think so, Faulkingham said.

Do you think we're going to be building ships at Bath Iron Works if we have a freshman legislator in the Senate? No, I don't think so.

 Maine House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor)

When asked whether the General Dynamics-owned contractor has any concerns about Collins being able to continue to deliver in light of other congressionally appropriated funds being rescinded, David Hench, communications principal for BIW, pointed to her track record.

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Senator Collins leadership as a member and now chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has been invaluable in not only providing resources for our national defense, but in helping to address the transportation, housing and childcare needs of our state and workforce, Hench said.

When asked the same, Kate Dufour, director of advocacy and communications for the Maine Municipal Association, a nonprofit state municipal league, described a similar working relationship between its members and the senator.

Collins is a strong proponent of municipal government and has done much during her career to ensure that Maine has access to federal revenues, which reduce the burdens placed on the property taxpayers, Dufour said.

Several other major benefactors of Collins earmarks declined to comment on her performance as a top appropriator, including Jackson Laboratory and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, or did not respond to requests for comment, including Maine Medical Center.

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When asked about her record of delivering for the state, Collins also pointed to her ability to work with both parties to advance legislation that aids many Mainers, and Americans more broadly. For example, she pointed to her co-authoring of the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law earlier this year under former President Joe Biden, which she said she spent more than two decades working toward. The Act restored full benefits for millions of public sector workers.

A breakdown

The funding process has been upended during Trumps second term, challenging Collins otherwise steadily growing appropriations power.

The continuing resolution from GOP leadership this winter cut earmarks for community projects. Collins had secured nearly $361 million in earmarks this year before they were removed from the resolution, which she said she ultimately supported to avoid a government shutdown.

While it appears earmarks will return in bills this year to fund projects for fiscal year 2026, Mark Brewer, chair of the political science at the University of Maine, said he doesnt think anyone can actually say whether that will consistently be the case moving forward.

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Really, a lot of the things that we thought for years and years that had been norms for how things are done in Washington are not at the moment, Brewer said.

How the White House implemented that stopgap bill demonstrated another breakdown of normal procedure, defying precedent in vetoing certain emergency spending allocations made by Congress. Collins warned the Trump administration in a letter then that the move could strain its working relationship with the Appropriations Committee.

State Sen. Rick Bennett of Oxford, a moderate Republican who has crossed paths with Collins when she previously held state-level positions and on campaign trails, said the senior senator has long focused on being institutionally responsible, an objective he also shares.

On the state level, Bennett has argued the Legislature has ceded too much power to the governor and on the national level that Congress has ceded too much to the president. Calling Congress barely functional on a good day, Bennett said of Collins, I think its difficult for her to find a normal process that is inclusive in this chaos.

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When asked whether Collins is charting the most effective path amid that chaos, Bennett said, I think were going to find out. I dont have any advice for her. I think youd have to be sitting in her seat in order to see what avenues she has.

Collins has touted her behind-the-scenes conversations with officials as the most effective means to restore funding so far. Maine has been subject to both the Trump administrations across-the-board slashes as well as targeted terminations.

For example, in late February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notified the University of Maine that it was immediately discontinuing funding for the $4.5 million Maine Sea Grant, which has helped finance statewide research, strengthen coastal communities and support thousands of jobs over more than five decades.

While one of 34 grants across coastal and Great Lakes states throughout the country, Maines grant was the only one terminated.

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The funding cut came about a week after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding unless Maine complied with his executive order banning transgender girls from playing girls sports. Since then, the state has been the subject of several probes and funding cuts.

On March 4, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King and Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine sent a letter to Vice Admiral Nancy Hann demanding she immediately reverse the decision. But when Hann announced on March 5 that the grant would be renegotiated, she credited conversations with Collins and her staff. The University of Maine also credited the renegotiation decision to Collins.

We are deeply appreciative of Senator Collins leadership and relentless advocacy on behalf of Maine Sea Grant and the hard-working Mainers it has long served, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said in a statement.

Mainers call on U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to stand up to President Donald Trump as they protest his administrations actions on April 11, 2025 in Biddeford. (By Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Values versus funding

Collins lost Saco resident Sandy Katzs support on issues of principle, and while not enough to gain her vote, Katz said, The funding is the one thing she does well.

Values and funding, however, are becoming increasingly entwined, as exemplified by Trumps attempt to force compliance with his executive order through cuts.

On principle, Collins is against transgender athletes playing in womens sports, but when it comes to funding, she criticized the presidents attempts to rescind federal dollars for Maine schools.

Trying to find her balance between the two has also been challenged with her votes on Trumps Cabinet picks. She voted for the vast majority of nominees, confirming 20 and voting against two: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel.

Regarding Hegseth, Collins said, I think his difficulty in managing the department effectively has shown that my judgment was correct on that. Since his confirmation, Hegseth has been involved in a spate of security scandals over his use of the open-source, encrypted messaging app Signal.

Regarding Patel, Collins said, I felt particularly at this time, but at any time, we need an apolitical FBI director and I did not think that Kash Patel was based on his writings. Patel has authored childrens books and been involved with projects that promote pro-Trump conspiracy theories.

Concerning the Cabinet picks Collins supported, one confirmation in particular stuck out to political scientist and writer Amy Fried: Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought.

Vought, an architect of Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations blueprint to overhaul the federal government, has said he doesnt believe Congress has the final say on federal spending.

When asked whether he would comply with the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which clarifies that presidents dont have the legal authority to ignore Congress on federal spending, Vought responded, No, I dont believe its constitutional. The president ran on that view. Thats his view, and I agree.

Collins told Maine Morning Star she gives deference to presidential Cabinet picks regardless of party.

Despite my disagreements with [Vought], which are pretty profound when it comes to the Impoundment Act, he is clearly well qualified for the position, Collins said. He previously served as both deputy director of OMB and as director of OMB. So when Im evaluating Cabinet nominees, I, in general, base my decision on whether or not the person is qualified for the job, not on whether I agree with all of their positions.

Fried argued Collins vote for Vought undermines her own power.

Her big claim was I will be able to help the state of Maine because someday Im going to be chair of the Appropriations Committee, Fried said. Well, if the Appropriations Committee isnt deciding what money goes where, then that just renders that whole thing null and void.

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US President Donald Trump sees no chance for an immediate resolution to the Ukraine war following another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

"It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

He said the call, which lasted approximately, one hour and 15 minutes, dealt with "the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."

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Trump said Putin told him that Russia would have to respond to those attacks "on the airfields."

The two leaders also discussed Iran's nuclear programme. "President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion."
US President Donald Trump sees no chance for an immediate resolution to the Ukraine war following another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

"It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

He said the call, which lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes, dealt with "the attack on Russias docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."

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Trump said Putin told him that Russia would have to respond to those attacks.

"President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump wrote.

Trump and Putin last spoke by phone in mid-May. The US president has repeatedly suggested a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, offering to attend himself. However, such a meeting has not yet taken place.

Kiev's surprise attack

After months of preparation, Ukraine's intelligence service recently launched a large-scale strike on several Russian military airfields, which had been used to launch regular airstrikes against Ukraine.

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More than 40 aircraft worth a total of $7 billion were destroyed in the attacks, including one near Irkutsk in Siberia, according to Ukraine's intelligence agency SBU. Russia has reportedly lost 34% of its strategic bomber fleet capable of launching cruise missiles. These claims have not been independently verified.

The Russian military confirmed the "terrorist attacks," stating that "some" aircraft were damaged near Murmansk and Irkutsk. Zelensky celebrated the surprise attack by his intelligence service as an "absolutely brilliant success," calling it Ukraine's most far-reaching operation in the war so far.

Talks between Ukraine and Russia

Representatives from Ukraine and Russia recently began direct talks in Turkey, mediated by the United States, to explore a potential resolution to the conflict. However, Trump's repeated calls for an immediate end to the fighting have so far gone unheeded.

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Putin separately rejected calls for a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, whether for 30 or for 60 days.

"Why should they be emboldened by allowing them a break from fighting?" he queried. He also backed Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who has said Russia should continue to hold talks with a view to achieving its war aims.

In Kiev, Zelensky offered an immediate ceasefire that should last at least until a meeting with Putin. If no de-escalation emerged from a meeting of this kind, "the ceasefire will end on the same day," he told journalists.

Zelensky rejected the memorandum put forward by the Russian side in talks in Istanbul on Monday in which it listed demands for an end to the war. He termed it an ultimatum. Russia's demands could not be met, in particular its territorial demands, he said.

Iran also a topic

Trump and Putin also discussed Iran's nuclear programme in their call. "President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.

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"I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement," Trump wrote.

Trump said Putin "suggested" that he be included in the talks with Iran and that he could be helpful to seal a deal.

Prisoner swap foreseen

Moscow and Kiev could launch a large exchange of prisoners over the weekend, both sides have indicated.

Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky mentioned the days Saturday to Monday, TASS reported, while in Kiev, Zelensky referred in general to the coming weekend.

The first step foresees an exchange of 500 prisoners on each side.

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During direct talks between the two sides in Istanbul on Monday, they agreed to exchange primarily younger troops aged between 18 and 25, along with seriously injured or ill prisoners of war.

This could include more than 1,000 troops on each side. At the same time, thousands of bodies are to be returned from both sides.

Putin accuses Ukraine of terrorism following fatal train accidents

Putin accused Ukraine of terrorism in relation to two fatal train accidents in Russia over the weekend.

"The blow was deliberately aimed at the civilian population," Putin said during a government session in Moscow, according to the state-run TASS news agency. He accused Ukraine of seeking to block talks on an end to the war.

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Last weekend, two trains suffered accidents in the Kursk and Bryansk regions bordering Ukraine after bridges were blown up. Seven people died and dozens were injured in the passenger train derailed near the city of Bryansk.

While these accidents were discussed in detail, there was no information on Russian media about the Ukrainian attacks on military airbases using remotely targeted drones.

Moscow: Crimea bridge hit but not damaged in Ukrainian strike

A bridge connecting Russian-occupied Crimea to the mainland was not damaged in a Ukrainian attack on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies.

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"There was in fact an explosion, but nothing was damaged. The bridge is working," he was cited as saying.

On Tuesday, Ukraine's SBU intelligence service said that the bridge could be in danger of collapsing after it damaged a pillar with an underwater explosion.

The Russian authorities closed it to traffic twice during the day before reopening it in the evening.

The Russian Defence Ministry announced meanwhile on its Telegram channel on Wednesday that it had used an Iskander ballistic missile to destroy a German-supplied Iris-T anti-aircraft system in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Kiev declined to comment in response to a question from dpa.

Germany has delivered six batteries of the sophisticated anti-aircraft system since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They are usually deployed to protect larger cities.
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President Trump and his allies are waging war with the Federalist Society as he sees parts of his second-term agenda blocked by some of his own judicial appointees.

Simmering tensions broke into full public view after Trump called longtime Federalist leader Leonard Leo a sleazebag after a court blocked the bulk of Trumps tariffs.

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The boiling point has unleashed a rebellion pitting the Make America Great Again movement against the conservative legal stronghold that helped Trump reshape the courts during his first term by offering up conservative judges as suggestions to fill benches across the country.

As the president embarks on choosing his next set of judicial nominees in his second-term, his decisions are now being shaped by a new, MAGA-branded team.

Inside the White House, judicial appointments are being spearheaded by chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House counsel David Warrington and Deputy White House counsel Steve Kenny.

The Federalist Society once played a central role in advising Trumps White House on those decisions. But in the presidents second term, the process has shifted to include outside influence from the Article III Project, which is spearheaded by close Trump legal ally Mike Davis.

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Davis served as chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during Trumps first term, where in that role he helped clear the way for the presidents judicial nominees. David also previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trumps first nominee to the high court. His relationship with Trump grew closer after the FBI raided the presidents Mar-a-Lago resort and he defended the president in the press.

Meanwhile, the Federalist Society looked the other way, Davis said in an interview with The Hill.

They abandoned President Trump during the lawfare against him, he said. And not only did they abandon him  they had several FedSoc leaders who participated in the lawfare and threw gas on the fire.

Its a major shift from Trumps first term, when Trumps alliance with Leo was bountiful.

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Trump ushered in a Supreme Court 6-3 conservative supermajority that left Federalist Society panelists popping champagne at one recent convention to celebrate their success.

Leo built the lists that Trump chose from to select his three high court nominees: Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

The three justices have delivered significant wins for the conservative legal movement, including expanding the Second Amendment, overturning the constitutional right to abortion, reining in federal agency power and reinforcing religious rights.

It culminated decades of efforts by Leo to challenge liberal legal orthodoxy by building a pipeline that propels young conservative attorneys into powerful judicial roles.

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Fueled by a network of donors, Leos groups have directed massive sums to conservative legal, political and public relations organizations, gaining him a villainous reputation among Democrats.

The Federalist Society has become a bastion of that project, with Leo serving as its longtime former executive vice president.

Formed in 1982 by a group of law students opposed to liberal ideology at prominent law schools, the Federalist Society has become a dominant force, though it officially takes no position on any legal or political issue as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

But Trump is souring on the group in his second term as he expresses frustration with his judicial picks whove blocked parts of his agenda.

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Last week, the president turned his ire toward Leo and the Federalist Society after the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked the bulk of his tariffs.

I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges, Trump wrote in a winding post. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real sleazebag named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.

In a statement responding to the attack, Leo declined to attack Trump, instead praising him for transforming the federal courts and calling it the presidents most important legacy.

Trumps post went on to slam the Federalist Society for the bad advice it gave him on numerous judicial nominations.

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This is something that cannot be forgotten! Trump said.

A Federalist Society spokesperson did not return multiple requests for comment.

It remains unclear why Trump specifically targeted Leo in his response to the tariff ruling.

The trade court panel included one of Trumps own appointees, Judge Timothy Reif. Reif is a Democrat, as federal law required Trump to keep partisan balance on the trade court.

Steven Calabresi, who co-chairs the Federalist Societys board with Leo, submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the case alongside other prominent conservative attorneys calling Trumps tariffs unlawful.

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And the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a libertarian group that has received funding from entities associated with Leo, is suing Trump over his China tariffs on behalf of a small business, though that case was not the subject of last weeks ruling.

But the splintering relationship between Trump and the Federalist Society has been brewing for years, Davis said.

In January, allies of the president grew outraged online after Politico reported that a public relations firm chaired by Leo was assisting an advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence in a campaign to derail Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination.

Pence defended Leo and the Federalist Society on X Monday, calling them indispensable partners throughout Trumps first term and suggesting conservative Americans owe the group a debt of gratitude.

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And beyond the cabinet, some prominent conservative attorneys have criticized Trumps nomination of Emil Bove, a close legal ally who worked as Trumps former criminal defense attorney, to a federal appeals court.

Ed Whelan, a Federalist Society mainstay and prominent conservative attorney who has been critical of Trump, has particularly gone after Trumps nomination of Bove, describing the attorney as a bully.

Boves admirers call him fearless, but the same could be said of mafia henchmen, Whelan wrote for the National Review.

Whelans comments sparked rebuttals from the top levels of Trumps Justice Department.

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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who represented Trump with Bove, accused Whelan of being envious, saying he was leveling cheap shots. Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Departments civil rights division, called it one of dumbest and nastiest headlines she had ever seen.

Some small minded men appear to be jealous and bitter that the best they can do is dictate their unedited mean girl thoughts into their phones and have some other mean girls publish the same, Dhillon wrote on X.

Trumps second term presents another chance to elevate conservative-minded judicial nominees nationwide. Davis said theres no going back to the 2016 playbook.

We have to update our playbook, and we have to have a different prototype for judges, he said. They need to be bold and fearless, like Emil Bove.

And Im not saying they need to be bold and fearless for Trump, he added. They need to be bold and fearless for the Constitution.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Donald Trumps silence on Vladimir Putins threats contrasts with a growing bipartisan push in the Senate to impose severe new sanctions on Russia. Credit - SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Vladimir Putin intends to retaliate very strongly against Ukraine for a surprise drone strike on Russian airfields over the weekend, a declaration that provoked alarm in Washington and abroad even as Trump touted his efforts to bring peace to the region.

The revelation came in a social media post shortly after Trump spoke with the Russian President for more than an hour by phonea call he described as a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace. In his statement, Trump appeared to accept Putins warning at face value and offered no indication that he had urged restraint.

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President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields, Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to Ukraines surprise drone strike that targeted five Russian airbases and damaged or destroyed at least 41 military aircraft, including strategic bombers. The Ukrainian operation, which spanned five time zones and caused an estimated $7 billion in damage, marked one of Kyivs boldest assaults deep inside Russian territory since the war began more than three years ago.

Read More: Ukraines Drone Strikes Against Russia Could Become the Global Norm

Trumps post briefly vanished from his platform before reappearing later on Wednesday, prompting speculation about whether he had second thoughts about its tone. The White House has not released a transcript of the call or clarified whether Trump pushed back on Putins vow to retaliate or offered support to Ukraine.

The statement was Trumps first public comment on the drone strikes, which many experts saw as a significant blow to Russia. While Trump has long promised he could end the war quicklyeven before he took officehis latest interaction with Putin did little to clarify how. Instead, some Democrats say it underscored his continued reluctance to criticize the Russian leader, even in the face of a threatened escalation that could cost more Ukrainian lives.

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Read More: Trump Discovers the War in Ukraine May Be Too Complicated to Fix

Trump is being played, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who met with Ukrainian delegates on Wednesday morning, told TIME in an interview. Im disappointed that Trump didn't come down on him and say theres no need for you to respond. No Russian was injured or killed in this operation. Sure, it makes you look bad, because it's humiliating. But there's no reason you need to kill people by bombing Ukrainian civilians, which is what youre planning to do.

Trumps silence on Putins threats contrasted with a growing bipartisan push in the Senate to impose severe new sanctions on Russia. A recent sanctions bill co-authored by Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina would slap massive penaltiesincluding 500% tariffson any country buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. The legislation is aimed squarely at China and India, which bankroll much of Russias war economy, and is supported by more than 80 Senators.

Thats what Trump could have said to Putin for starters, Blumenthal told TIME. I'm supporting sanctions on anybody who buys your energy product.

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But Trump has so far refused to endorse the measure. He has mused about sanctions, but remains skeptical that economic pressure will end the warparticularly if it jeopardizes his efforts to broker a broader foreign policy agenda, including curbing Irans nuclear program.

In the same post where he described Putins planned reprisal against Ukraine, Trump expressed optimism about working with the Russian leader to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis after Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei criticized the U.S. proposal for a deal.

I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement, Trump wrote. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, described Trumps willingness to let Putin help secure a nuclear deal with Iran as the total opposite of what has been traditional U.S. policyactually standing with democracies, he said in an interview with TIME. Are you really gonna tell me somebody's gonna take the word of Vladimir Putin? Ill tell you, somebodythats a fool.

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Blumenthal added: I wouldnt trust Putin to mediate or negotiate anything on my behalf.

The phone call between Trump and Putin came as the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3.5 years, shows no signs of abating despite mounting pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough. While the front lines have largely frozen since late last year, the latest wave of Ukrainian attacksand Russias vow to retaliatehave renewed fears of a broader escalation. In addition to last weekends drone strikes, Ukraines security agency said it had detonated explosives beneath the Kerch Bridgea critical Russian supply line to Crimea. Russian officials denied the bridge was damaged, but said that its troops had taken another village in Ukraines Sumy region, part of an effort to create a buffer zone on the border.

Read more: How Putin Missed His Shot at Peace

The Ukrainian government has dismissed Russias latest offers for a ceasefire as a stalling tactic. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday labeled the Kremlins latest proposal an ultimatum and derided the second round of peace talks in Turkey as a political performance.

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Trump, who previously called Zelensky a dictator, has insisted that he can bring both sides to the table. He has taken credit for the recent talks in Turkeythough neither delegation made concessionsand is open to the idea of a summit that could include himself, Zelensky, and Putin. But his critics say such overtures ring hollow without a clear strategy. They argue that Trumps equivocations, praise for Putin, and attacks on Ukraines leadership have only muddled U.S. policy.

This war doesnt have to go on, Blumenthal told TIME. Trump doesn't have to remain silent.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
Donald Trump was up late at night whining about how hard it is to make a trade deal with China.

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! he posted at 2:17 a.m. on Wednesday.

The post came ahead of an expected call between Trump and the Chinese president on how to negotiate a deal on the two countries $600 billion trade relationshipwhich Trump threatened when he imposed tariffs.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also tried to bully China into quickly accepting a deal. They either want to be a reliable partner to the rest of the world, or they dont, he warned on Tuesday.

But Trumps own decision seems to be driving him crazy.

The president is obsessed with having a call with Xi, one person familiar with the trade talks told Politico, adding that the president seems convinced he can personally come up with a deal with Xi.

In May, the United States and China reached a preliminary trade dealas Trump lowered his 145 percent tariffs to 30 percent, while Beijing slashed levies on U.S. imports to 10 percent. That came with a 90-day deadline to reach a broader trade deal, but it looks like theres been little progress since then.
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court appeared likely on Wednesday to conclude that President Donald Trump's executive order curtailing automatic birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, though it may wait for the Supreme Court to first decide whether to narrow judicial orders that have prevented it from taking effect.

During arguments in Seattle, a majority of a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expressed skepticism about the administration's claim that the U.S. Constitution does not extend citizenship to nearly all children born in the United States regardless of immigration status.

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The Republican president signed the order on January 20, his first day back in office. Trump directed federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident, also known as a "green card" holder. The directive is part of his hardline approach toward immigration.

The Constitution's 14th Amendment citizenship clause states that all "persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

Justice Department lawyer Eric McArthur argued that this language was being wrongly interpreted in a way that encourages "birth tourism" by expectant mothers traveling to the United States to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.

"It forces our immigration law to be at war with itself, prohibiting illegal immigration with one hand while inducing and rewarding it with the other," McArthur said. "The Constitution does not require those perverse results."

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McArthur argued that when the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, congressional debates made clear that lawmakers were seeking merely to guarantee the citizenship for the freed slaves after the U.S. Civil War and aimed to only cover children born to people "domiciled" in the country who owed allegiance to it.

"I'm looking at the language of the citizenship clause," responded U.S. Circuit Judge Ronald Gould, an appointee of Democratic former President Bill Clinton. "I don't see any language in there textually that says they have to be domiciled."

U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Hawkins, also a Clinton appointee, suggested that the administration's focus on congressional debates would have earned the scorn of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative luminary who "was widely critical of looking at congressional history."

The arguments came in the administration's appeal of a nationwide injunction issued by Seattle-based U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, who called Trump's order "blatantly unconstitutional." Federal judges in Massachusetts and Maryland also have issued similar orders blocking the order nationwide.

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More than 150,000 newborns would be denied citizenship annually if Trump's order takes effect nationally, according to the plaintiffs.

Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and immigrant rights advocates in lawsuits challenging Trump's directive argued that it violates the 14th Amendment.

Coughenour, an appointee of Republican former President Ronald Reagan, has presided over a legal challenge brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon and several pregnant women.

Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell during Wednesday's arguments called the Trump administration's position "radical." Purcell said the U.S. Supreme Court made clear in 1898 in the case called United States v. Wong Kim Ark that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship regardless of the immigration status of a child's parents.

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"The executive order is unconstitutional and un-American," Purcell said.

U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay, a Trump appointee, pushed back, saying that the holding of the 1898 ruling was "limited to children of aliens that are permanently domiciled in the United States."

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, heard arguments on May 15 in the administration's bid to narrow the three injunctions.

Those arguments did not center on the legal merits of Trump's order, instead focusing on the issue of whether a single judge should be able to issue nationwide injunctions like the ones that have blocked Trump's directive.

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The Supreme Court, which has not yet issued its ruling, could allow the directive to go into effect in large swathes of the country.

Lawyers on both sides of Wednesday's arguments suggested that the 9th Circuit wait until after the Supreme Court acts and then swiftly issue a decision on the legal merits of the dispute.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Will Dunham and Alexia Garamfalvi)
U.S. House of Representatives Republicans are forging ahead with legislation to establish regulations for U.S. crypto markets, dissecting that effort in a pair of hearings on Wednesday, but Democrats insist the complex bill is hurried, flawed and fails to address a chief complaint: their accusations that President Donald Trump is engaged in crypto corruption.

The House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee both examined the changes contemplated by Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, with witnesses in the financial committee including two former chairmen of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and a former acting chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Republican lawmakers praised the bill as an urgently needed, long-awaited answer to both the digital assets industry's desperation for clear rules and also to the concerns that crypto innovations will continue to flee overseas if the U.S. fails to match the regulatory work that's moved far ahead in other jurisdictions, including in Europe and Asia.

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"This is the future, and we better get our act together," said Representative Bill Huizenga, the vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who argued the status quo is offering consumers zero protections.

Crypto bills in both the House and the U.S. Senate in this and the previous congressional session have cleared multiple voting tests to demonstrate significant bipartisan support. However, Democratic lawmakers who have been among those yes votes in committees and on the House and Senate floors have suggested that the potential conflicts-of-interest demonstrated in President Donald Trump's personal crypto business interests must be addressed to maintain that support.

Representative Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat who was once a banker at financial giant Goldman Sachs Group Inc., said he's in that category.

"The way to deal with the Trump stuff is to make sure that this bill has  literally  platinum consumer protections," he said, citing money-laundering constraints and also conflict-of-interest language for public officials. "I will not vote yes on this thing unless it does."

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Democrats have openly accused Trump of corruption in his crypto dealings, in which he and his family are reportedly collecting millions in profits and fees from the industry  including anonymous foreign investors  as the federal government debates how to regulate those same activities the Trumps are involved in.

Almost all the Republicans on the financial-services panel maintained a distance from the Democrats' chief complaint, only mentioning Trump's name when praising his administration for its crypto support. Then Representative Andy Barr of Kentucky leapt into the fray directly, admonishing the Democrats' "carelessly thrown-out accusation and this baseless politically motivated attack against President Trump."

"They know that the president's assets are in a blind trust managed by his children who are not members of the administration," Barr contended, though blind trusts are formal agreements that leave their beneficiaries with no knowledge of their investments  not a description of Trump's relationship with his family business. The lawmaker said the Democrats' opposition is "about them opposing American leadership in crypto."

Himes criticized Barr's "ill-advised and cheap shot that we are engaging in politics."

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Democrats also raised other issues with the 236-page Clarity Act, arguing that they haven't had enough time to get a handle on the hugely complex legislation, that it doesn't focus enough on protections for consumers, falls short on dealing with crypto in illicit finance and potentially leaves loopholes for existing securities firms to use the new rules to dodge regulation.

"On the one hand, we're trying to protect people investing in crypto, but on the other hand, we're doing things that may undermine protections in our traditional securities markets," said witness Timothy Massad, a former CFTC chairman who now focuses on digital assets at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

"We must not screw up existing securities regulations or standards," Himes said, asking why the bill's special securities-regulation exemptions for certain investment contracts for digital commodities need to exist, arguing that the legislation's exemptions might be abused by sophisticated securities lawyers.

But committee Chairman French Hill argued this bill is "more robust" on consumer and market protections than the predecessor legislation in the last session, which drew yes votes from 71 Democrats in the House.

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While the House may be able to more easily advance controversial legislation, the Senate generally requires wide bipartisan support to clear its particular hurdles. So, Democrats there must be on board before the market structure bill can become law.

Next week, the Clarity Act may get a markup in Hill's committee  a formal session in which legislation is debated and amended before potentially being advanced to the overall House. The financial services panel's ranking Democrat, Representative Maxine Waters, said on Wednesday that this next stage could come on June 10.

Read More: U.S. House Republicans Officially Introduce Crypto Market Structure Bill
Ukraine's covert drone attack on Sunday has implications for the US's Golden Dome, a top general said.

Gen. David Allvin said the future US air defense network must be able to counter small drones.

Effective defenses from cheap drones are still being developed.

The US's ambitious Golden Dome air defense project may have to factor in the kind of drone threat demonstrated by Ukraine's recent Operation Spiderweb attack on Russia, according to a top US Air Force general.

Gen. David Allvin, the USAF chief of staff, said on Tuesday that it was "fascinating" to consider that the Golden Dome would not only counter "the larger ballistic, cruise, hypersonic missiles but also some of these closer-in, more effective ones."

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Allvin was speaking at a conference three days after Ukraine unleashed a surprise attack on four air bases deep within Russia by sneaking the drones right up to the bases by truck and releasing them.

The attack exploited the fact that Russia stores many of its military aircraft out on the tarmac, unprotected by hardened shelters that might have helped shield them from the drones.

The Golden Dome, announced by President Donald Trump in May, is a planned layered air and missile defense system modeled loosely on Israel's missile shield, but is anticipated to include space-based satellite weapons for the first time.

It's intended to detect and defeat the most advanced threat the US faces: Large numbers of ballistic missiles that could be armed with nuclear warheads. It must also face the newer threat of hypersonic missiles designed for erratic and high-speed flight that could evade existing air defenses.

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But Ukraine's attack , which used cheap drones at close range to make a deep strike, may force a rethink of the range of threats that the Golden Dome must defend  or be protected  against.

"We'll see how the conversation gets stirred up again based on this strike," Allvin told conference attendees at the Center for a New American Security, adding: "But it shows us that seemingly impenetrable locations need to pay more attention."

The space-based components of a future Golden Dome are safe from small drones. But that can't as easily be said for its land- and sea-based elements like early warning radars, ballistic missile defense warships and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense systems.

Effective defenses from cheap drones are still being developed out of the cauldrons of combat in Ukraine and Israel, and are likely to be a mixture of physical and electronic shielding with more short-range weapons, including lasers.

Ukraine blasted bombers and other aircraft with cheap attack drones in a stunning attack deep inside Russia on Sunday. Screenshot/Video obtained by BI

Ukraine's fiery drone strike, which it claims destroyed or damaged at least 41 valuable bombers and fighter jets, hit sites thousands of miles into Russia that will likely have been considered less vulnerable to attack.

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The gambit has set analysts chattering about the wide-ranging ramifications of the tactic for both Russia and Ukraine's Western allies  particularly military sites far from the front lines.

It's "only a matter of time" before NATO adversaries take up the tactic, Karl Rosander, the CEO and cofounder of the Swedish defence tech startup Nordic Air Defence, said.

The attack has also, once again, raised concerns about the US' own air base safety, with many air bases still vulnerable to aerial attack.

In this regard, the attack was "a sort of eyebrow-raising moment," Allvin added. "We've always known that hardening our bases is something that we need to do," he said, noting that this is within the DOD's budget.

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However, he said, "it's been a matter of resource prioritization."

It's possible to make US air bases more defensible  some forward bases already are  but added that "if all we're doing is playing defense and we can't shoot back, then that's not a good use of our money."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Last week, a federal court ruled that President Donald Trump had exceeded his statutory authority by imposing a raft of tariffs based on the "national emergency" supposedly caused by the longstanding U.S. trade deficit. Those tariffs are part of an alarming pattern: In his rush to enact his agenda, Trump frequently treats legal constraints as inconveniences that can be overridden by executive fiat.

The U.S. Court of International Trade rejected Trump's reliance on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify sweeping import taxes he announced in February and April. The three-judge panel said that 48-year-old law, which does not even mention tariffs and had never been used this way before, does not authorize the president to "impose unlimited tariffs on goods from nearly every country in the world."

That decision did not affect tariffs that Trump has imposed or proposed under different statutes, such as his taxes on cars, steel, and aluminum. But by invoking the IEEPA, Trump hoped to avoid the specific rationales and sometimes lengthy procedures those laws mandate.

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Trump's immigration crackdown features similar legal shortcuts. After he asserted the power to summarily deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang as "alien enemies," for example, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that they had a due process right to contest that designation.

That decision did not address Trump's dubious interpretation of the 227-year-old Alien Enemies Act. But several federal judges, including a Trump appointee, subsequently concluded that it made no sense to portray gang members as "natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects" of a "hostile nation or government" that had launched an "invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States."

As with tariffs, Trump had a more legally defensible option: deportation of unauthorized residents under the Immigration and Nationality Act. But in both cases, he chose the course he thought would avoid pesky procedural requirements.

Something similar happened when Immigration and Customs Enforcement suddenly terminated thousands of records in the database of foreign students with visas authorizing them to attend American universities. Although that move was described as part of a "Student Criminal Alien Initiative," it affected many people without disqualifying criminal recordsin some cases, without any criminal records at all.

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Those terminations "reflect an instinct that has become prevalent in our society to effectuate change: move fast and break things," U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White wrote when he issued a preliminary injunction against the initiative on May 22. "That instinct must be checked when it conflicts with established principles of law."

The same instinct is apparent in Trump's conflict with Harvard University. The administration froze more than $2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard, ostensibly because the university, by tolerating antisemitism on campus, had failed to meet its "responsibility to uphold civil rights laws."

That decision ignored the legal process for rescinding federal funding based on such alleged violations. The process includes "a lot of steps, but they're important," the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression notes. "They protect students by making sure colleges live up to their obligations. And they protect colleges by making sure they have an opportunity to contest the allegations as well as a chance to make things right."

Trump's disregard for the law is coupled with angry dismay at judicial review. As he sees it, any judge who dares to impede his will is a "Radical Left Lunatic," a "troublemaker" and "agitator" who "should be IMPEACHED!!!"

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After the tariff ruling, a White House spokesman argued that the court charged with interpreting and applying trade laws had no business doing that. "It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency," he insisted.

Contrary to that take, "it is emphatically the province and duty" of the judicial branch to "say what the law is," as Chief Justice John Marshall put it 222 years ago. Especially when the executive branch is headed by someone who does not seem to care.

 Copyright 2025 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

The post Trump's Haste Begets Lawlessness appeared first on Reason.com.
US Presidents special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has said that Ukraine has raised the level of risk in its war with Russia by conducting Operation Spiders Web, although he acknowledged the operations boldness.

Source: Kellogg in an interview with Fox News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kellogg stated that through this special operation, Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to strike Russian targets deep inside Russian territory.

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He emphasised that the significance of these strikes lies not so much in the destruction of aircraft, but in their psychological effect on the Russian leadership and military.

At the same time, Kellogg voiced concerns that such attacks could increase the risk of escalation.

Quote: "When you attack an opponent's part of the national survival system  which is their triad, their nuclear triad  that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other is going to do It's a very emboldened act. And when you do that, its very clear that the risk levels will go up. That is what we try to avoid."

More details: Kellogg added that the special operation showed Ukraine is not backing down.

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Quote: "Ukraine is not lying down on this, basically saying: we can play this game too. And they can raise the risk level to a level that is basically to me, they've got to be unacceptable."

Background:

US Senator Richard Blumenthal earlier compared Ukraines recent drone strikes on military targets deep in Russian territory to the operation that eliminated "terrorist number one" Osama bin Laden.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Security Service of Ukraines Operation Spiders Web demonstrated the country's ability to make effective tactical decisions in the war.

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Patient advocate Tami Burdick discusses her article, How collaboration saved my life from a rare disease doctors couldnt diagnose. Tami shares her personal and arduous journey with granulomatous mastitis (GM), a rare and poorly understood condition, and how embracing collaborative health care in three key ways led to her successful remission. She details the crucial partnership between her conventional Western medicine doctor, surgical breast oncologist Dr. Kelly McLean, and her functional medicine practitioner, Jared Seigler, which allowed for innovative testing and a broader perspective on her illness. Tami also highlights the power of patient-to-doctor collaboration, emphasizing how her own relentless research and self-advocacy were instrumental in uncovering answers that the traditional system initially missed, largely due to time constraints on physicians. Furthermore, she underscores the profound impact of patient-to-patient collaboration through her support group, where shared experiences and knowledge provided critical guidance and helped others navigate the complexities of GM. Tamis story is a testament to the potential of integrating different medical approaches, the necessity of patient empowerment, and a call for systemic changes in health care to foster more such collaborations, including better insurance coverage for alternative practices and more dedicated time for doctor-patient interactions.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome back Tami Burdick. Shes a patient advocate. Todays KevinMD article is How collaboration saved my life from a rare disease doctors couldnt diagnose. Tami, welcome back to the show.

Tami Burdick: Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.

Kevin Pho: All right, so tell us what led you to write this article on KevinMD?

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Tami Burdick: I was influenced to write this article for you because of my own journey and experience when I was battling an emerging womens health issue known as granulomatous mastitis. Theres a multitude of frustrations that patients will normally experience with a disease. Weve talked about that in previous conversations, but it really led me to write the article because collaboration in our health care system needs to be what we should be doing moving forward. I think if we allow collaboration to really be more of an existence and a routine process or practice, were going to be able to provide patients better long-term solutions and care and treatment.

Kevin Pho: All right. And I think what you said about collaboration is something that is really lacking. Speaking from a physician standpoint, a lot of doctors practice in their own silos, and sometimes getting doctors to talk to one another, whether its primary care to specialists or vice versa, can be a difficult task. So tell us more about your article for those who didnt get a chance to read it.

Tami Burdick: The article is based on trying to influence more collaboration in our health care system. I broke it down into three components or three types of collaboration. First, you have doctor-to-patient collaboration. For example, I had an experience with my surgical breast oncologist. She was willing to listen to me, be open to my research, and to order the tests I requested. Had she not been open, things would have been very different for me. She actually wrote in my book that she just didnt have the time to devote to the research that I did to get the answers. While I appreciate everything that she did for me, at the same time, it should never be the patients responsibility to do the research and spearhead a case.

Additionally, collaboration should be seen in practices outside of Western medicine, where we blend the two approaches. In my story, my surgical breast oncologist and my functional medicine practitioner actually teamed up. So, we had the Western medicine plan of action, and then we also had, from a functional medicine perspective, considerations of when we might do certain things and if there were other things going on with me that could help explain the diagnosis.

Thirdly, another type of collaboration is patient-to-patient. With that, nobody knows your body better than you do, and no one is going to know the disease or illness better than other people going through it. So, theres really an opportunity for different patients to team up together, and thats what my support group that I joined is all about. We share so much information and oftentimes will find more information there than we ever would in the health care system. So, I think if we focus more on advocating for these different types of collaborations in our health care system, we can really change the overall operations and greatly improve results.

Kevin Pho: So take us into the exam room. When you had this collaboration with your surgeon and you brought the research that you did independently, what did those conversations look like?

Tami Burdick: My functional medicine practitioner had requested my surgical breast oncologist to order some tests from a Western medicine perspective, which graciously she was able to do for us. Collaboratively, we took all of the information from both practices and then we were able to create a plan of action as well as treatment, including when these therapies and when surgery (because I ended up having to have surgery) would take place.

Kevin Pho: Now, do you find this type of collaboration where a Western-trained clinician would collaborate with a functional medicine clinician? How common is that from your experience in talking to other patients in your support group and forums?

Tami Burdick: I dont think its very common at all. I think partly the issue is that a lot of these health care systems really dont give doctors the time to allocate with their patients. Oftentimes, Ill even experience what feels like my doctor trying to rush me through the appointment. I actually experienced that recently with something. So, Im not trying to blame the doctors here; Im putting the weight and responsibility back onto the health care networks. We need to let doctors be doctors again.

Thats where I think theres so much opportunity for us to have functional medicine, Western medicine, and all the other different practices team up. But they have to have the time to be able to do that, and their time is already so minimal as it is. If you do the research, I think its about 18 minutes on average for a doctor with a patient. Honestly, you cant really accomplish much in that time.

Kevin Pho: So speaking from the perspective of a patient who had a difficult diagnosis that wasnt apparently obvious, what does it mean to you that your surgical oncologist was open to your functional medicine practitioner and was able to spend that time thinking outside the box and collaborating with that research, not only with you, but with your other clinicians as well?

Tami Burdick: Dr. McClain is a very unique find, and truly I was completely blessed to be able to be her patient. She had great bedside manner. She had the ability to really listen to her patient. She was so open-minded. I think it really starts with having the right doctor and the right mindset to be able to allow these different types of collaboration to be implemented in a patients case.

For me, it was just so critical that this partnership took place because my journey with granulomatous mastitis had so many questions that needed answers, and they just werent readily there. I did a significant amount of researchmonths and months of itand it took seven months before we even found what was the driving force of my disease process, which was the environmentally associated bacteria. So, it means a lot to be able to think long-term that we can bring collaboration as the new way of health care.

Kevin Pho: Now, whenever you see a new clinician, do you vet that clinician and ask them questions to see how open they are to the collaboration that you would like to see?

Tami Burdick: Yes, I get a good vibe about how the doctor is going to be, I think even from meeting them for the first time. I was so sad that my primary care physician retired earlier this year. He was very open-minded. He was like the diagnosis detective with me. Hes a doctor that really wants to dive through data, analyze it, look at symptoms, and look at everything as a whole so that the patients care is number one, and thats really what it should be about. So, I definitely am vetting clinicians because if were not going to vibe and theyre not going to have my same mindset, then its just not going to be good for either one of us.

Kevin Pho: So you said that you had a vibe as to whether a clinician would be collaborative, but can you give some specifics? What specifically are you looking for, just so other patients can also get a sense of what youre looking for whenever theyre vetting their own physicians and clinicians to see if theyre open to collaboration? What exactly do you mean by a vibe? What exactly do you look for?

Tami Burdick: So, how much is the doctor willing to sit and listen? Are they willing to be able to provide the answers to all of my questions? And I mean all of my questions. I dont want one or two questions answered and then I have five more that are just going to be left out there and unanswered. A good vibe includes their bedside manner, getting to know me as a person and not just as somebody coming in with a symptom.

What is their approach like? Are they going to be open-minded to running tests? Because its happened over and over and over again, and weve had a podcast interview on medical gaslighting. Over 70 percent of women have reported experiencing that. So for me, I dont want to be a victim of medical gaslighting. And for that not to happen, part of the vibe that I need from my doctor is their ability to be open to running the tests that are necessary so that we can get proper diagnosis and proper treatment.

I dont want to be a case out there where someone has gone to their doctor saying, Oh, Ive got these GI issues, and the doctor is just assuming without doing any tests or doing minimal tests, that they just have IBS or IBD, and guess what? They had colon cancer. So, I dont want to be that case.

Kevin Pho: Do you have any advice for clinicians, as you said earlier, who are under a tremendous amount of time pressure to balance the time that they should spend collaborating with the patient and other clinicians versus the pressures that they face from the health care system? You did talk about earlier that the health care system itself needs to change, and I certainly agree with that. But how about for those individual clinicians in terms of balancing the time they should spend with difficult diagnoses versus all the other patients that they have to see waiting in the exam room? How can they balance that?

Tami Burdick: What you just said about all the other patients in the exam rooms, that goes back to the health care networks. They probably have some sort of expectations of how many patients should be seen every hour, every day, every week, and I think that needs to be reevaluated. A lot of that pressure from their networks, I think, often reflects back onto the doctors and then it reflects onto the patients. Thats something that I hope that we see change.

But if youre not a clinician or practitioner in your own private practice, then you have this corporation-like way of doing things within the health care system. There are limitations, there are expectations, and at the end of the day, the health care system is a business. Every business out there is in it to make money, but it shouldnt come at the cost of patient care and what they need.

Kevin Pho: What kind of advice do you have for other patients who may be going to a corporatized health care system where their physician only has 10 to 15 minutes with them? How can they better advocate for themselves to get the collaboration that you received from your medical team?

Tami Burdick: Take someone with you. I think thats always going to be a good thing, whether its someone advocating for you or theyre just somebody there to help you take notes. Because then that will give you the opportunity to focus more on what you want to accomplish if you have someone there taking the notes for you.

Advocating for yourself is huge in the health care system, and I know its not always easy for people to do that, especially with my parents. You can even use artificial intelligence now to help better prepare you for appointments. Maybe you put in some tests that youve had, like the results and what they were, and put in your symptoms and see what AI comes up with. Maybe you go to your doctor and say, OK, this is what Ive got here. Lets explore this if youre open to it and see if we find anything, or if what we find matches up to that.

It really all boils down to being able to advocate for yourself and come up with your top five things that you want to accomplish in the appointment. Maybe you let your clinician know ahead of time: I have five questions, and I want to make sure we get through these in the appointment today.

Kevin Pho: So that leads me to my next question. You mentioned artificial intelligence, and we have these tremendously powerful tools that have really evolved so rapidly over the last few years. Now, from your interactions with other patients and in patient support groups in general, how are patients using something like ChatGPT or Google Gemini in terms of their own medical journey? How are patients using them today?

Tami Burdick: Ive seen on social media where patients have taken their symptoms and maybe some data from tests that they did have, and get an idea from artificial intelligence about what a potential diagnosis would be. I actually did this recently for my father. He has all of these abnormal test results and several symptoms. I went to AI. I put in his symptoms, I put in his test results, and it came back highly suspicious for a gluten allergy. And I thought, Really? That would make a lot of sense.

His doctor is just very lax about it. Hes not really looking into any of this, and hes just going with the flow, like, Oh well, about it. He hasnt even called my dad about recent test results. So, thats the kind of thing that I hope other patients are not going to have to experience.

Kevin Pho: We are talking to Tami Burdick. Shes a patient advocate. Todays KevinMD article is, How collaboration saved my life from a rare disease doctors couldnt diagnose. Tami, as always, lets end with some take-home messages that you would like to leave with the KevinMD audience.

Tami Burdick: So, my take-home message would be to always be your best advocate because advocating for my health is what helped me get cured of granulomatous mastitis. I would also say, moving forward, never be scared to ask your doctor questions and request results. Hopefully, as we all move forward and we work together as a teamwhich often is used in business: Together Everyone Achieves Morewe can really change collaboratively how our health care system gets results, and they can be better for everyone involved.

Kevin Pho: Tami, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming back on the show.

Tami Burdick: Thank you.
In late May 2025, two different Indiana airports revealed "troubling" discoveries when a number of firearms were found in a short period of time.

At Fort Wayne International Airport, TSA officers stopped a firearm from making its way onboard an airplane - the seventh firearm detected at the airport, matching the entire total from 2024.

Its troubling that TSA officers this year have already stopped the same number of firearms as they did in all of 2024, and the year isnt even halfway over, Indiana TSA Federal Security Director Aaron Batt said in a statement at the time. As we look ahead to our summer travel season, we strongly encourage passengers to pack smart and start with an empty bag. Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is a careless, expensive mistake that increases risks to passengers and airport employees.

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Indiana isn't the only state having an issue with loaded firearms being brought into an airport, though. On June 3, 2025, the TSA was forced to remind travelers to pack their firearms properly after three firearms were discovered at San Antonio International Airport in the first three days of the month.

Following the recent discovery, the TSA revealed the hefty fine travelers can face, separate from potential criminal citations, for firearm offenses.

"In addition to potential criminal citations for bringing a firearm in carry-on luggage, TSA can levy a civil penalty against the traveler of up to $12,210," the TSA revealed. "Among the factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. Even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not permitted in carry-on luggage."

Since January 1, 2025, TSA officers have detected 49 firearms at the security checkpoint during routine X-ray screening of carry-on property. Of those, 43 were loaded.

Related: TSA Makes 'Concerning' Announcement

TSA Warns of Strict 'Penalty' After Troubling Firearm Discovery first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
Turkey is training and advising Syria's military and helping improve its defenses, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops.

Turkey is training and advising Syria's armed forces and helping improve its defenses, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops stationed there, Defense Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters.

Turkey has emerged as a key foreign ally of Syria's new government since rebels - some of them backed for years by Ankara - ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to end his family's five-decade rule.

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It has promised to help rebuild neighboring Syria and facilitate the return of millions of Syrian civil war refugees, and played a key role last month getting U.S. and European sanctions on Syria lifted.

The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risked a standoff or worse in Syria between the regional powers.

In written answers to questions from Reuters, Guler said Turkey and Israel - which carried out its latest airstrikes on southern Syria late on Tuesday - are continuing de-confliction talks to avoid military accidents in the country.

Fighters of the ruling Syrian body patrol the streets in Homs, Syria, December 26, 2024 (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI)

Turkey's overall priority in Syria is preserving its territorial integrity and unity, and ridding it of terrorism, he said, adding Ankara was supporting Damascus in these efforts.

Turkey has begun training and advising Syria's military

"We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defense capacity," Guler said, without elaborating on those steps.

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Named to the post by President Tayyip Erdogan two years ago, Guler said it was too early to discuss possible withdrawal or relocation of the more than 20,000 Turkish troops in Syria.

Ankara controlled swathes of northern Syria and established dozens of bases there after several cross-border operations in recent years against Kurdish militants it deems terrorists.

This can "only be re-evaluated when Syria achieves peace and stability, when the threat of terrorism in the region is fully removed, when our border security is fully ensured, and when the honorable return of people who had to flee is done," he said.

NATO member Turkey has accused Israel of undermining Syrian peace and rebuilding with its military operations there in recent months and, since late 2023, has also fiercely criticized Israel's assault on Gaza.

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But the two regional powers have been quietly working to establish a de-confliction mechanism in Syria.

Guler described the talks as "technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events" or direct conflict, as well as "a communication and coordination structure."

"Our efforts to form this line and make it fully operational continue. Yet it should not be forgotten that the de-confliction mechanism is not a normalization," he told Reuters.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said two teenage boys are being held behind bars after they were accused of robbing a boy at gunpoint in Woodbridge.

According to the Prince William County Police Department, minutes before 7:15 p.m. on June 2, officers were called to the Smoketown Road and Rollingwood Drive area to investigate a robbery.

Once on the scene, police learned that a 14-year-old boy was walking when three teens approached him. During the encounter, one of the teens took out a gun and removed the boys backpack.

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Tenants say church took down Pride decorations at DC apartment building

Police noted that none of the boys items were taken before the trio left the area.

As the investigation continued, police located two 15-year-old boys who were allegedly involved in the robbery. They were arrested and charged with robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

As of Tuesday, officers were working to identify the third teen involved in the incident.

Anyone with information that helps investigators is asked to call 703-792-7000.

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A carjacking suspect was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and evading arrest Tuesday after he allegedly led police on a brief chase with two children in his vehicle and then crashed into another car.

On Tuesday morning, Culver City police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Aaron Flenoy, an Inglewood man who had an outstanding warrant with a bail amount of $5.7 million for felony carjacking and ex-felon weapons charges from 2023, according to a Culver City Police Department news release.

There were four people in the car during the stop; Flenoy, Timberline Davenport, 33, who had multiple outstanding arrest warrants, and two children ages 5 and 9, the release said.

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Flenoy initially stopped, but then fled and struck another vehicle after running a red light at Centinella and La Brea avenues in Inglewood, said Jennifer Atenza, the Police Department's public information officer .

There was a short pursuit  maybe less than two minutes, a very short distance, Atenza said. All of the passengers transported in that vehicle were transported to the hospital for evaluation.

The two children were immediately transported to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Atenza said. According to the release, the driver in the car that was hit sustained no injuries, while Flenoy and Davenport suffered minor injuries.

Flenoy and Davenport also may face charges of outstanding warrants and child endangerment, the release said.

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Two Chinese citizens were charged with a conspiracy and smuggling of a fungus that officials said is a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the country, false statements and visa fraud Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Jian was arrested by the FBI on allegations that Jian and Liu smuggled a fungus into the country called Fusarium graminearum, which U.S. officials said scientific literature classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon.

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The fungus causes disease in barley, wheat, rice, and maize and is responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses around the world, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The toxins from the fungus cause liver damage, vomiting and reproductive defects in both livestock and humans.

Jian allegedly received funding from the Chinese government to research the pathogen in China, and her electronics had information showing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party, according to the complaint

The complaint also alleged that Liu works at a Chinese university where he researches the pathogen and that he initially lied but later admitted to smuggling the fungus through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport so he could keep researching the pathogen at a laboratory at the University of Michigan, the school Jian, his girlfriend, works at.

These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety, said Cheyvoryea Gibson, the special agent in charge of the FBIs Detroit field office.

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Jian appeared in federal court in Detroit on Tuesday.

This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences putting American lives and our economy at serious risk, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Tuesday statement on the social platform X.

A University of Michigan student, Haoxiang Gao, who is a Chinese national, was charged with illegally voting in the U.S., according to a complaint unsealed Friday.

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LANCASTER, Pa (WHTM)  Two Pennsylvania men will spend decades in prison after attempting to have sex with children, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office.

According to the Lancaster County DAs Office, a jury found Bradley Buchanan, of Berks County, guilty of criminal attempt of statutory sexual assault, criminal solicitation of statutory sexual assault, criminal attempt of unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt of patronizing a victim of human trafficking, criminal solicitation of patronizing a victim of human trafficking, criminal attempt of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age and criminal solicitation of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.

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Judge Thomas Sponaugle sentenced Buchanan to 28 to 57 years in state prison.

The DAs Office says in a separate hearing, Leandro Alfaro, of Lancaster, pleaded guilty to criminal attempt of patronizing a victim of human trafficking, criminal attempt of statutory sexual assault, and criminal use of a communication facility. Alfaro will serve 4 to 14 years in state prison.

These convictions are proof that preying on children and soliciting sex will not be tolerated in Lancaster County, District Attorney Heather Adams said.

Buchanan was arrested in August 2022 after responding to an online advertisement and agreeing to pay money to have sex for half an hour with a 12-year-old girl, the DA said. However, when he arrived at a Salisbury Township hotel, officers from the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force were waiting on the other side.

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The DAs Office says Alfaro responded to a similar online advertisement, agreeing to pay money to have sex with a 14-year-old girl at a Warwick Township hotel in July 2024. He said he was drugged up at the time of the crime.

Pennsylvania man faces over 2,800 charges for abuse of young girls

Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick told the court Buchanan was a danger to children in this community due to of a previous conviction for having sexual contact with a 15-year-old.

If he ever sees the light of day, hell do this again, Haverstick added.

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LAUREL, Miss. (WHLT)  A two-year-old girl was injured during a drive-by shooting in Laurel, police said.

The shooting occurred on Ellisville Boulevard near the Interstate 59 exit around 6:00 a.m. on June 2.

One injured in Hattiesburg shooting after shots fired at vehicle

Laurel Police Chief Tommy Cox said the victim was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson for treatment. She is in stable condition as of June 4.

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According to Cox, the suspect was a young Black man who was in a white four-door car. Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Laurel Police Department at 601-425-4711.

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Sen. Robin Webb, a longtime state lawmaker from Carter County, is the latest mountain Democrat to defect to the Republican Party. (LRC Public Information photo)

A great darkness has descended upon the Democratic Party of Eastern Kentucky. All but banished from the hills and hollows they call home, Democrats are searching for a path to political relevancy that seems increasingly narrow and increasingly unlikely.

Despite what seem to be some positives for Democrats, state Sen. Robin Webb  one of the longest serving Democrats in the Kentucky legislature  changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. This comes even as popular Democrat Andy Beshear is serving his second term as governor amid talk that Eastern Kentuckian Rocky Adkins, a Beshear aide, could run to succeed him. Meanwhile, a bonafide Democratic challenger, Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf, is considering a run against Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers in the 5th Congressional District.

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Webb is simply the latest in a long line of prominent Appalachian Democrats who have decided to join the swelling ranks of the Republican Party of Kentucky. Most of these conversions have been explained as a product of the Democratic Party no longer representing the values of the politician in question. More cynical political observers ascribe this mass exodus from the regions ancestral party to simple self-preservation: long time politicians fearful of losing their preciously held jobs at the very heart of Trump country.

Regardless of the reasons, these now common party switches are not a positive sign for the Democratic Party. Nor are they the only evidence that Appalachian Democrats should be worried. Despite Beshears relative success across Eastern Kentucky in the last gubernatorial election and the mounting number of enthusiastic liberal activists in the region, Democrats have failed to make significant headway of any kind in the region. A reality made all the more stark by Elliot County, Kentucky, breaking its 144 year support for the Democratic Party in the 2016 election for president.

After 2024, an outside observer cannot help but conclude that all the fervor of local activities and all the efforts of a relatively popular governor do nothing to boost the chances of the Democratic Party in the Kentucky mountains. So is all hope for the Democratic Party lost in Appalachia? Is there simply no immediate future left for the party of Rocky Adkins in his native region? The short answer is quite possibly. Yet, as is often the case, the long answer is both more complex and more truthful.

The long answer is that the situation is bad for Eastern Kentucky Democrats. Nor is any attempt to sugarcoat this fact with hopeful news coverage and opinion pieces likely to improve circumstances. To solve a problem requires first a frank admission of the facts as they are and not as anyone may wish them to be. From these hard realities, a solution may emerge and a path to two-party competition in the region becomes, if not likely, at least possible.

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First and foremost, Kentucky Democrats must admit that the average Appalachian voter does not trust the Democratic Party anymore. The brand has been greatly damaged and no blunder in the Trump administration is likely to provide a miracle realization among the populace that will change this fact. Voters in the region feel that the Democratic Party has abandoned them in favor of various ill fated social crusades that do little to better society and certainly have done little to solve the great troubles that plague the Appalachian mountains.

As an obvious consequence of this, Appalachian Democrats simply must give up any and all attempts to appeal to voters through the methods and messages of the national Democratic Party. There should be no more attacks in Johnson County by the Kentucky Democratic Party chairman on Republican attempts to end deeply unpopular D.E.I. programs. Democratic officials should also acknowledge that abortion and LGBTQ issues are simply not the cross to die on in a largely conservative region. Nor should the party persist in its continued and constant veiled attacks upon a president whose popularity remains rock solid across the region.

Instead, Democrats should focus on their historic strength in the region  the economy. They should offer solutions to the housing and jobs crises that face Eastern Kentucky. They should make putting Eastern Kentucky back to work and other local issues the heart of their message. As Republicans tie themselves to the newly popular national party, they should break free from Harris and Schumer to develop a uniquely Appalachian brand of liberal economics. The social liberalism can be left to Louisville and Lexington.

Second, Appalachian Democrats must face the reality of a changed Appalachia and party system. Union voters once formed the heart of the Democratic Party in the region. However, many of these voters feel that Democratic policies undercut their jobs and have hollowed out the unions. Whether this is true or not is beside the point; it is how voters feel and Democrats must acknowledge that older working class miners are unlikely to be the backbone of their party, though they should of course continue to angle for their support.

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Instead, Democrats should target those in the region who tend to be most skeptical of Trump and the policies of the newly constituted Republican party  public school teachers, small business owners, and the young. Though most of these groups have historically voted Republican, things are changing in this country and seizing upon this reality is to the advantage of Eastern Kentucky Democrats.

All of this advice is not given to save the state from the Republican Party or because I fear the Democrats are the only avenue to creating a better commonwealth. This advice is not even offered by someone who is currently a member of the Democratic Party. Instead, I offer this frank counsel because as a citizen and political scientist, I understand that both parties are strongest when they are faced with a formidable and influential opposition. Iron sharpens iron, and two party competition creates the best sort of policy. Kentucky is very close to losing this vital check on political authority  that is, unless rural Democrats step up their game.

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HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  Two people have been sentenced after accepting plea agreements in a 2024 bust that turned up over 100 grams of drugs and $4,500 in cash.

Tessa Oldham, 25, and Gage Sloan, 24, were sentenced to six and 12 years respectively.

Court documents state Oldham pleaded guilty to Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance with Weight at Least 28 grams, and Sloan pleaded guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Serious Violent Felon and Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance with Weight at Least 28 grams.

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Records show that Sloan was also on parole until 2026.

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Only 21% of Israelis believe peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state is possible; distrust and status of Jerusalem cited as top obstacles.

Public support among Israelis for a two-state solution has reached a new low, with only 21% believing that a peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian state is possible, according to a poll issued by the Pew Research Center.

The survey, conducted between February 5 and March 11  during a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War  found a steep decline in optimism, down 14 percentage points from spring 2023 and the lowest level recorded since Pew began polling the question in 2013.

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Among Jewish Israelis, the results are even more stark: only 16% believe peaceful coexistence is achievable. In contrast, Arab Israelis are significantly more hopeful, with 40% expressing belief in a possible two-state future. The findings come as the war with Hamas enters its second year and reflect a broader erosion of faith in both peace efforts and political leadership on both sides of the conflict.

A dominant theme emerging from the data is a deep and widespread mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians, which 75% of respondents identified as a major obstacle to lasting peace. Following closely were the status of Jerusalem  claimed by both peoples as their capital  named by 70% of respondents, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank, cited by 52%.

Despite decades of negotiation and international involvement, the survey reveals that these core issues remain unresolved in the minds of most Israelis.

Support among Israelis for a two-state solution. (illustration) (photo credit: Canva/Anderson Piza, PNW Production from Pexels)

While a slim majority of Israelis (56%) believe the Israeli public remains committed to working toward lasting peace, only 41% say the same of the Palestinian people. Confidence in leadership is even lower: 47% view the Israeli government as at least somewhat committed to peace, while 45% say the same about the Palestinian Authority.

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Just 20% believe Hamas is in any way committed to a peaceful resolution, compared to 72% who say the Gaza-based terror group is not committed at all. Only one-third of Israelis now support the idea that Israel should govern the Gaza Strip after the war  a drop from 40% in spring 2024.

Who should govern Gaza? Israelis divided

Opinions diverge sharply along ethnic and ideological lines: 42% of Jewish Israelis support Israeli governance of Gaza, while 45% of Arab Israelis say Gazas residents should choose their own leaders.

Just one percent of Israelis say Hamas should rule Gaza in the future, and only 16% support a governance model based on the will of the people in Gaza. A unity government involving the PA garners little support  only 6% with President Mahmoud Abbas and 10% without him. The United Nations administration was backed by a mere two percent.

Despite growing skepticism toward international bodies, the United States remains a trusted actor in Israeli public opinion. A full 81% of respondents said the US plays a helpful role in the peace process. By contrast, Iran, the United Nations, and European countries are viewed as either irrelevant or harmful.

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Even so, when asked about US President Donald Trump  who began his second term in January  51% said he favors Israel too much in his foreign policy, while 42% believe he strikes the right balance.

The poll also reveals a sharp lack of confidence in political leaders across the board. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face low favorability ratings, with 53% of Israelis viewing him unfavorably. Opposition leaders Benny Gantz (54% unfavorable) and Yair Lapid fare no better.

On the Palestinian side, confidence is abysmal: 85% of Israelis view Mahmoud Abbas unfavorably, and 80% say the same about Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader imprisoned by Israel since 2002.

Religious and ideological gaps widen

Sharp divides persist across religious and ideological lines. Secular and traditional Jews (Hilonim and Masortim) are more likely to believe that Palestinians are committed to peace and to support international involvement. Religious and ultra-Orthodox Jews (Datiim and Haredim), meanwhile, are more likely to call for Israeli control over Gaza and view external actors with suspicion.

Political ideology also shapes perceptions: left-leaning Israelis are more optimistic about peace and more likely to cite settlements and Jerusalem as key obstacles, while right-wing Israelis place greater faith in the Israeli governments intentions and see distrust as the primary hurdle.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Texas Department of Transportations San Angelo district is warning drivers to avoid driving on flooded roadways after reporting that the San Saba River is several feet over the road in parts of Menard County.

TxDOT issued a warning via social media in the morning of June 4, advising motorists traveling through Menard County and Kimble County to be aware of high water on roads.

Several of our roads are closed due to high water, TxDOT said.

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Footage published by the agency shows the San Saba River flowing over FM 2092s river crossing, also known as Tenmile Crossing. The video shows the river submerging the roadway for a distance, with nearby trees having the entirety or majority of their trunks underwater.

As of the time of publication, drivetexas.orgs interactive map indicates that a section of FM 2092 beginning just east of the city of Menard and ending at State Highway 29 has been closed due to flooding. The closure is currently slated to conclude at 3 p.m. on June 4.

In the comments of its warning post, TxDOT provided a photo of the San Saba River flooding a section of FM 1311. The agency stated that the river is 7 feet over the road in the image.

Drivetexas.org indicates that a section of FM 1311 spanning from State Highway 29 to County Road 110 has been closed due to flooding, with the closure being scheduled to end at 10 a.m. June 5. Meanwhile, a section of FM 1311 spanning from County Road 110 to U.S. Route 190 is listed as being flooded, with the listing expected to end at 1:30 p.m. on June 5.

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TxDOT urged drivers not to attempt to drive through flooded roadways. It encouraged motorists to find alternative routes and check drivetexas.org to identify active road closures before traveling.

Do NOT attempt to cross, TxDOT said. Turn around and find an alternate route. Your life is worth more than a shortcut.

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U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, leads colleagues Tuesday in a moment of silence in honor of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were shot and killed in May in Washington, D.C. Milgrim grew up in Johnson County, Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. House's YouTube channel)

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, leads colleagues Tuesday in a moment of silence in honor of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were shot and killed in May in Washington, D.C. Milgrim grew up in Johnson County, Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. House's YouTube channel)

TOPEKA  Members of the Kansas congressional delegation participated in a moment of silence on the U.S. House floor to honor the memory of a couple slain in May during an apparent antisemitic attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Federal lawmakers stood in tribute for Sarah Milgrim, who grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, and her partner, Yaron Lischinsky. Both were staff members at the Israeli embassy. They were fatally shot May 21 by a Chicago man who reportedly yelled free Palestine while handcuffed and has been charged with first-degree murder.

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U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat who represents the community where Milgrim was raised, said the couple were tragically and senselessly killed in an antisemitic attack.

This hateful and targeted violence is not only heartbreaking, it is unacceptable, she said. Antisemitism has no place in our country, and yet we are seeing a deeply disturbing rise in these acts of hate.

Davids said Milgrim was a member of Congregation Bnai Jehudah and that Milgrim and Lischinsky were committed to building understanding and connection between Israel and the United States.

To the Jewish community in Kansas, Colorado and across the nation, Davids said, please know that I am standing with you. We mourn with you. We recommit to creating a world where no one fears for their safety because of who they are.

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Davids offered her thoughts Tuesday in collaboration with a group of representatives, including Kansas Republican U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt.

Milgrim was a 2017 graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School and earned a degree in 2021 from the University of Kansas. Her funeral service was May 27 at a synagogue in Overland Park, Kansas.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man wanted in Missouri for multiple sex crimes against children was arrested Tuesday by U.S. Marshals after he was found in Middle Tennessee.

According to officials, a warrant out of Cape Girardeau County, Missouri was issued Tuesday for the arrest of 31-year-old Corey Deshawn Wade.

Juvenile charged with deadly shooting at Clarksville Speedway and Fairgrounds

Wade was wanted on two counts of statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy, two counts of domestic assault, two counts of furnishing pornographic to a minor, endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs and child molestation.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

After learning that Wade was in the Clarksville area, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern Missouri Task Force requested assistance from the USMS Middle Tennessee Task Force, which located Wade on Tuesday at a business on Fort Campbell Boulevard.

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He was taken into custody and booked into the Montgomery County jail as a fugitive from justice until he is extradited back to Missouri.

No additional details were released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett  a rising star within the Democratic Party  is jumping into the crowded race for her partys top post on the House Oversight Committee.

The position is vacant after U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, died late last month. Three other Democrats have already declared bids for the June 24 election: Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland.

Crockett, a former state lawmaker serving her second term in Congress, pitched in a letter to her colleagues Tuesday that she would be best equipped to communicate the Democratic Partys achievements and values, which she said have been lost on the public. She noted, for example, that congressional Democrats under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered COVID relief, yet it is Trumps signature on those checks that has been imprinted into the American memory.

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Our work cannot be solely reactive. We must also be strategic in laying the groundwork to win back the House majority, she wrote. Every hearing, every investigation, every public moment must serve the dual purpose of accountability and must demonstrate why a House Democratic majority is essential for Americas future.

If elected, Crockett would become the ranking member on the 47-member committee, making her the top Democrat and putting her in line to chair the panel if Democrats were to regain a majority in 2026.

As ranking member, she would lead the committees 20 Democrats on issues related to government efficiency and accountability.

Crockett is no stranger to political messaging: the 44-year-old has amassed a huge audience on social media platforms for her personal takes on political happenings, often generating viral moments during hearings.

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As a member of Congress, Crockett spoke at the Democratic Partys national convention  a prime spot for up-and-comers to earn national recognition. But she also has some missteps to overcome: She drew criticism in March for describing Gov. Greg Abbott  who has been in a wheelchair for the last 40 years after he was paralyzed by a falling tree  as Governor Hot Wheels.

In her letter, Crockett touted her fundraising accomplishments: Since 2021, she has raised more than $4 million for Democrats' main congressional reelection fund and supported more than 74 candidates directly, she said.

Before her term as a state legislator from 2021 to 2023, Crockett worked as a public defense attorney practicing civil rights law. Her first bid for public office was for Bowie County district attorney in rural East Texas, where she worked for the public defenders office. She lost that race, but was later elected Bowie County Democratic Party Chair.

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!
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, speaks at a confirmation hearing for Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. (screenshot courtesy of C-SPAN via Investigate Midwest)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

https://videopress.com/v/cGY3T9Oy?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&playsinline=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

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.

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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..

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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.

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2025-05-06-hawley-letter-tyson-whistleblower-re-child-labor (1)

Hawley Response Signed (1)

This article first appeared on Investigate Midwest and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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By Alexander Cornwell

(Reuters) -The United States and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to start negotiations for a potential bilateral trade agreement that could ease tariffs on the Gulf state's steel and aluminium industry, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Emirati officials discussed the possibility of a trade agreement with U.S. counterparts during President Donald Trump's two-day visit to Abu Dhabi last month, the sources said.

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The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did Emirati officials.

Like other nations, the UAE has been hit by Trump's 10% baseline tariff on its exports to the United States. But its steel and aluminium products have also been hit by a 25% tariff that the Trump administration is now doubling to 50%.

While the UAE is a major oil producer, its steel and aluminium products are significant non-oil exports. In 2024, the UAE was the second-largest steel and aluminium exporter to the U.S., accounting for 8% of total U.S. consumption, data shows.

In Abu Dhabi, Emirati officials highlighted to U.S. counterparts comprehensive trade deals that it had signed with other countries over the past three years, the sources said.

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The UAE was capable of moving quickly on trade talks, Emirati officials told their U.S. counterparts, they said.

The Gulf state has signed bilateral trade deals, known as Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, with several countries since 2022, including India, Turkey and Australia.

The pact with India was negotiated in just 88 days.

The sources said that U.S. officials had responded positively, although it was unclear when talks would start. Two of the sources said Washington was likely to negotiate a limited deal that would fall short of a comprehensive free trade pact.

However, they said any agreement, if reached, would likely still be called a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the same branding as the UAE's other trade deals.

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The UAE is Washington's biggest trade partner in the Middle East, according to the Gulf state's foreign ministry. Bilateral trade in 2024 was valued at $34.4 billion, according to U.S. trade data, with the U.S. enjoying a $19.4 billion surplus.

The Gulf state, which is reliant on the U.S. security umbrella, has pledged to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade. Its sovereign wealth funds, including Abu Dhabi's $330-billion Mubadala, are already big U.S. investors, and Trump and his family have business interests in the UAE.

The UAE is influential in the region and hosts American soldiers on its bases. It is also negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union. Gulf states Oman and Bahrain have bilateral free trade agreements with the U.S.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Toby Chopra)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Rideshare companies are urging Portland customers to take a stance against potential fee hikes on the local and state levels.

Despite these efforts, Portland City Council passed an amendment to increase rideshare customer fees from 65 cents to $2 per ride, which would generate $10 million for the Portland Bureau of Transportation amid a city budget deficit.

For some Uber users, a notification that read Say No to Higher Fares: The Portland City Council wants to increase your taxes on rideshare by 200% popped up on their phones on Wednesday.

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Lyft has also claimed it would increase their current rider fee by 300%.

Friends of Frog Ferry continues pushing for river transit along Portland metro area

KOIN 6 previously reported that Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has suggested an updated fee of $1.30 per ride, but District 4 Councilor Mitch Greens suggestion of increasing it to $2 per ride is now gaining traction.

This proposal would disproportionately affect those who rely on Uber for essential travel to work, school, and critical appointments, especially hitting low-income riders the hardest, Uber wrote. At a time when Portlanders are already facing rising living costs, this additional tax burden, intended to balance the Citys budget, could make everyday trips unaffordable for many.

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The $2-per-ride fee increase would still need to be finalized with the city budget later this month, on June 18. However, some city councilors expressed their opposition to the proposal. District 4 Councilor Eric Zimmerman said the city needs to maintain cheap access to rideshares as TriMet is not a safe option for many.

TriMet has had to hire over 200 safety specialists in order to make the buses and trains barely palatable, Zimmerman said. There were eight million rides by Uber and Lyft last year in Portland.

District 3 Councilor Angelita Morillo responded to Zimmermans remarks.

I dont know why its always the men that are six feet tall who are terrified of riding the bus. Its really not a big deal. I ride the bus all the time and Im 52 and 130 pounds soaking wet, Morillo said.

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The fee increase ultimately passed the Portland City Council in an 8-4 vote.

According to proponents of the fee hikes, the additional revenue could help close Portlands $93 million budget deficit while also funding services like road repairs and street cleaning.

But the rideshare company also highlighted potential changes at the state level.

Senate Bill 1166 would give drivers a minimum wage of $0.39 for each minute they are active on the app, $1.34 for each mile they drive and $6 per dispatched trip. The bill would also establish minimum paid sick time requirements and prevent companies from deactivating accounts without just cause, among other changes.

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Jury rules in favor of Black firefighters racial discrimination case against City of Portland

While Drivers Union Oregon has said the legislation could help struggling workers in the industry, Uber has suggested it would increase the cost of rides by 40%.

The company has directed users to send state lawmakers an email, asking them to keep rideshare affordable.

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After generations of stigma and secrecy around sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), or what the public calls UFOs, investigators probing hundreds of unsolved cases say the second Trump administration could be a turning point for transparency.

"We're trying to get as much of the raw evidence out as we can without putting our partners' equities at risk," said Jon Kosloski, director of the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the government-wide task force leading research into mysterious sightings.

"The office has hired additional personnel and we're investing in automated security review software that can redact the sensitive information from videos," he said of an effort to release more currently classified material related to the probes.

PHOTO: Jon Kosloski, a mathematician and engineer by training, leads the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the Pentagon. (ABC News)

Congress established the Resolution Office in 2022 to "detect, identify and attribute" mysterious objects of interest in the air, outer space, and underwater, with special focus on mitigating potential threats to military operations and national security.

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More than 1800 cases have been reviewed by the Pentagon so far, with the vast majority ultimately resolved as likely balloons, drones, debris or animals based on a comprehensive review of available data.

Kosloski says "several dozen" cases remain anomalous even after rigorous analysis of evidence. They continue to receive new reports of anomalies by military service members and the general public every month.

"It's a potential problem, a national security problem, safety of flight issue," Kosloski told ABC News. "We seem to have the full support of the administration" in pursuing answers.

PHOTO: Congress created the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the Pentagon in 2022 to serve as a clearinghouse for government information on unidentified anomalous phenomena and lead investigator of mysterious sightings. (ABC News)

Trump vows greater transparency

President Donald Trump has famously been a UFO skeptic. "It's never been my thing. I have to be honest," he told podcaster Joe Rogan in an October 2024 interview. "I have never been a believer."

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But the president, who has full access to all government secrets as commander in chief, has also hinted on several occasions that there may be more information than has previously been revealed about alleged extraterrestrial life and unusual technological capabilities.

"I won't talk to you about what I know about it but it's very interesting," Trump told his son, Donald Trump Jr., in an online video during the 2020 campaign. "But Roswell's a very interesting place with a lot of people that would like to know what's going on."

Since taking office a second time, Trump has vowed "radical transparency" across government. Last month, he ordered the release of all remaining classified files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Jr.

PHOTO: Teams of public and private scientific and national security experts conduct rigorous analyses of available radar and imagery data to resolve reported anomalies. (ABC News)

Some UFO enthusiasts across the political spectrum are pushing for a similar release of government files related to extraterrestrial mysteries.

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"When you have only certain information that's shared with the American people, that's when conspiracy theories happen. And it's, in my opinion, that conspiracy theories can be detrimental," said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., in April as she opened the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets.

Lawmakers from both parties have proposed legislation to force government agencies to disclose more information on UAPs, but Congress has yet to pass it.

"The issue is when we mix secrecy with a stigma, and that we create such a stigma around a phenomenon that it becomes difficult, if not impossible, for agencies, for people to look at the issue seriously," said former Associate NASA Administrator Mike Gold, who served on the agency's UAP Independent Study Team.

Gold, who is now part of the UAP Disclosure Fund, an independent group of scientific and national security experts, says Congress must fund more aggressive analysis of troves of existing government data.

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"If we study UAP, not only can we help with national security," Gold said, "but even if we don't discover something exotic, what's the worst case scenario? We discover an incredible new physical phenomenon?"

PHOTO: The Pentagons lead investigator of unidentified anomalous phenomena, Jon Kosloski, tells ABC News that the agency is trying to publicly release more raw evidence surrounding unsolved mysteries. (ABC News)

Whistleblowers, advocates allege secret evidence long denied

Critics of the Pentagon effort led by Kosloski say it has been hobbled by "staffing shortfalls," bogged down by "bureaucratic confusion," and mired in "excessive secrecy."

In recent testimony before Congress, whistleblowers insist the government is still hiding evidence of non-human intelligence, which top officials have long denied.

Kosloski has accelerated the release of intensive investigations, publishing unclassified resolution reports for some of the most high-profile cases, detailing the technical and intelligence analysis behind the conclusion.

PHOTO: AARO Director Jon Kosloski shows ABC News how Pentagon investigators have resolved cases of unidentified anomalous phenomena. (ABC News)

"Our hope is to be able to triage them, identify those that have the best scientific data, the nexus with national security interests and the true anomalies behind them, and focus our attention on those really anomalous cases," Kosloski said.

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Last year, the Pentagon completed a historic review of 80 years of records related to unidentified anomalous phenomena, concluding there is "no evidence that any U.S. government investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology."

"That stands true," said Kosloski.

PHOTO: A review of 80 years of government records related to unidentified anomalous phenomena concluded there is no evidence of extraterrestrial non-human intelligence. (ABC News)

Government and private UAP investigators say it will take substantially more data to resolve the most persistent mysteries on file.

As for whether he can categorically rule out the existence of an intact spacecraft or part of a spacecraft in government possession, Kosloski said he has not been able to corroborate any claims but promised to push for public release of any likely findings of non-human intelligence.

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"There's no precedent for that, obviously, but I think that we would take that up through the Secretary of Defense and allow him to make that decision."

UFO sleuths want fewer secrets in Trump-era investigations originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The United Kingdom is investing a record 350 million (US$472 million) this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025.

Source: European Pravda, citing the UK Ministry of Defence

Details: Last year, the UK supplied over 10,000 drones to Ukraine. In the current financial year, tens of thousands have already been provided, and Britain has set a new goal  to provide 100,000 drones to Ukraine in 2025.

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The record-breaking 350 million investment in drones is part of the UK's wider military aid package totalling 4.5 billion for this year.

The Ministry of Defence noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have demonstrated high efficiency in drone warfare. As a result, the UK has doubled its investment in drones, working with British defence companies, including small and medium-sized companies.

The ministry also stated that at today's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein format), UK Defence Secretary John Healey will announce an additional 247 million for training Ukrainian forces under Operation Interflex.

In addition, Healey will confirm that the UK will complete the supply of 140,000 artillery shells for Ukraine from the beginning of 2025.

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The UK will also contribute 40 million to NATO's NSATU trust fund for Ukraine to continue training and supply of equipment for Ukrainian troops.

Background:

In March, the drone coalition allocated 20 million to procure tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine.

Norway, as recently reported, has also agreed to redirect a larger share of its support funds towards the production of Ukrainian-made drones.

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The United Kingdom pledged on June 4 to supply Ukraine with 100,000 drones by the end of the financial year in April 2026, after saying that unmanned aerial vehicles have changed the way modern wars are fought.

The drone package  valued at 350 million ($473 million)  is part of a broader 4.5 billion military support initiative for Ukraine and marks a tenfold increase from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025, the U.K. government said.

"The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year and completing a major milestone in the delivery of critical artillery ammunition," Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement.

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The increase in drone support is timely, as it follows Ukraine's successful Operation Spiderweb on June 1. As part of the operation, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) smuggled 117 drones into Russian territory, striking four airbases and damaging 41 military aircraft.

In addition to drone deliveries, the U.K. government confirmed the delivery of 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January and will spend an additional 247 million ($334 million) this year to train Ukrainian troops.

"We are learning lessons every day from the battlefield in Ukraine, which British companies are using to develop advanced new drones to help protect Ukraines civilians and also strengthen our own national security," Healey said.

On June 2, the U.K. government endorsed an independent Strategic Defense Review that called for a more technologically advanced military to counter emerging threats, including potential Russian aggression. Citing the war in Ukraine, the review emphasized the importance of drones and digital warfare.

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To that end, the U.K. will devote more than 4 billion ($5.4 billion) to the development of autonomous systems and drones for the UK Armed Forces to help learn the lessons from Ukraine.

This follows a recent commitment from the government to increase military spending to 2.5% of total gross domestic product (GDP) by April 2027.

Later today, the U.K. and Germany will co-host the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels, where the group will coordinate further military aid to Ukraine.

During the meeting, Defense Secretary Healey will officially announce Britain's latest military support initiative for Ukraine.

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Read also: Ukraine to deploy new units to counter Russian drone attacks, Air Force says

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Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting.

The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev.

The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack.

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Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth 400 million ($457 million).

The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said.

Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid to Ukraine after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question.

Hegseth did not attend the meeting in Brussels, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings.

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Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense.

Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final.

"But the Europeans are ready, and Germany is ready to take responsibility," he stressed.

"What we can compensate for remains to be seen. But we are making it very clear that we are determined not to leave Ukraine alone and to do what is necessary and possible to support Ukraine in its defence," Pistorius said.

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"The important thing is that we remain in discussion, and that's what we're doing," Pistorius said of Hegseth's absence.

Brekelmans also suggested that the US position on military aid for Ukraine might change in the near future.

"We see that Russia and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are not willing to truly negotiate. And I think the United States is also starting to realize that," he said.

For the time being, Ukraine's allies should increase pressure on Russia and keep supporting Ukraine, Brekelmans said.
How will Moscow respond to the stunning Ukrainian drone strikes on its fleet of strategic aircraft?

So far, the Kremlin has stayed tight-lipped, saying only that it is waiting for the results of a formal investigation into the attacks, which struck air bases thousands of miles from the Ukraine border.

But fury is being openly vented across the Russia media, with pro-Kremlin pundits and bloggers seething with calls for retribution, even nuclear retaliation.

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This is not just a pretext but a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine, the prominent Two Majors bloggers said on their popular Telegram channel, which has over a million subscribers.

After the mushroom cloud you can think about who lied, made mistakes and so on, they added, referring to the inevitable Kremlin search for scapegoats for the fiasco.

At least one prominent Russian political analyst, Sergei Markov, urged caution, warning in a social media post that using nuclear weapons would lead to real political isolation.

But popular blogger Alexander Kots demanded Russia should strike with all our might, regardless of the consequences.

A satellite image appears to show damage to aircraft following a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Russian military airfields in Stepnoy, Irkutsk region, Russia, on Monday. - Capella Space/Handout/Reuters

Of course, Russian hardliners routinely clamor for the nuclear obliteration of Ukraine, while issuing thinly veiled, but ultimately empty threats of Armageddon aimed at the Western allies. The fact they are doing so again, after such a painful series of attacks, is hardly surprising.

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But it would be wrong to get too complacent and dismiss all Russian nuclear saber-rattling as mere propaganda.

In fact, there are some worrying reasons to take the slim possibility of a devastating Russian response a little more seriously this time around.

Firstly, several Russian pundits have commented on how Ukraines destruction of a significant number of Russian strategic nuclear bombers may be interpreted as breaching Moscows legal nuclear threshold.

The Kremlins recently updated nuclear doctrine  which sets out conditions for a launch  states that any attack on critically important military infrastructure which disrupts response actions by nuclear forces could trigger a nuclear retaliation.

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The Ukrainian operation was grounds for a nuclear attack, declared Vladmir Solovyov, a firebrand host on Russian state TV, calling for strikes on the Ukrainian presidential office in Kyiv, and beyond.

Whatever the legality, the barrier for a Russian nuclear response remains mercifully high and such a strike is likely to be dismissed in Kremlin circles as an impractical overkill.

For a start, it would poison relations with key Russian trading partners like China and India, as well as provoke potential military action against Russian forces.

Inevitable mass casualties would be certain to invite universal scorn, further isolating Russia on the international stage.

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But heres the problem: the Kremlin may now feel overwhelming pressure to restore deterrence.

Ukraine says it has struck a bridge connecting Russia to Crimea with underwater explosives. - SBU/Telegram

An image released by the SBU showed damage to the Crimean Bridge. - Security Service of Ukraine

Its not just the recent Ukrainian drone strikes, deep inside Russia, that have humiliated Moscow. Shortly afterwards, Ukraine staged yet another bold attack on the strategic Kerch bridge linking Russia with Crimea  the third time the vital road and rail link has been hit.

The capture by Ukrainian forces of the Kursk region in western Russia last year dealt another powerful blow, leaving the Kremlin struggling to liberate its own land. Meanwhile, weekly, if not daily, drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and airports continue to cause widespread disruption far from the front lines.

At the same time, Ukraines allies have been gradually lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied arms against Russia, further challenging what were once believed to be Moscows red lines.

Ukrainian Army soldiers use American Bradley Fighting Vehicles during Ukraine's cross-border operation into Russia's Kursk region on January 15 in Sumy, Ukraine. - Scott Peterson/Getty Images

Few doubt the Kremlin is itching to respond decisively, but how?

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One former Russian minister told CNN the most likely response by Moscow would be more barbaric conventional missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities of the kind that the people of Ukraine have already suffered for years.

Theres no other way to go, because Russia does not have the capacity to launch a massive military offensive. They dont have enough personnel for it, said Vladimir Milov, a former deputy energy minister now living outside of Russia.

People talk about potential use of nuclear weapons and so on. I dont think this is on the table. But, again, Putin has shown many times that he is resorting to barbarity and revenge.

In other words, highly unlikely, but the nuclear option cant be entirely discounted. This Ukraine conflict has already taken multiple unexpected turns, not least the full-scale Russian invasion itself in 2022.

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And while Ukraine and its supporters revel in the stunning successes of recent military operations, poking a humiliated and wounded Russian bear may yield dangerous and frightening consequences.

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Ukraine plans to bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in an exchange with Russia between June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with journalists on June 4 attended by the Kyiv Independent.

"Today, our teams held consultations on exchanges. The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it will be able to transfer 500 people, our military personnel, out of the 1,000+ that we agreed on," Zelensky said.

The upcoming swap follows a major 1,000-for-1,000 exchange carried out between May 23 and 25. That deal, initially reached during Istanbul talks on May 16, was the largest prisoner exchange of the war so far.

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The new exchange was agreed upon during the second round of direct talks held on June 2.

Zelensky said that Ukraine has not yet received the list of names for the upcoming swap, but that Moscow had promised to provide it in advance.

"This time, unlike in Istanbul last time, the Russians have promised to give us the lists of whom we are exchanging in advance, which is important for us," he noted.

The statement comes as a previous prisoner exchange list reportedly included Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia.

Taranenko's alleged inclusion in the exchange exacerbated criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of any Azov fighters and many civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years in what was the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war.

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After the June 2 talks, Russia also pledged to transfer 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers to Ukraine. Zelensky noted that preparations for exchanging the bodies will begin after the POW swap.

Ukraine has consistently pushed for an "all-for-all" formula in prisoner swaps, aiming to secure the return of every Ukrainian soldier in captivity. Russia has rejected that proposal.

Read also: Ukraine wouldnt launch Operation Spiderweb if Russia agreed to ceasefire, Zelensky says

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June 4 (UPI) -- Ukrainian officials were set to update U.S. senators on Wednesday on the war and discuss arms purchases and efforts to pressure Russia to negotiate a peace deal, including a tough new bipartisan sanctions bill due to come to the floor of the upper chamber next week.

The delegation, which included Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Boyev and Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, arrived Tuesday, a day after a second round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey broke up without a breakthrough.

Yermak said in a social media post that the delegation was bringing a "comprehensive agenda" of issues that were important to Ukraine to actively promote to members of both parties and President Donald Trump's team.

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"We plan to talk about defense support and the situation on the battlefield, strengthening sanctions against Russia, including Senator [Lindsey] Graham's bill. We will also discuss the Agreement on the Establishment of the Reconstruction Investment Fund, which we signed earlier," wrote Yermak.

He said the delegation would also raise the issue of getting back Ukrainian children deported by Russia and support for the process.

The bill that Sen. Graham, R-S.C., plans to introduce in the Senate aims to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia, targeting its trade partners by slapping 500% tariffs on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian products, including gas, oil and uranium.

China and India are the two biggest markets for Russian energy exports.

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Politico that he and Graham would host a closed-door meeting with the Ukrainians on Capitol Hill to which all Senators had been invited.

He said support for the sanctions bill was gaining very strong momentum with 82 members of the Senate split down the middle of the aisle agreeing to co-sponsor it.

Blumenthal said the secondary sanctions could be a "game changer."

"It's a pivotal moment in Ukraine -- and crunch time for the Senate on this bill."

He also pushed back on what he said was a growing but false belief that Ukraine was losing the war, saying recent offensive assaults deep into Russian territory, such as Sunday's so-called "Operation Spiderweb," in which Ukrainian drones destroyed 41 strategic Russian bomber aircraft, proved otherwise.

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Blumenthal argued that such feats could help shift the dial among the administration's foreign policy team, helping persuade them to bolster military and other assistance for Ukraine and to support the sanctions bill.

That in turn would help overcome the reservations of some lawmakers, he said.

"Events will move the White House -- and maybe some of the president's friends here [Capitol Hill]. Congress can move ahead. [Trump] doesn't have to support it."

Current U.S. flows of arms and equipment to Ukraine are all under drawdowns on assistance packages approved under former President Joe Biden, with no fresh approvals since as the Trump administration shifts to a more mercantile approach under which Ukraine will buy the weapons rather than receiving them as aid.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The war in Ukraine and the existential threat that Russia poses to European security has dominated NATOs agenda in each of the summits the military alliance has held since Moscow launched its invasion in 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sat at the head of NATOs table and been uniformly praised for his leadership. Ukraines place within the ranks of the worlds biggest military organization seemed assured once the war was over.

But three weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts gather in the Netherlands, it remained unclear whether Zelenskyy would even get a seat, or how much support Ukraine might win in the final summit communique.

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Asked on Wednesday about Ukraines role at the top-level meeting on June 24-25 in The Hague, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said only that it will be discussed and on the agenda.

Ahead of previous summits, NATO envoys have a labored to craft statements that encompass Ukraines irreversible path to membership, with enduring pledges of support, while insisting that Russia poses the greatest threat to NATO security.

Asked whether Zelenskyy would be invited this time, Rutte said that the meeting program would be available soon. A NATO-Ukraine Council - standard fare at recent summits - will not be held, so its unclear how he would take part if he was.

Invited to comment on Ukraines covert weekend drone attack in Russia - described as the most significant of the war by some officers and experts - Rutte said: I take note, underlining only that the drones had hit military targets.

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Responding to a similar question on Wednesday, Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said: This war needs to come to an end. He said Trump feels very strongly about that and sees no military solution to end the war.

What is clear is that Trump will take center-stage in The Hague, along with his demand that all 32 NATO allies invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense. Zelenskyy should not be allowed to steal the limelight.

A new defence investment plan will be at the heart of the NATO summit in The Hague, said Rutte, speaking on the eve of a meeting of the organizations defense ministers at its Brussels headquarters.

He said this should involve a huge increase in defense spending to make sure that we can keep ourselves safe, not only now, but also in the future. Rutte said defense companies need to know that we are spending more so they will ramp up production.

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Whitaker said that the 5% target is not going to be a pledge  this is going to be a commitment. He said that the U.S. wants to see concrete plans, budgets and timelines from European allies and Canada on how they intend to get there.

He told reporters that the defense industries of NATO allies must outpace Russia. He added: "We have no choice. Let me be clear: the time is now.

NATO's members are weighing a demand from Rutte that they each spend 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2032, plus a further 1.5% on military-related infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, airfields and ports.

Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain are not yet spending 2%, though Spain expects to reach that goal this year.

Without a strong show of support for Ukraine at the summit - and the acknowledgement that Russia remains NATOs biggest security threat - some member nations may struggle to convince voters of the need to boost defense spending at the expense of other budget demands.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said that during his working visit to Paris, several documents were signed, including one on simplifying the exchange of driving licences.

Source: Shmyhal on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Shmyhal noted that Ukraine and France have taken a step closer to simplifying the exchange of driving licences between the two countries.

"A corresponding declaration has been signed, which will form the basis for a future agreement. After its conclusion, Ukrainians living in France will be able to exchange their driving licences without having to retake the test," the PM stated.

Background:

In March, the EU approved mobile driving licences.

Last year in Italy, a 103-year-old woman was fined for an expired licence.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Ukraine's parliament approved key amendments to the Budget Code on June 4 to implement the landmark minerals agreement with the United States, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced.

The legislation, supported by 309 members of parliament, enshrines financial provisions critical to executing the U.S.-Ukraine deal signed on April 30 and ratified by Kyiv on May 8.

The agreement grants the U.S. special access to strategic mineral development projects in Ukraine, including lithium, titanium, and rare earth elements vital to defense, aerospace, and green energy industries.

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The approved changes require Ukraine to contribute 50% of revenues from several sources to the fund. These include rent payments for mineral extraction from new licenses, fees from new subsoil use permits, and proceeds from state production shares under new production-sharing agreements.

The funds will be collected in a dedicated budget account and transferred to the Reconstruction Investment Fund at the discretion of the fund's chief administrator. The fund will be co-managed by Ukraine and the U.S. under an equal partnership model.

Washington will be represented by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), while Kyiv will be represented by Ukraine's Public-Private Partnerships Agency.

The agreement marks a new phase in U.S.-Ukraine economic cooperation and has been months in the making. Protracted negotiations led to the removal of controversial provisions that Ukrainian officials feared could allow for exploitation of Ukraine's natural resources.

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Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in April that future U.S. military aid could be counted as contributions to the fund, though previously allocated assistance will not apply.

Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

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Odesa, UKRAINE  Ukraines audacious drone attacks on Russian air bases this weekend gave Kyiv a much-needed morale boost amid growing frustration in the country over President Trumps approach to the war.

Ukraine claimed it destroyed dozens of Russias long-distance and nuclear-capable bombers with explosive drones smuggled across the border, although open-source reporting has not confirmed all of Ukraines claims.

The stunning military maneuver counters Trumps narrative that Ukraine is on the brink of defeat, but it doesnt change everything, said Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of Ukraines Parliament in the opposition European Solidarity party.

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I hope maybe after such operation Russians will also realize that they also need ceasefire. Maybe from this point of view it will help. For the moment its great operation, but I dont feel it immediately changes a lot, he told The Hill.

The Hill traveled to Ukraines southern port city Odesa last week, interviewing officials, volunteers in the war effort, and people on the street about their feelings of the course of the war and relations with the U.S.

Volodymyr Dubovyk, professor of international relations at Odesa Mechnikov National University, said that while Ukrainians are worn down from three years of war, they are not prepared to swallow Russias conditions for a ceasefire  such as recognizing Russian sovereignty over occupied territories and restrictions on their military.

Exhaustion in Ukraine is very real, he said. But at the same time, people are not having any appetite for capitulation and surrender, because, after all, so much being lost already, so many lives lost  what for? Then to give to Russia what it wanted from the very beginning? That doesnt make sense for a lot of Ukrainians.

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Trump has neither criticized nor endorsed Ukraines cross-border operation, but he said it was discussed during his call Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said promised a Russian response to the attacks.

On Tuesday, Ukraines internal security service also announced it had carried out a special operation bombing Kerch Bridge, the main artery connecting Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula and a Putin pet project.

The symbolism of these attacks has boosted spirits across Ukraine but dont address wider concerns about the future of the war.

One soldier in a special forces unit, who asked for anonymity because hes not allowed to speak to journalists, said Russia still had a clear edge with its relentless firepower.

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They [Russia] are stronger; they have the great weapons  not like our weapons are better or worse, but they have more weapons, more people and they can be in the war five years, maybe seven years. I think we are almost sick after three years, the soldier said.

He said Ukraine could still save most of its territory, but he added Ukraine would never get back Crimea.

Some of the borders I hope we save, and for that, I think we must fight, he said.

Theres also the looming challenge of dwindling U.S. support to Ukraine.

At the Black Sea Security Forum, an international security conference that seeks to highlight Odesa as a linchpin of Ukraines defense, attendees conceded that Europe is not yet capable of replacing American weapons or financial assistance.

Former Republican Rep. Bob McEwen (Ohio) addresses the Black Sea Security Forum at the end of May. (Courtesy)

Former Ohio Rep. Bob McEwen (R) was a rare voice defending Trumps approach to brokering a ceasefire.

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I wish that this could have been resolved in the first 100 days, but its going to take a little bit more energy, McEwen said on a panel Saturday, expressing confidence that Trumps diplomatic push would ultimately succeed.

I would encourage you to focus  as much frustration that you have with our current president  with those who allowed us to get into this problem in the first place, he added.

Earlier, he repeated a common White House argument criticizing former President Biden as weak and failing to deter Russia from launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainians are increasingly critical of Trump, with polls showing a major change in attitudes from when he was initially elected and promised to end the war within 24 hours.

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Oleksandr Prokudin is the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration. Russia occupies about 70 percent of the region and pounds the territory under Ukrainian control daily with rockets and artillery. A United Nations commission found Russias use of attack drones in the region amounts to crimes against humanity for deliberately targeting civilians.

Prokudin is supportive of a ceasefire but isnt convinced it would lead to lasting peace, especially given Trumps antagonism toward Ukraine and favoring Russia.

Even if a ceasefire happens and there will be a 30-day or 60-day peace, we understand that Russia will not stop at this point, Prokudin said through a translator. And we will use this time to prepare ourselves for a future harder attack, which is definitely going to happen.

He said Kherson was hit hard by Trumps decision to effectively eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and terminate grants in the region for energy resilience and irrigation repair for a region highly dependent on agriculture.

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This was a bad situation for our region, Prokudin said of the USAID cuts.

At a community center in one of Odesas working-class neighborhoods, volunteers have shown up consistently for three years to hand-knit camouflage nets for front-line service members  a tedious task that gives them a sense of purpose in the war effort. The center also 3D prints mortar casings and small boxes that can be fitted with electronics to use for drone surveillance.

Konstantin Zador, its executive director, said Sunday in a text to The Hill that Operation Spider Web  the name of Ukraines weekend drone attack  has raised spirits.

Maybe it did not allow us to strengthen our position in the negotiation in Istanbul [on Monday], but it has definitely shown the whole world that Ukraine is strong and unconquerable! he wrote after news of the operation broke.

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Galina, 67, is one of the volunteers who was at the center when The Hill visited last week. She is a refugee from the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, a strategic Ukrainian supply hub that has been fiercely contested since Russian forces first invaded in 2014.

She wasnt ready to give up on Trump.

You can have different attitudes toward Donald Trump and what he says, but he is president of friendly nation to us and so we hope this friendliness would remain, she said. Of course he is emotional, expressive, but the thing is we really need American support, so we need to accept the words as they are said, and not be the ones to judge.

Also visiting the center that day was Andriy, 35, who said he is a member of Ukraines special forces and in the countrys growing Navy. He had come to collect one of the camouflage nets, along with some emergency medical supplies and small presents to boost morale at the front line  chocolate, cookies and childrens drawings.

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Theres no time for exhaustion, Andriy said through a translator. Theres too much work.

Andriy said he worked with underwater explosives, part of Ukraines arsenal that is not impacted by waning U.S. support. Asked if Ukraine will take down the Kerch Bridge, he laughed and responded: We are working on it right now. It would be something huge.

A few days later, explosions rocked the bridge.

Disclosure: The Black Sea Security Forum paid for the flight and arranged transportation for The Hill. Some interviews were facilitated by the conference organizers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine released new footage on Wednesday of its major drone strike on four Russian military airbases, showing attack drones targeting numerous Russian strategic bombers and landing on two airborne early warning and control planes.

Ukrainian authorities say Sunday's attack on the airfields using 117 drones hit 41 military aircraft. Reuters has not independently verified that number. Satellite imagery shows several bombers were destroyed and badly damaged at one base.

New drone footage released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) showed drones landing on the dome antennae of two A-50 military spy planes, of which there are only a handful in Russia's fleet. There was no video showing the drones detonate.

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Reuters was able to independently verify the locations of all four air bases in the footage, including Ivanovo airbase where the A-50s were stationed. Reuters could not independently verify what date the footage was filmed.

The SBU said in a statement that the aircraft struck included the A-50, the Tu-95 strategic bomber, the Tu-22M3 supersonic jet bomber, the Tu-160 strategic bomber, as well as the An-12 and Il-78 military cargo planes.

Some of those military aircraft are part of Russia's airborne nuclear deterrent, but can also be armed with cruise missiles that Russia has used to pound targets in Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"A significant part of them is irretrievably destroyed, and some damaged aircraft will take many years to rebuild," the SBU said.

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The Russian Defence Ministry says Ukraine targeted airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions and were repelled in the last three locations. Several aircraft caught fire in Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, it said.

Russian officials said on Wednesday that military options were "on the table" for its response to Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia and accused the West of being involved in them.

The attack has bolstered Ukrainian morale after months of unrelenting Russian battlefield pressure and numerous powerful missile and drone strikes by Moscow's forces.

While condemning other Ukrainian attacks at the weekend on Russian targets, President Vladimir Putin made no mention of the attacks on the airbases in his comments to senior Russian officials on Wednesday.

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However, influential Russian military bloggers have accused Russian authorities, especially the aerospace command, of negligence and complacency for allowing the nuclear-capable bombers to be targeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had decorated a number of SBU officers for Sunday's operation.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Aleksandar Vasovic and Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The Ukrainian government is relying on increased production in collaboration with European partners for the supply of weapons and ammunition, the country's defence minister said on Wednesday.

Rustem Umerov said there is also interest in having Ukrainian arms companies manufacture newly developed systems outside the country. He made his comments after a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group - also known as the Ramstein Group - in Brussels.

These weapons should be delivered to Ukraine for the duration of the war, he added.

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Umerov, who reported on the meeting's outcomes together with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and the British Secretary of Defence John Healey, said: "We will build drones, missiles, ammunition and other weapons together. Ukrainian drones have changed the battlefield. And now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats."

He added that the joint production represents a strategic shift.

Pistorius had already promised increased efforts for more air defence systems and electromagnetic warfare before the meeting, namely protection and disruption of communication and weapon deployments. Other countries are participating in these initiatives.

Healey condemned the ongoing Russian attacks on cities and civilians in Ukraine despite peace efforts: "Ukraine, the United States, all of us here are calling for a ceasefire. We are for peace. Putin continues the war, so the work of this contact group becomes even more important. We must step up. We must never step back."
The Ukrainian government is relying on increased production in collaboration with European partners for the supply of weapons and ammunition, the country's defence minister said on Wednesday.

Rustem Umerov said there is also interest in having Ukrainian arms companies manufacture newly developed systems outside the country. He made his comments after a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group - also known as the Ramstein Group - in Brussels.

These weapons should be delivered to Ukraine for the duration of the war, he added.

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Umerov, who reported on the meeting's outcomes together with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and the British Secretary of Defence John Healey, said: "We will build drones, missiles, ammunition and other weapons together. Ukrainian drones have changed the battlefield. And now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats."

He added that the joint production represents a strategic shift.

Pistorius had already promised increased efforts for more air defence systems and electromagnetic warfare before the meeting, namely protection and disruption of communications and weapons deployments. Other countries are participating in these initiatives.

Healey condemned the ongoing Russian attacks on cities and civilians in Ukraine despite peace efforts: "Ukraine, the United States, all of us here are calling for a ceasefire. We are for peace. Putin continues the war, so the work of this contact group becomes even more important. We must step up. We must never step back."

US absent from meeting

Earlier defence ministers from the contact group pledged further support for Ukraine despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting.

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The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by Pistorius and Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev.

The format comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack.

Dutch package of support

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth 400 million ($457 million).

The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said.

Pressure on Europeans

Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid to Ukraine after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question.

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Hegseth did not attend the meeting in Brussels, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings.

Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense.

Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final.

"But the Europeans are ready, and Germany is ready to take responsibility," he stressed.

"What we can compensate for remains to be seen. But we are making it very clear that we are determined not to leave Ukraine alone and to do what is necessary and possible to support Ukraine in its defence," Pistorius said.

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"The important thing is that we remain in discussion, and that's what we're doing," Pistorius said of Hegseth's absence.

Brekelmans also suggested that the US position on military aid for Ukraine might change in the near future.

"We see that Russia and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are not willing to truly negotiate. And I think the United States is also starting to realize that," he said.

For the time being, Ukraine's allies should increase pressure on Russia and keep supporting Ukraine, Brekelmans said.
Key developments on June 4:

Ukraine hacks Russia's Tupolev bomber producer, source claims

Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses approach 1 million, study finds

Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says

Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says

Kremlin confirms explosion at Crimean Bridge after Ukraine's sabotage, claims 'no damage'

Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) has gained access to sensitive data of Russia's strategic aircraft manufacturer Tupolev, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent on June 4.

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Tupolev, a Soviet-era aerospace firm now fully integrated into Russia's defense-industrial complex, has been under international sanctions since 2022 for its role in Russia's war against Ukraine. Its bombers have been widely used to launch long-range cruise missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

According to the source, HUR's cyber corps accessed over 4.4 gigabytes (GB) of internal data, including official correspondence, personnel files, home addresses, resumes, purchase records, and closed meeting minutes.

"The significance of the data obtained cannot be overestimated," the source said. "Now, in fact, there is nothing secret left in Tupolev's activities for Ukrainian intelligence."

The intelligence includes detailed information about engineers and staff responsible for maintaining Russia's strategic bombers, such as the Tu-95 and Tu-160, which form a key part of Russia's nuclear triad.

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"In particular, we have obtained comprehensive information about individuals directly involved in servicing Russian strategic aviation," the source added. "The result will obviously be noticeable both on the ground and in the sky."

Ukrainian cyber operatives also replaced the Tupolev website's homepage with an image of an owl clutching a Russian aircraft, likely referencing HUR's insignia and cyber warfare skills.

The source shared excerpts of internal data obtained during the breach, including what appeared to be internal documents and personnel files of staff, as proof. The combination of physical strikes on Russia's strategic aviation and now the exposure of its internal architecture marks a significant blow to Moscow's long-range aerial warfare.

Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses approach 1 million, study finds

Russian military casualties in Ukraine are approaching 1 million and are likely to surpass that figure by summer 2025, according to a new report by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published on June 3.

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The total number of military casualties on both sides is nearing 1.4 million, including approximately 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed or injured.

The think tank estimates that more than 950,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Of those, as many as 250,000 have died on the battlefield  losses CSIS says underscore Russian President Vladimir Putins "blatant disregard" for his forces.

Despite its staggering losses, Russia continues to rely on mass wave assaults. According to CSIS, this approach has allowed Russian forces to capture less than 1% of Ukrainian territory since January 2024, often advancing by only 50 meters per day.

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The cost in equipment has also been severe. According to the think tank, Russian losses across land, air, and sea domains have vastly outpaced Ukraines, with some battlefield loss ratios reaching 5:1.

As of June 4, Ukraines General Staff put Russias cumulative troop losses at 991,820. While Kyiv does not disclose its own casualty numbers, Ukraines Armed Forces report Russian losses on a daily basis.

The full human toll remains difficult to confirm due to the opacity on both sides. CSIS used estimates compiled from U.S. and U.K. defense officials, as well as satellite imagery and battlefield assessments.

Independent Russian outlet Mediazona and the BBC Russian service have confirmed the identities of at least 109,625 Russian troops killed, based on open-source data such as obituaries, local news, and social media posts.

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Russias monthly recruitment ranges from 30,000 to 40,000 new soldiers, Western intelligence officials told the Wall Street Journal in April. Rather than announce another mass mobilization, the Kremlin has relied heavily on financial incentives, offering lucrative contracts to new recruits.

Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says

Ukraine plans to bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in an exchange with Russia between June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with journalists on June 4 attended by the Kyiv Independent.

"Today, our teams held consultations on exchanges. The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it will be able to transfer 500 people, our military personnel, out of the 1,000+ that we agreed on," Zelensky said.

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The upcoming swap follows a major 1,000-for-1,000 exchange carried out between May 23 and 25. That deal, initially reached during Istanbul talks on May 16, was the largest prisoner exchange of the war so far.

The new exchange was agreed upon during the second round of direct talks held on June 2.

Zelensky said that Ukraine has not yet received the list of names for the upcoming swap, but that Moscow had promised to provide it in advance.

"This time, unlike in Istanbul last time, the Russians have promised to give us the lists of whom we are exchanging in advance, which is important for us," he noted.

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The statement comes as a previous prisoner exchange list reportedly included Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia.

Taranenko's alleged inclusion in the exchange exacerbated criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of any Azov fighters and many civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years in what was the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war.

After the June 2 talks, Russia also pledged to transfer 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers to Ukraine. Zelensky noted that preparations for exchanging the bodies will begin after the POW swap.

Ukraine has consistently pushed for an "all-for-all" formula in prisoner swaps, aiming to secure the return of every Ukrainian soldier in captivity. Russia has rejected that proposal.

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Read also: Ukraine wouldnt launch Operation Spiderweb if Russia agreed to ceasefire, Zelensky says

Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says

Russia launched a missile attack against a military training facility in Poltava Oblast on June 4, resulting in injuries among the personnel, the Ground Forces' press service reported.

"Thanks to timely and carefully planned security measures... the worst has been avoided," the press service said, saying that no soldiers have been killed in the attack against the central region, which lies about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Kyiv.

The strike follows a string of Russian attacks against Ukrainian military facilities across Ukraine.

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A deadly missile strike on a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on June 1 killed at least 12 soldiers and led to the resignation of then-Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, who was later appointed the commander of the Joint Forces.

The casualties sustained in Russian attacks deep in the rear sparked backlash, with military leadership facing criticism for failing to provide adequate security for soldiers and recruits.

Security protocols, including dispersal of personnel and the use of shelters, "saved the lives of service members who were at the training facility at the time of the strike" on June 4, the Ground Force said.

"Unfortunately, there are wounded. All victims are receiving care in specialized medical institutions." The press service did not specify the number of victims or the exact location of the targeted military facility.

A special commission has been established to clarify the circumstances of the attack and the resulting damage, according to the statement.

Read also: Putin rejects Zelenskys call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia

Kremlin confirms explosion at Crimean Bridge after Ukraine's sabotage, claims 'no damage'

An explosion recently occurred at the Crimean Bridge, but caused "no damage," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on June 4, accusing Ukraine of attempted attacks on Russia's infrastructure.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for the explosion that rocked the bridge in the early hours of June 3. The agency said that more than a ton of explosives in TNT equivalent damaged the underwater supports of the structure.

"There indeed was an explosion. There was no damage, the bridge continues to function," Peskov said, according to the Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti. "Kyiv continues in its attempts to attack infrastructure facilities."

Constructed after Russias illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Crimean Bridge  also known as the Kerch Bridge  is a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces to the occupied Ukrainian territories. It connects the occupied peninsula to Russia's Krasnodar Krai via the Kerch Strait.

The Russian state media reported on June 3 that a "Ukrainian intelligence agent" who had constructed a bomb on "orders from Kyiv" had been detained by Russia's FSB.

In comments later on June 3, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said the "key and most complex" part of the bridge had been damaged in the attack.

The operation, which follows the SBU's mass drone strike against Russia's strategic aviation on June 1, was personally supervised by the agency's chief, Vasyl Maliuk.

The bridge suffered significant damage during two previous Ukrainian attacks in October 2022 and July 2023, though neither managed to take the bridge out of commission.

Read also: Grounds for a nuclear attack  Russian propagandists react to Ukraines Operation Spiderweb

Note from the author:

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BRUSSELS (AP)  Ukraines president on Wednesday urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defense systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production.

The emphasis should be on U.S.-made Patriot systems, President Volodymyr Zelenskky told a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

These are the most effective way to force Russia to stop its missile strikes and terror, he said via video link, urging representatives of around 50 countries to make good on past pledges.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend, the first time a Pentagon chief has been absent since the forum for organizing Ukraine's military aid was set up three years ago. Hegseths predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the group after Russia launched all-out war on Ukraine in 2022.

His absence is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to distance itself from Ukraines efforts to repel Russias full-scale invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, according to U.N. estimates, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides.

Zelenskyy also appealed to the participants to buy weapons direct from Ukraine. Ukrainian industry still has significant untapped capacity, it just needs financing, he said, underlining that a funding gap for weapons procurement amounts to about $18 billion.

The U.K., which chaired the meeting along with Germany, said it plans a tenfold increase in drone production to help Ukraine. Drones have become a decisive factor in the war, now in its fourth year.

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"We must ensure that Ukraines forces have what they need, when they need it, to continue their fight. But this is not just Ukraines battle. Its a battle for the security of Europe, for our security today, tomorrow, and for our future generations, U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that you recognize true friends not during a party, but when you do have difficult times. So therefore, our continuation of support for Ukraine and increasing it is of utmost importance.

Since the contact group was formed, Ukraines backers have collectively provided around $126 billion in weapons and military assistance, including more than $66.5 billion from the U.S.

The United States hasn't chaired a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group since the Trump administration took office in January.

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European NATO allies are concerned that the U.S. might withdraw troops from Europe to focus on the Indo-Pacific. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode U.S. credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukraine and its partner countries decided to establish a mechanism for defence production, according to an agreement reached at the 28th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Format) held on 4 June at NATO headquarters.

Source: Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov at a joint press conference with his UK and German counterparts, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Umierov said the idea to create this new format originated in Western capitals, which offered assistance in building a new defence industry owned by Ukrainian defence companies.

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Quote: "Our partners came to me and asked if Ukrainian companies could build factories for producing their cutting-edge products in their countries. Our partners said that they are willing to fully pay for all the production from these factories."

Details: The defence minister stated that output will be sent to Ukraine for as long as the war continues. Umierov added that the initiative has since expanded during discussions and now involves mutual investment. He said that under this initiative, Ukrainian producers can invest in partner countries, while companies from partner states can build megafactories in Ukraine.

This is currently a new idea that is still under development. Umierov said it doesnt yet have an official name and they are calling it the Ramstein Investment to Industries Initiative.

He did not specify which countries had expressed interest in such investment cooperation. However, one aspect of the initiative  establishing production in Ukraine  received public support from German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who expressed support for producing long-range weapons in Ukraine.

Background:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged partners at the Ramstein meeting to invest more in Ukraines defence industry.

This marks the first time the US secretary of defence has not attended a Ramstein-format meeting.

European Pravda sources say the Pentagon chief will also not attend the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on 5 June.

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Ukraine launched a devastating drone attack on Russian aircraft across multiple airbases.

The operation highlights how US airbases, especially in the Pacific, could be vulnerable without more defenses.

China has made significant investments in fortifying its airbases, especially compared to the US.

Ukraine's shocking drone attack on the Russian bomber fleet and other strategic aircraft shows just how vulnerable US bases and planes, especially those in the Pacific, could be to a similar kind of attack by an adversary.

The need to harden American airbases to protect US airpower assets has been an important topic of discussion for years now, particularly amid China's military rise and the significant expansion of its ballistic missile arsenal, but Ukraine's attack on Russia has reignited this discussion and fueled others.

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Operation Spiderweb saw Ukraine sneak more than one hundred drones into Russian territory and launch them near key airbases. The Ukrainians say they struck 41 Russian aircraft, including an unspecified number of strategic bombers. Ukraine says the damage it inflicted could exceed $7 billion. The operation was very unusual, raising key questions.

US military leaders took note. For instance, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George observed this week that the attack indicated the need to adapt to the quickening speed of warfare.

Spiderweb, Phelan said at an artificial intelligence defense conference this week, "was pretty prolific." The operation, George noted at the same event, showed that the US needed to be more agile and think further about acquiring more counter-drone systems.

George also said the attack was another example of Ukraine's asymmetric advantage that's been demonstrated throughout the war, using relatively cheap drones to destroy expensive, exquisite Russian air power. It's something the US needs to be thinking about, too, he said.

Lawmakers in Washington wrote a letter demanding "immediate changes" in the Navy and Air Force's plans to build up defenses at airbases in the Pacific last year. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bailee Ann Darbasie

Military leaders and defense experts have long recognized the growing threats to US airbases and American airpower, particularly in the western Pacific, and the need to harden defenses there to prevent a strike from an adversary like China from taking out bombers and fighters before they get off the ground.

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But Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow with the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, told Business Insider, "should be a wake-up call at the senior policymaker level and congressional level to pay attention. There is no sanctuary anymore."

US airfield expansion and fortification efforts have been limited in recent years, troublingly so in the Pacific. Facilities are seriously lacking in passive defenses, like hardened aircraft shelters and sufficiently dispersed forces. The issue is especially glaring compared to China's consistent work over the past decade on building shelters to hide aircraft, adding runways, and increasing ramp areas.

In a Hudson Institute report earlier this year, Shugart and Tim Walton, a senior fellow at Hudson's Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, said that this has created an imbalance. Should the US and China go to war, the latter would need fewer shots to suppress or destroy airfields used by the US and its allies and partners. China would have more capacity for sustaining its air operations.

Shugart and Walton also said the rise of foreign drones flying over military bases demonstrated a need for the Pentagon to harden its airfields, especially key ones that house bombers.

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Ukraine's attack on Russia is expected to ignite important conversations about anti-drone defenses at bases, Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI.

The focus has been on missiles, but drones come with a different set of problems. To protect against drones, it isn't enough to fortify shelters. "You have to be careful about any openings," Cancian said, explaining that "you can't have a roof and then an open front because they'll just fly in." One solution he said may start to appear is a mesh structure or curtain for those openings.

US bombers, fighter jets, and other aircraft would be high-value targets in a war with China. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Samantha White

Ukraine's recent strike on Russian airpower could be just a glimpse of what such a future attack could look like, experts said. Sunday's attack, Walton told BI, "was in the form of quadcopters; in the future, it could be similar drones but with even greater autonomy, small, low-cost cruise missiles, or other weapons."

The list of potential targets could grow, too.

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Spiderweb demonstrated something that military experts and planners have long understood: aircraft are vulnerable on the ground, and striking them before they can take off can severely limit a military's air power capabilities. But future strikes could be on ships in the accessible littorals, ground stations, air and missile defense sites, and so on.

The lessons from this strike for the US Department of Defense, experts said, include understanding how an adversary could pull off a similar attack.

Tim Robinson, a military aviation specialist at the UK'S Royal Aeronautical Society, said that in light of the attack, the West will have not only need to consider hardening their bases but also potentially build "more of them than you have aircraft" to either confuse the enemy or fill with decoys.

As Congress meets with military leaders this week, and service budgets are determined, "members should ask how are US bases and other critical facilities defended against these threats today; how much funding is required to appropriate passive and active defenses; and how much of that funding is included in the fiscal year 2026 president's budget proposal," Walton said.

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There are also questions around whether Golden Dome, the Trump administration's plan to fulfill a Reagan-era vision for a major missile and air defense network, will incorporate any lessons from this attack. Some industry figures have said that the project, while it is primarily about missiles, can't overlook the drone threat. US military leaders are saying the same.

Robinson said that "if you're an air force chief and you are not lying awake at night thinking about how to protect" yourself, then "you're going to lose the next war."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraine's recent drone strike against Russian bombers was a show of "skill and audacity" comparable to the U.S. operation to kill Osama bin Laden, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal told Politico in an interview published on June 3.

The Operation Spiderweb, conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on June 1, reportedly hit 41 bomber planes and other aircraft, inflicting what Kyiv claims is $7 billion in damage and disabling over a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet.

"Just in the skill and audacity of these attacks, it will rank with the United States raid on Osama bin Laden and the Israeli pager operation as one of the great military achievements in recent years," Blumenthal said, adding that Ukraine "can hit anywhere."

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The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions  including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The targeted air bases reportedly housed Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, essential carriers of long-range cruise missiles used in Moscow's air strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Bin Laden, the late leader of the al-Qaeda terror group responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., was killed by U.S. special forces at his compound in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.

Blumenthal, a Democratic lawmaker, and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham are co-sponsors of a new bill that would impose additional sanctions on Russia as it continues to reject a ceasefire.

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The lawmakers are meeting a Ukrainian delegationincluding Presidential Office head Andriy Yermakin Washington this week to discuss sanctions and defense cooperation with the U.S.

According to Blumenthal, battlefield successes could help convince U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been reluctant to impose fresh sanctions, to take the step.

Trump is yet to comment on the Ukrainian operation, while the White House confirmed he was not informed about it in advance. His special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said the attack shows that Kyiv is "not lying down" but warned that an attack against Russia's nuclear-capable plans could risk further escalation of the war.

Read also: Closer to victory  Operation Spiderweb gives much-needed morale boost to Ukrainians after 3 years of full-scale war

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The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) has adopted a final version of a law amending the Budget Code to implement a mineral agreement between Ukraine and the United States.

Source: Yaroslav Zhelezniak, First Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Tax and Customs Policy, on Telegram

Details: Draft law No 13256 was passed in its second reading on 4 June, with 309 MPs voting in favour.

Zhelezniak reported that the text of the bill remained largely unchanged between the first and second readings.

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The final version proposes that half of the national and local budget revenues from payments related to the use of subsoil resources for extracting minerals identified as assets of the US-Ukraine Investment Fund be transferred to the special fund of the state budget.

Ukraines contribution will consist of 50% of the proceeds received after the agreement enters into force, specifically from:

royalties on the extraction of natural resources (oil, gas, gas condensate, and everything listed in Annex A of the agreement) from new licences;

the issuance of new special permits for subsoil use;

the sale of the states share of production under new production sharing agreements.

"These funds will be credited to the special fund of the state budget and, by decision of the chief administrator (presumably the Ministry of Economy), will be transferred to the Recovery Fund," Zhelezniak said.

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The bill also specifies that income related to natural resource assets includes only revenue derived from or in connection with the issuance of new licences or permits after the agreement takes effect and/or from operating licences or permits issued before the agreement but not previously used for commercial purposes.

Background:

On 1 May, Ukraine's Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent signed a minerals deal.

On 8 May, the Verkhovna Rada ratified the agreement establishing a joint investment fund between Ukraine and the US.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the ratification of the mineral deal with the US on 12 May.

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Ukraines Security Service (SBU) on June 4 released a new footage from its Operation Spiderweb, showing targeted strikes on Russian strategic aircraft across multiple airfields.

On June 1, the SBU conducted an operation using first-person-view (FPV) drones that were smuggled deep inside Russia and concealed in trucks, successfully striking 41 Russian heavy bombers and causing an estimated $7 billion in damage.

The attacks rendered a significant number of aircraft irreparable, with others expected to take years to restore. The strikes targeted four key airfieldsOlenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belayaused by Russian strategic aviation involved in bombing Ukrainian cities.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky and SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk personally oversaw the operation.

On the evening of June 1, Zelensky described the operation as "brilliant," adding that Russia suffered "significant losses  entirely justified and deserved."

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The operation damaged or destroyed a range of aircraft, including A-50 surveillance planes, Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 bombers, as well as An-12 and Il-78 transport and refueling aircraft.

Zelensky said Ukraine would not have carried out its drone strikes on Russian strategic bombers if Russia had agreed to a ceasefire. Speaking at a June 4 meeting with journalists attended by the Kyiv Independent, Zelensky linked the operation to Moscows rejection of a truce.

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Kyiv has consistently pushed for a Western-backed 30-day ceasefire as an initial step toward a broader peace agreement. However, during the latest round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, Russia once again declined the proposal.

"If there had been a ceasefire, would the operation have taken place? No," Zelensky said, referring to the drone attack.

Read also: Putin stays silent on Ukraines drone attack that hit 41 Russian bombers, caused $7 billion in damage

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Ukrainian soldiers are letting robots fire on the Russians, allowing them to stay further from danger.

The robot can do things that can't be done "even by the bravest infantry," a soldier told BI.

These ground robots can fire at the enemy from entrenched positions or on the move.

Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly arming ground robots with rifles and other weapons, letting them fire at the Russians rather than putting themselves in harm's way.

The robots are part of Ukraine's ongoing innovation race with Russia, a rush to develop new technology to fight back against Russia's invasion before the enemy can.

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Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told Business Insider that the value in these robots is that they can do the things that even Ukraine's most courageous soldiers cannot.

Ukraine has long been pumping out aerial drones, and now an increasing number of companies in Ukraine and in partner nations are working on ground robots that can evacuate the wounded, transport and lay mines, explode in Russian positions, and even fire weapons at Russian targets. The tech isn't new to the war, but it's becoming more prolific.

Used widely, this growing technology could be a significant boost for Ukraine; its population and military remain much smaller than Russia's, and it deals with inconsistent support from its international partners regularly. But Russia is working on the tech, too.

A robot being tested in Kyiv, Ukraine, for the purpose of evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontline. Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The Ukrainian robots that shoot take different forms: some robots are fixed and look like a gun on stilts (effectively a turret), and then there are others that can move around, resembling a machine gun on top of a wheeled robot.

Firing on the Russians

When Ukraine's soldiers are in reinforced positions, like a trench, they typically have a gun post from which they fire machine guns and other weapons.

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The soldiers operating those weapons are extremely vulnerable to return fire, so gun crews take them in shifts.

Russian soldiers see "where the fire is coming from," Yabchanka said of the Russians, and they attack the gun position with artillery, drones, or grenade launchers.

With more robots, drones, and automated systems on the battlefield, soldiers can now have "exactly the same setting but with a robot there" instead of a human being that can be killed or injured.

The soldier controls the robot, and the robot "can now do things that couldn't have been done before. Even by the bravest infantry people." For instance, it can continue firing even amid targeted enemy counterfire.

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He said that when most people picture a firing robot, they picture the Terminator from the films of the same name. Yabchanka said that the Ukrainians are getting the same combat capabilities without a bipedal robot with arms and legs. It is a remote-controlled turret, and it's effective.

The 'Terminator' robot has arms and legs, unlike the ones in Ukraine. Mario Anzuoni/REUTERS

He said some of the robots are also automated grenade launchers rather than machine guns.

He described them as "somewhat similar" to the handheld grenade launcher that Arnold Schwarzenegger had in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" but "slightly better."

Ukraine's grenade-launching robots include the "Burya" model from Ukrainian company Frontline, which builds a remote grenade launcher turret that can be mounted on a tracked vehicle or a tripod.

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Ukraine is increasingly investing in mobile robots with weapons on board. Ukraine's defense ministry in April, for example, approved the use of the domestically made D-21-12R ground robotic complex, which is equipped with the US-made Browning .50-caliber machine gun.

But Yabchanka shared that mobile firing robots are not being used at scale yet. They are "not yet working in a way that would have a massive effect along the touchline."

Part of the reason their use is still limited is how hard it can be to keep the robots connected. Russian jamming or a physical attack on a moving robot could mean Ukraine loses the ability to control it, so it just becomes "an expensive pile of metal scrap."

Ukraine's robots

Ukraine is employing its robots in a growing number of ways, but Yabchanka described the firing function as "most complex in terms of implementation." Other functions like casualty evac are less complicated, though they're not without their own challenges and complexities when it comes to battlefield use.

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Robots are being used more and more, but not all units have access to them or use them in large numbers. Yabchanka said his unit has been "pioneering" in using the robots and that its pilots "share those experiences with other units."

Again, the technology isn't new, but there is a growing realization that the tech, from robot dogs to crewless tracked vehicles, has potential. Many Western nations have been drawing lessons from the Ukraine war, and ground robots, which are also known as ground drones or uncrewed ground vehicles, are systems that countries are thinking carefully about.

Ukrainian companies are innovating quickly, working in wartime conditions with a Ukrainian government that is supportive even with limited funds and many companies and types of technology to choose from.

Many Western companies are making them, too, and some of them have products that are being used in Ukraine. Estonian robotic vehicle manufacturer Milrem Robotics, for instance, has its THeMIS Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Ukraine.

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Kuldar Vaarsi, the company's CEO, told BI in May that the robots support Ukraine's military by going to the "positions where they don't want to send their troops" for attacks and for other functions like carrying equipment.

He said that before companies like his were in Ukraine, "quite a lot of people were talking about unmanned ground vehicles in defense. But all that was very experimental and lots of doubts around it." While there are still some doubts and concerns about these systems, there is a recognition that UGVs have value.

Milrem Robotics' THeMIS Combat Unmanned Ground Vehicle is in use in Ukraine. Business Wire

But he said this war has demonstrated that "unmanned ground vehicles have a really important place on the battlefield."

Yabchanka said that in Ukraine, the robots are being constantly refined and modified, with soldiers making changes out on the front lines. They are in constant contact with Ukrainian developers about issues and updates they recommend.

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He urged Europe to work closely with Ukraine to develop its technology, as many officials in Europe warn that Russia may attack elsewhere on the continent. He said working with Ukrainian expertise is useful because they have real-time data, and "what was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraines Defence Ministry has codified and approved the Ukrainian-made Chief-1 unmanned aerial vehicle for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: Main Directorate of Support for the Lifecycle of Weapons and Military Equipment

Details: The Defence Ministry reported that the drone is designed to destroy enemy aircraft or troops with a module that fires shotgun shells.

"Chief-1 has a lightweight and durable frame, powerful engines, high manoeuvrability, and a design suitable for aerial combat," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

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The Defence Ministry added that the drones are equipped with automatic recognition systems and can achieve the optimal distance for hitting a target. They can fire in manual or automatic mode.

"Chief-1 destroys enemy FPVs, bombers, individual models of spotters and scouts," the Ministry of Defence said.

Background:

The Latvian company Origin Robotics recently unveiled the Blaze interceptor, an autonomous AI-powered solution for countering enemy drones.

Blaze combines computer vision and AI-based radar tracking for accurate engagement of airborne targets. Ukraine is considered a potential first user of the development.

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Ukraines intelligence services have hacked into the systems of Russias United Aircraft Company Tupolev (Design Bureau)  one of the country's key companies involved in strategic aircraft.

Source: a source of Ukrainska Pravda in Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (DIU)

Details: The intelligence source revealed that the operation resulted in access to a trove of data, including internal communications, personal information about employees, home addresses, engineers' CVs, procurement documents and minutes from closed meetings.

The data from Tupolev's systems

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Image provided by a UP source

The source said Ukrainian intelligence had been monitoring the company's document flow for some time. The acquired data makes it possible to identify individuals directly involved in servicing Russia's strategic aircraft.

To mark the completion of the operation, Ukrainian cyber specialists posted an image on Tupolev's official website showing an owl clutching a Russian aircraft  a symbol of the attack.

Tupolev's website after hacker attack by DIU

Image provided by a UP source

Quote from the source: "Theres virtually no secret left in Tupolev's operations as far as Ukrainian intelligence is concerned. In particular, we now possess comprehensive information about the individuals directly involved in maintaining Russia's strategic aircraft. The results will be evident both on the ground and in the sky."

The data from Tupolev's systems

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Background: Russia's Tupolev Design Bureau has been under international sanctions since 2022 for its involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

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By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations rights office called on Wednesday for a independent investigation into the discovery of mass graves at detention centres in Libya's capital Tripoli.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "shocked" by gross human rights violations uncovered at official and unofficial detention facilities run by the Stability Support Apparatus, a security institution.

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It was established to uphold the rule of law and falls under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity of Abdulhamid Dbeibah through a U.N.-backed process.

But Libya, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has known little law and order since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi and eventually divided the country between warring eastern and western factions.

The OHCHR said the discovery of dozens of bodies and suspected instruments of torture and abuse confirmed longstanding findings by the U.N. that human rights violations were committed at such sites.

"We call on the Libyan authorities to conduct independent, impartial and transparent investigations into these discoveries," OHCHR said in a statement. It urged the authorities to preserve evidence and grant Libya's forensic teams, as well as the United Nations, full access to the sites.

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Outright war fighting in Libya abated with a ceasefire in 2020 but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libya's substantial energy resources.

Armed clashes erupted on Monday evening and gunfire echoed in the centre and other parts of Tripoli following reports that the commander of one of its most powerful armed groups had been killed, three residents told Reuters by phone.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Haiti, torn by violence and rampaging gangs, is one of five countries in the world facing catastrophic levels of hunger, with nearly half the population going without food, the regional director of the United Nations food agency said Tuesday.

The World Food Programs supplies in Haiti are dwindling and disappearing, said Lola Castro, who heads the agencys Latin America and Caribbean office. There isnt enough food to help with new emergencies or new people forced to flee their homes after July, she said, noting that of the record 5.7 million Haitians experiencing severe hunger, 8,400 face outright starvation while 2 million are already in an emergency phase.

This year, we start the hurricane season with an empty warehouse where we have no stocks for assisting any emergencies, Castro said. We have no cash, either, to buy locally if it [is] possible in some areas, or to do a rapid humanitarian response. We are very concerned that a single storm can put hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti into a humanitarian catastrophe and danger.

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Haiti is already facing escalating gang violence and ongoing economic collapse. Any amount of sustained rain, much less a hurricane in whats expected to be a busy season, can plunge the nation into more distress.

An analysis from the U.N.s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which analyses hunger and malnutrition globally, noted that the number of Haitians facing severe hunger increased by more than 300,000 people over last year, to 5.7 million. The country joins the Gaza Strip, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan. All are world hotspots where famine or famine-like conditions exist.

Equally concerning in Haiti, is the aid agencys school feeding program, which is in danger of being drastically reduced due to a lack of money.

We normally assist around half a million children every day, but those numbers will be reduced to half if the agency doesnt get additional resources, Castro told journalists in New York during the U.N.s daily press briefing. More importantly, this food is bought mostly locally from the smallholder farmers, women and men producing in some areas in rural Haiti.

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Castro visited Haiti last week and returned Sunday.

I was watching the situation with women and girls there, and really, its really dramatic: 6,000 women and girls have reported some type of gender-based violence, which is really not acceptable, she said. Port-au-Prince is probably one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman or girl now and we have to stop that.

So far, support is not coming, and the U.N. is facing serious cash constraints as the Trump administration seeks to strip the the world agency of U.S. contributions.

On Tuesday, the administration asked Congress to take back tens of millions of dollars in contributions to the U.N., including eliminating funding for the U.N. Childrens Fund, UNICEF, which works with the World Food Program to deal with child malnutrition and hunger in Haiti. The proposed reduction needs only a simple majority of lawmakers in each chamber to be approved within 45 days to become law.

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Enacting the reduction is a first step to engaging in strong reforms across the U.N., the administration wrote in its request which comes on the heels of U.S. cuts to foreign aid globally and the gutting of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The U.N. has taken advantage of American generosity for too many years, the administration wrote in justifying the proposed cuts.

If approved, the cuts would served a devastating blow to the U.N., which is already struggling as other governments also cut contributions. A $900 million humanitarian appeal launched by the U.N. earlier this year to help deal with Haitis humanitarian challenges has only raised 9% of the money, Castro said.

The World Food Program alone, which launched a separate appeal in February to keep its leased helicopter running in the country to be able to move aid workers around, needs $46 million.

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Were looking at our stocks dwindling and disappearing, Castro said, stressing that despite the ongoing violence and dangers, the agency has managed to help more than 1.3 million people this year.

We just want to make sure that the people of Haiti are not forgotten, she added. Theres a huge need, and they are very close to us, just across here in the Caribbean.

Haitis powerful armed gangs have brought the country to its knees. Their quest for territorial control has driven more than a million people out of their homes, including 40,000 who live in the hills above the capital in Kenscoff. Once growers of their own foods, the farmers are dependent on the World Food Program and others for assistance.

They are basically receiving food assistance because their houses have been burned, Castro said. Their livelihoods have been destroyed.

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On Sunday the country marked a solemn anniversary: four years since rival criminal gangs from Village-de-Dieu and Grand-Ravine killed police officers and residents to take control of Martissant, turning it into a no mans land on the southern outskirts of Port-au-Prince.

The invasion marked the first takeover by by gangs of a major area. Despite promises by members of the current Transitional Presidential Council to reopen the road to Martissant and take back the region, it remains under gang-rule  along with 27 other neighborhoods, according to a report published this week by the Port-au-Prince based Center for Analysis and Research in Haiti.

The human rights group noted that while the storming of Martissant was the beginning of the lost territories and the establishment of gangs domination, a total of 25 neighborhoods in the west region, which includes Martissant and Port-au-Prince, are now under their control.

In the quest for control, gangs have killed, raped and forced the relocation of 102 public institutions and 622 private ones, some of which have been vandalized and burned, the report noted.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N. Security Council scheduled a vote Wednesday on a resolution which demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties. U.N. diplomats said the United States is likely to veto it.

The resolution, drafted by the councils 10 elected members who serve two-year terms, reiterates its demand for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups following their Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack in southern Israel.

Calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza catastrophic, the proposed resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale, including by the U.N. and humanitarian partners.

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The vote, scheduled for late Wednesday afternoon, comes amid near-daily shootings following the establishment by an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation of aid distribution points inside Israeli military zones, a system it says is designed to circumvent Hamas.

The United Nations has rejected the new system, saying it doesnt address Gazas mounting hunger crisis, allows Israel to use aid as a weapon, and doesnt comply with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence.

The draft resolution demands the restoration of all essential humanitarian services in line with those principles, international humanitarian law and U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Several U.N. diplomats from different countries, speaking on condition of anonymity Tuesday because discussions have been private, said they expect the United States to veto the resolution.

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The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it had no comment on the draft resolution at this time. Israels U.N. Mission did not respond to a request for comment on the draft.

Gazas roughly 2 million people are almost completely reliant on international aid because Israels offensive has destroyed nearly all of Gazas food production capabilities. Israel imposed a blockade on supplies into Gaza on March 2, and limited aid began to enter again late last month after pressure from allies and warnings of famine.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that the needs in Gaza are enormous and whats getting into Gaza from the U.N. is still just a trickle. Since the complete blockade was partly lifted, he said, just over 620 truckloads have made it from Israel to the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, and only about 370 truckloads  mainly with flour, food and medical and nutrition items __ have gotten closer to people in need, with some looted including by armed gangs.

The unimpeded entry of humanitarian assistance at scale must be restored immediately, Dujarric said. The U.N. must be allowed to work in safety and in security under conditions of full respect for humanitarian principles.

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Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Security Council has voted on 14 Gaza-related resolutions and approved four.

The last resolution was also proposed by the 10 elected council members and also demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties. Fourteen of the 15 council members voted in favor last Nov. 20, but the U.S. vetoed the resolution because it was not linked to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people hostage in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel that ignited the war. They are still holding 58 hostages, a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israels military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United States on Wednesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages, saying it would embolden Hamas militants.

All 14 other members of the council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.

The resolution before the U.N.'s most powerful body also did not fulfill two other U.S. demands: It did not condemn Hamas deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza.

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Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, speaking to the council immediately before the vote, said the resolution would undermine the security of Israel. a close U.S. ally, and diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the resolution would only have empowered Hamas. Hamas could end this brutal conflict immediately by laying down its arms and releasing all remaining hostages, he said in a statement.

Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon thanked the United States for refusing to abandon the hostages. He said the resolutions failure to make the release of hostages a condition for a ceasefire would have put all the pressure on Israel and handed Hamas time, leverage and political cover.

What other members of the Security Council say

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But the U.S. veto of the resolution  its fifth since the start of the war  was roundly criticized by other members of the council, who accused the United States of providing Israel with impunity.

The Chinese ambassador to the U.N. said Israel's actions have crossed every red line of international humanitarian law and seriously violated U.N. resolutions. Yet, due to the shielding by one country, these violations have not been stopped or held accountable," Ambassador Fu Cong said.

Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, a usual U.S. ally, lashed out at Israel. This Israeli governments decisions to expand its military operations in Gaza and severely restrict aid are unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive, and the U.K. completely opposes them, she said.

Pakistan's Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the U.S. veto "will be remembered as a complicity, a green light for continued annihilation. A moment where the entire world was expecting action. But yet again, this council was blocked and prevented by one member from carrying out its responsibility.

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Slovenias U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, the coordinator for the council's 10 elected members, stressed that it was never the intention to provoke a veto and therefore the resolution focused on the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for unimpeded access to deliver aid.

Starving civilians and inflicting immense suffering is inhumane and against international law, he told the council after the vote. No war objective can justify such action. We had hoped and expected that this was our shared understanding.

Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour said Palestinians are now urging governments to take real measures to pressure Israel to get out of Gaza before it implements what he called an Israeli plan to destroy our people."

And in the coming days, he said, the Palestinians will head to the 193-member General Assembly, where there are no vetoes, with a similar humanitarian-focused resolution. Unlike in the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are seen as a barometer of world opinion.

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The U.S. vetoed the last Security Council resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration, also because the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the release of all hostages. Similarly, the current resolution demands those taken by Hamas and other groups be released, but it does not make it a condition for a truce.

President Donald Trump's administration has tried to ramp up its efforts to broker peace in Gaza after 20 months of war. However, Hamas has sought amendments to a U.S. proposal that special envoy Steve Witkoff has called totally unacceptable.

Why food aid is not reaching people in Gaza

The vote followed a decision by an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation to pause food delivery in Gaza after health officials said dozens of Palestinians were killed in a series of shootings this week. Israel and the United States say the new system was designed to prevent Hamas from stealing aid previously distributed by the U.N.

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The United Nations has rejected the new system. The U.N. says its distribution system worked very well during the March ceasefire and is carefully monitored.

Gaza is almost completely reliant on international aid because Israels offensive has destroyed nearly all food production capabilities. Israel imposed a blockade on supplies into Gaza on March 2, and limited aid began to enter again late last month after pressure from allies and warnings of famine.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israels military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants.

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The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers.

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AP writer Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report.
For years, relations have been woven between the two countries without a peace agreement. Business ties are ongoing, albeit on a very low back burner, and well below the media radar.

The business delegation led by US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia the other week and the signing of agreements with Nvidia, Amazon, Google, Boeing and AMD put the Arab kingdom on the global technology map.

In contrast to the 2020 Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which provided for the supply of US-made weapons and technology as part of normalization of ties with Israel, this time,the Startup Nation was absent. Under Israel's nose, Saudi Arabia is becoming a new regional technology powerhouse that now overshadows it.

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For years, relations have been woven between the two countries without a peace agreement. Even today, a year and a half after the October 7 massacre, business ties are ongoing, albeit on a very low back burner, and well below the media radar.

A "Globes" investigation reveals that most of the Israeli companies active in Saudi Arabia deal in cybersecurity, some also with national security and protection of installations. Some were established abroad by Israelis who opened a Saudi branch through a foreign company. Most work with companies like Spire and Bulwark, which specialize in distributing products and installing technological systems among clients in the Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan.

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in 2019. Trump has made the expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia as a significant priority in his vision for the Middle East, the writer notes. (photo credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)

From Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva to Riyadh

Among the companies with a public presence in Saudi Arabia is CyberArk, an Israeli cyber company managed from Israel with 4,000 employees, of which about 1,200 are in Petah Tikva and Beersheva.

Tom Lowndes, CyberArk's former head of sales for the Middle East, wrote just months after the October 7 massacre about the company's plans for expansion in the Saudi kingdom. The company, which secures user identities, reported "consistent growth of approximately 25% year-on-year since entering the region. In 2024, Saudi Arabia has become a major driver of this growth, now accounting for nearly 40% of CyberArk's Middle East business."

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He said CyberArk served more than 50 clients in the kingdom and planned to double its operations there in the next two years. However, Lowndes left his position in February, and the company has not provided an update on its operations in Saudi Arabia.

CyberArk is not alone: Check Point is active in that country as part of its activity in the Arabian Peninsula, but its sales inSaudi Arabia are a negligible part of its revenue. Cybereason, a cyber company founded in Tel Aviv that protects endpoint devices, moved its headquarters to San Diego, and has been working in the Arabian Peninsula for several years, due in part to major shareholder SoftBank.

Another cyber company, based in New Jersey but most of whose employees are Israeli, and whose name cannot be disclosed, operates in Saudi Arabia. The company employs managers in the kingdom, including its former distribution manager who previously worked at Spire and now, according to his LinkedIn profile, manages all of sales activities in the Gulf states, Egypt, and Turkey from Riyadh.

Another company whose name cannot be disclosed, which was founded in Israel and about a year ago moved its headquarters to the US, recently advertised a position for a sales manager in Riyadh and filled the position a few months ago. The company trains cyber personnel, an area of keen interest for the kingdom, which is currently investing billions in training workers for the high-tech industry with the aim of weaning itself off investment in oil, as its production declines.

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Another Israeli operating in Saudi Arabia is Continuity, a software company that was founded two decades ago in the US and moved its center of operations to Israel "for reasons of Zionism and tax advantages," Continuity CEO Gil Hecht told "Globes."

The company offers systems that enable enterprises to recover from technical failures and cyber incidents, and provides secure storage and backup systems to banks and large organizations. In Saudi Arabia in particular, and in the Arab world in general, it operates mainly through distributors and manufacturers of the large systems in which it is installed, such as those of Dell, for example.

Continuity arrived in Saudi Arabia shortly before the signing of the Abraham Accords, "back when there was a sense of euphoria that Israeli technology would flourish in the Middle East. However, since October 7, there has been a significant setback for Israeli companies doing business in the Arab kingdom. Not that there aren't any talks at all, but there's a cool wind blowing towards the companies and Israel is no longer part of the trend for doing business.

"There are good relations between Israelis and Saudis, but there's no doubt that we are not invited to the 'big party' going on in the country. The Israeli activity going on is a kind of inertia of the activity that started several years ago and there is really no new growth here." According to Hecht, revenue from Continuity's cyber product, which has grown by 100% over the past year in worldwide sales, has almost not grown at all in the Arab world.

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According to Dr. Joseph (Yossi) Mann, a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Middle East Studies at Bar Ilan University, aside from the war in Gaza and the lack of normalization, cultural gaps are another reason for the difficulty in maintaining business relations between the parties. "There is no developed startup culture in Saudi Arabia. Saudi companies are large and move slowly, not something that suits young Israeli companies that move fast. Saudi culture requires long-term, gradual trust building and a lot of 'show'  and that's hard for Israeli startups."

The Saudi corporate culture, according to Dr. Mann, is the reason that, in the foreseeable future, Saudi Arabia will not be able to establish a thriving startup scene that will push Israel out. "Saudi universities are gradually rising in the world rankings, but their military experience is in the very early stages and they do not have a culture of tolerance of failure like Israel has."

The focus: Data security and cybersecurity

According to Dr. Mann, who specializes in the study of society and the economy in the Gulf countries, with an emphasis on Saudi Arabia, "most Israeli activity in Saudi Arabia revolves around data security and facilities that protect local infrastructure, mainly from terrorist attacks." The customers, he says, are mostly government companies that are currently in the midst of a boom in public services development that began after the Covid-19 pandemic, or as part of the Neom project: the technological metropolis planned in the country, which is a cornerstone of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to wean the economy off its dependence on oil.

Mann adds there is also extensive academic research activity at foreign universities where Israeli and Saudi researchers work together, including grants given jointly to the Israeli and Saudi sides. In addition, there are joint drug development projects because of the two countries' similar climate, environment, and even population characteristics.

Over $1 billion in potential annual trade

The volume of trade between Israel and Saudi Arabia cannot be accurately estimated because the authorities refrain from reporting it. However, to evaluate the investment potential Saudi Arabia has in the Israeli market, one can simply look at Israel's trade with United Arab Emirates, which has consistently increased over the years: from $55 million before the Abraham Accords in 2020 to a peak of $1.5 billion in 2022, according to Israel's Foreign Trade Administration data. In 2023, with the outbreak of war, there was a slight decrease in trade with the UAE to $1.3 billion.

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A large component of Israel-Emirati trade is diamonds, with much of it actually coming from Saudi Arabia. In fact, a large percentage of exports to Saudi Arabia are made through the UAE by Israelis or contacts living in Abu Dhabi or Dubai who enter Saudi Arabia with a special visa or a foreign passport. "Bahrain was supposed to be Israel's big springboard to Saudi Arabia, but unfortunately it didn't happen," says Mann. He estimates the potential for trade with the kingdom at up to $2 billion a year, of which $1 billion would be for security products and services, and the remainder for medicine and agriculture, including exports of fish, carrots, cucumbers, and dates, which are already exported to the Emirates in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Low investment in Israeli high-tech

As for the investment potential in Israeli high-tech, one can look at the Emirati and Qatari investments in the sector. According to IVC Research Center data, the UAE and Qatar, with which Israel also does not have a normalization agreement  and is even considered a hostile country  are investing huge sums in Israeli high-tech. According to the study, the UAE leads with a total investment of $1.03 billion in Israeli high-tech companies between 2020 and May 2025, while Qatar is second with $275 million in investments.

According to open and official data, Saudi Arabia has invested only $30 million in Israeli high-tech, and that too through foreign companies. One of these companies, it is estimated, is Doroni Aerospace, an electric aircraft company based in Florida, but managed by a group of Israelis headed by Doron Merdinger.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest investors in Japanese fund SoftBank, with a commitment of at least $45 t, and in Blackstone, with $20 million raised from its Sovereign Wealth Fund. In addition, it is a major investor in Liberty Strategic Capital, established by of Steve Mnuchin, the treasury secretary in the first Trump administration, as well as in Affinity Partners, formed by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Meanwhile, Israeli entrepreneurs are preserving their Saudi operations as much as possible, and trying to prevent their business from going to foreign providers. They are disappointed that Israel was left out of Trump's presidential visit to the region. "There is no doubt that Trump is doing a phenomenal job promoting American business in the Middle East," says Hecht. "If we were included in his trips, Israel could be a rising economic power in the Middle East, We've seen the kind of deals the American companies closed there. When there's goodwill, you find ways to work together."
The board that oversees Floridas state university system voted against hiring Dr. Santa Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, after he seemingly switched his stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion to appease President Donald Trump.

The State University System Board of Governors 6-10 vote against Ono came after hours of contentious debate and grilling of the academic over his previous position on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Ono, who received unanimous approval from the University of Florida Board of Trustees, was mainly questioned Tuesday about his recently changed stance on DEI, and how he would uphold Floridas agenda against DEI.

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The longtime academics proposed contract included ideological requirements. In the role, he would be forced to cooperate with Gov. Ron DeSantis Office of Government Efficiency and appoint other university officials who are firmly aligned with Floridas approach.

Ono was the sole finalist for the job, which would have paid him a $3 million annual package that included a $1.5 million base salary, the Florida Phoenix reported.

Santa Ono (center) was rejected to become the University of Floridas next president because of his DEI stance (Getty Images for Anti-Defamation)

However, on Tuesday, members of the board of governors were fixated on Onos suddenly different stance on DEI, with some calling into question whether he switched sides to appease Trump or simply to get the gig.

Its insidious that it feels like pushing a rope uphill when we establish these policies, if a president doesnt really believe in those policies, Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine said during the meeting in Orlando. And its a powerful position  you can be an inhibitor, or you can help advance. And so I guess so much of your record reflects your deeply held beliefs, that you have been an advocate of DEI up until recently.

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Ono had supported DEI initiatives at the University of Michigan until shuttering some of its programs earlier this year  a move some thought had to do with Trumps stripping of federal funding from universities.

It looks to me like you got rid of the program because you needed to do what you had to do with the presidents orders and the funding issues. But you didnt really push to get rid of DEI, Levine said.

Ono repeatedly told the board that he began looking at DEI when he took office at Michigan, instead of after Trumps executive order against it. He claimed he developed a new stance in the last year and a half after talking with students, and said that before, he was not an expert on the subject.

Even still, his record left many conservative politicians unimpressed, including Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who wrote on X that it seemed Ono is willing to appease and prioritize far-left activists over ensuring students are protected and receive a quality education.

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Other members of the GOP raising objections to Onos hiring included Donald Trump Jr., Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, Greg Steube and Jimmy Patronis.

Students at the University of Michigan protested Onos rollback of DEI initiatives following Trumps orders (Getty Images)

Ono was also questioned Tuesday by former Republican state House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva, who wondered whether Ono changed his stance just to secure the Florida job.

Now we are told to believe you are now abandoning an entire ideological architecture, Oliva said. We are asking someone to lead our flagship university. I dont understand how it becomes unfair.

The intense degree of questioning from governors was not standard procedure, and it was the first time they had rejected a president, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

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Ono previously defended his change of heart in Inside Higher Ed, writing that he supported DEI at first because he thought the aim was equal opportunity and fairness for every student.

But over time, I saw how DEI became something else  more about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success, Ono wrote. I believe in Floridas vision for higher education.

Now, the months-long search will have to restart. The University of Florida remains without a permanent president, with former UF President Kent Fuchs holding the role in the interim.

With reporting from the Associated Press
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with smuggling a highly dangerous type of fungus into the United States, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Detroit.

Both suspects apparently have connections to the Chinese communist party, with one working in a University of Michigan science lab before her arrest this week, per a recent press release.

The fungus in question, Fusarium graminearum, is known to cause a devastating disease called head blight in wheat, barley, maize, and rice  posing a serious threat to Americas agriculture and food supply industries.

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Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, both citizens of the Peoples Republic of China, now face felony charges, including conspiracy, smuggling goods, making false statements, and visa fraud.

Officials claim that the pair intended to use the University of Michigans lab facilities to research the fungus after smuggling it through Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

According to court documents, Jian reportedly received funding from the Chinese government for work related to the highly toxic pathogen. Investigators also say her electronic devices contained evidence of her extremely close ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Her boyfriend, Liu, allegedly admitted to smuggling the fungus into America to work on it alongside Jian.

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The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals- including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party  are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a potential agroterrorism weapon into the heartland of America, said Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

Fusarium graminearum has already caused billions of dollars in crop losses worldwide and can produce toxins that harm both humans and livestock, including vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues.

Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, explained that this case highlights how other countries, especially those with contentious relationships with America, might exploit legitimate academic opportunities to do illegal research.

Or worse, attack the countrys economy.

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These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety, Gibson said.

CBPs Director of Field Operations, Marty C. Raybon, added that the charges show the importance of safeguarding Americas agricultural industry from foreign threats.

Todays criminal charges levied upon Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are indicative of CBPs critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate our agricultural economy and cause harm to humans; especially when it involves a researcher from a major university attempting to clandestinely bring potentially harmful biological materials into the United States, Raybon said.

Jian is expected to make her first court appearance this week in federal court in Detroit. Lius status has not yet been publicly disclosed as of the time of publication.
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  The Chatham County Sheriff and Savannah Mayor went undercover this weekend to find out who is behind a series of scams that attempted to defraud people out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Mayor Van Johnson and Sheriff Richard Coleman teamed up on an undercover mission to try and apprehend a scammer who is impersonating Chatham County Sheriffs Department employees with fake paperwork and phone calls.

People were saying that members of the Sheriffs office were asking for money in addition to not going to jail, Sheriff Coleman said. Of course, that raised a red flag because we dont ask for money here.

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It all started with a phone call, which wasnt the first in a recent string of scam attempts over the last several weeks.

However, this time, the scammer called the wrong person.

One of my young constituents called and asked me about this call they received, with an individual identifying himself as a member of the Sheriffs office, Mayor Van Johnson, said. I called the individual back, and this individual talked to me. He told me exactly what it was I needed to do. I thought this was hilarious.

Thats when the mayor decided to call his colleague directly.

We began to conduct a criminal investigation based on that phone call, Coleman said. The Mayor of Savannah actually went undercover for me as a UC and me as the Sheriff being his immediate backup.

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Mayor Van said the scammer started giving him instructions, telling him to go to Walmart on Montgomery Cross Road and purchase money on cards, which he pretended to do.

At that time, I was positioned in the parking lot for his safety and his protection because they said they were going to come out to the parking lot and meet him, Coleman said.

However, the Mayor said the scammer had a different tactic in mind.

He asked me for the number off the back of the card. Im like why would I give you the number off the back of the card? Well, we have to do a quality control check to make sure the card was okay. Once we do that, then you can go to the Sheriffs office. I said Im not doing that, he said. Once I pushed back, he said he was going to put me in prison.

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Coleman said the investigation is still open, but his office does have a suspect in mind.

Verify any type of documents or information you may receive that just does not seem right, he said.

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RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE)  Albuquerques earned national attention for sending social workers instead of police to non-emergency situations. Now, a similar effort is emerging in Rio Rancho, sending health experts to some mental crisis calls.

Story continues below

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The University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center is running a new behavioral response team for Sandoval County, where specially trained responders will drive out to callers who need help. This is new, Dr. Chris Morris, Clinical Director for Behavioral Health at UNM Sandoval Regional.

A new service is helping people in mental crisis with a behavioral response team showing up to emergency calls in Sandoval County. What that is a pair of trained helpers to come in response to anybody who may need assistance with a behavioral health crisis or emergency that could include a situation involving problems with substances, said Morris.

UNM has been running the newer service out of the Sandoval Regional Medical Center since April. Their team of five is tasked with responding to calls in the Rio Rancho area from people whove dialed the 988 suicide hotline.

Depending on the situation, a team of two people can meet the caller in person. Its good to have someone to call. Sometimes we dont have anybody to call, or we dont trust anybody to call, so our para professionals or our clinical staff are trained to hold that space, said Caprice Pino, director of behavioral health- UNMSRMC.

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After a call, the responders can help link callers to other continuing medical services.

Sandoval Countys behavioral health responders started with a $750,000 grant from the state health care authority, which wants these teams across New Mexico. And so, this was really important for us to have someone that is set up, that can do this in a way that we can also learn from what theyre doing and try to make that something as a model for other parts of the state, said Nick Boukas, Director of Behavioral Health Services, New Mexico Health Care Authority.

So far, they have helped roughly a dozen patients around the Rio Rancho area and are looking to expand. Were building this for the long term to be a permanent service thats available here to everyone in the community, said Dr. Morris.

Right now, UNM said the Sandoval County team is operating Monday through Friday between noon and 8 p.m. but they hope to expand to 24-hour service down the road. The state said its funding similar start-up programs in Santa Fe, McKinley, Curry, and Dona Ana counties.

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A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the unsealing of several court documents in the lawsuit over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation, rejecting the Trump administration's arguments that it would risk national security.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland issued her order after media organizations, including The Associated Press, argued the public has a right to access court records under the First Amendment.

Filings unsealed so far offer little information thats new or unknown publicly. Xinis described one document as relatively boilerplate. It was a request by the Trump administration to temporarily halt discovery, an early phase of a lawsuit where parties share evidence.

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It does not disclose any potentially privileged or otherwise sensitive information for which a compelling government interest outweighs the right to access, Xinis wrote.

Xinis noted that some documents were public before the court was asked to seal them the next day. Those filings contained a back-and-forth between Abrego Garcias attorneys and the U.S. government over efforts to return him from El Salvador.

Trump administration lawyers often objected to answering questions, arguing that they involve state secrets, sensitive diplomatic negotiations and other protected information.

For example, the U.S. attorneys mentioned appropriate diplomatic discussions with El Salvador. But they wrote that disclosing the details could negatively impact any outcome.

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Xinis also ordered the partial release of a transcript from an April 30 court hearing. Some of it will be reacted to protect potentially classified information.

Wednesday's ruling was unrelated to the Trump administration pending invocation of the state secrets privilege, a legal doctrine often used in military cases. The administration has argued that releasing information about the Abrego Garcia matter in open court  or even to the judge in private  could jeopardize national security.

Xinis is yet to rule on the state secrets claim.

Abrego Garcias attorneys have argued that the Trump administration has done nothing to return the Maryland construction worker. They say the government is invoking the privilege to hide behind the misconduct of mistakenly deporting him and refusing to bring him back.

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Abrego Garcias deportation violated a U.S. immigration judges order in 2019 that shielded Abrego Garcia from expulsion to his native country. The immigration judge determined that Abrego Garcia faced likely persecution by a local Salvadoran gang that terrorized his family.

Abrego Garcias American wife sued over his deportation. Xinis ordered his return on April 4. The Supreme Court ruled on April 10 that the administration must work to bring him back.

President Donald Trumptold ABC News in late April that he could retrieve Abrego Garcia with a phone call to El Salvadors president. But Trump said he wouldnt do it because Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, an allegation that Abrego Garcia denies and for which he was never charged.
INMAN, S.C. (WSPA)  The City of Inman reported that one of their councilmembers has passed following health challenges.

Councilman Melvin Fowler passed away June 3. Officials said that Fowler, during his last months was fighting health challenges that began approximately nine months ago.

Fowler originally moved to Inman when he was five, and was the second of nine children. Fowler served 24 years in the army as an officer, touring 3 times in Vietnam before retiring in 1985. Following his retirement from the army, Fowler began working at Rockwell International in California as a managing engineer before running his own financial advisory and insurance agency.

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In 2010, Folwer and his wife chose to move back to the East Coast to be near family, returning to Inman in 2012. It was also in 2012 that Fowler initially joined the Inman City Council, and served as Mayor Pro-Tem for over seven years.

In addition to his time as a Councilmember, Fowler was an honorary member of the Buffalo Soldiers, and was an active member of the Zion Hill Baptist Church mens choir.

The Council of the City of Inman asks for thoughts and prayers for Fowlers surviving family and wife.

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How do you celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, Flag Day and President Trump's birthday?

With a parade, of course. Oh, and fireworks and a festival.

The Army is planning a week-long celebration, starting Saturday, June 7, through Flag Day, on June 14.

June 14 also happens to be Donald Trump's birthday. He was born June 14, 1946, and will turn 79 this year.

Here's everything you should know about the celebrations and how to get tickets.

What is US Army's theme for the birthday celebration?

"This years birthday theme, This well defend, was first used as a battle cry by the Continental Army," the Army posted on its website.

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"Today, it reminds us that our Armys purpose is clear: to fight and win the nations wars. We remain committed to honing our warfighting skills, enforcing standards and discipline, and living the values that have defined our Army for the past 250 years."

What activities are part of the Army's birthday celebration June 7-14, 2025?

June 7-8 A new exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army called Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War will be open and free to the public. Opens at 10 a.m.

June 11 Twilight Tattoo will be held at 7 p.m. at Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. The action-packed military experience will feature soldiers from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington's ceremonial units, the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own." It will be livestreamed on @USArmy social media platforms.

June 13 The Army birthday run (or walk) will start at 7 a.m. at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Army Day with the Washington Nationals will begin at 6:45 p.m. Army leaders and personnel will hold their annual Army-focused celebration as the Washington Nationals play the Miami Marlins.

June 14 The Army Birthday Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at 8:15 a.m. Army Birthday Festival will take place on the National Mall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This event is open to the public with opportunities to interact with soldiers, watch military demonstrations, explore equipment static displays, and listen to live music throughout the day. The Army fitness competition and awards will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. ET, the Army Birthday Parade will celebrate the Armys history and will feature Army equipment, flyovers and 6,600 Soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present. The parade will last until 7:30 p.m. It will cross in front of Trump's viewing stand on Constitution Avenue, just south of the White House, around sundown. A concert at the Ellipse begins at 7:30 p.m. The day will end with an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony, a parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights and a fireworks display. Trump is expected to attend the enlistment ceremony. Fireworks start at 9:45 p.m.



Want to attend the Army parade? Registration is recommended

U.S. Army military parade is scheduled for June 14, 2025, to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday.

The festival is free and open to the public on the National Mall, but to reduce wait times, registration is recommended. The parade will take place on Constitution Ave Northwest between15th and 23rd Streets.

Guests can register up to two per mobile number per event by going to U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and Celebration's website. You'll be asked to provide your full name, phone number, email, state and zip code.

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A confirmation SMS will be sent to your phone, and you will not be registered until you verify by phone.

 See the parade route and festival location

Army's 250th Birthday Festival to be held on National Mall

Held on the National Mall, the Army's 250th Birthday Festival is free. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fitness competition begins at 9:30 a.m.

Enter and exit through security gates at Seventh Street. Visitors are encouraged to take the Metro or use street parking or public parking garages. The north entrance of the Smithsonian Metro Station (the Mall entrance) will be closed.

 See layout of Army festival

How much will military parade, activities cost?

The latest price tag for the massive event is $40 million, which includes the cost of repairing streets expected to be damaged by Army tanks.

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The Army has said the parade is costly, but said the expense is justified.

Tens of millions spent on a parade is dwarfed by 250 years of service and sacrifice by Americas Army, spokesman Steve Warren told reporters recently.

Is Army birthday celebration more about President Trump? Some wonder

Neither the Navy, nor the Marine Corps, which also both celebrate their 250th birthdays later this year, plan parades similar to what the Army has planned for June 14.

It is Donald Trump who is the focus of his own attention, and the Army birthday just happened to be a convenient excuse, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut. He might well celebrate all our military services together since their birthdays are imminent."

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The administration said the Armys anniversary and Trumps birthday are a coincidence and the parade is justified to honor soldiers sacrifice.

The President is planning an historic celebration of the Armys 250th birthday that will honor generations of selfless Americans who have risked everything for our freedom, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley said in a statement last month.

Contributing: Tom Vandeen Brook, Amaris Encinas, USA Today-Network

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Army military parade, festival week-long celebration President Trump
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley on Wednesday condemned recent comments made by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu who called ICE immigration officers secret police.

Wu made the comments during a recent interview with WBUR.

People are terrified for their lives and for their neighbors, Wu told WBUR, according to the news organization. Folks (are) getting snatched off the street by secret police who are wearing masks, who can offer no justification for why certain people are being taken and then detained.

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In a video message on social media on Wednesday, Foley denounced Wus comments, calling them reckless and inflammatory statements.

Referring to federal agents as secret police is offensive, Foley said. There are no secret police.

ICE agents along with other federal law enforcement partners are making immigration arrests. That is no secret, Foley said. They are arresting individuals who are here illegally, which is a violation of federal law. Every enforcement action is conducted within the bounds of the Constitution and our laws, with oversight, legal justification and accountability.

To claim otherwise is a gross misrepresentation and a disservice to the public, Foley said.

Foleys remarks come two days after federal authorities announced the arrests of nearly 1,500 people in Massachusetts who are living in the U.S. illegally in the month of May alone. More than half of those arrested have criminal convictions or charges, federal officials said.

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His dad knows hes the target of it: Milford teen being held by ICE after weekend arrest

Those arrested include drug traffickers, sex offenders, murderers and foreign fugitives, officials said. They also include a 45-year-old Guatemalan national who is in the country illegally who was convicted of murder in Boston in 2020, for which he received a life sentence.

ICE detention of Chelsea High students adds to escalating tensions over immigration enforcement

On Monday, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons doubled down on so-called sanctuary city policies in several Massachusetts communities that are thwarting public safety initiatives by his agency.

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If sanctuary cities would change their policies and turn these violent criminal aliens over to us, into our custody, instead of releasing them into the public, we would not have to go out into the communities and do this, Lyons said Monday.

We will not apologize for doing our job. 



U.S. Attorney Leah Foley responds to recent statements made by @MayorWu about @ICEgov operations in Massachusetts. pic.twitter.com/GFGVg18LjF  U.S. Attorney Massachusetts (@DMAnews1) June 4, 2025

Lyons also said Monday that federal agents and officers have been doxed on social media, and often wear masks while on duty and making immigration arrests after officers, and their families, have received death threats.

Assaults against ICE officers are up 400 percent since this time period last year, Lyons said late last month.

Foley also spoke about the masks worn by federal agents and officers in her video message on Wednesday.

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Federal agents in marked jackets and vests are masking their faces because people like Mayor Wu have created false narratives about their mission, Foley said. Federal agents and their children are being threatened, doxed and assaulted. That is why they must hide their faces.

Furthermore, suggesting that federal law enforcement officers are snatching people off the streets is also false, Foley said. Its offensive to the men and women who risk their lives every day to uphold the rule of law. On the contrary, every arrest or detention is pursuant to and sanctioned by federal law.

Her comments came weeks after reported assaults on law enforcement officers in a Worcester neighborhood on May 8.

In May, the city of Worcester released body camera footage after chaos erupted when a crowd surrounded and assaulted police officers trying to detain Brazilian national Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira, 40, who is in the country illegally and faces previous criminal assault charges, federal authorities said.

The U.S. attorneys office stands in support of our federal law enforcement partners whose mission it is to protect the residents of Massachusetts, Foley said Wednesday, regardless of the noise being generated by politicians who either do not understand federal law or simply believe our nations immigration laws should not be enforced.

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We will not apologize for doing our job, Foley said.

When asked about Foleys comments on Wednesday, Wu said, The U.S. Attorney is attacking me for saying what Bostonians see with their own eyes.

We know this is happening, Wu said. We have seen, if not the video of it, we have seen it directly in our communities and it is undermining our efforts at the local level to keep people safe because it is spreading fear that undermines the trust with local police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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US President Donald Trump has hinted that there will not be a deal with China over the two countries' trade dispute anytime soon.

He wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday: "I like President Xi [Jinping] of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!

There has been a pause in the customs dispute between the world's two largest economies since an agreement was reached in mid-May.

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The deal stipulates a reduction in US tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while Beijing's tariffs on imports from the US will be reduced from 125% to 10%.

A joint statement by the world's two largest economies indicated that this would be temporary, lasting for 90 days.

More recently, however, both sides have accused the other of not honouring the agreements.

The US recently blocked the delivery of turbine parts to China and attempted to restrict China's access to important chip technology, much to Beijing's annoyance.

In addition, Chinese students in the US are to have their visas revoked.

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China, in turn, is accused of withholding important minerals that are needed in the automotive industry, among other measures.

Trump and Xi were reportedly due to have a conversation this week. It is unclear what exactly prompted Trump's latest online outburst.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Dayton Police Department recently released statistics that show the total citizen generated phone calls for the month of May.

The department operates three districts throughout the city, including the West, Central and East districts.

For the West District, the department received 4,818 calls in May. Thats an average of about 161 calls a day.

The Central District saw the fewest calls for police, with 701 total throughout the month and an average of 23 per day. The East District made a total of 3,975 calls in May, an average of about 133 daily.

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For the year, the DPD has received 42,094 calls, an average of about 281 per day.

With the release of the numbers, the department says they are committed to serving the community.

Our officers are here to keep you safe and here when you need us.

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A steep increase in US import tariffs on steel and aluminium has come into effect on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump ordered the tariff rate to be doubled to 50%.

The tariffs, which took effect at 0401 GMT, doubled from 25% to 50% of the goods' value as Trump seeks to correct alleged trade imbalances and strengthen domestic industry in the United States.

Steel and aluminium imports from the United Kingdom are exempt and will remain subject to the existing 25% tariff, the White House said. This is based on a trade agreement recently concluded between Washington and London.

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The measure is likely to make it more difficult to import the products in question  and lead to higher prices.

In 2024, the US was the world's largest steel importer after the European Union. According to the US government, the most important countries of origin are Canada, Brazil and Mexico. Germany is also among the 10 largest exporters to the US.

According to the German Steel Industry Association, the US is the most important sales market for the European steel industry.

The United States sources aluminium primarily from Canada, the United Arab Emirates, China and South Korea.

Trump has already announced, threatened or implemented numerous other tariffs with the stated aim of securing better trade agreements.

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It is still unclear how the EU will respond to the latest measure. The European Commission sharply criticized the US president's announcement at the weekend and said it was ready to take countermeasures.

However, according to the latest information, talks have continued and have been described as "very constructive."

Another meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is planned for Wednesday in Paris. If Trump sticks to his decision, the EU could impose counter-tariffs at short notice.
By Jasper Ward and Helen Coster

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Education said on Wednesday it has notified a university accreditation body that it believes Columbia University had violated federal anti-discrimination laws by its alleged failure to protect Jewish students on its campus.

The alleged violation means that Columbia has not met the standards of accreditation set by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the department said.

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"Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Columbia, which has been under pressure from the Trump administration for months, said in a statement that the school addressed the department's concerns directly with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is continuing to work with the federal government to address antisemitism.

It was not clear how the Middle States Commission, which like other accrediting agencies is independent, would respond to the notification.

A spokesperson for Middle States declined to comment but confirmed that the organization had received a letter from the Department of Education about the matter on Wednesday.

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While the federal government does not directly accredit U.S. universities, it has a role in overseeing the mostly private organizations that do. Trump has often complained that accreditors approve institutions that fail to provide quality education.

Columbia has been the epicenter of a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protest movement that has roiled U.S. campuses over the last year and a half as Israel's war in Gaza raged.

The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services said last month an investigation found that the university had acted with "deliberate indifference" toward the harassment of Jewish students during campus protests.

Columbia had previously said it would work with the government to address antisemitism, harassment and discrimination.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Additional reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
The Trump administration has escalated its fight with Columbia University, declaring the school doesnt meet accreditation standards because of its failure to protect Jewish students.

After Hamas October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia Universitys leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement Wednesday.

The US Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights said on Wednesday it notified the Middle States Commission on Higher Education  a nongovernmental association that conducts accreditation activities for higher education institutions  about Columbia Universitys alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, according to a news release from the Education Department.

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The federal agency said the university no longer appears to meet the commissions accreditation standards.

Losing accreditation could hurt Columbia because its required for university students to gain access to federal money, including student grants and loans. It remains unclear how the commission will respond to the Education Departments notification.

Columbia University said in a statement its aware of the concerns raised by the agency to the commission, adding, we have addressed those concerns directly with Middle States.

Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism on our campus. We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it, reads the statement on the universitys website.

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The Middle States Commission on Higher Education told CNN it received a letter on the matter Wednesday but said it does not have any other comment at this time.

We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbias compliance with accreditation standards including compliance with federal civil rights laws, McMahon said.

Elite universities across the US  including Columbia  have been under intense pressure from the administration to comply with demands for school policy changes or risk losing federal funding after they were accused of tolerating antisemitism on campus.

In a separate move on Wednesday, President Trump signed a proclamation to block the entry of nearly all new Harvard University student as nonimmigrants into the United States under visas most international students use to study at universities or participate in academic exchange programs in the country.

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Columbia last month was accused of violating federal civil rights law by acting with deliberate indifference towards harassment of Jewish students on campus since October 7, 2023, coinciding with a terror attack on Israel by Hamas and its allies and the start of Israels brutal war in Gaza.

A Columbia spokesperson at the time cast the findings as another step in the universitys work with the government to determine the best ways to fight antisemitism on campus.

The findings were part of a series of actions by the federal governments Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which was created following a February executive order from President Donald Trump.

Trump took aim at the college accreditation process with a new executive order in April, asking the secretary of education to hold higher education accreditors accountable including through denial, monitoring, suspension, or termination for poor performance or violations to the federal Civil Rights Act, a White House official told CNN ahead of the signing.

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The Department of Education said Wednesday it has an obligation to provide accreditors with any noncompliance findings related to member institutions in accordance with Trumps executive order.

When an institution does not meet accreditation standards, it may be placed on probation or issued a warning, according to the Middle States Commission. If an institution does not remedy the areas of non-compliance, the commission can take an adverse action to deny or withdraw candidate status or accreditation, which is subject to appeal, the policy says.

If an appeal is filed, the institution will maintain its accreditation status until the appeal is exhausted, according to the commissions policy.

Columbia has said its been working to address antisemitism concerns and announced a series of sweeping policy changes in March after the Trump administration said it was canceling $400 million worth of federal grants and contracts to the university over its alleged failure to quash antisemitism on campus.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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The US Embassy in Ukraine issued a warning on 4 June about the growing risk of large-scale Russian attacks.

Source: a statement on the embassys website, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "Russia has increased the intensity of its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks, and there is currently a continued risk of significant air attacks.

The US Embassy in Kyiv urges US citizens to exercise appropriate caution. As always, we recommend you be prepared to shelter immediately in the event an air-raid warning is issued."

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Details: While no specific reason is provided for the warning, it came after a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), codenamed Pavutyna (Spiders Web), during which dozens of Russian aircraft were hit.

The last similar warning from the US Embassy was issued on the evening of 9 May, citing the risk of a large-scale air attack "over the next several days".

Background:

On 1 June 2025, the SSU carried out a special operation codenamed Pavutyna, one of the largest and most complex sabotage operations against Russian military aircraft.

The SSU reported that the operation resulted in the destruction of 41 Russian strategic aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft.

The North Atlantic Alliance has hailed the SSU operation targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful. NATO reported that at least 40 aircraft had been damaged. Between 10 and 13 aircraft were completely destroyed.

On 4 June, US President Donald Trump said he had had a "good conversation" with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, though not one that would "lead to immediate peace". Trump added that Putin "did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields".

Officially, Putin has not commented on the successful Ukrainian special operation Spiders Web.

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Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has said that the sanctions discussed in the US Senate are very effective and should be coordinated with EU partners.

Source: Yermak in an interview with US TV channel Newsmax TV, as quoted by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Details: Yermak said that the sanctions they discussed in the Senate were very effective, adding that these sanctions must be coordinated with EU partners, and that if the new package of EU and US sanctions is released at the same time, it would really put pressure on Russia.

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Yermak stressed the importance of finding new, real and effective sanctions against Russia.

He also noted that such restrictions are effective, although they take time to produce results.

As an example, he mentioned Senator Graham's legislative initiative on sanctions.

Quote from Yermak: "The new bill of Senator Graham is about energy, oil and the banking sector  they are really painful and really effective sanctions. Putin will recognise that he needs to stop and go to serious negotiations when he feels that it will cost him a real price."

Details: He also noted that he would discuss a new military aid package with American partners, stressing that strong security agreements with the United States are needed.

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Background:

Yermak announced that he had met in Washington with Keith Kellogg, US Special Envoy for Ukraine.

A Ukrainian delegation led by Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko arrived in the United States on Tuesday to meet with representatives of President Donald Trump's team to discuss several issues.

According to media reports, the United States is disappointed but not surprised by Russia's ultimatum at the talks in Istanbul.

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Despite growing criticism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US government has defended the aid provided so far by the organization in the Gaza Strip, while maintaining its distance from it.

Spokeswoman for the US State Department Tammy Bruce said the GHF is an independent organization that does not receive any money from the US government.

However, she said they welcome "creative solutions" to bring humanitarian aid into the war zone.

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Bruce was responding to critical questions about the distribution system supported by Israel, which, according to the United Nations, endangers civilians and violates established standards of neutral aid.

Several aid organizations have warned that the distribution brings hungry crowds into close proximity to armed soldiers, with potentially deadly consequences.

The ministry spokeswoman pointed to the extent of the aid provided so far through the foundation.

Previously, the accusation was that too little was being done  now the nature of the aid is being criticized. The US State Department had already rejected criticism of the foundation, while emphasizing that it does not speak for it.

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The foundation does not respond to questions about who funds it and where the money for the food packages comes from.

The background to the questions was an incident near the city of Rafah, in which at least 27 people were killed and around 90 injured, according to Palestinian sources.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has called for an independent investigation.
The U.S. administration has not yet made any new decisions on military assistance for Kyiv as it remains focused on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told journalists on June 4.

Whitaker stressed that Washington counts on European leadership in providing Ukraine with the resources needed to achieve a lasting peace, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

The envoy made the comments as Kyiv's partners gathered in Brussels for a Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG).

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The UDCG was initially launched by former U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in 2022 to coordinate assistance for Ukraine among some 50 countries.

Pete Hegseth, the current Pentagon chief, relinquished chairmanship of the group to the U.K. and Germany and opted out of the June 4 meeting, leaving Whitaker to represent the U.S.

Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has not approved any new defense aid for Ukraine, vowing instead to broker a swift peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

The assistance approved under the previous Biden administration continues to flow, but is expected to run out in the coming months. Washington also provides Ukraine with crucial intelligence assistance.

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As peace talks stall, Trump has signaled the U.S. might abandon its involvement in the effort, raising fears among European partners that he might also cut off all remaining support for Ukraine.

The U.S. president has repeatedly urged Europe to take up responsibility for backing Ukraine and for its own security as his strategic focus shifts away from the continent.

Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. has been the leader in military donations to Ukraine, supplying some weapons that European allies struggle to replace, including air defense interceptors.

Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions  and Kremlin talking points

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By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives said on Wednesday they would act quickly on President Donald Trump's request to slash $9.4 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting, hoping to file a bill as soon as Thursday.

"Yesterday the White House sent the rescissions package. It's the first, maybe, of many. We are now putting that in bill format. We'll file that bill, hopefully by tomorrow, and then bring it up to the floor quickly," Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, told a news conference.

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Scalise spoke a day after Trump sent Congress his formal "rescissions" memo requesting the elimination of $9.4 billion in spending already approved by lawmakers, opening a 45-day window for lawmakers to decide whether to back Trump in overturning spending plans many of them voted for in the past.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Scalise and other Republican House leaders issued a statement encouraging House members to support the measure, saying it would eliminate wasteful spending.

Presidential rescissions packages have not passed in years, because previous Congresses have not wanted to give up their constitutionally mandated control of government spending. For example, lawmakers rejected Trump's request to revoke $15 billion in spending in 2018, during his first term.

However, the current Republican leaders of the House and Senate have shown little appetite for opposing Trump, even those who in the past have been strong advocates for foreign aid. The rescissions package can pass with a simple majority in both chambers, so it would not need Democratic votes.

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Codifying the cuts into law will lessen the chances that reductions in government spending, which have been led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) this year, will face legal challenges.

Trump began slashing foreign assistance programs as soon as he began his second term on January 20, in his drive to ensure all government spending is in line with his America First policies, eliminate waste and stamp out "diversity, equity and inclusion" efforts.

Critics have said the deep cuts in funding by the United States, the world's largest single donor, mean people around the world will die of starvation and from preventable diseases, undermine American leadership, and leave a vacuum for adversaries like Russia and China to fill.

Trump himself said last month his administration's cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development have been "devastating."

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The cuts include rescinding $496 million of the $4 billion Congress approved for international disaster assistance, $460 million appropriated to assist former communist countries in Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia; $400 million of $6 billion for global health programs like fighting HIV/AIDS, and $142 million designated for UNICEF, the United Nations' children's fund.

The package also includes $1.1 billion in cuts to funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Katharine Jackson;Editing by Marguerita Choy)
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, commenting on Ukraines special operation Pavytuna (Spiders Web), has stated that the Russo-Ukrainian war must end, describing this as the goal of President Donald Trump.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Whitaker made these remarks on Tuesday 3 June during an online conversation with reporters ahead of a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

He stated that the "war needs to come to an end" and President Trump "feels very strongly about that".

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"Thousands of people, including civilians, are dying and the cost is very high on both sides. President Trump wants this war to end," Whitaker said, directly assessing Ukraines strikes on Russian strategic aircraft.

Whitaker noted that a military solution cannot end the war; a diplomatic approach is required.

"It has to be a negotiated resolution and both sides need to come to the table and resolve this," the US ambassador said.

Background:

Trumps special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said that Ukraine has raised the level of risk in the war with Russia by conducting Operation Spiders Web, although he acknowledged the operations boldness.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal compared Ukraines recent drone strikes on military facilities deep inside Russian territory to the operation that eliminated "terrorist number one" Osama bin Laden.

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By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -A federal judge in California on Wednesday said her recent ruling barring President Donald Trump's administration from laying off tens of thousands of federal employees likely blocks the U.S. State Department's reorganization plan that includes 2,000 job cuts.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco during a virtual meeting in a lawsuit by unions, nonprofits and municipalities said she was concerned that the State Department is flouting her May 22 order that broadly blocked government-wide mass layoffs.

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Illston temporarily blocked about 20 agencies, including the State Department, from carrying out plans to downsize and restructure federal agencies at Trump's direction. But the department told Congress last week that it still planned to notify about 2,000 employees this month that they were being laid off and would reorganize or eliminate more than 300 bureaus and offices.

At this point there are some semantics being bandied about, but it appears to me that what is being implemented at the State Department now is covered by the injunction, said Illston, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

Illston ordered both sides to file briefs on the matter next week and said she would hold a hearing by June 13, the earliest date that State can issue layoff notices after it submitted its plan to Congress.

In her May ruling, Illston said the White House cannot order the restructuring of federal agencies without authorization from Congress. The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause Illston's decision while it appeals, after a San Francisco-based federal appeals court refused to permit the pause.

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Illston's ruling was the broadest of its kind against the government overhaul that was spearheaded by Trump ally Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla. Musk last week said he was ending his stint with the administration, raising questions about the future of his Department of Government Efficiency.

During Wednesday's 30-minute meeting, U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Andrew Bernie argued that the State Department's reorganization plan predated a February executive order and subsequent White House memo directing mass layoffs, placing it outside the scope of Illston's decision.

We of course recognize and take with the utmost seriousness our obligation to comply with the injunction, and we are complying, Bernie said, adding that 17 federal agencies have halted planned layoffs.

But Danielle Leonard, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, countered that State Department documents and statements regarding the planned layoffs specifically reference orders from the White House.

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We've heard some things from Mr. Bernie today, but we haven't seen anything sworn under penalty of perjury saying this was  independently done, she said.

Illston had convened Wednesday's meeting after the plaintiffs in a filing late Tuesday accused the State Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of not complying with her decision.

They said that HUD had fired about 80 employees who had not completed a probationary period, which Bernie on Wednesday confirmed. But he said that agencies have broad latitude to fire probationary workers, and those terminations were not the same as the mass layoffs of tenured employees that were blocked by Illston.

Probationary workers typically have less than a year or two in their current roles, though some are longtime federal employees in new positions.

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Illston said it was not clear to her whether the firings at HUD were covered by her injunction.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York and Blake Brittain in Washington, D.C., Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Aurora Ellis)
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  US vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate Gaza ceasefire because it's not linked to hostage release.
The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as Israeli strikes across the enclave have killed nearly 100 Palestinians in the past 24 hours amid a crippling aid blockade.

The US was the only country to vote against the measure on Wednesday while the 14 other members of the council voted in favour.

The resolution also called for the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, but Washington said it was a non-starter because the ceasefire demand is not directly linked to the release of captives.

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In remarks before the start of the voting, Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea made her countrys opposition to the resolution, put forward by 10 countries on the 15-member council, painfully clear, which she said should come as no surprise.





The United States has taken the very clear position since this conflict began that Israel has the right to defend itself, which includes defeating Hamas and ensuring they are never again in a position to threaten Israel, she told the council.

Chinas Ambassador Fu Cong said Israels actions have crossed every red line of international humanitarian law and seriously violated UN resolutions. Yet, due to the shielding by one country, these violations have not been stopped or held accountable.

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Al Jazeeras senior political analyst Marwan Bishara noted that the US veto makes it so isolated.

Clearly there is a gathering storm  with so many countries that are standing against the US at the UNSC. Its only the US that is trying to block this converging and rising current against Israel and what its doing in Gaza  Israel is not defending itself in Gaza, Israel is defending its occupation and siege in Gaza, Bishara added.

Open the crossings

Despite global demands for a truce, Israel has repeatedly rejected calls for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, insisting Hamas cannot stay in power, nor in Gaza. It has expanded its military assault in Gaza, killing and wounding thousands more Palestinians and maintaining a brutal blockade on the enclave, only allowing a trickle of tightly-controlled aid in where a famine looms.

At least 95 Palestinians have been killed on Wednesday and more than 440 injured, according to health officials in Gaza.

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Al Jazeeras Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said, There has been a clear surge of attacks. He said there were relentless Israeli strikes there in central Gaza and throughout the territory.

Meanwhile, Israels military warned starving Palestinians against approaching roads to the US-backed aid distribution sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), saying the areas will be considered combat zones while it halted aid for a whole day.

That move came after Israeli forces opened fire at aid seekers several times, killing more than 100 Palestinians and injuring hundreds more since the GHF started operating on May 27.

Witnesses said Israeli soldiers opened fire on crowds that massed before dawn to seek food on Tuesday. Images of starving Palestinians scrambling for paltry aid packages, herded in cage-like lines and then coming under fire have caused global outrage.





The Israeli military admitted it shot at aid seekers on Tuesday, but claimed that they opened fire when suspects deviated from a stipulated route.

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At a hospital in southern Gaza, the family of Reem al-Akhras, who was killed in Israels mass shooting on Tuesday, mourned her death.

She went to bring us some food, and this is what happened to her, her son Zain Zidan said through tears. Her husband, Mohamed Zidan, said every day unarmed people are being killed. This is not humanitarian aid  its a trap.

The new aid distribution process  currently from just three sites  has been widely criticised by rights groups and the UN, who say it does not adhere to humanitarian principles. They also say the aid model, which uses private US security and logistics workers, militarises aid.

Ahead of the UNSC vote, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher again appealed for the UN and aid groups to be allowed to assist people in Gaza, stressing that they have a plan, supplies and experience.

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Open the crossings  all of them. Let in lifesaving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift the restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in. Ensure our convoys arent held up by delays and denials, Fletcher said in a statement.

The UN has long blamed Israel and lawlessness in the enclave for hindering the delivery of aid and its distribution in Gaza. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group vehemently denies, and the World Food Programme says there is no evidence to support that allegation.

UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) spokesman James Elder, currently in Gaza, described the horrors he witnessed within just 24 hours. Speaking from al-Mawasi, Elder told Al Jazeera that Gazas hospitals and streets are filled with malnourished children. Im seeing teenage boys in tears, showing me their ribs, he said, noting that children were pleading for food.

The UNSC has voted on 14 Gaza-related resolutions and approved four since the war began in October 2023. Wednesdays vote was the first since November 2024.

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Hamas is still holding 58 captives, a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in previous short-lived ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israels offensive has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry.
AIKEN, Sc. (WJBF)- The University of South Carolina Aiken has announced it will be adding a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering beginning Fall 2026.

The university has mechanical and chemical engineering already and they believe electrical engineering would be a great addition.

This degree program will focus on educating students to design, build, test and maintain electrical and electronic systems.

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It also benefits the region as it will get students prepared to work within the CSRA as scientist and skilled electrical engineers.

The dean for the college of sciences and engineering explains how the curriculum is built.

We used our engineering advisory board, which has our stakeholders from throughout the region to build the curriculum thats really needed for this area. So of course, with the site as it is being such a large employer of engineers, we are concentrating on power systems, control systems of critical infrastructure, that kind of thing, said Scott McKay.

McKay also said theres certain access students will have within this program.

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Our engineering program will move into spaces within that advanced manufacturing collaborative. This, of course, give our students not only access to wonderful equipment, but access to tremendous, exceptional scientists and engineers that are associated with the National Laboratory.

Students interested in the degree but start school before Fall 2026, can complete a year of prerequisites that will meet the requirements for this degree.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  The University of Southern Indiana will hold a public hearing this Thursday to gather feedback on its proposal to freeze tuition for two years.

The university is recommending no increases to tuition or mandatory fees for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years.

Other higher education institutions in IN weigh in on flat fees

The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 5 in the Griffin Center on the USI campus.

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State law requires public universities to hold a hearing before approving tuition changes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Sailors aboard the USS Gettysburg are returning to Naval Station Norfolk Friday after a near eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

The crew departed in Sept. 2024 as a part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which consisted of the USS Harry S. Truman, USS Stout and USS Jason Dunham.

While deployed, the strike group completed exercises with NATO Allies and combat operations in the Red Sea.

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The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, the flagship of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, returned this past weekend to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, after an eventful 251-day deployment that saw the vessel fire over 1.1. million pounds of ordnance and deliver the largest carrier-launched airstrike in history.

The Trumans arrival in its home port Sunday followed months of almost ceaseless action in the Middle East against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels as part of Operation Rough Rider, launched by U.S. Central Command on March 15.

During the operation, which targeted Houthi infrastructure such as command centers, training camps and weapons manufacturing sites, the Truman saw continuous action for over 50 days, conducting precision airstrikes and launching Tomahawk missiles while under constant fire from Houthi militants seeking to hamstring global shipping.

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The Truman launched 11,000 sorties and expended over 1.1 million pounds of ordnance during its deployment, and on Feb. 1 launched the largest-ever airstrike against Islamic State terrorists in Somalia. Launched from the Truman, 27 F/A-18 Super Hornets of Carrier Air Wing 1 struck ISIS militants based in cave complexes, dropping 124,000 pounds of ordnance within less than two minutes and killing 14 terrorists, including ISIS recruiter Ahmed Maeleninine.

During its grueling deployment, which was extended numerous times, the Truman underwent several hardships, including a collision with a civilian merchant vessel in the Mediterranean in February, an abrupt change in command and the loss of three F/A-18 fighter jets.

These warrior Sailors demonstrated superb grit for more than eight months. Even in the face of significant challenges, they persevered, never giving up when their nation needed them, said Capt. Chris Chowdah Hill, commanding officer of the Truman, in a release. Its been an honor to serve alongside such dedicated professionals and to take them home to their families.

Other vessels in the strike group accompanying the Truman included the Ticonderoga-class cruiser Gettysburg and two Arleigh-Burke class destroyers, the Jason Dunham and the Stout. Altogether, the vessels sailed over 240,000 nautical miles during the lengthy deployment.
Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, speaks in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

In order to fill an open leadership position left by former House Majority Leader Jefferson Moss, the Utah House Republicans chose their next second-in-command during a closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday night.

The House GOP elected Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, for their next majority leader, picking him over Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield. Moss resigned from the Republican-controlled House effective last week to accept Gov. Spencer Coxs appointment as executive director of the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity.

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Lisonbee previously served as majority whip and Snider served as majority assistant whip, leaving both of those positions up for grabs. Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, won election to be majority whip, while Rep. Bridger Bolinder, R-Grantsville, was elected assistant majority whip.

House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, talks with Majority Assistant Whip Casey Snider, R-Paradise, at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on the last night of the legislative session, Friday, March 1, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

I am excited to work alongside this new leadership team as we represent our caucus and work on behalf of all Utahns, House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday night. Congratulations to Rep. Snider, Rep. Pierucci, and Rep. Bolinder. This leadership team stands ready to work on behalf of all Utahns.

Snider and Pierucci have both been rising stars in House leadership, having previously served in leadership positions before taking the higher-ranking roles. Bolinder is a relative newcomer, having first been elected in January 2023. Snider began his legislative service in October 2018, while Pierucci has served since November 2019.

Snider has political experience both in Utah and Washington, D.C. He previously worked as a legislative director for a congressman, former Utah Rep. Rob Bishop, and was a staffer on the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. He has also served as a firefighter for the Paradise City Fire Department and worked in various agricultural roles. He owns and operates a 300 acre farm in Cache County, according to his campaign website.

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When Snider was first appointed in 2018 at the age of 33, he assumed the role as the states youngest legislator. Now, that title belongs to Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, who took office in 2023 at the age of 25. Previously, Snider served in a powerful position as chair of the House Rules Committee, which decides which bills get committee hearings.

I am honored to take on this role and grateful for the opportunity to serve, Snider said in a prepared statement. Our leadership team is committed to serving the members of our caucus and the people of Utah with integrity and foresight as we continue to advance meaningful policy for the benefit of every Utahn.

Pierucci  who was also deemed the Legislatures youngest lawmaker when she first took office in 2018 at the age of 27  previously worked as director of community relations for another congressman, former Rep. Chris Stewart, and as development director for the conservative think tank Sutherland Institute.

As a lawmaker, Pierucci most recently served as chair of the House Education Committee. One of the most high-profile and controversial pieces of legislation she ran included the creation of the states school choice voucher program, named Utah Fits All, which a district court judge recently ruled as unconstitutional. State leaders said they would appeal the ruling to the Utah Supreme Court.

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I am thankful for the trust our Majority Caucus has placed in me, Pierucci said in a statement. Our leadership team is energized and ready to represent our caucus as we work to make a lasting impact for families and communities across our state.

Bolinder owns a family construction company, according to his campaign website. Hes affiliated with the Utah Manufacture Association and lists Grantsville High School as his education, according to his legislative page. Last year, he was selected to serve as chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Its an honor to earn the trust of my colleagues, Bolinder said. Im eager to get to work, to listen, and to help ensure every voice in our caucus, and every Utahn, is represented.
CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4)  The Southern Utah University Hope Pantry will host a food drive at this years Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games Block Party through the Summer Games Serves initiative.

The SUU Hope Pantry will have a booth at the block party on Friday, June 6, from 5-8 p.m. at the SUU Practice Field, which is located west of Eccles Coliseum. Donations of food and other items will be accepted at their booth until the end of the block party.

Upcoming Ogden car show to raise funds for program that helps at-risk youth

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Donations will assist SUU students facing food insecurity in the 2025-2026 academic year, which affects a significant number of students.

Almost half of all SUU students struggle with food insecurity each school year, director of the SUU Hope Pantry Pam Branin said in a press release. Being able to provide a campus pantry makes a huge difference, as students often reflect, the pantry saved me.'

SUU Hope Pantry, courtesy: SUU

The SUU Hope Pantry is requesting donations of the following items:

Bags of rice

Pasta and pasta sauce

Canned meats (chicken, tuna)

Ready-to-eat-soup

Full-size toiletry items (soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.)

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According to the executive director of the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, Jon Oglesby, the Summer Games Serve initiative has been supported by UServe Utah and the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement this year.

You can find more information about the Utah Summer Games on their website.

Latest headlines:

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  While violent crime at the Oceanfront resort continues to trend down compared to the start of the decade, the citys police chief warns that continued issues related to crowds and guns will likely only be solved by implementing new strategies.

In a presentation to City Council Tuesday afternoon, Chief Paul Neudigate explained that police officers and the threat of incarceration no longer appear to be deterrents for those willing to commit crimes.

Virginia Beach to address challenges of maintaining Oceanfront safety

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He showed surveillance camera video of the moment a teen allegedly pulled a gun and fired into crowd at 17th Street Park back on April 5, only to then point out 10 uniformed officers were in the crowd when the shots went off.

Instead, Neudigate is asking for City Council to consider several options that might deter large crowds from gathering in the first place, including implementing curfews, closing off parking lots and increasing parking rates.

VBPD: Nearly 200 charges, 53 arrests made at Oceanfront over spring break weekend

Tourism is referred to as the third leg of the Hampton Roads economy, and no city contributes to that third leg more than the city of Virginia Beach. The coastal destination welcomed 14.1 million visitors in 2023, according to the citys Convention and Visitors Bureau, and resulted in a $3.8 billion in economic impact.

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Its one of the reasons Oceanfront business owners and elected leaders alike are outspoken in their desire for crime reduction in the 42-block resort area.

Since 2020, Neudigate said tremendous progress has been made in terms of violent crime within the resort city.

Comparing 2020 to 2024, violent crime reports have been essentially cut in half, down 44% compared to the four-year average, according to Neudigate.

Looking specifically at shootings, there were 16 in 2020, including one homicide. In 2024 there were two, both non-life-threatening.

Neudigate said that is a testament to the work of officers and technology partnering together for results.

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We owe them a round of applause and appreciation, Neudigate said.

However, he acknowledged numbers dont tell the whole story.

[The data] doesnt address what the challenges are and what the perception is, and we know that coming into, usually March and April, we have challenges, Neudigate said. I think the challenges that we have during that time period, unfortunately, casts aspersions over our resort area for the entire year.

Less than halfway through 2025, there have been three shootings in the Oceanfront area. All have left victims with non-life-threatening injuries.

However, the chief said it is what hasnt happened, but could have, that concerns him.

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The sheer number of firearms that are being brought to our Oceanfront is incredibly alarming, Neudigate said. And its not just the firearms. Its the history associated with them. Its the individuals that are bringing them to our Oceanfront.

The fourth weekend in April, VBPD announced it had seized 28 firearms in the resort area. Using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, one of the guns was traced to a homicide in Richmond.

In another video from 2022, a video showed young teens that were stampeding after firecrackers were set off in a crowd.

I would offer  that we are incredibly lucky that we did not have anyone seriously injured or killed, Neudigate said. When we have conditions like this, it is probably going to be a matter of time that when we have several hundred youth that decide to run down in a congested area like this, were going to end up with injuries.

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Neudigate said its hard to predict exactly when the crowds will appear.

Sometimes, it is that first warm Friday night that we have no advance notice that were going to have a large crowd, Neudigate said.

The chief then explained how other East Coast resort towns have attempted to tackle similar issues.

In Ocean City, Md., special event zones have been established to manage traffic and curb unsafe driving. In Daytona Beach, Fla., cease-and-desist letters are being sent to organizers of unpermitted events.

However, it was Miami, where the chief was praised for having a handle on the spring break crowds.

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To discourage street parties in Miamis South Beach, officials implemented $100 flat fee for parking, doubled towing rates for nonresidents and closed some parking garages altogether. They also instituted a midnight curfew.

I think these are the implementation measures that at least have to be discussed, Neudigate said. We will do everything we can from the law enforcement perspective, but without additional tools or additional strategies, were going to get the same outcome.

However, Virginia is not Florida.

Virginia doesnt have special event zones allowing police to double fines and other penalties, such as occupancy levels. Its also unclear if municipalities can recover anything from a promoter or organizer of a special event who didnt go through proper channels to get a permit.

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While police chiefs in Virginia were recently given the power to enact curfews, it can only be done to qualm civil unrest.

As a Dillon Rule state, local governments are only able to do what the Commonwealth has given them permission to do.

Thus, after the presentation, Neudigate went into closed session with City Council to talk about legal ramifications associated with exploring the new enforcement tools.

Eventually, if council wants to move to a certain direction, we will have to come out publicly and state that and and present to the public our stance in the future, said Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney.

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However, feedback was quick from some council members that part of the plan

Ive heard some negatives against a curfew because that hurts businesses that are down at the Oceanfront trying to make a living selling their goods and services, Councilman Worth Remick, who represents much of the Oceanfront, said. So I would have to push back on curfew.

He also questioned why VBPD posts pictures of all the guns they seize.

Id like to see us message that better, Remick said. But I do think that we need to be known.

Neudigate said posting photos of the guns officers have seized is viewed as a deterrent.

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We want folks to know that if they bring firearms to our Oceanfront and they are not carrying them with 100% compliance of the law, there is a good opportunity that youre going to be interdicted, Neudigate said. Were going to seize the firearm and theres going to be criminal penalties.

John Zirkle, president of the Virginia Beach Hotel Association, echos Remicks concern for a curfew. He said he would also rather see VBPD enforce the laws on the books now as opposed to following Miamis lead.

You know, were in the hospitality business, Zirkle said. We welcome people to our city. We want visitors to come and have a great time and enjoy all the amenities of Virginia Beach. When you have too many rules and too many nos, yes, you do worry that your visitors are going to start saying, Well, gosh, [Im going] somewhere else.

He said any new tools used in crime fighting must be done with balance in mind.

You cant pick on younger people and say, We dont want younger people here, because we do, Zirkle said. We want everybody to feel welcome here. Now, if youre coming here with guns and they cause problems, no, we dont want you here. And I think we need to work on how that message will be relayed, because that message could be relayed to sound exclusionary.

Mayor Bobby Dyer is hoping he can get regional support for measures to make the Oceanfront safer for everyone.

Were going to start the conversations, Dyer said, because summer is upon us and we want people coming to the beach. We want everybody coming to the beach. Weve got to make sure its a safe beach.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The Virginia Beach Police Department is hosting a catalytic converter engraving event on Saturday.

According to a Facebook post, the event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the departments Third Precinct, located at 926 Independence Boulevard. The event is free, but registration is required.

Several slots for Saturdays event remain open. Those interested in attending can register for the event using the link here.

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Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A federal jury in El Paso convicted a Venezuelan national of conspiracy to harbor undocumented migrants, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas said in a news release.

Marcel Eliezer Zapata Zapata-Colmenarez, 26, opened the door of his residence on Jan. 30 to find agents from the U.S. Border Patrol and other federal law enforcement agencies present, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial.

The Attorneys Office said that with Zapata-Colmenarezs consent, the agents entered and searched the residence, finding piles of clothes on the floor, wet and muddy clothing hanging in a closet, and other signs consistent with harboring and smuggling undocumented migrants.

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Zapata-Colmenarez also granted consent for agents to search his cell phone, leading to the discovery of proof-of-life videos  videos sent by recently-crossed undocumented migrants acknowledging that they had been smuggled with the assistance of a smuggling network, the Attorneys Office said.

The Attorneys Office said Zapata-Colmenarez later admitted that he accepted an offer to harbor undocumented migrants in his apartment and was paid $50 per migrant.

Zapata-Colmenarez was arrested Jan. 30 and indicted a month later for one count of conspiracy to harbor undocumented migrants and one count of harboring undocumented migrants for financial gain, the Attorneys Office said.

The Attorneys Office said Zapata-Colmenarezs sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Aug. 26, and he faces up to 10 years in federal prison along with a fine of up to $250,000.

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The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Wisniewski and Mathew Engelbaum are prosecuting the case, according to the news release.

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By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Hundreds of Venezuelans deported from the United States to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law must be given the chance to challenge their detentions, and the Trump administration must facilitate the legal challenges, a U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg stopped short of expressly ordering the Trump administration to bring the hundreds of Venezuelan migrants currently being held in a mega-prison in El Salvador back to the United States.

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The judge gave the Trump administration one week to detail how it would facilitate the deportees filing of legal challenges.

In his ruling, Boasberg wrote that the individuals were deported without adequate notice or the right to contest their removals.

That process - which was improperly withheld - must now be afforded to them, Boasberg wrote. Absent this relief, the government could snatch anyone off the street, turn him over to a foreign country, and then effectively foreclose any corrective course of action.

It was not immediately clear how the migrants would file the legal challenges, known as habeas corpus petitions, from within El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center.

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The Venezuelans were deported in March after President Donald Trump, a Republican, invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang without going through normal immigration procedures.

Boasbergs Wednesday ruling is the first to address the fate of these detainees.

The White House said the judge lacked the authority for his move.

Judge Boasberg has no authority to intervene with immigration or national security  authority that rests squarely with President Trump and the Executive Branch," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

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"His current and previous attempts to prevent President Trump from deporting criminal illegal aliens poses a direct threat to the safety of the American people. Fortunately for the American people, Judge Boasberg does not have the last word.

Family members of many of the Venezuelans deported on March 15 and their lawyers deny the migrants had any gang ties, and say they were not given a chance to contest the Trump administration's allegations in court.

The Trump administration is paying President Nayib Bukeles government $6 million to hold them.

The U.S. Supreme Court in April held that migrants must be allowed to challenge their removals under the Alien Enemies Act. Courts around the country have since barred the Trump administration from further deportations of alleged Tren de Aragua members under the law.

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But those rulings only applied to Venezuelans still in the U.S. facing possible deportation under the law.

CRACKDOWN ON IMMIGRATION

The ruling by Boasberg, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, is the latest judicial ruling against Trumps aggressive immigration policy. But the Republican president has also scored major wins from the U.S. Supreme Court, which has backed his hardline approach in some cases while also signaling some reservations with how he is carrying out his agenda.

Trump campaigned for his second term on a pledge to step up deportations.

Trump, who has accused federal judges of stifling his agenda, called for Boasbergs impeachment after the judge in March granted a request by lawyers for the Venezuelan migrants to temporarily block their deportations.

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Trumps comment prompted a rebuke from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, who said appeals, not impeachments, were the proper way to handle disagreements with judicial rulings.

At the time of Boasbergs March ruling, planes carrying the migrants had already taken off from the U.S.

The judge ordered the administration to return the migrants. When officials did not, Boasberg opened an inquiry into whether anyone should be held in contempt for disobeying his order.

The judges probe is on hold while the Trump administration appeals.

In Wednesday's ruling, Boasberg cited the Supreme Courts ruling in a separate case upholding a lower courts order for the administration to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant living in Maryland who was deported to El Salvador despite an earlier court ruling that he not be sent there.

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The Supreme Court, however, struck down an order by the judge in that case that the government effectuate Abrego Garcias return, citing the deference courts must give to the government on foreign policy matters.

Boasberg said his decision to allow the Trump administration propose a procedure for allowing the Venezuelans to file legal challenges balanced the executive branchs authority over foreign affairs with the migrants constitutional rights.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen; additional reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Ryan Patrick Jones, Noeleen Walder, Deepa Babington and Stephen Coates)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A jury on Tuesday convicted a former Kern County sheriffs deputy of multiple sex crimes.

17 News live blogged the announcement of the verdict.

A prosecutor said at trial Michael Everett Clark used his power as a deputy to prey on women.

Clark touched them without consent and made sexually explicit remarks, Deputy District Attorney Brad Taconi said at trial. He said Clark didnt fear repercussions; the badge protected him.

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Five women accused him of misconduct.

One woman alleged Clark groped her after arresting and handcuffing her. Another said he touched her against her will after he gave her a ride home in his patrol vehicle.

Clark testified he committed no crimes. He told the jury he consensually kissed and touched the woman to whom he gave a ride, and the woman he handcuffed was searched by the book.

Clark admitted to making sexually explicit remarks to multiple women, to hooking up while on duty with the woman he offered a ride and to otherwise being a poor law enforcement officer.

But he denied breaking the law.

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He faces up to eight years and four months in prison.

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(Photo: Getty Images)

The new leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Washington has taken a lot of heat lately from VA patients, their care-givers, and members of Congress opposed to cuts in jobs and services for veterans.

VA Secretary Doug Collins, the Air Force Reserve colonel now running a public health care system serving nine million former service members, has tried to allay their concerns.

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According to Collins, even if more than 80,000 VA positions are eliminated this year (as projected by his chief of staff), veterans will have no trouble accessing doctors, nurses, or therapists elsewhere.

Thats because they will get faster referrals to a network of equally qualified private sector providers, who now number 1.7 million nationwide and receive more than $30 billion in annual reimbursements for treating eligible veterans outside the VA.

Thanks to President Trump, Collins says, VA is providing veterans with more health care choiceswhile making it even easier for veterans to get their health care when and where its most convenient for them.

On Friday, May 30, members of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2152 challenged this rosy scenario at a noon-time rally in Reno that brought together VA patients and their care-givers.

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Rally speakers warned a crowd of several hundred about the possible loss of specialized care provided by their local VA hospital, its counterpart in Las Vegas, eighteen out-patient facilities in Nevada, three community-based counseling centers, one nursing home, and a residential treatment program for substance abusers.

According to VA defenders, local private hospitals, clinics, and medical practices will struggle to meet veterans needs if more VA care is outsourced and its own facilities are downsized or closed.

VA patients will have longer wait times for appointments. They will drive further to get less veteran centric treatment. And they will be deprived of the wrap-around services currently available to over 120,000 Nevada residents who have qualified for VA coverage due to their low-income, service-related conditions, or recent service in combat zones.

A recent assessment of the states healthcare access problems, by the University of Nevada Medical School in Reno, makes this danger quite clear, particularly for vets in rural areas. As the authors of another research paper found, Nevada ranks nationally among the lowest states in terms of available primary care doctors and general surgeons per capita, resulting in limited access to essential services and an increased reliance on emergency departments and hospitals.

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Currently, none of the states 17 counties have enough primary care providers, while 12 report a severe shortage of mental health providers. In 2023, nearly 87 percent of all Nevada residents lived in a federally-designated mental health professional shortage area.

According to the Nevada Health Workforce Research Center, the state ranked last in the country for overall youth mental health based on the prevalence of mental illness, as well as access to services for problems like anxiety and depression.

Since 2005, several of the states rural hospitals have closed and more than half of those remaining have curtailed some critical services. Others remain at risk of going out of business, particularly if Medicaid cuts, just backed by the House Republican majority soon win Senate approval as well.

By one estimate, Nevada needs 1,700 more therapists, social workers, and substance abuse specialists just to reduce drug over-dose and age-adjusted suicide rates that, in recent years, have exceeded national averages. To improve primary care access, experts say the state also needs to replace its aging physician workforce and significant proportion of inactive providers with more than 1,100 new primary care docs in the next five years.

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None of these estimates anticipate a big influx of new patients from the VA with more mental health problems, chronic illnesses and pain, more back, neck, and shoulder injuries, and higher rates of hypertension and diabetes than non-veterans.

Those who experienced combat came back with more cases of traumatic brain injury or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Veterans also suffer from higher rates of substance abuse and suicide, than the general population. Nearly a million post-9/11 vets have qualified for VA care recently due to past toxic exposures  from burn-pits in the Middle East or military bases in the U.S. with poisoned soil or water.

Right now, a major employer in Nevadathe VAstands ready and able to serve this challenging patient population, with a skilled and committed workforce numbering more than 4,200 (a third of whom are veterans themselves). The VAs two major medical centers in Nevada provide clinical training for many young doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who either decide to stay at the VA or migrate to private sector jobs, where, as noted above, they are much needed locally.

If President Trump proceeds with his planned downsizing of the VA and the services it provides, one thing is certain. Military veterans promised better customer service and convenience outside their own healthcare system will find themselves in the same medical deserts (and long lines) familiar to patients already under-served by the private healthcare industry.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Veterans who joined the most recent Midwest Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. found a crowd of Siouxlanders waiting for them when they landed in Sioux City Tuesday evening. The event was the culmination of what had been an emotional day for much of the group.

For some of the veterans, the moment served as a welcome home celebration that was long overdue.

This is a lot different than the one I had the first time, when I came home from Vietnam, said Keith Nicks, a Vietnam veteran from Remsen, Iowa. It was, oh! It was a beautiful day.

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Others emphasize that they hope more veterans can also take part in the experience. If they get an opportunity to do this, every veteran needs to go on this trip, said Doug Conrad, a Vietnam veteran from Sioux City.

Sergeant Bluff hires first full-time fire chief

The flight took off early Tuesday morning from the Sioux Gateway Airport, the first Midwest Honor Flight to depart from the Sioux City airport since 2010. Once they landed in D.C., the group was able to visit several of the war memorials in the nations capital, including those built in honor of the wars in which they served themselves.

The CEO of Midwest Honor Flight, Aaron Van Beek, said its thanks to the community that these trips can take place. It was a great day, he said. We are so thankful for so many supporters throughout the community area, here in the Siouxland area, who give their time, their efforts, their donations to make it possible for this flight today, for so many veterans to have the chance to see their memorials in Washington, D.C.

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With the help of the community, Midwest Honor Flight raised nearly $200,000 to make Tuesdays flight happen.

Story continues below

Van Beek added, so many Siouxlanders turning out to welcome the group home made for an incredible end to the day. It was quite a crowd to see, he said. We didnt know if thered be 12 people or 1,200 people that showed up tonight, and Siouxland certainly showed up to make this welcome home a special event for our veterans on flight today.

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If youre interested in learning more about Midwest Honor Flight, supporting their mission, or even applying to join a future trip, you can find more information on their website here.

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The number of victims in a Boulder firebombing attack on a group demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages has climbed to 15, plus a dog, authorities said Wednesday.

Boulder County officials who provided updates on the number of victims said in a press release they include eight women and seven men, ranging in age from 25 to 88. The Associated Press left an email message Wednesday with prosecutors seeking more details on the newly identified victims and the dog.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, had planned to kill all of the roughly 20 participants in Sundays demonstration at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, but he threw just two of his 18 Molotov cocktails while yelling Free Palestine, police said. Soliman, an Egyptian man who federal authorities say has been living in the U.S. illegally, didnt carry out his full plan because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before, police wrote in an affidavit.

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His wife and five children were taken into custody Tuesday by U.S. immigration officials, and the White House said they could be swiftly deported. Its rare that family members of a person accused of a crime are detained and threatened with deportation in this way.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Wednesday in response to the attack that federal authorities will begin to immediately crack down on people who overstay their visas.

Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism  think again, Noem said in a statement. You are not welcome here. We will find you, deport you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.

Soliman told authorities that no one, including his family, knew about his plans for the attack, according to court documents that, at times, spelled his name as Mohammed.

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According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman told police he was driven by a desire to kill all Zionist people  a reference to the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel. Authorities said he expressed no remorse about the attack.

A vigil was scheduled for Wednesday evening at the local Jewish community center to support those impacted by the attack.

Defendants immigration status

Soliman was born in el-Motamedia, an Egyptian farming village in the Nile Delta province of Gharbia thats located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Cairo, according to an Egyptian security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to talk to the media.

Before moving to Colorado Springs three years ago, he spent 17 years in Kuwait, according to court documents.

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He has been living in the U.S. illegally, having arrived in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a post on X. She said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, but that it also expired.

DHS did not respond to requests for additional information about the immigration status of his wife and children and the U.S. State Department said that visa records are confidential. The New York Times, citing McLaughlin, said his familys visas have since been revoked and they were arrested Tuesday by ICE.

Hundreds of thousands of people overstay their visas each year in the United States, according to Homeland Security Department reports.

The case against Soliman

Soliman told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting for his daughter to graduate before carrying it out, the affidavit said.

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A newspaper in Colorado Springs that profiled one of Solimans children in April noted the familys journey from Egypt to Kuwait and then to the U.S. It said after initially struggling in school, she landed academic honors and volunteered at a local hospital.

Soliman currently faces federal hate crime charges and attempted murder charges at the state level, but authorities say additional charges could be brought. Hes being held in a county jail on a $10 million bond and is scheduled to make an appearance in state court on Thursday.

His attorney, Kathryn Herold, declined to comment after a state court hearing Monday.

Witnesses and police have said Soliman threw two incendiary devices, catching himself on fire as he hurled the second. Authorities said they believe Soliman acted alone. Although they did not elaborate on the nature of his injuries, a booking photo showed him with a large bandage over one ear.

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The attack unfolded against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, which continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. The attack happened at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and barely a week after a man who also yelled Free Palestine was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington.

Six victims hospitalized

The victims ranged in age from 25 to 88, and the nature of some of their injuries spanned from serious to minor, officials said. They were members of the volunteer group called Run For Their Lives who were holding their weekly demonstration.

Three victims were still hospitalized Tuesday at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, spokesperson Kelli Christensen said.

One of the 15 victims was a child when her family fled the Nazis during the Holocaust, said Ginger Delgado of the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office, who is acting as a spokesperson for the family of the woman, who doesnt want her name used.

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___

Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington, Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Vietnam abolished its long-standing two-child limit Tuesday to try and reverse declining birth rates and ease the pressures of an aging population.

The National Assembly passed amendments scrapping rules that limit families to having one or two children, state media Vietnam News Agency reported Wednesday.

The rules were usually stricter for Communist Party members, who could miss out on promotions or bonuses if they had a third child.

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Vietnamese families are having fewer children than ever before. The birth rate in 2021 was 2.11 children per woman, just over the replacement rate required for a population to avoid shrinking over the long term. Since then, the birth rate has steadily declined: to 2.01 in 2022, 1.96 in 2023 and 1.91 in 2024.

Vietnam isnt the only Asian country with low fertility. But, unlike Japan, South Korea or Singapore, it is still a developing economy.

Nguyen Thu Linh, 37, a marketing manager in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, said she and her husband decided to have only one child because they wanted to give their 6-year-old son the best education and upbringing that they could afford.

Sometimes, I think about having another child so my son can have a sibling, but there's so much financial and time pressure if you have another child, she said.

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Vietnam introduced rules blocking families from having more than two children in 1988 to reduce pressure on limited resources after years of war, first with France and then the United States, as the country transitioned into a more market-oriented economy. The population rose from about 62 million then to just over 100 million in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available.

Vietnams golden population period  when working age people outnumber those who depend on them  began in 2007 and is expected to last until 2039. The number of people who can work is likely to peak in 2042 and, by 2054, the population may start shrinking. All of this could make it harder to grow the economy, since there will be fewer workers while the cost of supporting the needs of the elderly increases.

Birth rates in Vietnam arent falling evenly. In Ho Chi Minh City  the countrys biggest city and economic hub  the fertility rate in 2024 was just 1.39 children per woman, much lower than the national average. At the same time, nearly 12% of the citys population was over 60, putting pressure on welfare services. To help, local officials started offering about $120 to women who have two children before turning 35 last December.

It also offers some of the most generous family benefits in the region, including six months of fully paid maternity leave and free healthcare for children under 6. Tuition in government schools is free until the age of 15 and, starting in September it'll be free till the end of high school.

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Vietnam is also dealing with a unbalanced gender ratio, partly due to long-standing preferences for sons. According to state media, the distortion is more concentrated in Vietnam's northern Red River delta, which includes Hanoi.

Doctors arent allowed to tell parents the babys sex before birth, and sex-selective abortions are banned. But despite this, some still hint at the baby's sex using coded language, said state media VN Express, citing a government report.

On Tuesday, the health ministry proposed tripling the fine for choosing a babys sex before birth to $3,800, state media reported.

China imposed a one-child policy in 1979 amid worries about overpopulation. But as the country faces growing concerns about the long-term economic and societal challenges of an aging population, it has been slowly easing the policy to allow a second child and then a third child in 2021, but with little success in boosting birthrates.

___

Associated Press journalist Hau Dinh contributed to this report.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court made the correct decision not to accept a Maryland case that banned AR-15 semiautomatic assault weapons. These are the types of guns used in high-profile mass killings. The Court also declined to accept a Rhode Island case that banned high-capacity magazines.

This means the laws in both states will take effect. Similar legislation and litigation has been going on around the country due to recent high-profile shootings.

The Firearms Policy Coalition, a gun rights group against the two laws, issued a statement saying they are disappointed members of the Supreme Court did not have the judicial courage to do their most important job and enforce the Constitution.

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We disagree. The Supreme Court did do its job. The Court declined hearing either of these cases. The Supreme Court is not bound to hear every case. In fact, it overwhelmingly rejects most cases which allows lower court decisions stand. It takes four members to vote to accept a case for a hearing.

Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court operates on a 6-3 conservative majority. The court indicated it is likely to take up similar legislation in the future. The court has been reluctant to tamper with what many view as gun rights. Justice Kavanaugh wrote in a separate statement that the ruling upholding the Maryland ban is questionable.

In 2022, the Supreme Court made a major ruling that, for the first time, the right to bear arms is expanded outside the home.

Justice Thomas, Justice Alito and Justice Gorsuch wanted to hear the Maryland case. The Maryland law bans what it calls weapons of war, outlawing guns like the M16 and AR-15.

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It became law in 2013. That was after the Sandy Hook school massacre that killed 20 children and six adults. The Rhode Island law prohibits people from owning magazines that contain more than 10 bullets.

In a case this year, the Supreme Court upheld a Biden-era ruling that banned ghost gun kits that can be assembled to make firearms. In July of last year, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on persons owning firearms that have domestic restraining orders against them.

To be sure, these gun-related issues will continue to come before the court. We are surprised such a conservative court ruled the way they did in this matter.

Or, could it be the Supreme Court is just doing its job?
Gatchalian hails Senate nod on proposed expansion of Philippine Science High School System

Senator Win Gatchalian hailed the Senate's third reading approval of the Expanded Philippine Science High School System (PSHS) Act (Senate Bill No. 2974), which he co-authored and co-sponsored.

The proposed measure seeks to establish the PSHS System under the administrative supervision of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The bill provides that there shall be at least two PSHS campuses in each administrative region except the National Capital Region where the PSHS main campus is located. No province, however, shall have more than one PSHS campus.

Gatchalian pointed out that the proposed measure will give more learners the opportunity to receive quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education's (EDCOM II) Year Two Report, qualified students were unable to study in the PSHS System over the past three years because of the lack of slots.

"Sa pagpapalawig natin ng PSHS System, maaabot natin ang mas maraming mag-aaral at mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong makatanggap ng dekalidad na edukasyon pagdating sa STEM," said Gatchalian, EDCOM II co-Chairperson.
VILLE PLATTE, La. (KLFY)  Two men were arrested, one of whom claimed to be a police officer, and large amounts of guns and drugs were seized in a raid on a Ville Platte home last week, authorities said.

Marvin Campbell, 70, of Ville Platte, and Terry Campbell, 65, of Ville Platte, are each charged with 47 counts of illegal carrying of a firearm, nine counts of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids and two counts of possessing or dealing in unregistered or illegally transferred weapons.

Narcotic agents with the Evangeline Parish Sheriffs Office and the Allen Parish Sheriffs Office SWAT Team, executed a search warrant May 27 at 7061 U.S.-167 North in Ville Platte, the residence of Terry Campbell and Marvin Campbell.

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In the house, agents found 1.73 grams of methamphetamine, several digital scales and 47 various firearms, including rifles and shotguns, with two of the guns illegally modified, authorities said. Several pieces of drug paraphernalia such as Marijuana grinders, smoking pipes and rolling papers were also found, along with a total of over $9,700 in cash.

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Elsewhere on the properly agents located nine Marijuana plants ranging from approximately 15 to 60 inches in length, with several apparently partially harvested, officials said.

When Terry Campbell and Marvin Campbell were questioned, both said that they were disabled and had been for several years, authorities said.

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A badge belonging to the Mamou Police Department was located in the center of the dashboard of a vehicle on the property pointing out towards the windshield as if portraying himself as a police officer, authorities said. Marvin Campbell said he was commissioned by the previous chief of police in Mamou, Brent Zachary.

Marvin Campbell (left) and Terry Campbell

Mamou Assistant Chief Caleb Semien said Marvin Campbell was not a police officer with the Mamou Police Department, and that the badge should have been turned in, officials said.

Both were booked into the Evangeline Parish jail. Marvin Campbell was released Tuesday on $310,000 bond, and Terry Campbell is being held on $315,000 bond, jail records show.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Following a difficult week for law enforcement in central Ohio, agency leaders are making sure their officers know mental health support is available.

Last week, Morrow County Deputy Daniel Scherrer was shot and killed, two Mifflin Township Police officers were shot, and other officers were shot at during other tense situations.

Even though it didnt involve our department, it was a tough week to be a police officer in central Ohio, Columbus Division of Police Lt. Tyler Wells said. Were all one, were all in the same profession together, so whether it happened in California, whether it happens in Ohio, that affects us.

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Westerville Rotary Club starts project to help curb homelessness for young people

Wells is the acting commander of the divisions wellness bureau. He said what happened last week can weigh heavily on the minds of officers.

We start from day one in the training academy, preparing officers for situations like this, Wells said. We let them know theyre not alone.

The bureau is always checking on officers, has clinicians available, and also has a 127-member peer assistance team. The Gahanna Division of Police also has a peer assistance team.

Whenever these tragic incidents happen, there are some unseen scars that may happen or manifest themselves weeks, months, maybe even a year later, Gahanna Division of Police Chief Jeffrey Spence said.

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The resources in CDPs wellness bureau are also available to other agencies in the area, Wells said.

A rare COVID-19 strain disappeared overnight. We still dont know which Ohioan had it

In the law enforcement community, we are one, so we look forward to taking care of anybody else that needs our assistance and provide them with the same amount of resources we provide our personnel, he said.

Spence said 911 operators can also be affected by these situations and wants to make sure their well-being is not forgotten.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
VIRGINIA BEACH  Crime is down in the resort area, but police are concerned a recent surge in unruly crowds and a proliferation of firearms are creating a dangerous environment at the Oceanfront.

Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate says an increased police presence isnt sufficient, and he wants to use new strategies to control the environment including a potential midnight curfew, enhanced enforcement zones, and increasing parking and towing rates.

Neudigate proposed several crowd control measures at Tuesdays City Council meeting. The curfew option he proposed would be for people of all ages, not just minors. Council members then recessed into a closed session to discuss the strategies and the citys legal options.

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Before a decision is made on next steps, it will be brought forward to the public, City Manager Patrick Duhaney said at the meeting.

The discussion comes on the heels of an active spring at the Oceanfront, where police said the brazen brandishing of weapons in front of police officers is confounding the department.

Police arrested more than 50 people, responded to multiple shots fired incidents, and confiscated nearly 30 guns during the last weekend of April, unofficially known as College Beach Weekend.

The sheer number of firearms brought to our Oceanfront is incredibly alarming, the chief said, adding that one of the seized weapons was linked to a Richmond homicide.

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It killed someone up in Richmond and made its way down here, he said.

The individuals who police officers talked to during College Beach Weekend were not college students, Neudigate said.

The individuals that we spoke to down there that weekend These are not college kids that are coming to visit the Oceanfront, he said. He described them as day trippers from nearby states including Maryland and North Carolina.

The chief played surveillance video of a crowd he said was indicative of the type of issues police want to address. A group of more than one hundred people are seen gathered after dark on April 5 at 17th Street and Atlantic Avenue. The chief said an individual pulled out a firearm in the adjacent public park. People then started to run toward the Dairy Queen, the video showed. The individual fired shots and multiple officers in the area chased down and arrested the person, Neudigate said.

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Ten officers right there and the individual did not care, the chief said. Police presence is not going to solve this alone. The uniform, the threat of incarceration is no longer a deterrent for some of the individuals coming to the Oceanfront.

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The chief cited several resort beach cities along the East Coast that are cracking down on spring break crowds including Ocean City, Maryland, and Miami Beach, Florida.

Some of the cities are using a combination of tactics to control crowds including curfews, overnight beach closures, security checkpoints in high traffic areas. Another strategy used by other states and may require a change in state law would be implementing special event zones for unpermitted events where police can enforce increased fines for traffic infractions and impound vehicles.

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Miami Beach, which charged up to $100 a day for parking and doubled towing rates to deter spring breakers, is facing backlash from businesses that say it hurts their bottom line.

Councilman Worth Remick, who represents half of the resort area, is worried Virginia Beach businesses could feel the same way.

I will have some pushback on curfews, Remick said.

Violent crime, which includes homicides, has been on the decline at the Oceanfront since 2020, according to the police. But this year has seen an increase in nonfatal shootings. In all of 2024, there were two nonfatal shootings at the Oceanfront. This year, as of May 14, there have been three.

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The amount of gunfire in the area has also decreased, according to data from the ShotSpotter detection system employed in the resort area. In 2023, there were 25 gunshots fired. Last year, there were 17. Eleven shots have been fired this year, half of which occurred during the last weekend of April, the chief said.

Virginia allows the open carrying of firearms without a permit but requires a permit for concealed carry of a handgun.

Neudigates concerned that young people will flock to Virginia Beach next spring as a result of enforcement efforts in other beach cities, and he wants the city to be prepared.

Who is going to be the destination area thats going to bear the brunt of that?, the chief said. Were incredibly concerned from a law enforcement perspective that its going to be us.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
VIRGINIA BEACH  There was no dispute during a bond hearing Wednesday that Jennifer Mulligan shot and killed her 90-year-old father as he lie in his bed.

The question was why.

The May 7 slaying happened at a home in the Avalon Hills neighborhood that Mulligan shared with her husband, brother-in-law and father, Woodard McClure.

Police said Mulligan called 911 around 11 a.m. that day to report that shed shot McClure. When a dispatcher asked if she fired on purpose, Mulligan said yes, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney David Talmage told Circuit Judge Afshin Farashahi during Wednesdays hearing.

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Later, when she was interviewed by detectives, Mulligan said shed had about three beers that morning when she went to the garage, got a gun, walked into her fathers room and shot him after he looked at her, Talmage said. McClure died from a contact wound to his forehead, the prosecutor said, meaning the gun was pressed to his forehead when the bullet was fired. A .380-caliber shell was found nearby.

What this was was the execution of a 90-year-old man, Talmage told Farashahi while arguing against bond for Mulligan.

Mulligan, 43, is charged with first-degree murder and using a firearm to commit a felony. Shes been held without bond at the city jail since her arrest. Last week, a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge granted her bond, under strict conditions, but prosecutors appealed. On Wednesday, Farashahi ordered that she remain jailed.

Defense attorney Roger Whitus told the judge McClure had been an abusive and manipulative father to Mulligan and her siblings, and had abducted her when she was little and disappeared with her for a few years. Mulligan and McClure were estranged for years, Whitus said, but began communicating again a few years ago.

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When McClures retirement home in Texas shut down about a year and a half ago, Mulligan drove there to get him and brought him to her house, Whitus said.

Mulligans husband, Brian, testified Wednesday that his wife changed after her father moved in. The once happy-go-lucky woman became sad and confused, he said, while her father was bitter and combative, and would throw fits.

Brian Mulligan also testified that his wife had tried to suppress memories of her dads abuse, but having him live with her brought them back.

Whitus presented Farashahi with 18 letters and emails from Mulligans family and friends, in which they described her as a kind, loving and gentle person. Two of Mulligans three sons, her husband, brother-in-law and a neighbor attended the hearing on her behalf.

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She has huge family support, the defense lawyer said. Shes certainly not a flight risk, considering shes the one who called police and was very cooperative with them and gave them a detailed statement.

The judge said he agreed she wasnt a flight risk, but also said he believed prosecutors had offered enough evidence to indicate she could be a danger to others.

Mulligans next hearing is scheduled for July 29.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP)  Archaeologists in Virginia were excavating the grounds of a building that stored gunpowder during the American Revolution when they uncovered the eye sockets of a human skull.

The team carefully unearthed four skeletons, including one with a bullet in the spine, and three amputated legs. They quickly surmised the bones were actually from the Civil War, when a makeshift hospital operated nearby and treated gravely wounded Confederate soldiers.

The archaeologists work at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a museum that owns the land and focuses on the citys 18th century history. Theyre now trying to identify human remains from the 19th century, a rare endeavor that will include searching for living descendants and requesting swabs of DNA.

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The museum has recovered enough genetic material from the mens teeth for possible matches. But the prospect of identifying them emerged only after the team located handwritten lists in an archive that name the soldiers in that hospital.

It is the key, said Jack Gary, Colonial Williamsburgs executive director of archaeology. If these men were found in a mass grave on a battlefield, and there was no other information, we probably wouldnt be trying to do this.

The archaeologists have narrowed the possible identities to four men who served in regiments from Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia. The museum is withholding the names as the work continues.

Meanwhile, the remains were reinterred Tuesday at a Williamsburg cemetery where Confederate soldiers from the same battle are buried.

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Everyone deserves dignity in death, Gary said. And being stored in a drawer inside a laboratory does not do that.

Shockingly costly for both sides

The soldiers fought in the Battle of Williamsburg, a bloody engagement on May 5, 1862. The fighting was part of the Peninsula Campaign, a major Union offensive that tried to end the war quickly.

The campaigns failure that summer, stalling outside the Confederate capital of Richmond, informed President Abraham Lincolns decision to end slavery.

In his first inaugural address, Lincoln said he intended to reunite the nation with slavery intact in the Southern states, while halting its westward expansion, said Timothy Orr, a military historian and professor at Old Dominion University.

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But Lincoln realized after the campaign that he needed a more radical approach, Orr said. And while the president faced political pressure for emancipation, freeing people who were enslaved served as another weapon to defeat the Confederacy.

He becomes convinced that slavery is feeding the Confederate war effort, Orr said. It had to be taken away.

Bigger and bloodier battles followed Williamsburg, Orr said, but it was shockingly costly for both sides."

Roughly 14,600 Union soldiers fought about 12,500 Confederates, Carol Kettenburg Dubbs wrote in her 2002 book, Defend This Old Town. The number of Union killed, wounded, captured or missing was 2,283. The Confederate figure was 1,870.

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The fighting moved north, while a Union brigade occupied the southern city. Confederate soldiers too wounded for travel were placed in homes and a church, which was converted into a hospital.

A surgeon from New York treated them, while local women visited the church, Dubbs wrote. One woman noted in her diary on May 26 that there were only 18 out of 61 left.

Their arms were crossed

When the remains were discovered in 2023, they were aligned east-west in the Christian tradition, said Gary, the archaeologist. Their arms were crossed.

The careful burial indicates they were not dumped into a mass grave, Gary said. Those who died in the battle were almost immediately placed in trenches and later reinterred at a cemetery.

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The men were not in uniform, said Eric Schweickart, a staff archaeologist. Some were in more comfortable clothes, based on artifacts that included buttons and a trouser buckle.

One soldier had two $5 gold coins from 1852. Another had a toothbrush made of animal bone and a snuff bottle, used for sniffing tobacco.

The bullet in the soldiers spine was a Minie ball, a common round of Civil War ammunition. The foot of one amputated leg also contained a Minie ball. Bones in a second severed leg were shattered.

We want it be ironclad

As the team researched the battle, they learned of the lists of hospitalized soldiers, said Evan Bell, an archaeological lab technician.

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The lists were likely copied from Union records by the women who visited the wounded. The documents were with a local familys papers at William & Mary, a university nearby.

The lists became the projects Rosetta stone, providing names and regiments of more than 60 soldiers. They included dates of death and notes indicating amputations.

The archaeologists eliminated soldiers on the lists who survived or lost an extremity. The four skeletons had all of their limbs. Death dates were key because three men were buried together, allowing the team to pinpoint three soldiers who died around the same time.

William & Marys Institute for Historical Biology examined the remains and estimated their ages. The youngest was between 15 and 19, the oldest between 35 and 55. The estimates helped match names to enlistment records, census data and Union prisoner of war documents.

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The soldiers remains and the amputated limbs were buried in their own stainless steel boxes in a concrete vault, Gary said. If descendants are confirmed, they can move their ancestor to another burial site.

The identification effort will continue for another several months at least and will include extensive genealogy work, Gary said. Using only DNA tests on remains from the 1800s can risk false positives because you start becoming related to everyone.

We want it to be ironclad, he said.
Lewis Hamilton has met with the UK Prime Minister to discuss education reform, as the seven-time Formula 1 world champion furthers his commitment to his Mission 44 project.

Hamilton, who last weekend finished sixth in the Spanish Grand Prix, joined a roundtable with Sir Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson at 10 Downing Street to discuss how the UK government will work to support schools and pupils.

It comes after Hamilton launched his own initiative in 2021 to develop a more inclusive future for young people around the world after admitting his own struggles during education.

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Hamilton launched the charity to help drive change and give access to children to pursue careers in STEM subjects at school and discussed a new framework for schools to increase pupil engagement so more young people are supported to achieve.

Hamilton said: I struggled in school and never felt like my voice was heard, thats why I know first-hand that ensuring every student feels they belong in school is vital.

Lewis Hamilton visits UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Mission 44

Lewis Hamilton visits UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Mission 44 Mission 44

Mission 44

Im grateful that off the back of this meeting, the government has committed to working with Mission 44 to enact change focused on making the education system more inclusive. Im so proud of how far Mission 44 has come in such a short space of time and the opportunity we have to transform the lives of vulnerable students across the country.

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In 2024, Hamilton said he has struggled with mental health issues for most of his life as a consequence of being bullied at school and the pressure of racing.

Read Also:

Lewis Hamilton claims F1 Spanish GP is "the worst race Ive experienced"

Lewis Hamilton nervous to show other drivers the F1 movie he helped produce

In an interview with the Sunday Times, he said: When I was in my 20s, I had some really difficult phases. Ive struggled with mental health throughout my life. [Ive had] depression. From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to.

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During the F1 Miami GP, it was announced that Hamiltons Mission 44 was partnering with Ferrari title sponsors HP to provide young people in the UK and Miami with access to technology, training, digital skills, and mentorship, including a multi-year partnership to support two Miami-based organisations, which create career pathways and provide workforce development.

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A major Pride event in southwest Ohio is still looking for volunteers.

Organizers of the Cincinnati Pride Parade are looking for members of the community to help by volunteering, according to NBC affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati.

The parade will be held June 28 at 11 a.m. It is expected to begin at Plum and Seventh streets in the Queen City, and end at Sawyer Point & Yeatmans Cove.

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Our affiliate said it takes roughly 300 volunteers to just conduct the parade. Nearly 200,000 people attended the parade in 2024.

To find out how you can volunteer, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Marjorie Taylor Greene wishes she had read Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" more carefully.

On Tuesday, the Georgia Republican took to X to condemn a portion of the spending bill that she voted in favor of on May 21.

"Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years," Greene wrote. "I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of states' rights, and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there."

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Greene called for the portion to be "stripped out" in the Senate, criticizing the "free rein" the bill gives to "potentially dangerous" AI development. She added that she would vote against the bill when it comes back to the House if the portion barring AI regulation remains.

Greene is not the only Trump ally to break ranks with the president's controversial bill. Recent Trump administration departee Elon Musk called the bill "a disgusting abomination" earlier this week.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

"Shame on those who voted for it," Musk wrote on X. "You know you did wrong. You know it."

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul called the spending cuts "wimpy and anemic" while saying the bill would "explode" the deficit, a claim backed up by an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is travelling to his inaugural meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday bolstered by significant European support for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday.

"I hope that he will formulate a strong position of freedom alongside the US president in support of Ukraine," Wadephul said in response to a reporter's question during a meeting with his Polish counterpart Radosaw Sikorski in Berlin.

Wadephul noted that such European unity over Ukraine support has not been seen for many years. "That is why a strengthened chancellor is travelling to Washington with a great deal of positive European backing," he said.

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Merz is not only travelling to Washington for his inaugural visit with Trump but also as the first European leader since negotiations between Ukraine and Russia began, Wadephul emphasized.

"Europe expects that together, the US and Europe will now bring Russia to the negotiating table," he added. "This opportunity for peace must not be wasted. And this war must finally come to a just end."

The chancellor travels to Washington on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, a one-to-one meeting with Trump, a joint lunch, and a press event in the Oval Office are planned.
Police in Wadesboro say theyre investigating a death at an abandoned convenience store that was discovered Tuesday night.

According to the Wadesboro Police Department, officers were called to an abandoned gas station off Airport Road and Highway 109 North for a homicide investigation.

Police say the victim was from Troy and worked for the city.

Channel 9 looked into jail records in Anson County and didnt see anybody charged in connection with the homicide case, but police said one person has been arrested.

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Police arrested Justin Wright at a home nearby on Barrington Street. Hes been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and murder.

The second suspect is a juvenile and has since been arrested.

Both are now in custody.

Police say the investigation is still pending.

Well update this article when more information is available. Check back for details.

(VIDEO: Family pleads for answers after 17-year-old girl killed in north Charlotte drive-by shooting)
Ukraines stunning drone strikes on Russian airfields are intensifying calls from military leaders and lawmakers in both parties to address gaping vulnerabilities in U.S. air bases.

Kyiv this week launched more than 100 drones inside Russia using artificial intelligence, a daring move that eviscerated five military bases and damaged more than 40 aircraft. Footage of Russian bombers and fighters erupting in flames while parked on open tarmacs rippled across the internet  and Washington.

While it was a significant blow struck by a U.S. ally, the attacks also laid bare how easily and cheaply uncrewed systems can cripple sophisticated air forces. Officials concerns are particularly acute in the Pacific, where the U.S. is seeking to beef up its presence. Ukraines success underscored how swiftly an adversary can destroy airpower with drones.

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It has to make you much more aware of how vulnerable we as a nation are, said Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), chair of the Appropriations subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, said in an interview. The Ukrainians defeated the Russian navy without owning any ships, and now theyve decimated their air force with virtually no air force of their own.

Lawmakers and military officials say U.S. aircraft are particularly vulnerable since they sit out in the open without protective cover. The strike could force a reassessment of the American militarys defensive posture and spending priorities, including whether to invest in more counter-drone technologies, hardened aircraft shelters or camouflage.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin called the Ukrainian offensive a wake-up moment and suggested it would impact defense budget conversations unfolding in Washington. Seemingly impenetrable locations, maybe, are not, he said Tuesday at a Center for a New American Security event, noting the damage of $7 billion was eyebrow-raising. We need to pay more attention to that.

The Air Force, in a statement, said its forces maintain a high state of readiness to defend against a range of threats, including swarms of drones. The service is also developing capabilities to ward against future threats, the statement said, and investing in layered air and missile defense technologies, early warning systems, and rapid response protocols designed to detect, track and neutralize airborne threats.

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President Donald Trump is aware of the militarys vulnerabilities and taking steps to fix them, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday during a press conference.

Plans for a massive Golden Dome missile shield were launched with this kind of threat in mind, she said. Trump has a full understanding  about the future of warfare and how drones are a big part of that.

That is one of the reasons Trump wants the one big beautiful bill to be passed, Leavitt said, referring to Republicans tax and spending package that would pump $150 billion into Pentagon coffers.

The issue could reverberate through Congress consideration of that megabill. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) noted the bill includes more money for counter-drone defenses as demand for those capabilities skyrockets.

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The military has considered the threat drones present to grounded aircraft long before the Ukrainian attack, he said. But the episode could focus public attention on concerns posed by cheap uncrewed technology.

"There's no doubt that we have a myriad of aircraft . stored in facilities, really, that are designed to protect them from the weather and are not resistant to explosives like the ones the Ukrainians used, Wicker said Wednesday during a Defense Writers Group event with reporters. It should be a wake-up call to the public. I'm not sure that it is much of a surprise to our military strategists."

The alarm is especially high in the Pacific, where U.S. bases sit within range of Chinas growing missile arsenal. A Hudson Institute report by Thomas Shugart and Timothy Walton found that China has built more than 400 hardened aircraft shelters  protective concrete bunkers designed to shield warplanes from missile and drone attacks  over the past decade. The U.S. has added just 22 in the region.

Large numbers of American bombers sit open on the tarmac, just like the ones we saw in those videos, Shugart, a former Navy officer, said.There needs to be more robust measures than appear to be happening at this time.

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The worry is crossing partisan lines. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the top Democrat on the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said the drone attack shows Ukraine is really in this fight and validates a pressing concern that the U.S. doesnt have enough counter-drone capabilities at home and overseas.

I have been raising this and pressing this in every meeting with every senior military leader, how to speed up procurement, speed up deployment, Coons said in an interview. This makes it clear that we face genuine risks from sophisticated drone attacks almost everywhere in the world.

The attack is receiving particular attention in Virginia, a state with a heavy military presence.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the strikes a case study in battlefield innovation that should prompt a reevaluation of the safety of U.S. bases.

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We have to do an awful lot to protect our infrastructure at home, he said. I dont think weve figured out all the policies we need or the resources to implement them.

Fellow Virginian and the Senate Intelligence Committees top Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner, said a national security professional sent him satellite images of American bases after the Ukraine attack with U.S. military aircraft sitting exposed.

The Ukrainians are redefining warfare, he said. We have to learn from this.

Jack Detsch contributed to this report.
Wake County elementary and middle schools are now expected to become cellphone-free during the school day with high schools allowing the devices to be used in limited situations.

The Wake County school board unanimously gave final approval Tuesday to a new cellphone policy that says personal wireless communication devices must be silenced and put away during instructional time. The policy would allow high school students to take their phones out during breaks and if allowed in class by the teacher.

High school students are different, said school board member Lynn Edmonds. They should have a little bit more autonomy.

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Failure to follow the new policy, which goes into effect in July, could result in phones being confiscated and students being disciplined.

The policy represents Wake Countys first attempt to standardize cellphone rules across all schools. Previously, individual schools set their own policies.

Nationwide push to restrict phone use in schools

Wakes new phone policy comes amid growing concerns about the negative impacts the devices have on learning and students mental health.

At least 24 states have laws or policies that ban or restrict students use of cellphones in schools statewide or recommend local districts enact their own bans or restrictive policies, according to an Education Week analysis.

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Both the state House and Senate have passed their own bills restricting cellphone use in school and included the language in their budget proposals. Wake would have to change the policy if the Senate bill becomes law because it requires phones to be turned off and not just silenced in class.

School leaders say the policy will likely need to be revised on a regular basis due to changes in technology.

Jamaal Wellman places his phone in a caddy at the start of a seventh-grade social studies class at Rolesville Middle School on March 27, 2024. Wake County school board gave final approval on June 3, 2025 to a districtwide policy regulating cellphone use in schools.

Stricter K-8 phone rules

The phone policy is more restrictive at elementary schools and middle school than high schools.

Under the policy, elementary and middle school students would be required to put their phones away during instructional time between morning and afternoon bells. To provide consistency, the board rejected adding wording on Tuesday that would allow schools to place additional restrictions.

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The policy defines put away as being out of sight and not easily accessible. This can include putting the phone in a locker, backpack or bag. Students wouldnt be allowed to leave their phones in their pocket.

Some exceptions would be allowed for students to use phones during school:

 Phones can be used during school hours if theyre authorized or required in the individualized education program or Section 504 plan of a student with disabilities. Wording was added Tuesday to also include if phones are used by students with disabilities for translation or assistive communication.

 Phones can be used if theyre part of a students individualized health plan. Examples include using the phone to monitor a students glucose levels

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 School staff may authorize brief use of a device if there is a reasonable and legitimate need to communicate with someone outside the school during the instructional day. Students must ask for permission in advance, unless theyre calling 911 in an emergency.

Two exceptions would only apply at high schools:

 The high school is allowing teachers to authorize use of devices during class for instructional purposes.

 The high school has developed a rule for allowing the devices to be used during specified non-instructional time, such as class change and lunch.

School board member Toshiba Rice said it would cause too many problems telling high school students that they cant check their phones during non-instructional times.

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You cant take away something that is part of a persons social norms in its entirety, Rice said.

Confiscation of phones

The policy allows school staff to temporarily confiscate a students phone if theyve repeatedly violated the policy or their use of the device is substantially disrupting other students.

At the urging of board member Lindsay Mahaffey, the policy was amended Tuesday to say that students will get a verbal warning first about silencing or putting away their phones before they are confiscated.

Theyre children, Mahaffey said. Children make mistakes.

Phones sit in a caddy in Kyanna McCalls seventh-grade classroom at Rolesville Middle School on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Wake County school board gave final approval on June 3, 2025 to a districtwide policy regulating cellphone use in schools.

Phones are generally supposed to be returned at the end of the class. But they can be confiscated for the entire school day if the students behavior is substantially disruptive or if theyve regularly violated the policy.

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Parents are supposed to be notified if their students device is being repeatedly confiscated or if its being confiscated for the entire school day.

Parents can be required to come to the school to pick up the confiscated phone if theres been a pattern of violations all school year and written warning was provided ahead of time.

The policy says the school system will not accept responsibility for the theft, loss or damage to phones.

Teachers support limiting phone use

Ahead of the vote, the district surveyed teachers about the policy with 2,617 submitting responses.

 87.6% of teachers agree or strongly agree that phones should be turned off during instructional time.

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 Teachers were split whether there are appropriate times when student device use can be encouraged with 43.5% agreeing or strongly agreeing and 42.2% of teachers disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

 58.8% of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that device confiscation should only be used as a last resort after other classroom management strategies have failed.

 61.9% of teachers agree or strongly agree that they support device confiscation in classrooms.

Lake Myra converted to multi-track year-round calendar

Also on Tuesday, the school board voted to convert Lake Myra Elementary School in Wendell to a multi-track year-round calendar starting in the 2026-27 school year.

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In a multi-track calendar, all the students are divided into four groups, called tracks, which have their own rotating schedules. Three tracks are in session at all times, which can increase the buildings capacity by 20% or more.

The conversion will expand Lake Myras capacity from 616 students to 814 students. Lake Myra currently uses a track 4 year-round calendar, meaning all students follow the same schedule.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 42-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, June 3, on revocation warrants for intoxicated assault with a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the El Paso County Constables Office for Precinct 3 said.

The Constables Office says they arrested Andres Menchaca on active personal recognizance bond warrants for intoxicated assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Menchaca was taken into custody at the 5600 block of Van Horn and was booked into the El Paso County Jail under a $50,000 bond.

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The Constables Office says Menchaca was initially arrested in December 2020 by El Paso Police for the intoxicated assault charge. The case has yet to be adjudicated.

The Constables Office is also reminding the community that they can report fugitives by calling Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-TIPS (8477).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The Washington Post issued a correction on a story it published claiming Israeli soldiers shot and killed 31 civilians in Gaza who were attempting to collect aid at a US-run site.

WaPo admitted Tuesday in a post on X that they could not verify the incendiary report published on Sunday baring the headline: At least 31 people were killed Sunday morning in southern Gaza, according to the Strips Health Ministry, when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds making their way to collect aid.

The article failed to make clear if attributing the deaths to Israel was the position of the Gaza health ministry or a fact verified by The Post, the paper said in a post on X, adding, The Post didnt give proper weight to Israels denial and gave improper certitude about what was known about any Israeli role in the shootings.

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, on Thursday, May 29, 2025. AP

The early version fell short of Post standards of fairness and should not have been published in that form, the mea culpa ended.

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An updated version of the story still includes the claim 31 Palestinians were killed while they sought aid from an Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution site, citing local health officials and medics.

The article now also includes the denial from the Israel Defense Forces that the shooting came from Israeli soldiers and the GHF pushback against fabricated claims, the BBC reported.

The outlet shared a post on X stating it had updated its Sunday article to reflect that it could not verify that Israeli troops killed around 30 civilians near a U.S. aid site in Gaza. X

It is false and fabricated. All aid was distributed today without incident, the GHF said, Fox News reported. No injuries or fatalities as noted in our daily update sent out earlier today. We have heard that these fake reports have been actively fomented by Hamas. They are untrue and fabricated.

Over 175 Palestinians were wounded on Sunday with at least 26 killed, Fox News reported citing the Hamas-run Strips Health Ministry.

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The International Committee of the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah stated they received a mass casualty influx of 179 cases on Sunday, according to the BBC.

A general view of The Washington Post building located at 1301 K Street NW in Washington, DC on April 14, 2025. Christopher Sadowski

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is promising to parse through conflicting claims about Sundays tragedy.

I am appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza yesterday. It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food, Guterres wrote on X, adding, I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.

The Washington Post did not respond to a request for comment.
The Washington Post admitted it didn't give proper weight to Israel's denial of involvement in the shooting, which the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has also denied.

The Washington Post on Tuesday filed a correction to a recent article claiming the IDF killed over 30 people near an aid site in Gaza, naming the source as health officials.

The article, published Sunday and viewed over two million times before the correction, was changed because the Washington Post claimed it didnt meet Post fairness standards.

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According to a social media post on X/Twitter, the article failed to make clear if attributing the deaths to Israel was the position of the Gaza health ministry or a fact verified by The Post.

Although the original article included statements from Israel, including an initial inquiry indicating IDF soldiers did not fire at civilians at the aid centers, the newspaper admitted it didnt give proper weight to Israels denial and gave improper certitude about what was known about any Israeli role in the shootings.

The GHF has proved the IDF did not fire at civilians at aid centers

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center in Rafah denied on Sunday claims that the IDF attacked a food distribution point near Rafah, contradicting widely circulated Hamas reports.

GAZA RESIDENTS carry aid supplies which they received from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, near the Netzarim Corridor, yesterday. (photo credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters)

Security camera footage from Sunday's aid distribution site shows calm civilian activity, with no incidents reported. Aid was delivered without disruption, and the available evidence does not support claims of injuries or fatalities. While some media outlets have reported these allegations, others have contacted the organization to verify the facts, the GHF stated.

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Following the incident, the GHF denied claims of casualties and injuries at the aid distribution sites. "All aid was distributed today without incident. No injuries or fatalities. We have heard that these fake reports have been actively fomented by Hamas. They are untrue and fabricated," GHF noted.

Reuters contributed to this report.
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  In just a few weeks, Democratic voters will choose their partys nominee for the next New York City public advocate.

Incumbent Jumaane Williams and state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar will face off on the PIX11 debate stage at 7 p.m. Thursday.

More Local News

The debate will be moderated by PIX11s Dan Mannarino and Henry Rosoff and air live on PIX11, PIX11.com, and PIX11+.

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Heres how you can watch the debate in other languages:

Watch the debate in Spanish

A live Spanish translation of the public advocate debate will be available in a video player below starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Watch the debate in Mandarin

A Mandarin translation of the debate will be available live on the Chinese-American Planning Councils Facebook page. A translated stream will also be available in a video player below at 7 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
GALION, Ohio (WCMH)  A private ceremony at Marion Cemetery is concluding a weeks worth of remembrance for a Morrow County deputy who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Deputy Daniel Weston Sherrer will be laid to rest Wednesday in Marion. A public service to honor and celebrate Sherrer took place during the morning and afternoon at Northmor High School near Galion, with former sheriff and current pastor Steve Brenneman officiating.

Morrow County comes together to remember fallen deputy

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Inside the program for Wednesdays celebration of life, there is a note written by Sherrer when he was young. It reads, My big dream is to be a policeman. I want to catch the villains and Im willing to risk my life for the people in the United States.

Hundreds of people showed up to honor the fallen hero.

He wasnt just a deputy, he was a hero, Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton said. Deputy Sherrer was a member of the select group of people who willingly put themselves at risk so that others dont have to. They do this knowing that it could cost them their lives.

Sherrers mother, father, fiancee and other loved ones sat in the front row and listened as people spoke about the impact he made on the community.

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To his parents, thank you for giving your son an upbringing that led him to take on the tradition of law enforcement and to serve others, Hinton said. Please know that the Morrow County Sheriffs Office will never forget his dedication and sacrifice. His loss will inspire us, and continue our work in his memory.

They then walked alongside Sherrer for a final time as the Columbus police honor guard played Amazing Grace, Taps, and a 21 gun salute. The men and women of law enforcement lined up to salute Sherrer for the last time and listen to his brothers and sisters give him a final radio call.

After the service, a procession proceeded south from Northmor High School to U.S. 42, where it headed westbound past the Morrow County Sheriffs Office where Sherrer worked and through the center of Mount Gilead, the county seat. From there, it proceeded west on State Route 95 to Marion.

Of those in attendance who spoke during the service were Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton, and Franklin County Deputy Sheriff Michael Brewer. Gov. Mike DeWine was on hand, too.

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A tragedy like this reminds us, we cannot take these men and women for granted at all, DeWine said. Weve got to give them all the support that we can.

On Memorial Day, Sherrer was shot and killed while responding to a domestic situation at a home on County Road 26 south of Marengo.

(NBC4) A program for the June 4, 2025 memorial service at Northmor High School in honor of Morrow County deputy Daniel Weston Sherrer, who was shot and killed on Memorial Day. (NBC4/Anna Hoffman) Funeral services at Northmor High School on June 4, 2025 in honor of Morrow County deputy Daniel Weston Sherrer, who was shot and killed on Memorial Day. (NBC4/Anna Hoffman) (NBC4) Northmor High School is the site of visitation hours and a service for Morrow County Sheriff deputy Daniel Sherrer, June 3, 2025. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) Northmor High School is the site of visitation hours and a service for Morrow County Sheriff deputy Daniel Sherrer, June 3, 2025. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy) (NBC4)

Sherrers body was taken to the Montgomery County Coroners Office before a police escort brought him back to Mount Gilead last Wednesday during a 120-mile procession. Flags around Ohio have been flying at half staff under an order from DeWine that will expire at sunset Wednesday.

It wasnt just digniatries and family who remembered Sherrer, with some members of the public honoring the deputy as well.

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That young man was one of our community, whether you knew him or not, Mount Gilead resident Larry Standley said after watching the procession. It feels personal.

Blue ribbons were tied to some trees and poles in downtown Mount Gilead. Signs of support honoring Sherrer and local law enforcement are also posted throughout the community.

Just to support their family. Its about all you can do is be here and show, let the family know were behind them, resident David Grossman, who also watched the procession, said.

Sherrer became a Morrow County deputy in May 2021. The 2012 graduate of St. Charles Preparatory in Columbus was engaged to be married and is survived by his parents and other relatives.

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Brian Wilson, 53, has been charged in Sherrers death. He is being held on a $5 million bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Animal advocates gathered in Venice Beach on Wednesday to celebrate the release of four sea lion pups back into the wild.

Upon their release, the young marine mammals made their way toward freedom cautiously at first, though they quickly spotted the ocean and made their way into the Pacific waves.

A Marine Mammal Care Center volunteer named Kayla told KTLAs Erin Myers that two of the youngsters had sustained shark bites, while the other two were malnourished and super skinny.

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Its really nice seeing them get their weight back, and [one of the pups named] Spiderling especially had a really deep wound, so seeing her recover is really good, Kayla said.

These four pups came to the center amid a crisis in Southern Californias ocean waters, as many sea creatures had been sickened by domoic acid, which is produced by algae blooms.

Kayla noted that they typically get about 2,000 calls for service each year, but due to this recent bloom, theyve received 4,000 already this year.

That bloom began in February, and though the San Pedro-based MMCC said the danger has largely passed as of last month, algae blooms are expected to return, especially as climate change makes the oceans more acidic, conditions under which algae thrive.

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The MMCC has partnered with L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to better prepare for the next algae bloom.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
National Weather Center in Norman is pictured Aug. 7, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

The National Weather Service in Norman warned that weather radios in Oklahoma would be down for maintenance Tuesday through Thursday.

Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist in Norman, said the radios seemed to be operational for the bulk of Tuesdays severe weather.

Maintenance will continue through 4 p.m. Thursday.

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The Norman office is not aware of any complaints of any service issues during Tuesdays severe weather, Smith said. A line of strong storms swept across Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon and evening, which produced two tornadoes and several tornado warnings across the state, including the Oklahoma City metro, as well as severe thunderstorm and flood warnings.

The public was warned Monday about outages of weather radios, which affects the National Weather Services ability to broadcast weather-related warnings to radios in peoples homes.

The maintenance is mandated computer upgrades required of all National Weather Service locations, he said. The Norman office was one of around 20 offices to receive the upgrades at this time, Smith said.

The office remains staffed during the maintenance period and a back-up office in Tulsa will conduct forecast operations and the core warning and forecast products and services will not be impacted, according to a statement.

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Erica Grow Cei, a spokesperson for the National Weather Service said people should have multiple methods for receiving alerts, such as broadcast media, weather apps and emergency alerts on mobile devices.

This is a scheduled and necessary upgrade for our system, and the National Weather Service office in Norman, OK is ready for it, she said in a statement. Watches, warnings, and forecast products will continue to be issued in a timely fashion through a wide range of distribution channels including mobile apps, push alerts, websites, local television and radio.

The Norman office is also being assisted during the disruption by neighboring local forecast offices, Cei said.

Transmitters in Oklahoma and western north Texas will be affected, including those in: Ardmore, Atoka, Chickasha, Clinton, Enid, Lawton, Altus, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, Wichita Falls, Wewoka, Stillwater and Woodward.

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A Florida meteorologist is warning that hurricane forecasting will not be nearly as easy or accurate this season due to cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service

During a live broadcast, John Morales said the quality of weather forecasts nationwide are already becoming degraded as a result of these cuts, and warned that hurricane forecasting will likely follow suit

Cuts have consequences," Morales wrote on X alongside a clip of his passionate segment







A Florida meteorologist has issued a dire warning about forecasting storms as the 2025 hurricane season begins in the United States.

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During a live broadcast on Tuesday, June 3, John Morales, a forecaster with NBC affiliate WTVJ, told viewers that predicting the strength of hurricanes moving forward will be significantly hindered following major cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS).

The meteorologist, who has been delivering forecasts in South Florida for 34 years, said the quality of forecasts nationwide are already becoming degraded as a result of these cuts made by the federal governments new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and warned that hurricane forecasting will likely follow suit.

Morales began the segment with a clip of him from 2019, when he confidently told viewers that Hurricane Dorian would turn away from the U.S. just before it had the chance to slam into the Florida peninsula.

But now, Morales said, I am not sure I can do that this year because of the cuts, the gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general."

HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Hurricane Dorian on September 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian on September 1, 2019

Did you know that Central and South Florida weather service offices are basically 20% to 40% understaffed? From Tampa to Key West, including the Miami office, Morales said. Now, this type of staffing shortage is having impacts across the nation because theres been nearly [a] 20% reduction in weather balloon releases, launches that carry those radio signs.



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Morales also said there is a chance that NOAAs hurricane hunter aircrafts will not be able to fly this year due to the cuts. And with less reconnaissance missions, he added, we may be flying blind.

We may not exactly know how strong a hurricane is before it reaches the coastline, Morales explained, citing a similar situation that occurred in October 2023 with Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that devastated Acapulco, Mexico.

According to NOAA, the storm intensified so quickly  with wind speeds increasing by 115 mph in just 24 hours  that more than one million people in the impacted area had very little time to prepare for the monster storm ahead of landfall.

Morales described the cuts as having a "multi-generational impact on science in this country." At the end of his presentation, Morales encourages viewers to call your representatives and make sure that the cuts to both NOAA and the NWS are stopped.

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Cuts have consequences, illustrated, Morales wrote on X alongside the clip of his segment.

The NOAA and NWS did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

NOAA/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Hurricane Otis Reaches Category 5, Mexico, Pacific Ocean - 25 Oct 2023 Hurricane Otis Reaches Category 5, Mexico, Pacific Ocean - 25 Oct 2023

This is not the first time Morales has gotten emotional on-air while discussing the devastating impacts of hurricanes. In October 2024, the meteorologist went viral after tearing up while providing updates on Hurricane Milton, which intensified into a Category 5 storm at an astonishing pace.

Incredible, incredible hurricane, Morales said before appearing to get choked up. It has dropped 50 millibars in 10 hours. I apologize  this is just horrific.

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Speaking with PEOPLE that same month, Morales said the moment was triggered by his angst over the multiplication of extreme weather events and their severity.

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.

It's empathy for future victims, the meteorologist explained, because these hurricanes really wreck lives and take lives.

In an op-ed about his experience for The New York Times, Morales said, The moment revealed a shared experience of climate anxiety across generations, adding, Its time that we channel that into action.

Read the original article on People
WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  Weber County announced that it is establishing the 2nd District Veteran Court, the first veteran treatment court in northern Utah, which will serve veterans in Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties.

A veteran treatment court (VTC) is a specialized court that is meant to help veterans with mental health and substance abuse issues who become involved in the criminal justice system.

These are courts designed to help veterans who received honorable or general discharges through evidence-based approaches that focus on treatment and support, rather than punishment, with the goal of helping veterans stay sober, recover, and achieve long-term stability, according to a press release from Weber County. They can also help veterans with housing and employment issues.

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Jim Retallick, Director of the Weber Public Defender Group, has been working to establish the Second District VTC since the fall of 2023.

In an interview with ABC4.com, Retallick said that veterans are more likely to be involved in the justice system. He added that about a third of veterans have been arrested compared to only a fifth of the general population.

Veterans also face some specific and different issues and problems, but using the commonality, probably the base rock of being a veteran, theyre able to respond better to treatment, Retallick said.

Passenger with measles travels through SLC airport, determined low risk for spread

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Veteran treatment courts have been proven to reduce re-offending rates among veterans. Retallick cited studies that show only 14% of veterans in veteran treatment courts re-offend, whereas recidivism rates for veterans in traditional courts range from 23% to 46%.

According to Retallick, the court provides treatment that the veterans earned through their military service, and Veterans Affairs works with the VTC to provide treatment.

Retallick said that the greatest part of the VTC is the mentor program.

We have a mentor coordinator who is a veteran, and he coordinates other volunteer veterans who will mentor every participant in the program, Retallick said. So hopefully everybody is matched up with a veteran who understands their needs and will help them proceed through the process.

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You cant force anybody to succeed, but you can point them and get them on the path and provide them the support to help them succeed, Retallick said.

The VTC in Weber County will join other VTCs in Salt Lake County and Utah County in providing support to Utahs veterans.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Heavy rain plagued parts of the Ozarks last night and minor flooding is possible today, especially in areas prone to flooding near and north of Interstate 44. Scattered rain is expected to continue throughout the day today as a boundary slowly moves southeast across the region.

Download our KOLR 10 weather app

Rainfall today wont be as heavy as last night, but a few spots may pick up another inch. Localized flooding will be a problem.

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Thursday is shaping up to be a warm and humid day with afternoon temperatures climbing back up to near 80. Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon in the heat of the day. Many areas, however, will not see any rain at all.

A bigger wave of rain and thunder is expected to sweep through the region Friday. This round may arrive early in the day and depart during the afternoon. Heavy rainfall is likely, and this wave of storms could also bring a round of severe weather.

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Fridays wave of storms may be able to nudge the focus for wet weather and storms back to the south. We wont be rain-free, but rain chances should drop off for the weekend, allowing many spots to remain dry. Temperatures look warmer too.

A stronger cold front may clear the area Monday, bringing a risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms, followed by less humid and quieter weather Tuesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
The tragedy of three young girls who were found dead near a campsite in Leavenworth has Washington state residents in disbelief.

I had seen over the weekend that this was going on and these girls were missing. And so when I got that notice from the school, who else could that be, said Wenatchee School District parent, Maggie. I hugged my daughter really hard today and just yeah, she continued.

Just hours after the news broke Tuesday, hundreds gathered at Memorial Park in Wenatchee to hold a vigil for 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker.

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I think that it speaks to the fact that these three little girls in their short time did so much in the community, Ashley-Jo Pflueger, a family friend, told KIRO 7.

The vigil was put together by the group Music Theatre of Wenatchee. The Decker sisters were a part of the Short Shakespeare family. Ashley-Jo says she knew the girls for several years and that all of them were truly bright lights that lit up any stage they were on.

They had life and love and they were so beautiful and so joyous, Ashley-Jo said.

Although many will argue this will never make sense, those who attended Tuesdays vigil say they are here for the Decker family.

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The community of Wenatchee is here for you. We love you. We support you. We want the best for you and we are incredibly sorry that this happened, Maggie said.

A friend of the family started a GoFundMe for the girls mother. As of Tuesday night, the fundraiser had amassed almost $340,000 to support her with expenses and legal costs following the tragic loss of her three daughters.

Their light touched so many, and the pain of this loss is immeasurable, wrote the fundraiser.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Father of murdered Wenatchee girls still missing, $20K reward offered for information

Court documents reveal how 3 Wenatchee sisters likely died

He keeps getting more unstable: Wenatchee mother raised alarms before daughters found dead
MAHOMET, Ill (WCIA)  A mother in Mahomet is breathing a sigh of relief after she won a court case keeping her from being evicted from her home.

Angela Palivos said that after more than two years of back and forth with threats of eviction, she is finally able to feel secure at her home in Candlewood Estates. According to her, it was over a trampoline and swing set in her yard.

She said theyve been there to help her son, Elijah Sisney, with his autism for years.

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He loves to swing with children that are autistic, Palivos said. They like the repetition.

We knew he was fighting: Chatham community mourns fifth death in kids camp tragedy

But new management took over the trailer park three years ago, and Palivos said they had a problem with both pieces of equipment.

In April, May of 2023, they issued those new leases and the rules and regulations, Palivos said.

The new leases banned trampolines from peoples yards, but Palivos said hers is necessary for her sons wellbeing.

The trampoline, thats his favorite, she said. He likes to lay on his back and just bounce and listen to his music. Its his happy place. Its safe for him.

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Palivos said she had a doctors note backing up her claims and sent it to management. But it was only met with violations from the leasing agency.

In September of last year, the company filed for eviction.

I told them, Look, I need these things in place,' Palivos said. Im willing to sign a waiver, to not hold this company responsible for any accidents that may happen.

Palivos said she even agreed to move both off her property if Candlewood Estates would move the abandoned trailer next to hers. She said they refused.

UPDATE: Rantoul Police ID suspect in 8-year-olds stabbing

The two parties went to court, and last week, the judge ruled in favor of Palivos.

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They broke Illinoiss Human Rights Act, and they also broke the Americans with Disabilities Act by not requesting a reasonable accommodation, Palivos said. We were definitely very relieved.

Worries like this have even made it to State Senator Chapin Rose. He said complaints have been sent to Springfield for more than a year.

They have treated the residents horrifically, Rose said. Its about damn time, frankly, that the State of Illinois stepped up as they have.

Palivos lawyer said Candlewood Estates has 30 days to file an appeal. Management declined an interview with WCIA.

Palivos said shes happy to get back into her normal routine and is excited her son can have his happy place for years to come.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
The goal of medical science is to improve our quality of life. In the past century, relatively few things have more fully demonstrated this goal than the antiviral and antibacterial vaccines that have protected our most vulnerable populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in the last 50 years, immunizations have saved the lives of over 150 million children.

Almost nothing illustrates the transformative power of vaccination better than the 1955 arrival of Jonas Salks polio vaccine. No longer was American society helpless before a seasonal plague of paralysis that claimed 15 to 20 thousand victims annually. Polio vaccines were followed by measles vaccines and then mumps, German measles and varicella vaccines. The scope of this blessing has continued to expand with immunizations for pneumococcus, meningococcus, rotavirus and other infectious diseases.

And while these childhood vaccines have been overwhelming successes, society has forgotten the tragedies of past diseases and instead embraced new fears that threaten all the progress weve made. One of these fears is the unsupported link between vaccination and autism.

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Opinion: When autism is painted with a broad brush, it fuels stigma, discrimination

Its understandable that the increasing number of cases of childhood autism, whether enhanced by more vigilance or expanded definitions, has begged for an explanation. Unfortunately, this desire for an answer has spawned some poorly executed medical studies. Notorious among these articles was the February 1998 paper published by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet.

Upon scrutiny, it was revealed that Dr. Wakefield had conflicts of interest that included serving as a clearing house for plaintiff attorneys while promoting his own alternative vaccine and manipulating the data to obtain the conclusions he desired. The Lancet later retracted the article, and Dr. Wakefield lost his medical license  though not before lasting damage was done. In fact, despite 24 studies refuting the association between vaccines and autism, some individuals continue to embrace skepticism.

The net result of this unfortunate tide of mistrust is that vaccination rates have begun to fall dramatically in some areas of the US, resulting in a loss of herd immunity. If measles resurrects itself through flagging vaccination rates, other afflictions from our past are sure to follow. It is only a matter of time before polio, mumps and other vaccine-preventable infections find their footing.

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While it is hard to predict exact numbers, it is easy to conclude that each case of serious illness or death from a preventable disease is a tragedy. The truth is that vaccines are safe, and the legitimate questions about vaccine-related autism or other harms can be answered.

The truth is, public health is a team sport. If we cant play according to specific rules, loss is inevitable in what is anything but a game. Nevertheless, to win, we have to contain the disease. Even though many vaccines protect at rates greater than 90%, protection is not perfect if the disease is widespread.

Medical disposable syringe for vaccine injection and glass vial on blue blur background.

It will be difficult to change the minds of some. However, for those searching for the truth, the answers are available and as clear as good science can make them. The Oklahoma State Medical Association recommends that Oklahomans discuss any questions or concerns about vaccination with a pediatrician or other trusted physician. While there may be distrust of organizational expertise, it is our hope that faith in the doctor-patient relationship remains intact. The stakes couldnt be higher.

Dr/ Sumit Nanda

Dr. James Kirk

Sumit Nanda, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist with INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City. He is president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. James Kirk, M.D., is an Oklahoma City-based infectious disease specialist with more than 40 years of expertise.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OK doctors like us know vaccines don't cause autism | Opinion
A West Bloomfield mother is facing criminal charges for allegedly dropping off her 3-year-old child at a day care center with a loaded gun in the child's backpack  allegedly by accident  the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.

The incident happened on May 14, when 34-year-old Kelly Reid dropped off her child at the day care center in Royal Oak and gave the staff a backpack that was supposed to have the child's snack in it, prosecutors said. But when an employee opened the backpack, they said, the staffer found a loaded handgun.

According to the prosecutor's office, the mom had allegedly placed the gun in the child's backpack to carry it to and from her car, but failed to remove it before dropping off her child.

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The incident prompted Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald to charge Reid with reckless use of a firearm, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days and/or a $500 fine. Hunting privileges also could be suspended.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced a new foundation targeting community gun violence through prevention education on June 11, 2023.

"Im grateful this is a story about a misdemeanor charge instead of a tragedy, McDonald said in a statement announcing the charges Wednesday. A loaded gun needs to be secured. Failing to do so around small children is absolutely reckless. The employee who found the gun should be commended for quickly securing it and contacting police.

The name of the child care center where the incident occurred was not released.

Reid, the mother, could not reached for comment. An attorney of record for her has not yet been listed in court documents.

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Reid is among several parents in Michigan  and across the country  who have faced criminal charges over the last year involving their alleged mishandling of guns. The most prominent case involves James and Jennifer Crumbley, who made history last year when two separate Oakland County juries convicted both of involuntary manslaughter over their roles in the November 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School that was carried out by their son.

The shooter, who pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving life in prison, sneaked a gun out of his home and used it to shoot up his school. The parents were accused of, among other things, failing to properly secure the weapon.

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mom charged with sending kid to day care with loaded gun
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Now that it is getting warmer, West Virginias black bears will be out and about looking for food sources to fatten up with for the colder months ahead.

Unfortunately, this puts some of them directly in the path of humans.

Once again, people are asking if there are mountain lions in the Mountain State

Black bears are already starting to eat as much as they can before their next round of hibernation. One resident in Clear Creek found out the hard way; whatever is in their trash bin is on the menu.

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Samantha Thompson saw a black bear recently.

She said she told her neighbors who were already aware of the bear, and they reported it to DNR.

DNR set a trap and caught the bear, but what came next shocked Thompson.

Our understanding was that when they trap the bear, theyre gonna take it and relocate it. Theyre gonna tag it, take it, and relocate it. I was told after the fact that no that was not correct, that most bears, unfortunately, are destroyed rather than being relocated, said Thompson.

Thompson said she was saddened to hear about the death of the bear, commenting that she wishes that the incident had never occurred.

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This may have you wondering why not just release the bear elsewhere?

Colin Carpenter, Black Bear Project Leader for the DNR, said the bears are dispatched for a number of reasons, though they never want to have to harm any of them.

First being our experience and the scientific literature shows that removing adult bears is typically ineffective. Because their rates of return are higher, they dont do as well in a new environment. So, since 2011, any bear over 140 pounds we have put down, dispatched, said Carpenter.

Carpenter said relocated adult bears will also still try to get back to their home range.

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They may also find another area populated by humans that has easily accessible food sources as well.

He said there is another major reason in play as well.

Because we have bears everywhere in West Virginia now, you know, thirty years ago when we were moving bears regularly, we didnt have bears in every available habitat. We had places to take them. Now, we have bears statewide. So, moving bears is not a solution to the problem. The solution is addressing the food attractant thats causing the issue, said Carpenter.

How can you help West Virginias native bats?

Carpenter advises everyone to do their own reach on how to live effectively and safely in bear country.

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He said they never want to dispatch a bear, but that they cannot risk someone being hurt.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  This years Honor Flight out of West Virginia will be a little different than years past, as the new Honor Flight North Central West Virginia hub will not take flight but rather a drive to Washington, D.C., for two nights and three days.

The change comes after Honor Flight Huntington ceased operations. Now, Honor Flight North Central West Virginia will be the only operating hub out of West Virginia, according to Honor Flight North Central WV Coordinator Billie Jo Claypool.

Claypool said this updated way of travel was inspired by a Virginia chapter that does the same. She added that this new way is set to be more cost-effective and allow veterans to visit more sites and stay there longer. Claypool estimates that each bus trip should cost around $30,000.

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On top of the lower cost, Claypool said that the goal is to have four trips a year, with around 25 veterans and their guardians each time, instead of just one trip. If all spots are taken, Claypool said those veterans spots will automatically be reserved for the next trip, which is expected to be in the Spring.

Elderly and disabled residents trapped without functioning elevator in Clarksburg apartment building

We go up, we travel one day, we see all monuments and memorials the next, and then we travel home. All meals, all rooms and everything is provided for our veterans, so thats more relaxing and it doesnt wear them out as much, Claypool said.

In years past, the flight has taken off from the North Central West Virginia Airport, and then veterans were greeted with a special welcome by the community on their return flight. Now, the buses will depart and return to the Clarksburg VFW.

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Applications are now open for the fall Honor Flight, which is scheduled to be Sept. 12-14. Eligible veterans include those who are terminally ill veterans, World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans.

Claypool said to reach her at 304-677-7812 if you have any questions. Volunteers with the flight meet every Tuesday at the Clarksburg VFW from 4-6 p.m. Donations are also already being collected for his years trip, which can be sent to:

Honor Flight

430 West Pike St.

Clarksburg, WV 26301

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  The Rotary Club of Westerville is making an effort to support young people at risk of experiencing homelessness by making a significant contribution to another organization to create a program and drop-in center.

This project is about providing necessary resources and access to the youth, hoping it will instill their trust in adults and the surrounding community, so they know help is near.

Knowing that there are now resources available that we as a rotary club can tap into and elevate, for me just really hits, it hits very deeply, said Brandy Deichert, President of the Rotary Club of Westerville. I know theyre suffering out there.

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The Rotary Club of Westerville donated over $32,000 to the Westerville Youth Connection. The funds will support the development of a new drop-in center called The Launch Pad,, which will provide a safe space and critical services for young people ages 14 to 24.

Ohio lawmakers push for stricter rules on obscene drag queens, indecent exposure

We just want to give young people, young adults, the tools and resources they need to be successful and to be able to be to return that to the community, Deichert said. And just have a positive effect in the community and in their circles.

Those in need will be able to access food and hygiene supplies along with mental health resources, job readiness classes, and more. The idea for this project came out of conversations with the school district, as they raised concerns about the increasing number of students facing housing instability and food insecurity. For Westerville Youth Connection Board Member Katrina Plourde, this experience hits close to home.

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I have some family members who were youths that were staying in a hotel and homeless, and it just breaks your heart to see the trauma that that creates, Plourde said. I just want students to know that their support for them.

Though the center doesnt have a location currently, the group has been in conversations with Otterbein University about a potential location. Overall, they hope addressing this issue will uplift and encourage the young people in our community.

I want everyone to know that the resources are here, Plourde said. we just need to bring it together and we need to let the people who are looking for help know that its going to be here for them.

Deichert noted they have an overall monetary goal of $400,000, and they hope to open by the beginning of the next school year.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Round after round of rain led to widespread flooding in south central and eastern Kansas on Tuesday. Water pooled on roads as drivers tried to make it through, only to stall their cars out.

One part of Wichita that always floods is Bleckley Drive. Tuesday was no different. The city is currently working to fix the issue, but many people got stranded in high water, including a woman in her 80s.

Right in the middle of the storm, cars were stranded in every direction. The Wichita Fire Department moved boats in to rescue those trapped in unreachable cars. The water sometimes flooded up through the windshields, and people were still driving through.

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WFD Captain Lance Diffenbaugh said he had only been out for 45 minutes and had already worked six rescues. Fire crews have even deployed boats as the only safe means of access to some of these vehicles.

Even though cars were still stranded with water up to the windshields, people were still trying to cross.

Flooding in Kansas leads to rescues, evacuations

We have to put ourselves in danger with our life jackets and our boats to get them into a life jacket and into a boat to get them out of the water. So theres no sense in it if they can just turn around and wait 10 minutes for the water to go down, Diffenbaugh said.

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He says any time we get sudden rain, the area around Bleckley Street floods, but Tuesday was more serious, with some residents in the area saying theyve never seen the water this high.

When it comes to commuting in these conditions, the advice is simple and universal: turn around, dont drown.

WFD wasnt the only fire department that assisted in search and rescue on Tuesday. Crews from Derby, Garden City, Liberal, Manhattan, Great Bend, Salina, McPherson, Junction City, and more assisted Kansans across the state.

Derby Fire and Rescue on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (Courtesy: John Hooper Jr.)

Derby Fire and Rescue on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (Courtesy: John Hooper Jr.)

Derby Fire and Rescue on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (Courtesy: John Hooper Jr.)

Derby Fire and Rescue on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (Courtesy: John Hooper Jr.)

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For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  The City of Wichita Falls and a former officer with the Wichita Falls Police Department now await the decision of an independent examiner after an arbitration hearing concluded on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Ralph Ryan Piper in his arbitration hearing on June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Ralph Ryan Piper, 50, of Wichita Falls, was placed on indefinite suspension in September 2023 by the Wichita Falls Police Department for violating the departments code of conduct.

Pipers suspension stems from May 2023, when he allegedly accessed case files after being ordered not to be involved with any ongoing investigations, then allegedly lied about accessing those case files when asked by his superiors. Piper has denied ever accessing the case since the allegations were brought against him.

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PREVIOUS STORY: Arbitration underway for suspended WFPD officer

Arbitration began on Monday, June 2, 2025, and continued on Tuesday, June 3, beginning at around 9 a.m., in the conference room of the City Managers office, located on the third floor of the First Wichita Building, known as Big Blue, in downtown Wichita Falls.

Diego Pena, an independent third-party mediator based in Arlington, oversaw the hearing. Julia Vasquez, Deputy City Attorney for Wichita Falls, is representing the city and the WFPD during arbitration. Lance Wyatt is representing Piper.

WFPD Lieutenant doubts Pipers story

The conference room where Ryan Pipers arbitration hearing is being held (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Vasquez, on behalf of the City of Wichita Falls, called WFPD Lt. Sam Coltrain as a witness. Lt. Coltrain testified that he conducted an in-depth audit of Pipers activity on WFPDs Record Management System.

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According to Lt. Coltrains audit, which was admitted into evidence, between 8:55 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. on May 5, 2023, Piper was searching for cases he was assigned to work on disposing of old evidence for, dated back to 2005.

Lt. Coltrain testified that at 9:04 a.m. on May 5, 2023, a search from Pipers RMS account for Piper was logged. Then, in rapid succession, Pipers RMS account also searched for Michael Piper, Ralph Michael Piper, and the address for Pipers family roofing business, located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

Lt. Coltrain testified that hes not aware of any time the RMS audit log has ever created random entries on its own, and that the only way another officer could have searched for a case using Pipers account was if Piper allowed that person to sit at his computer. He testified that Piper denied ever searching for the case.

During cross-examination, Wyatt asked Lt. Coltrain if another employee could have accessed Pipers computer if he had walked away from his desk to take a phone call and left his machine open and logged in. Lt. Coltrain testified that it would be possible.

Ralph Ryan Piper in his arbitration hearing on June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Lt. Coltrain also testified that after the searches were done on Pipers computer for keywords related to his fathers case, there was no more RMS activity until 9:44 a.m., seeming to support the defense theory that Piper was away from his desk for an extended amount of time.

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READ MORE: WFPD officer acquitted of theft charges

On redirect examination from Vasquez, Lt. Coltrain testified that the only explanation he can see regarding the case files searched for on Pipers RMS account is that Piper himself searched for the case files.

I dont know why any other officer would jeopardize their career to set someone up, Lt. Coltrain testified.

Chief of Police explains why Piper was suspended

The next witness called on behalf of the City of Wichita Falls was the Chief of Police for the Wichita Falls Police Department, Manuel Borrego. He testified that hes served as the Chief since 2012, but has been with the department for over 40 years.

WFPD Chief Manuel Borrego during Ryan Pipers arbitration hearing on June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Chief Borrego testified that when Piper was reinstated, he instructed Piper not to be involved with any active investigations because hed been added to the Brady List by the Wichita County District Attorneys Office and the city prosecutor.

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Chief Borrego testified that after Piper was acquitted of his criminal charges, he had to bring him back to work, but it was difficult to find a place for him due to his Brady complications. He testified that if Piper hadnt been subject to a Brady notice, his return to the WFPD wouldve been handled very differently.

Ive got to bring justice to these victims, and I cant jeopardize that with the D.A. not taking a case because Piper was involved, Chief Borrego testified. I told him specifically hed never see the inside of a police vehicle and hed never ride a police motorcycle again because hed been Bradyed.

Chief Borrego testified that there were no open administrative investigations regarding Piper before his first suspension, and he wasnt aware of any other issues with Piper prior to the situation for which hes currently suspended.

WFPD Chief Manuel Borrego during Ryan Pipers arbitration hearing on June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Chief Borrego testified that after he was notified that Piper was accused of accessing a case involving his family business and that hed lied to superiors about the case, he asked Lt. Joseph Puddu, who testified yesterday, to conduct an internal investigation.

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According to Chief Borregos testimony, Piper checking the RMS case file for the burglary at his familys roofing business isnt directly what led to his indefinite suspension.

Officer Piper mustve felt that based on his actions, he was going to be terminated, so he lied about it, Chief Borrego testified. What got him fired wasnt just that he disobeyed a direct order, but that he lied about it.

Chief Borrego testified that following Lt. Puddus investigation, a probable cause hearing was held in September 2023, in which Piper didnt offer any alternative explanations as to why his credentials were used to access the case file, adding that Piper continued to deny that he ever accessed the case in the RMS.

He had multiple opportunities to be truthful about what happened in this, Chief Borrego testified. He accessed it, he refused to be truthful about it, so I made a determination that I couldnt use him anywhere else. Id lost faith in him as far as if I could trust him.

WFPD Chief Manuel Borrego during Ryan Pipers arbitration hearing on June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

According to Chief Borregos testimony, had Piper just admitted to searching for the case files, he might not have been suspended at all, and while he might have been subject to discipline, he would still have a job today.

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Chief Borrego testified that if the independent arbitrator rules in Pipers favor, and hes reinstated to the WFPD, he doesnt know what hed do with Piper, but suggested that he might transfer him to a different department entirely, if hes legally able to.

We brought him back, we put him in a position, and he chose not to follow the rules that were imposed on him, and because of that, I dont know what else I can do with him, Chief Borrego testified.

Following Chief Borregos testimony, Vasquez rested the citys case.

Ryan Piper testifies why he believes he was suspended

Wyatt, on Pipers behalf, called a single witness for its case against the City of Wichita Falls: Ralph Ryan Piper himself.

Ralph Ryan Piper in his arbitration hearing on June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Piper testified that he began working with the WFPD in 2002 and continued to do so until 2016, when he was indefinitely suspended due to criminal charges that were pending against him.

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Piper testified that when he was reinstated following his acquittal in 2023, he was informed that the Wichita County District Attorneys Office would drop any case in which Piper had to be certified as a witness due to his Brady notice, so he began disposing of unnecessary evidence on old cases, including old photos and videos on closed cases.

Piper testified that on the day in question, May 5, 2023, he received a phone call at 9:02 a.m., then left his desk to handle it, because it involved his family business, and that he was away from his desk for several minutes.

Piper maintained that he never accessed the case involving the burglary of his fathers business, and that he tried to show Lt. Puddu his phone records during the internal investigation, but that Lt. Puddu seemed uninterested in what evidence Piper might have.

I have not been untruthful at any point, Piper testified.

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According to Pipers testimony, he believed that because of the Wichita County District Attorney, it was clear that other local officials felt that he was an issue and that they didnt want him back with the police department, so he figured he was already gone.

Ryan Piper (right) during his arbitration hearing on Monday, June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Piper then testified that he believed that Sgt. Spragins, who testified on Monday, June 2, and conducted the initial audit into Pipers RMS activity, had something to do with the case files being accessed from his computer.

It sounds horrible and it sounds ridiculous, but I have no better explanation, Piper testified. In my heart of hearts, do I know that Spragins had something to do with this? I do.

Piper then testified that he believed Sgt. Spragins despised him and that he had a close relationship with the Wichita County District Attorney. He referred to the District Attorney as the king of the castle, adding that he knew that he wanted Piper gone.

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I exercised my Fifth Amendment Right and I got put on a Brady List because the D.A. didnt get his way, Piper testified.

Piper then became visibly emotional, with tears in his eyes and his voice breaking as he told Wyatt, All I want to do is be a cop.

Piper, City now awaits decision from the arbitrator

After the defense rested its case and Sgt. Spragins and Chief Borrego were called as rebuttal witnesses for the City of Wichita Falls, the arbitration hearing concluded at around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

The First Wichita Building, or Big Blue, located on Scott Avenue in downtown Wichita Falls (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

After an off-the-record discussion between both attorneys regarding the post-briefing schedule, Pena went back on the record, notifying both parties that the record of the arbitration hearing will take about two weeks for the reporter to prepare.

Pena told both parties that after the record is complete, both advocates will receive the record and will be able to write a brief, which will be submitted to the arbitrator. A post-hearing brief will be submitted by both sides.

According to Pena, he will return a decision roughly 30 days after receiving both post-hearing briefs from Vasquez and Wyatt. He provided a rough estimate of late August or early September, when he expects to return his decision, but informed both parties that it may come before then.

Before all parties left the conference room, Pena told them that his decision would be based on the arbitration hearing and the evidence provided during it.

Timeline of Ralph Ryan Piper

October 2016  Piper is initially charged with theft over $20,000 but under $100,000 for allegations stemming from June 2015, and was suspended from the WFPD without pay

May 2017  Special prosecutor appointed for Pipers case

July 2019  Piper was indicted for theft and money laundering by a Wichita County grand jury, with the money laundering charge being dismissed at a later date

January 2023  Piper stands trial for theft and is later acquitted after the jury found him not guilty

February 2023  Piper is reinstated with the Wichita Falls Police Department

May 2023  Piper was accused of accessing a case after he was ordered not to get involved with any ongoing investigations

June 2023  WFPD begins internal investigation into Piper

September 2023  Internal investigation concludes with a due process hearing, after which, Piper is again placed on indefinite suspension

June 2025  Arbitration begins with a third-party mediator

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates 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 Texomashomepage.com.
The Bridge to Canada sign is pictured on May 9. 2025. Credit - Jim WestGetty Images

Canadas new billThe Strong Borders Actproposes a sweeping shift in immigration that, among other items, expands the Canadian Coast Guards authority to conduct security patrols, restricts asylum access, and attempts to deal with the flow of fentanyl into the country.

The Bill will strengthen our laws and keep Canadians safe by ensuring law enforcement has the right tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of illegal fentanyl, and crack down on money laundering, the bill states.

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Introduced on June 3 by Canadas Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, the 127-page measure proposes a shift in how the government interacts with the U.S.-Canada border.

The bill comes after President Donald Trump voiced concerns about what he referred to as cross-border fentanyl traffic and irregular migration, when he imposed tariffs on Canada during his Feb. 1 Executive Order titled Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border. Trump argued that Canada has played a central role in the challenges against illicit drugs entering the country, alleging there is a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada and that Canada must do more to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept DTOs, other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and drugs.

Heres what you need to know about Canadas Strong Borders Act.

What is in Canada's immigration bill?

Canadas new immigration bill seeks to impact various areasfrom asylum rules to search and seizure, to giving police more power to control and monitor the U.S. border.

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The new bill would allow Canada Posts inspection authority to open mail and would also remove barriers to allow law enforcement to open mail during an investigationattempting to curb fentanyl movement by what authorities say is performed by organized crime groups. It would expand the power of the Canadian Coast Guard to conduct security patrols and collect, analyze and share information and intelligence for security purposes, by amending the Oceans Act, creating a new role for the department. It also would expand the ability for Canadian intelligence agencies to share information with U.S. intelligence.

Related to organized crime, the bill proposes additional restrictions on transactions over $10,000 and cash deposits by any one individual into another's account.

The process of gaining access to asylum would also change, as the bill looks to bar asylum seekers who have been in the country for over a year, retroactively applying to anyone who arrived after June 24, 2020.

It would further allow the government the ability to pause the acceptance of new applications and cancel, suspend, or change immigration documents immediately.

Why is the bill facing backlash?

The proposal has been met with strong opposition from immigration and human rights advocates in Canada, who argue it could restrict civil liberties and violate international refugee obligations.

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Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, a Canadian politician who serves at the member of Parliament for Vancouver East, issued a warning about the measure, stating that it should be alarming to Canadians.

Looking at [the bill], particularly with respect to the immigration provisions, it is very concerning to me that the government will now be breaching, I think, people's civil liberties, I think violating people's due process and taking away people's basic rights right now, Kwan told reporters. What we're looking at is the government giving broad, sweeping authority within the government to cancel applications, to withdraw applications, to suspend applications, even those that are already in the inventory that is under process.

She also shared concerns about citizens privacy, and the lack of apparent appeals processes in relation to the new sweeping immigration law.

Canadian migrant justice group Migrant Rights Network also condemns the bill, stating that it would drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations and immigration exclusion. They argue that the unchecked power enabled through this bill could allow for migrant groups to have their immigration status revoked en masse.

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Prime Minister [Mark] Carney campaigned on being different from Donald Trump, yet his very first bill is a shameful capitulation to racism and xenophobia, which abandons Canadas legal and moral obligations to refugees and migrants, said Migrant Rights Network spokesperson Syed Hussan in a statement. With over 3,000 study and work permits already expiring daily because of [Former Prime Minister Justin] Trudeaus immigration cuts, this Bill will only worsen a humanitarian catastrophe. This bill is immoral, it is illegal, and it will be stopped.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, Canadian Council of Refugees co-executive director Gauri Sreenivasan stated that the bill mirrors U.S. immigration policy and could force many people who have no choice because they are under threat in their country or in the U.S. to live underground without status.

Kelly Sundberg, a former officer with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), also spoke out against the bill, admitting theyre not optimistic about it.

I think all [the bill] does is try to appease the Trump Administration. But I'd like to see legislation that's designed to keep Canadians safe, Sundberg said during an interview with CTV News. So does this legislation improve our border security, improve our immigration integrity, and improve the public safety of Canadians? No, it does not. It doesn't even come close.

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Anandasangaree was asked whether the immigration bill appeases the U.S. government during a press conference.

These measures are being taken for a number of reasons. First and foremost, Canadians elected a new government on April the 28th with a mandate to ensure the safety and security of Canadians, including securing our border, Anandasangaree responded. Of course, there's elements that will strengthen the relationship with the United States. There are a number of elements in the bill that have been irritants for the U.S.

David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, says its not surprising that Canada is "moving more in the direction of the American immigration system."

[Canada is] enhancing the power of the executive in many respects, to deny people asylum, to suspend processing of applications, limiting the right of people to to request asylum, he says. These are all things that I've been part of U.S. law for a long time.

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Still, according to Bier, this bill is more about "domestic politics than international relations."

Sharry Aikan, a law professor at Queen's University, is also apprehensive about the bill. Its intent to address concerns with a broken immigration system lies in the right place, she saysbut its execution is wrong.

This is a legislative fix for a set of challenges that should have been addressed through operational measures, not new laws, Aikan says. We need to make sure that when people show up at the border, you know that we have the resources to address them. Yes, 100%. But why dismantle what is in effect?

Aikan argues in particular against the one year deadline for asylum claimssomething she says is a direct mirror of the U.S.s one-year policy. She provides multiple examplesincluding one where a foreign national comes to Canada, and year two of their stay in Canada, the circumstances in their home country change and it is no longer safe to return.

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It's basically shutting off the pipeline to the hearing altogether and saying, the mere fact that you've been in a country for 12 months and two days means that you don't have access to a full fledged refugee hearing, Aikan says. What it signals about the priorities of the government is that appeasing the White House right now is a number one concern.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One of Nashvilles oldest and largest homeless encampments has officially been closed.

As of Tuesday, workers are still clearing out Old Tent City, which has been a constant for people experiencing homelessness in Nashville near Anthes Drive since the 1980s. This is not the first time Metro has demolished the encampment, usually citing safety concerns, and advocates for the citys homeless population told News 2 it may not be the last.

Theres going to be a spillover from Tent City. All the folks that used to come to Tent City that are out on the streets are going to be going to other places, Lindsey Krinks, Director of Advocacy at Open Table Nashville, said.

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APRIL | A future beyond Old Tent City: Whats next for Nashvilles largest homeless encampment after closure is complete?

Krinks criticized the decision to close the site, saying Metro leaders havent done enough to work on the underlying issues that cause homelessness.

Section 8 vouchers are paused. The waiting lists are incredibly long and [obtaining] housing is incredibly difficult, so we keep echoing what we hear people saying on the streets again and again and again which is, Where can we go? Where can we safely exist?' Krinks said.

Representatives for Metros Office of Homeless Services were present at demolition Tuesday. While they declined an interview, the office provided a statement to News 2:

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The work of closing encampments is never simple  and it is never just about closing a location. The safety of the housed and unhoused neighbors as well as the commuter train passengers at the Anthes Drive location remain a priority. Thanks to your continued support and the collaboration of our community partners, we have made measurable progress at the Anthes Drive encampment. Below is a summary of outcomes from our collective efforts:

*The data below is fluid and will be updated regularly.

Housing Outcomes

Total housed 98

81 individuals successfully moved into interim housing at the Rodeway location with 4 individuals transitioning out of Rodeway into PSH .

7 individuals moved into 95 Wallace.

1 individual referred to the VA and is now in PSH .

5 individuals moved into shared housing

2 individuals referred to TSA

4 individuals refused offered housing, reporting they had housing available in another state and committed to vacating Anthes Drive by 12:00 AM, June 2, 2025.

Pet Accommodations

48 pets were safely housed alongside their owners, ensuring familieshuman and animalremained together. 35 pets moved to Roadway. 8 pets moved to shared housing. *One camp resident was successfully housed through our Low Barrier Housing Collective and was able to bring all 7 pets in the move. 4 pets moved to Wallace. 1 pet moved to CCF.



Vehicle and Camper Support

This site presented unique logistical barriers including unregistered vehicles, missing VINs, and lack of insurance.

3 campers were abandoned.

3 campers will be relocated with assistance from other Metro departments.

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While housing is a critical first step, long-term success depends on the continued availability of intensive supportive services. Our teams are working closely with providers to ensure that individuals placed into housing receive ongoing care, mental health support, employment assistance, and case management. Hospitality Hub and other community partners will provide ongoing intensive services. We encourage all viable candidates to apply for the Pallet Shelter RFP. 

Tennessee Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) said that while she acknowledges Metros and some of her constituents concerns regarding public safety in her district, she believes tearing down the encampment will only reinforce the cycle of homelessness in Nashville.

RELATED: Metro Nashville intends to award up to 25 pallet shelters to community partners

Im really sad that its come to this and my heart goes out to all of those who have had to vacate the camp, Behn told News 2. At this moment in time, we are going to see unprecedented homelessness in this city and in this state. Federal funding cuts to HUD, to THDA  our housing authority in Tennessee  stagnated wages. I mean, there are all these economic variables that are contributing to homelessness in the cycle of homelessness in the city and none of that has been ameliorated. 

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To tackle Nashvilles homelessness problem, Metro is moving forward with a proposal to use pallet shelters or pods for housing. The Mayors Office said they plan to give out 25 pods to organizations in the community. The pods are equipped with beds, LED lighting, locked doors and safety features like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Residents of a Pittsburgh neighborhood watched as police broke down the doors of two homes on their street Wednesday morning. Those officers were looking for a woman who they thought had been shot, but they were sent to the wrong house.

They had all their guns drawn and their shields, Jennifer Martin told Channel 11.

Martin told us what she could see from her home as Pittsburgh Police officers swarmed Briggs Street in Overbrook.

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It looked like a war zone out here. They had the street blocked off and sirens, and I was like whats going on because this just doesnt happen here on this block, she said.

Officers were called to the street around 8:45 a.m. for reports that a woman had been shot inside her home. But, according to police, the woman who called 911 accidentally gave them the wrong address.

When officers got to the neighborhood, they broke down the door of the wrong home  a mobile home where no one was living.

When she called 911, she gave the address of this address up here. We later confirmed after making entry to this home, that she gave the wrong address, and we made crisis entry into the other house, Zone 3 commander Jeff Abraham told Channel 11.

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When they got into the correct home, officers found a woman, two kids, and a man. They took the man into custody, and put him in the back of a police car.

Detectives say the man had fired a gun inside the home, but no one was hit by the gunfire. So far, police have not released his name or filed any charges.

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By Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House said on Tuesday that South Korea's election, which saw liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung win the presidency, was fair, but it expressed concern about Chinese interference.

"The US-ROK Alliance remains ironclad. While South Korea had a free and fair election, the United States remains concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world," a White House official said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment made at an earlier White House briefing.

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"ROK" refers to the Republic of Korea.

The official did not elaborate on the reference to alleged Chinese interference or connect it directly to the South Korean election. However, U.S. President Donald Trump's right-wing allies have taken aim at Lee, who has spoken of the need to balance Seoul's relations with China and the United States.

Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has jockeyed her way up from online agitator to self-appointed Trump adviser, posted "RIP South Korea" on X on Tuesday after Lee's victory became clear.

"The communists have taken over Korea and won the Presidential election today," she wrote. "This is terrible," she added.

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Loomer has shown herself to be highly influential: Several high-ranking White House officials were fired this year after she presented Trump with a list of national security staffers she perceived to be disloyal.

When asked about the White House comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing never interferes in other countries' internal affairs.

He advised Washington to not project its own actions onto Beijing and to "stop sowing troubles in China-South Korea relations".

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement congratulating Lee, and like the White House, spoke about the two countries' "ironclad" alliance. He made no mention of concerns about China.

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"The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties," Rubio said. "We are also modernizing the Alliance to meet the demands of todays strategic environment and address new economic challenges."

Rubio also said the United States would continue to deepen trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan, "to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles."

CHINA POLICIES UNDER SCRUTINY

As South Korea's ousted former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, fought for his political life earlier this year, he raised unsubstantiated claims about possible fraud in South Korea's elections as one reason for his announcement of a martial law decree that had prompted his ouster.

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His backers adopted "Stop the Steal" slogans and expressed hopes that Trump would intervene to help, but that never came.

"Most of the 'election fraud' allegations I've seen reek of conspiracy theories and paranoia," said Evans Revere, former U.S. Deputy Ambassador for East Asian Affairs.

"It's unfortunate that a White House spokesperson would allude to these, especially since Lee's margin of victory was substantial and his conservative opponent quickly and unhesitatingly conceded his loss."

Last week, without providing evidence, Trump ally Mike Flynn, a retired general who briefly served as the president's national security adviser during his first term, referred in a post on X to "signs of fraud" in the South Korea election, and said a fraudulent outcome would only benefit the Chinese Communist Party.

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Another Trump ally, Steve Bannon, explored a similar theme of Chinese election interference on his WarRoom channel last week.

Lee's past comments about China, including his statement that a conflict over Taiwan would have nothing to do with South Korea, have provided fodder for those in the U.S. government inclined to mistrust him, said Revere.

His policy approach on China, Taiwan, Russia, Japan, and alliance- and trade-related concerns will be under close scrutiny in Washington and could lead to "differences" between the two allies, he added.

"In that context, the White House spokesperson's comments could have been intended as a cautionary message to Korea's new president."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Josh Smith in Seoul and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Leslie Adler and Saad Sayeed)
The News

President Donald Trump and White House aides are irritated with Elon Musks growing attacks on Republicans megabill  but theyre also navigating the drama with extra caution.

Musk took officials by surprise with whats become a two-day-plus social media campaign against the big, beautiful bill that Trump is focused on getting through Congress. On Wednesday Musk urged his followers to call lawmakers to KILL the BILL and reposted criticisms of the package as Democrats continued touting their unlikely new ally.

Trump is not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that, as House Speaker Mike Johnson put it on Wednesday. A person with knowledge of the situation, meanwhile, described the attitude inside the White House as furious.

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Yet its clear that Trump and his team are holding off from training their full fire on Musk: Trump hasnt commented on the former DOGE leaders pushback this week, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump was aware of Musks view but it doesnt change the presidents opinion.

White House officials maintain that Trump and Musk have a good relationship, though its unclear whether theyve spoken in recent days. The presidents allies are eager to stay focused on getting the massive tax-cuts and spending plan into law, a task that wont get any easier if they go after Musk directly.

Theyre trying to kind of keep this under wraps a bit, and just trying to push through it, one person close to the White House noted. They dont want any big public fight or dispute.

One White House official told Semafor that Trumps sole goal is getting the bill passed, rather than trading online barbs with his onetime close adviser. This official argued that people attempting to read Trumps mood about Musk should allow the president to speak for himself.

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Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is known internally as a low-drama figure; she guided him through the 2024 campaign while trying to minimize internal conflicts that might spill out into public view. But some close to the administration acknowledge thats been tough when it comes to Musk, whose 130 days inside the administration featured spats with Cabinet officials and public attacks on another top Trump adviser.

Musk put a lot of money into the campaign, the person close to the White House said. There is this certain relationship between him and the president. Theres a lot of different angles here that make it pretty difficult.

Know More

Musks central critique of Trumps bill is the $3 trillion-plus in added debt it would incur, as well as its debt ceiling hike. The White House takes issue with the former argument, predicting that a long-term extension of Trumps 2017 tax cuts would ultimately produce enough growth to mitigate the hefty deficit increase it would create.

Some people close to Trump, meanwhile, argue Musk is criticizing the megabill to distract from his failure to reach his promised goal of $1 trillion in cuts at DOGE. Others inside and around the administration believe Musks fight against the bill stems from retaliation for multiple perceived slights, including Republicans omission of electric vehicle tax credits hed pushed for.

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Whatever the reason, Musks attacks have snarled already tricky talks with GOP senators who are working on their version of the bill. But its still not clear whether Musks posting against the legislation is a real problem for the party or more of a nuisance.

I dont think very many senators are that interested in what Elon has to say about it. Its amusing, but were serious policy makers. We have to govern, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., after Musks latest broadside.

Shelbys view

Its not surprising that Trump and White House officials are pretty much ignoring Musks criticisms.

The administration took pains to send Musk off on a positive note last week, holding a press conference and giving him a metaphorical key to the White House after he began expressing frustration with how the government operates during press interviews.

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And Trumps aides are focused on the lawmakers who control the megabills fate: The president met on Wednesday with members of the Senate Finance Committee, and White House officials are fanning out for media hits this week about the legislation.

As the White House official put it, theres no bigger bully pulpit than the presidents.

But Trump is Trump, undeniably aware of grievances being aired within his inner circle, and theres always a chance Musk pushes him too far  though thats the last thing most in the White House want to see happen.

Notable
By Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House has tapped a career special forces operative with experience in counterterrorism operations to oversee Latin America policy at the National Security Council, two U.S. officials said.

The appointment of retired Air Force commander Michael Jensen as senior director of Western Hemisphere affairs at the NSC follows President Donald Trump publicly floating the idea of sending troops into Mexico to battle drug cartels.

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In February, the Trump administration designated six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that some Democrats and analysts believe could serve as a legal pretext for U.S. military action in Mexico or other foreign countries.

Jensen, who served in multiple special tactics groups over the course of more than two decades in the Air Force, had been nominated in February to serve as assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. The administration pulled that nomination in mid-May, according to a congressional notice that did not give a reason.

Jensen has no obvious Latin America policy experience, according to his LinkedIn profile and publicly available documents. A 2008 article written by an Air Force public affairs officer said Jensen helped manage a "high-value target hunt" in Afghanistan, during which he "guided 31 close air support and surveillance aircraft during a 5-1/2 hour mission, which disrupted al-Qaeda operations."

CBS reported in April that Jensen was a candidate for the post, though Jensen has only stepped into the position in recent days amid a broad shake-up at the NSC, said the U.S. officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

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The White House did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Jensen, who also serves as a special assistant to the president in his new role.

TROOPS TO FIGHT CARTELS

Trump said on the campaign trail that he might send troops to Mexico to battle drug cartels. During the final year of his 2017-2021 presidency, he privately floated the idea of launching missiles into Mexico, according to a memoir by his second defense secretary, Mark Esper.

In May, Trump said he had offered to send U.S. troops to Mexico to help Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum combat drug trafficking, an offer that she rebuffed.

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Jensen's appointment comes at a fraught time for the NSC, which helps coordinate U.S. foreign policy across a large number of agencies.

In late May, dozens of staffers were cut in a purge, the latest and most dramatic in a series of cuts that started in March. Mike Waltz, the first national security adviser, was replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in early May and Rubio now holds the top posts at both the NSC and the State Department.

In recent days, remaining NSC staffers have been told they will be more involved in implementing - rather than making - policy, according to several people briefed on conversations with top White House officials.

Several foreign missions, including those of major U.S. allies, have lost their counterparts at the NSC and are struggling to stay in close contact with the Trump administration, according to several foreign diplomats.

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Still, the NSC has in recent days made some initial move to fill staffing gaps, according to three U.S. officials, with White House officials soliciting resumes from officials elsewhere in government.

Rubio has publicly urged the U.S. national security and diplomatic communities to renew their focus on Latin America, as the Trump administration attempts to crack down on narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Don Durfee and Nia Williams)
Jun. 4Following more than two hours of public comment on Monday, Whitefish city officials said a traffic stop that led to the detainment of a Venezuelan man who was in the country legally might warrant further investigation.

"We've heard allegations of racial profiling, of bias-based policing. Our policy clearly states, for bias-based policing, that any allegations are investigated," said Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith at the June 2 City Council meeting.

Smith's statement followed a lengthy long public comment period, during which more than a dozen residents raised concerns about the April 24 traffic stop initiated by Whitefish Police officer Michael Hingiss. According to a case report obtained by the Daily Inter Lake, Hingiss called U.S. Border Patrol's regional dispatch center to request a "person check" on Kalispell resident Beker Rengifo del Castillo after pulling him over for a broken taillight.

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The responding Border Patrol agent detained Rengifo del Castillo, who was subsequently held in federal custody for about a week, despite having entered the country legally under a two-year humanitarian parole program. The Trump administration has made repeated efforts to end the program, but a federal court order blocked the termination of participants' parole status at the time of Rengifo del Castillo's detainment.

Prior to the call, Rengifo del Castillo provided Hingiss with a driver's license, car registration and proof of insurance.

"There was no reason, though, the police report shows, to presume he was violating immigration law, nor was that really the business or jurisdiction of city police," Rebecca Miller, a local immigration advocate, told Council.

Miller concluded her testimony with a request to review the training materials police officers receive on criminal immigration violations. Other speakers called on the city to cease communications with Border Patrol agents, release the body camera footage of the traffic stop and issue an apology to Rengifo del Castillo.

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Smith said the city is following a policy dictating that "any alleged or observed violations" of bias-based policing are subject to investigation by the department supervisor. But she said the conclusions of that process would be kept under lock and key.

"That is something that is not available for public information, whether or not we do an investigation and what the outcome is," said Smith. "That puts the city at a liability risk. Personnel  individual employees  do have a right to privacy when it comes to any sort of disciplinary action."

Whitefish City Attorney Angela Jacobs added that the body camera footage of the traffic stop would stay under wraps short of a judge ordering its release. She said copies of police training materials were available upon request.

Whitefish City Councilor Steve Qunell said he was satisfied that the city was fulfilling its due diligence following Smith's statement.

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"It makes me really sad that people don't feel safe here," he said. "Brown people, Black people, orange people, whatever. That somebody wouldn't feel safe here really makes me feel sad, and I have a hard time because it feels like we are being thrown under the bus of this whole thing that is coming down on us, raining down on us."

In a prior interview with the Inter Lake, Whitefish Police Chief Bridger Kelch stated that he did not see a need for further investigation into the traffic stop. While present, he did not comment at the meeting.

Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency in Allegan County after storms and two tornadoes whipped through the area on May 15.

The declaration frees up state resources for the county to help local response and recovery efforts. It may also open the door to financial assistance to cover eligible response and recovery costs. The state of emergency will last until July 3 at the latest, the governors office wrote.

Allegan County: Damage from storms is $2.2 million

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On May 15, two EF1 tornadoes touched down in Allegan County: one in the Hopkins/Dorr area and one near Martin. They were among 11 confirmed tornadoes in lower Michigan that night. Winds reached 95 mph and damage from fallen trees and utility lines on homes were reported.

Damage in the Martin area the day after severe storms rolled through. (May 16, 2025) Damage in the Martin area the day after severe storms rolled through. (May 16, 2025) A destroyed barn near Martin the day after strong storms. (May 16, 2025) Crews work to clean up Martin nearly a week after a tornado swept through. (May 21, 2025) Crews work to clean up Martin nearly a week after a tornado swept through. (May 21, 2025)

Allegan Countys emergency management agency said its preliminary assessment estimated around $2.2 million in damage from the severe storms. The county declared a local state of emergency.

State of emergency was also declared in Baraga County and the city of Lansing, which experienced heavy rainfall and a tornado with straight-line winds, respectively.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Gretchen Whitmer is once again trying to smooth things over with President Donald Trump.

The Michigan governor, who has drawn criticism from fellow Democrats for frequently meeting with the president, told reporters on Tuesday that shed spoken to Trump about his May 28 comment that hed take a look at pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap her in 2020.

I will just confirm that I have connected with the president directly on this subject and made my thoughts known, Whitmer told reporters, according to NBC.

Despite meeting with Whitmer multiple times since his January inauguration, President Trump said last week that he'd

In October 2020, 13 men were arrested by the FBI for orchestrating a scheme to abduct Whitmer as part of a larger plan to overthrow Michigans state government.

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Four of the men are now serving prison time on federal charges, making them eligible for presidential pardons. Of the remaining nine participants, seven were tried on state charges, and two more were acquitted of their federal charges.

After revealing that shed spoken to the president this week, Whitmer added, Im not going to share more about our conversation, but hopefully hell take some of those things into consideration when he makes a decision.

Shortly after the 13 suspects were first arrested, Whitmer said Trump was complicit in their scheme, citing his 2020 comments telling the Proud Boys extremist group to stand back and stand by.

Hate groups heard the presidents words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry, Whitmer told NBC at the time. When our leaders meet with, encourage, or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions and they are complicit.

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However, Whitmers relationship with the president has taken on a vastly different energy in his second term. The Michigan governor has met with Trump at the White House several times since his inauguration in January, receiving backlash from supporters and fellow politicians alike when photos emerged of her appearing to hide her face from cameras while in the Oval Office in April.

New photo of Wednesdays Oval Office encounter involving Governor Whitmer from Eric Lee of The New York Times was published this morning. pic.twitter.com/bdGaaQGMEm  Zach Gorchow (@ZachGorchow) April 12, 2025

Later that month, Trump publicly praised Whitmer while speaking at Selfridge Air National Guard Force Base in Michigan, even pulling her on stage for a photo op.

Despite criticisms from her fellow Democrats, Whitmer defended meeting with Trump as service above self, and received her highest approval rating yet63 percentafter her photo ops with the president.

Trump, meanwhile, first entertained pardoning Whitmers would-be kidnappers last week, when he told reporters that he would take a look at possible pardons.

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I will take a look at it. Its been brought to my attention, said the president. I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.

The day after Trump first floated the idea of pardoning the men, Whitmer told reporters in Michigan that she was very disappointed to hear his comments.

Ill be making my thoughts known to the White House, Whitmer said at the time, I hope they take it into consideration.

When asked about Trumps conversation with Whitmer at a press conference earlier today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she could confirm the pair had spoken, but would not elaborate on the details of their conversation.

Instead, Leavitt added, I will reiterate what [Trump] said publicly when he was asked about the pardons. He said its something he would look at, nothing more, nothing less.
Whitney Decker is enduring an unimaginable nightmare. Her three daughters were discovered deceased near a campsite, and their father - her ex-husband Travis Decker - is on the run, authorities say.

The Chelan County Sheriff's Department has labeled Decker a murder suspect and confirmed the discovery of the Deckers' three daughters: Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, of Wenatchee, WA

Disturbing details are emerging in the horrific case. Whitney Decker has shared new information with authorities as they engage in a massive manhunt to find Travis Decker, an ex-military member who was homeless, according to Fox13.

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The Fox13 television station reported that interviews with the girls' mom revealed "a possible decline in (Travis) Decker's mental health" before the deaths.

Whitney Decker told authorities "he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which she believes he does not take medications for," Fox13 reported.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Whitney Decker has raised more than $267,000 as the community rallies around the young mother, who is beloved by many, including friends in a sewing circle.

The likely cause of death was asphyxiation, the television station reported. Be forewarned that additional details on their likely causes of death are extremely disturbing.

***WANTED*** WENATCHEE, WA

Three young Wenatchee girls reported missing last week were found deceased on Monday, June 2, 2025, according to the Wenatchee Police Department. Authorities are now searching for their father, Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of pic.twitter.com/cz3b00E6CM  The AWARE Foundation (@aware_the) June 3, 2025

"A joint operation including regional, state, and federal law enforcement agencies continues in Chelan County in search of Travis Decker. Travis is suspected of kidnapping and murdering his three young daughters this past weekend," the Chelan County Sheriff's Department wrote in a statement.

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According to Fox13, Whitney and Travis Decker divorced several years ago and there was a parenting plan in place that allowed him to see the girls "during specific hours every other weekend." Sheriff's officials confirm he was a former military member.

Fox13 reported that he was "known to stay at motels or local campgrounds after losing housing."

He is accused of refusing to sign and follow the parenting plan, which required him to seek mental health and anger management treatment, Fox13 reported.

Fox13 reported that Travis Decker was described as "quieter than usual" when he picked up the girls on May 30, and was talking about "getting rid of his dog due to housing and financial struggles."

Travis Decker. Chelan Co. Sheriff

Whitney Decker's Facebook page is listed as the admin on a group devoted to remembering the three girls with positive stories.

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Before the girls' bodies were found, Whitney Decker made a plea for her daughters' return.

I just want the girls back home safe and sound  that is the most important thing to me, she said to NCWLIFE.

I am concerned about the safety and well-being of my girls and their dad. This is an unimaginable situation. I am pleading for everyone to look out for them, she said then, according to the television station.

That site reported that the mother contacted police 90 minutes after Travis Decker did not return the girls following a three-hour visitation.

PLEASE SHARE - GoFundMe for the mother of the three sisters who were missing from Wenatchee and later found dead. Investigators are now searching for their father who is wanted for murder and kidnapping. @KING5Seattle @gofundme https://t.co/SKukorDFWC  Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) June 3, 2025

"This fundraiser is to support Whitney Decker with expenses and legal costs following the tragic loss of her three daughters, Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia," the GoFundMe page to help Whitney Decker says.

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"On May 30th, the girls were reported missing after a scheduled visitation with their father. We are heartbroken to share that the girls have since passed. Their light touched so many, and the pain of this loss is immeasurable," it adds.

"Ive known Whitney for years, we're both dance moms and theater friends. We originally met through Short Shakespeareans, where I serve as the music director and had the privilege of teaching Whitneys girls over the past few years. Weve spent this year as dance moms together, with my daughter Maisy and Whitneys daughter Evelyn both performing on the Fabulous Feet Dance Rockstars team."

There are many tributes flowing for the girls on the Facebook page devoted to remembering them. "Whitney, the girls' mom would love to hear/read things you loved about the girls or hear/read stories about them," an admin wrote.

"I met Whitney through sewing, I still have the pattern weights she made me one year for Christmas I always loved seeing what Whitney made for her girls, their smiles could make any day brighter," a woman wrote on that page.

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"I was always a little intimidated by Whitney as a mom, but in the good way. Her and those girls could have changed the world I have no doubt in that. Shes a phenomenal mom who I secretly looked up to," another woman wrote on the page.

Heartbreaking developments regarding 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia.



The three missing sisters were found deceased at a campground west of Leavenworth, Washington.



Their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker, is wanted on charges of murder. pic.twitter.com/vebGqHafdf  True crime - Seeking justice (@downtothewoods) June 3, 2025

"I know Whitney and the girls from our time at Fort Benning together. Our kids were much younger then but I remember, vividly, Evelyns sweet sass! She was such a funny personality already. Paityn was the most protective older sister. Even just holding Olivia she would be there looking over your shoulder to make sure her baby was okay," a woman added.

There is a $20,000 reward. Sheriff's officials wrote that the girls disappeared during a planned visitation but have now been found deceased.

"Around 3:45 p.m. yesterday (June 2), a CCSO Forest Service Deputy, conducting patrol on his motorcycle, located Mr. Deckers vehicle in a remote area, approximately 17 miles up the road, ultimately discovering the three deceased children and Mr. Decker was nowhere to be found," Sheriff's officials wrote.

Related: The Likely Cause of Death for Travis Decker's 3 Daughters Was Revealed. It's Chilling

Whitney Decker Shared New Details in Horrific Murders of 3 Daughters first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
The House Judiciary Committee is expected to interview former Hunter Biden special counsel David Weiss behind closed doors on Friday, two sources familiar with the interview told CNN, as part of a broader Republican effort to revisit previous probes into the Biden family that stalled last Congress but are gaining new momentum now that Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House.

The scheduled interview, which could still be moved, would be the second time the Republican-led panel will interview Weiss about his work as Republicans continue to probe whether the investigation was hampered by political interference.

Weiss has still never testified publicly about his six-year criminal probe into the presidents son, which included three convictions, but was ultimately short-circuited as a result of the former presidents unconditional pardon of his son.

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House Judiciary Republicans have long wanted to call Weiss, the Trump-appointed US attorney, back for questioning after his first closed-door interview in 2023. Committee Republicans were also able to finally secure interviews with two Department of Justice tax division prosecutors involved in the Hunter Biden probe who they had been aggressively pursuing for months, one of the sources familiar told CNN.

The Justice Department is working with Weiss to provide access to documents he may need for his interview, a person briefed on the matter said. Any delays in getting access to documents would be a scheduling issue and the ability to have personnel who can oversee it, the person briefed on the matter said.

Its not the only Biden investigation Republicans are reexamining that leans into a fresh political appetite with GOP control of Washington.

House Oversight Chair James Comer is returning to his probe of the former presidents mental fitness in an entirely new landscape after a recent book by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson put Joe Bidens physical and mental decline back in the spotlight.

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Comer told CNN he is in the process of scheduling key interviews with Bidens White House physician, Dr. Kevin OConnor, and other senior aides who had all rebuffed his efforts last Congress. Beyond the five initial interviews from Bidens orbit, the Republican Chairman told CNN he wants to look at the executive orders Biden signed in his last six months in office and use of the autopen.

In the weeks immediately after Bidens disastrous 2024 debate performance that unraveled his presidential campaign and upended the Democratic party, Comer requested to interview Bidens doctor and subpoenaed three senior Biden aides to discuss their roles in the Biden White House, which never materialized.

Now, Comer said in an interview with CNN, it is a whole different environment.

At the time of his 2024 interview requests, Comers impeachment inquiry into the Biden familys business dealings had fallen apart and the Biden administration felt no incentive to comply with the House Oversight Committee.

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Probing Bidens decline now, Comer says, will be a lot easier than trying to convince his colleagues of an alleged Biden family foreign influence peddling scheme, which even Comer conceded was difficult to do, particularly in a minute or less on Fox News. Republicans failed to uncover evidence to support their core allegations against the president, and lacked the votes in their divided, narrow majority last Congress to impeach the president.

The money laundering and the shell companies, the average American couldnt understand that. I mean, that was hard to understand, Comer told CNN. You know, I did not do a good job explaining that.

But with his investigation into Bidens mental and physical decline, Comer said, people see a president that clearly is in decline. They saw it in the debate.

Democrats sought to dismantle the Republican-led 11 month impeachment inquiry into Biden last Congress at every turn.

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Comer told CNN that although those Democrats arent jumping at the opportunity to cooperate now, he does not see them as being obstructive either.

I take that as a step in the right direction, he told CNN.

Tapper and Thompsons book documents how Biden, his closest aides and his family forged ahead with the former presidents doomed 2024 reelection bid despite signs of his physical and mental decline.

In a previous statement to CNN, a Biden spokesman criticized the book, saying that evidence shows that he was a very effective president.

Former Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, who launched a long-shot challenge to Biden and was outspoken about his concerns over the former presidents age, told CNN he did not think there needed to be an investigation on Capitol Hill at this point into Bidens fitness as president.

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This case already went to trial, the jury of American voters convicted the party of the accused, and handed out the harshest political punishment possible-losing the single most consequential election in modern history, Phillips told CNN.

Instead, Phillips called on Biden to authorize his physician to disclose his health file and condition under oath.

Only if the former president refuses, or if questioning uncovers possible criminal activity, should an investigation be initiated, Phillips added.

Biden was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

CNNs Evan Perez contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Some residents in central Ohio may notice lower air quality and haze on Wednesday.

The reduced air quality is due to smoke from wildfires in Canada.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the AQI for Columbus was at 106, which falls into the orange category and is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

It is recommended that people with heart or lung disease, as well as older adults, children and teens limit time outside, and to choose activities like walking instead of running.

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A rare COVID-19 strain disappeared overnight. We still dont know which Ohioan had it

What is the Air Quality Index?

An AQI between 51-100 (yellow) could pose problems for people who are unusually sensitive to ozone, according to the National Weather Service.

An AQI between 100 and 150 (orange) could pose problems for sensitive groups like those with asthma, older adults, children and teens. If the AQI reaches 100-150, even healthy people are encouraged to limit outdoor activities to shorter and less intense activities.

Anything over 151 (red, purple and maroon) could create health impacts for the general public.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Poland's 6th Airborne Brigade has been using the MSBS Grot assault rifle in recent years.

The gun, designed by a Polish arms maker, comes with a retractable or adjustable folding stock.

This makes it a great choice for paratroopers, a Polish captain told BI last week.

What kind of rifle are elite Polish paratroopers jumping into combat with? A relatively new homemade gun that they say offers flexibility and mobility needed at a time when modern warfare is showing that light infantry has a key part to play.

Poland's 6th Airborne Brigade previously carried the 96 Beryl, a rifle developed by the Polish firearms manufacturer FB Radom in the 1990s.

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Now, the brigade is fully armed with FB Radom's newer MSBS Grot, a family of modular rifles. The gun's stock can be folded or retracted, making it compact and "good for the jump," Capt. Bartosz Januszewski told Business Insider during the Lively Sabre 25 exercise in southern Finland last week.

Compact weapons are often preferred by airborne forces and mechanized infantry because they allow troops to move more freely in confined spaces, deploy more rapidly, and react quickly. They can be carried close to the body to avoid snags, and they can be swiftly extended and shouldered.

Januszewski said the airborne brigade received the first MSBS Grot model in 2017. Some of the 6th Airborne are now using the third model, which was handed over in 2022, and new variations are still being developed.

According to the manufacturer, the MSBS Grot fires standard 5.5645mm NATO cartridges and has a muzzle velocity of 890 meters per second. It can shoot between 700 and 900 rounds a minute and has a range of 500 meters. The gun weighs around 4 kilograms (under 9 pounds) and is just shy of 1,000 mm (38 inches) long with the weapon's stock fully extended.

The MSBS Grot is made by the Polish defense manufacturer FB Radom. Photo by Michal Fludra/NurPhoto

Most paratroopers employ holographic weapons sights made by the US company EOTech. The gun can also be equipped with magnifier attachments and infrared lights for night vision.

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Januszewski said that Poland prefers to use homemade rifles rather than purchase them from another country, like the US, because it helps grow the local defense industry. It also makes it easier to liaise directly with the company to share feedback and discuss improvements.

Brig. Gen. Michal Strzelecki, the commander of Poland's 6th Airborne Brigade, told BI during Lively Sabre that not all units in the Polish Army use the MSBS Grot. However, his paratroopers tend to get their hands on newer weapons systems earlier than others across the armed forces.

Though some critics have complained about issues like jamming, the general called it a "very good rifle" and said he's "quite satisfied" with the weapon.

A Staff Sergeant in the 6th Airborne who participated in the exercise and spoke to BI through a translator on the condition of anonymity said the MSBS Grot is better than the Kalashnikov-style Beryl he was using earlier in his career. He characterized the new rifle as being very user-friendly.

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Compared to the earlier Beryls, the Grot offers a more modern, adaptable, and modular rifle that Poland felt better met the demands of 21st-century warfare than Soviet-derived designs. It also strengthened the domestic defense industry.

The MSBS Grot is primarily used by Polish forces, but Warsaw has sent thousands of these rifles to Ukraine to help its neighbor fend off the ongoing Russian invasion. A foreign volunteer BI spoke to earlier this year previously said he's a "big fan of the Grot."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Only days after leaving the White House, Musk is sharing his opinion of President Donald Trump's tax and domestic policy bill.

On Tuesday, June 3, Musk took to his platform X to express his disapproval of the spending bill currently being considered by the Senate.

In late May, Musk similarly shared his thoughts on President Trump's spending bill in an exclusive interview with CBS Sunday Morning.

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"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, Musk said in the interview.

Here's what Musk had to say about President Trump's policies online.

Musk calls bill a 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill a disgusting abomination'

Now, Musk is sharing his opinions on President Trump's tax and domestic policy bill after Trump held a friendly send-off for the world's richest man in the Oval Office on May 30.

"Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore," Musk said in a post on his social media platform X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

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According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill is estimated to add $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

"It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt," Musk said in a follow-up post on X. "Congress is making America bankrupt."

Why is Musk upset by Trump's bill?

Much of the work DOGE has done to reduce the national debt would be for nothing if President Trump's bill were to pass and add the estimated $3.8 trillion. As of June 3, DOGE has reportedly saved $180 billion. This is nowhere near enough of savings to counter the estimated trillions of dollars in assumed debt.

Musk, who was born in South Africa and immigrated to the United States on a work visa, was referencing President Trump's plan to deport millions of legal immigrants and asylum seekers, which Musk was at one point in time.

When did Musk leave DOGE?

A month after announcing he would step back in his role at DOGE, Elon Musk announced he would leave the position entirely.

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"As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending," Musk said. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."

Musk was designated a "special government employee," which allows him to work for the federal government for a limited period, with or without pay.

According to the United States Department of the Interior, a special government employee is "an officer or employee in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government who is appointed to perform important, but limited, services to the Government, with or without compensation, for a period not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days."

Musk's 130 days allotted to work under the title of special government employee were expected to finish near the end of May. The earliest reported work from DOGE is dated Jan. 21, which would put the end of his 130-day period on May 31, the date he officially departed.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What did Elon Musk say about Trump's 'big, beautiful bill?'
Finding summer child care for kids is never an easy task, but for one age, its getting even tougher.

The states 4-year-olds often fall into a summer care limbo and a recent policy change in Michigan is adding to the challenge, experts say.

While the state recently expanded its free pre-K program, known as the Great Start for Readiness Program (GSRP), to all families in Michigan regardless of income, the funding limits programs to the traditional school year.

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As more public schools are opening GSRP classrooms, parents of these 4-year-olds are left looking for summer care once their districts programming ends around early June.

Its a hiccup that Jessi Jones faced when her 4-year-old son Oliver was enrolled in GSRP at his elementary school in Elk Rapids last year, but was too young for his schools Kids Club summer camp.

Jones and her husband, both working parents, were left scrambling without a summer option. There were only a couple day care options around her which were all already full. There was a summer program at a local YMCA but the drive was nearly an hour away. She also checked options in Traverse City and surrounding areas: all full.

Luckily, Jones was able to cobble together summer care with family members, but the experience wasnt ideal for her son.

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I felt like we lost the consistency and the routine, thats really important, especially for younger kids, Jones said.

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) lead teacher Kirstyn Love helps a student with her artwork at Early Childhood and Kids Club Programs in Whitmore Lake on Friday, May 30, 2025.

Some parents, especially new ones, dont know there may not be an abundance of summer options for their kids, said Norika Kida Betti, early childhood system coordinator at the United Way of Northwest Michigan.

Sometimes parents assume if this is what everyone is doing, there must be a solution developed for the summer, right?  Kida Betti said. But come the end of their childs GSRP program, they find there isnt, she says.

As the state expanded GSRP to be universal, both day cares and school districts have been opening more GSRP classrooms and the program is limited to a maximum of 36 weeks in both.

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But in day care, there isnt a drop-off in summer care. Day cares typically run year-round, so once GSRP programming ends, they offer tuition-based summer care.

Most school districts dont, and come summer, there are limited available options for 4-year-olds. Public schools typically only offer summer programs for school-age kids 5 and older, day cares are already filled up with kids whove been there all year, and summer camps for young kids are few and far between.

Last year, there were about 40,000 kids in GSRP with 71% of them enrolled in school-based programs, according to Michigan State University's annual GSRP evaluation report.

Advocates say school districts need to get better at addressing the needs of the families with young kids theyre now serving. They say the state should also consider funding GSRP for the entire year, so that parents arent left searching for just three months of care before their child enters kindergarten.

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MiLEAP said the Legislature funded GSRP as a school-year program but did not comment on the rationale behind doing so.

Not enough day care-based GSRP slots

The child care ecosystem varies by county so the summer care crunch for 4-year-olds is worse in some areas. In some communities, GSRP classrooms are primarily in school districts. Other areas have more day care-based classrooms for 4-year-olds.

The state wants to create more slots in both, so that theres a diversity of options, including year-round care. For this reason, the state requires that Intermediate School Districts, who receive GSRP funding, allocate at least 30% of the funding to existing day cares.

But partnering success differs by county, according to Kelly Sheppard, the early childhood consultant for Jackson ISD.

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In Jackson County, 84% of the available GSRP slots are offered through day cares and other community early childhood sites, according to Sheppard. This means that, come summer, when school-based GSRP programs end, these day cares have available slots. Sheppard said she hasnt heard from parents complaining of lacking summer care for their 4-year-olds.

But in Lenawee County, currently, only 34% of GSRP slots are delivered through day cares, according to Christie Cadmus, early childhood consultant for Lenawee ISD. Cadmus says the county continues partnering with more day cares each year to get more classrooms open.

Great Start Readiness Program lead teacher Kirstyn Love works with her students as they eat breakfast at Early Childhood and Kids Club Program in Whitmore Lake on Friday, May 30, 2025.

Often, parents struggle in the area to find 4-year-old summer care because there just arent enough day care-based spots, said Brigid Wilson, who manages four different day cares in the area.

When parents who take their kids out of her day care setting to place them in a school-based program come back seeking summer care, she has to tell them that their spot was filled.

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Parents are giving up year-round child care by participating in school-based universal pre-K, Wilson said. Theyre losing summer care.

Strain on day cares

Another issue is the expansion of GSRP in school districts has caused day cares to take a financial hit. Families opt to put their 4-year-olds in school districts where they will eventually attend kindergarten, pulling this age group out of day cares.

It is not sustainable for a day care to run without 4-year-olds. The age group has higher ratios of kids to staff, meaning they're less labor intensive and help offset the higher costs of infant and toddler care. Because programs can't operate without the income the 4-year-olds bring in, they close, Wilson said.

These are the kinds of problems Kida Betti said the increased availability of free pre-K can bring about.

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There are always unintended consequences that we as a system havent had time to respond to yet or there isnt a solution developed alongside the change that would make it easy for families to find that summer care, Kida Betti said.

She said the ultimate result is a tighter market with less wiggle room for families to find summer specific care available for their 4-year-olds.

Parents and experts hope year-round care will become a reality

While some schools with GSRP classrooms do run summer programming, those who do are rare.

Dawn Koger, early childhood consultant for Oakland Schools, said typically, school districts think of GSRP as preschool and look to Community Based Organizations to provide child care. Community Based Organization is the official term for day cares.

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Wilson said she thinks its also a staffing issue, because teachers working in a school-based GSRP classroom want their summers off like the rest of the teachers often get in a public K-12 school system. Koger said early education teachers in GSRP classrooms are also often part of school unions whose contracts typically dictate either 185 or 95 working days a year.

Still, Wilson said she doesnt understand it.

I dont know why they close, she said. Its desperately needed and its financially responsible to keep them open.

Many districts, however, do lose money running summer care for kids under 5, according to Kristin Witt, co-director of Great Start to Quality at the United Way of Northwest Michigan. Depending on variables including parents ability to pay and the cost of teacher wages and benefits, summer programming is in many cases, an expense that a school knows they will have to absorb, Witt said.

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Whitmore Lake Public School District, for example, ran a summer camp that accepted kids starting at 3 years old for around six years, but eventually stopped because it was too expensive, according to district early childhood program director Sue Wanamaker.

Wanamaker, who has worked in the Whitmore Lake Public School District for 20 years, said her district has long understood that having year-round programming for 4-year-olds beyond GSRP would be ideal, so that there's no gap in kids' education or routine. But, "it just wasn't cost effective to keep running it," she said.

"Parents have expectations for the summer, they expect fun things like field trips," Wanamaker said. "All those big things cost money."

Whitmore Lake wouldn't have the funding to run free summer programming for 4-year-olds, but even if the district charged parents, the question remains "is it really worth it?" when you'll likely lose money, Wanamaker said.

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) teacher helper Cassie Villarreal plays a game with a student at Early Childhood and Kids Club Programs in Whitmore Lake on Friday, May 30, 2025.

Though they stopped running their summer camp, Whitmore Lake continues to have a summer option for 4-year-olds through a Montessori school in the district. But Wanamaker said the majority of her school's GSRP kids don't go there in the summer because it's expensive, with monthly rates starting at $900. Instead, Wanamaker says she sees many of her school's GSRP kids stay home for the summer with relatives.

Kida Betti said another part of the reason more school districts dont offer year-round care is because doing so would require them to expand their child care license. Child care licensing can be a time-consuming and expensive process  more onerous than getting licensed for a 5-year-old and up summer camp, Witt said.

Though it can be difficult to expand a license, the bigger issue, Witt said, is desire to do so. She said school districts across Michigan need to take responsibility for all children in their communities, not just school-age kids.

Kids dont just show up on Earth at age 5, she said. My feeling is, its the school districts responsibility to really think about supporting their families.

Witt believes this starts top down with Michigans Board of Education setting the tone by adopting a philosophy that considers kids under 5. County ISDs could then work with districts to bring them into the fold so they can expand services like summer care for this age group.

Her advice for districts is to think ahead and preemptively expand their licenses so, come summer, they have summer care for their kids.

Any place a child might want to be, get that space licensed, Witt said.

In an ideal world, Koger said, GSRP could be funded year-round. While MiLEAP did not comment on future GSRP funding changes, agency spokesperson Aundreana Jones-Poole said in an email that school-based GSRP programs looking to provide summer care could offer families private pay options or use existing funding sources including the states Tri-Share program  which splits child care costs among families, their employers, and the state  and the states child care subsidy program to do so.

As a parent who went through it, Jones said year-round GSRP programming or even the option to add days in the summer would have supported her familys needs.

To know there was an accredited place, that youre comfortable with your kid going, thats offered in the summer would be incredibly helpful, Jones said.

Beki San Martin is a fellow at the Detroit Free Press who covers child care, early childhood education and other issues that affect the lives of children ages 5 and under and their families in metro Detroit and across Michigan. Contact her at rsanmartin@freepress.com.

This fellowship is supported by the Bainum Family Foundation. The Free Press retains editorial control of this work.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's free GSRP leaves summer child care gap for 4-year-olds
Earlier this week, authorities confirmed that actor Jonathan Joss had died after being shot during an altercation with a former neighbor. He was 59.

Derek Storm / Everett Collection

Jonathans husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claimed in a social media statement that the actor was killed in an anti-gay, targeted attack. He wrote, My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home. That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.

Throughout that time we were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship. Much of the harassment was openly homophobic, Tristan alleged. When we returned to the site to check our mail we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view. This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw. While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.

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While tributes have poured in for the King of the Hill voice actor, his former Parks and Recreation costar Chris Pratt shared some words of his own this week.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Related: Keke Palmer's "Sickening" Dress Has The Internet In Shambles

Jonathan famously played Chief Ken Hotate on the fan-favorite sitcom, while Chris starred as Andy Dwyer.

In an Instagram story that has since expired, Chris shared a screenshot of a news headline about Jonathans killing and wrote, Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.

@prattprattpratt / Deedle-Dee Productions / Universal Media Studios / Via reddit.com

Related: 21 Times Celebrities Revealed Wildly Juicy, Shady, Or Even Disturbing Things In Interviews

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Reacting to Chriss tribute, several internet users admitted that they found his wording really weird and poorly written.

Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images for Netflix

This is a really weird tribute in response to his death, one person said. This is such a poorly written statement. I know that Pratt likely wasn't close with Jonathan, nor is he expected to be -- but no statement is honestly better than this. It sounds so callous, someone else agreed.

Deedle-Dee Productions / Universal Media Studios / Prime Video

Honestly just using full sentences would have made this sound more sincere even if they werent close. Minimal effort. Also wth does prayers up even mean, one user wrote, while another echoed, He couldn't even be bothered with a full sentence, how classy.

Its so terse and weirdly written. Like, read it aloud. It's robotic, someone said, while another wrote, This is so dismissive that it feels disrespectful. He shouldve said nothing tbh.

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One more person added, It might have been better to say nothing at all Chris. This death is so tragic and upsetting and Johnathan deserved a better tribute then damn. RIP.

Some users took issue with the fact that Chris made no mention of the nature of Jonathans murder, comparing his statement to a moving statement shared by actor Cynthia Nixon.

John Nacion / Getty Images

Was devastated to learn of the killing last night of the wonderfully talented actor and musician Jonathan Joss, who my family and I enjoyed so much in Parks and Recreation. He and his husband had been repeatedly harassed and worse by homophobic neighbors who recently burned their house to the ground. The men were collecting mail at their old address when a former neighbor came at them shouting homophobic hate and shot Jonathan to death, Cynthia wrote. His husband says he would also have been shot had Jonathan not pushed him out of the way. The San Antonio police force is saying there is 'no evidence' that this was a hate crime. We will not let this stand.

More on this

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Also in Celebrity: 14 Celebrities Who Have So Many Kids, They're Basically Running Their Own Daycare, And 11 Who Said "Hmm, Hard Pass"

Also in Celebrity: 24 Strange, Gross, And Totally Surprising Facts About Red Carpet Outfits

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(Photo by Marga Buschbell-Steeger/Getty Images)

A new state law aimed at expanding gas and nuclear power plants in Ohio may also provide opportunities for solar developers  if they can overcome other policy and political barriers.

Solar industry advocates say House Bill 15, signed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in mid-May, contains several technology-neutral provisions that could benefit clean energy projects, including property tax breaks for siting them on brownfields and former coal mines. The law also loosens restrictions on behind-the-meter electricity generation and lowers the overall tax burden for new power plants.

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This is just smart economic development. We need the energy, said Michael Benson, board president of Green Energy Ohio, whose members include a variety of clean energy companies. In his view, a market-based approach should work in favor of renewables and battery storage, which can generally be deployed more quickly and cheaply than power plants that burn fossil fuels.

Much of the public discussion around the legislation focused on its repeal of coal plant subsidies mandated by HB 6, the 2019 law at the heart of Ohios ongoing public corruption scandal. HB 15 also will end the use of electric security plans, which let utilities add special charges to customer bills without reviewing all revenue and expenses in a full rate case.

But many of the measures in HB 15 are meant to encourage new electricity production in the state.

We should open the market to dispatchable energy generation to address future energy shortages, the bills primary sponsor, Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland), said in his February testimony, in which he also noted growing energy demand from data centers and other large electricity users, and energy supply issues raised by grid operator PJM Interconnection. The term dispatchable is often used to refer to power plants that can be turned on or off as demand requires, as opposed to solar or wind without battery backup.

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Most of the laws incentives for new energy production are technology-neutral, however.

Under HB 15, new electricity production on brownfields and minelands designated as priority investment areas will be exempt from property taxes for five years. Grants of up to $10 million each will be available to clean up or prepare the sites for construction. And the Ohio Power Siting Board will speed up its review of energy projects in those areas.

Its a huge opportunity, said Rebecca Mellino, a climate and energy policy associate for The Nature Conservancy in Ohio. Last year the organization estimated that Ohio has more than 600,000 acres of minelands and brownfields suitable for renewable energy production. The sites often have good access to roads and transmission lines, too.

As Mellino sees it, solar in priority areas would avoid objections raised by some people about displacing farmland. And counties with renewable energy bans could presumably modify them to allow development in priority investment areas without affecting other parts of their jurisdictions, she suggested.

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The law also removes a restriction that has required behind-the-meter generation to be located on the premises of the customer who is using the power. The change might allow data centers to tap into gas-fired backup generators on an adjacent property, for example. But it could also create new opportunities for clean energy-powered microgrids, in which a group of customers share solar panels and a large battery.

That is significant, all by itself, because it provides more flexibility, said Dylan Borchers, an energy attorney with law firm Bricker Graydon in Columbus, Ohio. Just as importantly, the law allows essentially a portfolio approach for customers and energy resources.

In other words, multiple businesses could form a shared self-power system with equipment for electricity generation or battery storage on adjacent land or on premises controlled by one or more of them. Such a system could include numerous generation or storage facilities, allowing a cluster of data centers, factories, or other large energy users to combine multiple behind-the-meter resources, whether they be natural gas, solar, batteries, or small nuclear when it becomes available.

The ability to combine resources means customers wouldnt necessarily need lots of land to add renewable energy, said Benson. If you want the most power quickly and cleanly, you can use rooftops and parking lots and build out a lot of small-scale generation.

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The law also reduces the overall tax burden for new electricity production. Local governments may collect less revenue but still welcome the jobs and other spending that come with new energy investments. And less stringent requirements might even benefit some communities when new power generation is sited, Borchers suggested.

Ohios current tangible personal property tax rates have been so high that companies have often used payments in lieu of taxes, also known as PILOT programs, to avoid getting walloped by huge tax bills as soon as energy production starts. But counties face somewhat strict requirements for how they must allocate PILOT payments. Developers that take advantage of the lower tax rates available under HB 15 may have more financial flexibility to be able to fund some projects that local governments want most, such as a new fire station or community center, Borchers said.

Taken together, the provisions in HB 15 promise to make it easier to build more solar in the state, industry representatives say.

The governor and legislature saw the urgent need to expand energy generation as Ohio confronts rapidly increasing demand and the threat of escalating costs and supply shortages, said Will Hinman, executive director for the Utility Scale Solar Energy Coalition of Ohio. House Bill 15 is a critical step towards addressing these challenges by reducing barriers to energy development  including utility-scale solar projects.

Ohio is still not a level playing field for clean energy

The law still requires projects to meet multiple criteria to benefit from its provisions. For example, power-generating facilities and transmission lines exceeding certain thresholds may need approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board. The states director of development must approve local governments designations of priority investment areas. And self-power systems have to be independent of the main power grid.

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The biggest downside is that the new law left in place a 2021 statute, Senate Bill 52, which requires utility-scale renewable energy developments to get local approval, said Molly Bryden, a climate and sustainability researcher with think tank Policy Matters Ohio.

Under that earlier law, 34 of Ohios 88 counties have banned new solar generation in all or part of their territories. Even where the local law doesnt bar a new project, local officials can still block projects before a developer even seeks a permit from the Ohio Power Siting Board. A county representative and a township representative also get to vote with state siting board members on whether facilities get a permit, even for some projects that were in the grid operators queue before the 2021 law.

Another law took effect in early 2023, letting local governments limit small solar and wind projects that connect to the grid but dont otherwise fall within the scope of the 2021 law.

Requirements of the 2021 and 2023 laws dont apply to generation fueled by natural gas, coal, or nuclear power. And Ohios high court has ruled local governments cant ban or regulate gas wells and related infrastructure or even enforce broader zoning laws that would prevent such development.

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Lawmakers also cut out provisions from an earlier version of HB 15 that would have allowed community solar development. Community solar lets residential customers save money by sharing the electricity from a local solar array, which doesnt have to be on their own property.

Theres still a real need for permitting reform, Bryden said.

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President Trump has fielded questions from the Oval Office in recent weeks about Elon Musks drug use, sensitive matters of diplomacy and the ethics of accepting a Qatari jet as a gift to be used as Air Force One.

Hes chafed at some of those questions, but few set him off like the one he received about the concept of the Wall Street TACO trade, an acronym that stands for Trump Always Chickens Out.

Dont ever say what you said, Trump snapped at a reporter last week when first asked about the trend. Thats a nasty question. To me, thats the nastiest question.

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The TACO trend has struck a particular nerve with the president, who built his brand on his business acumen and presents himself as a master dealmaker.

The TACO acronym has caught on in political circles in recent weeks, though the term was coined by a Financial Times columnist. The acronym is a reference to traders on Wall Street becoming less reactive to Trumps tariff announcements based on the pattern that he will ultimately pull them back or kick them down the road.

The president initially threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada in early February but ultimately delayed imposing them.

Trump imposed sweeping reciprocal tariffs on dozens of nations April 2 but announced one week later there would be a 90-day reprieve where the tariffs were lowered to 10 percent.

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More recently, he threatened a 50 percent tariff on goods from the European Union, only to announce within days they would be postponed amid negotiations.

But the simple TACO acronym has clearly gotten under Trumps skin, and Democrats and other opponents of Trump have seized upon it because it undercuts his persona as a savvy businessman whose every move is that of a dealmaker outwitting his opponents.

While Trump allies see the presidents reversals as a sign of necessary flexibility and part of a grand plan, the TACO acronym suggests Trump gets rattled at the first sign of trouble.

The Drudge Report poked fun at Trump over the phrase late last week, with a front page that covered the president in Mexican food.

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Democrats, seeking to further irk the president, parked a taco truck outside the Republican National Committees headquarters Tuesday that was wrapped with an image of Trump in a chicken suit. Reports said it ran out of the free tacos it was providing in an hour.

The White House has presented Trump as a master negotiator while brushing off the criticism from Democrats and traders. But its hard to argue the uncertainty surrounding Trumps tariff regime isnt itself an issue.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Tuesday about business leaders who want to see certainty but havent gotten it with Trumps tariff approach.

You also have U.S. business leaders begging to meet with this president and begging to come to the White House to talk to him because they know that he is a negotiator in chief, that he is making good deals on behalf of the American worker, Leavitt responded.

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One lingering question is whether Trumps distaste for the TACO moniker might influence his decisionmaking moving forward.

The presidents views on tariffs on trade imbalances are deeply held, and he is not going to back off his aggressive use of tariffs any time soon. That was made clear last Friday night, when he announced he was doubling tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25 percent to 50 percent.

Rest assured, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday, tariffs are not going away.

That decision came after the courts handed Trump a couple of losses on tariffs, ruling his use of one law to justify the trade regime was illegal. Trump responded by using a different law to double the steel and aluminum tariffs.

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There are multiple key deadlines approaching that will further test whether Trump is all bluster or whether hes willing to follow through on threats that could have major economic consequences.

The 90-day extension Trump granted the country-specific tariffs is set to expire July 8, and investors will be closely monitoring whether the president is willing to extend the pause or whether higher tariff rates on imports will be reinstated.

Trump also delayed his 50 percent tariff threat against the European Union until July 9 after talking with the president of the European Commission.

It means July 8 and 9 will be either a sequel to Liberation Day or a TACO day to remember.

Trumps peacemaker image proves elusive

President Trump promised to settle the war in Ukraine before he even took office and has positioned himself as a peacemaker seeking to put out fires around the globe.

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But nearly five months into his term, hes finding it more difficult than he had hoped as negotiations drag on in Ukraine and the Middle East and a nuclear deal with Iran proves elusive.

I think Trump is fishing around for something that he can call a peace deal, one former diplomat said.

The former diplomat noted the Good Friday Agreement, a major diplomatic success, took years to successfully negotiate to halt decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Trump promised to swiftly end the war in Ukraine throughout the 2024 campaign. The conflict began in 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

While Trump has spoken with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky multiple times about ending the conflict, and officials from both countries have met for direct talks, its not clear the two sides are any closer to a ceasefire.

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Russia has made clear its not interested in a pause in fighting, and Ukraine in recent days launched a drone attack to target bombers in Russian territory.

I would just like to remind everybody how far we have come in just four months, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday. It was inconceivable last year at this time for Russia and Ukraine to be engaged in direct talks. And its because of this presidents insistence and determination to get this war to an end that those two countries sat down yesterday.

Any significant changes to the situation may still be, as Trump likes to say, two weeks away.

In the Middle East, Israel continues to target Hamas in Gaza, where tens of thousands of people have been killed by Israels military campaign and watchdog groups have said a humanitarian crisis is unfolding.

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The Trump administrations latest peace proposal, which it said Israel supported, landed with a dud when officials said the Hamas response was totally unacceptable.

And on Iran, Trump has for weeks teased the possibility of a nuclear agreement coming together and talked up the idea of Tehran prospering economically.

But Axios reported Monday that the proposal from the Trump administration would allow for low-level uranium enrichment by Iran, something that would undercut public comments from the president and his top aides.

Under our potential Agreement  WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM! Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social.

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Brett Samuels is a White House reporter for The Hill.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
For months, President Donald Trump has suggested his personal relationship with Chinas Xi Jinping will be what unlocks the worlds most consequential trade dispute.

Yet he couldnt get Xi on the telephone for weeks.

The long period of silence between the leaders will  at least in the White Houses telling  come to an end this week. A string of US officials have all but confirmed a call between Trump and Xi is imminent and could occur as early as Thursday, even though Beijing remains tight-lipped.

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I am afraid we dont have comments for you right now, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said in response to questions about the forthcoming conversation.

The discrepancy in how each side was talking  or not talking  about the call ahead of time only underscored the widening gulf between the worlds two largest economies. Each side seems convinced the call could fall through at any moment. And its not only fights over tariffs, critical minerals, jet engine parts or computer chips that have caused a rift. Its also a matter of the two leaders vastly different styles.

While Trump is eager to apply his dealmaking tactics directly with Xi, his model of leader-to-leader haggling is entirely at odds with how Chinese officials approach global negotiations.

Deeply wary of Trumps unpredictability and track record of putting foreign leaders in awkward or embarrassing situations, Chinese officials had put off a phone call, according to people familiar, even as Trump stated on multiple occasions this spring that he expected to speak with Xi soon.

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His Oval Office ambushes of Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky and South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa caught the attention of officials in China, those people added, and officials wanted to avoid anything similar, even in a private conversation.

Former Trump and Biden administration officials describe meetings and calls with Xi as heavily scripted. Little is left to chance, they said, and even the small items  like timing and translation  are heavily negotiated among staff ahead of time. When President Joe Biden met Xi outside San Francisco two years ago, details as minute as the type of flowers sitting on the table between the two men were subject to delicate and intense discussions between the two sides, officials said at the time.

On phone calls with US presidents, Xi typically reads directly from prepared talking points that are often verbatim of what hes said in previous conversations, the former officials said. When Xi briefly put down his script to offer off-the-cuff reminiscences during his final meeting last year with Biden  a man hed known for more than a decade  US officials regarded it as a major show of respect.

The stilted format makes it nearly impossible to delve into specifics that havent been agreed to ahead of time. Any actual negotiation on trade deals or joint statements often happens among staff weeks or months ahead of time.

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That is not how Trump prefers to operate. As his press secretary said this week, his is a top-down approach, where policy discussions originate from the Resolute Desk.

Hes very much involved in literally every policy discussion and decision that takes place, Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday when questioned about a reduction in the size of Trumps National Security Council.

That has been especially true on China, according to officials. Trump regards securing a new agreement with Beijing both as a critical component of his broader trade agenda and as a necessary follow-up from his first term, when trade deals with China got derailed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trump views his relationship with Xi through a personal lens, harkening back to their interactions during his first term. It only took 76 days after Trumps 2017 swearing-in for Xi to fly to Mar-a-Lago, where he was served a beautiful piece of chocolate cake and serenaded in Mandarin by Trumps granddaughter.

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Xi has proven far more difficult to reach in Trumps second term  and hes shown no similar rush to pay a visit to Florida, frustrating the US president. The last time Trump is known to have spoken with Xi was on January 17, days ahead of his second inauguration.

It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately, Trump said afterward.

But the problem-solving did not start immediately.

Instead, the relationship between the two countries quickly worsened after Trump applied stiff new tariffs that eventually rose to 145%. China retaliated, creating a tit-for-tat trade war that has expanded over the course of Trumps five months in office.

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Talks last month in Geneva, which were intended to alleviate tensions, at first appeared to yield some progress  both sides vowed to lower some of the tariffs. But weeks later, the US accused China of reneging on an agreement to ease restrictions of certain critical minerals used to produce magnets. And instead of improving, the trade war has expanded into a battle over supply chains, which both countries see as essential to their respective national security needs.

Trump has expanded punitive measures toward China to include revoking visas for Chinese students studying at American universities and restricting the export of certain software used to design advanced semiconductors.

The worsening tensions emphasized the need for the two leaders to speak directly.

The trade teams on both sides have determined that this needed to be elevated to the top, a senior White House official said of the impending call.

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Trump is expected to bring up the pace at which China is exporting critical minerals  he believes Beijing is intentionally moving slower than promised during the Geneva talks, that official said. Another official said they expected Trump to do some level-setting: Trump has said publicly that China will suffer from the lack of a trade deal, a belief held by many administration officials, which in their view gives them leverage in talks with the superpower.

Im confident that when President Trump and Party Chairman Xi have a call that this will be ironed out, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said over the weekend.

For his part, Trump seemed to be mulling the looming conversation in the wee hours this week.

I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!! Trump wrote on Truth Social at 2:17 a.m. on Wednesday.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Wichita Police Department said a 59-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting early Tuesday.

The shooting happened at The Market convenience store at 21st and Minnesota around 3:15 a.m.

When officers arrived, they found Darries Mitchell, 33, of Wichita, had been shot and was not responsive. He later died at the hospital.

The woman, whose name KSN News is not naming until the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office files charges, was booked on suspicion of second-degree murder.

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El Dorado and Cheney see lake levels rise after rain

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Wichita school district leaders say some student records at Southeast High School were changed  possibly to meet graduation requirements  and the district is investigating allegations of grade fixing at the school.

Southeast Highs principal, Claudia Cooper, was replaced unexpectedly last week. In an email to employees, Lauren Hatfield, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, said Connie Redic would serve as Southeasts principal for the coming school year.

Redic previously served as principal at Curtis Middle School in Wichita.

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District officials say Cooper is still employed by the district, but would not say where she is assigned. They did not say whether she or other employees are involved in the investigation.

Recently, some anomalies at Southeast High School came to light. District administration reviewed and corrected data to ensure accurate information is reported to the state, said district spokeswoman Susan Arensman in an email.

Less than 10 records were changed and, at this point, there is no indication of data inaccuracies in past years.

Like many districts in Kansas, Wichita has focused on raising its graduation rate as a measure of student achievement. A strategic plan approved by the Wichita school board in 2023 pledged to increase the graduation rate from 79.2% to 85% in 2029.

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In a report to the board in November , Hatfield announced the graduation rate for Wichitas class of 2024 was 84.3%  5.1% higher than the previous year.

It is the largest jump we have ever taken in one year, and it is by far the highest graduation rate Wichita Public Schools has ever had. Just soak that in for a second, Hatfield said, and several board members applauded.

The graduation rate increased at every Wichita high school, but Southeast High showed especially sudden gains.

Less than a decade ago, Southeasts graduation rate was the lowest in the district , at 65.4%. By 2023, it had increased to 76.7%. In 2024, Southeasts graduation rate soared to 86.3%  a 12.5% increase in one year, and higher than the district average.

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Two other Wichita attendance centers posted higher gains in 2024  Sowers Alternative High School at nearly 17%, and Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center, with 47%. Because those schools have fewer than 100 students, graduation rates can vary widely year to year.

North High and South High reported increases of about 9% from 2023 to 2024.

A teacher at Southeast High School said the extraordinary increase at that school raised concerns among some faculty, who worried the school could be manipulating data to artificially inflate its graduation rate.

One of the assistant principals  said they had a 100% graduation rate among students they supervised, which Ive never seen in over a decade, said the teacher, who asked not to be identified because of fear of reprisals.

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This spring, concerns intensified when some teachers said they noticed students graduating who had failed required classes.

We have a good idea who can make it and who cant before graduation, the teacher said. Kids who think theyll bring multiple failing grades up by 20 to 30% and make up missing credits in the learning center in two weeks. Those are the names we really notice  kids weve had to fail multiple times without even getting close to a passing grade.

The surprises continued during this years commencement ceremony at Wichita States Koch Arena on May 19.

We had to add almost two rows of chairs at graduation, like while we were on the floor with kids walking in, the teacher said. Most of us thought it was a miscount, but as other things came to light, we wondered if it was something else.  We just know our kids and all hear names that we know shouldnt be said that night.

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Another teacher who asked not to be identified said at least one Southeast faculty member raised concerns with district administration in April, and that one or more teachers alerted the Kansas Department of Education.

Asked whether the state was investigating possible grade manipulation at Wichitas Southeast High, a department spokeswoman said, We dont have any comment.

Diane Albert, president of the Wichita school board, also refused to comment.

As districts across the country face pressure to increase their graduation rates, some are being criticized for manipulating data or using loopholes to boost their rates.

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Investigators in South Bend, Indiana, say they uncovered more than 2,500 grade changes across that districts high schools. The investigation found some South Bend high schoolers were passing classes they had spent only a couple of hours attending.

In Anderson County, Tennessee, an investigation into grade manipulation led to charges against a fired teacher and a former guidance counselor.

In Baltimore in 2017, a state audit found nearly 5,000 students who graduated from Prince Georges County schools over two years had late grade increases after final cutoff dates .

Wichita officials say the districts record-high graduation rate is the product of hard work on the part of students, teachers and school leaders.

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Over the past several years, the district launched initiatives targeting what they call neglected and delinquent students, including night programming, summertime credit-recovery classes and learning centers in every high school.

According to state law, students have until Sept. 30 to earn the credits required to be counted among that years graduating class. Hatfield, the assistant superintendent for secondary schools, said Wichita teachers and administrators turned over rocks to get kids back to class and on track to graduate.

There are schools that went and found kids and said, You are so close. You only have a class left. Come to school and finish. Were not letting you slip through the cracks when youre this close, Hatfield told the school board in November. Im just so, so impressed by all of the work that our system did to get there.

Arensman, the Wichita district spokeswoman, said in her email that graduation rates are part of the districts strategic plan, and preparing students for life beyond high school is part of its mission.

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We will not tolerate activities that undermine the work of students and dedicated educators, she said. WPS leadership is developing processes to ensure the systemic integrity of data to remove this type of concern in the future.

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service.

The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KMUW, KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org .

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
If the original Disneyland is The Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland Shanghai might be vying for The Pettiest Place on Earth tagline.

As the New York Post reports, the family-friendly theme park turned into the site of a vicious brawl between two couples, one of whom had a young childall of which was caught on video.

Related: Disneyland Announces Major Menu Change for 70th Anniversary

According to witnesses, the animosity between the two groups seemed to begin when one couple wandered into the shot while the other was attempting to take a photo of themselves. But quiet seething turned into shocking violence when one couple claimed the other attempted to cut in front of them in line.

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With dozens of onlookers, including small children, watching, one of the mendecked out in some sort of character hat, while his female companion were a bunny hatbegan pushing the other man. All that shoving eventually led to the original pushee throwing an elbow to the face of the original attacker.

At that point, the female half of the hat-wearing duo jumped in the middle of the two men and began kicking and grabbing at the face of the other man. While the men continued locked in their tussle, the womanwithout losing her bunny hatinstead turned her attention back to the second female, and appeared to shove the couples young child, who was on the womans hip, in the face.

The unexpected attack cause the mom to begin screaming and drop to the ground with her childwhile Ms. Bunny Hat went back to try and get in on the fight between the two men, which soon turned into a chokehold that took the original victim down.

Related: Disneyland Makes Special Ticket Price Announcement

Eventually, two women and a manpresumably unrelated to either coupleattempted to break up the melee. Disneyland staffers eventually put an end to the skirmish which, somewhat ironically, went down outside the parks Crazy Animal City ride.

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While the New York Post reports that only minor injuries reported, both couples could be facing a lifetime ban from ever visiting the park under its rules against engaging in any violence.

Wild Disneyland Brawl Erupts for Pettiest Reason first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2025






NEED TO KNOW

A hungry elephant known as Plai Biang Lek wandered into a local grocery store in Thailands Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Rangers say the creature has entered resident's homes before looking for food, but this was his first grocery store visit.

Elephant sightings have become increasingly common as farmers invade their habitat for agriculture.







A hungry elephant stomped into a local grocery store in Thailand to find himself a snack.

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The elephant, Plai Biang Lek, caused havoc in the store on Monday, June 2, when he strolled in and beelined for the sweet rice crackers. In shock, the shop's manager yelled at the large creature, in an attempt to get him to leave the store's premises without doing extreme damage, the Associated Press reported.

"Business was a bit slow that day. Around 2 p.m., the elephant just walked right up," the shop owner Khamploi Kakaew told CNN. "I came out and tried to shoo it away. I told it not to come closer."

The footage of the elephant interruption shows the mammal barging into the store and heading toward the snack aisle.

Plai Biang Lek allegedly "calmly" devoured nine bags of the sweet rice crackers, several bananas, and at least one sandwich. The elephant racked up an estimated bill of 800 baht, equal to around $25.

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"I told it, 'Go away, go on,' but it didn't listen. It was like it came on purpose," Kakaew told CNN.

Newsflare Plai Biang Lek the elephant Plai Biang Lek the elephant

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The elephant strolled in from the nearby national park, Kha Yai, and is a familiar sight in the Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand, the Associated Press reported. Park ranger Danai Sookkhanthachat told the outlet that the creature has a reputation for breaking into people's homes to raid their food pantries.

However, this was reportedly the first time the infamous elephant attempted to enter a grocery store. A group of rangers took 10 minutes to get Lek safely out of the store.

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In a video shared by the Associated Press on Instagram, the elephant stands in the middle of the store as individuals inside work to shoo it out. The massive mammal backs out before heading on his way.

Kanokporn Sriboon Elephant stomping into grocery store Elephant stomping into grocery store

We usually see it pass by, and watch from inside the house. But it never came into the shop before or hurt anyone, Kakaew said.

Surprisingly, the creature left minor damages behind: a few disorderly shelves and an unpaid bill from his dine-and-dash stunt.

In 2024, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation in Thailand reported that an estimated 4,000 elephants live in the country. According to the Associated Press, with farmers expanding their land in Thailand, it has become more common for humans to encounter elephants.



Read the original article on People
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Wildfire smoke drifting into Rochester is adding a noticeable haze to the skies  and its affecting more than just the view. While air quality levels remain low at the moment, thats not to say they arent going to change.

The wildfire smokes most people associate with particulate matter. And that would be the primary concern most times. But the wildfire smoke can contribute to ozone formation. And later this week, we are setting up for a situation where ozone formation is favorable, said Margaret LaFarr, director for the division of air resources at the NYS DEC

LaFarr notes that wildfire smoke could raise ozone levels enough to trigger advisories this week, though none have been issued yet. If they are, the effects could be felt by everyone, not just those with asthma or heart disease.

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The air pollution can still irritate your eyes, your throat. And your lungs. So, you just have to, basically listen to what your body is telling you in terms of any of those symptoms of, scratchy eyes or throat or, wheezing and adjust your activity accordingly, said Dr. Daniel Croft, a pulmonologist and researcher with URMC.

To stay safe from outdoor pollution, close windows, use the cars recirculate setting, and keep air flowing through your furnace filter though there are other steps to consider as well.

When the temperature as it will in the coming days when it becomes very hot outside, if you are do not have a way to use fans or another way to cool yourselves in the indoors with the windows closed, please seek assistance, Dr. Croft said.

You might want to think about what time of day you go out and exercise and maybe get your run in early in the morning before the ozone levels really get to a higher level where it might affect you, said LaFarr

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For the latest air quality level updates, residents are urged to visit government websites, like AirNow.gov for the latest levels.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -Fishing companies and offshore wind opponents filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the Trump administration's decision to reverse course and allow construction to resume on Empire Wind, a $5 billion wind farm project off New York's coast.

Protect Our Coast New Jersey, Clean Ocean Action, ACK for Whales and 12 fishing industry participants in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, sought to reinstate a stop work order Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued in April halting construction of Equinor's wind project.

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Burgum issued that order after Republican President Donald Trump on his first day back in office on January 20 directed his administration to halt offshore wind lease sales and stop the issuance of permits, leases and loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects.

He did so while also moving to ramp up the federal government's support for the fossil fuel industry and maximize output in the United States. Trump as a candidate last year promised to end the offshore wind industry.

But weeks after Burgum signed the stop-work order, the administration in a turnabout on May 19 allowed work to resume on Empire Wind, which is being developed by Norway's Equinor and is expected to provide power for half a million homes from 2027 onward.

The administration did so in a compromise with New York that could also see canceled plans for a gas pipeline revived. Burgum said he was encouraged that New York Governor Kathy Hochul will now allow new gas pipeline capacity to move forward.

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Tuesday's lawsuit argued that the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management did not adhere to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a basis for restoring the work permits.

Bruce Afran, the plaintiffs' lawyer, said the administration had properly recognized the lack of investigation about serious environmental harm from Equinor's project.

"The administration correctly pulled the Empire Wind work permit because of these concerns and had no basis to reinstate the work orders a month later," he said in a statement. "This lawsuit seeks to restore the stop work order."

Equinor declined to comment on the lawsuit itself but in a statement said the project "has undergone years of rigorous permitting and studies, and secured all necessary federal, state and local approvals to begin construction in 2024."

The agency did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; additional reporting by Nichola Groom in Los Angeles; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Marshall County, Ala. (WHNT)  In the weeks leading up to News 19s Wishes Cant Wait telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama, we want to introduce you to just a few of the 78 children in North Alabama waiting for the foundation to grant their wishes.

Estrella wants a pool, not just for herself, but for her nieces and nephews to enjoy too.

Make-A-Wish Alabama to host WishStock benefit concert

[We can] swim and have fun, Estrella said.

Right now, they splash around in a small round plastic kiddie pool. Shes asking Make-A-Wish Alabama for an upgrade. Her mom, Maria, said Estrella is always thinking about others. It isnt surprising, given how quickly the 12-year-old was forced to grow up.

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Shes never had a childhood. Shes always been in the hospital, so shes never enjoyed what a childhood should be, her Dad, Efrain, said.

She has been sick since she was just three years old, but at the time, the family did not know what was making her ill.

Make-A-Wish: Micahs story

[Doctors] would always tell me that she had flu, Maria said. A year went by, two years went by, and thats what they would tell me.

As Estrella got older, her parents said her health worsened. They said she started having fainting spells on the bus and seizures.

In 2019, they were called to Estrellas school, and a translator aide told them about UAB Childrens Hospital in Birmingham. They took her there as an emergency.

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They saw that she had a tumor [in her head] and it was very big, Maria said.

Make-A-Wish: MaKyas story

She needed emergency surgery; however, removing the tumor meant taking the childs pituitary gland with it. That had massive implications.

Shes going to be on medicine for the rest of her life, Maria said. It affects all of the hormones of the body, shes not going to be able to have kids.

To make matters worse, a year after the initial surgery, the tumor returned. This time, doctors could only successfully remove part of it.

If they had cut that part, they told us that she could lose memory or her eyesight, Maria said. That little part that stayed in her brain, it overtook other areas of her brain that are more dangerous now.

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Shes almost completely blind in her right eye now. Doctors said to shrink whats left, she needed radiation, but after some time, she started to have problems with her liver.

She was diagnosed with Fatty Liver. The organ failed quickly. She would need a transplant.

Her extremities would not like to bend and her eyes were now turning gray, Efrain said.

She traded radiation for Dialysis while the family waited for a donor.

Its very sad. I dont wish this on anybody, Maria said.

Estrella never lost faith.

I think God. I am tough, she said.

After months of waiting and praying, the family received a call.

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I feel like that was the salvation of my daughter, Maria said.

After that, the family was given a letter. The liver came from a little boy. His family wrote, telling Estrella a little bit about him and what he was like and how he died.

We are very grateful. We pray that this child is resting in peace and that the parents have peace and God blesses them.

That familys sacrifice has given Efrain and Maria three years and counting with Estrella.

She is very strong, Maria said.

Through the transplant, they were connected with Make-A-Wish Alabama. When Estrella said she wanted a pool, the family knew exactly where it should be.

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Were thinking in the front yard because we can watch them from [the kitchen], Maria said.

Even as Estrella returns to radiation to treat whats left of her tumor, in between treatments, her family said shell be busy as the best Aunt to the little ones she loves. Efrain and Maria dont want to miss a single moment.

I pray that God allows her to live a lot of years with us.

If youre interested in helping Make-A-Wish Alabama grant wishes like Estrellas, you can donate to News 19s Wishes Cant Wait telethon right now! 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 WHNT.com.






NEED TO KNOW

Alicia Leonardi, 42, was walking along train tracks in New Hampshire with her ex-boyfreind and a dog when the sound of a train horn prompted the off-leash canine to run off

Leonardi died of her injuries, while he sustained minor injuries after they attempted to get the dog away from the tracks

"She's a very happy, smiling, bubbly girl, and I'm going to miss her very much," said Cathleen Collis, the victim's mother







A woman has died after she was hit by an Amtrak train when she tried to get a dog off the tracks in New Hampshire, authorities said.

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The Exeter Police Department said in a statement that emergency crews responded to a wooded area of the train tracks outbound from the Newfields Road trestle on Monday, June 2, after train officials reported an incident.

Based on a preliminary investigation, police said the victim, Alicia Leonardi, 42, was walking with a friend and a dog along the tracks when a train approached from a corner behind them.

The dog, which was not wearing a leash, ran onto the tracks after the train sounded its horn, police added.

The couple attempted to get the dog off the tracks and as a result both people were struck, the Exeter Police Departments statement read. The woman suffered fatal injuries while the male sustained minor injuries.

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According to NBC affiliate WBTS and ABC affiliate WMUR, the injured man is Leonardis ex-boyfriend. The dog named Jackson was unharmed and belonged to him.

"She is a brave girl," Cathleen Collis, Leonardis mother, told WBTS. "She's always been a brave girl. Smart, loved to help people, loved to help everybody."

Alicia Leonardi/Fcebook Alicia Leonardi with a dog Alicia Leonardi with a dog

Joe Gatley, a cousin of Leonardi, said in an interview with WMUR that the victim was a very kindhearted and strong-willed person.

"Live every day to the fullest because, you know, tomorrow's not -- there's no guarantee," Gatley said.

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In addition to her mother, Leonardi is survived by her 24-year-old daughter.

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"She's a very happy, smiling, bubbly girl, and I'm going to miss her very much," Collis told WMUR about Leonardi. "It's just so sudden."

The Exeter Police Department said that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Leonardi, police said.

Read the original article on People
UPDATE: This story has been updated to include new information shared by the Bakersfield Police Department.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A driver was placed under arrest Tuesday afternoon following a pursuit that ended just north of Delano.

On June 3 at around 11:32 a.m., Bakersfield police officers responded to a report of a chemical assault at a business located in the 800 block of Union Avenue.

Ethan Hawke in Bakersfield to direct documentary on singer-songwriter Merle Haggard

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Moenay Humphries, 24, of Los Angeles allegedly got into a verbal argument with store employees.

Humphries then reportedly got a large canister of bear spray and sprayed it into the stores HVAC system, exposing the chemical to multiple employees and customers and contaminating the business, police said.

Officers later found Humphries in a white Hyundai Elantra, but she fled the scene. Humphries allegedly traveled along Highway 58 and northbound on Highway 99 at speeds up to 110 miles per hour, according to Bakersfield police.

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CHP took over the pursuit at 12:03 p.m. Humphries was arrested 12 minutes later, after she exited Highway 99 on the Avenue 24 off-ramp and got into a single-vehicle crash just north of Delano.

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No injuries were reported in this pursuit.

Humphries is currently in custody. She was booked on one Vehicle Code violation and two felony charges related to using a tear gas weapon and resisting arrest, records show.

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A womans body was pulled from the Trinity River in Westworth Village on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Police received a report of a body face down in the water off White Settlement Road at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, according to a statement from the Westworth Village Police Department.

When police arrived, citizens were pulling the womans body out of the river.

Due to the location, crews with the Fort Worth Police Department, River Oaks Fire Department, EMS, and the Tarrant County Crime Scene Unit also responded, according to the statement.

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The woman has not been identified and the cause of her death is under investigation, police said.

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A woman in Pierce County, Washington state, has expressed outrage after her husband was unexpectedly deported to South Sudan instead of Vietnam as planned.

About Phan and his case

Tuan Thanh Phan came to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1991 at age 9 with legal permanent residence status. In 2000, he was convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree assault following a gang-related shooting that injured a bystander, resulting in approximately 25 years in prison. His green card was revoked in 2009 during his sentence, leading to a deportation order.

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ICE took him into custody on his March 3 release and transferred him from the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma to a Texas immigration facility. In a May 21 press release, the Department of Homeland Security labeled him and his fellow deportees uniquely barbaric monsters who present a clear and present threat to the safety of the American people.

What his wife is saying

Ngoc Phan, 40, had prepared extensively for her husbands anticipated deportation to Vietnam, collecting luggage, arranging family pickup abroad and planning to reunite with him within three to five years to begin fresh. Weve accepted it. We planned for it, and we were looking forward to it, she told NPR.

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But on May 20, ICE agents collected her husband and others, first indicating South Africa as the destination, then switching to South Sudan with minimal advance notice. Im angry about it, she said. They want to call him a barbaric monster without really understanding the details of his case ... He [already] did 25 years.

The big picture

Phans deportation is part of the Trump administrations strategy to send immigrants to third countries when their home nations would not accept them. Vietnam has historically limited acceptance of deportees, though it signed a 2020 agreement making it easier to accept those who arrived before 1995  ideally including Phans situation.

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Federal judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts, however, ruled the deportations violated due process by not providing adequate time to contest removal to a non-origin country. Murphy ordered the men be given credible fear interviews while detained at a U.S. military base in Djibouti, where they remain as the administration appeals to the Supreme Court.

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Ngoc says she has not been able to contact her husband since his departure. The Supreme Court has given lawyers until June 4 to respond to the governments appeal.

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A woman was killed and two other people were seriously injured when the car they were in left the road and crashed into a fence and two trees before striking a parked van in Hartford on Tuesday.

The crash occurred shortly before 10 p.m. in a rear parking lot of 90 Retreat Ave. where emergency crews responded on the report of a serious crash involving a single vehicle, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department.

First responders found that a white 2001 Acura 3.2 CL had struck an unoccupied passenger van in the parking lot. Inside the Acura, three people were found suffering from serious injuries, including the 41-year-old man who was driving, 38-year-old Christine Camacho of Hartford, who was a front seat passenger, and an 18-year-old woman who was a rear passenger, Boisvert said.

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All three occupants were taken to Hartford Hospital where Camacho was pronounced dead, according to Boisvert. The condition of the two others was not immediately clear.

Boisvert said a preliminary investigation found that the Acura was being driven north on Franklin Avenue at an alleged high rate of speed as it approached the intersection with Maple Avenue. The vehicle crossed the intersection and left the west side of the road where it struck a fence and two trees, continued into a parking lot and came to rest after striking the van, according to Boisvert.

The Hartford Police Crime Scene Division responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Police are still investigating and asking anyone with information to call the Hartford Police Department Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477).
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)  A woman was found guilty Tuesday of setting a fire at an apartment in Salem.

Alicia Craig, 34, of Salem, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated arson in connection with a fire on May 2, 2024, on Sixth Street that put several people at risk, including firefighters, according to the indictment.

Craig was found guilty during a two-day trial in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. She will be sentenced June 6.

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She was secretly indicted in October 2024.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
(WFRV)  A 38-year-old woman was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in producing child pornography while residing in Milwaukee and the Memphis, Tennessee, area.

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Chasity Evans of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ripley, Tennessee, will be required to register as a sex offender as part of her sentencing.

Meth supplier, 2 suspected Wisconsin dealers arrested after traffic stop prompts larger investigation, seizure of 350+ grams

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Evans created the child pornography, distributing it to a co-defendant through a cell phone in exchange for money on Cash App. These actions occurred between February and June 2023, while she resided in Milwaukee and the Memphis area.

The child she used was between 11 and 12 years old during Evans crimes. Evans will spend five years on supervised release.

No additional information was provided.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The Rowan County Sheriffs Office is seeking assistance in locating a woman reported missing for a month.

Deputies say Kristen Krissy Danielle Lambert, 34, was last seen in Salisbury in early May. She is described as being 5 feet, 6 inches, weighing 120 pounds, with brown eyes and red hair.

The sheriffs office has not said where she was living at the time or a direction of travel.

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Anyone with information is requested to contact the Rowan County Sheriffs Office at 704-216-8700, Communications at 704-216-8500, or Rowan County Crime Stoppers at www.rowancrimestoppers.org or 1-866-639-5245.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.






NEED TO KNOW

American Sonia "Sunny" Jacobs, who spent 17 years in jail for murders she did not commit, has died after a fire broke out in her cottage in Ireland

She and her boyfriend were wrongly convicted after two police officers were fatally shot in Florida in 1976

After her release in 1992, Jacobs, whose story was captured in books and films, advocated for the abolishment of the death penalty









An American woman who spent almost two decades in prison for murders she did not commit has died after a fire broke out in her home in Ireland.

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Sonia Sunny Jacobs, 78, and Kevin Kelly were found dead on Tuesday, June 3, after her cottage caught fire in a village in County Galway, the Garda, the local police force, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Kelly was her caretaker, according to her nonprofit, The Sunny Center Foundation.

Emergency responders arrived after they received an alert about the fire at 6:19 a.m. local time and found both people dead at the scene. An investigation is ongoing, and the bodies were taken to University Hospital Galway's mortuary, police added.

The results of the postmortems, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation, the department said.

The Chief Fire Officer of Galway Fire and Rescue Services did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment.

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The deadly fire is a heartbreaking ending to a life besieged by challenges.

In 1976, Jacobs was a 28-year-old mother of two young children when she and her boyfriend, Jesse Tafero, decided to catch a ride with Taferos acquaintance, Walter Rhodes, in Florida, The Guardian reported.

During the car ride, Rhodes fatally shot two police officers and blamed the murders on Jacobs and Tafero, who were both sentenced to death, according to the outlet.

While Tafero died after a botched execution in 1990, Jacobs, the mother of his child, spent five of her 17 years in prison on death row, the paper reported. Jacobs was freed after an appeal court resulted in a new trial, and she accepted a plea deal in 1992, according to The Irish Times. After the murders, Rhodes admitted to shooting the officers, although he later retracted his confession, The Guardian reported.

Andrew Lichtenstein/Sygma via Getty The activist and yoga teacher. The activist and yoga teacher.

Jacobs wasnt the only one to suffer. Her children, 10-month-old daughter Christina, nine-year-old son Eric, were in the car that life-altering day in 1976. After her arrest, they were raised by Jacobs parents until the latter died in a plane crash, according to the paper.

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Despite her familys trauma, Jacobs was determined to live a life of positivity. She built a platform campaigning against the death penalty.

It was very important, that choice I made to heal, rather than to spend the gift of a new life that I had looking backwards at the wrongs that were done to me, Jacobs told the Times in 2006. And I was able to share that with my children. It meant I am leaving them a legacy of hope and strength rather than defeat and pain.

In 2012, she married Irishman Peter Pringle, whom she had met in 1998 while making an appearance at an Amnesty International event, the paper reported. They bonded over their shared history. Pringle, who died in 2023, was acquitted of the murder of two police officers during a robbery in County Roscommon in 1980, the Times reported.

Taylor Hill/Getty Sunny Jacobs and husband Peter Pringle in 2011. Sunny Jacobs and husband Peter Pringle in 2011.

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Jacobs story was captured in her 2008 memoir, Stolen Time, and films, including an international play, The Exonerated, which was adapted into a movie starring Susan Sarandon.

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She and her late husband created the nonprofit to support other people who have been wrongfully convicted.

We are all doing life wherever we are, she said, according to the foundation. Every day must be lived to the fullest under the prevailing conditions, with an eye toward betterment. In other words, dont wait until conditions are ideal, because you may never get there.

Read the original article on People
A former NHS worker has lost her inheritance battle over her late mothers 420,000 home.

Sharon Duggan, 49, told her sisters Brenda, 55, and Ann, 60, that they couldnt have their thirds of the house in Southgate, Crawley, because she needed it for her and her emotional support dogs.

But a judge has now ruled hyper-vigilant Sharon can move into a flat instead, and the house must be shared equally among the sisters as laid out in their mother Agness will.

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Agnes Duggan died in August 2018, aged 78, and left her house to be split equally between her three daughters  Ann, the oldest sister, Sharon, a former NHS medical secretary, and Brenda, an alternative therapist.

But Sharon  who told a judge she is dyslexic and suffers from a variety of health issues, including chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, and Adjustment Disorder (and) also has long Covid  claimed the house for herself and her rescue dogs, saying she was too sensitive for life in a flat.

Sharon sued her two sisters under the 1975 Inheritance Act, claiming her medical ailments and sensitivity to noise meant she should get at least a life interest in the property.

Although Ann remained neutral in the dispute, Brenda fought the case and has now won, after Judge Alan Johns KC threw out Sharons claim at Central London county court.

The house in Lyndhurst Close, Crawley, is worth 420,000 - Champion News

The court heard that most of Agness estate was tied up in her house, where Sharon had lived and cared for her during her final dementia-stricken years.

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But after Agnes died, Sharon insisted her needs outweighed her sisters right to their inheritance, arguing that it would be difficult to find alternative accommodation for her and her two therapy dogs, which help with her mental and emotional well-being.

Sharon said she sacrificed her career to move in and care for Agnes in 2014, before arguing their mother was planning to change her will to leave the house to her.

She also claimed to have spent 30,000 funding Agness vet bills for her dog, Lady, and that she psychologically could not cope with living in a flat again.

Her written arguments to the court said she is anxious that neighbours may cause disturbances and impact upon her ability to sleep. She now has two rescue dogs, which help with her mental and emotional well-being, but which make finding suitable alternative accommodation difficult.

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The claimant maintains that moving from the property would affect her mental health greatly and that having to move into rented or temporary accommodation would further affect her health negatively.

She told the court: I have two dogs to consider and I am hyper-vigilant and sound-sensitive.

A flat would not be suitable due to the noise levels. I would be better off living in a car, I couldnt cope with it.

Sharon wanted either the house to be transferred to her outright, the right to a life interest, or an order allowing her to buy her mothers old property for a small sum to be raised with a mortgage.

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But Brenda, who formerly ran a bioresonance therapy company and a business providing gluten-free altar bread to food-intolerant Catholics, defended the claim, insisting Sharon and her pets could move into a flat.

Brenda Duggan disputed the fact that her sister would not be able to live in a flat - Champion News

Ruling against Sharon, Judge Johns said: Its my judgment that there has been no failure to make reasonable financial provision for her.

I am not satisfied there was any promise that the property would be Sharons  and certainly not a promise that Sharon was confident would be carried out.

He said she had lived with Agnes rent-free and, although she had spent time caring for her mum while in declining health, the courts role wasnt simply to reward meritorious conduct.

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Given the circumstances in which Sharon occupied the property with Agnes, theres no moral claim strong enough to deprive her sisters of their share of this modest estate, he said.

I dont rule out flats as suitable accommodation, he added, also noting that Sharon should be able to work once the court case is behind her.

He also rejected her claim that Brenda was estranged from their mum towards the end of her life.

Brenda told me that she tried to see her mother and call her, but that that wasnt permitted by Sharon, he said. That evidence included that her telephone calls were blocked and I accept all that evidence.

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This is a modest estate and Agnes had two other daughters to think of, he said, adding that the money Sharon claimed to have spent on Ladys vet bills was an overestimate.

Essentially, provision was made for Sharon by giving her one-third of the estate.

The decision means the three sisters are each due a third of their mothers estate, although Sharons share could be wiped out by the court bills for the trial.

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NEED TO KNOW

Christine Dawood lost her husband, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and her son, Suleman, 19, in the Titan submersible implosion

Now, she's speaking out in a new documentary, Implosion: The Titan Sub Disaster

Later this year, the U.S. Coast Guard is expected to release its final report detailing the results of the investigation







On June 18, 2023, the Titan submersible imploded during a dive to visit the Titanic wreckage, killing all five passengers inside.

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Christine Dawood lost her husband, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and her son, Suleman, 19, in an instant. Christine is now speaking out in a new documentary, Implosion: The Titan Sub Disaster, as the second anniversary of the tragedy approaches.

Later this year, the U.S. Coast Guard is expected to release its final report detailing the results of the investigation. But Dawood said nothing can return her loved ones.

Theyre never going to come back. Their voices are still in the house, their memories are in the house, Dawood said in the documentary, which was released on May 28. No matter what the investigation is, the rooms are still empty.

In addition to the Dawoods, the disaster also claimed the lives of Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and French diver and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

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In late June 2023, investigators recovered Titan wreckage debris from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Dawood told the BBC she was initially supposed to go on the excursion with her husband, but allowed her son to go in her place, because he really wanted to go. She and her daughter Alina, then 17, were on a support vessel when it lost the ability to communicate with the Titan, per the BBC.

Reflecting on the fatal excursion, shes struck by the attitude of those responsible for executing the trip.

This arrogance of the people in charge  when they think theyre above everything, that really gets to me, Dawood said. Like why is ego and arrogance more important than safety? The irony is not lost on me that the Titanic sunk for exactly the same reason. History repeats itself.

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In the aftermath, Dawood said shes been reshaped by the loss of her husband and son.

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I think I will never be the same. I dont think that anybody who goes through loss and such a trauma can ever be the same, she said.

Dawood added that one particular message from officials comforted her in the wake of the tragedy.

One of the most important things that came out for me was when the Coast Guard also assured us as a family that we couldnt have known. For me that was  yeah, I guess the most important reassurance they could have given me, she said.

Now, shes hoping to move on knowing that no results from the investigation will change her new reality. Dawood suggested that the person responsible for the deadly tragedy can no longer be held accountable, seemingly alluding to CEO Stockton Rush without naming him.

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Were not looking for blaming, Dawood said. We all know who the culprit is. [But] its not changing anything, does it? The culprit died with them, right? So who am I to blame?



Read the original article on People
This story was updated at 5:30 p.m. on June 4, 2025 to include a statement from the city councilor.

A Worcester city councilor was formally charged with two crimes on Wednesday, nearly a month after she was accused of assaulting police during an ICE raid in the city last month.

District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj is charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and a common law violation of interfering with a police officer, records show. The charges stem from the arrest of a woman by federal agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Eureka Street in Worcester on May 8.

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Haxhiaj was part of a group of about 30 people on the scene protesting ICE and demanding they release the woman.

Worcester police filed an application for criminal complaint against Haxhiaj on May 12, just days after the ICE arrest on Eureka Street in Worcester on May 8.

In it, Lt. John Bossolt requests a show-cause hearing on three charges against Haxhiaj. Bossolt requests she be charged with two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and one count of interfering with a police officer.

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Haxhiaj pushed P.O. McGuirk in the chest, the filing reads. Haxhiaj pulled P.O. McGuirks arm as she was making an arrest.

Haxhiaj physically obstructed law enforcement by holding the side mirror of a vehicle and physically interfered during an arrest by assaulting P.O. McGuirk, Bossolt wrote.

Its not clear when the hearing was held, but a criminal complaint charging Haxhiaj was filed on Wednesday. Only one charge of assault and battery was filed.

A lawyer representing Haxhiaj did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday afternoon. Haxhiaj, in a statement posted to Bluesky, called the prosecution frustrating.

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I did the humane thing to do in this situation, nothing more, nothing less, she wrote.

In the application for criminal complaint, Bossolt details the chaotic scene that played out on Eureka Street around 11:15 a.m. on May 8.

Police responded after they received a report of a large group of people surrounding federal officers, he wrote.

Arriving officers found a large crowd of people yelling at and encircling federal officers. Local police learned the agents had made an arrest  Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, of Brazil  and that members of the crowd were interfering with their attempt to safely leave the area and transport the arrested to court.

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Worcester police attempted to de-escalate the situation, according to the report. An officer spotted Haxhiaj pulling on Ferreira-De Oliveiras restraints as she was being taken away. The report says she continued to obstruct the federal officers as they attempted to leave the area.

A pair of unions representing the citys police department accused Haxhiaj of physically interfering and physically assaulting Worcester police officers that day. Worcester police arrested two women at the scene: Ferreira-De Oliveiras daughter, a minor, and Ashley R. Spring, a school committee candidate.

Haxhiaj accused police of using excessive force during the arrests.

More News

Read the original article on MassLive.
KILLINGLY, Conn. (WWLP)  A Worcester man was arrested on Monday for allegedly driving under the influence in Connecticut.

Connecticut State Police stated in a news release that at approximately 1:50 a.m. on Monday, a trooper parked at the median of I-395 near Exit 38 observed a driver traveling in the wrong direction. The vehicle was seen driving north in southbound lanes.

Holyoke police seize stolen gun, drugs in multi-agency operation

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The state trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but could not locate it after coming back southbound from the area of Exit 41. At approximately 2:07 a.m. on the same day, an off-duty trooper identified a vehicle matching the description of the wrong-way driver on Route 6 in Killingly.

State police said that the vehicle was observed operating erratically and failing to maintain its lane. The off-duty trooper performed a traffic stop on the car, identifying the driver as 63-year-old Loren Jones of Worcester. The trooper who originally observed Jones vehicle also responded to the area.

(Connecticut State Police)

Jones spoke to the troopers, at which time they observed bloodshot, glassy eyes and a distinct alcoholic odor coming from his body. He was also unsteady on his feet and explained to law enforcement that he was lost and had no idea where he was.

When the troopers asked Jones if he was driving the wrong way on I-395, he said he was and exited the highway once he realized the error. He went on to inform the troopers that he had been drinking and told them to just take him to jail.

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When asked to submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Jones refused and was then arrested. He was charged with Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs and Driving the Wrong Way on a Divided Highway.

Jones was released on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear at Danielson Superior Court on June 18.

Local News Headlines

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
BOSTON (SHNS)  The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources got its feet wet Tuesday, diving into testimony on bills dealing with water.

Water and water infrastructure generally do not grab the spotlight in the way that other policy areas like transportation, education and housing do, but lawmakers and advocates who testified before the committee stressed their major economic, public health and environmental implications.

Testimony Tuesday touched on issues related to PFAS, lead and other contaminants; water quality standards for private wells; drought management strategies; and the future of the networks of pipes that move water to and from homes.

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Massachusetts is facing a growing water infrastructure crisis. The pipes that deliver drinking water, the systems that treat wastewater and the stormwater infrastructure that protects our neighborhoods is decades or even centuries old. The U.S. EPA estimates that Massachusetts needs almost $37 billion in drinking water and clean water investment over the next 20 years. That is billion, not million, Jennifer Peterson, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association, told lawmakers.

Peterson pitched a bill (H 1022 / S 563) that would establish a program for upgrading and expanding water infrastructure and would call for $200 million in annual state funding. She said state assistance is critical since water infrastructure investment is a shared responsibility among rate payers, the state and the federal government. Local ratepayers have been burdened by, in some cases, double-digit water rate increases in recent years and the Trump administrations fiscal 2026 budget proposes to reduce funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund by 90%, she said.

The bill, filed by Rep. Ted Philips of Sharon and Sen. John Cronin of Fitchburg, would dedicate $2 billion to expand the Massachusetts Water Resources Authoritys capacity with an emphasis on improving drinking water quality and increasing housing capacity, designate $375 million for the HousingWorks infrastructure program, allocate $138 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, and provide $78.5 million for the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund, according to a summary from Cronin.

The infrastructure is aging, and we really need to start investing in it. And theres not enough money on the local level, there just isnt. Certainly not with Proposition 2 1/2, that makes it crushing, Paul Anderson, vice president of the Barnstable County Water Utilities Association, told the committee.

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Sen. Becca Rausch, the Senate co-chair of the committee, pressed Peterson, Anderson and others on where the roughly $3 billion contemplated in the bill should come from.

Ill be very frank, right, having done this role and for a number of years now  nobody ever wants to pay more taxes. So where would we get $3 billion for this? she asked.

Peterson responded that the bill calls for a revival of the Water Infrastructure Advisory Committee that was created in a 2014 water law but has been mostly dormant since about 2018. She said that group would discuss where the new revenue sources would come from. She said the conversation in previous years revolved around taxes on products that have a connection to water infrastructure.

Back in 2012 when Representative [Carolyn] Dykema and Senator [James] Eldridge were leading the Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, toilet paper tax, pharmaceutical tax  things that had a nexus to water  were discussed, but there was never any consensus around how to move those forward, she said.

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Rep. Mike Connolly of Cambridge was joined by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan to support legislation (H 920) that would require the Department of Environmental Protection to create and administer a voucher program to cover the costs of PFAS filtration equipment for households in municipalities where PFAS levels exceed the maximum contamination levels. Citing the Sierra Club, Connolly said 96 communities in Massachusetts had water systems that exceed that maximum containment level for PFAS as of February, up from 56 communities a few years earlier.

There may be a question as to why the district attorneys office is involved in this water issue. It is what Representative Connolly referenced. I feel that part of the privilege of serving as the district attorney is to be looking at really a whole menu of prevention efforts, Ryan said. We know, as the representative just mentioned, the problem with PFAS in water has grown by 47% in the last four years. Many of those communities are in my county.

The bill got a favorable report from the Environment Committee last session but then died in House Ways and Means, according to the committees summary. Connolly said the version he filed this session has been updated to reflect feedback from key stakeholder groups.

Ryan said the bill would provide vouchers for people to obtain two PFAS filtration devices in a five-year period, and it would cover the costs to change the filters every six months as recommended. She said the filters are placed at the point of water service, like faucets, washing machines, tub spouts and more.

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The district attorney said a set of filtration devices for a household costs about $300, and the replacement filters cost less than $50 each.

Rep. Danillo Sena of Acton focused his testimony on well water, which he said is common throughout his district. Across Massachusetts, about 500,000 people rely on private wells for their water service, he said, but the state has no standards for private well testing or water quality.

Because of this, many families dont know what is in their water. They purchase their home with no guarantee that their water is safe. Contaminants like lead, arsenic, bacteria and PFAS have been found in wells across Massachusetts. These have long-term effects on health, and with children at more risk than adults, he said, testifying in support of a bill (H 1049) he filed. This legislation ensures that homeowners do not need to worry about the quality of their water through creating standards of wells [and requiring] testing. The Massachusetts Constitution established the right of clean air and water. We must uphold that right and protect 500,000 residents that currently do not have any legal protection.

Similar legislation from Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Reps. Natalie Blais and Meghan Kilcoyne (S 585 / H 900) was also on the committee docket Tuesday.

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Jun. 4For nearly three decades, Sheri Willrodt has been advocating for and helping special needs students advance during their time at Austin Public Schools.

For the last 15 years, she's been the executive director of Special Services at Austin and throughout it all her work and the work of the department has been about one thing only.

The students themselves.

"It's all about the kids," Willrodt said. "It's why I got into this field, why I stuck with this field for as many years as I did. This is not easy work, but it's really important work and meaningful work and you feel like you accomplished something with your life that meant something."

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"When you see a student that is going in the right direction and making progress, it makes it all worth it," she added.

She still has a couple months, but by the time August ends, Willrodt will be heading into retirement making the 2024-25 school year her last before Sarah Knudsen, Ed.D. takes over.

Willrodt began her career in South Dakota where she taught in Clear Lake before moving to Austin 30 years ago. Her first job with the district was as a special education teacher at Neveln Elementary School for eight years before transitioning into the Elementary Special Education supervisor position for five years.

That led into the position she holds now and it's given her a wide-ranging look into the job differences over the years, particularly in the differences between the two states. South Dakota tended to lump many of the disability areas into a single licensure, something that is much different in Minnesota.

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"Minnesota is very categorical," Willrodt said. "You had to have different licensures for different disabilities. Minnesota even has some adapted different licensure areas that can cover multiple disabilities. That's really the reality of our work and what we have to do."

That has encompassed areas like autism in that as more is understood about the disability, the more the qualifications have changed to a point where autism requires the highest level of qualification in the district.

"We've seen a real increase in that area and a need for more resources in that area," Willrodt said.

Nevertheless, the job has always been about meeting the needs of the students as well as meeting them where they are at. With better diagnosis comes a better understanding of the needs of the staff in order to meet those goals.

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"Regardless of what the label is, our goal has always been to meet the individual needs of the students," Willrodt said. "We learn more about it, we learn more effective techniques, yes, but the focus is the same."

One of the areas that has been a focus at Austin Public Schools is that need to ensure that while the district is meeting the needs of students, it's not letting those needs define who they are.

To that end, Willrodt said there has been a heavy emphasis on inclusion and alleviating any restrictive environments a student may have. A key to that is blending students with their peers at the schools whenever possible.

"We're constantly looking for ways to include students in the general education environment and extra curricular activities and special events the school district has," Willrodt said. "It's always heartwarming to celebrate those accomplishments."

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Building relationships is another cog in the machine and is an important step towards the future for students.

"The more relationships we can develop between students with disabilities and typically developing peers, the more successful they are going to be in that integration," Willrodt said.

In the field of special services, advancement of techniques that help those students being served can often have cascading effects. That's what Willrodt has experienced over the years and it comes in terms of successes that have lasting and positive consequences.

"I would say it's a lot of little things kind of building on each other," Willrodt said. "I'm very proud of our transition programming at Austin High School. We have a very robust program for assisting students into adulthood with partnerships with Riverland Community College."

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That same kind of team aspect is reflected in partnerships out in the community that help get students into real-world opportunities.

However, Willrodt also points to the development of the Austin-Albert Lea Special Education Cooperative that has its home at the Oakland Education Center. Formed in 2016, the cooperative is nearing 10 years of collaboration that caters to both of the district's neediest learners.

Along the way Willrodt has overseen the operation of a co-teacher initiative that pairs special education teachers with general education content area experts that work side-by-side in the classroom.

"We're trying to build our skills in that area and getting them better at supporting student needs in that area," Willrodt said.

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While her work in the district has been important to Willrodt, what she does outside of her work has been just as important and oftentimes collaborative in nature. She has been on the board at the Hormel Historic Home, which is home to special autism camps in the summer as well as spending her time in the Zonta Club and her own church.

"It's really nice to be able to establish those connections with people in the community in order to build opportunities for students with disabilities in the community, too," she said.

After all is said and done, though, it all comes back to the students.

"Maybe doing something worthwhile isn't always easy, but it's important and worth it in order to be able to at the end of the day feel like you've made a difference," Willrodt said.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The ribbon was cut Tuesday morning on The Retail Lab, a clothing store along downtown Morgantown thats the result of a collaboration between West Virginia Universitys Fashion Design and Merchandising program and Main Street Morgantown.

Manager Daphne Carroll told 12 News that she was previously a WVU fashion student and worked downtown for nearly two years, so she was excited when a former professor approached her about developing an experiential learning project in the downtown area to give students autonomy through the program.

I know how important it is for students to have autonomy as theyre learning, so that they can actually apply the concepts, said Carroll. I think that really benefited my education at WVU.

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Carroll said that The Retail Lab will serve as both a classroom space as well as a space for students to officially be working in. Therefore, students will perform a multitude of duties, including changing displays, handling pricing and interfacing with customers, along with all the fun background math that goes into operating a store.

Morgantown says some payments may have been lost in USPS truck fire

The way the model will work is students will come in to gain hands-on learning, coinciding with what theyre learning in class. There will also be one class of students who are specifically dedicated to running the store and gaining useful work experience.

During her time working downtown previously, particularly along art walks, Carroll said that she didnt see a lot of students coming by. With that being said, she feels that a lot of students dont get the opportunity to see just how big the arts and culture scene is throughout Morgantown.

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A lot of arts students will come into the program and not know how to get involved with the amazing community that we have here, said Carroll. I think getting students out downtown before 10 p.m. is gonna be a really big feat, and I know from my experience that it is just so important to get involved with your community.

According to Carroll, theres currently a divide between WVU and the downtown community, so theyre hoping to bridge that gap through The Retail Lab. Shes hoping that through the presence of this store, it will inspire people to take a little bit more pride in being in Morgantown.

Carroll told 12 News was first presented with this idea about two years ago, which was inspired by another student she graduated with who had a similar setup while working in Florence. Since deciding to move forward, Carroll has been working with several partners over the years to completely redo the space.

Due to collaborating with Main Street Morgantown to bring this project to fruition, The Retail Lab managed to secure this space on High Street with free rent for a year. Jessica McDonald specifically, she was hands on. I was in here ripping out carpeting with her from the very beginning so, she has been such an incredible support, Carroll added.

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The project received a few different grants to assist with funding, with support coming from organizations such as the Benedum Foundation, Huntington Bank and Truist Bank. However, Carroll stated that the money was spread among several projects that are affiliated with Main Street Morgantown.

Carroll said that she appreciates the Benedum Foundation for believing in their concept from the beginning and helping them to expand on that. She stated that The Retail Lab was a WVU-associated project and they didnt have money allocated from the university for it, which posed as a challenge, adding that it was really important that we had people who believed in that mission, and the amazing grant writers.

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A World War II pilot who was remembered for helping fellow servicemembers survive the plane crash that killed him has been accounted for, military officials said this week.

Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Charles W. McCook, 23, of Georgetown, Texas, was a member of the 22nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), 10th Air Force during World War II, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said in a news release. Before joining the military, McCook had graduated from Southwestern University and came from a family of pilots, according to local newspaper clippings gathered by the DPAA.

McCook, nicknamed "Woody," served in China and Burma, according to newspaper clippings. He was one of 20 officers and enlisted men credited for a mission that air-dropped supplies to Allied forces battling Japanese troops in northern Burma. During his service, McCook received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross, according to newspaper clippings.

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On August 3, 1943, McCook was the armor-gunner on the B-25C "Mitchell," conducting a low-altitude bombing raid over Meiktila, Burma, the DPAA said. The raid was meant to target the Meiktila dam and nearby Japanese barracks, according to a newspaper clipping.

1st Lt. Charles W. McCook. / Credit: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

The aircraft crashed during the mission. McCook and three others aboard the plane died, but two men survived. One of the survivors, identified in newspaper clippings as Sgt. John Boyd, said the plane had been hit by an explosive gas shell while flying at a low altitude. McCook, who Boyd recalled "as the best in the business," was able to bring the damaged plane up to an altitude that allowed Boyd and the other surviving soldier to parachute from the craft before it crashed.

Boyd said this action allowed him to survive. He and the other soldier were taken captive by Japanese forces, the DPAA said. Boyd spent two years as a prisoner in Rangoon before he was freed, according to newspaper clippings.

McCook's remains were not recovered. He was eventually listed as missing in action. In 1947, after World War II ended, the American Grave Registration Service recovered four sets of remains from a common grave near a village in Burma, the DPAA said.

A newspaper clipping describing 1st Lt. Charles W. McCook's heroic actions before the crash that took his life. / Credit: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Locals said the four sets of remains, designated X-282A-D, were from an "American crash," the DPAA said. But the remains were not identified at the time. They were interred as "Unknowns" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, or the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, Hawaii. McCook's name was listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.

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In January 2022, the DPAA disinterred all four sets of remains and taken to the agency's laboratory. Dental, anthropological and isotope analyses were conducted. Other military agencies used mitochondrial DNA analysis and genome sequencing data to help identify the remains. The processes allowed the DPAA to identify one of the sets of remains as belonging to McCook.

Now that McCook has been accounted for, a rosette has been placed next to his name on the Walls of the Missing. He will be buried in his hometown in August 2025, the DPAA said.

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New York Democrats are closing ranks around Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in the wake of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgados (D) decision to launch a primary challenge against her.

Delgado and Hochuls relationship has been on the rocks for a while, and many in the party expected the lieutenant governor to jump into the race.

Still, his move was seen as an unusual one and has drawn pushback from some Democrats as they face a potentially competitive general election campaign in a state where Republicans have gained ground in recent elections.

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Antonio, you are a talented guy, with a great future. Based upon my experience this may not be the most well-thought out idea! Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who unsuccessfully challenged Hochul for the Democratic nomination in 2022, said in a post on the social platform X.

Delgado served in the House for three years before Hochul selected him to become lieutenant governor in 2022, making him the first person of Latino heritage to serve in statewide office in New York. Hochul chose him after his predecessor, Benjamin Brian, resigned amid charges of corruption, which were eventually dropped.

Hochul and Delgado initially had kind words for each other and were each elected to a full term in Albany in 2022. But throughout the term, theyve split on several issues and seemed to grow more distant from each other.

Delgado called on former President Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race in July following his debate performance against President Trump, while Hochul stood by Biden until he chose to end his campaign.

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When Delgado called on New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) to resign amid the corruption allegations against him, Hochuls office said she was reviewing the allegations against Adams and that Delgado does not now and has not ever spoken on behalf of this administration. Hochul ultimately decided against using her offices power to remove Adams from office, arguing voters should have the right to decide.

And when Delgado announced in February he wouldnt seek reelection as lieutenant governor but would consider all options, Hochuls spokesperson said she had already begun searching for a new running mate for next year.

Delgado is now eyeing the top job in the state and may be encouraged by some indicators of discontent among voters with Hochul.

Hochuls favorability rating has been underwater for months, despite a brief jump in April, while her most recent approval rating in a Siena College poll was just net positive, with half approving of her job performance and 46 percent disapproving. Meanwhile, most voters said they want another choice for governor next year.

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Republicans have been on the prowl to take Hochul on, with Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) considering bids and hammering Hochul over her record. The GOP has expressed optimism about pulling off an upset given Hochuls closer-than-expected victory in 2022, by only 6 points, and the inroads that the party made in the state in last years presidential election.

But Democrats said Delgado likely faces a significant uphill battle against Hochul.

While the polling hasnt shown her in the strongest position, shes still been well ahead in early hypothetical primary polls against Delgado and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), who has also been considering a bid.

Hochul would also start out with a massive fundraising advantage, having set a reputation as a formidable fundraiser since her last campaign in 2022, when she raised $60 million. Shes continued to put up significant numbers, raising $10 million for her campaign and the state party and holding $15 million in cash on hand.

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Democrats also raised questions about what Delgados path to victory could be.

For Delgado to be successful, hell need to do something to change the conversation, Democratic strategist Karen Defilippi said.

She said Delgado will have a tough task being able to criticize Hochul without those critiques reflecting back on himself, as he served in her administration. She also noted Delgado, ideologically, isnt significantly different from Hochul.

Kathy having this favorability rating struggle, its not going to win you statewide in New York, Defilippi said.

The initial reaction from Democratic Party leaders who have commented on Delgados challenge has been standing by Hochul.

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The Democratic Governors Association, which works to elect Democratic governors across the country and protect incumbents, argued in a statement that Hochul has been continually underestimated and proven doubters wrong.

The Democratic Governors Association is 100 percent behind Governor Hochul as she continues to deliver for New York, take on Donald Trump, and build the operation it will take to beat Republicans up and down the ballot in 2026, Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper said in a statement.

Delgados successor in his old House seat, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), also declared his support for Hochul quickly.

Governor Hochul has delivered over and over for the Hudson Valley  bringing down housing costs, bolstering public safety, cleaning up our drinking water, and more, Ryan wrote in a post on X. Shes hard-working. Shes a person of integrity. And shes a fighter. Im all in with @KathyHochul.

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Delgado told The New York Times in an interview that the polling and doubters arent deterring him either. He argued he hasnt seen a clear vision or decisive leadership from Hochul.

People are hurting, and New York deserves better leadership, he said. Theres an absence of bold, decisive, transformational leadership.

On his campaign website, Delgado criticizes Hochul for not going far enough to support New Yorkers struggling with affordability and health care issues. He argued for more tax relief for the middle class, more support for first-time homebuyers and more protections for the states health care system in the face of possible Medicaid cuts.

One New York Democrat noted contested primaries have been common in Democratic primaries for the governors race since 2006, making the challenge not unprecedented. But they said Delgado has been relatively low-profile throughout his tenure.

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Its not like Mike Pence challenging Donald Trump for a second term, where its a household figure, they said.

Democrats also said they werent too concerned about the challenge disrupting Hochuls ability to focus on what may be a competitive general election, saying shell be more ready for it this time than she was in 2022, and shell have a more favorable political environment.

I think she can walk and chew gum at the same time, Defilippi said.

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SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11)  A Long Island man is accused of strangling and stabbing his girlfriend in front of her child with developmental disabilities, a Long Island District Attorney announced Wednesday.

Domestic violence causes deep and lasting harm, said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. My office is here to stand with survivors and take strong action against abusers.

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The DA did not name the accused to protect the identity of his victims. The district attorneys office said that the defendant is a 33-year-old male from Coram, N.Y..

According to a police investigation, the defendant and his girlfriend were staying in a Long Island hotel when they got into a fight in May 2025. The defendant allegedly began punching his girlfriend repeatedly in her head and body, authorities said.

Throughout the assault, which lasted hours, he also stabbed the victim with a pen and strangled her with such force that he fractured a small bone in her neck, authorities said. The victim also sustained a laceration to her liver due to the abuse.

The beating stopped when other guests at the hotel called the front desk to report the incident to the police. Responding officers observed severe bruising and swelling on the victims face, leading to the defendants arrest.

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The victim was taken to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries, police said.

The defendant was charged with strangulation, assault, endangering a physically disabled person and endangering a child. The unnamed defendant is due back in court on July 2.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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Thirty-five New York Naval Militia and New York Guard members will be conducting an emergency response exercise Thursday and Friday on the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, alongside the Coast Guard and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

The exercise named Empire Challenge, will be centered on Coast Guard Station Niagara and Fort Niagara State Park.

The joint training exercise scenario is built around supporting law enforcement authorities working to stop drug smuggling by boat from Canada to the U.S.

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The exercise participants will test their ability to communicate and respond to emergencies including a person in the water and a boat fire.

The drill will involve testing a wide range of communication platforms.

The New York Naval Militia will also be conducting drone operations during the training. Unmanned aerial systems, or drones, will be launched on reconnaissance missions.

Exercise Empire Challenge, is primarily an emergency communications event, said Capt. Don McKnight, the commander of the Naval Militias Military Emergency Boat Service.

The exercise allows us to test new capabilities and functions alongside our many law enforcement and first responder partners, he added.

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The New York Naval Militia is a 3,200- member force of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard reservists who also volunteer to serve in the state force. The Naval Milita operates a fleet of 11 patrol boats in the Military Emergency Boat Service.

The New York Guard is a small totally volunteer state defense force whose members augment the New York National Guard during emergencies.

Both the New York Naval Milita and the New York Guard are components of the New York Military Forces alongside the New York Army and Air National Guard.

The training scenario allows the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard to improve their ability to operate with the US Coast Guard, and state and local law enforcement agencies.

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The New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is also involved in the joint training.

Each year, we have improved our ability to respond to various contingencies, to work out the kinks in our systems, and plan for future opportunities, McKnight said.

In addition, a delegation from the Swedish Navy will be observing the exercise.

The New York National Guard has a State Partnership Program training and exchange relationship with the Swedish military.

We are especially delighted this year with our budding relationship with the Swedish Navy through the State Partnership Program, McKnight said, adding, The Swedish Navys participation in this exercise on the Niagara Frontier will further solidify that relationship.

Exercise Empire Challenge demonstrates the benefit of New York being the only state in the nation with the ability to activate U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reservists to State Active Duty in support of the New York National Guard, said Rear Admiral Michael Perry, the commander of the New York Naval Militia.
CENTEREACH, N.Y. (AP)  Police in the suburbs of New York City have arrested who they described as a  social media prankster over viral videos in which he dumps heaps of food on his head and runs away, leaving others to clean up his mess.

Kyle Vazquez, 21, was arrested in Centereach, on Long Island, on Monday. He was charged on eight counts, including six counts related to recording people without their consent and two counts of criminal tampering, police said.

The Coram resident pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday and was released pending his next court date on June 30, according to prosecutors and court records.

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Suffolk County police say Vazquez dumped a tub of eggs on his head in front of a Ralphs Italian Ices in Centereach on April 29. He then fled in a car, leaving a mess of broken eggshells in the entranceway, police said.

Vazquez pulled a similar stunt at a Chinese eatery in town the next day, pouring a bucket of beans over his head while standing shirtless in the middle of the establishment.

Then in May, Vazquez visited three homes and asked the residents if he could use the bathroom. He then created a disturbance and filmed residents without their knowledge or consent, police said.

Vazquez posted videos of the stunts, along with many others, on his TikTok account, which has more than 100,000 followers.

The Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, which is representing Vazquez, didn't respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.
(Corrects to spell out Kwon Young-kook's full name on first reference in paragraph 16)

By Hyunsu Yim and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -Young women in South Korea voted in droves to help new liberal President Lee Jae-myung win Tuesday's election, reflecting the entrenched gender divide over politics in the country where more young men backed conservative candidates.

Around 58% of women voters in their 20s and 57% in their 30s voted for Lee of the Democratic Party, a joint exit poll by three broadcasters showed, mirroring the 2022 presidential election, while a majority of their male peers picked Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok, another conservative candidate.

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Young women led the charge against former President Yoon Suk Yeol who was ousted in April by the Supreme Court after being impeached over his short-lived imposition of martial law, triggering the snap election.

They outnumbered their male peers in massive anti-Yoon protests as they waved K-pop light sticks while braving near sub-zero temperatures in the winter.

"I voted for Lee Jae-myung in part because I was a little nervous about candidate Kim Moon-soo climbing in polls towards the end of the election," said Moon Song-hee, a 32-year-old female voter in Seoul.

Kim and his party had failed to distance themselves from Yoon, driving away people like her who were protesting outside parliament soon after the December 3 martial law declaration, she said.

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The women-led "revolution" is a starting point for making progress on gender equality that was reversed under Yoon, the Korea Women's Association United said in a statement.

"This is not a simple regime change, but a historical achievement made by the fierce struggle of the people to restore the gender-equal democracy destroyed by the Yoon Suk Yeol regime," the group said in a statement.

The issue of gender inequality has become a lightning rod in the country. South Korea has the worst gender pay gap in the OECD, with women earning about two-thirds of the income of men.

Efforts to redress such inequalities have triggered a backlash among young men, amid perceptions of reverse discrimination, including disgruntlement at the compulsory military service that is not required for women, some experts say.

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Former leader Yoon tapped into anti-feminist sentiment by vowing to abolish the gender equality ministry and courted young male voters in the last election in 2022, losing a majority of young women's votes to Lee. The ministry has outlived Yoon, though without a minister.

"I was baffled by the promise to abolish the gender equality ministry. To be honest, I didn't really think that women were on their minds for the past three years," she said after voting for Lee for the second time.

Lee has vowed to expand the role of the gender equality ministry and strengthen punishment for violence against women.

"Young people were driven to extreme competition to the point of fighting between men and women," Lee said as he was sworn in as president on Wednesday, blaming a lack of opportunities and stiff competition for driving a wedge between the genders.

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However, Lee has not been a vocal supporter of anti-discrimination legislation and when the Democratic Party first revealed his policies, a lack of gender issues drew criticism.

The Korea Women's Political Network, an activist group, contended that Lee was ignoring gender equality out of fear it would hurt him at the polls, and after his victory, urged him to adopt some of the commitments made by the minor Democratic Labor Party's candidate Kwon Young-kook.

Kwon Seo-hyun, an 18-year-old freshman at Sookmyung Womens University said she took part in anti-Yoon protests following his martial law, but voted for candidate Kwon, who has called himself a feminist.

He was the only candidate who vowed to enact anti-discrimination laws.

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"One thing I am a bit frustrated about with mainstream candidates whether Lee Jae-myung or other conservative candidates is they lack policy on women or minority groups," she said.

Gender equality was not among the key policy issues put forward during this election, a stark contrast from the 2022 vote. There were also no female candidates running in a presidential election for the first time in 18 years.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Ju-min Park; Editing by Josh Smith and Saad Sayeed)
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Governor Glenn Youngkin ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday to honor longtime judge and state delegate Jerrauld C. Jones.

Jerrauld Jones, civil rights pioneer and state delegate, dies at 70

Jones family announced that he died on Saturday, May 31 at the age of 70. Jones 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.

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The order states that all flags will be lowered at sunrise on Wednesday, June 4 and are to remain at half-staff until sunset.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a briefing on June 4 that he may consider allowing the creation of private armies in Ukraine.

His comment came as a reaction to one of the points in the latest Russian memorandum, which calls for Ukraine to eliminate nationalist formations and private military companies.

I will now start thinking about it after such ultimatums, Zelensky said.

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine currently has no private armed groups under its law, noting, If they are talking about Azov, it is the National Guard of Ukraine.

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He contrasted Ukraines military structure with Russias use of private forces and mercenary groups like Wagner, highlighting the double standards.

They (Russia) have Wagner and it is true. They admit it, they admit that they have private military formations that we destroyed, Zelensky said.

According to a document leaked after the second round of talks with Ukraine, Russias demands also include Ukraine's neutral status, a ban on the country's NATO bid and other possible military alliances, and an official end to Western arms supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Russia is also demanding the official recognition of Crimea, as well as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as Russian, even though significant portions of these regions are still under Ukrainian control.

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Read also: Putin, Trump, Zelensky trilateral meeting unlikely to happen soon, Kremlin says

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russias peace memorandum as an ultimatum, emphasising that it leaves no room for the compromises anticipated by Washington.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy noted that the memorandum presented by Russia resembles an ultimatum.

"Putin told Trump it would be doable," he stated. "They understand it is not doable, even if they want it."

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The president outlined key demands from the Russian document, including legal recognition of occupied territories in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea as "Russian", Ukraines renunciation of NATO membership and restrictions on military cooperation with partners.

Zelenskyy recalled that when Russia began hybrid aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Kyiv held non-aligned status.

"Regarding NATO, we have clearly stated that besides it being enshrined in our Constitution, this issue depends on the allies  all NATO members," he added.

Zelenskyy emphasised that this applies to both unanimous agreement for an invitation and any decision to deny Ukraine membership.

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Background:

On 3 June 2025, Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, informed Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trumps special envoy to the Middle East, of Russias unconstructive stance and invited him to Ukraine.

Reports suggest the US officials expressed disappointment over an ultimatum issued by Russia to Ukraine during the second round of talks in Istanbul on Monday 2 June.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him very strongly in a phone call Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraines weekend drone attack on Russian airfields as the deadlock over the war drags on.

Trump said in a social media post that his lengthy call with Putin "was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.

It's the first time Trump has weighed in on Ukraine's daring attack inside Russia. The U.S. did not have advance notice of the operation, according to the White House, a point Trump emphasized during the call with Putin, according to Putins foreign affairs adviser.

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The call comes as the U.S. leads a diplomatic push to broker a peace deal following nearly 3 years of war.

Trump, in his post, did not say how he reacted to Putin's promise to respond to Ukraine's attack, but it showed none of the frustration that Trump has expressed with his Russian counterpart in recent weeks over his prolonging of the war.

Yuri Ushakov, Putins foreign affairs adviser, said at a briefing that the two leaders characterized the call as positive and quite productive.

I believe it was useful for Trump to hear our assessments of what happened, Ushakov said, noting that the discussion of the attacks was one of the key topics.

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Zelenskyy responds to Trump-Putin call

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media: Many have spoken with Russia at various levels. But none of these talks have brought a reliable peace, or even stopped the war. Unfortunately, Putin feels impunity.

The Ukrainian leader urged more pressure on Russia and said that Putins planned response means, that with every new strike, with every delay of diplomacy, Russia is giving the finger to the entire world  to all those who still hesitate to increase pressure on it.

The sentiment was echoed by top Zelenskyy adviser Andrii Yermak, who said at a briefing in Washington that Russia understands strength and doesn't have the political will to end the war.

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But that does not mean Ukraine closed the door to continue the negotiations, said Yermak, who was part of a Ukrainian delegation that met with lawmakers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and other officials in the U.S. this week.

Trump has repeatedly promised to end the war quickly but lost patience in recent weeks, publicly pleading with Putin to stop fighting and even saying the Russian leader has gone absolutely CRAZY."

Trump, however, has not committed to backing a bipartisan push to further sanction Russia.

The call was Trumps first known talk with Putin since May 19. They also discussed, according to Trump and Ushakov, Irans nuclear program and the possibility of Russia engaging in talks with Tehran.

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It was not clear if Trump also planned to speak with Zelenskyy. The White House did not respond to a message Wednesday afternoon.

Zelenskyy and Putin weigh in on the state of talks

The Ukrainian leader earlier Wednesday dismissed Russia's conditions for a ceasefire as an ultimatum and renewed his call for direct talks with Putin to break the stalemate.

Putin, however, showed no willingness to meet with Zelenskyy, expressing anger Wednesday about what he said were Ukraine's recent terrorist acts on Russian rail lines in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on the countries' border.

How can any such (summit) meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about? Putin asked in a video call with top Russian officials.

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Putin accused Ukraine of seeking a truce only to replenish its stockpiles of Western arms, recruit more soldiers and prepare new attacks.

He also spoke Wednesday to Pope Leo XIV, who has promised to make  every effort  to help end the war.

Leo urged Putin to make a gesture that would promote peace and stressed the importance of dialogue, the Vatican said.

Russia and Ukraine had exchanged memos setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion Monday in Istanbul, the second direct meeting in just over two weeks.

Russia and Ukraine have established red lines that make a quick deal unlikely. The Kremlin's proposal contained a list of demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters.

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The second round of talks lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war, with the sides agreeing only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops.

Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Zelenskyy said.

He described the latest negotiations as a political performance and artificial diplomacy designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue.

Military strikes continue during diplomacy

In tandem with the talks, both sides have kept up military actions along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

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Ukraines Security Service gave more details Wednesday about its spectacular weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 aircraft, including strategic bombers.

It released more footage showing drones swooping under and over parked aircraft and featuring some planes burning. It claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft. It said the drones had highly automated capabilities, partly piloted by an operator and partly by artificial intelligence that flew the devices along a planned route in case the signal was lost.

The drones were not fully autonomous and a human is still choosing what target to hit, said Caitlin Lee, a drone warfare expert at RAND, a think thank.

Ukraines security agency said it also set off an explosion Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure.

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there was no damage.

Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraines northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia.

Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russia claims it has taken control of nine Sumy villages.

___

Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. AP writers Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Chris Megerian and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, Emma Burrows in London, Nicole Winfield in Rome, Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed reporting.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that if Russia had agreed to a ceasefire, Ukraine would not have carried out a special operation codenamed Pavutyna (Spiders Web), which targeted Russian strategic aviation aircraft.

Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing on 4 June

Quote: "A ceasefire could have been declared before the operation we carried out [Spiders Web] Would the operation have taken place then? No."

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Details: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine would not leave Russias actions unanswered.

Quote: "That does not mean we are doing nothing while seeking a ceasefire. That is our approach We must set the rules. I believe that if ceasefire rules apply to everyone, then they apply to everyone. If they are violated [by Russia  ed.], then we also can violate them."

Details: During the briefing, Zelenskyy noted that he had signed a classified decree to decorate officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) for their role in conducting Spiders Web on Russian territory. He said that as a result of the operation, 41 aircraft had been damaged, half of which are beyond repair.

Background:

On 1 June 2025, the SSU carried out a special operation codenamed Pavutyna (Spiders Web), one of the largest and most complex sabotage operations against Russian military aviation.

The SSU reported that the operation resulted in the destruction of 41 Russian strategic aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft.

The North Atlantic Alliance has hailed the SSUs operation targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful. NATO reported that at least 40 aircraft had been damaged. Between 10 and 13 aircraft were completely destroyed.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed that Russia implement a ceasefire before a potential meeting between himself and Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin. He stated that Ukraine is ready for such a meeting any day.

Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing on 4 June

Quote: "We are proposing a ceasefire to the Russians before the leaders' meeting. Personally, I believe we are ready to meet immediately.

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The location is for the Russians to choose: Istanbul, the Vatican, Switzerland. We are offering to meet any day starting Monday.

Why a ceasefire before the meeting? Because if we meet and there is no understanding, no will to de-escalate or find a way to end this, then the ceasefire will end that very day.

But if we see a possibility to continue dialogue and are ready for concrete steps toward de-escalation, then we will continue the ceasefire  under American monitoring, with American mediation guarantees."

Details: Zelenskyy added that if the Russians are unwilling to agree to a prolonged ceasefire, he is ready to meet as early as 5 June.

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The president emphasised that all parties would benefit from such a prompt meeting, provided there is a genuine desire to end the war. He also noted that Ukraines partners, particularly US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are interested in this format, as they had previously proposed a similar initiative.

Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine is ready for such a meeting on any day.

The president stated that during the potential meeting, the parties could discuss technical control over the ceasefire. He noted that he would prefer a third party to mediate, particularly the United States, which could act as an observer.

He also added that a meeting between the leaders is possible even without a ceasefire, emphasising that the main condition is political will to begin negotiations, as a sign that the Russian side is genuinely prepared to end the war.

Background:

The meeting between the delegations of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, which lasted a little over an hour, was the second following the talks on 16 May.

At the meeting in Istanbul on Monday 2 June, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations reached an agreement on the next prisoner exchange, which will involve seriously wounded and young soldiers.

On the evening of 2 June, Russian state news agencies released the text of the Russian "memorandum of settlement", containing proposals for a ceasefire. These include Ukraine embracing neutrality, holding elections and withdrawing its troops from four oblasts.

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Two stages of a prisoner-of-war exchange between Ukraine and Russia are scheduled for this weekend, with 500 Ukrainian service members expected to be released.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a briefing

Details: Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is prepared to release an equivalent number of Russian prisoners.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "The Russian side has indicated that this weekend, it will transfer 500 of our service members, out of the thousand agreed upon. We are ready to swap the corresponding number."

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Details: However, Russia has not yet provided the agreed-upon lists for the exchange.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We have not yet received the lists. Unlike the previous Istanbul talks, the Russians promised to provide us with the lists of those being exchanged before the swap. This is important to us. We have not received them yet. We will insist that the Ukrainian side receives these lists."

Details: Zelenskyy stated that work on repatriating the bodies of deceased soldiers will begin after the prisoner exchange.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Regarding the exchange of bodies, documents indicate that Russian forces have identified 15-20% of the bodies in their possession. They have agreed to ensure clear identification. It is critical that we receive the bodies of Ukrainians, not Russians they wish to dispose of, as we have seen before."

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Background:

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Ukrainian defence industry companies have considerable production potential but require stable financial support, says Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Source: website of the President of Ukraine

Details: During a meeting with a European Union delegation, Zhovkva emphasised the importance of increasing EU investment in Ukraine's defence industry.

Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security, and Defense at the European External Action Service (EEAS), who led the delegation, asserted that the EU is committed to further integrating Ukraine into the European security and defence system. She said the EU is also interested in boosting defence production in its member states.

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"The main focus of the meeting was on Ukraines current military needs  in particular, air defense systems and missiles for them, artillery systems, ammunition, and continued defense cooperation with the European Union," the Presidents website stated.

The meeting also addressed cooperation between Ukraine and the EU under the ReArm Europe initiative and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. Zhovkva expressed his gratitude to the EU for its efforts to deliver two million artillery shells to Ukraine by the end of this year.

Background:

Ukraine is currently covering 40% of its armed forces' needs with domestic defence production and has significantly ramped up its weapons manufacturing.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha earlier stated that Ukraine has achieved substantial progress in drone technology and is now a global leader in the field. "In some areas, we have increased our production capacity manifold. In some cases, we've scaled up production of military equipment and weapons by as much as 35 times to meet the needs of the Ukrainian army and national defence," Sybiha said.

Earlier reports also indicated that global military spending in 2024 has reached a record high since the end of the Cold War, amounting to US$2.718 trillion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Defence expenditure rose by 9.4% over the year  the highest annual increase since 1988.

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LONDON -- Zimbabwe has announced that dozens of its elephants will be killed to control the population size and the meat from the carcasses will be distributed to people.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, also known as ZimParks, said it has issued permits to Save Valley Conservancy, a large private game reserve in the southeast, "for an elephant management exercise."

"The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region and will initially target 50 elephants," the agency said in a statement Tuesday. "According to the 2024 aerial survey, there are 2,550 elephants against an ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants in Save Valley Conservancy."

PHOTO: A group of elephants and giraffes walk near a carcass of an elephant at a watering hole inside Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, Oct 23, 2019. (Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters)

MORE: Study explores elephant greetings and how they change based on social relationships

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The reserve has translocated 200 elephants to other areas in the southern African nation over the past five years "to manage the elephant population and protect the wildlife habitat," according to ZimParks.

"Elephant meat from the management exercise will be distributed to local communities while ivory will be State property that will be handed over to the ZimParks for safekeeping," the agency added.

A global ban on ivory trade bars Zimbabwe from selling its stockpile of elephant tusks.

PHOTO: A group of elephants and giraffes walk near a carcass of an elephant at a watering hole inside Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, Oct 23, 2019. (Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters)

MORE: 'Double joy': Rare elephant twins born in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve

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ZimParks spokesman Tinashe Farawo told ABC News on Wednesday that the "management exercise" is "not culling," as the latter "involves wiping [out] the whole herd in huge numbers." He did not respond to a question about how many elephants in total will be killed in this instance and over what period of time.

A spokesman for Save Valley Conservancy told ABC News on Wednesday that the first phase, happening this year, "will be to understand the ecological, logistical and financial constraints involved in carrying out elephant management exercises, which may have to be an ongoing feature in the future."

"Our first choice is (of course) to try and find alternative homes for the elephants, however there now seems to be no areas of suitable habitat that are empty of elephants and within a feasible distance," the Save Valley Conservancy spokesman wrote in an email. "Obviously safety and habitat management are top areas of consideration and we are therefore constraining our initial exercise to small numbers (approximately 50), the exact number of which will depend upon what size herds we find within the selected management area and how well the logistical enterprise of dealing with the carcasses in a respectful (not wasteful) manner."

Zimbabwe is home to the second-largest population of elephants in the world, after neighboring Botswana.

ABC News' Liezl Thom contributed to this report.

Zimbabwe to kill dozens of elephants and distribute meat to people originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Zohran Mamdani canvassers prepare to speak with voters on the Upper East Side on May 21, 2025. Alex Krales/THE CITY

This article was produced in partnership with THE CITY, a nonprofit newsroom covering New York City.

On a glum Wednesday evening recently, most New Yorkers were tucked away in their apartments, avoiding the persistent drizzle. This is exactly the scenario Mohit Sani and Dylan Halper were hoping for.

Halper drums a cheery knock on the door of an Upper East Side apartment. A woman named Maria steps out, pushing her yapping dog behind her.

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My name is Dylan, and this is Mohit. Were volunteers with Zohran Mamdanis campaign for mayor, Halper begins.

Just 18 years old but already a canvassing veteran, Halper is partnered up with Sani, a first-timer, so Halper takes the lead.

Democrat or Republican? Maria asks skeptically. Shes never heard of Mamdani before.

Democrat, Halper reassures her, he wants to freeze the rent for rent-stabilized tenants.

Thats me! she exclaims.

Soon, Maria says the magic words: Hes got my vote. She even thanks the two volunteers for coming.

Halper and Sani are among the thousands of volunteers who are aiming to elect the 33-year-old Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City.

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A state Assembly member from Queens and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Mamdani is running on a platform of affordability: free buses, city-run grocery stores, universal child care and a rent freeze.

So far, hes beaten expectations, emerging from a pack of progressives as a strong number two in the polls. His progressive campaign plank, delivered via slick social media videos, earned him support from the terminally online. And hes maxed out his campaign contributions with individual donors: Over 27,000 people have donated to his campaign  12,000 more than city Comptroller Brad Lander, the candidate with the next highest number of donors. To his supporters, Mamdani is a young Bernie Sanders or a socialist Barack Obama.

But to his detractors, he is inexperienced, a show pony, a nepo baby and even an antisemite. If elected, Mamdani would be the first Muslim mayor of New York, and his views on what he unapologetically refers to as a genocide in Gaza have made him vulnerable to attacks from pro-Israel candidates  the mainstream position for NYC politicians, who have made visits to Israel part and parcel of the job.

And hes still lagging former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been polling first in the contest before he even entered it and has maintained a solid lead since, although a recent Emerson poll has Mamdani closing the gap to single digits in the final round of a ranked choice voting tally. Cuomo has raised the most money and is backed by well-funded local super PACs called independent expenditure groups.

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But the Mamdani campaign is banking on one thing to set them apart: their ground game.

According to the campaign, nearly 30,000 people have signed up to canvass, and theyve knocked on more than 750,000 doors. Mamdani has called it the largest volunteer operation in NYC history. Its certainly the largest one happening this election cycle.

Mamdanis canvassers are in every borough, every night of the week.

It can be a thankless task. In the city, volunteers must work their way into apartment buildings, past doormen and buzzer systems  often only to find themselves on the ground floor of one of New Yorks infamous walk-ups. And more often than not, no one is home.

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But that does not discourage Halper and Sani.

Halper, a member of the DSA like Mamdani, is inspired by the candidates vision for New York City. But like many other volunteers, hes not immune to the pull of something much more tangible  merch.

Zohran Mamdani canvassers Dylan Halper and Mohit Sani try to reach voters on the Upper East Side on May 21, 2025. Alex Krales/THE CITY

All Mamdani volunteers receive a ZetroCard  it looks like a MetroCard, but with spaces on the back to mark how many times theyve canvassed. Halper has heard that if he fills out the card fast enough, hell get a poster  a coveted keepsake that he cant get anywhere else.

In fact, none of the campaigns swag is available for purchase  a result of New York Citys campaign finance laws, according to Mamdani spokesperson Andrew Epstein. Its turned Zohran-branded items into cult collectibles  like vibrant yellow bandanas decorated with classic NYC iconography such as pigeons and hot dogs  worn by volunteers or tied onto their tote bags.

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And the only way to get one is to show up  something the campaign makes very easy to do.

Low Barrier To Entry

Ive thought about volunteering for other things, and no one replies to your emails, or you have to apply and go do this thing, and then they only have one shift a week  and its when you work, said Anna Henderson, 25.

But the Mamdani signups are simple and numerous: When I decided to do it, I just clicked on a day I could go in my neighborhood and just went, Henderson said. Now, shes a seasoned Lower East Side canvasser.

The low barrier to entry  and the opportunity to canvass in your own neighborhood  has benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, volunteers can pull in their own neighborhood-specific information, like a local bus that was free due to Mamdanis legislation.

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On the other, it leaves some neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Astoria canvass-dense, while the entire South Bronx has no canvasses at all.

One field lead in The Bronx, Maxwell Dickinson, ventured out on a Saturday afternoon with a diverse group of volunteers, including multiple people over 40, a vital demographic Mamdani needs but has not yet cornered.

Originally from Miami, Dickinson now lives in Riverdale. He likes to open his canvassing conversations with Mamdanis free bus platform and mentions universal child care if he sees a kid in the apartment.

Personally, Ive never mentioned that hes in the DSA, especially being from Miami, Dickinson said, referring to that citys socialism-skeptical Cuban population. But maybe thats me being paranoid.

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The Bronx canvassers know that their borough is being underserved. Over coffee and pancakes at a diner, they chat after the canvass about ways to expand their operation. One volunteer said she thinks Parkchester would be receptive to Mamdani because of its large Bengali population. Another suggested that the campaign partner with local organizations to help get the word out.

You need people who are from there, Dickinson agreed.

From The Phones To The Polls

Mamdani is following in the footsteps  literally  of another NYC Democratic Socialist: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez touted her ground game as essential to her defeat of incumbent Rep. Joseph Crowley. Her worn-down shoes, once displayed in a Cornell museum, became a symbol of how speaking to people face-to-face could make the difference for underdog candidates. (Ocasio-Cortez has not yet made an endorsement in the mayoral race.)

But Ocasio-Cortez had to mobilize voters in her district in The Bronx and Queens only; Mamdani needs to reach people across the five boroughs. The turnout for the congressional primary was also incredibly low  at only 11.8% of registered Democratic voters  so the supporters Ocasio-Cortez reached through her door-knocking had an outsized effect.

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Because Mamdanis canvasses are mostly available in neighborhoods where many volunteers live, its easy to see where his voter base lies: Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, the East Village in Manhattan and Astoria in Queens offer the most frequent canvass opportunities at five days a week.

Zohran Mamdani canvassers Dylan Halper and Mohit Sani speak with an Upper East Side resident on May 21, 2025. Alex Krales/THE CITY

But the younger, often transplant-heavy population of those neighborhoods may not actually turn out for the election. In 2021, the west side of Manhattan  from Greenwich Village up to Columbia University  had some of the highest voter turnout at between 30% to 40%, whereas Bushwick in Brooklyn saw around 14%. Plus, younger voters are notorious for staying home: Only 18% of registered Dems between 18 and 29 voted in the 2021 mayoral primary, compared to over double that percentage for 70- to 79-year-olds. The median age of a New York primary voter is 54.

Some Mamdani organizers are trying to change that.

At first, Myesha Choudhury canvassed for Mamdani everywhere from Hillside, Queens, to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, to Staten Island. She was especially inspired by her conversations with small business owners in Jackson Heights.

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I was literally speaking about New York City politics in Bangla, in my native language, to New Yorkers who had been here for decades and decades, she said.

But unlike those she spoke to, Choudhury wanted to reach people who havent lived in the city long enough to get a feel for local politics  and may not plan to stay long enough to care.

I feel like its so important for young adults who have been living the dream in New York to uplift New York as well, explained Choudhury.

To get young New Yorkers off of their phones and into their communities, she was part of creating Hot Girls 4 Zohran. The organization, which is not affiliated with the campaign, hosts picnics, postering sessions, raves, fundraisers and, of course, canvasses.

Bright and early on a Sunday morning, 15 of the Hot Girls chatted and cheered as they made their way down Central Park West, papering lampposts with pink posters that paired a Mamdani plank with an instruction not to rank Cuomo  a position the official canvassers take, as well.

Cuomos literally hiding from New Yorkers because he knows if hes confronted about his platform, hes screwed, one said, taping a poster. Cuomo has appeared at very few candidate forums, and is not taking an on-the-street campaign approach. I saw something like New York deserves a hot mayor, and thats true. Hot girls deserve a hot mayor.

Spreading The Gospel

Compared to Mamdani and most of the field, Cuomo has avoided many public appearances, and for some, the sexual harassment allegations that drove him out of office  which Cuomo continues to deny  may be disqualifying.

But his campaign has amassed a formidable slate of boosters. Cuomo has picked up major endorsements from large unions  even those who called for his resignation in 2021  whose money, influence and members go a long way in city elections. Hes also focused on courting Black clergy members in a bid to win over a demographic that helped propel Mayor Eric Adams to victory last cycle.

The benefits of what hes doing is to maintain a frontrunner status  to not let opponents attack you personally, explained political consultant Hank Sheinkopf. Theyre empty voices talking into a vacuum, and hes not responding to them, which makes them less consequential.

Of course, the canvassers want Mamdani to win. And increasingly, at least to the volunteers, his campaign seems like less of a long shot.

I am not under any illusions that he has it in the bag, said Henderson from the Lower East Side. But I dont think its impossible. It doesnt feel like a lost cause, she said. I guess Im canvass-pilled.

After his first time canvassing, the experience on the Upper East Side has left Sani more energized than when he began.

I look at my past self, and I see someone who watched John Oliver, watched The Daily Show, watched Hasan Minhaj, and I felt politically active  but when I look back, I did nothing, Sani mused. I was angry all day, but nothing happened from that anger.

Now, I do not watch John Oliver, I do not watch The Daily Show, I do not watch Hasan Minhaj. And Im a thousand times more politically active, he continued. And then I can go to bed at night, and Im not stressed existentially about it.

But inspiring 29,000 canvassers may not be enough. With early voting starting on June 14 and primary day just three weeks away, the volunteer army still has a lot of work to do to inspire voters  and its running out of time.

Inside the cramped vestibule of an Upper East Side apartment, Sani hits the buzzer. Hes pushed a few so far, with no answer. But this time, a garbled voice comes from the other side, asking: Whos there?

Im here to talk about Zohran, Sani says, rushing through the words.

But the voice on the other end is confused: What?

Im here to talk to tenants about Zohran Mamdani? Sani tries again. No acknowledgement.

One last try: Im here to talk about the election?

Oh, says the voice on the other end, sounding disappointed. You woke me up. I was sleeping.

Im sorry for waking you up, Sani says. Hes genuinely contrite and, turning to Halper, asks, Did I do something wrong?
Press Release

June 4, 2025 Legarda welcomes Senate's passage of Anini-y special holiday bill Senator Loren Legarda welcomed the Senate's passage, on third reading, a bill that declares August 5 as a special non-working holiday to commemorate the independence of Anini-y town in the province of Antique. Legarda explained that having the celebration honors the town's success. "For the Municipality of Anini-y, self-identification is a declaration of strength that is anchored in heritage, and a shared vision to become a peaceful, thriving tourism hub with an empowered community, committed to sustainability, good governance, and inclusive growth," she said. "The act of self-identification is fundamental to the life of any community. It is through this shared understanding, as a people shaped by common history, place, values, and aspirations, that we find meaning in our struggles, direction in our development, and unity in our collective journey," Legarda added. It was on August 5, 1949 when President Elpidio Qurino signed Executive Order No. 253, separating Anini-y from the municipality of Dao, now Tobias Fornier. Anini-y, the southernmost town in Antique, was originally independent before being converted into an arabal or satellite community of Dao. The American colonial government, through the Philippine Commission Act No. 961 of 1903 integrated Anini-y to Dao. Antique Representative AA Legarda and Coop-NATCCO Partylist Representative Felimon Espares filed the counterpart bill in the House of Representatives. "More than a legal commemoration, this annual celebration reinforces local identity, pride, and unity among the people of Anini-y," the four-term senator concluded. House Bill No. 7005 was principally sponsored by Senator JV Ejercito as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Government. Legarda, nagbunyi sa pagpasa ng Anini-y special holiday bill Nagbunyi si Senador Loren Legarda matapos ipasa ng Senado sa ikatlong pagbasa ang panukalang naglalayong maging isang special non-working holiday ang Agosto 5 sa Anini-y, Antique. Paliwanag ng senadora, mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng pagdiriwang sa naging pag-unlad ng naturang bayan. "For the Municipality of Anini-y, self-identification is a declaration of strength that is anchored in heritage, and a shared vision to become a peaceful, thriving tourism hub with an empowered community, committed to sustainability, good governance, and inclusive growth," ani Legarda. "The act of self-identification is fundamental to the life of any community. It is through this shared understanding, as a people shaped by common history, place, values, and aspirations, that we find meaning in our struggles, direction in our development, and unity in our collective journey," dagdag niya. Naging ganap na bayan ang Anini-y noong Agosto 5, 1949 noong nilagdaan ni Pangulong Elpidio Quirino ang Executive Order No. 253, na naghiwalay sa bayan mula sa Dao, na ngayon ay Tobias Fornier. Ang Anini-y, ang pinakatimog na bayan ng Antique, ay naunang maging bayan bago maging arabal o satellite community o ng Dao. Pinagsama ang Dao at Anini-y noong 1903 sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Commission Act No. 961 noong panahon ng rehimeng Amerikano sa bansa. Naghain naman ng counterpart bill sa Kamara sina Antique Representative AA Legarda at Coop-NATCCO Partylist Representattive Felimon Espares. "More than a legal commemoration, this annual celebration reinforces local identity, pride, and unity among the people of Anini-y," pagtatapos ng senadora. Si Senator JV Ejercito ang principal sponsor ng House Bill No. 7005 bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Local Government.
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23:44 Sunak expresses solidarity with stampede victims Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the tragic stampede in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives, with over 30 others injured.In a post on X, the former UK PM stated that he and his wife, Akshata Murty, mourn with those who... Read more >

22:57 BSF jawan 'abducted' by Bangladeshi nationals, released A Border Security Force trooper was allegedly abducted by Bangladeshi nationals and taken across the international border in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, before being released a few hours later, officials said on Wednesday.The incident took place in the early hours near Chandni Chowk,... Read more >

22:39 Bengaluru stampede: Guv urges govt to probe lapses Karnataka Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot on Wednesday urged the state government to thoroughly investigate the lapses that led to the tragic incident outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB victory celebrations.He also asked the government to ensure suitable compensation and support for the... Read more >

21:52 Karnataka govt should take up full responsibility for stampede: Kumaraswamy Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said that the Congress government in Karnataka should take full responsibility for the stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations in Bengaluru and alleged that lack of proper planning and 'complete failure' to take... Read more >

21:11 Crowd broke gates at Chinnaswamy Stadium: DKS Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the crowd broke the gates and there was a stampede-like situation near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB victory celebrations.Eleven people died and 33 injured... Read more >

21:02 India thanks Iran for safely rescuing its 3 nationals India on Wednesday thanked Iran for safely rescuing its three nationals who went missing in the country last month, saying Tehran's support reflects the true spirit of friendship between the two nations. They were freed in a police operation against the hostage takers in Varamin in... Read more >

20:13 Absolutely heartrending: PM on Bengaluru stampede Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the stampede in Bengaluru as 'absolutely heartrending'.At least four persons died and several others were injured in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium after a large number of people gathered to participate in the RCB victory celebrations... Read more >

19:48 BSE Sensex: Top gainers today From the Sensex firms, Eternal climbed 3.32 per cent.Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank, Tata Steel and Hindustan Unilever were the other major gainers. Read more >

19:47 Sensex rebounds after 3-day decline Benchmark stock index Sensex ended higher on Wednesday after three days of decline, tracking a rally in global markets.Buying in blue-chips Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank also added optimism to markets recovery.The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 260.74 points, or 0.32 per cent, to settle at... Read more >

19:36 RCB celebration should've been planned better: BCCI secy The stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium that led to death of at least four fans is 'unfortunate' and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Indian Premiere League-winning celebrations should have been planned better, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI on... Read more >

19:24 Rupee falls 29 paise to close at 85.90 against US dollar The rupee depreciated for the second consecutive session and settled for the day lower by 29 paise at 85.90 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, dragged down by risk-averse sentiments and foreign fund outflows.Forex traders said the local unit remained under pressure on geopolitical... Read more >

19:12 What Elon Musk's father said after Ayodhya visit Errol Musk, father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday afternoon and described the experience as 'wonderful' and one of the 'best things' he has ever done.Errol also paid obeisance at the Hanumangarhi temple nearby.He was initially scheduled to visit the... Read more >

18:27 Indian Muslim officer was leading...: Bilawal called out at UN Pakistan's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was called out in New York by a journalist on his comments about alleged 'demonisation' of Muslims in India.The former Pakistan foreign minister, who is leading a team of experts to inform the world about the recent conflict with India,... Read more >

18:07 Govt announces schedule for caste Census Census exercise with caste enumeration will be carried out with the reference date of October 1, 2026, in snow-bound areas like Ladakh and of March 1, 2027, in the rest of the country, the Home Ministry announced on Wednesday.It has been decided to conduct Population Census-2027 in two phases... Read more >

17:45 Deaths feared in stampede at RCB celebration Karnataka DCM D K Shivakumar at the airport with Virat Kohli.Photograph: ANI/X Some cricket enthusiasts were reportedly injured and a few of them fell unconscious in Bengaluru on Wednesday, near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, when they gathered to attend a special felicitation for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title win. Reports said seven persons were killed,... Read more >

17:24 IIT student missing for 2 days found dead in hostel room A second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside his hostel room on the campus on Wednesday, police said.The body of the second-year undergraduate student pursuing biomechanical engineering had no visible injury marks, though... Read more >

17:03 Cong: Monsoon session announced days ahead because... The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the government has announced the start of the Monsoon session of Parliament 47 days before it is due in order to run away from the demand of the party and INDIA bloc for an immediate special session to discuss the Pahalgam attack and the Centre's failure to... Read more >

16:48 Mission Completed, 10 Days/6 Capitals for Cong MP All-party delegation member and Congress MP Manish Tewari shares this image writing on X: Mission Completed. 10 Days - O6 Capitals / Cities. Doha - Johannesburg- Cape Town- Adis Ababa- Cairo - New Administrative Capital - Egypt. Jai Hind.Tewari said on Wednesday that it is for the first time... Read more >

16:32 Hound of Baskervilles? Mystery animal kills 6, injures 17 A mysterious animal had attacked residents of a village in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district on May 5 leaving 17 people injured and so far six people succumbed to injuries in the incident since then, including the two recent death, an official said. While the remaining 11 others are still... Read more >

16:21 Train services hit in parts of southern Assam due to heavy rainfall Train services in parts of southern Assam have been affected due to rising water level at tracks and waterlogging at washing pits, particularly in Silchar, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spokesperson said on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall and landslides have posed threat to the... Read more >

16:07 India strongly opposes ADB financing to Pakistan, citing fund misuse India has vehemently opposed any Asian Development Bank financing support to Pakistan, raising serious concerns about potential misuse of development funds for military expenditure and questioning Pakistan's commitment to economic reforms. According to sources, India expressed deep... Read more >

16:05 Nehru-Gandhi family surrendered Indian interests: BJP The BJP on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting the armed forces with his surrender barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that it amounted to undermining the success of Operation Sindoor and making an allegation favouring Pakistan that even the neighbouring country has not... Read more >

15:44 Warm, happy welcome to Virat at airport Royal Challengers Bengaluru star player Virat Kohli was received by Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at the airport earlier. RCB clinched their first IPL trophy yesterday after defeating Punjab Kings. Read more >

15:31 Wrong to think Modi is India, India is Modi: Cong The Congress on Wednesday said it is wrong to think that Narendra Modi is India and India is Narendra Modi, as it slammed the BJP for its criticism of Rahul Gandhi over his dig at the prime minister and doubled down on the 'Narendra-surrender' jibe.Congress' media and publicity department head... Read more >

15:07 Fans throng RCB hotel A fan awaiting the team's arrival at a hotel in Bengaluru says, I am happy for RCB. They won finally after 18 years. Another fan says, Very excited, we waited for 18 years and it is a dream come true. We are coming here and experiencing it alive. We are waiting for the players. Read more >

14:56 IPL champs arrive in Bengaluru amid chants of RCB! RCB! Amid loud cheers by its fans, IPL 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru arrives in Bengaluru. Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru conquered their final frontier but Shreyas Iyer's resurgent Punjab Kings tripped on the last lap. Mercurial Mumbai Indians once again dazzled before... Read more >

14:26 Bloody machete used to kill MP tourist in Meghalaya? Police have recovered a bloodstained machete, which they believe has been used in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, who went missing along with his wife while honeymooning in Meghalaya, an official said on Wednesday. A raincoat, also believed to belong to the couple from Madhya Pradesh, was... Read more >

14:03 K'taka Dy CM heads to airport to receive RCB champs Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar reaches HAL airport to receive IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Karnataka government will host a grand felicitation ceremony today for the RCB team, which won its maiden IPL title after an 18-year wait. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will... Read more >

13:57 Monsoon session of Parliament from July 21 to August 12 The Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has recommended the dates, he told reporters in New Delhi. The announcement by... Read more >

13:07 Sikkim floods: Army builds walkway 113 stranded tourists Army personnel have established a walkway to north Sikkim's Lachen village, which remained completely cut off due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rain in Mangan district, and reached out to 113 stranded tourists there, an official statement said on Wednesday. These tourists stuck... Read more >

12:50 Cong will pay price for Rahul's immature behaviour: BJP Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that he should seek an apology for the same, further stating that his immature behavior was the reason behind his name Pappu.Rahul should... Read more >

12:47 ISI-RAW must sit together to reduce terrorism PPP chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that cooperation between Pakistan and India's intelligence agencies could significantly reduce terrorism in South Asia. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, who is currently leading a high-powered delegation to... Read more >

12:32 Delhi zoo-Vantara tie-up: Privatization, ask Cong PM Modi at Vantara. The Congress on Wednesday demanded answers from the government on whether the proposed agreement between the Delhi Zoo and animal rescue and rehabilitation centre Vantara is the first step towards handing over the zoo to a private enterprise. Such an agreement done in a hush hush manner... Read more >

12:11 'What will Pak delegation say abroad? India responsible?' Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Wednesday questioned Pakistan's reported plan to send its delegations abroad, in what is being seen as a countermeasure to India's global outreach under Operation Sindoor.Speaking to reporters, MP Shinde said, What will Pakistan say? That it was India that has been... Read more >

11:56 Stolen Review: Haunting Stolen's crisp running time and Abhishek Banerjee's metamorphosis from callous to crusader hinges on contrived ensure the stark bits duly haunt and horrify, observes Sukanya Verma. Read the review here. Read more >

11:49 Zydus Enters Biologics Market With $125 Mn Acquisitions Zydus Lifesciences has announced its entry into the global biologics contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) market with a planned acquisition of two manufacturing facilities from US-based Agenus for up to $125 million (around 1,070 crore/10.70 billion).Under the agreement,... Read more >

11:36 Trump's 50% tariffs on metals come into effect US President Donald Trump has signed an order doubling tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%, says the BBC.The move hikes import taxes on the metals, which are used in everything from cars to canned food, for the second time since March.Trump has said the measures, which came... Read more >

11:27 '9 Pak planes were destroyed In Op Sindoor strikes' Six Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets, two high-value surveillance aircraft, over ten armed drones, and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft were destroyed in Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory military action following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26... Read more >

11:14 Vintage Kashmir: Portraits Of The Past Can you imagine what Kashmir looked like in the 1930s? Vaihayasi Pande Daniel gives you a glimpse... Take a look Read more >

10:54 'I picked legendary King Kohli as a youngster for RCB' Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru owner Vijay Mallya recalled picking a young Virat Kohli 18 seasons ago in the players auction and said it was remarkable to witness the maestro staying loyal to the franchise, which has finally won a long-awaited IPL trophy. RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six... Read more >

10:47 10 Colourful Salads To Brighten Your Plate Don't eat salads just to lose weight. Eat them because you enjoy them. Make them well, with thought, so they are both tasty and healthy. Bite in Read more >

10:44 Sisodia, Jain summoned over Rs 2,000 cr classroom 'scam' The Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has summoned AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over alleged graft in the construction of classrooms in government schools, an official said on Wednesday.Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Sisodia has been... Read more >

10:42 Kerala govt issues Covid guidelines amid rising cases In view of the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kerala, the state health department issued guidelines to hospitals and health workers. It has also directed the government and private hospitals to conduct mock drills. The Kerala health department will provide a Google Form for... Read more >

10:06 Very special for Anushka as well: Virat on RCB win Star batter Virat Kohli has always been vocal about his wife and actor Anushka Sharma's valuable contribution to his personal and professional life. As his team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), clinched their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Tuesday night against Punjab Kings... Read more >

09:55 OpenAI to provide API credits to 11 entities OpenAI on Tuesday announced that it would provide a fresh round of API (application programming interface) credits to 11 nonprofit organisations in India, including Rocket Learning, Noora Health, and Udhyam, among others, to help build artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for social good.Over... Read more >

09:47 Parliamentary Panel To Review IBC A parliamentary panel is taking a comprehensive look at the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to suggest changes and measures that need to be taken to make it more efficient, a senior government official said.The committee is looking at IBC in totality, just as they did with the competition... Read more >

09:46 Elon Musk's father to visit Ayodhya's Ram temple today Errol Musk, father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, is scheduled to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Errol will be accompanied by his daughter Alexandra Musk, during the visit to the temple town. The brief itinerary includes a visit to the Ram temple... Read more >

09:32 Disgusting abomination: Musk slams Trump's funding bill Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has criticised Unites States President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, describing a major spending bill as a disgusting abomination in a series of posts on the social media platform X. The tech billionaire, who recently departed his role overseeing... Read more >

09:06 3 missing Indians in Iran traced, says embassy Three Indian nationals who went missing in Iran last month have been rescued, the Iranian embassy in India said on Tuesday, quoting media reports in Tehran. Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was in touch with the Iranian authorities over the missing... Read more >

08:38 2 Chinese held for smuggling 'biological pathogen' into US Two Chinese nationals have been arrested by the FBI for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States for research purposes at the University of Michigan Laboratory. According to the US Department of Justice f release, Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34) were... Read more >

00:59 JNU replaces 'Kulpati' with 'Kulguru' The Jawaharlal Nehru University has decided to replace the term 'Kulpati' for vice chancellor with 'Kulguru' in all degree certificates and academic records. The decision was made during a meeting of the university's Executive Council held in April. The minutes of the meeting stated as... Read more >

00:56 Maha ATS examining 19 mobile phones seized during searches in Thane File image The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, which conducted searches in Thane, including at the houses of some former functionaries and members of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), is examining the mobile phones of the suspects, officials said on Tuesday. The ATS team... Read more >
Container ships departing from China for the United States are once again experiencing a surge in demand, with space fully booked and orders lining up through June, said forwarders and executives of shipping companies.

They said the primary factor driving this uptick is a notable increase in demand for the US routes. In addition, the announcement made by China and the US on May 12 to mutually lower tariffs provided a much-needed boost, spurring many previously cautious businesses to take actions and revive suspended orders.

When Washington announced tariff increases in early April, a large number of US companies chose to delay their purchasing plans rather than cancel orders outright, said Jiang Lei, executive director of Zhejiang Xinqiaoyuan International Logistics, a forwarder based in Ningbo in East Chinas Zhejiang province.

As China and the US agreed temporarily to lower tariff rates, Jiang said that many US businesses have promptly resumed placing orders with Chinese suppliers.

Based on the export volume of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the worlds third-largest in terms of container throughput volume in 2024, the freight index between May 24 and Friday for the US East Coast stood at 2,490 points, up 69.7 percent from the previous week, while the index for the US West Coast reached 3,585.2 points, soaring 89.2 percent from the previous week, according to the latest index figures released by the Ningbo Shipping Exchange in Zhejiang.

According to the feedback from forwarders and exporters, current rates for shipping space to the US continue to rise, with shipping companies charging over $6,000 per 40-foot equivalent unit to the US west coast and over $8,000 to the US east coast, according to Ningbo Customs.

Qian Long, head of Topocean Consolidation Service (China), a subsidiary of California-based supply chain solution provider Topocean Group, said that in late April, freight volumes to the US fell sharply due to tariff-related factors, prompting shipping companies to adjust their capacity, with many canceling US-bound sailings and redeploying ships to other routes.

As cargo volumes have now rebounded, the capacity situation has quickly reversed. Shipping companies are working hard to allocate capacity and increase space availability, said Qian, adding that some vessels, however, are still on their return voyages, intensifying the supply-demand imbalance in the short term.

In another development, the Office of the US Trade Representative announced on Saturday the extension of exclusions in the Section 301 investigation of Chinas acts, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation. The exclusions were previously scheduled to expire on Saturday. They have been extended through Aug 31.

This move indicates that some products covered by the exclusions, such as solar panels and blood pressure monitors, are critical to US industries. Maintaining exclusions for these items helps prevent supply chain disruptions and supports domestic economic stability within the US, said Gao Lingyun, a researcher specializing in international trade at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.

Silvia Ding, managing director for China at Danish shipping group Maersk Line, said that to ensure stability for its supply chain operations, Maersk began to ramp up capacity on the China-US routes in mid-May, and the number of bookings continues to rise.

During the period of tariff fluctuations, there was a significant increase in cargo volumes from China to Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, said Ding, noting this effectively offset the impact of fluctuations on a single route.

Yang Yanbin, deputy general manager of the production and operations unit at Shanghai International Port (Group), said that from May 19 to 25, the container throughput for US-bound exports, in face of surging demand, reached 59,000 containers, up 49.4 percent from the previous week.

All previously suspended US-bound sailings have now resumed, bringing the number of weekly sailings on US routes at the port back to the normal level of 42, said Yang.

The North American routes will continue to bustle in June. Shipping companies, including Germanys Hapag-Lloyd and Frances CMA CGM, report a notable upward trend in bookings for US routes, Ningbo Customs said last week.

The surging demand on China-US shipping route reflects a shared belief among businesses on both sides that mutually beneficial cooperation remains the cornerstone of their commercial ties, said Lin Meng, director of the modern supply chain research institute at the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. Zhong Nan, China Daily, MDT/China Daily
Justice Minister Bence Tuzson on Tuesday proposed Kincsem Park as an alternative location for this year's Budapest Pride march, adding that the event must be held at a venue where it can be guaranteed that children do not witness it.

Tuzson said in a video on Facebook that police had banned this year's Budapest Pride march at its originally planned location, because if it is held in central Budapest, children's rights cannot be guaranteed.



"All of which does not mean that the right of assembly cannot be practiced, if children's rights are also fully respected," he said.



As a result, he proposed to the organisers, the police and the ministry of the interior to select a new location for holding the event, and said it could be Kincsem Park, a race course and equestrian venue in Budapest's 7th district.



"Kincsem Park is large and safe, and a march can be held there while making sure that children are not witnessing the event," he said.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all the key narratives within the media landscape.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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Hungarian mineral water company Szentkiralyi Magyarorszag inaugurated a plant at its base in Szentkiralyi (C Hungary).

The investment is a milestone in a HUF 11bn development programme launched in 2021 that will boost the company's bottling capacity.



Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said the state had provided Szentkiralyi Magyarorszag with HUF 3.8bn in investment support. As a result of the investments, the bottling of Pepsi products, which Szentkiralyi Magyarorszag distributes, is returning to Hungary after a long hiatus, he added.



Szijjarto said Szentkiralyi had remained a Hungarian brand in a large international cooperation.



He noted that the food industry is a strategic sector in Hungary, employing more than 140,000 people.



"In the past ten years, 287 large food industry investments have been made in Hungary with government support, worth a total of 1,400 billion forints, and these have also contributed greatly to the fact that in ten years we have reached a point where one million more people are employed today than a decade ago," he said.



"One of the consequences of these many, many food industry investments was that this sector became truly crisis-resistant, as there were no supply problems in Hungary even during Covid," he added.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all the key narratives within the media landscape.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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National Economy Minister Marton Nagy announced a government decision to build a EUR 1 billion rapid rail link between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Nyugati Station, in the centre of Budapest, at a press conference.

The rail link would require the addition of a new line only between the airport and the capital's District X. The concession tender could be called within six months and expected to draw interest from both foreign and Hungarian investors.



Nagy said the government had also decided on the construction of a new cargo airport at a cost of between EUR 400m and EUR 1bn. Both investments will be completed in a concession framework, he added.



Nagy noted that passenger traffic at Liszt Ferenc had climbed by an annual 14pc, on average, in recent years, and reached a record 17.6 million in 2024. Annual passenger numbers could exceed 20 million by 2030 and reach 35 million by 2040, he added.



He also said cargo turnover at the airport would soon reach full capacity of 400,000-450,000 tonnes a year.



The government is weighing 5-6 possible locations for a new cargo airport, greenfield and brownfield, he said. The site must be remote from residential areas to ensure non-stop operation and be close to railway and road infrastructure, he added.



As most cargo at Liszt Ferenc comes from Asia, including 43pc from China, the project is expected to draw the interest of investors from China, the Middle East, Kazakhstan or Azerbaijan, he said.



Fielding questions, Nagy said a HUF 100bn dividend paid by Liszt Ferenc operator Budapest Airport would improve the budget balance. He added that the government expected an annual HUF 20bn-30bn in dividend from the airport.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all the key narratives within the media landscape.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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New Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Basu's much-waited Metro In Dino trailer has dropped on YouTube, the internet is abuzz with all things lovely about the movie. Fans have given a big thumbs up to the electric chemistry between Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur.

MetroIn Dino Trailer Reactions

Social media has been flooded with reactions praising their pairing. One fan gushed, This trailer proved one thing: Sara and Aditya NEED to do more films together. Their chemistry is chefs kiss. Another echoed the sentiment, saying, Just 2 minutes of this trailer and Im already rooting for Sara and Adityas characters like theyre real .

Viewers are particularly drawn to the soft, emotional intensity the two bring to the screen  a quality many say has been missing from contemporary Bollywood romances. I miss this kind of romance on screen, soft, intense, and full of love. Thank you Sara & Aditya for bringing it back , read one heartfelt comment.

Some even drew comparisons to iconic love stories from the past. This trailer and Sara and Adi gave me serious Woh Lamhe, Tum Mile, Veer-Zaara type feelings. Old school love is making a comeback! said one user. Another added, Ye trailer dekh ke lagta hai ki yeh jodi screen pe bohot kuch mehsoos karwayegi. Dekhna padega yeh film Sara and ARK ke liye.

About Metro In Dino

Directed by Anurag Basu, Metro In Dino promises to be a modern love story set in the chaos and calm of urban life. The film also features Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh.
New Delhi: On one hand, while there is so much discussion around employment generation, jobs for youths across sectors ranging from manual labour to engineering, and technical to non-technical fields --the high monthly income of an autorickshaw driver will warm your heart.

The story was shared by Rahul Rupani, product leader at Lenskart and seasoned entrepreneur, on his LinkedIn post, that has now gone viral.

Rupani shared the story about a Mumbai auto driver, who makes Rs 5-8 lakhs/month, and that too without even driving his auto.

"No app. No funding. No tech. Just parked in the right place at the right time. Every single day," Rupani wrote.

Rupani said his personal story while on a visit to Mumbai's US Consulate for a Visa purpose.

"I was outside the US Consulate this week for my visa appointment, when security told me I couldnt carry my bag inside. No lockers. No suggestions. Just: Figure it out. While I stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at me: Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai. I hesitated. Then gave in.

And thats when I discovered this guys brilliant business," Rupani wrote.

Rupani also made a cost break-down of the monthly income that the Auto Driver is probably making--Heres how it works, he says:

- Parks his auto right outside the consulate.

- Offers bag-keeping service at Rs 1,000 per customer.

- Gets 20-30 customers a day.

- Thats Rs 20KRs 30K per day, or Rs 58 lakhs a month!

Since the auto driver cant legally keep 30 bags in his auto, hes partnered with a local police officer who owns a small locker space nearby, Rupani wrote on LinkedIn.

"Bags go there. Legal. Secure. Zero hassle. The auto just acts as the conversion funnel," he wrote.

He said that the income genius is sans any formal management degree. "No MBA. No startup jargon. Just pure hustle and street-smart product-market fit," he wrote.
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 LIVE: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to release the Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE Prelims) Result 2025 soon. Although the exact date is yet to be confirmed, results are likely to be announced by the second week of June, based on past trends. The UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 was held on Sunday, May 25, in two sessions of two hours each. The examination comprised two papers: General Studies Paper 1 and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT). The question papers for both have already been uploaded on the official website.

The UPSC has launched a new online application portal to streamline the registration and application process for candidates. This revamped system follows a four-stage format, allowing aspirants to complete key steps even before an official exam notification is issued. The portal is now active and accessible at https://upsconline.nic.in.
Bengaluru Stampede: A tragic incident unfolded in Bengaluru on Wednesday when a stampede occurred near the Chinnaswamy Stadium as fans had gathered to cheer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for winning their first IPL trophy in 18 years. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that such incidents happen in many places and drew a parallel to the Kumbh Mela that was held earlier this year.

In the stampede, 11 people lost their lives and 47 were injured. Speaking to the media about the incident, the CM added that the Congress party had criticised the incident that happened during Kumbh Mela 2025, however, the Karnataka government did not.

"Such incidents happened in many places; I am not going to defend it by comparing them and saying that it happened here and there... 50-60 people died in Kumbh Mela. I did not criticise. If Congress criticises, then that is a different matter. Did I or the Karnataka government criticise?" said Karnataka CM.

#WATCH | Bengaluru stampede | "Such incidents happened in many places; I am not going to defend it by comparing them and saying that it happened here and there... 50-60 people died in Kumbh Mela. I did not criticise. If Congress criticises, then that is a different matter. Did I pic.twitter.com/pbvQZnO6Vm  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

Earlier, Siddaramaiah, in a post on the social media platform X, had expressed shock over the stampede and said that the moment of joy was eclipsed by sorrow.

"Deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede during the RCB victory celebrations near Chinnaswamy Stadium. A moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow," he posted.

"I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Karnataka CM added.

He also added that a victory parade for the RCB was not allowed as a precautionary measure; however, a crowd surge near the stadium where the felicitation ceremony was taking place for the team led to the stampede.

"Precautionary measures were taken by not allowing a victory parade, but the crowd surge near the stadium led to this tragedy. I urge everyone to always prioritise safety  above excitement, celebration, or crowd fervour," Siddaramaiah wrote.

The Prime Minister's Office also posted on X and quoted PM Narendra Modi as saying, "The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery."

The Deputy CM of Karnataka, speaking to the media, complimented the police and said, " Again I'm telling on record. I should compliment my Police officers... morning also, they wanted to have a procession, they wanted to bring a vehicle from the airport itself... Police guided us not to... that's why I rushed to the airport and ensured nothing went wrong... in Vidhana Soudha, also we were very cautious..."

Shivakumar also informed that, for Thursday, except for the cabinet meeting, all programmes have been postponed.

(with ANI inputs)
Chinese Harvard graduate Jiang Yurong has denied allegations that she was admitted to the prestigious university through family connections, after her commencement speech went viral and drew widespread scrutiny online.

Jiang, a native of Qingdao in Shandong province, represented the graduating class at Harvard Universitys commencement ceremony on May 29, Beijing News reported.

In her speech, delivered in English while wearing traditional Chinese attire, Jiang recounted a story about translating Chinese labels on washing machines to highlight the importance of diversity and international understanding.

Following her speech, some Chinese netizens questioned whether Jiang had gained admission to Harvard Kennedy Schools Master in Public Administration in International Development program through personal connections.

On Monday, Jiang posted multiple responses via a Sina Weibo account set up on the same day and claimed to be herself, denying any impropriety.

Previous online claims linked Jiang to the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), where she once interned. A 2022 CBCGDF blog post reportedly celebrated her Harvard admission and included a thank-you note from a person identified as her father, Jiang Zhiming, who at the time held a position within the foundation.

The post has since been deleted or edited to remove his name, fueling further speculation.

Addressing claims of nepotism, Jiang said her parents divorced when she was young and that she had minimal contact with her father. She added that her recommendation letters to Harvard came from her thesis advisors in economics and political science, as well as her former supervisor at Credit Suisse.

Jiang confirmed she had interned at CBCGDF and received a recommendation letter but stated she ultimately did not use it in her Harvard application. She emphasized that all her application materials were verifiable and submitted independently.

Jiang also said she deferred her admission for a year due to financial difficulties, using nearly four years of work savings to cover her tuition.

I hold only a Chinese passport, and I have no green card or overseas citizenship, Jiang said, in response to online doubts.China Daily
Gujarat is witnessing a renewed uptick in Covid-19 cases, with 451 active cases reported across the state as of Tuesday, according to the health department. Of the total active cases, 20 patients are currently hospitalised, while 431 are under home isolation. So far, 43 individuals have recovered and been discharged.

The official death toll has reached seven. Health officials have identified the Omicron sub-variants LF.7.9 and XFG Recombinant as the primary drivers of the new infections. Most patients are exhibiting mild symptoms, including low-grade fever, cold, and cough.

Authorities have advised individuals recovering at home to closely monitor their symptoms and seek immediate medical help if they experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or any other severe discomfort.

People with underlying health conditions or compromised immunity are strongly advised to avoid crowded areas and wear masks when stepping out. Medical experts have attributed the rise in infections to the cyclical nature of the virus, noting that Covid-19 case surges are commonly observed every six to eight months.

The experts have urged the public to remain vigilant but stressed that there is no need to panic. Ahmedabad remains a hotspot in this wave, recording 50 new cases in a single day.

The city also reported its second consecutive Covid-related fatality on Monday  an 18-year-old pregnant woman from Vinzol succumbed during treatment. Previously, a 47-year-old woman died at L G Hospital in the city. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge residents to adhere to precautionary measures to curb further transmission.

In response to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, the Gujarat government has stepped up its preparedness across districts. Health department officials have been instructed to increase surveillance and testing, particularly in urban hotspots like Ahmedabad.

Isolation protocols have been reinforced, and hospitals have been asked to keep dedicated Covid-19 beds and oxygen supplies ready. The state has also resumed daily health briefings to monitor the spread of infections closely.

District health officers have been directed to trace contacts of positive patients and ensure home-isolated individuals are regularly followed up by health workers. Awareness campaigns are being relaunched in both urban and rural areas to remind citizens about hygiene, masking in crowded places, and the importance of early medical intervention. Additionally, authorities are reviewing vaccination records and encouraging eligible individuals to get booster doses where applicable.
Bengaluru Stampede: After a massive stampede occurred on Wednesday outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, killing and injuring several, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the crowd was 'uncontrollable' and added that lathis cannot be used on a young crowd.

The crowd had gathered outside the stadium to cheer for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team as they won the IPL trophy on Tuesday for the first time in 18 years. According to reports, at least 11 individuals have lost their lives and around 25 were injured in the stampede.

Talking to the media, Karnataka Deputy CM said, "I think this is not a controllable crowd. I apologise to all the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka. We wanted to take a procession, but the crowd is uncontrollable."

Shivakumar also said that the Police can not be blamed for the stampede, as lakhs of people gathered for the event. He added that around 5,000 police personnel were present for the crowd management.

"It was a young, vibrant crowd, we cannot use lathi," Deputy CM Shivakumar continued.

There was a felicitation ceremony for RCB when the stampede began.

Karnataka Deputy CM also stated that he had a word with the Police Commissioner and appealed to the people to remain calm.

"I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm. We shortened the program. The program ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normal...Lakhs of people came," he said.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to pic.twitter.com/yo5cLfHYfX  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

On the other hand, speaking about Bharatiya Janta Party's allegations on the stampede incident, Shivakumar said, " They are there to allege and we are there to protect yes, I am going to the hospital..."

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra arrived at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital to meet people who were injured in the stampede.

More than 11 people have lost their lives. The chief minister should send the matter for a judicial inquiry, said BY Vijayendra.

(with ANI inputs)
Juctice Yashwant Varma Impeachment: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday stated that the impeachment motion against Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma is a matter related to corruption in the judiciary, and hence, there is no scope for taking separate political stands on the issue.

Justice Varma has been facing heat after piles of burnt cash were allegedly found at his residence following a fire.

Speaking to the news agency ANI, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister also said that there is no scope for politicking on the impeachment matter.

"The impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma is a matter related to corruption in the judiciary. So, there is no scope for any politicking. There is no scope for taking a separate political position for every party. So, we would like to have a united stand," Rijiju said.

"Parliament as a whole will have to come together to discuss this matter and move forward. So, I am building consensus amongst all political parties, and I have started discussion with prominent leaders, and I will reach out to everybody," the Minister added.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Impeachment Motion against Delhi HC judge Justice Yashwant Varma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "The impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma is a matter related to the corruption in the judiciary. So, there is no scope for any pic.twitter.com/AD1cslCiG2  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

ANI quoted Rijiju as saying, "(The response has been) very positive. As I said, in this matter, there is no scope for taking a political stance by each party. The matter is very serious, and it is extremely important for the nation. So, when we discuss corruption, whether it's corruption in the judiciary or anywhere, it has to be taken in the best consideration of the nation. We are not going to have a partisan view on that."

This statement by Rijiju comes a day after the reports suggested that the government may introduce an impeachment motion against Justice Varma.

Also Read: Cash Row: Parl Likely To Take Up Impeachment Motion Against Justice Yashwant Varma

SC's Action

Earlier, the Supreme Court had constituted an inquiry committee after the allegations of "burnt cash" were found at a storeroom of Justice Varma's residence.

Following the formation, the in-house inquiry committee submitted its report on the issue last month, which has since been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the President of India. On May 4, a panel of judges tasked with conducting an internal inquiry into allegations turned in its report to the then Chief Justice of India (CJI), Sanjiv Khanna.

The CJI had constituted the committee on March 22 to examine the allegations against Justice Varma, a sitting judge of the High Court of Delhi.

Parliament's Monsoon Session

Earlier, Rijiju had announced that the Monsoon session of the Parliament is scheduled from July 21 to August 12. Both Houses of Parliament will convene on July 21 at 11 am, after a break of over three months.

This Monsoon session will be the first Parliament session since the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, the Indian Armed Forces' Operation Sindoor, and tensions between India and Pakistan that continued for days.

On the other hand, the leaders of the Opposition have been demanding to convene a special session of the Parliament to discuss the developments following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

(with ANI inputs)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Raj Thackeray on Wednesday appealed to state School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse to issue a written order "as soon as possible" stating that only two languages, Marathi and English, would be taught from the first grade and Hindi would not be made compulsory as a third language.

We have information that, based on the earlier decision to teach three languages, including Hindi, the printing of Hindi language textbooks has already begun. Now that the books have been printed, is the government planning to backtrack on its own decision? I assume there is no such plan, but if something like this happens, the government will be responsible for the agitation that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will launch, the MNS chief said.

Many states in the country have adopted only two languages from the first grade and rejected the imposition of Hindi, the reason being their linguistic identity. You (addressing Bhuse) and your fellow Cabinet members are also Marathi by birth; when will you act like the leaders of other states who oppose Hindi and protect the identity of your language, and how will you nurture it? We expect the government to show the same strong sense of identity as those other states, he said.

For the past nearly two months, there has been confusion regarding the teaching of the Hindi language starting from the first grade in Maharashtra.

Initially, it was announced that students would be taught three languages from the first grade, with Hindi being the third mandatory language. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena raised its voice against this, which led to the formation of strong public sentiment.

"This public sentiment was so intense that the government declared that Hindi would not be made mandatory as the third language, Raj Thackeray said.

Fundamentally, Hindi is not a national language; it is just one of the languages spoken in other states of the country. Why was there an insistence on making it mandatory to learn? It is unclear why the government was wavering under some pressure. However, the core issue remains: why force children to learn three languages from first grade?

"Regarding this, you also announced that in schools following the Maharashtra State Education Board curriculum, only two languages would be taught from the first grade. But why has the written order for this announcement not been issued yet? asked Thackeray.

His letter comes at a time when the government has backtracked on its move to make Hindi language compulsory after Marathi and English in Classes 1 to 5 amid strong opposition from various stakeholders.

Although Bhuse last month announced that the government would decide on making Hindi a third language compulsory after talks, it has not yet issued any government notification.
New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali has exposed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan in Rupnagar, Punjab. Singh, who runs a YouTube channel called "Jaan Mahal," has been found to be associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a key figure in a terror-backed espionage network.

Officials said that the investigations have revealed that Singh maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested for spying. Furthermore, he was also in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official.

Jasbir Singh is the second digital content creator to be arrested in recent weeks, after Haryana-based Jyoti Malhotra, with whom he was also in regular contact. Singh's connections with these individuals have raised serious concerns about his involvement in anti-national activities.

According to Punjab Police, Singh attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He also traveled to Pakistan on three occasions - 2020, 2021, and 2024. Forensic scrutiny of his electronic devices revealed multiple Pakistan-based numbers, which are currently under detailed investigation.

Notably, after Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, Singh attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these individuals to avoid detection, officials highlighted.

An FIR has been registered at SSOC, Mohali, and investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators.

Police say they are working to expose the full extent of the espionage-terror network and identify all individuals involved.

"Jasbir Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called "Jaan Mahal", has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network. He also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra (arrested for spying) and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official," Punjab Police said in a post on X.

Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, State Special Operations Cell (#SSOC), Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, #Rupnagar.



Jasbir Singh, who operates a #YouTube channel called Jaan Mahal, has been found  DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) June 4, 2025

"Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators," it added.

The Punjab Police have made a significant breakthrough in their efforts to counter espionage activities in the state, arresting seven individuals suspected of spying for Pakistan. Among those arrested are Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih from Ajnala in Amritsar, as well as Guzala, a 31-year-old woman, and Yameen Mohamad, both residents of Malerkotla.

The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into a Pakistan-based espionage network operating in Punjab, with the police working to uncover the extent of the network and identify any additional individuals involved. These efforts demonstrate the Punjab Police's commitment to safeguarding national security and preventing anti-national activities in the state.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Revival: Congress leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi gave a rare no-holds-barred advice to Madhya Pradesh party leaders, indirectly putting many of them on the chopping block. For many of the Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders, it's going to be the Hobson's choice, if the party puts Rahul Gandhi's advice to the work. Notably, the Madhya Pradesh Congress faced its worst performance in the previous assembly polls and since then, has made many key changes that included replacing Kamal Nath, one of the veteran Congress leaders from the state, as state party president, giving the reigns to young leader Jitu Patwari.

Speaking at a party meeting, Rahul Gandhi said that there used to be two kinds of leaders in the party - racehorses and wedding horses and the Congress used to send racehorses to weddings and wedding horses to races. "We have to segregate racehorses and wedding horses. Earlier, I used to say, that there is a racehorse, and Congress sends the racehorses to weddings. Another is a wedding horse and the party sends it to races. Kamal Nath also said this. If the horse is whipped, it sits down in the race. Earlier there used to be these two categories, now there is a third type as well, it's a lame horse. It's time to retire the lame horses," said Rahul Gandhi, in a veiled warning, which can be seen as a message to Kamal Nath and other veterans whom the Congress thinks that they are not doing enough for the party.

Rahul Gandhi further said that those who will become district presidents of Congress in Madhya Pradesh will be the ones leading the party in the state in the future. "The work of the new district presidents will be evaluated in several ways, such as- are the votes for the Congress party increasing or not? Is the district president taking everyone along? When an attack happens on a Dalit or tribal in the district, was the Congress present there or not? Along with this, district presidents will be given many responsibilities and powers. The voice of district presidents will be heard in local elections and in the selection of MLAs and MPs. If anyone thinks they can sideline the district presidents and move forward in the Congress party, they are mistaken," said Gandhi, laying out the Gujarat-Congress-like plan for reviving the party in Madhya Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi further said that whoever protects the ideology of the Congress Party and works to advance the Congress Party in the state will get support from the central leadership. "The day you make up your mind to uproot and throw out the BJP, that day you will push the BJP aside. Wherever you call me, I will be there," affirmed the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Chennai: In a major initiative to enhance passenger safety and improve operational efficiency, the Tamil Nadu government has floated tenders worth Rs 17 crore to install advanced surveillance and driver monitoring systems in buses operated by State Transport Undertakings (STUs). The project is being executed through the Institute of Road Transport (IRT).

The move follows an announcement made by Transport and Electricity Minister S.S. Sivasankar during the debate on the Transport Departments demand for grants in the Assembly. According to tender notifications issued by the IRT, the government plans to equip 4,000 buses with 360-degree surveillance camera systems at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. In addition, a pilot project worth Rs 2 crore will introduce Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) in 500 buses.

Each bus under the camera project will be fitted with four high-definition wide-angle cameras, providing a full panoramic view that helps eliminate blind spots. Priced at Rs 37,500 per unit, these cameras will come with features such as wide dynamic range (WDR), auto white balance, digital noise reduction, and infrared capability for low-light conditions. The systems will also support encrypted data transmission and comply with established data protection norms.

Minister Sivasankar had earlier informed the Assembly that the 360-degree surveillance systems will aid in detecting pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles that are often missed by conventional mirrors, especially in congested urban areas.

The real-time footage will also serve as valuable legal evidence in the event of road accidents.

The Driver Monitoring System (DMS) units, each costing Rs 40,000, will employ artificial intelligence and infrared sensors to monitor drivers for signs of fatigue, distraction, or drowsiness. These systems will track eye movements, head position, and posture, and provide real-time alerts to allow for immediate corrective action.

Additionally, each DMS unit will record behavioural data to support post-trip analysis and help plan training interventions for drivers.

The current rollout on 500 buses is a pilot phase, with the potential for a wider implementation depending on its effectiveness and feedback from transport authorities. This initiative marks a significant technological upgrade for Tamil Nadus public transport system and is expected to improve both passenger safety and driver accountability across the fleet.
Mumbai: TV actor Vibhu Raghave, who passed away after a long battle with cancer on June 2, was cremated on Tuesday afternoon.

His funeral was attended by his family members, close friends and members of the TV industry. Actors like Mohitt Maalik, Anjali Anand, Chaitanya Chaudhary, Addite Malik and Nakuul Mehta were spotted at the cremation ground, paying last respect to Vibhu.

Mohitt and Addite looked inconsolable at the last rites.

Several celebrities also took to their Instagram handles to condole the loss of the actor after his demise.

Bigg Boss 18 winner Karan Veer Mehra took to Instagram and wrote, "Too Soon. Rest in peace," followed by a heartbreak emoji.

Sanaya Irani also wrote an emotional message for Raghave on her Instagram handle.

She recalled the actor's "positivity, love, and warmth" for his peers and friends."RIP Friend. I'm sure you are spreading positivity, love and warmth wherever you are. Gone too soon. You will be missed," wrote Sanaya Irani.

Saumya Tandon also penned an emotional note for the late actor.

Taking to Instagram, she wrote, "My beautiful friend @vibhuzinsta...is with angels now. Left us last night. Vibhu you were beautiful. Inside and out. You taught me how to smile even when everything was falling apart. How to hold on to light when the world felt dark. You were a fighter till the very end -- a real warrior. Even when people gave up hope, you kept going. You never stopped."

"We had plans, Vibhu.We wanted to make videos... to talk about everything you were feeling. We thought we had time. We didn't. And now all I'm left with is your voice in my head, your smile, and all the love you gave me. I'll miss you forever. I really will," she grieved.

She talked about how Vibhu taught to her life a life "fully, fiercely, with heart."

"Life is so damn short. I'm going to try to live it like you did -- fully, fiercely, with heart.

To be the best version of myself, every single day. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for the light, the love, the laughter.And thank you -- truly -- to every single person who contributed, prayed, and gave Vibhu a fighting chance. I'm forever grateful to you all," Saumya added.

Vibhu Raghave's co-star Aneri Vajani shared a bunch of throwback photos of the actor while remembering him after his demise.

A week before Raghave's demise, actress Vajani also shared a fundraising post for the actor's cancer treatment in Mumbai.

She wrote, "Hello everyone ! A little update about our friend Vibhu @vibhuzinsta . He's still battling 4th stage cancer in Nanavati hospital for the last two weeks. It's been an overwhelming journey for all of us to see him go through this. He's fighting it bravely. We have exhausted our funds and we need immediate funds to save him. Pls pray for his recovery & do contribute whatever you can for his hospital treatment. Thank you for your immense love and prayers"

Vibhu was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, and routinely shared updates about his treatment on Instagram. His friends often urged social media users to help raise funds for his treatment.

Vibhu was in his late 30s.
New Delhi: Planning a bank visit this week? You might want to check the holiday schedule first. Banks in several parts of India will remain closed for two days this week due to Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid) and Bakri Id (Id-Uz-Zuha), as per the RBIs bank holiday calendar. Apart from these regional holidays, all banks across the country will also stay shut on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Will banks remain closed on June 6?

Yes, banks in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram will remain closed on Friday, June 6, 2025, for the Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid) holiday. This Islamic festival honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of devotion to God.

Are Banks Operational on June 7?

Most banks across the country will be closed on Saturday, June 7, 2025, due to Bakrid (Id-ul-Zuha), which commemorates the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim. However, since its the first Saturday of the monthand not a regular bank holidaybranches in cities like Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Itanagar, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram will remain open.

Bank Holidays: June 2025

As per the RBI calendar, banks will be closed on 12 days in June 2025. These include regular weekly offsSundays and the 2nd and 4th Saturdaysalong with festival holidays such as Bakrid, Rath Yatra, and Saint Kabir Jayanti.

While physical bank branches will remain shut on these days, online services like net banking, mobile banking, UPI, and ATMs will continue to work as usual. However, certain services under the Negotiable Instruments Act, like cheque clearing and promissory note processing, may be delayed during this time.

Which Banking Services Work on Holidays?

Even when bank branches are closed, most online banking services remain fully functional. You can still transfer money via NEFT or RTGS, request chequebooks or demand drafts, and use your debit or credit cards without any hassle. ATM withdrawals, mobile banking, and net banking also work as usual. Plus, services like account updates, setting up standing instructions, and applying for lockers can be done online even on a bank holiday.
New Delhi: A major bank robbery was reported from Canara Bank's Managuli branch in Karnataka where unidentified individuals reportedly looted nearly 59 kg gold and Rs 5.20 lakh in cash. The estimated cost of the gold jewellery is Rs 53.26 crore.

The robbers have reportedly removed the CCTV NVR unit, hard disk inside that gave them cover on surveillance recordings during the break-in.

The bank heist was reportedly carried during the long weekend between 23 and 25 May. Canara bank's branch activities and operations were last conducted on 23 May (Friday), while May 24 fourth Saturday and Sunday bank holiday. The robbery, as per reports occurred between 7:00 p.m. that evening and 11:30 a.m. on 25 May.

The Canara Bank Managuli Branch incharge, in his formal complaint mentioned that the theft was discovered around 11:30 a.m. on 25 May. A staff member had noticed that shutter lock was broken and the window grills were forcibly cut, who then immediately informed the branch incharge about a possible theft.

During Primary inspection of the premises, police and bank officials found that the inner grill gate had been cut though the main door of the strong room remained intact.

The gold ornaments (total of 1,373 gold packets) kept inside one of the steel almirahs was empty. The missing gold weighed 59,348.94 grams gross.

The robbers also looted cash woth Rs 5,20,450 from another almirah.
Taking place in Macau from June 2 to June 5, the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Associations (ECTAA) annual summit is gathering European tourism trade representatives and local travel agencies under the same roof.

According to officials, the summit aims to reinforce connections with the European travel trade and expand international visitor source markets.

At a press conference held early yesterday afternoon, the director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, said, The ECTAA Summit brings to Macau a very significant group of the European tourism industry. Were referring to ECTAA members, who are representatives of national-level associations from over 30 European countries.

Together, they represent more than 80,000 travel agencies in Europe. So the cream of the crop is here. Were trying to establish a long-lasting relationship starting from this summit. And were glad to have with us in Macau the heads of the tourism associations from Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, as well as an international member from Malaysia, in addition to others who could not attend in person and will be joining virtually, she added.

Senna Fernandes noted that close contacts have already been made with Romanian tourism representatives regarding an upcoming familiarization visit to Macau.

The summit includes several sessions, visits and B2B networking opportunities for delegates to meet the local travel trade, which comprises over 60 members from travel agencies, integrated resorts, hotels, airlines, convention and exhibition venues, and destination management companies.

The summit also includes visits to Hengqin attractions, scheduled for tomorrow, as well as a gala dinner co-hosted by MGTO and SJM, a partner of the event.

At the press conference, Daisy Ho, managing director of SJM Resorts, said the company was pleased to host the summit, noting, SJM has been a steadfast partner of MGTO in its efforts to promote Macau internationally, diversify our business base, and encourage longer stays.

Ho noted the significant growth in visitors from Europe, which has emerged as a promising market, with visitor arrivals rising nearly 70% in 2024 and sustaining the same strong momentum this year.

We strongly value this opportunity for exchange to better understand how we can serve the European market and respond to its evolving needs, Ho remarked.
PM-KISAN 20th Installment: The 20th installment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana is likely to be released in June 2025, according to media reports. However, there is no official confirmation from the government yet regarding the date or venue of the release. The last installment  the 19th  was disbursed in February this year, transferring an estimated Rs 22,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9.8 crore beneficiaries.

As per the payment cycle, the next installment is due between April and July 2025. The amount is paid in three equal installments of Rs 2,000, transferred directly to beneficiaries bank accounts every four months. In the meantime, farmers are advised to complete mandatory requirements such as eKYC and Aadhaar-bank account linking to ensure timely receipt of the payment.

What Is PM-KISAN And Annual Benefit?

The PM-KISAN is a key government initiative aimed at supporting small and marginal farmers across India. Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, paid in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each. Launched in February 2019, the scheme has played a vital role in boosting agricultural development nationwide. The PM Modi government has allocated over Rs 20,000 crores for the upcoming installment.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana: Documents Required

To apply for the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana, eligible farmers are required to submit several key documents. These include an Aadhaar Card, proof of citizenship, documents substantiating ownership of agricultural land, and details of their bank account. These documents help verify eligibility and ensure that the financial assistance is directly transferred to the rightful beneficiaries without any delays.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Eligibility:

To avoid any problems with the next installment, farmers need to complete their eKYC verification. This can be done online or at Common Service Centers (CSCs). They should also update their details, such as linking their Aadhaar numbers with their bank accounts, to receive the payment directly.

Here's How To Check The Beneficiary List:

Step 1: Open the official PM-KISAN website on your browser.

Step 2: On the homepage, locate and click on the 'Farmers Corner' section.

Step 3: From the options available, click on 'Know Your Status.'

Step 4: Provide your registration number and the captcha code displayed on the screen.

Step 5: Click 'Get OTP,' enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, and view your payment details on the screen.
Just imagine this: deep beneath the icy, remote waters of the Arctic Ocean, a truly ancient Methuselah still glides fearlessly. This creatures has surprised a whole lot of scientists with them believing to have found the oldest living whale ever recorded, a bowhead estimated to be an astounding 211 years old. Think about that for a moment. This creature was born around 1814. Napoleon was just retreating from Russia, James Madison was in the White House, and the first photograph was still years away. While humanity was busy inventing steamboats and fighting wars, this whale began its long, cold journey through the Arctic. In its long lifespan, the bowhead whale has seen it all - metaphorically, right from the end of Napoleonic Wars, industrial revolution, American Civil War, World Wars, space races, digital revoultion and climate change to name a few.

And the story of its lifespan doesn't stop there. Researchers at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, peering into the whale's genetic code, now believe bowheads could potentially live for an incredible 268 years. Metaphorically speaking, this single animal has "witnessed" the entire sweep of modern human history  from the clatter of the Industrial Revolution and the tragedy of World Wars to our first steps on the moon and the birth of the internet. All while navigating its frozen, silent world.

A Living Relic in a Fast-Moving World

Bowhead whales are marvels of nature. Their massive skulls, strong enough to shatter thick sea ice, are just one of their extraordinary features. They also hold the title for the longest-living mammals on our planet. While many live well past a century, this particular individual truly amazed marine biologists. The first clues to its incredible age came from Alaskan Inuit whalers decades ago, but the real shocker arrived in 2007 when a fragment of an old harpoon was discovered lodged in its blubber.

This wasn't just any harpoon. It was a piece of 19th-century technology, a tangible link to a whaling attempt long past. This discovery was a key piece of the puzzle. Later, a delicate biochemical analysis of the whales eye lenses  a process surprisingly similar to counting tree rings  lent further support to its astonishing age.

Echoes in Indigenous Wisdom

For the Inuit communities of Alaska and Canada, the bowhead isn't merely a subject of scientific wonder; it's woven into the very fabric of their culture. Their oral histories, passed faithfully from one generation to the next, have long spoken of these whales living incredibly long lives. These ancient stories were, in fact, some of the earliest hints that bowheads might outlive previous scientific assumptions. It just took modern science a bit over a century to catch up and confirm what Indigenous knowledge keepers had understood for so long.

An Ancient Swimmer in a Modern, Changing Ocean

However, this creature is set to feel the heat of climate change soon. Climate change is hitting the Arctic hard and the ice, its lifelong companion, is thinning. The seas are warming. And the once-quiet waters are increasingly disturbed by shipping traffic, all disrupting the bowhead's ancestral home. Bowhead whales were hunted nearly to extinction in the 19th and early 20th centuries and are currently listed as a species of "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, the change in environment may prove to be vulnerable even a species with such a long lease on life, feel scientists.

"This predominantly Arctic species is associated with ice floes. Its movement patterns are therefore influenced by the melting and freezing of the ice. Bowhead whales are capable of breaking through sea ice at least seven inches thick with their large skulls and powerful bodies," writes the World Wild Life site.

The Silent Wisdom of the Deep

We'll likely never know the full story etched into this whale's long existence  the epic migrations undertaken, the ancient songs sung in the deep, the primal battles survived. But its very presence, its quiet persistence, speaks volumes about resilience. Its a humbling thought, that this creature has outlived empires, witnessed inventions that reshaped human civilization, and swam through eras that predate the very idea of modern science.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra: South Korean Samsung is likely to expand its foldable smartphone lineup this year with the highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra, joining the standard Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. However, the South Korea-based tech giant recently released a teaser that hints at an Ultra version for the foldable device, signalling a significant step forward in design, display size, along with some AI features.

The use of Ultra for the Galaxy Fold series will be an intriguing move if it comes through but it could be Samsungs way of saying get the S25 Ultra features in this form factor. Samsung is widely anticipated to unveil its next-generation foldable devices in July 2025, likely at its annual Galaxy Unpacked event. In addition to the foldables, the company may also launch new Galaxy Watch models and potentially debut its long-rumoured tri-fold device.

Samsung drops first Galaxy Z Fold 7 teaser, confirms size and feature improvement pic.twitter.com/xKEi2hGeBe  The Sam #OneUI8 (@Samoneui8) June 4, 2025

Galaxy Z Fold 7 Specifications (Expected)

The foldable device is expected to feature a 6.5-inch cover screen and a large 8.2-inch foldable main display, providing an improved experience for multitasking and immersive media consumption. According to the rumours, the device will boast an ultra-thin profilemeasuring just 4.54mm when unfolded and around 9mm when foldedmaking it sleeker than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 smartphone.

The battery capacity is likely to remain unchanged at 4,400mAh. Additionally, both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are anticipated to launch in three colour options and offer at least two storage configurations. As per the Geekbench listing, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 would run on Android 16 and include at least 12GB of RAM.

Samsung is expected to pack an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the new phone, much like the "for Galaxy" versions of Snapdragon chips in previous foldables and the Galaxy S25 series.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Price In India (Expected)

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in July, with the base variant featuring 12GB RAM and 256GB storage likely to be priced at around Rs. 1,64,999.
New Delhi: The three Indian nationals who went missing in Iran last month have been successfully rescued, the Iranian Embassy in India said, citing local media reports. The Embassy confirmed on the social media platform X that Tehran police had freed the missing individuals.

"Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police. Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran," the Iranian Embassy posted.

All three individuals, identified as Jaspal Singh, Hushanpreet Singh, and Amritpal Singh, hail from Punjab and had disappeared shortly after landing in Tehran on May 1.

According to the Iranian news agency Mehr, the men were on their way to Australia after being promised lucrative jobs by a local travel company. The trio was reportedly rescued following a police operation targeting the hostage-takers in Varamin, located in south Tehran, Tasnim news outlet reported. The Indian Embassy had issued a statement on May 28, following an approach by the family members of the missing men, who expressed serious concern over their relatives' sudden disappearance.

The statement read, "Family members of three Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after having travelled to Iran. The Embassy has strongly taken up this matter with the Iranian authorities and requested that the missing Indians be urgently traced and their safety should be ensured. We are also keeping the family members regularly updated on the efforts being made by the Embassy."

Reports also suggested that the families received ransom demands of Rs one crore from unknown individuals, with the threatening calls originating from Pakistani phone numbers.

The details raised a serious alarm, prompting swift diplomatic engagement from both sides.

The Iranian Embassy in India, responding to the developments, stated that the case was being closely followed by the Consular Affairs Department of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Embassy also issued a warning to Indian citizens, advising them "not to be deceived by the promises of unauthorised individuals or illegal Indian agencies offering travel to other countries."

India has previously issued travel advisories for its nationals travelling to Iran, urging them to exercise caution, remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and consulates, and avoid engagement with unverified travel agents or intermediaries.
A retired businessman-turned-secret agent, Artem Tymofieiev, has been identified as Ukraine's suspected mastermind of its brazen drone attack on Russia's strategic bomber fleetan operation now known as "Spider's Web." The June 1 attack, touted as one of the most consequential strikes since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, hit five airbases in Russia and destroyed or damaged at least 41 military aircraft, according to reports.

Operative Hidden In Plain Sight

Tymofieiev, 37, a Ukrainian national, was allegedly staying in Chelyabinsk, Russia, when he introduced himself as a logistics businessman. News18 sources reported that Tymofieiev utilised his haulage company to use drones with the disguise of mobile homes to smuggle them across Russian borders. The drones were eventually employed in the simultaneous, multi-base attack on Russian air assets.

Russian spymasters have now initiated a country-wide manhunt for the capture of Tymofieiev, whose photo and personal information is being distributed extensively. The wife of the alleged suspect, Ekaterina Timofeeva, is also believed to have been involved in the top-secret operation.

Operation 'Spider's Web': How The Strike Unfolded

The operation, as reported, took months to prepare and involved the use of 117 first-person-view (FPV) drones that cost around $400 each. The low-cost drones were hidden inside flatbed trucks, which were disguised to look like wooden cabin structures. Russian drivers who were unaware of their mission, working under the guise of legitimate cargo transportation, drove the trucks to locations around five key airbases:

 Belaya

 Dyagilevo

 Ivanovo Severny

 Olenya

 Ukrainka

Positioned, the drones were remotely launched in a coordinated attack across three time zones, representing a previously unseen degree of operational sophistication and stealth. Among planes destroyed were a number of Tu-95, Tu-22M, and A-50 early-warning aircraft, with estimated losses totalling $7 billion.

Intelligence Coup Or Espionage Thriller?

Tymofieiev's identity was said to remain unknown to neighbors and acquaintances, most of whom had referred to him as "quiet" and "pro-Ukrainian." If true, the mission would be one of the most advanced intelligence operations undertaken in contemporary warfare, reflecting profound penetration into Russian territory.

Strategic Impact

Defense strategists argued that Operation Spider's Web is a milestone in asymmetric warfare. The attack showed how inexpensive droneswhen directed by intelligence and strategic accuracycan wipe out high-value military targets, once believed to be safe deep within enemy territory.

The operation also revealed weaknesses in Russia's air defense network, sparking questions about internal security failures and further embarrassing the Kremlin on the international stage.

As the war rages on, Tymofieiev's taleif confirmedmay serve as a testament to Ukraine's growing unconventional warfare capabilities, remaking the 21st-century conflict rulebook.
Pakistan was embarrassed on the global stage when a veteran journalist gave a befitting reply to the Islamic State's former Foreign Minister, and Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. During a United Nations (UN) media interaction, the Pakistani leader had made allegations that the Pahalgam terror attack was being used to "demonise Muslims in India".

The journalist quickly rubbished those allegations and referred to the Operation Sindoor briefings that were conducted by Colonel Sophia Qureshi.

"You said that the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir is being used as a political tool to demonise Muslims in India," the journalist said.

But sir, I have watched briefings on both sides, and as far as I recall, there were Muslim Indian military officers who were conducting the briefings on the Indian side," he said.

In reply, Bilawal Bhutto said, "Well, as far as the operation is concerned, you are absolutely right."

Before the journalist could pose his next question, Bhutto interrupted him and continued his allegations against India, and tried to defend his 'demonisation of Muslims' remark.

The media briefing regarding the Indian Armed Forces' Operation Sindoor was conducted by Colonel Sophia, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Operation Sindoor

The Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) to avenge the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.

India had stated that the actions were focused and non-escalatory. In addition, it was clarified that on May 7, no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.

After the launch of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched a swarm of drone and missile attacks on the Indian territory. After which tensions escalated between the two nations; however, a ceasefire was announced on May 10 after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart.

After New Delhi announced the formation of the seven All-Party Delegations to key partner countries to express India's zero tolerance policy against terrorism, Islamabad made a similar Delegation.
New Delhi: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has intensified his criticism of President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, labeling a major spending bill a "disgusting abomination." Musk expressed his disappointment with the bill, citing concerns over budget deficits and government efficiency, and said, "Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore."

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" extends Trump's 2017 tax cuts, increases military and border security spending, and reduces Medicaid, food assistance programs, and other social support schemes. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the legislation would add approximately $3.8 trillion to the federal government's debt over the next decade.

Musk took to social media, saying, "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong." He also claimed the bill would "massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion" and suggested "Congress is making America bankrupt."

Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore.



This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.



Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt https://t.co/dHCj3pprJO  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

The White House has downplayed Musk's criticism, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, "The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn't change the president's opinion." Trump has praised the legislation as "an unbelievable bill" that "cuts your deficits," despite Musk's concerns.

Musk's criticism comes after he stepped back from his role overseeing government efficiency reforms, citing the bill's contradiction to his cost-cutting efforts. Some Republican lawmakers share Musk's concerns, including Senators Ron Johnson and Rick Scott, who have expressed skepticism over the bill's impact on the national debt.
New Delhi: China has publicly accused the United States of sabotaging a newly inked trade agreement, calling Washingtons recent export restrictions a blatant betrayal. Just weeks after both superpowers agreed to a fragile tariff ceasefire in Switzerland, the brewing fallout is now spiraling into a diplomatic standoff with serious global consequences.

At the heart of the storm are AI, advanced chips and a sudden clampdown on Chinese students in the United States.

Chinas Ministry of Commerce blasted the United States for undermining the agreement signed in Switzerland last month. It claimed that America had not only violated terms by restricting AI chip exports and design software but also gone as far as revoking student visas without warning.

This is not diplomacy, it is economic warfare. If the United States continues down this path, China will not sit idle. We will defend our interests with forceful and resolute measures, said a ministry spokesperson said through state media.

Whats Really Going On?

While the agreement initially paused tariff hikes for 90 days to make room for negotiations, Washington has moved swiftly to restrict Chinas access to technologies vital for AI advancement, a decision seen as strategic and deeply provocative.

Analysts believe these moves are intended to choke Chinas ambitions in semiconductors and artificial intelligence and industries Beijing views as essential to its future dominance.

The White House, in response, doubled down. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the restrictions and said President Trump is onshoring vital supply chains and pushing back against Chinas manipulative trade practices.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent added fuel to the fire on CBS Face the Nation, accusing Beijing of intentionally stalling exports of critical minerals needed for U.S. industries like defense and electronics.

Maybe it is sabotage. Maybe it is incompetence. Either way, the President will deal with it directly with Xi, Bessent said.

The collapse of this deal could send shockwaves through global markets, from rare earth prices to auto manufacturing delays. It could even jeopardise thousands of Chinese students currently studying in the United States.

Some insiders worry this clash could mark the beginning of an unofficial economic Cold War, with AI, chips and even academic visas becoming weapons in a tit-for-tat battle for dominance.
New Delhi: Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari acknowledged that Pakistan's Kashmir campaign hasn't gained traction at the United Nations or globally. At a news conference, Bilawal stated that "hurdles" persist in advancing the Kashmir cause within the UN and elsewhere.

During meetings with UN officials and diplomats, Bilawal observed receptiveness on issues such as terrorism and water, but this openness didn't extend to the Kashmir issue. This limited support underscores the challenges Pakistan faces in garnering international backing for its Kashmir campaign.

Bilawal dismissed a Palestinian journalist's attempt to draw parallels between Kashmir and Gaza, emphasizing that the situations are distinct. He condemned the situation in Gaza, describing it as "uniquely outrageous, inhumane, and condemnable". Bilawal also alleged that India draws inspiration from Israel, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi trying to emulate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach.

"As far as the hurdles we face within the UN and in general, as far as the Kashmir cause is concerned, that still exists," Bilawal, who is leading a delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians, said at a news conference here on Tuesday.

He asserted that in his meetings with UN officials and diplomats, he found "receptiveness" on issues like terrorism and water, but it did not extend to Kashmir.

Bilawal, who is the Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, dismissed an attempt by a Palestinian journalist to equate Kashmir and Gaza, a familiar ploy that some Pakistanis have also used.

"Let me emphasise from the outset, there is, there's no meaningful comparison that I can make between the plight of the Palestinians and the plight of Pakistan, the plight of Kashmir," he said.

"What we're seeing in Gaza, what we're seeing in Palestine, is uniquely outrageous, inhumane and condemnable in all shapes, forms and terms," he added.

But he went on to allege that India was drawing its inspiration from Israel and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to model himself on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but was nowhere near him.

Islamabad modeled Bilawal's delegation after the all-party delegations India has been sending around the world to explain its policy of zero-tolerance for terrorism and the Operation Sindoor that was launched against terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir after the massacre of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

After arriving in New York on Monday, the Pakistani delegation met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, General Assembly President Philemon Yang, Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and permanent representatives of the US, China, Russia, France to the UN, and the non-permanent members of the Council.

They are due to be in Washington on Wednesday, when the Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor will also be there.

(With Inputs from IANS)
Brussels/New Delhi: Indias message to the world hits like a thunderclap. No more silence. No more double standards. Terrorism against Indians cannot be ignored or treated differently. Justice must be equal. The time for excuses is over.

Speaking from Brussels as part of a high-level all-party delegation, former Union Minister MJ Akbar minced no words in exposing the hypocrisy of global powers. Are there two laws in this world? One for America and the West, and another for India? he asked and struck at the heart of global inaction and selective empathy when it comes to terrorism against Indians.

He reminded the world how the United States flew 12,000 kilometres to seek justice after 9/11 and held Pakistan accountable. But when India targets terror camps just 500 kilometres away, it is lectured on restraint. Are the tears of an Indian widow less painful than those of an American widow? Is an Indian life less precious? he thundered.

Indias message was unrelenting. It is not seeking revenge, but justice. We are here as friends, not in hostility. We share Europes values  democracy, freedom and nationhood. But many still sit on the fence. We now ask the hard questions and expect answers, said Akbar.

Led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and including representatives from across the political spectrum, the Indian delegation has been travelling through the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Belgium to expose Pakistans terror record and highlight Indias democratic resilience.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took the gloves off in Brussels and launched a fierce attack on Pakistan's military-political nexus. We left them behind in 1947, but they will not stop chasing us, she said, alluding to Pakistans desperate diplomatic counter-efforts.

Referring to Pakistans former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhuttos jibe on Indias Operation Sindoor, she retorted, Cowardice is jailing elected leaders, toppling governments, assassinating prime ministers but not defending your people at night.

Chaturvedi also exposed Pakistans decades of military meddling, radicalisation and erosion of Jinnahs vision. This is senseless radicalisation. Pakistans generals have hijacked democracy and betrayed their people, she declared.

Adding to the chorus, BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana painted a powerful picture of a transformed Jammu & Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation. Kashmir is no longer a conflict zone, it is thriving. Our women have property rights. Voter turnout is rising. Our saffron, walnuts and Bhaderwah rajma are globally recognised. Even Pakistans generals are rattled, he said.

Khatana warned, however, that terror threats remain. Citing the recent Pahalgam attack, he said: We are from the land of Gandhi. We believe in peace, but peace cannot mean submission to terror. Innocents are being killed for their faith and that is unacceptable in any civilisation.

The delegation, including BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Congress MP Amar Singh and former ambassador Pankaj Saran, is part of Indias assertive global campaign to call out cross-border terrorism and demand justice for victims.
The government has revised the general integrated budget revenue for this year to MOP116.5 billion, with total expenditure set at MOP116.2 billion, lowering the estimated gross gambling revenue (GGR) for the year to MOP228 billion.

The Executive Council has finalized discussions on the draft law to amend the 2025 fiscal year budget, proposing to lower the estimated gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the year from MOP240 billion to MOP228 billion, which will serve as the primary basis for revised fiscal revenue, with corresponding adjustments to relevant budget revenue items.

The new draft bill will be sent to the plenary meeting at the Legislative Assembly for its final reading and passage by legislators.

Silvestre Ho, deputy director of the Financial Services Bureau (DSF), pointed out that the adjustment was made due to uncertainty in the global economy and changes in the citys gaming industry.

She referenced data from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), indicating that GGR from January to April averaged MOP11 billion, with a significant increase to MOP21.19 billion in May.

However, when we consider the overall budget, it is effectively an annual budget. Analyzing the GGR from January to April, this years actual revenue has decreased compared to last year and has not reached the originally estimated MOP20 billion [per month]. While we anticipate that some months in the second half of the year may exceed expectations, the government must ensure sufficient revenue to cover expenditures and maintain the balance of public finances for the entire year, Ho said.

She added, Based on an average of MOP19 billion, totaling MOP228 billion for the year, we can achieve a balanced budget for the entire Special Administrative Region.

The DSF deputy director further noted that, in the overall context and based on the revenue situation in the first half of the year, the relevant GGR budget remains a very high budget.

After the revision, the general integrated budgeted revenue for this year has decreased from about MOP121 billion to MOP116.5 billion, while the expenditure budget has increased from MOP113.3 billion to MOP116.2 billion, representing an increase of about MOP2.8 billion. This adjustment includes funding for the construction of the University of Macaus new campus, as well as increases in departmental operations and subsidies.

In line with the governments policies to promote scientific and technological development, the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) has had its budget increased by about MOP340 million to support scientific research projects, research platforms, and laboratories.

Regarding the budget for the governments Investment and Development Expenditure Plan (PIDDA), after adjusting for reductions and additions to various items, the budget has experienced a net reduction of MOP190 million, bringing the final total to about MOP19.5 billion.

Meanwhile, the government has been preparing its fiscal budget for next year. Ho emphasized during a press conference that the government will only spend money when necessary, stating that all public entities must prepare their budgets based on the principle of recovering costs, and that all budgets for new policies or projects must be well-founded and thoroughly justified.
A glimpse into a rare picture recently came to light with a young woman in a black abaya precariously balancing on a second-story window ledge in northwest Saudi Arabia. In the other photo, she is being rescued by a crane and a team of men. As per a detailed report by The Guardian, the woman was reportedly being detained at one of Saudi Arabia's secretive "care homes"  centers in which girls and young women are held for behaviours considered disobedient or dishonourable by their families, such as running away from abusive homes, being in relationships, or remaining absent without leave.

Dubbed Dar al-Reaya, the centers are formally characterised by Saudi officials as "rehabilitation" and "psychological support" shelters. But testimony collected by The Guardian over the past six months depicted a very different story: one of institutionalised abuse, psychological torture, and punishment for those women who resist patriarchal expectations.

Life Inside Dar al-Reaya

Women who used to be detained in these facilities report conditions being "hellish", including weekly beatings, forced religious indoctrination, no communication with the outside world, and extended detention unless released by a male guardian. Virginity tests, strip searches, and sedation on arrival have been noted in some accounts.

One ex-detainee described to The Guardian: "Every girl who grows up in Saudi knows about Dar al-Reaya and how horrible it is. It's like hell. I attempted to kill myself when I learned that I was going to be sent to one."

Women's rights campaigner Maryam Aldossari, who is based in London, said that most of the girls are detained until they fully surrender to family and religious norms. "A girl or young woman will remain there for however long it takes her to comply with the rules," she said.

A System Of Control, Not Protection

Set up in the 1960s, these centres were originally designed to be safe havens for women who were in legal or social trouble. Yet as The Guardian reported, they have become state-sponsored instruments of control, deployed to discipline dissent, impose gender conformity, and safeguard family honor at the expense of women's security.

Sarah Al-Yahia, who started a campaign to shut down Dar al-Reaya, explained in an interview with The Guardian that women are punished for such minor offenses as praying incorrectly or appearing alone with another woman. Prisoners are subjected to dehumanisation, being called by numbers instead of their names. "It is a prison, not a care home," she explained. "They lash you for speaking, for appearing alone, for even praying incorrectly."

Al-Yahia also recounted her own experience: her father threatened to put her in one of these homes if she did not accept his sexual abuse. "If you are raped or become pregnant by your father or brother, you are the one sent to Dar al-Reaya  for the protection of the family's honour," she explained.

Firsthand Accounts Of Abuse and Isolation

Amina (name changed), age 25, spoke of her ordeal after taking shelter in a care home in Buraydah after being subjected to domestic violence. She called the shelter "crumbling" and its staff uncaring. Rather than find protection, she had to sign an agreement to stay under the strict supervision of her father. "They told me to be grateful my life was not worse," she said.

Layla (pseudonym) reported that she was taken to Dar al-Reaya after reporting sexual abuse at home by her father and brothers. She stayed incarcerated until the same individuals gave her permission to be released. Shams, another girl, learned to dread the institution when one of the detainee women came to her school and shared what happened when being pregnant out of wedlock resulted in being put away for life.

One Saudi women's rights activist whispered to The Guardian confidentially: "The only way out is through a male guardian, marriage, or jumping off the building."

No Way Out Without Male Approval

In Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system, women's mobility and legal autonomy remain restricted. Activists told The Guardian that many girls choose between life in an abusive home or imprisonment in a care facility. Even helping a woman escape such conditions is criminalised under "absenteeism" laws.

Fawzia al-Otaibi, one of the Saudi activists who fled the kingdom in 2022, stated: "No one will tweet or talk about these locations. They shame the victims. Even when you're released, you have the stigma."

Official Response And International Criticism

Reacting to The Guardian's revelations, a Saudi government official said the care homes are "not detention centres" and that reports of abuse are investigated in depth. They claimed that women are "free to leave at any time," go to work or school, and that the state runs confidential hotlines for abused victims of domestic violence.

But human rights organisation ALQST challenges these assertions. Its campaigns officer, Nadyeen Abdulaziz, said in an interview with The Guardian that Dar al-Reaya centers "bear stark contrast to the Saudi authorities' story of women's empowerment."

"If they are committed to promoting women's rights," Abdulaziz continued, "they should eliminate these discriminatory tactics and permit the opening of true shelters that safeguard, not penalize, victims of abuse."

Even as Saudi Arabia tried to remake itself in the world  hosting international sporting events and touting social changes  activists contend that the ongoing presence of Dar al-Reaya signals an alarming truth: that authority over women continues to be embedded in state policy.

While the world continues to be fascinated with Saudi Arabia's soft-power diplomacy, the destiny of women imprisoned within the secretive facilities such as Dar al-Reaya remains a hidden crisis  only brought to light in the occasional photograph, hushed testimony, and words of those who dare to flee.
New Delhi: A violent incident rocked the Lawrence Heights neighborhood in Toronto on Tuesday night, leaving one person dead and five others injured. According to local media reports citing officials, the shooting occurred near Flemington and Zachary Roads, close to Ranee Avenue and Allen Road, shortly after 8:30 pm.

First responders rushed to the scene, where one person was pronounced dead. The five others were swiftly rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Authorities have yet to release information about potential suspects.

As part of the ongoing investigation, a command post has been set up near Ranee Avenue and Flemington Road. The neighborhood, known for its mix of low-to-mid-rise public housing and single-family dwellings, is still reeling from the tragic event.

(This is a developing story)
Geneva/New Delhi: The worlds top crisis minds gathered in Geneva on June 4. India made noise. Loud and clear  we are not only part of the conversation, we are leading it. Dr. P.K. Mishra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on May 3 represented India at the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva. It grabbed global attention for Indias escalating leadership role in tackling one of the gravest threats of the 21st century  disaster vulnerability in a climate-rattled world.

Co-hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Government of Switzerland, the event witnessed Dr Mishra reiterating with emphasis Indias ironclad commitment to the Sendai Framework  a global strategy to drastically reduce disaster risks and protect lives, economies and ecosystems.

India is not only preparing for disasters, we are also redefining how nations build resilience, he conveyed at the opening ceremony, igniting applause from a global audience of policymakers, scientists and humanitarian leaders.

The India at UN Mission in Geneva echoed the sentiment with a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Principal Secretary to PM Dr. P.K. Mishra participates in the opening ceremony of the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, reinforcing India's commitment to global disaster resilience efforts.

Principal Secretary to PM Dr PK Mishra delivered India's statement at the GPDRR 2025 in Geneva



He said, "...India believes that a robust and responsive DRR financing architecture is a cornerstone of resilience...India's experience underlines the importance of predetermined pic.twitter.com/ZmDbInFpZR  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

Whats at Stake at GP2025

Taking place from June 26, 2025, GP2025 is no ordinary gathering. It is the worlds top forum to assess how far countries have come and how much further they must go in meeting the targets of the Sendai Framework adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

This years summit takes on even greater urgency, aiming to translate the 2023 UN Political Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction into real-world action. As natural disasters become fiercer and more frequent, GP2025 is laser-focused on one question  are countries truly ready?

Indias presence at the platform is not symbolic, it is strategic. With recent strides in building earthquake-resilient infrastructure, cyclone warning systems and disaster response forces, India is positioning itself as both a global contributor and knowledge exporter in disaster risk reduction.

From floods in the northeast to heatwaves in the heartland, India is on the frontlines of climate-driven catastrophes. But instead of retreating, it is using that hard-earned experience to shape international frameworks and push for locally driven and globally scalable solutions.

Why the World is Watching India

With India slated to host major regional disaster planning meets in 2026 and playing a pivotal role in South-South cooperation, experts say the nations disaster management model could emerge as a template for the Global South.

Indias participation is not symbolic, it reflects a shift. The world is learning from India, said a senior UNDRR official on the sidelines of the Geneva forum.

In Geneva this week, India showed the world how to stand tall when the ground shakes.
New Delhi: Pakistans Nur Khan Airbase grabbed headlines during Operation Sindhur, and now a video from Pakistan is going viral on social media making shocking claims. A Pakistani journalist alleges that the United States once had control over the airbase, restricting even Pakistani military personnel from accessing certain areas. The video lacks specific dates or official clarifications, and the journalists identity remains unclear. However, the intrigue around this base deepens as we explore how it got its name and its surprising connections with Dehradun and Israel.

In the viral clip, the journalist claims that US aircraft regularly landed at Nur Khan Airbase to unload cargo. When a Pakistani soldier attempted to inquire about these activities, U.S. troops reportedly pointed guns at him, barring Pakistani forces from entering certain zones. According to the journalist, even Pakistans own military was denied full access to this critical installation.

Located near Rawalpindi in Punjab, the airbase is important for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) installation. Formerly known as Chaklala Airbase, it was previously called RAF Chaklala during British rule. The base has historically been used by both Pakistan and American forces during times of strategic cooperation.

The old Benazir Bhutto International Airport now forms part of this airbase. It also houses PAF College Chaklala, an elite training academy for aviation cadets.

The airbase falls under the Federal Air Command and serves as the headquarters of Pakistans Air Mobility Command. It plays a crucial role in logistics, VIP transport and strategic operations. The base is home to aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) planes  which are vital for gathering intelligence, monitoring and reconnaissance missions.

During the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Indian air strikes reportedly damaged this base  highlighting its military significance.

As claims of American presence on Pakistani soil resurface, the Nur Khan Airbase remains shrouded in mystery  with ties extending beyond borders and linking Dehradun and Israel in a complex web of defense and intelligence. The full story behind these revelations is still unfolding.
The government is drafting amendments to the advertising bill, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) said in a reply to lawmaker Ho Ion Sangs enquiry. The bureau has consulted relevant departments and will consider practices from neighboring regions. The revisions aim to improve and clarify advertising regulations while aligning with modern economic activities and emerging technologies. The bureau affirmed the bill is part of the 2025 legislative agenda and drafting will proceed orderly.

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The European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Associations (ECTAA) president, Frank Oostdam, said the European umbrella organization for travel agents and tour operators is optimistic about the potential of China for European tourists.

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort, where ECTAA is hosting its annual summit, Oostdam remarked that visa-free policies extended to European countries over the last few years have contributed to increased interest from European travelers in visiting China. This trend can also benefit Macau.

He said those policies are set to expire at the end of this year, and the European travel organization hopes they can be extended indefinitely.

If you talk about unlocking the potential of tourism from Europe to China, then this visa exemption we have, which officially will end at the end of this year, [we hope it] can be extended for many more years. Because if you increase accessibility, then Im sure people from Europe will feel much more comfortable visiting Macau and the region, he said.

Asked about potential reciprocity from European countries to allow Chinese travelers easier access to Europe, Oostdam said this is one of ECTAAs goals: to promote greater borderless travel and reduce burdens on people. Nonetheless, he is not optimistic that the current scenario will change quickly.

ECTAA is very much in favor of freedom of movement. We believe that when people have contact, thats another value of tourism, and ultimately, we will have a better world. We continue to knock on European doors, specifically the European Commission, to lower the threshold for people outside Europe and to increase the number of people who can travel freely, he said.

Looking at the political climate in Europe, and also in my own country (the Netherlands), its not that enthusiastic. Its a little more restrictive. So the climate is not that positive [at the moment]. However, if you look at ECTAAs ambition and our motivation, we aim to have as many people as possible traveling throughout the world without borders. But Im not entirely confident we will reach that point easily or quickly, he added.

Beyond accessibility, connectivity was another key issue addressed by the travel industry, with Oostdam noting that all advancements in this field contribute to building greater trust among travelers visiting new countries and regions.

We talked about payment and payment procedures, which, for Europeans, have been a bit of a hassle. But we are convinced theres a lot of innovation. Its becoming more straightforward for Europeans to pay [for goods and services], he said.

Oostdam noted that while arriving in Guangzhou, he experienced some difficulties, adding that its still not easy to link European payment systems with Asian and Chinese ones, but its progressing.

He emphasized that payment facilitation and visa measures remain the two most essential issues to continue addressing.

Direct links through the mainland deserve consideration

Still on connectivity, ECTAAs vice president, Heli Maki-Franti, stressed the importance of maintaining regular daily flights between China and Europe, a goal that has faced challenges since the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly due to the closure of Russian airspace to European carriers.

Theres not much airlines can do. Of course, many continue flying. For example, Finnish carrier Finnair still flies to Shanghai and Hong Kong, but they used to have 10 weekly flights to different Chinese destinations before COVID and have not returned to that level. I also know some other European airlines have dramatically reduced flights because [without Russian airspace] flight times are longer and more expensive  and customers arent willing to pay for that, she said.

She added that Chinese airlines are currently unaffected by this restriction and are actively operating in the European market, but people in Europe do not know them that well yet.

As Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), also pointed out, Maki-Franti believes this is an opportunity for Chinese airlines to grow.

Speaking at the same press conference, Senna Fernandes said that while Macau continues to rely heavily on Hong Kongs international airport for medium- and long-haul flights, mainland airports like Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai offer viable alternatives.

She noted that visa-free entry policies for some European countries have made these routes increasingly practical.

Normally, we use Hong Kong Airport. We have excellent connectivity now thanks to the [Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau] Bridge. People can land in Hong Kong and take a bus directly into Macau. But I think we havent fully explored connectivity through mainland China. Direct flights from Europe to Beijing or Shanghai can also bring people to Macau. Guangzhou is another significant hub. We need to examine all possible routes, the director said.

Obviously, it would be my dream to have a direct flight from Europe one day. But if not, we still have other options. In the future, well need to broaden our thinking about where and how we connect, she added.

European visitor arrivals up 16% in 2025

At the 2025 ECTAA Summit press conference, MGTO director Senna Fernandes said visitor arrivals from Europe increased by 16% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025.

Until April, over 77,000 Europeans have come to Macau, which is a 16% year-on-year increase. Currently, the recovery level of European tourism to Macau stands at approximately 77% of pre-Covid levels. I trust we can hopefully go beyond 2019 in the future, she said.

She added that further engagement between the tourism trade and European travel representatives at the summit and side events could boost these numbers further.
The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) recorded an average daily ridership of 24,700 in May, down by 1,200 compared to the previous month, the LRT company announced. From January to May this year, daily ridership remained above 24,000, with February seeing the highest average at 27,100 passengers. Last year, the LRT reported total revenue of MOP770 million in 2024, with government funding accounting for 88% of that amount, according to the operators annual report released recently.

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A month-long cross-border operation led by law enforcement in seven Asian jurisdictions has resulted in the arrest of 1,858 people and the dismantling of multiple transnational scam networks, the Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday.

The operation, carried out from April 28 to May 28, included agencies from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. Authorities intercepted an estimated HKD150 million (USD20 million) in fraudulent funds and froze nearly 33,000 bank accounts.

In Macau, the police targeted scams involving impersonation of Alipay customer service representatives. Three local suspects, one man and two women, were arrested in connection with this emerging scheme. According to Cheong Un Hong, head of the PJs Anti-Fraud Coordination Center, the scam surfaced in April and involved over 400,000 fraudulent phone calls, all made within Macau.

A total of 84 people have been defrauded, losing around MOP4 million.

Police raided two locations, including a hotel room, and seized 16 sets of GOIP (Global System for Mobile Communications over IP) equipment used to mask the origin of scam calls.

In total, Macau authorities investigated 78 cases involving approximately MOP12 million. 16 people were questioned, nine were arrested, eight bank accounts were frozen, and MOP67,000 in suspected criminal proceeds was confiscated.

In Hong Kong, Commercial Crime Bureau Chief Superintendent Wong Chun-yue confirmed the operation successfully shut down multiple scam centers and prevented substantial financial losses. The scams involved online shopping, investment fraud, employment scams, and phone impersonation schemes.

Singapore police reported that a finance director was duped into wiring USD499,000 to Hong Kong through a deepfake video call in which scammers impersonated a multinational CEO. Authorities were able to recover the money through international cooperation.

Officials noted that victims are not limited to those defrauded but often include scam workers themselves, who may be recruited under false pretenses and subjected to forced labor in harsh conditions.

A recent United Nations report highlighted the growing global reach of such criminal syndicates, particularly in Southeast Asian regions like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

Authorities in all participating regions say they will continue strengthening cross-border collaboration to fight increasingly sophisticated fraud operations.
How Greed Threatens Middle East Christians

Last month, St. Catherine's Monastery, located in the desert of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, was seized by the government. Among the earliest remarks by Pope Leo XIV were expressions and concern for the Christians of the East. Less than a week after his election as Supreme Pontiff, he spoke at the Jubilee of the Oriental Churches of the "abyss of violence" that threatens Christian existence in those ancient regions of the faith, "from the Holy Land to Ukraine, from Lebanon to Syria, from the Middle East to Tigray and the Caucasus."

Certainly, terrorism, religious hatred and violence are bitter realities for Eastern Christians, but other pressing threats may be more insidious.

The Pope spoke of the need for Middle East Christians to "persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them." This is not a hypothetical or future risk but a daily reality, for example, for Gaza's beleaguered Catholics and Orthodox Christians -- alive, battered and wounded -- to try to remain in an urban landscape where most of what they see seems to be reduced to rubble.

Despite the rhetoric in the Gaza war, it is unlikely that Christians were ever targeted directly, and yet, like Muslims and Jews, they have borne a heavy price.

Persecution and martyrdom get the headlines, but while they are real, a more omnipresent, far more common threat appears, associated not so much with religious hatred as with greed -- and with the power politics of the rich and numerous and against the dwindling and powerless.

From Egypt to Iraq, Christian property is under assault. It's not personal; it's just business.

On May 29, Greek newspapers blared that the Egyptian government had seized St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Monastery on Mount Sinai and declared it state property. While online commentators were quick to portray it as some sort of Muslim, anti-Christian action shutting the monastery, the reality was much more mundane. This was more about real estate than persecution, eminent domain rather than religious hatred, involving a 10-year legal case by local officials.

Egyptian authorities, eager for income, see St. Catherine's as a potential money maker, promoting religious and cultural tourism, which would complement Sinai's splendid beaches. The danger to the monks seems to be more that they will be "Disney-fied" and marketed rather than expelled. The monastery, founded by Emperor Justinian the Great and once the site of the famed Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest, most complete copies of the Bible, is to be part of a larger tourist attraction. The sacred mountain seems to be more at risk from developers rather than jihadists.

In the Old City of Jerusalem, the historic Armenian Quarter is threatened less by religious hatred than by a shady deal with what Armenians consider unscrupulous real estate developers, who claim to have a valid 98-year lease on 25% of the Armenian Quarter. As in the case of Sinai, the ultimate goal seems to be profit and greed rather than hatred. But Christians rightly feel hemmed in by forces more powerful than them seeking to exploit what little remains in their hands.

Christian populations are dwindling throughout the region, but one thing that they still have is land, often empty land, which, coupled with zero to no political clout, makes for an enticing target. Neither Egypt nor Israel are particularly anti-Christian states, but they have more than their share of cutthroat businessmen.

Much Christian real estate in the Middle East is waqf land, religious endowments generally protected from seizure. In Islamic law, which is where waqf comes from, this land cannot be sold or transferred. It is for the use of the religious community.

Such land used for commercial or rental purposes should generate income for the local church or mosque. But, of course, holding on to the land is only as good as the will of the lawyers, judges and the state to protect private property owned by religious minorities. In post-Assad Syria, at least some of the tensions in early 2025 between Christians and Muslims has been over property rights.

Not all of the Christian real-estate land-grab news has been bad over the past years. In Turkey's historic Tur Abdin region, after many years of turmoil, litigation, village rivalries and high-level international attention, the fourth-century Syrian Orthodox Mor Gabriel Monastery recovered its land in a 2014 decision hailed as "the largest restitution of church property ever seen in Turkey." The ruling was part of Turkey's democratization process at the time overseen by the prime minister, now president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While Turkey was a rare positive light, the land grab against Christian property in Iraq continues to be a concern. Christians being displaced or fleeing the country have found their land being taken by political parties, militias and connected individuals. Records are falsified and deeds doctored, and even waqf land has not been immune. It isn't outright persecution per se but merely the strong preying on the weak.

A Justice Ministry official told the Al-Arabi al-Jadeed newspaper in February 2025 that "the file is still complicated, and the ministry is making every effort to return Christian property and provide protection for it through strict measures."

Impoverished Middle East Christians, disinherited ones, Christians tied up in years of agonizing litigation against the powerful are, of course, far less like to stay in their ancient homelands, less likely to put down roots when the very land is taken away from them.

While we focus on the very real, often violent, persecution of Christians in the East, let us not forget the all-too-silent, gradual usurpation of their rights as full citizens, rights to be secure in their persons, their faith and their property.
Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau and Amagao Gallery have launched the Portuguese Art  Creativity Dialogues exhibition, featuring more than 50 contemporary works by 24 Portuguese artists.

Officially opened late last week to mark the Month of Portugal this June, the exhibition explores Portuguese identity and global cultural connections.

Rutger Verschuren, area vice president for Macau and Hengqin at Artyzen Hospitality Group and general manager of Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, remarked, As a hotel shaped by East-meets-West heritage, theres a deep connection between our own story and the rich cultural layers found in Portuguese art. This showcase brings this to life  not only for our guests but also for the wider Macau community.

Complementing the exhibit, the hotel is offering a Portuguese Set Dinner Menu at Cafe Bela Vista through June 30.

Additionally, The Cake Shop has introduced a dessert inspired by artist Joao Paulos mythical-themed work.

All artworks are available for purchase.
Robert Goldstein, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands (LVS), expressed disappointment over the current performance of Sands China and the Macau gaming market during the 41st annual Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference held in New York last week, according to media reports.

Despite a robust post-pandemic recovery, the market in Macau has shown signs of plateauing, according to Goldstein. This is reflected in weakened tourism consumption and increased competition, both domestically and regionally.

According to multiple media reports, Goldstein expressed a desire to improve the performance of his companys Macau subsidiary, Sands China.

He attributed some of Sands Chinas underperformance to ongoing renovation projects at The Londoner Macao, which have temporarily limited hotel capacity.

However, he admitted that the companys competitive approach needs to be more aggressive to address challenges posed by the rise of online gambling in Asia, a market increasingly driven by direct incentives and discounts to customers.

In the first quarter of 2025, Sands Chinas net profits dropped 32% year over year to USD202 million (MOP1.6 billion), compared to $297 million (MOP2.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2024. EBITDA also declined 12.3% to $535 million (MOP4.3 billion) and net revenue fell 5.7% to $1.7 billion (approximately MOP13.6 billion).

We have not been rewarded with the returns we would have liked to see, Goldstein said, emphasizing that Sands is the largest investor in Macau but has yet to realize the expected financial gains.

Despite this, the LVS CEO expressed optimism about Macaus long-term prospects, forecasting that gaming revenue could eventually reach between $32 billion and $34 billion (approximately MOP256 billion to MOP272 billion) annually. However, he cautioned that this growth will not occur immediately, citing factors such as subdued consumer sentiment and the end of the junket segment, which previously played a significant role in Macaus gaming landscape.

Goldstein also highlighted a decoupling between visitation numbers and spending per visitor, noting that while tourist arrivals have recovered, their spending has not kept pace. Spend is different than it used to be, he said. Visitation used to be equivalent to the spend, but theyve decoupled now, where visitation can be pretty good but the spend isnt.

The CEO further commented on the broader geopolitical environment, expressing concern over the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

The world is in an awkward place right now and there is confusion about the bilateral relationship between China and the U.S., theres confusion about the tariffs, theres confusion about Chinas trajectory. Its not an easy place to navigate, Goldstein said.
Sands China Ltd., in collaboration with the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), recently held the first Macao Hengqin Technological Innovation Industry-Academia-Research Reverse Business Matching event at The Londoner Macao.

Unlike traditional business matching, the event invited academic and research institutions from Macau and Hengqin to propose tailored solutions based on Sands Chinas current operational needs.

The goal is to promote smart tourism innovation and foster collaboration between industry, academia, and research sectors.

Around 140 participants joined the initiative, which includes six months of follow-up and regular progress reviews. According to the gaming operator, the event supports the SAR governments 1+4 diversification strategy and aims to transform research into practical applications.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip and Sands China CEO Grant Chum both highlighted the role of technology in driving high-quality development and expressed hope for wider industry participation.
Police have received three reports of phone scams involving suspects posing as mainland law enforcement. Two local youths and one mainland woman lost a total of MOP220,000. One youth was tricked into providing bank details on a fake website, resulting in a loss of HKD177,000. Another local victim lost HKD23,000 in a similar scam. Meanwhile, a tourist from mainland China lost RMB20,000 after being falsely accused of money laundering over the phone.

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A surprise Ukrainian drone attack that targeted several Russian air bases hosting nuclear-capable strategic bombers was unprecedented in its scope and sophistication and for the first time reached as far as Siberia in a heavy blow to the Russian military.

Ukraine said over 40 bombers, or about a third of Russias strategic bomber fleet, were damaged or destroyed Sunday, although Moscow said only several planes were struck. The conflicting claims couldnt be independently verified and video of the assault posted on social media showed only a couple of bombers hit.

But the bold attack demonstrated Ukraines capability to hit high-value targets anywhere in Russia, dealing a humiliating blow to the Kremlin and inflicting significant losses to Moscows war machine.

While some Russian military bloggers compared it to another infamous Sunday surprise attack  that of Japans strike on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor in 1941  others rejected the analogy, arguing the actual damage was far less significant than Ukraine claimed.

Russias bomber assets

For decades, long-range bombers have been part of the Soviet and Russian nuclear triad that also includes land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and atomic-powered submarines carrying ICBMs. The strategic bombers have flown regular patrols around the globe showcasing Moscows nuclear might.

During the 3-year-old war in Ukraine, Russia has used the heavy planes to launch waves of cruise missile strikes across the country.

The Tupolev Tu-95, which was code named Bear by NATO, is a four-engine turboprop plane designed in the 1950s to rival the U.S. B-52 bomber. The aircraft has an intercontinental range and carries eight long-range cruise missiles that can be equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads.

Before Sunday, Russia was estimated to have a fleet of about 60 such aircraft.

The Tupolev Tu-22M is a twin-engine supersonic bomber designed in the 1970s that was code named Backfire by NATO. It has a shorter range compared with the Tu-95, but during U.S.-Soviet arms control talks in the 1970s, Washington insisted on counting them as part of the Soviet strategic nuclear arsenal because of their capability to reach the U.S. if refueled in flight.

The latest version of the plane, the Tu-22M3, carries Kh-22 cruise missiles that fly at more than three times the speed of sound. It dates to the 1970s, when it was designed by the Soviet Union to strike U.S. aircraft carriers. It packs a big punch, thanks to its supersonic speed and ability to carry 630 kilograms (nearly 1,400 pounds) of explosives, but its outdated guidance system could make it highly inaccurate against ground targets, raising the possibility of collateral damage.

Some Tu-22Ms were lost in previous Ukrainian attacks, and Russia was estimated to have between 50 and 60 Tu-22M3s in service before Sundays drone strike.

The production of the Tu-95 and the Tu-22M ended after the 1991 collapse of the USSR, meaning that any lost cant be replaced.

Russia also has another type of strategic nuclear-capable bomber, the supersonic Tu-160. Fewer than 20 of them are in service, and Russia has just begun production of its modernized version equipped with new engines and avionics.

Russia lost a significant part of its heavy bomber fleet in the attack with no immediate ability to replace it, said Douglas Barrie of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, noting that Moscows announced plan to develop the next generation strategic bomber is still in its early phase.

Ironically this might give impetus to that program, because if if you want to keep your bomber fleet up to size, then youre going to have to do something at some point, he said.

The A-50, which Ukrainian officials also said was hit in the strikes, is an early warning and control aircraft similar to the U.S. AWACS planes used to coordinate aerial attacks. Only a few such planes are in service with the Russian military, and any loss badly dents Russias military capability.

Relocating bombers and impromptu protection

Repeated Ukrainian strikes on the Engels air base, the main base for Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers near the Volga River city of Saratov, prompted Moscow to relocate the bombers to other bases farther from the conflict.

One of them was Olenya on the Arctic Kola Peninsula, from where Tu-95s have flown multiple missions to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine. Several bombers at Olenya apparently were hit by the Ukrainian drones Sunday, according to analysts studying satellite images before and after the strike.

Other drones targeted the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia, destroying a few Tu-22M bombers, according to analysts.

Ukraine said 41 aircraft  Tu-95s, Tu-22Ms and A-50s  were damaged or destroyed in the attack that it said was in the works for 18 months in which swarms of drones popped out of containers carried on trucks that were parked near four air bases.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on the attack, which represented a level of sophistication that Washington had not seen before, a senior defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack set several warplanes ablaze at air bases in the Irkutsk region and the Murmansk region in the north, but the fires were extinguished.

It said Ukraine also tried to strike two air bases in western Russia, as well as another one in the Amur region of Russias Far East, but those attacks were repelled.

The drone strikes produced an outcry from Russian military bloggers, who criticized the Defense Ministry for failing to learn from previous strikes and protect the bombers. Building shelters or hangars for such large planes is a daunting task, and the military has tried some impromptu solutions that were criticized as window dressing.

Satellite images have shown Tu-95s at various air bases covered by layers of old tires  a measure of dubious efficiency that has drawn mockery on social media. MDT/AP
* Major crackdown on scams

 Over 1,800 people arrested in crackdown on Asia based scam operations in a joint police effort from Macau, HK and other East Asian jurisdictions

* Economy | Govt lowers gaming revenue estimate for 2025

* Public coffers |Cash handouts considered essential livelihood policy: Cheong

* Parents can apply for child-raising allowance of MOP18,000 for each toddler with a permanent ID card starting July 16

* Association optimistic on mainlands visa-free policy extension for Europeans

* Trade War: China-US cargo routes bustle again

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Wednesday, June 4, 2025  edition no. 4730
The height of Madisons first skyscraper wouldnt raise many eyebrows if it were proposed today. But construction of the nine-story Churchill Building on Capitol Square in the 1910s prompted the first limits on building heights to preserve views of the state Capitol.

Also known as the Gay Building, for its developer, Leonard Gay, the high-rise opened in 1915, two years before the completion of the current Capitol, and its success as an office building signaled that Downtown Madison could support denser development. The building was later bought, renovated and renamed by the Hovde family, whose development company, Hovde Properties, still owns it today. Situated at 16 N. Carroll St., between Grace Episcopal Church and the future Wisconsin History Center, it was recently listed in the state and national registers of historic places.

Now, Hovde Properties plans to rip out the drop ceilings and hodgepodge of wallpaper, paneling, textured paint and patterned carpeting and reopen the 110-year-old Churchill Building late next year as an 84-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel with a distinctly early 20th century feel.

Over that 110 years, the first-floor exterior and all of the interiors have undergone rather substantial changes as tenants have moved in and out, Ethan Schwenker, Hovde Properties vice president of development, told the local neighborhood association last month. But there are a few original elements in the building.

Among the elements that have survived are intricate iron railings along the only existing staircase and mosaic tile on some floors, including in the buildings entryway. These and other historic details will be preserved during the renovation and showcased as part of the new hotel, Schwenker told the Wisconsin State Journal. In the reception area, for example, a large interior window is intended to make the stairs visible from the hotel lobby. Hovde Properties is working closely with historic preservation officials on the renovation and is seeking state and federal tax credits to offset the added costs, Schwenker said.

Early concepts for the History Center called for the Churchill Building to be torn down along with the former and now-demolished Wisconsin Historical Museum and Mifflin Arcade, spurring opposition from the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation and former mayor Dave Cieslewicz. The museum project ultimately went forward without the Churchill Building site.

Im really pleased that Hovde has pivoted and embraced adaptive reuse of this historic resource, said Ald. Mike Verveer, who represents the area in the 4th District. I dont see any controversy or downside whatsoever. I only see positives.

A boutique Downtown hotel

Few changes are expected to the outside of the Churchill Building, save for the facade at the street level, which has been redone multiple times over the years, Schwenker said. The renovation aims to return that part of the facade as closely as possible to what it looked like a century ago. The wood paneling is not original and will be removed, he said, and the hope is to use salvaged Luxfer prism glass above the storefront windows.

Inside, Hovde Properties will add a second stairwell  replacing the no-longer-allowed exterior fire escape  on the buildings north side, where the windows will be blocked by the five-story History Center thats slated to open in 2027. More than 20 doors segmenting the buildings existing stairwell will be knocked out, and the two shallow elevators will be expanded. There will be a fitness center and a meeting space, and the lobby will have a bar and a small dining area.

The hotel will have valet-only parking in various spaces owned by Hovde Properties, with guests also able to park in nearby public ramps, said Randy Guenther, the companys president. A future mixed-use development at the former Mifflin Arcade site, at the corner of West Mifflin and North Fairchild streets, could make additional underground parking available to the hotel. The developer is considering residential and hospitality uses for that site, but a project hasnt been finalized, Guenther said.

Hovde Properties reached an agreement with the city earlier this year to keep part of the Mifflin Arcade site paved for service access to its other buildings. It removed the original painted markings, which appeared to delineate parking stalls, after the city sent a code violation notice last fall, and later added new striping that made the paved area look less like a parking lot.

Theyre no longer parking cars there, said Matt Tucker, Madisons Building Inspection director. Bottom line is: problem solved.

The developer is also satisfied with the arrangement, Guenther said.

Building on a long history

Hovde Properties plans to start the renovation of the Churchill Building this fall and open the hotel about a year later, Schwenker said, though he noted that the opening date is tentative. Were going to take our time and do it right, he said.

The renovation will begin with a meticulous interior demolition, informed by an extensive documentation and planning process, he said.

Some selective demolition will take place in the building before the fall to inform the renovation, Guenther said. Were still uncovering whats still there thats original ... and to do that, we have to take apart some of the built environment. All but a handful of office tenants have moved out of the building over the past year, with the last ones set to leave by the end of this month, he said.

The building was designed by Edward and James Law, the founders of Potter Lawson, an architecture firm that is based in Madison and has kept detailed records of its many projects, including this one. Rebecca Prochaska, president and CEO of the firm, said she is happy to see Hovde Properties preserving the building  especially the original staircase and railings, which Potter Lawson still has blueprints for.

That building really put Madison on the map, Prochaska said. It blends in nowadays in the context of the city, but at the time, it spoke to Madisons dedication to progress and investing in a downtown as a commerce center, as a community center.

Being part of Marriotts Tribute Portfolio creates an opportunity to tell a story with the building, Schwenker said. Each floor will have about 11 guest rooms and will be dedicated to a person or group that helped to shape Madison, he said, as a way to connect with both the buildings own legacy and the History Center next door.

In some ways, the buildings restoration will also look toward its future. Though the developer has yet to announce the hotels name, its not expected to include Churchill or Gay, and will instead be something new.
Arrears clearance for SMEs facilitated

10:06, June 04, 2025 By Ouyang Shijia ( Chinadaily.com.cn

China has taken a concrete step toward addressing crippling issues faced by the private sector, with a revised regulation guaranteeing payments owed to small and medium-sized enterprises.

This marks China's latest move in clearing arrears owed to SMEs through an institutional arrangement, which is part of the country's larger drive to revitalize a sector key for reinvigorating economic recovery amid mounting external uncertainties, said experts and executives.

The revised regulation, which took effect on Sunday, will help strengthen the legal protection for private enterprises, mostly SMEs, further optimize the business environment, and enhance fair participation in market competition, they said.

According to the regulation, large enterprises are required to pay SMEs within 60 days of delivery of cargoes, projects, or services. Other revisions require detailing work responsibilities, improving supervision, and enhancing punishments for illegal activities.

Nie Xianzhu, vice-president of the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, said the revised regulation has further raised society's awareness of the crippling issues faced by SMEs. "The problem-oriented and targeted approach will help relieve the capital pressure on SMEs and stimulate their endogenous driving force and vitality," he said.

Collecting long-overdue payments is a primary difficulty hindering the development of SMEs, Nie said, adding that the problem stems from the declining payment capability of enterprises amid a sluggish global economy, lackluster demand, and fiscal pressures at various government levels.

Meanwhile, large enterprises often place payments owed to SMEs low on their funds priority list.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the accounts receivable of major industrial enterprises totaled 25.86 trillion yuan ($3.6 trillion) at the end of April, up 9.7 percent year-on-year, while the average collection period for accounts receivable was 70.3 days, a year-on-year increase of four days.

Li Hongjuan, deputy director of the Private Economy Research Office at the Economic System and Management Institute, which is part of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the revised regulation reflects the government's strong attention to the arrears issue.

"It clarifies the responsibilities of the government and relevant departments, strengthening accountability and coordination," she said. "Also, it shortens the payment period and standardizes payment practices, addressing the root causes of arrears. It precisely regulates pain points such as hidden contract terms."

Nie, from the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, said the implementation of the regulation will help ease SMEs' survival pressures and boost confidence among businesses. "In the broader context of pursuing progress while maintaining stability, helping SMEs resolve difficulties is an effective way to stabilize overall growth."

SMEs are an important part of the national economy and social development, serving as a key pillar for stabilizing employment, improving people's livelihoods, and reviving economic growth. Private companies, mostly SMEs, contribute over 60 percent of China's GDP, 70 percent of technological innovation, and 80 percent of urban employment, official data shows.

The government is taking solid steps to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the private sector.

China's first fundamental law focusing on promoting the private economy took effect on May 20. In late May, the nation issued a guideline for stepping up financing support for micro and small enterprises.

Business leaders welcomed the government's intensified efforts to support the development of the private sector, expecting to see more detailed supporting measures to ensure effective implementation.

"The regulation plays a significant role in boosting the confidence of businesses," said Cheng Shuqing, Party secretary of Beijing-based Pan-China Group.

Gong Min, senior vice-president of Qingyan Technology (Beijing) Co, recommended more practical solutions to tackle operational issues. "If project funds are not recovered on time, it not only affects normal operations, but may also delay the progress of projects and cause disruptions," Gong said.

Ye Lin, a professor at Renmin University of China Law School, called for more efforts to improve the long-term mechanism for resolving SME payment arrears. "More efforts are needed to ensure that the asserting rights of SMEs are not affected during their future business operations," he said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
US defense technology company Lockheed Martin plans to open an innovation center and a repair facility in the Philippines that will employ local talent as part of its F-16 Block 70 package offer to the Department of National Defense (DND).

Jess Koloni, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Companys capture director for the integrated fighter group, said the F-16 Block 70 package would support the countrys self-reliant defense posture. This includes training Filipino technicians, enabling in-country maintenance and fostering aerospace careers through partnerships with universities and industry.

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Aimee Burnett, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Companys vice president for integrated fighter group business development, said the US government is expected to make the formal offer for the F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines soon. The deal is said to be worth more than $5.5 billion.

Koloni said the planned innovation center, a concept first developed in Abu Dhabi a decade ago, would serve as a hub for workforce development programs, aerospace engineering, space fundamentals training, internship programs and robotics competitions.

We are looking to bring that concept here to the Philippines, Koloni told a news briefing at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City Wednesday.

We have been talking with the DND, BOI [Board of Investments] and other organizations in the Philippines. We are soliciting feedback on where that center should go. It is a Philippine center for the Filipino people, used by Filipinos, she said.

A repair facility is also being planned to support the existing C-130 fleet and the Philippine governments planned acquisition of F-16 aircraft.

Repair capability is something we are looking to bring uniquely to the Philippines. We signed an MOU last night. That is the building blocks for a longer-term maintenance, repair and overhaul [MRO] facility in this country. That will focus on component repair for the existing platform that is C130 and then the F16. Things like landing gear, other aspects of the aircraft, will stay in the country, said Koloni.

She said the facility would service the entire C-130 fleet for the Philippine Air Force and would also cater to a prospective 20 F-16 Block 70 aircraft.

Koloni said the Philippines could become an MRO hub for Lockheed Martin in the Asian region. While the whole goal of the MRO is to provide independent, self-reliant capability here, it could be looked at as a growth opportunity for regional support in the future, she said, noting there are about 500 F-16 based in the Asia-Pacific region. She said globally, there are 3,100 F-16 aircraft.

Burnett said the companys partnership with the Philippines extends beyond military capability.

As we collaborate with the industry, we aim to deliver social and economic value by cultivating talent, creating jobs and driving innovation that advances the domestic defense sector and supports holistic progress, Burnett said.

Burnett described the F-16 Block 70 as the most advanced fourth-generation fighter. She said Lockheed Martin is confident it can help the Philippines build a sustainable airpower ecosystem, driven by Filipino talent and supported by local industry, while delivering advanced capabilities needed to address its most pressing defense requirements.

She noted that the F-16 integrates well with the Philippine Air Forces current FA-50 fleet.

William Blair, Lockheed Martin Global Inc.s regional chief executive for Asia and India, cited the Philippines importance as a partner.

The Philippines is a very important partner in a multilateral framework. We believe that the F-16 is a very important part of that story. It is not just about defense, but also about building a stronger, more prosperous nation that is capable of meeting challenges in todays environment, Blair said.

The Philippines is very important today more than ever, in the most important region in the most important time in terms of creating a level of peaceful strength and deterrence, he said.
On Friday, 30 May, the Czech Chamber of Deputies approved an amendment to Section 403 of Czechias criminal code that could make the promotion of communism punishable by up to five years in prison. This scandalous attack on democratic rights cannot go unanswered. The labour movement must organise to defend free speech!

[Originally published at avant-garda.com]

The law would put the glorification of communist ideology and sharing communist symbols on par with promoting Nazism. Therefore, publicly displaying the hammer and sickle would incur the same penalty as bearing swastikas under this amended law. And presumably, selling copies of the Communist Manifesto would be seen in the same light as distributing Mein Kampf!

Of 160 deputies present on Friday, 86 voted in favour of the amendment, including all deputies from the ruling coalition parties (bar one abstention). The agreed amendment will now have to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President, and could come into effect at the beginning of next year.

In the run-up to this vote, various anti-communist figures and historical organisations lobbied the government to crack down on the spread of communist ideas. Kamil Nedvedicky, Deputy Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, told a press conference last week:

At the roots of communist teachings and at the roots of Marxism, there is one word  violence. Karl Marx and his followers already spoke about the fact that change cannot occur without the use of violence.

It has been 30 years since the fall of the USSR. Last year, more wars were being waged than at any time since World War II, including the disastrous Ukraine War and Israels genocidal war against the Palestinians  both of which the Czech government has offered its full-throated support. Not to mention the millions who die annually as a result of poverty and repression.

We communists, who strive for an end to all this brutality, will accept no moral lectures about violence from those who defend the capitalist system.

This new amendment is a grievous insult to the victims of fascism and the thousands of communist partisans who gave their lives fighting it / Image: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183 2004 1202 505

Meanwhile, Martin Mejstrik  one of the student leaders during the Velvet Revolution, which led to the restoration of capitalism in Czechoslovakia  has told Epoch Times:

The aim of the proposal was to eliminate the clearly unfair distinction between two criminal totalitarian ideologies of the 20th century Nazism and communism.

We remind Mejstrik that some of the most heinous crimes of the Nazi regime were carried out on Czech soil. This new amendment is a grievous insult to the victims of fascism and the thousands of communist partisans who gave their lives fighting it. Not to mention the fact that the whole of Slovakia and 90 percent of Czech territory were liberated from the Nazis by the Soviet Army.

These are historical details that our ladies and gentlemen in government would like to erase.

Cynical distraction

In reality, this amendment is a cynical distraction by the ruling class at a time when its authority is crumbling and living conditions are declining. Fialas government entered into crisis last September following a battering in regional and senatorial elections, which saw the near break-up of the coalition.

The intention is clearly to divert the masses attention from the governments woes by whipping up anti-communist demagogy.

The Czech ruling class has chosen this moment in part because of the weakness of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM)  the main target of this anti-democratic assault  which lost parliamentary representation for the first time in its history in 2021.

The party has been given vague assurances that it will be allowed to continue functioning; and in fact, it seldom uses newly offending communist symbols, having dropped the hammer and sickle from its logo in favour of a pair of cherries.

But there are those in Fialas government who would like to see KSCM banned outright, and see the amendment as a stepping stone towards this goal. The KSCM has called out this intention in a defiant statement, where it has vowed that its political values are legitimate and it will not be silenced.

Our criticisms of KSCM are a matter of public record. We have raised our objections to the political errors that have led to its decline, including its opportunist alliance with right-wing, anti-worker parties. But we stand in full solidarity with KSCM in the face of attempted political repression by Fialas reactionary coalition.

We call on the entire left and all consistent democrats to defend the right to profess communist ideas in general, and the right of the Communist Party to exist.

The ruling class will not stop with KSCM. As the crisis intensifies, the state will intensify legal repression against anyone who challenges the status quo. An injury to one is an injury to all!

Defending democracy by attacking free speech?

According to a STEM survey last year, on the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, only a minority of Czechs (48 percent) consider the current regime to be better than the one before 1989. This is an embarrassing indictment of the current state of affairs, given all the effort that has gone into demonising communism.

Amidst a deepening organic crisis of capitalism, and a growing mood of anger and dissatisfaction with the system, the ruling class is trying to silence all talk of alternatives.

We stand in full solidarity with KSCM in the face of attempted political repression by Fialas reactionary coalition / Image: European Parliament, Wikimedia Commons

In his interview with Epoch Times, Mejstrik further claimed that both Nazism and communism demonstrably aim to suppress fundamental rights and freedoms, and it is logical and fair that Czech criminal law clearly reflects this. It is not about ideology, but about protecting a democratic rule of law.

So we see, in order to preserve fundamental rights, freedoms and the democratic rule of law it is necessary to attack the elementary democratic right of free speech!

Our liberal, democratic politicians never tire of criticising political censorship under Stalinism. Yet in recent months, we have seen the Romanian presidential election annulled because Brussels did not like the outcome; widespread repression of the peaceful Palestine movement; terror charges brought against the Irish hip hop group Kneecap for their opposition to Israels genocide in Gaza; and now the censorship of communist ideas in democratic Czechia!

The bourgeoisie evidently only tolerates opinions that do not threaten their profits, power and property relations. As Lenin said: Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in the ancient Greek republics: freedom for the slave-owners.

They will not silence us!

The ruling class constantly shouts that communism is dead. But if it is dead, why do the capitalists need to introduce such laws like the one that has just been approved in the Chamber of Deputies?

In Slovakia, a new repressive unit of gendarmes is being created to assist the police in maintaining order. In the Czech Republic, they are trying to outlaw communism and intimidate radical class fighters with the prospect of jail time. None of this is a demonstration of strength, but of the weakness of a system that has hit rock bottom.

Capitalism is a never-ending horror. More and more people around the world are beginning to realise this. The hunger for alternatives to the current system is growing.

The pathetic official opposition in Czechia cannot defend our democratic rights. Their deputies could not even bring themselves to vote against this amendment, merely abstaining! Only the workers movement, embodying the will of the majority class in society, can mount a serious defence of our basic liberties.

If bourgeois democracy means that workers cannot even consider changing the system, it is not democracy. It is the dictatorship of capital. True democracy is only possible where power is held by those who create all value and are the majority of society  the proletariat.

That is what we are striving for.

We are not intimidated by attempts at political censorship. Quite the opposite. Just a few hours after issuing our first statement about this amendment on social media, we received an influx of messages from young class fighters outraged by this anti-democratic attack and motivated to join us.

As long as a system exists that only breeds misery and death, ideas will flourish about a new society where working people can fully enjoy the fruits of their labour.

We call on all working people, left activists and youth to organise in defence of democratic freedoms. But true freedom will only come with the end of the exploitation of man by man. If you burn with indignation at the state of society, and the hypocrisy of our ruling class, we welcome you to join the struggle for communism in our lifetimes!
The war in Ukraine continues well into its third year. But since the election of Donald Trump, the dynamics have changed dramatically.

[Originally published at communist.red]

The war never had anything to do with Ukraines sovereignty. It was provoked by US imperialism under Biden, with the stated aim of teaching Russia a lesson and making sure it was unable to defy the west. Ukraine was just a pawn to be used for that purpose.

But the war has been a complete disaster  both for US and European imperialism, but above all for Ukraine.

Trumps policy

Trump promised to end the war in 100 days, but the deadline has gone and the war continues. Trumps policy here represents a sharp turn from the previous policy of US imperialism. He has recognised that this war against Russia cannot be won and therefore is attempting to pull the US out of it.

There is also a calculation that reaching a deal with Russia which recognises her national security interests might pull Moscow back from its close alliance with China, US imperialisms main rival on the world scene.

Frantic diplomacy by Trump and his envoys and serious arm-twisting towards Zelensky managed to achieve the beginning of talks. For the first time since April 2022  when peace talks in Turkey were sabotaged by the western war party in the person of Boris Johnson  the two parties met and talked.

US-Russia relations were restored, and eventually  after much wrangling  Trump strong-armed Kyiv into signing a minerals deal which amounts to the robbery of Ukraines national resources.

None of this was in the interest of Zelensky, who understands that today peace means giving in to Russias terms, new elections, and the end of his political career.

Europeans sabotage

Also opposed to ending the war are the European powers. To them, the end of the conflict with a Russian victory  which is now inescapable  and the resultant withdrawal of the US mean a decisive step towards the US withdrawing from Europe.

The truth is that the European powers cannot stand on their own without the backing of US imperialism  and they are fully aware of it / Image: Number 10, Flickr

This, in turn, would mean a steep decline for European imperialism, which will lose its clout as strategic allies of Washington.

The Europeans would furthermore be left to defend themselves from a powerful and massively strengthened neighbour, which has seen its military reinforced and has gained invaluable experience from modern warfare.

Hence the flurry of summits, Zoom calls, and coalitions of the willing across Europe. One day in London, the next day in France, the third day in Berlin but never able to reach any firm resolution.

The truth is that the European powers cannot stand on their own without the backing of US imperialism  and they are fully aware of it.

Thats why all the threats of troop deployment have come to precisely nothing. And that is why they are desperate to keep Washington involved in the war on Kyivs side, and are going to extraordinary lengths to trick Trump into it.

The latest such ploy was the 9 May Europe Day gathering in Kyiv, with the backdrop of the red and black Banderite (i.e. fascist) flags, during which Macron put Trump on speakerphone. They thought they had roped him into backing a threat to Russia: an unconditional ceasefire or else more sanctions.

But in less than 24 hours the plot had unravelled. Putin had counter-offered bilateral talks in Istanbul, and Trump had instructed Zelensky to send a delegation. There was no more talk of sanctions nor a ceasefire on Trumps part.

US growing restless

If anything, the US administration is growing restless at the lack of progress  or rather, at the attempts by Macron, Merz, Starmer and Zelensky to sabotage a deal.

Trump wants to be able to deliver concrete results, which for him mean an end to the useless expense of this war, and favourable economic deals both in Ukraine (the minerals agreement) and in Russia.

In fact, by sabotaging an agreement with Russia, the Europeans  Starmer included  are playing a cynical game.

If the only way to keep the US involved in their common defence is the continuation of a bloody war which cannot be won, then so be it. Thats their line of reasoning. At the end of the day, it is Ukrainian soldiers that are being massacred.

From Russias point of view, if an agreement can be reached on its terms, they would be quite prepared to take it, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. But certainly Putin is in no hurry. The key term in this equation is that Russia is winning the war on the ground.

Russias advance

This has become a war of attrition. Russia has been steadily advancing since late 2023.

The war has become dominated by drones, a field in which Russia has decisive and growing superiority. In recent months it has switched to the use of fibre-optic cable controlled FPV which are immune to electronic jamming.

Monthly Russian advance in kilometres square, not including the retaking of Kursk / Image: DeepState

In the last few weeks Russian drones have been able to reach deep behind Ukrainian lines hitting logistics and supply lines. Russian drones are no longer bought from Iran, but made in Russia at a rate which cannot be matched by Ukraine.

In addition, Russia also has superiority in the supply of personnel, without having to resort to mass mobilisation. Meanwhile, the recruitment crisis accelerates in Ukraine due to widespread demoralisation and draft resistance.

A recent opinion article in Ukrainskaya Pravda, the Ukrainian media outlet formerly funded by USAID, worried that the dodgers party is now larger that the military party as it reported that six million people have decided not to report their data to the Territorial Recruitment Centres.

The infamous 155th Mechanised Brigade, trained in France to NATO standards, was hit by a corruption scandal in which soldiers were paid for time in the frontline while staying away from it. The scheme had been set up by corrupt officers who got a cut of the bonus money.

Furthermore, it was reported that in 2025 alone the Brigade has had 1,200 cases of desertion. This is an addition to the 1,700 who went AWOL in the Autumn of last year, as the Brigade returned to Ukraine from its training in France.

The brutal methods of recruitment officers have become commonplace and so has widespread resistance to them.

It is not just groups of women shaming them and physically snatching recruits from them. Now incidents have escalated to mass resistance, as was the case last week in Kremenchug, where 100 people held an hours-long standoff with recruitment officers after one of their vans ran over a woman who attempted to prevent them from grabbing a man.

Ukraine: Is resistance to recruitment officers (TCC) now reaching mass proportions? Watch this video from Kamianets-Podilskyi (Khmelnytskyi region) yesterday. Give Ukrainians a voice: they don't want to be forced to the front. Source and full story: https://t.co/Mava5foJbV pic.twitter.com/nng0S6lmA9  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) May 30, 2025

In these conditions, the Russian advance is inexorable. The Russians have made progress in all sections of the front, further encircling Pokrovsk, entering the outskirts of Kupyansk, reaching the border of Dnipropetrovsk oblast and also entering the Sumy oblast to create a buffer zone. The implication is that at a certain point the Ukrainian defence will just collapse.

Prolonging the carnage

The longer the war goes on, the worse will be the terms of any agreement from the Ukrainian point of view. And yet, both the Europeans and Zelensky criminally insist on dragging it on.

The most recent provocation was the Ukrainian drone attack on Russian airfields, some of them thousands of kilometres from the front, as well as the explosive attacks on a passenger and a freight train in Bryansk.

These are daring attacks which involved months of detailed planning and preparation. But from the point of view of the course of the war they have achieved precisely nothing. A few Russian strategic bombers were hit  nine according to open source intelligence, rather than the dozens boasted by Zelensky  which does not dent Russias ability to strike Ukraine.

It did not even stop a new round of talks in Istanbul, though that would have seemed to be the main aim of the attack.

As always, small nations are just loose change in the machinations of the big powers. Having provoked Russia into a war, US imperialism is now walking away. But the European powers and Zelensky are trying to prolong the bloodshed and carnage as much as possible, for their own cynical reasons.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has secured a $1 billion commitment from the World Bank to jumpstart the long-stalled Grand Inga hydropower project, potentially the worlds largest clean energy undertaking.

An initial $250 million will support technical studies, reforms, and community infrastructure in preparation for Inga III, the next phase of the mega-dam on the Congo River. With only about 21% of Congolese currently accessing electricity, the government aims to triple this figure by 2030 under its $36 billion National Energy Compact, aligned with the Africa-wide Mission 300 initiative. Inga III alone could generate up to 11,000 megawatts  more than triple the countrys current power capacity. World Bank President Ajay Banga described the project as transformative, noting its potential to attract $85 billion in private investment and create lasting economic opportunities.

The project will prioritize local development in Kongo Central province, benefiting 1.2 million people through clean water, roads, and renewable energy infrastructure. Bob Mabiala, head of the Grand Inga promotion agency, emphasized the importance of technical and governance foundations. This is an opportunity to write a new page in DRCs development story, one that harnesses the countrys rich resources to lift millions of people out of extreme poverty, added Albert Zeufack of the World Bank. Despite past setbacks from conflict and mismanagement, Inga III is being revived as a cornerstone of Africas energy future.
In a critical judicial ruling on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, South Africas embattled former President Jacob Zuma suffered a significant legal blow as the Pietermaritzburg High Court rejected his application to dismiss longstanding corruption charges.

Zuma, along with French defence firm Thales, had petitioned the court to strike down charges stemming from a controversial arms procurement deal signed in 1999, worth billions of South African rand. The joint application argued that the deaths of two key witnesses undermined the fairness of the impending trial.

Presiding Judge Nkosinathi Chili, however, rebuffed the claim, asserting that the High Court lacked the jurisdiction to unilaterally terminate the charges. More pointedly, the judge ruled that the absence of certain witnesses did not equate to an infringement of Zumas constitutional right to a fair trial. There is no justification for the court to grant the order sought by Mr Zuma, the judge stated, rejecting both Zuma and Thales applications in a televised ruling watched closely across the nation.

The decision effectively clears the path for Zuma  now head of the recently formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) political party  to face trial in a saga that has haunted South Africas democratic institutions for over two decades. The charges, which include corruption, money laundering, and racketeering, mark one of the most enduring and high-profile legal battles in the countrys post-apartheid era. As the trial edges closer, observers note that the outcome will test the strength and impartiality of South Africas judiciary, especially in holding influential political figures to account.
In a landmark move heralding a new chapter in international justice, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has authorised on Tuesday June 3 its first-ever confirmation of charges hearing in absentia, targeting elusive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.

Scheduled for September, this pivotal proceeding allows prosecutors to lay out their evidence against the leader of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), despite his continued evasion of capture. Kony is accused of orchestrating a campaign of terror across central Africa, with charges including murder, rape, and sexual enslavementheinous crimes that have haunted communities for decades.

While full trials in absentia are prohibited under the ICCs current statutes, the courts appeals judges ruled that the confirmation hearing can proceed, citing robust legal safeguards that respect the rights of the accused. Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin affirmed that the courts framework provides sufficient protections to ensure procedural fairness, even in the absence of the suspect. This decision sets a precedent for holding long-fugitive perpetrators accountable while upholding judicial integrity.

Konys court-appointed legal representatives had protested the move, arguing that any proceedings without the physical presence of the accused could violate his fair trial rights. Yet, the court appears to be balancing the imperative of justice with legal rigour, seeking to provide redress for victims who have waited nearly two decades for a reckoning. As the world watches, the ICCs decision signals a bold assertion: justice delayed by flight shall not be justice denied.
Facing the fiscal pressures of suspended international support, Senegal is pivoting toward a bold path of economic sovereignty by intensifying domestic tax compliance.

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko revealed the countrys intention to reclaim financial independence by increasing internal revenue mobilization instead of depending on annual disbursements from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The move follows revelations of misreported debt and deficit figures, which led to the freezing of a $1.8 billion IMF support programme.

Addressing the Senegalese diaspora in Guinea on June 2, Sonko emphasized that development rooted in self-sufficiency is not only possible but necessary. Senegal is still standing, he declared, rejecting the notion of perpetual foreign financial aid. Instead of raising tax rates, the government will focus on ensuring that all citizens contribute their fair share  a fiscal restructuring designed to reinforce budgetary discipline while avoiding economic hardship for the average Senegalese.

Despite rising scrutiny over opaque borrowing practices, including a controversial $708 million regional bond in April, Sonkos administration is framing this chapter as a turning point toward transparency and accountability. Senegals sovereign bonds have suffered this year, reflecting investor uncertainty, but the government is banking on long-term trust through improved debt clarity and domestic fiscal reforms. As calls for greater debt transparency echo from both local opposition and international markets, the country seeks to balance ambition with responsibility.
Cameroon now finds itself at the epicentre of what the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has termed on June 3 the worlds most neglected displacement crisis, surpassing Burkina Faso in the organizations annual ranking for 2024.

The ranking evaluates humanitarian emergencies on the basis of three key indicators: chronic underfunding, scant media visibility, and the absence of meaningful political engagement. For the first time since 2019, Cameroon leads this ignominious list released on Tuesday, underscoring the deepening plight of a country grappling with multiple, compounding humanitarian emergencies.

The nation currently shelters over one million internally displaced individuals, most of whom have fled the violent conflict between state forces and separatist militias in the Northwest and Southwest regionsan armed struggle that has raged since 2016. Simultaneously, the far north of Cameroon remains ensnared in the persistent instability of the Lake Chad Basin, where clashes with non-state armed groups and the growing impacts of climate-induced water scarcity continue to displace populations. Adding further strain, Cameroon also hosts nearly half a million refugees from neighbouring nations such as Nigeria and the Central African Republic, thereby magnifying its humanitarian burden.

Despite the scale and complexity of these crises, global attention has remained conspicuously absent. In 2024, humanitarian assistance to Cameroon covered less than half of the nations needs, with further setbacks expected as key donorsincluding the United States and various European governmentsslash their foreign aid budgets. This is a textbook case of abandonment, said Jan Egeland, NRCs Secretary General. Neglect of displacement is not benign  it is a deadly silence. Without diplomatic resolve, robust funding, and media urgency, these crises will deepen, claiming more lives in quiet obscurity.
A humanitarian crisis deepened further in Sudan when an aid convoy operated by the World Food Programme (WFP) came under violent attack in North Darfur, sparking a volley of accusations between the Sudanese Government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday, June 3.

The Government labelled the assault a deliberate attempt to obstruct vital relief efforts to the beleaguered city of El Fasher and its surrounding displacement camps. Several guards and civilians lost their lives, while UN-branded trucks lay in ruins  a chilling blow to humanitarian access in the war-torn region.

Grassroot voices, including the El-Fasher Resistance Coordination, swiftly condemned the assault, branding it a war crime that jeopardizes the last remaining lifeline for millions already grappling with hunger and dislocation. Meanwhile, the RSF offered a starkly different narrative, accusing Sudanese government forces of launching the strike near Al-Kuma. The group claimed four fatalities, two injuries, and the destruction of seven aid vehicles, asserting the attack was neither incidental nor provoked by them.

El Fasher  a strategic humanitarian corridor and capital of North Darfur  has become a fierce battleground since renewed hostilities erupted in May 2024, further destabilising the region. The conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF, ignited in April 2023, has plunged the country into a devastating humanitarian abyss. While official UN and local figures cite over 20,000 deaths and 15 million displaced, external research groups estimate casualties could be sixfold higher  painting a dire picture of a nation fracturing under the weight of its own warfare.
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The overall structure of our experiments. GPT4 was previously trained on data on a large fraction of the text on the Internet. Credit: Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2025). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0674.

An "AI scientist," working in collaboration with human scientists, has found that combinations of cheap and safe drugsused to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and alcohol dependencecould also be effective at treating cancer, a promising new approach to drug discovery.

The research team, led by the University of Cambridge, used the GPT-4 large language model (LLM) to identify hidden patterns buried in the mountains of scientific literature to identify potential new cancer drugs.

To test their approach, the researchers prompted GPT-4 to identify potential new drug combinations that could have a significant impact on a breast cancer cell line commonly used in medical research. They instructed it to avoid standard cancer drugs, identify drugs that would attack cancer cells while not harming healthy cells, and prioritize drugs that were affordable and approved by regulators.

The drug combinations suggested by GPT-4 were then tested by human scientists, both in combination and individually, to measure their effectiveness against breast cancer cells.

In the first lab-based test, three of the 12 drug combinations suggested by GPT-4 worked better than current breast cancer drugs. The LLM then learned from these tests and suggested a further four combinations, three of which also showed promising results.

The results, reported in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, represent the first instance of a closed-loop system where experimental results guided an LLM, and LLM outputsinterpreted by human scientistsguided further experiments.

The researchers say that tools such as LLMs are not replacements for scientists, but could instead be supervised AI researchers, with the ability to originate, adapt and accelerate discovery in areas like cancer research.

Often, LLMs such as GPT-4 return results that aren't true, known as hallucinations. But in scientific research, hallucinations can sometimes be a benefit, if they lead to new ideas that are worth testing.

"Supervised LLMs offer a scalable, imaginative layer of scientific exploration, and can help us as human scientists explore new paths that we hadn't thought of before," said Professor Ross King from Cambridge's Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, who led the research. "This can be useful in areas such as drug discovery, where there are many thousands of compounds to search through."

Based on the prompts provided by the human scientists, GPT-4 selected drugs based on the interplay between biological reasoning and hidden patterns in the scientific literature.

"This is not automation replacing scientists, but a new kind of collaboration," said co-author Dr. Hector Zenil from King's College London. "Guided by expert prompts and experimental feedback, the AI functioned like a tireless research partnerrapidly navigating an immense hypothesis space and proposing ideas that would take humans alone far longer to reach."

The hallucinationsnormally viewed as flawsbecame a feature, generating unconventional combinations worth testing and validating in the lab. The human scientists inspected the mechanistic reasons the LLM found to suggest these combinations in the first place, feeding the system back and forth in multiple iterations.

By exploring subtle synergies and overlooked pathways, GPT-4 helped identify six promising drug pairs, all tested through lab experiments. Among the combinations, simvastatin (commonly used to lower cholesterol) and disulfiram (used in alcohol dependence) stood out against breast cancer cells. Some of these combinations show potential for further research in therapeutic repurposing.

These drugs, while not traditionally associated with cancer care, could be potential cancer treatments, although they would first have to go through extensive clinical trials.

"This study demonstrates how AI can be woven directly into the iterative loop of scientific discovery, enabling adaptive, data-informed hypothesis generation and validation in real time," said Zenil.

"The capacity of supervised LLMs to propose hypotheses across disciplines, incorporate prior results, and collaborate across iterations marks a new frontier in scientific research," said King.

"An AI scientist is no longer a metaphor without experimental validation: it can now be a collaborator in the scientific process."

More information: Abbi Abdel-Rehim et al, Scientific Hypothesis Generation by Large Language Models: Laboratory Validation in Breast Cancer Treatment, Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2025). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0674 Journal information: Journal of the Royal Society Interface
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As any hiker or dog walker can attest, checking for ticks is routine practice after being outdoors at this time of year.

But with tick populations on the rise across Ontario, Brock University researchers are looking to spread awareness about the dangers of these pesky bloodsuckers by monitoring local tick populations and testing them for pathogens that can spread diseases to humans and pets.

"Tick research is incredibly difficult because of how cryptic ticks can be," says Biological Sciences Ph.D. student Nick Benton (MSc '24). "Being able to study the abundance and also identify if these ticks are transmitting certain pathogens is important, not only for modeling the exposure risk for the greater community but also seeing trends into how these tick ranges are expanding and potential disease risks in an area."

Benton and a team of Brock researchers are currently collecting and testing ticks found in six areas across Niagara. They're targeting the Ixodes scapularis (commonly known as blacklegged ticks or deer ticks), which can potentially transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Blacklegged ticks have a two-year life cycle that consists of four stages: eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults. Nymphs and adults are currently active, with the team particularly focused on sampling nymphal ticks.

These ticks transmit pathogens as well as being exceptionally small, making it much harder to find them on one's body before they become a health risk.

"The adults are the size of sesame seeds, and the nymphs are only the size of poppy seeds, so, imagine trying to find that on your body," says Benton.

Fiona Hunter, a medical and veterinary entomologist at Brock and renowned expert in arthropods such as mosquitoes, says research points to a clear expansion of tick populations across the province.

A 2009 study completed by former Brock student Kevin Reeh (BSc '07, BA '10) indicated a positive presence of blacklegged ticks in only four of 30 Ontario sites evaluated at the time.

That has now increased exponentially.

"From 2009 to now, you can go out virtually anywhere in Niagara and pick up Ixodes scapularisthat is a major public health concern," says Hunter, a Professor of Biological Sciences. "We have this deadly tick expanding its range; it started in southern Ontario, but it's expanding its range northward."

Evidence points to climate change and warmer temperatures as being one of the main drivers for its population expansion, she says.

"They also feed on large ungulates, such as deer, so as deer populations increase, so do Ixodes scapularis populations," Hunter adds. "They're also linked to mouse populations, because in the smallest life stages, they'll feed on mice. In a good year, when you have a lot of acorns, you have a lot of mice and thus a lot of deer ticks."

The good news, the team says, is that ticks don't begin feeding right awayso being alert and aware can prevent serious illness.

"It's important to take out a tick as soon as possible, because the longer it feeds on you, the more likely it is to transmit pathogens into your bloodstream," Benton says.

If the tick can't easily be brushed off, he recommends removing it with a pair of forceps or tweezers.

"The most important thing is to make sure that you're not damaging the tick by burning, smothering or destroying it," Benton says. "Get as close to the tick's head as possible, and gently and slowly pull it straight out, removing as much of the mouthparts as possible and keeping the tick intact."

The team is also on the lookout for the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei), as well as other species that can potentially transmit pathogens to humans and animals.

While Lyme disease is the most well-known illness spread from tick bites, researchers in Hunter's lab also test for other tick-borne pathogens:

Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Anaplasmosis)

Babesia microti (Babesiosis)

Powassan virus (Powassan Virus disease)

Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)

Borrelia bacteria (Tick-borne relapsing fever)

Although these are much rarer than the pathogen causing Lyme disease, their prevalence in North America is growing, Benton says.

"The diseases caused by these pathogens can cause serious symptoms or even death if left untreated," he adds. "We test for these extra pathogens so the community is aware of their presence and the risks a tick bite from that area can possess."

The research is expected to be completed by mid-summer, with plans to share results with the community.

"We want to translate our knowledge and resources into informing the community about potential risks in their environment," Benton says. "I have a passion for studying insects and for helping peopleso I get to combine my passion for studying arthropods with helping people through medical entomology through this work."
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Overview of study approach and results. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60045-4

Australian researchers have taken a major step toward using real-time genome sequencing in routine hospital care for patients with severe Staphylococcus aureus infections, or "golden staph," a superbug responsible for more than 1 million deaths globally each year.

In partnership with seven major Victorian hospitals, researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) have been the first to show that tracking bacterial changes using genome sequencing during serious infection can give clinicians immediate insights to personalize treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Golden staph can cause life-threatening infections such as sepsis, pneumonia, bone and joint infections and endocarditis (infection of the heart valves). The bacteria are known for their ability to adapt quickly, becoming resistant to even the most potent antibiotics. Unlike standard hospital laboratory tests that only identify the type of bacteria, genome sequencing reveals a complete genetic profile, including traits that influence its response to treatment.

Led by The University of Melbourne's Dr. Stefano Giulieri, Infectious Diseases Physician and Clinician Researcher at the Doherty Institute and lead author of the study published in Nature Communications, the team collected golden staph samples from patients with severe, recurring infections at the time of treatment failure. These strains were compared to strains obtained at the beginning of the infection, with the findings returned to the treating physicians.

Until now, studies on bacterial evolution during infection have only been conducted retrospectively, often years after treatment. While these studies have provided valuable insights to researchers, tracking evolution during infection can be extremely beneficial for clinicians.

Dr. Giulieri said they found that in one-third of the cases, the bacteria had picked up dangerous mutations that made treatment more likely to fail.

"In one case, after initially controlling a golden staph infection, the patient returned to hospital two months after stopping antibiotics," Dr. Giulieri explained.

"Samples were referred to us for sequencing and we discovered that, during infection, the golden staph bacteria had become 80 times more resistant to the antibiotic used. Each time they reappeared in blood, the bacteria had picked up a new dangerous mutation.

"Using this information, the clinical team was able to choose a new treatment that was able to finally cure the infection.

"Our study is the first to show that by tracking bacterial evolution in real-time, genome sequencing can reveal tricks bacteria use to survive, giving doctors the power to stay one step ahead and tailor treatment to the specific bacterial strain. This helps avoid unnecessary treatments, minimize side effects for patients and prevent further antibiotic resistanceultimately giving patients the best chance of recovery."

To assess the value of this approach, the researchers surveyed 25 infectious disease specialists across Australia, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. Clinicians rated the genomic reports as "highly useful" (80 out of 100) and indicated that the information influenced their choice of antibiotic treatment in more than one-third of cases.

Professor Eugene Athan, Infectious Diseases Consultant at University Hospital Geelong and survey participant, said the approach offers the opportunity for infectious diseases to enter the era of precision medicine, just as cancer genomics has done in oncology.

"The ability to track bacterial evolution in real-time during severe infections is a game-changer for clinicians," said Professor Athan.

The University of Melbourne's Professor Benjamin Howden, Director of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL) at the Doherty Institute and senior author of the study, said this work has significant implications for the future of infectious disease management.

"These findings represent a major step toward targeted therapy for bacterial infections and open the door to future clinical trials that could make this approach standard practice in hospitals worldwide," said Professor Howden.

As a result of this study, the MDU PHL is exploring a new service to provide advanced genomic investigations for cases where treatment is failing. Victorian hospitals would be the first to access this cutting-edge technology, marking a world-first implementation of precision microbiology in clinical care.

More information: Stefano G. Giulieri et al, A multi-hospital, clinician-initiated bacterial genomics programme to investigate treatment failure in severe Staphylococcus aureus infections, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60045-4 Journal information: Nature Communications
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New research from Western Sydney University, conducted and funded in partnership with major not-for-profit disability service provider Northcott, has shed light on the challenges autistic young school leavers face when trying to access NDIS support.

Recently published in Health & Social Care in the Community, the study is the first to explore the experiences of autistic school leavers, their families, teachers, and service providers in the context of NDIS Tier 3 supporta higher level of support for participants whose situations are more complex and who need specialist assistance.

The research involved 39 participants and more than 40 hours of in-depth qualitative interviews, revealing two key themes:

"Fighting" the NDIS: Navigating an often inconsistent and unfair process that leaves participants feeling emotionally exhausted, re-traumatized, and unsafe.

"Worry" for a future without funding: With the NDIS seen as the primary avenue for support, the stakes for gaining access are incredibly high, and the consequences of being denied funding are dire.

Lead author Dr. Caroline Mills from the School of Health Sciences and Translational Health Research Institute, said the transition from schooling to adulthood is an important and complex time in a young person's life, especially when they have a disability.

"With autistic people now making up the largest group of NDIS participants, it is critical they receive the right support to ensure a successful transition," said Dr. Mills.

Co-author Professor Danielle Tracey from the School of Education, emphasized the reliance on Tier 3 individual funding packages.

"What we are hearing from young autistic people, their families and teachers is an absolute reliance on NDIS Tier 3 support. So, when this is not available, they feel stranded and alone. Through this researchsupported by Northcottand sharing their stories, we hope to bring attention to the needs of this particular group embarking upon adulthood," said Professor Tracey.

A participant in the study described the experience as: "I'm literally head-butting my head against a brick wall," while others expressed fears about a future without access to services needed for employment, education, and independence.

One of the autistic participants said, "You have to make it (your disability) sound worse than it is." This was in response to the desperation that participants are feeling. There has been a narrative around 'reining in' funded supports because they are expensive and people are being left behind in this process.

One of the service providers suggested that the government doesn't want to fund it, because of the expense: "it's almost like government doesn't want them (people with disability) to access (the NDIS)".

The research team is advocating for increased investment in foundational supports, especially at the critical point when a young autistic person leaves school, to ensure no young person is left behind.

This research would not have been possible without the support of Northcott, whose commitment to driving positive outcomes for people with disability continues to create real impact.

More information: Caroline Mills et al, "Good Luck Out There Without NDIS": Challenges Accessing Individualized Support Packages by Autistic Young People Leaving School, Health & Social Care in the Community (2025). DOI: 10.1155/hsc/6830644
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2025). DOI: 10.1172/JCI182088

UC Irvine researchers conducted a study to better understand the molecular basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder in which patients lose the ability to move, becoming weak and wheelchair bound before dying because they can no longer breathe.

"ALS is a devastating disease commonly striking patients in their 40s, 50s or 60s," says Distinguished Professor of pathology Albert La Spada, MD, Ph.D., who worked on the study with colleagues from UC Irvine; the University of Ulm, Germany; the Mayo Clinic; and NYU.

"We are in dire need of treatments to slow the progression of this disease, which is a death sentence for patients who have little hope of benefiting much from current approved therapies."

Previous research into abnormalities of the processing of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) has shown that when TDP-43, a key protein involved in the pathogenesis of ALS, is lost from the nucleus of neurons, mRNAs do not get spliced properly.

"We discovered that another aspect of RNA processing, known as polyadenylation, is also altered in ALS due to TDP-43 loss of function in the nucleus," says Eric Arnold, Ph.D., an assistant project scientist in the La Spada Lab.

The findings appear in a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

"When an RNA is transcribed from DNA, a long tail of adenine residues is added (the polyA tail), and the site where that happens determines the length of the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR)," explains Arnold.

The researchers found that there is pathological alternative polyadenylation (APA) in ALS resulting in abnormally long or short 3'UTRs, which affects the function of mRNAs.

"We identified one gene, MARK3, where pathological lengthening of the 3'UTR due to APA results in the MARK3 protein ending in the wrong place in the neuron, which will affect its ability to function normally," says Sebastian Michels, MD, a former postdoctoral fellow in the La Spada Lab.

"By identifying genes whose mRNAs become dysfunctional due to abnormal polyadenylation, we can examine if correction of the abnormal gene function might be a way to prevent motor neurons in ALS patients from not working properly and eventually dying."

The next steps involve screening roughly 300 different genes identified in the study as undergoing abnormal polyadenylation in ALS. The researchers aim to determine whether any of the genes are candidates for therapeutic modulation in the hope of developing new treatments for patients suffering from ALS.

"Most patients die within two to three years of being diagnosed, and 90% of cases are sporadic, meaning they show up in patients without a direct family history of the disease," says La Spada. "This is a perfect example of how basic research into the molecular underpinnings of a disease can yield targets for therapy development."

More information: Frederick J. Arnold et al, TDP-43 dysregulation of polyadenylation site selection is a defining feature of RNA misprocessing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, Journal of Clinical Investigation (2025). DOI: 10.1172/JCI182088 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Investigation
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Researchers have carried out in-depth interviews with a group of Australians aged 40 and over who use hearing aids, cochlear implants or both to learn more about their experiences with clinicians such as audiologists and GPs.

The study is part of the wider Hearing Impairment in Adults: Longitudinal Outcome Study (HALOS), which aims to learn more about the benefits of hearing interventions for older adults in order to inform clinical practice, improve hearing health care and support the development of new policy.

Senior author and leader of the HALOS project, Professor Bamini Gopinath, says the latest study found that despite technological advances, Australians with hearing loss are still navigating a fragmented system where clinical care does not always align with their needs.

"One of the most striking themes we saw was the variability in hearing health care," Professor Gopinath says. "Some people reported positive relationships with their GPs and audiologists, but many felt their needs weren't being understood as well as they could be.

"One of the common points was that they said they wished that their clinicians had better knowledge and understanding of hearing health and related problems, and how they impacted other aspects of their lives. For example, GPs were often not raising hearing health in any of their conversations.

"Obviously, we expect our primary health care providers to manage an enormous range of conditions and they have many other competing priorities, so for some, hearing loss may be viewed as a non-critical condition that they don't necessarily need to address as they would heart conditions or diabetes.

"Some participants said they felt hearing aids were the default position for their audiologists, and there was a lack of awareness about who was suitable for, and could benefit from, cochlear implants."

Professor Gopinath said some participants shared stories of prolonged waits for assessments, miscommunication around eligibility, or financial concerns that had an impact on their hearing health journey.

"They also reported feeling that their audiologists were doing the hearing tests but not asking how hearing loss was affecting other aspects of their lives, like work, relationships or mental health," Professor Gopinath says.

Other findings from the interviews included that current government funding models, including Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Hearing Services Program, were not always aligned with the real-world needs of adults with hearing loss. In some cases, strict eligibility criteria and administrative hurdles discouraged or delayed people from seeking help.

Participants in regional areas also noted difficulties in accessing specialized services, pointing to limited clinic options and the burden of managing multiple appointments for different devices.

Integrated care

The research team would like to see a more cohesive, multidisciplinary model of hearing care that incorporates medical, emotional and practical support throughout the patient journey.

This would involve better integration between primary care, audiologists, and community services, and would include shared care planning, clear referral pathways, and greater use of tools like tele-audiology and digital apps, especially for people in rural and remote areas.

The results from the study also provide a strong basis for health policy reform, particularly as Australia faces increasing rates of hearing loss due to its aging population.

"Hearing health must be recognized as central to aging well," Professor Gopinath says. "It's time to reframe how we deliver care, moving away from isolated appointments to an integrated hearing care journey that reduces the likelihood that people will miss out on what they need to live well.

"If we were to adopt a multidisciplinary approach where primary health, hearing care and rehabilitation services worked together to create an integrated care pathway, it would result in better support for patients. My colleagues and I are currently working to develop evidence-based, standardized guidelines around hearing health care that would help educate and upskill GPs and audiologists.

"We want to ensure they are fully empowered and informed to not only discuss the available options with their clients but have those discussions at the right time."
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Researchers at Emory University have provided compelling evidence supporting the existence of an inflammatory subtype of major depression, a breakthrough that could transform how this complex disorder is diagnosed and treated.

Led by Andrew H. Miller, MDa pioneer in inflammation research related to depressionEmory investigators highlight inflammation as a key driver of depressive symptoms in approximately 25% to 30% of patients. Their work is featured in three recent journal publications.

"We now understand that inflammation plays a crucial role in a subset of people with depression," says Miller, William P. Timmie Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. "This recognition creates an unprecedented opportunity to develop targeted treatments and deliver personalized care to patients who need it most."

Miller, who serves as the director of the Behavioral Immunology Program at Emory, leads a team whose expertise in neuropsychiatric and immunological research is driving innovations that promise to reshape diagnosis and treatment for millions affected by major depression.

Their research identifies elevated inflammatory markerssuch as C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)in the blood, brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid of affected patients. These biological signals correlate with specific symptoms including anhedonia, fatigue and psychomotor slowing, often described as "sickness behavior."

Importantly, patients with this inflammatory profile respond differently to treatments. Traditional antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be less effective, while alternatives such as ketamine or electroconvulsive therapy show greater promise. This has significant implications for tailoring treatments to individual patients.

The Emory team stresses future clinical trials must incorporate biomarkers like CRP to identify and enrich patient groups with this inflammatory subtype. Doing so will improve the precision of treatments and accelerate the development of new therapies targeting inflammation-related pathways. This growing body of work marks a significant step toward precision psychiatry, offering hope for improved outcomes in one of the world's most challenging mental health conditions.

Miller also advocates for the inclusion of an inflammation specifier in upcoming editions of diagnostic manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-6.

"Including this new category could help doctors better understand the different types of depression, make treatment more personalized and effective, and speed up research into treatments that target the underlying biology of the illness," Miller explains.

The three publications co-authored by Miller and colleagues include JAMA Psychiatry, where the authors propose adding inflammation as a specifier for major depression in the upcoming DSM-6. In Biological Psychiatry, Miller, along with Emory colleagues Jennifer Felger, Ph.D., and Ebrahim Haroon, MD, outline a clinical trial framework specifically designed for this inflammatory subtype. In the third publication, the American Journal of Psychiatry, Miller offers a comprehensive perspective on the scientific and clinical implications of inflammation as a core mechanism in a subset of depression.
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Image illustrating the kind of scenarios used in emotional intelligence tests, along with brief explanations that evaluate the emotional reasoning behind each response. Credit: Katja Schlegel.

Throughout the course of their lives, humans can establish meaningful social connections with others, empathizing with them and sharing their experiences. People's ability to manage, perceive and understand the emotions experienced by both themselves and others is broadly referred to as emotional intelligence (EI).

Over the past decades, psychologists have developed various tests designed to measure EI, which typically assess people's ability to solve emotion-related problems that they may encounter in their everyday lives. These tests can be incorporated into various psychological assessments employed in research, clinical, professional and educational settings.

Researchers at the University of Bern and the University of Geneva recently carried out a study assessing the ability of large language models (LLMs), the machine learning techniques underpinning the functionality of conversational agents like ChatGPT, to solve and create EI tests. Their findings, published in Communications Psychology, suggest that LLMs can solve these tests almost as well as humans and could be promising tools for developing future psycho-metric EI tests.

"I've been researching EI for many years and developed several performance-based tests to measure people's ability to accurately recognize, understand, and regulate emotions in themselves and others," Katja Schlegel, first author of the paper, told Medical Xpress.

"When ChatGPT and other large language models became widely available and many of my colleagues and I began testing them in our work, it felt natural to ask: how would these models perform on the very EI tests we had created for humans? At the same time, a lively scientific debate is unfolding around whether AI can truly possess empathythe capacity to understand, share, and respond to others' emotions."

EI and empathy are two closely linked concepts, as they are both associated with the ability to understand the emotional experiences of others. Schlegel and her colleagues Nils R. Sommer and Marcello Mortillaro set out to explore the extent to which LLMs could solve and create emotion-related problems in EI tests, as this could also offer some indication of the level of empathy they possess.

To achieve this, they first asked six widely used LLMs to complete five EI tests that were originally designed for humans as part of psychological evaluations. The models they tested included ChatGPT-4, CHatGPT-o1, Gemini 1.5 flash, Copilot 365, Claude 3.5, Haiku and DeepSeek V3.

"The EI tests we used present short emotional scenarios and ask for the most emotionally intelligent response, such as identifying what someone is likely feeling or how best to manage an emotional situation," explained Schlegel. "We then compared the models' scores to human averages from previous studies."

Image showing the percentage of correct responses across the five EI tests for each of the tested LLMs. Credit: Katja Schlegel.

In the second part of their experiment, the researchers asked ChatGPT-4, one of the most recent versions of ChatGPT released to the public, to create entirely new versions of the EI tests used in their experiments. These tests should include different emotional scenarios, questions and answer options while also specifying what the correct responses to the questions are.

"We then gave both the original and AI-generated tests to over 460 human participants to see how both versions compared in terms of difficulty, clarity, realism, and how well they correlated with other EI tests and a measure of traditional cognitive intelligence," said Schlegel.

"This allowed us to test not just whether LLMs can solve EI tests, but whether they can reason about emotions deeply enough to build valid tests themselves, which we believe is an important step toward applying such reasoning in more open-ended, real-world settings."

Notably, Schlegel and her colleagues found that the LLMs they tested performed very well on all EI tests, achieving an average accuracy of 81%, which is higher than the average accuracy achieved by human respondents (56%). Their results suggest that existing LLMs are already much better at understanding what people might feel in different contexts, at least when it comes to structured situations like those outlined in EI tests.

"Even more impressively, ChatGPT-4 was able to generate entirely new EI test items that were rated by human participants as similarly clear and realistic as the original items and showed comparable psychometric quality," said Schlegel. "In our view, the ability to both solve and construct such tests reflects a high level of conceptual understanding of emotions."

The results of this recent study could encourage psychologists to use LLMs to develop EI tests and training materials, which are currently done manually and can be fairly time consuming. In addition, they could inspire the use of LLMs for generating tailored role-play scenarios and other content for training social workers.

"Our findings are also relevant for the development of social agents such as mental health chatbots, educational tutors, and customer service avatars, which often operate in emotionally sensitive contexts where understanding human emotions is essential," added Schlegel.

"Our results suggest that LLMs, at the very least, can emulate the emotional reasoning skills that serve as a prerequisite for such interactions. In our next studies, we plan to test how well LLMs perform in less structured, real-life emotional conversations beyond the controlled format of test items. We also want to explore how culturally sensitive their emotional reasoning is since current models are primarily trained on Western-centric data."

Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadelli, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: Katja Schlegel et al, Large language models are proficient in solving and creating emotional intelligence tests, Communications Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00258-x. Journal information: Communications Psychology

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A study initiated by a University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center physician-scientist defined for the first time how loss of the Y chromosome in male immune cells negatively affects immune system function, which may explain why loss of Y is associated with lower cancer survival rates.

The paper "Concurrent loss of the Y chromosome in cancer and T cells impacts outcome," was published in Nature.

In males, each cell in the body usually contains one X and one Y chromosome. "Loss of Y" is a common, nonhereditary genetic change in men in which an immune cell in the blood loses its Y chromosome. It is often associated with aging. Loss of Y has been linked to increased mortality from carcinomas for many years, though no one knew why.

This study is the first to identify and define the relationship between loss of Y in white blood cells, immune cells and tumors, providing insights as to why men with loss of Y have increased cancer risks and poorer outcomes.

"These findings represent a big step forward in our understanding of why men with loss of Y in their blood cells have a higher mortality from cancer. It turns out it's because these cells make the immune system infiltrating the cancer less effective," said Dan Theodorescu, MD, Ph.D., the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge endowed chair for the director of the Cancer Center and a professor in the College of MedicineTucson.

"We hope this provides a solid lead and framework for the nascent Y chromosome field to pursue so we can collectively better understand all the possible biological implications of this finding and how to use them to develop more effective approaches in prevention and treatment, resulting in higher survival rates for patients."

The research team discovered that loss of the Y chromosomepreviously identified in malignant epithelial cells by the Theodorescu labalso occurred in nearby noncancerous tissues, including connective tissue and immune cells.

Most notably, the team found that this chromosomal loss in helper and cytotoxic T cells, which are responsible for attacking cancer cells, was associated with a reduced ability to kill those cancerous cells. The findings suggest a mechanism by which tumors may evade immune detection and suppression.

Finally, the research team found that loss of Y in epithelial cells, combined with loss of Y in T cells, resulted in more aggressive cancers and lower survival rates in patients.

"The study has potential implications for current immunotherapies, including CAR T therapy," Theodorescu said. "Further research is clearly needed but perhaps immunotherapies using cells from a patient's immune system could be screened for loss of Y before being used in treatment."

The idea for this investigation originated with Theodorescu, then at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was intrigued by a potential link he had observed in his earlier research. He reached out to his longtime collaborator Simon Knott, Ph.D., to explore the idea further in this study.

More information: Dan Theodorescu, Concurrent loss of the Y chromosome in cancer and T cells impacts outcome, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09071-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09071-2 Journal information: Nature
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Children born to mothers who are very obese with a BMI of 35 or higher are at heightened risk of being admitted to hospital for an infection, finds a long-term study published in the open-access journal BMJ Medicine.

The findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight before and after pregnancy, say the researchers.

Based on current trends, the global prevalence of maternal obesity is projected to reach nearly one in four (23%) by 2030, point out the researchers. This is of particular concern, given that obesity is characterized by a state of chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of a disordered immune system response, changes in gene expression, and unfavorable changes to the gut microbiome alterations, all of which can influence the long-term health of the developing fetus, they add.

Previously published studies on whether maternal weight is associated with childhood infection have failed to reach consensus, and it's unclear if various potentially modifiable factors, such as breastfeeding, method of delivery, and pregnancy weight gain, might influence outcomes, say the researchers.

To find out, the researchers drew on participants in the Born in Bradford study, which has been looking at the potential impact of social, environmental, and genetic factors on short and long-term mother and child health outcomes.

Women (9,037) who had given birth to a living child at the Bradford Royal Infirmary between March 2007 and December 2010, and for whom information on their height and weight was available, were included in the analysis.

Some 4,196 (45%) women were of Pakistani, and 3,742 (40%) of white British ethnicity. And 37% of the entire sample lived in the most socioeconomically deprived areas of the UK.

Their children's (9,540) healthspecifically, number of admissions to hospital for an infection and number of infections within their first five yearswas tracked from birth until the age of 15, they withdrew from the study, or died, whichever came first by October 2022.

Infections were categorized as: upper respiratory tract; lower respiratory tract; skin and soft tissue; genitourinary; gastrointestinal; invasive bacterial; and multisystem viral.

The authors looked at whether particular factors might affect the association between maternal BMI and childhood infection. These included: breastfeeding for six or more weeks after birth; cesarean (C) section delivery; preterm birth under 37 weeks; excessive weekly average weight gain and excessive total weight gain while pregnant; and child obesity.

The moms-to-be were weighed at the first antenatal (booking) appointment; again between 2628 weeks of pregnancy, together with height; and during a routine third trimester appointment. About 30% of the women were overweight and 26% were obese, which included 10% who were grades 23 obese (BMI of 35 or above), based on first trimester BMI.

In all, there were 5,009 hospital admissions for infection between birth and the age of 15. About 30% of the children were admitted to hospital for infection at least once up to the age of 15: 19% were admitted once; 6% twice; and 4% three or more times.

The highest admission rates were among infants under a year of age (134.6 admissions/1,000 person years, which fell to 19.9/1,000 person years among 515 year olds.

Crude admission rates rose in tandem with BMI: 39.7 admissions/1,000 person years among children whose mothers were a healthy weight compared with 60.7/1,000 person years among those whose mothers were obese (grades 23).

After adjusting for potentially influential factors, maternal BMI was positively associated with rates of hospital admission for infection across all ages, but the results were statistically significant only for children whose mothers were the heaviest (obesity grades 23).

These children were 41% more likely to be admitted to hospital for an infection when they were under 1 year old after accounting for potentially influential factors, such as mother's age, ethnicity, and area deprivation level, compared with those with mothers of a healthy weight. And they were 53% more likely to do so between the ages of 5 and 15.

The observed associations were slightly stronger in boys than in girls, and in Pakistani women than in white British women. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and multisystem viral infections accounted for most of the excess hospital admissions.

Of the potentially modifiable factors assessed, preterm birth accounted for a modest proportion of the association (7%) between obesity grades 2-3 and childhood infections during the first five years.

But C-section birth accounted for 21% and child obesity at age 45 accounted for 26%, suggesting these might be potentially modifiable risk factors, suggest the researchers. Breastfeeding for six or more weeks and excessive pregnancy weight gain (both average weekly and total) weren't significantly associated.

This is an observational study, and as such, can't establish cause and effect. The researchers also acknowledge that their study relied on data from only one hospital and substantial amounts of information on breastfeeding and child BMI were missing. Nor were they able to factor in environmental and lifestyle factors.

But they nevertheless conclude, "The findings of our study highlight the need for public health campaigns and additional support for health care professionals to help women of reproductive age achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

"Although the results indicated a modest effect of maternal obesity, and only in those with obesity grades 23, the potential effect on a large number of children globally is substantial."

More information: Association between maternal body mass index and hospital admissions for infection in offspring: longitudinal cohort study, BMJ Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2024-001050 Journal information: BMJ Medicine
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Photos representing the theme "Walkability and pedestrian infrastructure". Photo 1: High SES. Category: Adequacy of spaces and resources. Subcategory: Pedestrian transit. Photo 2: Middle SES. Category: Mobility and accessibility. Subcategory: Mechanical ramps and elevators. Photo 3: Low SES. Category: Barriers to pedestrian transit. Subcategory: Slopes and stairs. Credit: Landscape and Urban Planning (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105334

The Nursing and Health Promotion research group examined the urban design of three Bilbao neighborhoods from the perspective of their inhabitants for the purpose of detecting which elements hamper and which encourage physical activity. The participatory study, published in Landscape and Urban Planning, detected that the availability and quality of green areas, multi-purpose facilities and pedestrian spaces are key elements in making the population active.

The World Health Organization classifies sedentary behavior in today's society as a global public health problem. Urban environments constitute one of the main challenges with respect to physical inactivity, given that 31% of the population in European cities, for example, is sedentary.

In this context, the Nursing and Health Promotion research group proposed analyzing how Bilbao's urban design influences the physical activity of its inhabitants. "We conducted a participatory study in collaboration with residents in three socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods and confirmed that the urban environment has a significant impact on people's activity behaviors.

"We saw that the influencing factors are the availability and quality of spaces for physical activity, the perception of safety, pedestrian infrastructure and the management of community resources," explained the researcher Ainara San Juan.

The EHU group opted for a research method known as Photovoice, in which the residents themselves were the ones who used photographs to document the elements they felt facilitated or hindered physical activity. People from Deusto, Uribarri and San Francisco took part, and 117 images per neighborhood were analyzed.

"We wanted to gather the citizens' perspectives. So the results are not deductions made by the research team, but based on the conclusions drawn by the residents themselves following in-depth discussions. That makes the final message all the more significant," said San Juan.

Firstly, in terms of availability and quality of spaces for physical activity, the research results indicate that the environments rated most highly by the citizens are green areas and multi-purpose facilities. In other words, instead of places that are highly specialized for a single activity, spaces that can be used for different functions are considered to be more suitable.

They emphasized the importance of offering activities and maintaining the facilities properly. They also highlighted the importance of accessibility, because having suitable spaces for physical activity is of little use if they are difficult to reach, which is the case in neighborhoods with steep slopes, for example.

Very closely linked to accessibility, the study also concluded that one of the main concerns of the population is pedestrian mobility. Regarding problems caused by slopes, they set great store by moving walkways and urban lifts that facilitate and ensure equality of opportunity for citizens with mobility difficulties.

However, the residents pointed out that attention should be paid to other aspects that make pedestrian areas difficult to navigate and, consequently, prevent people from being active. They cited narrow, poorly paved or poorly lit pavements and terraces or other obstacles that reduce the space for walking.

The research also highlighted the fact that the perception of safety is another important issue in the population's ability to lead an active life. Although vandalism and anti-social behavior were mentioned in some cases, overall, the study participants cited traffic as the main cause of the sensation of insecurity in Bilbao.

"In all the neighborhoods they mentioned the challenges posed by the coexistence of vehicles and pedestrians. They pointed out that traffic limits the space available for physical activity, as it often leads to pedestrians, cyclists, children in the park, joggers, etc. having to share areas and these interactions generate incidents and insecurity," explained San Juan.

Importance of involving citizens in urban planning

Those who collaborated in the study consider it important to take citizen participation into account when decisions are made regarding community resources related to mobility.

San Juan explained that "although the residents feel that the authorities are doing things, they want to be taken more into consideration because they believe that this would respond to the real needs of the community; that would allow actions that do not address the priorities of each neighborhood to be avoided, or relevant information for making improvements to be obtained".

Indeed, the researcher believes that one of the strongest points in the work carried out is that they managed to connect citizens with the authorities: "The methodology used is not only participatory but also has a social component. It is not restricted to generating scientific knowledge but seeks social transformation.

"In this case, the needs identified throughout the process were translated into specific policy recommendations and were passed on directly to the heads of the authorities through several citizen science sessions. The most powerful thing is that, as a university, we acted as intermediaries to ensure that the message from the public reached its intended audience."

More information: Ainara San-Juan-Escudero et al, Exploring urban design's impact on physical activity: A participatory photovoice study across socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods, Landscape and Urban Planning (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105334
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Parental education may protect offspring's cognitive health later in life, according to a study published online May 30 in JAMA Network Open.

Shengyu Luo, from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China, and colleagues evaluated the association of maternal and paternal education with cognitive decline over time among middle-aged and older adults in four countries. The analysis included 7,898 participants from China, 12,402 from the United States, 6,603 from England, and 9,162 from Mexico.

The researchers found that compared with less than primary education, maternal education at the upper secondary level or higher was associated with slower rates of decline in cognitive state ( = 0.082 standard deviations [SD] per year in China;  = 0.025 SD per year in the United States; and  = 0.040 SD per year in England).

In the Mexican cohort, only primary maternal education was associated with slower decline in cognitive state ( = 0.010 SD per year). A similar association with slower cognitive state decline results was seen for paternal education at the upper secondary level or higher compared with less than primary in the Chinese ( = 0.042 SD per year), U.S. ( = 0.027 SD per year), and English cohorts ( = 0.044 SD per year).

In the Mexican cohort, a significant association was seen for primary paternal education ( = 0.010 SD per year). The associations between parental education and annual decline in cognitive state were significantly mediated by the participants' own education for all cohorts, except Mexico.

"These findings highlight the long-term relevance of parental education for offspring's cognitive health across diverse cultural or socioeconomic contexts, and support the potential benefits of improving educational attainment to reduce intergenerational disparities in late-life cognitive health," the authors write.

More information: Shengyu Luo et al, Parental Education, Own Education, and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13036 Journal information: JAMA Network Open

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People who suffer from anxiety wait, on average, 12 years before seeking professional help. That's a pity, and it's unnecessary, says developmental psychologist Leonie Vreeke. She is therefore developing prevention programs to help parents respond helpfully to anxious behavior in their young children.

Young children may be afraid of things like the spray from the shower or talking about their weekend in front of the class. Their world is often filled with anxieties that adults may find irrational. Vreeke, who has been conducting research on anxiety in young children for a number of years, observes that parents sometimes find it hard to handle this behavior. What can be so difficult about saying "Hello" to your teacher when you get to school in the morning?

Magical thinking

"Certainly, young children often cannot yet understand the world," Vreeke explains. "And that uncertainty can cause anxiety. A child might want to play with a friend, but doesn't know how that will go. How do you approach another child? And where will you be going?"

Children are often susceptible to "magical thinking," meaning they have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy. "Then they might be afraid of disappearing down the plug hole in the shower, or being sucked up into the vacuum cleaner."

Avoidance hinders

So, how should you react as a parent if your child is standing in front of the class shaking with fear? Or if they refuse to step into the shower? It is tempting to avoid that stressful situation, by always letting them take a bath, for example, rather than a shower. "But in that case you are making adjustments, and giving the anxiety the opportunity to develop further and become even bigger. All these adjustments hamper the child's development. If you always take a different route to school because your child is afraid of dogs, that can ultimately lead to a phobia about dogs."

Step by step

What does work is approaching stressful situations step by step. The Cool Little Kids program for parents is based on this principle. In six evenings, parents learn how to handle their child's anxiety. Vreeke and colleagues are studying the effectiveness of Cool Little Kids by comparing it to a control condition. Currently, Cool Little Kids is offered by different social partners, such as Prezens, Arkin, Indigo, GGZ Ingeest and MOC Kabouterhuis.

Public health service Amsterdam

For a long time, anxiety symptoms in young children received little attention at the child health clinic. "Many of the information meetings that were offered were about hyperactive behavior or wetting the bed, for example," Vreeke explains. That is changing now: for the past couple of years, the Amsterdam public health service has been using a questionnaire from Vreeke's dissertation that screens for anxiety. "Parents are shown a traffic light. If, after completing the questionnaire, they get a red light, they are told about Cool Little Kids."

Anxiety screening

Vreeke started the Brave Steps project in September 2024. "Many parents find it hard to judge whether they should be concerned about their child's anxiety. Does it really matter that my child is sometimes a bit shy? Six evenings is then quite an investment in time. The aim with Brave Steps is to offer parents even more readily accessible information; in one webinar with tips and information they can judge whether their child needs further help."

In the project, Vreeke and her team also want to offer an individual treatment that is more intensive than the Cool Little Kids training. "After that we want to look into what intervention is most suitable for which parents. And which elements from a training course make the treatment more effective? We don't want to offer any unnecessary interventions, but we do want to make sure that parents and children receive the help they need that's available at that point in time."

Hopeful

Children are often already stuck fast in their anxieties before their parents seek help. "That's what's difficult about internalizing problems," Vreeke explains. "Over-active children disturb the teacher and/or their fellow pupils with their behavior and they are registered for help more quickly, while the quiet, dreamy girl at the back of the class, putting it very stereotypically, is more likely to be ignored."

Vreeke wants to use preventive measures to avoid children suffering permanently from anxiety symptoms, because it takes on average twelve years before people suffering from anxiety seek help. "I think that's a pity because if you delay taking action, anxieties can become more serious and harder to deal with. I think that's what's hopeful about developmental psychology: even with relatively minor adjustments, you can contribute to healthy development for children."
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From 2014 to 2023, there was an increase in the percentage of infants delivered preterm, according to a report published in the June Health E-Stats, a publication of the National Center for Health Statistics.

Joyce Martin, M.P.H., and Michelle J.K. Osterman, M.H.S., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, used birth certificate data from the National Vital Statistics System data files to examine trends in early-term singleton births in the United States from 2014 to 2023 overall and by maternal age.

The researchers observed a 13% increase in the percentage of infants delivered preterm from 2014 to 2023, from 7.74 to 8.71% among all births. A 22% increase was seen in the percentage of early-term births, from 24.31 to 29.64%, with increases of 47% for births at 37 weeks and 9% for births at 38 weeks (8.17 to 12.05% and 16.13 to 17.58%, respectively).

In contrast, full-term births declined by 7% (from 60.76 to 56.68%), and late and postterm births declined from 7.20 to 4.97%. Early-term births increased 21% and 23% for mothers younger than 30 years and for those aged 30 years and older, respectively.

From 2014 to 2023, there was a 77% increase in the percentage of early-term births for which labor was induced, from 17.7 to 31.3%. The percentage of births induced at 37 and 38 weeks increased 81% and 68%, respectively.

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A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting in Seattle found that bedtime procrastination in young adults is associated with specific personality traits, including depressive tendencies.

Results show that bedtime procrastination was associated with higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness and extraversion. These results remained significant after statistically adjusting for chronotype.

"Our study demonstrated that individuals who habitually procrastinate their bedtime were actually less likely to report seeking out exciting, engaging or enjoyable activities," said lead author Steven Carlson, doctoral candidate in the psychology department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

"Instead, bedtime procrastinators reported having emotional experiences consistent with depression, specifically endorsing a tendency toward experiencing negative emotions and lacking positive emotional experiences."

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep is essential to health. The AASM recommends that adults should sleep seven or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. Bedtime procrastinationthe tendency to delay bedtime in the absence of external obligationsreduces the opportunity to get sufficient sleep.

The study involved 390 young adults with an average age of 24 years. They completed a chronotype questionnaire to assess whether they are an "evening type" who prefers to stay up and sleep late or a "morning type" who prefers to go to bed and wake up early. Participants also completed a questionnaire to assess five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. They completed a sleep diary for 14 days to assess bedtime procrastination.

According to Carlson, the study suggests that emotional health is a potential target for interventions to address the widespread problem of bedtime procrastination.

"Bedtime procrastination is not only associated with poor planning, low self-discipline, and time management problems, but also potentially due to difficulties managing negative affect and anxiety prior to bed," he said. "Given the ubiquity of this behavior, and its impact on sleep health, we hope to extend this research to determine whether reducing negative emotions prior to bedtime can be an effective treatment for bedtime procrastination."

The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal SLEEP and will be presented Tuesday, June 10, during SLEEP 2025 in Seattle.

More information: Steven Carlson et al, 0155 Depressive and Dysregulated: Examining Personality Factors Among Bedtime Procrastinators, SLEEP (2025). DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0155 Journal information: Sleep

Provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)
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Mpox virus particles (teal) found within an infected cell (brown). Credit: NIAID

The U.S. saw more than 20,000 mpox cases and nearly six dozen deaths during the 2022 global mpox outbreak. San Francisco was hard hit. Today, mpox remains an ongoing public health emergency, according to the World Health Organization.

During the 2022 outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowed physicians to prescribe it to some patients for investigational medications purposes given the lack of any approved treatments. Most physicians prescribed tecovirimat, also called TPOXX, for mpox patientsa medicine known to be effective against a close cousin of mpox, smallpox.

But did it work? Within two months of the outbreak's start, UC San Francisco became one of the lead sites for an international clinical trial to find out. We spoke to Annie Luetkemeyer, MD, the head of UCSF's Advancing Clinical Trials Globally (ACTG) unit, which spearheaded the research, to learn more about the virus, the trial's result, and what it means for future pandemics.

How is mpox transmitted?

It spreads when a healthy person touches the affected skin of an infected person, and it can be sexually transmitted. In the 2022 outbreak, there was a lot of spread through sexual transmission.

There are two clades (families) of the mpox virus. Clade 1 has traditionally been more severe and circulated largely in Central and East Africa. Clade 2 has historically been found in West Africa. A variant of Clade 2 caused the 2022 outbreak after it spread first to Europe and then the U.S.

What are the symptoms of mpox?

Mpox can be very uncomfortable and cause painful blistering and a disfiguring rash. Most often, mpox goes away on its own, and the risk of death is very low. Still, it can be quite severe and carry a risk of death, especially for children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systemsparticularly if they're unvaccinated.

We primarily treat patients by managing pain and fever and preventing the lesions from becoming infected.

Historically, it's been challenging to get clinical trials running during an outbreak. How did your team manage this?

We were able to start a clinical trial in under a year because of the work that had already been done to test TPOXX in a similar virus, smallpox.

What did your study find?

TPOXX was safe and well tolerated, but unfortunately, it didn't speed up patients' recovery time. One possible explanation for why TPOXX didn't work is that the pharmacokineticsthat is, the dosing or the form in which it was givenmay need to be changed. It may also be that we need to give this drug in combination with another antiviral. But it's also possible that TPOXX is simply not an effective medication for mpox, despite the promising data from animal studies on smallpox.

A study conducted largely among children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a different family or clade of the virus, had very similar findings.

How did including pregnant women and children in the study make it more equitable?

Pregnant women and children can be at a high risk for worse outcomes with infectious diseases, like mpox, due to weaker immune systems. Still, historically, they're not included in many early studies for potential treatments out of an abundance of caution. Without data, drug makers can't apply to have their medicines approved for use in these groups, so women and children sometimes have to wait years for life-saving medicines that are available to the general public.

Our trial was designed to allow inclusion of pregnant women and children in an open-label arm, along with participants who were very sick, as it was felt to be unethical to randomize people at higher risk for poor outcomes to potentially receive a placebo.

Can you explain more about how you designed the trial to do this?

Randomized controlled clinical trials are the "gold standard" in science. Randomizing is a bit like flipping a coin to pick teams: It ensures that the group or team of participants that gets a medicine is comparable to the team that doesn't. Why? Because any characteristics that might make a person more or less susceptible to a medication, like genetics or sex, are equally represented between the two

Our study was still a randomized controlled clinical trial, but it had three arms, and only two were randomized. We didn't randomize pregnant women, children, those with severe mpox disease or those with weak immune systems because we understood that they were at a higher risk of getting very sick. Instead, we ensured they were part of that third "open" arm of the study. This third arm enabled us to ensure that these vulnerable groups received the care they'd have received anywhere at the time, while still collecting data that will help shape future treatments for them. This was accounted for in our overall findings.

What's next in the quest for mpox treatments?

Another smallpox drug called brincidofovir looks to be useful against mpox in laboratory tests. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already allows physicians to prescribe it to patients with severe mpox, again for investigational medications purposes.

Researchers are also exploring monoclonal antibodies, or lab-engineered antibodies designed to target a specific disease, like those developed to treat COVID-19.

What does this trial tell us about the role clinical trials can play during emergencies?

Clinical trials like ours are absolutely essential during outbreaks. They allow us to evaluate whether promising investigational treatments like TPOXX are safe and effective. During mpox, we saw high demand for TPOXX for investigational medications purposes, but without data from randomized controlled studies, we couldn't be sure of its true benefit.

Our study and the research in the Democratic Republic of Congo answered this important question, demonstratingunfortunatelythat TPOXX did not improve mpox recovery time. Given this, widespread use of TPOXX is not beneficial and other strategies should be investigated.

Ultimately, trials like this give us the scientific foundation to make informed treatment decisions and continue to pursue effective treatments for current and future epidemics.
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Patient characteristics and model fairness across subgroups. Credit: JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13685

If data used to train artificial intelligence models for medical applications, such as hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area, differs from the real-world data, it could lead to patient harm. A new study published today in JAMA Network Open from York University found proactive, continual and transfer learning strategies for AI models to be key in mitigating data shifts and subsequent harms.

To determine the effect of data shifts, the team built and evaluated an early warning system to predict the risk of in-hospital patient mortality and enhance the triaging of patients at seven large hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area.

The study used GEMINI, Canada's largest hospital data sharing network, to assess the impact of data shifts and biases on clinical diagnoses, demographics, sex, age, hospital type, where patients were transferred from, such as an acute care institution or nursing home, and time of admittance. It included 143,049 patient encounters, such as lab results, transfusions, imaging reports and administrative features.

"As the use of AI in hospitals increases to predict anything from mortality and length of stay to sepsis and the occurrence of disease diagnoses, there is a greater need to ensure they work as predicted and don't cause harm," says senior author York University Assistant Professor Elham Dolatabadi of York's School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, a member of Connected Minds and a faculty affiliate at the Vector Institute.

"Building reliable and robust machine learning models, however, has proven difficult as data changes over time, creating system unreliability."

The data to train clinical AI models for hospitals and other health care settings need to accurately reflect the variability of patients, diseases and medical practices, she adds. Without that, the model could develop irrelevant or harmful predictions, and even inaccurate diagnoses. Differences in patient subpopulations, staffing, resources, as well as unforeseen changes to policy or behavior, differing health-care practices between hospitals or an unexpected pandemic, can also cause these potential data shifts.

"We found significant shifts in data between model training and real-life applications, including changes in demographics, hospital types, admission sources, and critical laboratory assays," says first author Vallijah Subasri, AI scientist at University Health Network. "We also found harmful data shifts when models trained on community hospital patient visits were transferred to academic hospitals, but not the reverse."

To mitigate these potentially harmful data shifts, the researchers used transfer learning strategies, which allowed the model to store knowledge gained from learning one domain and apply it to a different but related domain and continual learning strategies where the AI model is updated using a continual stream of data in a sequential manner in response to drift-triggered alarms.

Although machine learning models usually remain locked once approved for use, the researchers found models specific to hospital type that leverage transfer learning performed better than models that use all available hospitals.

Using drift-triggered continual learning helped prevent harmful data shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and improved model performance over time.

Depending on the data it was trained on, the AI model could also have a propensity for certain biases, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes for some patient groups.

"We demonstrate how to detect these data shifts, assess whether they negatively impact AI model performance, and propose strategies to mitigate their effects. We show there is a practical pathway from promise to practice, bridging the gap between the potential of AI in health and the realities of deploying and sustaining it in real-world clinical environments," says Dolatabadi.

The study is a crucial step towards the deployment of clinical AI models as it provides strategies and workflows to ensure the safety and efficacy of these models in real-world settings.

"These findings indicate that a proactive, label-agnostic monitoring pipeline incorporating transfer and continual learning can detect and mitigate harmful data shifts in Toronto's general internal medicine population, ensuring robust and equitable clinical AI deployment," says Subasri.

More information: Vallijah Subasri et al, Detecting and Remediating Harmful Data Shifts for the Responsible Deployment of Clinical AI Models, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13685 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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Whether your vacation plans involve a romantic getaway to a faraway locale or just a summer visit with the grandkids, odds are an airplane will be involved.

For the most part, planes are a great way to go, health experts say.

"Overall, it's a very safe mode of transportation," said Dr. Leigh Speicher, an aerospace medicine specialist who is president of the Civil Aviation Medical Association.

But commercial air travel does come with some health baggage. Issues range from simple stress to "complex physiologic changes occurring in the setting of air travel that can affect the heart, the blood vessels and the brain-heart axis," said Dr. Laurence Sperling, the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Here's what the doctors say you can do to stay grounded in health before you're cleared for departure.

Beware of the air?

In the jet-travel anthem "Come Fly With Me," Frank Sinatra sang that once you're up there, where the air is rarefied, you can just glide, starry-eyed. But that rarefied air can pose a health challenge for some.

On commercial flights, cabin air is usually pressurized to the equivalent of around 6,000 to 8,000 feet in altitude, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's roughly the elevation of Estes Park, Colorado, or Mount Olympus in Washington, and it means passengers are inhaling less oxygen than they might normally.

That pressurized air can also be dryaround 5% to 25% relative humidity, according to a research review published in Clinical Cardiology in 2017 about air travel's cardiovascular effects. Sperling, a preventive cardiologist who founded the Emory Center for Heart Disease Prevention, was senior author of that review.

Speicher, who started piloting planes as a teenager, said most healthy people will be fine breathing the cabin air. But the CDC says the lower pressure can exacerbate problems for people with anemia, underlying lung issues, cerebrovascular disease such as stroke, or other conditions that require supplemental oxygen. The Clinical Cardiology review adds heart disease and heart failure, where the heart can't pump efficiently.

If you have any concerns about whether it's safe for you to fly, ask a doctor, Speicher said. "Your best resource to talk to is your own primary care provider. Or, if you've had a recent heart attack or a stroke, it might be the specialist who's cared for you."

The lower air pressure in the cabin also causes gas trapped inside the body to expand. That can affect someone who has had bypass surgery within the past 10 days, the Clinical Cardiology review said.

Expanding air inside the body also can lead to abdominal pain, sinus pain or "airplane ear," Speicher said. The CDC says decongestants can help with ear and sinus symptoms. But because decongestants can raise blood pressure, they should be used for the shortest duration possible or avoided altogether in people with severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, according to guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

Flying dry

The low humidity inside a plane can lead to problems such as dry eye or a cough, Speicher said. To combat dehydration, she recommends traveling with your own water bottle, which you can fill once you clear airport security. Be careful with caffeine and alcohol, she said, both of which can be dehydrating.

The air aboard modern planes is filtered and "cleaner than most of our homes and buildings that we're in," Speicher said. So when it comes to airborne viruses and bacteria, "it's not like you're being exposed to everyone in the whole plane."

But you can still be exposed to germs from the people around you, she said, and if you're sick, you can expose them as well.

"I'm not at the point where I would say, "Everyone needs to wear a mask for every flight,'" she said. But in case you end up next to somebody who is coughing and not wearing a mask themselves, "I think it's lovely to have one on hand."

Blood clot risks

The long periods of immobility that come with air travel can elevate the risk for deep vein thrombosisclots that begin in large veins, often in a leg. If a clot travels to the lungs, it can be fatal.

Such clots are rare, but Speicher and Sperling both recommend using compression socks on longer flights.

Stay well-hydrated, Sperling said, and keep blood flowing by not crossing your legs and by flexing your leg muscles while seated, or "get up and walk in the aisle."

But don't loiter. Turbulence can strike without warning, Speicher said. So when you're seated, buckle up, she said. "It'll save you from injury."

Stressful? Yes

Air travel can be frustrating, to put it mildly. "It's a very stressful time for some people," Speicher said. And that can affect mental health.

So "pack your patience," she said. Try to be understanding of your fellow passengers, and listen to the instructions you're given. "The cabin crew and the pilots are trying to do their job. They're trying to get everyone there safely."

Nervous fliers should "do the things that help you stay calm in regular life," such as deep breathing, meditation or listening to music, Speicher said. "Travel with someone who centers you and helps you feel safe."

Also avoid alcohol, she said. In addition to being dehydrating, it "can compound all the issues going on, instead of calming things down."

Pre-flight prep

Sperling, who has been on the receiving end of several "Is there a doctor on board?" calls to help people when he's flown, emphasized the importance of checking with your health care team to make sure you're ready to fly.

"The physical stress of air travel should not be underestimated," he said. "For many people, it can be the most significant stress test they've had in days, weeks, months or that year." It takes effort to haul luggage through the airport or even just wait in line. "So it's not uncommon for people to unmask some underlying health conditions as they're navigating the stress of air travel."

If you're cleared to fly, Sperling said, make plans for keeping up with your regular medications. Keep them in your carry-on luggage.

"It's really helpful for a person to have a list of their medications, just to be able to share with whoever is trying to help," he said.

People with heart rhythm disorders should carry a copy of a baseline electrocardiogram readingyou can take a photo and store it on your phone, Sperling said. People with implanted devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators should carry the device's card with them.

Overseas travelers should make sure they are up to date on vaccinations. Many hospitals have travel specialists who can help.

Keep in mind basic needs as well, Speicher said. "I recommend having some snacks or food with you in case there are delays."

Don't skimp on sleep

Travel can interfere with sleep, which is considered essential for heart health.

Adjusting to a new time zone is trickiest when traveling east, Speicher said. "You just stay up a bit later when you travel west." Her simplest advice is to get exposure to mid-morning light to reset your body's internal clock when you travel east.

"It's great to get sleep where you can," she said. But be careful with alcohol, which might make you sleepy but can interfere with staying asleep.

Sperling cautioned against taking any type of sleep aid or anti-anxiety medication that you don't take regularly. "Stick to your routine," he suggested. If your normal bedtime routine involves reading a book, try the same while you travel.

Have fun

"Air travel is important for people to see the people they love, their families, their friends, to experience new places and new beauty on this planet," Sperling said.

So while putting in the work required by flying, don't lose sight of its rewards.

"We should be aware of the risks," Sperling said. "We should be equally aware of the joy."
McKenna Akane, a STEM teacher in Alberton, said a subject like science was harder for kids to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can give a kid a textbook, Akane said. But reading how an experiment goes in a textbook and actually participating in that experiment bridges a learning gap.

Montanas science proficiency hasnt recovered since the pandemic, with federal achievement scores finding 11% of students were at a novice level in science in the 2018-19 school year  a number that climbed to 28% in the 2023-34 school year.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still reverberating in schools across the country, but Montana professionals cite chronic absenteeism, switches to four-day school weeks and science teacher recruitment for why the Treasure States science proficiency hasnt bounced back.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is an annual statewide assessment, and each district and school, as well as the state as a whole, receives a report card breaking down proficiency in science, math and reading.

This is a separate assessment from the National Assessment of Educational Progress or the NAEP, which is required testing for fourth and eighth graders for states to complete to access Title 1 funds. ESSA exams are administered by each state to ensure kids are meeting statewide learning standards, and vary across the country.

In Montana, novice proficiency means, the student hasnt met the achievement standard and needs substantial improvement to demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed for success in entry-level credit bearing coursework after high school. Thats according to the Office of Public Instruction. More students tested at a novice proficiency in math and reading post-pandemic as well, but the rise wasnt as significant.

ESSA scores from the 2018-29 school year had 26% considered novices in math and 29% testing as novices in reading. But during the 2023-24 school year, those numbers increased to 30% in reading and 24% in math.

While scores across the country have struggled to recover post-pandemic, its not the only reason scores are low. University of Montanas College of Education Dan Lee attributes lagging scores to chronic absenteeism, which he said correlates with lower academic performance.

Yet, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of what triggered such a widespread academic slide, Lee said in a written statement.

Statewide attendance data shows attendance is slowly starting to rebound after the pandemic. The 2017-18 school year, nearly half of students had at least 95% attendance for the whole school year. There was a spike in 2019-20 to 60% of students having high attendance, which dropped to 29% in the 2020-21 school year.

Attendance has slowly increased with 34% of students attending most days of school in the 2023-24 school year.

Akane said shes seen a leniency with absences since the pandemic, for various reasons she said, but kids could be absent for weeks if they got sick. When students are gone for multiple weeks and miss out on group projects, they also miss learning communication and problem solving skills, she said.

Just showing up is a huge part of it, Akane said.

With some subjects, kids can make up assignments or do alternative work easily, Akane said, but with science it doesnt work as well.

Lee also sees a connection to scores dropping as some schools make the switch to four-day school weeks.

UMs Department of Educational Leadership released a report last year which looked at Montana school district data between 2008 and 2023 and concluded four-day school weeks negatively impacted student achievement and attendance, and cost districts more than five-day school weeks.

Researchers found students with a four-day school week had lower achievement in reading and math from third to eighth grade  with up to a 15% difference from students with an established five-day week structure.

Lee said 44% of Montanas schools have made the switch to four-day, and noted five-day school week students attend school at a higher rate.

With nearly half of our school districts operating under a four-day model, it is unsurprising to observe declining academic performance across the board, Lee said. While structural efficiency and flexibility may have motivated this shift, we must prioritize student learning outcomes above all else.

Rewarding schools with high scores and implementing consequences for schools who consistently hit below the mark are what Lee would like to see the state do to help get scores up. He said things like rewarding districts with credit or money when scores are high, and examining why some schools consistently struggle, could help.

Hiring quality science teachers is also a struggle as they can almost always find a higher paying job in the private sector, Lee said, noting hes seen a drop in university students interested in teaching science in schools.

If my child doesn't have a good physics teacher, a good science teacher, chemistry teacher  and they come to college  they won't major in chemistry, physics because they didn't have a good background, right? he said. If we don't have children who have science backgrounds, how do they understand their world? How do you manage keeping up with technology?

We need to figure out a way to get students interested in becoming math and science teachers, he said.

Montana Science Teachers Association President and Flathead College Physics and Mathematics Professor David Hembroff also said recruiting science teachers, like any other subject, can be challenging.

He encouraged graduates to give back to schools who taught them, like the retired scientists and engineers who live in the Flathead and host a rocket competition each year to pique kids interest in learning science.

Lee said the legislatures push this year to increase starting teacher pay with a bill known as the STARS Act was a good effort to support entry-level teachers across subjects. But he also added that this is a persistent problem, which will take a concerted effort to fix.

Akane hopes technology can be part of the solution, and is incorporating virtual reality into her classrooms which could be helpful to get kids engaged with experiments.

With virtual reality, with simulations on the computer, you're able to kind of witness it in a way that's different than just reading it from a textbook, she said.

But Akane was also on the receiving end of a recent budget cut, and wont be returning to the Alberton School District next year. (See story on page A5.) She said will be moving on to working with the Montana Digital Academy, which provides online classes and resources, next year.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai said on Tuesday that incidents of corruption and misconduct can erode public faith in the judiciary.

He said that such instances have surfaced in the Indian judiciary, and the path to rebuilding trust in the system lies in swift, decisive and transparent action.

In India, when such instances have come to light, the Supreme Court has consistently taken immediate and appropriate measures to address the misconduct, he said.

The comments come in the backdrop of reports that the Central government may initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, who has been accused of corruption.

CJI Gavai stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and said that while there may be criticisms of the Collegium system, the solution must not come at the cost of judicial independence.

Judges must be free from external control, he underscored.

The CJI was speaking at the UK Supreme Court on the topic of Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence. He also spoke against judges taking post-retirement jobs with the government or resigning from their posts to contest elections.

A judge contesting an election for a political office can lead to doubts regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as it may be seen as a conflict of interest or as an attempt to gain favour with the government. The timing and nature of such post-retirement engagements could undermine the publics trust in the judiciarys integrity, as it could create a perception that judicial decisions were influenced by the prospect of future government appointments or political involvement.

Therefore, to preserve the credibility and independence of the judiciary, he and many of his colleagues have pledged not to accept any post-retirement roles or positions from the government, he added.
On Wednesday, 2071 stocks advanced, 1933 declined and 151 remained unchanged on Bombay Stock Exchange with advance decline ratio of 1.07 indicating a positive closing in the broader market. The trend of the major indices on Wednesdays trading is given in the table below.

On NSE, 58 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 30 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices  all indices ended in green. Nifty Infrastructure, Nifty Metal and Nifty Energy were among the biggest gainers.

Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) plunged after its investigational psoriasis drug, Viboziimod (SCD-044), failed to meet primary endpoints in Phase two trials. The company announced the discontinuation of the drugs development and confirmed an ongoing FDA inspection at its Halol facility.

Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite communication company is expected to receive its licence by mid-June, paving the way for its entry into the Indian market.

Ashok Leylands (-0.21%) subsidiary Optare Plc had acquired a 1.01% stake in Switch Mobility UK from Dana Ltd, increasing its ownership from 98.56% to 99.57%. With Hinduja Automotives stake, the group now holds full 100% ownership of Switch Mobility UK.

Maruti Suzuki (+0.29%) had expanded its solar capacity by 30MWp with new projects at Kharkhoda and Manesar, commissioning a 20MWp facility at Kharkhoda and adding 10MWp at Manesar. By FY30-31, the company aims to scale its overall solar capacity to 319MWp, with an investment of over Rs925 crore, targeting 85% renewable energy usage in total electricity consumption.

Adani Airports secured $750 million in global financing through external commercial borrowings (ECB), with First Abu Dhabi Bank, Barclays PLC, and Standard Chartered Bank as lenders. The funds will refinance $400 million in existing debt and support growth capex for six airports and non-aero businesses. The company served 94 million passengers in FY24-25 and aims to triple capacity to 300 million by 2040, with Navi Mumbai Airports Phase-1 launch expected soon.

Marico (-0.08%) entered the cold pressed oils market under its Saffola brand, introducing a range featuring dual seed (Groundnut & Sesame) and single seed (100% Mustard) oils. Designed to support heart health with balanced MUFA & PUFA content, the products start at Rs356 for 1 litre mustard oil and are launched via quick commerce platforms, marking a strategic expansion of Saffolas healthy cooking oils portfolio.

Coforge (+1.44%) received merger approval for consolidating its subsidiariesCoforge Services Ltd (CSL), Coforge SmartServe Ltd (CSSL), and Coforge SF (SF)into Coforge DPA, a wholly owned subsidiary. The move aligns with Coforges entity simplification strategy to enhance operational efficiency.

Epigral (-0.50%) signed agreements with Pro-Zeal Green Power Ten to source 19.80 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid (WSH) power in Gujarat. As a captive consumer, the company has executed an Energy Supply Agreement and will acquire a 26% stake through a Rs21.38 crore investment in equity and optionally convertible debentures (OCDs). The Power Producer SPV, incorporated in January 2025, is yet to commence operations, aligning with Epigrals sustainability and expansion goals.

Tilaknagar Industries (+0.94%), known for its Mansion House brand, is leading the race to acquire Pernod Ricards Imperial Blue whiskey in a $600 million deal. If finalized, this would be the largest M&A transaction in the liquor industry since 2013.

Man Industries (+0.59%) allotted 25 lakh equity shares through warrant conversions, raising its equity share capital to Rs33.61 crores. The transaction has led to a change in the shareholding structure of Man Finance Private Limited, a promoter group entity.

Welspun Aunta-Simaria Project, a subsidiary of Welspun Enterprises (-0.02%), received the provisional commercial operations date (PCOD) from NHAI for the 4/6-laning of the AuntaSimaria (Ganga Bridge) section of NH-31 in Bihar. The 8.15 km project, executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).

Caplin Point laboratories (-0.47%) subsidiary will acquire Triwin Pharma S.A DE C.V in Mexico, strengthening its pharmaceutical marketing and distribution capabilities. The move supports tender sales and enhances a stock-and-sale model in LATAM markets, marking a positive expansion for the company.

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) suspended the May 30 order by NCLT Mumbai that admitted Reliance Infrastructure into the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). This decision follows the companys appeal in case C.P. (IB)/624(MB)2022, putting the insolvency admission under IBC on hold until further notice.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) (+1.19%) secured fresh orders worth Rs537 crores. The contracts cover communication equipment, ship-based composite communication systems, jammers, software and simulator upgrades, spares, test rigs, and services.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties of Rs11.48 lakh on three cooperative banks and two housing finance companies (HFCs) for non-compliance with the directions issued by the banking regulator. The highest penalty of Rs6 lakh has been imposed on Nodia-based Citizen Cooperative Bank Ltd.

Other entities penalised by RBI include: Punjab-based Bathinda Central Cooperative Bank Ltd, Srinagar-based Jammu and Kashmir State Cooperative Bank Ltd and Maharashtra-based two HFCs, India Home Loan Ltd and Khush Housing Finance Pvt Ltd.

Citizen Cooperative Bank has been penalised for contravention of the provisions of Section 12B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act) and non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on know-your-customer (KYC).

RBI's statutory inspection found that Citizen Cooperative Bank had committed two key lapses. First, it failed to ensure that individuals, along with their relatives, obtained prior approval from the RBI before being issued or allotted shares beyond the permissible limit. Second, the lender did not implement a robust software system capable of generating alerts to identify suspicious transactions.

Bathinda Central Cooperative Bank was fined Rs3 lakh for contravention of provisions of Section 26 of the BR Act. The lender had failed to transfer eligible unclaimed amounts to the depositor education and awareness fund (DEA Fund) within the prescribed time.

RBI conducted a statutory inspection of Jammu and Kashmir State Cooperative Bank and found that the lender failed to obtain officially valid documents (OVD) of its customers while establishing the account-based relationship. As a result, RBI imposed a penalty of Rs2 lakh on the Bank.

Mumbai-based India Home Loan was fined Rs32,000 for failing to comply with RBI directions related to KYC norms. The HFC did not carry out the required periodic review of risk categorisation of customer accounts, which is mandated to be done at least once every six months. Additionally, India Home Loan failed to regularly update the KYC details of its customers as required.

Another Mumbai-based HFC, Khush Housing Finance, was also fined Rs16,000 for non-compliance with RBI's KYC guidelines. The company failed to carry out the mandatory risk categorisation of its customers, as required under the applicable regulations.

In all five cases, RBI says the penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and are not intended to pronounce on the validity of any transaction or agreement they entered into with their customers.
The central bureau of investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 2007 batch, Amit Kumar Singal, currently serving as additional director general at the directorate of taxpayer services in New Delhi, along with an individual, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs25 lakh from a complainant.

According to the agency, the IRS officer and his associate had demanded Rs45 lakh in illegal gratification from the complainant in exchange for favourable official treatment. The demand was reportedly accompanied by threats of legal action and harassment if the bribe was not paid.

CBI registered a case on 31 May 2025 and laid a trap following a complaint. The individual was caught red-handed while accepting Rs25 lakh on behalf of Mr Singal at the officers residence at Mohali in Punjab. Mr Singal was later apprehended from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

During subsequent searches at various locations across Delhi, Punjab and Mumbai, CBI seized around Rs1 crore in cash, about 3.5kgs of gold, and about 2kgs of silver from the IRS officers Mohali residence. Officials also recovered documents related to 25 bank accounts and multiple immovable properties.

Both accused were produced before a competent court and remanded to 14-day judicial custody, reports say.

Investigators suspect the case goes beyond bribery. CBI officials allege that Mr Singal misused his official position by influencing the income tax (I-T) department to initiate tax proceedings against a businessman who had terminated a business partnership with him and his associates.

Media reports say that the agency is examining the financial trail, asset declarations and possible links to other beneficiaries or shell entities.
By XU JIN and LI XIAOYUN

YANG MEINI/FOR CHINA DAILY

The creation of development finance institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the aftermath of World War II marked the formalization of the international aid architecture. This system took institutional shape through the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, a club largely comprising wealthy nations. For decades, official development assistance was hailed as the engine of global development  at times even a panacea. In 1970, the United Nations set an ambitious target: that rich countries should allocate 0.7 percent of their Gross National Income to Official Development Assistance, cementing the doctrine of "no aid, no development".

So when the second Donald Trump administration began axing its aid  which accounted for nearly one-third of DAC contributions and half of global humanitarian funding  many saw it as the abrupt twilight of the aid era.

Yet the retrenchment of aid was less a sudden rupture than the culmination of a decade-long recalibration. Since the 2008 financial crisis, many DAC members have quietly retooled their aid systems, steering them away from development as an end in itself and toward foreign policy and security objectives. Countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom folded their aid agencies into foreign ministries, effectively turning development assistance into a strategic instrument. The trend accelerated in 2015, when Europe's refugee crisis saw donor countries diverting up to 30 percent of their ODA budgets to cover in-country refugee costs  leaving less for development projects in poorer nations. The Ukraine crisis, which erupted in 2022, further entrenched this shift. That year, most of the increase in global ODA flowed not to the least developed countries, but to Ukraine. By 2025, several leading European donors  including the UK, France and Germany  had announced sharp aid reductions while ramping up military budgets. The UK, for instance, is slashing aid by 40 percent and raising defence spending from 2.3 percent to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027.

This strategic repurposing leaves a funding vacuum that neither emerging economies in the Global South nor the private sector are likely to fill anytime soon. The shortfall is especially stark in Africa, where US bilateral aid accounts for roughly a quarter of all external development finance. In 16 African nations, funding from USAID alone makes up around 1 percent of Gross National Income. According to the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, current US aid cutbacks could push an additional 19 million Africans into extreme poverty by 2030.

The decline in aid points to a deeper paradox at the heart of the development enterprise. Though nearly 70 percent of aid from advanced economies is nominally devoted to promoting growth, no country has ever vaulted to sustained prosperity on aid alone. Instead, it has bred dependency and, more insidiously, chipped away at the sovereignty of recipient nations. Governments often bend to donor priorities, sidelining domestic agendas in favor of externally dictated benchmarks. The result is frequently a misalignment of goals  where aid-driven projects supplant rather than support local industries. At the same time, the steady flow of foreign assistance dulls incentives to build robust tax systems, leaving fiscal institutions underdeveloped and states trapped in a cycle of external reliance.

Aid often comes tethered to the donor's values. Western-led assistance is frequently laden with political conditions, privileging democratization and "good governance" over economic pragmatism. This reordering of priorities can distort national agendas, leaving recipient governments juggling donor expectations rather than pursuing national development strategies. Neoliberal prescriptions, rooted in the belief that "government is the problem", have led donors to bypass state institutions, channeling aid through non-governmental organizations instead. This approach often results in fragmented projects that operate in silos and lack coordination with national development plans. The proliferation of such fragmented aid projects has left developing countries struggling to align external interventions with coherent, long-term development plans.

Yet the retreat of aid is also catalyzing a welcome shift. Across the Global South, governments are rediscovering the imperative  and the possibility  of self-reliance. The perils of aid dependency have become harder to ignore. In 2017, Ghana's then-president, Nana Akufo-Addo, launched the "Ghana Beyond Aid" initiative, arguing that true prosperity could only come from within. His successor, John Mahama, has endorsed the same vision. From Ghana to Ethiopia, and from Rwanda to Zambia, leaders are beginning to frame the so-called post-aid era as a window of opportunity: one in which nations can pursue homegrown strategies, rebuild institutional capacity, and craft a new development paradigm on their own terms.

This moment presents a rare opportunity to rethink and restructure the global governance system. Multilateral institutions  particularly those anchored in the UN  are already facing acute disruptions. Many UN agencies have begun cutting staff and slashing budgets. The World Food Programme, the world's largest humanitarian agency and heavily reliant on US funding, plans to lay off 30 percent of its global workforce, cutting 6,000 jobs. As aid flows recede, low-income countries are increasingly turning to emerging powers such as China and India for support  potentially placing outsize pressure on these South-South cooperation partners. Collectively, these shifts are poised to redraw the contours of global governance, recasting the roles of both the Global North and the Global South.

For countries in the Global South, the retreat of aid is both a risk and a reckoning. While the danger of falling into new forms of dependency remains, so too does the promise of charting new, self-determined development paths. The challenge  and opportunity  lies in fostering genuine autonomy and advancing a more just and equitable international order.

Xu Jin

Li Xiaoyun

Xu Jin is an associate professor at the college of international development and global agriculture at China Agricultural University. Li Xiaoyun is a professor at the college of international development and global agriculture at China Agricultural University. The authors contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily.

China Daily June 4, 2025




Vietnam scraps two-child policy as birth rate slips

A mother waves to a child being taken to kindergarten in Hanoi. Photo: AFP

Vietnam has scrapped a long-standing policy of limiting families to two children, state media said on Wednesday, as the communist-run country contends with a declining birth rate.



The decision on the number of children is now a decision for each individual couple, Vietnam News Agency said.



The country has experienced "historically" low birth rates during the last three years, with the total fertility rate dropping to just 1.91 children per woman last year, below replacement level, the ministry of health said this year.



The decline in birth rates was from 2.11 children per woman in 2021, down to 2.01 in 2022 and 1.96 in 2023.



Tran Minh Huong, a 22-year-old office worker, said the government regulation mattered little to her as she had no plans to have children.



"Even though I am an Asian, with social norms that say women need to get married and have kids, it's too costly to raise a child." (AFP)
China, Belarus are true friends and good partners: Xi

Presidents Xi Jinping and Alexander Lukashenko meet in Beijing, further boosting bilateral ties between China and Belarus. Photo: Xinhua

President Xi Jinping praised Belarus as a true friend of China as he met visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing on Wednesday.



Xi said the two countries are true friends and good partners, treating each other with sincerity and trust.



He called on both sides to further enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, jointly oppose hegemony and bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.



Noting China and Belarus share enduring traditional friendship, formidable political mutual trust and growing cooperation in all fields, the president said China has always viewed and developed bilateral relations from a strategic and a long-term perspective.



Xi again congratulated Lukashenko on his re-election as the president of Belarus, and said China is willing to work with Belarus to promote the steady development of bilateral ties and win-win cooperation.



Lukashenko, who is on his 15th visit to China, said Beijing sets an example for the world by upholding multilateralism and opposing unilateralism and sanctions and pressure, expressing admiration for the country and willingness to work with China to safeguard international fairness and justice.



This is his first visit to Beijing since he was declared the winner of January's presidential election. (Xinhua and agencies)
VMPL Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 4: In an afternoon marked by warmth, joy, and heartfelt interaction, Hyderabad welcomed contestants of the 72nd Miss World 2025 pageant for a special outreach event held at the Trident Hotel. Far from the glamour of the pageant stage, this gathering focused on community, compassion, and meaningful conversations -- especially for over 200 visually impaired children and orphans from various parts of Telangana. Organized by Dr. Rama Krishna of Fortune Hospitality and Sudeeksha Estates in collaboration with the Miss World Organization, this event served as a platform for bridging cultures, sharing stories, and initiating real impact. The initiative was further supported by the Miss World Organization, with Chairperson Julia Morley and reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova in attendance. Unlike conventional formal ceremonies, the ballroom of the hotel was transformed into an open, inclusive space where children sat in small groups with the international contestants. What followed was a spontaneous exchange of experiences -- discussions on dreams, questions about life journeys, and lots of laughter that echoed well beyond the ballroom walls. A Message of Hope and Resilience The children came from backgrounds marked by hardship, but their curiosity was boundless. They asked the contestants questions ranging from their decision to enter the Miss World pageant to how they handled challenges and responsibilities on a global platform. Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova shared words of encouragement, while Chairperson Julia Morley emphasized the value of perseverance, kindness, and believing in one's potential. One of the most moving moments of the day came from Miss Nigeria, Joy Mojisola Raimi, who candidly spoke about losing her mother at a young age. "I know what it feels like to be left out," she told the young audience. "But life finds a way. Today, I stand here representing my country. If I can do it, so can you." Similarly, Miss Philippines, Krishnah Marie Gravidez, who was surrounded by a group of smiling students taking selfies, shared her admiration for the children. "These kids are among the most adorable I've ever met. There's something special here -- a connection you can't explain, only feel." Miss Estonia, Eliise Randmaa, who has worked on child welfare through her "Beauty with a Purpose" initiative, reflected on how events like these create lifelong impressions. "Sharing even a small moment with these children reminds me why we do what we do." A Contribution for the Future: Rs2 Crore Donation While the day brought emotional fulfillment to the attendees, it also marked the beginning of a major transformation for the Victoria Memorial School. During the event, Mr. Ramakrishna, Chairman and Managing Director of Fortune Infra Group, handed over a cheque of Rs2 crore (5 Lakhs donated by Vamsiram Builders, 10 Lakhs donated by Cyber City & 1.85cr by Dr. Rama Krishna) to Mr. Anil Kumar, Secretary of the KC Pullaiah Foundation. KC Pullaiah Foundation -- established in 2008 and renamed in 2012 in honor of its visionary founder -- has been instrumental in advancing education, health, skill development, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The foundation has impacted over 1. 5 lakh beneficiaries through its flagship initiatives such as the Vidvatta Program (scholarships for meritorious students), Aarogyam (free clinics and nutrition support for children living with HIV), and the KC Pullaiah Skill Development Centers. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anil Kumar said, "The school has been in dire need of renovation for years. This generous contribution will help us provide the children with the infrastructure they deserve. We are committed to completing the project within one year." A joint committee will be formed, consisting of representatives from Victoria Memorial School, Fortune Infra Group, and the KC Pullaiah Foundation, to monitor and guide the progress of the renovation work. The project is expected to begin shortly and will be carried out with a strong emphasis on safety, accessibility, and educational functionality. This donation is earmarked for the complete renovation of the school's heritage building, which currently houses over 900 children. The structure, though historic, has become unsafe and obsolete. With this timely financial support, it will now be transformed into a safer, more nurturing space for education and growth. Thoughtful Tokens and Joyful Moments As part of the outreach, each student received a carefully curated gift kit containing books, woollen clothing, pearl necklaces, and other meaningful keepsakes. For many of the children, it was the first time they interacted with people from so many different cultures and backgrounds -- a rare and joyful experience. What stood out the most, however, was not the material gifts, but the human connection. As the formalities concluded, music played softly in the background and the ballroom quickly turned into a lively dance floor. Children and contestants danced together, their smiles reflecting a sense of freedom and joy that words could hardly capture. A Day to Remember In her closing remarks, Julia Morley, Chairperson of the Miss World Organization, praised the initiative and its impact. "The essence of Miss World lies in using influence for good. Today's event reflects exactly that. It's not just about titles -- it's about touching lives." The event has set a meaningful precedent for how global platforms like Miss World can play a role in community development, especially when supported by local organisations like Fortune Infra Group and the KC Pullaiah Foundation. For the children of Victoria Memorial School, the day brought much more than excitement -- it brought hope, representation, and the promise of a better future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Indian stock markets continued to trade in a consolidation phase on Wednesday, opening flat with slight gains. Investors appeared cautious but optimistic, with global developments and upcoming domestic policy decisions influencing market sentiment. The Nifty 50 index opened at 24,560.45, gaining 17.95 points or 0.07 per cent. Similarly, the BSE Sensex also started flat, rising by 40.14 points to open at 80,777.65, a gain of 0.05 per cent. Market experts believe that the cautious momentum in Indian equities is a reflection of global cues and profit-booking by domestic promoters. Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI, "Hopes are rising for announcement of trade deals and for a Trump-Xi call later this week which could set the stage for some US-China detente on trade and tariffs." He added that the US markets have stayed resilient, rising for the second straight session despite concerns around tariffs, as retail investors continue to buy on dips. Bagga pointed out that Indian markets are also responding to mixed signals. "India has seen over USD 5 billion in sales by promoters taking money off the table, which is a bit sobering for market sentiment. However, in a USD 5 trillion market, this is small change in the overall perspective," he said. Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) activity has also remained weak. FPI numbers have been negative for the first two days of the week due to block deals, which remain a headwind for the markets. However, the anticipation of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday is lending support to the bullish sentiment. "India's attractiveness as a strong macro with an easing monetary bias, with RBI expected to cut rates on Friday once more, stays a strong factor," Bagga said. In the broader market, indices were trading positive. The Nifty 100 gained 0.18 per cent, Nifty Midcap rose by 0.25 per cent, and Nifty Smallcap advanced by 0.29 per cent. Meanwhile, market volatility declined as the India VIX index dropped by 1.54 per cent. Sector-wise, all sectors on the NSE opened with gains except Nifty Consumer Durables, which saw a marginal decline. Nifty Auto gained 0.32 per cent, Nifty FMCG rose by 0.23 per cent, and Nifty IT was up by 0.19 per cent. Nifty Media and Nifty Pharma each gained 0.25 per cent and 0.26 per cent respectively. Nifty Metal was flat but ended slightly higher with a gain of 0.5 per cent. With global cues remaining mixed and RBI's policy announcement around the corner, markets may continue this range-bound movement in the coming sessions. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], June 4: LEAP India Private Limited (LEAP) is pleased to inform you that CHEP India Private Limited (CIPL/ "Transferor Company") has been merged with its holding company LEAP ("Transferee Company") under the provisions of Section 233 of the Companies Act, 2013 pursuant to an order dated May 22, 2025 by Regional Director (Ministry of Corporate Affairs). With the acquisition of CIPL officially completed on January 8, 2025, this merger now marks the final step in creating a unified enterprise and aims to create significant value creation for all its customers and supply chain partners. The merger aims to strengthen LEAP's position in the supply chain solutions industry. The LEAP Group, including TARON Material Handling Equipments Private Limited as a subsidiary, now operates 30 warehouses, manages over 13.5 million assets, serves 6,000+ customer touchpoints, and is powered by a team of more than 3,000 full-time employees. Aimed at providing an exceptional Customer Experience The merger is aimed at leveraging the combined strengths of both organizations to serve customers better through customized supply chain solutions, a wider, more responsive service network, faster turnaround times and an expanded portfolio of offerings in line with LEAP's commitment to operational excellence. Sunu Mathew, Managing Director and Founder of LEAP said, "Completing this merger is a significant milestone for LEAP India as it consolidates our efforts to create a more efficient and sustainable supply chain ecosystem by integrating talent, technology, and infrastructure, we are not only enhancing operational capacity but also reinforcing our commitment to exceptional customer service. Our clients can expect a more agile, responsive, and value-driven partnership." About LEAP Founded in 2013, LEAP India stands for Leading Enterprise in Asset Pooling, has emerged as a leader in the asset pooling market, delivering sustainable and efficient supply chain solutions across India. Being associated with 1000+ customers, LEAP India supports multiple Industries; from FMCG to e-commerce. LEAP India is known for resource optimization and cost-effective solutions and has been a long-term partner for advancing sustainability and efficiency in the country's supply chain landscape. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], June 4: Recently, the government of India has launched a remarkable health insurance coverage initiative called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) under which the Government aims to provide cashless treatments for all eligible patients nationwide. All those citizens who are eligible and want to have their Ayushman Card can simply visit the Official Website, fill out the registration form, and Download Ayushman Card under this Initiative. Citizens don't need to visit any Government office or centre; instead, they can simply visit the official website and enroll themselves online. About Ayushman Bharat Card Ayushman Bharat Card is a Health Insurance Document provided to all eligible citizens who got approved under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Under this initiative, the Government aims to provide health insurance coverage for all senior citizens and other eligible citizens nationwide. With the help of this Ayushman Card, all eligible citizens will get cashless treatments amounting to INR 5 Lakh annually. As per the reports stated by the Officials, till now,approximately 34.7 Crores of Ayushman Cards have been created and provided to all the eligible citizens across the country. Eligibility Criteria * All the senior citizens aged above 70 Years of age are eligible to apply. * All the citizens belonging from Below Poverty Line are eligible. * Applicant must be an Indian Citizen. * Beneficiaries of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana are also eligible. Benefits & Features of Ayushman Card * With the help of this Ayushman Card eligible citizens can get cashless treatment in both Private & Government hospitals listed under (PMJAY. * By using this card citizens can get pre hospitalization coverage along with post hospitalization coverage. * Till now the Government has created and distributed approx 34.7 Crores of Ayushman Bharat Cards nationwide. * There is no age restrictions under this initiative all the eligible citizens can apply for this card. * This initiative provide coverage for all the members of the family. * The Government will cover cashless treatment upto INR 5 Lakh per year for every beneficiaries. Required Documents - Aadhar Card Number - Ration card - Proof of Income - BoCW Certificate How to Download Ayushman Card Online * All those citiznes who want to download Ayushman Card online have to visit the Official NHA Website at https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in/ * Now you have to get logged in by entering your Registered mobile number & other credentials. * Now you have to search for beneficiary by enterinh your Beneficiary id and other details. * After that you have to enter your Aadhar Number for Aadhar Verification. * After that you'll see a list of Ayushman Cards linked to your Aadhar. * Now you have to click on Download Button so that the Ayushman Cards will be downloaed and saved in your device. Conclusion This Ayushman Card comes under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), a PM Modi Scheme launched to provide health Insurance Coverage of INR 5 Lakh Annually for all the eligible citizens across the Nation. Today, in this article, we have provided you with all the important information regarding the Ayushman Card along with its Download Process online. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], June 4: Atal Incubation Centre - Birla Institute of Management Technology (AIC-BIMTECH) was honoured to be part of Google AI Day for Startups - Delhi, hosted by Google for Startups at I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), the Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi. AI Day for Startup was a day-long event and was part of Google's nationwide initiative to empower Indian startups with cutting-edge Generative AI tools and practices. Mr. Surya Kant, CEO of AIC-BIMTECH, has been invited to speak for the event and had engaging and forward-looking thoughts during panel discussion on "AI's Next Wave: Agents, Multimodal, Monetization." Alongside other industry leaders, he shared insights into the emerging frontier of AI and emphasized the importance of value-driven innovation and scalable AI infrastructure tailored for Indian startups. Google AI Day for Startups is a multi-format event series created to equip early-stage startups with the tools and knowledge needed to build with Generative AI. This year's theme shifted from simply getting started with GenAI to enabling hands-on experience with AI Agents, Multimodal AI, and practical approaches to AI commercialization -- including discussions on return on investment (ROI), deployment strategies, and product-market fit. We were equally proud to see one of our incubated startup founders, Keshav Jha, Founder of BhartAI and Academiq.io, who was one of the beneficiaries who was selected under Google for the Startup program, attended the learning event. Sharing his experience, Keshav remarked: "This event transcended the typical conference experience, bringing together India's brightest AI minds for a day of deep technical exploration - from Vertex AI and Gemini APIs to high-impact networking. I am grateful to Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) and AIC BIMTECH for their incubation support. Hearing our mentor and AIC-BIMTECH CEO, Mr. Surya Kant, articulating a strategic vision for AI's future reinforced the critical role of ecosystem support like BIMTECH's incubation program in fueling entrepreneurial journeys." As an incubator committed to advancing innovation and supporting startups, Atal Incubation Centre - Birla Institute of Management Technology (AIC-BIMTECH) celebrates platforms like these that foster learning, collaboration, and breakthrough thinking in the AI space. We extend our gratitude to IHFC and Google for Startups for curating such a dynamic and future-focused experience. As an enabler of the startup ecosystem we are committed to contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. The incubation hub is one of the enabling partner under MeitY for SAMRIDH schemes through which we have facilitated over Rs2 crores for five AI startups, which are CreditSiddhi, Cunomial, Origin Connect, Transport Simple, and Vacus. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], June 4: Reckitt, a leading global consumer health and hygiene company, has partnered with the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to strengthen its purpose-led programs across India, with a focus on health, hygiene, sanitation, and life skills education. Established in 2006, PHFI is a globally recognized public-private initiative that has contributed significantly to building India's public health capacity through education, research, and advocacy. The institution was recently ranked second among schools of public health globally (International Journal of Public Health, March 2024) and has been recognized as an ICMR Collaborating Centre of Excellence. The partnership brings together Reckitt's deep experience in driving large-scale behavioural change and PHFI's leadership in public health research, education, and policy. Together, the two organizations aim to co-create innovative solutions, strengthen institutional capacity, and document scalable community health models that can be replicated across India. As part of the collaboration, PHFI will work closely with Reckitt and its civil society partners to validate and document existing outreach programs nationwide. The resulting evidence will be translated into case studies and academic publications to highlight effective, scalable models for health impact. On the partnership, Professor Sanjay Zodpey, President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), said, "Partnership between Reckitt and Public Health Foundation of India will develop initiatives responding to community health needs for capacity building, training programs and research to address the public health challenges with a focus on sanitation and hygiene." Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt - South Asia, said, "At Reckitt, we believe we achieve more together as trusted partners. Through collaboration, we can collectively drive systemic, long-term positive change. We deeply value this collaboration, which unites PHFI's academic and policy leadership with Reckitt's on-ground experience in driving behavioural change. Hygiene is the foundation of good health, and this partnership marks another meaningful step in our journey to support the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Trusted, purpose-aligned partnerships like this are essential to building a healthier, more resilient India." PHFI has established five Indian Institutes of Public Health and contributed more than 4,800 research publications to the field. Its recognition as a global public health leader further showcases the strength it brings to this collaboration to deliver evidence-based health interventions. With this partnership, Reckitt and PHFI are not only setting a new benchmark for public-private collaboration but also laying the groundwork for transformative change in how India addresses its most pressing health challenges. Grounding interventions in science and scaling them through community action, the partnership aims to deliver lasting improvements in sanitation, hygiene, and public health outcomes. More than a partnership, this is a mission-driven alliance focused on shifting narratives, empowering communities, and reinforcing the foundations of India's public health system. Together, Reckitt and PHFI aim to ensure that access to health and hygiene is a right for all, not a privilege. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday participated in the WTO Trade Ministers gathering in Paris, France, at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting.The minister discussed concerns regarding the WTO (World Trade Organisation) and multilateral trade."Participated in the WTO Trade Ministers gathering on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris.Had a very good discussion on several issues concerning WTO and multilateral trade," Union Minister tweeted on social media 'X'.On Tuesday, speaking to ANI, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation, said, "We need India as a leader "in the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), which will take place in Yaounde, Cameroon, from March 26 to 29, 2026."India is a leading country, and India is doing well. So India needs to open the way for other developing countries. For example, on investment facilitation for development. We want India to support because so many developing countries, 90 out of the 126 who are members, would like to move with this. But for agriculture, we also need to listen to what India's issues are and try to be as supportive as we possibly can," the WTO DG addedThe WTO DG also raised issues of repositioning and possible reforms to the trade body. "Goods trade is still taking place on WTO terms, MFN terms, and members want to safeguard that, but there are things that also don't work. And when you have this kind of disruption, you ask yourself, what is it that needs to be reformed about the WTO?" said DG WTOShe added, "What is it that developing countries like India don't like? Let them put that on the table. What is it that the US doesn't like? Put that on the table. What do Africans not like about the way the organisation? Put that on the table. Let's collect these and then let's try to reform it because most members think that it is a very valuable organisation, but it should be repositioned". Additionally, the minister also met Brazil's Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira. Both ministers discussed the trade between the two countries and explored options to deepen the economic partnership. (ANI)
HT Syndication New Delhi [India], June 4: In a landmark moment for the Occams ecosystem, Occams Advisory, a global consulting firm specializing in corporate finance, tax, audit, and AI-led transformation, hosted the AI-Finance Roundtable in conjunction with the formal inauguration of its new office at Espire Campus, New Delhi. The full-day event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and finance professionals to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming global finance, while celebrating Occams Advisory's strategic expansion in India. A Day of Dialogue, Innovation & Growth The day commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and office tour, officially marking the opening of Occams Advisory's New Delhi location. This expansion underscores the firm's long-term commitment to serving clients more closely in India's fast-evolving financial and regulatory landscape. Following the formal inauguration, guests engaged in networking, a team recognition ceremony, and interactive merchandise sessions, setting the stage for the key segment of the day--the AI-Finance Roundtable. Roundtable Highlights The roundtable began with opening remarks by Anupam Satyasheel, Founder & CEO of Occams Advisory, who emphasized India's pivotal role in shaping the global future of finance and technology. His address set the tone for a forward-looking dialogue on innovation, regulation, and AI integration in financial systems. The keynote address was delivered by Shri Kapil Malhotra, Trade Commissioner for Ontario, High Commission of Canada. Titled "From Innovation to Expansion: Investing in AI Opportunities in Ontario," his talk highlighted the growing cross-border potential for AI- driven innovation, particularly between India and Canada. He stressed the importance of international collaboration in scaling transformative technologies. The first panel discussion, "Reverse Flip into India - Strategic, Legal & Tax Perspectives on Internalization," focused on emerging trends such as the increasing interest in India-based IPOs, the strategic value of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and challenges presented by outbound corporate structures. Speaking during the session, Rajat Garg of Occams Advisory remarked, "Outbound structures often create friction with capital flow, board control, and tax leakage -- hence, reversal is both strategic and corrective." His insights anchored the conversation around why many companies are now considering a return to Indian domiciles. Other notable panelists included Karan Sahi from KPMG, Upendra Upadhyay from Crowd Sourcing Analytics, and Manangad S. Lamba from Nangia Andersen India, who brought diverse perspectives to the discussion on financial structuring and compliance in a globalized environment. In the second segment, "Assurance, Risk & Compliance Automation," panelists explored how AI technologies--such as continuous audit engines, anomaly detection models, and intelligent workflows--are revolutionizing financial assurance. The discussion underscored how these tools not only improve accuracy and governance but also streamline compliance across jurisdictions, helping organizations meet standards like GAAP, IFRS, and local regulations more efficiently. Nitin Aggarwal, CEO-India at Occams Advisory, delivered the Welcome Note and Vote of Thanks. He reiterated the firm's vision of building an agile, AI-enabled, and globally compliant financial future of professional services. He also shared Occams Advisory's ambition of becoming one of the top 30 financial professional services firms globally by 2030 and introduced the firm's upcoming Bitcoin Treasury Services, designed to help corporates strategically manage digital assets as part of their financial portfolios. About Occams Advisory Occams Advisory is a global consulting firm offering services in corporate finance, accounting, audit, tax, and AI-enabled business transformation. With a growing footprint in North America and India, the firm partners with clients to simplify complexity and accelerate scalable growth. Visit: www.occamsadvisory.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by HT Syndication. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 4: Gyproc India, a frontrunner in light and sustainable solutions and a brand committed to environmentally conscious construction, celebrated the national finale of its flagship design challenge-- 'Beyond Dimensions with Gyproc'--in Mumbai. The initiative was launched with a clear purpose, to inspire and empower the next generation of architects and interior designers to reimagine the future of building with sustainability at its core. Rooted in the belief that today's youth are the drivers of tomorrow, 'Beyond Dimensions' was conceptualized to nurture sustainable thinking and promote future-ready construction practices among emerging professionals. With a strong emphasis on innovation-led learning and collaboration between industry and academia, the initiative brought together over 800 teams from more than 120 colleges across India. Structured in two stages, the challenge invited over 230 unique submissions and culminated in a showcase of the Top 8 finalist teams, who presented their forward-thinking concepts to a distinguished jury panel: Ar. Kavitha Selvaraj (Trilogue Studio), Ar. Manish Dikshit (Aum Architects) and Ms. Shailee Goswami (Saint-Gobain Research India). Top 3 winning teams: * Anurag Singh & Kashish Gala, Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture, Mumbai * Afeefah Hoda & Keerthi S, RVS Padmavathy School of Architecture, Chennai * Naveen Raja & Mohamed Yahya, RVS Padmavathy School of Architecture, Chennai The winning trio will now embark on an exclusive international study tour to Dubai, gaining firsthand exposure to global best practices in green construction and sustainable architecture. Additionally, all eight finalists will receive access to the IGBC Certification Course on Green Built Environment, empowering them with practical knowledge to further sustainability in their careers. Speaking at the finale, Sudeep Kolte, Managing Director, Gyproc India, said: "'Beyond Dimensions' is a commitment to our vision of enabling next-generation design leaders to embrace sustainable construction practices. The competition has been a platform not just for creativity, but for purpose-driven innovation that aligns with our belief in intelligent, efficient, and environmentally responsible interiors." Gayatri Ojha, Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Gyproc India, added: "We are proud to witness the energy, ingenuity, and impact these young minds have brought to the challenge. This initiative is our way of nurturing a culture of sustainability while reinforcing the transformative potential of drywall technology in shaping the future of interior design." Heena Hasrajani, Head Marketing, Gyproc India, mentioned: "The first edition of Beyond Dimensions focused on performance drywall systems that facilitates lighter and faster construction. The students went into extensive details integrating drywall technology across sectors reimagining hospitality, healthcare and workspaces." Through 'Beyond Dimensions', Gyproc India reinforces its long-standing commitment to green construction, youth empowerment, and community resilience. The initiative exemplifies the company's global purpose to "Make the World a Better Home"--driven by sustainability, innovation, and inclusive growth. To learn more about Gyproc India's sustainable solutions and future initiatives, visit: https://www.gyproc.in About Saint-Gobain Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose "MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME". EUR46.6 billion in sales in 2024 More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 For more information about Saint-Gobain India, visit www.saint-gobain.co.in (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Kota (Rajasthan) [India], June 4: EdTech platform eSaral has launched the Sangharsh Samman Scholarship 2025, a Rs3 crore initiative to provide free access to premium learning courses for 1,000 deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds. Founded by IITians and top educators from Kota, eSaral has supported hundreds of students since 2021. With this expansion, the scholarship is now a nationwide effort to build a more equitable education system. "We've always believed talent is everywhere -- it's the opportunity that's missing," said Saransh Gupta, Co-founder and CEO. "With Sangharsh Samman, we're removing that barrier." Real Impact, Real Access The scholarship covers full access to eSaral's flagship courses for JEE, NEET, and school exams -- at no cost and with no compromise in quality or support. Selected students will receive: - Teachers of 3 AIR-1 | 35000+ IITians - 5-layered personal mentorship and academic guidance - 5-layered doubt-solving sessions and digital study materials - Daily Live classes by top Kota educators Full parity with paid students -- no separate tracks, no reduced features Courses Offered Scholarship recipients can access eSaral's top-tier programs from Class 8 to 12, including droppers: - Warrior - 1-year course for JEE/NEET droppers - Prahaar - 1-year course for Class 12 + JEE/NEET - BrahMos - 2-year course for Class 11-12 + JEE/NEET - Agni - 3-year plan from Class 10 to 12 + JEE/NEET - Shakti - 4-year integrated JEE/NEET prep from Class 9 - Vajra - 5-year course from Class 8 to 12 , including complete JEE/NEET preparation. Who is Eligible? The scholarship is open to: - Students from low-income families (with income proof) - Students who have lost one or both parents - Children of armed forces, police, or paramilitary martyrs Applications are now open via eSaral's official form. A transparent verification process will follow before onboarding. Stories That Inspire Since its inception, Sangharsh Samman has enabled remarkable transformations: - Viplav, from a thatched hut, is now at IIT Bombay and headed to UC Berkeley - Sanjay, a laborer's son, cracked IIT with structured mentorship - Vikram, once herding buffaloes, is now pursuing MBBS "These aren't just success stories -- they're proof that access changes everything," added Saransh Gupta. A Vision for Bharat At eSaral, the goal is simple yet powerful: make quality education Affordable, Accessible, and Thoughtful. - Affordable: High-quality learning shouldn't come with a high price. - Accessible: Students in villages deserve the same as those in cities. - Thoughtful: Beyond content -- eSaral delivers care, mentorship, and motivation. eSaral is more than an edtech platform -- it's a learning revolution, empowering the next generation of India's thinkers and achievers. To apply for the Sangharsh Samman Scholarship 2025: https://forms.gle/3SHU6NhkmoU52dnP8 To learn more about eSaral's mission and offerings visit, www.eSaral.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], June 4: AI-powered equity recommendation platform, InvestorAi today announced key senior management appointments of Nazim Sait Arif as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Sunil Kumar Semwal as VP Labs and Archana Ravichandra as Head Investment Product. These critical additions to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) accentuate InvestorAi's commitment to accelerating its ambitious 5x organic revenue growth plans this year and cementing its position as a frontrunner in AI driven investment solutions. Nazim Sait, appointed as Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for Finance, Legal, Compliance, HR, and Admin functions. Sunil Semwal joins as Vice President Labs will manage the production release, tuning, and retraining of all AI models, directly impacting InvestorAi's core product offerings. Archana Ravichandra is the Head of Investment Products and she is responsible for the performance of the AI model portfolios and baskets. She will also work closely with CRO and engage with key stakeholders to boost revenue. Speaking on the appointment, Mr. Bruce Keith, CEO & Co founder, InvestorAi, says, "As InvestorAi continues its significant growth trajectory, we recognize the paramount importance of high-quality leadership that can effectively balance growth velocity with robust processes, stringent controls, and efficient delivery. Nazim, Archana and Sunil are incredible additions to our team at InvestorAi as they are exceptional leaders and operators. Their 'roll up your sleeves' attitude and impressive track records align perfectly with our company culture and strategic vision." He further added, our immediate plans call for organic revenue growth of 5x, however we have a number of other opportunities available which will require additional senior talent, principally around investment management. We are observing a fantastic trend where some of the diaspora are returning to India, seeing fabulous opportunities to advance their careers, like Sunil and Archana. These strategic leadership appointments mark a pivotal moment for InvestorAi as it continues to innovate and expand its footprint in the AI-driven financial services sector. Nazim Sait Appointed as Chief Financial Officer is a qualified CPA and an alumnus of IIM(A), bringing nearly two decades of experience to InvestorAi. His distinguished career includes successfully scaling a financial data provider startup from 20 to over 1,000 employees. Nazim excels in building high-performing finance teams, implementing efficient systems and processes, and demonstrating deep expertise in fundraising, acquisitions and exits. "I am privileged to be associated with InvestorAi. With over 20 years of experience, I have led complex acquisitions ranging from business valuation and due diligence to post-merger integration. At InvestorAi, I aspire to further strengthen my expertise and become a leading thought leader in AI-driven finance. I believe that harnessing agentic AI to drive efficiency--while upholding robust safety and accuracy framework will be pivotal to shaping InvestorAi's strategic direction," said Mr. Nizam Sait, CFO, InvestorAi. InvestorAi has hired Sunil and Archana, who have relocated back to India from Singapore and Poland respectively. Sunil brings over 24 years of international experience spanning technology and capital markets, including significant stints in the US and Singapore. He possesses a rare and highly complementary skill set, holding both a Masters in Computer Science and being a fully qualified CFA. Archana Ravichandra brings over 10 years of global experience in managing risk across multi-asset portfolios and driving regulatory compliance initiatives. Throughout her career, she has worked with leading investment banks in both India and Poland, where she successfully worked in various capacities leading high-performing teams to achieve organizational goals. InvestorAi is a SEBI authorised firm that is focused on using AI and other advanced technology to revolutionise broking, wealth, and asset management by delivering strong investment solutions that are convenient and accessible. Its approach combines deep domain expertise, innovative thinking, and proprietary technology to create exceptional customer outcomes. Its mission is to democratise investing using advanced technology to create professional quality tools for individual investors in a very affordable and convenient way. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], June 4: TECNO, a global mobile brand renowned for its innovation and commitment to empowering users through cutting-edge technology, has officially announced the first sale date of its latest innovation - the POVA Curve 5G. Crafted especially for Indian users who want power, personality, and performance - this phone brings next-gen tech wrapped in a starship-inspired curved body. The first sale of TECNO POVA Curve 5G is scheduled for 5th June, from 12 noon onwards, and will be live across Flipkart and offline retail stores nationwide. The 6GB + 128GB variant will be available exclusively on Flipkart for just INR 15,999, while the 8GB + 128GB variant can be snagged at offline stores for INR 16,999. Furthermore, the sale is set to roll out with exciting launch offers - including assured gifts, a chance to win a Royal Enfield motorcycle or scooter, along with free screen replacement, extended warranty, and No Cost EMI options for up to 10 months -- allowing users to own the POVA Curve 5G for as little as INR 57/day. The POVA Curve 5G is a triple treat, built on TECNO's 3 pillars of Best Design, Best AI, and Best Signal. With a super slim 7.45mm profile and a screen so curved it looks straight out of science fiction, the phone is a head-turner. Its 93.8% screen-to-body ratio, wet-hand touch support, and vibrant colours - Magic Silver, Neon Cyan, and Geek Black - make it as stylish as it is smart. On the inside, the POVA Curve 5G being first in the segment brings advanced AI features that have been fine-tuned for Indian users, offering multilingual support, voice input, smart replies, and some wild firsts - like AI Voiceprint Suppression, Auto Call Answering, and even a Call Assistant that handles your WhatsApp call summaries and real-time translations. In case you're somewhere with zero bars? No stress - TECNO brings India's first No Network Communication, so you stay connected even in low-signal zones. Building on that promise of uninterrupted experience, the POVA Curve 5G delivers connectivity that won't quit, wherever the day leads. Thanks to TECNO's Intelligent Signal Hub System, the POVA Curve 5G offers 86.5% antenna coverage, VoWiFi Dual Pass, and real-time signal optimization--keeping calls clear and streaming smooth, whether in a busy metro or a quiet village. Backed by a robust 5500mAh TUV Rheinland-certified battery lasting over 1800 charge cycles, and fast charging that hits 50% in 15 minutes and full in 45, it's built for those who never stop moving. With unstoppable power and seamless connectivity, the POVA Curve 5G doesn't just keep up--it stays ahead of the curve, powering every moment. Flipkart Buying Link: http://bit.ly/4kCmJ1H (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India has pushed for comprehensive World Trade Organization (WTO) reforms, calling for decisive action against non-tariff barriers and restoration of the paralysed dispute settlement mechanism during high-level ministerial discussions in Paris. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal outlined India's reform agenda at a mini-ministerial gathering of 25 WTO member countries, emphasising the need to address trade distortions and strengthen multilateral governance ahead of next year's crucial ministerial conference. Speaking to reporters after the Australia-convened meeting, Minister Goyal articulated India's three-pronged approach to WTO modernisation. "India made a strong pitch for addressing non-tariff barriers that certain countries use to deprive others of market access, taking necessary action against non-market economies, and ensuring we have a strong dispute settlement mechanism," he said. The minister emphasised preserving the WTO's consensus-based decision-making process while maintaining special treatment for developing nations - principles India views as fundamental to the trading system's legitimacy. India's concerns are central to the WTO's crippled dispute settlement system, which has been effectively non-functional since 2009 due to US opposition to appellate body appointments. The paralysis has left countries without recourse when trade disputes arise, undermining the organisation's enforcement capacity. While some members have promoted the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) as an alternative, Minister Goyal expressed scepticism about its effectiveness. "Only one or two members spoke about that, but there doesn't seem to be much consensus or traction to that idea. I haven't heard of any cases resolved through MPIA," he noted. India firmly rejected attempts to expand the WTO's mandate beyond traditional trade issues, particularly opposing the China-led Investment Facilitation for Development proposal backed by 128 countries. Minister Goyal argued that such initiatives would fragment the multilateral system and create new divisions among members. "Issues that have been mandated at the WTO should get priority and should be the first issues to be resolved," he said. "Issues going beyond trade should not be brought into it as it would create further differences between member countries." The discussions addressed several longstanding challenges, including agricultural trade reforms and environmental concerns. Key agenda items included finding permanent solutions for public food grain stockholding programs and addressing overfishing practices that threaten marine ecosystems. Minister Goyal highlighted the need to resolve existing mandated issues before introducing new frameworks, reflecting India's preference for completing unfinished business rather than expanding the organisation's scope. Despite growing tensions within the 166-member organisation, Minister Goyal rejected suggestions that the WTO faces an existential crisis. "One should not jump to the conclusion that an existential crisis has been created," he said, calling for pragmatic problem-solving within existing frameworks. The minister emphasised collective commitment among participating countries to revitalise the organisation. "We have all resolved to collectively work to strengthen the working of the WTO, to ensure core principles are respected and work towards global good and global growth in trade," he stated. (ANI)
NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 4: Mahina, a purpose-driven period care brand, announced the release of a groundbreaking comprehensive report on the World Menstrual Day titled "Beyond Blood: The Unseen Burden of Every Cycle." With this report, the brand shifts focus to a new frontier - the invisible labour menstruators face every cycle. Drawn from the lived experiences of over 1,000 menstruators across eight major cities, aged between 18-45 years, the report unveils a rarely measured truth known to women: Every cycle brings not just blood but an unspoken mental load carried in silence. The emotional strain, disrupted routines, and the pressure to "push through" without complaint- a critical yet long-ignored dimension of menstrual health has been finally acknowledged through the findings of this report. While conversations around menstruation have long focused on rural access, hygiene, and age-old taboos, Mahina's new report shifts the spotlight to an often-ignored reality: the urban menstruator. It uncovers critical gaps in awareness, product design, and support--bringing to light the invisible mental load that comes with managing a period every month, for 30 to 40 years of a woman's life. Speaking about the report Natasha Jamal, Founder of Mahina said, "For too long, the mental load of menstruation has been normalised and ignored. This report is Mahina's way of saying: we see it, we measure it, and we're done accepting silence as the standard. We've always talked about periods in terms of blood. But what no one talks about is everything else, the planning, the pretending, the emotional weight. With this report, we wanted to name that invisible labour and finally give it the recognition it deserves." To view the full report, click here; Summary of the report given below: Report Summary What Every Period Truly Demands Menstruation is more than a biological function--it's a recurring experience that demands ongoing adjustments. Yet, much of this burden remains unseen, unheard, and unacknowledged. * 62% of menstruators reported masking their period symptoms to appear 'normal' in professional and social settings. * 73% said they are impacted by hormonal and emotional changes during their period but feel compelled to underplay * Only 3% of menstruators report making no changes during their cycle. The remaining 97% adjust and adapt their lives every month to accommodate menstrual symptoms--physically, emotionally, or logistically. Nearly 3 in 4 women experience a week of routine disruption and hidden labor every month. The First Period Comes with No Manual A generational influence often shapes how young women navigate their menstrual cycles, yet remains largely unspoken -- despite more open conversations today, the first period is still marked by anxiety, confusion, and frustration. * 76% of menstruators felt the emotional weight of their periods at 8-14, on the onset of their 1st cycle * While 73% were introduced to menstruation by their mothers, 4 in 5 still felt unprepared for their first period. * Half of menstruators say they felt excluded by family during their periods, and 2 in 3 say men expect them to manage it quietly. The Physical and Mental Load The mental load shapes how menstruators speak, sit, sleep, and move. * Leak anxiety is a major contributor to menstrual stress: 72% use extra protection during their period, yet 67% still experience leaks. * 38% wake up in the middle of the night to check or change menstrual products. * Many resort to layering or using multiple products simultaneously. * Emotionally, 64% feel "unlike themselves" during PMS, and 58% dread their periods due to unpredictability. * Among women aged 25-30, 2 in 3 experience heightened daytime anxiety about leaks * Amongst this 3 in 5 sit or move cautiously in public during their periods. * Remarkably, 1 in 4 respondents said they would prefer to skip their period entirely, highlighting how burdensome and disruptive the experience can be. How Modern Menstruators Have Adapted What menstruators want isn't more--it's getting the basics right. * 56% prioritize comfort and flexibility as their most urgent needs, followed by leak-proof protection and skin-friendly materials. * In the absence of institutional support, menstruators are creating their own systems of care: 74% carry period products not only for themselves but also for friends, colleagues, and even strangers--a quiet but powerful culture of mutual support. * Additionally, 1 in 3 use digital tools like cycle trackers and mental wellness apps to better manage their periods. Additionally, an interesting insight from the report also revealed a complex duality in society today: while 1 in 2 respondents believe period pain is real, yet underestimated and 53% support open conversations, deep-rooted biases continue to persist. More than half still view period blood as impure; 55% think periods should last exactly five days; and 71% believe delaying a period with medication is harmful. These conflicting attitudes--often held by the same individuals--show there is no singular narrative, only recurring patterns of silence and stigma. It is in this quiet tension between progress and taboo that the real story of menstruation unfolds. In summary, the report highlights key gaps that must be addressed to raise awareness and drive a period revolution -- one that challenges taboos, demands safer and more inclusive products, and reclaims the narrative around menstruation. The goal isn't just to create products that do the job, but to innovate with purpose and ease the mental and emotional burden that menstruators carry every month Mahina is deeply committed to leading this change, not just by innovating smarter, more supportive period care but by actively working to reduce the mental load menstruators face. Through this report, Mahina hopes to ignite a much-needed conversation around dignity, design, and the future of rural well-being. Made in India and rigorously tested, Mahina is the country's first brand offering bonded, leak-proof, absorbent period underwear, setting a new standard in menstrual care with a focus on comfort, performance, and sustainability. Aimed at transforming the period experience, Mahina provides meticulously engineered, reusable, and planet-friendly products personalized for every flow. Crafted with real Indian bodies and lifestyles in mind, Mahina blends form and function: a sleek, stitch-free gusset, four absorbency levels, and reusability for 100 washes. More than just a product, Mahina is a movement that champions body positivity, empowers informed choices, and advocates for menstrual equity. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], June 4: HOAC Foods India Limited has announced its financial results for FY25, showcasing a remarkable 142.68% year-on-year (YoY) growth in Profit After Tax (PAT), which reached Rs248.36 lakhs. The company also reported a 70.45% YoY increase in total revenue, climbing to Rs2,664.07 lakhs. Reflecting its strong financial foundation, HOAC Foods' net worth surged by an impressive 239.56% YoY to Rs1,138 lakhs, underlining sustained growth and operational efficiency. Highlights * Revenue from Operations grew by 69.4% YoY to Rs2,647.66 lakhs in FY25, driven by strong business expansion and consistent customer demand. * EBITDA more than doubled, rising by 134.0% YoY to Rs425.28 lakhs, with EBITDA margin improving from 11.63% to 15.96%, reflecting operational efficiency and cost control. * Profit After Tax (PAT) surged 142.7% YoY to Rs248.36 lakhs, with PAT margin expanding to 9.38% from 6.55% last year. * Earnings Per Share (EPS) stood at Rs6.76, registering a 74.2% YoY increase over FY24. * Net Worth jumped 239.6% YoY to Rs1,138.38 lakhs, indicating a significantly strengthened balance sheet and capital base. Recent Business Developments 1. Distribution & Market Expansion * Delhi Region: - Expanded distribution network in North Delhi with a partner covering 200+ retail counters. - Initiated another distribution partnership with coverage of 400+ retail counters, currently supplying to 100 outlets. - Products placed in an additional 100 general trade outlets, taking the total to 200 third-party stores in Delhi NCR. * Other Regions: - Entered Dausa, Rajasthan, marking the first expansion outside Delhi NCR. - Continues expanding across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and beyond. 2. Retail & Franchise Development * opened a new franchise store in Gurugram, a prime location in Delhi NCR. * Launched 5 to 6 new retail stores in Delhi NCR in FY24-25. * Opened additional franchise and retail stores in key Delhi locations. 3.B2B & Infrastructure Enhancements * Launched the first B2B office in Delhi to strengthen wholesale and distribution operations. * Established HOAC Exports Private Limited, a new subsidiary focused on global markets. * Set up a 5,000 sq. ft. modern warehouse to support international trade. * Commenced exports to the Middle East, Europe, and the UK. 4. Production & Technology Upgrades * Installed a state-of-the-art grain cleaning machine in its production unit. * Opened a new manufacturing facility in Gurugram with: - 475,200 kg/year spice production - 219,960 liters/year oil production * Upgrading cold-pressed mustard oil production capacity from 200 to 1,000 liters/day, including: - Cold-pressed black mustard oil - Cold-pressed yellow mustard oil 5. Product Launches & Portfolio Expansion * Introducing 4 new products: - Black Mustard Oil - Coconut Powder - Chai Patti (Tea) - Bedmipoori Atta * launched new product categories: - "VegRoot" - available in stores and online - "Dry Fruits" - includes Cashews, Almonds, Walnuts, Raisins * Products are currently available in Delhi NCR, with plans for nationwide rollout. 6. Strategic Collaborations * Partnered with Country Delight, supplying: - 3,511 bags of MP Sharbati Flour over 1.5 months - Ongoing daily supply of 100-150 bags. 7. Sales Performance * Reported strong growth: - 66% increase in sales (Oct-Dec 2024 vs. Oct-Dec 2023) - 57% growth for April-Dec 2024 period YoY * Successfully listed products on Amazon India. Reflecting on the company's achievements in FY25, Mr. Rambabu Thakur - Managing Director and CEO expressed, "We are very happy with our strong results this year. Thanks to good planning and growing our business in important areas, we have achieved record growth in sales and profits. Better efficiency and new products have helped us improve our margins and build a stronger financial position. This success motivates us to keep growing in a steady and sustainable way while making our customers happy. We will continue adding new products and reaching more people, and we are confident that we will keep doing well and create value for everyone involved." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India has vehemently opposed any Asian Development Bank financing support to Pakistan, raising serious concerns about potential misuse of development funds for military expenditure and questioning Pakistan's commitment to economic reforms. According to sources, India expressed deep reservations to the ADB about Pakistan's deteriorating fiscal performance, declining tax collection, and suspected diversion of international development funds toward defence spending rather than development priorities. India highlighted Pakistan's alarming fiscal trends as evidence of misplaced priorities. Pakistan's tax collection as a share of GDP plummeted from 13.0% in FY2018 to just 9.2% in FY2023 - far below the Asia-Pacific average of 19.0%. Despite this revenue decline, Pakistan significantly increased defence expenditure during the same period. "The linkage between Pakistan's increase in expenditure on its military, as opposed to development, cannot be fully explained solely in terms of its domestic resource mobilisation," sources told ANI. India warned that this pattern suggests possible diversion of funds from international financial institutions, particularly through fungible debt financing instruments like Policy-Based Loans. India urged ADB management to adequately ring-fence financing to prevent such misuse of development resources.India questioned the effectiveness of previous ADB and IMF programs, noting that Pakistan has approached the International Monetary Fund for its 24th bailout program despite years of institutional support. This track record, India argued, calls into question both program design and implementation by Pakistani authorities. Sources pointed to Pakistan's military's entrenched interference in economic affairs as a fundamental obstacle to sustainable reforms. "Even when a civilian government is in power now, the army continues to play an outsized role in domestic politics and extends its tentacles deep into the economy," India noted, highlighting the military's leading role in Pakistan's Special Investment Facilitation Council. India expressed strong reservations about Pakistan's governance system, describing it as "a continuing severe threat to regional peace and security." The country's policy of cross-border terrorism has worsened regional security and significantly escalated Pakistan's macroeconomic risks, thereby heightening enterprise risks for the ADB. India criticised Pakistan's unsatisfactory progress on critical Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action items, particularly regarding terrorist financing investigations, prosecution of UN-designated terrorist group leaders, and freezing of criminal assets. India argued that Pakistan's heavy reliance on external support for policy reforms undermines local ownership and creates a dangerous dependency cycle. "Policy reforms in Pakistan have been largely driven by external support from IFIs, including ADB, in recent years," sources said, warning this approach lacks sustainability. Beyond development effectiveness, India raised concerns that Pakistan's creditworthiness poses risks to ADB's own financial health. Pakistan's continued reliance on external debt, combined with its high debt-to-GDP ratio and poor credit rating, raises questions about the long-term sustainability of future exposures. "India urged ADB to be vigilant to safeguard the bank's financial health and long-term prospects," sources said, emphasising the need for careful risk assessment given Pakistan's economic fragility. India's comprehensive opposition comes as the ADB evaluates potential financing programs for Pakistan. The bank has not yet responded to India's concerns, but the objections could complicate Pakistan's efforts to secure additional development funding at a time when the country faces severe economic challenges. India expects the ADB to closely monitor the implementation of any policy matrix to achieve intended outcomes and prevent misuse of development resources for non-development purposes. (ANI)
BusinessWire India Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 4: Mumbai Pav Co., a modern quick-service restaurant brand bringing Mumbai's street food for the mass-premium segment, has raised pre-seed round led by Campus Fund, along with participation from Karan Bhagat & Yatin Shah of 360One, Mohit Gulati of ITI GO, Ankit Agarwal & Varun Limaye - Founders, Mesa School of Business, Siddharth Dungarwal - Founder Snitch, Anand Sinha - Ex-CEO of Zomato Gold & LeapClub, along with other notable angels as part of its Pre-Seed round. The investment will accelerate the brand's expansion across India, double down on kitchen innovation, and strengthen its mission of delivering hygienic, iconic Mumbai Style street food through an omni-channel model. Co-founded by Tanay Agarwal and Jash Arora, Mumbai Pav Co. blends street authenticity with modern QSR standards. The duo met at Mesa School of Business, where their shared passion for Indian food, entrepreneurship, and operational excellence sparked the idea for the venture. Tanay brings operational and customer first insights from his time helping scale his family owned fine-dine restaurant chain Tuk Tuk Thai, while Jash is a professionally trained chef with experience in India's Top Restaurant - Masque in Mumbai, Le15' by Chef Pooja Dhingra and a Michelin-starred kitchen in Sweden. Together, they're building a scalable, standardized model for India's favorite comfort food. "Mumbai Pav Co. is not just serving food, it's distilling nostalgia, hygiene, and convenience in a format fit for the next billion consumers," said Richa Bajpai, Founder & CEO of Campus Fund. "We're thrilled to back a founding team that's as obsessed with taste as they are with customer first experience and execution. They're elevating street food into a culturally iconic QSR brand." she added. Since launching in Bangalore in August 2024, the brand has fulfilled a whopping 60,000+ orders, all from a small 250 sqft. store in JP Nagar, Bangalore, with ratings of 4.5+ on both Swiggy and Zomato. They achieved store-level profitability within just 35 days of store launch, unheard of in the industry. The company has multiple stores in its pipeline, starting from Koramangala and Sarjapur in Bangalore. Their customer repeat rate is also an outstanding 50%+. India's food services market, pegged at Rs. 5,50,000 crore+, is undergoing a shift. Urban consumers increasingly demand authentic, hygienic, value-driven Indian QSR options. Mumbai Pav Co. addresses this whitespace with a consistent, customer-first offering positioned as "India ka Fast Food," aiming to grow across Indian metros, Tier-2 cities, and eventually global markets with significant Indian diaspora. "Mumbai had its fast food way before Western brands came to India and commercialised their Western menu. Our vision is to take the streets of Mumbai to Global Markets and represent India ka Fast Food," said Tanay Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO. "Campus Funds' backing gives us not only capital but conviction to build this with scale, heart, and hustle." he added. With the funds, Mumbai Pav Co. plans to rapidly set up 15+ outlets across formats in Bengaluru this year (cloud kitchens, malls, tech parks and high street stores), focus on standardised operations, test new menu categories, and explore early partnerships in the quick commerce, franchising and B2B delivery space. Mumbai Pav Co. joins Campus Fund's growing portfolio of student-led ventures reimagining the future of India's consumer economy, driven by the best talent out there, building The Indian Dream. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 4: Bower School of Entrepreneurship, the pioneering institution transforming entrepreneurship education, successfully conducted its flagship event, Founders' Arena, a launchpad for India's Young Startup Talent at Bower campus, in the middle of Hyderabad Tech Park today. An innovative pitch competition, it included startup mentors, innovation leaders, and investors as jury members, and witnessed innovative pitches from a diverse set of 200+ individuals from across sectors, including EdTech, FinTech, sustainable products, social innovation and many more. The Founders' Arena tested the mettle of early-stage entrepreneurs, along with students and enthusiasts, to test their ideas, receive feedback, and build meaningful connections in India's growing innovation ecosystem. Divided into three leagues -- Junior (Under 18), Open (18-30), and Pro (30+ or MVP-ready) -- the pitching competition democratized opportunities irrespective of age and experience, assisting individuals with raw concepts and/or prototypes to revenue-generating ventures in their entrepreneurial journey. Each participant received a time of 7 minutes for pitching, followed by live Q&A and feedback from the juror panel. Pavan Allena, Founder of Bower School of Entrepreneurship & serial entrepreneur, shared his insights on Founder's Arena by saying, "One of the things most early-stage founders are looking for is validation to know if their idea can work. And the best way to get that is not just from users, but also from fellow founders and investors. That's why we built Founders' Arena to create a safe but serious platform to test, pitch, and grow." In the lead-up to this one-of-a-kind pitch platform, Bower School of Entrepreneurship received 200+ applications in under two weeks, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for entrepreneurship among young Indians. In the Junior League (U-18), Noah Anis Nathani and Taswika Gujjari secured the top two spots in the Grades 3-6 vertical, receiving cash prizes of Rs15,000 and Rs10,000 respectively. In the Grades 7-12 category, Kshema Girish and Daksha Valleri were awarded for their standout pitches, also receiving Rs15,000 and Rs10,000 respectively. In the Open League (Aged 18-30), Lakshmi Narayanan from Sai Lakshmi Bio-Fuel was declared the winner, followed by Kartekiya and Hasini from DTaaS (Drone Tech as a Service), with cash prizes of Rs50,000 and Rs25,000 respectively. In the Pro League (30+ or MVP-ready), Rajesh and Anjali Gupta won first place for Lasarkaali, the world's first IDA-approved ingestible for clinical oral nutrition, receiving Rs50,000. Girijakanth from Tamata, a Hyderabad-based fresh produce venture, secured the runner-up spot with Rs25,000. The event also marked a significant aspect for the participants, being empowered with visibility, validation, and resources that will accelerate their entrepreneurial journey. Founders' Arena highlighted Bower's core mission of entrepreneurship-first education with a multi-stage learning pathway irrespective of age or experience. At present, Bower offers entrepreneurship education in three verticals: SEED (for students in Grades 3-12), UG Program (full-time 3-year undergraduate program), and LEAD (executive learning for professionals transitioning to entrepreneurship). Bower is also building India's most comprehensive pipeline to develop, mentor, and launch founders starting as early as school, assisting them in becoming IPO-ready ventures. About Bower School of Entrepreneurship Bower School is a hands-on, end-to-end entrepreneurship education institution. It offers immersive programs that empower students, founders, and professionals to build businesses, access funding, and create real-world impact. With its flagship pitch events, expert faculty, and incubator-ready curriculum, Bower is reimagining what it means to learn entrepreneurship in the 21st century. For more information, please contact: Shamim Dudekula shamim@bowerschool.com| +91-8309109533 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
During the visit, the Minister will co-chair the 22nd Session of the India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) with Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.

This engagement will take place in the context of a defining phase in India-Italy bilateral relations, following the launch of the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-2029.

The JSAP, announced after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024, is built on ten thematic pillars, with economic cooperation as a core area of focus.

The 22nd JCEC session in Rome will offer both sides an opportunity to assess progress and identify new avenues for collaboration in high-impact areas such as Industry 4.0, agritech, digitalization, energy transition, sustainable mobility, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

"These deliberations are expected to further strengthen bilateral economic connectivity and foster strategic industrial partnerships," a Commerce Ministry release said.

It said the Italy leg of the visit reaffirms India's commitment to enhancing strategic and economic ties with key European partners and deepening bilateral trade and investment collaboration with Italy.

Goyal will also lead a high-level Indian business delegation to the India-Italy Growth Forum in Brescia, a major industrial hub.

The Forum will bring together key enterprises and stakeholders from both countries to promote investment, build business-to-business linkages, and explore synergies in sectors aligned with innovation and sustainability.

"The visit reflects the growing political will and converging economic aspirations between India and its European partners. It aims to translate shared leadership vision into durable partnerships that drive inclusive growth, industrial transformation, and global economic resilience," the release added. (ANI)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], June 4: Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd. formerly known as Max Life Insurance Company Ltd ("Axis Max Life"/ "Company"), in collaboration with Kantar, the world's leading marketing data and analytics company, has announced findings from the seventh edition of its India Protection Quotient (IPQ 7.0) survey, spotlighting a significant protection gap among gig workers compared to urban India. Unveiling a stark contrast, the findings highlight that while urban India's Protection Quotient has reached an all-time high of 48, gig workers continue to trail with a score of 41. This reflects significant gaps in knowledge, security levels, and insurance ownership of the working community. As per IPQ 7.0, only 69% of gig workers own life insurance, considerably lower than the national urban average of 78%. This is despite 89% of them having strong family-oriented financial goals, surpassing the 81% urban India average, and a higher likelihood of adhering to healthy lifestyle practices. Prashant Tripathy, CEO & Managing Director, Axis Max Life Insurance, commented on the findings, stating, "The findings from IPQ 7.0 uncover a critical insight: while nearly 90% of gig workers place high importance on securing their family's financial future, only 3 in 10 currently own term insurance. This highlights a significant protection gap within a rapidly expanding segment of India's workforce. As an industry, we must move beyond traditional distribution models and reimagine how protection is delivered -- through deeper collaboration with digital platforms, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers. At Axis Max Life, we remain committed to shaping an inclusive insurance landscape that reflects the realities of modern work and ensures no segment is left behind." Lower Financial Preparedness and Reactiveness in Planning The findings reveal that while gig workers are marginally more inclined to save upon receiving income, they are notably less proactive in financial planning, with nearly 40% admitting to not taking active steps towards securing their financial future. In comparison, less than 30% of urban Indians report such financial inertia. This limited reactiveness, coupled with relatively low life insurance ownership, leaves a large section of the gig workforce financially vulnerable. High Family Focus, Yet Inadequate Protection Despite their lower financial protection, gig workers exhibit a strong intent to provide for their families. However, one in three gig workers believe their family would have no financial support in the event of their untimely demise, 10 percentage points higher than the urban average. Though two in three gig workers acknowledge the importance of term insurance, only a third currently own one, and even among term insurance owners, less than half feel adequately protected. Call for Inclusive Protection Solutions These insights reflect a need for more inclusive and accessible protection solutions tailored to the gig economy, a sector that continues to expand rapidly yet remains outside the fold of traditional financial safety nets. As the nature of work evolves, so must the industry's approach to financial inclusion and long-term protection. Instituted in 2019, India Protection Quotient is an annual Survey by Axis Max Life Insurance in association with Kantar aimed to understand the pulse of the Indian consumers in the financial protection space. Launched with the underlying objective to increase penetration of Term insurance as the most fundamental and economical form of life insurance, the survey aims to reveal the state of Urban Indians with regards to current financial security levels, changing savings & investment patterns, key anxieties & triggers of financial protection in a contemporary world. India Protection Quotient is a proprietary tool developed by Axis Max Life in partnership with Kantar to gauges the degree to which Indians feel protected from future uncertainties on a scale of 0 to 100. It is based on the attitudes, mental preparedness around future uncertainties, awareness, and ownership of life insurance product categories (Term, endowment and ULIP). Read more at - www.axismaxlife.com/maxlife-ipq The study is conducted in top 25 Urban metro, Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities; hence, its findings are representative of metro, Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities of Urban India only. * Metro - Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai * Tier 1 - Ludhiana, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Vizag, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Pune * Tier 2 - Dehradun, Moradabad, Guwahati, Bokaro, Kolhapur, Jamnagar, Raipur, Ujjain, Hubli-Dharwad, Tiruchirappalli * IPQ 7.0 vs IPQ 6.0 data comparison is amongst 25 markets only [6 metros, 9 Tier 1 and 10 Tier]* The minimum sample to conclude any findings of the study is 270 with an error margin of +-5.964 The information collected through this survey and the results published are intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. Axis Max Life disclaims any liability for any loss, damage, or decisions arising from the use of this survey or the results provided. Axis Max Life Insurance Limited, formerly known as Max Life Insurance Company Ltd., is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Services Limited ("MFSL") and Axis Bank Limited. Axis Max Life Insurance offers comprehensive protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions through its multi-channel distribution, including agency and third-party distribution partners. It has built its operations over two decades through a need-based sales process, a customer-centric approach to engagement and service delivery and trained human capital. As per annual audited financials for FY2024-25, Axis Max Life has achieved a gross written premium of INR 33,223 Cr. For more information, please visit www.axismaxlife.com Kantar is the world's leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world's top companies. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioural data with deep expertise and advanced analytics to uncover how people think and act. We help clients understand what has happened and why and how to shape the marketing strategies that shape their future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Sikar (Rajasthan) [India], June 4: In a town known for its simplicity and temples, few would have imagined a young man quietly planning to take centuries-old textile traditions global. Yet, that's exactly what CA Piyush Agarwal has done--turning KCPC Bandhani, his family's local saree business, into one of India's most trusted ethnic wear brands. What started in 1978 as a humble shop in Sikar under the name of Khatushyam Fashion Pvt. Ltd. has grown--thread by thread, design by design--into a digital-first powerhouse with thousands of loyal customers, a thriving online store, and over 3000+ unique Bandhani designs lighting up wardrobes across the country. A Vision Rooted in Culture Raised amidst the dye pots and gota patti artisans of his family's workshop, CA Piyush Agarwal grew up not just observing but absorbing the culture of craft. But while tradition was sacred, he also saw something missing: visibility, scale, and connection to modern Indian women. "I didn't want Bandhani to be something you only wear on Teej or weddings," Mr. Agarwal reflects. "I wanted it to live in daily life--on campuses, in offices, at brunches, even on Instagram." Because of his excellence in Fashion Corporates and experience from Media Brands (ZeeTV), Mr.Piyush brought a rare mix of industry insight and storytelling vision to ethnic fashion. His mission? To make ethnic wear relevant, wearable, and widely accessible--without compromising its soul. From Local Bazaars to Digital Shelves The turning point came when Mr.Piyush took the brand online. Long before e-commerce became fashionable in rural India, KCPC Bandhani launched its official store, OnlineBandhej.com, with a clear intent: to ship Bandhani directly from the artisans to the buyer's doorstep. Soon, KCPC Bandhani became a familiar name on Amazon, Myntra, and Flipkart. Today, women from Kashmir to Kanyakumari shop the brand for everything from daily-wear kurtis to bridal lehengas and the iconic Marwadi Pila Chunri. The move wasn't just strategic--it was emotional. "It gave our karigars pride. Their work was no longer hidden in the bylanes of Sikar--it was being worn in metros and getting five-star reviews," Piyush shares. The Numbers Tell Their Story With over 7000+ verified five-star ratings, a 4.8/5 customer satisfaction score, and thousands of repeat buyers, KCPC Bandhani now serves urban trendsetters and traditional homemakers alike. Their secret? A rare combination of affordability, authenticity, and aesthetic appeal. Each piece is designed for women of all ages--be it a teenager shopping for her first puja saree or a grandmother looking for a light, wearable Bandhani for family functions. A Movement, Not Just a Brand For CA Piyush Agarwal, the story doesn't end with selling sarees. He's championing the cause of artisan livelihoods, reviving old dyeing techniques, and rebuilding faith in Indian craftsmanship. The design studio in Sikar still sources directly from local clusters, keeping the community at the brand's heart. Under his leadership, KCPC Bandhani is now preparing to step into international markets, expand into diffusion lines, and blend Bandhani with Indo-Western silhouettes--all while staying true to its cultural core. To get started, visit the official website of KCPC Bandhani at www.onlinebandhej.com. KCPC Bandhani, a flagship ethnic wear brand under Khatushyam Fashion Pvt. Ltd., specializes in Bandhani, Gota Patti, and Rajasthani ethnic wear. With over 3000+ live designs and a national presence across leading marketplaces, the brand stands tall on the pillars of tradition, trust, and timeless elegance--helmed by the visionary leadership of CA Piyush Agarwal. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Global industry experts outlined AI, deep tech, clean tech, structural and process reforms as pillars of Innovation in Viksit Bharat at the 4th edition of India Global Innovation Connect (IGIC) in Bengaluru. The two-day Summit brings together a powerful global assembly of technology leaders, policymakers, startup founders, investors and academicians to explore the theme "Innovation in the Age of AI: Business, Society and Governance." On the inaugural day of the summit, entrepreneurs from India, the US, Japan, Korea, Germany, Singapore, Israel, Switzerland, France, the UAE, and other nations engaged in technology and business interactions. The opening day of the two-day event focused on the transformative role of key sectors in reshaping industries and societal frameworks. A series of keynotes, dialogues, fireside chats, and brainstorming sessions explored India's positioning as a global innovation powerhouse. The day further witnessed key global industry leaders, including Indian and global startup founders, VCs and investors, corporate and government leaders, and technology and public policy experts, on one common platform. The leaders and industry experts engaged with attendees on a range of topics, including AI and deep tech as the new frontier of innovation, invisible reforms toward "Developed India" (Viksit Bharat), new developments in fintech, shaping AI for society and society for AI, what next in Aerospace, the coming blood revolution, AI-driven learning revolution innovation dynamics between startups and established corporations, etc. Claude Smadja, Chairman Smadja and Smadja Strategic Advisory said, "India today stands at a pivotal inflection point, both in its domestic evolution and its global positioning. As we navigate an era marked by transformative shifts in AI and deep tech, the momentum is right for India to accelerate its innovation trajectory." "Despite the challenges that major global powers are facing, India is uniquely placed to emerge as a global hub for technological advancement, particularly in the domain of data and big data, where it holds a distinct advantage." Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Aarin Capital said, " As we prepare for the age of quantum computing and grapple with the reality of machines performing most of the human tasks, we must rethink how we educate the next generation and how we build networks, not just of nations, but of people and cities across the world, to ensure that innovation benefits everyone. And there is no better place to lead this future than Bengaluru." Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), India said, "When we speak of building a Viksit Bharat, we must look beyond structural reforms and focus on process reforms. They play a pivotal role in improving efficiency, reducing friction, and delivering real impact across government and business systems. I am optimistic that states like Karnataka and ecosystems like Bengaluru's innovation community will play a catalytic role in this transformation." In his opening note during the session 'Invisible reforms toward "Developed India" (Viksit Bharat)', Sanjeev Gupta, CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) highlighted that true digital transformation demands hands-on effort, capacity building and systems thinking. For reforms to succeed, they must create tangible value for citizens and industry, bridge siloed functioning, and be supported by documented learnings that empower officers to be tech-enabled and outcome-driven. Vic Bhagat, Senior Vice President and Global Advisor of the leading global IT Infrastructure Services Provider Kyndryl, said, "AI's power and its seamless integration into enterprise technology deliver exceptional productivity and automation. The collaboration between scale and speed is key. The ability of enterprises to effectively harness AI will redefine their competitive edge and long-term growth." Jay Krishnan, Partner and Head of India Investments, Beyond Next Ventures said, "As investors, especially in deep science, we often enter before compliance frameworks exist, focusing on ideas rooted in physics, chemistry, and biology that can meaningfully impact areas like energy transition and climate. While not every risk can be anticipated or controlled, belief in transformative potential guides our thesis." IGIC 2025 continues to foster India's position as a key node in the global innovation value chain. IGIC 2025 is backed by Strategic Partner - Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, Sponsors - Axilor and Esri India, and Knowledge Partners - Covington & Burling USA and Swissnex, and Partner Organizations - The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Start2Group, and IVC Association (IVCA), among others. India Global Innovation Connect is the brainchild of Claude Smadja and Yael Smadja, CEO of Smadja & Associates USA. Claude is the founder of Smadja & Smadja, a global strategic advisory firm, and has been associated with the World Economic Forum for 15 years -- as Executive Director and then as the Managing Director of the organisation. The first edition of IGIC took place in Bengaluru in 2022, drawing 300 participants. This was followed by IGIC 2023 with over 350 attendees and IGIC 2024, which saw participation grow to 450. (ANI)
Air India will start non-stop flight services between Delhi and Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, starting October 1, 2025, the airline said in a statement. With the launch of this new route, Air India becomes the only Indian carrier to operate non-stop flights between India and the Philippines. Through its Delhi hub, Air India offers seamless connectivity and boosts tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Air India's service to Manila will operate five days a week--on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays--using the airline's Airbus A321neo aircraft. The airline said in a statement that the three-class cabin configuration offers travellers the choice of Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class, the statement added. The Philippines recently introduced visa-free entry for Indian tourists for up to 14 days, significantly enhancing accessibility for Indians eager to visit the white-sand beaches of Boracay, the stunning landscapes of Palawan, the historical landmarks in Cebu, and more. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India, said, "The introduction of our Delhi-Manila route is yet another step in our mission to connect India with more of the world, non-stop. As outbound travel from India grows at an unprecedented pace, with Indian tourists ranking among the highest spenders globally, the new entry rules for Indian tourists are a shot in the arm to boost tourism to the Philippines." "We are happy to facilitate new opportunities for cultural exchange and economic collaboration between the two nations, while bringing the new Air India to more travellers around the world," added Air India's CEO and MD. With its 7,000+ islands and a dynamic blend of cultural and modern attractions, the Philippines holds great tourism potential for Indian travellers. Air India's new route also supports the growing bilateral trade between India and the Philippines, which reached USD 3.53 billion in 2023-24, nearly doubling from USD 1.89 billion in 2015-16, Air India quoted Embassy of India in Manila. Bookings for Air India's flights between Delhi and Manila are now open on all channels, including Air India's website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, contact centres, and through all travel agents. Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents. Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 570 new aircraft. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia's largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit. (ANI)
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas on Wednesday directed that only CNG or Electric 3-Wheeler Autorickshaws shall be additionally inducted in the existing fleet of vehicles of Motor Vehicle Aggregators, Delivery Service Providers and E-Commerce Entities. No conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles running purely on diesel or petrol shall be further inducted in the existing fleet of 4-Wheeler Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), 4-Wheeler Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) (N1 category, up to 3.5 T) and 2-Wheelers with effect from 2026. The transport sector significantly contributes to the overall air pollution load in the entire NCR, consistently throughout the year and more adversely during the winter season. Faster transition to efficient and cleaner mobility in Delhi-NCR is thus imperative. Within the vehicular sector, commercial vehicles are significantly higher on emissions owing to extensive plying/mileage and at times also attributable to overloading, poor maintenance etc. Towards promotion of e-mobility in commercial vehicles registered in Delhi, the Transport Department, GNCTD notified Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme, 2023 for licensing and regulation of aggregators providing passenger transport services, delivery service of goods and commodities including through e-commerce entities in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Other NCR States viz. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also need to formulate comprehensive Policies encompassing Motor Vehicle Aggregators, Delivery Service Providers and E-Commerce Entities for the entire NCR prioritizing the high vehicle density (HVD) cities of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad which besides intra-city requirements, also rely heavily upon inter-city movement of vehicles, the Commission said. "While zero emission vehicles like the Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and other such clean technologies need to be targeted for clean mobility in the above services, there is, however, need for an urgent transition from conventional diesel/ petrol vehicles to cleaner modes of mobility," it said. "GNCTD and NCR State Governments have to ensure that all Motor Vehicle Aggregators / Delivery Service Providers / E-Commerce Entities under their jurisdiction comply with these Directions of the Commission," it added. (ANI)
Goyal is on his two-day official visit to Italy.

The century-old Italian company, renowned for its premium black cherries and specialty food products, sees India as a key growth market driven by the country's large population and increasing appetite for Western cuisine alongside traditional foods.

"India is our main focus for the future, based on the growth and population of the country," Toschi told ANI.

"India has love for traditional food, but Indians are also looking for Western foods, and that is the opportunity for companies like us."

The CEO emphasised that India's robust economic growth and the strong diplomatic relations between India and Italy create favorable conditions for business expansion.

"India is a growing economy. The relationship between India and Italy is good for our business," he said.

Toschi Vignola, with its flagship black cherry products, boasts more than 400 product references spanning fruit preserves, syrups, spirits, and coffee solutions.

The company has established a strong presence in over 80 countries, serving bars, restaurants, ice cream shops, and pastry establishments worldwide.

The Italian firm specialises in premium syrups for beverages and coffee, positioning itself to capitalise on India's expanding cafe culture and growing demand for specialty food ingredients in the hospitality sector.

India represents a significant opportunity for Toschi Vignola as the country's food service industry continues to expand rapidly.

The growing middle class, increasing urbanisation, and rising disposable incomes have created demand for premium food products and international cuisine.

The company's focus on beverage syrups and coffee solutions aligns well with India's burgeoning cafe and restaurant scene, where specialty drinks and artisanal food preparations are gaining popularity among consumers. (ANI)
Italian automotive components manufacturer Carraro Group announced ambitious expansion plans for India. It will commit to investing Euro 350 million over the next five to seven years, nearly doubling its current investment base. The announcement came after Carraro Group Chairman Enrico Carraro met with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during the minister's official visit to Italy to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. "We have invested around 200 million euros in India and currently employ 1,600 people. We want to increase our investment to 350 million euros in the next 5-7 years," Carraro told reporters. "We will invest at least double what we are investing now." The Italian company, which is listed on the Indian stock market, operates its primary manufacturing facility in Pune, Maharashtra. As part of its expansion strategy, Carraro plans to establish a new plant in the same area to increase production capacity significantly. "We are coming with a new plant in the same area to expand our capacity," Carraro explained, highlighting the company's confidence in Maharashtra's industrial ecosystem. The group is also strengthening its research and development capabilities in India, reflecting its commitment to innovation and local market adaptation. Carraro's expansion plans are backed by a robust client portfolio in India's automotive sector. The company serves major Indian manufacturers, including Mahindra and Mahindra Group, Sonalika, and Escorts, positioning it well for continued growth in the country's expanding agricultural and commercial vehicle markets. Francesco Sequi, CEO of Carraro India, emphasised the significant growth potential in the Indian market. "Investing in India has seen large growth for our business. Our business in India has a big space to grow. The Indian government is very helpful," Sequi said. Addressing potential concerns about US trade policies, Carraro downplayed the impact of potential tariffs on the company's operations. "US tariffs are not a concern today. Our export to the US from India is not large, so it will not affect us," the chairman stated. He expressed optimism about diplomatic solutions, adding, "I am hopeful that Indian leadership will minimise the tariff impact." The investment announcement underscores the growing economic partnership between India and Italy. Minister Goyal's visit to Italy aims to explore new avenues for collaboration and encourage Italian companies to increase their investments in India's manufacturing sector. Carraro Group's commitment represents a significant vote of confidence in India's business environment and manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the automotive components sector, which has been a key beneficiary of the government's Make in India initiative. The expansion is expected to create additional employment opportunities in Maharashtra and contribute to India's position as a global manufacturing hub for automotive components. (ANI)
In a stunning revelation at Sean "Diddy" Combs' ongoing sex-trafficking trial, a former hotel security guard testified Tuesday that the hip-hop mogul paid him USD 100,000 in cash to suppress surveillance footage that allegedly shows Combs violently attacking his former girlfriend, Cassie, in a hotel hallway. The security guard, identified as Eddy Garcia, took the stand and described a harrowing series of events that began soon after the alleged assault in March 2016. As per Deadline, Garcia claimed that Combs approached him, predicting the destruction of his career if the footage were ever to become public. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges, reportedly handed Garcia a brown paper bag stuffed with cash in a desperate attempt to buy what he hoped would be the only copy of the video. Garcia recounted Combs' repeated comments about the disastrous consequences of the video's release, specifically stating that his "Puff Daddy" image would be ruined. The security guard recalled, "He was talking really fast, a lot of stuttering," as Combs voiced his concerns over his career and reputation. As per Deadline, the security footage, which allegedly captures Combs kicking, beating, and dragging Cassie in a hallway at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, has become a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case against the music mogul. The footage reportedly shows an assault that fits with allegations from three women, including Cassie, who claim that Combs sexually and physically abused them over two decades. Garcia testified that after the attack, Combs' chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, reached out to him multiple times. During one conversation, Combs, sounding "very nervous," connected with Garcia, emphasising the catastrophic fallout that would follow if the assault video were released. "One thing leads to another and if this got out it would ruin him," Garcia recalled Combs saying, as quoted by Deadline. Two days after the incident, Garcia handed over a storage device containing the incriminating footage to Combs in exchange for USD 100,000. Garcia recalled the exchange in vivid detail, mentioning how Combs personally fed the money through a money counter, placing the bills into a brown paper bag. At the time, Garcia was making only USD 10.50 an hour as a hotel security guard and signed a confidentiality agreement that stipulated a USD 1 million penalty if he breached the deal. Garcia admitted that he was too nervous to read the documents thoroughly and simply signed them to end the situation. Following the exchange, Garcia received instructions not to make any conspicuous purchases, which he interpreted as a directive to avoid drawing attention. Garcia used his share of the money to buy a used car, never depositing it into a bank account to avoid any paper trail. Weeks later, Garcia said Combs reached out again, asking if anyone had inquired about the video. "Happy Easter. Eddy, my angel. God is good. God put you in my way for a reason," Garcia quoted Combs as saying, according to Deadline. When Garcia expressed interest in possible future work, Combs was receptive but never followed up on the matter. The chilling details shared by Garcia came to light after CNN aired the footage last year, much to the public's shock. This prompted further legal action, including testimony from another hotel guard who confirmed recording the footage on his phone to show his wife. As the trial continues in Manhattan, prosecutors argue that Combs used his wealth and influence to cover up criminal behaviour and silence victims. The case has garnered considerable attention, with allegations spanning multiple decades of abuse, which Combs has denied. (ANI)
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan shared his working experience with Mani Ratnam in 'Thug Life' and expressed gratitude to Tamil Nadu and its people for supporting him. While speaking to the media, he said, "It is true that working with him was a pleasure for me.." "I would like to thank Tamil Nadu....There are many things to talk about on 'Thug Life'. It's a duty to talk more as a responsible Tamilian," he added. Earlier, during the press conference of 'Thug Life', he said, "Every film is a challenge, especially when you add another director like Mani Ratnam and a story that is so interesting. Fortunately, he included me in the story's preparation. I gave him an idea. Most of the time I was getting vegetables and helping him make it more tasty. That's what I did. And that I call a true collaboration...We both children of cinema and that is how we see each other.." On why he decided to join the project and what makes it outstanding, he added, "Good actors, good makeup artists, costume designers, fantastic director, great music. I don't have to anymore explain to you why I say it's great. Of course, I love to join the crowd and cheer a great music director like A. R. Rahman. He has done an excellent job...." He called himself lucky to become a "star" despite being surrounded by many talented and intelligent children during his theatre days. "I was a happy child. I was a parrot, not cage, but they taught me, and I repeated. It's only after 7 when I joined the theatre and all that, I realised that so many intelligent children, and I've been lucky to have become a star. That's when I actually started learning outside of school," said Kamal Haasan. Kamal Haasan leads the film as Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker, alongside Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf, among others.Directed by Mani Ratnam, Thug Life is slated to be released on June 5. The film marks Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's reunion after 38 years. (ANI)
Actor Alia Bhatt recently travelled to Spain to attend the wedding of her best friend Tanya Saha Gupta and David Angelov. She has treated her fans with a glimpse of her gala time at the wedding. On Wednesday, the 'Jigra' actor posted an album on Instagram featuring her 'group of girls', a picture of herself with the bride and her looks from the wedding. Some pictures feature the bride with her bridesmaids and were clicked in different poses. Alia looks stunning in a modern black strapless dress. Alia also shared pictures from another event where she was seen in a white embellished bralette, matching blazer, and cream skirt. She also wore a necklace, sunglasses, and a bag. In one of the pictures, actor Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, also a close friend of Alia, was also there and clicked a selfie with Alia. In another photo, Alia is all smiles as she poses with the newlyweds and her close friends. Alia wore a colourful kalidar lehenga paired with a mustard yellow blouse. She added a purple bandanna and dark sunglasses for a fun, boho-chic feel. Along with the post, she wrote an adorable note, "There's nothing softer, stronger or more sparkly than a group of girls watching their best friend marry the love of her life (@tanya.sg @d_angelov). The most beautiful wedding, the most beautiful bride -- and hearts fuller than we knew possible.Some places just feel like home - ours is wherever we are together (@akansharanjankapoor @meghnagoyal1 @kripamehta04 @rheachatterjee24 @devika.advani @dishakhatwani)." https://www.instagram.com/p/DKe9DQ4M8iu/?hl=en&img_index=5 Alia, who made her debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, left fans speechless with her outfit choices on the red carpet. For day one of her appearance, Alia chose a Schiaparelli gown, styled by Rhea Kapoor. For the closing ceremony, the actress wore a custom Gucci saree--the brand's first-ever made-to-order saree--which impressed fashion watchers. Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia is busy filming her upcoming movie, Alpha. Directed by Shiv Rawail, 'Alpha' is set to be a notable addition to Yash Raj Films' acclaimed spy universe and is scheduled for release on December 25. (ANI)
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger recalled his argument with 'Terminator' director James Cameron. "I studied the script for a month, and I have someone that reads the parts with me, and we rehearse and we do reps. It's from bodybuilding -- reps, reps, reps. The more reps you do, the better you get," said Arnold, reported People. "It also comes from the old school. Billy Wilder, the Austrian director, always said, 'I didn't hire you to be interpreters. I hired you to be actors.' The old directors were fanatics about 'Study your dialogue and hit the mark,' " he recalled. During the discussion, Arnold revealed he had fight with the director over lines, but Cameron wouldn't budge. Arnold provided an example of how "Jim Cameron is like that," recalling when he told him, "I don't like the line 'I'll be back.' " "He says, 'What do you mean you don't like the line?' I said, 'It's just weird for a German to say, "I'll be back." Why not just say, "I will be back"?' " Cameron responded to Arnold by saying, "Oh, you're trying to tell me how to be a better writer? Because I'm not telling you to be a better actor. Just say, 'I'll be back.' If you want me to do 10 takes because you feel insecure about it, we can do that. But don't change my writing." Of course the line stayed, and has been quoted endlessly ever since, reported People. In 2023, Schwarzenegger praised Cameron's writing on 'The Terminator' for predicting the future of artificial intelligence, which has now "become a reality," as he said. "Today, everyone is frightened of it, of where this is gonna go," the actor said of current concerns around AI, during An Evening with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Los Angeles in June 2023. "And in this movie, in Terminator, we talk about the machines becoming self-aware and they take over," as per the outlet. Schwarzenegger celebrated the "brilliance of writing" in Cameron's sci-fi film, given that "at that time we had scratched the surface of AI, artificial intelligence. Think about that." "Now over the course of decades, it has become a reality. So it's not any more fantasy or kind of futuristic. It is here today. And so this is the extraordinary writing of Jim Cameron," Schwarzenegger added, reported People. (ANI)
The all-party parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha arrived in Delhi on Tuesday after concluding a multi-nation visit aimed at bolstering international support against cross-border terrorism. The delegation visited Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia as part of a global outreach initiative. This diplomatic outreach follows Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed 26 lives. Speaking to reporters upon arrival, Sanjay Jha said, "The message to send an all-party delegation was that the whole country is united on the issue of terrorism. Everybody spoke in one voice against it and condemned the Pahalgam incident. The way India attacked the terrorist hideouts with precision and did not harm the common citizens was appreciated and praised. We urged that action should be taken against Pakistan by the FATF (Financial Action Task Force). The delegations have sent out a strong message against terror." CPI-M MP Dr John Brittas also spoke to mediapersons and echoed similar sentiments, stating, "It was supposed to be very comprehensive discussions we had with the different sections of people in 5 countries, and we could successfully underscore the stand of India. India is a victim of terror, and Pakistan is a perpetrator... All these meetings turned out to be very successful." Speaking to reporters, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said, "It was heartening to find that everybody appreciated the stand of India on cross-border terrorism and they all came forward to denounce the approach of Pakistan as far as creating unrest in India is concerned, as far as the killing of innocent people is concerned. Everybody agreed to the fact that Pakistan nourishes, nurtures and promotes terrorism." "Already, different political parties have representation in the delegation. I don't think there is any need for a special session of Parliament. But of course, the senior leaders of the setup will decide. But I can only say that there is no need for it. We would be going for the monsoon session of Parliament very soon," she added. Furthermore, BJP MP Brij Lal shared the same sentiments, stating, "We went to 5 countries... We also told them the importance of Sindoor... We also told them that we are a peace-loving country, and we won't accept cross-border terrorism, and we will take it as an act of war and act accordingly. Menawhile, the delegation, led by JD(U) MP Jha, included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI-M's John Brittas, and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, among others. After the visit, Sanjay Kumar Jha emphasised that the delegation was returning "very satisfied" and the job that the Indian Government entrusted to them was accomplished to a "great extent." BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi asserted that the purpose of their visit has been fulfilled. "I would say that I feel enriched at the end of 13 days of massive touring in five countries. We started the tour on May 21. Today is June 3, and we are heading towards India. We are looking forward to going to our motherland. But I would say that the purpose with which we had come has been fulfilled in my mind," she said. The BJP MP mentioned that their purpose was to convey to these countries about Pakistan's support for terrorism. "We started in Japan, and then went to the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia. Of course, the responses of the governments in five different countries were different from one another, I must say. We have come here with a purpose. We wanted to convey India's stand on cross-border terrorism to these countries. We wanted to tell them that there was zero tolerance for terrorism. We wanted to tell them that Pakistan has been nurturing, promoting, and nourishing terrorism. Therefore, in all the countries we interacted with, we requested to put in a word for Pakistan and tell them that this has to stop. Pakistan has been a habitual offender. It has been creating problems for all of us over time, and that is why we have met a cross-section of people," Sarangi said. "We spoke to a couple of people, a couple of societies, a couple of associations, and we are returning delighted. I think the job entrusted to us by the government of India has been accomplished greatly," Aparajita Sarangi said. Another member of the delegation, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas, termed their visit a "successful" one. "It has been a successful trip to the five nations. We met many sections of society. We could convey the message of India about what happened and how cross-border terrorism affects us. We understand that they appreciate that India wants to be on the path of peace and progress," Brittas said. Former Indian Ambassador to France Dr Mohan Kumar, a member of the all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, said the takeaway was that there was unanimous and universal condemnation of terrorism. "We just concluded this visit to five countries...I can confidently say... all our interlocutors appreciated an all-party delegation. It was accepted that India spoke in one voice, that is the one takeaway. The second takeaway is that there was a unanimous and universal condemnation of terrorism. There was support for India's action and condolences for victims (of the Pahalgam attack). We have conveyed clearly to them that it was not our choice to have a war and that we were merely responding to the horrific terrorist attacks," Kumar told ANI. BJP MP Hemang Joshi said that they placed strong emphasis on the issue of cross-border terrorism and the proxy war that Pakistan continues to wage against India. "In Indonesia and Malaysia, where the Muslim population is comparatively larger, we met political leaders and delegations from various parties. We also engaged with delegations of Islamic scholars, who jointly stated that terrorism and violence have no place in Islam. All these countries want to move forward in peace. They expressed that India has every right to take a stand in the fight against terrorism. All widely appreciated Operation Sindoor," Joshi said. "Throughout this delegation, we never looked at political parties. For these 15 days, we represented India as "Team India" and spoke with one voice on behalf of the country," he asserted. The delegation's tour includes stops in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore, underscoring India's commitment to regional peace, security, and development. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on India's retaliatory military action against Pakistan and Operation Sindoor, accusing him of 'insulting the country and its armed forces.' The BJP MP said Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday does not befit any "civilised politician or any leader of the opposition." Sharing a self-made video on X, Sambit Patra said, "Today, during his speech in Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi has not only insulted Operation Sindoor but also the Indian Army and the country. The way Rahul Gandhi spoke about Operation Sindoor does not befit any civilised politician, any leader of the opposition or any politician. This kind of politician, who uses words like 'surrender' for his motherland, is not fit for the country." "The terrorist attack of Pahalgam was avenged by entering a nuclear-powered country, nine terrorist hideouts were destroyed, more than 100 terrorists were killed, and when retaliation took place, 11 airbases of Pakistan were destroyed. All this is on record, there is evidence... India has never surrendered to terrorism," he added. Patra further said, "When there was a logjam between India and China over Doklam, Rahul Gandhi's entire family was caught spying against India..." This comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government on Tuesday over allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "followed" Donald Trump following a call by the US leader and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not budge to the US in the 1971 war. Addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, Seventh Fleet (came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender." He also reiterated his attack on social media, X, stating, "Trump's phone came, and PM Narendra Modi ji immediately surrendered. History is witness. This is the character of the BJP-RSS, they always budge. India had bifurcated Pakistan in 1971 despite the threat by the United States." "The 'babbar sher' and 'shernis' of Congress fight the Superpowers, they do not bow," his post read. Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh has sparked reactions from the BJP leaders. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan launched a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, accusing him of cowardice and hypocrisy. He alleged that Congress has a legacy of appeasement and weak leadership. Responding to Rahul Gandhi's recent comments critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kesavan said, "The Congress party, ever since Nehru's days, has been hyphenated with cowardice. Rahul Gandhi says don't be afraid, but he himself is afraid to release the contents of 51 cartons of letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru, which rightfully belong to the nation." Referring to recent military operations, Kesavan said Gandhi's remarks insulted the armed forces. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also launched a fierce attack on Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making "indecent" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioning his values and patriotism. Bhandari also alleged that the Congress leader's actions, including offering tributes to former PM Indira Gandhi without removing his shoes, reflect a disregard for Indian traditions and respect. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for stopping hostilities between India and Pakistan after New Delhi's effective response to Islamabad's aggression following precision strikes on terror infrastructure. India had conducted Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India effectively responded to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
In the wake of incessant rains lashing Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Eastern Bhutan, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has launched a swift and determined response to landslides, road blockages, and communication disruptions across the region. According to the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, BRO teams have been working relentlessly in treacherous terrain to restore critical connectivity. In Mizoram, debris clearance operations are underway, road access is being restored in Sikkim, and the vital Koloriang-Lee-Sarli-Huri route remains operational in Arunachal Pradesh's Kurung Kumey district due to timely intervention by BRO personnel. Across the border in Bhutan, after a massive landslide struck the Darranga-Trashigang Highway on May 30, BRO swiftly reopened the crucial artery, reaffirming India's commitment to regional cooperation. Taking to X, the Ministry of Defence posted, "Incessant rains across Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Eastern Bhutan have triggered landslides, road blockages, and communication blackouts. BRO India has responded with unmatched urgency--clearing debris in Mizoram, restoring access in Sikkim, keeping the Koloriang-Lee-Sarli-Huri lifeline operational in Arunachal's Kurung Kumey, and swiftly reopening the Darranga-Trashigang Highway in Bhutan after a massive landslide on 30 May." "Working around the clock in hostile terrain, BRO continues to ensure connectivity, relief, and critical support. A testament to resilience and India's enduring regional partnership," the post added. Meanwhile, the government of Mizoram has issued an advisory asking dignitaries and officials to postpone their visits to the state due to severe weather conditions. The advisory comes after several days of heavy rainfall that have triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and rockfalls in many parts of the state. According to the circular released by the General Administration Department on June 2, the continuous rainfall has caused serious disruptions, including the loss of lives, and has badly affected normal life across several districts. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), led by Deputy Commissioners, are currently involved in round-the-clock disaster relief and rehabilitation work. Due to this, the administration is unable to spare staff or resources to handle official visits and security arrangements. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)'s regional centre in Guwahati has forecast continued heavy rainfall in the coming days. Considering this and to ensure public safety, the Mizoram government has asked all central and state government officials to postpone their planned visits until June 13. The advisory aims to help the local administration focus fully on disaster response and protect everyone's safety. In Tripura, schools in Agartala have been converted into relief camps to accommodate affected families.A total of 130 families, comprising 464 refugees, have taken shelter at Ambedkar School. Meanwhile, Vivekananda School is currently hosting 220 refugees. Authorities have ensured that all essential services are being provided to the displaced individuals. These include regular food distribution, access to clean drinking water, and proper medical care. Special arrangements have also been made for children's nutrition, ensuring their well-being during this crisis. Medical teams attend to the elderly, provide necessary check-ups, and distribute medicines as needed. The local administration, under the government's guidance, is actively monitoring the situation to ensure that all relief efforts run smoothly and efficiently. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, and Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla to take stock of the situation caused by heavy rainfall and floods in the northeastern region. PM Modi assured full support from the Centre in relief and recovery operations. (ANI)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday participated in the 12th convocation program of Graphic Era Deemed University in Dehradun and, while congratulating the students, said that India has the largest population of young, talented, and skilled individuals. The Union Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations and emphasised that the day marked a testament to the students' hard work, dedication, and determination. He stated that a degree is an academic milestone that also brings with it a sense of responsibility. Addressing the students at the ceremony, Gadkari said, "The country is home to the largest population of young, talented, and skilled individuals. He noted that Indian youth are admired globally and play a crucial role in the nation's wealth creation. Our focus should shift from seeking jobs to creating them," he said, urging the youth to dream big and stay committed to achieving their goals. Gadkari told students, "Credibility, honesty, and the desire to do well will take you forward." Speaking about India's rapid infrastructure growth, Gadkari mentioned several achievements in the construction of bridges, tunnels, highways, and expressways in recent years. He underlined the government's ongoing efforts in promoting green energy, calling hydrogen gas the "fuel of the future." Gadkari shared that hydrogen is being produced from organic municipal waste--an economical and sustainable approach--and mentioned that he personally uses a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The Union Minister also highlighted India's emerging status as a hub of youth, innovation, and entrepreneurship. "Indian-origin CEOs heading top global firms reflect the nation's immense talent pool," he said and stressed the need to focus on improving the country's Domestic Happiness Index. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami praised Gadkari as the "Vishwakarma of modern India," lauding his leadership in transforming the nation's infrastructure through expressways, green corridors, logistics hubs, and road networks. He called on the youth to use their knowledge and skills to build a developed India. The Chief Minister emphasised that Uttarakhand is making strides in education and innovation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "The state is implementing the New Education Policy and introducing advanced courses like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data in universities and research institutes. Scientific research is being promoted by developing science centres in Dehradun, Haldwani, and Almora. The government's vision is to make the youth future-ready," said CM Dhami. He said that incubation centres have been established across the state to support innovation and entrepreneurship. Highlighting efforts to ensure fairness in recruitment, CM Dhami noted that Uttarakhand has enacted the most stringent anti-cheating law in the country, which has led to the provision of over 23,000 government jobs to youth in the past three years. In a post on X, Nitin Gadkari posted, "Honoured to receive the Honorary Doctor of Science (http://D.Sc.) during the 12th Convocation Ceremony of Graphic Era Deemed University, Dehradun, in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister @pushkardhamiJi, Education Minister @drdhansinghukJi, and the University's Chancellor and NITI Aayog Member, Dr VK Saraswat Ji." "This recognition reflects the journey I've undertaken in sustainable highway infrastructure, clean mobility, and digital innovation--not as a destination, but as a reminder to stay resolute in serving the nation with deeper purpose and quiet determination," his post read. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 12th convocation program of Graphic Era Deemed University and conferred PhD titles and degrees to the students. (ANI)
In view of the upcoming festival of Eid-ul-Adha, the Naib Shahi Imam of Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, Maulana Syed Shaban Bukhari, has issued a special appeal to the Muslim community. In his message, the Naib Imam urged people to maintain cleanliness and refrain from performing sacrifices in public spaces such as open areas, streets or roads. In his official statement, Maulana Shaban Bukhari emphasised that during the days of Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims must remain mindful of a few key responsibilities. He said it is important that no act should hurt the sentiments or beliefs of fellow citizens. Therefore, sacrifices must be conducted only within private premises such as homes or designated enclosures, not on roads or in open spaces. He further appealed to the community to refrain from photographing or filming the act of sacrifice and strictly advised against uploading such images or videos on social media. "Islam is a religion of peace. It is our duty to demonstrate this through our conduct by ensuring that no one's emotions are harmed," he said. Maulana Bukhari also reiterated that sacrifice is a vital religious obligation that must be fulfilled by all those capable, as it holds immense spiritual significance and has no substitute. He added that just as festivals like Holi and Diwali are celebrated with dignity across India, Eid-ul-Adha should also be observed with respect and reverence. The Naib Shahi Imam reminded that Islam teaches respect for all religions and instructs its followers never to hurt the sentiments of others. Therefore, the ritual of sacrifice must be performed in a way that upholds the rule of law and maintains communal harmony, values that have always been the pride of Islam. Earlier on Monday, Eidgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali issued a comprehensive 12-point advisory to ensure the festival is observed with hygiene, respect, and social responsibility. He stressed that the blood of the sacrificed animal should not be shed into drains but buried in raw soil so it acts as fertiliser for plants. The Imam also requested that no videos or photos of the sacrificial ritual be taken or uploaded to social media. The holy festival of Eid ul-Adha, also known as the 'festival of sacrifice' or Greater Eid, is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic or lunar calendar. Eid al-Adha is the second Islamic festival of the year and follows Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. The date changes every year, as it's based on the Islamic lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Western 365-day Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice everything for God. Eid al-Adha is called Id-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent, because of the tradition of sacrificing a goat or 'bakri'. It is a festival that is celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in India. Muslims wear new clothes and attend an open-air prayer meeting during Id-ul-Zuha. They may sacrifice a sheep or goat and share the meat with family members, neighbours and the poor. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari on Tuesday praised the enthusiastic reception given to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Bhopal, describing him as the "hero of the caste census." He credited Gandhi's persistent efforts to bring the issue to the forefront and influenced the Centre to consider the demand for a caste-based census. "The way the citizens of Madhya Pradesh welcomed the hero of the caste census on the streets of Bhopal was unprecedented. Also, the way Congress workers welcomed Rahul Gandhi here was very touching. I am proud of my leader who proved the saying true, 'the world bows down -- what it needs is someone who can make it bow'," Patwari told ANI. When asked about the ongoing 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan' and whether it could help the Congress return to power in the state, Patwari expressed strong confidence. "We are political workers and have a political party. It is the responsibility of every political party to serve the public after getting in power. 500 per cent sure we will be in power and serve the public as well," he added. As part of the Congress' organisational strengthening efforts, Rahul Gandhi visited the state capital on Tuesday to lead various meetings and programs under the "Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan" (Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign). After the meeting, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath stated, "There was enthusiasm among all the Congress workers -- this is proof that the Congress is strong and all theses (workers) believe in Rahul Gandhi. He explained all the details about how the party will be rejuvenated and AICC appointed observers will engage with everyone to ensure that the right District Congress Committees are formed." Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh, son of senior leader Digvijaya Singh, described the campaign as a mission to build grassroots leadership across the state. "The message is very clear, 'Sangathan Srijan' is a mission through which observers have been appointed from AICC and their sole responsibility will be to visit districts and bring in new people, especially from major towns. The focus is on preparing strong leaders -- horses for the long race -- and making them active through this mission," Singh told ANI. He further thanked Rahul Gandhi for investing time in Madhya Pradesh Congress and expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly strengthen the party in the state. Additionally, Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma added that Rahul Gandhi's Bhopal visit was entirely focused on internal party matters and leadership renewal. "Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bhopal today was entirely focused on party affairs and party rejuvenation. His speech made it clear that from now on, District Presidents will not be appointed based on recommendations. Instead, strong and capable individuals will be elected -- those who will have the authority to distribute tickets for the councillor, Assembly, and Lok Sabha elections. Such will be the power of the new District Presidents," Verma said. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and senior spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi launched a scathing attack on the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making "objectionable and cheap" remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Rahul Gandhi has proved again that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a post like the Leader of the Opposition and has shown his lack of wisdom and low standards," said Trivedi. Escalating the political war of words, Trivedi reiterated that Rahul's remarks displayed a lack of political wisdom. "By making objectionable and cheap comments about PM Narendra Modi, he has once again proved that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a serious post like the Leader of the Opposition. By making such statements, Rahul Gandhi has again shown his lack of wisdom and low standards," he added. Trivedi also reacted to Rahul Gandhi's remark on the BJP-RSS after the Congress leader alleged that if slight pressure is exerted on them, "they run away out of fear." Trivedi countered by saying, "This is the same BJP and the same organisation that has reduced the once-invincible Congress to irrelevance in many states." The BJP MP went on to list what he termed a series of "surrenders" by Congress governments over the years. "You said on 15 July 2011 that terrorism cannot be controlled -- that was a surrender to terrorism. After the 26/11 attacks, your government did not permit military retaliation. That, too, was a surrender. In 1971, despite having 93,000 Pakistani soldiers in custody, Indira Gandhi's government failed to reclaim PoK. In 1948, Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the UN and surrendered half of it. At Independence, one-third of the country was surrendered to Jinnah and the Muslim League," Trivedi stated. He launched a fierce counterattack on Rahul Gandhi and said, "Every chapter in the calendar of India's independence is filled with the shameful acts of surrender by your party, your government, and your family," Trivedi said, lashing out at the Congress. "The kind of moral support Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given to the army and the unmatched bravery shown by the army under his guidance, he is the lion of Mother India," he said. Taking aim at Rahul Gandhi's reference to the US Seventh Fleet during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Trivedi said, "When America sent its Seventh Fleet, the Soviet Union responded by sending its own. These aren't matters to be addressed with such immaturity." "On 7 December 1971, more than 100 countries passed a resolution against India, but it was the Soviet Union that vetoed it. Even when one-third of Pakistan's army was in our custody, why wasn't Pakistan-occupied Kashmir reclaimed? And why weren't our 54 prisoners of war brought back from Pakistan?" Trivedi questioned. This comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government on Tuesday over allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "followed" Donald Trump following a call by the US leader and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not budge to the US in the 1971 war. Addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, Seventh Fleet (came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender." He also reiterated his attack on social media, X, stating, "Trump's phone came, and PM Narendra Modi ji immediately surrendered. History is witness. This is the character of the BJP-RSS; they always budge. India had bifurcated Pakistan in 1971 despite the threat by the United States." "The 'babbar sher' and 'shernis' of Congress fight the Superpowers, they do not bow," his post read. Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh has sparked reactions from the BJP leaders. BJP MP Sambit Patra launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on India's retaliatory military action against Pakistan and Operation Sindoor, accusing him of 'insulting the country and its armed forces.' Patra said Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday does not befit any "civilised politician or any leader of the opposition." BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan launched a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, accusing him of cowardice and hypocrisy. He alleged that Congress has a legacy of appeasement and weak leadership. Referring to recent military operations, Kesavan said Gandhi's remarks insulted the armed forces. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also launched a fierce attack on Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making "indecent" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioning his values and patriotism. Bhandari also alleged that the Congress leader's actions, including offering tributes to former PM Indira Gandhi without removing his shoes, reflect a disregard for Indian traditions and respect. (ANI)
As the sacred city of Ayodhya prepares for the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Darbar at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, 62,000 boxes of prasad are being dispatched from Lucknow to mark the auspicious occasion. Kshitij Gupta, Marketing Head, Chhappan Bhog, spoke to ANI and said, "We are very grateful to have received this opportunity to send prasad to Ayodhya. We have made Barfi with a mixture of chickpeas and Moongdal. Sixty-two thousand boxes of prasad are being sent from Lucknow for the Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya Ram Mandir. We are sending 20,000 packets daily..." The sculptor of Ram Darbar, Satyanarayan, spoke to ANI and said, "I do not have words to express. It is only when God showers his blessings that such events take place. Lord Hanuman has blessed us and provided me with this opportunity. It was not a work; it was a service. It took me seven months to make the idol." "I used to pray to Lord Hanuman that I want to get the opportunity to serve Lord Ram. Lord Hanuman has fulfilled my wish," he said. The temple complex in Ayodhya has been decked in vibrant, colourful lights, casting a divine glow as devotees gather in anticipation of the spiritual milestone. The 'Pran Pratishtha' rituals of Ram Darbar, which are performed on the first floor of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Ayodhya, began on Tuesday. Visuals showed devotees queued up to offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The sacred ceremony began at 6:30 AM on Tuesday and will continue until June 5. Ahead of the ceremony, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra shared an X post showing the visuals of the Kalash Yatra organised at the banks of the Saryu River. The X post said, "Ahead of the Pran Pratishtha karyakram at the eight devalay inside Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex, a sacred Kalash Yatra was organised today from the holy banks of the Sarayu river, in the esteemed presence of revered saints, acharyas, trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, distinguished citizens, and a large gathering of devotees." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to attend the Saryu Jayanti Janmotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on June 5, according to Mahant Rajkumar Das Maharaj, head of Shriramvallabhkunj. The event will be organised by the Anjaneya Sewa Trust. The event will be held from June 5 to 11, and the week-long celebration will feature devotional events, rituals, and spiritual discourses. (ANI) Earlier, Ayodhya officials had begun action to ban meat sales along key religious routes like Ram Path and Dharma 14 Kosi Marg, issuing notices to shopkeepers after complaints were raised at CM Yogi Adityanath's Janata Darbar. Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi also informed that a liquor ban is also being planned. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Mayor Tripathi said that discussions regarding the ban had been ongoing for a long time. "It was under discussion for a very long time that the sale of meat be banned in Ayodhya. It was decided that the sale of meat must be prohibited on Ram Path," said Tripathi. He added that steps would soon be taken to prohibit the sale of liquor in the same areas. "We are sure that we will soon ban liquor sale too...," he told ANI. (ANI)
Chinese school Dubai serves as a bridge between cultures

10:27, June 04, 2025 By Cui Haipei ( China Daily

A light show is presented on the skyscraper Burj Khalifa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai, on Nov 1. (Wen Xinnian/Xinhua)

When 6-year-old Peng Gelin walked into the Chinese School Dubai for an admission interview, he could barely introduce himself in Mandarin or English. The Iran-born boy who only spoke Persian was visibly nervous.

His Chinese father and Iranian mother had relocated to the United Arab Emirates from Iran to restart their lives, and hoped to give their son an education rooted in China's rigorous, yet productive, school system.

The first interview did not go well. "He was too shy to speak," said school principal Zheng Li.

But after learning about the family's sacrifices, the admissions team offered the boy a second chance. This time, with patient guidance, Peng sang an Iranian children's song and said in broken Mandarin: "I like this school and want to study here."

After a year, the once-timid boy now converses fluently in Mandarin. "I like everything here  my classmates and teachers, they're all good to me," he said, his eyes shining.

Gelin's transformation didn't come easily. He initially struggled with Mandarin tones and could only pronounce the fourth one correctly.

"He would ask classmates their names when I distributed notebooks, which helped him integrate quickly," said Wang Yiwen, class supervisor. "He always asks me, 'Ms Wang, did I get a hundred points?'" she said, adding that Gelin scored 99.5 points in his last exam.

The boy's father, Peng Tinghui, said the change in his son had been profound.

"He surprised everyone. In Iran, he didn't have the environment. Even at home, he resisted talking with me in Chinese so we had to speak Persian," said the Hubei province native who moved to Iran in 2016 to run an aquatic products business before marrying an Iranian woman.

"If not for this school, we could never have come to Dubai. The school changed his personality and his destiny.

"Here, he is encouraged to grow into a bridge between two cultures," Peng said.

Students' paintings are displayed in the corridors of the school. (Cui Haipei/China Daily)

Special curriculum

Dubai is home to the largest Chinese community in the Middle East, with a population of over 300,000 Chinese.

For years, families had to choose between local international schools or sending their children back to China for their education. The opening of the nonprofit Chinese school in 2020 ended the dilemma.

It is the first overseas school following China's national basic curriculum.

Overseen by the Chinese Ministry of Education and operated by Hangzhou No 2 High School, one of Zhejiang province's top educational institutions, it combines the strengths of Chinese pedagogy with a global outlook.

The curriculum blends core Chinese subjects with Arabic, sociology and ethics. The small classes are capped at 24 students, which enables personalized attention for its 500 pupils attending kindergarten through to grade nine.

"Chinese education offers discipline and depth, while Dubai fosters openness. We combine both," said Zheng, the principal.

Inside the school's maroon and cream-colored buildings, the lobbies and classrooms are decorated with Chinese and Arabian handicrafts made by students. They include calligraphy scrolls, paintings and poems written in both languages.

"Over the past five years, we have adhered to the belief that establishing this school is a project aimed at cultivating more overseas talents who can preserve and pass on Chinese culture," said Zheng. "Our goal is to cultivate students rooted in Dubai with a global vision," she added.

"We have striven to integrate traditional Chinese culture into teaching, which not only enhances students' competencies and international competitiveness, but also plants the seeds of a deep appreciation of Chinese culture in their hearts," she said.

In 2023, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority awarded the school a "good" rating  the highest for any new Dubai school in its inaugural assessment. "It showcases Chinese education's strengths while enriching Dubai's educational diversity," said KHDA's director general Aisha Abdulla Miran.

Hu Yiyao, 37, enrolled her 9-year-old daughter at the school last year. She said her child seems more confident and happy after leaving an international school.

"My daughter now understands her roots  her hair, her skin and her family story," she said, adding that she plans to send her son to the Chinese School Dubai this September.

The school's academic achievements are also impressive. At the recent 2025 Purple Comet Math Meet, a team from the school won first place in the UAE and ranked 38th among 1,047 teams participating worldwide.

Team member Bao Hafu, 15, will graduate from grade nine soon and plans to enroll in a United States-curriculum high school in Dubai.

The Dubai-born boy used to study at an international school. "The teachers in international schools say, 'you are great', 'everything is great'. This school encourages you, but tells you where you need to improve and that is much more helpful," the teenager said.

Chinese Ambassador to the UAE Zhang Yiming (left) and Ou Boqian, China's consul-general in Dubai, attend the International Children's Day event at the Chinese School Dubai on May 30. (Photo/China Daily)

New experience

The school also offers new experiences for teachers who have moved from Hangzhou to Dubai to take up teaching posts.

Over the past five years, the school has received four batches of a total of 123 teachers from Hangzhou.

"We keep sending outstanding teachers to Dubai to ensure the educational quality of the Chinese school," said Niu Jun, director of the Hangzhou Municipal Education Bureau.

The Mandarin textbooks follow those used in China. However, differences in students' Chinese proficiency are the biggest obstacle for teachers to overcome.

Different teaching strategies have been developed to deal with the challenges, including lesson logs to track each student's progress. According to Zhu Qiongying, director of academic affairs office, these logs are usually three pages, but the logs they produce are often over 10 pages.

When teaching Chinese culture, teachers adapt traditional lessons to a local context, said Zou Xiaozhen, primary school division head.

"When teaching about Spring Festival, I incorporate Eid al-Fitr (the holiday marking the end of Ramadan) to guide students in comparing the shared values between cultures, such as family reunions. It deepens mutual understanding while nurturing global perspectives," she said.

Before Chinese New Year, students from Dubai and Hangzhou Phoenix Primary School exchanged greeting cards. They painted the iconic elements of the two cities, the Six Harmonies Pagoda and the Burj Khalifa, on the cards deepening their friendship.

Wang Yiwen has been teaching for nearly 32 years and was sent to Dubai last year. She rewards students who perform well with gift incentives such as stickers, small toys or snacks. Some of these gifts are brought from Hangzhou while others are handed over by relatives or friends when they visit Wang in Dubai.

Recently a former student came to see her and brought some dingshenggao rice cakes, traditionally believed to have been given to soldiers during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) before they entered battle. The cakes feature the word "dingsheng", meaning "must win".

"When I distributed the pastries to the students one by one, I told them stories about Yue Fei (an ancient Chinese military general) and the origin of the dingshenggao," Wang said. "Small rewards greatly inspire children to experience the happiness of learning."

Chinese and local staff of a Chinese company make dumplings with their families to celebrate Spring Festival in January in Dubai. (Photo/Xinhua)

Global ambitions

The school's influence extends beyond its walls.

Since 2019, the UAE's "Hundred Schools Project" has expanded Chinese language education to 171 schools and 71,000 students.

"The Chinese School Dubai is not merely a school. It's also a bridge for cultural exchanges and a symbol of friendship," said Abdulla Al Saleh, undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy.

Saturday Mandarin classes at the Chinese School Dubai this semester have attracted over 200 participants from nearly 20 countries.

Among them is 13-year-old Emiliya Miroshnichenko.

The Dubai-born girl was enrolled in the school for grade seven after taking several Saturday lessons, which helped her discover the depth of Chinese education. "At my old school, they used calculators for simple calculations. Here, they push critical thinking," she said.

Her mother, Nadezhda Prossalova, sees a major shift in thinking about education. "British education was once our only option here. China opened a door we never imagined," she said.

Students interact with Unitree's robot dog at a campus art festival on May 16. (Cui Haipei/China Daily)

Emiliya learns Mandarin three or four times a week with the help of home tutors, but she said this is not enough.

She wants to attend a boarding school in China for high school and study diplomacy at a top Chinese university. "Mandarin isn't just a language, it's my gateway to global citizenship," said the teenager.

Her fascination with China was sparked by a two-hour documentary showcasing the country's impressive infrastructure and culture.

"I loved this so much," she said. "The presenter traveled to many Chinese cities. I was astonished by the people, the environment, the infrastructure, and the governments. I thought I needed to go there and see it with my own eyes."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Echoing the Opposition's demand for a Special Session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the BJP is doing dirty politics over Operation Sindoor. Speaking to the media, Thackeray said, "Yes, we are demanding this (Special Session). On one hand, we are united before the world; the opposition and ruling side are going out as a united front before the world and telling them how Pakistan-based terrorism can be dismantled. But on the other hand, a few leaders of the BJP are doing dirty politics in our country in the name of Operation Sindoor. We want to fight against it." The Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA raised questions regarding the Pahalgam attack and asked if the terrorists have been caught. "Truth should come out that how the terrorist (behind the Pahalgam terrorist attack) came there. Have they been caught? Where are they? Have they entered the BJP? It is essential to ask this," he said. On controversial statements being made over Eid al-Adha, Aaditya Thackeray said that the government should not interfere in festivals. He added that the government should focus on farmers' suicides and flooding due to heavy rainfall, instead of festivals. "Why should calls be made to save this or save that in every festival? Celebrate festivals. It is always save water, save colour, save this and save that. Let people breathe. It is not the job of the government. The government's job is to see that if farmers are dying by suicide, go and support them. If houses are flooded in rain, go and check why it happened. The government's job is to search for the four Pakistani terrorists who came here. It is not their job to interfere with festivals," Thackeray said. Meanwhile, leaders of the INDIA bloc held a meeting in the Constitution Club, Delhi, on Tuesday and furthered the demand for a Special Session of Parliament. Post the meeting, speaking to media, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "There are signatures of 16 political parties on the letter that we have written to the Prime Minister. This is not a normal letter. The opposition is the voice of the public. We want a special session to be called to discuss whatever has happened in the country so far..." (ANI)
Posters featuring All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi were seen on Hyderabad's metro pillars after an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, and including him, concluded its visits to Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Owaisi's flex boards featured several slogans, including "One man against terror, one truth against Pakistan, exposing the enemy within, for India, with pride." During their visit, the delegation briefed international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, highlighting the broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaged with leaders in key countries. During his visit to Algeria, AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi lambasted Pakistan, calling it an "epicentre of Takfirism." Addressing the Algerian media, members of think tanks and the Indian diaspora, Owaisi said that there is no ideological difference between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. "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." 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. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India," Owaisi said. Emphasising the effectiveness of the Grey list of FATF to counter terrorism, Owaisi said, "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)." "It's 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 added. (ANI)
The Director of Agriculture, Jammu, Arvinder Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion. This was organised in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to revitalise the agriculture sector.

The initiative aims to empower farmers with knowledge, technology, and resources to boost productivity, ensure sustainable practices, and increase income.

Sub Divisional Agricultural Officer Bhaderwah Aamir Rafiqi highlighted the government's long-term vision to make Indian agriculture globally competitive.

The Prime Minister's vision for a developed India by 2047 cannot be achieved without transforming agriculture. This campaign is about creating awareness and driving real change on the ground.

Director Agriculture, Jammu, Arvinder Singh, emphasised the importance of farmer-centric policies being implemented by the Government of India.

He said, "Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan is not just a campaign but a mission to ensure the transformation of Indian agriculture through scientific interventions, smart resource utilisation, and access to direct benefits."

He urged farmers to proactively engage with the departments, adopt sustainable practices, and take advantage of the numerous schemes and subsidies made available under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Arvinder Singh added that "Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025 is an opportunity for farmers to directly interact with field experts and scientists to resolve their issues and upgrade their practices.

He encouraged farmers to adopt organic and climate-resilient agriculture while taking full advantage of government-supported initiatives for irrigation, seeds, fertilisers, and crop insurance.

During the programme, farmers shared significant challenges including irregular rainfall, water quality issues, soil health problems, market prices and availability of quality seeds.

Scientists of Krishi Vighyan Kendra Doda provided detailed information on natural farming, integrated pest management, new varieties, soil health management, crop diversification, direct-seeded rice cultivation, summer ploughing, and government schemes.

"We usually hear about government schemes, but don't always understand how to apply for them. Today, officers helped us directly that personal guidance makes a big difference," said a farmer, Sashi Kumar.

"This is the first time I've seen such detailed information about soil health and organic farming methods in one place," said Ravi, a farmer from Bhaderwah.

"If these methods are adopted widely, we can definitely increase our yield and income," he added. (ANI)
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued summonses to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over an alleged corruption of Rs 2,000 crore scam in the construction of classrooms in government schools. Minister Satyendar Jain has been summoned to the ACB office on June 6, and Manish Sisodia has been asked to appear in the Court on June 9. This comes after a complaint was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Harish Khurana, BJP MLA Kapil Mishra and Neelkanth Bakshi of the BJP's Media Relations Department against the AAP ministers, who were accused of inflating costs for constructing semi-permanent classrooms, as per a statement by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) Shweta Singh Chauhan. According to Chauhan, the probe into the investigation of the case revealed massive cost escalations and violations of procurement rules, with 34 contractors linked to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Speaking to ANI, Chauhan said, "We received a complaint against Manish Sisodia, former Deputy CM, and Satyendar Jain, former PWD Minister... the scam is of over Rs 2,000 crore. The classrooms were semi-permanent structures, and the cost estimate was around Rs 24,00,000 per classroom, which was more than the prevalent market rate back then." "There was a considerable cost escalation by the time projects were completed. The allegations are that the prevalent market rate by then was Rs five lakhs to complete a classroom structure," she added. The complaint alleged irregularities in the construction of approximately 12,748 classrooms at a reported expenditure of Rs 2,892 crore. The cost per classroom, as per the awarded tenders, stood at around Rs 24.86 lakh, even though similar structures could be built in Delhi for approximately Rs five lakh, they claimed. It has also been alleged that the project was handed over to 34 contractors, most of whom were allegedly affiliated with the AAP. According to ACB chief Madhur Verma, during verification, it was found that the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), in its meetings during the financial year 2015-16, had decided the project should be completed by June 2016 within the sanctioned cost, without any scope for future cost escalations. (ANI)
As part of the visit, the delegation travelled to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, engaging in high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral relations and promote India's global outreach.

The delegation, led by Shinde, includes BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy.

During the visit, in a notable diplomatic milestone, Shrikant Shinde became the only Indian Member of Parliament to address the national parliaments of both Liberia and Sierra Leone. A statement from his office highlighted this historic outreach, calling it a step forward in deepening India's parliamentary and diplomatic ties with West Africa.

The Shinde-led delegation's visit strengthened bilateral ties between India and Liberia, with the Indian delegation receiving a warm welcome and ceremonial honours. The delegation also interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Gurudwara in Monrovia.

Earlier, wrapping up a high-level diplomatic mission, the delegation leader and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde described the 13-day visit by the delegation as a unified assertion of India's zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and a reflection of its rising global stature under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Reflecting on the experience, Shinde said the delegation not only deepened its understanding of the countries visited but also conveyed India's message of peace and its zero-tolerance stance against terrorism.

The group briefed 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.

This all-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)
A court in Rajasthan has sent Shakur Khan, who was arrested by the state Intelligence on Tuesday on charges of spying for Pakistan's ISI, to seven-day police custody to investigate the matter. Jaisalmer SP Sudhir Chaudhary says, "Shakur Khan has been arrested under the Official Secrets Act. He was first interrogated in Jaisalmer and then in Jaipur. He was a government employee who travelled abroad without permission and was in contact with suspicious persons..." Jaisalmer SP Sudhir Chaudhary has appealed to the public to report any information related to suspicious activities or individuals to the police immediately. He assured that the police are vigilant and closely monitor individuals' actions, and any suspicious activity will be dealt with promptly. "If you have any information about such activities, please report it to the police. Don't assume that the agency isn't keeping an eye on someone; we are regulating and monitoring actions, and we'll take action if anything suspicious is found," the SP said. The police have also warned that failure to report such information can lead to legal action against individuals who knowingly withhold information about someone involved in such activities. The appeal is made to ensure public cooperation in maintaining national security and preventing potential threats. According to the officials, he was accused of collecting and sharing information with Pakistan's ISI agents. The accused, identified as Shakur Khan, who served as an Assistant Administrative Officer in Jaisalmer, was charged with leaking strategic information to Pakistan's intelligence agency. A court in Rajasthan has sent Shakur Khan, who was arrested by the state Intelligence on Tuesday on charges of spying for Pakistan's ISI, to seven-day police custody to investigate the matter. According to the officials, he was accused of collecting and sharing information with Pakistan's ISI agents. The accused, identified as Shakur Khan, who served as an Assistant Administrative Officer in Jaisalmer, was charged with leaking strategic information to Pakistan's intelligence agency. According to the officials, he had been under surveillance for a long time due to suspicious activities. Special Public Prosecutor Sudesh Kumar Satwan said, "Shakur Khan, who is a government employee, has been arrested over some anti-national activities. The court has granted 7 days of police custody. After the investigation, we will present him before the court again. A probe is being conducted over some Pakistani phone numbers." Inspector General of Police (CID Security) Vishnu Kant Gupta confirmed that Khan had been under surveillance for a long time. Gupta said that Shakur Khan's activities were suspicious for a long time, and the security agencies closely monitored him. During the surveillance, it was revealed that Shakur Khan was in constant contact with some persons working in the Pakistan Embassy, especially Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish and Sohail Qamar. It is worth noting that Danish has already been declared an 'undesirable person by the Government of IndiaDuring interrogation at the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur, Khan confessed that he had visited Pakistan several times, obtaining visas with the help of Danish. Officials revealed that upon returning to India, he collected strategic information and sent it to Pakistani handlers using platforms like WhatsApp. As an Assistant Administrative Officer in Jaisalmer, Khan accessed sensitive documents, raising significant concerns over internal security. A case has been registered against him under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and the accused has been arrested. Further investigation is still ongoing on this matter. (ANI)
Amid the Opposition's demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss issues related to national security and 'Operation Sindoor', Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prakash Reddy on Wednesday said the demand at this stage is 'meaningless'. Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "...Whenever the parliament commences, all the issues will be discussed, whether the 'Operation Sindoor' or our losses (of our Indian army or Indian Air Force). We can discuss everything during the parliament session." Reddy said that since the operation is ongoing and key matters are under review, a special session is not justified. "However, when the 'Operation Sindoor' is already going on, and economic activities go on, national security issues are in the process, so at this stage, demanding a parliament session is meaningless," he told ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray echoed the Opposition's demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindhoor, alleging that the BJP is engaging in dirty politics over the matter. Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh also wrote to PM Modi, requesting him to immediately call a special session of Parliament to provide a comprehensive briefing on Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire decision between India and Pakistan. On Tuesday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the demand of the opposition parties and their leaders to convene a special session of Parliament upon the arrival of all-party delegations to discuss various issues, especially the developments that followed the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. "We, the leaders of INDIA, reiterate our collective and urgent request to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the developments following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025," Kharge posted on X, quoting the letter signed by prominent opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee among others. Accusing the central government of "keeping people of India and their elected representatives in the dark", the Congress chief said that there are serious questions regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri during the recently concluded conflict between India and Pakistan. Congress Chief Kharge added, "Today, 16 political parties of the opposition have written a letter to PM Modi that a special session of the Parliament must be called so that all the parties can thank our armed forces. From Pahalgam to Operation Sindoor to America's announcement of the ceasefire to delegations worldwide, we should discuss them in the Parliament...We should also discuss eradicating terrorism and our further strategies in the Parliament..." (ANI)
Former Bihar Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday took a dig at the NDA government in the state, saying that the state has been suffering from the Bihar government's failure for many years. In a post on X, Yadav shared a caricature and said, "Bihar has been carrying the failure of the Bihar government for many years!" https://x.com/yadavtejashwi/status/1930109666958168170 Earlier on June 2, Lashing out at the "double-engine" government in Bihar over the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Muzaffarpur, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged "administrative anarchy" in the state as law and order has "collapsed". Speaking to the media, Yadav said that no one from the government has time to visit the victim's family, as "the CM and his Deputy CMs are busy with political programmes." "The double-engine government has failed in Bihar. The CM never discussed this; I am unsure if he is even aware of the incidents. Law and order have collapsed. There is administrative anarchy in the whole of Bihar. No action is being taken... No one has time to meet the victim or the victim's family. The CM and both the Deputy CMs are busy in political programmes," Tejashwi Yadav said. This comes after a 10-year-old girl died at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Sunday. The minor girl's uncle, Virendra Paswan, has, however, alleged negligence on the part of the hospital administration and doctors, stating that she was kept waiting for two hours inside the ambulance before getting admission to the hospital. On Sunday, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, lashed out at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by Nitish Kumar, over the "brutality against a minor Dalit girl", alleging negligence in her treatment at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). In a post on X, LoP Gandhi alleged that the "double-engine" government's negligence led to the Dalit girl's death. "The brutality against a minor Dalit girl in Muzaffarpur and the subsequent negligence in her treatment are extremely shameful. If she had received timely treatment, her life could have been saved. But the double-engine government was negligent not only in providing security but also in saving his life," he said. The Congress leader further demanded strict action against the accused. "We will not sit quietly until the victim's family gets justice. Strict action should be taken against the culprits and negligent officers," the post read. Notably, the Bihar assembly election is due this year. (ANI)
After concluding a five-nation visit as part of an all-party delegation, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP, John Brittas urged the government to now convene Parliament and inform the public and the international community about India's position. Speaking to ANI upon his return, Brittas said, "Now, since the opposition members who are part of the outreach delegations have fulfilled their obligations and duties, it is for the government to fulfil its duty, convene the parliament, and inform the people and the world community." Brittas said that the delegation received a "mixed response" during their tour, which aimed to address international concerns and perceptions about India's current situation with Pakistan. "There was much misinformation in that part of the globe, maybe because of the Western media's reportage on the Indo-Pak skirmishes. There were impressions that India has been doing something against Pakistan, and our mission could ensure that India's position is explained," Brittas told ANI. Brittas emphasised the positive impact of the outreach effort, stating, "We feel that the message of this mission has gone down very well among those countries we visited." He further added, "At the end of this mission, we feel that we have been able to fulfil the responsibility given to us." Now that the delegation's role has concluded, Brittas placed the onus on the government to respond to both domestic and global expectations."It is for the government to fulfil its duty, convene the parliament, and inform the people and the world community," he repeated. Earlier, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP termed their visit as a "successful" one. "It has been a successful trip to the five nations. We met many sections of society. We could convey the message of India about what happened and how cross-border terrorism affects us. We understand that they appreciate that India wants to be on the path of peace and progress," Brittas said. Brittas was part of an all-party delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, and included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, and Congress leader Salman Khurshid. The all-party delegation visited Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. (ANI)
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday said the naming of 'Operation Sindoor' has increased respect for women and called it a "good fortune" for the nation. Addressing the mediapersons at Jodhpur Circuit House, Governor Kataria said, "The naming of 'Operation Sindoor' has increased India's respect for women. This was the good fortune of our country. Lanka was burnt, and it happened to honour a woman. The Kurukshetra war was fought by Pandavas and Kauravas, that too, to honour a woman." On the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Kataria added, "The way the May 22 incident happened... the people demanded that the terrorists pay a hefty price. The Prime Minister Modi said that he would do what they would never have imagined, and with the wisdom with which he prepared, he cleared all their locations in one swoop and killed hundreds of terrorists." Governor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for giving a free hand to the Indian Army. Regarding the people who support the 'enemies' while living in India, he said that it is the misfortune of this country that Jaichands are born here. He added that the country never lost due to its bravery, but had to face ups and downs due to internal enemies. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian armed forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries then reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday took a jibe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for "keeping quiet" on the decision by US President Donald Trump on restricting Harvard University's ability to enrol foreign students. In a post on social media X, Ramesh wrote, "President Trump has made his intentions clear. China has reacted strongly regarding Chinese students. But not surprisingly, our PM and EAM have kept totally quiet. They are completely silent on President Trump's claims on having Operation Sindoor stopped after just four days, and they have not said a word of concern on how Indian students and their families are being affected badly by President Trump's actions." The Congress MP further wrote in his post that approximately three lakh Indian families who invested their hard-earned savings, plus those who went in the earlier years, would face an uncertain future. "According to the Ministry of External Affairs, approximately 337,630 Indian students went to the USA for higher studies in 2024. About a third of the foreign students on American campuses are from India. This means that some three and a half lakh Indian families invested their hard-earned savings or borrowed for the education of their children in the US. These students, plus those who went in earlier years, face an uncertain future. Large numbers of students planning to go in 2025 may never get to see their aspirations fulfilled," the post read. Earlier on May 24, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) urged the Central government to "put their foot down" and ensure that Indian students "get justice." "I think the central government needs to put their foot down and make sure that the Indian students get justice. Whoever was there in Harvard University must get justice," Clyde Crasto, spokesperson of NCP-SCP, told ANI in Mumbai. "The Trump administration has made certain decisions. The federal government also along with them, has made a decision. Now that's their right. What the government does is their prerogative. But the point here is when we talk about foreign students being barred from Harvard University, that also involves our Indian students," he added. Harvard and the Trump administration have been engaged in a conflict for months as the administration demands the university make changes to the programmes of the institution, hiring and administration to remove on-campus antisemitism and remove what it termed "racist 'diversity, equity and inclusion' practices." The administration has targeted foreign students and employees, whom it believes were part of the contentious campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Since then, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order after Harvard filed a lawsuit on the issue. (ANI)
Punjab Police's State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) has unearthed an espionage network linked to a YouTuber from Rupnagar, allegedly connected to Pakistani intelligence operatives and terror-backed elements, officials said on Wednesday. https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1930118141654220884 In a post on X, DGP Punjab Police wrote, "Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar. Jasbir Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called "Jaan Mahal," has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network. He also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra (arrested for spying) and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official." "Investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He travelled to Pakistan on three occasions (2020, 2021, 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, now under detailed forensic scrutiny. After Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, Jasbir attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection. An FIR has been registered at SSOC, Mohali. Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators," the post added on X. Punjab Police reiterated its firm resolve to safeguard national security and dismantle networks that threaten the country's sovereignty and integrity. Meanwhile on Tuesday, the Punjab Police, acting on inputs from Counter-Intelligence Punjab, arrested a man identified as Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan, a resident of Mohalla Rodupur, Gali Nazar Singh Wali in Tarn Taran, for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan-based Khalistani supporter Gopal Singh Chawla. In a post on X, DGP Punjab Police shared information stating that the arrested accused had been in touch with the ISI and Gopal Singh Chawla, sharing classified details concerning army movements during Operation Sindhoor. Investigations have revealed that he was engaged in sharing troop deployments and strategic locations, posing a threat to national security. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) posted at District Police Lines (DPL) Udhampur for drug peddling after heroin-like substance was recovered from his possession during a police checking operation, said officials. SPO was arrested from the Phangyal area of Udhampur town on Wednesday. According to an official release, a team from Police Station Udhampur led by the Station House Officer (SHO) was on patrolling and checking duty near Phangyal when they intercepted a suspicious person. On noticing the police party, the individual attempted to flee but was apprehended promptly. Upon frisking, the person was identified as Vishal Singh, an SPO posted at DPL Udhampur and a resident of Shakti Nagar, Udhampur. Police recovered 5.64 grams of heroin-like contraband substance from his possession. A case has been registered under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Udhampur. Further investigation into the matter is underway. Earlier on June 2, in a decisive action against subversive and criminal elements inimical to the security and integrity of the nation, Srinagar Police have booked five terror associates of proscribed terror outfits involved in subversive activities under the Public Safety Act (PSA). According to officials, the arrested individuals have been identified as Nayeem Ahmad Khan, resident of Gamandar Panthachowk in Srinagar, Faizan Akhter Bhat alias Faizan, resident of Gousia Colony, Mehraj Ud Din Bhat, resident of Pandach in 90 FT Road, Umar Hamid Sheikh, resident of Assar Colony in Hazratbal Srinagar, and Suhaib Shafi Baba alias Chamna, resident of Diwat Walipora, Rainawari Srinagar. These accused persons have been booked after obtaining formal detention orders based on dossiers prepared against them by the Srinagar Police. Consequently, they have been detained and subsequently lodged in the district jails of Kathua, Udhampur, and Kot Balwal in Jammu. It is pertinent to mention that many criminal cases have been registered against these individuals. Despite this, they did not mend their ways. After getting bailed out from the courts, they were brazenly involved in criminal and subversive activities prejudicial to the interests of the Nation. Pertinently, J-K Police has been systemically targeting and dismantling such anti-national infrastructure in Srinagar city, with a relentless crackdown on such elements. (ANI)
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Wednesday took part in the Telangana Jagruthi Maha Dharna against the notices issued to BRS president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao by the Justice PC Ghose Commission probing the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project. "The notices given to KCR garu are nothing but political notices to smear his name. My only demand is that the water of the Godavari River should be protected, and Telangana should get 1000 TMC of water. CM Revanth Reddy should write to the Central government immediately to stop the Banakacherla project by the Andhra Pradesh government," Kalvakuntla Kavitha told mediapersons. Earlier on May 21, Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha criticised the PC Ghose Commission for summoning former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in a probe related to irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project during the BRS regime. In a post on X, Kavitha emphasised that Kaleshwaram was built for the welfare of farmers and asserted that it is part of a "calculated political conspiracy" against KCR. "The notices to KCR Garu over the Kaleshwaram project are part of a calculated political conspiracy to tarnish the image of a true people's leader. Kaleshwaram was built for the welfare of farmers and future generations, not for politics. Today, this inefficient Congress government is undoing the very progress Telangana fought for," Kavitha said. The BRS MLC further highlighted that KCR has devoted his life to Telangana and the transformation of barren lands into fields of prosperity and is now being targeted by the "visionless" regime. "KCR Garu, who has devoted his life to Telangana, transforming barren lands into fields of prosperity, is now being targeted by a visionless regime. No vindictive Government can diminish his legacy. The truth will prevail, and history will remember who stood for the people and who tried to bring them down," K Kavitha said. Earlier, the Justice PC Ghose Commission issued summons to former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), former Minister Harish Rao, and BJP MP Etela Rajender, who also served as a minister during the BRS regime in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). The Commission, which has been probing financial and procedural lapses in the multi-crore irrigation project, directed the three political leaders to appear for questioning in the first week of June. According to the sources, KCR was asked to appear before the Commission on June 5, followed by Harish Rao on June 6 and Etela Rajender on June 9. (ANI)
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Wednesday questioned Pakistan's reported plan to send its delegations abroad, in what is being seen as a countermeasure to India's global outreach under Operation Sindoor. Speaking to reporters, MP Shinde said, "What will Pakistan say? That it was India that has been responsible for spreading terrorism for so many years? Or tell of the many lives taken by Pakistan?" Shrikant Shinde also responded to Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Operation Sindoor, in which Gandhi had questioned US President Donald Trump's interference in the matter. Taking a swipe at Gandhi, Shinde said that the fight against terrorism should not be used for political gain. "... When all the people are collectively raising their voice for India, and all the MPs are presenting our side in a united voice, then Rahul Gandhi should understand that politics will not work in the fight against terrorism..." he said. Earlier, Shrikant Shinde-led Delegation 4 of the all-party delegation arrived at IGI Airport in Delhi on Wednesday after concluding a multi-nation visit. As part of the visit, the delegation travelled to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, engaging in high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral relations and promote India's global outreach. The delegation, led by Shinde, included BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. During the visit, in a notable diplomatic milestone, Shrikant Shinde became the only Indian Member of Parliament to address the national parliaments of both Liberia and Sierra Leone. A statement from his office highlighted this historic outreach, calling it a step forward in deepening India's parliamentary and diplomatic ties with West Africa. The Shinde-led delegation's visit strengthened bilateral ties between India and Liberia, with the Indian delegation receiving a warm welcome and ceremonial honours. The delegation also interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Gurudwara in Monrovia. (ANI)
BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh questioned the unity of the Opposition on Wednesday amid their demand for a special session of Parliament, saying that the INDI alliance itself appeared divided. Speaking to ANI, RP Singh said, "To my knowledge, the INDI alliance comprises 26 groups. Out of 26, only 16 gathered." He pointed out the lack of full participation within the alliance, indicating differences among its members. The BJP leader further said, "Ask Deepender Hooda whether his party is united on all issues. They should also ask Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, and Salman Khurshid about their opinions." On Tuesday, Congress MP Deepender Hooda, speaking after the meeting of the INDIA bloc, stated that the government of the country should put forward their views in the Parliament when they were doing it in front of the world too. "When the Govt of India is putting forward its views in front of the world, I think the govt should do the same in the Parliament as well..." Hooda told ANI. He further stated that there should be a special session in Parliament to thank the armed forces and to hold a discussion on issues, including the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. "Today, 16 political parties of the opposition have written a letter to PM Modi that a special session of the Parliament must be called so that all the parties can thank our armed forces. From Pahalgam to Operation Sindoor to America's announcement of the ceasefire to delegations going across the world, we should have discussions on them in the Parliament...We should also discuss how to eradicate terrorism and our further strategies in the Parliament..." he further stated. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut emphasised the importance of the opposition's voice in Parliament. After the meeting at the press conference, Raut said, "There are signatures of 16 political parties on the letter that we have written to the Prime Minister. This is not a normal letter. The opposition is the voice of the public. We want a special session to be called to discuss whatever has happened in the country so far..." Raut questioned the government, asking, "If a ceasefire was called on the suggestion of President Trump, then why can't a special session be held even after repeated requests from the Opposition? Should we go to President Trump for a special session?" Sixteen political parties of the INDIA alliance have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor and Trump's announcement on Tuesday. (ANI)
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the ruling party cannot operate without targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Speaking to ANI, Warring said, "Is there any agenda of the BJP that can be without targeting Rahul Gandhi? Let them keep targeting him. This means that there is one person of whom the PM is afraid." When asked about the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's controversy on the "One nation, one husband" scheme, he said, "When the chief minister made such a statement, I felt ashamed of politicians. What do the public think about us? What do politicians talk about? I don't want to comment on these remarks. But I just want to tell you that Indian women wear their husbands' sindoor, and only their husbands give that sindoor to their wives." On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stirred a controversy after he said that the BJP has turned "Operation Sindoor" into a joke, asking whether this is a "One nation, one husband" scheme. "Did you not see the kind of fun made of Sindoor? What is this - one nation, one husband scheme?" CM Mann said. The remarks made by the Punjab CM ignited criticism from the BJP, with Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu leading the charge. In a self-made video, Bittu said that the country will not forgive Bhagwant Mann for the words he has used. "The statements show how cheap and vile things the Aam Aadmi Party and their Chief Minister can say. The NDA government at the Centre has defeated Pakistan, and you are not able to tolerate it. Will you say anything to show that you stand with Pakistan? The country will not forgive you for the words you used against PM Modi today," he said. BJP leader Fatehjung Singh Bajwa termed the remarks of the Punjab CM "shameful"."This is very shameful. Comedians look good on stage, but Bhagwant Mann does not understand the value of the CM's chair. What kind of joke is this? ... I think it is shameful for the CM to joke about such a thing," Bajwa said. Haryana Minister Anil Vij also slammed CM Mann, asking him to take these kinds of issues seriously. "The Punjab Chief Minister was a comedian before joining politics. He wants to do comedy in politics, too. Such issues should be taken seriously and should not be mocked," Vij said. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-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. After India's strike on terror infrastructure, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and the International Border, as well as attempted drone attacks targeting civilian areas along the border regions. In response, India neutralised Pakistani air defence apparatus, radar infrastructure, and communication centres, and inflicted heavy damage across 11 airbases in Pakistan.After this, on May 10, an understanding on the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world's highest railway arch bridge over the river Chenab during his day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The architectural marvel Chenab Rail Bridge, situated at a height of 359 meters above the river, is the world's highest railway arch bridge. It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions. A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Through Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours. During his visit, the prime minister will also inaugurate the Anji Bridge, a PMO statement said. The Anji Bridge is India's first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain. PM Modi is also scheduled to flag off Vande Bharat trains. Thereafter, he will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate, and dedicate multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore to the nation at Katra. The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation. The 272 km long USBRL project, constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. "The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration," the PMO said. The Prime Minister will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. These trains will offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, and pilgrims, among others. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects, which will significantly boost last-mile connectivity, especially in border areas. He will lay the foundation stone of the road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and construct the Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore. He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. "These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters," the PMO statement read. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region. (ANI)
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said Rahul Gandhi's arrow directly hit the target. Supporting Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's statement questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor, Tiwari said that the BJP is discouraged and mentally distressed. Speaking to ANI, MP Pramod Tiwari said, "Rahul Gandhi's arrow directly hit the target. He (Rahul Gandhi) did what was his responsibility towards the country, as a leader of the opposition party. The whole world knows that Donald Trump has said 12 times that he has brokered a ceasefire, by luring both sides in the name of trade. So, Rahul Gandhi fulfilled his duty, and the BJP has become discouraged and mentally distressed. That's why they are attacking in non-parliamentary language." He demanded that the BJP leaders ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say that US President Donald Trump is lying. "I ask that if there is courage in the BJP, then ask its leader, Narendra Modi, to say that Trump is lying..." he said. The row began when, addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet (which came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender." He also reiterated his attack on social media, X, stating, "Trump's phone came, and PM Narendra Modi ji immediately surrendered. History is witness. This is the character of the BJP-RSS; they always budge. India had bifurcated Pakistan in 1971 despite the threat by the United States." "The 'babbar sher' and 'shernis' of Congress fight the Superpowers, they do not bow," his post read. This was followed by attacks from BJP leaders. Senior BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "Rahul Gandhi has proved again that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a post like the Leader of the Opposition and has shown his lack of wisdom and low standards," said Trivedi. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remark on the BJP-RSS, Trivedi said, "This is the same BJP and the same organisation that has reduced the once-invincible Congress to irrelevance in many states." The BJP MP went on to list what he termed a series of "surrenders" by Congress governments over the years. "You said on 15 July 2011 that terrorism cannot be controlled -- that was a surrender to terrorism. After the 26/11 attacks, your government did not permit military retaliation. That, too, was a surrender. In 1971, despite having 93,000 Pakistani soldiers in custody, Indira Gandhi's government failed to reclaim PoK. In 1948, Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the UN and surrendered half of it. At Independence, one-third of the country was surrendered to Jinnah and the Muslim League," Trivedi stated. BJP MP Sambit Patra said that Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday does not befit any "civilised politician or any leader of the opposition." (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Wednesday strongly criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his "surrender" remarks on Operation Sindoor, saying that such statements show how sick and dangerous his mentality has become. Addressing a press conference, the BJP MP stated that by making extremely cheap and low-level statements, Rahul Gandhi shows that he lacks maturity and seriousness. "On one side, all-party delegation, which consists MPs from the opposition too, including Congress, which were sent by India to different countries to put forward India's stance, are coming back. On another side, by making extremely cheap, low-level statements, the self-proclaimed, self-styled, supreme leader, the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is telling the world that even after becoming the LoP, he lacks the seriousness and maturity that the post requires... The matter is not just about his lack of maturity, but it is serious. How Rahul Gandhi compared our armed forces' valour and army officers' brief on Operation Sindoor's success with surrender, shows how sick and dangerous his mentality has become," Trivedi said during a press conference. Sharpening his attacks on Gandhi, the BJP spokesperson said, "There is a saying in Hindi- 'Naya mullah zyada pyaaj khaata hai.' But here 'gair mullah iss kadar pyaaj khaane mein laga hai', that he doesn't realise how badly he is insulting this country's self-respect and the army's valour." Pointing out that such statements are not even made by the Pakistani Army Chief or any terrorist group, Trivedi asked Gandhi if he wants to go one step ahead of them. "Till now, Congress leaders were making headlines in Pakistani media, their statements were being quoted in Pakistani Parliament. But for the first time, Rahul Gandhi has said something which even the Army Chief of Pakistan has not said, nor has any terrorist organisation of Pakistan. Even Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed have not said such a thing. None of them said that India surrendered... I want to ask Rahul Gandhi- Does he want to get one step ahead of these people? Till now, he was giving cover fire to the people of Pakistan, the Pakistani army and terrorist organisations. Is he trying to become their leader now?," said Trivedi. This comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government on Tuesday over allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "followed" Donald Trump following a call by the US leader and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not budge to the US in the 1971 war. Addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet (which came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender." (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that he should seek an apology for the same, further stating that his immature behavior was the reason behind his name "Pappu." "Rahul should apologise for this. This is why he is called 'Pappu'. His behaviour and attitude show that he has not yet matured..." Yadav told ANI. He further stated that the Congress leader's immature behaviour tarnished his reputation and added that the words used showed his frivolity. "It is unfortunate that the way the Leader of Opposition speaks leaves decorum behind. It not only tarnishes his reputation but also goes against the culture of our country... The words he used show his frivolity. I condemn him in harsh words... His party MPs are going around the world and talking about how the Indian Army, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, gave Pakistan a fitting reply..." he further added. Yadav also stated that Congress would pay the price for the immature behaviour by Rahul Gandhi. "Congress will pay the price for this... Only Congress knows where he will take the party, behaving like this," he stated. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also launched a scathing attack against the Congress leader and accused him of making "objectionable and cheap" remarks on the PM. "Rahul Gandhi has proved again that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a post like the Leader of the Opposition and has shown his lack of wisdom and low standards," said Trivedi. Escalating the political war of words, Trivedi reiterated that Rahul's remarks displayed a lack of political wisdom. "By making objectionable and cheap comments about PM Narendra Modi, he has once again proved that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a serious post like the Leader of the Opposition. By making such statements, Rahul Gandhi has again shown his lack of wisdom and low standards," he added. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai on Wednesday said that the government should follow the 'Raj dharma' and convene a special session of Parliament over Operation Sindoor. SP MP Rai was a part of an all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, which travelled to Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain as part of a global outreach initiative to brief key nations on Operation Sindoor and India's counter-terrorism efforts following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack. "PM should have called the special session by himself. In 1962, when the war against China was at its climax, first-time MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee had demanded a special session mid-war. Nehru ji had called the special session then. But today, the same party is in power. You did not even announce the war. Call it conflict or counter-terrorist activity, the entire country stood with you. You asked us to go across the world and talk to them; we did it. We followed the 'rashtra dharma', but the government should follow 'raj dharma," Rai told ANI. 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 were also a part of this delegation. Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the INDIA bloc wanted to discuss the Pahalagam terror attack and not the action taken by the government during a special session of Parliament. He further stated that if the 16 opposition parties demanded a special session, then the same should happen. On Tuesday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the demand of the opposition parties and their leaders to convene a special session of Parliament upon the arrival of all-party delegations to discuss various issues, especially the developments that followed the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian armed forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries then reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday announced that the Monsoon session of the Parliament will commence from July 21 and run till August 12. Both Houses of the Parliament are scheduled to convene on July 21 at 11 am, after a break of over three months. The upcoming Monsoon session will be the first Parliament session following Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India on May 7 in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. This also comes amid the demand by Opposition leaders to convene a special session of Parliament upon the arrival of all-party delegations to discuss various issues, especially the developments that followed the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. "We, the leaders of INDIA, reiterate our collective and urgent request to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the developments following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X, quoting the letter signed by prominent opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, among others. Accusing the central government of "keeping the people of India and their elected representatives in the dark", the Congress chief said that there are serious questions regarding the Pahalgam terror attack and the killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri during the recently concluded conflict between India and Pakistan. He said there were also questions regarding the "ceasefire announcements" and their implications for India's national security and foreign policy. "There are serious questions facing the nation about the terror attack, the killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements, and the implications for our national security and foreign policy. We have supported the government's efforts to engage with the international community on India's position. The government has briefed foreign nations and the media, but not Parliament - keeping the people of India and their elected representatives in the dark," Kharge said. The government could also bring an impeachment motion against High Court judge Yashwant Varma in the upcoming monsoon session. According to government sources, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has started speaking with various political parties about an impeachment motion against High Court judge Yashwant Varma in the next Parliament Session. The Supreme Court had constituted an inquiry committee following allegations of "burnt cash" found at a storeroom of Justice Varma's residence as a Judge of the Delhi High Court. The in-house inquiry committee submitted its report on the issue last month, which has since been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the President of India. "The Parliamentary Affairs Minister has started speaking to all parties for an impeachment motion against HC judge Yashwant Varma," a source said. (ANI)
After completing a five-nation diplomatic visit, BJP MP Brij Lal, part of the JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha-led delegation, said, "Pakistan aims to hinder our progress by fueling terrorism," highlighting the ongoing challenges India faces from its neighbour. "Our delegation went to five countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. The response from all the countries was good. We wanted to show that we are a peaceful country and we don't want war. We want only development. That week, we became the fourth-largest economy in the world. We are going to be the third in two years, and by 2047, we will be a 'Viksit Bharat,'" said Brij Lal. Addressing Pakistan's role, Brij Lal stated, "Our neighbouring country wants to slow down our progress. They want peace to be disturbed here. This has been happening for the last 4 decades. Many people are asking for the proof... I told them that the IC814 flight was hijacked from Kathmandu in 1999 for the release of terrorist Masood Azhar and two other terrorists. The same happened during the 26/11 attacks, when we arrested Kasab... He had a fair trial in this country, and then he was sentenced to death. Now, we have brought Tahawwur Rana. In America, there is David Headley, who was sentenced to 30 years. During interrogation, he revealed that he had gone to Pakistan. So in this way, we have proof. All the cross-border terrorism that has happened is because of Pakistan... Who is the target? It's our Hindus. It was done to incite a communal problem in our country..." On 'Operation Sindoor,' the outreach initiative aimed at mobilising global opinion, Brij Lal added, "...We requested that condemning the attack would not do anything. Everyone has condemned the attack. Even Indonesia has condemned it... There is going to be a financial task force meeting. We told Malaysia to take action against Pakistan... Not grey, Pakistan should be kept on FATF's black list." The all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha concluded their multi-nation visit, returning to India on Tuesday, "very satisfied," having accomplished the tasks entrusted to them to a "great extent." The delegation included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi; TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; and Congress leader Salman Khurshid. Their tour through Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore underscored India's commitment to regional peace, security, and development. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai, a member of the all-party delegation that visited five countries following the Pahalgam terror attack, said that the outreach effort helped clear misconceptions about Pakistan and cross-border terrorism. He said the visit helped build international support against terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Speaking to ANI, Rai said, "We visited five countries -- Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain. In all five countries, they were either misinformed or had no information at all. We cleared their doubts through evidence and our arguments. I told them the history of Pakistan at several locations. I told them that we attained independence together -- one became the largest democracy of the world, and the other became the biggest terrorist nation of the world." Rai pointed out that one common suggestion from all the countries was to engage in dialogue with Pakistan. However, he said the delegation responded by questioning the practicality of holding talks with a country where the military controls key decisions. Rai told ANI, "We received one suggestion from everywhere - You should talk to Pakistan. We said that yes we have taken your advice, but let us know with whom we should talk... Pakistan has a puppet government. It has been the history of Pakistan that whichever civilian government thinks of behaving like a civilian government, is either jailed, thrown out of the country or hanged...Pakistan is an Army which sells milk, chips, cement and deals in the real estate business. So, for them terrorism is also a business." He accused Pakistan of misusing international funds, saying,"They seek help from Muslim countries by saying one thing and then seek funds from institutions and then fund terrorism. In such a situation, it is the voice of 140 crore people that Pakistan's terrorism will not be tolerated." Rai also referred to past peace efforts made by India and the betrayals that followed. "Whenever we tried to have talks, Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Lahore in a bus and when he was extending a hug, Musharraf was entering our country...," the SP MP added. Rai expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the foreign outreach. "After all examples, we are satisfied that wherever we went, every country eventually said that they condemn the Pahalgam incident and are with us in the fight against terrorism. We had a limited mandate. Now, it is up to the government how they go ahead on the ground we have set and what they do to isolate Pakistan," HE said. SP MP Rajeev Rai was part of the delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. It also included Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri. The delegation briefed international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism and engaged with leaders in Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia. (ANI)
A rescue operation to evacuate 113 stranded tourists from Lachen in North Sikkim was called off early on Wednesday after bad weather forced an MI-17 helicopter carrying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to abort its mission. The chopper, carrying nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, took off from Pakyong Airport around 6 a.m. but had to return mid-air as poor visibility near Mangan and Chaten made "flying conditions unsafe". No rescue operations were conducted today due to these challenges, the authorities said in their official statement. The tourists have been stranded in Lachen for over a day after heavy rains triggered multiple landslides, blocking key roads and cutting off access to the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for North Sikkim, warning of continued heavy rainfall over the next three days, the statement added. Meanwhile, braving extreme weather and dangerous terrain, the Indian Army reached the completely cut-off Lachen village on foot, locating 113 stranded tourists. Of them, 30, including foreign nationals, were airlifted on June 3 following massive landslides in North Sikkim, an official statement from the Minister of Defence (MoD) said. "In the wake of a devastating landslide in North Sikkim, the #IndianArmy is leading relentless search and rescue operations under extreme weather and hazardous terrain. Lachen village, completely cut off, has been reached on foot, with 113 stranded tourists located--30 of them, including foreign nationals, airlifted on 3 June," the MoD said in a post on X. The Army teams, equipped with specialised tools, are working on unstable and high-altitude ground conditions to find the six missing persons. "Search efforts continue for six missing individuals. Despite unstable ground and high-altitude challenges, specialised teams and equipment are on the ground. The Army stands resolute: every life matters, and every effort continues. #IndianArmy #SikkimLandslide." Earlier, the MoD said, "Incessant rains across Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Eastern Bhutan have triggered landslides, road blockages, and communication blackouts. BRO India has responded with unmatched urgency--clearing debris in Mizoram, restoring access in Sikkim, keeping the Koloriang-Lee-Sarli-Huri lifeline operational in Arunachal's Kurung Kumey, and swiftly reopening the Darranga-Trashigang Highway in Bhutan after a massive landslide on 30 May." "Working around the clock in hostile terrain, BRO ensures connectivity, relief, and critical support. A testament to resilience and India's enduring regional partnership," the MoD added. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) swiftly and determinedly responded to regional landslides, road blockages, and communication disruptions. Similarly, the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, and BRO teams have worked relentlessly in treacherous terrain to restore critical connectivity. Meanwhile, the government of Mizoram has issued an advisory asking dignitaries and officials to postpone their visits to the state due to severe weather conditions. The advisory comes after several days of heavy rainfall that have triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and rockfalls in many parts of the state. (ANI)
YSR Congress Party, led by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, organised a rally in Rajamahendravaram Rural, East Godavari, on the occasion of 'Betrayal Day', to mark the first anniversary of the TDP-led government. YSRCP East Godavari District President and Former Minister Chelluboyina Venugopala Krishna led the rally. Following the rally, the former minister submitted a representation to the District Collector. A large number of party leaders, workers, and supporters actively participated in the rally, which was organised to protest against the N Chandrababu Naidu government. YSRCP shared posts on X, showing visuals from protests marking 'Betrayal Day' held in multiple locations. The rally in Rajampet was led by Meda Raghunath Reddy. MPs Mithun Reddy and Maddila Gurumoorthy participated in the rally in Sarvepalli constituency, and Chandragiri constituency in-charge Chevireddy Mohith Reddy organised a huge rally in Chandragiri constituency. According to an X post by YSRCP, after the rally, MP Gurumoorthy said that the coalition government came to power by making false promises to the people, and it is ridiculous for the coalition leaders to say that today is a festival day for the people. The MP said that people think that this is not a government that celebrates festivals, but a government of pure violence. He said that the false promises given by the coalition will burn the coalition government like fire in the coming days. He warned that YSRCP workers and leaders are being harassed with illegal cases to divert people's attention from election promises, and there is no point in being afraid of such wildfires. He said on this occasion that more such protest programs will be organised against the failures of the government in the future. Sharing a video on '1 year of CBN Back Stabbing', YSRCP wrote on X, "Super-6 turned out to be a golden duck. AP people won't forget this betrayal." Meanwhile, Naidu-led TDP is celebrating the day as 'Praja Teerpu Dinam' (People's Victory Day). (ANI)
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Wednesday observed 'Betrayal Day' across Andhra Pradesh, accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his government of failing to deliver on the promises made before the elections. The protest was led by YSRCP NTR District President Devineni Avinash, who strongly criticised the ruling coalition for allegedly ignoring public welfare. Party workers and local leaders held rallies and submitted representations to officials in various districts, demanding immediate implementation of the schemes promised by the TDP during the election campaign. "Today, we are observing Betrayal Day across the state. Many leaders and party workers have participated by holding rallies and submitting representations to local authorities, demanding the implementation of the schemes that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu promised before the elections," said Devineni Avinash. He added, "We are urging CM Chandrababu Naidu to fulfil his promises. The people of Andhra Pradesh believed in his words and elected him, but he has betrayed the trust of the public." Referring to the previous YSRCP government's record during difficult periods, Avinash said, "If we look at YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's regime, there were difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, even during those challenging periods, we never stopped the welfare schemes that were announced." Avinash warned that the YSRCP would continue to support public movements if the current government fails to deliver on its commitments. "We demand and request that Chandrababu Naidu and his coalition government fulfil their promises. Otherwise, we will stand with the people for the next four years and fight alongside them," he said. Criticising the ruling alliance, he said the government appears disconnected from the people's hardships. "They must think twice about what they are doing. We are demanding the implementation of all the promises made. While the government is busy celebrating Sankranti and Diwali, people across the state are suffering immensely." On Tuesday, YSRCP announced that it will observe June 4 as 'Betrayal Day' across all constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, launching state-wide protests against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government's alleged failure to fulfil its pre-election promises. Speaking to ANI, YSRCP spokesperson Putha Siva Sankar said that protest rallies will be organised at the constituency level, where party workers will also submit representations to local officials. The demonstrations aim to raise awareness among the public about what the YSRCP describes as the ruling alliance's unfulfilled assurances. "June 4th, YSR Congress Party will be observing the Betrayal Day across Andhra Pradesh in every constituency. We will hold protest rallies and submit the petitions to officials at the constituency level and gather the people about the promises," said Sankar. (ANI)
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that he is working on building a consensus amongst all political parties to move against an impeachment motion against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister said that there is no scope for any politicking, as the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma is a matter related to corruption in the judiciary. "The impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma is a matter related to corruption in the judiciary. So, there is no scope for any politicking. There is no scope for taking a separate political position for every party. So, we would like to have a united stand; Parliament as a whole will have to come together to discuss this matter and move forward. So, I am building consensus amongst all political parties, and I have started discussions with prominent leaders, and I will reach out to everybody," he said. "(The response has been) very positive. As I said, in this matter, there is no scope for taking a political stance by each party. The matter is very serious, and it is extremely important for the nation. So, when we discuss corruption, whether it's corruption in the judiciary or anywhere, it has to be taken in the best consideration of the nation. We are not going to have a partisan view on that," Rijiju added. The Supreme Court had constituted an inquiry committee following allegations of "burnt cash" found at a storeroom of Justice Varma's residence when he was a Judge of the Delhi High Court. The in-house inquiry committee submitted its report on the issue last month, which has since been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the President of India. On May 4, a panel of judges tasked with conducting an internal inquiry into allegations of cash being discovered at Justice Yashwant Varma's official residence submitted its report to the then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna. According to an official communication from the Supreme Court, the three-member committee, comprising Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana; Justice GS Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh; and Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, concluded its investigation and presented its findings in a report dated May 3. The Chief Justice of India constituted this committee on March 22 to examine the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the High Court of Delhi. On April 5, Justice Yashwant Varma was sworn in as a judge of the Allahabad High Court under unusual and contentious circumstances. Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday announced that the Monsoon session of the Parliament will commence from July 21 and run till August 12. Both Houses of Parliament are scheduled to convene on July 21 at 11 am, after a break of over three months. The upcoming Monsoon session will be the first Parliament session following Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India on May 7 in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. This also comes amid the demand by Opposition leaders to convene a special session of Parliament upon the arrival of all-party delegations to discuss various issues, especially the developments that followed the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. (ANI)
PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday speaking on the inauguration of the Chenab bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6 stated that more mindfulness towards Kashmir should be maintained since it was ecologically fragile, further stating that the inauguration was welcomed as a development. "It's a step that we should appreciate, but I would like to say that Kashmir is an ecologically fragile state. In Anantnag, near Pahalgam, they wanted to establish a rail track through orchards, but we need to remember the fragility of the place. The establishment of the rail track should be done keeping in mind the convenience of the passengers... they are deboarded at Katra for a security check, and there is a long delay of 2-3 hours there. So, these are things that should be looked into."...." Mufti told the media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on June 6 for the inauguration of several projects including the Chenab bridge, the Anji bridge, and the flagging off of Vande Bharat trains. According to an official release from the Prime Minister's Office, in line with his commitment to boost rail infrastructure and connectivity in the region, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Chenab bridge and visit the bridge deck at around 11 am. Thereafter, he will visit and inaugurate the Anji bridge. He will flag off Vande Bharat Trains at around 12 noon. Thereafter, he will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra. The architectural marvel Chenab Rail Bridge, situated at a height of 359 meters above the river, is the world's highest railway arch bridge. It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions. A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Through the Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours. The Anji Bridge is India's first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain. The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation. The 272 km long USBRL project, constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration. The Prime Minister will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. They will offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, and pilgrims, among others. In a major boost to last-mile connectivity, especially in border areas, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects. He will lay the foundation stone of the road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore. He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in the Reasi district, contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region. Notably, this will be Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the territory after 'Operation Sindoor' - India's precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Wednesday conducted an online dialogue on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, China. The subject of the dialogue was - "Tiananmen Square: The ugly face of Maoism - from Beijing to Bastar." Speaking to reporters, Sharma stated that it is essential to dispel misconceptions of people about Maoism as Maoists have misled the people of Chhattisgarh on this subject. "... Today is a day worth remembering, especially for the people of Chhattisgarh, because Maoists have misled people here. To dispel their misconception, people need to know what Maoism is. That is why I am conducting an online dialogue about it today..." the Deputy CM said. The 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, also known as the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, was a series of student-led demonstrations in China. These protests culminated on June 3-4, when the People's Liberation Army used force to suppress the demonstrations, resulting in significant casualties. Meanwhile, the Deputy CM also reacted to two Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Durg and stated, "... Many criminals have been caught in this. I accept that there are more people than those who have been nabbed... I also appeal to the common people to make available any information they get. We are also developing a mechanism for them to share the information they possess." Earlier on June 1, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma highlighted the BJP government's "zero tolerance policy" over national security and said, "We don't feed 'biryani' to these people" "The BJP government's work with zero tolerance when it comes to issues related to national security...We don't feed 'biryani' to these kinds of people in Bungalows in Delhi. Their place is fixed in jail...," Sharma told reporters. This came after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a massive search operation at 15 locations in eight states across the country 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. (ANI)
BJP MP Brij Lal, who was a part of the delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, which visited Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where they received a warm response from leaders and citizens alike has criticises Pakistan's reported move to send delegations to a few countries on similar lines as India's all-party delegations. Speaking to ANI, the BJP MP said, "There is no use in copying. Copying is also done with intelligence. I just read what they said in the newspaper..." MP Brij Lal added that the Indian all-party delegations have unmasked Pakistan in front of the world. "Not only 11 airbases, but more than that have been destroyed...The delegation sent by India around the world has unmasked Pakistan in front of everyone," he said. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde also questioned Pakistan's reported plan to send its delegations abroad, in what is being seen as a countermeasure to India's global outreach under Operation Sindoor. Speaking to reporters, MP Shinde said, "What will Pakistan say? Was it India that has been responsible for spreading terrorism for so many years? Or tell us of the many lives taken by Pakistan?" "We wanted to show that we are a peaceful country and we don't want war. We want only development. Our delegation went to five countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. The response from all the countries was good," he added. The Indian delegation, of which Brij Lal was a part, was led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi; TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, among others. The delegation's tour included stops in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore, underscoring India's commitment to regional peace, security, and development. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries & Steel, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma on Wednesday praised the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, stating that the vision of a "Viksit Bharat" (developed India) by 2047 was clear and achievable under his leadership. Speaking on the occasion, Verma said, "In the last 11 years, the Narendra Modi government has introduced many schemes in the fields of economy, healthcare, and social security, which have directly benefited all sections of people." He further asserted that India would become a developed country by 2047 under Prime Minister Modi's "strong leadership." He made the remarks while attending the "11 Years of Modi Government--Sankalpam to Sakaram" workshop held in Vijayawada, where he was invited as the chief guest. The minister said key changes had been witnessed in all sectors of the country over the last 11 years. He added, "The Central Government is committed to the development of Andhra Pradesh with the help of a double-engine government." The minister emphasised that the Central Government had remained focused on inclusive growth and had launched several initiatives to uplift the poor, empower women, and strengthen infrastructure across the nation, including in Andhra Pradesh. The event also highlighted various flagship schemes and reforms brought in by the Centre over the past decade, aimed at building a stronger and more self-reliant India. The workshop concluded with a pledge to continue working towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat, reaffirming the Modi government's long-term goals for national development. Meanwhile, on Monday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated virtually in the program "11 years of Modi Government from Sankalp to Siddhi" from the Chief Minister's residence. Addressing the program, CM Dhami said, "On June 9, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are going to complete 11 golden years of service, good governance and poor welfare. This transformative period of 11 years has been a historic period of renaissance of India's self-respect, self-respect and spirit of nationalism, in which our country established itself as a strong, capable and competent nation on the global stage." Chief Minister Dhami said that it is the result of the far-sighted thinking and strong leadership of the Prime Minister that today India is making its strong presence felt on international forums like G-20, QUAD and BRICS. "Today, under the Modi government, not only have India's borders become safe, but the country is also becoming self-reliant in the field of defence. Today, India is using more than 80 per cent indigenous defence resources and is also exporting defence material to more than 85 countries," he added. The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of pride for all of us that today India has established itself as the fourth largest economy in the world by becoming an economy of more than 4 trillion dollars. (ANI)
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan on Wednesday expressed disappointment at actor Kamal Haasan's remarks on the Kannada language, saying that "derogatory remarks" by someone regarded as being in the highest strata of society are "not welcome." Speaking to ANI, Kovai Sathyan said, "He has larger aspirations in politics, which miserably failed and finally took asylum under DMK as a Rajya Sabha member. He wants to place himself as a politician and make derogatory remarks or instigate people, but somebody who is regarded in the highest strata of society is not welcome. It is against the law... Even C. Rajagopalachari submitted a written apology. He is not bigger than him. He is an actor. An actor turned politician. He should be more responsible..." Meanwhile, the ongoing controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan's movie 'Thug Life' has taken a new turn, with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) reaffirming its demand for an apology from the actor. The dispute revolves around Haasan's controversial remarks at the audio launch of the film in Chennai, where he suggested that "Kannada is born out of Tamil." After a meeting with film industry representatives, KFCC President M Narasimhalu emphasised the chamber's firm stance on the issue, stating that the actor's comments have angered both the government and pro-Kannada organisations. The KFCC President insisted that Haasan must apologise to the people of Karnataka for his remarks before any further discussion could take place. "He has spoken about our language, and the government, pro-Kannada organisations, everyone is angry. He should apologise. Let him come and discuss," Narasimhalu said. Narasimhalu further added that the KFCC was not prepared to make any decisions or offer mediation without an apology from Haasan. He said that the KFCC's stance is clear: no mediation or resolution can take place without Haasan acknowledging the hurt caused by his statement. "We want an apology from Kamal Haasan. There are rules, and this concerns four states," Narasimhalu said. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has adjourned the hearing of the petition concerning the release of 'Thug Life' to June 10, 2025. The court had previously intervened after the KFCC decided to block the film's release in the state due to the controversy surrounding Haasan's comments. The film's producers filed the petition seeking a court order to allow the release of 'Thug Life' as scheduled on June 5, 2025. The court noted that Haasan's letter to the KFCC in response to their demand did not include the word "apology," further complicating the matter. The court has provided time for dialogue between the petitioners and the KFCC, allowing the producers to engage with the film body in an attempt to resolve the issue. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Wednesday. Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena was also present on the occasion. The Union Minister reviewed the progress of ongoing National Highway projects in Delhi with Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and CM Rekha Gupta. Other MPs and senior officials of the Delhi government were also present at the meeting. On June 3, launching the Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced that from November 1, only BS-VI (Bharat Stage 6), CNG, or EV commercial vehicles will be allowed to enter the city. "From November 1, 2025, any vehicle that comes to Delhi will have to be a BS6, CNG, or EV commercial vehicle," Gupta said at a press conference. She said that the state government's dream is to chase "clean, green and healthy Delhi", for which the Environment Ministry of Delhi has drafted an Air Pollution Mitigation Plan for this year. "Environment Day is very close, and air pollution in Delhi is a matter that is related to all of us. For years, we have been suffering from air pollution. We have a dream - Clean Delhi, Green Delhi, Healthy Delhi. I am very happy that our Environment Department and Minister have drafted a fantastic Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025," the Delhi CM said. Gupta said that the national capital would witness its first artificial rain "very soon" with the help of cloud seeding techniques. "Very soon, Delhi will have its first artificial rain through cloud seeding," the CM said. She said the Delhi government would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with science organisations to utilise innovative techniques to combat pollution. For cloud seeding and artificial rain, an MoU has been signed with IIT Kanpur as a pilot project. "To reduce and eliminate pollution, we will sign MoUs with all our science organisations, which will use their latest innovations to help the Delhi government fight against pollution. For example, the Delhi government has signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur, which is based on cloud seeding and artificial rain, which we have approved to start as a pilot project," Gupta said. The Delhi CM said the government was planning to install "mist sprayers" in areas often categorised as pollution hotspots to manage dust particles. "It will be mandatory to install anti-smog guns on all high-rise buildings, especially commercial buildings above 3,000 metres, malls, hotels, etc. and due to this, dust mitigation will be reduced in all of Delhi," Gupta said. She said that the Delhi government also plans to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at all entry points to the metropolitan city, which would allow the identification and stopping of end-of-life vehicles that spread pollution. "We will install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at all the entry points of Delhi, which will be able to identify end-of-life vehicles, and as soon as the vehicle comes in the range of these cameras, it will be known that this vehicle is an end-of-life vehicle and is spreading pollution, so they will be traced and stopped immediately. These cameras will also be installed at all petrol pumps, and we will be able to detect end-of-life vehicles... Together, we can deal with the big problem of pollution in Delhi," the Delhi CM said. (ANI)
The Shahdara District Police arrested three hardcore criminals involved in a violent overnight robbery spree that spanned multiple police jurisdictions in the city. Acting swiftly on two PCR calls received on May 31 from Jagatpuri and Geeta Colony, Shahdara Police launched a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of Sharik alias Kalia, Shabir alias Faheem, and Saurav alias Manoj alias Micky, all residents of New Seelampur and nearby areas. DCP Shahdara Prashant Gautam said that the initial complaints registered under FIR at PS Jagatpuri and PS Geeta Colony detailed robberies committed at gunpoint by four bike-borne assailants. Responding with urgency, a dedicated police team began combing the area and reviewing extensive CCTV footage from the crime scenes and surrounding areas. The investigation revealed the use of a Duke motorcycle and a Dominar bike, with one bearing a fake registration number. The Duke bike was traced to its original owner in Bhalaswa, Delhi, who had sold it to a man named Vinay. Vinay had further sold it to Rishav, who reported that he had been robbed of the vehicle at gunpoint in Nehru Nagar on May 29. The theft was already recorded in PS Lajpat Nagar. Further intelligence came from an informer who identified a group known for operating with similar methods across Delhi and using a white bike. Acting on the tip, the police verified addresses and laid a trap. Early the next morning, three suspects were successfully apprehended. A fourth suspect, Shahzad, also from New Seelampur, remains at large, and efforts to locate him are ongoing. Upon interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the recent crimes. The team recovered the robbed Duke and Dominar motorcycles, one country-made pistol, a live cartridge, Rs 6,400 in cash, two snatched mobile phones (including an iPhone), a fake lighter-shaped pistol, a knife, and tools for breaking bike locks. Investigators revealed that Sharik, the gang's mastermind, and his associates, all auto-rickshaw drivers by day, had formed a tightly coordinated criminal outfit. They would steal high-end motorcycles, park them in Daryaganj, and use rented autos to travel discreetly. After dark, they retrieved the stolen bikes and targeted people across Delhi, especially those returning late from work. Their routine allowed them to avoid identification by CCTV and evade law enforcement, DCP Gautam added. Sharik has been previously involved in over 45 cases, Shabir in 12 cases, and Saurav in more than 12 cases of robbery and snatching. The gang admitted to learning evasive tactics while serving time in jail. (ANI)
Former minister RK Roja on Wednesday staged a symbolic protest by placing a flower in her ear, highlighting how the coalition government led by Chandrababu Naidu has ignored the promises made to the people after coming to power in Chittoor district. Earlier in the day, YSR Congress Party, led by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, organised a rally in Rajamahendravaram Rural, East Godavari, on the occasion of 'Betrayal Day', to mark the first anniversary of the TDP-led government. YSRCP East Godavari District President and Former Minister Chelluboyina Venugopala Krishna led the rally. Following the rally, the former minister submitted a representation to the District Collector. A large number of party leaders, workers, and supporters actively participated in the rally, which was organised to protest against the N Chandrababu Naidu government. YSRCP shared posts on X, showing visuals from protests marking 'Betrayal Day' held in multiple locations. The rally in Rajampet was led by Meda Raghunath Reddy. MPs Mithun Reddy and Maddila Gurumoorthy participated in the rally in Sarvepalli constituency, and Chandragiri constituency in-charge Chevireddy Mohith Reddy organised a huge rally in Chandragiri constituency. According to an X post by YSRCP, after the rally, MP Gurumoorthy said that the coalition government came to power by making false promises to the people, and it is ridiculous for the coalition leaders to say that today is a festival day for the people. The MP said that people think that this is not a government that celebrates festivals, but a government of pure violence. He said that the false promises given by the coalition will burn the coalition government like fire in the coming days. He warned that YSRCP workers and leaders are being harassed with illegal cases to divert people's attention from election promises, and there is no point in being afraid of such wildfires. He said on this occasion that more such protest programs will be organised against the failures of the government in the future. Sharing a video on '1 year of CBN Back Stabbing', YSRCP wrote on X, "Super-6 turned out to be a golden duck. AP people won't forget this betrayal."Meanwhile, Naidu-led TDP is celebrating the day as 'Praja Teerpu Dinam' (People's Victory Day). (ANI) Earlier on Tuesday, YSRCP announced that it will observe June 4 as 'Betrayal Day' across all constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, launching state-wide protests against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government's alleged failure to fulfill its pre-election promises. Speaking to ANI, YSRCP spokesperson Putha Siva Sankar said that protest rallies will be organised at the constituency level, where party workers will also submit representations to local officials. The demonstrations aim to raise awareness among the public about what the YSRCP describes as the ruling alliance's unfulfilled assurances. "June 4th, YSR Congress Party will be observing the Betrayal Day across Andhra Pradesh in every constituency. We will hold protest rallies and submit the petitions to officials at the constituency level and gather the people about the promises," said Sankar. (ANI)
Members of the all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, have expressed satisfaction over the success of their multi-nation diplomatic outreach after returning to India. IUML MP ET Mohammed Basheer said the delegation effectively projected India's unified stance against terrorism and exposed Pakistan's role in fostering it. "I am happy to say that the assignment given to us was wonderfully completed and we are fully satisfied with it. Wherever we went, we exposed Pakistan and showcased India's unity against terrorism. Our delegation's leader Shrikant Shinde was very cordial, coordinated the entire thing, and performed well. We feel that we did our work marvelously. The purpose of the delegations was served," Basheer said. Echoing similar sentiments, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity and hailed the solidarity expressed by various nations during the visit. "We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving us this opportunity. We have fully achieved our delegation's purpose. You would not believe the solidarity that the UAE, an Islamic country, showed India. In two Parliaments (Sierra Leone and Liberia), a moment of silence was observed for the departed souls of the Pahalagam attack. In Liberia, our delegation got to address the parliamentarians in the Upper House, the Senate... We have been able to convey that Pakistan is a terrorist country. It is a breeding ground for terrorists, that dispatches terrorists to India and the rest of the World," Mishra said. The delegation's tour, which included visits to multiple countries, aimed at bolstering India's diplomatic engagement and counterterrorism narrative on the global stage. As part of the visit, the delegation travelled to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, engaging in high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral relations and promote India's global outreach. The delegation, led by Shinde, included BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. During the visit, in a notable diplomatic milestone, Shrikant Shinde became the only Indian Member of Parliament to address the national parliaments of both Liberia and Sierra Leone. A statement from his office highlighted this historic outreach, calling it a step forward in deepening India's parliamentary and diplomatic ties with West Africa. The Shinde-led delegation's visit strengthened bilateral ties between India and Liberia, with the Indian delegation receiving a warm welcome and ceremonial honours. The delegation also interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Gurudwara in Monrovia. (ANI)
In the wake of heavy rains and devastating landslides in North Sikkim, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday carried out urgent rescue and relief operations in the remote region of Chaten and evacuated 33 stranded people, including two US nationals, from the remote and rain-battered Chaten region of North Sikkim. In a statement, the Indian Air Force said, "In response to the devastating landslides in Sikkim, Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters rapidly launched Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Ops -- dropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams, and evacuating 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region." However, a prior operation to evacuate 113 stranded tourists from Lachen during the early hours had to be called off due to bad weather. An Mi-17 helicopter carrying nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel took off from Pakyong Airport around 6 am, but was forced to return mid-air because of poor visibility near Mangan and Chaten. The tourists have been stranded in Lachen for over a day after multiple landslides blocked key roads, cutting off access to the area. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for North Sikkim, warning of continued heavy rainfall over the next three days. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has reached Lachen village on foot, navigating through dangerous terrain and extreme weather. The troops were able to locate all 113 stranded tourists. "In the wake of a devastating landslide in North Sikkim, the #IndianArmy is leading relentless search and rescue operations under extreme weather and hazardous terrain. Lachen village, completely cut off, has been reached on foot, with 113 stranded tourists located -- 30 of them, including foreign nationals, airlifted on 3 June," the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a post on X. The Army is also searching for six missing persons in the region. Specialised teams equipped with advanced tools are working in unstable and high-altitude conditions to find them. "Search efforts continue for six missing individuals. Despite unstable ground and high-altitude challenges, specialised teams and equipment are on the ground. The Army stands resolute: every life matters, and every effort continues. #IndianArmy #SikkimLandslide," the MoD added. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has also been responding swiftly to landslides, road blockages, and communication blackouts across Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Bhutan. The MoD stated, "Incessant rains across Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Eastern Bhutan have triggered landslides, road blockages, and communication blackouts. BRO India has responded with unmatched urgency -- clearing debris in Mizoram, restoring access in Sikkim, keeping the Koloriang-Lee-Sarli-Huri lifeline operational in Arunachal's Kurung Kumey, and swiftly reopening the Darranga-Trashigang Highway in Bhutan after a massive landslide on 30 May." "Working around the clock in hostile terrain, BRO ensures connectivity, relief, and critical support. A testament to resilience and India's enduring regional partnership," it added. The Government of Mizoram had earlier issued an advisory asking dignitaries and officials to postpone their visits to the state due to severe weather conditions. The advisory comes after several days of intense rainfall that have triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and rockfalls in various districts. (ANI)
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the US President's claim of mediating between New Delhi and Islamabad for the cessation of hostilities during Operation Sindoor. Taking a veiled dig, the Congress leader said, "The truth of this person is - 'Naam Narender, kaam surrender.'" "Their organisation's history is that of cowardice, and when a person like this heads the country, then the country's future lies in danger. In the last 22 days, the US President has said over 12 times that he used the trade threat to strike a ceasefire. In the past few days, have you heard anything from the PM?" he said, addressing a press briefing. "...Desh ki mann ki baat hai ki ceasefire kaise hua... Why did Donald Trump announce the ceasefire? The country was insulted when Donald Trump announced the ceasefire. The country was insulted the day when Donald Trump said that he would mediate on the Kashmir issue," Khera added. Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government over his allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "followed" Donald Trump following "a call" by the US leader and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not budge to the US in the 1971 war. Addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, attacked the BJP-RSS and alleged that if slight pressure is exerted on them, "they run away out of fear". "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. If slight pressure is put on them, they run away out of fear. When Trump called Modiji, Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet came from the US Indira Gandhi said, I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had this habit of writing letters of surrender," Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi also attacked the BJP-led government in a post on X. "Trump's phone came, and Narendraji immediately surrendered. History is witness; this is the character of the BJP-RSS; they always budge. India had bifurcated Pakistan in 1971 despite the threat by the United States," Rahul Gandhi said in his post. "The 'babbar sher' and 'shernis' of Congress fight the Superpowers, they do not bow," he added. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for stopping hostilities between India and Pakistan after New Delhi's effective response to Islamabad's aggression following precision strikes on terror infrastructure. India had conducted Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India effectively responded to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
The North-West district police of Delhi apprehended 18 Bangladeshi nationals found illegally residing in the city. The arrests were made during a special operation conducted on Tuesday in the Bharat Nagar police station area by the Foreigner Cell unit. The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs indicating that three families who had migrated from Haryana were now hiding in the Wazirpur JJ Colony, frequently changing locations to avoid detection. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North-West Delhi Bhisham Singh stated that over 36 footpaths and 45 alleyways were searched in a thorough combing effort during the operation. One suspect was initially apprehended and, after sustained interrogation, admitted to being a Bangladeshi national. He revealed that he and others had been working as labourers at brick kiln companies in Haryana. After Haryana Police took action, they fled to Delhi and settled in the JJ clusters of Wazirpur and surrounding areas. Based on his statements, police apprehended 17 more individuals. In total, 18 Bangladeshi nationals, including six adults and 12 children, were found to be residing illegally without any valid documents, visas, or permits, thereby violating provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and other immigration laws. All individuals were taken into custody and shifted to the Foreigners Cell for further questioning and documentation. Police said four Bangladeshi national ID cards and one smartphone with the banned IMO app installed were recovered during interrogation. Further investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being made to initiate deportation proceedings. Earlier, a joint team from the Foreigner Cell and Special Staff of Shahdara District Police apprehended 16 Bangladeshi nationals from Delhi's Seemapuri area. As per the police, the operation was launched following credible intelligence about the movement of illegal immigrants across the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border near the Shaheed Nagar area. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the police team conducted initial verification and, after confirming the information, formulated an immediate action plan. Based on surveillance and identification by the informer, the joint team intercepted the group as they attempted to enter the Seemapuri area in Delhi. A total of 16 individuals were detained, including four adult males, five adult females, and seven minor children. All were identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had entered India without valid documents and were attempting to settle in Delhi illegally. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara District, Prashant Gautam said, "During interrogation, the detainees revealed that they had crossed into India nearly 18 to 19 years ago, driven by poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities in their native villages, located about 40 to 50 kilometres from the India-Bangladesh border." (ANI)
In the aftermath of the devastating landslide that struck North Sikkim, the Indian Army has been working relentlessly under extreme weather and hazardous terrain conditions to assist locals and stranded tourists. Lachen village, the main hub for tourism in the region, has been completely cut off. The Army has established foot connectivity to the village and reached out to 113 stranded tourists, who will be evacuated soon. On June 3, nearly 30 tourists, including some foreign nationals, were successfully airlifted by military helicopters. Meanwhile, search operations continue with urgency to locate the six individuals still missing after the landslide struck a military camp in the Chatten area of North Sikkim. A rescuer from the army, who remains deployed at the spot of the landslide in Chatten that occurred on June 1, said that nine personnel have died in the incident. He added that the area had witnessed incessant rainfall from May 30, leading to a massive landslide. "Very, very heavy rains have been experienced in the area from May 30 onwards. The rains were so heavy that a huge waterfall had been created due to the landslide on the other side of the mountain. This never existed before. We carried out certain precautionary evacuations. However, nothing was anticipated on this side of the mountain, where 50-70 personnel were residing. Unfortunately, nature got the better of our nine personnel," he said. "In the last three days, we have mobilised all our resources and have been able to recover three of the remains. We are constantly searching for the six personnel who remain missing," the army personnel added. The missing include Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchahary, Sepoy Sainudheen PK, Squadron Leader Aarti Sandhu (Retd), wife of Lieutenant Colonel Sandhu, and their daughter Amayra Sandhu. The army has deployed specialised teams and engineering equipment. However, the ongoing efforts have been significantly hampered by extremely bad weather, unstable ground, and challenging high-altitude terrain. Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out urgent rescue and relief operations in the remote region of Chaten and evacuated 33 stranded people, including two US nationals, from the remote and rain-battered Chaten region of North Sikkim. In a statement, the Indian Air Force said, "In response to the devastating landslides in Sikkim, Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters rapidly launched Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Ops -- dropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams, and evacuating 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region." However, a prior operation to evacuate 113 stranded tourists from Lachen during the early hours had to be called off due to bad weather. An Mi-17 helicopter carrying nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel took off from Pakyong Airport around 6 am, but was forced to return mid-air because of poor visibility near Mangan and Chatten. (ANI)
Stressing that the Muzaffarpur rape-murder case exposes the "deep failure" of state's law and order system, Union Minister Chirag Paswan has written a letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling for a strictest punishment for the accused involved in the incident. In his letter, Union Minister Paswan also highlighted the negligence at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where, he said that the victim was kept waiting in the ambulance for six hours without any prior treatment. "The horrific incident of gang rape and attempted brutal murder of a 9-year-old Dalit girl in the Kudni area of Muzaffarpur district on May 26th has shaken the entire state of Bihar. This heartbreaking event is not just the savage killing of an innocent life, but also exposes the deep failures of our state's law and order system, social consciousness, and public health system," Chirag Paswan said. "The victim fought for her life for six days, but succumbed on June 1st at PMCH in Patna. Unfortunately, the child was made to suffer and wait for a continuous six hours in an ambulance to be admitted to the hospital," he said. The Union Minister also asserted that the accused who gang-raped a minor child are as guilty as the doctors and administrative staff of PMCH, who, instead of providing the necessary treatment to save the child, "abandoned" her in the ambulance and wasted precious time in her treatment. "This is not just negligence, but a crime against humanity," Chirag Paswan said. Further, he said that representatives from his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) have assured the victim of all possible justice. "However, until strict and transparent action is taken against every culprit involved in this incident at both governance and administrative levels, justice will remain incomplete and unacceptable," he emphasised. Chirag further demanded that all rapists involved in this heinous crime should be arrested promptly and given the harshest punishment, adding, "A high-level judicial inquiry should be conducted into the role of Hospital PMCH administration, doctors, and staff and criminal cases should be registered against the personnel who deliberately delayed treatment and showed inhumanity, ensuring their immediate suspension from service and strict departmental action." The Union Minister also highlighted that this incident is not just the death of a child; it has become a symbol of the failure of Bihar's social system and the constitutional responsibility of the state. "If the government remains silent on this matter, this silence will become the biggest crime," he said. The accused had been arrested and sent to judicial custody, said Muzaffarpur SSP Sushil Kumar on Monday. 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)
A mysterious animal had attacked residents of a village in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district on May 5 leaving 17 people injured and so far six people succumbed to injuries in the incident since then, including the two recent death, an official said. While the remaining 11 others are still undergoing treatment and strictly being monitored by the health department on a regular basis. On the contrary, the forest department is continuously searching for the animal but yet to trace. Barwani Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Anita Singare told ANI, "An unknown wild animal bite 17 people in Nimbai village in the district on the night of May 5 last month. Of these 17 people, six succumbed to injuries while the remaining people are under observation. Our team is continuously engaged in the treatment and daily follow up is being observed. One of the injured is admitted to district hospital." Post mortem of the deceased were performed and sample from the patient recently died on June 2 has been collected and it will be sent to Pune for further examination, she added. According to health department, three people died on May 23, namely Raili Bai (60), Mansharam (50), Sur Singh (50), while Sadee Bai (60) died on May 27, Chain Singh (50) on June 1 and Sunil (40) on June 2. Meanwhile, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO, Barwani) Ashish Bansod said, "On May 5, as soon as we received information about an unknown animal bite around 17 people of Nimbai village, our team immediately became active and began search in the area. The village is around 4.5 km away from the forest area so we initiated the search in forest as well as in the village to find that animal." In the preliminarily examination, the way animal attacked around 17 villagers at a time, it seemed to be infected of rabies, and people also described it some dog-like animal. But despite the search nothing about such an animal was found, he added. "If the animal was rabies infected then it would die within 3-4 days. We tried to find its body, carcass but we could not get anything. We have checked the entire area thoroughly but did not find any trace, evidence or pugmarks of the animal so far," DFO said. Speaking about the compensation from the state government, the officer said that there is a provision Rs 8 lakh from the government to be given to next to kin of the deceased and process for the same has already been initiated. Soon the family will get the compensation. Additionally, the injured victims will receive free treatment and a daily assistance of Rs 500 in case of admitted to hospital. "We put our all efforts to find the animal at all possible places. Even we searched with the help of villagers as well wherever they suggested place but didn't find any clue. I again urge the villagers if they find anything do share the info we will take action into the matter," he added. (ANI)
In his petition, Rana has sought permission to communicate with his family while in judicial custody, in accordance with jail regulations.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed its response to the plea, which has now been served to the Tihar Jail authorities for their comments. Based on the NIA's reply, Tihar Jail officials will submit their own response before the court convenes on June 9 to deliberate on the matter.

Rana, who is currently in judicial custody until June 6, had previously been denied permission to speak with his family while in NIA custody. His legal counsel, Advocate Piyush Sachdeva, argued that, as a foreign national, Rana has the fundamental right to maintain communication with his family, who remain concerned about his well-being during his detention.

However, the NIA opposed the plea, citing the ongoing investigation and the potential risk of sensitive information being disclosed.

Rana was extradited from the United States recently and placed under NIA custody in New Delhi as part of India's efforts to bring all conspirators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice.

Investigators recently collected his voice and handwriting samples to assess his suspected links to the perpetrators.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, executed by the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, resulted in over 170 casualties and left hundreds injured. Rana's custody forms a crucial part of the investigation aimed at identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in orchestrating the attack. (ANI)
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he can "run away" from a special session of Parliament being demanded by the opposition parties, but not from the monsoon session, which will be convened on July 21. Expressing reservations over the central government not convening a special session to discuss many issues, including the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and developments following Operation Sindoor, Ramesh accused the government of "diverting attention". "We've been demanding a special session of Parliament. Yesterday, 16 political parties also wrote. In order to divert attention from the special session, the government suddenly announces the monsoon session of Parliament. The Prime Minister can run away from a special session, but he cannot run away from the Monsoon session," Ramesh told ANI. He said that the INDIA bloc parties are demanding a special session to be convened immediately since the issues that need to be discussed are "agitating" people in the country now. Ramesh raised concerns about the sudden halt on Operation Sindoor and the revelations made by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan in Singapore about India's losses and gains during the recently concluded conflict. "We are demanding a discussion on these issues now because these are the issues agitating the people of India now. Why was Operation Sindoor stopped after four days? What has the CDS said in Singapore? Why has Trump, in the last 20 days, repeated 12 times that it is because of him that a ceasefire happened between India and Pakistan? These are the issues the Prime Minister doesn't want to answer," the Congress leader said. He further argued that this was the first time in the parliamentary history of India that a session had been announced 47 days in advance, and this came despite the continuous demands made by the opposition parties to convene a special session. "The parliament session is always announced a few days in advance...maybe a maximum of one week or 10 days in advance. Never before in India's parliamentary history has a session been announced 47 days in advance. The object(ive) is very simple. There is a continuing demand from Congress and INDIA parties for a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack," Ramesh said. He highlighted the concerns regarding the "hyphenation" of India and Pakistan and the repeated claims made by US President Donald Trump that he was responsible for a "ceasefire" between the two neighbouring countries. "The fact that terrorists themselves haven't been brought to justice, the repeated claims of (US) President Trump...the Narendra ka Surrender to Trump. The hyphenation of India and Pakistan, the growing nexus between China and Pakistan, the failure of our diplomacy and foreign policy and the revelation of the Chief of Defence Staff that has been in Singapore and not in our country. These are the real issues," Ramesh said. Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the Monsoon session of the Parliament will commence from July 21 and run till August 12. Both Houses of the Parliament are scheduled to convene on July 21 at 11 am, after a break of over three months. The upcoming Monsoon session will be the first Parliament session following Operation Sindoor, which India launched on May 7 in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has ordered jail authorities to provide regular treatment to Praveen Dabas, an accused in the 2021 Wrestler Sagar Dhankhar murder case, in which wrestler Sushil Kumar is also an accused. The court recorded the medical report of May 31 and directed the authorities to ensure Dabas receives timely and proper medical care, including an MRI scan. Dabas had sought interim bail for eight weeks to receive treatment for his medical ailments in private hospitals. The court has kept the application pending to ensure the jail authorities provide proper treatment and file a fresh medical report. "In the peculiar facts of this case, this Court finds it appropriate to keep the application pending till the next date of hearing to ensure that the fresh medical status report, after all the aforesaid directions are carried out, is filed by the Jail Superintendent before this Court," Justice Tushar Rao Gedela ordered on June 2. The High Court also directed the Jail Superintendent and the Medical Superintendent of Central Jail-10 working in the Jail Hospitals to ensure that timely and regular treatment is given to the applicant at whatever time of the day the applicant requires. The court ordered the jail authorities to ensure Dabas receives regular treatment from the Orthopaedic Department of Dr. BSA Hospital and the Neurology Department at G B Pant Hospital. "So far as the MRI Scan is concerned, the jail authorities in consultation with the hospital where the scan is to take place, will ensure that the MRI LS Spine Scan for the applicant is conducted on 9th June, 2025," the court directed. This matter was listed for a hearing on June 20. Advocate Sumeet Singh Shokeen, counsel for Dabas, submitted that though the medical report discloses that the applicant is undergoing treatment from the orthopaedic department of Dr. BSA Hospital and the neurology Department at GB Pant Hospital, proper and correct treatment as required by the applicant is not being administered. He also submitted that despite their best efforts, the jail authorities cannot provide the medical treatment needed, including surgery, if advised. As such, he requests that the applicant be considered for release on interim bail on medical grounds. Additionally, he submitted that though the hospital has advised an MRI of the LS Spine, no scheduled examination date has been given, and the Jail Authorities are not following it. On the other hand, Lakshay Khanna, the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for the State, submitted that the main bail application is listed for consideration on July 17, 2025, and as such, the present application may be considered on that date. He also submitted that the hospital authorities are already treating all those ailments enumerated in the medical status report dated May 31. The issue of MRI is dependent on the medical hospital that gives the date for such MRI scanning. The defence counsel also submitted that petitioner is suffering from Asthma, anal fissure, he is scheduled to be reviewed to nephrology and surgery department at higher centers. While passing the order, the bench observed, "Having regard to the ailments that the petitioner is suffering from, it appears to this Court that certainly some of the ailments require more regular treatment and more serious efforts by the hospital authorities as also the jail authorities in following up with the concerned hospital." (ANI)
Devendra Kumar Sharma, Member, National Security Advisory Board has been elected as President of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), in a secret ballot voting held at Chengdu, China during the General Assembly of the 93rd Annual General Body Meeting and 28th Congress of ICOLD. According to a release, Sharma's term as President of ICOLD will be from June 2025 to 2028. Sharma won this election in a direct contest against his opponent from the United States. The International Commission on Large Dams was established in 1928 with its head office in Paris, France. The Indian National Committee on Large Dams became a member of the ICOLD in 1930. At present, ICOLD has 107 countries, including India as its members. Each member country exercises one vote during election in the General Assembly which is held every year in different countries. All member countries of ICOLD work together for exchange of the knowledge in the field of planning, design, construction and safety of dams. As per the release, during the long history of 95 years since 1930, when India became a member, it is for the second time that an Indian has been elected to the post of the President, ICOLD. Sharma has been past Chairman of the Asia Pacific Group of the ICOLD. He was also Co-chair of the "World Declaration on the Role of Dams for Energy Transition and Climate Change Adaptation". The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) leads the profession in ensuring that dams are built safely, efficiently, economically, and without detrimental effects on the environment. ICOLD provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in dam engineering. Its aim is to encourage advances in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of large dams and their associated civil works, by collecting and disseminating relevant information and by studying related technical questions. Twenty-nine technical committees of the ICOLD consist of more than 600 experts worldwide those work on various aspects of dams, and bring out detailed technical publications known as ICOLD Bulletins. After his election, Devendra Sharma, while addressing the General Assembly of the member countries of ICOLD, mentioned that coming from a developing country, his election to the post of the President is a material change for the Commission. Sharma stated that he brings a unique perspective to ICOLD given his expertise in construction of dams and hydroelectric projects and active service in different Government departments in India, both at the state (provincial) and central (federal) level, the release stated. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its support for the Congress in the upcoming Punjab bye-polls, citing a video of a BJP press conference, shared by senior spokesperson of AAP Punjab, Neel Garg. "BJP announces support for Congress in Punjab bye-polls?" Kejriwal stated in his post on X, quoting the post by Garg, which included the video of the press conference where a BJP leader allegedly urged voters to "vote for anyone but the AAP" in the upcoming by-elections. Garg, in his post, accused the parties of working in tandem to suppress the rise of AAP, noting that the two major national parties engage in a cyclical power-sharing dynamic, manipulating public sentiment to keep control of the political landscape. He further described the party as the face of "new honest politics" and painted the electoral battle as a larger ideological struggle between entrenched political interests and genuine change. "BJP is now saying let Congress win, but not Aam Aadmi Party! There is now no room for doubt: Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin; Both have the same model of politics - fool the people and distribute power; When Congress weakens, BJP strengthens; And when people get angry at BJP; Congress is brought to the forefront. Actually this contest is not between Congress and BJP - This is a contest between "old collusion" versus "new honest politics"! Aam Aadmi Party is the only option now. All the rest are two faces of the same system - one scares, the other misleads! If AAP is defeated, then understand that change has been defeated. If we want to save the country, then we will have to break the system," Garg stated on X. The by-election in Punjab will be held for the Ludhiana West Assembly constituency. It was necessitated by the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. The voting will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, with the counting of votes scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2025. (ANI)
The Delhi Police have solved a sensational murder case reported from the Bindapur area and arrested a 24-year-old accused, Nitish Dass. The arrest was carried out by a joint team from the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Bindapur police station, under Dwarka district in New Delhi. Dwarka DCP Ankit Singh said, "The case came to light on May 9, 2025, when a PCR call was received by PS Bindapur in the evening hours. The caller, Baleshwar Dass, reported that his son Akhilesh had been strangled and left outside their rented house in Phase-2, JJ Colony, Sector 3, Dwarka. A case was registered under section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigation was immediately initiated." In response to the gravity of the offence, a special joint team was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Subhash Chand of the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Inspector Darshan Lal, SHO of Bindapur police station. After analysing CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas, and examining known local criminals and individuals spotted in the vicinity around the time of the incident. One suspect, later identified as Nitish Dass, was observed near the scene in CCTV footage. Secret informers were deployed, and crucial information was obtained by Head Constable of the Anti-Narcotics Cell on May 11, leading to the identification of the suspect. After sustained surveillance efforts, the accused was apprehended in Nawada, Bihar on May 14. During interrogation, he admitted to the crime and explained that he had been in a relationship with a girl from his neighbourhood. Although both families had approved their marriage, Akhilesh, the girl's cousin, opposed the relationship and threatened Nitish on several occasions, DCP added. On May 8, Akhilesh visited Nitish's residence and confronted him. In a sudden fit of rage, Nitish strangled Akhilesh with an iron wire. He then disposed of the body near the victim's house at night. The next morning, he fled to Bihar by train to evade arrest. The accused has been taken into custody and police have recovered the clothes he wore during the crime and the iron wire used in the act. Further investigation into the incident is underway. (ANI)
A NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) aspirants has ended his life using his father's licence revolver allegedly after getting disappointed with his performance post answer key evaluation in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, a police officer said on Wednesday. National Testing Agency (NTA) had released the provisional answer key for NEET 2025 on June 3 and after evaluating the response, the aspirant died by suicide on the same day. He was a resident of Shatabdipuram locality under the jurisdiction of Maharajpura police station in the district and he passed the class 12 exam this year. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot, sent the body for postmortem and started investigation into the matter. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP, Gwalior) Dharmvir Singh told ANI, "Yesterday, a matter was reported in Maharajpura police station in the district that there was a class 12th student who also took the NEET exam 2025. The family told us that answer key of NEET exam was released yesterday. Probably his performance was not satisfactory and he took this step out of disappointment. He used his father's license revolver to commit suicide." "These are the facts reported by the family members into the matter so far though the forensic team also reached the spot. Further investigation into the matter is being done to ascertain what could be the reasons and circumstances behind it. The student passed the class 12 th exam this year," he added. (ANI)
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed after the Meghalaya Police recovered the weapon in the suspected murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, a tourist from Madhya Pradesh's who went missing with his wife Sonam, an official said. Superintendent of Police (SP) East Khasi Hills Vivek Syiem said the police had registered a case and seized a phone. He added that the postmortem of Raghuvanshi's body was conducted on Tuesday. "The postmortem of the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was done. The case has been registered, and a special investigation team has been formed, headed by the SP city. We have recovered and seized the phone and the weapon (used in the crime)," SP Syiem told ANI. When asked about the whereabouts of Raghuvanshi's wife, Sonam, he said, "We haven't found the body yet". A newlywed couple from Indore, who went missing in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya, on May 23, met with a tragic end as the body of the husband was found in a ditch while the search operation for the woman continues, a police officer said earlier. The couple tied the knot last month on May 11 and left for a Shillong trip from Indore on May 20. The family had their last conversation with the couple on the afternoon of May 23, and their phone was switched off by the evening of the same day, according to the family member. After receiving missing information, the police began the search for the couple, but unfortunately, the body of the man was found on Monday afternoon, while the search for the woman continued. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Crime Branch) Rajesh Kumar Tripathi told ANI, "We had a word with Vipin Raghuvanshi, brother of the missing man, and he clarified that a dead body was found, and it was his brother Raja Raghuvanshi. The body has been identified as Raja Raghuvanshi, and there is no information about the woman till now (wife of Raja Raghuvanshi). The search operation continues, and an NDRF team is also searching. It is difficult to say anything about her until we receive any clue." "The whole incident is 10 days old (the couple went missing on May 23), and it is not clear how old the body is (referring to death time). It will be ascertained after the postmortem report. The body was recovered from a ditch, and it was nearly 25 kilometres away from the place where their two-wheeler was parked. Only one body has been identified so far, and the search for the woman is still going on," he added. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya expressed grief over the incident and said that a search operation is on to find the woman, praying to find her safe and sound. "Amid heavy rain, the police and NDRF together searched and found the body of the man and further search operation was continued to find his wife. We pray to God that she should be found well. The Madhya Pradesh government, Central government, Meghalaya government, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah all made efforts to search for the couple. I am constantly in touch. We are very sad that we could not save Raghuvanshi, but now we believe in God that we will find his wife. The search for her is going on there," Vijayvargiya said. (ANI)
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for politicising the murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal and said that the ruling party in the centre doesn't have intentions of providing justice. He also expressed reservations over the delay in the investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). "It (BJP) does not seem that they have any intention of providing justice to the victims," Gehlot posted on X, adding, "BJP did a lot of politics on the murder of Kanhaiyalal of Udaipur and made it the main issue of Rajasthan elections." He criticised the NIA for its handling of the case while stating that had the Kanhaiya Lal murder case remained with the Rajasthan police, the accused would have been granted sentences. "If NIA had not taken this case and the case remained with Rajasthan Police, they (accused) would have been sentenced during our government's tenure itself, but it seems that BJP is only doing politics on this case," Gehlot said, adding, "This month, three years will be completed since the murder of Kanhaiya Lal. Rajasthan police arrested the criminals in just four hours." Highlighting the delay, the Congress leader said that the accused had not been punished in a case even three years after its occurrence. "The NIA took over the case on the very night of the incident. The NIA, an agency under the BJP government at the centre, has this case, but even after three years of trial, the accused have not been punished in a case of such clear nature," Gehlot said. He added that Lal's family members have said that the case was not being heard fast track and remains pending in Jaipur's NIA court. "The family members of Kanhaiya Lal have said that this case is not being run on the fast track. This case is pending in the NIA court, Jaipur. The additional charge of the NIA court was with the judge of the CBI court, who has been transferred, due to which the case is not being heard. There has been no date in the case for the last six months," Gehlot said. The former CM further attacked the BJP for engaging in politics earlier over the compensation amount provided to Lal's next of kin and said that the ruling party had spread rumours that the then Congress government had only given Rs 5 lakh instead of Rs 50 lakh, which was announced. "Kanhaiya Lal's family was given Rs 50 lakh as compensation, and his two sons were given government jobs. However, BJP spread a rumour among the public that only Rs 5 lakh was given as compensation and played politics of five lakhs and fifty lakhs," Gehlot added. He revealed that the statements of three main witnesses in the murder case have not been recorded. "Before this, the statements of witnesses were being recorded, but the statements of the three main witnesses have not been recorded yet. Of the accused arrested in this case, two have been granted bail so far," Gehlot said. Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, was beheaded inside his shop in Udaipur by two assailants in broad daylight on June 28, 2022, for allegedly posting content in support of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. The beheading of the Udaipur tailor sent shockwaves across the country and sparked a public outcry. The case was initially registered at Dhanmandi police station in Udaipur but was later re-registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 29, 2022. (ANI)
The BJP and its allies on Wednesday slammed the Karnataka Government for chaos at what should have been a jubilant moment for Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans, the victory celebration turned into a scene of tragedy. Stampede erupted during the RCB's historic IPL 2025 title win celebration at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Opposition parties in the state, including the Janata Dal (Secular), have squarely blamed the Congress-led state government for what they describe as a complete failure of planning and public safety. BJP leader CT Ravi launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government for the alleged deaths, calling it "state-sponsored". "Unpredictable celebration... State-sponsored murder. The state government is responsible for this death," Ravi stated in a post on X. Echoing the same sentiment, JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy issued a strongly worded statement condemning the administration for the lives lost, as alleged by the JDS leader. "What was meant to be a grand celebration of RCB's long-awaited victory turned into chaos, tragedy, and loss of innocent lives. The massive turnout was expected, yet the State Government showed zero preparedness. No proper planning, no crowd management, no safety protocols -- just a desperate rush to take credit," he said. Calling the incident "criminal negligence", Kumaraswamy further alleged that six people have lost their lives during the chaos, adding, "This is not just mismanagement; this is a complete collapse of basic administration. Six lives have tragically been lost in a stampede that could have been prevented. Who takes responsibility? Once again, the Home Minister has failed in his duty to protect the people." The tragic event has now cast a shadow over RCB's much-celebrated IPL win, where they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS), ending RCB's long wait for a maiden title as they won the match by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. (ANI)
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party President Asaduddin Owaisi, part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda that had visited Gulf countries, has strongly criticised Pakistan, calling it the "epicentre of Takfirism" and accusing its government, deep state and intelligence agency ISI of fueling terrorism through illicit financial networks. The leader highlighted that four countries visited by the delegation had earlier supported India's diplomatic efforts to place Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2018. He also said the team visited four countries that are members of key international groups like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF). Owaisi said the delegation raised concerns about Pakistan's role in terrorism, especially the recent Pahalgam attack. Speaking to ANI, Asaduddin Owaisi said, "We represented India over there...all these countries are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The other 3 countries are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and one of the countries is now non non-permanent member of the Security Council and all these countries are part of Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF)...and they have historical relation with India... we requested and explained to them...that Pakistan has been indulging in terrorism in India for many years. We had focused on the Pahalgam terror attack. We told them this Resistance Front didn't just come up on April 22nd. India had already told the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1262 sanction team that this is a new name for LeT... Secondly, we have told them, the speech of April 15th of Asim Munir..." He said that the root cause of terrorism is illegal money, and monitoring of this situation is needed. "These four countries this delegation went to had helped India in bringing back Pakistan to the FATF grey list in 2018...Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), we require their help, when India starts this whole process of bringing Pakistan into FATF...root cause of terrorism is illegal money...we need to monitor...a form of Polio exits only in two countries in the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan...there is 40% poverty in Pakistan, where is the money going?... Pakistan govt, deep state, ISI...are indulging in terrorism. Pakistan has become the epicentre of Takfirism," Owaisi said. The delegation, led by Panda, also included BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak and Rekha Sharma; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Satnam Singh Sandhu and Ghulam Nabi Azad; and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. During their visit, the delegation briefed international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, highlighting the broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. (ANI)
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor sharply criticised the state's leadership during his ongoing Bihar Badlav Yatra, alleging a collapse in law and order due to ineffective governance. Speaking on the deteriorating situation, Kishor stated that Bihar's leadership is failing due to the chief minister's inability to govern effectively, with corrupt officers and a few ministers exploiting the system. "The law and order situation in Bihar is deteriorating because the state's leadership is ineffective. When a physically and mentally unfit person occupies the top position, the government lacks authority, and no one is truly governing. A few corrupt officers and ministers are solely focused on exploiting the government and the public. The worsening law and order is evident, yet has anyone heard of Nitish Kumar holding a high-level meeting to review the situation? There's no discussion," he remarked. He further highlighted a tragic case of a Dalit girl from the Kudni area, who suffered due to the lack of timely medical care. "The case of the Dalit girl from the Kudni area, who suffered for four days in Muzaffarpur Medical College, is more horrific than the Nirbhaya case. It took a day to get her admitted to PMCH, and the Health Minister speaks grandly without shame. People are reporting that this girl, a Dalit who was raped, her throat and tongue cut, suffered in an ambulance for four to seven hours awaiting admission, yet the Health Minister continues to talk big," he said. Criticising Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Prashant Kishor said, "The people of Bihar witnessed this man's actions even during the COVID crisis. While the entire state was suffering, he and others sat comfortably, enjoying themselves in their bungalows. Now the time has come to uproot these people, as they are not the ones who will bring improvement." This comes after a 10-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped and attacked on May 26 in Muzaffarpur, succumbed to her injuries at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on June 1. Her relatives alleged that the child was left waiting in an ambulance for several hours before she was admitted to the hospital. On Monday, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey condemned the alleged rape and brutal assault of a minor girl in Muzaffarpur as "extremely sad and painful," assuring that immediate action has been taken and justice would be delivered through a speedy trial. His remark comes amid mounting public anger and political outrage after the victim, attacked on May 26, succumbed to her injuries at a Patna hospital on June 1. "Soon after the incident, the accused was arrested. The Muzaffarpur SSP has assured that a chargesheet will be filed promptly and a speedy trial will follow to ensure justice," Pandey said. The accused had been arrested and sent to judicial custody, said Muzaffarpur SSP Sushil Kumar on Monday. "This incident occurred on May 27... The accused lived in a neighbouring village and knew them. He used to come there often. He was a fish seller. He lured the girl and raped her. Taking swift action, the Police arrested the accused. He has been sent to judicial custody. The FSL team had gone there, and the spot was examined. All samples have been collected, including samples from clothes, too," Kumar said. "We have sent all of this to FSL for examination. Besides this, we will file a chargesheet within 15 days. This will be brought under a speedy trial, so that we can take whatever further action is required," he added. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports detailing the tragic death of the victim on June 1 at PMCH, and has sought a detailed report from the state authorities. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday appealed to the public to remain calm and not panic after a stampede occurred during a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebration event, where a massive crowd gathered outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He spoke to the Police Commissioner and other officials to ensure that the situation is under control. The Karnataka Dy CM will also be visiting the hospital later to assess the situation. The program was shortened and ended within 10 minutes due to the large crowd. "I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients. The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm. We shortened the program. The program ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normal...Lakhs of people came," he said. https://x.com/DKShivakumar/status/1930247863143141527?t=BgXAvE5dhwtLvHnkt1-mPg&s=08 In an X post, he further expressed condolences for the tragedy, which occurred during celebrations for RCB's IPL victory celebrations, and appealed for people to prioritise safety. DK Shivkumar wrote, "People who were supposed to witness RCB's IPL victory celebrations. The tragedy and death have brought deep pain and shock. My condolences to the deceased. My condolences to their family. Let there be pride, but not bigger than life. I appeal to everyone to please stay safe." Responding to BJP's allegations, Shivakumar dismissed them, emphasizing his focus on public safety, he stated, " They are there to allege and we are there to protect...yes, I am going to the hospital..." Opposition parties in the state, including the Janata Dal (Secular), have squarely blamed the Congress-led state government for what they describe as a complete failure of planning and public safety. BJP leader CT Ravi launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government for the alleged deaths, calling it the state's responsibility for the stampede situation. "Unpredictable celebration... State-sponsored murder. The state government is responsible for this death," Ravi stated in a post on X. Echoing the same sentiment, JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy issued a strongly worded statement condemning the administration for the lives lost, as alleged by the JDS leader. "What was meant to be a grand celebration of RCB's long-awaited victory turned into chaos, tragedy, and loss of innocent lives. The massive turnout was expected, yet the State Government showed zero preparedness. No proper planning, no crowd management, no safety protocols -- just a desperate rush to take credit," he said. Calling the incident "criminal negligence", Kumaraswamy further alleged that six people have lost their lives during the chaos, adding, "This is not just mismanagement; this is a complete collapse of basic administration. Six lives have tragically been lost in a stampede that could have been prevented. Who takes responsibility? Once again, the Home Minister has failed in his duty to protect the people." RCB finally ended an 18-year wait for the coveted IPL trophy, defeating Punjab Kings by six wickets in the finals of IPL 2025, held on Tuesday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (ANI)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa targeted the Congress government in the state after a stampede broke out outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB IPL winning celebrations. In a post on X, Yediyurappa accused the Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of failing to make adequate arrangements for the celebrations. He expressed great "sadness and dismay" over the incident. "During the celebration of the victory of the RCB team after winning the IPL, the shocking reports that more than 10 fans have died and many others have been injured in a stampede in Bengaluru have caused great sadness and dismay. Words cannot express the grief of the families of the fans who lost their lives in the tragedy. I request people to please exercise restraint and prioritise safety. I pray that the injured recover soon," he said. The former Karnataka CM held the state government responsible for the tragedy and said that it could have been prevented by taking precautions. "It is apparent that the state government has completely failed to make adequate arrangements and necessary arrangements. The failure of such an incompetent and irresponsible state government has cast a shadow over the celebrations. Even though lakhs of fans were likely to attend, if they could not make arrangements, why did they allow the event? This incompetent government must be held responsible for the tragedy that could have been prevented by taking precautions. First, I demand that the police immediately take all necessary measures for the safety of the people," BS Yediyurappa said. Stampede erupted during the RCB's historic IPL 2025 title win celebration at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also slammed the Karnataka government and said that the celebrations turned out to be "so fatal." "Absolutely gutted by the tragic reports coming in from Chinnaswamy. What should have been a celebration of joy & loyalty turned out to be so fatal. While the state government & leadership were busy hogging their undeserving share of limelight in RCB's victory with the CM himself making an open invitation for the celebration, no arrangements were made on the ground," Surya said on X. "Despite being aware of the situation from last night, the government failed to plan this out & took bizarre last minute decisions. Steps must be taken immediately to compensate the victims & hold the concerned accountable. This is not what the people of Bengaluru & @RCBTweets deserved," the BJP MP said. The tragic event has now cast a shadow over RCB's much-celebrated IPL win, where they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS), ending RCB's long wait for a maiden title as they won the match by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. (ANI)
A Lieutenant Colonel rank officer went missing from the army campus located in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district and all possible efforts were on to find him, a police officer said on Wednesday. The Lt Col has been identified as Pradeep Nigam, a resident of Gwalior district. He left the campus for morning walk on June 2 but didn't return. Following which, the army officers staff approached Cantt Police Station in the district to lodge a missing complaint in the evening on the same day, the police said. Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case into the matter and began efforts to search the army officer. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Sagar) Lokesh Sinha told ANI, "A Subedar Major informed Cantt Police Station in the district that a Lieutenant Colonel left the campus for morning walk (on June 2) and didn't return. Based on the info, a case has been registered at Cantt police station and started the efforts to search for him." He further highlighted that the police were also interrogating all the people connected with the missing officer to find clues about him and putting all possible effort to trace him as soon as possible. "We are interrogating all the people associated with him and collecting evidence. Additionally, efforts are also on to gather technical evidence into the matter. We are making all possible efforts to find him. The Lt Col has been identified as Pradeep Nigam, a resident of Gwalior," he added. (ANI)
The sixth edition of the World Environment Expo (WEE 2025) was formally inaugurated on Wednesday at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, by Delhi Minister of Industries, Food and Supplies, and Environment, Forest and Wildlife Manjinder Singh Sirsa in the presence of leading policymakers, sustainability experts, and global industry representatives. The event marks the beginning of a three-day exhibition and conference dedicated to advancing environmental technologies, clean energy, waste management, and sustainable development. Jointly organised by the Green Society of India and Indian Exhibition Services (IES), and supported by key government ministries and trade associations, WEE 2025 brings together over 200 exhibitors and over 15,000 business visitors from across India and abroad. The exhibition serves as a vibrant platform for showcasing innovations in pollution control, renewable energy, water management, biodegradable products, sanitation solutions, and green building technologies. Swadesh Kumar, Director of Indian Exhibition Services, said the need for a unified response to climate change has never been more critical. "We are proud to see how the World Environment Expo has grown into India's largest gathering for environmental innovation and clean technology. The need for a unified response to climate change has never been more critical. This platform fosters meaningful collaboration between industries, institutions, and governments to accelerate sustainability goals," he said. A major highlight this year is the launch of dedicated zones including the Biofuel Expo 2025 and Biodegradable Expo 2025, focusing on India's shift towards green energy and eco-friendly alternatives. International exhibitors from Germany, the US, Japan, France, the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands are also participating, offering global insights and innovations. The expo features knowledge-sharing sessions, buyer-seller meets, and networking opportunities with PSUs, municipal corporations, private sector leaders, NGOs, and environmental institutions. Notably, over 100 mayors and municipal representatives from across the country are attending, underlining the event's role as a platform for policy dialogue and grassroots environmental action. Running parallel to the expo, the World Environment Conference (WEC 2025) was also inaugurated today. Themed 'Save Nature - Save Future', the conference has brought together more than 2,000 stakeholders--including government officials, industrialists, researchers, and environmental advocates. Discussions will focus on climate change mitigation, carbon emission control, green infrastructure, smart cities, and policy frameworks to build a climate-resilient future. A special moment during the event was the felicitation of Acharya Prashant, renowned philosopher and environmental thought leader, with the 'Most Impactful Environmentalist' award by the Green Society of India. Key Highlights of WEE 2025: * 200+ Exhibitors and 15,000+ Business Visitors & Buyers * Multiple MOUs and Business Agreements signed during the event * World Environment Roundtable held with experts and local leaders * Green India Awards Ceremony, with awards presented by Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. * Acharya Prashant honoured as 'Most Impactful Environmentalist' * Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) honoured for green initiatives * Gas Authority of India participated as a Lead Sponsor WEE 2025 stands as a testament to India's growing commitment to environmental leadership, a release said. With innovation, collaboration, and policy alignment at its core, the expo sets the tone for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. (ANI)
An IIT Delhi student was found dead in the college's hostel premises in New Delhi, on Wednesday, according to the police.. A call was received at Kishangarh Police Station regarding a student not opening the door of a hostel room in IIT Delhi, the police officials immediately reached the incident spot. On reaching the room, it was found that the door was locked from inside. Fire service personnel also reached the location, and upon their assistance, the door was forcibly opened. Upon entering the room, a male student, was found lying on the bed in an unconscious state. He was declared dead on the spot by IIT Doctors. During the initial enquiry, it was revealed that the deceased was a 2nd-year student of Biomechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi, according to the police. As per preliminary information, the deceased went back to his room after having dinner on Monday. On Tuesday, he was not seen or contacted by any of his fellow students, which raised suspicion. Consequently, the matter was reported to the security staff who informed the police. There were no visible external injuries found on the body. However, some vomit was observed on the floor. The Crime Team and Forensic Team were called at the spot for further investigation and examination. After the necessary legal and procedural formalities, the dead body was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane on Wednesday took a jibe at Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, advising him to change his surname to "Khan or Sheikh" since he was not worthy of the legacy of Bal Thackeray, firebrand leader and founder of Shiv Sena, advocate of a strong pro-Hindu policy in India. "Aaditya Thackeray should change his surname and adopt 'Aaditya Khan' or 'Aaditya Sheikh', after which such statements would suit him better. If Balasaheb's grandson speaks like this, he's not worthy of carrying the Thackeray surname," Rane told reporters here. Speaking about the possible alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, Rane said that it was a "good thing" if the Thackeray family was coming together and there was no need to "feel bad". "What the two brothers (Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray) decide to do is their family matter. Whether they come together or not, if a family unites and their disputes are resolved, it's a good thing. There's no reason for us to take notice of it or feel bad. If the Thackeray family is coming together, it's a good thing," he said. "However, those who once broke apart the Thackeray family are now talking about unity. Back then, many people were playing the role of Shakuni Mama (a manipulative uncle figure). Now, those same people are lecturing that the two brothers should come together," the minister added. Rane's remarks against Thackeray come after the latter said the government should not interfere in festivals. He added that the government should focus on farmers' suicides and flooding due to heavy rainfall instead. "Why should calls be made to save this or save that in every festival? Celebrate festivals. It is always save water, save colour, save this and save that. Let people breathe. It is not the job of the government. The government's job is to see that if farmers are dying by suicide, go and support them. If houses are flooded in rain, go and check why it happened. The government's job is to search for the four Pakistani terrorists who came here. It is not their job to interfere with festivals," Thackeray said. (ANI)
The journey was flagged off from Mumbai on April 7 this year and ended at the same location on June 4 (Wednesday). The expedition, featuring an all-women 12-member crew from the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, embarks on a challenging 55-day voyage covering 4,000 nautical miles from Mumbai to Seychelles and back aboard the IASV Triveni.

The Tri-Services All Women Around The World Sailing Expedition marked a monumental first, as a team comprising officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force prepared to undertake a global circumnavigation.

This pioneering initiative highlights the indomitable spirit of Nari Shakti and aimed to promote gender parity in maritime endeavours. The expedition was a preparatory phase for an even more ambitious circumnavigation sailing expedition planned for 2026.

The Mumbai-Sychelles-Mumbai expedition not only symbolises the empowerment of women in the armed forces, but also pays tribute to India's legendary warrior queens like Rani Velu Nachiyar, Rani Durgavati and Rani Lakshmi Bai

The expedition was undertaken on TRIVENI, the newly inducted Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV). Designed and built in India, TRIVENI stands as a robust demonstration of the country's growing prowess in ocean-worthy vessel construction.

A tri-services all-women Circumnavigation Sailing Expedition, "Samudra Pradakshina" from Mumbai to Seychelles and back was flagged off on April 7 by Lt Gen AK Ramesh, Commandant, College of Military Engineering (CME) from the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre, Colaba, Mumbai.

Additionally, the selection process was as rigorous as it was comprehensive. Out of 41 aspiring candidates, 12 officers were selected after being tested for their physical endurance, psychological resilience, leadership qualities, and sailing aptitude. (ANI)
Responding to the threat of a notice from the Minority Commission over controversial remarks on Bakra Eid, Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Development Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitesh Rane on Wednesday took a dig at Maharashtra State Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan "stands with folded hands" before him during in person meetings, advising him to "act responsibly" given his post. "Pyare Khan speaks about me on TV, but when he meets me in person, he stands with folded hands," Rane told reporters here. He said Khan should focus on bringing the Muslim and minority communities together. Hindus don't insult others when they are advised to celebrate festivals in an eco-friendly manner, Rane added. "I believe that a person holding a responsible position should act responsibly. As the Chairman of the Minority Commission, Pyare Khan should focus on how he can bring the Muslim and minority communities together and how he can educate them. However, his current position is tarnishing the image of Islam. Hindus accept it when eco-friendly Holi, eco-friendly Diwali, and firecracker-free Diwali are suggested to the Hindu community. We don't go around insulting other religions," the BJP leader said. He reiterated his remarks about Bakra Eid, suggesting that the festival should be celebrated in an eco-friendly manner. He said that the "Muslim" community must consider the same approach as "Hindus" in celebrating festivals. "The Hindu community doesn't flex its power in such matters. Similarly, I advise Muslims to consider the same approach. Just as Hindus respect the advice of environmentalists and avoid firecrackers or colour play, Muslims should celebrate an eco-friendly Bakri Eid. That's my good advice - where is the question of creating a Hindu-Muslim conflict in this?" Rane asked. He claimed that Bakra Eid festivities make "Hindu citizens" uncomfortable due to the slaughtering of goats in societies, which creates the potential for disputes between the two communities. He said that the advice given to prevent such mishaps must be heard. "Bakri Eid makes Hindu citizens uncomfortable because goats are slaughtered in their societies, creating many questions and potential disputes between the two communities. Such disputes could even lead to riots. If someone is advising to prevent that, it should be heard. When advice is given to Hindus, do they create an uproar or use force?" Rane said. "When Abu Azmi says, 'We will slaughter the goat,' it clearly shows the patience of the Hindu community. So, it's clear to Maharashtra who is tarnishing the name of Islam and who is maligning Devendra Fadnavis. I advise Pyare Khan to reflect on what I said and challenge the Muslim community to accept that what I said is in their own interest. In this way, an eco-friendly Bakri Eid should be celebrated," he said, adding, "If tension is created between two communities, unrest can arise. Since we are here, there's no question of riots. If Maharashtra is to be kept peaceful, the eco-friendly Bakri Eid is the way forward." Meanwhile, Khan accused Rane of "maligning" the name of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by making such statements, saying that it was not right. "Has any Muslim ever commented on Diwali or Holi? Muslims never comment on the festivals of other religions, but they celebrate every festival as their own...Nitesh Rane always makes statements by quoting the name of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, which is not right...Maligning the name of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis is not right," Khan told reporters. Rane's remarks against Pyare Khan came after the latter said that the State Minority Commission would issue a notice to the minister under section 10 if there is a conflict between two communities or if there are riots. "The government here considers the law above all else. If there is a conflict between two communities or a riot takes place, the Minority Commission will issue a notice to Nitesh Rane under Section 10 that the riot has happened because of you," Khan told ANI earlier. "Nitesh Rane should not make hateful statements. He repeatedly taunts Indian Muslims about Pakistan, which is not right. Muslims who went to Pakistan were dishonest, and those who stayed in India are honest. His biggest problem is that PM Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, like the muslims of India," he added. (ANI)
The state's law and order and internal security situation were also reviewed.

"A key focus of our meeting was a detailed review of the past three months' performance under the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign," Punjab DGP, Gaurav Yadav, wrote in an X post. He added that the Anti-Narcotics Task Force ADGP gave a "comprehensive presentation", followed by "district-level updates by respective CPs/SSPs".

Yudh Nashian Virudh's campaign emphasises both intensified enforcement and robust community-based prevention to effectively tackle drug abuse across Punjab.

"The @ANTFPunjab outlined an action plan that balances strict law enforcement with rehabilitation and grassroots engagement, ensuring a comprehensive approach to eradicating drugs from our communities," DGP Yadav's post further read, adding, "I urge all officers and units of the @PunjabPoliceInd to continue working with dedication, integrity, and a proactive spirit. Our collective mission is to ensure a safer, healthier Punjab, free from the menace of drugs."

Earlier on May 28, Punjab's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) arrested three drug traffickers- Maninderjit Singh, Peter, and Lovejit Singh @ Raja near Shankar Dhaba on Attari Road, Amritsar.

Acting swiftly on a tip-off, the team seized "four PX5 Storm pistols, 521 grams of heroin, 7 magazines & 55 live cartridges," DGP Punjab Police posted in a tweet.

An FIR under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act has been registered at PS ANTF, SAS Nagar.

The DGP also wrote, "@ANTFPunjab is actively pursuing both forward and backwards linkages to dismantle the entire network."He further added, "@PunjabPoliceInd remains firmly committed to eradicating drug syndicates, seizing illegal arms, and building a #NashaMuktPunjab." (ANI)
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and urged the state government to investigate the lapses that may have led to the incident on Wednesday. In a post on X, Governor Gehlot said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the celebrations of RCB's IPL victory. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured." The Governor also expressed concern over the lapses that may have led to the stampede. "I urge the government to thoroughly investigate the lapses that led to the tragic incident outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and ensure suitable compensation and support for the families of the deceased. Such incidents must not be repeated," the Karnataka Governor said. The Governor has called for accountability and appropriate remedial action to prevent such tragedies in the future. The incident occurred on Wednesday during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL winning celebration near the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium when thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite player. Earlier, addressing a press conference, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased in the stampede. "A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," the CM said. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, CM Siddaramaiah said, "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident." The Karnataka CM further asserted that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. "I don't want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," CM Siddaramaiah said. (ANI)
The Meghalaya Police have recovered a black field coat (raincoat) near a viewpoint during the ongoing search for Sonam Raghuvanshi, a tourist from Madhya Pradesh's Indore who went missing with her husband Raja, an official said. Superintendent of Police (SP) East Khasi Hills Vivek Syiem said the coat recovered by the rescuers appears to have a certain strain. However, there is no confirmation about them being bloodstains, he added. The police are also unable to verify whether the coat belongs to the missing woman from Indore and rely on a further probe. "We have recovered a black field coat that appears to have certain stains, but we cannot confirm if they are bloodstains. Only forensic analysis can determine that. We are comparing the recovered items with available footage to verify if the coat belongs to the missing woman. However, we can only confirm that after further examination, especially since the coat is a size 3XL raincoat," SP Syiem told ANI. A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed after the Meghalaya Police recovered the weapon in the suspected murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, who went missing with his wife Sonam, an official said. SP Syiem said the police had registered a case and seized a phone. He added that the postmortem of Raghuvanshi's body was conducted on Tuesday. "The postmortem of the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was done. The case has been registered, and a special investigation team has been formed, headed by the SP city. We have recovered and seized the phone and the weapon (used in the crime)," SP Syiem told ANI. When asked about the whereabouts of Raghuvanshi's wife, Sonam, he said, "We haven't found the body yet". A newlywed couple from Indore, who went missing in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya, on May 23, met with a tragic end as the body of the husband was found in a ditch while the search operation for the woman continues, a police officer said earlier. The couple tied the knot last month on May 11 and left for a Shillong trip from Indore on May 20. The family had their last conversation with the couple on the afternoon of May 23, and their phone was switched off by the evening of the same day, according to the family member. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for working with commitment towards environmental protection and promotion, on the occasion of World Environment Day. Stating the need for collective efforts towards environmental protection, the Chief Minister Dhami said that we have to unite and think towards the conservation of nature as well. Describing environmental conservation as a subject related to life, he said that environmental conservation is in the nature of the people of Uttarakhand. Festivals like Harela are the result of the far-sighted thinking of our ancestors to connect with nature. The people of Uttarakhand have played a leading role in environmental conservation. The state government is committed to the conservation of rich bio resources. Uttarakhand is the flag bearer of the campaign for environmental conservation due to its forest wealth and rivers. The Chief Minister Dhami said that along with government efforts, common people, public representatives and voluntary organisations will have to continuously contribute actively in awakening public consciousness towards environmental conservation and its promotion. He said that, along with planting as many trees as possible, full effort is also necessary for the cleanliness of rivers and water sources. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also said that there is a need for integrated thinking on the issues related to water, forest, land, along with the changes taking place in the environment, and global warming. Only through social awareness and integrated collective efforts can we help in solving this problem. The Chief Minister has appealed to all the people to participate enthusiastically in the plantation and cleanliness campaign being run across the state on the occasion of Environment Day and has also emphasised on specially encourage the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign' and run an awareness campaign to make Uttarakhand plastic free. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday demanded an answer from the central government after the caste census was announced to be held in 2027, accusing them of making plans to "reduce the state's parliamentary representation." He raised concerns over the timing for conducting a caste census, highlighting the constitutional mandate that delimitation must follow the census after 2026. "The Indian Constitution mandates that delimitation must follow the first census after 2026. The BJP has now delayed the census to 2027, making their plan clear to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation," Stalin posted on X. He said that the warnings he issued earlier regarding delimitation are unfolding now. Stalin further attacked All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, accusing him of being "complicit in this betrayal" by siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "I had warned about this. It is now unfolding. By siding with the BJP, Palaniswami is not just silent, but complicit in this betrayal. It's now clear that he has surrendered to Delhi's domination. The people of Tamil Nadu are united as one in their demand for a fair delimitation. We need clear answers from the Union Government," he added. On Wednesday, the central government announced that the Population Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases and will also include the enumeration of castes. Ministry of Home Affairs made the announcement in a statement mentioning that the census will follow different reference dates depending on the region, in accordance with logistical and climatic factors. "It has been decided to conduct Population Census-2027 in two phases along with enumeration of castes," the statement said. According to the MHA statement, the reference date for the "Population Census-2027 will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country." However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026. "The government has also indicated that a notification of intent to conduct the census, adhering to the above-mentioned timelines, will be published in the Official Gazette on June 16, 2025. This will be done under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, which governs the legal framework for the decennial census exercise in India. The census, due in 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Census 2027 is slated to be one of the most comprehensive data-gathering exercises undertaken by the Indian government. Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday called the stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebrations "heartbreaking" and expressed condolences to the families of the victims, which claimed 11 lives. He also wished a swift recovery for the injured in the incident. The Congress leader said the Karnataka government must give full support to those affected and stressed that safety rules must be strictly followed at all public events. Taking to social media, X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "The tragic stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebrations is heartbreaking. My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a swift and full recovery to all those injured." https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/193027001626150128 He also said that this tragedy is a painful reminder that no celebration is worth a human life. "In this hour of grief, I stand with the people of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government must provide all possible support and relief to the affected families. This tragedy is a painful reminder: no celebration is worth a human life. Every safety protocol for public events must be reviewed and strictly enforced - lives must always come first," the post reads. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In a post on X, Kharge called on the authorities to immediately strengthen safety protocols for such events to prevent any future tragedy like this. "I am deeply saddened by the tragic stampede in Bengaluru during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL 2025 victory. The loss of precious lives and the injuries sustained by many in this unfortunate incident are profoundly distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Kharge said. https://x.com/kharge/status/1930258910360801343 He emphasised that the Congress Party stands in solidarity with the people of Bengaluru and commits to supporting all efforts to provide relief, medical help, and assistance to the families affected by the Karnataka government. "The state government and relevant authorities must immediately review and strengthen safety protocols for such events to prevent any recurrence of such a tragedy. The joy of victory should never come at the cost of lives," Mallikarjun Kharge asserted. (ANI)
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, in its 25th e-Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, approved a slew of welfare and development initiatives, including safe drinking water projects, the establishment of a Quantum Valley in Amaravati, and preparations for a record-breaking International Yoga Day at Visakhapatnam in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate. During the meeting at the State Secretariat, the Ministers in Naidu's Cabinet congratulated the CM for successfully conducting 25 paperless e-Cabinet meetings within his first year in office. The decisions, announced by Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, also encompassed remission for life convicts, industrial reforms, and land allocations for key projects, reflecting the state's focus on innovation, infrastructure, and social welfare. During the meeting, the cabinet approved the NTR Sujala Scheme to provide safe drinking water through RO plants in tribal and Uddanam areas of Srikakulam district (Rs 575.75 lakhs) and 15 water treatment plants in Kuppam constituency, Chittoor district (Rs 822.86 lakhs), benefiting 2.42 lakh and 2.85 lakh people, respectively. Other key decisions included granting special remission for 17 life convicts as per Supreme Court directives, promoting 248 constables to head constables in the Andhra Pradesh Special Protection Force (APSPF), renaming YSR District as YSR Kadapa District, and transferring land in Eluru for the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy. In a major technological push, the Cabinet approved the Andhra Pradesh State Quantum Mission (SQM), establishing a "Quantum Valley" in Amaravati on 50 acres in collaboration with IIT Madras, TCS and IBM, which will set up a 156-qubit Quantum System 2, with a Quantum Summit planned for June 2025. Additionally, the state will host International Yoga Day on June 21 under the "Yogandhra-2025" initiative at RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam, aiming to mobilise 2 crore people and break the 2023 Guinness World Record set in Surat, with PM Narendra Modi in attendance. The Cabinet also greenlit industrial reforms, including amendments to the Factories Act, 1948, to allow women to work night shifts with safety measures, the establishment of 175 MSME parks under the "One Family - One Entrepreneur" initiative, and the completion of a Flatted Factory Complex at JETCITY, Vemavaram, with a Rs 20.39 crore payment for Phase 1. Further approvals included modernising the Haritha Hotel Yatrinivas in Visakhapatnam, exempting stamp duty for land transfers to the Hyderabad Eye Institute, and simplifying compliance for industries under the AP Shops and Establishments Act, 1988. The 25th e-Cabinet meeting underscores Andhra Pradesh's commitment to sustainable development, technological innovation, and welfare under Naidu's leadership in 2025. (ANI)
BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra on Wednesday slammed the Karnataka government for the stampede during the RCB victory celebration at Chinnaswamy Stadium, and said that the incident left over 11 people dead and several others critically injured. He said the event was poorly planned, lacked police and ambulance support, and accused the government of focusing more on publicity than safety. He demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah order a judicial inquiry into the incident and take full responsibility. Speaking to ANI, Vijayendra said, "The state government should take full responsibility for this tragedy. When the whole country and Karnataka were celebrating RCB's victory, the state government's haste to hold a victory rally without any prior preparations led to this tragedy. The state government never cared about prior preparations. They were more interested in publicity. This resulted in the death of more than 11 people. Some people are in the ICU. I spoke to some victims, and there was no police inside, no ambulance facility. The CM should send the matter for judicial investigation." The Karnataka BJP President also visited Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital to meet people who were injured in the stampede in Bengaluru. Karnataka Legislative Council Leader of Opposition and BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy also blamed the state government for the stampede, calling it a clear case of security failure. He said the government failed to anticipate the crowd size and did not take necessary precautions, leading to the tragedy. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said, "This tragedy happened because of the government. They had no idea about how many people would come, what precautions would have to be taken. This is a security failure" The tragic event has now cast a shadow over RCB's much-celebrated IPL win, where they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS), ending RCB's long wait for a maiden title as they won the match by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. (ANI)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended an accused Junior Engineer/Tele, North Central Railways, Prayagraj Division, Mainpuri, for "demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs one lakh (first instalment of demanded illegal gratification of Rs 4 lakh) from the complainant". A case was registered on June 3 against the accused on the basis of a complaint made by a private company. The company had executed the work of laying six Quad Poly Insulated Jelly Filled cables between Farukhabad to Sikohabad alongside the Railway Line. It was alleged that the said accused had demanded undue advantage of Rs 4 lakh from the complainant private company for clearing its pending bills amounting to Rs 20 lakh. CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed. Searches were also conducted at the residential and official premises of the accused at Mainpuri, a release said. Earlier on June 2, the Special Judge of the Anti-Corruption CBI Court in Ghaziabad issued an ad-interim order for the attachment of 14 immovable properties, worth over Rs 7 crore, belonging to the then Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in connection with an alleged Disproportionate Assets (DA) case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the case on September 22, 2022, alleging that the officer, while serving in various capacities--Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, and Additional Commissioner--in Income Tax offices across New Delhi, Moradabad, Lucknow, and other locations between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2018, amassed disproportionate assets valued at Rs 7.52 crore, far exceeding his known sources of income. The probe revealed that the accused and his family members had acquired 14 immovable assets, estimated to be worth several crores. These properties are spread across Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Hardoi, Barabanki, and even Goa, the statement said.CBI officials confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing. A day ago in a separate case, CBI has recovered approximately 3.5 kg of gold, 2 kg of silver, valued at around Rs 3.5 crore and around Rs 1 crore in cash during searches at the premises of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in Delhi who was arrested recently for allegedly demanding Rs 45 lakh in bribe. The searches by the CBI led to the recovery of substantial assets and incriminating materials, including documents related to a bank locker and 25 bank accounts with various banks. The officials also recovered papers linked to immovable assets and properties in Delhi, Mumbai, and Punjab. The total valuation of the seized movable and immovable assets is still being assessed. The CBI has stated that the investigation is ongoing. (ANI)
Three important agreements were signed at the Secretariat on Wednesday in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The Uttarakhand government, the Setu Commission, and the Tata Trust signed an agreement to work in the areas of social development. A tripartite agreement was signed between the Setu Commission, the Higher Education Department, the Technical Education Department and the NASSCOM/IT-ITES Sector Skill Council towards making Uttarakhand India's leading skill centre in the field of technology. A tripartite agreement was also signed between the Setu Commission, the Higher Education Department and the Wadhwani Foundation to make the state a skill development centre for emerging technology and employment-oriented personality development of students. Under the 10-year agreement with Tata Trust to advance social and economic development in Uttarakhand, work will be done together in areas such as water management, nutrition, telemedicine, rural livelihood, and green energy. Under the agreement with NASSCOM to make Uttarakhand a major skill centre in the field of technology, courses will be included with academic credit in all government and private higher education institutions of the state, and a model college in each district will be developed as a 'Mentor Institute'. It aims to provide information and skill development in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber Security, and Python to about 1.5 lakh state students through the Future Skills Prime Platform. Under the three-year agreement made with the Wadhwani Foundation to make Uttarakhand a skill development centre for emerging technology and employment-oriented personality development of students, courses will be included with academic credit in all government higher education institutions of the state from the next session. The objective of this initiative is to assist about 1.20 lakh state students in artificial intelligence-based personality development and self-employment-related skill development. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami praised the three agreements signed today for social development, making the state a centre of digital talent and starting modern courses of AI-based personality development will be extremely useful for the people of the state. The Chief Minister said that to make Uttarakhand the country's leading state in every field, the state government is working on schemes keeping in mind the people at the end of the society. Many new initiatives are being taken by bringing people from every sector and class together for the overall development of the state. The Chief Minister said that these agreements are important steps towards preparing human resources full of modern skills in Uttarakhand and making the state a modern AI and cyber security hub. The Chief Minister thanked Tata Trust, NASSCOM and Wadhwani Foundation for these three important agreements made in the state. (ANI)
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has launched a state-wide 'Vande Ganga' water conservation campaign to address the issue of water scarcity. Starting on the occasion of World Environment Day and Ganga Dussehra (June 5), this campaign will run until June 20, featuring extensive water conservation efforts by various departments across the state. Through these activities, public awareness will be raised about the importance of water conservation. For the successful execution of this campaign, ministers have been assigned duties in all 41 districts of the state. On June 5, the first day of the campaign, departments will carry out various activities like special cleanliness drives in nurseries, distribution of Tulsi plants, pledges to reduce plastic use, shramdaan (voluntary labour), cleaning and repairing of water sources, Vande Ganga Kalash Yatra, worship of rivers, dams, lakes, and preparations for tree plantation under Hariyalo Rajasthan. Activities under the Karmabhoomi se Matribhumi campaign will also be reviewed and approved. On this occasion, CM Sharma will plant trees at Jamwa Ramgarh in Jaipur and participate in shramdaan at Ramgarh Dam near Mori. Later, he will address a state-level workshop organised at Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) on World Environment Day. Afterwards, the CM will travel to Bundi, where he will attend the Vande Ganga water worship, Chunri Mahotsav, and Kalash Pujan at Keshoraipatan. He will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various development works under the Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan 2.1. He will also offer prayers at the Keshavrai Temple. In the evening, he will reach Bharatpur and perform special worship at Ganga Mandir. On June 6 (Nirjala Ekadashi), Vande Ganga Jal Seva, water testing campaigns, desilting of water conservation structures, and arrangements for clean drinking water for animals and birds will be conducted at public places like railway stations and bus stands. On June 7, seminars will be held, while on June 8, Vande Ganga Prabhat Pheri and awareness rallies will be organized at the ward level in cities and panchayats in villages. As the Central Government completes 11 years under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi on June 9, the Rajasthan government will inaugurate a new Amrit Sarovar under the Vande Ganga campaign. Other activities include starting new water harvesting and conservation projects, mapping and cleaning of village water sources, and cleanliness drives at main roads, intersections, and public places. Between June 10 and 15, completed works under Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan 2.1 will be reviewed, and new works under Jan Swavlamban Abhiyan 2.2 will be approved and initiated. New projects under the PM Agriculture Irrigation Scheme 2.0 will be launched. Additionally, 575 water conservation structures will be inspected, and MGNREGA-related projects will begin. Other proposed activities include Kisan Chaupal, tank cleaning, lighting lamps at water sources, plastic waste disposal, and issuing work orders under Amrit 2.0. Programmes will be held for water user groups, Catch the Rain campaign, and cleaning of drinking water sources such as ground-level and overhead reservoirs. Awareness drives for water-saving, inauguration and approval of works under the Karmabhoomi se Matribhumi campaign, water usage audits, and activities like essay competitions and street plays on environmental protection will also be held. From June 16 to 19, activities include marking of pastures, preparation for plantation, cleanliness drives, and night choupals at selected gram panchayat headquarters under Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan 2.0 to discuss water collection and conservation. Other initiatives include approvals for sprinklers, drip systems, farm ponds, pipelines, and cleanliness drives by women SHGs under Amrit 2.0, as well as plantation preparations under the Urban Employment Scheme. On June 20, at the campaign's conclusion, events will be organised to honour donors and institutions who supported the Vande Ganga water conservation campaign. (ANI)
The cabinet chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday gave permission for the construction and installation of Artwork for the Sudarshan Chakra Sculpture at Arrival Plaza in Badrinath under the Shri Badrinath Dham complex. The state government is carrying out reconstruction work under the master plan in Shri Badrinath Dham on the guidelines of the Prime Minister. In continuation of the above, a structure of a very special type of Artwork for Sudarshan Chakra Sculpture is to be built at the Arrival Plaza in Shri Badrinath Dham under the dream project of the Prime Minister of India. Permission to make a very special type of artwork in the said work has been given by the cabinet. The cabinet has taken a decision regarding the construction and installation of artwork for the Sheshnetra Lotus wall at the Lakefront area, Badrinath, under the Shri Badrinath Dham complex. Under the dream project of the Prime Minister of India, a structure of a very special type of artwork for the Sheshnetra Lotus wall at the Lakefront area Badrinath, is to be built at the arrival plaza in Shri Badrinath Dham. Approval was given by the Cabinet for the construction of the said very special type of artwork. The Cabinet has decided to get the work of construction and installation of Artwork for Sudarshan Chowk Kalakruti at Tourism management Centre Building in Arrival Plaza in Badrinath done under the dream project of the Prime Minister of India. A very special type of Artwork for Sudarshan Chowk Kalakruti at Tourism management Centre Building in Arrival Plaza in Badrinath is to be done at the arrival plaza in Shri Badrinath Dham. Approval was given by the Cabinet for the construction of the said very special type of work. A decision was taken by the Cabinet regarding the construction and installation of Tree and River Sculpture at Badrinarayan Chowk under the Shri Badrinath Dham area. Under the dream project of the Prime Minister of India, a very special type of Tree and River Sculpture is to be built at Badrinarayan Chowk on the Arrival Plaza in Shri Badrinath Dham. The Cabinet has given approval for the construction of the said very special type of sculpture. (ANI)
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Wednesday presided over a seed funding distribution ceremony for the winners of the State-Level Chief Minister's Inventor's Challenge at the CM Conference Hall in Aizawl. In his address, the Chief Minister noted that since the time of our forefathers, we have created many useful tools and items--such as musical instruments, combs, traditional ornaments, and more--all of which reflect a high degree of creativity. However, the present generation seems to struggle to surpass that legacy. We no longer see the creation of new gongs or drums as we once did. He emphasised the need to nurture youth who are more creative and inventive. He further stated that while education is important to become an inventor, the world has also seen outstanding inventors who lacked formal academic brilliance. The drive to create tools that benefit society and address human needs and challenges has always fueled innovation. He encouraged the fostering of such visionary minds within our community. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Mizoram is home to many innovators and inventors. The Inventor's Challenge aims to identify, support, and promote them, including helping them pursue patents for their innovations. He urged all innovators and inventors to keep moving forward and invited others to join this path of creativity and progress. A diverse group of innovators received seed funding for their groundbreaking inventions across Higher Education Institutions and Open categories. In the Higher Education Institution Hardware category, B. Lalhruaitluanga secured the 1st prize of Rs 50,000 for a Small LED Display for Public Carrier System. In the Software category, Lalhlimawma won 1st prize with Rs 3,00,000 for an E-commerce Platform, followed by Lalruatfela Chhakchhuak with Rs 1,50,000 for the Tlangau Waste Management System, and Fayek Ahmed with Rs 15,000 for a Vehicle Accident Monitoring System. In the Open Hardware category, HV. Lalzuimawia earned Rs 8,00,000 for a patented Bamboo Flattening Machine, Ramdinmawia received Rs 5,00,000 for a Chilli Seed Extractor, and Chhuanmawia was awarded Rs 4,00,000 for Zoloom, a Traditional Ornament Mold. In the Open Software category, Rodinpuia took 1st prize with Rs 5,00,000 for an Automation System, Sunday Lalbiaknia secured Rs 4,00,000 for an Online Book Store, and Hillstech received Rs 3,00,000 for a Precision Farming System. These awards highlight WEE 2025's commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability. The event was chaired by Vanlaldina Fanai, Commissioner of Planning. (ANI)
Following the death of 11 people in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar complimented the state police force for controlling the massive influx of people during the RCB celebrations. "Again, I'm telling on record. I should compliment my Police officers...morning also, they wanted to have a procession, they wanted to bring a vehicle from the airport itself...Police guided us not to...that's why I rushed to the airport and ensured nothing went wrong...in Vidhana Soudha, also we were very cautious...," DK Shivakumar said. "We never expected such an incident to happen. No political party or official wanted this. They did their best, but there was an uncontrollable crowd," he added. The Karnataka DyCM also announced postponing all programs except the cabinet meeting on June 5. "Tomorrow, except the cabinet meeting, all programmes have been postponed. No celebrations, including the World Environment Day...," Shivakumar said. Shivakumar further stated, "The team has extended their condolences...I went to the team immediately and gave them direction that this programme should be stopped within 10 minutes... the team agreed and within 5 minutes, they stopped the programme...we sent a lot of Police teams with them since we didn't want any incident to happen..." Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased killed in the stampede. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed a press conference and said the government would also provide free treatment to the injured. "A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," the CM said. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, CM Siddaramaiah said, "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident." The Karnataka CM further asserted that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. "I don't want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," CM Siddaramaiah said. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay the disposal of Union Carbide plant waste in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, being carried out by the state authorities. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma noted that the petitioners had already made attempts seeking a stay before the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court. The bench was of the view that the disposal of waste is being carried out under the Madhya Pradesh High Court's supervision and various expert bodies are involved and the top court's intervention is not needed. The top court posted the matter to be heard in July, after the Court's vacation. The counsel appearing for the petitioner stated that after the vacations, 72 days will have passed and the entire waste would be incinerated. The bench, however, was not inclined to grant a stay. The plea had been filed by one Chinmay Mishra against the MP High Court's decision of December last year of having ordered swift disposal of the toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal by shifting it to Pithampur. Mishras' plea raised concerns about the health of Pithampur residents due to the disposal of chemical waste in the region. The petition stated that the people of Pithampur were not consulted while deciding to shift Union Carbide's waste from Bhopal to Pithampur. In February this year, the Supreme Court clarified that it would not intervene in the matter concerning the disposal of waste at the Union Carbide Plant as the Madhya Pradesh High Court is already monitoring it. The top court had in February, also noted that the MP High Court has taken a serious view of the lethargic manner in which the state government has been handling waste disposal. The top court had further clarified that any grievances in the matter can very well be raised before the MP High Court. Earlier, in December last year, the MP High Court ordered swift disposal of the toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal by shifting it to Pithampur in the state's Dhar district. (ANI)
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the tragic stampede in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives, with over 30 others injured. In a post on X, the former UK PM stated that he and his wife, Akshata Murty, mourn with those who lost loved ones during the incident, which occurred outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL 2025 win. "Mine and Akshata's hearts go out to everyone who has lost loved ones or been hurt in the tragic events in Bengaluru. We celebrated with you yesterday and we mourn with you today," Sunak stated in this post. Sunak was also present at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, supporting RCB in the final. The team from Bengaluru finally ended their 18-year wait for the coveted IPL trophy, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the finals of IPL 2025. Earlier, following the tragic incident, the Karnataka government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy stadium. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government will also provide free treatment to the injured. "A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," the CM said. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, CM Siddaramaiah said, "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident." The Karnataka CM further asserted that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. "I don't want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," CM Siddaramaiah said. (ANI)
BJP National President and Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday slammed Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of insulting the Indian Army by terming the success of Operation Sindoor a "surrender", noting that 'surrender' was in the dictionary of Congress and in Rahul Gandhi's DNA. In a series of posts on X, Nadda responded to Congress MP's "Narender-Surrender" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a convention of Congress workers in Madhya Pradesh and alleged that PM Modi had surrendered to US pressure for a ceasefire with Pakistan. He listed historical instances like the Shimla Agreement, the Indus Waters Treaty, and the 1962 war, alleging that Congress consistently capitulated, including to the Muslim League during India's independence. "Rahul Gandhi, you may have surrendered; your party may have surrendered; your leaders may have surrendered because your history has been like this but India never surrenders. Surrender is in the dictionary of your party Congress; it is in your DNA. Rahul Gandhi, you should remember the tenure of your party's governments and how you 'surrendered' in history. You surrendered to terrorism, surrendered in Sharm-al-Shekh, surrendered at the table in Shimla after winning the 1971 war, surrendered in the Indus Water Treaty, surrendered Haji Pir Pass, surrendered 160 km area of Chhamb sector, surrendered in the 1962 war, surrendered in 1948 and even surrendered to the Muslim League at the time of independence of the country," Nadda stated. Nadda further condemned the Congress leader's remark as treasonous and highlighted that even Pakistan did not dare to make such a claim. "Rahul Gandhi's calling the unmatched valour and courage of the Indian Army a 'surrender' is not only unfortunate but also a grave insult to the Indian Army, the nation and 140 crore Indians. If any Pakistani had said this, we would have laughed at them, but after the way Operation Sindoor wreaked havoc in Pakistan, no one from the people of Pakistan, its army and even its Prime Minister dared to say this, but Rahul Gandhi is saying this! This is nothing less than treason," the BJP National President added. Nadda also detailed the success of Operation Sindoor, noting the Indian Army's deep penetration into Pakistan, destruction of airbases and terrorist camps, and the killing of over 150 terrorists, as validated by senior army officers. "The Indian Army penetrated 300 km into Pakistan and destroyed 11 of its airbases, demolished 9 terrorist bases, killed more than 150 terrorists. Pakistan is crying and telling the world that the Indian Army attacked 18 places in Pakistan and destroyed everything and Rahul Gandhi is talking about the surrender of the country! Rahul Gandhi should know that the success of "Operation Sindoor" was not announced by the government or any BJP spokesperson, but by senior officers of the Indian Army. "Operation Sindoor" is a proclamation of the bravery, courage and valour of the Indian Army. In reality, those whose policies have been of surrender cannot think of anything beyond this - why, isn't it so with Rahul Gandhi?" he added. This comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government on Tuesday over allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "followed" Donald Trump following a call by the US leader and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not budge to the US in the 1971 war. Addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet (which came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender." (ANI)
This was the first meeting of Council of Ministers after Operation Sindoor and was held days before Modi 3.0 government completes its first year in office on June 9.

"Chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers earlier this evening," PM Modi said in a post on X.

India launched Operation Sindoor 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.

India also effectively responded to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.

India and Pakistan agreed to stop military action after Pakistan's DGMO called his Indian counterpart on May 10. (ANI)
Political leaders cutting across party lines condoled the loss of lives in a stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, in which eleven people were killed and many more were injured. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he was "shocked and termed the incident as an "unimaginable tragedy" "Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Such incidents remind us of the urgent need for crowd safety and better event management. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy. May the departed souls rest in peace," Ajit Pawar posted on X. "Wishing strength and a swift recovery to all those who are injured. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected in this difficult time," his post read further. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also offered his condolences. "I got the sad news of the death of people in the stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. May Marang Buru give peace to the souls of the departed and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this moment of grief. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the stampede," Soren posted on X. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee also consoled the loss of lives. "Shocked and saddened by the tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy. Wishing strength and a speedy recovery to all those who are injured. May the departed souls rest in peace and their families find comfort in this difficult time," Banerjee posted on X. Earlier, following the tragic incident, the Karnataka government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy stadium. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed a press conference and said that the government would also provide free treatment to the injured. "A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," the CM said. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, CM Siddaramaiah said, "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident." The Karnataka CM further asserted that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. "I don't want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," CM Siddaramaiah said. (ANI)
The central government on Wednesday announced that the Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases and will also include the enumeration of castes. Opposition parties accused the government of further delaying the nationwide enumeration exercise. The Ministry of Home Affairs made the announcement in a statement, mentioning that the census will follow different reference dates depending on the region, in accordance with logistical and climatic factors. "It has been decided to conduct Population Census-2027 in two phases along with the enumeration of castes," the statement said. Reacting to the announcement, Congress said that the government was further delaying the already late census. DMK alleged that the census would be held after the proposed delimitation and that there was a plan to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation. According to the MHA statement, the reference date for the "Population Census-2027 will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country." However, for the Union Territory of "Ladakh, and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026." The government has also indicated that a notification of intent to conduct the census, adhering to the above-mentioned timelines, will be published in the Official Gazette on June 16, 2025. This will be done under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, which governs the legal framework for the decennial census exercise in India.The census, due in 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Census 2027 is slated to be one of the most comprehensive data-gathering exercises undertaken by the Indian government. Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990.The last Census of India was conducted in 2011 in two phases, namely i) Phase I - House Listing (HLO) (1 April to 30 September 2010) and (ii) Phase II - Population Enumeration (PE) (February 9 to February 28, 2011) with reference date - 00:00 hours of the first day of March 2011, except for snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for which it was conducted during September 11 to 30, 2010 with reference date as 00.00 hours of the first day of October 2010. Census 2021 was also proposed to be conducted in two phases in a similar manner with phase I during April-September 2020 and second phase in February 2021. All the preparations for the first phase of the Census to be conducted in 2021 were completed and field work was scheduled to begin in some States/UTs from April 1, 2020. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the census work was postponed. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X that there is really no reason to delay the Census, which was due in 2021, for another twenty-three months. "The Modi Government is capable only of generating headlines, not meeting deadlines," he said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Indian Constitution mandates that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026. "The BJP has now delayed the Census to 2027, making their plan clear to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation. I had warned about this. It is now unfolding," he said in a post on X. He also hit out at AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami. "By siding with the BJP, Palaniswami is not just silent but complicit in this betrayal. It's now clear that he has surrendered to Delhi's domination. The people of Tamil Nadu are united as one in their demand for a Fair Delimitation. We need clear answers from the Union Government," he said. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday expressed shock over the loss of 11 lives in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru following RCB victory celebrations. "Shocked and saddened that a moment of joy and celebration has turned into a tragedy. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Om Shanti. 11 Dead In Bengaluru Stampede; Siddaramaiah Says Over 2 Lakh Showed Up," he posted on X. President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow on Wednesday about the incident. She offered her condolences to the families of those who died and wished a quick recovery for the injured. In a social media post on X, Droupadi Murmu wrote, "The loss of lives in the tragic happening at a stadium in Bengaluru is shocking and heartbreaking. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured." Earlier, following the tragic incident, the Karnataka government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy stadium. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed a press conference and said that the government would also provide free treatment to the injured. "A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," the CM said. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, CM Siddaramaiah said, "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident." The Karnataka CM further asserted that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. "I don't want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," CM Siddaramaiah said. (ANI)
The central government on Wednesday announced that the Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases and will also include the enumeration of castes. Oppositon parties accused the government of further delaying the nationwide enumeration exercise. The Ministry of Home Affairs made the announcement in a statement, mentioning that the census will follow different reference dates depending on the region, in accordance with logistical and climatic factors. "It has been decided to conduct Population Census-2027 in two phases along with the enumeration of castes," the statement said. Reacting to the announcement, Congress said that the government was further delaying the already late census. DMK alleged that the census would be held after the proposed delimitation and that there was a plan to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation. According to the MHA statement, the reference date for the "Population Census-2027 will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country." However, for the Union Territory of "Ladakh, and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026." The government has also indicated that a notification of intent to conduct the census, adhering to the above-mentioned timelines, will be published in the Official Gazette on June 16, 2025. This will be done under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, which governs the legal framework for the decennial census exercise in India.The census, due in 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Census 2027 is slated to be one of the most comprehensive data-gathering exercises undertaken by the Indian government. Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990.The last Census of India was conducted in 2011 in two phases, namely i) Phase I - House Listing (HLO) (1 April to 30 September 2010) and (ii) Phase II - Population Enumeration (PE) (February 9 to February 28, 2011) with reference date - 00:00 hours of the first day of March 2011, except for snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for which it was conducted during September 11 to 30, 2010 with reference date as 00.00 hours of the first day of October 2010. Census 2021 was also proposed to be conducted in two phases in a similar manner with phase I during April-September 2020 and second phase in February 2021. All the preparations for the first phase of the Census to be conducted in 2021 were completed and field work was scheduled to begin in some States/UTs from April 1, 2020. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the census work was postponed. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X that there is really no reason to delay the Census, which was due in 2021, for another twenty-three months. "The Modi Government is capable only of generating headlines, not meeting deadlines," he said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Indian Constitution mandates that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026. "The BJP has now delayed the Census to 2027, making their plan clear to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation. I had warned about this. It is now unfolding," he said in a post on X. He also hit out at AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami. "By siding with the BJP, Palaniswami is not just silent but complicit in this betrayal. It's now clear that he has surrendered to Delhi's domination. The people of Tamil Nadu are united as one in their demand for a Fair Delimitation. We need clear answers from the Union Government," he said. (ANI)
The Cyber Police Station of South District, Delhi Police, has arrested a cyber-fraudster involved in duping people under the pretext of booking air tickets. The accused, identified as Tarun Rastogi (38) was apprehended following an investigation into a case registered under FIR dated May 31, under Sections 316 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). DCP South District, Ankit Chauhan, stated that the complainant alleged that on April 26, he was approached by Tarun Rastogi, who claimed to represent Jetways Travels Pvt Ltd. and proposed a business relationship for flight ticket bookings. Initially, the transactions appeared legitimate, four ticket bookings were completed, and official receipts were issued from the company's email domain. However, between April 29 and May 7, the complainant paid Rs 8,82,158 for seven client tickets which were later cancelled. Despite repeated follow-ups, neither the tickets were reissued nor the funds refunded. Taking cognisance of the complaint, a team was formed and the investigators traced bank transactions and conducted technical surveillance, eventually zeroing in on a bank account registered in the name of Tarun Rastogi. His location was tracked, and he was arrested following a targeted raid. During interrogation, Rastogi confessed to the crime. He revealed that while working as a ticketing clerk at Jetways Travels Pvt. Ltd. in Barakhamba Road, Delhi, he initially issued genuine tickets and built trust with clients. Later, he continued to issue tickets but diverted payments to his personal bank account. The tickets, once issued, were subsequently cancelled by the company. When clients requested refunds, Rastogi assured them but eventually stopped responding to calls or messages. Police recovered a mobile phone, a laptop, one debit card, a bank passbook, and three cheque books used in the commission of the fraud. Further investigation revealed that Rastogi is a graduate in commerce and a repeat offender in cyber and financial crimes. He has previously been involved in six criminal cases, including those registered at Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, Paharganj, and Subhash Place police stations, under various sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation, DCP Chouhan added. Further investigation is underway to trace additional victims and financial trails linked to the accused. (ANI)
Punjab Police's State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) SAS Nagar has arrested a YouTube influencer for spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday, Information And Public Relations Department, Punjab said in an official statement. The arrested accused, identified as Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal (41), a resident of Village Mahlan in Rupnagar, has been operating a YouTube channel "JaanMahal Video" with over 11 lakh subscribers, ostensibly posting travel and cooking vlogs. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused Jasbir Singh has been found associated with Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network. He also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra-- arrested for spying by Haryana Police, and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official, as per the statement. He said that investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. The accused has also travelled to Pakistan on three occasions including in 2020, 2021 and 2024, and came into direct contact with ISI officers, who subsequently cultivated and recruited him to carry out espionage activities within India, he added. The DGP said that after Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, accused Jasbir had attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection. Further investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators, he added. Sharing operation details, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) SSOC SAS Nagar Ravjot Grewal said that police teams have received reliable input about Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal in touch with many Pakistan based entities including agents of Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and has been providing sensitive information about movement of Indian Army and other inside activities of the country to Pakistan. Acting swiftly, teams of SSOC SAS Nagar has launched an intel-based operation and arrested suspect and recovered his mobile device, she said. She said that around 150 Pakistan contacts has been retrieved from the initial mobile phone forensics of the arrested those included mobile numbers of Pakistan ISI agents, Pakistan High commission officials and other Pak based entities,as per the statement. In a bid to cover his tracks, the accused had deleted crucial digital evidence, including chats, contact records, and documents exchanged with Pakistani intelligence handlers from his mobile phone, said the AIG, while adding that technical recovery and forensic examination are underway to retrieve deleted data and information leaked through him. She said that investigations have revealed that accused Jasbir used this platform as a cover to share sensitive information about Indian Army movements and activities with Pakistani handlers. The AIG said that accused Jasbir had got introduced with Jyoti Malhotra through Pakistan embassy officials at an event hosted by Pakistan embassy in 2024. Both Jasbir and Jyoti also visited Pakistan together. Further investigation is in progress to identify potential accomplices, digital communication trails, and foreign linkages, she added. Meanwhile, a case 5 dated 03/06/2025 has been registered under sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Official secret Act at Police Station SSOC SAS Nagar. (ANI)
Atishi, the AAP leader and Opposition Leader in the Delhi Assembly, launched a scathing attack on the BJP following the demolition drive at Madrasi Camp in Jangpura, South East Delhi on June 1 following a court order. In a post on X, Atishi posted, "BJP had promised 'jahan jhuggi, wahan makaan' (where there is a slum, there will be a house), but as soon as it won the election, it bulldozed the Madrasi camp." The AAP leader further added that she visited the site on Wednesday and that the people were teary-eyed. "Today, when I went there, women, elderly, youth - everyone cried bitterly. They were saying that they made a mistake by voting for the BJP. If Kejriwal were here, he would not have let our slums be demolished," posted Atishi. The operation was carried out to resolve the flooding issues caused by the narrowed drain, which obstructs water flow during heavy rains. 370 encroachments have been demolished, with 189 residents deemed eligible for resettlement and allocated flats in Narela, while 181 are ineligible for resettlement. Earlier on June 1, Anil Banka, District Magistrate of South East Delhi, 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 permitted us to proceed with the removal starting today (June 1). We have also allotted flats in Narela to all eligible residents affected by this drive." "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," he said. 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. (ANI)
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met with Israel's Minister of Economy Nir Barkat in Paris on Tuesday (local time). The discussions focused on diversifying the trade basket, fostering innovation, and strengthening cooperation in high-tech and emerging sectors. In a post shared on X, Piyush Goyal stated, "Excellent meeting with Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry, @NirBarkat, in Paris. Our discussions focused on diversifying our trade basket, fostering innovation, and strengthening cooperation in high-tech and emerging sectors, paving the way for the next phase of our partnership." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1929973588729159858 Goyal addressed the India-France Business Conference, highlighting the 'India Opportunity', driven by a skilled and talented workforce and the government's commitment to ease of doing business, and how it offers promising avenues for French firms. During the interaction, Goyal encouraged companies from India and France to collaborate by building on shared interests and leveraging each other's competencies. He emphasised that deeper engagement between the businesses of the two nations will play a key role in strengthening the strategic partnership between India and France. In a post on X, Goyal stated, "It was a pleasure to address the India-France Business Conference, which brought together several Indian and French companies. Highlighted the 'India Opportunity', driven by a skilled & talented workforce and the government's commitment to ease of doing business, and how it offers promising avenues for French companies. Encouraged companies from both sides to collaborate by building on shared interests and leveraging each other's competencies. Deeper engagement between our businesses will play a significant role in further strengthening the India-France strategic partnership." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1929973588729159858 He also addressed the India-France CEO Forum Small Group Meeting in Paris, along with Laurent Saint-Martin, the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad. Goyal highlighted how French companies believe in the India story and how the two nations are committed to advancing economic and trade relations and cultivating a smarter future together. In a post on X, Goyal stated, "Addressed the India-France CEO Forum Small Group Meeting today in Paris along with French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad @LaurentSMartin. During the interactive discussion, attended by Indian & French companies, we covered a wide range of aspects of India-France cooperation, including technology, AI, education, and startups. I further highlighted how French companies believe in the India story and how both sides are committed to advancing economic and trade relations and cultivating a smarter future together." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1929911677354684454 Piyush Goyal met with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Paris and emphasised India's commitment to strengthening a fair, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system. "Had a productive meeting with @NOIweala, Director General of @WTO, in Paris. Emphasised India's commitment to help strengthen a fair, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system," Goyal posted on X. https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1929904900898517394 He also met Saudi Arabia's Minister of Commerce, Majid Al-Kassabi, and discussed enhancing bilateral trade and exploring new investment opportunities. Sharing details regarding his meeting with Saudi Arabia's counterpart on X, Goyal wrote, "Held a productive meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Commerce H.E. @MAlKassabi. Discussed enhancing bilateral trade, exploring new investment opportunities, and strengthening our economic partnership." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1929890861006966930 Piyush Goyal held a meeting with French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin, on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two leaders explored new avenues to enhance bilateral trade and investments and facilitate business-to-business engagement. After his meeting with Saint-Martin, Goyal on X wrote, "Good meeting with the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, @LaurentSMartin. Explored new avenues to enhance bilateral trade and investments, and facilitate business-to-business engagement. We also reaffirmed our shared commitment to making technology a new cornerstone of the Indo-French economic partnership, especially in the context of the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation 2026." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1929881427115397378 The discussions, which took place during Goyal's three-day official visit to France, also reviewed the progress of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, signalling a strong intent to bolster bilateral ties amidst a shared commitment to innovation and economic growth. Goyal commenced his three-day official visit to France on Sunday. After concluding his visit to France, Piyush Goyal will travel to Italy. (ANI)
The tech billionaire, who recently departed his role overseeing government efficiency reforms, condemned the House-passed legislation on Tuesday, writing: "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong."

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929954109689606359

Musk followed his initial criticism with additional posts claiming the bill would "massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to USD 2.5 trillion" and suggesting "Congress is making America bankrupt."

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" extends Trump's 2017 tax cuts whilst increasing military and border security spending. However, it also makes reductions to Medicaid, food assistance programmes and other social support schemes.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the legislation would add approximately USD 3.8 trillion to the federal government's existing USD 36.2 trillion debt over the next decade.

Senate negotiations on the bill are currently underway, with Trump personally lobbying senators to support his sweeping legislative package.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the significance of Musk's criticism during Tuesday's briefing.

"The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it," she said.

Musk had initially expressed disappointment with the spending package, citing concerns about budget deficits and its impact on government efficiency efforts.

The billionaire subsequently announced his departure from the Trump administration, leaving his role as a "special government employee" with the Department of Government Efficiency.

During a Friday press conference in the Oval Office, Trump praised the legislation as "an unbelievable bill" that "cuts your deficits," though he suggested he would prefer "a bigger cut in taxes."

Musk did not address his criticism of the bill during that appearance. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, who led an all-party delegation to the United Kingdom, called for a unified global stance against terrorism and said that Pakistan must be held accountable for its actions. He said that the world needs to speak as far as terrorism is concerned and noted that no country is free from it. In his opening statement during media interaction in the UK on Tuesday, Prasad stated that terrorism is against democracy, civilised existence and human rights. He even questioned the release of international funding without accountability and mentioned that Pakistan has taken loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 25 times. He said, "Our message is very simple. Terrorism is against democracy, civilised existence, human rights, and basic norms of a good human existence. It is high time the world spoke as far as this terrorism is concerned. No country is free, and any country that is presently free cannot be free subsequently. That is the purpose of our visit." "A collective effort should be there, Pakistan should be made to pay a cost. Why should so much of international funding is there without accountability. Where is the money going? Is it going to purchase weapons or alleviate poverty? These are relevant questions. Pakistan, I understand, has taken out 25 loans from the IMF. That is the message. I repeat, we have nothing against the people of Pakistan. Our commitment to peace and amity is impeccable. We are equally clear that India, a big sovereign country, has the right to save its citizens from terrorism," he added. He also drew parallels between India and Pakistan in terms of development and highlighted India's economic and digital sectors growth. He said, "India and Pakistan were exactly born on the same date, 15th August 1947, India was born and 14th August, Pakistan was born. After 75 years, what is the position? India is the fourth biggest economy of the world...Today, India's digital profile, including Aadhaar, digital delivery of services, and digital payment, is something the world is talking about. The manufacturing sector, the space sector, and all that you will know. What is happening in our neighbourhood, Pakistan, always the generals control the lever of power, unelected...That is the hard fact of life." He called out Pakistan for supporting terrorism and called terrorism an instrument of their state policy. He said, "We have fought four conventional wars - 1948, 1965, 1971, when Bangladesh was created and then the Kargil attack. India started none of these. Once they knew that they cannot match India in conventional conflict, the doctrine of causing thousands of....Today, terrorism as an instrument of state policy, something like a strategic asset or a proxy, has been taken by Pakistan in a manner which you all know. I need not elaborate. 40,000 people have been killed and I wish to clarify, we are not against the people of Pakistan and I repeat, we are not against the people of Pakistan. The tragedy is, the people of Pakistan are equally fed up with the generals of Pakistan." He recalled the efforts made by the Indian government to normalise ties with Pakistan, including those of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Lal Bahadur Shastri. He also recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited then-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony in 2014. He mentioned that PM Modi travelled to Pakistan while returning from Afghanistan at Nawaz Sharif's invitation. Recalling India's efforts to normalise ties with Pakistan, he said, "The second thing is, all our governments, starting from Jawaharlal Nehru, who instituted the Indus Water Treaty Agreement, where 80% of the water used to go to ... I will explain that also to you. Then, in 1965, Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Tashkent and signed an agreement. The Bangladesh crisis, the Shimla Agreement, and Indira Gandhi's execution. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister, went to Pakistan by bus...Dr Manmohan Singh also, in his own way, tried for normalisation of relationships. What happened? Attack on Indian Parliament, attack in Mumbai, hundreds were killed, including many foreigners, including British, attack in markets." "They have attacked in London, on the tube. They attacked on 9/11 in New York. Osama Bin Laden was ultimately captured in Pakistan. Unfortunately, another journalist you all know, a journalist throat was slit in this kind of attack. The one who killed him was killed by India's precise strikes at the terrorist camp. And Mr. Narendra Modi, as the Prime Minister in 2014, I want to make it clear, called Nawaz Sharif in a swearing-in ceremony, to normalise. When he had gone to Kabul to inaugurate the new Parliamentary building, erected with India's assistance, Nawaz Sharif phoned him, you will be flying over my sky, my grandson is getting married, if you attend. He went there and what has he got in return? Uri, Pulwama, Pahalgam," he added. He said that India targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) after terrorists killed 26 people and injured several others in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Speaking about Operation Sindoor, he said, "This time we have said, enough is enough. On the 22nd of April, the deadly Pahalgam attacks happened. On the 7th of May, the attack was made. We only attacked the terrorist camps, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and others, and I want to make it very clear, the attack was carried out at 1:30 in the night for 21 minutes, and the common people are not at all affected by it at all. In the morning, Pakistan was communicated, we have attacked your terrorist camps." "We don't wish to escalate, it is proportionate. They did not respond, and showered India's skies with a lot of missiles. It is a measure of our defence capability that, right from Madhya Pradesh to Ujjain, there is 3000 km of airspace, and our air forces completely secured it, neutralising and paralysing their missile attacks. Then, India unleashed a very precise strike on their air force facilities. It destroyed about 9 airports in various parts of Pakistan," he added. He recalled how all the nations, except Turkiye, called and expressed solidarity with India following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. He stressed that Operation Sindoor is paused, not stopped and is subject to the good behaviour of Pakistan. Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Operation Sindoor is under paused not stopped subject to the good behaviour of Pakistan...We believe in peace, we believe in harmony. But we don't at all permit a situation that our innocent Indians are killed with impunity by terrorists...This is not acceptable because this time Pakistan has been told that they have to pay a cost to terrorists." "One thing I would like to clarify at the very outset, and I know you will ask this question, is the Indus Water Treaty. This treaty came into being in 1960. 80 per cent of the water of rivers, seven rivers, goes to Pakistan and 20 per cent to India...The preamble of this treaty clearly says, it is being entered into in a spirit of goodwill and these two terms also forms a clause of that bill...And thereafter, we have only put the treaty in abeyance. Sindoor Operation is paused, the treaty is under abeyance," he added. The delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran. An all-party delegation visited the UK as part of India's global outreach program to convey the country's firm stance against terrorism. This diplomatic outreach comes after Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7. In response to the Pahalgam attack carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur, who is part of the all-party delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP SP MP Supriya Sule, reaffirmed India's commitment to peace and issued a stern warning that any provocation or threat to the nation's security will be met with firm and decisive action. He emphasised that while India stands as a peace-loving nation, it will not hesitate to act decisively if its sovereignty or the safety of its citizens is threatened. "The safety of 140 crore Indians and the security of our country's borders is our utmost priority. We have delivered a clear message to the world that India will take every step necessary to safeguard its citizens, its unity, and its territorial integrity," Anurag Thakur told ANI. Reiterating India's long-standing stance of non-aggression, Thakur stated, "We never attack anyone. We are a peace-loving country, but we will not remain quiet if someone disturbs that peace." Anurag Thakur reinforced India's uncompromising stance on terrorism and said that countries using nuclear capabilities as a shield while fostering terror groups will not be able to intimidate India. "Those who hide behind nuclear power, shelter, train terror outfits and spread cross-border terrorism, must understand -- nuclear threat will not work," Thakur said, in a pointed reference widely seen as directed at Pakistan. He further accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism, saying, "In all these countries, we told the people in the government and others that Pakistan sponsors terrorism. The top brass of the Pakistani army attends the funeral of designated terrorists." Calling for collective global action, Thakur stressed the need for an international alliance to eradicate terrorism. "Everyone condemned terrorism. There is a need for a global coalition against terrorism to uproot this disease from the entire world," he said. The multi-party delegation, led by Supriya Sule, concluded its official visit to Egypt. On Tuesday, members met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in the New Administrative Capital. After the meeting concluded, Badr Abdelatty condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians and said that such attacks can't be tolerated. Labelling the relationship between India and Egypt as "historic," Abdelatty added that Egypt and India need to enhance their economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders. The delegation led by Supriya Sule includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce and Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN. The Supriya Sule-led parliamentary delegation also paid a floral tribute to Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis War Memorial, who laid their lives in World War I and World War II. Earlier, Congress MP Manish Tewari said the Indian all-party parliamentary delegation began its visit to Egypt with a series of high-level interactions with key members of the Egyptian Parliament and foreign affairs experts, focusing on security cooperation and the fight against state-sponsored terrorism. Tewari said that as part of their diplomatic outreach, the delegation also visited the Egyptian Council of Foreign Relations, a leading think tank, where they met former Foreign Minister Mohamed Orabi and other senior ambassadors, both serving and retired. 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)
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 4 (ANI/TPS): Israeli soldiers continued operations against Hamas across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday while brushing off criticism over humanitarian aid distribution methods. The Israel Defence Forces said troops eliminated multiple terrorists and destroyed weapons depots, ammunition storage facilities, and underground terror infrastructure throughout Gaza over the past 24 hours. In one incident, forces struck a Hamas operative positioned near a weapons depot, triggering secondary explosions that confirmed the presence of stored munitions. Separately, an Israeli combat team dismantled a Hamas compound containing ambush positions and improvised explosive devices. Israeli Air Force jets conducted dozens of strikes against terror targets, including military structures, tunnel networks, and terrorist operatives who posed threats to ground forces operating in the area. Also on Tuesday, Col. Avichai Adraee, the IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson, confirmed that Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian suspects deviating from an established pathway to a humanitarian aid distribution point and approached the soldiers. After initial warning shots failed to deter the individuals, forces fired toward the suspects. Adraee said the incident took place approximately a half-kilometer away from the distribution center. The IDF on Sunday denied allegations that its troops fired on civilians in Khan Yunis, citing a preliminary probe that found no Israeli gunfire in the area at the time. In response to reports accusing Israel of killing dozens near a U.S. aid site, the military released drone footage showing masked Palestinian gunmen firing at civilians. The IDF said the footage was captured during the alleged incident and reaffirmed that its forces were not responsible for the violence. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called Israel's current aid distribution model "unacceptable" and demanded an immediate independent investigation into civilian casualties. Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein accused the UN of deliberately ignoring Hamas's role in blocking aid distribution. "The real investigation that needs to be opened is why the U.N. continues to resist any attempt to provide aid directly to the people of Gaza," Marmorstein tweeted. He criticized Guterres for failing to mention Hamas in his statement, noting the terror group's efforts to intercept aid shipments. The controversy centers around Israel's decision to work with the U.S.-operated Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) rather than UN agencies. The GHF, which began operations May 27, operates independently with security provided by American military contractors and remote IDF monitoring. The foundation has distributed over 4.7 million meals to Gaza residents in its first six days of operation. The initiative bypasses Hamas' efforts to seize and resell humanitarian aid. At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 58 remaining hostages, 35 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
More than 60 per cent of households and firms have experienced extreme weather in the last five years, and over 75 per cent are expected to face it in the next decade, a new report by the World Bank has revealed. In a new report titled 'From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia,' the World Bank has warned that South Asia is facing a sharp rise in extreme weather. Nearly 90 per cent of the population is expected to be exposed to intense heat by 2030, and more than one in five people is at risk of severe flooding. It said that much of the adaptation effort needs to come from the private sector, as public budgets are under pressure. A new World Bank report has outlined policy reforms that would help households and firms adapt to increasingly frequent and damaging weather events. In a press release, the World Bank stated, "Released today, From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia, finds that awareness of climate risk is high. More than 60 per cent of households and firms have experienced extreme weather in the last five years, and more than 75 per cent expect it for the next decade. Many households and businesses are already taking steps to adapt to climate risks." "Around 80 per cent of households and 63 per cent of firms have taken some measures to adapt. However, most of these measures are basic, such as raising house foundations or installing fans. More advanced options, like using climate-resilient seeds or relocating from high-risk areas, remain less common," it added. According to the report, market barriers and income constraints are holding back stronger adaptation. Households with more education or access to formal finance are more likely to adopt advanced strategies. In addition, better-managed companies with fewer regulatory barriers tend to be more adaptive and removing these barriers would allow more effective adaptation by households and firms. World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia, Franziska Ohnsorge, said, "Private sector adaptation could reduce one third of the region's projected climate damage, but this requires governments to strengthen enabling environments." "Adaptation is most effective when markets function well and when essential services like transport, water, healthcare, and digital connectivity are widely accessible," Ohnsorge added. The report called for targeted adaptation efforts and broader development measures that also build climate resilience. It noted that governments have a critical role to play, even with limited fiscal space. According to the report, the government can expand access to localised climate information, promote weather-indexed insurance, and support the use of resilient technologies such as energy-efficient cooling systems. World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, said, "The urgency is growing. People and firms are already adapting, but they are doing so with limited tools and few resources." "Governments must act quickly to remove the barriers that prevent more effective adaptation. This includes removing distortions in land and labour markets, expanding access to finance and investing in public infrastructure to support people and businesses as they respond to climate risks," he added. The report noted that cities like Ahmedabad are leading with heat action plans to protect urban populations from rising temperatures. These plans demonstrate how targeted investments and effective institutions can successfully bolster local adaptation. The report called for policy action guided by three core principles - implementing a comprehensive package of adaptation measures, prioritising solutions that support both development and climate resilience and aligning adaptation strategies with long-term development goals to ensure lasting progress. In the release, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia, Franziska Ohnsorge, said, "Private sector adaptation could reduce one third of the region's projected climate damage, but this requires governments to strengthen enabling environments." "Adaptation is most effective when markets function well and when essential services like transport, water, healthcare, and digital connectivity are widely accessible," she added. (ANI)
Two Chinese nationals have been charged by the US Department of Justice for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States for research purposes at the University of Michigan Laboratory. According to the Justice Department release, Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34) were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, making false statements, and visa fraud. The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian and Liu's smuggling of a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon, into the US. According to the release, the fungus causes "head blight", a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses. In a release, the US Department of Justice said, "The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian's and Liu's smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon. This noxious fungus causes 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock." According to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. According to the complaint, Jian's electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The complaint alleged that Jian's boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen. Jian first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into the US through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in order to conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan, where his girlfriend, Jian, worked, according to the US Justice Department release. In the release, US Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr stated, "The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals--including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party--are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme." Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said, "The federal charges announced today against Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both residents of the People's Republic of China, signify a crucial advancement in our efforts to safeguard our communities and uphold national security." Gibson said that these individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety. Jian will be appearing in federal court in Detroit this afternoon for her initial appearance on the complaint. FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national in the US for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the US. He called this case a "sobering reminder" that the CCP is working to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target the food supply in the US. In a post on X, Patel stated, "New... I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country. The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called "Fusarium graminearum," which is an agroterrorism agent, into the U.S. to research at the University of Michigan, where she works. This fungus can cause a disease called "head blight," a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing significant health issues in both humans and livestock. It is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Evidence also indicates Jian had expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and had received funding from the Chinese government for similar work on this pathogen in China." "Jian's boyfriend, Zunyong Liu -- also charged in the complaint -- works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen. Liu is alleged to have first lied, then admitted, to also smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America, through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, so that he too could conduct research at the University of Michigan. Both individuals have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud. This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences, putting American lives and our economy at serious risk. Your FBI will continue working tirelessly to be on guard against it. Our @FBIDetroit team did excellent work in this case, partnering with @CBP. Justice will be done," he added. (ANI)
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP SP MP Supriya Sule, who is leading the all-party delegation to Egypt, said on Tuesday that the group held a constructive meeting with Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. He reassured them that India and Egypt need to work together in peace, trade, and culture, as the two nations are uniquely placed. While interacting with local leaders, opinion makers, and think tanks in Cairo, Sule expressed gratitude to Egyptian leadership for standing firmly with India during the challenging and painful time and expressed his commitment to peace. He said that India launched Operation Sindoor under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said that PM Modi sent seven groups of parliamentary delegations to several nations. She said, "Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, we had Operation Sindoor, and as a part of the operation, this is an activity which the honourable Prime Minister wanted all of us to do is we have come here not as just members of parliament or ideologies. We have come as Indians here to tell the world what has really happened in India 5 weeks ago. As we are aware, the world has changed, technology has changed our lives, so it is social media, media, and the kind of information that's going around, some of it factual, some of it deep fake. So, the honourable Prime Minister made 7 groups, each group with five members of parliament, and sent them to 4 to 5 countries in the last 10 days. All these 7 groups have travelled the globe and reached out to various countries which are friends like Egypt, and I have only gratitude in my heart because the Egyptian leadership is one of the few countries which reached out to Prime Minister Modi and reassured and stood very firmly with us during our challenging, painful times and said they would condemn any such attack, and Egypt is committed to peace and would not tolerate any terrorism anywhere in the world." "After that, the honourable Minister of External Affairs reached out to our minister not once but twice. We had the honour and pleasure of meeting him this morning, and he reassured us that Egypt and India need to work together. Be it in the mission of peace, trade, or culture, because we are uniquely placed as two countries, our civilisation. Even the seven wonders of the world, you have one and we have one. So culturally, civilisation, we have so many things in common. So the take-home for us when we leave Egypt is we are overwhelmed with the warmth, friendship, and love we have received in the last two days," she added. Supriya Sule noted that the delegation's visit to Egypt comes at an extraordinarily challenging time in India. She recalled how 26 innocent civilians were killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. "This trip has come as an extraordinary challenging time in India. 5 weeks ago, there was an attack on India's soul, where 26 innocent Indians who were on vacation, celebrating things, were shot at in front of their Spouses, children, and it's been an extraordinary, traumatising time for all of us in India, Mahatma Gandhi's India. India is a peace-loving country that believes in peace, harmony, and growth for all," she said. She recalled the efforts made by the Indian government to normalise ties with Pakistan. She mentioned PM Modi had invited Pakistan Narendra Modi had invited then-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif for the swearing-in ceremony. Highlighting the efforts made by the Indian government to normalise ties with Pakistan, Supriya Sule said, "When this attack happened, clearly, it came as a surprise and a shock to all of us because our Prime Minister, when he first took oath in 2014, He made an effort which was a part of continuity earlier we had Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ji for 10 years, who was one of the finest leaders India has seen who reached out to all the countries, and as you're all aware, governance is continued. So, we have made sure that what Atal Bihari Vajpayee did as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ji and now Prime Minister Modi ji." "And for his oath ceremony, we invited India invited all the neighbours because it was a new beginning of a new leader and it was an outreach programme where he reached out, he invited all of them to India for the oath ceremony, and we believed that we would all work together and make sure it's a growing continent and would show peace to the whole world. So when this attack happened, data clearly showed and the evidence showed that this attack was not from very far but just our immediate neighbour, which was very unfortunate and painful for us," she added. On Tuesday, Supriya Sule met Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in the New Administrative Capital. After the meeting concluded, Badr Abdelatty condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians and said that such attacks can't be tolerated. Labelling the relationship between India and Egypt as "historic," Abdelatty added that Egypt and India need to enhance their economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders."It was a great pleasure to receive the Parliamentary delegation from India...our relationship is historic. But, we need to enhance further our trade investment and economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders...our position is very clear: we condemn, in the harshest words, the terrorist attack in Kashmir. We cannot tolerate any attacks on civilians," the Egyptian minister told ANI. The delegation, led by Supriya Sule, includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Anand Sharma, V Muraleedharan and Syed Akbaruddin. The Supriya Sule-led parliamentary delegation also paid a floral tribute to Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis War Memorial, who laid their lives in World War I and World War II. 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. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of Defence detected two sorties of Chinese aircraft and 12 Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am on Wednesday. As per the MND, both the sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone). In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 12 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1930066975679463546 Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan's Ministry of Defence detected three sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN vessels and one official ship operating around itself. As per Taiwan's MND, of the three sorties, one crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone). In a post on X, the MND said, "3 sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1929704591081234794 Beijing sent two aircraft carrier strike groups and numerous warships to the waters both north and south of Taiwan last month, as noted by a Taiwanese security official, amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, as reported by The Eurasian Times. From May 1 to May 27, around 70 Chinese vessels, including naval ships, were tracked from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea, according to a security official who requested anonymity. In recent years, China has intensified the deployment of warships and fighter jets around Taiwan, pressuring Taipei to recognise its claims of sovereignty over the island, The Eurasian Times reported. China has not dismissed the possibility of using military force to bring Taiwan under its control, posing an ongoing threat of invasion to the island. "Their military activities and grey-zone operations have involved substantial deployments across the entire island chain, representing a strategy of comprehensive maximum pressure," the security official indicated, as quoted by The Eurasian Times. (ANI)
AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a member of the all-party delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, on Wednesday said that India has effectively conveyed to the global community that it is a peace-loving nation committed to a 'no first use' nuclear doctrine, despite facing repeated provocations through cross-border terrorism. Speaking to ANI, Sahney said, "We have been able to drive the message home that India is a peace-loving nation, and has a policy of no first use of nuclear despite being a nuclear power. Over the last couple of years, India has been driven against the wall by continuous cross-border terrorism...Across all the countries, each one of them agreed that giving terrorist activity or cross-border terrorism a colour of religion is highly condemnable... There will be tremendous political pressure on Pakistan now because each country is suffering from terrorism in some form or another," Sahney added. Sahney also noted that India had shared clear proof of Pakistan's hand in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. "Some people asked us for evidence (for Pakistan's involvement in the Pahalgam attack). We told them how a company from our neighbouring country approached a US company for satellite images (of Pahalgam), and how their Army Chief had invoked religion," he told ANI. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, who is leading the all-party delegation to Egypt, said that the group held a constructive meeting with Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. He reassured them that India and Egypt must work together in peace, trade, and culture, as the two nations are uniquely placed. While interacting with local leaders, opinion makers, and think tanks in Cairo, Sule expressed gratitude to Egyptian leadership for standing firmly with India during the challenging and painful time and expressed his commitment to peace. He said that India launched Operation Sindoor under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said that PM Modi sent seven groups of parliamentary delegations to several nations. On Tuesday, Supriya Sule met Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in the New Administrative Capital. After the meeting concluded, Badr Abdelatty condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians and said that such attacks can't be tolerated. Labelling the relationship between India and Egypt as "historic," Abdelatty added that Egypt and India need to enhance their economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders."It was a great pleasure to receive the Parliamentary delegation from India...our relationship is historic. But, we need to enhance further our trade investment and economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders...our position is very clear: we condemn, in the harshest words, the terrorist attack in Kashmir. We cannot tolerate any attacks on civilians," the Egyptian minister told ANI. The delegation, led by Supriya Sule, includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Anand Sharma, V Muraleedharan and Syed Akbaruddin. The Supriya Sule-led parliamentary delegation also paid a floral tribute to Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis War Memorial, who laid their lives in World War I and World War II. https://x.com/indembcairo/status/1930005647057125808 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. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Lee Jae-Myung on his election as President of the Republic of Korea and expressed his intent to work closely with him to "expand and strengthen" the India-ROK "Special Strategic Partnership." In a post on X, he said, "Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea. Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1930094970850902079 Lee Jae-myung's hardscrabble path to the South Korean presidency mirrors his country's rise from grinding poverty to one of the world's leading economies, Al Jazeera reported. When Lee, a scandal-prone school dropout-turned-lawyer who was elected in a landslide on Tuesday, was born in 1963, South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was comparable to sub-Saharan African nations. Known for his populist and outspoken style, Lee, the standard bearer for the left-leaning Democratic Party, has often credited his humble beginnings with moulding his progressive beliefs. "Poverty is not a sin, but I was always particularly sensitive to the injustices I experienced because of poverty," Lee said in a speech in 2022, as quoted by Al Jazeera. "The reason I am in politics now is to help those still suffering in the pit of poverty and despair that I managed to escape, by building a fair society and a world with hope," he said. As president, Lee has pledged to prioritise the economy, proposing, among other things, a major boost in investment in artificial intelligence, the introduction of a four-and-a-half-day work week, and tax deductions for parents in proportion to the number of children they have, as per Al Jazeera. On foreign affairs, he has promised to mend relations with North Korea while pushing for its ultimate denuclearisation - in keeping with the traditional stance of his Democratic Party - and maintain the US-Korea security alliance without alienating China and Russia. (ANI)
2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange to open in Chengdu

Xinhua) 10:33, June 04, 2025

A press conference on the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange is held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange will take place in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, from June 10 to 12, the State Council Information Office said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Vice Minister of Science and Technology Chen Jiachang said that the conference, themed "Building the Innovation Silk Road for Shared Development: Working Together for a Belt and Road Science and Technology Community," will champion the concept of a community with a shared future for all.

The conference will uphold the principles of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, aiming to strengthen exchange, build consensus, deepen cooperation, and provide strong sci-tech support for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Chen noted.

The conference will feature 38 events across five categories: major events, thematic activities, special events, roundtables, and technology matchmaking sessions. Discussions will cover academic exchange, industrial innovation, international mega-science projects, artificial intelligence, and Belt and Road sci-tech planning and policy coordination. The event will gather attendees from over 100 countries and international organizations.

The conference is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Sichuan Provincial People's Government, and the Chongqing Municipal People's Government.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor has arrived in Washington D.C. to engage with members of the US Congress, administration, think tanks, media, and policymakers over the next two days. The Indian Embassy in the US tweeted from its official handle, "An all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor arrives in Washington D.C. Over the next two days the delegation will be meeting members of the US Congress and administration, think tanks, media and policymakers to brief them on Operation Sindoor and India's strong stand against terrorism." https://x.com/IndianEmbassyUS/status/1930020173802525001 The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Tharoor said, "Arrived in Washington this afternoon after a horrendous, three-stage overnight journey from Brasilia via Sao Paulo and Panama, during which I managed to sleep precisely one and a half hours. I was, however, pleased to be greeted at the airport by two Indian-American cops, Officers Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Got to the Embassy to record an interview with CBS News, went to the hotel for a briefing and discussion for our delegation with our Ambassador, Vinay Kwatra, and his team. I'm finally in my room, ready to tune out with three very full days ahead!" The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. Led by Shashi Tharoor, it includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Interestingly, the Indian delegation will see a face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, which will also be in the US at the same time. However, Shashi Tharoor has expressed confidence in pushing India's message on terrorism across. Speaking to ANI before departing for Washington, DC, he said that the US media is a difficult space, but those who are against terrorism and deeply care about South East Asia will listen to India. "In Washington, we'll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost on the same days... Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there's going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city," Tharoor told ANI, as the delegation he is leading will be in the US for its last leg of the visit. (ANI)
Wrapping up a key diplomatic outreach, the all-party parliamentary delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule concluded its four-nation tour in Egypt, following visits to South Africa, Ethiopia, and Qatar. Reflecting on the outreach, Supriya Sule expressed gratitude to the central leadership. "I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for showing trust in all of us. We have had a good response. To whomsoever we met, all have said just one thing: they are against terrorism, they are with India, and they support India's Operation Sindoor," Sule said in Cairo. Operation Sindoor, a diplomatic initiative launched after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, involved sending seven multi-party delegations to various friendly nations to counter disinformation and reinforce India's stance on terrorism. Speaking on the need for such outreach, Sule said, "Many fake news and propaganda have been flooding in, and when we told all those whom we met about the truth, they all said that this delegation thing is a good step." Supriya Sule remarked, "If someone has copied, it means our initiative has been successful. They would have thought that this initiative within Operation Sindoor, which Prime Minister Modi and the MEA took, is good and successful; they copied it." The delegation, comprising MPs from across parties, interacted with top leaders, think tanks, and opinion-makers in each of the four countries, highlighting India's unified stand against terrorism and its call for global cooperation in tackling the threat. On Tuesday, the all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule met Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in the New Administrative Capital. After the meeting, Abdelatty condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians and said such attacks cannot be tolerated. Labelling the relationship between India and Egypt as "historic," Abdelatty added that Egypt and India need to enhance their economic relationship to match the excellent political ties between the two countries and their leaders. "It was a great pleasure to receive the Parliamentary delegation from India...our relationship is historic. But, we need to further enhance our trade investment and economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders...our position is very clear: we condemn, in the harshest words, the terrorist attack in Kashmir. We cannot tolerate any attacks on civilians," the Egyptian minister told ANI. The delegation led by Supriya Sule 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 aimed 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. (ANI
Three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran have been rescued by Tehran police, the Iranian Embassy in India claimed on Tuesday. "Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police. Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran," the Iranian Embassy said in its X post. https://x.com/Iran_in_India/status/1929946778595434817 According to a report by Iran's Mehr News Agency (MNA), "The kidnapping of the three Indian men was reported to Tehran police on May 1." The three men, all from Punjab, had arrived in Iran on May 1 while on their way to Australia. A local travel company had promised them well-paying jobs in Australia. However, they went missing shortly after reaching Iran. The Iranian Embassy in India had earlier said on May 29 that the case was under investigation. The case of the three Indian nationals was being followed up by the consular affairs department of Iran's foreign ministry in coordination with relevant judicial authorities, MNA, citing the Embassy said. Mehr News, citing another Tehran-based news agency, added that the three men were rescued in a police operation against their captors in Varamin, a town located in southern Tehran. Meanwhile, India also confirmed on May 29 that it was in touch with Iranian authorities to locate the three missing nationals and had received good cooperation from the Iranian side, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Addressing a press briefing, Jaiswal said, "We are extending all possible help to the family members of the three persons who are missing." When asked about the missing Indians and incidents involving ransom calls from Pakistan in recent months, he responded, "You would have seen a statement made by our embassy as well in Iran. The three Indian nationals who had landed there some time back are missing, and we are in touch with the Iranian authorities to locate them for their safety and security and eventual return home. We are in daily touch with the authorities there. We are receiving good cooperation from the Iranian side. And we are also in touch with the families. Obviously, family members in such situations have their own anxiety, etc. So, we are extending all possible help. Hopefully, we'll be able to do our best in this situation." Clarifying further, he added, "February was a different issue. What we are talking about are three Indian nationals who went to Iran recently in May." The Indian Embassy in Iran had said that the family members of the missing men informed them after the three went missing following their travel to Iran. https://x.com/India_in_Iran/status/1927663145079738647 In a statement on X, the Indian Embassy said, "Family members of 3 Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after having travelled to Iran. The Embassy has strongly taken up this matter with the Iranian authorities, and requested that the missing Indians should be urgently traced and their safety should be ensured. We are also keeping the family members regularly updated of the efforts being made by the Embassy."(ANI)
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are calling on the Department of Commerce to enhance the responsibilities of the U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI) to tackle the growing national security challenges posed by China's advancements in artificial intelligence, as stated in the release from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP). In a correspondence to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the legislators stressed that "there is a strong national security need for better understanding, predicting, and preparing for the PRC's AI progress." They pointed out the approaching January 2025 introduction of DeepSeek's large language model, R1, as a significant alert. The Committee's probe into DeepSeek uncovered "multiple national security risks, including the funneling of Americans' private data to the PRC, manipulation of the model's outputs according to PRC law, and the potential theft of U.S. AI technology through model distillation," as noted in the release. As AI technologies advance further, the lawmakers cautioned, "the need to anticipate and prepare for PRC AI developments and to prevent strategic surprises will only become more pressing," according to Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi, as cited by the SCCCP's release. As per the SCCCP statement, the Committee has urged AISI to broaden its goals to address PRC AI growth, emphasising that "a comprehensive government strategy will be necessary to ensure sustained U.S. leadership in cutting-edge AI innovation." They also pointed out AISI's "distinct technical expertise, robust collaborations with the industry, and experience in testing and evaluation" as important resources in the U.S. initiative to remain ahead of the CCP. Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi specified certain domains where AISI could assist in safeguarding U.S. national security, including assessing the national security strengths and weaknesses of leading PRC AI models, comparing and evaluating PRC models against U.S. models to understand the competitive scenario, aiding industry efforts to thwart PRC theft of AI technology, and formulating responses to potential shifts in the U.S.-PRC AI rivalry. The lawmakers concluded the letter by stating: "We look forward to collaborating with the AI Safety Institute to better comprehend its ongoing projects and resource requirements regarding these issues," as mentioned in the SCCCP release. (ANI)
The all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor reached Washington D.C. earlier today to begin a two-day engagement with key US stakeholders. The Indian Embassy in the US tweeted from its official handle that the delegation will meet members of the US Congress, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the India Caucus. The delegation will also hold discussions with academicians from leading think tanks and various media outlets. https://x.com/IndianEmbassyUS/status/1930020173802525001 The delegation is scheduled to speak at the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, D.C., with the event being streamed live on the CFR website. Additionally, the delegation will interact with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit, further strengthening community ties. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Tharoor described his journey to Washington as a "horrendous, three-stage overnight journey" from Brasilia via Sao Paulo and Panama, during which he managed only one and a half hours of sleep. Upon arrival, he was pleased to be greeted by two Indian-American police officers, Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Tharoor recorded an interview with CBS News at the Indian Embassy, followed by a briefing with Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and his team. The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. It includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. Alongside Tharoor, the delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Interestingly, the Indian delegation will have a face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, which will also be in the US simultaneously. Despite this, Tharoor expressed confidence in effectively conveying India's message on terrorism. Speaking to ANI before departing for Washington, Tharoor acknowledged the challenges of the US media space but expressed optimism, saying those who are against terrorism and deeply concerned about South East Asia will listen to India. "In Washington, we'll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost on the same days... Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there's going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city," he said, as the delegation embarks on the last leg of its visit. (ANI)
President Lai Ching-te used social media on Wednesday to mark the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, emphasising the value of protecting freedom and democracy, according to a report by Focus Taiwan. "Every year on June 4, Taiwanese society lights candles of commemoration anchored in the universal ideals shared by democracies," Lai stated, adding that the act was "not just about commemorating the history but also about maintaining the memory" of the incident, according to Focus Taiwan. Democracies "have a duty" to preserve history, he said, whereas authoritarian regimes obliterate it. According to the Focus Taiwan report, Lai also cautioned that the threat of authoritarianism through monitoring, extraterritorial repression, military intimidation, and grey-zone coercion still poses a threat to democratic societies around the world 36 years later. He said Taiwan will continue to engage with like-minded allies to "safeguard the status quo" and maintain democracy and freedom, adding that Taiwan is on the frontlines of defending democratic ideals globally, according to Focus Taiwan. Lai claimed that Taiwan's transition to democracy was made possible by the sacrifices and hard work of many pro-democracy activists, after decades of authoritarian rule. He stated, "We deeply understand the value of freedom and must not ignore the threats posed by authoritarian expansion to global democracy and the rule of law," as cited by Focus Taiwan report. Under the direction of then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese military violently suppressed peaceful Chinese student protesters who had assembled in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to demand political reform in the early hours of June 4, 1989. The tragedy, which is still a sensitive and extensively suppressed topic in China, is thought to have killed between several hundred and possibly over 1,000 people, according to a Focus Taiwan report; however, some speculate that the death toll may have been greater. (ANI)
Both leaders will discuss regional and global security issues and the deepening of defence cooperation ties.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence stated, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will meet Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister Richard Marles MP in New Delhi today, to discuss regional and global security issues and deepen Defence Cooperation. Defence and security are key pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both nations committed to peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific."

https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1930108085076390007

Marles is travelling to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia from June 2-5 for high-level meetings, as per the Australian Defence Government release.

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.

In Indonesia, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet his counterpart to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Ahead of the visit, Marles 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. (ANI)
Masazumi Gotoda, Governor of Tokushima Prefecture in Japan, shared his vision for strengthening international relations, particularly with India, to promote exports and attract skilled foreign talent. Located on Shikoku Island, one of Japan's four main islands, Tokushima has emerged as the most proactive of the island's four prefectures in advancing global engagement. Governor Gotoda, who took office two years ago after serving 23 years in Japan's House of Representatives, has introduced bold administrative reforms aimed at transforming the prefecture. Among his first initiatives was the establishment of the International Affairs Office, a division he oversees directly. "Deepening overseas relations is not just a policy--it's a necessity in a rapidly changing Japanese society," said Governor Gotoda in an exclusive interview with ANI. Tokushima's ties with India are already robust, with several major Japanese firms operating in the country. Otsuka Pharmaceutical and its subsidiaries have set up facilities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, while the well-known LED manufacturer Nichia Corporation operates in Gurgaon. Shikoku Kakoki, another company from the region, exports shelf-stable, paper-packed tofu -- a unique food product that does not require refrigeration, showcasing Tokushima's innovation in food processing. Facing Japan's demographic challenges such as declining population and workforce, Governor Gotoda emphasised the need for innovative governance and international collaboration. A strong advocate of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, he pointed to the success of Kamiyama Marugoto College, where nearly 90 per cent of students come from outside the prefecture. "This institution is a symbol of our commitment to cultivating future-ready talent," he said. Governor Gotoda is also championing the acceptance of foreign workers to address labour shortages. Last year, Tokushima recorded Japan's highest increase in both the rate and amount of the minimum wage. He believes this competitive wage growth will help attract high-level professionals and visitors from India. "We are committed to creating an environment where international talent can thrive," he said. Tokushima is not only progressive in policy but also rich in tradition and natural beauty. The prefecture is home to Awa Odori, Japan's iconic dance festival, as well as sacred pilgrimage routes and lush landscapes. Governor Gotoda's office reflects his pride in local culture, adorned with Tokushima's specialty products. "Promoting our cultural assets through global partnerships is a vital part of our strategy," he added. In his concluding remarks, Governor Gotoda expressed hope that India and Tokushima will forge even stronger ties in the coming years--anchored in shared values of innovation, tradition, and mutual prosperity. (ANI)
Over 135,000 Afghans left Pakistan in April, while the number declined to 67,000 in May. In the first two days of June alone, more than 3,000 Afghans were repatriated, the ministry added.

Millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan over the decades, fleeing ongoing conflicts. Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, hundreds of thousands more have crossed into Pakistan.

The ministry stated that since the launch of the repatriation program in November 2023, over one million Afghans have returned to their homeland, ARY News reported.

The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently expressed concern over the increasing number of Afghan families deported from Iran, reporting 15,675 crossings in May--a twofold rise from April. IOM warned that this influx could overwhelm Afghanistan's fragile reception and reintegration systems.

Pakistan's Ministry of Interior has instructed Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders residing in Pakistan to leave the country by March 31, 2025. The ministry clarified that from April 1, 2025, deportation of ACC holders will commence as part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP), which began on November 1, 2023.

The ministry assured that sufficient time has been provided for voluntary returns, emphasizing that no mistreatment will occur during repatriation. Arrangements for food and healthcare for returnees have been made to ensure a dignified process, ARY News added.

In the initial phase of the campaign, over 800,000 Afghans living illegally in Pakistan were repatriated.

It is estimated that approximately three million Afghans still reside in Pakistan. (ANI)
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) reported that His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message for the convention was delivered in Tokyo by Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang of the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile during the opening session of the ongoing 9th World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet. According to the CTA report, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said in his message, "The support of people's representatives is something that I particularly value and is of enormous significance to us Tibetans," while extending greetings to all the attending parliament members from many nations. "Today, the world is going through very challenging times. Sadly, there seems to be no end in sight to the use of violence in settling problems and disputes between nations and even between opposing groups within individual countries. History shows that violence only breeds more violence. We must therefore make concerted efforts to resolve problems and disputes through dialogue in a spirit of reconciliation and understanding. We Tibetans are committed to seeking a mutually acceptable solution with a peaceful, non-violent path to achieve freedom and dignity for the Tibetan people," stated CTA report. The message continued, "The spirit of Tibetans in Tibet remains firm like a mountain. Their dedication to our cause is strong, unwavering, and determined as it is based on truth and justice. I am hopeful that the Chinese people will recognise this. Ours is the peaceful struggle of a people with their language, profound philosophy, and rich culture. Tibetan Buddhism is a complete form of Buddhism based on reasoning and logic. It is a tradition that preserves and develops the pure teaching derived from the historic Indian University of Nalanda. Central to this is the cultivation of compassion and concern for the welfare of all being," as quoted by the CTA report. The message also emphasises how Buddhism is becoming more and more popular among Chinese people, who acknowledge it as an essential component of their spiritual history. His Holiness has also acknowledged the importance of Buddhist philosophy and psychology in modern research and the increasing interest of scientists in these fields. The message emphasised the value of education that fosters both intellectual and emotional growth and recognised His Holiness' genuine support of programs like social and emotional learning instruction in schools. In the pursuit of a better future, His Holiness stated, "I hope that over time, we will be able to incorporate such human values as kindness and integrity into mainstream education curricula," according to the CTA report. His Holiness concluded by expressing gratitude to everyone for their unwavering support of the Tibetan people's noble struggle. "I think the truth will win out in the end," the CTA report emphasised. (ANI)
A demonstration was staged in Basima, Washuk district, on Tuesday, calling for the quick release of Mahjabeen Baloch and her brother, Younus Baloch, who were kidnapped by Pakistani security forces, according to a report by The Balochistan Post (TBP). A wide range of people, including women, students, senior citizens, and representatives of civil society organisations, participated in the protest, which was staged on Basima's main square. Photographs of the missing siblings and signs with the words "Stop Enforced Disappearances" and "Bring Our Loved Ones Back" were carried by protesters. According to TBP, they also sang chants criticising Pakistani governmental policies and security forces in Balochistan. Protesters threatened to begin a province-wide protest movement if Mahjabeen and Younus were not freed within the allotted 24-hour period. According to the TBP report, they also issued a warning that the state and its institutions would be held fully accountable if Mahjabeen or Younus suffered any harm. Ruqia Baloch, Mahjabeen's sister, spoke to the audience and said the family was still dealing with the trauma. Instead of putting Mahjabeen and Younus in unlawful imprisonment, she urged authorities to bring them before a court if charges are filed. According to the family, Younus Baloch was kidnapped from their Basima house on May 24. Mahjabeen, a University of Balochistan student studying library science, was abducted from Quetta Civil Hospital Hostel early on May 29. The family claims that intelligence and security officers searched the hostel without a warrant and that no explanation has been given since. The TBP report noted that no formal inquiry has been reported and that neither brother has been brought before a court. The illegal imprisonment of a Baloch woman for days without any charges, information, or court order was denounced by the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), which called Mahjabeen's detention an "act of cowardice." The BWF issued a statement demanding Mahjabeen's immediate release, saying, "This is becoming intolerable and intense." "The state is blatantly continuing genocide against the Baloch," stated Sabiha Baloch, a key leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). According to TBP, it is "forcibly disappearing our youth in broad daylight and under the cover of darkness, starting to target women and children." (ANI)
Marles' gesture underscored the tribute to India's fallen heroes.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said, "Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Mr Richard Marles visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi and laid a wreath in solemn tribute to India's fallen heroes. The gesture underscores the shared respect, sacrifice, and growing defence cooperation between India and Australia."

https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1930155719468175635

Marles arrived in Delhi late on Tuesday night.

Philip Green, Australia's High Commissioner to India, said in a post on X, "Welcome to India, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. 5 years ago tomorrow, Australia and India signed our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Your visit to India so early in your second term reflects the strength & continuity of our enduring relationship."

Singh will meet Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi on Wednesday, an official statement said.

Both leaders will discuss regional and global security issues and the deepening of defence cooperation ties.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence stated, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will meet Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister Richard Marles MP in New Delhi today, to discuss regional and global security issues and deepen Defence Cooperation. Defence and security are key pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both nations committed to peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific."

https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1930108085076390007

Marles is travelling to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia from June 2-5 for high-level meetings, as per the Australian Defence Government release.

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. (ANI)
India and Australia reaffirmed their strong defence partnership and commitment to combating terrorism during a high-level bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi on Wednesday. During the meeting, Rajnath Singh acknowledged the growing strategic ties between the two nations and thanked Australia for its support following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. "It was heartening to note the significant milestones achieved in our bilateral defence relations since our last meeting. I hoped that in the coming years we would work with renewed momentum, effectively contributing to the growth of bilateral defence relations... Largely due to your commitment and leadership in strengthening India-Australia defence and security cooperation, in the past three years, bilateral defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of our comprehensive strategic partnership. I looked forward to a productive discussion today and hoped it would lay a firm ground for further cementing the India and Australia defence ties. This meeting was happening at a time when India was facing extreme challenges at our western border. We had taken steps in response to the barbaric incident in Kashmir. We thanked Australia for its support on this issue. We would be talking more about this later in the meeting," Rajnath Singh said. In response, Richard Marles expressed Australia's solidarity with India and reaffirmed his country's commitment to working closely with India to tackle terrorism. "The opportunity to work closely with you again over the next three years was really exciting. I had deeply appreciated our relationship over the last three years and the progress that we had made. I wanted to pass on our Prime Minister's condolences to India for all the lives lost in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Our thoughts and our prayers were with the families of those who were killed in the appalling terrorist attack. We wanted to make clear that Australia stood with India and all countries in combating terrorism. We acknowledged and welcomed the stoppage in military activity. We saw this as an act of Indian leadership. But we would continue to work with India as we combat terrorism in all its forms," Marles said. The meeting took place amid heightened regional tensions, with both leaders reiterating their resolve to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in strategic and defence sectors. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Richard Marles in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss regional and global security issues and deepen defence cooperation. The Ministry of Defence said, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister Richard Marles MP in New Delhi to discuss regional and global security issues and deepen Defence Cooperation. Defence and security are key pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both nations committed to peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific." Marles is travelling to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia from June 2-5 for high-level meetings, as per the Australian Defence Government release. (ANI)
India's former permanent representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, highlighted the success of the all-party delegation's visit to four nations, aimed at engaging with civil society across diverse countries to strengthen India's fight against terrorism. Speaking at the conclusion of the visit, Akbaruddin said, "The multi-party delegation's goals were to reach out to the civil society in diverse countries. Having people from different parties in the delegation has had an impact because everybody is surprised that such a diverse country with so many differences, the people are united in countering terror...This has expanded the base of Indian diplomacy. As a country, we have come up with new terms of engagement in terms of trying to counter terrorism...Our policy of restraint is now being superseded, and we have a policy of resolve, and that is an effective deterrent. This is what we have noticed where we have engaged with people....Building of narratives is a long-term process of building and seeping into the minds of people. Such visits add to the soft power of India..." He added that these diplomatic efforts form part of a broader strategy to enhance India's international engagement and counter-terrorism diplomacy. The delegation's visit underscores India's commitment to counter terrorism through dialogue and cooperation with global stakeholders. Comprising MPs from across parties, the delegation interacted with top leaders, think tanks, and opinion-makers in each country, highlighting India's unified stand against terrorism and calling for global cooperation to tackle the threat. On Tuesday, the delegation led by Supriya Sule met Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in the New Administrative Capital. Abdelatty condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, stating such attacks cannot be tolerated. Labeling the India-Egypt relationship as "historic," Abdelatty said, "It was a great pleasure to receive the Parliamentary delegation from India...our relationship is historic. But, we need to further enhance our trade investment and economic relationship to match the excellent political relationship between the two countries and their leaders...our position is very clear: we condemn, in the harshest words, the terrorist attack in Kashmir. We cannot tolerate any attacks on civilians." The delegation, led by Supriya Sule, included 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 aimed 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. (ANI)
Paank condemns the extrajudicial killings of Samiullah, son of Muhammad Hanif, and Bismillah, son of Ghulam Sarwar, who lived in Padang Abad, Mastung district, and whose bodies were found on June 3, 2025, in the Ganda Gain neighbourhood of Sheikhri, Kalat. Levies sources affirm both were brutally murdered by gunfire, their remains mercilessly thrown away, and then taken to RHC Mangochar, according to the post shared by Paank on X. Their murders are a stark reminder of the ongoing atrocities of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, a heinous violation of humanity that must end. They were forcibly abducted by Pakistani security agents on May 29, 2025. According to Paank, there has been an unrelenting surge in these atrocities in Balochistan in 2025. Bashir Ahmad Marri and Arman Marri, who were executed in a staged encounter after being forcibly disappeared in 2023, were among the five extrajudicial executions and 33 enforced disappearances that Paank documented in February. Paank's post from March referenced the unfortunate story of Rehana, who was shot in Awaran while thwarting her husband's kidnapping. Paank posted on X that Mehrab and Khan Mohammad were tortured to death in Kech on April 6 after going missing. Her tortured body was discovered in Turbat on April 17, two days after Sher Khan Nazar was kidnapped. Zabid Ali, a worker from Chaghi, was forcibly removed from his home on May 11. Paank calls for swift, open investigations to bring those responsible for these horrible atrocities to justice. The Pakistani government ought to stop its ruthless campaign in Balochistan, stop these heinous human rights abuses, and provide the victims and their bereaved families with justice. Enforced disappearances remain a significant human rights issue in Balochistan. International organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have consistently called on Pakistan to investigate these incidents and take measures to end this practice, which causes immense suffering and distress for families. (ANI)
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Shah Ji Sibghatullah has been detained for an additional 30 days by the Balochistan Home Department, according to a report by The Balochistan Post (TBP). This is the third consecutive extension granted under the Balochistan Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. Sibghatullah, son of Maulvi Abdul Haq, would continue to be detained following Section 3 of the MPO, per an official notification published on May 27. Accused of instigating unrest and advocating acts that could result in violence and damage to government property, authorities say he poses a threat to public safety in the Quetta district, according to TBP. Before being moved to Hudda Jail under the MPO, Sibghatullah was initially detained at an unidentified location after being arrested by Pakistani security officials in early April. His incarceration has been prolonged on several occasions since then. Under the same legal provision, other BYC leaders such as Mahrang Baloch, Bebagr Zehri, Beebow Baloch, and Gulzadi Baloch are still detained. The TBP report cites the dismissal of many court petitions that sought their release. Sibghatullah's family claims that on a visit to the jail, he was given conditional release in exchange for abstaining from rallies, sit-ins, and political activity. He declined this offer. The BYC has harshly criticised the judiciary, especially the Balochistan High Court, in response to the ongoing detentions. The TBP report emphasised the group's claims that the MPO is being abused as a means of political retaliation and that the courts have lost their ability to resist executive control. A two-member panel of the Balochistan High Court denied pleas submitted by BYC leaders who were imprisoned last month. According to the BYC, the judiciary has a constitutional obligation to uphold its independence and administer justice to the Baloch people without intervention from the military or intelligence services. The BYC issued a statement saying, "The judiciary must not obey the orders of the military and intelligence agencies." According to the TBP report, "Unfortunately, both judges on the bench have given up the principles of justice to the will of the state and its puppet government in Balochistan." As per the TBP report, rights groups are becoming increasingly concerned about the protracted detentions since they see the MPO's frequent use against political activists as a major danger to political expression and civil freedoms in Balochistan. (ANI)
The delegation emphasised India's resolute stance against terrorism and highlighted Egypt's solidarity with India in countering this global threat.

The details were shared by the Embassy of India in Cairo on Wednesday in a post on X. "In an interactive session, members of the high-level multi-party delegation from India, engaged with audience on the bright prospects for stronger India-Egypt ties, India's resolute stance against terrorism and Egypt's solidarity with India in countering terrorism."

https://x.com/indembcairo/status/1930156905420198316

Earlier while speaking to ANI, Supriya Sule had expressed gratitude to the central leadership."I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for showing trust in all of us. We have had a good response. To whomsoever we met, all have said just one thing: they are against terrorism, they are with India, and they support India's Operation Sindoor," Sule said in Cairo.

Operation Sindoor outreach is a diplomatic initiative, involving seven multi-party delegations to various friendly nations to counter disinformation and reinforce India's stance on terrorism.

The delegation led by Supriya Sule 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 aimed 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. (ANI)
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said the Indian delegation had reached Belgium as part of its ongoing overseas outreach and paid floral tribute to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi. "We have reached Belgium. We paid floral tribute to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi. The Ambassador briefed us. We will speak on European Union, Belgium, the community here and our stand. We will also speak with Human Rights body here that human rights of victims of terrorism should also be discussed," Prasad said. An all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, arrived in Brussels after concluding their visit to the United Kingdom. India's Ambassador to Belgium, Saurabh Kumar, received them at the airport. During their stay, the delegation is expected to engage with the Indian community, representatives of the European Union, and human rights organisations to share India's perspectives and concerns. During the two-day visit, the delegation is scheduled to hold several meetings aimed at consolidating global consensus against cross-border terrorism. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg stated, "On One Mission, One Message, One India. An All-Party Delegation led by Hon'ble Member of Parliament Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad was received by Amb @AmbSaurabhKumar upon arrival in Brussels. The visit, during which a series of meetings is scheduled over the next two days, aims to consolidate global consensus against cross-border terrorism." The delegation includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran. Earlier, the delegation had visited the UK to garner widespread support for India's fight against terrorism and highlight Pakistan's role in fostering terrorism. The team received support from British parliamentarians, think tanks, and the Indian diaspora. Ravi Shankar Prasad noted that they met UK leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Commons and Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, and underlined the need for greater global accountability in terrorism financing, while reinforcing India's democratic approach. The diplomatic effort is part of India's broader global outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 as a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed 26 lives. Subsequently, Indian Armed Forces carried out strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
The all-party delegation (Group 4) led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, has returned to India on Wednesday after completing its diplomatic outreach under Operation Sindoor. The delegation comprised of BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde who led the delegation said, "I thank PM Narendra Modi for trusting us and sending our delegation to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. We have received a positive response from every country. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, a moment of silence was also observed against terrorism and the terror attack on India on 22 April. Our delegation successfully delivered the message of 'zero tolerance against terrorism'... Even the Democratic Republic of Congo said they will observe a moment of silence in the coming time." Senior politician Mohammed Basheer, who was also a part of the delegation said, "I am happy to say that the assignment given to us was wonderfully completed and we are fully satisfied with it. Wherever we went, we exposed Pakistan and showcased India's unity against terrorism. Our delegation's leader Shrikant Shinde was very cordial, coordinated the entire thing, and performed well. We feel that we did our work marvelously. The purpose of the delegations was served." Delegation member Manan Kumar Mishra said, "We have fully achieved our delegation's purpose. You would not believe the solidarity that the UAE, an Islamic country, showed India. In two Parliaments (Sierra Leone and Liberia), a moment of silence was observed for the departed souls of the Pahalgam attack. In Liberia, our delegation got to address the parliamentarians in the Upper House, the Senate... We have been able to convey that Pakistan is a terrorist country. It is a breeding ground for terrorists, that dispatches terrorists to India and the rest of the World." Operation Sindoor outreach is a diplomatic initiative, involving seven multi-party delegations to various friendly nations to counter disinformation and reinforce India's stance on terrorism. The delegations sent by India aimed 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. (ANI)
One person was killed while five others were injured during a shooting in Toronto's Lawrence Heights on Tuesday (local time), CBC news reported citing the police. According to CBC news, the police said that there were multiple suspects, but they could not provide descriptions. Duty Senior Officer Baheer Sarvanandan, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, told reporters that one and five injured included a woman and four men, who were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds The main shooting scene was in a laneway near Flemington Road and Zachary Court, he said. Police received several calls from witnesses and victims at 8:37 p.m (local time). CBC reported citing paramedics who noted that the victims range in age from 18 to 40. Five of the victims are male, while one is female, they added. As per CBC, police said that there are multiple suspects, but could not provide any descriptions or say whether they fled on foot or in vehicles. They also could not say what led to the shooting. No firearms have been recovered. In a post on X, Toronto's Mayor Olivia Chow expressed anguish over the shooting and informed that her office is in contact with Toronto's police and the local councilor. She wrote on X, "Disturbed by news of the shootings in the Lawrence Heights area this evening. My office is in contact with Toronto Police, who are on scene now and investigating, and the local councillor Deputy Mayor Mike Colle. "I want to thank the first responders - Toronto Police, Fire and Paramedic services for your work on a very busy and challenging scene. Toronto Police are working to provide an update soon." https://x.com/MayorOliviaChow/status/1930079172128346573 CBC reported that a man who lived in a building nearby but declined to give his name said he was in his bedroom when he heard what sounded like 10 to 20 gunshots. When he went to his balcony, he said he saw "a bunch of vehicles" speeding away. (ANI)
Over 200 inmates escaped from Malir Jail in Karachi, Pakistan on Wednesday, with 111 still on the run. Authorities have arrested 27 more escapees, bringing the total number of recaptured prisoners to 105, with some returning voluntarily, reported ARY News. A search operation is ongoing, including police raids at the homes of the fugitives. Jail authorities confirmed that a case has been registered at Shah Latif Town police station regarding the jailbreak. Officials also stated that inmates who return voluntarily will be dealt with leniently. The police department has formed separate teams to apprehend the escaped prisoners. However, two submachine guns (SMGs) snatched by inmates have not yet been recovered, and the prisoners responsible for seizing the arms have not been identified, police officials said. Scores of escaped inmates have been returned to the jail by their families. An investigation team is collecting evidence from various spots within Malir Jail, including barracks and offices, while questioning prisoners about the arms snatching incident, reported ARY News. Officials noted difficulties in the investigation due to the absence of CCTV cameras at the jail. Statements from jail staff have also been recorded as part of the inquiry. Following the jailbreak, the Sindh government has relieved the IG Jails Sindh from duty and suspended the DIG Jails along with the Malir Jail Superintendent. Sindh's senior minister Sharjeel Memon stated that an inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the incident. He added that fugitive prisoners who surrender within 24 hours will be treated leniently, while those who fail to do so will face punishment under jailbreak laws, including a seven-year jail term. An inmate named Tahir Khan was killed while attempting to flee. Twelve other inmates sustained injuries and received medical treatment at a hospital, reported ARY News. The incident highlights serious challenges to prison security in Karachi. (ANI)
Socotra Island [Yemen], June 4 (ANI/WAM): As part of the strategic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Works has launched a humanitarian initiative to combat malnutrition among children and women in Socotra Island in Yemen. The initiative reflects the UAE's commitment to help nations around the world improve their healthcare sector. It aims to address pressing health issues in Socotra, where nutritional inadequacy, especially among children, is a major challenge. Global reports say that Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate in the island has reached 10.9 per cent, and the Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate is 1.6 per cent among children under five. Internationally, GAM rates between 10 per cent and 14 per cent are classified as serious, while SAM rates above 1 per cent are considered alarming. Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Director-General of the Foundation, stressed the UAE's humanitarian and global responsibility to develop communities and enhance critical health services. "This stems from the enduring humanitarian legacy of the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. We are determined to effectively address food and health challenges faced by women and children in Socotra, in collaboration with the WHO," he said. Al Khouri explained that the Khalifa Foundation, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, would work with the WHO to develop appropriate solutions to nutritional and health challenges using a new survey based on current data. "The joint initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality caused by malnutrition through a comprehensive plan of action spanning over two years. This will enhance maternal, infant, and child care services, and improve emergency preparedness and response to epidemics," he added. Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo said, "This joint effort reflects our shared vision of building resilient health systems in Yemen. Together with the UAE and national authorities we are working to address urgent needs and lay the foundation for long-term health security on the Island.Through this partnership, WHO and the UAE aim to build stronger, more responsive and more equitable health systems to serve the people of Socotra and contribute to a healthier, more resilient Yemen." The initiative is part of joint aid activities between the UAE and WHO in Yemen aimed to provide urgent food relief and curb nutritional and health deterioration across various population groups. It will strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Socotra by training medical staff, supplying medications, and establishing emergency preparedness mechanisms. It also seeks to implement sustainable solutions for malnutrition, ensure food security, raise community awareness, and improve disease surveillance for more effective medical interventions based on ongoing assessments and studies. (ANI/WAM)
Former Union Minister MJ Akbar, part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad to UK, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Belgium voiced strong concerns about global inaction and hypocrisy on terrorism. Akbar questioned the international community's double standards, highlighting the disparity in responses to terrorism based on geographical location and victim nationality. He emphasised that India's actions against terrorism are met with calls for restraint, while others are held to different standards. "Are there two laws in this world? One for America and the West, and another for India?" he asked. "After 9/11, the US went 12,000 kilometres to seek justice in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They held Pakistan accountable -- General Musharraf admitted it. But when India takes action just 500 kilometres away to fight terror, we are asked to show restraint." Akbar stressed that Indian lives are equally precious and deserving of justice, questioning whether the international community's silence is due to a perceived difference in value between Indian and Western lives. "Are the tears of an Indian widow less painful than those of an American widow? Is an Indian life less precious?" he questioned, urging the international community to shed its silence. Akbar stressed that India is not seeking revenge but justice. "We are here as friends, not in hostility. We share Europe's values -- democracy, freedom, and nationhood. Yet many still sit on the fence," he said. "We now ask the hard questions and expect answers." An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, currently on a diplomatic tour to Europe, interacted with the Indian diaspora in Brussels and sharply criticised Pakistan for its continued support for terrorism. The delegation also raised concerns over global double standards on terrorism and human rights. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi launched a sharp attack on Pakistan, calling out its political instability, military dominance, and support for radical elements. "Another delegation is coming after us -- you all know which one. They keep chasing us, refusing to stop. We left them behind in 1947, but they won't stop following us," she said, referring to Pakistan. "The leader of that delegation once mocked India by asking, 'Who attacks in the dark of night?' But cowardice is attacking a democratically elected government, jailing leaders, and assassinating former prime ministers in broad daylight." She was referring to former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who in an address to the parliament after India's Operation Sindoor, said an attack in the dead and dark of night was "an act of cowardice." She also took a jibe at Pakistan military establishment that govern the country for some thirty years altogether with military coups since its independence, Benazir Bhutto's assassination and ouster of Imran Khan, Pakistan's military had meddled in politics for decades. She accused Pakistan's military establishment of undermining democratic institutions, controlling public discourse, and betraying Jinnah's constitutional vision. "This is senseless radicalisation," she said. Mewanwhile, another member of the delegation, BJP leader Gulam Ali Khatana highlighted the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. He cited progress in democracy, economy, and infrastructure, including increased voter participation and global recognition of local produce like saffron, walnuts, and Bhaderwah Rajma. "Our sisters who married outside the region now have property rights. That's real democracy. Earlier, trust in elections was low- now voter participation is high, despite Pakistan's attempts to derail it," he said. He added that Kashmir is witnessing growth across sectors -- from infrastructure and tourism to the global recognition of its local produce. "Saffron, walnuts, and Bhaderwah Rajma have GI tags now. Kashmir is no longer just a conflict zone -- it's a thriving region. Even Pakistan's generals are rattled." Khatana acknowledged that while the Line of Control has remained mostly quiet since Pulwama, terror threats persist, as seen in the recent attack in Pahalgam. He emphasized the need for peace and democracy in the region, while also condemning terrorism and advocating for a strong stance against it. Touching on the security situation, Khatana said, "After Pulwama, the Line of Control has remained mostly quiet. But attacks like the recent one in Pahalgam show terror threats remain. Innocents are being targeted for their faith- this is unacceptable in any civilisation." "We are from the land of Gandhi. We believe in peace, but peace cannot mean submission to terror," he concluded. "We want democracy to take root in Pakistan too- for regional peace and the sake of humanity." The delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic campaign to highlight the impact of cross-border terrorism and advocate for justice for its victims. (ANI)
The leaders during the discussion shared their visions for a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and highlighted the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations, focused on enhancing defence and strategic cooperation amidst regional security challenges.

"Glad to meet Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Richard Marles. Had a productive discussion on deepening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which marks its fifth anniversary today. Our shared vision for a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific continues to guide our collaboration," PM Modi stated in a post on X.

Earlier today, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister laid a wreath at the National War Memorial here, underscoring the tribute to India's fallen heroes.

"Australian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Mr Richard Marles visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi and laid a wreath in solemn tribute to India's fallen heroes. The gesture underscores the shared respect, sacrifice, and growing defence cooperation between India and Australia," the Ministry of Defence stated on X.

Marles arrived in Delhi late on Tuesday night as part of his high-level meetings in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India from June 2-5, as per the Australian Defence Government release.

The Deputy Prime Minister will meet leaders and counterparts in South and Southeast Asia as part of the Government's commitment to deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

He also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier today, discussed regional and global security issues, and deepened Defence Cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Defence Minister reaffirmed India's and Australia's strong defence partnership and commitment to combating terrorism and acknowledged the growing strategic ties between the two nations and thanked Australia for its support following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. As per the press statement, both Ministers strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted India's right to respond in self-defence against cross-border terrorism and described New Delhi's actions against Pakistan as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. The two sides agreed to work together to combat terrorism in all its forms. Through a post on X after the meeting, Defence Minister thanked Australia for its unequivocal support to India's resolute response against the barbaric act of terror in Pahalgam. https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1930179647506923532 As per the Ministry of Defence, the two Ministers welcomed the signing of Australia-India Joint Research Project and agreed to intensify & diversify defence industry collaboration. They deliberated to further the defence science and technology collaboration projects when they meet in Australia later this year for the third India-Australia 2+2 ministerial meeting. They also reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in November 2023. The statement observed that the meeting offered an opportunity to both sides to review the status of bilateral engagements in the context of emerging regional and global scenarios. The discussions covered a wide range of issues such as defence strategic cooperation and security, including industry collaboration, cyber & new emerging technologies, counter-terrorism, hydrography and maritime security. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global security issues of mutual interest. The Ministry of Defence noted that on the fifth anniversary of signing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both sides expressed satisfaction and recognised that defence has emerged as an important pillar of the collaboration. Both countries expressed satisfaction at the growing strategic convergence between the two countries and agreed to work together towards free and open Indian Ocean and Pacific Island region. Both sides called for continued strengthening of bilateral defence cooperation and their commitment for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity, stability and progress in the Indo-Pacific region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Richard Marles on his re-appointment after the impressive victory of Labour Party in recently held federal elections in Australia. Earlier, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence laid a wreath at National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes. The statement highlighted that the visiting dignitary was accorded a ceremonial welcome with a Tri-Services Guard of Honour prior to the dialogue at Manekshaw Centre. The Australian Defence Minister is on official visit to India from June 3-4. This is his first visit to India after his re-appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Australia. (ANI)
Nepal's Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an order to initiate criminal investigation against former House Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota on a case relating to the crime committed during the Maoist insurgency war. A constitutional bench of the apex court comprising five members- Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Manojkumar Sharma and Kumar Chudal made the order while hearing over the case of alleged abduction and murder of Arjun Bahadur Lama in 2005 which involved Sapkota during the Maoist insurgency. Three separate writ petitions were filed in the Supreme Court which included the one filed by Lama's wife, Purnimaya Lama, over 14 years ago. Hearing over the case had been differed for over 60 times within the period. Wednesday's ruling marks a breakthrough in a case that has seen significant political and legal delays. Human rights activists, including Kanak Mani Dixit and Sushil Pyakurel, had also filed separate petitions questioning Sapkota's suitability for public office while the murder allegation remained unresolved. The court's decision comes after years of stalled investigations, during which Sapkota was elected to Parliament multiple times and held key positions, including minister for information and communications in 2011 and Speaker of the House in 2020. While Dixit's petition was partially dismissed and the one by Pyakurel rejected, the court upheld Purnimaya Lama's plea, instructing law enforcement to proceed with the criminal case. Murder accusation against Sapkota dates back to April 2005, when Lama, a 45-year-old resident of Dapcha, Kavrepalanchok, was abducted by then-CPN (Maoist) cadres during the insurgency. A National Human Rights Commission report later concluded that Lama had been killed after his abduction, implicating Maoist leaders, including Sapkota. Despite repeated court instructions over the years, including one requiring police to provide biweekly updates, the investigation was left incomplete. In 2012, the government even moved to halt the probe, prompting another petition from Purnimaya. The Supreme Court then ordered the authorities not to stop the investigation process. After the case was transferred to the Constitutional Bench in 2016, the hearing was deferred over 60 times, raising concerns about judicial delays in cases involving powerful political figures. Wednesday's order mandates that Sapkota be investigated under the criminal justice framework and that the District Police Office in Kavre carry out the probe based on the initial first information report. (ANI)
A multi-party delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Wednesday met with US Representatives Ro Khanna and Marc Veasey and Congressmen Rich McCormick and Andy Barr in Washington DC to discuss issues, including Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, while highlighting India's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today," the Indian Embassy in the US posted on X. The multi-party parliamentary delegation briefed the members of the Caucuses oUnited States Congress on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and its resolve in the fight against terror. The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. They expressed support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and the USA. The all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor reached Washington DC earlier today to begin a two-day engagement with key US stakeholders. The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X from its official handle that the delegation will meet members of the US Congress, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the India Caucus. The delegation will also hold discussions with academicians from leading think tanks and various media outlets. The delegation is scheduled to speak at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, D.C., with the event being streamed live on the CFR website. Additionally, the delegation will interact with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit, further strengthening community ties. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.In a post on X, Tharoor described his journey to Washington as a "horrendous, three-stage overnight journey" from Brasilia via Sao Paulo and Panama, during which he managed only one and a half hours of sleep. Upon arrival, he was pleased to be greeted by two Indian-American police officers, Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Tharoor recorded an interview with CBS News at the Indian Embassy, followed by a briefing with Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and his team. The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. It includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. Alongside Tharoor, the delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Interestingly, the Indian delegation will have a face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, which will also be in the US simultaneously. Despite this, Tharoor expressed confidence in effectively conveying India's message on terrorism. Speaking to ANI before departing for Washington, Tharoor acknowledged the challenges of the US media space but expressed optimism, saying those who are against terrorism and deeply concerned about South East Asia will listen to India. "In Washington, we'll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost on the same days... Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there's going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city," he said, as the delegation embarks on the last leg of its visit. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed Pakistan over its radicalisation and the instability in the country. She revealed the "truth of Pakistan, " with history of military coups, extrajudicial killings, and erosion of democratic institutions. while speaking at an interaction in Belgium on Wednesday. Referring to Pakistan and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "After us, another delegation will be coming... The person who is leading the delegation, in his parliamentary speech, he said, 'Kaun raat ke andhere mein hamle karte hain? Buzdil raat ke waqt hamle karte hain'". She questioned the international community's call for dialogue with Pakistan, asking who exactly India should engage with given the country's history of military dominance over civilian governments. She said, "I need to explain what 'Buzdil' means. The person (Bhutto) needs to understand this. Buzdil means those who coup upon an elected government and after the coup, sending to jail and murder the elected Prime Minister so as to establish a government of the Army general. Unelected, who are controlling the government and the public discourse and civil government. They don't just stop there, the Army General starts with the radicalization in Pakistan, and work to end the remnants of the constitution and Jinnah's dream. And after that, the elected Prime Minister who comes back from London to Pakistan is killed in broad daylight--all because of that radicalization. That is the truth of Pakistan- that it has never been ruled or the civilian government has had the power to be able to take decisions. The international community tells us time and again 'Get into dialogue', but, get into dialogue with whom?" She was referring to former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who in an address to the parliament after India's Operation Sindoor, said an attack in the dead and dark of night was "an act of cowardice." She also took a jibe at Pakistan military establishment that govern the country for some thirty years altogether with military coups since its independence -- Benazir Bhutto's assassination and ouster of Imran Khan, Pakistan's military had meddled in politics for decades. She accused Pakistan's military establishment of undermining democratic institutions, controlling public discourse, and betraying Jinnah's constitutional vision. "This is senseless radicalisation," she said. Chaturvedi is a member of the delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, which includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic campaign to highlight the impact of cross-border terrorism and advocate for justice for its victims. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will host the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan for the 4th meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi on June 6, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said in a statement on Wednesday. As per the MEA, previously, the 3rd meeting of the Dialogue was hosted by India in New Delhi in December 2021. MEA underscored that India and Central Asia, in each other's 'Extended Neighbourhood', enjoy close and cordial contemporary diplomatic relations underpinned by millennia old cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Notably, the first India-Central Summit held virtually in January 2022 and the mechanism of India-Central Asia Dialogue, at the level of Foreign Ministers, have taken this relationship substantially forward. As per the MEA, at the 4th Dialogue, which will take place on June 6, the Ministers will discuss further strengthening of relations between India and Central Asian countries with particular focus on trade, connectivity, technology, and development cooperation. They will also share perspectives on challenges to regional security and other regional and global issues of mutual interest. The MEA also said in its statement that the Foreign Ministers will also participate in the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting, which will take place on June 5, by MEA in collaboration with FICCI. The India-Central Asia Dialogue is a manifestation of mutual interest on the part of India and the Central Asian countries to forge even closer, wider and stronger partnership in a spirit of friendship, trust and mutual understanding. Earlier in April this year, a 100-member youth delegation, comprising of young achievers from diverse fields, including entrepreneurs, academicians, artists, sportspersons and influencers, from five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) visited India on 21-28 March 2025, as part of India's initiative at the first India-Central Asia Summit held virtually in January 2022. India and Central Asia share deep-rooted historical relations marked by continuous exchange of peoples and ideas. The India-Central Asia Youth exchange initiative is a part of India's efforts to further strengthen the millennia-old people-to-people bonds and cultural exchanges which are at the heart of its mutually beneficial and multifaceted contemporary partnerships with Central Asian countries, the MEA had observed in a previous statement. (ANI)
US Congressman and co-chair of the India Caucus, Rich McCormick, said that the meeting with India's all-party delegation was "outstanding" and they shared great ideas. He said that he is looking forward to the future of the two nations. Speaking to reporters, McCormick said that India and the US will be allies and friends. He made the remarks following the India Caucus chairs and vice chairs meeting with an all-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. After meeting the all-party delegation, he said, "We expected an outstanding delegation meeting, and it was exactly that. We shared great ideas, we have great synergy, and I'm looking forward to the future of our nations." On India-US ties, he said, "We are not just gonna be friends. We are gonna be allies. The future of the world depends on it." Congressman and Bipartisan co-chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives, Ro Khanna, said that the all-party delegation represented India's multi-parties and pluralism with many faiths and they were united that the terrorist act of Pakistan cannot stand. He said, "It was an wonderful delegation because it represented India's pluralism with many faiths, they represented India's multi-parties and they were here unified that the terrorist act of Pakistan cannot stand and the United States has a bipartisan commitment to the India relationship and standing with India to dismantle these terrorist networks in Pakistan." The all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, met with Bipartisan co-chairs Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, as well as vice co-chairs Andy Barr and Marc Veasey, on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Tharoor said that US Congressmen had very strong support and understanding for India's position on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the events that followed. He said that McCormick was very upbeat about the future of India-US ties, the economy and global strategic issues. After meeting Khanna, McCormick, Barr and Veasey, Tharoor said, "Mr McCormick is not only understanding of what we had to tell him, but he was very upbeat about the future of India-US relations across the board, the economy, global strategic issues, and so this particular problem we started off discussing was part of a much larger picture, which we are very excited to hear the kind of vision that the India Caucus chairs have for the future of our relationship." Tharoor also talked about the support received by the delegation from other Congressmen. He said, "A strong message from the other Congressmen who are also here, who just left the room. So, we've had very strong support and understanding for our position on this terrible, terrible tragedy (Pahalgam attack) and the events that followed. So, we're leaving this room very happy with the conversation." During the meeting with Ro Khanna, Rich McCormick, Andy Barr, and Marc Veasey, the parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance against terrorism. The delegation led by Tharoor comprises Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The Indian Embassy in the US said that Congressmen expressed strong support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and the US. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US stated, "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today." "The parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance in the fight against terror. The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They expressed support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and USA," it added. https://x.com/IndianEmbassyUS/status/1930289441425264751 The all-party delegation reached Washington, DC on Wednesday to engage with key US stakeholders. The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X from its official handle that the delegation will meet members of the US Congress, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation will also hold discussions with academicians from leading think tanks and various media outlets. The delegation will speak at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, DC. Additionally, the delegation will interact with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit, further strengthening community ties. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Upon arrival, Tharoor was pleased to be greeted by two Indian-American police officers, Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Tharoor recorded an interview with CBS News at the Indian Embassy, followed by a briefing with Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and his team. The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. The diplomatic effort is part of India's broader global outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 as a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured several others. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for the fourth meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue on June 6. India's historical and cultural linkages with the Central Asian Countries are being fostered with cooperation in a range of areas, including defence. India shares historical and cultural linkages with the Central Asian Countries (CACs) going back to several millennia. Buddhism spread from India via Tibet to Central Asia, establishing strong spiritual ties. Indian monks founded monasteries and translated texts across Central Asia. Key Buddhist sites like Termiz, Fayaz Tepe, Kara Tepe, and Adzhina Tepe reflect this influence. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the CACs in 1992 following their emergence as independent countries after the collapse of the erstwhile USSR. India has concluded strategic partnerships with all the CACs, except Turkmenistan. There have been several high-level visits between India and Central Asia countries bilaterally. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to all CACs in July 2015, India's ties with these countries have been put on a much higher trajectory and many new areas of cooperation have emerged. PM Modi also visited many Central Asian capitals/cities to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summits in Tashkent (2016), Nur-Sultan (2017), Bishkek (2019), and Samarkand (2022). Similarly, there have been regular visits to India by Central Asian leaders. India-Central Asia Summit, at leaders level, is the highest level of engagement between India and Central Asia. The inaugural Summit was held virtually in January 2022. It marked a pivotal step in strengthening India's ties with the region. It was chaired by PM Modi and attended by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Summit adopted the 'Delhi Declaration,' institutionalizing biennial summits and regular ministerial dialogues. The India-Central Asia Dialogue, launched in January 2019 in Samarkand, is a meeting of Foreign Ministers. It serves as a key platform for strengthening ties between India and Central Asia. The second meeting took place virtually in October 2020 and focussed on regional security, counter-terrorism, and infrastructure development. The third meeting was held in New Delhi in December 2021 and emphasised connectivity to further deepen the ties between India and Central Asia. The fourth edition of the Dialogue is taking place in New Delhi on June 5-6. The India-Central Asia NSA's meetings, inaugurated in December 2022 in New Delhi and followed by a second meeting in October 2023 in Astana, serves as a vital platform for regional cooperation on security, counter-terrorism, cybersquatting, and connectivity. It also proposed capacity building programme for Central Asian officials on various aspects such as Drug Law Enforcement, preventing Terror Financing etc. Defence cooperation is an important pillar of India's strategic partnership with the CACs. India has annual military exercises "KazInd" with Kazakhstan, "Khanjar" with Kyrgyz Republic and "Dustlik" with Uzbekistan. Training of defence personnel of CACs in Indian premier defence training institutes and deployment of Indian Military training teams in some countries is another important aspect of India's defence cooperation. India has been assisting the CACs through developmental projects, capacity building and human resource development since their independence. India has extended about 6500 ITEC slots and 1500 ICCR scholarships to the professionals and students from the CACs. India has set up IT Centers in all the CACs. India's major grant projects include Mountain Bio-medical Research Center in the Kyrgyz Republic, setting up of Modern Engineering Workshop, Computer Labs in 37 schools and renovation of Varzob-1 Hydro Power Plant in Tajikistan, Entrepreneurship Development Center in Uzbekistan and an Industrial Training Center in Turkmenistan. Framework MoUs for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) with India's grant assistance have been signed with all the CACs. India Central Asia trade reached a high of USD 3 billion in 2019-20. India's total trade with Central Asian region in FY 2024-25 was around USD 1.2 billion. Lack of overland connectivity between India and Central Asia and lack of awareness among businesses on the both sides about opportunities available are among impediments. To improve connectivity between India and the region, India has invited the Central Asian countries to be part of the International North South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar port development. India and the CACs enjoy close cultural relations. Several Buddhist sites throughout Central Asia testify to the spread of Buddhism from India to Central Asia and beyond. Yoga, Indian dance and music and Bollywood remain extremely popular in the CACs. The Indian community in Central Asia comprises approximately 45,000 individuals, primarily medical students, distributed across the region as follows: Kazakhstan (10,500), Kyrgyzstan (12,860), Tajikistan (1,600), Turkmenistan (100), and Uzbekistan (15,000). This diaspora includes students, entrepreneurs, professionals in sectors such as oil, IT, banking, hospitality, and representatives of Indian or multinational corporations. Apart from this, more than 2 lakh Indians visited the Central Asian countries (mainly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) in 2024. As of May 2025, Indian citizens can visit Central Asia with visa-free entry to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for up to 14 days and 7 days respectively and e-visas are available for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Four Central Asian Countries (except Turkmenistan) are fellow members of SCO, Asia Cooperation Dialogue and CICA. All the CACs support India's permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. CACs generally support India's candidates in the elections to UN bodies. At the fourth meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi on June 6, the Ministers will discuss further strengthening of relations between India and Central Asian countries with particular focus on trade, connectivity, technology, and development cooperation. They will also share perspectives on challenges to regional security and other regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Foreign Ministers will also participate in the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting being held on June 5 by MEA in collaboration with FICCI. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and discussed Ukraine's attack on Russia's docked airplanes and various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. Trump said that his conversation with Putin was "good" but "not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace." He said that Putin "very strongly" said that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, "I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." Trump said that he and Putin also spoke about Iran and noted that time is running out for Iran's decision related to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly. He said that Putin suggested he would participate in talks with Iran and that he could help reach a rapid conclusion. "We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly! I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time," Trump posted on Truth Social. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114626383407680212 The talks between the two leaders came after Ukraine and Russia conducted some of the largest drone attacks since the war began nearly three years ago. Ukraine carried out a significant drone attack on Sunday targeting deep inside Russian territory, destroying dozens of nuclear-capable bombers and other military aircraft. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend a meeting of 50 defence ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, which is important for coordinating military aid for Ukraine, Politico reported. It marks the first time in three years that the US Defence Secretary will not attend the meeting. NATO defence ministers and others have regularly held meetings to coordinate funding for Kyiv, and have emerged as an important component of Western aid for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. However, the Trump administration has maintained distance from the group, handing over leadership to Germany and the UK. Hegseth will be in Brussels for a meeting of NATO defence ministers on Thursday. However, US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker will attend the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting on his behalf on Wednesday, Politico reported, citing a defence official and two people familiar with their plans, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss internal matters. The US Defence Department has cited scheduling issues for his absence in the meeting. In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said, "Secretary Hegseth's travel schedule precluded attendance at tomorrow's UDCG meeting." She further stated, "The United States is focused on ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on terms that establish an enduring peace." Earlier on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump remains optimistic about the progress being seen amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and urged his counterparts from Russia and Ukraine to talk directly with one another. While addressing a press briefing on Tuesday (local time), Leavitt noted that Russia had handed over a peace plan to the Ukrainian side, and the two nations had agreed on the exchange of prisoners from each other's nations. When asked about Trump's statement on the Russia-Ukraine war following the Ukrainian drone strike, Karoline Leavitt said, "The President's thinking on the Russia-Ukraine war as it stands, I've spoken to him about it just this morning, is he remains positive at the progress that we've seen. Again, he urged both leaders to sit down and talk directly with one another, and they did that. Russia handed over a memorandum of peace, or a peace plan, or a suggestion of one, I understand, to the Ukrainian side. They also agreed upon the exchange of prisoners or hostages from each other's countries." "He remains positive about the progress that we're seeing, but he also is a realist and he realises these are two countries that are at war and have been for a long time because of his predecessor's weakness and incompetence. So he's working hard to solve this conflict. And that's where his mind is right now on it," she added. Russia and Ukraine held a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday. The two nations agreed to swap dead and captured soldiers, The Washington Post reported. However, there was no significant progress towards ending the war or even agreeing to a ceasefire. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, stated that Russia did not agree to an unconditional ceasefire or a bilateral meeting between the leaders of the two nations. However, both nations agreed to exchange gravely wounded prisoners of war, captives under the age of 25, and the bodies of 6,000 killed soldiers from each side. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the all-party parliamentary delegation to the US, met with Bipartisan co-chairs Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, as well as vice co-chairs Andy Barr and Marc Veasey, on Wednesday. Tharoor said that US Congressmen had very strong support and understanding for India's position on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the events that followed. Speaking to reporters, Tharoor said that McCormick was very upbeat about the future of India-US ties, the economy and global strategic issues. After meeting Khanna, McCormick, Barr and Veasey, Tharoor said, "Mr McCormick is not only understanding of what we had to tell him, but he was very upbeat about the future of India-US relations across the board, the economy, global strategic issues, and so this particular problem we started off discussing was part of a much larger picture, which we are very excited to hear the kind of vision that the India Caucus chairs have for the future of our relationship." Tharoor also talked about the support received by the delegation from other Congressmen. He said, "A strong message from the other Congressmen who are also here, who just left the room. So, we've had very strong support and understanding for our position on this terrible, terrible tragedy (Pahalgam attack) and the events that followed. So, we're leaving this room very happy with the conversation." During the meeting with Ro Khanna, Rich McCormick, Andy Barr, and Marc Veasey, the parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance against terrorism. The delegation led by Tharoor comprises Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The Indian Embassy in the US said that Congressmen expressed strong support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and the US. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US stated, "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today." "The parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance in the fight against terror. The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They expressed support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and USA," it added. https://x.com/IndianEmbassyUS/status/1930289441425264751 The all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor reached Washington DC earlier today to begin a two-day engagement with key US stakeholders. The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X from its official handle that the delegation will meet members of the US Congress, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation will also hold discussions with academicians from leading think tanks and various media outlets. The delegation is scheduled to speak at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, D.C., with the event being streamed live on the CFR website. Additionally, the delegation will interact with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit, further strengthening community ties. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Tharoor described his journey to Washington as a "horrendous, three-stage overnight journey" from Brasilia via Sao Paulo and Panama, during which he managed only one and a half hours of sleep. Upon arrival, he was pleased to be greeted by two Indian-American police officers, Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Tharoor recorded an interview with CBS News at the Indian Embassy, followed by a briefing with Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and his team. The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. The diplomatic effort is part of India's broader global outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 as a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed 26 lives and injured several others. Subsequently, the Indian Armed Forces carried out strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to the US, said that there was complete unanimity in condemning terrorist attacks and defending India's right to defend itself during the meeting with US House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership in Washington. The delegation held a meeting with US House Foreign Affairs Committee leadership in Washington, DC, on Wednesday (local time). Speaking to reporters, Tharoor expressed gratitude to the US House Foreign Affairs Committee for the support and said the support was "strong and unconditional." He said that the two sides also discussed other issues like trade, economy, students, visa and noted that the leaders on both sides want to see the relationship become stronger and more effective. After delegation's meeting with HFAC leadership, he said, "There was complete unanimity in condemning the terrorist attacks and in defending India's right to defend itself, and we are very grateful for that support because it was strong and unconditional. Equally, we talked about broader issues involving our countries, involving trade, the economy, students, visas, and broader concerns about the relationship. But, everybody in the meeting on both sides, the Indian side and the American side, wants to see this relationship becoming stronger and more effective and covering more aspects of life and geopolitics." India's all-party parliamentary delegation held a meeting with the US House Foreign Affairs Committee leadership. HFAC Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member of the committee, Gregory Meeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chair Bill Huizenga, Ranking members - Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Ami Bera, Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific Chair, Young Kim. During the meeting, the delegation briefed the committee members on the success of Operation Sindoor in defining a new normal in India's fight against cross-border terrorism. Indian Embassy in the US stated, "The all-party Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor held candid & fruitful exchange with @HouseForeign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership. Chair @RepBrianMast, Ranking Member @RepGregoryMeeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chair @RepHuizenga, Ranking Member @RepKamlagerDove, Ranking Member @RepBera and East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee @RepYoungKim greeted the delegation." The Parliamentary delegation briefed the committee members on the success of Operation Sindoor in defining a new normal in India's fight against cross-border terrorism. The Committee Leadership condemned the Pahalgam attack unequivocally. India and USA stand together in their unwavering resolve and fight against terrorism in all its forms," it added. https://x.com/indianembassyus/status/1930314809993552326 The delegation led by Tharoor comprises Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Earlier, the delegation met with Bipartisan co-chairs of the India Caucus, Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, as well as vice co-chairs Andy Barr and Marc Veasey, on Wednesday. During the meeting, the parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance against terrorism. The Indian Embassy in the US said that Congressmen expressed strong support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and the US. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US stated, "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today." "The parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance in the fight against terror. The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They expressed support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and USA," it added. The all-party delegation reached Washington, DC on Wednesday to engage with key US stakeholders. The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X from its official handle that the delegation will meet members of the US Congress, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation will also hold discussions with academicians from leading think tanks and various media outlets. Additionally, the delegation will interact with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit, further strengthening community ties. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Upon arrival in Washington, DC, Tharoor recorded an interview with CBS News at the Indian Embassy, followed by a briefing by India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra and his team. The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium. Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed 26 lives and injured several others. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
Leading Italian companies have announced significant investment plans for India following a strategic meeting with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Milan, signalling strengthened economic ties between the two nations. The meeting brought together top executives from key Italian industrial sectors, including commercial refrigeration, aerospace and defence, and technical gases, all expressing a strong commitment to expanding their operations in India's rapidly growing market. Marco Nocivelli, CEO of EPTA Group, a specialist in commercial refrigeration, emphasised the substantial opportunities he sees in the Indian market. "It is absolutely interesting to meet the minister and see how big the opportunity is in India," Nocivelli said. "Big country with a growth rate that is an important one, and also an opportunity to present our sustainable technology that will bring to India a more advanced solution for refrigeration systems." EPTA has already established a subsidiary in Bengaluru and plans to unveil its expansion strategy at a press conference in June. The company is introducing its Costan and IARP brands to India, offering comprehensive refrigeration solutions for the retail, food and beverage, and hospitality sectors. Minister Goyal highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership and posted, "Pleasure to meet Marco Nocivelli, CEO of EPTA Group, a specialist in commercial refrigeration. With India's rapidly expanding retail and cold chain sectors, we discussed how the company could seize the opportunity and contribute toward sustainable refrigeration solutions in India." Michele Poggipolini, CEO of Poggipolini S.p.A., an engineering and manufacturing technology company specialising in aerospace and defence, described his meeting with Minister Goyal as highly productive. "It was a very good meeting. It was a big pleasure for me, especially because now we are entering the Indian market," Poggipolini stated. The company plans to establish strategic partnerships in India to transfer expertise and technology to strengthen the domestic supply chain. "We have this great opportunity to take our know-how and technology to India in order to try to elevate the domestic supply chain of the Indian market," Poggipolini explained. Following the discussion, Minister Goyal noted the potential for collaboration and said, "Engaged in productive discussions on technology, innovation, and manufacturing opportunities for the company in India, given the country's growing role in global supply chains." Daniele Forni, General Director of SOL Group, an Italian multinational leader in technical and medical gases production and research, also met with the Commerce Minister. The company is exploring opportunities to expand its presence across key sectors in India. Minister Goyal acknowledged the meeting's significance, describing SOL Group as "an Italian multinational leader in the area of production, applied research, and marketing of technical and medical gases" and noting discussions about how the group can "further expand its presence in India across key sectors." These meetings underscore the growing economic partnership between Italy and India, with Italian companies recognising India's potential as both a manufacturing hub and a significant consumer market. The commitments span critical sectors, including cold chain infrastructure, aerospace and defence manufacturing, and industrial gases, which are all areas where India is seeking to strengthen its domestic capabilities and supply chains. The investment pledges come as India positions itself as a key player in global supply chains, offering attractive opportunities for international companies seeking to diversify their operations and tap into one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. With formal announcements and detailed investment plans expected in the coming months, these partnerships represent a significant step forward in Italy-India economic cooperation, potentially creating jobs and bringing advanced technology to Indian markets while offering Italian companies access to India's vast consumer base and skilled workforce. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the all-party delegation to the US, hailed Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, saying "it hit hard but hit smart." He called out Pakistan for targeting civilian areas in response to India's attack on nine bases of terror organisations listed on the United Nations Terrorism Sanctions Committee, the 1267 Committee's list of designated terrorists. During an interaction session at the National Press Club in the US on Wednesday (local time), Tharoor called the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam "most unfortunate and even frustrating experience to have inflicted" upon Indians at a time when India is focusing on growth. He also recalled how more tourists travelled to Kashmir than to Aspen, Colorado during last summer. He said, "In fact, in Kashmir, it's very striking that the previous summer we've seen more tourism and more tourists coming than Aspen, Colorado gets every year. And in the course of this year, the first few months of this year, there's been a 100 per cent increase on the corresponding months of last year. So Kashmir was booming ordinary, Kashmiris are benefiting from vast numbers of tourists coming in, putting money into their hands and their pockets. It was a lovely time and here's this innocent group of holidays, tourists on a dappled meadow in Kashmir being murdered in cold blood by people coming and asking their religion and shooting them between the eyes." "It really was a sickening outrage and the nation rose as one to support whatever the government chose to do and what the government chose to do in the end was what most of us would have wanted. I myself wrote an op ed two days after, which was headlined 'Hit hard hit Smart', and that's exactly what the government did, it hit hard, but it hit smart. It started off making a very clear signal. This is only about retribution for terrorism, that is, hit only the 9 bases of known terror organisations listed on the US State Department's listed on the United Nations Terrorism Sanctions Committee, the 1267 committee's list of designated terrorists, and we only hit those. The government publicly announced and told the Pakistanis that we have not hit any Pakistan government sites. We haven't hit any Pakistan civilian sites. We haven't hit any military sites either. We've just hit terrorist infrastructure. And as far as we're concerned, that's it, we're done," he added. He said that Pakistan responded to India's action in an indiscriminate and irresponsible manner by targeting civilian areas and religious sites. He said that India had to respond to Pakistan's action. He stated that the ceasefire of hostilities happened between two nations after the Pakistani Director General of Military operations reached out to the Indian counterpart. Calling out Pakistan for targeting civilian areas, he said, "Pakistan chose to retaliate in the most indiscriminate and irresponsible fashion, shelling civilian areas, hitting Sikh gurdwara, hitting the Convent of the Carmelites of Mother Mary in Poonch, killing people in their homes on the streets. 19 people killed, 59 hospitalised with grave injuries. This is obviously something we had to respond to, and every time Pakistan hit, we hit back. But each time if you were to go back and look at the briefings the government gave each morning, the message was very clear. We are hitting them because they're hitting us. If they stop, we'll stop. And after 88 hours, the Pakistani director general of military operations reached out to his Indian counterpart and said, let's call it off, and we called it off." "We had no desire to persist with this with this war because, as I said, we have better things to do. It's just a tragic situation that has been needlessly inflicted upon us, and I say to all of you. When we seek understanding for what we've done, it's not in a warlike spirit. We're very conscious, we are the heirs of Mahatma Gandhi and legacy of non-violence, but we will also honour his advice to stay firm, to live without fear, to have the self-respect, never to bow down, never to surrender to this kind of this kind of terrorism, and we are going to continue, if they continue, we will continue. If they will let things alone, we will let things alone because we have, as I said, a very clear focus on our own development," he added. He also spoke about his delegation's visit to four nations - Colombo, Brazil, Panama and Guyana, which they commenced by paying tribute to 9/11 terror attack victims in New York. He mentioned that every single person met by the delegation has condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and backed India's right to defend itself against terrorism. Elaborating on his delegation's visit, he said, "We have been to four countries already on the way here, though our first stop when we left Delhi was indeed in New York, so we could go and pay tribute at the 9/11 memorial and convey, if you like, our strong solidarity with victims of terrorism everywhere since 9/11 accounted for people from so many different nationalities. We then went on to Guyana, where we met the government legislators. At every place, we met government legislators, think tanks and media. We went on from Guyana to Panama, from Panama to Colombia, from Colombia to Brazil, and here we are now with you." "At the end of the memorial the recess, spending a day on Capitol Hill has been extremely rewarding because we were able to meet a number of congressmen and senators, and in fact we've just come from a meeting with half a dozen senators who came up and said hello, all of them associated with either the Foreign Relations Committee or the intelligence Committee. So broadly, what we are seeking to do in every country is to explain our version of events, our experience of the last few weeks, to seek the solidarity and understanding of those we meet and speak to and I'm very pleased to say that so far our batting average is over a 100, in other words, every single person we have met so far has immediately not only condemned resolutely the terrorist attack upon India and expressed their outrage and their sympathy, but they have also explicitly endorsed India's right to defend itself against terrorism, and this kind of understanding has been most welcome," he added. He said that the delegation discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack and held broader conversations in all the nations, as India is not going to be defined by one particular incident. He said that India is a nation which has great ambitions and is focused on technology, pharmaceuticals and other sectors. He said, "We've had broader conversations everywhere because India is not going to be defined by one particular incident. We are a country with great ambitions for ourselves, for our people. We are focused on our economic development and our growth. We are focused on technology, on pharmaceuticals, and the whole range of activities that have marked us out as a significant player to be reckoned with in the world, and we're very happy to continue doing all of that. In fact, for us this terrorist episode was a distraction, it was a most unfortunate and even frustrating experience to have this inflicted upon us at a time when we were focusing on growth." The delegation led by Tharoor arrived in the US on Wednesday. The delegation includes Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), G M Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita (all from BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed 26 lives and injured several others. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed for a cessation of hostilities on May 10. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the all-party delegation to the US, said Operation Sindoor was a "brilliantly chosen name" and explained its significance. The delegation is visiting ley global capitals as part of the government's big diplomatic outreach to highlight its stand on terrorism following operation Sindoor. During an interaction session at the National Press Club in the US on Wednesday (local time), Tharoor noted that the colour of sindoor is not very different from the colour of blood and even used the Hindi expression "khoon ka badla khoon" and said that here it was 'sindoor ka badla khoon', meaning blood in response to what the terrorists have done to the sindoor. When asked why India chose the name 'Operation Sindoor' for its counter-terrorism action, he responded, "Operation Sindoor, actually, I thought was a brilliantly chosen name. Sindoor, in case some Americans obviously don't know about this, is a vermilion mark that is applied to the centre of the forehead of married women in the Hindu tradition. It's widely practised. Some non-Hindus do it too, but more for decorative purposes, but strictly speaking, the Sindoor is applied at the time of the marriage ceremony and is worn every day thereafter by married women. So, we were very conscious of these brutal terrorists who, by the way, shot men in front of their wives and children but spared the women and when one wife screamed out, Kill me too, she was told, no, you go back and tell them what we've done." "That was why the women were spared horrendous, horrendous act. That sindoor had essentially been wiped off the foreheads of 26 Indian women, 26 I was gonna say Hindu women, but one of them actually was a Christian, but the sindoor had been wiped off the rest by these terrorist actions, and so we wanted first of all, to avenge that act of wiping off the sindoor. But, secondly, it's no accident that the colour of the sindoor is bright vermilion red, which is not far from the colour of blood, and in many ways there is a Hindi expression that 'khoon ka badla khoon'; here it was 'sindoor ka badla khoon' hoga, that is, blood in response to what they have done to the sindoor," he added. Shashi Tharoor said that none of the side involved in the conflict talks about the losses they faced, as the operational details are closely held with the senior military people. He talked about how Indian forces effectively struck 11 airfields of the Pakistani military, and Pakistan has publicly admitted that Indian strikes were so wide-ranging and effective that they struck from as far as Hyderabad in South Pakistan to Peshawar in the northwest. When asked how many aircraft India lost in the conflict with Pakistan, Shashi Tharoor said, "We're not military folks, and our military are the only ones who really keep track of all of these things. But, I think the important message that came out was whatever may or may not have happened in the course of a conflict, neither side, by the way, talks about losses very much, and that's partially because you know very well that operational details are very closely held with the senior military people. But, I can tell you one thing, whatever may or may not have happened, look what happened on the last, what turned out to be the last night of the conflict, when India not only effectively struck 11 airfields of the Pakistani military, but there are commercially available, publicly available satellite pictures showing the extensive damage done. "There's been craters on the runway, there have been operational command centers that have been busted by these Indian bombs, and just yesterday the Pakistanis publicly admitted that Indian strikes were so wide-ranging and effective they struck from as far as Hyderabad in South Pakistan to Peshawar in the northwest. So it looks very clear that whatever damage the Pakistanis believe they may have inflicted on India, it wasn't sufficient to prevent India from inflicting such extensive damage on Pakistan that they decided to request us to stop, which we very happy to do," he added. The delegation led by Tharoor arrived in the US on Wednesday. The delegation includes Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), G M Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita (all from BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora. Earlier, the all-party met Bipartisan co-chairs Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, as well as vice co-chairs Andy Barr and Marc Veasey, on Wednesday. During the meeting, the parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance against terrorism. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US stated, "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today." "The parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance in the fight against terror. The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They expressed support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and USA," it added. The delegation also held a meeting with the US House Foreign Affairs Committee leadership in Washington. DC. HFAC Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member of the committee, Gregory Meeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chair Bill Huizenga, Ranking members - Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Ami Bera, Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific Chair, Young Kim. The Indian Embassy in the US stated, "The all-party Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor held candid & fruitful exchange with @HouseForeign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership. Chair @RepBrianMast, Ranking Member @RepGregoryMeeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chair @RepHuizenga, Ranking Member @RepKamlagerDove, Ranking Member @RepBera and East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee @RepYoungKim greeted the delegation." "The Parliamentary delegation briefed the committee members on the success of Operation Sindoor in defining a new normal in India's fight against cross-border terrorism. The Committee Leadership condemned the Pahalgam attack unequivocally. India and USA stand together in their unwavering resolve and fight against terrorism in all its forms," it added. The all-party delegation arrived in the US after concluding their visit to Brazil. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. As many as 26 people were killed and several others were injured in a terrorist attack in Baisaran valley of Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Among the victims were 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. In response to the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed for a cessation of hostilities on May 10. (ANI)
BJP leader V Muraleedharan, member of Group 7 of the all-party delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, arrived at the Delhi airport late Wednesday night after visiting key global capitals as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach to highlight India's stand on terrorism. He said during their visit they interacted with a cross-section of persons, including those from the government, and conveyed the message that the terrorism that India is subjected to is a result of Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism. The delegation visited key global capitals during their visit as part of the Modi government's big diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, which was launched by the Indian armed forces in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. He told reporters, "In the four countries that we visited, we had very highly productive meetings. We interacted with a cross-section of persons, including those from the government, the parliament, the civic society, and academics, and the message that we conveyed was that even though terrorism is a global menace, the terrorism that India is subjected to is a result of Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism. He also rebuked Pakistan and said everyone they met during their visit condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam "State-sponsored terrorism will not be found anywhere else other than that sponsored by Pakistan, and there was a consensus that there is a need for a global initiative against such forms of terrorism. Everyone whom we met, in their strongest words, condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam. Our visit was very successful..." 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)
Jun 04 (News On Japan) - In the second part of the interview series "30 People Akira Ikegami Wants to Hear From Now," Noriko Arai of the National Institute of Informatics discusses how to develop reading skills that can withstand the rise of AI.

According to Arai, the essential skill to master is the ability to thoroughly read and engage with school textbooks. She recounts a remarkable classroom experience in Fukushima and explains the importance of "reading skill tests" that even adults often fail. The article also covers an experiment she conducted using ChatGPT and how the NHK Red and White Song Festival revealed the current limits of AI.

"It's not enough to just go 'Oh, I see,'" Arai says. "That level of understanding can be easily replicated by ChatGPT." The real challenge is figuring out how to live alongside AI. She described an experiment she conducted around the end of September last year using ChatGPT, emphasizing the importance of students being able to say upon graduation, "I can read textbooks on my own now, so I'm ready."

She stresses that students who build this foundation will not fear reskilling or the idea of being replaced by technology. But how does one build such independent learning ability? Arai used to think it would be very difficult, but she witnessed a dramatic transformation at a small town elementary school that had test scores below the national average.

In that school, teachers and students began reading through each two-page spread of the textbook during every class. The result was remarkable improvement in comprehension. Arai explains what this kind of deep reading looks like: for example, when reading a sixth-grade social studies textbook about Gyoki and the construction of the Great Buddha, students don't just read the textthey examine illustrations, historical photos, and graphs showing the amount and type of metals used.

One key point that captivated the students was understanding why people of that time would admire Gyoki as a bodhisattva and willingly help build the Great Buddha, despite the hardship of the era. It was a time of heavy taxation and rampant disease. But Gyoki was part of the Toraijin, who possessed advanced engineering technologies. He built irrigation ponds and canals that enabled continuous rice cultivationeven during droughtshelping people avoid starvation. Children from the Aizu Misato area could relate, as they were familiar with agricultural water management. To them, Gyoki must have seemed like a wizard.

Through such reading, students began to connect history, technology, and religious influence on a deeper level. When told Gyoki later became a high-ranking priest, they responded, "Just like Tenmu!"referring to a famous local historical figure. The sense of understanding and connection filled their reflection essays.

What surprised Arai most was that this level of insight didn't come from gifted or elite students attending cram schools, but from ordinary children in a rural area. "If they can do this, then Japan still has a future," she said. "This method should be spread to other schools."

Arai believes that textbooks are not written to be understood only by geniuses. Any student can learn to read deeply with the right guidance. However, a deeper structural issue lies in the way textbooks are approved and used. When Arai once proposed a simplified world history text to a publisher, the feedback from teachers was that it was too easy to understandand thus unusable as a textbook. The reason: if students could understand it on their own, it would undermine the teachers role.

This, Arai argues, points to a mindset that needs to change. Today, with YouTube and countless online learning tools available, school should be a place that helps children become independent readersnot dependent on teachers or tutors. But when Arai administered her Reading Skill Test to students, results were shocking. One example question had a correct answer rate of only 55%, even though it was a two-choice question. Students would match keywords without grasping the sentence structure or power dynamics, such as who issued orders to whom.

This shows, Arai warns, that many children are being trained to identify keywords but not to truly understand what they read. This is a failure not of the students, but of an education system that values test scores and easy-to-measure outputs over deep comprehension. Even cram schools and regular schools alike have become fixated on test strategies, which leaves students unprepared to truly "graduate" with real reading ability.

Arai believes the true goal should be for students to say, "Thanks, teacher, but I can manage on my own now." A good teacher is one whose students no longer need them. Yet many teachersand parentsare trapped in a system that resists this kind of independence.

When students who struggle with reading try to use ChatGPT, they tend to accept surface-level responses and fail to dig deeper. This, Arai says, is where the limits of both AI and current education systems become clear. She hopes more people will recognize that true literacyand resilience in the age of AIbegins with mastering how to read a textbook.

Source: BIZ
FUKUOKA, Jun 04 (News On Japan) - With the number of foreign residents in Fukuoka Prefecture surpassing 110,000 at the end of last yeara record highthe need for police interpreters is becoming increasingly urgent, especially as incidents involving foreigners continue to rise.

Against this backdrop, a skills competition for Chinese-language police interpreters was recently held in Fukuoka, drawing eight participants from police departments across the Kyushu and Okinawa regions.

Representing Fukuoka was 49-year-old Inspector Miyahara, a member of the prefectural polices international investigation unit. In addition to his work on cases involving Chinese nationals, Miyahara is also responsible for training police interpreters. "Literal translations dont always resonate emotionally with the person youre speaking to. Choosing words that truly reach the other party is something I take very seriouslyits difficult but essential," he said. His demeanor and fluency are said to give him the presence of a native speaker.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreign nationals residing in Fukuoka stood at 113,159 as of the end of December, setting a new record. At the same time, incidents and accidents involving foreigners are also increasing. The prefectural police currently have 125 registered interpreters across 17 languages, but around 40% of interpreting duties were outsourced to private contractors last year, underlining a serious interpreter shortage.

To raise awareness of the importance of police interpreters, Miyahara visited a university in Yamaguchi Prefecture known for its large number of foreign language students. There, students had the opportunity to experience actual interpreting scenarios. Demonstrating how numbers are counted using one hand in Chinese, Miyahara showed that cultural knowledge is essential to avoid misunderstandings. "In Chinese, six is shown like this, seven like this, and eight like this," he explained, noting how easily miscommunication can arise without cultural context.

He emphasized to students that effective interpretation requires not only language skills but also a solid grasp of the countrys social and cultural background. One student remarked, "I didnt know that existedit was eye-opening."

The purpose of the competition held in Fukuoka was also to raise broader public awareness of the importance of police interpreters. "I want to take this opportunity to reconsider whether my approach to police interpreting, developed over many years, might have some blind spots," said Miyahara.

During the tournament, which followed a knockout format, Miyaharas semifinal opponent was a police officer from the Oita Prefectural Police. Contestants were asked to interpret a testimony from a Chinese witness describing the scene of an incident. The witness said, "I pass that road every day on my way to work. Its about five minutes by bike or 78 minutes on foot from where I live."

When Miyahara needed to clarify a point, he calmly asked, "Sorry, can I confirm something?" before continuing. In both competition and daily duty, he places a premium on polite and accurate interpretation.

Miyahara advanced to the semifinals and went on to win the entire competition, with the awards ceremony held the following day. "Im honored and very happy," he said. "I hope to be someone who helps bridge the gap between Japanese and foreigners living together in the same society."

As the number of foreign residents continues to grow in Fukuoka, interpreters who can bridge linguistic and cultural divides are becoming ever more essential.

Source: FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting News
FUKUOKA, Jun 04 (News On Japan) - Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture hosted its traditional Hekokaki Festival on June 1st, where men clad in red fundoshi loincloths prayed for protection from misfortune and good health. The event, held annually at Koura Shrine, is a Shinto ritual dating back to the Edo period and drew around 100 participants from across Japan this year.

At 4:30 a.m., dozens of men began gathering in a dark plaza, brimming with anticipation. Participants received a red hachimaki headband and a red fundoshiessential attire for the event. Among the attendees was RKB reporter Ryosuke Baba, who experienced wearing a fundoshi for the first time and remarked, "It tightens your rear. Feels like it splits your backside."

The name "Hekokaki" comes from local dialect: heko refers to a fundoshi, and kaku means "to wear."

Following a purification ritual (oharai), participants performed a warm-up mimicking rowing movements called torifune. Then came the misogi purification, where men immersed themselves in cold water despite the morning low of 14.3C in Kurume.

"Its freezing," Baba gasped, while other participants agreed, shivering.

With the purification complete, the men set off for Koura Shrine. Nearby residents cheered them on, one noting, "They look impressivethe way they wear the fundoshi is dignified."

The procession covered about three kilometers before reaching the final challenge: climbing 131 stone steps to the shrine. Baba later said, "My calves and thighs were burning. It was tough."

At the top, participants passed through a two-meter-wide chinowa grass ring, a symbolic act to pray for continued health and protection.

Some were clearly exhausted. "The steps were the hardest part," said a first-time attendee. A Sri Lankan technical trainee added, "We have festivals in my country, but nothing like this. Showing your backside is embarrassing." When asked if hed join again next year, he replied, "No, too embarrassing."

Families also took part in the event. One father said, "I passed the tradition on to my son. Someday, I hope hell do this with his own child."

Source: RKBNEWS
Jun 05 (News On Japan) - The Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested four individuals, including Nobumasa Daigo, a director of an ivory sales company, on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. The group is accused of falsely labeling elephant ivory as mammoth tuska material not subject to trade restrictionsand selling it via online auctions.

While international trade in elephant ivory is prohibited under the Washington Convention, mammoth tusks, from an extinct species, are not subject to the same restrictionsmaking them a loophole increasingly exploited in illicit sales.

Ivory, prized for its smooth luster, remains a major target of poaching and is the subject of global trafficking concerns. According to police, Daigo and his associates sold ivory products on major auction platforms while labeling them as "mammoth tusk" to avoid detection. They allegedly failed to disclose that the items were made of elephant ivory, deceiving at least four customers into believing the products were legal.

Daigo, 58, reportedly admitted to the charges, saying, "I labeled them as mammoth to avoid having the listings removed. I didnt think the police would actually take action." His company had been properly registered to sell ivory through brick-and-mortar stores and its own website, but it also posted items on auction sites where ivory sales are banned, claiming they were made from mammoth.

A check of one such site revealed numerous listings labeled as mammoth tusks. Because mammoth ivory is not regulated, it has become a popular alternative to elephant ivory and is used to mask illicit transactions.

Legal experts warn that such practices undermine global conservation efforts. Lawyer Masayuki Sakamoto, an expert on ivory trade, stated, "Mammoth labeling is being used as a front for illegal ivory sales. Japans relatively open domestic ivory market has become a hotspot for illegal exports, further endangering elephants worldwide."

Daigo reportedly downplayed the seriousness of his actions, comparing them to littering a cigarette: "I thought it was no more serious than tossing a cigarette on the street. I didnt expect a police crackdown."

Police believe Daigo and his group made around 2 billion yen from approximately 4,600 online transactions between 2022 and 2024. Investigations are ongoing into their full distribution network.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Jun 05 (News On Japan) - Rice prices in Japan are drawing national attention following government moves to release stockpiled rice, with artificial intelligence now being used to forecast market trends. As convenience stores begin selling rice balls at lower prices, the public is welcoming the temporary relief in food costs. But experts warn that without fundamental policy changes, the situation is unlikely to improve long term.

On the weekend of early June, 5-kilogram bags of stockpiled rice priced at 2,000 yen began appearing in stores, prompting many to ask what will happen next to rice prices. Analyst Kashiwamura offered an AI-based forecast outlining three potential price scenarios.

The most likely outcome, with a 60% probability, predicts prices stabilizing at a relatively high level between 3,900 yen and 4,250 yen per 5 kilograms. This scenario sees the current 2,000-yen stockpile price as a temporary deviation, with the market eventually returning to its original range. According to Kashiwamura, "Since the supply of the stockpiled rice is limited, its only a short-term measure. The prevailing flow of distribution and procurement prices supports a stable range around 3,900 to 4,250 yen."

The forecast includes a price trend graph showing a dip followed by a gradual rise, with a possible return to around 4,300 yen. Kashiwamura notes that while the rice release by Agriculture Minister Koizumi may temporarily cool the market, rising production and distribution costs could push prices back up. "Distribution fees and rising logistics costs are maintaining the high price floor," he explained.

A second, more pessimistic scenarioassigned a 10% probabilitysuggests that rice prices could rise as high as 5,000 yen due to poor weather, global resource constraints, or fuel cost hikes that would raise production costs.

The third scenario assumes a gradual easing of supply-demand imbalances, potentially lowering prices to the 3,600 to 4,000 yen range. This would require continued strong harvests and improvements in distribution.

Kashiwamura noted that the baseline scenario had been slightly adjusted downward after Koizumis policy announcement to release stockpiled rice. Previously, the AI forecast gave a 55% chance to an even higher price trend, but the new data reflects expectations that the policy will have a moderating effect.

Beyond short-term price trends, Kashiwamura emphasized that Japans rice market is at a structural turning point. He contrasted a passive responserelying on short-term price measureswith a proactive reform approach aimed at improving sustainability. "Temporary discounts may look good now, but unless we fundamentally transform production and distribution systems, prices won't change sustainably," he warned.

The long-term solution, according to Kashiwamura, lies in restructuring Japans agricultural systemsimproving productivity, updating distribution networks, and ensuring farmers are compensated fairly. Cheap prices are good for consumers, he said, but if prices dont reflect production costs, sustainable rice farming becomes impossible.

While the stockpile release may offer immediate relief, experts warn that the current situation represents a pivotal moment in Japans agricultural policy. Without broader reforms, rice prices are likely to remain volatile, and the future of domestic rice production could be at risk.

Source: ABEMA
OSAKA, Jun 05 (News On Japan) - A man who repeatedly harassed his neighbors in a residential area of Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, has been ordered to leave his home following a ruling by the Osaka High Court on June 4th.

The man had shouted obscenities such as "Come out here if you've got a problem!" and "Shut up, you idiot!" at neighbors, and was known to play wartime military songs at high volume as early as 6 a.m. These disruptive behaviors continued for eight years, leaving residents deeply distressed.

One local said, "He shouts direct insults at full volume like 'shut up, old hag.' It's infuriating." When confronted, the man responded with further abuse such as "Die already, you filthy old hag. I'm just talking to myself." Even when accused of trying to hit someone, he replied mockingly, "I didnt hit anyone," and "Should I call the police? You're disgusting. I'm just muttering to myself, stupid woman."

In an interview with MBS, the man defended his actions as "raising awareness," claiming he was protesting against the police for not cracking down on traffic violations.

The house in which he lived was owned by a relative, who, after hearing numerous complaints from neighbors, filed a lawsuit demanding that he vacate the premises. However, in January this year, the Osaka District Court dismissed the suit, ruling that the dispute was merely a private issue between neighbors.

That decision was overturned by the Osaka High Court on June 4th. Presiding Judge Kazuhide Shimazue stated, "We reverse the lower court's ruling. The man must hand over the house and land to the plaintiff." The court ruled that the man had used the home as a "base for nuisance behavior" and that this violated the intended terms of the usage agreement with the property owner, nullifying his right to live there.

Residents who had endured his behavior welcomed the decision. "Im relieved. I hope he leaves immediatelytomorrow even," said one neighbor.

The man had previously been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating local nuisance prevention ordinances but was not indicted as of March this year. His actions had drawn attention in the Osaka Prefectural Assembly, where lawmakers questioned the lack of enforcement of nuisance laws despite their existence.

In March, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura also commented on the issue, saying, "It's appalling. I hope the police will deal with this appropriately based on the law and evidence, and find a path to a resolution."

Source: MBS
Poll workers will be allowed to challenge a voter at the polls on the basis of their citizenship status under new legislation signed into law Monday by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The new laws also make changes to election recount procedures in the state, ban ranked choice voting and make it harder for third-party groups such as Libertarians to qualify as a major political party in the state.

Reynolds announced the signing of House File 954 and House File 928 in a news release.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate praised Reynolds and Republican lawmakers for enacting the new laws, saying they will add additional layers of integrity to our robust election procedures, supporting our efforts to balance election integrity and voter participation.

Challenging voters citizenship status

House File 954 addresses elections laws regarding voter registration, citizenship and major party status. It also bans ranked choice voting in Iowa.

It adds citizenship status to age and residency under which an election precinct official can challenge someones voter registration, and creates new language on declaration forms confirming the voter is a U.S. citizen.

The new law allows the Iowa Secretary of State to use state and federal documentation to determine the U.S. citizenship status of Iowans on the states voter registration list and create a new voter registration status of unconfirmed for individuals whose citizenship the state cannot verify. It requires the Iowa Department of Transportation to send the Secretary of State a list of each person 17 years and older who has submitted documentation to the DOT indicating they are not a citizen.

Unconfirmed records are records of registered voters about whom (a state or county election official) has received information from a reliable source indicating that the registered voter is not qualified, according to the new law. An unconfirmed record shall be made active upon the registered voter providing evidence that the registered voter is qualified.

The changes come after Pate challenged the ballots of more than 2,000 Iowans whose U.S. citizenship was unclear just days ahead of the 2024 general election. He instructed local officials to have poll workers challenge the ballots of any individual on the list who attempted to vote. They were to cast provisional ballots, after which they would have a week to provide documentation of their citizenship.

Republicans said the bill is needed to protect the integrity of elections in Iowa, and pointed to the 35 votes cast in the 2024 general election in Iowa that Pates office has said were cast by Iowans without U.S. citizenship.

Democrats argued that Iowas election system already is secure, that the potentially illegal votes were a vast minority out of 1.7 million cast, and that allowing poll workers to challenge voters citizenship creates the possibility of racial profiling.

Just one illegal vote is an attack on all of our votes, Rep. Austin Harris, a Republican from Moulton who floor-managed the bill, said during debate.  As Americans, we have a right to self-determination through our elections. And when we turn a blind eye and we let people who have not earned the right to vote to do that, that threatens all of our abilities to self-determination.

Election recount changes

House File 928 aims to standardize Iowas election recount procedures and requires they be conducted by county auditors and election workers, not separate recount boards.

Currently, recount boards comprise one representative from each campaign plus a neutral member agreed upon by both campaigns. The bill also gives auditors the flexibility to make the recount boards as large as they deem necessary.

State and local elections officials have been requesting an update to Iowas recount laws ever since a protracted 2020 recount in an Eastern Iowa congressional race that highlighted a patchwork of recount procedures across counties.

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was certified the winner by a scant six-vote margin after reporting errors were corrected in two counties and following a process where counties used different methods for recounting ballots, and a 131-ballot discrepancy in Scott County that was never explained.

The new law requires that all recounts be conducted using automatic ballot tabulating equipment, except in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Iowa Secretary of State or county auditor.

Only election results decided by a margin of 1% or less in Iowa would be recounted. The law lowers the threshold for election recounts to outcomes decided by either 1% or 50 votes, whichever is lesser, for state legislative and local elections; or by less than 0.15% for a statewide or federal office. Candidates would no longer be required to post a bond for any recount.

Pate and Harris said the bill will provide needed uniformity, reliability and consistency in the states elections recount process.

We have seen in years past where the old system was used, abused, and manipulated by campaigns to try to fix the outcome for their preferred candidate, Harris said in a statement Monday. Now we have a system that brings uniformity, consistency, and most importantly, trust to that system.

Ranked choice voting ban

House File 954 also prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in any Iowa elections. Ranked-choice, or instant runoff voting, allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of voting for one candidate. If there is no clear winner and someones first choice is not likely to win, the second choice candidate is counted for the ballot.

No local government in Iowa currently uses ranked choice voting.

Rep. Adam Zabner, of Iowa City, and other House Democrats argued against banning ranked choice voting and raising the bar for major party status.

A political partys candidate for governor or president will need to receive at least 2 % of the general election vote in three consecutive election cycles as opposed to one to be recognized as major political parties in Iowa.

Zabner said the laws various provisions make it harder to generate a general election field of varied candidates with differing viewpoints.

When I travel around the state of Iowa and I talk to Iowans, when I talk to my constituents, the No. 1 thing I hear is that folks are fed up with our polarized, two-party system and the choices that are available, he said during floor debate.

Libertarians gained major party status following the 2016 election, but lost it following the 2018 election. They gained it back following the 2022 election and lost it again after the 2024 presidential election.

The party's presidential or gubernatorial candidate has never received 2% of the vote in three consecutive general elections.

Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair Jules Cutler condemned the legislation as an attack on voter choice.

This is nothing more than an effort to rig the system in favor of the political establishment, Cutler said back in March as the legislation advanced in the Iowa Legislature. Iowans deserve better than a system designed to suppress competition and limit their choices at the ballot box.

In the end, Pate argues the new laws strengthen and maintain Iowas election integrity, keeping Iowa elections safe, fair and accurate.
Algerias vehement reaction to the United Kingdoms support for Moroccos autonomy plan in Western Sahara has done more than express diplomatic discontent. It laid bare Algiers transformation from a behind-the-scenes sponsor and host of the Polisario militias to the undisguised principal actor in the decades-old territorial dispute.

In a statement laced with indignation, Algerias foreign ministry condemned the UKs endorsement of Moroccos 2007 autonomy initiative, calling it a dangerous deviation from international law. But in doing so, Algeria has inadvertently confirmed what Rabat has long asserted: that the real party to the conflict is not the Polisario Front, but Algeria itself.

For years, Algeria has cloaked its involvement in the Western Sahara issue under the guise of defending the right to self-determination. Yet under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the masque has fallen. Algiers has moved from diplomatic ambiguity to open hostility, lobbying international actors, attacking Moroccos proposals, and now, directly challenging sovereign decisions of third-party states like the UK and France and previously Spain.

It has however lowered its tone with the US, which was the first global power to fully recognize Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara.

Algerias shift to take center stage on the Sahara issue is not merely rhetorical. Algerias aggressive posture, recalling ambassadors, issuing condemnations, and orchestrating media campaigns, has effectively sidelined the Polisario separatists, reducing them to their real status of a symbolic proxy in a geopolitical contest driven by Algiers.

The Polisarios voice is now barely audible amid Algerias thunderous declarations.

Moroccos autonomy plan, which offers substantial self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty, has gained traction globally, with support from the United States, Germany, Spain, France, and now the UK, while the majority of African and all Arab monarchies recognize Rabats sovereignty over its southern provinces. Algerias reaction to this growing consensus has been to double down on maximalist positions, refusing to engage with the plan while rehashing ideological anachronism.

By rejecting the autonomy initiative outright, Algeria has exposed its true objective: not a negotiated solution, but the perpetuation of a frozen conflict that serves its failed goal of containing and undermining Morocco economically and politically.

In this light, Algerias latest outburst at the UK is a geopolitical maneuver. And in making itself the loudest voice in the room, Algeria has confirmed what it has long denied: that it is the architect and engine of the Sahara conflict.
The Trump administration has launched a bold new strategy to reshape U.S.-Africa relations, shifting focus from aid to aggressive commercial engagement.

Announced in Abidjan on 14 May, the U.S. Commercial Diplomacy Strategy repositions diplomacy to prioritize trade, private investment, and strategic deal-making, aiming to counter Chinas dominant economic presence across the continent. From Washington we see what everyone in this room sees  Africas extraordinary commercial potential, said Ambassador Troy Fitrell, head of the Africa Bureau, highlighting Africas projected $16 trillion purchasing power by 2050. Under the new approach, U.S. ambassadors will be judged by the volume and quality of business deals they facilitate, not just diplomatic outreach.

Each U.S. mission will establish a Deal Team to identify trade opportunities, fast-track investments, and connect American firms with local partners. The State Department has also launched a Commercial Diplomacy Academy to train diplomats in navigating Africas complex markets and regulatory landscapes. The strategy includes support for major infrastructure ventures like the $4 billion Lobito Corridor and a $4.7 billion U.S.-backed LNG project in Mozambique  clear counters to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. But this isnt just about competing with China, its about staying relevant in Africas economic future, a senior official familiar with the new strategy noted.

Critics, however, warn that eliminating aid and relying solely on market-driven outcomes risks alienating key partners. Experts argue that unless Washington boosts long-term institutional investment and aligns with African priorities, the U.S. will struggle to match Chinas systemic and state-led engagement. The risk premium on Africa remains quite high and Americas general view of Africa as a risky place for investment remains prevalent, says Cameron Hudson, a former U.S. official, stressing that unlike China, the U.S. des not have state-owned or state-controlled industries it could direct into strategic areas.
French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has thanked Moroccan authorities for capturing a man wanted in France for kidnappings and attempted abductions targeting cryptocurrency bosses and their families in recent months.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier. He is a native of Le Chesnay west of Paris. He is accused of being one of the masterminds behind the high-profile kidnapping in January of French crypto boss David Balland and his partner, according to French daily Le Parisien.

Balland co-founded the crypto firm Ledger, valued at the time at more than $1 billion. Ballands finger was cut off by his kidnappers, who demanded a hefty ransom.

The interpol-flagged individual was arrested in Tangier in a security operation jointly conducted by the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) and the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), the national police said in a press release.

Multiple bladed weapons of different sizes (knives and cutlass) were found in the suspects possession, alongside dozens of mobile phones and communication devices, currently subject to technical expertise to identify the digital footprints.

In addition, a sum of money allegedly related to criminal activities committed by the suspect was also discovered in his belongings, the press release said.

the Paris public prosecutors office annunced on June 1 that 25 individuals, including minors, have beencharged in connection with the kidnappings and attempted abductions of high-profile cryptocurrency industry figures in France.

According to previous reports, there has been an increase in the number of crypto-related kidnappings targeting prominent crypto personalities and their relatives since the beginning of the year in Paris.
A Tunisian criminal court specializing in terrorism has handed down on Tuesday a 37-year prison sentence to a young man convicted in absentia, following a complaint lodged by a sitting female Member of Parliament.

The charges stem from a series of Facebook posts made by the defendant, which were deemed inflammatory and threatening. The posts allegedly incited violence, called for the MPs assassination, and included declarations of apostasy  all of which are considered grave offenses under Tunisias counter-terrorism laws.

The Specialized Criminal Chamber for Terrorism Cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance delivered the ruling with immediate effect, reflecting the severity with which the judiciary views online extremism and its potential to incite public harm. The sentence is broken down into 20 years for incitement to murder, 12 years for suspected affiliation with a terrorist organization, and five years for the charge of apostasy. The accused remains at large, and authorities have intensified efforts to track him down.

In addition to the prison term, the court has placed the individual under administrative supervision for five years to commence upon completion of the sentence. This provision, standard in terrorism-related convictions, is intended to monitor reintegration and deter reoffending. The ruling underscores Tunisias ongoing struggle to combat radical ideologies and protect public officials from politically motivated threats in both digital and physical spaces.
Safety Partnership Marks Milestone at Major Illinois Construction Project

A year-long collaboration between OSHA, state agencies, labor leaders, and contractors showcases how integrated safety efforts can shape workplace culture and outcomes in high-risk industries.

The Illinois Department of Labors On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program joined with OSHAs Chicago South Area Office, Pepper Construction Company, and the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council to mark the successful completion of the Hollywood Casino Joliet construction project, highlighting the results of a year-long OSHA Strategic Partnership focused on worker safety.

Our partnership exemplifies whats possible when employers, labor, and government work together to prioritize safety, said IDOL Director Jane Flanagan. By embedding a culture of prevention and vigilance from day one, we helped ensure that thousands of hours of construction work were completed with minimal injuries and maximum care for worker wellbeing.

The partnership, launched in mid-2024, aimed to reduce injuries and illnesses on-site through proactive strategies such as daily safety trainings, frequent walkthroughs, and hazard mitigation. More than 1,600 workers completed safety orientation as part of the program, with minimal recorded injuries throughout the project.

This project demonstrated the real value of proactive safety practicesparticularly in commercial construction, one of the most hazardous industries, said Ed LeFevour, Safety Supervisor for Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation.

Training sessions covered key risks, including crane operations, fall prevention, electrical safety, and emergency response. Safety professionals from all organizations collaborated closely throughout the construction phase.

Getting the Voice of the Worker is a critical step when creating a healthy safety culture, said Dan Ruane, Vice President of Safety at Pepper Construction. We formed a team that anticipated risks, walked the site together, and ensured those plans were followed. This was a great experience for our team, and we look forward to continuing that momentum.

Al Jotautas, Safety Director for the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, added that the partnership model helped create a positive culture among the workforce by making safety part of a daily routinefor the present and into the future.

Illinois businessesespecially small to mid-sizedare encouraged to take advantage of the free and confidential services provided by IDOLs On-Site Consultation Program. For more information, visit the WorkSafe website.

The On-Site Consultation Program is part of the federal 21(d) cooperative agreement, with 90% of funding provided by OSHA and 10% by the State of Illinois.
OPEC+ did what everyone expected it to do last weekend, announcing another production ramp-up. Prices, however, did something that not everyone expected them to do: they went up. All eyes are now on demandand the disruption of supply.

The eight members of OPEC+ that were keeping their production of crude oil under restraints agreed on Saturday to add another 411,000 barrels daily to their combined total in July after making identical agreements for May and June. The news followed speculation reported by the media that the cartel could add more barrels this time just to teach everyone a lesson. That speculation had weakened prices. The OPEC+ decision essentially had no effect on them. But events that coincided with the OPEC+ meeting did have an effect.

First, there was the Ukrainian drone attack on targets within Russia. The attack prompted expectations of more, with the targets this time part of Russias oil infrastructure, leading to supply disruptions.

Then there is the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, which just got more unlikely, with media reporting Iran was about to reject the latest proposal of the United States. This, in turn, means, that U.S. sanctions against the country will remain in place, notably the noose around Irans oil industry. Iran was not going to agree to completely halt its uranium enrichment activities, which the U.S. has proposed as a condition for reaching a deal, Reuters reported, so the prospect of a deal became distant again.

Related: Germany Vows To Do Everything to Prevent Nord Stream Resurrection



To add to the bullish developments, wildfire season in Alberta has started prompting production shutdowns, to date affecting more than 340,000 barrels daily. This is equal to 7% of the total, Reuters noted, but it has been enough to fuel a price rallyand imply that demand for oil is healthier than many like to argue.

Reuters Clyde Russell, in his latest column, noted that oil imports into Asia have been weaker so far this year than a year ago and suggested OPEC+s latest production hike came at a bad time in terms of demand. Russell wondered if the OPEC+ members hiking production would find buyers for the additional oil, in light of Asian oil imports in May slipping lower from April, to an estimated 24.2 million barrels daily from 24.85 million barrels daily.

In light of the abovementioned geopolitical developments, chances are the answer to that question is yesand that additional oil may fetch better prices, too. Because once again, oil market players were reminded that its not so important what this forecaster or another says about demand and how global supply exceeds it. Its important what happens in the real, physical world, and in that world, demand for oil remains as robust as it has been since the end of the pandemic lockdowns, the gradual weakening of Chinas appetite for crude notwithstanding.

Demand is set to pick up as we move into the summer months, suggesting prices are likely to remain relatively well supported, ING commodity analysts wrote in a new note today, after earlier this week Goldman Sachs somewhat grudgingly acknowledged seasonal oil demand patterns that point to equally stronger prices ahead.

Relatively tight spot oil fundamentals, beats in hard global activity data, and seasonal summer support to oil demand suggest that the expected demand slowdown is unlikely to be sharp enough to stop raising production when deciding on August production levels on July 6th, the bank said in a note Monday.

Indeed, not only is geopolitics making oil bears nervous, but summer driving season is advancing, and the shock of Trumps tariff-first approach to trade policies is subsiding. Oil is currently quite affordable, which would stimulate demand, and its immediate supply outlook is uncertain, which often acts as fuel for prices.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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It has been over two years since the Baghdad-based Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) placed an embargo on independent oil exports from the Erbil-based Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The legal basis for the halting of these essential flows to the finances of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan was the International Chamber of Commerces (ICC) order that they would not be resumed until Turkey paid the FGI the US$1.5 billion in damages for these allegedly unauthorised oil exports over many previous years. That said, the real reason why the FGI moved to stop the KRIs independent oil sales is simply that it wants to remove any independent status from the region and roll it into the rest of Iraq as just another province like any other. Baghdad has correctly identified the best way of doing this as cutting off the KRIs key source of revenue through which it finances its semi-autonomous status  revenues from independent oil sales. Early in his new office, Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani carefully laid out this as being Baghdads plan when he introduced the new Unified Oil Law being drafted at the time. He said that it would be run in every respect out of Baghdad, that it will govern all oil and gas production and investments in both Iraq and its semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, and that it will constitute a strong factor for Iraqs unity.

Related: Pipelines That Could Spark the Next Price Shock

Unsurprisingly, the great global powers have their own views on whether the KRI should lose its semi-independent status and be subsumed into a greater Iraq. To begin with, both the U.S. and its allies, and China and its allies, know that Iraq as a whole is full of oil (and associated gas). The FGI side officially holds a very conservatively-estimated 145 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves (nearly 18% of the Middle Easts total, and the fifth biggest on the planet), according to the Energy Information Administration. Unofficially, it is extremely likely that it holds much more oil than this. In October 2010, Iraqs Oil Ministry increased its own official figure for the countrys proven reserves but at the same time stated that Iraqs undiscovered resources amounted to around 215 billion barrels, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This was also a figure that had been arrived at in a 1997 detailed study by the respected independent oil and gas firm Petrolog. However, even this did not include the KRIs actual and potential oil reserves. As the International Energy Agency highlighted at the time, before the relatively recent rise of exploration activity in the semi-autonomous region, more than half of the exploratory wells had been drilled prior to 1962 -- a time when technical limits and a low oil price gave a much tighter definition of a commercially successful well than would be the case today. Based on the previous limited exploration and development of oil fields in the KRI area, the proven oil reserves figure was first put at around 4 billion barrels. This was subsequently upgraded by the KRG to around 45 billion barrels but, again, this may well be a very conservative estimate of the oil resources there.

Additionally important to both sets of superpowers is Iraqs geographical and geopolitical importance, located as it is in the heart of the worlds greatest hydrocarbons region. In the formers case it is a key link in the land bridge from the Asia-Pacific region into Europe and in the case of the latter it is a core part of the Shia Crescent of Power dominated by Iran as a counterpoint to the Sunni style of Islam championed by Saudi Arabia. Given these factors, the stakes for both the West and the East in winning the most influence in the country  north, south or combined  are exceptionally high. To put it plainly: the U.S. and its key allies want the KRI to terminate all links with Chinese, Russian and Iranian companies connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps over the long term, a senior source who works closely with the European Unions (E.U.) energy security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com recently. This could then be used as a bridgehead to reassert the Wests influence in the rest of Iraq through big investment deals firstly, and then related infrastructure developments, he added. The most notable such deal in the south of Iraq so far is TotalEnergies US$27 billion four-pronged deal, including the cornerstone Common Seawater Supply Project, analysed fully in my latest book. In the north, BPs US$25 billion deal across five major oil fields is similarly strategically vital for the Wests future plans. The U.S. and Israel also have a further strategic interest in utilising the Kurdistan Region as a base for ongoing monitoring operations against Iran, according to the E.U. source. On the other side of the equation, China and Russia have long been behind the idea of subsuming the KRI into the wider Iraq. As a senior political source in Moscow exclusively told OilPrice.com many months ago: Iraq will be one unified country and by keeping the West out of energy deals there, the end of Western hegemony in the Middle East will become the decisive chapter in the Wests final demise.

Legally speaking, Iraqs 2005 Constitution cannot settle the matter of whether the KRI or FGI has the predominant rights over revenues from oil drilled in the KRIs area. According to the KRG, it has authority under Articles 112 and 115 to manage oil and gas in the Kurdistan Region extracted from fields that were not in production in 2005 -- the year that the Constitution was adopted by referendum. In addition, the KRG maintains that Article 115 states: All powers not stipulated in the exclusive powers of the federal government belong to the authorities of the regions and governorates that are not organised in a region. As such, the KRG maintains that, as relevant powers are not otherwise stipulated in the Constitution, it has the authority to sell and receive revenue from its oil and gas exports. Additionally, it argues the Constitution provides that, should a dispute arise, priority shall be given to the law of the regions and governorates. However, the FGI maintains that under Article 111, oil and gas are under the ownership of all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates, which means they should be controlled by the FGI via the State Organization for Marketing of Oil.

Consequently, given the lack of legal clarity on the issue, the KRIs future looks set to be determined by a straight superpower brawl. China would seem currently to have the advantage in terms of land and resources held. More than a third of all Iraqs proven oil and gas reserves and over two-thirds of its current production are managed by Chinese companies, according to industry figures. In hard numbers, Chinese companies combined have direct shares in around 24 billion barrels of reserves and are responsible for production of around 3.0 million barrels per day (bpd). Additionally, it has developed a spiders web of influence through multiple infrastructure projects that run adjunct to its oil and gas developments, as also detailed fully in my latest book. That said, the U.S. and its allies appear to be picking up the pace on building out their presence across Iraq, too, in line with the aforementioned plan to do so. In addition to the potentially game-changing projects of TotalEnergies and BP, May 19 saw two deals signed by U.S. firms HKN Energy, and WesternZagros, to develop two fields  the Miran gas field and the Topkhana oil and gas field -- in the KRI area. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright was also very clear about the deeper intention behind these deals, saying that they align with the administrations broader strategy of striking commercial deals with allies to counter Irans influence. By extension, given the extremely strong links between Tehran and Beijing and Moscow, this also means countering Chinas and Russias influence across Iraq as well.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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There are conflicting reports about Russia's intentions to connect the Zaporizhzhya plant to its power grid, and Ukraine insists any restart must involve their participation.

IAEA officials maintain a presence at Ukrainian nuclear facilities to monitor and safeguard their condition, but air raid alarms frequently disrupt their work.

The IAEA Chief has warned of the persistent risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine amid ongoing air raids and concerns about the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant.

Central Asian states are demonstrating an increasing willingness to cooperate in managing water resources.

Officials from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement covering allocations from the Bahri Tochik reservoir during the summer crop-growing season, the Tajik Ministry of Energy & Water Resources announced in a May 30 Telegram post. Under the agreement, which runs from June through the end of August, Kazakhstan is allotted 491 million cubic meters of water for crop irrigation, the official Kazinform news agency reported.

We can effectively resist climate challenges only with cooperation, the news agency quoted Kazakh Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurzhigitov as saying. Official reports did not specify the water allotments for Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The Bahri Tochik (formerly Kayrakkum) reservoir is one of Tajikistans largest, built in 1950 to draw water from the Syr Darya River. An analysis of the Syr Darya Basin for 2024-25, published by the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia, showed that during the non-growing season from October to March, the amount of water released from the Bahri Tochik slightly exceeded intake. At the same time, more water from the Syr Darya reached the Northern Aral Sea than projected.

In addition to managing water resources, regional states are striving to coordinate hydropower production. Officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a protocol in Tashkent in mid-May covering the operation of hydropower facilities to guarantee the uninterrupted and efficient operation of water and energy systems during the summer, Kazinform reported.

By Eurasianet.org

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Kazakhstan is refusing to cut oil output despite OPEC+ commitments, citing contractual limits with international firms.

The company is also eyeing Arab debt markets for better financing terms.

KazMunayGas may issue panda and dim sum bonds in Chinese yuan to reduce borrowing costs.

Kazakhstans national oil and gas company KazMunayGas is looking to borrow cheaper funds from overseas debt issues, including bonds denominated in Chinese yuan, the firms chief executive Askhat Khassenov told Bloomberg.

We looked at all options. Currently there is a possibility to sell dim sum, panda bonds, Khassenov said in an interview with Bloomberg published on Wednesday.

KazMunayGas is also exploring opportunities to issue debt in Arab countries, as the company seeks cheaper borrowing terms, the executive added.

Dim sum and panda bonds offer rather good conditions, said Khassenov, referring to the yuan-denominated bonds outside mainland China and domestically in China, respectively.

If KazMunayGas decides to proceed with yuan bonds, this would be the first such debt sale in the Chinese currency for the Kazakh state oil firm.

Kazakhstan itself is raising its crude oil production regardless of its OPEC+ commitments, and openly defies the group by saying it wouldnt cut production going forward.

As Kazakhstan has raised its production, it has become a major headache for the OPEC+ group, of which the country is part. Kazakhstan has defied production quotas and has been pumping well above its ceiling for years.

Kazakhstan cannot reduce its oil production as it has no right to impose output reductions on international firms that are operating more than 70% of Kazakhstans oilfields, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov told Bloomberg last week.

Separately, Kazakhstans Deputy Energy Minister Alibek Zhamauov told Interfax last week that the country had already notified OPEC it would not cut its oil production.

No, no, we won't be revising [the compensation schedule], we have already told OPEC that we are not going to cut output and will be producing according to our capacity, the Russian news agency quoted Zhamauov as saying last week.

This weekend, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman said on Saturday they would boost July production by another 411,000 bpd, citing current healthy oil market fundamentals and steady global economic outlook.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A huge deep-sea oarfish has washed up on a remote beach in Tasmania, sparking surprise among locals.

A giant oarfish washed up on the shore in Tasmania

The long silver creature, nicknamed the "doomsday fish", was found on Ocean Beach near Strahan by walker Sybil Robertson on Monday (02.06.25).

She said: "When I go out there, Im the only person on the beach. Its really wild. Theres nothing between here and Argentina."

Robertson said she took a different path than usual and noticed sea eagles hovering over something on the sand. What she saw was a lifeless fish stretching across the beach.

She said: "Im five foot nine, and Ive got a reasonable stride, [it was] a good three-and-a-bit paces."

Robertson estimated it was about three metres long.

She said: "It was fantastic. I just knew it was something unusual and weird."

She later posted a photo on the Citizen Scientists of Tasmania page. Experts identified it as an oarfish, a rarely seen species that can grow up to eight metres and weigh more than 400 kilograms.

Marine biologist Associate Professor Neville Barrett from the University of Tasmania said it was a rare sight.

The expert said: "Oarfish are an epipelagic species. Were just not out there. Were not looking, were not diving, were not even fishing in that part of the ocean."

He added that the fish are large but not dangerous.

Professor Barrett explained: "Theyre a phenomenally big fish. But theyre lazy fish with very little muscle. They tend to float around, often vertically in the water, eating various types of plankton."

Locals say the oarfish has long been tied to eerie legends, with some believing its sudden appearance is a warning of natural disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis.
In todays high-stakes energy landscape, pipelines are more than conduitsthey are critical geopolitical tripwires. These steel lifelines carry the hydrocarbons that power global economies, and many run through the most politically volatile regions on Earth. As energy markets tighten and global rivalries sharpen, the vulnerability of these routes transforms them into strategic flashpoints.

From the Russian steppe to the Sahel, from Kurdish oil routes to frozen Nordic seafloors, infrastructure once seen as fixed and dependable is now anything but. Each of these pipelines represents a convergence of commercial interest and national security. Disruption in any formeconomics, politics or conflictwill immediately jolt markets and recalibrate diplomatic alignments.

These seven pipelines, forming the front lines of todays energy geopolitics, arent just energy assets. They are strategic pressure points whose fate could help determine tomorrows prices, alliances, and risks. If youre watching energy markets in 2025, these seven deserve your closest attention.

#1 Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC)

Few pipelines shoulder as much geopolitical baggage as the CPC. Transporting up to 1.3 million barrels of Kazakh crude per day from the Tengiz field to Russias Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, CPC accounts for the bulk of Kazakhstans oil exports.

Source: cpc.ru

Its not just about volumethe pipeline passes through Russian territory, placing it under indirect influence of Moscows shifting political posture toward the West. Any friction, from sanctions fallout to maritime conflict, could shut it down.

In 2022, weather and technical snags cut CPC flows, causing a brief but sharp spike in prices. A future political disruption would be even more dramatic. For markets already teetering on tight supply-demand margins, a CPC shutdown would be a gut punch. This disruption contributed to Brent crude prices surging by over 5%, reaching approximately $121.60 per barrel. The price spike occurred over a short period, reflecting market concerns about the loss of a critical supply route that handles about 1.2 million barrels per day, or roughly 1.2% of global oil demand.

In May 2025, CPC exports were projected to fall significantlydown to 4.5 million metric tons from 5.3 million in Aprildue to maintenance and port capacity limits at Novorossiysk. Compounding matters, a Russian court recently ruled to keep CPCs export infrastructure operational despite environmental permit disputes, suggesting that Moscow continues to use the pipeline as geopolitical leverage. The ruling prevented a possible shutdown that could have slashed deliveries by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Related: Trump to Use Emergency Powers to Boost U.S. Critical Minerals Industry



While flows continue, these episodes have underscored the fragility of the CPC route. With Russia asserting greater regulatory control and Kazakhstans reliance growing, any serious disruption would strip global markets of a major light crude source, triggering immediate price volatility.

#2 Druzhba Pipeline

Europes largest and longest crude oil pipeline, the Druzhba (Friendship) line, once symbolized post-war cooperation. Today, its a geopolitical flashpoint. Spanning over 4,000 kilometers, Druzhba delivers Russian Urals crude to Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Source: BeltPS

Before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the pipeline moved over 1 million bpd. Those flows have since diminished, but several landlocked European nations remain dependent. The Druzhba pipeline, once a cornerstone of Russian oil exports to Europe, has experienced a significant decline in throughput since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Prior to the conflict, the pipeline transported approximately 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. As of early 2025, this volume has decreased to just under 280,000 bpd, marking a reduction of over 65%, according to Energy Intel.

This substantial decrease is attributed to a combination of factors, including European Union sanctions, diversification efforts by member states, and geopolitical tensions. Countries like Germany and Poland have ceased imports via the Druzhba pipeline, while others, such as the Czech Republic, have invested in alternative infrastructure like the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) to reduce dependence on Russian oil. Despite these reductions, certain landlocked nations, notably Hungary and Slovakia, remain reliant on the Druzhba pipeline due to limited access to alternative supply routes.

Geopolitically, Druzhba is a symbol of energy leverage. Ukraine controls a key section of the pipeline and has used transit fees to pressure Moscow. In early 2023 and again in late 2024, oil flows through the southern branch were disrupted due to unpaid transit fees and damage allegedly tied to sabotage and war-related instability. The northern branch to Poland and Germany was largely halted in 2022, as both countries pivoted away from Russian oil.

U.S. sanctions have added a second layer of complexity. Recent moves to target financial intermediaries facilitating Russian energy exports could restrict payment mechanisms for pipeline shipments. Though the EU has allowed some exemptions to maintain supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, Washingtons tightening enforcement may eventually force Europe to phase out Druzhba altogether.

Technically, the pipeline remains functional but increasingly fragile. Ukrainian officials have warned that continued Russian strikes near critical infrastructurecoupled with aging Soviet-era hardwareraise the risk of prolonged outages.

If Druzhba were fully shut down, countries like Hungary would be forced to secure alternative supplies via the Adria pipeline from Croatia, which lacks sufficient capacity for a smooth transition. The result would be higher transportation costs, disrupted refinery operations, and renewed political friction within the EU.

#3 KirkukCeyhan Oil Pipeline

The KirkukCeyhan pipeline links Iraqs northern oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, with a theoretical capacity of 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd). However, due to political and legal disputes, actual throughput has been well under 400,000 bpd. This pipeline is Iraqs primary export route for crude from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, making it both an economic and geopolitical lifeline.

Source: Research Gate

In March 2023, flows were halted after an international arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad, stating Turkey violated previous agreements by allowing oil exports from the Kurdish region without Iraqs federal approval. Since then, tensions between Baghdad and Erbil have intensified exponentially. Efforts to resume flows have repeatedly stalled over unresolved revenue-sharing mechanisms and export rights.

The situation has grown more complex in 2025. The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has independently signed multibillion-dollar energy deals with U.S. firms, prompting Baghdad to accuse Washington of violating Iraqs sovereignty. Baghdad filed a lawsuit against the U.S. in international courts, claiming that these direct agreements infringe on Iraqs constitution, which vests control of oil exports with the federal government.

This dispute has exposed fault lines not only within Iraq but also in its international relations. Washingtons implicit backing of the Kurdish contracts has drawn backlash in Baghdad and Tehran, further politicizing the pipelines future. Analysts warn that U.S. intervention risks destabilizing efforts to resolve Iraqs long-standing oil governance crisis, while delaying a restart of the Ceyhan route.

If flows remain shuttered, the economic blow to the KRGalready reliant on oil for nearly 90% of its revenuecould be severe. For Mediterranean crude markets, the loss of this medium sour grade continues to tighten regional supply and complicate sourcing strategies for refiners.

#4 Nord Stream 1 & 2

Though offline since its 2022 sabotage, Nord Stream 1 still casts a long shadow over European energy policy. Before its abrupt halt, it delivered 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually to Germanymaking it a central artery of the continent's energy infrastructure. Its shutdown catalyzed a transformation in European energy strategy, spurring a surge in LNG terminal construction and a recalibration of foreign energy dependencies.

Source: Research Gate

If Russia or Germany even floated reactivation talks, gas prices would jolt upward. The pipeline, though inactive, remains the fulcrum of Europes energy anxiety.

In 2025, Russia officially confirmed the permanent halt of all gas flows through the pipeline, closing the chapter on one of the worlds most significant energy corridors. Despite this, debate over its future remains contentious.

Germanys economy minister recently vowed to oppose any revival efforts, framing the pipeline as a strategic liability. In contrast, industry figures like TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne have suggested that a return of Nord Stream gas "cannot be ruled out," reflecting lingering divisions within Europes energy establishment.

Nord Stream 2, the politically fraught twin pipeline completed but never operational due to regulatory blocks and Russias invasion of Ukraine, has also become a geopolitical symbol. Although physically intact, it remains idle, with no official plans to activate. Nevertheless, any mention of Nord Stream 2 in diplomatic circles tends to trigger immediate reactions across energy markets.

These pipelines remain geopolitically potent. Any signal of possible reactivation or renewed sabotage threats would likely jolt European gas prices. Even dormant, Nord Stream 1 and 2 serve as barometers of EU-Russia energy tensions and enduring symbols of Europes vulnerability and transition.

#5 SudanSouth Sudan Export Pipeline

South Sudans economy hinges on a single crude export lifeline: a 1,500-kilometer pipeline to Port Sudan. The conduit transports approximately 145,000 barrels per dayvirtually the entirety of South Sudans oil exportsthrough volatile Sudanese territory. But Sudans ongoing civil war has rendered the route increasingly fragile.

Source: Research Gate

In early 2024, clashes near Khartoum damaged sections of the pipeline, forcing Juba to declare force majeure and temporarily halt oil production. While flows resumed in mid-2025 following partial repairs, the risk of renewed disruption remains high. Sudans transitional government recently signaled its intent to suspend pipeline operations again, citing security concerns and political leverage. This is a dangerous escalation for South Sudan, whose budget depends on oil for over 90% of government revenues.

The instability in Sudan has also spilled over into South Sudanese politics.

Internal factions within the ruling SPLM-IG have used the pipeline crisis to attack rivals, aggravating existing tensions. Analysts warn that if oil revenues dry up, Juba could slide back into full-scale civil conflict. The UN Security Councils recent extension of an arms embargo underscores fears that the regions fragile peace is under threat.

Though small in global volume, the pipelines disruption would send ripples through heavy crude markets and exacerbate humanitarian crises in both Sudans. The infrastructures vulnerabilityand its strategic centrality to South Sudans survivalmake it a geopolitical fault line worth close scrutiny.

#6 NigerBenin Export Pipeline

The NigerBenin Export Pipeline is a new, high-stakes corridor aiming to transport up to 90,000 barrels per day of crude from Nigers Agadem Basin to the Atlantic port of Seme in Benin. Backed heavily (at least it was) by Chinas CNPC, the 2,000-kilometer pipeline is central to Nigers ambitions of becoming a major West African oil exporter.

Source: China Global South

But political and security headwinds threaten the projects stability. Just weeks after its inauguration, the pipeline came under attack by armed groups opposing Nigers military junta, raising alarms about its operational future. The pipeline passes through regions plagued by jihadist violence and interethnic conflict, making it highly vulnerable.

Complicating matters further is a dramatic cooling of diplomatic ties between Niger and China. In April 2025, Niger abruptly cut ties with Beijing, accusing it of exploitative practices. Critics argue that CNPCs dominance in Nigers upstream and midstream oil sectors has left the country with limited economic control over its own resources. This rift raises questions about who ultimately benefits from the pipelines revenues and whether Beijings grip will loosen or harden.

Analysts note that any extended disruption would have limited global market effects due to the modest volumes involved. However, for Nigers economywhere oil represents a crucial path to fiscal independencethe consequences would be profound. Moreover, any collapse of the project would be another geopolitical setback for Chinas Belt and Road ambitions in Africa.

#7 EastMed Pipeline Dream

While not yet realized, the EastMed Pipeline has reemerged as one of the most geopolitically consequential energy infrastructure proposals in the world. The proposed pipeline would link offshore gas fields in Israel and Cyprus with Greece and potentially the broader European market, offering an alternative to Russian gas and bolstering Mediterranean energy integration.

Source: IGI-Poseidon

Originally shelved due to cost and regional complexity, the EastMed revival in 2025 is driven by a convergence of strategic interests. A bipartisan U.S. bill introduced this year aims to integrate the EastMed pipeline into the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), signaling strong transatlantic support.

At the same time, the UK and U.S. easing of sanctions on Syria to support Eastern Mediterranean development underscores the Wests broader pivot toward this route as a geopolitical counterbalance to both Russia and China.

However, the project remains mired in unresolved territorial and diplomatic disputes. Turkey continues to oppose the pipeline, claiming it bypasses its maritime jurisdiction and threatens Turkish Cypriot interests. Ankaras military presence in Northern Cyprus and its growing ties with Libya compound the tension. Cyprus, as the geographic hub, has now become a geopolitical flashpoint, with EU, U.S., and UK actors all weighing in.

If built, EastMed could transport up to 10 bcm per year, significantly reshaping gas flows into Southern Europe. Its completion would dilute Russian energy leverage, strengthen Israeli-European ties, and potentially alter naval dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean. On the other hand, delays or conflict escalation could destabilize the region further and leave Southern Europe energy-vulnerable.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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The U.S. strategy of near-shoring its energy supply chains heavily involves Mexico, making the maintenance of good relations between the two countries' leaders essential for both nations' economic and energy goals.

Experts argue that the energy trade between the U.S. and Mexico is so crucial for both nations' economies that it may be largely shielded from tariff threats, which are possibly being used for diplomatic leverage.

Tariff whiplash under the Trump administration has raised a lot of concerns about the United States relationship with its first- and second-largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. This is especially true for energy trade, which all members of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) depend on to keep their economies healthy. Experts contend that recognizing the vital role of energy trade for all parties, and strengthening those relationships, is critical in these volatile times.

While this is true for all of North America, it is particularly true of the energy trade relationship between the United States and Mexico, which has massively expanded in recent decades. In January of this year, pipeline exports of natural gas from the United States to Mexico reached a whopping 199.2 billion cubic feet. That marks a more-than ten-fold increase since 2012, and a nearly 200-fold increase since 1990. This rapid growth has made the two economies more inextricably interlinked than ever before.

Because of the scale and rapid expansion of this relationship, the United States and Mexico both need a healthy energy trade relationship for their respective economic well being, according to experts. For Mexico, reliable access to competitively priced U.S. energy is essential to sustaining economic growth, enabling industrial competitiveness and stabilizing the electric grid, states a recent opinion piece from The Hill, written by Duncan Wood. At the same time, for the U.S., Mexico has become an indispensable customer, so much so that any downturn in Mexican demand would ripple through U.S. refineries, gas producers and the infrastructure companies that have built pipelines and terminals to serve the southern market, Wood continues.

This means that tariffs could pose a major threat to what is a foundational piece of the continental trade agreement and economy. But it could also mean that the tariffs never really stood a chance. In April of this year, Carlos Guadarrama, a senior energy consultant at the World Bank, said that energy trade between the two countries is so integrated and important that it is essentially shielded from tariffs, and implied that Trumps tariff rope-a-dope with Mexico is founded on empty threats.

I dont think the tariffs will impact bilateral energy trade because at this point, weve seen the U.S. threaten tariffs on Mexico several times, Guadarrama told Natural Gas Intelligence. I think Trump is using the tariffs as a threatening mechanism so that the Mexican government complies with the U.S. on other requests and areas of interest beyond energy, and I personally dont think they will have any effect in bilateral trade when it comes to energy, he went on to say.

This means that the two new presidents of the United States and Mexico, Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum, will need to maintain good relations and a high level of diplomacy if the United States wants to keep making money off of Mexicos grid, and Mexico wants to keep growing its own economy using relatively cheap and abundant American energy imports.

What is more, maintaining energy trade relations with Mexico is paramount to the United States own energy strategy, which is moving away from global supply chains and toward friend-shoring and near-shoring. Around this time last year, the Atlantic Council reported that cooperation between the two new regimes in the United States and Mexico would be critical for loosening trade reliance on China. The United States plans for nearshoring its energy supply chains  moving their lines of production closer to home  feature Mexico prominently.

At that time, when the potential outcome of the United States election was still the subject of much debate, the Atlantic Council advised that The United States should seize the opportunity to work with the incoming Sheinbaum administration to strengthen the Mexican energy sector, thereby enabling supply chain security gains through nearshoring. So far, Trump has worked against Mexico as much as with them. But with such complementary mutually beneficial energy market needs, he may just be blowing smoke.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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Energy companies are ready to commit to buying $115 billion worth of liquefied natural gas from Alaska once President Trumps pet energy project gets done, the company in charge of the project, Glenfarne, reported, noting that as many as 50 companies have expressed formal interest.

The $44-billion LNG export facility is strongly supported by the Trump administration, which has also been pressing Japan and South Korea to buy more LNG as a way to reduce Americas trade deficit with its Asian alliesthe same approach that Trump has adopted with European countries.

Glenfarne said the companies that have expressed formal interest in buying LNG from the Alaskan facility, yet to be built, are from the United States, Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwanall countries that the Trump administration has sought to pressure into more U.S. energy commodity buying.

Last month, Taiwan committed to buying LNG from Glenfarnes Alaska facility. For the island, the decision was really a no-brainer. Alaska LNG would be Taiwans closest LNG supply source among all U.S. LNG export facilities. The fuel from Alaska LNG wouldnt need to pass through the Panama Canal, which will effectively shorten shipping time, reduce voyage risks, and improve the reliability of Taiwans natural gas supply, the Taiwanese economy ministry said at the time.

Japanese trading heavyweight Mitsui, which is investing in LNG projects globally also earlier this year indicated it could be interested in participating financially in the Alaska project. Two other Japanese majors, JERA and Mitsubishi, are also potential stakeholders in the project.

The Alaska LNG project will have a capacity of 20 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually, to be transported via an 800-mile pipeline to the Gulf of Alaska, from where it will be shipped around the world. The project also involves local supply of natural gas for the state of Alaska.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil exports from Iran to its biggest buyer, China, shrank last month on tighter U.S. sanctions and refinery maintenance, Bloomberg has reported, citing data from Vortexa.

Per that data, Iran shipped a little over 1.1 million barrels of crude to China daily, which was 20% lower than export flows in May 2024. Compared to April, the May figure is around 400,000 bpd lower. The data is not entirely certain, however, as tankers carrying Iranian crude abroad use a variety of moves to mask their origin and route.

Kpler recently reported that a growing number of tankers carrying Iranian oil to China were now switching off their tracking devices that conceal their location. Ship-to-ship transfers have been used to mask the origin of those cargoes, a Kpler analyst told Bloomberg last week. Now theyre switching signals off for longer, so that its now even harder to trace those flows back to the source, which is Iran, Muyu Xu also said.

Going forward, oil flows from Iran to China are likely to remain weaker than usual due to refinery maintenance, according to one Vortexa analyst, who said that delayed seasonal refinery maintenance, [] is now expected to extend through July. Chinese refiners also stocked up on cheap Iranian crude earlier in the year before Washington tightened the sanction noose, so their inventory levels should be quite comfortable for the time being.

China is Irans biggest oil client, with the countrys private refiners buying most of Irans sanctioned crude. The two sides have established a trade relationship favorable for both. Iran gets to sell its crude that nearly everyone else shuns, while Chinas independent refiners, the so-called teapots, get cheap oil.

The U.S. and Iran are currently negotiating a new nuclear deal that could see the Trump administration lift sanctions but for that to happen, Iran would have to agree to completely suspend any uranium enrichment activities. Tehran has indicated it is not willing to do that.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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State-run oil giant PetroChina will shut the last remaining crude processing unit at its biggest refinery in northern China within weeks, industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

Dalian Petrochemical, PetroChinas 410,000-barrels-per-day refinery in downtown Dalian, north China, has been shutting processing units since the end of 2023.

Now the last remaining crude unit, with a capacity of 200,000 bpd, will be switched off on June 30, according to Reuterss sources.

Dalian Petrochemical accounts for almost 3% of the total Chinese refining capacity. The facility processes predominantly Russias Far Eastern ESPO crude grade.

The municipal authorities of Dalian have been pushing for years for the relocation of the refinery away from Dalian city.

The relocation and the closure of the Dalian Petrochemical facility are part of that plan after several deadly incidents over the past decade at the refinery, which is located in a densely populated area in Dalian city.

PetroChinas parent company, CNPC, reached an agreement with the Dalian authorities two years ago to build a smaller, 200,000-bpd crude oil refinery at a new refining and petrochemicals site on Changxing island.

Yet, PetroChina has yet to take a final investment decision for the new refinery, Reuterss sources said.

Stronger economic growth than previously expected and booming demand for petrochemicals will lift Chinas oil demand by 1.1% this year, according to state giant China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

However, Chinas consumption of transportation fuels has peaked, Wu Mouyuan, vice president of CNPCs think tank, said earlier this year.

Like CNPC, the International Energy Agency (IEA) also believes that oil demand for fuels in China has reached a plateau.

With the overall Chinese economy pivoting from manufacturing to services-based growth and as the adoption of electric vehicles expands in the transport sector, the data strongly suggest that the combustion uses of petroleum fuel in China have already reached a plateau and that the potential for future growth may be very limited, IEA market analysts said in March.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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In a contentiously pivotal move toward energy independence, Ukraine on Wednesday confirmed the launch of natural gas imports via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, bypassing Russian supply and allowing Ukraine to draw gas from European sources, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported through Greece and Azerbaijani gas from the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

The Trans-Balkan pipeline, which historically carried Russian gas southward, has now been reversed to bring non-Russian gas northward into Ukraine.

Source: TSOUA

A Ukrainian energy ministry source told Reuters that the corridor will enable the import of up to 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas by October, with June volumes expected to reach 100 million cubic meters.

Ukraine ceased transiting Russian gas to Europe at the end of 2024, choosing not to renew a longstanding agreement with Gazprom. Kyiv has emphasized that no Russian-origin gas will be involved in this newly activated corridor.

The European Commission has endorsed efforts like this under its broader REPowerEU strategy to end the blocs dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

Industry reports, including recent coverage from Argus Media and Pipeline & Gas Journal, note that monthly capacity auctions on the Trans-Balkan route have been successfully launched, off the market indications that there is, indeed, commercial interest and operational readiness.

The corridors activation is both a geopolitical and infrastructure achievement, reinforcing Ukraines energy sovereignty amid war and instability.

Following the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine, Russia has increased its gas exports to Europe via the TurkStream pipeline. In May 2025, Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe rose by 10% compared to April, averaging 46 million cubic meters per day.

The launch of the Trans-Balkan route is the result of coordinated action among five national gas transmission operatorsfrom Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The route enables natural gas to flow northward from Greeces Revithoussa LNG terminal through southeastern Europe into Ukraine, completely bypassing Russian supply channels. With an annual capacity of up to 1 billion cubic meters, the corridor is supported by preferential tariffs25% lower than standard rates, and 46% lower for deliveries into Ukraine.

According to the Kyiv Post, the joint initiative not only enhances Ukraines access to diversified energy sources but also strengthens regional energy security and resilience heading into the 202526 winter heating season.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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A 200-year-old condom etched with a cheeky image of a nun ogling three excited priests has gone on display at one of the worlds most prestigious art museums.

The 200-year-old condom has gone on display at a museum in Amsterdam

The hand-stitched sheath - believed to be made of sheep gut - was likely a saucy souvenir from a high-end French brothel and is now proudly featured at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The print on the ancient Johnny shows a seated nun with her legs spread as she eyes up three very aroused clerics who are flashing their bits under flowing robes.

The nun points at one and says: "Voila mon choix" - French for "This is my choice".

Joyce Zelen, curator of print art at the Dutch museum, said the naughty number dated back to around 1830 and was more likely bought for laughs than used for action.

She said: "We suspect it was more of a luxury brothel souvenir than an actual condom for use."

The racy relic cost 1,000 (844) and is one of only two known examples left in the world.

Zelen added to the Het Parool newspaper: "Erotic art is one of my favourite areas of research. And now we had come to the point where we had to ask the boss if we could bid on a condom.

"We even had to add the object name condom to our collections database, which did not exist yet."

Back in the day - long before Durex and latex - lovers got frisky with whatever they could find, from fish bladders to linen sacks. Rubber condoms didnt exist until 1839, after the discovery of vulcanised rubber.

Museum bosses say the ancient sheath is also a window into a darker past of 19th-century sexual health, when the threat of unwanted pregnancy and syphilis loomed large.

In a statement, they said: "It embodies both the lighter and darker sides of sexual health."

The well-hung exhibit is now on show in the museums print room as part of a new display exploring prostitution and sexuality in the 1800s, running until the end of November.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha officially launched his candidacy Wednesday to represent Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District.

The people in (the 2nd District) are looking for a change in their leadership. They dont support President Trump, and they would like to be represented by someone in congress who actually votes their values, Cavanaugh, an attorney and a Democrat in his second term in the Legislature, said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon holds the seat and has said he will decide this summer if he will seek a sixth term in Congress.

Regardless of Bacons decision, the race for the seat will be a closely watched battleground. Bacon, 61, won his Republican primary soundly and the general election by a narrow margin in 2024. His district is colloquially deemed the Blue Dot because it has swung to Democratic candidates in presidential elections. Omaha Mayor-elect John Ewing, a Democrat, unseated three-term Republican incumbent Jean Stothert in a May election, and Cavanaugh said, Theres a lot of energy and excitement about getting a congressional representative who represents the Blue Dot.

Those dynamics may make for a crowded primary. Denise Powell, founder of a political action committee that supports progressive women candidates for office, launched her campaign in May. She states that she protected our public schools and the families they serve and helped stop extremists from passing abortion bans in the state, on her campaign website.

Cavanaugh, 44, said he has championed economic policy that helps working families through a bill that removed a tax on diapers and by opposing tax legislation that would have used sales taxes to relieve property taxes, a move he called a tax shift to help landowners, including those who are wealthy or out of state. He also said he passed bills to improve access to mental health care and protect victims of domestic violence while also supporting reproductive health care.

Cavanaughs father, also named John Cavanaugh, served two terms in Congress, representing the 2nd Congressional District from 1977 to 1981.

The younger Cavanaugh got his start in public service working for Mayor Mike Fahey and then-U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson. Before his service in the Legislature, he spent seven years working as a Douglas County public defender.

Bacon, who retired from the U.S. Air Force as a brigadier general, has gained prominence during the second Trump administration for his willingness to speak in opposition to some Republican policies. Bacon previously voted for the presidents budget bill while also expressing reservations about its effect on Medicaid. He voted late last month for the final version of the bill, stating in a press release, By passing this bill, we will strengthen (SNAP and Medicaid) through an audit of the programs, removal of those who should not be receiving benefits and making sure that able-bodied adults without dependents are fulfilling work and volunteer requirements that are already in place for the program while also touting the bill as preventing a tax increase.

The big, beautiful bill is forecast to add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade and cause almost 11 million Americans to become uninsured, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bacons vote drew a protest in Omahas Memorial Park.

The National Republican Congressional Committee was quick to comment on Cavanaughs candidacy, with spokesman Zach Bannon saying in a written statement, Out of touch Democrat John Cavanaugh has proven time and time again that he will prioritize his radical far left agenda ahead of Nebraskans. While Denise Powell and Cavanaugh are set for a race to the left, Don Bacon continues to deliver common sense results for Nebraskans.

Cavanaugh said its a disappointment when someone pays lip service to being independent and then toes to the party line when it comes to cutting Medicaid services and imperiling other essential services to give tax cuts to the wealthiest.

He said he can stand up a fight when a fight is necessary and added hes been willing to work with the other side when thats needed.

Im running for Congress because the people of Nebraska deserve a representative in Congress who will stand up for working families, who will stand up for veterans and seniors, who will stand up to Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies, Cavanaugh said in a campaign press release.

Early in the race, Powell has focused on Bacons record opposed to other candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Her campaign released a statement Wednesday saying Bacons votes dont align with what he says and what Nebraskans need. She said in a statement: Nebraskans deserve better than lip service from career politicians  we need action.

World-Herald staff writer Erin Bamer contributed to this report.


REP. BOBBY LEVY CELEBRATES PASSAGE OF SB 777 TO STRENGTHEN OREGONS WOLF COMPENSATION PROGRAM

By Oregon State Representative Bobby Levy,

SALEM, ORE.  Today, the Oregon House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 777 A , legislation that significantly strengthens Oregons Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program. Representative Bobby Levy (R-Echo), a leading voice for rural Oregon, carried the bill in the House and applauded its successful passage as a bipartisan victory for ranching families and communities impacted by wolf activity.

Ive been working on wolf management and depredation issues for nearly two decades, both on the Fish and Wildlife Commission and now in the Legislature. SB 777 A reflects years of hard work and real-world experienceit finally gives our ranchers a fair, workable system that acknowledges the true cost of coexisting with wolves. Im proud to see it pass with strong bipartisan support, said Rep. Bobby Levy.

SB 777 A allows for more accurate and fair compensation, including multipliers for confirmed and probable wolf killsup to five times fair market value for some animals, capped at $25,000. The bill also requires counties to allocate at least 50% of grant funds toward nonlethal deterrence methods, such as fencing, lighting, and range riders. SB 777 A aims to both reduce conflict and improve accountability.

Senator Nashs leadership and deep understanding of wolf issues was absolutely critical in getting this bill to the finish line, said Levy, recognizing the critical role Senator Todd Nash (R-Enterprise) played in moving the bill through the Senate.

A special thanks to the ranchers, county commissioners and agricultural groups that have helped on the compensation issue for years. As well as to those that suffered financial and emotional hardships, yet still participated in a process that didnt come close to fully compensating them. We owe a huge thanks. Although SB 777 A will never cover all the losses suffered by livestock owners, its a huge step forward. Im so appreciative of everyone that made this day possible, said Sen. Todd Nash.

Levy also recognized the strong bipartisan coalition that came together in the House to support the bill, I am especially grateful to Representatives Annessa Hartman, Ken Helm, and Emerson Levy for helping to bridge urban and rural perspectives and working with me in good faith to get this across the floor. This was a true bipartisan effort, and Im proud of what we accomplished together.

SB 777 A now heads to the Governors desk for signature.


Photo: Republican rally outside Oregon State Capitol, Guest Speaker Alex Skarlatos

By Oregon Campaign Watch

On Tuesday, the Oregon Republican Party held a gathering at the State Capitol. Oregon Republicans gathered in Salem to advocate for no new taxes and making there voices heard. After lobbing inside the Capitol, Republicans gathered in the mall where many Republican legislators were speaking about what is going on inside the Capitol.

Some of the Guest speakers were Oregon State Senator Mike McLane, Oregon State Senator Noah Robinson, State Representative Alex Skarlatos, State Representative Darin Harbrik, State Representative Dwayne Yunker, State Representative Diehl, and State Representative Drazan.
For nearly a decade now we have listened to a chorus of Democrats claim that President Donald Trump represented an existential threat to Americas democracy. First it was former President Barack Obama, then Hillary Clinton, then former President Joe Biden, then Dumb and Dumber (Kalamata Harris and Tim Walz). And they werent even circumspect about it. They used those words  existential threat, Hitler, a would-be dictator. They proclaimed that if he should become President civil rights would end, we would be at war, that citizens would be deported based on the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or their religious preferences. And each and every accusation was repeated and amplified by the mainstream media. For those who listened to such hysterical commentary Mr. Trump became the devil  the most evil man to walk the Earth since Adolph Hitler.

And yet when he was elected President, and during his term between 2017 and 2021, not a single accusation turned out to be true in fact, not even be remotely so. And yet, those predictions turned out to be prescient. Democracy was threatened. The government itself, at the behest of Obama, Hillary, Biden, Harris, Walz and the cabal of people who actually ran the government during Bidens declining cognitive state did exactly what they accused Mr. Trump of being likely to do.

Mr. Obama began the process of an autocratic President remarking that because Congress wouldnt approve his socialist agenda that he had a pen and a phone and was willing to use them both. A flurry of executive orders followed and the Congress participation as an equal third branch of the government was all but nullified. While Mr. Obamas actions did not make him the evil man to walk the Earth his foreign policy ensured that those who aspired to that title  the ayatollahs of Iran  were well financed by freeing up billions of impounded dollars which Iran  near bankruptcy at the time  promptly used, not to feed its people, but rather to finance the dramatic increase in the size and lethality of groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Houtis, and other Middle East and African proxy terrorist armies. Mr. Obama was not the most evil man on Earth but he was financing those who were  all of whom promised to destroy America. Yes, freedom and the democratic process was under attack but it was Obama, not Trump, that was the engineer.

And then Hillary Clinton used the State Department, the Justice Department, the national foreign intelligence organizations and The Democrat National Committee to create a bald faced lie that Mr. Trump was colluding with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government to manipulate Americas electoral process. And yet it was all smoke and mirrors. It was as if John LeCarre was called back from his death bed to create one final international spy novel. The result was not only to throw the presidential election in 2016 into question but to suborn the subsequent and illegitimate impeachment attempts. Despite millions of taxpayer dollars, countless congressional investigations, insufferable media speculation and promised evidence from the likes of known liars like Reps. Swalwell, Schiff and Nadler, not a single piece of evidence  with the exception of mindless speculation  was produced linking Mr. Trump to the accusations made. Yes, representative democracy was, and probably still is, under attack. But it was the Democrat elites who were using the various processes of the government to attack democracy itself. The extend to which that is true is only now being discovered and disclosed as Mr. Trumps appointees gain control of the executive agencies and their files and actions and open them to public scrutiny. Curiously, the members of the mainstream media that were so willing to repeat, amplify and speculate the lies of Obama, Hillary, Biden, Kalamata and Walz are studiously ignoring that which is currently being disclosed. We are becoming accustomed to the term law-fare but the corruption of government by the Democrat elites is well beyond the use of government lawyers to attack their opponents.

And finally, we are witnessing the deconstruction of the Biden presidency and the demonstration that Biden, in the midst of his cognitive decline, was not in control of the federal government. Instead their was a cabal of unelected bureaucrats who were exercising the powers of the President  in every aspect from opening the borders to foreign policy to the distribution of federal funds. If you seek to exercise the powers of the President, outside of the Constitutional succession plan, you are, in fact, committing treason. If you are aware of others exercising the powers of the President and choose to not disclose that fact, you are engaged in a conspiracy to commit treason. The penalty for treason includes the death penalty. I have said in the past that I oppose the death penalty just as I oppose abortion. But in this instance I just may have to make an exception. Erect the gallows and line them up.

But the real kicker here is the recent arrest of a Defense Intelligence Agency employee who admitted trying to pass classified intelligence to a foreign government. The Wall Street Journal quoted Nathan Vilas Laatsch:

The recent actions of the current administration are extremely disturbing to me, Laatsch wrote in a March email. I dont 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, according to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint.

This is where the actions of the Democrat elites have taken many. They have become a law unto themselves. Willing and capable of betraying their own government to further their own aims  even when they conflict with the will of the voters. That verges on anarchy and while it too is illegal, before this week ends you can count on a pack of the Democrat elites and their echo chamber in the mainstream media that will raise this moron to the status of national hero.


Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Stop Illegal Cannabis Grows

By Oregon State Senator David Brock Smith,

SALEM, Ore.  Senator David Brock Smith (R-Curry, Coos & Douglas Counties), working in partnership with the Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB), Douglas County Commissioner Chris Boice, and local landowners, successfully moved SB 347 A unanimously through the Senate today.

Illegal cannabis grows in southwest Oregon and across the state are out of control, said Senator Brock Smith. SB 347 A is one tool to hold landowners accountable for allowing these illegal activities on their property.

SB 347 A disqualifies land from farm use special assessment if the landowner or person in possession and control of the land receives a final civil penalty or criminal conviction for the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

Illegal marijuana is devastating to Oregonians and our communities, said Senator Noah Robinson (R-Josephine County). In Southern Oregon, its production often involves water theft, human trafficking, and other serious crimes. SB 347 A will help us address these problems.

I appreciate my colleagues unanimous support for this legislation, said Senator Brock Smith. This sends a clear message that illegal cannabis operations and their associated harms will not be tolerated any longer.

SB 347 A now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

### Senator David Brock Smith represents Senate District 1, which includes Curry, Coos and Douglas Counties, Southwest Oregons Fish, Farm & Forestry District. This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Senator David Brock Smiths office are available on the web at: www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
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Emergent confinement and string breaking on a (2 + 1)D Rydberg atom array. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09051-6

An international team led by Innsbruck quantum physicist Peter Zoller, together with the US company QuEra Computing, has directly observed a gauge field theory similar to models from particle physics in a two-dimensional analog quantum simulator for the first time. The study, published in Nature, opens up new possibilities for research into fundamental physical phenomena.

String breaking occurs when the string between two strongly bound particles, such as a quark-antiquark pair, breaks and new particles are created. This concept is central to understanding the strong interactions that occur in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory that describes the binding of quarks in protons and neutrons.

String breaking is extremely difficult to observe experimentally, as it only occurs in nature under extreme conditions. The recent work by scientists from the Universities of Innsbruck and Harvard, the OAW-Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) and the quantum computer company QuEra shows for the first time how this phenomenon can be reproduced in an analog quantum simulator.

Simulating elementary particle physics with atoms

Based on a proposal by Zoller's theory team, the researchers arranged up to several dozen rubidium atoms in optical traps with Kagome geometrysimilar to a traditional Japanese braiding patternusing QuEra's programmable Aquila neutral atom platform.

"We considered theoretically what would be the minimum setup in which this phenomenon could be observed. And we took advantage of the progress made in the experimental control of neutral atom simulators," says Torsten Zache from Zoller's team.

This allowed a theory reminiscent of the strong interaction to be simulated on the quantum simulator. "The van der Waals interactions between the Rydberg atoms used here imply that two atoms cannot be excited at the same time if they come very close to each other. They block each other," explains Zache. "This effect reflects the restriction that elementary particles such as gluons or quarks face due to the strong interaction."

High-energy physics in a quantum simulator

In the experiment, the physicists were able to follow the dynamics that lead to string breaking in real time. "Seeing string breaking in a controlled 2D environment marks a critical step toward using quantum simulators to explore high-energy physics," says Daniel Gonzalez-Cuadra, the first author of the study.

Back in 2016, a team led by Rainer Blatt and Zoller demonstrated the one-dimensional simulation of a gauge field theory for the first time. "Gauge theories govern much of modern physics. Demonstrating them in two dimensionswhere strings can bend and fluctuatesets the stage for exploring even richer phenomena, including non-Abelian gauge fields and topological matter," says Zoller, one of the founding fathers of modern quantum simulation.

"Our collaboration underscores the value of open, programmable neutral-atom hardware for fundamental research," adds Alexei Bylinskii from QuEra Computing.

The study was published today together with a similar paper on a digital quantum simulation of a gauge theory in the journal Nature.

More information: Daniel Gonzalez-Cuadra et al, Observation of string breaking on a (2 + 1)D Rydberg quantum simulator, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09051-6 Journal information: Nature
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Dr Livingston in front of RV Tangaroa before sailing for Antarctica, 2006. Credit: provided by author.

In the 1970s, when public interest in the oceans and what lives in them was picking up speed, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Livingston graduated with degrees in zoology and oceanography before taking up a Ph.D. position in New Zealand to study flatfish. Opportunities for careers in marine science expanded, but for women, gaining access remained difficult. Livingston, however, persisted and now looks back on a career spanning more than four decades.

She is the author of a new article in which she chronicles the highs and lows of her career, changes in the field, and what has remained the same:

In my recently published paper "My love affair with the sea," published in Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, I describe how from a very early age I fell in love with the sea and pursued that love throughout my younger years and at university, ending up with a 40-year career as a fisheries scientist. Political changes on how women were perceived in the workplace benefited me and I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work in a job that has taken me to many parts of the globe and given me such a purposeful way of contributing to human and ecological well-being.

I am originally from the U.K. but moved to New Zealand as a post-graduate student in 1976. I ended up staying in this remote corner of the planet, and in 2022, I retired. But my love affair with the sea is as strong as it ever was. These days, I can be seen on the south coast of Wellington with my camera in hand trying to capture the moods and whims of the sea in Cook Strait.

Barriers to success

I believe that the stresses on women in fisheries science during my early career in the 1970s and 80s (and other related disciplines such as observers, fisheries, management, industry) were particularly great. Then, at sea and in the field, women scientists entered the world of men in New Zealand. Not only did we work in a male-dominated field, but in New Zealand at least, there was a highly charged polarization between industry and conservation, which added an underlying complexity.

For example, not only did I find that women at sea had to prove themselves time and again as being "one of the boys," but further, we were automatically seen as "greenies" or "bottom feeders"a term for creatures living on the seabedwhich made it harder to work through. But, on almost every survey, there would be at least two women on the science team, and we supported each other fervently.

Lodging complaints was very difficult to do, and was not seen as a way to achieve co-operative working conditions. Biases also occurred ashore in the science institutions, but we became good at holding our own when attending science meetings and the like. It may well be that the same issues occurred across other western countries, but my experience is that in Australia, the U.S., the U.K., Scandinavia, the EU, and Chile, fisheries science was better supported, with strong infrastructure and decision-making mechanisms, compared with New Zealand.

We had a small research vessel, RV "James Cook" that was really quite unsuitable for New Zealand's offshore waters, so we made do with chartering large research and commercial fishing vessels from other nations. Cultural and language barriers added to the challenges that we faced at sea (men and women), but more often than not, the women were better at appeasing the foreign skippers. By this I mean we demonstrated considerably higher emotional intelligence, which helped smooth the pathway for successful surveys and robust data collection while on board.

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A change in direction

Things did improve during the latter part of my career. Management practices became far more family-friendly, and I really benefited from that. For example, my new employers were highly supportive regarding career opportunities for women and built an on-site childcare center for us to useall part of the Equal Employment Opportunity focus of the times. At sea, more robust disciplinary processes to protect women were introduced and more serious thought was given to ensuring that women in all aspects of fisheries science were better heard.

I maintain that while there is always room for improvement regarding male-female equality, the bigger issues facing women in fisheries science today are lack of funding for the scientific monitoring and understanding of stock sustainability, and the lack of political will to champion broader investigation about oceanic ecosystems and the biological limits to wild caught fisheries. Numerous in-depth reviews have provided suggestions on how to bring together indigenous rights, science, industry, aquaculture, recreational fishers, and government, but so far, the infrastructure and commitment has not been forthcoming.

In conclusion, I feel extremely lucky to have had such an interesting and challenging career. Being female can even be advantageous, but this sort of career is not for the faint-hearted. A passion for the ocean and for looking after the animals that live in it was a key part to how I kept going.

More information: Mary Elizabeth Livingston, My life-time love affair with the sea, Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.3389/focsu.2025.1584170

Provided by Frontiers
Billy Joel is "not dying", amid his rare brain condition diagnosis.

Billy Joel is 'not dying' amid a brain condition diagnosis, according to radio DJ Howard Stern

Radio DJ Howard Stern has told how he recently had dinner with the 76-year-old music icon, who has been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a rare condition caused by a build-up of fluid in the brain, and Billy urged Howard to tell people he won't be meeting his maker anytime soon.

Speaking on 'The Howard Stern Show' on Sirius XM, Howard said: "He does have issues, but he said, Yeah, you can tell people, Im not dying.'

"He wants people to know that. Hes got to deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful."

Howard and Billy had dinner to celebrate the 'Piano Man' hitmaker turning 76 last month, and the broadcaster admitted they had a "great conversation".

However, Howard joked Billy "threw up" after he played 'Happy Birthday' to the legend.

The 71-year-old star said: "He didnt seem real impressed."

Last month, Billy cancelled his upcoming tour because of the brain disorder, which has caused problems with his hearing, vision and balance.

A statement posted on his Instagram said: "Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.

"Under his doctors instructions, Billy is undergoing physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."

Billy added his own message to fans, saying: "Im sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."

The star's cancelled tour includes 17 dates in North America and England.

Last week, it was reported he has no plans to retire following his diagnosis.
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Future Cow uses precision fermentation to create dairy ingredients in a sustainable way. Credit: Future Cow

With finite natural resources and a growing demand for food, the world must find ways to overcome this challenge. One proposal comes from a Brazilian startup that will produce milk proteins without the need for cows.

Founded in 2023, Future Cow wants to transform the dairy market by using precision fermentation, a process that combines high technology, sustainability, and production efficiency.

"Our mission is to make milk without a cow," summarizes Leonardo Vieira, the company's co-founder and CEO. "Precision fermentation is a technology similar to that used in the production of beer or wine."

The entrepreneur explains that the technology involves identifying the genetic sequence in the animal's DNA that provides instructions for producing the milk protein. The sequence is then copied and encoded in a host, which can be a fungus, yeast, or bacterium. The host then multiplies in a fermentation tank with a calorie source for nutrition.

The result is a liquid thatafter being filtered and driedis transformed into the initially programmed milk proteins.

"These proteins serve as ingredients for the food and dairy industry, which can recombine the product to create various derivatives," he explains.

The foodtech will use yeast as hosts to initially produce casein and whey protein, two of the main proteins found in milk. Casein is widely used in cheese and yogurt production, while whey is rich in protein and highly valued in the food supplement market.

There are also other proteins in milk, each with specific applications.

"One of them is lactoferrin, which is extremely difficult to produce using traditional methods," says Vieira. "It takes 10,000 liters of milk to obtain just one kilo of this ingredient."

From the laboratory to the market

Future Cow began operating in the Supera Technology Park in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo state. There, it produced the first grams of milk protein using precision fermentation. It was then selected to take part in the DeepTech Acceleration Program (PACE) of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) in Campinas.

It is now testing the scaling of the process, which is a critical stage for biotech companies.

"Ninety-five percent of biotechs fail when they leave a bench environment and go to a pilot plant or other relevant environment," recalls Vieira. "We're very optimistic that with the support of the CNPEM and the available infrastructure, we'll achieve the scale-up we need for the next stage."

The startup does not intend to replace animal milk entirely; rather, it wants to create complementary solutions for the industry.

"When precision fermentation began, it was all very black or white: the product was either animal or it wasn't animal. Now, we see more hybrid models," Vieira observes.

According to Vieira, executives from large dairies claim to already purchase all the available milk on the market. "They can't increase production by 20% or 30% with just the traditional raw material," he says. "If they can mix our ingredient with the animal product to create a hybrid product and increase the scale, it'll be a significant gain," he says.

Another relevant aspect is the decarbonization agenda of large companies.

"Even if precision fermentation doesn't fully replace animal milk, a 10% or 20% reduction in the carbon footprint of large corporations in the food sector would already represent a considerable environmental impact," Vieira continues.

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Brazilian potential

The sector for alternative proteins produced by precision fermentation is still in its early stages, but startups specializing in the segment are already emerging around the world.

"Each one follows a different technological route. There's variation in the type of host [fungus, yeast, or bacteria] and in the target proteins," says Vieira.

The entrepreneur points out that Brazil is in a privileged strategic position to lead the global market.

"Brazil is the only country in the world that has an abundance of water, sugar, and renewable energy, which are the three essential inputs for fermentation. It's a unique opportunity for the country," he points out. "With these characteristics, Brazil can take the lead in a strategic industry for the future of global food."

Future Cow's technical and economic analyses show that producing milk proteins on a 300,000-liter scale will be less expensive than traditional production methods. He points out that when precision fermentation reaches an industrial scale with lower costs, it will disrupt the market: "If Brazil only focuses on traditional agriculture at that point, we'll be left behind."

The researcher cites New Zealand as an example. The country has characteristics similar to Brazil's, and a significant portion of its gross domestic product (GDP) comes from milk exports.

"They've already realized that the sector is going to change and are moving to avoid being left behind," he comments. "I've been trying to alert the Brazilian government authorities to this potential."

Future prospects

Future Cow already has a functional strain and is now looking to increase production yields.

"The more the strain produces, the more the unit price falls. So we're optimizing the fermentation processes," Vieira asserts. The expectation is that the product will be ready and available for sale by the end of 2026.

Since the product is an ingredient, the company will not sell directly to the end consumer, but rather will act as a supplier to the food industry. This approach could facilitate the startup's entry into the market.

Vieira explains, "As an ingredient, our product can be incorporated into existing products without facing a high entry barrier."

The startup will initially market the proteins it has already developed before expanding to other varieties.

"Only after the first commercialization will we develop other proteins," says the entrepreneur.

The company is preparing to take part in VivaTech, an innovation fair that will be held in Paris, France, in June.

"The technology already exists in other countries and at VivaTech we'll be able to show that Brazil has it too," says Vieira. "We can win over investors who realize that we can manufacture in Brazil and export to other locations. This kind of exposure abroad is uncommon for Brazilian companies."

At the meeting, Future Cow aims to connect with the innovation ecosystem, raise awareness of the development of the technology in Brazil, and attract potential corporate partners. "We want to demonstrate that we're developing alternative proteins and, with this, attract multinationals from the dairy sector to be our clients."

Scientific entrepreneurship

One aspect that Vieira highlights is the combination of skills at Future Cow. While he brings experience in business and entrepreneurship, his partner, Rosana Goldbeck, has a Ph.D. in food engineering from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and has already studied meat cultivation in Brazil.

He says, "This mix is an important differentiator, as it brings together someone who understands business and someone who understands the technology."

According to Vieira, this is one of the main barriers preventing more innovations from Brazilian universities from becoming commercial products: "Brazil produces a lot of science, has many scientific articles, but most of them don't become businesses," he laments. "There need to be more connections between the academic environment and entrepreneurship in Brazil."

Provided by FAPESP
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A black rhino with its calf at Moru Kopjes, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Credit: Serengeti National Park

Letting black rhinos roam freely may be the best way to save them from the hidden genetic dangers of inbreeding, according to a new study, the first to look at the whole genomes of these critically endangered mammals from populations in Tanzania.

The new research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was a collaboration between the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWARI) and researchers at the University of Glasgow.

Currently, in most parts of their range, rhinos exist in enclosed sanctuaries to protect them from their most serious threat: poaching for their horns. This means that there is a risk of inbreeding unless new animals are introduced into the closed populations.

The study, which focused on the native black rhino in Tanzania, revealed that supporting the natural movement of rhinos across their habitat is better for the species' overall health and survival, than relying on costly and difficult translocations of new animals to breed with wild populations.

Through whole genome sequencing, the researchers found that while individuals with a translocated parent showed less inbreeding than native populations, their genomes showed more negative mutations. Surprisingly, they found that rhinos that were able to roam freely and breed with other local populations showed some of the same benefits in terms of reducing inbreeding but strong evidence that the most serious mutations had been purged by natural selection.

The research team say the study results highlight the potential trade-off between reducing inbreeding and the hidden genetic risks of moving animals between populations that have been adapted to different conditions.

Carrying out this study required close collaboration between researchers in Glasgow and colleagues working directly with rhino populations in Tanzania. To assist with tracking individuals, each adult rhino in the Serengeti population has their ears notched in a unique pattern. The study team worked with TANAPA and TAWIRI to extract DNA from these samples, along with blood taken during standard veterinary procedures. Samples were then brought to the University of Glasgow where the whole genome of 21 individual rhinos was sequenced and analyzed.

Dr. Ronald Mellya, first author, who undertook the study while carrying out his Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow, said, "Black rhino populations have survived several historic bottlenecks across Africa, most recently due to poaching. Often these populations have been reduced to just a few individuals, which requires focused conservation and research efforts to ensure their recovery.

"Whole genome sequencing provides a powerful tool for us to gain greater insights about how to manage these populations better."

Anubhab Khan, a lead author of the study, from the University of Glasgow's School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, said, "The study uses cutting-edge techniques for analyzing sequences of whole genomes of individual rhinos. The method allowed us to study billions of base pairs of DNA and the approach of dividing the population into various cohorts helped us gain unprecedented insights to understand the effects of translocation and natural dispersal."

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Northern Tanzania remains one of the last strongholds for wild populations of black rhino in the world. Instead of relying on fences, elite teams of dedicated rangers provide 24-hour protection to Tanzania's black rhino population, particularly in the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem where these shy, yet majestic animals move between conservation areas such as the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Grumeti, and Maswa and even across the international boundary between Tanzania and Kenya.

Before this study, the approach was to manage the rhinos in Intensive Protection Zones, where wardens monitor individuals and prevent them from moving out of particular safe zones, resulting in keeping small and isolated sub-populations apart.

To maintain their numbers, and prevent too much inbreeding, the Serengeti population has been supplemented by individuals translocated from other places, including South Africa, European zoos or Kenya. However, translocations are not without difficulty. They are known to be expensivein terms of finances and animal welfareand animals raised in captive environments sometimes do not adjust well to wild conditions, so rates of survival can be low.

The results from the study suggest that, where it is possible, opening natural corridors for rhinos to naturally disperse and roam freely within an ecosystem could be less costly than relying only on such translocations. Indeed, the research team say, in the Serengeti ecosystem, the costs of employing more rhino wardens to protect the natural corridors within the ecosystem could be less than a single translocation.

Professor Barbara Mable, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at the University of Glasgow, and a lead author of the study, said, "Translocations can bring in new genetic variants, but they may also introduce hidden genetic risks that build up in captivity. Our findings suggest that maintaining habitat corridors to allow rhinos to move naturally might be a more sustainable solution."

Philbert Ngoti, Tanzania's Rhino Coordinator and co-author of the study, said, "Translocations are often very expensive and risky operations. While they are a useful approach, this research has shown that rhinos do best when they have space to live and move in natural ways."

TANAPA's Deputy Conservation Commissioner Massana Mwishawa, who oversees the protection of many of these areas, said, "What we see from this research is that supporting the natural movement of rhino across these landscapes is key to the species' survival, rather than relying solely on translocations."

Dr. David Balfour, the Chair of the IUCN Rhino Specialist Group, said, "This research comes at a time when the continental populations of African rhinos no longer occupy their natural distribution range but rather are site-bound and fragmented in relatively small populations.

"As conservationists debate the best strategies for managing species like the rhino across Africa in the wild, we need the kinds of insights that emerge from this research to improve our interventions. Captive populations can play a short-term role in conservation but should not be seen as a long-term solution. The best thing for rhinos is the protection and connection of rhino habitat at scale."

More information: Ronald. V. K. Mellya et al, Natural dispersal is better than translocation for reducing risks of inbreeding depression in eastern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis michaeli ), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414412122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Two Chinese scientists have been charged with allegedly smuggling a toxic fungus into the United States that they planned to research at an American university, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are charged with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a statement.

Jian is in US custody while Liu's whereabouts are unknown.

The Justice Department said the pair conspired to smuggle a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the United States that causes "head blight," a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice.

The fungus is classified in scientific literature as a "potential agroterrorism weapon," it said, and causes billions of dollars in losses each year.

It causes vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock, it said.

According to the complaint, Jian and Liu, her boyfriend, had both previously conducted work on the fungus in China.

"(Liu) first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America... so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked," the Justice Department said.

US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr described the smuggling of the fungus into the United States as a "national security" concern and emphasized Jian's membership in the Chinese Communist Party.

"These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme," Gorgon said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said he was not aware of the case when asked for comment at a regular news briefing on Wednesday.

"The Chinese government has always required Chinese citizens overseas to strictly abide by local laws and regulations, and at the same time safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens overseas in accordance with the law," he said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed last week to "aggressively revoke visas" for Chinese students, a move condemned by Beijing as "unreasonable" and "discriminatory."

Kseniia Petrova, a scientist from Russia at Harvard, is facing potential deportation after she failed to declare biological samples in her luggage upon returning from a trip to Paris.

 2025 AFP
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Demonstrating the applicability of  across a diverse range of systems. These include a canonical dynamical system (Rossler attractor), simulation data for slow earthquakes (spring-slider system), a classical physics problem (double pendulum), and real-world biological data (observational ECG and EEG data). Credit: College of Design and Engineering at NUS

A research team has developed a novel method for estimating the predictability of complex dynamical systems. Their work, "Time-lagged recurrence: A data-driven method to estimate the predictability of dynamical systems," published on 16 May 2025, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, introduces a technique called Time-Lagged Recurrence (TLR) that addresses a fundamental question in science and engineering: given a system's current state, how far into the future can we reliably predict its behavior?

Predictability refers to how well future states of a system can be forecasted if we know its present state. In the mid-20th century, scientists discovered that even deterministic systems (systems governed by fixed physical laws) can exhibit extreme sensitivity to initial conditions.

This phenomenon, often known as the "butterfly effect," means that even tiny uncertainties at the beginning can grow quickly, making it impossible to predict what will happen after a certain amount of time. In the 1960s, scientist Edward Lorenz discovered that this is why we cannot trust weather forecasts too far into the future.

Scientists have since learned that this limit is not always the sameit changes depending on the state of the system. That means some situations are more predictable than others. Knowing where these limits are, and when a system becomes especially unpredictable, is essential in many fields, not just weather and climate, but also in finance, economics, and biology.

A new approach to determining predictability

To tackle this challenge, Asst Prof Mengaldo and his team developed Time-Lagged Recurrence (TLR), a new metric for quantifying predictability in a purely data-driven way. Unlike traditional approaches that rely on knowing the system's equations or making simplifying assumptions, TLR needs only data as input.

The method builds on the concept of recurrencesmoments when a system's state recurs (i.e. returns close) to a previous state. By tracking these recurrences, TLR evaluates how an ensemble of similar initial states evolves over a specified time lag (a chosen forecast horizon) and gauges how much those trajectories diverge.

Schematic illustration of the computation of   (t), demonstrated in the phase space of the Lorenz-63 system. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420252122

In simple terms, TLR asks: if the system is in a certain state now, and we find other times it was in a similar state, do those similar histories stay similar in the future? The degree of similarity, assessed statistically given all available observations, determines the local predictability at that state.

To validate TLR and showcase its versatility, the researchers tested it on a wide array of dynamical systems, ranging from idealized models of chaos to real-world datasets, including Lorenz and Rossler chaotic attractors, ECG and EEG biological signals, simulated slow earthquake data, and atmospheric data.

The various tests showed how TLR was able to identify known predictability features when available. For instance, in the context of atmospheric data, they applied TLR to the large-scale circulation patterns over the Euro-Atlantic sector and obtained conclusions consistent with those based on reforecast studies, further confirming the variability of the intrinsic predictability of circulation patterns in this region.

Asst Prof Mengaldo stated, "Its generality and ease of use make TLR a useful diagnostic tool capable of enhancing the understanding of local dynamics and their predictability across diverse scientific domains, including physics, geophysics, finance, and engineering. It may also be applied in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) as a diagnostic tool. Indeed, in my group, we are currently working on bridging AI and dynamical systems theory."

Future application

TLR can be applied to any complex dynamical system and can serve as a diagnostic tool to understand when a dynamical system is less predictable; this in turn can help adjust or better understand forecasting expectations, thereby refining, e.g., communications to stakeholders.

In addition, in the realm of AI and complex data-driven systems, TLR could serve as a diagnostic add-on: for example, AI models that predict time-series data might use TLR to self-evaluate the uncertainty of their predictions based on the current input state.

The research team was led by Assistant Professor Gianmarco Mengaldo from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), together with his doctoral student Chenyu Dong and collaborators Dr. Davide Faranda (LSCE, France), Assistant Professor Adriano Gualandi (University of Cambridge, UK), and Professor Valerio Lucarini (University of Leicester, UK).

More information: Chenyu Dong et al, Time-lagged recurrence: A data-driven method to estimate the predictability of dynamical systems, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420252122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, with the overhead Milky Way. Credit: RubinObs/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/B. Quint

If you're lucky, when you look up at the night sky, you'll see thousands and thousands of points of light. These lights each help tell the story of the universehow it began, what worlds are out there now, and where new phenomena might develop. Unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos helps scientists better understand the science of our home on Earth, but space also holds something else for the general publicinspiration and wonder at all the possibilities out there.

At the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), important astronomical research is performed by the Center for AstroPhysical Surveys (CAPS). Stephen Pietrowicz, a principal research software engineer at NCSA, is part of the CAPS team, and his recent work has been with the NSFDOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

The Rubin Observatory project aims to conduct a 10-year optical survey of the visible sky. Such an enormous undertaking requires decades of research and work. This spring, after meticulous planning, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) camera was installed on the Simonyi Survey Telescope at Rubin. The camera is the world's largest digital camera, and it's expected to capture 500 petabytes of image data over the course of the project.

All that data requires an expert to help sort through it. Pietrowicz started working at NCSA in 1995 after seeing a job posting for help with the Center's storied Mosaic project. He left NCSA for a while, but returned when a new opportunity opened up.

"I left NCSA for a few years and decided to come back in 2005," said Pietrowicz. "I reached out to some of the people I used to work with and they had an opening on the Rubin project. It was a small team back then. I've been working on the project ever since then."

He's now part of the middleware team for Vera C. Rubin's Data Management group. The NCSA team's work encompasses many different parts of the project's data management. They're responsible for gathering data used to construct the images, data movement between sites and orchestration of image processing campaigns.

Rubins Simonyi Survey Telescope taking on-sky observations with the 144-megapixel test camera called the Commissioning Camera on the night of October 24, 2024. Credit: RubinObs/NSF/DOE/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/W. OMullane

Pietrowicz manages several different tasks, including the Observatory Operations Data Service, or OODS. "I wrote the OODS, which handles images sent by the Simonyi Survey Telescope. My software quickly ingests those images at the summit in Chile, so they can immediately be used by scientists. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will provide data that will impact the astronomy community for years to come."

Pietrowicz's work also makes it possible for sites around the world to use the data brought in from the Rubin Observatory. "I wrote some services which are used as part of the data processing campaign which runs in France, the United Kingdom and at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. That software registers data used in the campaign, and also ingests incoming data so it is available for use at each of the sites."

Everything Pietrowicz and the Data Management team create is open source. While some of the work is explicitly tailored for the Rubin project, some of it may prove useful for other projects of a similar nature. Beyond creating useful tools for data collection, the Rubin project will have a large and lasting impact for researchers and the public alike.

"The astronomy community will have more data than ever to work with," said Pietrowicz, "which will lead to new discoveries. The general public will be able to see bigger images than have ever been available before, and this work will be inspirational to students who might be considering what they'd like to study."

As the team moves to the next phase of the project, Pietrowicz is excited to start transitioning to a new role. "There is still a lot of work to do. We're winding down the Construction portion of the project, and we're transitioning to Operations later this year. I'll be part of Operations for the foreseeable future."

With all that new data, CAPS will be busy working on new research projects for years to come, and Pietrowicz looks forward to continuing to support CAPS as they work among the stars.

Provided by National Center for Supercomputing Applications
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A simple rule that seems to govern how life is organized on Earth is described in a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

The research team, led by Umea University and involving the University of Reading, believe this rule helps explain why species are spread the way they are across the planet. The discovery will help to understand life on Earthincluding how ecosystems respond to global environmental changes.

The rule is simple: in every region on Earth, most species cluster together in small "hotspot" areas, then gradually spread outward with fewer and fewer species able to survive farther away from these hotspots.

Ruben Bernardo-Madrid, lead author and researcher at Umea University (Sweden), said, "In every bioregion, there is always a core area where most species live. From that core, species expand into surrounding areas, but only a subset manages to persist. It seems these cores provide optimal conditions for species survival and diversification, acting as a source from which biodiversity radiates outward."

This pattern highlights the disproportionate ecological role these small areas play in sustaining the biodiversity of entire bioregions. Jose Luis Tella, from the Estacion Biologica de Donana-CSIC (Spain), said, "Safeguarding these core zones is therefore essential, as they represent critical priorities for conservation strategies."

Environmental filtering

Researchers studied bioregions across the world, examining species from very different life forms: amphibians, birds, dragonflies, mammals, marine rays, reptiles, and trees.

Given the vast differences in life strategiessome species fly, others crawl, swim, or remain rootedand the contrasting environmental and historical backgrounds of each bioregion, the researchers expected that species distribution would vary widely across bioregions. Surprisingly, they found the same pattern everywhere.

The pattern points to a general process known as environmental filtering. Environmental filtering has long been considered a key theoretical principle in ecology for explaining species distribution on Earth.

Until now, however, global empirical evidence has been scarce. This study provides broad confirmation across multiple branches of life and at a planetary scale.

Professor Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, co-author of the study at the University of Reading, said, "It doesn't matter whether the limiting factor is heat, cold, drought, or salinity. The result is always the same: only species able to tolerate local conditions establish and persist, creating a predictable distribution of life on Earth."

The existence of a universal organizing mechanism has profound implications for our understanding of life on Earth. Joaquin Calatayud, co-author from the Rey Juan Carlos University (Spain), said, "This pattern suggests that life on Earth may be, to some extent, predictable."

Such predictable patterns can help scientists trace how life has diversified through time and offer valuable insights into how ecosystems might react to global environmental changes.

More information: A general rule on the organization of biodiversity in Earth's biogeographical regions, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02724-5 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
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Illustration of a new strategy to create materials with robust quantum properties, by harnessing magnetic interactions (represented by the red and blue arrows). The small green spheres represent sites where electrons can reside and move along the chain. Special magnetic atoms (purple spheres with arrows) interact with the electrons at certain sites, shown by the blueish clouds. These interactions create protected edge states (green cloud) that could help make quantum computers more stable and less sensitive to noise. Credit: Jose L. Lado

The entry of quantum computers into society is currently hindered by their sensitivity to disturbances in the environment. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, and Aalto University and the University of Helsinki in Finland, now present a new type of exotic quantum material, and a method that uses magnetism to create stability.

This breakthrough can make quantum computers significantly more resilientpaving the way for them to be robust enough to tackle quantum calculations in practice.

The paper, "Topological Zero Modes and Correlation Pumping in an Engineered Kondo Lattice," is published in Physical Review Letters.

At the atomic scale, the laws of physics deviate from those in our ordinary large-scale world. There, particles adhere to the laws of quantum physics, which means they can exist in multiple states simultaneously and influence each other in ways that are not possible within classical physics.

These peculiar but powerful phenomena hold the key to quantum computing and quantum computers, which have the potential to solve problems that no conventional supercomputer can handle today.

But before quantum calculations can benefit society in practice, physicists need to solve a major challenge. Qubits, the basic units of a quantum computer, are extremely delicate. The slightest change in temperature, magnetic field, or even microscopic vibrations causes the qubits to lose their quantum statesand therefore also their ability to perform complex calculations reliably.

To solve the problem, researchers in recent years have begun exploring the possibility of creating materials that can provide better protection against these types of disturbances and noise in their fundamental structuretheir topology.

Quantum states that arise and are maintained through the structure of the material used in qubits are called "topological excitations" and are significantly more stable and resilient than others. However, the challenge remains to find materials that naturally support such robust quantum states.

Newly developed material protects against disturbances

Now, a research team from Chalmers University of Technology, Aalto University, and the University of Helsinki has developed a new quantum material for qubits that exhibits robust topological excitations. The breakthrough is an important step towards realizing practical topological quantum computing by constructing stability directly into the material's design.

"This is a completely new type of exotic quantum material that can maintain its quantum properties when exposed to external disturbances. It can contribute to the development of quantum computers robust enough to tackle quantum calculations in practice," says Guangze Chen, postdoctoral researcher in applied quantum physics at Chalmers and lead author of the study.

"Exotic quantum materials" is an umbrella term for several novel classes of solids with extreme quantum properties. The search for such materials, with special resilient properties, has been a long-standing challenge.

Magnetism is key in new strategy

Traditionally, researchers have followed a well-established "recipe" based on "spin-orbit coupling," a quantum interaction that links the electron's spin to its movement orbit around the atomic nucleus to create topological excitations. However, this "ingredient" is relatively rare, and the method can therefore only be used on a limited number of materials.

In the study, the research team presents a completely new method that uses magnetisma much more common and accessible ingredientto achieve the same effect. By harnessing magnetic interactions, the researchers were able to engineer the robust topological excitations required for topological quantum computing.

"The advantage of our method is that magnetism exists naturally in many materials. You can compare it to baking with everyday ingredients rather than using rare spices," explains Chen.

"This means that we can now search for topological properties in a much broader spectrum of materials, including those that have previously been overlooked."

Paving the way for next-generation quantum computer platforms

To accelerate the discovery of new materials with useful topological properties, the research team has also developed a new computational tool. The tool can directly calculate how strongly a material exhibits topological behavior.

"Our hope is that this approach can help guide the discovery of many more exotic materials," says Chen. "Ultimately, this can lead to next-generation quantum computer platforms, built on materials that are naturally resistant to the kind of disturbances that plague current systems."

More information: Zina Lippo et al, Topological Zero Modes and Correlation Pumping in an Engineered Kondo Lattice, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.116605 Journal information: Physical Review Letters
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How Male Mosquitoes Target Femalesand Avoid Traps. Credit: Issey Takahashi

Even in the chaotic swarms where they reproduce, male mosquitoes possess a remarkable ability to pick up on the faint sound of a potential mate.

A new study from Nagoya University in Japan suggests that males do this by being tuned into a broader range of sounds than females. The findings of this study offer fresh insight into the complex mating behavior of mosquitoes and why catching them in traps in the wild remains such a challenge.

Sound-based traps that mimic the wingbeat of female mosquitoes have long been used in population control to capture males and sterilize them. However, the real-world performance of these devices has often been disappointing, typically catching just a handful of insects each day.

An intriguing possibility suggested by the study is that this underperformance stems from males responding to complex acoustic cues, which current traps fail to fully engage.

The findings, published in Science Advances, highlight the sophisticated information-processing mechanisms in male brains that enable them to locate the source of faint female sounds in noisy environments.

The group used a technique known as calcium imaging to visualize neuronal activity in the brains of male and female mosquitoes during exposure to different frequencies of sound.

"We found that male brains showed responses not only to the same frequencies of sound as female brains, but also to much higher frequencies," Designated Assistant Professor Matthew Su from the Graduate School of Science said.

"Male brains therefore show responses to a highly diverse range of sounds, including not only the sounds of female wingbeats, but also 'distortion products', which are the sounds made by mixing male and female wingbeats. This finding shows the complex information processing required for males to identify the location of females."

To investigate the molecular mechanisms that lie behind these sex differences in brain sound reception, the research group used "transcriptome analysis" and "proteome analysis" to comprehensively compare the genes expressed at the base of the antennae in males and females.

It was found that molecules related to ciliathe small, hair-like structures that mosquitoes use to detect vibrationswere significantly more expressed in males than in females. This included a specific group of genes known as dyneins, which are more expressed in males and have previously been linked to hearing function in various species of insects.

"Cilia are thought to function to increase receptive sensitivity to certain sounds. This indicates that the type and amount of cilia-related genes expressed in the mosquito 'ear' may result in sex differences in auditory function," Professor Azusa Kamikouchi at the Graduate School of Science/Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules said.

"This sound processing mechanism may be a specialized and sophisticated mechanism that is not found in other insects."

"Male mosquitoes rely on the sound of female wings to find mates. Therefore, mosquito hearing is a promising target for preventing the reproduction of mosquitoes," she continued.

"By uncovering how male mosquitoes process sound at the neural level, we hope to pave the way for more effective mosquito control tools that disrupt breeding behavior at its source."

More information: Takuro Ohashi et al, Diversity and complexity of auditory representation in the hearing systems of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads2689. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads2689 Journal information: Science Advances
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St Andrews Chronicles. Credit: The University of St Andrews

New research by a leading historian shows a surprising historical perspective on being British.

In late medieval Scotland, the island of Britain was sometimes seen as fundamentally Scottish. This challenges our modern understanding of British identity and the research suggests that Scottish independence can be entirely compatible with being British. It also questions whether, rather than a shared Britishness, there have for centuries been distinct Scottish, English and Welsh versions of being British.

The research by the University of Glasgow's Professor Dauvit Broun reveals that Scottish historians and writers in the 1380s and 1520s (for example) regarded the Scottish kingdom as equivalent to Britain. This was not as common as the tendency to refer to Britain as England, but it was similar in effect.

This new perspective is linked to a recently discovered booklet from the early 16th century which helps to reveal this unexpected relationship between Scottish independence and British identity that has been overlooked until now.

While England's identification with Britain has existed for over a millennium, Professor Broun has discovered a parallel tradition where Scots envisioned Britain as an extension of Scotland.

According to Professor Broun, writing in the Journal of Scottish Historical Studies which is published today (Wednesday, 4 June 2025), these Scottish writers articulated a vision where Britain could be a kingdom ruled by the Scottish monarchyeffectively a Scottish kingdom expanded to island-wide scale.

Professor Broun, Professor of Scottish History, said, "A close reading of work by medieval Scottish historians and scholars shows they firmly believed that Scottish independence was entirely compatible with British identity.

"In this era, Britain was not seen as an English-dominated kingdom, as is often how it is viewed today, but rather a space that could be ruled by the Scottish monarchy. This idea of Britain as fundamentally Scottish is a surprising and provocative viewpoint in today's often polarized debates around national identity."

A key figure in Professor Broun's analysis is John Mair, the so-called "founding father of Scottish unionism."

Professor Broun demonstrates in his new research paper"Scottish independence and British identity: An unusual late-medieval perspective"that Mair's vision was essentially a Scottish kingdom expanded to include England. While advocating for a marriage-based union between Scottish and English royal houses, Professor Broun argues that Mair envisioned this primarily from a Scottish perspective with the assumption that a Scottish king would rule Britain.

Professor Broun's analysis includes a previously unpublished manuscript booklet St Andrews Chronicles(now held at the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums) from about 1511 providing rare insight into how ordinary educated Scots engaged with these ideas.

This homemade booklet contains a collection of historical texts about Scottish and British origins, king-lists and chronicles suggesting these British-Scottish connections were of interest beyond elite scholarly circles.

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The physical characteristics of the booklet suggest it was created for personal use, indicating a practical interest in these historical connections.

The booklet appears to have copied an earlier compilation that itself may have expanded upon an even earlier collection of texts, says Professor Broun. This suggests that these British Scottish historical perspectives were being transmitted and expanded by ordinary educated Scots over time.

The arrangement of historical material in the booklet combines Scottish royal dynasty and events with outlines of Britain as a kingdom from ancient times, similar to Mair's approach but predating his work.

The manuscript's significant focus on Malcolm III and St Margaretappearing twice in different sectionsmirrors the view that the Scottish royal line's connection to Anglo-Saxon royalty gave Scottish kings a claim to Britain as a whole. This reinforces the distinctly Scottish-centric view of British history articulated particularly by the Scottish historian John of Fordun in the 1380s.

Writing in the journal Professor Broun says that "appropriating Britain as an extension of your country was not, therefore, unique to England: the Scots did it, too."

Professor Broun finishes by asking, "If there is such a thing as a shared Britishness beyond the mere fact of inhabiting the same island: are there only Scottish, English and Welsh British identities, each with their own spectrum which have only occasionally intersected to become a common Britishness?"

More information: Dauvit Broun, Scottish Independence and British Identity: An Unusual Late-medieval Perspective, Journal of Scottish Historical Studies (2025). DOI: 10.3366/jshs.2025.0386
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

With recent advancements in technology, the Internet of Things and wireless devices are in high demand. However, these innovations also raise concerns about prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which may pose potential risks to eye health.

MXenes, a class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides, have shown promise in shielding against EMR. However, their poor adhesion and susceptibility to oxidation have limited their applications.

In a recent breakthrough, researchers led by Professor Takeo Miyake from the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University, Japan, have developed stable MXene-coated contact lenses with remarkable optical and EMR shielding properties.

Their novel fabrication method ensures optimum adhesion and prevents oxidation of the MXene coating, overcoming previous limitations.

The study was a collaborative effort between Waseda University, Kyoto University, and Yamaguchi University Hospital, bringing together expertise in nanofabrication, 2D materials, and ophthalmology to ensure eye safety.

The findings are published in the journal Small Science.

This research was co-authored by Dr. Lunjie Hu from the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University; Associate Professor Jun Hirotani from Kyoto University; Professor Kazuhiro Kimura from Yamaguchi University Hospital; Assistant Professor Atsushige Ashimori from Yamaguchi University Hospital; and Assistant Professor Saman Azhari from the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University.

"Smart contact lenses with built-in electronic components are getting a lot of attention as the next big thing in wearable devices. For the first time, though, this means we'll be placing wireless circuit lenses directly on our corneas, exposing them to electromagnetic waves around the clock. Inspired by breakthroughs in 2D materials and device fabrication technologies, we came up with highly functional protective contact lenses," says lead author Prof. Miyake.

To fabricate these highly functional contact lenses, the research team started by preparing dispersions of MXene, which were vacuum filtered with mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membranes to produce MXene-based films.

The films were then coated onto commercial soft contact lenses through a wet transfer approach using acetone. The prepared lenses were then analyzed extensively for physical properties, conductivity, and safety.

"We chose a wet-transfer method for the effortless attachment of MXene nanosheets to the unconventionally shaped surface of soft contact lenses, which ensures scalability," adds Prof. Miyake.

The fabricated contact lenses showed remarkable results with >80% visible light transmission, high conductivity, dehydration protection, and high biocompatibility with >90% cell viability.

The deposited layers of MXene showed variable thickness based on the concentrations of the dispersions, and the adhesive properties of the dissolved MCE membrane ensured optimum attachment of MXene. Additionally, the MCE layer also protected the MXene from oxidizing.

Prof. Miyake discusses the significance of their method, saying, "Our research can have a multifaceted impact. First, the stable and effortless coating of MXene nanosheets via wet transfer broadens the possibilities for commercial applications. Secondly, our method is simple yet effective in preventing MXene oxidation, turning a commonly overlooked challengeMXene oxidationinto a resolved obstacle."

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To assess electromagnetic shielding, the MXene-coated lenses were tested on porcine eyes exposed to microwave heating and thermal imaging. The lenses exhibited a rapid temperature rise, indicating strong EMR absorption and dissipation, which prevented direct heating of the eyes.

When exposed to high-frequency microwaves, MXene effectively absorbed electromagnetic energy and released it as thermal radiation, thereby protecting the porcine eyes from direct heating.

Furthermore, the researchers confirmed a robust electromagnetic shielding efficiency of up to 93%, representing the highest reported specific shielding effectiveness for biocompatible materials at the same thickness level, offering substantial protection against high-frequency radiation. The lenses demonstrated strong protection against high-frequency EMR, ensuring optimal eye health.

With high electromagnetic protection and reliable properties, this breakthrough in smart contact lenses represents a significant advancement toward safer wearable technologies.

By leveraging the unique properties of MXene nanosheets, the lenses provide effective protection against high-frequency radiation while maintaining comfort and usability.

Beyond eye health, this breakthrough paves the way for the integration of advanced nanomaterials in smart wearables, medical implants, and bioelectronics, addressing both safety and functionality.

More information: Takeo Miyake, et al, MXene-Integrated Contact Lens: A Breakthrough in Wearable Eye Protection and Healthcare, Small Science (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202400628
Lena Dunham was "wrecking herself on male attention" before she met her husband.

Lena Dunham was 'wrecking herself on male attention'

The 39-year-old comedian and writer - whose new semi-autobiographical series 'Too Much' is heading to Netflix - has reflected on her experiences with men which led her to "stop trusting herself" in her own love life before she met husband Luis Felber.

She told British Vogue magazine's July issue: "You really never know when youre having your last affair.

"Some of us hope that every frog we kiss is our happy ending, while others stand hand in hand with their soulmate, still terrified of the vista narrowing, the buffet running out, closing time.

"Even now, I cant be sure. Its not that I dont trust my husband or our life  I do, very much.

"Its that at some point along the way, wrecking myself again and again on the rocky shores of male attention, I stopped trusting myself."

Lena met Luis, 38, in January 2021 after friends set them up on a blind date, and they got married eight months later.

Just two weeks before moving to London - where she met her now-husband - she had a steamy affair with a man from Los Angeles called Craig, but it wasn't to be.

His messages dried up, and she found herself in tears over him, it was meant to be.

She recalled: "Two weeks after quarantine ended a friend would encourage me to get back on the horse and send my number to a man who he swore was 'not your husband or anything, just a fun times guy'.

"I didnt know that man would, in fact, be my husband.

"Craigs immaturity made me feel less old and his beauty made me feel more beautiful. I wanted, too badly, to be both of those things  and so I saw very little.

"It took longer than Id like to admit to realise he hadnt awoken me  I was waking and he walked by."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In March 2022, 14 residents of a four-story apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland, were hospitalized when a gas leak from a cut pipeline caused a major explosion. Every year in the United States, there are hundreds of natural gas (or methane) pipeline leakscaused by corrosion, equipment malfunctions, and construction activities. Methane leaks are not only dangerous; they contribute to air pollution and climate change.

A nationwide study of gas leak incidents, published in Risk Analysis, has revealed that gas leaks in one state have measurable impacts on neighboring states. For example, gas leaks in Texas, a state with extensive pipeline infrastructure and frequent incidents, were found to raise levels of PM 2.5 in neighboring states like Oklahoma and Louisiana.

"Pollutants like methane and its by-products (PM 2.5 ) travel across state borders," says Younes Ben Zaied, co-author of the study and professor of finance and sustainability at EDC Paris Business School.

He and colleagues used spatial econometric modeling to analyze the impacts of gas leak incidents from 2009 to 2019 in all 50 states, recorded by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Included in that database are the 20152016 Aliso Canyon Leak in California (one of the largest methane leaks in U.S. history); the 2018 Merrimack Valley Explosions in Massachusetts, which impacted over 40 homes; and numerous New York City underground leaks.

Other data used in the analysis were annual average PM 2.5 concentrations (for every state) over the same 10-year period from the Social Economic Data and Application Center (SEDAC) at Columbia University's International Earth Science Information Network Center (CIESIN).

The results demonstrate that PM 2.5 levels in a state are influenced by the energy intensity of neighboring states. For example, Illinois has moderate energy use per GDP but is surrounded by states like Indiana and Kentucky, which rely more heavily on coal and fossil fuels. This means that PM 2.5 levels in Illinois can be partially explained by the energy consumption patterns of its neighbors.

Stringent environmental regulations are shown to reduce hazardous gas leaks and improve safety. Examples of high-performing states are California, New York, and Massachusetts. These states had lower reported leak incidents over time, higher pollution control investment per unit of industrial output, and beneficial spillover effects on neighboring regions, encouraging cleaner practices.

"We were surprised to find that even states with strong environmental regulations and cleaner energy practices are still affected by the energy intensity of nearby states," says Zaied.

"For example, an energy-efficient state with low energy consumption per GDP may still suffer from elevated PM 2.5 levels if neighboring states are energy-intensive and leak-prone. So, even if your state is doing everything right, gas leaks in neighboring states can still worsen your air quality."

The message, adds Zaied, is that "cleaner air and safer infrastructure require interstate collaboration, not just local solutions."

More information: Spatial Dynamics of Natural Gas Leaks in the United States: Localized Impacts, Spillover Effects, and Policy Implications for Air Quality and Safety, Risk Analysis (2025). Journal information: Risk Analysis

Provided by Society for Risk Analysis
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Lenore Tedesco doesn't need to venture far to witness sea-level rise. She tracks its relentless advance from her window at work.

Tedesco, executive director of the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, stood by the nonprofit's large conference room window in late May, surveying an expanse of salt marsh known as Scotch Bonnet Island. It was an idyllic Jersey Shore scene: osprey hovering over thousands of acres of spartina grass rippling in the breeze.

But over the years, her view has transformed into something more unsettling. Once-solid marshland has been fractured by new channels of encroaching water.

"These open water areas used to be marsh," Tedesco said, gesturing out toward the grass. "It's marsh that converted to mudflats and open water. All this open water you see was once grassy."

It's similar to what is happening one hour north by car in Atlantic County, at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Tuckerton, where the surrounding wetlands are also disappearing as flooding becomes more common.

Scientists say that saving marshland is imperative because it provides food, refuge, and habitat for three-quarters of shore birds; filters water and removes contaminants; and protects communities from storm surge.

Scotch Bonnet Island is being swallowed along with New Jersey's other tidal wetlands. Small squiggly channels of water have begun to merge, forming wider pools. Scotch Bonnet Channel, a waterway that cuts through the bay to connect the barrier island to the mainland, has widened by 70 feet since 1970.

New Jersey literally loses a chunk of itself as more open water appears.

'Increasing frequency of flooding'

Tedesco, who holds a Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics, explains that sea-level rise is outpacing the marsh's natural ability to regenerate after being flooded, part of the tidal cycle of the Jersey Shore.

Scientists say sea-level rise in New Jersey is running at twice the global average. They estimate the sea could rise 2 to 5 feet along the coast by 2100. That is sobering news given that New Jersey has 200,000 acres of tidal wetlands, valuable habitat used by shore birds and other wildlife.

"The increasing frequency of flooding is causing nesting failures and declines in bird populations," Tedesco said.

Under Tedesco, the Wetlands Institute joined in 2024 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife to raise about five acres of Scotch Bonnet Island with sediment.

The state and the Army Corps have been experimenting elsewhere by trying to stave off the loss by bringing in soil dredged from nearby channels and dumping it onto wetlands to raise them as part of the Seven Mile Island Innovation Laboratory, an initiative that began in 2019 to advance marsh restoration through new dredging techniques.

Sturgeon Island and Gull Island have also been raised within the Seven Mile Island Innovation Laboratory's perimeter.

Scotch Bonnet Island, off Stone Harbor Boulevard in Cape May County along the Intracoastal Waterway (NJIWW), is one of the "islands" of marshland along the coast connected by channels. It sits within the nearly 18,000-acre Cape May Coastal Wetlands Wildlife Management Area, which is managed by the DEP's fish and wildlife division.

The 86-acre island has lost more than one-third of its acreage since 1941, according to the Army Corps, and the pace of loss is quickening. Partners in the project, along with scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, predict another one-third could be lost by 2050.

In addition to rising seas, the area's history of dikes from salt hay farms has altered water flow, exacerbating the issue. Overdevelopment hasn't helped.

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'Negative feedback loop'

Tidal wetlands naturally replenish as sediment and organic matter get deposited during normal tidal cycles and flooding. But the tides have gotten higher and the flooding has worsened.

The marshes cannot keep up and convert first to low marsh, then to mudflats, and finally to pools of open water. As the pools expand, they connect to tidal creeks that remove more sediment from the marsh system, further accelerating loss.

Tedesco calls it a "negative feedback loop."

How Scotch Bonnet Island was raised

The effort to raise Scotch Bonnet Island began in October as crews created a protective ring of coconut fiber logs to surround a spot of marsh. An Army Corps contractor took dredged sand and silt from the Intracoastal Waterway and pumped an estimated 25,000 cubic yards onto the island.

The project raised the land between 2 and 4.2 feet, which should be enough to stave off land loss for two decades without further help. The raised area is now a bald patch of dirt. Tedesco said she can see spurts of vegetation and birds returning to the location.

Tyler Kinney, a project manager for the Division of Fish and Wildlife, said it would take a few years for vegetation to once again cover the restored part of Scotch Bonnet Island.

"You have a natural seed source surrounding it," Kinney said, referring to Spartina alterniflora, sometimes referred to as cordgrass. "You really don't need to plant. That spartina is catching the seeds coming off the marsh, and it's already starting to recolonize. In two to three years, it will start to look like the rest of the marsh."

Kinney estimates that, so far, the lab has helped raise 100 acres of marsh within the Cape May Coastal Wetlands Wildlife Management Area and about 300 acres along the coastal region.

Sediment to raise the land comes from dredging performed to keep channels navigable. It has to be tested first to see whether it is free of contaminants. But scientists say there simply is not enough clean sediment available to raise all of New Jersey's threatened wetlands.

'A precipitous loss'

Scotch Bonnet Island is part of a larger effort to save tidal wetlands.

LeeAnn Haaf, a scientist with the nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, estimates about one-fifth of the state's wetlands are no longer keeping pace with sea-level rise.

"We're approaching a threshold that a lot of scientists and researchers  are worried about," Haaf said. "If we reach a certain point of sea-level rise acceleration, we might actually start seeing a precipitous loss. We're not there yet."

Haaf is part of the New Jersey Tidal Wetland Monitoring Network, launched in 2019. The network includes 15 partners, including universities and nonprofits. The network has installed surface elevation tables (SETs), which are portable devices designed to measure elevation changes, and launched a website and mapping tool to display its work.

"SETs allow us to measure a really fine-scale variation down to the millimeter," Haaf said. "And that's really important for tidal wetlands."

Kirk Raper, a DEP researcher, said the network has about 245 SET locations, with data for some going back to 2011.

"This is a sort of first look at assessing the statewide implications," Raper said.

The DEP estimates 61% of the state's coastal wetlands might be vulnerable.

Joshua Moody, another DEP scientist, said getting the partners assembled, SETs installed, and "bringing all the data together" was a "huge hill to climb." Now, he said, scientists can truly begin to track the decline of the state's wetlands.

Metthea Yepsen, a DEP bureau chief, called wetlands restoration projects like Scotch Bonnet Island "a learning process" and said that they appear to be working, but that it is too early to assess the impact.

"When you place a lot of sediment on a marsh, it's inherently disruptive. We see vegetation and animals that use the space either die or migrate off the site," Yepsen said. "It is a slow process as it revegetates and the animals come back. But we're learning a lot."

2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The ice core used in the study. Credit: Mai Matsumoto

Nitrates in the atmosphere reduce air quality and play an important role in climate change. An international team led by Hokkaido University researchers has revealed how chemical processes in the atmosphere have led to persistently high nitrate levels despite a reduction in emissions over the past few decades.

These findings, published in Nature Communications, will help improve climate modeling by refining our ability to assess and predict atmospheric nitrate levels.

Atmospheric nitrate levels peaked between 1970 and 2000. The levels decreased somewhat with the decrease in the emission of nitrate precursors since the 1990s, but the drop in nitrate levels is smaller than the drop in the emission of precursorssomething is keeping nitrates in the atmosphere.

Nitrates can exist in either a gaseous or particulate form in the atmosphere. Gaseous nitrate is more easily deposited out of the atmosphere, while the particulate formparticularly finer particlescan be transported over long distances.

Understanding the balance between gaseous and particulate nitrates is therefore important in getting a picture of the atmospheric dynamics and persistence of nitrates.

The persistence of atmospheric nitrates in source regions is explained by a buffering effect, where gaseous nitrates are converted to particulate nitrates, contributing to their persistence.

The impact of this buffering over long timescales and at long ranges is unclear, but nitrates deposited in Arctic ice cores show the same patterns as atmospheric nitrates. These sites are far from the sources, so the continuing high deposition rates don't reflect local processes near the source but must be due to atmospheric transport and other processes in the atmosphere.

To understand these dynamics, a research team led by Professor Yoshinori Iizuka at the Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, examined the nitrate deposition history from 1800 to 2020 in an ice core taken from southeastern Greenland.

Since the 1990s, although nitrate emissions have decreased greatly (graph, orange line), the Greenland SE-Dome ice core shows that particulate nitrates have persisted (graph, black line). Credit: Sakiko Ishino

As expected, nitrate levels within the core increased from the 1850s, peaking between the 1970s and 2000s before declining somewhat but remaining high. Overall, the increase in nitrates up to the 1970s happened more gradually than the increase in precursors, and the decrease after the 1990s was also slower and smaller than the decrease in precursor emission.

The delayed effect and persistence of nitrates indicates factors other than the emission of precursors are affecting nitrate levels. The researchers investigated these factors with a global chemical transport model and found that the difference between nitrate and precursor levels correlated with atmospheric acidity and not with other meteorological factors, such as air temperature.

In other words, the persistence of nitrates has been driven by chemical processes happening in the atmosphere rather than meteorological conditions or atmospheric dynamics.

Changes in atmospheric acidity altered the proportion of nitrate that was gaseous or particulate. This affects the lifetime of nitrates in the atmosphere. Atmospheric acidity has increased the fraction of nitrates in particulate form, enabling this pollutant to persist longer and travel farther.

Sumito Matoba (left) and Yoshinori Iizuka (right) drilling the ice core in Greenland. Credit: Tetsuhide Yamasaki

"Ours is the first study to present accurate information for records of particulate nitrates in ice cores, which has been a very challenging problem," says Iizuka.

"As it is more difficult to reduce anthropogenic emissions of substances that lead to increased nitrates, accurate measurements of particulate nitrates in the ice cores provide data for increasing the accuracy of predicting the amplification of Arctic warming in the future."

"It was difficult to present accurate nitrate from ice cores, but our team was able to do so this time," says Iizuka.

"In the future, nitrate will replace sulfate as the primary aerosol in the Arctic, suggesting this result leads to the higher accuracy of future predictions of Arctic warming amplification."

More information: Yoshinori Iizuka et al, Acidity-driven gas-particle partitioning of nitrate regulates its transport to Arctic through the industrial era, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59208-0 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Locations of brushtail possum (Trichosurus spp.) samples used in this study, showing the currently recognized species and subspecies within the genus. Credit: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (2025). DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf026

Edith Cowan University (ECU) research has found new insights into the genetic structure of the common brushtail possum, including an additional subspecies in Western Australia.

The study by ECU Ph.D. student Shelby Middleton has revealed that there are genetic differences between possums in the Pilbara and Mid West regions and those in WA's South West.

The research is published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

"This means the possums in the Pilbara and Mid-West are a completely different subspecies to what we previously thought," Ms. Middleton said.

"Previously it was thought that there were two subspecies in WAthose found around Perth and the South West and the northern brushtail possum found around Broome and the Kimberleybut now we know there are three subspecies in different locations across the state."

Ms. Middleton said the study also found that possum populations in the Pilbara and Mid-West are genetically closer to those found in the east of Australia, including a subspecies that was presumed locally extinct.

"The possums in the Pilbara and Mid-West are more closely related to those found on the east coast, South Australia and central Australia," Ms. Middleton said.

"Brushtail possums are presumed to be locally extinct in central Australia, and the Pilbara and Mid-West populations are closely related to those that formally inhabited the region."

Brushtail possums are nocturnal marsupials native to Australia, and while they are common in some areas, other populations have suffered substantial declines in population size and distribution.

Ms. Middleton conducted the study alongside the Western Australian Museum and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

Dr. Travouillon, Curator of Mammals at the Western Australian Museum and one of Ms. Middleton's supervisors said museum specimens were critical in this discovery.

"Without the WA Museum's extensive collection and genetic resources, this work would not have been possible. Museum collections are key to understanding biodiversity," Dr. Travouillon said.

Ms. Middleton said the findings have important implications for current conservation strategies.

"Little is known about the common brushtail possum in some regions and with populations declining, it is crucial to understand the genetic relationships," she said.

"Now we have a better understanding of the relationships within the species, we can be better informed when we're sourcing the animals for translocation."

Dr. Linette Umbrello, DBCA research scientist and one of Ms. Middleton's supervisors said this discovery provided insight into the genetic relationships of common brushtail possums in WA and could inform how the species is managed.

"Thanks to this research, we now know that the distribution of subspecies of brushtail possum is slightly different to what was known previously," Dr. Umbrello said.

"This information can be used to help guide management actions for the species as a whole, especially for populations that might be considered uncommon."

More information: Shelby C Middleton et al, Revised phylogeography of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) reveals new insights into genetic structure across Australia, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (2025). DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf026 Journal information: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Governments should ban all mining and fishing in the high seas "forever" to protect ocean biodiversity, climate stabilityand humanity, climate and ocean experts said Wednesday.

In a commentary in the journal Nature, published ahead of a UN oceans summit in France, researchers and conservationists called on governments to act more decisively to protect marine habitats outside national jurisdiction.

They warned that exploitation of the high seas, including new proposals to mine the seabed and fish for species at greater depths, "risks doing irreversible damage" to life in the ocean, as well as undermining its crucial role in regulating the world's climate.

A landmark treaty to protect the high seasadopted in 2023 but still only halfway to ratificationwill be in the spotlight at the June 9 to 13 UN Ocean Conference in Nice.

It is seen as crucial to meeting the globally-agreed target of protecting 30% of oceans by 2030.

But the experts behind the Nature commentary, entitled "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever", say countries should go further.

Lead author Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation at Britain's University of Exeter, said the world should take as an example the global agreement to protect Antarctica as a "planetary commons that is really important for all life on Earth".

"(They should agree to) keep it intact and undisturbed, so we don't release these potentially catastrophic consequences from exploitation that we can't control," he told AFP.

The high seas cover nearly half of Earth's surface but less than one percent is currently protected, the authors said.

Exploitation of the open ocean goes back to the intensification of whaling in the 17th century, causing dramatic depletion of the global whale population.

Since then humans have turned to harvesting sharks, fish and squid.

But the Nature article authors stress that marine animals do not just provide food and other products for humansthey also form part of Earth's carbon cycle which is essential to the very air we breathe.

Some animals living in the "twilight zone", at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters (650 and 3,300 feet) swim up towards the surface to feed at night and dive back down, depositing carbon-rich feces deep in the ocean.

This happens at such a huge scale that it affects the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Roberts said that research suggests that without this process the world would already be up to three degrees hotter than the pre-industrial era. Global surface temperatures last year averaged just over 1.5C.

'Self interest'

Another process sees nutrients redistributed as dead plants, animals and excretions sink down from the surface, providing sustenance for more life which in turn takes up more CO 2 .

This natural cycle has already been slowed by centuries of intensive exploitation and is now further threatened by pressure to fish at greater depths, mainly to provide fishmeal and oil for aquaculture, the authors said.

This risks both reducing a key food source for tuna, sharks and dolphins, but also curbing the amount of carbon the ocean can take up.

High-seas fishing is prone to by-catch that kills millions of sharks every year and thousands of turtles and seabirds. A total ban, the authors say, would enable species recovery that would significantly improve potential catches closer to shore.

Protecting these animals is not an "act of self sacrifice, but of self interest" said Roberts.

"The planet is in a very dangerous place in terms of the rapidity of climate change, and we need to pull all the levers that we can right now to slow the pace."

Another concern is deep-sea mining.

Would-be miners eager to extract mineral-rich nodules from the deepest ocean floor have so far been held back by efforts to regulate such potentially damaging exploration.

But US President Donald Trump recently sparked global outrage with an order to fast-track deep-sea mining in the open ocean outside American territorial waters.

Roberts said "the argument that we've got to go there to power the green transition is total nonsense".

He said that while governments may balk at a sweeping moratorium on exploitation of the high seas, they should understand that "things are much harder to stop when they've already begun".

More information: Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/d41586-025-01665-0 Journal information: Nature

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In a UNSW-led Nature study, researchers say that an off-the-scale marine heat wave in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2023 was caused by record-breaking weak winds combined with increased solar radiationall on the back of ongoing climate change.

From Greenland to the Sahara and across to the Americas, the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean warmed at an unprecedented speed in the summer of 2023.

"The intensity of the warming in that single summer was equivalent to about two decades worth of warming for the North Atlantic," says lead author Professor Matthew England from UNSW Sydney.

"While these extreme temperature events are typically only temporary, we can expect they'll become more frequent in the future."

Ironically, at the time, Prof. England was researching a region of cooling in the North Atlantic. This so-called 'cold blob' southeast of Greenland is one of the more unusual consequences of global warminga sign of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) slowing down, which is a scenario made famous by the Hollywood movie, "The Day After Tomorrow."

These waters had been cooling for the past 50100 years, so when Prof. England and his team saw water temperatures spiking across the region, they realized they were watching something unusual unfolding.

"We even asked ourselves if this was the circulation making a temporary comeback, but the rate of warming was far too rapid for that," Prof. England says.

No chill

The ocean can be thought of as two layers: an upper layer that's directly affected by solar radiation, and the cooler deep ocean. With more exposure to the sun during spring and summer, the upper ocean gradually warms.

Co-author Associate Professor Alex Sen Gupta, also from UNSW, says the rate of warming depends on the thickness of the ocean's upper layer.

"A thin layer will warm faster, much in the same way that a pan of water on a stove with less water will warm faster than a pan with more," A/Prof. Sen Gupta says.

He says the thickness of the layer in summer is set by the winds that churn up the surface waters and mix heat throughout it.

In June and July of 2023, the North Atlantic winds were weaker than ever recorded, "so the upper layer of the ocean was thinner than ever recorded," A/Prof. Sen Gupta says.

In some areas it was only 10 meters deep, compared to the usual 2040 meters deep, according to calculations made by co-author Dr. Zhi Li, also from UNSW, who led the analyses of ocean observations for the study.

"This meant that the sun heated the ocean's surface more rapidly than normal, which is what led to those record-breaking temperatures," says Dr. Li.

He says the temporary thinning caused by weaker-than-average winds was also bolstered by global warming.

Long-term warming causes the surface ocean to become less dense, suppressing the ability of winds to mix the upper ocean.

"So we were also dealing with a long-term thinning of the upper layer," Dr. Li says.

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A sunburned ocean

There was possibly also a further unexpected, localized factor that summer.

In 2020, new international rules were introduced to reduce the sulfur pollution emitted by ships. The aim was to improve air quality around the world's major shipping lanes.

But clearer skies can have an unintended side effect: less aerosol pollution means fewer 'seeds' for clouds. Less cloud cover means more sunlight can reach the sea surfaceespecially in the North Atlantic, which is a high-traffic shipping area.

However, Prof. England says this effect was secondary, only contributing to localized regions of enhanced warming. Most of the blame, he says, still lies with the lack of wind.

"Reducing sulfate emissions is good for reducing air pollution," he says. "Though it has the unfortunate effect of allowing additional warming of the ocean's surface, because less sunlight is reflected back to space."

The combination of weak winds with reduced mixed layer depths and clearer than average skies meant the rapid warming became a full-basin marine heat wave.

And as the warming waters radiated heat back into the atmosphere, this triggered a series of consequences on land.

Continental scale crises

While a quiet crisis was unfolding at sea, the air masses traveling over the top of the ocean were picking up heat to scorch cities across Europe.

Deadly 40+ degree Celsius heat waves across Germany, France and Italy broke temperature records, while torrential rains devastated parts of Spain and Eastern Europe.

Back underwater, the coral reefs of the Caribbean were bleaching under severe heat stress. Hurricanes, which only occur during summer, fueled by ocean heat, intensified into disasters. That season, Hurricane Idalia hit Floridacausing eight deaths and damages worth $3.6 billion USD.

"This wasn't just a small area of warm water off one coast," says Professor Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), another co-author of the study.

"This was the entire North Atlantic, with impacts on weather systems, human lives, marine ecosystems and society."

Preparing for the future

As climate change continues to thin the ocean's surface mixed layer, heat from the sun will continue to concentrate and warm it more readily.

Prof. England says this means marine heat waves in the North Atlantic are only set to get worse in the future, with extremely costly consequences for ecosystems and society.

"Severe marine heat waves often only last for a few weeks or months, but this one in the North Atlantic left a legacy that persisted for more than a year," he says.

"Unfortunately, the frequency and intensity of marine heat waves is only set to worsen in the coming decades and beyond.

"The only way to stop this trend is to phase out our use of fossil fuels.

"Net zero cannot come soon enough."

More information: Matthew England, Drivers of the extreme North Atlantic marine heatwave during 2023, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08903-5. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08903-5 Journal information: Nature
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University of Canterbury post-doctoral fellow Dr Spencer Virgin is studying how limpets are adapting to warmer temperatures in New Zealand. Credit: University of Canterbury

Humble limpets clinging to rocky shores around Aotearoa are surprisingly savvy when it comes to climate change adaptation, a new University of Canterbury study shows. Dr. Spencer Virgin, a postdoctoral fellow at Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), has worked on a thesis project he has dubbed "hot limpets," exploring how these common shellfish cope with a warming climate.

Dr. Virgin, from the UC School of Biological Sciences, found that as temperatures rise, limpets move toward cooler, south-facing rock surfaces to avoid overheating in the sun, with some of them moving up to five meters as the crow fliesup to 150 times their body lengthto find shade.

"This behavior means they're quite resilient to the kind of extreme heat events that are becoming more common," Dr. Virgin says. "The most interesting thing to me, is that limpets are smarter than people give them credit for.

"They know that when temperatures start to rise in spring, they need to go into the shade and wait until it's cool again before they can come back out. As a result of this adaptive behavior, I think the long-term resilience of these species is quite secure. It's not all doom and gloom for limpets because, thankfully, they're quite resilient and adaptive to heat stress."

Dr. Virgin carried out this research in Kaikoura, North Canterbury, and his first step was to find out the thermal tolerances of limpet species living in the area. To do this, he deployed "robo limpets"an empty limpet shell filled with silicone gel and a tiny temperature logger. He also built portable heart rate monitors for limpets so that he could measure how heat stress affects their heart rates.

"I wanted to find out what temperature is too hot for the suite of limpet species we have in New Zealand, especially the four main ones in Kaikoura. The second step was looking at how they respond to that kind of heat stress in the field," he says.

Starting in 2022, he attached micro tags to about 850 limpets around boulders in Kaikoura. He visited these limpets every two weeks for one year to measure what direction the limpets were facing to see if they were moving in response to changing temperatures.

Dr. Virgin says limpets are grazers so they play an important role in the healthy functioning of marine ecosystems by maintaining bare space. "They eat micro and macro algae, which form those slippery biofilms that grow on rocks in the intertidal zone.

"After the Kaikoura earthquake, for example, there weren't many grazers and pretty much the whole coastline turned green because there was algae all along it. But then when the limpets and other grazers came back, they kept that algal growth down."

Dr. Virgin, who is Canadian, says local limpets are "super cool." "New Zealand probably has more species of limpets than almost anywhere else in the worldwe've got a lot of big limpets here. I think there are 15 or 20 species of limpets in New Zealand including one exceptionally large egg-laying, air-breathing, limpet that's common on the West Coast.

"It's amazing how resilient to heat stress limpets are. Some of them don't really show any effects of heat stress until 38 or 39C, so their thermal tolerances are exceptionally high."

He says they have another quirky feature in that they are able to slowly "bulldoze" other shellfish and barnacles out of their path using their shell.

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"If something settles too close to a limpet, like a barnacle or something, they'll put the edge of their shell down and kind of bulldoze that animal out of their way. To deal with this behavior, small limpets of some species will live on top of the bigger ones so they don't get bulldozed."

Dr. Virgin is furthering his research assessing stressors to the marine ecosystem, led by UC Distinguished Professor David Schiel and University of Waikato Professor Chris Battershill. Dr. Virgin is assessing differences between North Island and South Island limpets in terms of heat exposure and thermal tolerance. He is also investigating why a cold-water limpet species that was present in Kaikoura until the early 2000s is no longer found anywhere north of Oamaru.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) will open in Nice, France, on June 9, 2025. It is the third conference of its kind, following events in New York in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the conference will bring together 150 countries and nearly 30,000 individuals to discuss the sustainable management of our planet's oceans.

This event is presented as a pivotal moment, but it is actually part of a significant shift in marine governance that has been going on for decades. While ocean governance was once designed to protect the marine interests of states, nowadays it must also address the numerous climate and environmental challenges facing the oceans.

Media coverage of this "political moment," however, should not overshadow the urgent need to reform the international law applicable to the oceans. Failing that, this summit will risk being nothing more than another platform for vacuous rhetoric.

To understand what is at stake, it is helpful to begin with a brief historical overview of marine governance.

The meaning of ocean governance

Ocean governance has changed radically over the past few decades. The focus shifted from the interests of states and the corresponding body of international law, solidified in the 1980s, to a multilateral approach initiated at the end of the Cold War, involving a wide range of actors (international organizations, NGOs, businesses, etc.).

This governance has gradually moved from a system of obligations pertaining to different marine areas and regimes of sovereignty associated with them (territorial seas, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and the high seas) to a system that takes into consideration the "health of the oceans." The aim of this new system is to manage the oceans in line with the sustainable development goals.

Understanding how this shift occurred can help us grasp what is at stake in Nice. The 1990s were marked by declarations, summits and other global initiatives. However, as evidenced below, the success of these numerous initiatives has so far been limited. This explains why we are now seeing a return to an approach more firmly rooted in international law, as evidenced by the negotiations on the international treaty on plastic pollution, for example.

The 'Constitution of the Seas'

The law of the sea emerged from the Hague Conference in 1930. However, the structure of marine governance gradually came to be defined in the 1980s, with the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.

UNOC 3 is a direct offshoot of this convention: discussions on sustainable ocean management stem from the limitations of this founding text, often referred to as the "Constitution of the Seas."

UNCLOS was adopted in December 1982 at the Montego Bay Convention in Jamaica and came into force in November 1994, following a lengthy process of international negotiations that resulted in 60 states ratifying the text. At the outset, the discussions focused on the interests of developing countries, especially those located along the coast, in the midst of a crisis in multilateralism. The United States managed to exert its influence in this arena without ever officially adopting the Convention. Since then, the convention has been a pillar of marine governance.

It established new institutions, including the International Seabed Authority, entrusted with the responsibility of regulating the exploitation of mineral resources on the seabed in areas that fall outside the scope of national jurisdiction. UNCLOS is the source of nearly all international case law on the subject.

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Although the convention did define maritime areas and regulate their exploitation, new challenges quickly emerged: on the one hand, the Convention was essentially rendered meaningless by the eleven-year delay between its adoption and implementation. On the other hand, the text also became obsolete due to new developments in the use of the seas, particularly technological advances in fishing and seabed exploitation.

The early 1990s marked a turning point in the traditional maritime legal order. The management of the seas and oceans came to be viewed within an environmental perspective, a process that was driven by major international conferences and declarations such as the Rio Declaration (1992), the Millennium Declaration (2005), and the Rio+20 Summit (2012). These resulted in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN's 17 goals aimed at protecting the planet (with SDG 14, "Life Below Water," directly addressing issues related to the oceans) and the world's population by 2030.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or Earth Summit), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, ushered in the era of "sustainable development" and, thanks to scientific discoveries made in the previous decade, helped link environmental and maritime issues.

From 2008 to 2015, environmental issues became more important, as evidenced by the regular adoption of environmental and climate resolutions.

A shift in UN language

Biodiversity and the sustainable use of the oceans (SDG 14) are the two core themes that became recurring topics in the international agenda since 2015, with ocean-related issues now including items like acidification, plastic pollution and the decline of marine biodiversity.

The United Nations General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the seas (LOS is a particularly useful tool to acknowledge this evolution: Drafted annually since 1984, the resolution has covered all aspects of the United Nations maritime regime while reflecting new issues and concerns.

Some environmental terms were initially absent from the text but have become more prevalent since the 2000s.

This evolution is also reflected in the choice of words.

While LOS resolutions from 1984 to 1995 focused mainly on the implementation of the treaty and the economic exploitation of marine resources, more recent resolutions have used terms related to sustainability, ecosystems, and maritime issues.

Toward a new law of the oceans?

As awareness of the issues surrounding the oceans and their link to climate change has grown, the oceans gradually became a global "final frontier" in terms of knowledge.

The types of stakeholders involved in ocean issues have also changed. The expansion of the ocean agenda has been driven by a more "environmentalist" orientation, with scientific communities and environmental NGOs standing at the forefront of this battle. This approach, which represents a shift away from a monopoly held by international law and legal practitioners, clearly is a positive development.

However, marine governance has so far relied mainly on non-binding declaratory measures (such as the SDGs) and remains ineffective. A cycle of legal consolidation toward a "new law of the oceans" therefore appears to be underway and the challenge is now to supplement international maritime law with a new set of measures. These include:

the adoption of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (known as the BBNJ Agreement) aiming to protect marine resources in the high seas;

the negotiation of a treaty on marine plastic pollution, still in progress and not finalized yet;

the agreement on fisheries subsidies adopted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to preserve fish stocks, which so far has failed to be fully implemented;

lastly, the Seabed Authority's Mining Code, designed to regulate seabed mining.

Of these agreements, the BBNJ is arguably the most ambitious: since 2004, negotiators have been working toward filling the gaps of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by creating an instrument on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The agreement addresses two major concerns for states: sovereignty and the equitable distribution of resources.

Adopted in 2023, this historic agreement has yet to enter into force. For this to happen, sixty ratifications are required and to date, only 29 states have ratified the treaty (including France in February 2025, editor's note).

The BBNJ process is therefore at a crossroads and the priority today is not to make new commitments or waste time on complicated high-level declarations, but to address concrete and urgent issues of ocean management, such as the frantic quest for critical minerals launched in the context of the Sino-American rivalry, and exemplified by Donald Trump's signing of a presidential decree in April 2025 allowing seabed mininga decision that violates the International Seabed Authority's well established rules on the exploitation of these deep-sea resources.

At a time when U.S. unilateralism is leading to a policy of fait accompli, the UNOC 3 should, more than anything and within the framework of multilateralism, consolidate the existing obligations regarding the protection and sustainability of the oceans.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Maps showing comparisons between observations and predictions computed from station-specific 1D velocity models extracted from the Wasatch Front community velocity model. Credit: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024JB030927

The sediments underlying the Salt Lake Valley are thicker in places than previously thought, indicating that current seismic hazard models likely underestimate the amount of shaking Utah's population center could experience in future earthquakes, according to new research led by University of Utah seismologists.

Five years ago, the valley trembled during the magnitude 5.7 Magna Earthquake, causing millions in damage to dozens of masonry structures in Salt Lake City and the town of Magna, a few miles to the west. Utah's urban centers, such as Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo, lying along the Wasatch Front, remain at risk of future seismic events.

The last major earthquake exceeding magnitude 7 to hit the Wasatch Front occurred between 1,200 and 1,300 years ago. With an average recurrence interval of 900 to 1,300 years, Salt Lake City's geologic clock could be close to striking midnight once again.

In the new study now published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, U researchers utilized seismic data to present a refined three-dimensional seismic velocity modelan essential tool for mapping the geologic structure of the Wasatch Front and identifying seismic hazard sites.

"For this particular study, we are trying to understand the sedimentary structure within the Salt Lake area and how that might differ from previous results," said study leader Fan-Chi Lin, an associate professor of geology and geophysics. "One of the biggest questions we had was why our observations didn't agree with previous studies."

The Wasatch Front community velocity model is currently the leading reference for assessing future seismic activity. However, it has been largely informed by borehole drilling and gravity datauseful indicators, but ones that come with limitations such as private land restrictions, inconsistent documentation and limited sampling scope.

To overcome these constraints, an extensive network of seismic data probes and geophone arrays was deployed across the Salt Lake Valleyeven in the backyards of private residences. Many were deployed in the month following the Magna quake in the spring of 2020 to take advantage of a steady parade of aftershocks.

"This community is incredibly supportive and happy to help. I want to emphasize that none of this would have been possible without community support, the Utah Geological Survey and the many students in our department who helped deploy hundreds of stations," Lin said.

For this study, the research team analyzed seismic waves from only distant earthquakes, using interferometry analysiscomparing measurements of the same signal from two different stationsand conversion phase analysiscomparing the incident P-wave and the S-wave converted at the base of the sediment.

This analysis gleaned insights into the subsurface structure of the Salt Lake Valley, which was once the bed of ancient Lake Bonneville that covered northern Utah as recently as 14,000 years ago.

The goal wasn't to predict strong earthquakes but to predict the severity of ground motion they could produce. The team was also pursuing academic questions.

"We are interested to understand how the tectonic forces or tectonic movements form the basin itself," Lin said. "Why there's a basin here? What controls the depth of the basin?"

Fan-Chi Lin, center, with University of Utah students getting ready to deploy portable seismometers in a Salt Lake City neighborhood. Credit: University of Utah

The team's analysis led to a proposed revision of the Wasatch Front velocity model. While still consistent with earlier studies, the new model indicates thicker sediment bands in some places than previously estimated. Thicker sediments increase seismic hazard by intensifying ground shaking during an earthquake.

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"In a basin, seismic shaking is amplified. It's very important to understand the thickness and rigidity of sediment to better assess potential shaking. The sediment is thicker than previously thoughtespecially in the heavily populated area south of Salt Lake City," Lin said.

"So our findings reinforce the idea that a hazard exists in the valley and that shaking could be stronger than expected. Many houses in Salt Lake are unreinforced masonry and could be vulnerable in a big quake. Buildings should be reinforced, and people should be prepared."

Numerous factors influence an earthquake's intensity and the hazard it poses to populated regions. The earthquake's source mechanism, magnitude, fault geometry and subsurface composition all play a role. Sediment, in particular, can dramatically elevate hazard levelsamplifying ground motion and weakening structural integrity, potentially causing liquefaction.

"If we know the subsurface structure very well, then we can predict how strong the ground motion will be when the big earthquake happens," Lin said. "And that will allow us to collaborate with the engineers to determine which buildings are potentially hazardous when the big earthquake hits."

More information: HyeJeong Kim et al, Seismic Imaging of the Salt Lake Basin Using Joint Inversion of Receiver Functions and Rayleigh Wave Data, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024JB030927 Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research
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Jian-Feng Mao led the international team that developed the new long non-coding RNA analysis tool. Credit: Mattias Pettersson

An international research team, led by Jian-Feng Mao, has developed PlantLncBoost, a new computational tool that helps to identify long non-coding RNAs in plants. These RNAs are crucial for numerous biological processes but differ a lot between different plant species. PlantLncBoost addresses this challenge with very high accuracy, offering new possibilities for genomic studies in plants. These findings were recently published in the journal New Phytologist.

Long non-coding RNAs, called lncRNAs, are transcribed from DNA as other RNAs but they do not carry instructions for proteins. Instead, they help control genes, guide plant development and are involved in plant responses to stress like drought or heat. Identifying these lncRNAs has been difficult because their genetic sequences vary greatly between different plant species.

The team around Mao tackled the problem using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence that is trained on large amounts of data to find patterns. They analyzed more than 1,600 different features of lncRNAs and identified just three key features that could effectively distinguish lncRNAs from RNAs containing the code for a protein.

Identification of sequence patterns using mathematical parameters

What makes PlantLncBoost particularly innovative is its use of mathematical parameters to capture intrinsic sequence properties beyond traditional biological features. The research team used so-called Fourier transformation-based approaches. That allowed them to detect patterns in the RNA sequences that are consistent across diverse plant species despite the high variability in the genetic sequences.

"Through systematic evaluation of multiple machine learning algorithms and rigorous parameter optimization, we have developed a tool that achieves both high accuracy and strong generalization capabilities," explains Mao, Associate professor at Umea University, who established his lab at the Umea Plant Science Center in 2023.

To make sure their new tool worked, the team tested PlantLncBoost on datasets from 20 different plant species. It correctly identified lncRNAs with more than 96% accuracy, significantly outperforming existing tools. The tool even recognized nearly all 358 long lncRNAs that had been experimentally validated before, including those from 12 species that were not included in the training set used to develop the tool.

New possibilities to analyze long non-coding RNAs across species

"Developing PlantLncBoost was an exciting opportunity to apply machine learning to solve a complex biological problem," says first author Xue-Chan Tian, who completed this work as part of her Ph.D. thesis at Beijing Forestry University. "My doctoral program focused on combining advanced computational methods with plant genomics to extract meaningful biological insights from complex sequence data."

The project brought together experts in genomics, bioinformatics and computer science from around the world, including researchers from Sweden, China and Brazil. The tool is now freely available to the scientific community and has been integrated in a larger analysis workflow that was developed earlier by Mao's group. It allows not only the identification but also the characterization of lncRNAs in plants.

By implementing PlantLncBoost in this workflow, researchers can now identify long non-coding RNAs from different plant species much more accurately, making it easier to compare and analyze them.

More information: XueChan Tian et al, PlantLncBoost: key features for plant lncRNA identification and significant improvement in accuracy and generalization, New Phytologist (2025). DOI: 10.1111/nph.70211 Journal information: New Phytologist